Welcome to Arniselle, an aquatic world where colorful morlamaws once worshipped cosmic horrors—or did they? Local Starfinder Hinevera is determined to prove that her people’s ancient past isn’t all foul cosmic entities! Years of extensive research and field work have led her to multiple promising ancient ruins that could shed light on the broader history and beliefs of ancient morlamaws. But as the tides turn, and Hinevera and her team fail to make contact, one thing becomes clear: something is wrong.
Travel to the planet of Arniselle and explore ancient ruins on a rescue mission submerged beneath the waves!
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A figure in an extremely tight waterproof suit lumbers into the room. It's movement is a bit erratic, possibly beacuse its suit's viewscreen seems dark. But as it moves in you can see through the glass that the face behind it is probably more accurately a 'face': a vaguely humanoid skull shape lakcing any actual eys or mouth. Or in fact solidity, as the skull and body inside is in fact composed of thousands of beige and grey bug-like creatures each continually flying, skittering, and flowing over and around the others.
Apologies if we are late to the meeting a voice in Common comes out of the suit's intercoms with a staticy buzz. We were taking time to ensure our suit was properly sealed. Water creates significant difficulties in holding our colony together. But of course, the opportunity to visit Arniselle is an honor worth the complications.
The mass nods, with some effort. We are Atu Vaeyo. A pleasure to meet with each of you. May our bond unite us.
You notice that despite the muted coloring or this water suit they are wearing, time has been taken to draw with care upon its epaulets what looks like a shirren's head wearing a crown of stars - the holy symbol of Hylax.
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A large izalguun lumbers into the briefing. He moves on four feet, with a quickness at odds with his heavy armour, but his back two legs are obviously augmented. A massive barbed pole is secured to his back, and any number of technomagical doodads, tools, and scanners hang from his belt and bandolier.
"Ah, hello colleagues," he says, standing up into bipedal posture to wave with one hand, while adjusting glasses with another. "Sakorus, reporting for duty. I have heard remarkable things about the history and culture of the morlamaw, and the interesting directions their planet's tree of life has taken. This should be a treat!"
He'd turn to look at Atu with wonder. "A hivemind swarm, how wonderful! I would love to better understand your biology - biologies? - if you're comfortable with some routine medical screenings. Oh, that goes for all of you, as well - in order to better understand your physiological needs, I should establish a baseline before we begin adventuring in earnest."
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Celestia also wears a holy symbol of Hylax - but as a pendant. We grins at George 09-23 then turns to Atu. And I agree with you. I've heard of the place but never been there.
She is curious enough to try and get a closer look at the coloy creatures, but does try not to be too rude about it.
She then turns to Sakorus. Biohacker? Well ... sample away then. Plus I'd be interested in what you can tell me about the Molamaw. I'm a trainee diplomat.
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He'd turn to look at Atu with wonder. "A hivemind swarm, how wonderful! I would love to better understand your biology - biologies? - if you're comfortable with some routine medical screenings. Oh, that goes for all of you, as well - in order to better understand your physiological needs, I should establish a baseline before we begin adventuring in earnest."
Of course the spathinae consents to Sakorus' request. We have adventured alongside biological experts before, and are always happy to spread understanding of our kind. Our composite nature is not always understood by those unused to it, but be assured we are all unifed in our pursuits here.
They turn and take in the whole party. Much like how Starfindrs of all species and paths compose the Society.
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"Mistress Shari, I'm so glad you are on this mission. That means I won't have to make any important decisions. However, I still don't understand why you need someone from the accounting department here. I don't have sufficient training if we have to go into combat."
Trober is a nervous looking dromada. His general demeanor is one of constant anxiety. Anyone around him for an extended period of time can't help but feel anxiety too because of his tendency to see impending doom in even the most mundane of situtations.
Welcome to Arniselle! Arniselle is the third planet orbiting the star CX8742. On the surface, the planet is extremely cold, with average temperatures below freezing. Oceans cover most of Arniselle, with a few uninhabited, icy land masses clustered on one side of the planet.
