Book 1 - The Brinewall Legacy Part One: Fires Over Brinestump
Goblins.
Being a settlement a fair distance from what would normally be called 'Civilization', the village of Sandpoint has always had a problem with goblins. It's been an issue for most of the village's storied history to a greater or lesser extent. Up until recently, it's been the latter. However, recent reports have told that the Licktoad goblins of Brinestump Marsh have grown unusually aggressive. The reason for this uncharacteristic bravery seems clear — the goblins have somehow managed to arm themselves with what appears to be a considerable supply of fireworks. The problem stems not so much from the additional “firepower” these fireworks provide as from the inflated sense of ego and power that the devices have given the goblins — the fireworks have made them dangerously brave.
Several merchant caravans and travelers have been attacked so far, and according to the victims, the damage caused by horses panicking at the sight and sound of exploding pyrotechnics is almost as destructive as the goblin attacks themselves. With the last few attacks resulting in severe injuries to three unfortunate travelers, the problem has escalated from an annoyance to a threat. However, as none of the attacks have yet inconvenienced Magnimar, the city has been slow to react. Unwilling to idly sit by and wait for the goblin problem to escalate to actual deaths on the Lost Coast Road in order to attract Magnimar’s attention, Sandpoint’s leaders have put out the call for goblin exterminators.
Those interested in this task have been advised to appear this Oathday evening in the common room of the Rusty Dragon - the village's tavern - two days hence.
Okay, not an easy task. You folks gave me quite a few characters that I would love to see played. Unfortunately I don't have the mental bandwidth to run multiple tables of this AP.
If the following players/characters could head on over to the discussion thread for more information:
As stated in the recruitment thread, my goal is for the discussion thread to be used primarily for chronicling character level ups. The majority of discussion will be in the discord channel that I've set up for the campaign. For those that don't already have access, I'll send over an invitation link through PM.
If your crunch isn't already finalized, then please do so. I'll have the first post setting up the stage for the game later today.
With Sandpoint being such a small village, I'm going with the assumption that you all know each other. How well you know each other is entirely up to you.
I've always had a weakness for Shelyn. A paladin or cleric of hers would fit right it.
@rdknight/Vigny
I'd rather stay out of the weeds as far as variants go. Let's avoid VMC if we can.
@stormraven
I have no issues with players having knowledge of the AP. I've chosen to make the assumption that we're all adults here and the goal is to have fun and tell a story rather than 'win' - whatever that means in an RPG.
@Supreveio
The submission looks good. I have no plans on forcing romance on anyone's PC that isn't interested - consent is everything. Just be aware that it may be going on around you. :)
@pauljathome & -Karma-
Those look good.
@everyone
The subject has been at least peripherally mentioned in a couple of PMs to me, so I thought that I would make this clear to all ...
My games are inclusive to all sexualities and sexual identities. Everyone is welcome here and regardless of whether they become romantically involved with NPCs/PCs or not, I hope they feel included and have fun. As long as everyone involved is an adult and fully consenting, I'm a fan.
Yes. The game will have a Discussion thread and that's where I'll expect people to chronicle their level-up decisions. But I'll be expecting OOC conversations/questions/discussions to take place in Discord.
@John Gs
Looks good!
@Sir Longears
I would allow Childhood Crush to apply to Koya as well. Yes, old folks need romance just as much as young people.
As others have stated, the pre-filled slots are going to be a Shifter and an Arcane Caster.
@Andostre
Why Discord? Personal preference. I'm on there throughout the day and it's the easiest way to raise questions to me. It also provides for an alternate means to communicate with other players in the extremely rare instance of Paizo's forums having technical difficulties. Which never, ever happens.
@AJM4885
Sounds interesting. I hope to see more about him.
@J Scot Shady
Always nice to see another old-timer. :)
Mounts can work well in this AP, although there are some dungeon-crawl elements at times.
@Veniir
Can't wait to see him fleshed out a little.
@rdknight
With regard to the Transporter archetype; That could be very useful at select moments. However, a significant portion of the actual travel path will be chosen by the NPCs.
And as far as the caravan and romance subsystems go ...
@Everyone
I knew I would forget something in the recruitment post. We won't be using the caravan combat system. The encounters that are scripted for that system will either be hand-waved or replaced with something more specific for the characters to deal with.
We will also not be using the mechanics of the relationship/romance system. I prefer PC/NPC relationships to be more organic in feel and to develop strictly through RP. That's not to say that there won't be any rewards, but, like in real life, you don't have a list of things to do that generate specific benefits.
Sometimes you'll know immediately whether what your PC did improved an NPC's view of them. And other times, again, like in real life, you'll be left wondering. :)
Leaving their home of Sandpoint and braving the long and dangerous trek across the Crown of the World, our brave heroes are going to undertake the danger-fueled quest to escort their friend Ameiko Kaijitsu to the other side of the world and the throne that awaits her.
What Kind Of Adventure Is This?
If you're not familiar with this AP (and even if you are), feel free to grab the Player's Guide.
As stated above, this AP will have the PCs facing challenges and foes all the way from the small town of Sandpoint to the far-flung continent of Tian Xia. There will be a lot of focus in this AP on the relationships the PCs have with the four primary NPCs; Ameiko Kaijitsu, Sandru Vhiski, Koya Mvashti, and Shalelu Andosana.
I heavily favor character driven games, so some drama is always nice and romance fits right in. I try my best to give my NPCs personality and have a lot of fun when players interact with them. I don't shy away from romance in my games. If you're looking for a love interest for your character and none of the existing personalities (PC or NPC) appeal, let me know and I can come up with something more to your taste. That said, I'd like to keep the game on the conservative side of an 'R' rating. If romance isn't your thing, that's totally fine. Just be aware that there's a strong possibility that it'll be happening somewhere in the game. If that bothers you or turns you off, this probably isn't the game for you.
The goal is to finish the entire AP, so be expecting a ride of at least a year or two. I'm planning on accepting 3 submittals for this game with two additional slots pre-allocated for a total of 5 players.
Creation Guidelines:
Attributes: 20-point Buy
Race: I won't disallow any official Paizo race, but I have a preference for those in the Jade Regent Players Guide.
Alignment: Characters should be decidedly on the side of good. I'll consider neutrals, but selfish loners won't get more than a first glance.
Class: Unchained versions of the classes that offer them. Otherwise, again, the Jade Regent Players Guide is a good reference.
Starting Funds: Maximum for 1st level.
