Game Day VI Starfinder Society Special
You each arrive at the Lorespire Complex on Absalom Station and await the arrival of your contact, a woman named Luwazi Elsebo. The room is a lavish meeting space, with several couches and a central table. Each of you is a mercenary, hired by Luwazi Elsebo for a secretive mission.
A Ysoki has spread a bit of old cloth over one of the couches. An open toolkit stands next to him and a drone is situated on the old cloth.
"Quiet scout! Hold still! You need some oil in your joints!" the Ysoki speaks to the drone, although the drone is perfectly still on the cloth. Despite the cloth the Ysoki manages to get several oil stains on the couch...
A male kasatha in red armor waits seated on one of the couches, both sets of arms folded and his eyes closed in concentration. His brow is knitted in frustration, building with each new noise coming from the ysoki's tinkering. He finally opens his eyes to take in the scene.
"One cannot think with this rattling going on," he yells, startling even himself. He exhales and turns his attention to the ysoki. "Forgive me, my people find it quite rude to make undue noise, especially across our worldship. My name is Altronus; will you trust me with yours?"
The Ysoki jumps almost a foot in the air "Forgive me for not noticing you, I am Quig and this is Scout!" he extends one of his small oily hands towards the Kasatha
A short hiss precedes the opening of an adjacent door. A woman with a determined look steps through the opening, holding a datapad in one hand as she sits down at the nearby table, takes a calm breath, and begins to speak, “Ah good, you made it. All of you come highly recommended. You have skills, and the Starfinder Society has credits.”
She pauses, looks over the group she has assembled, and continues, “How rude of me—introductions. I am Luwazi Elsebo, the elected First Seeker of the Starfinder Society, and I have an exceptionally fair sum of credits available in return for your specialized services. For this mission, each of you will represent the Starfinder Society, but hold no official title within our organization. As you can probably tell by the empty halls around us, I need to use mercenaries to act as temporary agents. If you agree to the terms, I would like to offer you all a job.
“The Starfinder Society endured a staggering setback several months ago when our previous First Seeker led a mission into a region of space known as the Scoured Stars. We lost almost all our experienced field agents and assets in that endeavor. What the Starfinder Society really needs right now is something to entice outside interest and investment. In short, we need to make a major discovery.
“Prior to the Scoured Stars incident, the Society acquired exclusive rights to explore a rather unique moon. The inhabitants of the nearby planet call it Salvation’s End and see it as a ‘false moon’ due to its visible metal components and underlying superstructure. There’s the potential that it’s nothing more than a mangled hunk of stellar debris on the remains of a moon, but there’s also the chance that the entire object could be one inconceivably
large structure.”
Luwazi lets loose a devilish smile. “This is where you come in. I want you to go to Salvation’s End and explore the surface. First, you’ll need to make a quick trip to the moon of Varos, which orbits the nearby gas giant, Bretheda. There’s a high level security complex on Varos that has a survivor from a rogue prospecting mission to Salvation’s End. I want you to question the prisoner, find out what you can about the so-called ‘false moon,’ and then make way to Salvation’s End. Once there, you will need to see if the moon is worthless, or something valuable enough for the Society to announce. Understood?”
Navasi was a little late to the party, but she arrived just prior to the briefing. fortunately for her.
she remained relatively quiet as the briefing was underway.
upon completion of the briefing Navasi tries to recall what she has heard about Varos
What's the pay? I am sure accessing a prison will require some credits to buy our way in. Navasi asks from the back of the group actually catching a few by surprise that she was n fact present.
"I’m able to provide a spending account of 2,500 credits for mission expenditures; this does not include expenses for personal use, but instead for dealing with Livewire and the other occupants at the Sauna to help in your mission," Luwazi explains. "Upon completion of your greater mission to Salvation’s End, you will each receive 3,000 credits. In addition, you have use of a brand-new Pegasus-class starship for the mission. If we end on agreeable terms, you can count on the Starfinder Society for more work in the near future. Trust me when I say an ongoing partnership would be quite… lucrative, for both parties.”
A hulking vesk woman with a doshko across her back scratches at her chin spikes. "What happened on this moon to leave a survivor?"
"You hear that scout! We can use those credits for an upgrade to your sensors"
Quig fiddles with a set of controls that he takes up and the drone starts to hover. He quickly puts the oily rags in his toolkit and stores the toolkit in his pack. "Count us in misses! And while I am at it I am sure I can make some improvements to this Pegasus for you!"
