After the Gap - May 5, 317 @ 00:08
With
Friday, May 29, 2020
Friday, May 22, 2020
Against the Aeon Throne Episode 004
After the Gap - May 4, 317 @ 06:00
Following the destruction of the Azlanti garrison on Madelon's Landing, Gryfinda, Trevian, Altronus and Beric spend a deserved night recuperating from their efforts at Aibretta's junk shop. Gryfinda suggests coming up with a list of things to do, as well as fixing the broken hovercraft. Trevian proposes that the town folks continue to act as if the local garrison was still active, with people walking around wearing Azlanti armor. He also states that the resident computer expert should try to install a translator function on their datapad for written Azlanti text. Beric replies that he will try to do that, but there's a higher priority.
After the Gap - May 4, 317 @ 07:38
The next morning, sensors alert them that one of the hoverstrikes is returning to Madelon's Landing. Arriving at the stables, three Azlanti cadets unload empty supply boxes and returns to the garrison. Laying in ambush, Altronus warns his friends of their arrival to the garrison. Beric, Gryfinda and Trevian quickly dispatch them with the help of a feedback loop the mechanic set up earlier. On their corpses they find a list of tools and provisions requested by Lieutenant Sharu.
After much discussion, they devise a plan. Gryfinda will fly one of the hoverstrike while disguised as an Azlanti, while Trevian rides in a large box built on the back of the hoverstrike. They will land as close to the ship as possible, with the hope of neutralizing any sentries. Altronus and Beric will follow in the repaired hoverstrike, and will travel through the forest a short way.
After the Gap - May 4, 317 @ 14:02
Following the destruction of the Azlanti garrison on Madelon's Landing, Gryfinda, Trevian, Altronus and Beric spend a deserved night recuperating from their efforts at Aibretta's junk shop. Gryfinda suggests coming up with a list of things to do, as well as fixing the broken hovercraft. Trevian proposes that the town folks continue to act as if the local garrison was still active, with people walking around wearing Azlanti armor. He also states that the resident computer expert should try to install a translator function on their datapad for written Azlanti text. Beric replies that he will try to do that, but there's a higher priority.
Beric, with Aibretta's help, fixes the broken hoverstrike left in the stable. Madelon draws a map of where the ancient Azlanti ship, the Royal Venture, crashed. It is located roughly 12 miles from Madelon's Landing, and the hoverstrike should cover the trip in about 20 minutes. Gryfinda talks to some of the village elders about Cedona. She learns that Cedona was appreciated by the residents for her skills and her perseverance. The android had retired here four years ago, and seemed to enjoy life on Nakondis. She was the first one on the scene of the crashed probe, and she's the only one who entered the Royal Venture. She dismantled what she called a rune drive, and managed to bring it back here. She was planning on studying how the drive worked when the Azlanti arrived.
Trevian returns to Madelon the datapad he had taken from the administrator's house. Madelon thanks Trevian, but gives it back as it contains a few videos of Cedona and the rune drive. There is not enough information here to figure out how it operated, but the drive is clearly visible. Trevian muses aloud that the pictures and videos should be uploaded to the Infosphere when they return to Absalom Station. Gryfinda is opposed, since this would reveal the existence of this device to everyone, and she doesn't believe the galaxy is ready for such a paradigm shift.
Gryfinda continues to talk to the village elders, and inquires when they should expect the return of the last Azlanti team that went to the Royal Venture. Their consensus is that it should be within the next three days.
Trevian and Gryfinda then leave the junk yard and return to the water cooling station, where they defeat the water elemental guard left behind by the Azlanti. Meanwhile, Altronus organizes a drive with the village folks to gather enough supplies for their trek into the rain forest. With their help, he puts together enough provisions for a full week for all four of them.
After the Gap - May 4, 317 @ 07:38
The next morning, sensors alert them that one of the hoverstrikes is returning to Madelon's Landing. Arriving at the stables, three Azlanti cadets unload empty supply boxes and returns to the garrison. Laying in ambush, Altronus warns his friends of their arrival to the garrison. Beric, Gryfinda and Trevian quickly dispatch them with the help of a feedback loop the mechanic set up earlier. On their corpses they find a list of tools and provisions requested by Lieutenant Sharu.
After much discussion, they devise a plan. Gryfinda will fly one of the hoverstrike while disguised as an Azlanti, while Trevian rides in a large box built on the back of the hoverstrike. They will land as close to the ship as possible, with the hope of neutralizing any sentries. Altronus and Beric will follow in the repaired hoverstrike, and will travel through the forest a short way.
After the Gap - May 4, 317 @ 14:02
With all of their preparations ready, they head out to the crash site of the Royal Venture. Hovering, they see the ship partially sticking out of the ground, with two hoverstrikes, and another smaller Azlanti shuttle. Gryfinda lands her craft next to the other two hoverstrikes. Glancing around, she spots no guards. Trevian emerges from his hiding spot, and they are soon joined by Altronus and Beric.
Beric successfully breaks into the shuttle, but no one is on board. It appears the shuttle is used as a barracks. Carefully, the party heads inside the Royal Venture. Right away they find the recently dead body of an Azlanti cadet. They soon face the same synapse worm that slew the cadet, and they defeat it.
Through exploration, they find the engine room, where Trevian is attacked by a pair of voracious electrovores, but he manages to make them flee. Further in, they discover a technomagical lab, where the rune drive would have been controlled.
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| electrovore |
In an adjacent room, clearly that of the ship's owner, Altronus is attacked by an adjutant robot, but with his friends' help the Kasatha is able to defeat it. Taking a quick look, Beric notices that with 2,000 credits and 2 weeks of work he should be able to fix the robot. In this room, they find enough valuable trinkets to earn about 3,500 credits, as well as two corrupted datapads. With some work, the data could probably be retrieved.
Returning to the technomagical lab, they slay the zombies that guarded it, and retire here to heal and recuperate.
Friday, May 15, 2020
Against the Aeon Throne Episode 003
After the Gap - May 3, 317 @ 12:35
With two patrols neutralized, Gryfinda, Beric, Trevian and Altronus discuss their next step with Aibretta. The fake Azlanti patrol the citizens of Madelon's Landing fielded with the equipment that was retrieved has successfully walked its regular patrol route for the last hour, and has not been challenged. However, with dusk and a shift change coming in about seven hours, their next actions will be decisive for the future of Madelon's Landing.
