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The PCs travel to the library world of Athaeum in search of answers to what happened during the Scoured Stars incident. The planet holds secrets thought to be lost to the rest of the galaxy and viciously guarded by its self-exiled extraplanar curators. A contingent of Hellknights from the Order of the Pyre joins the PCs in their travels to the library, but these Hellknights follow their own mysterious agenda. As the PCs receive special dispensation to investigate Athaeum's vast records, they learn the first truths of the Scoured Stars and take their first steps in unraveling what happened during the Society's greatest mishap.
Content in In Pursuit of the Scoured Past also contributes to the ongoing goals of the Second Seekers (Luwazi Elsebo) faction. Content in this scenario also contributes to the ongoing year of the Scoured Stars storyline.
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A tall non-sexuated android, with yellow lights under dark synthskin, and both hands glowing with faint light, greets its Starfinder comrades: "Hello, companions. I am Prototype Android & Nanite Genesis Enterprise - Akiton PANGEA Beta model serial #101218-702.." He smiles: "A mouthful, so most just call me Pangea, or Beta."
It is wearing a simple stationwear flight suit, with the jacket and tags of head of security for PANGEA, as well as an Acquisitives patch on one shoulder, and an Obsidian Spiders one on the other side.
Pangea-Beta has a Starfinder Insignia pinned to its chest pocket.
A pair of 7-inch-diameter metal disks, perforated with intricate abstract patterns and with a circular hole in the middle, are placed in hip sheathes: shotalashu singers.
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The space-jock strides in with a confident swagger as her steely eyes scan the room, assessing the place and checking for potential threats.
A pair of hip holstered semiautomatics feature mother of pearl grips inlaid with a pair of dice showing the 'one' pip, and the handle of a combat knife protrudes from the shoulder straps of her functional looking tacti-cool backpack. Her graphite coloured bodysuit appears to be carbon skin with depictions of vipers on it in darker tones. She adjusts the sling of her shouldered rifle and looks around for a seat.
"Is this the place?"
"Please to meet you PANGEA. Obsidian Spiders eh? Did a bit of work with them myself."
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“Greetings, Starfinders,”
Nominated First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo speaks from behind her cluttered office desk. An elderly ysoki eagerly paces behind the First Seeker, adjusting his glasses every few steps. Luwazi continues, “As I am sure you are aware, I recently announced that the Starfinder Society intends to continue its investigation into the Scoured Stars and the incident that occurred there. I have chosen you to pursue our first lead. Thanks to Royo here, we recently learned that the library world of Athaeum could contain valuable information related to the Scoured Stars—information that could prove key to disabling the shield guarding the system. Royo is our resident expert on Athaeum. I will let him explain the details.”
Taking his cue, the ysoki steps forward, adjusts his glasses one final time, and continues the briefing, “Athaeum is one of the great wonders of the galaxy. It has no fixed location; rather, it disappears and reappears throughout the universe at seemingly random intervals. It’s not random, of course. You see, the planet actually has a powerful magical engine tha—”
“Royo,” Luwazi chides the elderly ysoki, shaking him from his tangential explanation.
Royo nods before continuing, “Ah yes, sorry. Where was I? Oh, yes! A group called the Curators controls and maintains Athaeum, along with the world’s libraries that contain the rarest of knowledge. In fact, all knowledge on the planet is unique because the Curators actively ensure that every piece of information stored on their world is the last copy in existence. They have even gone so far as to destroy knowledge on other planets to ensure that this is the case.”
“For long time we were unable to secure access to Athaeum’s libraries,” continues Luwazi, “But recently, Iteration-177, a member of the Aspis Consortium sympathetic to the Starfinder Society, indicated that they have a relationship with the Curators. Through Iteration-177, we have secured passage for a small group to the library world. Your mission is to escort Royo to Athaeum and uncover whatever information you can on the Scoured Stars. Additionally, try to establish a good relationship with the Curators, who could prove to be useful allies in the days to come.”
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Pangea listens, muttering: "Freaks..." when it hears that these people destroy knowledge.
Glancing at the the Vesk, Pangea tries to remember him.
"Yah, I was at that party too. You sure know how to entertain, Ms. Elsebo, ma'am."
"Fine with escorting you, Mr. Royo, sir. As for those Curators: they a mixed bunch, or all of the same race?"
_____
After the briefing, Beta will go suit up and gets it gear.
Meeting up with the group, you see it has put on a suit of light armor instead of the flight suit, a disembarkment jumpsuit with reinforced breeches, heavy boots, and a thick jacket.
A utility belt at its waist has the sheathed singers, a helmet, and a couple of grenades strapped to it.
