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Celestia tends the captain's wounds, tossing in a Mystic Cure for good measure.
[b]Indeed not. It seems that the Drift has reconfigured itself so we're following this .... erm .... wormhole ... from the Pact Worlds to wherever it may go. Our objective is to obtain friendly relations with whomever we find.
Captain Jaws relaxes as Zoey talks to him, and even more when Celly treats his injuries.
He tells you that he has flown this route before. The Drift lane leads to the Nebula Union, within the gravity well of his home world of Xibion. The Nebula Union is a system-wide, multi-planetary alliance that has endured since the Gap. It contains four participating planets. The Nebula Union is currently deep in debate about what should be done about the Drift lane.
"They'll be suspicious of you in the Nebula Union when you show up unannounced. Probably best to call this Drift lane by its local name, Jatembe's Jaunt. If anyone hassles you, give them the passphrase 'From many, one', and they'll know you can be trusted.
"Oh, and you definitely should go to Mama Rae's, in the city of Uzodia on Xibion, if they ever have the opportunity to visit."
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And in return, you should try out the food at Mama Fats on Level 21 in Absalom Station's Down Below district. I get takeout from there often after work. I'm Celestia Sol.
But yes, name noted and logged. Our end comes out near Verces in the Pact Worlds system. Who would we need to talk to to open negotiations?
"I'm just a trader; I don't know who you need to talk to. I'm sure you'll be greeted almost the moment you emerge from Jatembe's Jaunt, and you can work from there.
"But I look forward to that meal. Your treat on Absalom Station, and mine in Uzodia, yes?"
The remainder of the journey through Jatembe’s Jaunt is uneventful, with no sighting of the Drifters or any other starships.
Stars fill the sky again as the ship emerges from the Drift lane in front of a large blue and green planet surrounded by starships of all shapes and sizes. In response to this new arrival, four of the orbiting vessels immediately leave their current positions, surrounding the ship in a diamond formation. A hail cuts through the silence, “Identify yourself, friend!”
"Ah, my apologies for the inconveninece. We were not expecting anyone through the Jaunt just now, but you are most welcome. Please join us on the Banyan as honored guests. Please proceed to these coordinates for docking." You are sent instructions, and the Legion is scanned.
When you reach the ship, you are greeted by a female gnoll. “Hi! Hello. Or should I say greetings, strangers! I’m Windleaf Leopard and this is the Banyan, the Nebula Union’s flagship orbital home-away-from-home. Consider yourself officially welcomed!
“I've been asked to escort you to Unity Hall, where the Nebula Union’s four top councilors are meeting to discuss the new Drift lane and how it should be handled.”
While walking through the ship, she proudly shows it off to you. It is also made of conrasu wood. It features elaborate and colorful carvings along many of its walls, often inlaid with tiny gears or glowing lights that make them seem to come alive.
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Zoey looks around in wonder during the tour and reacts with oohs and aahs when being told about the Union and the Councilors.
Four top councilors... a bit like Astrowerk, then. Zoey giggles, referencing the four-android synth group. What are the councilors like? Do they fight a lot?
Ah, this place is big, right? Don't worry, miss Leopard, it's going to be fine. Zoey says with a bright smile that would convince most people everything is, in fact, going to be fine. This ship is very pretty.
If things take too long, she'll ask for a bathroom, though.
Eventually, a three-armed baraggah with brown and white striped fur in a long robe and matching cap who introduces herself as Lasiel, approaches Windleaf to ask why the group is delayed, as the council is waiting to see them. Windleaf claims that the Starfinders asked her for an in-depth tour of the ship before heading to the Unity Hall.
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It's really nice! Really classy with all the wood carvings. That must have taken really long to make, so much effort!
We were just looking for the east office. You know, the room-with-a-view. .. uh... the black hole? The other bridge? The cannon of last resort? Zoey asks, with enough media training not to mention 'toilet' to a stranger.
Lasiel leaves, admonishing Windleaf to hurry.
After the baraggah is out of earshot, the gnoll admits that she is lost and asks for help figuring out where the Unity Hall is—she’s found a terminal, but it doesn’t have any information on it about the Banyan layout. Each Starfinder may make one check to help find your destination. You can try:
* Culture to interpret the wall carvings
* Computers to hack the terminal and download schematics
* Engineering to use structural clues to determine the layout
* Mysticism to follow the starship's magical essence
* Survival for usual Survival things
Ainsley is very enthusiastic to find the meeting hall. Moreso than Windleaf, who is mostly enthusiastic to figure out where she is. Thy and Thraega keep bumping into each other along the way, but Zoey, Celly and Frinke together manage to find the route to Unity Hall.
As PCs approach the Unity Hall,raised voices are audible inside. Windleaf’s heard this kind of argument many times before and tells you that while she respects all four councilors, she thinks they are unlikely to agree about what to do with Jatembe’s Jaunt, since each has a troublesome flaw—arrogance (Zallia), fear (Sirrellim), aggression (Tkerik), and greed (RKY7). She ushers you into the room and then makes herself scarce.
