Stars Without Number - northern-scouting

Nekosmash 06-Sep-19 06:59 PM

Dax and regulus prepare to head north to see just how serious the fleshshaper threat really is

2

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 06-Sep-19 07:36 PM

Old Professor McProfessorFace, I heard you blew up a whole castle! It sounds like your stuffy psychic stuff may actually come in handy on this venture up North. Meet at my house and we can take the Trailblazer on her maiden voyage together. Feel free to leave your textbooks at home though. This will be more of a... field study. Thanks, Dax Withers Hero of the Remnant War Liberator of Acastus Hand of Fate (ironic, huh?) P.S. - I'm actually excited to have you along Reggie. It'll be like old times again. Let's go be heroes.

(edited)

Artifice (Regrupple) 07-Sep-19 05:55 AM

The Pedagogue sets down just outside Dax's desert mansion, plumes of dust swirling as it lands. Regulus exits and heads over to the house looking for Dax. "Mr. Withers? A bit ostentatious your new home, though also secluded. Are you ready to depart?"

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 07-Sep-19 08:13 AM

Dax is found in one of his landing bays making final preparations for the journey. Seeing the towering form of Regulus the Godwalker approach, he says, incredulous, "Ostentatious?... me?..." he makes an exaggerated show of looking up and down the hyper-advanced mechanical frame. "Yeah, I'm definitely the ostentatious one with my humble desert home and quaint spaceships." He finishes closing up a crate. "Yes, I'm ready. I've been waiting on you!"

Artifice (Regrupple) 07-Sep-19 09:21 AM

"Apologies for the wait, my business on Sumati that took longer than expected. I can tell you all about the nexus pool and my theories on its abilities and uses on our travel. Hopefully by the time we return the research facility there will be completed and research can begin."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 07-Sep-19 09:53 AM

"Oh boy," he says with a barely contained eye roll, "I can hardly wait!" Without another word, he heads up the ramp of Trailblazer to make ready for departure. The full complement of Dax's crew is along for the journey. Vorianu, his ship's gunner turned girlfriend, is waiting in the bridge. The two pilots, Kells and Faith, are waiting also. Faith, the hardened older refugee woman from Rawhani, is at the helm and will be taking the first shift. The past few months of an improved lifestyle have visibly changed her for the better. The other gunner, Mirr, and the Piggen loader Tengu must be elsewhere making ready for the trip. "Reg! Come in here!" Dax calls over the Intercom from the bridge. "We need to talk about where we're headed first."

Artifice (Regrupple) 07-Sep-19 10:06 AM

Regulus makes his way to the bridge, "An impressive ship you've made Withers. As for destinations, that depends on the precise nature of this voyage. We could patrol our sector's outer perimeter searching for incursions. Or we could plunge into the depths of fleshshaper space for a better chance to study them and gain information."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 07-Sep-19 12:03 PM

"The first option sounds very practical... it's not a bad idea, but it doesn't sound likely we would really run into anything super interesting. We don't have an unlimited amount of time for this, and the more time spent in spike space means the less time we're actually learning something about our enemy. I've got the Spike 5, we may as well use it and punch deep into the unknown."

Artifice (Regrupple) 07-Sep-19 12:10 PM

"I agree, the further into their territory we go the more useful information we may find. Though the danger increases exponentially as well of course. If... it's not too much to ask, would you mind if I bonded with your ship? It would allow me to use your ship as my own body and would drastically increase my usefulness in ship combat as I am not generally of much use just sitting inside. If it is too personal or odd I understand, I can make myself useful in other ways."

(We'd have to work out exactly how ship combat would work like this lol, but a psychic battleship sounds fun)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 07-Sep-19 12:26 PM

"That sounds kind of... weird. Actually, it sounds really weird. What do you mean bond with my ship? Can't you just take it out for a nice dinner before doing something like that?"

3

Artifice (Regrupple) 07-Sep-19 12:51 PM

"Technically this body is a mech and could be piloted by someone if I were not inhabiting it. I am bonded to it which allows me to use it as a true body rather than merely controlling it. It seems my rather unique essence interacting with the robotic core the shaman found has infused me with an affinity for machines as well as the ability to exert some control over them or bond with them, allowing me to inhabit them. I'm still learning the mechanics of it all but the results have been very satisfying so far."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 07-Sep-19 01:23 PM

"I'm sorry... I really tried to pay attention that time. You lost me somewhere after the 'technically' part. Could you try repeating that last part? And that first part? And probably all of that in between stuff."

"Actually, never mind. The less I know, the better. Knock yourself out doing whatever weird thing you're going to do to it. Just leave me a functional ship. Stuff is expensive, you know."

Artifice (Regrupple) 07-Sep-19 01:31 PM

"Actually the combination of metapsionics and biopsionics should allow me to repair damage to your ship while inhabiting it. Generally such a thing is limited to AIs or advanced VIs but as I happen to be sentient functionally the ship is alive when bonded so it reacts similarly. Ahem, regardless of that we should first head for Wasim, from there we shall be able to penetrate deep into fleshshaper space."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 07-Sep-19 01:39 PM

"...... yeah. Ok! Wasim, sure. That's a start. Been there quite a few times actually. Pretty hot place this time of year. Let's get to it."

Artifice (Regrupple) 07-Sep-19 01:45 PM

Ready to leave, Regulus wanders the ship, looking for anything resembling a library or study or even just a quiet room for meditation. (For downtime he's just atuning to the ship, 6/7 days)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 07-Sep-19 02:10 PM

(Tsiolakoudi - Elkano - Wasim?) (edited)

Artifice (Regrupple) 07-Sep-19 02:12 PM

(Yep, just straight up)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 07-Sep-19 02:13 PM

(It would be fun to spike 5 somewhere but we ought to check in on the other systems)

Nekosmash 08-Sep-19 05:59 AM

(Okay let me make sure I have a scouting report up for that first one)

Billy Rigers 08-Sep-19 08:00 AM

(Yeah it was a gas giant with a rocky moon I think I passed through on the way to go crazy on Elkano)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 08-Sep-19 08:52 AM

(It's only a spike 2 away from home, we ought to know what it is! Lol)

Artifice (Regrupple) 08-Sep-19 09:12 AM

(Yeah there's a scouting report for it on roll20 so we can continue as long as no fleshshapers are there)

Nekosmash 08-Sep-19 12:33 PM

Wasim when you finally arrive has succumbed to its own internal geothermal doom, the planet now nothing but a shifting, molten mass in space

Each of its three pieces are rolling magma balls wracked by electromagnetic storms, as the planets atmosphere and radiation belt begins to strain under the pressure of the separating pieces.

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 08-Sep-19 12:57 PM

(Nothing interesting happening at our other 2 stops on the way there, I presume.)

Artifice (Regrupple) 08-Sep-19 01:39 PM

"I wonder how much was lost down there... A pity so little was recovered. Anyways. There's a cluster of systems to the northwest, with the potential abundance of life all close together it seems a likely source of biofuel for the fleshshapers if not a base of sorts."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 08-Sep-19 02:18 PM

"You are right... but I'm not sure I want to test our luck running headfirst into trouble. Hang on a minute..." Dax says as he stares into the sector map, "shouldn't there be New Moon Cooperative planets not far to the east from here? I'd prefer to run towards friends than enemies if we can. Maybe we continue north... and east. How about..." he waves his finger in the air above the map and sets it down seemingly at random. "There. Pherusa. Just a short Spike-4 jump from here."

Artifice (Regrupple) 08-Sep-19 02:41 PM

He definitely just picked one at random... "I suppose that would be fine. Though our mission is still to find fleshshapers, not planets controlled by our allies."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 08-Sep-19 02:46 PM

"Yeah... but... yeah... but, think about it. What if, like, there are flesh shapers there? But it's supposed to be a NMC planet. We would've found it and helped them out... or... something."

Artifice (Regrupple) 08-Sep-19 02:55 PM

"Yes I am sure they would be grateful if we aided them. It's a decent idea, just a reduced chance of finding actual shapers. There are plenty of other systems nearby up there, but ruttering new paths through spike takes time which is our most valuable resource currently."

Nekosmash 08-Sep-19 03:18 PM

(I don’t wanna take you guys on a trip. I’m watching the thread just doesn’t seem like a consensus yet)

Artifice (Regrupple) 08-Sep-19 03:23 PM

(You're good, we'll let you know where we want to go)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 08-Sep-19 03:30 PM

"Well.... I don't know, man. You pick!"

Artifice (Regrupple) 08-Sep-19 03:45 PM

"Let us first go to Pherusa, if the NMC is there they might have more knowledge of recent fleshshaper movement and their territory. If we find no NMC then we head west to Astinoos. Does that sound agreeable?"

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 08-Sep-19 04:32 PM

"Yeah. Let's do it." (gogogogo)

(We're D&D'ing for a bit)

Nekosmash 09-Sep-19 05:58 AM

Pherusa when you emerge in system is a heavily militarized world. A large strike group of New Moon Cooperative ships hangs in high orbit, swarmed by their own version of shuttles, landers, supply craft, and spacewalking engineers. You see no supply ships mixed in with this formation. It looks all military

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 09-Sep-19 06:32 AM

Dax lets out a relieved breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "That's very encouraging. "

Artifice (Regrupple) 09-Sep-19 06:32 AM

"Agreed. Doesn't seem likely that they need our help here..."

"But at least they should have fairly current intel on the surrounding areas."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 09-Sep-19 07:07 AM

"Well let's not be rude! Time to say hello." Dax opens up a wideband broadcast to the system ships, "Good morning, friends! This is Dax Withers of the UNW and captain of the Trailblazer on a scouting expedition. Perhaps you all would like to exchange news?"

Nekosmash 09-Sep-19 10:25 AM

"Trailblazer, welcome to the system UNW Vessel, and thank you for announcing your presence. Enter the formation, and make anchor, we will send a representative over to your vessel"

Artifice (Regrupple) 09-Sep-19 11:01 AM

"Well, they seem friendly enough at least, captain take us in."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 09-Sep-19 11:10 AM

"That they do. Let's go make friends." Dax commands the Trailblazer to comply with their request and allow their men aboard.

Nekosmash 09-Sep-19 04:02 PM

A small five man passenger boat docks with the Trailblazer's port side docking ring, and a small rap is heard on the airlock. Around you, the formation slightly changes its sphere of alignment to cover this meeting in several layers of protective firing arcs

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 09-Sep-19 04:44 PM

"Who is it?" Dax calls out moments before the airlock door flies open. "Welcome aboard! Can I get you all anything before we get to it?"

Nekosmash 10-Sep-19 09:48 AM

They decline any refreshment but are eager to be in your common area, in order to exchange news. The arrivals are three armsmen, and two mid-ranking naval officers, each one with an earpiece on to keep status of the patrol group while this is occuring. Their uniforms are highly decorated despite their middling rank

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 10-Sep-19 10:44 AM

"Before we get started, I should probably address the elephant-mech in the room. This here," gesticulating towards the Godwalker, "is Headmaster Regulus Fate of the psychic academy and some other title I probably forgot. Don't let his looks deceive you though, he's actually really boring and book-ish."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 10-Sep-19 11:13 AM

"And I'm Dax. Dax Withers."

