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Vega is checking her star charts just to see which way is the sun. She might have to go out and do a star sighting.
Aphelion's timing, pointing at the ceiling, is close to the right alignment with the sun to feel the full flow of photons, but not exact; it is however, enough to give Aphelion a strong feeling of connection to his Solaria ways. Vega uses her star charts and the rotational speed of the asteroid to determine that it would take Aphelion 10 minutes to complete the task if Aphelion is in contact with the dynamo the whole time, but for this to work, the filling and raising of the two crucibles must be completed first.
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"Getting this thing running again would be a wonder. If you can use your solarian abilities to make that happen, it would be appreciated, Aphelion. I think that will take less time than if I perform the ritual," Darakwinn comments.
She doesn't mention the distaste she feels over the idea of performing the Droskari ritual.
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Loxx, while thinking of how to aid Aphelio, realizes that a mechanical problem currently blocks any mystical solution.
Reactivating the Solarian Stone:
The first step is hoisting the two magma-filled crucibles into the clamps. The crucibles are large, almost 25 feet in diameter. The first crucible is still attached, full, and currently in the raised position. It can be controlled from one of the control rooms to lower or raise it, or it can be used to empty it with the arms. Unfortunately, the second crucible has broken from its chains and is stuck 400 feet below. (Slid 5) and will need to be repaired and reconnected to the chains. The area where the second crucible lies is a twisting series of bridges comprised of a glassy strands of hardened magma arches above the asteroid’s outer core of congealed magma, which bubbles 30 feet below. About 20 feet above the bridges, the walls slope outward to create a large cavern much wider than area shown on the map.
To get to the second crucible, you need to find a way down. Some of the more obvious ways are to scale the walls of the cavern or climb down the chains. Note that the gravity is only 1/100 here. There may be other creative ways you could try.
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"Well, the gravity is a lot less restrictive here, couldn't we just, I don't know, float down? I mean it might take some time but it's a lot less tiring than climbing our way down. Of course some sort of parachute might help, but beggars can't be choosers now can they?"
Aphelion looks over at the way down, trying his hardest not to fall over the edge
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With less gravity, Darakwin easily makes it down the chain. As Darakwin descends she notices it keeps getting hotter, and hotter, and hotter.
physical science to see if a parachute would work
Combined with the low gravity, gases released by the lava have created a low-pressure atmosphere that's just enough for a parachute to work.
DC 13 engineering to make a parachute, you can find enough material in the control rooms to make parachutes.
To use a parachute, pick a square on the map to aim to land on
DC 15 Athletics, Piloting, or reflex save to land on target; if you miss, roll like a missed grenade targeting the center of a square.
A parachute isn't needed to avoid damage from falling, but it would help land on target. See DC 20 spoiler for if jumping is a good idea.
To see if jumping is a good idea, roll a physical science check.
You think it should be fine, if someone else tries first, you would have enough info to be sure.
you are not sure about this.
With the low gravity, someone jumping would not take damage from the fall, but there is lava below if they miss.
If anyone jumps the DC to land on target is too high. Just pick a target square and roll, as if you missed a grenade targeting the center of a square.
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Floota, Vega waite above as Aphelion, Balin, Darakwinn decend 400 feet to where the lava lies below.
A twisting series of bridges comprised of a glassy strands of hardened magma arches above the asteroid’s outer core of
congealed magma, which bubbles 30 feet below. About 20 feet above the bridges, the walls slope outward to create a large cavern
much wider than area A4’s tunnel and that extends beyond the mapped area. Large amounts of smoke, steam, and heat distortion
make it difficult to see in this area, giving all creatures in the area concealment and providing total concealment to creatures more
than 60 feet away.
Through the smoke, steam, you can barelly see the second of the two crucibles used for the Solarian Stone, which lies
wedged between two of the bridges, and the heat has partly fused the vessel to the rock. What’s more, the chains that once attached
to the crucible have weakened from the heat and snapped.
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Darakwinn squints against the heat and haze, glad that she has her environmental seals active to protect her from some of it.
"Angradd preserve us," she mutters as she spots the crucible and can already tell a little of how badly damaged it is. She doesn't know much about fixing things, but she's ready to add her muscle to the effort as she starts marching toward it.
