test drive #2

[onemind]

STEP 1: SHRUG INTO YOUR BEST PASTEL SUIT JACKET

     WELCOME to the test drive and thank you for your interest in Station 72! In the interest of flexibility and allowing players to experiment with the game mechanics, we've put together this mini-mission and invite you to pick your own broodmates, experiment with abilities and specializations, talk to each other and maybe make up some pre-established cr, and generally play around however you like. This test drive will not be game canon, so take this chance to go nuts! Current in game players are also welcome to make top levels here.

For the full experience, we strongly encourage players to write up a short blurb about what their fellow characters might know about them either through shared time on the Station or through the Nest mental link. Handy links can be found at the bottom of this entry if you have any questions. Applications are currently open if you decide you'd like to jump into the game proper.

STEP 2: PUT ON YOUR MIRRORED AVIATOR SUNGLASSES

     PERCEPTION, THE JEWEL OF CANNALI

STATION: PERCEPTION
LOCATION: Cannali System, Provari Galaxy, Universe Phara-Epsilon-221.9
GENERAL OVERVIEW: The Provari galaxy exists as part of several relatively stable Galactic civilizations located in the Phara-Epsilon-221.9 universe. Hundreds of races have been intermingling there for so long that practically no corner of charted space is backwater enough to have never seen an alien before. Artificial intelligences range from quite advanced to simple functionary machines. While physical cybernetic augmentation isn’t uncommon, this universe has bypassed mental augmentation almost entirely - and while some AI are sentient, there is no sign of man and machine becoming one any time soon. While there is a large variety of different aesthetic tastes that intermingle, most places seem to be fairly consistent across the board - the whole galaxy is fairly homogeneous and technology is seamlessly integrated.. Perhaps the strangest thing about the Provari galaxy is how under-utilized networked data exchange is; while their technology is quite advanced, there’s never been a strong focus on data sharing. If you want information from a planet away, be prepared to wait for it. And while most data can be found on a network, that network is very organized, sterile and academic. The physical world is far more entertaining to most of the people in Phara-Epsilon-221.9.

Perception is a station - although you’d never know it by looking at it. At one point it was just a chunk of space debris in orbit around a gas giant: a fractured moon, a captured asteroid, a half-formed planet that never quite managed to develop any further.However despite it’s rough and ragged appearance, this orbiting chunk of space debris is one of the few stable bodies inside the Cannali system’s continuously habitable zone. Normally that wouldn’t be enough to warrant the kind of effort that’s gone into making Perception what it is today, but the Cannali system just happens to be at the border of three galactic powerhouses without being part of any of the usual coalitions, federations, or empires that vie for power across the galaxy. That makes Perception incredible valuable not only as a waypoint between systems in those aforementioned spheres of power, but also as a place of, uh... flexible law. Bordering some of the wealthiest places in the known universe, Perception has come to be known as a tax haven and a comfortable spot to land if you’re looking for a place without any extradition treaties.

Naturally someone was going to take advantage of that. What started out as a quick and dirty place to store your gains - ill gotten or otherwise - eventually grew into more. One whole side of Perception was carved out, leaving a flat even surface hundreds of kilometers wide and covered in a thin sand left behind by the excavation. Slap on a protective atmospheric dome and some artificially strengthened gravity, and it didn’t take Perception long to grow into the “Jewel of Cannali.” In the center of this terraformed strip of desert is the city - Perception proper. The buildings aren’t as tall as they are on some planets, but what it lacks in height it makes up for in sprawl and in glitz. Very few people live on Perception full time, but everyone who is anyone goes there to party. The main strip of the city is lined in some of the most fabulous and extravagant hotels, resorts, casinos, restaurants, and bars that the galaxy has ever seen. It’s a land of sand, sun, sunglasses, linen suits and cars (with wheels!) painted in various eye searing shades. It’s a place where no one sees a single problem with mixing your pastels, tying a sweater around your shoulders, or wearing high-waisted pants. And while the world outside is perpetually light, almost everywhere inside is dark, cool, and neon-streaked.

