Fresh from your exploits supporting the work of the Dataphiles, you return to Absalom and enjoy a relaxing evening. The next morning, and Morroda with a niggle of a hangover, you make your way to the Nyori Pallasades, one of the more luxurious neighbourhoods in Absalom. On the way, you hear people whispering in deference about your exploits for the Starfinder Society.
You soon find yourself at the offices of Radaszam - the leader of the Acquisitives. The plain white doors of the office slide open to reveal a stark, dimly lit room. The chamber is bleak and expressionless in its emptiness—no vanities line its smooth black walls, and no signs of use mar its smooth black furniture.
The only occupants of the suite are a bug-eyed tadpole wriggling in a glowing blue aquarium and a reptilian vesk, stood at the tank, one scaly finger gently swirling the water around the tadpole. Without turning to greet you, he gestures to a number of chairs in front of a large onyx desk.
He remains stood by the tank Nothing quite captures the fragility of life like a tadpole, don't you think? Safety is of vital importance during the tadpole stage. They must survive this weakened state if they are to thrive.
His features are sharply illuminated by the light of the tank's green glass.
Eventually, he turns and sits down at his desk. The new graduates, he greets, in a low and pleasant voice. Your growing reputation precedes you. Good work so far. I am Radaszam, though since you are here, I should hope you already knew. I trust you are aware of our Society’s traditions, so I will cut to
the point. I have a minor situation that needs resolution. One of our members, a human named Laboni, had a rather public altercation with a junk scavenger from the Spike.
He leans back and cracks his scaly fingers. You might be more familiar with the scavenger than I, actually; he is a ysoki who fancifully calls himself Ratrod. I am told he runs a popular racing competition that has, hmm, several hundreds of thousands of viewers on the station’s infosphere. For some reason, Laboni felt the need to tell him that any ‘real’ mechanic could easily beat the garbage
that Ratrod and his associates slap together. Now that Ratrod has issued an infosphere-wide demand that she race him and prove it, Laboni doubts she can back that claim up.
He stands and walks to the large floor to ceiling window overlooking the Nyori Pallasades
Embarrassing, isn’t it? Not really the sort of troublemaker that suits our Society and if she were a tadpole, her chances of survival would be slim. Perhaps she would be better suited to the bottom of a trash compactor... Well, we cannot afford to throw her out, not after so many Starfinders were lost in the Scoured Stars. Besides, we can’t let people think we are so weak that we can’t control our own members, or that we cannot stand up to a scrapyard junker.
He turns to survey you all. No, I would like you to assist Laboni in winning this race. Show our detractors that even the least of our Society is not someone to be trifled with.
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I wonder if he sees me as a tadpole, Cora finds herself wondering as she watches the enigmatic vesk move around his office. Aloud, she comments, “Normally I’d say a person needs to learn to face the consequences of his or her own words... But if this is important to the Society, all right. I’ll do my best to help, not that I know much about racing.”
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Radaszam smiles at Cora I don't disagree and I like your attitude, but we live in a time where resources are thin, and where even the average might have a use. Laboni is lucky in that regard
He turns to Kaiole How you win the race is up to you. But know this, I don't take losing face lightly. Laboni won't be difficult to find,just follow the smell of stupidity, and she'l probably be in a lab coat, giving her an air of intelligence I doubt she possesses
After a few pleasantries about the breeding habits of tadpoles and political manoeuvrings in Absalom, you depart and make your way to
Ratrod’s racing circuit. It is a hollowed-out section of a mountain of spare parts in Botscrap, and the smell of ambition and diesel hangs heavy in the air. Already, the crowds are building.
You are met by a small drone that tells you to Press the Green Button on the drone's body for the rules if you want to know them.
The rules are simple. Racers and their pit crews are to build and improve their vehicles from the available scrap around the racetrack. Vehicles built at previous junkraces can return. Racers can fire upon other competitors during the race, but firing into the audience is grounds for immediate disqualification; racer weapons must be nonlethal and may affect only opponents’ vehicles. You may each take four actions before the race, which you may
use to improve Laboni’s vehicle or engage with the other racers. After this time, the race begins, although you
can still assist Laboni from the sidelines. If you are new to the Absalom racing scene, you may ask any further questions of this drone.
