Iron Stars - vitriol

Vitriol Agathon, a small and more diminutive Utan has been a member of the Communist Brotherhood of Stellar States exploration corps for a few months now, and has worked some low level scouting missions on Pelasgon- mostly mapping the countryside, and doing the things that an explorer has done already on the home planet.

14:21

As he rests in his small apartment after one such expedition, there is a knock on the door, and a courier passes a small note through the mail slot halfway down the thin wooden entry door. The note has a red seal on the back, with an engraving in it.

Do I recognize the red seal?

(You do not, no)

Vitriol, takes an image from the seal with his compad so it can do a search, and then proceeds to read the note

The chairman's office is the originator of the message, and it reads

Mr. Agathon, 

Your work with the Communist Brotherhood of Stellar States is noticed, and noted, and you have been selected for special assignment. A shuttle to Maintena, along with a small five person exploration team has been provided for you to use in upcoming excavations and further discovery of the former Slyth Empire planet. 

We suspect there are many secrets buried in the unmarked ruins on its surface, and the State expects you will find them. Your progress is the party's progress. You leave tonight, a car will pick you up along with any gear you plan to bring at 20:00pm this evening. 

- The office of Chairman Yuri Oktobreskya-

1

Vitriol, reads the note more than 5 times before folding it and then carefully unfolding it again, he then decides that he will put the note in a frame and display it. "Blasted Ancients! I am being noticed, this can give me the opportunity I have always been looking for, I’m not telling anyone about this assignment, Xenoarcheology is a field full of envy, I will not allow anyone to spoil this" Vitriol then opens his travelling trunk, and proceeds to checks his gear, he will clean and check that everything works as expected. After he is completely sure that all the equipment he needs to both work as a Biopsionic and keep himself and group in good health if needed and the scout gear that will help him stay alive, in a very low whisper he mantra to himself "My size and health will not be an obstacle to my mind and will" Vitriol will expend the rest of the day, preparing his compad with all the info related to the Slyth Empire and preparing a journal to upkeep whatever he finds.

(You have a high know skill, and your background leans toward understanding linguistics. You get two languages in addition to utan and mandate , so I’d recommend slyth and you get to pick something else ) (edited)

(is there any other lost culture that would be of interest of the Lamplighters lets say or something history wise?)

(Not yet. They’re only been around post scream for a couple months

(Geon have their own language? They have gone through the cycle of technological apex, and fall into stone age like conditions several times during their stellar life cycle as a species. sounds like a good hook for an archeologist)

(They do)

(Added: Utan, Mandate, Slyth, Geon)

It takes a few hours to get everything together, and you're left with a few hours to wait before the car arrives in front of the building. The driver does not get out, nor do they call your compad. They simply expectantly wait outside.

Vitriol was ready to leave for a couple hours before the plan, he noticed a car outside his building and went out to ask if it was "his" car, when the answer was affirmative, Vitriol told them he was ready and asked where he should load his trunk. Even though Vitriol tries to be helpful and make himself of use, he knows his deficiencies… his small size frame makes a weak 1st impression and then he has devoted his young life to academics and research, so even when in paper or long distance he can move easily between the ranks of the CBSS bureaucracy, in person he has some troubles and what’s worst, his lack of social skills makes him sabotage himself when trying to start small talk ”Hello, comrades, I’m Vitriol Agathon, ugh well you already know that I guess?, yes? So, did you all get a notification for this mission or you all have already been on board for a while? Do you know what to expect? I really don’t know much about this assignment, but I will do my best” He then starts trying to make an idea of each of persons in the group before they even introduce themselves he is very stressed thinking that probably he already said something wrong and is going over his conversation.

(this is what you're rehearsing in your head?)

(No, he already said that, and now is overthinking what he said)

22:27

(Ill try to make more punctuations the next posts, until I checked the mobile noticed my Wall of Text)

As you arrive at the terminal and introduce yourself to the team, one is an engineer, the other is a programming expert, and the three others are hired for security. It seems your role is the brain- actually informing everyone what you might be looking at when it comes time to the actual ruin dive. (edited)

"All right! I'm ready to travel and discover ruins, will be the 1st time I take a dive, we are diving or using a submarine?"

“The ruins seem to be on land that we have discovered so far. We will have to see more when we get there.” The engineer says. “Well. The flight crew loaned to us is on the clock. Let’s get aboard shall we. Got several days in spike space to get acquainted”

(in space, its instant travel, encounters, downtime activities, training, or what can be done? I dont think i saw that on the guides)

(It’s on the Theres a handout on top of the roll20)

01:32

(It’s one day of travel per hex. Ships can only begin and end jumps at planets and can only travel as many hexes at once as their spike drive rating allows. Leaving Pelasgon it is a two day direct spike to Maitane)

(ohh didnt read much in roll20, tought everything was on the google drives docs, brb)

(No problem. )

(I think Im being quite a newbie, but ill catch up, you will see)

(I put it on there so it’s near the character sheets )

Very excited and with positive attitude, Vitriol boards the ship, leaves his equipment at his assigned quarters and after getting to know the ship&crew, Vitriol will invest his free time learning Ashen One and reading about Maitane again.

