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Ahead, it is dark. But behind you it's too bright! Why won't they turn the lights down? It could easily alert something hostile to your presence, and with all the literal dead weight here, it'd be much more trouble. And is that...excrement? Just there, on the floor?
Several hours ago, you had no idea what to expect. But your wildest bits of imagination were nothing like this....
You had traveled to Zo!, the famous undead media mogul, at his request. The simple Starfinder transport you came in had nothing on the Exemplarion, his personal ship and luxury space-yacht. A skeletal attendant led the assembled crew through its six decks, casino, spa, three restaurants, and many other amenities. Hundreds of other guests laze about, likely rich or friends of Zo!
The assistant eventually takes you to the production room where it mentions Zo! and First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo are to meet you, but stops at the door. "You're in for a treat," it rattles. "So, who are you? I'm sure Zo! had reason to send for you all specifically."
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The strange creature visibly vibrates with excitement as you wait outside the door. 'I'm Xochitl T'zek!' rings out in your heads. 'You can call me whatever you like, though a lot of fleshbags call me 'Show'
Glancing towards the door, its mandibles contort into an almost smile. Meanwhile, a black orb pulsates as it orbits the things head. 'I can't wait to see Zo and Ms Elsebo again! I just hope we can fullfill their needs. Last time I helped the First Seeker it got...well...it was dangerous.'
'Pleasure to meet you Kess!' it replies, eyeing her intently. 'You are a...oh what do they call them...' Trailing off, the shirren tugs out a data pad and scours over a few pages. 'Oh yes! You're called a Who-man, right? Your frail bodies are always just so interesting!'
"In Veskarium society, social status is most easily earned through excellence in combat, and I will soon prove to you why I stand where I stand!" the heavily armed female Vesk in battle armor states with little emotion.
"What drives you lot in life?"
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The door opens to a flurry of activity. Many aides and professionals run about, testing equipment and cleaning. When they see the team, several pull extra chairs to the massive table at the room's center. Only three people are currently seated. Zo! regales Luwazi Elsebo with an animated story, and a female ghast watches her datapad distractedly. Zo! notices the new arrivals, some of whom recently saved his un-life.
“Yes. Yes! You’re everything I was hoping for,” exclaims the undead showman while looking you over. “Oh, Luwazi, you’ve truly outdone yourself. They’re so exciting, so energized, so—”
“—alive?” finishes the ghast, who wears similarly well-tailored clothing. Zo! frowns at the blunt observation and tries to respond, but Luwazi intervenes.
“Starfinders, no doubt this is all happening a little fast, so let me explain. After the Scoured Stars incident, the Society struggled to support new expeditions. I reached out to numerous people and organizations for grant money, and our host was eager to help. He financed more than a dozen missions, including the one to Salvation’s End. There was one big catch.” Zo! visibly bounces in his seat with excitement as Luwazi continues. “If we found anything especially exciting, we’d need to cease exploration long enough for him to get a film crew out there to document whatever we found next. Well, Salvation’s End may look like a moon, but our initial survey of it found there’s something built inside—the whole thing might be artificial. That qualifies as especially exciting, but that was also several months ago.”
The skeletal mogul waves his hands. “Oh, but Luwazi, I couldn’t just send a single crew. No, the Starfinder Society’s greatest triumph deserves far more production value.” He hops up from his chair and gazes out at the moon as he paces and gesticulates. “Imagine: heroes from the Pact World, a mysterious planetoid, untold secrets, limitless adventure—all broadcast before a live audience in our greatest production yet!” He spins to look back at the group, his lipless mouth smiling gleefully. “Live Exploration Extreme!”
The ghast claps politely before interjecting. “To translate, you’re scheduled to explore part of Salvation’s End accompanied by a professional camera crew and production team. You will find exciting things and be thoroughly entertaining. Any questions?”
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A bare and ancient android slowly jerks further into the room. His model is very old and should have been scraped centuries ago. A mish-mosh of equipment outfits the droid as it looks to have self-upgraded itself in some ways. Blue and red circuitry line his body made with mixed shapes and panels to fill age old gaps and broken exterior in a hodge podge sort of rustic way as the exterior skin has long been removed.
The top half of the Androids head is missing making it look flat in comparison as led lighting forms shimmering colors and holographic images that reflect something in the form of emotion. Where the mouth is has been replaced by an old speaker box to allow speech a pair of red eyes glow out. A badly programmed synthetic voice calls out. "I am Model Y2K." A small blue light rises from within.
