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[Pancaek]

"I'll try not to get split off from you guys. Losing sight of the group in this place probably isn't a good idea."

Give the pile o' books a quick once over for a book that looks like it's about music of some kind. If I find one, grab it.
Make sure I stick to the group. If they move, I move with them.

Spoiler: Clate (click to show/hide)

Name: Clate
Race: Shluck
Description: Being a Shluck, Clate is rarely seen outside of his environmental suit. Inside, he is the standard albino mollusk, with his only true defining characteristic being the alternating white/borwn pattern of his beak, much like on a nautilus shell. His environmental suit and exoskeltons are full of scuff marks and small blemishes from work, but the knowledgable observer will notice that it is mechanically kept in tip-top shape. He wears a toolbelt and a satchel to store his tools and other knickknacks, and has a blue cap perched on top of his helmet.
Goal: To create great works of craftsmanship and become filthy rich in the process.
 
Stats
Str:  8
Dex:  11
Spe:  9
End:  10
Awa:  10
Cun:  16 (+3)
Kno:  12
Ner:  11

Skills (1 point unused)
Electronics 1
Mechanical 1
Biological 1
Chemical 1
Occult 1
Weaponsmith 1
Armorsmith 1
Stealth 1
Steal 1
Explosives 1

Inventory
Clothing: A tool belt that can be modified to fit the exoskeleton, a satchel and a blue cap with "If it ain't broke, fix it" embroidered on.
Mail shirt (Made to integrate directly into the exosuit, protecting surface that houses Shluck including head.Protect 3)
Bladed Shovel - handle coated with Pseudomagnetic mortar
Knife (cut2, pierce2)
Rifle (pierce2, 6/10 magazine)
TNT x5
Dynamo lantern
Field lighter
Path markers x10
"Muggy"(skull mug scrimshawed with "can we fix it?" on the side, "No, it's fucked." on the bottom. Has trigger on the inside of the spine-handle that, when squeezed, caused the mandible to open and close)
1 Bow from weird eyeball creature. Produces a bone arrow when drawing the string.
3 weird picture books


2 Octahedrons - supposedly replicate materials
1 container of Pseudomagnetic mortar
labradorite/Obedience rod


100ft silk rope


3 structural junk
30 chemical junk
1 gold ingot
143 Fathoms


Crystal Babies

2. 8 sided diamond (looks like  Ramiel from EVA and floats). 8 inches to an edge
3.  Crystal snake. hiss. 18 inches long.


Warehouse/bore storage:
 1. Dodecahedron, no limbs, rolls. Fist sized.
4.  Spiky daddy long legs like Irony has. 1 foot legs, fist sized body.
5. Thing looks like (see pic). about 8 inches to a side.
7. Wheel sort of thing that has a fat inside edge and tapers to a sharp edge on the outside. Foot and a half in diameter.
1 corpse (missing: skull, neck vertebrea, some bones)
Bomb Collar
Slate box with multicolour crystal toothpick - supposedly turns someone into a gemperson.
Spool of thermoreactive wire.
Acoustic guitar (Metal + guardbone, totally mundane.)
Box with "kidnapper bell"
6 Octahedrons - supposedly replicate materials

[Hotfire90]

Grab a few books at random and read them.

Spoiler: Alex Wells (click to show/hide)

Name: Alex Wells

Description: A middle aged man standing 5'7" feet tall. He has short brown hair and an unkempt beard.

Goal: Exploring the depths and collecting its wealth.

Stats:
Str: 11
Dex: 11
Spe: 10
End: 11
Awa: 11
Cun: 12
Kno: 11
Ner: 11

Skills:
Explosives 2
Mechanical 1
Survival 1
Caving 1
Chemical 2
Geology 1
1 Skill point

Inventory:
Dynamo Lantern
Field Lighter
4 TNT
Bladed Shovel (Cut 3)
Mail Shirt
39 Fathoms
Crystal box of golem limbs
Golem buddy
Black Flame (Cut 3)
Rifle (Pierce 2) 4/10
8 Structural Junk
Grappling Hook
Moon bladed staff (Cut 4)

[syvarris]

"Medizin, would you like me to carry those for you?  I will have to drop them if we encounter another guardian, but I can still carry more books than you."

Carry any books that anyone else wants carried, be the packmule.  Continue to keep an eye on Ashul, and don't be afraid to drop the load if he needs a good unconsciousness-causing swat to the head with an encyclopedia.

If nobody complains, choose one the smaller and more trite-looking books and drop it off just off the edge of the staircase to see if it loops around.  Be ready to catch it when it does, if it's not too difficult to do so.

Spoiler: The Unpronounceable Undead (click to show/hide)

Name: Nyw'geuq Otin Sunam; calls himself "The Lords' Child"
Description:

((No murakumo anymore.  ))
Goal: Inscrutable, which is code for "Talks like this.".