Traits: A campaign trait from the Jade Regent Players Guide is a must. You can take a drawback for a third trait if so desired.
Backstory: There's no minimum word count required, but give me a couple of short paragraphs at least.
Special: We will be using Background Skills. No pre-game crafting allowed.
-----
Who Am I?:
I've been a player in three different attempts to complete this AP and none of them have run it to completion. So I've decided to run it myself.
I'm an IT professional with a number of years of experience with RPGs under my belt. I cut my teeth on the original Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Players Handbook before the Dungeon Master's Guide was published. Yeah, that was a long time ago. I'm old. I've played in quite a few PBF games and GM'd a few as well.
Be warned, I love the structure and detail that the Pathfinder rules provide, but I favor RAI rather than RAW. And I heavily favor story over rules. If I get a rule wrong, feel free to point out my mistake (it won't be the first or last) - I'll most likely correct it. But there may be times when the story plays better without correction and I'll leave it as is.
I'm in California (GMT-0800) and I can typically make small posts throughout the day. I'll most likely be putting up a single larger post later in the afternoon. Weekends get much more chaotic but I'm usually near a keyboard and responded to posts both days.
-----
What Are My Player Expectations?:
I'm looking for players that will commit to at least a post a day during the week. I don't expect posts on the weekends. If something comes up and you won't be able to post for a few days, that's fine - Real Life happens. Please let us know in advance if possible. In your application, please note what time zone you're in and what time of the day you usually post - if consistent. I would like to see at least a little fluff in every post you make - even the combat ones.
I will probably reserve one slot to give a first timer a chance to get their foot in the door. Otherwise, I will be checking post histories.
Also note, that I will hope, expect?, wish?, that you will have read Painlord's Building a Better Doomed Hero. In fact, if you're wanting to get in on the 'first-timer' slot, I'll expect you to let me know that you have read it. There is invaluable information there.
-----
What Do I Expect In An Application?:
The crunch and alias isn't required in the application. Give me your character concept and background - preferably in a spoiler to avoid walls'o'text. I don't need a thousand words, but a few paragraphs would be nice.
Specifically, as the campaign traits are tied to the four central NPCs in the AP, explain your trait choice and what relationship you expect to develop/enhance with your chosen NPC.
Optionally, if there's a particular post (or posts) you've made in another game that you're proud of, put a link to it in your application.
I will be taking party balance into considering when choosing characters, but it won't be my primary focus. In that regard the two pre-filled slots are probably going to be a shifter and an arcane caster.
-----
Campaign Notes/Gameplay Conventions:
We'll be using milestone leveling, so no experience tracking will be required. And, as such, there may be some 'filler' encounters that get hand-waved with a couple of descriptive paragraphs.
I also may be adding some encounters/story elements in some of the areas of the AP that require ... a bit more.
I'll be rolling for everyone's initiative in combat and I'll be using block initiatives. Feel free to post your actions as soon as your block comes up. Within a given initiative block I'll be resolving the actions in posted order. I make it pretty clear who's actions are pending and I'll do my best to keep combat moving along. I won't hesitate to bot someone if the game is dragging down waiting for someone to post their action. You've been warned. :)
Speaking of botting, it'll be a big help if you put some general botting instructions in your character's profile.
To keep the game moving along, I'll also be following the 'Majority of Two' rule. If the course of action for the group is unclear and it seems like the group is getting bogged down in indecision, once a suggestion is made and agreed with by a second player, then I'm taking that as a decision made and moving forward with it.
If you think a knowledge roll, Perception roll, or face-skill roll might be needed for the actions in your post, feel free to roll it. If you don't, I might ask you to roll it or I might roll it for you depending on how the pacing's going. Be aware that if you make a roll in advance, please don't get annoyed because you rolled a 20 and then I post that the roll wasn't needed.
Maps will be through Google Docs.
There will be a Discord channel set up for OOC discussions and I would prefer that that's where OOC discussions take place, rather than the Gameplay thread.
-----
Deadline:
The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, January 8th, 09:00 PST and I'll announce the final choices Thursday morning.
The young dark-haired woman watching the newlyweds partake of the first kiss of matrimony reached up and attempted to subtly wipe at the tears brimming in her eyes. "Don't they look b-b-b-beautiful, Feather?" her younger sister asked with a wide grin, tugging at the older girl's sleeve. "Of course they look beautiful - it's their wedding day. Are they supposed to dress as hideously as possible?" she grumbled back. "Well, no, b-b-but I meant that ... wait, are you crying?" The younger girl's eyes widened. Turning to the white-haired woman on her other side, Mona whispered loudly, "Mama, Feather's crying!"
"I'm not crying, you barnacle," Feather snapped at the same time as their mother shushed her younger sister. "It's a wedding, Little One," Meiying said quietly, reaching up with a delicate kerchief to dab at her own tears. "It's expected that some people will cry at such a happy occasion."
"Yeah, but Mama, Feather never c-c-cries," Mona protested. "I told you, I'm not crying!" the young woman argued even as she finished wiping at her eyes. "I just got some sand in my eyes."
"Leave your sister be, Little One. We need to congratulate the happy couple," Meiying said as she stood and gathered the material of her dress. Her attempt to smooth it down only served to emphasize the swell of her belly. As she did so, her eyes opened wide in surprise. Grabbing Val's hand she pressed it to her stomach. "She kicked!"
~~~~~~
While the Shackles are a harsh environ, that doesn't mean that lives aren't lived and happiness isn't found there. In the case of the ladies of the Siren, love, in fact was the most valuable treasure they unearthed in the midst of blood and battle. While not easily won, it was well worth the effort and pain. Lives bound together even as others carry on the tradition of taking what one desires by the strength of sword or spell.
Agavana nods at Ben's choice. "You are serving freedom, Weydan, and the people of the Veskarium," she says. "Charity will stay here and show you more of what I've been working on. Come." She leads you through another door into what Katherine can tell is a fairly advanced vaccine lab. Various medical bots hover around tending to different stages of the process. "I haven't yet come up with a solution, but perhaps with your expertise, the final treatment will reveal itself." Out the other side of the large room brings you back to the stairway that you first descended. Climbing up into the sunlight, Agavana's non-living state is emphasized.
