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Azzirm shrugs on the mentioning on needing a break "Fine here. At least I believe so."
When the elevator door opens, Azzirm looks out....empty...but what is that wierd shadow. "I almost have the invisibility bypass built in this thing....anybody else see what is going on in here? If we need light...I can turn the projector on in a cone infront of us if that would be useful."
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Roquefort steps out into the hallway, Azzirm on his heels peering into the darkness and wondering what the deal with the shadowy blob was…
When suddenly the blob explodes! A pulse of pure pain crashes through the room and out into the hallway, tearing through your very souls.
Even Biter is caught off guard, and he yelps in surprise. ”Either step into the med bay,” he says as he heads towards the room to the south, ”Or do something about the voidboil if you wish.”
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Kultanien gasps in pain as the voidball explodes. Jopsie looks on in horror and then interest. Taking a pen from one of her lab-coats many pouches she marks off a couple of items on her clipboard.
"I think that is condensed anti-energy, probably related to the amount of shadow power gathered around the ship. With the right modulation it should seek to return to its point of lowest potential.."
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The negative energy rips into your very life forces, but Jopsie quickly analyzes the effect, crafts a solution, and shunts the remaining energy back to its native plane. As everyone files into the med bay, Biter nods in thanks to the young lady in the lab coat and waves a hand towards the serums on the counter. ”Take what you need. I assure you they are exactly what they appear to be.” And what they appear to be are four Mark 3 serums of healing.
Just as each of you settle into a chair or lie down on a treatment bed to rest, Silent Strike’s voice echoes over the intercom, “My sincerest apologies. My acolytes are supposed to keep these areas clear of voidboils. I’ll find out who was responsible and have them jettisoned into space. This is no way to treat guests. Please, take a moment to rest in our medical bay, then Biter will show you to the banquet hall.”
About a quarter of an hour later, having caught your breath and recovered, Silent Strike calls out over the speaker again. ”My apologies again for the voidboil incident. However, now I find myself short-handed by one crewmember. I wonder if you could assist me in the greenhouse by completing a duty she is no longer able to perform.”
Biter looks at his comm unit and leads you across the hallway where the light around a nearby door suddenly changes from red to blue. This cabin features special lights and equipment for growing plants.
Silent Strike’s voice greets you as you enter. “In this room we grow all manner of plants for various medicinal, recreational, and deadly purposes. If you could please assist me by harvesting some poison to replace the poison you used* in the earlier trial, I would appreciate it.”
Biter instructs you on the proper use of the tools available to harvest gas-filled bulbs from a rare plant and bring them over to the extraction machine. He explains that the bulbs must be carried by an unarmored hand as the alloys in most armors, including armored clothing, will immediately disrupt the bulbs and cause the gas to fill the room.
Failing to carefully and correctly harvest a bulb would normally expose a person to the corrosive laughing** gas at its full potency, but thanks to Croaker’s life bubble spell, failure now poses no threat.
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Kultanien joins the others in having a rest before heading over to the "grey-house". She carefully pockets one of the healing serum, "Just in case"
Jopsie, more than proving her worth listens carefully to the instructions and then follows them to the letter.
"Oh well done. We'll make an adventurer of you yet Jopsie." gushes Kultanien.
The bespeckled Jopsie just laughs. "It's just using lab equipment." she says modestly.
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Azzirm rests a little...fixing a few small nicks and gouges in his armor.
Hating to do so....but he does...Azzirm pops the seals on the power armor, and gets out. Then removes his gloves and does his best gardener impersonation.
Holding up his half-orc hands, "The drow always said I had a green thumb.....". He says sarcastically.
He will then hand his bulb to somebody else (Jopsie or Kultanien probably), and spend the next few seconds getting back into his armor.
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Biter taps at his wrist comms to enter the number of doses harvested, then leads you down the corridor to the banquet room. A female ysoki with black fur dressed in a tight gray bodysuit leans against the wall next to the door to the banquet hall. Next to her is an open wall panel, its wires hanging out. She eyes you as you approach.
