# Life in the Vast

##### A Starfinder Homebrew Adventure by u/wheresthemead.

\page # Life in the Vast Here's what we know: First we had the Gap and with it we lost who knows how much of our history. Strange enough it didn't hit everyone the same. Some lost more while others less. Then Triune - an ascended AI - gifted the galaxy with faster-than-light travel. This brought the Vesk. The Veskarium came at us with all they had and so the Pact Worlds alliance was created. When the Swarm came they were willing to set aside their war with us and form a tenuous alliance with us. That's how bad it was. We've got a truce with the Veskarium now; at least on paper. Fast forward to the present and I've a good ship - Firewalker - and a crew willing to work her. There's plenty of space and just enough work to keep us paid and food in our bellies. We aim to keep it that way. ## Ch. 1: Turn off that Alarm

***beep beep beep***
***beep beep beep***

The captain wakes to a seldom used alarm. This particular alarm goes off when communication is being received on the official Pact channel.

"Don't they know what time it is?", grumbles the captain as they wash their face and try to wake up. Walking over to the terminal the captain sees it isn't even a call. It's a [letter](http://i.imgur.com/Xl196Wb.png) from the Pact Security Council.

"They've a request for us.", chuckles the captain. A request, that's putting it nicely.

The captain rouses any sleeping crew members and calls them all to the mess hall to discuss the Pact's most recent *request*.

Give a copy of the [letter](http://i.imgur.com/Xl196Wb.png) to the player taking the captain role and allow them to diseminate the information to the rest of the crew. ``` ``` ___ > ## Firewalker >*Medium Freighter, Smuggling Ship* > ___ > - **Armor Class** 15; **Maneuverability:** Perfect (turn 0) > - **Speed:** 30 > - **Hit Points** 20 > - **AC:** 20; **DT:** -; **CT:** 14 >___ > - **Shields:** basic 10 (forward 3, port 2, starboard 2, aft 3) > - **Attack:** (forward) gyrolaser (1d8) > - **Power Core:** Micron Heavy (70 PCU); Drift Engine none; > - **Systems:** basic computer, basic mid-range sensors, mk 2 armor, mk 1 defenses > - **Expansion Bays:** none > - **Modifiers:** +2 Computers, +1 Piloting > - **Complement:** 5 >## Crew >___ > - **Pilot:** Computers +7 (1 rank), gunnery +5, Piloting +11 (1 rank) > - **Captain:** > - **Science Officer:** > - **Gunner:** > - **Engineer:** > ___ ## The Solar Warden Upon arrival the Firewalker crew finds the Solar Warden is dead in the water , so to speak. The hull is peppered with holes of varying sizes. As the Firewalker closes on the Solar Warden the crew can see they are not the first ship on the scene. Likely pirates. Passing an appropriate knowledge check reveals that the Free Captains - a group of pirates - is known to patrol the Diaspora. A scan of the pirate vessel shows no life forms aboard. It seems they all boarded the Solar Warden. You have to ask yourself, did the pirates show up before or after the Solar Warden was disabled...

Credit: Hasan Zraikat

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Life in the Vast | Ch. 1: Turn off that Alarm

\page

## Deck 4: Drift Research

The lights in the shuttle bay are flickering. Wires are hanging down from the ceiling. A red emergency light is strobing and indication that the Solar Warden's crew had at least some forewarning of whatever it was that hit them.

Deck 4 of the Solar Warden houses an experimental starship used to research a new arcane drive and a Drift research facility. The party enters the Solar Warden using the shuttle bay. The shuttle bay is empty save two shuttles and a lift to deck three. ### 1. Shuttle Bay The shuttle bay is nearly full. The party is barely able to get their craft in without crashing into the vessels already here. There is a hole in the ceiling where the lift goes up to deck three. There are three goblin pirates which are *supposed* to be keeping watch for incoming vessels. Goblins are easily distracted. However, if the party is excessively noisy or taking too long to prepare, the goblin in the storage room (2) will come out and attack. ``` ```

