[SFS/Shifty] Frozen Ambitions Arc (C) (Inactive)

Game Master Nik B.

/dot in

Finalise purchases because you are blasting off!

You sit on the bridge of Society starship already underway for a journey to Near Space, you play the briefing video from Ehu Hadif.

“Thank you for accepting this mission post-haste. I hope to cover everything you need to know in this briefing.” Ehu gestures, and the image of a gas giant with broad rings appears hovering over his hand.

“Chart a course to Xys, a planetoid orbiting the gas giant Preluria. The Xystrian Brotherhood has invited you to explore their planet. The Brotherhood is known to have ulterior motives, however, and I suspect they are likely to ask you for a favor in exchange for the privilege of visiting their world. Playing nice with them could be the key to valuable future alliances, as they curate a collection of artifacts from different civilizations and have a reputation as information brokers.

"Timely communication with the Society will be impossible, so if they do ask you for a favor, please agree to it, so long as it’s not something incredibly dangerous—or unethical. I trust your discretion. Please record anything the Xystrians tell you or allow you to see, as this is a rare opportunity to gather information about an otherwise inaccessible world and its culture.”

/end transmission

Buddy listens to the recording and leans towards Joe

"What does it mean that they have ulterior motives?" asks quietly not wanting to share that he does not understand something.

He quickly runs towards his locker to see if he did not forget something.

Means that they have reasons for wanting us there that they're keeping secret for now Ayoka replies. So ... as the First Seeker says, they're gonna want help with something that they didn't wanna share. Still .... we're skittermanders ... helping is what we do

Ayoka will be replacing the spellgems she used

"Oooh, I hope they have artifacts from old ships like our nufriends at the Outpost had! That was neat! Sounds like we should get something to record our chats with the Brotherhood. I was thinking of upgrading my comm unit with some improved sound pickups. Maybe that'd help!"

Purchasing some improved armor, a comm unit, and an integrated shotgun microphone scanner.

Squizzer looks rather uncomfortabe. What if the nufriends ask them to do something bad?

After traveling for ten days your ship exits the Drift. An intensely green gas giant recognizable as Preluria dominates the viewport. Its rings sparkle against the darkness of space, massive compared to those of the Pact Worlds’ own gas giants, Liavara and Bretheda. Xys itself is but a tiny speck within those rings, a planetoid caught in Preluria’s orbit.

As your ship enters Xys’ atmosphere, several ships appear to guide you toward a landing pad where a group of humanoids stand ready to your arrival.

As you disembark The obvious 'leader' steps forward to greet you - he appears to be human but with smooth, pliant gray skin. The six others in his entourage wear light gray robes without any adornment and have their hoods drawn to obscure their faces. “Welcome to Xys, travelers. I hope you had a pleasant trip. My name is Makao, and I will be your guide during your stay here. Your interest in Xys and the ways of the Brotherhood honors us.”

On the approach, Ayoka was taking a lot of images of Preluria, it's rings and Xys.

Upon landing she's very interested in the view of Preluria from Xys.

Buddy steps out of the ship and looks at the sourroundings with his open mouth.

When Makao starts talking Buddy smiles broadly and asks
"Nufriend Makao? Do you mind if I hug you?" asks bluntly Buddy

"Ehu asked us not to do anything unethical.....how weird....it is like he doesn't trust us to make a rational, intelligent decision...." Joe huffs a little....though her bottom hands start to twiddle with a loaded syringe just to keep them busy....

*****

Joe spends the time in the Drift making MORE serums for Joe and Mujina realizing that once again they will likely be taking all the damage to the face...like normal.

She spends her time on the bridge playing with the sensors in the Drift, as who knows what strange pieces of snatched realities might be floating out there.

*****

Getting to their location, Joe does a quick scan of the gas giant....probably never seen one so huge before....and such an amazing emerald green...like Gazigaz, whom she has met back on Vesk 3.

Computers to scan Preluria and maybe the planetoid they are flying to: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

****

Joe sees the grey skinned 'human'(?) and waves with her upper hand....the other 5 have her duffle bag (3 hands worth), her microlab, and a stressball in them.

She extends the hand she waves with in greetings.

