OOC: Bartja and S'krllk should post here in this thread until communications are reestablished.

Bartja and S'krllk begin turning the aircar around and dipping into the trees, but it is too late. The EMP pulse hits and the aircar goes down...

Bartja tries landing, but the power is gone and the aircar plummets, (driving check success) landing in some bushes in a crash landing, luckily without hurting anyone. The smoke rising from the aircar is not a good sign, and all power is gone.

Bartja and S'krllk get out of the smoking and battered aircar in the middle of the forested land. None of the electrical equipment seems to be working properly here. It seems to start to work for about 30 seconds and then power off again. Your implants do not seem to affected, as they run primarily on electrochemical reactions, though they make you feel woozy, even while wearing the breathing masks.

The utility robot also seems to switch on for 30 seconds or so and then switch off.

The communication systems also start to power up but do not fully power up before going off again.

You are collecting these thoughts and analyzing the situation when you hear something approaching from the northwest.

S'Krllk points at the flora to the southeast, and whispers, "we should hide and watch" before he moves quickly to do exactly that.

Bartja and S'krllk take for hiding in the bushes.

A few moments later, they see two large, bird-like creatures emerge from the undergrowth. They are about human size and look like a cross between a tall flightless bird like an ostrich, and a small, bipedal carnivorous dinosaur. They are covered with thin scales that ruffle and move like feathers. They have small, grasping claws at the end of two limbs, which appear less dexterous than human ones. The legs appear powerful for speed or jumping and the head slightly resembles an eagle but with a wide beak that is not hooked. The skull is large and sits on a short but flexible neck.

They do not appear to notice you at the moment. They are fixated on the downed aircar and are examining it curiously. They each carry a hunting spear.


This message was last edited by the GM at 08:15, Wed 07 Oct 2020.

The other group is a bit ahead of you on time. Do you want to take any actions or keep waiting in the bushes while the things inspect your fallen vehicle?

S'Krllk scans the new critters with his bodycomp and activates his trans-comp and comp-talk progits. "Tool users," he whispers to Bartja, "maybe we can communicate."

The two creatures appear to have good hearing. They turn in your direction when hearing S'krllk talk. They peer straight at you and you realize they have eagle eye vision and can probably see you hiding in the bushes.

But oddly, they do not do anything threatening with their spears. They just cock their heads to one side and take a step back as if preparing to run.

S'Krllk figures he might as well give it a shot. Extending his arms wide to show he's not aggressive, he steps out of the bushes and says, "greetings. Please speak up so that we may properly learn your language."

Bartja lets the gryrojet rifle hang from the bandoleer so he too appears unarmed to these (he hopes) primitive peoples.  He steps out beside his insectoid friend and shows the palms of his hands as a gesture of peace.

Speaking quietly so he hopes S'Krllk hears and no one else, he says "Sure wish we had one of our biosocial guys along right about now.  Orvo or Appleburg might deduce what to do in this situation.  I doubt that pulse that knocked us down and is keeping our electronics shut off came from these guys, but they might know who has it.

They appear to me fairly peaceful.  If we can keep from setting them off or having to defend ourselves, we might find some allies here.  If not, and if we get stuck on this planet, I wouldn't want to have the entire planets intelligent population after us."

At Bartja and S'krllk's non-threatening actions, the two bird-like bipedal creatures continue to cock their heads sideways as they start to retreat slowly toward the bushes further away from you. Both of them still do not do anything threatening with the spears.

One of them looks back and squawks.

A few moments later, from behind the trees emerges another of the creatures. This one, like them, is of the same flightless bird, but unlike them, it has wings, though they appear to be insufficient to allow actual flight--perhaps slight gliding or lift only.  Also unlike the other two, this one is garbed in a colorful decorative harness ornamented with colorful stones, a robe-like covering possibly made with reptile skin dyed purple, and a metal mask of some sort. You see some markings on the mask that appear to be in the language of the Sathar.

The initial two bird-like creatures step protectively behind the winged one, who is apparently the leader.



The leader squawks at you, but they are not challenging. Instead, they seem inquiring and soft.

S'Krllk attempts to be non-threatening and begin a dialog with the natives. "I'm not sure how to communicate, but I hope you understand that we really don't want to be here. Could you tell us about the people that made those marks on your mask?"

The leader squawks a few things you don't understand. Then he uses his talons to scratch something in the ground. You move closer to look, and you see that he has drawn a crude picture in the dirt of a spaceship landing. He then points to you and cocks his head. You are surprised at how detailed he is in the dirt drawing. He clearly has an eye for the visual.

