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The ground shakes slightly with the massive footfalls of power armor. The visored helm ominously pans across the room slowly. As he catches sight of the shy ysoki, the visor is quickly thrown open and a vesk with cheerful smile is revealed.
In a deep, breathy, and altogether friendly voice he says, "Hi! I'm Bruf!"
Stepping out from behind the heavily armed soldier is a small child of probably 10 years, wearing what looks to be a school uniform emblazoned with the logo of a water elemental throwing a ball. In big block letters it reads 'Puddles Preparatory School: Go Elementals!' They look around with wide-eyed curiosity.
"And this is _____. Say hi to the nice Starfinders!"
"Hello," the child offers shyly. "I'm on a field trip!"
Bruf extends his hand in greeting to the ysoki, "What's your name, little one?"
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A second vesk in power armor comes in behind Bruf. There are no heavy footfalls from this armor, which is painted green to match it's wearer's hide. He looks around with a scowl and introduces himself, "Call me Steelscales." It's a safe assumption that he got the nickname because of the ease in which he moves in clunky armors.
His scowl deepens when he sees Bruf. "You seriously gonna bring a kid on a mission?"
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Selene just stares out the window, looking incredibly nervous but trying to hide it. At the moment, she's keeping to herself, not wanting to burden others with her worries. She is wearing graphite carbonskin armour with a disintegrator pistol on her hip. Around her neck is a holy symbol of Desna as well as a silver crescent moon.
"Yup." Bruf replies without a hint of irony.
Meanwhile Tyler curiously starts picking up and playing with the Starfinders' weapons, "Pew! Pew! Pew!"
"See? Look at the little guy. He wants to be a Starfinder so bad!"
"Don't worry, mom totally signed the permission slip," Tyler says surprisingly persuasively without looking up from his tinkering.
First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo steps forward to her podium addressing the Starfinder fleet. “Starfinders, after two years of hardship following our devastating first foray into the Scoured Stars, we now stand taller than ever and are back to fighting form. Today, new recruits rally beside experienced agents and rescued veterans, coming together to form the most resourceful, prepared, and skilled organization the Pact Worlds have ever known. This newfound strength comes not a moment too soon, for the threat within the Scoured Stars is unlike any we’ve ever faced: a hostile military force known as the jinsuls, committed to our complete destruction. Stopping the Jinsul Hierocracy will challenge us more than anything we’ve done before, but what I’ve seen from our agents these past two years assures me that we are more than up to the task! Your orders will arrive shortly; for now, gather your equipment, finish your preparations, and send any messages you wish before we reach the Scoured Stars.”
Hundreds of Starfinder agents hustle throughout the loading docks aboard the ever-impressive and newly refurbished Master of Stars, the pinnacle of the Starfinder fleet. Junior agents hastily pack every docked starship with weapons, armor, spare parts, and provisions, while technical staff runs diagnostics on starship armaments and senior officers finalize flight formations and supply routes. Many Starfinders’ faces are dark with uncertainty, but the fiery resolve burns in their eyes.
Venture-Captain Arvin, a damaya lashunta man, emerges from the shifting crowd of activity, his expression hard with repressed concern. “It seems fate has made soldiers out of explorers. We’ve always prepared our agents to navigate danger and violence, but never anything like this. Still, there isn’t another organization in the Pact Worlds that I would trust more with this daunting task.” He pauses for a moment, then shakes himself back to attention. “Right, much left to do! There are still a few specialized tasks remaining that you might be able to help us complete.”
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((Added Selene's slotted boons to her profile page))
Once, VC Arvin has completed, Selene pulls out her comm unit.
"Hi sis. You're probably busy with your own preparations but, I hope you can spare a moment to call me back. To be honest, I'm a bit scared, and rather anxious about going back to the Scoured Stars after being trapped behind the God Shield. I thought I had got over it with Hurondo and Jiwella's help but, I guess the only way really is to go back and face the situation again. Here's praying that Desna keeps both of us safe - and - I know sometimes I think you're an annoyance sometime but, I do love you sis, and I have appreciated all the good memories you tried to give me after all the bad, when you rescued me. Anyway, I better get back to work before I get yelled at or something. Wish you Desna's luck sis, and hope we both get back to the station"
She switches off the unit, takes a deep calming breath, then moves over to join her squad team, trying to give a smile.
