Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Radio Controlled]

I got skipped 

"a what now? Telescope that can see through solid matter? Amazing! Yes, please do show me where you found this, sister, I would like to study it.

As for your relic fragment, I am willing to give it back to you. First I'd like to inquire however, what is the goal of your dive? And which path do you think of walking through the spheres to achieve it?"

Be shown the way to the telescope. Check out its make, use wizard eyes to look inside it as well. How does it look through solid stone? Does it work in a similar way to my wizard eyes? Or is it a diving effect perhaps?

”I’m thinking Akhmah, Belarim because it is technology, and Yengenze so that the knowledge obtained enters my mind, but I’m unsure which action spheres to go to to learn who made it and/or how long ago it was made”

"Hmm. I think that that Belarim is a good option for the material sphere indeed. And I do believe brother Ashul managed in the past to learn great secrets by summoning them with Yengenze, so that seems like a solid choice as well! And I think that's sufficient actually, I don't suspect you will need another sphere to learn the things you wish to learn. Of course, the success of your dive itself will also determine what secrets, if any, you are shown.

Now, in terms of reinforcement, what did you have in mind? And what about the environment, do you think this location is secure enough for you to commune with the beyond with peace of mind?

Finally, have you considered offering something up as a sacrifice to get on the good side of god and the beings of the spheres? Since we are trying to learn about an artifact presumably made by these crystal beings, or at least with a connection to them, perhaps offering up something that itself is made by or connected to the crystal race would work well?"

”I found some gems that look like opals. Will these work?”(shows opals to Adam) I think diving near the telescope would be fine, since it is what we are learning about”

"These do look splendid indeed! Why yes, I suspect they will serve quite well. Good thinking, sister. We'll make a great diver out of you yet."

Adam,  can I have my artifact fragment so I can dive?

"Ok then. Just don't overdo it with the number of reinforcements, all right?"

Give back the artifact, assuming the environment here counts at least as neutral. Watch over the dive, try to intervene if things seem to go awry.

Should things not explode into demons for once, consider whether just taking these lenses would be enough to recreate the effect later on, or would we need to take this entire telescope with us? And if we could, would this effect still work even when not in a crystal ruin?

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: 11
Dex: 11
Spe: 13
End: 12
Awa: 12
Cun: 11
Kno: 10
Ner: 14 
Skills
Diving: +3
Stealth: +2
Occult: +1
Flammenvision!
Inventory

Soldier's chestplate
Clothing: simple priest robes, currently worn long to hide the black veins
Rubber Suit

1 ethral rifle [10 rounds]  (pierce 3)
2x black flame
2x smoke bomb
1 flashbang

3 Silent Night
4 worm blood

1 minor artifact
1 minor artifact belonging to Rhea
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
portal knives design
123 fathoms
   -loaned 40 to Cara (Tiruin)
3 unspent skillpoints

"Congratulations on your first dive!" Adam pats Rhea on her shoulder as her mind exits the spheres, seemingly without any otherworldly intrusions.
"And what a success it was indeed! This is your first step on the way to becoming a full fledged disciple of the god in the deep and an experienced diver.

Now, do you have another immediate dive in mind? If not, I'd like to ask you for your relic fragment back for the time being. One good dive does not a master make, after all!"

[Naturegirl1999]

I got skipped 

"a what now? Telescope that can see through solid matter? Amazing! Yes, please do show me where you found this, sister, I would like to study it.

As for your relic fragment, I am willing to give it back to you. First I'd like to inquire however, what is the goal of your dive? And which path do you think of walking through the spheres to achieve it?"

Be shown the way to the telescope. Check out its make, use wizard eyes to look inside it as well. How does it look through solid stone? Does it work in a similar way to my wizard eyes? Or is it a diving effect perhaps?

”I’m thinking Akhmah, Belarim because it is technology, and Yengenze so that the knowledge obtained enters my mind, but I’m unsure which action spheres to go to to learn who made it and/or how long ago it was made”

"Hmm. I think that that Belarim is a good option for the material sphere indeed. And I do believe brother Ashul managed in the past to learn great secrets by summoning them with Yengenze, so that seems like a solid choice as well! And I think that's sufficient actually, I don't suspect you will need another sphere to learn the things you wish to learn. Of course, the success of your dive itself will also determine what secrets, if any, you are shown.

Now, in terms of reinforcement, what did you have in mind? And what about the environment, do you think this location is secure enough for you to commune with the beyond with peace of mind?

Finally, have you considered offering something up as a sacrifice to get on the good side of god and the beings of the spheres? Since we are trying to learn about an artifact presumably made by these crystal beings, or at least with a connection to them, perhaps offering up something that itself is made by or connected to the crystal race would work well?"

”I found some gems that look like opals. Will these work?”(shows opals to Adam) I think diving near the telescope would be fine, since it is what we are learning about”

"These do look splendid indeed! Why yes, I suspect they will serve quite well. Good thinking, sister. We'll make a great diver out of you yet."

Adam,  can I have my artifact fragment so I can dive?

"Ok then. Just don't overdo it with the number of reinforcements, all right?"

Give back the artifact, assuming the environment here counts at least as neutral. Watch over the dive, try to intervene if things seem to go awry.

