tt's Survivor's Salvation -- SFS 1-30 (Inactive)

Game Master therealthom

If Belle, Oda, or Saeron want to hang out with Bygones, just say so. I'll start the office for the others.

Hurondo’s office is located near the back of the Respite’s main hallway, as indicated by an engraved brass nameplate on the door given to him by First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo during the Respite’s opening. Inside, a holographic interface displays a newsfeed from the infosphere, currently playing a short segment describing several of the Respite’s missing clients and instructing viewers to report any sightings of these people to the center. Several holographic projections on the walls display images commemorating Hurondo’s service to the Starfinder Society; the largest shows a continuous loop of a ribbon cutting ceremony outside the Healing Arches attended by Jiwalla, Hurondo, Zigvigix, First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo, and a small group of other high-ranking Starfinders.

Old-style filing cabinets line one wall. The desk and a table against the wall are heaped with papers and various mundane items. They almost surmount the desktop computer.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Kneepuncher bends over and picks up one of the datapads nearly buried among the other junk in the office and powers it up.

"There are more missing." Staar indicates the newsfeed.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Shokil nods to Staar. "I wonder what the missing have in common?"

He too picks up a datapad and tries to poke in some names to see what comes out.

Hurundo is probably dead. Just like everyone else will soon be. And it will be all your fault, the nagging voice goads.

Saeron pushes the voice aside. "I'm still relatively new to the Starfinders, but from what I've already seen, it's hard to imagine anyone leaving without some level of trauma," she empathises with Bygone. "It's a wonderful thing you have here." She bids the android farewell.

Following her companions down the hallway, she enters Hurundo's office. Looking around she office, she looks for any clues as to their target's whereabouts.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

Watching the infosphere piece cycle through in the holograph, Saeron comments to the room at large, "I wonder what the connection is? Besides the Respite, I mean."

In the hall
Byegones nods to Oda and Bele in a friendly manner.

In the office
Two of the datapads have run out of power. With just a touch, the others open to a working directory screen. They are all low on power. They contain files on patients at the Respite. The data includes names and addresses. Nearly all are in the lower reaches of the station, a good portion are in the poor levels near the Spike.

Computers: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Culture: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Saeron sneaks a peek at the datapads' contenta over Kneepuncher and Shokil's shoulders.

She clicks her tongue and slowly shakes her head. "Looks like they're all doing it pretty tough," she sighs. "Maybe it'll help us find some more leads."

Any names in the data match those who have gone missing?

She frowns and inspects the data more closely. "Some of that looks like medical records for patient treatment. That's confidential information - it'll be best if we don't go circulating it. I don't think they'd take too kindly to that."

"People's problems are their own."

No computers, so I can't help with that.

Staar grabs the advanced medkit + sprayflesh and hands them to Saeron. "This one is better. We might need it."

No skills to pay the bills

"Collect all addresses. Find a pattern. A hunting ground."

Shokil also tries to match the addresses against the missing Starfinders.

"Do you think these take regular batteries?" he asks. He does a quick look around the office for a charging port.

"If not, shall we go next door?"

The datapads will take regular batteries.

"We better start searching the Spike. This is bigger than Hurondo."

Oda nods back to Bygone as a smile crosses her scarred features.

"Well, if they run out we can always buy a spare charge" notes Shokil. He still takes time to note down the relevant addresses before such an event.

Leaving the office he turns back to the counseling room.

"Hi there. I know you can't tell us much, but I was wondering if you would know if these folk had anything in common... apart from coming here.." he asks.

Bele was allowing the more forceful characters take the lead. She still felt a little uncomfortable taking the lead in any activity - and so milled around at present.

At the mention of computers, her ears pricked up, but the others were all over them before she had a chance to look, so once more took a back seat in proceedings.

"Thanks. These will be useful," Saeron says as she accepts the medkit and sprayflesh from Staar.

Using the camera built into her comms unit, she snaps some photos of the names and addresses (sans treatment data) from the datapads before they run out of power.