“Starfinders... on my ship. Well, it’ll be my ship before long; I’m a patient woman. The name’s Breeze. Did the old man drag you all the way out here? For what? To become his tool?” She turns and snaps two cable harnesses together. The door she stands next to immediately opens to reveal a grand banquet hall. Breeze saunters in, steps up onto a chair, and takes a seat on top of the enormous table.
”So, Starfinders, it looks like we’ve got some time to kill {heh} until the Boss’ next challenge for you. I’m really curious about all of you and this Society you’re in,” she says in a friendly and open tone. ”Especially you two, Cousins,” she says pointedly to Croaker and Roquefort. ”What does the Society have you do out there, anyway?”
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After harnessing the globes, Kultanien makes sure that both her and Jopsie's environmental seals are once again tight. Magic is all well and good, but belt and braces...
Kultanien sits next to Breeze.
"I mostly work on diplomatic missions" admits Kultanien. "Though I have done my share of investigative work as well." she adds.
"I was part of the first exploration of Salvation's Moon actually!" she adds with a hint of pride. Jopsie looks at the table skeptically and stays silent, wrapping her lab coat tightly around herself.
"How about you Breeze? What is your main role here? And what do you know about what the Boss has in store for us?"
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"Roquefort Camembert, Psychic Detective. If things go bump in the night with no clear cause, you suspect your partner is having an affair with an otherwordly being, or suspect your neighbour has been possessed by a being fresh out of the Dark Tapestry, give me a call" Roquefort slides over a business card.
"So, the Boss, what are they like? My training as a tunnel-rat in the depths of Absalom was no doubt quite different to yours, interested to hear about how the boss run things here"
Sense Motive
Roquefort wants to pay attention to the response, but the sleek shiny black fur - so alluring, the beautiful cut of the grey bodysuit - so functional, and her air of confidence - so competent...so distracting - so lethal.
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Azzirm goes to one of the seats a little away away--but not the farthest seat. Seeing that he is still in power armor he decides to lean a bit on the flower arrangement wall instead.
Seeing that Breeze seems more interested in the two ysoki's, Azzirm lets them speak.
He tries to keep an eye on the room...still expecting something physical to happen...and keeping an ear on what Breeze is saying...and showing.
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Croaker walks a bit closer
"Well for starters Society, does not have a backstabbing culture. So agents are not looking to take over no matter what." He moves to keep his back toward the wall
"During one of the missions I was looking for hive creatures smuggled to Absalom Station. A charming task, that involved us speaking with local gangmembers, you would love it" he smiles wide
"So tell us something about that boss of yours. Why do you want to take over."
He turns towards Biter
"Is Biter the boss here?" he asks a question that crossed his mind few times
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Carlos doesn't want to beat around the bush. It's all like a farce and he's starting to get tired of it.
I think you're just playing a scene in front of us. You're loyal to your boss, because he's probably listening to us right now. Right?
He doesn't expect an honest answer, but he wants to see a reaction to the provocation.
About me and what I do in Society... I will answer in verse.
He chuckles and says with a wry smile:
I'm a kind of an angel,
I drag people to the next world.
Even more like archangel,
For an angel I am many years old.
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Seeing that his two ysoki allies made their comment--and stifling a laugh at both Croaker and Carlos's 'not so obvious' poking at Breeze and Biter's obvious trolling for information--Azzirm pipes up, "Yeah, as all my friends here said...we do a little bit of everything. The Society brings in people who are tradesmen, entertainers, politicians, medical, and contract experts-- 'contract' experts...both meanings: in the field of construction, and even in 'your bosses' field of expertise. In general we just try to help out when and where we can."
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{Earlier} Carlos plucks several of the pods and carefully but easily transfers them to the extraction tubes.
{Now}
”What is your main role here? And what do you know about what the Boss has in store for us?”
“I’m one of Silent Strike’s protégés. Biter here is another. You’re unlikely to meet the third: Fang. If you do, it means you’re as good as dead.” she answers with a laugh.
At Kultainen’s raised eyebrow look of doubt, Breeze adds, ”Well, to be honest, Silent Strike plans for you to meet Fang in your next challenge. Let’s hope the Assassin doesn’t get the drop on you.”
”So you were the first expedition into that moon, huh? Were you better prepared than that debacle Jadnura ran that got most of the Society marooned? How is it that he wasn’t stripped of rank the minute you rescued him?”
