SFS 2-15 - The Infernal Gallery (KS) (Inactive)

Game Master phaeton_nz

Gameplay Thread - You know the drill.

A nervous looking Shirren hurries into the VC office. He glances at his wrist-com, wondering whether he was running late and the team had already left...

Arvin looks up from a datapad. Ah ... first in. Liftt isn't it?

Altronus Barasul Dovenayan of House Holdare - next comes the imperturbable kasatha and shakes hands with those present, after which he calmly sits down in any available chair.

A cheery looking halfling walks into the briefing.

Sorry I'm late. Velorum, at your service.

He gives a slight bow.

A human walks in. When he sees Venture-Captain Arvin, he looks shocked for a moment before recovering himself. "Sorry, I thought you were dead! I forget what's real sometimes."

I assure you I am very much alive Arvin replies dryly Was it a good funeral?

"Well, you sort of ruined it by rising as a zombie. But afterwards, the wake was nice."

The Shirren nervously peers at the esteemed venture captain.

"Liftt it is, uhh Sir." he stammers.

"You looking for a pilot? Or know someone who needs teaching?"

I must have found out that Zo! was hiring Arvin replied.

He then looks to Liftt. Actually I do need a pilot for this upcoming mission but I shall wait a bit until the other two arrive before I explain things. So, if I may ask, is your ... erm .... AMC accompanying you on this mission?

Now, those who don't know shirren might not be surprised, but those who do... well, this may be the first time you have ever seen a Shirren blush. Why, most people didn't even realise it was possible.

Liftt humms, haars and shuffles his feet. Eventually he agrees that
"The Court Appointed Anger Management Coach has not yet agreed that I have full control in, ahh, stressful situations. So if there is a mission, I suspect she will indeed insist on coming along." he mutters. "Any reasonable person would have acted in the same way." he adds sulkily.

Another shirren enters the room. She smiles saying "A reasonable person would not have been stuck in an alien system for two years. You are still suffering from PTSD.."

Liftts face starts to turn an interesting shade as he splutters, unable to talk. "Now... just breathe. We have talked about this..." she says in a calming voice. "Breathe in the pink, and breathe out the blue."

Arvin sighs, looking over at Zemir
I hope that on this mission you can stay grounded in this reality. I have heard of witchwarpers getting so confused that they are a hazard to themselves and everyone around them - and end up needing psychiatric help.

He then turns to Liftt
I ... presume you are undergoing counselling for this ... and not just from your AMC, no disrespect ma'am, but there are other avenues that can be pursued

He turns to his computer, curious to why Liftt would need an AMC in the first place.

A svelte android dressed in deep blues and purples slides into the room, trying to avoid notice. The left side of her head is clean-shaven; the right side sports naturally wavy hair, with ombre red-violet roots fading to deep indigo tips just past her shoulder. Her warm light brown skin is covered with indigo and violet tattoos in delicate scrollwork and flowers, highlighting her pale violet glowing circuits.

When someone's eyes land on her, she shrugs and introduces herself. "Twila-5. ... Liftt's all right." She gives him a nod.

"Look, we were in a hurry.. right." says the Shirren, starting to sound a little irritated. "We were proceeding at a safe speed in pursuit of our target when.."

Here the CAAMC puts a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Remember, take responsibility for your actions."

"When this...." Liftt grits his teeth "ground car cuts right in front of us. He could have caused an accident!"

The CAAMC adds "And accidents are what we are trying to prevent."

Liftt continues "Twice. He tried to ram me off the road! So I took some, ahh evasive..."

The CAAMC shakes her head disappointedly at Liftt "So I ahh should have dropped back and just let it go. But instead... I dropped back, swung up on the other side of him and gently nudged him.."

The CAAMC continues to shake her head. "Well, it was gentle" continues Liftt "Just at 120mph. He went off side of the trail. Unfortunately there was a patrol drone around that caught the whole thing on camera and when we got back to town..."

Well there's five of you here, not counting the AMC. I'm expecting a sixth but we may as well get started.

“Yesterday, I purchased an interesting painting from a local contact. It’s valuable, certainly, but that’s not my main concern. I’m interested in its origins.