Stats:
Str:14
Dex:8
Spe:10
End:14
Awa:14
Cun:8
Kno:7
Ner:10

Skills:
Unarmed: +1
Defense Skill: +3 (Full Plate)
Vehicle Skill: +1
Caving: +1
Navigation: +1
Murakumo: +1


Inventory:
Full Plate Armor [Protective 4]
Ornamental Mask of the Child
Shattered to powder, which is held in a little cloth bag: Crystal Murakumo [Cut 6, Pierce 3, Fragile]
Giant Guardian Hatchet [Chop 4, ]

Probably left in the warehouse:
A hooked cleaver [Cut 3]
Two knives [Cut 2, Pierce 2]
Guard rifle [Pierce 2]
A bunch of bloody guard garments, to be used as raw material.

[Radio Controlled]

Inspect the permanent diving mechanism a little, can I discern what kind of dive/effect they are using here to protect from the magma's heat?

Either way, go to the warehouse. Scan it with wizard eyes, and if nothing suspicious comes up, go in and tell them what we're here for. Be sure to wear my robes long for now, don't need to advertise my, ah, 'skin condition'.

Spoiler: Adam Blavatsky Darvaza (click to show/hide)

Name: Adam Blavatsky Darvaza

Description: A young man of slightly pale complexion and eternal 9 o’clock shadow, he was raised in a small village. While the village priest and passing mystics droned with endless sermons of the Church and their teachings, what had always captivated young Adam’s attention more were the stories of his Granny.

Old stories of the world as it once was, before people were forced to flee to the caves and crannies of this damp hell. Of warm days where pleasant green plants tickled your feet as you walked through them and a cool breeze blew through your hair. Where food was plentiful, nature was benign and endless vistas reached as far as they eye could see.

Adam was nominally a card-carrying member of the church, though he mostly did it for the connections and perks that brought. They were powerful and had ancient lore, all things he would need to fulfill his true heart’s desire: to return to the surface, vanquish the madness that tainted their homeland and reconquer paradise.

After his encounter with a Word of God, the edges of his vision are flickering with black flame and his skin is extremely pale with what appear to be black veins instead of the normal blue ones. It also forced him to reevaluate his views on the cthonic church and god.

Goal: Plunge the secrets of the depths below to find an answer to the horrors above.

Stats
Str: 10
Dex: 10
Spe: 11
End: 10
Awa: 11
Cun: 10
Kno: 10
Ner: 13

Skills
Diving: +3
Stealth: +2
Occult: +1
Can see things in great detail as well as look through objects such as walls. Rolls Nerve.

Inventory

1 soldier chestplate
Clothing: simple priest robes, shortened a bit so as to less restrict his movements

1 ethral rifle [10 rounds]  (pierce 2)
1 black flame

1 Silent Night
4 worm blood

1 minor artifact
1 beaker artifact (found in crystal ruins) => in locker
1 crystal construct

Transport mission papers
1 black book copy
1 black book
1 book "Artifacts of Faith"
1 empyrean city map
1 field lighter
1 radio
6 fathoms
   -loaned 40 to Cara (Tiruin)
297 fathoms (payment from pilgrim escort)
1 unspent skillpoint

[Egan_BW]

^{_{"How much change would be 'enough' for you? In what way would you need to change? Change can be for good or ill, after all. If you seek some specific change in yourself, go and seek it out. You have a freedom unlike most people in the world. You can travel in the bore, make money in whichever way you want, and you have friends to back you up. Whatever it is that you want, you can seek it. And if you would like to change in some nonspecific way-
Don't. Change will find you, and most likely not for the better. The only thing balancing out your misfortune is your desire to build and improve. Without work to maintain, time makes anything good into dust."}}

[Gentlefish]

"Medizin, would you like me to carry those for you?  I will have to drop them if we encounter another guardian, but I can still carry more books than you."

Hmm... Drett pauses and ponders a second. How about you find some that appear interesting to you? In return, once I decode the language I may translate them for your benefit.

[Parisbre56]

"Yes, I agree. Being with a bore crew was all I ever wanted. It was why I left my home in the first place. Actually owning one with all of you... Despite the way it happened, it's still a dream come true. I wake up every cycle with excitement, thinking about how lucky I am. And I try. I work hard. I have never stopped trying to do more, to find more."
Kara would not normally be so forthcoming with her thoughts. Maybe something about the Ethral was making her feel safer. Or maybe it was merely the fact that speaking about her thoughts and worries made them seem better, less scary, same as when she was writing in her diary.
"The problem is I haven't accomplished all I wanted. I don't have the wealth or experiences I thought I would. I'm not strong or famous or... anything else others might find impressive. I never thought I would be back here with so little to show for my work. I always imagined it more... triumphant. With people having no choice but to accept I did good. Now if anybody sees me..."
She shrugged and walked in silence for a few seconds. She used her arm to pull her clothes closer to her skin, acutely aware of the plainness of both her clothes and her plumage when compared to some of the other Corven around her.
"Silly of a little Corven to have such big dreams, I know."
She turned to look at Wiellste and tried to change her tone to something more cheerful.
"I suppose it's better for Ethral, right? You are encouraged to leave your home and learn more. It's why you've stayed with us, isn't it?"

