GM Hmm |
Coming to a galaxy near you after August 3rd.
GM Hmm |
A chorus of squeaks, buzzes, and clanks fills the medical ward onboard the Starfinder starship Master of Stars, as three tiny ysoki children bounce around on inflatable exercise balls and climb the automated arms of an operating drone like a jungle gym. Fitch, the Wayfinders faction leader, stands at the far computer terminal as it prints a long strip of paper with multiple lines of densely packed text. “Kirkath, so help me Weydan, if you cut yourself on that drone and get sick, you're gonna have to find someone else to feel sorry for you! Put those things back in the P.T. room now!”
Then Fitch turns, as you come in. "Oh, you're here! Why don't you take a moment to introduce yourselves while I get the kids settled?"
Compucast |
A large vesk, with full battle armour, but oddly no obvious weapons strides into the room. He sits with a degree of force, the chair groaning under the weight of him.
"Good afternoon Fitch. As you are aware, I am Compucast, technomancer, warrior and Team Member." he looks around the room, sighing at the inevitable presence of the smaller members of Fitch's extended family.
"I do hope that none of your grandchildren try to catch a ride on me again."
Teka Teach |
Another small ysoki with graying hair slowly meanders into the room and gives a smile and wave to her fellow Starfinders but her smile grows and coos aloud seeing the antics of the children. "Hello Fitch and dearies. I hope you are being good children today and are only causing a little bit of trouble."
She has a small pack on her side that obscures a few of the smaller well-secured pistols she has on her sides as she pulls her attention away from the children as and brings herself to the other Starfinders. "It is an absolute joy to be here with you all. I'm Teka, a computers specialist and I'm certainly hopeful that we will be able to tell wonderful stories about this new mission we are going on about."
"If you all don't mind I certainly would love to take a few photographs with each of you to remember the occasion," she adds as she carefully withdraws a datapad.
Imperator Fexia |
Fexia salutes Fitch. "As you command, my queen."
She turns to introduce himself then looks down at Teka. "That voice sounds most familiar. It will be an honor to serve alongside you once again."
Nodding towards Compucast she continues, "Imperator Fexia, liason to the Karnos hive, representative of the Hellknight Order of the Scourge, Starfinder. I am still adapting to the changes in the hive-structure of the society since my imprisonment in the Scoured Stars, however my recent excursions have assisted in this matter."
Umbro-187 |
A dark skinned android wearing a well used travel suit jacket quietly enters the medical ward and leans against the back wall. He looks with disdain at Fitch's children as the fluorescent blue lines of circuits that criss cross his face flare briefly as he says in a neutral tone, "My name's Umbro-187."
Compucast |
Compucast offers a stiff bow to to Fexia.
"Hellknight. Now there is an order that understands about the group."
He looks suspiciously at Teka. "Why would you want a photograph of me?" he asks curiously.
Eki Niqim |
Brown-furred ysoki wearing grease-stained overalls walks in a calm manner and smiles to the photographer. "Hello Fitch and kids! Nice to see old friend and meet new ones! I'm Eki, by the way, starship mechanic by trade"
Officer Swizzers |
A blue-furred skittermander enters the room, dressed in the uniform of a law enforcement official. She smiles at everyone. "Hello nufriends! I'm Officer Swizzers, on secondment to the Starfinder Society from the Stewards. Apologies for being late--I just returned from a mission to explore an old mining operation on Thosum V in Near Space. I'll never look at nanotech the same way again!" She pats the children on their heads and finds a place to sit.
Anyone have ideas for a skittermander avatar? I couldn't find anything, but they might be hiding from me!
GM Hmm |
The kids ham it up immediately for the photos, and some demand to ride Compucast, while others want to drag the skittermander and the ysoki into games. Fitch shoos them all away.
"Queen... Ha! Why did I ever procreate? I could have quiet nights... time to study... Grown-up dinners." She sighs and tears the paper from the printer. “Agents, as you may already know, the Pact Worlds colonies are in the midst of a health crisis. People across several planets are coming down with virulent diseases, and the companies of ‘Big Potion' are moving so slowly with their intervention that medicine prices are skyrocketing. Folks are getting desperate.
