Welcome, please dot in!
Venture-Captain Arvin stands at the head of a long conference table. “Greetings, Starfinders. Thank you for arriving so quickly.” He gestures to several comfortable chairs situated around the table, inviting everyone to take a seat.
“Yesterday, I purchased an interesting painting from a local contact. It’s valuable, certainly, but that’s not my main concern. I’m interested in its origins.”
“According to my contact, the painting was acquired in the Drift, at the site of a large extraplanar disturbance. I’d like you to pick up the painting and question its owner. Find out everything he knows about the painting and where it was discovered. Speaking of my contact,” the Venture- Captain’s upper lip curls slightly. “He’s a vesk pawnbroker by the name of Julzakama. He runs a shop in the Downlow district called Julzakama’s Loans. He’s brash, greedy, and certain to give you a hard time. Don’t let him push you around. And no matter what he says, don’t pay him anything! I’ve already wired him the promised funds.” Arvin presses a hand to his temple, massaging it for a moment as if trying to rid himself of foul memories. “I make no claim to like Julzakama, but he is useful. He has a habit of acquiring interesting objects and information, which he has shared with the Starfinder Society on more than one occasion. When you’re done speaking with him and retrieving the painting, return to me. I’ll see the painting is properly appraised and treated while you select a starship, requisition supplies, and travel to the coordinates where the painting was discovered. When you arrive, I’d like you to track down the painting’s source and collect any other art pieces or objects at the site before they’re lost. I’d also like you to uncover what you can of the site. What plane was it pulled from, what purpose served, and so on. Context is an integral component of any exploration.”
Arvin nods, gesturing with an incline of his head at a circular device resting on the table. “This is a null-space chamber. Use it to collect and store any delicate objects and art you find. I expect it returned when your mission is complete. Any questions?”
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A moderate height red-skinned gives the venture captain a brilliant smile. ”I try to be at least on time. Especially for briefings!” He readjusts the armor that might look a little more appropriate on a Free Captain than a Starfinder if it wasn’t for the insignia on the breast. He cricks his somewhat long neck and sits down, adjusting the white sleeves of his shirt and double checking the ultra-thin recording device woven into it is not on. Over one shoulder a small black orb floats, a circle of white in the center occasionally sending a small feeler of electricity out to the edge of the orb.
“So we’re going to go track down where this fine art came from… any reason in particular this piqued your interest? I mean other than it coming from the drift?” The man’s smile dims for a second at the mention of Julzakama. “I think I heard about him from a friend of mine. Something about his ‘memory runs on credits’ and the ‘man fails to calculate that into his dealings.’ Sounds like a fun customer! I’m assuming we are supposed to try keeping good relations with him?”
Ceolor takes a curious look at the chamber, but frowns at the venture-captain’s words about bringing it back. “You know me, I would definitely bring it back… assuming it wasn’t stolen or necessary to barter for something else, I guess. So what information do you have about the painting already?”
Ally: High Society Influence (Ykris?)
Faction: Second Seekers (Luwazi Elsebo) Champion
Personal: Scourted Stars Survivor
Promotional: None
Social: Faction’s Friend (Social Boon; Limited Use)
Starship: Defender of the Fleet
Slotless: Marked Field Agent, Star Sugar Heartlove!!!, Salvation’s Delver, Basic Purchasing Plan (Mnemonic Editor mk1)
“I have a hunch this painting is quite valuable, much more than Julzakama suspects. Perhaps even of historical significance. Irrelevant of its value, the fact that Julzakama has come to us with this object, instead of an art dealer, has me intrigued. As much as I hate to admit it, Julzakama hasn’t brought us anything that didn’t warrant further investigation.”
"I'm not suggesting you take him out to lunch or buy him flowers, but at the end of the day we'd prefer to retain the relationship on good terms, even if he tries pulling fast ones if he thinks he can get away with us. He still brings us good pieces, and better to us than someone else"
Ceolor notes the device is a mk 2 null-space chamber
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A business-casual lashunta sits mid-table, politely waiting for a very typical briefing. Whispers from the scoured stars? Fly-by-night cybernetics operations run amok? Corpse fleet ruffling our feathers?
