@Selgar (Mac) and @leeannrose92 emerge from the Harvest Spirits, several hours and several drinks later. A lifter is waiting at the startport to bring them into space, for transfer to a passenger liner, and a several day journey northeast

“I’m ready for some adventure. Let’s get this bread”

(Galene uses past slang when she has too much wine) (edited)

Selgar takes a deep breath as he boards the lifter, double checking that his backpack still has his compad and his only other possession of value. Onboard the liner he claims a sleeping bunk and meets back in the general assembly room. "Well they are meeting us close to the border so the trip will not be as long as I was expecting, but I'm sure it will be an adventure none the less. I can't recall every being part of a diplomatic envoy, but I suppose it's just another day for you?" (Aside from essential crew are there any other notable NPC's on board or is this a small ship and just us?)

(Small ship and you. There was a meeting with NMC at the beginning of the month between intel departments, and Cyrus went to thank them for helping out at Cruesa too, so they've had a lot of visitors)

“Diplomatic missions are generally all in a days work for me. But the thrill of this particularly uncharted territory is exhilarating”

"Well I suppose that's a matter of perspective, it's all uncharted to someone. I'm more interested in the secrets lost to civilization as a whole. Empires rise and fall, it was no different before than it is now in that regard, except perhaps it happens faster. The remnant lasted only a couple years, the UNW is I think only about a year old, and I doubt the Collective predates the Scream - Civilization is fickle in the face of oblivion, it seems."

A message plays on your pads showing your liner is ready for the trip to Al Yasim, a border world on the edge of NMC space where they have offered to meet all diplomats.

“Al Yasim here we come”

Selgar leans back in his chair as he peruses miscellaneous information about the Collective on his compad.

(Any downtime projects?)

(I don't think I have any yet. Guess I could study a language, is there anything besides Taros?)

(Taros, ashen one, Merlon, piggen, slyth and you can learn to write wasimian but you don’t have the mouth parts to speak it)

(I'll study Slyth then. Is there a roll or is it just I need to track something on my sheet?)

(I’ll study whatever language I was working on before)

(Taros, and no rolls, just time spent)

(You'll both pick up 7 days on your current language studies)

(Got it, marked.)

Al Yasim is an arctic world, and boasts nothing but a delegation outpost, and a large trade depot, where as of yet, no UNW ships have ever docked. Goods are stacked up in the thousands of tonnes under weatherproof shelters. Two system ships, both pocket cruisers, patrol the system, and fall into formation around your small liner. Not able to land themselves, they will protect your descent route from above

“Brr it looks cold down there,” I say pulling my cloak tighter

(I hope we have winter clothes?!)

"Well they certainly have an austere presence here. I'm guessing their core worlds are much more habitable."

“Let’s hope so.”

“And hopefully their demeanor is more welcoming than their infrastructure.”

(the liner has a ships locker so basically anything you might need you can take from it)

(Glad I don’t have to breath of the wild it and make pepper foods to stay warm)

I ready my belongings to disembark.

Selgar leaves his backpack, taking only his compad in case it's needed.

At the base of the ramp, four New Moon Cooperative security detail await you. Their vests and breaches are a rich cream, buttons a finely polished brass that shines in the weak sun. Their hats are tri-corner, and their wool greatcoats a rich emerald green. Each has a bayoneted single-shot laser musket shouldered , and await your descent from the ship to bring you into the compound a short distance away.

The compound is low walled, and protected by a transparent dome, to keep in heat, and keep out the weather

Selgar nods at the guards as he disembarks, letting the diplomat lead the way but staying close behind.

I realize that my bags probably aren’t necessary and leave them behind. (Hahaha)

Awkwardness over I lead the way confidently toward the compound after smiling brightly at the guards

They escort you to the gate and inside the small dome. A manor house and two outbuildings are inside. A well appointed general stands at the doorway, your assigned point of contact with this stage of negotiations

Selgar nods at the general as they approach, but does not speak yet.

“Welcome, delegates. my name is general quince and it is a pleasure to meet more beings from the UNW. Please come in. I am sure you are weary from traveling for so many days”

“Yes thank you for the warm welcome. We are most pleased make your acquaintance.”

