Gameplay thread for pact world warriors
You are deep beneath the surface of Eox in one of Zo!’s underground complexes. You’ve just
arrived after Radaszam arranged for a starship from his private mercenary outfit, the Obsidian Spiders, to secretly ferry you to Eox.
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Zo!’s complex is a multistory subterranean facility with floors dedicated to film sets, employee amenities, and cavernous boardrooms. You meet with Zo!, Eox’s foremost media mogul, in one such meeting area, furnished with a large round table and multiple wall-mounted flat screens.
Zo!, an undead elebrian, rubs his skeletal hands together and turns his rictus grin to Radaszam. Excellent work, you truly are the Dealmaker. My viewers will love these agents you’ve assembled! Radaszam nods, briefly showing his teeth, then gestures toward the empty seats across from Zo!.
Before we get too carried away, I need a moment to explain the situation. Radaszam sighs wearily as he takes a seat barely appropriate for his large vesk frame. We thought our troubles were over after the Scoured Stars business. We were wrong.
Allow me to elaborate! Zo! excitedly explains, seizing a remote. The screens behind him flicker to life, and the undead mogul spins around in his chair for a better view. Radaszam buries his head in his hands as the video plays.
The Starfinder Society emblem appears on screen as a deep, confident voice narrates: The Starfinder Society, a group dedicated to the pursuit of truth and knowledge—or so they say” The music dramatically flares as the voice-over continues. “What does this fraudulent organization really stand for?[/b]
The camera pans over a fleet of Starfinder starships engaged in vicious fleet-to-fleet combat with unseen attackers. Today, the Scoured Stars; tomorrow, your system. Where exactly will these hells-bent-on-conquest soldiers stop? The scene then changes to that of a shirren, faction leader Zigvigix, dancing in a crowd, their torso and arms crammed into a Strawberry Machine Cake T-shirt. While Starfinder operatives carry out secret wars across the galaxy, Society leaders embezzle funds to purchase VIP concert tickets. What is their true agenda?
The screen transitions to grainy footage of Venture-Captain Arvin emerging from the Lorespire Complex, his hand raised to block the flash of cameras. Society leadership refuses to elaborate. But the question remains: does this group have any place in the Pact Worlds? A half-dozen similar ads play as Radaszam shakes his head and Zo! watches intently.
As you can see, Radaszam grumbles, We’re facing a multimedia smear campaign. The First Seeker is working through legal channels while Celita locates the source of the commercials. But there’s a way you can help. Radaszam catches Zo!’s eye and nods.
You’re going to turn the tides of public opinion in your Society’s favor, Zo! gushes, by competing on my show, Pact World Warriors!
Zo! and I believe that a good showing on a prime-time game show might undermine this attempt at slander. Radaszam explains. I handpicked you to compete as a team. If you can impress Pact Worlds viewers enough, that’ll be the distraction we need to get the time to figure this whole situation out.
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The tall dark-skinned woman gives the constantly smiling face of Zo! a smile in return for the compliments to the group as she moves into an empty chair. Her face clouds over as the depth and intensity of the smear campaign becomes clear. As the first one ends she gives a sigh, commenting, "But those are all just lies, It's just sl... sla... slan... It's terrible!" She settles down as Radaszam starts talking again listening.
She breaks out into a smile at Zo!'s annoucement about being on the Pact World Warriors. "You mean the Pact World Warriors? The one they show on the holovids? I'd love to!"
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At Radazsam's gesture, the shirren takes a seat across from Zo!. His multi-faceted eyes move from the vesk to the elebrian as they brief the crew on their mission.
His mandibles snap in agitation on seeing the slander and footage of his faction leader Ziggy, and though his antennae twitch in irritation throughout the series of videos, he speaks not a word until Radszam and Zo! have finished their spiels.
"I thank you for the honour of choosinhk me for thish misssion," he speaks audibly, mandibles waving. "While I trusst your judgement in our suitability and will sserve to the besst of my abilitiesh, I have ssome confussion. Perhapsh I misundersstood - gamesshow?" his antennae waver with uncertainty.
"Like 'Spindle of Fortune' or ' The Prize is Right'?" he cocks his head quizzically. "Or more 'Absalom Ninja Warrior'?"
Zo! beams. Pact World Warriors is an action-packed game show filmed here in my megastudio. Two teams compete in a series of death-defying challenges. The winning team earns eternal adoration from millions of fans—and a cash prize!
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A rather confused feeling android observes the videos and listens to the briefing.
"Well this is certainly an interesting first mission for the society somewhat quieter "I can't help but wonder if my name was picked my mistake, perhaps they meant Magic-13?" Magic-14 shrugs "Well I'm here now so I'm ready when you are."
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Nate watches the commercial unable to comprehend how or why someone would want to slander the Starfinders. After hearing about the game show he says "Pact World Warriors? Never heard of it. But to be honest since my Awakening I've dedicated all my time to training, not trivial forms of entertainment. That being said I would be happy to help restore the people vision of the Starfinders."
Zo! turns his grin on Chk'tarlsh. Well, death-defying in the sense that there is a perceived danger. Accidents can happen but I am sure that as Starfinders you will be more than up to the challenge.