Trusting them since the slaying of the Azlanti near the cemetery, Aibretta tells them about town administrator Madelon's house and that Cedona might have shared more information with him. This information may still be in his residence. Trevian heads over to his residence and enters the town. He immediately sees that the Azlanti were very thorough in searching the house, but she does find a printed report from eleven days ago mentioning an industrial accident in the Blue Tin Range, but that two people who were hurt are likely to recover. Madelon had written a note to deliver this report to Goraya Li. Trevian is also able to pick up Madelon's data pad.
Returning to the junk hop, Trevian gives the report to Aibretta. She tells him that Goraya Li was worried sick about her niece and nephew, and this would really assuage her fears.
With Trevian at the administrator's house, Altronus and Beric carefully move the glider to the top of the antenna ridge. They climb to the top, and wait for the hobgars to be released from their cage before landing on top of the garrison.
After the Gap - May 3, 317 @ 18:29
With everything in place, Trevian releases the door on the hobgars' cage. The monkeys drop from the pole and attack the garrison building, destroying many of the outside cameras. Azlanti guards come out and engage the hobgars. At the same time, Altronus and Beric launch themselves from the antenna ridge in the glider, and land on top of the garrison. Beric cuts a hole in the roof using
Aibretta's plasma cutter, and they drop from the ceiling inside the Azlanti dormitory.
Outside, Gryfinda and Trevian devise their own means of climbing the garrison's outside wall, and they follow down the hole. Exploring the building, they confront two groups of Azlanti soldiers, and in short order they successfully eliminate the threats. Gryfinda hacks into the system and disarms the alarm one of the Azlanti had set, warning everyone inside the compound.
Further in they discover the jail, with Madelon as one of the residents. He tells them that he's been here for 10 days, and he and the other prisoners have been tortured. Cedona was removed off-planet on the day the Azlanti landed, and was taken back to the Azlanti Star Empire. Aboard the ancient starship, the Android had found a rune drive, a powerful magical artifact that allowed ships to travel through space without Drift engines. None of the other settlers know anything about the device aside from what Cedona told them. Madelon also tells them that the local commander, Olajara, is in the next room, possibly with a few guards.
Entering the next room, they confront Olajara who hurls insults at them in a stilted Common. The fight is vicious, but Altronus is able to daze the commander, and Trevian delivers the kill shot. On his desk, they find Olajara's computer unlocked. In it are several reports he has written.
Olajara is perplexed that the Azlanti have suppressed their own signals, and he suspects that it is to prevent them from transmitting back to the Empire. Their ship, the Barazad, was rerouted to Nakondis when the probe returned a signal. Lieutenant Sharu, charged with training Azlanti Cadets for the Aeon Guard, took overall command of the expedition that secured Madelon's Landing and the site of the crash of the ancient Azlanti starship. This ship, the Royal Venture, carried an experimental rune drive that allowed it to travel through space without a Drift engine. The whole operation was ordered by Sardat Zolan Ulivestra. A fast courier ship, called the Silver Needle arrived a short time later to collect Cedona and the rune drive and returned to an unknown destination in the Azlanti Star Empire.
Armed with this information, the party returns to Aibretta's junk shop to discuss their next steps.
With two patrols neutralized, Gryfinda, Beric, Trevian and Altronus discuss their next step with Aibretta. The fake Azlanti patrol the citizens of Madelon's Landing fielded with the equipment that was retrieved has successfully walked its regular patrol route for the last hour, and has not been challenged. However, with dusk and a shift change coming in about seven hours, their next actions will be decisive for the future of Madelon's Landing.
Trusting them since the slaying of the Azlanti near the cemetery, Aibretta tells them about town administrator Madelon's house and that Cedona might have shared more information with him. This information may still be in his residence. Trevian heads over to his residence and enters the town. He immediately sees that the Azlanti were very thorough in searching the house, but she does find a printed report from eleven days ago mentioning an industrial accident in the Blue Tin Range, but that two people who were hurt are likely to recover. Madelon had written a note to deliver this report to Goraya Li. Trevian is also able to pick up Madelon's data pad.
Returning to the junk hop, Trevian gives the report to Aibretta. She tells him that Goraya Li was worried sick about her niece and nephew, and this would really assuage her fears.
With Trevian at the administrator's house, Altronus and Beric carefully move the glider to the top of the antenna ridge. They climb to the top, and wait for the hobgars to be released from their cage before landing on top of the garrison.
After the Gap - May 3, 317 @ 18:29
With everything in place, Trevian releases the door on the hobgars' cage. The monkeys drop from the pole and attack the garrison building, destroying many of the outside cameras. Azlanti guards come out and engage the hobgars. At the same time, Altronus and Beric launch themselves from the antenna ridge in the glider, and land on top of the garrison. Beric cuts a hole in the roof using
Aibretta's plasma cutter, and they drop from the ceiling inside the Azlanti dormitory.
Outside, Gryfinda and Trevian devise their own means of climbing the garrison's outside wall, and they follow down the hole. Exploring the building, they confront two groups of Azlanti soldiers, and in short order they successfully eliminate the threats. Gryfinda hacks into the system and disarms the alarm one of the Azlanti had set, warning everyone inside the compound.
Further in they discover the jail, with Madelon as one of the residents. He tells them that he's been here for 10 days, and he and the other prisoners have been tortured. Cedona was removed off-planet on the day the Azlanti landed, and was taken back to the Azlanti Star Empire. Aboard the ancient starship, the Android had found a rune drive, a powerful magical artifact that allowed ships to travel through space without Drift engines. None of the other settlers know anything about the device aside from what Cedona told them. Madelon also tells them that the local commander, Olajara, is in the next room, possibly with a few guards.
Entering the next room, they confront Olajara who hurls insults at them in a stilted Common. The fight is vicious, but Altronus is able to daze the commander, and Trevian delivers the kill shot. On his desk, they find Olajara's computer unlocked. In it are several reports he has written.