"Greetings General, I am Selgar, representing UNW research interests."

Please come inside, make yourselves comfortable, and we can speak when you're settled.

His guards take up post outside, and youre brought into the large manor home, the floors rich with an exotic dark wood, and a warm fire crackling away

"I understand you're both here to entreat the New Moon Cooperative for some additional resources, or further cooperation, respectively. Especially against the flesh shapers. I've been given some guidelines as to what I can authorize, and we can discuss at length anything you'd like. I've only been given a bare outline of what might be discussed here today" (edited)

“Yes sir. We are here to talk about researching The Scream and would love more cooperation on the Fleshshapers if you’re open to the idea.”

He brings you into a large dining room where yet another impressive spread has been laid out. “So you’re here to inquire on a few issues. I do have one small issue to bring forward before we begin negotiating. We built a trade post here with resources that could have gone toward the war effort and we have not had a single UNW vessel visit for exchange. We cannot be trading partners if there’s no trade”

“I am wondering how we can rectify this”

“If your trade goods are as fine as this spread looks I’m sure we can make a deal. I’ll be glad to pass along the message you’re open for trade and highly recommend you back home. In the meantime thank you for this generous meal sir.” (edited)

Selgar tries to make a quick search on his compad. (Anything come up for reasons we might not be trading, maybe in public news articles or something?)

“The issue seems to be from my experience that we have everything we need. However if you have some unique wares we would be more likely to venture out here. What do you have on offer?”

(From what I’ve gathered from the people who are trading , the goods they have on offer aren’t competitively priced. )

(And Yes. The unique things NMC can bring to the table aren’t really being leveraged)

"What to offer thats unique? " he drums his fingers on the table, and his staff urge you to eat, serving you both heaping plates of food. "We can offer clothing, perfumes, some luxury goods if they're permitted in your country. We also have some Terran animals, that we have been able to re-engineer from genetic material. We've been trying to build a genetic and seed bank in the event of another disaster"

Selgar picks at the food, trying mostly familiar things with the odd novelty. He otherwise sits quietly at the foreign subject discussion.

(So he’s going to change goods. I don’t know what can reallybbe said back) “So I see there’s another issue on the agenda. That being access to certain planets or sites?”

Selgar clears his throat. "Yes. The UNW has several research initiatives in the area of MES, including trying to piece together exactly what caused the cataclysm. Key to this is collecting data from previous MES organizations such as academies or government archives, most of which are of course in ruins. So as not to spark issues by crossing borders, we're seeking approval to have exploration vessels search for and examine such sites within Collective territory."

"I also personally expect there's at least some measure of such study that has been done by the Collective's academic sector, so there's opportunity to share information already gleaned as well."

“There’s been some. Only a handful of psychics survived, and those that did are, disturbed , in many ways. We have sadly not made much progress in rebuilding those lost arts”

“The ruins of academies are on many of our worlds. We would be willing to grant access if a few conditions are met-

"I would expect nothing less. Your terms?"

“In addition, as a psychic advocate I can offer consulting and a connection between your remaining psychics and our academy in Gundrun if you would like.”

“The survivors would benefit from some more stable tutors. Maybe you can even help them with the torching they’ve sustained. That is actually one term. The second is that information gained from those sites is shared. You have access to the sites but nothing beyond. Local Support will be assigned if we can spare it.

Selgar pushes his glasses up on his nose. "Well from the research side I'm confident the sharing of findings is acceptable, and I will advocate for sharing what we already know with you as well. Civilization as a whole stands to suffer if we collectively fail to understand what has happened to us before it happens again, or comes full circle." "As for your afflicted, I have not directly interacted with the Psi Academy on Gudrun but I'm to understand it has been able to build up some level of such guided MES therapy, perhaps Galene can comment further on their ability to host your citizens."

He looks to Galene, hoping to get more information about the psychic academy and what they’ve been doing

“I’ll do my best to have your psychics accommodated. The academy always has room for more students, especially ones in danger. We must help them control their skills for their safety and the public’s” (edited)

“There are undoubtedly more. Children now I’d expect ...they’ll be coming into their powers and we need to find them for exactly that reason. If you can help us with that, access to the academy ruins is yours. Do we have a deal?”

