therealthom's SFS 1-16 Dreaming of the Future

Game Master therealthom

"You can send it to MERTHINETT at Zygo's Marketplace." The ikeshti looks eagerly as money begins to accumulate.

Zygo's marketplace is listed on the local infosphere. It's a small scale money-changing and supply outlet for 'discriminating security contractors.' The site takes a fee of only 10% of transactions for money transfers.

Joro is still not used to exchanging money for good and services, but is happy to pitch in.

TG shares his part of credits and doing some notes. He shortly check everyones readiness and medical condition casually before bowing shortly with slight of resolve left.

really don't like the idea of giving up money, but if that's the will of the group x.x

Voldresk hisses into his comm unit and begins the transfer. "Inform them that if we find any of this information false they had best run to the edge of existence before we find them again."

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18

Even with her limited ability to read sentients' body language, Lola recognizes that the agents would comply without the bribe. As the money transfers take place, Lola says, "We're treating you better than you deserve. Remember that when you have a chance to help us."

"And we appreciate it. Don't we 'ani? Okay, here's the data pad we swiped from the android. I'll give you something you probably don't know. I got some skills and even though the contract board was supposed to be blind, I managed a partial trace. The contract came out of Verces. I couldn't trace it farther than a server in Vanos.

"That's all I've got, honest."
Any sense motive check reveals she's telling the truth.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (13) + (5) + 1 = 19

Idir sizes the ikeshti up and after a moment nods.

"She's being honest with us. Thank you, Ms. Merthinett. You're making the right decision. I hope...for both our sakes...that we never encounter each other again," he says, trying to sound stern but not quite having the conviction in his voice to make it believable.

Lerecti is thrilled to receive his datapad from you. He's even happier when a quick check reveals the files needed to exonerate him are still on the device. The android thanks the party and unzips a pocket on their pants that is actually a flap that allows access to a hidden compartment in his thigh. He draws out a long slim piece of stone and presents you with the map fragment.

"Thank you again and I hope you're successful in your search."

"Thank you, Lerecti," Idir says graciously as he receives the fragment, nearly dropping it for a moment as he's not expecting its weight.

"Is there...anything further we can do to assist you in this matter?"

He gives a slightly guilty grimace as the question is equal parts a genuine offer of help and a suspicion that this retrieval was too easy.

Can we be reminded of what the map fragment is and how it relates to our mission? I can't find anything in the posts that clears this up for me. Thanks.

It's a piece of a sandstone tablet, we get all three based on the riddles we've been given and it should point us to a treasure!

"Well, now that we have this, time to try another clue. Are we in hurries to Verces next?"

"Mmmm so now onto our next destination. Shall we call for a shuttle?"

Can we be reminded of what the map fragment is and how it relates to our mission? I can't find anything in the posts that clears this up for me. Thanks.

APZ has it right, although going back through the posts, the mission is never explicitly stated as find three fragments then the treasure.

Venture-Captain Arvin, via long-range communications, thanks you for recovering the sandstone fragment. He promises to send you to an upscale restaurant on Aballon to rest and regain their energy before the next assignment. "The analysts are making progress with Solar Winds predictions. Come back to Absalom Station and I'll get you a ship for the next stage of your mission. "

Dinner, as promised, is excellent.

The next morning a message from Venture-Captain Arvin provides you with the location for the second map fragment: a dwarven mining station formerly owned by the Silverbrew clan. Unfortunately, the station is now home to a group of Ysoki smugglers.

Your assigned ship is the Loreseeker, an agile, lightweight vessel with a prestigious reputation in the Society.

Now aboard the Loreseeker, you make your way out of Absalom Station. The ship gracefully weaves through the light traffic of spacefaring vessels. Aside from a near-miss with an impatient kasathan transport, the trip out of Absalom Station’s orbit is uneventful. Once at a safe distance, the Loreseeker speeds up for a full-burn towards the nearby Diaspora asteroid field.

Best sort out your Starship roles now.

Idir enjoys a lovely vegetarian meal at the restaurant on Arvin's credstick.