"Hi .... I'm Selene Scintilla, a ... witchwarper, and dream interpreter ... um ... where should we go? I ... was thinking of this ... Iteration-177 person but ... um ... I'll defer to what the majority says"
Fitch, leader of the Wayfinders, walks you to an airlock leading out to some of the scaffolding on the ship’s exterior. “It’s strange to not have my children aboard, but this is no time to be bringing the young ones along. Last time, the jinsul capital ships chased away our carriers. I’d love to see how their flagship holds up against ours, but we’re still not quite finished with renovations. Try to wrap up the finishing touches on this gem of a ship— I want the last thing those jinsuls see is just how brightly it shines.”
Iteration-177, the enigmatic android, meets with you in a conference room, as charming as ever. “It appears I finally get to participate in a famed Starfinder adventure! I suspect you still have some desire to seek solace with the divine before heading into battle? I too, know this desire. I’m more than happy to converse, if you’d care to sit and chat.”
Venture-Captain Arvin looks over a group of anxious recruits in the mess hall. “Those green agents are not ready for a battle against an organized foe. Sadly, they’re liabilities when they’re frightened. Talk them through some of your experiences, set them at ease, and help them prepare for the challenges they’ll face ahead. We need them primed and ready for combat if we’re going to win this.”
Celita, leader of the Dataphiles, feverishly works on the mainframe in the command center of the Master of Stars. “Greetings, I’m Celita of the Dataphiles. You may have known me as Historia-7, though I’ve since stopped using that name due to reasons we don’t have the time to discuss. I think I’ve devised a way to artificially replicate the resonance effects of the Tear relic to help our ships stay in communication and traverse the Drift more precisely. I need you to double-check my code for errors and then see if you can shield the network from detection by jinsul sensors.”
Zigvigix, leader of the Exo-Guardians, sits before an immense cargo bay filled with crates of supplies. “They say an army marches on its stomach, but it also fights with guns and ammo! Can you take a look at all our gear to make sure it works and then load it onto the ships? Just try to keep the explosives separated from the food, please. We don’t want to have that mistake happen again!”
Radaszam, leader of the Acquisitives, overlooks a large holographic map of the Scoured Stars system, overlaid with smaller, more detailed maps of terrain on specific planets. “I don’t know about you, but I’m keen to take this fight to the jinsuls on their home turf. We have topographic data collected from our last foray into the Scoured Stars, plus some information on fighting styles our agents have reported from past jinsul encounters. See if you can make sense of it all and formulate a plan of attack.”
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Selene frowns over to Sarangari. Yeah. For now. And I've put my affairs in order too, just in case. I'd advise you to do the same.
1) While Selene helps with polishing the Master of Stars she tells the story of fighting off the Besmarian Whelp over a lost colony. It was THIS big she exclaims pointing at a nearby Drake class ship. And fired some sorta anti-proton beam. Plus, from what I understand, that was only a little one. I heard this story of an old Vesk Captain, by the name of Ahab, hunting down one that's nearly as large as this ship - the Great White Whelp.
2) She, and Iteration-177, share a moment of divine meditation. Heard about you from my sister she says. Something to do with memory wafers. I have to admit, going back to the Scoured Stars is making me nervous but, with Desna at my back, I'm hoping we'll all make it back and not get trapped again. Still, I have to admit, I've got a soft spot for this deity called Yaraesa who had all these mystical monoliths keeping the entire planet in Harmony and balanced between a black hole and a blue sun. I'd like to go back there and learn more. She then tells the story of how the Cult of the Devourer tried to break that balance and how they were stopped. ((no library crystal))
3) Even though she's nervous too, she helps reassure the rookies, by telling them the story of how her, and her group, guided an ambassador from a far away planet though Absalom Station, and having to deal with a gang of Ysoki thieves, two goblin gangs and a mad chef wielding a meat cleaver. Then there were the glitch gremlins aboard the SS Minnow on what was supposed to be a three hour cruise around the station. She will also offer her services as a Dream Interpreter and counsellor should they need it on the trip out. Maybe working with them will allay her own fears.
