Brain-Eaters from Space!

Game Master Baron Bloodless

Let the discourse begin!

If I inject a Halfling with Enzyme X, will it grow a psychotropic sphincter out of it's armpit and start terrorize the local Dire Rabbit population with hallucinations of robot courtesans and poorly baked potato cakes? Testing and dotting the thread! And no, this was not meant to be serious lol.

Obviously not, Witness; know you anything of these beings' physiology? Enzyme X would clearly cause a halfling to sprout vestigial tentacles and cause a breakdown of muscle tissue and proteins until it became an amorphous entity of disconnected cells held by an unstable bond... Obviously going against your ideas of "Oneness."

Science versus religion? I kid, I think they can coexist very peacefully.

Does it matter broodmates? Unless it would produce a suitable host for the defense of a colony or a suitable trained guard maybe? Oh please tell me it would.

I believe it does not matter what your personal belief is on the coexistence of science and and religion. What one has to decide is what the little brain with legs believes. For me I believe One who goes forth does not care one way or another as long as it serves to strengthen to the people. Some how I am getting the feeling that the Telekt were split into different factions and we are each programmed by a different faction, but without the different factions to teach us the specifics of how we are to believe we may be going to the extreme ends of what would normally be logically tempered philosophies. Just a feeling that sounds awesome to me when put into words.

I'm in UK, so running to GMT time zone . I'll have to post when I get home from work (about 9 hours from now). I'll have an alias up later. If psionics are allowed then my telekt will definitely be either psion or aegis. Would either of those be a problem Baron?

They're both available to view here

Alias is partially functioning

I do think that's a neat idea, One Who Goes Forth. All made with a purpose, a skill set to help with that purpose, and a philosophy that complements it. But without anyone to really guide us, we forge it ourselves, effected by our environment and our interactions with Golarion. It may well become very extreme...

I'm in UK, so running to GMT time zone . I'll have to post when I get home from work (about 9 hours from now). I'll have an alias up later. If psionics are allowed then my telekt will definitely be either psion or aegis. Would either of those be a problem Baron?

They're both available to view here

I'm familiar with all the PFSRD psionics material, so go right ahead.

IT'S ALIVE!!! My profile and statblock are complete! Of, and included all pertinent class information for the Fleshwraith for you, Baron Bloodless under the spoiler tag.

Hey, Alias up and running. Just putting the finishing touches to the stat block

-KidDangerous

Witness, you'll definitely need to help me out in the beginning, you've got quite a lot of class abilities!

And Rheolwr, I noticed that you put age/height/weight sections on your statblock. So I thought I'd provide this information for all of you:

Your age is currently 0 years, having just been born.
Normal intellect devourers approx 3 ft. long and 60 lbs.
I figure the smaller Telekts would be in the are of 2 ft. and 40 lbs. but if anyone else has some more scientific calculations we could use those.

Baron, that's all the options. I didn't cut out options that I am not using or going to use, so I won't be using a LOT of that. Once everyone else's characters are posted, I'll pick which blueprints, which are basically spells, I know based on other party member's abilities.

Baron, I had one question. Since for all intents and purposes once Witness is in a host, they are one, does his evolutions apply to the host instead of him? It would make sense, as well as be thoroughly awesome!!! Don't even get any EP until 2nd level, but still, it's something to think about. I want my host to have retractable wings, at the very least. Giant insect wings with a slightly angelic look! And no, I am not going to be a goody two shoes. I AM a mad alien brain scientist!

Ah, one thing I forgot to tell all of you. If you have a class feature that could work for human form (or works only for human form), then you can have it apply to your host body instead of you. Another example is power attack, as I said you may ignore the power attack STR requirement, but your host body must have enough Strength to use the feat.

So yes Witness, you're evolutions will apply to the host instead. Just watch out for those angry mobs...

Also, has anyone heard from Irnk?

He's around, I think. Was accepted into my Jade Goblin game, after he posted in there. Might have taken the day off.

Learning that hosts can use our abilities is quite nice. Later on I could potentially cause any host to sprout all sorts of oddities... vestigial arms, parasitic twins, wings, tumor familiars.... Muahahah....

And if we go somewhere sandy, eventually, the Mummification discovery could help with decaying bodies. Speaking of, do we have anybody who will learn gentle repose?

Funny how many of us are in jade goblin as well. Similar tastes I guess.

