Chapter 1 - Sun and Sting

Dr. Kind looks up from his work as he pedantically explains, "You see the average speed of descent is proportional to G or the gravitational field strength.  If you have studied rotational motion, you would have learned that spinning an object in a circle of radius R  with a speed V.  Where V is the speed of the cell through the fluid and μ  is the viscosity of the serum. A reasonable value for μ  is about 1.7×10−3N s/m2.

That is equivalent to putting it in an effective gravitational field of magnitude G =v2/R.

In other words.... it will take a long time."

Dr. Kind returns to his machines, "Check back in a few days, and do try to find me some more samples, please."



 anyone with the skill:  knowledge Science can roll to check his work

Got a 12

Ivar will poke around the lab like a fascinated child.... "ooh, what does this do?" (pokes his finger at whatever random gizmo)

navyik wrote:Got a 12

His logic and approach seems correct to Tessie.

whit10 wrote:Ivar will poke around the lab like a fascinated child.... "ooh, what does this do?"  (pokes his finger at whatever random gizmo)

Dr. Kind lives up to his name and continues his pedantic explanations, "I found an old diagram for a flue gas purification system.  The toxic gas, stored here in liquid form, is injected into this chamber here.  I use a graphite heater to evaporate it back into a gaseous state.  It passes through these tubes here and then is separated for experimentation on different filters - here just water, here amonnia, here just air, as you can see.  It should next pass through an electron processor, but sadly, I don't have one, so I measure its exhaust here."

Ivar's eyes glaze over as he has no idea what the Doc is talking about.... "ok sir, whatever you say." (smiles in uncomprehesion)

Grunk will poke a round while the others are chatting. He’s looking for anything laying around that may aid in their quest

Investigation:
Tue Apr 09 2024 10:18:40 GMT-0600 (Mountain Daylight Time)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 5 to total : 10, + 5, TOTAL: 15

Science:
Tue Apr 09 2024 10:19:56 GMT-0600 (Mountain Daylight Time)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 5 to total : 1, + 5, TOTAL: 6

Engineering:
Tue Apr 09 2024 10:20:15 GMT-0600 (Mountain Daylight Time)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 5 to total : 8, + 5, TOTAL: 13

Arcana:
Tue Apr 09 2024 10:20:45 GMT-0600 (Mountain Daylight Time)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 5 to total : 12, + 5, TOTAL: 17

Whitey wrote:Grunk will poke a round while the others are chatting. He’s looking for anything laying around that may aid in their quest

Investigation:
Tue Apr 09 2024 10:18:40 GMT-0600 (Mountain Daylight Time)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 5 to total : 10, + 5, TOTAL: 15

Science:
Tue Apr 09 2024 10:19:56 GMT-0600 (Mountain Daylight Time)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 5 to total : 1, + 5, TOTAL: 6

Engineering:
Tue Apr 09 2024 10:20:15 GMT-0600 (Mountain Daylight Time)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 5 to total : 8, + 5, TOTAL: 13

Arcana:
Tue Apr 09 2024 10:20:45 GMT-0600 (Mountain Daylight Time)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 5 to total : 12, + 5, TOTAL: 17

Grunk notices that a hand-held device in a pile of what appears to be a "junk box" seems to react, very slightly, to  something nearby.  It has a small screen (about the size of a cell phone) with some buttons and lights.






Based on the rolls above (thank you!), Grunk is certain that this device is not a scientific instrument and is most likely a magical item that is detecting (much like your spell) something in one of the test tubes.


Dex\sleight of hand to lift the object vs Dr. Kind's passive perception, at -5 due to being engaged with the distracting giant-child.

dex\stealth to discreetly move about the lab and try to determine what it is reacting to

cha\deception to get Tessie's attention to help in the effort.  Tessie will check his PP vs the above to notice anyways.

Grunk will fly casual around the lab to see if he can determine the reactant.

DEX/stealth:
Wed Apr 10 2024 22:05:55 GMT-0600 (Mountain Daylight Time)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 1 to total : 13, + 1, TOTAL: 14

Whitey wrote:Grunk will fly casual around the lab to see if he can  determine the reactant.

