You are in Absaolm Station when you receive a holograhic message from Celita, leader of the Dataphiles faction, who urges you to find a safe location to have a private conversation away from prying ears.
“Sorry for intruding, Starfinders, but I have an important assignment for you. I need you to travel to Marixah to apprehend two persons of interest. While usually we leave these matters to the local authorities, the criminals in question are Starfinders and this makes them our responsibility.”
The leader of the Dataphiles operates a console in front of her and the holographic images of an augmented female lashunta and a male espraksa appear, slowly rotating. “The lashunta is Nev Careni, a talented operative, while the espraksa is Rehanu Sarvir, a diplomat and negotiator. They’ve been with the Society for over a decade and we’ve only just discovered a trail of illegal activities that follows them wherever they go. They’re an effective and formidable pair, so I urge you to not underestimate their skills.”
The image of a planet then materializes with bold letters identifying it as Marixah. “The pair was dispatched to the small town of Jarath to assist Starfinder Xilyin and his local contact, Professor Kalianna Derosh from Cahadusar University, after they reported some problems with the Firewings, a local gang. Xilyin feared the situation could escalate into open violence against the laborers and the town.”
The planet fades away and Celita’s determined face fills the holographic display. “We’ve lost contact with Xilyin, so we need you to find out what’s happening, apprehend Nev and Rehanu, and bring them back to the station to stand trial. I’m not sure what pushed them away from the ideals of the Society, but it’s obvious that the recent Data Scourge has made them bolder in their defiance.”
“Marixah is located in Near Space, but due to the Drift Crisis, traveling there is far from simple. Luckily, I’ve secured passage for you on the Herald, an Inheritorworks Iomedaean starship powered by an archon drive. You’ll find the starship waiting for you in a hangar bay on Dock 21 in the Arms. Iomedaean votaries will operate the engine, but you’ll be in charge of the Herald for as long as the starship is being loaned to us.”
Celita pauses for a moment, her jaw tightening as she mulls something over before sending a new file over. “Here is a confidential excerpt from the files of Nev and Rehanu. While I hope they’ll come peacefully, knowing what they’re capable of may help you prepare if things don’t go according to plan.”
“Do you have any questions?”
Culture or Diplomacy
Mysticism or Physical Science
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I recall that Marixah is the second planet of the Marixah Republic and houses the capital city of Rajadhan. The planet resembles Lost Golarion in terms of climate and it welcomes people from all over the galaxy with open arms. The famous Vartaikam Bazaar in Rajadhan dates back to the Gap and has been preserved in its original glory. Despite its antiquated look, the bazaar provides a host of legal and illegal goods to those who have the right connections and passwords. It’s rumored that a web of passageways and mazes under the ancient bazaar is home to Rajadhan’s black market. Despite all efforts, the authorities have been unable to put an end to the illegal trades since the market rarely stays in a single place.
Something tells me I have some contacts that might be helpful on this mission.
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Rattus tries to remember what he knows.
He turns to Chryssi and nods. "I'm a great pilot if I don't say so myself. I've outrun Vesk military starships. Not the local bulk cruisers mind you, I'm talking about the big Conqueror's Forge ships now."
Something tells me I have some contacts that might be helpful on this mission.
As promised, a ship is waiting for you at the docks. Obozaya is also there waiting to join your crew.
The walls of the hangar bay are decorated with religious imagery. Vibrant reds, golds, and whites come together in harmony to detail important moments of Iomedae’s life. The Herald sits in the middle of the bay, its pristine white hull gleaming under the hangar lights. Like most Inheritorworks ships, the Herald is a flawless combination of elegance and function, with its weaponry carefully hidden within the two imposing towers at the front of the ship.
A small group of devotees in the rich red uniforms commonly worn by Iomedaeans are performing the last checks on the ship. One of them, a tall woman with dark skin and a cybernetic arm, lifts her gaze from the datapad and looks around the bay, obviously expecting someone.
She introduces herself as Hada Ebun and greets each of you warmly, shaking your hands (or hand-analogues) with a firm and resolute grip. Hada has been ordered to remain aboard the ship at all times and assist the Starfinders in its operation. Under no circumstance is she permitted to abandon the archon drive.
After a brief introduction, Hada gives you a tour of the ship and explains its capabilities, starting with the archon drive. The drive is a suspended ball of light surrounded by an intricate collection of stained glass panels depicting Iomedae calling forth two beams of light.
The tour ends on the bridge of the ship, where Hada shows you the various consoles that allow you to control the ship’s functions. Hada answers any questions the Starfindrss have about the ship before she asks you if you are ready to initiate undocking procedures. As with Drift-capable starships, the Herald needs to remain stationary with its thrusters turned off for 1 minute before the jump.
"'Sup"
The Starfinders take the ship out. Their first indication that this is not the Drift is the chorus of harmonious voices that lasts just a few moments, almost little enough that you aren't sure you really heard it, as you transition to another plane. Unlike the nearly uniform black of space, your trip is filled with blue skies and the occasional marble-columned city in the distance.
After days, you return to the Material Plane near Marixah, where you're cleared for landing at a space port outside the small town of Jarath. Jarath is a farming community located a few hours from the capital of Rajadhan. The inhabitants are mostly humans, half-elves, half-orcs, and hobgoblins. There’s an air of hostility and distrust toward you that seems out of place for what looks like an otherwise bucolic community.