Olajara is perplexed that the Azlanti have suppressed their own signals, and he suspects that it is to prevent them from transmitting back to the Empire. Their ship, the Barazad, was rerouted to Nakondis when the probe returned a signal. Lieutenant Sharu, charged with training Azlanti Cadets for the Aeon Guard, took overall command of the expedition that secured Madelon's Landing and the site of the crash of the ancient Azlanti starship. This ship, the Royal Venture, carried an experimental rune drive that allowed it to travel through space without a Drift engine. The whole operation was ordered by Sardat Zolan Ulivestra. A fast courier ship, called the Silver Needle arrived a short time later to collect Cedona and the rune drive and returned to an unknown destination in the Azlanti Star Empire.
Armed with this information, the party returns to Aibretta's junk shop to discuss their next steps.
Friday, May 8, 2020
Against the Aeon Throne Episode 002
After the Gap - May 2, 317 @ 14:09
Following their meeting with Jellik Fulsom, the party follows the colonist through the woods on a circuitous route to Madelon's Landing and Aibretta's junk shot. Fulsom tells them he's trying to avoid the detection equipment the Azlanti have placed in the forest. It takes an hour to cover the half kilometer, but eventually they reach the back of a large building. Fulsom walks them to a section of the building, and shows them how to activate a concealed panel to access the junkyard's interior.
The junkyard itself is made of three large shipping containers assembled in a u-shape, with chainlink fencing around the property and large piles of junk hazardly placed around the yard, obscuring the view of the inner courtyard. Fulsom takes them to the easternmost building, which are Aibretta's private quarter.
Aibretta does not look surprised to see Jellik, merely disappointed. She welcomes the new arrivals, and informs them of what has happened over the last 20 days, retellling a similar story to that Jellik told them earlier in the morning. She then inquires if they came to Nakondis because their plea for help was heard. Unfortunately, none of the four had heard of the assault before they came here on a merchant transport.
Gryfinda tells Aibretta she is looking for someone. Beric confirms that he too seeks someone. They explain that their ship was shot down, and, seeing the lights in the night sky, made their way to Maledon's Landing. Trevian introduces himself, and asks if per chance she knows what was discovered in the wreck of the ancient Azlanti ship. Aibretta doesn't know, and Cedona, the android who discovered the ship, was immediately arrested and imprisoned inside the garrison following the Azlanti's landing. All others on the trek were arrested or shot, leaving no other witnesses. Gryfinda reveals that her deity has sent her here to free Cedona.
Aibretta questions them on their encounters with the Azlanti, and they assure her that they covered their tracks very carefully, and that the Azlanti don't know they are here. Aibretta considers this a very good thing. As leader of the local rebellion, she knows of several ways to hit at the Azlanti short of assaulting the garrison. One, the town is often infested by hobgars, and the townsfolk built a trap to catch the apes. It is currently full, but the Azlanti have not allowed it to be empty. Second, the Azlanti have forced water rationing, so freeing the water collector would be a boost to the inhabitants' morale. Finally, she's worried about Rendell Tace, who is the storehouse clerk and who hasn't been seen since an Aeon cadet was posted there two days ago.
Trevian, Altronus and Beric discuss how to neutralize the Azlanti surveillance that has bee strategically placed around Madelon's Landing. Since all the guards wear the same uniform, it's difficult to arrive at an actual number, but Aibretta believes there are three dozen soldiers here. She has not seen more than 12 at a time, however. She identifies Olaraja as the local commander, while Sharu is in overall command and was the only soldier seen without a face plate when she first occupied the town. Whereas Olaraja wears a distinctive armor, Sharu has not been spotted in town since the Azlanti's first landing 20 days ago.
The discussion then turns to the cause of the planet-wide jamming signal. Gryfinda speculates that the source of the jamming could be at the crash site. Trevian offers that it could be a system set up in space. Either way, they realize they have no way of effectively dealing with it at the moment.
Eventually, they begin considering their options. Altronus volunteers to monitor the town at night by sitting on the natural ridge that acts as an antenna after dark. Gryfinda is concerned that her Kasatha colleagues will stick out. Even though she could pass as an Azlanti, she is not very stealty. Aibretta lends night vision goggles to Altronus, and confirms that the Azlanti confiscated all of the weapons following their arrival.
Beric excitedly explores the junkyard. He questions Aibretta about the water collector. She tells him it is composed of a large array of fins that collects the moisture from the air and drips it in four large tanks, that then feed into a systems of pipes for delivery to the residences in town. The Azlanti have shut the valve down, and there are reports that it is protected by a ghost, even though there are no guards posted there.
After the Gap - May 2, 317 @ 21:00
Following night fall, Altronus and Beric climb on the ridge and watches the garrison. There is a shift change around 22:00, but aside from a strange beam of light that is focused into space from the roof of the building, nothing of interest happen. Beric determines that a glider could drop them on the roof, and the cameras' are positioned to cover the grounds, but not the air.
Gryfinda decides to explore the storehouse. At this time of night, there are no guards, and the large bay door is opened. She checks the small office door, but it is locked. She enters the storeroom. Taking a peek through the inside office door, she finds a sleeping man in the office, with Aeon Guard armor and equipment next to him. She casts mind thrust at him, and debilitates him. Coming closer, she realizes that he does't look like a soldier and is in fact dressed like the colonists. She gags and binds him. Searching the warehouse, she finds the dead body of an Aeon cadet. Returning to the office, Gryfinda heals Rendell and he tells her about how he accidentally killed the guard the first day he showed up, and he has been impersonating him ever since. She tells him to continue keeping guard for a few days while they devise a plan, and he reluctantly agrees. Gryfinda then returns to the junkyard.
Beric climbs down the ridge and also returns to the junkyard and begins work on a two-person glider. Beric's current plan is to land someone on the roof with a plasma cutter, cut a hole in the roof and infiltrate the garrison building.
After the Gap - May 3, 317 @ 6:09
As the dawn approaches, Altronus witnesses another change of guards. Two patrols, one of three and one of two, begin a rotation around town and take the trail that passes by the cemetery, away from prying eyes.
After the two-persons patrol goes by, they lay in ambush, and when the three-persons patrol shows up they attack. Surprised, the Azlanti cadets fight to the death. Gryfinda and Trevian clear all signs of combat, while Altronus and Beric bury the bodies, and they reset the trap. Less than half an hour later, the next patrol enters the path next to the cemetery, and meet a similarly grizzly end.
