Zoomba's Preluria Connection (Inactive)

Game Master Zoomba

"If you need to gain Firiz's trust, slip in the phrase 'like the violets bloom at dusk'" Makao says to Twila-5

"As far as the mission itself, we can of course provide you with an unmarked shuttle to take you to, and back from, Vorlath. It would probably be good if you created a cover story explaining why you’re looking for Firiz. Perhaps he owes you money, or he stole something from you. I’ll leave the exact details to you.”

Any further questions?

Deserts, rocks, hovels, terrible bars, and multiple major spaceports.

"Makao," says Chip delicately, standing up straight and moving a step away from Checker, "I understand that it's not really any of our business, exactly, what Brother Firiz was up to. But if we're to investigate his disappearance, we'll likely learn anyway--investigations are all about figuring things out, after all. And it would be such helpful information to help us know where to begin.

"As for a cover story, he's my brother you know." Chip pauses and looks up at the much taller people around him. "Or maybe not mine, but--" he glances around at the rest of the team. "You said he's human? Okay, not brother. But that's easy enough."

"I like the idea of him owing us money, potentially a substantial amount of money. It would appear that we are not his allies and people that are antagonistic towards him would be more willing to offer us information."

"As we do not know him attempting to pretend to be a relation or close friend will be difficult. However posing as a mercenary team sent on a mission, in this case a collection mission will be easy is that is pretty well what we are and what we do."

The best lie is always as close to the truth as possible. :)

"Even better: we were hired by someone who he owes money to. That way when it'll be plausible for there to be gaps in our knowledge about him." Twila-5 thanks Makao for the information and indicates her readiness to leave when the group is finished with its questions.

George 09-23 nods at Twila-5.

"Sure, we are only the collection arm so we do not know or care about the details. We just want him to pay up so we can get paid."

"It would have to be a lot of money for hiring all of us to be worth it..."

Nalo addresses Makao one more time. " So to be absolutely clear , you can't tell us where Firiz was going to go on Vorlath, or who he might plan to talk to?"

Makao responds to Chip and Nalotrunos' prodded with an inscrutable expression. "I cannot speak to who specifically Firiz may have reached out to or contacted yet. He had not checked in since before arriving on Vorlath, and if he had a specific individual he planned to approach he did not share it. I would advise starting with the last place he updated his location. You probably won’t find Firiz at those coordinates, but with any luck, you may uncover a trail to follow."

"As far as his mission" Makao seems about to continue, then pauses. He then says "I can only tell you that it was not illegal, and related to our Brotherhood's interests. Though from his initial reports, it may be in your Society's interests as well. Anything further is not yet confirmed, and to reveal only speculation would be in neither of our interests."

"Alright then. I think we should get going. We have a cover story and a place to start. We are not going to find him simply by talking about it."

"Agreed," says Chip, his computer instantly safely stowed, "Minutes aren't likely to matter to a situation that's already lasted weeks, but they certainly won't help."

Which was presumably the logic behind allowing a few extra days to pass.

"We'll have some time on the shuttle to look over that map and plan."

Felix nods in agreement so that they can find Firiz, and pretend as mercenaries to which Firiz owes a large sum of money. Not bad for the initial cover.

Makao nods. "Thank you Starfinders. We wish you luck."

---

True to his word, you are provided with a simple shuttle to take you from Xys to the Vault of Vorlath. The journey between the planetoids takes only a few hours, and some of that time is due to your programmed route taking a roundabout path through the rings to further obscure your ship's origin point. When you land you see that the Vorlath spaceport incorporates an amalgam of technologies from different eras and worlds, most in various stages of disrepair.

Firiz’s last known coordinates point to a rowdy dive bar called 'The Crooked Doshko' pretty close to the spaceport docks. The bar's exterior - and the exteriors of most of the nearby buildings - have their windowless outer walls covered in graffiti. A worlanisi bouncer stadns outside, looking a bit bored.

DC 12 Culture: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Now they begin their journey to another location. No more spas and tours this time, but a serious mission. Seeing the graffiti, Felix recognizes them. "I recognize the graffiti as tags associated with local mercenary companies." they share to others. "I wonder what Firiz did here... with mercenaries, like us..."

Leaving the briefing with Makao, Nalotrunos comments to the others. "Their intelligence and mission briefings are nearly as complete as the Starfinders."

