GRIM*! Gaming Network’s SFS2 1-02: Mystery of the Frozen Moon

Game Master Ashbourne

Blake will get familiar with the ship layout, look at the modules pensively. "Damn, I've been flying old trash cans compared to this.", he notes to himself without subtlety. He sits down to the communications panel, trying things out. He records a message for someone back home, letting them know he'll be gone for a few days, then sends it. But he remains seated at the comm panel. "Might as well. Got that air of elderly seriousness about me, just in case."

Down in the cargo bay, Big Red gets busy with CTX building a gym out of crates and other large objects. Pretty soon, there is the sound of metal being shifted and moved, occasionally crashing on the cargo bay floor amid comments about “Reps and sets"

He wipes himself down with his fit-spiration gym towel (across which is emblazoned the quote 'do you even lift bro?') and cracks open the latest meal pouch with a look of vague annoyance as he reads the back of it “Macros are a joke” he rumbles “You’d think HQ could include some real protein. Back in the old days, red dragons got whole cows for their trouble and now I’m lucky if they remember the damn whey supplements”

Meanwhile, Blake looks around with a confused look on his face, attempting to locate the source of the metal banging. He taps the intercom and leans over to the microphone. "Guys, we either have a big problem with the bulwark plating or someone's making a mess. Which is it?"

Meanwhile, Blake looks around with a confused look on his face, attempting to locate the source of the metal banging. He taps the intercom and leans over to the microphone. "Guys, we either have a big problem with the bulwark plating or someone's making a mess. Which is it?"

"Apologies, we were just moving some of the crates out of the way to make room for . . . uh . . . reps. Drills-we are practicing in case we need to use martial skills. We'll try to keep it down."

He then turns back to Big Red.

"I . . . wouldn't know. I only recieved nutripaste for . . . most of my career."

Étoile marcheuse sees if the moon is related to arcane or occultism element.

Leopold takes his time exploring the ship, his eyes moving from one section to another with quiet curiosity. He studies how the corridors link, how the systems interact, how one part supports the next. To him, the vessel feels almost alive, an intricate organism where every joint, wire, and panel forms a network of purpose and design.

Big Red and CTU, in addition to moving crates around to make room to work out, find several pipes going across the ceiling of the cargo bay that can be used for pull-ups. There are also some spare parts that make for good weights to lift.

Blake familiarises himself with the ship, which is definitely not a flying trash can, and is well-maintained, but is fairly bare bones. The ship does have a nice galley area for eating and a vid screen for entertainment; it's the only part of the ship that is decorated to feel more home-like.

Étoile marcheuse looks through the ship's records to try to find more info on VAM-723, but doesn't find any new information.

Leopold explores the ship and comes to the conclusion that it was designed to maximize the use of limited space more than ease of access for getting around. He also finds the ship's medbay... or perhaps better described as an alcove with an upgraded first aid station, perhaps a second aid station?.

______________

You travel for several days without incident.

Big Red and CTU

Anyone else on the crew

Perception-expert: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

"oh! It seems cleaner than when we went to bed, and all the dishes have been put away," shares Étoile marcheuse telepathically.

She has a ysoki in my mind, but does not mind waving her appendices to detect magic.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Blake punches the intercom again to respond to CTU. "No worries. I was just wondering whether we have a hull problem. Carry on."

He leans back into the chair to relax.

Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

"Hey who has been down here shifting iron and sorting things out down here... the weights have all been placed in a more organised manner"

DC 17 Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Leopold notices that the ship seems cleaner than when the crew went to sleep, and all the dishes have been put away, but he remains mum about it.

Thommo stows his belongings in the crew quarters and explores the rest of the vessel. He slides into a gunnery station and activates the display. Testing out the controls, he tracks an imagined foe and mimes pulling the trigger. "Pew!" he says, grinning broadly, before returning the station to stand by.

During downtime, Thommo spends time between the cargo bay, where he watches (and occasionally joins) CTU and Big Red in their exercises, and the galley, often seated at table with a snack while idly watching documentaries on the vid screen or in a daily ritual of checking and maintaining his armour, toolkit, a large portable cannon and a massive sword edged in motorised teeth. He readily engages with any of the crew that are willing to chat.

