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The Lost Worlds Campaign - Story 4 Play Report
Expedition 3 - Leave All Else To The Gods
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characters
- Carolyn Fry (female) Captain of the UNCSS Solovetsky Island.
- William J. Johns (male) Head security on the UNCSS Solovetsky Island.
- Paris P. Ogilvie (male) Head scientist astrophysicist on the UNCSS Solovetsky Island.
- John Ezekiel (Male NPC) Roughneck on the UNCSS Solovetsky Island.
- Jackie Griffith (female NPC) Research associate xenobiologist on the UNCSS Solovetsky Island.
- Miss Sophie (female NPC) is a Ava series synthetic on the UNCSS Solovetsky Island and must assist the crew.
- Lee Taylor (male NPC) is CEO of Kelland Mining Company and he wants the secrets of the region. He's aboard the UNCSS Solovetsky Island.
- John Hathaway (male NPC) is a sergeant working for the Throop Rescue and Recovey. He is here to provide marines support as part of the Great Mother mission.
- Chester Norton (male NPC) is a corporal working for the Throop Rescue and Recovey. He is here to provide marines support as part of the Great Mother mission.
- Anne Navaro (female NPC) is a private first class working for the Throop Rescue and Recovey. He is here to provide marines support as part of the Great Mother mission.
- Draper Brown (male NPC) is a private first class working for the Throop Rescue and Recovey. He is here to provide marines support as part of the Great Mother mission.
- Manisha Kiran (female NPC) is a Colony Supervisor for the Great Mother Expedition.
- Charlie (16yo female NPC) is a survivor of the Daran Bako colony.
- Chris (14yo male NPC) is a survivor of the Daran Bako colony.
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THE NEW MISSION

The humming of the ship's systems is momentarily interrupted by a distinct beep as the communication panel on the UNCSS Solovetsky Island lights up. Miss Sophie, the ship's synthetic, swiftly processes the incoming signal, recognizing it as a transmission from UNCSS Iyanla. She promptly announces over the intercom, "Captain Fry, urgent communication from Gaius on the Iyanla. Please proceed to the bridge."
Captain Carolyn Fry, clad in her uniform, quickly makes her way to the bridge, where the crew is already assembling. The holographic image of Gaius materializes on the main viewscreen, his android features calm but with a sense of urgency.
"Greetings, Captain Fry. I bring news from the Iyanla," Gaius starts, his synthetic voice resonating through the bridge's speakers. "We've successfully established strong settlements at Brahms Colony KOI-817.01 and Gorham Colony KOI-2650.01. The UNCSS Iyanla High Council has deemed the potential threats of Mother Ma'Kayla's group and the Perfected too significant to ignore. We cannot afford to underestimate the situation. Be on your guard and communicate any information you find. We will protect the colonies we have discovered."
Captain Fry nods, absorbing the gravity of the situation. "Understood, Gaius. We'll stay vigilant and report any developments. Anything else we should be aware of?" Gaius pauses for a moment, his artificial eyes processing data.
"Yes, we have a new mission for you," Gaius declares, his synthetic voice resonating through the bridge. "As you know, our mission is to colonize this sector. The third planet of the KOI-1966 system is suitable for colonization. We launched a long-range survey scan which has just confirmed everything for us. There is even an active beacon still on the planet."
Captain Fry leans forward, intrigued by the new task at hand. "What's the mission, Gaius?" Gaius responds, "Governor Abantu has taken a close personal interest in this project. Your mission is to accompany the HMCSS Majesty, a Corvus Class ship, with its mission leader, the colony supervisor Manisha Kiran, and establish a new colony on KOI-1966.03. Kiran has a group of 50 settlers with her aboard the Majesty. We are too busy to travel at the moment. It's up to you. Make sure everything goes well. As I said, Governor Abantu is monitoring this loan mission. Don't let him down."
Captain Fry nods. "Understood, Gaius. We'll ensure the success of this mission. As the holographic transmission fades, Captain Fry turns to her crew. "Prepare for departure. This is a crucial mission, and Governor Abantu is watching. Let's make sure we lay the foundation for a successful colony. Miss Sophie, coordinate with the Majesty, and let's get going." The crew springs into action, fueled by the responsibility of shaping the future of the KOI-1966.03 colony.