***
On Vorlath Nalo gravitates to the rear of the group where he can keep the entire party in his sight. He might also be there because he doesn't know where to lead them. On seeing their first destination he mutters, "The Crooked Doshko. Blasphemy."

It's hard to say whether the vesk is developing a taste for the sardonic.

George 09-23 cannot fail to recognise the significance of the tags and nods at Felix.

Culture: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

"Yes, I recognise them as well."

George 09-23 activates the seals on his armour right before leaving the shuttle. While largely symbolic for an android he wants to look the part of a buttoned down mercenary ready for trouble and not a local bar patron.

Chip takes a moment to make sure Checker's own doshko is properly secured. "Well that's not crooked at all," he mutters absently at the drone's rigid grip. "Annoyingly straight. Or is that better?"

As you examine the graffiti on the bar, the bouncer looks up towards you. ”Gotta show on tonight. Cover’s 20 credits.” she says with a flat affect.

Vomatian hands her 20 credits.

"Thanks I'll enjoy the show!"

He then turns back and whispers to the party.

"We're going in right?"

Nalotrunos slides a credstick and his comm unit out of his belt. "You can take 20 for the bar and another 20 for yourself if you can tell us anything this joker."

He waves the credstick enticingly and shows the worlanisi a picture of Firiz on his comm unit.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Inwardly groaning, Twila-5 tries to salvage the situation as she produces her own credstick. "Smooth like honey, isn't he?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

With an inner sigh, she muses that at least it seems she didn't make it worse.

Maybe the bouncer's mercenary instinct will trump bad diplomacy.

"20?" says Chip. "Must be some show," he mutters. He points a thumb at Checker. "My walking backpack doesn't need a ticket, does.... it?"

He trails off as he realizes everyone is paying more attention to Nalotrunos's more direct approach.

The worlanisi looks at the picture, then swipes the credstick. Handing it back to Nalotrunos, the vesk sees just 20 credits have been deducted for now. Lotta people coming and going night to night. All tend to blur with a fuzzy memory. Course that's why the Gods invented security cameras, right? Even if upkeep on 'em can get real expensive...

She'll let you in if you each pay the cover, but the vesk and android's words seem to be smoother in their heads than spoken out loud. And at given that, that (20 more credits) offer doesn't seem to be swaying her.

Inside the bar itself (though if you have another angle or offer for the bouncer she's still at the door to talk to):

The sounds of blaring music, throaty singing, cheering, and jeering erupt from inside the Crooked Doshko, and the odor of smoke and stale alcohol spills out into the street. A large bar top divides the room into two sections, with private booths on one side and open tables on the other. The floors are sticky with spilled drinks, and the air is hot and stifling in the windowless building.

Most of the patrons gather around a stage in the back watching a performance. A vesk dressed in a sparkling, skintight bodysuit with vibrantly painted scales belts out a popular song. He performs a dance routine as he sings, and his choreographed moves are reminiscent of combat. Occasionally a patron throws an empty can or bottle onto the stage that the dancer crushes with his tail, showing off bulging muscles in the process. The projectiles tossed towards him seem partly heckling, partly a part of the show.

A few scattered patrons hunch over the bar or relax in the booths. The bartender, a scarred female hobgoblin, looks up as you come in and offers a gruff greeting: “Buy a drink if you wanna stick around. We don’t do charity here.”

Slides and map updated

Felix chooses to pay 20 credits than sway the bouncer with flattering words or whatnot just to enter the bar. They have no time for that, but they can't blame their allies for doing so. They offer their credstick to be credited accordingly before they enter.

They then scan the place quickly, despite the blaring music and foggy scenery. They proceed to the bar where the bartender offers them a drink, of course for a price. He waits for their allies to see what they might do as they stay, but sooner they order a drink. They then ask the bartender about the vesk on the stage. "Who is that performer on the stage?" they say in their usual dual voice, trying to make a conversation with the bartender, though the high-pitched one seems to be out-of-sync. Maybe because of the surrounding music. They are not sure.

Vomatian pays the cover charge and heads inside. He turns to the bartender.

"Yeah give me a whiskey please. We're looking for a guy named Firiz if you know anything"

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 10

George 09-23 pays the cover charge and enters. He asks the bartender if she knows anything about Firiz's whereabouts. He shows her a print-out to jog her memory.

"Can you help us find this guy? Please?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Chip parts the cover, and is quickly taken aback by the bartenders comment. "Isn't that what the cover was for?" he mutters to himself, but approaches the bar all the same.

