Dark Flowers, a Coriolis Play Report

A session of  Dark Flowers, this is a Coriolis game from the free quickstart.  

Coriolis is a science-fiction role-playing game set in a remote cluster of star systems called The Third Horizon, its from Fria Ligan, designed by Tomas Härenstam, Nils Karlén, Kosta Kostulas, and Christian Granath. Often Coriolis is referred to as Arabian Knights in space. 

Technically this game was run using the Foundry VTT for maps, character sheets, die rolls and handouts and discord for voice.

Many thanks to Fabio, Ian and Andy for joining me and being such great players.

...Here Be Spoilers...

And the Messenger spoke:

Go forth and find the seed of the Icons – the Flower of heaven. With it you shall bring prosperity to your dying world and save the people from starvation and poverty.

But beware, good pilgrim, there are specimens that have been tainted by the Dark between the stars. These dark flowers bring not prosperity - but misery and death.

THE SEED OF THE ICONS – Suleiman the Elder

Dark Flowers

The Narzalus drifts through the sector, scanners thrum as the inhabitants search for the veritable needle in a haystack.  A ping reverberates around the cabin, Nima is alone on the bridge, she broadcasts through the ship, "Get up here, we've got something, but it's not another ship, it's bigger."

Dr Wana, the Narzalus captain, for want of a better title, curses as she dresses, she's regretting taking this mission, her sixth sense is telling her something is not as it should be.  Still, 10,000 or maybe 20,000 Birr to find a missing scientist and return him or his ship, for The Foundation, sounds straightforward.

Dr Wana and Zebo (engineer) greet each other as they enter the bridge, shortly Samioh (cultural relations) and Rouya (security) join them.  They are all staring at the sensor output, a large possibly station sized object, certainly not a ship is identified.

Royal Dabaran-IARS-18

Zebo rubs his chin, "Boss, that's no ship."  He turns and looks at Wana but she ignores him and leans over Nima (Pilot), "Take us closer hotshot, but not too close, just a gentle fly by."

Nima nods and engages the drive, within minutes the station grows to a clearer view, a strange cloud of biomatter hangs around the structure.  Further sensor readings suggest there is a weak life signal in the biodome of the station.  Wana pulls up her data log and enters the details she's received, the station is ancient, seemingly reported destroyed in The Portal Wars, but that was 100 years ago.  The origin is Dabaran and the structure has some serious damage, likely much of the living quarters are uninhabitable but there is also a dull signal from the core, it is online, though much of the power to other locations seem to have been shut down.

"What is this shit?", Zebo is observing a thin dusting of black particles that have built up on the observation window as they flew closer to the station.  Nima leans back to look at Zebo, "Could be from the biomatter?  I think it's escaped from the station, see the airlock, it's thicker around there."

"Jesus, it's the ship we are looking for, the Shamza!", Nima points at the screen and the information coming up as they pass around the station to the sun side, there is a ship, but it looks dead, black lichen or moss cover it, all emanating from the docking port. A scan shows the ship is indeed the Shamza and there is no sign of power or inhabitants.

Wana barks out orders, "Ok, take us up to the airlock above, it looks clear of that black gunk.  This is what we came for, so let's dock, find Siyab and get out of here.  Nima, take us in."

Nima tries to get an electronic lock from the station, but there is nothing, docking is going to have to be manual.  She brings the Narzalus out and then banks in slowly, aligning with the rotation of the station.  Rockets fire to gently move the Narzalus within inches of the docking port, a final jolt and lights blink green, "We are linked with the station Captain, all systems good."

Wana turns to the crew, "Samioh, stay on the bridge, keep active on all comms." She turns to the others, "Let's suit up."

Entering the airlock in their Exo Suits, the team notice a veneer of black grease on their helmets, motes of black dust or pollen are floating in the air around them.  Zebo is by the entrance to the space station when he points to the ground, "Somone missing a helmet.  Clumsy."  Wana approaches and picks it up, it's very old and is covered inside in the same black biomatter they have seen outside, she drops it and motions to Zebo to open the door.

"What is this stuff inside..."

There is a creak and then a woosh as the atmosphere balances in the airlock and the door to the station slides open.  Sensors vibrate and Wana notices the increase in heat and humidity that her Exo suit is displaying.  On the floor, covering the entire corridor, that is in the circle of their suit lights, are a tight network of dark vines and leaves, they stretch out into the distance and climb about halfway up the wall.  The air is thick and heavy and dark particles float in the beams of their torches.  

Zebo turns to Wana, "Air is breathable and gravity is on.  Power is on but low, just minimal systems.  Keep helmets on boss?"  Wana turns and says to everyone, "No one is removing their suit, whatever happens.  Got that?"  Nima complains, "Captain this is stifling, I feel like I'm cooking in my suit."

As they move on Zebo points to a shape, a hand is stretching up out of the vines, it's large and thick, like a giants', as they walk by, Wana stretches down and picks it up... a glove, inside a skeletal hand, she throws it down, "Let's move."

