Each of you is a member in good standing of the Starfinder Society. You have been hastily summoned to the Lorespire Complex aboard the vast, artificial construct known as Absalom Station that serves as the Society's home.
The summons, which arrived via comm message, was issued by none other than Venture-Captain Arvin, a tall, confident lashunta, known both for his no-nonsense approach to Society affairs as well as for having a penchant for magic, although he would likely never refer to it as such. The comm message contained only sparse information, but held the promise of an opportunity to recover some information critical to the Starfinder Society and indicated that urgency is required if this opportunity is to be seized.
Upon arrival at the Lorespire Complex, an assistant ushers you into a waiting conference room with an assurance that Venture-Captain Arvin will be with you shortly.
There above the conference table floats the blue-hued, holographic image of a spacecraft bearing the markings of a Starfinder vessel. Appearing on the side of the holographic vessel is the name, "Unbounded Wayfarer".
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Pangea saunters in, and checks out the place, wondering how much she could get from a fence this fine conference table.
"Cap'n", she says, saluting him. "Nice ship! What's up with it?"
Pangea is a tall lanky lady in a Freebooter's armor, with a shield on her left arm.
It is quite obvious, from her look and garb, that she is some kind of corsair from the Diaspora.
"Greetin's", she smiles as she nods to her companions.
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Buse looks the hologram up and down, seemingly more out of habit than for research purposes. A short, tidy kasatha, she wears simple armor and a glove bearing several thin needles despite the peaceful situation.
"Dr. Buse. A pleasure to make your acquaintance," she replies to Pangea. Her body language suggests otherwise, more akin to being unnerved by a ruffian. She refrains from speaking further until other questions come up.
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A tall, androgynous android enters the room, "Greetings, I am identified as AMOSU. I am please to assist with any technical needs you may require." AMOSU takes a moment to nod to each of the individuals in the room. "I look forward to working with each of you."
AMOSU moves to the hologram in the center of the room, "Most interesting..." and continues on sharing the history of the ship to no one in particular. AMOSU finishes and seems to realize there are others in the room, it moves to a seat and sits unblinking waiting for the Venture-Captain to enter.
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"Rescue would be preferable. Either way, I have become resigned to fighting on missions, even when it seems unlikely. I thusly adapted some of my medical equipment for use in combat." Buse tugs off her glove and exchanges it for a datapad, running a search on the Unbounded Wayfarer. Nothing new or relevant pops up.
"But we can only speculate. As such, I'll wait until we have concrete information."
A large Vesk enters the room and takes in the assembled group.
The hologram of the ship means nothing to him besides the obvious connection to the Society.
He hears the last snippets of conversation and withholds any comment, silently reveling in the chaos of voices. He simply moves to an empty space in the room and waits for the Venture-Captain to arrive.
Now substituting in D'Gavin for Donovan. No one be alarmed.
Rescue is better than salvage but sometimes salvage is the best we can do.
Rescue is better than salvage but sometimes salvage is the best we can do.
"'The Best' is what I am looking for," chimes a lashunta man as he enters the room, "particularly when there is an opportunity to locate missing Starfinders." You immediately recognize the tall, confident man as Venture-Captain Arvin.
“I'll be brief.” Arvin states, making no effort to offer any of you a seat.
“Several months ago,” he explains, while directing the Starfinders’ attention to the hologram hovering over the conference table, “a crew of Starfinders took a ship called the Unbounded Wayfarer into the Vast to explore a series of uncharted planets. They never returned.”
After a brief, sorrowful pause, Arvin continues, “Earlier today, a vesk pawnbroker in the Downlow neighborhood contacted us, offering to sell us several Starfinder insignias. These insignias belonged to the lost crew of the Unbounded Wayfarer, and that immediately caught the Society’s attention. The pawnbroker—named Julzakama—doesn’t realize the true value of the insignias. We negotiated a purchase price in exchange for the insignias and information about the seller. We hope this seller can lead us to the Unbounded Wayfarer and its crew.”
“We’ve remotely transferred the requested credits to Julzakama. Now, we need you to collect the insignias and all the information you can from the vesk regarding whoever sold him the insignias, and then track down that seller. Learn where to find the Unbounded Wayfarer and its crew. I’m worried that the seller might not be on the station for long, so act quickly.”
Vesk are a common, reptilian species that are predatory and war-like both in practice and appearance. They are heavily muscled and covered with thick scales and short, sharp horns. Though they have long since adopted technological weapons, vesk retain the thick claws and teeth of natural predators and enjoy using them to intimidate “softer” races. For that reason, a vesk is always considered to be “armed”. In addition, they have long, powerful tails—while primarily used for balance, some vesk martial arts incorporate formidable tail slaps.
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Pangea listens to VC Arvin, thinking about all this.
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Having been with Vesks on ships, Pangea tells her friends about this race, sharing information . She even remembers pawning her earrings with this exact same pawnbroker, what a crazy coincidence! And she of course remembers where he was in the Downlow.
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AMOSU turns to address VC Arvin as he enters, "Greetings, I am identified as AMOSU. I am please to assist with any technical needs you may require."
