When Historia-7, the leader of the Dataphiles faction, uncovers the first hints of a conspiracy operating against the Starfinder Society, the PCs must assist her in uncovering the truth. Sent to a corporate space station orbiting the Pact Worlds' sun, the PCs must earn favor with the hedonist son of a corporate CEO to gain access to the confidential files Historia-7 needs. However, the PCs are stuck in the middle when this corrupt dilettante's proclivities and shady associations emerge to thwart the Starfinders' covert infiltration.
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Joining the others at the corporate space station, Cysgod shrugged his shoulders. "We will find out shortly why we got sent here." the Ysoki said. "This is much more exciting than pouring over contracts, all day, just to find a loophole. Hi, my friends call me Cysgod." he said, holding out a small hand.
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A small orb of flaming plasma floats into the room. Although it looks for all purposes like a tiny star, it is merely warm in its vicinity. It floats to the head of the table, where dark spots in the shape of eyes and a mouth appear
"We are Kapteyn, to whom all will be revealed, and we have been called to provide our aid to you." When this pronouncement is met with blank stares, the sphere continues, "Our pansophistry is not yet complete, so we will hear this briefing with you."
The efficient hum of machinery fills the Archive’s Cortex. Projected images and text it across multiple screens positioned around a raised swivel chair occupied by Historia-7, leader of the Dataphiles. Historia-7 swipes a finger to clear the feed and speaks without preamble.
“My sources indicate that you are the most efficient and capable team the Star nder Society currently has for my mission. I sincerely hope you do not prove this claim erroneous. I recently detected a discrepancy in the Society’s data logs. As you may be aware, my primary objective has been decoding information regarding the Scoured Stars incident. Before the incident, my predecessor, Historia-6, and other Society members extensively investigated several corporations as well as the Scoured Stars system. Much of their knowledge was lost to us. A recent ally, a skilled hacker named Ceren, uncovered multiple data links from what remains of my predecessor’s research leading back to a corporation known as the Arch Energy Consortium. When I compared these findings to our records, I found no mention of this corporation, and all data related to Arch Energy Consortium was somehow deleted from our records. My worst-case scenario is being realized: our data has been tampered with.”
Historia-7 unhooks the neural cables from her neck and massages the attachment sites. “I require additional information about this corporation. Arch Energy’s CEO, Ilia Tamm, has enough security resources and paranoia at her disposal to make a direct infiltration inadvisable. The weak link in this proverbial firewall is her son, Envar Tamm. His proclivities make him very suggestible, and I hypothesize that resourceful individuals could convince him to provide the information I seek.
“Envar routinely attends gladiatorial fights on Arch Energy’s corporate space station, Brilliance. It will take you some time to reach Brilliance from here. During your journey, I want you to create false identities. Meanwhile, I’ll make sure that you’re entered into one of these gladiatorial matches as contestants. From there, you’ll need to get Envar to grant you access to his mother’s computer records. Acquire any data related to the corporation’s board of directors. Above all, this mission demands subtlety, as Envar has quite the media presence.”
Envar Tamm is Arch Energy CEO Ilia Tamm’s only child. He is chief procurement officer of the Arch Energy Consortium, a corporation that manufactures and distributes solar batteries. Envar is a minor celebrity who relies on his money and connections rather than actual talent to remain in the spotlight. He dislikes being bored and seeks the company of exotic or famous individuals
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The orb of plasma that is Kapteyn seems to glow a bit brighter as Historia calls them "most efficient and capable". They also seem to perk up at the mention of the gladiatorial fights.
"What are the rules of the contest? Will we be fighting to the death? Do we know anything about our competitors?"
Following the briefing, they ask around Absalom Station.