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An art-hole in the drift...? A hidden interstellar painter of happy little constellations? I don't get it. You have to have some inkling about the source to be so interested in it, right? What do you suppose this historical relevance is?
Sefel almost trips over his words as his befuddlement is on full display. Clearly this is not quite the mission he was expecting.
"Paintings don't end up floating around the drift on their own, so it has come from somewhere fascinating and we want to chase up the painting and its true origins. Honestly, we have no idea if the place this painting was found contains anything else of interest. But if it does, I don’t want history lost to the Drift.”
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Wandering right at the beginning of the briefing is a handsomely tall but lithe half-orc. His clothing seems immaculate, but it does seem that he might have been out to the bars drinking a bit too much last night. The only unusual item on his clothing is a 2nd Starfinder badge, placed right over his heart. This badge looks like it had been through a lot...abrasion,scrapes, nicks and even a little warping around the edges. The other badge seems no less old, but has none of that damage.
With a quiet "Sorry I am late," he sits down to listen what Venture-Captain Arvin says their mission is.
Listening to the question about Julzakama, "Yeah, Julzakama is stingy and often forgets things like who's turn it is to buy drinks, but amazingly he is pretty honest for a pawn-broker. Been to his shop a few times, got to know him a little. But I doubt that will help much with his greed." With that Tsultro smiles a bit. "Too bad...With Arvin telling us he has already been paid, I have ways to make him see reason."
Since nobody else seems to be willing to touch the null-chamber, Tsultro picks it up and slides it into a pocket.
"Drift exploring. I haven't done that much before. Isn't it a bit dangerous? I heard from a friend things like weird alien octopus's and exploding magma and all that can be out there, just depends on what plane the Drift pulled when somebody's Drift Engine spools up and activates."
Boons Slotted this Adventure
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Ally:Spirits of a Doomed People
Faction: Second Seeker (Jadnura) Champion
Personal: Half Orc race
Promotional: Shirt Reroll
Social: Distinguished Ambassador
Starship: Analytical Tracking (Faction) (If we take the Drake, otherwise none)
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Soon into the room rushes in a rather short android, he wears a leather jacket and trousers that you can see at a workshop. He keeps an unlighted cigarette in his mouth as he walks through the doors
"Why did you start without me? The meeting was supposed to start in 10." On that android checks his datapad and says:
"Oh, nevermind then. Sorry for being late."
You had a chance to look at him, besides short height his head is having some crest of led tubes instead of hair, he has a prosthetic left arm that only consists of 4 rather big fingers and is made from a material of silver color. As he holds the datapad in his artificial arm it begins to tremble. He quickly stuffs his datapad into his pocket and takes a sit, removing his odd-looking rifle from his back.
It is a longarm that is for sure but looks bulkier, the barrel is wider and has holes in the shape of mixed pipes. If you are familiar with Absalom you saw it as a symbol of pipetown. That weapon is the best kept item that the newcomer has. His clothing are a bit old and dirty.
"Hellih is my name, I got a message that a pilot is needed for this mission."
Ally:High Society Influence (Iteration-177, Naiaj, Royo, Ykris, Zo!)
Faction: Second Seeker (Jadnura)
Personal: Possessed augmentation
Promotional:
Social:
Starship: Hero of the Stars
"Sounds like I have the right people for the job then"
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Diplomacy (Gather info)
Downlow is the largest district in the Spike, hundreds of levels of access corridors and machinery that descends below Absalom Station’s radial plane. The poorest of Absalom Station’s citizens make their home in the slums of the Spike, as do countless gangs and criminal enterprises.
