Gameplay thread for GM Zoomba's table of the SFS #3-00 The Last Bite speacial for Gameday X (Tier 3-4)
Each of your comm devices begins going off all throughout the day as First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo’s voice breaks the silence. “Starfinders, if you’re receiving this transmission, I’m requesting that you cease your current missions and return to Absalom Station at once. I have obtained urgent information regarding one of our foe’s activities. If she succeeds, she could tip the balance of corporate power within the Pact Worlds and possibly even destroy the Society. I’ll explain once we convene at the Lorespire Complex.”
As each of you arrives at the Lorespire Complex you see that the headquarters' familiar grounds are in a boisterous state of flux. Hired workers set up pavilions and booths on the lawns, courier vehicles dart back and forth down the adjacent streets, and janitors hustle to prepare rooms for occupation throughout the compound’s buildings. Dozens of early guests loiter nearby chatting excitedly. The festive, yet chaotic, atmosphere persists in stark contrast to the First Seeker’s ominous announcement.
A lashunta man, Venture-Captain Arvin, strides forward to intercept the newest arrivals. “Welcome back, Starfinders. First Seeker Elsebo plans to meet with the agents involved in her operation shortly. She’ll announce when she’s ready—listen for the code phrase ‘pest control.’ It looks like Luwazi is finally going to have us strike back at Datch, the architect of our past year of credibility woes. Regardless of our foe’s machinations, we’re hosting several weeks of conferences and parties to honor Ehu Hadif, and there’s plenty to do while you wait. Let’s get you checked in, shall we?”
The VC looks down at his notes and tries to find your idenfitication records as well as the fellow agents you're being paired with, while he does, you see several key figures in the Starfinder Society rushing to and fro with haste and frustration, each seeming to be desperately short-staffed.
* Venture-Captain Naiaj leans despondently against the wall
outside the cafeteria.
* Celita sending a message to all agent's datacoms she need media assistance in the Archives
* Acquisitve leader Radaszam in visibly tense talks with securiiy guards
* Wayfinder Fitch teterring dangerously on top of a massive scaffold of speakers
* Zigvigix chatting with a ysoki near a tangle of parked cars.
* and even Arvin, overwhelmed by the volume of names on his datapad, which seems to include more people than just Starfidners on it.
Perhaps once you've checked in they could use a hand...
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Staar is a very small lashunta woman, with a sickly visage. Her eyes are glowing red motes of fiery-red light which smolder and produce thin trails of white smoke. If you ever come close to her, you are pretty sure you can hear voices whispering from inside her head, though her mummified skin might distract you from noticing it...
---
Unsure of where her skills would be better used, she goes check with VC Naiaj what she needs.
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You see a lashunta with piercings, stylish bad boy clothing and a lean but tough frame. It seems as if his lineage stretches back to the legendary lashunta hunters from centuries before the Gap.
He pops up in the briefing. His robe is of a dark blue color with emblems of a four-armed dragon.
“These damn idiots don't know anything about the strength of the Starfinders it seems! I have an idea how to convince them to get out of our way! We just blast them to bits!“ the Lashunta shouts.
“Damn! I should be more concerned about my safety. Why the heck did I want to become an aspiring agent?? You knew these assignments are dangerous." he whispers to himself.
Then he shakes his head and realizes that he spent so much time with non-telepaths that he is even starting to speak verbally TO HIMSELF.
He starts walking to Venture-Captain Naiaj.
:
The venture captain gnome looks longingly at covered trays carried by hurrying workers dressed in white chef smocks as you near her. Noticing you, the non-nonsense Naiaj turns towards you and snaps out, “Have you ever been so hungry you got angry? There should be a term for that. I came here just to get a quick snack and found the caterers in a panic. Apparantly someone in logistics screwed up and they don’t have enough food prepared to handle the guest list. On top of that they’re also struggling to accommodate some attendees’ unique dietary needs. This is our new First Seeker's big day. Dignitaries are coming here from all across the Pact Worlds and meant to see our Society's strength. We are NOT going to let that be marred as a result of an empty buffet line! Get in there, and see what you can do to help. Look alive, Starfinders!”
