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Each one of you gets a message to a briefing with Venture-Captain Arvin at Lorespire Complex. When you arrive at his office, the room is closed and a spherical robot is hovering in front of his doors displaying using one of his projectors.
"Please wait, Venture-Captain Arvin is busy at the moment."
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A young looking human woman arrives at the venture venture-captain office just to meet the hovering robot.
She's kinda tall and lanky for your average earthbound human a proof of her ancestors lifestyle in zero G environments, nevertheless she is comely enough to catch the attention of more than a couple of fellow agents.
She has very pale skin as if she have never been touched by sunlight, long -and messy- blonde hair and emerald green eyes and dresses herself neatly with a second skin armor under her casual clothes and carries a huge backpack with her filled with all sort of tools.
Despite her apparent dizziness as she toys around with her datapad she quickly recognizes Twila and Laanok.
"Hey guys! You were also called by Arvin? What a coincidence!" Greets and waves happily the Technomancer with childish glee.
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An android woman with pale skin and light violet electrical traces acknowledges the robot with a polite nod. She then adjusts the stylus holding her black hair in a bun atop her head.
She wears a set of professional clothing over Second Skin, with an AbadarCorp icon on the shoulder.
She speaks politely and with a professional tone "Hello...miss? I am Harmony-6, a pleasure."
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An olive-skinned android woman clad entirely in black has been leaning against the wall since about ten minutes before anyone else arrived. She was nearly late to her very first mission, so she made sure to avoid that mistake for her second. Unlike most androids, she has black tattoos in patterns of bones, decay, rust, and ruin nearly covering her glowing blue circuitry.
She gives a nod in previous teammates' direction. "Hey Mel. Laanok. Harmony-6: Twila-4." She addresses the newcomer through her typical hooded eyes and gestures to herself as she states her name. Sighing, she drones: "Hope this mission doesn't try to kill all the androids like the last one." It's hard to appreciate it when I'm fighting for my life. She knows better to give voice to her obsession with death; even her closest android friends are put off by it. (Of course, the tattoos kind of give it away.)
A green vesk with a spider on his shoulder enters the room. A bulky plasma rifle and doshko are clipped on his back. He carries a soda bottle of a fizzy red liquid.
” Hi Mel! Twila-4! I see you have some new friends.“
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A ysoki in dusty second skin armor scuttles in behind the vesk, claws rattling on the floor. He sets down a backpack almost as big as he is and perches on it. "Hi, all! I'm T|, but I'll answer to Tik. The dental click is a little tough for some folks. I don't think I've met any of you before." He looks up at the mechanic. "Huh...you seem a little less, ah, dramatic than the last brakim I worked with. That's good. So, anyone know what we're doing?"
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The game is on!
The doors to Venture-Captain Arvin’s private office slide quickly. The lashunta man jots down some quick notes on his datapad, and then he glances up and motions to sit down. Arvin seems tired, his clothing is crumpled and on his desk stands a pot of coffee that he uses to refil his cup.
"Welcome. It is good to see you, Naiaj ensured me that she will send me the best and brightest that she can spare." Arvin again looks at you and continues
"We have just finished compiling some intriguing news. The Society’s magical archive for divining potential new finds, the Communion Vaults, houses a perpetually sleeping Liavaran Dreamer named Whisperer of Solar Winds. The Dreamer rarely rouses from its torpor, but when it does, it spins interwoven dream stories that point us to promising finds. It awoke earlier this week and has given us an elegant story about a fractured sandstone tablet that could point the Society to a great treasure." As he speaks Lashunta offers a cup of coffee to anyone who expresses interest. The smell of coffee fills the room as Arvin says
"Unfortunately, the three fragments of the tablet appear to be in very different locales based on the tales we’ve recorded. Luckily, each of these locations appears to be within the Pact Worlds. It’s your job to track each piece down and report back here so we can get everything pieced together and figure this dream out. Your first destination is the machine-driven world of Aballon. Based on the details of the first dreamspun tale, you’re likely to be looking for an android in a less-than-reputable city. We’re sending you via shuttle to Towershadow, where you’ll have to figure out for yourselves what awaits. Time is of the essence, as things can change quite quickly. Any questions before you depart?"
"And before you ask, I know that some of you came back from rather deadly mission that took its tall. Every mission pose a risk, this is the business that we work in. Yet I hope this task will be easier than the last."