As they make their way through the dark structure, the roots and foilage get thicker, they make a beeline for the biodome, so far, the only sign of life.  On entering the dome, the roots and plants have completely overtaken the room, all stretch upwards towards the faint glow of the distant star.  Nima notices black flowers budding and flowering on the uppermost vines, their petals simultaneously turned towards the only light visible, the star of the Dabaran system.

The Biodome

The group search around, perhaps the signs of life were the plants.  Wana decides, "Nothing here, let's get to the medical bay, it's through the main laboratory, see if we can find anyone still alive."

As they approach the lab, there are black, oily vines, covering all surfaces, the going is tough.  There are also many specimen cases, some with dead plants, many different varieties.  It looks as though the vines have stretched down, opening and destroying some of the specimens.  It is clear this is the heart of the station, everyone busy researching the different plants, capturing their properties - but for what purpose?

Wana spots some terminals and points it out to Nima, "Have a look, see if you can connect to the main computer."  Nima nods flexes fingers and sits at the desk, within a few moments the screen sparks to life.  Nima is now bent over the machine, pulling out data, Wana and the others break out the data into meaningful information;

• The station was built by Hassan the II, an Emir from Dabaran.
• The station was researching agriculture and was hoping to find success with a particular hardy black flower
• The end goal of the experiment is not clear
• There is a message to a scientist, Wahina, they are not pleased with her progress on whatever project she is involved in

The group decide to carry on to the medical lab and after climbing over a pile of rubble they find themselves in what remains of the location.  Rouya takes guard at the entrance whilst the others inspect a series of stasis pods, to their surprise, in one of the pods, they see the eyes of an elderly man staring back at them.  Through a mix of shouting and gestures they manage to communicate with him, this is Sayib, the scientist they have been looking for.

Sayib explains they are in grave danger, creatures, mutated from the previous inhabitants, are on the loose, looking for him and the remaining members of the rescue ship, the Shamza.  Sayib believes Amirah, the security guard on the Shamza is alive, he implores the group to leave but to first detour to the living quarters to collect his data log.  Sayib shouts at them, "The data I have, it could be world-changing, the experiments they have conducted, they... they are without precedence!"

Professor Siyab Dahiljaba

As they debate, they hear a crackle on the sound system and a woman's voice intones, "You must leave, you are trespassing on a Holy Project, for the Seeds of the Icons.  Leave now or suffer the fate of the last fools...."  As the sound reverberates and then fades they hear a crash against the opposite entrance of the lab, a strangled inhuman shout is also heard and then a louder crash, the doors buckle inwards.

Wana cries out to Rouya, "Get in here!  Now!!".  Rouya responds, "Damn vines are caught all around my legs, give me some assistance man!"  Zebo sprints to Rouya, but instead of pulling her out, grabs some of her concussion grenades and rushes back.  "No time!", Zebo shouts over his shoulder.

As Zebo joins the group, the doors break inwards and a strange, spindly white creature begins to lope towards them.  It looks human but its face is elongated and its eyes white, its mouth opens to an impossibly wide-angle, showing row upon row of needle-sharp teeth.  Zebo stands in shock as Nima grabs a grenade and throws it - "You fucking idiot!", screams Wana, "The whole room is going to decompress."  But it doesn't the blast of the explosion is centred on the creature who disappears in a haze of blood, bone and viscera.

Avatar of the Growth

The group are on high alert as they get Sayib out of the stasis pod and into a hazmat suit, Rouya is freed and they make a quick exit back through the laboratories.  Eventually, they come to the airlock and after a heated discussion with Sayib, they head back to the ship, the professor complains that he needs his data log, back in the crew quarters.  Wana placates him, promising to return once they have tooled up.  

As they enter the airlock, they hear a second female voice over comms, "This is Amirah, Sayib whoever has arrived, you must get them to stop Wahina.  Whatever you have to do, don't let these heretical experiments continue, destroy Wahina!  Destroy the growth!  Destroy the station!!"

Back on the ship, they quietly discuss away from Sayib, the mission is done, Sayib is with them, they can return him and be 20,000 Birr richer.  Alternatively, they can head back into the station to face who knows what and get Sayib's logs or take on the advice of Amirah and blast the station to nothing.

It's a quick but ruthless decision, and as the ship blasts off and they unleash the Vulcan cannon, lights spark and explosions wrack the space station until it starts to break apart.  

Sayib screams out and collapses on the bench, head in his hands, he moans, "It was the discovery of a lifetime, gone, gone, what have we done!"  Zebo comes over to him, puts an arm around his shoulder, "Don't fret eajuz, we are going to party when we get back to Dabaran, and you are most welcome!"  He grins at the old academic as Nima plots the course to Dabaran.  

Deep in thought, Wana looks back out of the window as the remains of the station fade into the dark.