The PCs gather in Absalom Station at the
Lorespire Complex, where Venture-Captain
Arvin (N male damaya lashunta mystic)
has contacted them with a mission.
A large vesk in a muscle shirt sits at
a table in the small reception room,
messily consuming the various
laid-out refreshments. Venture-
Captain Arvin stands on the
opposite side of the table, visibly
annoyed at the vesk, and turns
toward the arriving Starfinders
with some relief. “Thank you for your
quick response. Some new technology
has come to the Society’s attention”—the
vesk clears his throat loudly, and Arvin’s
eyebrow twitches in irritation—“from our… contact Julzakama.
If you would…”
The vesk, Julzakama, stands, pulling a battered gym bag out
from under the table. “Feast your eyes on this little gemling.” He
reaches into the bag and removes what appears to be a severed
human hand. Julzakama waves the limb then offers it to Arvin
to shake.
Arvin declines the offered limb, rubbing his temples, and
explains. “As you might have guessed, this is a prosthetic limb.
It’s a standard cybernetic augmentation, but this one was made
with a new type of biotech, so well grafted that it’s almost
undetectable without magic. Its special features are just as well
hidden.” Arvin takes the hand from Julzakama to demonstrate
a nearly invisible compartment large enough to conceal a
knife, several data drives, or a small toolkit. “Such technology
would be invaluable for covert and diplomatic operations, and
the Society would like to find the specialist who crafted and
installed it. But therein lies the difficulty. Julzakama, if you
could explain the… circumstances of this discovery?”
Julzakama holds up his hands, saying, “Now, I wasn’t
personally involved. Some vesk workers known to some of my
customers got in a territorial dispute with some manlings. Stuff
happened, one of these guys turned his winnings over to my
customer to settle a bet, and here we are.” Julzakama gestures
at the hand, smiling ingratiatingly, and continues, “I thought
you Starfinders might be interested.”
“Indeed, we are.” Arvin folds his hands behind his back.
“Julzakama tells me that his acquaintances’ rivals had been
known to acquire their gear from gray-market operations in
the Freemarkets. As that is our only lead so far, I’d like
you to investigate the area; even if none of the
listed clinics are the source, they may have
more information on who is.”
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An elegantly dressed woman speaks up.
What makes you assume this belonged to a man?
She examines the hand.
Very clever design. But you're right. Losing one's hand, even a prosthetic like this one, is not an everyday occurrence. So we have two clues to track down: a very talented technician and a person missing a hand.
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A large Vesk walks in the room, strapped up with heavy weaponry. He brightens at the sight of Compucast. "Ah, you must be Compucast! My friend, Breq, speaks highly of you! That android is a weak little nerd, so I know she must be right! " He turns to the rest of the Starfinders and smiles. "I look forward to working with you all! "
However, his jovial expressions darkens a little at the sight of the familiar pawn shop owner. "Julzakama, we meet again. Still buying from murderous pirates? " He doesn't wait for an answer, getting his confirmation from the Venture Captain's story. He turns to the figure of authority, pointedly ignoring Julzakama. "If they're rivals of this slimeball's acquaintance, why can't he give us their names? Afraid we'll give them back their arm? " He laughs again. Not a Vesk arm, that's for sure. Vesk are stronger than most, with only one arm!
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A young looking android walks in the briefing. He sports black hair, an orange scarf, black T-shirt over a white long sleeve T-shirt, tucked into blue jeans with a rip in one knee. His jeans are tucked into green socks with blue sneakers.
”well, that certainly would be a valuable hand to have,” the youth says.
True Silver, you gain no additional knowledge by examining it and viewing.
Compucast: Not entirely sure, that is why we want you to investigate
Serrara: I was told as such, the person who gave it to me claimed it came from a man, he'd have to be lying if it isn't. Just an average citizen doing his duty, didn't get his name and doubt he'd have a reason to lie
Julzakama responds to Hudathan Whatever it takes to make a business work
They say to you all. So ready to go to the free markets?
10+: The Freemarkets are the Ring’s open-air retail space, where
small businesses of all sorts showcase their
products and services. AbadarCorp sponsors
the area; the corporation’s religious doctrine
mandates that they encourage the growth
of free enterprise. It’s relatively easy to get a
business permit, so many entrepreneurs get
their start there.
15+: Most of the Freemarkets’ businesses are
temporary operations, working out of stalls or carts.
The most successful make enough of a profit to
secure permanent stores or are acquired by
larger corporations. Some manage to hold their
spots in the Freemarkets long-term, while the
failures melt away.
businesses in the Freemarkets
are legitimate enterprises,
fly-by-night operations and
scam artists take advantage of
regulation loopholes. If caught
and shut down, they simply lie
low for a time and then acquire new permits
under false identities.