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"A Liavaran dreamer... How intriguing! Wow! This mission already has very mystical air and... I love Aballom! It has been quite some time since I visited it!" comments the Technomancer as she takes a sip of the coffee, she's obviously happy to know that this mission won't involve as much shooting and blasting as her previous one.
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Twila-4 accepts a mug of coffee, inhaling its aroma without drinking as she scans the information shared via datapad.
Aballon. So likely no death. Sigh. Well, not every step on the road is nirvana. And we're supposed to find one unlawful anacite or android in a rough city? Quickly? Exercise in futility. Geez.
Not even bothering to make eye contact, Twila-4 asks in a bored voice: "If you were leading this mission, how would you go about finding them? Any tips to share, since speed is so necessary?"
Aballon is a drab gray world with craters, deserts, and mountains. When facing the sun, it is blasted by powerful solar winds, while parts facing away from the sun are covered in ice.
History
A race is known only as the First Ones visited Aballon millennia before the Gap and built a massive robotic population to collect the planet's resources. After this race left Aballon, the population evolved and self-replicated into a standalone ecosystem, complete with animal-like robotic predators and prey, and anacites, a sentient race that developed its own complex society.
You also know that Epoch was created on Aballon. Epoch is one of three deities alongisde with Casandalle and Brigh that are Triune. Triune gifted drift engine technology to mortals.
Arvin nods his head and begins to swipe some information on his datapad. Finally, with one swift movement, he throws the information in the air which now are projected in the room in the shape of 3d like holograms.
"Look. We are working with magically induced dreams. Take a look at those images."
He points to some of the pictures. A city-like picture consists of a tower with plenty of detailed elements but a big part of that image is completely blurred.
The next picture presents an artificial arm holding a sandstone tablet. There are other pictures with odd perspectives and reversed colors.
"Due to data analysis we know that the subject has the sandstone tablet. It is highly likely that this artifact was discovered recently. It most likely wasn't found on Aballon which means that it had to be brought there. The android or anacite either brought it to Aballon with them or bought it. That should give you some leads to follow after."
Arvin pauses a moment and takes a sip of his coffee
"Aballon is a planet known for its machines and robotic inhabitants. It’s very difficult for biological life to survive with nonexistent atmosphere and other dangerous environs. Thankfully, its primary inhabitants, a machine race known as the anacites, have built self-contained megaplex cities. One of these megaplex cities, known as Striving, houses your destination region of Towershadow. As there is artificial atmosphere within the megaplex, you shouldn’t need anything more than your armor and whatever tools you already have."
He stands up from behind his desk
"Aballon exports and imports plenty of goods and have offices of every major corporation there. There is nothing of importance happening that might have an impact on your mission. Good luck Starfinders!"
Megaplex
After the briefing, you all head towards the docks, where at platform 63 waits a shuttle to Aballon. The shuttle is operated by sentient robots which try to make the journey pleasant.
After a few days, the shuttle reaches a blasted wasteland of a planet that—despite its dark and barren appearance—quickly shows itself to be covered in glittering metal cities under the full brightness of the Pact World’s sun. The shuttle goes through a set of blast doors into a city built inside and around what was clearly once a massive silver tower.
After finding yourself accommodation you meet in a recommended bar for newcomers to Aballon to begin your search for the android.
The bar is fully automated with an AI taking orders and drinks being delivered to the tables using a similar overhead crane.
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The young Technomancer was very happy of visiting Aballon, while it don't have the most beautiful landscapes in comparison with Triaxus or Castrovel the blonde human can't help but being amazed by it's robotic inhabitants, Anacites are however fully sentient beings and she knew that attempting to tinker with them isn't polite...
"Woah, it's amazing to be here, I rarely get to visit Aballon." says the blonde as she turns her head incessantly at every technological curiosity.
Once in the Bar however he gets a little more serious and uses her datapad to access the local infosphere and look for any useful piece of data.
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"Thank you, Venture-Captain. We will strive to not disappoint" to the rest of the crew she adds "See you all on the shuttle."
As the shuttle enters, she can't help but stare at the sights "It is quite the city...I agree. And all of the corporations here. Perhaps I should consider relocating eventually. Probably innumerable opportunities for advancement." She basically gapes at all of the various office buildings before regaining her composure.