Julzakama is a pawnbroker and loan shark whose shop sells a wide variety of useless junk. He makes most of his credits on loans and information. Typically, only the desperate deal with him, but he has provided the Society with several impressive leads in the past.
Julzakama is a domineering and overly proud vesk. He respects aggression, bravado, and power, and considers diplomacy a sign of weakness.
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As soon as the briefing is finished, Ceolor hops up out of his chair and takes a good look at the null-space chamber. "I can see why you want this back. I've only heard of these before... didn't they have some predecessor back before the gap... some kind of bag? I wonder how large it is inside..." The man natters away a little while exploring the device and ultimately sticks his head inside and takes a look. "Dang we could almost smuggle someone in this if needed. Not that that would be comfortable for them."
The red skinned-man then takes a good look at the rest of the crew and pulls out a small case, taking a few business cards from inside. He hands one to each of the Starfinders. "I'm Ceolor Xusha, writer of holo-novels such as 'Around Verces in Eighty Parsecs' or 'A Thousand Splendid Akitonian Suns.' It's a pleasure to meet you and I look forward to working with you! Also, should I call a cab? I know a great company! Also probably safer than walking around in the Spike."
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Hehe, paper.
Ceolor smiles at the lashunta's words. "Always something to be said for the classics, no? And, anyways, these have the benefit of an microTEFI card in them, allowing you to tap one against a datapad like this... and it transfers all of my contact information, a continually updated copy of my resume, and a certificate for one of my holo-novels for free!"
The journey to Julzakama’s Loans takes less than an hour, through the claustrophobic slums of the Spike to Downlow. Julzakama’s Loans is located on a crowded, filthy alley lined with metal and concrete buildings that are universally caked in oilsoaked graffiti. Trash fills the street, and the stench of bodily waste is thick in the air. A metal door located under a red neon sign that reads ‘Julzakama’s Loans’ is the only entrance to the pawn shop.
Julzakama’s loans is a run-down, crowded shop with shelves crammed full of worthless junk. In between teetering piles of out-of-date comm units, coils of mismatched wires, and broken appliances are jugs of unidentifiable liquids and heaps of broken metal. It’s humid, and the entire place reeks. At the back of the shop is a desk topped by a series of metal bars that reach all the way up to the ceiling.
Behind the desk stands a muscular vesk in a greasy, torn muscle shirt, watching a vidscreen. The image displays a new interview with a white-furred female ysoki from AbadarCorp gingerly snacking on an apple while answering questions about the insufficient screening measures employed by AbadarCorp colonies. At the sight of customers, Julzakama smiles a toothy grin and shuts off the vidscreen.
“You know, I really like that Datch lady. She speaks her mind and I think AbadarCorp could use more leaders like her,” the vesk exclaims before bellowing at his new arrivals. “Anyways, you Arvin’s pets? Come in, then. No need to hide.” Julzakama chuckles, giving his scaly neck a good scratch. “Well, what do you want?”
Julzakama was watching as a fringe Absalom Station news agency that reports on outlandish topics. The ysoki woman is a rising member of AbadarCorp known as Datch, who has risen to prominence through her ability to impress media outlets and in standing against the Starfinder Society for their recent actions over the past several years—namely, the events of the Scoured Stars.
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Also probably safer than walking around in the Spike.
"We are going to downlow, it is safe there. I actually own a workshop there, opened last month. Nice to meet you Celeor, never had a chance to read one of your novels, my name is Hellih"
He looks with a smile on the business card and takes one. He pulls out his datapad puts it on the table and pushes a few buttons on his arm.
From the datapad, an image emerges showing a gray and a bit rundown building with graffiti on its walls. A neon sign says: 'Hellih will fix your gun to light up any party'.
"This is mine if you touch the image it will project straight into your mind. It is following the Absalom regulation and its perfectly safe."
You can hear music playing with a 3rd image of the store as the camera enter its doors. Inside is a tidy small establishment where in the corner Hellih is working on a heavy laser cannon. Then the camera turns towards a wall, where there are all sorts of weapon. Some of them are disassembled. Then the narrative kicks in, telling you the location and advertising the gunmaker shop for good quality and cheap prices.
