GM Valen's Starfinder Society Bounty #3 - A Green Place (January 2023) (Table 2) (Inactive)

Game Master Lysle

Word has reached you of a circulating rumor indicating that there is a job available at the visitors center for brave and skillful individuals interested in helping the city of Thamal. The opportunity is open to citizens of Verces and visitors alike, but no more details can be found outside the visitors center.

A tall man dressed in a long coat, with an old-fashioned cross-bow type weapon on his back, enters the visitor center. In his hands, he holds what looks like a deck of cards. My name is Saja Joseung, he says, tipping his hat, I realise that may be unsettling to some.

Could you tell me your names?

You see motion in the corner of your eye; at first, you think it's a bug or moth of some kind. To your surprise, a voice comes from the little being. "Hi, I'm Tiika! Yay, we're here!"

A female Damaya Lashunta joins you, wearing the purple and silver raiment of a priestess of Desna. A tiny ball of blue light appears over her right shoulder, shedding a gentle glow. She nods to the group, and breaks into a smile when she sees Tiika.

”Greetings”, she says. ”I am Morela”

Please to meet you all, Blue Jack the Undine at your service
The light armored technomancer walks in.

Splendid, Saja says, flicking through his deck of cards as each person introduces themselves, delighted to meet you.

Tiika, Morela... he repeats, as if lost in thought, looking at his cards. ...the Undine, that is your family name? Saja asks, Would you prefer Blue, Jack or Mister Undine?

Feel free to continue with introductions before the following (but just to keep us moving along)...

As you each arrive at Thamal’s recently constructed visitors center, which is surrounded by a mix of trees, older buildings, and new construction, you find that the surface of the visitors center’s large silver dome covered with thousands of small colored lights that display the message, “Welcome to Thamal.”

A well-dressed, verthani woman strides out to meet you. "I am Councilor Kirslin Auganir," she says by way of greeting. "Thank you for coming. I’m sure you’ve noticed the city’s recent power troubles. It’s a problem the city council would like remedied as soon as possible.”

The lights flicker out, along with the lights and displays of nearby buildings. After a few moments, the lights flicker back to life.

Councilor Kirslin sighs heavily, her skin paling to a dismal gray. “Did you see that? This city’s about to be named a top Verces travel destination for the first time in its history, but nobody’s going to want to visit us if the power won’t stay on."

"I can see the next story now: ‘Thamal’s future is looking dim. Literally.’ Luckily, that’s where you come in.”

“The city council managed to narrow the power issue down to a single plant. Station Green has gone completely offline, and the other power plants can’t consistently compensate. We sent repair drones in three times, but they went dead upon arrival. So now I’m sending you, if you’ll take the job, that is."

The Councilor nods knowingly as she hands you all several tourism brochures, logs from the plant and repair drones, and a map to Station Green.
Please do not add anything to the Slides until I make a separate set for this Table.

"And please, keep it quiet? We’ve got a reputation to maintain."

Any questions? Those wishing to use the provided logs to learn more about the plant may attempt a Computers check. Alternatively, a PC may attempt a Diplomacy check to gather information to learn more from Councilor Kirslin.

Morela’s brow furrows with concern at the city’s predicament.

”This is awful!”, she says. ”Not just for tourists, but the people who live here”

She ponders quietly for a moment.

”When did this start happening?”, she asks.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Splendid, Saja says, flicking through his deck of cards as each person introduces themselves, delighted to meet you.

Tiika, Morela... he repeats, as if lost in thought, looking at his cards. ...the Undine, that is your family name? Saja asks, Would you prefer Blue, Jack or Mister Undine?

--- EARLIER ---

--- NOW ---
"Pleasure to meet you Councilor Kirslin, the circumstances notwithstanding. I really hope we can help, and certainly discretion should be manageable as well."

