Game Master S's "Yesteryear's Truth" (Inactive)

Game Master Chris Marsh

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

BUD-33 tentatively steps out...

Bud-33 nails the dance, clearly impressing the locals!

Noble-44: TBD
Spacey: TBD
Gideon: TBD
Raia: TBD
Bud-33: Extra good dance skillz

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27

Noble-44 deftly maneuvers with his ghibrani partner. He glances at the rest of the party, seemingly to enjoy himself. He smiles broadly and fully engages in the moment.

Not to be outshone, the other Starfinder android steps up and also elegantly dances the kommalah.

Noble-44: Extra good dance skillz
Spacey: TBD
Gideon: TBD
Raia: TBD
Bud-33: Extra good dance skillz

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Gideon is clearly reluctant, but understands the importance of a productive First Contact. He joins as best he can.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Botting for Spacey and Raia 2d20 ⇒ (5, 11) = 16

The ghibrani are extremely impressed with your dancing and participation in what is clearly an important rite. Shortly after the welcoming ceremony, another ghibrani steps into the firelight. She is thinner than the others and dressed in shimmering fabrics, though it is clear she has a few bandaged wounds. Most strikingly, she sports a pair of membranous wings, unlike any of the other ghibranis!

The husk ghibranis treat her with respect, though not reverence, as she enters, and allow her to walk right up to you. She looks over youfor a moment and then gestures to her throat and mouth. Her hand lights up with energy.

The newcomer introduces herself as Klarima. "You are unlike any people I have ever met. Possibly the same is true of you for me. We have much we can teach one another. Tell me of your homeworld Usul, and I shall answer questions you have of us.”

Spacey bows to Chani. Our group are likely from various worlds with the Pact. The Pact Worlds is a collection of independent governments within the Pact Worlds system, bound together for mutual protection and trade. (ref starfinderwiki.com). Personally, I haven't seen much outside Absalom Station.

"My old captain frequently had my memory wiped to protect him from prosecution. I don't know where I'm from."

"What brings you to our world then?"

"We are sidereal explorers," Gideon interjects, "seeking out new planets, phenomena, and peoples to grasp the meaning of the cosmos. Most specifically, one of our fellow Starfinders attempted to survey this world and was attacked by an automated defense system. Our team came here in an attempt to establish peaceful relations with any who might dwell here, such as yourself. Are your people spacefaring?"

“Oh my, what a strange question! Surely, everyone knows of the great war between the nation-states. The invisible fire they rained down upon one another killed most living things across the globe. It was only thanks to the foresight of our ancestors that any of us survived to see today. You mean, you're from another WORLD?”

She looks down, then up, "Perhaps you can tell me more. If you help me get home, I can bring you into our city, where you can tell us more of your story."

Now that you've had some time to watch her body language, there's something odd.... that's when you notice a severe series of cuts on her side.

"Yes, several other worlds, actually..." Gideon says with some distraction. "Are you hurt? Injured?"

"SEVERAL?! Fascinating.... Oh those in my city rarely leave it; our ancestors made sure we would be provided with everything we would need. However, I have been afflicted with a case of wanderlust. A near terminal case, it would seem, as my explorations outside the city found me stumbling into a tangle of soarnettles. They scratched me quite a bit and thanks to the pain, I lost my way. Luckily for me, I crossed paths with these kind husks, who bandaged my wounds and gave me a place to spend the night.”

"Everything you would need? What can you tell us of your ancestors? Of your civilization? What have you seen outside your culture in your peregrinations?"

"Surely, everyone knows of the great war between the nation-states. The invisible fire they rained down upon one another killed most living things across the globe. It was only thanks to the foresight of our ancestors that any of us survived to see today. Many generations ago, after the war, a faction of my people received protection from a divine power named Mother Touloo. They struck out into the wastelands at their deity’s behest. In doing so, they eventually lost the use of their wings. These ‘husks,’ as we call them, are those you see before you.” She gestures around the cavern. “Those of us who retained the power of flight are known as ‘membranes’ by these people. We live within the city of Arkeost. If you are ready we can head out without delay. you shall see with your own eyes!"

As the "husks" notice the conversation winding down, the pair of leaders approach. Alomir and Koseemo present you with a gift! It's one of the weapons you saw the others carry. "It is a huchket, a rifle used by our hunters Also, please take these, it'll help if you are wounded in your travels." the husks offer you three vials of a dark liquid that tastes like black licorice.

Ready to advance?

