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You begin in the Lorespire complex, in front of Venture Captain Arvin, who has gathered you for a mission.
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 it 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 shaggy, white-coated Vlaka nods thoughtfully.
"Curious! And exciting. Have you received a description of what the painting looks like? Also, and no less important, this Julzakama seems like a tricky customer, but a valuable resource for the Society. Is it important we keep him on good terms, or..."
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An enormous pulsating brain with a fragile humanoid-like body hanging from its stem base and clad in fine business wear floats above the ground waves appendages to the assembled Starfinders as a calm telepathic voice broadcasts into the heads of those present.
Luminescent salutations to you assembled sentients. Arvin, my distinguished V.C., I am amused to be present with you again. To the unknown entities, my reality is enhanced to be initiated by your identities. You will be elevated to know me as Cerebreiac, this will properly facilitate nomenclature direction in forthcoming conversations. With each of your permissions, how may I register your individual persona labels?
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A small human girl looks to Cerebreiac and laughs.
"Well, big brain.. thing. I am Opal Shadylake. Yes, yes, THAT Opal. I have decided to lend my toy here to your Starfinder Society. Turns out, sometimes, they do good work. Going to retrieve a painting from a greedy little Vesk, seems hardly worth his time, but fine. It'll be good for him to work out any kinks in his A.I. The programming is excellent of course, but we'll see if Asterion has managed to learn anything."
Turning to the VC.
"Questions? Hm, why does it take an armed squadron to goto a pawnbroker to pick up this painting? Seems like a single courier should be sufficient, unless you expect problems. I will, of course, be going with him. He's functional, but in case he's damaged, it'll be better if I'm there to put him back together. Don't want him coming back to me with salvaged, second rate parts. And I take it you intend to have us go into the drift to just float around and see if we can locate more? Any particular destination or just hoping we get lucky in the search?"
With that, she settles back into a cushion the tall, metallic minotaur is holding.
The Venture Capatain closes his eyes and rubs the bridge of his nose again, before responding.
"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. As for a description, its a portrait, of whom I'm not so sure. But Julzkama wouldn't try to pull a fast one and slip you the wrong painting unless he's ready to burn what has been a lucrative bridge between the Society and himself.
Weapons aren't a requirement in the Starfinder Society, but most carry some form of protection. 'It's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it' as the old saying goes. Securing the painting is just the beginning of this investigation, so I'm sending you to begin it, which includes questioning Julzakama, before setting off to parts unknown. Someday, if you're lucky enough you too could make it to the rank of Venture Captain and have your mission briefing rudely questioned by a child who wasn't paying enough attention.”
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Giggling madly.
”Of course you would try to insult me. Starfinder are notorious for getting their way after all. If you’re meaning the vague, ‘site of the disturbance’ reference, meh. You trying to scold me is just fancy talk for.” She stands on the cushion and gesticulates pulling up pants and speaks in a gruff old man imitation. ”’You kids just go where I tells ya and it’ll all work out.’ Does it ever really work out that way? You starfinder folks are more reckless than I thought. I like it.”
With that, she plops down on the poof and pulls out a vid game. The familiar sounds of Doot Doot Magic Flute echo in the room.
I weep for the next Generation. the Venture Captain mutters.
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Opal? That name, did you know in Common that it is the word of a semiprecious mineraloid? Its crystalline structure and hue shades make it quite valuable. Also, in the western dialect of the Brethedan language, it is nearly identical in phonetics as "oh'paahl", the word for gastric mucous discharge. The percentages that one or both definitions would provide some relative contentment to you is exponential. Additionally, I surmise that you did not allot an appropriate study course in life science to identify myself as a contemplative, a member of the most evolutionarily advanced beings in the Pact Worlds and Near Space. I am satisfied to have made significant additions to your current education level. With sufficient understanding, you will come to be satisfied as well, Opal.
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?”
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Ilyich sidles up to the desk and looks for something appropriately bell-like to ding.
Julzakama, my good man! A keen eye has obviously gotten you far in the world of other people's treasures! I am, indeed, Arvin's pet! I have been told you have a painting for us. Payment already rendered, we are but humble delivery men, tasked with the retrieving of other mens needful things. Such is life!"
He settles on a cup full of odds and ends, and rattles it helpfully.
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.
Julzakama regards the Vlaka with a sneer, Don't try to butter me up star-ling. I'm not interested in your flattery. He raises his clawed hand to one nostril and plugs it, before blasting a snot rocket out of the other to land at the feet of Ilyich. He rummages behind his counter and produces a painting, which he slides between the bars. Pleasure doing business, star-lings. Hey you! Bug-ling! Keep your grabbers to yourself unless you got credits. You break it, you bought it.
The painting is an austere portrait of what appears to be a Vesk soldier with a commanding presence.
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Organic sentient form: vesk, catalogued as notoriously belligerent and combative. Since social and legal standards prohibit physical altercations, you engage in eliciting a 'fight or flight' reaction from us via this business transaction. Make your calculations carefully and precisely for your next action as our assemblage will not be provoked to retreat and your financial status will suffer from any umbrage our collective society receives from you. Compliance is your sane tactical choice. Provide us with all known information regarding the artwork.
Julzakama raises an eye quizzically, Wazat? You see his face freeze momentarily as if all the computing power his brain can muster is being directed at translating a language he doesn't understand. Then, as suddenly as he froze, he bursts into a deep belly laugh. I like the brainy one! Thats the painting I called Arvin about. Whatcha wanna know, bud? He wipes a tear from his one good eye, then wipes his nose on the back of one scaly forearm.
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My neuropeptide levels reflect the elation I am experiencing from your cooperation, Julzakama! I find distinct projections that meet parameters of potential business enterprises based on gleaned observations. With your consent, do accept my contact data present on this minuscule rectangle of cardstock, we should consume sustenance together in the midday timeframe based on Absalom Station orbit definitions.
