This table is being run as part of Outpost IV
GM early player sign-up: January 26-28, 2021
General Player Sign-ups: January 29-February 15, 2021
Start of Outpost IV: February 16, 2021
End of Outpost IV: April 27, 2021
Please make sure you have signed in on the recruitment sheet.
You may then ninja dot (post and delete in this thread) to add it to your campaigns.
You begin in Absalom Station at the Lorespire Complex, where Venture-Captain Arvin (N Male Damaya Lashunta Mystic) has gathered you for a mission briefing.
A large vesk in a muscle shirt sits at a table in the small reception room, messily consuming the various laid-out refreshments. Venture-Captain Arvin stands on the opposite side of the table, visibly annoyed at the vesk, and turns toward the arriving Starfinders with some relief. "Thank you for your quick response. Some new technology has come to the Society's attention"—the vesk clears his throat loudly, and Arvin's eyebrow twitches in irritation—"from our... erm contact Julzakama. If you would..."
The vesk, Julzakama, stands, pulling a battered gym bag out from under the table. "Feast your eyes on this little gemling." He reaches into the bag and removes what appears to be a severed human hand. Julzakama waves the limb then offers it to Arvin to shake.
Arvin declines the offered limb, rubbing his temples, and explains. "As you might have guessed, this is a prosthetic limb. It's a standard cybernetic augmentation, but this one was made with a new type of biotech, so well grafted that it's almost undetectable without magic. Its special features are just as well hidden." Arvin takes the hand from Julzakama to demonstrate a nearly invisible compartment large enough to conceal a knife, several data drives, or a small toolkit. "Such technology would be invaluable for covert and diplomatic operations, and the Society would like to find the specialist who crafted and installed it. But therein lies the difficulty. Julzakama, if you could explain the... circumstances of this discovery?"
Julzakama holds up his hands, "Now, I wasn't personally involved. Some vesk workers known to some of my customers got in a territorial dispute with some manlings. Stuff happened, one of these guys turned his winnings over to my customer to settle a bet, and here we are." Julzakama gestures at the hand, smiling ingratiatingly, and continues, "I thought you Starfinders might be interested."
"Indeed, we are." Arvin folds his hands behind his back. "Julzakama tells me that his acquaintances' rivals had been known to acquire their gear from gray-market operations in the Freemarkets. As that is our only lead so far, I'd like you to investigate the area."
"Any questions before you get under way?" Arvin asks.
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Entering the room a young woman with the typical compact build for a female human who grow up in high gravity gives a respectful nod to Arvin the moment he recognizes her. Rhys gives a polite nod to the unknown Vesk.
Standing near the table and eyeing the refreshments she listens to the briefing.
Rhys Dawnstep decides to start with an obvious question "What do we know about the Freemarkets?" One of her unsual long fingers points towards the cybernetic hand. "And what kind of spell or technique was used to itentify this cybernetic augmentation?"
She did not brought all her gear into the briefing room and right now she wears the professinal clothes for a Counselor over her Second Skin. She sports a remarkable pale skin tone and her mouth seems to be wider then it's normal for a human. Her hands are covered in black gloves with fingers which are longer then normal and when she presses a finger against something her fingertips are bending like there are no bones in her fingertips.
When her teeth are visible you can tell there are more teeth then it's normal for a human. She has four incicors in her upper and lower jaw and who knows how many more back teeth then normal for a human.
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An aruban haired human female stands. To some she may be recognizable, from a number of Zo's Vidsat programs...
"Tara Greenleaf Captain", she glances at the Vesk, "I have the, she pauses a moment, "honor, to have made Julzakama acquaintance I only hope we don't have to search him out again in the Downlow district this time!"
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The android Kat5e reclines casually in her chair, watching the severed hand with a scowl on her face as the Vesk waves it around. She sits straight up and leans forward at the mention of new biotech, her interest piqued.
The android is visibly modified. She is covered in both ink tattoos as well as shaping her glowing subcutaneous circuity into patterns and symbols. She has taken a rather androgynous base model and modified it into a female leaning expression of herself on the inside and out. From the looks of her, her warranty is void.
"You yadda yadda yadda'd over killing and the amputation of this augmentation. Do we have any more information on the person it was attached to? she asks, using her vocal modulator to emphasize the past tense. "Might help us track down the source"
"What do we know about the Freemarkets?"
Arvin responds, "The Freemarkets are an open-air retail space, where small businesses of all sorts showcase their products and services. AbadarCorp sponsors the area; the corporation's religious doctrine mandates that they encourage the growth of free enterprise. It's relatively easy to get a business permit, so many entrepreneurs get their start there."
"I doubt AbadarCorp are involved directly with the augmentations, or they'd be running an advertising campaign. The church sponsors the Freemarkets out of the belief that expanding the free market expands their views of civilization. They do regulate the markets and conduct inspections though, so their records may be a reliable source of information. If any of you have contacts within AbadarCorp now might be a good time to take advantage of them."
