GM Elinnea's page

You, as part of a small group of freelance mercenaries, are currently patrolling in the southern reaches of the Kaviri Plains, on the planet of Akiton. You were hired by the Starfinder Society as part of a system-spanning mission.

Your mind drifts back to the pre-recorded holovid you received that kicked off this assignment...

~~~~~~~~~~~
The hologram of First Seeker Sarmak, elected leader of the Starfinder Society, filled the air, looking grim. Larger than a car and dressed in shimmering bronze tactical armor, Sarmak stood on four of his muscular limbs while gesturing with the remaining two, cutting an imposing figure.

"Thank you for taking up this mantle of responsibility at a time when the Starfinder Society - no, the entire Pact Worlds - desperately needs you. A dangerous conflict is coming, but we don't know when or where it will first manifest.

"Last year the Starfinder Society encountered a violent cult bent on drawing the mysterious First Ones back to the Pact Worlds to rule. While we prevented this cult from destroying Aballon's government and capital city, we were too late to prevent them from dispatching their transmission to the First Ones across the galaxy. Unfortunately, this signal was received - the First Ones are coming!" Sarmak paused at that point for breath, or possibly for dramatic effect, before continuing.

"We are unable to monitor the entirety of the Pact Worlds alone, and with the Pact Council busy with other calamities, we have sought out dedicated freelancers such as yourselves to keep a wary eye out for potential invasion.

"Sarmak out."

~~~~~~~~~~~
That was three months ago. Thousands of other mercenaries received the same task, assigned to different planets and regions across the Pact Worlds. You were charged with the western half of the southern hemisphere of Akiton.

In all this time, the troubles you've come across have been entirely local, nothing of the cosmic scale that the First Seeker is worried about. You have no reason to believe that today's patrol will be the any different from all the others.

In your three months on Akiton, you might have picked up some information relevant to the mission. Introduce your character, and tell me which skills you would like to roll and what your modifiers are, and I will roll them secretly.

• What do you know about the First Ones? Diplomacy, Society, or a relevant Lore skill

• What have you learned about the planet Akiton? Diplomacy, Nature, or a relevant Lore skill

(In general I will have you roll your own checks, but I'd like to try this first set as secret rolls)

Sounds like we're good to go with Operative, Envoy, Mystic, and Witchwarper as the group.

You can go ahead and add the pregen information and marching order to the slides.

One thing to know is that for this scenario, the iconics you're playing are not members of the Starfinder Society but rather mercenaries hired for this mission. I'll have a first post ready soon-ish to make the situation clear.

Big Red
Chip
James Cox
Renvir

Will these players please report in here: 1-00 Collision's Wake

Greetings! Your first order of business is to decide who will be playing which pregens. If you don't have the files already, you can see all six of them uploaded here in bbcode format: SF2e Pregens Level 3
(I filled out these sheets manually, so if you notice any glaring errors, do let me know so I can double check and get them fixed.)

Once you know who you're playing, please add their info and a token for marching order to these slides: 1-00 Collision's Wake

You may dot in here.

Huzzah! Welcome in, all three. I would ideally like to get (at least) one more player so I'll leave it open for a bit longer.

Signup link copied again here since I've pushed on to the next page: RPG Chronicles for 1-00 Collision's Wake

GM Elinnea wrote:

There's no deadline so I don't mind waiting as long as it takes to get a group interested in playing the scenario. Is it because 2nd edition is still so new? Or perhaps with holiday season people are feeling a bit busy.

Honestly? Both, sorry to say. At least for me.

Fair enough! There will be other opportunities down the road to try it out.

Recruiting now for 1-00 Collision's Wake

Emerging suddenly from deep space, a massive alien starship has crashed into the surface of the planet Akiton, in an isolated region known as the Sloughscar Hills. Although the starship was traveling at speeds that should have cracked the planet in half, Akiton endured and the fallout was minimal. Within hours, salvagers and explorers the world over race to the wreck, determined to salvage what valuables and technology they can from the mysterious vessel.

Believing the starship has a connection to the mysterious First Ones, an advanced civilization from antiquity that the Starfinder Society believes aims to invade the Pact Worlds, the Starfinders hire the nearest team of mercenaries to enter and explore the wreck—you! Overcome dangerous creatures, malfunctioning technology, volatile magic, and opportunistic salvagers in your quest to be the first to explore the Wreck of the Returned!

Players use 3rd-level versions of the Starfinder iconic characters in this debut special adventure of Starfinder Society for Starfinder Second Edition! This adventure additionally serves as a prequel to the upcoming Invasion’s Edge storyline.

Written by John Godek.

Sign up here: RPG Chronicles

The scenario requires level 3 pregens, but you should sign up with the character you want to apply credit to.

