My Dead Suns Pre-Adventure Introduction

[TigerDave]

Hey guys, I just wanted to share with you how I introduced my teams (I'm running two groups) to the Adventure Path!

First, I wanted this to act as an introduction. Our group hasn’t collectively played 3.5, and none of us have played Pathfinder, so I thought it a good idea to go through a couple of things. This included tactical combat, skills checks, vehicle chases and starship combat.

Also, Starfinder has a lot of depth to it. You can’t just throw characters together without some forethought. I wanted an opportunity for the group to work out roles and the like, not just for ground but also for space.

I thought the clever way to handle this was for players to do a “virtual reality interview”. They would create bare-bones characters and take note of skills and such as they went through the fight. What ones did they find REALLY important, etc. Or, did they discover the race/class combo they selected ended up being something they had no real ownership to? They would then have the week until the official game start to create fully fleshed out characters.

So Tiger, why the focus on something sexual? Well … this was a complete (and I mean COMPLETE) rip-off of the opening to Raiders of the Lost Ark. The golden idol is of the Incan fertility goddess Pachamama. Starfinder-up Pachamama to Ashrea, add in telepathy and a jungle and we’re looking for the Lashuntan Kama Sutra. The only real write-up I did was for the intro. After that we’re in virtual fast-forward so I ran all that off the cuff, outside of the encounter specifics. If anyone is interested in the full write-up let me know and I will get it to you.

INTRODUCTION:

Welcome to the Starfinder Society! We appreciate your interest and look forward to future collaboration.

Your application will be conducted through a virtual reality exercise conducted at a local ABADARCORP facility, where you will be randomly grouped with other aspirants throughout the Pact Worlds. Successful applicants who have demonstrated resourcefulness, ingenuity, and team building under grueling conditions will be invited to the Lorespire Complex on Absalom Station, where you will have the opportunity to be inducted into the Starfinder Society!

The Starfinder Society is proud to be associated with ABADARCORP, your partner in financial and data security throughout the Pact Worlds.

Today – Tomorrow – Eternity. ABADARCORP.

Mission Brief: The Chachapoyan Manuscript, also known as the Lashuntan Golden Rule Manuscript, is an important artifact from Lashuntan history. It has been called the ‘Golden Rule’ manuscript based upon a precept of this telepathic society: Reveal unto others as you would have revealed unto you.

This document is a collection of analogies, teachings, precepts and prophesies that are attributed to P’Chamam, a prophet to Arshea, the androgynous god of sexuality and physical pleasure. Its’ importance to a telepathic society cannot be overly stressed. Learning how to handle sexual desire and romantic feelings in yourself is difficult enough; throw that into a society that communicates without barriers and this aspect of life can quickly become overwhelming.

Recent archaeological and historical documents raise the possibility that the Chachapoyan Manuscript is located in an ancient complex on the planet of Castrovel. Much of the planet has been given over to nature, so the area is heavily overgrown. Your ship will arrive in the clearing marked on the map. You will then travel by air sled to the temple site, enter the temple, and retrieve the manuscript.

Appropriate landing permits have been secured, so you will have no problems from the government. It is important that we have an opportunity to complete an in-depth analysis and scan of the manuscript before turning it over to Lady Morana Kesh and the Threefold House. While they are extremely supportive of the Starfinder Society, modern-day conceptions and controversies surrounding the manuscript could prevent its availability for independant study for over a century.

Please insert your individualized Avatar key and personal identa-chip at this time; your simulation will begin shortly.

ENCOUNTER ONE: Quill hound/Combat:

Discuss that there is a starship and two crew waiting for you. They’ve also unloaded an Exploration Buggy (modified to fit 4). Fast-forward the scenario as a ride through the jungle to the base of an Inca-like pyramid in a clearing. Lurking there is a Quill Hound. Use stats for the Akata, save convert it to an animal and lose all the aberration stuff. Instead, the Quill Hound has a spiny mane it can shoot, or players might prick themselves on the mane if they make a successful attack.

