Hmm's SFS #5-06 - Tarnished Legacy: Historia's Holdout [PBP Gameday XI] (Inactive)

Game Master Hmm

Tarnished Legacy: Historia's Holdout

You've been summoned by both Celita and Ixthia to a meeting at Exo-Guardian Headquarters, a former warehouse building in the trendy Downlow neighborhood of the Spike. As you are coming in, you notice something new about the exterior of the building. Boxes full of attractive edible plants have been placed in every window, and a decorative container garden flanks either side of the warehouse building.

A bright green skittermander accompanied by wolf-like creature with a glowing chest is humming as he tends to some of the plants, and heavily armored individuals move in and out of the building. Some of them are familiar faces from the Lorespire Complex who wave at you as you walk by. Everybody pauses to look at the new plantings, one kasathan sneezing in reaction to the unfamiliar greenery. A large vesk laughs and mutters under her breath, "Cheer up. At least it's not that sugary Strawberry-whatever music anymore, right?"

PBP Gameday XI starts tomorrow, so feel free to roleplay here until we can start the adventure in earnest.

Jek hearing the large vesk comment about Strawberry-whatever music strikes up a conversation with the Vesk(speaking in vesk.) "Have you heard the new Dasko Deploicy album yet? It's some serious battle adrenalin music. I think the song Full Attack will be the hit single, but Tear Out Their Hearts I don't think will do well outside of the Veskarium or Eox but it does have one of the best bass lines I've heard.

Triage makes his way down the street, deep in study in a holotextbook that he is reading and nearly bumps right into Jekcedo. "Jek! Great to see you again, were you called down here too?"

"Triage good to see you again, looks like we got eh the same call. Have you had any time to do research on the adaptive evolution we saw on our last mission?"

As Ikmanji approaches they notice all the plants. Going up to the skittermander, they say “Quite the collection of plants. Are the Exo-Guardians looking to start their own arboretum?”

Those of you who are familiar with them realize that Ikmanji has invested in some new armor. They are now wearing Defrex Hide, this one stylized with a pattern of waves.

After talking to the skittermander, they turn to Jek and Triage.

Having heard Triage’s statement, they tell him “Likely, since I got called here for a mission. I hope this isn’t like the last one.”

Jek nods agreeing with Ikmanji hoping for a safer mission. "I'd like to think someplace out there is a planet where everything has evolved to be as friendly as possable,"

Grognard pats Ikmanji on the back. "Ach! What was wrong with the last one? Was nae too bad. Was like the auld days in Golarion... Except with the fauna on evolutionary overdrive."

It doesn't take a druid to know that Donkey agrees with Ikmanji.

The vesk perks up. "Dasko Deploicy rocks! I love to work out to it." Meanwhile, the skittermander gardener grins at Ikmanji. "I don't know if they're building an arboretum, but I heard that they were asking for gardening volunteers so I came on my day off."

You have a nice conversation with your fellow Pathfinders before realizing that it's time to go in for your briefing. You walk through the building until you reach Ixthia's office.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Celita reaches over to examine one of the blue-leafed plants clustered in pots in Ixthia's office. “Don't lean too close,” Ixthia warns, “that one's carnivorous.”

Celita pulls her hand back, narrowly avoiding the snapping blossom of one of the plants, then looks up at the open door. “Perfect timing, Starfinders. Thank you for coming.”

Ixthia spreads their arms wide with palms up and spins in a traditional copaxi greeting, then gestures for everyone to be seated. While Ixthia makes no move to sit themselves, Celita perches atop a stool far away from the hungry blue plant, pulls out a datapad, and begins the mission briefing. “Upon Historia-Prime's death, his holdings and possessions passed into the care of the Starfinder Society. In the months since, the Dataphiles and Cognates factions have focused on inventorying and investigating the ownership of these holdings. We've determined many were obtained illegally. These stolen possessions, funds, and properties are in the process of being returned to their true owners. All that said, one site, located here on the Station, deserves further scrutiny. The property was legitimately purchased and renovated by Historia-Prime well before his ill-fated mission to the Scoured Stars. He had taken over the life of Historia-3 at the time. Now that it's ours I want to know what's inside.”

Ixthia nods in agreement. “We've spent the past year cleaning up Historia-Prime's messes, including the recent Data Scourge. That work continues today. Your mission is to examine the property, clear it of dangers, and find out what Historia-Prime used it for. It could be nothing more than an empty warehouse. Or it could be an automated house of horrors with a nasty trap waiting to be sprung on the Pact Worlds.”

