The Legonater

Jace scowls momentarily at the question before answering it. Hard to say, Hart ships don't usually come with a brig. I suppose they could have tossed him in one of the cargo containers? Er, no offense intended, Madame Kanara. I'll, uh, talk to Hart management after this is over and tell them their maps aren't to Varuth's liking. If you wish. Alexa chuckles in turn from the cockpit.

If I reach out to you I'll make sure to listen for a response. If you ever need to contact me, just make enough mental noise and I should be able to pick it up. Jace looks over Zaria's shoulder at the map. The green lines denote walls. Anything grey is a surface you can walk on, be it a room or a corridor. Meaning you'll be between Exterior Services and the Sick Bay. Exterior services is basically just outdoor access for refueling and space walks, nothing you should need to worry about. Similarly, hull access gets the crew down into the bowels of the ship's hull for any interior repairs. As for the ship's Head, it's ah, the freighter's relieving station. It's the bathroom. Every ship needs one.

Soren shrugged, absent-mindedly making icicles in his palm and then crushing them. I can't imagine we'll find anything that tough out there. Certainly nothing so tough that I'd be more inclined to bring in law enforcement than deal with it myself. I still say we should have shot it to pieces regardless.

Right, of course! Jace steps into the cockpit and files through the various pamphlets and maps stashed in the front console. He returning with a digital sheet, handing it to Merei. Alright, this should be it! This is the standard model for a Hart tug freighter like Valencia. The cargo containers will be a little more straightforward. The easiest hub for any information like the manifest or such will be the bridge, but you'll have to access the containers themselves through engineering. From there you should also be able to judge how plausible flying Valencia out of this sector is going to be. I can't really predict anything beyond that, I suppose it'll depend on the condition she's in. It certainly looks like a rough one... The heroes crane their necks, and can at last spot their quarry through the viewport... There she is, but she looks a little worse for wear. Looks like containers Epsilon and beyond got lost in the storm, and something has beat the stars out of the starboard dock. Then we'll hope what we're looking for is in one of the containers that's still in one piece. The pilot closes her eyes for a moment, head bowing towards the controls. When she straightens, a rare concerned expression crosses her face. I can't hear anyone in the freighter... it's almost like static. That's new. By now you've already been privy to Alexa's special tongues spell. It's a neat little trick, kind of like a personal version of one of those big communicator rigs they put on ships. It should allow us to contact you from out here, so long as all goes according to plan. I'm going to bring us in and dock on the portside. I can use our thrust to try to anchor Valencia while you heroes explore inside. I think that should be all. Are you folks feeling prepared?

Unfortunately, Hart policy is to keep cargo delivery tight-lipped for customer privacy. That said, if you can get to the bridge, there should be a cargo manifest. From there, you ought to be able to see what's on board, and where it is. Tell 'em not to shoot. Tell them Hart sent you, and you should be okay. If you really need a codeword, mine is Chiron, but I'm not exactly in Mortizar's inner circle, so I'm not sure how much weight it would have to most crewmen.