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Chryssi decides to rotate the piloting duties so everyone who wants to gets a turn - she's not that mean.
The other reason is ... that this is Heaven, and she's demon blooded. Sometimes she gets the urge to lock herself in her cabin and blast out Abysshead, while busting out a few dance moves, just to feel better.
Brrrrrr .... Celly might like this place but it feels .... icky. Why couldn't this be a Cayden Caelin ship. Those guys know how to part-tea
She is rather relieved when they arrive at their destination.
Two smugglers and an ex-pirate she says to the two ysoki. Sounds like the intro line for a joke
Of course, all this hostility is wanting her to bust a few heads.
The few locals who are willing to talk all give you the same message - talk to to Elder Tagouna, the half-orc woman who negotiated the new agreement with Rehanu. Finding her abode is simple enough.
A few people appear along the path, gathering in large numbers around Elder Tagouna’s modest dwelling in the middle of the town. What starts as a murmur of disapproval and suspicion grows in hostility as a hard-faced human man spits on the ground at the feet of the Starfinders.
An imposing half-orc parts the curtain draped across the dwelling’s entrance and emerges. Her wrinkled face, calloused hands, and strong build have been shaped by years of hard work in the fields.
Her voice is deep and cold. “There is nothing else to plunder, Starfinders. You already took our wages. Go back to the dig site and leave us alone.”
"You're after those ne'er-do-wells? Be a nice change. Well, what can I do to get you on your way?"
She doesn't seem friendly, exactly, but at least willing to answer questions.
Tagouna is able to provide directions to the dig site. Rodkin believes that she is telling the truth - and that her dislike of Starfinders is genuine.
The Starfinders waste no time in heading for the dig site.
The expansive dig site is in a hidden valley nestled between thick vegetation and gentle cliffs. A few guards accompanied by a small hovering robot keep an eye on a recently cleared dirt road, which offers the only entrance suitable for vehicles. The dig site is largely empty, but a few figures mill around, intent on grabbing fragments and artifacts from hastily excavated sections, some of which have partially collapsed. A large round tent and a noisy portable generator sit at the easternmost edge of the site while a large, prefabricated habitation module sits on the southern side. A 6-foot-high fence of shimmering blue energy surrounds the site.
Approaching the dig site unnoticed is easy due to the thick vegetation.
You have a number of options for entering the compound. You can try to go over the barrier with Acrobatics or Athletics. You can deactivate it from the outside with Engineering, or using panels on the inside if you have a way to interact with them. You can force yourselves through the barriers, which will hurt (but less if you succeed on Reflex saves). or you can knock on the front door.
"Whatever we're doing, let's just do it." Obazaya grumbles.
The two ysoki conceal themselves as Obozaya and Chryssi knock on the front gate. It opens halfway, revealing two humans dressed in fatigues with a Starfinder Society patch on the left arm and a security robot. The one in front says gruffly, "This is a Starfinder excavation. Can we help you." It's pretty clear that he hopes the answer is 'no'.
"The archaeologists are really busy now. Let the higher-ups know that we'll get them a report as soon as they have a free moment."
Rattus conjures a chair ad has a seat while Chryssi tries to force her way in. The guard insist that she stand down, but that seems unlikely to happen.
Round 1 - bolded may go
Obozaya
Blue
Red
Rattus
Rodkin
Chrysalis
Obozaya waves her doshko menacingly, causing the "Starfinder" in blue to recoil. They take a swing at Obo, then steps back.
The vesk deftly steps out of the way.
The guard in red draws and throws a grenade.
Obo and Chryssi are blinded for rounds unless they make a DC 13 Fortitude save.
Round 1-2 - bolded may go
Obozaya (Fort save)
Blue
Red
Rattus
Rodkin
Chrysalis (Fort save)
Unable to see, Obo takes up a defensive stance. Chryssi protects herself with magic instead.
Rodkin's sudden appearance distracts the guard, allowing him to slam his baton into the "Starfinder"'s side.
Rattus also reveals himself, firing at the injured foe.
He can't find a clean line through his allies.
The guard in red steps toward Rodkin and swings at him.
The sword cuts into the operative's armor.
The enemy in blue unleashes a flurry of cuts at the ysoki.
Perhaps more aim and less attacks would have been better.
Round 2-3 - bolded may go
Obozaya (blinded 3 rounds, )
Blue
Red (-13 HP)
Rattus
Rodkin (-11 SP)
Chrysalis (blinded 3 rounds, 3 images)
Chryssi maintains her defensive posture.
Rodkin's attack does indeed hurt the guard in red quite a lot.
Obozaya can't see where she is aiming, and ricochets a bullet off the fence, nearly hitting Rattus in the process. The distraction results in only one of the envoy's shots making contact.
But that hit is a good one.
The guard in blue moves forward and hacks at Chrysalis.
The deactivated robot keeps the red-clad guard from maneuvering, so he continues his assault on Rodkin.
If nothing else had given them away, the fact that these two couldn't pass a Starfinder basic weapons course would have clued you in that they are fakes.
Round 3-4 - bolded may go
Obozaya (blinded 2 rounds, )
Blue
Red (-32 HP)
Rattus
Rodkin (-11 SP)
Chrysalis (blinded 2 rounds, 3 images)