"what kind of spell or technique was used to identify this cybernetic augmentation?"
Julzakama responds, "My customer told me it was biotech when he tried to sell it to me. He knows I don't deal in natural body parts, and my regulars know not to cross me. Also the limited amount of blood was a tip off. I may not know much about manlings, but I know you spurt blood all over the place when someone rips one of your natural grown limbs off, not like when a vesk drops their tail."
Arvin adds, "I also used Detect Augmentation successfully on the limb when Julzakama brought it to me."
"Do we have any more information on the person it was attached to?"
"Er not much," Julzakama responds trying to avoid eye contact with Tara, "like I said, just that they got into a dispute with some vesk workers and lost this. Even that much is second hand, excuse the pun, my customer wasn't involved and won the hand in a card game. Oh, I guess whoever it was is walking around with a stump on the right side now unless they've had the time and creds to replace it again already, but I suppose that much is obvious."
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Rhys feels inside and smiles about the little help from the Lady of Wisdom as she tries to recall as much as possible about the Freemarkets.
After a moment she realizes she only recalls memories of her latest and very first mission as a Society Agent.
"I don't recall anything about the Freemarkets right now. Sorry!"
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A tall, muscular kasatha walks into the briefing room, a little late. He's carrying a vid recorder in one hand and talking into it, "Ok Sultrites, heading into another briefing. Let's see what fun we can get into this time around." He then spots the hand being waved about. "Dude! Is that a hand! Gnarly!" The kasatha focuses his equipment on the removed augmented extremity.
The clothing on this kasatha seems to pretty closely mirror those of the honored Starfinder guest, Julzakama. Strapped to his waist, on both sides, are a couple of metallic rings. "Dudes. Can't believe I forgot this part. I'm Meme Nom Mimosil Homus Jul of Clan Sultri. But I'm sure you just know me as Meme Sultri from my awesome vid series. I think you said something about the Freemarkets, yeah? I go there a couple times per week. Need to keep up on my protein shakes, you know."
15+: Many of the Freemarkets' businesses are temporary operations, working out of stalls or carts. The most successful make enough of a profit to secure permanent stores or are acquired by larger corporations. Some manage to hold their spots in the Freemarkets long-term, while the failures melt away.
20+: While the majority of businesses in the Freemarkets are legitimate enterprises, fly-by-night operations and scam artists take advantage of regulation loopholes. If caught and shut down, they simply lie low for a time and then acquire new permits under false identities.
Additional Freemarkets Background
There are no large vehicles in the Freemarkets; all internal transport is handled at the Markets' lowest level, reserved for delivery and maintenance. The main avenue follows the curve of the station, with four other walkways on the base level. Most goods and larger items of merchandise are on this level. The second level has a grid of aerial walkways and contains mostly service businesses: cosmeticians, spellcasters, tax preparers, and the like. Aside from street-food stalls, most eateries are on the third level, where patrons can observe the hustle and bustle from above. High turnover prevents further sorting of businesses by type. The entire market consists of small businesses that focus on the working to lower-middle classes; entrepreneurs with more upscale aspirations usually have the connections and capital to afford permanent locations in more exclusive areas. That being said, trend followers of all income brackets frequent the Markets looking for the next flavor of the week, and savvy financiers do so seeking up-and-comers they can sponsor at other locations or hire directly.
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"I am sorry, but i don't understand Sign Language." Rhys shakes her head. She looks for help to the other Agents and to Captain Arvin and then to Julzakama.
She is pretty sure that's sign language and most likely the version for Common. Sadly she never learned it.
Rhys waits for a quiet moment and looks at her fellow Society Agents.
"By the way i have not introduced myself i am Rhys" she clearly pronounces it as Reese "Dawnstep, happy to work with all of you on my second mission." offering a handshake to every Agent.
"Once this briefing is finished, i need to pick up my backpack and my pistol should be fully charged by now and we can head to The Freemarkets and start our investigation. Because i don't have anymore questions."
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Rhys reads the message and replies "Nice to meet you Oda. So is Captain Arvin. So once nobody else has anymore questions we can go but i need to see the Quartermaster and get stuff from my locker on our way out."
Looking at the text again Rhys makes a suggestion "So how do we set up a groupchat again? I am not great with Computers and i am afraid to chat to the whole station or so when i try it. Would be easier to communicate that way with a mute member in our group i think."
After your briefing you are able to pickup your gear and setup a group chat before heading over to the Freemarkets.
Gilded doors separate the Freemarkets from the previous station sector. The entrance area contains a sizable shrine to Abadar to the right; to the left, an office issues permits, takes complaints, and receives petitions. Through the entry zone, a giant signboard with a dot marked "You Are Here" and a directory of businesses offers onlookers a way to locate their desired merchandise.
