Dot when chosen.
The six of you have been summoned by Chiskisk, a host shirren member of the Forum (an elected body of Starfinders who assist in coordinating the Society's efforts). You are escorted to a well-appointed conference room a few minutes ahead of the meeting time; the shirren has not yet arrived.
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Amy was the first there. She was a shortish human female with long bluish hair wearing what looked like a yellow 'battle bikini', boots, and her sidearm.
She found a quiet corner, well out of the way, pulled out a datapad and began to read the magazine article on it - something to do with muons, g-2, and the possible implications to physics and cosmology
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An android with a plain, stoic expression and wrapped in a dark cloak enters the room. He looks back and forth at the empty chairs in the room, noting that most of the agents have not arrived.
Approaching the lone woman in the room and, noting her reading material, he asks Hi! Are you the one dispensing of the mission briefing today? It looks like it might be about a physics experiment, thought it looks like quite an old one, with well-established results!
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The next being who enters the room appears to be a vesk at first glance. Scaled, reptilian, with a powerful build and carrying a doshko and impact cannon.
But he'd be the biggest vesk you've ever seen, standing 10' tall at the shoulder with a flexible neck supporting his frilled head adding another couple feet and his wings protruding just as high. And those wings are not cybernetic attachments, they are actually a natural part of his body, as is the tail behind him.
Between those differences and his color which is a gold with a distinct red undertone, it is obvious he is no vesk but rather a dragonkin.
He makes no comment as he enters the room, just waiting for the woman who follows him.
The woman for whom Sturmvanger is waiting enters wordlessly, followed by a rather harried-looking host shirren. Their antennae bob rhythmically as they move to take a seat at the head of the table.
"Welcome, colleagues. I am Chiskisk, of the Starfinder Forum. As you know, our Society has been quite efficacious of late. The acts of brave agents like yourselves have made the Starfinders once-again respected and known throughout Near Space and even in some areas of the Vast. We have been quick to capitalize on these new opportunities. Recently, the Society has reached out to nearly a dozen new civilizations with which we have mutual interests. At this moment, the Lorespire Complex is brimming with ambassadors and dignitaries from many worlds--" Their antennae droop. "--and probably also spies from there, as well.
"I had the honor to conclude preliminary negotiations with one such ambassador. They are about to sign an exclusive exploration and trade treaty with the Starfinder Society, largely based on our recent exploits. However...." They pause awkwardly, then stand and move to an expansive window that overlooks the Lorespire campus.
"The delegate has requested a recess in negotiations to explore Absalom Station before signing the agreement. Of course, I granted them freedom of the station, as long as they accepted an escort of local Starfinder agents to see to their every need." The shirren turns back to face the conference table. "That 'escort,' of course, is you."
Chiskisk slides a data disk across the table. "Here is the dossier on the visiting dignitary you’ll be escorting. Find out what they’re interested in seeing, and take them there. Be gracious hosts, entertaining tour guides, bodyguards, or social planners, as the dignitary requires. It should go without saying that this emissary’s safety and security are paramount, as is their continued goodwill toward the Society. If you do a good job, we might just secure the opportunity to explore a new world. Any questions?”"
"You will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses for the dignitary and yourselves: meals, transportation, tickets to desired social events. Please, no gifts, though--not for them, and especially not for yourselves."
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Amy had looked a little disappointed when reading the dossier. She had hoped it was a representative from that world of colourful ponies she had visited on an earlier mission. It had the original name of P0N-3 but was now named Equis.
She quickly hid her disappointment and started some infosphere searches on the delegate's home world, curious about what sort of 'disaster' the homeworld had endured.
Is there anything you have amanged to ascertain from the delegate about likes and dislikes? Proper forms of address? Personal pronouns? That sort of thing?
The shirren starts at Darkrunner-42's question. "No...and yes! Absalom Station is a safe place, but this visitor is coming from a planet that hasn't had a lot of contact with the Pact Worlds. Let them see anything they want to, but make sure that they know what they're getting into." Chiskisk clicks their mandibles together. "Tchk! I forgot--the delegate identifies as female, and prefers female pronouns. Address her as Guardian unless or until she tells you otherwise. She's been courteous enough, but difficult to read. Gava, she's from a damai colony, not Daimalko itself."
