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Before the mission, Ray is found in his private vault within the Lorespire Complex. Recently renovated and looking like a shabby shack from an old world, Ray is slowly swinging in his hammock in the corner of the room slowly strumming on his guitar.
The normally cheery bright red tiefling is rather blue today. He was supposed to receive communication from Liavara today from one of the priests of Whisperer of Solar Winds. He was hoping to receive an update from the great dreamer to help point him in the direction of his next clue for his life goals.
Since his last mission, he has had some down time. Spent most of it arranging his new vault in the complex and playing gigs in the clubs around the station. But downtime is starting to get to him and, with this place being fresh of of old knowledge from this stupid Gap thing he keeps hearing about, his life goals are at a bit of a stand still.
He plucks a hard cord. loud and reverberating. Glancing at his jacket hanging on a wall with fresh laser holes in it, he sighs, "Well, guess I should get my jacket patched up before the next show."
He glances down at his datapad to check his cred balance and sighs even harder, "If there was ever a time for a distracting mission, this would be it..."
Absalom Station is abuzz with frenzied speculation! And the Starfinder Society's First Seeker Jadnura, who just recently returned from the Scoured Stars, has been at the center of it. To some he is a hero. To others, he's an irresponsible leader whose actions lead to the deaths of hundreds. Opinions and conspiracy theories have been thrown about wildly ever since he and those Scoured Stars survivors managed to return.
Recently however, the rumors have changed. Jadnura has not been seen on Absalom Station in days and the First Seeker's critics have taken it as a sign of him fleeing from his responsibilities. Even among the Starfinder Society itself, people know little more than that Jadnura has chosen to return to the Idari for the time being. Questions echo in the halls of the Lorespire...
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Each of you received a simple message to your comms or personal datapads:
< Hello Starfinder. I have a request for the Society, and I expect you are the perfect candidate to fulfill it. It regards my old associate, Jadnura. Interested? If so, good. In any case, it has already been cleared with your Venture Captain. Please meet me at Restaurant Lashav at 8 pm today. I have already given the staff your names. Do not be late.>
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When you arrive at the appointed time to the Lashav, you find it to be one of Absalom Station's most expensive and exclusive restaurants. Crystal tables, silver chairs, and a radiant array of holographic and real ice sculptures fill the main hall, each one cascading light in pleasing patterns. A shirren host host recognizes each of you as you arrive and greets you by name, leading you to a large table in the back of the establishment.
While you wait for the the mysterious contact, a trio of lashunta waitstaff deliver several trays of exotic spiced foods and pour drinks into intricate goblets. They set the table around you with the utmost courtesy. Once you're well loaded with appetizers, they vanish, leaving you in each others company.
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Ray leaps from his hammock after he reads the message. He spent quite the amount of time under Jadnura's command and is extremely worried about him regardless of the message origin.
He plucks his coat from it's hook, sticks his long nailed finger through the hole and sighs, "Not sure I'd want good ol' Jad to see me with these but I've got to make sure he's ok."
Donning the bright greet garment and slinging his guitar around him he rushes to the restaurant.
"Hmmm, first one here. What, I can come in. Okay..." After being seated and served, he makes one long lasting look at his servers, hoping not to get a request for a credstick then begins to gorge.
Several goblets and plates later, the first of his crew shows. "Ello, mate...>belch<...can you believe they didn't check my credstick? Get in on this before the get back..."
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Arriving at the restaurant at exactly the specified time is a small crimson-furred Skittermander with occasional black stripes visible underneath his fine tailored sleeveless outfit straight from the Vesk-3 desginers here in Absalom station. As such it was a vibrant lilac trimmed with silver which clashed horribly with their fur. Black leather goggles rest upon their forehead with silver spiral patterns etched into them with a matching belt on his waist with a Dagger belted there. A small Midnight-black mote of energy floats over their head.
Smiling broadly at the waiting staff, Ki is surprised that they were known but follows dutifully, doing their best to 'help' waiters and other diners as they passed, stopping to pick up dropped cutlery and picking up a jacket that had fallen off the back of someone's chair, handing it back to them halfway through their meal before bounding off.
Ordering a bit of everything and fancy Castrovelian wine to wash it all down. Smiling at the other Starfinder diners they wave two of their arms whilst the other four get to work picking up food and drink.
"Hihi! Me Ki'Ren'Nura, me help! Who you?"
