Zoomba's Rasheen Run [SFS 1-35, 2-22 and 4-14] (Inactive)

Game Master Zoomba

Gameplay thread Feel free to dot in

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The summons came for each of you, brightly flashing on your datapads as you awoke this morning.

"Starfinders, please meet with me this afternoon in the First Seeker Ilyastre Memorial Museum. And be prepared for a deep-Vast journey: I have a mission for you that could be legendary."

- Radaszam the Dealmaker, Acquisitives manager, Obsidian Spiders CEO

When you eventually head to the museum after going through your morning routines you can easily find the massive structure on the Lorespire Complex grounds. Dedicated in honor of one of the Starinder Society's former leaders, the Memorial Museum is an archive and display of the histories and findings of Starfinders across the generations. You pass by fellow agents and tourists alike as you move through its cavernous halls with holographic displays and glass cases filled with relics put on public display per the Forum’s votes.

In the large museum Radaszam is difficult to find at first - the vesk had failed to note exactly where in the building he was expecting to meet you. But as you look for the faction leader you notice several other Starfinders also seem to be looking for someone rather than taking in the exhibits...

Quite normally for the Museum, a group of school children led by three nuns pass by you by. The group is quite eye-catching, what with the girls in their very very short plaid skirts and the boys in tight shorts. The nuns are also dressed quite proactively in tight-fitting little black mini dresses emblazoned with a triple dagger symbol. It's then you realize they are all followers of Callistria, likely from the Holy Trinity School located in the Kemanis neighborhood of the Eye. Two of the nuns are elves, as are nearly all the children, but the third nun is a bit shorter. It's hard to say if she's just a short elf, or perhaps a half-elf, or even a very tall halfling. Either way, she's quite the eyeful.

Just as the giggling group passes you by, the third nun peels off and slips around behind a display case. The large animated replica of Ursus Primus, believed to be the first uplifted bear, blocks your sight of the nun for several seconds. It's only moments later that a halfling woman steps out from behind the same case. Except that now she's wearing normal tourist clothes of a loose top, patterned leggings and trainers. She smiles and winks conspiratorially to anyone that appears to have noticed her uncannily quick change as she joins your assembling group.

"Mahari Jones," she introduces herself as she transmits contact info. Her e-cards say that her line of work is "Corporate Espionage" and contain an almost invisible Starfinder logo watermark hidden in the text.

"So, anyone seen Radaszam yet?"

A ysoki is using one of the Museum's terminals to access the Museum floor plans, looking for rooms that Radaszam would likely use for the meeting.

Computers check with Hacking Kit: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31

I'm Nimh. I haven't seen Radaszam yet, but I'm running down possible locations. You're pretty good at that blending in thing. I'm not. I just make the computers and machines work, sometimes with technology, sometimes with a little magic thrown in.

A tall, golden skinned, golden haired lashunta wearing a suit of overly fashionable but effective travel clothing engages the field trip. He smiles and laughs and holds his hands up in a placating gesture then gives out chin chucks, autographs and handshakes all around. He also takes the comm unit from one of the nuns and enters his contact information.

Whether any, all or none of those actions were wanted by the tour group is debatable, but he seems pretty pleased as he approaches.

"Sorry. My adoring crowd. Price of fame and all that, you know," he says when he approaches the other.

"I'm sure I need no introduction, but the name's Azara Thenason. Starfinder and warrior poet. I'm sure you've read some of my work," he says, and both Maharin and Nimh are at risk of getting an autograph if they're not careful.

As the android Kat5e moves through the museum, her android security programing picks up details on the museum pieces and the people taking them in. As she passes an exhibit, she gives it only a cursory glance. Inside, however, she is storing each piece with her eidetic memory, as well as wirelessly accessing the each exhibits database. As she passes each museum goer, her Exocotex feeds her information about their height, weight, speed, gestures and mannerisms. She is actively searching for other Starfinders called here with her.

She is agile and lithe as she moves through the space. Her face a stern resting expression of a battle tested starfinder. Across all of her exposed skin runs the intricate patterns of her android circuity, hidden amongst a patchwork of ink tattoos that reach all the way up past her hairline to her neatly quaffed mowhawk. She wears tight fitting clothing which reveal the organic muscles of a former dancer, and appears to be lightly armoured, if at all. Completing her look is her well worn leather jacket.

