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And with that .. the Vesk Operative goes down.
Pickle retrieves her sandwich and looks mournfully at the hole in it before saying Alas poor ham and pickle sandwich. I knew you well. Your sacrifice will always be remembered. before stuffing it in her mouth.
About this time, Venture-Captain Naiaj arrives, casually surveying
the site after jogging in from the Lorespire Complex. She quickly moves to check on the status of the fallen Vesks and Pickle. Naiaj quietly questions the survivors with the assistance of an aide before standing them up and handing them off to other Starfinders to march them back to the Lorespire Complex.
Congratulations for keeping them alive for interrogation she says to you. She then pauses for a bit.
Such destruction. She surveys the scene, looking in dismay at the broken glass window that was once the front of the Seeker’s Respite. We have a lot to do to make this right. Lucky for you, you’re not on clean-up duty.
Our attackers were just a distraction. While you were busy fighting, another group was able to make it to a docked starship and escape into the Drift. I believe they took an artifact retrieved by our agents back to their base of operations in the heart of the Veskarium. To make matters worse, these are no ordinary thieves: I believe they are members of the Keepers of the Lie, a fringe cult whose beliefs are so ridiculous I won’t even legitimize them by telling you.
Naiaj sighs and turns to Pickle. Thank you for your assistance. You did an excellent job retrieving the item from the contact we gave you, but we couldn’t have known that the Keepers would be waiting in ambush when you returned to Absalom Station. These Starfinders may have some questions for you, but after that conversation, you’re dismissed. I’ll be tasking these agents with retrieving the artifact, even it means going to Vesk Prime.
Yes ma'am
Naiaj turns back to your group. I was hoping it wouldn’t come to this, but I’m going to need to call in a favor from an old friend—a former brutaris sparring partner of mine who happens to be the commander of the Division of Disloyal Organizations in the Veskarium. We don’t have time to get any formal approval before I send you on this mission, so hopefully he receives my request for aid in time—you’ll be able to tell by how he greets you. I’ve instructed the dock crew to start preparing a ship to take you
directly to Vesk Prime.
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"Oh, wow, gnarly! Been there once for a surfing competition. Didn't even make the second bracket. Those dudes are tough!"
When Naiaj mentions her contact, Sauros scratches his neck with a puzzled look on his face.
"Comms are same speed as travel... Right? Unless you got some super duper hyperspeed comm, there!"
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Naiaj pulls out her personal datapad, and with a few taps, produces a digital image: that of a younger, more colorful Naiaj grinning widely in a brutaris player’s uniform, dwarfed by an enormous, green-black vesk with a scar down one side of his face. This is Paxel. He’s known as ‘The Dragon’ in the Veskarium. When you meet him, you’ll see why. He and I were part of a joint Pact Worlds–Veskarium brutaris exhibition many years ago, back when relations with Vesk Prime were fresher than they are now. Paxel may seem friendly but make no mistake: his allegiance is to the Veskarium, and he’ll do whatever he needs to do to protect it. She cocks her head to one side with a quiet snort. He’s quite vain, though he’d never admit it. I heard he’s had several interesting augmentations done as he’s aged.
The D.D.O. investigates any group or cult it deems heretical or threatening to the official vesk position on their cultural superiority. They’re a very ‘ends justify the means’ kind of group, so take any aid Paxel offers you with a grain of salt—I doubt he’d risk these Keepers getting away. Then again, he might value Veskarium relations with the Pact Worlds and the Starfinder Society and want to keep you alive. It’s a toss-up
As for what was taken, it's a Dwarven Chroniclestone. An intact traditionally carved stone tablet chronicling the pre-Gap history of a dwarven colony on an unknown planet. Divinations showed traces of Torag’s divine protection Dunno how they found out we had it. This item, while noteworthy in and of itself, is especially valuable because it predates the Gap. The Keepers must be monitoring us, so it’s safe to assume they took this item to start building their reputation on Absalom Station, which they’ve yet to make any major inroads into.
But yeah, the Keepers of the Lie believe that the multiverse was created after the Gap and any evidence saying otherwise is a lie and must be destroyed.
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The ysoki turns to the gathered Starfinders and hands out a few business cards - Roquefort Camembert, Psychic Detective
Roquefort starts tapping into his datapad and nodding sagely "The Veskarium, and the Keepers of the Lie, I think I ran into something like that on a past case I was investigating. Hang on let me check the case notes"
Veskarium - Culture
Keepers of the lie - Mysticism
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"A dwarven artefect, They keep cropping up lately." She says.
My goodness. A travel to the land of my biological parents! I wonder in which type of climate the lived in.
