The Dire GM's [SFS] #1-14: Star Sugar Heartlove!!! (PbP Gameday VII) (Inactive)

Game Master CanisDirus

Thorval stands still during the vesk's rage. He was pretty sure that this was going to be the response, so he was ready for it. Throughout the deluge he stands there, stoic, unflinching. Perhaps he was pretending it was one of the face to face pontifications that made the tri-vee gladitorial gmaes of the Galactic Gladitorial Confederation so much fun!

When she is done, he merely replies, "If only I still had my album, I could play it for you. But, instead, I guess we'll need to share in some more... interesting... music." He cues up his theme song, a blaring rock anthem from Devastator, a half-orc metal band who adopted him a few years back. Immediately, the sound of a guitar backed pounding drums hits the air, quickly followed by the sound of a screaming vocalist.

With this, he reaches into his backpack, pulls out a couple of beers, handing one to Julakesh. "It is going to be all right. We've got enough techies on the team that they'll be able to fix your device up right."

Julakesh growls at Thorval. "If I wanted to dance to the sounds of the dying I'd tear your limbs off with my teeth!"

But, when she's offered a drink by the vile music-murderer she snatches it away. "I accept your tribute! But it is not enough! You owe me more! MUCH MORE!" She points to her broken comm unit on the floor. "Fetch it for me, INDEBTED! And DANCE while you do it!"

Thorval rolls his eyes in the most human of reactions. He bends over, intentionally flexing as he does, ‘just to improve the show’. He even gives a little ‘shimmy-shake’, ‘guaranteed’, as he has often said in his pre-match interviews, ‘to make all the ladies weak in the knees’ As he grabs it, he quickly checks to see if it is truly broken, or just damaged.

In truth, it was as he hoped. Minor damage, cosmetic, really, it’s case having taken the brunt of the damage. On the screen, it show the music is still playing, but no sound comes out. He isn’t sure if it is muted, or what, not having played with this brand of comm unit himself. He turns to Gear 2.0, saying, ”I am sure you can fix this, babe.”

He winks, mouthing to the Android with his face pointed away from Julakesh,’After the mission!’

He turns back to the Vesk, pulls himself up to his full 6’7” height, and says, ”Indebted? Tribute? By Damoritosh’s left nipple, you vesk have an odd sense of how things work.”

Gear rolls her eyes and steps between both of them, taking the radio.

I'll fix it, LATER. For now, can we focus on the FEY BEINGS TALKING ABOUT A HATCHING EGG?!

She gives a pout as boytoy stands behind her, looking very much like the "Jock boyfriend with sad girlfriend" archtype.

Julakesh, strongest of strong, and fiercest of fierce, refuses to go weak in the knees! Having triumphed over hormones and suggestive shimmy-shaking, she snatches away her comm unit. "No! I will give it to my friend Darkrunner! The greatest 'puter-caresser' I know! He will restore my music and then you will no longer be indebted! Also, I will not need to maim you after that!"

She turns back the strange fey, curious if they have yet to embrace the awesomeness of music and dancing. Perhaps they fell for the shimmy-shaking.

"Um, good!" replies the now confused gladiator. This vesk woman's emotions certainly turned quickly... so unlike the other vesk he had met. "If Darkrunner can't do it, I know a guy. An Ysoki who goes by the name of Lucius. He fixes things. He claims to be totally legit."

Thorval turns back to the fey, wondering himself if his performance got their attention, especially the shimmy-shake. Everyone LOVES the shimmy-shake.

Dr. Kuong looks around, almost certain that the.......distraction(???)....seems to be working, as the Hespers all seem to be focusing on the antics of Julakesh and Thorval. He wasn't expecting this good of a distraction. He just hopes that the distraction will keep on giving, and the Hespers are more amused by the chaoticness of his friends than the hatching "egg" in the reactor.

While checking all the readings, Dr. Kuong sees if he can attempt to stabilize the power without the Hespers knowing.

