Gustov punches red who folds like a cheap suit.
Pink dies in a fiery explosion.
Gonna assume Chk’Talrsh adjusts to fire at the only one surviving (blue) instead, which hits.
--Round 4--
Bold may go
Blue Vesk -18
Red Vesk -Dead-
Flenn
Gustov
Chk'Tarlsh
Vecro
Pink Vesk -Dead-
Q'Qwan
Owen
"You'll never take me alive!" Blue manages to say while gasping for breath and being crushed.
--Round 4--
Bold may go
Blue Vesk -18 (Stunned, Staggered, Demoralized)
Red Vesk -Dead-
Flenn
Gustov
Chk'Tarlsh
Vecro
Pink Vesk -Dead-
Q'Qwan
Owen
Flenn’s attack is deflected off of the Vesk’s armor.
--Round 4--
Bold may go
Blue Vesk -18 (Stunned, Staggered, Demoralized)
Red Vesk -Dead-
Flenn
Gustov
Chk'Tarlsh
Vecro
Pink Vesk -Dead-
Q'Qwan (can go twice)
Owen
Both Chk and Gustov’s attacks hit, both Qqwan’s attacks miss, Vesk is looking real woozy.
As you knock out the last Vesk you see that the other Starfinders have similarly taken care of their foes and put out their fires. The Absolom Stewards also show up and start trying to take control of the scene.
As you take it all in, a small female bleechling gnome approaches. Venture Captain Niaj begins speaking to you.
”Such destruction.” Venture-Captain Naiaj surveys the scene, looking in dismay at the l broken glass window that was once the front of the Seeker’s Respite. “We have a lot to do to make this right. Lucky for you, you’re not on clean-up duty.
“Our attackers were just a distraction. While you were busy fighting, another group was able to make it to a docked starship and escape into the Drift. I believe they took an artifact retrieved by our agents back to their base of operations in the heart of the Veskarium. To make matters worse, these are no ordinary thieves: I believe they are members of the Keepers of the Lie, a fringe cult whose beliefs are so ridiculous I won’t even legitimize them by telling you.”
“I was hoping it wouldn’t come to this, but I’m going to need to call in a favor from an old friend—a former brutaris sparring partner of mine who happens to be the commander of the Division of Disloyal Organizations in the Veskarium. We don’t have time to get any formal approval before I send you on this mission, so hopefully he receives my request for aid in time—you’ll be able to tell by how he greets you. I’ve instructed the dock crew to start preparing a ship to take you directly to Vesk Prime. Listen, I’m sorry we don’t have a formal briefing, but bottom line is that we need you to chase after these thieves as fast as possible and get back that artifact. Questions?”
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Flenn slips his pulsecaster rifle back through a loop in his backpack. With a flick of his hand, he summons his called thunderstrike rifle to him. Then he turns toward Naiaj and says, "Yeah ... could you legitimize them a touch to let us know what we're up against with these Keepers of the Lie blokes? What kind of crazy does this cult hold with?"
Niaj shakes her head and closes her eyes, as if she can’t bear to think of the keepers of the lie before she turns to Flenn.
”Suffice it to say The Keepers of the Lie are the opposite of the Starfinders in every way. They vehemently oppose diplomacy, are the first to resort to violence, and seek to destroy historical artifacts.”
Niaj turns to Owen. "We haven't had time to properly classify or research it, but it looks like an ancient datapad. Old, but in pristine condition. Grey, black surface, about the size of a dinner plate. What is remarkable about it is that it is . . . well . . . as far as we know indestructible. Rumor has it the thing was found encased in obsidian meaning it survived-perfectly I might add- inside a lava flow. The files are heavily encrypted, so far we have only been able to unlock the main menu but it appears to have information on a computer simulation of an unknown island with unknown plant life on an unknown planet."
