Iron Stars - kiwidinok

The landing thrusters whine as the cargo lifter sets down on the surface of Anisah. The planet is warm and forested here just like how home used to look, though the trees are many many times taller and thicker. Warm wind from the nearby sea makes wings flutter gently of their own accord, and there is some relief among those who have descended to the world's surface. To be among the first wave is an honor, as most of the refugees will spend the month confined to the ship while the area is explored in order to set down a settlement. The distant NMC King has promised material support in doing so when specifics were given to him, and it seems the Noctuan survey corps has much to do. Supplies for a small camp, and a few small scout vehicles have been left here in advance , along with a ground based FTL communication array.

Kiwi glides off the cargo lifter behind a small group of other diplomats and explorers and begins taking in the area around her. The dense, tall trees create a deep wave of nostalgia, reminding her of how big the trees on their home world looked like the first time she stepped outside the temple shortly after being bred. She notices a small flowering bush at the edge of the clearing and makes her way over to it, taking the time to examine all the colors and smells. *This will do, this will make a fine home, She thinks to herself before gliding back over to the vehicles. She knows she is not the best fighter, but with so many humans around, it is important for someone who can talk to accompany the first waves of explorers. Once she arrives she hovers before setting down on her feet to wait for her group to assemble and receive their instructions.* (edited)

A few of the human administrators are nearby looking over some data pads and checking things off. None of them have given instructions yet but seem like they are working on something. The woods nearby chatter with all manner of creatures big and small, and everyone seems to be taking in the environment. Wandering over , it is evident one of the admin folk here are making some kind of head count.

Kiwi glides over to the human administrators, eager to get underway and discover what this planet has to offer. "Hello, I am called Kiwidinok, I am part of our diplomatic caste. You all look to be busy with some kind of preparations, is there anything I can help you with?"

22:45

(Also, I'll go ahead and add the credits from the tourney to this character once I complete her first mission)

)okay )

01:13

“We are trying to organize. A bit of an expedition into the woods. We don’t seem to have charts of this area at all and don’t know what’s around. This shouldn’t have happened but here we are”

"I'd be happy to join an expedition to see what is around. There are all kinds of interesting plants and animals on this planet I would love to see." Kiwi says, not quite able to resist the small wing flaps she gets when she is really excited.

“Your skills? Do you know how to handle yourself out there? Nobody wants to be responsible for sending a group of you to their deaths as soon as you get here”

"I am trained in hand-to-hand combat and there are others among us who are trained in firearms as well as skills similar to mine. I am also a diplomat, so I know how to talk to strangers and resolve disputes peacefully. I also have excellent night vision even by Noctua standards, so if we are moving around at night I will be able to see threats coming. Are these skills satisfactory?" Kiwi asks, wings fluttering every few seconds in a rare bit of impatience.

"Of course, pick three others that you trust, get back to me, and we'll send you out. We have no maps of the area and sitting here waiting for them Isn't going to make them appear"

Kiwi does the equivalent of a Noctua smile, releasing a few happy phermones, before gliding back over to the group of her fellows gathered around the lifters to find some of the soldier caste she met on the travel over to ask for their help.

(what would your ideal party mix look like here)

(I was thinking a couple ranged soldiers and some kind of medic plus kiwi)

(so 4 total, two range , medic and you i think seems reasonable)

(Yeah)

Returning to the functionaries with your picks, they look over the group. "Well, it seems like you've got everyone you need, in record time too. You're free to pick a direction, as I've said, we have no idea what's out here, but we can tailor the footing of your colony here when we know more about the environment"

"We will head east, the trucks are already facing that way. We can borrow one of the trucks correct?"

"they're not much good to you when the trees are this thick. I think you're better off on foot...er...wing" (I think Linyas new character is set to go, okay if she accompanies you? is a warrior so it fits what you wanted anyway)

(Yeah, works for me!)

@Aderyn (lets goooo)

(Did you want me to be an extra or one of the soldiers you already picked out?)

