SFS Salvation's End and After (Inactive)

Game Master therealthom

Idir nods at Kuozar's telepathic words.

:: I agree...the safest place to be is with your herd. ::

"Lead the way, Thundergun!" he says aloud.

And THundergun leads with a good observation point to shobhad and other non-joros to talk around!

The party walks down the road through the steelworks. At the end is an open area surrounded by piles of scrap metal. The shobhad Relton feeds a bowed sheet of steel into a press and throws a lever that slowly lowers the upper platen. As the press closes, the shobhad looks back over her shoulder.

"What are you doing here?"

We're exploring this place. Are you a clone too? If so, why not like Joro?

Relton frowns, a menacing expression on a creature with such large lower canines, or tusks. "Of course I'm a clone. Why aren't you a Joro?"

I'm not Joro because I'm not a clone. It looks logical, doesn't it? Heh... I'll ask another question. Why are there so many clones of Joro here?

Relton reverses the lever and the press opens to reveal a now-flat sheet. With a grunt, she lifts the sheet out of the press and walks it to a stack of similar sheets. After depositing it on the top and squaring its edges with the stack she continues her side of the conversation.

"Not a clone? We're all clones. You're just the first one with that particular delusion."

Then she walks back to the pile of scrap and squats down. "Who knows why there are so many Joros. I don't." She turns away to face the scrap, selects a large piece. Inhaling deeply and grunting again, she pulls the piece from the pile. This piece is large, heavy, and she staggers back toward the press.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Leaving Thundergun to converse with the Relton, Stell points out the hut-like structures See perception spoiler. "This makes me think there are four kinds of clones." She videos each distinct hut for her report.

Kuozar chuckles and lights another cigar.

Idir grimaces a bit at the blunt conversation with Relton, turning away to follow Stell.

"Now I'm curious...do you think these are just art pieces or something more?" he asks quietly.

"I suspect they are scale models of the buildings for the different clones. I don't know. More pieces to the puzzle."

There's a crash when Relton drops the scrap unto the press. She throws the lever to flatten this new batch.

"I think you're on to something Miss Z-Lin...and what it would imply seems to be that something went wrong at some point, leading to the population of Joros overwhelming all others..."

Relton pulls the now-flat sheet out of the press and staggers it over to the stack. Then she returns to the scrap pile. The piece she selects next is too heavy to lift and she drags it over to the press.

It probably is. Well, shall we move on?
As a player, I have no idea what else we can want from Relton.

Thundergun not yet approaches to Relton, having some awareness, and casually watches the process for a few moments giving Kuozar a chance to smoke and Stell to think also.

But soon he finds resolve to come and ask:
- Khm. Relton? I am Thundergun. We are not Joros. So you came here from outside right? Do you like it here? Noticed any fun around?

TG immidiately things he speaks nonsense but decides to wait for answers...

Idir watches to see how Relton will react. The model gave him a suspicion Relton would rebuff Thundergun's attempt at friendliness and assert being a clone herself, but he knew he'd been wrong about things in the past...

Thundergun not yet approaches to Relton, having some awareness, and casually watches the process for a few moments giving Kuozar a chance to smoke and Stell to think also.

But soon he finds resolve to come and ask:
- Khm. Relton? I am Thundergun. We are not Joros. So you came here from outside right? Do you like it here? Noticed any fun around?

TG immidiately things he speaks nonsense but decides to wait for answers...

I realize that I didn't include a description of Relton. If you don't know, a shobhad is 8' of muscle. Greyish to reddish skin, four arms and tusk-like lower canines. They are famed as warriors throughout the Pact Worlds.

The shobhad cocks her head at Thundergun, leans the scrap against the press, and offers a hand. " Relton." She confirms. "Nice to meet you, Thundergun. You look like a strong chap. How about a hand lifting this unto the press?"

Let me know if you help. In any event ...

With the scrap on the press, Relton pulls the lever and answers Thundergun's questions. " No. I'm not from outside. We're all born here in the vault. It's not a bad place. The weather's nice and it looks pretty, but some of us aren't as -- popular as others. They used to let me play whizdisk, but no one asks any more. I was just too good, better than all the Joros. Now I just work and hang out with the other non-Joros at Bothumbs Up.
You're new here, but you'll see."

