Rules and stats: http://pastebin.com/ugmBdVr2

Previous sessions: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=PSOQ

Pure session log (every update thus far): http://pastebin.com/sJpr9rBJ

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Last Time:

“Might I suggest that we send some people over to Zelan to collect data?”

“Yes, that seems like a good idea. I'll tell the lab to send a team over.” Tyrell sits back down at his desk.

Wren frowns again. “I must...insist...that...you...review data...concerning...Pioneer I...'s...disaster.” Wren motions to your MAG. This is going to be a long night.

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Wren's Basic seems to improve with practice. You spend hours looking at images projected out of your MAG as Wren explains the nature of the climate control systems and how delicate Ragol's biosphere is.

You feel yourself growing sleepy until he ends the presentation with a short video clip that suddenly shakes you alert. It's the Central Dome just before the explosion. The burst of energy seems to come from nowhere, but there's some form of optical interference in the background on the left. The explosion originates from that area.

> A. “Since you've got this footage, I assume you figured something out. Where did the explosion come from, exactly?”

> B. “What's that pattern in the sky on the left?”

> C. “Is that the Black Energy Wave?”

>>41083233
> A. “Since you've got this footage, I assume you figured something out. Where did the explosion come from, exactly?”

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“Since you've got this footage, I assume you figured something out. Where did the explosion come from, exactly?”

Wren nods and expands the image. A figure becomes more clear after he adds some filtering. “This is...Dark Force. It is a manifestation... of the Profound Darkness. It is usually formed by... occupying another being and corrupting it...via the Dark Energy Wave. Likely... a colonist.”

> A. Could Rico have been affected?

> B. How do we fight it?

> C. What does this have to do with Mother Brain?

>>41083476
> A. Could Rico have been affected?
> B. How do we fight it?

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“So...could Rico...?”

Wren scowls, “Yes. It would not be the first time dark force used a friendly face to infiltrate a group. You must be prepared to do what is necessary should the circumstances require killing your friend.”

Principal Tyrell sinks in his chair, silent.

You continue your question. “So, should it become necessary, how do you fight something like that?”

Wren slides to more images of days long past. A blonde human and a pink haired newman work together to cut into a dark force. “In this state, dark force is not unlike other organic creatures. Physical trauma can kill it, though much will be needed.”

Tyrell stands up. “I think that's quite enough for now. Wren, you will not speak a word of any of this to unauthorized personnel. We do not need a panic. Pheonixia, you are dismissed.”

You can't read Wren's face to gauge his reaction, but you assume he can take care of himself from here.
…

After a nights rest, you are ready to continue working.

> A. Take a shuttle to the satellite sharing an orbit with the ice planet

> B. Take a shuttle to the satellite in the asteroid belt

> C. Take a mission down on Ragol

> D. Go shopping (You can make 2 major purchases)

>>41083760
> A. Take a shuttle to the satellite sharing an orbit with the ice planet

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You use the carte blanche given to you by Tyrell to continue looking into the Mother Brain problem. Unfortunately, the next place to check, the satellite sharing Ragol II's orbit, is a 3 day flight.

You end up getting a lot of reading done on the flight. Wren's notes left on your MAG give you the opportunity to learn a lot of Palman empire. Ragol II, or Dezolis in the ancient tongue, is a frozen wasteland made habitable with very careful and delicate terraformation. The natives, the green skinned Dezolians, share the planet peacefully with small Palman colonies. Of note is the Esper Mansion: a remote stronghold for a four thousand year old religious order that worships an immortal prophet.

…

Three days pass, and you leap out of the airlock, grateful for the ability to use your legs again. You find a small room with a monitor, and a door leading deeper into the station.

The monitor reveals that the planet is being maintained with a moderately cold climate, just enough to grow crops and allowing liquid water rivers to flow.

> A. Dig out more information from the terminal [MIND-Moderate]

> B. Go deeper into the satellite

> C. Locate a landing strip on the planet and attempt an expedition

>>41084206

> A. Dig out more information from the terminal [MIND-Moderate]

Rolled 12 (1d13)

Rollin to hack

>>41084206
>A. Dig out more information from the terminal [MIND-Moderate]

>>41084206
>> A. Dig out more information from the terminal [MIND-Moderate]
voting 'cause it's cool and i'm here now

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For some reason you have yet to discover, you understand the language and the controls perfectly. However, the coding and computer organization conventions defy everything you know about computers. You struggle to navigate the file system properly, but you dig up some maps, historical data, and some status reports on the station.

