OOC: The party is now reunited. This will be the main thread. I am also opening up the secret thread with Bartja and S'krllk for public viewing on the assumption they tell everything that happened. There is some important information there after they met the Notui, so I suggest skimming through it for the info at least.

Desi, Porter and Orvo watch as another winged Notui exits the tent. He has a strange mask with Sathar writing on it.



Following him out of the tent are Bartja and S'krllk.

They all approach you, and Bartja and S'krllk introduce the Notui as "Beet Chest."

They then tell you what happened. (See newly opened thread.)

Porter will say to S'Krllk and Bartja, "We would have gotten here sooner, but we had some issues with an EMP, and a couple of Sathar before we ran into a dinosaur and then these folk.  You should have seen Orvo play the cowboy and put a hole in that dino.  Are we safe among these folk?" 

He keeps his weapons holstered and stowed.

Bartja nods in ascension while he taps a few buttons on his polyvox to sync it with Orvo's box.

"Safe is a relative term.  They would not kill us out of hatred or fear, but if they thought we were food..." he looks over at S'Krllk with a hint of concern; "they might kill us to feast.

They're no friends of the Sathar, however.  They eat worms."  As he finishes, his fleshy-eyebrow raises in a gesture of questioning.

"We were about to have a feast on one of those tooth-o-saurus'.  They hunt them also.  Might taste like chicken?"

"Might taste like Yazarian, for that matter."  He chuckles.  "Well, we worked hard to get here, might as well try the grub."

"By the way, any news on the location of the Sathar or the EMP?"

Bartja finished uploading the polyvox programming and puts his own back it's harness at his belt.

"They speak of a black pyramid of destruction that fell a few moons ago.  It destroys all it touches, or something of that nature, and appears to be at the center of this EMP pulse field we're experiencing.  The Sathar are somewhere between where we are now and the center of this EMP field.

I'm actually assuming the black pyramid is at the center of this, but it makes sense.  The Notui don't seem to have the technology or need to create an EMP device, but the Q do.  I've been thinking that over and it's possible that the EMP field is a byproduct of an alien power source that has a high EMF pulse.  Either that, or whomever landed this pyramid thing doesn't want anything that uses electricity to come close.

We've noticed that the EMP field pulses.  Some of our devices may still work within the field, but I wouldn't count on it.  The gyrojet rifle I carry still fired but I think there's a chance it may not be reliable.  My implants - and S'Krllk's as well - are affected but not as dramatically as the aircar was.  I would rely on any laser weapons or screens in this thing.  Might make battling a bit tougher."

Orvo says, "As I recall, the Blackness is part of the extradimensional aliens who are joining with the Sathar and this is the center of the battle to come. I wouldn't be surprised if the pyramid has something to do with them." Orvo was taking a shot in the dark, but it seemed to make sense to him.

He thanks Bartja for the polyvox upload and makes sure everyone's is up and running too.

Well, grenades and automatics don't rely on electricity, so I still have weapons.

"I'm thinking a hot meal and a little rest would do us all some good fight about now.  Does their info seem to be legit Bartja?"

Bartja indicates Beet-Chest when he answers, aware that the Polyvox is likely translating their speech back into the Notui language as well.

"I'm not very good with people, but I've seen no beguiling from these folks.  I don't believe lying, cheating, or deception are part of their culture - at least nowhere ingrained as it has become in ours.

From what I gather about the Pyramid, they don't go near it.  The worm people, or Sathar, are towards it somewhere so it could very well be that they're connected in some way.

I vote for some rest and giant-rooster meat!  We still haven't determined if there are any survivors of Dentins' crash but if there are, they're likely to need our help before the Sathar carry them off.  It seems the pyramid has been here awhile so I doubt that it's going anywhere soon.

Could always be wrong..."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:05, Tue 10 Nov 2020.

Put the latest map in map updates. Note that the Notui are about 3 hexes northwest of the Bartja/S'krllk crash site, right about where the circle and square intersect.