“The mere fact that Jatembe’s Jaunt exists proves my point!” shouts a middle-aged dwarf of medium-brown complexion. “The universe has brought us the ability to share our message of peace, if only you lot would stop arguing long enough to do it.”
A slender creature, sprouting large pieces of blue and green kelp from its back, swims in a frantic circle within a towering pillar of water, causing words to echo from within. “All the universe has truly brought us is trouble, Zallia. Already these Drifter pirates have attacked the few ships using it, bloodying our tranquil waters. And they may yet try to change our way of life. We must focus on protecting ourselves, not lecturing the galaxy.”
“Your courage is inspiring, Sirrellim,” responds a furry, mammalian creature, their words dripping with sarcasm as they raise themselves up on their back legs and gesticulate with all three of their arms, “But you miss the opportunity the Drifters present. Treat them as partners instead of a threat and our might only increases. Once we’re ready for them, of course.”
A large clockwork construct shakes his head, gears within spinning wildly, then speaks. “As you would also wait to move through Jatembe’s Jaunt in your quest to build your star army, Tkerik, I am not sure how much more courageous you are than Sirrellim. Like Zallia, I see no reason to attempt to block off Jatembe’s Jaunt, though as you know, I care more for magic and commerce than conversation. But we are no longer alone—perhaps these visitors have a better understanding of what Jatembe’s Jaunt may hold for us and put an end to this stalemate.”
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Celestia steps into the room, hoping that the usual diplomacy thing will work.
Gentle beings. My name is Celestia Sol, representing the Starfinder Society and the Pact Worlds where the other end of Jatembe's Jaunt exits. We were send to find out who was at this end and negotiate a peaceful settlement with whomever was on this side.
Councilor Zallia. I heard you say you want to spread a message of peace. That is our objective too, especially now with the Drift being all ... erm ... different.
((T-shirt reroll - 4 novas))
She also opens her mind to sense their emotions using her empathy ability, starting with Zallia.
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The drifters are a bunch of meanies, and they've got many fast ship that fly around you Zoey explains with big eyes, and for effect adds some Zoof! Zoof! noises.
They attacked us for nothing, and we had to use all of our heaviest weapons to fend them off. Good thing that friendly captain was in the area... he had good tips on restaurants too!
We used to be bickering with the Vesk too, but then a nasty enemy appeared and started shooting up our colony ships. We managed to make peace with the Vesk, now they're this awesome group of big lizard people that go around and say cool stuff like she says as she switched to the Akitonian-sounding Vesk heard in a while Не стреляйте в блондинку! It's really much better having them as friends
Don't shoot the blondie!
I don't know, that ship captain Jaws was flying seemed pretty capable to me!
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Ainsley walks up to the four and makes their case as best as they can.
Talking to Sirellim: "Lord, we had lots of problems with them, we had some damage to our ship but managed to destroy theirs before we incurred too much damage. You can't take them lightly."
Talking to Zallia: I agree we need way more cooperation, and we are also knowledgable about the politics too on figuring out what may work and what won't.
Talking to Tkerik: "The Nebula Union can hold its own, either with the Banyan, or what whatever other vessel it has. It not only has the equipment but also more importantly the manpower and the morale within the local forces.
Talking to RKY7: The Drifters want commerce, you see, they want to bring business to the Nebula Union. There's nothing to be afraid of here, I am doubting with what they do, I don't think you'd be in direct competition with them on anything at all!
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[b]"I think that each of you is correct in equal measure. The Starfinder Society is dedicated to exploration, cooperation, peace, and the pursuit of knowledge. In our travels and dealings we find, as most do, that life and the universe is full of things great and wonderful as well as things terrible and frightening. I urge to find a way to work together bring the best of what you have to the different peoples of the galaxy while protecting that which you hold most dear.
Sirellim
Zallia
Tkerik
RKY7
With Ainsley popping in to help occasionally, Frinke tells Tkerik how ready the Nebula Union is for a fight, Celly shows Zallia that the Starfinders don't want to, Zoey impresses on Sirellan how scary the pirates were, and Thraega figured out RKY7's side hustle.
“We have much to consider,” Zallia says, suggesting that they take a break to consider everything that has been said and inviting you to explore the ship and share your thoughts further in the meantime. The councilors depart, spreading across the starship individually.
Immediately after the Councilors depart the Unity Hall, Lasiel enters to collect papers, appearing much more unsteady on her paws than before. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t know anyone was in here,” she says, words slurring together. “Sorry if I’m a little jittery right now—I love grabbing Mama Rae’s sugar snaps when I’m here with Tkerik, but sweets and baraggahs don’t really mix and I feel very bouncy right now. I’m gonna sit right there and relax. Too tense in here anyway, don’t you think?” She drops her voice to a loud whisper. “And it’s not like we don’t all know why. Work around here long enough and you pick up a few secrets!”
