[SFS] 5-08 Star Sugar Superstar (Inactive)

Game Master Kludde

The group is buying. It turns out both Bordle and Kareeda know this excellent baker who makes cupcake art. A serious amount of baking later, the group return with an intricate tower of cupcakes in various shaped and forms, itself forming a map of the pact worlds* and various other planets. All special dietary requirements have been incorporated, cleverly by making each cupcake correspond to the home location of who the requirement is for.

*Not to scale, of course.

Neat! is Tsuchi-ko's reaction, the staff will really appreciate this! Here, have a piece of swag!

She hands the group a recovery aegis shaped in the form of the SMC logo. Score!

Not too long after, Lita Starr (see handouts) enter onto the scene, pointing to a (cheap) chocolate fountains with a note "thank you to the staff". Is she trying to show up Tsuchi-ko? She invites the group to partake Hey, you didn't have to work for it, enjoy!

Lita moves off. Only second later a formidable uplifted bear in riot gear approaches the group and says When you're done, Lita needs you to visit backstage, in the typical way that people in heavy armor like to phrase 'requests'.

After partaking of a small amount of chocolate, Bordle heads backstage.

”Wonderful job!”, Morela tells the others.

She looks from the bear to the chocolate fountain, and shrugs. ”I’ll have some later”, she declares, following Bordle.

"Weren't we already.. ?" Chip shrugs and beckons for Checker to follow him backstage.

The backstage area is a disorganised chaos, which crew and artists wandering about looking for their respective. There's cheezy-D from ysoki hip hop group Naughti Whiska, standing along him crewmates and uttering, with steady old-school flow (and his crew falling in at the end of every sentence)

Listen to me, this place is WHACK
There's no sense to it front or BACK

Where our room is at, the signs are GONE
Ain't no staff you can ask no-ONE

Yo, the backstage area is like a GARAGE
I'm telling all'o'y'all it's SA-BO-TAGE

Time to get naughty.... Cheezy-D drops the invisible mike.

It's not really clear whether that's a threat, or just something Cheezy-D says a lot. He seems to be having a point, there's a lot of confused artists walking around, with Kawyrd weirded out, ANGR MNGR looking like they are about to blow a fuse, the The';) DROP TABLE BANDS; RUN; trying to hack into a termimal, Top Down looking bewildered at the Strange Quarks, and then there's 444D206D6520666F722061207072696365, the Black Hole Surfers, Not Your Android looking for Not Their Changing Room. Complete bedlam.

Lita Starr has a changing room that says 'Lita Starr', so that much is clear.

You can go to help Lita Starr, or try and sort out this mess (which needs Diplomacy, Culture, or any one skills and narrative you can come up with to improve this situation). Or go somewhere else, you're free to move around.

Bordle puts two fingers in her mouth and blows a piercing whistle to get everyone's attention. Once she has it she gets on to the job of turning chaos into order.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

Yes, yes. Send 23 gladiator orcs to Eox, that's right. And I'll send the invoices tomorrow. But you can prepare the shipment today... After finishing talking on the phone, Shari finally joins you. Assessing what is happening with her eyes, she raises one eyebrow in surprise. My God, it's so easy! It's not a problem, it's just a job. Drow takes a couple of steps forward, which is accompanied by a whistle of Bordle. Winking at her approvingly, she, along with brennari, begins to put things in order, find out who is who and to whom in which room, settling everything gently but firmly at the same time, with a smile on her face but a steadfastness in her gaze.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

With Shari and Bordle having things well in hand Kreeda! heads off to take a stride down the catwalk and see what the arena looks like from there and also throw some dance moves humming I like the way you mooove

Zint follows behind, shoving the last of the 6 donuts he bought for himself in his mouth.
"What? It take much energy to be skittermander!"

He watches Bordle and Shari work winders while savoring that chocolate confection stuffed with berry jam. Always good to save the best for last. He smiles as Kareeda! struts their stuff.

Morela knocks on Lita’s door, and waits patiently.

Chip follows after Morela, keeping Checker close to him.

Although he keeps an eye to be sure Bordle and Ms. Misraria do have it covered.

Bordle is rather amazed at how Shari is able to keep up and multitask several jobs at the same time. How do you DO that? she finally asks when there is a lull.

Shari answers in a whisper: I have a secret. I just think of them as kids, you know? All artists are like children. Idiot children, whom the matron should have sacrificed to the patron Demon Lord of your family long ago, but for some reason she felt sorry for. And here they are on special rights, they talk so much and so noisily, they plan to inherit the Matron's Throne, but they are still idiot children, only already grown up and spoiled...

