Chasing the Sunset is a West Marches-style exploration game using Fellowship 2nd Edition‘s Horizon rules.
The fellowship: Dryden of Conwall the Collector/Hunter, Averiela the Elf/Elven Elite, Markus the Squire, Ol’ Jardiner the Harbinger
Last time, the Fellowship was attacked by two Phoenixes: a Smoldering Phoenix (created by the Smoldering Forest), and Exotheresa (a full-grown and complete firebird). They killed both, and are not sure when the two eggs will hatch. This time, they seek a wandering sage said to have great understanding of all manner of beasts.
GM note: Smouldering Phoenix egg clock: 2/4 Exotheresa: 1/6
Infinite Windows opens and Ol’ Jardiner carefully steps through. Dryden looks through the portal and sees a wall of mangled machinery. Ol’ Jardiner brings Doodle to Markus and Averiela.
Ol’ Jardiner: This is some pre-Forgotten Lands language. I hear it’s still used in court documents, and you’re old enough to have been there before the Forgotten Lands were forgotten, so, can you read this?
Ol’ Jardiner shows some text that Doodle has copied from VolWolkenStadt (the ruins of the original homeland of the people who now live in the Forgotten Lands)
Averiela: It’s been a while, but I believe I can read it.
Markus: This was something I had to study. I must admit, I was not a good student, but between Averiela and I, we can put it together.
The two puzzle over the text, make notes, sound word out, and translate the text. It’s all warning signs like “Hazardous materials” “Keep clear at all times” “DO NOT ENTER” and so on.
Ol’ Jardiner: The people of the Forgotten Lands helped us go through to, I guess you’d call it the old country, but they kept the machine, so we have to figure out a way back. We thought this other machine could help. If we knew what this said before, maybe we would not have gotten in the trouble that we got in.
The Fellowship considers what they must do on this side of the portal.
Markus: We’re looking for the Sage. We have this turtle shell to put on the ship.
Dryden: We need to notify the turtles.
Markus: That feels like we should notify the turtles, and hopefully that will not be out of the way to find the safe.
Averiela: We have a ticking clock, and finding the sage could be harder than we think.
Dryden: Turtles should receive notification of death from official royal people. Markus will have to be the bearer of the news.
The Fellowship looks for an ancient turtle. Dryden’s friend Ancient One is an aquatic turtle. From Von Till’s castle in the Drowned Forest, there’s a river to the west that flows south, and a river flowing east out of the Drowned Forest to Sugar’s Crossing. They fly the Luna Penumbra to the unfamiliar river.
The Luna Penumbra flies west to the savannah. In one place, part of the river flows up into the air and evaporates. Most of the river continues south into an endless labyrinth. The Luna Penumbra lands near the floating stream and Ol’ Jardiner examines it.
- Tell me about the floating water?
- It is the side-effect of a powerful spell. Something went up into the sky here, and that upward force still affects the water.
- Ol’ Jardiner: That reminds me, right after we got back from the Moon and went to Von Till’s castle to see if my brilliant plan worked, off to the west we saw a little streamer going up into the sky.
- What is hidden or out of place?
- Ashy, sooty footprints from a large humanoid.
- Tell me about the local wildlife? What are they doing? What will they do next?
- Alligators have learned that they can swim up the floating stream and jump to catch passing birds!
Ol’ Jardiner goes to the end of the floating stream to see if any water sprinkles down into the main river, or if it all evaporates. He looks up and sees an Alligator plummeting towards him, jaws wide!
- Alligator: Gators are a classic predator of the bayou, a dangerous enemy that uses the murky waters to hunt land-bound prey coming to drink.
- Chomp: The gator’s bite is Piercing. Anyone it bites is damaged twice.
- Ambush Predator: This threat is Secret until it attacks.
GM note: Looking Closely reveals Secret threats, especially with the question “What is hidden or out of place.” Oops.
Ol’ Jardiner runs upstream so the alligator overshoots him. He yells and splashes and disturbs a flock of cranes. Their slender legs let them walk through shallow water without being slowed down, something Ol’ Jardiner is struggling with right now.
Averiela was observing the floating stream because she was suspicious of this strange magic. It’s not natural, which makes her heart nervous. She runs to Ol’ Jardiner on top of the water, flings him towards the group on shore, then dances among the cranes and around the alligator, staying out of its peripheral vision.