(2/30 for ashen by time we get to our destination. The system info would be whats on the article I sent you and you can pick any ruin you’d like to land at )

Vitriol reunites the crew and tells them "according to the reports, the last crew already removed the hazards from the reactor and crash site but haven't really made an inspection, I would like to start our investigation in this order: reactor, crash site and deep dive. Please everyone lets gear up and get ready to land"

The reactor site is largely clear of hazards and the reactor itself is gone now , on its way to Mehani to jump start a new colony.

(Scratch that and then will start with the crash site, to try to understand what where they doing)

The crash site is the remains of a Slyth cruiser that smashed into the planets surface. There’s three sections of the ship that have broken apart from one another , lying within a 250m area of land apart from one another

I will look into the private quarters 1st, to try and find anything close to a document, compad or anything that can give information on the Slyths that crashed

(let me get a map of for you)\

14:34

14:34

(entering at the X at the back. The quarters are toward the front of the vessel and there are likely traps/security along the way- which i dont think we should blitz past)

Vitriol checks the map from the Survey Scanners, he then directs himself to the engineer and programming expert "Could you please check for traps and auto defense mechanisms that might reactivate once we start advancing inside the ship? After you get access to the system, I would like to check the captain, medic and science logs, if there are any of course" and then to the security fellows "Who is going 1st? and who is staying to guard?"

The system is alien, literally, to the members of the expedition, and there's not a surefire way to remotely disable anything that might prevent safe exploration within the ship. Logs also seem to be not something that can be pulled remotely. The ship's reactor is still running at least in standby mode, in whatever broken section of the ship houses it. A minor ECM field generated by it, is still present in the area.

Vitriol will use his compad scanning if it possible to pick up unencrypted distress radio signals, lidar or electromagnetic. If he doesn’t detect anything, he will then carefully advance from the X entrance to clear room (1) with the goal of getting to the control room (8?) checking each room for possible hazards, evidence past life, writings and signals, once and if the ship is cleared of hazards or booby traps.

Vitriol keeps autoscanning for possible signals <static> <garbled noise> <static> while looking around trying to find runes, writings or anything that might prepare him for whatever they might find ahead, since the transport ship was on clock and might have already left, Vitriol will try to use crashed site as operation center. “Guys, I’m gonna get started, if we clear the ship, we can use it as operation center”

(We'll take it room by room. Shotgunning the descriptions of every single thing you're going to pass all at once isn't going to work)

Original message was deleted or could not be loaded.

Pinned a message.

19:45

A survey scanner doesnt detect any signals, but you board the ship at X, with the drive section of 1 behind you, and the transit corridor to the bridge running north with many holes and places where its exposed to outside conditions. The doors to the passing rooms are all closed but there is evidence of a somewhat recent firefight inside.

Vitriol analyzes the area trying to understand how the fire started, just in case it might be an auto defense mechanism and then will open room (2), Vitriol will journal direct to his compad his findings.

20:07

“Compad, start video and audio recorder… this is comrade Vitriol Agathon, surveying Maintena Slyth crash site for anything that might be useful for the CBSS, day 1: We managed to enter the ship, there is some visible damage and holes but apparently the reactors seem to be operating in safe mode, so I will investigate expecting to notice any auto-defense mechanism or booby trap, now I will proceed to open the door in front of me… according to typical slyth ship architecture, it is possible that is a Vaccsuit room. Let’s see what we can find from the original crew here.”

20:07

With his rifle loaded and ready for action strapped to his side, Vitriol tries to open room (2)

2 looks like it once was a room where EVA work pods were kept until they were needed. They’re big with four manipulator arms on them, that would be entirely natural to a slyth. They’ve all had their glass or critical void seals broken in the impact.

Before leaving the room, Vitriol will check if the suits have a name tag and then will move to room (11)

They do not have name plates on them. The door to 11 is sealed and looks to be wedged into place from the impact against the ground. The doorframe is damaged and the doors are stuck in their sealed position.

Vitriol tries to open 11 hard then he realizes is stuck "Compad Journal: So far nothing of importance, I had the hope that finding name plates would provide info for further investigation in Slyth history or documentation, no luck with that so far. The Next room was imposible to open for now. Proceeding now to investigating the next room" Vitriol still ready for action, heads to room (3), he will try to find anything that can provide crew or history information.

(Notice/wis)

(This will be my 1st roll, its 2d6, right?)

(if you click the pencil on the top right of your sheet you will be tkaen out of edit mode, then just click notice, )

(Check Result 9)

Something like compressed air, or gas, or a mechanical hiss of static- it's hard to determine what, begins sounding in room 11. You're just barely able to make it out over the sounds of the settling ship, and your own breathing in the suit helmet

Vitriols speaks to the group "Does any one else hears that sound too?" he then goes back to 11 "Everyone watch out for possible compressed air leak, if anyone wasnt wearing helmet, watch out until we can be sure we arent breathing toxins" Vitriol will try to find out where the pressurised air is coming from.

