Chapter 2: The First Mandate

Three days after your initiation, you receive a message from Guidance.

Greetings Starfinders. Please make your way to the Lorespire Complex at 1400 for a meeting with First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo. Ensure that your equipment and clothing are in good condition. First impressions are important.

Luwazi Elsebo is the leader of the Starfinder Society, so you all realize that this is a very big deal. Luwazi Elsebo is a legend among the Starfinders, having held the group together after the disastrous Scoured Stars event.

Xiordin efficiently makes sure his teammates have received the same summons and then gears up. He gathers his Lashunta ringwear, snapping it into place, then strapping his longsword on his back.

Next he finds a noodle place and makes sure he's carb loaded up. Mostly, he's gauging the reaction of the patrons to his look, trying to see if he needs to up his game.

Sioux is at an amory wokshop, where she cleans and patches her second-skin armor. This was the last item on her long to-do list, as she expect to be leaving Absolon Station.
She has been over all her gear and now she is ready.

13:55 Sioux is standing ready at the Lorespire Complex.

When you arrive at the Lorespire Complex, you are led down several halls by a ysoki attendant who stops in front of a door, "Remember to be on your best behavior when speaking to the First Seeker!" she squeaks, tapping on a datapad, "This is a good chance for you to make a good impression. Don't waste it!" With that, she swipes her card at the door and presses her finger onto a biometric reader beside the door, which slides open.

The First Seeker’s meeting room is a lavish space with several lush couches and armchairs surrounding a wide, low table. First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo appears uncharacteristically extravagant compared to times you've seen her from afar, having exchanged her typical stationwear for a sleek, fashionable suit in a shade of copper that matches the Starfinder Society logo emblazoned on the table. Behind her stands the towering vesk leader of the Acquisitives faction, wearing a suit of ceremonial armor.

Luwazi smiles and gestures to the seats. "A pleasure to see you all and congratulations on your recent successful Commencement. I trust you’ve heard about tonight’s gala? We’re hosting it to thank those who’ve supported the Society in our recent time of trouble. I have a rather important announcement to make, so we’ve decided to use the opportunity to entertain and impress representatives of the various interests who have helped the Starfinder Society through our setbacks with the recent Scoured Stars incident."

"That’s where you come in. As some of the shining stars of the newest Starfinder Society agents, I’d like to have you mingle with the guests so they can see for themselves what we’ve been able to accomplish. It’s nothing too fancy; I’d just like you all to be polite and talk about some of your experiences with the Society so far. We’re expecting some government dignitaries, investors, corporate interests, and the like, so be sure to stay on your best behavior. Also, don’t be afraid to brag a bit — it’s our goal to impress them. It’s also our goal to make sure that these dignitaries remain willing to support us, especially with my rather exciting announcement set to take the Pact Worlds by storm."

"But don’t be reckless," the armored vesk breaks in.

Luwazi Elsebo glances over her shoulder and grins. "Have you all met Radaszam? He’s certainly someone else you should be trying to impress."

Radaszam scowls. "Yeah, we’ve met. Now, events like this never go as planned. Luwazi’s contracted one of my merc outfits, the Obsidian Spiders, to provide security for the night. I want to make sure that if anything goes down, you’re working with my agents, rather than us all tripping over one another. Stay alert, but if anything happens, make sure you’re talking to me about it rather than jumping in blindly."

The First Seeker nods and picks up the datapad. "I’ve singled out five guests I would really like to make a good impression with. These folks should be your priority tonight, so I’ve compiled basic information about each of them here. Things will start up in about an hour in the Skyreach Room. Any questions before we go?"

She taps her datapad a few times and you each hear a chirp from your own comm unit. You see you've received a document detailing some of the high profile people that Luwazi wants you to impress: LINK

Xiordin takes in the surroundings, his surveillance part warrior, part lawyer. He taps his armor. "I better polish this. And find a cape."

He looks at his team and says, "On behalf of my colleagues, we thank you for this opportunity. We all want the Starfinders to flourish once more. If we need to parade, we'll parade like we were born to it." He is a grim sort but proud and more than willing to schmooze.

To Radaszam, he says, "Have your agents connect to our mesh network, and we'll provide any assistance they need. At your lead, of course."

"Yes, it is a great honor to represent the Starfinder Society, now more than ever. There is much for us to look forward to, in rebuilding and strengthening our organization, and I couldn't be prouder to be a part of that effort!"