Nekosmash 10-Sep-19 11:33 AM

"Headmaster Fate, I believe you've met a few of our number before. Word reaches us out here that your team instructing at our academy is doing well. The Cooperative will have its own battle psychics before long once again"

Artifice (Regrupple) 10-Sep-19 11:44 AM

Regulus bows slightly in acknowledgement, "Miss Crane is an excellent teacher, I am pleased instruction is going well. Let us know if there's anything else you need for your young psychics, we'll be happy to help. You have been engaged with the enemy for some time now, we only recently have experienced the beginnings of incursions into our own territory. Several scout ships were sent to systems we control though all were defeated before any harm was caused. We've also begun some rudimentary research into psitech that could prevent them from blocking our spike drives. It is in the very beginning stages, but of course we will share what we discover, the more we have working on it the quicker it will be available."

Nekosmash 10-Sep-19 06:02 PM

"Ah yes, their prefered method for recon in force. You'll see more over the coming months, especially in worlds that successfully defended from the initial strikes. It lets them know there is life there, or at least something with enough power to blunt their drone strikes"

"it's a no-leaf clover" he elaborates, "The rock either hits your world, and begins releasing shaper scouts, or you destroy it in orbit, and announce your presence anyway"

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 10-Sep-19 06:19 PM

"Sounds like we have definitely have need of that early warning system..."

Artifice (Regrupple) 10-Sep-19 06:19 PM

"Yes we're working on an alert system that will give us more time to react to any incursions, but I'm not sure how quickly it will be functional. We'll make sure to inform the governors to expect further scouts."

"Is there a rough estimate for when to first expect forces beyond scouts after the first appear? As far as we know, no nearby planets have been harvested but there are some not far to the north."

Nekosmash 10-Sep-19 06:31 PM

"It varies. Some of our outlying worlds are bombarded every month, we're not sure what the purpose there is, the same number of probes keep being sent"

Artifice (Regrupple) 10-Sep-19 06:59 PM

"Strange. I'm not sure their logic and tactics are something we can easily comprehend. The main goal of this expedition is research and knowledge. We hope to bring some samples back to study as well as do some observations and experiments in the field. Do you know of any nearby planets currently occupied by relatively few enemy forces? I understand that's a rather specific request and you seem mostly focused on defense of course." (edited)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 10-Sep-19 07:15 PM

"If we were looking to get ourselves into a bit of trouble... where would we go? Not a lot of trouble... just, you know, a manageable amount. We're quite capable."

Nekosmash 11-Sep-19 05:50 AM

"Anything northwest of the Kamal front goes dark. We have lost a number of scout vessels of our own along that heading, we've stopped sending them"

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 11-Sep-19 06:47 AM

"Interesting... Well, any information we obtain will be made freely available to you, of course." Dax scratches his chin in an unflattering manner. "Say, would you be able to share planetary and scouting information for the systems in this region of space? We don't know much about anything north of Wasim... and at a time like this it seems almost... irresponsible of us not to know our galactic neighbors. We stand against a common enemy, and it's one you've obviously held at bay for years now."

(Not trying to dump a ton of admin work on you or anything if these planets around here don't have scouting reports or whatever else. I'm just hoping to open an exchange of information with them so we can know what's up here in the future)

(At the very least I'd love to get a scouting report for this current planet)

Nekosmash 11-Sep-19 06:56 AM

(theyre purposely not up since these worlds belong to a foreign power)

1

Artifice (Regrupple) 11-Sep-19 01:40 PM

"If you can't share scouting information then perhaps we could arrange a trade of spike routes? Ones inside fleshshaper territory of course, we wouldnt ask for any within your own."

Nekosmash 11-Sep-19 01:44 PM

“Spike route inside of shaper territory? That’s what you’re asking?”

Artifice (Regrupple) 11-Sep-19 01:46 PM

"If you have any from returning scouts, yes. We plan to rutter a few routes of our own following this and would be happy to exchange." (edited)

Nekosmash 12-Sep-19 10:58 AM

"Only from here to Kamal, that world as we learned last from scouting reports is in the process of being harvested. A relief fleet was defeated and forced to retreat

Artifice (Regrupple) 12-Sep-19 02:07 PM

"How long ago was this? It's likely much too late for us to stop it even if we were capable of such a thing, but it could be worth watching the harvesting process. The route there would be most helpful. Would you accept the route from here to Wasim in exchange? There's no life for the fleshshapers to harvest there is it's a moderately safe entry to UNW territory if you're wanting supplies or reinforcements."

Nekosmash 12-Sep-19 02:14 PM

(Robert saw it first hand, like a couple hours after the engagement. So that would have been like twoish months ago?)

Artifice (Regrupple) 12-Sep-19 02:16 PM

(Ok right, well if it's been harvested for a lot longer it could still be worth checking out and might have fewer ships there to deal with)

(And any spike routes we can get is still good)

Artifice (Regrupple) 12-Sep-19 02:33 PM

(Oh, didnt realize he saw the same one, got it. Still want the route though)

Nekosmash 14-Sep-19 03:29 AM

“We can provide the rutter route if you’re determined to go. There may still be a substantial presence there”

Artifice (Regrupple) 14-Sep-19 05:07 AM

"Now that I think back, I recall a friend of ours already witnessed the harvesting there but there's still no harm in obtaining the route. Have you any news of Astinoos? Currently that is our destination unless you know something to dissuade us."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 14-Sep-19 07:04 AM

(Kamal to Wasim is ruttered already)

Artifice (Regrupple) 14-Sep-19 07:11 AM

(Pherusa to Kamal is what they'd be giving us I thought)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 14-Sep-19 07:13 AM

(Oh. I can read real gud)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 14-Sep-19 08:11 AM

(That looks like a spike 5 jump from here. We can do it in one jump, but I bet their routes are shorter and hit the intermediate planets on the way)

Nekosmash 14-Sep-19 01:24 PM

(They are shorter and hit the intermediate planets. They’re willing to share those)

“We have no news of Astinoos. There is a research post there that has not reported in but that is normal for them”

Artifice (Regrupple) 14-Sep-19 01:34 PM

"Well we shall send word of our findings. We wish you well in your defenses, let us know if you have need of reinforcements or aid."

Nekosmash 15-Sep-19 06:14 AM

“And you will likewise do the same I presume” he says, looking at you both from across the table. “This problem is bigger than any one nation can hold back”

Artifice (Regrupple) 15-Sep-19 06:24 AM

Regulus stands and bows, "Of course. We appreciate you meeting with us and look forward to further collaborations."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 15-Sep-19 07:50 AM

"And that's why I think we all need as much help as we can get. I hope to work with you again soon."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 15-Sep-19 11:31 AM

Dax stands to escort them back out of the ship. "We won't keep you. Thanks for everything. You'll be hearing from me soon."

Nekosmash 15-Sep-19 01:01 PM

The hatch shuts as they make their way back to their own ship and blast off. Heading back for their own fleet. The nav data begins streaming almost right away

Artifice (Regrupple) 15-Sep-19 01:11 PM

"It's good to have competent allies when faced with such a formidable foe. I'm glad hubris and vanity have not interfered as they tend to do when humans seek to work together. So, Astinoos. I have little hope that the fleshshapers have not been there, but a research post sounds promising."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 15-Sep-19 03:09 PM

"I agree. Let's get to the good stuff." Dax spins and walks towards the bridge of Trailblazer and shouts to no one, "Engage the hyperdrives! Weigh anchor and away! Or... something."

(Time for big ol spike jump from Pherusa to Astinoos oh keeper of the routes @Rey Messi (Shriven) )

Nekosmash 16-Sep-19 02:58 AM

As the ship jumps, spending three days in spike thus far, alarms begin to sound (0702N) The ship rocks and rattles, creaking violently as an automated emergency return to real space begins counting down from ten seconds

Artifice (Regrupple) 16-Sep-19 03:46 AM

(Do I sense anything psychic/magic/adjacent about whatever is pulling us out?)

Nekosmash 16-Sep-19 07:09 AM

(It’s almost like nullification but not exact)

Artifice (Regrupple) 16-Sep-19 12:09 PM

(I'm gonna let it take us out this time regardless, but could I make a know/wis check to see if I could tell if Psychic Static would affect it?)

(I think that's mostly just dependent on how similar it is to nullification which PS would affect)

Nekosmash 16-Sep-19 04:24 PM

(Its similar in principle but not in deployment, i dont know how else to answer that)

Artifice (Regrupple) 16-Sep-19 04:37 PM

(I just want to determine if Psychic Static could protect them from getting pulled out of spike in the future: As an Instant action, the metapsion may Commit Effort for the day to negate a perceived psychic power. The psychic responsible for the effect must Commit Effort for the day as an Instant action to resist this negation, otherwise the power ends and any action used to trigger it is wasted. The PC may then Commit Effort for the day again, with each spending and counter-spending until one runs out of Effort or chooses to stop. Psychic Static can be applied only once per round to any particular power. The target of the Psychic Static automatically knows the position of the interfering metapsion, though other onlookers do not have any obvious way of identifying the metapsion.)

Nekosmash 16-Sep-19 04:40 PM

(it would be an opposed nullification check)

Artifice (Regrupple) 16-Sep-19 04:41 PM

(Ok gotcha)

Nekosmash 16-Sep-19 04:41 PM

(best way i can think to do it)

Artifice (Regrupple) 16-Sep-19 05:07 PM

"It appears we have company. Time to try out something new." Regulus secures his body so it won't roll around and crush anyone before its glowing core goes dark and Regulus's consciousness is transferred to ship. His voice echoes over the intercoms, "This is a rather strange sensation. Good luck everyone." Dax feels a rush of power and knowledge entering him, intuitively knowing how to use a wide variety of psychic skills that were before unknown. (Commit effort for Concert of Minds with Dax)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 16-Sep-19 05:34 PM

"What in the... Reg?!... Well. There I go opening my mouth. Bond with the ship? More like be the ship!" Feeling the surge of power within him, he yells, "so I AM a real psychic! Maybe I'll teach YOU a thing or two now, Reg!"

Running to the bridge, he calls out. "Brace for impact, everyone! We have unexpected guests! Break out the fine silverware and pop a bottle, we're having a party!"

Nekosmash 16-Sep-19 06:05 PM

2

Three vessels, a nest of whip like fronds as much flesh as they are metal, trailing long decks and more feeder cords of the same hellish shaper blend of technology and flesh fly in an escort formation around the spike probe, responsible for pulling you out of your route. these vessels look to be escorts, and there are no signs of feeder ships or any of the larger harvesting craft

Artifice (Regrupple) 16-Sep-19 06:24 PM

Regulus activates Psychic Static to counteract the spike probe's nullifying effects. (Metapsi/wis 11 to contest the probe) "Let's work on getting our spike back just in case. Are we attempting to engage or flee?"

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 16-Sep-19 06:26 PM

(The probe is en route to hit our ship, right?)

