|
In my game after Duravoor was killed, the pcs were invited to a dinner with the Starrunners, Duravoor's Starfinder team and another group young Starfinders that Duravoor sponsored. Eventually, talk turned to memories of the dwarf.
Everyone can feel the small bump as the shuttle docks with the Horizon Walker and the hiss as they equalize pressure. The two groups go through the airlock into the larger ship's cargo bay. They are greeted by the sight of six tough looking folk; an elf wearing leather and sporting an impressive mohawk, a heavily armored shirren with a bfg, a well dressed nuar with some impressive jewelry, a human woman in too small shirt and cut off jeans and a long coat etched with arcane symbols, a brethadan, and young Duravoor Kreel sporting a sniper rifle.
Kham: "He did (die). " says a voice. "This is a holo we took a long time ago. " A nuar walks through the holo to stand in front of you. He looks to be the older version of the nuar (think medium sized minotaur) in the holo. "This is Dodger's idea of a 'Welcome'. " He looks back at the holo and lets out a heavy sigh. "Better days. " he says under his breath.
Kham: Smiles. "I'm Kham. Welcome aboard the Horizon Walker." He takes the time to shake each of your hands, saying each of your names as he does so. "Come. I'll take you meet the others." he takes one more look at the holo before shutting it off and leading you further into the ship.
Kham: “Since there's so many of us, we'll take the cargo lifter to the third level then make our way to the large hall.” Kham explains. The Horizon Walker is built on as large a frame possible for its class and has three levels. The hallways on the third level have imbeded imaging projectors, so you're not walking down a starship corridor, but across a bridge over a massive chasm underneath a beautiful cloud filled sky. One thing is for sure, these guys have done well for themselves. You soon reach the large hall and its just that, a large hall. The walls and ceiling are transparent allowing full view of the sky, soft music is playing, robot servants are waiting to offer you drinks as soon as you enter. The room is pretty much at capacity with the large table in the middle of it and 15 persons (yourselves, the 4 other Starfinders, plus your hosts, the Star Runners) plus drones and robot servants, but it is luxurious.
There's a round of introductions and time for some conversation before the meal is to be served. You recognize the Star Runners as older versions of the people in the holo that you saw when you first came aboard the Horizon Walker. Kham makes introductions:
* The elf with the mohawk and wearing leathers is Artful Dodger or just Dodger for short. It was his idea to have the holo there to greet you.
* Ghost-Who-Walks-Inside is the armored shirren. He's traded his BFG for a more practical sidearm for this occasion
* Sally Tsung, the human woman is not as provocatively dressed as her youthful holo, but her clothes accentuate her still impressive figure and she still has that same trench coat.
* Tickicic is a barathu soon to grow out of its early phase.
* Then of course there's Kham the nuar diplomat.
|
|
Sally: Sally stands up after the prayer "In honor of our fallen friend" She Spears Cassian with a death glare. "The dishes being served today are all dwarven cuisine. We've taken consideration for the different nutritional needs of everyone here and all can share in most of the dishes. If any are vegetarians, please start with the mushroom salad and potato soup and other dishes will be out in just a few minutes that should suit your needs."
Ghost: Ghost-Who-Walks-Inside stands next and raises his glass. "Over the years we have attended many lamentation services, but never before for a Star Runner. Duravoor was the heart of the group. He was always able to be the friend you needed at the time. He could be empathetic to your pain or kick you in the but to get you out of your slump, he was a shoulder to lean on or have your back in a fight, he could spur you to action or calm your worst impulses. The universe is worse off for his passing, but tonight we rejoice in having known him for even a short time."
Dodger: Artful Dodger doesn't get up. The strain in his voice is obvious to everyone. "In honor and remembrance of my friend" A short picture and video montage of Doravoor plays out along one wall. It seems chronological. It's mostly good times with family and friends, but also includes some scenes of him in action. It ends with the time he told the Star Runners that he would be taking his leave to start mentoring full time.
|
|
Kham: Kham also stays seated as he tells of how he and Doravoor met as new Starfinders initiates. As you know, there's a tradition of the Starfinder leadership sending new recruits on menial tasks like making a delivery to the Armada or watching a pet fizzgig. Our last 'mission' was to guard the First Seeker's apartment. The thing is Duravoor had met these girls and invited them up. He says that their little rendezvous became a party and the party got out of control. They got everyone out but they noticed a missing statue. So, while, the rest of the team cleaned up, Kham, Duravoor, and Dodger went to find the statue. That night saw them in a barroom brawl, being chased by group of haflings, breaking into a junkyard with requisite encounter with a junkyard dog, and singing karaoke to get it back. They returned bedraggled and just in time by hacking a robo-taxi. The First Seeker had security cameras though and saw the party. We were in so much trouble. We got some of the worst missions after that but we made our name by completing them.