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Let's go!
Serrarra spins a story of a father, victim of an industrial accident, in need of the very best in prosthetics, and willing to pay. The market denizens never realize they're offering information.
Her story is not as good as she had hoped, and she does not find much in the way of useful information.
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Compucast gives a nod to her fellow warrior. "Greetings Hrudathane. Yes, I am ready to visit this Freemarket. What can you tell us about it? A den of piracy and thieves?"
"I know it is an open-air market, ruled by Abdarcorp. An incubation area of a type. Businesses thrive or die. Though a few hang on long term by their claws. Business there is as a battle."
He directs a stern gaze at the captain.
"Do you suspect Abdarcorp of being involved?"
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In the quest pack, Into The Unknown, Julzakama buys Starfinder items from a Eoxian Corpse Fleet ship member. They're not technically pirates, but are probably worse. (Rebel army who wants to see all living beings dead... )
Hearing the descriptions of the Free-market, Hudathan nods. "Sketchy doctor working out of a stall in the market? Should be fun! Let's find this guy. " He heads for the door.
Hudathan tries to help Compucast, but the sight of two Vesk scares away most people.
The heroes enter the free markets
Gilded doors separate the Freemarkets from the previous
station sector. The entrance area contains a sizable shrine to
Abadar to the right; to the left, an office issues permits, takes
complaints, and receives petitions. Through the entry zone, a
giant signboard with a directory of businesses offers onlookers
a way to locate their desired merchandise.
The walkways are laid out in an orderly manner, with lifts
and staircases at regular intervals leading to the Markets’ three
retail levels. Kiosks sporting AbadarCorp logos offer carts for
rent and advertise delivery services. Other businesses promote
themselves in a riot of lights, music, and recorded ad pitches.
Businesses are not grouped by type; food stalls operate next to
jewelry stores, and specialists repair high-end electronics next
to secondhand clothing racks.
Just in case it is not clear what you should do.
The PCs should explore the Freemarkets looking for places
that sell biotech augmentations. Julzakama reported that the
augmentation’s original owner had been killed in the attack in
which it was acquired by his contacts, so the PCs might want to look
into gang murders to identify the victim, as well as making general
inquiries about biotech clinics.
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Hudathan sees Compucast and Serrarra head off to find an augmentation store and shakes his head. Not The place for me. He sees an emergency pay phone and gets an idea. "I'm going to try and find out who the previous owner of our arm is. Male non-Vesk with one arm? That dead body has to be one of a kind. " He looks at his companions before leaving. "Anybody want to join me? "
The heroes get several leads as they examine the directory board.
they examine the directory board, there are five business names that appear to be biotech-related: BioBoost, the Cytech Clinic, Metagenesis, Renew- You, and Synthathesia.
The boards the heroes saw was in the pawnshop, second time around. Heroes question Dot there about recent events. Ah, yes, several customers were raising for augmentations
Mr. Philt approaches the heroes Hello, let me know if you need any help. I remember, I was told we can help.
To speed this up a notch
Heroes check out Bioboost. This shop provides ways to improve people's bodies through exercise and hard work and proper diet, not shortcuts like augmentations.
Heroes check out the CYTECH CLINIC
The Cytech Clinic performs cybernetic augmentations, not biotech,
but its owner directs the party to Metagenesis and Renew-You,
mentioning the latter used to perform cybernetic augmentations.
Visitors can use a computer terminal to schedule augmentation
surgeries, though the next available appointments are several
weeks away.
Hard as Nails:
This vesk barbershop specializes in horn grooming and scale
detailing, and its owner, Katazoa (N male vesk), can be
heard decrying local gang violence even from outside
the building. If the party decides to enter, they see
that the clientele is predominantly vesk with a
smattering of other reptilian humanoids.
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"Hey, this looks like my kind of place! What do you think you can do for my look, pal?" Hudathan walks in, perfectly comfortable. "This gang violence is going to far! I agree. I heard that they killed some poor disabled one-armed weakling in her just the other day! " He sits down in a chair, just making small talk. "Did you hear about that?"
The vesk looks at you all. First tell me why you are all here, I suppose your not with the gang are you?
Then when Hudathan speaks Ah, nice to see one of my kind. And then gives you the details.
Katazoa describes the
fatal gang fight that brought the
augmentation to “that lowlife”
Julzakama. It took place not far
from the Freemarkets’ entrance,
and AbadarCorp’s officials were
not pleased with the negative
publicity. Katazoa is disgusted by the
lack of discipline shown by the vesk gang,
which he thinks contributes to poor species relationships on the
station. He encourages the PCs to report any information they have
gathered to the AbadarCorp representative who is investigating
some recent troubles
The heroes then head to SYNTHATHESIA
Synthathesia is taped off, with an official Freemarkets sign saying
it is under investigation for suspected illegal drug sales. Another
sign, from Absalom Station’s public health department, requests
that any former customers contact them. Several fliers promising
inexpensive legal aid in personal-injury cases or criminal defense
have been taped to the building. This shop is a red herring, and the heroes determin from locals about the ongoing drug investigation and how the shop never dealt in augmentations.