"Will there be sufficient range to record and transmit the data?" Y2K was very unsure of recent technology as the little bit he had he scavenged and attached himself as the vast majority of Society paid little mind to him due to how ancient and obsolete he is.
"Exploration is sufficient. Probability of success::"
Success rate [X]100% [_]90% [_]80% [_]70% [_]60% [_]50%
"We cannot fail exploration." He says in a literal sense as his processor and syntax doesn't allow to think outside of it's parameters.
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As he was a bit ensconced in his great idea, Zo! takes a bit to notice the identities of the Starfinders. "Hold on. Is that...Kess? Show? Y2K? Oh, it is delightful to see you! If this opportunity was a special treat, I have an extra special one in store for you three...ah, my good friends!"
The ghast's job seems to be keeping the skeletal showman on track, as she does again. "A good question...Y2K. We will be recording the show on the ground with you. The footage will be seen live by 408 lucky passengers who bought or won the privilege randomly. They will review it from orbit and may influence your actions via poll. Once we're done down there, we'll splice in breaks, advertisements, and other effects, and in a few days it should reach the Pact Worlds."
Her 2-foot-long tongue slips out of her mouth at this protracted speech, and she pulls it back in annoyance. "By the way, I am Wazasha Kevir, Zo!'s associate producer. I will be accompanying you with the rest of the Eoxian film crew."
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Kess' small smile fades as the "mission" is explained to the Pathfinders. "Let me see if I understand this correctly. You want us to explore a moon that's not a moon. That I can understand, but you want us to do that while entertaining a bunch of people who can vote on what we can do. On top of that there's a film crew to keep safe." She shakes her head.
"This is not a good plan. It's a plan that is fraught with opportunities for things to go terribly wrong. No offense Zo. I like being alive."
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"Well..." Zo! doesn't quite seem to understand Kess' concerns. In fact, he looks a bit crestfallen. "The crew should stay out of the way, especially if a fight crops up. Their protection shouldn't be worried about unless necessary."
"You never know! The production board thinks highly of the plan. And you've yet to be dead...." The skeleton suddenly cuts himself off, in a rare moment of embarrassment. "Sorry. Just a bit of Eoxian humor. Won't happen again." Luwazi looks at the team imploringly behind his back. Her gaze seems to say, 'Just go along with it. It's not beyond your skills and it'll be worth your while.'
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'Pleasure to see you both again!' exclaims the solarion.
Patiently listening to the briefing, Xochitl stays silent. As the android approaches, it quickly wips out the datapad and starts typing away.
'Such an amazing display of choice!...Wait...We're doing what was that?'
Turning back to Zo!, it replays the highlights in its mind. 'Explore a non-moon. Ok...Lead a recording crew...NEAT! Others decide what we do...'
The cheerful expression falls from it's face. 'But...I like making choices. Are they going to make ALL our choices for us? Or just some?'
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"See, Show gets the allure," Zo! chuckles. He looks to assuage the shirren as it becomes slightly downhearted. "Worry not, you're the heroes! Of course you'll be making most of the decisions. But sometimes, we want our audience to show their preference. It's how they get to know you and make a better show. And you needn't always follow their verdict; there can always be an antihero, a darker character who goes against the tide. The crowd loves to hate 'em!"
"See, Show gets the allure," Zo! chuckles. He looks to assuage the shirren as it becomes slightly downhearted. "Worry not, you're the heroes! Of course you'll be making most of the decisions. But sometimes, we want our audience to show their preference. It's how they get to know you and make a better show. And you needn't always follow their verdict; there can always be an antihero, a darker character who goes against the tide. The crowd loves to hate 'em!"
"This all sounds very strange to me. I neither want to be a hero nor and antihero but if there is a battle to fought where we can emerge as winners I am your Vesk!
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Antihero. That's what I'll choose if it means keeping everyone alive and unharmed. I wonder where I can find a disguise for this mission. It won't do to have the great thief on television.
Kess nods slightly to Luwazi. "Alright tell us more about the moon. What should we be prepared for? Low gravity? Is there atmosphere?"
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"The team I hired for a surface survey believes so," Luwazi responds. "But it would still do to keep sealed environments at the ready. The gravity will feel about normal. In and around the hatch leading further in they found a tribe of goblins, the Exhaust Drinkers. We've clashed with them in the past to keep our landing pad free. So if you meet any, expect a fight." Zo! bounces on the balls of his feet in excitement at this.
