Greetings agents,
I know you’re just returning from a mission and were probably planning to take a well-earned rest, but I’ve received an unexpected (and frankly surprising) call for help from Akiton. If you’re able, I’d like you to answer this call. It comes from a semi-nomadic clan of shobhad, the Gonjar, who claim lands around Ka as their territory. The request is unclear, but I gather they need a mediator or representative, perhaps in a criminal matter. I wish I could provide more details, but the translation leaves something to be desired.
Importantly, in return for our help, the Gonjar are offering the Society access to their cultural artifacts and an opportunity to learn more about their history. This is the source of my surprise, and the mission’s importance; the Gonjar have rebuffed our requests to this effect for years.
Head to the city of Hivemarket and help the Gonjar if the request falls within the Society’s purview. Your contact’s name is Rolanok; he’ll look for you at the Red Razor Bar south of the market itself. Oh, and I’m really hoping one of you speaks Akitonian.
—Venture-Captain Arvin
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Twilight Glimmer trots up to reply to the message. She looks like a denizen of a planet called Equis which was originally catalogued as P0N3. Her fur is midnight blue and her main is black. The Mark of Destiny on her rump looks like some sort of arcane symbol marking her as a powerful user of magic, aka, a technomancer. Still, she is a unicorn. Next to a human, the top of her barrel would only be waist height.
Having recently returned from Aballon, she is awaiting further news from First Seeker Sarmak about the anacites known as 'Those Who Call' and is spending the time catching up on mission reports and any news from Equis. Going to Akiton and maybe doing some archeology there sounded really interesting.
She may look flash and blood, but she is actually a hard light hologram.
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Just before heading out the door, Anock checks her inbox. As she scans VC Arvin's message, she swells with indignation. "*Really?!*" Anock exclaims. "I just got back from *weeks* of roughing it after crash landing on a distant planet that was trying to kill us *the whole time*, and I have a full week of cleansing spa appointments scheduled to *decontanimate me* from that awful hellhole! I don't have time to--AAARRGGGGH!" It's only after stomping and throwing a hissy fit in her entryway for a full eight seconds that she realizes how immature she's being. It takes another twenty minutes or so for her to calm down enough to reply professionally. Sighing, she cancels all her spa appointments.
Deep down, she knows that it's unlikely that she's still harboring any dangerous pathogens from that planet, but her germophobic tendency makes it hard to truly accept that. She packs way too much hand sanitizer and heads out to meet her new team. Hopefully one of them speaks Akitonian. If not, I'll pick up a Tetrad Certified Translator before we leave. As she walks, she pictures herself delegating aspects of the negotiation to her underlings team, basking in the glory of a job well done. It'll all be worth it. And I'll re-book those spa days afterwards!
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A camera drone hovers a few feet away from a man with pomaded hair, stylish spectacles, and a jumpsuit emblazoned with the logo letters ASNN. He holds an old-fashioned microphone (obviously an affectation) as he talks directly to the drone. "Ladies, gents, and xenos of all description, I've just received word of the Starfinder Society's interest in a clan of shobhads called the Gonjar on the planet Akiton. With exclusive embedded access, the Absalom Station News Network brings you the story first! This reporter will be travelling with a team of elite Starfinders to the remote, mysterious city of Hivemarket. What will we find there? Danger? Intrigue? Good thing I speak Akitonian! Stay tuned to ASNN. Vitellius Korpopolis, signing off but always tuned in!"
The man rubs his chin and says more casually. "Cambot, can you edit that third line? Spice it up a bit. And superimpose a better backdrop--something lively but not distracting. And let's see if we can find those Starfinders--it'd be good to get a pre-interview and some B-roll before the main scenes."
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Anuzoreus runs up to the others. He is a copaxi and therefore looks like a statue of a man made of coral standing just under 6 feet tall. Well, just under 7 feet if you count the 'T' shaped horn rising from his forehead.
"Did you see the message?! We get to do another mission together instead of splitting up and forming another new team! Isn't it great?"