4) While working with Celita, she tells the story of the Scoured Stars race that had settled on a volcanic planet but, an accident with a mystical menhir turned them all into spirits. The team had to figure out what happened then shut the menhir down while it was spitting out incorporal entities.
5) No - a cake of C4 explosives isn't really edible I'd say she replies to Zigvigix. She then regals him with the story of finding the lost relics of the Dreamers in a moon orbiting Liavara and having to fight a Nightmare Dragon. I used to work with the Dreamers before I became a Starfinder she concludes. I still visit them from time to time - I find their presence .... soothing
6) Radazam is regaled with tales of the first expedition into the Scoured Stars, the one led by Jadnura that resulted in several Starfinders trapped behind the God Shield, and their struggles for survival while they waited for rescue.
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1: Twich happily tells tales of her first real adventure as a Starfinder, where she used her knowledge of computers to help defeat an undead menace.
2: Twich tells of the all-night study session during which Triun called out to her.
3: Twich seems to be too shy to help with Arvin's task.
4: Twich has no stories to tell, but does happily look over the computer code.
5: Twich tells tales of helping the Society recover stolen weapons.
6: Twich appears confused, but sees what she knows.
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Yeah. For now. And I've put my affairs in order too, just in case. I'd advise you to do the same.
"Nah, the Starfinders are the only family I got. So if I get killed you guys just need to pick up my stuff and blast the cloaca-sucker what done it."
Fitch-
Steelscales gets to work putting parts together on the massive ship. He is resistant to Fitch's attempts to get him to talk at first but finally tells her the story of fighting a ship called the Lawblight while recovering some starfinder insignias.
Iteration-177 -
Sarangari doesn't do the touchy feely thing and passes.
Arvin -
"You kids ever heard of a renkroda? Big mean sucker that could bite ya in half without even trying. Didn't matter, there's always something bigger and meaner. They are apparently endangered on their home planet. Me and some other Starfinders were workin' security at a fund raiser to help save the things when the bigger and meaner folks decided to attack. Unfortunately for them, the Starfinders are the biggest and meanest. Just do yer jobs and this'll be a success."
Celita-
Steelscales doesn't have the know-how for this sort of work.
Ziggy -
"Hey Ziggy, did I ever tell you about the time we had to stop a technological plague from taking over Absalom Station? It was weird. There was this strange outfit selling prosthetics that took over people's bodies. Almost like a zombie breakout. Strange stuff."
Radaszam -
"You remember that time we stowed away on a jinsuul ship Radaszam? I learned a bunch about fighting those suckers on that mission." Sarangari gives a few ideas based on the things he learned on that trip.
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Bruf vigorously shakes the hand of Selene, "Nice to meet you! I've never met a witchwarper before. Sounds neat!"
“It’s strange to not have my children aboard, but this is no time to be bringing the young ones along. ”
1) Bruf's eyes go wide, as he looks from side to side, and then slowly sidesteps to block Fitch's view of Tyler. "Yeah, that'd be weird." he says under his breath before clearing his throat and saying more clearly, "Don't worry, we'll trounce the Jinsul menace! My very first mission I got to go into duke it out in space twice! First against this big Eoxian freighter made out of a giant ribcage, and the second time against Space Pirates! We were all ZOOM! ZOOM! and they were all VREOW! But we caught and DAKKA DAKKA DAKKA, KABLOOEY!"
Despite the sound effects that even make Tyler roll his eyes, the pantomimed movements Bruf demonstrates with his hands show his extensive skill as a pilot.
2) Bruf has little to contribute with religion. He mostly just chimes in, ”I like Saranrae. She’s nice. Ooo, one time I got to be a Solarion for a minute when we found this ancient shrine thingy. I could feel like the pull of the void ‘n stuff.”
He does nudge one of his friends to something he notices in Iteration-177’s demeanor.
3) Bruf starts to puff up his chest and speak, but Tyler steps in front of him and beats him to the punch, ”Alright you new recruits! You’ve got nothin’ to fear! You see this big fella behind me?” he says as he thrusts a thumb over his shoulder, ”This is Mr. Bruf. He may not be very bright, but the fool charges right at danger every time he sees it. This is like my third field trip with Mr. Bruf, and I’ve never even been shot at cuz this guy soaks up laser fire like a sponge! I’ve gotten more bruises in gym class. Last time I got to tag along, we got to meet Strawberry Machine Cake. They got attacked by this giant pink robot thing, and Bruf and his crew kept every member of the band, not to mention all the screaming fans perfectly safe! Trust me, you guys are in good hands.”
