|
The Lorespire Complex bustles with activity as the doors to Venture-Captain Arvin’s private office slide quickly. The lashunta man jots down some quick notes on his datapad, and then he glances up and motions to sit down.
"Welcome, Starfinders. We have just finished compiling some intriguing news. The Society’s magical archive for divining potential new finds, the Communion Vaults, houses a perpetually sleeping Liavaran Dreamer named Whisperer of Solar Winds. The Dreamer rarely rouses from its torpor, but when it does, it spins interwoven dream stories that point us to promising finds. It awoke earlier this week and has given us an elegant story about a fractured sandstone tablet that could point the Society to a great treasure."
"Unfortunately, the three fragments of the tablet appear to be in very different locales based on the tales we've recorded. Luckily, each of these locations appears to be within the Pact Worlds. It’s your job to track each piece down and report back here so we can get everything pieced together and figure this dream out. This is the first one."
"A made real one runs for fear of untruths
A piece of the prize stolen brought close to the sun
Under the shadow of a false-made tower"
"From our research into this dream tale, we can establish that the location is somewhere on Aballon. The reference to a tower likely suggests the “made real one” is somewhere within the Towershadow sub-settlement of the Aballonian Megaplex known as Striving. It's clear that the being in possession of the fragment is some form of artificial or partially artificial life, likely an anacite or android on the run from some legal woes. You’ll need to search the Towershadow region to find any possible leads. It is a less-than-reputable city so be careful. We're sending you via shuttle to Towershadow, where you’ll have to figure out for yourselves what awaits. Time is of the essence, as things can change quite quickly. Any questions before you depart?"
|
"I know very little of the Dreamers. Is there anything relevant we should understand about them or Whisperer of Solar Winds? Also, I have yet to visit Aballon, what information can you share that may assist us in this mission? Finally, do we know anything about the history of this tablet, how it came to be broken and scattered, or even what it may lead to?"
|
|
"The Liavaran Dreamer is a long-slumbering creature from the Pact World gas giant of Liavara. When they wake, they speak of prophetic dreams that can lead to astounding fortunes, but they tend to drift back off rather quickly. Unfortunately, Whisperer of Solar Winds is already asleep after imparting us with the relevant information before we could find out more from them."
"As for Aballon, it is a planet known for its machines and robotic inhabitants. It’s very difficult for biological life to survive with nonexistent atmosphere and other dangerous environs. Thankfully, its primary inhabitants, a machine race known as the anacites, have built self-contained megaplex cities. One of these megaplex cities, known as Striving, houses your destination region of Towershadow. As there is artificial atmosphere within the megaplex, you shouldn’t need anything more than your armor and whatever tools you already have."
"Finally, on the tablet, unfortunately, until Whisperer of Solar Winds spoke of it, we knew nothing about this artifact. They were also very cryptic about how its original purpose and how it came to be separated. Hopefully, once you have pieced it together, we will gain a greater understanding of it."
|
Special circumstances gets bodily shoved towards the door, as he isn't much larger than Omzig, but manages to brace himself before getting completely tossed out of it. "Calm down there, buddy! If we go fast we won't be good helpers." The little halfling adjusts the tie on his suit and fixes his jacket after the small ruckus.
"Is there any sort of law office where we could look up local lawsuits once we arrive? Or are we stuck to using the infonet?"
|
|
Rom, a humble halfling with a big smile, walks up beside Special. "Sounds reasonable, though a tad difficult. Finding a mystery person on a foreign planet always is. My vessels never took me to Aballon previously. What languages do the anacites speak? " He shrugs and looks at Omzig with a smile. "I believe you are right, New Friend. We should hurry before our quarry gets further away. "
|
|
Arvin nods at Special Circumstances. "Of course! Striving, is famous across the solar system as the seat of the Machine Court, an unfailingly logical coalition of robotic judges. In fact, other than oversee the planetary judicial system, the Machine Court offers androids and other mechanical beings from across the system the right to be tried in their halls even for crimes committed on other worlds, with no fear of extradition. This is over the objections of other planetary governments and even the Pact Council itself. Chances are that's the reason our target has fled there. That, however, would make your work challenging as he would likely not be the only one fleeing to Aballon for this purpose."