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Model Y2K's registry recalls some information on this incident with the tribe of Exhaust Drinkers. "Goblins are highly destructive and the likely hood of personal injury is at 85%." He lists out the statistical analysis of the impending situation. more so for the camera crew that himself. "Shall we depart immediately?"
"Good, I welcome a good fight" the female Vesk responds to Zo!'s last remark.
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"Not so fast!" Zo! stops Y2K in his tracks, then herds him into another room along with Kess and Show.. "I didn't want to plaster ads for the newest tech in this show; or the first episode at least. But you three-" it doesn't seem like he's trying to leave Obozaya out hurtfully, but it ends up that way, "-are my friends! I owe it to you for what you've done!"
"It'll be good for everyone to keep our sponsors happy and yourselves well-equipped. Why not pick up a new weapon, courtesy of Nova Solutions LLC? A new family-owned half-orc company, debuting their Scorched Earth line. After all, 'Why end a fight when you can end a planet?' Or perhaps some swanky combat armor from Clashwear? 'Dress to Express' with their comfortable, elegant, and tough gear."
- Basic iridishell
- Business stationwear
- Ember flame doshko
- Ifrit-class flamethrower
- Red star plasma kukri
- Static arc pistol (small arm)
- Elite stationwear
- Officer ceremonial plate
- Corona artillery laser
- Corona laser pistol
- Red star plasma doshko
- Red star plasma rifle
- Skyfire tactical sword
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'Oh, ok. I can see how that could be fun. I'll try.'
'Ooooo neat!' exclaims Xochitl as it eyes the possibilities. Cautiously touching the elite station wear, it inquires 'Are...are you sure? This looks really neat! I would wear it proudly for you.'
Trying the suit on, it twirls around. 'Yes, Dress to Express is my choice.'
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Kess takes her time looking over the equipment. "I'll take the Elite Stationwear, and the Red Star Plasma Kukri."
She gives Zo a long look. "Thank you for this equipment. It's good to see you even if I am being put on display for the masses. Should we mention the name of the equipment manufacturer while fighting the goblins?"
Elite stationwear
Red star plasma kukri (level 5 one-handed basic melee weapon that deals 1d4 E & F damage, has the wound critical hit effect, has L bulk, and has the operative and powered [capacity 20, usage 1] special properties)
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"Ehh..." Zo! seems a bit uncertain at Kess's question. "I wouldn't advertise during a battle. Maybe after one, and only if the equipment did something pivotal. Like barely blocking a goblin's laser or roasting one just before he launches a nuke." He pauses, as if pondering such a great shot. "We're for the high-brow public TV audience; they don't need to be spoon-fed ads!"
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With explanations out of the way, Zo! is quick to set his plans into action. The Starfinders meet their production team, which consists of a dozen ghouls and two androids bristling with recording equipment, just before entering a shuttle. Accompanying them are Wazasha and a large hexapodal robot which contains refreshments, seats, makeup, and an expandable interview booth. One 15-minute voyage later, you are already making your way through the makeshift Lodge and the hatch into the surface of Salvation's End.
This is certainly no moon! The seemingly natural exterior quickly gives way to the look of service tunnel, a sort repair drones might traverse. There are very few offshoot paths that you could make your way through, so the unlikely crew continues down the first one. "Feel free to voice whatever thoughts you have," Wazasha notes in a businesslike manner. "They'll likely be about done with intros in orbit; we'll start recording soon." Sure enough, if anyone logs into the Exemplarion's local infosphere, they see their overly dramatized exploits being reeled off, even if little is known about them.
A few minutes later, the large film crew power on their instruments and assume positions , mostly following behind you. Their lights bring the passage from flickering dim to uncomfortably bright. Further in, a small cave-in widens the tunnel slightly. Given this, it seems to have become a midden or refuse pile. Bits of scrap pulled from higher tech litter the floor, as well as two massive piles of...excrement?
The other pile came from some omnivorous creature about the size of a vesk.
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Model Y2K scans the area. These tunnels are on Pact Worlds level of technology, though nothing that has been documented." Bending down the android picks up a small piece of excrement in his metal fingers. It oozes in the joints. "This is from Goblins. Likely in the last hour."
Standing up the ancient android wipes the excrement on the wall.
"Hmmmm ... I can confirm the tracks are from goblins. Let us move on!" Obozaya says.
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It's easy enough for the two skilled trackers to lead through the splitting tunnels. All of the footprints lead the same way, down to-
Boom!