Being no artist, Bartja hesitates to communicate through pictographs with the bird-people. He does want to keep them talking so that the poly-vox can learn their language and eventually start the translating.

He nods his head in agreement and points back towards the ship.  Obviously they know where it is and how it came to be here.  Then taking some initiative, he kneels down and scratches a picture of a second ship landing in a fireball - then points towards where the second craft may have crashed.

"Should we try to ask them about the Sathar on the planet yet or wait until we have stronger communication skills?" he asks S'krllk. "I'm somewhat curious if that mask links him to the Sathar.  We saw them control creatures on Vulturnous using cybernetics and this leader may also be under their control.  If we get a chance, see if he's got signs of an implant."

S'Krllk nods, "I was wondering about control, and that mask, myself. If that EMP has knocked out the control temporarily, we may be in trouble when the systems reboot, or worse, have to leave that rhythmic EMP on and thus be deprived of our own hardware."

The bird creature squawks some more, pointing at your picture and then at his own, and then toward the northwest into the woods. He does not seem at all worried or threatening. He then draws four figures next to the ship he drew. They are clearly humanoid.

Then he begins walking into the woods toward the northwest, beckoning you to follow.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:48, Wed 14 Oct 2020.

"Well, I'm no environmental specialist, but I'm gathering there are either four survivors of Dentins crash - or our away team is spotted.  The direction is correct for the crash.  If we follow, we may find survivors.  If we don't, then we need to find that EMP device and shut it down.

Your point about the device is valid.  This EMP is messing with my implants and I would guess it's also fouling any Sathar implants.  They appear to have an established presence on this planet, but that doesn't mean the EMP is theirs.  Might be other intelligence here also.

Let's follow and find Dentin, then try to reunite with the rest of our team."

Bartja nods to the bird-man and moves to follow.

You begin following the creatures to the northwest. They cock their heads in approval and squawk from time to time. You travel about a half hour through the brush, and then they suddenly duck down behind trees and urge you to get down in cover.

Something is moving about 50 meters ahead of you. You hunker down and then see that it looks like another one of the dinosaur creatures you had the unfortunate meeting with twice before during your river travel.

You also realize that your universal translators will not work or develop the language very well if subject to an EMP.

"Damn EMP" Bartja whispers as they hunker down under cover and wait for the dino to pass.  Just in case it gets any funny ideas about an easy lunch, Bartja pulls the gyrojet rifle into position.

S'Krllk quietly limbers his needler, and whispers a quiet warning of counting on the weapons that may have been affected by the EMP.

The dinosaur creature gets closer and closer...

Suddenly, the bird-like creatures screech like hawks as they jump from their hiding places directly at the creature. Two of them brandish their spears and the leader brandishes some sort of rope device.

OOC: There is a 1 in 10 chance per use that relevant guns may be affected by the EMP--i.e., that they are fired at the moment the EMP circles.

Bartja leaps up with a snarl of rage, firing three gyro's into the dino beast (he hopes).  "I hope they aren't trying to capture this thing and I'm foiling their plans!" he says to S'krllk as the gyros fly.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:21, Thu 15 Oct 2020.

Bartja fires, and hits the dinosaur. The gyrojet rocket explodes on impact.

The bird-like creatures are stunned to immobility and turn back to look at Bartja. He instantly sees that his fear was correct. They are not trying to kill the beast.

Nevertheless, with it injured, the leader jumps forward with his rope, which appears to be a harness of sorts. The other two distract the small dinosaur while the leader puts the harness over its mouth and the other two poke at its legs expertly to keep it running or attacking with them.

Once its eyes and mouth are covered, the leader begins squawking to it, almost cooing, and then it calms down. Despite the hole in its hide from Bartja, it moves forward peacefully, and the leader beckons you to continue following.

Bartja bows his head and let's the gryojet rifle fall back to his side on the bandoleer.  "Sorry guys" he says to the bird-men, fully not expecting them to understand his speech but hoping they will see his posture of humility.

S'Krllk looks on in wonder. "I guess that means both the bird-men and the thing with the teeth are native, or they're both imports. If it's the latter maybe they're some of the Sathar's escaped slaves?"

"The dino's seem common.  I'm 90% sure they're native - and the bird-men as well.  Seem peaceful enough, although friggin tough if they're taming these dinosaurouses."

