The Nightmare Switch

Nim with the help of anyone else taking a careful look around find:

• A level 7 cypher that looks like a pair of metal goggles (it needs a new strap). The wearer learns the level of whatever she looks at once they are activated. Activation lasts 1 hour.

• A level 6 cypher that looks a little like a glass wand with a copper tip. When activated, any one metal object level 6 or lower touched by the copper tip instantly disintegrates. The object can be up to the size of a human, but if it is larger, it does not work.

• A level 2 cypher that sprays out a thick viscous liquid. Within the liquid are incredibly fast-acting microscopic repair units that mend a break or tear in an object (or fuse two disparate objects held together).

• An oddity that resembles a toy doll made of synth, but the doll is of a creature that looks like nothing anyone’s seen before, with a large number of asymmetrical limbs, all different sizes, a long neck, and a four-eyed head.

Unfortunately, you do not find a replacement part for the cylinder that burned out. You do discern that the last people to enter had clearly been interested in that. Whatever brought the Aeon Priests here, and had them leave the dome later, remains a mystery. You did also find their spare clothing and food packs, indicating they had planned on returning.

Rohim determines that the part is likely broken beyond repair, and charging it won't help.

You know that the Aeon Priests were likely taken by the margr band. Those tracks would be easy to follow.

Ready to chase the margr horde?

The Margr MaraudersYou follow the obvious trail left by the margr. After a few hours, you find the scene of butchery and cooking, and more remnants from Aeon Priest clothing, but no gear. The signs are not very old.

You close the distance after another day of walking, enough to make out a dozen or so of the creatures, some mounted on aneen.

There are 11 margr and their very large leader. The group has four aneen, but they use them as pack animals, not mounts.The abhumans make their way with no particular hurry, so even though they have a considerable lead, you can catch up with them.

When they stop and make camp, the margr set up a perimeter patrol of one individual who circles around the camp, and another who stays awake on watch in the camp near the resting aneen. The remaining margr sleep. A blanket with odd objects is laid out near the sleeping leader in the middle.

Getting to long distance will be easy once it gets dark, which is imminent.

You're fairly certain there are no prisoners with them.