"Hello Nufriend Makao, I am Guiseppelia Ba'drys Olyvia Nandell Eve Shirley, or Joe Bones for short. She points to each of the other skitters, This is Buddy, Ayoka, Squizzer Szama and Mujina. I guess we are here to see your amazing planet-moon, and see the wonderful view of Preluria...wow....that gas giant is huge and wonderful looking! And all the rings look so pretty, just think of the size of the giant that would wear them. Oh...sorry, I tend to ramble on. We are glad that the Brotherhood has allowed us to come here, it is much more interesting to look at than the asteroid we just came from."

Items bought...bought that lashunta tempweave from the chronicle, moved the IR sensors from last armor to this one....

There is an awkward pause and a slightly odd moment where the envoy gives Buddy a hug, done by someone who seems uncertain what they are supposed to do with their arms encountering someone with six arms.

"Thank you Joe Bones, we are so glad you like the place..."

With the strange 'greeting pleasantries' coming to an awkward end, and all introductions completed, you are whisked away by the friendly diplomats.

What follows are five days of relaxation in luxury spas and hotels, guided expeditions to farms and meditation circles, and meals catered to your preferred tastes.

Makao accompanies you any time you step outside your accommodation. Whilst you are seemingly free to ask questions and take notes about everything you see, anything else not on the tour you show interest in is brushed off as ‘not important’, ‘currently not open to visitors,’ or prompts some other vague or roundabout answer.

You receive what you highly suspect is a sanitized version of the Brotherhood’s beliefs and practices, highlighting their sustainable farms that source to hungry populations throughout the system, pacifist beliefs, and meditation practices.

You are also allowed to tour heavily curated sections of the Brotherhood’s information vaults. Whilst you take the time to transcribe some interesting notes about various artifacts and historical documents but quickly realize you’ve only been granted access to a tiny fraction of the organization’s resources.

Ayoka is actually curious whether their beliefs and meditative practices to her own as a Star Shaman. She is also interested in the landscape and skyscape views offered by Preluria and it's rings in Xys' daytime and nighttime sky. Hopefully she gets to discuss with other stargazers.

Ayoka finds the practices detailed in the Brotherhoods scriptures to be legitimate, if not fairly routine. The landscape is heavily industrialised - with great factory-farms and the like, but also features some great parks and monuments to the Brotherhood and its luminaries that your tour guide is happy to talk about for hours. The scyscape is a wild array of planetoids in the rings of the enormous gas giant.

Buddy hugs Makao and smiles broadly.

During the time there Buddy looks for meditations including music, ideally drum-like music. Whenever Makao accompanies him, he keeps on talking about playing drums, meditation, or food. He does not hide his enthusiasm to be there.

Joe easily gets used to the pomp and pleasure of the catered meals, and spas. Though she knows this is a 'working' experience, this is what she kinda wanted back on Outpost 634...but didn't get the 'luxury' on doing it.

Walking around, she does easily see that what they are being shown is carefully curated to only be the facade the Brotherhood wants them to see....which she is fine with...mostly.

"What about these factory farms you have? Are they designed just for growing plants, or do you also raise animals for food? And how is the farms maintained? Do you use natural fertilizers or do you use artificially made ones? Crop rotation cycles? Also, what about the distance from the sun here....is there any issues with light from the sun helping the photosynthesis? Does the light reflecting off of Preluria help, or does it hinder the growth cycle of some plants? I hear that some light wavelengths are more beneficial to plants than other, and if they don't get the right type of light--and in the right amounts--sometimes some plants do not do well. And going back to the possible raising of animals for food, I assume they are humanely dispatched if you do raise them? Also, how do you determine who helps with growing the crops? It seems that in this society you must have some kind of educational system to help get the knowledgeable people trained for running these farms...it must be AMAZING!"

Joe will continue rambling about plant crop rotation and conservation of water on the planetoid, and occasionally drop questions semi-relating to finding out how the education system, and how the working class up to the highest of politicians are treated...never asking it overtly (the one question I had is the closes to overt she gets)....

***

When getting to the archives and seeing that they are only being let to see some of the vaults likely less interesting artifacts and records, Joe does seem to speak out a little louder than a normal whisper to Ayoka, "Is it me, or do you also feel that the information here is....lacking? I mean that Vergalian doctor's bag is nice....but I have seen at least a dozen others from other star systems that show the same--if not better--archeological and medical significance in my studies. Everything I heard is that this place had some artifacts from some of the more truly exotic civilizations. Anyway...it is nice to see that the Vergalian race got past trepanning as a form of fixing mental issues fast...trepanning should only be done for swelling of the brain...and only as a last ditch alternative... Anyway....I wonder what we would have to do to be able to see more of their artifacts and knowledge about other civilizations?"