Celita taps her datapad, causing it to project a holographic map of Absalom Station's Spike into the center of the office. “The property is in the Sparks, a neighborhood in the Spike. Historia-Prime has owned the property for over a century, and it's still drawing power from the station, but we haven't been able to hack into it. If there are any computers in there, they're completely sealed off from the Pact Worlds infosphere.”

“Be cautious and thorough,” Ixthia warns. “We look forward to your full report. Do you have any questions for us?”

As soon as Jek hears the name Historia-Prime Jek's attention becomes more focused.

"Even as idealistic as I am I haven't had much success finding traces of Hope-01, but hope-01 was a fragment of Historia-Prime so anything related to him is a good place to look. As old as this place sounds maybe there's a trace of Hope-001.

Anything dealing with Historia-Prime I'd suspect we are in for a few nasty surprises in there. Do you know anything about what Historia-Prime was up to when this place was purchased?"

“Who or what is Hope-1?”

The player knows, but the character doesn’t. I didn’t play that with this group.

"Hope-01 was or hopefully still is a fragment of Historia-Prime that helped save us and guidance from Historia-Prime. I fear that Hope-01 may have sacrificed themself to do so. But this happened in a simulation I'm hoping we can find a trace of Hope-01 outside that simulation. I only briefly got to talk to Hope-01 but hopes story reminded me of the shirren sperating from the swarm. This is why I will never give up on finding hope-01 at least until I'm 100% sure of their fate. But with code, there always could be an earlier version or backup someplace. I believe this mission might be the best last chance I have in finding any trace of hope-01."

”To be fair, we found a planet with magic older than the gap, creatures that evolved before our eyes, and ancient ruins that predate anything we know about! I’m not sure anything could top that!”

—————

Triage also chimes in. ”That’s a good point. Perhaps there is more physical backups at this location with information Historia might have gathered over the years. Best case scenario, we learn how to undo the rest of their maleficence.”

Looking at Celita, Ikmanji says “You mentioned Historia-3. Doesn’t that mean this is still an early version of Historia-Prime? I’m not really clear on how they all relate.”

“What do we know of Historia-3?”

Joining the party is Naitier, someone most in the group are familiar with already although has been elsewhere in the intervening months. Naitier is a copaxi, a collection of coral-like collections combined into a single humanoid form. Arcane signatures have been woven into patterns across Naitier's body. They gives a spin of introduction joining the party before listening to the briefing.

"A stellar question that hopefully there is an answer, but I'm curious also the space required for this property. Specifically if you had on record how large this property was?"

"Naitier! It is wonderful to see you again, you were greatly missed on our last mission. We found ancient magics on a planet way out in the vast."

Grognard seems fascinated by the flora. "Carnivorous? Any chance ye could get me a sapling after this?"

Realizing that his question has no bearing on the mission he stammers for a moment. "Erm... ahem... ah mean... Standard mission... warehouse clearout... prob'ly swarm infested... or killer robots... or a horror beyond our kenning."

Grognard shakes his head and thinks to himself, What is it with Exo-Guardians and warehouse cleanout jobs anyways?

"Even as idealistic as I am I haven't had much success finding traces of Hope-01, but hope-01 was a fragment of Historia-Prime so anything related to him is a good place to look. As old as this place sounds maybe there's a trace of Hope-001.

Anything dealing with Historia-Prime I'd suspect we are in for a few nasty surprises in there. Do you know anything about what Historia-Prime was up to when this place was purchased?"

Celita frowns. "From what you told us after your training, Hope-01 was comprised of all of the 'weaknesses' that Historia-Prime cut out of himself in order to make himself 'perfect.'" Celita shakes her head. "Weaknesses like compassion for others, teamwork, and a code of ethics that applies to the self rather than others. These are, coincidentally, all things we value and look for in current recruits to the Starfinder Society. While it's possible you might find a trace of Hope-01, remember that Prime excised these supposed weaknesses early in his career, in order to make his most ruthless decisions possible."

Celita sighs. "As for what to expect... Traps, robots and computers. Prime preferred them to people. Aside from that, we don't know."

Looking at Celita, Ikmanji says “You mentioned Historia-3. Doesn’t that mean this is still an early version of Historia-Prime? I’m not really clear on how they all relate.”