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Aphelion Leto
Balin Starforge
Darakwinn Ironhead Dark vision
Aphelion thinks they see something moving to the east, but can't make out exactly what it is.
Loxx
Loxx tries to climb down the chain, but a cloud of steam makes it slippery, and Loxx falls. Luckily, the low gravity saves Loxx from taking damage.
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Anyone currently on the lava level, you can make it over to the crucible safely, but as you had that way, you see more shapes moving in the distance. Describe what you are doing and how you get there.
Floota and Vega still have time to make it down to the lava level if one of either chooses to do so, but will be arriving at C1 on the map just as the rest of the party is making it to C2 unless someone waits for them.
To repair the crucible, the PCs must both free it from where it’s lodged
(requiring a successful DC 12 Engineering check or DC 15 Strength
check) and reconnect the chains. The eastern chains dangle about
20 feet above the crucible, and a PC can either lower the chain
from area A1’s computers or leap up to grab and pull on the chains.
Once a PC has pulled the chain to the crucible, reattaching the two
is a simple matter that takes two full actions.
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Aphelion
Balin
Darakwinn
Floota
Loxx
Vega
black
red
blue
yellow
Aphelion, Balin, Darakwinn, and Loxx may take action on the ground
Floota, Vega, can take actions to get to the ground, arriving on turn 3
Something keeps moving in the steam and smoke as you reach the Crucible. Combat has not started or so you think, you can still perform any of the actions from the previous GM post to identify the things moving around out there or start working on the Crucible, you may take another actions you would like.
Loxx
Aphelion
Floota
Darakwinn
Balin
Vega
Something in the smoke and steam?
Something in the smoke and steam?
Something in the smoke and steam?
Something in the smoke and steam?
Something in the smoke and steam?
Something in the smoke and steam?
Something in the smoke and steam?
Something in the smoke and steam?
Something in the smoke and steam?
Bold may act.
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Darakwinn, with all her might, struggles to free the crucible. There is a bit of a cracking sound as the crucible shifts, then jams against another rock hidden in the lava.
After the crucible jams into the other rock, Darakwinn notices inside the crucible are the desiccated remains of a dwarf wearing charred explorer’s gear. Furthermore, the corpse still has a slightly melted, steel medallion of a stylized boar’s head around his neck
legendary dwarven peacekeepers of the decades following the Gap
prior to the Stewards’ creation; up until it faded out of fashion, his
name was a byword for relentless investigation and tireless justice.
Avaldur disappeared during a mission at about the time of the Pact
Worlds’ foundation in 41 ag, and his implied death has been the
subject of conspiracy theorists ever since. Only extensive genetic
testing might confirm the body’s identity, which is possible at the
end of the adventure.
To repair the crucible, the PCs must both free it from where it’s lodged
(requiring a successful DC 12 Engineering check or DC 15 Strength
check) and reconnect the chains. The eastern chains dangle about
20 feet above the crucible, and a PC can either lower the chain
from area A1’s computers or leap up to grab and pull on the chains.
Once a PC has pulled the chain to the crucible, reattaching the two
is a simple matter that takes two full actions.
Aphelion
Balin
Darakwinn
Floota
Loxx
Vega
Something in the smoke and steam?
Something in the smoke and steam?
Something in the smoke and steam?
Something in the smoke and steam?
Something in the smoke and steam?
Something in the smoke and steam?
Something in the smoke and steam?
Something in the smoke and steam?
Something in the smoke and steam?
Bold may act.
With low gravity, Loxx is able to jump up to reach and connect the broken chain.
Loxx also notices the remains of the dwarf in the Crucible.
"I wonder who that was?"
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As Loxx connects the chain, 2 insect-like creatures come close enough to be better seen in the smoke and steam.
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Loxx
Aphelion
Floota (out of range, see bellow)
red (bug thing)
Darakwinn
Balin
yellow (bug thing)
Vega (out of range, see below)
Something in the smoke and steam?
Something in the smoke and steam?
Something in the smoke and steam?
Something in the smoke and steam?
Something in the smoke and steam?
Something in the smoke and steam?
Something in the smoke and steam?
Bold may act.
Floota and Vega, flying through the steam and smoke, you can't see to make long-range attacks. You can double-move this turn to place yourself on the map and be able to act on your next turn. You can land or remain flying if you like. If you stay flying, let me know how high off the ground you are.