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Soaring spires emerging from the rocky ground break the
monotony of Aballon’s dusty plains with their silvery gleam.
The straight roads crisscrossing the vast city of Eternity
resemble a meticulously planned circuit board whose
purpose has been lost to the ages, with the occasional
fallen roof and buried sections disturbing the ancient city’s
architectural precision.
After a few hours of labor your summoned.
Welcome to Eternity, Starfinders,” Sarmak says grandly,
opening his arms wide. “This is a momentous occasion.
Aballon’s ruling Insight Array has granted us permission
to perform a detailed survey of Eternity after a team of
Starfinders recovered… this.”
The First Seeker produces a teardrop-shaped device
illuminated by faint silvery lines, each brightening and
dimming in unison. With a twist of his wrist, the teardrop,
unfolds, revealing its intricate flower-like interior.
“This is the Eternity Drive. It was retrieved from an
anacite temple here on Aballon. Tests revealed that it is both
an encrypted data drive and a physical key. A data analysis
and a molecular scan of its unique metal structure link it to
the city of Eternity, although we have no idea what it might
open. My hope is that the lock for this key is still here in
the city.”
The First Seeker shifts his bulky body toward a holographic
panel in the middle of the tent. With a few taps, he highlights
two nearby sites. “I want you to take a closer look at two
interesting locations we’ve identified. The first one, located to
the northwest, is a distribution node—a warehouse of sorts.
Although it’s hard to tell what it contains, I’ve been picking
up unusual power spikes, which increased in strength as
we entered the city. There’s no pattern to them, and without
getting closer, it’s hard to tell if they’re connected to the key,
our arrival, or something else entirely.
“The second site is a technocrèche, an assembling array
located to the northeast. Erratic heat signatures and an
observable energy drain in the neighboring structures
suggest that something there is drawing power at an
alarming rate. Your mission is to perform an initial exploration
of both sites and ensure that these sites are safe for your
more scholarly colleagues to enter.
“When your exploration is complete, we’ll send in
teams of archaeologists, engineers, xenolinguists,
and other researchers, who will go over every inch
of the area to learn as much as possible from what
was left behind by the builders of this city.
“Do you have any questions?”
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A rose gold scaled dragon kin looms in the tent, his bulk filling much of the space. He watches thoughtfully, stroking his chin. There is a certain slow somberness to all of his movements.
"Are there any friendlies in the area that we should be on the watch for or can we assume that anything we encounter is hostile and should be dealt with accordingly?" Sturmvanger asks.
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Though clearly much smaller than a dragonkin, another draconic being is in the room, their body fully encased and hidden within a massive suit of heavy armor. The helmet is stylized to be extremely draconic in appearance.
When he speaks, it is in a digitized voice coming from speakers built into the armor. "Who owns these facilities? Do we have permission to be there?"
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"The Insight array manges the area. I have gained their permission." says Sarmak. He turns to the dragonkin "The area is unexplored. So be wary of dangers."
What is the Insight Array? “The Insight Array
is a network of AIs tasked with governing
Aballon, from determining the expansion of
megaplexes to ensuring that every citizen
has access to work. You can think of
the Insight Array as the ruling body of
Aballon.”
How come the anacites haven’t
explored the city? “Anacites consider the
ancient cities of the First Ones sacred places
not meant for them to inhabit. For an anacite to
enter Eternity would be sacrilegious. If they want to
know what’s inside, they usually hire trusted outside
agents to investigate on their behalf.”
Where was the Eternity Drive found? “The Eternity Drive
was found here on Aballon, in a temple where ancient
anacites worshipped the First Ones. The structure started
drawing immense power unexpectedly and so, with the
permission of the Insight Array, Starfinders ventured in,
recovering this interesting artifact. The place was quite
hostile to living beings, so you should exercise caution while
exploring Eternity.”
Who are the First Ones? “That’s a great question. All
we know about them is based on what and who they
left behind. They created the anacites, along with other
artificial lifeforms. Yet, despite the obvious impact of their
accomplishments, we know next to nothing about them.
Why did they leave? I find that a very intriguing question!”
Are the local anacites okay with us entering the city?
“Yes, they’re as curious to learn what the Eternity Drive
opens as we are. We’re obligated to share all information we
uncover with the Insight Array, of course.”
visible traces of their presence, from the artificial laborers
that evolved into anacites to the many ancient cities built on
the planet’s surface.
spoiler=15+:] Those Who Wait, a large sect of anacites who stockpile
knowledge and resources in preparation for the return of
the First Ones, lurk around the city. They have a camp
nearby where they ask off-worlders to venture into the
city to find any information about their progenitors.
[/spoiler]
for different purposes. It was recently discovered
that they created protocites, another species of
artificial lifeform who dwell within the sun. While the
protocites share some similarities with the anacites,
they’re a completely different branch of artificial
life, whose purpose is to conduct radical research.
claim the First Ones as their creators are the
planashars: aggressive two-dimensional
constructs from a hidden dimension known as
the Infinite Loop, who aim to assimilate the entire
three-dimensional galaxy by any means necessary.
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Blitniz's digitized voice growls, "Though they know little of the First Ones, there is a group called 'Those Who Wait' that is known to venture into the city, or hire others to do so. In addition to the anacites, a new breed of AI - the protocites - has been discovered. They conduct radical research rather than more labor-oriented tasks. We should be alert for them, as well. I do not know their relationship with the Insight Array, and if they would challenge our rights to be within the city."
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"Religion is an odd thing," Sturmvanger says. "That leads people to odd conclusions. It is sacrilegious for adherents to their religion to enter this place, yet they encourage heathens such as ourselves to do so because they still need to know about what is inside."
