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Off to the Exo-Guardians.
Garbage litters the ground around the district’s largest art park—a cement lot filled with undulating metal sculptures and covered in graffiti of grotesquely adorable creatures. The sounds of music and chatter drift over from the nearby clubs, chronically interrupted by the roar of the local gangsters’ engines. A heavily augmented host shirren is sitting on one of the park benches, eating a simple meal of cold grub-noodles and rice candy. Their antennae perk up at the tremor of approaching footsteps. “Welcome, new Starfinders! And congratulations!” the shirren’s voice telepathically projects. “My speech-name is Zigvigix, but feel free to call me Ziggy, if that would be easier for you. Have some rice candy to celebrate your graduation! Today is your big day!
“When you are ready, I have two assignments I could use assistance with. The first is to help me secure a new headquarters on Absalom Station. I’ve been in talks with our station’s protectors, the Stewards, and they were kind enough to give us ownership of a warehouse here in Downlow for that purpose! The current owners no longer want it because a vicious alien took it over and kills anyone who goes inside. Once the alien is gone and the warehouse cargo has been returned to its owners, we can start installing desks and computers, so please go in and incinerate the creature!
“My second assignment…” Zigvigix twitches their tooth barbs for a moment and then holds out a credstick. “Please buy the brand-new Strawberry Machine Cake album, Star Sugar Heartlove!!!, which is out today, and give it to Historia-7 when you see her. She is the head of the Dataphiles, so you should meet her today! I wish to do it myself, but I... I have trouble standing for long periods of time. Thank you very much!”
"Do you have any questions of me?"
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Yuta accepts one of the rice candies, looks at it curiously for a moment, and then places it in his mouth, pleased to be congratulated by a person of authority within the Society.
At the mention of the word 'incinerate', Yuta pats his laser pistol to make sure it is still securely holstered. Yes, that is something he can do.
"Can't stand for a long time...?" Yuta echoes, not quite sure what this has to do with anything. But he responds to the second request, "We did meet Historia-7 briefly, just a short time ago. She seems quite capable. We will do this for you."
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Zigvigix explains “We believe the creature is a feather stalker, a predator far more unpleasant than its name implies. As far as the Stewards have been able to piece together, a two-bit crime lord illegally imported the creature, and the beast promptly ate him. I have a recording of the incident.” Zigvigix provides holorecordings of the incident taken off the station’s security cameras.
Zigvigix says “ I feel that Historia-7 has seemed down after losing her mentor in the Scoured Stars. I hope the sugar-pop music can cheer up the android ” Zigvigix adds, “The band’s music always makes me feel better. I am a real fan of Golarian Is Gone, Yeah We Know It It is so bouncy. I regret that I will not be able to hear the newest releases, as My legs are damaged and it is incredibly difficult to stand in the long lines.”
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Yuta nods in what he hopes is an understanding and sympathetic way. "Perhaps I will take the occasion to listen to this music as well. It sounds like it would be uplifting in difficult times."
He ponders whether he has ever heard of a creature called the feather stalker. The video sounds a little horrific, but he steels his nerve and starts to play one of the holorecordings, sharing the view with anyone else who wants to look. "If it will help us be successful..." he says, a little reluctantly.
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Medrick stays quite the briefing. When he hears about the job with the monster, wonderful, another real job that feels like something I should be doing as a Starfinder . When he hears about the second part, Medrick hands his head in shame. I feel like a lowly intern again
After watching the video, Medrick tries to remember if he has seen the creature before.
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The feather stalker lives up to its name; it is a large black-and-white creature (specifically, a crinoid) made up of long feathery appendages and little else.
It attacks in close range with its feather appendage, but is also able to launch some type of harpoon at range.
This particular specimen seems to be able to have some minor resistance to sonic damage, and also as the ability to launch multiple harpoons around with fairly deadly accuracy.
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Serrarra watches the video feed with interest.
See that? It's got some kind of multiple-harpoon attack. Looks like "up close and personal" it is, then.
She extends her tactical baton and gives it a quick flick for testing.
That'll be interesting, at least.
She does not quite feel as confident as she makes herself sound.
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"Yes!" Julakesh exclaims loudly when she's asked to incinerate a creature. "Finally a worthy mission!"
Upon hearing the second mission. Julakesh's white glowing scales turn a slight pink. "Yes!" she exclaims. "A-hem." she grumbles. "I have not heard of this sugar pop music but I will definitely obtain it for you." Julakesh adds rather suspiciously.
Clearly, she has heard of Strawberry Machine Cake.
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Julakesh watches the video of the attack as if it were great entertainment. She laughs hysterically whenever something is wounded. At it's conclusion she exclaims. "Ahaha! This will be great fun!"
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At Serrara's comment, Julakesh claps her hard on the back. "Yes! Up close and personal is the greatest kind of battle! I am hopeful not all of you will be slaughtered!"
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You make your way down to the Downlow and easily get to the warehouse the Ziggy needs you to clear.