After VC Arvin finishes, AMOSU recites its knowledge of the Vesk and of Julzakama out loud in bass, monotone voice. Turning abruptly to Ukigashk, "Apologies new friend, I hope my words did not offend you in any way." AMOSU then continues, "I am sorry my files have no useful refences to the Downlow ."
AMOSU then steps back and stares, unblinking, as anyone else shares information or ideas.
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Ukigashk looks at the android and nods. "What you have stated is simply fact, no reason for emotion to cloud perceptions." Being a vesk himself he was well aware of the benefits and foibles of his race.
Ukigashk tries to recall what more he had heard about Julzakama before, but is unable to make recall any information.
He has of course heard of the Downlow neighborhood on the station, but has no further reference for any detail having somehow managed to not visit the location.
ou make your way to Downlow, a poor and densely-populated section of the Spike that extends below Absalom Station.
Julzakama’s shop is less than an hour from the Lorespire Complex, the headquarters of the Starfinder Society, and reaching the run-down store is fairly simple. Based upon directions provided by Venture-Captain Arvin, the party has no trouble locating the alley where the shop is listed as being located.
Although some areas of Downlow are clean and trendy, this narrow alley of concrete and metal buildings drips with oil and sparking wires. A wide, red neon electric sign reads “Julzakama’s Loans” on a building sandwiched between a Kuthite sensation house and a derelict building covered with graffiti. The shop’s solid metal door contains a single, small window too grimy to peer through.
Upon entering the store, your nose is hit with the acrid smell of a reptile house that has not been cleaned in months. You find the interior of Julzakama’s Loans to be crammed with shelves containing all manner of near-valueless items, from small appliances to VR game consoles and jars of colored powders.
Behind a low desk in the rear of the shop, enveloped within a series of metal bars anchored into the ceiling, stands a massive vesk in a muscle shirt stands, who looks up from what appears to be the carelessly disassembled remains of an old computer as you enter the shop. With a visible glint within his reptilian eye, a smirk begins to form across his scaly face.
"I always welcome paying customers," he says, displaying a toothy smile, ”but it appears to me that you folks must be lost.”
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Obviously Buse knows about vesk physiology. But as a relative newcomer to the station (and not a social one), she remembers little else. She relays any relevant information.
At Julzakama's shop, the kasatha spends a bit more time looking for merchandise interesting to her. Likely not finding any, she watches others talk to the vesk, waiting to join in. As she had said earlier, "Admittedly, I do not trust myself to initiate conversation. With this vesk, at least. He sounds illegitimate, perhaps volatile. I will instead hang back unless necessary."
"Greetings, Julzakama. We're from the Starfinder Society. We're here for the items and information that we've paid for. "
Before entering Ukigashk checks to be sure his sword isn't bound in his scabbard. He flexes his hands a few times and then enters the shop.
He crinkles his nose at the smell, and fixes his gaze on Julzakama.
In vesk he addresses Julzakama, "You loathsome sandworm! You have no desire for true business or paying customers with the way you fail to keep up your shop. You are seeking to cheat and swindle anyone desperate enough to deal with you. You are a disgrace to your clutch, and the empire. Provide the items you offered for sale to the Society, AND the identity of the being that sold them to you. Else I will remove your scales!"
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Pangea moves behind the Ukigashk to loom over him from behind... but ends up peeking out from behind the towering Vesk's shoulder.
Still, she takes a deep threatening voice: "Yes, sandworm! You better do as said, or else you lose those scales!"
Her eyes fierce, and her tone threatening, Pangea nearly scares herself.
She actually pats herself to see if she has any scales to lose...
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AMOSU follows everyone into the pawn shop. Startled but the sudden aggressive shift, it quick brings its Pulsecaster across its chest and scans the room for threats.
After a moment, AMOSU understands what is happening and relaxes slightly. Though it still keeps the Pulsecaster ready, just in case.
AMOSU moves next to Buse, speaking lowly to avoid interrupting the exchange with Julzakama, "I am in agreement with you, Buse. These social interactions are both confusing and fascinating."
“So you’re the Starfinders” the brutish vesk replies, obviously rather shaken. "Fine. Fine. I have what you came for. Just give me a sec."
From behind a place of protection, Julzakama reaches down to a low shelf, close to his feet. As he does so, his thick, lengthy tail flies upward, whipping against the protective bars. Once he is again standing upright, the vesk clutches a small, metal box within his clawed, scaly hands. “Thank you for your business.” he says as he slides the box towards you, pushing it with one clawed hand through a small opening in the bars.
Once he has removed his hand, he urges, “Go ahead. Open it.”
The vesk scratches the scaly skin between his bony beardspikes with a clawed hand and says, “Seems I’m now fully paid for those trinkets there. I remember Arvin said something about wanting information, too, and I can do that. But information costs extra.”
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Pangea remains close to Ukigashk, and glances up at the Starfinder Vesk, ready to put good money on the outcome of this confrontation, thinking: Our lizard's got this...
If it is D'Gavin or someone else taking the lead with Diplomacy, Pangea will back them instead. Saying something like: "It is always a good idea to be on the good side of the Starfinder Society, a lot of future business to be had..."
