IANNA: {How is everyone? Let us return to the ship to discuss next steps and address any wounds, if possible.}
JACK: {I'm fine, I have plenty of strength and health to spare, though I can still feel a little of that life draining attack. If Tal is still too weak to move easily I will happily carry him, same with Dasan. Let's give ourselves a few minutes to figure out how quickly we'll recover from these wounds, I agree. I don't know that it's necessary to return to the ship, but if you want to play it safe I support it. Curt, is there any chance you can get us a sample of that red mist to test on the way back?
DASAN: {I should be fine, no permanent damage. If we go back to the ship thou I have some mods I would like to make, given we have the time of course. If anybody has some incite as to what those things were or how best to affect them, I would love to make something for the next time we meet them.}
TAL: Tal sags to the ground, resting on one knee. He takes a deep breath and tries to clear his head and recover some of his strength. "I'll be all right, but I'm going to need a moment to recover before we try to do anything strenuous, like walking."
JACK: Jack walks over lightly and says, {Come now, just take a quick piggyback ride, the captain says we need to keep moving. Don't worry, I won't even feel your weight.}
MARCO: {I have a massive headache. My last attack seemed to come right back at me. I wonder why they just left thought}
JACK: {Presumably we inflicted enough casualties to make them hesitant to risk their 'hides', so they sought easier prey elsewhere. It does kinda make it much less likely that they were actual guardians of the area though, they would have called for reinforcements or at least sounded an alarm if they were, and we'd have more company. They're probably just some nasty predators that someone intelligent herded into this area to be a front line of guards to hurt intruders.
IANNA: The captain stares out over the interior of the massive ship and seems lost in thought. Returning her gaze to her crew she looks them over and frowns. She was worried that pushing out might endanger them but it wasn't certain either. It made her very uncomfortable to gamble with their lives. {If there are no permanent wounds, then we could investigate further. We should probably determine what that red mist is, though I'm a bit nervous about it. We know we can hurt those shadows but I fear they'll be back, possibly with greater numbers. We do have proof that the others ships came here given the horrific sight of the imperial captain at that pillar-like thing. Though we should investigate further, I also don't feel comfortable leading you all to your possible deaths by going further.}
As the minutes tick by, everyone slowly recovers from the debilitating effects of the Shadow's touch.
SHOOTER: Shooter mentally shrugs and replies to Ianna, {Speaking for myself, I'm Special Forces and risking death is what we are supposed to do to complete a mission - and Gamma Company moreso than most. Our mission is to try to find the missing prisoners and get out of here and that hasn't changed and we haven't learned anything yet.} As a soldier, Shooter wouldn't presume to assume that this is a democracy but unspoken is his obvious belief that we need to continue on.
After some discussion, the group decides that returning to the ship will get them nothing and they decide to press on. If the Shadows return, they will try the same tactics that seemed to work the first time. All of those with ranged weapons will shoot at one to "kill" it while those being attacked, with no protection from the deadly touch of the creatures, will dodge. Marco thinks that the mental backlash that he felt after attacking the creature mentally was a momentary lapse on his part and knows that he will be better prepared for it if it happens again.
GM: In other words, Marco now has Power Defense that is only effective vs mental effects.
The group climbs back over the wall to the "pod" section but this time gives the towering pillar a wide berth. On the far side of the pillar, they come across a massive crack in the floor of this level through which they can see the swirling red mist below. Heeding Jack's suggestion to find out more about the mist, Curt extends a long tendril into the mist far below. It feels slightly cool to the touch but has no other effect.
Not wanting to get closer to the massive central pillar, which may have triggered the attack by the Shadows, and not wanting to fly or leap across the chasm, which is easily a few dozen meters across, the group follows the edge of the crack to the right until they almost reach the edge of the platform. The crack ends before reaching the edge giving the group a few meters of solid walking space to get around it.
JACK: Jack seems completely comfortable with the idea of leaping across, even carrying the others, but understands if they are hesitant, and says nothing dissenting.
On the far side is open space and then a wall, similar to the wall separating the map area from the pod area. This wall, however, only runs back about half way across the platform before turning and presenting a passage continuing towards the end of the platform. Another wall on the other side of the passage sections off another corner of the platform. Visible over the wall, and probably at the far corner of the platform, is some sort of strange tube that seems to run up to the next level. Perhaps there is some sort of entrance into the tube beyond the wall.
GM: You basically have three choices if you want to proceed. You can climb, jump, levitate, stretch, etc. to peer over the wall that sections off the right corner, do the same for the wall that sections off the left corner, or proceed between the walls towards the end of the ship.
JACK: {May as well take a peek down between the walls and see what you can see, if there's something there it has an easy way to reach us and better to know about it now than wait until we're busy trying to jump/fly/climb over a wall. If you want me to hop up to the top of either wall and take a look, I will.}
IANNA: {Let's investigate over each wall before proceeding. Curt, can you stretch your head to peer over the wall without touching it?}
MARCO: Conducts a find minds every couple of minutes in a broad sweep (360*) with only the attempt to get general locations and general numbers (i.e., more than 7).
