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VENTURE CAPTAIN ARVIN REQUESTS YOUR PRESENCE IN HIS OFFICE FOR YOUR NEXT MISSION BRIEFING. SWIPE LEFT TO ACCEPT. MEET AT 0900 TOMORROW.
MISSION LOCATION: EOX
You make your way to the Lorespire Complex, the center of the Starfinder Society. Walking past the captain’s half-orc secretary, you enter Arvin’s office. You are a little early, and stand in the office with your fellow starfinders. Now seems like a good opportunity to introduce yourself and get to know your fellow teammates.
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Ratatat bows and says, "Hello everyone. I'm a warrior pursuing studies in the philosophical art of war. At this point in my career, I'm most interested in the doctrine of shock and awe."
Ratatat pulls out a pulsecaster rifle in one hand and says, "Please meet my dear friend, Shock..."
Then he lifts up a massive red star plasma array in his other hand and says, "...and my other close friend, Awe!"
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An exceptionally tall Kasatha leans casually against a nearby wall. Black jagged tattoos line one side of her forehead and a black mask covers her mouth. She wears practical, well-worn clothes, and bears multiple weapons -- laser pistol, assault hammer, and a scattergun are among the most obvious weapons in her possession. She wears a spiked fur cloak made from the pelt of some strange beast and clasped together by a gold brooch depicting a skull and crossbones -- Besmara's holy symbol which like marks her as a space pirate.
At the ysoki's words she chuckles. She places two hands on her hips, and crosses her other two over her chest.
"That's cute furball. But mine's bigger." she gives the ysoki a wink.
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Ratatat looks at his fully automatic heavy weapon and then at Daire's hammer, pistol, and longarm, thinking, 'Bigger? Really? No matter!! I smell a friendly challenge!!'
Ratatat replies with a smile, "Well, some swear by another philosophical doctrine that may seem un-intuitive at first glance. They say size doesn't matter. Rather, it's about how much fun you can squeeze outta your gun! We shall see, yes??"
Ratatat winks back.
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A stunted shirren watches the dialogue with rapt fascination. He wears resplendent white-and-gold robes with the holy symbol of Ibra traced upon them, and his comm unit is currently open to the Infosphere, but he's paying it no attention, watching the back-and-forth exclusively.
Very exciting! he says in their minds. So many mighty warriors! This one is mighty too! I have exploded many heads... WITH MY BRAIN! He rubs his forelimbs together nervously. Well, okay. Not technically. But I did give a particularly rude vesk a nosebleed once.
Sensing he's lost the room, Popper goes back to studying star charts on the Infosphere with a small chitter very similar to a sigh.
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A pale-skinned half-orc enters. From beneath the wide brim of his hat, a pair of eyes coldly scan the room. He appears to be unarmed, though the way his brown, worn duster hangs from his tall, thin frame it is possible that weapons are concealed within it.
His assessment of the assembles agents is summed up with a single, deep grunt.
The droid gently nudges his master. "Master...master... The others are waiting for you to introduce yourself."
The droid start to drift over toward the group. "Don't mind my master, he's not a big talker. My name is Extension and this is my master, Gizzmo-5, and we're here to make sure that nothing falls apart on you."
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After a few minutes, Captain Arvin rushes in. "My apologies, agents. Our return from the Scoured Stars has created a whole flotilla of work to do. Good work, but work nonetheless."
He extends his hand and bids you to sit in the circle of chairs. He snaps a finger and the lights dim, a holographic projector turning on. He calls up holographic representation of Eox. Venture-Captain Arvin’s calm demeanor erodes for a brief moment, replaced with the genuine excitement of sharing some piece of obscure lore. “When the bone sages of Eox launched the Magefire Assault in 7 ag, they ended up triggering an ancient doomsday weapon the sarcesians left in orbit over their home world. This dormant ordinance detonated with enough force to send part of a moon crashing into the planet, where it completely obliterated the Eoxian necropolis city of Muthal. The rock remains a geological anomaly, now called Blackmoon, and is one of the most fascinating excavation sites in the Pact Worlds. The potential combination of technological detritus and magical residue residing within and beneath Blackmoon represents a treasure trove of knowledge about Eox and its history. By calling in a few favors, and through some diplomatic back channels, the Society acquired the rights to excavate key sections of this munitions-made mountain with backing from the bone sages about a year ago. The Society has agreed to share any magical discoveries—including any magical items—unearthed within the ruins of the lost necropolis of Muthal.”
