In reply to Nightmare (msg # 660):

I wouldn't know.

Basilisk straightens up and flexes one arm, servos grinding with an uncomfortable whine.

But I suspect anything gained so easily is not wisdom.  Perspective perhapse.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:58, Thu 06 Aug 2020.

In reply to Basilisk (msg # 661):

She laughs until she snorts at that.

Oh believe me, I don't feel like I have gained anything at all.  If anything I feel dumber than ever... like when we took that one comman...

Suddenly an idea hits her and she glares at Billy.

You!  When we took that test with the IDA for who would be in command of this mission...

Ohhhhh.... You cheated didn't you?!  You downloaded a book or something.  That's how you outscored me on that test!  Without studying... You complete ass!

She throws a piece of cake at him while laughing.

I can't believe I didn't see that at the time.  Its probably for the best I didn't.
 I would have totally narced on you and then screwed up the entire mission.

on a random note, have you talked to your brother at all?

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 662):

Nightmare queues up the comms.

Hey Roger, I'm hungover as hell and I'm waxing existential.  I always had an objective set of goals to reach... right?  Like I was in Braeburns program from the day I was born, my performance monitored, my development regulated and graded against others.

I don't have that anymore.  How do you guide your own performance?

"Huh?  Oh, uh probably.  Didn't they give us a manual to reference or something?  I referenced it, I don't see how that's cheating," Billy replies to Rebecca's accusation with genuine disinterest in the subject, his IDA days apparently behind him.  "Also in my experience existentialism comes during, not after, and requires much more interesting compounds than alcohol."

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 664):

There's a clatter when Roger comes back, but it subsides quickly.

"It's all about feel, my dude! Trust your gut. I mean, not right now probably... yeah, not wise to think about your gut at the moment. But once you're out of the woods with that hangover, just get real quiet and listen to what your body's telling you. I'm not the smartest guy, but picking up on good and bad vibes has seen me through. If something feels good to you for more than just a moment, then you probably did the right thing, or it's probably the thing you should do. It's like, internal locus of control."

How's grub?

In reply to Yardbird (msg # 665):

So... just standard teenage existentialism then?

She chews for a minute.

The mushroom cakes are very chewy and savory, going down pretty well right now.  The bugs have a... I guess... nutty taste and the texture is not doing it for me.

Though I think I mentioned that I'm not the best judge of food.  This is maybe the sixth meal I've ever had that wasn't some kind of fortified protein slurry, or junk food.  I'm interested to see what real food is like.  What should I try when we get back to solspace?

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 666):

"Once you guys get a base of operations going -- assuming that's the plan -- we can grow some food. Rather than have all your nutrients filtered through an insect carapace, if you get me."

"It's been 18 years since I've had Sol cuisine. The stuff they had on the Nadir was a travesty!"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:07, Fri 07 Aug 2020.

In reply to Yardbird (msg # 667):

Team Foodstuffs

The away team is able to enjoy their meal in peace, noting that there are no tables and Joss queued up in the line seem to be taking what they want and munching on it as they head off to what you suspect are their duty stations. More than a few queue right back up again after taking all they can carry, clearly in no hurry to move on to the next phase of the day.

Much of the food is bland, with nothing resembling salt or pepper or any kind of condiment to be seen aside from the fermented glowcap slurry served as a beverage for the meal. It looks and smells the same as the beverage you consumed last night, and some of Joss are dipping the drier morsels into it before consuming them.

You do notice a few sidelong glances, but none gape for long. You do not see any Joss that you recognize. Or, to be more accurate, you do not recognize any of the Joss that you see.

Team Guest House

The rest of the team is roused from their morning meditations, preparations, and grumblings by the lumbering sound of a Joss making its way down the ramp. When it reaches the opening to the chamber, it bobs its head slightly.

"We are told this is a greeting to humans," it says simply. "The cycle has begun. We must begin our assigned Duties. We have assigned you the Duties of: Mixer, Cranker, Chaser, and Fuller."

