Philit just watches as Fuskee takes a defensive position by the door. "I guess your ysoki friend over there has no interest in talking. That's a shame, I'm sure he'd have a unique view on things." The shirren does stop sending messages for a second and one of his Vesk bodyguards starts to watch the ysoki intently.
Philit watches the group as they take a moment or two to think of an answer to his question, but the older model android listening intently to his speech and so guilelessly watching the others puts him at ease a little. Philit turns his attention to Vandor as the man starts speaking. he takes a second after the man's question to start a mental response.
"We aren't embarrassed by the '"I can turn thasteron into cheap drift drive fuel" trick', the illusions on the mineral we so good it even fooled our microscopes and other equipment. We, however, are angered by the blatant fraud. If... When we get ahold of Talbot, we plan to put him on trial, with as much due process we can muster here on Akiton... But, if it is true he has betrayed your employers, like you and that other android have said, then we might want to work together in this, assuming you're willing to tell me who your employers are and what he has done to wrong them. AbadarCorp doesn't work with criminal organizations as a rule."
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Vahni steps in, saying, "We're here representing the Starfinders. Talbot is a former agent, and due to the... incident, he was hoping that he would secure a promotion to Venture Captaincy due to his services to the Society and his prowess. Because of his rather unstable temperament, the leadership elected to keep him at his current rank. Talbot then stole an artifact from our vaults and bolted. Ironically, we don't believe that Talbot was intending to con you - rather, he thought what he stole was a philosopher's stone, a relic from Golarian that has extraordinary transmutation powers, such as theoretically being able to turn thasteron into drift fuel. However, what he got instead was a very similar item, intentionally designed to be confused with the genuine article: the charlatan's stone, which instead gives the illusion of having the transmutation take place, which fades after a few days. Talbot probably has no idea how much trouble he's in." They sigh, shaking their head, and continue. "Regardless of whether he should be charged with fraud, Talbot has undeniably stolen from the Society, but the state of our organization makes extraditing him from Akiton for due process less than a priority item for the leadership. We would happily assist you in his capture, if you can negotiate with AbadarCorp to help with the extradition and the prosecution fees, so he can be brought to justice for both felonies."
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Leo continues to listen, although at this point, he also glances towards Fuskee and the Vesk bodyguard that was staring at his Ysoki comrade. He was sure this could be resolved peacefully, especially since it seemed that AbadarCorp and the Starfinder Society had some mutual interests with Talbot. But just in case, he remains ready to rush to the Ysoki's side for two reasons: Fuskee seemed the most likely to rush into combat, and the Vesk bodyguard's stare looked very brutish.
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Fuskee's exocortex AI doesn't sense any hostility from the Shirren and his bodyguards as they speak to his Starfinder comrades so he stays put with his hand close enough to draw his rifle if he needs to. The Ysoki is actually not the type to rush into combat, more like on his toes in case anything goes awry. He prefers not being part of the conversation since his tone and vulgar language can come off as offensive to most people so he leaves the talking to the rest of his party in the same way that they should leave any sort of piloting or driving to him.
"Burn, stay locked on all targets but track that big f**ker. If anything goes down he's ours." He mentally orders his AI to start combat tracking the Vesk bodyguard that turned his attention to him as he takes another sip from his flask and relaxes himself, knowing that if anything were to suddenly happen, his heightened synaptic accelerators and his exocortex would keep him ahead of anyone that might threaten his Starfinder team.
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"What we really want is the stone. Our assignment does not require us to return with Talbot. He was free to leave if he wanted too, the Society just wants it's property back, and an end to the mischief. But having said that I, personally, don't want to see any harm come to Talbot. I don't speak for the whole group, but as long as I have your word he will be treated fairly, and we take the charlatan's stone back to Absalom Station with us, I think we could be convinced to hand Talbot over to you. So long as we are properly compensated of course, bringing the man himself back may be more difficult than just getting in, grabbing his rock, and getting out. Fugitives tend to be so uppity about being brought in for justice, ya know?"
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Moktargarn takes his victory graciously, thanking the men for their generosity but he's not drinking at the moment, so they can keep their credits. He was just happy for the competition.
Moktargarn similarly remains quiet as the group discusses the finer points of their collective missions, although his interest in the Vesk bodyguard is piqued as he seems to watch Fuskee.
