The Lorespire Complex's familiar grounds are in a boisterous state of flux. Hired workers set up pavilions and booths on the lawns, courier vehicles dart back and forth down the adjacent streets, and janitors hustle to prepare rooms for occupation throughout the compound's buildings. Dozens of early guests loiter nearby chatting excitedly. The festive, yet chaotic, atmosphere persists in stark contrast to the First Seeker's ominous announcement.
A lashunta man, Venture-Captain Arvin, strides forward to intercept the newest arrivals. “Welcome back, Starfinders. First Seeker Elsebo plans to meet with the agents involved in her operation shortly. She'll announce when she's ready—listen for the code phrase ‘pest control.' It looks like Luwazi is finally going to have us strike back at Datch, the architect of our past year of credibility woes. Regardless of our foe's machinations, we're hosting several weeks of conferences and parties to honor Ehu Hadif, and there's plenty to do while you wait. Let's get you checked in, shall we?”
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Ombonth, a large blueish unsmiling Dragonkin with strange dark purplish glowing scars on his face, grunts as the Venture-Captain speech.
Don't like parties. Where is Alsayf! Never there when I need him...
At the mention of Datch, he grunts even more. This little rat! Always making my life harder. Hope to corner her.
Each of your comm devices begins going off all throughout the day as First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo’s voice breaks the silence. “Starfinders, if you’re receiving this transmission, I’m requesting that you cease your current missions and return to Absalom Station at once. I have obtained urgent information regarding one of our foe’s activities. If she succeeds, she could tip the balance of corporate power within the Pact Worlds and possibly even destroy the Society. I’ll explain once we convene at the Lorespire Complex.”
Rex enters the grounds totting his tools over his back. He tries to take in everything that is going on around him, with Arvin appears.
The lanky brakim greets the VC, "Sure t'ing boss man. What you need me do?" Rex's eyes catch sight of the refreshments being set up not far away, and begins stretching his arm towards them hoping he'll be able to grab a few while still paying attention (mostly) to Arvin.
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Kat5e takes in the action around her as she enters, constantly sizing up the goings on around the complex. In her usual fashion, she has packed light. Wearing her beat up old leather jacket, a black band t-shirt and her second skin armour, her only other visible possession is the well-used laser rifle slung across her back.
Shorter than most Androids, she is densely packed with organic muscles. Every visible area of her skin is adorned with tattoos of both glowing android circuitry and ink. These stretch up over her face and shaved head up to her spiked yellow mohawk.
Her stern resting face breaks into a smoke when greeted by Arvin. "Venture-Captain, always a pleasure" She obediently follows his direction to the briefing area.
At the Lorespire Complex,various Venture Captains and other allies have missions for you.
TASK DETAILS
Venture-Captain Naiaj leans despondently against the wall outside the cafeteria. Workers clad in white chef smocks hurry past carrying a covered tray, which Naiaj eyes longingly. She turns to the PCs and snaps, “Have you ever been so hungry you got angry? I came here to get my snack on and found the caterers in a panic. They don't have enough food prepared to handle the guest list, and they're struggling to accommodate some attendees' unique dietary needs. I'd hate to see our new First Seeker's big day spoiled by an empty buffet line. Get in there, and see what you can do to help. Look alive, Starfinders!”
TASK DETAILS
You meet with Celita, leader of the Dataphiles, in the Archive's Cortex. “Our esteemed colleague's elevation to First Seeker is a historic occasion. As such, we must all do our part to foster a celebratory atmosphere—not only to honor Ehu's nomination but to conceal Luwazi's activities. Your help with creating a positive buzz across the infosphere would be greatly appreciated.”
TASK DETAILS
Radaszam, leader of the Acquisitives, alerts you to a potential security breach on the Lorespire Complex's front lawn, where a group crowds the main walkway, hoisting signs with anti-Society slogans. “Looks like these people bought in to Datch's propaganda,” Radaszam grumbles. “They've been here all day. We're not going to make them disperse—please talk with them and work out a peaceful resolution.”
