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Anock marches right into the thick of the mess, exclaiming: "Oh. My. Word! Where is all the staff? They should be here, monitoring this situation! Now I have to wonder what ruse was used to empty this place so the culprit would have time to make this mess! Even the most efficient induction unit can't make that much stuff boil in seconds. Ugh! We've got to disperse these fumes. Despite being technically non-toxic, they'll cause an abundance of vomit if people with lesser constitutions get a whiff of them." She grabs two trays from the cafeteria and begins waving them around, trying to work in concert with the ventilation system to move the air as efficiently as possible.
Luanna takes the pot off the heat as Collector activates the venting system.
Well that could've gone horribly wrong - a few second later and the whole place would have been a burning grease mess, but for now, the pot seems to be under control. It even looks like that dish is salvageable, so the throng of hungry Starfinder that is about to come in might not need to be disappointed.
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Luanna is more concerned with locating the normal kitchen staff, but can't resist tossing in a few ingredients and sampling the result. She activates a magic psychokinetic hand to safely mix some of the ingredients. Her first attempt makes little difference, but a decanting technique learned in chemistry class allows the more palatable parts to be separated out.
"Not bad, but we don't have time to eat just now. We need to keep moving, although let's check around to see if the kitchen staff has been locked in a walk-in freezer."
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"You know, if you reverse sear that porcine loin it'll retain its moisture and taste better." Anock observes from her vantage point, flicking her hands to indicate that someone should do as she says.
As Little passes by to look for the staff, his sharp eyes likely catch a sticker that someone stuck to the wall above Anock's head. It says: 'Lumberghs are everywhere'.
Anock controls the temperature knob, and Collector adds some magic - together, the two get the dish under control, just in time to see the return of the kitchen staff. Esa Murat Khal, the kasathan head chef of the kitchen holds a (fake-looking) invite and asks What was happening here?
The paper looks like a message to the kitchen staff to leave the mess hall unattended for a couple of hours for a “culinary demonstration, but it's clearly something that was cobbled together from 'recycled' letterhead. Do you know who was behind this? Who is trying to trick us? Not you, I hope!
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"Too little, too late, it appears." Luanna is relieved the staff is unaffected. "No time to explain in depth. There is a group of goblins, at least we think they are goblins, staging various pranks."
She gestures toward the pot. "That was put together in your absence and set to boil over, perhaps start a fire. It's under control, so we need to try to stop their next prank. Is the First Seeker Ilystre Memorial Museum near here?"
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"We don't have any proof that they're goblins, Luanna. You know what they say when we assume things: "We make an ASS out of U and ME." Anock admonishes her protege in front of everyone before turning to face Esa Murat Khal. "But really, you believed that cobbled-together piece of garbage was a real invitation? Have you taken leave of your senses?! And who sends the entire staff off for two hours during the prime prep-time for the lunch rush? I don't know how you earned your position as head chef, but if you don't straighten up your act, you'll be replaced with someone more capable. And less gullible!" She seems to be gaining energy from ripping into people, especially in front of an audience. It's quite the performance.
Esa Murat Khal starts adjusting his scarf as Anock rips into him. Goblins... or asses, he says they almost ruined lunch! Good thing you were around to save it. The Ilystre Museum is right across from here. You've never been there? It's quite interesting, and it's got a good gift shop.
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"We don't have any proof that they're goblins, Luanna. You know what they say when we assume things: "We make an ASS out of U and ME." Anock admonishes her protege in front of everyone before turning to face Esa Murat Khal. "But really, you believed that cobbled-together piece of garbage was a real invitation? Have you taken leave of your senses?! And who sends the entire staff off for two hours during the prime prep-time for the lunch rush? I don't know how you earned your position as head chef, but if you don't straighten up your act, you'll be replaced with someone more capable. And less gullible!" She seems to be gaining energy from ripping into people, especially in front of an audience. It's quite the performance.