Turning to Rom, he continues, "Well, unless you put in implants, you would unlikely be able to speak the anacites' native language, which involves using the electromagnetic spectrum, not air vibrations. The majority would be able to converse in the Common language."
Finally to Zac, he shares, "The dream was only a couple of weeks ago. Our researchers took that time to decipher it."
Turning back to the whole team, he concludes, "If there are no further questions, it is time you are on your way."
|
|
After a few days, the shuttle reaches a blasted wasteland of a planet that—despite its dark and barren appearance—quickly shows itself to be covered in glittering metal cities under the full brightness of the Pact World’s sun. The shuttle goes through a set of blast doors into a city built inside and around what was clearly once a massive silver tower.
With little to go on, the Starfinders go about their ways to find leads on the whereabouts of this anacite or android with a fragment of the clay tablet.
|
|
A large buglike formian walks up on four legs, tapping on Rom's shoulder. "Your presence is required on Castovel. Mother sent me to replace you." She stares at his with an intensity common to formians. When Rom relents and heads off with his apologies, she turns to the rest of the group. "Hello. I am Majko Ja, a Voice of the Mother. You may call me Majko." She sits down, as if no other explanation is needed. Then, seeing Sharmain, she stands back up abruptly. Bowing deeply, going so far as to bend her front legs, she gives deference to the Lashunta. "I look forward to working with you on this mission, ancestral enemy. Our separate strengths will take this team to greatness."
Upon arrival, Majko uses her personal computer to look up recent criminal activity.
|
|
Sharmain watches as Majko approaches the group and addresses Rom. Before Rom departs she wishes him well and expresses a hope that their paths will meet again in the near future.
When Majko bows to her and addresses her, Sharmain is initially startled then recovers quickly, returning the honour with her own formal bow. "Greetings Majko, I am Sharmain. Thank you for joining us, I too look forward to working with you and believe this team can benefit from everyone's strengths. I would very much like to learn more about your culture and history and hope that we can develop a strong friendship as individuals and that our people never return to a state of enmity."
As Majko becomes busy with her computer, Sharmain addresses the rest of the group, "Does anyone want to go with me to chat up the local population and see if we can learn anything useful?"
|
|
"You talk up the locals on the streets and check the computer network. I'm going to see if there's a local Abadarcorp office. I might be able to chat them up to see what's buzzing around middle management. He might be tryin' to sell his fragment." And Special will do just that, going off to annoy other suit and tie folk with a chatter filled business lunch.
|
|
Rom and Zac dives into the computer, finding a backdoor into the legal services. Zac got blocked by a firewall, but Rom eventually finds a way through. The records he manages to access are minimal, but he got a name - Lerecti, an adroid recently fled to the area following charges of murder on Verces, that matches the timeline that Arvin provided you. With the name, Special Circumstances made contact with the AbadarCorp office, and after being transfered to a few low level executives, made contact with frontline manager who had encountered a Lerecti who was trying to sell some dirty wornout looking tablet. They were politely turned away, without unfortunately getting an address. But now, you at least have a description - an androgynous android, who garbs themselves in workers' clothes. Omzig and Sharmain hits the streets, equipped with a name and description, and got a location. They are often reported hanging outside particular a Seven-Eleven convenience store. Quickly gathering the whole party, the Starfinders stake out the area and sure enough within an hour, you spot an android matching the descriptions.
|
|
Sharmain approaches Lerecti in a more subdued fashion, trying to appear graceful and confident.
