Twonas raises an eyebrow at Isu. "The portals here in the Gateway district? You're really not from Castrovel, huh? They link to all sorts of places across the planet. Been here since before the Gap. The Port Authority keeps track of who's using them and makes sure only people with the right documents get to use the ones that are restricted."
"Big shots here on Castrovel are awful concerned about not letting people 'ruin' Ukulam. Whatever the hell that's supposed to mean-" He spits on the ground. "I dunno why they make such a big deal about it, but you need special permission to go there, whether you take a portal or go by ship."
One of Twonas' goons pipes up with "Pacqual stiffed us on a little over 8000 creds." before the leader sends him a sharp look.
~*~*~*~
"How 'bout this. I'll make the documents you need for your team at a discount. But if you manage to track Pacqual down and liberate the credits he owes me, we split 'em half and half. Say, 1000 credits up front for the group of you, and then if you're successful with Pacqual, you give me 4000 credits, half of what he owes me. You get the access you need to chase after your researcher, and we both get richer if you're successful. Sound fair?" He smiles at you, hopeful to seal a deal.
Nonchalantly, he adds "You do that, and then we can talk about any long-term arrangements."
~*~*~*~
Twonas' eyes light up when he sees Solaria, but his cocky grin evaporates when she takes a stern tone and talks all business. "Fine fine, you're right that you're doing the dirty work, though don't pretend that this is some public service for me, girlie. We both know you've got plenty to gain as well."
"Best I can do is 600 creds up front. 100 for each of you." He spreads his hands out. "If you don't like it, you're welcome to find another way. I've got other work I could be doing; work that don't rely on you all to pull through afterward to be profitable."
Isu smiles at this and hefts his hammer. "Very well! Now, let this one be rid of these scoundrels! How dare they besmirch Solaria's armor."
Isu walks over to the the thugs. "Change of plans, criminals! We have decided to ignore all of your offers. Begone now, before this one gets angrier!" Isu slams his huge hammer into the ground, and bits of electricity jump from the head and burrow into the pavement.
"Wait, Isu, NO!" Arcalinte cries as he runs after him.
Solaria's antennae twitch as she calls after Isu telepathically, Stand down now Isu, we need you here for the next part of our mission. We need you as we go to Ukulam to recover the Dr. Apologise to those brigands, we need their contact details on the infosphere, as they have unfinished business with Pacqual. We will not forget them, nor the way they looked at my armour.
Once the disturbance between Isu and Twonas has been resolved and they are out of earshot and sight of Twonas and his associates, Solaria turns to her friends, "We know Dr. Solstarni was hoping to investigate 'the accursed pyramid city of Loskialua' and had been given permission to enter Ukulam by the authorities in Turhalu Point. Then her itinerary once in Ukulam is probably known by those authorities, we can presume that Pacqual has the same destination." she sighs as she looks up from her datapad, "We'd best get prepared and our travel permits in motion. Just as Arc has described."
"You are not allowed to terminate my negotiations in this manner," he says in protest.
Turning to the smugglers, he says "The fact remains that it is unlikely we will pay the 1000 credits up front. Though you don't trust us to complete our end, you have yet to earn ours, either. In the event you change your mind, let us know. But otherwise, we will need to pursue other avenues."
"I remain interested in future collaboration, however."
When Isu comes back and starts his aggressive display, Twonas' two lackeys begin drawing weapons before he waves them down. Nevertheless, there's a moment of tension while Twonas seems to be mulling over the situation. Spectre's followup leaves Twonas to spit on the ground and then shrug "Fine. You do you, and we'll see if you come back looking for 'ol Twonas."
He whistles a high pitched trill and then spins to swagger down the street away from your group.
With the smuggler's offer spurned, Arc quickly gets in contact with Muhali over comms. (I'm going to assume that you fill her in on Dr. Solstarni's likely status)
Sydney leans in the alleyway - both hands in her jacket pockets and one boot flush with the building’s exterior - for their entire duration of their interaction with the smugglers. She raises an eyebrow when the smugglers counteroffer with a worse deal then the original, but is even more surprised when her companion of Clam Tarma’s outburst. She smirks to herself, lowering her head. Never knew he had it in him. This Twonas could be a really smart @$$. She liked that.