Credit: Strategic Design Publications via: Cygnus-X1.net

___ > ## Goblin Stooge >*NE Small humanoid (goblinoid) CR 1/3* > ___ > - **Armor Class** 16; **Touch** 13; **Flat-Footed** 14 > - **Hit Points** 6 > - **Speed** 30ft. > - **Melee** +2 (1d4/19-20 > - **Ranged** +4 (1d4/x3) >___ >|STR|DEX|CON|INT|WIS|CHA| >|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:| >|11 (+0)|15 (+2)|12 (+1)|10 (+0)|9 (-1)|6 (-2)| >___ > - **Base Atk** +1 **CMB** +0 **CMD** 12 > - **Feats** Improved Initiative > - **Skills** Ride +10, Stealth +10, Swim +4; **Racial Modifiers** +4 Ride, +4 Stealth > - **Languages** Goblin, Common ### 2. Storage Room One goblin is rummaging through crates and lockers in the storage room on (2) on deck four. It shouldhave been watching the shuttle bay, but the alure of loot was too much for this greedy little creature. All other equipment in the room is damaged beyond recovery.

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\page ### 3. Engineering

The door marked 'Engineering' is jammed partially open. Inside you can see the flicker of instrument panels and hear sounds of sparking equipment.

A successful strength check will open the door to engineering. It appears to be where new prototype Drift engines are developed. The research ternimal in this room appears to be damaged. With a successful (DC 12) Computers check, the party will recover prototype schematics for the Drift engine currently being developed. Give the party extra experience and credits as a bonus if they successfully recover the schematics. Included with the materials found is internal correspondence which indicates the Pact World government believes they can prevent damage to the various planes of existence normally associated with Drift travel by incorporating magic into Drift drive technology. ### 4. Drift Drive Test Area

As you enter you hear hoots, hollers, and any number of other sound effects being made in response to what can only be assumed is what a goblin sounds like when it is having a good time.