It may not be the most glamorous work, but Donovan dutifully shows his support to the front-line waitstaff and chips in. Luckily there seems to be some overlap between the 'adventuring' and 'catering' skillsets - the lashunta's deft maneuvering eases much of the strain on the hors d'oeuvre backlog.
Falling Celita's signal, you find the Dataphile hard at work in the Archive Cortex. Her eyes darting between multiple datapads and consoles - including one hanging from mechanical antenna directly in front of her face - she speaks as you enter without fully turning to greet you.
“Our esteemed colleague’s elevation to First Seeker is a historic occasion. As such, we must all do our part to foster a celebratory atmosphere - and an atmosphere focused on honoring Ehu's nomination so much that any discussion of Luwazi's final activities are drowned out in the media sea. I am working to both generate buzz while altering the local infosphere's search algorithms to direct toward Ehu's elevation and downplay any other commentary on the Society. Your help with creating a positive buzz across the infosphere would be greatly appreciated."
Donovan advises Celita of his 'volume-based advertising' theories. The android ponders. "That could work. Vocal frequencies are of course difficult to do via text, but maybe with enough ALL CAPS and exclamation points...
With your suggestions, some good social media tags start to build momentum in the local infosphere. At least online, pro-Society sentiments seem to be on the rise.
----
The vesk gestures with a swinging arm to the far end of the Lorespire Complex's front lawn as you approach. Where he is pointing you can make out a sizeable group crowding the main walkway, hoisting signs with anti-Society slogans. [b]"Party crashers. Looks like these people bought in to Datch’s propaganda against us,” Radaszam grumbles. “They’ve been here all day. Not the best look for us, and worse a tight and angry crowd like that could be a security list if any of them get agitated enough to do something stupid. We’re not going to make them disperse of course but please get over there, talk with them see if there can be a peaceful way to get them off of our lawn."
[b]"Ah, see, this is what we're trying to expose! See the glowing oppression on those of us just trying to get some answers from this paramilitary group!" One of them yells back to Staar. A few of the other protestors stand by him too.
...most however are far less belligerent. At Staar's imposing presence and command, the majority of the crowd of protesters disperses, leaving a much smaller core behind.
Inside the Hall of Discovery, ysoki scuttle about setting up
audiovisual equipment while a kindly voice directs them. Fitch, leader of the Wayfinders, waves to the PCs from atop a towering scaffold.
“Good to see you! The kiddos and I are sprucing the place up for the big event.” She stops and beams proudly at a scrawny, gray ysoki fiddling with a circuit board. “They’re doing great, but it’s a big job. Mind lending us a hand? With the numbers we're expecting we need to make sure the audio will keep the party going.”[/b]
Donovan offers a helpful pair of hands for a colleague while Starr wanders over towards Zigvigix.
The leader of the Exo-Guardians chats animatedly with one of the hired event staff, a stocky, brown ysoki dressed in stained coveralls embroidered with the name “Tall Sam.” The two avidly discuss a cluster of haphazardly parked land vehicles positioned nearby. “Hey, you!” The ysoki shouts at the approaching PCs, “Why are you just standing around, huh? We’ve got a pileup worse than A-Station rush hour over here. Get off your tails, and go park some vehicles!” Zigvigix nods enthusiastically and adds, “Relieving the valet queue might help our fellow Starfinders get to Luwazi’s meeting and be able to help with the secret mission” The shirren leans downs and thinks that last part extremely quietly, despite the fact they’re using telepathy. “Please do whatever you can to help!”
Kaath offers some insightful suggestions and directions of how to move the gridlocked cars and Donovan and Staar hop to act on his advice. Working together you manage to turn the tangle of vehicles into a strikingly organized and aesthetically pleasing lot.
Looking at the cleared pileup, ‘Tall Slim’ looks up to Zigvigix ”Huh, you weren’t kidding. So, if this is clear am I free to head to the hangers?”
The shirren nods, and the ysoki takes off like a rocket towards the Starfinder Society’s private garages. Slim has some thoughts about making modifications to our vehicles. Don’t worry, he promised they’d be safe. Or was it ‘probably’ safe…Well, in either case, excellent job agents! I think we’re set here for now; perhaps some of your other colleagues could use a hand too. If not, enjoy the festivities while you can. Grab some of the food and celebrations before thesecret mission
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Pacing in front of the building’s entrance, Venture-Captain Arvin is still poring over names on his datapad, but somehow even more overwhelmed by the list of names before him then he was when you encountered him not long ago.
