The PCs start in Absalom Station at the Lorespire Complex, where Venture-Captain Arvin summons them for a briefing.
The doors to the office slide open with a soft pneumatic hiss. Inside is a well lit and blue-carpeted office. Venture-Captain Arvin, a handsome and determined looking damaya lashunta, sits behind a desk, his eyes riveted on a glassy display. After a heartbeat, he glances towards the open door and motions everyone to enter.
“Apologies, please come in. Be seated if you like, although this shouldn’t take long.” Arvin taps a button on a console and murmurs to a digital assistant, “Croyd, put everything on hold for a few minutes. If anyone calls, please explain I’m in mission briefing and I’ll get right back to them.” He then darkens the display to give his full attention.
"Right. I have an assignment for you. This one is a little a different than others you might have received.” He pauses before he explains, “It’s an internal matter.
“You’re probably aware that after the Scoured Stars incident many of our colleagues elected to leave the Society. That is unfortunate, but not surprising. We hate to lose good field agents, but no one is conscripted into our ranks. Normally we wish them well and that’s that. In this case, the defector, former field agent Reynald Talbot, stole an artifact from the Lorespire Complex before departing. Theft is where the Society draws the line; I need you to get that artifact back.
“Unfortunately, Talbot left weeks ago and we only discovered the theft in the last 24 hours. We launched an immediate investigation to determine the identity of the thief and their last known whereabouts. It’s our bad luck that Talbot was smart enough to get off the station and head to Akiton, where there’s no central government or law enforcement to easily call upon. I need you to track him down and recover the artifact. We know Talbot caught a shuttle to the Akitonian city of Maro, so that’s a great place to start. The Society will, of course, cover your travel expenses.
"Any questions"
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Heh. Takes a thief to catch a thief, I suppose, a shirren wearing a long, brown trench coat says telepathically to the group. You can call me Hishrizzik. Turning to the Venture-Captain, they ask, What do we know about this Talbot? Did he have a history of theft? Any aliases we know of? What was his specialty within the Society? And as Jim skirted around...what exactly did he steal?
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"Is a bounty hunt really the best use of my scientific skills?"
The brown-furred Ysoki at the back of the room asks. Seeing everyone turn to face him, he runs a nervous hand over an ear from back to front and licks it.
"Maybe you didn't hear me properly. Do we have any other identifying information for Talbot? Bank accounts, description, -- race?"
Evidently he intends to brazen out his gaffe.
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Shiktal stands impassively at the back of the briefing room. Like Hishrizzik she too is a Shirren, though in stark contrast to Hish's trenchcoat she is dressed in resplendent armour polished to a fine shine. Emblazoned on her chest is the divine symbol of Yasaera - an atom with a brain for the nucleus. A large rifle is sling across her back. Her antennae swivel about the room subconsciously.
When her telepathic voice comes, it is clear and concise, occaisionally aided by pictures, emotions, or scents when appropriate. I am as interested in my companions as to what was taken, but I would also like to be clear about objectives. Recovering the artifact is the primary objective. I assume we are also to return Reynald Talbot here to face justice?
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Gwin-215 sits while listening to the questions his compatriots ask. He absent-mindedly tinkers with a small device, his head cocked to the side a bit, to show that he is mentally present to the proceedings.
Never been to Akiton. Never chased a thief. No doubt my comrades know how to proceed and will call on my expertise as needed.
"He’s smart, capable, a bit brash, and a reasonable field agent. Talbot is also self-entitled and ambitious. After the Scoured Stars incident, he expected to be promoted to venture-captain, but the Forum felt he needed more time. He got angry. We think this theft is retaliation. A photo of Talbot will be sent to you all shortly.”
"Talbot’s not worth the expense of dragging back here, so you can do whatever you think is necessary with him. That said, you don’t have a license to go on a mass killing spree. Don’t make the Society look bad. It might be tough to do on Akiton, but don’t take that as a challenge.”
"Good question, but the answer is complicated because it’s actually two questions: what the artifact is and what Talbot thinks it is. We’re operating under the assumption that Talbot thinks he’s stolen an object from old Golarion called a philosopher’s stone. Legend has it that the stone could transmute matter, among other properties. What Talbot actually stole was recently re-cataloged as a charlatan’s stone. It does something similar, except the effect is a potent illusion and only temporary. We think ancient con artists used to make false gold.”
Culture Check-in reference to Akiton
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Shiktal raises a clawed hand to scratch at her chin, looking momentarily pensive. It is likely that our fugitive chose Akiton for a specific purpose. I suspect he has a plan in mind. Akitonians are notoriously insular, and his arrival - especially if he was already using this Stone - would not have gone unnoticed.
It is with revulsion that Shiktal address the comment regarding a mass killing spree. I realize that the Society has fallen on hard times, but I should hope that it should go without saying that we are not butchers, nor are we the Society's assassins.
Shiktal steps forward, coming forwards from her position at the back, arms spread wide in a peaceful gesture. While the Society may not care for the fate of Talbot, but I suspect retrieving the artifact and leaving him stranded on Akiton would be a death sentence as sure as a bullet. His crime is not so severe. Should we capture him, I shall see that he is delivered to law enforcement here on the station.