(Up to you and neko really)

(we can just replace one of the soldiers since a PC is magnitudes more powerful)

1

Glimmer is a noctua with primarily dark colourings with a few splashes of bright colours along their midsection which is mostly covered by woven body armor. On their back is a large needle made out of bone or chitin, sharing a likeness to a large sewing needle with an engraved flowing pattern running down the point. On their armour is a pair of wings denoting their time operating aircraft, and holsters for both a sidearm and knives reminiscent of a Tanto.

(What time of day is it right now?)

(morning)

Kiwi looks up at the bright sunlight, wincing a bit at its harshness before turning back to the rest of the group. "We need to go and explore the area, the humans have lost their records on what is out there and we will need to find a good place for a settlement. Let's head out east into some of these big trees, they might provide us with some protection from this sunlight, or we can sleep now and set out when its dark outside." She has a mixture of gold and black colorings, with brown wings that end in lighter brown tips. Her armor is reminicent of a long woolen coat that ends just below the poof at her neckline, making it seem the armor has an excessively furry collar. Her head has a few small black appendages reminicent of long braids of hair, with bright red antenna protruding from the top of her head.

20:17

"I'm also really looking forward to getting to know you all better. It was a long trip but everyone was so busy I never got a chance to meet you all more than in passing."

Glimmer nods, wings fluttering at the sudden space they are allowed now they are in the open and out of the cramped spaces of the ship. "I am fine with waiting for dusk, but I am sure many are restless to spread their wings, I know my Dawn is waiting to see what this world has to offer."

(up to you guys on if we want to wait or not, situation won't change be it dawn or dusk)

"Let's go ahead and move out now, otherwise we may run into some of the predators that roam around here." Kiwi says, gliding towards the treeline.

"While I do not doubt our ability to repel animals, no surprises are preferable to potential surprises." Glimmer agrees, picking the themselves off the ground to follow.

(d10, either of you, lets see whats around)

(7)

The territory north of the landing zone is dense forest made of more of the ironwood trees. You can see some sort of insect infestation in the area. There are hives of hanging crystal like bulbs on the highest branches of the trees, dozens of meters off the ground- high enough to be beyond flight. There is a low buzz in the air as glitterwasps- insects the size of medium birds- hover between the upper branches. They are known to be aggressive if their hives are threatened .

"I am unsure if this is a good place for a home, I would hate for a Little One to manage to disturb one of these creatures and hurt either party, although their height would make that difficult." Glimmer descends slightly to admire the crystals above.

"I think you are right. They are pretty to look at but I think we should look elsewhere for resources and a place to build our home. This forest was their home first after all. They should get to keep it." Kiwi says as she looks up at the wasps buzzing from place to place. "Perhaps one day they will evolve like we did, nature is a curious thing."

"Perhaps even, we will be waiting for them as they take their first steps as a species."

"Let's keep moving for now though. Evolution won't happen while we are watching them." Kiwi says, gliding on forward to continue their expedition.

Glimmer nods as they move to follow gazing at the creatures above as they travel.

(want to give me another region, Glimmer this time)

(that would be a 5)

Moving west, the area is a large plain that is cobwebbed by flowing creeks. Water is abundant here and the ground is constantly marshy from all the runoff. Small animals, bugs, and reptiles have made their homes here though most vanish into the tall grasses as soon as they sense the approach of your team

"This could be a good place, ground may be a bit soft to settle into but this may be corrected."

"It could certainly provide us with a water source. I think we may need to find another area to settle with more stable ground to start with however. The faster we can establish ourselves the better."

(Would the marsh be a major detriment to buildings, or have we developed ways to get around soft soil in the future?)

(I think since we're using colonial materials and there's been a galactic calamity, and then the NMC had most of its shit rocked vis a vis the shapers, they probably wouldnt have spare resources to special build in the swamps)

"A good place to expand, but not one we should start in." Glimmer agrees as they prepare to move again.

Kiwi nods before the group moves onward.

The group moves south now continuing their radial pattern around the initial landing zone. The mid afternoon sun beats down and the insects in the forest chirp as it warms their bodies. The trees are thinner in this direction and the land is more rocky and rugged. Large stone points emerge from the ground in many places like natural henges. Small foothills studded with caves are also in the region, some of which surely contain the animals that live here.