The drone whirrs and a small compartment opens, revealing track-side access badges with your faces on and marking you as Laboni’s
official pit crew.
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"Thank you drone!" says Kaiole as he picks up his badge.
After Kaiole observes a party member hit the blue button, Kaiole says, "Haha! Do it again! Do it again!"
After the blue button has been pressed a few times, Kaiole says, "Welp, I've had my fun for the day. Off to work! I have no further questions and am ready to look for Laboni when everyone else is."
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Chip laughs as the drone's instructions are simply not followed. He leaps ahead and smashes the blue button along with Kaiole and Morroda. "No one's gonna tell us what to do! The blue is clearly the better choice!"
He retrieves his badge and uses his fur to thread it onto his body. "Pit Crew Member Chip P. - Chippy, for short - reporting for duty!"
You take your badges and make your way through the crowds, over the tannoy are the warbling sounds of Strawberry Machine Cake -it seems there is no escape.
Laboni is easy to spot, probably because she is the most stressed looking person in the crowd. Wearing paisley clothes and bright white lab coat, she looks like she is in her late teens but should be at home eating her mamma's cookin'. She couldn't look any more out of her depth. She looks around furtively, and spots the giant frame of Morroda towering over most of the crowd. She makes her way over.
Are you...are you Morroda? Radaszam said he was sending some people to take care of me. I'm desperately hoping that doesn't mean 'take care of me' in the more final sense of the phrase. I really have put my foot in in with this Ratrod. She looks at Cora, Faria and Chip I'm sorry. Where are my manners? I'm Laboni, Chief Instigator of this mess and I would be every so grateful if you could all help me. I didn't mean it to get this far but my mouth shot off as always and now I'm worried. I mean, have you SEEN the other racers' cars and they are still working on them even this close to the race. Oh gosh, this is really baadd.... She trails off, floundering in her thoughts.
1. Laboni's vehicle is pretty basic, at the moment but the Botscrap scrapyard is a mine of potential
2. Laboni isn't going up against Ratrod on her own. There are other racers involved and we all have strengths and weaknesses, right?
3. You are in Botscrap - not exactly the most ethical place in Absalom. Who says all is fair in love and war?
Prerace Actions Round 1 - You each get one action. Feel free to grab a burger and dance along to Strawberry Machine Cake as you decide
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"Welp, time to cause some mischief!!! Laboni, can you point me the way to Ratrod's racer? I believe it's time to attempt some 'modifications' on his racer, if you know what I mean? Actually, scratch that. You have NO idea what I mean. You need plausible deniability. Just point me towards Ratrod's racer - for not reason in particular... yah, that's right, no reason at all!!!!" Kaiole winks knowingly.
Turning to the rest of the party, Kaiole says, "Would anyone else like to help me visit Ratrod's racer for no reason at all?? I'm fine to go visit alone but if anyone would like to come along, I won't mind the company!"
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Giving the best 'your annoying me' expression Morroda can give to Laboni he sets off after Laboni's Racer looking it over he decides to do what any good Half-Orc in Space would do. "Ya be have'n any red paint lyin' 'round?"
The Racer now having a fresh coat of Red paint Morroda attempts to test the speed finding out that it has not improved one bit because what looks red in his eyes turns our was closer to Magenta.
Sporting a nice new red coat of paint, Laboni thanks Morroda Now at least it'll look good on the cameras when I come last. I..I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound ungrateful and I actually really do like the colour
Faria looks around the junkyard and finds a few bits that might be useful but they look heavy and complicated to fit
1. The vehicle’s base speed increases by 5 feet.
2. The vehicle gains a +1 Piloting modifier.
3. The vehicle gains a +1 attack modifier.
4. The vehicle gains a +2 bonus to its EAC.
5. The vehicle gains a +2 bonus to its KAC.
6. The PCs install a basic energy weapon on the vehicle (imposes a
–4 base Piloting penalty on a hit).
7. The PCs install a basic kinetic weapon on the vehicle (imposes a
–4 base Piloting penalty on a hit).
8. The PCs upgrade a weapon to impose an additional –2 penalty to
enemy Piloting checks on a successful hit.
Kaiole strolls off to blend in with the crowd and finds Ratrod busy tweaking his racer. After a few minutes, he wanders off to look for a screwdriver with a flange b-12 nipple cinch and you take your chance.
