Starting soon... in spaaaaace!
No-one can hear you scream dot.
Can we call our ship the hinden-tanic dot
Who is the Starfinder Society? What do they do? And what is the Scoured Stars Incident?
I've posted the backstory for the Starfinder Society and the info on the Scoured Stars Incident on the Google Doc. If it's hard to read, here's the Starfinder Society Guild Guide that explains everything about society play. If we continue you'll want to eventually read this. The last couple of pages have the pages I cut and pasted into the Google doc.
tl;dr
317 years ago there is a collective loss of memory and records.. "The Gap" is an indeterminate span of time from which memories and records alike were wiped away. Golarion, the planet Pathfinder transpires on, is gone. No one knows where it went. In its place is Absalom station, home to around two million people.
Shortly after the Gap, the Starfinder society was formed, inspired by incomplete tales of a similar pre-gap organization called the Pathfinder Society. The Goals of the Starfinder Society were to map the temporal edges of the Gap to see what happened, and find Golarion. Since then the goals have transformed to focus less on that and now more on exploring the galaxy made available through Drift engines (the Faster than light travel of Starfinder)
In 316 AG (After Gap) the Starfinder Society made a coordinated expedition to a region of space known as the Scoured Stars. 80% of the Society's assets and agents went on this mission. Everything was going swimmingly, but then nothing... no contact. The Scoured Stars were now cut off from the rest of the galaxy, a vast shield of energy surrounded the region of space preventing communication and travel into the system.
Now we're to the beginning of season one of Starfinder Society play. The society is on the brink of ruin... the leadership that was left held the Starfinder Society together long enough to get a new cadre of Starfinders to complete their training.
This explains why there is an influx of noob agents.
Let's play some STARRRRFINNNDERRRR!!
For this scenario the iconic pregens are not—at least not yet—Starfinders, and instead represent intrepid mercenaries hired for a single mission.
The band of mercenaries arrive at the Lorespire Complex on Absalom Station, where they await the arrival of their contact, a woman named Luwazi Elsebo. The room is a lavish meeting space, with several couches and a central table. Luwzi Elsebo has contacted the rag-tag team for a secretive mission.
As they wait they look around at each other ....
Obozaya a vesk soldier
Keskodai a shirren mystic
Navasi a human envoy
Iseph an android operative
Raia a lashunta technomancer
Through some witty banter they all get to know each other a little better...
A human woman, her hair colored like that of a sugar pop idol, and almost pretty enough to be one, looks around the room, smiling with something of a smirk.
Hello all, she says, y name is Navasi. As she moves her head she reveals a corner of a tattoo in her neck, pleased to meet you.
She nods approvingly at the rest of the crew. Overall, she gives the impression of being confident, without being threatening, and as being someone who knows how to herself out of a bend. She nods at the large Vesk soldier and gives the lashunta a wink.
An android stands off to the side alone, testing how fast they can grab their static pistol from the quick release installed in their body.
New record, they reflect calmly, as they quickly return the pistol to its hiding place. Iseph looks up and notices that while they were lost in their practicing, the others had begun introducing themselves. They note the human and vesk with mild unease, but is comforted by the variety of those assembled.
"You may call me Iseph," they say simply. "Former member of the AAF, current... freelancer, I suppose you would say." They take another moment to observe the group. "Does anyone know any details of the mission that why we have been summoned here for?"
Raia smiles warmly at Navasi in response to the wink.
"Hello everyone. My name is Raia." She speeks directly into the minds of the group.
"It is such a pleasure to be working with such a wide variety of species" she continues as she rushes from person to person excitedly shaking hands with each, hesitating slightly when she reaches the Shiren.
"I cannot wait to get ti know you all and hear all about your worlds"
-Posted with Wayfinder
As everyone looks at the shirren, expecting him to speak next, 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 highlevel 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?”
Although Navasi has dealt with Lashunta before, direct telepathic communication always has a way of unsettling her. Let's pray she doesn't snore telepathically
Other than that she silently takes in the information, but can't help but suppress a snigger: You have exclusive rights to explore a moon? An entire moon? And you somehow manage to stop scavengers from going in?