You can feel it coming from under the door of 11, and as you get close, you hear the scrape of metal on metal from the other side, like something getting dragged across its surface.

Vitriol talks to the security guys "Definetly there is something inside this room!" and starts looking around for any vents or cracks that might help spy the other side, if there arent any, Vitriol will try to go to the next room that shares wall with it (10) to check if it can be access that way or if he can find a torck or tool that might be used as a lever to force open the doors.

There is a vent, about the size of your hand, that is situated over the door, and would allow you to look inside if you can get up to it, and get the cover off.

Im going to check the next room for a rebar, crobar or multitool that might help me remove the cover.

Room 11 does not have what you’re looking for but the work pod room with the EVA suits had tool kits affixed to them for work outside the ship back when it was space worthy.

Vitriol hurries back to the Pod Room and inspect the old suits until he finds a tool that is still functional, at least to remove the vent cover "Compad, Journal entry: I can hear movement inside the room with the stuck door, also some pressure changes, like compressed air or some leak, Im going to try and spy from the vent." Vitriol grabs a box and steps on it to reach and remove it.

With the tools, it pops off handily, and ther'es enough room for you to get your head and shoulders into the vent. Looking through the slotted grate into the other room, you can see a damaged combat bot weakly hammering on the other side of the door, the hiss of some kind of poorly vocalized warning that it is no longer able to- the hiss being the 'gas leak' you thought you were hearing. It does not look like it's going to make it out of this room with its failing power, and probably has been weakly hammering against this door since the first explorers tried to board the vessel

I step down and inform the group "There is a damaged combat bot stuck, it shouldn’t represent a problem to Us, but there might be other bots in good shape, so please, let’s continue the exploration of this ship, but be alert. If anyone finds something odd let me know, all clues of the former crew could help us plan how to proceed with the exploration” then I will go back towards room (3) “Compad, Journal entry: I just found a damaged combat bot, it is running out of power, I need to find a way to get to it and then with the help of the engineer we can probably get information from it or repurpose it. Close entry”

Room 3 is a store room. Most of the good and spares in here have been destroyed, as have the power cells kept in storage. THe impact with the ground was not kind, and the room was not shock proof enough to keep things from rattling so hard that they broke.

(the door that goes to 4&10, is open?)

(yes, nothing blocking you from getting in)

I continue inspecting, and will check the open area in 10, specially trying to find a way to the access the combat bot

The bot remains in 11 and there’s no way to get into room 11 from here

14:09

10 was once a crew lounge. The furniture has been shattered by the impact with the ground, but the holo game table still works

I'll ask the engineer in the party to check if he can get any data from the holo table

It will take long moments for a complete diagnostic and download. He will begin working on it while the exploration continue s

"Thank you Comrade, please let us know when you complete the diagnostic" I move to room 4

Room 4 is a bunk room where the non- officers slept and spent time when they weren’t on watch. The scene of shattered furnishings is repeated here but the storage containers in the room were built hardier and seem to have withstood the impact - though have remained closed

(Sorry, my weekends sometimes get quite busy)

14:15

Vitriol eyes glow with anticipated excitement, finally something not destroyed! He examines the containers for any hazards and will open them

(fix/int)

(rolled a 4)

The ship engineer lends a hand, and you're able to pop the crate lid off one of the storage containers. A slyth sized vac suit is inside, along with a laser pistol, a vac fresher, and a pair of power cells for the weapon.

I will recover everything but the Slyth vac suit, then will continue to room 5

The officers quarters is jammed and the door is only halfway open. Squeezing through is not possible for even the thinnest runt on the team and after a few moments of everyone trying they begin looking for some kind of mechanical solution to get it the rest of the way into its housing

I will move to room 9, I'm sure there should be something around to use as lever or Juggernaut, or maybe when we get to the ships bridge some of the door locks can be opened

The non-commissioned officers room is intact. Extra armor around this segment of the ship helped it absorb the impact with the ground much better. The armory looks to remain locked, but is intact. The storage trunks and other furnishings here are also intact.

13:20

the Slyth colony on Ilaria would pay handsomely for the return of anything from their past.

Vitriol can hardly contain his excitement, he is eager to prove his worth to the CBBS effort "Comrades! This mission might start to be a success, we need to make and inventory and secure this area, then we will proceed with the rest of the ship"

(So the programmer is working on the holo table and the engineer has two doors to work on right now. We have three security guys but we are running a little thin on manpower)

(then I will continue with the rest of the group to clear the ship of any possible hazzards then will document the inventory)

(Sounds good. What room did we want to try next )

I will move to room 5

Sweeping through the empty room of 5, all that remains is the bridge, which the previous team was unable to access. There is a keypad you can patch a dataslab or compad into, or you can try to force it open. From further back in the ship, the engineer calls that he can access the door with the security bot behind it now, but hasn't opened it yet

(OOC: awesome job with the story!!)