PRE-COLONY BASE CAMP

The UNCSS Solovetsky Island gracefully enters orbit around the planet KOI-1966.03, its metallic hull gleaming against the cosmic backdrop. In the vacuum of space, the HMCSS Majesty is already in orbit. Supervisor Kiran's voice crackles over the communication system, reaching Captain Fry on the bridge. "Captain Fry, we're glad to have you here. I'm sending you a new shuttle Lander called Paradise One. It should make planetfall smoother for you. Gaius is also dispatching three more marines to assist you—Corporal Norton and Privates Navaro and Brown."
Captain Fry acknowledges the message, "Understood, Supervisor Kiran. We're preparing for planetfall." The crew gathers on the shuttle Paradise One, a sleek vessel designed for exploration. Fry, Johns, Ogilvie, Ezekiel, Griffith, Miss Sophie, Lee Taylor, Sergeant Hathaway, and Prospector Emily Quintana embark on the shuttle. The Paradise One, accompanied by the HMCSS Majesty, descends towards the unexplored planet, leaving the Solovetsky Island in orbit as a cautious backup.
Fry takes control of the shuttle's pilot seat and initiates a survey scan as they breach the atmosphere. "Let's see what this planet has in store for us," she mutters, eyes focused on the scanner readings. A weak signal appears on the screen—a faint echo from an old colony locator beacon. The coordinates indicate a location in the Northern Hemisphere, nestled amid mountains and jungles.
The two ships land near the beacon, revealing a deserted colony with six rigid buildings. The fallen beacon lays on its side, a silent witness to the passage of time. Abandoned for what seems like an eternity, the camp holds containers and Daihotai tractors.
As the crew disembarks, they gather in the center of the desolate camp. Captain Fry finally meets Supervisor Manisha Kiran in person, extending a hand in greeting. "Captain Carolyn Fry, at your service. What happened to this place?" Fry inquires, glancing around at the remnants of the forgotten colony.
Kiran, wearing an expression of both curiosity and concern, responds, "Welcome, Captain Fry. This colony, once vibrant, fell silent a long time ago. We're here to uncover the mysteries that lie beneath the surface. Let's explore and find out what secrets this forsaken place holds."

THE DARAN BAKO COLONY

The atmosphere around the campsite is a flurry of activity as Supervisor Kiran's teams diligently work to unload equipment from the HMCSS Majesty. In the heart of the operations center building, Captain Fry, Supervisor Kiran, Miss Sophie, Lee Taylor, and Emily Quintana gather to discuss their initial findings.
Miss Sophie, her synthetic eyes focused, reports to Captain Fry, "One of the buildings is completely collapsed, and the other five are damaged. We found evidence that some of the damage wasn't caused by weather conditions." Fry furrows her brow, seeking clarification. "What does that mean, Miss Sophie?"
Miss Sophie responds, "There were signs of fights, Captain. Metal bulkheads were smashed. It appears the colony experienced some form of conflict." Lee Taylor chimes in, "And there's a lot of supplies and equipment left in the containers. Everything seems to have been abruptly abandoned."
Emily Quintana interjects, "I found a data pad belonging to the team leader, Daran Bako. Miss Sophie and I plan to analyze it this evening to gather more information."
Supervisor Kiran updates the group, "Preparations to establish the camp and get it back up and running are well underway with my teams. We discovered moderate levels of ultraviolet radiation from the local star, but it's nothing serious. We can correct this with one of the UNCSS Iyanla atmospheric processors."
Kiran continues, "Tomorrow, we can explore the surroundings more thoroughly. To the north, there are mountains with interesting minerals. To the south, there are lakes. To the west, there seem to be plains and wildlife. To the east, there appears to be volcanic activity."
Captain Fry nods, absorbing the information. "Let's reconvene tomorrow after exploring and share our findings. For now, everyone, let's go to dinner." The group disperses, each settling into their respective ships for the night. A dedicated team of settlers continues their nocturnal efforts, preparing the camp for the challenges and discoveries that lie ahead.

