[SFS_Aerondor] 01-13 On the Trail of History (Inactive)

Game Master Aerondor

A massive table-like hologram projector rests in the center of the darkened briefing room, its surface generating a three-dimensional depiction of the galaxy. Nominated First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo stands cross-armed while surveying the starscape before her, her frame illuminated by the hologram.
“I appreciate your punctuality, as the lives of many Starfinders may depend on you. I’m sure I don’t need to remind you about the Scoured Stars incident.”

Her eyes turn toward a large golden field in the hologram within which most of the Society’s agents are believed to be trapped. “But I’m glad to share that we’ve finally found a lead. Evidence from the library world of Athaeum suggests that eight groups departed the Scoured Stars in ages past, and that eight relics were removed following the same trajectories. My predecessor’s studies about one of these relics is what led us into the Scoured Stars, but I think if we can track down some of the people connected to the other relics—or, better yet, get our hands on a relic ourselves—we might find a way past this barrier.”

Elsebo waves a hand over the projector, and the entire hologram rotates; she then fans both her hands out to zoom in on a planet in the Vast. “Our closest guess as to where we might find some answers is here. Based on what I could find, it appears to be an unclaimed planet the Pact has labeled Icefront. There are no known civilizations affiliated with this planet, but its atmosphere supports life and it’s not far off
the likely flight path of one of the eight escaping groups. I want you to take a ship to Icefront and find whatever you can about where this relic might be hidden. More importantly, see what you can dig up about the people the relic seemed to be chasing. Any questions?”

Kick off later this week, hopefully. Feel free to dot in and introduce yourselves though.

An ysoki lounges rather haphazardly across the chair in the briefing hall. Speck is covered with rather nondescript brown fur. In fact, it can be rather patchy at places, as if implants had been removed rather carelessly, but he makes no real attempt to hide the unbecoming patches. Exposed across his forehead and down around his right eye is a cybernetic implant but what exactly it does is not immediately clear. Another newer one is exposed at the back of his head. Interesting, across his neck hangs a wood-carved holy symbol of Weydan. Occasionally, you notice him unconsciously touching the symbol, as if still getting used to it.

Will wait for others to post before asking questions.

A lanky blue-eyed male human in his 20's, with a crew cut, stands against the back wall.
He is wearing mismatched camo' fatigues, with an Acquisitives patch on the shoulder, and Pvt. Hudson name tag on his chest pocket, beside which is pinned a Starfinder Insignia.
He has a holstered pistol on his belt.
Arms crossed, he waits... chewing gum.

Has anyone played 01-11 with this character?
Also if you have the High Society Influence (Ykris) social boon from Starfinder Society Scenario #1–05: The First Mandate, now would be a good time to slot that.

Luwazi looks around the room, checking she has a full team.

"The Pact Worlds’ databases didn’t offer much since Icefront is so far off anyone’s sensors, but we have some basic specs. The planet has a normal atmosphere, lots of fresh water, and abundant plant life. It spins and orbits its sun slowly, so I’d guess that it has extreme seasonal temperatures, but otherwise nothing particularly noteworthy. The file even states that there are no likely deposits of valuable mineral resources. That makes sense, since that’s what Pact Worlds surveyors tend to focus on. I’ll forward the file to you, so you can prepare.”

She looks around. "Do you all understand your mission? And do you have any last questions? If so, ask them no, if not, pick a space ship and get going."

There is a chime at the door to her office, and Luz looks up, annoyed.
"What now?"

A service robot stands on the otherside. Rolling in it approaches her desk, but stops when it gets to Hudson.

"Special delivery for Hudson. Please sign." it says, producing an archaic looking tablet for the man. Secured on the robot's delivery plate there is a large package with the sign of Abdarcorp on it.

Jackojar arrives listening to the conversation. He digs through the trash to create his own homemade grenade in 10 minutes, the very basic grenade. He then loads it into his grenade laucher. Yeah, I have a question, since we have extreme seasonal temperatures, should we prepare for winter or summer?