You continue to the northwest. The dinosaur tries to escape and wiggle free a few times but is pacified by the bird creatures. They continue trying to talk to you, and your translators may be picking up some of the cawing sounds between EMP waves, but you don't know for sure how long it will take.

You reach a 20 meter wide creek. Swimming or wading across would be difficult because it is between two hills that form 20 foot wide high walls on either side. But the bird creatures lead you to a crude suspension bridge--lashed together vines and creepers--that spans the creek.

The bird creatures hold you back while they try to get the dinosaur across. You see that they easily grab the vines with their talons and lead the dinosaur across with some difficulty. It is an amazing sight because you know that crossing it yourselves in your smaller forms will be a bit difficult.

OOC: The lashings makes it more difficult for you to cross but still would not be difficult (though Bartja does have a gliding skill if needed). If you cross the creek itself, a STR avoidance check is needed to avoid falling and being swept away.

You inspect the bridge while they take the dinosaur across. You see it is decorated with small stones and rope patterns, and when you test it, you see it will support you easily. Many of the bird-like footprints are around the bridge.

Bartja straightens up from examining the bridge.  "Looked crude from a distance, but these guys have this bridge-building down to an art, albeit and art that they're well suited to use.  I'll give it a shot.  Worse that can happen is I get wet?"

With the gyrojet rifle flipped over his back to free his gliding flaps, Bartja steps out onto the bridge and starts the crossing...

Bartja starts to cross. About halfway across, he feels his feet slipping and his body losing balance as the bridge sways beneath him. (Roll fail.) He flaps his arms and stumbles, his Yazirian wing-like arm flaps bringing him to balance before grabbing awkwardly onto the side of the bridge to stop the swaying. After catching his balance, he stumbles the rest of the way across.

The bird-like creatures are walking him and cawing softly in what he can only assumes to be laughing at his misfortune.

S'krllk makes it with no problem across the bridge.

You continue forward...

About 30 minutes later, they stop. The leader makes some strange noises that are unpleasant, and you circle around some trees. You are not sure what was in your path that you are circling around, but it was not something they wanted to go through and see, or to take you to.

It is at least an hour of traveling before you reach the village. Your polyvoxes are starting to catch a few words of their speech but are still mostly blocked by the annoying EMP.

The village shows that these are intelligent creatures, if somewhat primitive. The settlement is surrounded by a 3 meter wall of creepers interwoven with natural vegetation. The wall blends perfectly with its surroundings and is nearly invisible from a distance. A the base of the wall are dense thorn bushes. A narrow path through the thorns leads you to a pair of large vertical logs that swing to either side on a system of pulleys to let you in, pressing the natural wall aside to permit entry into the settlement.

Inside, the walls enclose an oval area about 50 meters in diameter. The heavy logs and thick wall of vines are sufficient to deter any native predators, providing a secure environment inside for the tribe. You see a second entrance at the far side.

Shelters constructed from wooden frames and woven vines stand clustered in the center of the enclosure. Dense plant growth is cultivated on the wood-and-vine frameworks, providing insulation and windbreak. The exteriors of the shelters, the interior of the encircling wall, and the surfaces of various other constructions are covered with brightly colored and decorative designs of incomprehensible pattern.

Most of the shelters are rough lean-tos, open on one side, but there are two large round structures just off of the central area on either side of a firepit that is directly in the center. One thing you notice about the shelters is that they use great heaps of fluffy plant fiber as cushions, making a shelter look like a bird nest, though it is more mobile and can be moved around like "furniture" inside.

The other thing you notice are many insect hives in the settlement. Insects seem to be kept by the creatures like livestock. Luckily, though the insects are annoying, they do not appear to be harmful to you. It appears this insectivorous race has insects as its staple.

You are waiting in the entrance area as the winged leader of your small group exchanges a discussion with another of the unwinged ones.

There are only a few with wings in the encampment that you see. They wear bright colors and appear to be the leaders. The majority of the bird-like creatures are wingless and wear more muted colors. It appears that color and appearance of clothes has a great deal to do with one's station in this little society.

You are motioned to stay where you are while a group of wingless creatures walk the injured dinosaur creature away and the winged leader goes to the large round structure on your right, obviously to discuss your situation with the leaders.

Meanwhile, as you stand there, the wingless birds--some adults and some children--gawk at you. Most keep their distance, but one friendly looking one spreads his arms, points to himself and the others, and says something that translates into your Polyvox as "Notui."

Many are chattering around you, and you hope this means your Polyvoxes will soon pick up the language.