[Egan_BW]

^{_{"Well, traveling and learning from the world directly is one form of enlightenment, but it's not the only way there is. An Ethral who stays behind, building and cataloguing and, hmm, reproducing is just as valuable as an Ethral who travels the world. If not more-so. I suppose you might be thinking of the humans, who must go deeper and deeper, seeing with their own eyes what lies in those depths in order to advance in rank. In some ways it is a similar concept, but... more specific."}}

Wiellste tilts her head back and forth.

^{_{"I don't mean to offend, but Corven society is... well, selfish. Always seeking to put yourself at the top, above other people. What Corven do tends to be focused on enriching themselves, and any benefit for others is merely a happy side effect. It works well enough; this city is proof that that sort of 'greed' can still lead to great communal works and harmony. But it is different to Ethral."}}

She again nervously adjusts her mask.

^{_{"...I'm sorry, I don't mean to dismiss your concerns. Your feelings are alien to me, but I can understand them. It's only natural; your biology causes-"}}

Suddenly Wiellste stops walking and makes a sort of choking sound.

^{_{"O-oh. I've said something bad and offensive. Forgive me, I c-can assure you that I didn't mean what I said. P-please forget what I said."}}

[Parisbre56]

"Ha!" Kara caws, more amused than angry.
"Don't worry. I've offended enough Ethral to know that there's a lot of things our races don't know about each other. There's bound to be things we don't agree on. That doesn't mean what you say is bad or that I hate you."
She waved her arm dismissively.
"That said, I hope you realize our society is not as extremely individualistic as some rumors might have you think. There is not much difference between a shared personal interest and the interest of the group, I believe. Just look at the fear those in power have for the collective will of the people, how they strive to remain in their good graces, how the people can pool their wealth to bring down the mightiest of Corven when they stand alone. And not every Corven is the same. There is variance in all people, I'm sure you know. Just like there are Ethral that sell bomb collars to criminals there are Corven who will feed a poor orphan girl."
A few more seconds of silence, thinking about the past.
She clicked her beak and continued.
"Don't you have disagreements between you? What if I was an Ethral and I was saying there are things we should emulate in Corven society?"

[Egan_BW]

^{_{"I-I'd like to change the subject."}}

[Parisbre56]

"Oh. Sorry. I didn't realize-"
Apologizing will get me nowhere.
"Thank you for letting me know. Is there something you wish to talk about?"

[Egan_BW]

^{_{"Uh, yes actually. We don't have to talk about it if it makes you uncomfortable, but I wanted to ask you why you saved my life."}}

[Parisbre56]

"Oh! Um... Well, that is..."
Kara looked away awkwardly. She thought silently for a few seconds. She wanted to say she did it for some selfless reason or because that's what heroes do, but that wouldn't be the truth, at least not the full truth.
"To tell you the truth, I can't put the reason I acted the way I acted to words. I didn't have much time to think so I- It just... felt like the right thing to do. I mean, I was already going to turn back time to heal myself so... Letting you die when I had the power to stop it felt wrong. It was an acceptable trade, I think. A bit more of me, for your life back."
She laughed awkwardly, trying to prevent the mood from becoming too serious.
"See? Maybe your were right about us Corven after all. Always thinking in trades."

[Egan_BW]

^{_{"It was a trade. A part of yourself for my life. I was dead. If you had done nothing, I would still be dead now. Anything I see or feel now is because of you. I would have been gone forever, but instead a part of you is gone forever. I... don't know how I can repay you."}}

[Parisbre56]

Kara felt extremely awkward. She was about to deny this, to say that Wiellste didn't owe her anything. She tried to think of a logical argument or some parable that would make Wiellste feel that she didn't owe her anything. But that was just impulse, a social norm, a thing people got used to saying to each other without thinking. Saying that would be like saying to Wiellste that either Wiellste's life was worthless or Kara's was and neither of those things was true. Kara certainly didn't feel like a worthless person. And she knew there was value in the Ethral's life, she'd seen how hard Wiellste had tried to help her, she could see her feelings and she knew that what Wiellste needed wasn't some platitude. It was honesty. Honesty of reason and honesty of feelings.

She turned to look at her with determination, both of her eyes focusing on the eyeslits of Wiellste's mask.
"I think I understand your feelings. And I am glad you feel that way. It is normal. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you how you can repay me. Your life is worth much to me. And I feel it is worth much to you as well. So it is hard to find one thing that would balance the scales. Instead, I will offer you this:"
Kara extended her taloned hand towards the Ethral, her scaly palm open and waiting.
"Stay with me. Help me. Be my left arm. Be my friend. That is all I ask. And when you feel your debt to me fulfilled, you may do as you wish."