Dot in here
A cluster of sleek black computers rests against the far wall of the meeting room. The Starfinder Society emblem at the center of the server cluster shines and begins projecting a stream of holographic light. The light takes the form of humanoid figure bereft of any definition, standing at the end of the meeting table closest to the servers. “Greetings, I am Guidance. I have a new assignment for you.
Please observe.” The projection gestures a flicking hand to its side, and a stream of data detailing an outpost made of interconnected circular chambers scrolls beside it. “One of the Pact Worlds’ most prestigious organizations recently discovered a dataset detailing
the location of an outpost abandoned over two hundred years ago. The organization has requested that the Starfinder Society dispatch a team of agents to secure the site, along with any remaining equipment or data. Your team will travel to this outpost and retrieve as much information about it as possible. You should also salvage any relevant equipment, which the Society will take as part of its payment. If you have questions, now is the time to present them.”
13.
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You all hear a pattering of footsteps outside, along with several short yelps, as if someone was running at a breakneck speed down the hall and bumping into people as they went. Suddenly, someone bursts through the door. You see a young-looking, slightly shorter kasatha in a rock concert t-shirt, with what looks to be extra arm holes cut in. He's wearing a pair of headphones around his neck, from which you can faintly hear rock music, connected to a personal comm unit on his belt. He has bags around his eyes, and looks like he didn't get much sleep last night.
"Sorry! Sorry I'm late! Didn't mean to barge in." he says, before joining the rest of the group. He looks over the projection of data about the outpost for a second, and seems to understand it.
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Shortly before Guidance beings the mission briefing, an android of average build and indeterminate gender enters. It appears to be hairless, with blue/grey skin. Streaks of blue, purple and gold flow faintly under its skin tracing circuits like glowing arteries.
"Greetings I am AMOSU, Automated Maintenance & Operations Support Unit. I am pleased to assist in any way I can." It greets anyone present upon entering individually, and repeats itself as each new agent enters.
AMOSU listens intently to Guidance, repeating any statements that seem valuable quietly to itself.
When Guidance concludes, it addresses the group, "I programmed primarily to assist in engineering, computer usage, and the sciences. I have access to a limited array of cultural knowledge and speak several languages. Though it has been brought to my attention that my, people skills...?, are limited I will assist in first contact situations as applicable."
He answers your questions one by one. Dangers, we don't know enough about the planet about the dangers or what species are there. Prepare for anything from humanoids that want to kill you, to animals that are smarter than you, to really really dumb humanoids, but don't go at them guns blazing on the planet. We do know there is a shark like creature near the planet, that can breathe in outer space. It is hostile to ever creature. And he describes the creature
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We do know there is a shark like creature near the planet, that can breathe in outer space. It is hostile to ever creature.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. You're telling me there's a shark just flouting around this colony that we're going to need to fight." He pauses for a second, staring off into space. "That's awesome."
As Guidance describes the creature, Esar pulls out his phone and starts typing.
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AMOSU begins speaking to its personal computer's AI, "Astator, reference - Giant Space Sharks, query detail information: feeding habits, natural habitat-include prey and predators of, physical attributes-include weapons, senses, mating habits, means of locomotion.." AMOSU continues on in a deep bass monotone with the AI responding in a tenor monotone, the two sharing information out loud, seeming both to be educating themselves as much as informing the group.
Amosu knows a lot about the creature and Tchisk aids. The creature has a speed of 10 and no ranged capabilities. Congratulations, you have destroyed the Besmaran Whelp.
You reach the planet in
As you'll approach the planet in your starship, you'll notice a dangerous storm that interferes with their ship’s sensors. The storm’s erratic movements and intensity make it too dangerous to land inside. You land several miles outside the area and approach the village on foot. The village is small, with just under 40 basic structures appropriate to the native terrain. The locals’ technological level is below the norm in the Pact Worlds, but they do have some projectile weapons and basic gas-powered vehicles.
The Starfinders encounter a new species, standing upright on 4 legs and have 2 arms. They also have tails, though the tail can't do anything special except wag. They are very furry. Some even try to lick you as you approach, some want you to pet them. Yes they are humanoid dogs. They take a special liking to Esar. The natives are obsessed with racing old, wheeled, gas-powered vehicles. They cannot speak your language, they are talking to each other, not barking at each other, but they are trying to communicate with you.
