GM Kate's Commencement [closed] (Inactive)

Game Master Kate Baker

Here you will commence your Commencement! Check into this thread with your alias for the PC you intend to play.

The Gap was a sudden loss of history that shook the entire galaxy. It was an event where history disappeared from the minds of everyone throughout the multiverse, and only the gods have an inkling of what happened, but they refuse to speak of it. In that nebulous time of missing history, the world of Golarion disappeared, though the gods indicate the world—wherever it is—is safe. In the aftermath of the Gap came the revelation of faster-than-light travel by means of the Drift. It was during this time that the Starfinder Society formed and became one of the eminent organizations of the Pact Worlds. The machine god Triune’s gift of rapid interstellar travel facilitated a sudden land rush by colonists and corporations alike, and as exploration became an extremely lucrative business, the information that Starfinder agents retrieved secured the Society’s prestige and wealth.

This prosperous age recently came to an abrupt end within the star systems known as the Scoured Stars. An armada containing almost 80% of the Society’s agents and assets joined the Society’s First Seeker on a mission to the Scoured Stars, only for all its transmissions to cease. When the remaining Starfinders in the Lorespire Complex attempted to make contact, they discovered a terrifying truth: the Scoured Stars were now cut off from the rest of the multiverse by a barrier of incomprehensible power.

The events of the Scoured Stars left the Starfinder Society scrambling, as most of the Society’s agents and assets resided within the now inaccessible systems. The Society’s prestige crumbled, and many of the Starfinders’ distant holdings fell to alien forces within months of the incident. Only the actions of one outspoken Starfinder, Luwazi Elsebo, held the Society together. Even with the dedication of Luwazi and her allies, the Society suffered further losses as disillusioned agents opted to part ways with the organization.

These are the circumstances under which you joined the Society. Whether you're an optimist who believes in the mission of the Society or a mercenary who sees an opportunity for some quick cash, you have chosen to join. You are currently in a waiting room at the Lorespire Complex, surrounded by other brand new agents.

Feel free to introduce yourself! Please make sure to describe what you look like.

A small, silver drone flies quickly through the waiting room on four hoverjets, emitting happy-sounding beeps and chirps. The drone examines each person and object for a second before eagerly flitting to the next, occasionally bobbing or spinning as it goes. A simple black viewscreen on the drone’s front facing is currently displaying a light-blue emoticon indicating the drone's enthusiasm.

XD

A hulking dark-green vesk is crammed in a too-small chair, trying his best to maintain some semblance of good posture. Normally stoic, he looks somewhat amused and embarrassed as his drone speeds haphazardly around the room. Using a retractable glass lens covering his right eye, he follows along with the drone’s reactions to the waiting room’s occupants and decor.

An android stands almost perfectly still in a corner of the room, leaning slightly on a simple metallic staff. Their simplistic humanoid form, dull-gray metal construction, and lack of facial detail makes them easily recognizable as an out-of-date Exemplar-23 model, one mass-produced on Aballon hundreds of years ago. Their circuit tattoos are a dim yellow-green, making them look even older.

Their simple, iris-diaphragm eyes have been tracing the hover drone’s erratic path around the room with apparent interest.

A tall nuar enters the room, engrossed in an object held in one thick-fingered hand. His head is inclined over what looks like a Starinder insignia, the curled horns on his tawny-haired head pointing their tips towards the ceiling, and he mutters to himself in soft, resonant voice.

He steps quickly and precisely around the zipping drone and takes a seat next to the vesk. He sighs deeply and presses a thumb against the device; a holographic display on its surface winks out.

"Ow!" He starts, just realizing that his broad frame is pinched in the waiting room's undersized chair. His muzzle wrinkles with his offended pride, and he looks around. When his gaze falls on the vesk next to him, his frown breaks into a wide, flat-toothed smile. "You'd think in a place like Absalom Station they'd provide for all shapes and sizes, eh?" He half hums, half chortles, and winks at his new acquaintance. The motion of his eyelid briefly dims the light of the shining, deep orange orb that fills his right eye socket.

He continues smiling, settles in his seat as best he can, and adjusts the drape of his red and yellow robe.