"Greetings, my friend here has much enthusiasm," she starts, giving a nod toward Omzig, "though perhaps a little more discretion is in order. We understand you have something of potential interest to sell. Should it be something we deem to be worthwhile, we may be willing to negotiate."
|
|
"Like the fuzzy guy and our tall friend have informed you... we like deals. We hear you want one, and so do we. If you need something to disappear from your hands, we may be able to help." Special Circumstances strolls up behind the other two, hands in his pockets and peers way up to see more than Lerecti's knees. "And discretion is our game." With a sidelong glanceto Omzig he mutters softly, "Mostly.
|
|
The android stares suspiciously at you at first, but your friendly dispositions win him over, and eventually he sighs. "Yeah, I'm Lerecti. You're looking for the sandstone tablet?" He starts looking excited. "Look, you seem to want it badly and I am willing to divest it in return of a favour. You see, I was framed for murder on my home world, Verces, for finding out some scumbag of a club owner was engaging in android trafficking. Had to come here to get a proper trial from the anacites. But as soon as I arrived, some blasted thugs stole it from me! I don't want to risk making a bad name for myself while trying to clear my name already. I'd be happy to give the tablet fragment to you if you could go and get the evidence back. The evidence is on a datapad with a red sticker that some verthani thug took to the slums. What say you?"
|
|
The formian looks down on the android with an undiscernable look. "You are weak. Constantly bullied by those around you. Sad. Lucky for you, we have been sent to help." Sort of. She looks into a pouch at her waist, rummaging through the rather large bag. Inside appears to be a random assortment of parts, like the junk drawer in a mechanic's shop.
|
|
"I sympathise with your plight and would see justice done so I am inclined to aid you how we can. To clarify, you still have the tablet, the evidence you need to prove your innocence has been stolen. What more can you tell us about the thieves and where they may be keeping the datapad?"
Sharmain engages the android while quietly trying to disengage her skittermander companion from its leg.
|
|
Gently pulled away from the android's leg, Omzig pulls out his datapad and prepares to take notes. His voice takes on a completely different sound, much lower and more serious.
Now then, sir. I'm sure you're quite busy and would prefer that this task gets accomplished as soon as possible. If you can provide the details we've requested, we can go about doing our job.
He waits expectantly for an answer. After a moment, his voice returns to "normal".
Yes yes?
|
|
Special Circumstances adjusts his hat by unnecessarily running his fingers along the brim, then jerks his head over a shoulder. "Sounds like my friends think you have a deal, point us in their direction and give us a description of the thugs and the datapad. If you have the tablet, then you'll get what you need."
|
|
Lerecti finally breaks out into a relieved smile. "Thank you, you don't know how much this means to me. The thugs are led by this ikeshti known as Congregant Merthinett. She goes around with her two verthani partners. You should be able to find them skulking around Towershadow’s interior slums. She is certainly to have the datapad on her - I'm certain they were hired by whoever framed me and she's not going to let it go until I get picked up by the Vercite security."
Lerecti’s information leads you to a grungy section of Towershadow’s interior slums. The ground here is a grimy mix of soot and dirt, created from the runoff of various industries on Aballon and entirely unnatural to the normally sterile planet. The buildings in this particular area are abandoned, with doors hanging open and interiors ransacked by gangsters and vagrants.
The Starfinders spread out to find signs of their prey, whether by stealthily skulking around, pretending to be vagrants or gangsters or just by getting a sensing of the neighborhood. From the clues that they gather, Omzig and Sharmain drift a bit further from the rest and stumble into a small alleyway. There they are! An ikeshti and two verthani, just as Lerecti has described! Unfortunately, they spot the two of them as well. There is a brief stare down, before the lizardfolk hisses. "You look like you are hunting for usssss? Lerecti ssssent you? Well, you've found ussss, but you're regret it!" She waves her rifle in your direction and gestures her partners forward.
|
|
Majko growls at the criminals. "You stand before a sworn envoy of the Mother! Give back what you stole! " The formian skitters forward through the alley gutter, hands reaching into her bag of junk. A "ZAP " comes from deep within the bag and she withdraws a long staff of... junk? The pieces appear to be magnetically linked,joining together as she draws it out.
|
|
"Toots, I've never regretted a thing in my life. I don't plan to start now." Special Circumstances ducks just barely to get under a wooden bridge without losing his hat and slings his laser rifle off his back as he goes. He sets the weapon against his hip and fires off a shot towards the yellow clothed Verthani. "But you might if you don't want to play nice."
