This opulent chamber is a temple to honor Lao Shu Po, and its décor represents a drastic departure from the aesthetics of the surrounding complex. The transparent ceiling forty feet above exposes a spectacular view of space. A twenty-foot-tall statue of Grandmother Rat presides over the room atop a stone plinth. The steps, plinth, and statue are carved jade, and the statue’s eyes are flawless rubies. Velvet drapes of purple and green hang behind the shrine, and a patterned rug partially covers the ivory floor tiles. Candles are the only illumination in this room.
Legend has it that long ago, Lao Shu Po was simply a rat, skulking in the shadows. After gnawing on the corpse of a dead god, however, she absorbed some of that deity’s divine power and became a goddess herself. Originally a goddess of night, Lao Shu Po has turned her focus more to those who prowl under cover of darkness. Hers is the poisoned cup, the dagger in the back, and the starship power core rigged to explode. She keeps her eyes and ears always open, for an incautious moment or a careless word might reveal a secret that she can later turn to her advantage.
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Abistar takes a moment to communicate the information through a mindlink to other party members. He adds to that information by communicating, In normal situations I expect this to be a trap, and it may still be. However since all other places here have had us seek her favor and here I think we could extinguish the light in the room. Allow us to operate in the darkness in silence.
Abistar and the Vlaka brothers set out to extinguish the candles, but as they douse roughly half of them, ominous dark secret whispers fill the room. The goddess requires an offering.
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Abistar-4 listens to the room round him for a moment before contemplating how this should make him feel. How others should react and what this wants. After a thought it goes to the statue and whispers to the statue a secret of his own.
"Among those who consider me friend, I purposefully provoke and say things that I know will anger and frustrate them and hide my intent with my ignorance. I wish to experiment and see their emotional reactions. I wish to know how they react and that matters more to me than their comfort or trust."
Abistar discreetly whispers something to the statue. It's not clear what he says, but the statue reacts with a soft whispering whirring, revealing another control panel.
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Abistar-4 backs a way a foot as the statue begins to move, wary that it would turn into another defender. "Another control panel. I think I may be able to activate it, but the iconography of Lao Shu Po engraved throughout the panel encourage a degree of trepidation for failure. I may need some assistance."
Abistar weaves the mystical engineering secrets together, and manages to operate the console on the power of the otherworldly. Seems the otherworldly is pretty decent at deactivating force field.
The oblong lobby features twin stone fountains to the north. A double doors to the east leads to the main hallway, and doors to the north and south lead to narrow side corridors. The elevator that transported the group from their starship to this floor of the complex is clearly visible beyond the glass doors to the west.
As the elevator starts making its ascent, a tall, androgynous elf with inky eyes and bluish-purple hair wearing a jet-black armored suit walks into the room. Datch immediately looks alarmed, as the elf soon makes their intention clear your journey ends here! None of you will make it out this complex alive!
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Spakno
Rahdo
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Iroveth
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Flenn
Abistar
Herno
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Oh, well-spotted. I must have been the homicidal threats that gave it away?
Spakno manages to hits the strange elf with a clear shot, and slows them down considerably. Rahdokama misses.
The mysterious elf retaliates by swinging their blade in rapid fashion, drawing a trickle of blood from Rahdokama
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Flenn
Abistar
Herno
Spakno
Rahdo
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Iroveth (2) (-2 AC, -50% speed, 6 rounds)
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Thankfully other Starfinders are nearby and give some minor First Aid to the party.
Abistar-4 immediately begins calling upon another summons aid from the back of the party. "While I empathize with your response to Datch, I am more curious to the source of the hostility you hold toward us. Why do you seek to kill us?"
Abistar starts calling forth another creature from elsewhere, while Rahdokama knocks the elf to the floor with a mighty blow. Groaning, they looks off-balance when Herno switches out some innards again.
Groaning, the elf gets back up and swings at the frontlining Vesk, dealing another deep cut
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Flenn (x2)
Abistar
Herno
Spakno
Rahdo
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Iroveth (27) (-2 AC, -50% speed, 5 rounds)
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Abistar calls the summon of an aquamarine furred feline near Iroveth and commands to help Rahdokama take down the enemy.
"Both you and Datch are my enemies, but despite the advice of the proverb I hold neither of you as an ally. I will not hold back for the safety of myself and other others of the Society."
He then discharges his most powerful mind thrust to bring down Iroveth.
