Balancing time against the lives of the myriad trapped Starfinders, nominated First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo authorizes a dangerous mission to return to the fated region of space known as the Scoured Stars. The might of the resurgent Society is finally poised to breach the formerly impenetrable barrier surrounding the trinary system. The galaxy pauses to watch if a new generation of Starfinders can save those once lost. A mission of exploration and a mission of mercy, this return to the Scoured Stars will undoubtedly shape the future of the Starfinder Society.
First Seeker Elsebo Luwazi clears her throat and makes an announcement to all of the gathered Starfinders as they slowly trickle in. “Starfinders, we stand at the precipice of momentous history, and I want to thank you all for making it possible for us to be here today. The Starfinder Society has spent the last year recovering from the Scoured Stars incident, our greatest defeat in recent history. We are finally ready to return to the Scoured Stars, find out what happened to our missing colleagues and friends, and rescue any survivors we can find. Report to your stations and lend your assistance to our fleet by performing the final preparatory tasks. More instructions will come shortly.”
After a long voyage through the Drift, the bulk of the Starfinder fleet has arrived at the outer reaches of the Scoured Stars system. Several immense carriers form the core of the fleet and contain docked transport ships, fighter craft, and scout vessels. Each of the stored ships contains armor, weapons, provisions, and other equipment. There is an almost palpable feeling of tension and excitement as hundreds of Starfinders aboard the central carriers prepare themselves for the mission. Ahead, a shimmering veil of golden energy conceals the three stars known to be within.
Venture-Captain Naiaj, a no-nonsense bleachling gnome, approaches with a datapad in hand. “Do you have all your gear? Are you ready? Good. Now let’s help our fleet get ready for the final journey into the Scoured Stars. But first, tell me your names and what special training you have so we can assign an appropriate task for you to assist with.”
Venture-Captain Naiaj, Venture-Captain Arvin, and the faction leaders Fitch, Historia-7, Radaszam “The Dealmaker”, and Zigvigix can be seen gathering groups around the ship, assigning tasks to help with the preparations.
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A grinning, cheerful little ysoki in the room says, "Hello everyone!! My name is Arratoi! I'm a writer and I find inspiration working various missions for the Starfinders and travelling the stars. Someday, I'll write the quintessential space novel that will be read across the entire galaxy!!
"Now I know that some may struggle to pronounce my name, but that's okay. It's pronounced ARA-TOI. But honestly, if you cannot say it, just call me 'A Rat'! I know you were thinking it! So now you can say it without fear of causing me any offense!
"Oh and by the way, I have quite a few dwarven novelist colleagues who've taught me how to throw insults like a dwarf. It's quite an art! And I daresay.... addictive!
"So if I say things such as, 'Why won't that incompetent harpy-faced decrepit fuzzpot light turn green already?!?!' then please don't take offense. I just get carried away now and then!
"Now let's see...preparations! I believe I shall go help out VC Arvin!"
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The large vesk stands quietly, overseeing the rush and business of the situation. Nothing is quite as calm as battle. Perhaps we shall see some today. He smiles and steps forward. "Hudathan Swarmbait at your service. If this new system holds enemies of the Society, my arm is yours." He looks around at each of your in turn. "And it appears you will need it. But it is not your fault. You are not vesk." He takes a knee and shines his heavy laser. "I believe I can lead the mission to assist Zigvigix. He is my faction leader, and I have the proper skills to assist him."
Click. Whirr.
A little drone arrives, and drops an Aid Token next to Hudathan.
This is an Aid Token that Starfinder Neon Ten just boosted with the Remote Assistance utility code. Boost it or use it!
Then it flies off!
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A shirren carrying wearing a fancy suit of armor and carrying a rifle, a pistol and a sword speaks up next. Well, telepathically communicates, {Hello new friends. Bugface's given name is Vishkesh but only Bugface's host-parent uses it. Bugface prefers Bugface. Also, since Bugface is not a he or a she pronouns get confusing in the common language so just say Bugface if you please. Besides, pronouns are deshirrenizing. Bugface is not a nameless drone in the Swarm, Bugface is Bugface.}
Bugface pats the cybernetic arm attached to their left shoulder. {Bugface already has a new arm, a devil ate the one Bugface was born with,} Buface says with a slight edge. Bugface has fought beside several vesk and has performed just as well. {If a machine needs work Bugface can fix most anything. Bugface is also quite good at breaking things.}
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A bubbly human girl springs on into the room, spotting Arratoi and breaking into a radiant smile. "Oh my gosh, its Ratz! Hey Ratz!!! Looks like we're working together again this time! Hope there aren't any creepy severed hands waiting for us out in the Scoured Stars!" The girls bounds over to Arratoi, crouches, and takes both of the ysoki's hands to shake. "Your book was great by the way!"