Round 7 of The Forbidden Sector: Kirwin locks down on Signal 3! Varen locks down on Signal 2! Storm Phase: 4, 4: The storm moves two tiles down. One level of debris added to A2 and B2, both now blocked. 6, 3: The storm moves three tiles right. One level of debris added to C2, C3, and C4. C2 and C4 now blocked. 3, 4: The storm moves two tiles down. One level of debris added to C5, D5. Kirwin looks onto his signal and rushes back to the shuttle as the storm picks up in ferocity. Merei is able to clear out the debris in front of Varen, allowing the detective to lock down on the final signal freely. Merei beats Varen to Actaeon and looks back at her companion. The gravity surges bear down, practically chasing Varen back to the shuttle. In his action, he isn't quite able to make it to Actaeon as the cosmic winds surge around the party... Strap in, everyone! Alexa sparks the engines to life and rides the gravity storm, swinging Actaeon in Varen's direction. He's able to cling onto the hull as the Hart shuttle passes by, and steps inside, feeling slightly safer from the chaos outside. That was tighter than I would have liked, but still well done all the same. I bet you'll all feel a bit more prepared next time you have to take a space walk. Everyone gains 1 Character Point! Alexa wordlessly takes the information gathered by the heroes and begins the work of triangulating Valencia's position from the data. As she does so, the heroes gather, shaking off the harrowing experience. How's everyone holding up? Looks like y'all did it. Once Alexa is finished we should have a clear shot to Valencia, and getting at the heart of all of this. Remember, your task is going to be to assess the condition of Valencia and her cargo, especially Mortizar's special haul. This might be your last time to ask me any questions before y'all board, so fire away. The Party: Kirwin (karmajay)Character Points: 2/14 Vitality: 6/6Velocity: 1Strength: 2Skill: 1Smarts: 3Proficiencies: Coding 2, Piloting 1, Engineering 2, Explosives 1, Technology 2 Credits: 18Equipment: Drone (Standard Long Range Elemental Weapon), Utility BeltInventory: 4 Hampering Minor Chemical Contained grenades, 3 Plasma Potions, Adventuring Leathers (Standard Kinetic Armour), Hacking Chip, Aether Brew Merei TeoAge 24 Female, Helioi-Touched Celestial (Born Menahi)Character Points: 1/14 Vitality: 6/6Velocity: 2Strength: 2Skill: 2Smarts: 3Spirit: 3/3Proficiencies: Occult 1, Religion 1, Coding 1, Insight 1Known Spells: Healing Light, Solar Flare, Gravity SinkCredits: 151Equipment: Teo Family Pocket-Watch (Kinetic Weapon), Utility Belt (Grants +1 Engineering or Medicine Check Success) Inventory: Essence of Intellect, Aetherbrew, Plasma Potion, Nanite Elixir Varen Nastayo (KotZ)26, Male, HumanCharacter Points: 2/13 Vitality: 5/5Velocity: 2Strength: 2Skill: 2Smarts: 2Spirit: 0Proficiencies: Culture 2, Deception 1, Insight 1, Persuasion 2, Long Range Weapon 1, Coding 1*Known Spells (if applicable): Credits: 124Equipment: Lawyer's Rifle (Standard Long Range Energy weapon), Translator CubeInventory: 1x Essence of Glibness, 1x Essence of Intellect, Ion Repeater (Standard Energy Long Range Weapon), Adrenaline Decoction, 2x Bulking Stim, Fragile Hacking Chip Zaria Kanara (Kintobor)226 Year Old Female ElfCharacter Points: 2/15 Vitality: 6/6Velocity: 3Strength: 2Skill: 2Smarts: 1Spirit: 2/2Proficiencies: Athletics 1, Religion 2, Melee Weapons 2Known Spells: Warding Bond, Sonic Sweep, Enhanced VisionCredits: 139Equipment: Power Khopesh (Standard Kintetic Melee Weapon), Dune Sea Armour (Standard Kinetic Armour), Farsight GogglesInventory: Plasma Potion (4), Aether Brew, Essence of Toughness, Holoscroll

There was some creature at the sub, damn tough. Damn mouthy, too. 'Called itself a Progg, but I've never heard of anything like it before. Are they native to these parts?

MM Note: Coming up on 24 hours, if @KotZ or someone else could supply an action for Varen, we'll be about ready to move on!

Agreed. Last thing we need is a cop tailing us. 'Don't know if he was much help to us back there, anyways.