She says this matter-of-factly, but who knows, what if she has a dozen older brothers and sisters, about whom she is sad that her mother did not sacrifice them so that she, an intelligent and worthy daughter of House Misraria, one day began to rule with all her talents for the benefit of the House Misraria? Who knows...

...That's clearer, I hope? By the way, you're doing great too. Especially the way you reminded that guy about some of the points of the contract and possible problems with taxes for violating this points. I will definitely keep your business card!

She winks at Bordle ;)

Bordle and Shari make short order of the chaos, leading the struggling artists to their dressing rooms. Cheezy-D is particularly pleased, and he thanks the party while his crewmates rythmically chip in:

Thanks a lot is all I can SAY
You can come organise any DAY
The dressing was lost, and FOUND
So Cheezy-D is gonna stick a-ROUND
Catch you later, see you on STAGE
I'm telling all of y'all is SABO...
He finishes before he figures out that is not going to rhyme.

MC Vanilla Mice thanks the group separately with a Yo starfinder, word to your mother... which is apparently just an ysoki way of paying respect.

---
Morela and Chip

Morela and Chip knock on the door marked LITA STARR. A verthani and an uplifted bear are hunched over a table, carefully writing on photos with headshots of Lita.

Lita looks up from her comm unit and smiles brightly. “You’re here! Thanks so much for helping! I need to get all these pictures autographed before the show starts so I can make sure every fan gets one! Go ahead and grab a pen and get signing. Using a real pen instead of a stamp adds an air of authenticity, don’t you think?”

Lita Starr then promptly ignored the group, but her aide Karalie (See handouts), the verthani, is ready to answer any questions.

You accurately forge Lita’s signature—complete with round curves and a star as the dot on the i—by succeeding at a culture or sleight of hand check

---
Kareeda!

No, I like the way YOU move! a muscular vesk in a tight skinsuit struts on the stage, trying to catch the lighting that is set up. Before the vesk can introduce himself a jingle plays D-D-DOMAKAYO. Oh, perfect, just perfect the vesk beams. There's still a lot of adjustments to be made to the lights and sounds. I want to sound at my beeeeest. the vesk belts out.

Maybe this is an opportunity for Kareeda! to help out with the lighting or sound?

Which would be Acrobatics or Computers

---
Bordle, Shari, Zint

Where do you want to go?

Zint checks in on everyone as he finishes licking chocolate off his fingers.
Making pretty words on paper. Nope.
Helping Kareeda! move speakers and pretty lights around? Sounds like fun!
He watches Kareeda! for a minute to get the gist of it and then dives in..
acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Hanging upside down 20' up with two wires in his hands he stops and looks over to Kareeda!, "Wait. Which plug red wire go into?"

Feeling that her day is going well and liking the vesks confidence Kareeda! tries to impress with acrobatically moving speakers and lights in a manual manner acrobatics: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15

Zirt can you lend a hand?

Not sure whether Zirt was following me or just the donuts

Zint does his best impression of a ball of fluff caught in a wire. Kareeda! just fares slightly better, but ultimately falls short of solving the problem.

Morela appears dubious about the idea of forging someone’s signature on a mass scale, until she notes the star above the i. Surely a sign from Desna, she reasons. Besides, these aren’t legal documents

She looks over the signature, tries a few practice runs, then gets to work.

Culture: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

I used to work in the Bluerise Tower before being a Starfinder. Bordle replies. Idiot children huh? Hmm. Reminds me of some corporate heads she grins.

She then heads over to help Kareeda and Zirt

It's usually Red wire to Red socket she chirps At least it is on my vidgaming rig

She flips up to help the skittermander
acrobatics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

What am I doing? I'm an accountant, not an acrobat. Still this is kinda fun

Zint looks over to Bordle, seemingly unfazed at hanging upside down for a while and shows her a bundle of wires in one hand and a speaker in the other.
"Uh. Wires blue and green. Connectors yellow and white. Where they get these?"
He reaches another arm down to scratch his head.

Bordle helps out the Skittermander. The result is something of a show in itself - it certainly grasps the attention of Domakayo - but in the end the light seems to turn on more or less as intended.

---

Morela does her utmost best to forge recreate Lita's signature as best as she can. It is a big pile of pictures that need to be signed.

Anyone else want to help?

---

There's other are to explore as well:
- The arena
- The backstage area (it is big)
- Lobby (visited)
- Catwalk (visited)
- Service area
(or if you're looking for a specific artist or judge, just ask around)

Bordle is also hanging upside down.

No idea. Still, it's a speaker. Doesn't really matter which way round it is. But yeah ... you'd think the colour of the wires would match the connectors

Once that is sorted out, she flips back down to the ground.
Try that Mister Domakayo sir

Chip momentarily regrets going into the dressing room instead of helping with the lights, where he's probably better suited. And he's not entirely clear on the reasoning that having other people forge your signature is more authentic than copying it--neither is really but surely the copy is closer?