“In exchange,” Arvin says, with an air of professorial summation, “the bone sages continue to allow us access to the region and broadcast any major discoveries in the Starfinder Chronicles. None of this is why you’re here—not exactly. You’re here because a few weeks ago, the Blackmoon excavation called for assistance. The excavation overseer, a kasatha borai named Taylehm, has reported that every time we try to expand the boundaries of the dig, several Society workers and even some of the mindless undead laborers have disappeared or turned up dead or destroyed. The Society needs you to go to Eox, investigate the dig site, find the cause of the disturbance, and restore the excavation to working order— without jeopardizing our partnership with the bone sages!” he ends emphatically. “Now, do you have questions?”
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Popper's antennae quiver slightly at the mention of both magical and technological artifacts. Hybrid items, perhaps? I love hybrid items! They're so weird. But good weird!
He rubs his forelimbs together once again. I admit that I find the elebrians... distasteful, he sends. Especially that Zo! guy. So obnoxious. But! Their place in the Pact Worlds has certainly granted us many benefits, particularly in the scientific fields. I will do my best not to jeopardize this. Are there particular sections of the dig's boundaries that were expanded that may have triggered this violence? A specific area they tried to open up, perhaps? And does Taylehm or the elebrians suspect sabotage?
He pauses, then his antennae shoot bolt upright. Wait. We are going to Eox. Does that mean... his clawed fingers click together in a strange imitation of clapping. Are we going on a SPACESHIP??
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Arvin looks at Ratatat with a nod. “I'm curious about that as well. Taylehm’s message was brief, and it seems she needs assistance in figuring out what’s happening at the excavation site. It’s likely that she knows more but didn’t want to present it on a communication channel that could be intercepted. You’ll need to find out what’s going on and help her ensure these disappearances don’t jeopardize our ongoing operations.” He then shrugs his shoulders. "Don't do anything you'd see in an Elebrian-slasher flick. Only destroy unsanctioned, feral, undead. You should be fine."
He looks to Popper with a shrug. "I wish she had said. Those are excellent lines of inquiry but she didn't give details. As for Taylehm, she’s the overseer of our excavation operations around Blackmoon. I'm sure she has several ideas." He smiles. "And yes, you will use one of our Pegasus-class space vessels to get there."
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The survey site will likely have minimal environmental protections, Popper informs them. Make sure your armor is fully charged when we reach the surface. His antennae vibrate excitedly. I hope we meet a borai! They are so fascinating. Popper scurries off to prepare for their departure, chittering enthusiastically.
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Af'val surfs some message boards and asks people questions in cyberspace to gather some information after he finds out we are going to Eox
Af'val repeats the mission "Go to Eox, investigate the dig site, find the cause of the disturbance, and restore the excavation to working order— without jeopardizing our partnership with the bone sages. Noted" as he nods his head
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Popper ponders what Jack told them about elebrian culture as he approaches the docking bay. He has changed out of his priest robes, hung them carefully and gently in the closet of his tiny hab, and slipped into his second skin armor and a drab set of common clothing.
Ooh, sounds like those elebrians like their cloak and dagger! he sends. I'm starting to like my sabotage theory! But good science changes theory to fit the facts, not the other way around. We must be sure to get more details from Taylehm on our arrivOOHH MY GODS THAT IS AWESOME!!
He has arrived in front of the Pegasus-class ship, and his antennae are vibrating so fast they look blurry. Everyone in a 30-foot radius cringes at his mental shouting, but he hardly seems to notice. He's bouncing up and down, a decidedly odd sight from a giant arthropod.
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Arvin genuinely laughs at Popper's excitement. "Yes, I feel like you just may meet a borai." His eyes glint, he seems more entertained than you have ever seen him. "Taylehm was once a Starfinder field agent but suffered a grievous injury on a mission in the Vast that... well, it killed her. The Society paid for her resurrection, but the process didn’t go as expected and she returned as a borai—a corporeal undead that clings to its soul. While Taylehm wasn’t eager to return to field duty, she agreed to continue her work for the Society and offered to use her new undead status to help manage our operations on Eox. She’s a serious agent who’s seen a lot in her lifetime.” He nods in affirmation. "Well, best of luck, Starfinders!"
You all make it to the Pegasus and spend a few days travelling to Eox. The shuttle refrains from entering the Drift, instead coasting along the Pact Worlds trade lanes that connect Absalom Station and Eox. Overall, the journey to Eox is uneventful, with the exception of a flotilla of Aballonian starships. This small fleet consists of seven Compent AEV ships escorting and defending a heavily damaged Compent Group Defense Frigate. The robotic starships, under the direct control of an intelligence identifying itself as Tutor 2–12. "EVERYTHING IS SATISFACTORY. WE ARE ON A SLOW BURN TO ABALLON FOR REPAIRS. SAFE JOURNEYS. MAY TRIUNE BLESS YOUR TRAVELS."