Hellih walks with the agents into the Julzakama shop and he eyes the display
"Datch? I've heard of her. She is all over the news. I found it odd that she is criticizing Starfinder Society for how they handled the Scoured Stars. A bit like a rat crapping in its own nest. But she got popular due to that."
Then he turns towards Julzakama looking him straight in the eyes. However, he is much smaller and thinner than the Vesk.:
"Thanks for the tip about the starfinder insignias. We tied all loose ends."
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Tsultro looks at the actual paper business card. "Aren't these...well expensive in comparison to just a QR code or something?" He does take the card and put it into his pocket.
"I heard that if you took a null-space chamber and put it into another, things can go sideways...like both either explode and everything comes out, or they implode and nothing is ever seen again from them....or at least the old 'wives' tale says...Either way I wouldn't want to store a living person in there."
"Downlow isn't bad. I go to a comedy club down there...well it is bar that has comedy at least, and sometimes the comedy is actually good. Just make certain your credstick is somewhere that would make it difficult to lift."
With that Tsultro follows the group, keeping an eye on the side alleys and noticing if any new graffiti/gang signs have changed since he was last down here.
Tsultro just scowls at the vid....he has no love for that ysoki. The Scoured Stars incident...well...he is still mourning from the death of his friend while they both were stuck behind that shield.
"I wouldn't call us pets there Julzakama. And is it your molting season? As you seem to be scratching a lot and your scales seem to be a little dull. Dull...kinda like the brains who listen to that ysoki Datch about her grand plans. She might have some ideas on how to run a business, but she doesn't know what she is talking about dealing with the Scoured Stars. Yeah, yeah, we are here from the Society to get the painting and any more info you might have about it."
With that, Tsultro scowls a bit stronger at Julzakama.
Julzakama gives a boisterous laugh at the display, seemingly pleased about the quality of customer Tsultro represents. He hands over the painting to Tsultro, slipping the stinky, mud-encrusted, framed painting through the metal bars with a grin and the words, “Pleasure doing business with you, star-ling.”
He asides to Hellih "Well pal, glad the tip worked out. Here, want a drink?" he offers a 'Thirst Burst' energy drink. Hellih notes that being called pal in a non-condescending tone seems like a bit of a promotion and respect from the pet names and open disdain Julz normally uses.
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Hellih gives a suspicious look at Julz but takes the energy drink.
"Appreciated... pal. I might stop by in look for military-grade spare parts. I just opened my workshop a couple of blocks west from here."
As he takes a sip of the drink android looks at the painting then takes out a cigarette and puts it in his mouth.
"That is... a Vesk."
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"We are going to downlow, it is safe there. I actually own a workshop there, opened last month. Nice to meet you Celeor, never had a chance to read one of your novels, my name is Hellih"
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Hellih. I'd reccomend trying one of my holonovels, many people seem to enjoy them... I also only really know the Downlow by reputation... and when people say the poorest my only comparison is really Akiton, which should explain my concern."
From the datapad, an image emerges showing a gray and a bit rundown building with graffiti on its walls. A neon sign says: 'Hellih will fix your gun to light up any party'.
"This is mine if you touch the image it will project straight into your mind. It is following the Absalom regulation and its perfectly safe."
Ceolor reaches a hand out to the image in curiosity, his eyes unfocusing for a moment as the advertisement plays through his head. He blinks a few times as it ends. "Well that was a trip! I'll definitely hit you up if I ever need a gun... Oh and do you deal with melee weapons too? This baton is starting to get old."
Tsultro looks at the actual paper business card. "Aren't these...well expensive in comparison to just a QR code or something?" He does take the card and put it into his pocket.
"They're surprisingly cheaper than you'd think! And something physical that they can handle is immensely useful. Though a QR code alone would be cheaper."