Nekosmash 16-Sep-19 06:27 PM

(not to collide with you, but it is stopping your spike travel, Nancy deliberately rammed the probe and skewered it with the Dark Star last time)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 16-Sep-19 06:28 PM

(Oh cool. I missed that detail last time)

Nekosmash 16-Sep-19 06:28 PM

(killing it with weapons fire would have taken too long, and they wanted to ensure the colony ships got away)

(before the shaper war fleet could catch up_

Artifice (Regrupple) 16-Sep-19 06:29 PM

(So if I can nullify it we could potentially bring it with us whole for better research? Or is it too big)

Nekosmash 16-Sep-19 06:30 PM

(you'd have to nullify it, kill the escorts, and find a way to actually disable the probe itself, because its an entity of its own)

(and then yeah, get it back somehow)

Artifice (Regrupple) 16-Sep-19 06:32 PM

(Got an 11 to nullify in case it got buried)

Nekosmash 16-Sep-19 06:41 PM

(it didnt i just didnt get to roll20 yet, im getting there now)

(14)

6

Artifice (Regrupple) 16-Sep-19 06:45 PM

"I can't break through the probe's nullification field yet, it's going to take me some more time." (Initiative?)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 16-Sep-19 06:47 PM

(You're the ship but I'm the captain... so you're initiative?)

Nekosmash 16-Sep-19 06:54 PM

(Yes lets grab that )

Artifice (Regrupple) 16-Sep-19 06:55 PM

(8)

4

Bartholemew Thrace (Robert) 16-Sep-19 07:15 PM

(Yeah welcome to fighting shapers, they roll SO HIGH)

Nekosmash 17-Sep-19 04:41 AM

(You guy’s first)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 17-Sep-19 05:53 AM

(I want to shoot the escorts but I don't know at all how this interacts with Reg)

Artifice (Regrupple) 17-Sep-19 09:35 AM

(I haven't really done ship combat before anyway, would it be fair to say that Reg could use his turn to use psychic skills and then could also fulfill one of the normal positions? Psychic stuff wouldn't use CP but anything else would function as normal?)

Nekosmash 17-Sep-19 09:39 AM

(Id day that’s fair)

(Day)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 17-Sep-19 10:11 AM

(First ship combat for me. Firing the ships weapons uses my AB, Shoot, and Dex, yeah? And do I have any applicable modifiers for the damage dice or is it just the 3d8?)

Nekosmash 17-Sep-19 12:05 PM

(It’s the same as a personal weapon in terms of modifiers you’re just shooting the ships guns like your guns)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 17-Sep-19 01:22 PM

(So that's gonna be a no for me. Just mageblade bonuses, no starship stuff.) (And Dax is going to spend all 4 CP to fire a weapon twice) (18/20 AP20 torpedos) (16/18 AP20 torpedos)

Artifice (Regrupple) 17-Sep-19 01:33 PM

(Dex would still get added to damage, just not shoot or anything)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 17-Sep-19 01:37 PM

(Add 3 to both damages then for 23 and 21 damage)

Artifice (Regrupple) 17-Sep-19 02:26 PM

(Most of my psychic stuff for this will be defensive, so that'll be it for this turn. I can try psychic static on the probe once a turn so I'm assuming the first one counted for this turn)

Nekosmash 17-Sep-19 02:51 PM

(You’re shooting the probe dax?)

Artifice (Regrupple) 17-Sep-19 02:51 PM

(One of the escorts)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 17-Sep-19 02:55 PM

(What he said)

Nekosmash 17-Sep-19 05:07 PM

The two torpedoes strike home, severing two of the long tentacles from escort 1 in the resulting explosion. The ship goes taunt like a muscle ready to strike, the impact forcing it away from your vessel, billowing away as puffs of air and crew are jettisoned into space. (Crew lost for the crisis on one hit but the other goes in)

Nekosmash 17-Sep-19 06:08 PM

The three escorts do their best to hold formation, each of them returning fire, their central spine cannon sending a large rail accelerator like projectile made of bone hurtling toward you (Crit/18, 16/8 if that hits, last shot goes wide no matter what, weapon is AP 10 )

Artifice (Regrupple) 17-Sep-19 06:23 PM

(Commit effort for Impact Sump [once a day] to negate the crit, AC is 18 while Reg inhabits the ship. Maybe to balance increased defense stuff from Reg we say we can't take a crisis while he's inhabiting?) Steel framing groans as the bone projectile is deflected only meters from impacting. Three of the jettisoned fleshshaper crew begin floating towards the Trailblazer, "I'm going to grab a few of these bodies for study, you continue to concentrate on the escort ships." (Main action: Telekinesis on 3 bodies bringing them over towards the ship to collect Instant action: Psychic Static on the probe [9 to contest])

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 17-Sep-19 06:35 PM

(Oh snap. Reg MVP)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 17-Sep-19 06:43 PM

"Got it!" Dax calls back. "We're going to have to give them everything we got!" The torpedos take aim once again at the damaged escort vessel. (30/19 AP20) (27/15 AP20) (Have to reload next round)

(Really debating whether one of those shots should have gone to an undamaged ship

) (edited)

Nekosmash 17-Sep-19 07:03 PM

(Lets try that rule and see how it goes

Nekosmash 17-Sep-19 07:16 PM

(are we actually sending both into the damaged ship then?)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 17-Sep-19 07:17 PM

(Yeah cause that's what I said first)

Nekosmash 17-Sep-19 07:26 PM

(13 for resisting static) The escort begins to fall out of formation, gutted by rolling waves of fire from within. As it makes contact with the void, it extinguishes, but not before leaving ruined flesh and melted metal in its wake. Other more vile, and corrosive substances inside likewise begin eating away at the structure of the vessel. the escorts remaining shift their formation to screen the probe, facing your current attack heading, and they fire their spine cannons again

(non nat 20/ 10, other shot misses)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 17-Sep-19 10:00 PM

(I've looked all over for what it takes to reload and I don't see anything in the rules about it. Do I have to spend a whole round doing that or can I still use CP?)

Nekosmash 18-Sep-19 03:04 AM

(You just can’t fire that gun this round as its being reloaded. If you have other weapons or other actions to take you can do those still)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 18-Sep-19 07:10 AM

(For reference) https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/544576254708547596/614170025913483283/unknown.png

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 18-Sep-19 07:40 AM

"Reg! I've gotta reload! Can you do.... something? I'm gonna do... something! Kells! Evasive maneuvers!" (2 CP for Evasive Maneuvers, rolled Pilot/Dex 14 vs 9 success to add Pilot skill to AC this round. AC is now 18+1=19) (I'll leave the other 2 CP for Reg if he wants to do something with it.)

Nekosmash 18-Sep-19 08:13 AM

(Alright with you so far. )

Artifice (Regrupple) 18-Sep-19 02:00 PM

Continuing his struggle to overcome the probe's nullifying effects Regulus taps into his mechanical affinity to directly damage one of the remaining escort's internal systems. (Psychic Static [10 to contest] Overload: [Effort for the day] 15 damage, ignores armor Reg doesn't have program or fix so he can't do anything with the CP, you can roll for your NPCs)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 18-Sep-19 02:03 PM

(What is up with your metapsi rolls? They're all bad)

3

Nekosmash 18-Sep-19 04:26 PM

(still 2 CP open, 15 applied on escort 2 or 3?)

Artifice (Regrupple) 18-Sep-19 04:27 PM

(2, they're both undamaged right? I'll let Dax use the CP, I don't know what his NPCs do)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 18-Sep-19 04:27 PM

(I forgot it was back to me. I tried a Fix/Int for boost engines and got a 6

)

(So nothing happens)

Nekosmash 18-Sep-19 04:29 PM

(they're both undamaged, psychic roll was a 12 for them)

The two escorts, one damaged from internal systems overloading, whatever elextronics they may be, return fire, seeking to protect the probe

(20/4, other is a miss)

Artifice (Regrupple) 18-Sep-19 04:34 PM

The ship groans and metadimensional energy seeps into the spaces damaged by the strange bone projectile, wires and metals reconnect as some of the damage is undone. (Psychic succor, heal 11) (Psychic Static 15 finally)

Artifice (Regrupple) 18-Sep-19 04:42 PM

(Do I see any telepathic communication between ships?)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 18-Sep-19 04:50 PM

"Alright! Time to pull out all the stops! Volley capacitors this time!" (Fire a weapon 4 times. 2 shots at each escort) (24/10) (23/18) (24/11) (13/17) (AP20 for all)

Nekosmash 18-Sep-19 04:55 PM

(not at the moment, its not constantly open, in this instance since they're purpose built, the ships probably know what to do without needing to confirm with one another)

(i physically cannot beat that 15 with my best roll, so the static works now)

The second escort begins breaking apart, the captain unable to deal with the vast amounts of damage springing up at once. The final escort begins to list, and opens fire on the probe instead, while angling its now toward the craft, seeking to prevent it falling into your hands

Nekosmash 18-Sep-19 06:05 PM

(you guys are back up, probe is damaged but not scuttled yet)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 18-Sep-19 06:34 PM

"Reg? What are we doing next?! Are we intercepting it?! Uuuhhhhh.... I gotta reload again!"

Artifice (Regrupple) 18-Sep-19 06:45 PM

"The probe is nullified, focus on getting spike back up. I shall finish off the last one." Regulus activates Overload on the last escort (25 damage). "Prepare to intercept the probe, if we can take it intact it would be incredibly valuable."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 18-Sep-19 06:46 PM

"Give her all she's got! Get in between them!" (Fix/Int 13 vs 8 for Boost Engines. Speed +2 for the round)

(Not bad for a +2 on the roll

)

Nekosmash 19-Sep-19 11:53 AM

The remaining escort drifts close as its internal systems are compromised, seeking to ram the scout as its own crew intends to scuttle it. (That’s all it can do right now. Next round it’ll hit)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 19-Sep-19 12:35 PM

"Take it out! Take it out!!" (22/12) (21/12)

Artifice (Regrupple) 19-Sep-19 03:17 PM

Regulus throws up a telekinetic force construct between the escort and probe, hoping to slow it down and block the ram. (20HP, AC15)

Nekosmash 19-Sep-19 03:24 PM

(So the ship has to destroy it before it can move through it iirc)

Artifice (Regrupple) 19-Sep-19 03:26 PM

(I figure it ramming it would do that much damage, but yeah it's immobile till it's destroyed. Mostly trying to slow it enough for Dax to finish it off)

Nekosmash 19-Sep-19 05:27 PM

(altight, yeah i figured something like that too so glad we're on the same page) Some of the momentum of the lance-blade ship is robbed, as two torpedoes strike it amidship, the explosion and thunderclap of dispelling psionic force rocking the probe, tearing large pieces of its flanks away. The probe looks to still be spaceworthy, but shows characteristics of some kind of wounded beast

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 19-Sep-19 05:32 PM

(Does that mean the escort is knocked out?)