“Lucky for us, we have an ace in the hole: the Starfinder Society has a strong relationship with the izalguuns, a people out in the Vast whose identities we kept secret per their request. They helped us drive back the jinsul threat during the events of the Scoured Stars, and I've maintained discreet communication with some of their elders ever since. The izalguuns mostly lead hunter-gatherer lifestyles these days, but their medicinals are sophisticated. One of their elders, Naarma, has agreed to help us out by synthesizing new medicinal goods that we can provide Pact Worlds colonies to help improve the Society's image.”
Fitch folds the paper and slides it into an envelope. “I need you to bring this list of contagion patterns, symptoms, and existing treatments to Naarma on Izalraan so she can work her magic. Naarma also mentioned that she might need our help with a problem of her own, something about radiation if my memory serves. Do what she asks so she can get us ahead of this outbreak and ensure that others see the Society for the noble institution we are. Any questions?”
Teka Teach |
He looks suspiciously at Teka. "Why would you want a photograph of me?" he asks curiously.
Teka sighs as she stares into the air for a moment reminiscing. "I have so few records I left intact from my youth. I've been trying to turn that around since then."
...
"Trying to fight against the stranglehold of big corporations. Not exactly the memories of the yesteryear I was thinking of, but still sounds like a lovely adventure to dive into."
She gives a sly smile while looking out toward the windows before asking, "do you believe Big Potion is dragging their heels on purpose? Do you think they will know about this mission we are going on now?"
GM Hmm |
Fitch sighs, and glances over at her brood of little ones. "As someone who has to stock medicinals in bulk everytime the flu hits the station... Yes, I think that Big Potion is dragging their heels. Nothing that I can prove, of course."
Officer Swizzers |
Officer Swizzers' eyes go wide. "Radiation? That sounds scary. Do you think our armor seals will be enough? Or should we bring some specialized gear, just in case?"
Umbro-187 |
Umbro raises an eyebrow and says with a neutral tone of voice, "Radiation, I don't like the sound of that. Can we purchase some additional equipment before we leave if we are going to be exposed to it?"
GM Hmm |
Fitch's whiskers twitch. “You'll have to ask Naama for specifics, but she mentioned something about a radiation leak or radiation poisoning of some sort near an izalguun village. I'd plan accordingly, you won't have many high-tech shopping options once you land on Izalraan. If you need to grab some gear from the Free Markets, now's the time.”
Compucast |
Compucast nods at the request. "Recognizing and remembering your team is important. Your request is granted." he says formally, posing for the photo without realising he has no less than three little yoski attached to various parts of his armour.
"What can you tell us about the radiation issue?" he asks Fitch.
"I recall encountering some odd radiation with some other Izul artifacts in their old repository..." he continues.
"It is likely to be related to that?"
Imperator Fexia |
"This... deliberate 'dragging of heels' as you call it sounds like a... corruption to me. One that must be purged. And you believe that these Izalguun may have the necessary equipment to exert pressure on this 'big potion' consortium of which you refer? It is most fortunate that on a recent expedition I saw fit to procure additional protections against radiation. It proved to be unnecessary at that time, but it seems as though now it may be worthwhile. Would it be prudent to expect direct intervention from 'big potion' of the violent nature?"
Fexia has an Environmental suit for Radiation and Zero-G, but I suspect a spell gem or two may be in order.
Teka Teach |
Teka delights in taking a few shots as she holds her tongue from ranting about big corporations. Tapping on the datapad she pulls back her notes and offers her concern, "radiation is certainly of terrible concern and if they need our aid performing repairs we may very well being walking into the oven here. I've seen the damage radiation can do over the years and I dare not treat it lightly. I'll certainly stop by the markets before we leave to purchase anything that can help offer any protection."
"I do have a sensor that can help detect it before we stumble into the field, but that may not help if we need to walk into that mess."
Teka will purchase a radiation buffer armor upgrade for 200 credits.
Compucast |
"I too will procure a radiation buffer. It was not a happy experience last time I dealt with odd radiation issues. The real question is what I remove from my armour. I suspect it will be the targeting computer and force-field, as Icefront is a cold world, and I want to keep my thermal capacitors."
He nods to the Hellknight. "I might also get an environmental suit. That sounds like a solid investment. Likewise a radiation sweeper could be handy."
Umbro-187 |
Umbro will purchase a radiation badge and a radiation environmental suit.