"The caves could potentially be a nesting place, free from this sun."

"Potentially, they could also be a nice place to find resources. Want to explore them a bit?"

Glimmer nods. "A respite from the sun would be appreciated as well. Even if we cannot live there, it could be useful to us later."

Kiwi starts gliding over to the foothills nearby, looking for one of the larger cave entrances.

The cave system you find first has a large entryway. There are vines hanging over the entryway and it does not look like anyone has been here in quite some time. There is no signs of animals living here either, at least in this section of whatever the internal network of tunnels might be.

"We could use a navigation computer to chart these, or at the very least avoid getting lost." Glimmer says, moving a part of the vines out of the way to look into the caves

"That is a very good idea. Do you have something like that?"

Glimmer shakes their head in the negative. "Sadly no, most of my allotted storage was used to bring what we could from home."

"Well, we can always do something old fashioned then." Kiwi says, taking the knife out of her survival kit. "I can mark the way back with this when we come to junctions."

(Just didn’t want to interrupt the rp. Caught up though )

"That works as well, if you are concerned about the edge of your blade I can scratch them in as well."

"I'm not worried, its just a survival knife. Let's head in there and see what we can find!" Kiwi says excitedly, her wings flapping a few extra times as she glides into the mouth of the cavern.

*Glimmer follows, waiting in the precipice for a moment so their eyes may adjust to the light

The cave opens to a wide first chamber where you can see some colony of rock dwelling termite once lived. The stalagmites all have holes carved in them from insect teeth Over the years. Glittery trails of the byproduct of their digging coats the sides of the nest

"Perhaps their digging has revealed an ore node or some other resource?" Glimmer glides towards the eaten rocks, examining them further.

(do we have a survey scanner between the two of us?)

(that would be a negative from me, didnt do well on my credit roll.)

(Nope, opted for a pressure tent and metatool instead)

The trails of whatever this is are pretty, but there's nothing availavble to the group that looks to be able to provide some insight as to what this is.

(can we scratch/break off a chunk to bring back?)

(Yes, we just won't know what it is until we get the proper equipment or return somewhere with a lab setting)

Glimmer takes one of their knives and begins to try and scrape or break off a chunk of the substance, putting the resultant objects into a pouch.

While Glimmer works on the rocks, Kiwi goes and makes her first marks on the wall pointing to the exit before turning back to Glimmer. "Ready to move on?"

Glimmer nods and floats to rejoin the rest. "Ready."

Kiwi starts looking around for exits from the chamber leading further into the cavern, trying to make use of her stronger dark vision.

The chamber moves ahead into a right and left branch. You can hear water rushing from the left branch while the right has a sweet almost nectar like odor carried with it on what little wind circulates through the cave.

"I think the left chamber is less likely to involve creatures, what do you think?"

"Possibly, or something may be using it as a watering hole, I think either choice has its dangers."

"Let's head that way then." Kiwi says before gliding softly into the room with the rushing water sounds.

Glimmer follows close behind, unlatching the strap covering their pistol.

A waterfall from elsewhere higher up in the cave rushes into a large reflection pool where more of the glittering stones are piled in the bottom. Water has polished them smooth. Bones also mark the bottom of the pool and look to be polished clean.

(How deep is the pool?)

(A meter and a half at its center , fairly shallow )

Kiwi glides over to the center of the pool, hovering above it to check for any current. If there is none she settles into the water and grabs a few of the smooth stones along with taking a closer look at the bones to see if they resemble a humanoid in size and shape.

(physical effect save)

(Fail 13v14, sorry for the spam)

(all good, 8 damage. Roll20 was entirely down for me until a second ago myself) Acid hisses as Kiwi lands into the pool. The heavy liquid bogs down wings and limbs almost feeling like a gel rather than a liquid. The polished items inside move as the splashing acids send waves through the pool. The smell of burning noctua flesh fills the cavern in short order. (edited)

(Welp, Kiwi is down)

Glimmer chitters in panic as the acrid smell of melted flesh reaches them. Glimmer takes off, trying to lift Kiwi out of the liquid. "Don't splash!" Glimmer chirps as they reach them.