Hey just a few quick questions as I finish the stats/background.

Looking forward to this game :D

On Psionic Focus, I believe it's a full-round action to attain. Annoying, considering how many abilities work off of losing it... but I think they dropped the skill check, which is nice.

That's ok then, Psionic Meditation reduces it to a move action. At least I don't have to put ranks into Autohypnosis just yet.

Researcher of Beings, I get the option at level 10 to cast Gentle Repose via expending Gesigner Charges. I hope we have some expendable resources... I mean, willing volunteers to donate their corpses for the charges, so I don't have to spend any from my daily pool. All it'll take then is a SCROLL OF PERMANENCY! Well, several scrolls of permanency. I want a RED DRAGON HOST!!! Also, I want MORE EXCESSIVE USE OF CAPITAL LETTERS AND EXCLAMATION POINTS!

Rheolwr, Autohypnosis is still awesome to invest in. Psionic Uncarnate would DEFINITELY fit in with the Telekt's natural tendencies and philosophy and it's one of the coolest Prestige Classes for Psions ever, except for, of course, the Pyrokineticist, which makes me want to let out a long maniacal laugh for no spparent reason! Also, I definitely agree that we need to research replicating our race and systematically TAKE OVER THIS WORLD'S LEADERS! FOR PHILOSOPHY, FOR SCIENCE, FOR POWER!!! And Researcher is right on Psionic Focus.

Psionic Focus: A psionically-empowered state of

mind. Some abilities can only be used while a character
has psionic focus. Some abilities can only be used by
expending psionic focus; only one such ability can be
used when psionic focus is expended. Gaining psionic
focus is a full-round action that provokes attacks of
opportunity.

One Who Goes Forth, Jade Goblin?! ARE THERE GOBLIN PC'S?!!!

Baron, so Irnk is the last one that we are waiting on, right? Once he posts, I will pick my Blueprints and we can get this party started!

One Who Goes Forth, Jade Goblin?! ARE THERE GOBLIN PC'S?!!!

Yes indeed, it's an all-goblin (except for one bugbear) game of Jade Regent. Hasn't really taken off yet, but it's sure to be interesting. You're definitely invited when I recruit for the inevitable net one!

As for gentle repose, that sounds good. I'm also thinking about eventually getting a couple different awesome forms to use... Maybe I will grab a few levels of Synthesist eventually to be able to alter forms. Or maybe grab a level or two of the Aegis archetype that lets you alter your own body instead of creating a suit of armor.

I will definitely check that out next go-around! I love me some Gobbers! I can also take the Grant Evolution Prototype to share my Evolutions I gain with you and the rest of the party! I plan on taking evolutions that allow me to fly, as well as several resistance evolutions and possibly some fast healing, so you guys will benefit greatly when I use that Prototype!

Well alias is now ready.

quick question DM are we waking up while still in space? :)

This is Irnk's character. At present only have concept, should have full crunch completed shortly.
Baron Bloodless: Technically, by strict RAW, the Extra Evolution Feat is not available to Synthesist Summoners.

Your Eidolon has more evolutions.

Prerequisite: Eidolon class feature

Since the Synthesist Summoner replaces the Eidolon class feature with the Fused Eidolon class feature, it can be argued that they don't have Eidolon any more.

Also, my I present

Van, who goes forth alone

Instinctively, upon ejection from the genesis chamber, the being/entity/consciousness which would come to self designate/be known as/answer to 'Van' observed two realizations: Existence external to it's being was vast, complicated, but even more so interesting; simultaneously, the seemingly limitless potential inherent in this existence all but demanded some form of protective husk or shell to allow further investigation.
With realization, came actualization as the two previously vestigial organs to the lateral posterior of the being's cranial integument began to extrude a semi-liquid, rapidly expanding substance 'Van' instinctively thought of as 'ectoplasm'. Within comparatively little time this 'ectoplasm' formed just such a protective 'husk' about 'Van'. A 'husk' which notably increased Van's size, resilience, mobility and strength, not to mention providing an entirely new sensory array.
Note, I base that on the fact that Eidolon's posses darkvision, which implies vision. Would a Telekt Synthesist lose Blindsight while in the Eidolon?
Also, yes, 'Van' literally 'cries' his Eidolon into existence around him.

Hurrah! Looks like we're all here. Today I'll definitely be too busy to kick off our first official gameplay post, but expect the campaign to start tomorrow!