Warfare Lore DC13: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

"Toss in a good tail slap and that'd be perfect Vesk military form," Thommo comments to CTU during one of his sparring sessions with Big Red. "Where'd you learn to fight like that?"

Perception DC17: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Noticing the galley being cleaner than he'd left it, Thommo begins deliberately leaving an unwashed plate here, a spoon there or a cupboard door open.

"Mining outposts are pretty boring places, we made our own 'entertainment', and a few credits on the side bets" Big Red grins
You?"

Thommo begins deliberately leaving an unwashed plate here, a spoon there or a cupboard door open.

The next day, the plate here, a spoon there, are all put away, and the cupboard door is closed.

"Toss in a good tail slap and that'd be perfect Vesk military form," Thommo comments to CTU during one of his sparring sessions with Big Red. "Where'd you learn to fight like that?"

CTU gets very quiet and stops sparing for a moment. Then he solemnly walks out of the cargo bay. While passing Thommo he says something.

"The Veskarium doesn't have laws about Androids being free, or laws about their creation. CTU stands for Combat Training Unit."

Anyone may roll a

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Blake walks through the halls as he notices some loose panels. He taps the nearby intercom and leans closer to the box. The intercom buzzes across the ship. "CTU, didn't you guys say you were moving boxes around when I asked about the noise? I found some loose panelling near the kitchen. Will investigate to make sure we don't need repairs. Could use another set of eyes and hands on this, if we need to repair stuff. Over."

Not waiting for a response, Blake comes closer to the panel. He puts his finger in his mouth and puts his hand closer to the panel to check for odd air flows. Nothing. He slides the panel and sees the ysoki. He sighs quietly before stepping away and approaching the intercom again. Across the ship, the speakers buzz to life with Blake's voice.

"Well... Good news. Ship probably isn't damaged. Kind-of bad news, we have a stowaway. Tux. The ysoki with munchies for room-temperature floor icing. Could be worse, I guess.", Blake comments nonchalantly, then waits for either a response or people showing up.

"Well... Good news. Ship probably isn't damaged. Kind-of bad news, we have a stowaway. Tux. The ysoki with munchies for room-temperature floor icing. Could be worse, I guess.", Blake comments nonchalantly, then waits for either a response or people showing up.

”. . . I don’t know the protocol for that. I know the Vesk Military protocol, which is exterminate for breaching security, but I doubt that is the Starfinder way.”

Tux Manifold wakes up and stretches amongst the pipes in the wall.

"Are we at Akiton already? Who's drinking the protein shakes? I don't mind cleaning up, but could you at least rinse your cup?"

"So it's you..." Leopold tells Tux flatly.

"Are you supposed to be with us?" he replies his questions with a question.

"Of course I'm supposed to be here, we're all going to Akiton, right?"

Tux shows you his Starfinder employee badge, which says "facilities maintenance."

"I hadn't run into any of you before, since I work the night shift. So how's the trip gone so far? I haven't heard any combat yet... that's a good sign, right? Cleaning up after a starship battle is always a mess, but I'm up to the task if need be!" Tux shifts some cleaning supplies around.

"I'm starving. Anyone else hungry? I can cook too, much better than having protein powder." Tux starts to head for the galley.

"Well," Blake rubds the bridge of his nose. "I hate to break it to you, Tux, but uh... We're not headed for Akiton. Nowhere close to it, actually."

Tux's head slumps
"Not going to Akiton... but the wreck of the returned, what could be more important for a Starfinder mission right now?"

Tux looks like he was about to say more, but stops as the ship's intercom comes on.

The ship's computer announces over the intercom
"Approaching ship detected, incoming message. Report to the bridge"

When you get to the bridge, you receive the following audio-only message.
“Greetings, my name is Daskar Kopalak, a humble follower of the Endless Horizon, who do I have the pleasure of bumping into out here in the middle of the Drift?”

