Heroica: Glory Amongst the Star - Mission#4: Dude, Where's My Space Speeder?

[karmajay]

5 hours ago, Kintobor said:

Based on Kirwin's overview of the camera, they determine that the camera likely feeds back into a recording device in the diner somewhere, as there's nowhere for a holotape or input jack to be inserted.

OOG: Just so to clarify for my own sake, karmajay, I've seen you use he/him and they/them when referring to Kirwin. Is there any particular set of pronouns you'd prefer me using for Kirwin as a character when describing the outcome of actions?

OOG: Thanks - I think they/them is appropriate for this character, thanks for asking :)

4 hours ago, Zepher said:

"Registration for what?" Merei asks curiously. As she waits for a response she whispers to Kirwin. "Good find, good work, bad news for us. We can see if anyone has seen anything. Or simply ask to see the recordings - either the diner is in on things, which I hope not, given the milkshakes, or they would have no reason to simply let us take a look. My approach would be to be open, and see what happens, but I will follow the group's wisdom."

Kirwin nods in agreement with Merei. They place the camera on the counter and wave at Flo. "Excuse me, I found this outside not where it is supposed to be! I've seen this happen before! It's SABOTAGE!"

[Kintobor]

Flo roller skates over to Kirwin as they place the busted camera on the counter. Flo frowns at seeing the battered piece of equipment in front of her.

"Oh dear. I am aware of the busted camera, and I thank you for bringing it in, but there's not much I can do about it right now. Some scrappy kids got a little rowdy and thought it'd be fun to break my property with a baseball bat. Bunch of hooligans..." Flo scowls as she takes the camera off of Kirwin. "Not much to do about it now, though, seeing as how the deed's already been done."

[Dutch Thriceman]

9 hours ago, Kintobor said:

"Sorry, hun, we don't serve any alcohol here. Considering the amount of preppy jock and grease monkey types we get around here it's for the best to keep everyone sober. I can pour you a root beer float, though. Or perhaps some ginger beer if you're looking for something a little spicy and bitter? It's imported from Hi-Pluvvon: it's supposed to be all the rage with the youth over there."

Flo roller skates over to Kirwin as they place the busted camera on the counter. Flo frowns at seeing the battered piece of equipment in front of her.

"Oh dear. I am aware of the busted camera, and I thank you for bringing it in, but there's not much I can do about it right now. Some scrappy kids got a little rowdy and thought it'd be fun to break my property with a baseball bat. Bunch of hooligans..." Flo scowls as she takes the camera off of Kirwin. "Not much to do about it now, though, seeing as how the deed's already been done."

"Well thank you but no thank you ma'am, I'm still having trouble processing this meatbun I consumed... might I inquire... I'll be blunt here, we are on a job to find a stolen speeder and it would be tremendously helpful if we could view your recording device linked to the smashed camera. If we are fortunate we might find some clue as to the identity of the thief / thieves."

Edited August 17, 2021 by Dutch Thriceman

[Kintobor]

Flo turns her attention to Bers.

"Well, if you'd like to I can take you to the back room to see the records we have. I should note that this camera was smashed about a week ago," Flo motions to the camera in her hands, "and the one we had set up prior was smashed about two weeks ago. We haven't had any kind of security camera records around here in two weeks." Flo grimaces, looking agitated. "Blasted kids."

[Zepher]

Merei glows warmly upon seeing her friends take a direct approach, even if the results are a little lackluster. Before she returns her attention to Tarrian, she tries to get a read on Flo. Is she being sincere? "Our eyes can do wonders. Even might be able to do what a broken security camera can do. You don't happen to recall anyone coming around with a blue speeder, very very new? Haast, of course. Menahi. The best." She says this loud enough for the others at the bar to hear.

As she returns her gaze to Tarrian, she tries to recall if joining another guild would in any way violate her vows to Heroica (which... maybe a history check, but it's pretty recent history, so I don't know if you want to let that slide hahaha). If she believes that joining another guild would not break any promises she made to Heroica, she asks to see the paperwork.