Should things not explode into demons for once, consider whether just taking these lenses would be enough to recreate the effect later on, or would we need to take this entire telescope with us? And if we could, would this effect still work even when not in a crystal ruin?

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: 11
Dex: 11
Spe: 13
End: 12
Awa: 12
Cun: 11
Kno: 10
Ner: 14 
Skills
Diving: +3
Stealth: +2
Occult: +1
Flammenvision!
Inventory

Soldier's chestplate
Clothing: simple priest robes, currently worn long to hide the black veins
Rubber Suit

1 ethral rifle [10 rounds]  (pierce 3)
2x black flame
2x smoke bomb
1 flashbang

3 Silent Night
4 worm blood

1 minor artifact
1 minor artifact belonging to Rhea
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
portal knives design
123 fathoms
   -loaned 40 to Cara (Tiruin)
3 unspent skillpoints

"Congratulations on your first dive!" Adam pats Rhea on her shoulder as her mind exits the spheres, seemingly without any otherworldly intrusions.
"And what a success it was indeed! This is your first step on the way to becoming a full fledged disciple of the god in the deep and an experienced diver.

Now, do you have another immediate dive in mind? If not, I'd like to ask you for your relic fragment back for the time being. One good dive does not a master make, after all!"

I was thinking about a dive to learn what caused the crystal people’s reign to end, but am unsure what sphere to use other than Yengenze since they are made or crystal. Do I go to Tzimtvit and Telazch or just one of them?

[Ozarck]

((quote pyramids are generally discouraged on this forum, due to some glitch that can cause the forum to crash if hte pyramid gets too large. I don't know if htat issue has ever been resolved or not, so try to snip out some layers of the pyramid when you carry on long conversations like this.))

[Naturegirl1999]

((Ok, sorry. What kind of glitch happens? I’m tempted to start a new topic and lock it, and the idea is to figure out how many layers until the glitch happens and delete the last layer, to figure out the maximum non glitch pyramid, strictly for curiosity’s sake. I will of course not do something like this on other threads))

[syvarris]

"Excellent work, Alex!  Convincing the man to give up so much information, without having to damage him, is truly a commendable feat!"  Nyw cheerfully proclaims, as he claps a heavy hand on Alex's shoulder.  Then he turns away and puts one hand to the bottom of his mask.  "Now then, we should be able to begin the assault near immediately, but should we seek assistance?  These criminals have turned out to be far more powerful and organized than is reasonable.  It's possible even the police can't be trusted, they may have been subverted by criminal influence.  Waiting for the rest of the bore crew to return from... wherever they went, that might be wise.  Just you and I alone do not make an army, Alex.  Though an army is not necessary.  Hrm.  Well, if we're fast about it, even subverted police might be of assistance, as they certainly can't be entirely corrupt..."

Pretty much, Hotfire's got this.  Nyw will accompany Alex, but will leave Gus and Baxter inside the bore, and direct them to not let anyone inside unless they're part of the bore crew.  Also, if more cultists show up to attack or set a trap, tell them to just have the bore leave and come back in [some pre-arranged timeframe, probably however long the crystal exploration people were expected to take].

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

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

((One murakumo! ))
Goal: Inscrutable, which is code for "Talks like this.".

Stats:
Str: 15 
Dex: 9
Spe:11
End:14
Awa:14
Cun: 9
Kno: 8
Ner: 12

Skills:
Unarmed: +1
Defense Skill: +3 (Full Plate)
Vehicle Skill: +1
Caving: +1
Navigation: +1
Murakumo: +2


Inventory:
Full Plate Armor [Protective 4]
Ornamental Mask of the Child

Extremely crude harness, holding all Nyw's weapons:
Crystal Murakumo [Cut 6, Pierce 3]
----Enchanted to remove fragility.
Giant Guardian Hatchet [Chop 4, ]
Three knives [Cut 2, Pierce 2]
Tungsten Toothpick [Pierce 5] (10/10)
Slave Trap
Three smoke grenades
Tunnel Clearer shotgun [5/5 shotshells] [shotgun 3] [Pierce 3] (5 spare shotshells) (3 spare slugs)
Guard rifle [Pierce 2] (10/10) (40 spare rounds)
Pistol [Pierce 1] (?/?)

300' of silk rope (some of this has been used to tie up a pair of kidnapped cultists, on the bore)
2x Silent Night
2x Black Flame
2x Cave Spider Venom
30x Path markers
~25x Vial of Haze

Followers:
Gus (Young human with minimal training.  Healthy.)
--Equipped with a small iron melee weapon.  A knife or shortsword or something.
--Equipped with a low caliber ethral rifle.  [Pierce 2] (10/10)
Baxter (Young human with minimal training.  Healthy.)
--Equipped with a small iron melee weapon.  A knife or shortsword or something.
--Equipped with a low caliber ethral rifle.  [Pierce 2] (10/10)

Hireling Achievements That Probably Deserve a Reward:
--Catching the runner who was gonna report on Nyw interrogating the Haze-selling chemist.

[Ozarck]

((Ok, sorry. What kind of glitch happens? I’m tempted to start a new topic and lock it, and the idea is to figure out how many layers until the glitch happens and delete the last layer, to figure out the maximum non glitch pyramid, strictly for curiosity’s sake. I will of course not do something like this on other threads))

((I recommend not doing that. Good way to get the forum masters angry at you. It doesn't just affect the thread you are on, it affects the whole forum.))

