Iron Stars - Tables and chairs

The team in search of the missing table settings , and otherwise seeing what’s interesting in the woods begins gathering. A large sled has been prepared for your use so the found items can be carried back easier.

Obsidia gets in position to move the sled, nodding to the others, "I'll push for now, let's all keep an eye out."

“Sounds good, I wonder if they will be makeshift tables or if they will be fancy ones “ Jasper says putting a finger up to his chin

"We may very well have to put them back together ourselves! Let me know if you want me to take over Obsidia." Venser nods to his new companions. To get started, he gently kicks off the ground, floating higher and higher until he can peer just above the treeline to scout out the surrounding area.

“Thank you for pushing Obsidia. Putting them together ourselves may be fun. Although I recently read an old article I found in the Lamplighter archives. Apparently, Tenebrian psychologist figured out people get emotionally attached to furniture they put together themselves.”

“I can understand that, many of the things I build I get very attached too, always a shame when I have to take them apart. I’d love to check out the lamplighter archives sometime, that Is if we get out of here that Is. “

“I would be happy to share what I can. As in anything that isn’t maltech, chem warfare, or WMD I can send. The NFSS has also asked for much of the data we are still in the process of decrypting much of it however and they want the data in full maltech and all. We can discuss this more once we are out of here”

"I am very interested in data you may have on Shadows in the Lamplighter Archives, even if I need to visit in person to view it." Obsidia adds before trailing off in an undertone, "I expect to be fighting them soon enough..."

“Shadows? Hm, are you familiar with Metaspace manifestations of the deceased? Is that what your referring to? Because I’ve had some experiences…. Maybe we now is not a good time to talk about This. Let’s see if Venser can see anything”

Venser calls out from his position above the canopy. "Oh no I'm very interested in any shadow-talk! Just found there are some screwing around on Mariam, the planet I govern. Expect to be fighting them soon as well!"

“Okay, what are shadows, just for clarification” Jasper yells out as he pulls out his dataslab

"The only types I know about are Devourer, Myrmidon, Lesser Servitor, and Manipulary Manifestation." Obsidia calls back, contuining to push and keep an eye out for their quarry in the woods.

“If I find anything on shadows I will let you guys know, but right now it’s mainly stuff like agricultural techniques. But we are really just scratching the surface of getting through the encryption on some of this stuff. There is also some alien language that we haven’t translated yet. There was also a robot that tried to kill me but I think is my friend. But you guys are welcome to view most of the data. Mainly it’s just some stuff from the Tece vault that’s sensitive.”

The woods around you are quiet and the fall leaves crunch underfoot as you begin walking into the forest. You see many paths leading through the trees and a small steel screw shines brightly in the middle of one of the paths, catching the sunlight just right

“This is a good sign” Grim says as he picks up the steel screw and inspects it. “I vote we take this path with the screw”

“Sure, sounds good to me.”

(survive/wis) (edited)

(11)

(5)

(8)

(7)

Grim and Obsidia manage to see a table leg in place of a branch on a low tree nearby. It seems your quarry has been entirely dismantled and scattered around the woods for maximum inconvenience

“Everyone, look at that branch. It looks like it’s actually a table leg. Venser can you fly up and grab it?” (edited)

"Nice spot. In fact we all can!" Venser smiles a sends a small boom of air outwards, making each team member feel slightly lighter. He pushes off again to get the table leg. (You can fly 20m/round while within 30m of me) "So wait, Jasper, do you not have the concept of Shadows in the IA? Big scary metaspace demon-y guys? Mostly evil, some just really obedient?"

