Thorn's End Guard

Venture Captain Arvin's page

14 posts. Alias of Alledisil.


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Grand Lodge

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"Be my guest, Kultha. We could use the help."

The Venture-Captain looks on approvingly.

"I'll arrange a few bottles of Veskian liqueur to be delivered down here, to keep you company while you work."

Grand Lodge

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Venture-Captain Arvin greets the team with a warm smile as you disembark.

"You can undergo the tedium of a complete debrief later. First, I've arranged for you all to enjoy a few days' downtime in Kemanis, at the high-end clubs, theaters, and VR parlors. You've earned it. But,"

he warns, with a twinkle in his eye,

"after that, it'll be time to put you back to work."

Grand Lodge

As you all make your final preparations, the Venture-Captain bids you farewell.

“Hopefully your journey will be uneventful. Good luck.”

Grand Lodge

"Absolutely, Kultha. There is a petrol pump just on the other side of the hanger. It takes standard credsticks as payment."

I think you only need 2 or 3 charges, right? 3 credits per.

"As for the life forms on Ulmarid, unfortunately you know as much as we do. That's why the Unbounded Wayfarer was there, to conduct surveys on the geology, ecology, and potential inhabitants. If we can recover the data from their ship, perhaps we can learn more about the planets they visited on their mission, including Ulmarid."

The Venture-Captain rolls his eyes and keys something into his datapad. Automated repair robots swing down from the ceiling of the hanger and begin painting over the Odyssey's hull insignia, and suddenly they're finished, a fresh new coat of paint in a bold font, reading Day Tripper.

Grand Lodge

As you return from the Drift and dock back at Absalom, Venture-Captain Arvin congratulates you on your success.

"I hope the Loreseek- I mean, the... Skull..crusher served you well. he says, the corner of his mouth raising in amusement.

"Now onto the business at hand. Based on our knowledge of the planet Ulmarid, you're going to need something more heavily protected."

He hands you all a datapad with information about the planet. Ulmarid is a desert planet wracked with fierce storms that scour the surface. Several square tunnels pierce the earth under much of the planet's crust; although plainly artificial, there is no evidence who made these tunnels or why. A startling variety of vicious, unintelligent monsters inhabit the planet's surface as well as these subterranean tunnels. The planet's two enormous moons collided long ago, filling the planet's upper atmosphere with a dangerous cloud of tumbling asteroids that makes approaching the planet with large ships difficult.
Diameter: x2/3
Mass: x4/9
Gravity: x1
Atmosphere: Normal
Day: 2 Days
Year: 14 Years

As you read, Arvin walks you to an adjacent hanger, where a gleaming white and black ship sits docked, engines idling. "I have secured the Drake-class Odyssey for this mission, as its heavier shields can better withstand asteroid impacts while reaching Ulmarid's surface. You must carefully navigate the asteroid field to the surface to find the crashed Unbounded Wayfarer.

"Be sure to bring the Starfinder insignias with you; they will be critical in recovering the information the Starfinders left behind. If you can recover any of the Starfinders-alive or dead-please do so as well. Good luck."

Ask anything you want while you're still here. Can't communicate into the Vast, there's no Drift Beacons out there!
We'll get underway in about 24 hours.

***Also, the journey will take 5d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 4, 5, 2) = 18 days, so you should have plenty of time to heal up.

Grand Lodge

Yes, your starship has charging ports for all batteries.

You all are correct, there isn't much market for Corpse Fleet scrap material. Best to just leave this hunk of junk here.

As you return to the Skullcrusher with the coordinates, you find the hologram of Venture-Captain Arvin alraedy active and awaiting your report. He is grateful for the news and is eager to get started on the next step of your quest. He asks,

"Please leave the Endless Threnody where she lies. Return to Absalom Station while we research the planet Ulmarid and how best to approach it. Your ship is not equipped for such a long voyage, but I hope you all are eager to head back out when we can get you properly outfitted."