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A tall, attractive damaya lashunta enters the restaurant wearing the uniform of an officer in the Stewards Constabulary. The uniform is perfectly creased and immaculate, but he pauses to pick a bit of lint off, a flaw in his otherwise impeccable appearance that no one else would have even noticed. With a flick of his antennae the fabrics within the uniform quickly shift and reconfigure themselves into a perfectly tailored set of formal clothes. He adjusts his neck piece just slightly, and shifts the centerline of the cumberbund a hair to the left before popping his cuffs to display his silver cufflinks engraved with the Stewards insignia.
He greets the shirren host of the Lashav as if he's known them for some time, which is true as he's been a regular here since he was first assigned to Absalom Station. Enroute to the Starfinder table, he stops to chat with some of the other regular guests. He gives a friendly wave to one of the waiters and makes telepathic small talk asking about the worker's family.
When he arrives at the table, that same waiter delivers a bottle of Castovelian Atelia wine. "Year 290, I see, an excellent vintage." He looks around at the food, "And a perfect pairing choice. Thank you, Misha."
Once Misha finishes pouring, the latest arrival takes a sip, and introduces himself. “Jaqweh Navar, of the Stewards Constabulary, seconded to the Society at the request of Captain Fisk. Pleasure to meet you all,“ he finishes with a dazzling and genuine smile.
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Ray turns to Ki and says, as close to to his voice as possible with a mouth full, "Me Ray, you eat... and goes back to eating until Jaqweh shows up.
With a loud belch that spits food back into his plate, he goes back to eating, "I'd say your welcome to dive in as well but I don't take you as much a "dive in" type of person. Though I welcome you all the same....>nom nom nom<"
While you're still in the midst of eating, a small blue-furred skittermander missing most of his left ear sedately walks to the table and hops up into a chair at the table's far end. His left eye and three of his six arms are cybernetic replacements, and he wears the tooth of a large creature as a necklace around his neck. He smiles toothily at your group and waves a clawed prosthetic hand at the food. "Please, eat your fill. We'll talk once our bellies are full." A second hand of his detaches itself, crawls halfway across the table, grabs a date from one of the dishes before returning to the skittermander.
He munches absently on the date, examining your group with a calculating stare. The graying tips of his grizzled fur and occasional twitches in his cybernetic limbs give the impression that he has seen some serious and perilous action.
Once you've made your way through the first course, he says "Not bad, isn't it? The best kasathan cuisine available on the Station. It seemed fitting for the job I have for you." His mobile hand carries a small collection of date pits to a silver dish as he dabs at his mouth with a napkin. "Your venture captains said you were some of the most helpful Starfinders they know. I like those who are helpful. My name is Eshki. I am not much for long conversations. First Seeker Jadnura’s return has caused many political ripples within the Starfinder Society. Worse yet, now that First Seeker Jadnura has gone off to the Idari, these ripples have started to grow into waves."
"More importantly, I am worried for him. Jadnura and I go back. As long as I've known him, he was a steady pillar. Responsible. Not one to disappear into silence. Not at all." He scratches at one of his scars. "I need you to go to the Idari, find him, and hopefully return with him."
Eshki picks up a tiny cup of spiced tea and downs it in a single gulp.
"This might sound simple, but nothing among the kasathas is easy. Those on the Idari are the most traditional of their kind, very fond of their rules and customs. If you can observe those customs, with patience, things will go more easily for you." He takes another cup of tea and downs it rapidly. "I speak from experience."
"I have arranged and paid for your transport to and from the Idari. It leaves tomorrow morning. Any questions?"
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Ray produces a wet nap from his sleeve and quickly cleans himself, removing the scraps of food that seemed to get everywhere. He strikes a demeanor that matches Eshki hearing the statement about matching customs and begins exuding a more dignified attitude.
"Excuse me, Mr. Eshki. While I'd like to express more platitudes over this fantastic meal you have provided, I share your concern about Jadnura and would like to get to it.
You may have heard of me, I am Rayraj Vymm. The unlucky tiefling from a different reality who happened onto this plane on the wrong side of that blasted godshield and spent almost my first year helping Jadnura and his wayward agents.
The last I spoke to good ol' Jad, he was just going to get his medical checkout so it's been awhile. Was there any health complications he was dealing with after his return?"
