"Ooh, I'm switched on! But give me the details, and please say you'll be in front of the camera too. Yes, I think that is absolutely necessary!" She steps within tongue range.
The ghast's tongue slips out again, but Wazasha quickly reins it in, sticking to business.
"I, too, want this situation with this sad artificial lifeform to end. But, in this case, I think it best if I work behind the scenes. Keep the reel out of the 'reality' programs." she confesses. "Still, allowing them to carry on with this 'meditation' is far from the footage needed. To that end, I have purchased a pair of juvenile nyssholoras to make Pave-5's passing of the hours more interesting. Once I acquired the creatures, I realized the ferocious beasts made Pave-5's passing more likely, effectively ending this media watch without any useful gains."
"However, now that you are all here, a gathering of Starfinders has more of a fighting chance, which should bear out in the ratings." Wazasha expounds. "I plan to release the two nyssholoras, adding a 'wrinkle' in Pave-5's day and allow you all to step in and save Pave-5. I'll then have something attention-getting to appease Zo! and get him to nullify the contract."
"What do you say, Starfinders?" she asks. "Are you in?"
"A moment while I gather the team," says Rilynn with a smile.
Eying the agent, Avor waits until Rilynn steps away from the ghast.
"It seems that Wazasha has taken a shining to you, but the camera crew isn't packing up." Avor signals Rilynn over an open, Starfinder-exclusive channel on the comms. "I can tell by eyes, Agent Rae, that they've got a plan swirling behind them. I'm on board with whatever idea you've got cooked up. However, our distraught android friend doesn't seem to presently have the wherewithal to execute any coordinated or pre-planned maneuvers on their own. At the first sign of trouble, I'll get Pave-5 to safety."
He takes up a position next to Gava.
"Oh, did I say, 'nyssholoras'?" mutters Wazasha. "I meant to say, 'electrovores'."
"In any event, they are all yours, Starfinders," declares the ghast as she presses a button on her wrist device. Immediately, a door from a nearby storage shed flies open and reveals a pair of creatures with 3-foot serpentine bodies, each covered in sparking spines and sprouting a pair of leathery wings. Three, bright-blue visual sensors peer around the area and focus on the nearest artificial lifeform.
Picture of electrovore now on Slides.
Location of electrovores now on Map.
Xenobiologists have shown evidence that an electrovore’s internal organs are unlike those of a normal animal—it has no stomach, no intestines, and no liver. Instead, every cell of the creature acts as a tiny battery, providing the necessary impulses to move its muscles and power brain functions.
SHOCKING VIDEO Round One Begins!
Rhubarbie
Lexicor
Rilynn Rae
Gava Son of Emer
Electrovore (blue)
Electrovore (yellow)
Burham Kenyon
Meme Nom Mimsosil Homus Jul
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Rilynn's smile pivots to Burn. "The plan? Well, it's like this..." But before she can download her idea the moment is stolen for eternity, as the terrifying electrovores snarl with static intensity.
"Let's give them a show!" she shouts while stepping forward and drawing her arc pistol. If one were to have been particularly perceptive, they might have noticed Rilynn pull the pin from her hair and unzip the front of her second skin armor several inches. Seriously, though, she sends telepathically to the team, Zo! always wants a good show. Let's do this with style!
"Let's give them a show!" she shouts while stepping forward and drawing her arc pistol. If one were to have been particularly perceptive, they might have noticed Rilynn pull the pin from her hair and unzip the front of her second skin armor several inches. Seriously, though, she sends telepathically to the team, Zo! always wants a good show. Let's do this with style!
Rilynn's zap of her arc pistol strikes one of the electrovores as it emerges from the structure, but the electrical discharge does not have any effect on the creature.
Gava moves and trick attacks the blue electrovore.
"I doubt this will work!"
Gava manages to easily fool one of the electrovores and strike it with a surge of electricity.
However, his doubts are well-founded as the creature is unharmed.
SHOCKING VIDEO Round One!
Rhubarbie
Lexicor
Rilynn Rae
Gava Son of Emer
Electrovore (blue)
Electrovore (yellow)
Burham Kenyon
Meme Nom Mimsosil Homus Jul
”I would calculate these creatures cannot resist pure force energy.“
Lexicor's calculations are quite accurate.
Though injured, one of the electrovores flies toward the artificial lifeforms.
The other flies toward the assembled Starfinders and releases a powerful electrical pulse, catching Burnham, Rhubarbie, and Rilynn Rae.
SHOCKING VIDEO Round One Cont'd/Round Two Begins!