Having collected the salvageable gear, they return to Aibretta and bring her three suits. She outfits three townsfolk, and ask them to continue patrolling. With the five Azlanti killed on the trail, the dead one in the storehouse, five more dead and buried in the cemetery, and another five away at the wreck of the ancient Azlanti ship, this leaves approximately 20 Azlanti soldiers in town, with at least one patrol out in the forest. Gryfinda, Trevian, Altronus and Beric regroup at the junk yard and plan their next step ...
Following their meeting with Jellik Fulsom, the party follows the colonist through the woods on a circuitous route to Madelon's Landing and Aibretta's junk shot. Fulsom tells them he's trying to avoid the detection equipment the Azlanti have placed in the forest. It takes an hour to cover the half kilometer, but eventually they reach the back of a large building. Fulsom walks them to a section of the building, and shows them how to activate a concealed panel to access the junkyard's interior.
The junkyard itself is made of three large shipping containers assembled in a u-shape, with chainlink fencing around the property and large piles of junk hazardly placed around the yard, obscuring the view of the inner courtyard. Fulsom takes them to the easternmost building, which are Aibretta's private quarter.
 |
| Aibretta |
Aibretta does not look surprised to see Jellik, merely disappointed. She welcomes the new arrivals, and informs them of what has happened over the last 20 days, retellling a similar story to that Jellik told them earlier in the morning. She then inquires if they came to Nakondis because their plea for help was heard. Unfortunately, none of the four had heard of the assault before they came here on a merchant transport.
Gryfinda tells Aibretta she is looking for someone. Beric confirms that he too seeks someone. They explain that their ship was shot down, and, seeing the lights in the night sky, made their way to Maledon's Landing. Trevian introduces himself, and asks if per chance she knows what was discovered in the wreck of the ancient Azlanti ship. Aibretta doesn't know, and Cedona, the android who discovered the ship, was immediately arrested and imprisoned inside the garrison following the Azlanti's landing. All others on the trek were arrested or shot, leaving no other witnesses. Gryfinda reveals that her deity has sent her here to free Cedona.
Aibretta questions them on their encounters with the Azlanti, and they assure her that they covered their tracks very carefully, and that the Azlanti don't know they are here. Aibretta considers this a very good thing. As leader of the local rebellion, she knows of several ways to hit at the Azlanti short of assaulting the garrison. One, the town is often infested by hobgars, and the townsfolk built a trap to catch the apes. It is currently full, but the Azlanti have not allowed it to be empty. Second, the Azlanti have forced water rationing, so freeing the water collector would be a boost to the inhabitants' morale. Finally, she's worried about Rendell Tace, who is the storehouse clerk and who hasn't been seen since an Aeon cadet was posted there two days ago.
Trevian, Altronus and Beric discuss how to neutralize the Azlanti surveillance that has bee strategically placed around Madelon's Landing. Since all the guards wear the same uniform, it's difficult to arrive at an actual number, but Aibretta believes there are three dozen soldiers here. She has not seen more than 12 at a time, however. She identifies Olaraja as the local commander, while Sharu is in overall command and was the only soldier seen without a face plate when she first occupied the town. Whereas Olaraja wears a distinctive armor, Sharu has not been spotted in town since the Azlanti's first landing 20 days ago.
The discussion then turns to the cause of the planet-wide jamming signal. Gryfinda speculates that the source of the jamming could be at the crash site. Trevian offers that it could be a system set up in space. Either way, they realize they have no way of effectively dealing with it at the moment.
Eventually, they begin considering their options. Altronus volunteers to monitor the town at night by sitting on the natural ridge that acts as an antenna after dark. Gryfinda is concerned that her Kasatha colleagues will stick out. Even though she could pass as an Azlanti, she is not very stealty. Aibretta lends night vision goggles to Altronus, and confirms that the Azlanti confiscated all of the weapons following their arrival.
Beric excitedly explores the junkyard. He questions Aibretta about the water collector. She tells him it is composed of a large array of fins that collects the moisture from the air and drips it in four large tanks, that then feed into a systems of pipes for delivery to the residences in town. The Azlanti have shut the valve down, and there are reports that it is protected by a ghost, even though there are no guards posted there.
After the Gap - May 2, 317 @ 21:00
Following night fall, Altronus and Beric climb on the ridge and watches the garrison. There is a shift change around 22:00, but aside from a strange beam of light that is focused into space from the roof of the building, nothing of interest happen. Beric determines that a glider could drop them on the roof, and the cameras' are positioned to cover the grounds, but not the air.
Gryfinda decides to explore the storehouse. At this time of night, there are no guards, and the large bay door is opened. She checks the small office door, but it is locked. She enters the storeroom. Taking a peek through the inside office door, she finds a sleeping man in the office, with Aeon Guard armor and equipment next to him. She casts mind thrust at him, and debilitates him. Coming closer, she realizes that he does't look like a soldier and is in fact dressed like the colonists. She gags and binds him. Searching the warehouse, she finds the dead body of an Aeon cadet. Returning to the office, Gryfinda heals Rendell and he tells her about how he accidentally killed the guard the first day he showed up, and he has been impersonating him ever since. She tells him to continue keeping guard for a few days while they devise a plan, and he reluctantly agrees. Gryfinda then returns to the junkyard.
Beric climbs down the ridge and also returns to the junkyard and begins work on a two-person glider. Beric's current plan is to land someone on the roof with a plasma cutter, cut a hole in the roof and infiltrate the garrison building.
After the Gap - May 3, 317 @ 6:09
As the dawn approaches, Altronus witnesses another change of guards. Two patrols, one of three and one of two, begin a rotation around town and take the trail that passes by the cemetery, away from prying eyes.
After the two-persons patrol goes by, they lay in ambush, and when the three-persons patrol shows up they attack. Surprised, the Azlanti cadets fight to the death. Gryfinda and Trevian clear all signs of combat, while Altronus and Beric bury the bodies, and they reset the trap. Less than half an hour later, the next patrol enters the path next to the cemetery, and meet a similarly grizzly end.