Unless directly questioned on something, however, he shall remain quiet.
Philit nods sagely as Vahni explains who the group works for and why they are interested in Talbot. "Ah, so your woking for the Society. Can't say I'm too surprised, tere always seems to be groups of Starfinders every which way, but not so much since the Scoured Stars. You have my condolences on that. It's good to hear that Talbot wasn't intentionally duping us, but a fraud is still a fraud and we will still pursue it as such. It does however sound like your problem and claim precede ours and as such, it would only be polite if we let you go in first. If you should bring him to us though, we would be glad to tack the charge of theft to his trial as well. And I'll talk to headquarters about extending our usual finder's reward, but there is no garuntee on that end."
With this Philit gets up and stretches, before turning back to the group. "It's getting late and we should probably get off to bed. We'll give you until midday tomorrow to bring Talbot back before we head in ourselves. Good luck and try not to get hurt." With his last wrodds he gives the shirren attempt at a smile and silently calls to the two vesk who fall in line and behind him. The one who'd been glaring at Fuskee gives a slight snarl as he moves past the ysoki, but leaves Fuskee alone.
After the group leaves the place, a glance around shows the bar has started to clear out, many of the people from earlier having left in twos and threes, with the hour getting later and later. As the group bands together to discuss what happened with Philit a deep booming female voice echoes from outside the front of the bar. “Intruders! We know you’ve come to Tasch in search of our savior. I give you this one chance. Lay down your weapons and leave our town. You will not disrupt the salvation of Akiton, not when Reynald Talbot has come so close to saving our world! You have one minute to decide.”
As the voice rings out many of the people in the bar start to scrabble around, and flee the place. A few of the more astute giving you sharp glances as they head out the front door. Podswald gives a hearty curse, "F*&@! Maarbadvae, this is bad, very very bad. She then rushes into the back room disappears from sight.
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Throughout their conversation with Philit, Vahni's smile never quite reaches their eyes. When the voice begins booming, their hands tighten into fists, whitening at the knuckles. Taking a deep breath, they yell out, [b]"Please! You have no idea what Talbot is actually doing! I don't want to fight you, and I don't even really want to bring him in, but I have to."[/n]
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Having stayed politely silent throughout the conversation, Leo is gladdened that Philit and AbadarCorp continue to seem allies.
When the shouting of this ‘Maarbadvae’ begins, Leo begins to run through potential options. His priority was keeping the conflict peaceful because of their orders to not give the society a bad name, not even on Akiton. And therefore, Leo doesn’t think that fighting fire with fire is a good idea.
Reaching into one of his pockets, Leo pulls out one of the special spellgems that he had received as a graduation gift from Fitch, his faction’s leader. Looking over the arcane runes, he realizes that the encoded spell is one of “Charm Person”, and he has an idea.
“My, erm, friends, we should try to, well, settle this peacefully. If this Maarbadvae does not respond to negotiations, I can, uhm, try to, y’know... charm them in order to better persuade them against a... well, violent course of action.”
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"I knew trouble would show up at some point." The ysoki takes out his laser rifle and holds it by the grip as he walks around behind the bar counter and helps himself to a few drinks as he waits for either negotiations to happen or for the angry men to barge in and come get them. "You're welcome to try and talk to them but they don't sound happy. My advice would be to find some cover and keep your head down." he mixes a drink at the bar and quickly downs the entire glass before setting it down and pushing it off to the side so he has a clear view of the doorway. Sensing combat, his exocortex begins to overclock and puts the ysoki in a sort of hyperactive state, ready for whatever comes through.
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Leo nods in understanding. His allies were right that it was risky, but he didn’t want to cause any undue destruction because of the orders from the Ventire-Captain. In response to his comrades, Leo keeps the spellgem in his right hand. He would have it ready, just in case.
In the other hand, he equips his needler pistol. Then, he makes his way behind some cover from the front entrance—the wooden pillar. And then he whispers a quick prayer to the Black Butterfly and hopes for the best.
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Vandor perks up when Philit mentions a "finder's fee". As the shirren gets up from the table he holds up a hand and asks "How much is the usual finder's fee... usually?" The shirren however moves toward the exit and does not answer. Vandor hops up and tries to follow but receives a menacing growl from the trailing vesk for his efforts and decides it's not worth it. So instead he just smiles and waves stupidly at the shirren's departing back "Okay Phil! Nice talking with you! We'll see you again real soon! Bye!!" he calls after, again to no response. "What an A$$h013..." he thinks to himself, then "I hope shirrens can't read minds, those bodyguards are pretty terrifying..."