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Max smiles in admiration when he notices they are being moved in secret. He watches the crew as closely as he can while they are boarding, trying to pick up any tips on moving people. He had always preferred moving goods. They usually didn't make noise or have heat signatures so he felt it was easier.
Once on Eox, he takes a seat at the table, looking around the room at the assembled team. As the ads are shown on the screen, Max frowns and shakes his head in disbelief. "Wow, some people will do anything for ratings. I'm surprised they didn't try to tell us the Scoured Stars didn't happen. It amazes me that some people will believe anything they hear," he says to no one in particular.
When Zo! says they are going to go on a game show, Max laughs like it was a joke. His smile quickly fades when he realizes they are serious. As a smuggler, he has always tried to keep a low-profile so he didn't draw too much attention to himself. Having people recognize him may work against that. "Although, I wonder if some fame might bring more business," he wonders to himself.
"So what does this entail? What are the rules?" he asks resigned to the fact that he was going to have to go through with this.
That’s a surprise. A Pact World Warrior can think on the fly, roll with the punches, expect the unexpected! Zo! gesticulates wildly as he speaks.
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Radiance nods along to all of the things people are saying, clearly paying attention. She brightens up some at the mention of what they might be doing on the show.
Her smile seems to stay plastered as Zo! gives little information in response. "I have to admit, I never watched the show though. It was always on during my meditation time... Expecting the unexpected, eh? Hrmm there has to be some limits to what unexpected things they can throw at us. I mean getting a star to go supernova is hard to do, for example."
After the briefing, production staff lead you deeper into the megacomplex. Several flights of stairs and a few elevator rides later, they arrive in a large hexagonal room crawling with camera drones.
Various mini-sets form a mismatched still life. To the west, a raised circular platform housing a comfortable white couch stands in front of several vidscreens. A long newscaster’s desk occupies the area to the south. Two undead chat animatedly in front of a green screen in an open area to the east.
A spectral woman turns to a pale, gaunt man with clawed hands. Are you ready to meet our contestants, Quell? The woman’s breathy voice echoes through the chamber as a skeleton hoists a microphone in front of her ghostly lips.
I died already, Lethea! I can already positively taste their excitement, and hesitation, and fear! Ah, and that piquant touch of nerves. Simply exquisite. Quell winks at a nearby camera.
Well, here they are! Lethea announces. We’ve brought both teams together for an exclusive meet and greet. Be on your best behavior, contestants. Our audience cheers loudest for living challengers, if you catch my drift.
Mia Moxie, a halfling in heavy armour and wielding a gun almost as big as herself scowls in your direction. You hear her saying to her team mates This bunch looks greener than the protein shake I had for lunch. Her mouth curls into a mocking grin.
Rafelo, a male damaya lashunta sidles up to Lethea and makes a show of taking and kissing her incorporeal hand. Charmed to meet such an enchanting woman. This draws an OHHHHHHH from the studio audience.
Shonvyzam, a female vesk approaches you holding out her hand to shake with each of you in turn. She curiously asks about your tech including your weapons. You all have adequate technology, but it is clearly inferior to my vesk tech. She turns on her heel and moves back to her place, her small drone moving behind her almost unseen.
Once Shonvyzam moves away you are astounded to find that several small items are missing from your persons. Credsticks and hygiene kits and the like. A male pahtra suddenly appears, his arms full of your small items. [b] Haha, didn't catch me did you. Here you go he pulls them away once or twice, teasing before handing them back at the behest of Quell.
By far the most excited to be n teh show seems to be the android on the other team. They are introduced as Verity-5. They move along, introducing themselves to you each in turn with a broad smile and a So glad to meet you. May the best team win, and that will be us fair and square.
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Radiance gives appropriate eye rolls at the trash talk, countering with responses such as, "Ewwww, you let your protein shakes go green? Sweetie, that's not healthy." and "The most impressive thing about my gun isn't the tech, honey, but the faith behind it."
Her playful demeanor changes when she spots the hand reaching for her pack, she swats it away and frowns at the offending body attached to it. "Getcha dirty mitts off my stuff!"
Radiance's demeanor darkens some as she notices her laser rifle has gone missing. When she looks up and notices that the weapon is in the hands of a pahtra, she gives a small snap if her fingers. She frowns at him as the gun re-materializes into her hands. "Put another finger on ma gun or me and I will bring the holy fire of Sarenrae down on your head! Oh lady of fire, I will!"
She then shakes the hand of Verity-5. "My! Who taught you grammar, child? 'You,' 'winning,' and 'fair and square' don't even belong in the same paragraph much less the same sentence."
Finally realizing it's their turn to introduce herself, she pulls out a data pad and pulls up an address. She shows it off to the cameras and then the opposing team. "See this here? Dearies, ya best memorize it. It's the closest temple of Sarenrae, where you're going to need to go after the sick burns you get from us. Tell 'em Radiance sent ya."
Lethea announces Now that our two teams have met it is time for our first challenge. The contestants will enter our obstacle course, an event that only a true Pact World Warrior could survive.