Marguerite looks at the group and says:
"It may be surprising but i haven't lived in the Veskarium for a very, very long time. I was just a baby before i was taking to the Pact Worlds' Sun.. "
Also, she repeats to herself what Naiaj said and there and realised something.
"Naiaj... what is the Veskarium's stance with Organised Religions?"
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Naiaj has to think about Margurite's question a bit before answering. As long as they don't say anything that contradicts Vesk authority, they're tolerated. I .. don't think you'll have any problems being of Sarenrae though.
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Roquefort shares the information as an update across the assembled Starfinders comms systems.
"Looks like we have an interesting time ahead"
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Diplomacy re: Veskarium:
Mysticism re: Keepers:
"I have also heard of these Keepers of the Lie before," Keskodai adds, cross-checking his memory with the notes on his comm unit. "I certainly don't want to see them on Absalom Station. And I'd love to see this artifact before they get the chance to destroy it.
"There's nothing I need before heading out, so just point me at the transport."
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Marguerite listens to the others' description of the Keepers of the Lie.
"Haha, that an interesting point of view. I understand that the Society has an another rival group."
And the Society should look into his own members...because i am sure some of them has infiltrated the Society.
"But", she adds. "If they are trying to reveal the "truth"... Why do they called themselves Keepers of the Lie? I mean that litteraly the reverse they think they do. Named this way, it feels that they are the ones who lie about this.
It could be a cultural thing. I think. After all, The rulers called themselves the council of Despots. Which is the most efficient way for others to see you as EVIL!!"
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Pickle giggles at that comment.
So. No further questions? Naiaj continues Then I recommend you make whatever purchases you need then meet back here at the docks as soon as possible. The Dapper Coatl will be waiting for you. Oh .. you should take these
She hands you a Culture library chip so you can study the Veskarium on your travels as well as a tetrad certified translator - just in case.
((Slot boons please. Anyone played ITU, 1-12 or 1-23 with these PCs?))
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(As long as you spend the necessary faction points, I can't see why not.)
It takes only 4 days in the Drift to get to the Veskarium. During the journey, no other vessels contact the ship, though you receive word via Starfinder Society comm frequencies that the brass dragon Zafeldrin of Triaxus has recently been promoted to venture-captain by the overwhelming majority of the Starfinder Society Forum, and that the dragon is planning on a major mission on Triaxus soon.
When the Dapper Coatl exits the Drift above Vesk Prime, the viewscreens display a view of the planet below, alive with deep-blue oceans, verdant green forests, and the rusty bronze of sprawling deserts. As the ship descends through a partially cloudy sky, the magnitude of the city below becomes apparent. Elongated avenues intersecting at precise angles cut through the city, passing by colossal monuments and expansive amphitheaters and parks, all leading inward to the center. At the very heart of the city is the imposing pyramid of Command Prime, a domineering structure that the city took its name from.
The shuttle pilot relays the requisite codes necessary to clear the shuttle for landing at the private landing dock that is used only for official Command Prime business. As you disembark, a small contingent of Veskarium security officers greets them. The leader of the unit briskly walks forward, hand on his pistol, and demands to know your business in Command Prime.
(culture checks please. You can lie to him, talk him down or brush him off with a successful Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidate check)
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Culture
"Well met." Domak says. [/b]I am Domak of the Starfinder Society. We are here to meet with the commander of the Division of Disloyal Organizations. Paxel is his name or, to some, he is known as ‘The Dragon’. You may contact him to insure he is expecting us. We will, of course, wait."[/b]
Aid Diplomacy
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While in the Drift, Keskodai makes a note to make a post on the Starfinder boards congratulating Zalfedrin.
Diplomacy:
"Good day, sir," Keskodai adds graciously, "and apologies for our sudden arrival. I am Keskodai, and my associates and I are here on an urgent matter that concerns both your people and ours. I'm sure the commander would appreciate your prompt attention to this matter."
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as a sub-major within the Veskarium military, with decorations for
service during the Silent War with the Pact Worlds.
The vesk unit leader calls ahead and receives clearance from higher up to send you through; he orders his security officers to form rank and escort you from the dock to the base of the pyramid. As you enter Command Prime, the vesk officers escort them through twisting halls that seem to double back, with switchbacks and corridors that seem to lead to nowhere.
((Anyone have Profession (mercenary) or Profession (soldier)?)
As the hallways lead farther inside the structure, the temperature rises to an almost uncomfortable level for most warm-blooded creatures. Finally, you arrive at a short side corridor that leads towards a single door. As you approach, the temperature drops precipitously. With slight hesitation and winces on their faces, your escorts knock on the door. A booming voice from the other side bids entry.