Dodger: Dodger let's out a laugh at the memory despite himself. "And we weren't called the Star Runners at first either. They called us the Shit Stains. That First Seeker HAAATED us."
"Anyway one time my parents had arranged for me to get married but I didn't want to. At first he plotted and schemed with me to get me out if it. Then he talked me into it. You see, he realized that the life my betrothed wanted was not the life I would give her. So at the dinner we told tales of our adventures and crazy friends. By the time we were done talking the wedding was off. That guy knew people and how they worked."
Tickickic: "I think I was Duravoor's first recruit. It is well known that my people can merge with each other to create a greater entity. Your concept of lonely is considered a mental disease among my people. I was lonely. I don't know when Duravoor saw me . I don't know how he knew of my condition. Maybe it is as Dodger said, he just knows people. He did not say anything at first, just sat there. After several visits, he told me that he was going, but would return. And he did just that. He kept coming back. We began to talk. Mostly about nothing of consequence, but also of deep, philosophical things. I got used to him being there and I stopped being alone. Finally, one day, he asked if I would like to come with him. He wanted to introduce me to his friends, The Star Runners. I have not been lonely since.
|
|
Dowd: In an unusual fit of boldness for shy dwarven mechanic, Dowd stands up and blurts out, "He came to my rescue." The tears well on his eyes. "I'd just finished Chip and decided to celebrate. I us to a dinner. We must have had too many drinks because when we were done we went to a bar and had more. I was drinking and Chip was dancing. We eventually got a crowd and we're having a great time. But then I wanted to go. These guys didn't want us to leave. They started pushing me around and tried to make me dance like Chip. I fought them but it was no use. Then Duravoor struck like a hammer. The bar erupted into one big brawl. Duravoor helped me to my feet. He was my mentor and my hero and my friend." Dowd is overcome with grief and falls back into his chair. Charrette hugs him and comforts him.
Hume: The vesk soldier stands up a bit groggily. "That sounds like the night I met you too. I just got dumped by my girlfriend and was drinking my work away. This stupid dwarf challenged me to a drinking contest. There was some commotion and somebody bumped into Duravoor. He got up and punched the guy. I jumped into the fight. It was a glorious night." Hume looks proud of him drunken tale. When he sit down though, he cries out, "I miss him." And he starts fighting back tears.
Charrette: Still coddling Dowd, the human envoy demands the attention of the room with her quiet voice. "Interesting. Was that the same night we all met? I was living on the streets of Downlow. Had been for long enough to be really desperate. I needed money and was willing to do almost anything. So I was looking for a likely target to steal from when I saw all these people coming out of a bar. There were these two dwarves and a vesk stumbling out looking the worse for wear. I went up to them and started to flirt. I'd never stolen before and Duravoor saw right through me. He looked at me and his drunken bruised face was so sad. He gave me 500cr and told me I was a terrible thief. He said I could come with them. That they'd not jarm me and keep me safe and help me start over. I believed him. And that is exactly what happened." Though there's tears on her eyes, Charrette is smiling and looking tenderly at her friends.
Nyx: "Frakking amazing! So you guys didn't even know each other? I was jacking a car when this motley group comes up to me. I thought I was in so much trouble. Before I could run, Duravoor tosses me the access and says I can have the car if I drive them home. I figured I'd get a car and know where the high roller lived so shank it. I drove them home. When we got there, he invited me up. For some reason, now that I think about it, I can't tell you why, I just stayed. It's kind of like this is where I belong." the android shrugs and goes back to trying to seem mysterious and brooding.
|
|
Ghost: “We were out in the Vast when we got a call to look into an Astral Extractions operation that had gone dark.” Ghost-Who-Walks-Inside's voice was low but carried. “Apparently they were under attack by a rival and none of their fast response teams were available. Anyway, we came under attack as we approached so landed a distance away. We trekked through the jungle under siege from the feral wildlife, acid spewing plants, and hunter-killer drones. We made it to the base and, in no small part due to my natural talent, successfully infiltrated it. Once inside, we still had to contend with saboteurs and a security system they had turned against us. By the time we made it to the remaining techs, Sally was virtually unscathed, but the rest of us we were all bloody, bruised, and burned. Dodger's mohawk had even been sliced off. My armor was eaten to nothing by acid, and even my clothes were all but burned off.”
“It was then, at our worst, that that short hairy, son of a slitch showed us his true grit. He wouldn't let us give up. He told Kham to act like the leader he was. Remember? He shoved Dodger and told him to get the information and told me that if I was going to die, I could at least put some pants on.” Ghost shakes his head and smiles.
“I couldn't tell you how we got out of their. It just doesn't make any sense. But I do know that his words kept us going. On that day, he carried us on his broad shoulders and his will of stone saved our lives.”