OutPost 1: GM Kate's Sanctuary of Drowned Delight, Table 2 (Inactive)

Game Master Kate Baker

Happy with dreams of getting an implant in the future and with the bots disabled, Keskodai enters the room and searches all about.

Take 10 for 21

The bots would take a full day's work to restore to full functionality. They do have recording capabilities, but they only have a week's worth of footage, which rewrites itself constantly. No one has entered the room in this last week.

The bots aren't like drones that you could command easily. You could rewrite their default state, such as programming them not to zap the morlamaws coming in, but I need to know the simple command that you're giving them.

Keskodai finds a weaponsmithing tool kit lying near a pile of 600 UPBs. Everything else on the workbenches seems to be in various states of disarray. Engineering check to know more.

The large cabinet is locked. Engineering check to open.

Was going for programming it to just carry what we give it to the square next to the airlock and then come back. Although, thus far, nothing seems particularly bulky.

Checking the footage off the security drones, Mikkazuki says “The Mantas never even came in here. It appears no one has in the last week.”

“We should probably finish checking things out before I repair these drones to full functions. It would take me most of a day to do so.” She picks at one of the damaged pieces as she says this.

She then goes over to the large cabinet. First she checks for any security measures, then if she finds none she tries to open it.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Engineering: 10 + 11 = 21

While his brain is jacked into the drone via his datajack cord--LED on the side flashing various colors furiously while he and Sophia code--he rummages through the workbenches for anything of use.

Engineering: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Hot streak! ...but it's not combat.

Mikkazuki finds no traps on the cabinet and easily opens it.

The cabinet contains an underwater tactical cryopike and an underwater squad machine gun, with something written on the barrel. The cabinet also contains a serum of enhancement (scientist) as well as holds 6 mk 2 serums of healing.

Hawthorne examines the strewn apart mechanical components and pieces of printed circuit board. Nothing is in usable condition.

The bits of technology on the workbenches originate from numerous cultures, which is typical for a Starfinder lodge. However, some of the technology is much more recent in design than when the lodge was abandoned. Hawthorne looks very closely at the weaponsmithing station and finds several broken needles consistent with an injection weapon.

"Someone was in here, using the workbench for some project, after the lodge was abandoned despite the security robots," Hawthorne states.

It looks like they were dismantling injection weapons.

The Triunite takes a piece of debris and moves the needles together in a cluster. "You were worried about the ertis oil. Do you smell any traces on these?"

Smiling, Mikkazuki calls out “Rahm, you might want this!” reaching into the cabinet and pulling out the machine gun. She pauses to read what is written on the barrel before handing it to the soldier.

Cryopike? I thought many aquatic creatures were resistant to cold.

As she sorts through the rest of the equipment, Mikkazuki calls out what she has found.

Taking the gun in hand, Rahm inspects the writing on the barrel. Maybe it was adapted to underwater use as well?

Neither Mikkazuki nor Rahm can read the writing. The gun is indeed an underwater weapon.

"Maybe one of the morlamaws will be able to read the writing...?"

Mikkazuki frowns at Keskodai’s theory.

“Maybe...” she says in an unsure voice “...but it seemed to me that the security bots had kept them out.” gesturing towards the damaged robots.

Scratching at her chin ridge, she says “I think it is more likely equipment left here from when this was a Lodge. Although the Lodge was above water then, there must have been large bodies of water nearby.”

With a sigh, she looks to Charli and says “Next time, we need to get a copy of the old maps before being sent out like this.”

“Agreed. We do need to get copies of old maps. It would have at least given us a clue of what we are dealing with here.”

Culture: 10 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ 10 + 9 + (6) = 25

Charli peers at the writing. Can she make it out at all?

Charli has a lot of languages, and failing that, she has a tetrad translator drone.

Very pleased to have some heavy ordinance, Rahm tests the action of the machine gun and starts looking around for more ammunition.

"We should check what is through that door as well," Hawthorne suggests.

Is the room next to A3 accessible?

I knew I should have buy a spell amp of comprend language.retort Antoine.

Charli isn't familiar with the language, but the passage is quite short and she's familiar with some related languages: it seems to spell out "Muncher."

The next room is accessible. Racks of weapons line the walls of this area, though many show signs of damage from spending decades underwater. Several suits of armor hang from the southern wall, while various boxes of tools rest on the ground. There is a single exit door on the western wall. Most of the original Starfinder equipment is damaged, but there are several items still in usable condition, including two tactical pikes, two tactical spears, and an efficient bandolier. The room also contains an advanced doshko, two sets of d-suit I armor, a set of officer ceremonial plate armor, and four underwater tactical starknives. Note: the underwater property doesn’t allow the starknives to be thrown underwater, but you can stab without a penalty.