We will start as soon as there's a full table of 4 to 6 people.

...Nobody? *nervously checks if I copied the wrong link*

There's no deadline so I don't mind waiting as long as it takes to get a group interested in playing the scenario. Is it because 2nd edition is still so new? Or perhaps with holiday season people are feeling a bit busy.

Recruiting now for 1-00 Collision's Wake

Emerging suddenly from deep space, a massive alien starship has crashed into the surface of the planet Akiton, in an isolated region known as the Sloughscar Hills. Although the starship was traveling at speeds that should have cracked the planet in half, Akiton endured and the fallout was minimal. Within hours, salvagers and explorers the world over race to the wreck, determined to salvage what valuables and technology they can from the mysterious vessel.

Written by John Godek.

Sign up here: RPG Chronicles

The scenario requires level 3 pregens, but you should sign up with the character you want to apply credit to.

We will start as soon as there's a full table of 4 to 6 people.

Itch is pretty sure he has a sense of the android's movements, but the shot again goes wide. Garven also swings away; the bone blade doesn't even come close to making contact, however the solar brand strikes true and burns a wound across the android's chest.

Meanwhile, Jaqweh moves to take care of the civilians nearby. His authoritative demeanor and official Steward garb trigger an instinctive obedience, and the people start moving toward the exit in a relatively calm manner. A couple of them do as he suggests and start assisting the ones who are panicking. It might take a little time, but it looks like the witnesses are making progress toward escaping to safety.

Round 4&5
Eralyn
Jaqweh
Itch
Garven
Android (-9)
Faria
Altorin

Itch's return fire blasts harmlessly against the doorframe, but the android makes a slightly un-android-like snarl in response.

Now that they get right up to the room, Garven and Faria can see that it contains a variety of equipment and a medical bed that currently has an unconscious half-orc strapped to it.

On her way to approach, Eralyn looks at the commotion, but sees only a mix of people variously trying to force their way out of the door, frozen in panic, or huddled against one of the walls. They all seem to be reacting poorly to the sudden outburst of combat in their vicinity.

The android drops the pistol and slams against Garven with unnatural strength.

Attack Garven's KAC, shaken: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 9 - 2 = 22
Bludgeoning damage: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Round 4&5
Eralyn
Jaqweh
Itch
Garven
Android
Faria
Altorin

Did Itch move up? You described doing so but are still in the other room on the map, out of sight of the android. You do need to be within 30 feet to demoralize in combat, so I'll assume you have moved near where the others are.

Eralyn doesn't see anything physically unusual about the android. Garven feels that something is off, but he's not sure exactly what. Androids are difficult to read at the best of times.

The android flinches at Jaqweh's words, and appear to hesitate. But when Itch says I'm going to report you, their eyes harden and they lift the weapon. "No. You won't." The android fires at the old woman directly across the way, and then ducks back into the room, though the door remains standing open. They have total cover unless you move into the hallway across the way.

Attack Eralyn EAC, shaken: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 8 - 2 = 17
Nonlethal fire damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Round 3&4
Eralyn
Jaqweh
Itch
Garven
Android
Faria
Altorin

I played this scenario first, and our GM was pretty confused about the ship layout. When I got to GM it, I found out why. I had to stare at the map for a long time and read and re-read the room descriptions to figure out what was going on. It could really use some 'Tab A goes into Slot B' indications.

Here's how I did it:

* Start in D1, may or may not fight some robots
* D2 sticks up above the top-deck, they can see it from D1 or go up the stairs (?) to reach it (and hopefully figure out the ship is counting down to annihilation, or else they're in real trouble)
* The central stairs lead down from there to D3 (Magazine)
* The door opens to D4 (Cargo Hold) and D5 (Crew Quarters)
* The door all the way at the fore opens to a closet-like room that teleports to the base of a set of stairs on the lower deck (D6, Strange Compartment)
* Those stairs lead back up to the mid-deck (D7, Helm)
* The door at the aft side of the helm opens to D8 (Helmsman's Cabin) and the door on the port side opens to a narrow stairway leading down to D9 (Main Hold) and then down (or possibly up) another set of stairs to D10 (Stasis Hold)

(Forward = left side of the map, Aft = right side)

I'm going to be pretty busy this weekend due to Easter. I'll try to post, at least on Saturday, but I'm not sure when I'll have time to sit down at a computer.

Bot Faria to move forward and attack the slime

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Slashing damage, photon attunement: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 1 = 8

Faria steps up to Garven's side and slashes with her glowing weapon. Her well-placed attack slices the thing open, and it releases its grip on the dwarf to fall twitching to the floor.

