GM Dinketry and the Dead Suns AP (Inactive)

Game Master dinketry

Telion coughed and wheezed between glasses of water and grey paste and bread for a few minutes, before finally settling down. "Good," he said meekly, "but I don't suggest breathing until you swallow. How'd you manage to make it burn in waves like that?"

I didn't see your previous post until just now upon review, Jaxom. Apologies.

Upon reaching level 2, the human suggests to Idar and August that they should meet back up with the other crew before heading further into the Spike. Stepping off on Level 2, the group can see that this would be a fine level to try a new direction. Filled with vehicles leading across and just under the main mass of Absalom Station, the Transport Level of the Spike serves all levels of Absalom Station that need to get somewhere on the UpTop (as it is referred to by the Downside dwellers) in a hurry.

August, Jaxom, and Idar catch an automated magnetaxi to take them to the nearest UpTop lift headed back into the Ring district. Before long, they've resurfaced onto the Ring, ready to attempt to re-connect with their team. Artificial night has fallen on the station, and the crew wanders streets that were alight a short while ago.

Can I run an Infosphere search on bar and restaurants that serve curry in the Ring within walking distance of the hotel and cross-reference that with social media posts on Diamaante?

No worries...

August's search doesn't find anything on Diamaante (Telion's post didn't specifically include her), but it does provide directions to The Hard Burn.

Well I figured her fans would send out tweets or post something on Facebook. #DiamaanteDateHardBurn perhaps!

"Let's try the Hard Burn. Idar, do you like curry?"

Tetra grins at Telion. "I can't tell you exactly how, but it does involve partially-hydrolysing Shirren nettle-swarm fronds and mixing them with stock-standard hot pepper paste. There may be something Castrovelian in there as well," she winks.

"Alright, you've suffered at my hands enough. What can I do for you?" The halfling pushes the bowl that Telion previously was eating back towards him, and pulls the experimental chili back towards herself as she relaxes in the booth.

Both Telion and Diamaante may make further Fortitude saves. I see that Telion has had some of the grey lacto-paste. Let me know if Diamaante takes some as well.

"We are trying to find somebody named Mama Fats. Your brother said you might know where we could find her?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 10 - 2 = 27

The lashunta hesitantly takes another bite of the chili.

Fortitude: 1d20 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (3) - 1 - 2 = 0

That was a mistake. She immediately reaches of the lacto-paste and guzzles down a healthy portion.

GM roll: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Looking back and forth between the two lashunta, the tall halfling frowns as she considers things, and then offers: "I don't know any person named Mama Fats." She takes a spoonful from her experimental chili bowl, wincing slightly and shaking her head.

"I do know a place called Mama Fats, though," she continues after a pause. "It's a corner store - a convenience store - in the SE district on Level 21." She levels the spoon at Diamaante. "Now what would YOU want to be doing on Level 21, I wonder?" she asks.

It's at that point that the kasathan, the human, and the android enter The Hard Burn.

"Why, research for a new role, of course, darling," Diamaante says with a winning smile. As the rest of her companions enter the restaurant, she gives them a little wave before turning back to Tetra. "Thank you for the chili. It was quite an experience. Shall we, Telion?"

She stands up and joins the others. Telepathically, she tells them, "Got a lead on Mama Fats. It's a store on the southeast district of level 21. That should be our next destination."

She leads the group outside so they can speak freely.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 - 2 = 8

"Thanks Tetra. That curry was quite the experience, and your usual fare is excellent. I never would have thought of the nettle-swarm fronds. Anyways, thank you for the opportunity."

It's at that point that the kasathan, the human, and the android enter The Hard Burn.

Great beginning for a joke!

"Curry always interesting experience."

Then, after rejoining Diamaante and Telion, "Level 21 is home to gang in shootout, yes? Should visit August's arms merchant first?"

As the lashunta step up and out of the booth, Quince comes over with a data pad. "So, that's two lunch curries and a side order of lacto-paste. That'll be 25 credits total, please." He looks expectantly between the two lashunta, offering the credstick port on the side of the data pad as a portal for payment to be made.

I'll assume you settle up.

Once payment is completed and the group drags August out of the restaurant with many promises to bring him back at a later time to sample the curry, our group re-gathers in the night-time environs of the Ring. The streets are busier than before with a healthy bustle of tourists and visitors to the Ring's famed restaurants and drinking establishments filling spaces previously occupied by residents and day-workers.

August will put in a inquiry via his comm link about whether the weapons merchant is available.

Which weapons merchant would that be?

Steel Fletchings, right?

Telion smiled and paid for their meal before rejoining the others outside.

A male human passer-by on the streets in the Ring addresses the group.

"Hey, will you guys move on, already? You're just taking up space!"

He doesn't stop to trade words, but moves around the group towards his destination.

An allegorical remark?

"What a jerk!"

I was waiting to find out if Steel Fletchings was open.

As was I, but I can move us along at least.

"Let's head down to Mama Fats.." Diamaante leads the group down to level 21.

I could've sworn that I sent this yesterday, but it's nowhere to be found. My apologies. Perhaps I am losing my tenuous grip on sanity. Should make for an interesting game...

August sends out a missive to the online contact point for Steel Fletchings and almost immediately gets an answer.

The group heads for the nearest entry point to the Line and the crush of people flowing in and out of the Downside on a business Thirday evening.