As the group gathers to discuss the meeting, Vandor leads with "Jeez, did you see how he just ignored me just now?? I sure hope shirrens can read minds because I'd like to give him a piece of mine, let me tell you, bodyguards or no, nobody ignores Vandor Dra...." whatever empty boast Vandor was about to spew, the group will never know, for it is just then that Maarbadvae calls them out.
While Leo and Glitch discuss the finer points of charm person, Vandor is already on the move, he makes for the perfect hiding spot "They'll never see me behind the bar! Haha!" Only, as he hops over the bar he finds Fuskee has alertly already started to take up position there. Cursing, he hops back over the bar, this time on the far side of the laser barrier and puts his back up to one of the brick pillars nearby. He whips out his pistol and gets ready by psyching himself up. "Okay Vandor, a battle, I know we usually avoid these but you can do this, just point and shoot like Gramps taught you. No problem... Wait. Is Fuskee mixing himself a drink??? Gods, I could use a drink."
"Psst. Fusk! Throw me a bottle, will ya?... Preferably something aged... and Castrovelian, none of that Eoxian swill." "Hey, this could be my last drink, it might as well be a good one."
The group runs around and takes up their various defensive positions, only a few seconds pass by before the bar doors fly open, and a large lumbering woman with four arms trudges inside. She stops a few feet in the doorway and scans the room. Behind her an almost comically small in comparison ysoki slides in behind her. When she notes the drawn weapons, the woman who can only be Maarbadvae gives a toothy smile. ”Oh good, you aren’t surrendering. This would have been boring if you had. Now prepare to die, you Akiton-hating intruders! Grank, Get ‘em!” The ysoki beside her trains its weapon on you and snarls.
Maarbadvae is an over protective mystic shobhad
The ysoki is a ysoki.
Despite Maarbadvae and her companion's bravado and grandstanding at entering the bar, they prove to be rather unready for the fight, fumbling for their guns and not reacting quickly enough, allowing most of the group to get the drop on them.
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Not wanting to start off with one of his own race, he focuses his Combat Tracking on Maarbadvae then fires off a shot with his Azimuth Laser Rifle...
...but as he goes to shoot he hiccups from the glass of strong liquor and almost hits Glitch-702. His exocortex tries to provide helpful guidance but the ysoki takes it as condescending lecturing and mutters under his breath, "I am NOT a drunk!".
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Leo observes Maarbadvae and Grank as they come lumbering in. Trying to focus on noticing anything about them, the looming threat of danger proves too stressful and keeps his mind from anything other than the basest of physical observations about them - like how Maarbadvae was large and had 4 arms and how the ysoki had a gun.
Brandishing the Needler Pistol, Leo takes his cue from Fuskee and shoots at Maarbadvae. He didn't really want to, but he knew the charm only worked well when death wasn't such an obvious threat.
It'd been awhile since he was in the heat of real combat, and Leo's nervousness was causing his hand to tremor a little. The shot almost catches Glich's shoulder on its way to Maarbadvae and then flies right over Maarbadvae.
Realizing that it wouldn't be too wise to try shooting again, Leo instead rushes behind the bar, where Fuskee is, in order to at least have some protection from Maarbadvae and Grank.
Once there, Leo ducks behind the bar in order to go completely out-of-sight... hopefully. At this point, he's almost completely sitting on the floor with his back to the bar, although he remains alert.
With his back to the bar, he tries taking some deep breaths to calm his jitters, holding tight to his pistol in one hand and the spellgem in the other.
Fuskee and L.E.O. both train their weapons on Maarbadvae, but their shots both go wild and nearly graze Glitch instead, messing up the timing of her shot. The needle and laser both hit the same spot on the ceiling well above Maarbadvae’s head. She gives a laugh and comments ”How fitting, the traitors to Akiton revival are also traitors amongst themselves!”
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Vandor sees the team's first attacks miss and curses, with no line of fire at the foes through the barrier he is forced to leave cover to get a clear shot. (Which causes him to curse some more.) He rushes across the dining room until he reaches a table parallel to the opening in the barrier.