"That's the first half of the job," Luwazi replies to Oboyaza, “We need you to seek out a pilot named Livewire, who is interred at the ‘Sauna’—a prison colony on the volcanic moon Varos. Contact this prisoner, as she is the only survivor of an expedition that trespassed
on Salvation’s End. Once you establish contact, it’s a matter of gathering intelligence. We doubt this information is cheap, so we authorized a spending account for you to encourage Livewire to talk. We need to know why her team’s illegal salvage on the moon failed. Once you get this information, we need you to travel to the false moon. Touch down, scout for hostiles, and look for any indications that it’s more than a moon with crashed starships piled atop it.”
She stares at Quig. Ah... thank you, but it's brand new."
Altronus grasps Quig's hand, face smiling behind the scarf covering his mouth. "The Cycle brought us here for a reason. Now we discover what the universe has in store."
"I will come as well. Are we to depart immediately?"
the guards at this prison are telepathic. I doubt there will be any way to hide things from them. but having a bit of ahhh, experience in not so legal activities, perhaps I can lead the questioning.
"You will leave tomorrow. But, first, follow me," the First Seeker says. She heads into the hall and leads you towards the Starfinder Society's hangar. She speaks to you as she walks.
“The warden denied our requests to meet with Livewire. They indicated that our presence would rub salt in a fresh wound. So, whatever you do, do not let the warden or Livewire know that you are working for the Starfinder Society. I have set up a front to explain your meeting with Livewire: you are all investigators hired by an unnamed corporation looking to remain anonymous. You’re researching a rash of disappeared spacecraft that have gone missing when their flight path took them too close to Salvation’s End.”
A pair of doors slide open with the sound of pressurized air being released. Luwazi steps further into a large hangar bay containing a pristine ship. Several engineers, laborers, and mechanics buzz about the hangar running diagnostics, polishing the vessel’s unspoiled hull, and finishing the last touches for a maiden launch. Luwazi looks up to the ship with beaming pride, reaches into the folds of her clothing, and pulls out an expensive vintage of champagne, and extends the bottle outward as she exclaims with a wide grin, “The ship is yours for the mission, it is only right you christen it! Tonight, we celebrate; tomorrow you sail off into the stars."
Luwazi takes you on a tour of the ship, explaining its layout and capabilities. Energetic techno-steel music plays through the loud speakers as the engineers finish their last minute checks and hurry out to the table laden with free drink and food. Once the tour is completed, you have leave to return to your quarters to rest and prepare or are welcome to join the engineering crew in their celebrations.
The next morning, you have time to complete any last minute tasks or preparations before embarking on the trip that will last three days at standard engine speed.
The Pegasus pulls into sensor range of the volcanic, tidally locked moon of Varos. The terminal pings softly as automated systems quickly exchange data, including the ship's call sign, cargo, and weapon array for the moon's local date and time, weather forecast, and a copy of the prison's mandate.
Once you reach orbit, you are hailed and a synthetic voice (programmed to sound however the crew would like) transmits through the speakers. "Welcome to the Sauna. This is the Warden. What is your business on Varos?"
Quig looks at the others "Well? Should I do the speak speak?"
Altronus shrugs and places all four palms facing to the ceiling of the spaceship. "I suppose I can step in."
He takes the com and clears his throat. "Greetings Warden. We are investigators due to interview a being known as Livewire regarding missing spacecraft. Will you be able to facilitate our request?"
Navasi had taken the helm of the new ship. she remains vigilant during the communications for trouble.
holding the ship in its present position.
"Acceptable," says the voice substitute for the Warden. The console pings again as your ship receives the coordinates for a landing pad. "You are welcome to meet with us. Weapons and other contraband--food, hygiene kits, photographs, albums, and other luxuries--are prohibited. Violation will result in internment at the Sauna. Credsticks are allowed. We are always happy to accept donations to our worthy cause of rehabilitation through hard labor."
The Pegasus rumbles as it breaks orbit and enters the atmosphere. A short time later, it lands on a floating pad, and you all disembark. The stifling heat of Varos slams into your faces like a fist when the ship's airlock opens. It is clear that spending more than a few minutes out in the open would be a miserable and possibly dangerous situation.
Four barathu (floating flesh balloons with a mass of tentacles dangling below) arrive and wordlessly escort you across the organic bridge and into the bizarrely designed administrative complex. The odd angles and rolling rise and fall of the halls confirm it was designed for creatures that do not depend on legs. The smell of the blue-green, pulsating walls is also rather rancid.
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Keskodai attempts to keep the conversation light as the group traverses the bio-maze, his voice resonating within everyone's head. Greetings and thanks for escorting us. I must say this decor isn't what I had in mind when I heard "sauna". These walls appear to be organic. What created this facility?
