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The adventure begins in Electric Prism, a dive bar with gimmicky drinks and a casual atmosphere that typically attracts tourists and transient starship crews. Located in Drifter’s End, the district surrounding the Lorespire Complex, Electric Prism is also frequented by adventurers looking to unwind.
As a neon laser show crisscrosses the colorfully-lit cantina, boisterous singing from a Drift trekking freighter crew nearly drowns out a group of tourists ordering drinks from the automated bartender. The Electric Prism’s owner, an imposing dragonkin named Trazhi, pulls up a chair two sizes too small for his scaly frame and thuds down at the end of the table.
You look capable. I have a proposition for you, if you’re looking for paying work. Last night, a dwarf named Vanecarsys came in with a huge chunk of horacalcum. Said he’d hit a major vein on an asteroid he owned a mining claim on. He ran up a huge bar tab, bragging the whole time. Sure enough, other folks begged to get in on the deal—starmetal’s worth a fortune. He was reluctant, but eventually gave in. I tell you; people couldn’t give him their credits fast enough! While they fawned over him, I got a closer look at the nugget. It was just a lump of rock painted with horacalcum! Well, that dwarf must’ve seen me poking at it, because he instigated a brawl by claiming a group of pahtra buyers offered to pay him more if he didn’t make a deal with the vesk at another table. Vanecarsys slipped away during the fight. Now I’m out a huge bar tab and the repair costs from the brawl!
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A halfling enjoying a rather large glass of dark beer extends his hand toward Trazhi and says,
"A pleasure to meet you. I'm Brownnose, Butcher Brownnnose. I could possibly be up for a spot of action. It sounds like you've got quite the caper on your hands. Perhaps you could pick up the bill on my wonderful libation here and then you can enlighten me about everything else you know about Vanecarsys."
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Trazhi frowns at the suggestion of picking up Butcher's bill but will off two hundred credits each for bringing Vanecarsys back to pay his tab and damages from the brawl. He have any leads but suggests you review the security recordings from the previous night. He also mentions two other local bars (Graff’s and Nightfall) who recently fell for similar scams. Finally, Trazhi reminds the PCs he needs Vanecarsys alive to pay his debts, otherwise the deal is off.
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You look capable. I have a proposition for you, if you’re looking for paying work.
A female android looks intently at the dragonkin as he makes an offer.
"I suppose I could use a few more credits for my...," the android pauses for a moment as her processors scan through her interactive protocols, causing her programming to rapidly sort through storage of etiquette routines before settingly upon a suitable selection, "...research."
"Tell me, were any of the participants severely injured during the brawl? Killed perhaps?" Though her vocal tones are flat, they only thinly hide an active eagerness.
Finally, Trazhi reminds the PCs he needs Vanecarsys alive to pay his debts, otherwise the deal is off.
The android's usually immobile features seem to take a downturn as this new employer make a reminder. "Are you certain the requirement of 'alive' is a necessary one? I have found deceased organics to be far more compliant."
She turns to the others to make introduction. "Greetings, my designation is Mecho-Ro-Nancy. I specialize in... organic recycling."
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" Two hundred credits to return a miscreant dwarf is acceptable." The elf making this pronouncement is tall and lean. A white half mask obscures his nose and cheeks, while the mask's yellow lenses turn his large, presumably blue, irises green. He's lowered his butterfly patterned bandana so that he can sip the slender glass of wine in front of him. A long sword hangs from his right hip. His pack has a pointed star shaped case strapped to its back.
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Mech-Ro-Nancy and Butcher notice Vanecarsys entering the cantina but not exiting. In addition, they notice an elven woman leave during the brawl, although she was never recorded entering the cantina in the first place.
Culture checks to recall knowledge.
Examining the scene of the brawl discover a custom credstick wedged beneath a table, likely dropped during the chaos. The credstick has a stylized sun on one side and a serial number on the other.
Computers or Engineering check to examine the cred stick
Culture or Profession(gambler) to recognise the logo.
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Alive is better Mech-Ro, unless you can bring him back.
"At present, I would only be able to get the deceased to speak," concedes Mech-Ro-Nancy. "However, in time and Urgathoa willing, I expect that I will be able to recycle organics more efficiently."
Culture checks to recall knowledge.
Mech-Ro-Nancy considers the organic seen fleeing the establishment.
The credstick has a stylized sun on one side and a serial number on the other.
