SFS B1: The Cantina Job (Inactive)

Game Master cmlobue

The adventure begins in Electric Prism, a dive bar with gimmicky drinks and a casual atmosphere that typically attracts tourists and transient starship crews. Located in Drifter’s End, the district surrounding the Lorespire Complex, Electric Prism is also frequented by adventurers looking to unwind.

Ah, nice atmosphere.

A sleek brenneri enters the room, looks around for a moment before moving up to the bar. She orders a drink and flops onto a stool, keeping her back to the wall. Taking out a small object from her pocket, she toys with it as she sips.

I wish I could find a better image for her.

"Hm. Mostly. Wish it was cleaner, though," replies an iridescent blue Shirren as she glances around critically. Ugh. When was the last time the floor was mopped? It's so sticky.

A male Yoski walks in, with a black dusty cloak on and the hood covering his head. His whiskers and head twitching and moving back and forth as he takes in the sights, sounds and an smells. He turns his head up, as the noxious fumes of body odor and stale food hits his nostrils.

Not the most horrible smell that has assaulted my nose…but not most pleasant either. So, I got a com-link about a job. I better be in the right spot, he would think to himself as he looked around to the bright lights swirling around him in hopes to draw a bigger crowd to the dive bar.

After a few people pushed past him, he realized that he was standing in the way and moved over to claim a spot in the corner. Even the first mission was a success, he knew better then to assume the next one would be. After grabbing a spot, he ordered a beer, and just people watched.

He spotted a Brenneri fiddling with something, but let them be. He then spotted a cook in the back, smoking as ashes fell into the food they were preparing.

Twitch, as his buddies called him, held back a bit of saliva as he gagged a bit at the sight of the food in the back. Note to self…DO NOT ODER FOOD

As a neon laser show crisscrosses the colorfully-lit cantina, boisterous singing from a Drift trekking freighter crew nearly drowns out a group of tourists ordering drinks from the automated bartender. The Electric Prism’s owner, an imposing dragonkin named Trazhi, pulls up a chair two sizes too small for his scaly frame and thuds down at the end of the table.

“You look capable. I have a proposition for you, if you’re looking for paying work. Last night, a dwarf named Vanecarsys came in with a huge chunk of horacalcum. Said he’d hit a major vein on an asteroid he owned a mining claim on. He ran up a huge bar tab, bragging the whole time. Sure enough, other folks begged to get in on the deal—starmetal’s worth a fortune. He was reluctant, but eventually gave in. I tell you; people couldn’t give him their credits fast enough! While they fawned over him, I got a closer look at the nugget. It was just a lump of rock painted with horacalcum! Well, that dwarf must’ve seen me poking at it, because he instigated a brawl by claiming a group of pahtra buyers offered to pay him more if he didn’t make a deal with the vesk at another table. Vanecarsys slipped away during the fight. Now I’m out a huge bar tab and the repair costs from the brawl!”

He offers you a 10% commission for bringing Vanecarsys back to pay his tab and damages from the brawl.

Time for shopping, questions, and a skill check.

culture check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Twitch looks at the bartender then looks at some of the damages they point out. He recalls some bits and pieces of information he’d heard while docking.

[i]This wasn’t their first job, nor will it be their last. Gambling will make people do stupid s#@+, especially if they owe more credits to somebody bigger than them.[i] he thought to himself while mulling over the offer.

When does the next shuttle to the Venture Solaris leave? as plainly and calmly asks the bartender.

Mega Gelub will ask around diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 15

If Anock had a nose, she'd have stuck it up in the air at the mention of the brawl. "Hmph. Fools. Risking injury over money?" She sniffs disdainfully and begins poking around to see if there are any bodily fluids that haven't been cleaned up yet. (Of course she finds some, but gods only know how long they've been there.) Inevitably, some patrons question her (to put it mildly) for poking her face under their tables without any warning or consent. So she imperiously explains what's up and asks what they've noticed.

Diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7
Untrained in Culture.

Vaidra will ask around a bit using her native charm, but is completed untrained in the culture of this location. Or any location, really.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Venture Solaris provides a complimentary shuttle that runs to and from Absalom Station twice daily. The high-speed shuttle takes 12 hours to reach Venture Solaris.

Whike searching the site, Anock discovers a custom credstick wedged beneath a table, likely dropped during the chaos. The credstick has a stylized sun on one side and a serial number on the other.

"There were two other local bars that fell for similar scams," Trazhi says as you search. "Graff's and... Nightfall, yeah. Maybe check our security footage, too.

"And remember, I need Vanecarsys alive to lay his debts. Deal is off if you bring back a corpse."