Joe is trying to set up some kind of indication that she is wanting to see more...and trying to see if her conversation with Ayoka might be able to spark the powers-that-be to come out and tell the Skitterforce what they will need to do in trade for this....

Szama follows along with the luxurious treatment gladly. "Wow, I bet this is the kind of treatment Radaszam gets all the time! He's so amazing and he really knows how to run his creds. But he's not super greedy either--he's always supporting amazing charities and causes and stuff! Radaszam is the greatest isn't he?!"

Aside from telling whoever among the Brotherhood will listen all about Radaszam, Szama spends most of her time trying to get a real sense for the deeper aspects of the Brotherhood's beliefs and spiritual practices, especially during their times spent in meditation with them.

Mysticism: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

BTW: If anyone wants to make a run at trying to convince one of the Brotherhood to tell/show us more, Szama will cast Charming Veneer on you ahead of time to give you a +1 to the check.

Learning Buddy likes drum music, there just so happens to be a cultural evening where you are treated to some of the locals playing drums and engaging in meditative practices, a translator continues to explain what is going on - repeatedly using terms such as benevolence, enlightenment, peace, and goodwill. There is much light applause at seemingly odd intervals as though the cue cards hadn't been aligned with the activity.

***

"The factory farms all grow bioengineered high-quality foodstuffs in an ethical and sustainable manner but meditative farmers who choose to come and work on them knowing that the bulk of the produce will be used to go to the neighboring systems and planets and give to the needy - such benevolence and goodwill is just part of the universal friendship the Brotherhood wants to share with its allies and neighbors" the guide then continues with a range of bland descriptions continually flavored with platitudes about the Brotherhood.

***

Hearing the commentary about the archive - "There is nothing there that would interest you, they are just boring records that we wouldn't want to waste your time with, mostly related to the weather. The weather is really good tomorrow, good for some outdoor reading - we will make sure you have more interesting documents like the ones we have provided you so far so that you do not possibly get bored. I'm so glad you raised this with us. I will get you a copy of the Brotherhood's scriptures for your bedtime reading." - they clearly have no intention whatsoever of allowing you to deviate from the tightly controlled 'tour' or showing you more than they have meticulously planned.

***

Szama gets in with a few meditation sessions and finds that whilst they are pretty routine and normal, the whole thing ends up being an hour and a half of mindfulness interspersed with some really hard-sell conversations about the Brotherhood and why Szama should consider following the philosophies as a way of life - Szama finds that it is probably wise to make polite excuses and leave before being signed up for monthly deductions or something.

It also dawns on Szama that whilst the Starfinders may be feeling like doing a bit more exploring and subterfuge, the real game here is that it is your group that is the target of heavy surveillance and analysis by an extremely professional outfit of spies and information dealers...

Being an ex-member of the Cult of the Devourer, Ayoka knows a religious cult when she sees one, especially when Szama tells here about the hard sell conversations. She also takes Buddy's comments in advisement. Plus she is probably had her own experiences. She flicks through the literature provided.

That night, she meditates outside, under the night sky in the Way of the Star Shaman, contemplating the Cosmos and the skittermander's next step. Maybe it is time to find out what this lot are really up to. She intends to take Szama up on her offer. Maybe it's her fellow skittermanders that she needs to help.

Squizzer, who knows how silly non-skitters can be, grins at the thought of what ridiculous conclusions likely to be drawn by outsiders who try to use a team of skitters as a measure of what everyone in the Society is like.

Squizzer is also pretty convinced that the Brotherhood is probably doing exactly that - bringing in Starfinder to monitor them and learn how they act.

Late one evening, after all the skitters have been thoroughly wined and dined and are sent off back to their rooms for the evening, Szama tries to pass a message to her fellow skitters.

sense motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

People miss the hint on late-night chicanery, denying the local spy network an opportunity to surveil the Starfinders.