When Relton asks for help with the metal, gestures to TG to help. The group may need allies and helping those in needs could provide some.

Hearing Relton's respons, Stell turns to Idir and says, "You may be right about the Joros taking over. Could be a form of prejudice that might naturally occur in a situation like this. I think it's natural for people to tend to trust others of their own kind and distrust those who are significantly different."

-awow, what is this whizdisk? And also how you find size of local houses and infostructure? And were here any Joros who departed away? And how it happens?

Seems like TG finds a close soul (or body) who might understands his issues.
The technomancer although bows to Idir as his theory about behevior seems right.

"Whizdisk is the Joros' favorite sport. I like it too -- or did. You throw the disk down the field while the other team tries to stop you by knocking you out. By pulling a flag off your belt."

When Relton asks for help with the metal, gestures to TG to help. The group may need allies and helping those in needs could provide some.

Hearing Relton's respons, Stell turns to Idir and says, "You may be right about the Joros taking over. Could be a form of prejudice that might naturally occur in a situation like this. I think it's natural for people to tend to trust others of their own kind and distrust those who are significantly different."

Idir strokes his chin a bit.

"Well, 'taking over' may be putting it a bit too strongly. I'm not suggesting active malice on the part of the Joros, merely that some sort of malfunction occurred with the vault's cloning equipment and instead of a mixed population of clones where the different species have parity, it stopped producing the other species but continued producing Joros uninterrupted, and so they became the dominant group by default."

He listens to Relton's story and frowns.

"I can empathize with your situation, Relton. Being the only one of your kind in a society that's very different from you can be quite stressful, even before the added issue of prejudice compounds that stress."

"But now there's eight of us. Maybe you'll join the other non-Joros at BothumbsUp tonight." Relton replies.

She steps to a pile of tools on a shobhad sized bench and, with clicks, clanks, and a single crash, rummages around for a few moments. Silence when she's finished, and she turns to Thundergun with a pair of gloves in her hand.

"You seem okay, and these don't fit me. Maybe you can use them." She holds the gloves out to you.

That's probably all you can do with Relton right now. Unless you've more questions for her.

Then to the nuar clone!

Stell is ready to move on.

SKETCH THAT KITSCH is a glass-walled building housing the community art studio, where Artist Joro leads classes in various media. Caricatures and cartoon animal drawings fill most of the wall space, each one labeled with
pun titles.
A remote corner of the studio serves as the workspace of Annalise, a petite female nuar who wears a floppy hat between her horns and surrounds herself with a mishmash of works-in-progress. She currently focuses on her artwork, a portfolio of abstract paintings and absurdist sketches that are daring and provocative when compared to the tacky, commercialistic Joro
art.

Hey, baby. Gorgeous paintings, says Kuozar, looking over her shoulder but not invading her personal space. And then he adds telepathically and winks conspiratorially, making it clear that he specifically does not say it out loud so as not to offend other clones if they happen to be around, :: It looks much more interesting than what Joro is drawing here ::

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

:: For once we're in agreement, Kuozar. At least this art is attempting to say something! When some of these works are completed I daresay they'd be welcome additions to any art museum on Absalom Station :: Idir replies mentally.

"At the very least introduce yourself!" he says aloud. He makes a little bow. "Idir of the Herd Fernas, of this exploratory huddle of the Starfinder Society, at your service, Miss...?"

The nuar starts. "OH! You're the new clones I've heard about. And a nuar! It's very nice to meet you.
"I'm Annalise. Are you here for a lesson, or are you just exploring the Vault. "

She tips Kuozar a wink.

- I am also impressed. By a work and appearence. I am Thundergun and it is true we a newbies here. So, ask questions as children should. I would say we are exploring, though interested in some lessons surely!

TG waves enthusiastically and observe the workplace. So far this specie seems not completely adequate for the vault.

Annalise seems pleased that you might like lessons. "Oh do try it? There are easels in that corner, small canvases and paints in those cupboards. If you like something more three dimensional there are clay and potters wheels in the next room. "

Stell hangs back, letting the others do the interacting. She sets her camera to record but leaves it resting on her chest pointed at the Annalise and Kuozar.