An explosion shakes the passage, by whatever coincidence coming from down the path the goblins went. As if you needed more incentive to go that way, now it seems there is some hero-ing to be done. Wazasha certainly thinks so, as she shepherds you in that direction. The camera crew follow along eagerly.
The tunnels finally open up into a small cavern. A small cloud of debris is just beginning to clear, and next to it stands a goblin! Behind him is quite the creature: A large, six-legged armadillo-like thing with compound eyes, iridescent banded armor plates, heavy digging claws, and a pair of rasping tongues. When the goblin sees you, he raises a pistol made of junk and screams behind him. "Idiots in Exhaust Drinker's cave! Kill 'em, Ziggy!" The creature shrinks back a bit but prepares for a fight. Your crew do the same by cranking up their lights and recording equipment!
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'Wouldn't it be safer to go....Oh, right.' broadcasts the shorten to the other starfinder. Keeping an eye out for trouble, it follows the selected path.
Spotting their foes straight ahead, the swirling mass of inky blackness suddenly expands, enveloping the shirren in a thick black hide.
Xochitl darts towards the goblin, snaking its way to the beasts side.
'Ah! Time for some fun!'
Start Graviton Mode, move 30ft, Gain DR 1/- vs physical as a move action
Obozaya does not speak but runs with a battle concentration towards the goblin attacking with her ember flame doshko.
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Model Y2K is sure of it. "That is a spicodranth. They are omnivorous, and are sometimes tamed. They can absorb awry fire- and electricity-based weapons and blind their attackers. The brighter the room, the more this is likely to happen."
Y2K turns to the crew. "Turn down your lights or we will all be blinded."
The crew seems to pay little mind to the android. he is used to it. Noone ever pays him any mind.
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The camera-ghouls slightly misconstrue the android. "But you aren't looking at the lights! If anything, they'll affect the goblin and the...spikey-dranf." Before Y2K can explain further by repeating what he literally just said about the spicodranth, they become distracted. It seems Obozaya has exploded the goblin with her doshko. Also, Xochitl has started performing some very cinematic darkess magic.
With the goblin turned to paste, the spicodranth seems a little more reluctant to fight. Granted, there are still some very combative people around. Perhaps it could be coaxed to stop?
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Kess moves in closer, drawing her laser pistol as she moves. She gives the camera crew a quick glance, and uses her hacker specialization to make one of their computers arc in an exciting way. She's careful not to ruin their filming or sound equipment.
She misses with her shot, and doesn't look nearly as cool as she hoped sh would. Well that's awful. I need to look cool for the cameras.
Obozaya still does not speak but runs and attacks with her ember flame doshko.
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Both of Obozaya's nearly connect. Instead, the light of the doshko's fire looks to be sucked into the spicodranth's strange armor plates. The light thrums there for a second before painful iridesence bursts back out at the vesk.
Y2K's weird noise fares no better than the doshko in soothing the beast.
Meanwhile, Wazasha tries signaling the film crew to dim their lights, as per the android's instructions. It's proving difficult given her location back at the cave's mouth, though.
„Aaahhhhh ... what hellish light is this?!”
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Taking a cautions step sideways around the beast, Xochitl calls out to Obozaya's mind. 'Move to the side, carefully. I'll distract it.'
The black shimmering coat over the creature seems to harden again. Crying out to the crowd, it's mandibles contort into an almost smile. 'Lookee! It can't hurt us, for we are the heroes! Should we subdue it? Or talk to it more?'
Continue Graviton Mode as a free. Guarded Step as a Move action. Activate DR 1/- again as a move.
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Kess manages to keep the spicodranth from escalating the situation. Instead, it perks up and gambols around her playfully, all malice forgotten. The film crew projects a sound effect and cuts live cameras. The feed has likely switched to a commercial or Zo! excitedly detailing what's gone down and speculating about what is to come.
Wazasha steps out from her safe spot, then signals a ghoul, who gingerly picks up the pacified beast and carries it off. "It'll be safer away from here. Plus Zo! wants it for follow-up material. I was going to make a poll for what to do with a captured goblin," she mutters. "But execute, release, and make team mascot are no longer viable options. And we aren't giving trolls an option to force us into burying it."
"Regardless, that was some fine work. Quite cinematic! You didn't even end up needing the lights turned down. Perhaps someone would like to join me in the booth...? No, it's too early." At the word booth, the hexapodal robot trundles up and a massive transparent sphere bursts forth from it. But upon the idea's rejection, it retracts the bubble dejectedly.
"Hmmm ... then we can be happy that my weapon did not connect! Ha ha ha ..." she says laughing.