TAL: Tal stops a moment to light up one of his cigars, enveloping himself in a cloud of blue smoke. "You know, I could just fly up and take a peek over these walls for you."
CURT: "Sure" Curt will stretch up and take a look over the wall at our surroundings.
Curt stretches to peer over the nearest wall, which is about 3 meters high to view the corner that does not have the rube leading up. He finds that the floor of that section is 3 meters lower than where he is currently standing (i.e., it is 3 meters to the top of the wall on this side, then 6 meters down to the floor on the other side). Within the odd-shaped chamber, dividing columns rise 6 meters to the upper level of the wall and are interconnected forming a rocky weave ceiling to the room. The columns are long and thin, made from the rocky material of the ship. But stuck into the colums are thousands of hexagonal pods, jutting out at various angles to form canopies above the narrow spaces between the column rows. The pods, like the columns, appear to be made of the rocky material of the ship. Regular cracks in the pods suggest that they are intended to be opened and closed.
Before investigating further, the group decides to examine the other two options. The wide passage between the two walls extends for a dozen or more meters and then becomes a ramp extending out over the red mists below. The ramp extends upward towards a fan-shaped platform a hundred meters away and about 50 meters up. From this angle, the group cannot see what is on the platform.
The final option is the wall cutting off the final corner of the massive platform. Even without looking over the wall, the group can see some sort of rocky tube extending upwards in the far corner of the area that appears to connect to the next level above. When Curt stretches to peer over the wall, he sees that the area is filled with red mists - the same red mists that cover the bottom of the ship. The mists extend upwards to the upper level of the wall. If the group goes over the wall, they will be immersed in the ominous fog.
GM: You have the same three choices but now know a little more about them:
1. Search the pod area.
2. Follow the ramp up to the platform.
3. Search the room with the red mists.
GM: Marco does not sense any minds in pod room or the red mist room.
IANNA: {Well, those are three very interesting options. I guess I'd suggest the pod area but that's just a gut instinct. Anyone got a reason for doing one of the three before the others?}
JACK: {My gut feeling is that the red mist is a deterrent of some kind for predators in the area, either the shadows, the bugs, or ones we haven't met yet. The tube to the level above is thus protected from them. The pods may be worth searching for survivors of the former crews, so I support searching them if that is what is ordered. The ramp to the platform definitely seems interesting and curious, and may hold some useful intel, but it seems a longshot, only worth investigating if we're trying to be thorough or get a peep at the contents of the level above us.}
MARCO: Runs another Find Minds scan wide arc, numbers, general locations. {I agree with Jack that the pods are intriguing; although, given the lack of mental awareness in these areas, they may not hold the quarry that he suggests.}
Marco sends out a wide arc pulse to find all minds in the general area. He picks up a large cluster of minds about 100 meters away to the right. The general location would put them somewhere between the wall that blocks off the red mists, and the large crack in the floor that the group had to walk around. Looking in that direction, Marco sees nothing that would account for the minds. He counted 32 minds.
As Marco is doing this, the group begins climbing (flying, stretching, etc.) over the wall to descend into the pod area.
GM: I've updated the map to show the many pillars in the pod area. The map does not show the many pods that are attached to the pillars. They are of many different sizes and together create a canopy that obscures much of the floor of the pod area. I'm not going to worry about how the group will reach the pod area as there are enough people that can fly/leap/stretch/climb up 3 meters, across 1 meter, and down 6 meters that the group can easily reach the floor of the pod area.
GM: I will send out the next turn after I know whether Marco is going to report the presence of 32 minds about 100 meters to the (relative) north even though he can't see anyone when he looks in that direction.
MARCO: {There is a cluster of minds about 100 meters to our right - somewhere between that wall (points) and the crack...about 32 minds, but 7 could be us. A large group by any reckoning.}
IANNA: Ianna stops and glances back in the direction Marco indicated. {What?} she asked mentally. {That is strange as we didn't notice anything. Let's go check that out before going into the pod area. Isobella can you scan to see if you can locate the source? Marco, can you pin point where you think they are since we can't see anything normally?}
ISOBELLA: Isobella starts scanning that area with all the frequencies her LG shades support. "Perhaps they are under the deck. A quick look though the crack might reveal them."
TAL: "I can fly down and search under the deck if we decide that's necessary"
JACK: {Give Marco a chance to learn more before approaching, guys, this could be where those shadow things roost, and while we discouraged their attack if we go barging in too close to their lair they may get more desperate and attack en masse.}
The group heads to the north to the approximate point where Marco detected the minds. Marco does another mind scan and determines that the source of the minds is indeed below the group's feet a meter or two. The platform that the group is standing in is at least 4 to 5 meters thick so the minds are inside the floor of the platform. The group does not see any panels or trap doors in the floor.
