For the next mission, having now been well paid by Adamant Arch Planetary for the retrieval of their computer core and a political/commercial prisoner Anastasia Eldrick, the crew sets their sights on Anastasia’s spaceship - The Long Goodbye - as a means to travel out of atmosphere and up to the planet of Ash hanging in the sky above.
They set off to the Opal Shore region, where The Long Goodbye is parked in the Sapphire Facility space port.
Mission Report
Trading Faces
During downtime, the crew cashes in both the computer core and Anastasia (their prisoner) with Adamant Arch, earning them a large paycheck, and the ability to refit their crawler to tier 4. With that done, they set about upgrading their mechs now that they have access to all tier 4 components for crafting.
They also take some time to talk to Lost AGLA’s automata core, and learn some information about the old republic and the Meld (which the Republic knew as the Formulate). They also acquire a “key” to the facility in the gas giant far above, although this complex data packet to be transmitted in to the system resists any attempts to sift through it.
With this done, Steve whips up a disguise: he will become Elphantasia Eldrick, a minor scion of the XIIth house. They also decide to bring Mabel - one of Anastasia’s retainers. She has been issued the equivalent of a quad bike in mech terms, a small pair of exo-legs, from the VCL’s stores.1
Welcome to the Jungle (Literal)
Stepping out from the hangar bays of the VCL, the crew moves out into the thick pine forest. The heady green scent mixes with the ocean’s sharp salt wind, and the cries of animals moving through the trees calls out. The sun is high in the sky, but clouds on the horizon are rolling steadily closer.
After a while, the crew comes across a small clearing, and the soft lowing of a small herd of aurochs. These giant mega-fauna herbivores seem relaxed, from a distance at least, but the gang catches sight of a skittering in the undergrowth. A pack of large insectoid creatures are moving around, and Mabel hastily explains these are jabberwockys.
The crew waits to see what will happen, when suddenly the jabberwockys spring from the undergrowth and leap onto an aurochs, and the herd panics, quickly picking up speed straight towards the crew waiting in their mechs.
Thinking fast, and embodying the upper-class hunter type he’s impersonating with his disguise, Steve opens fire on the herd - aiming for the creature the jabberwockys have launched themselves onto. He hits, after overcharging, and brings it down.
The herd is still stampeding, so he fires off another quick round, and brings down another auroch with a leg shot, driving the rest of the herd away in a different direction. Jack moves in to finish the creature off, but senses the approach of a number of huge insects. As he approaches they begin to scuttle out from between the trunks toward him. He backs of hastily, just as a much more massive jabberwocky lumbers out toward the still lowing auroch bleeding profusely onto the forest floor.
Welcome to the Jungle (Figurative)
Moving further through the forest, spying huge lumbering logging platforms swaying over the trees in the distance, the crew eventually breaks out onto the shore as the clouds open. Here they see the brutal concrete fortress of the Sapphire Facility Shore-Side Campus.
Approaching, papers are checked, and all seems to be in order. The crew is given access to the local comms network, and Steve pulls rank as Elphantasia to secure replacement parts for his mech, which he burnt out while firing off shots at the Aurochs (really unlucky overheat rolls).
From here, the crew makes their way over to the lift down to the tunnel at 4.2, and are directed to the visitor zone on the elevator. Here, the crew see two mechs with them. On the descent down, these two dismount and the crew see a man with a large set of mutton chops and a black woman with a big afro. Mabel hisses out over comms that this is Butler Horace Powell, of the IIIrd house, head butler to Lord Julius. She does not recognise the woman with him, but the crew is already mighty spooked by the appearance of a man they know they ripped off once before2.
Once in the tunnel (below the water it appears somewhat like those big aquarium walk-through tunnels) the crew moves off, making their way to the elevator on the opposite side. On the way, they spy something truly massive shifting through the murky kelp forests around them.
Is this normal?
[blurry picture of giant sea creature]
Is posted to the local servant comms channel.
Don’t worry about the eel!