You all get a momentary glimpse of what the ancient ancestors of the baraggahs might have looked like if a member of another tribe tried to steal the food they hunted and killed on their own. Thraega thinks better of trying a sugar snap just now.
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Ah auntieieieie! Zoey throws something between a cute face and a tantrum, looking at Lasiel with big deer eyes, it's not nice not to share! Zoey wanted snappie as well! She curls her lip, lets out an upset Hngng!, plants her hands in her sides, then pauses for an awkwardly long moment, leaving the room to guess what kind of soul-crushing feigned cuteness might follow.
Lasiel reveals that Tkerik and Sirrellim don’t get along because Tkerik loves to play a local game called Drifthop, but Sirrellim figured out one of their tells, beating them several times in a row. This upset Tkerik so much that they accused Sirrellim of cheating and refused to play with them again.
She would also like more information about this "caffeine".
During the break, you have time to explore the ship further, as well as to interact again with the councilors.
"Would you care to try a game with me? it's called Drifthop, and I have some notoriety - though I'll take it easy on you while you are learning."
Each player rolls a d6 in each of their three hands (or two hands, if played with non-baraggah), keeping each number secret from one another (but peeking at their own dice). Players then open their hands together, one at a time, moving from left to right, with a count of three leading up to the moment both numbers are revealed. After each hand is revealed, players can choose to either Drift, keeping the die in their next hand the same, or Hop, rerolling the next die. Play proceeds until all dice are revealed. The player with the highest total wins.
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Celestia explains to Lasiel about coffee, and it's effects on a certain tiefling, then decides to go for a wander and soon locates Zallia. Celestia pauses to admire the view.
After conversing for a bit, Celestia has a look at Zallia's speech and internally winces before making a few suggestions to help fix it.
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Zoey has a look at the speech, but lacks the patience to do any text correction. She has a hard enough time remebering the five-or-so lines assigned to her to sing in her group's songs.
This is the best speech I have ever read! she says cheerfully, So many words!
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Oh! Games are fun! Let's try this! Zoey eagerly takes the dice, but admits My third hand hasn't grown out yet... I think I need to expose myself to radiation more often.
Eleven! she exclaims. Did I win?
Oooh! Zoey says, making the opposite of a poker face. I got a six! Hop! she shouts, bumping up slightly and making a cute rabbit face with it, even though that isn't strictly necessary. I roll this die now, right?
Without pausing to get acknowledgement, she just shakes her hand and rolls.
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Meanwhile Celestia manages to find Sirellim as she is actually curious about their culture.
Would it help if I stepped into the pillar with you? she asks I do have the ability to breathe water. It's ... part of my schtick
She actually grins at that. I'm not good at fixing stuff but I can contact a friend and she can talk me through it.
She puts in a call to Holtzman who helps Celestia attempt to repair the malfunctioning unit.
That should hold it for a bit ... but I'd recommend an expert take a look at it. I have to admit, it's a bit of a bodge job. So, anyway ... I'm curious. Does your species ... dance?
Tkerik chuckles a bit at Zoey's inability to handle "one at a time", though her luck seems to cover for the poor grasp of the rules.
When their turns come up, Thraega falls for a bluff from Tkerik, and Ainsley tries to control how his dice roll unsuccessfully. The baraggah beats both of them.
Zoey convinces Zallia that her speech is pretty good, and Ainsley and Celly make some suggestions to improve it. It's a lot better now, and she doesn't even feel bad about the fact that you rewrote more than half of it. Zallia gives you a copy of Plane Woven, an exciting anthology of essays on the planes by scholars from universities on Uzodia.
Holtzman hops into the pillar and makes some adjustments. As he does so, Sirellim continues to talk. "Frzzrt dhrzt bzrkt and the other councilors think I'm a coward, but caution is a different thing. Too many of our ships have been attacked." When they realize they are being understood, Sirrellim offers you access to an experimental maintenance tool.
Tkerik tries the same trick on the slightly damp aasimar, but she doesn't fall for it, which impresses them. They offer you a newly developed targeting assistance program, which grants them a +1 circumstance bonus to Gunnery checks for the remainder of this adventure.
Following the game, the Starfinders receive an automated notification on their comm units, indicating that their starship has been boarded. When you investigate, you find the starship empty, but there are several small items out of place. As you exit the ship, an elorain approaches to ask if they are planning to depart immediately; they carry a scanning device in their hands.
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Zoey takes the opportunity to visit the lower turret. Bladder of steel and all, but when you can go, you should.
Seeing the scanning device, Zoey almost instinctively reaches for the 'Property of AbadarCorp Entertainment' tag, which has a little barcode on the back. Are you checking inventory? she asks, and then adds Did you see anyone else around here?