GM Dennis - SFS #7-13 Ratrod's Revenge Author Table [Closed Recruitment]

Game Master Dennis Muldoon

Dot in here and delete your post.

Annoyingly nondescript music plays as you ride one of the lifts in the Lorespire Complex, heading for the office of Radaszam the Dealmaker, who has requested your presence. You awkwardly make eye contact...maybe you should introduce yourself to break the ice?

Please take a moment to introduce your character! Also, please let me know if this character played SFS #1-01: The Commencement.

An indigo ijtikri with two sniper rifles strapped to her back waits for the elevator doors to close, then tries to give pamphlets to each of you.

"Hello! Have you heard about the movement to restore Iji? Free Vesk 2! Free Vesk 2! Restore Iji!"

Yes, Conrad went through the Commencement.

A man of good looks and a confident comportment enters the lift. He's quick with his smile, and acknowledges any who look his way. some people actively wave as if they know the man. It's likely true that they do, not as a Starfinder, but owner and operator of the Flaxseed Station Cantina.

He's slight of build, though the contours of his graphite suit show off a toned physique. While his skipshot pistol is pretty standard, his dueling sword looks more like fashion than function.

Yes, Zark has played #1-01 The Commencement.

A grey furred ysoki rides the elevator looking up at his companions with a serious look on his face. A corona laser pistol is holstered at his belt.

"Hello! Have you heard about the movement to restore Iji? Free Vesk 2! Free Vesk 2! Restore Iji!"

"Sorry, I have not been to Vesk. Is this movement some sort of dance? If you are trying to start a free dance movement, I'm all in. Dancing should be free."

Kastien played through The Commencement

A stocky korasha lashunta with pale green skin mottle with darker green saddles and spots stood against one wall with a grin on his face. The power gauntlet encasing his left hand seemed to come and go as he subconsciously twiddled with a knob on its side. He is well armored, and carries it easily.

"Free Vesk 2, huh? Is that a serious commitment or are you practicing to blend in with no one wanting to make eye contact? Either way, good show. I am Kastien. A Seeker of Truth and follower of the Universal Way. Also, I like to punch things. "

Yes, Dov played The Commencement.

Dov is a 10ft tall bipedal bear wearing a long, white, leather lab-coat over khaki-colored scrubs, his pockets bearing multi-colored vials. You can see numerous cybernetic implants poking out from his fur as he arrives, broad shoulders bearly fitting as he squeezes through the door frame. Aside from a few pistols on his hips, he doesn't appear to bear any other arms or armor (beyond the obvious). Even his lab coat's sleeves are quite long! He gives all of you a respectful nod but stifles an obvious yawn with a massive paw.

"Oh...I'm so sorry for being late. I was just hibernating in the lounge - I pulled a double shift at the clinic yesterday despite there being a specific claws in my contract about that sort of thing within 2 days of a posted assignment to the Starfinder duty roster..."

"Er, in any event. Dr. Dov Delano at your service. I don't suppose I could offer everybody a free checkup?

Conrad turns his eyes towards the team, somewhat comically moving his head slowly up to look at the good doctor. He's still looking when he says, "Vesk 2? Yeah? I mean... sure? Is there a paycheck in it? Also, I'm all set doc. I appreciate it though."

The lift doors open once more. Two individuals can be heard chatting about the merits of various armor styles and upgrades. The cease their conversation, smile at the assembled group and step in.

"Greetings fellow Starfinders. My good friend, Walter, and I were together when we received a summons for an assignment. Unfortunately the delivery drone was glitching so it was unclear which of us it was meant for. I guess we'll find out."

"Yes, Sharmain and I were about to embark on a shopping expedition. Ah, well. Hopefully there will be a little time before we need to depart, though there rarely is enough. You look like a reasonable bunch. Anyone have any inside information on what to expect?"

"Well, I do need to give everyone a once-over. It's not only a claws in my contract, but if I don't, I won't be able to give you medicine in the field when we get out there for...whatever we've got in store for us," Dov says somewhat apologetically to Conrad.

"Nice to meet you Dr. Dov. Sounds like this team has a medic, so..." Halfway through her sentence, Sharmain is interrupted by a notification on her comm unit.

"Aaah, yes, looks like this is your party, Walter. I just received a call to elsewhere. Have fun." She sends a command to the lift and exits at the next stop.

Walter looks around at the members of the group. "I'm sure we will get along just fine. We're all Starfinders after all."

"Hey Doc, I'm happy for you to take your scans. I'm sure you understand that I may heal a little differently to most. I appreciate all you can do to keep me kicking, or at least squawking."