The doors to the warehouse were forced open and no longer lock. The warehouse ceiling is 30 feet high, and a catwalk runs 15 feet above the floor. The crates and vehicle are approximately 5 feet tall, while the cylindrical containers and the crate-filled scaffolding are 10 feet tall. A pit in the warehouse floor is 10 feet deep. The scattered junk on the floor creates an area of difficult terrain. The lights on the catwalk are not bright enough to illuminate the area, leaving the warehouse in dim light.
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Yuta moves cautiously into the room and ducks behind one of the large round containers, hoping that it might provide some sort of cover. Without knowing where the beast is, he can't tell exactly how helpful that will be.
He draws his laser pistol and then peers cautiously around the barrel to scan the room.
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While looking around the various containers, Yuta finds a spare med patch while Serrarra finds a flare.
Julakesh does notice the creature coming out of the pit in time not to be surprised.
Julakesh and Triskid can act in the surprise round and are not surprised.
The Stalker is focused on Julakesh.
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Yuta occupies himself with packing away the med patch that he found in the storage container next to him, but then looks up, quite startled, when the sounds of weapons fill the air. This is no time to be poking around! he realizes.
He whirls around to take in the sight of his friends clustered in front of the creature they came to fight, and almost before he has time to think about his next action his hands start moving in a magical gesture. There's one attack that I at least know will work...At least I hope so...
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Staring up the maw of the fearsome creature, observing the body of their fallen companion, every chitinous portion of Triskid’s body wanted to run, but from deep within the thorax came a resolve to stand fast and protect the fallen member of their adopted community. A Starfinder was down, and Triskid would not run.
The words came, the fingers moved, and Triskid hurled three shooting stars at the vile creature.
as a full round action
As the stars plunged into the disgusting creature, Triskid resigned their fate to the wistfulness of the wide cosmos.
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The shooting stars hit the creature and blast it back down in the pit. Dead.
Silence falls on the Warehouse.
After tending to Julakesh and contacting Ziggy, start removing cargo and freeing up the space for the Exo-Guardians. As this occurs, Zigvigix emerges from behind the cordon line to congratulate you on a successful extermination.
"We can do the clean up while you take care of the album"
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When Julakesh is healed she leaps to her feet, hissing and snarling! ....Only to find the enemy dead.
"Oh! What shame!" She throws herself on the ground and pouts for a while, moaning mournfully to herself and everyone nearby about what a disgrace she is.
Ten minutes later she suddenly hops to her feet. "Yes! The album! I can restore my honour by obtaining Strawberry Machine Cake! Come! We must hurry!"
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Yuta sees the massive beast go down and rushes over to check on the rest of the group and help Julakesh to her feet while expressing his admiration: "Julakesh, that was amazing! You were very courageous to stand toe to toe with that deadly creature. You have no need to feel shame."
He takes a few moments to examine the feather stalker up close, trying to figure out how the whole harpoon thing works, until the exo-guardians start filing into the building. He then agrees with Triskid. "Yes, I think we should take a bit of time to recover, perhaps out of the way of these Starfinders so they can continue their work. Surely the album task can wait another ten minutes."
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This is an easy task, just go to the place and get a copy. When you get to the location you find the line out the door and down and around the block. This will take some time….
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...Six hours later the doors open up.
You are able to secure a copy for Historia-7, Ziggy, and for yourself if you wish
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Julakesh waits fiercely--tremendously protective of her place in line. She jostles those in front of her, elbows those behind, and growl whenever someone comes too close.
As the sounds of previous Strawberry Machine Cake releases play from nearby personal comm units and speaker systems, Julakesh nods her head to the beat and a few times--sings! Clearly, despite her fierce exterior, Julakesh is a fan of sugar pop music.
When Serrarra engaged in trivia contests with other fans, Julakesh often shouts the answer out fiercely--scaring other competitors into silence on more than one occasion, and ruining a few trivia games.
She ensures a copy is purchased for... whoever we're helping again--Julakesh can't seem to recall--and buys an extra two copies for herself! One to listen to, and one to keep in it's sealed packaging. After all, this is a collector's item!
With the new Strawberry Machine Cake album in hand, Julakesh is happy and proud! She has triumphed and redeemed her honour! And she has some happy new tunes to celebrate to!
Victory is hers!
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After the long wait, Triskid and Medrick both succumb to the fatigue of waiting in line for so long. Oddly enough it must have been the fatigue that tempered their excitement as everyone else take bludgeoning damage from being pushed around while getting your copies.
With copies in had you head back to Ziggy. Handing off his copy, he squees, "Oh thank you!!!!! Aren't they the bestest! Like TOTES!" After a moment the shirren recovers some of their composure. "You all will make excellent additions to the society. Please deliver Historia-7's copy to her on you way back to the Complex for debriefing with Guidance."
Arriving at the Lonespire Complex, you are able to quickly meet with Historia-7. She takes the album and gives you a long, unreadable stare before calmly stating she will enter it into the archives.
Back with Guidance, the intelligence once again presents itself in a holographic form—this time taking on the appearance of a wizened male korasha lashunta. "Well done Starfinders and I am proud to call you as such. After the Scoured Stars incident, we new capable agents now more than ever. And you all have bright futures in front of you. Thank you again and Welcome to the Society"