Having collected the salvageable gear, they return to Aibretta and bring her three suits. She outfits three townsfolk, and ask them to continue patrolling. With the five Azlanti killed on the trail, the dead one in the storehouse, five more dead and buried in the cemetery, and another five away at the wreck of the ancient Azlanti ship, this leaves approximately 20 Azlanti soldiers in town, with at least one patrol out in the forest. Gryfinda, Trevian, Altronus and Beric regroup at the junk yard and plan their next step ...
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Against the Aeon Throne Episode 001
After the Gap - May 1, 317 @ 22:07
Shot out of the sky, a transport to Nakondis crashes on the surface. Only five of the passengers and crew survive.
Gryfinda Tharsen a human mystic with a crusader connection, who has lived on Absalom Station her whole life, was called to promote a higher power. She received a mystical vision instructing her to find an android named Cedona on the remote lumber planet of Nakondis, in the Deep.
Trevian, a Kasathas solarian, has been studying the lost magic items of the Ages and has personally tried to find the lost treasures and the secrets that they hold and bring them back. The reason for his trip to Nakondis remain his own.
Beric Seacrest, a half-orc bounty hunter mechanic, served in the war against the Veskarium and lost an arm. Through cybernetic augmentations, he came to believe that the best machine to work on is himself, and looks down on others who have had the opportunity but chose not be be augmented. He has been hired by
Stellar Rehabilitation, Inc to capture and bring Cedona back to Absalom Station to face charges of facilitating a prison escape.
Altronus is a Kasatha sensate witchwarper from the Idari colony ship. He is insatiably curious and sort of naive, and he is absolutely obsessed with learning about other worlds. When Beric visited, Altronus begged to accompany him and get off he ship. He departed four months ago and has been following the mechanic ever since. Unlike Altronus, Trevian has been away from the Idari for a number of yeas.
Beric unbuckles himself and stands up. The front of the ship is engulfed in flames, and the broken door leading to the bridge allows him to see that there is no one left alive there. Coughing, he follows the emergency lighting and heads for the starboard exit.
Gryfinda also unbuckles herself, takes a second to examine her environment. Realizing that the ship is badly damaged and could explode at any time, she follows the mechanic out. Altronus quickly regains his wits and follows the mystic and his half-orc companion.
Trevian fights through the smoke and flames and maneuvers towards the bridge. He wants to check why the fire suppression did not activate. Large holes indicate the ship was attacked on approach to Nakondis and crash landed several miles away from the landing pad of Madelon's Landing, the only town on Nakondis. Seeing there is nothing he can do, he quickly evacuates the ship.
Outside in the dark night sky, they notice that the ship landed on the ridge of a mountain. In the distance, about seven miles away down in the valley below, they spot lights that show the position of Madelon's Landing. It will be trek there. Altronus also sees two small Azlanti drones flying in the sky and heading back towards the crashed ship with bomb bays open. He identifies them as Klockwork Drones.
The stranded party runs away from the crash site as quickly as they can, soon followed by the drones destroying what remained of the ship. The valley below is wrapped in mist. They decide to find shelter and spend the night on the ridge before heading down in daylight towards the town.
After the Gap - May 2, 317 @ 7:39
After an uneventful night that has them on edge, the party heads down from the ridge into the valley below, which is still covered in fog.
The forest is alive with the sounds of critters, but soon they attract the attention of two hobgars, who are attracted by their electronics. A short scuffle ensues, and both simian-like creatures are slain. Altronus cuts off a head, and carefully packages it for transport.
The fog thickens, and by the time they get to the valley floor they can barely see 30 feet ahead. Hearing the sounds of humanoids walking in the distance, the party springs an ambush and defeats three Aeon Cadets. Though they have radio, something is interfering with the signal and they are unable to communicate further than a few dozen feet. Beric loots and, with Tevian's help, they bury the bodies. They pick up three pacification rifle and three survival knives. Altronus chooses one of the survival knives for his own collection, and assembles a suit of armor out of the damaged pieces from the three bodies. Gryfrinda puts it on, and the party resumes its trek towards the town.
An hour later, and about a half-mile from Madelon's Landing, they once again hear humanoid footsteps. This time a local human male tumbles out of the fog. Lanky on the verge of skinny, the man in his mid forties and sports short dark hair that are beginning to turn gray. He stops in front of Gryfinda and immediately rushes away, fear in his eyes. Trevian stops him. On his tail are two more Aeon Cadets, who immediately open fire on Beric and Altronus. The cadets are eventually defeated, stripped and buried.
The man, meanwhile, reveals that his name is Jellik Fulsom and he is part of the resistance on Nakondis. About a month ago, a probe streaked through the Nakondis sky and crashed in the mountains about twenty miles from here. Cedona and others from Madelon's Landing went to explore, and discovered the remains of an Azlanti probe. It had crashed next to a long-ago crashed Azlanti starship. The ship had been here for centuries, with massive trees growing above parts of it. Cedona retrieved parts from the ship and was very excited about what it might be.
Then, ten days ago, an Azlanti warship appeared above the town. Soldiers landed and occupied the settlement, a temporary garrison was dropped from the ship, and the inhabitants were placed under martial law. Those who resisted were ordered shot by the Azlanti commander, a stern female though her faceplate hid her features. Cedona and those who had gone to the starship were arrested and imprisoned. They haven't been seen since.
With everyone a prisoner, a resistance to the Azlanti invasion has formed. Fulsom escaped the town as soon as he could, but he unfortunately was soon tracked by three Azlanti soldiers. He managed to kill one, but the other two were chasing him when he came upon the group.
Fulsom proposes to take the group to Aibretta, the leader of the resistance, owner of the only junkyard on the planet, and his ex-wife. They accept his offer, and they quietly make their way to Madelon's Landing.
Shot out of the sky, a transport to Nakondis crashes on the surface. Only five of the passengers and crew survive.
Gryfinda Tharsen a human mystic with a crusader connection, who has lived on Absalom Station her whole life, was called to promote a higher power. She received a mystical vision instructing her to find an android named Cedona on the remote lumber planet of Nakondis, in the Deep.