Nekosmash 19-Sep-19 05:43 PM

(yeah between the static and two torpedoes its out)

Artifice (Regrupple) 19-Sep-19 05:47 PM

(How large is the probe? We have 80 tons of cargo space if it's roughly land-vehicle sized)

"The probe seems to act almost alive. All of their ships are organic of course, but this seems to have some sort of mind of its own, if a primitive one."

Nekosmash 19-Sep-19 06:27 PM

(its the size of a shuttle, wouldnt fit in the ship since its likewise another ship)

(thats why limpet mounts are a thing)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 19-Sep-19 06:31 PM

(Time for a field study)

Artifice (Regrupple) 19-Sep-19 06:31 PM

(Yeah I figured, just checking) "I think we should board it. It's damaged, but looks like it could still function enough for us to fly it if we're able. It's worth trying I think."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 19-Sep-19 06:35 PM

"You are welcome to. I need like, you know, air, and stuff. Let me know what you find and I might stop by for a drink."

Artifice (Regrupple) 19-Sep-19 06:41 PM

"Perhaps that is for the best. I've been known to make... foolish decisions for the sake of knowledge. You should secure and contain the fleshshaper bodies I gathered in the interim. I suggest vac suits or stronger to be anywhere near them before further studies are made however."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 19-Sep-19 07:25 PM

"Yeah... I will... I just..." Dax lets out a huge breath burdened with anxiety. "I have faced galactic horrors and demigods, but this... this made me feel helpless. I don't think I like bouncing around in a tin can where I can't face the problem head on... if something had happened to the ship..." Dax goes pale for a moment. "Space battles are not for me. I need to face my enemies head on with a sword in my hand."

Artifice (Regrupple) 19-Sep-19 08:04 PM

Light returns to the core of Regulus's mech body, "I understand the need for familiarity very well. But if you only ever do what you're already good at you'll stop growing as a person. You and your team acquitted yourself well in this battle. Perhaps you are best with your blade but I couldn't hope to do as well with the torpedoes as you, or to perform feats of engineering and piloting. One can be good at a great many things but they will never be discovered without experimentation. And there shall be plenty of need for your blade soon enough. But perhaps we may recruit Mr. Tanzer for our next voyage."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 20-Sep-19 05:50 AM

He looks around to the faces of his loyal crew. "We all did well today. I'm proud. And what a heck of a first trial for the Trailblazer." Dax sighs. "You're probably right, Reg... as usual. Anyways. Let's get some fleshies."

Nekosmash 20-Sep-19 06:08 AM

(Getting the bodies aboard isn’t really a challenge as it stands but I think some clarification as to containment and storage is worth getting into, as well as the probe

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 20-Sep-19 06:52 AM

Dax dons a vacc suit and meets Reg in the back cargo hold to have the bodies brought in. "Can you like... check the bodies to tell me how safe they are to be around? In either case, we can just close the blast doors to this area and seal them off."

Artifice (Regrupple) 20-Sep-19 01:32 PM

(A ship's locker would have a bioscanner right?) "I'll do what I can, I'm no expert doctor or anything. If I were to stay here I could hold them in a kinetic pressure field, but then we would have to leave the probe which is arguably more important. We could seal them here but I'd rather they be more contained in case we discover some interesting cargo once we reach Astinoos."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 20-Sep-19 01:39 PM

"One step at a time. Lets just determine how safe they are to have aboard. Throw 'em in the freezer or something."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 20-Sep-19 02:03 PM

(Ship's sailing out now. Byeeeeee)

3

Nekosmash 20-Sep-19 05:43 PM

(locker would have a bioscanner yes)

Artifice (Regrupple) 20-Sep-19 06:05 PM

"Let's see if this can tell us some more about how they might affect human flesh or other surrounding matter." Not wanting to contaminate the body or himself, Regulus manipulates it and the bioscanner with telekinesis, activating the scanner through remote interface.

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 25-Sep-19 06:26 AM

( ⏯ )

3

Nekosmash 25-Sep-19 07:03 AM

(Lets get a heal/int on this one at a +2)

Artifice (Regrupple) 25-Sep-19 01:36 PM

(6)

1

Nekosmash 25-Sep-19 04:50 PM

The scanner is awash in conflicting readings, and is unable right now to do more than verify cause of death as exposure to the void, and some trauma by the actual ship undergoing weapons impact.

Artifice (Regrupple) 25-Sep-19 04:55 PM

Regulus shakes his head, "I've little enough experience with human bodies, this is beyond my skill. The best we can do is attempt to preserve them for study by those more capable. We could at least encase them in vac suits (they're vaguely human sized right?) to keep contaminants from spreading."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 25-Sep-19 05:04 PM

"Sounds good enough for me. I'm going to head back up to see what we need to do to sort out the rest of our route to Astinoos."

Nekosmash 25-Sep-19 05:26 PM

(they're much bulkier on top, but you could make it fit)

Artifice (Regrupple) 25-Sep-19 05:40 PM

"Are you certain you don't wish to board the probe with me? I could keep you safe from the void if that's your concern."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 25-Sep-19 07:29 PM

(Oh yeah that. Been gone for a minute and forgot the plan)

"Yeah yeah, just, you know. You first. Let me know if it's safe and I'll be right over."

Artifice (Regrupple) 25-Sep-19 08:15 PM

"Of course. You and your team secure our guests while I board if you've enough suits for it. Have your pilot pull up alongside the probe." (edited)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 25-Sep-19 08:18 PM

Dax and crew awkwardly stuff the dead fleshies into vacc suits and store them in cold storage to delay the decomposition if possible. Peace helps get Regulus into position to board.

Artifice (Regrupple) 25-Sep-19 08:27 PM

(As we get closer can I tell if the damage left a hole big enough for Reg to fit through? He can blast his own if needed, just wants to keep it as intact as possible)

Nekosmash 25-Sep-19 10:32 PM

(If you’re in your seven footish size you can get into the ship and navigate through most of it without a problem)

Artifice (Regrupple) 26-Sep-19 04:47 AM

"Good luck with the bodies. I'll let you know if it seems safe for you to join me." Once the ships are aligned Regulus enters the airlock and launches himself at one of the larger entrances to the probe.

Nekosmash 26-Sep-19 04:13 PM

(Theres the stern, Or bow. Which would you like

Artifice (Regrupple) 26-Sep-19 04:19 PM

(Let's go stern)

Nekosmash 26-Sep-19 04:26 PM

The rear of the ship was torn open by weapons fire and you have easy access to a pocket of flesh that leads into a hallway. A sphincter like door at the end 5m away has sealed shut to keep out the void

3

Artifice (Regrupple) 26-Sep-19 04:30 PM

(Always a big fan of going in the back door)

Regulus approaches the door, ramming his large metal fingers through the sphincter and attempting to force it open with a combination of telekinesis and brute force.

2

Nekosmash 26-Sep-19 06:17 PM

There is a wrench of flesh squelches with a creak and finally opens, venting the compartment to the void

The compartment is a transit hallway, with another of the same type of door to the left, right, and ahead, deeper into the ship

Artifice (Regrupple) 26-Sep-19 06:22 PM

Regulus sends Dax a message,

Though I admit the atmosphere is decidedly unpleasant, there doesn't appear to be any immediate threat to organic life assuming you're in a vac suit if you wish to join me.

Regulus opens the door to his right.

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 26-Sep-19 06:38 PM

Copy

Dax puts the helmet to his vac suit back on and secures it. Here goes nothing... He follows Regulus by teleporting himself a few times to get over to the other ship and right up next to the Godwalker. "Kinda creepy in here... what a bunch of buttheads."

Nekosmash 27-Sep-19 08:36 AM

The door to the right opens into a room that smells of Rot and a wave of heat doesn’t hit you persay but does register on the suit sensors. Nerve bundles run to different node like glands that still shiver and pulse with life

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 27-Sep-19 09:30 AM

"Feels like we're inside a creature more than inside a spaceship... and it's really gross." Pondering, he continues. "You have like bioscope powers or biosphere powers or something, right? Do you like, feel the ship?"

Artifice (Regrupple) 27-Sep-19 01:55 PM

Regulus continues into the room, "Feeling the ship is more in the realm of metapsionics, but there is precedent of biopsionics being able to affect at least some of the fleshshapers' transmuted materials. They also have shown signs of using telepathy and nullification--though how similar they are to what we use I do not know. The probe's nullification field was different enough to momentarily resist my psychic static where as a normal psychic would be unable to."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 27-Sep-19 01:57 PM

"How do you always manage to make me regret asking questions?... doesn't matter. I'm just trying to figure this thing out."

Nekosmash 29-Sep-19 11:26 AM

One of the glands pulses stickily in its socket and the ships pitch corrects itself a bit. The others look inert for now

Artifice (Regrupple) 29-Sep-19 12:18 PM

"It was a good question. These glands seem to relate to the ship's movement--there's a good chance I'll need biopsionics to attempt to control the ship, if such a thing is even possible. Let us check that other door and continue on further into the bowels of the ship." Regulus moves back into the hallway to open the lefthand door.

Nekosmash 29-Sep-19 12:58 PM

(Daxy has alert 2 doesnt he?)

Artifice (Regrupple) 29-Sep-19 01:00 PM

(Nope)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 29-Sep-19 01:32 PM

(No, I'm not a fan of that Focus. It makes Neko want to bombard you orbitally.)

Nekosmash 29-Sep-19 01:33 PM

(Nah the offending party saw himself out) The door opens to three fleshshaper drones hard at work trying to regenerate parts of the broken ship in this room. They turn from their labors as the sphincter door opens

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 29-Sep-19 01:35 PM

(Do something cool Reg)

Artifice (Regrupple) 29-Sep-19 01:43 PM

(Initiative since we don't have alert 2?)

Nekosmash 29-Sep-19 01:44 PM

(Yes)

Artifice (Regrupple) 29-Sep-19 01:45 PM

(6)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 29-Sep-19 01:51 PM

(Nat 1!... so 4)

Nekosmash 29-Sep-19 06:15 PM

(Reg, shapers, Daxidoodle)

(THey're within 10m of you if that helps, so you can pretty mcuh interact with them combat wise however you want)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 29-Sep-19 06:20 PM

(Do something cool Reg)

(Sweet talk 'em)

Artifice (Regrupple) 30-Sep-19 03:51 AM

A halo of energy erupts of Regulus, sweeping out towards the drones, (13 damage w/ save) alien glyphs compress into a beam of blinding light that fires at the drone nearest to him (24/21).

Nekosmash 30-Sep-19 04:35 AM

(Two fail, so full 13.) One of the drones falls as it’s blasted by the arcane energies. Tendrils lengthen from the left arms of each surviving drone and they behind leeching the remaining biomass for their own use, remaining right arms forming multi barreled cannons, said barrels loaded with wickedly barbed bone. They open fire. (One ar each of you. Let’s see if r20 mobile works better now)

(19/5 on reg, I miss dax with a 14, dax up)

Artifice (Regrupple) 30-Sep-19 04:41 AM

(What do my metasenses pick up from their leeching?)