Now, for the questions (if I missed anyone's question, don't hesitate to ask again):

You will be waking up in space.

I will be providing an early means to cast gentle repose (with limited uses however!).

Van: Go ahead and take Extra Evolution. Just be warned that a humanoid with extra tentacles sprouting from his head might not be welcomed in all places. On the subject of blindsight:

Blindsight requires line of sight for you to 'see' something. Sitting inside of somebody's skull (or an Eidolon) effectively blocks line of sight to anything, rendering blindsight useless.
Another blindsight quirk to remember is that blindsight can't differentiate between colors, meaning that reading will usually be impossible.

As I forgot we would be starting True Neutral alignment, the reason for my interest in the Extra Evolution feat is now being pro-active. I instead would like to know your opinion of the Cosmopolitan Merit as a spontaneous hyper-advanced mutation of the Rapid Language Assimilation Implant of the Temporal Lobe Modification? Not so much to start out with, but latent, to activate at Second level perhaps?

Rheolwr, Autohypnosis is still awesome to invest in. Psionic Uncarnate would DEFINITELY fit in with the Telekt's natural tendencies and philosophy and it's one of the coolest Prestige Classes for Psions ever, except for, of course, the Pyrokineticist, which makes me want to let out a long maniacal laugh for no spparent reason! Also, I definitely agree that we need to research replicating our race and systematically TAKE OVER THIS WORLD'S LEADERS! FOR PHILOSOPHY, FOR SCIENCE, FOR POWER!!! And Researcher is right on Psionic Focus.

Psionics Unleashed wrote:

Psionic Focus: A psionically-empowered state of

mind. Some abilities can only be used while a character
has psionic focus. Some abilities can only be used by
expending psionic focus; only one such ability can be
used when psionic focus is expended. Gaining psionic
focus is a full-round action that provokes attacks of
opportunity.

Great thanks for the clarification, I couldn't see that on the site. I do plan on taking autohypnosis eventually as Rheolwr realises that it's consciousness is far more powerful than it's meagre physical being.

Who ascribes to our racial philosophy out of our brood? Just curious, because several concepts seem to line up quite nicely with it.

Baron, I have a few more questions.
First question: can Knowledge: Telekt Technology teach us how to perform the scientific procedures featured in Gothic Grimoire: The Mad Doctor's Formulary? Because I really want to install a Limbic Reservoir filled with some sort of rage fluid for our more martial members, as well as install Killswitches in some of our genetic abominations in case they turn violent. Implanting multiple personalities in our subjects and performing lobotomies also seem appetizing options for the mad scientists among us!
Second question: is there any ideas yet on things that Knowledge: Telekt Technology can do? Not necessarily complete ideas, just some general stuff?
Third and final question, is the Telekt telepathic language based at least in part on Aklo? That would vastly help me in figuring out how to structure my character's speech. Aklo has a rather unique structuring and Van's flavor text made me wonder this. I think it would be rather cool if it was and it would make sense, since parts of the structuring take into account multiple ways of viewing the same concept, which fits in with the racial philosophy. It shouldn't be EXACTLY the same, since the spoken form is telepathic.

Rheolwr, you're welcome broodsibling! If you need any more information, let me know, because I have Psionics Unleashed and the expanded sequel to it. I have a huge collection of materials, so feel free to ask.

Also, everyone else, don't hesitate to ask if you need any rules, information, or similar game material, just let me know.

Zod wouldn't probably ascribe to that philosophy currently.

His more immediate concern would rather be to try and figure out as much as he could of the Telekt Science. especially when he finds out that this ship is the sole surviving of the race.

His survival of the race programming would compel him to understand as much as he could of the Genesis chamber's technology as well as some of the ship since with out it, all would be lost

Telekt-Zod, I was just curious. Not going to go all evangelical on you or anything in-game or anything, so don't worry, because the whole philosophy embraces personal choice and belief.

Rheolwr is far too,much of an inward thinker to follow the philosophy at the moment. It knows itself and itself only. As it reaches out to other beings and other minds (first the brood then their prey) it might start to realise that together, a brood can achieve more than the sum of its' parts. But not yet.

& thus, Van transmogrifies; becoming 'van, guard'.

@Baron Bloodless; Crunch for the husk should be complete. Oddly enough, it seems easier to complete the mechanics for a Synthesized Eidolon than a Telekt Summoner...