Twonas and his groupies weren’t as bad as Sydney initially thought. If what they said was true, they were victims of scam. Sydney was still hesitant, however, to trust the motley crew. Sydney wasn’t looking forward to confronting Pacqual (even less to report back to the stuffy academia lot) but she realized it was all necessary in order to get paid. She shares in her companion’s sentiment to accept any deal without knowing the full extent of what they’re getting into."I see. I'm inclined to agree with your conclusions Arcalinte. Dr. Solstarni was not one to cultivate enemies, even in the academic sphere. However, she does have specialized knowledge about Ukulam and its flora and fauna that would make her a valuable asset to anyone attempting to traverse the continent. Furthermore, if you're right and this Pacqual is trying to find Loskialua, she'd be an asset in that search as well..." She settles into a worried frown. "I can only hope that they didn't hurt her, since they need her to guide them."
For a moment, her professional demeanor fades, worry for her colleague creasing her brow "If you're really considering going after Pacqual and Dr. Solstarni, I-" She swallows "-I really appreciate it. I know Qabarat police, they'd never chase a suspected kidnapper all the way to Ukulam. Outside their jurisdiction, they'd say."
"I'll help you however I can. You mentioned that they went to Turhalu Point via aiudara*. If you're chasing after them, I can put in an urgent request for academic visas for the group of you. And secure Gate access as well."
~*~*~*~
During this shopping trip, your comms devices beep in unison. A message from Muhali has been sent to each of you, simply saying 'Please make use of this in your preparations.' Included with the message is a digital token granting each member of your party 500 credits from the University's funds.
Sydney makes herself comfortable and spins the pen behind her ear between her index and forefinger. Good. A legal way to get through the gate. She wasn’t opposed to breaking the law, but didn’t want anyone to find an excuse to take away her beautiful starship. Their previous starship battle was enough drama to settle her for a while.
Sydney pushes both her hands deep in her pleather jacket pockets. "I think I remember something from an Interstellar PodRacer magazine I read. You know they have those fancy races ever other quinton." The operative shrugs, looking rather nonchalant.
Current:
Sydney's already defaced her environmental suit with a Mr. Yuk sticker on the right upper arm. She's sporting a red bandanna tied around her forehead like karate kid. Hidden under her environmental suit, she's wearing a white sleeveless undershirt and dark blue jeans. "So what are you scans bringing up?" She eyes the robot with interest. The corner of her mouth quirks up, "I'm guessing there's not a Fueling Station within trekking distance?" Sydney stretches, pulling each arm behind her head one at a time, "man, I could go for some nachos right about now."
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A few hours of shopping later, Muhali gets in contact with you, directing you to meet up with her in the Gateway district at a place called Sunbloom plaza. Within the hour, you're there with all your gear and supplies.
Muhali waves you over and presents you each with a datastick. "Visas. I sent a message to a colleague of Dr. Solstarni's in Turhalu Point, just to let him know that you're on the way there. Dr. Khair al-Nuaf. He has been doing biological surveys in that region for the last few years and might be able to help you."
She rummages through a small pack and pulls out a set of basic lashunta tempweave armor as well as a small cylinder. "Dr. Solstarni left this suit of armor behind. If you find her and need to make an escape, she might need it. We also had this weapon in our stores..." She passes over the cylinder and you recognize it to be a movanic angel wing, a type of one-handed plasma blade. "Hopefully you can make use of it in case of trouble."
At that, she steps back and says "Good luck. I hope you'll be able to find Dr. Solstarni before its too late."
Arcalinte bows respectfully to Dr. Muhali as he accepts the angel wing.
"These weapons are prized by Sarenites like myself. If no one has any objections, I would ask to be the one to wield it."