He nods to the draconic armored kobold. "So long as they stay out of our way or can be shot," he pats the railgun strapped to his shoulder then holds up his arm, subtly flexing certain muscles causing a long blade made out of reinforced bone to extend "or stabbed, we should be fine."
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As you head out and exit the base camp you see two Starfinders.
“One moment, friends. I think I have something that may
assist you.” As the android consults his data pad, looking
for something specific, he continues, “I’m Hope-01 and
I must admit I’m still taking all this in. I don’t think I’ve
fully recovered from the excitement of the post-graduation
festivities at the Lorespire Complex.”
The cheerful beeping of the data pad interrupts his reverie.
“Ah, yes. There it is. I have a few items that were put aside
to assist you in your mission, including some food packets if
you need to rest as you explore. Just a moment as I find them,”
he adds with a bright smile.
Another Starfinder approaches you.
A petite vulkarisu with bright orange fur wearing a homespun
purple scarf is peering deeply into a datapad which they use
to decode a complex set of instructions written in a language
comprised of colorful pictograms and mathematical notations.
Their eyes go from the text in front of them to the large oxygen
generator assembly, clicking their tongue as they think.
Suddenly, their ears perk up and they climb on the array,
opening a barely noticeable panel with expert fingers. Hanging
almost upside down, the vulkarisu alters a few settings and
the previously silent oxygen array comes to life with a loud
hiss.
“Yes! Always read the instructions, I say! How else would
you notice sub-panel 3F,” they preen, then add to no one in
particular, “You’re lucky I noticed,” as they descend from
the large machine. It’s only once their paws are back on the
ground that they notice their audience.
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So .. what's this thing? An oxygen generator? I take it that's for increasing the oxygen content around the base camp. For that - I'm grateful.
Ooooh. Food packs. Thanks. Any chocolate in here?
"Chocolate! Of course here you go!" The andrioid hands Raia some candies.
The Starfinders gather their things and head out. Waves of heat it you as you leave the base camp. You sweat (if able) but no adverse effects.
The city unexpectedly retreats here, its perfect symmetries
replaced by the jagged edges of rocky outcroppings and
damaged streets. The gurgling of a metal stream is broken by
the remains of a hexagonal basalt pillar embedded with solarpowered
holo-projectors, which partially crosses the morass.
The metallic shell of an anacite lays beside the stream in a
dusty depression, reflecting the sun’s rays in complex, fiery
patterns. The shell is punctured and pried open in multiple
locations, with scraps of metal and circuitry scattered around
it. Metallic pings akin to those created by a rapidly cooling
engine sound from the anacite’s remains, disrupting the soft
murmur coming from the pool with their tinny dissonance.
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"What a surprise. We're sent someplace where something immediately wants to eat us," Sturmvanger comments sardonically as the fallen anacite and its likely killers appear.
"Let them come to us unless they demonstrate the ability to attack at range," he advises the group before firing his rail cannon at the blue tinged bug.
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Sturmvanger and Raia demolish the reaming bug! Little is left after the dragonkin's swing.
combat over!
Searching the nest you find mk 1 mobility enhancer, a brown force field and a heavily damaged shortwave receiver-transmitter.
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Sturmvanger examines the anacite and grunts thoughtfully as he makes a discovery.
"Look...something removed a couple of its arms. And not clumsily. I've been under the knife enough times to know when something is surgery and not butchery," he says.
"Do you want it or should I take it?" he asks Blitniz when they find the forcefield generator.
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I may as well see if I can fix it ... maybe we can monitor comms or something
Say Sturmvanger. Didn't you used to hang out with a rather crazy mad scientist?
There is a single moment of intense pain and sorrow in Sturmvanger's expression before it goes stonily stoic.
"I would say 'brilliant' rather than 'crazy,' but yes, my partner bond is with a scientist and we were performing missions together for some time," he replies flatly.
His voice grows quieter. "I have not seen her in quite some time," he admits.
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Blitniz tries to figure out how the radio receiver-transmitter was damaged.
[dice=Engineering]1d20+11
Blitniz is able to repair it to get it working again. Raia thinks the creature was too damaged by the Dragonkin to get it whole again.
Heading out you see a squat building.
The distribution node is a squat building with smooth stone
walls reinforced with rows of thick hexagonal metal plates.
The building’s tall entry doors are open, revealing a dark and
shadowed interior hall littered with debris.
There's debris in the hallway
some marks left by manipulator arms on some of the
discarded machinery and realizes that the components were
purposefully removed from inside these machines—though
plenty of useful material was left behind. It’s likely whoever
removed the parts was looking for something specific.
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Heading into the area, through the debris.
The utilitarian look of the distribution node’s walls is replaced
by a 30-foot-long hallway with long curved walls adorned
with mirror-like lenses and devices with delicate antennas.
Special care has been taken to isolating this entire section
of the hall between two shutter-type hexagonal doors. The
nearest door is open, and the furthest door is closed.
Nearby, a holographic panel flickers to life, shutting the
aperture of the nearest door. Moments later, electricity
sparks on the wall, dancing from antenna to antenna as a
swarm of nanites briefly sweeps the room, performing some
kind of cleansing procedure. As the swarm disappears, the
second hexagonal door blooms open for a few seconds
before closing again, as the process is repeated in reverse
in an endless loop.
check:
chamber meant to purge biological contaminants, which
is responsible for the strange energy spikes. A defective
lifesense array is erroneously detecting organic matter in
the room, causing the process to repeat endlessly. It's broken and needs fixing ASAP