[Kintobor]

Insight Check (DC: 2/3): (2,4,5,5) Three Successes

Flo thinks on Merei's question for a moment before responding.

"New Haast speeder? There might've been one around here... oh, yeah, I do remember that speeder pulling in a few nights ago. It pulled in with two young men who ordered strawberry milkshakes and got a little too into singing some of the songs by the jukebox. They left about an hour afterwards. Haven't seen the speeder since. Anything else I can get your group?"

Merei has a feeling that Flo is omitting information based on how she switches the topic, although she also looks nervous, as if there's something about the topic of the speeder that worries her.

Merei's pretty sure that joining another guild would break her vows with Heroica. Contracts for missions are lucrative, and competition is fierce for them. Merei recalls most mercenary guilds having a clause regarding being in one, and only one mercenary guild, to ensure that there are no conflicts of interest between members.

If Merei would like to look over the paperwork, she still could to get an idea what the Wolfclaw Veterans looked for in new guild members.

[Zepher]

OoC: I really want to look over that paperwork, but I don't think being overtly duplicitous is in Merei's nature, unfortunately hahaha.

"I am not sure I'd be able to join your organization due to prior commitments," Merei tells Tarrian, a trace a genuine apology and deflation in her voice. While valuing her word to Heroica, she doesn't like it when avenues of exploration are closed to her. "Perhaps one day in the future, however, when my circumstances have changed. Would it be possible to see the paperwork, so I can make an informed decision should that time ever come?"

She turns her attention back to Flo, rapping gently on Bers' leg under the bar as she does so, drawing his attention with her. "Are you nervous about something, Flo? Were those with the speeder dangerous? To you? To us? My friend Bers here is very good at defending anyone he considers a friend. Do you consider him a friend? Friends help friends."

[Dutch Thriceman]

Bers turns towards Merei and Flo, remains silent and nods after Merei is done speaking. Intently looking Flo in the eyes.

[Kintobor]

2 hours ago, Zepher said:

"I am not sure I'd be able to join your organization due to prior commitments," Merei tells Tarrian, a trace a genuine apology and deflation in her voice. While valuing her word to Heroica, she doesn't like it when avenues of exploration are closed to her. "Perhaps one day in the future, however, when my circumstances have changed. Would it be possible to see the paperwork, so I can make an informed decision should that time ever come?"

Tarrian looks confused for a moment but then nods knowingly.


"Ah, some other mercenary guild's scooped you up, eh? A shame, really. Well, I can certainly show you the documentation, should you ever change your mind and you feel like the Veterans would be more up your alley. Mind if I asked who you're working?" Tarrian hands Merei the registration form. Looking it over, while there are some similarities to Heroica's sheet, the Wolfclaw Veterans seem more aligned with the interests of the Pluravvian Empire, mostly working in their sphere of influence. The Veterans also seemed to have an interest in potential labour union sympathies in new guild members.

3 hours ago, Zepher said:

She turns her attention back to Flo, rapping gently on Bers' leg under the bar as she does so, drawing his attention with her. "Are you nervous about something, Flo? Were those with the speeder dangerous? To you? To us? My friend Bers here is very good at defending anyone he considers a friend. Do you consider him a friend? Friends help friends."

2 hours ago, Dutch Thriceman said:

Bers turns towards Merei and Flo, remains silent and nods after Merei is done speaking. Intently looking Flo in the eyes.

MM Note: Just for clarification, are you trying to intimidate Flo, or persuade her, because I'm reading this as an intimidation check.

[Zepher]

27 minutes ago, Kintobor said:

The Veterans also seemed to have an interest in potential labour union sympathies in new guild members.

MM Note: Just for clarification, are you trying to intimidate Flo, or persuade her, because I'm reading this as an intimidation check.

OoC: My own clarifications. 1) Maybe this was left ambiguous purposefully, but what do you mean by "interest in labor union sympathies." Like, they are scared the members will want to unionize? Or that's a pro? Or they're just asking, and it's not clear if they are for or against. Happy to do some legalize check if it's purposefully ambiguous, or also happy to just be told nothing on the form indicates it one way or the other.

