You can see the entire cavern (i.e. the entire map). The ceiling of this natural chamber is 60 feet high and covered in stalactites. Crossing the areas of the floor covered by ice requires a DC 18 Acrobatics check to Balance.
Glitch and Mayhay feel feel an ominous energy coming from the mirror, best described as “somewhere between a black hole and a gaping wound.” Eveeryone can tell there’s something wrong, and that leaving the mirror active isn’t safe for anyone.
(the mirror is the thing that looks almost like a dagger pointing up in the upper right of the map).
(if you are stuck or not sure what to try, let me know; the adventure provides hints I can give in that case)
Glitch and Wa Cjacaga both notice an important looking area and go explore it.
(I've moved the whole party over to that area)
The party finds two more bands like the one Uloa gave you.
Glitch, to his surprise, finds that he can read the writing flickering on the stone, although he can't immediately make sense of what he is reading.
(Glitch, or anyone else who puts on one of the other bands, may make a Society check to decipher writing)
You learn the words Luvoth and lu-venon to describe the moon and its people. The script describes the following:
The people of this moon, a species called lu-venons, named their home Luvoth. Over 300 years ago, shortly after the Gap, the people of Luvoth learned for the first time that they weren’t alone in the Universe. This knowledge both intrigued and frightened them. As they believed true space travel would be far too dangerous, lu-venon artificers created a magical device called a world mirror to enable psychic space travel. The intent was to channel the species’ natural psychic abilities and project their minds across space in an instant, remotely traveling to distant worlds and viewing stellar wonders without the threat of physical harm.
The script breaks off just before the activation of the mirror.
You know that to neutralize the threat, you need to activate the mirror. To begin the world mirror activation, a PC must either wear a telebond band or place a hand on this glowing wall, then will the device to begin, turn on, start—the sentiment matters, not the wording. Activating this mechanism causes the sigil in another part of this area to light up. It deactivates in 10 seconds if the other steps in the reactivation process are not completed.
You also find spot magical crystals in another area. The crystals are an artificial control panel. The crystals are movable, turning and pressing in and out of the rock. Because you read the text, you know the sequence to activate this mechanism.
Activating this mechanism also causes sigils to light up. It deactivates in 10 seconds if the other steps in the reactivation process are not completed.
Someone wearing one of the bands needs to be standing at the area where the sigils light up when others make the sigils light up. That person will be a conduit for psychic energy and need to make a will save. If you tell me who does what, I can move your tokens to the proper places.
OK, I'm going to fill in a few gaps to keep things moving.
operating the glowing wall: Wa Cjacaga, guarded by Laurel
Wa Cjacaga wearing a band
opereting the crystal control panel: Mayhay, guarded by Nugo
channeling the psychic force: Glitch.
The team easily carries out their plan. Acting in concert, Wa Cjacaga and Mayhay make to two sets of glyphs light up, and Glitch attempts to channel the psychic energy generated.
Will save, please, Glitch.
”I gotcha Wa” Laurel points his Lasgun towards the direction of incoming danger ”They comin!” imagining said danger, Laurel narrows his eyes…
Glitch finds himself overwhelmed by the strength of the psychic force.
You succeed in rebooting the mirror, but Glitch will be off-guard for the first round of combat.
A dark gash cuts its way up the center of the world mirror. It opens slowly, until massive black claws emerge from the beyond, seizing the portal’s edges and ripping it open. The gash fills the mirror’s frame, releasing swirling green energy that surges upward, instantly flooding the cavern roof. The writhing energy screams and wails a collective howl of confusion and fear as a shadowy creature, the echo of an ancient predator molded from space itself, emerges from the depths of the mirror and roars.
The ground shakes and small pieces of rock and crystal levitate into the air.
bold may post:
round 1:
Glitch (off guard)
Zerevgi
Wa Cjacaga
Laurel
bad scary guy
gravity hazard
Mayhay
Glitch notices that the shaking ground and levitating rocks an crystals are signs of a hazard of unstable gravity. It could be disabled for one round by a trained arcana or occultism check. (single action for that check)
Glitch is successful in disabling the trap for one round.