4) ”Hi Histo--I mean, Celita. It’s nice to see you again. ‘Member that time we got to meet the mentrasi, ‘n we learned about their god, Kadrical? ...That was pretty cool. Oh um, don’t you need to put one of those backward squiggly lines at the end of that computer sentence?”
5) ”Zigvigix!!” Bruf exclaims as he charges forward and gives the shirren a massive bear hug. ”I haven’t seen you since the concert! Here lemme carry that!” he says as he casually scoops up two massive crates and throws each over a shoulder.
6) ”Oh me too! Those Jinsuls are just plain mean. And all spidery! Gross! Don’t worry, we’re gonna hunt ‘em down and kick their butt. I’ve had your back ever since that gala. ‘Member when we had to wear suits ‘n ties? Ugh, so itchy!”
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You can blame the Scoured Stars for that Selene replies to Bruf, still rather taken aback by the enthusiastic handshake. I started out as a Technomancer with a smattering of Solarian but, we encountered this strange crystal thingy while we were trapped, which knocked us out, and when I woke up, my mote was gone and my magic had been warped. Took me a while to figure out what had happened and I'm still trying to figure out the .... erm .... ins and outs of what I can do now. Some is like technomancy but others is sort of, swapping realities around from parallel universes. Still ... I managed to keep my magic missiles"
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Yeah. For now. And I've put my affairs in order too, just in case. I'd advise you to do the same."Nah, the Starfinders are the only family I got. So if I get killed you guys just need to pick up my stuff and blast the cloaca-sucker what done it."
"Yeah, well. There's only me and my sis left. Parents didn't survive the Scoured Stars. I was just a rookie field agent then. But yeah I'll be right behind you giving those ******* hell with my magic. I guess the Starfinders are my family too
Bruf's tales of extreme piloting inspires Sarangari to reinforce a few areas here and there when a reckless *ahem* adventurous pilot such as Bruf may attempt some extreme maneuvers with the Master of Stars.
"Excellent job and excellent story!!!" states Fitch. Although you can't help but notice Fitch eyeing Tyler running around. "Having the child on board is questionable... but does bring some amount of comfort. I suppose if his parents cleared his presence...." With a doubtful look on his face, Fitch wanders off to handle other tasks.
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Iteration-177 listens to Selene, Twich and Bruf's stories, fascinated.
"Those monoliths, I must see that someday, Selene. And your encounter with the cult, that sounds like a harrowing experience. That will well prepare you for what we're soon to encounter, I imagine.
"Twich, that sounds inspiring. I'm glad to have one as blessed as you on this mission.
"Bruf, you felt the 'pull', eh?" And you swear Iteration-177 grinned briefly.
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Selene holds Venture Captain Arvin's rookies in complete rapture as she relays the past stories. They cower at hearing about the chef with the cleaver, they grimace at the misadventures with gremlins and they feel reassurance at her availability to act as counselor.
On a side note, little Tyler's speech works quite well as they all make a mental note to duck and cover behind Bruf when things get heavy.
Arvin says, "Thank you Selene. Every little bit of motivation. Every ounce of courage. All of it will make a difference in the fight ahead. And Bruf, I hope that kid isn't writing checks your body can't cash."
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While the group's efforts at coding doesn't quite aid Celita, Selene's story and description of the volcanic phenomena inspires Celita. "That's it!! I didn't account for local interference spewed out by solar flares from nearby stars. Basically, galactic lava explosions!" Eyes affixed to a screen, she works away furiously at some code and says without looking up to you, "Thank you. Most helpful!"
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Selene looks over the supplies and INDEED finds explosives misplaced amongst some of the food stores. Twich looks them over and also finds that the packaging they're stored in is defective. While this poses no danger of accidental explosion, it does mean that if the problem wasn't rectified, the explosives would've performed suboptimally when detonated.