***

The next morning you all pour back into the transport and wrap up the tour. As this enjoyable but uneventful tour comes to an end, Makao leads you to a conference room at the Spaceport. As you settle in, Makao’s demeanor shifts from friendly and servile to direct and businesslike.

“We hope your stay was much to your liking, and that you send glowing reports back to your Society, but I would be lying if I said inviting you here was just part of a cultural exchange. We hope you can help us discreetly solve a disappearance. One of our agents has gone missing on the nearby Vault of Vorlath, and we’re concerned for his health. We have his last known coordinates, and of course a detailed description of him"

"Your organization’s increased presence in Near Space, combined with your outsider status, makes you the perfect candidates to investigate this matter.” Makao slides over a datapad. “In return for your cooperation, my organization will provide monetary compensation as well as inroads to a future alliance. We understand if you are hesitant about this mission. I can assure you that our agent wasn’t initially involved in anything illegal or dangerous, though I can make no such guarantees about his current situation. Ultimately, we need a neutral party to investigate the situation on Vorlath, and if you accept, we will owe your organization a debt.”

I ... had a feeling there was something you weren't telling us nu-friend Makao Ayoka replied, studying the datapad. But we wouldn't be proper skittermanders if we didn't help .... or proper Starfinders. So sure, I'm in. What is this ...... Vault of Vorlath?

"Vorlath is another planetoid within Preluria’s rings. It is governed by the Vorlath Mercenaries, a cutthroat company that hires themselves out to the highest bidder. They’re... less hospitable than we are here on Xys. The planetoid itself is nothing much. Mostly deserts, rocks, hovels, and terrible bars"

Buddy smiles to Makao as he speaks and he is nodding his head

"So nufriend Makao needs help? This is why we came here, no? " agrees with Ayoka

"When you say cutthroat company does you mean that laws do not work on that planetoid? Or simply that their direction is less noble than yours?"

"Both"

Makao gives you a final "Firiz was last seen at a seedy dive bar, The Crooked Doshko, it would probably be good if you created a cover story explaining why you’re looking for Firiz. Perhaps he owes you money, or he stole something from you. I’ll leave that decision to you. Probably best to avoid the mercenaries as much as possible as they may otherwise take an interest in what you are doing and stymie your progress - or worse - somehow tie you back to us and put you in danger"

"What can you tell us about this mercenary group...the Vorlath Mercenaries? Besides being mercenaries? Their leader, any other groups they might normally be in cahoots with? Possibly do they do only boot's on the ground mercenary work, or do they also do starship acquiring via attacking other ships? This planetoid doesn't sound like it has much to offer except possibly being a hive of scum and villainy? Also...can you tell us anything more about Firiz? Considering you very quickly stated he was not initially there to do anything illegal...or dangerous...it sounds like what he might have been there for might have went sideways, and you feel it might have went towards being one or both of those things. And while the Society doesn't mind sending their agents into possible dangerous situations--it is what we get paid the 'big' bucks--they usually don't want us to do anything that might besmirch the Society's reputation...unless it is to ultimately help the Society, or possibly our allies if necessary."

While saying all that last part...still mostly in one long breath....Joe keeps a watchful eye on nufriend Makao...
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Szama's masked visage doesn't give a very warm reception to this request, and her voice as she replies is laced with suspicion, "Hmm...so the past few days were all about showing us that you were decent enough people that we'd be willing to help you? And also maybe to throw anyone from Vorlath off the trail? Clever! Of course we'll help! That's what Skitter-finders do!"

“Vorlath Mercenaries? Most members of the company are worlanisi, a small, blueskinned species of humanoids that set up shop on Vorlath after volunteering for some sketchy genetic studies years ago. Preluria’s political situation creates near-constant demand for their work, so for the past 10 years, they’ve been recruiting other species into their ranks to help fill the demand for their services. They have a charming motto: pay up or get out.”

“With regards to Firiz, We started to worry a week after he failed to check in. Although it’s not uncommon for agents to go quiet for a while, they have several subtle ways to get a signal to us. None appeared. We contacted your First Seeker at that point. Had our agent reappeared before you arrived, this would just have been a pleasant holiday for you. Drift travel being what it is, plus your tour, allowed more time for Firiz to resurface, but there’s still no word from him. We fear the worst.”