”So, the Boss, what are they like? My training as a tunnel-rat in the depths of Absalom was no doubt quite different to yours, interested to hear about how the boss run things here”
Breeze takes the Detective’s card and slowly slides if straight down into the front of her tight bodysuit. Right between her firm, small, pointed … daggers. ”Cousin Camembert. I like you. You’re a lot like Biter, you know. All sneaky and spy-y,” she says as she tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
”Silent Strike is a paragon of a ysoki; a murderer, a father figure. He takes care of us, trains us, beats us. We’re grateful, do everything he says, and hate him for it.”
She raises her eyes and locks gazes with Roquefort. ”I bet you’d be a great father, too. And speaking of parenting, what’s the deal with Fitch running a daycare while running a faction? Don’t those Starfinders provide childcare services? I mean, I’d love to have a big litter of kids, too, someday. If I ever found the perfect mate.” Her obsidian eyes never break their intense gaze into Roquefort’s soul.
”(Society) agents are not looking to take over no matter what.”
When Croaker interrupts the Moment she was having, Breeze glances over to see him hunkered against the wall. ”Really? Then what’s the deal with that Ehu Hadif guy? He just grabbed the reins from Luwazi. If you guys keep changing leaders as often as I change bodysuits,” she doesn’t even pause as she gives Roquefort a flirty wink for the free mental image, ”nothing’s ever going to get done.”
”Biter? The Boss?” she laughs as Biter looks completely nonplussed. ”No, not yet, and if I win our own final exam, not ever. Biter, Fang and I represent the three aspects of Grandmother Rat: Spy, Assassin, and Thief, respectively. As to why I want to take over; my parents had no credits, no prospects, no way to raise me. Joining on with this crew seemed like my best option. Running the whole show seems even better,” she finishes with a greedy grin.
”I think you're just playing a scene in front of us. You're loyal to your boss, because he's probably listening to us right now. Right?”
Breeze doesn’t even take the bait, though she does answer the question completely honestly. ”Of course he is. And he’ll grade each of us three acolytes - and you, too - on how we perform in your final test. As for loyalty, it only goes so far. We all know how he got to be the leader, and he expects us to follow suit when we’re ready to take him out. It’s just the cycle of life. And Death, as you so eloquently point out.”
”But there again, you have to admit that the reputation of the Starfinders is a bit bloody. And your own prose glorifies it. Maybe Datch was right in simply pointing out the mistakes of the Society. Shouldn’t blame for that reputation go to the Society’s leadership?”
"The Society brings in people who are tradesmen, entertainers, politicians, medical, and contract experts-- 'contract' experts...both meanings: in the field of construction, and even in 'your bosses' field of expertise."
She turns her attention to Zir and her eyes pause on the Detective before she focuses on the half-orc. ”Exactly my point about loyalty. If everyone’s just a ‘contractor’ why have any loyalty to the Society leadership at all? They just keep getting you into one mess of a situation after another, anyway. Some of you,” (and we all know exactly who she’s talking about, don’t we Mr. Camembert?), ”could join us just as easily instead. And be handsomely rewarded.”
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"Shared ideals." replies Kultanien. Her own smile is broad as she watches the interplay between Roquefort and Breeze.
"And being open to differences of opinion on matters that are not of significance to those shared ideals."
She watches Breeze, wondering if she is going to eat or drink.
"So Fang is the assassin? And you the thief?"
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Yes, we have different reputations. There are those who shed blood. And those who save lives. I am loyal to this organization because one half-drow saved my life... It can be compared to your stories about fathers and children. The only difference is that I will never stab her in the back, and as long as she is in Society, I am also in Society. He looks into her little rat eyes. This look is absolutely empty and lifeless, there is something sociopathic (and even manic) and at the same time indifferent in it. He keeps his voice down. I don't really care who I kill. Out of old habit, I don't shoot children and don't take hostages. It's easier this way, it's something like a fuse. But even I have a sense of the reliability of the shoulder of my comrades. I don't feel love, I've forgotten how... But I feel a calmness among my own that you will never have. It seems that the conversation is over for Carlos. He turns away, averting his still indifferent gaze.
