Dead Suns Episode 16

16th Rova, 317 AG (continued)
The party are in the jungles of Ukulam on the planet of Castrovel. The part has just outrun a flock of Yaruk. The party are on the trail of the abducted Doctor Olmehya Solstarni and towards the Oatian Ruins.

The party come across the Rune Obelisk from Halkueem Zan's notes, which have ralyrian figs ground around it. Between the Obelisk and the party are a troop of Kaukariki, creatures that resemble monkeys except with a bat moth and bat-like wing cartilage between the arms and body, allowing gliding, as well as a barbed tail. The Kaukariki like the ralyrian figs and are around the Rune Obelisk. Kaukariki start pokeing and prodding the party. Riggs is angered by the Kaukariki, while Twink tries to be friendly.

The party move towards the Rune Obelisk and the Kaukariki turn hostile and fighting breaks out. The party are taking care of the beasts with ease, but some of the nearby flowers try to hypnotise the party somehow to move towards it, but the party resist, so the fight continues. Twink is horrified by the violence Riggs does upon the Kaukariki.

The last Kaukariki flees, Riggs wants to finish it off, but Twink insists to show it mercy, so Riggs backs down.

Dr Gentoo notices the flowers around the Rune Obelisk and is hypnotised to move closer. Riggs goes to pick Dr Gentoo up to prevent her getting closer, but she avoids the grapple. Dr Gentoo walks up to the flowers and a carnivorous plant creature called a Vracinea emerges and attacks Dr Gentoo.

Riggs attacks the Vracinea, but ends up paralysed. Carmen gets pickpocked by a Kaukariki and then is hypnotised. She walks up to the Vracinea and also gets paralysed. Only Twink, Dr Otter and Io are free, and they shoot from range. A Kaukariki accosts Twink and she runs from it and fires on it.

Gentoon Riggs break free and attack the Kaukariki. Riggs becomes very wounded from the Kaukariki attacks. From the distance Twink and Dr Otter look at the Rune Obelisk. Dr Otter thinks it isn't actually an Obelisk, and walks up to it. He brushes some vines apart and fines an inscription:


 * "Loskialua, monastery of starsong, embassy of the spheres, and Temple of the Twelve."

Dr Otter has no idea what the "Temple of the Twelve" refer to. Twink knows from Halkueem Zan's notes that there is a temple beyond some so-called "Stairs to Eternity" carved into the mountain beyond the Forsaken City.

Riggs concludes the Temple of Twelves is a Temple of Twelves Monkeys, and can be used to solve the mystery of the Gap.

As the party rest, they notice another victim of the Vracinea, a person torn apart (a female lashunta). The person was armed, and Gentoo takes the riffle.

17th Rova, 317 AG
The party pack up camp and head onwards though the jungle.