Curiouser and Curiouser
Viridian File 042522: Stardate 16124.2123.03211227
Reveal FlashbackCelta Adria - Stardate 16124.2123.0307
It is a warm sunny day in Celta Adria as we zoom in over the lower city. A mini-hoverkart makes its way down the streets occasionally pulling over beside illegally parked speeder craft. A Togruta with ashen grey skin and red montral patterns steps out in a yellow vest and holoscans the craft before placing a ticket puck on the device and returning to the hoverkart. A notification alert comes from the dash. "This is dispatch to Patrol LT-01. Come in LT-01. The Chief wants to see you back at the station." Back at the police station, Amelia enters an office of ornate furniture, large bookshelves, and well kept plants. A muscular woman with gray hair in a tight bun stands with her back to the door arms behind her back looking at a stylistic painting of a large starship in space. As Police Chief Lin Kratar hears Amelia enter, she shifts in her Bellimar armor but does not turn around. Amelia: "You wanted to see me?" Lin Kratar: "How many investigations have you led, officer?" Amelia: "None." Lin Kratar: "How many protection details have you led, officer?" Amelia: "I'm gonna asuume that's also none." Lin Kratar: "None." She turns around; her brows furrowed over stormy grey eyes. "You have deftly manuevered yourself out of any meaningful work. The ony thing you have on your record are the 2,647 parking violations from over these past 3 years. Does that sound like-" Amelia: "uh, 48. Just did another one right now." Chief Kratar picks up a pad and inputs the change. "2,648. Does that sound like a very meaningful contribution to our city?" Amelia: "I mean someone's gotta do it. These hooligans... these absolute ruffians... I mean the sign clearly says no parking." Lin Kratar: "Do you honestly want to spend the rest of your life doing nothing of substance running around with this miscreant?" she gestures to Morph. Amelia: "Did you just call me in to make fun of my life choices?" Lin Kratar: she lets out a long sigh, "Emil La, I know what it is like to want to vanish into the background of life, but you have so much potential. I know how hard it has been since your parents went missing, but they knew the risks of stepping up and helping others. They put everything they had into protecting and serving others." Lin hands a pad to Amelia; an already filled out application to the Astral Exploration Society. Lin Kratar: "All it needs is your bio-sig. Take it from someone who literally has platinum running through her veins: you're too valuable to waste by keeping you here. Get back out there, kid. Go do some good." Lin starts to walk out the room but stops just shy of the door. Lin Kratar: "If that wasn't good enough for you, just think of Dupant's face when he learns he can't keep you grounded. I know I'd do it just for that..."Vosaara's Manor - Ravenloft Tower - Celta Moira
Vosaara: "Well, I believe we have much to discuss. First things first: I am Vosaara Lochlann, Cleric of the Raven Queen. I have been with the AES for the last 25 years and founded this tower complex 15 years ago. I have taken the liberty of reading each of your files, however, if there is anything you would like to add off the record, by all means..." Kar'jan: "I don't even know ehat's in my file honestly." Amelia: "I know... what do you know about me?" Vosaara: gives a slight smile but ignores the question. "At this point, a 'normal' debrief would be inadequate after everything that has occurred. Please have some tea, it is my own personal blend. It is very calming. I have not seen magic like this since I arrived here just before joining the AES. Traces of Shadow I have not felt since..." he eyes Amelia and Zs briefly "... since the strange magic that pulled me here all those years ago. While not evil, it can be very dangerous if not controlled." he then eyes Zukrom and Kar'jan. I must say though, not many squads would have survived everything you have faced within 5 hours. I have informed Chief Stone and Sister Nulas to be on high alert, especially given our 'friends' from downstairs. Is there any other evidence or information you would like to add to the official reports?" Zs: "We recovered some strange scans from his brain that the are being processed." Kar'jan: "And we found some strange marks in his eyes that did not register on the equipment." Amelia: "So... you mentioned you haven't seen magic like this since you arrived here. What's up with that? You can't just say that and not go into what happened." Vosaara: "When I arrived here, there was strong necromantic magic running wild. Magic this city had not seen in centuries. Where I come from it was more common, and I have skills to combat such darkness. This magic is similar though not quite the same. Myself and a few others were tracking the individual responsible and ended up here. We took care of him though the price was steep." Amelia: "When you say 'came here' do you mean this planet? this sector? this quadrant? Where did you come from?" Vosaara: "I am not from Morriga Prime. My home is... suffice it to say my home is very far away and inaccessible to me now. I settled here and worked with