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Flenn drops his pulsecaster rifle. Immediately, the instrument strapped to his back manifests in his place as he opens fire at the elf. He orders his exocortex to begin calculating firing trajectories on the elf as the designated target.
With the telemetry online, he initiates a rapidfire sequence at the elven target.
Abistar's summoned ally tries to pin down the oversized elf, but fails to get a hold. In the distraction, though, Abistar fires a mental blast, causing the elf to contort in pain.
Flenn then rushes onto the scene, firing shot in rapid succession, hitting one after the other. Three loud blasts hit the elf in the torso, and the with the last hit, the pointy-eared adversary topples over and slumps to the ground.
Damn your sudden but inevitable betrayal, Datch says, I never quite could trust you could I?
With elf dead, Datch takes a moment for another sarcastic remark My, look how competent you’ve become. You should really be thanking me for pushing you in the right direction. Looks like you'll live to fight another day...
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Abistar-4 holds for another moment, fearful of a secondary trap, but with the base still on destination for explosion Abistar-4 helps search the body.
Mean while he makes glances toward Datch and questions, "I'm not sure if your activities were ever required for our competence. Who was this person to you?"
That was Iroveth, Datch offers, they approached me when my conflict with your society turned to a new notch. They helped me with those defensive drone, which are based on technology from Elystro, and also tipped me off on a potentially useful substance that could be harvested from the morlamaw world of Arniselle.
Ah Iroveth, you were useful while it lasted.
Abistar examines the body and concludes that the elf is quite dead, killed by some automatic poison, released straight into the bloodstream. There's a hidden subdermal graft on the elf’s right hand. The graft is a century-old variant of the modern Starfinder Society graft used to identify agents.
The elevator takes an eternal two minutes to rise down to the level of the complex. Everyone on board, the elevator rise back up to the starfinder ship. Fortunately, the ignition fires, and the vessel blasts off, leaving an exploding space station in its wake...
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Abistar-4 looks closely at Datch to try to get a read on her response. Considering the experience with the previous shrine Abistar-4 is especially wary of sharing information aloud, but spend moment during the escape to share what he discovered about Iroveth using mystical mindlink.
Given the poison in their body, it seems clear that we would never have taken Iroveth alive. More concerning is that they seemed to have been a Starfinder themselves from many decades ago. Due to the chaotic battle I was unable to get an impression myself, but she seems to be in league with others for some purpose. Based upon the information, I feel what I believe to be worry and concern.
“Now that you’ve deactivated the fourth barrier your escape route is clear.” This time, Radaszam addresses the Starfinders. “Drinks are on me at the elevation ceremony—I expect to see you there.”
Days after their daring escape from Datch’s compound, the Starfinders return to Absalom Station to find the Lorespire Complex grounds completely deserted. Its chambers are silent except for the faint sounds of speech from a nearby hall.
Hundreds of diverse creatures fill the Hall of Discovery. Familiar faces appear among the masses as faction leaders, venture-captains, and friends of the Society gather around an illuminated platform. First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo’s magnified voice rings out over the audience’s excited murmurs. “Thus, it is with both sadness and pride that I step down as First Seeker. But before I can welcome my successor, Guidance has an announcement to make.”
A green holographic image of a human woman materializes beside Luwazi and addresses the room. “Greetings, Starfinders and esteemed allies. I have considered your nomination of Ehu Hadif Ko’ra Amares of Clan Tolar as First Seeker. I agree with your selection and have confirmed his elevation in my records. This is a day for celebration.” Guidance bows its head and dissipates.
The crowd erupts into thunderous applause as a kasatha clad in crimson armour strides onto the stage. He nods respectfully to Luwazi, who steps back to offer him her place at the centre of the platform. Ehu Hadif raises two of his hands and says, “Thank you for the warm welcome. I am honoured to accept the title of First Seeker, and all the responsibility that comes with it. First Seeker Elsebo has been our rock through countless hardships. Few First Seekers in our Society’s history has overseen so many successful struggles. Thanks to her, and the brave Starfinders who worked to outwit our foes, we now enter a time of peace. My goal during this time is to return our organization to its roots of discovery and exploration. My colleagues and friends, I invite you to once again turn your eyes to the distant stars. Together, I believe we can gather and preserve precious knowledge for the good of the universe.”
The Starfinder Society triumphed over Datch’s lies and schemes, and a new era of discovery under First Seeker Ehu Hadif is dawning.