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Reacting to his companion's reactions, Starfinder-19 tries to calm people down.
"I would like to apologize for interrupting your devotions." says Starfinder-19. "It can be difficult to understand the ways of the multiverse, and that it takes a large amount of time to become one with the divine state. If we have made offense, please let us make amends."
"I just wish to return to my studies." he mutters.
The three initiates bring you through the monastery’s somber halls to a circular room. A crystal dome covers the ceiling here, and it reflects back patterns of stars and stellar phenomena like nebulas and comets with stunning trails. A venerable kasatha, Master Boojan, sits in the center of the chamber, meditating atop a single pillow atop a black and white carpet.
He waits for you to sit, encouraging you to do so if you don't do it on your own. After you sit, Boojan closes his eyes and concentrates.
After a few minutes of silent meditation, without opening his eyes, Boojan points at Desha and demands, "Light or Darkness?"
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Despite the master's silence up until this point, Desha feels like she has a fairly good read on the kasatha as she answers his question. "Such dualities hardly ever exist, given the interdependence of one on the other for their mutual existence. Yet if I must choose between the two, I will say 'Light,' for it is the light of a guiding star that has ever drawn me onward in my journey here."
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”Darkness” states Starfinder-19, without hesitation. ”Many of my siblings have been lost between the stars. My soul reaches out to them. Yearning for the family that I have never known
“Somewhere, either deep in Triune’s domain, or in the deep ness of space between the stars, they wait for rescue. For contact. For anyone other than themselves to talk to.
“I know in my heart that is my fate as well. I have seen it.”
Boojan responds to Desha, ignoring any other responses. He contemplates the answer for a moment, nods, and says, "Yes, the stellar energy which supports life. Flame both brings life and destroys it. One aspect; two sides of the Cycle."
He then opens his eyes and welcomes you to the monastery. He asks you to tell him your story.
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Eselar tells his story.
I was born here, on the Idari, but I've decided to go on a Pilgrimage after I've meet other person from different worlds and learned a lot about the Pact World and the Vast.
I'm still on a Pilgrimage, but when I go out of Absalom Station, I'm more than that, I'm now a Knight Errant of Golarion.
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Chassarch nod and gives a grin when he is asked for his story.
My name is Chassarch Greenbottle - of the Golarion Greenbottles and according to family legend there has been a Greenbottle farm in or around Absalom...well basically forever. We own and operate a greenhouse on Absalom station now but farming ain't what it once was. Mostly just we manage our farming robots and outside planting season and harvest season there's not a lot for us farmers to do.
I took an interest in learning about how other cultures interact with food and farming - Agroscience is my major topic of study at Absalom's public university, you see! I journey with the Starfinder Society to help gather data for my studies and for the benefit of the entire field of Agro-science. The Idari in particular fascinates me - your hydroponics and greenhouses most closely resemble the condition present on Absalom station! But aside from that I am very concerned about how badly things went in the Scoured Stars for us - and wonder how the trinary system effects the life on those planets! So I guess that's my story - wandering scientist engaging in a comparative study!
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Desha bows to the master. "I am called Desha Doash, master. I was born on Verces, where my mother worked as an instructor at the Steward fortress, Peacewatch. I followed in her footsteps to become a Steward myself, but I found the path too trying and lost my way. I found a new path as part of the Starfinder Society, though. I..."
Desha trails off for a moment as she comes to darkest point of her personal narrative, but jumps back in a moment later. "I went with the Society into the Scoured Stars, and came out alive again thanks to the work of many brave fellow agents. Now, I seek to show my gratitude to the Society for saving my life a second time."
When everyone else has shared their stories, she turns to Master Boojan himself, "Please, master, will you tell us your story as well? We can tell you have great wisdom. It would be an honor to learn from your journey."
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"Much of me story I prefer not to tell, as I am tryin' to forget some of it meself. I will say that I spent many years of me youth out in the Diaspora, among some associates who engaged in ... less than legal activities. Eventually, I left behind those associates and joined up with the Starfinder Society. When Jadnura, then the First Seeker, went to the Scoured Stars, I followed." Pausing for a moment as he remembers the time he spent in that region of space, he continues. "Like Desha, I was recently saved from that region of space. As such, I owe my life to the society."
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”Well, starts Starfinder-19, ”There really isn’t much to tell. I have been alive only about a year, having been created as part of a,line to help bolster the ranks of the Starfinder Society after the losses of the Scoured Stars incident. I know that there were 18 before me, mostly more traditional combat specialists, engineers, and the like. While I do not know the fate of my siblings, as I said before, I feel that they have been lost to me, even before I had the chance to meet them.