[Naturegirl1999]

((Ok, sorry. What kind of glitch happens? I’m tempted to start a new topic and lock it, and the idea is to figure out how many layers until the glitch happens and delete the last layer, to figure out the maximum non glitch pyramid, strictly for curiosity’s sake. I will of course not do something like this on other threads))

((I recommend not doing that. Good way to get the forum masters angry at you. It doesn't just affect the thread you are on, it affects the whole forum.))

((thanks, I didn't know that))

[piecewise]

((Doing prep for a dosimetery interview that is coming up soon, so posts might become less frequent for a week or so. ))

Mortal peril in the natural realm can wait. Let's squeeze through the gap into the enchanted sunlight.

Spoiler: Not so much a character, but a mistake (click to show/hide)

Name: AsHul
Description:Former human. Awful, ugly, indifferent.
Goal:To find God
 
Stats
Str:10  Dex:9  Spe:10  End:12  Awa:13  Cun:13  Kno:12  Ner:16

Skills
3 Diving
2 Animal Handling
1 Survival
3 Weapon skill: Guitar

Inventory
Relic Fragment
Black Book (Genuine)
Black Book (copy, strata 1,2,4)
2 Silent Night
4 Worm Blood
100 ft of rope
1 knife (cut/pierce 2)
2 Occult Junks (1 a skull currently holding Lighter Water)
some kind of lightning tree from the plane of elemental forces
Song Book (Treasure, Vomit, Dissociate, Shred) (Shape Steel: untested, very hard to play)
neodymium collar
1 Bone-fretted haunted electric guitar
1 mundane acoustic guitar with wave patterns in abalone and turquoise
1 Crystalline Clate Guitar
156  Fathoms

[10]
You start crawling through the squeeze, but your rather unfortunately cluttered and malformed body gets caught about halfway through. You wriggle and squirm but cannot get free.

Give back the artifact, assuming the environment here counts at least as neutral. Watch over the dive, try to intervene if things seem to go awry.

Should things not explode into demons for once, consider whether just taking these lenses would be enough to recreate the effect later on, or would we need to take this entire telescope with us? And if we could, would this effect still work even when not in a crystal ruin?

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: 11
Dex: 11
Spe: 13
End: 12
Awa: 12
Cun: 11
Kno: 10
Ner: 14 
Skills
Diving: +3
Stealth: +2
Occult: +1
Flammenvision!
Inventory

Soldier's chestplate
Clothing: simple priest robes, currently worn long to hide the black veins
Rubber Suit

1 ethral rifle [10 rounds]  (pierce 3)
2x black flame
2x smoke bomb
1 flashbang

3 Silent Night
4 worm blood

1 minor artifact
1 minor artifact belonging to Rhea
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
portal knives design
123 fathoms
   -loaned 40 to Cara (Tiruin)
3 unspent skillpoints

You think that maybe, if you had all the lenses you might be able to recreate the effect. However, its all very precise, so you'd probably need to create your own enclosure and telescope body. As per if it will work outside the ruin...maybe. You think that your favorite crystal boy might have to empower it, but it will probably work then.

"Excellent work, Alex!  Convincing the man to give up so much information, without having to damage him, is truly a commendable feat!"  Nyw cheerfully proclaims, as he claps a heavy hand on Alex's shoulder.  Then he turns away and puts one hand to the bottom of his mask.  "Now then, we should be able to begin the assault near immediately, but should we seek assistance?  These criminals have turned out to be far more powerful and organized than is reasonable.  It's possible even the police can't be trusted, they may have been subverted by criminal influence.  Waiting for the rest of the bore crew to return from... wherever they went, that might be wise.  Just you and I alone do not make an army, Alex.  Though an army is not necessary.  Hrm.  Well, if we're fast about it, even subverted police might be of assistance, as they certainly can't be entirely corrupt..."

Pretty much, Hotfire's got this.  Nyw will accompany Alex, but will leave Gus and Baxter inside the bore, and direct them to not let anyone inside unless they're part of the bore crew.  Also, if more cultists show up to attack or set a trap, tell them to just have the bore leave and come back in [some pre-arranged timeframe, probably however long the crystal exploration people were expected to take].

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

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

((One murakumo! ))
Goal: Inscrutable, which is code for "Talks like this.".

Stats:
Str: 15 
Dex: 9
Spe:11
End:14
Awa:14
Cun: 9
Kno: 8
Ner: 12

Skills:
Unarmed: +1
Defense Skill: +3 (Full Plate)
Vehicle Skill: +1
Caving: +1
Navigation: +1
Murakumo: +2


Inventory:
Full Plate Armor [Protective 4]
Ornamental Mask of the Child

Extremely crude harness, holding all Nyw's weapons:
Crystal Murakumo [Cut 6, Pierce 3]
----Enchanted to remove fragility.
Giant Guardian Hatchet [Chop 4, ]
Three knives [Cut 2, Pierce 2]
Tungsten Toothpick [Pierce 5] (10/10)
Slave Trap
Three smoke grenades
Tunnel Clearer shotgun [5/5 shotshells] [shotgun 3] [Pierce 3] (5 spare shotshells) (3 spare slugs)
Guard rifle [Pierce 2] (10/10) (40 spare rounds)
Pistol [Pierce 1] (?/?)

