The meeting room is well furnished and stocked with various refreshments, but Fitch—the meeting’s initiator—is nowhere to be seen. After several seconds of silence following the last arrival entering the meeting room, a large holoscreen descends from the ceiling of the northern wall. Fitch’s small, albino ysoki face appears in clear resolution. She whispers quietly to the assembled group.
“I have a very important mission for you. You should be aware that the Master of Stars , the best ship in the Starfinder Society’s fleet, is undergoing extensive renovations. Well, we’ve hit a bit of a roadblock. We need some clophirium to complete the next repair, but supplies have been quite scarce in the Pact Worlds for the last forty years. Luckily, we searched our archives and found a planet in the Vast with substantial reserves: Arniselle.”
Fitch’s transmitted image picks up a datapad but accidentally knocks a screwdriver off the desk while doing so. She flinches as the tool clatters to the ground, then continues whispering in an even lower tone.
“NO! I’m sorry about that. They’re finally all asleep, you see. Now, back to the mission. We established a lodge on Arniselle about a century ago. It was abandoned when the First Seeker at the time decided to refocus Society resources closer to the Pact Worlds and abandoned several outposts in the Vast. Unfortunately, our scans show that Arniselle has undergone substantial seismic activity during the intervening years, and now the whole lodge is underwater. We assigned a special team to go investigate; they’re all kalos, call themselves the Manta Corps. Maybe you’ve met hem. Anyway, a ship dropped them off, but the Manta Corps never reported back for their pickup.”
Suddenly, a loud shriek erupts from the holoscreen, followed by quick pitter-patter footsteps. Fitch drops the whisper and turns away from the screen.
“Hey, you’re all supposed to be asleep for another hour! Back in the beds before I duct tape you in and leave you to find a way out!”
Fitch turns back to face the screen.
“Anyway, the current First Seeker agrees with me about the importance of this mission and has authorized me to mount a second expedition. We must finish repairing the Master of Stars, and to do that we need Arniselle’s clophirium. This could be dangerous, so I’ve selected you, some of our most experienced agents. Go to Arniselle and investigate the submerged lodge. See what it will take to re-establish our presence there. And try to find out what happened to the Manta Corps. Best case scenario, they’re just down there working, but it’s not like them not to report in. I’m sending you information on the planet now. Oh, and remember! There could easily be intelligent life on this world. The lodge wasn’t staffed long enough to really explore the oceans. If you meet any new species, be diplomatic! It’s not only our mission as Wayfinders, but locals might help us with getting that clophirium as quickly as possible. Any questions?”
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"Do we have any maps of the lodge? Surely they would have been lodged with Guidance?" asks the lovely golden android.
"So you just want us to get the lodge back into order, not actually find the clophirium? Wouldn't it be easier to build a new lodge that is not underwater?"
She pauses. "I assume you will be issuing underwater equipment for those who need to breathe?"
Fitch clarifies,
All your armor and spacesuits come with the appropriate seals for underwater exploration, including several days worth of recyclable air. How well your equipment moves or functions underwater, I'll have to leave to you.
They snip at something in the background and then continue.
As for the Clophirium, just finding it should be good enough, we'll send in a second team for extraction. If, for some reason, you find it in a method you can get out easily then go ahead and do so, but we're not expecting it of you.
They sigh.
As for the maps...
A basic map of a starfinder lodge appears in your datapads.
They used a standardized configuration for the minimal setup here. Main hall, Sleeping quarters, kitchen, and a laboratory as well as command space. But who knows what it looks like now.
There are four Manta Corps Members. The Leader, Deepspeaker Alluguoth is a spiritual type. He doesn't say much, but when he does I'd advise listening. Then there is Mantarider Ushuul, he's more talkative, likes to show off his gun. You might have seen Suulhu-Huur around the sparring rooms. Finally, Wavetreader Vhoosh. Even quieter, than Alluogth, but that's probably a good thing. She's a little unnerving.... always knows exactly how many people someone's killed. They're each well trained, good agents.
The Manta Corps are all kalos. Kalos are an aquatic race
from the Brethedan moon of Kalo-Mahoi known for their blue-
green skin, batlike wings, and glowing, protruding eyes. These
four kalos are quite tight-knit and go on assignments together,
typically deployed to underwater locations.
The Manta Corps prefer action-oriented assignments,
and have been known to avoid assignments with a lot of detail
or paperwork. Because of this, they’ve earned a reputation as
underwater commandos but also as a group that doesn’t do well
in overly social setting
underwater. A PC who learns this information knows where on
Absalom Station to purchase underwater weapons =. While such weapons generally cost 10% more than a regular version of the weapon, a PC who succeeded at this check can purchase such weapons at the base weapon’s normal price—many kalo manufacturers on Absalom Station are on good terms with the Manta Corps and want to help however they can
KNOWLEDGE)15+:
prominently in many early Drift engine designs, but natural
sources were limited, and Pact World planets with clophirium
deposits quickly exhausted their supplies. Alternate Drift engine
designs that do not require the mineral have become more popular
in the last 40 years.