Dryden calls out in crane language and asks if they have seen a great turtle. He sees something flying far away to the north. He calls out again and two cranes comes to him. He puts one foot on the back of each crane and they carry him aloft. The rest of the flock forms up around them. His footing is unstable. He gets a little closer and sees that the flying object is a giant flying turtle with a castle on its back. That’s Bertha! Dryden calls out the traditional greeting of heraldric mourning. A royal missive is coming. Then he falls off the cranes, demonstrating that one of the turtles has fallen. The cranes dive with him. He pulls out his flying device and leads the bird back towards the Luna Penumbra. The flock forms a giant arrow, pointing the way that Bertha should go to receive the message. From this distance, Dryden’s message was misunderstood. Instead of “Royalty has fallen. Come over here.” Bertha understood “Royalty will fall over here.” She turns away to avoid the danger.
Dryden: I have heard in turtle culture there’s one that disappears for a very very long time. No one’s sure if they’re still around. Like the uncle is that is loved, but is a little crazy, but he’s pretty great. When he shows up to family gatherings, he’s fun. Maybe Underfoot has such a cousin the neighborhood, but maybe not.
The Luna Penumbra flies south, following the river into Kankero’s Labyrinth. The river is diverted into a number of culverts. Pipes go up and down. There are timber walkways above everything, stone hallways, and tunnels into the ground. A castle dominates the center of the maze.
Averiela: Is this an amusement park?
Some crows fly up towards the Luna Penumbra, then fly towards the castle, then back towards the ship.
Dryden: We should definitely go to the castle. At least, the crows want us to go to the castle. If they’re trustworthy, this might be great. If they’re not, this might be bad.
Ol’ Jardiner flips through his Endless Scroll.
Ol’ Jardiner: Crows, crows, crows. Here! Carrion birds. Often seen on battlefields. Symbols of death. Necromancers’ familiars often. Very intelligent. They know how to steal.
The Luna Penumbra approaches the castle cautiously.
From the air, they see a house-sized Giant Crab in the inner keep. Ol’ Jardiner wonders if that’s close enough to a turtle. The Luna Penumbra flies lower and Dryden calls out to the crab.
Dryden: Wow, that is some shell! We are on a quest to honor one with a great shell. Do you know of any giant tortoises or turtles?
- Lord Kankero, he/him, a big physical guy, the sort to slap you on the back painfully hard when laughing at your joke. He just wants people to impress him with martial prowess and then he’ll feed them a feast, but he’s really strong so most people flee or die.
- Agenda:
- Champion: Prove your might.
- Gracious Host: Throw a party for your guests.
- Giant Crab: These armored crustaceans crush their enemies in their mighty claws. Once they grab you, they won’t let go until they fall asleep.
- Meaty Claws: Anyone damaged by the Giant Crab becomes grabbed. The Giant Crab can grab up to two enemies at a time, and will only let go if this stat is damaged.
- Armored Shell: The Giant Crab can only take damage from Piercing or Giant attacks.
Lord Kankero: Is that the shell balanced on your ship? That’s a mightly trophy! You are worthy. Join me for a feast!
Dryden: Oh, mighty crab. We, as guests, have not yet anything to bring for this feast. Let us go fishing first, then return.
Lord Kankero: Splendid idea! But don’t keep me waiting.
The Luna Penumbra moves away, and Dryden turns to the crew.
Dryden: Hey guys, I think we were going to be the feast. There was nothing on the table.
Averiela: We are not staying! I just wanted a day to sail and find the sage.
Dryden: Maybe the crab knows about the sage! But we should go fishing first and see if that gets the crab to not eat us.
The only weapon the Fellowship has that could hurt Lord Kankero is Averiela’s Moonlight Sword, but its blade only exists at night.
Ol’ Jardiner: I don’t want to fight a giant crab, or get eaten by one. I was hoping we’d find the sage because I enjoy intellectual discussions.
Dryden: What if we go back with some fish and, you know, just assume he’s not going to eat us?
Ol’ Jardiner:You’re the one saying–
Dryden: –but if we give him fish first, we get into negotiation and can trick him.
Ol’ Jardiner: I can do a ritual to defend us against surprise attacks. I could create an illusion that we are a few feet away from our actual position. That will be suspicious when we start eating off a different plate. Ah! Here. The first person who comes at us with a weapon will be knocked away by a magical blast.