Her security subroutine pings a suspicious character in the crowd, once dressed as a nun. She pauses a moment to watch the woman approach a Ysoki who appears to be checking the map. As the Lashunta approaches she thinks Bingo, found them.

She comes to a stop in front of them, and raises her hand in a greeting. Across her palm is a rather violent tattoo, but through it shines her society subdermal graft. "Rather unusual meeting spot, don't you think? I'm Kat. pleasure to meet you."

As stated in the discussion I shall play Croaker and not Hellih this time. I think the skills match better.

Down in the museum stands another Ysoki, he is wearing a military uniform without any patches on them. His long snout breathes in air as he observes android walking down the hallway and looking for other starfinders, lashunta meeting with fans, another Ysoki playing with a terminal, and a halfling standing by.

"It is time to join the crowd" says more to himself as he walks by and pulls out a bag of snacks

"My name is Croaker, I am a field-medic, from the files that I got we are in the same team. Want a snack? It is a famous akitonian sand-warms marinated in honey and deep-fried. It is mind-blowing!" He quickly figures out what are you trying to do so he asks some by-stander

"Hey, have you seen Radaszam? Like yay tall, plenty of scales, long tail, giant teeth. He should wear this symbol" he points at his badge of Acquisitives

Diplomacy, gather info: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

"Hey, Azara, you gave your number to Sister Slatterly?" Mahari asks with a knowing grin. "I hope you've got stamina and a high pain threshold," she teases with a laugh. "'Course, Rad's message said we're going to the deep-Vast, so it may be a while till you get to see her.
But from what I heard from the kids, it'll totally be worth the wait."

As the rest of the group gathers, she crunches down on one of the proffered akitonian sand-worm snacks. "Mmm, these are good," she exclaims in surprise. She greets each of the team cheerfully and exchanges contact info.

She'll gladly also accept an NFT autograph from the handsome warrior poet. Who knows what it'll be worth some day.

I gotta think NFTs will replace autographs someday. The point of the autograph in the old days was to prove you'd met the famous person. Or get it to sell later. Seems that NFTs could serve both those purposes.

Great - that is a terrfiyingly possible thing that could happen :P

As you have gravitated towards each other, the visiting crowds around you also continue to move shift around the museum. A particularly sizable throng of tourists passes by on their way towards the exit, and as they go you manage to spot Radaszam off in the distance standing pensivelt in front of a displayed ancient polearm of unknown make.

The vesk turns and greets you with a smile when he hears your footsteps approaching. “Ah great! Have I got a job for you, hotshots. Heard the name Jelev Rasheen?” He turns away from the display and starts a walk-and-talk waving for you to follow him. “'Course you have, even if kids these days don’t read the gazetteers anymore. She was a big shot explorer in the early days of Drift travel, sallied forth to find new worlds and meet new civilizations, all that explorer romantic kind of stuff. Some say that her real treasure was the friends and discoveries she made along the way. Of course others say the real treasure was the treasure that filled her holes whenever she came back. Until she didn’t come back, that is.”

Radaszam continues walking, absent-mindedly still waving for you to follow even though you already are. “No one knows what really happened to her, but everyone she met seems to have had a theory; her kids, those who call themselves her kids, her adventuring buddies, even all the people who read those godsawful pulp stories. Don’t get me wrong, I like a good adventure story as much as the next vesk,” he adds, “but I’ve been on some of those planets and that writer had no idea what he was talking about.”

Radaszam then abruptly stops. A sclaed hand stretches to point at a clear case on an ornate pedestal, with the label 'JELEV RASHEEN — VOYAGE 17: SANCTUM OF THE HIGH PRIESTESS OF THE KATTAR-ZHIN.' It contains several pieces of engraved platinum. “What with all the conflicting accounts, some coming from Rasheen herself, it’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s artistic embellishment. But there is hard evidence for many of her journeys - we have several reliable accounts from seasoned Starfinders who ran into supposedly uncontacted species with prior exposure to the Common language: with some digging we’ve been able to figure out that exposure's connected with Rasheen’s travels. Not to mention the reports of huge stelae with her family sigil carved on them in the middle of nowhere, or collections like this—” he gestures to the case — “lurking in a retired adventurer’s attic, to be sold off by kids who don’t know their history. Once you start looking you can see Jeelv's fingerprints everywhere across the exploration business."

