Chapter 1: The Commencement

Sep 11, 2024 10:19 pm

The woman looks Soryn up and down with a frown, clearly noting the weapon on his hip and the way he carries himself, "Don't play with me, boy," she says sternly, but not angrily, "I can tell you want something, so out with it. I'm an old woman and I don't have time for games."

Jubair looks a bit taken aback by his grandmother's sudden shift in demeanor. There's something about the woman that's... formidable.

Soryn detects no other minds nearby with his spell.

Sep 12, 2024 7:01 am

Soryn gets a feeling. The way she carries herself, her demeanor, it screams with the gall necessary of someone hacking into Bluerise Tower. "Well, ma'am - I can see you're very observant, but I didn't lie. We came here to find an apartment. Yours. And, I think, you." He holds up his arm, showing the Starfinder mark. "What this means is you are lucky. Lucky we found you first...and helped cover your tracks. But it won't last." He continues to focus on their minds, trying to read surface thoughts, but casts a look at the others, hoping they are ready in case things go south.

Sep 12, 2024 8:08 pm

Soryn attempts to use his magic to skim her surface thoughts, but finds that he's unable to. Jubair is much easier to read and seems confused by his grandmother's behavior.

The woman studies Soryn for a few moments and then shrugs, "You and your friends should come in and have some tea," she says, opening the door and stepping inside. The inside of the apartment is small and sparsely decorated in a minimalist style. She points to a couple of chairs and a couch for you to sit on as she begins making tea, "My name is Ceren," she says as she hands out mismatched teacups, "What does the Starfinder Society want with an old lady?"

Sep 13, 2024 11:56 am

Sioux gives the grandmother a respectful thank-you and enters the apartment. Inside she tries to spot any trace of advanced tech.

Sep 15, 2024 5:50 pm

Sioux looks about, but doesn't spot anything more advanced than you might expect in a normal home.

Sep 16, 2024 1:56 am

Soryn takes a seat and watches the woman carefully. "We have reason to believe some information may have made its way to this apartment. Something from Bluerise Tower. We also have reason to believe this data may indicate the corporations operating from that place may be engaged in things that run counter to the people of the Station. The Starfinders would like to acquire this data, and perhaps also, the person that was skilled enough to obtain it." He watches her carefully, continuing to skim the thoughts of Jubair to see what his reaction may be to this, if he is listening. "The Starfinder Society traced it here. Others will come soon, though we interrupted the trail - we fear it will not last."

Sep 16, 2024 11:49 am

Sioux smiles encouragingly and tries to gauge their reactions to Soryns reveal.

Rolls

Sense Motive - (1d20+0)

(1) = 1

Xiordin of Absalom

Qralloq

Sep 16, 2024 2:49 pm

Xiordin sits as well, trying not to look too intimidating. It's not his place to cow old ladies even if they might be mad hackers bent on the destruction of all that's sacrosanct. With that thought, he glowers unconciously, and maybe even growls out an unpleasant if inaudible word.

Sep 18, 2024 4:51 am

Jubair looks confused and a bit annoyed, "Hey, there's no hacker here!" he protests. Soryn can tell he has no idea what's going on here.

Ceren holds her hand up to halt him, "Be quiet, boy," she says firmly, then gets a distant look in her eye before they grow wide with surprise, "Oh my! You're right, it appears that I did hack them!"

Jubair's jaw drops at this, but Ceren ignores him, growing somber, "I... suffer from a degenerative brain disease, but I was indeed a skilled hacker back in my day and my neural implants have held off the worst of the damage, but it's not perfect. I fear I may have... regressed and fallen back into old habits," she says, pointedly not looking at her grandson, "You can have the data, of course, but I will need your help first. I need to disappear or else the law will catch up to me."

Xiordin of Absalom

Qralloq

Sep 18, 2024 2:49 pm

Xiordin knew it, it was the woman!

"We did come to recover the data, but also to meet you.
We definitely can provide you some protection. In fact, we may have a way to make your skills useful again. Assuming we can get your degenerative disease under control. Would you be interested in some work?"

Sep 18, 2024 3:39 pm

May I? Sioux has a finger raised over Ceren hand, not touching until there is content
I'm in command of some healing nanites, and if nothing else I can give you an updated diagnosis

[ +- ] Faculty: Reactive Repair (Ex) 1st Level

Rolls

if acceptance is given Medicine - (1d20+6)

(3) + 6 = 9

Sep 18, 2024 11:15 pm

"Well... as long as I'm alive, they're going to hunt me. The corporations at least, if not the law," Ceren says, waving off Sioux's offer of diagnosis, "No thank you, dear."

"Can you help me fake my death?" she asks, "I think that may be the only way forward, unless you have other ideas?"

Sep 19, 2024 6:02 am

Could you have been on a recently lost ship? We just had to fake some tickets and passenger manifest?
Body would be lost in the void and thus no evidence.

Sioux taps on her computer to get news about recently lost ships.

Sep 20, 2024 1:26 am

Sioux browses Absalom Station's infosphere and finds a passenger ship that was recently lost after it went into the Drift and just never emerged on the other side. It would certainly be possible to modify the passenger list to include Ceren.

Sep 20, 2024 8:46 am

"This would work. But...you couldn't stay here. They may come here looking for the data, even if they believe you dead. The Starfinders can help, if you're willing, but we should leave this place. Soon," He looks to Jubair, "I'm afraid your grandson as well. They will trace things here and may believe him to be the one that did this. I'm certain we keep you together, if you desire this. How long will it take for you to pack? You should have your belongings, but also must make it look like you had gone on a trip, after all."

Sep 23, 2024 10:09 pm

"Will you be able to get me a death certificate and a new identity?" Ceren asks, sounding hopeful, then turns to her grandson, "Start packing. Now." she says.

Sep 24, 2024 5:56 am

"I believe that could be arranged for the both of you. The Starfinder Society has already agreed to take you in if you agree to lend your skills to us. We have the resources, and surely those in charge have a plan for how to do that effectively while keeping you safe."

Sep 24, 2024 11:52 am

Sioux is searching away and finding relevant hack targets. One being a low-level travel agency who just send in the name, address and ID's on the tickets they sold to the missing ship. Hacking their mainframe, altering their ticket information and resubmitting an updated manifest to the charter company would be almost trivial.

Where is the other shoe? Where will it drop? Its almost a bit to easy

Sep 26, 2024 11:32 pm