The effects of the Data Scourge attacks are still felt across Absalom Stations and the Pact Worlds, and the First Seeker is constantly seeking solutions. After hearing a rumor of Scourge-resistant technology on a distant world seeking Pact Protectorate status, Ehu Hadif arranges for a team of Starfinders to accompany the delegation of Stewards and Xenowardens to review the world's petition. On the record, the Starfinders are concerned with evaluating the planet's ruins, but Ehu hopes they can learn about the mysterious technology supposedly being developed by the colonists. Missions are rarely so straightforward, however, and the PCs must contend with an overreaching church, their fellow diplomatic delegates, and dark secrets buried just beneath the surface of the colony's outwardly placid society. Will this world reach its ambition and become part of the Pact Worlds, and does it really have access to technology that could help combat the Data Scourge? Most importantly, will the assigned agents survive their "diplomatic mission?"
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"Distant world? Not currently in Pact Protectorate status? Hmmm. Yes." says a black dragonkin in the meeting room, his onyx labcoat nearly sucking the light out of the room around him. He quickly taps his claws on various pockets of vials and a large capture pole on his back. His ochre eyes light up with excitement as he turns to look around...not spotting his partner at first, he opens up his comm device.
"DORM. Mr. Argunn...DORM. Are you coming, are you here? They said it is a DISTANT WORLD...imagine all the non-existent regulations to my sample collection and testing. Hello?!" Argiss nearly yells into his communicator for no reason other than pure scientific joy.
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Just then a gruff looking half-orc bursts through the door, looking a little frantic. He wears a faded black trench-coat, but is otherwise well-kept enough.
Yes yes! Pipe down Argiss. I was just rounding the corner to enter as you screamed through the comms! Any distant world that is away from Apostae is just fine by me. But... I hear there's a church there and I doubt the colonists have NO laws or regulations. In fact, I hear they are rather peaceful, so they must have some legal structure in place. Just... don't assume you have free reign there. We don't want to be run off on day one!
Then the Ysoki makes his remark.
Oh no... another one. I'm surrounded by trigger-happy needlers.
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"I prefer motivated over trigger happy but let's not scare away our new friend. We surely won't get ran off too quickly with you there Dorm. We can just adjust our pitch for the religious ones..." he replies before turning to Bonkers.
Argiss quickly takes one of the agreements to look over, eyeing it like a new specimen. He nods his head and passes it over.
"That could waste a slushee and a subject. Well, this agreement is a good deal shorter than mine but I like it! Here is mine if you are interested as well."
The dragonkin beams as he points out specific lines that grant ownership of scientific breakthroughs using their blood and personal liability of any adverse side effects that cause harm to others.
"Ah...my excitement always has be skipping the pleasantries. Where is my card? I am Dr. Calinox of Apostae, but call me Argiss. What is your specialty?"
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Bonkers practically beams.
"Ah! Very nice to meet you, doctor Calinox! My given name is Bonkers. no fear, we Ysoki are... creative when naming and apparently my first attempt at making that 'spewing' volcano as a child got a little out of hand! My specialty is in Genetics. I like making people faster, stronger, tougher. Without bionics. I would say I have a PHD as well but apparently the remote university I attended was on Apostea and not quite fully accredited."
He shrugs, gives the agreement a quick once over and signs.
I like this line about ownership of any scientific breakthrough using another being's blood but usually when I mention liability people tend to shy away. So, what is your specialty?"
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Greetings all a tall man tips hit hat at the Starfinders present. He is dressed in a long coat, with an old-fashioned cross-bow type weapon on his back. In his hands, he holds what looks like a deck of cards. My name is Saja Joseung. I realise that may be unsettling to some.
Could you tell me your names?
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No matter, then, Saja responds ignorance is bliss.
The pleasure is mine, Dorm Argun the man responds, checking his deck of cards. The individual pieces of luxury card stock are printed with strange characters in red ink, and some are more yellowed than others. I am a guide of sorts. I also run an exclusive tea shop, which is by invitation only.
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"Greetings Saja! I am called Bonkers. I also am unaware of why your name would be unsettling. Perhaps a story for another day? While I have your attention though, would you be agreeable to any instantaneous in combat or otherwise critical timing instances to be the recipient of any short term buffs or other positive assistance?"
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I like this line about ownership of any scientific breakthrough using another being's blood but usually when I mention liability people tend to shy away. So, what is your specialty?"
Argiss perks up at the mention of Apostae, "Our lab is in Nightarch. It is a bit dreary but the patrons of our house let us work without too many restrictions. My specialty is in pharmacology, I am provided with quite a few uh...erm...subjects but...I always crave seeing the effects on different physiologies. My creations need to work at improving all creatures!"