"Him?" the bartender responds to Felix and nods towards the performing vesk? "'s Domakayo. Good right? Runs the circuit through this part of the ring. Always puts on a good show." As she says this, the vesk lets out a loud low note that he holds for a significant amount of time while his tail smashes a trio of bottles in an odd yet somehow harmonizing percussive rhythm.

At Vomatian's questioning she seems a bit put off, but George-023's smoother words get her to lean in and look at the image. "Firiz, huh? that his name? Yeah, seen him here a couple of times, grabbing some drinks, taking in shows, chatting with some people. Been a while though. Why, what's it to you?"

What sort of drinks do Felix and Vomitian (or anyone else) want? Looking at the menu, the drinks range in price from 1 credit for barely drinkable swill to 20 credits for something decent, or up to 50 credits for a shot of some pretty high-end stuff. There's a food menu too, though all of the options come in one variety: deep-fried

George 09-23 decides to tell the truth but not all the details.

"It is simple, we need to find him to get paid and to complete our mission. I cannot really talk about the details. It would not be professional."

"If you have any idea about when he might come in or where he might be that would be helpful."

Hoping to loosen the bartender's lips, Twila-5 opts to order an expensive drink. "I'll take a Galaxy Magic Mule. And anything you can tell us about Firiz would be much appreciated." She offers her credstick to pay for the drink (and the information).

I'm guessing that'll be 50 credits, right? Plus tip? Let me know if you need a Diplomacy check.

"No prob." the hobgoblin says to Twila-5 as she turns around to grab the appropriate bottles. "At least one of you got taste." Yeah, that's a fancier one. Luckily, between the solid spendeing and the diplomacy checks already:

As the hobgoblin pours the android a drink, she casually chats with you. "So, that guy. Firiz. As I said, saw him here a few times. Mostly kept to himself as I recall. Not uncommon, we get plenty of people coming and going just poppin' in for a meal and a drink from off-rock. Like you lot I'm guessing." she says with a wry grin as she slides the finished cocktail over to Twila-5. "Last time I saw him thought I remember him chattin' up Domakayo: vesk was playing here that night too. Guess your friend liked the show. He left here with someone too, lemme think...." The bartender taps her fingers on the bar for a few seconds, then snaps them. "Bolgin! That's the one. Now him, he's one of our regs whenever his trcuk route swings this way. That's him over there."

She points to a middle-aged human male sitting alone at a table near the stage. A cheap beer can and a plate of fried something sits before him, but the fiigure appears totally absorbed by Domakayo's performance.

"I would like to order the same, Galaxy Magic Mule." Feli says to the bartender and offers their credstick as well, after listening to the information the hobgoblin just shared, seeing also that the drink is indeed fancy. "Do you think Bolgin would like this? I would like to offer this for him instead.

"Well, if that comes recommended," says Chip cheerfully to the bartender, "I'll have one too. And... hmm. Let me look this over a moment." He looks over the food menu.

"Left together?" he says absently, "In a... friendly sense?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

"Pan galactic Gargleblaster for me -- please." Nalo continues to work on his diplomacy. When the drink comes, he sips politely, nods, and then cradles the drink in his palm without taking another sip.

Diplomacy aid: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

"Left together?" he says absently, "In a... friendly sense?"

The bartender who's named Keeper shrugs. "No clue. Didn't think your friend was Bolgin's type, but you never knwow. You'd need to ask him about it."

""Do you think Bolgin would like this? I would like to offer this for him instead."

At this Keeper snorts. "Ha! Keep your creds. Bolgin only goes for the cheap stuff. Which is good for him 'cause his tab's gettin' up there."

Keeper seems quite happy to chat with you for now - no more Diplomacy needed on her :)

"Eh? Oh! No, I just meant, more like, uh, not hostile or arguing. I didn't mean... well, I didn't mean anything specific."

He takes a tentative sip of his drink. "So I'll take that as a 'yes,' I suppose."

Sipping her drink, Twila-5 nods appreciatively. "Well made. Thanks. That Domakayo's quite the performer. When does his show end? We'd like to chat with him afterwards. Does he have a favorite drink we could order for him, to grease the rails, so to speak?"

I've deducted the cost of the cover and drinks from her character sheet.

"Domakayo? He's here for the night, but'll probably take a break in a half-hour or so. Feysplitters're his poison."

"Domakayo? He's here for the night, but'll probably take a break in a half-hour or so. Feysplitters're his poison."

"How much for one?"

