An Initial Task (Scene 0)

OOC: Mind (1), Mental (1), Essence (1), Mystical (2): Stealth = 1d2+2; Initiative = 1d2+5.

Shaethon tosses his stone, which bounces inward a few hops. The initial change in lighting seems really bright compared to the original darkness; but overall, it only increases the total illumination by about 20%. It is enough to immediately see a typical storage area. There are clay urns and burlap bags hung from rudimentary framework, most made from the long, straight, flower stalks of a common cactus. The clacking noise also immediately increases as the dark-dwelling cause of it skitters away from the light, continuing to make a strangely pitched tapping noise, which is obviously indicative of its irritation.

Unlike wood, which is a natural inhibitor, the bone club of Triasen readily holds the standing node of her electromagnetic manipulation, and the total illumination within the cave increases by 40% more. Not harmed by the light, but highly agitated by it, the several desert scorpions that have evidently taken residence within the cave begin to move about in a clear show of aggression, though they do not move closer to the opening, at least not yet. It is a guarantee that any closer movement will trigger an attack.

Mystical Tasks

OOC: Eagle's intention is to augment himself, making his skin harder, and (hopefully) increasing his strength. He will approach the nearest scorpion, and attempt to smash its body with his foot, while at the same time, grabbing the tail, and giving it a sharp twist, in an effort to rip off the stinger before the scorpion has a chance to use it. I am not sure how many of these actions I can attempt in a single move; I will list the rolls, and then let the DM figure out how many turns it will take to accomplish all of them.

It is not really known if any of the party can literally augment physical abilities or if it is merely a mystically motivated jolt of adrenaline or simply psychological. There is no visual change; but especially for Internalist, the talent to mystically augment physical combat and defense is reflexive, instantaneous, and functions as long as consciousness remains, and each person immediately feels better about the impending confrontation.Shaethon crosses in front of Águila and moves in coordination with Triasen, who swings her club at the first scorpion to charge her, while Shaethon tries to stomp at his. There are at least 6 scorpions. With them constantly moving around the other contents of the storage cave, it is difficult to know the exact count. Águila stays closer to the left side wall as he moves forward. A scorpion races out from behind an urn and clambers up the wall to launch itself at him. The thought of his foot disappears as if it never was, in that fraction of a second, and he reflexively punches at the beast. Another scorpion appears from the far right and makes its way toward Elzian.

As the scorpions skitter back and forth, Shaethon stomps his foot forward, Triasen smashes her club down, Águila punches with his right hand, and Elzian loads his sling. The voracious little monsters are fast, way too fast. Everyone misses their first opportunity and finds two scorpions attached and stinging. The physical sting is merely an irritation. It hurts but does no real damage. The neurotoxin, however, is more of a problem.

Reflexively, since Shaethon and Triasen were already concentrating on light, the four scorpions that sting them are immediately electrocuted upon contact, blasting them back away. Not currently focused on light, Águila and Elzian both default to generating heat. The instantly cooked beasts fall to the ground. Eight scorpions, the whole pod, are down. This registers before vision blurs, and everyone loses consciousness.

Scorpion stings are not fatal, not even to smaller animals. Most people who have been stung recover in about a day. With the rare mystical talent that has been imbued upon the four investigators, their down time is far shorter. Once everyone is awake and rises to at least a sitting position, Triasen’s club and the illuminated stone have gone dark, but the daylight outside indicates that it is about midday. Only a couple of hours, three at the most, have been lost. The storage room smells of cooked scorpion, which is not only edible as Triasen had previously voiced, but considered a delicacy.

OOC: Eagle shakes his head and blinks his eyes forcefully about 3 or 4 times. He was unprepared for how fast the toxin would work, and also for how effective it seems to have been. The party of investigators has triumphed, but it could have easily gone the other way.

Wasting no time, Eagle tries to gather as much scorpion meat as he can; he takes off his shirt, and lays it flat, so as to be able to place the meat on a clean surface, rather than on the dirt floor.


Eagle says, "We should also check the contents of the items stored here, to ensure that the containers are sealed and unbroken. If the scorpions have displaced anything, we should put it back in its proper place. Also, we should try to collect the stingers and the claws. They might prove useful, to people such as us, who have the talent to use them properly, if you guys know what I mean."

Two scorpions are enough to make a meal, and there are 8, all cooked pefectly by heat or shock. Each character can eat his fill, as the meat will not keep. Unlike beetles, the exoskeletons of scorpions do not have a commercial use, but the stingers have a practical application for leather working and would be appreciated as a worn talisman. All 8 are intact and collectible.Triasen quickly realizes that the chitinous exoskelteton has become rather brittle in death and will continue to deteriorate to become like chalk. It can be ground into powder, which might be good for ceremonial decoration, but no other use for it is currently known. The stinger and last segment of the tail remain hard, like an animal tooth or claw.

It is known that scorpions eat insects and tiny animals. Their presence was an unfortunate encounter, though getting rid of them was still beneficial to the settlements that use the storage cave. The scorpions have displaced some of the evidence that remains inside the crevice; but lead by Elzian, it is observed that holes have been cut in some of the satchels that hold grain, and a few broken bits of tubers are littered about. It seems very likely that tiny rodents are the cause, especially with finding the desiccated remains of a couple of their carcasses. Perhaps the scorpions eliminated that problem, but further investigation will be needed to know for certain.

After taking one of the stingers for himself, and adding it to his necklace, Eagle offers the other stingers to the rest of the party. He adds, "The ones we don't use, we can sell. I've heard they're useful for leatherworking.

After eating his fill, Eagle begins to study the tracks inside the cave, and to carefully search for more rodent carcasses. He wants to make sure that the rodents were indeed the primary source of the problem.