Round 3
Slime
Eralyn
Jaqweh
Itch
Garven
Android
Faria
Altorin

Altorin's spear strikes true and stabs a hole into the slime's goopy body. It still holds together but looks as though it is barely doing so.

Round 2
Slime (-28, grappling Garven)
Eralyn
Jaqweh
Itch
Garven (grappled)
Android
Faria
Altorin

There are also links on the individual AP volume pages. For example the store page for Giantslayer part 1 has a line "Battle of Bloodmarch Hill" is sanctioned for use in Pathfinder Society Organized Play. The rules for running this Adventure Path and Chronicle sheet are available as a free download. "

What you're doing is campaign mode (play the full AP with your own house rules and credit can be applied to characters at certain points along the way). There are also rules for playing with actual organized play characters. It sounds like this is not what you're doing, so be careful not to get them mixed up.

What you need to do as the GM is fill out the chronicles for your players, and report the games in the organized play section of Paizo's website. Your players who do society play might be able to help if there are aspects of that process you're not sure about.

Itch gets a good read on the slime, but his shot goes wide, as does Eralyn's. While Jaqweh fans out to one side, Garven gets in a slash against the creature. It still clings on tenaciously to his torso, though it looks to be quite injured judging from the green goo oozing from multiple wounds.

The closest door on the opposite hallway's north side bursts open, and an android hurries out to its entrance and looks toward the supply room. They draw a pistol upon seeing the commotion and shout, "What's going on here?!"

A fresh scream goes up from the waiting area and several people there start shoving in the direction of the main door. They have some trouble with how crowded and confused it is.

Round 2
Slime (-25, grappling Garven)
Eralyn
Jaqweh
Itch
Garven (grappled)
Android
Faria
Altorin

Faria and Altorin hustle to the center of the action, and Eralyn lands a solid hit with her laser rifle.

The slime slithers across the floor away from the foes that suddenly surround it (guarded step) and then tries to slam into Garven again (triggering Altorin's bodyguard reaction).

Attack Garven KAC+2: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Bludgeoning damage: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

The attack roll was just barely higher than your KAC + 4, so as a free action it grapples Garven.

This time the slime manages to wrap itself around the dwarf's leg, and starts inching up his body.

Round 2
Slime (-19, grappling Garven)
Eralyn
Jaqweh
Itch
Garven (grappled)
A thing happens
Faria
Altorin

Eralyn, Jaqweh, Itch, and Garven can act.

Itch quickly picks up an intuitive sense of how the creature moves, and hits at a tender spot on its belly. Garven's stab strikes true as well, and gives it a nasty shock. Jaqweh stares carefully, but doesn't see any reaction or even a sign that it comprehended what he said.

Shortly after you enter combat, a shrill scream comes from the waiting area and a confusion of voices can be heard: "Was that a gun being fired?" "What's going on?" "Will everybody quiet down?!" "I want to go hoooome!" Those with a clear line of sight to the entryway can see that the people are not hurt but there is a great deal of unrest.

Round 1 (get 'em on the slime)
Slime (-12)
Eralyn
Jaqweh
Itch
Garven
Faria
Altorin

Jaqweh finds that this computer is less secured than the other, and quickly gets in and pulls up a list of accounts of some kind. He doesn't have time to examine it further, before other things start to happen...

Eralyn feels the knowledge tickling her brain, and then something in the citrus liquid clicks it all into place. She has a sudden epiphany: the goop must come from a bodysnatcher slime. They are parasitic oozes that can take over peoples' bodies, but in their unattached state they often gorge themselves on sugar.

Just as she is coming to this realization, Garven rounds the other end of the pile of crates, and a cat-sized slimy figure lurches out of hiding to attack.

Initiative, Altorin: 1d20 ⇒ 4
Initiative, Eralyn: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Initiative, Itch: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Initiative, Jaqweh: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Initiative, Garven: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (9) + 0 = 9
Initiative, Faria: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Initiative, Bodysnatcher slime: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Eralyn roll-off: 1d20 ⇒ 12
Slime roll-off: 1d20 ⇒ 16

Were you worried we'd get through an entire scenario with no combat? Never fear! Nobody rolled high enough Perception to notice the stealthy slime, so it used its surprise round to move up to Garven. It had a great initiative roll, so it will also get to act first in the round.

Attack Garven KAC: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

The slime slams itself into Garven's side, trying to wrap itself around him, but it can't quite get a grip on his armor.

Round 1
Slime
Eralyn
Jaqweh
Itch
Garven
Faria
Altorin

Everyone can act! I moved your tokens to be where you seemed to be describing your actions. Itch I assumed followed everyone into the storage room.

FYI, the half-orc is a she.