The vesk is somewhat worriedly focused on his drone as it hovers around the android in the corner.

I hope Zoomy isn't bothering that person too mu—

...nk in a place like Absalom Station they'd provide for all shapes and sizes, eh?

Startled by the voice, the vesk scrambles to his feet, the chair stuck to his rear end. "Hello, sir! I am Zaldekan Dakayo—proud son of Zameka and Dmertos Dakayo and the representative of the Dakayo warrior clan of Vesk Prime to the Starfinder Society! It is an honor to be serving with the Society in its time of need, and I will strive to uphold the values of the Society in the defense of the Pac—"

The chair slips off the vesk's rear, clattering to the floor, and the vesk's face turns blue green.

A message pops up on your com units from someone named Rogers. *Bzzt* "Be there soon. Just have to finish dealing with these pesky--" The message cuts off in a crackle of static, but you get the feeling you'll be seeing Rogers soon.

The drone halts its carefree flight upon hearing the gravelly greeting. It begins :o hovering a bit too close to the android in the corner :D, changing position rapidly :3 as it observes the android from every angle B), emoticons cycling all the while ^_^.

"Oh! No, no no. That's quite alright." Tuudahk waves a hand around his head, brushing off the salute. He stands clops his way over to the fallen chair. "Tuudahk Gihn. Proud son of, ah," he kneels to retrieve the seat, the light of his eye gleaming off its polished surface, "Tihdihk Gihn, I suppose. Stargazer and dabbler. Defender of."
He gently slides the chair towards Zaldekan, then stands to rubs his knuckles against the bottom of his long muzzle. "Hmm. Defender of... common courtesy?" He smiles again, showing another expanse of pearly teeth. "I don't know that I've ever thought about it!"

He leans in towards the drone, squinting. "Hmm. And who's your friend here? Is he also an honored son, proud defender, so on and so forth?" He watches in amusement as the drone cycles through its "faces"; when it reaches a ;), Tuudahk guffaws. "I can do that one!" He raises thick white eyebrows, and the orange mote in his right eye thins out and extends laterally.

Zaldekan turns an even deeper shade of blue when he sees the friendly nuar. We're not at home, Zal. Keep it together. The vesk sighs and accepts the chair, resqueezing into the seat and appearing relatively relaxed. "Thank you, Tuudahk Gihn, Defender of Common Courtesy. I deeply apologize for my overzealous formality."

Zaldekan watches as the nuar leans in toward the drone. "That is..." the vesk blushes yet again. "Z-00 Model Y."

Upon hearing this, the drone angles toward Zaldekan, a ">:(" displaying on its viewscreen and on Zaldekan's glass lens. "I mean Zoomy! The drone's name is Zoomy!" Zaldekan's face is deep blue.

From the farthest corner of the room, a squeaky giggle slips from a somewhat bedraggled ysoki. She quickly throws her hands over her muzzle to muffle her laughter at the amusing interaction between the towering vesk and nuar. Though she's pretending not to laugh, her legs are wiggling about wildly in giddy amusement, hanging nearly a foot off the floor from the chair she's planted in.

She chances a subtle, friendly wave at the drone flittering around the room. Eventually she goes back to minding her own business, counting lights in the ceiling or picking at the armrest on her chair, all the while conversing enthusiastically with herself under her breath.

"Zoomy, Defender of Naming Agency." Tuudahk bows solemnly towards to the drone; at the bottom of his dip, he shoots an orange wink at the tittering ysoki in the corner.

The door slams open, its frame filled by a towering, horned sight. For a moment the figure is just a looming shadow, snorting as it obscures all light from the fixture in the hallway. The illusion is quickly broken, though, as a tall nuar man stumbles into the room, his arms full of weapons and other gear.

"Sorry to be late, folks. Just got off another mission and had to run all the way here. Had to cancel my lessons for today too, though that's not so bad. I'd much rather be goin' out on a mission with y'all than teaching some kid how to handle a shuttle." He pauses to catch his breath, then spotting an open chair he dumps his armful of gear on the floor next to it and plops down. "Here I go rambling and I haven't even introduced myself. My name's Rogers. Yes, with an s, no I don't think there's two of me. I guess I'm here to play bodyguard and chauffeur, though I'm a middlin' hand with a wrench, if it comes down to it." He does a quick double take when he sees Tuudahk. "Well I'll be. There ain't that many of our folk around these levels, yet here I am gettin' ready for my second mission for the society, and both times I've had a fellow horn on my side. Howdy, friend!"