the AES to bring medical research and treatment to the city. Magic is not as widely present here as the land of my home. It is rare for magic of this caliber to arise, especially so suddenly." Zs: "When you say you 'took care' of the threat... what do you mean?" Vosaara: "I ensured their soul passed beyond the veil and can never return to harm anyone again." Zs: "And when you say this magic is similar, is it just because we are dealing with undead and some form of necromancy?" Vosaara: "Both are necromantic, however this magic goes beyond necromancy. There is an element of Shadow to it for precise control and manipulation that is much more advanced than your standard necromancy." Zukrom: "Does that make this magic more evil?" Vosaara: "Shadow magic itself is not evil, though I think we would all agree whoever is behind this has no regard for life or the innocents who get in the way of their goals. Whoever it is has malicious intent." Zs: "So... I'm not a magical person. You seem to use the terms necromancy and Shadow as if they mean the same thing. Is that true?" Vosaara: "Not exactly. Necromancy is the realm of magic dealing with the essence of life; both to restore and to take. Even my spells of restoration and healing would be classified as necromancy in some sense. Magic operates like a woven cloth, a weave of magic, that can be manipulated to result in the desired affects. However, underneath the woven fabric of reality, in the gaps and voids exists a layer of magic long unknown. It has been called the Shadow Weave and its very nature is to alter the underpinnings of reality. Many find it useful to amplify the darkest parts of their magic, including necromancy of the darkest kind." Kar'jan: "Do you believe this is connected to the missing starships?" Vosaara: "At this point I think we can take them at their words if they were gloating about it that they are somehow connected. However, this is the first evidence of magic being involved to this scale." Kar'jan: "Is it possible for a necromancer to rip the soul of an individual away and leave their body alive?" Vosaara: "Through normal necromancy, no. But amplified with the power of Shadow? Not only could they do so, but they could puppeteer such a vessel as I believe we saw downstairs. However, to do so first is a great feat of magic. To do it at a distance and remain unseen... is truly disturbing." Zs: "What would it mean for the attackers downstairs looking like the people we fought at the warehouse hours earlier?" Vosaara: "It is.. concerning. Where I come from, there are magics that would make it possible to have duplicates of an individual. Here though, it is also possible they are perhaps cloned through technological means. Either way, if this is the case, whoever is behind this is well funded and well hidden." Zs: "If they somehow stole 6 warships I think we can assume that is the case." Vosaara: "... the only potential suspect I know of is the only System Lord who practices Shadow Magic, Morganthe." At this Zs tenses up and stops eating. There is a brief and awkward silence. Kar'jan: "So what is it you brought us here to tell us?" Vosaara: "Well, aside from the fact most society members do not face ancient magics within the span of 6 hours on their first day, I figured everyone might be hungry and in need of a break to process what has transpired. It is also important to ensure that you are both well and prepared physically, mentally, and emotionally if you are to continue in this investigation. We should be seeing the initial results of the scans Zs performed later this evening, and I am sure Dr. Paleski would apreciate your input in the autopsies, Kar'jan. The Greenfield Archives downtown are also a good source of information for anything you wish to research. Seek out Archivist Claudia Rivena, and she will help you with whatever you need. For recreation, while it is not my preferred idle time, I hear many of the AES spend their time at Crow Hall dancing, drinking, and playing Dabo and Sabaque. I am also sure, now that you are official members, many of our esteemed guild members will be reaching out to recruit your to their faction. I suggest you all rest and recover because I believe we will need you again soon." Zs: "One last question, you said you joined the AES 25 years ago. We have met the Chief here, and we have met a Warden. What is your role in the AES?" Vosaara: "Interesting. Not many people stop to ask me that question. Let's just say, you have had lunch with the highest ranking member of the Society in the Sector. An honor not many have." Zs then notices the small blue pin with silver stars of a Grandmaster Starfinder tucked away on the collar Vosaara's robes.The party leaves the manor and go about their various tasks. Zukrom heads downtown to the grienfield archives. While looking through the database for anything related to Shadow Magic a woman approaches from behind. She introduces herself as Archivist Claudia Rivena and his queries on Shadow Magic alerted her. She takes him to a back room that is staff only and provides him some additional resources, though after a few hours he does not seem to uncover much information. Back at the tower, Kar'jan goes to the