18:33

Vitriol considers his options ande decides that they will go back to the engineer so they can inspect the Security Bot in order to eiminate probable surprises and hazards that might activate once the Main Bridge of the Ship is accessed. Vitriol answer to the Engineer "Great job comrade, we are on our way to inspect what we can do with that bot and just in time, aparently we are about to use your talents again!"

The door can be opened with a signal from his compad. The robot will almost certainly attack as you are not slyth, and you’ve got the time you need to make any kind of preparations before he opens the door. (You and the three security troopers will get a surprise round when he opens the door. And then we will do regular initiative after )

(I thought the bot was running out of battery)

(It is, but it’s got enough to move, as you’ve seen it doing so within the chamber it’s in. Nobody is sure what to expect when it detects intruders or at least has line of sight on you)

"Comrades, lets be ready for the combat bot, the best scenario it has low energy so we can inmobilize and repurpose, bot it might go full rampage and attack us. Lets move some of the empty trunks/lockers just by the door, so in case it activates when it sees us , we can freely shot" Vitriols starts moving the trunks and ask the group for help to improvise a barrier and try to get another free round if needed. (edited)

(Everyone will get +2 AC for the partial cover, but the surprise round is all we're getting with how tight the corridor is)

(got it)

14:29

The red dots are the security staff, I am the blue dot

14:31

"Comrade, use your Compad and lets find out what that bot still does, If needed I will use Biopsionics on any of you!" I will be positioned behind them to quickly heal them if needed

There is a hiss as the chamber door opens, and the combat bot turns to face the sudden sound (so now we take everyone's surprise rounds worth of actions and whatnot, and then we do initiative) (edited)

(What should I roll?)

(I’m not sure what you plan to do for the combat round here but I’ll let you know if you’ve got ideas on what you want to do) (edited)

(I just want to give healing support to the security guys)

(Okay, so you’re not going to shoot or anything? It’s a surprise round and the bot cannot act this round, so your ken would not have a chance to be hurt this round)

(Ahh ok, I'll take advantage of the 1st rounds, then will focus in healing if needed)

The three marines with you open fire, and two of their shots connect with the bot. One misses by a wide margin as he fiddles with sights. (Your move then initiative )

I will shoot the Bot

(alright, let me know your attack/damage roll when you manage to get it in)

19:53

(if you click the weapon on your character sheet, it will do it all for you)

(attack 5 dmg 9)

20:19

(initiative 5)

(6)

02:51

Vitriol's weapon sparks off the bot's armor, doing no damage. The war bot cycles its wrist mounted laser weapons, sending bright beams of orange energy streaking into the corridor, but missing the security detail you're with.

Vitriol takes cover along the security officer "Ok, Comrades, let's try and only hurt the bot laser, or at least dont damage to much its core, we need to get whatever we can out of it!"

(New round now, since everyone acted, are not using your main action for anything?) (edited)

(Forgot)

21:37

Ill do another shot

(I has already rolled initiative, should I roll damage again?)

(Yeah just like other games , gotta know the to hit and damage to see if your shot did anything )

(Attack 9 Dmg 6)

Your shot misses, but one of the soldiers with you is able to draw a bead on the robot's head, and a single beam punches through the faceplate, and exits the back in a neat hole. It falls to its knees, and then topples onto the smoking remains of its face

19:58

(two missed, then 14/5 for the third guy, which hits and did enough damage to drop it)

"Excellent work Comrades! One more hazard eliminated, let's see if this was only the bot storage or it was guarding something" I enter the room and will inspect it

The ship's log, manifest, and crew roster is located on a terminal in this room, technology failsafes cutting this computer off from the bridge terminals once the ship hit the ground.

"We could try to lift the data, Now we don't need to worry about getting into the bridge, unless we want to"

"Perfect Comrade, let's try to get everything from this terminal!"

The programmer will be here for some time working on it, though the engineer no longer has anything to work on. The majority of the ship has been throughly mapped now

"Comrades let's explore the rest of the ship, we might find more equipment that might be of value either for the investigation or Slyth community"

15:41

(Will continue to room 9)

(We've been in here, but for refrence, The non-commissioned officers room is intact. Extra armor around this segment of the ship helped it absorb the impact with the ground much better. The armory looks to remain locked, but is intact. The storage trunks and other furnishings here are also intact. the Slyth colony on Ilaria would pay handsomely for the return of anything from their past.)

(the only room we have left is 8)

Got it, straight to room 8 then

18:57

(Nekomash, I have a professional evaluation tomorrow and Friday, not slacking here but I'm quite stressed and studying in home office with kids jumping all around, will advanced as regular as soon as I complete the evaluations)

(No worries my friend. I just realized I didn’t really help you as much as I could have with the second last post I made)

(Thank you, I still having a blast here)

(Hope your assessments went well!)