Nekosmash 30-Sep-19 04:42 AM

(It’s their equivalent of the bioscopic power that lets you body sculpt)

1

(The actual name is escaping me at the moment)

Artifice (Regrupple) 30-Sep-19 04:42 AM

(Metamorph)

Regulus notices the leeching and uses psychic static on each of them to keep them from gaining any more power.

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 30-Sep-19 05:34 AM

Dax becomes a blur as he activates his Neural Overload Wiring and teleports right into the midst of all of them, striking out first at one drone with his mageblade before spinning quickly to stab the other. Jets of flame burst out as each strike connects. (28/26, 13 AoE shock vs AC 19) (First turn. Second turn at end of initiative) (24/18, 13 AoE shock vs AC 19) (Physical Save 16v5 for Neural Overload, 1 Strain taken)

Nekosmash 30-Sep-19 05:19 PM

Both of the drones begin to smolder as the burning mageblade strikes flesh, cutting each of them deeply and sundering tissue where struck. If they howl, it is silent, but their bodies tighten at the sudden and unexpected pain

(Reg)

Artifice (Regrupple) 30-Sep-19 05:35 PM

(Did the static cut off them draining the other guy?)

Nekosmash 30-Sep-19 05:35 PM

(they get a save don't they?)

(I just got back to a computer, i couldnt roll it from mobile)

Artifice (Regrupple) 30-Sep-19 05:37 PM

(No, we did a save for the nullification since it was kind of a different thing. Normally they can counter by committing effort or strain but I took Flawless Mastery in it so there's nothing they can do)

Nekosmash 30-Sep-19 05:38 PM

(then there's nothing they can do, they dont get to drain anymore)

Artifice (Regrupple) 30-Sep-19 05:38 PM

(It's an instant action so they wouldnt have been able to drain the first time either)

Nekosmash 30-Sep-19 05:44 PM

(they hit by enough of a margin for that to still have gone through, but I'll adjust)

Artifice (Regrupple) 30-Sep-19 05:50 PM

Regulus continues his barrage as another halo and beam of text fire out. (11 damage with save; 21/21)

Nekosmash 30-Sep-19 06:12 PM

(fails the save)

Nekosmash 01-Oct-19 05:40 PM

The drones are heavily wounded, both of them shaping into hammer arms, to try to best the swordsman in hand to hand

(27/19, the other misses)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 01-Oct-19 06:48 PM

Dax keeps up the barrage of blades with 2 more strikes. (23/16, 13 AoE shock vs AC19) (1st turn) (24/15, 13 AoE shock vs AC19) (2nd turn) (Physical save 17v5 for cyberware. 1 strain)

(1 strike to each so the shock hits the other one)

Nekosmash 02-Oct-19 02:54 AM

The drones both fall, overwhelmed by the frantic swings of the blade, flesh smoking where small fires have caught fat and set it alight

The room falls silent , and it looks as though the rest of the ship is just as quiet now as it was before the small fight took place

Artifice (Regrupple) 02-Oct-19 04:08 AM

"Well we don't seem to have set off any alarms with our scuffle. I'm glad you decided to join me." Regulus takes a look around the room, walking up to where they were repairing parts.

Nekosmash 02-Oct-19 07:14 AM

The parts as they could be generously called are muscle and Tendon laid over an iron worked bone, one of the centerline support struts for the vessel. A breach has been repaired and it looks like new veins of some sort of nerve cable were being laid to the glands here

Artifice (Regrupple) 02-Oct-19 09:41 AM

"Interesting. I wonder if they use their own biomass to repair using their metamorphic abilities. I see iron so not every part of it is organic--that's likely for reinforcement. How interesting. Note Mr. Withers that the two became much more durable after partially absorbing the biomass of their fallen comrade. Knowing that, I should be able to stop it completely next time but for combat without a metapsion or nullifier available soldiers will need to be wary."

(Anything else of note in that room? Neither room had any other exits right?)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 02-Oct-19 10:23 AM

"So what you're saying is... we need waaaaaay more psychics. That's what I got out of all that."

Nekosmash 02-Oct-19 12:05 PM

(Nothing else in here. There’s the north door out in the hall but neither west or east had anything branching off. Keeping it simple

Artifice (Regrupple) 02-Oct-19 01:45 PM

(I figured, just didnt want to miss anything) "That certainly would not hurt, you are correct. As you have seen I can share my own talents with others in a limited capacity so that even partial psychics would be able to interrupt the siphoning of biomass. But even that will not be enough, most will have to fight lacking a psychic beside them. Our research should help however." Regulus exits the room and continues down the hallway.

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 02-Oct-19 02:05 PM

(Dude did I forget to do cool psychic things with concert of minds?)

Artifice (Regrupple) 02-Oct-19 02:06 PM

(Honestly they're not super useful in combat most of the time lol, but yeah it lasts as long as effort is committed)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 02-Oct-19 02:09 PM

(I guess I did 70 damage in the first round. That's better than doing a psychic thing)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 02-Oct-19 07:20 PM

Dax follows the mech. "I don't know what to do... feels like we aren't equipped for this on a larger scale, but that's what's coming."

Nekosmash 03-Oct-19 04:34 PM

The northern door does not seem to budge at the employment of the method used to open them thus far, and it seems to be reinforced with additional struts of Shapen bone , to compliment an already robust access hatch

Artifice (Regrupple) 03-Oct-19 04:37 PM

"Do you think your sword could cut through this? If not I can blast our way through. I would prefer to save my energy for something else however." (edited)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 03-Oct-19 04:41 PM

"Never had any trouble cutting flesh before.... I don't see how this could be much different." Dax summons the iridescent purple mageblade to his hand and plunges it deep into the fleshy door. "I guess if you can't find the hole, you just make one instead."

Nekosmash 03-Oct-19 04:44 PM

Something squeaks and gives way inside and you feel something like a release of taunt muscle as the door opens to what would be the bridge. Wounded shapers, four of them, lie in control pits, lengths of the same nerve wire tying them to what you presume to be the areas of the ship under their responsibility. They seem almost comatose. There are two others on an elevated bone and metal walkway separating the pits into an eastern and western half. These seem okay and eager for battle

Artifice (Regrupple) 03-Oct-19 04:58 PM

(Initiative again? Or keep the same?)

Nekosmash 03-Oct-19 04:58 PM

(We can keep the same)

Artifice (Regrupple) 03-Oct-19 05:05 PM

Regulus runs out directly in the middle of all the shapers, the normally calm blue core in his chest becoming a bright radiant gold. Two waves of same colored radiant energy cascade out from him (17 and 25 on fail), while alien glyphs surround him in a blazing gold ring blasting out at each of the two awake shapers (25/21, 26/21). (1 godwalker effort committed)

Nekosmash 04-Oct-19 05:34 PM

The shakers recoil (you’re activating the nullification as an instant? Before I get too much into that they do)

As the golden energy washes over them. In this light, subjected to these forces, they seem fragile and tangible, almost mundane as much as it’s possible for them to be

Artifice (Regrupple) 04-Oct-19 07:14 PM

(Psychic static as an instant action yes)

Nekosmash 05-Oct-19 11:45 AM

unable to use any of the biomass around them to their advantage, the two wounded creatures lay in with blade limbs, on Regulus the Godwalker, as much as they are able. (one miss, the other with a 29/12, before armor)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 06-Oct-19 09:00 PM

(Not sure how close together they are in proximity to each other, but I'd like to get in to hit as many of them as possible with my AoE shock damage) Dax does what he does best and teleports himself into the middle of the mess and becomes a blur of blades as he activates his Neural Overload cyberware to strike out at the 2 battle ready shapers. (33/20, 13 AoE shock vs AC 19) (1st turn) (26/13 + shock) (2nd turn) (17v5 physical save for cyberware, 1 strain)

Nekosmash 07-Oct-19 04:39 AM

The two battle ready shapers fall beneath your blade, embers and sparks trialing the descending sweeps and cuts. (The ones in the pits have what id consider hard cover since they’re in lowered positions. Think like a star destroyer bridge)

(Wouldn’t make sense for your boots to be above their eye level but somehow they’re still getting hit)

Artifice (Regrupple) 07-Oct-19 04:44 AM

(Do the others seem like they're waking or anything? Or still comatose?)

Nekosmash 07-Oct-19 04:47 AM

(Theyre comatose)

Artifice (Regrupple) 07-Oct-19 04:55 AM

Regulus looks at the sleeping shapers, "I don't suppose there's any way we could store a live specimen for research... That would be much too dangerous. We had best dispose of these and figure out if there's any way we could pilot this contraption. Most likely by plugging ourselves in where they are..."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 07-Oct-19 07:44 AM

"What if they're a part of the ship? Like what if they are part of what makes it, you know, go?"

Artifice (Regrupple) 07-Oct-19 09:36 AM

"It seems more likely that they merely control it, but it is possible their unique psychometry enable the ship to operate in a fashion we cannot replicate. I'm not sure there's any way to coerce one into obeying us however so we likely would have to leave the ship behind in that case."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 07-Oct-19 01:53 PM

"Well... we could try?... I don't know how you'd talk to a sleepy fleshy though."

Artifice (Regrupple) 07-Oct-19 01:59 PM

"Unfortunately I don't have any skill with telepathy as that seems to be their main mode of communication. However... I have something of a terrible idea if we do wish to communicate. We're likely better off killing them of course. But I could use Concert of Minds to obtain their telepathic skills... they would just also obtain all of my own psychic skills in return."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 07-Oct-19 02:03 PM

"Well... what's the worst that could happen? It's just one wounded fleshshaper."

Artifice (Regrupple) 07-Oct-19 02:13 PM

"Well for one it could heal itself. Also it would be immune to any of my metapsion abilities including Psychic Static. Lastly there's a low chance of it working, Concert of Minds doesn't work with mages, it would depend on how similar their abilities are to psychics. But if you think that would be worth it then I'm willing to try."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 07-Oct-19 03:08 PM

"Well I don't speak their language, but I do know a universal one." Dax punctuates his sentence with the mageblade appearing in his hand. "How about this? I can be pretty... persuasive."

Artifice (Regrupple) 07-Oct-19 04:48 PM

"Very well. I would include you in this, but that would allow the shaper to teleport which I think would not be wise."

Regulus drops the gestalt between himself and Dax and reaches out towards one of the sleeping fleshshapers, using Concert of Minds to hopefully gain their telepathic abilities to communicate.

Nekosmash 07-Oct-19 06:52 PM

(You can sense it working. It’s just now how you want to open this up)

5

Artifice (Regrupple) 07-Oct-19 07:00 PM

(Ok cool, didn't know if it would wake it up or something. Once it's awake feel free to check out my extensive list of abilities cause it can temporarily use all of them besides the machine symbiote ones lol)

"The connection is established, it's working. I'll start with a low frequency telepathic connection. We'll see if I can sense anything from it before I attempt to talk. Any particular questions you wish asked?"

Mylonite (Hailey) 07-Oct-19 07:26 PM

(Ask what its hobbies are, and where it stands on the slow eradication of the moongrass plant on Terezinho due to recent increases in the sea level because of the planet's warming, and the species' aquatic predators, as it relates to the system's economy overall, and whether it's worth making efforts to save it, or if its use is overly marginalized by modern technology.)