"You asked us to tell you of our homeworld. But you seemed surprised that we came from off-planet. Is this a problem with the translator? Or maybe editing?"

BUD-33 thinks a bit more.

"You also used the word 'Usul'. I don't recognize that word. We know your planet by the name 'Elytrio'."

I haven't seen Dune for 20 years or so

Noble is obviously eager to go see what the other group looks like...

”How do I properly thank the ‘husks’ for their hospitality Chani? Is there a gesture or formality? Otherwise I know I’d enjoy the opportunity to learn of your city, the mother, and hear about the war. I under if we stumbled across a relic from it on our journey here...”

"You have already done so! you did a marvelous job during the ceremony. Come, it's not a long trip. Ask your questions upon arrival!"

Klarima leads you through the badlands toward the shining metropolis in the distance. The journey takes only a few hours. Elytrio’s sun is beginning to set as you approach the edge of a visible force field half a mile outside of the city. Klarima retrieves a clunky and ancient-looking datapad from her pack and presses a few buttons on it. There is a brief pause when nothing happens and, a little frustrated, she touches the same sequence of buttons on the device. This time, a circular portion of the force field opens like a door. Klarima steps through and gestures for you to follow.

This strange metropolis sparkles like a jewel in the gloom of dusk. In stark contrast to the desolation surrounding it, the city is a bustling center of activity, with dozens of winged insectoid aliens going about their business, flitting from one high doorway to another. The streets below seem almost like an afterthought, used only occasionally by small automated machines. Several overgrown flower beds and shaggy trees fill the spaces between the roads and hug the sides of the tall buildings. Though the structures still look sturdy, obvious patches of rust and other disrepair indicate that they haven’t been very well taken care of.

Most of the ghibrani citizens stop what they are doing and stare as you walk with Klarima. In short order, a contingent of ghibranis wearing formal armor and carrying weapons that look like taclashes flutters down to confront you

Luckily, Klarima steps forward to defuse the situation, explaining to the guards that you are her guests. After a few moments she turns to you “Good news! You are going to be allowed to speak to the Most Elevated!”

"You guys really take your hierarchies literally, don't you."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10

"That sounds like an honor. Tell me of these Most Elevated," Gideon asks politely.

Is there some sort of assessment I can make to determine whether the structures here were likely built by the current inhabitants?

Engineering

With your newly acquired honor guard, Klarima leads you to the tallest, fanciest building in the center of the city. The guards flit their wings and fly toward an opening in the structure 40 feet off the ground. Klarima appears to be about to do the same, when she suddenly realizes that you probably don’t have the ability to fly. Using her datapad, she summons forth a table-sized hovering drone for each of you). These drones are clearly meant to only haul cargo and have no real safety measures for carrying living creatures. As Gideon steps onto his means of conveyance, its hoverjets momentarily give out and it nearly crashes to the ground, but it powers back on just in time. In the end, though, the robots slowly but surely raise you up to the height of the entranceway...

The guards continue to usher you, leading you to a large central chamber with vaulted ceilings. A large table occupies one end of the room, behind which sit five of this type of ghibranis dressed in elaborate robes. They stand, bow to you, and beckon you to approach. Klarima introduces the Most Elevated council. Everyone is offered a chair...

Spacey wiggles his ears, as if both had an ear infections, trying to sense meowtive.

1d20 ⇒ 13

Engineering: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Raia goes along politely, taking a proffered chair and looking at the architecture with veiled displeasure. Not a fan of neo-post-moderninst-retro-deco.

Spacey feels out of sorts, but nothing sinister. This being his first "First Contact", he's new to the whole thing.

The translator works overtime as many of the locals use spells of Share Language. They are as eager to hear about your story as you are to theirs!

BUD-33 bows before sitting down.

"When sparring, the captain would make me bow to him first, then he would take a cheap shot. Also, we both used wooden swords, but his had nails sticking out of it."

"I tell you these things because a lot of people seem to be very sad that he died."

Sense meowtive: 1d20 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (10) + 2 + (6) = 18

The locals all stare at BUD-33, or rather it looks like they are. The translator doesn't handle body language.