It seems that the station has been run remotely for some time now, as no custodial AI is assigned to it. The planet, itself, is running quite a bit warmer now than it has historically. The robots on board seem to be up to spec, remarkably so, in fact. No missed check ins in over a year.

The city of Tyler seems to have an airstrip capable of safely landing a shuttle in. So does Zosa, a town north east of it. Much further east are Gumbious Temple and Esper Mansion, holy sites for Dezolians and Palmans, respectively. There's no easy access for a shuttle, so any visits will have to be on foot, or whatever the locals use for transporation.

> A. Explore the Satellite

> B. Dump data into your Mag and head back [MIND – Moderate]

> C. Head down to the planet.

>>41084881
> A. Explore the Satellite

>>41084881
>> B. Dump data into your Mag and head back [MIND – Moderate]

>>41084881
>> B. Dump data into your Mag and head back [MIND – Moderate]
we'll mount an expedition another time

Rolled 6 (1d13)

Rollin to hack again

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You load up your MAG with even more data and head back. It seems to struggle with literal millenia of climate records, but you tell it it's ok to filter it down to just annual data, and to prioritize data about the people on the planet.

Your three day trip back gives you the opportunity to read even more about Dezolians. Of note is a man named Lutz, the prophet of Epser mansion, that fought in four consecutive millennial disasters. His history and deeds read much more like mythology than anything else.

He is presumably immortal, having lived for four thousand years, and a powerful wizard. His hair glows blue with magical power, and his strong mind gives him a mastery over the Palman equivalent of Photon Techniques.

The Dezolians, who also revere Lutz, focus their worship on the Eclipse Torch. An ever burning flame that can dispel evil. A similar artifact, the Aero Prism, is mentioned in a few legends, but with very little detail.

…

You are back on board Pioneer II. Making your way form the shuttle dock to the central area, you hear rumors of people sneaking down to the planet. You even hear a few jokes of someone opening up a bakery beneath the central dome.

> A. Check the guild postings for jobs

> B. Plan a trip to the satellite in the asteroid field.

> C. Check on Wren

> D. Shopping!

>>41085358
>> C. Check on Wren

>>41085358
>> C. Check on Wren

>>41085358
>C. Check on Wren

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You decide to check on Wren. It seems the Principal's office isn't taking any visitors...strange.

Wren doesn't have a guild card or a MAG, so mail is not an option. You recall recommending Zelan for research, so you figure he must have been sent there.

You decide to head over to the satellite after stopping for lunch in the Hunter's Guild. You notice the odd stares you get as you walk into the guild hall. People seem to whisper when you're around. About what, you're not sure.

After lunch, you head toward the shuttle. Your MAG informs you of a guild mail as your shuttle departs.

“Hey Pheonie, it's Ash. I haven't seen you around in a bit. Nela asked me about you, but I told her I haven't heard from you in a bit. We all took that last fight pretty hard, especially after what happened to Elenor.”

“There's rumors going around about you leaving the Hunter's Guild. I didn't believe them, but a lot of people are talking about you and that dragon. Nela, Maia, and have run a couple missions already, but I think I'm just your stand in as far as they're concerned.”

“I'm sure your busy with some odd job or another. Next time you take a commission, be sure to invite me! TTYL. -Ash”

You had completely forgotten about the dragon. It's been over a week since that happened. No update from the lab either. But first things first, you have to check up on Wren.

…

You exit the shuttle and are greeted by armed guards. Demi and Wren are no where in sight.

> End of Part 10

Nice to see some (presumably?) new players around. As usual, twitter for updates (@sbf2009) and suptg for logs (PSOQ.)

I got some help updating the format a little bit. Hopefully with some revisions, the new intro will bring some players. Also, I have been pondering starting another quest.

>>41085870
welp, missed that session completely. We really have incompatible schedules.

>>41085931
very enjoyable thank you and keep up the good work!

>>41085998

Sorry. Next time I'll try to run up to 1 AM EST so you can catch the back half. I'll be running again saturdee. Just got a bit tired tonight so I decided to end an hour early since we were at a natural stopping point.

>>41086001
Thanks, anon. Needed the motivation after the last couple sessions' low turnout.