With that production assistants bustle up and escort you toward the location of the course as Quell shouts after you Smell you later, contestants. Feel free to be scared—fear is my favorite flavor!
Out of range of the microphones, Mia Moxie tells you Get used to seeing my back, you’ll be seeing it all day. as she moves off with her team.
Several camera drone trail your team through a corridor as a zombie production assistant guides you into an elevator. Your first challenge is the obstacle course. You and the rival team will race through identical courses separated by an impenetrable wall. Good luck You travel down through several floors before you are deposited through the ceiling of a room.
This windowless, featureless steel chamber appears to contain no doors or hatches, preventing escape. Searing heat radiates from the floor and walls, suggesting a scorching climate or a raging fire outside the building.
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"I'm Chk'tarlsh," the heavily armed and armoured shirren announces on his turn for introductions. Although many prefer to call me Charles, he adds telepathically.
Uncertain whether the show utilises telepathy modulation technology, he stands a moment in awkward silence, his antennae twitching rapidly. Cocking his head, he appears to reach a decision as his antennae cease their waving.
"We are 'the ssword that sseeksh the darknessh'," he declares, reaching over a shoulder and drawing a long sword from the scabbard across his back as he quotes the Exo-Guardian motto.
Without flourish, he flows through several forms, before coming to rest with the bared blade held vertically in front of his face. Flicking a wrist, the sword flashes over his shoulder as he expertly sheathes the weapon.
Following the production team's lead, Chk'tarlsh makes his way to the obstacle chamber. Exiting the elevator, he lowers his full helm into place and looks around, warily scanning the path ahead.
This small, enclosed box does seem to be getting more stuffy and hot.
Most attacks that deal nonlethal damage work like any other attacks, and they deal damage to your Stamina Points or Hit Points as normal. However, when nonlethal damage would reduce you to 0 or fewer Hit Points, you are reduced to exactly 0 HP and fall unconscious, but you are stable instead of dying.
Ch'tarlsh notices a ventilation pipe 10 feet up the western wall. It could be used to move out of this room, but would be a squeeze for medium or larger people.
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"Luckily, I am ussed to ssuch conditionsh from growinhk up on Fullbright."
Radiance pats at the sweat beading up on her face. "And I grew up in the middle of the sun... though it's not really helping here much."
She looks up at the pipe that seems to be the best way out of here.
"My arse might not be the best fit for the pipe and I'm not the fastest person out there, but I'm wanting outta here an' can keep myself alive if needed. Anyone else got a better claim?"
Assuming no one else speaks up, Radiance tosses up her gun and then clambers up the wall into the pipe, asking for some help to boost her up. She then tries to worm her way through the small space.
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Chk'tarlsh pauses in his surveillance of the chamber at hearing Radiance speak of her home. "No place much hotter than the Ssun," he agrees, turning to look in her direction. "Would be a real dry heat, I imagine?" He shrugs, offering, "Might be the humidity - that'sh what really hitsh me."
He moves to assist Radiance in reaching the duct. "Ssee anythinghk usseful?" he calls up to her. "I have ssome alloy cable I can tossh up?"
A metal crate lodged in the ventilation shaft contains two basic medpatches, a brown nanite hypopenAR , two commando serums, a grappler, a mk 1 ring of resistance, and 100 feet of titanium alloy cable line.
Deep lava channels surround the area. A section of hard-packed dirt rises above the lava, protected on its sides by a visible force field of blue-white energy. The bank slopes downward toward an area completely submerged in muddy water. Four narrow wooden planks float along the bog’s surface, offering a dry route through the morass.
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Chk'tarlsh pauses in his surveillance of the chamber at hearing Radiance speak of her home. "No place much hotter than the Ssun," he agrees, turning to look in her direction. "Would be a real dry heat, I imagine?" He shrugs, offering, "Might be the humidity - that'sh what really hitsh me."
He moves to assist Radiance in reaching the duct. "Ssee anythinghk usseful?" he calls up to her. "I have ssome alloy cable I can tossh up?"
Radiance smiles at Chk'tarlsh as she scrambles into the pipe. "Drier than an andriod's sense of humor! But your right must be the humidity here.I hate when it's humid." She pauses for a second and before asking. "Your from the Fullbright, right? That must also be pretty dry..."
She gladly hauls up the alloy cable just in case, before she hits the stash in the pipe. "Whoops, looks like I didn't need that cable after all Chk dear. There's a ton in here already."
Radiance eyes the bog and gives a small sigh, before giving a prayer to Sarenrae. Please let me not fall into the muddy mess on camera!
She then moves up to the bog and gingerly places a foot on the planks testing how stable they are.
As the logs voilently slosh about, she decides to stay on the shore.
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Chk'tarlsh chitters a short laugh in reply to Radiance's observation before shaking his head ruefully and following his companions into the pipe.
Not one to shy away from a challenge, on reaching the bank of the murky bog, Chk'tarlsh follows Valeron's lead and attempts to dash head long across the planks.
Valeron, Radiance and N8-6XTN all fall into the water.
Wait for the rounds please. This is a race against the other team after all.
Speaking of which, round 3 actions, go.