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Using the second fork in from the left, Jaqweh spears a piece of meat with just the right amount of pink in the center. "You really should try the virix," he recommends to Rayraj and the others. "This is the only restaurant off of the Idari where you can get it. Nahzendir Dy Khee, the chef here, studied at the Culinarium, of course, and uses a quantum gastronomy technique all his own." He slowly chews the meat, savoring the intricate flavors as he listens to Eshki's introduction before cleansing his palate with a sip of the Atelia 290.
"Eshki, what are your suspicions about why Jadnura might have gone there? And do you have a contact or guide that we're to meet there?"
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"Ooh! me try the Virix, Allsix!" Ki takes Jaqweh's advice and reaches out to spear some of the rare meat with a long fork, rather and clambering over the table. "Neat trick with the hand! Really Helpful device!" they remark to Eshki before proceeding to chew on the meat, letting out a gasp of pleasure at the succulent dish.
Once they finish chewing, the Skittermander turns to Eshki again. "Jadnura needs help?! We Help! Ermm, do you have a guide to Kasatha customs or something? Don't wanna pick up the wrong fork and start a war or anything, not helpful at all!"
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Arriving late, the squat, bulky korasha lashunta in battle worn armor is something of a spectacle in this highbrow restaurant. It is obvious that he doesn't belong. It is just as obvious that he doesn't care. He takes a seat, piles food onto his plate and begins inhaling it.
He stops just long enough to ask, "That ship's a big place. You know where on the Idari we can find Seeker Jadnura? Or have a place where we can start?"
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The heavily armored dwarf nonchalantly cleaning the floors of the restaurant finally spoke up. "Well... maybe that fella Jadnura just needed a walkabout. Guy's core has probably been shaken, what with the large number under his leadership dead. I think not having any irregularities would be in itself irregular. But what do I know?" He looked back towards a floating camera trained on him and offered a shrug. "I'm just the janitor." The camera played some airhorns after the catchphrase.
Eshki responds to each of you in turn quite sedately for a skittermander. "Mister Vymm. While I don't know you, we are comrades of a sort. Veterans of the Scoured Stars. I was a quartermaster onboard one of the Society’s larger ships lost in the first Scoured Stars excursion. I ended up stranded on a volcanic world in that gods-damned place. Had to learn how to operate a machine gun real fast." He gets a distant look in his eye, grimace on his face. "I didn't hear anything about Jadnura having issues with his health, but many of us who made it out weren't quite the same in the head."
To Jaqweh's question, he answers "You know Jadnura is a solarian, yes? He takes the philosophy of the Cycle quite seriously, and only dove deeper into it while we were all trapped in the Scoured Stars. The Idari is where it originated. He talked sometimes about going back. If that was the case though, I don't understand why he wouldn't let us all know why he was gone."
"As for a guide or lead once there, I don't have one for you. But I suggest that you start in the Outland Markets. They're not far from the Idari's shipyard docks, and the people there are a little friendlier to outsiders. Someone there might have heard something or knows something, and it should be a good place to root out information."
When Ki asks about kasathan customs, Eshki gives a guarded smile. "You probably don't want advice from me. I tried doing this search myself and lasted less than a day before a merchant took such serious offence that they kicked me off the Idari. Their culture baffles me. You may have better luck if you can find someone there to teach you."
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Seeing the table space in front of him littered with food scraps and feeling like his belly might me a bit distended, Ray continues his cleansing routine while studying Eshki's responses as he's a bit odd for a skittermander.
He returns with, "I remember running a mission to procure a transport to rescue you. Glad you made it out as well. Though Jad may have been wrong to take the society there, he still deserves out help and I suggest that we should get moving."
Ray stands and straitens his clothing, picking off the final traces of food, turns and gives Eshki a deep respective bow and waits for his new cohorts to follow suit.
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Ki lets out a giggle at Eshki's response and nods "Gotcha! Go help Boss-nura but go talk to Solarions? Me trained here in Absalom not Idari, but can help talk!" The Skittermander directs the question at the rest of the Starfinders present, before taking a few extra pieces of the virix and wrapping them in a napkin for later.
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Jaqweh catches Ray looking at Eshki a bit oddly.
Ray, did you notice how Eshki is holding his mid-arms? Think it means something? he prompts the tiefling telepathically.