Anything goes in Perception. The only law is profit -- and don’t interfere with that or you’ll find yourself in a world of trouble. Hedonism is the norm and no one is going to apologize for it. Like anywhere looking out for the top there’s a strong crime underworld in Perception, although it’s so organized it might as well be the law at this point. It’s the oversight of the major crime families that keep the big Casinos, the big fights, the big brothels and the big races running. There are, of course, shoddier little operations running out of basements and on the outskirts of the city (or beyond) for when the thrill of sanctioned sin isn’t enough for you.

For all that Perception is anything but lawful, it is for the most part stable. It works. There are people who are bad off, but where aren’t there? It serves a purpose and maintains a balance. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that there are people looking to change that.

The Daraa Empire, one of the three galactic superpowers bordering Cannali, know what it could be: the ultimate staging ground for an attack on their age old enemy, the Farasti Federation. Of course, taking an unaligned planet without provocation would put them in a sticky spot, which is why their agents are currently active on Perception planting evidence, whispering rumors, and buying off the people they’re not killing. Their goal is simple: implicate that the Farasti Federation is already on Perception in force and that they’re planning an attack against the Daraa. That would give Daraa plenty of justification to overtly put their people on Perception, confiscate the vast amounts of untraceable wealth there, and use it for their own means. Hell, it’s such a simple, elegant idea, it’s a wonder they’ve never thought of it before!

YOUR MISSION (and you will chose to accept it) is to prevent the Daraa Empire’s undercover agents from succeeding in planting evidence against the Farasti Federation and taking over Perception. Ideally, it'd also be nice to expose their plan to the Inter-Galactic community.

Of course, there’s no reason you can’t have a little fun first...

STEP 3: DO A COOL SLIDE ACROSS THE HOOD OF A CORVETTE

     OPTIONAL PROMPTS
While NPC presence may be triggered by certain in character actions, these prompts are primarily meant to act as a guide and for idea generation. Feel free to autopilot in-misison NPCs, to make things up, to deviate wildly from your mission goal, etc! Have fun and don't worry too much about the letter of the law; god knows no one on Perception does.

ONE • SEE A SHOW, THEY SAID. YOU'LL HAVE A GREAT TIME THEY SAID.
Nebula, the inter-galactic idol of inter-stellar proportions!

That’s what the bold holograms that seem to be at every corner of the main strip proclaim as truth anyway, light catching across the woman herself’s iridescent green scales as she shifts from one position to another. She has shining jewel-toned eyes and a long, elegant face; it’s easy to believe the marketing. Fartasti’s famous pop-princess - known for her incredible vocal range, charisma, and catchy lyrics - will be here all month.

But while she looks happy in the advertisements, word whispered on the street is that her shows lack some of the dazzle they usually have. Most of the people on Perception are too giddy to notice, but it hasn’t escaped sharper eyes. The Nest has done some digging, and what they’ve found out is this: Nebula is a wreck, and for good reason. No one has seen hide nor scale of her fashion coordinator in weeks. That’d be upsetting all on its own, but it turns out (he and Nebula?) Nebula and him are secretly in love. The reason she hasn’t reported him missing then? He’s been kidnapped by the Daraan agents and is being held somewhere on Perception, being used as leverage to convince Nabula to support the Daraan lie when it comes time to tell the galaxy that Farasti has secretly taken over Perception. As hosts, you’ve been given the tools to find Nebula’s fashion coordinator, but in order for the little scanner to track him down you’re going to need something with his genetic signature on it.

Get ready to find a way backstage! If you can avoid the guards, maybe you can convince Nebula to give you something of his. Or maybe you should just do this covertly... --Either way, get what you need and get to work. The clock is ticking!

If you obtain a sample the tracker will lead you down to the maintenance tunnels underneath Perception. It’s humid and dark town there, the tunnel twisted and infested with garvils - small lizard-like creatures with sharp teeth that hide like rats in the construction materials that were once shipped into Perception and are now stored underground. Following the scanner will lead you to the fashion coordinator eventually, but then you’ve got to get him away from the heavily-armed and highly-trained Daraan guards - not to mention get him and Nebula off Perception before the Empire realizes their plan has fallen apart.




