This morning, each of you received a summons to your comms from Zigvigix, leader of the Starfinder Society's Exo-Guardians faction. His message was uncharacteristically terse and somber - just that he needed a group to investigate an internal Starfinder affair, and that you were high up on his list of people he could trust. The message ended by specifying that you were to find Zigvigix at the warehouse in the Downlow District that now serves as the faction's increasingly permanent base of operations.
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As you enter, you find the building buzzing with activity. A smell of ozone wafts through the conditioned air of the warehouse. Makeshift offices full of equipment and furniture are in the process of having more permanent walls erected around them. Construction crews outside are working on the installation of heavy blast doors to replace the original building's security shutters. In the back of the building, you notice a heavily augmented host shirren conversing with a rather short and grumpy looking vesk. The shirren, Zigvigix, notices each of you as you arrive and telepathically sends a greeting in the middle of their conversation.
'Hello! Welcome! Give me a bit, this gal's a tad touchy about interruptions.'
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Entering the warehouse is the massive four-armed figure of a Witchwyrd. He wears the traditional red robes of his people, which covers his face, revealing only his glowing eyes. There is a dark ball of energy floating around his head, and within it something seems to sparkle.
He acknowledges Zigvigix's message, and starts to explore the warehouse to see how the reconstruction is coming along.
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A fairly rare sight walks into the warehouse, a copaxi. Anuzoreus stands just shy of 6 feet tall if you don't count the tall horn sticking up from his forehead. Horn included Anu is close to 7 feet. He also has a black mote of energy orbiting his head.
Anuzoreus catches Gulkyn's eye and gives a small salute. He then walks over to the elebrian that he hasn't met before. "Nervous?"
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Domak is short for a vesk but he stands straight with proper military bearing. "Yes sir. I await your convenience." Domak looks over the others trying to assess their ability. If Zigvigix trusts them, then I trust them."
He comes up to the copaxi and the elebrian. "Going home can make one anxious. You never know if it will be the same as you left."
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The elebrian’s eye twitches, then he gives a hollow smile. ”Eox hasn’t been a home for the living for some time. No, my place is here, and I’ve been away from it too long.”
He looks at the copaxi. ”Never seen one of your kind around here before.” He stares at the copaxi for a long while, then speaks again. ”Copaxi. Native to Tabrid Minor. Colony of multiple fine organisms acting as one individual. I suspected there was a 97% chance your planet was on track for protectorate status among the Pact Worlds government when I left. Given that you’re here, I assume that process went well for at least some of you.” The elebrian holds out his hands and turns in a circle, displaying a common copaxi sign of greeting. ”Welcome to the Starfinder Society. My name is Sullivan, or ‘Sully’ among my teammates.”
Sully then looks at the witchwyrd who questioned him. ”Also exotic, though more impressive to see a witchwyrd eager to get his robes dirty. I understand your people are exceptionally resourceful. We could have used some of that behind the shield. Glad to see it was working for the Society on the outside, though, otherwise we may never have made it it back.”
Sully sits in a nearby armchair. He maintains a friendly demeanor, but the conversation appears exhausting to him.
Zigvigix wraps up his discussion with the vesk, who appears to have been mollified by something the shirren managed to convey. He weaves between stray pieces of furniture and half-constructed walls and makes his way over to greet you. As he comes close, he reaches up with a claw and turns down the music coming from the speakers mounted on his shoulders.
"Welcome back! What do you think, Gulkyn and Domak? This new HQ is really coming together, isn't it? Hardly looks like the warehouse you cleared out anymore!" He beams at the two Starfinders that he helped to Commence not all that long ago. "Thank you for being so quick to respond to my request. We've got ourselves a bit of an issue!"
"In brief, an important figure to the Starfinder Society has gone missing. His name is Hurondo, a shobhad who retired after his rescue from the Scoured Stars. And unlike some who retire from our organization, we kept in close contact with him. In fact, he opened a center in the Lorespire Complex called the Respite that offers treatment and services to other survivors of the Scoured Stars and any who have suffered trauma. He's helped many of our fellows, including some of my close friends."
The volume of the music pumping from the shirren’s shoulder speakers further lowers to a barely audible level and the shirren’s telepathic voice takes on a wistful tone, "We owe him a lot. Not every member of the Society has had the kind of positive impact he made. And he's not the kind of person to disappear without a word. I'm afraid something could have happened to him! Please, go to the Respite and talk to Hurondo’s partner in operations, Jiwalla Zarvim. She’s a ysoki who has many connections and a keen mind. She may have clues as to Hurondo’s latest wherabouts." Zigvigix produces a datapad with the picture of a tall ysoki female in one corner and a map marked with the route from the warehouse to the Respite’s location in the Lorespire Complex.