Drawing her laser pistol, she ejects the battery and attempts to connect to each of the flat units in turn.

Before the office

Byegones motions for Oda to enter. "Can I help you?"

In the office
You are able to record 4 dozen sets of names and addresses, and three names have only a region of the station for an address. The addresses are mostly in the lower class areas of the station. However there are a few in the tonier areas.

Returning to the counseling room
Byegones looks over Shokil's list of names and addresses. "This list has nearly all our clients on it. What are you doing with it?"

It is the list of missing people that I am showing, not a full list

Juxtaposed with the charging comment, I thought you were taking all the names and addresses from the datapads and showing those. With a wave of a wand we can retcon that ...

Returning to the counseling room
Byegones looks over Shokil's list of the missing and their addresses. "Hmmm. Many of these are harder cases that haven't responded as well to treatment here. Some were quite desperate. They've all stopped coming over a period of weeks , or even months. Scratch was one of the first to stop coming. His case is completely different since he's come back. "

"Is there anything you can - ethically - tell us about Scratch's case? Or even if there's a way we can contact him?"

"Scratch? So .... was Scratch a customer here BEFORE the scoured stars?" inquires Shokil.

Staar just drones on, waiting for the group to move on to the Spike.

Three pages of questioning, we might have gotten all we need from these fellas xD

"Is there anything you can - ethically - tell us about Scratch's case? Or even if there's a way we can contact him?"

"Scratch? So .... was Scratch a customer here BEFORE the scoured stars?" inquires Shokil.

"Oh, you misunderstand me," the android says apologetically. "The Respite has only been open since the Scoured Stars. Scratch was one of our earliest clients. He suffered from very severe trauma-induced stress. Scratch was also one of the first to stop coming in. We didn't see him for a number of weeks, but he showed up again yesterday with markedly different symptoms. Since I assume you're going to speak with him, it won't hurt to warn you. He's extremely dis-oriented and is suffering severe memory loss. All very different from his earlier symptoms. I doubt you'll get much useful information from him."

"That is very helpful to know! says Shokil.

"Did he have anything to say about where he had been? Actually that is probably a question we had best ask him."

A tall, willowy, damaya lashunta appears in the doorway. Byegones glances at her, then announces, "My next session is arriving. Perhaps it would be best if you did ask Scratch yourself."

Respite hallway

A little further down the hallway, past Hurondo's office, a door on the opposite side is open. Through it you can see a large room that contains multiple types of vidgames, old fashioned card and board games, and several extremely comfortable pieces of furniture. A coffee machine and a platter containing various finger foods commonly enjoyed by several Pact Worlds species sit atop a table near the door. A female korasha lashunta rests in one of the chairs with her eyes closed.

Risking temporal displacement, Leaving the Respite

Nave, the half-elf, and Galifrey, the signing shirren, are waiting for you in the courtyard between the arches. Nave waves you over. While he talks, Galifrey signs.

"So, we were talking about Hurondo when things with Razda broke the conversation up.

Before leaving the Respite, Shokil stocks up on finger food. You never know when you might feel a need for a snack.

Once he hits the courtyard, the jovial halfling fishes round in his pocket and offers out some delicacies.

"So we were. We are a little worried by Hurondo's absences. Especially given his obvious passion for the Respite, and the needs of the customers it services. Is there anything more you could tell us about his recent actions or experiences?"

Stocking up on food in the game room.
Without stirring or even opening her eyes, the korasha uses telepathy.

{I am sorry. Hurondo's open gaming sessions have been cancelled.}

In the courtyard

Nave continues the conversation. Galifrey is once again struggling now that the conversation is more free form.

"The only thing I have to add, is that, in addition to looking for missing clients, he'd talked about posting notices of missing persons in Downlow and the Spike. That was just two days ago.

"I wish you all luck in finding him."