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Hishrizzik leans back in their chair. Akiton... they muse to the group, interspersing the thoughts with images of their memories of the red planet. Rough planet. Not much in the way of government...but not bad if you keep your wits about you. They glance at the others. Not much in the way of wealth, either. Don’t flash yours. On the other hand...if Talbot is using this thing or trying to sell it, it’ll be hard for him to hide. We can follow the money.
They straighten up, dusting off their jacket. That’s all I need; oh, everyone should wear space-capable armor, too.
The PC's have some time before the shuttle departs to make any last minute purchases. The shuttle ride itself is uneventful, giving the PC's plenty of time to get acquainted.
Outside the observation windows floats Akiton, a world the color of blood, rust, and red clay. A thick shell of white caps both poles. The shuttle descends toward the planet, and a barely perceptible shift in gravity occurs as the ship’s artificial gravity begins to lessen and the planet’s natural gravity begins to take hold.
From suborbital heights, a handful of small towns, large complexes, and industrial sites that spew noxious fumes into the thin atmosphere surround the trench city of Maro. A spidery web of dirt roads scratched into the rust-colored ground by regular traffic connects these sites to the metropolis.
Maro, the so-called City of Lights itself, comes into view as the ship begins its final descent. The city occupies more of a vertical space than horizontal, built into a six-mile-long section of trench that is half as deep and a half mile wide. Entire neighborhoods and business districts are built into the walls, accessed by patio entrances. Lights, neon signs, and holographic advertising bejewel either side of this urban canyon, while an active spaceport and industrial zones occupy the ground level. As the shuttle lands, it does so beneath the backdrop of an immense mural of brightly glowing neon-green graffiti that reads in Common: “Git Out! Planet’s Broke!”
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...
"Talbot’s not worth the expense of dragging back here, so you can do whatever you think is necessary with him. That said, you don’t have a license to go on a mass killing spree. Don’t make the Society look bad. It might be tough to do on Akiton, but don’t take that as a challenge.”...
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It is with revulsion that Shiktal address the comment regarding a mass killing spree. I realize that the Society has fallen on hard times, but I should hope that it should go without saying that we are not butchers, nor are we the Society's assassins.
...
Ears nods earnestly in agreement with both these statements. On the shuttle to Akiton, the ratlike Ysoki brings up the subject of representing the society well and not doing anything that might disgrace the Starfinders.
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Before setting off, Hishrizzik briefly visits the Starfinders' vault to negotiate purchase of a magic item that they acquired for the Society on a previous mission. They don't take it out just yet; instead they keep it in one of their more secure pockets, comforted by its presence in case of emergency.
As the group descends onto the red planet, Hishrizzik chuckles appreciatively at the graffiti. When Ears suggests "nosing around," they nod.
And no need to confine ourselves only to such savory establishments, they comment, communicating pictures of dark alleys. Let me see if any of my contacts here know anything...I had to leave in a hurry, but they'll probably still receive me.
Hishrizzik us able to use his contacts to find out AbadarCorp, the largest corporation in the Pact Worlds, recently purchased a large amount of Drift engine fuel from the nearby town of Tasch. While the discovery of Drift engine fuel on Akiton is impressive, the fact that the AbadarCorp fleet that purchased the fuel is 2 days overdue for departure suggests something is likely amiss with the delivery.
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Drift fuel...on Akiton? That's...new. Hishrizzik relays the information to the group.
Shiktal nods thoughtfully. Well done Hish. I admit my working knowledge of these matters is somewhat limited. It is quite different, reading about these places in a book. We ought to exhaust any leads in the city before investigsting Tasch.
Shiktal's abrupt and somewhat rude demeanor makes it abundantly clear that she has very few dealings with people outside her comfort zone. She is still quite green.
hour(s)
Through the combined efforts of the group, you all find that Talbot departed to small mining town called Tasch a few miles outside of Maro.
With out anything else to do in Maro, the PC's make there way to Tasch. They have no problem securing transport, and the society is billed for the service.
An elongated dune buggy transports the PCs from Maro into the red dunes of Akiton’s surface. The journey only takes 2 hours, with the buggy stopping just outside the city limits before continuing to other peripheral towns
A long dusty road, lined with single-story dwellings, runs through the town of Tasch. Some powered vehicles rest chained to their owner’s homes. A small general store stands near the center of town, illuminated by flickering white lights. Another building, full of locals, hosts a signpost that reads “Digger’s Dive”—clearly the town bar. Although the sun beats down on this desert town, its citizens meander around the bar in good cheer. Most are ysoki and humans, with the occasional lumbering fourarmed shobhad mingling among them.
With no where else to go, the PC's head to the only source of activity, The "Digger's Dive". Digger’s Dive is a single-story structure built using imported wood. There are no windows, but there are small rectangular openings in the exterior walls at ceiling height to allow for ventilation. The front entrance is a swinging waist-high wooden half-door. The ceiling is 15 feet high and strung with dim electric lights which provide dim light.