Then he sets his dessert spoon down, takes a final sip of the Vercite Darkside ice-wine, and stands to leave. He flicks his antennae to reconfigure his clothing back to his impeccably pressed uniform and adjusts his holster belt in preparation to depart.
"You speak Kasathan also, Ki'Ren'Nura? That will help having two of us who can."
"Eshki, thank you for your time. We'll find him. Rest assured."
Rayraj and Jaqweh take stock of Eshki's behavior and body language, and get the sense that this older skittermander isn't holding anything back. He's simply spent such a long time in a life or death struggle with other Starfinders that his attitude is much more subdued than his kin (like Ki).
Eshki takes one last spiced tea and sips at it as you get ready to leave "Alright. Good luck. I hope you're able to get to the bottom of this soon."
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Before your shuttle tomorrow, you have some time to gather information about the Idari and Jadnura.
The market boasts the Idari’s largest population of non-kasathas and is something of a local melting pot. Explorers can find almost anything from one of the stalls littering the market.
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The janitor looked to Ki intently as he stroked his beard. "The Idari... If heading there, should probably check out the Pradulex Monastery. Likely where ol' Jadnura may have headed, but that'd only be of use if Jadnura had any sort of relationship with one of the masters there. Wouldn't likely be able to get in otherwise."
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Indicating that they do indeed speak Kasathan before rushing off to ask people that have known Jadnura some time. Once they return, the answers from people wanting the incessant Skittermander to leave them alone - coupled with what they knew about their hero led them to the same conclusions as the 'helpful Janitor'. Pondering whilst they stroke the fur on their chin Ki shrugs.
"No connection with Idari Monastery me afraid. Markets might help and less likely to offend people if the market is a 'melting pot'. Me don't mind either way"
Once you've discussed your options and settled on visiting the Outland Markets, you split up to rest for the evening and prepare for the trip to the Idari and the search for Jadnura.
The transport that Eshki prepared for you is an ordinary one, despite the extravagant dinner the night before. It takes the craft days to make it from Absalom Station to the kasathan generation ship, and there are only a few minor interruptions from other passing ships to break up the journey. In the early afternoon of your last day of travel the transport finally arrives at the Idari's Crucibles - the starship dock and manufacturing heart of the massive ship.
The particular module your transport docks at is open to space, and an umbilical cable attaches itself to your shuttle to accommodate disembarking passengers. While traveling through the connecting tunnel, the you witness firsthand the ongoing construction occurring all throughout the Crucibles; ships of dizzying designs undergo retrofit while other mechanics apply repairs to larger starship components and the Idari itself. The tunnel ends in a pressurized airlock chamber that connects to an entry point onto the Idari’s main interior. A cluster of small vehicles offer transport throughout the ship, and a chartered transport car awaits your group. Its robotic driver that it is at your disposal for the day, thanks to Eshki's patronage.
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You head first to the Outland Markets. As you exit the car, you take in a sprawling mix of small buildings, stalls, and pavilion tents stretching as far as the eye can see. This area boasts a vibrant mix of species interacting in tightly crammed stalls and wide-open bazaars. The cacophony of merchants and exotic scents tempt and beckon new arrivals into the more open stretches of the markets, and it’s clear that this space caters to a dizzying array of different customers.
Myriad unusual spices and other less-obvious goods form a kaleidoscope of sensations aural, visual, and olfactory. Merchants draw the attention of the crowds by calling out in several languages, though Common remains the most prominent language here. Goods like rare, edible glowing mushrooms from Eox to items as mundane as knives forged by the thousands of Pact Worlds factories seem available at every turn. The calls of the numerous merchants come from all directions.
“Welcome to Idari. May I interest you in some fine lashunta tempweave? For you, a special price.”
In a distance, a merchant can be heard saying, “Hello there, you look like you could use a new a prehensile tail?”
From another direction, “Perhaps some cable line made of adamantine alloy; the strongest cable credits can buy!”
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Saryn is no diplomat. He seeks out some vesk or others that he thinks would be impressed by a show of force rather than soft words.
"You! I'm looking for Jadnura. Tell me where to find him. Now!
The thing is, he really wants to go see about that prehensile tail. He thinks it would make him look dashing.
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Ray is feeling crowded and not sure where to start. He sees a crate and sneakily kicks it away. In an impressive amount of foot work, he skirts the crate to an open portion in a dense part of the market. He hops up and swings his guitar around and plucks a hard power cord.
