Amid the melee, Joyride's aim gets confused, and his shot goes astray.
Top of Round 4
Burlap may act.
Clarissa moves around the tree to get a better angle to shoot.
The ysoki hustles beneath the branches of the tree, looking for a clean angle on either bug. He lines up a shot past Alzura’s shoulder and puts a bullet into her opponent.
SP: 20 / 32
HP: 24 / 30
RP: 5 / 6
Bullets Total Rounds (100): xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Clips (4): x
Rounds (12 rnds/clip): xxxx
Batteries Total Charges (130): xx
Pistol Batts (2):
> Charges (20 chg/batt):
Sniper Batts (2):
> Charges (10 chg/batt):
C-Rifle Batts (1):
> Charges (40 chg/batt): xx
Effects:
Burlap's shot evidently injures the creature enough that it is no longer interested in the crewmembers, and it moves backward past Clarissa and arcing toward the forest.
The remaining insectoid, not realizing it's all alone, takes another bite at Joyride.
Need another Fort Save from Joyride.
Block 2 (everyone except Burlap and Clarissa) may act. There is one opponent (near Vaelorin), and another visibly retreating (just past Clarissa).
Yeow! Again..?
Joyride takes another 8 HP (not SP) and starts to feel a bit sluggish. His shot finishes off the last remaining insectoid (except for the one currently running, if someone wants to try to take it down).
Hey guys. I don't feel... so good. He slumps, sitting on the ground and leaving on the fresh insect carcass.
Everyone OK?
Everyone get into one of the buildings! I can treat your injuries better on a clean, flat surface.
"Ah, that's a good idea, Clarissa. We can take stock from a more defensible position. What the heck were those things, anyways?" She leads the way into one of the nearby buildings, senses honed for evil buggos within.
Vaëlorin helps Joyride into the building.
Looking up at Vaëlorin, Thanks brother.
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Despite injuries, Burlap doesn’t believe in giving up the battlefield with an enemy still living. He notes the building the team is rushing toward. ”I’ll be there in a sec.” He sights down the barrel at the fleeing insect and fires. One bullet spangs off the creature’s carapace, the other finds the meat below.
SP: 20 / 32
HP: 24 / 30
RP: 5 / 6
Bullets Total Rounds (100): xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Clips (4): x
Rounds (12 rnds/clip): xxxxx x
Batteries Total Charges (130): xx
Pistol Batts (2):
> Charges (20 chg/batt):
Sniper Batts (2):
> Charges (10 chg/batt):
C-Rifle Batts (1):
> Charges (40 chg/batt): xx
Effects:
Joyride (treat injury)
"Your injury is in an odd place; I'm going to administer a healing serum."
Vaelorin (treat injury)
Burlap (treat injury)
"Hmmm, sorry, I'm not familiar enough with your anatomy here. Serum for you!"
Alzura (treat injury)
Now let's kill the toxin.
Joyride:
Joyride (dose 2):
Vaelorin:
After everyone has been healed and antitoxins applied, Clarissa sighs.
"I recommend we avoid more encounters with those things. I've used most of my supply of healing serums and antitoxins."
Vaëlorin winced slightly as the healing serum took effect, the sting of torn skin knitting itself into an angry bruise. He pushed himself up with care, robes torn and dust-streaked, but his posture still carried a trace of elven grace. He inclined his head toward Joyride, one brow raised in dry amusement.
"You are welcome, Joyride. Though next time, let us agree to not get impaled in the name of brotherhood."
He then turned toward Clarissa, his expression softening with genuine gratitude. He pressed one hand briefly to his chest—a formal elven gesture of thanks—and gave a slight bow.
"Clarissa, your timing and skill are nothing short of providential. I may still resemble a museum exhibit labeled 'Before Restoration,' but I am breathing, and I owe that to you." He allowed a hint of a tired smile. "I shall endeavor not to squander your remaining serums."
He glanced to the others, taking in their condition, then added quietly—
"Let us not tarry. The longer we stay exposed, the more likely it is those things—or worse—find us again."
Cherry follows and has Tin Man wait at the entrance.
"I wonder how they taste?" She says as she gets in and checks her gun. She then slips it back in and begins to pull up her personal computer.
"Thanks, Clarissa, you're a doll. Is there anything in here with information on what happened? A computer terminal?"
Cherry will look around for computer terminals.
No problem finding computer terminals. They're large, blocky, and ancient, but appear well maintained.
Cherry has no problem hacking the interface screen with her personal rig to gain her Basic Access. Examining the file list, it immediately becomes clear that these files have been accessed as recently as yesterday evening.
Cherry taps her chin."Someone recently accessed these terminals"
Cherry will begin to look at to what was the last thing brought up.
While Clarissa treats his wound, Burlap refills the ammo in his spent clips.
He doesn’t raise an eyebrow at the idea of the computer being recently used. ”No surprise. There ain’t much dust. Gear is in working order. And that image we saw showed a light on. There are people here. Maybe they’ve figured out how to work around those bugs and hide when the bugs come around. That said, we should probably secure the scout craft and maybe park it near Betty before the bugs recover from the bloody nose we gave’em. After that, we can worry about ‘helping’ the locals – if they even want help.”
SP: 20 / 32
HP: 30 / 30
RP: 5 / 6
Bullets Total Rounds (100): xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx x
Clips (4):
Rounds (12 rnds/clip):
Batteries Total Charges (130): xx
Pistol Batts (2):
> Charges (20 chg/batt):
Sniper Batts (2):
> Charges (10 chg/batt):
C-Rifle Batts (1):
> Charges (40 chg/batt): xx
Effects:
"Blech! Well, everyone ready to head to our missing ship and totally-not-ger-overrun-by-buggos on the way there?"
