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Sorkalazril methodically loads a clip of bullets into his pistol, before having a thought and looking up on the ships computer whether this brand will fire in vacuum. Learning that they will, he nods in satisfaction before continuing with his preparations.
Fully-charged battery in the laser rifle -- check.
Extra clips and batteries in the belt pouches -- check.
Survival knife in the belt sheath -- check.
Kasatha microcord armor passes diagnostics and is airtight -- check.
The red-skinned vesk meets the others at the airlock, ready to enter the unknown depths of the Eoxian ship.
Maneuvering the Loreseeker to align with the Endless Threnody’s rear cargo bay is tricky, and the Loreseeker takes a superficial amount of hull damage from the bone spikes and necromantic energy that flicker about. Once you dock with the ship, you are able to depart the Loreseeker into the vacuum of the Endless Threnody. The Endless Threnody has normal gravity but has no light apart from what you bring with you. There are no doors in the interior of the ship.
The cargo bay is mostly empty; it looks like any cargo there might have been remaining has been used to patch up the ship. It does contain a small computer: One party member wishing to interact with it can attempt a Computers, Engineering or Mysticism check.
“Yes, let’s do this.” Nina replied making back to her team. She had just met them, but already she felt a good connection with them. Some didn’t believe in fate, but being a religious woman, Nina had faith that it was at Weydan’s will that she had ended up here with them.
Nina took point, her slender hand at the pommel of her long elvish sword. Making her way into the cargo hold, she looks around to spot the small computer.
Nina, you aren't aware of what your actions did, but you feel like you managed to lower the Necromantic energy in the area. There doesn't seem to be any sign of the information you're looking for on this terminal; more likely that is on the Bridge, beyond.
Moving ahead, the branching corridors inside the Endless Threnody are not made of solid bulkheads of metal and plastic, but of a lattice of enchanted bone and steel. A metal grating on the floor provides stable footing, but the walls have gaps large enough to fit a fist. The passages split and recombine in a manner eerily reminiscent of being inside a giant rib cage.
Suddenly, from around the corner, two groups of skeletal creatures come scrambling and rushing towards you with glowing eyes and sharp claws!
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Sork's laser darts out, blasting a large hole in the red-shirted Eoxian! He goes down; his last words, "Why is it always the red-shirt that dies... first..."
"By Weydan..." Nina draws her long sword and attacks the creature with Get'em.
Nina rushes forward and is a little color blind, but still manages to fell another in one hit. Hish likewise has success, but not enough to destroy the skeleton he shot.
The skeletal crew rushes forward themselves. It may be true that dead men tell no tales, but just as clearly they can't attack well, as all three miss their intended targets.
Nina follows through with another attack. Hearing Sork's command, she attacks the orange one.
It takes a party to kill some enemies. The tag team efforts of Sork and Hish manage to take one down, while Delta moves forward and unleashes a fierce surge of electricity, frying the only remaining skeleton on the north side.
Purple moves forward to take Orange's spot. Although outnumbered, the skeletons look set to fight to the death! Undeath! Something like that.
Nina sees the well placed coordinated attack and lunges with her blade.
With team work the party manages to bring destruction to the undead. There is little that remains on their corpses, and there appears to be a computer console that was deactivated along with a series of necromantic generators that lay ahead.
When you pass through the corridors, you arrive at the Endless Threnody’s bridge, which is located behind the enormous crimson eye at the front of the ship, bathed in a blood-red glow. The crew stations are fabricated from bone and steel, apparently grown from the floor and walls of this room. Battle damage is evident throughout the bridge, but it is now empty and utterly silent—truly a ghost ship.
"Nice work everyone..." Replied Nina looking about the bridge. Still holding her weapon out, she makes her way to the bridge's computers.
"I may be able to help. I do know some arcane lore." Said the elf. Looking to use her Mysticism, Nina attempts to see the arcane connection here.
Nina is able to gain bypass security, but further effort is required to gain access to the bridge computer (one more check, please.)
You are able to bypass the computer's security and access the bridge’s computer records. Most importantly, you gain access to information about the Lawblight, the Besmaran pirate ship that initially crippled the Endless Threnody. You also recover the coordinates of the downed Starfinder vessel on a planet called Ulmarid in the Vast!
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There doesn't appear to be much more to do now than than to return to your ship and make your report.
