Using Erict's teleportation abilities, the group retreats back over the fiery channel and continues to explore the hive. As they approach an intersection, they encounter two buggems whom the group quickly and easily dispatches.
The group follows another passage that leads to a fungus garden. A careful search of the garden reveals that it is empty, but was probably used by the buggems to gather certain herbs and fungus necessary to their diet. Some of the fungus glows with a greenish light but Cal's ultravision tells him that the glow is caused by low intensity radiation that might not kill instantly but could certainly cause problems with longer term exposure.
The next chamber that the team investigates seems likely to have been the home of the buggem drones. The hive walls contain many niches, each filled with strange devices and objects - pieces of ancient technology that previously would of had Rosin drooling. But that was before she encountered the group, and their many objects of functioning advanced technology. A more detailed search reveals that many of the objects are damaged or broken, but there are four functioning items:
A key chain with 12 keys of assorted size and shape.
A geiger counter.
A package of detoxification tablets that make poisoned or contaminated water drinkable (or so the package claims).
A fully charged hydrogen cell that Rosin knows will power some tech items that might be found on this continent.
There are no other exits out of this chamber, or so it appears at first glance. As Shooter keeps watch while others in the team search, he notes two sections of the hive walls that seem slightly different. Neither Rock nor Erict are able to use their special senses to detect what may be beyond them but it seems possible that they might lead to another tunnel or cavern.
MARCO: {Radiation...interesting...I wonder if that has anything to do with the strange ecology that has developed here? ... (Assuming that we are told of the two hidden exits): My sense would tell me that our main objective is throught there...ready when you are LT.}
PETER: {We already know that there was a large nuclear war here some centuries ago. And that's probably the source of much of hte strange things we've seen. These are likely artifacts of that lost age - the sort that the locals find of great value. We should take them with us. Wealthy we might be. But we can't rely on that to last.}
ROSIN: {I can help identify what the most valuable items are of the broken stuff,} offered Rosin.
GM: Rosin goes through the remaining items and takes those that she feels will have some value in Hawkshorn.
PETER: {I think Marco's right. This may be it. Be ready with the last grenade, just in case, and let's go through.}
Not really sure what to expect, the group turns its attention to one of the two areas that Shooter pointed out as being different. At first glance, it looks just like any other section of hive wall. Only with close examination (or a really good PER roll) does it become clear that it is slightly different, maybe a shade lighter in color. Rock knocks on it and, though he cannot use his special sense to penetrate it, he believes that it is not more than a few centimeters thick. He hits it harder and it breaks. Through the hole, Rock can see a tunnel. He breaks open more, revealing that the layer was concealing a tunnel entrance.
The group proceeds carefully down the tunnel. It winds for two dozen meters and then opens into a larger cavern.
GM: Let me know if anyone is going to remain in the drone cavern to watch the other concealed opening.
PETER (OOC): Let's leave Cal guarding the rear, watching for anyone coming into the cave, whether from the entrance we came in or the other funny wall. Cal - does that work for you?
CAL: {I will wait and guard the entrance. None shall pass!}
At first glance, it looks like someone took huge barrels of honey, splashed them all over the place, and the honey hardened almost immediately. The walls, as well as much of the floor and ceiling are obscured by the hardened honey, with spidery webs of hardened liquid criss-crossing the room in random fashion.
But then, as Rock and Erict bring their penetrating senses to bear, they can sense bodies - human bodies - encased within the mass of hardened liquid. Erict's senses allow him to distinguish that the humans are all still alive, but in a coma-like state. He counts a total of 13 bodies, including the bodies of two children.
PETER: {Erict, report on their physical health; Marco, report on their mental health. I'll be ready to help you if there's any mental backlash.}
ERICT (OOC): I think the GM already gave me as much as I'm going to get without releasing one from the cocooning resin, but in case he's waiting for a roll from me...
TECH: Base PER 15-, +2 vs range, [rolled 15]. In addition to Spatial Awareness I will use my Detect DNA and passive Life Sense to gather as much information as I can from a target that seems the least thickly cocooned. I'm not sure if these can penetrate barriers in combination with the Spatial Awareness since they are also touch-based or not.
GM: You do not learn anything new.
MARCO (GM): Do you need any rolls from me regarding the mental state of the captives?
ROCK (OOC): Can we get an updated map? I'm not 100% on how these various tunnels run in relation to each other.
ROCK: My first impression is that we need to continue on with the hive. I'd hate to have a mass of buggems rush in while either we're freeing the human captives or trying to get them out safely. Not sure if we can pull off a complete extermination but killing the queen will go a long way to help us get these hostages out safely.
Marco and Peter are able to discern healthy mental patterns from the humans encased in the buggem glazing. All seem to be in a deep state of sleep, perhaps even a form of hibernation. |