"So yes Szama, a wonderful cultural exchange where you can see taht we are just a humble and friendly group of pacifists engaging in benevolent humanitarian interests - and not like many of the other factions in our region who are less nice"

Makao seems like he's mostly telling the truth, but you are pretty sure his eyes twitch a little at insisting the Brotherhood is some great space charity.

Interesting name for a bar, the Crooked Doshko. Is the owner or founder a Vesk?

And as far as I see it, a group of six colourful skitters aren't gonna be inconspicuous ..... soooo ... we're gonna have to plan this carefully.

"Unknown if vesk owned, but certainly vesk frequented"

"We have an unmarked and nondescript shuttle that can get you through the region without giving away that you came from here - this may help with whatever cover story you concoct"

*ponders, looks around to the other skitters* You guys got any ideas? All I got is my old Cult of the Devourer thing ... but that's probably not a good idea.

Squizzer has to try hard to avoid holding her nose, because something smells really fishy here, but she can't resist the call to her skitter-nature of someone requesting help. She nods in agreement.

Buddy nods his head.

"Ehhhh.... we could be investigating the Crooked Doshko for our Vesk patron to buy? Or we could be a band after giving a tour.... or.... we group into groups of three to build a skitter tower and pretend furry aliens with 18 arms?" throws some of his ideas around.

You may do wonder if Buddy was kidding with the last idea or not.

Joe listens patiently to what Makao says, noting that Makao is not telling exactly the truth on the fact the Brotherhood is a great space charity. Joe cares little on that though at the moment, maybe Szama or Ayoka might find it more intersting later.

"Okay....Makao. Can you tell us what Firiz was there for? At least in general terms? This might be important for us to figure out what happened when we get there, and how to maybe find him--or what is left. I would hope a mercenary company would use him as more as a chip to cash in vs. straight out murder...but you never know about these crazy mercenaries."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Hearing Ayoka's thought, "No offence Ayoka, from what some of my Starfinder friends who you helped out on that planet, you didn't make a convincing Cult of the Devourer when you were in the Cult of the Devourer. And that is with all the time you had there. I doubt that you could even get half of us to be even slightly convincing."

Hearing Buddy pipe in, Joe nods at first, then almost immediately gets sidetracked by his last comment. " While definitely a fun idea Buddy, I don't think the weird 18 arm, trench coat wearing not-a-skitter-tower inconspicuous duo just wouldn't work in this situation....though it is a GREAT idea in maybe another situation. So lets keep it for another job. Not ot be sidetracked....Buddy's idea on us going there as a Skitter force looking at something called the Crooked Doshko might be better...especially if we toss out that Firiz maybe stole something from us that we were transporting back to Vesk Prime? Something that the High Despot would want to have, and if we can't get it back, it will mean our hides, and likely the hides of whomever is in current ownership of said item?"

"He was there to check in on our business interests on the planet - nothing particularly interesting. Maybe something happened to him at the bar?"

Apparently, we lack dreamers to execute the idea of 18 arms aliens, so sad. So sad .... :P

Buddy listens to Joe's response and is a bit sad that his more boring solution was picked, but still, his idea was picked, it was exciting.

Then turning towards Makao, Buddy response

"Oh, ok. Business interests on the planet? Sounds harmless, it is good that your organization is so good and transparent to not use spies or assassins as that would have made our mission harder."

Buddy is ready to go

The unmarked shuttle proves up to the task of traveling anonymously to the Vault of Vorlath. The shuttle’s journey charts a roundabout route to make it harder to determine its exact origin point.

The Vorlath spaceport incorporates an amalgam of technologies from different eras and worlds in various stages of disrepair. The ship effortlessly passes through the checkpoints and docks without drawing any obvious attention.

You follow up Firiz’s last known coordinates point to the rowdy dive bar close to the spaceport - The Crooked Doshko. Between you all you recognize the graffiti on the building’s windowless outer walls as tags associated with local mercenary companies - a sure sign that this place is a regular hang for guns for hire. A bored worlanisi bouncer stands outside the bar. A flashing neon sign announces Show tonight - 20 credit cover charge. You can hear the heavy bass pounding through the wall and the occasional sounds of...breaking glass?

Joe looks at her relatively immaculate outfit...and decides on the trip there to rough it up a little....putting some...grease and probably asking Buddy for a wrestling match or 5....just to get the creases out of the outfit.