Round 6 of the Forbidden Sector: Zaria locks down on Signal 1! Kirwin uncovers Signal 2 Fragment A in C2! Kirwin uncovers Signal 3 Fragment B in B1! Varen finds A3 empty. Zaria refills at Actaeon. Storm Phase: 2, 4: Storm moves one tile down. One level of debris added to B3. 1, 1: Storm moves one tile left. One level of debris added to C3. 4, 2: Storm moves two tiles up. One level of debris added to C2 and B2. Everybody except Zaria loses one level of O2! Signal 2 can now be locked at B3! Signal 3 can now be locked at D1! The heroes have a relievingly safe round, despite the increasing fury of the gravity storm. Zaria fixes upon the first signal and returns to Actaeon to give the information to Alexa. Kirwin is able to find the remaining two fragments, revealing the locations of the other signals. Merei clears the area around the shuttle as Varen finds himself exploring empty space. Curiously, he eyes the shredded remains of another ship. It's strewn apart out of recognition as if torn to ribbons of spaghetti. However, with the other signals ready to be fixed upon, he turns himself from the sight and settles upon the job. The Party: Kirwin (karmajay)Character Points: 1/14 O2: 2/5Vitality: 6/6Velocity: 1Strength: 2Skill: 1Smarts: 3Proficiencies: Coding 2, Piloting 1, Engineering 2, Explosives 1, Technology 2 Credits: 18Equipment: Drone (Standard Long Range Elemental Weapon), Utility BeltInventory: 4 Hampering Minor Chemical Contained grenades, 3 Plasma Potions, Adventuring Leathers (Standard Kinetic Armour), Hacking Chip, Jetsuit Booster, Aether Brew Merei TeoAge 24 Female, Helioi-Touched Celestial (Born Menahi)Character Points: 0/14 O2: 4/5Vitality: 6/6Velocity: 2Strength: 2Skill: 2Smarts: 3Spirit: 3/3Proficiencies: Occult 1, Religion 1, Coding 1, Insight 1Known Spells: Healing Light, Solar Flare, Gravity SinkCredits: 151Equipment: Teo Family Pocket-Watch (Kinetic Weapon), Utility Belt (Grants +1 Engineering or Medicine Check Success) Inventory: Essence of Intellect, Aetherbrew, Plasma Potion, Nanite Elixir Varen Nastayo (KotZ)26, Male, HumanCharacter Points: 1/13 O2: 3/5Vitality: 5/5Velocity: 2Strength: 2Skill: 2Smarts: 2Spirit: 0Proficiencies: Culture 2, Deception 1, Insight 1, Persuasion 2, Long Range Weapon 1, Coding 1*Known Spells (if applicable): Credits: 124Equipment: Lawyer's Rifle (Standard Long Range Energy weapon), Translator CubeInventory: 1x Essence of Glibness, 1x Essence of Intellect, Ion Repeater (Standard Energy Long Range Weapon), Adrenaline Decoction, 2x Bulking Stim, Fragile Hacking Chip Zaria Kanara (Kintobor)226 Year Old Female ElfCharacter Points: 1/15 O2: 5/5Vitality: 6/6Velocity: 3Strength: 2Skill: 2Smarts: 1Spirit: 2/2Proficiencies: Athletics 1, Religion 2, Melee Weapons 2Known Spells: Warding Bond, Sonic Sweep, Enhanced VisionCredits: 139Equipment: Power Khopesh (Standard Kintetic Melee Weapon), Dune Sea Armour (Standard Kinetic Armour), Farsight GogglesInventory: Plasma Potion (4), Aether Brew, Essence of Toughness, Holoscroll MM Note: Please ignore the A3's yellow status! That's an error on my part!

MM Note: All good! Would @KotZ or someone else be able to supply a set of actions for Varen?

MM Note: Noted! So for now the Yellow signal is available at D4 and just needs to be locked onto. MM Note: D3 has already been explored! Right now the unexplored tiled are A3, B1, and C2 (two of which you could uncover get in this round! ) as well as the remaining three ships for oxygen.

MM Note: Assuming you're referring to the action of locking onto a signal, this is correct. Once you've locked onto a signal you stay locked onto it. If I recall correctly in the original game I stole this from, once you had both directional tiles uncovered, a marker would appear on the intersecting tile and that marker would then also move with its tile. In this instance, the marker would go on D4, and if Zaria did not lock down the signal this turn, the marker would travel wherever D4 went. In the name of simplicity, I was going to dispense with the moving marker and let the signal be wherever the directions intersected on that round, so again if Zaria did not lock down the signal and then one of the directional arrows moved during the round, the signal would move with them until it was locked down. That makes more sense to me, but now I'm not sure if that's less confusing or if it's worse. If you'd like, I can add a marker onto the board for future rounds. To be honest, I figure you all have 2-3 rounds max left before you solve this, but it's up to you.