Engineering (seems the better of the two skills to use to do this, if not use the Computers): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24

Computers (if needed): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

I have been not eating or drinking while reading these antics...and for that I am glad. I don't know who is the most over the top...though I have to say Julakesh I think has more verbal flair...though Thorval has more posing flair... ;-)

Thorval notices Dr. Kuoung hurrying to work on something, so decides to keep it up. He droops into full performance mode, as he turns towards Julakesh, raises his arms to straighten his mowhawk while simultaneously flexing both arms, "Oooooohhhh Yeeeeaaaaahhhhhh!" he proclaims. "You are PRIVILEDGED to be in the PRESENCE of Thorval, Son of Thorval, Son of Thorval, Son of Thorval, ad infinitum through out known history and beyond!"

He struts across the hallway, before turning around to present his muscular backside at Julakesh, and then giving it a little shake, once again. "EVERYONE has wanted a PIECE of Thorval since TIME BEGAN.

"WOMEN swoon for the Thorvalsons, and Men are GREEN with ENVY over our GREEN locks! WOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!" he strikes a pose once more.

Flexing to his best, he gives a tiny nod to Julakesh, as an eyebrow comes up with his grin.

profession: Gladiator for the show: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
bluff to pass message: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 Ok, subtlety is not his thing, so no secrecy here!

Julakesh has finally figured out this odd half-orc! Clearly this is some sort of strange, soft-skin, mating ritual!

"A-HAH! A-HAH! Yes, I understand now. You desire to mate! You will regret offering yourself to me by night's end, Thorval! I bite. And my claws are sharp!" She grins as if this is a good thing. "But first we have work and this amazing concert! NOTHING will make me miss the concert!"

Sorry so much again for the delays, but I think things are more or less back to normal on my side of the screen going forward! And yes, William's player did caution me in person about not eating or drinking while reading this campaign's posts! :P

If I weren't so far behind due to my offline stuff, I would have loved to engage more with your amazing RP. Rest assured, though, that I am loving it, and that it is also giving mechanical bonuses on your rolls!

The lead hesper smiles and extends a hand to William. "My name is Sakharov. Nice to meet you."

Computers checks to examine things would take more than just a few seconds, and the hespers might decide to "play" with you if you are doing that sort of thing, but since your team manages the situation so well (see below), I'll take your first check result for after the hespers depart.

Julakesh's demonstration is enegetic, but seems to be confusing to the hespers, right up until she hands over the holo-skin, which apparently has a built-in metronome that helps them get their head-banging to line up with each other. Gear joins in with Julakesh, and thanks to her, the hespers start figuring out how to dance properly! (Success!)

Lynn joins in with her cover, captivating the three hespers who, now having mastered the fine art of head-banging, start bobbing their heads in tune with her stunning vocals! (Success!)

Thorval's "display" is chaotic, to be sure, but that seems to attract the hespers' attention! They stop dancing and trying to (badly) sing alongside Julakesh, Gear, and Lynn, and are captivated by the half-orc's discordant style, and the following drama between him and the vesk that soon follows! (Success!)

For the record, I "heartlove" all of you! :P

The hespers look at each other for a minute, clearly conversing with body language on a level that doesn't translte too well outside of the fey. Sakharov then looks to all of you and speaks. "This 'concert' sounds like it has so much more interesting kinds of change than what we do for fun. We're going to go and see it! Nice to meet all of you!"

Unless any of you want to shake their hands as they depart (they will offer to shake your hands with a mischievous grin (see the Sense Motive spoiler above) as they go), they will simply leave in the direction of the general admission gates!

Follow-up post coming shortly!

Once alone, Dr. Kuong expertly digs into the reactor's control units, and finds a strange magical code that was uploaded to the station's computer systems just over two hours ago. As the code has developed, it connected itself to many different systems, including the main reactor. The integration of the code into the reactor command structure is what has been causing the lights to go out.

This code is like nothing any of you have ever seen before, and despite making several attempts at understanding it, William is only able to extract one section of a single subroutine that he can decrypt. This sample reveals that, at the same time as the "main program" is set to begin taking unknown "actions" all across the station (you are unable to determine the exact time or what the code's "main" directives are), it will lock down a single living unit in the station's VIP suite area and then vent all of the air out of it. This address matches the one you discovered as belonging to Hira Lanzio!