When you arrive on Eox, your shuttle lands in the necropolis settlement of Zinhew, located on a shelf of rock north of Blackmoon. You have four hours to explore the settlement prior to a prearranged meeting in one of the transport docks with a member of the Blackmoon excavation staff. If you haven’t acquired all necessary gear on Absalom Station, Zinhew provides a last stop to outfit yourself before heading to the excavation site.
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After a short period exploring the city, you all meet back up at the loading bay where transports disembark into the wastes of Eox. You quickly find an imposing female Vesk beside an all-terrain transport. ”Welcome, Starfinders! The name is Berchta Deepdelver.” Although Berchta’s utilitarian clothing is stained and mud splattered, her beard horns, teeth, and the frilled ridges of her head are the multicolored hues of an oil spill on water, and it’s not clear whether the coloration is natural or by elaborate design. Alongside Berchta, a robust mechanical drone with six arms underslung with sawlike drilling implements stands ready to receive gear for transport. ”I’m a Society-contracted ‘Dirt boss’ for the excavation site.” She points a thumb as the bot. ”And this here is “Digger.” Sling him your gear and let’s saddle up. Taylehm wants me to bring you lot back to the Blackmoon site. Can’t have you all getting eaten by some wandering fiend.”
After Berchta and her drone help load you and your gear into the transport, the vehicle disembarks from Zinhew. While it seems from orbit that the monochromatic bleakness of Eox’s surface was a simple trick of the eye, driving through the gates of Zinhew reveals the surface to be every bit as barren and lifeless as it appeared from high atmosphere. Up close, Eox’s ground looks less like gray dirt and more like desiccated skin peeling away from ancient, cadaverous flesh. A haphazard sprawl of berms and rock clusters push themselves up like broken bones and scabs, and shambling forms—humanoid and non-humanoid alike—move across the landscape in eerie half-shuffles and stilted gaits.
Above it all rises Blackmoon. True to its name, the gigantic hemisphere, itself a color between darkened ashen sand and volcano glass, looks less like a mountain and more like a heavenly body that collided with Eox and refused to let time or the elements break its shape. The surface of Blackmoon is crisscrossed with footpaths and roads packed down and flattened by the passage of hundreds of vehicles. The transport has a generator and recharging unit that ensures your armor remains at full capacity. Berchta stops the transport outside of a large camp complex of interconnected research and storage pods, mess areas, and sleeping quarters for researchers, scientists, and the few laborers among the living.
A tall kasatha woman with visibly grayed skin comes to meet the group as you exit the all-terrain transport. The woman introduces herself, ”Hello, agents, I am Taylehm, the head of the Blackmoon excavation. I manage the high-level aspects of the dig site, including maintaining ties with local Eoxian interests, while Berchta,” She pats the vesk on the back. You notice her hand is just as gray as the rest of her. ”handles the site’s operational requirements. I don’t have much time to assist you, unfortunately. I’m too busy making sure other Eoxians don’t take greater interest in the recent deaths and disappearances.” She frowns and shrugs. She does, however, make time to inform you of what she knows before entrusting you, her fellow Starfinders, to handle the situation.
The Society’s survey site around Blackmoon is one of a handful of excavations across the surface of the mountain. Due to Blackmoon’s awesome size, camps are dozens of miles apart from one another, allowing each to operate in relative seclusion and privacy. Taylehm indicates that in the last 2 weeks, the Society’s excavation team has lost days of productivity while trying to expand the borders of the excavation beyond its current boundaries. So far six researchers, four of whom were members of the Society, and over a dozen of their undead workers are missing and presumed destroyed. Of the living researchers, only two bodies were discovered, and they looked as though they had been savaged by some kind of wildlife; the other four bodies remain unrecovered.
In addition to the confirmed deaths, workers reported damage on some of the heavier industrial mining equipment near the excavation’s latest expansion site. ”I recently sent three of my contracted security detail agents to the site to try to see what’s causing the disturbance. These security agents have yet to report in, and I am gladdened by the your timely arrival, as the site has little else in the way of protection.”
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Popper spends the entirety of the spaceflight in rapt awe, staring out the viewports and making frantic notes on his comm about star positions, ship layout, and relative travel speeds.
He occasionally wanders to find sustenance, but while he happily engages in conversation elsewhere - even in the midst of his note-taking - he is very reclusive during mealtimes.