Trevian, a Kasathas solarian, has been studying the lost magic items of the Ages and has personally tried to find the lost treasures and the secrets that they hold and bring them back. The reason for his trip to Nakondis remain his own.
Beric Seacrest, a half-orc bounty hunter mechanic, served in the war against the Veskarium and lost an arm. Through cybernetic augmentations, he came to believe that the best machine to work on is himself, and looks down on others who have had the opportunity but chose not be be augmented. He has been hired by
Stellar Rehabilitation, Inc to capture and bring Cedona back to Absalom Station to face charges of facilitating a prison escape.
Altronus is a Kasatha sensate witchwarper from the Idari colony ship. He is insatiably curious and sort of naive, and he is absolutely obsessed with learning about other worlds. When Beric visited, Altronus begged to accompany him and get off he ship. He departed four months ago and has been following the mechanic ever since. Unlike Altronus, Trevian has been away from the Idari for a number of yeas.
Beric unbuckles himself and stands up. The front of the ship is engulfed in flames, and the broken door leading to the bridge allows him to see that there is no one left alive there. Coughing, he follows the emergency lighting and heads for the starboard exit.
Gryfinda also unbuckles herself, takes a second to examine her environment. Realizing that the ship is badly damaged and could explode at any time, she follows the mechanic out. Altronus quickly regains his wits and follows the mystic and his half-orc companion.
Trevian fights through the smoke and flames and maneuvers towards the bridge. He wants to check why the fire suppression did not activate. Large holes indicate the ship was attacked on approach to Nakondis and crash landed several miles away from the landing pad of Madelon's Landing, the only town on Nakondis. Seeing there is nothing he can do, he quickly evacuates the ship.
Outside in the dark night sky, they notice that the ship landed on the ridge of a mountain. In the distance, about seven miles away down in the valley below, they spot lights that show the position of Madelon's Landing. It will be trek there. Altronus also sees two small Azlanti drones flying in the sky and heading back towards the crashed ship with bomb bays open. He identifies them as Klockwork Drones.
The stranded party runs away from the crash site as quickly as they can, soon followed by the drones destroying what remained of the ship. The valley below is wrapped in mist. They decide to find shelter and spend the night on the ridge before heading down in daylight towards the town.
After the Gap - May 2, 317 @ 7:39
After an uneventful night that has them on edge, the party heads down from the ridge into the valley below, which is still covered in fog.
 |
| The forests of Nakondis |
The forest is alive with the sounds of critters, but soon they attract the attention of two hobgars, who are attracted by their electronics. A short scuffle ensues, and both simian-like creatures are slain. Altronus cuts off a head, and carefully packages it for transport.
 |
| Hobgars |
The fog thickens, and by the time they get to the valley floor they can barely see 30 feet ahead. Hearing the sounds of humanoids walking in the distance, the party springs an ambush and defeats three Aeon Cadets. Though they have radio, something is interfering with the signal and they are unable to communicate further than a few dozen feet. Beric loots and, with Tevian's help, they bury the bodies. They pick up three pacification rifle and three survival knives. Altronus chooses one of the survival knives for his own collection, and assembles a suit of armor out of the damaged pieces from the three bodies. Gryfrinda puts it on, and the party resumes its trek towards the town.
An hour later, and about a half-mile from Madelon's Landing, they once again hear humanoid footsteps. This time a local human male tumbles out of the fog. Lanky on the verge of skinny, the man in his mid forties and sports short dark hair that are beginning to turn gray. He stops in front of Gryfinda and immediately rushes away, fear in his eyes. Trevian stops him. On his tail are two more Aeon Cadets, who immediately open fire on Beric and Altronus. The cadets are eventually defeated, stripped and buried.
The man, meanwhile, reveals that his name is Jellik Fulsom and he is part of the resistance on Nakondis. About a month ago, a probe streaked through the Nakondis sky and crashed in the mountains about twenty miles from here. Cedona and others from Madelon's Landing went to explore, and discovered the remains of an Azlanti probe. It had crashed next to a long-ago crashed Azlanti starship. The ship had been here for centuries, with massive trees growing above parts of it. Cedona retrieved parts from the ship and was very excited about what it might be.
Then, ten days ago, an Azlanti warship appeared above the town. Soldiers landed and occupied the settlement, a temporary garrison was dropped from the ship, and the inhabitants were placed under martial law. Those who resisted were ordered shot by the Azlanti commander, a stern female though her faceplate hid her features. Cedona and those who had gone to the starship were arrested and imprisoned. They haven't been seen since.
With everyone a prisoner, a resistance to the Azlanti invasion has formed. Fulsom escaped the town as soon as he could, but he unfortunately was soon tracked by three Azlanti soldiers. He managed to kill one, but the other two were chasing him when he came upon the group.
Fulsom proposes to take the group to Aibretta, the leader of the resistance, owner of the only junkyard on the planet, and his ex-wife. They accept his offer, and they quietly make their way to Madelon's Landing.
Friday, September 13, 2019
Entrance to the Star-Eater's Spine
After the Gap - March 30, 317 @ 22:07
Having defeated the skreelings and searched the monsters' roosts, Batrizik, Nict and Yiris find themselves back on the floor of the asteroid. Moving into another section of Asteroid K9204, Nict discovers a secret hatch under the metal ash where most of the footsteps disappear. In a corner is a pool of thick greenish liquid, and next to it is a humanoid body with an arm chewed off.
Bratrizik scans how deep the ooze pool is. The scanner indicates that there are no carbon-based life signs, and the pool is about 6 feet deep. If the ledge that retains it were to break, it would not flood this section of the asteroid. The vesk wonders aloud if it is flammable. Yiris and Nict tell him not to test it until they have explored what lies beneath the secret hatch. The vesk then scans the grey ash. The scanner reports that the ash is 100% pure iron filings from the mining operations two hundred years ago.
The trio move closer to the hatch. Nict and Bratrizik examine it, and find electronic controls that will open the hatch. All three of them hear what sounds like feedback, but both the shirren and the vesk shake it off. Yiris is not so fortunate, however, and she finds herself compelled to move towards the pool of green liquid. Hoping to free herself of the control she is under, she turns off her audio circuit, but this does not solve her problem.