ISOBELLA: "Interesting. The platforms must be hollow, probably with the crack providing access to the interior." Isobella lays down at the edge of the crack so that she can safely peer over the edge to examine the sides of the crack.
GM: Isobella confirms that the platform is indeed about 5 meters thick. However it is not hollow. It is mostly solide and made up of the same stone-like material that makes up the floor. She does see some occasional holes and cracks but none look big enough for a human-sized figure to fit down.
IANNA: {Well, it sounds like whatever they are are inside the floor. This may be where the shadow people rest. That seems logical. Do we have anything that can scan the composition of the platform?}
MARCO: {I need line-of-sight to communicate with any of them. So, other than more exact numbers/locations, I'm not sure what else I can do.}
MARCO (GM): I'm not sure if Mental Radar provides any different informational options.
GM: Mental Radar allows Marco to pinpoint their location if he wants to attack.
DASAN: Dasan looks up from the electronic note pad he has been working on sense the conclusion of the shadow fight. {Ianna.... did you say something?} Dasan looks around for a minute like he is lost. {Shadow, ledge, platform, composition} He scratches his head {I should of designed something to study the structural integrity of the equipment outside of heat signatures a long time ago. I was trying to figure out how to configure my internal radio so it can be used for targeting, but maybe if I make some adjustments to FM/AM modulation, yes I know I said modulation twice, I can do some rudimentary structural analysis of the platform at least until I can find a stable radiation sourse.}
DASAN(GM/Tech): Steve, I don't know if you had Ok'd my changes to Dasan. If I added Discriminatory to the radio perseption would he be able to do what I mentioned above?
GM: I would say probably not. Discriminatory on Radio Perception would allow him to better analyze radio signals, but not rock. To really analyze the structure of the rock, you would want Geology skill or, if you wanted to do it via a special sense, then Analyze on something like Touch, Sight, Spatial Awareness, or a special sense built to analyze solid structures.
MARCO: {Maybe between Dasan and I we can at least figure out their status and exact location and then we can make an attempt to communicate. Ianna, would you like us to try? Or do we intend to continue our search of the ship?}
GM: Just to clarify, Marco is able to pinpoint the exact location of each of the 32 minds with his Mental Radar. All are in the 5 meter thick floor of this area.
IANNA: {If it doesn't take too long, go for it. We can also come back after we've investigated some other parts too. I suspect our mission's success will hinge on learning as much as we can.}
JACK (kinda OOC): Another idea is if Marco can at least narrow down the TYPE of mind that they are, by scanning for human minds only, or alien minds only, or if he can narrow down how powerful the minds are by doing a low power scan to see if it misses them. Another bad thought is the way that crack looks it's almost like something exploded or burst its way through the deck, so while that seems a longshot this could be another 'nest' of whatever did that :(
After some internal debating with himself, Jack voices his suggestion to Marco, who acts on it. He does another Mind Scan targeting only human minds and comes up with nothing. He tries again looking only for alien class of minds and comes up with 32 minds. He takes it a step further and tries a lower power mind scan. After a few probes into the floor, he concludes that the minds are not particularly powerful.
GM: In game terms, he concludes that their (EGO + Mental Defense) is in the 10 to 20 range. That could be 10 EGO + 10 Mental Defense, 5 EGO + 5 Mental Defense, 10 EGO + 0 Mental Defense, or any other combination where EGO + Mental Defense adds up to a total in the 10 to 20 range.
JACK (OOC): I debated heavily whether to voice it IC or OOC so this works ;) I ended up choosing OOC because IC Jack doesn't know THAT much about the finer points of mental powers, it was more as a suggestion to Marco's player than something Jack would come up with, necessarily.
JACK: {And how powerful were the shadow minds? Okay, so these are definitely alien, but perhaps eggs or other young that have not fully matured? Doesn't seem likely they are the shadows, so I'm less concerned about them, at least. Ianna, do you want me to break a hole in the deck? I would think Dasan could cut his way in a little less destructively, though, if I do it the vibrations would probably arouse more trouble. I don't suppose your mental sense gives any idea how large they are, Marco. If they are all crowded into a small area that implies their bodies are small, doesn't it? Or do we not want to disturb them at all now that we know that they are not the missing crewmen?} Unvoiced is the worrying thought that if they ARE the missing crewmen they've been mutated or transformed so badly that they aren't likely to be anything resembling human any more, and beyond our ability to help.
MARCO: {The mental signatures are weak, but that rarely indicates size, or metabolic state. My guess is that these are not the missing crew-men.}
IANNA: {Let's not do any damage. Non-invasive detection seems prudent though. I did have the thought that if there were cracks or openings into the space Curt could investigate in his goo form. However, now that Marco has indicated that they are alien minds I'm less concerned determining what they are exactly. The last thing I want to do is break into something important to the native aliens here without good reason. These could be sleeping quarters or an incubation process for their young.} |