The heroes then head to Metagenesis
focuses on broad-spectrum biotech augmentations,
such as chameleon skin and gill sheaths, and personal upgrades
that boost general performance (namely, ability modifier increases;
see page 212 of the Core Rulebook). The owner, a verthani
technomancer named Chryson (LN male verthani), runs this place Yes, you want to know more about augmentations, eh?
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"It was a Vesk gang? These kind of low life's are the ones impeding the fight against the Swarm. Stay strong friend. " Hudathan sighs and walks out of the barbershop.
---
Hudathan smiles and backs Compucast up. "Our late friend bought it from you and we would like to know a bit more. Do you think you could help us? " He winks at the owner. "After all, I am a friend of Abadarcorp. "
He examines the artificial limb for a minute. Well I haven't seen that type before, but my observation shows augmentation has an unusually
high concentration of nanites in its construction. Under normal
circumstances, most of the nanites used in biotech augmentations
have a short life cycle. They are used to make changes to the body
to help the biological components graft properly, and after this
phase ends, they die off and are cycled into the body’s waste within
days. This augmentation has substantial sections made entirely of
repair nanites with long life cycles, which is very unusual. Sorry I can't tell you much else, but good luck with your search. And he waves the heroes goodbye as they leave and head out to the next place.
The heroes then check out the Many Petals Cafe
Several elderly shirrens play a strategy game on the patio of this
small beverage shop, loudly discussing social goings-on in their
community. They readily engage any PCs who look remotely
interested the in conversation. If asked about biotech or missing
persons, they tut-tut over recent closure of a clinic by a young
shirren family. They argue between themselves over whether the
closure was due to the recent death of the family’s host or to overly
experimental technology they were trying to develop, but they
eventually direct the PCs to the Renew-You augmentation clinic.
The heroes then head to the Renew You
The Renew-You clinic is a modular unit that resembles a shipping
container. Although it is clearly older than the surrounding
structures, it looks clean and well maintained. Metal doors
are rolled down over the entrance and windows, and a neat
sign reading “CLOSED INDEFINITELY” hangs over the posted
business hours.
Lapis gets the doors open, then after you get in, a halfing child approaches you. Hello are you looking for the owners? He does studder as he speaks.
The heroes realize all the computers and physical records have been removed.
be expected for an augmentation clinic.
People use to work here, I guess it closed down, I came looking for answers too, cause my mother received an augmentation here and she is now sick. I want to know answers too.
Come with me. And the boy leads you to the halfing apartment.
Inside the apartment are several haflings. Aunts, uncles, cousins and even his mother are at the apartment, as well as several friends. You see the mother lying on the bed sick.
Hudathan talking to the body makes the mother proud.
Maija’s friend and personal tender, Tanit
(NG female halfling), tells the PCs that she
accompanied Maija to the Renew-You clinic 2
weeks ago. Tanit explains that a shirren malefemale
couple operated the clinic. The male,
whose name was Vrisken, explained the procedure
and booked the appointment. According to
Vrisken, his partner had personally crafted
the augmentation with components from
“a new source” that would enable rapid
recovery. The female shirren performed
the operation; Tanit saw her for only a moment
and can’t remember her name.Tanit then confirms that Maija’s
operation took less than an hour and that Maija was back to work
in 2 days. A PC who succeeds at a DC 18 Medicine check knows
that such a complex operation—adding an augmentation to support
a failing organ—should have taken hours, and without magical
aid Maija’s recovery should have taken weeks. Should the PCs
ask about magical healing, Hermot tells them that if they could
have afforded it, they would have found a magical healer without
resorting to augmentations at all. Tanit adds that the clinic didn’t
offer magical healing, but she thinks the shirren who handled the
operation might be a technomancer—Tanit saw the shirren using
magic (a psychokinetic hand spell) to manipulate tools as she
prepared the room.
Unfortunately, Maija
True Silver, you passed the required medicine check. You may expend the basic medkit to remove her augmentation. Or you can buy one and then have it removed, automatically.
Also because the check was passed, something else.
A PC who succeeds at a separate DC 15
Life Science or Medicine check (DC 16
in Subtier 3–4) knows that the
augmentation was originally
a set of adaptive biochains
Two Perception checks everyone, and whoever has highest computers, roll it twice.