You think you have learned all you can from the reactor computers, and are also fairly certain that "fixing" the hold this magical code might have over the station is beyond your abilities.

What would you like to do now?

"A-HAH! A-HAH! A-HAH! Yes! It will be amazing!" As the helpers leave Julakesh continues to laugh, then tells her 'companions' "I AM AMAZING! A-HAH! A-HAH! YOU ARE ALL LUCKY I AM HERE!" Suddenly her eyes widen, as if she had just remembered something as amazing as she is. "I AM LUCKY I AM HERE! WOOOOO!"

She points at the smart looking doctor who uses the big words she doesn't understand. "You! Fix the egg-thing so we can find the rich-man and enjoy the concert!"

For the record, Julakesh handed over her '#1 Fan' pin. She would rather have the 'eye-mouths' than give over her beloved holoskin.

...Sub-roo-teen? Inta-gray-shun? D-Crpyt? BAH! Julakesh scrunches up her face in thought, clearly confused about all this talk of the magic code.

Finally she grins. "Yes! The door and the magic code point to the man we seek. Come! Let us beat and bully this Lanzio man until he gives us what we want!"

My bad on misreading that! Thanks to Gear's roll, the end result doesn't change :)

William Nods at Sakharov, his fingers still on the keyboard. [/b]"Nice to meet you Sakharov, and thank you for telling us about the growing egg...it does truly appear to be magnificent."[/b]

When they are gone, Dr. Kuong finishes off finding the piece of mystical code.
When looking at the one piece of information, can I get an approximate time on when it will go active.
Computers if that works: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19

Mysticism if that would help: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

how the dice gods hate me....

Should we send word about these Hespers going out into the concert, ensure that nobody touches them?

We should also rig the room we're going to so it doesn't shut us out and lock us in without air. Though our suits will protect us for a little while.

Lynn waves goodbye to the hespers with both hands, calling out "Have fun! And don't touch anything!"

Once they're gone, she leans over William's shoulder to read what he's finding out from the strange, mystical code. "Looks really complicated. Super complicated! What's that bit about locking down Hira Lanzio's suite and sucking all the air out of it? Is whoever put this code here trying to kill him?" She steps back and puts her hands on her hips "If we need to ask him about this conspiracy, we can't let that happen! Let's go to that suite and 'help' him stay safe." She grins at her last suggestion.

"Maybe Julie and Thorval can distract him with their lovey-dovey act." She winks at the duo.

Before departing, the hespers do promise you that they won't "play" with anybody without their consent, plus if the concert is as exciting as you have all proposed it to be, they'll be having enough fun without needing to!

William's continued efforts at the computer only serve to frustrate him more, and he believes that tampering with the code further could potentially even make its grip on the system even stronger! Even as he tries to learn more about it, the code is developing countermeasures faster than he can input commands. Whatever this is, it is very much beyond the skills of even the most skilled of Starfinder field agents.

After Jasper's inquiry, William finds no way to stop the door-sealing air-venting, but it hasn't been triggered to go off...yet.

"Bah!" Dr. Kuong says as he throws his hands up in frustration.

"This code is infuriating. All I know is that we only have so much time before the box that the person of interest is in will still have a breathable atmosphere. After that, "boom"...no oxygen. Let's go. Maybe we can get Historia or Ziggy to tell the station that there is a horrible virus getting into all the systems, and the more they mess with it, the more likely things will go horrible."

Dr. Kuong sighs, "I also hate to say this...but maybe we should get Strawberry Machine Cake to cancel their concert. With the virus going throughout the station...we could have probably the largest mass murder in recent history."

Dr. Kuong looks a little nervous at Julakesh and Thorval, hoping his last comment won't cause them want to see if using him as a wishbone, in order to hopefully stop SMC from cancelling.

"NOOOOOO!" Julakesh howls. "We must triumph! Come! Hurry!"