THE MORNING

The invitation from Supervisor Kiran for lunch on the HMCSS Majesty is graciously accepted by Captain Fry's group. As they gather in the ship's dining area, Emily Quintana and Miss Sophie share the findings from their analysis of Daran Bako's data pad the previous night.
"According to the data pad, the scouting team is from the Gorham Colony, and they arrived here in 2109. They named this colony Aljanna, meaning Paradise," Emily explains. "The report describes this planet as a paradise, rich in resources. However, their return team never arrived with the necessary supplies. The Great Isolation changed everything. They faced attacks, so they moved the camp west into the jungle, establishing themselves on three secure platforms in the tall trees. We have a direction plan, and it's approximately 25 km away."
Captain Fry absorbs the information, concern etched on her face. "Attacks? Do we have any details about these attacks?" she questions. Miss Sophie responds, "No, Captain. Unfortunately, there are no additional details available."
Ezekiel and Sergeant Hathaway speak up. "We worked together yesterday night and rebuilt a Daihotai tractor. We could use it to reach the tree camp," Ezekiel suggests. Captain Fry nods in agreement. "Good idea. Let's utilize the tractor to inspect the tree camp. We need to understand the situation fully."
Supervisor Kiran interjects, "Captain, I'll stay here at Daran's camp to continue the work. Hathaway and Ezekiel can stay to repair the second Daihotai tractor. We're going to need it. Marines Norton and Navaro will stay for security."
Fry acknowledges Kiran's decision and turns to her team. "Johns, Ogilvie, Griffith, Miss Sophie, Lee Taylor, Emily Quintana, and Marine Draper Brown, you'll be joining me to inspect the tree camp. Let's make sure we're prepared for anything. After lunch, we'll head out and see what we can find." The group finishes their meal, a mix of anticipation and determination in the air, ready to uncover the mysteries that lie within the jungle canopy.

TREE CAMP

The group embarks on their journey westward to find the camp nestled in the tall trees of KOI-1966.03. The planet reveals its natural beauty, the weather perfect for their exploration. As they traverse the landscape, alien quadrupeds, resembling deer, gracefully roam the surroundings. Captain Fry observes, "These creatures must have natural defenses to protect them from predators."
"According to the plan, we've arrived," announces Emily Quintana. Lee Taylor stops the Daihotai tractor, and the team disembarks. Private first class Draper Brown approaches a nearby stream. "It smells like lavender here," he comments, taking in the refreshing scent.
Emily leads the group to a specific spot and reveals a hidden rope. "It's here," she says, unfurling the rope that leads to a staircase near a towering tree. The team ascends the rope staircase, winding around the tree trunk. They reach a wooden platform halfway up the tree, where tents are arranged close to the trunk, surrounded by crates of supplies and equipment. Water butts are strategically placed. Another rope bridge at the bottom hints at access to another tree.
As the group explores, tensions unexpectedly rise. Private Brown accuses Emily of stepping on his toes. Unfazed, Emily glances at Draper, who suddenly becomes aggressive, pushing everyone. "Shut down, I can't breathe in this tree anymore," he exclaims. Johns senses the severity of the situation and approaches Draper. The atmosphere becomes charged when Draper takes out a knife, gesturing wildly. In the chaos, he injures Emily Quintana in the neck.
Johns swiftly lunges at Draper to immobilize him. Amidst the commotion, two children arrive via the rope bridge—a tall girl and a young boy. The girl urgently states, "We have to tie this man up. He was poisoned by river mushrooms, in my opinion. The spores make people crazy and rabid."
Ogilvie rushes to tend to Emily Quintana, but the wound proves too deep, and she succumbs. The team now faces the aftermath of this unexpected tragedy, caught between grief and the realization that they are not alone in this once-hidden paradise.

THE LAST SURVIVORS

The group sits in somber silence on the wooden platform within the massive tree. The story begins as Charlie, a determined young girl, and her brother Chris unfold the tale of survival. Their eyes hold the weight of sorrow, remnants of a past marked by abandonment and relentless attacks.
"We are the last survivors of Daran Bako's group. We came from the Gorham colony to colonize this world," Charlie begins, her voice carrying the weight of their shared struggles. "The rescue mission never returned from Gorham. We were abandoned. Terrible creatures have attacked us. Merciless beasts, about 7 feet tall." Fry and Johns share a glance, recognizing the gravity of their situation.
"We moved the camp here, but the attacks continued. Now, only me and my brother are left. The creatures have not returned since," Charlie continues, her eyes reflecting the pain of loss and survival.
Fry speaks, "We haven't seen these creatures either." Lee Taylor, intrigued, poses a question to Charlie. "Have you seen ruins on this planet? Ruins of civilization."
Charlie nods solemnly. "Yes, our archaeologists found a lost city in the ground to the east, about 50 km away." Lee Taylor and Ogilvie exchange a knowing look. Charlie adds, "I can take you there if you want."
Fry decides, "For now, we'll take you back to the ship so you can take a hot bath and a real meal." The group gathers, leaving the wooden platform, and boards the Daihotai tractor, setting course towards Supervisor Kiran's camp. The air is filled with a mix of curiosity, determination, and the weight of newfound responsibilities.