Once on the transport, the shirren all but bounces up and down in his seat. Once they arrive and are actually in front of Taylehm, his antennae practically vibrate, and he keeps his forelimbs crossed for fear they'll reach out of their own volition to poke and prod the borai. He makes several mental notes about her appearance, including skin tone, lividity, and muscle movement, to take down later.
Once Taylehm has finished speaking, he sends, Wow! There's that many surveys at once? This thing is huge! The claws on his forelimbs clack in a nervous, distracted fashion. Oh. Choices. Okay. Okay. Um. I th-think... um... Yes. What do you all think?
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Before leaving the city Gizzmo buys himself a set Freebooter Armor 1 and now feels much better about heading into the unknowns of these mines now that he has a little armor to protect his circuits.
On the trip in, Gizzmo does his best to block Popper's excitement from his head as he tinkers more with Extension.
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Mostly silent during the travel, the pale-skinned half-orc surveys the scene upon arrival. Drawing upon his past experiences with such entities, the Starfinder agent tries to be particularly mindful of any corporate logos that seem to be attached with particular dig sites.
Upon being greeted by Taylehm, the half-orc seems almost to smile for a moment, as if the woman reminded him of someone--a lover now dead or, perhaps, someone from his more recent past?
The half-orc removes his hat, giving Taylehm a respectful nod before placing it back upon his head. "It is good to meet you." he says in a low, commanding voice.
"Many in the Society have taken to calling me 'Harrowed Jack'." he says by way of introduction. "I suppose that it is as good a name for me as any."
Following Taylehm's explanation, "Jack" looks concerned. "This... security detail. Where were they sent? And can you be certain that they, too, will not disappear?" His eyes scan the horizon as if trying to spot the security agents from his present location.
He then turns back to Taylehm and inquires, "As for the bodies of the once missing you have recovered, where were those remains found?"
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On the way in, Jack sees a few corporate logos, mostly for native eoxian companies. Necrografts, archeology centers, and others.
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Taylehm looks to Ratatat and shakes her head. ”Not especially. Of course, there are other teams who do research on the rock. But it is big enough for thousands of teams, and everyone near us has legal permits. Just like we do. They shouldn’t be a problem.” She pulls out a datapad and continues. ”Yes, they are on site. I had them sent to the excavation’s impromptu morgue, originally a cryogenic storage facility intended for artifacts. I’ll have the staff to remove the bodies from storage for you.”
She then looks to Jack and grows more concerned. ”Honestly, I didn’t consider the thought. They were hired from the best security firm around. We did not want any more hiccups.” She shakes her head. ”I’m sure they’re fine.” That settled, she replies, ”They were found at our newest dig site. The equipment damage was found when the bodies were.”
Moving to the “morgue”, you are introduced to the three researchers-turned-medical. An agender android, Kopos, a male human, Rayburn, and Whipstitch – a female ysoki. Kopos seems to lead the team. ”I performed the autopsies.” He whispers, ”I am the only one with sufficient medical training. Looking at the three bodies, I have concluded that the deaths were caused by the feral undead that rove across the planet’s surface.” He moves his hands as he speaks, trying to get his point across. ”This is further corroborated, as all of the living humanoids had wandered outside of camp boundaries when they disappeared.”
At this moment, the other two bring out the bodies. Both bodies are humanoid: one appears to be a male human, the other a female korasha lashunta. Further details are almost impossible to obtain due to physical trauma. Both bodies have been savaged, with large lacerations, deep gashes, and compound fractures; digits are missing on the hands of both humanoids, and skin bears signs of tearing and flensing. They give you an opportunity to examine the bodies yourself.
Despite the damage to the corpses, the actual cause of death for both creatures was a slash across the throat, made with a manufactured weapon capable of cutting through an environmental suit. All of the other wounds, while inflicted close to the time of death, were done so post-mortem. You can confirm that while the grotesque state of the bodies suggests brutality at the hands of the feral undead of Eox, the agents were in fact killed by intelligent adversaries using manufactured tools who then tried to cover up the actual cause of death.
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As the always serious Jack gives the borai a rare smile, Daire raises a brow ridge. "You got a thing for dead chicks?" she asks with a hidden grin.
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In the morgue, Daire looks down at the corpses on the table.
"They're dead," she points out with a smirk. "And thus ends my medical expertise." Instead she turns to the doctor. "Forget your conclusions for a second. What proof is there on the bodies of undead attacks?"