MM Note: Not an accident, just the design of the game. The storm phase means the grid shifts with every turn. The ship and the directional tiles can be blown around just like any other tile. None of the signals are in "fixed" locations, that's part of the challenge.

Not as of yet. What are your opinions on this whole Invictus thing? 'Seems to have everyone here pretty worked up.

MM Note: That's correct! MM Note: I'm sorry, I'm not quite sure what you're asking? All the information you need is in the grid. Could you clarify why you'd want to move off of it?

MM Note: All good! Round 5 of The Forbidden Sector: Kirwin uncovers Signal 1 Fragment B in D1! Varen uncovers gear in D5 - 9 coins! Merei refills O2 at Actaeon. Storm Phase: 4, 3: The storm moves two tiles to the right. E3 and E4 add one level of debris. 6, 2: The storm moves three tiles up. E5, D6, C5 add one level of debris 3, 1: The storm moves two tiles to the left. B4 and B5 add one level of debris Everyone except Merei loses one level of O2! Zaria has 0 levels of O2! Because of her ability, she has one additional round before she begins to lose health. The majority of the heroes are tosses around by the worsening gravity storm. Waiting for Merei, Zaria finds her reserves dangerously low. Kirwin, however, brings a bit of good news by finding the other fragment of Signal A, allowing them to begin locking onto signals and triangulating Valencia's location! The Party: Kirwin (karmajay)Character Points: 1/14 O2: 3/5Vitality: 6/6Velocity: 1Strength: 2Skill: 1Smarts: 3Proficiencies: Coding 2, Piloting 1, Engineering 2, Explosives 1, Technology 2 Credits: 18Equipment: Drone (Standard Long Range Elemental Weapon), Utility BeltInventory: 4 Hampering Minor Chemical Contained grenades, 3 Plasma Potions, Adventuring Leathers (Standard Kinetic Armour), Hacking Chip, Jetsuit Booster, Aether Brew Merei TeoAge 24 Female, Helioi-Touched Celestial (Born Menahi)Character Points: 0/14 O2: 5/5Vitality: 6/6Velocity: 2Strength: 2Skill: 2Smarts: 3Spirit: 3/3Proficiencies: Occult 1, Religion 1, Coding 1, Insight 1Known Spells: Healing Light, Solar Flare, Gravity SinkCredits: 151Equipment: Teo Family Pocket-Watch (Kinetic Weapon), Utility Belt (Grants +1 Engineering or Medicine Check Success) Inventory: Essence of Intellect, Aetherbrew, Plasma Potion, Nanite Elixir Varen Nastayo (KotZ)26, Male, HumanCharacter Points: 1/13 O2: 4/5Vitality: 5/5Velocity: 2Strength: 2Skill: 2Smarts: 2Spirit: 0Proficiencies: Culture 2, Deception 1, Insight 1, Persuasion 2, Long Range Weapon 1, Coding 1*Known Spells (if applicable): Credits: 124Equipment: Lawyer's Rifle (Standard Long Range Energy weapon), Translator CubeInventory: 1x Essence of Glibness, 1x Essence of Intellect, Ion Repeater (Standard Energy Long Range Weapon), Adrenaline Decoction, 2x Bulking Stim, Fragile Hacking Chip Zaria Kanara (Kintobor)226 Year Old Female ElfCharacter Points: 1/15 O2: 0/5Vitality: 6/6Velocity: 3Strength: 2Skill: 2Smarts: 1Spirit: 2/2Proficiencies: Athletics 1, Religion 2, Melee Weapons 2Known Spells: Warding Bond, Sonic Sweep, Enhanced VisionCredits: 139Equipment: Power Khopesh (Standard Kintetic Melee Weapon), Dune Sea Armour (Standard Kinetic Armour), Farsight GogglesInventory: Plasma Potion (4), Aether Brew, Essence of Toughness, Holoscroll

Soren scowls. I'm very self-conscious about my work.