“Sparklemane and associated weapon permits: unaccounted for.
Zo!—shuttle delayed.
Envar Tam—oh, this is ridiculous.”
The Venture Captain looks up for a moment and notices you. He immediately relaxes slightly in relief. “As you know, we’re expecting an influx of visitors over the next few weeks. Some decided to arrive fashionably early, and we seem to have misplaced a few guests of honor in the confusion. If you can help me locate and corral our more elusive guests, I’d be grateful.”
Finding the lashunta Envar Tam lingering in a corner starting intently - and almost certainly with psychotropic enhancement - at a large hedge design of a mountain eel, Staar is able to forcibly guide the streamer to a more visible table.
While that is happening Donovan manages to find Zo! and Sparklemane together. The undead presenter seems to be trying to gauge the unicorn's horn's length and piercing strength: about when the host is asking 'how about 5 skeletons, do you think you could skewer five at a time?' you're able to step in and make some small talk. Zo! in particular appears to take a liking to Donovan, and as he and Sparklemane go to appease Arvin and check in the envoy finds several Zo!Bux vouchers slipped into his pocket.
A chime sounds throughout the Lorespire Complex and its surrounding grounds, followed by a broadcast of First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo’s resonant voice: “Pest-control workers, your presence is kindly requested in the Hall of Discovery.” Spurred by the announcement, junior and experience Starfinders file into the Forum’s meeting space.
As the last of the summoned Starfinders enter the meeting space, Luwazi stands atop a stage at the centre of the hall. Radaszam and Zigvigix position themselves behind the First Seeker, warily surveying the crowd. When the doors shut behind the final Starfinder team, Radaszam steps forward and whispers in Luwazi’s ear. She nods as he offers her a microphone.
“Thanks to your courage and resilience, Starfinders, we have overcome adversity time and again. Two years ago, we embarked on a mission to rescue our lost agents from the Scoured Stars. Last year, we returned to battle the jinsuls and won. Today, I stand before you for the last time as your First Seeker and invite you to accept a very different challenge.
“I trust you are all familiar with the individual called Datch. For the past year, Datch orchestrated a slanderous media war against the Society for reasons incomprehensible to us. We’ve recently learned more about our enemy and realized that the Society is not her only target. As a member of AbadarCorp’s security department, Datch used her connections to manufacture a media smear campaign against us. She did so to gain power within the corporation, and her next target is Executive Archdirector and CEO Iseki-Okaibo. Yesterday, Datch instigated a vote of no-confidence against him. If the motion passes, Datch stands to take advantage of that power vacuum.”
Luwazi frowns at the assembled Starfinders. “We cannot let that happen. We can’t directly challenge Datch—not yet. If we’re going to stop her, we must beat her at her own game. While Datch positions herself to seize power, I plan to use Ehu Hadif’s elevation and the presence of our most veteran agents at the elevation event as a cover to send you on covert missions throughout the Pact Worlds. The missions vary, but your primary goals are to disrupt Datch’s ongoing activities and convince AbadarCorp executives not to support the vote of no-confidence. I’m counting on you, Starfinders.”
Encouraged by the First Seeker’s words, the chosen Starfinder teams prepare to depart the Lorespire Complex for various destinations across the Pact Worlds. Society leaders direct smaller groups of agents into specialized briefings, where they present information about each covert operation. After a year of enduring Datch’s merciless attacks against their organization, the Starfinders finally have the chance to retaliate.
"Yeah, uhm, uh, I'm here to, uuuh, fix the sound system," the plumber says as he approaches Fitch.
[dice=Engineering]1d20+10
"Oh, that's it" Fitch says as the speakers start . "You got quite the knack at putting things together dont'cha? Here, lemme show you a few tricks this old ysoki's picked up..."
With the speakers blaring loudly, Fitch gives Amariel (and the rest of you) some advice about fixing equipment on the fly.