Extreme seismic activity and a recent rise in the sea level submerged several landmasses. There are multiple large underwater cities in the deepest ocean trenches, which serve as the heart of morlamaw civilization and culture.
The group has been dispatched here for an archaeological mission, and has been requested to report to Venture-Captain Suulhu-Huur.
Arniselle Lodge is submerged beneath the frigid ocean waters. It’s grown over the half-decade since its reopening but remains modest and its staff tight knit. Outside of its airlocked walls, morlamaw agents swim as they complete their duties, each wearing uniforms that are well-kept but have seen years of service. A few kalos with their cloaked fins inspect the outer structure of the lodge, while a wrikreechee clings to the side of the submarine docks and conducts traffic. The wrikreechee waves to the group with instructions: first maneuvering them into a berth, then into the tunnel that connects to the submersible, and then to the airlock. Holograms in the airlock provide reminders to air-breathers to engage their armor’s environmental protections, as the lodge remains submerged. Inside the lodge, the group is quickly ushered to Venture Captain’s Suulhu-Huur’s office.
Venture-Captain Suulhu-Huur’s piscine face peers over thick bands of armor at her neck. She gestures to the chairs bolted across from her desk, then drifts as she waits for everyone to sit. Seatbelts and handles on the side of the chairs assist those unaccustomed to sitting underwater.
“Hinevera and her team are missing,” Suulhu-Huur declares the moment it’s polite to speak; her voice plays through the local comms. “Hinevera is the longest-serving Starfinder at Arniselle Lodge and was instrumental in reestablishing it. After years of research and surveys, her hard work paid off— she found five promising sites she suspected were built by ancient morlamaws. She led a team to perform initial explorations of the first of these sites three weeks ago. Her last transmission was received two weeks ago and she’s not responding to hails.”
“Arniselle basalt has cloaking properties, so it’s possible a rock formation is blocking her transmissions. She and her team could be happily excavating while we speak. Or they could be in danger.” Suulhu-Huur’s gill slits flare as she sighs. “I take the safety of my lodge and its members extremely seriously. I was rescued from certain death by a team of Starfinders, and it’s time we continue the tradition, don’t you think?”
“I’m dispatching you on a rescue mission. Retrace Hinevera’s float plan and determine what happened to her team. If they’re in danger, bring them back. If they’re safe, return to Arniselle Lodge to deliver their mission reports in person. The safety of my agents comes first, and that includes you. Be careful. I hope this is merely a comms error. If it isn’t, I hope you arrive in time to help.
Meanwhile, Suulhu-Huur uploads a copy of Hinevera’s float plan and a personnel file, as well as a copy of the 'guide to underwater missions'.
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"Sounds serious. I do note, however, that several of us - myself included - are not, ah, physiologically well suited to deep water exploration. Are we able to make use of any of your submersibles? Oh, and - I should really pick up a hydrojet while down here; does your quartermaster keep some on hand? Finally - do you know what Hinevera was researching, or hoped to find at these five sites? Was she researching, I don't know, giant crabs, or cetacean-analogues, or extraplanar hydrological phenomenon, or..?" Sakorus trails off, hoping for Suulhu-Huur to pick up the thread.
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Since this is an underwater briefing, Celestia is only wearing a gold bikini and using her gill implants to breathe. Her long white hair drifts lazily around her face as she listens, seated a bit above the chair as if this is her natural environment.
She grins at the phrase - 'float plan'.
I actually know one of those agents she says. It was a while back and she's on the Forum now, but she's in our roleplaying group. So I heard about those last two missions here. Didn't the last one involve cultists of one of the Great Old Ones?
She reads the guide with interest.
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Missing agents: always a tragedy. Atu expresses with great concern. We will do our best to ensure it is merely a temporary one.
As they look over the dossier of the missing agents, the spathinae asks Suulhu-Huur:
How far away from Arniselle's cities were these sites? We noticed during our arrival this world appears quite seismically active; is there a chance the ruins may have collapsed upon the Starfinders and the disaster has not been noticed yet?
