Quest 2 is on it's way. Brought to you by GM DamonLuos.
Venture-Captain Arvin has summoned a group of Starfinders to a building located at Dock 17 of Absalom Station. While his instructions were clear as to where to meet and when, the reason for doing so is less than clear.
As the group arrives at the Dock, they can see a number of starships of many different makes and classes. Among them is a sleek-looking Pegasus class ship that looks well-cared for, to the keen observer. Located just off of the dock area is an administrative building with the Starfinder crest emblazoned on it.
As each member of the group enters the building they are escorted to a small conference room that contains a nicely polished table with a holopad on it's center, a well stocked wet bar and Venture-Captain Arvin.
"Please, come in and have a seat. Feel free to get something, we may be here for a while. We have much to discuss." Captain Arvin motions to the refreshments provided.
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Rig enters the building at Dock 17, unsure why his group had been summoned. He admires the starships as he walks past and mentally pulls up the stats sleek-looking Pegasus class with the Starfinder crest emblazoned on it. Nice.[/b] he marvels dreamily [b]I'd love the chance to put my training as a pilot to use in something like that.
Saluting to the venture captain Rig moves to the wetbar and queues a bartending routine. A quick inventory of the stock suggests over 800 possible named elixirs. Lingering over the choices he chooses a simple scotch on the rocks and takes a seat. Not bad for a brand likely synthesized on station somewhere. he thinks as he considers questions for the venture captain and forces himself to wait on the others.
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A tall, gray-skinned being with flowing robes and a pointed hat arrives. After looking around the room, he slowly lowers himself into a seat, seeming to take care not to sit on a portion of his robe. "I've received your request for my attendance, Venture-Captain Arvin, but I am curious as to just what type of work you have for a humble jeweler such as myself."
As the last Starfinder enters the room, Venture-Captain Arvin stands to address them, "We know that a lost Starfinder vessel, the Unbounded Wayfarer, was discovered by undead creatures from a starship called the Endless Threnody. We've pulled some strings with our more reputable Eoxian contacts to get more information, but they've disavowed knowledge of the Endless Threnody entirely; this likely confirms our suspicions that the Endless Threnody is connected with the Corpse Fleet, a group of Eoxian separatists who refuse to work alongside the living."
At this point, the stern man gets up from his seat and begins pacing in front of the group, "We have the location of the Endless Threnody in the Drift, courtesy of that ghoul you tracked down. Its Drift engine is incapacitated, so it's unable to escape the Drift. We are providing you with one of our fastest ships, the Loreseeker, to help you out on this mission. Take it into the Drift, cripple the Eoxian ship and recover the location of the lost Starfinder vessel.
Do you have any questions for me before you head out?"
Corpse Fleet vessels are frequently airless festooned with bone spikes and powered by magic as well as technology.
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Oh, most fortuitous! Morvruul celebrates quietly. An opportunity to examine the Eoxian's 'unusual' technology up close! A fusion of magic and technology quite divergent from that being considered by my rivals in the Tetrad. Likely, these dullards will be none the wiser as I conduct my analysis. This scheme with the Society already appears to be preparing to bear fruit!
"Certainly, atypical work for a jeweler, such as myself." Morvruul notes aloud in response to the Venture-Captain's briefing, removing an apparent "fuzzy" from the hem of his robe. "But, as a starfaring merchant, I suppose I have shown that I know my way around a vessel." Turning to the rest of the party, he notes, "I will see to it you get to where you are going, at least. The rest, I suppose, will be up to you."
Turning his attention back toward Arvin, he notes, "I have heard that these 'separatists' can be quite violent. Should matters come to blows, may I assume, given their status as personae non gratae among the Pact Worlds, that my accompanying entourage has the proper authority to... kill them?... no, exterminate, is it?...no, that's not quite it..." The tall, gray-skinned appears to be momentarily lost in thought, before he inquires, "Hmmmm, just what is the correct term for such when dealing with undead?"
Venture-Captain Arvin eyes the 'jeweler', "Due to their actions against the Unbounded Wayfarer and the Starfinders in general, you have been given the okay to use force, if needed." He ignores the second question, "If no one else has any questions, let me show you vessel you will be using."
As the crew talks among themselves, Venture-Captain Arvin leads them out of the building and onto the now bustling dock. He guides them over to a very shinning, sleek-looking Pegasus class explorer, "This, "[b] he indicates to the ship, [b]" is the Loreseeker. She is one of the fastest in our fleet. She should be able to get you to the Endless Threnody in no time. Let me show you inside."
Captain Arvin guides the group through the ship pointing out the various compartments and amenities within. "As you can see, you will be well-lived while in the drift, as it will take several days to get to your location." As he takes you back off of the starship, pointing out aspects of the ship, "The Loreseeker is well equipped for a fight, if you need it. The coilgun on the turret will likely be your main weapon. Just be careful to watch your six as there are no stationary defenses in the aft. Are there any questions?"