The Veskarium is an autocratic military dictatorship
ruled by a council of high-ranking military officers. A military
commander called a high despot rules each of the Veskarium’s nine
major worlds. Together, they form the Council of Despots, a ninemember
body that rules the entire Veskarium from the Imperial
Palace on Vesk Prime. Vesk dominate the empire and make up
the majority of its inhabitants. The Veskarium claims the entirety
of the Ghavaniska system: Vesk Prime, the imperial capital and
home world of the vesk; seven other planets, which the vesk have
renamed and numbered based on their distance from the sun, from
Vesk-2 to Vesk-8; and the immense mobile space station known as
the Conqueror’s Forge.
20+: Dozens of planets are under imperial rule, and Veskarium
citizens include many sapient species, such as formians, ijtikri,
kothamas, pahtras, and skittermanders, among others. Although
most vesk consider themselves superior to other species, they
nevertheless believe they have an obligation to care for vassals
they’ve conquered and incorporated into the Veskarium. The laws
of the Veskarium are strict and draconian, but standards of living
are high, and most residents of the empire, vesk or not, are content
with their lives and support—or at least tolerate—their government
20+: The Keepers of the Lie is a vast criminal organization based
in the Veskarium. It recruits from the bitter and disenfranchised by
offering a unique worldview: that the universe was created after
the Gap, and all history before then is an elaborate lie. The cult calls
for members to cast off the bonds of family, religion, and past, and
craft a new truth for themselves through smuggling, extortion, and
slavery, all while working to erase any traces of pre-Gap history.
25+: Shortly after the end of the Gap, a group of vesk soldiers
and researchers on the icy wastelands of Vesk-8 uncovered a
being encased in the ice. Though it couldn’t move, the entity
telepathically informed the vesk they were being lied to, their entire
existences simple contrivances, as the universe had been created
whole cloth after the Gap. Rumors say that the mysterious being
continues to guide the Keepers from within the False Witnesses,
the organization’s innermost circle.
30+: With the cult’s spread beyond the Veskarium, new voices
have been added to the council that runs the Keepers. A councilor
has recently been selected to represent the cult’s growing influence
within Absalom Station, and rumor has it that they’ve been planning
a sizable operation in order to impress the cult’s leaders and take
their place among more-established branches of the organization.
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Owen has retrieved his diplomacy keg at some point. "I think they are music haters. They showed up just as you were finishing you karaoke!". Owen says, teasing, and lightly elbows Gustov in the thigh.
Owen's elbow makes a muffled "tink" sound as it hits Gustav's heavy armor. Gustav looks down with a good-natured smile. "There is no way anyone could have NOT liked my singing. I was absolutely killing it with that song!"
Turning to Niaj, Gustav says, "Yes. I would like to know more about this artifact."
Flenn nods. "I'm in. What's the name of this commander that we're supposed to be meeting up with?"
Naiaj pulls out her personal datapad, and with a few taps, produces a digital image: that of a younger, more colorful Naiaj grinning widely in a brutaris player’s uniform, dwarfed by an enormous, green-black vesk with
a scar down one side of his face. “This is Paxel. He’s known as ‘The Dragon’ in the Veskarium. When you meet him, you’ll see why. He and I were part of a joint Pact Worlds–Veskarium brutaris exhibition many years ago, back when relations with Vesk Prime were fresher than they are now. Paxel may seem friendly but make no mistake: his allegiance is to the Veskarium, and he’ll do whatever he needs to do to protect it.” She cocks her head to one side with a quiet snort. “He’s quite vain, though he’d never admit it. I heard he’s had several interesting augmentations done as he’s aged.”
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Antennae twitching, Chk'tarlsh listens as his companions share their knowledge of the cult and the Veskarium, and Naiaj fills them in about Paxel.
"I'm lookinkh forward to sseeing the Vesskarium firssthand," the shirren says aloud, mandibles clacking. "They have the reputation for dissciplined and well-trained soldiers - the whole conquerinkh and empire expanssion asside."
"We will get thish artifact," he says, multifaceted eyes shimmer in the light as he tilts his head. "And sshine the light of truth on thish lie they sso proudly keep."