"Again, I thank you," she says as the sounds of a starship's atmospheric engines grows loud and a shape lifts up from the edge of the island - the Wintermourn. It hovers at the cliff-side and extends its boarding ramp. "Fancy meeting you folks," you hear over your comms as Niva waves from the bridge window. The red-skinned woman, Nemelith, descends the ramp and waves as well. "Come along, Darling. Your chariot awaits. It's time to go," she calls out. Agavana mounts the ramp and turns once more to bow her head in your direction. "Thank you," she says one last time before the ramp closes and the ship climbs slowly into the atmosphere.
Charity mk 5 leads you back towards the ruined temple. "Well," she begins, "that was all in a good day's work-" she begins before exploding in a blast of plasma as two BMC Maulers scream by overhead. They loop back around and fire more shots as you dodge behind the cover of the ruins. Apparently satisfied with their strafing run, the two small fighters turn and climb into the air towards the Wintermourn.
"Dammit!" Niva's voice echoes over your comm units. "I thought we finally lost those lizards in orbit! Hey, if you can get these two off our backs, I'll owe ya one."
"Captain," Carolyn 5's calm voice also speaks up. "I've detected hostile ships in your vicinity. Should I bring the Oliphaunt in for a retrieval?"
"While I would appreciate any assistance that you could offer, what I don't have is the time," Agavana says with a nod towards Katherine. She taps at the console near her and some of the displays change. The doctor recognizes the information as a not-quite-complete treatment protocol for a complex toxin. It would take more in-depth study to determine the exact nature of the affliction treated as well as how close to completion the effort is.
"You're welcome to a copy of the data - more minds working on a solution is always better," she says and a tone from everyone's personal comm units indicate a local set of files available to download. "But in the meantime, my ride is almost here." She taps again on the console and the systems begin shutting down.
Agavana turns back to you. "So are you going to let me continue working on this or ...?" she says. "Or are we gonna throw down right here?" Charity finishes for her, the bot's fingers drumming on her rifle.
Sense Motive DC 15:
Whether what Agavana is saying is true or not, she certainly believes it to be so.
There's not much information to gather, but in a short time, Azira presents what she's found to Valeria.
Dead Rock is a relatively featureless up-thrust of basalt near the city. A couple of miles north of Port Peril, it juts up from the sea amidst a scattering of smaller natural formations. It's not large by any means; The most generous estimates put it at about a thousand square feet of scrub and lichen covered stone. The lone feature that sets it apart is its relative flat top that rises about sixty feet above the surrounding water. The top can be reached by a rough-hewn, man-made trail and has been used by various worship groups for various purposes.
Information having been gathered, the three of you return to the Siren through Polli's magic. Upon returning to the ship, you find that Meiying has been keeping Mona occupied by the simple application of food. According to the white-haired woman, the small girl put away more provisions than three of the ship's normal crew and then promptly fell asleep.
"I put her down in our bed," Meiying says, looking away nervously. "I ... I hope that's ok."
"Orders, Captain?" Surina asks. "Most of the crew have returned from leave, so we're ready to raise sail on the morning."
The other figure turns around and lowers their hood. The revealed vesk has pale and cracked skin, marred with circular scars that would be produced by hellfire toxin.
Penny:
The vesk is actually a borai.
Borais are an unusual form of corporeal undead. Instead of being a dead body animated by negative energy, a borai has a mostly dead body that retains the smallest sliver of its soul. The two are inexorably bound, as the body draws vitality from the soul while the soul uses the body to remain on the Material Plane. Some borais are the results of partially botched resurrection attempts, either magical or technological, while others were people who were simply too stubborn to fully die when their time came.
"I do not know you," she says, "but I suspect you have been sent here by some imperial agent who calls me Oathbreaker. But I don’t answer to that name. Through life and death, I have held my oath to the Veskarium. I remain Agavana Stoneblood.
"I was stationed in Burandamana, which served as a testing ground for hellfire toxin. The toxin didn't kill me right away, but the Adamant Scale agents that released it did while cleaning up loose ends. I awoke in the morgue, a vision of Weydan before my eyes. Since my return, I have been investigating them and have become a threat to them."
"The Adamant Scale," she explains, "is a faction within the Veskarium so well-hidden that even the Council of Despots does not know of its existence. They claim to protect the empire and strike at its enemies, but its members answer to no one save themselves. It was the Adamant Scale who turned the humble zayapede into deadly hellfire toxin — a poison I have experienced firsthand, as you might see. They toil tirelessly for the perfect bioweapon, and when I find their victims, I bring them here for treatment. However, experimenting on small populations will never be enough for them. I believe they are preparing another large test on the scale of Burandamana, and I persuaded Jassk to steal the zayapedes so I could find an antidote in time."
"Instead, you have found me. Can we avoid violence? I need more time, and I have already hired a starship to transport me somewhere far from here. Simply let me go That is all I ask."
"Oh, I love it when you talk dirty," Mina says with a smirk, but Val can see in the eyes that she knows so well that her threat has rattled the woman.
In spite of the anger behind the kiss, the succubus presses back against Val's lips as if the hatred and disdain add additional spice to the contact. As Mina's lips slide across Val's, the slayer gets the familiar sensation of a slender tail sliding up under her skirt. Before it can take any liberties, however, Val pushes back away from the disguised demoness.
"Can't blame me for trying," Mina says unrepentantly with a shrug of her shoulders. Holding one hand up, she wiggles her fingers at the two woman. "Taa," she says before vanishing, leaving nothing but the scent of musk, lavender, and burning coal behind.
From what Katherine has researched about Hellfire Toxin, it's either dispersed in an aerosol fashion over a wide area and absorbed through the skin - or more rapidly through the mucus membranes of the nose and mouth. It can also be transmitted through a contaminated water source. Those afflicted by it are unable to pass it to others, so, unless it's present in the air of the complex, you should all be safe - for now.
Moving through the door on other side of the room, you enter what appears to have been the former sanctuary of the temple as it bears Weydan’s symbol on the floor. It now functions as a command center; dozens of displays track creatures around the galaxy. Several maps, carefully tagged and pinned, hang about the room. Blue crystals on the walls emit a strange but pleasant hum.
A bot that looks remarkably similar to Charity mk 2 and mk 4 is speaking with a large figure concealed by a blue and silver cloak that has their back to you. They both stand in front of an altar at the room’s northern corner littered with maps and charts. The figures aren't unaware of the crew entering the room and the bot turns to you.
"Well, if it ain't the scamps that turned the other 'mes' into scrap metal! But seein' as how I know how to fix myself up pretty good, I'll let that go. Now, are we all gonna throw down while my friend here melts your brain, or are you gonna listen to what the lady has to say?"