He takes up the metaphorical captain's chair upon boarding the Loreseeker, better at organizing and directing others than actually filling the various roles himself.

Idir would probably be best-suited for Captain given his high CHA!

Sounds like you're making progress on crew roles. Let's keep moving. 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Unfortunately, orbital mechanics are such that it takes 5 days at full thrusters to reach your destination, the Silverbrew clan's Black Sky Mine.

The mine burrows into a particularly large asteroid, surrounded by a field of varying sized asteroids. With your screens at maximum magnification, you can just make out the telltale yellow hazard striping of dwarven architecture. The rocks are in a relatively stable orbit, making local navigation simple enough. The entire space around the complex appears to be completely abandoned.

You're hailed by a bulky dwarven spacecraft. A red-bearded dwarf fills your comm screen in extreme closeup. "Starfinders! What're ya doin' on hour patch?"

Thundergun dived into Startube reality to borrow info about Diaspora, which known not as a planet so being really interesting part of civilisation.

Technomancer also prepared blueprinte of famous Pegasus type to be ready for engineering the ship during space and drift travels.

Occured violence made him think he's lacking of Kuozar who alyes could resolve such situations with artillery laser.

Idir grimaces as they're hailed. Of course this had been too easy so far.

"Commander of unidentified vessel, this is Idir of the Herd Fernas of the Starfinder Society explorer 'Loreseeker.' I apologize for our intrusion, we were under the impression this complex had been abandoned by your people."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Joro keeps their hands well away from the buttons while negotiations take place.

Lola stays alert at the helm, watching for trouble, ready to react if the dwarf turns hostile.

Thundergun stands keen in the tech section and watching the status of another ships scanners and weaponary.

- Captain Idir, requesting permission to use scanners if the vessel approach or if we need data. Visual contact is not sufficient.

TG uses intercom

Nicely spoken, Idir ah Herd Fernas. I be Fearn Keniv ah Clan Silverbrew. Me ship's the Jewel ah the Black. The Black Sky Mine's temp'rarily in quarantine while we deal with a vermin infestation. I'll ask again, wotcha doin' on hour patch?"

The Jewel cuts her drives, but continues to coast toward you on momentum.

Voldresk who was on the scanners had no qualms with scanning the other vessel but does wait for orders to do so. "It is typically viewed as a hostile action to scan ships without alerting the crew. As per several species accords both within and without the societies reaches."

He watches as the ship continues to drift closer, "I would however advise them to alter their course or we will assume their intent is not benevolent. As non-requested approach, approach without informed intent, and lack of aid may also be seen as aggressive behavior. Which would constitute at least requested ceasession of such maneuvers."

Lola speaks into the ship intercom (not broadcasting this to the other ship).

"May as well tell the truth, as far as it goes," Lola suggests. "We could offer to help with their infestation in hopes of learning more about our dream clue."

Jewel is still at long range, but closer....

TG agrees we may suggest the vessel to aid them, it ould be a good marker of their attitude at least.

Has already spoken his thoughts and just awaits orders as a good solider does now.

Nicely spoken, Idir ah Herd Fernas. I be Fearn Keniv ah Clan Silverbrew. Me ship's the Jewel ah the Black. The Black Sky Mine's temp'rarily in quarantine while we deal with a vermin infestation. I'll ask again, wotcha doin' on hour patch?"

The Jewel cuts her drives, but continues to coast toward you on momentum.

"Well met, Captain Keniv," Idir replies politely. "To make a long story short, we're following a lead on an artifact believed to be at this location: a piece of a sandstone tablet."

"Sandstone tablet, eh? Hmmph." The dwarf mutes his sound, but not the visual feed and twists to talk with someone off screen. He nods and the sound comes back on. "We'll make a deal. If you can get us into yon facility, we'll find you tha bit o' sandstone."

Idir breathes a sigh of relief.

"Cooperation is always better than confrontation, Captain. We humbly accept your offer. What do you know about the facility and what have your difficulties been in entering it?"

"Mainly getting there in one piece. There's a bit o' ah pirate roadblock. You best mind yerselves."

"Sounds simple enough," Lola comments as she readies the impulse engines and checks her panel for status of her controls.

