For a century, the villainous Order of Dawning Fate have operated in the shadows, remaining anonymous and untouched despite extensive criminal activity, political manipulation, and espionage. Thanks to the efforts of countless Starfinders and their allies across the galaxy, the Order of Dawning Fate is crumbling—their members are exposed, their holdings are under investigation, their proxies are moving to cut ties, many of their highest-ranking members are dead or arrested, and their supply of the rare starmetal finitrium has been cut off. Yet a threat remains…
Zhaneni, founder and mastermind of the Order of Dawning Fate, has evaded capture, retreating to her personal demesne on the planet Kax, to wait out the turmoil alongside her closest ally and fellow founder of the Order, Evethriel. As the Stewards, Veskarium, and numerous other galactic bodies move against the Order’s now-exposed agents and holdings within their respective jurisdictions, First Seeker Ehu Hadif and Ixthia the Unbreakable dispatch Starfinders to confront Zhaneni and destroy the last remnants of Project Dawn—the hybrid machine that amplifies Zhaneni’s natural precognitive abilities, enabling her to see and shape the future.
Time is not on your side.
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A quorlu & a spathanae wander into the briefing room. The latter is a collection of tiny mantids swarming about, checking numerous tech devices to verify that their charge is in the right place, both physically & temporally. The former rumbles around the room before settling onto a sloped bench able to both support and accommodate her physique.
While Omni samples the edge of the table, her assistance buzzes "Perhapz we're a few minutez early, Dr. Lithic? It zhouldn't be an izzue - we're zure that otherz of the team will arrive zoon."
The quorlu rumbles in response "You're likely right, Dr. A-Prof, but I just wish that they'd have snacks in place already. Something tasty - like a nice stoneware setting glazed with some transuranic paints. Or maybe some cobalt-tinted glassware"
"Yez, yez. Agreed. But not all beingz have zuch ... rarified ... tastez as you, Dr. Lithic."
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A darkskinned tiefling is the next to arrive. She wears a ysoki refractor suit that fits to her curve and her visible weapons are a swagger hand cannon and a Red Star plasma lash. The latter looks mainly for show. She also has a sour expression on her face. It gets even sourer when she sees the lack of refreshments.
Oh COME ON! she exclaims. Where's the frelling coffee?
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A large hover suit with a shield slowly lowers to the ground a few meters away from the others. With a hiss of steam, the cockpit opens, and a green-haired halfling with a prosthetic right arm exits. He approaches the group and grumbles, "I don't know if I'll ever get all the bits of godling out of this armor..."
He then appears to be distracted for a moment, and whispers to no one in particular, "No, I don't have another one for you."
"Anyway, I am called Kneepuncher, at least when I am in that getup," he continues, pointing a thumb over his shoulder at the powered armor. "I think we all know why they picked me for this job."
Well, information was really sparse on this one. Starfinder mission invites tend to be very short, but this one is low on detail even by that standard. Due to your exemplary field record you have been personally selected by First Seeker Ehu Hadif to be members of “Strike Team A” on a mission of the utmost importance. Likely at least one of your will appreciate that.
In a small theater in the Lorespire Complex, two teams of Starfinders have already taken their seats. A holographic projection of an oceanic planet dotted with archipelagos hovers over the theater’s central stage.
First Seeker Ehu Hadif stands near the projection, alongside Ixthia the Unbreakable. The first seeker nods as the last Starfinders take their seats, and gestures toward the holographic planet.
“This is Kax. It’s reachable only through the Drift, as all attempts to discern its location have failed. Exploratory expeditions have repeatedly met with misfortune. What records we have from the survivors speak of a variety of woes. Deadly diseases and poisons, shocking betrayals, unexplained disappearances, and ambushes from flocks of predatory dinosaurs. The planet has built up a reputation for being far more trouble than it’s worth, and now we know that these incidents were no accidents. Now we know who has been pulling the strings to drive everyone away from their secret base.” The hologram shifts to a golden, Y-shaped symbol atop a black background.
You are all here because you’ve played a key role in opposing these villains in the past, and we have need of your expertise once again.
Ehu points to the symbol with his upper arms while crossing his lower ones. “This symbol represents the Order of Dawning Fate, a secretive criminal organization that has been engaged in espionage, sabotage, theft, and assassination across numerous worlds. Over the past year, Starfinder agents have defeated most of their highest-ranking members. Most recently, we stymied their attempt to destroy an entire colony city to cover up the starmetal mining operation they’d been running out of it for decades.” Ehu’s expression grows stormy, a contained fury clear even behind his mask. “We evacuated all the civilians we could, but many more were massacred, and with them, dozens of good and honorable Starfinders.”
