[SFS2] Redelia's 1-02 Mystery of the Frozen Moon

Game Master Redelia

Please dot and delete for now.

”…to the MOON?” our young hero’s jaw drops to the ground, fully agape ”Man I ain’t even ever left the planet let alone the system…” he gazes up to the bright lights above, wondering which one it will be…

A hooded, red-haired human strides up slowly to the young man, cold-blue gravitonic starlight radiating from her very weapon and the shield that orbits her. She gives the street rat a respectful bow before addressing him in a formal, practiced cadence.

"You will learn much about the celestial bodies on this expedition, friend, the same way I will learn from this expedition as my master has instructed me to. If you are curious about learning about the stars, the dark side of the force gravitonic side of starlight is a path to powers some may consider...unnatural." The blue glow of her sword flares in anticipation.

Laurel raises an eyebrow at the bowing lady (she drop somethin'?) "Whole lutta of big words, but uh, if'n yer sayin' that you's got magicks, wull, I know whut thet is. 'verybody does!" the boy grins, poises up, and sticks out a handshaker "I be Laurel. They was sayin' thet me skillset gits me called a 'Envoy' so I gess thets what I be. Just lef the Ghoss Sector meself. Thinkin' a Evil Baby waz causin' a ruckus, but uh, we got it. Visited me mum too, she is good now, gave'r summa my allowance. An' no she don' like i'm goin' to thet Moon there, but, bein' thet i'm ol' enough to reckon fer meself what'im gunna do, i threw in me lot wit' the mission. Think thet makes us partners. An' don' worry bout nuthin' when you be out with me - i'll take care'a yu"

A little rambly, a shade over-confident, it's evident the boy means well, and the lasgun strapped over his back - shiny and polished regularly it looks to be - shows he means business!

"Evil baby?" comes the voice of a kasatha who seems to be checking notes on a datapad. "Surely one just born has no concept of morality, and must be taught what is evil and what is not. Only by the guidance of those around them will the child find the path upon which they are set."

He offers hands to each of you. "I am Wa Cjącága, and I will add my tiny voice to the chorus greeting the Newborn after its eons of slumber. It is awake."

"Don't feel bad about being from Absalom Station. There are worse places to be from--like Akiton!" a gray ysoki with the odd shining streak of hair comments. "That whole place is a dump."

'Dump', it seems, has positive connotations to our 'street rat' hero "Ain' no better place in the entire galaxy to be from. Never heard of 'akitone' but i'm shure it's swell too. People throw so much stuff away it's like they's givin' it out fer free!"

Turning to Wa Cjącága "You, uh, worship the Evil Baby or somthin'?" casting him an incredulous look, and if receiving of an answer in the affirmative, followups with "Whut fer? It's a Baby!" truly curious...

"As I said, the Newborn is no more evil than a newborn human or kasatha. Should it cause harm, it is from lack of understanding of the universe around it, not ill intent. The example of those like me will guide the Newborn to its destiny, and when it comes into its full divinity, it will be shaped by how we speak of it, how we act toward it -indeed, how we worship. It is awake."

You are in the Lorespire Complex on Absalom Station, waiting to meet with Venture Captain Arvin, who has summoned you.

(waiting for everyone to have introduced their character)

"Ah, but my apologies, everyone. I have failed to introduce myself."

She takes off her hood, revealing scarlet red hair done up in three braids - two lying on her shoulder and a side braid around the side of her head. She wears very snazzy black sunglasses.

"My name is Maytay Long, spacefarer and student of the Solarion ways. If you need a blade between yourselves and any evildoers -" She concentrates for a bit, causing the glowing red double-bladed saber staff she holds in her right hand to ignite on both ends. "- I will provide one. Also if you need anyone to drive you to the nearest Aktionian Fried Chicken outlet, I could do so in half the time and cost than a regular driver."

"Ha! Nice to meet you," the ysoki bobs his head. "Glitch Tanzer. I'm a wandering researcher, doing a bit of work for the Starfinders these days."