4

Mylonite (Hailey) 07-Oct-19 07:57 PM

(I put enough effort into that joke that it’s not gonna be the last time it comes up)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 07-Oct-19 08:49 PM

(You can count on it)

Nekosmash 08-Oct-19 04:50 AM

(Any questions for the shapers Dax?)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 08-Oct-19 05:05 AM

(I'm not in the telepathic stuff so I don't know how I'd do anything)

Artifice (Regrupple) 08-Oct-19 05:40 AM

(I asked you if you had anything you wanted me to ask lol)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 08-Oct-19 05:49 AM

(You mean I have you to read the full posts? Gah this is hard.)

"Umm... I'll let you know if I think of something. You'll probably ask the right stuff, just... Just try not to bore it to death." (edited)

Artifice (Regrupple) 08-Oct-19 03:05 PM

"Mmmm. If you insist." Regulus reaches out with his new telepathic senses, establishing a connection with the fleshshaper.

(Seeing if he can sense anything before trying to talk, like a groupmind or just the individual's emotions etc)

Nekosmash 08-Oct-19 06:41 PM

The shaper seems to have emotions but right now everything is masked beneath pain and confusion, as its connection with the ship was violently severed, and it tries to center its awareness back in its own body

Nekosmash 08-Oct-19 07:38 PM

aside from that you sense more, pain, but pain in both the creature, and the ship itself,f from several dozen different sources.

Artifice (Regrupple) 08-Oct-19 07:46 PM

"They're linked. At least the ones nearby. There might be more on the ship, or perhaps survivors on the other ships, I sense more than are here. I am going to speak to them now, be wary."

Regulus reaches into the link between himself and the other creatures, "Greetings. I am an emissary, sent to try to better understand your people and what drives you."

"Can you understand me?"

Nekosmash 09-Oct-19 03:37 AM

i...we...we understand you it says back, slowly and distractedly.

It feels like someone trying to hold a conversation with you while also watching a movie

Artifice (Regrupple) 09-Oct-19 04:02 AM

"Why does your kind press south? Why must you always consume?"

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 09-Oct-19 06:56 PM

(Ding?)

Nekosmash 09-Oct-19 07:36 PM

(just dont know what to say, he sort of cut right to the heart of it)

(have to think)

Artifice (Regrupple) 09-Oct-19 07:40 PM

(Yeah sorry lol, take your time)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 10-Oct-19 06:13 AM

(you're supposed to make small talk first. talk about weather and how sleepy you are)

Mylonite (Hailey) 10-Oct-19 07:45 AM

(Open with a joke to make it feel comfortable)

Nekosmash 10-Oct-19 10:36 AM

There is a stirring , mostly distracted pain as the creature tries to answer but cannot do so in a way that you can easily understand. you sense more than it’s pain but the pain of its fellows and the pain of the beings that have been moulded Into the form of this scouting ship.

Their life essence has been siphoned away , but echoes of what the felt as they were harvested and moulded remain

Artifice (Regrupple) 10-Oct-19 01:31 PM

"They can barely speak, all I feel is their pain. I'll attempt to get more from them but I'm not sure how much they're capable in this state. All we can do for them at this point is end their suffering."

Artifice (Regrupple) 10-Oct-19 01:38 PM

"I feel your pain, as I know you feel my sorrow. A few more questions and I promise your pain will end. Is there an individual who leads you? Is that who causes you pain?" (edited)

Nekosmash 11-Oct-19 09:59 AM

The creature spasms as the question is asked and if you could feel cold right now, you would feel a deathly chill. The air swims and you have a vision of a...both something and nothing. You feel an immense gap where a thriving cosmos should be, the edges of it slowly winking out as this black nothingness spreads. Millions of trillions of insubstantial lines of energy criss Cross from@these blacked out zones, spiderwebbing this void with rippling color. You sense trace amounts of life in each one.

Artifice (Regrupple) 11-Oct-19 02:29 PM

"I... can't accurately describe what I'm seeing. Countless energy signatures of life in a vast void. Perhaps some cosmic hive mind the shapers are each a part of? Or almost like the nervous system of an incalculably large entity. Whatever it is, it's growing. Consuming. Stars vanish, one by one, an oncoming storm that wipes out life without contest. I'm... not sure what we can do against such a force."

Regulus kneels beside the fleshshaper's comatose body, "One more question, then peace. How do we stop what is coming--is there any weakness to exploit?"

Nekosmash 11-Oct-19 02:59 PM

The shaper cuts the connection, not by force but Because life has finally expired from its body. You sense it becoming a brief tendril as part of that cobweb. You’ve heard Xan talk about this before. Robert too, in the last few council meetings. That empty pit among the stars is here because it was called, and as the shapers life fades away you know what it knows. It’s kind are one of the beasts many chosen instruments in sating it’s never ending hunger for life

Artifice (Regrupple) 11-Oct-19 03:17 PM

Regulus falls heavily to the floor, stunned at the revelation. "The fleshshapers. The scream beast. It's all connected. They're its agents, consuming worlds to sate its hunger. Even when we kill them we're serving its purpose, their life force feeds it just as the flesh they consume does. I'm... not sure what to do next. We can't ignore the fleshshapers but at the same time they're simply a symptom of a much much larger problem that we can no longer ignore."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 11-Oct-19 04:54 PM

"You... I'm... did you... wait, what? What happened? Are you sure? That's like the ONE thing I can't solve by stabbing it."

Artifice (Regrupple) 11-Oct-19 05:02 PM

"I'm certain... the fleshshapers are only one of many of the beast's minions. We need to report this back to the council, it could greatly affect the war effort. Exploration south is immediately necessary, if we play this defensively we will lose. I suppose let's first discover if we can take this ship back with us..."

I could sense the minds that once made up this ship... I wonder... Regulus reaches out and once more establishes a Concert of Minds, this time between he, Dax, and the fleshshaper ship itself. (edited)

Nekosmash 11-Oct-19 06:14 PM

You can sense them, they’re extremely dim, simple things capable only of their one simple job (think like a modron level of intelligence). They know nothing aside from their main function

Artifice (Regrupple) 11-Oct-19 06:16 PM

Regulus mentally commands the ship to move forward slightly, testing to see if it will respond without him needing to literally plug in.

Nekosmash 11-Oct-19 06:19 PM

It moves. It is sluggish and there is something that reminds you of computer network latency between your command and the ship acting

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 11-Oct-19 06:27 PM

(Input lag is the real enemy here)

Artifice (Regrupple) 11-Oct-19 06:49 PM

"It wouldn't work in combat, but I should be able to guide it through spike alongside your ship. Luckily for us I don't need sleep. With my spare time I can begin some rudimentary study of the ship and the shaper bodies left here, though I'm far from an expert in those fields."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 12-Oct-19 02:14 PM

"You think you can actually fly this thing through Spike space?... With your mind?? And did we decide to press on to Astinoos? Or...?"

Artifice (Regrupple) 12-Oct-19 02:28 PM

"I think it's worth trying. I can always plug in if needed, I assume that would allow for finer control. I shall leave our destination up to you, we have accomplished much already but if nothing else those spike routs would be valuable. It may be worth delivering this ship and our information back first and then heading back out. If we return I may remain behind, however I can maintain our gestalt to allow you use of my Psychic Static technique. If you use it too often the connection will be broken but it should serve you well enough."

(For PS, it wouldn't cost you effort cause of flawless mastery, but it'd cost me effort to maintain the gestalt)

(But the range is unlimited)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 12-Oct-19 08:44 PM

"Well. We're already this far. Let's patch up the Trailblazer and get on to Astinoos."

Nekosmash 14-Oct-19 03:45 AM

(So we aren’t bringing the probe back first then ?)

Artifice (Regrupple) 14-Oct-19 03:46 AM

(We're taking it to Astinoos then going back)

Nekosmash 14-Oct-19 03:47 AM

(Pilot/int for both ships)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 14-Oct-19 06:07 AM

(9)

Artifice (Regrupple) 14-Oct-19 06:08 AM

(7)

Nekosmash 14-Oct-19 07:22 PM

The two ships, working in as close to tandem as it’s possible to be with such disparate technology prepare their jumps to Astinoos, and as the spike drive begins to charge up on the trailblazer, Regulus feels and senses that something has gone wrong aboard the probe. Something in the ships back snaps with a bone crackling pop, and a mix of steaming blood and oil soaks the port side crew pit. If the shapers there had still been alive, they’d be dead now. (The probe doesn’t have a spike drive but it moves with something like a wormhole generator type thing. They are as far as you know the only shaper ships that can make it for themselves and allied ships to use, but in this case something’s gone wrong)

Artifice (Regrupple) 14-Oct-19 07:28 PM

(Ah yeah, forgot about the wormholes) Regulus grumples to himself before teleporting back to the Trailblazer. "Doesn't seem like the probe is in good enough shape to travel. We've already gotten more information than we had that should be quite useful however. And we have our fleshshaper bodies still. Next venture you should bring along some experts more capable of field study. For now I'm not sure there's much more we can do."

(Did I get any metapsi senses on the probe for more specifics on how the spike nullifying works? Maybe enough to help speed the psitech process along?)

Nekosmash 15-Oct-19 03:47 AM

(Id say reg has some educated guesses about how it probably works. 200rp worth certainly, so far we have had one very dead example of a probe and one semi dead example so we don’t have a super strong basis for study. My opinion at least which im open to hashing out if it sounds off base

Artifice (Regrupple) 15-Oct-19 06:06 AM

(Yeah, I feel like Reg having experience sensing and nullifying the effect himself would be helpful but I know there's only so much he can get without taking the probe back for more study.)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 15-Oct-19 06:16 AM

"Oh... well. Ok. Onward then?"

Artifice (Regrupple) 15-Oct-19 06:25 AM

"To my great regret, yes. We simply do not have the resources to either repair the probe or study it more in depth here. I can only hope we will find more information at Astinoos, perhaps even a functioning research facility if the NMC outpost there is unmolested by fleshshaper harvesters."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 15-Oct-19 07:27 AM

(Onward then!)

Nekosmash 15-Oct-19 06:52 PM

The trailblazers spike drive begins spooling up for the journey to Astinoos, where the crew is not exactly sure what they’re going to find. (What are we doing about the probe? scuttling it?)

Artifice (Regrupple) 15-Oct-19 06:56 PM

(Yeah, blast it so they can't use it if they find it)

Nekosmash 16-Oct-19 07:27 AM

The journey to astinoos feels longer than it truly is with the amount of tension aboard the ship. No one is sure what will be found there and the fact that shaper vessels keep showing up in supposedly secured areas has everyone spooked. The alert for real space Re entry begins to chime. The planet appears clean when you enter real space. There is evidence of a biosphere and the actual gravity well itself appears free of vessels both shaper and NMC. There is a strong energy reading covering the entire planet, like some kind of field.