"That wasn't our agreement," the faux-Meiying replies with a voice growing harsher. The smell of burning coal grows stronger. "I am no хосттун to hide behind exact words or loopholes. You will pay me now or my sister and I will fall upon your ship and crew like a plague with neither cure nor surcease. The longer you banter and deny me what is my due, the more chance your precious pet will never see another sunrise."
Mina narrows her eyes at Val's offering. "Very well," she says after a moment. "They've taken her to to a small islet called 'Dead Rock'. It's about an hour north of the city; A solitary rock in the sea with literally nothing on it excepting seagull s#*%. They're planning on completing the ritual when the moon reaches its zenith tonight." Her eyes grow distant and she seems to be listening to something else. A slight smirk appears on her lips. "Although there are arguments being made to complete it at sunset. That would be a shame because you'll never make it by then."
Her eyes refocus on Valeria. "So, my sweet ... now's the time for your portion of our agreement and don't even think about playing me."
Fina rolls her eyes and makes a gagging motion with her finger. "Oh Gods save me," she says, stepping back and shaking her head. "You're right, dear sister, there's no more fun to be had with her. No challenge." She looks look back at Polli and her form shifts into what the sylph assumes is her natural one. "Love or no, even if you manage to rescue your pet, she'll never do everything for you that I will. So when the urge gets too strong, just light my candle." The succubus blows a kiss and then vanishes in a cloud of musk.
~~~~~
"Sorry, Love, but it's a kiss or nothing," Mina says to Val and leans in as if to press the issue. When the woman draws back away from her, Mina scowls. While Meiying's scowls are something that Val finds strangely attractive, unsurprisingly, this one doesn't have the same effect.
"It's your choice," Mina says crossing her arms. "But if you want to get to your friend in time, then my price is my price. The negotiation phase of this conversation is over."
Mina laughs again and her shape shifts. A moment later and the succubus is looking Val over from behind Meiying's smile. Her nakedness is now hidden behind the pale dress that the small woman usually wears. She's matched every detail of the quiet tiefling down to the slight crinkle at the edge of her eyes.
"How about you give me a kiss instead?" she asks in the woman's voice. "Just one. But you have to kiss me like you would kiss her; With all the passion you would express for her. Curl my toes." She steps closer and traces a pale finger up Valeria's arm. "No strings attached. No enchantments. Just a kiss."
"It'll be as real as you want it to be," Fina says, leaning in close to whisper in Polli's ear and giving a small nibble in the process. "Go ahead, you know you want to. I can smell your need. You're so close."
~~~~~
"You can picture it in your mind, can't you?" Mina replies to Val's question with a purr. "His dirty, but strong hands clutching at my flesh? Taking me however he wants?" She laughs. "I'm sure we'll take a few of the survivors as playthings when you're finished, but that's not going to get you what you want. What you want will cost you something ... personal." She looks Val up and down again. "It has to come from you and it has to be something you value. Acts carry more weight then things. So what are you willing to do for me? Come on, Captain Valeria; You know what kind of woman I am. You have to take the first step."
I'll let you know if Val senses any deception from the pair.
It only takes a few moments before Chase manages to shove the boulders clear of the stairs and everyone descends below. The hall below is lit by functioning luminary strips along the ceiling which look to be recent additions. At the bottom of the stairs, the passage heads both to the left and to the right ending in a door about twenty feet away in both directions.
1) Left 2) Right:1d2 ⇒ 1
Seeing no difference in either direction, the crew moves to the left-hand door and opens it carefully after checking for magical auras and security systems.
On the other side of the door is an infirmary. Portable medical pods that provide automated care to sick patients crowd this long room occupied by species from throughout Near Space. Nurse drones fly back and forth monitoring patients. Their bodies appear covered in charcoal gray bulbs that burn with an inner fire and ebb and swell as if breathing. The room smells like a campfire. The nurse drones show no reaction to the crew's presence and there's a door on the far side of the room.
Medicine DC 14:
The patients are all suffering from hellfire toxin.
"Oh, you precious little thing," Fina coos, leaning in close to Polli again. "So much anger. So much rage. Deep down inside where everything burns you want to release it. You know you do. Release it on my flesh in an crescendo of ecstactic fury and leave us both quivering. Your precious pet will never know."
~~~~
Mina shakes her head in response to Val's question. "No. My sister and I just have different goals. They're not conflicting, but we take different long-term views and go about achieving them in different ways. She likes to indulge at every opportunity and doesn't consider much larger events. I, on the other hand, would prefer that the хосттун-lovers wouldn't gain as much power in the region as they might if their plans for your companion are carried through to completion."
She chuckles.
"I don't care enough to take altruistic steps to prevent it, but if a bargain with you benefits me and puts a barb in their plans ..." She shrugs and then leans in close. Mina's feminine musk and the scent of burning coal mingle in Val's nostrils. "So what might you offer? Sand is falling."
The formian meekly follows you to your ship where Carolyn-5 informs you (with no little sense of relief) that your goblin 'passengers' have departed into the city - assumedly for good. Securing Jassk in the quarters no longer used by the goblins, you set course for Agavana's last know whereabouts - Liberator's Sanctum.
An hour's worth of ship travel has you setting down on the mainland near the island the ruined temple is located. Making your way across Renunciant bridge - and the predator that you noticed lurking under it - you find the ruins of the temple.
Infosphere information indicates that the temple-proper was entirely destroyed by a cyclone and holds no refuge for anyone. Building plans, however, indicate a lower level that may have survived the devastation. Searching around, you find a pile of boulders that block a set of stairs that descend below.
A DC 21 Athletics check can move the boulders.
Penny notes a magical aura covering the boulders.
Mysticism DC 16:
Magic associated with the worship of Weydan suffuses the boulders and they can most likely also be moved with the simple utterance of the Weydan aphorism, 'The door is always open.'.
Fina hesitates for just an instant at Polli's answer and frowns, but the mirthless smile returns a moment later. "Oh, I think we can do better than a little cuddling. I think you would get off on inflicting a little pain. You should know that you wouldn't have to hold back. You could call me all those filthy names while you whip me."
A second voice speaks up and Val turns with a start to find Mina standing next to her. She's in her natural form, unclothed, but with her wings folded against her back.
"Come now, Sister Dear, this isn't even a challenge any more. It's obvious that this woman would do anything for her precious хосттун. You could bend over and have her lick your arse while you ..."
"Hey! You should know better than to kink shame!" Fina interrupts whatever vile suggestion her twin was about to make.