[23 cry laugh react, 3 100 emoji react, 9 eel emoji react]
No, no, no! I said a Bloody Mary
Now, above ground (or the ocean now actually) and back in the driving rain, the crew moves on. They ask for the location of The Long Goodbye and learn it is over in the west hangar. Unfortunately, Elphantasia is issued an official summons to the welcome ceremony for Enscion Nor Torpor. This is, with regrets, mandatory.
The ceremony is not for another hour or so, but their is a small private lounge for VIPs. Perhaps Elphantasia deserves a drink for her hard work so far? (Shooting two herbivores, and being a total wretch to Jack - which is at least on character for the typical Regalia Scion).
Inside, Jack is directed to fetch Steve (keeping up that Elphantasia disguise perfectly). The entire rest of this scene is underscored by an increasingly ridiculous ongoing farce as Steve keeps insisting Jack has retrieved the wrong drink, while drinking each one brought over3. He ends this scene phenomenally drunk.
At the bar, the rest of VCL crew talk to the barman, and glean some gossip. They mention that they spotted Horace Powell here, and the barman says he hadn’t heard of any expected House III delegations - which is mighty suspicious.
Eventually, the ceremony is due to begin.
Enter Nor
As the rain continues to lash out, the crew lines up in the stalls. The start of the welcome ceremony will see Nor walk out past ranked Regalia Military, with the few Scions and their immediate households (along with “Elphantasia” and the rest of the crew) seated in a covered set of stands. He will then be formally greeted and welcome by Ithaca Kryve in a short ceremony.
As the East Hangar doors open, the crew spies the heavily gilt robed Nor begin to walk out with his small retinue. As he walks down, Mabel points out a small glint on a rooftop some distance away.
A sharp crack, dulled by the incessant rainfall. A spray of blood out backwards from Nor, he crumples to the ground.
In the chaos that follows many things happen quickly. Athena activates her heat vision, picking out a heavy set figure running along the rooftops. Jack zeroes in with his sniper rifle, calls out return fire over comms (smart) and takes a shot - hitting but not felling the figure. The VCL crew scrambles out of their seats (picking up Steve, who is exceedingly sloshed) and starts to sprint toward their mechs parked back near 5..
They mount up, and set off sprinting towards the west hangar, and there through the open door they spot Millie Maxx, sitting in the open cockpit of her mech. Gert charges forward as the hatch slides open, and slams into the Assert False.
Exit Stage Left
Violence begins, and swiftly ends as Steve disables the mechs legs with a swift pinpoint-targetted needle missile. The crew orders Millie to dismount, which she does, and Steve tranqs her. That gun’s coming in super useful.
With that problem dealt with, and Horace nowhere to be seen (he got shot, and is limping to cover), the crew load up into The Long Goodbye after Mabel pops open the main hatch. The ship powers up, as the base continues to devolve into chaos. Jack radios the control tower for permission to take off, and successfully convinces them that Elphantasia needs to be taken to safety.
With that, the ship powers away, illuminated by the Lighthouse through the pouring rain, and back to the VCL.
Outcomes
- Secured The Long Goodbye.
- Regalia Luxe forces local to the system in major disarray.
Adventure Setup
Main feature
Regalia Luxe Research Base and Space Port
Threats
- Brute: Electrophorus
- Tyrant: Regalia Luxe VI House
- Environmental: Jabberwocky Infestation
Groups
- Regalia Luxe Bio Research Base
- Opal Shore Arcology
- Maxim Kryve, Scion of the VIth House
- Opus researchers
- Red Rum Alight Crew
Weather
| Roll | |
|---|---|
| 20 | Golden sun |
| 11-19 | Clear skies |
| 6-10 | Rain |
| 2-5 | Heavy rainstorm, reduce visibility |
| 1 | Typhoon |
Random Encounters
On the land:
| Roll | |
|---|---|
| 20 | A small Opus team is attempting to catch a Jabberwocky. |
| 16-19 | A survey party is travelling back to the Opal Shore Dome, with minor security detail. |
| 11-15 | A small group of lumberjacks are working or out lost in the scar. They are quite loudly talking dissent over comms. |
| 6-10 | A small pack of Jabberwocky are hunting a large native herbivore (Aurochs). You can spot them stalking through the trees, the Aurochs seems not to have noticed. |
| 2-5 | A Jabberwocky pack is flushed from hiding by a small Regalia Hunting party. They are smashing over the ground directly toward you. |
| 1 | Regalia security forces are severely on edge, and are stalking you in search of their missing charge. |
On the ocean & islands:
| Roll | |
|---|---|
| 18-20 | A small-sub from the Red Rum Alight surfaces nearby hailing over the comms. |
| 11-17 | A Regalia science team is on a boat, or the shore, waving you away from their sample site. |
| 4-10 | A Regalia Luxe security detail is powering through the waves, you are getting too close to the yacht of ???. |
| 1-3 | The huge shadow of Electrophorus moves beneath the waves, scything towards you. |
Locations
1 The Deep Forest
The forest is dark and stately, filled with the calls and cries of creatures in their natural habitat.
