Bounty 4
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The House, pleased to meet you
A gnome dressed in formal but slightly flashy business wear stands around.
He is eager to offer anyone near a business card that simply says:
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The House
The house
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They call me the House because I represent the House, the gnome clarifies without clarifying anything.
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A large (even for a formian) formian gladly takes one of the cards. She aims her multifaceted eyes at it, though, with no pupils, it is hard to tell exactly what she might be focusing on.
"Greetings, the House. I am 903 Ck-Chk-Ckt. You may call me '903' as your mouth parts are likely unsuited to properly pronounce my name," she says and, indeed her name involves sounds only accurately made by mandibles. Likewise, speaking in common seems onerous for her.
May I communicate with you telepathically? she asks, clearly more eloquent with that method.
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An Ijtikri extends a tentacle to claim one of the business cards. It holds the card up to its top set of eyes and spends a few seconds flipping between the two sides, as if trying to solve a puzzle.
"Pleased to meet you both. My name is Shlushshla."
"I appreciate you making allowances for our lack of appropriate mouth appendages 903. My name's simpler, but correct pronunciation would require you to partially flood your vocal sacks, so feel free to call me Shush."
You are on Arkanen, one of Liavara’s inhabited moons. You begin at Elkrius, a research facility in Arkanen’s northern hemisphere located
adjacent to a large nature preserve. The adventure begins in the waiting room at Elkrius. The facility is modern but quiet, with comfortable seating, large potted plants, and gray-speckled tile. You are greeted by Otaia Nuvith "Hi, nice of you to answer our bounty, sit tight and you will gain more info promptly, may I ask for your info, and how you met with each other?"
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An Ijtikri extends a tentacle to claim one of the business cards. It holds the card up to its top set of eyes and spends a few seconds flipping between the two sides, as if trying to solve a puzzle.
The backside of the business card has a logo that says 'The house'
The massive vesk soldier walks up, weapons slung on harness. She greeted everyone with, "Hello. I am Obozaya and I look forward to hitting things very hard with you today. Anyone know what the mission is?"
Oh, that puts us in an excellent position to be market leader at hit! the House says, seeing ample opportunity to delegate hitting to the Vesk.
The House then turns to Otaia My name is the House and i represent the house, and hands out another business card. The House explains I specialise in providing general advisory, utilizing a very specialist approach with a universal applications!, without actually explaining anything.
He adds We are all just currently getting acquainted through an imprompty networking event!, which is his way of saying they just met.
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"Yes, mostly new acquaintances. I get a feeling of complimentary energies though, so I think we'll work well together."
"I have a memory of working with Obozaya, but I'm not sure if it was an event in the past or a vision of the future."
Shlushshla is lost in thought for a few seconds.
"What can we help you with?"
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903 gives Obozaya the head wiggle that is her version of a nod of respect.
But she listens to The House, completely fascinated. She understands all the words he's saying but not how he puts them together which means that there must be some much deeper meaning to them.
"Yes. Just met, but ready to work together to help."
Soon, Otaia escorts the PCs into the heart of Elkrius, where they find Dr. Tevurda (male sazaron) pacing outside of an indoor animal habitat with glass walls. One of the panes of glass that circles the habitat is shattered, granting access to the humid, forested enclosure, although the glass shards have already been cleaned up and cleared away. Beside Dr. Tevurda is a security guard whose nametag reads “Genayvin.” Genayvin (female korasha lashunta) regards the PCs skeptically but offers them a firm handshake and treats them with respect. Dr. Tevurda is worried and frustrated.
“You’re here. Excellent, we’ve not a moment to lose. My name is Dr. Tevurda, head researcher and director of Elkrius. Elkrius is a research facility with a focus on preserving and studying Arkanen’s biodiversity—particularly the unique adaptations that have enabled life to thrive despite Arkanen’s atmospheric bleed and extreme electrical storms. This habitat held a pair of mistuors until late last night, when poachers attacked the facility and stole them. Mistuors are quadrupedal herbivores that went extinct due to overhunting shortly after the Gap. We genetically re-engineered the species here and were scheduled to reintroduce the specimens into the nature preserve in the coming days—under strict observation, of course. The mistuors were fully grown adults and a viable breeding pair. They’re the first to set foot on Arkanen’s soil in centuries!
We reported the theft, but official aid is slow in coming. That’s a delay we can’t afford. These mistuors must be saved before they’re killed or sold!”
Dr. Tevurda turns, leading the way from the habitat to a security office. “The poachers didn’t bother to hide their crimes. They were quick, efficient, and took down our security forces with little effort. You can view the break-in on our security feeds.”