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A young, slight, brown-skinned human steps through the open doorframe. He's wearing pale tan leggings and jerkin over a red skin-suit. A pistol hangs forward from his right hip.
He looks around uncertainly.
"Pardon me. I am Khwam Sinb. I was told to report here. It's an honor to meet you, Zigivix, -- sir."
Zigvigix waves happily at Khwam as he arrives and answers Domak's question with a telepathic "Ever since he came back, Hurondo and I have kept in contact. He often had interesting stories to share about the veterans at the Respite, and I have to admit that hearing about their recoveries has lifted a weight from my guilty heart. I met up with him and some of the other retirees at the Respite a few times for conversation and lunch. It was a good chance for them, and for all of us, to share our experiences. Ahhh, it gives me such hope for the future!" The shirren's antennae quiver happily for a moment before they droop down and he continues with anxiety in his mental 'voice'.
"Hurondo and I had another meeting scheduled in a few days, but he hasn't responded to several of my attempts to communicate with him. He's always been responsive and eager before - I can't imagine he'd fail to respond unless something was stopping him from doing so..."
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Sully thinks a bit about what he knows of the Respite and Hurondo and realizes...
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Gulkyn nods to Anuzoreus, "Good to see you again." Turning back to Sully, "Forgive me, my limited experience with your people was a small group on Eox. I understand now. Glad you were able to rejoin us after your time in the Scoured Stars."
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"Zigvigix, you have made great progress here, no doubt soon it will be a proper headquarters."
"Is there any one who might want to do Hurondo harm? It does not sound as if his current work would invite such actions. Perhaps something from before?"
"Is there any one who might want to do Hurondo harm? It does not sound as if his current work would invite such actions. Perhaps something from before?"
"For many years Hurondo was an exemplary soldier, first to lead the charge against foes in the darker regions of the galaxy! I'm sure he made some enemies during that time - though he didn't share any specific concerns with me. Maybe Jiwalla will know?"
"He's one of ours, sir. We'll find him. Though what if, when we find him, Hurondo doesn't want to come back?"
Zigvigix quivers, having perhaps not considered this possibility "If it turns out he doesn't want to come back, we'd respect his choice. I just want to know that he's safe."
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Zigvigix wishes you all luck and returns to trying to organize the new Exo-Guardians HQ. As he does, you hear him adjusting the volume on his shoulder speakers, returning the sugar pop beats emitting from the speakers to their usual volume.
It doesn't take long to find an autocab and zip over to the Lorespire Complex. Once dropped off at the main entrance, you follow Zigvigix's instructions and head through the Lorespire towards the wing known as the 'Healing Arches'. The Respite center itself is somewhere inside.
Two magnificent green arches made of steel intertwined with silver cables, the namesake of the wing, span the wide hallway where many creatures of varying species have gathered. The various humanoid beings appear to be milling about or simply waiting. Some lean against walls or slump in the worn but comfortable office chairs and reception sofas immediately preceding the arches. This area appears to be some sort of waiting area for patients and visitors who have business at one of the medical establishments within. Some of these creatures talk to each other, while others have gathered around a pair of vesk who appear to be in some kind of altercation. One vesk speaks with a tinge of hysteria in their voice while the other tries to sound calming.
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The atmosphere around the vesk is tense - and their slowly escalating situation sends ripples of involuntary twitches through some of the patients waiting nearby with every barked word.
Other than the vesk and their onlookers, you spot a group of two female humans and male ryphorian that lounge against a wall near the arches themselves. They look surprisingly unperturbed by the altercation.
A male ysoki slumps in a plush sofa chair, staring down at his paws with unfocused eyes. He seems to not even notice the situation happening mere feet away from him.
A group of two androids, a half-elf, and a strix, each sporting a bandaged limb, have clustered together off to one side and appear to be in a quiet discussion.
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Looking through the arches, you notice a sign for the Respite beyond.
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Sully leaves Domak to handle the dispute among his own people. He makes his way toward the injured individuals. ”Sorry to see you’ve been injured. Do you feel your treatment has been effective? I, too, suffered some injuries recently, and I’m looking for the halfling and shobhad that run this place for help. If you don’t mind me asking, what happened to you?”
Domak walks up to the two vesk, "Hey, soldier, you're making a scene. Maybe it would be better if you took your talk into more private quarters. I'm sure you don't want everyone to know your problems."
