PT 010 The Birth of Guest

7:48 PM

You approach Williamson's lab, do you knock?

Theo walks in unless it's locked.

7:50 PM

Ok, you walk in and you see Williamson and Chance in a stern argument.

Theo, 7:50 PM

Okay.  What's happening?

7:51 PM

Chance: "SHE IS LIAR!  SPEAKS FALSEHOODS!"

Wiliamson signs.  "I am attempting to--"

Chance: "Use machines to talk.  She knows nothing!"

Theo, 7:52 PM

…. that somehow answers none of my questions.

One at a time.

7:54 PM

Williamson: "I've been performing some in-depth scans so as not to hurt it.  I have a few theories that, if true, could be of great interest and could be of minor danger.  I attempted to express this to Lost Chance, and he found my findings heretical to his doctrine."

Chance: "SHE SAY GODS ARE NOT GODS!"

Theo, 7:55 PM

Oh.  Great.  Okay, Chance.  What defines a god?

7:57 PM

Chance: "They give life!  They take life!  They control the winds of the heavens and the fire beneath the earth.  They birth us into the world and take us back in death."

Williamson: "Technically, I think some of that is true of the beings who made this device...but not all of that...and the device itself is not divine in nature, it's arcane."

Theo, 7:59 PM

I've always found the divine/arcane divide silly myself.  Anyway, you have to admit, Chance, that a god that gets itself eaten isn't 'much of a god.  Doesn't it make more sense that this is a relic of your gods?

8:00 PM

Chance: "Of course.  But she claims that Tezca was not a God!  She says he does not guide us!"

Theo, 8:01 PM

She's not a part of your religion.  What does it matter what she thinks?

Is your faith not strong enough to weather doubt?

8:02 PM

Chance is still glaring but says nothing.

Theo, 8:03 PM

We're a whole ship of people who believe different things.  You're not much good to your gods if you can't handle people who think differently than you, Chance.

I am positive she didn't mean any insult.

Theo looks at WIlliamson.

8:05 PM

Williamson: "No, I did not.  I was trying to explain the emergency around the device.  I think it might be leaking."

Theo, 8:06 PM

That is an issue.  What is it leaking?

8:08 PM

Williamson: "Records.  But...arcane.  I think it's a codex, of sorts.  It's remarkably alien, but it seems to be a sort of...information gathering device but...also maybe...come take a look."

Williamson waves a hand and a screen appears.  Theo, you're not a biologist, but you recognize genetic data when you see it and that's what this is.  Genetic data for nearly 10,000 different species of animal and, seemingly, people.  But it's not just a record, it's maleable.  There seems to be a conjuration element to it.

Theo, 8:11 PM

…. instructions for repopulating a world?

Or just... a world, distilled?

8:14 PM

Williamson: "Precisely.  I don't know who left this, but I think the genetic material within is capable of providing enough species for an entire planet.  Chance said there were three, originally.  My guess is the other two contained one for plant life and another the base elements needed to form a climate, atmospheric gases, you get the idea."

Theo, 8:15 PM

Can we repair it?

8:17 PM

Williamson: "I have a force field around it.  I think since it's been finished...um...being digested, it might be in a worse state than before.  I am concerned about anyone getting near it...unless you want to grow some new parts like our friend Cat did."

Theo nods, thoughtfully, and takes out his wand, giving it a once over with Detect Magic to determine if repairing it is a possibility.

8:19 PM

((It's just detect magic?))

((Hurm...))

You definitely get that it's magic with both conjuration and transmutation effects on it.  You can also see the magic coming off and sort of swirling around the field it's in.  You think it's likely repairable, but how it would be repaired is difficult to ascertain given its current state.

Theo, 8:21 PM

(So mending probably wouldn't work.)

8:22 PM

If you lower the force field and act fast enough it might.  You can't cast it through the field.

Theo examines the force field.  "Can non-living matter get through?"

8:25 PM

Williamson: "I can alter the parameters to allow it without allowing leakage."

Williamson: "But this is powerful magic."

Theo rolls up his sleeve around his artificial arm.  "I just need a minute."

8:28 PM

Williamson nods.  "Mr. Chance...I recommend you take shelter with me, please."

Williamson will lower the field's density just enough for your arm to get through.

Theo casts Mending!

8:31 PM

...I am going to need a couple checks here.  First, I'd like you to make me an arcana check.

Theo is casting Mending through his tinker tools, btw.

8:32 PM

Ok.

Theo, 8:33 PM

((22))

8:35 PM

You see now that it's not just a smooth orb.  There are tiny ridges within that seem to act as controls.  You spot both where the crack is and determine you don't want to touch any of the other ridges.  Now, I'd like you to make a DEX check with adv.

Theo, 8:36 PM

((ouch.  That was horrible.))

((Can I use my tinker tools on the roll or anything?  If not it's cool, advantage is more than fair.))

8:37 PM

((No, I'm afraid not.))

Theo, 8:37 PM

((Fair!  Feel free to wreck the arm.))

8:37 PM

Ok, so, the good news is, you are successfully able to cast the mending on the orb and you believe you see the gap close up.

The bad news is, you did slip and you touched something, and now the orb is glowing.

Theo, 8:38 PM

... well.  I have good news and bad news.

8:38 PM

The arcane energy already leaked into the field is glowing as well and expanding and taking shape.

Theo, 8:39 PM

..... we should probably take the field down and make some room.

And hope I didn't conjure any dinosaurs.

8:39 PM

...since you're the one who touched it, I'd like you to roll me a d100 please.

Theo, 8:40 PM

((67!))

8:42 PM

((Sorry, one second.))

((...you got so lucky.))

The energy swirls, shapes and forms and eventually disperses in a bright light.  The field is dispelled, letting the orb fall to the ground.  And floating where it was is now...you could only describe it as a giant friendly jellyfish.  A big squishy looking body with a mouth covered in tendrils two of which appear to be eye-stalks.

Theo waves.

8:44 PM

Creature: "...ah...hello...oh...language, this is weird.  Ha!"

Theo, 8:45 PM

Hello.  Sorry to conjure you, it was unavoidable.

8:46 PM

Creature: "Is that what that was?  Oh.  Oh my.  I...hm...I'm sorry, I seem to...uh...oh.  I would introduce myself, but I don't think I have a name."

Theo, 8:46 PM

That's okay, these details can be worked out later.  Are you aware what's happened to you?

8:47 PM

Creature: "I was born, I believe.  I have no memories prior to this, yet I seem to possess a fascinating amount of information."

Theo, 8:48 PM

Well.  You are on board the USS Adventure.  We're an exploratory vessel.  We found the device that you were being stored in and you were accidentally released.

I'm Prometheus Crafter, this is Williamson and Lost Chance.

8:49 PM

Williamson waves, Chance just stares blankly.

((He's Lost Chance, fyi.  Sorry, you hadn't made your character when I named mine.))

((Or, you had, but it was a while ago.))

Creature: "Oh.  Hello.  Um...so...do I need to go back in the device now?"

Theo, 8:54 PM

I have no idea how to get you back in.  Do you want to go back in?

8:55 PM

Creature (smiling): "I DON'T KNOW!"

Theo, 8:55 PM

Well, let’s say you’re our guest for now.

8:56 PM

Creature: "Ok!  I am Our Guest.  Neato!"