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 16-Oct-19 07:28 AM

(Not what I was expecting, that's a relief.) (edited)

Artifice (Regrupple) 16-Oct-19 01:31 PM

"Strange that there's no sign of NMC ships. That energy field might have something to do with that, perhaps they've barricaded themselves on planet with a shield blocking shaper interference."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 16-Oct-19 01:36 PM

"Yeah... I don't really...." He calls out, "Hey! Are we getting any readings from the planet other than a weird energy thing?"

(program/int 12)

Nekosmash 16-Oct-19 03:36 PM

“Just a small hole in it. I’ll mark the spot. Tight fit for the ship , almost missed it the first pass”

Artifice (Regrupple) 16-Oct-19 05:26 PM

"I don't suppose we have a smaller shuttle or the like to enter. It's worth our effort to try and fit however. Such a defensive structure could be invaluable for some of our planets with low ship activity. Aliah comes to mind."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 16-Oct-19 05:34 PM

"As a matter of fact, I do. It'll be a tight fit for you, but the VTOL can get through that easily. It is much more maneuverable in atmo too."

Artifice (Regrupple) 16-Oct-19 05:40 PM

"Ah, of course. A rather uniquely constructed vehicle. Rather convenient in this case. I should fit quite easily if we go just us two."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 16-Oct-19 06:19 PM

Addressing the crew, "Alright, everyone. We're going to see what this is all about. I don't imagine there's any way to get a signal through all of that mess, so sit tight if you don't hear from us. In the very unlikely scenario that we aren't back in 24 hours, get out of the system and get home."

Nekosmash 17-Oct-19 03:52 AM

“Twenty four hours captain, aye” peace says, checking some monitors in the crew huddle. “Vtol is ready for launch. Be safe down there. Don’t forget to pack a lunch”

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 17-Oct-19 01:57 PM

"Ha! Yes, mom..." Dax turns to Vorianu and forces a smile as he grasps her shoulders and looks her in the eyes. "I'll be back before you know it. Don't worry about me. I lov - " He nearly chokes on the words as he realizes what he is about to say. "I like you." He says, unconvincingly, with an awkward pat on her shoulder.

Artifice (Regrupple) 17-Oct-19 02:40 PM

(Before we go since this is part-2 and a week later from our last encounter could I get xp for a couple goals? Completed a few and might have enough to level if you ok it)

Nekosmash 17-Oct-19 05:59 PM

(Yeah let’s run them down)

Artifice (Regrupple) 17-Oct-19 06:08 PM

(Use unknown abilities with Concert of Minds Research how metapsionics affect fleshshapers [psychic static, etc] Discover the Scream's cause and how to prevent another I wasn't there to discover the scream beast so I thought maybe this new revelation would count towards that. Up to you if it's complete though, cause we know how to stop another [defeat/stop the scream beast] but we don't know exactly how to do that yet)

Bartholemew Thrace (Robert) 17-Oct-19 09:44 PM

(Xu says we need a sweet ritual)

Artifice (Regrupple) 18-Oct-19 04:29 AM

(Right forgot about that. We still don't know anything about the ritual but I feel like that's close enough)

Nekosmash 18-Oct-19 07:02 AM

(I’d say the top two are both done. Did I ever put Xp values in)

Artifice (Regrupple) 18-Oct-19 07:04 AM

(Yep. I don't level without the third one, but I'm fine waiting on that one)

Nekosmash 18-Oct-19 11:42 AM

(We don’t really know how to prevent another but I’d say the first two are done

Artifice (Regrupple) 18-Oct-19 11:57 AM

(That's fair. Alright ready to go!)

Nekosmash 18-Oct-19 12:07 PM

Heading through the beach in the planetary energy screen you see the world is almost entirely verdant with a few large inland lakes. Different variants of tree carpet gently rolling hills , and aside from a number of logging and replanting camps, the planets other feature is a large research facility with dozens of projector like dishes pointed skywards in different directions

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 18-Oct-19 12:43 PM

(All the OOC with Reg means my awkward Dax message got forgotten

) "Wooooooooow. This is not AT ALL what I was expecting to find. Fleshshapers would have a grand time here." He begins to turn the VTOL towards the research facility. "Let's see if we can make some friends before they decide to shoot us out of the sky."

Artifice (Regrupple) 18-Oct-19 12:53 PM

"You're not wrong, we're fortunate they have constructed these shields to protect such a rich bounty of biomass."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 18-Oct-19 01:20 PM

"Alright, let's knock." Dax picks up the comms and sets them to broadcast on open channels. "New Moon Research Station, this is Dax Withers of Traliblazer and the United Nation of Worlds. Uh.... hi!"

Nekosmash 18-Oct-19 03:35 PM

There is no signal in return. In fact. There are no signals anywhere on planet. Nothing but electronic silence

Artifice (Regrupple) 18-Oct-19 03:42 PM

"Hmm odd. Perhaps the signals interfere with their shield? Might as well descend and find out... and you may want to spend some time revising your manner of greeting."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 18-Oct-19 04:26 PM

"You may want to spend some time revising being boring!" Dax pilots the VTOL in to look for a place to land.

Nekosmash 18-Oct-19 05:14 PM

The link remains open but there’s nothing but silence being transmitted on it. There is an open courtyard outside the facility with power lines running to the various projectors. The area smells like burning copper and crisp ozone

Artifice (Regrupple) 18-Oct-19 08:00 PM

"Well, there's no greeting party so I suppose we should head inside. You lead the way, my current visage might... surprise them."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 18-Oct-19 08:06 PM

"Ha! Even you can't deny that I'm the likable one!" Dax says before he teleports as far as he can see towards the entrance to distance himself from Regulus.

Artifice (Regrupple) 18-Oct-19 08:09 PM

Regulus shakes his head and follows Dax.

Nekosmash 19-Oct-19 04:19 AM

The doors to the facility slide open, large metal and armorglass partitions sliding to allow your passage. No one comes out to greet you , screens tucked into the walls are still lit showing complicated information about the specifics of the particle arrangements in the shield projection

Artifice (Regrupple) 19-Oct-19 06:07 AM

"Strange that we've seen no signs of life yet." Regulus records the screens for study later. "I suppose we continue on."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 21-Oct-19 07:19 AM

"Yeah... why would you leave home with all the lights on though? I hope someone's here. The alternative is... well, I don't know." Dax treads carefully further into the facility looking for clues of what happened here.

Nekosmash 21-Oct-19 08:17 AM

(Let’s get a notice/wis for each of you as we enter the main control room)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 21-Oct-19 08:18 AM

(11)

Nekosmash 21-Oct-19 03:05 PM

Dax notices lodged in the ceiling some of the power conduits gradually turn to the nerve webbing seen aboard shaper ships. It’s artfully woven and hidden by existing power conduits but for a few small areas where the covering has rusted away

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 21-Oct-19 03:07 PM

(ItsATrap!.gif)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 21-Oct-19 03:37 PM

"Hey... uhh... what do you make of that? Because it looks like something... uhh... bad."

Artifice (Regrupple) 21-Oct-19 04:39 PM

"Strange. If the were a shaper presence here there wouldn't be any other life left. Perhaps the researchers here managed to weave shaper technology into their own to create their shield."

(Any sort of metasense from it?)

Nekosmash 21-Oct-19 04:48 PM

(Something like telekinesis but modified)

Artifice (Regrupple) 21-Oct-19 05:06 PM

"It does carry the fleshshapers' signature modified psionics, but with telekinesis which I haven't seen them use before. Certainly odd, but I'm not sure what it signifies yet."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 21-Oct-19 07:33 PM

"It signifies creepy. I don't like it." Dax instinctively summons the mageblade to his hand. "But... we have to keep going, don't we? We're already this far into it... Be ready to teleport back out to the VTOL if things go sideways."

(Are we in Concert of Minds right now?)

Artifice (Regrupple) 21-Oct-19 07:33 PM

(Yes, so technically you have my metasenses too)

"Of course. At least we saw no signs of outer defenses, they shouldn't be able to destroy your VTOL as we leave. If anyone is even here at all."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 21-Oct-19 08:00 PM

Dax begins making his way around the room looking more closely at the screens and consoles hoping to make sense of this place, particularly if shapers are involved somehow.

Nekosmash 22-Oct-19 04:33 AM

The screens show deflector shield levels but something about the energy readings is off. It shows 99% coverage, along with some data logs from whoever used to work here. There are four of them

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 22-Oct-19 07:38 AM

(Like data logs we can read through?) "Hey, you're the smart one here... Can you make sense of this stuff? I know enough to know I don't know enough."

Nekosmash 22-Oct-19 03:13 PM

(Yeah thst you can read through)

Artifice (Regrupple) 22-Oct-19 03:15 PM

"Well there are four data logs, might as well split them up. You take the simplest of them and I'll read the rest. Sorry, I don't think they come with pictures for you." You hear a rare hint of humor in Regulus's voice.

Nekosmash 22-Oct-19 06:38 PM

(who wants to go first?)

Artifice (Regrupple) 22-Oct-19 06:39 PM

Regulus looks through the first data log.

Nekosmash 22-Oct-19 07:06 PM

the first log shows some notes as to the variant abilities of the shapers, such as the projection of shields with telekinesis, and notes matching what the UNW has discovered so far in terms of their life harvesting abilities, though the link to the scream beast is something they only have theories about. in this regard the UNW has better information

Artifice (Regrupple) 23-Oct-19 03:50 AM

"Ah, so they can create kinetic shields much like my own tangible force construct or even telekinetic armory. They also drew a link to the scream beast but only speculations, nothing like what we have now. What have you discovered Mr. Withers?"

Nekosmash 23-Oct-19 04:31 AM

The log that Dax is reviewing has NMC Experiments in bending and harnessing this sort of life energy harvesting to see if something could be done to disrupt the shapers. The notes begin to take on a strange tone as efforts began at theoretically combining the disciplines, as all things are energy, and a hypothesis is crafted. Life energy could potentially be harvested to power these shields, if the correct energy conversion process could be found and perfected

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 23-Oct-19 08:59 AM

(This thread never lights up on my phone anymore)

Nekosmash 23-Oct-19 12:32 PM

The log ends there and a second one opens. It’s evident some time has passed but it appears some sort of apparatus in the basement of this facility has been created. The researcher laments it is going to take the sacrifice of life to power the shields that will keep the shapers out, but the loggers seem ignorant of what is about to be befall them down below, lethal injections disguised as chemical inoculations and vaccines against local disease

As logging camp populations dwindle the shield is not powerful enough and the head researcher begins looking to facility staff, beginning with those less in the know

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 23-Oct-19 01:06 PM

"Oh... my... - Reg! These people here aren't any better than the shapers! They just like, they just... they freakin' killed everyone here to harvest their life! Like it's some kind of currency, or resource! Look at this!"

Artifice (Regrupple) 23-Oct-19 02:17 PM

"Reminds me of the TECT that you and the shaman found. So many lives sacrificed. Though to be blunt, if they had not powered their shield they would have become fuel for the fleshshapers regardless. Let's see what the final log says before we check into the basement it mentions."

Nekosmash 23-Oct-19 04:12 PM

The final log is the shield sitting at 98% strength, the head doctor now the only person left here. I know what I must do the log says for the good of the cooperative. Long live the new moon

There is some security footage of him descending into the basement.