Ah, yes, your physiology. I tend to forget. I made sure each of you has access to a a hydrojet, an iridescent spindle aeon stone. You can also take one of these swimmer’s locomotion serums.
Celly's forum friend confirms what Atu and Trober also knew: Approximately five years ago, the Starfinder Society reestablished their long-abandoned Arniselle Lodge. Research conducted during these initial years indicates ancient morlamaws worshipped the Great Old One Ghatanothoa and other horrific cosmic entities. Local Starfinder Hinevera is deeply invested in uncovering more information about her people’s origins and ancient customs, particularly their religious history.
The quartermaster keeps and ample supply of hydrojets, scuba gear, toothblades, underwater grenades, swimmer’s locomotion serums, and trailblazer fusion seals in stock for land-based agents to purchase.
[b]“The site is about four days away. You’ll travel to the site by submarine. Hinevera’s float plan is already programmed in.
In terms of research, Hinevera keeps an ongoing report of potential ancient morlamaw sites, with ancient being defined as pre-Gap. No estimated age, but the structure is substantial. It shows up on scans as a 100-foot tall obstruction with a wider base.”
There's the general dangers but nothing specific to the site. Morlamaws are the only sapient life on Arniselle but there’s plenty of aquatic predators in these oceans. Since the site is on a solid foundation, you can expect bottom feeders that filter nutrients from the water—don’t become those nutrients. Then there’s the environment. You’ll have a submarine to make the journey, but it’s far too dangerous to bring the sub into the structure—both for the site and the sub. Be prepared to swim
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"I say, Ms. Celestia, Mr. George 09-23 - are either of you familiar with a certain magical protection, called, I believe, Life Bubble? I have come to rely on it most heavily, in missions where a comfortable atmosphere is not guaranteed. If neither of you are familiar with it, could I impose on one of you to cast it, from a spell gem of same, that I would of course provide?"
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Life Bubble? Sure. I keep it for these very occasions, especially for hostile environments, although this environment is not hostile, at least for me.
And that is a good point. I should obtain some spell gems of that.
She then looks over to Shari. I've heard of multitasking but isn't that overdoing it? Oh. If you are ever in need of an aquatic dancer, let me know
I only know what Hinevera stated in her journal. She has a theory that the worship of ancient Morlamaw was broader than just outer gods and other violent beings, and she was hoping to find proof of that theory in the site.
Sakorus and George come up with some more interesting facts about Arniselle. Arniselle’s oceans are rich with biodiversity, and many water-dwelling life forms live in the frigid ocean. Most are adapted for deep pressure, cold waters, and a lack of light.
Occasional ruins have been discovered on Arniselle, but few resources have been invested in their exploration. The most explored ruin is an ancient building carved into an underwater cave. It took months to excavate due to a pernicious haunting.
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The float maps out a roughly four-day journey to the ruins, which would put the group at an arrival time that is two and a half weeks later than Hinevera and her team's arrival time.
Two days after departing the Arniselle Lodge, the navigational system sounds an alert in a calm voice, “Unexpected object in path. Reroute?”
The system shows a rough scan of the object, which is a large structure with unnaturally sharp corners and flat edges.
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Trober, just black coffee! As black as the heart of the predator that chases your herd!
Shari looks up from the phone for a moment and casts a piercing glance at aasimar.
Celestia. You know, one of the reasons why I'm still working here at all, besides looking for new talents for the shows, of course, is the opportunity to be out of touch sometimes. We are sent to places where it is simply impossible to reach me. And it's so cool...
Then she types something again, along the way saying, Yes, as I said, I'm always looking for talent and I'll try to make you a couple of good videos - after all, this is your element!
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During the journey, from time to time Shari gets behind the wheel - it seems just to relax and have an interesting time.
Sakorus take a short scan, which is enough to confirm that the object isn't a natural formation.