DEX/stealth:
Wed Apr 10 2024 22:05:55 GMT-0600 (Mountain Daylight Time)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 1 to total : 13, + 1, TOTAL: 14

Ivar is providing distraction

Grunk is seeking the reactant


Tessie?

Tessie notes Grunk’s intentions and plays along, walking between Grunk’s and the good Doctor casually as if positioning himself better to pay attention to the lesson. If the doctor begins to notice Grunk, Tessie asks, “What would it take to get you an electron processor?”

navyik wrote:Tessie notes Grunk’s intentions and plays along, walking between Grunk’s and the good Doctor casually as if positioning himself better to pay attention to the lesson.  If the doctor begins to notice Grunk, Tessie asks, “What would it take to get you an electron processor?”

Grunk does his best Chewbacca as he strolls about the lab.  He finds 2 reactants - the bug blood sample and some yellowish rocks on the floor near a leather strap. There is a small metal buckle or object at the end of the leather strap with words etched into it. The names don't mean anything to Grunk.





Dr. Kind catches eye of Grunk's snooping but is intercepted by Tessie.  "I am not sure, to be honest, I have never seen an electron processor myself.  I only know of them from the schematics I found."


Grunk has time to grab 1 of the 2 reactants, but not both, while the doctor is distracted.

“I will have to dig through my junk and my books. Maybe I can come up with something.”

Grunk - let me know which 1, if either, reactant you want to lift

group - after your petty theft, what is the plan?

options:

East to backtrack the swarm to the nest and look for source of their change?
West to follow the swarm and future next site?
Sandbox - anything else you want?

swarm samples would yield reward in payment from Dr\Mayr and gratitude of the townsfolk

Petty theft ain’t really Grunk’s thing. He holds up the rocks. “Doctor, these rocks are curious to me. Could I offer you a trade of some kind?” He rummages in his pack. “Perhaps this flying disc?” He offers the frisbee…

Ivar favors the East choice, but the group can decide.

whit10 wrote:Ivar favors the East choice, but the group can decide.

“Good idea big fella. We ain’t gonna catch up with that swarm, I think learning how they got so big is more valuable.”

Whitey wrote:Petty theft ain’t really Grunk’s thing. He holds up the rocks. “Doctor, these rocks are curious to me. Could I offer you a trade of some kind?” He rummages in his pack. “Perhaps this flying disc?” He offers the frisbee…

Not a thief-murder-hobo eh? fair enough, lol


Dr. Kind gives Grunk a curious frown as his question doesn't elicit a long-winded scientific explanation, "Sure, that's fine. Now if there are no more questions, I really must get back to work."



just as a reminder, the party noticed that it was evening a rain storm was approaching. Do you want to head out to the now or wait for morning? Let me know if you are camping or something else or if you want to do anything else in town before you leave, whenever that is. I will assume everyone is staying at one of the local hotels for the night, if you stay.

Grunk’s in favor of a long rest as he wants to spend some time reorganizing spells & prepping for the trip.

Ivar could probably use a rest as well.... He would also like to look around for some armor of some kind (not essential but worth looking around for)

Whitey wrote:Grunk’s in favor of a long rest as he wants to spend some time reorganizing spells & prepping for the trip.

go ahead

whit10 wrote:Ivar could probably use a rest as well....   He would also like to look around for some armor of some kind (not essential but worth looking around for)

There a couple "general stores" and also the local tanner if you want something more like leather\hide.

Before his rest, Ivar will go to the local tanner

Since the Doc doesn’t seem very interested in bartering, Grunk will claim the  original device he noticed, the rocks, and the pendant & strap for good measure. He’ll leave the frisbee in their place.

If there’s a hostel or boarding house, that’s where Grunk’s been staying. If not, he’ll be in an inn or hotel.  

Arcana to study his new belongings when he gets back to his lodging:
Mon Apr 15 2024 10:54:17 GMT-0600 (Mountain Daylight Time)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 5 to total : 12, + 5, TOTAL: 17

Whitey wrote:Since the Doc doesn’t seem very interested in bartering, Grunk will claim the  original device he noticed, the rocks, and the pendant & strap for good measure. He’ll leave the frisbee in their place.