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Parting with Muhali, you advance to the nearest Gate, where a group of Qabarat Port Authority officials inspect your new visas and wave you to advance. Up ahead, a golden arch twice as tall as Isu lies atop a stone dais. Within the arch, a golden mist swirls, obscuring the other side.
Arcalinte's eyes widen.
"I...never expected I'd see an aiudara with my own eyes. It's more beautiful that I imagined as a child. To imagine that these gates have stood for millenia, since before the Gap..."
His reverent monologue is cut short by Isu confidently proceeding through the portal.
More about flora and fauna - The animals and plants of a jungle environment often carry diseases, contain deadly poison, or are venomous. Being prepared for those kinds of ailments is particularly helpful when you could otherwise be days away from medical facilities.
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The group of you, led by an enthusiastic Isu, step through the portal. For a few seconds, it seems as though you're simply walking through a warm golden mist. But before you can truly get disoriented, your stride takes you out of the Gate and into the cool ocean breeze of Turhalu Point.
The Gate stands on a platform that affords a clear view of the small outpost and the surrounding scenery. The station at Turhalu Point sits at the tip of a broad peninsula covered in rolling plains and expanses of tall, pale green grasses that shimmer with violet hues in the wind. Short-lived blooms of magenta fungus tower nearly twenty feet over the landscape, though many have begun to wilt and others are marred by bite marks of half a dozen sizes. Trumpeting calls echo across the plains as immense, six-legged creatures with long, swooping necks trek steadily across the grass toward the western jungles. Beyond rises the Singing Range, its peaks barely visible through the haze.
More close by, you see a cluster of short, squat buildings bristling with antennae and scanning equipment on their roofs. From one of those buildings a short, portly human man comes striding towards you. He adjusts his glasses and calls out hesitantly "Is that Arcalinte, Isu Greelax Zyte, and...?"
The middle-aged scientist comes up to Arc and vigorously shakes his hand. "Indeed, Khair al-Nuaf at your service. Professor Muhali let me know that you'd be coming. Terrible news about Dr. Solstarni. I've worked with her a number of times, a wonderful woman, passionate about her field." He steps among you, shaking hands quickly. "It's truly incredible that you're willing to go out into Ukulam's wilderness to find her kidnappers. As well as I know the area, I wouldn't dare. It's terribly dangerous." He clears his throat, embarrassed by the admission.
"And to think that that mild-mannered Dr. Pacqual is the perpetrator! He came through with his team just two days ago, all very professional. I spoke with him just briefly, but he seemed rather quiet, very polite. His crew were big, tough sorts. Mercenaries hired for an expedition, he said. It didn't seem unusual at the time..." He shakes his head, embarrassment intensifying at having failed so badly as a judge of character.
Sydney crosses her arms over her chest since she's wearing the protective environmental suit. "So," she begins slowly, "you saw a quiet, mild mannered guy roll up with a bunch of tough-looking mercenaries and didn't think twice about any of it?" The operative eyes the scientist dubiously. "They threaten you to keep quiet?" 'Cause I promise we can do a lot worse. Sydney moves her neck side to side. There's an audible popping noise on the second head tilt.
"How many were with him? What kind of gear they have?"
The squat scientist nods to Sydney "Yes, of course! The few people who get clearance to come through Turhalu Point are generally either government surveyors or academics of some stripe. And in both cases, they'd need some defense against the mega-fauna of the Ukulam jungles. That means mercenaries. Anything else would be suicide, certainly. No, other than the short notice of his trip, there was nothing unusual about Dr. Pacqual's expedition."
Sydney thinks he's being honest and not holding anything back.
He nods to Arc and Spectre "He was a tall lashunta, thick glasses, grey hair streaked with green highlights. He looked fairly young, but he had a hunched posture that made me think he didn't get out of the lab often. His mercenaries were a group of humans, lashunta, and one shirren. I didn't see any sign of Dr. Solstarni, but they did bring through crates of equipment."
"They set off on foot, as everyone who plans to enter the jungle proper is forced to. Beyond the impracticality of trying to drive a vehicle through the jungle, the Esowath Conservancy enforces the vehicle ban very strictly." He raises his eyebrows. "It's a worthwhile cause, and they take it seriously."