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"A unicorn, an insectoid, a coral-man, and a skittermander. Wow, the Society is really pursuing its diversity initiatives!" smirks the jumps-suited man in the ASNN clothing. "Nice to meet all of you. Vitellius Korpopolis, Absalom Station News Network. I'll be documenting this mission. Don't worry! I won't get in the way. You'll hardly notice I'm here! Just make sure you don't drift outside mike range. And stay out of the shadows, and pay attention to blocking. Oh, and don't look at Cambot. Fixing these rookie mistakes in post is a nightmare. Editing time is money, am I right?!"
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Twilight isn't sure what Vitellius is saying. Blocking? And what is your mike range? And as for the last bit. I wouldn't know. We don't have these things on Equis
Twilight will accept a hug from Poko if one is offered.. Poko discovers that the hologram feels like a real pony.
So, how many of these entities have you adventured with before. she says to the copaxi. I'm Twilight - a technomancer and archaeologist.
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Anock goes stock-still for a moment when Poko asks for a hug. ...Germs... But Poko looks clean, and Anock did spend an inordinate amount of time in close proximity to her not that long ago. She takes a deep breath. Really, she's quite fastidious, even in unhygienic situations. Really... Gulping, she acquiesces. "*Brief* hug times, Poko, but yes."
After the hug, which no doubt went on longer than she would've liked, Anock turns to Vitellius. "If your shots are too perfect everyone will think it's scripted and fake. We'll do our best to make sure that isn't an issue," she informs him with only a dollop of smugness.
The ship makes its way to Akiton, where the Starfinders are directed to the Red Razor Bar to meet with their potential client, Rolanok. Neither are difficult to find.
The Red Razor Bar is built outside the perimeter of Hivemarket’s famous marketplace and affords a good view of several of its entrances. The bar itself is dingy and dim, but spacious. A gray-skinned giant with four arms rises to his feet and gestures in greeting.
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As soon as she gets a glimps of the interior of the bar, Anock pulls out her sanitizer. Ugh! What filth! How can people live like this?! She's hard-pressed to remain diplomatic in a filthy hovel like this, so she delegates imperiously to Vitellius. "You. Vitellius. You said you speak Akitonian. Make nice with them and find out what we need to know for our mission."
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Vitellius shrugs and has a seat.
Rolanok grumbles slightly, then continues in Common.
“There is fermented cactus juice, if you would like,” he offers. “I will tell a short story first. Then I will answer questions.
“A thief stole sacred relics from my clan. We chased her to Hivemarket, and now she hides inside. When we went to retrieve our things, she was protected by fanatical ghosts who drove us away. We can’t return to the market, and so we ask you to get our holy relics.” He sighs and pauses. Then, more slowly he continues. “Understand, these are not undead, but fey that blaze like an inferno—though they walk through walls like ghosts. They purport to act with justice, but have no understanding of it.”
“We understand that many in your Society value history and knowledge more than credits, and that you aren’t good at understanding when people want to be left alone. If our history is so important and valuable to you strangers, then take this chance to be useful. We are not coming to you because we suddenly like your organization. We have asked you to meet with us because we have seen how secrets, no matter how mundane, draw the attention of thieves and scoundrels. The Society promises to preserve our dignity and privacy while they archive our culture. Prove that you can act with honor, and we will share the knowledge you crave.”
“They are called the khulan. They are a mystery to me. They haunt the market, but no one knows why. They start no conflict, only end it, and they do prevent stealing and fighting. Yet they have no common sense.”
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Behind his opaque sunglasses, Vitellius rolls his eyes as he sighs deeply. "Dignity" and "privacy"? Such a pain! That'd get the Practices & Standards network people involved, and all the bother with informed consent and cultural knowledge paperwork. Better head this one off at the pass. He whispers: "Cambot, delete everything except the bit about relics stolen by ghosts. People love ghosts! That'll be our angle: 'Starfinder Agents Bust Thieving Desert Ghosts!' The audience will eat it up with a spoon."
Vitellius starts tapping furiously on his datapad, trying to get some background on these 'khulan' and, more importantly, whether his story has been scooped by any other networks.
Culture or Diplomacy
"Would you prefer for us to find a way to get these khulan to leave the market for good or simply retrieve the relics and leave the khulan to haunt the market?"