"And when I had a chance to look through our Society's own metaphorical attic with things settling down after our last dust-up, what do I find but a map of Jelev Rasheen’s last journey.”

Radaszam pauses to make eye contact with each one of you. He then crouches and removes a laminated hard copy map from a hidden cabinet in the pedestal. The physical map is an image recovered from a damaged hard drive, with some areas pixelated beyond interpretation, but it clearly depicts a star system, with navigational information in its legend. “Following in her footsteps — or even finding her final resting place — would be a major accomplishment, both on its own and for raising the profile of the Society in the Pact Worlds.” Radaszam unlocks the case, removing an object smaller than his palm that may once have been a pendant. He touches it to his forehead reverently, then replaces it carefully, saying, “Trust me the experience alone is worth it — it’s a rite of passage for a true explorer. I almost wish I could lead this expedition myself, but getting famously successful has its downsides. Which is why I'm hoping you're the go-getting firebrands who'll take up the torch.”

-Earlier-

A winged, insectile humanoid flits into the museum, flying just above the floor. He attracts attention, and seems to revel in it. He is generous with smiles, friendly nods, and audible greetings.

At least one museum patron bravely wanders toward this humanoid and murmurs something about seeing him sing at a large Absalom Station restaurant called Antonio's.

The humanoid takes a moment to chat and even pose for a picture or two.

He then wanders toward the assembled Starfinders. "Hello all! I'm Teleemo. It seems I've been assigned to hear this briefing. Has anyone seen Radaszam yet?

Teleemo has an air of both flamboyancy, yet also possesses a manly appeal. I like to think of him as a delightful combination of Elton John and Elvis Presley.

Croaker looks at the Radaszam and his introduction to Jeleve Rasheen

"Sir, and what is the angle here. We want to find her resting place to raise Society profile. Can't we just say that we found it?" says always practical Ysoki "Sure we can find some items following her footsteps but it could already be stripped clean by pirates, bandits, natives or sucked in via drift"

Seeing that Radaszam has made his mind on that mission he asks "Do we know where the map leads? Do we know anything about that section of the universe?"

"Sir, and what is the angle here. We want to find her resting place to raise Society profile. Can't we just say that we found it?" says always practical Ysoki "Sure we can find some items following her footsteps but it could already be stripped clean by pirates, bandits, natives or sucked in via drift"

"Just say we found it?" Radaszam looks in disbelief at Croaker for a moment. "Where is your sense of adventure and wonder? I'm surprised at you: I woudl have thought Starfinder agents would always remeber the first word in our motto, rather than propose our organization stoop to a 'I have a partner, they just live on Castrovel' level of braggadocio obfuscation."

The vesk sighs. "Still, if the experience isn't enough for you, I assure you that even if Rasheen's ship and last stop has been stripped by scavengers - which again is a worst-case scenario - merely being able to trace and confirm her final route would get the Society significant acclaim. Now, the map is damaged and only that first system is clearly identifiable. But if Rasheen did stop in this system, she almost certainly left one of her claim beacons." Seeing somewhat confused faces, he elaborates "Back when Drift navigation wasn’t as reliable, explorers sometimes left beacons to broadcast their claims to first right of settlement before returning to their home stations. Jelev Rasheen used hers to mark her path on longer expeditions; she’d leave a 'beacon-zero' at her first stop outside known space, with a quick situation report and her planned heading, then 'beacon-one' at the next stop, and so on. If we can find one of her beacons, we can confirm whether or not it’s actually from her last journey, and get a lead on where her next destination might have been."

"Those beacons will be guideposts to her final resting place, if we can just find the first one!”

Munching another of Croaker's sand-worm snacks, Mahari busily takes notes on her comm. The success of an infiltration op - or a Starfinder mission - is based on good intel, though that seems to be lacking here.

She pauses when Radaszam does something with a shiny bauble from a vault. "Hey, boss, what was that about? What you did with that pendant or whatever?"

Earlier as well

Kat greets both Teleemo and Croaker warmly as she recognizes them from her last mission. "I am excited to work with both of you again"

Back again

The android considers the mission variables and nods. "A treasure hunt, or wild goose chase. Either way, sounds exciting to follow in her footsteps, or drift wake. Are we being assigned a ship for this journey?"Mostly asking if we have to pick one.

