Egg's Star Sugar Heartlove!!! (Inactive)

Game Master eggellis

"Sure thing buddy. We need to go fix the generators to make sure this show can be great, but if you could help us find a guy named Lanzio. Do you know him?"

Talking to the teen Vesks . . .. "Image is a marvelous thing, but your image should ALWAYS leave room for you to have some fun. Otherwise, it becomes a J O B. Let loose."

The skittermanders chatter amongst themselves for a bit. "We don't. But we will help you find him!" They then scatter in 50 different directions.

I will move us along tomorrow if no one else has something they want to do, earlier if you guys say you're ready. I have dropped one other hint though.

Oh, we still have our backpacks? I thought we had dropped them off already. hope no one thinks we are kid-cobra-napping them or anything!

"Chivix is certain that between us, we can handle setting the power systems aright. Although I wonder at the wisdom of carrying these three into an area where people spontaneously develop extra eyes in unfortunate places. Perhaps you wish to be left here little ones?"

Chivix directed this last to the three girls, contorting his neck comically to look at the one riding him like a uduntu pack beast.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I have no idea what that other clue was supposed to be or be about. The character has amazing perception and social skills. Me? Not so much.

Chivix has already picked it up actually.

The snake girls nod enthusiastically at Chivix's suggestion. They reach out to the teenagers for upsies and peep some more.

One of the teens take notice, "You guys want to ride on some tall manly vesk instead? That's fine with me." His friend nods. Two of the girls take each of one of the teens shoulders, the third climbs onto the other. The girls drive their new steeds over to each of you and place an official SMC red hair bow on each of your heads.

You can also try to convince them to not care what people think about them liking the band but I'll go ahead and tell you they'll only listen to Archaius because she's a 'cool' vesk. I'm going to move ahead, if you want to try Archaius you can put it in an aside.

You continue on your way through the crowd. All of a sudden a korasha lashunta runs over to you.

"Please tell me you have a special edition of Star Sugar Heartlove!!! I need it very badly! I can trade you for it."

Anyone who has the Star Sugar Heartlove boon from 1-01 slotted has the album.

"...Okay... What've you got to trade?"

"And remember, you're asking for a pink unicorn so the offer needs to be solid!"

"Chivix has a copy, but was hoping to trade it for something truly special. What do you offer that the hundreds around Chivix cannot also provide?"

"I also have a copy but it's very precious to me. You are going to need to convince me that a trade is in my best interests!"

I... don't have that album to offer. But this should be interesting, I wonder how desperate this guy is...

Sefel mutters to himself.

"I have these special Strawberry Dressup holoskins. They work like normal holoskins but also have presettings for looking like the members of SMC. I hate to give them up but I need that album."

"Chivix came without his holoskin. Chivix and gravy think this would be a good trade for his copy of the album. Chivix will make that trade."

Chivix pulled out his copy of the SMC album, safely protected in a foam-padded case. He handed it over in return for the holoskin.

The lashunta sends a quick telepathic missing to his teammates.

Presets for members of SMC? Perhaps this could help us with infiltrating Hira's suite after we take care of this generator...

"Sounds good to me!"

"Very nice. Let me pull up a speech sample of the keyboardist . . ..

Wow. Disguise is one of Osuro's things. Bonus from her vocal mod and from the holosuit ought to be impressive as all get out!

"Missive", not missing. Bleh :P

Fixit considers the offer for awhile before nodding his assent and making the switch.

I think that's everyone. If you trade your album cross Star Sugar Heartlove!!! off your 1-01.

"Oh thank you very much! Now my collection is complete!"

____________________________________________________________________

You continue on your way and come across a security station where there is an officer trying to check everyone's deadly weapons. The officer, who's name badge reads Wilson, looks completely drained. As you approach he is speaking to a pair of lashunta who are very obviously armed, each has multiple visible weapons.

"Oh these? They're just props Officer," one of them says. Officer Wilson sighs heavily and waves them through.

You see him coming your way next.

Vixi's not particularly concerned, so instead is veeerrrrry distracting while Officer Wilson tries to examine everyone else's gear.

Bluff: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16 Possibly this is an Aid? Not sure if I can roll on other people's behalf.

What do you say to the officer?