She analyzes the composition of the cred stick.
The android then notes the logo.
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Mech-Ro-Nancy recalls that there is at least one species on Absalom Station capable of changing their forms: astrazoans, shapeshifters who can spontaneously mold and introduce pigment into their flesh to imitate the appearance of almost any creature of the same size. While astrazoans are rare in the Pact Worlds overall, the majority reside on Absalom Station. If Vanecarsys is an astrazoan, they could be both the dwarf man and the elf woman.
Butcher determines that the credstick was custom-coded one week ago to be used in gambling.
Mech-Ro-Nancy also recognizes the logo as Venture Solaris, a popular casino orbiting the sun that uses custom credsticks at their high stakes tables for added security.
Trazhi provides each of you with a dose of tier 1 sedative and a merciful weapon fusion seal to ensure the quarry isn’t killed.
Make Culture to Recall Knowledge or Diplomacy to Gather Information.
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You are unable to gain any useful information.
Venture Solaris provides a complimentary shuttle that runs to and from Absalom Station twice daily. The casino’s logo, which matches the stylized sun on the credstick, is displayed prominently on the shuttle and its platform. The high‑speed shuttle takes 12 hours to reach Venture Solaris. You disembark alongside throngs of hopeful winners, each anxious to join in the gaming.
Once across the green marble floor at its entrance, the sights and sounds of the casino assault the senses. An inlaid star on the floor glows brightly, not unlike the glow of the Pact World’s sun that is itself visible through the casino’s transparent adamantine ceiling. A symphony of electronic game themes blends with the easy chatter and merry shouts of hundreds of gamblers to form a soundtrack designed to entice the hopeful. A nearby gourmet buffet permeates the air with the aromas of roasted meats and succulent sweets. From the casino floor, the entrance to the VIP section is clearly visible, up a flight of grand stairs and through yellow tinted, glass double doors.
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Butcher finds his way blocked by security. Sorry bub - VIPS only
There are several ways to get past security.
You can convince them to let you apprehend Vanecarsys with a successful Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, or applicable Profession check.
Bribery could be an option
You could bully your way in with successful Intimidate check, or a successful Bluff or Culture check if their threats involve other powerful people.
You could fight all three guards if you really want to but that could have consequences.
You could pose as employees with a successful Bluff, Disguise, or applicable Profession check and appropriate attire (which can be stolen from a staff room off the main casino floor with a successful Sleight
of Hand check).
You could pose as wealthy patrons or famous celebrities with a successful Bluff, Culture, Disguise, or applicable Profession check.
You could befriend another patron or group and enter alongside them with a successful Bluff or Diplomacy check.
You can sneak past security or blend in among another entering group with a successful Bluff, Disguise, or Stealth check.
You can legitimize your entrance by spending at least 200 credits on a VIP credstick.
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"Even if you have not heard of Brownnose, you are undoubtedly familiar with the media mogul, Zo!? We are scouting out locations and potential talent for future productions by the undead or, at the very least, some... likely recruits. If you allow us to pass unimpeded it would be appreciated. And if you are interested in being considered yourself, I would be happy to provide you with more information," suggests Mech-Ro-Nancy.
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Ca Shel is able (with that roll) to sneak all of you into the VIP section.
You find Vanecarsys (in their elven woman persona) gambling at a high stakes table alongside five other wealthy patrons and an android dealer.
The table’s digital readout indicates she’s doing extremely well and has won substantially more than she owes.
What do you do now?
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He keeps his voice low over the comms. "Now what? Keep eyes on her until she leaves, then ambush her outside?"
"I, for one, prefer a more direct approach," urges Mech-Ro-Nancy in reply over the comm.
I quietly approach next to her, watching the game. Ah, unlucky roll again. to whoever rolled craps again.
Seeing Max Angel 3 then approach the table, Mech-Ro-Nancy follows quietly.
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The game lasts another four hours - make Fort saves to negate being fatigued - then you can converge on Vanecarsys as she leaves the table. Vanecarsys keeps her credstick and follows you, agreeing to accompany them back to Absalom Station so long as you don’t involve the authorities.
Make Sense Motive checks.
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Those that got 17 or more on their Sense Motive (currently only Sovellis) determines Vanecarsys’s partial honesty; she intends to accompany you for a time but slip away at the next chance.
She also doesn't want to give up the credstick saying that it is important that the contents get to where they need to go.