Eralyn feels confident that she successfully disabled the sprinkler system. Across the way she does indeed see a computer terminal resting atop a desk, between two large cylindrical power generators. The devices hum with actinic power, while a glass window shows the grimy bulkheads of Absalom Station's interior only twenty feet beyond.

The storeroom to the east is roughly forty-by-sixty-feet, and mostly filled with stacks of crates. Dim lights shine from the ceiling, some twenty feet above. Some of the crates lie on their sides, spilling out tiny white crystals onto the ground. Thin pools of citrus-smelling green liquid dissolve the edges of these spills, and the overall odor of citrus is more intense in this room. Another computer terminal blinks against the northern wall. An exit door leads out to the east, while a larger exit is visible to the south.

You can pass through the force fields. There is a computer in the small area north of reception, and also a computer on the north side of the storage room. I believe Eralyn was referring to the former in her post, so I put Jaqweh there.

Jaqweh attempts to access the computer system, but its security is a bit beyond his ability to crack. He does notice that the generators could be shut down from here. (With either a Computers or Engineering check)

The people in the waiting area watch the newcomers with reactions ranging from curiosity to wariness, but none of them move to either follow or leave.

The force field is around the green area, so you stepped just inside it. When doing so...

Eralyn experiences a faint shimmer of energy as she moves through the force field. The air on the other side of the field feels a little different, and has a slight scent of citrus. It appears that it allows people to pass through but blocks the external atmosphere. Before she fully enters the hallway, however, she notices that the sprinklers up on the ceiling have been rigged to go off when somebody passes through the hallway.

You think someone could disable the wiring of the sprinklers with an Engineering check, or make an Acrobatics check to turn off the valves.

Looking in both directions, Eralyn sees a hallway lined with closed doors to the left, and a large open room with stacked storage crates off to the right. There are no signs of anyone responding to her call earlier.

***

Meanwhile, Jaqweh is making connections with the lashunta pair. He learns that both of them came to the Open Collective for the first time today, and the only clinic staff they have seen is an android, who has been in the back rooms and not come out for the hours they have been waiting. They don't know the android's name. The only patient they recall, other than everyone still waiting here, is the half-orc who got impatient and stormed off down the hallway to the left but then didn't come back.

The male lashunta looks at his friend with an embarrassed expression. "Now that we explain it like that, it sounds a bit strange, doesn't it. Everyone else was waiting, so we just got in line too."

One of the people waiting gives Itch an odd look at his slightly stilted performance, but his and Jaqweh's interaction is convincing enough that the patient, who has no particular reason to care, shrugs and goes back to reading the news feed on his datapad.

A female lashunta near the door eagerly responds to Itch in a mild tone of complaint. "You've found the right place, but boy, they didn't tell me about the wait times! We've been here for hours now. I'm afraid if it takes too much longer they won't get to all of us today. I don't fancy the idea of spending tomorrow too waiting in this room again, let me tell you!" The male lashunta at her side rolls his eyes, and looks as if he's heard this small rant several times already.

A dwarf accepts the cookie from Eralyn and munches on it absent-mindedly. He perks up when she calls out, but slumps down after there is no immediate response. "Hey, are you really someone's mother?" He squints down at the elderly halfling in doubt. "A half-orc went back there two hours ago to check on the doctor, but she hasn't come back. Maybe you could go too to see how they're doing? If your son really does work here."

I'm going to be leaving this a bit open-ended as there are a number of things you could do here. Let me know if you ever need more clarity as we proceed.

Eralyn hears two individuals near the half-open door chatting about what they are going to do with their lives after this procedure.

"Can you imagine, just getting to sleep at night on a regular basis? I might have enough energy to take up squadball again."

"Ah, I will be able to ride in a spaceship again! I'm going to visit my new niece on Castrovel, first thing."

In a minute or two of eavesdropping, they don't say anything about particular doctors or employees of the Open Collective.

Jaqweh pushes open the door and enters to find that the room is quite crowded. Around twenty people are waiting in the space in front of a reception desk that is currently unstaffed. The force field shimmers behind the desk, and he can vaguely see some equipment on the far side of the hallway.

The people glance up when Jaqweh appears, and then shuffle around to make room for him to join the end of the line.

I moved Jaqweh inside on the map; everyone else can move your own tokens to reflect whatever you're going to do. (I leave the mass of people to your imagination.)

Hurondo shakes his head sadly. "I went to the places where they have been living, but none of them were home. It was as if none of them had even been there for a while. A hunch led me here, but I'm convinced none of the Uniters know anything about my patients. The Open Collective is the only clue I have left to offer. I'm sorry to leave you so little to go on."