-------Ceolor makes sure to hide his credstick as best he can, and enjoys the new experience of the Downlow. "This is certainly better than I would have thought. On the poorest sections of Akiton we'd have been shot at 5 times by now."
He noses around Julzakama's shop, but ultimately finds next to nothing interesting.
He sniffs some at the sight of Datch on the screen. "Ah, her. She is persuasive, but I've met more competent AbadarCorp people before."
He watches the exchange between Julzakama, Tsu and Hellih with a bit of interest, not really rising up to the ribbing. He does notice the complete lack of further information. "So, where did you happen to come by this? It's a lovely painting, but I was told you were paid to give us more than just a pretty picture. Any clues as to where this thing came from?"
Julzakama hands over the drink to Hellih and gets a sly look in his eye as Ceolor comment s "Ten credits for the drink old pal, and several more for info on the painting, did you see a sign out the front that said 'free tourist information' or something? Does this look like an art gallery?"
The painting is a portrait of an austere vesk soldier with a commanding presence.
You identify the vesk soldier as Major Sifkali, a Veskarium war hero who distinguished himself on the battlefield against the Swarm.
You realizes the portrait is a priceless work of art by Aelon Vimariss, a verthani artist that became famous for painting Veskarium war heroes.
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Sefel recognizes Julzakama, but hopes the Vesk doesn't recognize him from his mission looking into a fly-by-night augmentation shop . The shop-owner makes his skin craw and he hadn't thought quick enough to come up with an excuse to avoid this stop-off. He looks down and avoids eye contact until the painting comes out.
Then he looks up and stares intently at it, trying to get the significance.
So... it's a painting of you? Is this a joke?
"What, we all look the same to you Lashunta-ling?"
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"Obviously that painting isn't of you Julzakama...why, your horns are much more impressive and pronounced than that weak looking vesk. Though I do have to say it's coloring is better, you really should go have a Vesk doctor look at your scales. BUT....Arvin already paid you for the painting and the information. He wired you all the promised funds....so cough up the info you might have on it. And why you think it is something that the Starfinder Society would be interested in?"
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"I have a few melee weapons. I am sure you will be able to find something suitable."
He again looks at the business card
"It's kind of hipster, paper business card. And actually match the theme of books. Apparently initially they were published on paper."
He looks Julz
"10 credits? You are jocking. I can give you a 1. And as Tsultro suggested, you give us the info that Starfinder paid for already."
Julz chuckles at Hellih, clearly this was another test to see how much backbone the android has.
He seems rather pleased with Tsultro though, smiling with a mouthful of pointed teeth in response to the brusque tone.
“The portrait’s of a Veskarium soldier that fought against the Swarm. A major, I think. Don’t know who painted it, but it’s worth every credit your boss paid for it. More than he paid, I’d wager. You’re welcome.” he takes a sip of his energy drink “I Bought it off a rat-ling named Winks. She’s captain of the Clutter Collector. That’s a salvage barge that picks up junk from the Drift. Only this ain’t junk. It’s good stuff.”
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"A Major who fought against the Swarm you say....hmm. And you got it from Winks, who captains the Clutter collector. Honestly, that is more than I expected you to give us. Julzakama, you know. Maybe you can meet me down at a local comedy bar for a drink. Called the Last Asteroid. I am usually down there on Twoday and Fiveday when I am on station. That is when the improve standup happens. If you find me there, I will buy you a drink or two for giving us this info."
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"Sounds swell - we could go for a drink, laugh at the comedians, and collect a few debts or something. Well we wont be seeing Winks there, that Ysoki-ling ditched and ran in a real hurry. Had quite the fanciful tale to tell, but I knew I could leverage a good deal"
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"What kind of tale? Come on Julzakama, if that ysoki told you anything at all, about what they did, tell us. If you don't it might not mean that some--or all--of us won't be coming back. You know Arvin, he will likely be sending us--or other hapless Starfinders--out to explore this. Anything else you can tell us will help in keeping us--or others--alive."