Burham Kenyon -3 SP
Meme Nom Mimsosil Homus Jul
Rhubarbie -3 SP
Lexicor
Rilynn Rae -3 SP
Gava Son of Emer
Electrovore (blue) -12 HP
Electrovore (yellow) -1 RP
Gava moves up to the blue electrovore and tries to cut it with his bayonet.
Fooled by the ysoki's lunge, the electrovore is slashed.
Rhubarb-e moves into a flanking position and attempts a Melee strike.
The half-orc's handaxe finds purchase in the electrovore's tail.
SHOCKING VIDEO Round One Cont'd/Round Two Cont'd!
Burham Kenyon -3 SP
Meme Nom Mimsosil Homus Jul
Rhubarbie -1 SP
Lexicor
Rilynn Rae -3 SP
Gava Son of Emer
Electrovore (blue) -16 HP
Electrovore (yellow) -3 HP |-1 RP
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Rilynn surprises herself by deftly sidestepping most of the effect of the electric pulse. Obviously, she has no weapons that can affect these inorganic creatures, and not any other skills that are helpful in a combat situation like this. She steps back carefully then backpedals to pick up Wazasha's director's chair to use defensively. At the same time, she tries to manuever in such a way to get the camera to catch the ghast on screen, for no particular purpose.
She steps back carefully then backpedals to pick up Wazasha's director's chair to use defensively. At the same time, she tries to manuever in such a way to get the camera to catch the ghast on screen, for no particular purpose.
Wazasha is clearly displeased to be in the shot. She gives Rilynn a look that clearly warns, The deal was for good footage of the Starfinders!
Burnham staggers and inflicts no damage on his prey.
Lexicor sinks three bolts of force into one of the electrovores .
SHOCKING VIDEO Round One Cont'd/Round Two Cont'd!
Burham Kenyon -3 SP
Meme Nom Mimsosil Homus Jul
Rhubarbie -1 SP
Lexicor
Rilynn Rae -1 SP
Gava Son of Emer
Electrovore (blue) -16 HP
Electrovore (yellow) -10 HP |-1 RP
Meme thrusts at the thing with his disk.
Unfortunately, he fails to finish the foe.
Avor manages to pull Pave-5 away from the fray.
The electrovore then releases a deadly discharge, zapping Gava and Meme!
The other electrovore also releases discharges some of its stored electrical energy as a powerful attack against
SHOCKING VIDEO Round Two Cont'd/Three Begins!
Burham Kenyon -6 SP
Meme Nom Mimsosil Homus Jul -4 SP
Rhubarbie -2 SP
Lexicor
Rilynn Rae -1 SP
Gava Son of Emer -8 SP
Electrovore (blue) -19 HP | -1 RP
Electrovore (yellow) -10 HP |-2 RP
Gava activates his holographic clone exploit instead of attacking.
The half-orc's hand-axe misses.
SHOCKING VIDEO Round Two Cont'd/Three Cont'd!
Burham Kenyon -6 SP
Meme Nom Mimsosil Homus Jul -4 SP
Rhubarbie -2 SP
Lexicor
Rilynn Rae -1 SP
Gava Son of Emer -8 SP
Electrovore (blue) -19 HP | -1 RP
Electrovore (yellow) -10 HP |-2 RP
Burnham and Lexicor collectively take down one of the electrovores.
Meme single-handedly takes down the other.
"Kill shot. That should do be good enough." Wazasha declares to her undead crew. "That's a wrap."
The undead approaches the party, her tongue flickering about with minimal restraint. "I appreciate you being good sports about this and battling the creatures. I believe I have the footage I need to finish this assignment and move on. You should expect some release on the ongoing corporate media pressure regarding Pave-5. You can take the android back now, if you want them."
Avor Stelek emerges with Pave-5 following the battle, holding a comm unit that holds a very recent message from Zo! Media. "Thank you all, Starfinders." he says to the party. "Your efforts have helped to save a fellow Starfinder."
"Y-you mean, I'm free?" Pave-5 responds upon hearing the news. "I don't know how to thank you, but please accept what I have." Pave-5 offers you an efficient bandolier.
"Pave-5. you are now free to return to the Lorespire Complex and join the duty roster." Avor declares, prompting an eager Pave-5 to quickly depart.
Avor turns to the party. "Some of you look injured." he notes, retrieving an advanced medkit. "Please allow me to help treat your wounds."
Avor ends his time with you by indicating that he knows that he can do a lot of good for the Society, and whether or not he becomes First Seeker, he intends to keep helping newer agents and especially those who’ve found themselves abused by the Society’s supposed allies.