“Since my induction into the society, I have been called to perform a few missions. I have been to Salvation’s End twice... but I don’t know if those missions have been declassified, yet. I am unusual, not just for an Android, but in general due to my innate understanding and seeing of how magic and technology are but two sides of the same coin.
“My career, has not been remarkable. I wish that I could use my technomagic for less destructive things, but I am still learning. I am most interested in learning about other races,,, how do those people who evolved outside of the Pact Worlds live? How did their unique ecosystems change them?”
Master Boojan nods at your stories, clearly impressed. He dismisses his initiatives, who quickly leave. "Alsuka has told me you are searching for Jadnura. The First Seeker visited the monastery as a place to spend time in silent meditation, though Jadnura found no solace within the monastery’s walls. A visiting starship captain, Kahir of the Void Scholar, came to report a stellar phenomena he believed would be of interest to the monastery. Both Jadnura and I listened to Kahir’s tale of a star system where a black hole was in the midst of consuming a sun. I wished to bring the initiates with me to view the event, but Jadnura requested some time to view the event in seclusion. Given the deep discord I saw in Jadnura, I agreed to let Jadnura travel to the distant event and re‑center himself."
Master Boojan moves to the outer wall of the chamber and activates a hidden computer console, which he uses to contact Captain Kahir. Shortly after, a holographic representation of the kasatha ship captain appears in the center of the chamber. Boojan introduces you to Kahir.
After initial pleasantries (far shorter than others you have recently been subjected to), Kahir indicates that he was planning to take the Void Scholar out to check in on Jadnura. Given your investigation, Kahir eagerly offers you a spot on the journey and tells you to meet him back at the Crucibles, where his ship is docked.
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Eselar thanks Master Boojan, both for giving them so much to think of, and for given them the possibility to find Jadnura.
Thank you for taking time to meet us Master Boojan. I will certainly come back to your temple and try to learn more about your ways.
Turning to his comrades he says Lets go to the Crucibles, we have at last a chance to find First Seeker Jadnura.
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Desha thanks Master Boojan along with the others. "Is there anything you would ask of us in return for your help, Master? Perhaps we can carry a message to the First Seeker for you? If there is anything, please let us know."
Before leaving the Idari, Desha will visit the Outlanders Market again and purchase a set of environmental clothing to help protect against the extreme gravity she suspects will be present around the black hole.
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Having exchanged farewells, or at least good-byes, to Master Boojan, you exit the monastery, and start the trek away from the Pradulex Monastery and back to the Crucibles to meet with Captain Kahir.
You are again trudging along through the Idari’s artificial outer desert, and Desha is wondering in what shades of pink or purple or other colors they might sell clothes in the Outlanders Market.
The thirsty ones are taking a brief pause and a long drink from their gourds as you are passing by some ancient ruins, obviously an antique Kasathan site.
A closer inspection reveals them to be painted plastics.
This is a section of artificial ruins made to resemble ancient Kasathan sites!
Just as you are about to get going once again, a Kasatha wearing simple lightweight breeches and shirt - over light armor - steps out from behind a section of ruins he seems to have been waiting behind.
His upper right hand shimmers in the sunlight, and you realize he has manifested a vicious bladed solar weapon.
As he calls out to you, you recognize Kan-Zal, the upset one from the Monastery: "STARFINDERS!"
He spits into the sand.
"You say you have solidarity, yet you left my parents to die in the Scoured Stars! They were too simple and lowly to be saved! Not like Jadnura! He was so important he just had to be saved... whatever the cost, how many other orphans were created while doing so!"
Again he spits... and you see tears moisten the corners of his eyes.
"And now you set out to dangerous parts to try and save that criminal fool once again. Let him die, abandoned like my parents were abandoned!"
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Eselar is amused by the false ruins placed in the desert.
He's surprised to see the young apprentice jumping out of one, tears and hanger all around him.
He tries to hep diffuse the situation with some words.
Wait Kan-Zal! Yes, numerous Starfinders died during the Scoured Starts Incident. But many survived! Not only Jadnura. I was part of the rescue mission sent to the Scoured Stars. I can promise you that no Starfinder were judged by his place on the Society to be saved.
We try to save as many as possible before the Jinsul overwhelmed us and for some of our colleagues, it was too late already.