In both cases the aid roll would be the same (+0 bonus for Diplo' & Intimidate):
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"That's not - I - you - we should go and help, verbally or otherwise." Buse heads over to the debate floor to add to the Starfinder presence, as well as escape her current discussion. 'Confess to one's shortcomings, and be compared to a nigh-emotionless robot! No, let it go, they are not at fault here.'
Should the conversation become less charged, she reaches for an advanced-looking piece of merchandise, regardless of function. "Your shop bears countless hidden treasures. It wouldn't do for my friends in the scientific community to pass them over. I can certainly give them your information, were you to return the favor."
D'Gavin takes the box and peers inside. "Thank you."
After the others 'state their case', he looks up as if nothing else was said. "I believe you were going to tell us where you got them from."
Ukigashk starts to pull his sword from it's sheath, glaring at Julzakama eyes almost glowing.
"So the sandworm wishes to lose his scales after all. Give us the information about the being that sold these to you or I'll start with your snout!"
"Leave my snout out of this!” Julzakama screams, backing away from the bars. "The seller was named Exegara, and she wasn’t from around here. Definitely an Eoxian. She looked like a manling, but didn’t breath or blink or anything. Wore a flight suit, like she had come off a long trip. Once she had her money, she asked about where to purchase clean skeletons.” He points to the littered shelves around his shop. "I don’t carry goods like that!
"So I sent her to the Vat Garden. She stormed out of here. Mentioned something about hiring some local muscle. ‘Just in case’, she said. “ Julzakama raises his clawed hands in protest.
"That’s all I know. Honest!”
Ukigashk snaps his sword back into it's scabbard. He growls at Julzkama, "Just as I suspected, a coward, and honorless! A disgrace to the Vesk. I'll have to get a litter of Skittermanders sent here to improve your shop, and help you with your lack of spine."
He turns, nods to D'Gavin who has the goods, and stalks out of the shop. Having spent his life learning the Vesk way, and finding his connection with chaos, he knows little of Absolom Station, and the undead. He waits for his companions outside the shop unable to stand being in Julzkama's presence any longer.
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Being from the Diaspora, Pangea knows a lot about Eox, its undead, Bone Sages, rebel Corpse Fleet, and shares this knowledge with all.
Having been on Absalom Station for some time, she is surprised to know about the Vat Gardens, where Ysoki grow vegetables, sometimes getting rid of dead people as mulch, meaning there might be skeletons to be found there. Again, she shares what she knows.
The journey from Julzakama’s Loans to the Vat Garden takes about 10 minutes. Walking through the corridors of Downlow, your ears get accustomed to hearing a constant din filled with conversations, commerce, and the sounds of every-day life. All manner of various species and lifeforms can be found within the corridors. A quartet of brethadan street performers croon outside a shop where the owner offers bowls of piping hot chundma. Everywhere you look, citizens of Downlow are go about their daily business.
Yet, after walking for a few minutes on approach to the Vat Garden, however, you notice there appear to be fewer people travelling through the corridors.
The residents and passers-by that you see seem to believe that something is afoot in the Vat Garden and they are purposely detouring around the area.
After, the station passageways open into an enormous sunken pool filled with a riotous growth of plants. A narrow walkway leading to other parts of Downlow encircles the overgrown vat, and a spire of some kind of machinery stands in its center. For such a busy section of Downlow, the area is surprisingly quiet. Two ladders and a steep staircase pierce the foliage and lead down into the vat.
You can see, down within the vat, a lanky, female figure dressed in a flight suit and wrapped in a concealing cloak is busy adding skulls to a small pile near the base of the machinery in the center of the garden. Three human thugs pace around the grounds, apparently keeping an eye on the ladders and brandishing assault hammers as a warning to any that would dare to approach.
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After shaking down the Vesk and leaving the shop AMOSU considers the events. Intriguing method of obtaining cooperation. I fear I continue to upset my new friends... I must try harder to adapt.
AMOSU peers through the foliage cautiously, "It may be advisable to break into two groups to lower the odds of Exegara from escaping. One team per ladder. If stunning weapons are available it is also advisable to implement them at this time." AMOSU readies its Defender Pulsecaster, making sure the team is listed in the safety database.
"My stealth and melee abilities are highly limited, I am competent in ranged combat. I will join which ever group best suits my skills."
D'Gavin remains toward the rear of the group with his auto-pistol out as they stalk into the area.
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Pangea winks at AMOSU: "My weapon sure is stunning, just like I am!"
She moves to the front of the group, to take the first attacks if she can. As she moves carefully along--
--she unslings her shield and gets it ready for action, noisily banging it against a metal post.
Just in case:
As they approach the garden Ukigashk pulls his shield from his back and slips his left arm into the straps. He then carefully draws his sword and carefully moves through a very short warm up.
As large he is, he doesn't try sneaking around, but moves as carefully as he can on the approach. The structure of the station isn't that different from the ships he's lived on, but it is quite a change from the forests of Vesk-3 where he first learned to hunt. At least here he doesn't yet have a Skittermander trying to help him hunt prey.