Mina waves a hand dismissively. "The point being; What's the point? She's yours to do with as you wish. You've already planted the seeds of desire that she'll never be rid of." The woman looks to Polli. "Isn't that right? We're in your dreams, aren't we, Miss Bog?"
"You, on the other hand," Mina continues turning to Val, "Are a little tougher to crack. I would say that being tied to my granddaughter would be enough, but it seems that even there, you've slipped through my fingers." She wiggles the slender digits demonstrably. "And to clarify things; I sent the message, not my sister. And yes, I know where the red-skinned хосттун is being taken. The question is ..." Her smile widens. "What are you willing to give for the information?"
"If she's what gets you wet then I can oblige," the spirit-formed woman says with a smirk and her shape blurs. When it sharpens again it's the red-skinned form of donomsail that looks back at Polli. It's not her eyes, though, that gaze at the sylph with hunger, but Fina's. "I'll do all the things you would never ask of her, and I'll do them without hesitation. All I want is for you to give in to your innermost desires."
The woman leans in to brush her lips against Polli's ear. "Oh, I always play nice," she says in answer to Val's question, her warm breath playing across the sylph's sensitive skin. "Unless you want me to play naughty." She chuckles in a throaty voice. "Which would you prefer, Polli?"
Turning away from the wizardress, she meets Val's discerning gaze. "Should there be two of me? Could you handle more than me?" Her eyes travel up and down the slayer's form. She's heard the term 'eye f~~~ed' before, but this is the first time she's experienced it herself. The woman's lip curls up into a sly smile. "Maybe you could at that, but you said that you're just here to watch. So watch."
She turns back to Polli. "So what can I do for you, little one?" she asks, raising her hand again and gently tracing the tip of her finger over Polli's lips. "What will curl your toes and make you scream out to the divinities? Whatever it is, I can make it happen." Her head tips back slightly, but her dark gaze continue to examine the sylph as if sifting through the fantasies she can see in Polli's eyes.
The alchemist's shop is as secure as Valeria remembers it. Other than some evidence of Feather and Mona's brief residency, nothing indicates anyone else has been here. A room in the basement fits the trio's requirements and is quickly cleared of various crates of inert ingredients.
Once various protective magics have been put in place, Polli places the candle in the middle of the floor and lights the charred wick. Almost instantly the musky, decidedly female scent begins to fill the room bringing to mind different memories to the different women. Vapors slowly roll off the burning candle and spread across the floor towards Val and Polli's feet.
As Polli steps back from the encroaching mist, between one blink of the eyes and the next, a woman appears next to the candle. Nude with blue skin and embodying the exaggerated feminine form that so many elementals of her nature adopt, the figure smiles knowingly at the sylph.
"I knew you couldn't resist for long," she says in a sultry voice and takes two slow, swaying steps to approach the small woman. One hand reaches out to brush delicate fingers along Polli's jaw before tracing a single finger down her neck. She glances at Valeria before locking eyes with the diminutive mage. "So is she just going to watch or is she going to join us?"
From the bits and snippets of data that Ben can pull from Charity mk 4's still intact core, he derives the following; Agavana has been living with Charity mk 5 in an abandoned temple of Weydan known as Liberator’s Sanctum. The ruins lie on a small coastal island several hundred miles northeast of Gaskari.
Further research on the local info-sphere reveals that Liberator’s Sanctum served as a temple of Weydan for those who aimed to right the wrongs of the Veskarium. Gaskar’s original peoples built it atop a small coastal island called Yul, named for the vesk prophet Gaskar Yulalov, who preached against the Veskarium’s growing tyranny until his arrest and execution. Seeing's how the terrain on the island isn't conducive to landing something the size of the Oliphaunt on it, the only way onto the island would be to land nearby and cross Renunciant Bridge, named for radical disciples of Yulalov. A massive statue bearing Yulalov’s likeness still stands at the eastern side of the span.
"So you've found what you seek, no?" the formian asks. "You have no further need of me. You'll leave me to try to recover my humble shop?"
It doesn't take much to gather the skeleton crew overseeing the Siren on the main deck (the remainder utilizing some well-earned leave in the large port city). To Valeria's relief, only the two sailors that have made use of the enchanted candle show any sort of demonic taint.
Polli would know that a dispel evil or a dispel chaos would remove the profane gift. The original succubus could also remove it as a free action. Either will have negative consequences, though.
"If ... If I knew she was going to hurt people, I would have never stolen the things in the first place. I would never hurt anyone; I am a pacifist. She said ..." they shake their head. "It does not matter what I think. As I've said, I don't know where she's at."
They turn to gaze at the remains of the destroyed bots.
"She sent those to me, though. Perhaps they know where she's at. If the cores are still intact, that is."
The two women share nervous glances and Val can tell that they're not sure how much detail they're expected to give.
"Um, Ma'am?" Totah says, her eyes looking up at Val and then back down to the deck. "I ain't never fantasized about nothing like that before, but when 'Tina lit that there candle, there was a cloud of spicy smoke and a blue-skinned woman in the middle of it - really pretty. She said that she'd ... that she'd do whatever we wanted and it would only cost a kiss." She shrugs. "We didn't see no harm in it. We both gave her a kiss and ..." A flush rises up the girl's neck and face. "Well, she made good on her promise." The other woman giggles. "We've lit it a couple o' times since then but it's just been ... we only ..." She looks at her companion.
"It's just been f#*#ing, Ma'am," the woman with the short-cropped red hair adds. Val recalls her name to be Stertina Shadi. "And it's all been on our own time. We didn't think we was doin' any harm. And it's only ever been just the one." She looks at Totah and giggles again. "If there was ever two of them ..." She doesn't even try to conceal her smirk. "I think we both would'o missed a day or two o' work and been in real trouble."
Val's magic detects the presence of what she would assume to be a succubus's profane gift on both of the sailors. Other than that, though, they seem entirely sincere.
The proprieter of the shop looks around at you all nervously.
"Look," they protest with their hands still raised. "Agavana took me to a hidden base, but she made sure not to tell me where we were going, and I have no idea where it is!" They look from one smoking pile of bot wreckage to the other. "And I don't know why you're after her in the first place. She's a passionate rebel and follower of Weydan. She had me steal the zayapedes but she said she wants to help people. She even sent me those two bots to protect me."
Rosie's brow scrunches up at Polli's question. "Now that you mention it ..." She turns and shouts at one of the swabs. "Hey, Totah! Wasn't there something else you and Shadi found floating with the knickers?"
