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]

[While the two canines sniff at each other and resume play, Riza turns her attention wholly towards Sieglinde, ready to unload her arsenal of tricks onto her attentive student.]

Many months, and there are still times when he refuses to obey if he gets it into his mind to be stubborn. But if you're consistent and you use positive reinforcement rather than punishment, he'll be more inclined to listen.

What kinds of things does he like to eat? [Though, given what she knows about skulldogs - which is to say, absolutely nothing - maybe she ought to back up first] —Does he eat?

[grunehexe]

[Months... for all that Sieglinde could spend that time on an experiment with little problem, it seems so terribly much to ask for something like this...

At the question, though, Sieglinde actually had to think about it. She did have a demon butler taking care of those sorts of things, after all.]

Meat...

[Raw meat.]

[strictdiscipline]

[Pets are the long haul, Sieglinde....especially when they're of the doggy variety.

Riza's expression falters a little at the blunt answer but she valiantly rescues it from falling off her face completely. (Raw meat still dripping blood is not her idea of a good time.) Regardless of what skulldog eats, his basic canine instincts should be similar, right?]

If you want to train him, try doing it before you feed him and use his food as a reward. He'll be more likely to respond how you want him to if he learns that food is tied to his actions.

[grunehexe]

Hmm...

[It seemed to make sense, at least- How she interpreted what Riza said, anyway.]

So I ought to deprive him of food unless he performs to my satisfaction, I see, I see...

[She can totally do that.]

[strictdiscipline]

[That's certainly one way of training a wayward pet. Riza's not entirely certain if it'll work or not - how much, genetically, is Sieglinde's creature similar to a standard canine? - but surely it's worth a shot.

Though maybe not right now.]

You should test that theory after we're finished. Surely he'll be tired and hungry after a play session.

[At least Isengrim and Black Hayate seem to be getting along well.]

[grunehexe]

Of course, of course- mushrooms first. I shall take your advice later. When it is more appropriate.

[Because... right. They had a mission to finish.

Hopefully since Isengrim and Black Hayate were busy with each other, she could finally gather the damn things without being pushed around by that naughty familiar, too. Pulling the satchel back closer, Sieglinde settled down to resume the work of mushroom harvesting, a streak of glowing blue still marring her cheek.

... Back to work.]