Already wearing equivalent heavy armor, Rahm adds one of the star knives to his belt. Looking a bit like a walking weapon shop now, the android seems well prepared for any combat that might happen, if a bit weighted down.

Charli looks over the armor. “Oh, would this fit anyone?” Being small, she knows that it won’t fit her, but maybe one of her friends could be better protected!

Mikkazuki spends a little bit of time admiring the ceremonial plate. Looking towards Rahm, Mikkazuki asks the group “Would anyone mind if I use this?”

She then goes over and sifts through the boxes of tools to see if there is anything interesting in there.

Antoine decides to equip himself with the D suit if There no objection.

Charli pauses as she looks at Rahm’s underwater machine gun. “That’s odd,” she says, “did you know this weapon has a name engraved on it? It’s name is ‘Muncher*’. I wonder if it has a history.”

Culture: 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (16) + 9 + (1) = 26

____
*D’oh! When I heard that ‘Muncher’ was written on a barrel, I thought it referred to a barrel of snack foods in this store room, not the barrel of a weapon. My reading comprehension was off.

"Muncher?" Mikkazuki asks.

Worried, she goes over and gives the weapon a closer look. "That was the name one of the Kalo in Manta Corps gave his weapon. I remember he was really proud of it, showed it off."

Looking back at the cabinet, she says "I suppose between the security bots and the locks he might have considered it safe leaving it here. Still, it is very odd."

"We need to find out what really happened here with Manta Corps."

Rahm, having meet the Manta Corp as well, nods in agreement with Mikka. He looks at the weapon sadly, but does not put it down, saying "I have some suspicions involving friendly natives and a certain poison lethal to aquatic and amphibious species. We have no proof, but I will not be extending any trust to the morlamaws."

"Did you want to examine those injection needles for traces of the ertis oil?" Hawthorne asks as the others begin to discuss the weapon's significance.

If only they kept their own digital records.

"This is why it is important to bring someone who can hack a biological mind like--"

Don't you dare say 'Charli.'

"I thought you were starting to like her."

... Sophia remains silent in Hawthorne's head.

You went with it, but yes! You can definitely remember Mantarider Ushuul showing off Muncher when you spoke during Cries from the Drift.

Moving to the door in the western wall, Rahm says "Let's keep going."

Mikkazuki grabs the serums of healing and distributes them, one per person. She hands the serum of the Scientist to Keskodai saying “I’m not sure who can make best use of this, but it probably isn’t Hawthorne or myself.”

Serum of Scientist: The creature gains a +2 insight bonus to Computers, Engineering, and Physical Science checks and can attempt checks with all three skills untrained.

Hawthorn and I already have a +1 insight to Computers and Engineering.

She then scoots everyone out of the equipment locker room for a moment, setting Charli and BOB at the door. “I want to change into this armor!” she says, indicating the ceremonial armor.

Closing the door, she quickly changes. When she comes out, she models the armor. “I would have rather had it in blue, but this will do!”

She will then give Charli a chance to change before saying “Ready!”

"We should talk to Hinevera again," Hawthorne suggests. "She seemed forthright, but with what you've said about the weapons, it is concerning. I don't see the Manta Corps leaving any of their weapons behind while on mission."

Rahm nods to Hawthorne, but adds "Yes, after we've found all the evidence we can here first. No reason to have that conversation until we've exhausted our own investigation."

Where was Rahm suggesting we go?

You have now explored all three doors accessible from the main area. There are two airlocks, one in the northern wall (A8), and one in the southern wall (A5). You saw Oshessa enter A8.

Closing the door, she quickly changes. When she comes out, she models the armor. “I would have rather had it in blue, but this will do!”

She will then give Charli a chance to change before saying “Ready!”

Charli rushes in to change into the D-Suit (revised AC in headers) and then comes out, twirling. “I like the feel of this one!”

She asks the others, “Would you like me to go back and talk to Hinevera and Teltham again, and see if I can get more information from them? Or should we head to one of the Airlocks? I am happy to do either, though I am more suited to getting folks to open up about themselves than I am for maybe other things.”

She looks at the map. “If we want to keep exploring, let’s visit airlock A5.”

“If you think you can find out what really happened with Manta Corps, please do. I am concerned.”