KNOWLEDGE)20+:
It would be possible to update the Drift engine of the
Master of Stars
with a more modern design, but the entire
engine structure would have to be rebuilt, taking years. Finding
additional clophirium supplies is the fastest way to get the
Master
of Stars
up and running again, even if the Society must identify a
new mine to do so. The substance is incredibly difficult to find, so
any charts or maps identifying existing veins of clophirium would
be invaluable to the repair operations.
The Starfinder Society starship, a large personnel freighter called the Peregrination into Night, ferries the team to the remote planet. Sometime early in the journey, the team come across an organic arkship lazily floating in the Drift. The biomechanical ship openly broadcasts its affiliation with the
Xenowardens , along with free informational download packets on recent ecological events. Hidden among various reports on the plant growth rates of various worlds, the most interesting piece of information in the packet is a report on plans to “cruelly place the last known feathered renkrodas into captivity in small Castrovelian wildlife preserves.”
Beyond the information packet, the arkship doesn’t engage
in conversation with the PCs and is quick to move on so it can continue its distribution to other traveling starships.
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"Waveriders.."
Kultanien thinks about who she knows that might know of the team, or their previous mission.
"Interesting...The Manta Corps are all kalos. Kalos are an aquatic race
from the Brethedan moon of Kalo-Mahoi known for their blue- green skin, batlike wings, and glowing, protruding eyes. These four kalos are quite tight-knit and go on assignments together, typically deployed to underwater locations." she starts.
"The Manta Corps prefer action-oriented assignments, and have been known to avoid assignments with a lot of detail or paperwork. Because of this, they’ve earned a reputation as underwater commandos but also as a group that doesn’t do well in overly social setting.", she pauses. "Odd they were selected... almost as if someone was expecting trouble."
"Kalos often redesign weaponry to function much better underwater. We might want to ask around about some undewater versons of our standard weapons."
"I do understand a bit about the need for this assignment. Both lightweight and thermally stable, clophirium featured prominently in many early Drift engine designs, but natural sources were limited, and Pact World planets with clophirium deposits quickly exhausted their supplies. Alternate Drift engine designs that do not require the mineral have become more popular in the last 40 years."
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The android muses to itself on the way to the shop. ”I suppose they couldn’t update the ship’s Drift Engine to accept a more modern and available fuel source. Would take too long.”[/b[ She turns to the group and adds, [b]”The substance is incredibly difficult to find, so any charts or maps identifying existing veins of clophirium would be invaluable to the repair operations. That should be a priority of our mission.”
Captain Zhast releases the PCs in a small submersible vessel once the Peregrination into Night achieves orbit over Arniselle. With this unarmed submersible, the team can reach the lodge’s coordinates only a short distance away. The orbiting starship is set to retrieve the team from their insertion location in 2 days, which should give the team plenty of time to complete their mission. The submerged Starfinder lodge is simple to find, about a quarter mile under the surface.
As the PCs approach, the Arniselle lodge appears to be intact. The structure’s northern edge is pushed into a cluster of rocks and boulders, with obvious signs of other past impact. Many subtle signs indicate that someone (or something) currently resides within the facility. Broken parts of the exterior are haphazardly repaired, exterior lights are active, and the front door is decorated with a strange broken chain.
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Kultanien's almost as lovely assistant gasps as she looks at the broken chain. "It looks like some type of holy symbol... though I have no idea who it would be for.."
The golden girl offers her a pat on the hand. "Good noting Josie."
She looks around. "Anyone remember the religious affiliation of the Manta Corps?"
After a moment, the airlock opens as everyone steps in, and the water slowly drains.
The airlock door spins open, and two creatures await on the other side. One creature is a vibrant teal and the other a similarly bright indigo. Both are large creatures with an imposing presence, each with a stout body that ends in a single wide flipper. They have articulated side flippers with a surprising level of fine motion, brightly colored whiskers, gills, and four long tusks, two on each side. The tusks are lightly carved with decorative patterns. They both wear white robes that flutter with the movement of the ocean, and the indigo creature speaks in slightly accented but otherwise perfect Common.
“Hello, and welcome! I am Hinevera, and this is Teltham of the morlamaw people. Welcome to our home. You must be more Starfinders, I presume? The last group left rather quickly, so we assumed another group would arrive soon. Greetings!”
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Kultanien steps forward.