“What do we know of Historia-3?”

“Historia-Prime was the founder of the Dataphiles faction, and one of the earliest members of the Society. In his arrogance, he believed that the Society could not function without him, so he extended his life by transferring his mind into a succession of android protégés. He stole their lives and attempted to steal mine. He failed.”

While reciting this information, Celita's voice goes flat, and her face becomes tightly controlled. It's obvious that this history has hit a sore spot for this venture officer.

"As for what we know of Historia-3, I am hoping that you can tell me. This property was purchased over a century ago by Historia-3 and underwent extensive renovations. That's the only official record we have on it.” Celita explains. “If you uncover any information on Historia-3, make note of it. I've been researching Historia's previous incarnations for years, but Historia-3's records were sealed by Guidance long ago and I've yet to gain access. I'm… dissatisfied by this outcome.”

"A stellar question that hopefully there is an answer, but I'm curious also the space required for this property. Specifically if you had on record how large this property was?"

Ixthia brings points to some records from before the property was purchased. "We know roughly how large it is from old records. We just don't know what is in it."

Assume that Ixthia provides you with the full square footage, something that the author was unable to calculate. :)

Grognard seems fascinated by the flora. "Carnivorous? Any chance ye could get me a sapling after this?"

Though it has no bearing on the mission, Ixthia answers enthusiastically. “Of course I will get you a cutting if you would like! These are bluebloods. They went extinct several years ago on our home world, Tabrid Minor. Royo found us a botanist who had some Tabrid flora in his greenhouse and let us take a cutting. If our ecology recovers enough, maybe we'll be able to reintroduce them.”

A sudden barking erupts from outside the office, before the door bursts open an a tumbleling ball of obsidian "flesh" and living magma bursts into the room, rockets off three of the walls, and then disappears back out the door. It returns a moment later and collapses in a panting heap near the largest open area of floor. Small flakes of soot and ash drift off it, onto the floor.

It is followed a short time later by a slowly drifting blue green mound of glistening crystal, nearly 10 feet in diameter, that settles silently to the floor, before a stalk uncurls from under it bearing a variety of sensory organs and an imposing beak. A number of smaller varicolored crystals, some nearly microscopic emerge from beneath it and begin to crawl across it's back as creating a living mosaic.

I-apii is deploying it's sheath array both as an introduction, and as a fashion statement. I-apvii's nanites are grown from special crystaline clusters sourced from their home moon of Dykon

"I am late. I acknowledge the subobtimality of this. It bears future consideration. Please continue."

This seems to be as close to an apology as could be expected from this strange creature.

Ixthia and Celita take the cinematic entrance of I-apvii in stride. Celita sends a recording of the mission briefing so far to I-apvii's comm unit. "Understood. Please don't make a habit of this, however."

Meanwhile, Ixthia offers you some equipment from the lockers in their office: a static arc pistol, a tactical arc emitter, and four mk 1 healing serums. "I always find it best to come prepared."

Ixthia also passes around a bowl of some colored flakes. “I've been told my predecessor provided refreshments at these mission briefings, so here are algae protein flakes that I've grown myself. They're healthy and refreshing.” Ixthia scoops some of the flakes into creases in its arms, where feeding tendrils come out and grab eagerly at the flakes. "Ahh. Delicious. Please, have some."

Know before you go!

COMPUTERS, CULTURE (RECALL KNOWLEDGE), OR DIPLOMACY (GATHER INFORMATION)
Based on the result of a Computers check, a Culture check to recall knowledge, or a Diplomacy check to gather information, you might know more about Historia Prime and the Data Scourge. You learn all of the information whose DC is equal to or less than the result of their check.

CULTURE (RECALL KNOWLEDGE) OR DIPLOMACY (GATHER INFORMATION)
Based on the result of a Culture check to recall knowledge or a Diplomacy check to gather information, you might know more about the Spike and the Sparks neighborhood.

“Algae?” Ikmanji says with interest. They scoup some up with a tentacle and try them.

The papery flakes taste of brine and shrimp -- a flavor that likely brings back youthful memories for Ikmanji of other tasty sea vegetables!

Triage will also partake in the snack, then looks towards the newest creature in the room, his black eyes staring from behind a white, bird-like mask.

Computers: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

I-apvii scoops some of the flakes out of the bowl with a limb that seems to unfold out from under them, then scatters them on the floor in front of them and rolls forward onto them.