As for my OWN ambiguity, that's 100% purposeful. Merei always sounds sweet. She thinks she's simply offering an opportunity to be honest. But yeah, obviously she said it in a vaguely threatening way, even if she doesn't know that. I am happy to have you rule it however you see fit / however Flo takes it! In general feel free to always run things (for me, at least) as what you think is the most appropriate check. If I'm REALLY desperately angling for a specific check, I'll make it clear, but even feel free to override that if you feel it's right!

[Kintobor]

1 minute ago, Zepher said:

OoC: My own clarifications. 1) Maybe this was left ambiguous purposefully, but what do you mean by "interest in labor union sympathies." Like, they are scared the members will want to unionize? Or that's a pro? Or they're just asking, and it's not clear if they are for or against. Happy to do some legalize check if it's purposefully ambiguous, or also happy to just be told nothing on the form indicates it one way or the other.

As for my OWN ambiguity, that's 100% purposeful. Merei always sounds sweet. She thinks she's simply offering an opportunity to be honest. But yeah, obviously she said it in a vaguely threatening way, even if she doesn't know that. I am happy to have you rule it however you see fit / however Flo takes it! In general feel free to always run things (for me, at least) as what you think is the most appropriate check. If I'm REALLY desperately angling for a specific check, I'll make it clear, but even feel free to override that if you feel it's right!

To the first part, it reads as if they're looking for potential individuals who might have ties to labour groups in a negative sense: they don't want to have anyone potentially try and undermine the guild and various corporations they work with. Part of it almost reads as if the guild is called upon to do union busting, and individuals with labour or union sympathies might get in the way of that.

As for the second point, fine by me! I read Merei turning to Bers and asking Bers to sort of assert himself into the situation as a threat, and I imagine Dutch Thriceman would agree with the assessment of their actions as trying to impose one's presence in an intimidating manner. I will run the roll shortly as well as what occurs from it!

[Kintobor]

MM Note: The way I'm going to run this is to use Bers' Intimidation Proficiency roll and allow Merei to add a Success to the roll as a means of her assisting Bers.

Intimidation Check: (DC: 3): (2,4,4,5 +1 Success) Four Successes

Flo looks to Bers intimidating presence, biting her tongue as she turns to Merei, nervously laughing.

"So, uh, if I say I'm friends with Bers, you'll potentially help me out?

...What do you want to know, friend?"

[Dutch Thriceman]

10 hours ago, Kintobor said:

MM Note: Just for clarification, are you trying to intimidate Flo, or persuade her, because I'm reading this as an intimidation check.

OOC: Well I guess we are trying to intimidate Flo in a friendly kind of way... 'Intimidation (also called cowing) is intentional behavior that "would cause a person of ordinary sensibilities" to fear injury or harm.' oh... OH... uhm never mind. I am just a bad guy now. Erh, Bers the Anti-Hero.

9 hours ago, Kintobor said:

MM Note: The way I'm going to run this is to use Bers' Intimidation Proficiency roll and allow Merei to add a Success to the roll as a means of her assisting Bers.

Intimidation Check: (DC: 3): (2,4,4,5 +1 Success) Four Successes

Flo looks to Bers intimidating presence, biting her tongue as she turns to Merei, nervously laughing.

"So, uh, if I say I'm friends with Bers, you'll potentially help me out?

...What do you want to know, friend?"

Bers finally stops staring into Flo's eyes as he turns towards Merei and gives another quick nod as if to say, go ahead.

[karmajay]

While the bar conversation is happening, Kirwin faces toward Tarrian and says "Greetings! I saw you talking to my friend Merei. I'm wondering if you could help us. Do you come here often? We were looking for a couple of young men that like strawberry milkshakes driving around in a New Haast speeder. That doesn't seem like a common combination to me! Do they only like strawberry milkshakes? Is strawberry the tastiest milkshake flavor? Is there a Haast speeder bike night here at the diner?" Kirwin continues to ramble on for  a minute before finally asking a question to Tarrian. "Do you have any idea who they are?" Kirwin beams and feels pretty confident they are using their friendliest smile.