Walter doffs their fedora, straightens their pinstriped suit and adds, "As much as that appreciation is genuine, I hope your medical services are not needed on this mission, at least for the team. Just once, I'd like to go on a quiet diplomatic mission where there is no fighting and we actually manage to make lives better and maybe even bring peace."

”Your contract requires us to get a checkup prior to you being able to serve us in the field?! That sounds like typical insurance bearaucracy to me! I guess you better give me the free checkup.”

"Well, I do need to give everyone a once-over. It's not only a claws in my contract, but if I don't, I won't be able to give you medicine in the field when we get out there for...whatever we've got in store for us," Dov says somewhat apologetically to Conrad.

]"C'est la vie, my big friend. Just be gentle."

"Umm...I feel uncomfortable about this. Feel free to just skip me. "

A medical checkup was one thing, but a handsy bear in an elevator was the stuff media video shorts that haunt you forever are made of.

GM, please note that Dov will not be able to deliver Biohacks to Kastien without making an attack roll, but everyone else should be okay.

“Sit down,” Radaszam growls when the lift empties you out into his office, scarcely glancing up from his datapad as he nods toward several open seats in his office. After a moment, he looks up and says, “Eight years ago, I sent a team of Starfinders to help get a young agent out of a jam caused by her own big mouth. Well, I guess I don't need to tell you that, since most of you were on that team. Anyway, as you know, our team helped her build and pilot a vehicle to victory in a junkrace, down in the Spike. And what did that ingrate do to thank me for my help? She quit! Well, good riddance, I say.”

“Ugh, I’m getting aggravated just thinking about it,” he grumbles, shaking his head. “Enough about her. Turns out the guy she beat, a ysoki named Ratrod, has held a grudge against me all these years for helping her out. He’s challenged the Society, wants me to send another team to a big race he’s putting together. Normally I’d ignore it, but as it happens, I’m in need of some new intel sources down in that part of the Spike, and from what I hear, this Ratrod has his ear to the ground.”

“That’s where you come in. Head down to the Botscrap district and enter Ratrod’s race. Showing up is enough to build the inroads I need, but you may as well try to win while you’re there, just to make a good impression for the Society. Take this.” Radaszam holds out a small datastick. “Don’t lose it; that’s your ticket into the gate. I’ve sent you a dossier on everything we could gather about the other racers, though it’s not much. Any questions?”

Dossier added to the slides. Those of you who participated in #1-01 The Commencement know and can share the following with your teammates.

Junkracing is most popular in the Botscrap district of Absalom Station’s Spike, where tracks have been set up in many of the bigger junkyards.

The most famous junkracing track is owned by Ratrod, a veteran ysoki racer with ties to the Scrap Union. Eight years ago, Ratrod’s reputation was ruined when he lost a race to a hotshot team of Starfinders, and he’s been working his way back up ever since.

Everyone can also attempt a Culture, Engineering, or Piloting check to recall knowledge about junk racing, or a Diplomacy check to gatehr more information.

Culture or Engineering: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (10) + 16 = 26

Dov looks over the dossiers with raised eyebears...er...eyebrows.

"Racing you say? What type of race and where do we procure a vessel?"

Clearly I need to ask around and learn more.

Diplomacy with Expertise: 1d20 + 15 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 15 + (6) + 1 = 32

Piloting: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34

”Junkrancing. Hmm? What do I recall?

Piloting: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25

"A race! This sounds like great fun."

Lapodie and Dr. Delano have heard that Ratrod is promoting the big race today as "The Grudge Match". He's invited all the racers he feels have wronged him in some way over the years to compete, so he can beat them all at once. There's a lot of fan excitement, particularly for the potential drama that might unfold. Aside from Ratrod's grudges, the race is also slated to feature a team of Starfinders (that's you!) racing against a former Starfinder, and a mother racing against her late son's best friend, who was involved in the crash that killed him.

Walter and Zark additionally recall that Ratrod is very picky about the way his races are broadcast, going so far as to order custom-built versions of a popular camera drone model with special programming tailoed to his needs.

You all also recall that in this sort of one-off junkrace, base vehicles are usually supplied to the racers, though you may have a chance to customize once you're there.

I'll move us on tomorrow night, unless there are any other questions for Radaszam.

Walter does not want to aggravate Radaszam further by asking about the previous race and the Starfinder who needed rescuing. They will rely on the others to fill in the gaps, or do some digging through past media posts.

"Sounds straight forward enough. We can chitchat all the way there, maybe pick up some good information before we even enter."
Diplomacy (Gather Information): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

"I remember helping Laboni win the race against Ratrod and the whole crew. I wonder if her driving has improved over these eight years? I remember we had to do a lot of fixing up of her engines and also a lot of firing of weapons to ensure that she won. That was quite an intense race, and I'm not surprised that Ratrod wants a rematch."