Lynn clutches a hand to her chest with worry. "You're right Doctor... this could be really bad! But there's no way we could stop the concert now, people would get hurt." She very theatrically looks over at Julakesh, making it clear who she thinks might be doing the hurting.

"We need to talk with Hira right away. I'm sure he'll know more about what this code is doing!"

A minute or two after the hespers leave, Mr. Neo pokes his head in to see if the coast is clear. Nodding to you all, he sits down at one of the monitoring stations, humming a little ditty to himself.

"9,900 bugs in the code,
9,900 bugs...
Take one down, patch it around,
102,637 bugs in the code."

That sounds like one vote for trying to cancel the concert, one vote for heading to Hira's location, and one melodramatic (melorieldramatic?) howl. 2+ votes sends us in a direction! :D

Her howl is a vote to head to Hira's location.

”Let’s go see this pencil necked geek who is probably in the center of all the mess” says Thorval.

Gear turns to the crew, and you see boytoy light up in red warning lights as she palms her pistol.

Let's get to the heart of this, fast!

You return to the main corridors of Songbird Station to find that the passage you took before is now hopelessly clogged - word about a second gate to the auditorium got out, and now there's a massive crush of people all throughout it.

GJLW: 1d4 ⇒ 4

As you are forced to circle around to the other side of the auditorium, Julakesh, Thorval, and William feel something tugging at their belts. Turning around, you see three tiny cobra-headed girls (the scenario hints but isn't 100% explicit that they are an offshoot of the nagaji race from Pathfinder), all wearing frilly pink dresses, are trying to catch your attention! Once you notice them, they start pointing up and making little "peep! peep!" sounds, clearly not fluent in Pact Worlds Common (or any other language you possess).

Regardless of how you handle the above situation, I'm going to post the next one as well to give you all lots of opportunities to do stuff!

Passing by the station's business and media center, you notice a small, red teleconference robot lying facedown on the floor. This limbless robot has a large datapad for a “face,” allowing the screen to display a person on the other end of a data connection. On the assumption that one of you picks it up, you see a professionally dressed ysoki businesswoman on the other end.

"Oh, thank you so much! Name's Diwata. I had tickets and time off from work planned months in advance, plus a meeting to take on board the station too...but my company said we had a minor emergency at work so my trip got canceled. But I love SMC almost more than my own family, so I'm going to see this concert live come hell or high water...I just got really bad luck and my telecom robot keeps falling down, and as it gets louder in the station it's apparently harder for people to notice and pick it up! ...I don't suppose any of you might be mechaically inclined, and could maybe help fix the feet of this thing so it won't fall over as easily?"

If you would like to help her, you can make an Engineering check (and if multiple people want to make checks, that's fine too, and will possibly save rolling more dice later).

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Dr. Kuong looks down at the little girl tugging at his belt. Not realizing what she wants, he looks around to his companions. "Any idea on what she wants?'

Posting about the next one as I am certain somebody will get a DC 10 sense motive, and we can RP that portion in pieces. But to carry along the main story...

Dr. Kuong will pick up the datapad. After listening to Diwata talk about using her robot as a personal camera for the concert. "While certainly madam. I am certain myself--an expert at cybertechnology and robotics in both biological and mechanical lifeforms can help you. If Gear and maybe Lynn could help me, we will get your robot walking again. I am also sorry that your work is causing you to miss the concert.....o" Dr. Kuong's mouth closes shut on the rest of his comment, as his brain caught up with his mouth and realized that saying more could cause issues.

Perception on the rest of the robot to diagnose all the problems: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Engineering to fix the feet: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33

sense motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Thorval sees the little snake-headed girls, and grins. "You need a ride, little girl?" he bellows out, as he grabs one of the girls up to his shoulder with a dramatic flair. He then looks at the others with a slightly confused expression, as if trying to figure out how to safely lift up all three, with one already on his shoulder.

athletics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

"Julakesh, why don't you grab one of the younglings, and maybe Gear can have Boytoy take the third."