As an additional reward, Arvin provides a password to open a concealed compartment in the galley of the Skullcrusher that contains delicacies that are suitable to most palates, including sticks of candied meats, spiced cheeses, and just a bit of alcohol.

"I know the mission isn't yet complete," he explains, "but you've earned the right to celebrate a bit on your return trip. I asked the quartermaster to include a few delicacies so you can enjoy being alive - after an encounter with necromancy."

Grand Lodge

"It's hard to say how many crew members might remain. Information about Corpse Fleet ships is sparse, as they modify their ships beyond standard Eoxian designs. I would expect that any surviving, or should I say, remaining - crew members might try to make a last stand, and they might have rigged some traps. Be ready for anything."

Maneuvering your Pegasus-class starship to align with the Endless Threnody's rear cargo bay is rather tricky. Bone spikes and pulses of necromantic energy make it a tight fit.

@Laeshin: Need a piloting check!

Grand Lodge

With a burst of static and a flash, a blue-hued hologram of Venture-Captain Arvin appears at the Skullcrusher's communications station.

"Excellent work. The Endless Threnody is incapacitated, but not pulverized. I need you to board that vessel, access the main computers at the bridge, and recover the coordinates of the missing Starfinder vessel's crash site.

"That energy signature looks dangerous, and those discharges can damage your hull. Dock at the cargo bay at the rear of the ship and make your way forward to the bridge. Wear space suits if your armor can't protect you from vacuum- there are a few suits in a storage locker aboard your ship. Eoxian ships do not have life support and are often exposed to space. Any questions?"

All armors provide basic protection against vacuum (CRB 198) for a number of days equal to its item level. You all have armor so you won't need to grab the space suits.

Grand Lodge

"Be warned. The fact that the Corpse Fleet agent was prevented from acquiring replacement parts means its Drift engine is probably still offilne. But you should assume that its armaments and other systems are operational. I would be prepared for a fight, not a negotiation. If they're willing to talk, be prepared for treachery."

He listens to the party work out their assignments and smiles confiedntly. "I'm sending you all out there because you've proven yourselves. I am confident that you'll return successfully. I will handle filing the flight and crew manifest with Absalom Station, please stow your gear and leave as soon as you are ready."

You may attempt a culture check to recall information about the Corpse Fleet.

Grand Lodge

You meet with Venture-Captain Arvin in one of the Arms of Absalom Station to receive your ship and your orders.

Venture-Captain Arvin stands next to the entry ramp of a sleek-looking starship. He waves his hands over the side of the starship affectionately.

"This is the Loreseeker, a Pegasus-class ship that's one of the fastest and lightest in the Society's fleet."

"We know that a lost Starfinder vessel, the Unbounded Wayfarer, was discovered by undead creatures from a starship called the Endless Threnody. We've pulled some strings with our more reputable Eoxian contacts to get more information, but they've disavowed knowledge of the Endless Threnody entirely: this likely confirms our suspicions that the Endless Threnody is connected with the Corpse Fleet, a group of Eoxian separatists who refuse to work alongside the living."

"We have the location of the Endless Threnody in the Drift, courtesy of that ghoul you tracked down. Its Drift engine is incapacitated, so it's unable to escape the Drift. Take the Loreseeker into the Drift, cripple the Eoxian ship - as a Corpse Fleet vessel, they won't be open to negotiations - and recover the location of the lost Starfinder vessel. You'll have a couple days to recover from your last encounter during transit. The ship is already stocked with food and basic medical supplies. Any questions?"

Grand Lodge

The Venture Captain patiently listens to your report.

"Hmm... The Endless Threnody... We have no record of a ship with that name. Please hold for a moment."

"Right. If you are interested, I have managed to secure your party a starship. There are few available at the moment, but recovering the Unbounded Wayfarer expedition is a high priority. Please meet me at docking bay 21 immediately. Oh, and you are free to keep the insignias, they might prove to be useful later."