The pilot shrugs. I like storms. 'Think they're super interesting. 'Want to learn more about 'em.

Soren watches in disdain as the creature slips out of his hold and away from them. If he saw that thing again, it was on sight. The weather. We're here to put up weather vanes. Assessing the situation, Soren holsters his weapon, either unaware of the unlikely image of a meteorologist with a gun, or apathetic as to his appearances.

MM Note: Kirwin and Varen both moved to clear E2; since Kirwin was already on E2, and everyone except Zaria moves at the same time, I've rolled it so that Kirwin explored E2 after Varen cleared it. I hope everyone's comfortable with that! Round 4 of The Forbidden Sector: Zaria uncovers gear in C3 - Plasma Potion! Varen refills O2 at Actaeon. Kirwin refills O2 at Actaeon. Kirwin finds E2 empty. Merei searches A2 but finds its O2 reserves empty. Merei uncovers gear in A1 - Jetsuit Booster! (Single-use, may move the user to any unblocked tile) Storm Phase: 6, 4: The storm moves three tiles down. One debris level added to B1, and D1. B1 and C1 now blocked. 3, 3: The storm moves two tiles right. One debris level added to E1, and E2. Kirwin, Merei, and Zaria all lose one level of O2! The heroes begin to search for oxygen as their supplies dwindle. Merei's attempts fall in vain as she explores an old derelict freighter but finds it completely devoid of any oxygen. Kirwin, meanwhile, finds himself tossed once again by the gravitonic forces, this time coming up empty in his search. Then. the voice of Alexa reverberates collectively in the party's minds... Hold tight out there all, it looks like things are picking up! Starting on Round 5, the storm will now move three times a round! The Party: Kirwin (karmajay)Character Points: 1/14 O2: 4/5Vitality: 6/6Velocity: 1Strength: 2Skill: 1Smarts: 3Proficiencies: Coding 2, Piloting 1, Engineering 2, Explosives 1, Technology 2 Credits: 18Equipment: Drone (Standard Long Range Elemental Weapon), Utility BeltInventory: 4 Hampering Minor Chemical Contained grenades, 3 Plasma Potions, Adventuring Leathers (Standard Kinetic Armour), Hacking Chip, Jetsuit Booster, Aether Brew Merei TeoAge 24 Female, Helioi-Touched Celestial (Born Menahi)Character Points: 0/14 O2: 1/5Vitality: 6/6Velocity: 2Strength: 2Skill: 2Smarts: 3Spirit: 3/3Proficiencies: Occult 1, Religion 1, Coding 1, Insight 1Known Spells: Healing Light, Solar Flare, Gravity SinkCredits: 151Equipment: Teo Family Pocket-Watch (Kinetic Weapon), Utility Belt (Grants +1 Engineering or Medicine Check Success) Inventory: Essence of Intellect, Aetherbrew, Plasma Potion, Nanite Elixir, Jetsuit Booster Varen Nastayo (KotZ)26, Male, HumanCharacter Points: 1/13 O2: 5/5Vitality: 5/5Velocity: 2Strength: 2Skill: 2Smarts: 2Spirit: 0Proficiencies: Culture 2, Deception 1, Insight 1, Persuasion 2, Long Range Weapon 1, Coding 1*Known Spells (if applicable): Credits: 115Equipment: Lawyer's Rifle (Standard Long Range Energy weapon), Translator CubeInventory: 1x Essence of Glibness, 1x Essence of Intellect, Ion Repeater (Standard Energy Long Range Weapon), Adrenaline Decoction, 2x Bulking Stim, Fragile Hacking Chip Zaria Kanara (Kintobor)226 Year Old Female ElfCharacter Points: 1/15 O2: 1/5Vitality: 6/6Velocity: 3Strength: 2Skill: 2Smarts: 1Spirit: 2/2Proficiencies: Athletics 1, Religion 2, Melee Weapons 2Known Spells: Warding Bond, Sonic Sweep, Enhanced VisionCredits: 139Equipment: Power Khopesh (Standard Kintetic Melee Weapon), Dune Sea Armour (Standard Kinetic Armour), Farsight GogglesInventory: Plasma Potion (4), Aether Brew, Essence of Toughness, Holoscroll

MM Note: You don't need to explore the oxygen ships if you don't want to! There are three signals. Right now you have one fragment of each signal. To lock down on the signals you need to find the corresponding horizontal or vertical signal fragment and then go to where the fragments intersect. Also, note that Zaria is already investigating C3!