He looks back at the little girl on his shoulder, ignoring the fact that she can't understand a word he is saying, "Little snake-girl! You have the HONOR of catching a ride with HERO of MILLIONS! ENJOY it while you can!"

He makes sure to give a strong-man pose for the crowds before they get going.

Gear nods to boytoy who picks up one of the little ones and sets him on his very broad shoulders.

When they come crossed the downed bot, Gear pulls out her tools as the Dr. begins his work.

Sure you need any help doc? She quips.

You seem to have it covered.

Engineering: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32 Despite her quip, she sets to work... and maybe makes a feeeew modifications to improve the bot... maybe ignoring a few safety regulations. Just the unimportant ones.

Before leaving the Reactor room, Jasper think speaks to the team:

Why was Mr Neo humming that song, do you think he planted the bug into the system?

After rushing through to the media center he hears Diwata asking for help but seeing as the Doctor and Gear got to her robot first he lets them do their thing.

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 3

Julakesh looks in confusion at the little snake girls. Eventually she nods. "Yes, Indebted! You are right!" she bellows, even though she's not sure he is. She hoists up a little snake girl onto her shoulders. "The honour is YOURS whelp. Bask in my glory while you can! A-HAH! A-HAH!"

Athletics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Lynn glows with a bright smile as the trio of little cobra girls approach. "Oh! My! Gosh! You mini Tsuchi-kos are SO CUTE!" She picks one of them up and spins her around before passing her off to sit on top of Boytoy.

While Julie and Thorval pick the others up, she starts miming out some of Tsuchiko's moves for the trio of kids.

Profession (Idol): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

----

Upon meeting the unfortunate robot (who I assume looks like some of these guys), Lynn joins Gear and William in attempting to 'upgrade' the fellow. As Gear eliminates various safety measures, Lynn quietly puts them back in.

Engineering: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Or at least tries to. "Um, Gear? Are you sure you should be letting the portable reactor shunt excess energy to the display? If there's a blip in the power this little guy's gonna blind everyone at the concert!"

I promise I wasn't eating or drinking this time...but I did laugh loud enough to startle my roommate's cat during this last bit!

The girls are super excited to be picked up, carried, and danced with. They weigh barely 2 bulk each, and peep to you, each other, and anyone else with obvious glee as your proceed towards the VIP suites. As they carry you, they bestow upon each of you a bright red headdress accessory with pink costume gemstones, although the ones for Thorval, Julakesh, and Boytoy are brighter red.

As William, Gear, and Lynn get to work helping Diwata, some passers-by take some mobile-device video and pictures of you, captioning them with a "Look at how awesome people are in the SMC community, helping others like that!" sort of vibe to them. A few people call out stuff like, "you should totally give her springs so she can jump up and down in the concert!" Diwata's face lights up (figuratively) on the screen when that suggestion is made, and with the checks that you've all already beaten by a ton, you can do this for her as a small crowd cheers you on!

Once you've fixed her robot up, she smiles graciously to you. "Here, I want you to have this. Originally I loaded it up for expenses for my meeting that got canceled, and it would be more trouble than it's worth to get it refunded to my account. Thank you all so much!" A tiny port opens up just under the robot's datapad "head" and extends a credstick (loaded with 750 credits on it) for you!

Leaving the media center behind, your station maps say that all you have to get past now is a loading dock, and then you're at your destination. You come aroun the corner...and find that the loading area is totally full with band roadies and fans who bought the cheapest "location location location" tickets - not enough to get them into the standing-room-only part of the auditorium, but rather allowing them to watch the band on large holoscreens from the loading dock, live! In anticipation of the concert, this area has turned into one giant dance party! As fun as it looks, you need to get past it, somehow!

Suddenly! 6d7 - 16 ⇒ (5, 2, 3, 7, 5, 6) - 16 = 12 pink skittermanders come tearing through, carrying 1d5 ⇒ 4 frothy beers, of the which 1d2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 are somehow still cold, chanting "Helping nufriends! Yummy dizzy helping, gree?" as they deposit them in your hands. It appears that 1d2 ⇒ 1 of the beers have been half-consumed already, though.