After a quick goodbye and some info on where you can go, you make your way to the space port and get in the small shuttle (The dapper Coatl) that has been chartered to take you to the Veskarium.
Your trip in the drift is uneventful except that there is an automated alert sent to all starfinders that the brass dragon Zafeldrin of Triaxus has been promoted to full venture-captain by the starfinder council.
Afte days, you exit the drift.
When the Dapper Coatl exits the Drift above Vesk Prime, the viewscreens display a view of the planet below, alive with deep-blue oceans, verdant green forests, and the rusty bronze of sprawling deserts. As the ship descends through a partially cloudy sky, the magnitude of the city below becomes apparent. Elongated avenues intersecting at precise angles cut through the city, passing by colossal monuments and expansive mphitheaters and parks, all leading inward to the center. At the very heart of the city is the imposing pyramid of Command Prime, a omineering structure that the city took its name from.
Your pilot quickly transmits your landing codes and you are directed to land at a small landing pad in the military district of command prime, the military heart of Vesk Prime.
As you step out of your ship, you are immediately confronted by a contingent of Vesk with one notable male vesk at the front. You surmise he is the unit leader as his uniform has more bits and bobs on it than the others.
"Your command codes, SOMEHOW cleared. Mind telling me what the HELL some damn off-worlders are doing with command codes for docking at a secure facility? Please say you are here to disrespect me or the Veskarium, my men would love some additional target practice" he says with a sneer.
You recognize that this is a Vesk Sub-Major with medals for honorable combat against both the Swarm and the Pact Worlds.
The sub-major looks like he wants to start something with Owen for a second, but then turns in a huff.
"Fine. We will escort you to Paxel. But we have more important things to do than escort some damn pact worlders," he almost spits the words, "to some meeting. Keep up and don't gawk."
You make your way around several buildings into one massive structure that seems to be some sort of headquarters of some kind. Inside the headquarters you find yourselves on switchback corridors that all look the same and you realize that this is some sort of defensive strategy. If someone foreign force were to try and lay siege to this building they would find it almost impossible to find their way through it.
Eventually you find yourself in front of a door. The Sub-Major jabs his finger as if you are supposed to go inside and then turns and leaves without a word.
The door opens on a sprawling office whose hominess belies the frigid temperature. A purple-furred creature with six arms, a skittermander, rushes out, adeptly balancing a serving tray. Inside, a desk of rich mahogany sits upon a large bearskin rug, and a well-used reading chair sits beside the sole window that allows in feeble light. A vesk with a uniformly dark-green hide towers behind the desk. On one side of his face, the skin on his prominent jawbone is partly missing, revealing a tangle of bone, muscles, and ligaments fitted with mechanical augmentations.
“Friends, welcome.” The vesk smiles. “Your Venture-Captain Naiaj informed me of your imminent arrival here on Command Prime. I am so tickled that our first official communique from the Starfinders came from her, and not from that showboat, Radaszam.” Sneering, he shuffles a few papers on his desk. “We know all about these Keepers in the Veskarium. Their beliefs are an affront to the vesk way of life. They are dishonorable and bring shame to us as their exploits have now reached beyond our system. I have a few potential leads for you, hopefully you can take care of this nuisance. I have more important things to worry about now than some trinket the Starfinders lost, so I can’t offer you aide or an escort at this time. I have some scraps of information that might be useful in tracking down this cult. Can't guarantee anything. . .”
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Qqwaan spits a cone of cold energy when he hears the description.
. He’s known as ‘The Dragon’... part of a joint Pact Worlds–Veskarium brutaris exhibition back when... his allegiance is to the Veskarium,... He’s quite vain... had several interesting augmentations done as he’s aged.”
"A little more respect for a retired officer Sub-major. These off-worlders are with me whatwhat We have the code and that is all you need know."
"Quite Right." Qqwaan asks about the leads, while silently categorizing potential future augmentations.