She pauses when Radaszam does something with a shiny bauble from a vault. "Hey, boss, what was that about? What you did with that pendant or whatever?"

"Oh, just getting into the spirit of the occasion!" Radaszam replies and offers out the pendant to Mahari. "Some stories mention Jelev doing this sign before each of her journeys. A bit of a superstitious ritual, but you never know what might draw Weydan's favor."

The android considers the mission variables and nods. "A treasure hunt, or wild goose chase. Either way, sounds exciting to follow in her footsteps, or drift wake. Are we being assigned a ship for this journey?"

We should have Drake, Pegasus, and even Azata shuttles available for you"[/b] the vesk answers. "Potentially more, though I'm not sure what Zigvigix or Ixthia are doing with their Gorgons at the moment." No ship restrictions. Any base ones available, or a boon one if any of you has one.

"And I'm afraid I'm not as prepared to offer a suggestion on that as I would like; it's an unfortunate truth that famous explorers don’t tend to get that way by picking well-mapped systems. I have scant information on where this map is pointing. It seems a mining company did a quick fly-by, saw there weren’t any mineral deposits floating around, called it the Arat system after their rather... self-obsessed captain, and then they left. Their initial scans show a young yellow star; this map doesn’t depict any rocky near-solar planets, but there are several gas giants, so we might be looking for a moon, or if any local species have achieved advanced technology some sort of dome system or station. At those distances from the sun, sub- zero temperatures are almost certain, so pack accordingly.”

Azara pales a bit at Mahari's warning, more at the fact that the children know than the other part but also at the other part.

He's quick to jump into the briefing as it begins, though, the meandering path Radaszam takes giving him time to process her news.

He'll take the pendant after Mahari, study it and then do the same motions as close as he can remember them.

"We're running after Rasheen.
Following her path.
Too bad we're not Pathfinders."

I don't have a preference on ships but I do have a boon that will sub out for a heavy weapon if that influences anyone else's decision.

Nihm has been contemplating data sources that might help on this mission, like any good Dataphile should,

Any idea what we might run across as we chase these clues? Are there any books that we might check that are possibly more based in fact than some of the rest?

I don't have one of the upgraded starship boons like the Gorgon. I do have the starship boon for "Hero of the Stars" which restores hull points if we ever hit zero. Given we may be hunting through this system and several others for clues to trace Rasheen, we may want the Pegasus for the sensors?

"Radaszam, you mention the friends Rasheen made during her journeys, along with the assorted cultures she made contact with. Is there anyone we can talk to that may give us additional information on this? It may lead to descendants of these contacts being able to provide additional information to us."

Ultimately, Teleemo has very little preference as far as a starship goes. Of course the Drake is usually much safer, as it's harder to kill. However, on a mission like this, better sensors might be desirable, which means Pegasus would be the right choice.

Croaker looks at Kat5e and shakes her hand "I... I remember you... I remember Absalom being attacked, us infiltrating a fleet ... but that was a dream, that had to be a dream..." Met Kat5e in season 4 :D It is always funny to play stuff out of order

Croaker listens to Radaszam scolding him
"Fine, fine, you want us to explore sure we will explore."

He turns around and is ready to do some research of his own.

Nimh continues to mull over the information from the mission briefing.

Radaszam, you mentioned Rasheen might have left Beacons as she travelled. Are there any specifics you can provide on these Beacons? Frequencies they use? Special encryption or encoding on the signals to help us recognize or find them? Also, you said there were "reports of huge stelae with her family sigil carved on them in the middle of nowhere." Can you provide us pictures of the family sigil, so we can recognize it if we see it?

He will finally seem to notice his companions. Oh, sorry, I get distracted when focusing on a mission. I don't believe I have worked with any of you before. I am your friendly neighborhood Technomancer, concentrating on Computers, Engineering, and Magic.

Mahari performs the little ritual then hands the pendant to Azara with a little smile at his discomfiture.

Turning back to Radaszam and the team, she waits for the vesk's answers to everyone else's questions, but has none of her own.