And as Luwazi's alert echoes over the speakers and you make your ways towards the Hall of Discovery, you also notice Arvin swinging by with his hands full of several items. "Oh, hello. It seems you made quite an impression on some of the VIPS. They wanted you to have these. And the catering staff also had a gift for you???"
* In ending the peaceful, albeit misguided, protest you learned valuable insight into the crowd’s behavior. At any point during the adventure, one of you can attempt to can attempt to influence a crowd with a Difficult Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidate check.
* With some free time in the Starfinder garage, Solving the problem gives Tall Sam free reign of the
Society’s parking garage and starship hangars. 'Tall Sam' modified several of the parked vehicles. Once during the adventure, the party can flip a boost switch to add a +4 to a single Piloting check during starship combat or a vehicle chase and also move one additional hex or zone.
Luwazi frowns at the assembled Starfinders. “We cannot let that happen. We can’t directly challenge Datch—not yet. If we’re going to stop her, we must beat her at her own game. While Datch positions herself to seize power, I plan to use Ehu Hadif’s elevation and the presence of our most veteran agents at the elevation event as a cover to send you on covert missions throughout the Pact Worlds. The missions vary, but your primary goals are to disrupt Datch’s ongoing activities and convince AbadarCorp executives not to support the vote of no-confidence. I’m counting on you, Starfinders."...
As Luwazi's speech ends, your datapads ping with a highly encrypted file. Decrypting it, you see that the outgoing First Seeker has identified several key individuals or incidents around the Pact Worlds that could be vital to disrupt or counter Datch's scheme to perform a takeover of one the the galaxy's most influential pillars. You see other Starfinder squads conferring and then heading out to investigate several of them. The question is: which mission will you undertake?
As Luwazi's breifing departs, Venture-Captain Arvin waves a hand in gesture for you to join him as he marches down a corridor leading out of the Lorespire Complex. He pauses for a moment as a nearby exit door slides open to reveal the bright lights of the camera crews amassing in preparation for the upcoming gala. When the door shuts, he continues several steps ahead of you three and says quietly over his shoulder, “What I’m asking you to do is frankly a bit sordid, and I wish I had a more honest mission to give you.” Arvin produces a datapad and hands it to you, sighing. “Unfortunately, circumstances what they are we can't expect people to just be convinced by the nobility of our cause alone. AbadarCorp’s board - which is going to be voting on Datch's motion - is composed mostly of department archdirectors. It’s an exclusive club of less than a dozen individuals, and even one of their votes could sway the outcome. Your target is Archdirector of Finance Denanne Karrsi.” Arvin taps the datapad, and an image of an imposing elven woman with silver hair and a glowering expression appears.
“Denanne is an avid gambler. She’s booked a suite at the Luxx solar casino. If you can defeat her at her game of choice you may be able to influence her. Check in to Luxx as patrons, challenge her to a game, and then use any leverage you can to persuade her to oppose Datch’s vote.”
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With a swift Drake to transport you it is just over a day later that you see Luxx for yourself as you come in for a landing. Luxx is a colossal starliner locked in to the Sun’s orbit, with its twin hangar bays busy with shuttles coming and going in a tstament to the starliner's place as one of the premier solar casino's in Near Space. You spy several small sections of the docking bays set aside seemingly for VIP craft, but as humble Starfinders you enter the casino amidst a throng of patrons and excited gamblers from all corners of the galaxy.
A series of escalators and cylindrical glass lifts transport you and the arriving crowd up from the hangers and onto the main atrium of the casino ship. Near the center of the space is a large concierge desk, currently staffed by a female korasha lashunta. A dimly lit room packed with patrons and electronic gambling stations sits to your left, while to the right you see an oval chamber filled with plush furniture and shag carpets. Beyond the concierge and down a short flight of stairs bright lights and cries of delight and heartbreak signal the main casino floor beyond.
Checking out Luxx's info and setup on the local infosphere Staar learns that the casino-ship offers a variety of games, from automated slot machines and gambling stations, to roulette and betting lines, to card games like Pact-Poker and ObisidianJack. All of the wagering however is handled through "Luxx Bucks": electronic tokens associated with each clients' created account that can be expanded on/purchased at a rate of one credit to one Luxx Buck.
