[SFS_Aerondor] 01-18 The Blackmoon Survey. (Outpost IV) (Inactive)

Game Master Aerondor

"Alright, if that's the way it has to be, that's what we'll go with."
1d20 ⇒ 5

He steps forward towards Dytabail, offering a wave of farewell to his retiring companions.

"You will learn of the evils done by this world, and what they will eventually do to all the pact worlds if they are not stopped." he says.

"But you have my world, if you take me to Absalom station for "trial" I will not resist you once my companions are safe."

"Accepted." Talltree secures the captive, then checks the fallen leader to see if they can be stabilized.

Mengian, while gravely wounded, is not dead. You are able to also secure him. With the storm gone, you can also reestablish communications with the Starfinder base should you desire to.

Seeing Mengian still alive and now stabilized, Rilynn approaches the massive Sarcesian with contempt.

"I'm going to make sure I get to testify against you at your trial," she says, whether he can hear her or not.

Then she turns her attention to the other one. "You, carry your fallen leader. It's a long walk back to base."

Talltree gets on the comm. "Situation is stable. Two prisoners. Send evac, but don't worry about Rilynn...she says she'll walk back."

The sarcesian lifts his fallen leader onto his shoulders and you all head back to the starfinder base.

"Well, what did you find?" asks Taylehm with a pointed glance toward your two prisoners.

Mengian is removed to the medical facility and secured there, while the other is put into a makeshift prison, allowing you to talk freely.

"The cause of the chaos," answers Rilynn, "but not the reason why. Mengian was up to no good but if his target was the bone sages, he missed his mark badly. You should know the Sarcesians are operating in close proximity to the dig site. We killed two others that ambushed us in the canyon, and there were two more with Mengian, but Talltree decided to let them flee without consequence. While it's possible their leader, Fayetta, is operating with a cooler head, the Sarcesians are an aggrieved and zealous lot, and it's probably not safe to continue exploration while they are active nearby.

"If we have the time, it would be worthwhile to interview the bone sages to try to ascertain the impetus for this violence. We have as much leverage as we're ever likely to have to press for such a meeting."

"The enmity between the Sarcesian's and bone sages results from a gynocidal war, in which the undead destroyed the sarcesian's planet, and the sarcesian's revenge left Eox in the current unpleasant state." mentions Taylehm.

"I doubt the bone sages know of the sarcesian presence on their planet, or it would have been wiped out long ago. Do you have a means to communicate with this Fayetta?

She sighs. "You have met with the sarcesian's, and know a lot about the bone sages. Should we reveal their presence? And if so, would you be willing to help in their...removal? Alternatively should we try to come to some accord with the Sarcesian's - in which they stop harassing our sites?"

Okay, decision time for everyone here. You don't all have to agree, but there are consequences here. There will also be one more skill check, depending on how you would prefer to approach the situation.

"We do have a way to contact Fayetta, though I don't know how long it will work. They don't exactly trust us and they do have a valid concern about their survival."

Tari tucks her feet up into the chair she's sitting on to think. "My gut instinct is to keep their presence from the Eoxians. I don't like either of their methods, but it seems like Eox threw the first punch. I don't think the Starfinder Society should be involved with genocide, even tangentially. If we *have* to reveal their presence, I would only aid in their removal if it would be relocation, not destruction. But my preference would be to work with the Sarcesians. We get to keep exploring and don't aid in the destruction of an entire species."

"If the Sarcesians want to kill themselves exacting revenge, that's their business, but they crossed a line when they targeted Starfinders. Mengian and his accomplice will stand trial. It will be impossible for the Eoxians to not become aware of the Sarcesians' presence here. That decision was made when we accepted the deal to let the other two go free.

"I won't engage in further conflict unless Starfinder HQ requires it. We could solicit assurances from Fayetta, but even then I advise deploying armed escorts at all dig sites."

"'The other two' is right. The Eoxians will only know two Sarcesians are still on their world. Maybe we can tell Fayetta to leave. Or not.

Dytabail definitely wants to tell the Eoxians about the two we "let go." If they wanted to slink away, they can face whatever fate the bone sages imagine for them. Besides, if they are so interested in fighting, their presence will be noticed anyway. If we are not lucky, they will be taken alive and the Society's relationship with Eox will suffer.

But she doesn't remember how attached Fayetta was to the two snipers we already killed. If she allowed the attacks on us and the site, take her down too. If she was totally against it, give her a chance to run.