The center of the test bay holds an experimental scout ship which the Pact World government has been working on. Two more goblins are playing it. They are completely oblivious to the fact that their comrade is either dead or incapacitated and that death in slowly approaching.

``` ``` Allow the party a surprise round against the goblins if they choose to attack instead of confronting them. If the party makes themselves known or is too noisy, the goblins will attack. The scout ship itself looks nothing special. In fact it looks like the crew was in the middle of taking it apart for some reason. Some of the panels are laying on the floor and tools are scattered about. It looks spaceworthy, but requires some serious repairs. There is a split in the floor right below the scout ship. It seems the bay doors for this area is actually part of the floor. There must be a switch somewhere. ### 5. Drift Drive Test Equipment Directly behind the scout ship is a wall of equipment and computers used to analyze the Drift drive. The terminal does not appear to be damaged and as you have been given some low level credentials for this ship the party can recover all testing data with a successful (DC 5) Computers check. On a failed check give a plausible reason as to why the party could not extract the data (e.g. "You entered the credentials incorrectly too many times and have been locked out."). Subtract experience and credits if the party fails to obtain the test results. ## Deck 3: Research Labs

Deck three has sustained significantly less damage than the lower level. Emergency lighting is on and some temporary work lights are set up. It is almost as if the crew was in the middle of making repairs and were interrupted.

Then you see the bodies...

Credit: [Strategic Design Publications via: Cygnus-X1.net](http://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/lcars/sd-uss-nova-nx-72228.php)

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Life in the Vast | Ch. 1: The Solar Warden

\page ### 1. Storage Looking around the storage room the party can see three humanoid corpses. Closer inspection reveals they did not die of natural causes. Investigating the room reveals blaster marks along the walls and defensive wounds on the corpses. Searching the shelves and crates strewn about turns up nothing. Anything worth taking has already been looted or is broken beyond salvage. ### 2. Life Science Research Lab Compared to the other areas of the ship you have explored, the Life Science Research lab is relatively undamaged. Aside from some equipment and papers strewn about, the room is in a good state. One stimpack can be found if players choose to search the room. No skill check needed. ### 3. Weapons Development The walls of the Weapons Development lab are covered in weapon mods - magical, mundane, kinetic, and energy - though the cages give off a magical aura. A sucessful detect magic (DC 16) check will reveal that there is some kind magical lock on the cages. On the ground in front of one of the cages is the charred corpse of a rather large goblin. The terminal in the back has schematics and test results from the researchers working in this lab. ### 4. Robotics & AI Lab Strewn about the room are various robots in varying states of disrepair. In the back sits a small bipedal robot approximately eighteen inches tall. The fact it is sitting in a chair in the corner is a little unnerving given the rest of the parts are thrown about. ### 5. Sleeping Quarters Sleeping quarters on the Research level are limited to bunk rooms where researchers can catch a few minutes of rest between experiments. Searching the rooms yields nothing noteworthy. ### 6. Medical Bay The party finds another Stimpack in the Medical bay. Accessing the terminal requires a DC 12 Computers check. The party can download medical records of injuries and treatments found during testing of various projects underway on the Solar Warden. ``` ``` ## Deck 2: Crew Quarters

As you step off the elevator and look left and right you hear the sounds of ransacking pirates and see the halls are cluttered with various personal items which appear to have been thrown out of rooms as the pirates searched for goodies.

The elevator stops on deck two, which contains the personnel quarters, kitchen, mess hall, and entertainment facilities for the ship's crew. Provided that nobody in the party alerts the goblins on this level there are a total of three; two are together and are melee and the third is a lone goblin with a ranged weapon. Whichever room is entered first (excluding the kitchen) will have one or two of the melee goblins. The other goblin(s), having heard sounds of fighting, will flank the party from behind once fighting starts. ### 1. Kitchen It's a kitchen. Food and dishes are thrown about. Party members who walk into the kitchen must make a reflex save (DC 10) to avoid slipping on food and broken dishes. A falling party member has a 25% chance of alerting the goblins on this level (provided they are still alive).

Credit: [Strategic Design Publications via: Cygnus-X1.net](http://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/lcars/sd-uss-nova-nx-72228.php)

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\page ### 2. Mess Hall Mess hall might be a bit grand a name for these two
rooms, but we are going with that. This is where the crew
eats. Deal with it. Provided that the party hasn't already alerted the pirates
on this level yet, they could catch the two melee guards sitting at a bench eating. Allow for a surprise round. Don't forget to bring in the ranged goblin after the first round. ### 3. Media Room Think holodeck, but *magic*. If the pirates on this level haven't been alerted yet, two of them are in here bickering over what to play. The third pirate comes into the fight from behind after the first round ### 4. Crew Quarters Personal belongings are strewn about without care. As the party walks up the hallway they can see more items being tossed out of one of the rooms. Inside they find a goblin - if they haven't already defeated the three on this level - rummaging through someone's dresser. Allow the party a surprise round. If they take a surprise round, bring the other two goblins to flank them on either side starting with the second round. ## Deck 1: The Bridge