Saja frowns at the name jokes, but then responds with courteousness, Pleased to meet you, Celebryn Edasseril, Son of the Third House of El, Holder of the Sacred Chalice of Iadara, Heir to the Viridian Crown. If I may beg your pardon, the correct addressal is Milord? Prince Edasseril?

Saja spends a very short time browsing through his deck of cards, then adds the longevity of the elven race is famous, as a non-sequitor.

---

Unfortunate indeed, Councilor Auganir Saja reacts to the flickering light. To get some insight on the engineering difficulties that may await us, by what method does the station generate its power?

The man has a look at the soulless logs and pieces of code, and finds very little within his realm of knowledge. With a sigh, he says Is there any staff we might interview?

No computers...

”When did this start happening?”, she asks.

Morela's Diplomacy result does not yield any additional information.

"“I hate to say it," Councilor Kirslin replies, "but the outages were the first real sign. We get logs from the power plants, sure, but who has time to dig into all that? I do know this: the plant didn’t send out any warning before it stopped functioning, and there’s no indication of intrusion, an explosion, or anything like that.”

"Pleasure to meet you Councilor Kirslin, the circumstances notwithstanding. I really hope we can help, and certainly discretion should be manageable as well."

"It is my hope as well," she agrees with a nod. "Please do be discrete."

Unfortunate indeed, Councilor Auganir Saja reacts to the flickering light. To get some insight on the engineering difficulties that may await us, by what method does the station generate its power?

"The station derives its power from a single fusion reactor," explains the Councilor. "Its controls and systems should not be too difficult to navigate for anyone with some training in the handling of computers or the basics of structures and machinery."

The man has a look at the soulless logs and pieces of code, and finds very little within his realm of knowledge. With a sigh, he says Is there any staff we might interview?

"Station Green is an automated power plant," Kirslin notes. "Repair drones are dispatched when any issue is detected. As I noted before, the drones previously dispatched have gone dead. They are unresponsive."

"Otherwise, I suppose that I am the closest thing to 'staff' for the station," she concedes.
You may attempt a Diplomacy check to try and get Kirslin thinking about additional information that might be useful.

Otherwise, feel free to ask specific questions or let me know you are ready to depart to the plant.

Saja frowns at the name jokes, but then responds with courteousness, Pleased to meet you, Celebryn Edasseril, Son of the Third House of El, Holder of the Sacred Chalice of Iadara, Heir to the Viridian Crown. If I may beg your pardon, the correct addressal is Milord? Prince Edasseril?

Saja spends a very short time browsing through his deck of cards, then adds the longevity of the elven race is famous, as a non-sequitor.

---

Unfortunate indeed, Councilor Auganir Saja reacts to the flickering light. To get some insight on the engineering difficulties that may await us, by what method does the station generate its power?

The man has a look at the soulless logs and pieces of code, and finds very little within his realm of knowledge. With a sigh, he says Is there any staff we might interview?

No computers...

Celebryn smiles quite broadly, especially for an elf, in public.

Tiika flutters to a computer and sees what she can figure out.

computers: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Diplomacy, Aid: 1d20 ⇒ 2

Saja scribbles something on a piece of paper, muttering something about letting him know if something additional comes to mind. It's not very clear what he wants.

”Yes, I see, but when did you notice the outages?”, Morela asks. ”Perhaps there’s some other event from around the same time, that might be a clue”

”Yes, I see, but when did you notice the outages?”, Morela asks. ”Perhaps there’s some other event from around the same time, that might be a clue”

“I hate to say it, but the outages were the first real sign," admits the Councilor. "We get logs from the power plants, sure, but who has time to dig into all that? I do know this: the plant didn’t send out any warning before it stopped functioning, and there’s no indication of intrusion, an explosion, or anything like that.”

Tiika flutters to a computer and sees what she can figure out.

The kiirinta examines the logs from the plant and concludes they are unnaturally consistent, as if they’ve been doctored. This oddity goes back to the earliest days of the plant, long before the outages began.