Faint electric lights dangle from the ceiling, while the open sky is visible from cracks between the planks that serve as a roof. The floor is solid wood. The interior walls and ceiling supports are mud brick, the latter being carved in a rare attempt at ornamentation. The tavern is divided in two halves by an energy field with an opening on the northern end. The bar lining the southern wall is open to either side, with a wall of half-empty bottles behind it. The tables are wooden and makeshift, but solid. The east end has square wooden platform about a foot above the floor. Two sets of double doors are built into the
northern and southern walls on the west end, both ajar. A single
closed door provides an exit behind the west end of the bar.
A bunch of miners occupy the establishment while Ysoki can be seen sling drinks behind the bar.
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Hishrizzik ambles into the bar, clearly at home in this warren of scum and villainy. They nod when Jim points out the shirren in the corner. They certainly don’t seem local, they say to the group at large, transmitting an image of the shirren and a sense of direction as well. Jim, want to come be my muscle? Ears, if you want to chat with the barkeeps we’ll be in the corner.
Making their way over to the shirren in the corner, they give them a friendly wave and address the other shirren in their own clicking tongue.
They communicate the gist of their intro telepathically to anyone from the group who accompanied them, but don’t translate for the vesk bodyguards.
There’s a chance Hish might be overconfident in their approach...
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Shiktal looks decidedly uncomfortable with the grungy bar crowd, her gaze sweeping through the room...
Shiktal is not taking in much information, suddenly nervous and unsure of herself in this unfamiliar setting. Luckily her fellows are nearby and seem perfectly comfortable in these situations. Shirren instincts kick in and she follow Hish as he makes his way to the back.
The bar keep answers ears, "Its a credit for a drink" She says as she pours more drinks for the crowd.
Hish approaches the table and the pair of vesk moves to intercept, before being commanded to let him through by the shirrin. You notice that all three are wearing black armor trimmed in silver.
The shirren responds in the shared language.
The shirren continues to speak in his native tongue to Hish.
The bartender smiles at the gesture and waves it off, "Sorry, I never get, as the saying goes, drunk on my own crunk"
A random miner comes up and slaps a few notes on the bar, "Padswald, I'll be buying a few rounds on the new comers. Maybe they will bring us good fortune like that Talbot guy."
The female ysoki smiles, "Okay, your drinks are in him" She slides the coins back over to Ears
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Ears glides a furry hand (paw?) a handsbreadth over the coins, trying to time their levitation to his palm so that it looks like they disappear with the wave of his hand.
He turns his hand palm up and closes his digits on the cool metal. Wiggles his nose at Padswald in a friendly way.
"Thank you, friend," he says to the miner. "Who's Talbot and how's he brought luck to town?"
Meanwhile his mind works furiously to compose and send a telepathic message to Shiktal.
"He found a way to transmute thasteron into a more marketable fuel" He answers with excitement, "So we started excavating the Thasteron again for Talbot, he would then transmute it, and has been making a large profit off of it. And he shared the profit with the town.
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It seems Ears has used his namesake well, and we know at very least, we are hot on Talbot's trail. He is here in town. Shiktal relays to the rest of her companions, glancing over towards where Ears was at the bar.
I am worried that Talbot may have set a trap. He has angered AbadarCorp, and his trail was nothing short of simple to follow. He was not described as reckless, but his actions thusfar seem exceedingly so. We ought to be cautious going forward. Shiktal concludes, including Ears in the coversation if able.
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Sounds like AbadarCorp here is pretty irritated with our friend, Hish adds in the group’s telepathy while nodding interestedly in the AbadarCorp representative’s direction. I’d be curious to see if we can team up—those of you who can’t respond, maybe go get a drink to signal you agree.
They rack their mind for stories of the Corp...would they be trustworthy partners for Starfinders?
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Ears smiles at the miner. Seeing Gwin move closer, he speaks a little louder for the android's benefit..
"Transmuting thasteron, eh? That is a stroke of luck for you. I'm sorry that I won't be able to match that at all. Still, I do enjoy a good party, and wish you all the best."
The Ysoki lifts his glass to the man and tips it back.
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Shiktal looks at the Shirren representing AbadorCorp, and interjects in the conversation.
"It seems that we may be after the same person. Someone stole an artifact from the Lorespire Complex which in theory could be capable of what you described. We seek to recover the artifact. Mayhaps we could work together?"
Shiktal deliberately omits directly mentioning Talbot's name just in case folks might be eavesdropping on the coversation.
A deep booming female voice echoes from outside the front of the bar. “Intruders! We know you’ve come to Tasch in search of our savior. I give you this one chance. Lay down your weapons and leave our town. You will not disrupt the salvation of Akiton, not when Reynald Talbot has come so close to saving our world! You have one minute to decide.”
At this, the patrons leave out the front door, Philt and his vesk bodyguards take this opportunity to walk out as well. The Barkeep flee from the rear door.
Leaving the PC's inside alone.