Kapteyn confirms the information on Envar Tamm, and Trober knows that Envar owes his position within the company entirely to nepotism, and while he has an elevated level of security clearance and a matching salary, his mother employs a host of assistants to limit his influence on the corporation—and her bank account. On Brilliance, however, Envar usually travels unsupervised. Ilia Tamm and her public-relations team try to cover up Envar’s addiction to transdimensional pesh, but leaked videos of Envar’s drug-fueled antics occasionally slip through the cracks. One of the more popular videos depicts Envar nearly crashing a solar yacht in an attempt to impress the shirren icon Magisterial Chef Ghornak Ryzcech during his visit to Brilliance.
Historia explain The arena fights can be brutal, and the format changes. It's somewhat rare for people to die there, but there have been cases of severe injuries, so be careful.
You can also choose your ship for going there. I think you know what the options are: there's the Thunderbolt (Drake), Spitfire (Pegasus) and the Preference (Azata). I'd choose something inconspicuous, but the decision is up to you.
Vomatian and Cysgod manage to create quite convincing identities for themselves, but the 'Drober Torf' that Trober created... obviously needs some work. Kapteyn, feeling uncertain, hopes for the help of a team-member.
The travel to Brilliance takes 5 days of regular space transit. Upon arrival, the party has to pass a customs officer, a female Lashunta, who meticulously takes the adventurers' information and records their names and images. You are here for the arena event? she says as she looks at the new IDs Hmmm...
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There is something of a rushed air to things as two guards come in and shepherd the party to a staging area in a large arena: an immense auditorium that broadcasts entertainment and training transmissions to Arch Energy employees. The ceiling of the auditorium is made of artificial transparent sapphire, providing a stunning view of space. Tiered stands rise to provide seating, and six suspended holoscreens provide close-up views of the action. Two heavy metal doors to the north and south allow the contestants entrance to the arena oor. Four 30-foot-tall metal pillars rest in the center of the arena.
Listen, one of the guards explains since you're new here, let me explain. This Arena uses Brilly rules. he pauses as if to imply that is a well-known, menacing thing, then clarifies two parties enter, one party leaves. To hospital.
Do your best to impress the audience, that's as important as anything. You'll be fighting some imported aliens, Envar's special request. The boss is watching, so make a good show. The better the show, the more appreciation you get from the audience. Was nice knowing you!
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The party has several minutes to prepare
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The nearby sun blazes against a backdrop of inky space through the transparent ceiling of the arena. The glare obscures the faces of the roaring crowd crammed into bleachers towering above the oor. Overhead, six suspended holoscreens loop images of the arena. Metal pillars rise like jagged teeth from the bloodstained arena floor, and an announcer’s voice booms, <“Are you ready for some carnage?”> The crowd echoes the refrain as the silver metal door to the east grinds open.
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Trober tries a regular disguise this time.
To his surprise, just by putting on some glasses, a hat, and a fake mustache it completely alters his appearance.
Trober seems to be in shock when he sees the bloodstains on the arena floor.
"I'm not cut out for this. I work in accounting!!!. Get me out of here!!!"
He looks like he is about to have a panic attack.
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Kapteyn, whose flames now glow a cobalt blue, hovers above the battlefield. They cast charming veneer on themself as they begin their monologue.
"Ladies, gentlemen, and otherbeings, gather 'round as the radiant spectacle of the celestial is about to unfold! I bring to you a small but mighty sun flying into the spotlight to face the formidable beasts from parts unknown. Introducing, the sizzling source of solar supremacy, the one who radiates brilliance even in the darkest corners of the universe – KYANIIIIIIIITE!"
The novian adds token spell and spark to add some dazzling lights to the show.
"Oh, residents of Brilliance! Are you ready to witness the power of a star that may be small in size, but colossal in cosmic charisma? I've journeyed through the galaxies, and today, I stand before you, ready to scorch anyone who dares challenge my blazing brilliance!"
The group makes a good impression, though the crowd is a bit surprised by the battle name of Trober 'The Accountant'. Cysgod's juggling act is a real crowd pleaser!