You stand near the entrance waiting to hear your fate and have a chatty wingless Notui talking to you.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:05, Wed 21 Oct 2020.

Bartja turns to S'Krllk as Notui chirps away.

Speaking quietly he says "That area we circled around...  You figure we're anywhere near the Sathar area that Appleburg was talking about?"

Smiling his lopsided smirk to Notui, Bartja considers his gear.  Bright, shiny objects seems to be to their liking.  With a sudden realization, Bartja pulls out his flashlight and holds it towards Notui.  He then flicks it on, then off, then on again.  He waits to see if Notui will come forward to take the offered gift...

One of the Notui takes the gift and plays with it while another goes to one of the nests and brings back something. It is a similar flashlight, but is of alien design. He flicks it on and off a few times as if mimicking what Bartja has done. The alien design, Bartja sees, appears to be of Sathar origin based on the markings on its side.

A minute later, the leader comes out and says to you--and you can finally understand through your polyvox--"You, come. Follow."

He then beckons you to follow him into the covered round tent on the right.

Bartja accepts the Sathar light and give S'Krllk a knowing glance and slight nod of the head, then follows the leaders into the round tent without letting on that the Polyvox is finally starting to work.

S'Krllk looks at the Sathar light, and then mentions the 'helmet' the leader was wearing. "Let's hope our fate isn't the same as the Sathar they've met."

Bartja nods in agreement.

"I'm starting to think the Sathar have not gained control of these people yet.  I'm also starting to wonder if that EMP device is Sathar or something from these guys.  The winged ones in particular seem to be of a higher order and may have technology beyond what we see here.  If they're defeating Sathar in battles instead of trading with them, then we might find allies  here in our struggle."

You are taken into the large tent. In "nests" sit three more of the winged version of this species.

The one who led you here points to empty nests across from them and your polyvox translates--finally--his words as, "Be seated."

You take a seat and are offered some seeds to snack on.

The elder of the creatures sits in the middle and addresses you. He is hunched over and much older than the others.


"We are Notui. I am Stone-Eye. You met Beet Chest who bring you here. This is my Council. You understand? Why you here? Where you come from?"

Bartja looks at S'Krllk to see if he would like to speak first, then does the Yaz thing and clears his throat to reply through the polyvox.

"We come from the stars, different worlds than your own.  There is a mighty war in the heavens between the creatures of different worlds.

As you can see, I am different than my colleague, and we come from different worlds.  There are many varieties of worlds and just as many different creatures on them.  We are working together, trying to stop those who bring darkness and destruction wherever they go throughout the stars."

Bartja sits back to wait for the translation and boldly tries some of the offered seed-snacks.

The chief nods quickly like you would expect a bird to do, and then says, "You come with worm people?"

S'Krllk says, quickly, "no, the Sathar do not have others traveling with them, only those forced to serve them."

S'krllk quickly responds. Maybe it is because he looks like insects they would normally eat, or maybe he says something wrong, but his statement does not go over well. (Personality Check: 14:27, Today: GM Heath rolled 99 using 1d100. Crit failure.)

The chief rises to his feet and points a feathered spear at S'krllk. "YOU SERVE THE WORM PEOPLE? These 'SATHAR'?" The others also rise, for the first time looking hostile.

One of them who had his arms crossed the entire time rises and says with disgust, "We eat worms, but we also eat bugs."

This message was last edited by the GM at 05:32, Thu 29 Oct 2020.

Bartja tries to interject;  "What my friend was trying to say is that the worm people are part of the destroyers we fight against!  Wherever they go, they kill and enslave.  We try to set the people free wherever we can from the worms."

Bartja knows that his mechanized appearance won't help his arguments or interactions with these people, but after S'Krllk's gaff (whatever it was), he can see that there is little to lose.  Soon they will be fed as lunch if something doesn't turn this meeting around, and quickly!

Bartja (who only has a 35 personality score) attempts to rescue the quickly spiraling conversation. 16:18, Today: GM Heath rolled 29 using 1d100. Success!

After Bartja speaks, the chief says, "Your companion speak not the Notui tongue well. You come to fight worm-men?"

Beet-Chest also sits. He had been traveling with you for several hours and only saw the one misstep when you shot the dinosaur creature. He seems pacified.

But the one with his arms crossed says, "The enemy of my enemy may also be my enemy."

Chief Stone-Eye says, "What Fire-Claw say is true. Do you seek to kill Notui?"