300' of silk rope (some of this has been used to tie up a pair of kidnapped cultists, on the bore)
2x Silent Night
2x Black Flame
2x Cave Spider Venom
30x Path markers
~25x Vial of Haze

Followers:
Gus (Young human with minimal training.  Healthy.)
--Equipped with a small iron melee weapon.  A knife or shortsword or something.
--Equipped with a low caliber ethral rifle.  [Pierce 2] (10/10)
Baxter (Young human with minimal training.  Healthy.)
--Equipped with a small iron melee weapon.  A knife or shortsword or something.
--Equipped with a low caliber ethral rifle.  [Pierce 2] (10/10)

Hireling Achievements That Probably Deserve a Reward:
--Catching the runner who was gonna report on Nyw interrogating the Haze-selling chemist.

After having finished questioning the witness, Alex returns to Nyw, the blood phantom still floating behind him. "We won't need diving afterall, he's cooperating now and told me what he knew, I had to promise him immunity for that though. Turns out that he doesn't know who the leader is, but he did provide me with the names of several high level staff and the location of what appears to be their main base. Their base is likely to be heavily defended and while they are aware of us, we might still be able to catch them off-guard if we're fast enough.

I'm gonna head back into town and report our findings to the authorities, they can deal with arresting the higher level people and maybe I can even get them to assist us with our raid."

Now that he's cooperating get everything useful about the cult out of him, if he knows about the location of the cults main base, then surely he also can give an estimate as to how many members of the cult we can expect to meet there. Go to the medical room on the bore and bandage up my stab wound, observe whether treating my wound has any effect on the knife and the phantom.

Should the blood phantom still be there after I've treated my wound, ask it to hide itself or to leave if it can't or won't hide. Head back into town after that and report our findings to the authorities, mention that the cult sent a heavily armed hitsquad after us and ask them for assistance with the raid on the base. Keep an eye out for any shady people or cult hitsquads following me while I'm in town.

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: 12
Dex: 11
Spe: 12
End: 12
Awa: 12
Cun: 12
Kno: 12
Ner: 12

Skills:
Explosives 2
Mechanical 1
Survival 1
Caving 1
Chemical 2
Geology 1
3 Skill points

Inventory:
Dynamo Lantern
Field Lighter
4 TNT (explosive 4)
Bladed Shovel (Cut 3)
3 Fathoms
Crystal box of golem limbs
Golem buddy (flat disc and hooks)
Black Flame (Cut 3)
Rifle (Pierce 2) 3/10
Grappling Hook
Moon bladed staff (Cut 4, ?)
Silk shirt (oversized and bloodstained red, activated by injuries going through the shirt. Creates a duplicate of the injuring weapon made from crystalized blood and a blood phantom with even more duplicates.)
Gas mask
2 lenses
A severed leg
5 ancient human books
20 copied ancient dictionary pages
Crystallized blood knife

He estimates that there are about 60 members that he's seen there, but there are supposedly 100 more out in the city.

Treating the wound causes the phantom and the knife to vanish.

[13] You return to the town and manage not to get ganked on the way. You turn in the information you have, including the information about the hit squads, and ask for assistance in raiding the base. The local authorities ask you to give them some time to set up a proper response to the information.

"Hmm... I suppose this is fortune telling me that it is wrong to take this amount of loot... That's right! This is too little loot! I must not be afraid to dream bigger!"
Okay then, I choose the BIGGEST mover with an enclosed magmaproof carrying compartment.

The plan is to load it up with all the pretty things I can fit in there, including those beautiful statues of the old races. Then I can just order it to break through the wall using its own strength. Since it is enclosed, then both the loot and we will be protected. And that also means that the Ethral won't be able to tell that it's us in there or that we've taken all the loot, for all they know we accidentally activated some sort of defense system and it attacked us. They haven't even seen the loot we're taking, so that means they won't know anything is missing. There is the problem of navigating without being able to see outside, but I can use Clate's stonesense for that. Then we just navigate through the magma where they can't follow us, searching for a place where we can hide the loot so we can later recover it with the bore. Then we can go back and give them some "belly of the beast" story about how that golem captured us and we went on a magical journey or something.

Would that sort of plan work?

Spoiler: "Kara" the Corven (click to show/hide)

Name: "Kara" is what most humans call her, though the closest pronunciation would be  Kr'ra-Kax
Race: Corven (advantage for climb, disadvantage for falls)
Appearance: She is a crow-like Corven with matte-black feathers. A bit short. Constantly moves her head around, examining her surroundings. Moves her tail up and down whenever she's excited.
Age: Adult, but just barely
Goal: Wants to find artifacts and experiences that she can use to make an (under)world-famous museum. Wants to prove herself to her mother and piss off her brother with her success (both financially and socially).

Status
Sacrificed left arm to reverse time (eaten by giant Shluck-like thing). Bandaged.