"Hmmm... I'll have to dig into why explosives continually gets mixed in with the food. As for your C4 cake, well, that'll be quite a cause of indigestion! Can't have that now can we!?!?"
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Bruf looks over the topographic maps while Twich reviews the fighting data. Together, they come to some conclusions around how the jinsul navigate the terrain, likely marching patterns they would take given certain condiions and how they adjust their fight tactics given the terrain they're located on. Together, you two report your findings and insights to Radaszam.
"Excellent work, eggheads!" he says looking up at Twich but when he sees Bruf, who in no ways resembles a typical nerdy type, "....and, uh, you... survivalist....?
"Anyways, good job!! This intel that you've both produced will save lives, no doubt about it!"
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As preparations wind down, a stillness settles over the crowd of Starfinders gathered on the command deck of the Master of Stars. First Seeker Jadnura, flanked by nominated First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo and the android Iteration-177, steps forward to an elevated captain’s platform and looks out over the assembled agents. Jadnura’s resonant voice carries across the assembly. “Starfinders! Today we gather not merely as explorers and scholars, but as defenders of the galaxy. Ever since the jinsuls ambushed our rescue mission into the Scoured Stars, they have assailed us and our allies at every turn. The danger the jinsuls present to our friends and homes cannot be ignored. We now know that they intend to awaken the divine being responsible for trapping our first expedition into the Scoured Stars. We know that this scheme threatens not only the Scoured Stars but all the space surrounding it. This leaves us with one mission: break the jinsul fleet and drive them from the Scoured Stars, putting an end to their depredations once and for all. Today we march to war!”
The Starfinders disperse to their ships and launch into orbit, assembling into either tactical strike formations or vanguards surrounding the larger vessels. The fleet’s synchronized screens flash to life, showing Luwazi Elsebo from her own command station. “We are ready to approach the Scoured Stars system from the outer orbit of the Agillae system’s star. The majority of our fleet will stay together to protect our supplies and support our ground troops, while our field agents are to scout the system and find the most strategic places to engage the jinsuls. Kadrical’s divine herald, Dhurus, is the head of the snake: find where he is hiding so we can direct our full forces against him. Once we close in on him, we can face down Dhurus on equal footing and end this conflict.”
Luwazi nods to the camera. “Stick together, support each other, and stay the course. We live or die as one today. Good luck, Starfinders. Fleet—activate Drift engines now!” The screen shuts off, and each formation of starships surges forward as a unit, vanishing into the Drift.
★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★
The Starfinder fleet emerges from the Drift as a single force, the three suns of the Scoured Stars burning brightly against the surrounding void. Moments later, onboard computers ping with streams of incoming data detailing nearby jinsul ships, planets with concentrated industrial activity, and further commands from the First Seekers. Several files emerge on the captains’ screens: briefings of locations where field agents could find useful information about how best to target the jinsul fleet’s weak points.
You're summoned to a Starfinder ship where you find Radaszam’s already imposing vesk figure appears extra threatening as he looms over a bound jinsul on this starship’s bridge. “Let me introduce you to my guest, Teskrkah, a jinsul who claims to have betrayed her teammates—those teammates being an assassination squad sent to kill me. Now, I don’t know what to believe, so I want you to figure out the truth here. I have some bigger fires I need to put out at the moment, so I’m handing this off to you. I’ve programmed the computer to translate for you if you need it. Remember, we’re Starfinders and not depraved killers, so don’t torture this pitiful creature. Just get what information you can from her. Engage the ship’s autopilot once you’ve gotten her to talk and it’ll bring you right to my location.”
Radaszam then leaves the ship and the captive in your hands, taking a shuttle back to his own starship and returning to the main fleet. Upon Radaszam’s departure, Teskrkah violently struggles against her restraints for a moment, then slumps into the chair with a series of mandible clicks.
The computer registers the clicks as a language and translates, “Dhurus, though an abominable curse on my people, seems set to mount you atop its flagship, as it did to the great heroes we once followed.”
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I happen to speak Jinsul sir Selene replies.
She then paces back and forth in front of the bound Jinsul and clicks at her
She then sits down and talks to the Jinsul as if she is one of her patients.