Here is the map again:



OOC: Some outstanding items to do:

1) Rescue Marlboro and the engineer/Find Sathar base up north

2) Rescue Dentin and his crew

3) Finish trying to integrate Hammer into Moraes

4) Decide what to do with Terry's stuff from footlockers (mechanical footlocker is at post #47); S'krllk needed more time and was interrupted before being able to open the lock of the other footlocker

5) Decide on any further inventory issues as per post 8 here: link to a message in this game

6) Find out more and visit with Notui

7) Investigate glint south of Bartja's crash

8) Repair Moraes (crew/LeGrange is currently doing this)

9) Return to site at river where you saw the shiny giant gleam below the water.

10) Investigate EMP/Pyramid

Personnel:

At Notui: Bartja, Desi, Orvo, S'krllk, Porter.

At Moraes: Mormord Massod (Moraes crew member), Brogod Omborg (Moraes crew member), Sporss Krekrek (Moraes crew member), LeGrange, Appleburg

Missing (north): Winston Marlboro (Moraes captain) and Pradi Innesti (Moraes engineer)

Missing (crash): Dentin and his crew.

22 DAYS UNTIL QANTARIATE INVASION

DAY 4 ON MAHG MAR

4:00 P.M.


The chief exits the tent on the right, introducing himself to the newcomers as "Stone Eye." Like the other leaders in this strange hierarchy, he has wings and flamboyant colors.


The Notui invite you for a feast of the dinosaur creature, various insect varieties, and vegetation. The meal will be ready at about 7:00 p.m., just before sunset.

You are not sure of the current whereabouts of Dentin or Marlboro, or their conditions.

We graciously accept the chief's offer.  Then Porter tells his companions, "We have a lot to do, folks, and we are better off not dividing our resources again.  I am going to recommend we go after Dentin and crew first, as they are nearest.  They can be taken to the Moraes for treatment and can then help with repairs.  It may be that we take care of the pyramid on the way, and hopefully some Sathar.  We can then check out that metal glint on the way back to the gondola.  After we take the crew to the ship, we can go look for the Captain and Pradi.  We will have still much to do after that, but with hope, maybe a few more to help do it?  I am open for other opinions and options."

Orvo says, "Okay, I think that's generally a good plan. But do we leave when it's dark after the feast or start out in the morning? I'm concerned about the welfare of both captains."

If we rest now until dinner, we could leave right after that.  We can do nothing for them if we can't do for ourselves.

Bartja prepares himself for Stone-Eyes unusual feast, although the dietary choices are not far from those of his home planet.

"I like it and agree we should find Dentin first and rescue any survivors.

Later, we can kill that EMP device - assuming it is at the pyramid - then we can use our aircar again and get things moving a bit faster.  Sure hate to have that interfering with out operations in the future."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:38, Wed 11 Nov 2020.

The Notui give you a nest to rest in and you rest for three hours until the feast. The dinosaur creature has been split into parts and put on a spit. The festivity is low key, without much talking/squawking due to the dangers of nearby predators, including the Sathar. Makeshift tables were set up in the center. You see a total of about 8 of the winged, colorful Notui, and about 30 of the wingless ones wearing more drab clothing.

They are excited to talk to you about where you came from and what happened to your beaks. They like Bartja the Yazirian's "wings" and marvel that a bug like S'krllk can be intelligent, given that their diet staple consists mostly of bugs.

If there is anything you want to discuss with them, now is the time to do so. Otherwise, we will advance to 9:00 p.m. and your desire to move forward.

If you want them to accompany you, then Beet-Chest will go along with three of the wingless Notui. If not, they wish you well and say you can return.

OOC: For those who arrived later, you will have been told and shown the two Sathar corpses in the tent on the left. That is where Beet-Chest obtained his Sathar marked mask. They found the bodies dead near the area where the "glint" just south of Bartja and S'krllk's aircar was grounded.