Argiss continues to beam talking about his work.
"You would be surprised how often people just sign without reading the terms."
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Could you tell me your names?
"Dr. Calinox or Argiss...usual the one that Dorm ends up negotiating something for. Your name seems fine to me even interesting...but could I bother you for another signature? My pharmaceuticals tend to have minimal side effects but can do wonders if something were to occur to us on this mission." he says handing over another stack of waivers.
A mystic shirren appears and finds the others having a good conversation. "Greetings to all. Call me Keskodai." he tells them. "Are you here with the similar mission? To accompany the delegation of Stewards and Xenowardens? I suppose I am not late for the briefing, am I?"
Keskodai awkwardly shakes the hand of Dorm. "Well, hopefully, they wouldn't hack us, would they?" he says amusingly, trying to shift his anxiety about meeting new people.
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"Hello." An elf with several cybernetics sticking out of her neck and shoulders enters the room.
"My name is Irres. I don't mind singing a waiver, but if you try to turn me into a frog, then I will pursue extralegal retribution.
She turns to Dorm. "You also have to contend with a cybernetic lover, so maybe someone should start devising an explanation for a colonist waking up with a new limb or mechanical eyes.
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Alarms blare and warning lights flash as the ship makes a sudden, sickening lurch to one side. The artificial gravity cuts out just long enough to scatter unprepared Starfinders and their belongings into the air before slamming them down onto the deck. The swirling colors of the Drift have vanished from the viewports, replaced by the star-studded void of normal space. An unfamiliar planet looms, growing larger with each moment as the ship races toward impact!
Starfinders scramble to battle stations, rushing to regain control of the ship and assess the situation. “Captain!” one of the bridge officers shouts over the din, “We’re losing altitude quickly!”
“Engineering!” the captain calls into the intercom. “Get those thrusters online, now!”
“Working on it, Captain!” a voice crackles from the speaker. “Feedback from the Drift engine did a number on our systems. Axial controls should be coming back online now, but we’re still working to reboot the main thrusters!”
The whole ship rattles as it begins an uncontrolled descent into the atmosphere. “Pilot, use whatever power you have to flatten our descent!” the captain shouts. “We may not be able to prevent a landing, but with a little luck, we may be able to walk away from it!” Over the next few tense minutes, the flight crew work heroically to make the captain’s words prophetic. The ship quickly loses altitude, skipping hard off a hilltop before skidding to a violent stop through an alien forest.
Starfinders all over the ship pick themselves up and slowly make their way onto the surface of the unknown world. Communits reveal the rest of the fleet is in similar straits, landed on the planet or in the process of doing so under various degrees of control. Bennock Gunstrel calls everyone’s comm units. “Starfinders! If you can hear me, rendezvous at the coordinates I’m sending you. We have a lot of folks who need help and need all available agents immediately!”
As you plummet toward your potential doom, you can't help but think of the irony of Bennock's words only minutes before the emergency.
“Good morning, Starfinders!”[b] expedition leader Bennock Gunstrel says from the viewscreen. His familiar smile is welcoming, and his graying hair is tied in its usual ponytail. [b]“Here’s today’s update: Thanks to the vagaries of Drift travel to the vast, we’re running a little slower than our original projections. Still, we should reach our destination in the next week or so. I’m sure you know the mission documents front to back by now, but today’s a good day to review them one more time anyway. Also, I’m sending out team assignments as I speak. Please spend a little time this morning getting to know the agents you’ll be working with once we arrive; you’re going to be spending a lot of time together once we get planet-side.”
“That’s all the announcements for today, Starfinders,”[b] he concludes. [b]“Have a great day, relax, and get yourselves ready for action. I, for one, can’t wait!”
In a way that can only be called Fate, as you check your comms for team assignments, you all make up a team.
Well, except for one lashunta who was sitting in the corner quietly reading and studiously avoiding eye contact or signing anything. "Oops, gotta go join my team," she says with more relief that might have been entirely polite or necessary.
As you muster with your fellow Starfinders, Bennock and other leaders call out for volunteers for various missions.
As always, you are expected to match your skills with needs.
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"Hello." An elf with several cybernetics sticking out of her neck and shoulders enters the room.
"My name is Irres. I don't mind singing a waiver, but if you try to turn me into a frog, then I will pursue extralegal retribution.
She turns to Dorm. "You also have to contend with a cybernetic lover, so maybe someone should start devising an explanation for a colonist waking up with a new limb or mechanical eyes.
Dorm is smiling cordially as the discussion proceeds until he hears... something. Doing a violent double take he repeats the phrase in exasperation.
A cybernetic WHAT?!
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After the crash...