TASK DETAILS
Inside the Hall of Discovery, ysoki scuttle about setting up audiovisual equipment while a kindly voice directs them. Fitch, leader of the Wayfinders, waves to the PCs from atop a towering scaffold. “Good to see you! The kiddos and I are sprucing the place up for the big event.” She stops and beams proudly at a scrawny, gray ysoki fiddling with a circuit board. “They're doing great, but it's a big job. Mind lending us a hand?”
TASK DETAILS
Zigvigix, leader of the Exo-Guardians, chats animatedly with one of the hired event staff, a stocky, brown ysoki dressed in stained coveralls embroidered with the name “Tall Sam.” The two avidly discuss a cluster of haphazardly parked land vehicles. “Hey, you!” The ysoki shouts as you approach, “Why are you just standing around, huh? We've got a pileup worse than A-Station rush hour over here. Get off your tails, and go park some vehicles!” Zigvigix nods enthusiastically and adds, “Relieving the valet queue might help our fellow Starfinders get to Luwazi's meeting. Please do whatever you can to help!”
TASK DETAILS
You encounter Venture-Captain Arvin pacing in front of the building's entrance, clearly overwhelmed by a list of familiar names on his datapad. “Sparklemane and associated weapon permits unaccounted for. Zo!—shuttle delayed. Envar Tam—oh, this is ridiculous.” Arvin relaxes when he notices the PCs. “As you know, we're expecting an influx of visitors over the next few weeks. Some decided to arrive fashionably early, and we seem to have misplaced a few guests of honor in the confusion. If you can help me locate and corral our more elusive guests, I'd be grateful.”
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A compact, somewhat nondescript human in brightly colored freebooter armor trots in, dodging workers with practiced ease. A heavy laser and a lighter plasma rifle are slung across his back, and a knife and baton are at his belt. "James Patterson the Sixty-Second checking in. Kat5e! Good to see you again." He grins at the android, then looks around at the building festivities while following her to the assembly area. "Another party, hey? Sounds like this one might be as exciting as the last."
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Momo walks in as if the wind carries her, light-footed, springy, and every now and then with a little skip in her step. Her head is turning everywhere, trying to observe all the hubbub at the same time with eyes wide-open.
She arrives just after Patterson does Momo, she says to Arvin, I guess that makes me the sixty-third then? A lot of people here
Seeing Omboth, she can't help but blurt out Oh wow... are you a real dragon? With the lanky Brakim and short Android, the group looks quite diverse. Hello everybody, she introduces herself with a somewhat rehearsed bow, and a cheerful introduction my name is Momo, and I'm in charge of dancing!
TASK DETAILS
You meet with Celita, leader of the Dataphiles, in the Archive's Cortex. “Our esteemed colleague's elevation to First Seeker is a historic occasion. As such, we must all do our part to foster a celebratory atmosphere—not only to honor Ehu's nomination but to conceal Luwazi's activities. Your help with creating a positive buzz across the infosphere would be greatly appreciated.”
Don't worry Celita, I'll give you a nice holo-recording! Momo sets out to record a video-clip of the party atmosphere, goofing around as she does so. She start with an impression of soundcast host ‘the voice of the pact worlds’
Gooooood morning Pact Worlds! she mimics the deep radio voice This is the Voice of The Stars, from the Drift to the Diaspora, from Aballon to Aucturn, we are live, broadcast directly to your eardrums, soundholes and vibration antennae! Momo falls slightly out of her role with a chuckle, then continues, barely controlling herself Today we have a special report from the Lorespire, where preparations are in full swing for weeks-long celebrations! Here to entertain in the meantime is Momo Strawberry, dancing to Astrowerk's robotech hit 'I don't like your boyfriend'.