Bargai returns, clutching a small bag. She holds a quick silent conference with her three subordinates. Goro takes a seat on one of the sofas, apparently ready to stay in the building, while Bargai, Orghunn, and the other human join her and Hurondo in leaving the run-down headquarters and going back to the Lorespire Complex. Hurondo pauses to wave goodbye and sends you off with concern, "Be careful."

Following their directions brings you to another run-down region of the Spike. A trickle of foot traffic passes through, but none of the passers-by even look your way as you approach the address. The building itself looks a bit beat-up, and its main entrance is a large double door facing south. The doors don't shut properly, with one door clearly at such an angle that it almost digs into the station plating. Signage flickers on and off, randomly displaying mismatched letter styles that read: "Open Collective." A reception desk and a hallway lined by a visible force field is visible behind the ill-fitting doors.

Even from outside, you can tell that the inside entryway is crowded with people, talking quietly but with excitement amongst themselves.

I added a map to the slides to give you an idea of what you see.

Bargai wilts a little under the combined diplomatic assault. She doesn't make any immediate response, but engages in a quick tactile conversation with Goro.

In the meantime, Hurondo nods slowly. "I think we can convince her. Ah, I believe I can stand on my own. Let's see." He shakily gets to his feet, and Orghuun offers a strong arm of support. "I should be able to get back to the Respite. Let's get us all out of here safely."

He cautiously steps outside the room, accompanied by Orghuun, and briefly adds his voice to those aiming to convince the leader of the Uniters. "You have done well here, with what you could. Let us help you. Come with us, and I will make sure you are treated fairly."

Bargai puffs up, looking angered that her own subordinate has joined forces with a captive. But she glances at Goro, who is also watching her hopefully. She gives him a message, which he eagerly passes on. "Very well. I will trust you on this. Maybe another second start is what we could all use. Let me just gather a few things."

She walks back into the other hallway, and Hurondo turns back to the crew of Starfinders. "So far so good. I can take her from here, though I must leave the rest of the investigation of the Open Collective to you, if you're willing to go on my behalf? I promise to put in a good word for you with Ziggy."

Inside the room

Horundo's expression brightens when Garven explains that Jiwala sent them. "Ah, she must be quite worried. They kept me sedated for a while, and apparently a few days have passed? It's all a little foggy. But since waking up, I've gotten to know Orghuun here." He glances toward the doorway and lowers his voice so that it doesn't carry to the hallway. "I've convinced him to leave the Uniters and come to the Respite. The one out there, she is a passionate and talented individual as well. I think she would do better with the Starfinder Society than leading this gang. I have a hunch she might not take much convincing either, based on what I've heard from my friend Orghuun." The nuar looks bashful.

Hurondo sobers, and adds, "I'm truly concerned for the patients I came here seeking, though. I still don't know what has become of them, but I fear they've been caught up in whatever is happening at this Open Collective location. Something terrible might have happened in the time I've been out."

Garven believes their reactions and explanations are genuine. He notices a set of manacles attached to the bed, but they have been opened and are not being used as restraints.

In the front entrance

Bargai answers Eralyn's questions with some reluctance. "Yes, it's close by here in the Spike, about 30 minutes walk. I don't know much about the owners. We talked mostly through secure messages. I think it was an android who was my contact there? I'm not certain."

She straightens and glares at Jaqweh down her long nose with an affronted expression, her ears flattened backwards. "You've written me off, haven't you? I came to Absalom Station to start a new life, but it's very difficult to build something when you start with nothing. The allies I found were being killed or recruited away by other gangs. You have to be tough, smart, and rich to survive in this world. Is it so wrong to want more?"

Goro is slightly pained to be relaying these words and looks as if he would also like to speak up in defense of his boss, but he keeps his own thoughts to himself.

Itch can't get a good read on the situation. It could be a trap or the gang could be dealing honestly. However, when Garven opens the door he sees a spacious room furnished with a couch and a bed. The walls are broken open in several places and thin sheets of plastic cover the two windows to the north and east. A nuar is sitting on the couch and a shobhad, who matches the images you've seen of Hurondo, on the bed. They are conversing but look toward the door when it opens. Hurondo says, "Oh, hello. You don't look like one of the Uniters."

(Image added to the slides)

Meanwhile, Eralyn continues the conversation with Bargai. Goro takes a cookie but Bargai declines, and under her even stare he slowly puts it down and goes back to interpreting for her.

"Yes, it's the Open Collective. They were paying us to send them patients to be treated for trauma, but recently the credits all dried up. I need funds to buy this building and repair it, and it's not looking good, the way things are going. But to be honest, they give me a bad feeling too. Even if they aren't paying what they owe us, I don't want to dig into it. We'll probably have to find another source of funding."

