GM Quirks GATEWAY TO ABSALOM, group 1 (Inactive)

Game Master Quirk, Private Eye

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SuperS, did Locket turn the glass upside down before thunking it?

Yup... the cookie thing happened to me.

Dratted cookies!

I have wrestled with and defeated the elusive, uhhh, cookie monsters?

I'll try to get things going again tomorrow with a post or two.

Thanks for that! I was very confused that signing in seemed to do nothing.

SuperS, did Locket turn the glass upside down before thunking it?

You know, I hadn't really thought about that...

Given what lies ahead, I suppose he would stop after the one, so he very well might have. But then again, maybe that's all the more reason for another drink!

I was thinking more about the scene in Marion's bar in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Locket's roll should get you all at least one more clue. I will adjudicate tomorrow (Saturday).

Hmm, a conundrum! My vote is to keep going - tracking down the kidnapping victims gives some importance to time. Not to mention there would be an increase in numbers on both sides of the equation tomorrow. We might be able to catch them with a skeleton crew today?

Unless someone is willing to play the role of a potential convert and allow themself to be captured, with us then tailing them?

That said, Locket is not the most useful in a break in situation (beyond stealthing) and absolutely none when it comes to smooth talking.

Hmm, a conundrum! My vote is to keep going - tracking down the kidnapping victims gives some importance to time. Not to mention there would be an increase in numbers on both sides of the equation tomorrow. We might be able to catch them with a skeleton crew today?

I like that idea, Locket. If they're doing something sneaky-sneaky in there, they'd probably have it locked down when the guests arrive tomorrow. Probably better to press onward and keep pushing the ruse.

What does everyone else think?

I'm inclined to agree, but I figure that the jig's already up given those Bluffs...we may have to do things the hard way...

I'll follow the party's lead. I'll just note that we need to be fast. Breaking in will put us on the wrong side of station security.

While Goldenarms may not be above flexing a few rules, they've done nothing truly against the law yet...

While the characters may be trying to locate a lost individual, are they mavericks?

I'll admit that has given me reason to pause a couple of times, as well.

Locket is NG and, despite some shadiness in his past, is generally an upstanding (if somewhat crotchety) individual.

He wouldn't plan to or look for opportunities to break the law, but I could see that he might, while uneasy, get caught up in the current of present events and end up crossing that line.

To some degree, I suppose the PCs are beings of agency and drive, otherwise they wouldn't have been inclined to set out on this mission in the first place. (At least, that's how I rationalized it to myself ;p )

Excellent discussion.

I don't want to contribute to the metagaming too much (and to be clear, I enjoy you guys discussing this), but I thought it might be helpful to remind you all of a few things as you make your decisions. I'll put them in a spoiler in case any of you would prefer to proceed without slight spoilers.

Let's play out the "come back tomorrow" line and see what we find when the door's wide open.

I keep forgetting that in this game we AREN'T Starfinders operating in an official capacity with the power and legitimacy of the organization to back us up.

We're a bunch of concerned citizens doing their best to help a friend find his daughter.

It looks like this moment falls directly under the old adage "discretion is the better part of valor."

I prefer coming back tomorrow as a strategy. The main thing is to break through this sticking point. Someone to make a decision and let's roll.

Decision made. Let's come back tomorrow. :)

And maybe get Absalom Station Security. Set the ASS on their ass! :P

No particular tasks that Goldenarms needs to do. The money was going to good eats, and the upgrade? *shrug* Likewise for the Thieves' Tools.

Question: Goldenarms counts as a "qualified medical" individual?

I ask, because the needler could be used to deliver medicines. Will it need to be stowed?

That's a great question! Maybe role-play it out and see if you can talk the guards into letting you keep it.

How do we want to approach this?

Do we want to try something before the service, during the service (using it as a cover), or after the service, assuming there's an invitation to join the club and an opportunity to let them take us "backstage"?

Goldenarms intends to poke at the system to get its measure. It may feel off by comparison to system standard, and that would be a curious thing.

We're batting a thousand with these skill rolls, folks! :P

Behind the 8-ball with my other games, so no post tonight.