Beside its Starfinder Insignia, it has attached a serum of healing and a medpatch.
"In case of emergency", Beta says, pointing to them.
On his back, a Starfinder backpack.
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"Royo again huh?" Viper tries looking upbeat but her eyes glaze over a bit "Quite a conversationalist... in his area of interest".
"Got any tips on making good with the Curators? I don't suppose a box of chocolates and an 'I love Absalom Station' souvenir tea towel from the shuttleport is going to cut it?"
Viper-6 checks out PANGEA's gear and in turn points out where her own medpatch and first aid kit is stored, as well as her grenades "Never know when we need to pop smoke and drag our backsides out of a two-way shooting range" she looks over at Royo then back to the fellow Android "Not sure we have many calls for heavy exchanges of gunfire if we're just on a walk around mission with an academic to a group of librarians"
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Royo gives a nod of acknowledgement to Viper and Pangea. "For androids you two are not bad folk. Not your fault you are who you are. If you do as well on this mission as you did when young Luwazi announced this new focus, we'll do well."
The 'young' Luwazi adds to Data "“The Curators are axiomites, outsiders made from the pure lawful essence of Axis. They often choose to look elven in appearance, but in their true forms, they are clouds of mathematical symbols. These particular axiomites exiled themselves from their home plane so that they could better pursue their mission to preserve unique knowledge. Since then, they’ve maintained the immense archives on Athaeum. We don't know much more about them, but everyone has needs. See if you can find theirs and make yourself useful.”
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"Ours it not to judge their ways.." admonishes Luwazi. "Anything more you can find out about their nature and their world would also be of interest, obviously."
Royo adds "“It is difficult to say how we will access the information. Hopefully they will provide help with that. All knowledge on Athaeum is unique, and much of it is stored on mediums other than books. All we know is that one of the vaults on the planet is dedicated to the Scoured Stars. What is inside the vault, we cannot say."
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"Well, that at least I am pleased to hear about." huffs the aged yoski. "Though such a change of focus is obviously the exact problem with digital data. It is always changing. Give me a good book..."
Royo leads to you a space-ship bay, where you meet with Iteration-177 your Aspis consortium contact. "Welcome aboard the Diligent Forerunner" it says. The ship is a good looking one, sleek with a golden hue to it. Luxury cruiser for the mega-rich is the instant thought.
You are shown to you cabins and allowed to settle in, when you are summoned to the dining hall.
A long dining table, low to the ground, fills the center of the room. Dozens of colorful pillows surround the table, and two roughly human-sized individuals, each wearing black armor, sit cross-legged at the far end of the table. In the center of the table sits a strange technological device made of silver metal and curved glass.
“Everyone, please have a seat around the table. Our ship will be entering the Drift shortly.” Iteration-177 announces in a calm voice.
“To keep us amused on our trip, I have made arrangements for a very special dinner. As a connoisseur of unusual sensations and experiences, I recently purchased a device from a deep-space trader. It is a pencibiter, which you see on the table before you. This most unique machine can transmute thoughts and psychic energy into food for consumption. I ask that each of you contribute one thought or memory to our feast for this evening, and in this way, we will get to know one another a little better.”
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Iteration-177 passes around a fist sized node. "You attach it to your forehead and recall a powerful memory."
Once Z Data Z had done this, the node emits a flash and creates a colored disk, about 30cm in diameter. The odd android takes the disc, breaks it into pieces and shares it around the table.
"But I am a poor host! These are my two guests, Kelria and Loomarch. They are members of the Hellknights."
Each of them stands and offers a stiff bow.
"They are here with a small contingent of their order, as they too have business on Athaeum, and I am as keen to assist them as you."
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Zargothrax bellows a laugh. "Hah sounds great! Ya know... mah ol' grandpappy used ta be respons'bl for feedin the Veskarium soldiers... he was well known fur his effishunsee. When soldiers'd run low on food he'd scrape all o' da pink slime from da cuttin room floor, pack it in real tight, cook it up and toss it on some stale bread! Boil some rotten tomatoes and it'd taste purdy good..."
He smiles wistfully.
"Was the heartiest meal a troop on the run could ask for... always brought a smile to their face... they used ta call em McDonald's happy meals!"
He grabs one to eat.
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Beta tastes the first food offered, and closes its eyes to enjoy the shared feeling...
Beta also tastes Mobius soup, as well as Kelia and McDonald's memories.
Then the android uses the contraption on its forehead to share a memory.
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The wafer tastes of ashes.
You feel the heat of flames licking up your legs and see Kelria consumed by fire atop a spike of iron within a Hellknight fortress. A feeling of triumph and resignation fills the memory as you/Kelria emerges from the flames unscathed.