Sneaker's face forms an uncharacteristic frown as Anock scolds the chef. Newfriend Anock shouldn't talk talk so rudely to people. Could she be...mean?
He steps between the shirren and the kasathan chef. "You shouldn't talk like that to people people Newfriend Anock. It's very bad to be mean to service people. They're here here to help. And you're right that we don't know that goblins are behind this and we shouldn't assume but you were very mean mean to Newfriend Luanna."
He turns to the chef. "I'm sorry about my newfriend, chef. Could you please tell us anything you remember remember about the person that gave you that note?"
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Tensions may be running high Collector Rides on Winds says. Know that you are not the only one who has been tricked chef. Many others are getting fooled as well. We just don't know the why. What's important is that today's lunch is set and the kitchen was not harmed.
They also add a quick telepathic though just to Sneaker. <Well said. Although it could *also* come off as rude to grab something from someone without asking first>
The First Seeker Ilyastre Memorial Museum contains displays of all the First Seekers that have held the post since the Society’s founding. The pristine and cavernous halls of the First Seeker Ilyastre Memorial Museum contain holographic displays depicting Starfinders meeting new people, exploring breathtaking planets, fighting alongside one another, and discovering fantastic relics. Artifacts and trophies recovered by Starfinder missions fill glass cases in some rooms and are mounted to the walls in others.
Suddenly a distressed shout rings out, followed by the whine of hydraulics and gears being taxed to their breaking point.
Lying prone on the floor is a host shirren, in front of an animatronic display a replica of Ilyastrebattling a defrex, which is in the process of what can be best described as 'explosively deteriorating'
That shirren is still alive, but thoroughly wounded and in urgent need of medical care
It looks like that animatronic display may need some work to disable.
---(Round 1)---
Everyone!
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Luanna runs after the others, not quite getting to the display She activates her psychokinetic hand in preparation to try to use it to reach farther than the others.
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Sneaker's face forms an uncharacteristic frown as Anock scolds the chef. Newfriend Anock shouldn't talk talk so rudely to people. Could she be...mean?
He steps between the shirren and the kasathan chef. "You shouldn't talk like that to people people Newfriend Anock. It's very bad to be mean to service people. They're here here to help. And you're right that we don't know that goblins are behind this and we shouldn't assume but you were very mean mean to Newfriend Luanna."
Anock stands stock-still, shocked into statue-mode by Sneaker's accurate *mis*interpretation of reality. How dare he! No one deserves to question her! I'm not mean! I'm *right*! Can't he see the difference?! She's the last to leave the mess hall, refusing to make eye contact with anyone, keeping her fuming and sputtering decidedly internal as she trails the group.
"Oh drat! Looks like we're going to be stalled again. At this rate, we'll never get to the VC in time to save her from whatever awful prank they've designed for her." Anock mutters to herself as she hustles toward the prone shirren. "Don't worry. They'll shut it down. Let's get you out of range. I'm Anock."
The group closes in on the animatronic display, which running more and more out of control. There's all the battle moves the former first seeker Ilyastre, and the growling of the Defrex, though the movements are so fast and so wild! It's not clear if the first seeker was actually able to bend her joints that way, and a 'keep your distance' sign would likely have been in order, because it's NOT safe to stand near it.
---(Round 2)---
Everyone!
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Collector Rides on Winds winces as they take a glancing blow from the 'First Seeker' while dodge-floating around its attack patterns. Perhaps I should have paid more attention to the historical archives they think to themselves as they maneuver around the display searching for a battery. Now is not the ideal time to need to 'get gud'
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Anock informs the group: "The victim is alive, but needs immediate medical attention! Take care of that thing while I stabilize her. Luanna, you may assist me."
While her team tries not to get wholloped by the flailing animatronic, Anock activates her Cloud Array, using a Nanite Surge to give the host shirren a regenerative boost. She then ensures that the prone victim is safely pulled away from the danger zone.
