This session saw the characters enter the dimensional fracture in the Library Station, trying to establish what had happened, whether it could be reversed and whether they could rescue the Professor or any of his team that were stranded in the strange blight-infested and crystalline maze that the station had become.
The session was a remote call for me from a Travelodge, and I used my new microphone for on the road, a J-Lab Talk USB. Technically, the evening went without a hitch, which convinces me even more that the issue I've been chasing was the settings in the Role VTT. Nearly a full house of players with only Andy (Rashid) missing. This ended up being one of our longer sessions; it must have been going well because I completely lost track of the time we spend on it. We ended on a cliffhanger that is potentially very lethal for Paul's character, Meristo along with the young algebraist from the Continuum Modellers who has joined him in the heart of glass in the dimensional fracture.
- Arda Qamar, a Guild Surveyor and Traveller who came from the Far Colonies from a Mining Combine operation. She’s the bird handler and Scout for the team. (Played by Hattie).
- Meristo Koulas, an Esoteric Coriolite Seer who grew up in the Fog of the Haze, and has ties to the Black Toad. (Played by Paul).
- Lieto Miesma, a Scholar specialised in Builder Archeology who came from deep inside the Factory City of the Turbine Halls, with a background in the Machinist's Guild. (Played by Graham)
- Fassour Faradi, a roughneck deep miner who also came from somewhere the eternal fog of the Haze, and - like Merits - has ties to the Black Toad. (Played by Simon)
- Rashid al-Masri, a scoundrel Hull Cutter who came from among the hulks and wrecks of Hull Town, and has connections to the Gardener's Guild. (Played by Andy).
- Corvus the Bird, a specter; cobalt blue, with a long beak, always observing. Usually handled by Arda.
The Session (Spoilers for The Flowers of Algorab).
In the realm of slipstreams and dimensional breaches the group of bold adventurers teamed as the New Seekers delved into matters of great cosmic perturbance. The experimental meddling at the station had gone awry a fortnight ago, causing an explosion and the catastrophic manifestation of a crystalline substance caused by a Slipstream caused dimensional fracture, enveloping parts of the Library Station.
Professor Banu Melitreides, along with several algebraists, were feared trapped or worse within their own hubris-laden creation, their laboratory sealed off amidst the station’s lockdown. The task, as grim as it was grand, fell to the explorers. They were to navigate the hazardous fracture, seek out Melitreides along with any other survivors, and perhaps shut down an experiment that crackled with the threatening potential of bridging dimensions unbridled.
Arguments about the recklessness of the experiment bubbled among the factions. Professor Kabakoutal-Doussa, the pre-eminent leader among the conservative Projection Theorists - traditionalists of the Navigators Guild's modelling of space-time - clashed with the Continuum Modellers led by Professor Melitreides. These Modellers had supported the hazardous slipstream recreation—the Argumoda Experiment—that now threatened to tear asunder the Library Station.
Yet, amidst the gravity of their mission, the explorers found space for levity and contractual bargaining. They queried the depth of their wallets just as much as the mysteries of the cosmos. Lieto Miesma, with a gleam of capitalist shrewdness, wrangled improved payment for their perilous inquiry, arguing the dangers they were about to wade into were no trifles.
Faced with the conflicted factions in the Navigator's Guid, mediated by Station Chief Azade, the explorers needed to tread a careful path through political and cosmic minefields. With brazen hearts and curious minds, our explorers embraced their charge, wading into the fractured unknown, armed with intellect, bravery, and a peppering of existential dread over the safety of the realms they were committed to explore and protect.
In the tangled web of cosmic exploration and experiment, Arda Qamar found herself amidst young scientists gathered like moths to a flame, eager to share their findings. Their discussion revealed a concerning spread of crystalline material outside its original containment near the lockdown area. Curiosity piqued, Arda jumped at the chance to examine the material, though she was cautioned to keep this venture from the prying eyes of certain superior scientists who might disapprove, especially Professor Kabakoutal-Doussa.
Arda, alongside Fassour and Lieto Miesma, planned to split their efforts to maximize their understanding of the situation. Arda and Fassour would inspect the quarantined crystalline sample, while Lieto would engage with a separate group of Continuum Modellers, hoping to glean insights from their sidelined expertise.
The scientists led Arda and her companions to a remote laboratory. Here, amid discussions of containment and the properties of the mysterious crystals, an urgency tingled in the air as Fassour identified the substance as 'proto-blight', a theorised precursor to the dangerous blight. The discovery implied a ticking clock, the potential transformation of the proto-blight into a full-blown calamity.
Even as they took precautions with masks and containment procedures, the adventurers wrestled with the implications of their find. The atmosphere grew tense, and a palpable shudder through the station underscored the gravity of their situation. Something - most likely the fracture in space time - was threatening the integrity of the asteroid the Library Station was constructed upon. Amidst it all, through a dramatic flourish, Fassour used his Mercurian blade to contain a newly materialised crystal, a vivid reminder of the unpredictable and possibly perilous nature of the substance they faced.
Meanwhile, Meristo Koulas was drawing closer to the heart of the problem with another group of scientists. Discussions revealed a slipstream experiment gone awry, potentially set to devastate the station unless the adventurers could navigate the intricate scientific and bureaucratic maze to find and apply a solution.
In a tale weaving scientific intrigue with the spectre of disaster, the adventurers found themselves not only exploring frontier science but potentially fighting to prevent an anomaly from undoing the fabric of their space station and perhaps reality itself.
Our intrepid adventurers engaged in a critical discussion on the precarious situation at the station. Meristo was particularly concerned about the increasing threat of the experiment that had originally caused the destabilisation. He suggested contacting Professor Nisma Kabakoutal-Doussa for essential input data, considering it vital for their next steps.