Surprised, Hudson's right eyebrow goes up, and he detaches himself from the wall.
Signing the old tablet, he then picks up the AbadarCorp parcel and, with a glance to the robot:
"Thanks, 'bot!"
And one to Luwazi:
"Sorry, ma'am..."
He opens a corner of the package, in which one can see some supple light armor made out of snake skin.
Hudson smiles:
"Cool!"
Before sliding the package beside him, leaning against the wall once again, and chewing his gum.

A halfling girl, short even for her race, clomps on into the room in military boots at least two sizes too big for her. She looks up (way up) at the assembled crew and Luwazi and shakes her head to let her pristinely styled blonde curls fall *just so* across her shoulders. She puts a hand on the hip of her grey cargo pants.

"HEY!" Perhaps compensating for her tiny (2' 9") size, she's incredibly loud. "LULU, YOU HAVE got TO SEND BETTER DRONES FOR MISSION SUMMONS. THE ONE THIS MORNING FRIKKIN BLEW SKY HIGH WHEN IT HIT MY OUTER PERIMETER. IT TOOK TEDDY AN HOUR TO GATHER UP ALL THE BITS! YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT'S YOUR FAULT I'M LATE!" She cheekily sticks her tongue out at the First Seeker before hopping up onto a sofa to listen in to the briefing. She quickly spreads out, taking a portion of the sofa far in excess of what her size would lead you to believe possible.

----

After Luwazi's explanation, Fionne leans even further back in the sofa and pipes up in her Akitonian drawl "THAT SURE SOUNDS LIKE A MISSION! AIN'T NOTHIN LIKE FINDING A THING TO MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE A STARFINDER." She grins and winks at the rest of the group.

"SO I CAN SEE A COUPLE WEIRD THINGS, YEAH? UNCLAIMED LIFE SUPPORTIN PLANET SURE SOUNDS LIKE AN OXYMORON. HOW COME NO ONE CAME-A-KNOCKIN FROM THE PACT? AND WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THE RELIC CAME CHASIN PEOPLE FLEEING, RATHER THAN THE PEOPLE CHASIN THE RELIC. BACK IN AKITON, TREASURE SURE NEVER WENT CHASIN ANY PEOPLE I KNEW."

The tiniest fraction more quietly she adds "SLIM LEAD, HUH? WE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHERE THE PEOPLE WOULDA LANDED?"

I guess we can roll introductions after the briefing?
No 1-11 or High Society Influence on this character.

Luwazi looks at Jackojare for a moment. "I imagine your armour should be more than capable of handling any temperature variations you encounter on planet. IF you study the data I have uploaded you should get a feel for it."

And those who do study the data might learn...

She eyes up Hudson. "Though if you insist on wearing animal skins, I'm not so sure."

Turning her gaze onto the little but loud Fionne, she adds "Without mineral wealth, there has been nothing really to interest Pact worlds in the planet. Remote planets are hard to support after all. As for the relic chasing the people - that is more to do with timing than anything else. Data shows the relic arriving after the groups."

"Animal skin with AbadarCorp upgrades, ma'am. Pretty sure they're loaning me something with environmental protections. I'll be fine, but thank you for your concern."
Hudson blows a gum bubble, and pops it.

Is the forwarded file a handout?

Nope, just a prompt to get you to do a physical and/or life sciences check.

"Wait, what? Why is the planet called Icefront if its life supporting?"

life science: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
physical science: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30
As Speck ploughs through the data, he finds his own answers. "Ah, long seasons with severe weather. Rainy summers, snowy winters. Similar to Triaxus, actually. Better prepare for thick snows people!"

Hudson sighs, mumbling: "Re-enlist, they said..."
He looks towards Speck: "Whaddya mean, "prepare"? We gotta bring snowshoes?"
Looking at Luwazi: "Can we requisition a hover truck, ma'am?"

Jackojare can't study the data, he doesn't understand science yet, so he is hopping someone else will tell him.

Sorry for the lateness, just got all my ducks in a row. Id has played both 1-05 and 1-11, and is slotting High Society Influence (Ykris) for his Ally boon. Going to RP, but seeing as this is my scenario I'll mostly take a backseat for decision making.