Nict notices Yiris edging towards the pool, and turns to stop her. At the same time, Bratrizik is seized from behind as a skreesire emerges from its camouflaged space in the rock and attacks. The vesk is tentacled, grappled and bitten. Nict throws a grenade in the ooze, then pushes Yiris away while Bratrizik is chomped on by the skreesire again.
As Nict fights the ooze, Yiris manage to shake the skreesire's mental control away, and she aims a powerful attack at the creature. Bratrizik seeks to escape from the maws of the skreesire, but is unable to do so. He changes his plans and heals himself but suffers more damage as the skreesire chops down again. Now the vesk is stuck in the creature's mouth up to the shoulder.
As combat continues, Nict switches target and delivers the fatal blow to the skreesire, which topples on top of the hatch. It is very heavy and it blocks access to the tunnel below. Bratrizik uses mystic cure on himself. The shirren has lost eye contact with the ooze, and he is surprised when he becomes enveloped by the ooze. Yiris manages to free Nict from it and delivers enough energy in her attack to finally kill the ooze. The android reengages her audio circuit.
Bratrizik uses his weapon and surgically removes parts of the skreesire to lessen its weight, and throws the carved parts into the ooze's pit. After about ten minutes, there is enough of the monster gone to open the hatch. Nict examines the hatch for any possible trap, but does not detect any. He carefully opens it. A short ladder descends into a poorly lit entrance, with another lock fifteen feet away. The trio descends and BARGO lowers itself down. Then Yiris closes the hatch behind them. A hiss can be heard, and within a minute a full atmosphere has been restored.
Yiris casts dancing lights to provide illumination, and, in collaboration with Nict, she places explosives on the hatch. Anyone trying to enter or exit will need to disarm the trap or be blown up. Looking at the secondary hatch, Nict notices that there is an extra vent. Upon closer examination, he spots a mind spores trap, which he deftly neutralizes.
Nict opens the second hatch, and steps into a control room, with symbols of the Cult of the Devourer everywhere. A large computer occupies most of the middle of the room. Yiris breaks through the defense systems, and disarms a device called the Chamber of Devouring. Logs indicate there is another main frame computer elsewhere in the compound, aptly called the Star-Eater's Spine. Using a second terminal, Nict restores the environmental controls to the underground compound. According to the computer, the residents of the compound departed suddenly five days ago. The environmental controls indicate that there are no life signs.
In front of them is a large hallway which has a faint smell of ozone. At the far end of the hallway, Bratrizik can see a pile of viscera and small chunks of flesh and clothing near the easternmost pillar. They proceed carefully down the corridor. Poking through the remnants, Bratrizik finds small pieces of a uniform patch, which he recognizes as being that of the Corpse Fleet.
Proceeding down the hall, they enter another hallway that surrounds the first one, and which leads to a series of spartan bedrooms. While Yiris and Nict examine their surroundings, Bratrizik continues down the hall and enters the armory, where he is ambushed by two patrol-class security robots. Nict and Yiris join the fight, which prove challenging but they emerge triumphant.
Returning to the cult's armory to rest, the trio examine the armors the Cult left behind. Nict takes one of the kasatha microcord II. Bratrizik finds a suit of golemforged plating III with jump jets. The vesk promptly switches to this new armor. All told, the armor, when fixed, will be worth about 12,000 credits
Having defeated the skreelings and searched the monsters' roosts, Batrizik, Nict and Yiris find themselves back on the floor of the asteroid. Moving into another section of Asteroid K9204, Nict discovers a secret hatch under the metal ash where most of the footsteps disappear. In a corner is a pool of thick greenish liquid, and next to it is a humanoid body with an arm chewed off.
Bratrizik scans how deep the ooze pool is. The scanner indicates that there are no carbon-based life signs, and the pool is about 6 feet deep. If the ledge that retains it were to break, it would not flood this section of the asteroid. The vesk wonders aloud if it is flammable. Yiris and Nict tell him not to test it until they have explored what lies beneath the secret hatch. The vesk then scans the grey ash. The scanner reports that the ash is 100% pure iron filings from the mining operations two hundred years ago.
The trio move closer to the hatch. Nict and Bratrizik examine it, and find electronic controls that will open the hatch. All three of them hear what sounds like feedback, but both the shirren and the vesk shake it off. Yiris is not so fortunate, however, and she finds herself compelled to move towards the pool of green liquid. Hoping to free herself of the control she is under, she turns off her audio circuit, but this does not solve her problem.
Nict notices Yiris edging towards the pool, and turns to stop her. At the same time, Bratrizik is seized from behind as a skreesire emerges from its camouflaged space in the rock and attacks. The vesk is tentacled, grappled and bitten. Nict throws a grenade in the ooze, then pushes Yiris away while Bratrizik is chomped on by the skreesire again.
 |
| Skreesire |
As combat continues, Nict switches target and delivers the fatal blow to the skreesire, which topples on top of the hatch. It is very heavy and it blocks access to the tunnel below. Bratrizik uses mystic cure on himself. The shirren has lost eye contact with the ooze, and he is surprised when he becomes enveloped by the ooze. Yiris manages to free Nict from it and delivers enough energy in her attack to finally kill the ooze. The android reengages her audio circuit.
Bratrizik uses his weapon and surgically removes parts of the skreesire to lessen its weight, and throws the carved parts into the ooze's pit. After about ten minutes, there is enough of the monster gone to open the hatch. Nict examines the hatch for any possible trap, but does not detect any. He carefully opens it. A short ladder descends into a poorly lit entrance, with another lock fifteen feet away. The trio descends and BARGO lowers itself down. Then Yiris closes the hatch behind them. A hiss can be heard, and within a minute a full atmosphere has been restored.
Yiris casts dancing lights to provide illumination, and, in collaboration with Nict, she places explosives on the hatch. Anyone trying to enter or exit will need to disarm the trap or be blown up. Looking at the secondary hatch, Nict notices that there is an extra vent. Upon closer examination, he spots a mind spores trap, which he deftly neutralizes.