With an overly dramatic flush as she realizes she's being impolite, the girl turn to the other two and winks "Hi there! Looks like we're all working together today. The name is Lynn, nice to meet you all!" She pauses to vocalize a serene hum in her throat, extending a hand forwards. As she finishes her hum, a handful of brilliant orange-white flowers forms in her hands. Though clearly crude, fragile and artificial, they are incredibly colorful against the somewhat drab interior colors of the carrier ship. She places a flower on each of the individuals she's now meeting for the first time, giving them a thumbs up in the process.
To Hudathan she adds "Nice to meet you Mr. Swarmbait! I'll be counting on you to keep all the scary things well away from us. I'll support from the back."
And to Bugface she adds "Oooh, mind if I call you Buggy! I'd be way cuter than Bugface, and would totally suit you with that fancy suit of armor!"
She steps back from the two, saying "Alright! Now we're good to go!" She places the final flower behind her ear, nestled against one of the two elaborate buns that hold up her strikingly turquoise hair. She pats down her elaborately be-ribboned orange-red dress and leans in towards Naiaj to hear more.
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"Oooh, mind if I call you Buggy! I'd be way cuter than Bugface, and would totally suit you with that fancy suit of armor!"
Bugface considers this for a moment then comes to a decision. Making a choice clearly pleases Bugface when they say, {Yes, you may. But only you.}
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A human woman leans against a wall watching all the preparations. Her armor is quite nondescript. It's as if she picked the dullest colors that can be purchased in her clothing. Her weapons though. They are well cared for. Her dark hair is pulled back tightly in a bun at the back of her head.
When it comes time for introductions she nods in greeting. "Kess. You can call me Kess. she takes the offered flower with a raised eyebrow, but no comment.
"It's good to work with you all. I'm interested in what we find."
Arratoi approaches the Venture-Captain ready and willing to help. Making his way to the bridge of the ship he meets up with the Lashunta man. Arvin briefs you in the access corridor just outside the bridge. “Many Starfinders, especially newer recruits, fear what might await us in the Scoured Stars. Talk to your colleagues and see if you can lift their spirits. You have my permission to be creative— pep talks, jokes, or playing some music through the comm system are each valid options.”
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Seeing Zigvigix is in need of help with Cleanup in the Missile Bay Hudathan heads towards his Faction leader to offer his assistance as any good Vesk would. Seeing the leader of the Exo-Guardians, in the missile bay. They speak telepathically too you <“Hey! Thanks for showing up! I’ve got a special mission just for you! See those missile tubes? I need them checked to make sure that there’s nothing obstructing missiles from being launched, so could you climb or crawl in and have a look? I’m pretty sure it’s safe and we won’t accidentally fire you into space!”>
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Earlier, when Lynn arrives...
"Pleased to see you again, Lynn! Yah, looks like this mission will need us to lend a hand but preferably not a severed one!"
Presently, while helping out Arvin....
Arratoi says to a group of gathered Starfinders, "Yes, the prospect of going in search of the previous expedition is frightening. 'They disappeared and would the same happen to us?' we may ask ourselves.
"Well fear not! For the past year, I have worked with you all, directly and indirectly. We have conquered many diffulties, accomplished missions thought impossible, and vanquished mighty foes! You all are the finest group of sentients I've ever had the pleasure and privilege to work with and I believe in my lil ratzy heart that we will see each other through and prevail!
Following quickly in a lower, less grandiose voice, Arratoi says, "And my novel based on this little mission will be available in digital format to all of you at a deep discount as well as a signed, limit hardcover editions..."
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Hudathan doesn't hesitate to jump into the tube, used to Zigvigix's interesting method of explaining assignments. Unfortunately, the vesk didn't think to unload his weapons first! The heavy artillery laser and longsword on his back make it quite difficult to manouver through the tight space. He only makes it halfway up the channel before sliding down.
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Lynn shares a smile with Huckle and Kess as they introduce themselves, then turns to Naiaj. "Alright! I've got a special performance in mind to help get everyone all full of energy and ready to face the Scoured Stars!"