Iteration-177 looks pleased as Macdonald and then Pangea share their memories. It then comes around to Loomarch.
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Viper-6 has an almost involuntary flashback. Dim red emergency lighting in the smashed wreck of a Kasathan ship stuck in space, the gore and bloodstains of the slaughtered crew and the memory of being stalked by the tortured and broken undead former crewmember. The table set in the galley representing the crews last supper, but more resembling a charnel house as they were clearly set upon by a violent alien force that then left their smashed carcasses full of breeding parasites - they were at a table much like this one, what jokes and happy memories were they sharing just moments before becoming victims to a grim fate they already suspected might be coming? Did knowing make it easier to accept the inevitable? Did they hold out hope right until the grisly end that a saviour would appear? Gods, that ship was horrible...
"Sure. I'll share a memory"
***
She also tastes the other memories.
Perception
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You notice two sets of weld marks on Loomarch’s armor that
seal off where a kasatha’s second set of arms would emerge from.
Royo also shares a memory.
His has a dry, earthy taste. You receive a vision of sitting in a cozy library, surrounded by the smell of old paper and stacks of enormous books. While the taste is slightly off-putting, the memory’s vision and artificial smell are calming.
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One by one Zargothrax samples the memory-cookies and chuckles. "This is really cool!"
After the last one he lets out a belch before turning towards Loomarch. "Ah! You do dem rituals too eh? I'm a fan of those 'old ways' as they call 'em mahself! What was that one 'bout? The Veskarium dint really like much that didnt make big 'splosions or bigger guns, so the ol' summons are stuff I dun know much 'bout. Looked purdy flashy though!"
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The dinner is lovely, and the Hellknights... quiet. Loomarch, somewhat odd in his armor, chooses not to eat. The mighty vesk Keiria however is a good conversationalist, although somewhat strict about table etiquette.
As the meal draws to a close, Iteration-177 thanks you for attending.
"And also for participating in the entertainment. We have a few hours still before we arrive, so you may want to rest in your cabins."
When you get to you cabins, you find a couple of presents waiting, with a card from Iteration-177 thanking you for your participation.
The gift baskets include exotic lotions, oils and spices. All quite valuable. Snuggled in among them are a couple of mk 2 serums of healing. and a mk2 ring of resistance.
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Following a brief stop, the Diligent Forerunner drops out of the Drift. Through the windows of the spacecraft, you can see an empty expanse of space, into which a planet suddenly appears, crackling with arcs of ivory energy. Iteration-177 addresses the ship’s occupants over the speaker system and ushers your team, Royo, and the Hellknights into a spacious shuttle, which departs for the planet immediately.
Most of the surface of Athaeum is spotted with vine-covered stone domes and towers, creating the impression that the ship is landing in some ancient and long forgotten city. Many of the city’s buildings incorporate massive gears and timekeeping devices, each slowly winding with inscrutable purpose.
A nearby cracked stone pavilion is visible from outside the shuttle windows, nestled between towering skyscrapers. A stone door slides open in one of the nearby vine-covered towers, and three clouds of glowing, crystalline dust emerge. These clouds float and form into a series of formulae and mathematical symbols in midair before suddenly coalescing into the image of three elven humanoids that patiently wait for the shuttle to land.
As you disembark, one approaches the hellknights, one Iteration-177 and the last one approaches your team.
“Greetings, esteemed guests from the Starfinder Society. I am Albryan, and I am tasked with guiding you to the Towers of Recondite Lore, where the information you requested resides. Before I do so, I would like to remind of the rules of research on Athaeum. All the information stored on Athaeum is unique. Visitors are welcome to read from our manuscripts, but copying or recording them in any way is forbidden. Should you choose to reproduce any acquired knowledge
after leaving Athaeum, know that you do so at your own risk. We Curators will actively punish such transgressions. Know that there is no corner of the cosmos safe from us."
He watches you all, and then continues.
“Additionally, violence against the Curators or other visitors is strictly prohibited. Finally, visitors to the libraries will be charged a substantial research fee. Fortuitously for you, during our recent shift to this corner of the universe, Athaeum passed through a dangerous energy field that has greatly damaged our systems. We are correcting the problems, but our resources are spread thin. We have flagged two issues in the specific tower you are traveling to. If you can deal with these problems, we are prepared to greatly reduce our usual fee.”
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"Wow, you must be totally beat if you need a serum of healing to rest!"
__________________
"Greetings Albryan, Pangea-Beta of the Starfinders."
After listening, Pangea frowns:
"Err... how many corners does the cosmos have? Is that answer in there too?"
Pangea looks to its comrades: "Problem solvers is our middle name, right guys?"