Anock drags the unconscious shirren to safety, while Collector lowers the power levels and Little removes a battery. When Luanna drains the residual magical energies, the enormous display stops whomping, and turns to an immobile, slightly bent-looking display.
It takes a few moments for the shirren to regain consciousness, but when they do, they explain I am Palivhar Chooser of Hues. I was just searching for information about the Szandite Collective, when I saw this display here that I had never seen before. There were no ropes, no plaques, so I touched it... that is when it activated and started moving. Quite nicely at first, but then it became wilder and wilder... can't remember much else, I must say
Here, take this they say, as they give the group a brooch of shielding, thank you for your help. Maybe you can join me when I organise that trip to the ll Szandite Collective...
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Collector Rides on Winds nods graciously to the Palivhar Chooser of Hues. We are merely glad that you are all right. Kadrical’s hand guided us to be here at the right time.
At the shirren’s comments on their purpose here, the thyr perks up: This ‘collective’ you speak of: what is it? I am ignorant of such a place.
When they turn to the depowered degree their expression sours (though it’s hard to tell on a gaseous ooze’s lack of face). This prank appears to be an escalation. No new item has been brought or ‘gifted’, just dangerous sabatoge
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Anock grabs graciously accepts the brooch of shielding. "Thank you, Palivhar Chooser of Hues. We are honored." Before pinning it to herself, she contemplates the optics of not *seeming* to consider who in the group could need it the most.
"As soon as everyone's healed up, we need to hurry. At this rate, we'll get there just in time to be caught in whatever awful thing those morons have planned!" Despite her claim of being a medic, Anock doesn't pull out her medkit. Luanna seems to be doing well enough. There's no need for both of us to get our hands dirty.
The Skyreach Room is one of the Lorespire Complex’s most prestigious meeting spaces, equipped with holo displays, top of the line acoustics and audio systems, and some of the best seating and interior design the Society can afford. Venture-Captain Naiaj and her holographic presentation hold the audience’s attention. A stream of numbers and starship schematics display on floating holos positioned where everyone can see. Naiaj raises an eyebrow at the slight interruption of an entrance, but continues speaking.
In the center of the room, between rows of audience chairs, stands a shipping crate.
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Anock thinks at her crew: "Alright gang. I'm going to get within range of the VC and inform her of the situation. You investigate that crate. *Quietly!* A crowd panic will only make this situation harder to control." And with that, Anock makes her way along the edge of the audience (as far from the crate as possible), and approaches VC Naiaj.
Once she's within 30 feet of the speaker, Anock thinks at her: "There is an imminent threat, targeting you and possibly the entire audience. Please calmly suggest a recess so we can clear the room without panic."
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Oh the irony. Anock's most sensible command is the one that'll get me killed.
Little slings his rifle over a shoulder. He doesn't want to look threatening or disruptive, but there's no way he's letting go of his weapon with malicious, unknown (goblin) pranksters nearby.
Looking all around, he advances smoothly up the center aisle to the crate. Then he looks the rear of the crate over.
Little has a look around the auditorium, and the crate is clearly the odd piece in the room - there is little else that stands out. When sneaker inspects the crate, the skittermander sees it’s rigged to open automatically, and the contents are a heap of shiny medals with Starfinder insignias, including faction symbols, engraved on them. There is a slight aura of magic around it.
There are creatures mixed in with the medals—specifically proogs, oozes that mimic objects.
The crate is set to open with a fanfare and spray of confetti, which is likely to startle the proogs into hostility.
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Collector Rides on Winds cautious glides towards the crate, moving slowly so that they don't draw distracting attention away from Naiaj's lecture - and draw the attention of any overly curious and poking-type audience member to to 'gift'.
They pause as they detect something unexpected within. There are creatures inside. the thyr shares telepathically with the others. Oozes called proogs.
From the confetti and spraklers connected to the openings of the box I suspect those proogs will be quite hostile when they are suddenly let out. And as they can mimic objects they might be hard to catch and corral back later.