I'd be keen to hear the location of the moon. Does it also orbit Bretheda?
And you have some kind of security contract with people on Varos, it seems. Who owns this high-security complex? What are the people on Varos like?
Let's just hope they don't have me on file, now.
Iseph gives a small nod. "Understood." After Navasi's questions, the android adds, "Can you tell us more about this prisoner? What group was he with when he was on Salvation's End? What exactly happened to the others?"
"The survivor... the prisoner is a pilot named Livewire, who is interred at the ‘Sauna’—a prison colony on the volcanic moon Varos. We don't know what happened to the rest of her salvaging crew... that's where you come in. 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 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.”
"what are the people of Various like? Only the desperate or condemned accept work on Bretheda’s notorious collection of “death moons.” Various is a tidally heated hellscape of ... elementalist fireworkers harness raw volcanic power while digging for the unique gemstones produced only in the moon’s mantle.", She looks to Navasi.. "Contract... no, they're just enforcing the laws of ownership... the salvage crew was trespassing."
"For that matter, it's important you don't let on that you are working with the Starfinder Society... 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.”
She beckons you to follow, "Let's get you to your ship., she says as she walks toward a private hangar bay in the Lorespire Complex.
Iseph goes to follow the First Seeker and the others as they head for the hanger. It was an interesting job to be sure, but the android has no doubts that they would be able to find the information that was needed.
Head off into an ultra-secured death moon run by unsolicited law enforcers while being expressly forbidden from doing so. As an outlaw. Niiiiice.
Navasi smirks as she follows Iseph to the hangar.
"thank you first seeker" Raia Speaks telepathically as she bows respectfully.
"it will be a wonderful opportunity to investiagte this culture".
-Posted with Wayfinder
She arrives at a vast entry door. She opens it with a slight flourish to embellish the significance of the moment, and then crosses the threshold into a hub of activity.
“Wonderful! I am so excited to conduct business with you.” With a renewed energy, Luwazi steps further into a large hangar bay containing a pristine ship with a stylized symbol of the Starfinder Society along its hull. 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.”
Touring the ship you see it's a medium explorer class outfitted with a Drift Engine. It sports light sheilds, a forward shooting light particle beam, port mounted laser net, starboard mounted light laser cannon and a second light particle beam on a turret.
Raia is in awe of the ship as it has been quite some time since she has seen on so well prepared.
She points towards the large Starfinder Society Emblem and finally speaks aloud, " I thought our involvement with the Society was not to be advertised....will that emblem not advertise you as our employer?".
-Posted with Wayfinder
"My word, my word what a beautiful ship don't you think Chk Chk," he directs his question to a jar hung around his belt. A faint Tink Tink can be heard coming from the jar.
"Oh and what a pleasure it is to meet you all." The Shirren man says, stroking his great mustache. He scurries over to each member of the team and vigorously shakes their hands saying things like "I will do my best to make sure we make it back in one piece" and "Oh I sure hope you don't die"
After he greets everyone in turn he exclaims to no one in particular, "what an exciting mission we will be going on for the Starfinder Society. Oops I mean the super secrete corporation" He says with smile, covering his mouth.
"Raia is right. I certainly appreciate the Starfinder Society's generosity, but the giant emblem is a bit conspicuous, is it not?" Iseph gives a half hearted shrug. "I suppose we must be careful not to land too close to the Sauna." Iseph carefully takes the bottle of champagne from Luzwazi's hands and examines it with interest.
If allowed onboard, Iseph will board the ship to become more familiar with the interior layout.
Or be seen on the approach. I'm not sure what 'not welcome' means on a death moon, but I have little appetite to end up as a prisoner there. You know how to fly this thing? Navasi says, looking as Iseph.
With a furrowed brow, she hollers at the crew working no the ship, "I told you to hold off on the logo!", They tell her to calm down and tell her they've got it under control. One of them produces a magnetic sign... he slaps it on the ship. It says, "Mindspace Investigations, and has a picture of an eye."