"These seem adequately nourishing for life forms such as yourselves."

Theme: Reduce the DC to identify rare, ancient, or alien tech by 5.
(Pretty sure this does not apply here...)

Historia Lore: Computers: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

The Spike and the Sparks Neighborhood Lore: Culture: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

I-apvii seems lost in thought, perhaps pondering the mechanics of a Nanite starship Historia such as the one History supposedly attacked absalom station with. Perhaps still considering their late arrival.

Jek enjoys some snacks while going over some written notes Jek made while looking Hope-01 in the last few weeks.

Culture: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

"Despite all the crime in the spike it's an important manufacturing area. Maybe that attracted History3 to the area, if so they may have been building something down there."

Taken a bit aback by Ixthia's discussion of the restored plant-life. "I had not even recognized them. The elders mentioned them several times, but they had vanished by the time I was born. They look even grander than their recollections had impressed upon me. My thanks to you and I will need to pass my personal thanks to Royo and the botonist. This gives a more cheer than I had been prepared for."

When presented the gear, Naitier focuses entirely on the flakes and takes some for themselves as they explain, "I leave the gear to the others among you as I have healing and weaponry well equipped already."

"Naitier! It is wonderful to see you again, you were greatly missed on our last mission. We found ancient magics on a planet way out in the vast."

Naitier is ecstatic at the news of the exceptional mission. "An amazing discovery. Like many events throughout the galaxy, I wish I could have been there to see it. Even with that, I'm glad though you were all able to record it yourselves. I trust your experience."

"My prior weeks have been less eventful to a degree. I've opted to spend the time in meditation to recover from my magical efforts. During that I've rearranged my body to hopefully be more in tune with the magical thrums of the galaxy." Naitier glances at their body engraved with arcane patterns as they give a more reserved, "at least, that is the theory. I still need to find a new chance to test myself."

Know Before You Go
Naitier wonders aloud a bit if they should have dedicated more of their body to learning in more about Absalom Station. They dismiss the thought for a later date as they try asking people about the recent events as well as the neighborhood.
Prime & Scourge - Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Spike & Sparks - Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

"We head into an area that feels more akin to my own home in unfortunate ways. I have adapted to be far away and I feel ill-equipped to return. The region is one of great import at the core of the station, but also is among the least paid and cared for. The neighborhood we are heading to especially so; many have had their work and their homes taken from them." Naitier seems certainly dejected by this and focuses themselvse on their magical icongraphy to keep focused as they try to collect themselves.

Ikmanji follows around behind Naitier, asking a couple more questions of the people Naitier managed to get talking. They actually manage to get some useful information this time.
Aid Naitier’s Diplomacy, Spike & Sparks: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (18) + 0 = 18

“Hope one of you knows Absalom Sign Language. With the noise in that area, there is a large deaf community in the Sparks.”

Everyone should look at the full spoiler.

Grognard grabs a few snacks and offers some to Donkey as well. He seems to have little reaction towards them one way or the other. Probably just used to eating bland rations at this point. He calmly listens to everyone's insight, having little to contribute himself. Finally he considers, "Are they keen on telepathy? Ah can cast th auld message. Aur..."

He pulls out a spell gem of Comprehend Language.

"This'll let me ken what they say. Will still need tae bring pad and paper tae respond though... Aur a message spell."

Seeing that no one else seems interested in the tactical arc emmiter, I-apvii slides it into a slot on the side of their backpack along side a sleek new looking Ice Carbine engraved with lines that seem to form nets.

"Sound is not particularly instrumental to communication over short distances. However I have been told by fellow pathfinders that my ability to "make friends and influence people" is suboptimal." I-apvii broadcasts telepathically.

You may or may not get the impression that I-apvii is entirely uninterested in developing this skill set. (-3 bluff and -3 diplomacy total mod.)

I will admit that that does remind me I forgot new languages with this level. I was going to pick common sign (along with dwarven) just because it is something I've done on many of my characters. Let me know if this is an issue and I'll pick something else.

"I'm quite qualified with various languages that I might help there. It was a unique discovery when my work was met travelers from among the stars how easy it felt to learn the various languages beyond our world."

Giving a nod to Grognard, Naitier adds, "although, despite my time training parts of me to incorporate dwarven, your common accent still gives me struggle and pause."

"Dinnae tell me ah haven't gotten at least a wee bit better..."