A slender, dark-haired girl looks up nervously. "Something else, Ma'am? I ... I don't know ..." she stammers out nervously. "Don't yank my t#$&, sailor," Rosie snaps back.
"There ... there was a candle, Ma'am," she offers up after a moment.
"Why the f%%+ didn't you say that in the first place. Get the damn thing up here for the Captain and Bog," Rosie orders before turning to the officers. "Not sure what's up her arse."
"The candle, Ma'am? It summons a water nymph spirit, Ma'am. That's why we didn't mention it," Totah says looking down at the deck with embarrassment. Rosie rolls her eyes. "You'll have to butter each other's muffins, sailor. No more playing with an aquatic slut spirit."
Totah runs off and a short time later returns with another sailor. This girl is a little taller with very close-cropped red hair. She's bearing a candle and hesitantly hands it to Rosie. "Sorry, Ma'am," she says in a husky voice. "We was just havin' fun."
"In the future? When you find something other than undergarments? You need to let someone know," Rosie orders before handing the candle to Polli.
The musky scent of the candle tickles the sylph's nostrils as she looks down at it. It's obvious that the candle has been lit more than once, but there's still a lot of burn time left on it.
Having not been shot, Ben seems determined to return the favor as his rifle shot draws sparks from a high-end, oil-filled, rune-covered speaker on the far wall. Boots catches the 'Mk 2' off-guard and puts a round in her. Chase charges and sends pieces of her flying with a blow from piston-powered fists. The bot staggers as she struggles to continue the battle, but Katherine finishes her off with a final shot between the optical sensors.
"MISCREANT HUMAN! YOU WILL NOT ... Zxxtttz!"
With a creak and a crash the 'Mk 2' collapses in a inert pile.
Combat Ends!
As pieces of the destroyed speaker fall crashing to the floor with the tinkling sound of broken oil vials, silence finally settles on the instrument store, now empty of customers.
"Even if I had insurance, this still wouldn't count as a good day in my info-sphere log," the formian says, rising up from behind the counter, holding up their manipulative digits defensively.
The bots have between them; second skin armor, precision coil rifle, subzero hail pistol, tactical sword cane, thinplate armor, red star nova rifle, tactical starknife, frag grenades I (x2).
By Mei's physical reactions, Val's method of distraction is having its desired effect, but the woman doesn't seem to want to go down without a fight. "Fine," she declares, her breathing growing more ragged as she's enveloped in her captain's ample 'assets'. "But I reserve the right to send her off to another post if her attraction to you grows more troublesome." She looks up to meet Val's eyes. "It would only be fair, wouldn't it?"
~~~~~
Currently ...
The rest of the afternoon is spent gathering up the scattered recipients of Donomsail's benevolence and return then to the orphanage. They relay pretty much the same story that Mona told you. Expanding on what the old woman described, they each give a slightly different account that you can sift the facts from. Doni was given a choice, drink the offered substance or they would leave her and take the kids. The threat of what would happen to them didn't need to be voiced. She capitulated and they took her, Feather, and a younger boy named Wills through the magical portal. The rest of the children, having served their purpose, were ignored and the remainder of the cloak-clad attackers scattered as well.
Leaving some of her underlings to watch after the gathered flock, Val, Polli, and Azira return to the Siren for the captain to utilize some of her information gathering magic. Returning to the ship, for some reason Polli notes, hanging from a nail on the main-mast, a pair of frilly, lace-edged undergarments that look very familiar. In fact the last time she saw them, they were wrapped around a candle that she was throwing overboard.
"Sorry about those, Ma'am," Rosie says, noting the sylph's attention to the dangling display. "A couple o' the crew found those floating in the f@!~ing drink and thought they'd make for good luck. I can take 'em down if you think it goes too far. It is a strange sort o' totem - a fancy lady's c$%! cover." She laughs.
~~~~~
Heading to her cabin, Val casts her spell to listen to the rumors of the city. As in previous castings, she catches snippets of conversation here and there that might pertain to their quarry. Hints and discussions of the cloaked figures as well as discoveries of discarded cloaks indicating that those that didn't follow through the portal quickly disposed of their concealing garments to blend into the crowds.
As the spell continues, though, Val notices a strange effect that she hadn't encountered before. Bits of conversation from disparate individuals merging into ... a singular message.
'It takes a clever woman ...' says a washer-woman in the docks. '... to read between the lines ...' mutters a dwarf haggling over the price of a pair of metal boots. '... and find the message within.' a harlot snaps at her departing client. 'We might know where ...' says a man selling noodles in the market square. The deliverers of the bits are as diverse as can be, but the message continues.
'... your lost хосттун is being kept. The sylph knows how to contact us. Time is running out. Be prepared to bargain.'
Ben's shot is wide, but Boots' pistol draws a shower of sparks and metal bits from the 'Mk 4'. Chase follows up by charging the bot and reducing it quickly to scrap metal with her industrial fists. With one bot down, Kathering sends a payload of nanobots into the 'Mk 2's circuitry and Penny gives the mechanic a defensive edge against the remaining opponent.
Round 2
"HUMAN MISCREANT! YOU SHALL PAY IN SPADES FOR YOUR VIOLENCE AGAINST M' PARD'NER!" the remaining bot declares as she turns and draws a sniper rifle up to her shoulder and takes aim against Chase. The shot zings just over Chase's shoulder, though.
"Don't you try to distract me with ... with your sexiness and ... and boobs," the tiefling protests, but her rigidness softens somewhat. "I'm not attracted to the woman at all. But she sure seems more ... you clearly have more in common with her than with me. And anyone can see that she's attracted to you. It's only a matter of time until ..." She looks away.
Val: No need to roll for refilling the holes in the roster. The Siren has gained a reputation enough that there's no shortage of folk willing to serve under the general banner. It does have a tendency to attract a certain ... demographic, though. :)
~~~~~
Mona meekly points to the two pins holding her hair in place and sadly explains that since Feather's hair is so short, she gave her pin to the younger girl.
Polli has been to the warehouse a couple of times and is familiar with the place. It's a unused warehouse that Dony has purchased. It's currently divided into various areas with temporary partitions. There's a common area with a makeshift kitchen as well as ten small private sleeping spaces with cots. It's not fancy, but it's clean and protected from the elements.
Arriving at the place, the ladies find the common area is disarray with stools tossed aside and the table overturned. There's a young man there with a rent and blood-stained tunic that's attempting to straighten up the place.