She then pops into view with her best 'it's me' face, and starts dancing the very precise robotic moves that accompany the song:
I don't like your boyfriend
I don't like his bulging chest
What is the need for muscle
Hydraulics are the best
I don't like your boyfriend
His head is full of meat
When it comes to computations
he doesn't have the speed
I don't like you boyfriend
As anyone can see
I most of all don't like that
Your boyfriend isn't me
TASK DETAILS
Venture-Captain Naiaj leans despondently against the wall outside the cafeteria. Workers clad in white chef smocks hurry past carrying a covered tray, which Naiaj eyes longingly. She turns to the PCs and snaps, “Have you ever been so hungry you got angry? I came here to get my snack on and found the caterers in a panic. They don't have enough food prepared to handle the guest list, and they're struggling to accommodate some attendees' unique dietary needs. I'd hate to see our new First Seeker's big day spoiled by an empty buffet line. Get in there, and see what you can do to help. Look alive, Starfinders!”
Already eyeing up the food prep, Rex is in a good position to hear Naiaj and jumps into action. With a quick scan of the area, he picks out a central location among the prep area and grabs a stool. Settling in he starts reaching out with both arms and both legs, passing, preparing and occasionally tasting, all at once.
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TASK DETAILS
Radaszam, leader of the Acquisitives, alerts you to a potential security breach on the Lorespire Complex's front lawn, where a group crowds the main walkway, hoisting signs with anti-Society slogans. “Looks like these people bought in to Datch's propaganda,” Radaszam grumbles. “They've been here all day. We're not going to make them disperse—please talk with them and work out a peaceful resolution.”
Ombonth grunts at the mission, but at least he can do something.
With the grace of a wale out of water, Ombonth crosses the crowd of invitees and goes directly to the crowd hoisting anti-Society signs.
With his large stature and hoarse voice he says. Stop that guys! If we were the badguys you've described on your signs, do you really think we will stand there without doing something... to your vital signs?
MEDIA BOOST
The amazing Momo Strawberry's robotic dance gives the Starfinders a much-needed Media boost as her performance goes platinum!
MEDIA BOOST REWARD (Also listed on SLIDE 27)
Easy The PCs launch a social media tag about the upcoming events that quickly gains momentum throughout the local infosphere.
Average Once during the adventure, each PC gains a +2 bonus to a Charisma-based skill check attempted when interacting with an individual who is not a Starfinder.
Hard When using the reward above, the PCs can roll their check twice and take the better result (in addition to gaining the +2 bonus).
Buffet Crisis
Nimble and daring, the loose-limbed brakim manages to get all the hungry Starfinders (and their guests) well-fed!
BUFFET CRISIS REWARD (Also listed on SLIDE 27)
Easy Thankful for the help, the head caterer gifts the PCs with a vacuum-sealed, spoilage-resistant takeout container full of scrumptious food. Once during the adventure, a PC can consume this food to gain a +1 bonus to skill checks and saves for a number of minutes equal to their character level.
Average In addition to the reward above, the food also functions as a mk 2 serum of healing that must be used during this adventure.
Hard As above, except the food functions as a mk 3 serum of healing that must be used during this adventure.
Media Control
"Eeeeeep! We're being oppressed!" Frightened by Ombonth, the misguided protesters drep their signs and run!
MEDIA CONTROL REWARD (Also listed on SLIDE 27)
Easy The PCs end the peaceful, albeit misguided, protest. They learn from the demonstrators that despite the Society's efforts to counteract Datch's smear campaign, many individuals in the Pact Worlds still distrust their organization.
Average The PCs gain valuable insight into the crowd's behavior. At any point during the adventure, a PC can attempt a Hard Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidate check to influence a crowd.
Hard Once during the adventure when the group encounters a team of two or more adversaries, the group can activate this reward to grant each PC a +4 bonus to their initiative checks for that encounter.
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Ombonth grunts at Momo saying with his hoarse, booming, voiceI'm a Dragonkin. I'm Ombonth the Twice-Born.
TASK DETAILS
You encounter Venture-Captain Arvin pacing in front of the building's entrance, clearly overwhelmed by a list of familiar names on his datapad. “Sparklemane and associated weapon permits unaccounted for. Zo!—shuttle delayed. Envar Tam—oh, this is ridiculous.” Arvin relaxes when he notices the PCs. “As you know, we're expecting an influx of visitors over the next few weeks. Some decided to arrive fashionably early, and we seem to have misplaced a few guests of honor in the confusion. If you can help me locate and corral our more elusive guests, I'd be grateful.”