S'Krllk sat calmly as the Notui reacted with anger, saying only, "we don't seek to kill anyone. If the Sathar weren't trying to kill us we would welcome them. Can you see that Bartja and I are from different peoples, but work together? We have other friends here from other peoples, as well."

Bartja takes some hope from the unusually positive reaction to his explanation.  He tries to add to what S'Krllk has said.

"The worms and their friends are our enemies.

We would be friends with you.  If the worms are your enemies too, we would help you fight them!"

Although they're not wings, Bartja stands and spreads his arms as he speaks to show his flight flaps, hoping they will make him more identifiable to these people and gain some empathy through familiarity of some kind.

Now that the PolyVox is translating, Bartja has another moment of insight.  Turning to Beet-Chest, he adds "I'm sorry for harming your mount.  Before we met you, our only encounters with those creatures was when they were trying to eat us.  My people prefer to not be eaten and those that would eat us are our enemies."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:10, Thu 29 Oct 2020.

Beet-Chest laughs, though it is more of a hawkish screech. "That is not my mount. That is our dinner. We feast tonight. But you ruin some good meat with thunder weapon."

The Chief says, "Notui do not understand fighting. Killing is for food or defense only. We do not understand this word...war...and do not understand why intelligence kills intelligence. Thus, Worm men must be animals and not intelligent. Worm men burn Notui. Fire is not for Notui. Fire come from heavens. Lightning. Three full moons ago, fireball come from heavens. We think it message from gods, but soon Worm men begin burning Notui with flame and lightning weapons."

He rises and beckons you to the door to take you someplace. "Come, follow. I show you what we find of Worm men."

Relieved, Bartja follows Beet-Chest gladly.

"I like your sayings.  Worm-men kill everywhere they go and we try to stop them.  I think this makes them not intelligent, but more like animals.

I am glad to I did not hurt one of your creatures to be saved.  I am looking forward to the feast!  Better to eat those giant animals than to be eaten by them!"

Bartja relaxes a little as they go to see what the Notui found of the Sathar arrival three months ago...

S'Krllk mumbles something suspiciously like "probably tastes like chicken" as he gets up to see what the enterprising bird men have on the worm people. This is a common statement for Vrusk, as their gustatory receptors phylogenetically differ from those of most other races.

Bartja stays close to S'Krllk and is glad they were not disarmed by the Notui.

"Mmmm, chicken..." he can be heard to say quietly in anticipation of a feast.  Although not overweight by any standard, Bartja has a voracious appetite and eats like it's his last meal.  Those who know him might be used to it, but to strangers he often appears to be barbaric in his table manners.

They walk you out of the tent and over to the large tent on the other side. Letting you in, they show you the inside, which is filled with various stored food items at a near freezing temperature. Their "nest" is well insulated and smells of preserving salts.

Beet-chest points to two figures on the far side. You see two dead Sathar bodies. "I take this from one of these," he says, pointing to his helmet with the Sathar writing on it. "We do not fight. We do not understand violence except for food. Yet they burn our people and do not eat them. We do not understand. We find these bodies already dead and bring them here. They have crash in vehicle."

Bartja turns to S'Krllk and speaks loudly enough that the Polyvox can translate to Beet-Chest.

"So they're subject to the EMP also!  This is great information, but it deepens the mystery.

Beet-Chest, are there many other peoples on your world?  Are there peoples who use machines like us?"

Beet Chest says, "We know of no one who use machine. Great black pyramid in south appear one year ago, but no people. Worm men come three moons ago, have machines. We have peace before then. We can take you to crash vehicle or black pyramid, but we do not fight. Against our upbringing."

Bartja give S'Krllk a knowing glance as if to say, "now we're getting somewhere!" and continues the conversation with Beet-Chest.

"How far is the great black pyramid from here?  Are the worm men at the Pyramid or somewhere else?"
This message was last edited by the player at 06:33, Fri 06 Nov 2020.

When responding about the black pyramid, Beet Chest points in the general direction of the center of the EMP and says a unit of measurement your polyvox does not understand. "Black Pyramid hosts evil. Destroys what it touches. We stay away. Worm men sometimes in area in between. That all we know."

One of the winged Notui enters where you stand around the dead Sathar and other items and says, "Strangers come. They seem to be friends with these creatures." He indicates you.

Beet Chest leads you out of the tent. Near the entrance to the settlement, you see Porter, Desi and Orvo.

OOC: I'm creating a new thread for everyone to use. You can start posting there.