At the bar, she gets to business and starts asking around.
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Sighing, Twila-4 pulls up her datapad and begins browsing. Guess I'd better try to look for the target. Not like they'll be easy to find. Pixel in a data cache. She tries to pull up any information about the market (both legitimate and otherwise) for goods from antiquity and the organizations and individuals associated with that.
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Laanok prepares to empty his credstick as he says to Harmony-6 ” Do you think some people around here will provide more info if they get a little something to drink afterwards ?“
He types something in a kiosk and sits down at the bar. After he gets the drinks he hands them to her, slowly starting to regret every second.
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Tik after taking a drink hit the streets. Fortunately, sentient robots for the most part have Eidetic Memory and they were able to help the Ysoki find the most likely location of the dream.
Harmony-6 and Laanok join their efforts to ask around the bars and art collectors for anyone who might have a sandstone tablet and possibly contacted them for an offer. They were able to get a description of a male Android.
At the same time Mel, Twila-4 and Scruffy analyzed the available data sources, those open to everyone and those not secured enough. They ended up with a shortlist of androids accused of various misdoings.
When you met together the most likely target is Lerecti.
It all takes you a couple of hours during which you experience a very quick sunset and sunrise. You might get amazed by the huge temperature difference between the day and the night times on Aballon. The lack of any atmosphere and minimal protections from the city keep your environmental seals busy whenever you are outside.
As you depart to meet your target, once again you might be amazed by how organized Aballon is. Automated traffic and garbage collection make everything looks clean and working as one organism.
The android recently fled to the area following charges of murder on Verces. You find the androgynous android, who garbs themselves in workers’ clothes, spending their time near a convenience store.
The Android sees you approaching and looks uneasy
"Are you Bogdin's thugs? I am protected by Aballon law until the trial takes place."
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Mel stays quiet as she isn't too skilled using words to get what she wants from others...
I'm fact it wouldn't be a surprise if one of her speeches just scared the android.
"Hey Harmony, Twila I think you should talk to they, they look rather wary of us... Who..? True, perhaps me and Laanok look rather scary." comments Mel in hushed voice to her fellow agents as she is near to useless in this situation, not to mention that the android in question has charges of murder so it may be dangerous, just maybe.
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"Good call on the drinks, Laanok. Always helps to loosen up tongues." wink
To Mel: "Sure thing, I'll see what I can do."
"Lerecti, was it? I'm Harmony-6." she keeps her hands up, palms open "Nothing funny going on, certainly no one named Bogdin here, anyway. To get straight to business, we're looking for something, as my friends here has said, a tablet. Know anything about it?"
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Twila-4 would prefer to surround this guy so he can't bolt, but is aware that, as twitchy as he already is, he'll be *much* less cooperative if she makes such an obvious tactical move. Instead, she splits the difference, swinging a bit wide and stopping about 15 feet in front of him. She gives him a lazy wave and drones: "Yeah, we don't want to give you trouble." With an indifferent air, her bored gaze drifts over him for a few seconds before shifting to the surroundings, analyzing them for tactical advantages. If he tries to run, she'll be ready.
Lerecti looks at the blonde human who was speaking with her allies and shifts uneasy. Then he shifts his attention to Twila-4 and Tik still uncertain about their motives. But finally, he is a bit soothed diplomatic attempts of Harmony-6.
"You mean the artifact? It’s somewhere safe, although I can’t really get it right now while I wait for my trial." says Lerecti calming a bit down. His eyes are looking now at you and not at every corner of the alley.
"Although, I took the tablet hoping that it will be worth something if I needed money. You seemed armed and capable of handling delicate situations. I can give you the tablet if you help me get some of the evidence that I gathered for my trial. I was framed for murder on my homeworld, Verces, for finding out some scumbag of a club owner was engaging in android trafficking. Had to come here to get a proper trial from the anacites."
He moves a bit closer to Harmony-6 and speaks in a hushed voice
"I gathered evidence for my trial to prove my innocence, but it was stolen by some thugs. The evidence is on a datapad with a red sticker that some verthani thug took to the slums. I was able to locate them..."
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So they are innocent, apparently, that's a relief for the Technomancer, and as a follower of Triune android slavery or Trafficking is just gross.