MM Note: Correct. You take an action to explore it/refill and find out of it has oxygen or not.

MM Note: Ditto this! Also Zeph, Kint has already explored B3 so I ran it as if you were exploring B2, because I feel like that's what your next move was going to be. Round Four of The Forbidden Sector: Zaria uncovers Signal 2 Fragment B in B3. Merei finds B2 empty. Varen uncovers Signal 3 Fragment B in D2. Storm Phase: 1, 1: Storm moves one tile to the left, One debris level added to E2 5, 2: Storm moves three tiles up. One debris level added to C1, D1, E1. D1 is now blocked. Everyone loses one level of O2! The heroes make progress, now having found a fragment of all three signal strains. Zaria, Kirwin, and Varen gather around the wreck of the Hart shuttle. They continue to find it devoid of salvage; the ship appears to be crumbled into a ball from the gravitonic pressure. From the combined investigation of the group, they assume that this is one of the search shuttles. Merei's space is similarly devoid of salvage, but she is able to take a moment to watch the core of the cosmic storm pass by her, leaving a gravitonic wreck in its wake. The Party: Kirwin (karmajay)Character Points: 1/14 O2: 2/5Vitality: 6/6Velocity: 1Strength: 2Skill: 1Smarts: 3Proficiencies: Coding 2, Piloting 1, Engineering 2, Explosives 1, Technology 2 Credits: 18Equipment: Drone (Standard Long Range Elemental Weapon), Utility BeltInventory: 4 Hampering Minor Chemical Contained grenades, 3 Plasma Potions, Adventuring Leathers (Standard Kinetic Armour), Hacking Chip, Jetsuit Booster, Aether Brew Merei TeoAge 24 Female, Helioi-Touched Celestial (Born Menahi)Character Points: 0/14 O2: 2/5Vitality: 6/6Velocity: 2Strength: 2Skill: 2Smarts: 3Spirit: 3/3Proficiencies: Occult 1, Religion 1, Coding 1, Insight 1Known Spells: Healing Light, Solar Flare, Gravity SinkCredits: 151Equipment: Teo Family Pocket-Watch (Kinetic Weapon), Utility Belt (Grants +1 Engineering or Medicine Check Success) Inventory: Essence of Intellect, Aetherbrew, Plasma Potion, Nanite Elixir Varen Nastayo (KotZ)26, Male, HumanCharacter Points: 1/13 O2: 2/5Vitality: 5/5Velocity: 2Strength: 2Skill: 2Smarts: 2Spirit: 0Proficiencies: Culture 2, Deception 1, Insight 1, Persuasion 2, Long Range Weapon 1, Coding 1*Known Spells (if applicable): Credits: 115Equipment: Lawyer's Rifle (Standard Long Range Energy weapon), Translator CubeInventory: 1x Essence of Glibness, 1x Essence of Intellect, Ion Repeater (Standard Energy Long Range Weapon), Adrenaline Decoction, 2x Bulking Stim, Fragile Hacking Chip Zaria Kanara (Kintobor)226 Year Old Female ElfCharacter Points: 1/15 O2: 2/5Vitality: 6/6Velocity: 3Strength: 2Skill: 2Smarts: 1Spirit: 2/2Proficiencies: Athletics 1, Religion 2, Melee Weapons 2Known Spells: Warding Bond, Sonic Sweep, Enhanced VisionCredits: 139Equipment: Power Khopesh (Standard Kintetic Melee Weapon), Dune Sea Armour (Standard Kinetic Armour), Farsight GogglesInventory: Plasma Potion (3), Aether Brew, Essence of Toughness, Holoscroll

MM Note: It has been 24 hours, so if someone could post an action, that would be appreciated!