As Ol’ Jardiner researches the spell, the crew catches some fish. Markus emerges from his cabin after writing an official royal document announcing Underfoot’s death. Ol’ Jardiner casts the protective spell on the whole Fellowship.
The Luna Penumbra lands at the dock just outside the castle. A woman in red scale armor comes out to greet the Fellowship
- Iggy le Feu, she/her Human Scorned Champion: They were supposed to be The Dragon. But instead, you are, and they are not happy with the great dragons’ decision.
- She wields a spear tipped with a giant tooth. Her red and gold armor is made from scales. Surely from dinosaurs, since Dragons aren’t available. Her helmet is made from a Snake-Folk skull with open jaws. Its fangs frame her face.
- A Hero Scorned: The Scorned Champion is bitter and single-minded, and will try to harm or hinder The Dragon whenever they have the chance, regardless of what their mission is.
- Champion of Fire: The Scorned Champion takes no damage from fire and heat, even dragonfire. Their attacks have the Burning tag.
- Armor of Red and Gold: When the Scorned Champion would be damaged or destroyed, damage this stat instead.
Iggy le Feu: I am Iggy le Leu. Welcome, great hunters, to Lord Kankero’s feast. It’s great that you brought some food. Put that in middle. Is that already prepared?
Dryden: It’ll take some time. There are prime sushi cuts. We brought an excellent variety and selection. What an amazing castle! While we wait for the food to cook, I’d love to see more of it.
Iggy gives a signal and a swarm of normal-sized emerges from everywhere. They approach and reach for the basket of fish with their little claws. The protective spell on Dryden knocks them aside! Iggy takes a step back and takes a defensive stance.
Iggy le Feu: Whoa, you don’t have to prove yourself! You’re already approved.
Dryden: OK, we wanted to make double-sure.
Dryden hands her the basket, and she hands it to the servant crabs who scurry off. Iggy leads the Fellowship into the courtyard. A long table bisects the courtyard. Lord Kankero fills the far side, so chairs have been placed only on the near side.
Lord Kankero: Ah ha ha! You’re a feisty one! But there’s a time to fight and a time to feast. You’ve already made your great hunt. You must tell me, who struck the killing blow on that huge turtle?
Dryden: Oh, that is a tale to tell! My tales are nothing in comparision to your own. What have been the deeds and adventures of Lord Kankero recently?
Averiela glares at Dryden, but Lord Kankero loves to boast.
Lord Kankero: There was a strange flaming beast. Iggy was most offended. I’m sure it wasn’t a Dragon, but she thought it was close enough. And a surprisingly competent Halfling.
Ol’ Jardiner: Surprisingly?!
Lord Kankero: And a scarecrow. Strange thing. Clearly built for battle, and could not eat like the rest of us. I had to take their accomplishments on faith, as they did not have the best day when they came here. The fire creature, who knocked me down, vouched for their fearsome feats. The scarecrow is from a place called a ‘dimension’ and destroyed a whole town. Iggy, did he say which town?
Iggy: No, sir.
Lord Kankero: The labyrinth seems to close in, so I don’t get out much. I hope for interesting people to come to me.
Iggy: I’ve told you before, sir. The sewers aren’t shrinking. You’re growing.
Dryden: Sewers! We once pursued a giant turtle down a sewer. Not this one. We are in pursuit another. You haven’t had any come this way, have you?
Lord Kankero: There was a turtle that came through several months ago, heading south. Very poor sport. It pulled in and we hammered on it as it floated downstream. Sad to say, I could not pierce it before it floated into a tunnel and was lost to me.
Dryden: And it didn’t give you sport or combat? The nerve!
Averiela mutters angrily. The crab servants appear to serve food, but they cautiously put the plates on the far side of the table.
Dryden: Before we get to the tale of that shell, let me tell me the deeds of my friends. This fellow right here, not only fixed the Moon, but destroyed a whole slew of creatures.
Lord Kankero: Yes, Iggy also slew many creatures in her career.
Iggy’s armor is all trophies and she’s proud to explain them.
Iggy: The tip of my spear is the fang of a giant cobra. The scales on my arms are from dinosaurs.
She kills a lot of reptiles and fire-based creatures because they are as close to Dragons as she can get.
Dryden: You’re not a fan of fire-based creatures? Let me tell you about those who slew the Phoenixes.
Dryden tells how he conquered a castle and transformed the Drowned Forest, and how the Fellowship killed the two Phoenixes that attacked the castle. Lord Kankero interrupts. He thinks it’s disgraceful that Dryden killed Exotheresa with a trap as she was preparing to give a speech.