The Joss looks around again.

"Some are missing. No matter. We will inform them of their Duties and guide them to join you when they return. Come. We will travel as a group, and drop people off as we pass their stations."


This message was last edited by the GM at 14:07, Fri 21 Aug 2020.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 668):

She does not touch the drink any of the stuff she had last night but polishes off the food she takes.  Once they are done with their talk and the food she will go with the team excited to be on chaser duty.

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 669):

"Hey Ambassador," Roger calls over comms, "Could I impose on you to bring me a small sampling of whatever they were serving for breakfast when you head out for the lifts? Just whatever you can fit in your pockets is good."

In reply to Yardbird (msg # 670):

I got you covered!

She grabs whatever is left laying around and sends Percy to grab any extras

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 671):

The Joss leads the party assembled in the Guest House up the ramp and into the Outer Rim of the Wheel, pausing to drop off Xander and Roger as they pass the Great Lift.

You then proceed to the Middle Rim of the Wheel, where Fu-Chi and a very hungover Hilda are left in the care of two Joss standing outside a squat, two-story building that smells strongly of ammonia.

The reduced assemblage marches onward until you reach the Inner Rim, and Basil and Gestalt are left in the care of two Joss standing outside the restroom facility called the nødvendig.

Finally, Rebecca, Billy, and Ibis are led all the way back to the Guest House. Your guide takes you down the ramp and past your quarters.

Team Chaser (Billy, Rebecca, Ibis)


The ramp continues downward for some distance, maintaining a steep angle as it carves deeper into the ground. The way is lit by sconces in which glowcaps have been placed, which provides dim but ample illumination.

You pass another modest guest chamber similar to yours before the ramp bottoms out into a flat area that appears to be the a staging ground or ready room of sorts. A hand-cranked platform-and-pulley system is here, with the platform in the "up" position. A basket of glowcaps hangs from a peg nearby, clearly intended to be used as a lantern for those wishing to proceed further.

There is no way to go forward from here aside from the platform, which plunges down a deep shaft that is not illuminated in any way, shape, or form.

"The other Chasers and Catchers are already in position below," your guide says, gesturing to the platform. "Climb on, and we will descend to join them."

Team Mixer (Basil, Gestalt)


Gestalt looks at the nødvendig with an expression of dawning realization and disgust.

"Please tell me this duty doesn't involve what it looks like it's going to involve," he says in a quiet prayer.

His hopes are swiftly dashed as the pair of Joss begin to speak.

"We are excited to be assigned this duty together. It is a tight fit for us to reach the lower pits where the Mixing must occur. We know being smaller will mean having more room."

They lead Basil and Gestalt into the structure and pry up the bench that covers the privy's hole, exposing a foul-smelling shaft and long series of rungs made slick and slimy by substances best left unconsidered.

"Our grip is strong. We hope this is true of humans, as well," one of the Joss says, heading over to the hole and beginning to climb down without bothering to dawn gloves or any kind of protective equipment. "Come. We will lead the way. Follow after our example."

OOC: I'll need an Agility check and a Strength check included in Basil's update if he descends.

Team Fuller (Fu-Chi, Hilda)


Fu-Chi, poised as ever, does not react to the overpowering scent of ammonia as the Joss lead them into the building. Hilda, however, retches a bit and wrinkles her nose.

"What on Earth is that SMELL?" she says, barely managing to avoid slurring her speech.

"Mind yourself," Fu-Chi whispers to her quietly. "Remember our purpose here."

"Ohmygoddess," the linguist squeaks, covering her mouth and looking mortified. "I meant, what on CETO is that SMELL?!"

Fu-Chi lets out a long-suffering sigh and shakes his head, having done all he can at the moment.

The Joss ignore both outbursts, instead leading the pair across the floor to where a deep trough has been dug in a crescent around much of the ground floor. A series of dividers and filters extends throughout the trough, with a foul liquid being piped in at one end and refined into clearer, less-particulate substance by the time it rings around.

