/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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Standing very stiffly next to a seat is an android that just stares at the Venture-Captain.
"So the Starfinders are now sending it's member to collect art work?
Can the unit know as Julzakama be treated as hostile if the unit becomes difficult to deal with? If needed, would the society sanction a less legal methods when dealing with the unit Julzakama?"
Seven of Eleven says in his mono tone voice.
“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"
Seven notes the device is a mk 2 null-space chamber
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A kasatha with rigid posture strokes his chin with his left hand, and his temple with his other left hand. His second skin reveals a solid physique on his thin frame. "Do we have any gear or insight to make sure the painting is genuine? Are we worried that some intersystem art thieves are going to ruin our day?"
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A humanoid seemingly made of coral with two stag-antler growths sprouting from its head spins quickly in a circle with its arms outstretched downward. He speaks in accented Common with a low, bubbly timbre like a jacuzzi jet, his voice emanating from behind a seemingly solid, smooth faceplate of coral. "Painting contains much excitement! Connection to Drift land and history. Agatio is happy to explore painting and talk to Julzakama with new coworkers!"
"Julzakama won't do anything untoward like sell us a switched painting, but yes I suppose there may be art thieves or other interested parties who may have a hunch like me that the painting could be more than just paint on canvas"
"I'm glad I have a group of such enthusiastic agents" he comments to Agiato with a smile.
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A red skinned human sprawling in one of the chairs speak up. "Seems like an easy job. At least the first part. Refreshing.
The trip into the Drift sounds intriguing though. Art isn't what generally comes to mind. Hopefully we can identify where it's originally from.
She stands up, stretching. "I don't think there's any reason to delay on the pick up part of the job. We can do the rest of the planning while you're getting it appraised."
"Sounds like you are ready to head off"
***
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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"I know only a sliver of information. 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."
Astran pauses for a moment, "The is no artistry in the district name."
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.
Julzakama hands over the package - slipping the stinky, mud-encrusted, framed painting through the metal bars with a grin “Pleasure doing business with you, star-ling.”
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.
He takes another chug of his energy drink and watches your group like a hawk.
"You bet. Anything else you need from me star-lings?"
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Looking at the painting, Seven of Eleven searches his memory about the painting.
"A likeness of the vesk combat unit Major Sifkali, created by the Aelon Vimariss unit. Many of the Aelon Vimariss unit's creations are worth quite a large amounts of credits." Seven of Eleven says in that monotone robot voice of his.
Julz replies to Tavia - “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.”
"Dunno what else she may have found, but she sold me that painting in a hurry - suppose 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!”
Julz grins to himself and takes another deep slug of his energy drink, watching you all like a hawk.
"Didn't sweep it, thing looks fine"
“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 is 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 - and now she's rid of this painting she's left town in a big hurry” With a wide grin he adds, “Have fun.”
With that he tosses the now empty drink can in the trash and turns the tv back on, clearly signalling he's done talking.
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?"
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"
Last chance for shopping, and select your ship :)
You grab your ship and depart.
The trip is uneventful for the first couple of days, but then your radar systems alert you to a positive detection of an object in your 'lane' - it appears to be a beacon of some sort.
Sefel runs a scan which reveals that the beacon contains several logs pertaining to a vessel known as the Three Eyes of Illumination that was heading out into the Vast in order to examine a series of Drift beacons that had suddenly gone dark. The vessel left the beacon on populated space lanes so passing vessels could download its files in the event the vessel didn’t return from its mission.
This type of data beacon is a common practice among ship captains who often enter into potentially dangerous missions.
Seven works out that the Tree Eyes of Illumination is a vessel belonging to the Church of Triune. Nothing else meaningful is identified.
You resume your voyage...
***
A massive chunk of fetid swamp floats amid the swirling purple and pink void of the Drift. Water pours off the sides of the planar bog, forming globules of green and brown water that float slowly away. Blocking the path to the Drift Bog is an ominous red starship, all hard angles and protruding spikes, its hull marked with a distinct insignia–a trio of black talons tearing through a white circle wreathed in black flames.
A holo-display flickers to life, revealing a scowling tiefling woman with deep purple scaled skin, curling ivory horns, golden eyes, a shaved head, and a jagged scar running across her cheek. “Attention, Starfinders. This is Reva Monstratti of the Devil’s Talon, captain of the Malice. We have legitimate claim to this site and all objects therein. Identify yourselves and state your purpose here. Speak, or be destroyed.”