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A moderately tall, but thin enough she looks disproportionate follows Sturmvanger into the room. She seems deeply interested in her datapad and fails to notice any thing else going on around her. Anyone standing close enough to slicked back black-haired woman can hear her muttering things about the body mass of a dragonkin, scale piercing rounds, checking the preliminary results of her cell cultures and maybe having to test how effectively Strum's body could fight off a retrovirus. As she focuses, occasionally her thin forked tongue flicks out, but her slit pupiled-eyes never seem to blink.
She takes a seat absentmindedly and seems to miss most of the mission briefing. At a particularly inopportune moment she gives an exclaim of "ARGH! I guess I just need to try it in person!" With a small huff she puts the data pad away and looks up for a moment. Taking in the setting and the room she pauses and then squints at Strumvanger.
Looking over at the rest of the table, Seggas's face lights up at the sight of the other woman in the room. "AMY!? My it's been... what feels like forever! How have you been? Did that beta fish tail fin feathering finally wear off? I've got an entire series of Equis series of skin pigmentations I want to try!"
She then finally gives Ziggy a small sheepish smile and glances through the dossier instead.
"We're helping show Guardian Shrani around the station? I take it that even offering genetic experimentation is okay? I could let her experience what it's like to have a third eye or see infrared for a little while..."
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Amy has to smile when Seggas greets her Fine thank you .. still exploring the mysteries of the Cosmos - and I notice you didn't mention elephant trunks this time. Did you finally find someone to test that on?
And yes ... it did ... thank goodness she continued with a sigh Kept slowing me down in the water. I think there was too much bird DNA in the mix ..... but then I'm a cosmologist not a geneticist
And it's nice to see you again too she concluded shyly.
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Seggas gives Amy a wide smile, her longer-and-spikier-than-normal incisors on full display. "Of course you'd still be exploring the cosmos!" She gets a little bashful at the mention of an elephant trunk. "Oh, I... uh... well, it was getting to the end of its shelf-life and ... well... there was this awkward social situation... so I kinda used it on... myself."
Seggas nods at the mention of the feathering effect being too strong and pops a quick note on her data pad.
She gives a few blinks as she gets distracted by Darkrunner, before extending a hand an in full imperious bluster introduces herself. "Seggas Yakan, DVM, DMD. You can call me Dr. Yakan or Mistress Seggas if you're feeling forward. And yes I have been able to program a small computer virus that does a similar thing to my retroviruses. It'd take me a little longer to mix up some skin pigmentation changing ones like the ones I have here, but I could if you want to try it. You'd have to sign a waiver first though."
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Seggas grins what might be called a wicked grin by anyone with eyes and gives Darkrunner a wink. "Sadly I can only apply one at a time. They're temporary but modifies the entire coloration of the dermis and not just a spot... Unless you're an assimar, bloody celestial resistances." She sneaks a bit closer to Amy as she continues, "But as for colorations, I've got pink, blue, purple, cerulean, lavender, rose, black, yellow, chartruse, burgandy and creamsicle..."
Once she gets close enough, Seggas lashes out with a hypo spray and tries to land it on Amy's exposed skin.
However her evil plan is thwarted by Strunvanger gently catching and swatting the spray out of her hands. She frowns at the big dragonkin and sulks for a moment. "Guess I'll have to show you on myself then
..." She picks up the spray and injects it into her own arm. After a few beats a light blue color starts to emminate from the injection spot rapidly spreading to cover her whole body in a matter of minutes. "Problem with this is threefold. A) it's pointless, as I've already tested these on myself extensively, B) it affects my whole skin but due to my infernal resistances it's short lived, and finally C) it causes me to molt which just ITCHES!"
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The dragonkin nods to each person in turn, his big head bobbing at the end of his serpentine neck. His eyes widen as Seggas' previous experimentation and methods become more evident and he focuses on her.
