GM Quirk's Threefold Conspiracy

Game Master Quirk, Private Eye

John hurdles the first of the fallen packages, lands with a roll and cartwheels through the midst of them and finishes with a handspring over the last few.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21

Hmmm. Three of you rolled 21. Let's see if Dr. Flint-Bridge can roll something amazing to help you all keep pace. I'll bot this roll.

acrobatics for Dr. Flint-Bridge: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

That's pretty good, but the mysterious follow gets away. Really needed to see a couple more of you get near 25 for this one. We'll see if he reappears soon. I will try to make another post tomorrow. Where would you all like to head? Your main goal right now is to acquire visas to get you to Roselight.

John misses the landing on his handspring and veers into a rack of textiles. He quickly untangles himself and resumes pursuit, but at the next intersection, there is no sign of the stranger, not even a ripple in the flow of foot traffic.

"We should move quickly to get our visa and be gone. "

Cidribvoot doesn't have enough room to twist between shoppers, so he slows down. When he looks again John is ten meters ahead and stopped in the intersection.

"Yes, I agree. Let's conclude our business. We can check the infosphere for your double. Maybe he is active on social networks."

You continue through Upwell seeking your proper travel visas. This means visiting the local OCI office.

The Office of Commercial Interests sits at the end of a wide, well-lit
plaza lined with other corporate offices—perhaps the cleanest
and most open space on Upwell. Several holodisplays lining
the area show sweeping vistas and sunny cloudscapes,
though the effect is marred by the occasional burst of static.

The interior of the OCI building seems to be built to accommodate
barathus first and foremost, and while the reception area
and meeting rooms accommodate humanoid visitors, it seems to all of you that flight is required to access the offices.

A bored looking barathu is currently working at the reception desk. They laconically greet you.

John turns his back to the barathu and bends slightly to wink at Doc Flintbridge, "Very good, madame." He nods, spins, and glides smoothly toward the desk, the complete unctuous servitor.

At the desk he addresses the barathu. "We are looking for a permit to go to Roselight. Can you assist us?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

T'sorkel places a hand on John's arm. Apologies, my friend is a bit blunt. Would you be willing to help us? Is this the right place for applying for permits?

Enhanced Communalism - John, reroll that Diplomacy check!

Diplomacy, communal reroll: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

Teamwork for the win!

Resplendent in his vestments, Rar'gul steps forward, hoping to add some weight - both literal and figurative - to their query.

"Yes, any help you ccan prrrovide us will be verry apprreciated," he rumbles.

Rar'gul automatically succeeds on aiding John

Cidribvoot is not really paying attention to the actions of the crew. He focuses on his comm, double, triple checking the information he needs to provide to the OCI. Hmmm, technically I am still employed by Pike's Perytons. I should find -- maybe registering at a mercenary agency would be prudent. Now let me select a recent photo--no, bad lighting--smiling too much--laughing--laughing--laughing--food on my shirt--bad lighting--I look too old--ah this one.

The barathu attending to the front desk at the OCI seems amenable to assisting all of you, and even introduces themself. "I am called Cavence Sy Reel. I'm pleased to possible offer you assistance today. We have some forms for each of you desiring the proper visas to fill out."

You are each given a datapad. Not only do you need to fill out several forms, it requires documentation, both for each of you personally, and with regards to ownership of your starship.

It's unlikely you have such documents. Rar'gul, John, Dr. Flint-Bridge, and T'sorkel are particularly caught off guard by this.

On the other hand, Cavence does seem sincerely helpful thanks to the charm exhibited by John.

"Thankk you, Cavence Sy Rrreel," Rar'gul rumbles, accepting a datapad.

He continues chatting with the barathu as he swipes through the forms, requested items and information. "I must admit, I'm a little nerrvous. I've been wanting to visit for such a long time." The trox pauses to remove a twist from his stole of rank. "Nchakkk is so cclose but, at times, has seemed so farrr away."

Looking up from the datapad, he says, "You must have all sorrts of tales frrom yourrr time herre. Do you have any advice for us? You know, any ccommon mistakkkes appliccants makke that we should avoid, additional items we ccould incclude to smooth out the applicccation prrrocess, that sorrt of thing?"

Diplomacy roll to Gather Info, if needed/appropriate: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

T'sorkel looks panicked for a moment, thinking about the documentation they don't have. Um, ah. Yes, of course. Would you happen to have examples of what you need? Some of our documents are issued in a variety of places. It would be good to know what information is needed.

Cavence attempts to be as helpful as humanly ("barathuly"?) possible.

I can see that you are in a difficult spot. Sadly, without proper documentation it will likely take months to cut through the red tape. The only other way I could see you all getting to Roselight is through corporate sponsorship." With that, he motions to many of the corporate offices just across the plaza from the OCI. These include interest such as the Aspis Consortium, Hexane Fuels, or Fairwinds.

Cavence was happy to provide this hint thanks to Rar'gul's excellent diplomacy roll. Corporate sponsorship would likely mean getting temporary employment. Each of you would need to roll a relevant skill check to demonstrate competencies. ALSO, there could be other ways to cut through the red tape. Hacking, finding some friends in low places to assist, or just a little more charm might help.

"Corporate sponsorship?" Cidribvoot says. "Oh, can we return to you later? Maybe schedule an appointment? I'm employed by Pike's Perytons and need to check with my superior if the processing for their independent contractor... uh, contracts went through."

Lilly’s late to the game on convincing Cavance, but she can auto-aid John's diplomacy for +2 support and inject John with a basic booster for another +2 for a total of +4. Would that make a difference?

T'sorkel considers this for a moment. If one of these corporates would help us get sponsorship, perhaps they can help us with other things too? Maybe we can use their databases to understand if there is more gray activity here.

John, do you know anything about these groups?

Culture +17 on each of these groups to see what the public sentiment is of each.