Oh, the planet has low gravity and Standard Atmosphere.
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AMOSU regards the new creatures with intense curiosity. "Astator, record. File set - new species, canine-like features, appears intelligent..." AMOSU tries speaking to the creatures in each language it knows,"...assessing linguistic skills." Again, AMOSU and its AI begin speaking to one another providing information both to themselves and to the team.
The heroes understand and with some times are able to translate messages, so communication can be given. They ask the following.
“Who are you?” and “How did you get here?” and “Do you know what happened to the space creature?”
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AMOSU avidly records the interactions between the new species and team, taking advantage of Share Language to offer translation notes for future reference.
"Agreed, we come to your world seeking an abandoned outpost. It would have be deserted nearly 200 years ago." AMOSU stops and points in the general direction the outpost is located, "Are you aware of such buildings or ruins? They would be in that direction." It stops, "Apologies, what are your names? What do you call your species?" Then switches back to questions about the outpost... AMOSU jumps absent-mindedly between taking notes on the first contact, and trying to engage the creatures.
You took care of the Whelp, well thanks Starfinders! We call ourselves Aumans. And we don't speak of the abondoned outpost
They give out their names one by one, but there are 40 of them. They have human like names.
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AMOSU continues to engage with the Aumans, moving from basic biological information into cultural and technological. "How would you describe your level of technological development? Your vehicles appear to be based on internal combustion engines, what is the primary fuel source? What speeds are you capable of achieving? Have you developed powered flight?" AMOSU breaks briefly between his barrage of questions to allow the Auman time to respond...
To talk of our technology would take hours and our things that need fixed, well, we will let you know. Thanks though.
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AMOSU will continue to question the creatures about their habits, life styles, and other relevant information. It also interjects occasional testing the limits of their scientific advancements, getting lost occasional discussion alternative propulsion systems that allow for increased ground speeds...
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When the Aumans eyes glaze over part-way through the physics lecture, Tik accidentally delivered, he wanders over to where AMOSU is and attempts to help with the Piloting discussion.
Again he just muddies the discussion with physics concepts and terms that the Aumans just don't understand. At this point he is confused as to why he isn't being understood.
You spend a couple of hours talking about their daily lives and participating in whatever ritual they ask you do to.
1 Success—The locals allow the PCs to stay in the village, but
they avoid discussing the outpost and the exile.
2 Successes—The local warn the PCs about the “haunted”
outpost, which shoots fire at those that approach. There should
be enough clues, even in mistranslations, that clever PCs realize
the outpost is simply more technologically advanced than the
village. The locals plead with the PCs to not go near the site.
3 Successes—The locals warn the PCs about the exile and
the forbidden magic the exile uses. These descriptions can
give clues to that the exile has magical powers, and likely a
mystical connection. The rationale on Table 9 on page 21 informs
the local opinion of the exile and why the exile was originally
banished from the village. The villagers plead with the PCs not
to antagonize the exile, but they still provide information on the
location of the outpost.
4+ Successes—The locals give the exact details of the outpost’s
location along with all the previous information. They warn the
PCs of the dangers, but no one protests them going to the site.
They also inform the PCs about the member of their settlement
who went off in search of the exile, who can now be found in area
B2. If the PCs have this information, they gain a +4 bonus to skill
checks when interacting with the local in area B2. If the optional
encounter is skipped, instead, the PCs don’t need to make a skill
check to find the local’s belongings in area B2.
As you leave the village and go to the outpost. You are caught in the storm. You find out this storm has been going on in this very spot for years upon years, in other words, you can't wait it out. It does die down, but the calm is only temporary and unpredictable and then picks back up again, several times a week.
There is a constant meteor shower in this area, though the rocks are size of pebbles, others the size of 10 atoms, then can and do hurt. Cause of the low gravity on the planet, the rocks are in a sense recycled by even medium winds, you don't need a constant meteor or series of meteors near the planet.
Anyone who failed dc 10 takes