The forest has large logging platforms moving about it, they make a cacophonous sound, and stalk above the tall trees belching fumes.
2 Opal Shore Dome
The seat of a Regalia Luxe Dome. This dome is primarily a logging operation, felling the forests for luxury goods to be shipped off-world, where wood is less common.
3 The Logging Scars
The Eastern side of the mountain has been stripped of the pine forests, and remains as a scoured wasteland. Usually the forestry management of the Opal Shore Arcology would maintain the forest here, but the Jabberwocky infestation has severely hampered general operations, and is preventing re-foresting.
The ground is littered with large holes, and collapsed sections. The ground is somewhat unstable, and moving at full speed here will cause the ground to collapse down into the tunnels below, and attracting a Jabberwocky.
Deep in one of the tunnels, the Opus Institute team is hiding out.
4 Sapphire Facility Shore-Side Campus
The shore side Sapphire facility campus has some minor support buildings, warehouses, and the main garrison buildings.
4.1 Warehouses
These large warehouses mostly house lumber.
4.2 Gate Down
This huge gate leading to the underground tunnel opens and closes relatively slowly. The elevator here slopes down into the ground. It eventually meets a large underwater tunnel.
4.3 Garrison and Ancillary Buildings
This is the site of the main House VI garrison at this port. Support buildings, and some admin.
4.4 Mech Hangar and Engineering
This large mech hangar contains the House VI garrison mechs currently not in use or undergoing refit.
5 Sapphire Facility & Spaceport
Enscion Nor Torpor from the IIIrd house has recently landed in Sapphire. He is touring the facility, a guest of Scion Ithaca Kryve.
Horace Powell is intending to assassinate Nor, he was originally intending to pin the assassination on Anastasia, but with that plan in the toilet he’ll take his chances. An opportunist to the last.
The primary top-side facility is mapped below, but there are 3 layers of science facility below this.
5.1 Gate
This huge gate leads down into the facility, by way of a tunnel. There is a large service elevator coming up from the underwater tunnel.
The elevator makes a stop before coming directly to the service, into the bio-technical lab.
5.2 July Rains
The July Rains is a lifter tug operating from the port.
5.3 Indigo Outline
The Indigo Outline is a lifter tug operating from the port.
5.4 Double The Fun
The Double The Fun is a lifter tug operating from the port.
5.5 West Hangar
The west hangar currently houses the Long Goodbye (Anastasia’s ship), along with various shipping goods and containers.
5.6 East Hangar
The east hangar currently houses the Faultless Blue (Nor Torpor’s personal ship).
5.7 Main Facility
Main facility building containing:
- Primary radio control
- Operations
- VIP lounge
5.8 Storage
Facility external general storage.
5.9 N2-Halberdier Heavy Attack
The Regalia Tactical N2-Halberdier is a brutal and heavyweight close air and high atmosphere attack flier, designed for slow-target heavy armour elimination. Enemy combatants have likened the sound of its flyby as “hell’s own orchestra”. Not the kind of subtle weapon RLT would usually field, but one of relatively few fliers capable of operating in the harsh atmosphere of Ashkar.
5.10 Aircraft Runway
6 Topaz Spar
The sand bar has two Regalia Luxe minor House Kryve member’s retreat houses here. Both houses are in a very petty feud.
7 Amethyst Bridge
The amethyst bridge connects the mainland the Amethyst Lighthouse. The lighthouse bridge is very well guarded, as the lighthouse is the primary defence platform for the local area.