When asked about this, Kirslin concdes that she thought they might be too good to be true, but had no time to follow up.

Any other questions or shall we move to the next encounter?

Next Encounter

"We really should go to the plant itself."

Next Encounter

"We really should go to the plant itself."

”Very well”, Morela agrees. ”We won’t learn anymore until we see for ourselves”

Well, we do have to check out the plant eventually, just not without precautions. I agree, let's head out.

Using the directions provided, you are able to location the power station easily.

Station Green stands in a paved clearing decorated with a tile mosaic of a forest against a city skyline. Grass grows in the spaces between the tiles in the 10 feet immediately surrounding the plant, edging onto its outer walls. The exterior door is ajar.

I have placed your tokens "outside" the front door of the planet in the green-dotted area at the top of the Map.

Feel free to move your tokens where you wish, providing any Perception, Stealth, or other skill rolls appropriate for the actions your PCs are taking.

Also, please provide the requested information on this Slide.

I have placed your tokens "outside" the front door of the planet in the green-dotted area at the top of the Map.

I don’t see them. Does anyone else?

GM Valen wrote:

I have placed your tokens "outside" the front door of the planet in the green-dotted area at the top of the Map.

I don’t see them. Does anyone else?

I've added my own token to the green area, and provided my details

Agreed, Bryan Saja says with a nod, this plant does not investigate itself. He taps the deck of cards, I'm curious to see who we find there.

---

At the station, Saja pays close attention to any sights and sounds before going in.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Morela wrote:

GM Valen wrote:

I have placed your tokens "outside" the front door of the planet in the green-dotted area at the top of the Map.

I don’t see them. Does anyone else?

I've added my own token to the green area, and provided my details

Agreed, Bryan Saja says with a nod, this plant does not investigate itself. He taps the deck of cards, I'm curious to see who we find there.

---

At the station, Saja pays close attention to any sights and sounds before going in.

"I appreciate your optimism that it would be a 'who' and not a 'what' -- let's take a look, shall we? One moment please ..."

Celebryn casts: Keen Senses

PERC: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 2 = 17 Duration = 1minute

Morela looks over the exterior, especially the door.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Tiika looks around carefully.

perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

"I appreciate your optimism that it would be a 'who' and not a 'what' -- let's take a look, shall we? One moment please ..."

Merely an expression of my preferences, I should add. Though demise by natural causes tends to be much less defiant. Saja adds, as if speaking from experience.

GM Valen wrote:

I have placed your tokens "outside" the front door of the planet in the green-dotted area at the top of the Map.

I don’t see them. Does anyone else?

Sorry, I had gotten mixed up (always a potential risk when running two tables simultaneously) and hadn't placed them.

At the station, Saja pays close attention to any sights and sounds before going in.

Other than possibly the door being ajar, Saja doesn't notice anything out of the ordinary from outside. Neither does Morela.

"I appreciate your optimism that it would be a 'who' and not a 'what' -- let's take a look, shall we? One moment please ..."

Looking through the door, the keen-eyed elf finds that the entryway to the power plant is lit by sunlight coming through the plant’s open front door, though emergency lights in the ceiling also flicker dimly. Pieces of metal and circuitry are scattered across the floor. Some spark erratically. The sound of dripping is accompanied by faint squeaking and skittering.

Before proceeding inside, the Son of the Third House of El notices the floor is slick with fluid. Tiika's insect-like eyes confirm the liquid's presence.
Terrain Note: The floor of this entryway room is slick with fluid. A creature can walk within or through the room at half normal speed with a successful DC 10 Acrobatics check. Failure means the creature can’t move that round, and must then succeed at a Reflex save or fall prone; failure by 5 or more means it falls prone. Any creature that falls prone must roll 1d8 to determine into which adjacent square they fall, with 1 immediately north of them and 2 through 8 rotating clockwise around them. A creature that doesn’t move on its turn doesn’t need to attempt this check and isn’t flat‑footed. As the Holder of the Sacred Chalice of Iadara can convey the presence of the liquid, each PC who uses this knowledge to step carefully gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Acrobatics checks and Reflex saves attempted in this room.