"Miss Polli?" he says in surprise as she enters the main area with the two trailing children. "They took her, Miss Polli. They took Miss Dony. I tried to stop 'em, but ..." He gestured down at his clothing. "I weren't strong enough."
He describes the seven attackers as best as he can, but there's not much to go on. It was a mix of men and women in dark, weather-stained cloaks and hoods. From what he could tell they looked human. Unfortunately, he didn't see which way they left the warehouse.
...
Azira and Valeria canvas the surrounding area in the guise of children. For the most part, their questioning is not received well and they're given the brush off, but a disheveled elderly woman sitting in the corner of a nearby alley nods sadly.
"Aye, my ducklings," she says. "I seen 'er. She and some little ones like you was in the company of some rough types." She points towards the empty end of the alley. "They gathered 'em all up over there and gave her something to drink. It must'a packed quite a wallop because she was out in an instant. They started pulling her clothes off and I was thinkin' they was a real crude sort, gonna have their way with her right in front of a buncha' young ones like you, but once they had her bare o' everything, they put it all in a bag." She sucks on her lip for a moment. "They was magic types, 'cause one of 'em opened a bright red doorway and the one with the bag went through it. Then they opened another and the one carryin' the red-skinned woman went through it and took two of the kids with 'im." A shrug shifts the woman's bony shoulders. "The rest of 'em headed back to the street and scattered along with the rest of the little ones."
Valeria finds Meiying sitting in a seat with her feet curled up underneath her. Her face is hidden by a large book. "Why whatever could be troubling me, my love?" she replies in an icy tone. "I'm sure I'll get to meet your newest fan ... sorry, the newest crew member, at some point or another."
"When she's not eyeing your t$#~ like a starving infant," she mutters under her breath.
~~~~~
Nothing seems untoward or insincere as far as Mona is concerned.
The girl races up the ramp and wraps her arms around Polli as if she's never going to let her go as the tears begin to gush again.
"They t-t-t-took her! Them! They took all of th-th-them! F-f-feather. The red-s-s-skinned lady. Everyone!" she manages through sobs.
After bringing Mona up to the main deck, Polli and Val get the story through the running tears, stuttering, and wracking sobs. Donomsail (the red-skinned lady) was visiting the newly established orphanage (currently a converted warehouse). And while she was there a half-dozen men and women showed up who were 'quite rude'. They demanded that Dony come with them and she refused and was going to call for help when some of the people drew weapons and threatened some of the other kids - including Feather. One of the older boys blustered some and, without hesitating, one of the women stuck a sword in his belly.
Dony capitulated quickly agreeing to accompany them if she would be allowed to heal the boy and they wouldn't hurt anyone else. They agreed and then they rounded up the kids and left with them and Dony. Mona had been outside tending to ... outside things ... and watched it all from a cracked doorway.
Polli makes her way up to the main deck and over to the gangplank. Sure enough, she sees Mona standing at the bottom of it, tears streaming down her cheeks. Other than her emotional state, she seems to be in good health. She's wearing rough-spun clothes. They're ill-fitting and bear numerous patches, but they seem clean. Her brown hair is also clean and pulled up onto her head in a mess of a bun held in place by two hairpins.
It's clear that she wants to run up to Polli, but she remains standing at the bottom of the wooden plank awaiting permission to come aboard.
That sounds more like an aid to Intimidate rather than Diplomacy. ;)
The formian steps back from the counter and away from you.
"Look, I don’t know what you’re talking about," they protest. "I’m a pacifist. But they’re not." They point toward the back room. The entrance to the room immediately erupts with gunfire as two robots wearing dusters, wide-brimmed hats, and bandoliers emerge, guns blazing. One construct bears the inscription "mk 2" on her forehead, just below the brim of her hat. The other's forehead reads "mk 4" instead.
Mark 2 vs Ben Intimidate DC 19:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
Mark 4 Trick Attack vs Boots DC 24:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19 Mark 4 Pistol Attack vs Boots KAC:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 Pistol Damage:1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
"HUMAN MISCREANT! STAND DOWN, RETREAT, OR FACE OUR BAD-ASSERY!" the bot with the 'Mk 2' on her forehead shouts at Ben in an artificially amplified voice. The 'Mk 4' moves deftly across the counter and takes a shot at Boots with her sidearm. She misses, but turns an expensive looking digital harmonic into splinters of plastic.
Ben is shaken for 1 round. Map is updated. Everyone is up!
Another set of eyes watches the newcomer with suspicion. At Captain Blackwing's announcement that she'll find something for Azira to do, Mei's face clouds. Ignoring the conversation she'd been a part of with Rosie regarding supply requirements, she turns on her heel and with what can only be described as a slammed door, returns to their quarters. The halfling chuckles darkly. "I think a certain captain ain't gettin' any tonight," she says with a smirk.
~~~~~
Currently ...
Dony and Polli have indeed been spending more time apart lately, but whether that's due to the tiefling having misgivings or a misunderstanding on the sylph's part is anyone's guess. She's even taken to doing solo charity missions into the port city proper. Coordinating with some of the local good temples, she's been laying the groundwork for an orphanage that actually prioritizes the needs of the children over profit.
As Valeria and Polli discuss the ramifications of associating with succubi, Crimson Cogward taps on the nearby doorframe. "Uh, Ma'ams?" he interjects. "I hates to interrupt, but there's a ... a kid at the gangplank. She's upset and says she's a Siren, but ... uh ... she looks like she ain't even hit puberty yet." He shrugs his shoulders. "I told her that we don't take anyone on that young, but seein's how we've had a change in leadership ..." Leaving the question unasked, he continues. "She wanted to speak with Captain Tessa, but I told her that she ain't captain no more. Besmora's boobs did the tears start to fall then." He meets Valeria's eyes. "I told her that I'd let you know she was wantin' to speak with you. If you really want, I'll tell her to piss off, but ..." He shrugs again.
For a man that's served with a primarily female crew for almost a year, Crimson's surprising inability to handle an emotional female is on display for all to see.
With no more questions for Captain Fireheart, you head back to your ship and break orbit for Gaskar III to track down a formian by the name of Jassk Beskask.