"Mmmm... Well that makes a lot of sense, Anacites are kinda objectives in this sort of situations... Sorry about being cautious, I mean... A charge of murder sounds a little scary." Comments the blonde who is no longer hiding behind Laanok.
"I'm Mel by the way!" introduced herself the human with a now cheerful demeanor.
Lerecti nods to Mel
"Nice to meet you Mel, my name is Lerecti. I understand your cautiousness, it is a fine quality if you ask me." says the android while his blue circuits do not light so bright.
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He seems sincere, but may be just trying to get rid of us.
After he's had a chance to answer Tik's question, Twila-4 asks, in her typical bored tone: "What's a good way to get ahold of you, once we get your evidence?" She deliberately doesn't give him her name, as she's not yet convinced that he's sincere. That story's just too good to be true. ... Isn't it? Maybe I spent too much time with the Free Captains. I'm seeing opportunistic scumbags everywhere.
The android listens to the questions and says
"Look, the friend of mine who had the evidence was mugged by some odd lizard and a Verthani. When I tried to find them I saw that there were at least 3 aliens there, but it is hard to say. They are armed and can be dangerous, I can send you their location on the map. I will go and fetch the artifact and wait for you in a coffee shop 15 minutes away from that place. " says the Android
He looks at your faces. Harmony-6 believes that he is telling the truth.
"I am awaiting trial on Aballon, as such I can't leave the planet. I escaped from Verces here to seek justice. The bottom line is, I need my evidence."
You receive two geo-locations, one of them points to what could be called a slum part of Towershadows, while the other points to a coffeehouse near a busier street.
You learn that Lerecti indeed has an open case with regards to murder that took place on Verces. You also find that Lerecti indeed reported about Android Trafficking that was supposed to take place in one of the Verces clubs owned by Karelite Bogdin.
The murder took place a week after the android reported the crime.
Lerecti’s information leads the PCs to a grungy section of Towershadow’s interior slums. The ground here is a grimy mix of soot and dirt, created from the runoff of various industries on Aballon and entirely unnatural to the normally sterile planet. The buildings in this particular area are abandoned, with doors hanging open and interiors ransacked by gangsters and vagrants.
The ikeshti and her two Verthani partners have been waiting in this area, biding their time and lying low.
THe ikeshti smiles widely, her long tongue sticking out of her mouth
"So, you must be Lerecti friends. Such a funny-looking bunch. You've made a great mistake..."
As she reaches for her weapon...
Turn Tracker - Round 1 (Bolded can go)
Harmony-6
Merthinett
Scruffy
Tik
Mel
Verthani Blue
Verthani Orange
Twila-4
Laanok
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"Funny looking..? I thought we look awesome with our armors and gear! How rude, oh well let's just do this quickly, won't you like to surrender now? I mean... Come on just look at the odds, our friend here is the deadliest Vesk Soldier in the galaxy and these kind androids can pretty much tear you apart if given the chance, not to mention my other companions' talents" Half threatened Mel trying to confuse or scare their enemies, she isn't scary at all but if bloodshed can be avoided she'd be more than happy.
Merthinett moves to the side and takes out her rifle. She finds cover behind a rock and shoots Laanok
"Deadliest Vesk soldier? Let me see if this is true."
The bullet flies way above your head, you hear in the distance it colliding with one of the buildings.
Turn Tracker - Round 1 (Bolded can go)
Harmony-6
Merthinett
Scruffy
Tik
Mel
Verthani Blue
Verthani Orange
Twila-4
Laanok
”I’m deadlier than you’ll ever be.“ he says to the ikeshti as he draws his plasma rifle and hides behind some rubble, laughing to himself.
Scruffy sends his droid forwards which try to stab Merthinett, and due to ikeshti being flat-footed hits.
Tik reaches out for his gun and is able to surprise one of the thugs with well-aimed shoot.
Verthani in blue hat moves forwards and smacks the droid with his cestus battleglove
The Droid is knocked on the torso and flips to the side. Scruffy loose the connection to it.
The other Verthani steps forwards and shoots Tik
But the shot miss.
Turn Tracker - Round 1 (Bolded can go)
Harmony-6 - for Round 2
Merthinett -6
Scruffy
Scruffy drone (fallen in combat - inactive)
Tik
Verthani Blue -3
Verthani Orange
Twila-4
Laanok
Mel