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

[1300yen]

You could? But how? [He's not just offering to risk himself is he... She won't stand for that if so!!]

[sanicspeed]

Because...I'm one of those people that I mentioned?

[1300yen]

You are? [But Barry seems so normal!! Just who doesn't have some kind of power around here tbh...] If it truly won't hurt you, I suppose there's no reason to argue it... But you're sure radiation cannot harm you? Absolutely sure?

[sanicspeed]

I'd be lying if I said it couldn't harm me. But I can heal faster than it can hurt, I'm sure. So technically, there's no problem.

[1300yen]

[STARES AT......] While I still can't say that I like the sound of that, there isn't much choice when we need to gather these. If you're willing, I would be obliged if you got them.

[sanicspeed]

What, you're just going to trust what I have to say about myself?

[1300yen]

You're going to demonstrate what you've just said about yourself here and now, are you not? If it seems as if the radiation hurts you more than from what you've described, I will stop you if need be.

[Barry is such a weird guy... Is he trying to give her a reason not to trust him on this???]

[sanicspeed]

You don't have to make it sound like you'll hurt me to make me stop hurting myself. Not that it's going to be an issue.

Besides, you'll never notice it. Radiation doesn't work that fast unless it's in huge doses.

[1300yen]

I only want to make sure this won't hurt you as you've said.

[She doesn't doubt him, but what if he's the type to get himself hurt just so he can help others!!]

If that's the case, then I presume the amount of radiation here must not be too high if we can stand nearby them?

[sanicspeed]

Distance from the source is also important. Holding something radioactive is far more dangerous than standing twenty feet away from it. Still...

[In a FLASH, teeheehee, Barry rounds up a good amount of glowy mushrooms. V. good.]

[1300yen]

[!!!!!!]

Wait— But you were just— [It's not like this is the first time she's seen super powers (or super speed actually WHOAAAAA) but she thought Barry was normal!!

Although given some of the weirdness in their previous conversation, things start to connect... The pieces come together. (Unless he's actually the yellow speedster in which case: pls chill out a bit.)]

... We've met in person already, haven't we? Back during the rescue.

[sanicspeed]

M...

....may...be?

[LORD BARRY.]

[1300yen]

[BARRY PLS.... But okay ngl it's kind of funny. Alisha might be laughing just a little.]

It's alright if you want to keep it a secret. You were wearing a mask the other time, so I presume you have your reasons for it.

[sanicspeed]

...you don't think the suit is funny, do you?

[Taking that all the wrong way, Lord.]

[1300yen]

[Barry worries about the strangest things tbh.]

Not at all. While I cannot say that I've ever seen anything quite like it, your attire never struck me as particularly odd or humorous. [At least no more than what she's seen other people wearing, but that's the fun of seeing people from across whole different worlds.

She pauses for a moment, until:]

Unless it's supposed to be? [THIS WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST TIME SHE DIDN'T CATCH ONTO SOMETHING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FUNNY.....]

[sanicspeed]

It's not supposed to but it does seem a bit silly when I look at it.

[It's kind of embarrassing but...to be a super hero.]

[1300yen]

If you're unsatisfied with it, you could always change it, could you not? [She doesn't understand the trials and tribulations of being a super hero...]

[sanicspeed]

I mean, it's not like I don't like it. Besides, a friend of mine made it and it has a lot of needed features. Like not burning up from the friction made by me running.

[1300yen]

Your clothes could burn from you running so quickly? [She doesn't science okay, she never even considered something like this!!]

[sanicspeed]

It's kind of hard to believe, isn't it? I forgot that a couple times....with embarrassing results.

[1300yen]

... You've never lost all of your clothes from it, have you? [MAYBE SHE SHOULDN'T BE ASKING this is kind of embarrassing just to even say but

Barry please........

Say it ain't so.................]

[sanicspeed]

I've done it to myself once.

....and one time to a friend. Who is a girl....but only a friend. I feel kind of worse for her but I was saving her then but still....

[1300yen]

[.................

She's not even sure what to say..........................]

I suppose it couldn't be helped in the latter case. [...] But it truly is important for you to wear your suit.

[sanicspeed]

Thanks for your, uh....understanding.

[1300yen]

I wouldn't want to judge unfairly. [But maybe she is judging

fairly judging

but judging just a little.......]

With this being the case though, why did you choose not to wear it today?