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From the moment they disembark the Dapper Coatl, Chk'tarlsh is looking around, antennae twitching as he drinks in the sights and sounds of the Veakarium.
Despite his training and experience, the meeting with the sub-major leaves him starstruck, unable to find his mandibles until well after the decorated veteran has departed. Disappointed at having missed such an opportunity, the shirren makes sure not to repeat the mistake.
"Thank you for meetinkh with ush Commander. We are a capable unit and will find the relic, take care of thesse Keepersh and end the disshonor. Any intel you have will be greatly appreciated."
1)
As if remembering something, Paxel stands and walks over to the window. Picking up a cup of steaming tea, he inhales deeply, savoring the rich smells of the hot beverage. “Spicy foods and fragrant tea are some of the few things I can enjoy these days. Every afternoon, that purple menace brings me a cup.” Taking a small sip, he sighs and replaces the cup on the tray. “Speaking of skittermanders, you should probably check with them. I have to admit, they are exceptionally good with paperwork, which makes my job both easier and harder, especially when it comes to tracking down the Hidden Hand. Anyway, we run a tight ship here at Command Prime. No one can import anything without the seeming of proper clearance. These Keepers might have attempted to legitimize your trinket by getting official transport papers from Import and Export Control. Their office is located in one the dozen or so buildings that surround the main spaceport;
I’d go check with them.”
2)
Then, Paxel absentmindedly picks at the bare spot on his neck devoid of scales. “There is someone else within Command Prime that might be able to help you; Fuzukiyo Hivecrusher.” He muses for a few moments. “Though, I rarely find her in the actual building.” Paxel glances at a clock mounted on the wall; it appears to be made from the carapace of a great beast. “Ahh, yes—this time of day, you will find her the gardens surrounding the Imperial Palace. Directive 9 offers all of its directors premium office space here in Command Prime, but Fuzukiyo prefers to do her thinking surrounded by all her plants. Go, I will let her know that you are coming. Oh, and please, do not mistake her sensibility when it comes to plants to anything resembling nicety; she has the most severe case of what I call‘cunning bloodlust’ that I have ever seen.”
A small imperial household maintains the Imperial Palace;
though with no Emperor, no one with political power lives in the
palace full-time. High despots stay in the Imperial Palace while on
official visits to Vesk Prime.
The empire doesn’t have a civilian spy agency, so Directive 9
is responsible for all information gathering, electronic warfare,
espionage, and clandestine military operations, both within the
Veskarium and outside its borders. Its agents are involved in
intelligence activities at all levels, whether strategic, tactical, or
operational. While Directive 9 sometimes cooperates with outside
intelligence organizations like the Pact Worlds’ Stewards, it carries
out most of its operations on its own, with the specific details known
only to the highest levels of the military’s high command.
3)
Lastly, he starts shuffling around some papers on his desk as if he's looking for some more scrap of information to turn to you before he sighs and pulls out one piece of paper that was on top.
“Hmm.” Paxel muses as he taps a claw on his desk. “I’m not sure if I should be even passing this on to you, but I suppose finding this traitorous cult is worth it.” Using a nearby pad of paper, he quickly scribbles a note down. Carefully extending one claw, he makes a small incision on the base of his scaly palm. Folding the paper, he looks up. “I’ve received a message from a pahtra who I believe has integrated themself with the Keepers. I haven’t been able to verify whether they will have actionable information, but it’s worth investigating. They’ve asked to meet at the Cenotaph of the Fallen. Bring this note with you—it will verify your legitimacy to this traitor. They’ll be wearing a dark-blue cloak.” The note contains only one sentence: The Dragon sent us.
A towering obelisk of pure adamantine surrounded by a paved plaza in the center of Command Prime, the Cenotaph of the Fallen is a memorial honoring all of the warriors who have died in battle during the Veskarium’s many wars and conquests. An honor guard of decorated vesk soldiers guard the monument 28 hours a day. Considered a sacred site by the church of Damoritosh, the cenotaph houses a shrine to the Conqueror in its base. Priests of Damoritosh maintain the site and host regular religious services in the shrine.