"Lend me your ears, my four armed friends.
One of your kin, has something amiss
and we must seek the seeker.
So pay us your heed,
and help us to seek
to keep our society keen."
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Bustling off the ship, feeling much more comfortable in their usual armour with a Reaction cannon hanging from a harness on their back and an Artillery laser kept within their belongings Ki stands and surveys the crowd, eyes wide at the sights, sounds and myriad colours. Seeing the gruff Saryn go to play nice with some Vesk and Ray causing a spectacle of themself the Skittermander rushes off into the market seeing if there is anyone they can 'help'. Seeing an elderly Kasatha struggling with several bags the Skittermander stops.
"HiHi! Me Ki'ren'nura - need help? Me new here and looking for a friend, maybe you know of them?" They ask in perfect Kasathan with a beaming smile and showing their empty hands ready for their bags. "Their name Jadnura, Solarion and Hero!"
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As they emerge from the umbilical tube, Jaqweh takes in the market and quickly scans the crowd. He watches Ray start busking, and sees Ki'ren'nura run into the crowd to 'help.' Not sure how prepared the kasatha are for the onslaught of help they are about to receive, and not wanting to split the party up too much, Jaqweh follows the skittermander. Though he does, of course, take a moment to make sure he looks presentable.
"Pardon my friend, sir, he's just very excited to be here for the first time," he comments, also in kasatha, to the victim subject of Ki'ren'nura's helping. "But we are indeed looking for said comrade."
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Hammerbammer stared at the giant display being used to gather information before finally just locating the nearest street sweeper and tried to capture their attention. "Oy! Quite the show, right?" He gestured back to the performance and the others asking for help. "Probably see a lot of interesting things around. Wonder if you'd seen that Jadnura."
Saryn's intimidating attitude earns him hostile stares and side-eyes from law enforcement, but no useful information.
Ganondwarf's approach of talking to local street sweepers hits a snag when he realizes that all of them are drones rather than people. After a couple of friendly beeps and boops from one of them - perhaps appreciative of the show Rayraj is putting on - they continue on on their business.
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Rayraj attracts quite the sizable crowd from his perch atop an unused crate. The improvised song earns a few grins and claps, and while most of the crowd disperses after he's done, a few stick around to ask him what he meant by the lyrics. After further explanation, no one seems to have seen Jadnura specifically, but they're able to provide some more general advice.
The most common comment is that you should probably go talk to Alsuka. She’s a lashunta who owns a lovely teashop within the Outland Markets. Since she serves some of the best tea on the Idari, her shop is often a first stop for many kasathas returning after long journeys.
Others mention that whether kasatha or not, solarian visitors that come to the Idari are typically here to learn more about the Cycle or to visit one of the world ship's many monasteries. Of them, Pradulex Monastery is the Idari's most iconic site for solarians, though visitors require approval or referral from a respected kasatha to visit.
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While Rayraj is performing, Ki and Jaqweh do their own investigation. In addition to the same advice about Alsuka, they also are advised that although the Idari is very safe thanks to its reliable and disciplined police force, recently younger hot-blooded kasathas have been causing problems for foreign visitors - anyone from off ship. You get advice to stay away from such groups who may be hostile to "outlanders".
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Thanking the person after 'helping' them, the Skittermander re-convenes with their colleagues with a beaming smile. "ooh! you would look good with a tail! We learn that Alsuka serves the best tea and all Kasatha go there when coming home. Maybe Jadnura went there?" They offer after hearing of the lack of progress from their nufriends. "Buuut! There might be angry younglings who might want to hurt us! Me don't want to hurt people though..."
Suddenly remembering that they don't have a weapon capable of incapacitating someone rather than killing them, Ki rushes off into the market place to search and buy something.
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Jaqweh follows the six-armed ball of manic energy back to the team. "Perhaps Alsuka's tea shop would be a good starting point in our investigation," the Steward suggests. As Ki runs off into the market, Jaqweh calls out after them, "We'll meet you there, Ki!"
I wonder if they have any Tyamovian sea-tea. Haven't had that in a while, and you just can't get it on Absalom Station any more.
Following directions you got from Rayraj's admirers, you make your way to the center of the Outland Markets.
