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"What are we waiting for then. Let's get going.
A-1 Pleasure meeting you. Please know, the Starfinder Society would like to send more representatives to your planet. If that's alright.
We would like to learn everything about your world. Here, these are communication frequencies we will contact you on soon. Please pardon our haste. We must leave quickly, our companions need our immediate assistance. Thank you."
Fitch nods a quick greeting as she approaches on the floor of landing bay deck. “We’re getting emergency transmissions on a Starfinder frequency from Agillae-2, a habitable planet nearby. Your mission is to investigate the signal and bring back anything that might help us find survivors. The source of the signal appears to be right in the middle of a large swath of treacherous wetland that’s covered in thick vegetation, so finding a suitable spot to land on may be a challenge. Also, our bio scans indicate an incredible amount of biodiversity, so be careful out there!”
Sure enough, as the planet grows large in your viewscreen, it is indeed covered in jungles. However a couple rocky monoliths juts from the tangle of greenery. One looks to be a safe landing point, but is two miles from the destination. The other is much closer, but would be a tricky landing.
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"I know I am here for the scientific portion, and while I do occasionally take a ship out flying, I would not want to be the one to land in that area over there overgrown with trees and what not. OAS-1, if you feel confident in your skills and want to try for that trickier spot, please do. I hope that Triune smiles on you if so."
Viper 6 sets the ship down with a feather touch onto the smaller of the two rocky outcroppings. Soon enough you're outside into a hot, humid jungle.
Joven's survival skills are put to the test as you hack and march through the oppressive heat and thick jungle.
The jungle abruptly breaks to reveal a deep ravine you must cross!
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You can use Survival to better withstand the effects of severe weather. Typically, one check determines the success of your efforts for a single day. If you succeed at the check, you gain a +2 bonus to Fortitude saving throws against severe weather while moving up to half your overland speed, or a +4 bonus if you remain stationary and build a temporary shelter. You can grant this bonus to one other creature for every 1 point by which your result exceeds the DC. You can’t take 20 on Survival checks to endure severe weather.
"See.... huuu huu huu... You know... huu huu, this is hotter than I expected. <Switches on his environmental protection on his armor. Then takes a deep breath of cool Air-conditioned air.> That's better."
"Also, anyone have any ideas about this ravine? I'm not the best climber and that looks pretty deep!"
Viper 6 saves the day, leaping the chasm and securing a line to allow the rest of you to safely cross the hazard!
You cross through a thick patch of vegetation to emerge into a small clearing. Three possible paths lie ahead, but you can see large herbivorous dinosaurs grazing along each path. One path has heavily armored quadrupeds, one has feathered bipedal dinosaurs with long wicked claws and the third has massive quadrupeds with long graceful necks!
Which way do you choose?
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-5 to DC to recall any knowledge about Xenobiology, because of Scholar:Life Sciences on Xenobiology.
"I believe the safest route is by those massive quadrupeds. I believe that unless we aggressively attack them, or use a lot of big explosions, they should ignore us as being too small/weak to pose much risk to them. At least that is what I remember about similar things like that on Castrovel. I just hope no sniper is out there to set them off...". Dr. Kuong shudders.
You begin to edge toward the giant quadrupeds, who watch you with bored interest. However your instincts prove correct and you pass among them without any issues!
The signal seems to be coming from a swampy area ahead of you.
Sounds of chirping, as if from large birds comes from near where the beacon lies (in the upper right of the map). Feathered bipedal serpents, with tiny forelegs, seem to have built a nest near the signal.
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Viper6 exhales - "You guys are as loud as stampeding cattle. If they're some sort of Raptor then they're just going to claw the hell out of us and its going to get ugly. If they are herbivores they'll scare easily. Either way, they have to come to us if they want to do us harm"
Viper 6 just unslings her Sniper rifle and begins taking aim at the group of creatures, looking at them down the scope of her rifle, and then disengages the safety catch.
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OAS-1 attempts to peak through the trees and brush to catch a glimpse of these bird like creatures. Then motions for her party to be quiet allowing her to better hear their chirps just as Dakka rustles around attempting to be still. "Well doesn't this look like quite the predicament. There are a few of them over there. Perhaps let's see what we know about this species using our brains before we opt for a more forceful approach."
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OAS-1 shares her insight about these creatures with the party informing them that a warning shot would likely put them on the defensive.
She then runs some calculations about the options to cross over the rocks or the bridges. Based on her math she has better odds of crossing the bridges successfully. She softly states "Those jagged rocks look rather intimidating and I am not sure my model was well designed for traversing such terrain. However, if the rest of the party would prefer to go over the rocks I will do my best to keep up and not get into a dangerous situation."
Realizing a family of velociraptor like creatures are already a dangerous situation she follows up with "It's probably best that those better suited for initiating contact with hostile creatures weigh in on our strategy as some jagged rocks may be the least of our worries."
OAS-1 looks at Viper 6 , Dakka and the others curious about what they think may be the most strategic next move. She pulls out her pistol to be prepared, if needed.
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-5 to DC to recall any knowledge about Xenobiology, because of Scholar:Life Sciences on Xenobiology.
" Those bridges don't look that safe, however, I agree...those jagged rocks look more dangerous. Realize though, if you fall in the water, we don't know what other kind of creatures might be in there, or what kind of diseases and such. If you fall in, get out as soon as possible, and when I have time I can do a medical examination on you to make sure you are not carrying a new set of parasite babies...."
"I concur OAS-1, these things are likely to react violently if we attempt to get near the signal, as it is right near their nest. So....unless one of us has the ability to talk to these creatures, probably the best way to the signal is through them. If at all possible though, could somebody make sure NOT to explode one? I would love to have a complete carcass to bring back to the Society, as one of my friends loves to do autopsies on creatures, and he gives me all the wonderful information."