A small opening in the floor allows for a pulley system that brings empty buckets up from somewhere below. The Joss shovel the filtered particulates into the empty buckets on the side going down and fill the empty buckets on the side going up with the clearer liquid.

A platform/pulley system similar to what you encountered in the Architect's tower provides access to a second floor, into which the buckets of clear liquid disappear and from which empty buckets descend.

"We have shown you the ground floor Duty. Now, we will show you the second-floor Duty," one of the Joss says, leading Hilda and Fu-Chi over to the platform. "Come."

Fu-Chi nods, with Hilda tagging along behind.

Team Cranker (Xander, Roger)


Xander and Roger find themselves atop the Great Lift, examining Roger's handiwork from earlier.

"We thought it would help to remember what was done before," one of the Joss explains. "We need to duplicate this in many places, but those places are too small for such large automatic crankers. Can they be made smaller?"

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 672):

Nightmare and Percy dutifully mount the lift going to down.

What can you tell me about what we are going to face down there?

She asks the guide.

Before Basil and Gestalt part from the larger group, Billy taps on the protective shell of the armored nihilist before leaning in close, "Make sure he gets his hands dirty.  Literally, up to the elbows if at all possible."

Once arriving at his own workplace for the day, Billy steps onto the platform as instructed as he looks around the dark chamber, "Yeah, is it just one kind of pest, or are there a lot of things down here you need to get rid of?" he adds to Rebecca's inquiry.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 674):

Team Chaser (Billy, Rebecca, Ibis)

"Different pests," the Joss says, lumbering onto the platform after you and yanking on the cable. This apparently signals those below to begin craning, and the platform slowly descends down the darkened shaft, swinging this way and that as it travels at more of an angle than you'd typically find comfortable. "We will explain."

"Glødekapsler are very important to us. We make them into food and drink, like the soppoppslemming. They only grow in deep, dark places. We have made a farm in these tunnels, far beneath Hevetplata."

The Joss bobs its head in thought.

"We are not the only ones who have a use for glødekapsler, though. We are not the only ones who consume them. These pests hurt our harvest. So we have Chasers to drive them away, and Catchers to keep them from coming back."

"There are four kinds of pests we need to discuss:

First, there are sometimes vepsedderkopp in the tunnels. Annoying insects, painful stingers, attack in groups. They carry away the glødekapsler and make them hard to harvest. Do not Chase them. Catching only.

Second, there are sometimes landflyktige down here. Joss who abandoned our ways and left the community. We seal the entrances they dig when we find them. Usually they run when they are discovered. Easy to Chase. Hard to Catch.

Third, and most vexing, are the talpid. They are quick, clever diggers with heavy, blunt claws. They sometimes use tools to aid in the harvest or as weapons. Usually they appear alone, but sometimes there are many of them. Hard to see, sometimes, but if there are talpid down here and we miss them, they will steal our entire harvest of glødekapsler. They must be Chased and Caught.

Fourth, and most dangerous, are the terrasque. Solitary, larger than two Joss together, big claws, thick skin. It can see fine in the dark and is very aggressive. Terrasque don't care about glødekapsler. They come to eat the other pests. And sometimes, the Joss assigned Duty down here. They can be Chased, but we wouldn't want to Catch one."

The Joss looks at the three of you in turn.

"Questions?"

"What do you do with the Talpid that you catch?" Billy asks ask he takes his helmet and fits it over his head, sealing his EVA.  Rebecca will have noticed that he wasn't speaking Solese, but actually talking in the Joss language (or as close an approximation as he was physically able) and her translator was working for him as he speaks.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 676):

Team Chaser

"It depends what we Catch them doing, and how willing they are to be Chased. We will show you."
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:22, Mon 24 Aug 2020.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 677):

Roger looks down at the crank.