A scrolling digital sign that reads “Alsuka’s Tea House” rests firmly above the open doors of a circular metal structure within the bustle of the Idari’s markets. Inside, several customers sit on elaborate cushions spaced in small groups around the clean, open space. Other customers sit on cushions at three bars that rise only two feet from the floor. An android, a kasatha woman, and a young lashunta girl preparing tea and food stand behind the bar. All three of these employees wear simple dresses of fine-quality linens. The aromas of tea and spice intermingle with those of sweets and breads.
A tall damaya lashunta woman garbed in green robes and wearing a fashionably tall hat greets you as you enter the store.
“Welcome! I am Alsuka, and this is my tea shop. Have you come to partake or just to converse?” Motioning toward several sitting pillows on the far side of the room, Alsuka continues, "Please sit and enjoy what hospitality I can offer. I hear you are seeking a lost friend." She smiles "Yes, word gets to me very quickly here in the Outland Markets. You are Starfinders. Tell me more about this mission that brings you to the Idari."
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"Mi'lady, allow me to introduce my companions and I... Ray takes such a deep bow that the tails of his jacket jumped up behind him as he quickly cycles through the names of the group with a hand gesture, "...and I am Rayraj Vymm. You see, I am not from this realm and spent the first year here with the Second Seeker of of the Starfinder Society, Jadnura. Recently, after his return, good ol'Jad had become a bit of a recluse and has disappeared. We heard that he may have come here to the Idari and we seek know if he is here and if he may be in need of our aid. As fantastic hostess and an obviously well connected woman of your stature, we are hoping that you may know of Jadnura's whereabouts?"
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Zipping round the market, only stopping a few times to 'help' lost travellers (despite having no clue where they are either) to assisting a poor shopper who appeard to have dropped all of their goods (which were in fact caused by the Skittermander). Finally they manage to find a licensed firearms merchant and purchase a stock Pulsecaster pistol, in case it should be needed. Thanking the merchant profusely, the red and black furred Skittermander rushes off back into the Market as a blur and towards the Tea room, hardly getting lost on their way.
Putting on the breaks to prevent an unfortunate accident in the shop, Ki bows low to the owner. "HiHi Nufriend!" they say enthusiastically, a little out of breath. "Me Ki'ren'nura - ermm is it rude to ask for tea please?"
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"Good morning, Alsuka," Jaqweh says in Castovelian with the culturally appropriate hand gesture and his most dazzling smile. "What a lovely place you have here," he continues in complete sincerity as he peruses the tea bins. "You wouldn't happen to have any Tyamovian sea-tea, would you? It's gotten almost impossible to find any on Absalom."
"But if not, we'll have whatever the specialty of the house is," he finishes graciously.
As they settle in with their teas, he continues. "To be honest, there's apparently some higher level political issues within the Society related to his disappearance, but that's way above our pay-grade," he adds self-deprecatingly. "We're just trying to find him because some of his close friends are worried about him."
Alsuka listens silently as you explain your purpose, nodding politely after each significant fact. However, she doesn't immediately answer Rayraj's most pressing question regarding Jadnura. Instead, she's silent for a good minute before beckoning over one of her assistants.
An android server steps up. He holds a silver tray full of small cups, earthy-colored sweets, and bright fruit slices. He places the tray in an open area in the center of the sitting cushions. Alsuka pours tea from a tall, metal pitcher into each of the cups and passes them out to all but Jaqweh. For the damaya, she whispers his request to the android, then nods as though to reassure him that the sea-tea is coming.
She smiles "Please, enjoy the tea and refreshments on the tray. Jadnura is an old friend of mine. I am pleased to welcome some of his fellow Starfinders into my humble shop. These refreshments are free today. On the Idari, it is considered rather crass not to offer hospitality, and as much so to refuse it." She eyes each of the people in your group. "As you may know, the kasathas came from a desert world where resources were often scarce. To not accept at least a token of hospitality is considered not only rude but also wasteful." She adds "Though, if you do not enjoy tea, we also have water and milk."
She gestures again at the spread, then sits back to sip her own tea and watch you.
Continuing polite conversation is you best bet for this approach.
Once you've each had a little to eat and drink, she turns to each of you and asks "So, what is your role within the Starfinder Society?"
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Taking the tea cup eagerly in their top set of hands to keep from spilling it and grabbed one of the bright fruit pieces with another greedy paw alternating between sipping the tea and nibbling on the fruit, topping up when they were out of either. Smiling at Alsuka the skittermander waits for Saryn to answer and then speaks.