Bartholemew Thrace (Robert) 23-Oct-19 04:25 PM

(Whaaat)

Artifice (Regrupple) 23-Oct-19 05:15 PM

(Do the logs have dates? Like how long ago this happened?)

Nekosmash 23-Oct-19 08:05 PM

(About a year ago which is when the shapers got truly active.)

Artifice (Regrupple) 23-Oct-19 08:10 PM

"Clearly the head doctor figured out a way to power the shield by himself since it remains intact... I am worried about what we shall find in the basement. I am also worried that we will need to stop whatever is happening down there as that would leave the planet in the clutches of the fleshshapers... A truly unfortunate conundrum."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 23-Oct-19 09:16 PM

"Unfortunate... yeah. That's how I would describe murdering a planet of people just to feed a shield..."

Artifice (Regrupple) 24-Oct-19 02:30 PM

"....Let's head down to the basement. See whatever is left down there for us."

Nekosmash 24-Oct-19 02:43 PM

There is a small elevator in the back of the room that looks big enough for the both of you. It is dark inside

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 24-Oct-19 02:44 PM

"Yeah. Fine. Let's see just how deep this goes." Dax teleports into the elevator and waits for Reg.

Artifice (Regrupple) 24-Oct-19 02:53 PM

Regulus follows Dax into the elevator. "Be prepared for anything."

Nekosmash 24-Oct-19 07:29 PM

The elevator closes with unnerving silence behind you, and the car begins making its descent below ground. Two minutes pass, with the car in constant motion, and the doors open to a very cold chamber, where a nightmare surgical suite awaits. A furnace room, once cleverly hidden behind a false sliding wall, is open, as the last inhabitant of this space had no need to hide the nefarious activities leading to this planets safety. Ten surgical tables with straps and a variety of machine chemical pumps all have wires and tubes leading to a central, heavily computerized dataspike, thick as a support pillar and heavily encrusted with processing nodes. Sitting at one of the tables, only one arm strapped down, is the decaying body of the head doctor

The shield strength shows 99% and holding on the data spike's main readout (edited)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 24-Oct-19 07:59 PM

Dax sighs heavily and dismisses the mageblade. He takes a deep breath. "I don't... The thi-" He stops himself. "The universe is a seriously messed up place."

Artifice (Regrupple) 24-Oct-19 08:16 PM

"Yes... and we will continue to do our best to right the wrongs. A hopeless and desperate fight. But if no one were to oppose it the darkness would consume everything in sight. In this specific case literally as well as metaphorically." Regulus approaches to check the state of the doctor's body. He must have increased the efficiency greatly to have powered the shield by himself for so long... "NMC said they hadn't heard from the station in a few years, I can only hope they had no knowledge of what was occurring here. We should destroy all copies of their research... though I would like to read through it first. It's possible we could replicate the shield without using fleshshaper technology but instead psitech. Though the scale and complexity would be immense, the metadimension itself would power it if done correctly."

Nekosmash 25-Oct-19 02:09 PM

(I’m waiting to see what you guys decide to do action wise. )

(Don’t want to get ahead of you)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 25-Oct-19 02:10 PM

(Regulus approaches to check the state of the doctor's body)

Nekosmash 25-Oct-19 05:03 PM

The doctors body has been drained of anything that could be considered life. It is thin skin stretched to its tensile limit over fragile bone. It looks like it will break into pieces just by moving him alone

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 25-Oct-19 05:04 PM

(What's the connectivity to the machines like?)

Nekosmash 25-Oct-19 05:16 PM

(As far as the body?$

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 25-Oct-19 05:23 PM

(Yeah I figured he was like the last one to be powering this place and Reg would try to figure out something about the device.)

Nekosmash 25-Oct-19 05:24 PM

the device now has his life energy and no longer needs a connection to the body

The shield is running smoothly and the energy levels are remaining constant. (Life energy was increasing physical coverage, not strength)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 25-Oct-19 05:28 PM

(Ah. Cool.)

Artifice (Regrupple) 26-Oct-19 01:51 PM

"Hmm, well shield seems to be working just fine. It seems the life force is what allowed for the planet-wide range but the devices are capable of sustaining it on their own." Regulus moves to inspect the central dataspike.

Nekosmash 26-Oct-19 02:07 PM

The readings on the central spike confirm this and show shield strength and the current status of the projection towers. They are relatively new builds and are free of major repair issues at the moment. The spike also is threaded with more of the shaper nerve wiring , reminding you of a macabre maypole that has been wound up

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 26-Oct-19 02:18 PM

(Macabre maypole is a sweet band name.)

Artifice (Regrupple) 26-Oct-19 03:49 PM

"My suggestion is to leave the device up, there's too much organic matter here to leave vulnerable for the shapers. But everything else we should destroy. Be rid of all research and evidence of how they accomplished this. Make it impossible to replicate. And we don't include these details in our report, I don't doubt UNW has plenty of people who would attempt something similar."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 26-Oct-19 05:13 PM

"Why keep it a secret? What are going to do to the ones who committed these atrocities? Nothing! They're dead! It's a terrible thing that happened here and people ought to know. We don't include the blueprints to the place, sure. But I'm sure the research is valuable in some way. We just have to figure out how to do it without killing millions to make it work."

Artifice (Regrupple) 26-Oct-19 05:37 PM

"It doesn't need to be secret from all, but it shouldn't be made public. Not only Greystar and NMC would know, but the Brothers of Fenris and many other groups who would gladly sacrifice millions for their schemes. We can share the research with Billy Rigers. Maybe Rebirth labs, I haven't worked with them much personally but Grupp vouches for them. But if it becomes common knowledge that fleshshaper tech can be integrated with our own at the cheap cost of human life... A planetary shield is the least of what more demented minds will conceive."

Nekosmash 27-Oct-19 05:12 AM

(Yeah this is def maltech of a sort. Indigenously made but maltech all the same)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 27-Oct-19 04:56 PM

Dax sigh. "Well... fine." He looks around bewildered. "Where do we, uh, start?"

Artifice (Regrupple) 27-Oct-19 05:42 PM

"Destroying is easy. Discerning what should be left unharmed is more difficult, but with what research and blueprints were left behind it shouldn't be too bad."

Regulus spends some time sorting through the information left to single out what is required for the shield to remain.

Nekosmash 27-Oct-19 06:01 PM

(Let’s get an admin/int for that. )

Artifice (Regrupple) 27-Oct-19 06:05 PM

(5)

1

Nekosmash 27-Oct-19 06:25 PM

It’s too difficult to tell what belongs to the shield and what doesn’t. The design and integration of shaper tech is too intermingled with conventional computing and power systems to easily isolate the maltech or determine what should be destroyed

Artifice (Regrupple) 27-Oct-19 06:54 PM

"Hmm, it's more complex than I had thought unfortunately. The research we can destroy but we'll need to spare most of the facility or else risk the shield. We can at least remove these tables where the people were connected to be drained, but otherwise I'm not confident what is necessary or not."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 28-Oct-19 06:56 AM

"Well, that's fair enough. Smash time?" Dax punctuates his statement with the mageblade appearing in his hand.

Artifice (Regrupple) 28-Oct-19 09:33 AM

"I suppose there's little else we can do for now. Smash away Mr. Withers."

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 28-Oct-19 11:36 AM

"Here goes..." Dax begins methodically severing anything that looks to have been part of the human-harvesting operation and slicing it all into unrecognizable pieces.

Nekosmash 28-Oct-19 11:44 AM

The destruction efforts, controlled as they are, take two hours. The shield is holding and the machinery for the actual harvesting has been destroyed wherever possible. The smell of fried electronics is harsh in the air

Artifice (Regrupple) 28-Oct-19 12:10 PM

Regulus looks around at the wreckage, "I suppose we leave for now. Perhaps when the shapers are defeated we come back and finish the job. It feels wrong to benefit from so much suffering..." He shakes his head and moves back towards the elevator.

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 28-Oct-19 12:12 PM

Dax doesn't move back towards the elevator. "Meet ya up there, slowpoke!" Dax disappears and teleports directly back to his VTOL.

Artifice (Regrupple) 28-Oct-19 06:18 PM

Regulus sighs as he takes the slower route back up, taking a quick glance around the upstairs to see if they missed anything on his way out.

Nekosmash 28-Oct-19 07:02 PM

The facility appears as dismantled as one can make it without totally destroying what might be vital. The chill in the air, as you emerge, feels a bit more ominous

the facility seems to groan and settle a bit further, on this truly lifeless planet

Artifice (Regrupple) 28-Oct-19 07:53 PM

Regulus boards the VTOL and they head back up through the shield to their ship. "I'm glad we came here rather than straight back to Gudrun. Though I do wish we had been able to take the probe with us..."

Nekosmash 28-Oct-19 07:56 PM

(12xp , 50,000 credits)

Artifice (Regrupple) 28-Oct-19 08:19 PM

(New spike route Astinoos to Kamal, then just the direct path to Gudrun)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 28-Oct-19 08:21 PM

(Someone ought to make that spike map sometime)

Nekosmash 28-Oct-19 08:26 PM

(Yeah they should)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 29-Oct-19 03:47 PM

(Do we get home without incident?)

Nekosmash 29-Oct-19 05:23 PM

(Yeah you’ve been through enough)

Artifice (Regrupple) 29-Oct-19 06:11 PM

"We couldn't bring the probe but we do need to drop off the fleshshaper bodies to Rebirth. They're not exactly fresh after the spike travel, but hopefully it's enough to be helpful."

Nekosmash 30-Oct-19 01:22 PM

(We in agreement then? Bodies to rebirth?)

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 30-Oct-19 01:24 PM

(Yeah, sorry for the wait.)

Nekosmash 30-Oct-19 07:42 PM

The bodies are prepared for transfer as the Pedagogue pulls into Gudrun orbit, and the cargo is prepared for transfer. Data is compiled awaiting your review on what to transmit and wha to keep for yourselves

Reverend Levi McClain (Dax'olli) 30-Oct-19 07:55 PM

(Trailblazer) "They were in the fridge. They're *fine." Dax sighs. "Now. Here comes the un-fun part. What do we do with all this... everything?"

Artifice (Regrupple) 30-Oct-19 08:14 PM

"Rebirth needs as much info as it can get for their nullifier psitech research. I say we transmit everything besides the fleshshaper maltech to them. I could be convinced to share some of the data with the engineers as well but as of now Rebirth is the top lab for fleshshaper research."

Nekosmash 01-Nov-19 01:23 PM

There is some degradation due to the travel time but arrangements are maid for a secure ferry planetside to rebirth. Val is ready with heavy security to secure the cargo

Nekosmash 01-Nov-19 05:38 PM

(not sure how much else you wanted to do in terms of the mission debrief)

Artifice (Regrupple) 01-Nov-19 05:47 PM

(I think just a RP number and we'll be good to split up)

(Oh you already added it, just saw in updates)

Nekosmash 01-Nov-19 05:51 PM

(yeah, im updating some roll20 stuff now and just did that first)