By smiling sweetly at the track stewards and flashing your badge, you make your way to Ratrod's racer.
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Kaiole nonchalantly walks up to Ratrod's racer, trying to blend in. Then when no one is looking, he detunes the engine just enough to degrade its performance, causing it to lose 10 speed. Once he's satisfied no one will be able to easily repair his bit of subterfuge prior to the race, Kaiole whistles while strolling back to Laboni's pit area.
Now with Ratrod's racer slowed down a bit. Kaiole will head to the junkyard to salvage parts in an attempt to speed up Laboni's racer.
Ratrod returns to his racer, B-12 Nipple Cinch armed and ready. Hmph...thought I’d left the engine access panel open....ah well. I must be more efficient than I thought. In less than an hour, this whole stadium will be chanting my name from the rafters and it never fails to feel good but it’ll be especially sweet with that upstart Laboni sobbing in the corner... He wanders off into his own thoughts, oblivious to the nefarious activities Kaiole has just undertaken.
Meanwhile, Kaiole picks up a Mark I T-78G6 turbo booster that should fit nicely onto the back axle of Laboni’s racer. Unfortunately, you realise on flitting it that the Mark I versions require specialist tuning equipment so it has no effect so you are forced to remove it.
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While Kailoe works on sabotaging Ratrod's car, Chip scrutinizes the piles of scrap, looking for the perfect parts. He finds the remnants of a bazooka with a decal of a scantly clad human woman on the side. The fair maiden's bosom functions as the part of the weapon where the bazooka shells emerge. He blows the dust off and gets to work, installing it above the racer's fender.
After this, Sentinel locates a navigation module chip in the scrap heap and the drone assists Chip as he throws his furry head into the engine bay, carefully soldering it into place. "And that's how ya upgrade a junk racer!" He happily exclaims, his face covered in grease.
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Cora sees Faria poking around the area, looking for abandoned equipment, and figures that surely she can do the same thing, with her keen ysoki senses.
She spots a speed booster thingy-ma-jig discarded nearby, which looks as good as new to her untrained eye, and then she ferrets out a bit of shielding from where it was stuck under one of the bleachers.
Apologies - you are absolutely right.
Okay, here's where you are so far:
Kaiole's has managed to sabotage Ratrod's racer and it will suffer a . Kaiole also manages to find a lighter racer seat that takes a few pounds of weight off the racer, along with a set of slightly worn, but high-quality tyres much more suitable for the dry Botscrap track in Kaiole' view . Kaiole has no actions left.
Chip, using his engineering knowledge, has managed to install a non-lethal kinetic Mark IV limited edition 'Bosom Baby Blaster' . He also managed to find a navigation module that he installed, despite covering his whiskers in oil that should aid you in the remote piloting of the vehicle during the race . Chip has two actions left.
Morroda and Laboni have painted the vehicle red, which at least looks cool. Morroda can be found in the Botscrap bar, rambling incoherently about Ye Dice Gods! to anyone who will listen. Someone listening in makes a mental note to check in the Lorespire Complex archives for mentions of Dice Gods. Morroda has three actions left
Faria strolls around the scrapyard but it looks as if the other racers have gotten most of the good stuff. However, through sheer will she does find a lighter version of the omni-drive shaft which she fits with ease . Faria has no actions left.
Cora picks a darkened corner of Botscrap race track, seemingly a graveyard for broken racers and broken dreams. She gets lucky and finds an old, but still functional shield that should help and a Special Edition Travoltian Greased up Fuel-injection cut-off and chrome plated rod . Cora has 2 actions left.
Here are the starting stats for Laboni’s car and the modified stats. You have no idea of the capability of the other vehicles, other than Ratrod’s which will be slower.
Base Speed 40 ft., full 400 ft.
EAC 10; KAC 12
Attack energy weapon (–4 to Piloting)
Modifiers +2 Piloting, –3 attack
Passengers 1
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Remote Control Laboni’s junkracer and weaponry can be remotely controlled by the PCs, allowing them to
make attack rolls and attempt Piloting checks in her place.
Speed 60 ft., full 600 ft.