The walkways are laid out in an orderly manner, with lifts and staircases at regular intervals leading to the Markets' three retail levels. Kiosks sporting AbadarCorp logos offer shopping carts for rent and advertise delivery services. Other businesses promote themselves in a riot of lights, music, and recorded ad pitches. Businesses are not grouped by type; food stalls operate in front of jewelry stores, and racks of hand made apparel sit next to secondhand electronics stores.
Examining the directory board, there are five business names that appear to be biotech-related: BioBoost, the Cytech Clinic, Metagenesis, Renew-You, and Synthathesia. There is also a pawnshop, café, and salon near your current location.
A well-dressed shirren AbadarCorp representative, which Tara recognizes as Philt (N Male Shirren Envoy), walks the market apparently on a quiet, informal inspection tour.
Meme recalls that BioBoost actually specializes in nutritional supplements and "chemical enhancements" not biotech or augmentations.
"Ah Starfinders!" Philt replies verbally. "Tara isn't it? Forgive me, humans all look so much alike, and I see Kat5e is with you. Construction on the new AbadarCorp shipping hub near Tasch goes well and the townspeople are thankful to be gainfully employed again, thanks to you."
Philt looks around and then switches to telepathy. "I'm afraid I do not have much time for small talk. I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but I am grateful for your assistance in the past, perhaps you can prove helpful again. I am investigating the possible disappearance of a number of Freemarket customers in the past few weeks. So far there is no evidence of any foul play or I assure you AbadarCorp would notify the Stewards accordingly. Right now I am merely following up on some suspicions and would prefer to keep my investigations quiet until I have something more concrete. Has the Society heard anything that might be pertinent?"
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As good a place to start as any?
Kat nods her agreement. "Let's check in with Tara's contact, then start shaking down the vendors."
She moves towards Tara and recongises Mr. Philt from her memory banks. She briefly recalls her introduction to him moments before a brawl in a dusty bar, and the resulting repairs to the actuator in her knee.
"Mr Philt, greetings, once again. What brings you to the freemarkets today? Perhaps you could help us in an investigation. What do you know of the Augmentation vendors here in the freemarket?"
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Rhys also takes a look at the list of all those buisnesses. Trying again the divine help of Yaraesa to recall some knowledge, maybe Rhys had heard or read something about one of them.
Seeing that Kat5e and Tara are speaking to someone she looks down on her comm unit and responds to all.
Sure! We have to start somewhere, but let's wait a bit maybe Tara and Kat5e get intel from that AbadarCorp representative.
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Tara nods, then speaks softly. "All we know at the moment is that some trouble has been happening between Vesk and Human groups!
In this incident a augmented limb was torn from one of the humans, it's structure is unusual and we've been sent to find where it's come from.
If you have any information you could help us with on the Biotech traders in the market we would be grateful and will keep our eyes open for the other matter while we are here."
"Hmm... gang wars are unfortunately not uncommon on the station but we are usually able to keep such disputes outside of the Freemarkest. Biotech augments though... now that you mention it," Philt pauses to consult his tablet for a few moments, "yes. You may have stumbled across a common thread. Several of the missing people had biotech augments installed recently. It seems our interests may align yet again. I will grant you temporary AbadarCorp business inspector credentials." He says producing two official looking badges and handing them to Tara and Kat5e.
Philt consults his tablet again. "The public directory board is unfortunately outdated, businesses change so often it is difficult to keep it current. I show Cytech Clinic and Metagenesis as having licenses to sell biotech and cybernetics. Renew-You also previously sold biotech and cybernetics but closed recently. These may be good locations to continue your investigations. Good luck Starfinders, please keep me informed of your progress. I have a few more leads of my own I wish to follow-up on."
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"Thank you, Mr. Philt. We'll keep you updated with anything we find."
She will wait with Tara until the discussion wraps up, the return to the group. After recalling the last time she was given an official badge, she checks it for any surveillance devices.
"That narrows it down a bit, where do we want to start?"
"Oh! Mr Philt, one last thing do you happen to know why Renew-You closed?"
"I'm afraid not, businesses come and go so quickly that it isn't usually noteworthy."
Kat5e finds an RFID chip embedded in the badge but no listening devices or active sensors of any kind. Whether she considers an RFID chip a tracking device depends largely on how paranoid she is.
If you head over to Renew-You you find that it is a modular unit that resembles a shipping container. Although it is clearly older than the surrounding structures, it looks clean and well maintained. Metal doors are rolled down over the entrance and windows, with a neat sign that reads "CLOSED INDEFINITELY" hanging over the previously posted business hours.
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"Ah, okay so we let's see what we have here. I search the area for magical items and so on..." Rhys concentrates a bit and casts Detect Magic but has not much hope to get any clues.