Eki Niqim |
"My disembarkment suit should provide adequate protection from most radiation hazards. Good radiation detector will be enough, otherwise I'm ready to go."
Eki purchases a Radiation Sweeper
Officer Swizzers |
Officer Swizzers nods, confidently. "Thank you, Fitch. We won't you--or the Pact Worlds--down."
GM Hmm |
"I'll be counting on it!" Fitch says. She shoos the children away, and grins. "Go get shopping, your ship leaves in 2 hours!"
Recommended Boons for this Scenario: Wayfinders and First Skirmish (Social) from SFS 1-13.
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
What do you know before you go?
Culture to Recall Knowledge
GM Hmm |
You board the Peregrination Into Night, a chartered Starfinder Society personnel freighter. Captain Zhast, a female shirren, is a jovial host. I hope you like eating, because I love cooking! She offers you all daily and delicious meals in her private quarters, which she painstakingly prepares herself.
Days of Space Travel: 5d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 3, 3, 1) = 13
Your quarters are simple but comfortable. There's a small shipboard gym, board games and a library that includes cookbooks from a dozen different species, Castrovellian jungle romances, a complete set of Dr. Bzzzt, Shirren Detective mysteries, some self-help guides, language learning texts and a set of Starfinder chronicles to peruse.
Are any of you doing anything special while en route?
Compucast |
culture: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
"As I think we already discussed, Izalguuns are native to the Vast world of Icefront, which they call Izalraan. They live agrarian lifestyles." sighs Compucast. His personal knowledge dislodged for a moment as he contemplates the deeper structure of the universe.
Compucast avoids the jungle romances, but does spend a lot of time in the gym. If any of the language texts refer to toe Izalguuns' language, he will do what he can to pick it up en-route.
The otherwise quite formal vesk is more than happy to try some of Zjhast's cooking though, ploughing through a variety of different dishes with gusto.
Umbro-187 |
Umbro-187 mostly keeps to himself for the entire trip. If talked to he will converse with rest of the team, but he is not particularly friendly. He spends a lot of time in the gym working out.
Umbro has no points in culture.
Teka Teach |
Culture: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29
"Oh yes," Teka readily agrees. "I know several came and provided aid against battles against the jinsul recently. They put themselves at great risk going into battle with their long resting ships. I'm happy to be able to be here to help repay that favor."
The elderly ysoki pulls data off of her datapad as she adds, "and it looks like we will be getting there at a wonderful time. The weather on Izalraan is rather extreme a times, but we should be arriving in their Spring season. The weather looks to be lovely."
.
During the journey Teka delights in Captain Zhast personally crafted meals. "Oh these are such delightful fare! I admit that I am prepared for a much blander fare when on long trips like these. This is a wonderful surprise. Would you mind if I helped in preparation, I want to see how you mean these wonderful meals."
Teka spends most of the trip focusing on reading through the variety of cookbooks within the ship library as she picks out choice recipes she would love to replicate.
Eki Niqim |
Culture: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
"Yep, they are agrarian people who came from the Scoured stars system. They have had more advanced technology than they do now, but felt that technology threatened sustainability of their society. We made a promise to keep this information secret from wider Pact worlds. And I know this because I was there myself. Some have joined Starfinders and some even helped during our second excursion to Scoured stars system."
Eki likes playing board games and reading mystery novels.
Umbro-187 |
Since the faq and errata material has been added to the PDF version of the core rulebook today; would it be okay if Umbro also buys two Mk. I flash grenades at the new price?
GM Hmm |
@Umbro, see my comments in discussion.
GM Hmm |
Midway through your journey, you come across one other starship, the Stoic Refuge, making its way to the Suskillon system. The ship only replies to hails with a pre-recorded message:
"Come one, come all for the upcoming sale of audacious and wild creatures from Impressium's Humble Menagerie. Rare planar pets! Empathic spiders! Laser wolves and more! Coming to the Pact Worlds in only a few months!'
Umbro-187 |
When Umbro-187 hears the message from the Stoic Refuge he seems quite interested in what the ship is advertising.
"Captain Zhast, perhaps we should investigate this ship. The trade of exotic alien species is strictly regulated in the Pact Worlds."
Imperator Fexia |
I think I'd like to get a radiation buffer as well.
"If the Izalguun are as your understanding of them leads me to believe, it will be an honor to work along side them. Do you know of their queen?"