If there’s a hostel or boarding house, that’s where Grunk’s been staying. If not, he’ll be in an inn or hotel.  

Arcana to study his new belongings when he gets back to his lodging:
Mon Apr 15 2024 10:54:17 GMT-0600 (Mountain Daylight Time)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 5 to total : 12, + 5, TOTAL: 17

There are no long term boarding houses or hostel, but all three of you have rooms in the "Old Weed" hotel on the corner of Sage and Spruce.




For Tessie and Grunk, its a fairly quiet stay most nights. There are some gaming tables and a tavern downstairs, but nothing of the rowdy sort.


Grunk sets about studying his new-found items. Dr. Kind didn't notice or didn't care, if he did. Sadly, Grunk doesn't get very far tonight. The rocks seems like rocks. The leather strap is a leather strap, as best that he can tell. Neither have any magical properties. Grunk is also now quite certain that he was mistaken earlier (he did roll a natural 1 on his science check) and this device also has no magical qualities, but it is most certainly a scientific tool.

whit10 wrote:Before his rest, Ivar will go to the local tanner

The tanner huts are near where Dr. Kind set up his plague tents.  The smell isn't nearly as terrible, or perhaps just co-mingled with bug guts and bloody patients.

The shabby wooden huts have several pelts, skulls and antlers hung on the back.



More pelts are being stretched in the sun on wooden posts.



Ivar hears a soft scraping sound from around the other side.  As he rounds the corner, he is 'greeted' by a rough-looking old woman who is cleaning a hide with a flattened gun barrel.  "Eh, biggun!  Whudya yoo wants?" Her skin looks as leathery as her handiwork.

Hello good lady, I am in need of er, well, a tougher shirt or tunic for my dangerous travels....

Grunk can’t make heads or tails of the Doctor’s junk, so he’ll pocket the rocks & strap, the take the device to Tessie’s room. “Hey T,  traded the doc for this, but I can’t make it go. Got any ideas?”

Whitey wrote:Grunk can’t make heads or tails of the Doctor’s junk, so he’ll po let the rocks & strap, the take the device to Tessie’s room. “Hey T,  traded the doc for this, but I can’t make it go. Got any ideas?”

Knowledge Science check if Tessie wants to examine the gadget

whit10 wrote:Hello good lady, I am in need of er, well, a tougher shirt or tunic for my dangerous travels....

"Mmmm... I is a gud lady, but I is a bit aloney. Wut yoo gots ta trade?" She replies as she gives the mountain of manly muscles a slow once over with her eyes. Ivar can see many options of padded, leather and hide.

"I am good at making tools, are you in need of something?"

Science roll
Result of the throw of dice "1d20 +6" :

13 + 6 = 19

navyik wrote:Science roll
Result of the throw of dice "1d20 +6" :

13 + 6 = 19

It is definitely an old tech instrument of science, not magic.  It is reacting to the yellowish rocks both by proximity and mass.  Tessie does a few simple tests, like moving closer\farther away and using 1 rock vs all 3 in a pile.  However, something isn't quite working right either.  The device seems to short out intermittently and\or give false negatives.  Sometimes it just doesn't react to the rocks at all.  Grunk wonders if this is why it was in a "junk" box.  Tessie doesn't know any more about it.

 basically it is partially broken so any time you roll Science to use it, the roll is at DIS

whit10 wrote:"I am good at making tools, are you in need of something?"

Disappointed that her advance was rejected, she points out a post-hole digger and several logs shaped for making a large skin rack.  "Dem beefalo ar gettin biggun dis yer.  Bud ma ol back gots no mor diggin in it.  Yoo dig ma dat frame dere and yoo can haves wut fitz ya.  Far swap?"



str + prof (tool prof or athletics, same difference) check to build her rack in exchange for 1 of padded, leather or hide armor

check to make the rack...

Tue Apr 16 2024 12:22:41 GMT-0600 (Mountain Daylight Time)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 6 to total : 8, + 6, TOTAL: 14

done

whit10 wrote:check to make the rack...