CTU rushes back to the bridge and jumps into the pilot seat but leaves the talking to someone better suited.

Blake follows CTU, but instead sits behind the communications console. He opens the channel. "Reading you. This is Pegasus 2, exploration mission from the Pact Worlds. All smooth sailing on your end? Over."

Blake has 0 in religion, but there's +4 on Society and Piracy Lore if relevant here. Does the name ring a bell?

Étoile marcheuse approches the bridge, and takes a seat. Then, she listens to the upcoming answer.

She tries to recall knowledge. Society +7

Daskar Kopalak replys.
"It's silly, I got these minor maintenance issues that keep popping up, the problem is I need to make two adjustments at the same time, but they are on opposite sides of the ship, do you have any spare hands? I'm from Lajok, our star Sota has been dying for centuries, but recent rumor has it that Sota has rekindled itself somehow. I'm heading home to see if it's really true. What brings you to the Drift?"

Anyone trained in religion, or DC 15 Society

DC 15 computers to scan the other ship

"I'm happy to help" Big Red chimes in "I am not a mechanic or anything but I am sure I can turn a dial or pull a lever"

Society: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Computers: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Blake uses the console to initiate a scan of the ship. "One person on board the ship, seemingly no armaments."

He then looks at Tux, gears turning in his head. He shakes his head to dismiss the thought.

Daskar Kopalak replies to Big Red.
"If your crew can spare you for a few weeks, that would be great, like I said, it's an ongoing problem, but if not, any help at all would be appreciated. I'm trying to get home as fast as I can. It sounds like our star rekindling might not be from natural causes."

Étoile marcheuse asks "What's your star's color?"

She is waiting to see if it matches the large green gas giant, described by Alvin.

”We are Starfinders on a mission. I doubt we could go weeks out of our way, but, if the crew agrees, we could see about repairing or jury rigging the ship as best we can.”

Daskar Kopalak replies to Étoile marcheuse.

"Not really sure I'm blind, but from what I'm told, it's orange/red ish, but that might be changing. Where are you headed to?"

From Alvin's report, you know the star in the VAM-720 system is yellow.

DC 15 Society

Soiety: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

”It’s pretty obvious they are talking about the home star of the Vlaka. It was at the end of its life cycle, and then reinvigorated somehow. I saw a report on it before I. . . Well some time ago. Many Solarians praise it as a miracle, others as an abomination. Last I heard, no formal intelligence exists as to why it reinvigorated.”

Leopold joins the group but stays quiet, listening from the background with his arms crossed. It feels almost like he’s back in an observation room, watching a team of surgeons at work, their words and motions precise, methodical, and entirely focused on their task.

[dice=Soiety]1d20+5

”It’s pretty obvious they are talking about the home star of the Vlaka. It was at the end of its life cycle, and then reinvigorated somehow. I saw a report on it before I. . . Well some time ago. Many Solarians praise it as a miracle, others as an abomination. Last I heard, no formal intelligence exists as to why it reinvigorated.”
[/QUOTE

Hearing this, Tux Manifold steps into the bridge.
"I think I could help, my extensive experience with watching Deep Countures Institute is exactly whats needed to investigate whats going on with that star rekindling, just a theory, but I bet it's related to what's going on at Akiton, and as long as you clean up after yourselves, I'm not really needed here."

”It’s pretty obvious they are talking about the home star of the Vlaka. It was at the end of its life cycle, and then reinvigorated somehow. I saw a report on it before I. . . Well some time ago. Many Solarians praise it as a miracle, others as an abomination. Last I heard, no formal intelligence exists as to why it reinvigorated.”

Hearing this, Tux Manifold steps into the bridge.

"The Veskarium doesn't have laws about Androids being free, or laws about their creation. CTU stands for Combat Training Unit."

The sudden change in CTU's demeanour is unexpected. Surprised, Thommo tracks the android's departure. His eyes widen slightly at his crewmate's revelation and, nodding several times to himself, he exhales sharply, puffing out his cheeks. "Bugger."

