[SFS 1-09] GM Cellion's Live Exploration Extreme! (Inactive)

Game Master Cellion

Knowing she won't be allowed to hide off camera, Kiv stands with her back to crew as looking off into the haze looking for danger.

The camera crew create a semi-circle, getting some good action footage to end the show. As they wrap up and the mist finishes dispersing, Wazasha waves over the last two team members for a brief stint in the Booth! The production team members assemble the privacy field, set up stools and adjust the portable lighting in a flash.

Don't forget that while you're in the booth you can attempt a skill check to reinforce your RP and appeal to the audience.

With the final Booth appearances complete, Wazasha shoos the two adventurers out and the cameras focus on her instead. The privacy fields lower so that the dramatic backdrop is visible behind her. "How about we hear how they’re wrapping up the event in the studio?"

The ticker display switches to show a live view of the studio, with Zo! shouting excitedly.

----

"What a discovery! What a destination! What a band of unlikely heroes! What could lie deeper in Salvation’s End? Find out on the next episode of Live Exploration Extreme! when the Starfinder Society returns to—"

"What?" Luwazi interjects with alarm from near Zo!’s microphone. "That was not part of our deal, Zo! You can’t just add a sequel when we haven’t—"

Zo!’s voice insistently cuts back in. "Ha ha! No worries Luwazi, nothing to worry about. And now a word from our sponsors!" A booming ad for Nova Solutions begins to play before the ticker screen is turned off.

----

Wazasha rolls her eyes at the antics of her superior. "We are done here. I understand you may have unfinished business before you leave. Please wrap it up quickly. I will be waiting for you with my crew at the surface."

Nim asks Wazasha "Can you give us directions from this door to the surface, preferably to an area with an atmosphere?". She then turns to the team. "The exhaust's dissipated. I say we get the dwarves up here, finish their 'Quest for the Sky,' and never set foot here again.". She pauses. "Almost forgot. We should bring the goblins and their gear. I'll carry one."

AMOSU stares up and down the long hallway, its gaze pausing briefly at each door. The look of wonder plain on its face.

"I suppose it is best to return to the surface..." AMOSU rouses itself from the grip of curiosity. "Yes friend Nim, we should affirm that the goblins are secure and remove them to avoid further damages to this moon's systems. Perhaps they can be convinced to share anything they've learned with the Starfinders." AMOSU thinks for a moment, "The dwarves seemed optimistic at achieving their Quest for the Sky, we should confirm this is their wish. If so, we'll need to prepare the surface team for them... And the dwarves for the surface."

AMOSU turns to Wazasha as she exits the Booth, "Are we allowed to speak with you now? Is it possible to use your communication system to prepare Second Speaker Luwazi for the goblins and dwarves?"

With the cameras finally off, Wazasha explains that this entire place is as new to her as it is to the party, and that she'll be retracing the group's steps to return to the elevator to the surface. She agrees with AMOSU (after some hesitation about it not being in anyone's contracts) and sends a message up to Zo! to request additional shuttles to bring the dwarves up to the Exemplarion.

After gathering up the goblins and organizing the dwarves, your team returns to the surface. True to her word, Wazasha has brought down additional shuttles and space suits for all the confused dwarf travelers. Before long, everyone is suited up and you return back to the orbiting ship.

---------

You all meet with a frazzled looking Luwazi in one of the Exemplarion's more cozy meeting rooms, far from Zo! or his production crew. After greeting you all, she says "Well that was certainly an experience! I've managed to hold Zo! at bay for now regarding a sequel... it certainly isn't what we agreed to in any case. And beyond that-" Her brow furrows.

"Those dwarves! Zo! assures me they aren't actors and haven't been planted there by his staff, which suggests they've been trapped in that chamber, what they believed to be the Darklands, for many years. Perhaps even going back to before the Gap. It was right of you to bring them out, that place was dangerously unstable after all. But it'll be a true challenge to acclimate them to life in the modern era."

Uncharacteristically, the First Seeker loses herself in thought for a moment. "As the ones most exposed, I'm curious what your impressions were of this experiment. Should the Starfinder Society consider partnering with Zo! again? As strange as the experience must have been for you, it was both fruitful and worthwhile to have such a generous patron..."

"The Starfinder Society needs funding, and if we're certain Zo! wasn't previously aware of the dwarves being there I say we can work with him again. If all those vaults comtain similar groups of trapped people...". Nim trails off, thinking again about her luck only went bad after she met Zo!. Is Pharasma playing with her lick for freely associating with undead?

"Definitely! I know this isn't really the point of these expeditions, First Seeker, but I had a blast exploring with these folks while also getting to put on a show for Zo!'s crew. Besides, like Sgt. Nim said, the Society could use the funding and may even get some exclusive access to other interesting places Zo! might have access to. Could make for some very interesting research."

The operative looks at the First Seeker as she considers the possibility. "Given the fact that we were able to do this on Zo!'s wallet, I can see the lure. However, it does bring out behavior that is ... less conducive to following standard protocols. I would venture to say that some priorities were focused on the personal rather than those of the Society." She says this without looking at anyone in particular.

"However, if there could be an assembled team that demonstrates a 'truer' side of the Starfinder's mission and values, I believe that another collaboration could prove beneficial."

Mustachio nods and nods and nods at Kiv's statement. "Ilsia Kivulia, the famed secret spy, is right on this regard. Some of us cared a little too much for the camera. Friend Star-Jumper, truly a good lashunta to have in a fight, certainly tried to hone in on my death scene. And Sgt. Nim tried to distract me from the mission by saying I was "cheesy". This is a travesty. I demand recompense! Probably, by signing this contract that Cap'n Mustache gets to be squad leader in the sequel of this fine, fine show."