"Remember what we discussed. 'Only with permission with friends,'" he says as the hypo spray goes flying.
"We don't want you getting a reputation for being 'mad' do we?"
It's clear that they have some kind of deep connection but don't seem to know each other well.
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Seggas flexes her hand that had been holding her hypo spray, it's definitely not hurt but she seems to be exercising some deep emotions. She takes a few deep breathes. A few counts later the tension eases out of her shoulders and she gives Amy an apologetic look and then faces Strumvanger. "You're right. Only on friends with consent. I almost crossed that line again. 'I'm not a mad scientist so I shouldn't act like one.' Thank-you for stopping me."
She then gives a small twitch and furiously scratches the tips of her fingers as a clean, single layer of skin starts to peel up. "Dman snake-demon ancestors! This itches!"
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The dragonkin continues to have a stern look on his face but pats Seggas on the shoulder proudly, his hand covering much of her upper arm, as well.
Chiskisk watches the byplay for a few moments before clicking their mandibles together again. "Tchk! It would be undiplomatic to keep the delegate waiting. I invited someone else to join the team, though, and I suppose we should give them another minute or two. Were there any other questions?"
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Seggas gives a pause as Sturmvanger places a giant hand on her shoulder. She seems to contemplate something and then gives a nod. She stares back up at the big dragonkin and her face contorting as she once again seems to focus on him REALLLLLYY hard.
<.... Also I like th sound of Bonded. Please keep calling me that! Dr. Seggas is for strangers, patients, or people I don't like.>
Seggas then gives Amy a slightly puzzled look for a moment as she sidles away some, before the light of understanding blinks on. "I applied to a dragonkin bonding program. Sounded like a great way to get a second, reliable test subject other than myself... Also, I, uhhh, wanted someone I could trust to make sure I didn't give into the siren call of 'Mad.' I'm NOT going to become some simple tiefling stereotype of the crazed evil scientist!"
"So, this is Sturmvanger. We just recently met and went through the bonding ceremony, but he's been really kind and understanding so far... though he has yet to sign experimentation release forms."
She pauses for a second and then puzzles, "As for why he chose me... he hasn't said. Wait why did you choose me?" She gives him an inquiring look as she furiously scratches at the snakeskin like layer of skin peeling up her forearms.
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A tall dark haired kasatha wearing what appears to be armored chef whites jogs into the room holding a covered tray in two hands. [b]"Sorry, don't know why I though I had time to pop something in the oven before the meeting. New stuff always takes more time then I think it will, but hey my poor time management is your gain!" A third hand pops the lid off of the tray revealing a couple dozen steaming buns, "I skimmed the dossier on the way over, don't worry I know all about hospitality. Please help yourselves, but maybe leave a few for our guest."
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Sturmvanger opens his mouth to answer the question then looks around at the gathered group awkwardly. His mouth snaps closed and his neck, shoulders and wings droop.
"I had my reasons," he answers out loud.
<I lost my first partner in my first mission for the Pathfinders. I was *sad* and in *pain.* I thought I should suffer. You seemed dangerous so I thought perhaps I would die, too with you as my *Bonded*.>
<But I already see that I was wrong. You are dangerous and reckless but not cruel. We can make each other better. Perhaps I will still die while *Bonded* to you but now I don't want to.>
Only a few moments pass as Sturmvanger stares down into Seggas eyes.
His eyes then focus on the newcomer and he quickly takes two of the buns off the tray, handing one to his partner before placing the other almost delicately in his mouth. He chews thoughtfully before his eyes widen.
"Very tasty," he compliments the chef before turning to their Host host.
"No further questions. I'm ready to meet the diplomat."
"That shouldn't be necessary."
"We are putting the delegate up here in the Lorespire Complex. I have downloaded the best route to your comm units, and once you're gone I will message her that you are on your way. Good luck!"