"Any other questions I can help try to answer?" He gives a start as he realizes something. "Ah, also! We have some equipment left over from previous expeditions. You're welcome to help yourselves to it."
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Arcalinte takes up the curve blade and gives it a few small test swings.
"No disrespect meant to Dr. Muhali, but I feel I will make better use of this than the angel wing. As much as it fits Sarenrae's aesthetic, it's also hard to control."
He adjusts his gear to accommodate it.
"I can still make good use of my longsword as a machete."
Once you're all geared up and equipped, Dr. al-Nuaf has you all gather in the back of his light-duty electric pick up truck. "I'll take you to where I saw them enter the jungle proper. The environmental laws allow me to do that much at least! It might give you a better chance of catching up to those kidnappers. They may have two days on you, but if you prove to be better at navigating and surviving the jungle you might even be able to catch them."
The truck races across the open coastal grasslands surrounding Turhalu Point, waves of hip-height pale green and violet grasses glittering in the wind as you pass. Dr. al-Nuaf brings you 10 miles away from the outpost, just where the grasslands begin to transition to an increasingly dense subtropical forest. He halts the truck.
"You'll be on your own from here." He adjusts his hat, wipes sweat off his brow, and gazes out into the forest with discerning eyes. "You're lucky, its more peaceful out there than some days. Good luck. And if it gets rough out there and you need to seek safety, make sure to return back while its still a choice. It's a long way back to civilization once you're on an expedition." He waves, then turns the truck around and heads back to the outpost.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
A character in very hot conditions (above 90° F) must attempt a Fortitude saving throw each hour (DC = 15 + 1 per previous check) or take 1d4 nonlethal fire damage. Characters wearing heavy clothing or armor of any sort take a –4 penalty to their saving throws. A character can attempt a Survival check to receive a bonus to this saving throw, and might be able to apply this bonus to other characters as well.
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JUNGLE EXPEDITION
Day 1
Clear Weather
Location: Edge of the grasslands (120 miles to go)
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Isu speaks up. "This one has had some training in orienteering at the Kasathan Academy...Not extensive amounts, but some. And this one has studied Zan's notes...This one is reasonably sure that we should go... this way!"
Feel free to aid.
As Isu plunges ahead into the jungle, he speaks over his shoulder. "You all may remember that this one has a backup generator upgrade to his armor. This one may have mentioned it once or twice. It recharges a battery charge every ten minutes, as long as we keep moving. We have backup batteries, too... This one thinks that the backup generator will keep all our batteries full charged, if we keep swapping them about."
Sydney crosses her arms and tries her best to look tough even though the harsh environment stirs unease in her gut. The red bandanna is firmly tired around her forehead to keep pesky hairs from falling onto her face. And she's secured the fabric with a few bobby-pins for good measure.
When Sydney'd recalled jungle environments often carry diseases, contain deadly poison, or are venomous, she decided to not take any chances. She'd claimed the doctor's neglected suit and purchased a couple of extra batteries for the trek. Right as the group is about to set off, she presses the controls of her suit to turn on the full environmental protection and temperature control. I'm not going to fry like an egg on this matron-forking planet.
The operative tromps through the vegetation while wearing her suit, utterly unimpressed with their predicament. When one of her batteries goes dry, she adds it to the queue of batteries needing a recharge - but not before replacing it with a fresh one. She laments inwardly, because she's too cool to complain on the exterior, about how they have to trudge through a horrendous jungle instead of a bustling cityscape. She feels out of her element. There were no vehicles to hot-wire in case of an emergency and, more importantly, no convenience store around the corner to satisfy her Cheezy Poofs craving.
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Arcalinte takes point with Isu, hacking through the vegetation with his longsword with enthusiasm. He didn't feel the need to turn on his suit's environmental protections unless it was an emergency. The explorers of old did not require such protections, so he would go without as well. He could always relax in the environmental protections of his tent at night.
"This is what being a Starfinder is all about! Illuminating the dark, distant past, following the trail that we BLAZE!"