“Don't fight them, that is for certain. But Szelanius can’t stay in the market forever. Sooner or later, she must deliver her stolen goods. We can’t spy on her inside; we’ve angered the khulan too much. But at least we have her pinned inside for now.”
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Finally! Anock is relieved when their contact starts speaking Common. She's rather peeved, though, that he didn't *start* with that, though. Common courtesy isn't common enough! Between her indignant thoughts, she tries to dredge up information about what she's heard.
She's got nothing. Seriously, how rude is this guy?!
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"Cambot, why don't you hover just above the entrance to the Hivemarket and set up for a wide-angle shot looking out. Starfinders, get in a horizontal line as you approach and look fierce. You mean business, right? These khulans are about to shake in their ghostly pants. We'll do it slow-motion, cinematic style--great for a teaser trailer. Make sure you show some swagger! Twilight, how do you feel about someone riding on your back? Maybe? We'll put that in our back pocket for later." Vitellius hustles off with Cambot to get ahead of the group and film them entering the city proper.
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"Twilight, how do you feel about someone riding on your back?"
The look on Anock's face as Vitellius suggests someone riding on the miniature pony unicorn clearly shows that she's wondering if the man is out of his vapid gourd. "Anyone who *doesn't* want to be a drama queen can walk where and how they choose, camera angles be darned. Vitellius, try going for a 'true reality' type vibe, without the curated camera angles. Those are so over-exposed they've gotten boring and predictable. You'll never stand out if you do what everyone else has been doing." She had been about to reprimand him even further, but caught herself in time as she realized that a true leader knows how to redirect energy toward less counterproductive pursuits. And of course, Anock knows she's an excellent leader. The best, in fact. He'll be easier to manage if he doesn't feel completely thwarted.
The entrance sprawl of Hivemarket is signposted for meeting spaces, storage rooms, and short-term housing for traveling merchants. Locals and travelers alike move throughout the area, attending to their personal business. Fresh and slightly warm air washes through and over corridors and enclosures. Artificial lighting mounted to scaffolding provides light, as the entire area is covered by a shallow dome.
A number of white signs with bold black letters are posted throughout the area. Each provides a translation in Akitonian, Common, Kasatha, Shobhad, and Ysoki. The signs read:
1. No stealing. Punishment ranges from injury to death, to match the crime.
2. Trade is defined as an exchange by two or more parties. Do not interfere with trade for any reason.
3. The khulan strictly enforce rules 1 and 2.
To the south is a kiosk labeled "Star Port Authority". A ysoki in a beige jumpsuit with an identifying lanyard sits behind the desk, grumbling about a shipment.
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1. No stealing. Punishment ranges from injury to death, to match the crime.
2. Trade is defined as an exchange by two or more parties. Do not interfere with trade for any reason.
3. The khulan strictly enforce rules 1 and 2.
"Hm. Not sure 'match' is the right verb to use," Anock muses, obviously sure it isn't. "Killing for killing, theft for theft. *Those* match. But whatever. *I'm* not going to be stealing anything."
She notices that Poko has zeroed in on a member of the populace. Knowing firsthand how charismatic and open Poko is, Anock steps back to watch the interaction play out. If it goes well, she'll be proud of her protege.
“I would love to help you with all that, really I would, but today clearly has other plans for me. I’ve got a fixed budget, parts to buy, a ship to repair, and no hauler to get it all done!”
She takes a deep breath and adjusts her glasses. “You’re Starfinders, right? ‘Helping and cooperation’ or whatever? If you can spare some of those platitudes for me, I might have some goodies for ya in return.”
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"Oh, this is platinum! Cambot, lemme take a stab at some narration over this footage. Something like, 'Having just arrived in the Hivemarket on their assigned task, the Starfinders are waved down by a beleagured local desperate for their aid!'"
He turns to the ysoki. "Don't worry, you got the soft and cuddly Starfinders today--they'll help you out. And then we can frame it like them being compassionate led to a vital clue for the mission--audiences love the idea that kindness pays off. Y'know, as if there was a cosmic order to things." He smirks. "Anyway, what can they do for you?"