Mustachio holds out a document that he apparently had written up before even arriving on set.

AMOSU reflects on the mission and the words of its teammates.

"I would agree with Nim and Kiv. The probability of other sentient life being trapped behind those doors is high. It is also highly probably that they are equally unaware of their situation. It can be a... Jarring..? Way to learn about the universe."

AMOSU takes a moment and considers the gravity of the situation, "The priority is freeing those life forms, but we cannot lose sight of the means used to do so. Slavery cannot be tolerated and liberation cannot be entertainment. A deal with Zo! could jeopardize the fundamentals of the Starfinder Society and how worlds understand our goals. Any future deal should be considered with great care."

"Turning a discovery like this, and the subsequent freeing of the dwarves, into a vid show did leave a bad taste in my mouth..." She nods at Kiv and AMOSU. "But if we accept Zo!s aid again, maybe we can focus his support on some of our less life-saving missions. Leave the more momentous finds to be discussed within Starfinder chronicles rather than across the Pact Worlds infospheres..."

"In any case, despite the unusual circumstances, we've come across something both gravely foreboding and incredibly exciting. Who could have set these chambers up? Are their other sentient creatures within that we might be able to help? Whether Zo! is involved or not, I hope I'll be able to rely on you all again when we return to Salvation's End for further study."

(I'm counting 4 votes for, 1 vote against. Interestingly, this in-character question is reported to Paizo. Maybe with enough in-character support there'll be a Live Exploration Extreme 2?)

----

And with that, Luwazi excuses herself to return to Absalom Station for other duties, leaving the group free to enjoy the amenities of the Exemplarion for the rest of the day. What you soon find is that the studio audience for Live Exploration Extreme is ALSO still on the station, and the moment they catch wind of your return, the team is absolutely inundated with excited fans! People from all over the Pact Worlds follow you throughout the ship, peppering you with questions and eagerly trying to get your real impressions.

For the performers in the group, you're able to bask in the glowing excitement of the masses! And for the more reclusive members, its an absolute nightmare - excited fans seem to manage to find you no matter where you try to hide!

Regardless, the fame is short lived. Within a week, the adoring attention of the Pact Worlds turns to focus on a new set of short-term celebrities.

And that's the end of Live Exploration Extreme! Hope you guys had fun. I'll likely be reporting the game tonight, and should have chronicles in the next day or two. You're all welcome to continue with any final RP in the mean time!

"Thank you! Thank you! Don't forget to watch me in Star Rangers Ultra Paradox! Yes, it is me! Cap'n Mustache! Sign your chest? I don't see why not!" Quick-draws a sharpee from his pocket....

THANKS CELLION! I'll look for your next adventure! Mustachio just made level 3 so that is fun.

Faraeon laps up the attention, signing glossy five-by-sevens and high-fiving with fans. Eventually, though, he does wear down from all the accolades, and he makes his way to his dressing room where he sits and reflects on one of his greatest shows ever. Man! This was great! One step closer to being an intergalactic super-star! Now if I can only make it as an athlete, I'll be there!

Thanks for a super fun game, everybody! Cellion, I loved how you interjected the ticker with the fans' reactions, and the booth scenes were really fun too.
I loved playing with all my fellow PCs as well! No matter how into the whole experience your characters were, you all made this a really entertaining scenario. Looking forward to playing with all of you again soon!
I'm actually in the same boat as Mustachio, with this scenario getting me to level 3, so maybe we'll meet again for the sequel!

"I must say that this was an exceedingly engaging expedition. New friends should you ever have need I would happily assist." AMOSU appears sincerely sad to part company with the team.

AMOSU does its best over the next few weeks to avoid the fan and crowds, and gratefully settles back into a normal routine once the fame fades away.

Good adventuring all around! Cellion, well Gm'd. If anyone every needs a seat filled let me know.

Nim would like to say she's surprised when she gets to her quarters and finds it filled with dwarves that were on Salvation's Moon. All of them turn to her in unison and begin blabbering. Since she's unable to speak Dwarven, she has to wait for Holsin and Ylga to arrive to understand what's going on.

"We took a vote," explains Ylga. "And we've decided that between your near-Dwarven shortness and the fact you speak Terran, Torag sent you to rescue us! We've decided we'll be staying with you as you lead us to the glory of Torag!"

Nim looks around for a camdrone, hoping this is some sort of stinger he's filming for reruns of the show. When she realizes it isn't, she lets out a sad sigh.

And far from the mortal realms, Pharasma plays her trombone to make a sad, sad sound.

It's been a delight gaming with everyone! Thanks for being so nice as I took my first steps into PbP! Nim is also hitting third level, but I don't know if I'll change Nim's progression to reflect the dwarf sycophants she now has living with her, or if I'll have my next OP character be based on it, since the Society allows dwarves now.

On the ship back, Kiv wastes little time stowing her gear and donning her flight suit. She changes her make-up and slides on a wig that hides her antenna. When the ship docks on the station, the operative waits for the ground crew to start unloading materials from the transport. She grabs a forklift full of boxes and navigates it out of the hold, well away from the group milling outside of the flight gate. Many begin to wonder if the elusive Kiv stayed with Zo! on his ship.

Disguise: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 so close!

Mustachio sees Kiv stick on a wig, but she soon disappears into the crowd. "Hey! Where did the secret agent go? I wanted her to sign some autographs with me... Ah well. Her loss. Oh? You want my hotel and room number? I don't see why not."