Coming back from his first mission, Ombonth agrees to look for the guest, at least he will not have to talk to them, just point them at Venture-Captain Arvin.
Thanks to his large stature, he is able to quickly found the elusive guest int the crowd!
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TASK DETAILS
Zigvigix, leader of the Exo-Guardians, chats animatedly with one of the hired event staff, a stocky, brown ysoki dressed in stained coveralls embroidered with the name “Tall Sam.” The two avidly discuss a cluster of haphazardly parked land vehicles. “Hey, you!” The ysoki shouts as you approach, “Why are you just standing around, huh? We've got a pileup worse than A-Station rush hour over here. Get off your tails, and go park some vehicles!” Zigvigix nods enthusiastically and adds, “Relieving the valet queue might help our fellow Starfinders get to Luwazi's meeting. Please do whatever you can to help!”
Anything for you, Ziggy! Momo shouts, making a 'star-sugar-heart' to the Shirren before darting outside. Glancing over the massive queue of noisily honking cars, Momo is just frozen to the ground, standing completely still for the first time this evening.
She takes a deep breath.
You'll have to deal with this swarm as well, Momo, she says to herself, before nervously driving the first one to its proper spot.
TASK DETAILS
Inside the Hall of Discovery, ysoki scuttle about setting up audiovisual equipment while a kindly voice directs them. Fitch, leader of the Wayfinders, waves to the PCs from atop a towering scaffold.
Having satisfied his hunger while lending a hand, Rex spots Fitch on the scaffolding. "Fitch! What you do dere?
“Good to see you! The kiddos and I are sprucing the place up for the big event.” She stops and beams proudly at a scrawny, gray ysoki fiddling with a circuit board. “They're doing great, but it's a big job. Mind lending us a hand?”
"How many hands you need?" he asks with a grin before getting to work. Part mechanic, part electrician Rex is at home among the wires and circuits.
But the computerized sound system leaves him more than a little flustered.
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TASK DETAILS
Inside the Hall of Discovery, ysoki scuttle about setting up audiovisual equipment while a kindly voice directs them. Fitch, leader of the Wayfinders, waves to the PCs from atop a towering scaffold. “Good to see you! The kiddos and I are sprucing the place up for the big event.” She stops and beams proudly at a scrawny, gray ysoki fiddling with a circuit board. “They're doing great, but it's a big job. Mind lending us a hand?”
Kat makes her way into the Hall of Discovery and smiles again when she is greeted by Fitch. "Aye, Fitch! Nice to see you again. Would love to help out. I used to play around with this stuff back in the day while I was spending some time with some Downlow indie bands that would frequent the clubs. Let me have a look"
Kat doffs her leather coat and hangs it carefully out of the way while she sizes up the av setup.
She gets right down on her knees and takes the time to feed cables out of sight, routing them to different speakers. After some time untangling the mess she approaches a mic. "Test. Toast. . More mids, kids! she calls to a Yosoki on the board.
"Sorry Fitch, dat the best I get it." Rex gives a little wave before heading out to the edge of the site.
TASK DETAILS
Zigvigix, leader of the Exo-Guardians, chats animatedly with one of the hired event staff, a stocky, brown ysoki dressed in stained coveralls embroidered with the name “Tall Sam.” The two avidly discuss a cluster of haphazardly parked land vehicles. “Hey, you!” The ysoki shouts as you approach, “Why are you just standing around, huh? We've got a pileup worse than A-Station rush hour over here. Get off your tails, and go park some vehicles!” Zigvigix nods enthusiastically and adds, “Relieving the valet queue might help our fellow Starfinders get to Luwazi's meeting. Please do whatever you can to help!”
Rex looks over the collection of cars, worried about fitting into most of them, before he strike on an idea. Pulling out his datapad he rigs up a basic remote control, and starts moving the cars one by one.