Edited August 18, 2021 by karmajay

[Kintobor]

4 hours ago, karmajay said:

While the bar conversation is happening, Kirwin faces toward Tarrian and says "Greetings! I saw you talking to my friend Merei. I'm wondering if you could help us. Do you come here often? We were looking for a couple of young men that like strawberry milkshakes driving around in a New Haast speeder. That doesn't seem like a common combination to me! Do they only like strawberry milkshakes? Is strawberry the tastiest milkshake flavor? Is there a Haast speeder bike night here at the diner?" Kirwin continues to ramble on for  a minute before finally asking a question to Tarrian. "Do you have any idea who they are?" Kirwin beams and feels pretty confident they are using their friendliest smile.

"Sorry, I don't know who they'd be. I don't come here often enough to really know any of the regulars. As for if there's any Haast speeders here..." Tarrian looks out the window for a moment to make sure what he's saying is truthful. "... well, I see one, and that'd be my own speeder. It's the red one. See it?

As for strawberry being the tastiest flavour, I mean, it's up there. I quite like the Red Comet's strawberry milkshakes every time I've been here, even if right now I'm trying out the banana flavour."

[karmajay]

1 hour ago, Kintobor said:

"Sorry, I don't know who they'd be. I don't come here often enough to really know any of the regulars. As for if there's any Haast speeders here..." Tarrian looks out the window for a moment to make sure what he's saying is truthful. "... well, I see one, and that'd be my own speeder. It's the red one. See it?

As for strawberry being the tastiest flavour, I mean, it's up there. I quite like the Red Comet's strawberry milkshakes every time I've been here, even if right now I'm trying out the banana flavour."

Kirwin looks out the window toward the speeder. Without looking away, they press the horn activation button on the speeder fob.

[Kintobor]

Just now, karmajay said:

Kirwin looks out the window toward the speeder. Without looking away, they press the horn activation button on the speeder fob.

Kriwin pushes the button, waiting to see if they hear any sound resembling the horn. They do not hear the sound of a speeder horn.

[Zepher]

18 hours ago, Kintobor said:

MM Note: The way I'm going to run this is to use Bers' Intimidation Proficiency roll and allow Merei to add a Success to the roll as a means of her assisting Bers.

Intimidation Check: (DC: 3): (2,4,4,5 +1 Success) Four Successes

Flo looks to Bers intimidating presence, biting her tongue as she turns to Merei, nervously laughing.

"So, uh, if I say I'm friends with Bers, you'll potentially help me out?

...What do you want to know, friend?"

"Not potentially help you out. Will help you. We don't deal in potentials. What sort of help do you need? I think you've heard the speeder we're looking for. Who has it? And why does that make you nervous? What are you holding back?"

[CMP]

On 8/16/2021 at 1:22 PM, Kintobor said:

Yissam♥ remembers hearing of JanineXoX before. JanineXoX's popularity comes from her streaming her time in various high profile arcades and entering gaming tournaments. Starting shortly after Yissam♥ did, she made her first big break streaming games of the Royal Game of Ur, a game popular among Ytaaxi aristocracy, and rode that wave into streaming games of Chess and Liar's Dice.

"Oh, no, go ahead! I'm certain this will give some of those drama streamers something to mill over and try and spill tea over." JanineXoX gives Yissam♥ a cute smile, raising her fingers in the peace sign as the picture is taken. "What brings you around these parts, Forty-Five?"

Yissam♥ slurps up the majority of her shake in short order, grinning and giving her fellow streamer a short nod. 

"Oh, funny thing. I'm actually running a stream of my own- creative liberties and heavy editing pending- while my friends and I investigate something. Action mystery streams are all the rage these days, don't you know?"

With a laugh, her eyes betray a somewhat more sharp, perceptive interest.

"Or maybe you do know! Mercenary work's no slouch, Forty-Nine. Bored of the boards?"