Laurel twirls his Rotolaser with precarious style and stuffs it into the back of his trousers.

”Where’s this Arvin guy anyways?” he looks around Lorespire, hoping to find the ship they’ll be blasting off in…

"Good morning all, my name is Zerevgi Nugo."
A heavily built vesk approaches the group. He is wearing a slightly modified suit of standard issue Veskarium armor, and carries a laser rifle and doshko. He grins, baring sharpened teeth, a few of which have been replaced with steel prosthetics. He extends a heavily tattooed hand to shake.

The eponymous central tower of the Lorespire Complex stands tall and bright at the heart of the Ring, the highest point in a crown of clustered steeples that make up Starfinder Society headquarters. At itsvbase, hydroponic gardens give way to two huge automatic doors, whichv smoothly open to visitors and approaching Starfinders alike. First they open onto the central foyer, then the many corridors and elevators leading to archives, dormitories, labs, meeting rooms, and the countless other chambers needed to keep the busy organization running. Venture-Captain Arvin waits in one such meeting room, gesturing toward some chairs as the door opens. “Grab a seat. This shouldn’t take long.” He clicks a remote control, first dimming the lights, then activating a hologram that hangs in the air. The hologram depicts a small moon orbiting a large green gas giant, with starship coordinates indicating a location in the Vast. “This is VAM-723—short for Vast-723-Arctic-Moon. Remote exploration drones flagged it about thirty years ago as a candidate for exploration. Initial scans indicate a thin but breathable atmosphere, standard gravity, and a verdant biosphere supporting an arctic climate, but no signs of sapient life—except, potentially, for some abandoned artificial structures half-dug into the surface.”

Arvin taps the remote control against his chin. “Intriguing, no? More practically, VAM-723 seems like our best bet for planting a foothold in the system. Barring any unpleasant surprises, we’d like to establish a base camp for exploration of the surrounding planets and other local stellar bodies. Today’s mission is to survey VAM-723 and assess its potential. I’ve also provided coordinates for a particular artificial structure that stood out during the initial observations. There’s no good landing zones nearby, so I’d suggest you set down in the general area and work your way over. Any questions?”

"Anything of interest in the system itself? Why would we want to set up a basecamp here, in particular?" Glitch asks.

"How 'abandoned' do those artificial structures look? Any signs of activity during the initial survey?"

Glitch waits for Arvin's response: He's going to say "First Ones," I know it! the ysoki sniffs to himself.

Laurel stands - not much one for chairs. He listens.

"So, we just gotta land on the MOON - whussit you callit 'Vam' - an' Land the car, an' look for the Spots, an' Check 'em out?" he seems to grow confident in how the mission sounds "Easy!" and pulling his gun, pretending to shoot "But if we run inta Sapens - whudja callits - what we do then? Talk 'em or Shoot 'em?" in case anyone worries about his ability to discern the difference, he reassures "I kin do both, no prollum!" and with a twirl, stuffs his rifle back into his trousers.

He does have an important question "Can we name it if we do it all right? I kin think 'o a better name'n 'Vam' mebe 'Vamoose' or 'Vammy' or 'Vamboozle'!" he looks around the group "Which'n yuh like better?"

Mayhay decides to take a seat while she asks her questions. While waiting for the wise one and the chatty one to ask their questions, she sheathes her sword and listens to their questions.

"Captain Arvin, I do have concerns. You say you want us to establish a base camp, but I don't see anything we can use to set up a space capable of keeping us alive. Where are the vehicles, food and beds? You aren't throwing us on Seven-Two-Three with just the clothes on our back, are you?"

"What kind of threats can we expect? Bad weather is to be expected, but an arctic environment is probably going to be bursting at the seams with critters that want to eat us."
Nugo is taking notes while waiting for a reply.

"We are not establishing the base camp quite yet. You are the explorers who need to go look around before we establish the base camp. You won't be there long enough to need beds or any other such gear."