I'm going to spend a resolve point and spend 10 minutes resting if possible.

Diamaante pulls her hood up, but wishes she had time to purchase a proper disguise kit. "Perhaps there is a back way we could go to get to the lower levels?"

"Worried about being seen?"

In the busy hustle of the city streets of the Ring, August finds no place where he can rest for a time. There is action all around.

If you would like to rest, you could do so in a bar, restaurant, or hotel, but not in the streets. Who knows who else will come by and tell you to move along?

Also, there is the matter of the four other PCs travelling with August. It might be good to discuss where you'd like to sit down and share info.

A good point - but if Diamaante wants to be disguised August does have a proper disguise kit, so I was hoping to head back to the hotel organically.

"Perhaps I can take us down one of the service lifts? Far fewer chances of her being seen and recognized that way."

Jaxom demonstrates his resourcefulness (and his level of access as an AS employee), and leads the group to a grimy but functional service lift, accessible only by retinal scan.

Once inside the roomy lift (space enough for 3 metric tonnes of weight or 12 individuals), Jaxom accesses level 21. The lift grinds slowly into gear, taking just over 30 minutes to arrive at level 21.

August, there's your 10 minutes. In fact, you all may take a rest during this ride, and more importantly - as Diamaante has already discovered - that first rest after arrival on AS allows you to activate a boon slot! If you have one already, you may use it. If not, and this is your first SFS character (#-01), might I suggest the Welcome to Starfinder Boon? If neither of these are applicable to you, please let me know. You also have plenty of time to socialise, share info, and prep for Level 21. There are even metal bunks built into the walls of the lift, so you can sit (but not lie down).

"This will do nicely. Thank you, Jaxom." Diamaante sits on one of the bunks as the lift descends. "Sometimes it is better not to be recognized. I am skilled at traveling in disguise, but I fear my credits had dried up before I could purchase a new kit for this trip."

Telion took his time in the lift to do some simple stretches, just in case things turned rough down on level 21.

"Jaxom, how do you have access to these service elevators? It's really convenient for moving about the station without all the bustle."

August grins and pulls a kit out of his backpack.

"Burn makeup or fake nose?"

"Fake nose," she says with a smile.

Take 10 to assist August with Disguise check.

"Fake nose," she says with a smile.

Take 10 to assist August with Disguise check.

"You cannot take 10 or take 20 on an aid another check, but you can use aid another to help a creature who is taking 10 or 20 on a check."

I will need an actual roll, please, for the Aid Another check.

Ah, I did not know that!

Disguise: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

"Well, I've lived and worked around here for a while. You pick up a few things along the way."

Did you want me to roll disguise or are you doing it per RAW GM? Just in case!

Disguise Time: 1d3 ⇒ 2 10 minutes to rest, 20 to disguise Diamaante.

Disguise: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

So 22 to Disguise if I roll - not bad, not great but not bad.

August builds up a nose for Diamaante then, quickly applies a hair color changer, contours her cheekbones and throws some makeup on to make her chin significantly sharper.

It'll have to do. Need to get you a holoskin soon if you're worried about staying out of sight.

Idar's lower hands drum out a rhythm on his gear while the group waits for the lift to descend. Before exiting the lift, he checks that his rifle is loaded before heading into potentially hostile territory.

"Nice work. People won't even recognize you now."

"Though, I'm sure they'll still take notice," Telion added privately to Diamaante.

"Flatterer," she replies to Telion, though her smile towards him is genuine.

There is no overhead voice announcing to what level the service lift stops at, but the gradual slowing and a gentle clunk precede a soft pinging noise that indicates your arrival on Level 21. A hiss escapes from the wide lift doors as they slide open onto a cramped nighttime alley. Some form of vermin skitters from a dark pile of trash to a darker pile of trash a few feet down from the lift entrance. The buildings shouldering the alleyway are tall and dark, stretching as high as the artificially holographic sky-tinged ceiling will allow. Some form of grinding metallic buzz on top of a droning bass comes muted from a nearby building.

The group hesitantly steps out into the curiously-warm and humid environs of Level 21.

Walking out from the alley, the group gets their first glance at Level 21 at night. Squat and square tenement buildings fill the level, few stretching higher than two stories. The two taller buildings that you stepped out from between seem to be somewhat more official, as the seals of Absalom Station emblazoned upon them would suggest, but they are dark and closed. The streets are lit by overhead amber lights of a pleasingly-calm hue. A small copse of trees in what appears to be a diminutive community park stands directly across the main avenue from the two taller buildings. Various city sounds - engines, laughter, bass lines - assail your ears. A hover-cycle goes by the group, its kasathan rider craning his neck to peer at the newcomers, his mouth hidden behind a silk scarf. He cycles around a corner and disappears.

Perception: 1d20 + 0 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 0 + 1 = 4

"The temperature and humidity are likely because this is where much of the climate control is handled aboard the station. Water condensers and the like."

Culture: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

"Hmm. Not the slums I was expecting... Still, not exactly a nice neighborhood." The lashunta subtly indicates the body under the trees, doing her best to stay far away from it as they walk by.

Once Diamaanted points out the body, Jaxom attempts to identify what type of creature it is, and its health status:

Life Science: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15 -5 DC to identify rare creature
Medicine: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Jaxom determines it to be a human male. He is unconscious.