(i think it would be a round to get him out of the mixture, so if we attempt to stabilize we'd be working with a DC7 to start)

(Could the medic do the roll since im working with a -3 total?)

(i forgot we had one with us, alright)

21:42

(11 vs 7, Kiwi is stable)

(Does the medic have anything they can stick Kiwi with to get them semi healthy?)

(No)

"Help me pick them up, carefully, we need to get them back."

The medic has no more supplies as your people were just fleeing a war torn planet and new things from the cooperative had not come in. Kiwi is alive. Barely, but alive. The chemical tang in the air is still crisp

Glimmer messages the expedition outpost that they have a critically injured and will need medical assistance once they arrive.

they affirm they will be ready to receive the wounded when you make it there, but can do nothing else for you.

Glimmer picks up Kiwi as they begin to make haste back home.

(We didn’t go far, there wouldn’t be any obstacles to getting him back especially with the help)

13:54

(3xp, 5000 credits)

(that's a level.) Glimmer brings Kiwi to the medical professionals, staying by their side while they send a requisition form

(Same for me, ill level when I get home in 5 hours)

**Level Up**
Level: 1->2
Focus: Gunslinger 1
Old HP: 6
HP Roll: 11
New HP: 11
New Skills: Shoot -1->1 (From Foci), Know 0->1, Notice -1->0
New Vowed Art: Faultless Awareness
Spent 1 SP to increase CHA from 13 to 14
Current AB: 1

(edited)

)looks good to me

(just a heads up. Taking the gunslinger 1 focus would take your shoot to (1) since it adds 3 SP after character creation)

(Oh, right, thanks eish)

1

(Uo to you guys what we do next

(I'm fine heading back out to keep exploring, gonna make up a list of things to buy here in a bit)

(I'm good to continue as well.)

(Okay once we get the list if you two want to continue on something I’ll get it together )

(Alright, here is my list: Grapnel launcher - 200 credits Climbing Harness - 50 credits 60 Meters of TL4 Rope - 120 credits Survey Scanner - 250 credits Total: 620 credits)

(I think we can return to exploring the nearby area if linya wants to)

(I'm good to go back as well.)

(Alrighty. We know what’s in the immediate area aside from that cave so if you guys have a build site in mind we can direct people there or we can keep looking )

(I think looking at a few other places wouldn't hurt)

(The caves seem less promising with a acid pool in it, might have industrial applications but probably not the greatest to live.)

(Okay, d10)

(Think I rolled last, all yours linya)

(that would be a 2 good sir.)

Heading south you wake up the next day recovered from wounds and enter what looks to be a grassland. Bugs and birds are plentiful here as are the small animals that eat them

"This is a nice place to build I think. We have plenty of room to expand out, just need to find a water source and we will be in good shape."

"Indeed, may be entirely possible there is an aquifer beneath we could use for a well" (How big are these exploration "hexes"?) (edited)

(Same scale as every other planet. I’m giving you the highlights of each region but there’s room for a few features in each 200km area)

(So quite a trek to the water/lowlands.) "This place seems promising, might be worth looking around further?"

"Uh-huh. Maybe pull out that survey scanner you got, see if we can find some water nearby or anything else interesting."

(enough to get a view at least yeah)

(Let me sort my inventory real quick and I'll get back to that.)

(Sorry for the delay, had classwork that took a while.) Glimmer takes out their Survey Scanner and attempts to tune it towards any bodies of water that may be nearby

There is groundwater here, nothing in major concentrations but enough to keep the plains healthy. Most of the major concentrations of water naturally trend toward the forests and are absorbed through creeping underground roots .

"Some ground water here, not a lot though, most, it says, are likely to be near forests. I do not think transportation of water should be to hard an issue to handle though."

"No. This should give us enough to get things established here until we get a better water source connected. Let's see if we can find another large source aside from the marshlands, both because that water might be brackish and I'd rather not harm the ecosystem there."

Glimmer nods, tuning the scanner to look for larger bodies of water At a greater range.