According to my contact, the painting was acquired in the Drift, at the site of a large extraplanar disturbance. I’d like you to pick up the painting and question its owner. Find out everything he knows about the painting and where it was discovered. Speaking of my contact, the Venture-Captain’s upper lip curls slightly. He’s a vesk pawnbroker by the name of Julzakama. He runs a shop in the Downlow district called Julzakama’s Loans. He’s brash, greedy, and certain to give you a hard time. Don’t let him push you around. And no matter what he says, don’t pay him anything! I’ve already wired him the promised funds. Arvin presses a hand to his temple, massaging it for a moment as if trying to rid himself of foul memories. I make no claim to like Julzakama, but he is useful. He has a habit of acquiring interesting objects and information, which he has shared with the Starfinder Society on more than one occasion. When you’re done speaking with him and retrieving the painting, return to me. I’ll see the painting is properly appraised and treated while you select a starship, requisition supplies, and travel to the coordinates where the painting was discovered. When you arrive, I’d like you to track down the painting’s source and collect any other art pieces or objects at the site before they’re lost. I’d also like you to uncover what you can of the site. What plane was it pulled from, what purpose it served, and so on. Context is an integral component of any exploration.

Arvin nods, gesturing with an incline of his head at a circular device resting on the table. This is a null-space chamber. Use it to collect and store any delicate objects and art you find. I expect it returned when your mission is complete. Any questions?

Julzakama. I remember him. A rather pathetic type, but still manageable, which makes it moderately useful. Altronus folds his four arms across his chest and stares at Arvin. What's so special about that painting?

Not sure but I have a hunch this painting is quite valuable, much more than Julzakama suspects. Perhaps even of historical significance. Irrelevant of its value, the fact that Julzakama has come to us with this object, instead of an art dealer, has me intrigued. As much as I hate to admit it, Julzakama hasn’t brought us anything that didn’t warrant further investigation.

All the time party talk to VC a large armored tubic tank of water staying not far. It is made of glass, carbon and some light parts, like baratu use in their suits. The tank, or an aquarium slowly moves as if being on wheels. There is a fishlike creature inside the tank, similar with crucian carp. Seems like the fish is paying attention to surroundings.

"Carp Magnus. 15 years old. Avoid put any limbs into watertank.

After many shirrens made their coming out the fish became more agitated, but soon calms down inside water as Arvin provides a briefing.

Is it possible to recieve paintings copy and Julzakama's image? How much was it cost for you? Do you still require good pilot? ,- quesions appear one after another, with a dealy, at a small screen outside the water tank. The fish inside looks concentrated. Internal aquarium terminal seems like pending connection to recieve the files.

"Is this a 'just talk to the guy' type of situation, or do you recommend more...creative ways to persuade him?" Twila-5 seems hesitant when she mentions the 'creative ways', as if she really doesn't want to have to do that.

Carp finds a picture of Julzakama on the infosphere along with information on his website and what is on offer at his pawnshop. No picture of the painting though.

Should be a just talk to the guy situation. Arvin replies

Culture to recall knowledge to know more about Julzakama and the Downlow District

((Any PCs who played Starfinder Quest: Into the Unknown, or Starfinder Society Scenario #1–10: The Half-Alive Streets, would have met him before))

"Let's see . . . I know I've met a Julzakama before . . ."

Culture (Recall Knowledge): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Liftt listens carefully. "We pick up the picture, don't get bluffed into paying for it twice, and find out anything else we can about the source." he says.

"What if his Jul-character wants to charge for the extra information? He sounds like the type who enjoys adding creative charges onto things."

culture: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

He probably would but, as I said earlier, no matter what he says, don't pay him anything.

Culture, +4 if recall knowledge: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Probably Schuka knows something about this Julzakama she sends a telepathic message to Velorum (in Aklo) as if it was a divine intervention...

-Behold, knight! The future awaits you... ,- Schuka then shares some info she could remember in mystical matter.

What do I know about Julzakama and the Downlow District? Have any of my past lives had experience with them?

Culture: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

"Downlow is still Downlow. Good to know. Well, let's do this." Once everyone is ready, Zemir starts heading to the Spike to find Julzakama's Loans.

Culture: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

We should get moving. and he will head out after Zemir.

The journey to Julzakama’s Loans takes less than an hour, through the claustrophobic slums of the Spike to Downlow. Julzakama’s Loans is located on a crowded, filthy alley lined with metal and concrete buildings that are universally caked in oilsoaked graffiti. Trash fills the street, and the stench of bodily waste is thick in the air. A metal door located under a red neon sign that reads ‘Julzakama’s Loans’ is the only entrance to the pawn shop.