[karmajay]

6 hours ago, Kintobor said:

Kriwin pushes the button, waiting to see if they hear any sound resembling the horn. They do not hear the sound of a speeder horn.

Kirwin looks disappointed. Dang! In season 37 ep 6 of "Bang! Chase! Rescue! this type of action would definitely have solved the mystery! They nod their head at Tarrian, mumble "Cool ride" and focuses their attention on the team's various discussions.

[Kintobor]

8 hours ago, CMP said:

Yissam♥ slurps up the majority of her shake in short order, grinning and giving her fellow streamer a short nod. 

"Oh, funny thing. I'm actually running a stream of my own- creative liberties and heavy editing pending- while my friends and I investigate something. Action mystery streams are all the rage these days, don't you know?"

With a laugh, her eyes betray a somewhat more sharp, perceptive interest.

"Or maybe you do know! Mercenary work's no slouch, Forty-Nine. Bored of the boards?"

"You don't say? I did remember hearing that sort of stuff is catching off." JanineXoX nods, slipping a coy smile to Yissam♥, almost an acknowledgement of mutual intrigue. "I figured working with the Veterans could provide an interesting new niche, something for my fans to get invested in, you know? Competitive gaming's nice and all, but this is where it's going to be at. This is going to be the trend, and I don't want to be a clout chaser or some bandwagon hopping Andy. I want to be the trendsetter." JanineXoX runs her hand through her snow white hair, grinning. "I guess now it's a race to the top, eh Yissam♥? I doubt it'll just be the two of us before long, but I promise not to die before hitting the number one most viewed streamer on Akharif if you promise to do the same. It would be awfully boring if you did."

3 hours ago, karmajay said:

Kirwin looks disappointed. Dang! In season 37 ep 6 of "Bang! Chase! Rescue! this type of action would definitely have solved the mystery! They nod their head at Tarrian, mumble "Cool ride" and focuses their attention on the team's various discussions.

"Thanks! Had to save up a bunch of credits for it. Anything you fancy buying once you hit it big?" Tarrian replies, giving a welcoming, friendly smile.

10 hours ago, Zepher said:

"Not potentially help you out. Will help you. We don't deal in potentials. What sort of help do you need? I think you've heard the speeder we're looking for. Who has it? And why does that make you nervous? What are you holding back?"

Flo looks around and leans in towards the group, keeping her voice down.

"Alright, so a couple of nights ago I did see two customers walk in driving the speeder you mentioned. Looked like two lovebirds looking for something to do. One of them wore a nice little white and pink ensemble with his blonde hair styled nicely. Antony, I think his name was? Anyways, the two of them dance and ordered shakes, and eventually they took off. The next morning I get here and a bunch of teenage grease monkeys are working on that same car in my parking lot: scrambling to pull parts out of it. This hasn't been the first time it's happened: I know those punks hang around the diner and wait for expensive cars to show up so they can trail the cars, hot wire them, and then rip certain parts out here. They keep busting my cameras so there's no evidence of this, and they've threatened me and the cook to keep quiet about this. I'm worried about what they'll do my diner if I go to the authorities, but perhaps you four could handle this situation.

One of those little punks is here right now. He's in the washroom, likely-" Just as Flo begins mentioning the washroom, the sound of a noisy hand dryer echoes from the hall where the washroom resides. The sound of the washroom door opening follows, along with whoever is stepping out whistling along to the music in the diner, their footsteps heralding their imminent approach.

The heroes did not have much time to react. What would the heroes like to do?

[Dutch Thriceman]

4 hours ago, Kintobor said:

 

"Alright, so a couple of nights ago I did see two customers walk in driving the speeder you mentioned. Looked like two lovebirds looking for something to do. One of them wore a nice little white and pink ensemble with his blonde hair styled nicely. Antony, I think his name was? Anyways, the two of them dance and ordered shakes, and eventually they took off. The next morning I get here and a bunch of teenage grease monkeys are working on that same car in my parking lot: scrambling to pull parts out of it. This hasn't been the first time it's happened: I know those punks hang around the diner and wait for expensive cars to show up so they can trail the cars, hot wire them, and then rip certain parts out here. They keep busting my cameras so there's no evidence of this, and they've threatened me and the cook to keep quiet about this. I'm worried about what they'll do my diner if I go to the authorities, but perhaps you four could handle this situation.