As Domak walks over to the vesk, he starts to pick up on what the altercation is about. A male vesk with sunken eyes speaks angrily in common "You don't understand Svata! I don't need a bunch of talking and singing and holding hands. I need to carry them with me. Burn their dead faces in my mind. Anything less and I'm betraying them!" The female vesk tries to move closer and offers "But you're killing yourself like this Razda! You haven't slept in what, a week? They can help you in there!"
He growls and pushes her away, then turns alarmingly at the gathered crowd "What are you all looking at!? All of you are-" He cuts off, eyes wide as he thinks he sees a familiar face in the crowd. He begins to rock back and forth for a bit before snapping back to reality. In moments he's back to arguing again, even louder than before.
Gulkyn ignores the quarreling vesk, content to let Domak try and break it up. He makes his way towards the two humans and ryphorian. As he approaches he asks, "What's all the fuss about?", with a nod toward the vesk.
The humans eye Gulkyn warily, before one of them speaks up with "Fella doesn't want to take his meds or something, I dunno." They turn back to talk to each other.
Sully leaves Domak to handle the dispute among his own people. He makes his way toward the injured individuals. ”Sorry to see you’ve been injured. Do you feel your treatment has been effective? I, too, suffered some injuries recently, and I’m looking for the halfling and shobhad that run this place for help. If you don’t mind me asking, what happened to you?”
You overhear that the quartet of injured humanoids are sharing some gossip about the Respite and its patients, though as you approach they cut off their conversation and turn to face you. The half-elf is the first to respond to your question. "It's been alright. Would love to heal even more quickly if I can, but you save a lot of credits doing it the old fashioned way. Not the first time I've been injured, and its not going to be the last." One of the androids answers your second question with with "Halfling and shobhad? Are you asking about Hurondo and Jiwalla? One is a ratfolk ysoki, but they do run Respite center inside. You can follow the signs." They point in through the arches.
The strix adds "What happened to us? Starfinderin' missions, that's what! Even when ya sent to escort some dignitary there's always some kinda fightin'. But you know all that, ya?"
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Edit:
Domak comes up to the pair of vesk. "He's right. Holding hands and singing songs won't honor his fallen comrades. Keeping their memory alive is a good thing. But she's right too. Talking to other soldiers about your comrades allows them to share the burden. To stand with you like your comrades did."
[dice
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Anuzoreus approaches the people watching the vesk arguing. "I'm sure you guys can understand someone having trouble with their past yes? It won't help them or you to watch them try to move on. Why don't we let him figure it out without an audience. Maybe you can help me with something, let's go over here and talk." Anu points to an area away from the pair, now trio, of vesk and walks over hoping he is followed.
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Khwam follows his teammates, observing and having second thoughts about his Starfinder career. He sees Anuzoreus' suggestion as a chance to possibly be useful and follows the copaxi, before voicing his concerns.
"How can I help? I'm pretty good talking to people, but these are all experienced veterans, and I'm the greenest recruit. What can I say to them?"
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The quartet of injured Starfinders are happy to engage in some war stories about the hazards of Society missions, but you don't get the sense that they're opening up to you very much. The presence of the therapist nearby does little to change that.
You say your goodbyes and wander off to do a bit of eavesdropping. Once they think you're no longer in earshot they resume their discussion about the Respite. "Anyone notice a whole bunch of regulars haven't been around lately?" - "That and Hurondo, no one's seen him the last few days. That guy's the only one keeping the place together." - "Jiwalla's keepin' the place runnin' fine day-ta-day, it isn't gonna collapse without that shobhad. She does most of da hard work, anyway. All Hurondo ever did was squawk with people."
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Both vesk turn to look at you as you arrive with what SHOULD have been an appeal to get the two to understand each other. Unfortunately, they don't take it that way. The male vesk, Razda, stares you down and spits out "The hell are you butting your nose into, dull-scale? This is none of your business!"
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A few people in the crowd pay attention to you, though those that do peel off to either move on down the hall or head through the arches. One skittermander that had been watching the proceedings splits off, looks up at you and asks "Oooh? What do you need help with?"
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The group continues to give you the cold shoulder for the most part, but you do manage to get out a small bit of information. "Yeah, rumor has it Hurondo, the shobhad in charge of the Respite, has gone missing. I hear he's not the only one."
The skittermander hops excitedly a couple of times as Anuzoreus relays his question, then chirps up with "No idea! I just saw some vesk here looking like they needed help! Hey, I'll ask around and maybe I can find someone who knows. BYE!" Before you can get a word in edgewise the skittermander is already off, scurrying about and looking for someone who knows about Hurondo.
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Neither you nor your therapist ally initially seem to get through to the slumped ysoki. He stares down at his paws, twitching slightly. Its only when you persist in asking questions that the ysoki looks up enough to stare through your torso. He shakes his head vaguely at the questions being asked.
