The jinsul high command collapses as Kadrical’s blessing wanes, affording veteran Starfinders an opening to strike.
The tension in the atmosphere surrounding Bastiar-5 eases as the golden energy enveloping it withdraws into the immense pit. The receding light sweeps away the jinsul fortifications, restoring the planet’s natural, rugged terrain. The remaining jinsul forces scatter, soldiers scurrying toward the horizon and starships fleeing into the Drift. Across a battlefield strewn with dead and wounded bodies, Starfinders cheer at the sight of the retreating enemy.
As the Starfinder fleet regroups, the communication screens light up with the image of both First Seekers, the various faction leaders, and numerous venture-captains. Luwazi Elsebo, front and center, beams with pride. “Agents, we stand together in the midst of our Society’s most glorious victory to date! Today, we have risen from the ashes of our previous failures, stronger and more united than ever before! Not even an army of bloodthirsty jinsuls, with an armada and the power of a waking god at their backs, could defeat us!”
Jadnura nods. “We have indeed accomplished much, but there is more in our future. With Dhurus defeated, the Scoured Stars are safe, but only so long as others don’t seek to foolishly unlock their secrets. Coming here was my mission as First Seeker, and while I have succeeded, I intend to continue seeing this mission through. I shall remain in this system, communing with the waking Kadrical and standing sentinel over others who would disturb this site. My time as First Seeker has truly ended.”
Luwazi’s smile softens as she looks at Jadnura, and after a moment she speaks. “As for me, my only goal as First Seeker was to rebuild the Starfinder organization and rescue those we had lost. I can say that our organization is stronger than ever, boosted by powerful allies and friends. While I cannot think of a higher note to end on, I do not believe the time has come for me to step down, but instead I shall stay on a short while longer to ease the transition to a new First Seeker. I cannot wait to see where our remarkable society goes next under new leadership. Perhaps someone currently among our ranks will be the next to choose our heading? You’ve all certainly demonstrated that you have what it takes. But that can be our first order of business once we return home. For now, we tend to our wounded, we recover, and we celebrate!”
Days after its momentous victory in the Scoured Stars, the Starfinder Society fleet emerges from the Drift near Absalom Station. With their deeds relayed through Drift beacons, the crews of the returning vessels begin tuning into the local infosphere to hear the Pact World’s response to the Society’s victory in the Scoured Stars. The reactions flood in.
“I, for one, believe that an organization that can amass that many military-grade resources needs to be held on a tighter leash.”
“Didn’t the Pact Council vote not to interfere in the Scoured Stars? Who do these Starfinders think they are?”
“Yeah, the Strawberry Machine Cake concert rescue was pretty great… but what if it were a Starfinder setup, to help justify their little war?”
“Does anyone know what the jinsuls did to us? I mean, I heard that the jinsuls were a peaceful civilization, and the Starfinders just wanted to pillage their homeland.”
All over the Starfinder comm channels, pundits and social media stars relay similar questions and messages of dismay at the Society’s recent actions. Moments later, First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo sends out a fleet wide broadcast. “Starfinders, it’s clear that we’ve not returned to the hero’s welcome we hoped for. In fact, it looks as though we’re the target of some sort of coordinated media attack, as organizations we’ve never had any dealings with are smearing our recent triumphs. Fear not, this is just another challenge for us to overcome, and perhaps the next few months will be well-spent polishing the reputation these hidden attackers have sought to so recklessly tarnish.”
Hef moves over to the device and begins the process to interact with it.
"Your heralds have followed a false path. Their devotion has broken and failed them. But... there is still a path to redemption. It is the opportunity given to all those under the light of Sarenrae."
booms the voice of Kadrical in reply. The deity's strength obviously returning.
The tension in the atmosphere surrounding Bastiar-5 eases as the golden energy enveloping it withdraws into the immense pit. The receding light sweeps away the jinsul fortifications, restoring the planet’s natural, rugged terrain. The remaining jinsul forces scatter, soldiers scurrying toward the horizon and starships fleeing into the Drift. Across a battlefield strewn with dead and wounded bodies, Starfinders cheer at the sight of the retreating enemy.
***
All over the Starfinder comm channels, pundits and social media stars relay similar questions and messages of dismay at the Society’s recent actions. Moments later, First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo sends out a fleet wide broadcast. “Starfinders, it’s clear that we’ve not returned to the hero’s welcome we hoped for. In fact, it looks as though we’re the target of some sort of coordinated media attack, as organizations we’ve never had any dealings with are smearing our recent triumphs. Fear not, this is just another challenge for us to overcome, and perhaps the next few months will be well-spent polishing the reputation these hidden attackers have sought to so recklessly tarnish.”
|
Hef tries to hold his position as the booming voice of the god shakes the cavern but is pushed back against his will. He centers himself and manages to only take a single step back before the warmth of Sarenrae's wrath holds his position. As the echoing remnants of god-speak reverberate he looks around at the fleeing and dead jinsuls in the cavern.
"Sarenrae saw us through. Well done allies."
Tying off a cable, he rappels down to the floor. Dragging a jinsul body with him, he heads to the walls and hooks it up into a sling. If anyone asks why he explains, "I have an ally who researches all the beings I have to fight. They will dissect this jinsul and provide me information in case I face creatures like them in the future. The knowledge may also allow me to avoid combat."
Prerequisites: Exo-Guardians Tier 1
Cost: 2 Fame
Benefit: You have a growing relationship with a researcher among the Exo-Guardians. At the end of a scenario for which you’ve slotted this boon, you can return one, and only one, mostly intact cadaver of a defeated significant enemy (Starfinder Core Rulebook 242) for the ally to study. Mark the creature type (such as aberration, fey, or ooze) of the collected cadaver on your Chronicle sheet. While this boon is slotted, you gain an insight bonus to Engineering, Life Science and Mysticism checks to identify creatures corresponding to creatures of the types you have collected. The bonus is equal to the number of corpses of that creature type collected, up to a maximum of +3. The bonus represents your correspondence between you and your examiner ally, and it does not mean the examiner is physically present during the adventure.