Bounty Hunters - Session 38

Inhuman Biology

The High Master: It feels good to be in command again. That raid was a desparate gamble, and with Athaekeetha in hand, perhaps the tide will turn in our favor. Whip bleeds silently The High Master: In containment, he will not be able to contact the God-Brain. I will work at his memories until I can find the information about your Ward, and other information useful to our task ahead. The High Master: Behold, the nursery! The High Master: Your minds, such as they are, have neither the capacity nor the ability to interface with our stuff. Helongum feels offended

The High Master: Do not fear. The tadpole will only expand the capabilities of your mind enough to interface and control the Nautiloid's Spelljammer helm. Helongum: Tadpole.. I've already had enough experience being eaten by a frog... The High Master: In a different breeding and configuration, these would be used to create more of my kind. But, that is not my agenda. Helongum: So, what does it do?.. Exactly? The High Master: It is a symbiotic creature. The High Master: It nests at the root of your brainstem. It expands your arcane and cognative awareness. Helongum: And it has been field tested on people such as us before? The High Master: Anyone who has the talent to use magic (of spell level type) should both gain benefit from the symbote AND be able to control one of our helms. Helongum: Does it have a name? Or, personality? Helongum: Hive Mind? Hmm, does the tadpole remain connected to this hive mind? Helongum: Like, if I want to do something and the hive mind doesn't, how does that work? The High Master: These tadpoles were bred by me. They should not. Helongum: Does that cause them distress? To not have that collective? Helongum: Can I communicate with it? Like, before it's in my brain? Whip: We've survived your bullshit however long before so I say let's get it over with Whip: What's one _more_ nightmare Helongum: Well, I think it makes sense for me to do this. We need someone to work with the vessel. But if anyone else doesn't want to it sounds like that is ok. Joana: I'm in, jam that worm in my brain The High Master expresses as much joy as he is able at Joana's outbust. Elian: I'll do it; what's the worst that could happen? Bern: I'll do it if the team vote that they would prefer it if I had it. Bern: I have changed my mind. Fuck no. Helongum: It could be beneficial to have a control group if you are more comfortable that way.

• The party takes a brief rest before their procedure.

Helongum: Complete my understanding of the mechanics of magic. Elian: which hole does this go in? The High Master: It is swallowed. Elian looks disappointed but does the thing. The milky, viscous fluid slides down the back of your throat. It is unpleasant, but not so bad as you ------ AGHHHHHHH!!!!

• Everyone who takes a tadpole struggles mightily against the invasion. The pain passes, but a weird sensation lingers, and they find themselves connected mentally.
• Tadpole Effects:
  • You may speak telepathically to anyone with a related tadpole that you can see.
  • You may maintain concentration on two spells at the same time. When doing so, you make concentration saves at disadvantage, and failing either save will disrupt BOTH spells.
  • You lose one attunement slot.

The High Master: Emote closes his eyes. Those of you with Tadpoles feel a tingling at the base of your skull (inside). In your mind you see pictured a giant Nautiloid, but instead of being under the sea it is half interred in an alien landscape. Surrounding it are the legs of an even more colossal spider. The High Master looks at Helongum for a moment. She shivers as she quickly absorbs The High Master's lesson. The High Master: Now you have the capacity to protect your hesitant friend from the atmosphere of this realm. It will, sadly, require of you some resources that otherwise might be needed to comandeer the vessel. The High Master: I do not expect it will be as easy as just walking in and finding the helm. The High Master: The atmosphere is toxic to your kind, but a great many things can thrive there. The High Master: Our unwilling guest in containment will be reluctant himself to reveal his secrets. I will work on his mind here while you run your errand. The journey there will not be quick or easy, but should you succeed in capturing the vessal the return trip should be swift and simple.

• They rest before embarking.

The Journey to the Nautiloid

Perhaps as a result of the day's ordeals, you have no problem sleeping soundly even in the alien surgery facility. Four of you awaken with a dull headache, like a minor hangover, but otherwise well rested. There is a small, persistant itch at the base of youyr neck you can't quite scratch away. You expect the journey to the ship to take roughly EIGHT DAYS at regular marching speed. You can make this faster by moving at a FAST PACE. (6 DAYS FAST) You can minimize or eliminate encounters by movign at a SLOW PACE. (12 DAYS SLOW) FAST: 6 Days Normal: 8 Days SLOW: 12 Days

• The first day passes without incident. Helongum continues to probe her own memories, and remembers one of combat from entry into the realm.
• On the second day, they are attacked!

Flame-scourged Scion This tree-like creature's hide is charred, cracked, and oozing. A crown of long, branching tentacles set with goat-like eyes encircles a central fanged maw at the top of its bulk. Root-like appendages end in blackened, sooty hooves. Eater of Dust, Yakat-Shi This terrible creature resembles an imposing knight wearing baroque plate armor made of calcified resin. Its helm is a blank gray oval without eye slots or mouthpiece, and it carries a glistening greatsword with one or more slavering, fanged mouths. Nightghaunt The terrible outline of something noxiously thin and bat-winged descends silently from above a faceless black being with smooth, whale-like skin and horns that curve toward each other. Its barbed tail lashes needlessly as it clutches the air with ugly prehensile paws.

• The creatures are not coordinated, which is to the party's great benefit. All three are formidable adversaries on their own, them working together might have been their end. They prevail against the first two, and end the session with Joana at death's door from the barbed tail of the third.