"Daka, maybe you should lead? I believe you are one of the most...capable of us to deliver damage to this pack?"
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Viper 6 just maintains her point of aim, squarely on the center mass of one of the raptors. "Better they be the ones forced over rocks or across rickety bridges than us"
"Dakka, got a grenade launcher in all that gear of yours? We could pull back out of sight and drop a smoke grenade or the like on the nest, might cause them to flee a while."
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Dakka starts to get impatient, listening as the 'Smart Folk' talk about plans. When Viper addresses her, she digs through her bag. "No Grenade Launcher, but I do have This Baby!" Bringing her Artillery Laser to bear, she grins again, before kicking her boots together, a set of Miniature engines popping out from the sides. "I could easily get on top of one of those rocks, and rain Terror from Above!"
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"We need to get over there, right? And those Cute little Lizards are in the way? I'm sure there are more of them here. Let's get started!"
Dakka kicks her heels together, before jetting to one of the Rock Formations nearby. Landing softly on the top, she brings her Excessively Large Laser to bear toward the lead Dino.
First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo addresses the Society through communication devices across the Scoured Stars: “Starfinders, thanks to your efforts, we have gathered a large amount of data about the whereabouts of several groups of survivors from the first mission to the Scoured Stars. We have analyzed the data and now know enough to start locating and evacuating our friends and allies. We still need more intelligence on other groups of survivors, however, and we must continue to run reconnaissance missions at the same time.”
First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo pings each of your comm devices. ” Starfinders have recovered a signal beacon from a steamy swamp on Agillae-2. Our analysis of the data indicates there is a large group of survivors on another planet in the same system, and we will soon be ready to commence the evacuation mission.”
Your comm device tune erupts, breaking the silence once again in quick succession as the dreaded group chats will. ”The results of your explorations are coming in fast. Our agents explored a starship graveyard on Agillae-5, where they found many more of our comrades kept comatose in stasis chambers. Our scientists are studying the strange technology so we can decide how to safely release them.”
Missiles and blasts rain from on high, as the ophidiraptors look up in surprise to see death coming. When the smoke clears, there's no sign that dinosaurs ever claimed this area, save for a blinking transmitter. You retrieve the data download just in time to feel the wind as a dropship lands next to you. "Get in, we're moving right along!" the Starfinder pilot calls as you troop aboard.
Once back onboard the Master of Stars, a display shows the following missions:
3. Lifeless Spaces
4. The Third Kind
6. The Last Outpost
7. The Cracked Mirror
Historia-7 briefs you on the mission. “Greetings, Starfinders. Our initial recon teams found dozens of our colleagues held in stasis on Agillae-5. Forcibly removing their bodies from the stasis pods would leave their minds are trapped in a virtual world, which means we’re sending you in to release them. Our specialists have put together a digital tether that allows you to enter the virtual world without getting trapped like your colleagues did. Still, you must careful. Even though nothing that happens in there is real, dying in the simulation might kill you.”
You are shuttled to the surface, where a series of pods hold comatose forms and Starfinder scientists scuttle about, connecting wires and computers. One of them calls you over. "Good day, Agents! I am called Exposition-14." The android scientist smiles. "We propose to plug you into the same system our dear forerunners are in. Should be a painless procedure, very little risk. Only... don't die in there. The biofeedback would be very real and lethal to your forms out here. Now, put these one, there's a lad. No need for worries. Good luck!" He mumbles something about acceptable risks as you're fitted with head pieces that fit you like a halo. You feel a sudden sense of dread, then the world swirls and disappears.
You awaken in a cantina. It feels familiar. A man smiles at you and slides a drink toward you. "Good day! Welcome to Old Friends! Have a drink, sit a spell, be happy. Just don't go upsetting the locals, eh? We're all happy here and we'd rather it stay that way."
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Settling onto a Stool, Dakka smiles and takes the proffered beverage. Sipping slowly on it, she closes her eyes and sighs. "This is the kind of mission I could get used to." Looking back at the Barkeep, she raises the glass. "To Whom do I owe the gratitude for this Drink? And what exactly constitutes 'Upsetting the Locals'? If not upsetting them means I get to stay here, then I'll make sure they stay happy!"
"Name's Jodain. This is my bar. And by locals, I mean them." He nods in the direction of the patrons of the bar, three oddly distinct groups that seem to be clustered together through the bar. One group looks to be typical Bikers (all clustered around hover-bikes, which seem to be revving of their own accord), one group typical scholars and the third group looks, well, to be enjoying a lovely picnic in the park. In the middle of the bar. Complete with rolling grass covered hill and pleasant sunshine. The scholars are the most 'normal' of the three, and they seem to be having a loud discussion over the planet Golarion. And how its ecosytems are doing these days.
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Dr. Kuong isn't certain why the bar feels familiar, but does notice the group of scholars and their discussion on Golarion. He asks Jodian for a whiskey neat and walks over to see if he can get into the conversation with the scholars.
"Interesting academic discussion on Golarion. Mind if I take a seat and discuss with you?"
-5 to recall info on xenobiology.
Dr. Kuong would attempt to listen and attempt to steer conversation towards the biological aspect of the ecology.
First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo's voice rings out with more news of hope on each of your comm devices. ”Starfinders have penetrated the defenses of an ancient automated city on Callion-2. They discovered that a group of Starfinders visited the city a year ago, trying to find a way to help other Starfinders stuck on the desert planet of Callion-1. We’ll begin moving resources to Callion-1 immediately.”