"I think we should try to follow their tracks." Sydney motions to the lush dirt of the jungle. "It shouldn't be too hard to spot footprints."
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"Blasted living organisms. I'll take a space doc and recycled oxygen over this oppression any day cycle." Ted frowns, knowing that there's no escaping the upcoming oppressive heat and suffocating overgrowth. His top bounces in the air and turns bright happy giggling colors around his head.
Ted scowls at the top more angrily than normal. The top gives out a final sigh of pleasure before calmly settling on his shoulder. A sheen of almost imperceptible pink extends from the top and coalesces around Ted's body. His forehead turns less clammy, his flushed face loses its redness, and his breathing is less labored. Ted almost smiles and turns more pleasantish.
"Well, let's get moving."
Your first day of travel takes you through a gradually more densely forested plain. Tall green and violet grasses transition to massive, broad leafed trees, and increasingly, thick roots make the path underfoot uneven.
In midafternoon you spot a herd of some kind of absolutely massive long-necked quadrapedal lizard off in the distance, but the creatures don't approach and you're able to stay well away from them.
Isu, with the aid of most of the group, is able to navigate through the jungle adeptly. You make great time, travelling 12 miles following Zan's instructions.
After camping, you set out for the next day cool and reenergized.
-=-=-=--=-=-=-=
JUNGLE EXPEDITION
Day 2
Overcast Weather
Location: Grazing forests (108 miles to go)
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Arcalinte smiles at the sight of the lizards, clearly in awe.
"Relax, Spectre. Big ones like that are usually plant-eaters. Only thing you'd have to worry about is one sneezing on you."
Sydney takes the lead in guiding the group through the jungle.
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"Amazing. By the light of Sarenrae! We should kill one, Arcalinte Soter! Imagine the glory gained by the mounting of such a beast. Truly, something so big must surely be evil!"
Arcalinte frowns.
"Isu, they're animals. Animals can't be good or evil. All they want to do is tromp around and eat leaves. Leave them in peace.
Isu tries to give his two credits worth in navigating the jungle.
[dice=survival aid]d20+5
With aid from Arc, Isu and Ted, Sydney navigates the party through the deep brush in this section of the forest. Even as the party weaves this way and that to avoid the deepest grasses and thorny shrubs, she keeps track of the target direction easily.
As you walk, you see more and more of the towering, long necked lizards.
Otherwise your progress is still excellent and you proceed another 12 miles!
When you wake on the third day, you notice that the dinosaur herd has migrated during the night. It's clear that the path described in Zan's journals, as well as the path taken by Pacqual, leads directly through the grazing herd.
-=-=-=--=-=-=-=
JUNGLE EXPEDITION
Day 3
Scorching heat
Location: Grazing forests (96 miles to go)
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"The best battle in the Dawnflower's eyes is one you can stop from even beginning. You glorify Sarenrae in battle against evil, yes, but she is also a goddess of warmth and healing. These animals...they're basically just big wollipeds. They just wanna wander around and eat plants. Save your energy...and your grenades," Arcalinte replies.
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"Huh. Your words... speak of truth, Arcalinte Soter. But this one is slightly disappointed nonetheless." He sighs.
"Quite honestly, attempting to walk through them would be no problem for a warrior such as this one, but this one fears for our...less sturdy members. As the bodyguard to you all, this one suggests we walk around them."
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"Huh. Your words... speak of truth, Arcalinte Soter. But this one is slightly disappointed nonetheless." He sighs.
"Quite honestly, attempting to walk through them would be no problem for a warrior such as this one, but this one fears for our...less sturdy members. As the bodyguard to you all, this one suggests we walk around them."
Arcalinte nods.
"I think that's a good idea."
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"Very well," Spectre says disapprovingly. "We are trying to reduce the distance between our respective groups, and this will take time we don't have. Regardless, time spent discussing it is even more time we are wasting. Let's go."
As the droid begins walking, he looks back at Ted. "I thought the frag grenade had a considerable chance of success."