After a quick scan for magical and hybrid things and maybe traps she keeps her eyes open for mundane hints.
"You two can ask around with your new authority at the pawnshop for example if peopel vanish and they have something remotely valuable the people making them disappear could make a few extra credits by selling those items." Pointing at the badges given to Tara and Kat5se by Philt. "I do have a talent for assiting my team, so let my come with you."
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"I appreciate any help you can provide me Rhys. I have limited diplomatic subroutines, and usually prefer the strong, silent approach. You're right, when we're done here we should flash these badges around and see what we come up with."
Kat searches the area around the shuttered storefront for anything of use. She shrugs at Tara, not sure she will find anything of value either. "Let me check the shutter themselves, maybe we can get them opened."
She will assess the structure of the coverings and any type of lock they may be secured with.
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Tara looks perturbed as the metal begins to bend under Meme's assault on the shutter.
"Mr Meme I don't think Captain Arvin would approve of criminal damage! It would tarnish the reputation of the society."
Tara herself is not opposed to petty crime but would of preferred a more subtle approach.
"Now lets just check the outside then check the local traders as Rhys has suggested If we find nothing with any other leads we can always return and see if we can use a less forceful entry..."
A search of the immediate area reveals little of interest and no magic auras. The clinic is bordered on one side by a temporarily vacant unit and on the other by an accountant's office closed for lunch. The locks on the shutters are of low quality, Kat5e is certain she could pick them given a minute. Such subtlety turns out to be unnecessary however as Meme steps up and snaps the latch holding the lock in place with ease. No one seems to notice the Starfinder's actions. You could probably still leave and return later if you wish.
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"I did not detect any kind of magic on the outside." Eyeing the door, thinking a bit, looking to the rest of the team "We don't know what awaits us in there and i am not sure if we get the whole picture for our and Philt's investigations if we left out the other locations or asking around on the Freemarkets. We can have a look around here and maybe even find some of the missing people Philt mentioned on the other hand two of us have official batches so i am not so worried about getting cought."
Her gaze goes into the distance not focussing on anything in particular with a voice getting quieter "People don't disappear without a reason..."
Snapping back to here and now. "I text in our chat to inform Oda, i think she is still on the other side of this shipping container."
Oda, come join us, Meme 'found a key' would you want to search other locations first or let us interview local folks first? Tara, thinks we could tarnish the reputation of the Society if we use that key. I am okay with investigating other places before we use this key. Then again Philt mentioned missing people. Your thoughts?
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Tara waits for Oda to arrive..
"Well it appears its not a key Meme found but that Somebody! Has broken the lock, It seems with the badges Mr Philt has provided us with, its reasonable for us to check out the building in case missing people are here. If you want to check out the other venders first then I'm confident Kat5e will be able to disguise the broken lock if we find we need to access the building latter."
She pauses for a moment
"Suggestions people"
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Oda, come join us, Meme 'found a key' would you want to search other locations first or let us interview local folks first? Tara, thinks we could tarnish the reputation of the Society if we use that key. I am okay with investigating other places before we use this key. Then again Philt mentioned missing people. Your thoughts?
"Welcome back Oda!" Rhys smiles with closed lips, being aware her muations a gift from her birthplanet, can make her whole smile unpleasant to look at. "Did you read my textmessage to you? I want to do all the things at the same time and can't make up my mind."
Looking at Meme "That looked so easy for you. I am impressed. I hope you don't film everything we do or at least keep an eye on the raw footage." One of her longer then usual, for a human, fingers in her black gloves points to his camera.
Adressing the whole team "I will follow the majority how we proceed in our investigation. I can't decide which decision will lead to be best outcome to help the Society and your contact's" a nod to Tara and Kat5e "mission to investigate about those missing people at the same time. Because i want to do my best and help Philt too."
Keeping her eyes peeled should their gathering here have drawn unwanted attention
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Kat peers into the now open space, having had the lock snap open in her face. She smiles and shrugs at the group. "Well, looks unlocked to me. I'm going to check it out before we seal it back up."
She brushes her hair aside and off her face before stepping through the opening and peering into the darkness.
"Anyone in here? Starfinders. Knock Knock"
If there are no objections, alarms or anything to cause her to pause, she will search around the compartment.
There is no response to Kat5e's "knock" and no alarms. The inside of the clinic is divided into a reception area, an office, a small workshop, and an operating area. Searching the premises reveals that all computers and physical records have been removed. There are no traces of activity within the past week.
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"I doubt i will find something, but just in case i can have a look if there are any magical auras."
Systematically switching from place to place keeping up her concentration and with the experience and knowlegde about the reach of her spell Rhys works her way throught the abandoned place which was Renew-You.
If there were any sources of magic present they have also been removed. As Tara climbs back out the window, a halfling child approaches. The boy nervously asks if she is looking for the owners.