Genayvin has the security recordings cued up before Dr. Tevurda stops talking. The recordings show a team of six entering the building and ambushing a pair of security guards before moving to the animal habitat where they shattered the glass, causing the mistuors to panic. The
poachers shot the mistuors with tranquilizers, loaded them onto carts, and hauled them out of the facility. They left in a convoy of three off-road vehicles, each equipped with a large cage.
You can investigate the habitat, the entrance, and the security feeds further.
While reviewing the recordings you notice that the lead poacher is a dirindi with blue skin. They moved efficiently and navigated the facility with ease, traveling directly from the entrance to the mistuor habitat despite the twists and turns down similar hallways required to get there. It’s clear the leader was familiar with Elkrius’s layout.
Also for entrance techies can make engineering or computers.
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"Having reviewed the footage, I'm fairly confident that this wasn't the work of ghosts. I'm sure you'll find that comforting. And with a corporeal convoy of vehicles, it should be easy to follow their tracks."
Shlushshla uses their limited medical training to try and think of any useful information.
Sense Motive: While reviewing the security footage, both Genayvin and Dr. Tevurda seem surprised. Genayvin shakes her head in disdain and scoffs while Dr. Tevurda looks agitated and upset. It’s likely they recognize one of the poachers.
Engineering or Profession (arms dealer, mercenary, soldier): The poachers were equipped with needler rifles, azimuth laser pistols, and survival knives. The leader also carried a subzero ice carbine and an assault hammer.
Medicine: The poachers neutralized both the mistuors and security guards with sedatives. This suggests the poachers intend to sell the mistuors alive, rather than dead.
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"What? Do you recognize them? Well equipped for an infiltration crew. Knocked out the guards and staff with sedatives, so they know killing just puts them in a worse position. If we catch up to them, we might be able to talk them down, if someone cares to. Me, I'd take out the leader and see if the rest run off."
Dr. Tevurda claps his hand twice "The head gang member worked here before, now did you done investigating? Time is of the essence, please follow us." Dr. Tevurda and Genayvin lead you to the facility’s front entrance, handing you a tracking device and the keys to two exploration buggies. "You're mission if not easy is simple, return the mistuors to us from the poachers, the mistuors each wore a tracking collar. After a recent security breach, both animals were injected with a subdermal tracker. The collars seem now offline, but the subdermal trackers are intact, so it should lead you to them. The vehicles are on loan for the duration of the mission. Each has space for a driver and three passengers, and each tows an animal trailer large enough to hold a single mistuor. I trust that you will be able to retrieve the creatures with this equipment. In exchange, I offer you 240 credits each and the gratitude of Elkrius. Now if you have some questions please ask quickly and go!" Dr. Tevurda and Genayvin are waiting if you have any more questions .
Genayvin nods. “They name are Darvis Olem. They’re a scientist we fired a few weeks ago. Escorted them from the premises myself. Caught them trying to smuggle data and genetic samples out of the building. Olem’s a thief, plain and simple. I warned Dr. Tevurda they might try to escalate things.” At that, Dr. Tevurda shifts uncomfortably. “Bad publicity can ruin research facilities as easily as they can ruin corporations. Better to handle these things quietly, when possible. I didn’t think Darvis would resort to something this bold. They were a friend, once. Clearly I underestimated their anger. They were... less than pleased when their employment was terminated. Darvis is cunning and an excellent hunter. Don’t underestimate them.” It seem the house didn't make a good impression on Genayvin..
Elkrius is nestled among trees on the fringes of a lush forest. When you leave the facility, it’s raining outside, and the sound of thunder rumbles in the distance. It’s mid-afternoon, and the sun will set in a few hours. Together, the forest canopy and the storm block sunlight, lowering the light levels from bright to normal light despite the hour. At first, the path follows a faint muddy road but soon you are forced to leave this road behind and drive through the trackless woods.
During the journey, you will face several obstacles. For each obstacle, select one player to lead the skill check. The other can attempt to aid another if desired.
Using the tracking device is simple, but navigating the forest and muddy roads to reach the mistuors is a challenge. Can I get a Survival check, please?
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Obozaya did her Mahunta training like most vesk soldiers, so driving through this twisting canyon of dirt trails and tall trees was practically like navigating a standard grid street system. The Mahunta was a thick, dank swamp with perpetual mists and everything there wanted to eat you, suck you into the muck, or both.
Obozaya manages to navigate the forest easily and you don't waste time for now.
Driving through the trackless forest is dangerous at the best of times, and the rain makes it worse. Can I get a Piloting check?
You make it in good time.