Any PC within the room may attempt a Physical Science, Engineering, and/or Life Sciences check to learn more about the fluid and circuitry components on the floor of the entryway.

Feel free to move your tokens into the room where you wish, providing any Acrobatics (include your +1 noted in prior post), Perception, Stealth, or other skill rolls appropriate for the actions your PCs are taking. I will assume that your PC is in the same location as your token when adjudicating rules, etc.

Morela steps carefully into the room, looking around at the wreckage.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Challenging Saja notes matter-of-factly. Looking at Tiika, he states I take it it is not customary for power plant floors to be smeared in grease?

He then looks around for any source of the slippery fluid

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

"I will admit that even in 325 years, power plants have not yet been a primary area of study; that said, I do know that they are normally kept as clean or cleaner than many people's living quarters. This is odd. Move with caution."

Morela steps carefully into the room, looking around at the wreckage.

Morela manages to safely avoid slipping onto the floor, but her path takes her through an oil puddle that has been electrified, causing her damage on contact!

If the electrical components are safely removed, the puddle will no longer be electrified.
Requires being adjacent to the puddle and making a successful Engineering to disable the hazard in that manner.

Morela cries out as she stumbles across a dangerous patch of floor.

Reflex save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

You okay Morela?

"I don't think I have a good way of disarming that puddle ..."

Tiika has a fly speed, and so is staying out of contact with the muck, especially after seeing it is dangerous

Tiika moves over to next to the muck and tries to disable it to keep it from shocking her friends. probably standing on the ground rather than flying to do this

engineering: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

You okay Morela?

”I’ve had worse, I suppose”, she says, wincing.

Looking at the door the puddle is blocking, she reaches toward it.

psychokinetic hand to open the door

The party proceeds into the fluid-covered entryway. The entryway has four exits. The exterior door to the north is the one through which you all entered. The door to the south is currently blocked by the electrified puddle. Doors to the west and to the east are each open, revealing short hallways beyond.

Tiika moves over to next to the muck and tries to disable it to keep it from shocking her friends. probably standing on the ground rather than flying to do this

The kiirinta lands briefly on the slick floor to try and remove one of the electrical components, but the oil-covered items prove difficult to remove.

Looking at the door the puddle is blocking, she reaches toward it.

psychokinetic hand to open the door

The lashunta points her finger and a force pushes on the door. The door proves easy to open, having only been ajar and unable to close fully due to the presence of plant growth.

Beyond the door, a large, circular generator sits dormant in the center of a room filled with plant life. Vines curl up and around pipes and wires, ferns hang from ceiling lights, and thick gray moss covers the walls.

Party Status
Morela -4 SP

Saja musters all the science knowledge he has in him and states Obviously this generator is off.

He looks a bit quizzically at the large vine growth Is it customary to allow plants to grow near a generator?

No Computers or Life Science

Let me see if I can remove the hazard engineering: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22 There, now we can move through the puddle

Let me see if I can remove the hazard [dice=engineering]1d20+5 There, now we can move through the puddle

”Ah, thank you”, Morela replies. She touches the puddle gingerly with her foot, before continuing into the generator room.

There, now we can move through the puddle

Removed yellow border from puddle that indicated it was electrified.

Thank you, Blue Jack Saja says, nodding approvingly, safety hazards like these lead to unnecessary accidents and complications.

These plants do not grow that fast, do they? Appaling to see such poor maintenance in this place

Unless anyone has skills, shall we move on? To that central room south of this one, maybe?

Thank you, Blue Jack Saja says, nodding approvingly, safety hazards like these lead to unnecessary accidents and complications.

These plants do not grow that fast, do they? Appaling to see such poor maintenance in this place

Unless anyone has skills, shall we move on? To that central room south of this one, maybe?