To get through the dance party, you can attempt an Acrobatics Check to slip through people along the edges, or a Strength check to push through the middle (but still gently enough to do so without hurting anyone).

Make your choice! :P

Gear decides to dance her way across the floor, boytoy in tow!

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Boytoy Assist: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

mysticism: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

”Huh, neat. These are better than my usual crystal. Might come in handy! Thanks little girl, for you lovely gift. ” He decides to show off a little for her, bouncing a little extra, flexing a lot extra.

Thorval starts making his way through... gracefully. ”Ain’t got no reason to hurt these people, they ain’t done me no wrong. ”
acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Dr. Kuong attempts to follow Thorval, as he jinks and dodges through the crowd.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

I'm not enjoying this crowd, I need to get out of here fast

Jasper tries to wiggle and slide his was through the crows

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Julakesh stares at the strange headband that seems to tug on her stellar mote. When Throval points out what it is she grins. "YES! I accept your tribute! You're welcome whelp!' Julakesh puts on her red bejewelled headdress with pride.

On the loading dock Julkaesh greedily claims both full cold beers -- as she had threatened she would -- and drinks them. "Gree little ones! A-HAH! A-HAH! The best for me!"

Seeing the others already slipping through the crowd she shrugs, drink the warm one and the half-drank one as well, and gives the mugs all back to the skittermanders. She belches loudly, then grins. "The honour is yours!" She claps them on the shoulder and slips off through the crowd, dancing and head-banging her way to the awesome tunes.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Not one to get jostled about by a crowd, Lynn pauses for a moment, then ducks around a corner and out of direct line of sight. Once there, she ♪♫begins to hum♪♫! Her humming resonates with the air around her, condensing sound into light and light into form. A specific form in fact: a fairly convincing image of Captain*Carmine herself! (Holographic Image 1st level for purely visual image, setting up an area of effect that includes some area within the crowd's line of sight and some that isn't)

Once her image of Captain*Carmine is ready, she heads out to the highest ground she can find near the crowd (but not in their direct line of sight so they can't tell who's shouting. Also using Vocal Modulator to hide her voice.) and shouts out "OH MY GOSH, IS THAT CAPTAIN CARMINE!?!!!", while simultaneously having the image come out from behind cover.

Bluff OR Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

As soon as she has the a portion of the crowd's attention, she has the image of the SMC member wave and skip behind cover, practically inviting the whole darn mosh pit to follow. Once the initial press of bodies has cleared the way, she walks in with her allies.

Beers drunk, Julakesh is easily able to head-bang and dance her way through the crowd, as is Thorval. William is able to follow in the half-orc's wake, and only thanks to Boytoy's assitance, Gear is able to make it across as well.

Unfortunately for Lynn, many of the party's attendees are dressed up like members of the band, and one or two even have the same collectable holo-skin! Among the dancers, a few have also styled or dyed their hair to resemble CAPTAIN*CARMINE and the others. As such, Lynn and Jasper quickly find themselves jostled (with absolutely no harm done to either of you - they're a fun bunch, if a bit loud!) and are suddenly thrust in the small open area in the very center of the party!

After a brief pause as the two of you find yourselves unexpectedly being the center of attention, someone calls out from the nearby crowd, "Come on, dance with us!"

Lynn and Jasper can attempt an Acobatics Check or Profession (Dancer/Musician) Check to impress the crowd, who may let you pass!

Please only open the below spoilers after Jasper and Lynn have made their rolls...or at least don't post reactions to them until that happens -

Dance dance revolution time!

Regardless of how the dancing goes, the three young girls make peeping noises and point down, indicating that this is their destination. They give each of you a hug for taking them this far!

Feeling like there is no escape Jasper takes a deep breathe and starts to dance.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

As he is winding and bouncing through the crowd, something manages to finally penetrate the half-orc's thick skull.

"You desire to mate!"