RUINS OF CIVILISATION

As Fry's group returns to the colony supervisor Kiran's camp, a somber atmosphere permeates the air. Private Draper Brown's lifeless form lies motionless. Charlie, matter-of-factly, explains, "That's normal. River mushrooms spores can cause this. I'm sorry."
In the evening, Captain Fry contacts Pilot Andi Dudge aboard the UNCSS Solovetsky Island. "Tomorrow, we are going to see some ruins to the east. There may be hostile creatures on the planet. Remain on alert for an emergency landing, just in case," Fry instructs. Dudge responds affirmatively.
The next day, the group sets out with two Daihotai tractors towards the ruins. Fry, Johns, Ogilvie, Ezekiel, Griffith, Miss Sophie, Lee Taylor, Hathaway, Norton, Navaro, Supervisor Kiran, Charlie, and Chris make up the team. Charlie guides Lee Taylor through the intricate route.
The tractors arrive at a vast clearing. Everyone disembarks, and Lee Taylor, Supervisor Kiran, and Professor Ogilvie are captivated by the site. Millennia of weathering and erosion conceal the ruins beneath. Surrounded by mountains, Lee Taylor notes, "I detect a significant increase in temperature here but no signs of volcanic activity."
Charlie addresses the group, cautioning, "It's this way. Do not go to the center of the clearing; it's a chasm of several meters, a deep void. The entrance is here on the mound to the south. There's a tunnel, an underground access." Supervisor Kiran examines the ground, noticing animal tracks. The mystery deepens as they stand on the precipice of discovery.

THE UNDERGROUND AND THE SONG

The spiral stone staircase descends deep into the underground labyrinth. The tunnels, abandoned for many years, reveal traces of ancient history. Natural blue lights emanate from crevices in the walls, guiding the group through the mysterious passages. As they progress, the tunnels open into a massive 300-meter cavern, teeming with plant life and mud. A tunnel to the right leads to a vast room adorned with six towering statues placed upon an altar.
Lee Taylor, Supervisor Kiran, and Professor Ogilvie approach the statues with a sense of awe. Ogilvie suggests, looking at Captain Fry, "We could spend hours here. We need to look into this." Lee Taylor and Kiran move closer to the statues, and Lee Taylor observes engraved representations of various life forms, including an Arcturian and a xenomorph. However, a third, majestic form catches his attention—an organic blend of a humanoid xenomorph with a powerful and beautiful expression.
Suddenly, soft flute music fills the cavern, accompanied by a gentle blue light. Miss Sophie, covering her ears, collapses to the floor, unconscious. The entire group experiences a shared vision—a dream of an engineer's creation. They witness the forging of two living beings: a xenomorph and another exquisite creature with a humanoid xenomorph form. Engineers call them the Perfected, the Fulfremmen. In the dream, the group understands that these are the creations of the engineers. The two beings dance, portraying a beauty beyond comprehension. The engineers, unable to control their creations, depart the planet in a fiery ark called The Lychgate.
As the vision fades, everyone wakes up, finding that several hours have passed. Captain Fry addresses the group, "We had a collective dream. We need to share this with the others and determine our next steps." The cavern echoes with a mix of wonder and uncertainty as the group grapples with the revelations unveiled in their shared dream.

THE NEST

Lee Taylor proposes a different interpretation of their collective experience. "No, I don't think it was a dream. We were shown the past. The engineers read us a book of their history, I think."
Miss Sophie regains her composure and approaches Ogilvie, stating, "We have to find a way to block this music, it was like with Mother Ma'Kayla. I lost all my functions."
Behind the six statues in the center, a spiral stone staircase descends even lower, marked as the Gallery of Ages with the three cultivation chambers. On the descent, the group notices a peculiar smell, reminiscent of methane gas. Lee Taylor warns, "Be careful, no match lights here." As they descend, a view of the three rooms unfolds. The first two are empty, but the third room reveals slight movement. Charlie warns, "It's the beasts that attacked us." It's a xenomorph nest, with a Queen lying in a corner, surrounded by 50 ovomorph eggs. Several human bodies are affixed to the walls with resin, and two large Praetorian xenomorphs lie near the queen, accompanied by 25-30 xenomorph drones. Lee Taylor and Professor Ogilvie signal a quiet retreat, recognizing the imminent danger. The xenomorphs remain unaware.
Back in the statue room, Captain Fry instructs everyone to swiftly return to the surface. Suddenly, six large black dogs with xenomorph-like appearances descend from the balcony, barking menacingly. One of the dogs leaps onto Corporal Norton, fatally biting his neck. Johns reacts quickly, telling Hathaway and Navaro, "Let's shoot them." The group is thrust into a fight for survival against these xenomorph-infused creatures. A great shudder is heard from lower down.