The door opens on a sprawling office whose hominess belies the frigid temperature. A purple-furred creature with six arms, a skittermander, rushes out, adeptly balancing a serving tray. Inside, a desk of rich mahogany sits upon a large bearskin rug, and a well-used reading chair sits beside the sole window that allows in feeble light. A vesk with a uniformly dark-green hide towers behind the desk. On one side of his face, the skin on his prominent jawbone is partly missing, revealing a tangle of bone, muscles, and ligaments fitted with mechanical augmentations.
Friends, welcome. The vesk smiles. Your Venture-Captain Naiaj informed me of your imminent arrival here on Command Prime. I am so tickled that our first official communique from the Starfinders came from her, and not from that showboat, Radaszam. Sneering, he shuffles a few papers on his desk. We know all about these Keepers in the Veskarium. Their beliefs are an affront to the vesk way of life. They are dishonorable and bring shame to us as their exploits have now reached beyond our system. I have a few potential leads for you, hopefully you can take care of this nuisance. I have more important things to worry about now than some trinket the Starfinders lost, so I can’t offer you aide or an escort at this time. Check in with me once you have completed an investigation into these scraps of information I have for you.
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"Thank you to have giving us a few moments Commander. May the Dawnflower's light be with you. Stopping those who endanger innocents is a noble job we both do. Honor is important in both of our two solar systems.
I will be direct. We both know knowing where we walk into is primordial for the success of a mission.So any info is important. We are adults. We can survive on our own.
That said, since this is our "first contact". I do have questions about you Commander.
How did you meet Naiaj? And it seems you have also heard of Radovan.
What do you know about the starfinder society?
What is your worry? We Starfinders are quite the troubleshooter. The organisation is not that noble like yours. But we are capable.
What has happen that you need (Marguerite signs the mecanical jaw)... I am sorry... that was disrespectful."
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((Margurite: Unfortunately the module doesn't have answers for many of those questions))
((What are the leads you have for us?)) I have a skittermander contact at our bureaucratic headquarters that might have information for you. There is also a freelance merchant named Kandurasko in the market you might want to chat with. I’d recommend you speak with a few of my colleagues, one from another military division and the other from the office that deals with non-vesk. Like you, we’ve had some trinkets taken from the Museum of Conquest. The curator there may have insight. Finally, I have a potential operative you may speak with, though I am
unsure what they will tell you, if anything. Of these, you should only need to complete a few before we can uncover where the Keepers are hiding.
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((I guess the museum is it then))
Paxel gestures to the large painting behind desk. Featuring an ornate gilded frame, the canvas displays a triumphant vesk in full battle armor standing on a pile of insectile heads. The victor holds a fiery doshko overhead in victory. Do you like my painting? It is on loan to me from the Museum of Conquest. It reminds me that we beat the Swarm before and that we can beat it again, should the need arise. Paxel grunts in smug determination. I recommend you speak with the curator who suggested this painting for my office. According to an interdepartmental memo from a few days ago, it seems that some Gap-related trinkets have also gone missing from the museum. Their disappearance may be related to those Keeper intrusions you also experienced.
Paxel directs you to the Museum of Conquest, a bombastic and imposing building in Command Prime that’s filled with exhibits that celebrate Veskarium victories throughout Near Space and educate visitors about the triumphs of vesk conquest. When you arrive at the museum, a robotic guide notified by Paxel awaits you and guides you to the curator. The curator, a knobby old vesk with dull scales, greets you with dismay.
Oh my, oh my. Hello, I am Dr. Zekuza. I have just received word that you want to know more about the curios that were recently stolen from the museum. I’m hoping you can help me with finding them. Please, come with me and I’ll show you. The old vesk walks down avenue-like corridors, passing several exhibits in the museum’s main building. I wish I could give you a proper tour, but there’s just no time. I’m especially enamored of our new expanded exhibit on the Iron Doshko, the magnificent five-bladed doshko supposedly wielded by Eshovok, the first imperial Emperor of the Veskarium. The curator reaches the back of the museum and exits onto a small terrace. Pathways lead from the terrace to smaller satellite museums. I do love these smaller museums. They house our more localized exhibits and antiquities from other worlds. Oh, except that one, that one’s not open yet. Dr. Zekuza gestures to a distant structure, where a banner reading ‘PACT WORLDS—CONSTRUCTION POSTPONED’ covers the previously engraved name of the building. Ahh! We’ve arrived at security! They can tell you what happened.