Cerebreiac telekinitically maneuvers his business card toward Julzakama.
In specific regards to the artwork, what is the identity of the individual or individuals that possessed the item before it was procured by you? What are the spacial coordinates where they procured it? Are there any extenuating circumstances involving its discovery that would be of illuminating interest to the Starfinder Society and if so, what are the details of the extenuating circumstances? Do you possess any racial awareness of the depicted vesk figure in the artwork?
With the same blank, frozen expression, Julzakama accepts the business card and seems to process the questions...
Hmmm... That's a soldier of the Veskarium. Some Major who fought the swarm I think. Dont know who painted it, but it's worth every credit your boss paid for it! You're welcome.
Bought off some rat-ling named Winks. She's Captain of the Clutter Collector. That's a salvage barge what picks up junk from the Drift. Only this ain't junk. It's good stuff!
She reeked of desperation to get rid of it. Said she was scared of the portrait. Kept saying it was corrupted or cursed or some such thing. Swore up and down the Vesk was rotten and burnt. Julzakama shakes his head and chuckles. Painting looked normal to me. Still does! If it was cursed I'd have charged your boss extra!
I sent your boss the coordinates. You want me to do your job for ya, bud? Look it up. Julzakama laughs and takes a swig of his energy drink. It was in a big chunk of swamp floating in the Drift. Not sure where it's from, but there was gravity... oh and an atmosphere that's toxic. That rat-ling what found it called it the Drift bog. They tried exploring but got attacked by bugs. Rat-ling said there was bigger things stomping around too. I don't know what kind and frankly I don't think she even saw them. She was sick when she got here... seeing things. Said there was a big house off in the distance... an old fashioned one made outta wood. Like some history vidcast. With a sudden frown Julzakama adds Not that I watch them sorta things... He clears his throat before continuing. The rat-ling said it was real fancy but sinking in the bog. Like I said she was acting real crazy and fevered. Whatever is really there, something made her sick. Dunno if its poison, disease, or worse. With a wide grin he adds Have fun.
Assuming you're done with Julzakama, it takes about an hour to make your way back to VC Arvin in the Lorespire complex and report what you have learned. The VC provides you with some medical supplies to deal with possible diseases or poisons you may encounter. You recieve six medpatches, six brown hypopens (Armory 106), and a recovery aegis (Armory 115). Purchases and medical procedures can be done now, before departure from Absalom.
There was some mention of trying to locate Winks, the Captain of the Clutter Collector . It seems the ship has already left the station, no itinerary was filed prior to departure. You are unable to locate or make contact with the ship or crew.
Once all shopping is done and upgrades are in their fleshy new homes you depart on the Sunrise Maiden . days.
The only notable event is the discovery of a beacon leftover by a vessel belonging to the Church of Triune. The beacon can be scanned.
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A simplistic code barrier by the standards of an entity possessed of my hippocampal formation, indeed. Download commencing.
I would be remiss in my verified analysis of the category of data beacon we have encountered if I opted to not disseminate said analysis. This beacon is of the type left by ship captains about to embark on mission assignments with high probabilities of peril.
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. You receive a hail on all common frequencies.
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Cerebreiac opens a communication frequency.
Salutations of appropriate inflections to you, unknown vessel. This is The Sunrise Maiden on a fact-finding expedition for the Starfinder Society. We possess training video files that are of a collectible nature to hentai enthusiasts if any of your crew are inclined of that viewing recreation. With your consent, please provide your identity and intentions so we may proceed efficiently with the next appropriate response.
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.”
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Oh! Organic sentient form: tiefling! Catalogued as genetic hybrids of humanoid/extraplanar denizen of devil/demon/daemon subtype! And an exceptional specimen of aggregate pulchritudinous physical manifestations! Please accept my personal nomenclature, designated "Cerebreiac". My endorphin levels are at a zenith to become acquainted with your austere identity, Captain Reva Monstratti. We have traversed the Drift with specific intent of disembarking at these spacial coordinates of saturated wetland for the purpose of investigative inquiry. We would offer with massive quantities of agreement to cooperate with your expedition. As allies, any undetermined threats would have minuscule probabilities of success against the combined resources of the Starfinder Society and The Devil's Talon. Would you be amenable to contractual discussion of a business collaboration?
As Cerebraic heaps on the praise, you see the Tiefling smirk. As flattered as I am Starfinders, our employers have paid a hefty sum for exclusive right of salvage. And while said employer shall remain nameless, they are not someone you or your Society should trifle with. You're too late, the Captain boasts. We already have boots on the ground. Leave while you still can. That's not a request.
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Captain Reva Monstratti, my adrenal hormone level is pulsing with anticipation that our exchange is approaching a deadlocked level of negotiation. With your consent, please accept my formal expression of regret as we now engage in aggressive altercation. You will expire without experiencing the extrinsic reward function of a skilled contemplative telekinetic lobe massage, what we call in Akitonian the "Lak'ta shak'ta. It's closest translation in Common is "Business up front, party in the back".
You should have left when you had the chance Starflunkies! The comms crackle as the Tiefling taunts you.
You learn that the Malice is a Medium Transport with a
Speed of 6; Maneuverability is average (turn 2); Drift 1. It had a crew compliment of 6. It has AC 12; TL 13 HP 70. Shields basic shields 20 (forward 5, port 5, starboard 5, aft 5). A Power Core with (100 PCU). And it has a light torpedo launcher (2d8, 20 hexes) turret.
Asterons is able to lock on the aft of the enemy ship and does significant damage. The Malice returns fire with its turret, but the torpedoes are unable to track the Maiden and careen off into space.