"Gah what a hack job," he says. "No idea what I was thinking when I put this together. Sure, this can be, uh, lessened in size. Can you show me or tell me the other places you need to use it?"

In reply to Yardbird (msg # 678):

Team Cranker (Xander, Roger)

"Every building that goes up or down requires this, if we are to remove this Duty from assignment" the Joss replies to Roger's question. "We will go one by one. It may take many cycles."

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 679):

Nightmare pings the comms.

Hey Roger, can you give me a quick infodump on the talpids?  Appears they are one of the 'pests' that we are trying to get rid of.

Also did you have an encounter with a terrasque?  Any info on them?

She sketches on her tablet as she muses aloud.

So we have the following

• An Apex predator
• Disenfranchised Joss
• Talpids, another sentient life form
• and bugs vepsedderkopp

OK... so lets start with the lowest first.  How big are the insects?  What is their behavior pattern?  What eats them aside from the terrasque? 
This message was last edited by the player at 12:53, Thu 27 Aug 2020.

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 680):

Team Chaser

"Vepsedderkopp are about this big," the Joss says, moving his hands such that they create a gap in the air about Rebecca's whole height. "If there are only a few, we can easily Chase them. If there are many, it becomes more dangerous."

The platform slows as it reaches the bottom of the shaft, coming to a surprisingly gentle stop atop a bed of what appears to be some sort of moss or lichen. Several Joss are already waiting for you, one of whom is carrying a basket of bioluminescent mushrooms to provide a measure of light in the otherwise completely dark tunnel you now find yourself facing. The other two, you note, are clearly armed with enormous cudgel-like weapons that are drawn and at the ready.

"First, we will check and see what pests there are this cycle," your host says. "Then, we will explain how we would normally deal with them. Finally, we will listen to your other ways, easier ways, as the Architects have asked."

With that, the Joss holding the basket leads the way further down the tunnel, the armed Joss following closely behind and your guide bidding you to take up positions in the middle, while he makes up the rear of the party.

"If those are Roger's Waspers then chasing officially sucks," Billy comments over comms to Rebecca, in Solese again.  When the lift hits bottom Billy reaches up to his helmet and toggles on the suit's heat sensors in the darkness.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 681):

Roger takes a break from laying out a smaller, better lift system on his tablet to respond to Nightmare.

"Sure. Talpid facts, coming your way. Along with their language. They have tough, wiry fur; thick, heavy digging claws; fortified head, ears, mouth, and snout -- protected naturally against soil and soot while they dig. The weakest part is probably the eyes or the stomach. But they're better to talk to than chase. Especially underground. They regurgitate a paralytic when they're cornered. And those claws can really mess you up. Speaking of claws..."

"Terrasques, yeah, five meters tall, impervious to traditional weaponry, it can see just fine in utter darkness, very aggressive. Talpids are scared of Terrasques. If you see a terrasque: blind it with lights and run. Its eyes are mega photosensitive. Talpid mitts are for digging. Terrasques' are for tearing everything to pieces. I've seen them rend stone and even metal. Talpids dig, Terrasques tear. That's what I always say. Starting now."

In reply to Yardbird (msg # 683):

She leaves the comms open as she rolls her eyes and at Billy's comment

Yeah... chasing sucks.  Thanks Roger.  Also we think one of the pests may be waspers; they have a hive organization?  With a queen and such?  If you kill the queen do you disperse the hive?
This message was last edited by the player at 16:11, Fri 28 Aug 2020.

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 684):

"Oh... waspers? Yikes. I'd see if you could somehow mind-meld with the queen. I feel really bad about the one I had to kill. It was preparing to eat Wren though... so, what are you gonna do... y'know? They're also super aggressive. Like the terrasque, they'll probably end up chasing you. You'll probably find a hive with multiple tunnels. Oh and web, they have webbing. Wasp-spider hybrid, think of the worst traits from both of those creatures. Their barbs are venomous."