Medium explorer
Speed 10; Maneuverability good (turn 1); Drift 1
AC 12; TL 12
HP 55; DT —; CT 11
Shields Basic 40; forward 10, port 10, starboard 10, aft 10
Attack (Forward) light laser cannon (2d4)
Attack (Port) light laser cannon (2d4)
Attack (Starboard) light laser cannon (2d4)
Attack (Turret) coilgun (4d4)
Power Core Pulse Green (150 PCU); Drift Engine Signal Basic;
Systems basic medium-range sensors, crew quarters
(good), mk 1 duonode computer, mk 2 armor, mk 2
defenses; Expansion Bays cargo hold, escape pods, science
lab, tech workshop
Modifiers +1 to any two checks per round, +2 Computers, +1
Piloting; Complement 4–7
Captain Arvin speaks up once last time, "One more thing. I have asked another member to join you on this venture. K'zict will be arriving shortly and accompanying you in the drift. Due to...its...complete unfamiliarity with starships, I have asked that he...she...join you for when you may disembark, but will not be taking any role on the ship. Do what you can to familiarize K'zict with the starship so we can use ...it...later to more effect. I know this is asking a lot, but we feel very strongly on this this."
Shortly after, K'zict exits from the same building the group met in earlier and silently approaches the group, looking in awe at the vessel that will be xyr home for awhile.
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"Do what you can to familiarize K'zict with the starship so we can use ...it...later to more effect."
"Use this K'zict...," Morvruul repeats in his mind, before considering, So, this K'zict must be some sort of organic weapon. I will have to keep my eye on ... it.
"I'd be happy to show ... it... the engineering portions of the ship or, if you prefer, place it in stasis." Morvruul suggests to the Venture-Captain.
Once aboard the Loreseeker, Morvruul prepares for take off.
With all questions answered, venture-Captain Arvin wishes the group safe travels and heads off of the dock. The remaining members of the group follow the others onto the ship and into their respective control areas.
Now at the helm, Jchak-Chtal gains clearance from dock 17 flight control to disembark. The android Rig deftly maneuvers the ship from the busy dock and off of the station. Once they clear the station air space, Rig puts the ship into the Drift and sets a course for the last known location of the Endless Threnody. According to his computers, even in the Drift, the trip will take several weeks, leaving this crew plenty of time to get to know each other.
The crew settles into their roles on the ship in no time, working as if they had been together for years. As the ships onboard navigation computer had taken over the piloting role on the long trip, the group had plenty of time to converse, share stories and, in general, get more familiar.
After 22 long days of travel, the Loreseeker arrives at the provided destination. Expecting to see the hobbled Endless Threnody, the Starfinders are instead presented with empty space.
Within minutes of activating the long range sensors, Morvruul sees a distinctive signal that could only come from a craft the size of the Endless Threnody. The signal seems to be coming from a point in the Drift about 3 hours from their current position.
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"I believe that I have found our target." Morvruul notes, as he looks up from the sensor readouts. "We should probably continue scanning--try to get as much information about this Corpse Fleet vessel as possible." he recommends.
Given the information gain from the scan, Rig sets a course to the new location with the rest of the crew on their highest guard. It is a tense 3 hours as they proceed trough the Drift to their destination.
As the Loreseeker arrives at the location of the scan, the crew does not see immediately see the Endless Threnody. It isn't until the klaxon's begin sounding that they realize the undead craft had gotten the drop on them and ends up behind them.
The Eoxian freighter is a massive vessel made of bone and steel. The front of the ship is a single enormous red lens, appearing as a sullen, bloody eye. The ship bristles with bone protrusions, as though it were some horned, skeletal beast. Some of the bones are charred and broken, indicating past battle damage. Laser cannons protrude from the front and
sides of the freighter. Gaps between the bones show the ship’s interior, but this is not from battle damage—this ship was never intended to
accommodate living creatures.
Despite getting the drop on the heroes, the Endless Threnody's obvious damage allows the Loreseeker to quickly recover and outmaneuver the hulking freighter. The crew of the Loreseeker take full advantage of their superior position and fire a volley into the side of the freighter. The hit strikes true, as the ship seems to be without shields on the starboard side.
As the gunner on the Endless Threnody lines up his shot, the power from the previous hit causes a surge in the controls, making the undead crew member have to fire blindly. Before he fires, however, the science officer onboard uses his instruments to target the engines of the more maneuverable ship. The blast hits the Loreseeker's forward arc causing the shield to shimmer as it strains beneath the firepower.
The scan reveals the following about the Endless Threnody:
Large heavy freighter with complement of 10 (currently 6 onboard)
Speed: 6; Maneuverability: average (turn 2)
AC: 11; TL: 11
HP: 68/75
Shields: 0
Power Core: Arcus Ultra (150 PCU)
Weapons: Forward Arc - heavy laser cannon (4d8)