Onward, then?

Idir's jaw droops open in shock and dismay as he realizes what he's just agreed to, avoiding one conflict only to guarantee another, most likely more dangerous, one.

"Thank you...Onward then," he says, gulping.

Into the asteroid field

This sector seems to be deserted. The asteroids are close together and drift along in relatively stable orbits. You weave your way toward the Black Sky Mine. Slide 3> The asteroid with the dot in the middle.

A slim, dagger-like vessel emerges from a hiding spot between two particularly large asteroid clusters, its olive-colored hull showing signs of recent and incomplete repairs. It approaches at a slow, cautious speed.

The hologram of a ysoki dressed in fine clothes and gaudy jewelry appears n the Loreseeker’s bridge, a wide grin on his face. “You’ve come a long way, travelers. You can call me Mr. Smiles. I’m everyone’s best friend around these parts.”

The ysoki, Mr. Smiles, looks off to the side, nodding at some unheard comment. “Of course. Crank, Stock, Shell, Shuffle, and Breach all say hi. So, what can Her humble grandchildren do for you?”

For Thundergun it is one of the first such travels so he's participating in new experince and uses his expertise.

Mistycism: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Though technomancer is too impressed and lack of understanding.

"I knew a Stocker Joro once. Never had any problems getting the supplies we needed thanks to them. Sounds like we are going to be friends."

That was probably not over an open channel, since Joro is trained in Computers, but feel free to have them accidentally hit the button if that would be more entertaining.

"Mmm the pirates that the other one was talking about? I have a feeling we're about to get entrenched in some sort of misunderstanding."

Voldresk makes known to Idir about his concern that their maybe being duped by one of the parties involved.

Will take you up on that, cm.

"Hear that Stock? They think we'll be good friends. Now, my nufriends, what can we do for you? "

Mysticism: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Idir's muzzle scrunches up as they're hailed by what can only be pirates, especially after casually invoking the Old Rat Woman, a goddess after Romgul's callous heart.

"Mr. Smiles, this is Idir of the Herd Fernas of the Starfinder explorer Loreseeker. We are seeking access to the Black Sky Mine on behalf of Captain Keniv of the Jewel of the Black. He had mentioned a 'pirate roadblock,' which I assume is your vessel?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

"Idir of Herd Fernas. Charmed, I'm sure.
Let me tell you, Captain Kenev has no standing in the matter.
We hold the mine fair and square by adverse possession, sometimes called squatter's rights by the untutored. Our claim rest on bedrock principles.
If he has hired Starfinders as mercenaries, there will be repercussions, you can be sure."

"Ask about the infestation Keniv mentioned. Maybe they'll let us by if we offer to help with that," Lola whispers to Idir.

Thundergun is not like the way negotiation goes though he is far from understanding social talks. What this Kenev even talks about. Are they sick? Thats still being suspicious, but TG reamins silent tryin to fight his own paranowia feeliong Idir is pretty good in a captain and egotiator role...

"I have a feeling they are the infestation." The Vesk mutters across the personal communications.

"But that does not reduce the complication of the matter at hand. Who is the pirate crew and who are the rightful owners. Typically a trial by combat would resolve this, but I understand we don't want many to die here.

"We might offer something in return for them letting us explore for our sandstone artifact, since we are not looking to mine the asteroid for metals as they are."

"He has not actually hired us, if that is your concern," Idir replies. "He has offered a favor in exchange for a favor. Why don't you tell us your side of the story? Squatter's rights is a legitimate claim after all, so why is Captain Keniv not respecting it?"

"The Silverbrews believe they own the Black Sky Mine because they built it from nothing. They do not respect two ancient principles, Finder's Keeper's, and Might Makes Right."

"Is this one of those things I would understand better if I hadn't been int he vault all that time? Those principles don't sound very... principled."

"Tell them what we hope to find and make it clear we are not interested in any stellar ore. Since they consider themselves to own the mine, they might be interested in some help in return for letting us look for our sandstone artefact."

"You cannot keep making empty promises to aid individuals if you never make good on the first set." Voldresk silently rumbles into the team-wide.