"It seems that we'll have to head to the Downlow and Spike if we want any more information," Saeron says to her companions after hearing what Nave has to share.

"Before we go, I'd like to speak with Scratch," she says, heading over to find the veteran. (Scratch is the ysoki Shokil spoke with, is that correct?)

Saeron introduces herself as she approaches the disoriented Scratch. "Hi there. I'm Saeron." The lashunta crouches beside him, looking him over.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

Going to post a few things at once in the interest of keeping things moving, but may or may not all happen depending on prior responses.

"How are you feeling?" she asks gently. She asks his thoughts on a recent event that occurred locally over the past fortnight and where he'd been when it happened.

If he shows signs of vagueness or fogginess, she offers, "I have medical training, if you like I could run some non-intrusive tests?"

Medicine: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

And finally, "If you permit, I will say a prayer to Weydan on your behalf."

She will cast Detect Affliction. She has Life Science, Medicine and Mysticism that can be rolled if needed as per spell description.

...

Saeron introduces herself as she approaches the disoriented Scratch. "Hi there. I'm Saeron." The lashunta crouches beside him, looking him over. ...

"How brightly burns your eye! I'm Scratch. The ysoki is kind of a mess. The compression straps on the empty pouches of his flight suit are all dangling undone. His hair swoops in multidirectional licks. At least he smells pleasantly of citrus.

...

"How are you feeling?" she asks gently. She asks his thoughts on a recent event that occurred locally over the past fortnight and where he'd been when it happened. [[/b]

"With my backside. This couch is soooo comfy. " References to current events only draw a blank stare, although one does trigger a question about Luwazi Elsebo and whether she's continuing as First Seeker.

...If he shows signs of vagueness or fogginess, she offers, "I have medical training, if you like I could run some non-intrusive tests?"

And finally, "If you permit, I will say a prayer to Weydan on your behalf."

"Oh hey, knock yourself out. If it won't hurt."

Thank you for linking the spell.

And I think we're done here. I'll leave a few hours or overnight in case you all have anything else, then I'll move us on.

The party departs the Lorespire Complex, bound for Downlow and the Spike. Not even a hundred meters from the Starfinder headquarters, they encounter two humans distributing pamphlets and talking to passersby about a new medical clinic in the Spike that promises to ease their burdens and erase painful recollections of traumatic events via a state of the art memory modification procedure. They loudly proclaim the procedure is 100% safe and effective.

The thoroughfare is long and narrow, 20 feet wide, and crowded with creatures traveling to and from the Lorespire Complex and various other locations. Planters scattered along the way contain different types of flora commonly found on the native planets of the major species that call Absalom Station home, many sealed in atmospheric containers.

"Well... that is interesting. Memory modification. Didn't we learn that there were some gaps in his memory..." remembers Shokil.

"And those hawkers... look a little off. Lets go closer"

The halfling saunters a little closer to the pamphlet carriers.
"May I have one of those... There is a pretty red-head that I'm never going to see again..."

Bele continues to feel something of an outsider. It is nothing the group are doing - or not doing. It is just her insecurities about being the newbie and, to date, nothing presenting itself that she feels confident enough to elbow her way to the front to press her case for leading on.

Not that she necessarily minds the situation - she always believed she was given one mouth and two ears for a reason - and looks to listen and learn from those fare more experienced than her.

"It seems obviously connected."

Oh, it's Total Recall then.

Oda takes a pamphlet and gives it a look over.

"Here."
"Take some for your friends."
The pair is happy to hand out as many pamphlets as you want.

"I'm Don."
"And I'm Rob."
"We're Uniter recruits. Today we're advertising for a 100% safe, very effective procedure to eliminate stress and resolve mental trauma. Are you Starfinders? Your organization has been through some tough times lately. I saw it on the vids."

A whole panoply of social interaction and culture checks with possible theme bonuses noted is probably called for here. Even if you're untrained.

"Hi Rob, Hi Don. I'm known as Shokil." pipes up the author.