It does not seem liek there is anything here in a greater concentration. This plains area looks to be the most ideal place to start a settlement given your initial landing zone. (edited)

Glimmer gives a 'hmm' noise as they look at the scanner report. "Don't think we are going to find a better place. I think it is time to send word back, and let some stretch their wings once more."

Kiwi nods as she pulls out her compad and sends the coordinates to the Noctua camp. "Do you want to keep exploring around, or maybr go back to that cave and see what is there?

"I think we should return to the cave, if at a minimum to set a marker to dissuade people."

"Let's head back there and see where that acid is coming from too. That doesn't seem naturally occurring."

Glimmer nods, and moves to follow Kiwi.

(We would be passing a day in the wilderness , supply wise, so we can deduct if needed)

(I have plenty of rations if you do not Kiwi.)

(I thought the survival kit came with rations but it apparently does not, so ill need some)

(I'll mark down two for us, down to four)

(okay, so that means we're returning to the camp then?)

(I think we are going to explore that cave more fist)

(is your food situation resolved? I wasn't really following what you were doing honestly)

(I had six rations, gave one to Kiwi, used one myself, done to four.)

(okay) Returning to the cave you once again find yourselves in the room with the waterfall and clear reflecting pool of water that is not quite water.

Glimmer begins trying to get a reading on the pool with both a survey scanner and their bio scanner.

The bio scanner reports this is diluted acid, from an organic source further up whatever this waterway connects to. Even diluted, it was still powerful enough to strip organic matter from bone, and polish what remained.

(Just fyi im probably going to be slow for a few days, got diagnosed at the ER yesterday as probably having covid even though my test came back negative)

17:03

Kiwi looks over Glimmer's shoulder at the readings. "Huh, I was sure that acid was coming from a pool of mining waste, what could be organic and causing this?" She says before looking around the cave for any path leading upstream (edited)

The waterfall is coming from a large gap above. Some way to traverse the hazardous liquid is needed, but it looks like the waterway can be followed at least for a time

(Could we make it up the side with climbing tools and 60m worth of rope?)

(you could scale the sides yes, there might be checks depending on how we handle things)

(I have a grapnel launcher as well as a butterfly harness so i could potentially jump up to it.)

(I have a grapnel launcher as well)

(How high is the wall Neko?)

(45m, so we've got more rope than we need, we'd still need to climb around a waterfall of acid regardless of firing the grapple up there to secure it) (edited)

"We could grapnel up a ways, however that still leaves us around five metres to climb. I could potentially jump the rest with my Butterfly Harness and assist you going up."

"There was another tunnel right? The one that smelled like honey. Why don't we head that way and see if it leads us back up here." Kiwi says looking at the acid. "I'd rather take a safer route if we can, that acid was not a fun experience." (edited)

"We can do that as well, likely less dangerous." Glimmer begins running the Nav Comp, keeping an accurate track of the cave system.

The other tunnel widens as you begin walking down it and the odor turns from pleasant to the sickly sweet smell of decay. Bones litter the floor as you enter a large chamber with another exit to its north.

Glimmer gags slightly as the smell overwhelms them, they draw their mag revolver as they see the bones littered around and look around cautiously. (edited)

Kiwi covers the lower half of her face, trying to prevent the smell getting in as she chokes back some bile. as she looks around for anything moving in the chamber.

(notice/wis)

(What is the light level like in here?) (edited)

(Dim, but for you guys you aren't impeded by the light level since noctua)

(So I would get the +2 from the noctua talent I chose?)

(You would, yeah)

(5, rolled double 1's

)

(thats a yikes from me, 4, going to see if I have any re roll tokens to spend on that.)

(okay, ill report back with results when you know if you're burning one or not)

(I do not have any from my records, hopefully we do not get eaten.)

A large formless shape drops from the ceiling 5m behind you, cutting you off from easy retreat down the tunnel. It is a honeyed color and you can see suspended bones and decaying weapons suspended within it. Some local fungus or offshoot of it has developed locomotion, it seems, and a sense of hunger.

Intuition guides Glimmer as they go move Kiwi away from the fungal cube, although their instinct is too late to prevent them from being cut off.