=====================================================================
Pact Worlds Date: 321-09-03 AG Location: Gaskar III - Gaskari Ship Ident: COM-UPYOURSEJCORPXXX Current Mission: Fugitive Retrieval
=====================================================================
Drift Travel Time:1d6 ⇒ 1
Drift travel to Gaskar III proves uneventful. The city of Gaskari was built around a colony ship filled with people leaving the Veskarium; its denizens constructed a temple of Weydan in the ship’s forward sections, followed by a thriving metropolis around it once the vessel settled at the western foothills of the Summer’s Mercy Mountains. It doesn't take much to locate the shop, Sonic Future. It's a small two-story building with living quarters on the second floor.
The shop isn't large and upon entering it, you can see that it's filled with various high-tech musical instruments and a couple of browsing aficionados. Behind the counter is a formian who looks up as you approach.
"Yes? Is there something I can help you locate today?" they ask. "I'm offering twenty percent off on Mako brand synthesizers and a coupon for two free lessons with every purchase."
Perception DC 14:
Hanging on the wall behind the shop keeper is a stylized symbol of a starship.
Mysticism DC 12
Spoiler:
The symbol is that commonly used by followers of Weydan - the god of discovery, equality, exploration, and freedom.
"We don't know the race or composition of the attackers, unfortunately," Eshovayo replies. "The video feeds were disabled during the assault - no doubt Jassk's handiwork - and they killed everyone that was in the targeted building. They were simple civilian workers with just a minor security contingent - this is a company that makes dye, after all. Consequently we don't believe any of the thieves were injured or killed."
The vesk conceals his anger poorly as one hand clinches into a fist.
"Agavana Oathbreaker is a former Veskarium soldier who betrayed her own people. Eight years ago, she deserted her unit, demanded the empire free hundreds of imprisoned criminals she claimed had been unjustly incarcerated, and when her request was denied, she unleashed hellfire toxin on the city of Burandamana. Hundreds of thousands of innocent people burned alive from that bioweapon. It took weeks for some of them to die. She has avoided capture for almost a decade. She knows how we think and how we operate. She won’t expect me to hire a bunch of outsiders like you."
He hands you a credstick (5000 Cr) and nods. "Jassk Beskask owns a shop called Sonic Future in Gaskari, on Gaskar III. They’re not a soldier, so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting them to talk."
The celebration of Harmony and Tessa's departure goes on long into the night and while not as boisterous as some ships, the crew of the Siren can hold their own in the drinking and debauchery department.
The next day is spent sending out rallying messages for the Chelish invasion and then you're off to say your final 'Goodbyes' to the co-captains at Tidewater Rock.
~~~~~
It's a total of eight days later when Val, Polli, Donomsail, and the rest of the crew arrive at Port Peril under new leadership. There is already a huge gathering of ships hovering near the harbor as almost everyone with power in the Shackles is gathering their forces to fend off the Chelish fleet. With the notable exception of the Pirate King, himself, Bonefist. He is steadfast in his denial of the threat and his closest lackeys are following suit.
Even without his support, though, the massed armada of pirate ships is an impressive sight. Grudges have been set aside in the face of a greater external threat and blood enemies sail side by side to the agreed-upon point of interception.
23rd of Pharast - Day 354
Two days later and the enemy fleet is in sight.
It's obvious by the changing of ship headings that a resistance such as this was not foreseen by the commanders of the enemy forces, and this is quickly taken advantage of by the ruthless pirate commanders. It's a bloody and brutal engagement. Very little quarter is asked and even less is given. At the end of the day-long engagement, though, it's the Free Captains of the Shackles that prevail.
A good portion of the Chelish invasion forces are successful in fleeing back towards their homelands, but the Free Captains capture enough ships to offset their loses and then some. Before the gathered captains go their separate ways, however, Tessa Fairwind calls a meeting of the brethren to discuss what to do with Bonefist. He's lost the support of the gathered captains, but who would claim his title is anything but decided.
A number of individuals indicate that Captain Fairwind should step up and grab the hat of leadership, but others mutter that Captain Violet or Captain Steele would be perfect for the role, unaware of their plans to leave. Some indicate that they would support Captain Blackwing and her newfound fleet.
The city of Command-3 has several distinct layers; the original settlement, now home to some of the city’s most nefarious criminals, sits well below the modern levels. TruBlu’s corporate headquarters lies on an upper layer reserved for industrial and commercial facilities. The expansive and lavish corporate campus includes 20 different dye processing facilities, a maglev transportation system, a sculpture garden, and an exercise facility.
With a quick trip utilizing the public transport system, you arrive outside the Zayada blue processing center. As you do so, a large vesk emerges from a black urban cruiser parked there. This must be Eshovayo.
He greets you and leads them into the facility, through a security checkpoint, a warehouse, and a greenhouse strung with cables bearing large, desiccated leaves weighted with clumps of shriveled, dried berries. These rooms shows signs of forced entry and battle: bloodstains, broken glass, and scars from weapons.
Reaching the greenhouse, Captain Fireheart plucks a leaf from the wall, turns it over, and delicately splits one of the brown sacs on its back with the tip of his claw. A tiny golden insect with thousands of legs and circular mandibles crawls out and over the vesk’s hand. "Zayapedes burrow inside the leaves of bruwayo bushes," he says. "And those only grow around the city of Zayada, south of here. Skittermanders call these things 'the gold of the garden planet,' but the real gold is inside." As Eshovayo crushes the insect between his nails, a vibrant blue liquid dribbles down his finger. "Zayada blue. So popular, the whole company is named after it."
"However, about one in a hundred of these zayapedes holds a more valuable treasure, too small for you to see — a bacterium that can be used to create a biological weapon called hellfire toxin. Hellfire is so dangerous and lethal that even the Veskarium rejected its use. Shortly before I contacted you, a team of highly trained and, as of yet, unidentified individuals broke in here and killed more than a dozen people, including eight civilians. When TruBlu took stock of the damage, they discovered the theft: hundreds of zayapedes — all carrying the toxin and slated for safe disintegration. We do have a lead: a formian by the name of Jassk Beskask; used to work at this facility and visited, unprompted, just before the attack. We have reasonable suspicion that they stole the bugs then and set up the attack to cover their tracks."
"There is only one person who has ever successfully weaponized hellfire toxin, and she used it to slaughter a city of innocent people. Her name is Agavana Oathbreaker, the Butcher of Burandamana. We think this formian, Jassk, was working for Agavana. We don’t know where Agavana is, but Jassk owns a music shop on Gaskar III, a planet in Near Space. I want you to go there, interrogate Jassk Beskask for Agavana Oathbreaker’s whereabouts, and bring her back to me — alive, if you can. I have some questions for her."