"Have you had this treatment yourselves?" he asks politely.

diplomacy(aid): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 Bletch

"Who are the Uniters?"

"Shokil? Funny name."
"Hey! Shokil Bluefoot? Sargeant Smith Bites a Bullet, Shokil Bluefoot? Rob, that's him! I recognize him from the picture."
"That story sucked."
"No! I keep telling you it was written sartorially."

Shokil's followup question brings them back to the matter at hand.

"Do we look brain damaged?"
"No, man, we're OK. Our ga- group just wants to help -- you know people who are suffering. The Uniters are all about the community."

Don't forget the culture check (note your theme knowledge bonus please). And perhaps I should have specified diplomacy and sense motive instead of just saying social interaction.

Culture: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Reduce the DC of Culture checks and Profession (mercenary) checks to recall knowledge about hierarchies, practices, personnel, and so on in the military by 5

Reading the pamphlet Oda emits a small growl.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

"Interesting concepts," the heavily-armored halfling comments after browsing the pamphlets. "I would be interested in learning about new techniques that I could incorporate into sessions with my clients..."

He attempts to draw them into a discussion of the merits and flaws of different types of therapy... or therapy.

Profession Courtesan: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

"Provide more details. Have you treated Starfinders?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

"Yeah, that's me. If you have your copy on you, I'll happily sign it!" smiles the author, fishing in his pocket for a pen, but coming out with an asparagus roll instead.

Sartorially!

"Maybe if you try 'Twice dead, three times the charm?' - it had some..wider audience appeal."

He pauses. "And speaking of appeal... are you both Uniters then?"

culture: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (5) + 0 = 5
SM: 1d20 ⇒ 5

Culture: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

It took a con-artist to spot a con-artist...at least that's what the saying suggested. Bele had no idea what was amiss, but some sixth sense told her something was off. So, she took a leaflet and listened to the group as they interacted - seeking something more concrete than a hunch that all was not as it seemed.

"Treat Starfinders, me personally, no. Do I look like a doctor?"
"But, this clinic has treated a number of Starfinders. So many of them are suffering..."

The conversation seems to be going well when a low "Grrr" rumbles from OdaThe two Uniter recruits toss their pamphlets in a cloud of glossy paper and run! They dash down the concourse shouldering and elbowing past anyone who can't get out of their way.

Unfortunately, Google has seen fit to keep me securely out of my own Drive folders. You'll have to wait til I can read the chase mechanics again.

Oda takes off after the fleeing Uniters.

Dashing through the concourse in pursuit requires 3 Acrobatics, Athletics, or Intimidate checks.

As Oda chases the leaflet men, Shokil looks on in surprise. Then, not wanting to miss out on the action, joins the fun.

He dodges a line of shoppers..
acrobatics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

Leaps over a cleaning robot..
acrobatics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19

And artfully slides down the handrail of a moving stair..
acrobatics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

Before (possibly) landing head first in a gen-mod bonsai geranium.

Kneepuncher's short legs are not ideal for chasing people down, but at least people tend to get out of his way.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

"It's generally not a good idea to run away from potential clients!"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

"Maybe you can help get information out of them."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Staar looks for an address or means of contact in the pamphlet, wondering how much they spent in such an anachronistic form of advertising.

If the location is available, she’ll start moving towards it, intent on scouting the place for a bit. If only a contact is displayed, she’ll try to schedule an appointment.

She'll wait for the rest of the party to regroup before moving against the clinic though.

Saeron is momentarily distracted snapping pics for her vidlog channel of the various forms of flora on display in the planters with her comms unit. Something about the two pamphlet guys catches her attention and she rejoins her companions as they question the pair. Frowning slightly, she gets the sense they are not exactly on the level.

Rolling her eyes at the responses of the two Uniters, she begins scanning the pamphlet's contents. Her reading is interrupted as the two men turn and flee.

Sighing in resignation, Saeron trots after her companions, trying to at least keep them in sight.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13