Scratching her chin ridge, she suggests “Maybe ask if they noticed anything unusual that the Kalo did?”

Looking to Hawthorne, she then asks “Where would you guess the Lodge computer system is? Be nice if we could recover something from their records about the clophirium.”

She checks the needles that Hawthorne found for traces of the oil.

Medicine: 10 + 10 = 20

No sign of the oil. These needles appear completely clean.

Mikkazuki does a quick check and confidently announces “I’m glad to say no contamination here!”

"Most of the computers appear to have been moved to the library," Hawthorne says. "Based on Sophia's inventory, they do not contain more than basic Starfinder tools and random personal notes and downloads. If there is a more mission critical data system, it would either be in a better protected area of the lodge or in the venture-captain's office."

“Well, I guess we see if Antoine and Charli can find out more. If not, we get wet again.”

The facility isn't that large, so you have no trouble finding Hinevera again. She is praying at one of the benches, but smiles at you and waves a flipper as you come near.

Seeing Hinevera smile and wave a flipper, Keskodai can't help thinking to himself that these creatures sure are cute...even if they turn out to be responsible for ruthlessly killing the Manta Corps.

Charli smiles at Antoine. “Let’s go chat with Hinevera and Teltham again.” She looks around at the others. “Does anyone else want to come?”

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Charli approaches Hinevera. “Hey there! How’s it going? Do you mind if I ask you some specific questions about the Manta Corps? Antoine and I are trying to retrace their steps here for our Starfinder Society report.” She smiles and poses with the Morlamaw while Antoine takes pictures. “We also want to take pictures, so that all the Starfinders can see photos of our wonderful hosts!”

She glances at the rest of the group. “Who’s taking notes? This is official business.”

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

“Alright, so how many Kalos arrived with the Manta Corps? Did they eat with you? Did they tour the kitchen and the library? How did they get past the robots that fire at people? Did you notice anything strange about them, well stranger than their helmets I mean? Did they ever seem upset or troubled about anything?” She pauses. “We want to make sure they were doing their jobs right, and not messing up a first contact situation.”

If anyone else wants to ask questions and aid my diplomacy, please do so.

Rahm nods and starts to keep a log of the conversation with his comm.

She's is actually very good Antoine thinks.

auto aid

"Yes, Charli is right." He insists. Also, the Manta had a mission to find a particuliar minéral. Do you know something about this? It is very important for us".

While Charli is chatting up Hinevera, Mikkazuki wanders around the room looking at what sort of projects the various morlamaw are working on.

Seemingly forgotten, the robot takes up position near the door.

"Oh, of course, Charli! I'd be happy to help. I'm just drinking some of this tea you made; it's wonderful! I wonder if we can make it from anything that grows here.

There were four kalos. They were quite funny! Nobody here has wings like that. They arrived closer to services than you did, so they just went in the library, then joined us for the sermon, and then had dinner with us! Then most of us went to bed, but they left. It's so hard to read emotions on other creatures; your faces don't move enough! I don't think they ever went in the room with the robots, but maybe after I went to bed."

Morlamaws shrink back a little from Mikkazuki as she explores, but they whisper to each other, "No, no, the vesk aren't an enemy anymore; she's safe". They work on a variety of projects, such as repairing clothing, cleaning fish, and reading dataads. A morlamaw enters through the front airlock with a pike speared with several fish; this seems to be their form of hunting. There's a definite impression that the group reuses and repairs most of their things; this seems to be a fairly self-sufficient group.

Interesting. Now we’re getting somewhere!

“So you all had dinner, and then most of you went to bed? Out of curiousity, who stayed up? Do you have a regular night shift here?” Charli smiles, encouragingly.

“Did the Kalos leave before you went to bed? Did they say goodbye, or just dissappear on you like dorks?” Charli looks to Rahm. “Make sure to record this. I think this may go in a report on proper etiquette in First Contact Situations.”

Hinevera thinks. "No, regular night shift, no. They left while I was asleep. I know that Oshessa said goodbye to them; she's always up late anyway. I'm not sure who else, perhaps Teltham? Maybe Irtrine, she also stays up late sometimes."

They stay late? asks Antoine. Also we have found something that is society related. A Canvas of the first seeker of the Day. Can we have it? You Said we could take all who is Property of the society. We would also ask permission to enter the Vault to see if there something for our society.

"Of course, you can take anything that is Starfinder property. The reliquary? Only Oshessa can take you in there. She protects our most holy relics."