"We have kept him confined but safe. Go and talk to him, if you don't believe me." She gestures to a closed door down the hallway. (The door furthest to the north-east on the map)

You've all been rocking these Diplomacy checks!

The human looks surprised when Eralyn makes herself at home on the sofa, and then again when asked his name. "It's Goro. I'm just talking for Bargai." He passes along all of your messages, and Bargai finally relaxes. She sighs, looking suddenly tired.

The following words come from her, but are voiced by Goro.

"I will be plain then. I assume you are here about the shobhad? He came to our headquarters a few days ago, and we thought he was part of some investigation. My men knocked him out, but only later did we notice his Starfinder insignia. He probably was here for his own reasons. I was going to ransom him back to the Starfinder Society - the credits have been very tight this last month, as you can probably tell." She gestures around at the condition of the building you stand in, and then sighs again. "I'm not sure it's worth it, now. We can't afford to run foul of the law on this station. I certainly can't afford it."

Jaqweh walks through the sagging doorway and sees an entranceway, mostly ungarnished except for two decrepit sofas. One of the humans is currently sitting down, and the other is standing between the sofas. The vlaka Bargai stands protectively between him and the entrance, and then rests her hand on his arm and begins tapping on it. He asks bluntly, "Are you Starfinders?"

The vlaka has no reaction to Jaqweh's spoken words, though her hand starts drifting towards a pistol at her hip. But when he switches to telepathic communication, she pauses, then nods cautiously. She makes a few gestures in the air.

She then turns toward the doorway and looks back expectantly, as if she wants you all to enter, and then passes into the building herself. The two humans have already gone inside.

Following Jordin's directions brings you to a ramshackle apartment building with a hanging sign in one window, indicating in various languages that the building is scheduled for demolition. The front entrance door hangs crookedly in its frame, and graffiti—both scrubbed and half-scrubbed—adorns the walls. The smell of sewage intermittently wafts throughout the area.

Standing outside the open door you see a vlaka and two humans. She is holding the hand of one of the humans and making some tapping and sliding gestures on his arm in what appears to be a tactile language. As you approach, the other human is facing in your direction, and he taps her on the shoulder and points. She turns to look, and then gestures an instruction to the other two. They move towards the door to enter the building, and she faces your group with a cautious and defensive expression.

Slides updated with a map and an image.

Altorin and Garven see no signs whatsoever of suspicious marks. All the tracks that are visible are consistent with normal usage of a residence, except that none of them have any signs of being used recently.

(If I don't hear anything different, I'll follow Altorin's lead and go to the Uniters address you were given.)

You make your way to the Spike, and though you don't have specific directions, you are able to find the area that is mentioned in the datapad. The address of one of the missing people brings you to a temporary housing building. It does not look fancy or expensive, but is reasonably well-kept. Knocking on the door produces no response; it appears no one is at home. The other few addresses have the same lack of results.

Jordin has fully warmed up to Jaqweh now, and he waves one hand in negation. "Oh no, she's not a doctor. A good type, though, yeah. Here, you go to the Spike, and then this way..." He gives directions to one of the poorer areas of the Spike. Keil too has started to relax and makes no objection, though he does tug on Jordin's sleeve. "Hey, we need to get back to work." He brandishes the remaining fliers to remind Jordin of their assigned task.

"Right. Okay, just go the way I told you, and let her know we sent you." He starts to move off with Keil, and he can barely be heard mumbling, "I mean, she should know who we are by now, right?"

If no one tries to physically stop them from leaving, they quickly slip into the crowds.

"... Keil." The young man reluctantly answers. He declines to shake hands and starts edging away, his eyes flicking between Jordin and Jaqweh. His companion, however, is more willing to talk.

"Come meet our boss, Bargai," Jordin says boldly. "If you promise no funny business, I'll tell you where the headquarters are."

Sorry for the slowdown in my posts - it's been a chaotic week for me. I'll try to keep the pace up, and things should go back to normal within a few days.

One of the Uniters takes to Jaqweh right away, but he frowns at Eralyn. "Of course I'm sure. I don't know what you're thinking, but the Uniters aren't like that." He turns back to Jaqweh, and his eyes narrow. "We're always recruiting, you know. We could use someone like you. There's something interesting at our base right now, too. Might be worth a trade?"

The other young man is handing one of the pamphplets to Altorin and Itch in response to their questions, but he spins around when he hears the other conversation going on. He grabs the man's elbow and hisses, "Hey, Jordin, we're not supposed to talk about that with random strangers. They haven't agreed to anything yet." He glances nervously at your group and looks like he's considering bolting.

The lashunta takes the opportunity to slip away. One of the humans looks like he wants to go after her, but then focuses on Jaqweh when he expresses an interest in what they're saying. He nods eagerly to all the questions. "Yes, it really works! 100% success rate!"