A night-black shirren with white flecks in his eyes like stars gazes quizzically out at his comrades. He absentmindedly fiddles with a handmade magic ring around his left midfinger, his antennae twitching excitedly at the prospect of flying so far out into uncharted space. His soft telepathic voice resonates out in the minds of the other Starfinders. Any advice on what to do if we encounter the people the relic seemed to be following?

"Ahh, Id-Sinitus!" smiles Elsebo.

She turns to the other team members. "Id-Sinitis here was on the team that recovered the data initially. Well done. Very well done indeed. Without that information this mission just wouldn't be possible."

The shirren's coms unit beeps, as a message comes through.
Available in the handout, if he chooses to share it.

"And what a good question." continues Luwazi Elsebo. "Any information about the relic and its potential whereabouts would be helpful. If you find them on the planet, then they’ll be your best chance. On that note, you might want to make sure you have some means of communicating with a new species. By this point in your careers, I assume you’re capable of that.”

Hudson mutters: "I communicate in bullet points..."

"Do we have any idea of what this relic looks like? Or some way to recognize it for a relic? And what size are we talking?... hover truck size?"

"We have absolutely no good information about the size. But if it was tracked, we assume it is not tiny." says Luwazi with a hint of regret.

"SNOW? YOU sure WE CANT GET A HOVER TRUCK FOR THIS, LULU? IS THIS BECAUSE I TOTALED THE LAST ONE IN THAT WAREHOUSE? YOU KNOW THAT WAS ZIGGY'S FAULT." Fionne stands up on the sofa, nose raised imperiously.

When Id is revealed to be the veteran around here, she shushes, bringing up the files he received on her own datapad. She whistles as she reads "SHADY CORP BIG WIGS AND DRAGONS TOO! NICE! FINGERS CROSSED THEY WANT TO MESS WITH US!"

Turning to Speck, she adds "CONSIDERIN THE COLD AND THE SNOW, ANYTHING YOU THINK WE NEED TO BUY?"

As far as I know, there isn't much to help specifically with snow, beyond just environmental protections. @Aerondor: Does that bonus for beating the Physical Science DC apply only to Speck or can he share the bonus with the rest of us.

Fionne hops off the sofa and steps over to elbow Hudson in the thigh. She whispers loudly "LULU'S AWFUL STINGY WITH THE GOOD STUFF. I WOULDN'T HOLD OUT ON THAT HOVER TRUCK."

Hudson smiles at Fionne and shrugs: "I figured it'd be snowshoes..."

He points to his Pvt. Hudson name tag: "I'm Hudson."

Id glances down at his comm unit, then his hairy filaments bristle. Friends, take a look at this...

Handout is available to all.

He also cocks his head. And please, call me 'Id.' Much easier, no?

"Hi Id, and thanks for the intel'."
Hudson looks over the file on his comm' unit...
"Frozen Trove, sounds like a ready-made dinner company. I think I've eaten some of their stuff..."

Hudson smiles at Fionne and shrugs: "I figured it'd be snowshoes..."

He points to his Pvt. Hudson name tag: "I'm Hudson."

"Oh, hey." Fionne looks up (way up) at Hudson through eyelashes heavy with mascara. Raising her voice again, she adds "NAME'S FIONNE! NICE TA MEETCHA." She grins at Id and Speck too.

With a snort at Hudson's ready-made dinner comment, she adds "ME TOO! WHAT'S THAT SONG... DOO DOO DOO, SOMETHING SOMETHING, FROZEN THRONE FISH FINGERS?"

Hudson smiles, chuckling.
He pulls a pack of gum out and offers a stick to Fionne: "Want some?"

"HEY SURE!" She plucks out a piece "THANKS FELLA."

She immediately starts blowing bubbles, cracking them loudly before they get too big, and looking awful pleased each time.

@Fionne, assuming you are sharing the information around, you can all make preparations.

As you start discussing Frozen Trove, some of you may recall some information

"Have you put any thought into which space craft you will take?" asks Elsebo, obviously keen to have the gum chewers out of her office.