-----------

Unsure what to make of the stow away, Thommo opts to zip his lip and watch as the others lead the way.

-----------

Thommo heeds the ship's announcement to convene on the bridge. Taking up a position behind Blake's chair, he watches with interest as a comms channel is opened with the other vessel.

"A few weeks?" he echoes in disbelief. "Sounds more than just a minor issue. What exactly is the problem you're having?"

"We can help where we can but, as our pilot said, we're on a mission. Can't say any more than that. Classified."

Daskar Kopalak replies to Thommo.
"As I said, it's not complicated, I just can't be in two places at one time to turn both sets of wrenches. Until I replace the whole thermal time dilation coupling, it's just going to keep happening, but If you want to give me a hand, the adjustment might stay longer."

Assuming you agree to help, it takes about half an hour. Daskar Kopalak thanks you, and you are on your way.

You arrive at VAM-723 a few weeks later without any other incidents, other than you can't find Tux anywhere on board the ship.

__________________________

You are able to find the landing area 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 the PCs can see while landing. In the near distance looms a short (in both height and length) mountain range. It looks like a nearby stream leads to 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.

What would you like to do?

":ets get as close as we can - less time walking around in the open the better - and take all the warm gear we have"

":ets get as close as we can - less time walking around in the open the better - and take all the warm gear we have"

"I've confirmed coordinates. This is the closest I can get by following Starfinder Standard safety protocols. Let's gear up and prepare for cold weather."

Étoile marcheuse stands ready as possible to get a foot on this cold weather.

Leopold carefully sets his briefcase down on the firm ground or snow, whichever it is.

"Let me scan the area we have here."

He flicks his hand, and faint traces of magic follow the motion. The glowing trails swirl briefly before dissipating into the air. With eyes closed, he continues making deliberate gestures, as though sketching a three-dimensional map of their surroundings. For ten quiet minutes, he gathers information, his movements methodical and precise.

Scan Environment - You analyze the natural environment in the area within 1 mile, learning general information about the atmosphere, biomes, and gravity. You forecast the weather for the next hour, including the direction it will come from; learn which atmospheres, biomes, and gravity are in the area, as well as the direction and distance to those elements; and learn if anything in the area presents an environmental hazard, including cold or heat dangers (at what temperature range), radiation (at what severity), smoke effects, and underwater conditions. This is enough to detect large effects that span spaces over 30 feet in diameter only. You gain a general sense of where and how far away these dangers are.

"So..." he confirms some sensor readings from the ship but wants to know what dangers, if any, lies ahead of them.

While everybody is doing their thing, Blake will put on the environmental suit, check his flashlight, communicator, and his other gear. He makes sure to restock his medkit and other tools before relocating to the airlock and waiting for the rest of the crew.

Leopold scans the environment, learning that the atmosphere is breathable and there is normal gravity. The biome is taiga or boreal forest. At the edge of the range in the direction of the site you are trying to get to, you detect a possible avalanche hazard. The weather is clear, but the temperature is dropping as sunset is about an hour and a half away.

While landing, the team is able to calculate that the distance to the site is about 3 miles flying, but looks longer considering you have to follow a winding stream.

_______

Exploring near your ship

Survival 1d20 ⇒ 13 vs 12 - pass
Survival 1d20 ⇒ 13 vs 13 - pass
Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22 vs 22 pass
Climb a tree - autopass (how good are wings?)

Big Red crunches down into the snow and takes a look at the depth
"This stuff is about a foot deep, you land-based mammals will be crawling along slowly" he sighs, releasing a scent of smoke and fire.

"Found some local flora, don't recommend eating the red berries..."

"Also found some large claw marks on some trees, clearly some large predators"

Zagrifax simply flies to the treetops on his draconic wings...
"There is a steep slope along our path that looks to be a possible avalanche hazard. There’s no sign of the moon’s environment being altered by intelligent life

CTU is ready to trudge through the snow with the others.

By the time you finish shouting around your starship, the sun is nearing the horizon, and the hills to the West cast a shadow over the valley. The already cold temperatures start to drop even before the sun is fully set.