'Is that even possible between humans... mostly... and vesk?' He starts looking at the vesk solarian a little... differently. 'I never thought about how the vesk mate... always figured they were hatched. But do they have the same equipment? I may have to contact Lucius about that!'

The half-orc gets a half-smile on his face, as he is trying to figure this all out.

Julakesh places down her delightful little snake-whelp and gives the child a high five in farewell. Then she puts her hands on her hips and laughs. "A-HAH! A-HAH! A-HAH! Farewell, whelp!"

Ready to move on, Julakesh suddenly looks around in confusion. "Have we lost someone?" she asks Thorval. She starts pointing at the agents around her and counting them off on her fingers... Then she stops... scrunches her face in confusion... and starts counting and pointing all over again.

"A-HAH! A-HAH! Yes! We lost the one who speaks to her jewelry and the quiet one!" Julakesh scans the crowd for Lynn and Jasper. "Ah! I see them! They are dancing and partying with the crowd. Now is not the time for such fun!" She shakes her head at their antics. "COME! WE MUST GO!" she bellows at them over the crowd.

Thorval looks at Julakesh with a completely blank look. 'Missing someone? Huh?' he thinks.

She then points out the two dancing in the middle. "Jasper! Lynn! If'n ya' wanted to dance, I could have arranged it! Let's get going!"

'Wait, now are THEY going to think I want to mate with them? Can you do it with an android? I am sure you can with a Lashunta.... wait! Can she hear me thinking?'

Thorval gets a terrified look upon his face, but says nothing more.

Aw man, I thought that might be a good plan.

Lynn, seeing an opening where there isn't one, tries to dive through the mass of party animals and suffers the indignity of being jostled around for a few minutes. When she gets pushed out into an open space in the middle of the crowd, she staggers forwards, totally off balance.

Being the center of attention is hardly foreign for Lynn, and she's not about to turn down a chance to make a show out of it. She whips a mini-amp out of her idol kit and lowers the boom on her headset.

"Heyyyyy Songbird Station!!!" Her bubbly voice booms out of the mini-amp as she twirls to regard the crowd around her. "Lynn here!" She winks and waves to her new audience. "You wanna dance? Then let's dance!"

With sweeping motions of encouragement, she leads the crowd in a recreation of the dance moves from one of SMC's hit songs. Once she has them all dancing in time to the music coming from her miniamp, she slips forward and rejoins her team.

Profession (Idol): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

Sorry about that, Lynn! I didn't want Jasper to be the only one out there :P

The crowd parts for Jasper and Lynn to rejoin the rest of you, newly acquired T-shirts in hand, and your group is finally able to get out of the crowded main corridors! You arrive in the VIP residential area, where the wealthy can rent small villas in the hypoallergenic garden. Your skittermander-acquired address leads you to a patio nearby the building.

Map is updated - Lanzio's building is in gray marked with a star. You can see there are two entrances on either side of the locale.

Looking around, you can see that nobody else is here - most of the doors have a "gone to concert" sign on them, but not Lanzio's address. The structures here are all made of steel and are 10 feet tall. The windows are made of force fields that can be programmed (but only from the inside) to be clear, translucent, or opaque - they are currently blacked out.

You may now deploy yourselves as you would like to on the map, and take whatever actions you wish.

Thorval looks at Julakesh, assuming the she, like him, would want to just kick in the door. "Let's let the mechanics have a look. Traps can be nasty, We'll have plenty of face-bashing time!"

'Who said that?'

Gear flips up some visors and kneels down in front of the lock.

Here... we... go!

Engineering: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18
Boytoy assist Engineering: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Julakesh grins widely and cracks her knuckles. "Yes, I greatly desire the violence! A-HAH! A-HAH!"

Dr. Kuong decides to scope out the whole area, and notices there are 2 doors. With Gear 2.0 and Julakesh going to the south one, he decides to go check the north door. "If the target decides to run, it might be best to split up."

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Engineering: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27

"Doc, if'n we're splittin' up, you're gonna want some muscle at your back, so I'll join you." says Throval. "Just to be safe. Lynn, you wanna come with us?"