@GM, are the Sense Motive/Culture checks a group thing where anyone can roll those? Or does the Bluffer/Diplomat need to roll those skills to support their own social check?
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"Ooo! Ooo! Can I try?" the child asked while jumping up and down and raising his hand. Bruf steps aside and freely lets the boy do his best to interrogate the dangerous alien.
"So you wanna come over to the winning team, eh? It's a good call. nobody beats the Starfinders! They're the best. Heck, they're so confident in this war, that they were willing to let a kid like me tag along! So why don't you go ahead and tell us all the juicy details on your old pals? Who's got a crush on who? Who's the suck up? Oh, and like, where are the traps 'n stuff?"
Teskrkah replies to Selene...
Teskrkah appears stiffens up in response to Selene. But when this child speaks, Teskrkah appears strangly mesmerized. His body tilts in a way that you interpret to be akin to a head tilt of curiousity and bemusement.
"Fascinating. Your species are led by....children??" he says in Common.
Teskrkah's body language seems to indicate a bit more willingness to cooperate but he obviously isn't spilling the beans just yet!!
[ooc]Okay! The "goading" method has been used twice and can no longer be used. Please go ahead and post up your interrogation actions using other methods, be they the ones listed above or something original (but Diplomacy rolls can no longer be used).
"Seems to me that if you were swappin' sides you'd just tell us what we need to know without all this rigmarole. If you're just wastin' my time to try and slow us down somehow, I don't care what Radaszam says, I'll plug your alien butt right now. So get to talkin'."
Tyler's eyes go wide and pipes up to Bruf, "Do jinsul have butts? What does Mr. Steelscales, use to plug butts? Does he do that a lot? Is it a vesk thing? Do you plug butts too, Mr. Bruf?"
Tyler turns to Teskrkah and says, "You better start talking because even if you dun ave a butt, Mr. Steelscales will tear you a new one!! I know because Mr. Bruf sometimes yells that when he's driving our bus to school!"
Teskrkah retorts to Selene:
The threats from Steelscales and Tyler of expanding Teskrkah's jinsul anatomy visibly shakes Teskrkah. He quivers but remains silent.
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"Ugh!" Tyler lets out a melodramatic sigh and whines, "I'm bored now, Mr. Bruf. I thought this was gonna be fun! You promised I could shoot something this time. Can't I just shoot him? I mean, that boss guy kept him alive cuz he was gonna tell us secrets 'n stuff. If he's not gonna talk, we should just shoot him. You could say it was an accident. Pleeeeaaaaase!"
Although Teskrkah has been previously influenced by the child, Teskrkah has no issue seeing through Tyler's obvious lie.
"kekeke..." chuckles Teskrkah. "If you weren't so repulsive, I might actually find you.... entertaining."
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After having some dirty secrets about Jinsul culture whispered into his ear, Tyler recoils, "Ewwww! So he's literally talking out of his butt? You guys are gross, dude." he says while shaking his head.
"Alright. Last chance before these two giant vesks--you know the two decked out in power armor, toting weapons designed to level small villages--before they get tired of all the talky bits and decide to use you for target practice. Then again, you might wanna worry more about the ysoki. She looks like the type that might be eager to do science fair stuff on you." he shivers. "Or we can go share a juice box in the canteen and we can swap war stories. Your call." he says with a very bored shrug.
Teskrkah eyes the child and the rest of the party. "Your child leader is formidable. None of our intelligence reports had ever indicated the children of your species was so vastly superior in intellect than the adult of your species.
"However, it does confirm our overall general hypothesis that all of your so-called 'pact world' species get less and less intelligent as you grow to adulthood.
"Very well! We learned of your Starfinder leaderhsip locations through a nelentu double-agent from the Kreiholm Freehold named Tsimtsara...."
However, as soon as Teskrkah utters the name 'Tsimtsara', a disembodied voice booms out of nowhere:
Suddenly, Teskrkah's body violently convulses then rips apart in a surge of divine energy, splattering innards and gooey guts all over Tyler and Bruf!!!
The energy then coalesces into two jinsul-shaped demonic entities which abruptly attacks you!!!!
Round 1
The following characters in bold may take their turn:
Bruf
Selene
Twich
Steelscales
Red demon
Purple demon