EAC 12; KAC 12
Attack energy weapon (–4 to Piloting) Kinetic ‘Bosom Baby Blaster’ (-4 to piloting)
Modifiers +3 Piloting, –3 attack
Passengers 1
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Remote Control Laboni’s junkracer and weaponry can be remotely controlled by the PCs, allowing them to
make attack rolls and attempt Piloting checks in her place.
So – great job so far upgrading the racer. Looks a lot niftier and has a bit more firepower.
Morroda (3 actions) Chip (2 actions) and Cora (2 actions) remaining.
There are five other pilots in this race.
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Chip sees the race is about to start and dives back into the scrap heap, looking for additional parts to buff up the racer. He finds the XT-2000 Motor Booster, an experimental product, but it'll have to do.
Covered in grease and filth, Chip sends Sentinel to find a reinforced plate to improve the junkracer's defenses.
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Morroda moves about the ship admiring his excellent Paint job. "Alright now it be time to get some upgrades put on tha racer .
Wha 'bout a few extra weapons?
"Those be some good weapons! Although I be thinking that Kinetic one might have a broken swivel." AS he mentions the Kinetic Weapon the mini Turret seems to not rotate any further than the current downward direction it currently is in.
Chip and Morris’s scour the Botscrap yard for a few more bits for Laboni’s racer. Morroda manages to add to the awesome paint job with a couple of J564-TY Pulse Blasters which he fits to the front of the racer to upgrade what is already there.
Chip finds a brilliant XT-2000 motor booster but unfortunately, the manifold is too bent fro impact to be any use. However ,the shielding he finds is fitted to the side of the racer.
Here are the final stats for the racer:
Speed 60 ft., full 600 ft.
EAC 12; KAC 14
Attack energy weapon (–8 to Piloting) Kinetic ‘Bosom Baby Blaster’ (-4 to piloting)
Modifiers +3 Piloting, –3 attack
Passengers 1
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Remote Control Laboni’s junkracer and weaponry can be remotely controlled by the PCs, allowing them to
make attack rolls and attempt Piloting checks in her place.
Just Cora’s two moves to go. Will move forward with the race tomorrow so get some rest - Laboni is going to need you alert. For the race, you can rotate the piloting and weapons skill checks each round. WIll roll for initiative tomorrow.
Speed 60 ft., full 600 ft.
EAC 12; KAC 14
Attack energy weapon (–8 to Piloting) Kinetic ‘Bosom Baby Blaster’ (-4 to piloting)
Modifiers +3 Piloting, –1 attack
Passengers 1
The piercing sound of an air horn slices through the night air and a voice booms over the tannoy Can all racers please make their way to the start line
With a squeal, Laboni hugs you all Thank you so much for all of your help. I'll need your help to pilot this thing, she says as she straps herself in See you at the finish line!
You make your way to the viewing platform. On a console in front of you are the details of the other racers:
Lemgem is a blue-haired gnome covered in
piercings, tattoos, and augmentations
dragonkin partner, Nyizin is a racer with an obvious death
wish. Unstable black-market mods made of dragon bone and
elemental energies fill Nyizin’s vehicle
unfairly good in black and gold.
He has a showman’s personality to match his icon status.
People in the Spike consider him something of a hero to the
ysoki-dominated Scrap Union.
Ratrod soaks up the admiration of the crowd before getting into his racer. Kaiole waves at Ratrod smiling and a slightly confused looks crosses Ratrod's face.
The horn fires again and the race is on! The racers all get a good start of the blocks and the crowd roars in anticipation
Kaiole - choose a target and fire the Energy weapon at a player of your choice. Remember the -1 to attack rolls
Morroda - choose a target and fire the Kinetic bosom baby. Remember the -1 to attack rolls.
Cora - You are pilot for this round. +3 to piloting. Please roll a DC 16 Piloting check.
Kaiole rotates the turrets on the energy weapons and let's rip at Ratrod but he manages to swerve at the last second and throws a glare at Laboni before returning fire with a deep grin across his face
Laboni feels her racer swerve from underneath her. . Laboni slams into the old rubber tyres on the side of the track and loses speed as a result.
Ratrod laughs on the big screen and the crowd cheers.
Meanwhile...
Velocity and Lemgem trade blows and Velocity takes a hit, slamming into the side wall,slowing her down. Lemgem flicks her booster on and races ahead.