We all gotta die at some point... Let's go.
As the crew heads into the grove of trees, they can almost feel eyes watching them. Heading off in a trajectory that should take them to the Raptor's landing spot, they quickly begin to hear movement behind them.
The sun lowering, suddenly a large number of insectoids comes at you from multiple directions. Given your previous combat, it's far too many to fight off. As you prepare for what will probably be a last stand, a light comes on in a small cabin nearby. You can just reach it before the onslaught arrives. You're uncertain if the permacrete can hold the creatures back, but the buildings back in the settlement seemed mostly intact. Perhaps something keeps them from going in.
Grabbing Clarissa... Let's go!
That way. Cabin. That infernal clicking...
"Yep! Clarissa makes tracks with Joyride to the cabin.
As they reach the cabin door, it slides open, and an older man leans out. "Get you within, all of you — make haste!" he shouts in an archaic but clearly understandable form of the common tongue.
James let's Clarissa in, then turns to offer cover fire as the others approach.
No man... or whatever these folks are, left behind and all. Hell try to pick off the bigger closest to his friends.
Burlap takes up the rear-guard with his rifle set to 'Auto'. He's prepared to spray bullets if the bugs charge in. He yells to others as he backpedals toward the door. "Move! Move! Move your ass!"
" Okay... Tin Man guard the door" She says leaving Tin Man at the door.
Cherry adjusts her bandoleer of Grenades, and holsters her weapon.
Once everyone is inside, you wait for the creatures to try to start breaking through the door. Only, that doesn't happen. After 5 minutes, it becomes obvious you've been left in peace.
"All is well — you're safe within. They cannot traverse the ward to this place," the man notes confidently.
"Uh, thanks, but who are you? And what's going on here?" Alzura asks their new hosts, not really trusting them yet, but she'll have the advantage in these close quarters if they prove to be... weird.
Burlap safeties his weapon and slings it across his shoulder. "I appreciate the save, sir. My name's Burlap. What's yours?"
"Gyr Starborn, if you can believe that." he says. In Diasporum legend, Gry of Gixx and Winsal Starborn were two renowned leaders of the City of Absalom on ancient Golarion. "My parents had a sense of history. Or humor, I guess." The man grins.
"As for what befalls you presently — aye, ’tis a long tale. Technology of the ancients. Suffice to say, you are quite safe in this place."
These insects... indigenous?
That raptor operable? Ever hear of Cyleerin? James looks to look out windows.
"Ah, yes, the 'Raptor'. Genius name, that, for such a fabulous ship!"
"Yes, would fly, certainly, if one could get to it."
"As for your Cyleerin, I have but once heard that name afore, and that from from lost pilot, as I reckon. He yet lives and mends apace, lodged in the chief redoubt."
"As for the vermin, yea. They are native, though we knew them not for several seasons."
"Where is everyone?"
"Aye, all are here — after a fashion. ’Tis no easy thing to speak of, for I fathom little of the science behind it. ’Tis as though we be here, yet... shifted a little sideways from our rightful place."
"Many are in the redoubt, some are back in the village. Now that sun has set, and the veil of worlds is thin, they can interact with the outside, to a limited degree."
"Cyleerins are robotic beings. Quite Sophistacated yet...simple" Cherry says having yet to crack one open and examine it.
" So wait, we are out of phase or in a pocket?" Cherry asks as she looks to Vael.
"Hey, V, I'm more practical Computing and Hardware, so....That theoretical is more your bailiwick, right?" She says, prodding the elf to maybe theorize on the particulars.
I really just want to be in a cockpit... Always so complicated. The young man shakes his head.
" Sure, we can get in one later! All those cruisers and another ship! Ooo the parts and salvage!" She says with excoted glee!!!
"How long has your colony been here?"
"How long has your colony been here?"
"Many generations. Our Quad-Centennial Anniversary was two years ago."
This tracks with the historical research the group did on the late Colonial First Exodus period.
Vaëlorin had remained silent for much of the exchange, leaning lightly against a console as his eyes flicked between the archaic technology and the man’s archaic speech. But when Cherry addressed him, he straightened, one brow lifting as though roused from a reverie.
"You are correct, Cherry. This does bear the hallmarks of temporal misalignment or planar layering—less a separate dimension, more a thin-folded pocket in the skein of existence itself."
He stepped toward the center of the room, gesturing in the air as if tracing unseen ley-lines.
"The sensation is familiar: the air here hums at a subtly different frequency, as though Golarion herself turned a page but left a thumb tucked into this one. If I were to wager—metaphorically—this place is warded not only by technology but by resonance, a kind of anchored phase-lock. The insects, lacking sapience or calibration, cannot traverse that veil."
His voice grew quieter as he looked toward the cabin’s entrance.
"It would explain the preservation of infrastructure. And the... ghostlike feel of the settlement. Echoes from a world half a step away."
He turned to Gyr, bowing slightly.
"You have my thanks, Gyr Starborn. You may dwell in myth, but it seems this myth keeps its wards well-tended."
"Vaëlorin, what the hell are you talking about? What's going on here?" Alzura was never one for... temporal studies.
Is this anomaly something you stumbled upon here or intentionally created?
How's life here, anything terrible going on? Djack seems genuinely curious.
'Something keeps this place out of phase with the actual world" Cherry says as she tries to get some data.
Mmm... all splinters is how someone explained it to me. There may be no one "actual" world.
Some other guy tried to tell me there is no time or space... just here and now. Everything else, just a matter of perspective. But, then again... he was a medium channeling some alien being. Realizing what he'd just said, he gives a nervous inward chuckle.