(Thank you, Just finished 20 minutes ago the 3rd part)

06:22

(Can the party go straight to inspect and try to take control of the bridge)

(Now you can since you’ve got control@of the terminal and can get the blast doors up)

(Sorry had a stupid accident and almost lost and ear... have been KOed with meds)

14:05

"Comrades, let's take control of the bridge, let's try to find the logs and history of this ship"

Entering the bridge you can see the bodies of the crew are still in their seats, gone to bone within punctured slyth scaled space suits. One of them has been impaled against the deck by a fallen ceiling support. There was a fire here once, most of the computers are blackened, and screens cracked

I scan the room looking for anything salvageable or hazardous. If there isn't anything, I'll go back to the engineer and start going through the ship log, tell the security staff to make a perimeter and establish a base until we can find better.

The hard data is copied, and can be reviewed in safety once you are all off this ship. The download is quick, and it seems on the corpse of the captain no one has thought to remove the energy pistol in the holster at his hip

I'll take the pistol from the captain and proceed with the rest of the group "Comrades, good job here, I will work along the engineer to inspect the data and report our advances while perimeter is secured to establish camp!"

"Did we want to camp here? Or should we retreat to orbit for the night where it is safer?"

(also, 3xp, 5000 credits. The wreck has been fully explored)

(our new CBSS player is also a technician, if you want to stick around I'm thinking maybe the two fo you together could help lead salvage/recovery efforts for the wreck)

Nekosmash

(our new CBSS player is also a technician, if you want to stick around I'm thinking maybe the two fo you together could help lead salvage/recovery efforts for the wreck)

That would be awesome!

Nekosmash

(also, 3xp, 5000 credits. The wreck has been fully explored)

XP use and level up is until escenario ends?

(We're done with the current adventure, so we can do a level up. Page 56 of the core rulebook does it perfectly)

Level Up Level: 2 Focus: Psychic Training 2 Old HP: 6 HP Roll: 3 New HP: 7 Skills: Bio 2 Techniques: Invincible Stand (as level up) + Remote repair (1SP from FOCI 2) (edited)

(I am good for whatever yuou want to do upon getting back to the main galaxy here. Your wounds and conditions would have healed on the return journey)

(Awesome, I need to level up twice and I think I need your advice on getting a ship, go for a Shuttle or wait for a Trader, you think it would be a long wait to get enough Cr to equip it?)

19:44

(Also, the homebrewed Psionic skills, like Nullify, how are added to the charsheet? must likely im missing something, but cant find them)

(I will add a box for you)

20:34

(Let me PM you for the other stuff)

Level Up Level: 3 Focus: NA Old HP: 7 HP Roll: 12 New HP: 12 Skills: Nullification 1 (0+1= 3SP from lvl up) Techniques: Voided Mind (free skill from Nullification 1) Unused Skills: 2 (1 retroactive bonus from Psychic Training lvl 2 + 1 from lvl 3, must be used for BioPsionics)

Level Up Level: 4 title: "Vault of Shadows Veteran” , which provides a free level to any mental skill , and a +2 on mental saves to resist the effects of shadows Focus: NA Old HP: 12 HP Roll: 5 New HP: 13 Skills: Nullification 2 (3SP from lvl up) + Pilot 0 (1 from Vault of Shadows Veteran) Techniques: Into the Void (free skill from Nullification 2) + Major Organ Restoration (3SP= 1 retroactive bonus from Psychic Training lvl 2 + 1 from lvl 3+ 1 from lvl 4, must be used for BioPsionics) Unused Skills: 0

Level Up Level: 5 Focus: Connected (connect -1) Old HP: 13 HP Roll: 18 New HP: 18 Skills: NA Techniques: Saved Unused Skills: 4 (1 bonus from Psychic Training must be used for BioPsionics + 3 per lvl 5)

(Ok done with the XP, can I use some Cr on general stuff like ammo now? Only gonna get now 3 ammo for the Light Machine gun+magazine for a total of 40Cr. 4 Bezoar no encumbrance for 800Cr and 2 Power Cell type A to stack with the one i already have for 20Cr, grand total= 860Cr)

(All available )

(deducted the Cr from my sheet and added the items, thank you)

After the successful Vault Raid, Slyth Cruise Ship mission and the reward obtained from the CBSS; Vitriol will use his Xenoarchaeology knowledge to focus on a personal mission that he has had in mind since he was a kid, he will investigate every known and dark history he can find related to ships of old and renown that where lost, crashed or derelict and will try identify the possible location to a ship that can be saved and repaired to be his ship... A big, old ship worth of a Xenoarcheologist; a moving museum lab (edited)

(know/int)

(10)

You remember the worlds of Maintaine, and Musheera both being junkyard worlds where past adventuring souls among the stars have been able to find and repair wrecks there for their own uses.

After many days and nights investigating his options, Vitriol limits his research to only 2 planets: Maitena, the junk planet and the unclaimed Musheera. Both planets have pros and cons, so after making a deep evaluation, Vitriol decides that he will start his quest in Musheera, since he can support his land expedition with his ATV, besides the fact that there might be some population that could be hired as help if required. Vitriol then looks into ancient archives for ship manifestos, logs and data that could guide him to a sector in the planet where a hull similar to what he is looking for might be (edited)

(What could be the angle on this? Would the CBSS be interested in helping with crew and shuttle for this mission?)