VIP Roundup
Ombonth is indeed able to find the VIPs in the crowd!
VIP ROUNDUP REWARD (Also listed on SLIDE 27)
Easy After a hectic search of the grounds, the PCs locate each of the missing guests of honor. The three VIPs are grateful for the escort and give each PC a mk 1 serum of healing that must be used during the course of this adventure.
Average The magnanimous Zo! thanks the PCs by gifting them a voucher for a one-time 10% discount on gear or equipment purchased on Absalom Station for the duration of the adventure. This discount does not stack with any other discount, and Table GMs should mark its use on the Chronicle sheet.
"Hey!!!" Zo! says, pointing his finger guns. "These are my guys! Treat them right!"
Hard The VIPs pool their resources together to offer the group some special swag. Each PC can select a serum or grenade from the Core Rulebook with an item level less than or equal to the group's APL to receive free of charge.
This item must be used during the course of this adventure.
Valet Pileup
Momo, Rex and Patterson work together to process the piled-up vehicles!
VALET PILEUP REWARD (Also listed on SLIDE 27)
Easy Solving the problem gives Tall Sam free reign of the Society's parking garage and starship hangars. With Zigvigix's permission, Tall Sam modifies several of the parked vehicles. Once during the adventure, the party can flip a boost switch to add a +4 to a single Piloting check during starship combat or a vehicle chase.
Average When using the reward above, the starship or vehicle can also move one additional hex or zone.
Hard In place of the reward above, the PCs can force the crew of an enemy ship or vehicle to take a –2 penalty to all Piloting checks made during the round. The use of this ability must be declared at the start of the starship combat or vehicle chase round.
Rex and Kat5e go to work, fixing Fitch's sound problems!
SOUND CHECK REWARD (Also listed on SLIDE 27)
Easy While helping Fitch and her brood, the prodigious young ysoki offer a few helpful tips about fixing equipment on the fly. Each time the PCs attempt a skill check to repair or reprogram a technological item during the adventure, one PC can gain a +1 bonus to the check.
Average As above, but instead the PCs gain a +3 bonus.
Hard Once during the adventure, each PC can roll twice and take the better result.
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Kat collects her jacket and pats Rex on the back for a job well done. She heads back to the rest of the crew to introduce herself.
"Hello everyone. Name's Kat. Nice to meet you all. Looking forward to working with you. Hey Patterson! how have you been. Anyone got any gossip about where we're headed?"
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Ah, no. It's just that he told me to give you this, Momo says, as she holds up something that looks like a grenade or a serum (hard to spot from this distance) with a 'pact world warriors' logo on it.
I'm not sure we're headed anywhere, Momo answers, I just got called back from my way to Vesk-8. I'm glad too, I don't like space travel that much.
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We found her eventually, bunched up in the turret of the vessel we arrived in. Not until we managed to convince her that we had indeed landed and were safely in dock did she agree tp get up and move out.
--Unknown starfinder, after action report.
A chime sounds throughout the Lorespire Complex and its surrounding grounds, followed by a broadcast of First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo’s resonant voice: “Pest-control workers, your presence is kindly requested in the Hall of Discovery.” Spurred by the announcement, junior and experience Starfinders file into the Forum’s meeting space.
As the last of the summoned Starfinders enter the meeting space, Luwazi stands atop a stage at the centre of the hall. Radaszam and Zigvigix position themselves behind the First Seeker, warily surveying the crowd. When the doors shut behind the final Starfinder team, Radaszam steps forward and whispers in Luwazi’s ear. She nods as he offers her a microphone.
“Thanks to your courage and resilience, Starfinders, we have overcome adversity time and again. Two years ago, we embarked on a mission to rescue our lost agents from the Scoured Stars. Last year, we returned to battle the jinsuls and won. Today, I stand before you for the last time as your First Seeker and invite you to accept a very different challenge.