Selgar gives a nod to Galene.

“Absolutely we do.”

I reach my hand out to shake on it (edited)

He gives a firm shake back. "Is there any other questions you have for the NMC? or any further matters of business? I will get a list of sites approved for exploration to you by this evening"

"If you could also provide contacts for any MES-related research groups I will pass those along to our research team, for collaboration. I do not have any other topics for discussion."

(3xp, 5000 credits all)

NMC Planets with academy sites or ruins: Helga- Urban World Pretel- Jungle World Baheera- Temperate world- Close to fleshshaper space

“Some direction for searching for the psychics in need of assistance would be great.”

"A metapsion would be able to find them easily. Those worlds are all populated, and you may end up finding psychic attuned citizens there"

(Ther'es not a large basis for trust yet, so they're not letting you near their core worlds, these three are all on the frontiers)

‘“Thank you.”

(We will just have to prove ourselves then won’t we?)

(indeed, update XP and money, and its up to you guys how soon you want to dive into this. You've accomplished what you set out to do)

“I’ll send word back to the academy about our agreement. Is there anything I can do to help on this world right now?”

Selgar nods and shakes Quince's hand. "My thanks for the meeting, stay safe among the stars." He takes a couple more bites and waits for Galene to finish before heading back to the ship.

“Well not help but there’s plenty of ruins on the planet if you fancy a look. I can get a flyer to take you out into the Wild

“There’s a few sites on planet that may be of interest. The glacier field is especially beautiful this time of year”

(I was sort of planning to go get my ship and get lost in space, but I guess exploring here is an option too. I'm kind of nervous though because I don't think either one of us are combat-capable, which is a risk with exploration.)

(Up to you guys. If you want to head back to Gudrun and regroup we can do that. )

(I can go either way, up to her.)

(I don’t want to die but this sounds fun.)

“The glacier is quite safe, but it’s just a suggestion. If you’re eager to return home the system patrol will escort you out”

(The strange man said it's safe, what could go wrong?)

Selgar finishes eating a strange fruit. "Well I don't really have anywhere to be, I suppose we can take a look."

(Famous last words but I’m down)

“Yes let’s take a look. The glacier field sounds positively arresting”

“Very good. It’s beautiful there” He presses a few buttons and there is a howl outside as a light atmoflyer sets down and two more soldiers exit

“Thank you for the advice. We will share information regarding our agreement as it becomes available” I take my final sips of wine and nod to Selgar so we can retire to the ship. (edited)

Selgar boards the smaller flyer, finishing up a quick note on his compad before strapping himself in.

Galene takes a seat and composes a message to her contacts at psy academy asking them to bring aid to NMC

(I'll make a report for Regulus, passing along the info so you dont have to try to retain all that)

The flyer is a something akin to a launch boat- thin, but long, and powered by antigrav sails. A small anti-vehicle laser has been mounted on the front- and you see that four soldiers will be escorting you north to the glacier fields. The national park is 1,000 km to the north- amid the ice fields that make up this relatively pristine world. When the sun hits it at various angles, the ice sheet becomes a kaleidoscope of different colors and patterns.

It looks like a field of rainbow fire as soar above. "There's some old temples out further north we can bring you to, or if youre interested in some of the wildlife, there's a research post nearby"

Selgar looks on in awe at the minor natural wonder. "My preference is the temples, I'm not much for biology as it were. Besides temples are less likely to be hungry and see you as a meal."

The flyer banks left, and you see under you before long, not just one temple, but several, all interlinked in a large complex together, their spires rising up to a needle point, each inlaid with a large gem that catches the almost constant sunshine this far north

“Wow this place is beautiful. I’m glad we came.”