Stats
Str:10
Dex:13 
Spe:13 
End: 9
Awa:12
Cun:11 
Kno:12
Ner:11

Skills
Rifle: 1
Medical: 1
Translate: 1
Acrobatics: 1
Caving: 1
Machine Control: 1
Stealth: 1
Geology: 1
Archeology: 2
Navigation: 1
Unspent: 1

Inventory
Heavy Crystal Armour
Golden pin (in forearm)
Crystal Friend (with riding harness + Obedience Rod)
Radio
35 fathoms (1% royalty for flame)
Ethral Rifle (scope+bipod) (rifle 3, pierce 3) 6/7
Ethral Rifle magazine 7/7
Ethral Rifle magazine 6/7
Crystal Weapon
Field Lighter (Fire 2)
Shiny interconnected colorful gems
Grappling Hook + Ethral Silk rope 200 ft
1 Dynamo Lantern (Light 3)
1 Knife (Cut/Pierce 2)
2 Slave Traps
Simple Clothes (with hood)
Cot
Book (Adventures of Pilgrim)
Deck of Cards
Notes on insect saddle construction
Ancient Bird-people idols
Ancient Mole-jewels depicting unknown beast
Kara's Diary

In Storage
15 chemical junk
22 mechanical junk
Crystal Tablets (diary about All-Eater and Great Destroyer, inventory, obedience rod instructions, construct assembly instructions)
Church Documents (document ownership and events, and recommend favorable treatment)
Metal Card with the address of the Gilded Crow (corven Gangsters of Goldshore)
Mechanical Arm (not installed)
Bomb collar (unlocked)
All bomb collar remotes
A large number of shiny gold-like messenger path rocks

Alright.

That could work.

[Parisbre56]

Excellent! Start loading the Huge Friend with all the loot I can take there while not attracting attention. Oh, but first check the enclosed compartment to make sure there's nothing dangerous in there. If I can't get it to open by rubbing Crystal Friend on it, then maybe I can order it to CARRY or EAT me? And use DROP when I need to leave?

Spoiler: "Kara" the Corven (click to show/hide)

Name: "Kara" is what most humans call her, though the closest pronunciation would be  Kr'ra-Kax
Race: Corven (advantage for climb, disadvantage for falls)
Appearance: She is a crow-like Corven with matte-black feathers. A bit short. Constantly moves her head around, examining her surroundings. Moves her tail up and down whenever she's excited.
Age: Adult, but just barely
Goal: Wants to find artifacts and experiences that she can use to make an (under)world-famous museum. Wants to prove herself to her mother and piss off her brother with her success (both financially and socially).

Status
Sacrificed left arm to reverse time (eaten by giant Shluck-like thing). Bandaged.

Stats
Str:10
Dex:13 
Spe:13 
End: 9
Awa:12
Cun:11 
Kno:12
Ner:11

Skills
Rifle: 1
Medical: 1
Translate: 1
Acrobatics: 1
Caving: 1
Machine Control: 1
Stealth: 1
Geology: 1
Archeology: 2
Navigation: 1
Unspent: 1

Inventory
Heavy Crystal Armour
Golden pin (in forearm)
Crystal Friend (with riding harness + Obedience Rod)
Radio
35 fathoms (1% royalty for flame)
Ethral Rifle (scope+bipod) (rifle 3, pierce 3) 6/7
Ethral Rifle magazine 7/7
Ethral Rifle magazine 6/7
Crystal Weapon
Field Lighter (Fire 2)
Shiny interconnected colorful gems
Grappling Hook + Ethral Silk rope 200 ft
1 Dynamo Lantern (Light 3)
1 Knife (Cut/Pierce 2)
2 Slave Traps
Simple Clothes (with hood)
Cot
Book (Adventures of Pilgrim)
Deck of Cards
Notes on insect saddle construction
Ancient Bird-people idols
Ancient Mole-jewels depicting unknown beast
Kara's Diary

In Storage
15 chemical junk
22 mechanical junk
Crystal Tablets (diary about All-Eater and Great Destroyer, inventory, obedience rod instructions, construct assembly instructions)
Church Documents (document ownership and events, and recommend favorable treatment)
Metal Card with the address of the Gilded Crow (corven Gangsters of Goldshore)
Mechanical Arm (not installed)
Bomb collar (unlocked)
All bomb collar remotes
A large number of shiny gold-like messenger path rocks

[Naturegirl1999]

.

[Hotfire90]

Next stop is their compound. Look for alternative ways of entry, maybe some windows I can climb through with my grappling hook.

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: 12
Dex: 11
Spe: 12
End: 12
Awa: 12
Cun: 12
Kno: 12
Ner: 12

Skills:
Explosives 2
Mechanical 1
Survival 1
Caving 1
Chemical 2
Geology 1
3 Skill points

Inventory:
Dynamo Lantern
Field Lighter
4 TNT (explosive 4)
Bladed Shovel (Cut 3)
3 Fathoms
Crystal box of golem limbs
Golem buddy (flat disc and hooks)
Black Flame (Cut 3)
Rifle (Pierce 2) 3/10
Grappling Hook
Moon bladed staff (Cut 4, ?)
Silk shirt (oversized and bloodstained red, activated by injuries going through the shirt. Creates a duplicate of the injuring weapon made from crystalized blood and a blood phantom with even more duplicates. Blood phantom and the duplicated weapon disappear once the wound is treated)
Gas mask
2 lenses
A severed leg
5 ancient human books
20 copied ancient dictionary pages

[Pancaek]

I'm not completely convinced it's a good idea™, but I'm 100% down with friend Kara's big heist plan. So help her out with that in any way I can.