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She raises her eyes and locks gazes with Roquefort. ”I bet you’d be a great father, too. And speaking of parenting, what’s the deal with Fitch running a daycare while running a faction? Don’t those Starfinders provide childcare services? I mean, I’d love to have a big litter of kids, too, someday. If I ever found the perfect mate.”
Roquefort nods understandingly "Nothing stronger than Family, and what better way to let the world that we Starfinders look after our own than by literally looking after our own? This place looks like a family of sort with Silent Strike as the father-figure - no different for Fitch"
Roquefort ponders the now-vanished business card, wondering if it will ever get used.
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She turns her attention to Zir and her eyes pause on the Detective before she focuses on the half-orc. ”Exactly my point about loyalty. If everyone’s just a ‘contractor’ why have any loyalty to the Society leadership at all? They just keep getting you into one mess of a situation after another,
"Ahh....I think you might be trying to twist my words. Almost ALL Starfinders are loyal to the Society as a whole. I am a General Contractor--which means I am able to do most maintenance/repairing/building of buildings and such. I used your term 'contractor' to state we have some people who excel in such things like "wet work'," Azzirm gives Carlos a slight nod,"though those usually have very strong ties to one or a few friends who they support fully. I technically was 'raised' to I guess be one of the aspects of Grandmother Rat by the Drow on Apostae. I have the right genes to activate and work with Azlanti tech. I was groomed to infiltrate the Azlanti, but instead the Society rescued me. I owe my allegiance to them for getting me out of effective slavery. So....sorry...I can honestly say you using that 'contractor' meaning we should have zero loyalty as you just not understanding that sometimes,when the right group of people come together, you can work in a greater good for something. Yes...sometimes the leadership makes a mistake--and they own that mistake, but we have their backs, and they have ours."
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Croaker looks at Chip snorring
"Father who beats you? Even without reading your mind it sounds like you have some daddy issues. In most of the Pact World planets, violence within households was eliminated completely. And with regards to Fitch, she is just a hands-on manager, she likes to have her family around. And when she falls I will help her up and not stab her in the back. But that is just me"
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"So Fang is the assassin? And you the thief?"
Breeze turns her attention to the envoy. ”You got it. In our final trial, Silent Strike will have all three of us try and kill each other—the survivor graduates.” She looks over to Biter, “Ain’t that right, Bitey?” Her eyes glance up to the balcony above Biter before quickly shifting back down to Kultainen’s gaze.
TRUE: This is entirely accurate. She doesn’t bear any particular animosity for Biter, but she expects that she will be the one to graduate.
She listens to Carlos’ exposition and gives just a slight smile and a nod. Seems she doesn’t have anything to add.
She smiles at Roquefort, too, but clearly realizes that her attempts to seduce him into switching sides were in vain.
She listens to what you all say, and she’s clearly making her own judgements about you.
”You all sure are loyal to Fitch - which I get from you two, Cousins, - and the Society as a whole. But I think a couple of you could use some therapy when you get back, if you ask me.”
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”Datch a graduate? No, not by a long stretch. She did some training here, and yeah, technically she’s a Laoite, but she’s not with us. It’s a complicated political mess. I hope I get to kill her... or Dispassion.”
At your questioning looks at the new name in the mix, she continues. ”Oh, you haven’t heard of Dispassion? He’s another Laoite—nasty fellow—you couldn’t take him. I probably couldn’t take him. He trained under Silent Strike and killed the other two protégés, so he graduated. Then Datch left with him, too.”
Biter clears his throat, and an unspoken look passes between him and Breeze. She laughs lightly and changes the subject.
”But what’s the big deal about Datch, anyway? She’s just one ysoki with a big mouth. All this will blow over anyway—just ignore her. Datch was simply pointing out the mistakes of the Society. Blame should really go to the Society’s leadership.”
”Speaking of the leadership, I just gotta ask you all one last question. Given the option of staying with your messed-up Society and their incompetent leadership or coming to work for us, which of you would do so?” She looks expectantly at the Detective, but the question is addressed to all of you. ”Silent Strike’s got a doozy of a final challenge set up for you all. And to be honest, I don’t know what he’s planning beyond that. You could avoid all of it, come with us, and leave the Society behind. What do you say?”