As they all get up Dorm dusts himself off.
Well... it's a good thing we got to know each other already. I'd hate to share a near-death experience with total strangers.
He checks the list of missions from Bennock.
Let's see... what fits two needlers and their group of handlers? he muses out loud while perusing it.
Frankly, our skills could be appropriate for many of these. Let's try... "What's out there"?
He mimes throwing a dart at an invisible dart board, signaling his confidence in the vote.
"Crazy ride!" Keskodai says as if complaining, scratching his head while trying to gauge what had just happened to their ship after the incidental crash on a random planet somewhere wherever they may be at the moment. He then turns to respond to Dorm's choice of what they will do. "Well, I am not sure. I do not have the necessary skills in starship repair, but it is at best fixed before we could embark on a such exploration into the unknown." the shirren shares his thought, trying to make things easier one way or another.
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"More subj-companions for the mission! Excellent!" Argiss says welcoming the new comers before the mission starts.
He thinks for a moment then shakes his head, "Not to worry, I don't believe turning you into a frog would be beneficial. Perhaps some froglike traits if necessary?"
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As the ship begins to plummet Argiss remembers the last time this happened and quickly starts gathering all his supplies.
"This is becoming an unfortunate trend for our missions but on the bright side emergencies mean exceptions to regulations! Hold on tight, for science!"
As Argiss quickly surveys any damage and overlooks the supplies, he nods and calls out agreement with Dorm.
"The ship can wait! We need to see what is lurking out there waiting to have us as a snack. Repurpose all that adrenal action!"
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Shockingly Bonkers is in the middle of a room, nowhere near anything to grab onto when the ship suddenly and violently tears out of the drift.
He Flies up a few feet, a surprised look on his face and then as gravity returns, he shifts to a look of acceptance, as if this isn't his first time in this scenario as he lands face first back on the floor.
He jumps into the nearest seat and buckles in for the ride down.
After the chaos he makes sure to collect all of his test tubes and sample jars and join his team.
"Oh my, that moss was a few days away from what I hope was some fascinating bioluminescence. Now, it's dead.... Oh, hello! Where are we off to? What? Seeing what life might be around? Sounds like fun!"
Bennock comes jogging over, apparently overhearing your discussion.
“Some day, huh?” Bennock says with a light grin. “Listen, until we can figure out what’s going on and call for help, this place is going to be our new home. We don’t know anything about the area around us, though. I don’t know about you, but that makes me a little nervous. Do me a favor, head into the forest and do a wide lap around camp, see what we’re dealing with. Keep an eye out for anything useful, and watch out for any wildlife we should be concerned about. Oh, and take care of yourselves!”
Off into the wilds you go. The area around the Starfinder camp is dense and trackless forest. Thick underbrush and frequent elevation changes make for slow going, and it takes several hours to circumnavigate the camp.
"Searching it is." Keskodai says in no-choice agreement. He draws his pulsecaster pistol just in case somebody attacks them. They are the uninvited guests in this unknown planet, anyway. He also waves his free hand to see if he can detect presence of magic around him.
Irres and Dorm spot tracks in the mud near a stream which feature splayed, clawed toes. Undoubtedly those of a a predator.
The group is therefore ready and spots the dromaeosaurid stalking them before it can pounce on them.
Bonker's shot goes wide but Dorm's hits.
It, apparently, decides Bonkers will make a tasty snack and charges into snap him up, moving with shocking speed.
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Seeing a chance to clamp down on the new creature, Argiss pumps serum into his capture pole and thrusts it forward.
"Such speed but this should give it pause! AhahahaHA." Argiss states followed by a discomforting cackle.
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With it (hopefully) weakened, Argiss attempts to get his capture pole around the neck of the creature.
"We could be fixing ship..." the shirren murmurs to himself. He steps away and telekinetically hurls a stone on the ground next to him to hit Dromaesaurid.
bludgeoning damage
The creature quickly learns the error of its mistake as three of the Starfinders land hits on it and Argiss manages to get it trapped in his capture pole.
It looks to be rethinking its life choices and be on the brink of fleeing.
Hagitha draws her laser rifle and takes a shot at the nasty thing.
She nails it, causing it to buckle in pain.
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Argiss quickly stops the creature from fleeing, "Alive or dead this thing is a research waiting to happen. Help me get it back to the ship and we can split the credit!"
He doesn't wait to long before trying to get it back himself by dragging it. As he walks he thinks about what the next step should be, "I suppose we should the ship in better shape if I am to set up a lab. Didn't Keskodai or Irres mention working on it?"
It appears to be a solo, or perhaps pair hunter from what Dorm can tell. Killing it would likely just tell another that its territory was open rather than frightening it off.