Naitier ponders it a moment before answering, "I will say that I am able to understand you better in the intervening months since we last worked together. I will count that more to your own experience."

"Good to see you back Naitier hope you have been well."

@ Ikmanji "If the nose is an issue my Telepathy may come in handy, I have a smoke grenade too that may be useful in disrupting communication if they are using sign language."

@ I-apvii "Welcome to the team. always room for more. What's your favorite music? You know I actually join the Starfind Society because of a Bugspace concert where I met Triage and ran into some of the other team members."

“I was thinking more about communicating with the people who live down there. I don’t think a grenade is the message we want to send to most of the people down there.”

@Jekcedo "I have a preference for Kisses for Klayva. I know some find their music to be overwhelming, but their Elemental Progressions is quite elegant once you work out the mathematical equations behind its transitions."

Jek holds up a notepad and pen showing Ikmanji. "This would work well for dealing with people down there, I was thinking what we might find in the hideout for the grande."

Turning to I-apvii "I haven't heard their music yet but would like to, I'm always looking for new music options to listen to. I like the idea of being overwhelmed by music, I think that would be a better option than underwhelming music. Do you think their mathematical transitions lead to more or less options?"

I-apvii ponders this silently. I don't think it is an issue of options. I think seeing the math behind the music adds depth to the experience that is missing from superficial musicality...

“Superficial? Sorry, art is supposed to inspire. If something inspires people, it isn’t superficial.”

Triage chimes in quickly and rather bluntly without looking up from his datapad. "Music is just math, that's all it is."

"But it is the math itself that the piece is built on that inspires me. So is that not the art, rather than the music?"

“Music is an art form. The inspiration you get from studying the mathematical nature of it is no less or more valid than those who are inspired in other ways. I prefer the blend of the lyrics and the sounds.”

“This elevator is taking forever. Really wish it had better music!”

Hearing Ikmanji request for better music turns up Jek's com unit and plays some Bugspapce songs to drown out the elevator music. " I have other options if you like?"

It takes you around an hour to travel through the Spike from Downlow to Sparks. The travel time is not just vertical elevator time (with its accompanying elevator music), but also traveling through winding warrens created by workshops and engineering corridors of the Spike.

Sparks is a highly industrialized neighborhood bordered by titanic drydocks for starship manufacturing and repair, but also containing hundreds of smaller custom tech shops. It's an incredibly noisy neighborhood, and the constant thrum and crash of industrial machinery punctuates daily life.

A few years ago, Sparks was one of the most prosperous sections of the Spike, providing employment to several thousand factory workers as well as massive profits to their corporate investors elsewhere on Absalom Station. Between the Data Scourge and the current Drift Crisis, Sparks has been hit hard. The ship factories and dry docks that were once in constant use now operate at a fraction of their former capacity. Glum residents loiter in the crowded halls, hoping to secure temporary work.

Everywhere you look, sign language is evident. Some residents split their conversations between speech and sign, others are conversing entirely in the language. As you approach the address provided by Celita, you don't at first see it. Your view of the building is blocked by a long line of hungry people waiting for the free hot lunch offered by the All Hands community center that resides next door. The folks in line look hungry and angry. "What's causing the wait?" one grimy lashuntan mechanic asks. "They've never been this late before!" The rest of the line grumbles in agreement, some of it expressed verbally, others with emphatic signs.

I-apvii finds themselves entirely unequipped to deal with this, either by dispersing the line or by gathering more info from the line's participants. and so waits for their colleagues to suggest a course of action. In the mean time, they attempt to use the comm unit in their to query the station infosphere to find any additional info on the All Hands Community Centers (in general) and why this one might be having issues (in specific)

Computers: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Triage will spend his time here doing a mix of eavesdropping and observations to learn anything more he can about these people and their troubles.

Culture: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

II-apvii's computer search reveals that All Hands is a community center built a year ago with the express purpose of serving the Deaf community of Sparks. In response to the economic double whammy caused by the Data Scourge and the Drift Crisis, All Hands pivoted and changed its emphasis from solely being a Deaf community center to becoming a social service nexus for the entire neighborhood, Deaf and hearing. It serves regular meals to anyone hungry, provides job counseling and even tries to help with short term loans. Triage remembers hearing something about a former Starfinder named Bargai having run several fundraisers to create Helping Hands.

Neither of you has any idea yet why the line is currently around the block and not moving.