Julzakama’s loans is a run-down, crowded shop with shelves crammed full of worthless junk. In between teetering piles of out-of-date comm units, coils of mismatched wires, and broken appliances are jugs of unidentifiable liquids and heaps of broken metal. It’s humid, and the entire place reeks. At the back of the shop is a desk topped by a series of metal bars that reach all the way up to the ceiling. Behind the desk stands a muscular vesk in a greasy, torn muscle shirt, watching a vidscreen. The image displays a new interview with a white-furred female ysoki from AbadarCorp gingerly snacking on an apple while answering questions about the insufficient screening measures employed by AbadarCorp colonies.

At the sight of customers, Julzakama smiles a toothy grin and shuts off the vidscreen.

You know, I really like that Datch lady. She speaks her mind and I think AbadarCorp could use more leaders like her, the vesk exclaims before bellowing at his new arrivals. Anyways, you Arvin’s pets? Come in, then. No need to hide. Julzakama chuckles, giving his scaly neck a good scratch. Well, what do you want?

"If you know we work for Arvin, you probably know why we're here--the painting, and what you can tell us about it."

"To be precise, we are curious about the provenance of the art work." elaborates Liftt.

Julzakama just laughs. The painting, it has been paid for. Information about the painting, not so much

Extracting information from Julzakama without being subjected to rude mockery requires a successful Intimidate check, Bluff check, or Diplomacy check. PCs that have met Julzakama in the past get a +2 bonus to this check, as do any vesk or Large PCs. PCs that are Small take a –2 penalty to this check

Liftt scowls at the vesk. He is about to open his mouth in retort when the CAAMC puts a gentle hand on his arm. <<Remember, we talked about this.>> The scowl deepens. Liftt breathes in once, turns his glare upon Julzakama and states.

"Recurring business is important in your line of work is it not? And Starfinder recurring business is particularly important. Given the extortionate amount that was paid of the paining, you might want to think twice before pissing on the hand that has passed you so many credits."

intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

<<Really, stooping to use of vulgarities? You could have made your point more effectively without them.>>

Schuka slowly follows the team inside her watertank which is relatively slowly moves after ally shirren. So the party may contemplate surroundings as elder people during promenade.

Upon arriving after negotiation started, the watertanks concealed compartment opened and a memory card flew without support towards the filthy vesk.

Once more a note appeared at wateratank's side screen.
-Here are 700 credits, crypted. The wallet will be unlocked as soon as we reach the painting ant it's current owner.

disguise to hide I'm stellifera: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 11 + 4 = 16
Bluff: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

The Vesk laughs at Liftt's intent to intimidate but, with the possibility of more credits, he slips the stinky, mud-encrusted, framed painting through the metal bars with a grin and the words “Pleasure doing business with you, star-ling.”

The painting is a portrait of an austere vesk soldier with a commanding presence.

Cleaning off the painting gives you a +2 bonus to your Culture and Profession checks regarding the painting.

Picture of the painting added to slides

Velorum will use Token Spell to carefully clean the painting, assuming he thinks he can do so without harming it.

Culture on the painting: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 2 = 24

Interesting. The vesk soldier as Major Sifkali, a Veskarium war hero who distinguished himself on the battlefield against the Swarm. The portrait is a priceless work of art by Aelon Vimariss, a verthani artist that became famous for painting Veskarium war heroes. How did it end up in his shop?

Earlier:

After pondering for a second, Twila-5 remembers that Twila-4 spent much of her early years in the Spire. She frequented the Downlow, and had encountered Julzakama a time or two. (All spoilers open.)

And back to the present:

When Schuka offers 700 credits to Julzakama right off the bat, Twila-5 is stunned. They were specifically ordered not to pay the Vesk anything, and while some rules were made to be broken, this seems like a poor precedent to set for this business relationship. Who has 700 credits to throw around like it's nothing, anyway?! However, what's done is done, and she's not fool enough to undermine the team. She plays along for now. "So. Tell us about the painting's source. Location, names, etc."

Bought it off a rat-ling named Winks. She’s captain of the Clutter Collector. That’s a salvage barge that picks up junk from the Drift. Only this ain’t junk. It’s good stuff.