Spoiler: Clate (click to show/hide)

Name: Clate
Race: Shluck
Description: To bring back the crystal race
 
Stats
Str:  12
Dex:  8
Spe:  10
End:  13
Awa:  12
Cun:  8
Kno:  14
Ner:  15

Skills
Natural +3 Caving
Natural +3 Geology
Natural Mute
Natural No clothing
Natural Stonesenses
Natural Stoneshaping

Unarmed: +2
Weapon skill: Stone Blade +2
Stealth: +1
Archeology: +2
Weaponsmith: +2
Navigation: +1
Armorsmith: +1
Chemical: +1

Inventory
Bladed Shovel - handle coated with Pseudomagnetic mortar
Knife (cut2, pierce2)
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)
100ft silk rope
6 Octahedrons - supposedly replicate materials
1 container of Pseudomagnetic mortar
labradorite/Obedience rod (on loan to Kara)
Silver ethral pendant: small silver pendant in the shape of a compound eye wreathed in white fire
Ethral archive promissory note




443 Fathoms


Crystal Babies
2. 8 sided diamond (looks like  Ramiel from EVA and floats). 8 inches to an edge
5. Pryamid with stumpy limbs
7. snake golem. Its larger than the original by several times and rougher, sort of like a squirming line of uncut gemstones, each the size of a human fist.

Warehouse/bore storage:
Bomb Collar
Slate box
Spool of thermoreactive wire.
Acoustic guitar (Metal + guardbone, totally mundane.)
Mail shirt (Made to integrate directly into the exosuit, protecting surface that houses Shluck including head.Protect 3)
Rifle (pierce2, 6/10 magazine)
Small Knife from crystal barrel
Small bowl from crystal barrel
roll of very thin and flexible stone
small cube of the extremely dense material
sharp pyramid shaped wedge thing
3 structural junk
30 chemical junk
1 gold ingot

1. Dodecahedron, no limbs, rolls. Fist sized.
6. Rolling Orb
3.  Crystal snake. hiss. 18 inches long.
4.  Spiky daddy long legs like Irony has. 1 foot legs, fist sized body.

[Radio Controlled]

I was thinking about a dive to learn what caused the crystal people’s reign to end, but am unsure what sphere to use other than Yengenze since they are made or crystal. Do I go to Tzimtvit and Telazch or just one of them?

"Well, before you try your hand at another dive, have you considered simply asking brother Clate these questions?"

You think that maybe, if you had all the lenses you might be able to recreate the effect. However, its all very precise, so you'd probably need to create your own enclosure and telescope body. As per if it will work outside the ruin...maybe. You think that your favorite crystal boy might have to empower it, but it will probably work then.

Empower once, or empower every time someone wants to use it?

Either way, yeah, try to dismantle it and collect the important pieces. After that, assist with the collecting of the other loot, starting with those opals.

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: 11
Dex: 11
Spe: 13
End: 12
Awa: 12
Cun: 11
Kno: 10
Ner: 14 
Skills
Diving: +3
Stealth: +2
Occult: +1
Flammenvision!
Inventory

Soldier's chestplate
Clothing: simple priest robes, currently worn long to hide the black veins
Rubber Suit

1 ethral rifle [10 rounds]  (pierce 3)
2x black flame
2x smoke bomb
1 flashbang

3 Silent Night
4 worm blood

1 minor artifact
1 minor artifact belonging to Rhea
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
portal knives design
123 fathoms
   -loaned 40 to Cara (Tiruin)
3 unspent skillpoints

[piecewise]

Excellent! Start loading the Huge Friend with all the loot I can take there while not attracting attention. Oh, but first check the enclosed compartment to make sure there's nothing dangerous in there. If I can't get it to open by rubbing Crystal Friend on it, then maybe I can order it to CARRY or EAT me? And use DROP when I need to leave?

Spoiler: "Kara" the Corven (click to show/hide)

Name: "Kara" is what most humans call her, though the closest pronunciation would be  Kr'ra-Kax
Race: Corven (advantage for climb, disadvantage for falls)
Appearance: She is a crow-like Corven with matte-black feathers. A bit short. Constantly moves her head around, examining her surroundings. Moves her tail up and down whenever she's excited.
Age: Adult, but just barely
Goal: Wants to find artifacts and experiences that she can use to make an (under)world-famous museum. Wants to prove herself to her mother and piss off her brother with her success (both financially and socially).

Status
Sacrificed left arm to reverse time (eaten by giant Shluck-like thing). Bandaged.