Disguise: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (13) + 0 = 13

Unless somebody has a better bonus than untrained +0....

Joe follows the skitter force to The Crooked Doshko. Seeing the typicalness if a seedy bar, she nods....probably best that they did try to blend in.

Hearing the breaking glass...she grimaces....yeah, this is going to be one of THOSE bars....

Ayoka is rather curious about the show, so she pays the cover charge - then wonders if it involves a lot of breaking glass.

Map up

You all pay up and head inside.

The sounds of blaring music, throaty singing, cheering, and jeering erupt from inside the bar, and the odor of smoke and stale alcohol spills out into the street.

A large bar top divides the room into two sections, with private booths on one side and open tables on the other. The floors are sticky with spilled drinks, and the air is hot and stifling in the windowless building. Most of the patrons gather around a stage in the back watching a performance. A vesk dressed in a sparkling, skintight bodysuit with vibrantly painted scales belts out a popular song. He performs a dance routine as he sings, and his choreographed moves are reminiscent of combat. Occasionally a patron throws an empty can or bottle onto the stage that the dancer crushes with his tail, showing off bulging muscles in the process. A few scattered patrons hunch over the bar or relax in the booths.

The bartender, a scarred female hobgoblin, offers a gruff greeting: “Buy a drink if you wanna stick around. We don’t do charity here.”

Signs on the backstage door and the first three doors to the west read “personnel only.” The northwestern door bears the universal symbol designating it as a restroom. The patrons are an eclectic mix of about a dozen different species. Most glance at you all, obviously taking stock of how combat-ready you seem to be. Quickly identifying you are off worlders, the patrons keep a cautious eye on you.

Fine Ayoka replies Whatcha got?

The muscular, intimidating-looking barkeep grunts "First rule is don't break anything, and second, pay your tab or else." she starts pouring out the first orders "Drinks range in price from 1 credit for barely drinkable swill to 20 credits for something decent, or up to 50 credits for a shot of something rare"

Buddy gets into a bar and looks at the performance. After being woken up by the gruff bartender he says

"We paid for entrance, it is not a charity! I've been to bars. There are mostly two models to charge money for a performance, either you sell tickets at the entrance or you force people to buy drinks. Eventually, the entrance fee covers one drink, and then it is followed up by nagging customers to buy more drinks. Which one is it here?" Buddy begins to take a stand over 1 credit drink.

Calling her bluff here, I don't mind buying a drink. But we are observed and how we behave may matter.

"See the big Vesk up there? He gets his performance fee. See the bar prices here? I get my performance fee too. You bought your drink, so now you drink it" she offers over a 1 credit drink you vaguely suspect is probably paint stripper by any other name "Your buddies might want to be doing the same"

Before entering the bar, Szama casts Charming Veneer on everyone. This will give everyone a +1 on Charisma-based checks for 10 minutes, and will also allow us to gather info (as the Diplomacy action) in only 10 minutes.

Szama visibly recoils as Buddy drinks the 1 cred swill. She sidles up past her skitter-friends and pulls out her cred stick. "Alright, I can't bear to watch my friend drink that grog. How are we gonna have a good time here if he's got a hole in his gut all night. So look, I'm gonna order a round of the drinkable stuff for all my friends here, and then I'm gonna take something special. And since I'm being so generous here and letting you ply your trade, you're gonna tell us where we can find a friend of ours who has something we're after. Sound good?"

So, I'm gonna spend 100 credits to buy each of my allies the 20 cred stuff, then buy a shot of the 50 cred stuff for me. Hoping actually giving the barkeep some decent business will soften her up a bit for us and she'll be willing to give us info on Firiz.

Diplomacy, CV: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 3 + 1 = 15

Joe cringes at the drink that Buddy gets...realizing she left her stomach pump in her other duffle bag....

"I agree Sz...here let me help you with that..."

Joe will put down the extra 150 credits to upgrade all 5 of their drinks all to the shot of something rare....since Szama bought hers.

"So...what does the Vesk do as a performance? I have heard some vesk poetry....and I would rather not again. Vesk music is decent, especially with enough alcohol in the system not to hear the scratching of metal over the slate...."

Have you ever heard Vesk opera? It's actually pretty good. Oh ... thanks as Szama beats her for paying for a decent drink.

Squizzer takes a moment to enjoy the experience of her drink. Fun!