Nict opens the second hatch, and steps into a control room, with symbols of the Cult of the Devourer everywhere. A large computer occupies most of the middle of the room. Yiris breaks through the defense systems, and disarms a device called the Chamber of Devouring. Logs indicate there is another main frame computer elsewhere in the compound, aptly called the Star-Eater's Spine. Using a second terminal, Nict restores the environmental controls to the underground compound. According to the computer, the residents of the compound departed suddenly five days ago. The environmental controls indicate that there are no life signs.
In front of them is a large hallway which has a faint smell of ozone. At the far end of the hallway, Bratrizik can see a pile of viscera and small chunks of flesh and clothing near the easternmost pillar. They proceed carefully down the corridor. Poking through the remnants, Bratrizik finds small pieces of a uniform patch, which he recognizes as being that of the Corpse Fleet.
 |
| Corpse Fleet Insignia |
Proceeding down the hall, they enter another hallway that surrounds the first one, and which leads to a series of spartan bedrooms. While Yiris and Nict examine their surroundings, Bratrizik continues down the hall and enters the armory, where he is ambushed by two patrol-class security robots. Nict and Yiris join the fight, which prove challenging but they emerge triumphant.
Returning to the cult's armory to rest, the trio examine the armors the Cult left behind. Nict takes one of the kasatha microcord II. Bratrizik finds a suit of golemforged plating III with jump jets. The vesk promptly switches to this new armor. All told, the armor, when fixed, will be worth about 12,000 credits
Friday, August 30, 2019
Asteroid K9204
Having obtained from Captain Alera Okwana of the Rusty Rivet the coordinates of the asteroid where the Corpse Fleet ships had gone, Nict enters the location into the navigating computer and steers the Sunrise Maiden through the asteroid belt. It takes about four hours to make it to the location of Asteroid K9204.
Seaching the historical databases on the Sunrise Maiden, Yiris is able to obtain information about Asteroid K9204. About a mile wide and featuring light gravity and a thin but breathable atmosphere, Asteroid K9204 was acquired in 199 A.G. by Roclift Mining after prospectors discovered a valuable vein of pure iron ore. Over the next 20 years, the asteroid was extensively mined, with the ore extracted, stored, then shipped out by transport back on Absalom Station.
The site suffered a sudden catastrophe, however, and communication was severed. When a rescue mission arrived five days later, it was discovered that all miners and every piece of machinery and equipment had vanished. No cause was ever found. Asteroid K9204 has been abandoned ever since.
Bratrizik downloads the mining map of Asteroid K9204, and superimposes them on current geological surveys. As Nict maneuvers the Sunrise Maiden to land, he detects several burn patterns on the ground indicate that a large ship, most likely the capital ship of the Corpse Fleet flotilla they were tracking, also landed here recently. Nict puts the ship down in the center of the landing area. Yiris sets up the Sunrise Maiden's sensor to notify them if another ship enters the airspace above the asteroid, and the trio departs.
Observing the ground, Nict determines that at least 20 to 30 humanoids went through here recently, leaving tracks in the iron dust that has accumulated over two decades of mining.
Intrigued by the missing buildings that spontaneously vanished almost a hundred years ago, Bratrizik videorecords the site of the administrative building, hoping to discover clues as to what happened. Yiris notices that the cliff face here has been carved flat, indicating that a building was present and featured a concrete pad.
As they trek through the dust following the tracks left by the larger group, a grenade lands in the trio and explodes, inflicting damage to all. Nict is able to jump out of the way and avoids some of the damage, but Bratrizik and Yiris take the brunt of the explosion. They run back to the Sunrise Maiden and regroup. Bratrizik suggests using the ship's turret cannon to destroy the surrounding peaks, neutralizing the sniper.
Yiris sits at the control, maneuvers the turret's weapons and fires on three of the surrounding outcrops, turning them into piles of dust and rubble. Bratrizik reviews the video footage but does not see anyone escape, even when he studies the recording frame by frame. Fairly certain the sniper is dead, the party emerges from the safety of the ship, and begins exploring the pillars. Roles are assigned as Nict and Bratrizik cover the cliffs with their weapons, while Yiris navigates the ground.
Bratrizik finds a crude staircase carved in the base of what remains of a pillar. In the debris he sees a boot sticking out. He calls down to the others, who come and help. After some digging, they are able to pull the body of a Sarcesian out of the rubble. His weapons have been crushed, and his environmental suite is ruined. Searching him, Nict discovers a ring of sustenance and a credstick. Nothing indiates why the sarcesian attacked them, but Nict postulates that perhaps he was left behind by the Corpse Fleet. However, he was clearly not an undead.
Continuing to climb what remains of the staircase, Batrizik spots another body in the rubble. They spend more time digging it out, and this time the body is that of a human who has clearly been dead for a few weeks. Most of the human's uniform is ruined, but Bratrizik identifies surviving symbols as being those of the Cult of the Devourer. This body has clearly never been animated so it probably was not a member of the Corpse Fleet. The vesk continues to the top.
Arriving at the top of the crystaline and iron structure, Bratrizik locates a small improvised shelter built against a protective wall. This site would provide an idea location to see any ship approach the landing area and would at the same time provide shelter against ships' scanning systems due to its high content in iron. In the shelter the vesk finds a bundle with 2,800 credsticks, three weeks' worth of dried provision, a personal digital device with a drained battery, and a leather-bound journal. He grabs everything and returns to the ground below.
They pursue their march forward, following the steps of the larger group of individuals who walked here recently. Coming into another large cove, the trio is startled when a flight of skreelings emerges from the cliff face to the south and engage the party. Yiris's devastating attack hurts most of the skreelings, while Bratrizik, Nict and BARGO inflict heavy damage. The skreelings deliver damage of their own and inflict several bleed effects in the process, but they are soon defeated.
 |
| Skreeling |
Having now dealt with the dead bodies, Yiris and Bratrizik climb down the cliff, meet up with the Shirren mechanic and his robot, and return to the path traveled by the others ...
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After the Gap - February 26, 317 @ 21: 01 Now the proud owners of the Sunrise Maiden , the party heads back to Absalom Station to repo...
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After the Gap - February 27, 317 @ 02: 45 With a space ship and newly acquired notoriety , Yiris , Bratrizik and Nict decide the most p...
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After the Gap - February 23, 317 @ 20:43 Now that they know how to get in contact with Level 21 , Nict , Yiris and Bratrizik travel to...