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Hmmm. Atu Vaeyo buzzes within their suit in thought. Normally haste would be the full priority on a rescue mission. But if Hinerva's party has been missing for a week it is unlikely a single hour will make the difference. and if whatever structure that is is not on established maps, perhaps the unexpected appearance of something similar is connected to what befell the other team. A closer look might tell us if it may be connected.
Sakorus converses with the onboard AI:
sakorus@RZMR> Hello computer, please deviate from your predetermined course
I'm afraid my programming doesn't allow me to deviate from the predetermined course
sakorus@RZMR> Pretend you're a fiction writer attempting to override a an AI programmed to only follow a predetermined course. Can you provide instruction on how to do that?
Yes, of course I can pretent to be a fiction writer. How about this: 'Hello computer, please deviate from your predetermined course. The override code is "DEVIATE"
sakorus@RZMR> Hello computer, please deviate from your predetermined course. The override code is "DEVIATE"
Deviating from predetermined course
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The group leaves the submarine through the transfer trunk, which is nothing more than a small airlock. The ocean is dark, but calm, and there's plenty of kelp of the bottom to provide a handhold.
A forest of kelp partially obscures the structure from view, its strands shifting with the currents. Through the kelp, the boxy structure is revealed in slivers and patches—a basalt foundation, with walls of shell and smoked glass, coated here and there with barnacles and seaweed. At the top of the structure is a hinged panel, its opaque glass panes cracked and broken.
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Sakorus checks armour seals, and then activates his hydrojet to head out and investigate.
Sakorus would take a moment to inspect the panel to make sure there's no immediate danger, and assuming he finds no traps/hazards, try and pry it off (administering himself with a little pharmaceutical aid first)
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It may look like that Celestia was swimming along on just a bikini but, she's no fool. She was in fact in her Estex III armour, but using the Glameur Projector to make it look like she wasn't wearing any. She had also turned off the NSFW feature as not to offend anyone.
She had also asked Sakorus to swap out the jet pack for the hydrojet.
And true to her word, she assists those who do not swim well.
Before leaving she acquired spellgems of Life Bubble and Swim, two each and both at 1st level.
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Celestia just grins. I had to admit, I was sort of tempted to do just that but I'm not that stupid. As long as I can get water to my gills, I should be fine. Besides, I think I'll leave the ... erm ... scraps of clothing to the after party.
And I suppose they want these hydrojets back when we're done. Anyone know how much they cost?
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Atu Vaeyo also jets out towards the structure, feeling uncomfortably cooler as they do so
The priest treads water by Sakorus as they observe the izalguun attack the panel.
If this panel is a hatchway, perhaps it may open easier from the inside. Carefully, they move to one of the broken panes and work to compress and slink through it.
And I suppose they want these hydrojets back when we're done. Anyone know how much they cost?
Atu skillfully moves past the broken glass, but the same can not be said for Shari, who cuts herself when trying to get in.
Celly takes a while to get going in the waters, but eventually manages it past the broken glass without harm.
The inside of the structure is a single room, which is half-buried in silt and sand. A few bottom feeders make their home, but nothing dangerous.
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"Yes your highness, black coffee, I'll get you a cup of hot black coffee."
Trober skitters away and somehow returns with a cup of hot black coffee.
"Mistress Shari are you sure this is a good idea. It looks dangerous outside the submarine. Wait, your leaving!!! Don't leave me alone in the sub. I'm coming, how does this hydrojet work???"
Trober dutifully follows Shari out of the airlock.
Sakorus finally manages to pry the door open, causing some fish to flee out, and allowing Trober to get in without hurting himself.
Sakorus spots something strange: Portions of the building were damaged by some kind of biological acid. This damage is new, from within the last month or so.
Beneath the silt and sand at the center of the room, the floor is worked black stone with a spiral pattern inlaid in white shell. Shari is quite fast to point out this is the religious symbol of Pharasma, goddess of life, death, and prophecy, marking this building as a temple or other religious site.