Philosophy or no, this is going to be a lot of fun! Time to twist DNA/RNA like balls of yarn, indulge in strange fleshy pleasures, and manipulate the local populace... for science! Or cerebral excretions and giggles!

Van, as long as you don't Biotic Charge, we should be good! Mass Effect reference. And yes, it is easier because it's a single statblock and not so many abilities you have to figure out who to allocate what to.

No worries. Time and natural course of thing will tell.
But right now Zod is really concerned about the Ship

Affirmative. van, guard shares this concern.

also, I believe I have crunch for the synthesist completed.
edit: no I don't. Almost completed, but not quite completed...

As a scientist, my first and foremost objective is to discover the truth. Cold, hard facts. Also, to get some amenities. But mainly the facts.

My plans are to find a schmuck, lure it to me with telepathy, while lying in wait, then sneak-attack the sh*t out of it and take over its body, thus learning more about the new world.

However, on the ship, I'll be forced to express some primitive thoughts on our purpose (or at least mine). I'll have to do some research into this 'philosophy' ;)

Of course, broodsiblings! Just asking some OOC questions to sate my curiousity for the moment so I can release some of my excitement about the campaign!

OOC questions are always good. Oh that reminds me. When I take full control of someone and use them as a shell I get to use all their physical stats and all my mental stats right? Also my shapeshifter things I am going to use while in host as a kind of released enzyme thing. Should be interesting and flavorful.

One Who Goes Forth, I believe the answer to your question is yes, from my understanding of what was said. I can't wait to start today! Also, are you going to be interested in being a recipient of my Grant Evolution Prototype?

Van: Go ahead and take Cosmopolitan, but it won't activate until I say so. Maybe second level, maybe earlier, maybe later, depending upon when the time is most thematically appropriate.

Witness: I'm not familiar with the Gothic Grimoire, but yes, that does sound like the sort of thing that Telekt Technology would let you do. By the way, I'm changing the skill to simply 'Telekt Technology', to reflect the fact that it seems that you folks are inevitably going to be building things with it.
Also I suppose the language could be partly derived from Aklo; possibly reducing the time it takes if someone tries to learn Aklo.

One who goes forth: Yep, that's right.

As soon as I get home from work we shall begin!

Van: Go ahead and take Cosmopolitan, but it won't activate until I say so. Maybe second level, maybe earlier, maybe later, depending upon when the time is most thematically appropriate.

Witness: I'm not familiar with the Gothic Grimoire, but yes, that does sound like the sort of thing that Telekt Technology would let you do. By the way, I'm changing the skill to simply 'Telekt Technology', to reflect the fact that it seems that you folks are inevitably going to be building things with it.
Also I suppose the language could be partly derived from Aklo; possibly reducing the time it takes if someone tries to learn Aklo.

One who goes forth: Yep, that's right.

As soon as I get home from work we shall begin!

Unfortunately, this means it will likely be a while before I manage to get in the game since as soon as I get out of work I will be picking up my son so we can drive for four hours or so to visit my Father for a couple days.

Looking forward to it :D

I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL IT'S TIME TO PLAY!!!

Also Baron, how big is our ship?

What time zone is everyone in and how often/what times will you likelt be able to post? I'm looking at around 18:00-23:00 GMT most days. I may be able to post once during work hours (08:00-17:00 GMT) also.

GMT+1 (Europe) i post a various hours.

GMT-5 Central Daylight Time here. ?Fortunately? I have internet access & little to do at work, so I often spend vast swaths of time online as I wait to actually do my job.
When I am at home I also spend much of my time online so usually if it isn't between midnight & six or seven in the morning, there is a chance I will be on.

Gmt-5 But I am a night shift worker and most days I check the forums by phone 1000 times or so.

Whatever time zone the eastern coast of the US is. I have a somewhat erratic schedule, but will post probably 2-3 times a day unless I see that others post more, in which case I will up my posting amount. As far as what time I post, I usually post around noon or later at night, again somewhat erratically. If I see a trend on when you all post, I will switch to conform to it, unless it's during my sleep time, in which case I will post sometime shortly before or after.

Baron, also had another question, though a strange one. For those of us who have taken the Adaptive Brainstem modification, can we inhabit ANY type of creature, besides incorporeal creatures obviously, or are things such as constructs, outsiders, and undead off-limits as well? Can we inhabit Constructs built with the brain modification from Ultimate Magic?