Oh, Nimh still noticed some damage from the Data Scourge on his way over here. These first two scenarios at least are relatively season-agnostic, so just a couple minor tweaks make them timeline compliant :)

Radaszam’s smile widens at Mahrai and Azara also joining in the pendant action, and then even further at the lashunta’s haiku.

”There are scores of tales and stories about Jelev. “ the vesk says in response to Nmih and Teleemo’s questions. [b]”But while they are good at painting a general picture of her – dedicated, a risk-taker, but one who tried to deal square with the people who helped her along the way – its always hard to tell which supposed embellishments turn out to be real. On top of that, Jelev never returned after leaving on her last journey. Great fodder for rumor and speculation, but without a returning ship there’s no way to determine where she went or what she found. Until now with you six that is!”

”And any of her beacons are quite likely to be encrypted, yes.” he admits. ”On top of that, while her ship was impressive enough it was also hundreds of years ago. Even setting aside the encryptions, I’m uncertain our remote ships would even be guaranteed to have compatible tech to those older hardware. They are still beacons however – they should be broadcasting location data you could pick up and locate and then the beacon itself could be recovered and brought back here if needed. The Lorespire Complex and Celita should be able to crack it with the right systems.”

Nimh waits his turn with the Pendant, but in addition to the little ritual, he would like to examine it for any clues as to its origin or original purpose.

Rasheen seems like an interesting character. But if she never came back from her last journey, where did the map come from?

He makes a mental note to download copies of the Voyages of JELEV RASHEEN so he can study them during the trip. He would also find her family Sigil if Radaszam doesn't volunteer it.

"It was part of a document collection auctioned off for some Aballonian lady who owned a major stake in a mining outfit. Winning bid was some salvager, who had no exploration background and didn’t understand what he had; he sold it to us looking to make a few quick credits. This all happened before the Scoured Stars incident; this prize egg’s been hiding out in our files ever since! I came across it while looking for actionable leads, and I couldn’t believe it. There are so many rumors and grifters...But when I cross-referenced it with confirmed
records of Jelev Rasheen’s itinerary for her final journey, they describe a similar system, and there’s been no exploration of that sector since. This could be the real thing."

The pendant itself is well-made, but has no magic or tech built into it. It seems decorative.

As for the fmaily sigil, I have looked up and down but they do not actually describe it as far as it goes (yet - if it is described in the future 'part 3' may just retcon a bit :)
For now, let's say the Rasheen symbol is a sharpwing racing just ahead of a comet.

Kat watches the ritual with a quizzical look, not quite understanding the concept of the superstition. While the purpose may be lost on her, she does take a moment to study her new crewmates as they pose excellent follow up questions to Raz. Despite their curious beliefs, this crew seems very intelligent and experienced. she logs to herself.

"Seems like a lucky break" She adds in regards to the map's acquisition. "Let's hope it's not all too good to be true."

Ever the optimist.

GM, I don't need the actual description of the Sigil, just confirmation that I will know it if I see it.

Hope is not a valid Course Of Action, but this seems like a good way to go anyway.

Croaker grabs a snack from the bag and looks at the pendant.

"Memorable piece, there is enough of unique pieces that even if destroyed we should be able to recognize it. "

"Hope shouldn't be counted on" Radaszam agrees. "But that doesn't mean having it is bad. Good luck out there Starfinders. I look forward to seeing what you discover!"

As the vesk dismisses you, you each have some time on the station to make preparations. Once ready, you regroup at the Society's shipyards, where a nervous pt crew has finished prepping an ominous skeletal vessel that the rest of the milling-around agents give a wide berth. Boarding the Crypt Warden that is what you decided on, yes? Mahari enters the coordinates and the Eoxian ship launches out into the Drift.

As with all Vast-headed jounreys, the trip trough that plane is long. You have plenty of time for recreation, though the Warden's design is clearly not designed with fun recreation in mind. On the twelfth day you scans do finally *beep* in recognition of something finally happening. Altering course just slightly towards the thing of note, you find the wreckage of a large alien ship. It's make is unfamiliar, but another smaller vessel seems to be floating nearby it. Your ship's comms ping with a hailing message from that second craft.

"Hello. this is the Tinker's Path. Salvage right to this have already been claimed, just to be clear.

"Now THIS is travelling in style," Azara comments as he sees their vessel.

"Not a Pegasus or Drake
For our noble band
Instead a ship from the Grave."