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The uptight scientist visibly recoils at Daire's bluntness. They stammer out a reply, "Uh, well, obvious to any scientist -which I am, I graduated from the finest school on Absalom Station, after all - are these cuts all over their bodies as welll as the blunt trauma to the fatty bits. Not to mention, the flayed portions of the skin. Obviously, this is the work of feral undead eager to get to their next meal." They give off a "Harumph" at the indignity of being called out by a common space pirate.
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Popper's claws click in an absent fashion as he studies the wounds. As scientists, he sends distractedly, you should already be doing as the lady says. We are beholden to facts, not conjecture.
After a few moments, Popper stands and makes a warbling noise that somehow conveys a derisive tone at the scientists. Had you done so, he sends, the derision now very clear in his mental voice, you would have noted the actual killing blows were these slashes across their necks made with manufactured weapons. All the bite marks are postmortem. I don't know about any of you, but I've never seen zombies that used weapons advanced enough to tear through an environmental suit like eoxian jam.
He pauses and raises a forelimb to his "chin." I wonder if eoxian jam is any good? Probably not. Meaning no offense to your employers, I would not want to eat anything made by dead people. You know? His telepathic sending trails off as he bends down to study the bodies further, looking to see if there is anything more to be gleaned from it. If there is not, he moves to leave the "morgue."
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Daire can tell that the scientist isn't hiding anything, except the fact that a galaxy renowned archaeologist specializing in ancient Sarcesian culture isn't a very good medical doctor! When Jack approaches them, they utterly shrivel in fear. (Quite the reaction, for an android.) "I swear! I did my best! Everything I've helped treat so far has been a result of rockslides or feral undead! It was my first assumption!"
Leaving the incompetent "doctors" behind, you leave the morgue. Since you're already at the camp site, you decide to canvas the area for more leads. Especially since you know one of the employees might be the murderer. (dun dun dun!) You get a list of the current employees from Berchta. A total of 32 sentient staff and 61 mindless undead currently work at the facility. Most of the sentient staff are eoxian or undead of some kind, there are some living citizens of eox as well as the Pact Worlds.
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Popper wanders about the site, sending jovial telepathic messages to everyone he meets, including a few mindless undead. At one point, he has a particularly animated conversation about local Eoxian politics for almost fifteen minutes before he realizes he has been talking to a zombie.
As he traverses the compound, he keeps an eye out for anything out-of-place or hidden.
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"Harrowed Jack" approaches a few of the staff. "I suggest that you tell me what you know about the murders." he says in a gruff whisper. "If you choose to withhold the information, then you may find yourself disappearing."
Otherwise, the half-orc surveys the worksite, looking for objects that appear to be out-of-place or missing.
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Harrowed Jack and Daire team up, eventually finding an eoxian miner who’s slightly inebriated. She quickly gives in, spilling everything she knows. ”Whoa, there! No need to be all rude! Everyone who went missing, including the stupid skellies, were all outside the established perimeter, man! That’s why I stay in the main excavation site. Nice and safe. Everybody knows that! Obviously they got a little close to the roaming biters!”
Ratatat helps sneak Gizzmo-5 into place, allowing him to hack into the computer system. He finds an internal email stating that the latest dig site hasn’t been fully launched yet, and staff are eager to begin work there. So far, Berchta has managed only to set up several automated excavators to start trawling the ground, both identifying points of archaeological interest as well as preparing for the next set of digs. A korasha lashunta named Sennox led a small band of mindless undead menials to begin a preliminary sweep of the area. Sennox’s body was later found ravaged, and the mindless menials disappeared. Berchta has yet to let anyone else inspect the new dig site for fear of further attacks.
Jack and Popper then wander through the barracks and find identical assignment slips on two different beds. It seems Taylehm dispatched the excavation’s security force, a group of three armed mercenaries, to the nearby Redspire Canyon to hunt down the feral undead responsible for the recent deaths. The three guards have yet to return, and the outpost believes they might have been caught in a “glass cyclone,” a local weather phenomenon that can tear up even the strongest of environmental protection suits.
Meanwhile, Af’val runs into Berchta. ”Hey there, Starfinder! Say, did you guys want to check out the new dig site? It’s about a half mile away, I’d be happy to guide you there! Should only be a twenty minute hike.”
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"More missing. Time to go." "Jack" bellows curtly to any of the party he can find after he finds the slips of the missing security guards.
"We're venturing outside the perimeter." he warns. "Expect bad weather." Having delivered his instructions, the one they call "Harrowed Jack" leaves to head out of the dig site and into the wilderness near Redspire Canyon.
Despite his warning, the half-orc is clearly not wearing any form of armor or environmental suit of his own.