Amariel finds generally the same thing, though his schmoozing also gets the concierge to begrudgingly set up an account for you and offer a data drive with 50 Luxx bucks already stored on it. (She dryly notes that 'beginners' tend to find it 'easier' to play in the Nova Room - the room with the slot machines - and mutters that most shuttle riders disappear when they run out of complimentary tokens.)
When the elf asks around for Denanne, many people don't seem to recognize the name. the inquiries pique the interest of a male verthani sitting in the shag-carpeted lounge however. The lounge's decor seems to shift color-scheme every few minutes - from purple, to porange, to a calming blue - and the veranthi's skin changes color to match the décor as it does, all the while blowing vapor rings from a space-vape.
"Denanne?" he asks in a languid voice. "Better watch yourselves with her. Cheater stole my solar yacht in a round of baksu. And then the liner said that just because I couldn't 'prove any foul play' she just gets to laugh and keep on going. Probably still going at those high-stakes tables..." He gives Amariel a once-over, glancing at the rest of you too. "Not that it looks like you've got enough Bucks to hit those tables anyway. So I guess you have nothing to worry about then." The verthani takes another deep puff, blowing back out a smoke-ring that distinctly smells of candy.
Donovan breaks off for a moment to try and find your target in the crowd. Three sets of white marble stairs cascade down to a spacious marble floor as he enters the grand casino. To the north, a bar lit by fuchsia and indigo neon serves drinks to glamorous clients. Besuited waiters dart through crowds of patrons milling about card tables, roulette wheels, and other game stations. Guests lounge beside a sparkling pool set ridiculously into the middle of the casino floor. At the center of the room, a host shirren seated at a grand piano
plays a jazzy tune.
Asking about, it takes little time before the lashunta is pointed towards a long rectangular gaming table to the south. An audience has gathered around to watch a showdown between the two seated players. You see the elf from your datapad images - Denanne Karrsi - dressed in an exquisitely cut gown of canary-yellow silk, long black gloves, a wide-brimmed velvet hat, and multicolored jewels. Vibrant geometric tattoos peek from beneath her mane of silver hair, and her violet eyes seem to glow with intensity. Donovan notices her smirk as she executes her final play against her opponent, flipping over the winning card on the table to the groans of a hapless shobad seated opposite her. Denanne merely sighs and sips wine from a crystal glass. “I told you to invest your money instead of challenging me!” She scolds her opponent. “Now you’re all out of funds. How boring.”
"We want to defeat her. Can you provide any assistance?" Staar asks the verthani man.
"Losing to beginners would be humiliating." she sweetens the deal.
Back in the lounge, the verthani's face freezes as they think about Staar's argument. Then a smile breaks out. "Yeah, guess it would, wouldn't it. Hells, I got a bit of spare spending money I could spot you. Just be careful - she's a sharp one, and I swear plays a bit crooked to boot!"
The verthani asks to hold the LuxxBucks data drive given out to Amariel and takes out his own for a transfer. Handing it back to you, you see that you're account now holds 15,000 Luxx Bucks.
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"You are awesome Staar!! Good idea!! Let us move to her table!" Donovan says.
When they arrive Donovan steps forward to address the elf.
"Denanne Karrsi, we think that you are good but we also think that you can learn a thing or two from us. And we have money to to bet we are right! Are you willing to play another game? With us?" Donovan says and smiles.
"Oh?" The elven woman arches an eyebrow as you four approach. "Is that so. I'm older than most of you combined," she says, taking another sip of wine (while giving an elf-acknowledging nod towards Amariel) "But if you're so eager to demonstrate the follies of youth to our friends here" she throws her arms wide towards the gathered crowd of spectators "then I suppose teaching children is one's duty in a society."
Denanne gestures for one of you to sit at the seat recently vacated by the shobad. "You do know how to play baksu don't you?" she preens while collecting a deck of finely lacquered cards. [b]"5,000 a hand? If not I'm sure the Nova Room has a few 'My First Slot Machine's that might be more your speed."
The elf places the deck in the center of the table, only lightly shuffled. Her violet eyes stare at you all expectantly.