"Oh hi there-" reads badge "-Officer Wilson. I'm so glad you're doing this! I can't believe what people try to sneak into things like this. At my concerts," She smiles and rolls her eyes as though she'd accidentally let that slip, "it can be soooooo hard to find the right kind of security staff. You have to have discretion - of course - but that doesn't mean that you can just let people walk all over you when you're in the middle of..." etc. :-)

"Pffft, sneak in. Yeah right. I don't have any real power. The Station wants me to check everyone but didn't give me clearance to actually take any weapons. The auditorium has a magical field that prevents lethal damage anyway." Officer Wilson is obviously a beaten man at this point in his night.

"Anyway, I'm going to try to do my job. Are you guys packing?"

"Chivix is packing several kilograms of highly explosive substance packed into handheld devices suitable for throwing. Chivix also has several energy and projectile weapons, all of which are traditional equipment for a mechanic on duty. And tools. Chivix has tools too. Did you need to look at the tools? I mean, with a spanner like this, Chivix could easily dismantle a hull plate and expose a whole section of the station to vacuum. Of course, that is not what Chivix is here for. Chivix has been called to the power systems area to deal with power fluctuations that could cause serious damage to property and life if not addressed quickly"

diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Nailed it!

The vesk stands silently behind Vixi, looking like the body guard. She nods in the performer's general direction when the guard asks his question; as if to say, I'm here to keep her safe.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Officer Wilson listens to Chivix run down the list of destructive things he could do. Just as it seems he's about to run Chivix in for terrorism his eyes well up with tears and he hugs the shirren.

In between sobs he says, "Thank...you...for...being honest."

He takes a moment to gather himself and pulls out some fusion seals. "Just put these on your weapons and you're free to go."

He has enough merciful fusion seals(7th) for you all to take a couple if you choose to reveal your weaponry. You can also do as the pair of lashunta did or hide them.

As you start walking away from Officer Wilson you see the end of the crowd and the reactor building is now in view. You all start hearing a chant.

"WE'RE HELPING!

WE'RE HELPING!"

The skittermanders have returned. They give you the same address for Lanzio that Diwata had but they’ve also procured a jetpack armor upgrade, a box of half-eaten donuts, and what looks like someone’s prosthetic eye.

I will move us into the reactor area later tonight.

The vesk reaches a meaty paw into the box of offered seals and takes one.

You are allowed easy entrance into the reactor building as station security has been alerted that you were coming.

The reactor area is easy to navigate and you find your way to the center of the operation easily. The cause of the commotion is also easily found. Sitting around the reactor controls are 3 odd creatures.

You may enter the room however you like from the left there.

Mysticism: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

"Okay, careful guys. Those are Reactor Sprites, and it's not a great sign that they're standing around outside the cores instead of inside them."

Do I know if they're typically receptive to diplomatic overtures?

Can we communicate with them, via routine language?

Mysticism: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16 welp, looks like I'm not getting extra info

Chivix accepted the weapon fusion seal with a bit more gravity than the situation warranted, especially after the man's outburst and hug. The shirren wasn't sure what that was about - humans were strange creatures, after all - but he tried to just go with the flow. With great pomp and circumstance, he placed the fusion seal on his spanner. After a moment's consideration, and a nudge from Vixi, he moved it to his laser rifle instead.

As the skittermanders ran up to them with the shouts of "we're helping", Chivix knelt down and took one of the donuts with the same ceremony that he accepted the weapon seal.

"Chivix thanks you little ones for the help offered. May the Mother of All provide for you in your times of need. Would you care for something in return?"

The mechanic sorted through his backpack and pouches, idly swatting away a purple-furred hand that tried to help itself to one of his incendiary grenades, and came out with a small wrench and two coils of wire. He offered them to the skittermanders in trade for the information - which was useful - and the other items - which were not.

----------------------

As soon as Vixi said the words 'Reactor Sprites', Chivix knew they were in for trouble. He didn't know much about them himself, but he had heard all kinds of stories. That they weren't actually in the reactor, coupled with the power fluctuations, did not bode well. He moved up in front of one and bowed deeply.

"Greetings. This shirren is called Chivix. This shirren and his companions have been called to check on fluctuations in the power core to ensure the safety of this station and the people on it. Are you aware of the cause of the fluctuations? If not, may we inspect the power core?"

diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

I forgot to point out that there is a map here. I'll move you guys in. I think I was mistaken about the left thing. Rearange yourselves if you like.

"Hello, I'm Sakharov," one of the hespers says, "There's something growing in there. Why should we let you inspect it? We want to see the thing hatch."

"Hi Sakharov, I'm Vixi Trixen Yes, that Vixi Trixen, is that a bad thing that's growing in there? Is that why you don't want to bond with this reactor core? Or would you get in the way of it hatching if you were in there?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Sorry, was on the road. Cleared to leave work at the last minute, so I didn't get everything as orderly as I would have liked before leaving.