Alive huh…I guess that could pose a problem. How much of a payout are we talking then? as he asks so matter-of-fact.

Got it, we will keep here alive perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

"Oh, hey, a credstick! Say, does anyone know how to look this stuff up? The odds are against it helping us, but you never know." Anock holds it up for the group to see. Not trained in Computers or Engineering. Or Culture.

Perception DC 12: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

She taps the floor as she watches the security footage, oblivious to the fact that others may find that annoying. "Well, hey. Looks like Vanecarsys and that elven woman might be the same person. That's...quite a disguise. Magical, perhaps? It'd be hard for an elven body to physically contort into those dwarven dimensions for such a long period of time." (Right. Because she knows so much about elves and dwarves.)

Yeah, alive messed with stuff like this all the time. I break stuff down, tinker with it, put it back together. Let me see it as Twitch’s whiskers flicker with excitement. He always loved technology and the inner workings.

engineering: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
culture: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

Twitch, grabs a small device and connects it to the end of the cred-stick. After a few moments of loading screens and test functions he looks to the gal that found it.

So, the logo is that of Venture Solaris, it’s a well known and frequented gambling joint in the nearby solar system. It appears the stick was created and issued about a week ago, but I cannot find out to whom unfortunately. Maybe if we head to the casino, the computers there could tell us more information. Wait…you said there were two other joints hit by the same methods? as it seems Twitch was in his own little world as it took a moment for the information of other victims to work there way to his processing center of his brain. Hey, we should go check out the other joints too. It’s gonna be a while for the casino shuttle to come back around

Just then a gruff looking half-orc bursts through the door of the Electric Prism, looking a little frantic. He wears a faded black trench-coat, but is otherwise well-kept enough. He puts one hand over his eyes, as if it would shield them from bar-smoke in the same way that it would the sun.

Finally he spots your table and rushes over.

It looks like this table is considering some serious business! I was told some Starfinders might be needed here. Sorry for being late. What's the job? An agent taken hostage on a new, hostile world? Thwarting drow slavers from Apostae?

Presumably the team catches him up on the real story and disappointments him :)

I was never the biggest fan of casinos. This grifter's vices are very... banal.

Dwarf and elf images on Slide 3.

"If you want to talk with them, fine, but just remember who you are working for when it comes time to bring them back."

If you do try to get information from either Graff's or Nightfall, you cannot find someone willing to even acknowledge the incident, never mind give you information.

When you are ready to board the shuttle, Trazhi gives each of you a dose of tier 1 sedative and a merciful weapon fusion seal (2nd level) to assist in bringing your quarry home alive.

The casino’s logo, which matches the stylized sun on the credstick, is displayed prominently on the shuttle and its platform. You disembark alongside throngs of hopeful winners, each anxious to join in the gaming.

Once across the green marble floor at its entrance, the sights and sounds of the casino assault the senses. An inlaid star on the floor glows brightly, not unlike the glow of the Pact World’s sun that is itself visible through the casino’s transparent adamantine ceiling. A symphony of electronic game themes blends with the easy chatter and merry shouts of hundreds of gamblers to form a soundtrack designed to entice the hopeful. A nearby gourmet buffet permeates the air with the aromas of roasted meats and succulent sweets.

From the casino floor, the entrance to the VIP section is clearly visible, up a flight of grand stairs and through yellowtinted, glass double doors.

Vaidra looks around rather bewildered. This is obviously not her usual hangout. She looks around for either the dwarf or the elf from the old security footage, but mostly keeps her eyes peeled for any trouble.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

culture: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Hmmm…what would an Astazoan be doing here? I know Abasolom Station has the most of their kind…but this isn’t going to be easy Twitch thinks to himself.

Before they board the shuttle, Twitch speaks up. Guys and gals…this might not be as easy as it sounds. You mentioned about a shapeshifter…this could be an Astrazoan. Their race is known for highly advanced shifting, being able to produce pigments pf various colors into their skin to replicate whatever form the my want. They still must be the ‘same size’…it’s plausible that the elf and dwarf are the same creature. Perhaps he’s got a gambling debt that is too expensive to pay…hence all the trickery and shenanigans as he will take the dose of sedative and the weapon enhancement in case things get unsavory.

"Yes. Of course. I was hoping one of you would catch on. Excellent." It's pretty clear that Anock hadn't even thought of Astrazoans before Ketch Um mentioned them.

On the shuttle over, Anock twiddles with the weapon fusion seal until she has it sitting right on her laser pistol. Mental note: only use this gun.