THE ESCAPE

In the face of the xenomorph-infused dogs, Johns, Hathaway, and Navaro unleash a barrage of gunfire, their M41A pulse rifles resonating through the underground chambers. Three black dogs collapse lifeless, revealing no acidic blood, confirming they are not true xenomorphs.
Captain Fry attempts to call the UNCSS Solovetsky Island, but interference disrupts the communication channels. Miss Sophie, alert to the approaching xenomorphs from the Gallery of Ages, acts swiftly. She grabs five grenades and hurls them down the stairs. The group races through the vast tunnel of the 300-meter room.
Tragedy strikes as two black dogs viciously attack Private Navaro, causing her agonizing demise. Johns and Hathaway manage to eliminate the remaining three black dogs. The grenades detonate, causing a massive explosion fueled by methane gas. The blast propels Hathaway into the wall, breaking his neck. Johns narrowly escapes the fiery inferno.
The group emerges from the tunnel onto the surface, and Captain Fry, regaining communication, contacts the UNCSS Solovetsky Island. The ship, piloted by Andi Dudge, lands near the clearing, allowing everyone to board. Supervisor Kiran contacts her team leader from the Daran Bako colony, and the HMCSS Majesty hastily takes off too, departing the troubled planet KOI-1966.03.
Returning to orbit, Captain Fry and Lee Taylor cast one last glance toward the clearing of the temple of engineers. Black smoke billows from the gaping hole in the center, and xenomorphs roam the surface. Miss Sophie solemnly remarks to Fry and Lee Taylor, "This planet is no longer a paradise." The once-promising world now stands tarnished by the horrors unleashed from its depths.

END OF EPISODE.

Cinematic designs here: https://www.reddit.com/r/alienrpg/comme ... ay_report/

More stuff and designs here: https://www.deviantart.com/arthurdallas/gallery

Enjoy your games,

Arthur.

Hi Arthur

Cinematic designs here: https://www.reddit.com/r/alienrpg/comme ... ay_report/

More stuff and designs here: https://www.deviantart.com/arthurdallas/gallery

Enjoy your games,

Arthur.

Wow, so well written, and evocative art, as always!

Thanks!
DX

Thank you Deus, a very big thank you for your comments.

Arthur.

Yeah, sorry I haven't spoken up more - the write ups are fantastic and I get a laugh from all the character names.
Kind of see where the inspirations come from ... so good.

And the artwork and maps.
Well... its hard to overstate how helpful those are to rounding out the stories and providing cool stuff to prompt the player imagination.
There are a lot of amazing and creative folks hiding among the posts on this forum site - and you're definitely one of top ones Cap'n!

If Free League ever creates a "fan showcase" type gallery for their games ... you should just give them your login to simplify the copying ...

Many thanks for your support and comments ExileInParadise. Yes, the crew of the Hunter-Gratzner arrived on the Solovetsky Island, it’s very funny for us too.

We are imaginative and creative in life for ourselves first. It is certain that having a certain recognition from others and from our equals is a great pleasure. I'll say it again, we do all this first and foremost for our gaming table and after that it's a pleasure to share it with everyone.

FREE LEAGUE's Alien RPG product is a fantastic product and we fell out of our chairs when it came out. It’s a great pleasure to be part of this community.

Arthur.

Let me just add to the praise choir that your gaming reports are immensely valuable to others, _ArthurDallas_. Alien RPG scenarios can be a bit daunting to prapare, and having the option of looking over how other gaming groups did it is a great resource; not to mention the maps and stuff you create. Please do keep it up, mate

A very big thank you to you too my accomplice Angelman. We're going to try to make and write great stories again. Many thanks for your feedback and recognition.

Arthur.