But that's the request, and the requests are the job, and he knows a thing or two about this stuff.

He takes a sparky pen.

Culture: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Alas it seems knowing three things was required.

As they get down Zint looks around as if he has no idea where to go. He points in a seemingly random direction, towards the service area.
"Let's see what there!"

Kareeda! looks at the arena mainly to ensure the public section has a sensible boundary to the judges areas

FYI. I'll be headed out of town Friday AM and not back til Sunday afternoon/evening some time. Should have wifi where I'm going but have not stayed there before so... Bot if needed.

Свояк свояка видит издалека.

Shari chuckles and goes in search of Lynthia... In parallel, sending three working emails and checking the poster from a freelance designer from Aucturne.

Chip doesn't add a lot to the photocard. Fortunately Morela was productive enough. As a show of thanks, Lita gives Morela a... photocard... signed by Chip...

---
Zint moves off to the service area.

---
Kareeda! moves to the arena, and he arrives in time to inspect the safety of the area, and he spots some issues.

You can help with Athletics or Engineering

---
Shari wanders through the backstage area until she spots a vaguely familiar woman wearing no make-up. It's only when she sees the other side of the woman's face, which is in full stage make-up, that she recognises Lynthia.

Привет she says, тупой идиот. Before Shari can react, she explains some idiot walked into her and broke her eyeshade palette. The eyeshade is Scandal’s Ninefold Midnight — nothing else will do. Guess somebody will have to make a phonecall to arrange something.

You can use disguise to fix make-up in an alternative way, any relevant profession check, Culture, or brute-force-shopping

---

I actually think it's great that you guys are all over the place. I hope you appreciate it is a bit trickier to GM, but it gives a good feeling of how chaotic this place is right now :)

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Oh, THIS is gonna be fun...

Seeing the actual Tsuchi-Ko here makes Zint smile. He rushes over.
"Hey! Tsuchi-Ko! You get around fast! How can Zint help! Zint good helper!"
In a very loud voice... He is a Skitter who absolutely wants to help!

Bordle is following Zint while contemplating whether or not to restart doing gymnastics.
perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

”A souvenir!”, Morela says with a smile. She carefully tucks it into her bag so it doesn’t get bent, and turns to Chip.

”Where to next, partner?”

"Tech is really more my strong suit," Chip admits sheepishly to Morela. "We haven't really done much security work either, but then we were also told to keep the judges happy..."

---
Zint and Bordle

The girl looks a bit surprised at being called Tsuchi-Ko. For a moment, it looks as is she is going to bolt, but when she spots Zint, and hears Zint's offers for help, she musters up her courage and talks to the skittermander Oh, you have to help me meet Tsuchi-Ko, I'mh her biggest fan, we're totally soulmates! Look at this doll I've knit for her, doesn't it completely resemble her? She says, wiggling around the knitted doll, complete with red bow tie. She is going to desperately love it! It's perfect! She is a collector, you know!

---

Morela and Chip; Shari
Morela and Chip are gently nudged back into the backstage area, where they see Shari talk to Abysshead lead guitarist Lynthia

Morela overhears the problem with Lynthia’s makeup.

”Oh, what a shame!”, she commiserates. ”Let’s see what we can do about that”

Culture: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Kareeda! looks to move stuff into it right place in the arena
athletics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

I think I got everything sorted in the arena. I think I'll head back stage

I'm just going to hang back a moment and give the rest of the group a chance to interact

Well. You realise that we're suppose to escort you out of the area Bordle replies But it's rather quiet at the moment so let's swing by where we last saw Tsuchi-Ko and see whether or not she's still there. And ... well .. whatever happens, we'll see that your gift is delivered.

"Let me take a look at that pallet," says Chip, "I'm more of a scientist than artist; I'll leave the design to you, but mixing colors is a little of both."

Assisting Morela with Culture: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Apologies. Air Bnb had wifi but couldn't get logged onto the Paizo site. Happens sometimes when I'm out of town sadly...

Zint looks at the 'fake' celebrity, thinks "Yeah, something slightly off.. wait, that not real snake head! How rude!" but by then Bordle has offered a nice middle of the road suggestions some Zint nods and hurries along with them.

It is at the moment of this conversation, so interesting for Shari, that her comm unit begins to burst with calls again. After the fifth missed one, she gives up and picks up the phone for a minute. Back in the process, she looks a little lost and confused, as if "what were we talking about". But then Morela comes to her rescue, followed by Chip. Shari mentally sighs with relief (in fact, nothing changes on her face - the impenetrable mask of a good manager and an 'almost noble' drow)) and helps Morela find the right contacts by sharing her suppliers.