(Sorry I took so long to say anything. Really busy at work)

The lander sets down outside the temple complex on its south side. The rainbow light refracted from the gem capped towers bathes the entire area. The air is crisp but not bitterly cold

It is an open topped temple (think like a Mayan or Aztec pyramid) and the crest of the building has an altar with strange statuary on it

I look to Selgar and nod to the altar. I look around to see if there are any life forms nearby who might protest if I approach it (edited)

The ruins are abandoned and there is no life aside from your group in the area. Looking at the buildings longer you realize these may be alien in origin

Selgar raises an eyebrow as the details of the architecture become clear. (Anything I might recognize from old Remnant findings?)

(It is Slyth in origin, but that is about all)

"We've seen ruins from this civilization before... They were evidently quite widespread at least in this area of space. Reptilian nonhumans, driven extinct by a virulent disease."

"Correct. I take it their ruins are present on some of the worlds claimed by your nation then as well?"

"I am unsure how many worlds but I know we have at least a couple sites. I've heard there is actually an electronically-preserved consciousness of one of the species, but I have not interacted with it."

This seems to give the guards pause though none of them seem bright enough to make a leap themselves to deal with that. “The temples are very beautiful. Feel free to wander the grounds. We will stick with you. There’s a beautiful frescos inside this first temple here

(Give them pause like they are upset by it or just surprised?)

(Surprised)

You’re taken to the temple as promised and inside is a massive carved statue of two snake-humanoid hybrid creatures, the slyth, twisting around one another

One has what looks to be a pestle and mortar in one hand and a rod in the other. The second carries a scythe and something like a satchel

“Hmm this is most interesting. The imagery suggests a diverse society. I wonder how this alien temple got here in the first place.”

I look curiously and intently at the statues, wishing walls could talk.

A small collection dish sits at the base of the giant statues on a pedestal , the bronze bowl a bit corroded with age.

(What is in the bowl)

Selgar takes some photos of the altar from a couple angles. (Assuming I've seen nothing like this?)

(Have not seen before no, nothing this grand at all)

The bowl is empty inside, but there are some splotches where blood has dried. A small knife, which looks very clean sits next to it. A plaque is translated from their jagged runic language to English. "An offering of life, for those who have none" The guards see you looking on and one walks over, with a bookish looking professorially type

"When is the last time someone was out this way? I can't imagine these bloodstains are more than a few weeks old, though I suppose if there's no precipitation here they could be older..."

"There was a small delegation from the Remnant two months ago, before the war ended, trying to get our aid. we likewise brtought them here since it is interesting, if anything"

(Seems unlikely there would have been official Remnant research here that I wouldn't know about, unless it wasn't MES-related.) Selgar attemps to collect a small sample of the blood for simple DNA analysis later "Did you place the translation, or is it from before?" (he doesn't really have any tools or anything but can probably get a cloth swab of it).

(Was thinking about an offering but I’m not giving aliens my blood yo).

Examining the altar “This place is fascinating. What is a temple doing all the way out here though? Is there something special about this area?”

""We placed the translation after" the scholar says, looking quite tired and aged. "We're not sure why they chose this site, there are temples like this scattered all over our worlds"

“Fascinating. If these walls could talk”

"The light beams all seem to align at sunset, on specific times of the year. The whole planet gets bathed in reflected auroras from it"

“Is one of those times anytime soon?”

“You’ve come at a fortuitous time. Tonight actually. About an hour from now”

(Oh god I don't like coincidences.)

(Right? Prepare for talking walls)

"Tell me how exactly did you come to be able to translate this language? Our findings have led us to believe that this race went extinct long before our arrival."

“Educated guesses from skilled code breakers. Looking for patterns , and using context clues from the location”

"I see... Well in any event it sounds like there's a spectacle in an hour, I'd like to take a look around before that." (Looking for any other translated inscriptions, or data storage systems that might have something interesting.)

(They’ve left the temple pretty much as it was so no electronics installed)

(Oh, I sort of assumed the Slyth had technology like computers.)

(They So But it wasn’t installed here. They kept it natural)

(Hmm alright, so this altar is the only thing with anything written on it?)

(yes)

The walls have murals and tile paintings on them, showing Slyth warriors, workers, soldiers, and healers, all looking up at the sky in reverence, arms clasping tools, weapons, or simply their own hands

A single focal point on the ceiling, a dark colored perfectly spherical orb, sits speared by a dozen points of light

Selgar takes photos of the images and ceiling layout. "Hmm, seems like it was almost exclusively a place of worship or ceremony." He would check things over one more time before returning to the others for a good view of the show.