While the party makes a strong impression on the cheering crowd, the beast is shaking off its shackles, until finally the starfinder faces a an angry, roaring mosnter, while the stadium music plays.
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Vomatian
Cysgod
Trober
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Monster
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Kapteyn
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Trober runs for it, while Vomatian fires a shot into the sandpit. Cysgod seems to be preparing an elaborate maneuver with a grenade...
The monster runs towards the opposite side of the area, then spits some nasty goop as Vomatian
---(Round 1)--
Cysgod (Can describe maneuver and roll)
Kapteyn
--- (Round 2)---
Vomatian
Cysgod
Trober
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Monster
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Cysgod watched as the monster approached, timing his movements so that he could slip behind it. The changes that Kapteyn made in the area had the ysokli change his direction so that he could find safer path. Once on the side, he spit out a shock grenade and dove under the creature, dropping the "hen" grenade as he tumbled under it.
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Trober moves again to keep the pillar between him and the horrifying creature in front of him. With all his attention focused on the beast his latent ability to control reality takes affect. Without him even knowing it he bends time and reality to muddy the beast's perception of what is going on around it.
Kapteyn makes sure the arena floor is soggy and hard to move through, while Cysgod drops a little surprise for the monster, who is lifted of his feet a bit and the grenade blast hits.
Trober tries to discomboble the monster, but the spell is broken when the cretaure glares at the dromada.
---(Round 1)--
Kapteyn
--- (Round 2)---
Vomatian
Cysgod
Trober
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Monster (4)
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The monster takes a nick from Cysgod, and a hit from Vomatian, but it still stands. It rushes over to Cysgod, and takes a bite!
---(Round 2)--
Kapteyn
--- (Round 3)---
Vomatian
Cysgod
Trober
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Monster (8)
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Trober wildly fires his fire without any regards for firearm safety, while Kapteyn creates a light show with balls of flame.
--(Round 2)--
Kapteyn
--- (Round 3)---
Vomatian
Cysgod
Trober
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Monster (8)
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Not content to get chomped on by the monster, Cysgod started dodging and weaving around the foe in order to get to the pillar that was on the other side, leaving a small present as he left the monster behind. His aim was not as good as he hoped as the grenade took a bad bounce.
Moving as quick as he could, he held out his right arm as he got near the pillar, hoping that the momentum could whip him behind the obstacle.
Things did not look good for the Ysoki. Will this be his first...and last mission?
Vomatian lands a good shot, and Cysgod is trying to get a grenade in the right direction, but the stress causes his to overshoot his target. The thing still explodes with enough of a blast to hit the monster!
The monster looks unamused at the blast, but sees Kapteyn as the closer (and brighter) threat, so moves toward him and chomps down
--(Round 3)--
Kapteyn
--- (Round 4)---
Vomatian
Cysgod
Trober
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Monster (13)
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Kapteyn tries to confound the monster with a display of light and firepower, but it is Trober who dishes out the real pain, hitting the creatures twice, the second shot sinking in straight between the eyes. The monster quivers for a while, then stops moving as the crowd erupts in a cheer!
An attractive, muscular korasha lashunta with reflective glasses struts through the northern door. He casually walks over the remains of the defeated crest-eater, stepping over the carcass with a skip. He lowers his sunglasses to reveal dilated pupils and ashes a toothy grin. (See handout)
“Stellar,” the lashunta man slurs. He glances at the floor and his smile changes to a look of disgust. He takes an exaggerated step over the bare ground as though trying to avoid an object there and trips, falling face-first into one of the metal pillars on the arena oor. He immediately springs back up and dusts himself off.
“You killed that thing? That’s amazing!” The man holds out a hand in greeting. “I’m Envar—Envar Tamm, you’ve probably heard of me. I know, I know, I’m way more handsome in person. It’s a pleasure to meet me, I’m sure. Now, tell me all about you; I want to know all about my new best friends.”