With that she takes a seat and begins to clean her weapons and gear, making sure that the sigil of her order, and that of the Starfinder Society, are clearly visible.
When the pre-recorded message plays Fexia appears nonplussed. "Date and location noted. This does not appear to be relevant to the orders issued by our Queen-Venture-Captain. Recommend forwarding concerns for further investigation." That is until someone makes that culture check makes it twice as sketchy."
Officer Swizzers |
Officer Swizzers busies herself reviewing dossiers on the system's most wanted criminals. She's a bit more quiet and serious than many skittermanders, but is always around to pitch in a hand when someone needs help.
When she hears the message from the other ship, she says "If that vessel is headed to the Suskillon system, they have a long and dangerous trip ahead of them. Suskillon is in the Vast, and I read an intelligence report last week indicating the Swarm had taken an interest in it!"
Culture check (briefing): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Culture check (ship): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Teka Teach |
Culture: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16
"We are some time out of the Pact Worlds now though to force an investigation on the ship Umbro-187. Although I would rather than head to the Absalom Station to deal with the customs agents than let them wander into even more danger Swizzers described. I would encourage them to change course."
Teka regards the questions from Fexia and slowly responds, "well I don't know about their royalty, but Elder Naarma the one who requested the Society keep their culture a secret."
Compucast |
culture: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
"I too had heard that. But why would they be heading towards that system when they are advertising their show in the Pact worlds? Unless they are going to pick up items. It is odd that they do not respond to hails .." notes the technomancer.
"If we approach them, do they change course to avoid us captain?"
Eki Niqim |
culture on ship: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Eki thinks for a quick moment and asks "As they are heading to a system threatened by the Swarm, could they be smugglers?"
Imperator Fexia |
"I have a most difficult time understanding the hive-structure in these parts. Smugglers are treated as a corruption of fair-trade, however the Queen of the Drift is... unknown to me. If one of you is a queen-mission-specialist on these subjects I would seek their assistance to understand."
GM Hmm |
You decide to investigate the ship, but scans prove there is no life on board. No humanoids, no animals. When you board, the whole thing appears suddenly abandoned, though there are empty cages, some with trace amounts of fur and scales, where animals might once have been. Yet no signs of a struggle. And two weeks ago, entries in the ship's logs just stopped.
Almost like OrgPlay was dangling a plothook that might be picked up in another adventure.
Captain Zhast calls you on your comms. "If you're finished poking around this mystery, we probably should be heading on to Izalraan."
A few days later, the Peregrination into Night dispatches you to Izalraan's surface on a small atmospheric shuttle. As you touch down on the planet, you see spots of brown soil starting to emerge from beneath mounds of dirty snow. A band of izalguun locals help to flag down the ship. They embrace Eki in four-armed hugs, lifting the ysoki off his feet. "Eki! Good to see you again! Who are your friends? Elder Naarma will be so delighted to see you again!"
Wasting no time, your Izalguun escort lopes forward to take you to Naarma, at first racing ahead with a quadruped's gait, and then, realizing that most of you don't have their speed, slowing down graciously to walk at your pace. The izalguuns bring the you to Elder Naarma's ziggurat, which is in the medical ward of a larger, buried starship.
"Welcome, Eki and Eki's friends." Naarma nods. "I am elder Naarma. While I look over Fitch's data, you can all introduce yourselves to me."
Umbro-187 |
"Elder Naarma, I am Umbro-187."
Compucast |
Compucast rumbles forward.
"We have met." he states, as diplomatically as a vesk can.
"I am Compucast. You may remember me from the issue with Frozen trove, and then the, ahh, recovery... of some artefacts."
He looks around the camp. "Your people seem much recovered from their...earlier experiences." he notes.
GM Hmm |
Naarma nods to Umbro, and then her eyes widen as she looks at Compucast.. "Oh, yes! We have met! Good to see you again, Compucast. As for my people, they're resilient!" The izalguun slowly nods her head as she skims the medical data. “Yes. This should be doable. Very doable, in fact. I may have some questions, but they are not pertinent at the moment. As Fitch hopefully told you, I have a favor to ask in return for my service."
Eki Niqim |
Eki squeaks joyfully "Hello, Naarma! These are friends I've met first time when we left for Izalraan. Fitch did mention we could help you with some problem, yes but she couldn't give any specifics about the situation."