The holographic symbol fades, replaced by an image of a chunk of green metal. “The rare starmetal finitrium plays a key part in the Order’s operations. It fuels a machine they call Project Dawn. Through Project Dawn, the Order’s leader, Zhaneni, has enhanced her innate precognitive powers. With her visions of the future, she’s inspired fanatical loyalty, seized countless hidden opportunities, and evaded the authorities. That’s all about to change. Zhaneni’s running low on finitrium, so her ability to see the future has significantly weakened. It’s the perfect time to shut down Project Dawn and destroy the Order for good.” The holographic symbol disappears, replaced again by the image of Kax.
Ixthia presses a button on their datapad, then speaks, “The data I’ve just transferred to all of you contains a map of the planet Kax, as well as the precise coordinates of the bunker. It also includes maps of the bunker’s interior, with the locations of the three finitrium engines that power Project Dawn marked, as well as the machine’s core. You’ll need to act fast once you reach the base. We’ve assigned each of you to one of three strike teams, so that you can split up to disable the three engines. Once the engines are offline, members of Strike Team A should proceed to the core to challenge Zhaneni, while Strike Teams B and C prevent any reinforcements from reaching their battle. In addition to Zhaneni, you can expect to find her second in command Evethriel somewhere in the base.” The hologram shifts first to a goldattired witchwyrd with a smug countenance, followed by a stern elf in black armor. “Don’t underestimate either of them; they are cunning and remorseless in the best of circumstances, and you represent an existential threat to everything they have worked for decades to build.”
Ehu adds, “While you are on Kax, if you come across any other information about lost expeditions or other potential victims of the Order, try to retrieve it. However, do not forget that survival should be your first priority, followed by stopping the Order. Does anyone have questions?”
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Omni's been humming along to some tune or another during the briefing, glancing at the data packet sent by Ixthia, spinning the tiny holo-map around to peer at Kax, then zooming in to check the area around the engine sites.
When Ehu asks about questions, Omni turns to Chryssi & asks her "Do you know the song, that one about the bubbles? You know, the Life Bubbles? If you don't we should probably get a spell gem or three."
Yes, you are strike team A. I'll introduce you to the other strike teams. Ehu hands out encrypted comm devices These will allow you to stay in touch. You'll also find these helpful he says as he gives everyone a mk 3 serum of healing and a recovery aegis.
Strike team B consists of leader Brewer, who is renowned for his empathy and skill at leading. Hello there, fancy a cup of tea? I believe any problem is easiest to solve under the fragrance of a nice cuppa. I've good some good tea leaves here, you should try these.
Johpan is the precog, who is looking tired and wary. As Brewer introduces him, a text message comes in to one of your data pads [i]Nevermind Johpan, he's been gloomy ever since he's been having nightmares. He thinks they signal danger about the future. I'm Tip by the way, I'm over here on the crates[/b] An Ysoki, lurking in the shadows, holding a comm unit, on top of a stack of crates waves, briefly looks up in the direction of the group, then looks back down at his comm unit and sends a clever meme of a bubble.
The last member of Strike team B is Lumina-4, a female android who looks to be very concentrates tinkering with her drone Widget, though it's not clear if that little that came out of it explosion was planned.
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Strike team C is led by a gruff dragonkin soldier Gryxakaya, at your service. You guys don't look to green. Good. Did you keep up with your training?. There's an equally gruff Vesk near the dragonkin, and its clear they share a bond, and a disposition towards combat training. The Vesk's duffel bag has a badge of a cute squox on it, though, so this Vesk might not be such a tough cookie all the time.
There's a Lashunta woman relaxing and watching an episode of 'Here's the now', a show about new technological innovations, new artists, the latest fashion trends, and current events. Astrowerk, new release... nicee...
The last member of strike team C is a Weydanite. Without needig much invitation, the nuar starts rattling off his theory on the Gap It's a puzzle send by the Gods! The Gods have hidden the cause of the Gap to create the ultimate mystery, and only by following the tenets of our faith can we contribute to solving the enigma! Exploration and collaboration among peoples from countless worlds, that is my answer!
