STATIC: FUTURESHOCK

General Summary

Wherein Tridge finds herself in an strangely familiar environment

Welcome Travelers

Tridge has, once again, come to herself in a unfamiliar place, with no sign of her fellow detectives of The Interdimensional Blinkerton Detective Agency in sight. What is in sight is a massive sphere hurling toward her location at an alarming pace. Thanks to a warning offered from a new voice, she--along with some other travelers who have found themselves in this odd land--was able to jump out of the way just as the ball crashed into the ground and into something that voice called the "Black Echo."
Looking around, Tridge found that, not only was her entire being totally pixeled, but every other living thing in this world was, apparently, as well. This included her newfound companions:

• Axl Scabeater, a goblin handy with a bow
• Meander, a tiefling paladin
• Iruki Hacka, a barbarian who prefers to travel light

The voice that offered them that warning belonged to someone calling themselves the Verg (or the Vergness, Vergainro, the Vergster) and, as much as anyone is, he functions as the guide of this place. His reasoning is that he just knows that he is supposed to be here and supposed to help. He knows that in the same way that he knows that our adventurers are supposed to leave this place. Sounds great! How do they do that?
Well, they need to ascend to a place called Szembic's Rift and travel through the giant purple eye that seems to look down on everything in this place. But our heroes can't just climb up a well-traveled path because there isn't any path. Instead, they'll have to use a modified hand-crossbow called the Hawser Hurler to attach themselves to the giant spheres as they rocket back toward the eye and hope for the best.

Through the Future

Armed with that knowledge, Axl armed himself with the Hawser Hurler. His successful shot allowed our heroes to an ascending sphere and detach themselves somewhere in an area called the "Steps of the Colossus." There, they faced down some unhappy flameskulls and emerged victorious from the combat.
Throughout all of this, Tridge got the eerie feeling that this altogether strange place was somehow familiar to her. And that there was some sort of deity-like figure observing all of this. Unsure of what to make of that, our heroes once again took to the skies aboard a rising sphere and, after detaching, found themselves in the company of a halfling knight named Dapplemark Truedance, who was sworn to protect his unworthy liege lord, Nordreck the Severe, as punishment for violating his oath to his order, the Legion of the Burnt Banner. Unfortunate! Our heroes listened to his tale, and partook of his hospitality in the form of a stew. It is worth noting that Tridge tripped utter balls after eating and came face-to-face, so to speak, with Sharkbait, playing her steamball game FUTURE SHOCK. It all started to make sense--somehow, Tridge has Displaced inside the steamball game itself. The spheres that our heroes are traveling on are actually steamballs put into play by Sharkbait. With an urging for him to "just play better!," Tridge returned to her body and let her companions know the deal. Apparently, all three of them were in the same arcade in Port Bellows, so I guess that tracks? Leaving Dapplemark to his waiting, our crew hitched a ride up to the ominously named Ill Stars.
There, they landed among some ruins and were immediately attacked by two helmed horrors. Whatever these constructs guarded has long since vanished, but that did not diminish their zeal for a fight. With another plea to Sharkbait to play better to ensure they can make it to the Rift, our adventurers traveled again, and discovered the displeasure of a barlgura who also chose violence. This was a messy contest, and it became clear that our explorers needed to get to and through the Rift sooner rather than later as they are quickly losing both blood and energy.

Through Szembic's Rift

Luckily, Sharkbait rose to the occasion and fired off a steamball perfectly placed to get them right where they needed to go, which was up to the roaming eye called Szembic's Rift. As nothing can be easy in this world, that eye was protected by a many-eyed guardian, who latched themselves to the traveling steamball and attacked. Our heroes were, yet again, victorious and fulfilled the destiny that the Verg had ordained for them--they left.

Tridge came to herself in yet another unfamiliar place--a clearing amidst a dense forest. But this time, she saw some familiar faces--both Hypatia and Nero Rubicant were there. But not Corinna Himmelswander. She thought this strange until another figure emerged from the darkness of the woods to say hello. He introduced himself as Fritz.

And That's Where We Left It

The journey of the heroes of FUTURESHOCK continues elsewhere. Perhaps we'll see them again someday.

Varied & Sundry Details

• Tridge and her companions also attended, briefly, a warlock wedding. It was nice.
• Speaking of her companions, it is unclear where they went. Hopefully back to Port Bellows. Maybe Tridge could check in on them from time to time.
• Tridge did not come through Szembic's Rift unchanged. Traveling through the eye changed Tridge's eye, offering a Game Changer Eye in its stead. Who knows how this might develop?

Rewards Granted

• Game Changer's Eye

Character(s) interacted with

• the Verg, the Vergness, the Vergerino--FUTURESHOCK "guide"
• Dapplemark Truedance--knight of the League of the Burnt Banner, first Protector of Nordreck the Severe

Report Date

15 Jan 2023