Stats
Str:10
Dex:13 
Spe:13 
End: 9
Awa:12
Cun:11 
Kno:12
Ner:11

Skills
Rifle: 1
Medical: 1
Translate: 1
Acrobatics: 1
Caving: 1
Machine Control: 1
Stealth: 1
Geology: 1
Archeology: 2
Navigation: 1
Unspent: 1

Inventory
Heavy Crystal Armour
Golden pin (in forearm)
Crystal Friend (with riding harness + Obedience Rod)
Radio
35 fathoms (1% royalty for flame)
Ethral Rifle (scope+bipod) (rifle 3, pierce 3) 6/7
Ethral Rifle magazine 7/7
Ethral Rifle magazine 6/7
Crystal Weapon
Field Lighter (Fire 2)
Shiny interconnected colorful gems
Grappling Hook + Ethral Silk rope 200 ft
1 Dynamo Lantern (Light 3)
1 Knife (Cut/Pierce 2)
2 Slave Traps
Simple Clothes (with hood)
Cot
Book (Adventures of Pilgrim)
Deck of Cards
Notes on insect saddle construction
Ancient Bird-people idols
Ancient Mole-jewels depicting unknown beast
Kara's Diary

In Storage
15 chemical junk
22 mechanical junk
Crystal Tablets (diary about All-Eater and Great Destroyer, inventory, obedience rod instructions, construct assembly instructions)
Church Documents (document ownership and events, and recommend favorable treatment)
Metal Card with the address of the Gilded Crow (corven Gangsters of Goldshore)
Mechanical Arm (not installed)
Bomb collar (unlocked)
All bomb collar remotes
A large number of shiny gold-like messenger path rocks

I'm not completely convinced it's a good idea™, but I'm 100% down with friend Kara's big heist plan. So help her out with that in any way I can.

Spoiler: Clate (click to show/hide)

Name: Clate
Race: Shluck
Description: To bring back the crystal race
 
Stats
Str:  12
Dex:  8
Spe:  10
End:  13
Awa:  12
Cun:  8
Kno:  14
Ner:  15

Skills
Natural +3 Caving
Natural +3 Geology
Natural Mute
Natural No clothing
Natural Stonesenses
Natural Stoneshaping

Unarmed: +2
Weapon skill: Stone Blade +2
Stealth: +1
Archeology: +2
Weaponsmith: +2
Navigation: +1
Armorsmith: +1
Chemical: +1

Inventory
Bladed Shovel - handle coated with Pseudomagnetic mortar
Knife (cut2, pierce2)
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)
100ft silk rope
6 Octahedrons - supposedly replicate materials
1 container of Pseudomagnetic mortar
labradorite/Obedience rod (on loan to Kara)
Silver ethral pendant: small silver pendant in the shape of a compound eye wreathed in white fire
Ethral archive promissory note




443 Fathoms


Crystal Babies
2. 8 sided diamond (looks like  Ramiel from EVA and floats). 8 inches to an edge
5. Pryamid with stumpy limbs
7. snake golem. Its larger than the original by several times and rougher, sort of like a squirming line of uncut gemstones, each the size of a human fist.

Warehouse/bore storage:
Bomb Collar
Slate box
Spool of thermoreactive wire.
Acoustic guitar (Metal + guardbone, totally mundane.)
Mail shirt (Made to integrate directly into the exosuit, protecting surface that houses Shluck including head.Protect 3)
Rifle (pierce2, 6/10 magazine)
Small Knife from crystal barrel
Small bowl from crystal barrel
roll of very thin and flexible stone
small cube of the extremely dense material
sharp pyramid shaped wedge thing
3 structural junk
30 chemical junk
1 gold ingot

1. Dodecahedron, no limbs, rolls. Fist sized.
6. Rolling Orb
3.  Crystal snake. hiss. 18 inches long.
4.  Spiky daddy long legs like Irony has. 1 foot legs, fist sized body.

I'm gonna assume you guys load up the stuff you want this turn. With clate here I'll just assume he can do basically anything related to crystal junk. No need to roll for opening or controlling.

I was thinking about a dive to learn what caused the crystal people’s reign to end, but am unsure what sphere to use other than Yengenze since they are made or crystal. Do I go to Tzimtvit and Telazch or just one of them?

"Well, before you try your hand at another dive, have you considered simply asking brother Clate these questions?"

You think that maybe, if you had all the lenses you might be able to recreate the effect. However, its all very precise, so you'd probably need to create your own enclosure and telescope body. As per if it will work outside the ruin...maybe. You think that your favorite crystal boy might have to empower it, but it will probably work then.

Empower once, or empower every time someone wants to use it?

Either way, yeah, try to dismantle it and collect the important pieces. After that, assist with the collecting of the other loot, starting with those opals.

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: 11
Dex: 11
Spe: 13
End: 12
Awa: 12
Cun: 11
Kno: 10
Ner: 14 
Skills
Diving: +3
Stealth: +2
Occult: +1
Flammenvision!
Inventory

Soldier's chestplate
Clothing: simple priest robes, currently worn long to hide the black veins
Rubber Suit

1 ethral rifle [10 rounds]  (pierce 3)
2x black flame
2x smoke bomb
1 flashbang

3 Silent Night
4 worm blood

1 minor artifact
1 minor artifact belonging to Rhea
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
portal knives design
123 fathoms
   -loaned 40 to Cara (Tiruin)
3 unspent skillpoints

Basically to turn it on. Think of clate like a big power generator. For your magic telescope. Not a perfect analog but you get the drift.
[16]
So you fail, BUT the good news is that you don't damage the lenses. You just cannot figure out how to get them out without damaging them. They're all...integrated into the metal and such.