“I trust you are all familiar with the individual called Datch. For the past year, Datch orchestrated a slanderous media war against the Society for reasons incomprehensible to us. We’ve recently learned more about our enemy and realized that the Society is not her only target. As a member of AbadarCorp’s security department, Datch used her connections to manufacture a media smear campaign against us. She did so to gain power within the corporation, and her next target is Executive Archdirector and CEO Iseki-Okaibo. Yesterday, Datch instigated a vote of no-confidence against him. If the motion passes, Datch stands to take advantage of that power vacuum.”
Luwazi frowns at the assembled Starfinders. “We cannot let that happen. We can’t directly challenge Datch—not yet. If we’re going to stop her, we must beat her at her own game. While Datch positions herself to seize power, I plan to use Ehu Hadif’s elevation and the presence of our most veteran agents at the elevation event as a cover to send you on covert missions throughout the Pact Worlds. The missions vary, but your primary goals are to disrupt Datch’s ongoing activities and convince AbadarCorp executives not to support the vote of no-confidence. I’m counting on you, Starfinders.”
Encouraged by the First Seeker’s words, the chosen Starfinder teams prepare to depart the Lorespire Complex for various destinations across the Pact Worlds. Society leaders direct smaller groups of agents into specialized briefings, where they present information about each covert operation. After a year of enduring Datch’s merciless attacks against their organization, the Starfinders finally have the chance to retaliate.
Zigvigix enthusiastically briefs your team at a table in the corner of the hall. “There's a lot of moving parts involved in this operation, and I'm thrilled to assign you to this particular mission!” Zigvigix beams at the assembled agents before continuing. “Cloudview Resort's famous corporate retreat is taking place right now on Castrovel. Corporations from all over the Pact Worlds send executives there for networking and”— Zigvigix sighs reverently—“team building. Several AbadarCorp board members are attending the retreat. If you join them, I'm sure you'll have plenty of opportunities to make friends with the executives. Hopefully, you can persuade them to support Iseki-Okaibo and not Datch.” Zigvigix pauses for a moment before adding happily, “The team-building exercises may be useful for us, too, so enjoy yourselves and learn all you can!”
Antennae twitching, Zigvigix turns around, practically bouncing. "Are there any questions about this exciting opportunity?"
Zigvigix starts at Ombonth's grunt, and reacts as if it is an insightful question! "Oh, right. You want to know how you get in. I have already procured electronic tickets for the Cloudview retreat! I have just sent them to your comm units!"
DING!
The tickets arrive. The vouchers include access to the workshop, complimentary meals at the resort's famous restaurant, and rooms for two nights. This all looks quite expensive.
"I have no idea!" Ziggy enthuses. "You'll have to take notes for me!"
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
You travel to Castrovel's Qabarat spaceport in your starship. The resort is a 3-mile hike up Yaro River through the coastal jungle. The humid air is alive with the calls of birds and insects, and though parts of the path are overgrown, the trek to the resort is uneventful.
Cloudview Resort is a beautiful and sprawling complex built atop a riverside cliff. It features impressive lofty terra-cotta buildings with thatched roofs and spacious courtyards. The hiking trail leads straight to the resort's visitor's center, where an android concierge, Bill-78 grins an enormously toothy grin with extra-shiny chrome teeth. "Hail, and welcome to the Cloudview!" Bill offers you all complimentary glasses of iced Poshkettle tea* and free cookies. He explains, "Today's workshop is scheduled to take place in the nearby nature preserve." He beams, his features taking on a literal glow as he projects a holographic map of the complex on a nearby wall. "It'll be quite warm and humid later. I advise you to wear comfortable, heat-appropriate attire."
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Momo relies on the environmental protection built into her armor. She is quite happy with the 'combat karaoke'-themed Frag grenade she got from Zo! ()
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Momo is nearly invisible during space travel, unnoticeable but for a brief moment somewhere on the half-way point: the sound of gunfire - BLAM! BLAM! - disrupts the journey. There's no enemy in sight, and soon after, Momo's voice is heard over the intercom Just testing!
Rex grabs a few cookies, and asks between bites "Wat sort o' nature they preserve here? And wat is this workshop gonna be?"