Having completed the missions for each of the candidates, you are free to return to the Lorespire Complex and meet with First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo. When you find the current First Seeker, she is not waiting within the Lorespire. Instead, she sits on a bench near the center of the campus. When she spots them, Luwazi waves you over and eagerly asks, "So, what are your opinions as to each of the candidates for First Seeker? I'd appreciate hearing your thoughts."
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Meme contemplates his answer for a moment, before blurting out, "You know, Seek, it was no real surprise that I was completely enamored with Terra Nova at the start of all this and knew then, as I do now, that I might be a little blinded by her sheer celebrity. After working with her, I still appreciate what she is doing and how she is getting there. The real surprise for me, however, was with Avor Stalek. I will admit here and now that I did not hold out hope for him. But the way he stood up for one of his own and even went into the field to ensure their safety and continued success? That's just baller in my eyes."
After a moment of recollection he adds, "But you know, I think any of the candidates would do a stellar job. It just really sucks that it means we will be losing you as First Seeker to see them thrive. Ya know what I mean?"
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"As a new Starfinder, it is clear to me that the code of conduct for Starfinders is not exactly cut or dry and subject to whimsy emotions outside of my control. I find that the only way I can summarize my support is thusly. If FORCED to have an opinion, I would much prefer to be under the clear and direct leadership of a team member who is not afraid to move forward or take a risk, and for me, that is Terra Nova. However, regardless of a shake up or not in leadership, first and foremost, I am a Starfinder, I can't control anything other than my own effort. To that end, I can support any Leader whose needs finds my services acceptable." She takes a couple swigs out of what looks like a flask of spirits. She looks at the group.....offering her flask "A toast to our lost friend and to Starfinders"
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Rilynn listens to the thoughtful comments from her team members and then takes a swig from Rhubarbie's flask before offering her own.
"I pledged to follow you, First Seeker. You have provided inspirational leadership and a clear path for the Starfinders. I cannot help but feel that the organization will lose a great deal when you step aside.
"What Meme says about Avor Stalek is true; he showed up. But I wonder why he could not simply resolve the issue himself with a quick vid-call to Zo! - he needs to have that kind of clout in order to be an effective leader.
"Calder Soren sent us in to a hot zone with no intel. We were ambushed in a dire fight for our lives. Gava lost his mount. I realize that part of leadership is taking on risk when you don't have all the info, but that job was unnecessary. It was a selfish call.
"Ehu Hadif trades with terrorist overlords. There, I said it. He would be a disaster for this organization.
"The only one of the four that knew exactly what she was sending us into, and had a clear mission, was Tara Nova. She's as impressive as they come, and has the media savvy to propel the Starfinders forward. She is the only choice, in my opinion."
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Burnham also waits for Rhubarbie's liquid courage before speaking up.
"First Seeker, I've already told you that I'd like to see you stay on. Here's my take on the replacements. I look at this as an Exo-guardian. My job is to get everybody home alive. Here's
Avor is the guy who's going to make that a priority. Rilynn has a point that he might spend his time on trivial stuff instead of the big picture, but at the end of the day, Avor wants the right thing.
Ehu has a good sense of mission. We could use that. He'd be my second choice.
Rilynn had a good point about Tara Nova. Her mission brief fit what we ran into the best. But that could have been luck. She didn't provide any intel on enemy strength. One thing I've noticed in general is that the VCs' mission briefs are usually incomplete, but that goes with the job.
The thing about Tara is I think I'm going to have to work way too hard if she's in charge. And the reasons just might not be good enough. -- Sorry Rilynn, I know she's your girl.
Caldor, " Burn just sighs, and apparently he done talking.
First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo stands from the bench she’d been sitting on. She gives one deep nod, looking over all the nearby assembled agents. “I must sincerely thank you for taking the time to meet each of these candidates. Your reports on this matter is important to me, but more importantly, these impressions can help shape the Society. Know that in the coming months, the Forum will convene to decide the Society’s future."
She smiles at Burnham and Rilynn, "Your continued support is appreciated, but it is time for me--and the Society--to move forward. Thanks to the addition of new, skilled and capable agents like yourselves, my goals as First Seeker have come to fruition."
"As for what the future holds, though the Forum represents our broader leadership, the decision truly comes from the agents that make up our Society, like yourselves." she continues. "I have no doubt that in the coming days, you’ll each have an opportunity to give your final decision on which of these candidates should take my position as the Society’s guiding leader and that those decisions will shape our future."
“For now, think on these candidates and prepare to make an
informed decision.” she says.
Not long afterward, with the election completed. A new First Seeker is elected, ushering in a new direction for the Starfinder Society.