:: Xenoendospheric Biome Shock : “New Planet Flu” ::
:: An umbrella term for a range of symptoms experienced when encountering new planetary ecology, usually resulting from the interaction of a biological entity's symbiotic microflora and -fauna to the planet’s biosphere. Galactic citizens are inculcated against the biome of major Hub worlds, and outer worlds typically provide a pharmaceutical enhancement to visitors upon arrival that eases the transition. ::
:: In the case of frontier worlds, where transition supplements are not available, it is important to maintain medical supervision, as the development of xenoendospheric biome shock is as unpredictable as a given planet’s evolutionary record. Symptoms range from mild physical distress to, in the most concerning cases, persistent parasitical infection. ::
:: Typical symptoms of non-degenerative cases include:
:: Humans : Gastrointestinal distress, mild mood dysregulation, flaky skin.
:: Yazirians : Tinnitus, light molting, patagium spotting.
:: Vrusk : Joint pain, light vertigo, chiton scaling.
:: Dralasites: Anxiety and appetite loss. ::
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The light of a new day seeps through the thick atmosphere of the planet Volturnus, lighting the dunes and drawing blue shadows around the little camp. Emerging from your crowded tents, you feel the last faint traces of cool night air boil away as the sun immediately raises the temperature of the desert.
Through skill, determination, and luck, you have survived the destruction of the Serena Dawn, and landed on a habitable world. Not only that, but this world was your destination! The job you were hired to do—rescue Leela Jameson’s survey team and continue their mapping—seems like a distant concern at this point. More pressing is your own survival. You do not know where you are in relation to the other escape pods, or if the Serena Dawn’s ansible sent a distress call to civilized space before it was destroyed. There is no reason to believe that rescue is coming. You have some food and some very basic survival gear, but only a few foil packets of water. Kallina points out that, without salt pills, each person will need at least four liters of water a day to survive, double that with exertion. Everyone is at least somewhat injured. The elderly vrusk couple will require medical attention (and, crucially, medical supplies) just to stay alive. Jeeves requires repair.
As your mental checklist continues to mount, the empty desert of Volturnus offers neither succor nor distraction. Nothing moves for as far as you can see, baring the occasional pale orange plume of dust rolling over the dunes. One such dust cloud blows through the camp, and you find the dust curiously light. Wiping it from your face, you hear little popping sounds. It appears to be very small hollow structures that are carried easily by the wind. They break with the slightest pressure, leaving a minute trace of sticky sap. Bertie recalls the clouds filled with plant-forms, and hypothesizes that these little motes must be part of their life cycle, or at least part of the same phylum of airborne vegetation.
Taking turns ascending the tallest dune with the macrobinoculars, you examine the surrounding area. You mostly see a desolate waste of sand and rock, broken here and there by patches of light green—clusters of flat-leafed plants like filled lily pads.
However, about 8 km to the east, the low-angled sunlight catches something with different lines than either dune or rocky outcropping. Could it be a structure?
To the south, you see a bright line running along the horizon, fairly sparkling in the sun. It is too bright and indistinct to identify.
To the southwest are distant mountains, their brown tips wavering in the heat distortion of the atmosphere.
Coming down from the dune, you hear coughing, sneezing, and farting coming from the tents. New planet flu.
Everyone, please roll a check to resist the new planet flu! +1 for Tough.
I'm giving everyone 1 Hit back from presumed medical ministrations in the night, and as a new chapter bonus!
PCs
Kallina: 2 of 5 Hits.
Bertie: 2 of 4 Hits.
Skur Vonn: 2 of 4 Hits.
Goran: 2 of 4 Hits.
NPCs
Jeeves: 0 of 1 Hits. (deactivated)
Hilberth: 1 of 1 Hits.
Interlocutor Kdantk: 1 of 1 Hits.
Kallt'kan & Chrt'kltal: 1 of 1 Hits.
What do you do?
Next Update: Friday! Monday!