Once they arrive and begin to take in the scope of what they have to search, she feels her eyes begin to glaze over. Ugh. Too much. Break it down. Where do we start? After a few moments of brainstorming, she speaks: "We have a credstick to investigate. Let's do that first. Then, my guess is that anyone trying such a series of scams will probably head to that VIP area. We need to figure out how to get in there."

What are we waiting for, we need to get to the VIP room. He rushes up there, but realizes he needs to wait for everyone else, so stops and waits.

We need to be smart about this. If we burnish the door then we’re probably gonna get tossed for being stupid. Maybe there is a computer station that might give me a better idea of who the Credstick belongs to

Is there somewhere I can plug the credstick into to find out more info on the owner?

The half-orc is likewise agitated at the light and sound saturation in the casino environment. Shaking it off a bit, he focuses on his teammates' suggestions.

I agree. And if we can't find a free terminal maybe we can ask an attendant at a cash-out window to help us identify the owner. We can insist that we want to personally deliver the item versus just turning it in. Or perhaps the casino has a hotel with a business center that would have free terminals. Maybe that's safer actually...

Same question, are there terminals we an clearly see on the casino floor?

Perception, find a terminal: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Dorm has no problem locating a terminal, but inserting the credstick reveals that whatever data was once on it has been lost. There is no sign of either the dwarf or elf versions of Vanecarsys on the main floor, so the assumption that they are in the VIP room seems to be correct, so you head that way.

Slide 4 -you can assume all the other seats are occupied as well.

Casino security is stationed at the entrance to the VIP section, carefully screening those attempting to gain entry. Seated at a desk is a smiling halfling cashier, transferring credits onto VIP Venture Solaris credsticks.

Past the checkpoint, a statue of an immense avian creature towers over the gaming hall, its wings outstretched in welcome even as its three dark eyes appear to keenly watch every move of the gamblers within. To the north, a kasatha bedecked in sequins plays a curved keyboard and finely dressed patrons drink at a sleek bar staffed by two juggling ysoki. Gaming tables and slot machines crowd the remainder of the VIP section. Seated at a high stakes table is a familiar-looking elven woman.

Don't we look like a group of VIPs.

Vaidra stands back and lets someone else do the talking.

Anock's focus flicks between her teammates as they approach the checkpoint. Ohhh, who's the smoothest talker among us? Not me, more's the pity. If I [i]could do that, I'd be better at it than anyone. Hmm... Start with the half-orcs, I guess, and then the Ysoki? Yes. That'll do.[/i]

She sends a telepathic message to Dorm, Mega, and Ketchum, in that order: <We should flash our Starfinder badges and say we're on official business, tracking a group of scammers. We have reason to believe one of them is in this VIP section, and we have orders to bring them in for questioning.>

Could work…I suppose potential bad publicity could sour their VIP patron? he thought to himself as the idea presented by his comrade.

It's as good as any idea I might have.

Dorm nods at the others and takes a deep breath. Brushing off the front of his trenchcoat he approaches the attendant just inside the VIP area.

He extracts his Starfinder Society ID badge, presenting it as he speaks, leaning in and using hushed tones.

My good man. We're here from the Starfinder Society on official business. We tracking scammers and believe you may have one in your VIP section at this very moment. We do not wish to cause a scene, only to confirm or deny our suspicion for the moment. We will inform you before we take any drastic actions. May we pass and have a chat with our suspect?

Diplomacy, inspiration: 1d20 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 6 + (5) = 17 well...

Good enough.

The guard looks over your credentials. "We run an honest business here. If there's someone trying to take advantage of our employees or customers, we want them out. Just try not to make a scene, okay?" He then enters a code, and the door to the VIP room opens.

Vanecarsys, in their elven woman persona, gambles at a table alongside five other wealthy patrons and an android dealer. The table’s digital readout indicates she’s doing extremely well and has won substantially more than she owes.

In addition to deciding how to confront them, you have to decide if you will do so immediately or wait for the game to end.

*Hmm, worked better then I thought* he thinks to himself.

Ketch will make sure his credentials are well hidden under his cloak. He attached the Merciful weapon enhancement to his Azimuth Laser Pistol real quick before he enters the VIP premises. He spots the potential subject as they play on one of the games. He notices they are ahead on winnings…but a decent margin.

They have more then what’s needed to repay the amount owed. Are they just being greedy? Is there some other motive behind their actions? I wonder what they are up to? I don’t want to interrupt them now, as it may cause a scene. Scenes are bad, more potential bystanders to fight through to subdue our actual target. all these thoughts rave around his mind as he aimlessly wanders around the VIP section.