The other man walks over and chimes in, "I haven't tried it myself - got no trauma to erase. But maybe someday! We're new recruits for the Uniters." He says this with some pride, and the other one nods along.

You'll need to make a check (such as Diplomacy, Bluff, or Intimidate) if you want any more information from them.

It sounds like you're ready to go check out the Spike. Let me know if you have anything else you want to do before leaving.

Having found a lead, you leave the Healing Arches and head towards the area of temorary residences in the Spike. As you're exiting the Lorespire Complex, you notice two humans talking to passerby and distributing pamphlets. One of them is explaining to a lashunta who appears to be trying to diplomatically escape: "It's a new medical clinic, open in the Spike. We can ease your burdens and erase painful recollections of traumatic events via a state of the art memory modification procedure."

The other human loudly chimes in, "It's 100% safe and effective! You won't regret giving it a try!"

The thoroughfare here is long and narrow, 20 feet wide, and crowded with creatures travelling to and from the Lorespire Complex and various other locations. The area contains different types of flora commonly found on the native planets of the major species that call Absalom Station home, many sealed in atmospheric containers.

Coffee dispenses with the simple push of a button, and the lashunta makes no objection if Itch takes some. She brightens at the question. "Gaming can be very therapeutic. He offers different types depending on what people need, whether it's practice socializing, or... Take this, for example." She scoops up a deck of cards sitting on the table and spreads them wide. Each card has a holographic image printed on it. "It's a lashunta game called Qabarat Towers. The objective is for each player to place a card to build a structure, and manipulate it mentally to tell a story across each face of the card structure. Playing this game helps individuals focus, and work towards a common goal, and communicate through images. It's much easier to do those things while everyone is having fun together."

She smiles fondly and admits, "Hurondo, Jiwalla, Zigvigix, and myself also use this room for a game night, once a week. You're welcome to come play with us, after this is all over. I gather you're looking into his disappearance. Here, take this. I think you'll enjoy it." She offers the Qabarat Towers deck to Itch as recompense for helping to locate her friend.

Her comm unit emits a small chime, and she glances at it. "Please, excuse me, I need to take my meds on time." She walks briskly out of the room.

"Oh, you're not here for the session?" The lashunta opens her eyes and takes in the appearance of the three standing at the room's door. "I haven't seen him since he was last here at the Respite, three days ago I think. Nobody has, as far as I know. We're cancelling his meetings day-by-day, but it would be best to figure out where he is soon."

Itch finds that the door is not locked, and opens it very quietly. He reveals a large room with shelves and tables that display multiple types of vidgames and old fashioned card and board games. There are several extremely comfortable pieces of furniture, a coffee machine, and on a table near the door, a platter containing various finger foods commonly enjoyed by several Pact Worlds species.

A female korasha lashunta is the only occupant, sitting on one of the chairs with her eyes closed. She does not react at all when Itch is peeking in, but when Eralyn calls out she responds without opening her eyes. "I'm sorry, Hurondo's open gaming sessions have been cancelled for today."

The android looks up in surprise, and then nods assent. "Yes, you may. Thank you. My name is Bygones-B." Bygones-B points to a row along one wall where the stairs are being stacked, and continues picking up while conversing with Jaqweh. "I have been working here for a short time, and I too have heard these rumors about another facility. I do not have any more information than that, I fear. I hope Hurondo can be found swiftly, if he is indeed missing."

When the room has been cleared up, Bygones-B says, "Please leave the room, as I need to set up for the next group session. Unless you would like to participate in a brief counseling session yourself? It helps to air your anxieties, I can tell you from experience. I extend the offer to any within your group."

There is one more closed door in the hallway, but you think you have thoroughly investigated all the other rooms. Is there anything more you'd like to do in the Respite?

Jiwalla eagerly moves to the weights first to take on Garven.

Strength: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

He manages to lift a heavier load than her, and she grudgingly congratulates him. "I won't forget it indeed! I'll have to do some more strength training." Next she sets up some markers for a start and finish line and takes a racing stance to compete with Jaqweh and Itch. The kasatha who was training earlier is pulled in to assist, and in a good-natured fashion he claps all four hands to signal the start of the race.

Athletics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Sum: 37

She races incredibly nimbly, but Jaqweh had a better start, and Itch scampers past both of them to pull out a victory. Jiwalla walks around the entrance for a few moments with her hands on her waist until she catches her breath, and then she goes to shake Itch's hand. "It was a pleasure racing you! I hate seeing someone's tail ahead that I can't catch, but you did well. I can see they still choose the best as Starfinders."