The next morning, once you've completed any unfinished business, Luwazi Elsebo comes to see you off. "It is not far to Brethada, you should avoid using your drift engines. It won't save you much time, and I can't afford losing you to an unfortunate encounter in the Drift.", She wishes you luck and a speedy return, and you depart Absalom Station for Varos.
While a short trip, like most space travel it does take a few days.
Your journey is uneventful. Rummaging around the ship you find ok crew quarters, a mk 2 duonode computer with minesweeper installed, the Expansion Bays include a mostly empty cargo hold, escape pods, science lab, and a tech workshop.
When you arrive at the Sauna... This bizarre organic complex wildly contrasts the more pleasing Brethedan arcologies found within the swirls and eddies of the neighboring gas giant. Here, only the indentured or the foolhardy suffer Varos’ tidally heated hellscapes for a chance to mine the moon’s spectacular gemstones. While the prison is safely above the moon’s surface, the extreme temperatures radiate upwards, heating the structure despite its distance and advanced organic coolant systems. From this clammy complex, indentured prisoners descend upon the moon’s blistered surface as conditions permit.
Inside the Sauna, prisoners endure strict discipline under the threat of exile to the inhospitable surface. Several communal areas provide the prisoners with the opportunity to roam freely amid a reek of flowers and sweat—a by-product of a bustling black market of deodorants, perfumes, and soaps. The prison staff is comprised solely of barathu guards who have adapted to the torrid climate with their race’s notorious bioengineering acumen.
When you arrive in orbit over the colony, you are hailed...
"This is Sauna Station Control... state your call sign and the nature of your business.
Iseph, seated in the pilot's chair, answers the hailing. "Pegasus. You are expecting us. Mindspace Investigations, we have been sent to investigate spacecraft that have gone missing."
"Received... Pegasus, land on floating landing pad 17."
"You will be escorted to the Warden at that location. Be warned Pegasus... leave all armaments and contraband such as food... toiletries...or other pleasantries on your ship. Credsticks are welcome as we accept donations."
Once the party docs, an organic bridge connects the pad to the structure itself. As soon as the the group disembarks from the ship, extremely hot air (over 120 degrees Fahrenheit) blasts them. The band of "investigators" realize that while their armor should protect them for the jaunt towards the Sauna, it becomes evident that any prolonged exposure outside the prison is foolhardy.
A Flotilla of four barathus— floating, iridescent masses of flesh with draping tentacle appendages—wordlessly greet the group and escort them to the nearby Warden’s office.
The halls and rooms of the Sauna are entirely organic, comprised mostly of fleshy blue walls replete with pulsating green veins. Tunnels take odd angles, sometimes sloping up or down, which is a nuisance to humanoid creatures but not an impediment to the floating barathus.
When the group arrives at the Warden's office several hard, plastic chairs await arranged in a semicircle around a matching table.
Opposite the table floats the Warden, an almost comical creature that looks like a dozen of the barathu guards mashed together into a floating mass of iridescent flesh and tentacles.
The Warden telepathically offers several trays of a gray mush and glasses of an opaque, milky substance as “refreshments.” While these refreshments look welcoming, especially the drink to help cool off, the ever-present stench makes the idea of eating difficult.
The Warden looks at the party expectantly.
"why hello, what a pleasure it is to make your acquaintance. What an interesting place you have here and I am beyond glad to have traveled here." the mystic responds telepathically.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Iseph stares at the food and drink offered with interest. "Thank you for the refreshments," they say, despite not touching them. "We understand you have a prisoner here who may know something about the disappearances around Salvation's End."
The warden communicates telepathically, much like Keskodai, "Hello, hello! Pleasure to meet investigators such as you! One of our constituent barathus had a career as an investigator, and we are always excited to meet with like-minded personalities."
"We would love to hear some of your proudest moments as investigators... please tell us your investigative stories!"
"And... please enjoy some of my fine refreshments."