I have a veritable book to type you tomorrow.

You'll finally meet this "Prophet Fayel".

Hey, all -- I'll have a post up from Thak by this evening.

My wife's gallbladder surgery yesterday was rough (the surgeon described it as "the disaster gallbladder") and her recovery has filled the last 24 hours and it's going to dominate today with more lab tests and a doctor visit.

Thak will pass along the information from the Ysoki family so we can keep this moving forward.

Sorry to hear about your wife's surgery, Janosian. Best wishes for a quick recovery. Don't kill yourself to make a post. RL trumps gaming.

Thanks. It was supposed to be a 30 minute procedure; took 2 hours.

We were back for follow-up today (Thursday), and now we're headed back Friday morning for an endoscopy so they can hopefully figure out what's going on in there and how to fix it without going into full "big scar" surgical mode.

On a happy note, I got my first vaccine shot today. My wife was supposed to have hers Friday, but had to reschedule for the end of the month. :(

Wishing your wife a speedy recovery. Hope the docs can figure out what's going on.

Best of luck!

Indeed. Hope your wife gets well soon!

Thanks! Friday's follow-up was a success -- they found the leak and sealed it off with two stents. If all goes as planned now, she'll have her last surgery for this in 12 weeks. Yay!!

That's great news!

Excellent news, Janosian!

Sorry, GMQ, no way Gath was going to be quiet if he saw Kevya. Of course she probably barely knows him and Tessa doesn't know him at all, but might the disturbance accidentally help Thak's sense motive?

Also I expect Gath might draw security for the outburst. It is what it is. My after show post is short to give other party members or security a chance to respond.

And, just as an idea, one of the craftier party members might consider involving the Galvanos.

I LOVE GATH.

That is all.

I'm reminded of the moment in Guardians of the Galaxy where Rocket is outlining his plan to escape from the prison while Groot is about to send the whole place into chaos by removing the battery from the alarm system...

For the record, I love that moment. And I truly, dearly, and deeply love what you're doing with Gath, Thom!!! I hope Gath and Thak can somehow continue adventuring together. Hell, I hope we all can!

** ON TO THE QUESTIONS AT HAND **

Gath is about to either create a golly-whomping diversion or get himself arrested by station security or maybe both.

Should we...:
* Ping the Galvano Family: Thom's questions about involving the Galvano family is great. I imagine that if we message them and include a few seconds of video showing Tessa on stage, they'll send some backup for us. With this many security dudes up front and an unknown number backstage, we can probably use the help.

* Call station security: Are we at a point to call station security? I'm torn about this, and definitely not sure about whether it would be useful. An operator as slick as The Prophet will grease all the right palms, including the security people. Instead of them helping us, I fear the security team would end up fighting us to protect the big dollar dude.

* Proceed on our own: With Gath making a diversion, a couple of us could slip backstage and get the lay of the land. Maybe we could create some havoc there and split their forces even more. We don't have any weapons, but security probably has weapon lockers behind the stage somewhere. For that matter, the security dudes probably have weapons of some kind on them that we can 'liberate' once Gath finishes off the first couple of them. Of course, the place is filled with innocent visitors, so whatever we do, we need to be careful so they don't get hurt.

* Do something else: Insert your option here.

Thoughts? Approaches? Ideas?

Oh, thank you for those options!

At this point, Goldenarms very much has an "affluent civilian" mindset, and needs to get out of it.

I'll need to re-read, but sending a snapshot of the individuals that they've been looking for would not be out-of-line in regards to proof for the concerned parties. With Gath making the noise and gaining the attention— *facepalm*

I've got to start thinking like a biohacker more. The custom microlab can scan from 60ft at first level, so I could get diagnostics on both Keyva and Tessa... those readings could be included with the photo to the concerned parties.

I'm all for the first option, and then perhaps the second, if Tessa and Keyva are under the influence (provided the rolls can be made)

So... It appears that this is up to DM fiat in this case. The microlab can be operated hands-free, and is housed in his arm, so managing a reading without any overt actions can be done. However, that also raises the question about how "hands free" and integrated is the latest personal comm unit can be, especially in the case of Androids. "PCU?" "PersoCoU?" "'SphereLink?".

