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Zark takes advantage of the lead nuar's distraction, firing off a laser blast from an unseen angle. The nuar is completely unprepared, and the blast knocks him from his feet and leaves him lying motionless on the ground, a wisp of smoke rising from the scorchmark on his chest.
The remaining nuar curses, then brings their pike around in two quick arcs, trying to take out Kastien quickly.
Kastien bats aside both swings, however, ready for his counterattack!
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Kastien grinned, as he enjoyed being at the center of enemy attention. It allowed his more combat-able companions to focus on defusing the situation - one way or another.
Datastick gripped firmly in his ungloved hand, Katien concentrated to coalesce gravitational energy around himself for added protection. Then the solarion brought his gauntlet around for a powerful backhand blow at the nuar that was the target of so much attention. Unfortunately, concentrating on his attunement and manipulating gravitational energies sent his fist flying well past his target.
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Dov nods at Walter's words and shifts a bit to the right, getting a better angle on the nuar and also on the shooters if/when it comes to taking them on, himself. Aiming at the nuar (#2), he takes a Double Tap shot at them with another anesthetic biohack!
Inhibitor: Fatigued condition (DC 19 Fortitude Save for half damage versus nonlethal damage and no fatigue). If target is already fatigued, it is Exhausted instead. This is a poison effect.
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Walter inspires their allies and puts some pep back in Kastien's step. Meanwhile, Dov takes careful aim and does the opposite to the remaining nuar, the acid from his gun sizzling into the warrior and seeming to sap his strength It proves to be too much, and the nuar slumps to the ground, unconscious!
The android to the north curses under their breath, firing off two more quick shots at Kastien.
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Rifling through the fallen and unconscious attackers' pockets and possessions, you find the following:
If you succeeded on this check, you can roll a DC 16 Profession (mercenary) or DC 20 Culture check to identify the image.
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Dov swaps out a battery in their pistol, then helps disarm the captive nuar to make sure its arms are bear, while also checking to make sure their vital signs are stable in case the group decides on an interrogation. When Conrad pulls up the business card, Dov thinks for a long moment...
"Hmm, yes, I've seen that before. In the pocket of one of my patients. The symbol is for an anonymous...one would say notorious mercenary broker named Overwatch. They usually use temporary and non-traceable contact numbers, though."
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"Well, why reach out to touch someone when we've got this guy right here?" Conrad gestures to the unconscious Nuar with a conspiratorial eyebrow raise that's more comical than businesslike.
"Anyone have cuffs?"
Assuming secured and held at gunpoint, Conrad will slap him lightly to get up up. "Look bub, I'm not interested in anything long and protracted. You know what we want to know. Don't short the details either. Names, locations, pertinent information, the like. Let's do this the easy way, because if we don't I'm going to ask the doctor here to extract your memory engrams without lubing up his big-ass bear paws. Besides, the easy way comes with a stiff bribe in credits you're going to need for your bills."
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Conrad is off his game a bit, perhaps trying to do too many things....but it doesn't seem to matter. The nuar shrugs his broad shoulders and says in a friendly tone "Nothin' to extract. We were hired by Overwatch, usual dead drop system. Don't know anything 'bout the client--don't need to know. That's the point of going through Overwatch. We get a mission, do the mission, get paid. Oh, and before you have your big friend ask...I don't know anything about Overwatch either. Business done through modulated phone calls and dead drops." They shrug again, and add "Guess they like their privacy."
As you're interrogating the nuar, you get a message from Radaszam that reads You at the track yet? What's the situation look like there?
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The cleanup team dispatched by Radaszam arrives a short time later, taking possession of the bodies and the captive and promising to coordinate with station security. With that, you're free to proceed to the racetrack.
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Ratrod’s racetrack is in the heart of Botscrap, within one of the many junkyards that give the district its name. A tall corrugated iron fence, topped with razor wire, surrounds the yard. Massive mounds of scrap metal, robotic components, and other technological junk are visible rising above the fence line, and the sound of revving engines and the chatter of a crowd echoes from within.
When you arrive outside the closed gates, a flying camera drone swoops down and hovers in front of you. It extends a small screen above a USB port, “Insert Token” spelled out in large block letters on the screen.
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Ratrod’s racetrack is in the heart of Botscrap, within one of the many junkyards that give the district its name. A tall corrugated iron fence, topped with razor wire, surrounds the yard. Massive mounds of scrap metal, robotic components, and other technological junk are visible rising above the fence line, and the sound of revving engines and the chatter of a crowd echoes from within.
When you arrive outside the closed gates, a flying camera drone swoops down and hovers in front of you. It extends a small screen above a USB port, “Insert Token” spelled out in large block letters on the screen.
When Kastien inserts the token, the screen briefly flashes green with a smiling face, before the drone flies up out of the way and the gate rattles open to admit you.
As you enter the grounds, a film crew led by a jububnan woman holding a mic rushes over to you.