Obozaya frowns at the idea of leaving her weapons behind, but still leaves them in the locker as she follows along with the others. "Donations, huh? Nice to see prison guards are the same everywhere."
"Indeed," says Altronus.
He complies with all instructions, unloading his pistol. He flexes his lower right hand as he follows the creatures, feels the small mote of power within that can manifest his solar blade.
-Posted with Wayfinder
"No scout? That is too bad. Scout, stay here and guard the ship!"Quig empties his cheek pouches and his pockets, puts away his belt with his pistol and spare bullets and finally straightens.
"Ready!"
The barathu guards do not respond--verbally, telepathically, or physically--to any attempts to converse with them. They simply float along quickly enough to keep you moving and block you from turning the wrong way. They do not seem to object to Scout (assuming he removes any mounted weapons beforehand).
They shepherd you into a chamber with six off-white PVC chairs arranged in a semicircle in front of a PVC table. Opposite the table floats a creature that looks like a dozen barathu mashes together into a mass of pulsating pink flesh and iridescent tentacles.
"Welcome," a monotone telepathic voice echoes in your minds, "Please, share in these terrestrial-based refreshements."
The Warden pushes several gray PVC trays holding styrofoam bowls of gray mush and transparent plastic cups containing an oily white liquid. The condensation on cups informs you that the liquid is cool, which would be refreshing in the oppressive heat within the administrative building. The smell, however, leaves much to be desired.
Leaving her weapons behind as requested, Navasi moves along with the group, taking note as best she can of the path to ensure a quick escape if need be.
Navasi takes some of the food, but has very hard time keep much down. she ends up nibbling on a piece but is looks for a way to dispose of it subtlety.
I do believe that our recent trip here has in fact caused a bit of an illness. I think it best I save your gracious gifts for a later time. she says as she looking to avoid a scene.
Quig twists his nose, trying to avoid the smell "Ah, thanks, but no thanks!"
The Warden continues on making small talk with you. After several minutes of telepathic chit-chat, the pitch of the telepathic voice changes.
"One of us had a career as an investigator. We are always excited to meet like-minded lifeforms. Tell us, what was your proudest moment as an investigator?" the Warden asks all of you.
"Oh, let me tell you about that time when we were following that street gang that made of with Scout in Arl on Akiton" Quig starts "I was much younger at the time and also less wise. Scout wasn't as good as he is right now either. I managed to trace down the youngest of the street gang by pulling some strings with a Ysoki family that had ties to my own. They knew the youngster and I could also an amulet of camouflage from them. Eventually I managed to track down the entire gang to a small derelict building. Peeking in through a window I saw that one of them was fiddling with Scout, trying to get him to work. Obviously that did not work because the stupid Vesk did not have the right combinations. My partner at that time, Dhareen, and myself charged in, shooting smoke grenades. I gave scout the command and he quickly flew towards me, after which we disappeared in the many twisting alleys of the city."
Navasi listen to the conversation, doing her best to keep as much of her past hidden.
while not as interesting as Yoski's adventure, I do recall infiltrating a pirate ring in an effort to save a medship delivering supplies to refugees at Absalom Station. she pauses as she recalls the memory, it cost me dearly though. she adds with a somber tone.
my friend saved me that day, I will miss her.
as she pulls herself together, long story short, those pirates won't be hunting anyone anymore.
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Raia nods as Navasi tells her story.
Proudest? That's a complicated question. She frowns, thinking back to her own experiences. There was a child... kidnapped by cultists. My companions and I were able to bring her back to her parents, but even then... I couldn't help but feel that we simply reacted. Who knows how many kids those monsters took before we caught up with them? A bitter smile flashes across her face I was proud to put a stop to them, in any case.
Obozaya ponders for a moment. "I have investigated the color of my foes' blood many times."
The Warden squeals in telepathic glee--a sensation that threatens to white-out your brains for a second--after Quig finishes his story. He seems similarly delighted in Navasi's and Raia's stories. Obozaya's? Not so much.
He sighs telepathically, a sort of ephemeral sense of resignation. "We have enjoyed our time with you very much. However, I am afraid that we will not be able to permit you to visit with any prisoner here. The rules are the rules, you understand. However, before you go," the Warden says as one of his iridescent purple tentacles produces an empty credstick, "We do happily accept donations. Sometimes we offer tours to our best donors."
NAvasi stands and approaches the warden. well now this news is most unfortunate. and we made our way all the way here to avoid future problems. Now the sooner we get to the bottom of this problem, the less likely you will have problems in the future.
she pulls out some creds but of course we should donate to your worthy cause. perhaps 700 now, and maybe another 200 after we take care of the business we are here for.