Glitch empowers Zerevgi in combat.
Zerevgi and Laurel?
poke, poke
Nugo's doshko strike slams into the creature, injuring it significantly.
status: trap disabled for round 1, monster -14 HP.
Laurel is still up.
"The Thing! Shoot it!"
◆) Stride
◆◆) Get Em! vs The Thing
Our young hero gets into position, and fires.
Laurel's shot also damages the creature.
The creature retaliates by a soundless scream that echoes through the head of everyone within 30 feet.
DC 15 will save against damage. success takes half damage, failure takes full damage, critical failure takes double damage, critical success takes no damage. Please roll your save at the start of your turn if you are within 30 feet.
The entire party is up.
The swirling vortex lingers even as the strange creature crumbles and fades away. Its howling grows louder until, with a rush, it flies out through the mouth of the cavern in a roaring stream. Fragments arc from it like solar flares, each diving straight for one of the fluffy native creatures staring up in awe. The energy slams into the creatures’ bodies and knocks them to the floor.
It’s all over in a second. The creatures pick themselves up and peer around, their eyes focusing with a new awareness. They look confused at first. Then, they begin to weep, cheer, laugh, dance, rush into each other’s arms, and babble in what is unmistakably a language.
As trained Starfinders, you recognize that your position has shifted into a first contact situation. You want to make a good impression to establish a foundation for future diplomacy.
Uloa is the first to approach you. She reaches out to all of you who are wearing telepathic bands, introducing herself as Uloa, a researcher.
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Mayhay hears the loud cry even from a distance. She rushes the creature down...but stops as the creature dissipates from the impact of the Ignition.
Watching Uloa approach the party, she returns the introduction and (from a safe distance) does some fancy swordplay with her Solar Weapon.
"I'm Mayhay Long, Solarian, Starfinder and team muscle. The power of the stars is mine to command - and that power saved you from the terrible monster." She elbows whoever was wearing the bands. "Translate that for me, please."
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Wa Cjącága ponders a sermon, but decides that going straight to proselytizing may not be the best first foot to put forward. He pivots to discussing a society where all are accepted.
"We are from an area of space known as the Pact Worlds. As you can see, we are many different types of creatures - I am a kasatha, but with me are ysoki, human and vesk. People from different cultures, different worlds working together, and we would like your people to join us. It is awake."
Okay, maybe a little proselytizing.
Mayhay succeeds in impressing the lu-venons.
Glitch, is that will save how you are trying to impress them, or the medicine check? It's supposed to be a skill check.
Wa Cjacaga, do you want to use a hero point on that?
The creatures are fascinated by Mayhay's swordplay. (success)
The creatures are encouraged by the gentle way Glitch leans over to examine them (+1 circumstance bonus because I really like the idea in addition to various bonuses written into the scenario) (success)
Wa Cjacaga, you all got a hero point at the beginning, and very few of you used them for anything. I should have given out more at some point, so you would have one if you already used the starting one.
Since everyone has had a day and a half to roll, I'm going to bot the rest of the checks.
Wa Cjacaga and Laurel succeed.
The team befriends the restored lu-venons, and the first contact can be considered a success.
With their survey and the unexpected first contact complete, you are invited to rest and celebrate with the restored people of Luvoth before returning to give your report to Venture-Captain Arvin at Absalom Station. Arvin is thrilled with the PCs’ discoveries, noting that he hopes you would be willing to return in the future and further develop you relationship with Uloa and their people. As a thank you for all your hard work in frigid conditions, Arvin pays for you to spend the following day at a local spa famous for its artificial hot springs and soothing soundscapes.
=======================THE END============================
"Ain't no Moon Monsters too scary for old Laurel!" he mentions "We made Friends with Moon Monsters! Din't hefta shoot 'em!"
He wrinkles himself in the spa, well past the healthy amount of time...