I sent your boss the coordinates, star-ling. Look it up. You want me to do your job for you? Julzakama laughs, then takes a deep swig of his energy drink. It was in a big hunk of swamp floating in the Drift. Not sure what plane it’s from, but there was gravity, and the atmosphere was toxic. The rat-ling’s that found it called it the Drift Bog. They tried exploring it, but they were attacked by bugs, and the rat-ling said they saw bigger beasts stomping around in there. Not sure what kind and frankly, I don’t think the rat-ling even saw ‘em. She was sick when she got here, seeing things. Even said she saw a big old house in the distance. One of them old fashioned wooden ones, like you see on the history vidcasts. With a sudden frown, Julzakama quickly adds, Not that I watch those things… Clearing his throat he continues, The rat-ling said the house was real fancy, but it was flooded and sinking into the swamp. Like I said, she was fevered. Probably dreamt the thing. Whatever’s really there, something made her sick. Could be poison, disease, or worse. With a wide grin he adds, Have fun.

Zemir says to his companions, "That could be a drift bubble displaced through time or even dimensional space! Now I understand why Arvin is so interested!"

We should probably check on Winks. We might be able to help her, and finding out what happened to her might tell us more about the place the painting came from.

Liftt nods. "Where might we find Winks? Do you know the hospital they are in?"

<<See, I can be polite.>>

Dunno. Ask Arvin. All I know is that Winks was messed up. Sick or something. Must’ve been seeing things. Rat-lings aren’t as tough as us vesk.

He then picks up the cred stick Schuka passed him. Credits ... Pay as promised. Told you all I know

Schuka pass the credit stick, which is personally crypted and consists some ocean life pictures but also not more dozen credits. Hopefully the vesk does not know it yet.

So the Stellifera transmits a polite message and departs with the other team to visit Arvin once again...
Or should we go to the hospital and find sick rat-kin?

"Let's go talk with Arvin" suggests Liftt.

"He may know more about where the sick rat is. He likely will want to chew us out about spending 700cr with the vesk too. Bad precedent for future starfinders.."

Then he shrugs. "But you know what, your credits."

Twila-5 is the last to leave the shop. She gives the Vesk a deadpan stare for several seconds before slipping out like a silent shadow. Most people find that disconcerting. He deserves it, especially considering how he treated Twila-4 that one time. Jerk.

It’s another hour back to the Lorespire Complex, where you can drop off the painting to Venture-Captain Arvin and tell him what you have learned. Venture-Captain Arvin provides you with medical supplies to help combat any diseases and poisons, including six medpatches, six brown hypopens, a recovery aegis, a filtered rebreather armor upgrade and a white hypopen.

If you want to make purchases you should do so now.

By the way. Which one of you handed Julzakama an encrypted cred stick containing 700 credits? And what is he going to discover when it is cracked? He looks sternly at each of you.

Schuka swims inside her aquarium for a while and then sends telepathic message.

- It was my first memo-credit stick which I purchased at Absalom even before becoming a Starfinder. There are enough credits for a good dinner with drinks. And my early poetry about vicissitudes of fate and imperialism. But all the stick glitching. Not sure how it will work on junky vesks hardware.

But at watertanks sidescreen appears ...

- Private answer sent. We've got clues and a trail. Follow? Other requests?

Liftt eyes the rebreather. "Are you thinking we may be gone for some time? Or that acids may be at play?" he asks, slightly worriedly.

"Perhaps I should upgrade my armor a bit. While comfortable, it perhaps is not as protective as I may need."

He quickly taps out a shopping list to pick up at the armory.

It is a trip into the Drift after all. You could be gone for days .... weeks. And, I firmly believe in being prepared.

And I think you should know, said Vesk has a friend who is a computer expert. Fortunately, said computer expert is also a Starfinder. But, if that stick does not contain 700 credit, I would strongly suggest you stay well clear of Julzakama. He will not take well to being lied to like that. You may also have to stay well clear of a tiefling named Chrysalis as well, assuming she takes it badly. She too is under anger management counselling.

Liftt's AMC looks over at the name. Yes, she knows who it is.

So ... what ship class do you want. Drake? Pegasus? Azata?

Please select your ship frame and finalise your crew positions. There is Starship Combat