(Kiwi has a vowed ability that prevents being surprised, Faultless Awareness, I can copy paste the text when I get back to my computer)

(he didnt get his surprise round, or do anything other than show up, i was just going to ask for iniitative)

(Thats a four from me chief.)

(6)

(Kiwi, slime, glimmer)

Kiwi notices the slime coming down and glides back 10m, pulling out her mag pistol and letting off a shot at the slime. (14/9)

The shot punches into its body and stops after penetrating a half meter. The trail it has left does not fill in. You’re unsure if it’s hurt or not.

16:28

The slime gathers its bulk together to form something of a long whip, but does not strike (next turn, acting every other like a devoured, so glimmer up)

Glimmer twists around as the slime drops, firing the boosters on their butterfly harness as they leap backwards, firing a shot from their revolver as they move. (Can you do the attack roll for me Neko? Ranged variant Mageblade on my sheet)

(20/7)

17:54

The rippling passage of the ranged attack severs some of the creature's form away. The severed gelatin begins to dissolve at the passage of the arcane energy. (Kiwi)

Kiwi continues backing away another 10m from the acidic mass, doing her best not to touch the puddles on the floor if she can help it before firing (16/13)

The shot punches into the jelly, wounding it, as its whip like appendage lashes out to sweep the chamber (evasion save, both of you)

(17v13 success)

(That's a hard fail with a Nat 1.) Glimmer is caught cleanly, unable to change their trajectory effectively enough through the air to avoid the lashing limb.

(3 damage, so 1 if passed with how the rounding down works)

(Would this count as a melee attack for taking additional damage as a noctua?)

(It’s a melee attack)

14:54

(It’s just got reach)

(8/11 hp for Kiwi)

(6/11 for Glimmer.) Glimmer grunts as the lashers impact them, steadying their aim they fire another round of force from their revolver at the fungal cube. (22/8, might be a crit?)

(nope, got an 18)

19:49

The shot strikes the jelly, and it looks to be working very hard to hold itself together .

"It's almost scattered, finish it!" Glimmer shouts, clutching their side with their offhand (edited)

(It only acts evert other round, so we'll skip it this round and go to Kiwi)

Kiwi nods, wishing this disgusting affront to nature would just die already as she pumps another shot into it. (18/10)

Your wish seems to be the command of the large bore round you bury into the beast. It begins to thrash and dissolve as whatever natural laws held it together unravel with its passing.

Kiwi takes a few deep breaths as she lands on a dry spot on the floor before turning to Glimmer. "You want to bioscan that thing? I'd rather not have more of those things forming down here if we can avoid it."

Glimmer nods and floats over, using part of their harness to compensate for injuries as they float over and run the bio scanner over the fungal cube. "Hopefully it is a unique occurance and not an infestation

"I hope so, otherwise I might see if it's not too late for us to land elsewhere. This cave has some kind of mineral wealth, it would be a shame if we cannot access it."

The cube is a fungus as guessed. It has more animal characteristics than plant ones. You aren't able to glean any information about its reproductive habits from a bioscan of only one example of the species. There are no previous existing records of it.

(Could we feed a bit of to the scanners to calibrate them and try and scan for more?)

(thats' all we get with only one of them ever scanned in the history of ever, no matter how small we make the sample size)

Kiwi watches over Glimmer's shoulder with genuine interest, albeit tinged with horror. "Anything interesting?"

"Giant cube of fungus, seems more animal than plant, all I'm getting out of it so far."

"Well, at least we know it exists." Kiwi says, looking for other exits out of the chamber as well as up above where the slime slid down. "Normally I'm all for nature preservation, but I feel like an incendiary bomb might not be a bad idea in this cave." (edited)

"Or a more localized application might be needed, otherwise that sounds great."

(Caught up. Just don’t habe anything to add Until things happen

"Something to talk with the Cooperative about perhaps." Kiwi comments as she continues looking for other paths out of the chamber.

This chamber seems to be there things terminate. This is evidently all there is on this level of the cave , and this is a nesting ground of some kind

"Well, looks like we will have to scale the wall if we want to see where the acid comes from. Do you want to do that?