Voib is standing guard outside the flight deck. He's feeling pretty good about himself. He wasn't very excited to be forced out of his last crew, but Krik seems like a good captain. If this raid is any indication of his capabilities, then his reputation is greatly understated.

The sound of the elevator doors opening brings him out of his musings. He turns his head into the bridge and yells to Krik, "Hey boss, they're back."

"Let 'em in.", Krik barks back.

Voib turns his head back towards the elevator and sees a group of people that aren't part of his crew. The smug look on his face is quickly replaced with a snarl as he charges the intruders.

The fight outside the bridge is against five goblins, including Voib and Krik. Voib rushes the party with a melee weapon as they exit the elevator, a ranged goblin moves from the captain's quarters (1) to flank the party. Another goblin - also ranged - attacks from outside the conference room (4). While Krik and one last melee goblin wait inside the bridge (3). ``` ```

___ > ## Captain Krik >*NE Small humanoid (goblinoid) CR 2* > ___ > - **Armor Class** 17; **Touch** 13; **Flat-Footed** 15 > - **Hit Points** 20 > - **Speed** 30ft. > - **Melee** +3 (1d4/19-20 > - **Ranged** +5 (1d4/x3) >___ >|STR|DEX|CON|INT|WIS|CHA| >|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:| >|11 (+0)|15 (+2)|12 (+1)|10 (+0)|9 (-1)|6 (-2)| >___ > - **Base Atk** +2 **CMB** +1 **CMD** 13 > - **Feats** Improved Initiative > - **Skills** Ride +10, Stealth +10, Swim +4; **Racial Modifiers** +4 Ride, +4 Stealth > - **Languages** Goblin, Common > ___ > ### Actions > ***Redirect Attack*** When a creature the goblin can see targets it with an attack, the goblin chooses another goblin within 5 feet of it. The two goblins swap places, and the chosen goblin becomes the target instead.

Credit: [Paizo](http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5ljvy?Free-RPG-Day-Awesomely-Alien)

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Life in the Vast | Ch. 1: Turn off that Alarm

\page ___ > ## Voib >*NE Small humanoid (goblinoid) CR 1/2* > ___ > - **Armor Class** 16; **Touch** 13; **Flat-Footed** 14 > - **Hit Points** 12 > - **Speed** 30ft. > - **Melee** +2 (1d4/19-20 >___ >|STR|DEX|CON|INT|WIS|CHA| >|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:| >|11 (+0)|15 (+2)|12 (+1)|10 (+0)|9 (-1)|6 (-2)| >___ > - **Base Atk** +1 **CMB** +0 **CMD** 12 > - **Feats** Improved Initiative > - **Skills** Ride +10, Stealth +10, Swim +4; **Racial Modifiers** +4 Ride, +4 Stealth > - **Languages** Goblin, Common ### 1: Captain's Quarters The captains quarter. There is a cup of tea at the desk. Somehow it has survived all the chaos. There is a corpse on the floor, shoved into a corner. At the terminal the party can download the captain's daily logs detailing mission statuses, break throughs, and set-backs. ### 2. Officers' Quarters More crew quarters with exception that the furniture is nicer and fewer beds are in each room. A search finds nothing noteworthy.

Credit: Strategic Design Publications via: Cygnus-X1.net

### 3. The Bridge Looking around the bridge, its consoles partially disassembled and walls pulled apart it is hard to imagine this was once a state of the art vessel. It is apparent that one of the pirates fancied themself an engineer. There are a couple of portable terminals and datapads wired into various panels and workstations around the room. Krik must have wanted to keep the Solar Warden for himself. ### 4. Conference Room When you walk up to the door to the conference room after having beaten Krik and his crew, you can see that Krik's crew was working hard - for goblins - to gain access to the room. The doors are marred with burns from energy weapons along with numerous gouges, dents, and scratches from more mundane weaponry. You easily gain access with the codes provided to you by the Security Council. Inside you find the only crew members who are still alive. A security officer and junior communications officer.

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\page ## The Aftermath After the fight with Krik and Voib, allow the players to search the deck before leaving. Remember, the ship needs to be destroyed. The mission states no requirement to bring the surviving crew members with them (though leaving them to die would open them up to complications in the future. There is a hatch under the experimental scout vessel which releases it into open space. The party *can* take it with them, but it is not equiped with weapons, requires at least one party member to fly it back, and will take longer to arrive at Absalom Station. Add 1d4 days to the length of time the Firewalker takes. ### Absalom Station The crew of Firewalker arrives at Absalom Station and is greeted by a squadron of figher ships. A message is relayed to them to follow closely. The party is brought to a capital ship where they dock Upon disembarking they are met by a small army and a rather large Vesk in Uniform who down a series of corridors and each member is left in their own room - presumably for debriefing. Debrief each player individually. Afterwards award experience and credits based on performance. ### Liars, Thieves, & Crooks Returning to the ship the crew begins making preparations to set off again with an eye to get far away from here. As you move throughout the ship you start feeling paranoid. Some of your personal possessions aren't where you left them. Doors which should be closed are ajar. The captain calls everyone together. After some discussion you all determine that security must have searched the ship. You run back to the cargo hold and find that some of the shipments you were paid to deliver have been opened and some are gone entirely. There are going to be some very upset individuals looking for you all. ## Credits - Homebrewery for the awesome website used to create this document. - The plot hook was suggested by a user on Reddit, but unfortunately I cannot recall the name nor find the comment to cite this person directly. I've made some changes to what was suggested, but it is not my original idea. - Blue universe watercolor courtesy of [Xiaeye on Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/en/the-universe-watercolor-ink-color-744225/) - Cover art: [Paizo](http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5ljuq?Stay-Alert-Holy-Plasma-Cannons-Ahead) ``` ```

Credit: [Paizo](http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5ljrq?Class-Preview-The-Envoy)

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