"THE DRAKE" Fionne says without even the slightest hesitation. If prompted for details, she just adds "YOU SEE THAT THING? IT'S STACKED IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES." and blows another bubble.

Despite my obligation to play to Fionne's love of blowing things up, I'd be OK with either. Being able to scan and analyze more effectively actually sounds like a solid benefit in this scenario, since we have no idea where the people or relic might be hiding.

Culture (untrained): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (18) + 0 = 18 Feel free to open the DC10 spoiler. I'm sure other folks are able to open farther.

"YOU GOTTA WONDER IF FROZEN CORE LABS IS DOIN SOME EVIL GENETICS EXPERIMENTS ON THE PLANET, RIGHT? EXPERIMENTING ON THE FOLKS WHO FLED THERE FROM THE SCOURED STARS?" She cracks another bubble. "GUESS WE'LL SEE WHATS THERE SOON!"

I have played 01-11 with this character and am slotting High Society Influence.

life science dc 25: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23 darn so close
culture: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

A android comes running into the room. I am so sorry I am late friends! I did not mean to delay you all, just got caught up in some drama and missed the notification that my presence was requested.

Once Medrick is all caught up on the situation, I have heard of this corporation. They are among the best in the business. Working for the company is considered a prestigious and lucrative scientific career, and Frozen Trove often sets the pace for innovative genetic engineering. The corporation’s CEO is an old vicious white dragon named Aralydio.

Now that he has started talking, you can see his hidden soldier armor has been modified so that instead of a traditional face cover, it is a surgeons mask and he is wearing a white lab coat.

My vote is the Pegasus. I am personally not a fan of the drake.

Medrick is mostly leveled and ready to go. He still needs to select his combat feat and finish up some shopping which will happen tomorrow morning. I am once again really sorry for the delay.

Leaning against the wall, Hudson hums: "Doo doo doo, frozen Throne fish fingers... doo doo doo".

He nods to Medrick, as the android enters.

Then, having listened to his information: "Never trust a dragon..."

• the information sharing is up to Speck (he's the one who made the DC)
• I vote for the Pegasus (I prefer the speed/maneuverability)

Culture, Jakojare can get in on that culture or aid: 4 + 1d20 ⇒ 4 + (10) = 14
Hopefully interactions around the solar system has helped him.

Yes, Speck would share. Albeit with some seeming reluctance.

Speck shrugs when they discuss the ship. "I don't care which ship. All engine rooms look the same once you strip a ship down."

"Wait, what? Did someone say dragon?" Speck freezes.

When Speck talks of snow and such in more detail, Hudson makes note of getting some snow goggles.
"make appropriate preparations for snowy weather, allowing them to ignore any concealment provided by the snow" - is that a general RP thing, or some special item to purchase

I think that is a general comment, about getting your armor's vision tuned for snow etc.

Another android enters the briefing room.

"My apologies First Seeker, your missive was delayed due to a faulty relay transmitter."

It takes in the general setting of the room.

"Would it be possible for one of you to bring me up to date, rather than have the First Seeker repeat herself?"

Fionne looks the newcomer up and down while chewing her gum. "HEY THERE! BY RELAY TRANSMITTER, YOU MEAN YOUR MESSAGE DRONE BLEW UP TOO? I'VE BEEN THERE." The tiny halfling grins, then blows a large bubble. "MISSION'S ABOUT FINDIN A BUNCH A PEOPLE WHO FLED FROM THE SCOURED STARS, YOU HEARD ABOUT THAT, RIGHT? ICE PLANET, NO ONE SHOULD BE LIVIN THERE, YADDA YADDA. WE THINK THEY MIGHTA GONE THERE, AND A RELIC OF SOME KIND MIGHTA FOLLOWED THEM!"

"PLUS A DRAGON CEO AND HIS BIG CORP MIGHT BE INVOLVED. FUN HUH?"

She raises an eyebrow at Kasza "HEY, YOU GOT ANY TRANSLATIN SKILLS MISTER? WE COULD USE THEM."