(That’s how you’re getting there yes)

Vitriol spents two more days preparing a report with his plans to the CBSS, he then communicates with the crew that already had experience with the Slyth Cruise Salvage and informs them to be ready to depart in the next day, to the Engineers that had already worked with him he sends them the investigation he has documented and his plan, in order for them to prepare with a proper tool room

(we will consider the shuttle as having an armory and locker. )

Vitriol experience with the Cult of the Still Lady was an eye opener, he realizes that he was arrogant and innocent, he wasnt ready for what he encountered in the Shadow Vault, but he learned from his mistakes, he promises himself that from now on he will be more carefull. Vitriol prepares his backpack, double checks that he has loaded all the info related to Musheera and then heads to the ship port, he is ready for departure

(12 days of downtime from Maintena where we were with Vanon, to Musheera)

(Vitriol will invest his downtime finishing his learning of Ashen language he will then go with the engineers to get a hands on approach learning Fix) (edited)

(I just modified my Roll20 charsheet, was checking it and realized by mistake I pasted Telekinetic Armory and I havent learned that Technique)

(so do you need it deleted?)

(Already did, just wanted to let you know)

https://www.worldanvil.com/w/iron-stars-nekosmash/a/musheera-article

Musheera

(Already read the article for both planets, since Musheera might have some population and the ruins are Slyth I decided for this one to give continuity to Vitriol investigation and past experience)

15:16

As soon as the Shuttle arrives to Musheera, Vitriol will ask the Captain to please check if there are signs of any other salvage crew or some of the not permanente population, so he can contact them and inquiry of any news, info or tips

Rigers Corps of Engineers has a small base on the planet, and it seems to be crewed year round. A UNW vessel under a captain Itse, a slyth himself in UNW service, is also on the planet currently

15:20

(itse is another player, if you feel like teaming up)

(That would be great!)

15:21

(Should I post in his channel for contact?)

(yeah we can do that, since it already has a map of his area of inquiry pinned and stuff)

(Vitriol will go back to Maintena, thats 14 days, right?)

16:16

16:21

(Wanted to paste those here to have them at hand)

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Pinned a message.

01:11

(correct, 14 days there to work on whatever you wish, and we're good for whatever when you get there)

(got it, Will continue learning Fix, I believe last time I did 2/60? after learning Ashen)

(that matches what I have)

Vitriol pilots his ship to Maintena, fourteen days might seem a lot of time to be alone, but being an scholar its a great time to start learning a new discipline with out being disturbed. After adquiring his ship, and specially one that is planned to be used with out the help of other sophonts, Vitriol understands the urgent need to learn how to work on it and upkeep it, so he spents his time figuring out how to do maintenance and minor repairs. After a couple days, Vitriol "sets loose" the Slyth *Scrub Field artefact to keep the Custos free of stellar dust thats starts to accumulate. Being in complete privacy, Vitriol at last has the chance to work in a subject that,as a scholar in antiquiteies and relics, he feels quite interested but he felt that the others sophonts that where on his team against the Still Lady Reliquary frowned upon. From his compad he takes the videos and pictures from the raid and starts to 3D Print them , he will try to find and understand the very origins of the cult*

(I can get some stuff mocked up for this, but i think the investigation with such a deep dive like this woujld take a lot of time)

(dont worry about that, it will be a secret and longtime project to have in the background, still on the road to Maintenna to scan with the ship for more possible ruins, possible cryopods and the underwater mistery)

Upon reaching the planet the automated crew begins waking up. Those with more local space duties begin their boot up processes.

As the automated crew start doing their chores and execuing their programs, Vitriol configures the Survey Sensors to start "combing" the area around where the Cruiser was, he will try to find possible settlements or anything buried that might be hidden

(Program/int)

(11)

A small metal object that might be an escape pod is 500m from the wreck of the cruiser, under tens of meters of water

When the sensors show the metalic object, Vitriol gets excited, up until today he has been directed or arrived to sites that where previously discovered by someone else, but this is his own finding. Vitriol lands his ship close to the object, meticously loads the Axolotl with all his gear, including weapons and the handy scrub field, he then proceeds to wear his Scout Vacc suit and disembarks the Axolotl, it was designed for this type of missions!. Completly aware that this will be his 1st solo field expedition and that any mistake might be fatal, Vitriol promise himself that he will be carefull and then proceeds to drive the ATV straight to the metal object (edited)

(can it go into water/under water?)