"Without being splashed preferably, yes."

"Let's see if we can find a way up then." Kiwi says, leading the way back to the room with the waterfall before looking for an aiming point for her grapple launcher which won't leave them climbing in the acid waterfall.

(There's going to be a check while we're climbing to do so without straying into it, but the grappel will reach a path)

"Well, I see a spot where we can climb up but it will be tricky. As long as we are careful we should be able to stay out of the acid." Kiwi says as she attaches her rope to the grapple launcher.

"If you fall i will try to catch you, i should be able to jump clear with my harness."

"Alright." Kiwi says before firing her grapple up at the ledge. When it lands she tests it to see if it has caught. After she gets her climbing harness set she takes a deep breath before starting the climb.

Glimmer follows close behind climbing the rope before following onto the actual rock face itself.

(exert/dex)

(7)

(8)

The rope goes taunt as you begin to climb the cliff-acid fall to the right of you misting like normal water does. Glimmer strays a bit close (1 damage) during the climb when the weight unexpectedly shifts. Although the exposure is brief, it settles into the empty spaces within the armor she is wearing and it continues to burn to a low degree over several long minutes. The rope runs out at the top of the cliffside, revealing the spring going far deeper into the darkness ahead, and a chamber to the left.

Glimmer hisses as the acid sprays onto them, burning their carapace. "I liked... this uniform."

The uniform can be replaced, and the flesh under will heal in time, should you survive the mission.

Kiwi helps Glimmer up to the top of the cliff before looking around the chamber with a nervous flutter of her wings. "Well, this isn't ominous at all. Further unto the spring or check the chamber first?"

"Chamber, wouldn't want anything to wake up behind us."

Upon entering the chamber it seems people have come this way before. Six bodies, now little more than bones held together by scraps of adventuring clothing and gear lie scattered about the chamber. The remains of a long extinguished fire is in the middle of the room and their positions indicate they were felled while sleeping, and the bones were disturbed after. You see evidence of the jelly like creature feeding here in the past

"Think I found where our jello cube came from."

Kiwi shudders looking at the piles of bones. "Killed while sleeping and digested by a ball of slime, I can't imagine a worse way to go. Let's keep moving, see what's at the end of the spring."

The end of the spring has a rock shelf you follow from this chamber almost a kilometer into the mountain before you begin to see light ahead, coming from above. More of the slightly acidic spray mists near the source of the light, but you can see what starts as water from snowmelt above moves down some naturally carved stone sluce, and in doing so runs over what looks to be some kind of fungus. The fungus is white and foamy on appearance (like Dog's Barf Fungus IRL, if you've ever seen that) and when coming into contact with water it seems beyond this point, and distilled here in tide pools for years, it gets quite potent.

14:00

(someone less concerned with ecological damage could even destroy the stone chute the water runs down and remove the fungus to make this a fresh water source with some minor chemical treatments in the future)

"It appears we have found our source, looks like it was fresh water at one point."

"I think the acidic ooze we have run into makes it clear leaving this here is dangerous. We should let everyone know its location, perhaps we can use this as another water source once the fungi has been removed."

"Indeed, I'm not an expert in the exact processes but I think we could easily turn this into a stable water source, hopefully the jello cube was a creation of this and we stop any more from forming in the process."

(Preliminary work we've done so far would probably support that assumption)

"Let's go ahead and make our way back. We can inform the colony of the building location and have then dispatch a specialized team to handle the removal of this fungus and the acidic water." Kiwi says before starting to head back to the waterfall. (Would the metal sample Glimmer acquired when we were here earlierbe identified at this point)

(No, only because we don’t have proper facilities for it, and even if handling it meant sending it off world which we can say happened , it’s only been a day or two, so it would just be getting there)

(Alright, just wanted to mention it so we didn't forget about it.)

Glimmer nods and flutters their wings as they stretch. "Aye, we have done what we can, it's the specialists turn now."

(I guess that leaves me alone, yeah?

(I mean, what would the alternative be?

)

(We'll hop into yours)