As he postures a mesh of purple and blue wire frame light spreads out from beneath his hat to surround his body like a polygon suit of armor.
|
|
Sharmain responds while backing away, "Do we really need to fight to resolve this issue? Could we not talk about this and negotiate?" She tries to position herself about 30 ft from the Ikeshti while leaving a path open for those who wish to close to melee distance.
I really don't want to be this close to any of them, Sharmain thinks to herself. Perhaps I can help persuade negotiations if I can cause a little brain pain. And with that thought, Sharmain attempts to daze the being she believes is most likely Congregant Merthinett.
Sharmain focuses her mind, using it to try to overwhelm the mind of her target, dazing them so that they will temporarily be unable to act.
|
|
The intimidating insectoid formian charges ahead, summoning a mystical sword from the junk in his bag. Special Circumstances also moves forward, drawing his rifle as he does. As he duck under the bridge, he fires at the verthani he can see. However, the shot lands on the rubble instead. Sharmain quickly withdraws, while keeping the ikeshti in sight as she unleashes a wave of psychic energy at her, dazing her momentarily.
Congregant Merthinett stands there, shaking her head trying to clear her senses. The two verthanis, however, closes in on Omzig without urging from their boss, swinging their battlegloves. One of them lands a terrible punch into his chest, cracking some ribs.
|
|
Despite moving back Sharmain finds herself face to face with a foe, she winces as she hears, almost feels, the shriek of pain from Omzig.
I may not like it but the fight is here and I must protect my team.
Gripping tighter her new staff, covered in mystic symbols and crackling now with dark energy, Sharmain takes a swing at the creature directly in front of her .
"Do NOT touch my friends!" she yells in its face.
|
|
Majko smashes her long staff across the head of the verthani, causing his to almost fall over from the strong blow. From the rear, Zac fires a shot but with too many allies in the way, his misses. Omzig plays a classic trick on the other verthani, who sure enough, actually turns around to look. The skittermander fires a hasty shot and despite the bad aim, actually manages to hit the distracted verthani! Despite not being used to using it, Sharmain manages to connect her staff against the ribs of the same verthani just as he is turning back, realising that he has been duped.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Hey lady, stay where you are and we'll handle you in a minute!" Special circumstances gives Merthinett the stink eye and joins in on the keep her distracted train that sharmain started. There's a sudden shift in gravity beneath her as something tries to pull her feet off the ground.
|
|
Congregant hisses in pain and anger as she feels the weight of Special Circumstance's gravitational force weigh on her. She struggles briefly, successfully pushing it off as she glares at him. Bagit moves up, firing his rifle but the shot goes wild.
The two verthani's, seeing Omzig weakened, step forward despite the rest of the Starfinders approaching, focusing their attacks on him. Two battlegloves smash onto Omzig, knocking him unconscious.
Still glaring at the solarian, suddenly from the ikeshti's eyes, a stream of blood squirts out, bathing Special Circumstances all over! Momentarily blinded, she seizes the opportunity to fire her rifle at him, but she was overeager and the shot hits the mound of dirt beside him instead.
|
|
Sharmain is overwhelmed by her predicament, she wants to heal Omzig and attack Congregant Merthinett, neither of which it is safe to do while she has two verthani in her face. All she can do is continue to lash out at them with the weapon to hand.
"Hang in the Omzig, my friend" Sharmain calls to the skittermander.
After swinging wildly at Orange, Sharmain takes a guarded step to the side. She needs to maneuver to where she can do the most good.