The conversation shifted focus on how the data could potentially help shut down the hazardous operation but frustration was evident since direct access to the control system was necessary, and Nisma had been less than cooperative when previously approached by Demar Doui, a Second Algebraist from the Continuum Modelling group.
Ultimately, the crux moved towards confronting Professor Nisma directly at her quarters to persuade her to hand over the crucial data. The group, now joined by hesitant yet determined allies, prepared for what could be a taut exchange. Upon arrival, they were greeted by Nisma, who was visibly strained and dismissive, frustrated by the experimental blunders that had endangered the station.
A spirited debate ensued, with Meristo trying to appeal to Nisma’s sense of duty to protect the station, while Lieto showcased projections on the station's accelerated degradation to bolster their argument. Despite initial resistance, the professor finally conceded, handing over the data reluctantly but with a stern caveat that her cooperation was purely based on the potential of bringing those at fault to justice before an ethics committee.
The adventurers, now equipped with the crucial data thanks to Meristo’s logical persuasion and Lieto’s analytical support, planned their next moves meticulously. Their continued preparations and strategy discussions set the stage for the high stakes operation awaiting them as they hoped to not only salvage the experiment but also prevent a potential catastrophe from unfolding. Prior to embarking on their perilous journey into the heart of the station's anomaly, they undertook one last review of the data to ensure everything accounted for, leaving nothing to chance in their looming encounter with the unknown.
In the mysterious depths of a crystalline-encrusted station, our adventurers found themselves wrestling with the complexities of the environment and the equipment they carried. Lieto Miesma, Fassour Faradi, Meristo Koulas, Rashid al-Madri and Arda Qamar were deep in discussion regarding their supplies, strategising carefully about the amount each could carry based on their strength and the weight of their equipment.
They entered the contaminated section of the station through an improvised lock-seal which was showing signs of port-blight crystal contamination. The New Seekers did consider using the large Blight Eco-Suit parked by the entrance, but decided against it due to the size of the equipment.
As the group ventured forward, they encountered a cluttered area that required agile navigation. Maristo stepped up, taking the lead with the support of Elena, a seasoned ruin diver hired by Fassour at Ship City, to manoeuvre through the debris. Despite initial stumbles, hope and teamwork saw them through without incident.
Upon entering a lab thick with the ominous blight, the party noticed their feathered companion Corvus reacting to the infection. They decided to clear the blight-infested room using Corvus's abilities, allowing safer examination of the intriguing contents within—cooling tanks and a cryo projector, which Fassour and the others decided to claim in case they proved useful further in.
As Arda and Lieto used an artefact scanner to investigate the crystalline debris, they discovered it to be an extra-dimensional compound, valuable yet potentially tainted by Blight. This revelation posed a risky opportunity which they decided to explore further.
Investigations continued as the adventurers noticed a vent in the ceiling, prompting thoughts of further exploration despite the cramped conditions. The reliable Elena, ever agile, ascended to scout ahead, confirming the tight fit. Nonetheless, Maristo, undeterred by the narrow space, prepared to venture into the vent supported by a tether managed by his comrades, ensuring his safety in the precarious environment.
In a gripping segment of their adventure, Meristo ventured alone through the narrow, claustrophobic vent, depleting valuable supplies as he navigated the tight space. At his journey's end, he discovered an eerie chamber. The chamber, dazzled with prismatic walls and a hovering sphere of pulsating white light, housed a crystalline figure engaged in mysterious tasks at a terminal. The figure, typing slowly, appeared absorbed in its work, oblivious to Meristo's presence.
Meristo relayed his findings to his comrades, igniting a discussion about the potential control centre of the perilous experiment they sought to contain. Despite attempts to interact, the crystalline figure remained focused, interacting only with its machinery and ignoring all attempts at communication.
Determined to understand and potentially halt the experiment, Maristo decided to enter the chamber himself, facilitating Corvus the bird to bypass him and explore further. As the others speculated on the situation from afar, Meristo engaged with the figure, only to face continuous disregard.
Compelled to solve the enigma, Meristo switched tactics and sought help from a nervous scientist, Demar Doui, hoping his expertise could decipher the ongoing experiment's parameters. The scientist, battling his nerves as he squeezed through the tunnel, finally joined Meristo by his side after a clumsy descent.
Confronted with the perplexing setup — a machine regulated by varying energy levels and a potential reactor overload — Meristo and his scientist ally realised the urgency of modulating the reactor to prevent disaster. The revelation that direct intervention might cause an explosion added to the tension, prompting an immediate need to find a safer method to wind down the reactor's power.
Leaving the chamber through an alternative exit, Meristo and the scientist, guided by their analytical findings and Corvus's vigilant exploration, continued their precarious mission. They stumbled upon further anomalies, including a tragically entrapped scientist within the crystalline walls, adding layers of emotional and ethical complexity to their already daunting task.
Looking at the station layout, they suspected that the alternative route would take them back to the rest of the New Seekers. They resolved to press forward, hoping to mitigate the cosmic threats they unveiled, preparing themselves for potentially dire confrontations, whether with the forces of nature or the possibly uncontainable powers unleashed by human ambition. As they entered the next chamber, something angular, crystalline and unnatural started to emerge from the wall behind them, leaving the fate of Meristo and Demar Doui fate hanging in the balance. Perhaps the rest of the New Seekers will be able to come to their aid...
Source - initially Tabletoprecorder.com, heavily edited for names, clarity and brevity with some parts injected to explain or catch elements missed in the summarising.
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