EVENT ★ MAT GATHERING

[futurologists]

The investigations in the sungazing log have lead to a number of discoveries, including trace amounts of solar radiation and seemingly temporary lights in the sky that match no known star charts currently in Chantes. On the 15th, Rick will announce via the verdict over the network: the sun isn’t gone. un: 82736775 Those of you who actually did your job instead of screwing off (and breaking my shit! Yes, I know all about it), congrats. We've made headway on our dumbass situation. The sun isn't gone (obviously). There are radiation levels suggesting that it's still there somewhere, but it's weirdly faint. Concerning item number one. Concerning item number two: there are lights in the sky but they're not native stars. They're red in the west in the morning, and in the east in the evening. This suggests a solar cycle that we just can't observe (with a western sunrise apparently). There are no moons visible; supposedly there should be two. Go figure. The most interesting observations came from the storm, during which the "star" readings went off the charts, dawg. All lit up like Christmas and shit. Hypothesis: the darkness is not because homeboy made anything "vanish with magic," but because he stuck a big "blanket" between the planet and the sky. The "stars" are likely just holes in his dumb bullshit. So let's get this solution rolling so we can get off this godforsaken rock. This is where you losers come in. I need things . . . The mystery of the disappearing sun might be clear, but that doesn’t mean the problem’s solved. Now’s the hard part: creating something that will dispel the darkness. Fortunately, with the right ingredients, science might be able to win the daylight back. All recruits will be encouraged to help with some good, old-fashioned teamwork and fetch quests. SCAVENGER HUNT The list is as follows: Iron ore. Collecting it seems easy enough, but a dangerous serpentine creature capable of breathing electricity known as a Behir lairs nearby. If hungry, it will ambush characters and will not stop unless it succeeds or is slain. Following the rich iron supply, characters will also find a series of winding underground caves and caverns. Inside are items such as glowing cave mushrooms that are likely radioactive. Blue mushrooms maintain their coloring due to a rare solute in the cave water, helpful for optimizing fuel. Green mushrooms are useless and if you collect them you should feel bad. Bat guano. Bats indigenous to the caves also seem to be affected by the contaminated cave water, however -- they’re enormous, blood-sucking, and have developed a mild venom. While one bite won’t kill anyone, the bats have numbers, ultrasonic screeches, and bad tempers. Plutonic rocks. The source of the odd cave life, an ancient scattering of some massive meteorite resides deep inside the cave. They’ve got rich veins and chunks of crystal, the bigger the better. (We’d tell you what these space oddities are for, but we think it’d blow your minds.) Cave Minnows. The fish inside the cave lakes are easy to spot since they’re bioluminescent, but only the small, quick ones metabolize the correct oils for this project. The large ones will simply try to drag you into a death roll the -- surprisingly deep -- waters. Glowworms. See those lights hanging overhead? They’re not bulbs, but bundles of strange, glowing cave worms. Reaching and handling them might be tricky, and keep careful watch of them. They’ll burrow into anything, including your packs, your collected materials, or worst of all, you. Rock salt. Delicious! Potassium nitrate. This one is easier to find in Chantes itself: an old woman in town has a giant jar of it that she uses for pickling. Recruits may attempt to wile her out of a cup, or steal from the elderly. Wildcard. If you don't mind volatile reactions, go ahead and science on your own. Or see anything else that might be useful? Grab it and go. As a side-mission for the cave items, it seems the 15th is also the only day of the year that the night-blooming cereus plants are open around the cavern entrances. These flowers must be handled very delicately or they’ll wither and die, and local insects of all shapes, sizes, and aggressiveness will be drawn to them, so collectors beware. These flowers will have no bearing on the sun solution, but the goblin church will ask outgoing adventurers to bring some back with them. These items may come into play in February depending on IC actions, but otherwise they make for some pretty decorations! And finally, a big thanks to ricksybusiness for submitting their player plot and working with us. You go, Rick Sanchez.

Comments

[strictdiscipline]

[That last errant thought is one Riza would love answered as well, her naturally answer-seeking mind discontent with the partial reasons they'd been given thus far.]

We'll have to ask our scientific comrade for that.

[She'd never picked up his name, and his crude manner of speaking had been one she'd been happy to avoid. Besides, she's far more interested in Pearl's explanation and the outside sources of the rock embedded in the cave walls.]

Outside this planet? [From even beyond the skies, then, someplace truly far far away.] There's so much of it here—it must have been quite a large piece, wherever it came from.

[Must have collided with quite the impact when it landed.]

Do you recognize any of the materials comprising it?

[beyourrock]

Hopefully it'll be used for something related to the task at hand.

[Pearl knew of his name, but she had promised him not to go blabbering his name to everyone. She had recently decided to call him 'Mr. Doe' in public. It worked, and he didn't seem to mind.

However, the Gem shakes her head, leaning in to take a closer look at the shimmering crystal veins along the wall she was beside.]

Nothing in which I can recall. Then again, we may be in a completely different universe. Whatever lies out beyond the stars, may be completely foreign to me. [And Peridot. Maybe.]

From what I can gather is that some kind of meteorite crashed here. These are it's scattered remains.

[strictdiscipline]

[Cave minnows, glowworms, and bat droppings....Riza can't fathom any sort of combination of those ingredients that would make even a modicum of sense, but then again, what does she know of science beyond the basics? Perhaps Edward or Alphonse might know but neither of them are here. They'll just have to make do with the knowledge of those recruits they do have with them.]

It must be whatever foreign elements are in it that we need. [Far be it from her to quibble about what things they may or may not need.] I hope that person knows what they're doing....

[But whatever, time to get to work. Riza glances over at Pearl.]

I don't suppose you have any sort of pickaxe on you? I have a bag to collect the pieces in.

[beyourrock]

Mr. Doe sounds knowledgeable in what he's doing.

[Pearl sighs. But she doesn't trust him to sober long enough to actually do work. But the Gem nods as she pulls out two short versions of her spear, a few feet long. Wand-like, but the blade is sharp enough to pick away at the rock.

She hands over one to her as she holds up her own.]

These should work just fine. [And she stares at the crystal-like substance, hesitating a moment before she lightly 'tinks' against the vein in the wall.]

[strictdiscipline]

[Well, if Pearl's a believer....

Riza takes the spear offered to her with a nod of thanks. But she doesn't move to chip away at the rock herself just yet, content for the moment to admire Pearl's graceful movements, as well as the elegance of her spears.]

It must be very convenient to summon your weapon as you please. You never have to deal with the trouble of carrying it around, or having to restock it.