Vomatian got cheap whiskey. Rail? As in what the house keeps handy and it's not expensive

"15 Creds'll do you."

Do you want to wait for Domakayo to take a break in his performance to talk to him? Or is there anyone else you'd like to talk to/look into in the mean time?

"Is that so? Well, thank you for that," Felix says to the bartender Keeper and gives her a nod of thanks as they take back their credstick. "If we can maximize our time, maybe let's talk to Bolgin until Domakayo finishes his performance. How about that?" he suggests to his allies.

"That sounds best," agrees Chip, taking a bigger taste of his drink. "Maybe we shouldn't, uh, surround him, though? Might feel threatening."

Approaching Bolgin, you see the man pounding back a Rat’s Tail (a cheap ysoki-brewed lager) and eating some fries. He is dressed in well-worn yet functional clothes and a backpack is tucked under the tabled by his booted feet.

It takes a few moments before he notices you. ”Ah!” he starts. ”Snuck up on me. Focused on the show – he’s great right?” Bolgin points towards the stage. Then looking confused at you he asks ”I don’t know you, do I? What’s the problem?”

"That sounds best," agrees Chip, taking a bigger taste of his drink. "Maybe we shouldn't, uh, surround him, though? Might feel threatening."

"Surround him was exactly my plan. But if you don't like that I will watch the door in case he tries to escape interrogation."

The vesk picks up his drink and wanders to a table closer to the door.

”I don’t know you, do I? What’s the problem?”

"No problem as far as we know. We're looking for a guy named Firiz. We'll buy you a couple of rounds if you can point us in his direction." What she lacks in charm, she tries to make up for with generosity.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Bolgin wrote:

”I don’t know you, do I? What’s the problem?”

"No problem as far as we know. We're looking for a guy named Firiz. We'll buy you a couple of rounds if you can point us in his direction." What she lacks in charm, she tries to make up for with generosity.

Vomatian follows Twila.

"Yeah what can we get you!"

aid: 1d20 ⇒ 7

"Well," Bolgin smiles at Twila-5's words. "Wouldn't say now to a couple more. But Firiz, name dooesn't ring a bell..."

As you give a better description of Firiz (or show a picture), Bolgin nods. "Oh, the squirrely fella! Yeah, we chatted one night few weeks back. Was asking about my routes with 'Bertha'. Was a bit put off at first, but your guy ended up just looking for a ride. Talked me into giving him a lift; not technically supposed to, but the man paid off my tab so after he chatted with someone in the back he joined me up front and we set out in the truck."

"Strange sort though." Bolgin muses. "Had me drop him in the middle of the bleedin' desert! I tell you, I don't get those walkabout types."

Felix follows everyone behind as they approach Bogrin so as to not crowd him around. Seeing Twila begins the conversation smoothly, they take the advantage to ask the man. "Where is this desert? And do you happen to know the reason for choosing the location to drop in Firiz? Is he alright when the two of you met?" Felix asks Bogrin, with the same dual voice, that seems unsynced and erratic at the end of their sentence. Hopefully, Bolgrin would not find them disconcerting.

Diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17

George 09-23 is in the background as well. He brings up a local map on his personal communication device and is looking for a nearby desert.

"It just 'the desert'. Sure its got a proper name but that's just what everyone calls it. Big old dusty expanse between this port and the next setup over." Bolgin says shrugging. George takes a look at a map of Vorlath as the trucker talks and sees that the place Bolgin's describing is indeed an undeveloped desert-like expanse, cut through by a few roads but otherwise with no clear features of settlements out there.

"As for why the Hells he wanted to go there, you'd know better than I. You seem to know him. Your man looked healthy and didn't seem to have lost his wits, but hey: hitcher's always right, ya know?"

As Bolgin goes back to his beer, onstage Domakayo belts out a booming final note and backflips through the air as his current song reaches a crescendo. Finishing, many of the scattered patrons applaud while the vesk nods and takes his leave from the stage. He goes over to the bar, where you see Keeper already has a drink waiting for him. The hobgoblin speaks a few words you can't quite make out to the performer, pointing to you as she does. Taking the green cocktail, Domakayo wanders over towards you.

SO. he says with a loud deep voice. I HAVE YOU TO THANK FOR THE EXTRA DRINK THEN? KEEPER SAYS YOU'RE SOLID SORTS. A PLEASURE TO MEET SOME NEW FANS. NAME'S DOMAKAYO. WHAT'S YOURS'?