When you return to the Loreseeker with the coordinates, you find the hologram of Venture-Captain Arvin already active and awaiting your report. Arvin is grateful for the news and eager to get started on the next step of your quest. He asks you to leave the Endless Threnody and return to Absalom Station while he researches the planet Ulmarid and how best to approach it.
As an additional reward, Arvin provides a password to open a concealed compartment within the Loreseeker that contains delicacies that are suitable to most palates, such as sticks of candied meats. “I know this mission isn’t yet complete,” he explains, “but you’ve earned the right to celebrate a bit on your return trip. I asked the quartermaster to include a few delicacies so you can enjoy being alive—after an encounter with necromancy.”
There is little time for you to rest before venturing to the Vast once more! This time you are given use of a larger Drake-class vessel called the Odyssey. Venture-Captain Arvin recommended the Odyssey rather than the Loreseeker, as its heavier shields can better withstand asteroid impacts while reaching Ulmarid’s surface.
Upon your exit of the Vast, Venture-Captain Arvin’s pre-recorded hologram stands on the bridge of the Odyssey, his hands clasped behind his back. “Hopefully your journey was uneventful. Based on your previous mission, we’ve obtained information about the planet of Ulmarid. The desert world has breathable atmosphere but is devoid of intelligent civilization. A cloud of asteroids—leftovers from a collision of the planet’s moons long ago—surrounds the planet, so you must carefully navigate the Odyssey to the surface to find the crashed Unbounded Wayfarer."
“Be sure to bring the Starfinder insignias with you; they will be critical in recovering the information the Starfinders left behind. If you can recover any of the lost Starfinders—alive or dead—please do so as well. Good luck.”
It is a mildly bumpy ride through the asteroid field; several times your pilot makes near misses into what would have certainly been hits. It serves more of a nuisance in your descent than a danger, though you'll likely have to take precautions on your return.
As you approach planetside, you can track the distress beacon emanating from the Unbounded Wayfarer, but the ship is not easy to reach. It crashed amid dunes too soft to safely bear the Odyssey’s weight, and the safest place to set down is about a half-hour’s walk away. The surface of Ulmarid is a wind-scoured desert with jagged protrusions of rock thrusting up through the sand. The air has a harsh tang, like burning metal.
Before she eats Nina says a prayer to Weydan thanking him for the wonderful meal. Happy to see Absalom Station, the elf prepares herself for their next mission. Being a soldier, made Nina use to a more hurried existence.
Once landing at their next destination, the elf notices something critical to her team's survival.
"Something isn't right." Nina replied, stopping anyone attempting to exit onto the surface. Looking at the sky, at the strange emanations coming from it, the elf realizes something. "I've seen this before as a poison storm has congealed the air. I suggest using your suit's environmental systems and take those antitoxin bulbs that were given to us."
(With Nina's urging, you can take the antitoxin.) About 15 minutes after you begin their trek to the crash site, a rainstorm of poisonous crystals coalesces out of the clear air and pounds down on the region for about 20 seconds, before you even have an opportunity to seek cover!
Keeping her hand on her weapon, Nina follows her new teammates onto the surface.
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Hishrizzik consumes their vat garden bulb as well, and keeps their laser pistol ready for use.
does
They dodge the first shard of crystal easily, but then see one heading right for their face! They try to dodge and manage to take the blow on their back, but it’s still a bad hit. Chittering, they hit the dirt in a roll!
Shaken, they look up from their position nestled in the sand. Ow.
Almost as quickly as it appeared the harsh metallic smell in the air abates, as there is no similar storm pending in the near future. Once the storm passes, you can continue your journey to the crashed vessel. As you near the crashsite, though, another sudden danger emerges from the sand: a 14-foot-long burrowing beast with six powerful legs and massive mandibles!
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The radios in their armor crackle into life as Sorka speaks over the common band. "I recognize this creature! It's a beast that vesk sometimes hunt for sport. This Skreebara can unleash a sonic attack, so watch out! Don't bunch up in a single line! If we all focus fire, we should be able to take it down!"
Sorka takes a guarded step back.
"Gargalus, I'll flank the beast. By Weydan Will, die vile beast!" Nina yells, drawing her long blade.
Sorka takes a guarded step back.
The skreebara screams out in pain as the elf and half-orc bite deeply with their weapons! However, it returns the favor to Garg, bringing its maw down on his shoulder!