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Gustav finds himself in awe of Commander Paxel. As a fellow brutaris player, Gustav can't help but wonder what it would be like to take the field against someone like Paxel, even if he's no longer in his prime.
"Thank you Commander. We are in your debt, and we will be sure you receive a briefing on the outcome of this situation."
Gustav considers this Pahtra, and what the ins and outs of an encounter with him.
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Vecro steps out of the ship and nods to sub-major with what Kasatha perceives as a sign of respect to a fellow soldier. He let others do the talking as he looks around the landing bay and at the reaction of Vesk, their way of speaking and acting.
When meeting Commander Paxel he is glad of such a warm welcome. He was expecting more troubles to happen. As he read a bit about Veskarium he tries to recall what he knows when it comes to the information shared
"Directive 9 is a Veskarium military intelligence branch. Here they don't have a civilian spy agency. So Directive 9 is responsible for information gathering, electronic warfare, espionage and others. They do it all from operational actions to strategic operations. If Fuzukiyo is a director of Directive 9 she is a very knowledgeable, powerful, and dangerous person. "
Vecro looks at the sheet of paper from Gustav and reads the sentence. Then he tries to recall anything about Pathra or Cenotaph of the Fallen.
Vecro shares in his low voice.
"Cenotaph of the Fallen is a memorial honoring all of the Vesk warriors that have fallen in battle. There are an honorable guard 28 hours a dar and this site is considered sacred by the church of Damoritosh. There are religious services happening there."
Then turning towards Commander Paxel he says in Vesk
"Thank you for your aid Commander, we were ordered to send Naiaj's sincere greetings."
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"Searchinhk paperwork and administration trailsh could prove quite lengthy and tedioush," Chk'tarlsh's antennae droop momentarily at the thought. "Besst go sstraight to the one with the greatesst chance of knowinhk - a direhktor of Direhktive 9 should have the information we sseehk... or know where to find it."
"I'm not sure how far we can trusst the wordsh of a traitor," the shirren continues. "But it ish at leasst a direhkt approach, and to the point. We should be able to weigh the value of the pahtra'sh intel reassonably quickly before ressigninhk oursselvesh to the papertrailsh and red tape of adminisstration."
Across a long field adjacent to Command Prime lies the Imperial Palace. The field, called the Parade Ground, is empty at the moment. Walking down immaculate gravel paths, the you pass calm reflecting pools, bubbling fountains with distressingly violent-looking statues commemorating Veskarium conquest, and rows upon rows of symmetrical raised plant boxes filled with lovingly tended plants from throughout the Veskarium system.
Passing an ornate stone bench carved in the shape of a stridermander that died a horrible death, the PCs come upon a lone vesk who is currently tending to a delicate green sapling with a 3-inch, bean-shaped bud on top, open lengthwise to the air with long, thin spines surround the opening.
“Welcome, friends from the Pact Worlds. Though I have never been to your system, I hear a lot about it. Life is brutal these days, is it not? I see from some of your faces that you, too, have seen fighting and death. I find that it only makes us stronger. Take this little plant here,” the vesk gestures at the small sapling before her. “It is like the Veskarium. To grow larger and stronger, others must perish.” Taking a small container from her pocket, she opens it to reveal a wriggling mouse. Carefully extracting the rodent with her claws, she quickly pops into the open maw of the plant. The jaws of the plant snap shut—the mouse is no more. She smiles. “Even mice can be loyal to the Veskarium.” Putting the container away, she takes out an ornate cane and uses it to walk over to a nearby bench. With a sigh of relief, she sits down. “Now, Paxel said you are looking for someone. Tell me.”
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Vecro walks down the garden contemplating the architecture and plants. He takes out his automatic assistant in the shape of a flying sphere and asks it to identify the plants
Kasatha stops looking down one of the alleys, he closes his eyes and breaths in the air. He always liked gardens, it let him relax a bit. Even that Kasathas gardens are different in terms of layout and plants, he is enjoying seeing this particular one.