Culture: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10 AID

I hope I understood correctly and the culture check is looking for a suitable replacement in not applying makeup ourself. By the way, roleplay has never been given to me so easily, because I've been like Shari IRL for the last week. I hope this will pass soon and I will post more regularly .)

---
Backstage
Morela. Shari, Chip
Chip remarks that there are shops nearby, and Morela manages to bring up a directory, but only manages to spot stores that carry 'liavaran sparkle' and 'zeizerer black', a cheap knock-off product.

There's still the 'do-it yourself' option and the 'brute force shopping option'. Or maybe someone else has better culture check

---
Service Area --> Backstage
Zint, Bordle

Ooh! You're really going to try and find Tchuki-ko! Awesome! These people at security were so mean to me... Wonder, Tchuki-ko fans extraordinaire says while bouncing up and down with excitement.

You're not entirely sure how open Tchuki-ko is to receiving fans right now...

Are you sure you want to take Wonder backstage?

---
Arena
Kareeda!

Kareeda fixes the cabling, and makes the whole arena a bit safer. Once he fixes up the last cable, he hears

I want to beat you up
I don't care, 'cause I won't feel sorry

It's Sonic Tumult!

I'll put a blue sign over your left eye saying closed for the season!

It looks like they're soundchecking on stage, with their typical brand of aggressive-sonic-noise-music.

It's strange that two of them are already smashing their instruments, that is normally something that is only reserved for the live shows. It's also strange that they're smashing their instruments on each other.

Vesk lead singer Sayozo jumps onto the stage to try and separate the two quarreling bandmates, but he immediately takes a cymbal to the head. Clearly he needs some help...

Going to need some Athletics, Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidate to separate the two

”A shopping trip? But with an element of danger, like a scavenger hunt! Oh, this should be fun!”, Morela beams. ”Would anyone like to join me?”

She starts heading out.

Even Zint thinks taking a fan directly to a performer is a bad idea.
"Uh. Why not me and fan wait here and you go find Tchuki-ko. Make sure everything OK. We can wait here."

He hears yelling and crashing from the stage area.

"Wow, that music sounds fun!"

"Yeah... yeah, right with you," says Chip vaguely to Morela, but his attention is more on the melee on stage.

"Checker! Separate them!"

So this is why he brought an armed combat drone to this security job: To attack the celebrities!

Chip motions for Checker to shove the bigger one, but jumps up to help himself as well, trying to hold the other one back so the drone can separate them.

Chip's Athletics to Aid: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Checker's Athletics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

OK. I'll do that ... and if you don't mind, I'll take your gift, just in case

Assuming assent is given, she takes the Tchuki-ko plushie before hurrying back stage.

When she gets there, she pauses to take in the scene before moving in to attempt to stop the fight with a very loud whistle.

Hey! What's going on? Can we sit down and sort this out?
diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

Shari is right ... they ARE children

Morela - out shopping

Morela heads out to the shopping district, looking for just the right shade of black.

She, and anyone who wants to join, should roll a fortitude save (!) to reflect the hard work that is shopping for cosmetics

---
Zint, Shari, Bordle

Wonder throws an outright fit when it becomes clear she won't be taken to Tchuki-Ko. But I have to meet her! I have to! I have to!

This is turning into quite a scene...

You can make checks to calm her down/convince (Dip/Bluff/Intimidate), or more ham-handed 'throwing out' type of checks (Athletics). Relevant profession checks also work, as does any other good idea you come up with.

Bordle slinks out to the arena...

---
Chip, Bordle, Kareeda! - Arena

The drone just barely avoids a chair being thrown before Bordle steps in and calms down the two bandmates. I'm not getting on the stage with you in this lifetime! the guitarist says as he heads out, while the drummer says I'll jam with you when hell freezes over!

The Vesk leads singer looks to have come off worst, with a big head wound that needs immediate medical attention...

Zint frowns, looks over at Shari, "You wanna try calming her or want me to just toss her out? Bordle went to see if we could take her in but she apparently no have any patience..."

Fort save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

Morela keeps a relentless pace, as she makes her way from one boutique to another.

”Desna, light my way”, she intones.

...usually the job of a Starfinder is a risk, danger, sometimes dirt... and now... we're just shopping. I would like us to have this kind of work more often...

Fort: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Our Lady in Shadows, lead me in the Dark, Shari says softly with a sly smile.

"Hell is infinite," says Chip irritably, "parts of it are cold."
For all he knew, it might even be true.

"Now sit down so I can take a look at that. Unless you're carrying a healing serum?"

He moves to examine the injury and see what he can do to start treating it.

Medicine: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21