TWO • KEEP YOUR BETTING SLIP, YOUR TICKET'S ABOUT TO GET PUNCHED!
Gravos are a little weird. Everyone knows it. Their three eyes make it seem like they see a little too much, and sometimes they go quiet and very, very still - almost preternaturally so. But hey, they’re also the fastest known animal in the universe which is enough to make them popular despite how off-putting they are. Gravos racing is one of the biggest draws on Perception. The races themselves are exciting, but the betting-- the betting is the part people are really interested in.

Lover’s Lane is the biggest, ritziest track on all of Perception. Located at the outskirts of the city because it has to be (anything that runs that fast needs a big, big track to stretch their legs on), Lover’s Lane has always hosted a real mixed bag of patron but lately there’s been some extra strange characters hanging around. They’re believed to be Daraan spies intent on taking out Sarvo Sway himself, the man who runs the joint. Sway is one of the most powerful men on Perception and he’s starting to take note of the trouble that’s started on his turf. Your assignment is to follow the Daraan agents and find out exactly how they intend to dethrone Sway.

--Of course, that would be easier to do if the Daraan agents hadn’t noticed you. But come on, they’re secret agents; they can’t be completely incompetent. Once the’ve made you, their goal is simple: start trouble. Big, loud, common trouble in the track’s upper tier bar room. Someone throws a barstool. A glass bottle breaks over someone’s head. The punches start to swing. Hope you love bar fights, because now you’re in one. Try to keep track of the Daraan agents in the ensuing fracas and don’t get caught by Sarvo Sway’s bouncers (they’re Honian; that means they’re big, hulking brutes with big shoulder horns and bad attitudes). If they catch you they might chuck you out on your ass... or they might bring you in front of the big boss himself.

Either way, it’d make for a bad time.



THREE • YOU COME TO ME ON THIS, THE DAY OF MY DAUGHTER'S WEDDING
Time’s running out. Despite your combined efforts, it seems like within days the Empire’s efforts could all come to a head. For all the plans you’ve foiled thus far, there were more you never even knew about. The Daraan’s stance might not be as strong as it was before, but is it strong enough? There’s no guarantee either way.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

The biggest event of the year is about to happen at The Coral Rose casino and resort. Franois Erksen, the most powerful man in the Savaran system, is about to put his most valuable property to work - not making money, but as a venue for his beloved daughter’s first union. She and her fiance, Sissara Var - one of her father’s most trusted lieutenants - are about to tie the knot and nothing is too good for his daughter and her number one girl. The union itself is expected to be extravagant far past the point of excess. Their daise made of a thousand gemstones of the thousand worlds! Their wardrobes are of rare silk from dangerous and exotic creatures worth more than the yearly gross profit of some planets! The food! My god, you’ve got to try the food!

And the after party? Forgetaboutit. Everyone who is anyone is going to be there. Royalty, planetary leaders, stars of screen and stage, and - of course - every single one of the powerful families who run Perception. Which makes this the only opportunity you’ll ever have to talk to them all at the same time. Steal or forge an invitation, sneak in as kitchen staff - however you do it, just get into that party.

If you’re lucky (and don’t get too distracted by the cheese spread), you can find can find the heads of the major Perception families in a small, understated room that reeks of wealth and thick cigar smell. It’s your chance to make your case and spill all the details about the Daraan plot while Franois is feeling generous. There’s no guarantee they’ll believe you - at least not right away. Maybe they’ll even require you to prove you’re serious about your loyalties to Perception. Maybe they’ll have you do a job or two for them; maybe they’ll ask you to put your money where your mouth is and bring them real proof of these allegations.

Talk fast, charm faster. Clock’s ticking.



WILDCARD:
Sure, there’s lots of work to be had on Perception - from getting involved with criminal organizations to helping that rando con-artist you met on the strip hook a few tourists for his incredible illusionist show -, but all work and no play makes Jack a dull Provarian. Luckily, there’s plenty of fun to be had around Perception. Try to buy up from the mid-range hotel that the Nest has provided you accommodation with; make some new friends with some interesting people; gamble away your credits or double them plus some. See a show, grab a drink, watch the races or get an exotic waxing. The sky’s no limit on Perception.

NAVIGATION • PREMISE • FAQ • RULES • GLOSSARY • APPLICATIONS • SYMBIOTIC SKILLS • ABILITY POINTS

( CODE BY WHAMBAM )