And why not? Let me try to make something out of clay. Especially if you help me.

"I'm more of a visual artist, but I can show you some basics. You can get a real lesson from Ceramicist Joro later. Give me just a few seconds."

She returns her attention to her easel and spends about 5 minutes brushing and daubing paint on her canvas. She sighs in satisfaction and begins cleaning her brushes, although it's not apparent why it was important to aid that bit of paint now.

When the brushes are clean she says, "All right pottery."

She leads the way next door. After she pulls on a smock, clay, water, and wheels take up her attention. She explains the basics while shaping a small open pot. Then she turns you loose.

Profession (artist) or Diplomacy checks might be in line here.

Idir takes a closer look at Annalise's work, his eyestalks shifting to different positions to capture all the angles.

"I must say, it is the small touches that can make all the difference in a piece of art. Your talent stands out, but your skill takes it to the next level!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Kalanzar grunts and tries... Profession (artist): 1d20 ⇒ 11

Annalise gently tries to correct Kuozar's technique, but the clay spins out of control and the pot collapses in a twist. She pats his wrist, and says ,"It can be tricky. Please come back and try again some time soon."

Idir's carefully couched flattery is favorably received however. She laughs and explainst what she was trying to do. She ends by inviting all of you to BothumbsUp . "... All the non-Joros go there in the evening."

"That would be delightful! Thank you, Annalise!" Idir says warmly.

Thundergun is not a person to create with hands. Unless writing a code. Se he avoids clapotting and fully emersed into helmet dimension with offline data, and also continue checking local infostructure for any signal of possible server location.

/trwcert admin.strnet

You've been to 4 locations. Bothumbs Up is unlocked. Where to next ?

Are there any other places we might visit first before the bar? I'm one of those guys who needs to do all the sidequests available before advancing the plot, just in case we get locked out of it later...

Stell documents Thundergun's attempt at art for the record. As the group starts to leave, she asks him, "What do you want in exchange for me accidently deleting that last part of the video?" She winks in case he thinks she is seriously trying to blackmail him. Then she adds, "That looked difficult. If it's anything like learning to play the violin, it takes a lot of practice."

According to the list of places to explore posted in the Maps,. etc. link, we could also visit the hospital and a health food smoothie bar.

Bah, I'm kind of an artist myself. Look how perfect this baby is! Kuozar gently runs his hand over his ship's artillery blaster, converted by the hand of an unquestionably talented mechanic into a powerful hand cannon. Isn't this a damn piece of bloody art?

Any other place .)

Anyone for the smoothie bar? If we hit that then the hospital we have time for any samples we try to settle before going for drinks at Bothumbs Up!

Don't forget the Whizdisk stadium! That sport is better than the world cup, the world series and world war 2 all rolled into one!

The technomancer familiarised with arts and drawings within half minute without large emotions, but producing some guttering sounds.

After consideration TG informs he is interested in visiting Wizdisk. Althoug smoothie bar first sounds amazing!

Don't forget the Whizdisk stadium! That sport is better than the world cup, the world series and world war 2 all rolled into one!

*C-3P0 voice* That isn't very reassuring.

Hearing Thundergun express interest in getting smoothies and then seeing the Whizdisk stadium, Idir defers to him.

"Capital idea, Thundergun! A cold, refreshing drink would be the perfect thing to enjoy while taking in a sporting event...nice and safe in the stands."

YO GURT TO TRY THIS! is a frozen yogurt, smoothie, and healthy beverage restaurant and a social hub among the Joros. About a dozen Joros gossip about local happenings. These tidbits of information include complaints about the delays in shipments of new board games to Board Meeting after Forklift Joro sprained their wrist at the factory, and the drama spurred by Electrician Joro putting up a garish animatronic Bunny Ears display on their front lawn in a neighborhood of mostly Thumbs-Up fans.

The Joros immediately identify the PCs as newcomers and rush them with the same initial curiosity and enthusiasm demonstrated by Roofer Joro but quickly tire of the conversation unless the PCs can furnish rumors about other Joros. A lashunta stands out from the rest of the staff.