I don't know of your story or the one of your partner Kan-Zal, but I can assure you they were not left alone!
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"Yes, please wait, Kan-Zal." says Starfinder-19 calmly. "I know that many lost friends and family members during the Scoured Stars Incident. But, there may be some still alive, there, though the Society was forced to withdraw. I am sure that yours were not abandoned on purpose. We do still intend to return, when we can."
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Desha walks among the ruins in her new environmental clothing, feeling somewhat distracted for some reason, when Kan-Zal steps out from behind the ruins. Immediately, as the kasatha fumes at the Starfinders for abandoning his parents in the Scoured Stars, Desha's face becomes a mask of pain as she feels the deep loss in Kan-Zal's words.
She takes a single step closer to the kasatha and calls out in a voice just on the edge of tears, "Kan-Zal! Tell me their names. I knew many who were trapped in the Scoured Stars. I was one of them. Even if all I can do to help you now is to remember them, I will do that. But if there is any chance I can return to that gods forsaken place and bring your family back to you, I swear I will do that too. Tell me their names!"
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Noticing the peculiarities of the ruins, Drak just shrugs and continues on. It is of little concern to him how the Kasatha chose to decorate their world-ship.
Once Kan-Zal appears, Drak notices that he has a solarion weapon manifested and is instantly on guard. However, keeping his hands away from his weapons he calls out after the others. "What she says is true. Many were saved from the Scoured Stars, but many friends and family were left. I myself was rescued, but it was entirely by chance. The Society is doing everything that they can to try and rescue everyone else."
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Both Eselar and Starfinder-19 make moving pleas for the Kasatha to calm down, and thus bolster Desha's call to have Kan-Zal name his parents.
Drak, though a little grumpy and not the most charismatic, speaks straight from the heart and strengthens Desha's words!
Then Chassarch adds words, calling for revenge that might make Kan-Zal happy.
As you all react immediately with a blend of compassion and seriousness, asking to know the names of those Kan-Zal mourns, your impassioned words ring out over the desert.
And two other Kasatha initiates, also wearing simple, lightweight breeches and shirts, also over light armor, step out from hiding, and come up beside Kan-Zal, patting him on the shoulders.
You see these two have steel swords in hand - pointed down towards the sand -, but you spot the yellow and orange sparkle of Solarian armor surrounding them.
The orange armored one nods to you, while the yellow one starts to speak: "Kan-Zal's parents were named K--"
Kan-Zal's scream of pain and rage cuts the yellow initiate's words short.
Kan-Zal leaps forward, starting to rushing forward--
Combat music rolls
--seeing Kan-Zal's muscles bulge and get ready to propel him towards you, your reflexes kick in... well, for some of you!
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As Starfinder 19's magic lethally hits Kan Zal, the two initiates frown and raise their swords:
"Kan Zal was right, Starfinders are murderers!"
"Yes! They attack first!"
Kan Zal then races forward.
You see bright energy gathering around him as he does, and though he charges, he seems to do so without leaving himself open to attacks nor being weakened in his blows.
As he approaches, Eselar swings the longsword, but the blow does not pass Kan Zal's armor.
And Kan Zal brings his barbed photonic weapon against Eselar, slashing the Kasatha across the chest.
The other two acolytes move forward, and you see the dark energy swirling around their bodies, bolstering their light armor.
Pulling out laser pistols, they fire strange wide beams, like those designed for crowd control.
The one with orange robes fires at officer Desha.
The one with red robes fires at the one that hurt Kan Zal.
Both laser shots hit!
Sword blades clash against solar weapons.
Laser shots ring out across the desert sand.
The peace of the monastery is shattered...
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Glaring at his teammates who targeted Kan-Zal with lethal damage, he calls out to them as he begins moving up. "Ya damn trigger-happy idiots! Try thinkin' next time, why don't ya!" Ending his movement behind a nearby fallen pillar, he then turns his gaze on Kan Zal. "Now, Kan Zal, I don't have any wish to hurt you. But if you continue attacking me teammates, I will be forced to retaliate. None of us want that."
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With weapons being drawn and having suffered a hit herself, Desha rushes to the nearest bit of cover she can find. She draws her own arc pistol as she runs and makes sure it is set to stun and she calls out to the offended kasatha, "Please, everyone stop this! We had no intention of fighting when we came here, but we will defend ourselves if attacked."
Not trusting that words will do the job any longer, though, Desha puts a spell of protection on herself to ward against further laser fire.