The Dire GM's [SFS] #3-03: Frozen Ambitions: The Shimmerstone Gateway (PaizoCon Online 2021) (Inactive)

Game Master CanisDirus

Grimace is at the bar getting hammered. It is his only recourse.

Jularaz and Rahla take this all in, respectful nodding turning into grinning glee when the smuggling data is handed over. Without even looking up at you after receiving it, obviously not even listening about where it came from, the High Despot motions to Rahla. "See to it that their wounds are tended to and that they get the best meal we can provide, then get them safely to their ship. Their First Seeker will have my report on their exemplary thoroughness before they even get home to the Pact Worlds!"

As instructed, Rahla brings you to the medical tent to get your wounds checked, then to the mess hall for a piping hot stew served to prison guard officers while she makes small talk, obviously prying for more information but not forcing you to reveal anything. After a decent half-hour of "chow" time, a bell dings and the mess hall's robots begin cleaning up automatically regardless if you were finished or not. Rahla sheepishly smiles and explains that the process keeps guards from being too lethargic in the frigid temperatures - if they're still seated when a cleaning robot gets to their table 30 minutes after they sat down to eat, it gives them a mild electrical shock.

Rahla returns you to your ship, which takes you swiftly home, seeing you arrive to report back to First Seeker Ehu Hadif, who is indeed very pleased with the report he received from the High Despot.

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Keeping Mathun's secret will be indicated by Check Box B on the reporting sheet.

Your primary mission parameters were to return from Traverse, report to Jularaz about the portal's destination, mention the dangers (specifically the shimmerstone elemental), and at least one theory behind why the portal may have opened now. This earns you 1 Reputation with your chosen faction for this adventure.

Your secondary success parameters were to return with additional information from Traverse that would impress Jularaz the Frozen. This could be accomplished either by turning over information about the kothama hermit, Mathun, or the data about smugglers from the crashed ship. This earns you 1 additional Reputation with your chosen faction for this adventure.

In addition, this mission is of high importance to First Seeker Ehu Hadif, and by succeeding at your primary mission conditions, you also earn 1 additional Reputation with the Second Seekers (Ehu Hadif) faction.
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With your safe return home from Traverse and the Veskarium as a whole, you have taken the first steps in unraveling the Frozen Ambitions at play, having survived your trip through... The Shimmerstone Gateway!

Soundtrack 13: Post-Game

Thank you all very much for playing! I hope that you all enjoyed playing this scenario as much as I had running it for you. I know I had some post-schedule hiccups in there, but hopefully that didn't detract too much from the game. If your sign-in information on the discussion tab looks good, I'll get your chronicles together in the next 24 hours or so, and will link them to you there. Feel free to roleplay and take care of any as-of-yet unrolled downtime actions as you see fit in the meanwhile. Thanks again!

Hanmi spends the time of the return trip polishing (unpolishing?) the repairs to Manta. Of particular interest to him are the nanites of the swarm and the mechanic explores ways the technology may upgrade his little bot.

He appreciates Jewel's insights if any, but otherwise just enjoys the many varieties of smaller bipeds his companions represent and happy that he got to meet them all.

During the space travel home, Valamir sits cross legged on some cargo containers and mentions all the cool combat moves that each companion did during their adventure.

He is very grateful to have shared this journey with them.

After the debrief, Blastoff joins Grimace in the bar, buys the Vesk drinks, and hammers down an entire bottle of horse brandy. He preps for the trip home by dissolving something under his tongue and smoking a pound of opium, then, on the trip, alternates between look wistfully out the portholes and begging to be allowed to pilot high. "You just have to know you're altered and make adjustments."

His new career as a Starfinder seems to fit him perfectly. ("Do you make contact with alien star shaman hermits on every mission?" he asks with big eyes and some unnoticed drool drying on his cheek.)