You're led outside, where the sun is just about to set.

One by one, a multicolored beam of light spears into the sky, all coming to a focal point above another temple, about 5km distant. The clouds begin to swirl, at the astronomic event about to unfold

"Oooh. Aaah."

The storm begins to swirl ahead, like a hurricane forming, but windless. The clouds darken from a storm grey, to a thick navy blue

A dark sphere, immense, begins to lower itself, the points of light radiating up inside of it

Selgar tries to keep a level head but is quite impressed with the display, shakily recording it on his compad. (Let's give her a chance to catch up before Cthulu shows up.)

(Agreed. She should be out of work soon)

(!!!!!)

Galene looks on in wonderment, mouth a little agape

The sphere lowers until it is in the enter of the cross crossing beams of light. The two centerpoints align before it explodes in a dazzling flash of multicolored light. Rainbow auroras stretch across the sky in all directions from the miniature sunburst, making it look like the sky is burning in a vast multicolored conflagration. Some hues you’ve never even seen before

(Notice/wisdom. Either one of you. Or both)

(9)

(3 probably don’t notice much)

Selgar notices, a very faint, massive, slyth like shadow across the sky disappearing, replaced with the rainbow aurora flames.

It does not reappear

(So basically you got a hint that there is some magical fuckery abound here in some way, but not if its evil or bad)

(Do I catch it on the recording or is it gone too fast?)

(You’d have time for a quick recording. Like 10-14 seconds )

Selgar makes sure to catch a bit of the strange shape he sees, but just as fast as it appeared it went away. He raises an eyebrow but continues recording.

The sky continues to blaze for hours, before the sun finally sets. Everyone is silent having witnessed the splendor of nature, and you have evidence of deeper mysteries on this remove NMC planet

"Well that was truly something. I cannot say I have seen anything like it... Do you have any idea why it occurs, or what it does? I can't imagine such a thing exists only for entertainment."

“Our best minds have been unable to figure it out , we had hoped to get an offworlders perspective. We are in agreement that something deeper must be present here”

"Well I've recorded as much as I could, I will share the footage with my colleagues and perhaps something will come of it. That said I can imagine we may want to visit again, perhaps with some instruments." He throws together a quick message and sends it on to Val with the video attached. "In any case I think this was worth the trip, but we probably need to get back." (Did I actually get a contact for any of their researchers working on MES-related stuff or is Quince the points of contact?)

(The gentleman you’re talking to now who has not been named seems especially knowledgeable)

"I'd like to establish contact with the scientific community here to discuss further findings, would you be the right person to be in touch with?"

“Professor Bratta. Your serviceL

"Ah very good - I will most likely be in touch in the next few weeks." Selgar turns to Galene. "Well then, after you finish up any business you have I am ready to head back."

(Any other business Galene? or are we good to head home)

(I don’t believe I have any business)

“Unless any psychics live out here I’m good to go back.”

“It was truly a pleasure witnessing this marvel. Thanks for the tour”

(3xp all)

The return from the new moon cooperative is a short journey and you arrive back on Gudrun a few days later, ready for new activity

(7 more days toward Slyth?)

(Yeah)

(What's the bogey for a language again? 30 days?)

(yeah)

(A month)

(Hey! Soon Cyrus and Selgar can talk to each other in Slyth like cool kids)

(I assumed it was a dead language, only written. I think there's only what, two known creatures in existence who can speak it?)

(Yeah natively.

(Human speaking it would be rough but conversational)

As they land back on Gudrun Selgar turns to Galene and gives a curt nod. "And even made it back in one piece, I'd call that a win any day. Well I've got some work to catch up on, but I'm sure our paths will cross again. I'll be sure and let you know if we manage to figure out what the deal is with that light show."

“Thanks for your help Selgar. It was a pleasure. I’ll be sure to share what we accomplish with the psychics as well.”

(Nice work all. Back to personal threads we go!)