Melee bite +8 (1d6+2 P)
Ranged neck quills +2 (2d4+2 P, poison)

Special Ability: Neck Quills (Ex) Quill Hounds have a porcupine-like fringe around their head and neck. These quills have a range of 15 feet, and can inflict a deadly neurotoxin. Successful melee attacks must roll save vs. Reflect DC 12 to avoid accidentally hitting the quills themselves.

QUILL HOUND NEUROTOXIN
Type poison (injury); Save Fortitude DC 14
Track Intelligence; Frequency 1/minute for 6 minutes
Cure 1 save

ENCOUNTER TWO: Pit Trap/Skills:

See the Starfinder Rules for the pit trap. Any players that fall into the pit will reappear in ENCOUNTER FOUR.

ENCOUNTER THREE: Manuscript/Skills:

Just play this up. I had a manuscript, closed on a podium. Cables enter the spine, so they can do computer and engineering checks. The book, when opened, will stun anyone within 30 feet, Save vs. Reflex DC 14, for 1-4 rounds. When the players disconnect the book, I had it trigger a laser web trap that encouraged them to run out the temple. They will have to leap across the pit trap, and interestingly, I had people from TWO groups to fall into the pit! Both groups thought Athletics was a good skill to invest in.

ENCOUNTER FOUR: Enercycle Chase/Vehicle Chase:

The players run out of the temple, where they are greeted by B’qual (Use Clara-247 from the AP), 3x Ysoki (use 3 Gang members from the AP) and 2x Quill Hounds on a leash. Any players that fell are seated (not tied) at B’Qual’s feet. Encourage the players to give up the book! B’Qual will open the book, and >poof< get stunned. Players should be thinking “Grab the book and go!”. Encourage them to do this.

The players jump into the Exploration Buggy, and are chased by 2 of the Ysoki on Enercycles (rules book). Run the chase and have them make it to the starship and take off.

ENCOUNTER FIVE: Flee the Planet/Starship Combat:

I ran this similar to the fight between the Hippocampus and the Necroglider in the AP.

ENDING
Once combat with the necroglider is complete, end the simulation. At this point, I actually gave the players printed tickets to the Okimoro shuttle, pre-dated to the first real adventure day. I also awarded XP for the pre-adventure as well, but it is your call if you want to do this or not. I did it because I didn't make adjustments for group size for AP 1. I will for AP 2.

[Doctor Mono]

I'd kill for a full write up of this. This is great

[dromanin]

Could i get a copy too?

[TigerDave]

I will spend tomorrow figuring out the complexity of Google Drive and upload the docs there.

That way it should be easy for anyone to access.

I think.

[TigerDave]

Okay!! I *think* I have things set up correctly. On my Google Drive you will find the rough-but-ready adventure preview in Word format, and I have the tickets I printed out on cardstock to give to the players (I like to do little game artifacts like that).

If you have any problems accessing it let me know. Enjoy!

[Claxon]

This seems really great. Thanks for your work!

[TigerDave]

Most welcome.

I hope it helps you get started!

[Wismac]

Added a bit of flavor text for the ending... Thanks Tiger for a great 'tutorial' mission. Looking forward to using it.

Your, vision goes black except for a single word, that says 'Complete'. You disconnect from the hardware, the screen in front of you says, Simulation has ended. Your results are: calculating..... it takes a good 15 seconds as your heart pounds a little bit. You know this is probably the only way you can make your life better, and just when you start to think about going back to your mundane job, a single word in green flashes on the screen. Qualified.

It then says, security credentials have been copied to your identa-chip, which pops out of the console a little bit, a 1000 credits have been deposited to your account as a signing bonus and to prepare for your relocation to Absalom Station. As you gather you things and are leaving the android receptionist hands you a folder, and says, "Further details will be sent via comm message. Thank you for visiting the ABADARCORP testing facility, Today – Tomorrow – Eternity. ABADARCORP." Inside it is standard marketing material for ABADARCORP, Absalom Station, and a printed ticket for the Okimoro shuttle, dated for 1 week from today.

[TigerDave]

Nice!! I love it!

As you can tell, I do a lot of "off the cuff"; things are not as well-written as they would be by the pros.

This is a perfect ending, and encompasses everything about the intro; even gives you that 1000cr starting cash to get yourself rigged up!