Tue Apr 16 2024 12:22:41 GMT-0600 (Mountain Daylight Time)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 6 to total : 8, + 6, TOTAL: 14

done

Ivar admires his handiwork: it looks sturdy enough to hold a large pelt and better built than her other racks. The old woman spent the time just watching the shirtless Golath. He wonders if she really needed a new rack or just wanted to watch him exercise with hungry eyes.

She offers Ivar his choice of a padded, leather or hide armor.



Anything else folks want to do this evening before bed? gambling, drinking, bar fights...

Grunk will scare up some food he can take to his room and work on his spell book until bedtime.

Ivar will have a drink while he works on his new leather armor. He will carve designs into it based on his time with the monks when he was young (hence the somewhat proper language he uses). He will listen to the "pulse" of this town

Ivar gets a few curious looks and grateful nods from the locals in tavern.  Word seems to have spread, at least a little, that the 3 newcomers stepped up to fight the bug invasion and protect the town.  

He can see some well-dressed men playing cards though they seem distracted by the female dealer.



Money is won and lost, mostly lost.  Lots of drinks are had and stories told.  A dapper fellow shares some music on the piano when the mood suits him.  He does not appear to be a hired musician, just a natural talent.



The evening is otherwise uneventful.

just waiting on Alan to see if Tessie has anything to do, otherwise on to morning

Tessie would like to spend some time examining Grunk’s bartered device to see how it is broken. He has tinker's tools 🧰 .
Casting guidance.
Result of the throw of dice "1d20 +1d4 +5" :

11 + 4 + 5 = 20

navyik wrote:Tessie would like to spend some time examining Grunk’s bartered device to see how it is broken. He has tinker's tools 🧰 .
Casting guidance.
Result of the throw of dice "1d20 +1d4 +5" :

11 + 4 + 5 = 20

gentleman's honor, no GOOGLING




Tessie opens up the device and begins to take a look....

The core component is a gas-filled tube with a thin wire electrode running along its central axis.

When tested with the known rock samples, the tube creates a brief electrical pulse.

This pulse is detected by the device's electronic circuitry.

The processed signal is used to generate a visual display on the small screen.


The malfunction is either in the electronic circuitry that detects the pulse itself and\or in the display.  


Tessie will need to find one or both of:

electronic circuitry
display screen


Tinker tool or Science checks on any old tech you find along the way to identify an appropriate component

The trio each sleep in their own rooms at the "old weed" hotel.




Some time after nightfall, a steady rain begins to fall.  The only thunder heard is far off in the distance.  There is a little wind accompanying the storm so the clouds seem to sit directly over town for several hours.  The rainfall is gentle but steady for most of the night.  


Dawn stretches her rosy fingers across a clear morning sky.  The air smells damp and clean.  Each of you are just beginning to stir in bed when you hear strange sounds coming from the 2nd story porch outside your window.   It sounds like several people are outside on the porch talking....


a male voice, "I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords."  

a female voice, "You don't win friends with salad."

a young boy, "I can't promise I'll try... but I'll try to try."

a very old man, "I used to be with it, but then they changed what ‘it’ was, and now what I’m with isn’t it. And what’s ‘it’ seems weird and scary to me."

Grunk will prep his gear for Stridin’ and head on out to the street to wait for the others. He’ll offer a pleasant “Good Morning” to the gathered folks and casually lean on his staff to observe more of the conversation…

Whitey wrote:Grunk will prep his gear for Stridin’ and head on out to the street to wait for the others. He’ll offer a pleasant “Good Morning” to the gathered folks and casually lean on his staff to observe more of the conversation…

Grunk's greeting lands on an interesting target.  There is no gathering on the porch.  An unusual creature returns his curious look and replies in the young boy's voice, “There's only one thing to do at a moment like this: strut!”  it proceeds to march back and forth on the railing proudly.



let's give Tessie and Ivar a chance to respond

Ivar will absentmindedly fidget with his armor as he exits the hotel and (sort of randomly) turns left and stops and acts like his new armor doesn't fit right ... to hopefully also hear more of the conversation

“Hey, people are tryna sleep in here… oh… well aren’t you the second cutest thing ever.?”

navyik wrote:“Hey, people are tryna sleep in here… oh… well aren’t you the second cutest thing ever.?”