A photo would be the priority.

That needs a catchy name.

GM Q -- Can we rewind time enough for Thak to shoot some photos or a quick video of the "assistants' on stage? Or handwave that?

Or perhaps for Sen to snag some video footage from the security cameras?

First: yes, I think we can assume that at least one or two of you gathered some photographic or video evidence of Tessa, Kevya, and the other "attendants."

Second, let me point out a couple of things I believe your characters might know (though you as players might not realize):

It's your belief that station security might not do anything. The evidence that any of these people are there against their will is circumstantial. They might not want to act on this, at least not quickly.

Also, a good crowd still mills about, both in the hangar, and just outside. Going for weapons or starting a fight would include several people screaming and running.

The Galvano family would almost certainly provide aid were you to contact them with pictures.

I think I will put a few things in spoilers. It's my belief that at least a couple of your characters may realize the following. If you want to figure things out on your own, you may not want to read the following:

I am working on a sweet map of this hangar and whatever might be through that door off the stage. It should be revealed tomorrow.

Gath doesn't know enough to read the spoilers.

I couldn't resist the opportunity for another sight-gag! ;)

I gave Locket a fair amount of information. It may be enough to formulate a plan.

I'll let him reveal what he overheard.

I'll make sure there are no final things to play out, then tomorrow I'll post a scene with the senior Galvano sister.

Spoiler alert: she's pleased with all of you.

I think Locket may also have some interesting choices to make, as it seems nobody has noticed him yet.

Question for future reference: How hands-free can a comm unit get? If it requires input peripherals, could that count if it was fixed into an upgrade slot? Or similar small devices? Upper limit is Con Mod?

As is so often the case at this time of the week, I am just drained tonight. I probably won't make a post in game play until tomorrow, but I thought I would make a short post here.

We're at an interesting point, I think. Most of you are headed to meet with the Galvanos. You're going to end up with an interesting friend and ally!

Then there is Locket, who has holed himself up in the hangar for the night. He has comms, and ostensibly he grabbed enough food from the caterers for the evening. Locket--please remember you don't have your weapons. You may want to send the locker codes to the group so they can grab your weapons on the way out.

The Galvanos will have some, ummm, we'll call them, SOLUTIONS for you. Elektra will have a couple of her goons blow a hole through the door with a ginormous laser saw if Locket can't get you in (and you may need it to get through the second door to get down the hallway as well).

She can also give you some small arms, ammo, and grenades. She's smart, so most or all of these will be of the non-lethal variety.

I am going to reveal a bit of that map to you in a moment or two. I'll leave the long hallway covered. I figure Locket will be able to transmit pics to you through the night.

Locket, while we play out the scene with the Galvanos, you'll have your own stuff to worry about. Plan on rolling at least a couple of stealth checks and perhaps more.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. Thak and I are playing in one of our home groups Sunday--another friend is running the latest adventure path.

Nonlethal toys? I'm giddy, and I'm pretty certain Goldenarms might just grin!

Once the benefits of nonlethal combat are explained to him, Gath will take a sap, or four. He might grab a left-over grenade or two. Neither of the firearms are really his style. The lamely named numbing beam is actually fairly decent. We could grab it for Locket if no one else is proficient.

This reminds me...I really need to figure out how to format my zoomboard/drone on my character sheet. I borrowed an SFS play-by-post setup that I use for basically all my Starfinder characters, but it doesn't really show how to format drones for mechanic characters...

I included my drone Jenny in a spoiler near the bottom of my sheet.

I used PCgen. The format's not perfect. For instance the drone is assigned male. But it's working so far.

Cycling back to GMQ's question -- how're we getting through the big door?

DO we have to? Can the brainy types find us a service corridor or ventilation duct? Can our inside man spring it open for us? Can the Galvanos help.

I have started to move some tokens on to slide #1.

Now would be a good time to plan these things.