Jasper watches as the telekinetic energy expands outwards and envelopes him. He smiles becoming more comfortable with his Metapsionic vision. As he begins to feel lighter he will push off the ground and float to Venser’s reach (

) “No, at least not currently. Though many things have been warped and mutated by Metaspace on my home planet, perhaps some of these things can be considered to be Shadows, but I’m not sure. Though nothing warped by the breaches I think could be considered Obedient. “ Jasper floats around a bit before saying “Though much of my world has yet to be recovered. I spend most of my time exploring lost zones and trying to reconnect with old city’s, or those that survived, so it’s always possible there is something we haven’t seen yet, in fact i find something new every time I go out. “

1

“I feel bad for those poor Termies on your world. If I ever come across any knowledge in the vaults that can help them or there’s anything else needed to solve the problem you have my word I will help. I can’t even imagine the toll it takes on people whose loved ones are slowly turned to beasts.”

“Yes, I agree. The plight of the Terminals is a sad one. Thank you again for your effort on Saliv, Grim. We all appreciate it. From the studies of the last few months from me, Ana who is also here and a few other Inheritors, as well as my recent exposure to the Breach we have come to the conclusion that they have been warped by Metaspace to their very core and they are incurable, but I digress. The study continues. I’d love to learn as much as possible about these Shadows from you all in the chance there are some hiding around on Saliv currently unnoticed. “

“The psychic academy probably has the most information on them. I would make their main campus a stop on the tour when the IA rep comes to visit. But as for this furniture, shall we continue down this path?”

“Yeah, I’ll help Venser from the sky now that I can do some light flying, Judging from the last piece we found there will be a lot of things to find”

Grim continues down the path continuing to keep an eye out for any more furniture

There looks to be some kind of cave ahead at the end of the path with a few more scattered components outside of it

Jasper slowly floats down and lands next to grim and Obsidia on the ground. “Well, I’m gonna guess we should check out that cave. Hopefully we can find the rest of the parts inside. I wonder if we will find the culprit in there as well. “

"Who knows," Obsidia grunts as she pushes the sled forward towards the cave, "Just keep any out for pieces in the trees again."

6:10 PM

"I admit I'm curious what you all think of Greystar's decision to stay independent," she adds as they near the cave.

“I for one think it’s good on Greystar for going independent, and adds interesting prospects if The Alliance chooses independence as well. “

Grim picks up the components outside. While responding. “Although, I think we are better off united it is ultimately a Greystar decision to make. You all are still taking care of the folks in your care, are still letting the LLF continue humanitarian work in your space, and are not threatening any innocents, so really I have no complaints or issues with Greystar doing what they determined to be best.”

"I thought we agreed no politics talk on the holidays!" Venser chuckles. "But seriously, I'm fine with it. I'm very close with Eisheru and that man knows what he's doing. I understand your reasons, hell I even feel the same on a lot of them, but a large democratic consensus of planets is our entire political ideology. The UNW simply couldn't stand apart, in some ways I'm envious Greystar can. Regardless, I know you are still fine folks who are willing to work together and do good by your people." Venser voices becomes echoed at the end as he strides into the cave, his eyes glowing a feint purple. (Activating spatial awareness, 8/10 effort free.)

Dozens of turkeys begin streaming out of the cave. Each of them has some kind of furniture component strapped to them as they scatter, starting to run into the surrounding woods in all directions.

5

7:06 AM

(was thinking a skill contest to try to round some of them up and finish this)

Venser sighs and mutters under his breath as turkeys begin shooting past faster than he can react. "Of all the phrases in the bloody Iron Stars I never thought I'd have to say..." Venser gains altitude as he exits the cave to survey the stampede, calling down to the others: "Godammit, GET THE TURKEYS!"

5

Grim drops into Ghostwalker stance for the added flexibility and agility, he then attempts to start catching Turkeys

(We're going to do a skills contest, so each skill can only be used once by the group, and you'd have to explain how you're using it to try to catch them)

Using his martial arts skill Grim attempts to grab the nearest turkey and pin it down while he takes off the furniture (ghostwalker/dex 9)

Jasper will walk slowly through the bushes as the turkeys run past him until he sees the right moment to snatch one up (notice/Str 12)

(2 successes, no failures. Ghostwalker, and Notice have both been used and nobody can use them)

Venser stretches both arms outwards, summoning a three-metre by three-metre cube of pure force to orbit each hand. He dives downwards and skims the containers above the ground, trying to corral and scoop up as many turkeys as possible. (telekinesis/con 12)