The awkward silence is interrupted by a bell. Klarima visibly perks up. “Dinner!” she explains. “It feels like ages since I’ve had a proper meal.” The guards, who had been standing at attention near the door to this room, pull chairs up to the table and a handful of hovering drones enter from previously hidden hatches in the walls. The drones place ceramic plates and utensils in front of each person; the utensil each person receives is a flat piece of metal with a slight indent at one end—almost like a spoon. Each person is then given a serving of a thick, light tan liquid in which floats irregular chunks of protein. The food has a smoky, cheesy odor. As the ghibranis begin scooping up their meals, Klarima explains this is a traditional dinner of “kahlgee,” a word that doesn’t really translate into Common.

Everyone looks at you expectantly...

Gideon holds his utensil over the plate. "Klarima, I wish to join your people in this meal -- however, I must be certain that this food is compatible with my physiology. May ask what it is made from? Plant? Game?"

Gideon can tell right away that he's made a bit of a social faux pas simply by asking, though their expectant looks tell him that it's not too late to recover, "It's both.... Do you not eat basic animals and plant proteins?"

Engineering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Noble, perhaps a bit too much in his head about how to engage these folks, let all the the technology slide past him.

At dinner, Noble bows his head in respect of the food and whispers a prayer to Savain. He turns to his host ”This smells intriguing... thank you. If you don’t mind me asking, how have you faired after the war? I know on our travels here we had some safety issues trying to get to your home world. Are there still remnants?”

All eyes turn towards the party. They sense your hesitation about eating their meal. Indeed it does smell AWFUL....

You can suck it up, and eat it - then roll a FORT save. You could also pretend to eat it; pushing food around and hiding it. That's a Bluff check.

Yum yum:
Gideon: Go
Spacey: Go
Raia: Go
NOBLE-44: Go
BUD-33: Go

"Mother Touloo is gracious, and provides us with everything we need. Our lives are comfortable and happy."

Lashunta are typically finicky eaters.
However, Raia isn't a typical lashunta.

She tears into the unsavory food with gusto.
Fort save: 1d20 ⇒ 16 Hoping that's good.
I must say, she says, careful not to spray her chilled monkey brains kahlgee everywhere as she speaks, I've never had anything quite like it! You must give me the recipe!

Raia doesn't find it overly difficult to keep the food down, but it's by no means tasty.

Yum yum:
Gideon: Go
Spacey: Go
Raia: Pass
NOBLE-44: Go
BUD-33: Go

Spacey looks at the food Anyone got Cholula?

Fort: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Spacey immediately spits up his food, making quite the scene... All eyes point towards the rest of you.

Yum yum:
Gideon: Go
Spacey: BLECH
Raia: Pass
NOBLE-44: Go
BUD-33: Go

Noble assumes his android physique will help him and he digs in.

Fort: 1d20 ⇒ 4

Noble-44 assumes poorly.

Yum yum:
Gideon: Go
Spacey: BLECH
Raia: Pass
NOBLE-44: BLECH
BUD-33: Go

BUD-33 shoves an indentation-full in his mouth. AN INDENTATION FULL OF LIES.

Bluff: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Bud-33 looks like he scoffs the food down with gusto, eliciting happy clacking from the locals!

Yum yum:
Gideon: Go
Spacey: BLECH
Raia: Pass
NOBLE-44: BLECH
BUD-33: Like a boss

"YUM YUM YUM THIS FOOD IS SO GOOD."

"Of course," Gideon says stiffly.

Fort: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Post eaten!

Before Gideon tries the food Half way through the meal, the power suddenly goes out. Gideon, if you want the bluff route, you get a +4 in the dark. The ghibranis don’t seem too worried about the power fluctuation, noting that “the Mainframe acts up occasionally, but it always self-corrects after a few seconds.”

Gideon attempts to shovel the substance into an armor compartment in the opportune darkness.

Bluff: 1d20 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 3 + 4 = 27 that is better

"The Mainframe? Does it require much maintenance?" The Knight hopes to steer the conversation in the direction of his suspicions.

Spacey be all like yuk and moves food around da plate.
Bluff: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

When the sounds of scraping plates subsides, Raia helpfully illuminates things with dancing lights.

Once the lights come back there are thanks given to "Mother Touloo."

The conversation continues as the Most Elevated seem to be pleased with their cooking. "we see you looking at our wonderful gifts. These buildings and the Mainframe are our gifts. Do you venerate Gods in your species?"

She asks the question of everyone, the assumption clearly is that you're all members of a single species.

Spacey looks at his shirren arms, clearly not understanding how he could be mistaken for a human.
I am a priest of the Lady of Graves, Pharasma. We believe death is not the end, but a doorway into a new existence. He continues on to discuss religious traditions.
Mysticism: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17