Grand Lodge

Laeshin wrote:
"I believe that covers the salient details. Do you care about what happens to the seller? I suspect they will be less than cooperative... Either way I'm sure the lot of us can handle it."

Arvin's face is steely and emotionless as his voice drops a little quieter, to not draw the curiosity of passers-by. "We strongly encourage you to follow all Absalom Station regulations."

Immediately afterwards, he stands and leans over the table. He looks into Laeshin's eyes and telepathically broadcasts to the group, " All we care about is where they got the insignias. Their eventual fate is up to you."

Grand Lodge

The Venture-Captain patiently provides any information he can, though his twitching antennae belie his unease.

Sefel said wrote:
"Once we get this information and track down the seller, I take it we'll be venturing into the Vast to determine the fate of the missing crew? Will we be provided a ship to make this journey?"

"We can deal with the logistics of transport once we know where you'll be going. The Society's resources are tight right now, but suffice it to say we'll have what you need."

Aazanar said wrote:

"I understand that many Starfinders have an Insignia implant. Are these insignia of that type? And were they removed from a living body or had they yet to be installed?"

"And can you tell us anything about this Julzakama? Have you had dealings with him before?"

"We pray the crew is still alive, but their death is, unfortunately, more likely at this point. In any case, the technomagical Society implants are designed to decay a few hours after death. You needn't worry about desecrating the dead. The insignias in question are physical medals. The crew of the Unbounded Wayfarer received the insignias long ago for exemplary service to the Society. Although this isn't common knowledge outside the Starfinder Society, these insignias are no mere trinkets: they can be used to encrypt or decrypt information that the Starfinders want to keep hidden."

As for Julzakama, he runs a pawnshop called Julzakama's Loans and is an... unusually arrogant vesk. I don't know him, but I get the impression that I wouldn't like him much if I did."

Venture-Captain Arvin goes on to provide directions to Julzakama's shop in the Downlow, no more than an hour's travel by free station transports.

Kulth said wrote:
"To get information from Julzakama. Society have preference on strong-arm or silver tongue?"

"We have already paid him, so we expect him to cooperate. We would also appreciate if our informants remain in good standing with the Society. We never know when we may have need of Julzakama again."

Anyone can go ahead and attempt a culture check to recall information about Julzakama.

Grand Lodge

A tall and confident lashunta man (image) strides into the area, nods approvingly, and gestures toward several functional chairs, inviting the assembled group to join him around the Vesk's table. "Thank you for arriving so quickly. As I mentioned in my comm message, we have an urgent opportunity to recover some critical information. We would normally handle this sort of thing ourselves, but preparations are underway for the largest expedition in Starfinder history, and we simply do not have the manpower to spare. Some mutual friends of ours informed us of your exploits, and we believe you could be just the people for the job. The Starfinder Society pays well, and we would be in your debt if you took this mission. You can fill in your remaining compatriots as they arrive.

Several months ago, a crew of Starfinders took a ship called the Unbounded Wayfarer into the Vast to explore a series of uncharted planets. They never returned. Earlier today, a vesk pawnbroker in the Downlow neighborhood contacted us, offering to sell us several Starfinder insignias. These insignias belonged to the lost crew of the Unbounded Wayfarer, and that immediately caught the Society's attention. The pawnbroker -named Julzakama- doesn't realize the true value of the insignias. We negotiated a purchase price in exchange for the insignias and information about the seller. We hope this seller can lead us to the Unbounded Wayfarer and its crew.

We've remotely transferred the requested credits to Julzakama. Now, we need you to collect the insignias and all the information you can from the vesk regarding whoever sold him the insignias, and then track down that seller. Learn where to find the Unbounded Wayfarer and its crew. I'm worried that the seller might not be on the station for long, so act quickly. If you have any questions, please make them fast."

Arvin looks at you expectantly, tapping his fingers on the table.