Anock doesn't really want to bother with avoiding a scene. Honestly, scenes get things done, and that's all that matters to her. Buuuut... They also burn bridges, and bridges are useful. Sigh. Resigned to doing things the respectable way, she thinks at her companions one by one: <Let's wait for the game to finish. Maybe offer to buy them a drink?> She scans the room, trying to pinpoint all possible exits.

A thought occurs to her. <They used a commotion to escape unnoticed before. Think they'll do it again? Should we guard all the exits?>

Vaidra nods at the thought inserted into her head. She heads cheerfully for one of the exits to prevent escape.

I presume there is just the one obvious exit, the way we came in. Still good thinking to cover it.

The half orc approaches and stands behind her. He subtly whispers at her back as she continues playing.

Greetings. Do you have a moment to speak? It's... official business. You're going to want to deal with it before it gets worse.

Diplomacy, inspiration: 1d20 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 6 + (5) = 18

When Dorm speaks to her, Vanecarsys completes her current hand, then removes her credstick. "You will have to excuse me," she says, rising from the table. "My associates here have a tasteless sense of humor, but I really must attend to this private matter."

She steps to the side and curtly addresses Dorm. "I was doing quite well there. So what is it you want?"

Please place your token on the map where you would be when this conversation takes place.

okay. Set

Done.

Anock slips up to the end of the bar near a staff exit/entrance and keeps the target in her sights. She thinks she's being pretty darn subtle. The barkeep probably wonders if she's going to order a drink or just keep standing there with her back to him.

Current position on the map looks right for the conversation that's been had so far.

Dorm smiles sheepishly and begins in earnest.

It seems you've caused some trouble at a handful of establishments, such as the "Electric Prism." We need only for you to come with us and pay the tab at these locations. It appears you're doing well enough here to cover it, and with your current footing can get back to gambling without the weight of debts afterward! What do you say? We've got a ship waiting for your convenience.

Diplomacy, inspiration: 1d20 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (15) + 6 + (3) = 24

Mega is where he wants to be.

Vanecarsys pockets the credstick and sighs. "Fine, I'll go back to Absalom Station with you - as long as you don't involve the authorities."

Vaidra drifts a little closer to the upcoming altercation.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

She catches Dorm attention and nods to indicate the elf? will come with us peacefully.

Well, that was too easy. Anock thinks to herself. She tries to ascertain whether Vanecarsys is sincere...

Sense Motive DC 17: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

...and it seems so. Huh. ... Okay. She shrugs and falls in with the others for the walk back to the shuttle, thinking at each of the others in turn: <That was...really easy. I expected some resistance.>

Sense Motive, DC17: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Dorm is a little surprised that she complies so easily. He doesn't trust her completely but he can't put his finger on it.

He motions vaguely to Mega. Could you please escort her carefully to our ship. Hold onto her carefully. We're right behind you.

Letting the solarian take the lead and Vanecarsys, Dorm checks in with the other party members.

I don't buy it. Did any of you pick up on anything? We should watch her very carefully.

Sotto voce, once we are on our way back to the ship, "Yeah, she didn't want to cause a scene there, but she isn't going to come quietly either." She moves up to help Mega.

As you escort Vanecarsys out of the VIP room, six armored humanoids enter the room. they look around briefly, then one yells at the Starfinders near the table, "Turn over the elf!"

Only three shown on the map because the others will be dealing with other NPCs.

Of course this couldn’t have been that easy Ketch laments in his head.

Vaidra moves to block the intruders. "They're ours. What do you need them for."

You can make your request to the Starfinder society after our VCes are done with her, and her debts resolved on Absalom Station.

Diplomacy, inspiration: 1d20 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 6 + (5) = 18

No, we ain't turning over the elf, we will run out of here with her before you can take her from us.

"Yeah, she didn't want to cause a scene there, but she isn't going to come quietly either."

Ohhhhhh. That makes more sense. --And then the armored humanoid shouts to hand over the elf. Greeeeeat.

Her eyes pinned on Vanecarsys in case they decide now's the time to make a break for it, Anock sniffs dismissively and remarks dryly to no one in particular: "Hmph. Some amateurs don't know how to handle things without making a scene." With a huffy sigh, she strides forward to stand beside Vanecarsys and Dorm.

A thought occurs to her. The dwarf in the bars, the elf leaving... In Vanecarsys's head, they hear: <I doubt you'll have a better chance of escaping them than us. Drop below the table and turn into a person they haven't seen. We'll get you out of here.>

If Vanecarsys complies, Anock will give a warning about it to the Starfinders who aren't in line of sight of the transformation.

The goons have no interest in discussing the matter.

Round 1 - bolded may go

Vaidra
Anock
Mega Gelub
Ketch Um
Dorm Argun
Goon 2
Goon 1
Goon 3