“’Awesome’ Ace Avarin here, folks, broadcasting live from the scene of the biggest junkrace of the year, Ratrod’s highly anticipated Grudge Match! And here we have our final team arriving, representatives of the infamous Starfinder Society. Tell me, folks, how does it feel to be here representing the Society in the Grudge Match? Do you think your training will give you the edge? And how do you feel about racing against your former ally, Laboni?”
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Thinking that he's somethign of a big deal, Conrad grabs the mic and flashes a smile, "Training? Sure, training. But there's nothing like experience. Starfinders are always rushing around to and fro. Think about all the invasions and usurpations you don't hear about. Also, grudge match is such a... gauche term. You gotta learn to let go of past feelings and focus on the here and now, you know what I'm saying?"
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Zark is eager to talk into the microphone and grabs a chance when he can. ”I totally agree with my friend, Conrad, here. We’re here to have some fun and go as fast as possible. We wish Laboni well. She is a great friend and we’re always happy to help out friends! You can call this match what you like but we don’t hold any grudges.
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"There you have it, folks! Looks like the Starfinders brought some star power with them today. Let's see if it pays off!"
With that, Avarin and her crew rush off to their next segment as a race official in a white jumpsuit walks briskly toward you holding a datapad. She speaks quickly as she guides you toward one of several identical clear spaces carved out of the surrounding junk, where a vehicle waits on a hoverlift.
"Right this way, the build competition is about to start. Here's the quick rundown: we've provided each team with an identicle single-occupancy racer. Each vehicle has a basic drive system and an energy weapon designed to temporarily hamper other vehicles. You have two hours to make whatever alterations you'd like, using any materials you can find in the junkyard. Tools have been provided in your build area, and there's extra tanks of acetylene and such in the center area. At the end of the two hours, the fans will vote on their favorite build, and that team gets a slight advantage to start the race. Any questions?"
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Find Parts (Acrobatics, Athletics, Perception): A PC who spends their round hunting through the piles of junk and succeeds at a DC 20 Acrobatics, Athletics, or Perception check retrieves useful components to use in upgrading their racer. They earn 1 Build Point and give one ally of their choice a +4 circumstance bonus to their check to improve the racer this round .
Upgrade Propulsion and Handling (Engineering, Physical Science): A PC who spends their round improving, repairing, or tuning the propulsion and handling of the junkracer and succeeds at a DC 24 Engineering or Physical Science check earns 1 Build Point. The improvements give the PC acting as pilot during the race a +1 circumstance bonus to all Piloting checks, cumulative up to +3.
Upgrade Weapons (Engineering, Computers, Ranged Attack): A PC who spends their round improving, replacing, or testing the junkracer’s weapon systems and succeeds at a DC 24 Engineering check, Computers check, or ranged attack roll earns 1 Build Point. All ranged attacks and skill checks related to using the junkracer’s weapons during the race get a +1 circumstance bonus, cumulative to +3. Alternatively, a PC can forgo this bonus and instead install a grappler line; this upgrade can only be done once. It consists of a small launcher that can fire a cable line with a set of strong, remotely controlled jaws on the end, capable of latching on to a target up to 100 feet away.
Aesthetic Upgrades (varies): A PC can spend their round improving the appearance of the team’s junkracer rather than making functional improvements. Give the PC a few moments to describe the improvements they’re making, then they should attempt a DC 24 skill check appropriate to the improvement. Success earns 2 Build Points, but doesn’t provide any bonus during the race. Each PC can only attempt this check once.
Scouting the Competition (Bluff, Diplomacy, Stealth): A PC can spend their round gathering more information about their competitors in the hopes of gaining an edge. They can do so by succeeding at a DC 20 Stealth check to go unnoticed, or a DC 24 Bluff or Diplomacy check to convince other racers to stop working long enough to talk. The PCs can leverage insights gained from this information to give all PCs a +1 circumstance bonus to Diplomacy, Intimidate, and Sense Motive checks made during the race, cumulative up to +3.
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Walter knows how important it is for the Society to be looked on favourably, no matter the outcome of the race. They therefore spend some time talking with the fans and track works to glean as much information regarding local causes and concerns. They use their advocacy skills as an activist to extract information and determine a subset of causes that align with the Starfinder Society, making arrangements for decals and logos to adorn their racer.
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”Are we limited to just materials in this junkyard? How about tools? Do you have any that we can use? Do you have any problem if we use some of our own stuff?”
"As I said, tools have been provided for you in your build area. You're welcome to use any other equipment you have on you. As for materials, in order to keep the competition on an even playing field, please make use of materials you find in the junkyard."
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Conrad isn't much of a tinkerer, but he does no how to find information...
Conrad spends some time creeping around the other teams. He strikes up conversation whilst handing out coasters for Castamir's Station. The conversation is congenial, and not really related to racing, until he has an opening to let them brag about their work.
Kastien
Dr. Dov Delano
Conrad Castamir Kerbouchard
Dennis Muldoon
Lapodie
SRO-s 975 Walter Echo