"Even on Castrovel, no, plants do not grow that fast, naturally. So let's check on that a little bit."

computers: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
life science: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Tiika shares what she knows about the generator, and start to look around for anything that might be keeping it from working.

Moving party tokens into the generator room per posts above...

Not registering the presence of any magical auras or other forms of interference within the room, the party peers through the door that is ajar to the south.

The plants in this room are well‑tended and lush. A mix of flowers, ferns, and vines spill from pots and rise from organized plots of dirt on the floor. The large, transparent aluminum window allows plenty of sunlight into the area.

A green‑skinned woman clipping a bush turns and smiles. “Welcome to Station Green, my friends. Don’t you love what I’ve done with the place? Buildings like this should be part of growing new things, not destroying the old. Don’t you agree?”

Party Status
Morela -4 SP

Moving party tokens into the generator room per posts above...

Not registering the presence of any magical auras or other forms of interference within the room, the party peers through the door that is ajar to the south.

The plants in this room are well‑tended and lush. A mix of flowers, ferns, and vines spill from pots and rise from organized plots of dirt on the floor. The large, transparent aluminum window allows plenty of sunlight into the area.

A green‑skinned woman clipping a bush turns and smiles. “Welcome to Station Green, my friends. Don’t you love what I’ve done with the place? Buildings like this should be part of growing new things, not destroying the old. Don’t you agree?”

Party Status
Morela -4 SP

"I couldn't agree more. That is absolutely what was intended, yet for some reason, that has been disrupted. For some reason, it seems this building isn't functioning as it should, helping new growth in hydroponics labs, helping young children stay healthy. For some reason, this building has become a useless abomination of its purpose, disgusting really. We just need to take a look and see why ... and hopefully quickly destroy whatever barriers there are to restoring its functions. I'm glad you're here to help us with that."

"For some reason, it seems this building isn't functioning as it should, helping new growth in hydroponics labs, helping young children stay healthy. For some reason, this building has become a useless abomination of its purpose, disgusting really. We just need to take a look and see why ... and hopefully quickly destroy whatever barriers there are to restoring its functions. I'm glad you're here to help us with that."

"But the station is functioning well," the woman replies insistently with a confused look upon her face. "The energy the plant provides has fostered extensive growth, particularly of the sleeper moss. All of the young seedlings here are the plant are doing quite well, in fact. The sleeper moss' new buds in particular."

"Indeed, I had anticipated that Station Green would make a magnificent growth site, which is why I brought the planets and moss here,, she explains. "And I, for one, think the results speak for themselves! I'm saving Thamal from destroying natural habitats in the name of development."

If you wish to continue speaking with her, please free free to do so, making any appropriate checks. To influence her, a PC may attempt a DC 15 Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidate check to trick, convince, or coerce to stop her plans, or a Culture, Life Science, Physical Science check to provide compelling evidence that the reactor sabotage is causing trouble.

Other options, including combat, may also be tried.

What do you wish to do?

Morela considers their host.

Mysticism: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

”Very impressive!”, says Morela. ”You really do have a green thumb. Unfortunately, while the plants are doing fine, the people who rely on the power station aren’t. Now, this sort of thing really isn’t my area, but I’m sure there’s some way to get the generator running, while the plants create additional energy. Wouldn’t that be best for everyone?”

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Mysticism: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15 That's a fail, so I'm assuming Morela shares her knowledge

Diplomacy, aid: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1 Hooray for aid rolls not turning things into disastrous failures

Saja lets out a barely audible annoyed groan and whispers to Morela First worlders typically don't need my services.

He then turns to the woman, without asking for her name or looking at his deck of cards. Surely the purpose of a power station is to provide power, which it currently isn't doing. Your sleeper moss may be well-served, but for every plant growing here, thousands whither elsewhere. Is this the life you want to live?

He will stand in the back and wait for the others.