"I would be beside myself with grief if something happened" Julz says flatly before sipping his energy drink, making it clear he wouldn't be particularly beside himself with grief or any other emotion.
"Winks sold the thing to me the for the same reason everyone sells me their stuff, star-ling: desperation. The rat-ling reeked of it. She was scared of the portrait. Kept saying it was corrupted or cursed or some nonsense. Swore up and down the vesk in it was rotten and burnt!” Julzakama shakes his head and chuckles. “Painting looked fine to me. Still does. If I‘d seen signs of a curse, I would’ve charged your boss extra! Anyway, Winks blurbed this far fetched story about where the painting was from, I paid a fair and equitable price, and then she went to ground - she got rattled bad and wants to put as much distance between herself and this saga as possible"
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The lashunta continues engaging with the new information but doesn't seem to be directly conversing the Julz anymore. He mutters, almost more to the rest of the team as he spaces out with his gaze held at some random point away from people and his hand on his chin. His antennae twitch together like hands that are eager for something.
Hmm... so this painting might have some mystical properties at times, or at certain places... I don't want to discount Ms. Wink's experiences so quickly.
"Yeah, maybe in the magic space-swamp, the one Winks won't be rushing back to"
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"Do you have coordinates where in the drift they found the painting?" Asks Android looking at some pile of things on the side.
He picks some magnetic drive and begins to examine it closely. Then he puts it down and turns to Julz
"Or where clutter collector is. We can take the location from its journal."
Then he turns towards Sefel, his led hair changing its color from blue to yellow
"Do you know things about possessed objects? My arm apparently have a Vesk spirit attached to it. But she thinks I am a turd not worthy of her help. I doubt my experiences are helpfull in this situation"
“I sent your boss the coordinates, star-ling. Look it up. You want me to do your job for you?” Julzakama laughs, then takes a deep swig of his energy drink. “It was in a big hunk of swamp floating in the Drift. Not sure what plane it’s from, but there was gravity, and the atmosphere was toxic. The rat-ling’s that found it called it the Drift Bog. They tried exploring it, but they were attacked by bugs, and the rat-ling said they saw bigger beasts stomping around in there. Not sure what kind and frankly, I don’t think the rat-ling even saw ‘em. She was sick when she got here, seeing things. Even said she saw a big old house in the distance. One of them old fashioned wooden ones, like you see on the history vidcasts.” With a sudden frown, Julzakama quickly adds, “Not that I watch those things…” Clearing his throat he continues, “The rat-ling said the house was real fancy, but it was flooded and sinking into the swamp. Like I said, she was fevered. Probably dreamt the thing. Whatever’s really there, something made her sick. Could be poison, disease, or worse.”[/b] With a wide grin he adds, “Have fun.
With that he tosses his empty can into a trash can and turns the tv back on, clearly seeing business as finished.
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Sefel looks at Hellih's arm with genuine curiosity.
I don't readily know, but I might be able to come up with info. How do you know it's a Vesk spirit? Maybe... he looks back into the shop, you can have Julz talk to it? Spirits are odd things, not quantifiable even like the arcane. We seem to be a generally objective group, not very mystical.
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As they all leave, Tsultro looks back at Julzakama,"Thanks for the info. And yeah, when I get back, let's go to that bar and see some comedy. And who knows...maybe you can get my services to help you collect a few debts...."
Walking back to the Lorespire, with the painting in the null-space, Tsutro does some musing, "Think it is worth trying to find this Winks? We have the coordinates. And yeah, it does sound like there might be poison or diseases. Maybe we should go to the medic lab and ask for some anti-toxins and antibiotics? I have enough to get a couple of each."
It’s another hour back to the Lorespire Complex where Venture-Captain has been awaiting your return "Is this the piece?" he enquires as he comes around his desk to take a closer look "Interesting. Got any more details about what we are looking at? Did Julzakama have any further information?"