"In terms of threats, there are no immediate threats on the horizon that I’m aware of, but I wouldn’t leave your weapons behind. You never know what you might encounter out there. The moon is unexplored, after all. And then there's the cold. Let’s just say you’ll want to make sure your environmental protections are in working order before you leave. You could probably survive without them, but not for long and it wouldn’t be pleasant.”

Laurel flicks the embedded temperature gauge on his microcord armor.

”Think it werks…” he imagines it to be so without the technical knowledge to verify, and ”Less go!” heads straight for the entry craft.

"If it was good enough for Akiton, I'm sure it will be fine on the moon," Glitch's nose twitches. "And keep out any dust. Dust everywhere."

Mayhay pulls up her protective microcord hood over her head and places her rebreather to her face before breathing through it. The sounds of the machine filters air in a heavy, rhythmic and mechanised manner before she deactivates it.

"Seems to work just fine, Captain. Hey, Laurel. Wait up! I'm taking the driver's seat."

"The one who is awake was born into the cold of space. Surely a chill atmosphere can be borne by one who would follow."

Despite the pronouncement, the kasatha still checks his own equipment.

"Seems simple enough, but then again, something always goes horribly wrong."
Nugo checks all his gear with obvious familiarity. He pulls a knit balaclava over his head and rolls it up like a beanie.

Travel to VAM-723 takes 5d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 3, 2, 4) = 11 days through the Drift, where the scattered fragments of other planes float amid an infinity of swirling purple and pink energy. The journey is uneventful, save for one moment around four days in. You find yourselves traveling alongside another, smaller vessel, whose pilot and lone crew member hails you over comms.

The pilot introduces himself as Daskar Kopalak, a “humble follower of the Endless Horizon” who desires a moment of contact with fellow travelers, since the opportunity presents itself. His initial contact is audio-only, but he turns on video comms if requested; he’s a wolf-like humanoid with pale gray fur and unfocused ice-blue eyes. Like many vlakas, Daskar is blind. As he freely tells the PCs, he’s on his way back to his home planet of Lajok, following rumors that its sun, which has been slowly dying for centuries, has miraculously rekindled itself. Daskar dares not believe in such miracles without proof and is thus on his way to investigate. He inquires about your travels, becoming especially interested when he learns you’re Starfinders, and offers well-wishes for good fortune on your mission of exploration. “May Weydan smile on your good work,” he offers as a farewell before returning to his own journey.

Note: you each have 1 hero point.

You arrive on VAM-723 and land your ship where Arvin designated, a clearing in the middle of a dense taiga. The environment lives up to its name, as spindly conifers and several inches of snow stretch as far as you can see while landing. In the near distance looms a short (in both height and length) mountain range; the nearest of its foothills is the location of the artificial structure you have been asked to investigate. Onboard sensors confirm the moon has a breathable atmosphere, and that the local temperature ranges from severe to extreme cold.

The route to the artificial structure is straightforward. As you journey overland, need to attempt skill checks to survey the moon. (It may be possible to substitute an appropriate lore skill)

- Nature or Survival check can collect and analyze samples of the local flora
-Acrobatics or Athletics to scale some of the taller trees to get the lay of the land
-Crafting or Society to estimate the age of the ruins you can see

”Hollup”

And with that the boy scurries up a tree to ”See whut I kin see”

Acrobatics (T) w/ ACP (-1): 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 - 1 = 11

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Mayhay, watching Laurel climb up a strange piece of xenobiology...attempts to backflip her way onto the high ground like how all the cool Solarion Masters do it. She falls on her rear painfully.

"Ow...No one talk about that one to mission control, you hear!" She yells over the comm unit, cheeks red with embarrassment.

Trained in Religion. Spoiler open.

Wa Cjącága greets the Weydanite pilot, sharing the news from the Pact Worlds. "It is a time of births. May your sun also shine with newfound life. It is awake."

He studies the ruins as the team approaches.

Crafting: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Nugo Tries to clamber up a tree to look around.
Athletics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
"Easy enough."

"Oh my!" Glitch jumps a bit as Mayhay falls down next to him, "I was just trying to examine that structure."