Lord Kankero: How could you do something so cowardly and conniving? I bet you snuck up on this turtle as well. Take this food back! Feed to the creatures of the labyrinth! I misjudged you. Get out!
Lord Kankero picks Dryden up and throws him. Dryden lets himself be thrown and pulls out his flying device in midair, but he’s tumbling, so his attempt to fly away sends him straight into a wall.
Ol’ Jardiner: Well, it was lovely meeting you. We won’t keep you any further.
Averiela is already gone. The rest of the Fellowship retreats to the Luna Penumbra. Ol’ Jardiner dispells the protective spell.
Ol’ Jardiner: Seems like these turtles are as hard to find as a sage. Should we continue to seek turtles, or should we find the Sage?
Markus: Do we know where the turtles’ homeland is?
Dryden: They are wanderers. They all go back to certain place, which is very secret.
Averiela: What if we send Knows-Too-Much or White Sands as emissaries? They are very fast.
Ol’ Jardiner: I don’t mean to one-up you, but if I know the name of a great turtle, I can deliver a message by mysterious means.
Dryden: Oh, Timeas, the Ancient One. And Bertha.
Averiela: Why didn’t we do this in the first place?
Dryden: It’s more honorable to seek them out. Ancient turtles are always trying to be found or not found. If you’re delivering news, you should deliver it in person.
Ol’ Jardiner: Timeas, apologies for the remote message, but we must inform you that Underfoot has been slain. His shell continues to guard people and will be helpful to people all over the world.
Ol’ Jardiner blows a thought bubble that zooms away.
Averiela: Can you put that in poetry form?
Ol’ Jardiner: No.
Ol’ Jardiner sends the same message to Bertha. The thought bubble zooms to the north, where Dryden saw Burtha earlier today.
Now the Fellowship can try to find the sage. Everyone has heard a rumor, but which rumors are true?
Averiela: The sage is known to visit a hedge witch. Perhaps they are more than just friends. She lives in a remote villlage. He comes through at least twice a year to trade potions, spells, thoughts, poetry,and stories with the local populace when he visits the hedge witch, supposedly for her expertise.
Ol’ Jardiner: The Sage has been in nature so much that he is no longer a civilized person. He was once a man who could read and write and wore clothing and lived in a building, but no longer.
Dryden: I’ve heard that he travels by nature. He’s an expert sailor. I’ve heard he can sometimes ride the wind. I don’t know if this is true, but one boy says that he travels by rainbows and starlight.
Markus: I’ve heard that, as he has retreated more and more into nature, for anyone to get close to him, they must be more and more in touch with nature. If you have too much of the trapping of civilization with you or on you, he will simply disappear into the wilderness.
This is bad news for Ol’ Jardiner, who loves well-tailored clothes and reading books in sturdy rooms, but Averiela is excited.
The Luna Penumbra heads northwest towards…
Rainbow Village. A village surrounded by paint pots and geysers, so there are rainbows on the ground and rainbows in the air. A horizontal geyser bursts from the waterfall descending from the Clay Hills. It’s hard to approach from the ground because of the paint pots and geysers. The geysers also make it hard to approach from the air. Goblins dare to live on the surface among Rain in such a remote and unreachable place. These Goblins express their technology in a more natural way. Instead of robot servants, waterwheels power contraptions made from bamboo and coconuts.
The Luna Penumbra comes over the Clay Hills and the Rainbow Village appears below them. Averiela’s excitement is palpable. She dances on tiptoes.
Averiela: I never thought I’d see something so beautiful!
Landing the ship through the geysers seems dangerous. An away team could wear Exosuits to protect against the hot spray.
Markus: I don’t think Exosuits are very natural.
Averiela: I’ll just go down without you. I’m happy to do that.
Ol’ Jardiner: You’re the pilot! We’ll be stuck up here.
Averiela: You guys have 45 seconds to make up your mind, then I’m leaving.
Markus’ royal adventuring clothes are cotton and leather.
Markus: I’l leave my sword, then I can come with you. I don’t know how I’m coming, but I’m coming.
Averiela takes one end of a rope and gracefully descends on water droplets. When she’s close to the ground, a geyser unexpectedly erupts, blasting her with hot water. Most geysers have built up cones of ejected material, so they are obvious even when not erupting. This geyser rarely erupts, so it was hidden beneath the mud. Averiela is burned, but worse, she lands in an undignified way. She’s upset and frustrated and muddy.