(3 passes)

Obsidia will use the Alchemy power Artisan's Reputation to make a net gun and fire it at the turkeys (Committing effort, net gun lasts as long as effort is committed. Alchemy/Dex 12)

Next Grim will try to calmly coax one of the Turkeys over to him so he can get the furniture “Here birdie, here pretty birdie. Who’s a good bird” (talk/cha 8)

2

After grabbing the piece from the last turkey Jasper crouches low and closes his eyes. His already glowing veins begin to glow more brightly in and out before Jasper opens his now milky white eyes. Jasper will look through the strings of Fate to foresee where the turkeys are, will be, and could be before trying to snatch one’s with vital parts (precog/dex 6)

(All succeeds)

3:27 PM

Everything is pried from the turkeys upon your group efforts to contain them and take the components from around necks, strapped to wings, and so on. An hours long hunt through thr woods has been handled expertly thanks to skilled psychic power uses. All in all, three large feasting tables and a comfortable chair for everyone has been found in pieces here.

“Well, that was interesting, and strangely satisfying. Let’s try to get all of this on the sled”

The net and net gun vanish into nothing as Obsidia releases her effort "Yeah, sounds like a plan."

Grim helps load furniture into the sled as they prepare for the journey back. “Good work everyone” (Should we explore the cave? I don’t want to add work for Neko if we are pretty much done with this part of the mission, but I don’t want to skip it if exploring it is a planned part of the adventure)

(They came out of the cave to scatter the parts but The other groups are still working so we can go in)

“Let’s head into the cave, maybe there’s something inside”

Jasper nods at grim before turning his head to Obsidia “You’re a practitioner of Psionic Alchemy too? I wasn’t aware there were many others who were “ He says as he begins to make his way towards the cave

“I am, but my skill at that is rudimentary. Unfortunately I have not had as much time to practice it as I would like.” Grim pulls out the crystal that’s around his neck. “I found this tucked away in an old library on Tece. It has knowledge of the technique recorded on it and has been my primary means of learning”

"The same as Grim, my powers with it are pretty developed but I haven't found much call to use them, partially due to finding myself in battles more than research and construction."

“You too grim? Huh, interesting seems to be more then a coincidence that the strings of fate have tied us together here. Well I also have yet to scratch much more then the surface either, but I continue to practice when I can. “ Jasper then uses Artisans reputation to conjure a Floater Lamp (1/5 Effort held until dismissed) He holds it in his hands and powers it on and sets it to follow “This should provide some light for us in the dark cave”

Entering the cave you can see there are a few more turkeys here who are too dazed to have run out into the clearing with everyone else. They don’t have anything on their necks but there is a large wooden chest in this cave with an inscription that seems to be carved into the top

Obsidia looks around at everyone, shrugs, and walks over the to chest to read the inscription out loud.

You reap what you sow because of me, remove the first three letters, and I become an object you can wear. What am I?

“This is a tough one.”

"Riddles are definitely not my thing," Obsidia says as she picks up a loose stone on the cave floor and idly munches on it with a puzzled look on her face.

A grin crossing Grims face he says “Harvest”

1

“Oooh, clever!”

(Literally had to pull over and park when it dawned on me)

(Hahaha, I’ve been staring at my phone since you messaged at :46 trying to figure it out, very smart)

There is a small clicking sound as what passes for a lock on this chest disengages with the correct answer spoken aloud (edited)

Grim opens the chest and looks inside

Inside it looks like plates, cups, utensils, and other table fittings are included to help ensure everyone has enough to eat civilized and be comfortable during the meal.

“Oh, ho best not forget these! We would have very unhappy dinner guests if we didn’t find these, good job on the puzzle Grim!” Jasper says before trying to pick up the whole chest.

“Thank you.” Grim goes to help Jasper lift the chest

The chest is full, but not very heavy, between all of you, you're able to get it back to the feasting location

10:57 AM

(We can continue this in the main thread)

3