Society: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

These ruins are several centuries old, placing the civilization’s collapse as sometime during or shortly after the Gap.

Nugo scales some of the taller trees to get the lay of the land. From that height its clear that there’s no sign of the moon’s environment
being altered by intelligent life.

Anyone want to try nature or survival?

Survival (T): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Laurel has never lived on a moon. Or, out of a city. Well, a space station city, he guesses. How would he survive here?

Mayhay passes, being untrained in both of those skills. She watches as Laurel navigates his way around. "Can you spot any intelligent life out here? Other than us, of course." She yells out to Laurel while he is perched up in his tree.

Survival (U): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Wa Cjącága surprises himself by spotting something vaguely familiar.

You are able to collect and analyze samples of the local flora, locating a few poisonous berries but nothing that would present a danger to off-worlders if they don’t eat it.

Nugo suddenly notices a very cute small mammalian creature with a long tail and dense, fluffy white and purple fur has crawled halfway up his leg.

If Nugo points it out:

”Should we shoot it or eat it?” finger on trigger, but Lasgun pointed down.

"Um, guys? What exactly is this thing?"
Nugo suddenly goes very still, not taking his eyes off the critter that has crawled onto him.

Mayhay shrugs. "Whatever it is, I think we should attempt to bat it off Nugo's leg before we deal with it."

Using her Solar Weapon with Reach, she prepares to poke it off Nugo unless someone stops her.

The creature makes cute, pleading noises and motions upon seeing your preparations. (image on map slides) It seems to be curious about you, and a bit scared now that you are preparing to poke it with a weapon.

Did I mention it's really, really cute?

consider this the equivalent of 'Are you sure you want to do that?' with a significant look...

Ah, I thought this was the "Creature is about to lay eggs in Zugo's leg" moment. Sure.

Mayhay relents and deactivates her weapon. Given that it's intelligent enough to recognise a threat, she asks it in Galactic Common "Hey! Can you understand what we are saying?"

The creature's eyes change for a moment, like it is trying to process what you are saying, but then it shakes its head in frustration. It does seem to calm both in response to the weapon change and to the more gentle tone in Mayhay's voice.

Diplomacy checks welcome; other skills may also be acceptable if you can explain how you are using them.

"Ah, it's an intelligent creature?" Glitch reaclizes. "One moment:"

A glowing line of runes surrounds his hands, then flows through the link to Wa Cjącága.

"See what you know about them now. I'm sure there was some record of them."

Cast akashic fount on Wa. Now you are trained in Fuzzy Creature Lore

”You gutta nem?”

~) Size Up

Diplomacy (Trained) w/ Size Up (+1): 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 1 = 20

”Laurel” sticks out his hand to shake. Or lick. Or sniff.

Wa Cjącága ponders this new knowledge for a moment. "All creatures are pleasing to the One Who Is Awake. But those which are... cute... have a greater ability to capture the hearts of the young."

Fuzzy Creature Lore: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Nugo starts slowly climbing down from the tree so it'll be easier to pry it off his leg, being careful to not spook the critter.
Using athletics to move slowly enough to not startle the fuzzy creature

Athletics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Nugo promptly falls out of the tree, plummets to the ground, and lands directly on top of the critter.

The creature makes a pitiful sound when Nugo falls on it, but does not leave or give up on you. Laurel does manage to make a connection with the creature (who presents its head for a scratch between the ears), but you think you still want more diplomacy checks.

This creature seems thoroughly unknown. You can tell that this is a prey creature, rather than a predator creature. It also in some ways acts sentient, but not like it's fully here mentally.

Who else wants to try diplomacy?

Mayhay shrugs. Normally most problems on Akiton are solved by a bit of a punch-up, so she's not surprised that nothing's changed yet through mere words. She turns to Laurel. "Maybe try promising it some food or something for help?"

I can't do any diplomacy or social on this character.

Don't look at me, I have a -1. Though I think Laurel is the only one with better than a flat Charisma check.

The Kasatha continues to study it, though he has little to learn other than how he could suggest a knitter friend make a stuffed version.