He has a rather large crate in tow.

"Kat5E, Croaker, you want to help me install this? With your permission of course, Croaker. And by 'help' I mean, 'do all the work since I don't know how but I'll hand you tools and bring you snacks.'"

"Ahoy, Tinker's Path this is the Starfinder ship...

We really should have come up with a name for our ship, he telepathically communicates with the crew.

"Well...not THE Starfinder ship, A Starfinder ship. Anyway, we don't want any salvage but we're looking for information and would appreciate being allowed to review your findings."

On the way to the docks, Mahari shifts her clothes into something more appropriate for space travel. Her basic gray jumpsuit and magnetized crew boots are a better look for this part of Absalom Station. Though she briefly considers switching back to the naughty nun outfit just for fun as they pass one of many crew bars along the way.

"Whoa! You're not kidding, Azara. Croaker, how'd you swing access to this beauty? And what's her name?" she asks as she takes in the sleek bone-ship. She eagerly hops into the pilot's chair and begins the engine start checklist.

"Hey, Kat, when you're done helping Azara, would you mind adding this customized mono-node to the computers for me?" she asks after she pulls a half-cubic-meter box out of a small disc on her backpack. "Pretty please?"

As she pulls out into the traffic of the Armada, she begins trying to get a feel for the performance.

"Oof. Turns like a tugboat, and we're not winning any races, that's for sure. But damn, she's intimidating to look at. And sometimes, looks are all that matters," she adds with a wink to their Captain.

--------------------------------

Mahari brings the (as yet unnamed) Eoxian ship to a halt a respectful distance away from Tinker's Path and puts her into a station-keeping drive mode. Her hands are at the controls, though, just in case...

Azara, you may think this is travelling in style, but I've had to spend the last two weeks nursing the systems that pass for Life Support on this ship designed for the Undead!

He heads for the Science station. Anyway, let's see what we can find out about what is going on here.

I don't see a bonus for scanning on the ship sheet, so not taking one

Computers check to scan the big ship: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (1) + 17 = 18

That is a heck of a way to start. Too much breathing this goop that passes for air in the Corpse Fleet.

On the way to the docks, Kat excuses herself and tells the crew she will meet them there. She makes her way to the closest market district to run a short errand before departing. The door chime announces her entry to small weapons dealer, where she scans the weapons lined up behind the counter for something more suitable. For a moment she regards her old Azimuth Laser Rifle. It's paintwork badly worn down on all edges to bare gunmetal. The scorched and blackened muzzle from constant overloading. She recalls her decision to embark on a new career with the Starfinders that changed her life, and purchasing the old rifle second hand from a Ysoki merchant who proudly told her "It's only been dropped once!". Her reverie is interrupted by the Vesk attendant.

"See anything you like?"

"There, that one. Tell me about it."

After a short negotiation, she adds a synaptic accelerator mk 1 to the deal and taps her credstick.

"Come on into the back, The accelerator will take about an hour"

"I do my own work. Except for the ink."

"Suit yourself, voids the warranty though"

"Hun, I voided my warranty a long time ago" she adds before collecting her new gear and leaving.

that was the long way of saying I purchased a Synaptic Accelerator Mk1 (Dex) and Static Arc Rifle

Rejoining the crew at the docks, she takes in the sight of the Crypt Warden. It is very much her aesthetic. "It's horrible. I love it."

She is more than happy to lend aid with the computer and weapon upgrades during their long journey. Once the upgrades are complete she sets to work on her new personal upgrade, as well as finding a structural bone to perform countless pull ups on to here her semi-synthetic muscles in top form.

Just to be clear, this vessel and scavenger ship isn't in the system we're headed to? Just something we intercepted along the way?

Just to be clear, this vessel and scavenger ship isn't in the system we're headed to? Just something we intercepted along the way?

Correct: your Drift route still estimates a few more days before you re-shift into the Material Plane into the Arat system. These two ships are something you came across while traversing the Drift.

Nimh cautious scans the vessels while Azara communicates. The ysoki isn't able to get a great read off of the larger ship, but there are no life signs pinging from it. Further, that ship looks blasted all to Hell, and none of the Tinker's Path's armaments seem in the same league as the hull breaching holes of the larger craft.