After searching through the deep recesses of his memories of ysoki biology for a couple of minutes, Sully comes to a realization about the ysoki's physical condition. This particular ysoki isn't just suffering from mental trauma. The foggy memory and muddled higher level reasoning are simply too extensive. Rather, it becomes clear that he's exhibiting symptoms of someone who has recently been released from absolute mental control.
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The two of you work together as a team to try to get the two humans and the rhyphorian to lower their guard a little. Soon enough, the trio warm up to your lines of questioning. The ryphorian offers "I don't know who else has gone missing, but I did see that big shobhad putting up holo-flyers around the Respite. Notices about people going missing around the Spike. A lot of us Starfinders and ex-Starfinders have found housing around there, so I guess he figured it was worth warning those of us who've been coming here for treatment."
One of the two humans leans in and offers "Uh, don't share this around, but one of the other ladies in my therapy pod suddenly stopped showing up. The therapist tried to contact her place and got nothing. I don't know if you guys are just concerned citizens or what, but you can ask Bygones-B in the Respite about her." The second woman adds "Bygones-B is our therapist."
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"Hey!" but the skittermander is gone. "I didn't think you'd know where he went just hoping for some insight about Hurondo at all," Anu mutters at the skittermander's back.
Then Anu notices Domak getting yelled at. He walks over, "Yeah, what are you doing?" Anu scolds Domak. "Can't you see this was a private conversation?" Anuzoreus tries to give Domak a signal that he's just pretending for the vesk's sake but can't remember the correct body language for Pact Worlders. He decides to just apologize later.
He turns to the two who were arguing and tries to catch them off guard with a subject change,"Can you believe the nerve of some people? Anyway, I'm here looking for clues about Hurondo's disappearance. You guys have any ideas?"
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The two of you work together as a team to try to get the two humans and the rhyphorian to lower their guard a little. Soon enough, the trio warm up to your lines of questioning. The ryphorian offers "I don't know who else has gone missing, but I did see that big shobhad putting up holo-flyers around the Respite. Notices about people going missing around the Spike. A lot of us Starfinders and ex-Starfinders have found housing around there, so I guess he figured it was worth warning those of us who've been coming here for treatment."One of the two humans leans in and offers "Uh, don't share this around, but one of the other ladies in my therapy pod suddenly stopped showing up. The therapist tried to contact her place and got nothing. I don't know if you guys are just concerned citizens or what, but you can ask Bygones-B in the Respite about her." The second woman adds "Bygones-B is our therapist."
"Zigvigix sent us down here to check on Hurondo, but it looks like you've got a bigger problem for us to check. What's the missing woman's name?"
The man pauses a little then flashes his best best smile and puts a little more warmth into his voice. "I'm Khwam Sinb; this is Gulkyn. May I have your names and comm numbers? In case we need to follow up." ~a wink so quick it might not have happened at all~
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Sully’s face pales as he examines the ysoki. He somewhat awkwardly leaves the ysoki and moves to rejoin his allies. As he steps away, he takes out his comm and texts the others. You should come check out this ysoki. His behavior suggests he has recently been released from total mental control. Something is wrong.
Anuzoreus and Domak manage to calm the two vesk down just a little, though Anu's rapid change of subject falls on deaf ears as the vesk continue arguing (just a little more quietly). Svata spares an appreciative nod for Anu, but it seems she's too preoccupied with convincing Razda to talk about anything else.
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Meanwhile Khwam chats up the two humans a little. They don't know the missing woman's last name, and her first name brings up hundreds of hits on Absalom Station. "Bygones-B would know, probably" offers one of the two. They don't hesitate to share their names and numbers with Khwam, the other one adding "Sounds like this is serious then, huh? Scary. Text me if you want to ask anything."
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Sully reconvenes with his comrades and shares what he found. ”Seems the best next step is to go to the Respite and ask after Hurondo and Jiwalla. This Bygones-B character also seems like a good lead. Be on the lookout for anything that might be controlling these missing Starfinders; that ysoki has me quite worried.”
You spend a few more minutes with the ysoki, doing your best to tease out some semblance of response from him. After some concerted effort on the behalf of the whole party, you manage to extract one last piece of information. The ysoki isn't able to converse intelligibly, but he does mouth out two words: "You - Night"
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With some new information in your hands and the vesk outside still simmering, you head on in through the arches. You follow the signs and quickly reach the Respite. Inside, you find the complex is fairly busy with patients taking part in physical therapy, group counseling, and otherwise resting and relaxing in a communal setting.