Osuro smiles at the security officer with pity, taking a merciful fusion and putting it on her disintegrator pistol.

As the skittermanders come running up with their haul, Osuro answers their call. "You ARE helping! These are marvelous! Shirrens and Vesk both need plenty of sugar. Don't you, boys?" She winks and nods at the two of them, but doesn't really pause her speech. "Now, I think you should all find one of the food vendors and get yourselves a reward, what do you think?"

----

"Something growing? What is it? Where is it? Can we see it? PLEASE?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

As Vixi and Osuro try diplomacy, Sefel accesses the computer console attached to the power core to see if it provides details about what is inside.

I'm not changing anything, I just want to get readings on what is in there.

computers: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19

"We're curious about that thing and yeah, it's kinda in the way. Why are you guys so curious about it? Do you need the reactor for something?"

As Sefel moves towards the reactor one of the other hespers gets in his way and touches him. All of a sudden Sefel grows a couple of glowing tumors on the arm it touched. They put out as much light as a lantern. All of the hespers giggle at this.

The tumors shed light as a lantern and give you -5 in stealth checks. This does not start a combat, they are just mischievous. Unless you guys start one of course.

Hey, what the... can I just get over here to look?!

Sefel grows increasingly annoyed as the glowing goiters or tumors emerge.

Great! What do I do about this? Is there a cream for it or something? Does somebody have a syringe I can use to drain these things?

He glares at the hesper as he proceeds to the console.

Yes, we need it to keep working to provide power to this station, so that the concert can resume uninterrupted.

"The reactor? Well, not really. What we need is the power the reactor normally produces. If you've got another way to provide the power without interruption, that would be MARVELOUS! I still really wanna know more about what's growing in the reactor, though."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26

I'm not rolling a bluff because she is actually curious about what's really going on.

Vixi eyes the growths on Sefel's arm with dismay, but keeps a warm, genuine smile on her face.

"It's true, a lot of people would be really disappointed if they couldn't hear this concert. I bet we'll be able to find a solution that works for all of us though. If we promise not to do anything without talking it over with you first, can we take a look at the readings?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

The hesper continues to get in Sefel's way as he tries to get to the console.

"So what concert can continue? Also, what's a concert? It sounds really neat. Lots of people would be disappointed without one? Should we want a concert?" Sakharov seems really interested in this concert but completely ignores any pleas for access to the reactor.

This is another 'I'll go ahead and tell you' moment. They aren't going to let you at the reactors unless you run them off or convince them to leave. They are very interested in the concert. Also with that Mysticism check Vixi knows the mutation only lasts 24 hours.

"Oh, a concert is where musicians or whoever perform their songs or dances or... Do you know music?"

She queues up the hit single "Not Just some Tricksy Vixen" just in case.

Sefel stands there tapping his foot impatiently as Viki and Osuro try to convince the space pixies. He picks at the glowing growths on his arm.

"A concert is this amazing event where thousands of creatures come together and share energy and emotion with each other under the guidance of a set of performers at the front and center of the event. If you've never seen or heard of a concert, you HAVE to try one! If you head back that way", pointing back in the general direction the group came from, "you'll find the crowd. Join them. Mingle amongst them. Feel the energy and excitement that will surround you!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33

They seem to sort of understand where Osuro is going, but, "Share energy? Like with a reactor?"

They may just go check it out with a little more convincing.

You can continue with Diplomacy, or you can demonstrate with Acrobatics or Profession (Dancer or Musician). You may also be able to show them what Strawberry Machine Cake is with some paraphernalia.

Fixit steps forward next to Osuro with his datapad and pulls up as the most colourful crazy energetic footage of SMC he can find. He also demonstrates his new acquired holoskins....

Diplomacy (Aid or maybe just being useful by itself): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (19) + 0 = 19

The hespers are starting to come around but are still wary.

I should've clarified. What you are doing is working but it requires a few successes. You can give them the holoskin(or maybe some of the other things you have collected) for a success but just showing it off doesn't work. You are almost there.

Vixi goes ahead and blasts "Not Just some Tricksy Vixen", sans vocal track so that the hespers can get the full power of a live show when she launches into her award-winning performance!

Pop Star: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (15) + 19 = 34

..."And Strawberry Machine Cake are... really good too!"

Archaius stands to the side, pointing her flashlight at pop star while turning it on and off to provide 'lighting' and 'effects' for Vixi's makeshift concert.

Really close.