19:55

(Cant get the pins to load)

(Yes, it has Environment Water)

20:24

(And sealed atmosphere)

(perfect, so one more program/int now that we're in water and a new set of circumstances, and we'll resolve this)

(got a 9)

The pod is ahead and you’ll need to dive without the atv once you get there to access it. The pressure system and propulsion units all seem to be working in the first underwater test of the vehicle

Vitriol scans the area for any sign of living creatures that might be lurking around the pod that might confuse with something to eat, then positions the Axolotl the closest possible to the pod, so he can reduce the distance he will be exposed to the environment. Vitriol goes to the back of the ATV, double checks his vacc suit and prepares his knife, multitool, compad and scrub field. He doesnt feel comfortable going almost unarmed, but both his rifles will be to heavy to swim with them straped to his back, he seats for a bit and reproaches himself for not getting a side arm, he has the resources to get one but again didnt prepared properly. He opens the sealed hatch and takes a dive

(the scrub field can be left wherever, its got a pretty decent range as long as its mounted inside a ship, home, or vehicle)

15:48

ahea,d you can see the outline of one of the escape poids from the vessel. Its unclear if the occupants , or at least their corpses, are inside or not. You can see a small hole in the side that might be enough for you to swim through

Vitriol swims out of the ATV, turns on his helmet lamps and form the hole, inspects the inside of the pod, if its clear or animals or anything that might attack, he enters the pod to take a close look of the inside

(notice/wis)

(8)

You can see something inky and black inside, ith many limbs

Observing something in the inside, Vitriol pulls out his knife and hits the metal pod with his knife pomel, to check how it reacts to the vibrations and sounds (Considering that Vitriol has done his homework with this plannet, does he have any idea of the local flora and fauna?)

(theres not really much in the way of homework you could have done, as almost none of it has been explored or documented)

19:40

(we'd be extrapolating something from nothing)

(Ok, does the noise from hitting the pod or light from the helmet make the thing react?)

A dark shape shoots outinto the water, moving away from the pod as quickly as possible and leaving clouds of ink behind it. It doesnt seem to want any part of this

Vitriol feels relieved that there wasnt any exchange with the alien creature, and now that it has left the pod, he gets closer to the hole in the pod and evading hiting his vaccsuite with any sharp edges, he enters the pod and will start inspecting it

The bodies of two slyth occupants hang slack in restraint belts. They're both wearing the tattered remains of water logged vac suits and the fish here have eaten them to bone. Each of them has a survival kit strapped behind the restraint seats. They might have had weapons too but they were not protected lke the survival kits were, and water has turned them into useless lumps of rust

I salvage the survival kits and take bone samples so I can provide ADN Id to the Slyth community, I assume that the pod electronics are already completly damaged by the water, so I dont use more time than the needed to get back to the Axolotl, dont want to be exposed to any possible attack from a lake creature or the inky thing. Once back in the ATV I set up the compad to record a voice journal Entry 1 Maintena, Solo expedition: I found a crashed emergency Pod from the Slyth Cruiser, it had 2 deceased occupants, took bone samples from each of them to provide evidence and keep the Slyth community updated and hopefully interested on my research. Found two Survival kits that I will inspect once I get back to the "Custos". While swimming to the Pod I found an unknown creature, Once again I realize that I ventured witho out being properlly equiped, I find my self in need of a GOOD side arm, specially now that Im venturing with out a safety detachment from the CBSS or an adventuring group, whats worse, I have a shock batton that didnt bring with me, luckily the creature ran away, next time I might not get that lucky. Journal entry complete

The sounds of the water outside, and the fact you're submerged calls your attention back to the piloting controls. Things are running fine and there is enough air. The seals are holding. Your cargo is secure for the moment.

I get back to the controls and start going back to the surface and then to the ship, will inspect the Survival Kits inside the lab

They are water logged, and drain right away on one of the examination tables here. In the corner, your printers are working on re-creating some of what you fed them upon taking things from The Still Lady (mental save, unrelated to this) (edited)

As water emerges from the kits, I curse loudly... I was genuily expecting to find someting that might provide more clues to posible Slyth settlements or their mission to this planet, but after taking a few minutes I cant help and start chuckling... "Of course I wasnt going to find everything on my first real finding! but at least now I know that there must be other pods around the area that managed to escape the crash, it might be possible that some of them werent as unlucky as the ones I found and even tried to start a tribe like the one in Musheera that Itse found or some might even still be in Cryo sleep" with a better mood I start taking out the contents of the kits, just in case there is anything still salvageable

(did you pass or fail the save?)

(ohhh I missinterpreted/Misstranslated what you wrote!!)

23:35

(Hard to explain what I understood, but Mental Save=7, Failed)

(Alright. I’ll move this all up when I’m back to my computer tonight )

The survival bags are on the table but your vision isn't quite what you were expecting it to be upon getting your wet suit off. Your bio monitor shows the blood gas levels are fine. You weren't exposed to anything and didn't pick up a contamination from the water. Things get worse when you begin looking at the print outs for too long. They're a ways from finishing, but something about their subtly wrong geometry is bothersome to you and you feel sick as your brain tries to frame it in a way you can understand

(The geometry is not euclidean?)