Orsis fires a volley at Nyizin but misses by a country mile and In return gets blasted by Nyizin and Velocity. Orsis swerves into the sidings and comes to a complete halt, cursing. Nyizin storms off after Lemgem.
Ratrod races after them but seems frustrated by the lack of performance from his racer.
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Morroda eyeing the controller manically saying "Were just try'na beat Ratrod right!" Targeting Ratrods racer he presses the big red button yelling "FIRE!"
seeing his round fired he watches it approach Ratrod's racer and then, his Display screen flickers for a second, a commercial appears reminding everyone about Strawberry Machine Cakes new single is available and there are only a few limited physical copies remaining. Morroda begins to get agitated "Thar be a time an' a place for music. NOW not be tha time!" Morroda whats with embittered anticipation.
Morroda's aim is true and the bosom baby bazookas Ratrod's racer but he uses all his experience to retain control and stay upright!
Over the giant holoscreen Nyizin's face appears and a voice booms over the tannoy And it's Nyizin who takes an early lead here folks! And look at poor Orsis, he's got some work to do now! Everyone sing Ratrod...Ratrod.he'll beat you with or without a mod! The crowd erupts in song.
Morroda's shot from the Bosom Baby slams into the side of Ratrod
At the same time as Morroda blasts Ratrod, Velocity does the same from the other side. The crowd erupts in excitement as Ratrod is driven into the hoardings. Before he crashes, he manages to fire off a volley at Laboni which hits, but Kaiole's skill at the console manages to keep the racer level. The camera zooms in on Ratrod's face, seething with anger.
Seeing Ratrod crash, Velocity fires her other weapon at Laboni but it narrowly misses, flying an inch from Laboni's helmet. In return, Faria fires Laboni's energy weapon at Velocity but is wide of her mark.
Lemgem and Nyizin exchange volleys but both miss. Orsis, angry at crashing out gets back on the track and takes aim at Velocity's racer, hitting it on the exhaust pipe but Velocity manages to keep upright and flicks out a finger to Orsis, laughing.
The stadium tannoy blares out Folks we've got a real race on our hands here! It's neck and neck between Lemgem and Nyizin with newcomer Laboni hot on their heels in third place! Reigning champion Ratrod and Velocity are battling behind in fourth and poor old Orsis already looks beaten. Let's give them all a big old Botscrap cheer!
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"Oh, well done!" Cora cheers as Kaiole pilots their racer straight ahead and Laboni manages to hold on and avoid getting hurt. Getting into the spirit of things now, she excitedly grabs hold of the energy weapon controls. Although Ratrod is behind Laboni now, he's not far enough behind for Cora's tastes, so she targets him anyway.
Cora's shot takes out a popcorn seller happily humming along to Strawberry Machine Cake's latest abomination, showering the upper tier of the track in salted popcorn. Meanwhile, Chip fires with his eyes open, and smashes into Ratrod's race as does Velocity's shot but Ratrod's experience shows again and he in unmoved by both blasts, and smiles across at Laboni.
Lemgem and Nyizin takes a pop at each other Nyizin but are way off aim and the lack of concentration slowes Nyizin down whilst Velocity takes out Lemgem with a well aimed stike, slowing Lemgem down also.
Ratrod fires at Laboni and hits but Faria's skill at the console is supreme and Laboni races on unperturbed much to Ratrod's anger!
Folks we have a new leader,and it's Laboni!
Kaiole and Faria are distracted by the constant thrum of Strawberry Machine Cake singing about the 'Lonely life of an Android on Akiton' and miss wildly with with their shots.
Ratrod aims again at Laboni but misses, and angry clouds his face. Even more so when Velocity takes out a chunk of his racer with a well aimed blast. Velocity also takes out a chunk of Laboni's racer, forcing her off the track and Ratrod smiles on the big screen when he sees Velocity hit.
Orsis starts a comeback and manages to hit Velocity and Nyizin and Lemgem exchange succesful blows.
Round 4 - Kaiole - Energy weapon, Chip - choose a target and fire the Kinetic bosom baby.
Cora - You are pilot for this round
Morroda - Kinetic
If anyone thinks I've missed their turn, shout up. A learning lesson for me has been to try to be more organised with sharing out the duties. I think I'm on track but I won't take offence if you want to swap around