Over the comms, Azara hears "No salvage? Starfinders?" There is the sound of scuttling in the background, and then you are hailed with a video link. Answering it, a beetle-like figure appears on the screen, blinking at you from close to the camera. Behind it, you see several other similar forms moving about the bridge, as well as small creatures floating about on scaled wings and a man with hooved feet carrying a large crate in the background.

"Well, no problems then. Name's Xizzvee, pleasure ta meet ya!" The beetle-form says. "We've run across of a few of you all here and there? Explorers, right? You all use the Drift plenty enough for it!" He smiles "We're not as big an intergalactic crew as you all. Just some fey checking out this place, salvaging things lost in here. You know, gotta make a living!"

Your ship's computers ping with a received data packet. "Dunno exactly what happened here. We were traveling about when we picked up some hot activity in here. Seems like this ship was being chased by several others. All of them were way above our weight class, but after those other ships finally caught up and shot this thing down we came by once it seemed safe to see if anyone was left. No idea if it was a light crew or bad luck in the damage, but no one was still breathing or here to help." Xizzvee shrugs. "so no need to have it be wasted."

The document sent over is a copy of the Tinker's Path' scans. Looking them over, they do seem to confirm the fey's story: the destroyed vessel had entered the Drift pursued by multiple other ships. After a prolonged pursuit, it was unable to escape and the attackers overcame it and destroyed the ship before then leaving the Drift to parts unknown.

Nimh mumbles to himself Why do those fracking Eoxians have to mount all the sensor controls upside down?

Engineering: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34

Looks like Jinsul torpedo damage. That's bad. Looks like the torpedos came from their battleships. That's worse. I highly recommend staying way the heck away from the ships that did this.

Piloting : 1d20 + 19 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 19 + 2 = 23

Mahari takes a look at the flight logs, but the mere mention of jinsuls chills her blood. She loses her train of thought as she's thrown back into memories of that time trapped behind the God Shield and then going back to chase the damn jinsuls away. Her eyes glaze over, and her fingers slide listlessly off the controls.

Any chance someone could look over Mahari's shoulder and help the poor girl out? Also, are there any clues as to the species of the victims?

Piloting: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26

Kat looks at the data with Mahari, and tries to clean up some of the data loss.

"Plotting their drift entry point. Looks like a distant system in the vast. Izalrann.

"Yeah, bad stuff. Good metal and tech here though" Xizzvee says as he sees you poring over the data. "So, where're you all headed? Gonna be honest - saw that ship on the scans and wasn't expecting breathers to answer the call."

There don't seem to be any corpses still on the ship - presumably pulled into the Drift through the boring holes - but the design of the controls imply izalguun were the crew.

"Whoa! You're not kidding, Azara. Croaker, how'd you swing access to this beauty? And what's her name?" she asks as she takes in the sleek bone-ship. She eagerly hops into the pilot's chair and begins the engine start checklis

"You know, above anything else I am a Mercenary. I worked with a crew that did some tasks for the corpse fleet. As a result and stitching to pieces some undead official, I can ask for a favor now and then. It comes in handy when I don't want to wave a Starfinder flag at first glance. Sometimes people are not that eager to mess with corpse fleet."

"Name, I don't know. They give us different ships every time." I couldn't come up with anything good, so go crazy Mahari ;)

=====================

Croaker listens to the explanation and asks through the comms.

"We seem to recognize the type of damage and who might be the attackers. Xizzvee, would you mind sending us data from black-box if it is intact?" asks Croaker wondering about the answers.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

On the last slide I provided a copy of the boon. It gives us 1 reroll during combat. And it seems that the computer modifier is +2

Azara's mouth tightens at the mention of Jinsuls, as does his fists where he's holding on wrist with the other hand behind his back. His first mission with the Starfinders was to retrieve many of their lost members from behind the Godshield and he'd clashed with them in near apocalyptic encounters again recently.

He doesn't see any connection between their current mission and the jinsul at the moment, though and Nimh is right. They're in no position to take on jinsul battleships, even with such a fine, though ship as The Star Scythe.

Still, there might be more information to be had, even if it is only to pass on to Starfinder command for later investigation so he waits and listens.

"Not wuite sure if its still there, but sure - leave your contact info and we'll reach out to chat if we find some logs about who blew these poor souls up." Xizzvee says. The fey seems quite talkative and personable now that he realizes you're not a rival salvage crew - or an undead menace.