Soryn looks to Radaszan and nods, "I certainly hope there won't be any trouble, but if we get a whiff of any, we'll find you quick, sir."

He pulls up the list of dignitaries and reviews it on his datapad, nodding at each one.

G..G..Galla? But I dont have a dress? There is a slight panic in Sioux'es voice

Scrap tilts her head. 'A gala sounds interesting! I do not go to many parties. People do not appreciate when I tinker with things there.'

She looks Xiordan as he comments on his breastplate and she looks down at her arm. Should she polish that? Should she polish bolts. Actually.. 'Is Bolts allowed to come? He is programmed to be on good behaviour when there is not trouble. But if trouble is expected he will be useful.'

Radaszam goes through connecting you to his security team so that you can be in quick contact in case anything goes wrong, "Great. Keep this up and you might make good agents someday," he says. This seems like it's probably a great compliment coming from the weathered vesk.

The First Seeker looks to Sioux, "If you need help finding a dress, I'm sure we can come up with something functional and stylish for you to wear."

She turns to Scrap, "Of course you can bring your droid. I'm sure the attendees would enjoy seeing him."

Soryn gets excited when Luwazi mentions Scrap bring her droid. "I have a number of slime molds I've been curating," he says, "they're really quite fascinating! My myxogastria is exceptionally healthy, vibrant, and stunning. I'm sure they would be of great interest to anyone there!"

Luwazi frowns slightly at this, "Perhaps its best not to bring mold of any sort to a place where we'll be serving food," she suggests gently.

Sioux quickly reads the personnel list, but all her mental energy is spent getting into a dress for the event.

"Ah well, you see, it's not that kind of..." Soryn sees the look he's getting and his excitement quickly backpedals. "Right. No mold." He offers a smile as his mind turns to more practical matters of what to wear to such an event.

Several hours later, a lift takes your party deeper into the Lorespire Complex. Radaszam and Luwazi have already gone ahead of you. The doors open into the Skyreach Room, a classy space made breathtaking by large windows set into the vaulted ceiling, providing a shining view of the Armada orbiting Absalom Station and the galaxy beyond. A low stage with black skirting and a sleek podium overlooks the room from the far end of the hall. A dozen or so guests, representing a surprising array of species, mingle in twos and threes, while servers in sharp vests bring around a variety of bizarre snacks and drinks. A curly-haired AV technician arranges the wiring along one side of the stage and Luwazi stands at the other side speaking with a damaya lashunta man.

Xiordin doesn't check his outfit, he doesn't need to, he's spent most of the last hour in front of a mirror, polishing spots (and admiring his new cape).

The Skyreach Room is awe inspiring, and for a moment he forgets while they were sent. He nearly attunes stellar mode, then decides to do so. Light dances across his surface.

Soryn readies himself, dressing in a dapper, white coat with green trim and black pants. He carries only minimal gear - his needler pistol neatly holstered and his microlab strapped to his belt, hidden mostly by his coat. Finally, he leaves to meet with the others, taking in the elaborate setup and wondering what the announcement will be about.

Scrap also spends time polishing both her arm and Bolts. She hasn't opted for a dress but instead has dug out her 'good set' pants and nice dress shirt, the one she's not allowed to do any engineering in. Its not quite a suit or a fancy dress, but is still far more dress up than the Ysoki usually is.

You know the following:

Iteration-177 is a relative newcomer to the Aspis Consortium. In addition to making waves by urging Consortium support of the Starfinders, they have an interest in religious artifacts and connections.

Naiaj is a bleachling gnome with a fierce protectiveness of the Starfinders who encourages—some say demands—competence and teamwork from Society agents. She’s a venture-captain who served long before the Scoured Stars incident.

The ysoki Royo has something of a rivalry with Historia-7 and the Dataphiles faction, and he tends to snub individuals who he perceives to rely overmuch on technology. He’s also an elected member of the Forum, the Starfinder Society’s governing council.

The alien symbiote Ykris represents CeriCore Labs. Business-wise, the corporation has very little to gain from the Starfinder Society’s endeavors, but it nevertheless made a substantial donation; rumors suggest the contribution was someone’s pet project.

Soryn approaches Naiaj, the Starfinder Venture Captain, and makes small talk with her. "So, I understand you've been with the Starfinder Society for some time," he begins, "How are you feeling about our efforts to reinforce the organization after everything that happened?"