Raia continues the telepathic conversation as it appears to be the most comfortable for the Warden.
"While we would love to endulge for hours in our previous investigations we are unfortunately on a rather tight timeframe and would appreciate it if we could see your prisoner. Perhaps if there is time after questioning we may be able to reminisce
Raia looks apprehensively at the 'refreshments' and eventually takes a glass of the milky substance and takes a sip.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Sweating through every pore from the nearly unbearable heat, Navasi spins her best story.
We have plenty of stories to tell. One our biggest sucesses was capturing a band of contraband smugglers. They would weave ships in and out of the disapora, switching containers with contraband for bona fide ones. We spent weeks tracking their pattern, until we finally managed to crack their operations by putting a beacon on a contraband container. After that, we just had to follow the bleep!
The Warden seems disappointed, but then as Navasi starts to weave her story the Warden gets very excited.
"Oh, yes those smugglers can be extremely sly. Yes, yes! a beacon on your container... very smart! Follow the bleep... excellent investigation skills!"
"Please tell me more of these wondrous stories! Ah, I see you're enjoying my refreshments. You should try the barathus Kalo-Mahoi pudding... scrumptious!"
"But back to your wonderful investigation stories!"
Raia chokes slightly as she sips the drink trying desperately to suppress the urge to vomit.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Iseph ponders for a moment. "Ah, yes. There was also that time when we were hired to track down a blackmailer. Our client was a person of high status, we couldn't divulge their identity even now, you understand of course." Iseph smiles before continuing. "Our client was receiving threatening messages from someone claiming to have incriminating pictures of him. Asking for money and favors in exchange for keeping quiet. I'm sure you're familiar with the sort.
But he got sloppy. Speaking as our client, we managed to set up a meeting in person to make an exchange. The fool showed up himself!"
"Brilliant! What a wonderful ruse! Yes... those criminals often are not the brightest... showing up himself! We certainly miss our investigation days. Thanks you for this taste of our exciting past", the Barathus is obviously quite pleased with the stories.
Raia vomits a little, a sour look on her face. It's quite apparent that it's all she can do to hold it down.
The Warden telepathically sighs, stating, “As for talking with any prisoner, visits with prisoners
are forbidden. We can still be convinced to... arranged a meeting...”, the Barathus says, gesturing with one of their many tentacles, holding an empty credstick. "donations to our maintenance fund are greatly welcomed."
Why yes, it would be a bad day indeed if improper maintenance compromised security. Do tell me, what are administrative costs like on this moon?
Nivasa is surprised to be asked for a bribe, but certainly isn't a stranger to the concept.
"It is very expensive to maintain this facility. Yes, very expensive... hmmm... the last contributor supplied us... say 5000 credits."
That is a very generous contributor, indeed. I'm sure you treated him of a very privileged tour of the facility and the area around. I'm sure you also have many minor contributors that you rely on, Navasi replies with a soprano voice.
Raia smirks slightly before continuing telepatically "Indeed, very generous. In return for such a large contribution, I am sure you would provide complete unimpeded access to the entire station and its databanks. But if that is not possible, I am sure we could come to a more suitable arrangement."
-Posted with Wayfinder
"I'm sure we can reach an agreement... sooo.... let's talk about your contribution."
As the group sits awkwardly with the barathus... scene flashes back to talking with Luwazi...
"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. Upon completion of your greater mission to Salvation’s End, you will each receive 3,000 credits. If we end on agreeable terms, you can count on the Star nder Society for more work in the near future. Trust me when I say an ongoing partnership would be quite... lucrative, for both parties."
After considering the discussion and suddenly remembering their limit, Raia days telepathically to Navasi only
"Perhaps we should offer 1500 credits so that we will still have some remaining to deal with the survivor"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Navasi makes a subtle hand gesture at Raia, and then says
Yes, let's talk contribution. How far would a thousand credits take us? That is a nice round number, don't you think?
Iseph glances over to Navasi without moving his head. "Yes. One thousand credits can go a long way in the hands of a responsible and wise warden such as yourself."