I think we're clear on the mission, unless someone else has questions. I do think we need to sort out translating/language plans. That Diplomat Serum might be enough (lasts 1 hour and will work with any language, plus a +2 bonus on bluff and diplomacy), but it'll be 79 cred per person. Alternatively, someone with more credits than me can pick up the Tetrad Translator for 500 cred.

Hudson nods to Kasza.

Looking at Fionne: "My cousin's selling one of those things made by Tetrad. I can call him and see if he'll give me a good price on it."
I can get a Tetrad Translator if needed.

Speck starts tapping his foot which gets quite irritating. "Well, let's get going then!"

The tetrad translator might not allow diplomacy since it only coveys very simple info. I'm fine to chip in for the diplomat serum but who would use it? Do we have a diplo person in this team?

 »Then I’ll not give my cousin any cash. Don’t like him much anyhow. He works in insurance. »
No Diplo here.
I can’t remember re. SFS: can we share a physical purchase? (not a service I mean). Or does one PC need to buy it?

Kasza looks over at the rather small, but emphatic halfling. He analyzes the volume levels and decides he will not have to apply a selective filter on his audio receptors. Her volume level is not enough to cause permanent damage, yet.

"The only language other than common I am able to translate for you would be Shirren. My skills lie in other areas."

Kasza has only 39 credits. As useful as that serum would be, the 600 credit penalty for a yet to be generated character is rather steep. :s

I don't remember, does the operative pre-gen have a good diplomacy? Medrick's bedside manners leave something to be desired. I think the translator is a good investment regardless of if we buy the serum because we can use the translator until we need to do diplomacy, then pop a serum. I am willing to take the cost of the translator as it is always going to be a good item, if someone else wants to grab a serum or two. Plus, having a translator as an Emergency Medical Technician makes sense.

Diplomacy +0 and no ranks in the skill, so no Diplomacy skills other than those that extend from the tip of his knife, or the business end of his pistols.

Well it looks like we do not need the serum then. The highest diplomacy we have is + 2 from Jackojare. I think the translator will be enough as being able to make the checks won't get us far.

Here's to hoping we can solve things without any social skills :>

What a load of gung ho soldiers we are!
Send in the diplomats...
And wait till this turns out to be a mostly social scenario )))

We come in peace, you leave in pieces? ;)

With last minute staff changes worked through the group proceeds past Stores where Medrick picks up a translator. Cause this group is so good with people.
Ouch, my last team was all social and no guns, this is the polar opposite. Lets see how that flies

Once in the docking bay you select the Pegasus, take your seats and take off.

I think I saw a preference for Pegasus here. I'll link her stats in the header, as you'll need them. bwahahahhah

Can I get final confirmation about seating arrangements. And just for fun, lets have a diplomacy check from your captain (if you have one), two pilot checks from your pilot (you really should have one), three computers checks from your science officer (if you have one, maybe a good idea), and four engineering checks from your engineer (again, if you have one, but might be a good idea). Your gunners can split five 'test shots' between them. Now would probably be a good time to also work out your "default" assignment of bonuses from your mk 2 duo node computer (two of you getting +2 to your skill checks) - you can easily change that round by round.

Hudson rushes to the gunnery stations, and checks out the Pegasus's array...

Hud - Gunner (+8)
Speck - Engineering (+13), Science (+13), Pilot (+9)
Medrick - Gunner (+7), Science (+6)
Jackojare - Gunner (+8)
Fionne - Pilot (+10), Engineer (+8), Gunner (+7)
Iseph/Kasza - Pilot (+14), Engineer (+10), Science (+10), Captain Bluff/Intim (+9), Gunnery (+8)

Pegasus only supports 2 gunners normally (one in turret, one in current firing arc), so Fionne can captain by using Encourage(Gunnery) on one of the gunners. Sound good?

Default computer bonuses go to gunners?

Kasza moves to the pilot's station and settles in with practiced ease.

I checked through the skills for the operative pregen again. He does have Intimidate +9, not the best for dealing with people, but better than nothing.
Who is going to be the Captain?

I'd say Fionne's duonode defaults work. Thanks, I also missed the Bluff, so some (anti)social skills around.