She heads on over to Arvin, pinching the Venture Captain as she comes up close. "If you'll let me have the comm system for a moment? "
She hooks her boom-mic and headset up to the comm system's input frequency, searches through her datapad for the backing music she's been saving for a special purpose, and then turns everything on at once. Speaking into the microphone, she announces "Hi hi Starfinders! This is Lynn, coming at you from the bridge! Arratoi has got the right idea. We're going to stick together, help each other, and stay safe out there while we do our best to rescue what survivors we find!" She giggles into the mic. "I know all of us can do it!"
"I want to share with all you guys a special song. Its an old Minkaian love ballad, from lost Golarion. Yeah, its a bit old fashioned. But I've got a zetta-sure feeling that it inspired people in the past, and I hope it'll do the same for all of you!"
With her preamble out of the way, Lynn begins ♪♫ to sing ♪♫!!!
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Arratoi gives a resounding speech, with a little self-promotion thrown in as well, that has the Starfinders gathered waiting and visibly calming down. Once he completes his dictation Lynn follows up behind given an inspiring performance that has many a gather members cheering and jumping ready to give it there all.
Arvin, although smug as usual, nods slightly in thanks. "You have done an admirable job of motivating the troops Arratoi and Lynn. I believe should your paths cross during the mission they will offer there assistance to your team."
Bonus: In place of the reward above, once during the adventure, when the table uses an Aid Token, you gain two benefits instead of one, but you cannot choose the same effect twice.
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Ziggy stares in admonishment of the teamwork Hudathan, Huckle and Bugface show. His excited squeal can be heard from around as the Starfinders efficiency, Zigvigix claps and telepathically says <"You have done a great service for us. And see we didn't launch you out of the tubes Hudathan. I'll make sure some special ordnance gets loaded in your starship.">
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Kess approaches Historia-7 and offers her services to the android.
Historia-7, leader of the Dataphiles, not missing a beat nor spending any time with those pesky manners humans talk about shows Kess the carrier ship’s science station on the bridge. “Once we jump into the Scoured Stars, we will need to scan the system to locate any survivors from the previous expedition. Please check connections and run tests on the ship’s computers to ensure the sensors, comms, and other critical systems are running without glitches.” with this Historia-7 steps back and begins working on another terminal.
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Kess moves over to one of the computers and starts working. She pulls out a jack, and plugs into the datajack in the back of her head. Taking a seat she concentrates on running diagnostics on the computers.
"This firewall needs updated. The bios on this are out of date. There's a new version of this software." she mutters under her breath.
Historia-7 lets a tale tale smirk appear on her face as she speaks "Thank you Kess, I had not thought about updating the BIOS as having expected another to have done this already. Please take this Data Pad you may find its contents useful." handing off the item she ruses about the systems attempting to ensure everything is up to date.
Bonus: In place of the reward above, when a PC fails a Computers check, they may activate the reward to reroll the check with a +4 bonus.
Enhanced!: When someone uses either of the rewards above, they can roll twice on the Computers check, take the better result, and add a +4 bonus to it.
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Lynn steps down from singing and gives Arratoi a thumbs up. "I think we did great Arratoi!" She carefully packs up her idol gear. "I'm going to see if I can help Fitch out, let's meet up again soon!"
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She wanders over to Fitch's Science Lab and after a cheery greeting for everyone working there, takes up a position at one of the computer terminals. "OK Fitchie! I'm going to guess you need us to scan the Scoured Stars and work out what kind of nasties are hiding there? Because I can totally help! Just leave it to me."
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Lynn approaches Fitch who her preparations and talking to her 'children' she barely noticed Lynn has offered her services. Her nose and whiskers twitching, the leader of the Wayfinders, reads something on a large screen in the science lab while her children operate other consoles and devices. “Hey, can you he... Oh yes thank you for your help. What we have here is a database built from references to creatures in travelers’ logs and fragments of communication signals that were sent from the Scoured Stars before the force field appeared. Sift through the info and take notes on what kind of threats we might face.”
Fitch then pats one of her nearby children on the shoulder. “See this red guy here, Kirkath? Your notes should be: This is a balor demon, if you see one… RUN!”
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Lynn nods "Gotcha Fitch!"
"Oh, and that one there's a Vracinea, they try to lure you in with sweet scents. Little bit creepy, right? Oooh, and that one's a Hallajin, if we see one of those we'll need to put up energy barriers zetta fast before it blasts us with its mind powers!" She puts her hands on her hips after a few more "Jeez, there's so many here in the database! Do you really think we could face all these scary guys?"