Vecro takes out his comm unit and finds what his AI was able to identify based on the available information.
He spots the bench in the shape of a stridermander and touches its armrest when Fuzokiyo comes.
As Vesk begins to speak he let her share her point of view. As expected her story was brutally honest and without much finesse.
"My name is Vecro Asynti from House Khadil, this is Gustav, Chk'tarlsh, officer Q'Qwann, Owen Shae, and Flenn. We are here, Fuzokiyo Hivecrusher, as Commander Paxel inclined that you might be able to aid in our task of finding Keepers of the Lie and retrieving an object that they stole from Starfinder Society." says Vecro looking her in the eyes.
He looks to the side and adds
"Yet I am certain that you know all that, and probably more. And I agree life is brutal, but some mice can be helpful without giving their lives."
He makes the opening just like in training bout, you feint some punches to see the reaction of the enemy...
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Vecro successfully identifies the plants and compliments Fuzokiyo oh how well they are coming along. The Vesk’s facial expression notably softens. You feel like she’s more inclined to work with you now.
”Good to see they are teaching proper Veskarium botany in the pact worlds.” she purrs. With a nat 1 sense motive, Vecro thinks she is coming on to him.
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Since arrival, Flenn seems somewhat distant, as if he's having a conversation to himself in his head. He nods as the group decide to head out to the gardens and walks along.
Upon arriving in the gardens, a large purple-scaled vesk arrives and nods to him. He says nothing else, but stands intimidatingly behind Flenn as he meets with your various contacts. Flenn smiles at you. "Don't mind him. Just a friend of a friend who knows which knees to break to get things done 'round here."
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Q'Qwaan approaches the garden's appreciatively and speaks only vesk to Fuzokiyo. "Whatwhat! of course we teach them what is proper. The Veskarium is the culmination of so many natural and social evolutions, quite right!" Under his breath he adds "It is sometimes a struggle to get things into the mammalian brains, but not so difficult as fighting the bandits of Treskian Hills. Honorless, those bandits. Much like these 'Keepers.' They would deny the superior physical, and intelligence specimens we vesk have evolved into!"
"I say, do you have any moonflowers here? If not I have a perfect example of their DNA. I got it while fighting..." The old vesk launches into a story of impossible odds and overcoming coming them with a simple, but clever tactic.
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Owen and Fuzokiyo launch into a verbal debate where the two don't say much of anything but poke and prod at each other's social defenses for a good few minutes before Fuzokiyo holds up her hand.
"Enough, it is clear that you have at least some skill in verbal dueling, something that is often lacking here in the Veskarium." She sighs. "Too much emphasis on physical combat, not enough Vesk realize that their words can betray them so much more than their Doshko.
"Word has it that these Keepers of the Lie in your language have a new leader that is . . . much more aggresive than previous keepers. Willing to strike outside the Veskarium, evidently. It would be commendable if they weren't so misguided. Even more commendable that this leader isn't Vesk. They are some two-headed tenticled thing called a Ijtikri. Apparantly this particular one fancies themselves somewhat of a scientist-a biologist if you can believe it. How someone can be a scientist but believe their claptrap is beyond me. Listen, take this, call it a prize for winning our verbal duel. Or something that can be used against these damned cultists. Now if you excuse me . . ." and with that she leaves, but not before giving you a Spy Drone.
Finding the Cenotaph of the fallen is relatively easy.
The paved stones of the central plaza surrounding the obelisk are mirror clean, save for the odd film of cleaning agent on several of the outlying rocks. The faint outlines of scrubbed graffiti are barely noticeable in the sharp daylight. The shrine at the base of the cenotaph hosts several figures kneeling in silent prayer.
You see one with a Dark Blue Cloak that is kneeling apart from the others. The figure is medium sized, but noticably smaller than the others, you doubt they are vesk.