Markus: Oh my goodness, are you OK?
Dryden: You’re more one with nature now!
Three Goblins run towards the erupting geyser, carrying a ring with blades extending inward towards the center. They put the ring around the geyser and the water spins the blade, adding mechanical energy to the device. One of the Goblins reaches up to wipe Averiela’s face.
Ronkie: Nasty fall there. Are you good? I haven’t seen you around.
Averiela: Please don’t touch me!
Ronkie backs off, embarrassed, and tends to her machine.
Markus sees that Averiela has reached the ground, so he starts climbing down the rope. He doesn’t check to make sure Averiela put the rope somewhere safe. Markus’ fingers slip and he slides quickly down the rope and lands in the mud next to Averiela. Ol’ Jarinder sends a thought bubble down.
Ol’ Jardiner: That didn’t look safe. Was that safe?
Averiela does not acknowledge it. She’s not as excited as she was earlier. Her entrance is the most interesting thing that has happened today, so residents stare, which makes her feel worse. The mist in front of her collapses into a vaguely humanoid form. It’s a Shadow Rain!
- Penny, she/her Shadow Rain: A sneaky and deadly slime that strikes from darkness.
- Ambush Tactics: When attacking someone who does not know where the shadow rain is attacking from, it is Piercing and Necrotic.
- Mostly Invisible: Shadow rain is Secret, and remains Secret until this stat is damaged. In addition, nobody can see the shadow rain’s attacks coming while it is Secret. This stat becomes damaged if anyone Looks Closely in an area with shadow rain hiding in it.
Penny: Did you come from outside? Tell me, what’s going on out there? It looks like you have technology, but it doesn’t seem to work very well.
Markus: Our technology works better when we use all of it, and we’re trying to avoid the technology because we heard this place likes things simpler. We’re looking for the Sage. Is he here?
Penny: He’s not here, but I know where he is. If you take me on your ship, I’ll show you.
Markus: You want to comes with us on a long adventure? For days and weeks? Or you want to set foot on the ship for a moment and show us on a map?
Penny: Yeah, I’d love to have an adventure.
Averiela: Do you have people you’re responsible for?
Markus: Is anyone going to be chasing us down if you come on our ship?
Penny: No and no.
Averiela wants to learn more about the Rainbow Village.
- What can you tell us about the village?
- Most people who live here say it’s the greatest, most beautiful place to live, so why would anyone want to leave? So we don’t leave. But I’ve got to see what’s out there. I haven’t even been to the top of this hill!
- What does the Sage do when he’s here?
- He goes up to the Shadow Weaver and they share wisdom or whatever. They wouldn’t let me meet him.
- What should I be wary of when dealing with the Sage?
- You’ll never get anywhere close if you’ve go that with you. Penny points to the Luna Penumbra.
Averiela wonders if Penny is trustworthy. Why can’t Penny meet the sage?
Markus: Why couldn’t you meet the sage?
Penny: He’s got important things to do and he’s so wise and his time is so valuable. If he’s as old as they say he is, he’s got plenty of time. He could spend some more time among the people, you know?
Averiela: OK, Penny, let’s do this. How would you get back to the ship?
Penny: Surface tension!
Penny flows up the rope. Markus climbs up after. As he climbs, a geyser erupts beneath him. He swings around to block the spray with his backpack. He’s protected, but some of his food is soaked and ruined. Averiela runs up the rope while Dryden and the crew pull the rope up. Ol’ Jardiner approaches with his handkerchief to clean Averiela:
Averiela: Don’t touch me.
While Averiela is distracted, Dryden grabs some mud from Averiela’s back, and from Markus. Ol’ Jardiner makes a promise with Ol’ Jardiner.
Ol’ Jardiner: If Penny won’t harm anyone on the Luna Penumbra, we will return her safely.
Penny: Counter-offer: If Penny won’t harm anyone on the Luna Penumbra, they won’t harm her.
Ol’ Jardiner agrees and seals the pact with magic. Averiela worries that Ol’ Jardiner isn’t precise enough with his magic.Penny knows more rumors about the Sage.
- The land of mega-fauna is a good place to look because that’s the most nature.
- The best way to reach him is by water.