While the ysoki strikes him as the far more tempting target, the much larger Maarbadvae seems to be mostly blocking his shot so he instead he takes aim at the four-armed woman. He breathes... concentrates... and pulls the trigger...
Vandor scrambles from his ideal spot bhind the pillar to hide behind a table that provides less coverage but allows him to shoot without problems. He lines up his shot and almost hits the four-armed woman in the hear but she moves her arm in the way just in time.
As his gun’s bullet hit her flesh, though he feels light headed for a second, as a phantom pain of a bullet piercing his arm overcomes him.
Moktargarn line up his pulse caster rifle and takes a shot at the large woman, deciding that quickly bringing her to her knees is a good idea.
Maarbadvae gives a laugh at the pitiful attempts to hurt her, shaking off the pain of the bullet and tiny electrical zap she received. ”Pitiful traitors! You’re no match for the glory of Talbot and his trusted followers! Now feel the pain of his wrath!” She finishes her staring Moktargarn directly in the eyes. With a twisted smile she gives a slight squint and Moktargarn’s brain is racked with horrendous pain.
Grank, the ysoki bedside her, scrambles away form the large target trying to get some cover from the group, ending up near the table. He uses the table to brace his shot, targeting the closer Glitch.
From the back room behind Fuskee and L.E.O. comes a small scrabling sound as another ysoki pops out from the back room! She trains her pistol on L.E.O. and takes a shot at him!
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“Ah!” Leo cries out.
Surprised by the 2nd ysoki, Leo reacts by pulling his gun’s trigger instinctively and without much thought. Pressing hard against the bar with his back for support, he fires quickly and rather blindly.
Unfortunately, Leo always had trouble shooting under such stressful circumstances. His society instructors had tried often to break his habit of shooting blindly because of its risky nature. But still, Leo was trigger-happy when startled... in the worst way.
The female ysoki takes aim at the Android and fires, but having trained for fighting enemies taller than her self, her hand jersey up and the shot goes over the bar where the android’s chest would be if he was standing. The laser pulse slams into a bottle of Castrovalian whiskey scattering around the room in an impressive but short lived light show.
Glitch, recovering from her near hits from her allies, brings her gun to bear against the large shobhad and takes a shot, again almost hitting her in a vital spot until she blocks it with an arm. The four armed woman stops and concentrates for a second and Glitch feels a phantom burning on her arm.
L.E.O. in a rush from the unexpected attack from behind fires two quick shots at the ysoki behind him, but his rush proves to be detrimental and both shots end up with a thunk in the wood. The last one though does take out a whisker or two as it passes.
Fuskee moves down the bar in case someone had the presence of mind to throw a grenade at him, and takes a mechanically enhanced shot at the large grey woman. It hits her square in the shoulder and she gives him a death glare as her robes start to smolder a little.
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Vandor's bullet hits Maarbadvae in the arm, much to his surprise. "Ha! Hey, I got her guys!..OUCH!!" His thrill at hitting his target soon turns to agony as he grabs at his arm in pain. "What in The Great Beyond was that?! Hey! That's not fighting fair! I like your style."
Seeing L.E.O. get ambushed from behind by the ysoki, Vandor thinks to himself. "Thank goodness I didn't hide behind the bar after all." Not seeing any immediate way to assist the android however he trains his sights back on Maarbadvae. Maybe if they take out the leader, the others will call off the attack.
Gritting his teeth and preparing himself to endure the possible pain-sharing effects his own attacks may inflict on himself he fires off two more shots.
First attack
Second attack
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As their brilliant roundshield flashes to life in their left hand, Vahni ducks behind a table and raises their pulsecaster pistol, quickly firing a shot off at at the hulking shobhad. Attempting to mask the fear in their eyes, Vahni yells over the din of battle, ”Please! This is your last chance. Stand down or I will begin using lethal force! I don’t want to hurt you!”
Glitch tries to fend off the sense of phantom pain from her attack, but the burning sensation overrides her reality processors, causing them to glitch and making Glitch-702 susceptible to the magic’s influence.
Vandor on the other doesn't even realize that magic is affecting him until a small round wound pops up on his arm and starts shooting pain signals out. The small amount of blood dripping down his arm makes the trigger slick, and he accidentally takes a shot at the floor when he brings his gun back up. He quickly cleans it off and takes a second, clean shot to the shobhad’s abdomen. Despite bracing for the pain, nothing happens as Maarbadvae gives a gurgle of pain.