One of those little punks is here right now. He's in the washroom, likely-" Just as Flo begins mentioning the washroom, the sound of a noisy hand dryer echoes from the hall where the washroom resides. The sound of the washroom door opening follows, along with whoever is stepping out whistling along to the music in the diner, their footsteps heralding their imminent approach.

The heroes did not have much time to react. What would the heroes like to do?

Upon hearing this, as the punk leaves the washroom, Bers immediatly blocks his path.

"Greetings Friend, me and my companions would like a quick word if you don't mind." He thinks for a second as he does not wish to cause a scene, straight away that is, and says "It concerns a Speeder related business oppertunity, you might find very beneficial, a little birdie told me you are the one to talk to."

Edited August 19, 2021 by Dutch Thriceman

[karmajay]

8 hours ago, Kintobor said:

Flo looks around and leans in towards the group, keeping her voice down.

"Alright, so a couple of nights ago I did see two customers walk in driving the speeder you mentioned. Looked like two lovebirds looking for something to do. One of them wore a nice little white and pink ensemble with his blonde hair styled nicely. Antony, I think his name was? Anyways, the two of them dance and ordered shakes, and eventually they took off. The next morning I get here and a bunch of teenage grease monkeys are working on that same car in my parking lot: scrambling to pull parts out of it. This hasn't been the first time it's happened: I know those punks hang around the diner and wait for expensive cars to show up so they can trail the cars, hot wire them, and then rip certain parts out here. They keep busting my cameras so there's no evidence of this, and they've threatened me and the cook to keep quiet about this. I'm worried about what they'll do my diner if I go to the authorities, but perhaps you four could handle this situation.

One of those little punks is here right now. He's in the washroom, likely-" Just as Flo begins mentioning the washroom, the sound of a noisy hand dryer echoes from the hall where the washroom resides. The sound of the washroom door opening follows, along with whoever is stepping out whistling along to the music in the diner, their footsteps heralding their imminent approach.

The heroes did not have much time to react. What would the heroes like to do?

Kirwin whispers to Flo, "Which vehicle does that person drive?"

[CMP]

10 hours ago, Kintobor said:

"You don't say? I did remember hearing that sort of stuff is catching off." JanineXoX nods, slipping a coy smile to Yissam♥, almost an acknowledgement of mutual intrigue. "I figured working with the Veterans could provide an interesting new niche, something for my fans to get invested in, you know? Competitive gaming's nice and all, but this is where it's going to be at. This is going to be the trend, and I don't want to be a clout chaser or some bandwagon hopping Andy. I want to be the trendsetter." JanineXoX runs her hand through her snow white hair, grinning. "I guess now it's a race to the top, eh Yissam♥? I doubt it'll just be the two of us before long, but I promise not to die before hitting the number one most viewed streamer on Akharif if you promise to do the same. It would be awfully boring if you did."

"Ah, with that kind of attitude, we'll be vying for the top slot in no time!"

Yissam♥ winks, with a short laugh and one final sip of her now-empty shake glass. Her eyes fall onto Bers, moving to intercept a diner.

"Now, I hate to cut such a lovely chat short, but I'm starting to suspect my friends over there might be onto something. Be a dear and send a friend request, won't you? Thanks!"

She stands, giving JanineXoX and her agent one last nod before rejoining the party, lingering near the front door just in case.

[Zepher]

Seeing Bers to move to intercept, and seeing Yissam♥ take up a position at the door, Merei hangs back, hovering near the kitchen door in case the punk makes a break for it.

OoC: I don't know if we can ready an action or not, or what sort of impact that'd have on the first round, but it looks like Bers is going to try to play things cool for now. So I won't mess around with that quite yet.