(correct)

*I look away from the 3d printers, close my eyes hard and try to concentrate to use Into the Void*

(Spell or technique text would be helpful)

(Into the Void Level-2 The Nullifier may commit Effort for the Scene to briefly cease to exist when necessary, bodily translating their existence into a metadimensional pocket. Activating this power causes the Nullifier to simply vanish. While nonexistent, the Nullifier is aware of their surroundings but can neither move nor perform any Actions. The Nullifier can remain safely absent for a number of rounds equal to their character level; for every round after that, the character suffers 1d6 damage until they either die or coalesce from the metadimensional void.)

13:33

(I will use Into the Void to check if there is any difference in looks of the 3d printed mock relic or if it stops affecting me) (edited)

(You're in a pocket so you're not connected to anything else, it will stop bothering you since you're not present but you only have like 30 seconds at best to remain in the pocket)

(the ability says "Aware of surroundings" does it look the same while in the pocket?) Once inside the pocket dimension, I try to calm myself and inspect my surroundings for anything unusual, then I end the Void and check again the object that is being printed (edited)

(aware of your physical surroundings. this isn't D and D where you go to the astral plane or something)

15:34

There is nothing you are physically aware of inside the lab with you. The items are just very unsettling and you had the same feeling when you saw them hanging in the Rana Academy. It feels worse now, but this is also longer exposure to them.

I will try to get out of the lab room, to the ship bridge and check if I feel better

Once you stop looking at them you seem to clear up. You find your grounding again.

Worried I take a sit to think and take notes:

Still Lady Relics, entry 1: As a part of a continuation of the Still Lady artifacts and relics origins project that I decided to investigate, I started Printing the objects I documented and found out that the mere Observation of an inconcluded 3d print can affect me, the non-euclidean Geometry of the object caused illnes upon sight, made me light headed. I had to move to the Void to null the effect. 

As a scientist I feel compelled to do a full research on the subject using the Scientifict method, with out knowing I already did Observation, Test and can form an incomplete Hypotesis; but I need to do Research, Aditional Test and Collect Data;  I can think of many ways to do test, but in all of them I could end up wrong. I read the reports on the invasion ro Rana and I believe that in order to continue this investigation I will be in need a of a colleague, advisor or mentor. 

As a Sophont and Citizen of the Iron Stars my ethical principles are in conflict with my profession... I will make one more test tomorrow after I feel rested and then decide if I destroy my investigation or continue

After concluding my journal entry, I go to the bridge controls and will again fly the spaceship to continue scanning the area for ruins and more derelicts pods (edited)

(there wouldn't be any more on land ruins than the sites that are identified on the system map. if you want to pick another ocean hex to scan just pick one out and i can generate what is there)

(I will scan C03, C04, D02-D05 in that order)

(D10 for Co3)

(1 Lol)

(there's no failing i just needed a value for my generator) The water here is far deeper than the other surrounding parts of this inland sea. A very large organic contact is at the bottom of the 2km deep hole where the water is so blue it is black. There is a gentle trickle of bubbles rising up from those extreme depths but no other indication of what might be making its home down there

After the scaner returns a signal of a deep big organic, I feel very curiuos to inspect it, but I dont want to bite more than I can Chew, what could be down there? an unknown lifeform or a group? for the moment I mark this sector for later recon, then advance to C04

a tag is left behind signaling the find in the area. As you move into the next zone you can see CO4 has high concentrations of suspended cobalt on the surface. The radiation level in the background is also slightly rising.

(The radiation is more than the ATV or VaccSuit could take?)

(You’d be able to handle it in a vac suit or the atv. Both)

I assume that the high cobalt in this sector might be from a power source or submerged reactor, again I wear the vacc suit, to my gear I also add the stun baton and prepare the ATV to inspect the deeps of this cobalt contaminated area.

You head down and as your course drifts east, you notice the concentration rising. The perpetual reactor is on the eastern coast of the survey area

(Once the ATV is halfway deep, I'll use its advanced sensors to scan the sector)

(Program/int)

(got a 9)

The trail is coming from the power plant on the eastern coast. Runoff from the power system is being carried by the current to collect out here and it has undoubtedly caused changes in the sea life. Radiation levels are within tolerance but continue to climb

After noticing the contamination coming from the power plant, I change direct to the east, will try to find if it is a leakeage that needs to be reported or something planned

As you continue moving east, the radiation rises. There were no reports of the plant of a leak, though there is no longer a CBSS team in residence there once the site was marked secure

Evidently their assessment has been flawed somehow. The readings spike. A fresh venting of waste has occurred nearby

(Archiving until you're ready to come back)

(Welcome back!)

18:53

(you were underwater in your ship on Maintena, looking for sea life that might have been changed by the radiation in the water from the Slyth power plant here. We also had some stolen Still Lady relics we were looking into but our investigation was getting dangerous, so we let it go for now)

(thanks a lot, great to he back, I'mma read back a lil bit, and start posting asap)

(perfect, we can always do something else if you're having a hard time getting right back to literally mid mission)

(Any thoughts on a suitably juicy mission?)

(can't make stupid roll20 to load with my Android and can't run it with my laptop during worktime)

(I don't mind rolling for you if things are needed)

16:09

(The roleplay is really what's driving things)