Vahni’s pleas fall on deaf ears as the lumbering woman looks at them. ”There's no way I'm surrendering to you! Anyways it seems like your group is already using lethal force, “ She says while pointing at the bullet holes on her arm and abdomen as well as a burn on one of her other arms. As Vahni’s electrical discharge feeds through her system, Maarbadvae’s eyes narrow. ”You'll pay for that! “ She then stare deeply in Vahni’s eyes, causing pain bubbles and bursts to erupt in their mind as it feels like it starts melting.
Moktargarn easily realizes the pain is just a spell and is quickly able to break eye contact, stopping the spell from working its full effect. He drops his pistol and rushes up with his taclash. Aiming at the large humanoids feet he takes a swing. Despite her attention being focused elsewhere, however, Maarbadvae easily jumps over the filament, completely ignoring the vesk and his tiny weapon.
Grank decides that targeting the wounded Glitch is probably his best bet for right now.
The ysoki behind L.E.O. takes another quick shot at the Android before backing off into the back room.
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Using this opportunity, Leo quickly jumps up, letting go of his spellgem in the process, pulls the door's handle, and slams the door shut. He holds the door's lock and uses his artificial - and frankly somewhat heavy - body to act as a weight.
Leo hopes that he can keep the ysoki out of the fight for a moment to allow his allies time to finish of Maarbadvae. At least, that's what he was hoping for. He hadn't seen Maarbadvae's condition since he came behind the bar, but based on Fuskee's recent exclamation, Leo figures things must be going okay.
Fuskee takes a shot at Maarbadvae, pegging her right across the chest, burning her horrendously and causing her to waver and almost topple over. before she grits her teeth and stands back up ramrod straight. And glaring at the ysoki causing him to feel a hot sensation across his chest.
L.E.O. takiung advantage of the opportunity, moves up to the back door and slams it shut, throwing a bolt across the door and then placing himself in front of it.
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Moktargarn narrows his eyes as he misses but pushes on with the attack, using the momentum of the taclash to whip it around his head and directing another blow at the woman's face.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Fuskee takes a shot at Maarbadvae, pegging her right across the chest, burning her horrendously and causing her to waver and almost topple over. before she grits her teeth and stands back up ramrod straight. She then slowly topples over backwards collapsing into a heap.
Glitch-702 decides to train her magical energies on Grank.
Vahni draws her sword, dropping her gun as she rushes up to the ysoki and takes a swing at him.
Moktargarn also draws in closer to the ysoki and takes a swing of the taclash at him,catching the tiny man across the face and giving him a face full of electricity. The ysoki's hair stands on end as the electricity runs though his body before he drops like a ton of statically charged bricks, sparking slightly, but no worse for wear.
Behind the door L.E.O. is holding closed comes a sound of scrabbling, like the ysoki in back is trying to find a way in. Shortly the sounds of her running out of the back room sounds out. A minute later she appears in the front doorway of the tavern and taking a look at her fallen companions she just slowly backs out of the building before turning tail and running.
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Relieved at the battle ending so abruptly, Fuskee lays down his weapon on the bar counter and pours himself another drink before the barkeep can come back to catch him. "Let's not wait too long, it seems like Talbot is sending people after us so we should bring the fight to him before we're interrupted again. Let's take 10 so you guys can catch your breath and we'll head out?"
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Vandor strolls over to the fallen Maarbadvae. "Well, she wasn't that tough after all." He takes a moment to examine the superficial trickle of blood running down his arm. "Look what she did! I agree with Fusk, let's take ten minutes. Maybe Podswald has some disinfectant or some bandages for this wound who knows what kind of weird infections you might get in this place..."
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Moktargarn snaps his taclash back into place on his belt, then retrieves his pulsecaster pistol. Looking down at the woman, he narrows his eyes in concern.
"Anyone able to make sure she doesn't die?" he asks roughly, while rifling through any visible pockets she might have.
"A quick break is fine, but let's not hold up any longer than we need to," he rumbles, refusing any alcohol.
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"Not my problem, she should have thought of that before she came in here shooting at us. I did fire a warning shot for her. That's what that first shot was. I totally didn't miss. 100% calculated." Fuskee smirks as he makes light of the situation and continues sipping at his drink as he cools himself off.