"Disease, poison, Dinosaur and Magic. I think that is O.K. Do you want Zhaneni alive or dead?"
Ehu just speaks one word to you, and that is dead
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They want him dead, it might benefit us to keep him alive. There is always a chance they want him dead to cover something up. We can always kill him later, but a wish spell to bring him back alive is a millionaires fortune, it is more cost effective to keep him alive and kill him later than to kill him now and wish spell him back to life.
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The humming quorlu stops & looks at Maxamus.
"Entropy - it's a known quality of the universe that will claim us all in time. But that one sees into Time's flow & directs the eddies as she wishes. We may only get one chance to deal with her & to put paid to the Order's depredations, once & for all."
Omni returns to her tablet & resumes her singing.
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When the Starfinders reach Kax, night has fallen on the islands where Zhaneni’s bunker hides. With no moon or stars to light the sky above, the planet’s surface is pitch-black. The nearest landing site to the bunker is a large grassy clearing a mile to the west. The larger vegetation here was cleared away by researchers on one of the numerous failed expeditions to the planet. Scans indicate that a small research station remains standing nearby to the east, on the way to the Order’s bunker.
The inky black sky above cloaks the humid jungle in a veil of darkness. A quiet susurrus of clicks and calls fills the night air. Suddenly, a roaring screech emerges from deeper in the jungle to the north; in its aftermath, silence reigns.
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As far as I understand it, this Zhaneni is so dangerous and deranged that they do need to be put down for everyone's safety. I will have no hesitation in putting the knife in. As the Vesk say "QotDI' gheD tlhejbe' wamwI'".
She nods at Kneepuncher. jaghmeylI' DaghIjjaj.
The screech isn't followed up, but as the group gets closer to an overgrown research station, Maxamas notices multiple sets of tracks from three clawed creatures; each footprint is almost two feet long. Maxamas determines that they come from a six-legged creature that weighs over 50 tons, and also notices numerous tracks from a pack of smaller three-clawed creatures that walk on two feet; these creatures would be roughly three feet tall.
An enormous dinosaur charges at the group while a number of smaller creatures moves to encircle!
Moving to create a corridor! Brewer chatters over the comm, and Gryxakaya's team follows suit We'll holds of this horde of smaller creature and create an escape route.
That leaves the group to deal with the large specimen stampeding towards them...
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Kneepuncher
Omni
Maxamas
OK
Chryssi
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Enemy
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"Hey, no charging into mortal peril without me!" the halfling calls out as he also rushes towards the creature.
vs. EAC
(force, magic, operative; critical knockdown)
vs. {10 + Intimidate} or {15 + 1½ × CR}
Success on the Intimidate check makes the target off-target against anyone other than me until my next turn.
This thing is pretty hard to hit, but Omni manages to take advantage of the thing not being quite ready, and hits hard.
OK alters gravity, drawing a solar flare towards the dinosaur, who stand his ground despite the shake-up.
The Vesk battlecry doesn't seem to help Chryssi hit her target.
Kneepuncher has fought tougher enemies (much tougher ones!) and despite the predator being a couple of sizes larger than him (even with the power armor), he gives the dinosaur a good cut and a good scare.
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Kneepuncher
Omni
Maxamas
OK
Chryssi
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Enemy (67, OT [Except KP])
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Maxamas is unfazed by the sight of a huge dinosaur, and hits with his semi-auto pistol
The dinosaur lets out a formidable, high-pitched screech that pierces the eardrums, and reverberates around the forest.
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Kneepuncher
Omni
Maxamas
OK
Chryssi
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Enemy (91, OT [Except KP])
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The quorlu hacks away at the huge dino, leavign an acid-dripping gash. The mecha containing kneepuncher looks diminutive with respect to the ferocious predator. Although the first strikes just hits tough skin, the second strike causes a good bruise.
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Kneepuncher
Omni
Maxamas
OK
Chryssi
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Enemy (132, OT [Except KP])
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Maxamas tricks out the dinosaur, but his shot goes wide. Fortunately, magic missiles are unerring, slamming into the dino and weakening it, and leaving it to OK corral to finish it off. Although the copaxi tries his best, both of his strikes are blocked by tough skin, and the dino it just barely left standing.
The monster tries to bite Omni (not knowing that's a bad idea for its teeth), but just snaps at the air.
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Kneepuncher
Omni
Maxamas
OK
Chryssi
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Enemy (144)
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