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Ceolor stares at the painting for a moment, only barely countering Julkazama's complaints about information, with a simple. "Nope, no tourist information sign out front, but we could readily set one up on the way out... and this definitely ain't an art gallery, unless rusted, 3-gen old tech is 'art' in which case congrats on the art gallery."
The human instead focuses on the painting. He gives a rather shocked look at the work, pulling out a small manigfying glass and even looking at the signature and comparing it to something he rapidly looked up on his data pad. "Interesting..."
Ceolor only listens to the rest of the conversation with one ear, before popping in towards the end, "Going to a comedy club could be fun. Assuming there's not a problem with me coming. But yeah work does come first. Have a good one then. Also don't believe everything that rat-ling on TV says."
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Later in the streets he pulls aside the rest of the group. "I'm rather surprised that Julzakama didn't immediately know who this painting is of, but it's a representation of Major Sifkali, a Veskarium war hero who distinguished himself on the battlefield against the Swarm. But even more important is who painted it. Aelon Vimariss! This thing is nearly priceless! Assuming it isn't a fake, of course. The signature matches at least."
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Ceolor conveys his findings about the painting to VC Arvin, adding in, "Seems the woman who found it was spooked to Far Space and back. Claimed the depicted Vesk was rotten and burnt and that the painting was cursed. She might have been feverish though."
"Feverish? Could have been hallucinating. Any information about the location it came from?"
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Ceolor smiles at the irony of the Venture-Captain parroting Julzakama, "You know Julzakama thought the exact same thing. It might have come from a swamp in the drift, which also explains the mud-crusted exterior and why she was feverish in the first place. But that is all speculation based off of secondary information from an aggressive shop keep based off what a potentially delirious ysoki said. We won't be able to determine exactly what the place is until we pay it a visit. Jul said he had sent you the coordinates for the site, right?"
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Sefel looks at Hellih's arm with genuine curiosity.
I don't readily know, but I might be able to come up with info. How do you know it's a Vesk spirit? Maybe... he looks back into the shop, you can have Julz talk to it? Spirits are odd things, not quantifiable even like the arcane. We seem to be a generally objective group, not very mystical.
"At first, I only noticed my arm to twitch in certain situations. I was expecting messed up connection or malfunctioning prosthetic. Given the situation in which I got it, it was the most probable culprit."
Hellih stops and lights up his cigarette, that is probably the first time you see him light one of those, even that he constantly has one in his mouth. He is not breathing normally but now you hear some ventilation kicking in and the cigarette is burned almost instantly. An odd mechanism.
Then he continous
"I was promised to get medical help from Starfinder Society when I do a couple of missions, but all tests showed that the work was done well. The prosthetic was old, and not matching my body but functional. Then Society brought two most bizarre aliens I ever saw. And in the pipetown I saw some wackos. One was a small Ysoki with grey fur on his snout constantly under some psychotropic and he yelled a lot that he sees flying flowers wanting to eat him. The other was smooth-talking Shireen. When the Shirren is smiling he looked like wishing to bite my head off, he had unusually massive arms for a mystic. Either way, they did some ritual and found out that my arm is haunted. They determined it was a Vesk a warrior with a great sense of honor. A bit different than Julz back there."
Hellih looks around the downlow alley grabbing his rifle more firmly and turning silent for a couple of seconds. His eyes scanning the surroundings, and his arm begins to shake visibly. After a couple of seconds, he relaxes and adds:
"The ghost said that she has no respect to grease monkey like me and that I can't even hit a barn with a banana. The two mystics advised me to try to convince the ghost of my value and valor or cut the handoff. I decided to try with the first."
Hellih shivers at a though of again losing an arm even an artificial one.
"Thanks Sefel. I prefer not to share that information with Julz, when aliens in Downlow discover that I speak with my arm I might loose the small number of customers I get. "
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Tsultro hears Hellih's story about his arm. "Maybe it is like Julz, you should intimidate it and be all bravado...maybe then it would respect you?