Mahari glances over her shoulder and mouths a silent "Thanks" to Kat.

"Oh, we can tell. It was the jinsuls," Mahari spits out the name. "You see any of them coming; either run away or kill them all. Every last one of them if you can. They're horrible fanatical killing machines," she finishes with a shudder.

"But I think we've gotten what we need, Captain. Good luck to you all, and stay safe out here."

If no one objects, she reengages The Star Sythe's Drift engines and maneuvers back onto their course.

"Oh, don't need to tell us twice! Just based on what they did to this on here, we'll be steering well clear of any suspicious triangles!"

Feel free to continue to chat with the Tinker's Path, but moving along...

---

It is another five days of moving through the Drift before you approach the correct stellar coordinates to exit. Presumably you keep a wary eye out for more roving jinsul bands as you go, but whether through luck or simply because they've moved on you don't catch any further sign of their spidery armada.

When you finally shift back onto the Material Plane and into the Arat star system, a young yellow star shines far off in the distance. Several large gaseous planets slowly orbit the star, some with a few cold and icy moons drifting through space around them. According to the map fragment Radaszam recovered, Rasheen's scheduled first stop on her journey way supposed to be one of the more outlying gas giants: the world designated 'Aratos'.

A Computers check from the science officer would help to scan for the beacon's signal. While that is happening (or by the same officer if they'd like) Physical Science knowledge could be used while observing and recording properties of the planets and moons around you.

Nimh will Scan for the beacon:

Scan with computers, with the ship computer bonus: 1d20 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 17 + 2 = 30

And can take a crack at the Physical Science

Physical Science: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

Hopefully, those will work

Teleemo attempts to assist Nimh with his physical science ministrations.

physical science, aid another: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

"Let me examine these readouts and check the database while you continue the scans. Maybe we can learn some news things about this system."

Physical science, hireling, aid: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

Croaker plugs in his software assistant to analyze the readings

"That would analyze the data and highlight some information. Could make it easier to analyze them afterward"

He looks at the star system reaching out to leys of magic

At the sensor console, Nimh searches amongst the Arat system for Rasheen’s expected frequency. At first its frustrating: for an object whose sole job is to broadcast the beacon’s signal doesn’t appear to be being sent. Fifteen minutes pass, the only ping being a quick signal from around a different planet in the system that vanishes almost as quickly as it appears just like a sensor glitch. However, Nimh then notices some strange power readings from one of Aratos’ moons: an icy rock designated ‘Aratosim’. Focusing in, the ysoki identifies the point of interest as a crashed starship: wrecked but still generating low-amounts of power.

Working in concert Nimh, Croaker, and Teleemo carefully monitor the moon the crashed ship in on. The moon, Aratosim, is a cold celestial object. Large oceans are present on it but locked under an icy crust that covers most of its surface. Further, there is evidence of a strikingly large amount of cryovolcanic activity there: in addition to the danger of freezing blasts or thrown debris from the eruptions, the frequent bursts cause freezing fog banks to spread erratically about the moon.

the moon is Severely cold and has low-gravity. It also has an atmosphere, but it’s a thin one with only low levels of oxygen. Breathing on the surface will likely be Fatiguing over extended periods, shorter if you exert yourselves more heavily.

Completely unnecessary and unhelpful, Azara nonetheless leans over the shoulders of the science officer(s). He nods and gives approving comments at the right moments but doesn't actually contribute.

Culture: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

"Have we already come to the end of Rasheen's mission? better check it out, anyway," he comments.

Kat has one point in Culture to aid, so here goes nothin

Culture, aid: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Kat's intrest is piqued when the ship is loctaed, she leans into the displays and tries to add any knowledge she can contribute.

As they inspect the scans from the planet, Kat is relieved that she does not breathe, but chooses to keep that information to herself as to not rub it in to her breathing crewmates.

culture: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

mysticism: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

Teleemo considers many of these new discoveries in a meditative, stoic manner. He draws upon his inner spirit as he examines the scans.

[b]"These transponder signals are eerily familiar. Take a look. And the moon SHOULD NOT have this much ice, snow, and cold."[/ooc]

Feel free to look at the spoilers.