She looks toward the rowing machines, but nobody steps up to try them out. Jiwalla laughs. "I don't blame you. Those things are tough! Another time, perhaps, when there isn't pressing business to get back to. And on that note, I should return to my own work. Feel free to look around, as I said." She gestures broadly and starts packing away the various pieces of equipment.

***

While the spontaneous athletic competition is wrapping up, Altorin starts moving down the hallway. There are three doorways, the one Jiwalla indicated as Hurondo's office at the end. As he's passing the first door, it opens and several humanoids come out looking relieved and with a spring in their step. Inside the room, a heavily scarred android is picking up chairs and random bits of trash.

The second door remains closed, but the third has an engraved brass nameplate on the door, confirming that this is Hurondo's office. The door is not locked, and Altorin heads in, followed shortly by Eralyn and the others.

Inside, there is a holographic interface that displays a newsfeed from the infosphere, currently playing a short segment describing a number of missing people and instructing viewers to report any sightings of them to the Respite. Other images are also projected holographically onto the wall, the largest of which is a continuous loop of a ribbon cutting ceremony outside the Healing Arches attended by Jiwalla, Zigvigix, First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo, a small group of other high-ranking Starfinders, and a shobhad that must be Hurondo himself.

Jiwalla shakes her head uncertainly. "I don't know. I don't want to think that of any of our clients, but it's certainly possible. Hurondo can take care of himself, but for him to be missing this long... If you're going to go looking, take this." She pulls out a credstick and a few moments later has transferred 700 credits to it. She hands it to Itch. "The Society provides us with stipends to use on exemplary agents. I can think of no better use for these funds at this time. You're welcome to look around the Respite while you're here as well. Hurondo's office is just down that hallway. But first..." She grins a big toothy grin. "Would anyone like to compete with me? Physical activity is a necessary part of the mental health services we offer here at the Respite. Some of you look like you could give me a run for my money. Indulge me, while you're here? An active body for a sound mind, you know!"

If anyone wants to compete, you can do weight-lifting, endurance rowing, and sprinting. Any character can attempt any of them or all three, but you must roll individually; you are not allowed to aid another. Here are the rules for each:

"Ah, Ziggy sent you. If you insist." She nods briskly to Jaqweh and leads you to a small room adjoining the workout area. "Come this way."

There are enough chairs for everyone to sit down should they choose to, though Jiwalla stays standing and paces back and forth at one end of the room. Once everyone is settled she gets right to business. "I assume you know already who we are. We'd been having a little trouble lately: many of our regular clients stopped visiting the center for treatment. I know Horundo was planning to leave during the last few days to check on a couple of them in person. The housing vouchers we gave them were redeemed for temporary residences in the Spike, so that's where he was going to look."

Scratch nods his head and leans gratefully on Itch, who he seems to find a little familiar. With Jaqweh's help they stumble over to the building and inside.

Just inside the door a lashunta receptionist mans a welcome desk, and is currently speaking with Razda and Svata. He looks up to see the newcomers, and gestures to a seat against one wall. "Please take a seat, and I will be right with you." Scratch slumps into the chair.

To the left of the entrance, there is a small workout area. It currently contains a kasatha sparring with a gray-furred ysoki matching the picture that Zigvigix offered earlier. Jiwalla howls a squeaky victory cry and performs a maneuver that twists two of the kasatha's arms behind his back. The kasatha yields, and goes off to the side to get a drink of water. Jiwalla looks over at the entrance and, seeing a large crowd of people come in, she drapes a small towel over one shoulder and walks over. "Can I help you?"

The two androids take to Jaqweh's friendly manner, and quickly answer his questions. "I am new here, but he has been coming for some time, I understand," one announces, pointing its thumb at the strix, who tilts his head in a bird-like fashion and leans in, interested in the conversation.

None of them have heard about the other facility from the rumors, nor do they seem to be aware that Hurondo is missing. But the strix does smile and open up when asked about Jiwalla. "She's a good one. As ex-military myself, I know it when I see it. She's still as efficient as any soldier, and likes to be treated as such." He clearly means this as a compliment.

This insight into Jiwalla's character gives you all a +2 circumstance bonus to Diplomacy checks with her for the rest of the scenario.

***

The ryphorian grins at Eralyn when she walks up to them. He crows triumphantly, "See? Her sons like it! It's not just a show for girls!" The women around him laugh, as if this was a topic they had just been joking about.

I'll assume you go on to ask about Hurondo and the other topics, now that the ice has been broken.

The ryphorian taps his chin in thought. "I did hear Hurondo say he was going to post some holographic notices about missing persons near the Spike. It seemed strange at the time, but I didn't ask him what it was all about. I think that was the last time I saw him here, a few days ago."