"HiHi Nufriend!" they begin, pausing a moment to take a small sip of their steaming cup. "Me Ki'ren'nura! Me help wherever the Starfinders need it, meeting nufriends and defending people when needed - though I wish more people would be helpful and talk!"
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Ray furls his coat tails as he dons a persona of a cultured gentleman and sits down. He crosses his legs and gingerly scoops up a cup tea, sipping it with a raised pinky. He slyly studies Alsuka.
"I'm not sure if I can answer your question as I'm not rightly sure myself yet." after a pause and another sip, "I haven't quite found my purpose in this this reality yet where the long-term answer is that I'm just passing through. For the moment, I currently content in running errands for the society and learning more about your universe."
He pauses before a another sip, "As to my purpose now, I am concerned about someone who took care of me when I had no where-with-all about myself. Here's to hoping good ol'Jad is well!"
He raises the cup with as if to cheer with a nod to Alsuka and follow up his sip with a slice a fruit.
Alsuka nods, sipping tea as Saryn talks. "Not all disagreements can be resolved with words alone. Not all dangerous entities are willing to parley. A warrior has always been a valuable and necessary part of our society."
To Ki, she smiles. "Words and customs are important, as you well know. They can help keep the peace and preserve the people. But as you say, not everyone is willing to talk. Even here on the Idari, there are both kinds."
And to Rayraj, she seems more reticent "We all begin as dilettantes, though through searching we find a place for ourselves. Among the kasatha, most undergo a Tempering - it seems like you might be going through your own as well."
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As he settles onto a cushion, Jaqweh considers what he knows of Idari customs from his own time on a version of the Tempering.
Marak and I never made it here during our Tempering. Would that he could be with me now instead of trapped in that life he didn't deserve.
He takes of sip of the proffered sea-tea and smiles blissfully. "Ahhh, verrrry nice. Thank you so much," he says to both their hostess and the android server.
He takes another sip of the sea-tea, sets the cup down with a small satisfied sigh, and turns his attention fully to Alsuka's query.
"Alsuka, as you can tell from my uniform, I serve the Stewards first and foremost. They occasionally second me to the Society when it serves both their needs. I'm assigned to the Constaulary, so I tend to do investigations, but I mostly focus on those involving the various embassies and diplomatic missions on Absalom. The Society knows my focus and calls for me for exactly this sort of thing," he finishes with a turn of his hand toward the rest of his group.
Sensing that continuing the polite conversation is their best bet, he asks her, "And how did you end up here? You've clearly made a place for yourself," he smiles and gestures about the room as a compliment. "But it's quite a bit different than /home/," he finishes using the Castrovelian word for home in place of the Common.
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Ki nods along vigorously to Alsuka's reply listening intently, and pondering it for a few moments whilst Jaq gives their own story. Whilst they wait the Skittermander refills their teapot and grabs another slice of fruit to nibble on. Tapping the bottom of their chin they look back up at the Kasatha with a smile.
"Yes! Wise Nufriend. Several of our number were trapped behind the Godshield, it was a scary time!" they shudder subconsciously at the memories. "But we all came together and helped! And with the help of our friends we were eventually freed! Now I want to do my all to make the Starfinder Society grow!"
Alsuka smiles at Jaqweh's praise, and responds to his introduction with "Ah, the Stewards are certainly a force for peace. Both the Starfinder Society and the Stewards have taught us lessons uncovered over the course of their investigations. Perhaps you will learn something here as well today."
"As for myself, I have been on the Idari for many years. At first it was outreach for our neighbors. But I grew to love the many people I met here, and grew a passion for tea that was valued among the locals and foreign visitors alike." She nods to Jaqweh "Different than Castrovel, but wonderful in its own ways."
She has her eyes on Ganondwarf for a few moments as he remains silent, but she doesn't say anything. The lull in conversation is only momentary, as Ki takes over. Alsuka smiles at the Skittermander "Well you certainly have the right passion and energy for it."
---
Alsuka pours everyone another round of tea before sitting back down and sipping. She watches you all over the rim of her cup for more than a minute, before saying "I trust you're enjoying your tea?"
From the quirk of a smile on her face, Jaqweh and Rayraj both recognize that this too is a test - to see how well you are able to continue with small talk in face of your pressing task.