After strutting about for a few moments, the colorful creature turns serious, as a mature woman, in response to Tessie, “Loneliness and cheeseburgers are a dangerous mix.”


One of the hotel workers stomps outside with a shotgun, "CARROT!  shhudddup, will ya?  Not another peep.... or else!"  He waves the shotgun menacingly.  



The creature replies matter-of-factly, "My breath smells like cat food."

"That's it, I warned ya!"  He fires off a blast from his shotgun.  A rainbow of feathers lands on the street below.  There is no blood or other body parts.  it is as if the creature simply vanished.  

A disembodied clownish voice retorts, "“You tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is: Never try.”

The innkeeper shakes his head and goes back inside, "At least we get one day's relief from his nonsense."


anything else in town or are you ready to hit the road?
The path eastward is basically through the canyon on the neglected old highway that Ivar walked on entering town.   The cicada came straight up the canyon as well.

Ivar shrugs at this silliness that he doesn't really understand.

"Ready to go?" to his companions...

Can I retcon one last question for the doctor, or go back to him? “Can you glean any information about the strengths and weaknesses of the bugs? We know fire. How about acid? Poison?”

navyik wrote:Can I retcon one last question for the doctor, or go back to him? “Can you glean any information about the strengths and weaknesses of the bugs? We know fire. How about acid? Poison?”

The cicada did necrotic damage type when they hit.  

I think most of the issues were due to fighting "swarms" which basically have resistance\immunity to everything that is not an AoE.  


The trio notice that most of the contaminated bug guts seem to have been washed away by the night's storm.  The streets are muddy but the air smells clean.  You wonder if the local druids had a hand in cleaning up.



You pass by the medical tents on your way out of town and take the opportunity to ask the doctor your questions.  



"Not without a living test stubject, which we no longer have.  Now, if you please...."
He gets back to the important work of finding a cure.


You are able to take a last look back at Mana Springs from a hill on the way out of town.



Traffic is bustling in the streets and life appears to be returning to some semblance of normal.

The road to the East is cracked and broken from years of weather and deferred maintenance.  Last night's clouds are breaking apart as the sun rises over the valley.  Grass and plants are overtaking the concrete, though most of the leaves have been eaten away by the recent passage of the cicadas.




The party walks for several hours in the quiet of the morning.  You can see areas of the road have been lost to mudslides and the hillsides to fires.

The valley tightens into a canyon and the muddy road roughly follows the path of the river.  Around midday you spot an old vehicle in the road.  The tires were stripped for the rubber long ago and rust covers the metal.




Anything you want to do or just keep going?

“Let’s check it out,” Tessie whispers looking around for blind corners and other potential threats.

Perception
Result of the throw of dice "1d20 +3" :

18 + 3 = 21

If it looks safe he will scavenge the vehicle for tech junk and look for anything that might help fix the (Tri-quarter).

Tinker tools
Result of the throw of dice "1d20 +6" :

4 + 6 = 10

Grunk will look for signs of anything living nearby while Tessie scavenges.

Nature:
Wed Apr 24 2024 08:23:16 GMT-0600 (Mountain Daylight Time)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 5 to total : 10, + 5, TOTAL: 15

Investigation:
Wed Apr 24 2024 08:23:34 GMT-0600 (Mountain Daylight Time)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 5 to total : 11, + 5, TOTAL: 16

Tessie circles the truck from a safe distance and decides there are no blind corners or hiding spots nearby.  He begins to search the old vehicle for tech scraps.

Grunk find a footprint in the mud near the truck.



It is at least "large" sized, maybe "huge".  Grunk can see claw marks at the ends of the toes.

Ivar kneels down and traces around the mark... "Bear from the look of it"

Survival check: for direction and more positive ID of the track

Wed Apr 24 2024 18:28:40 GMT-0600 (Mountain Daylight Time)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 3 to total : 18, + 3, TOTAL: 21

sweet....

and before I forget, Ivar looks over the vehicle as well to see just how much steel is left (with an eye towards making himself some breast plate armor)