GM Hmm |
Naarma sighs. “Some izalguuns from a neighboring village have recently been coming to me for treatments. I thought it might be sunburn at first, but it is too harsh and consistent for this season, plus some of our hunters began returning from the same region with animals that were dead or...changed. Radiation poisoning is almost certainly the problem, probably from a power core leak from one of our ancestral starships like the one we presently occupy. I do not know why the containment mechanisms failed, but the leak must be stopped before the radiation spreads."
'My people no longer possess the armor technology or wherewithal to safely approach this threat," she says, spreading four arms out as her palms seem to weigh possibilities, "but for you the task should be trivial. Will you do this for us?”
Compucast |
Compucast nods. "You scratch my scales, and I scratch yours." he says clearly.
"And as you note, our armour should protect us from the worst of the radiation. Fitch warned us there may be such hazards so most of us brought along additional protections just in case things are a little worse than expected."
He thinks for a bit. "Do you know where the access into the ancient starcraft might be?"
Teka Teach |
Teka clasps her hands together and gives a short bow of her head to Naarme before introducing herself. "I'm Teka Teach and I'm so grateful to be able to meet you. I've heard nothing but good things about you. I want to especially offer my thanks for the aid your people provided in the Scoured Stars. Your efforts saved many good souls."
With the greeting past Teka drops her smile as she ponders the descriptions of the ongoing wounds. She rests a hand on the wall to stabilize herself as her mind focuses on the danger.
"Have you been able to tell if the this poisoning has been spreading or becoming stronger since you first saw sign?"
Officer Swizzers |
Officer Swizzers looks sad. "I'm no expert on radiation," she says. "But I know it can poison the land for years. Even in the short term, I think we'll have to evacuate that village and set up a cordon to keep hunters from approaching it. Is this something you'd be willing to assist us with?" The skittermander looks embarrassed for a moment. "Oh! I'm Swizzers, from the Pact Worlds' Stewards, on secondment with the Starfinder Society. Pleased to meet you."
Imperator Fexia |
Fexia does her best to move in lock-step with the Izalguuns, but is slowed considerably by her bulky armor. "Imperator Fexia at your command my queen."
She bows her head before giving her full introduction. "I represent the Starfinder Society as a representative of Queen Jadnura and Mission-Specialist-Queen Fitch, and the Hellknight Order of the Scourge. I have equipped myself with additional equipment for the purpose of tolerating radiation, and will utilize all of my skills to ensure that the corruption of your people's health is brought to an end."
GM Hmm |
Naarma gives you instructions to an abandoned hamlet where the starship is buried, along with an etched metal panel with some translations of common Izalguun words and the foundational code for izalguun software.
As Teka and the others inquire about the radiation, Naarma gestures you to follow her. She quietly leads the way to another lab where a vole-like mammal in a cage squeaks with obvious discomfort. Its body is riddled with bloody pustules and its hair is almost completely shed. After a moment, one boil slides off the creature's skin, slithers around the cage on its own, then collapses into a gory blob. Naarma says, “Organisms with sensitive stem cells have reacted to the radiation with aggressive, cancerous mutations. Sometimes the tumors become ambulatory. It is difficult to watch.”
She sighs. "We don't know what caused the leak. Our nuclear containment technology has always been reliable and self-sustaining. We have inhabited this planet for generations and this is the first I have heard of this happening. I suppose all artificial things break down eventually, but at least it should be easy to fix.”
At Officer Swizzer's suggestion for the evacuation, Naarma nods. "You'll find we've already cleared the area for your team's investigation."
GM Hmm |
Naarma advises against you taking your shuttle to the village. Too many hills and cliffs make for uncertain landing areas, so you take off on foot.
Days Traveled: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6
The territory is a bit unfamiliar, and ice front's snowy weather makes travel slow-going for the first few days. As you approach your destination, the snow gradually disappears and the devices that detect radiation slowly come to life, indicating a minor radiation leak. You eventually find a vast, strangely angular hillock upon which a small hamlet—its buildings long abandoned—stands, encircling a tall ziggurat like the ones in Naarma's village.
The radiation in this area functions as low radiation that affects creatures only once every hour (Starfinder Core Rulebook 404).This effect is harmless to a PC in any kind of armor, but dangerous to wildlife with prolonged exposure.