autopsy room to assist. He notices all of the warehouse individuals have the black specks in their eyes. He also finds the four from the warehouse who look like the four from the lobby. A DNA scan reveals they are the same individual, however the lobby individuals do not have the black speckled eyes. Even stranger, none of the individuals register in any database. The lobby squad are wearing official Celta Moira police garb and Kar'jan puts in a request to see how they may have gotten this gear if they do not appear in any system. Downstairs, Claudia and Zs head back to the Supply Depot. Elian Tarrack: "Good afternoon. My aren't we busy today. Hard to imagine it was just a few hours ago you were in here to start of your fist mission." Amelia: "Well you are my favorite shopkeep." Elian Tarrack: "Am I the only shopkeep you know?" Amelia: "Actually no, but the other one is a major jerk." Elian Tarrack: "Well that's good to know." Amelia: "Ok, so like you're the coolest guy in town, right? Do you have any firearms that would make me look cool?" Zs: "Could I also sell some of these spare clips and pick up a combat rifle and some new armor?" Elian Tarrack: "Of course. Now, Amelia, would you like kinetic rounds or energy rounds?" Amelia: "What would make me look cooler?" Elian Tarrack: "Let me see. You have a radiant aura about you. I believe energy rounds would suite you and compliment your teammates kinetic rounds for more coverage." Amelia: "Sweet. Now if only Morph could have a gun." Zs: "BUDDY can have a gun," he says while handing a spare pistol to BUDDY and taking up the combat rifle.
As the party gathers together again on the 38th floor in one of the science labs, they find the droids from the warehouse and pass along identifiable data to the police force. Unfortunately the memory drives were wiped and these seem to be normal security droids that were swiped and reprogrammed. They get a notification to head up a floor to the advanced computing lab to review the brain scan results. As they enter the lab, a large screen displays several almost unreadable displays. A telepathic voice enters their mind: Telepathic Voice: "Welcome, welcome. Yes, it is intruiging isn't it? Very unusal." A Betazhan comes from behind them as Dr. Skitto Morpha approaches the screens that reflect in his large compound eyes. he touches the screens and a bit of static arcs from the screens to his hands. Dr. Skitto Morpha: "Yes. Yes. I can see it so clearly. Well... not that clearly. It's still a jumbled mess. But it is here I know it." He takes his hand away from the screen and looks to the party. "Ah yes, I am Dr. Skitto Morpha. Pleasure to meet you. You were the one who got me this interesting data? Yes? Please assist me." Zs approaches the console and starts putting in commands while the doctor puts his hands to the screens. Dr. Skitto Morpha: "Now let's see... no no not that way. Yes, better. Almost there. Interesting. You see it yes? It is so obvious!" And before the party the scrambled mess on-screen into a defined pattern. Though it takes a moment Zs suddenly recognizes it as a Binary code. Which is unusual for an organic brain to operate in. It appears to be an algorithm of some kind. As the two work for the next hour or two, they parse out subroutines for behavior and an algorithm for infiltration, but not of the police force. From what they can piece together, this was a command to infiltrate a group already infiltrating the forces in Celta Moira. Something like this would have to be engineered to behave this way and behave and be constructed of organic matter. Someone wanted to infiltrate the group infiltrating the police force and they did so by crafting a biological being controlled by binary commands. Zs: "So... here's a crazy idea everyone. The two groups in front of us: what if they are not the same group. The group from the lobby are the initial group that infiltrated the police force, and the warehouse group was created to look like them to infiltrate the original group." Amelia: "So someone made clones to manage two groups?" Zs: "The undead, that's the lobby guys, are the original group who infiltrated the police. Someone created the clones, that's the warehouse group, through bio-engineering to replace the OG infiltrators." Kar'jan: "So it seems like there are two groups working against us and one of them knew about the other. Or potentially it's one group that was upgrading it's infiltration force? Either way one or both group is involved with the missing ships." Zs: "Whoever is over the bio-engineered group I would guess."
As the night winds down, the party heads over to Crow Hall. They take the opportuniy to head to one of the game corners and approach a Dabo Table. Dabo Attendant: "Hi, I'm Teela! Have you ever been here before? Oh, well let me explain the rules it's very easy." The party spends their lest credits at the dabo wheel but the best run of the night was Kar'jan's second game where he made his money back and then some change. As they return back to the tower, they all recieve an alert to be at the monorail station at 10:30 in the morning to head over to the Myrdin Basilica.
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