*******
"I think Julzakama said Winks swore there was some kind of old mansion house in the swamp. The old kind, made of wood and stone is how I felt he was trying to convey. And yeah, I do find it weird that Julz didn't know who painted this thing. He said something in the order of 'I don't know who painted this thing, but it worth every credit Arvin paid for it, and more.' To me that sounds like he DID know who it was of, and who painted it, and he just wanted this thing away from him. Could Julz be supersitious?
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Ceolor frowns at the arm. "That's one hell of an arm you've got then. Maybe learning some Vesk and Vesk customs might help? Oh and Tsu might have a good idea with straight up browbeating the spirit. Don't be afraid of it. This is your body and the Vesk had their body, she really shouldn't have a say in the matter. But then Vesk are Vesk... not that humans can be much better at times."
"Can we pass the painting to do some laboratory analysis? there could be some traces of what Drift Bog consists off."
"Oh, and Wink was a captain of Clutter Collector if we find the ship we can get some insight from its logs."
Ceolor nods at the ideas. "Not bad ideas! Especially considering Wink is probably not going to appreciate the us tracking her down about something she was 'desperate' to wash her hands of."
"He said something in the order of 'I don't know who painted this thing, but it worth every credit Arvin paid for it, and more.' To me that sounds like he DID know who it was of, and who painted it, and he just wanted this thing away from him. Could Julz be supersitious?
Ceolor' s smile turns wry as he counters. "Or he could have a latant talent as an art critic! Maybe he should be running an art gallery!"
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Tsultro raises one eyebrow (just one) at Ceolor's comment about Julzakama being an art critic..."Really? Him an art critic? Maybe if the art you are referring to is Trash ans Scrap, then yes. For this painting...no. I do feel he knew more about it than he wanted to admit. It took a lot of maneuvering to get what we did out of him, but when that info came, it was actually pretty well thought out.'
Venture-Captain Arvin rubs his chin in contemplation "Julzakama doesn't miss a beat, especially when there is a credit to be had. He's reliable in coming through with the goods, but he isn't going to win any awards for being open and forthright in his dealings"
"Our best bet is to get out to those coordinates - it sounds unsafe and if there are toxic environmental factors at play you'll need some supplies sent with you. Grab yourself a ship and head out"
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Tsultro raises one eyebrow (just one) at Ceolor's comment about Julzakama being an art critic..."Really? Him an art critic? Maybe if the art you are referring to is Trash ans Scrap, then yes. For this painting...no. I do feel he knew more about it than he wanted to admit. It took a lot of maneuvering to get what we did out of him, but when that info came, it was actually pretty well thought out.'
Ceolor gives a playful frown at the half-orc's words. "Hey Trash'n'Scrap is a perfectly respectable art form on it's own! Many a junker has made a name for themselves in that field... But it is unlikely he'd know the proper value of this on an artistic basis alone. Probably just highly trained instinct for the approximate value of things from years of being a pawn broker."
"Our best bet is to get out to those coordinates - it sounds unsafe and if there are toxic environmental factors at play you'll need some supplies sent with you. Grab yourself a ship and head out"
"Good! I was getting afraid we might never leave the station, and that I wouldn't have any good ideas for my next holonovel! I'll get the supplies together, can you guys go requisition a ship?"
Ceolor collects the requisition datapad and heads down to the quatermasters, picking up a few supplies for his own before meeting everyone at the docks."1 Null space chamber mk2, check. 1 Vesk painting, check. 6 medpatches check. 6 brown hypopens, check. 1 White hypopen, check. 1 Recovery aegis for emergencies, check. 1 Rebreather, check, though we ought install this on someone's armor sooner rather than later. Food, air, water, and coffee for a few weeks of drift travel, plus extra just in case, check. Seems our supplies are in order, so what ship we taking?"