8 Amethyst Lighthouse
9 Outer Islands
The outer islands have a small camp of Red Rum Alight pirates out here. They’re waiting for a deep water shipment to come in, and will attempt to steal it as it approaches shore tomorrow. The boat is called Iceover.
10 The Hive
The central network of tunnels for the Jabberwocky infestation. Here lurks the great queen, deep within the network of the hive.
Groups
Regalia Luxe
Sapphire Garrison
Want: To defend the Sapphire Facility.
Various:
- Osiris Forges
- Contour Hussars
- Rifleman Brawlers
- Longsaddle Gophers
Led by:
- Butler Curt Wells (he/him) - Sellsword Collossus//SIGHT UNSEEN
Opal Shore Survey Crew
Want: To get through the day.
Led by Morticia Kohl.
- Thunder Storm Atlas
- Contour Hussar
- Maggie Magpie
- Sifter Terra
Regalia Hunting Party
Want: To keep their pride and have a good day out.
Hunting Party is:
- Scion Ull Kryve (he/him) - Gladiator Brawler//ULULATION
- Scion Bentham Kryve (he/him) - Opus Gopher//NO REST FOR I
- Scion Dellio Eldrick (he/him) - Needler Photon//BRING ME ANOTHER
- Scion Chavelle Vio (he/him) - Sakura Solo//
Accompanied by:
- Handmaiden Kia Fare (she/they) - Drontek Little Sestra
- Butler Wrex Muller (he/him) - Stefanus Mazone
- Victoria Hells (she/her) - Bastion Atlas
- Serving as guide/security detail
Opal Shore Regalia Naval
Want: To keep the Opal Shore and Sapphire Facility secure.
Tanks, but amphibious.
House III Infiltrators
Want: To kill Nor Torpor, and to get away without being caught.
- Horace Powell (he/him) - Giant Dad Aegis//EVER WATCHFUL Horace is one of Lord Julius’s servants, Lord Julius is Lord of the IIIrd house.
- Millie Maxx (she/her) - Stefanus Mantis//ASSERT FALSE
Opus Institute
Opus Field Team
Want: To capture a jabberwocky.
- Milly Ergo (she/her) - Scrounger Little Sestra//RUSH JOB
- Lottie Mode (she/her) - Smuggler Solo//NOT TOO FAR
- Niles Bolero (he/him) - Battery Mantis//DO NOT TOUCH
- Rei Ayame (she/her) - Deployer Terra//WELL WORN
Red Rum Alight
Red Rum Alight Crew
Want: To steal from the Iceover freight vessel.
- Led by Captain Ox Politic (she/her) - Custom Eidolon//GOD FORBID
- Various Blackbeard Krakens
- Various Buccaneer Brawlers
Jabberwockys
Want: To stay alive and continue to multiply.
Jabberwocky Hunter
- 13 SP
- Move an additional Range Band
- Long Scythe Legs - Melee // 2SP // Multiattack 4
Jabberwocky Bastion
- 25 SP
- Reduce incoming damage by 5 at long range, and 3 at medium range.
- Can take damage instead of jabberwockys hit by attacks in close range.
- Crushing strength - Melee // 5 SP
Jabberwocky Spitter
- 12 SP
- Sticky Gobbets - Medium // 2SP // Burn 2
- After being hit with this attack choose to either: take 2 heat, or become immobilised next turn.
Jabberwocky Tyrant
- 30 SP
- 2x Armour Plating
- Massive Talons - Melee // 6 SP
- On hit everything the tyrant chooses in melee range takes an additional 3 damage (including original target)
Footnotes
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Just basically a nothing so that she can keep up, it doesn’t really matter. This is one thing that frustrates me a bit about SU, I think the game expects me to not handwave stuff like “can this NPC come with you”, with the inclusion of Shotgun Pits etc.. We’re on a crawler of 5000 people and there isn’t a vehicle they can borrow? Sure there is. ↩
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Fortunately they pulled off that heist extremely well, especially under the dust storm, I don’t think Horace has any idea who they are. ↩
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This was genuinely so funny, excellent work all involved. ↩