After giving the question another moment of thought, Rilynn adds, "The Eoxians will soon learn about the Sarcesians here, either by the time of the trial or before. If they are looking for a way to gain leverage over the other Pact worlds, they would have no better device than to claim the Starfinders were not forthcoming when we knew what has happened. They'll say we allowed terrorism on their soil and tried to hide it from them. If we are to avoid an inter-planetary scandal, we are duty-bound to fully disclose the Sarcesians' activities on Eox to the extent of our knowledge.

"I am sympathetic to their history, and in another circumstance I would fight with them. But we cannot allow this incident to be used as a wedge by Eox to fuel a diplomatic crisis with the Starfinders at the center of it."

She looks out into the bleak landscape of Eox. "I wonder if that was Mengian's goal. Destabilize the alliance and force the rest of the Pact worlds to choose a side. Why else would he target the living? And Starfinders specifically? If this was an elaborate trap, then we are not yet free of it."

Okay, I'm going to dive into mechanics here for a moment so I can make out some chronicles and get reporting done. These choices are personal to you, but are reflected on your chronicles with access to boons.

Choice one: Keep the sarcesian's presence a secret. This is compatible with a trial on Absalom station. This would lead to good relations with the Sarcesian's if at least one person selecting this option can make a good diplomacy check. I'm happy to take aid-anothers from other folk selecting this option

Reveal the sarcesian's to the Eoxian authorities. If you choose to do this, and can fool the sarcesian's into believing that you won't betray them, then it will certainly impress the bone sages. Of course you will need to bluff the sarcesian's to accomplish this. Again, happy to take aid-anothers from those who want to take this route.

Not take sides at all, or effectively deal with the captives publicly, but not actively betray the sarcesian's to the authorities by trying to fool them. Such actions are unlikely to impress (or aggravate) either faction.

Tari would like to keep the Sarcesian's secret. She's not overly fond of the methods of Mengian, but that seems to be a rogue sect. She has a +7 Diplomacy. If there are other folks who want to aid (or take the lead), she's fine with that.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Seriously?? Using reroll:
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Obviously, I've read way too much intrigue into the narrative. It seems like we can each decide for ourselves and our choice has no bearing on how anyone else wants to play it. Working from that assumption...

Rilynn chooses to reveal the Sarcesians to the Eoxians. As a Dataphile, she does not have enough information about Fayetta and the Sarcesians to conclude they will operate non-violently. Indeed, history teaches the opposite outcome is more likely.

Bluff: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

"I have no reason to distrust Fayetta for she pointed us to Mengian, he was shortsighted and only cared to attack those working alongside the Eoxians. She has more insight." Kharos decides to put his own effort into protecting the Sarcesians.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

"It isn't an easy choice and could risk my own life but that is a daily dealing here. I will ask to represent Eoxian interests in the Absalom trial to ensure they do not dig deeper into the remaining Sarcesians. Then perhaps another trip in the future to speak to Fayetta will be in order."

Dytabail agrees with Rilynn. She knows what it's like to not have a homeworld, and if the Sarcesians want to move on, they have to find a new place to live. Since she is not the only one on her side, she will roll to assist.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

(Also, if it helps, I have two Novas, and I think I can use them for a boost.)

I'll do scenario reporting based on the most popular options selected, but in terms of boon selection, you are not penalized for disagreeing with how the rest of the party opts to go.

That looks like at the moment we are on two votes for keeping them secret and two for helping the authorities in rooting them out.

Gletch considers and nods. "While there are certainly dangerous factions among the Sarcesians, I fear that the bone sages' retribution might be too extreme and ... well, frankly, genocidal. We should seek some sort of accord with the Sarcesians, and perhaps remain in a position to mediate this dispute in the future."

He glances around at everyone else. "Well, all, it has been a fine adventure here on Eox with you. Can't say I'll be missing the scenery, or being pinned down by sniper fire, but you all did quite well. And we accomplished the mission. A+ work, as we say at the university!"

"Keep their presence a secret. If the people of the Pact Worlds had insisted on holding a grudge and never allying with those who attacked them, the Swarm would have slain them all. Sarcesians need a chance to learn that lesson as well."

There is a bit of discussion, but eventually the decision is made to try and ally with the Sarcesian's. That is not to say that a couple of you don't feel that your generous hosts shouldn't be made aware of the terrorist murderers hiding out on their planets, and make your own arrangements to ensure that the authorities are alerted.