"Why, hello there! I am Kultanien, and yes indeed we are Starfinders!"
She extends a hand offering to shake...flippers.. with it.
"We were not expecting the old lodge to be occupied...and I must say your command of our language is impressive."
She frantically tries to think about what sort of creature this might be.
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Another first contact situation! These can be so fraught with legal and personal battles! Oh, no!. The android stands behind the group, lost in her own thoughts. But I suppose, this would be second, or third contact. Yes, that is good. Relieves us of a number of pressures, to be sure.. Breq speaks up. ”Just one group of Starfinders? Did you ever meet the original builders of this lodge?”
Hinevera shakes flippers with Kultainen, letting out a happy sounding ... growl? Your not entirely sure.
We learned it all from the educational materials kept here in your former lodge. It must be so exciting to travel among the stars, as you do! I don’t think any morlamaws have ever left this world!
She... laughs? You think it's laughing, at the question of meeting the original builders.
Oh no! This lodge is most definitely older than I am, or I would have been only a little thing at the time! The last group of Starfinders came to visit us not to long ago! They were quite funny, weren’t they? With their… wings? Is that what they’re called? The other Starfinders visited for a little while, and we offered to let them inventory and take back all the Starfinder marked property. We certainly have no need of your weapons
and armor; it’s hard for us to use them!”
Hinevera waves one of her flippers to demonstrate.
“They left quickly though; I don’t think they were keen on inventorying.
She smiles, her tusks reflecting her bright pink skin.
“Our species is morlamaw, and we live in trench cities all over this planet. Our particular group was cast out of our homeland because we discovered a new faith, but we were lucky enough to stumble upon this structure to shelter us from local predators. We’ve spent the last 10 years repairing this place and making it suitable for us to live in. It’s now both our home and temple.”
She thinks back.
If I had to guess, they left.... 5 current shifts ago?
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Breq bows, trying to move her hands like flippers. "Local predators? Uh-oh! What sort of predators?" Remembering her training, the android flaps her hands a little more. "I'm sorry, we should be asking about you! Would you mind telling us about your new faith? Did you have an old faith before that?"
She smiles a big tusky grin.
We worship the weeping knight, and we know through him that we can only finding meaning through enduring trials and hardships. For example, losing our old home was painful, but because of it we are now free to worship.
Our high priestess, Oshessa, was visited by him in her dreams, and now she guides us in our worship.
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Josie, Kultanien's personal assistant looks confused. "I've not heard of any Weeping Knight. But he teaches perseverance? "
The golden girl smiles fondly at her.
"Perhaps we might learn more about him as we explore our old house...."
She pauses for a moment. "Both ourselves and our previous team came in search of some ...materials.. it could be they found evidence of them and went in search of them. Anything you could tell us about them would be helpful."
Hinevera shakes her head.
No no, not like us. But I am just a acolyte... I would prefer you hear these things from our priestess herself during her sermon in a hour. That way, you can hear the stories the way they are suppose to be told. As for materials, if their old starfinder things, your welcome to them! We'll be happy to keep an eye out for you.
Hinevera smiles.
Like I said, in about an hour. In the meantime, please, feel free to look around!
A large curtain divides this room, and faint lines on the ground indicates that several walls were likely removed to make this space more open. A five-foot-high stage and eight rows of benches fill the northern half of the room, while the southern half has several large tables. An airlock on the eastern wall acts as a front door, and airlocks on the northern and southern walls lead to other areas. Steel doors lead to the north and south.
A half-dozen morlamaws, in colors ranging from blue to green to violet, pray quietly at the benches and work busily at the tables, some cleaning fish and others repairing clothing and equipment.
The temple bustles with friendly morelamaws, all praying or working on various things. There are a couple different rooms that can be explored. The Equipment Room, The Workshop, The Kitchen and Meal Hall, the Barracks, The Library and Museum, the Reliquary and Oshessa's Quarters.
Kultainen finds the main computer access terminal and has a easy enough time putting her starfinder credentials into it. unfortunately, it provides very limited access, as most of the terminals are down and connections are severed by the damage.
A quick walk around the hall and brief perusal shows that the workshop, the reliquary, and oshessa's quarters are all locked and closed, while the library and museum is guarded by a lime green acoylyte.
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Kultanien examines the damage, trying to work out if it is recent, poor craftsmanship, or just long term deterioration. In particular, she is curious about whether it looks deliberate.
"How frustrating!" she exclaims, tracing cables. Eventually she too ends up at the library, smiling at the acolyte. "May we enter?"
The lime green walrus smiles.
I'm sorry, but no. My name is Irtrine, and I've been tasked with letting no one inside without Oshessa's permission. You must understand, we keep our holiest relics of our faith in here, and some of them are quiet delicate.