With that, the party heads off to escort duty. The route is easy enough to follow, as most or all of you are familiar enough with the Complex to know where the upscale visitors' quarters are located. One of you taps the comm button on the door, and a pleasant-sounding voice answers. "You must be my escorts! Just a moment and I'll buzz you in." The door opens to reveal a large and well-appointed guest suite. The standard furniture is augmented by hangings with brightly-colored abstract patterns, and a plain mat sits in one corner with a small orb on a low stand.
A crowded desk occupies another corner, and a gray-skinned humanoid rises from the seat in front of it. She waves a hand and the multiple holodisplays freeze and blank. "I apologize...a Guardian's work is never done. It's a pleasure to meet you all. I am Guardian Shrani Kokulu, but please call me Shrani. Ser Chiskisk has given me your names, but not who is whom. If you would not mind, please introduce yourselves."
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Amy steps forward and bows politely. She seems a bit nervous as she speaks.
Amy Mercury ma'am .... erm .... Shrani. I am an astronomer and a student in the Ways of the Star Shamans.
Her attention is drawn to the orb in the corner. Erm, pardon me, but is that object purly decorative or culturally or mystically significant?
Mentally she's thinking. I'm messing this up ... it's going to be like with those colourful little ponies all over again.
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Sensing at least a bit of her condition, Darkrunner steps forward to introduce himself, but does so to a lesser degree than Amy.
Greetings. I am Darkrunner, the android. My lookup of details about your culture indicates that Talosin-3 is sparsely populated. This tells me that you might like to avoid crowds, or even being crowded by us here in this room. Is that correct?
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Seggas pauses midway through picking up a pastry from El'zar's tray as she rounds on Sturmvanger, eyes wide. She gives one very loud, very harsh, bigger]"NO!"[/bigger] as she approaches closer to the dragonkin again. "That's not good, and NOT going to happen on my watch!"
She takes an absent minded bite of the pastry and pauses for a second, looking back at the kasathan shaped android. "These are really good!" She then levels a glare at Sturm.
[spoiler=Sturmvanger]
<I can't believe you had been feeling that way! It's okay to grieve and to miss a lost loved one, it's NOT okay to punish yourself for it! And even worse try getting yourself killed, *Bonded, that implies a much closer sense of feeling but also a sense of almost ...motherlyness?*! I promise here and now I won't hurt you on purpose and DEFINTELY won't kill you! Also I'm introducing you to my psychologist after this mission. You should talk trough things with her, and me if you ever feel the need, okay? You aren't a bad person for losing your previous Bonded!>
She breaks eye contact for a moment with a few tears in her eyes and looks over at the rest of the group. "Right, package those pastries up and let's get moving!"
Seggas gives an awkward cough as she comes into the room, first time meetings being hard for her. She can't quite go in with her usual imperious attitude buffer, as she's supposed to be serving the woman, but doesn't quite know how to approach the situation instead.
She instead stiffly walks up behind the other two who have introduced themselves and gives a small bow. "Seggas Yakan, Doctor of *cough*veterinary*cough* Medicine and Doctor of Medical *cough*dentistry*cough*. I'm here to help make sure there's no medical issues today. Also I have a mild cold at present so please excuse my coughing. *cough*"
Shrani ignores Amy's question, but seems not displeased with the comments from Seggas and Gava. "You...are correct, Darkrunner. I'll get used to it in time, but--" She waves a hand fluidly. "--all of this is quite a lot to take in at once. That's why I do want to see the station, but I appreciate your consideration."
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Sturmvanger stands in back as the introductions are made. "I'm here to deal with any...trouble," he rumbles.
Perhaps he should have stood a bit straighter when he said that...hunched as he is in the short space, he doesn't look too impressive.
The damai listens intently to the other two, then rubs her hands together. "Well! You do seem to be competent enough. Now, I have some ideas for things to do, to...ease into dealing with the number of people here. First, I should like to do a flyaround tour of the station, and see the Armada. I've already made reservations with a local charter. Shall we?"
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Amy has already attempted to fade into the background by being in it. She also uses her reconfigerable clothing to change her outfit from the yellow battle bikini to a white and blue body suit with a short blue skirt and blue boots .
She does perk up a bit though when the tour of the station is mentioned.