And we'll assume you can get those opals over via several trips with a bucket.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Name: Rhea Alcove
Description: A female human with blonde hear. She holds a Hooked Cleaver in her right hand and wears a Mail Shirt for protection. She wears a denim shirt and denim jeans, along with tennis shoes.
Goal: To explore and learn as much as she can

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

Skills:
Weapon Skill(Cleaver): 1
Diving: 1
Unarmed: 1
Persuasion: 1
Defense Skill(Mail Armor): 1
Survival: 1
Biological: 1
Caving: 1
Navigation: 1
Animal Handling: 1

Inventory:Free Clothing
Worm Blood x1
Organic Junk x2
Hooked Cleaver
Mail Shirt
Relic Fragment

Dive to Yengenze, Telazch, then Tzimzvot to figure out what caused the Crystal People's reign to end

I'm pretty sure you're not at 12 Nerve. Think you lost some to an earlier dive. Regardless, this dive isn't going to net you much of anything, since none of your spheres are reinforced. At best it will just be like "They died because something bad happened".

Next stop is their compound. Look for alternative ways of entry, maybe some windows I can climb through with my grappling hook.

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: 12
Dex: 11
Spe: 12
End: 12
Awa: 12
Cun: 12
Kno: 12
Ner: 12

Skills:
Explosives 2
Mechanical 1
Survival 1
Caving 1
Chemical 2
Geology 1
3 Skill points

Inventory:
Dynamo Lantern
Field Lighter
4 TNT (explosive 4)
Bladed Shovel (Cut 3)
3 Fathoms
Crystal box of golem limbs
Golem buddy (flat disc and hooks)
Black Flame (Cut 3)
Rifle (Pierce 2) 3/10
Grappling Hook
Moon bladed staff (Cut 4, ?)
Silk shirt (oversized and bloodstained red, activated by injuries going through the shirt. Creates a duplicate of the injuring weapon made from crystalized blood and a blood phantom with even more duplicates. Blood phantom and the duplicated weapon disappear once the wound is treated)
Gas mask
2 lenses
A severed leg
5 ancient human books
20 copied ancient dictionary pages

Their compound, as it turns out, is an old archive. One that was made obsolete some years ago when a newer, better archive was built. Its in a older section of town as well, where the buildings are generally smaller and less ornate. It sort of resembles the long metal hangers that they build bore parts in - tall walls and an arch shaped ceiling - but made of what might be stone, adobe, or maybe just plaster? Its about 3 stories high and has many windows, but only those on the upper levels are large enough for you to easily get through. Most of the lower floor windows are akin to portholes. You think you might be able to squeeze through if they were open but it wouldn't exactly be easy or dignified. The main doors are metal, very ornate, with all sorts of scenes engraved on them. The building is built onto the side of a large rock formation and though it has no "yard" or grounds of any kind, they've created a sort of metal fence around it, which extends from the building itself on metal rods. Its quite an elegant faux-fence, made of sharp 6-8 foot barbs in brass, which vary their lengths in a regular pattern and give it a flowing appearance. Despite this, its gonna make getting to the non-rock sides of the building an utter nightmare. There are some people around, but none that look inherently like guards or watchers.

[syvarris]

I've nothing creative to add to Hotfire's plan, and really don't want to split up, so yeah.  Follow and assist Alex.

Do ask the police about how long mustering a force will take them, and where/when Nyw and Alex should link up with them.  That seems like a valuable piece of information to obtain.

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

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

((One murakumo! ))
Goal: Inscrutable, which is code for "Talks like this.".

Stats:
Str: 15 
Dex: 9
Spe:11
End:14
Awa:14
Cun: 9
Kno: 8
Ner: 12

Skills:
Unarmed: +1
Defense Skill: +3 (Full Plate)
Vehicle Skill: +1
Caving: +1
Navigation: +1
Murakumo: +2


Inventory:
Full Plate Armor [Protective 4]
Ornamental Mask of the Child

Extremely crude harness, holding all Nyw's weapons:
Crystal Murakumo [Cut 6, Pierce 3]
----Enchanted to remove fragility.
Giant Guardian Hatchet [Chop 4, ]
Three knives [Cut 2, Pierce 2]
Tungsten Toothpick [Pierce 5] (10/10)
Slave Trap
Three smoke grenades
Tunnel Clearer shotgun [5/5 shotshells] [shotgun 3] [Pierce 3] (5 spare shotshells) (3 spare slugs)
Guard rifle [Pierce 2] (10/10) (40 spare rounds)
Pistol [Pierce 1] (?/?)

300' of silk rope (some of this has been used to tie up a pair of kidnapped cultists, on the bore)
2x Silent Night
2x Black Flame
2x Cave Spider Venom
30x Path markers
~25x Vial of Haze

Followers:
Gus (Young human with minimal training.  Healthy.)
--Equipped with a small iron melee weapon.  A knife or shortsword or something.
--Equipped with a low caliber ethral rifle.  [Pierce 2] (10/10)
Baxter (Young human with minimal training.  Healthy.)
--Equipped with a small iron melee weapon.  A knife or shortsword or something.
--Equipped with a low caliber ethral rifle.  [Pierce 2] (10/10)

Hireling Achievements That Probably Deserve a Reward:
--Catching the runner who was gonna report on Nyw interrogating the Haze-selling chemist.