The Luna Penumbra flies west and finds the mega-savannah. It has sparse trees, but each tree is very tall and spreading. What looks like grass on the ground is actually tall reeds, over 2 meters high. Everything here is huge. Huge rhinoceroses, proto-horse things, big reptiles, and a regular-sized elephant that looks small. There’s a Brachiosaurus that looks hunchbacked, but that’s actually a small cabin covered in leather.
Penny: That must be where the hedge witch lives. Queen-sized giant creature. Can’t get more natural than that! Want me to sneak in to see if she’s there?
The Luna Penumbra stops a ways away and Dryden goes down a rope. He calls out to Giant Rhinos to give him and his friends a ride. Dryden has the power to control beasts, but so does the hedge witch. He must convince them.
Dryden: We are trying to reach other animals, specifically Phoenixes. We’ve heard that the power of the lady on the back of the Brachiosaurus would help us find the sage and complete this quest.
The giant rhinos want the leaves and little orange fruits from the tops of the trees. Even the Brachiosaurus can’t reach them. Surely they are delicious. Dryden doesn’t want to use his technological flying device, lest he scare off the sage. Dryden climbs onto the rope and points to a tree.
Dryden: Just hover me above it!
Averiela pilots the Luna Penumbra to carefully position Dryden by the top of a giant tree. Dryden is able to harvest armfuls of leaves and fruit, which he delivers to the giant rhinos. One giant rhino lowers its head so Dryden can climb on top, then walks over to the Brachiosaurus.
Giant Rhinoceros: Hunchback, visitors!
The hedge witch pops out from behind a flap of leather. She’s not a hunchback. They call her that because her house makes the Brachiosaurus look hunchbacked.
Hunchback: What’s going on here? You come out of the sky, ordering my creatures around!
Upseting the natural order increases Reponse Level to 3
New Reponse Move: Guardian
The grass around the giant rhinos starts moving, and they look very nervous.
Dryden: We are on a quest to redeem a Smoldering Phoenix, that it can be born anew. We seek a wise sage, which we’ve heard you know.
Hunchback: I can’t escape the rumors even here! I don’t know what you heard, but it’s not true. Yes, we’ve met in Druid circles. I can’t tell you how many of us attend, but more than two!
Markus: She didn’t deny it!
Angering the boss increases Reponse Level to 4
New response move: New stat: Deadly, everything here is out to kill you.
She summons a whirlwind that throws Dryden up into the air. She doesn’t throw him towards the Luna Penumbra, just up. Dryden pulls out his Flying Device to avoid falling.
Dryden: Please point us in the direction of the sage and we’ll be gone!
Hunchback casts another spell on the reeds. Dryden doesn’t want to go down to find out what she did. He flies back to the Luna Penumbra. Ol’ Jardiner wants to try his luck. He brings Atlas and Penny in an escape pod. It lands in the reeds and the reeds beat against the walls. Ol’ Jardiner climbs out the top hatch.
Ol’ Jardiner: Hello! Apologies for my inconsiderate friend. We are here seeking knowledge. We want to learn about this incredible ecosystem. From the power you have demonstrated, you are intimately familiar with it. Atlas is trying to compile all the information in the world. They are very excited to talk to you.
Atlas indeed has many questions, which they ask rapid-fire. The reeds release the escape pod and blow freely in the breeze. Saber-tooth tigers leap from the tall grass, trying to climb onto the escape pod!
- Group of Saber-Toothed Tigers: Deadly feline ambush predators that pins down their prey before going for the throat with their powerful jaws.
- Pounce: When the Saber-Toothed Tiger deals damage to an enemy smaller than them, they also put them on the spot as they pin the enemy beneath them.
- Stalk From The Shadows: This beast is Secret until it makes a move.
- Group: This enemy can act against two people at once. When this enemy is destroyed, this stat is damaged, or this is their only stat left, replace the Group with two normal enemies.
Ol’ Jardiner: We’ve come at a bad time. Sorry to bother you, bye!
They flee into the escape pods, but one Saber-Toothed Tiger leaps into the top hatch before it takes off. Atlas reminds Ol’ Jardiner that cats hate water. Ol’ Jardiner casts an illusion to make Penny seem to fill the escape pod. Being attacked by angry water terrifies the Saber-Toothed Tiger. It scrambles out of the top hatch and falls off the escape pod. The escape pod docks with the Luna Penumbra and the big ship flies away.
Harming the local wildlife increases the Response Level to 5