AVASTAN, DISTRICT 268 (Day 10)
Starport Encounter: (54) Meet a Contact.
Eldon and his crew locate a modest hostel at the spaceport, and settle into their suite. After freshening up, Eldon sets out to try and locate the rendezvous with Barnett's contact in the port's startown.
Streetwise/INT, 8+: Natural 2
Does he go to the wrong place? (Yes, and...)
Does he attract attention? (Yes, and...)
Is it Rowri's agents? (No, but...)
Colorful Locals: (24) Guards (but whose?)
Eldon is stopped by Port Authority Inspectors, who have noticed him asking questions around known illicit establishments. They wish to know the purpose of his activities.
Carouse/INT, 10+: (14) Effect 4.
"Good evening, gentlemen," Eldon says, as charmingly as possible. "This is my first shore leave in months and I'm just looking for a good time - good drinks, live entertainment, a little companionship? Know of anywhere good?" The Inspectors scoff and turn away.
Eldon returns to the suite, empty-handed. "We'll try again tomorrow," he laments. "Maybe someone has a better idea on how to find this journalist."
Day 11
"We should just hit the town," Serina suggests. "Go out, have a good time, maybe she will find us."
Carouse/INT, 8+: Natural 2, again!
Are they in the wrong place? (Yes, but...)
Has their contact tracked them down? (No)
Day 12
"Maybe we shouldn't look at this as a social exercise," Kellan suggests. "Let's think like an investigator. If you were going to meet an informant, where would you go?"
Investigate/INT, 8+: (7)
Wrong place again? (Yes, but...)
"Umm, we're not really... spies?" Kellan whispers.
"That much was clear," she laughs. "But what other group would be stumbling around, drawing attention to themselves and conducting the most indiscreet stakeout I've ever seen? And that's even counting Iarl Rowri's paranoid surveillance attempts."
"How do you know we're looking for you?" Kellan asks.
"Because the gentleman sitting in the booth behind you, the man I'm looking at right now, is none other than Lieutenant Commander Justan Arundel. Who else would Barnett have sent?"
NPC Reaction: (10) Friendly... but cautious.
"I'm Katha Miray. If you have the package he promised to deliver to me, I have something for him in return. But I need to be sure I can rely on your discretion. And so far, there's little to convince me of that. So there's something I need you to do for me, first..."
Day 13
Eldon answers the door chime. Katha Miray is standing in the corridor, and he invites her in. The crew is assembled in the living room, drinking coffee. Eldon pours a cup for her and they sit down.
"Barnett's 'insurance policy' is in a safe place now," she begins. "Even if something happens - especially if something happens - to me, or him, or Justan, that information will go public. If they try to make us disappear, what will we have to lose?"
"Recently, I've discovered some new information that will be of significant interest to him, and to you. But it's something I really need to present to him in person. And I'll pay each of you 8,000 credits to get me there safely. I'll advance your travel expenses if you can get the job done discreetly."
(Portraits generated by thispersondoesnotexist.org)