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”Datch may have been pointing out the 'mistakes' of the Society, however Datch also amplified it all to make the inconvenient seem catastrophic in an intentional act to cause harm. The 'blame' should go to the Society’s leadership, which it does. They don't shirk responsibility for their actions, we just don't catastrophise the mundane or become knee-jerk reactionary alarmists”
”Your invitation is very flattering and I appreciate the high estimation of my abilities and a belief that I would fit in with your highly capable and well-run organisation, however the 'messed-up Society' is my 'messed up Society', as a competent Field Agent I can lift the standards so if there is any 'incompetence' at a higher level it is largely negated. I would suggest that the leadersip is not incompetent, rather that they have a very broad span of conflicting priorities - everyone wants help from the Society, there are many expectations, your organisation has the benefit of being highly specialised” The Detective simply meets the Assassins gaze - "To go with you is quite an interesting proposition, however my ties to the Society remain strong and I have accepted the job so I will be seeing it through"
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Kultanien shakes her head.
"While I love the spirit of life that yoski bring to what they do... this ship is a little grim for me." Jopsie looks rather relieved to hear this.
"And I prefer to work my way with words, rather than blades. I wouldn't be able to bring myself to knife one of my friends here in the back, so I think maybe Silent Strike's life is not for me."
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Croaker looks at Biter and reaches into his bag for something to eat
"Look, I am a mercenary, not a zealot. I was hired to do this mission and I will do it, without seeing my employer. If you have a job that needs to be done, feel free to contact me. Seeing at your methods I might not be interested, but maybe there are some areas that I could be working in."
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Silent Strike speaks suddenly from the the central balcony above. He had - unsurprisingly - finally made his appearance without anyone noticing.
“You have done well to come this far. I am impressed by the means you have used to succeed. I must admit I had underestimated you. Not what I expected at all...”
“As I am sure you suspect, I require one final trial: combat against my three protégés. The trial should be nonlethal, as I would like not to offend the Society or lose my valuable students.”
Biter turns to the wall behind himself and opens a hidden panel into a small cubby. He removes a tray filled with shadowy weapon fusions. ”Each of these is a merciful weapon fusion, of the same type that are currently affixed to our weapons. These fusions dissolve immediately if exposed to bright light, such as direct sunlight or powerful industrial lighting.” He waves toward Zir’s new brightlight projector, ”I doubt you’ll be needing that for this fight, but I wanted to inform you, all the same.”
”And, yes, you may take as many as you need,” he says to everyone but pointedly to Chip.
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Silent Strike waits patiently until everyone has applied these fusions to any weapons that they plan to. He then shouts, to declare the beginning of the final challenge.
Hardly before the word is out of Silent Strike’s mouth, a weapon fires from the balcony.
Breeze smirks as Croaker takes the full force of the cryo shot. ”Told ya’ Fang was deadly.”
Biter takes the long view and activates a force field. He flips his walking stick to reveal a sword cane and holds his position.
Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: None yet
Banquet Room map
Bold may act!
Fang
Biter
Kultainen
Croaker
Breeze
Chip
Roquefort
Carlos
Azzirm
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"May the better rat win" he throws before the combat after putting a fusion on his weapon
"Ugh, thanks Kultainen, that barely stings" says Croaker as he uses his jump jets to jump to the balcony and looks at Fang
His eyes are piercing the statue of the sniper and they feel it harder to move
"You will stop where you are! And do nothing!"
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With Kultainen’s encouragement, Croaker pops up onto the balcony and stares into Fang’s soul. As he does so, he gets a good look at the cute little white-furred ysoki girl with the very very large gun. Correction, make that guns - plural.
She stares back dispassionately and easily overcomes Croaker’s attempt to freeze her in place, but suddenly winces at the unexpected migraine she receives.
Croaker for his part ducks down behind most of the railing to keep Fang from shooting his head off. Which she would happily do.
Breeze smiles at Roquefort and hops down from her seat atop the table. ”Wanna dance, handsome?” Then suddenly there’s extra image of the black furred little minx for the Detective to dance with.
Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: None yet
Banquet Room map
Bold may act!
Fang
Biter
Kultainen
Croaker
Breeze
Chip
Roquefort
Carlos
Azzirm