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Bugface wanders over to the hangar bay as they are always interested in the various designs for different ships. {Venture Captain Naiaj, is there anything Bugface can do to help? Bugface is very handy with a wrench.}
Once given a task Bugface dives in with gusto. Forming hard-holgram tools from the custom rig implanted in their skull, Bugface works on anything necessary.
Suddenly, every screen aboard the Starfinder fleet switches to show nominated First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo standing next to a golden obelisk about two feet in height. Behind her, a large observatory window showcases the Godshield, a shimmering force field surrounding the Scoured Stars system. Luwazi Elsebo slowly lifts her eyes from the artifact and addresses the Society.
“Starfinders, this is the Tear, an ancient artifact some of our most skilled agents recovered during a recent mission. The Tear is our key back to the Scoured Stars—our key to liberating those who were lost a year ago. We are ready, so let’s not waste any more time.”
Luwazi Elsebo speaks a few words in an alien language and the artifact start humming softly. She then traces her finger along the artifact’s surface, and a set of glowing runes appear around the obelisk. The golden field surrounding the Scoured Stars starts twisting upon itself, and massive gashes appear as the force field starts tearing itself apart. As the final shreds of the shimmering field evaporate, Elsebo speaks: “It is time. Good luck, Starfinders. Fleet—activate Drift engines! Go!”
One by one, the ships of the fleet pierce the veil between the Material Plane and others, splashing through space like it was water, and then vanish into the swirling depths of the Drift.
*****
Whisked away through the Drift, the Starfinder Society fleet spreads across the three solar systems that form the Scoured Stars. The ships begin scanning the planets, asteroids, and other objects orbiting the three distinct stars. The fleet’s long-range sensors soon start picking up communication signals, energy signatures, and signs of life. After a quick analysis, the Society has identified a few locations where information on the lost Starfinders is most likely to be found. After nearly a year of waiting, the search for survivors can begin!
Wrangling one of children to the side who might have been gnawing on the console
"Cornith get that our of your mouth!" Fitch Exclaims "Sorry about that, kids these days. Thank you for your analysis of what threats may lurk and giving all of us a good idea of what type of monsters they might face: misshapen abominations, carnivorous plants, dead things, megafauna, robots, terrible extraplanar beings, and worse!"
Bonus: Once during the adventure, the team can instead activate this reward to gain a +2 bonus to each of their initiative checks for that encounter. Unlike most rewards, they can choose to do this after rolling initiative but before the combat begins.
Enhanced!: When the team fights something they’ve identified with a skill check using the recall knowledge use of that skill and the team activates this reward, each player gains a +4 bonus to their initiative check instead of the +2 bonus for activating this reward.
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Venture-Captain Naiaj takes you to the hangar bay. “All right... Bugface, let’s get to work. See all these ships here? Work with the chief engineer to check the engines of these transports, fighters, and scout ships, and help her make any necessary adjustments.” The bleachling heads off to direct a few other Starfinders in their preparations. As she returns she almost in shock, for a bleachling, to see that Chief Engineer is patting you on the back thanking you for your expeditious work in fine tuning the engines of all the ships. She smiles slightly nods your way and, as Naiaj is know for, she keeps to her own time heading off towards another group of Starfinders who look lost.
Thankful for the help, the chief engineer installs a special boost switch in the teams ship. Once during the adventure, the team can flip the switch to add +4 to All Engineering or Piloting check during the same round of starship combat.
Enhanced!: In place of the reward above, the team can force the crew of an enemy ship to take a –2 penalty to all Engineering and Piloting checks made during the round. The use of this ability must be declared at the start of the starship combat round.
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Radaszam, leader of the Acquisitives, waits for you in the cargo bay. “As you’ve probably surmised, things might get hairy once we’re in the Scoured Stars. Ain’t no glamor in this task, but it’s important—check these weapons, armor, medical supplies, and survival gear, and replace any faulty gear so we all might just make it back home alive.”
Huckle you are able to move your way through the equipment fairly easily, althought not as fast as Radaszam would have liked but you are able ot pick a few parts and pieces out that cause prove troublesome to the gather members of the Society. Radaszam gives his thanks with a salute and states "Pick something from the rack for your hard work."
Bonus: In addition to the reward above, the team can also requisition a single consumable item with an item level equal to the your level. These consumables cannot have permanent effects, and if you do not use them during the course of the scenario, you must return them at the end of the adventure.
Alarms and scanners begin to go off all at once as they try to keep up with all of the information. The Starfinder Society’s fleet has identified five locations where clues about the whereabouts of surviving Starfinders are most likely to be found.
While in the Scoured Stars system, the Tear resonates with the Drift engines of the Starfinder vessels in unexpected ways; as the massive ships spread out across the trinary system, they create a network that allows individual ships’ Drift engines to make short jumps in a matter of hours.
The Scoured Stars consists of three star systems, Agillae, Bastiar, and Callion, which revolve around a common barycenter. There are one or two missions available in each system as detailed below.
- Agillae: Agillae is an orange dwarf star with five planets, all of which are terrestrial planets in the star’s habitable zone. Recon and evacuation missions 1 and 2 take place in the Agillae system.
- Bastiar: The largest, brightest, and most massive of the three stars, Bastiar is a yellow dwarf star with eight planets—five terrestrial planets, a gas giant with more than three dozen moons, and two ice giants. Recon and evacuation missions 3 and 4 take place in the Bastiar system.
- Callion: The smallest of the three stars, Callion is a red dwarf star with two small, tidally locked planets whose orbits are synchronized so that they are always on the opposite sides of the star. Recon and evacuation mission 5 takes place in the Callion system.
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Callion
The imposing vesk Radaszam, leader of the Acquisitives, stands near a large screen that displays a tidally locked planet labeled as Callion-2. “Starfinders,” He greets, in his pleasantly low voice, “I’m sure you’ll find this mission interesting. Our sensors have detected numerous communication signals broadcast from Callion-2. Because one side of the planet is always facing the sun, only a narrow habitable zone exists, but here’s the interesting part: the entire habitable area is covered in one big, technologically advanced megacity. Finding survivors, or at least useful information in the city, seems likely. I’ll upload mission data on your ship’s computer. Good luck and come back safely!”
Following Radaszam’s instructions, you easily find the right location in the sprawling megacity to take the landing craft and find a suitable place to land on a rooftop. As you approach the destination, you realize the only living things in the city are plants and small insectile invertebrates.
Doing a quick scan with your equipment there are five locations your team can investigate within proximity of their landing zone. Oddly enough you can hear strange alien music playing in the background through loudspeakers that have been integrated into the city’s buildings and infrastructure.
Your computer screens readout shows the following list of locations available to be searched
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Lynn raises a hand to block the light of the sun on the horizon, then takes in the strange view from the rooftop. "Wow! The bug and plants probably didn't make this place, so where IS everyone? This planet is zetta weird, don't you guys think?"
She peers down at the datapad in her hand and then voices "It's kinda creepy that there's no one here! Maybe it'd be less creepy if we could work out what kind of people were living here? The library could totally help with that. Plus, maybe some Starfinders are hiding out there!"
On the way to their destination, Lynn tries to judge if the infrastructure here is of Pact Worlds origin.
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"I'm a writer. I will never say no to a jaunt to the library! Especially if they carry any of my novels!
"In fact, I have a copy of my latest book on me... Perhaps I'll leave it in the library and then I'll be the very first Pact Worlds writer to have ever had their work carried within a Scoured Stars library!
"Arratoi! Intergalactic author! I rather quite like the sound of that!"
In his excitement, Arratoi starts scurrying (as a rat does) towards the library...
With the exception of the ever-present alien music, this enormous building remains completely silent. Digital and physical records from the planet’s past fill shelves and data archives stretching for the equivalent of city blocks.
You not sure but you think you saw something out of the corner of your eye up on a hilllock near the Factory area.
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The factory district is full of activity mainly industrial robots building and repairing other robots. You can easily see that the level of robotics is highly advanced, and everything looks fully automated. Nothing much more can be seen as you tour the factory area and the automated systems seem to be non-responsive to your presence.
As you leave the Factory area Huckle Jim notices an androgynous humanoid watching you from afar, as the Bounty Hunter points it out the being disappears from your sight.
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Lynn skims through the library quickly, eyes and ears open for any sign of Starfinders or natives. When neither side surfaces, she puts her hands on her hips, dissatisfied. "Whoever this library belongs to were pretty advanced! Maybe they managed to 'transcend their physical bodies', like that one episode of Journeys into the Vast?" She purses her lips. "No signs of Starfinders though. Factory next then?"
At the Factory, she lets out appreciative oohs and aaahs for the technological equipment still in operation. "Their tech stuff is still working! That's really cool! I wonder if that's why the city is still in such good shape?" Outside, she follows Huckles pointing, but when she doesn't see anything she just says "Hmmmmmmm, if you see them again, do you think you could wave at them to come over? If they're a native maybe they could explain whats up here!"
"How about we go to that residential area next, and then the shopping mall. I think you might be right about something dangerous at that military base, Huckle!"