From behind Rogers, a throaty veskan voice laughs "As long as I'm around you don't have to be worried about being the last one to arrive. Name's Popokya the Skullcrusher, but I'm pleased to just be called Pokya for efficiency's sake." Pokya enters the room, a hulking vesk with predominantly dark blue scales highlighted by bright green and yellow markings. Briefly studying the waiting room chairs, Poyka instead chooses to settle noisily onto the floor against a wall. After a bit of adjustments to armor and weapons Pokya sighs loudly, "Ahhhh.. Good to finally take a load off."

As the doors from the waiting room into the Lorespire Complex slide open, a green holographic image of a middle-aged human woman shimmers into view at the center of the room. “Greetings,” it says. “I am Guidance. Please use the cheek swabs in the open receptacle to provide a genetic sample for Starfinder Society identification purposes. If desired, you may place your hand on the glowing panel to receive a subdermal implant further marking you as a member of the Society.”

Please let me know if you are getting a Society Subdermal implant! This implant rests underneath the skin of the palm of one hand, or at the end of a tentacle or similar appendage in species that lack hands. The augmentation can be activated or deactivated mentally as a swift action. Activating the implant causes a rendition of the Starfinder Society’s symbol to glow underneath the skin. This augmentation acts as a mark, letting others know you are a member of the Starfinder Society. It also increases the light level within 5 feet by one step while active.

Pokya considers the number of credits leftover from a recent trip to a local armor shop and asks Guidance"How much does this subdermal thingy cost? And is it also sub-scaly?"

"It is also sub-scaly, and is provided free of charge to our agents," Guidance replies in a somewhat monotone voice.

Pokya's lips pull back showing rows of short, very pointy looking teeth in what is supposed to be a cheerful smile, Sign me up then!". Lumbering up awkwardly from the floor, Pokya heads first to the receptacle for the cheek swab and then over to the glowing panel for the implant.
Settling back on the floor the Pokya activates and deactivates the implant several times and grins.

Zaldekan assumes direct control of Zoomy, causing the drone to display ";_;" as it returns to the vesk. He then goes to the receptacle, performing the cheek swap when it is his turn.

Zaldekan hesitates for a moment at the panel before pressing his hand down on the panel with purpose, grimacing slightly when the implant embeds itself into his scales. He tests out the implant, smiling slightly as the Society's insignia flashes into view.

Noticing the vesk on the floor, Zaldekan heads over that way and hails the soldier. "Greetings, my name is Zaldekan. It is good to see another vesk working for the Society." He leans over and offers a handshake.

Pokya hops up quickly and shakes Zaldekan's proffered hand. "Indeed! Though I'm quite fond of meeting new spices, it thrills me to see the familiar face of another vesk. You appear to have a fondness for ...mechanicals?

"Oh, does this mean everyone's here now?!" The raspy, high-strung voice of the ysoki that was once sitting across the room is now, startlingly, coming from between the two vesks. She jumps up a couple of times, attempting unsuccessfully to match their height. Once she realizes how ridiculous she looks, she stops her bouncing and reaches out both of her arms, one for each vesk, and shakes their hands excitedly. "I'm...Rafflesia!" she pauses slightly, as if having to remember her name. "I...I think your drone is adorable!" she adds shyly, not making eye contact with Zaldekan. It's now evident up close that the ysoki not only has all manner of leaves and twigs stuck in her dark-gray fur, but there are also green-tinged patches of what looks like moss.

She darts over to quickly do a cheek swab, and then fearlessly slams her right palm onto the panel for an implant. She shrinks away at the pain of the process but nonetheless lets out a high-pitched giggle.

Rafflesia proceeds to go about the room and introduce herself to the rest of her fellow initiates, waving the hand with her newly implanted Starfinder emblem, which she has activated.

"Everyone is so tall!" she exclaims, to no one in particular.

Null.0 moves quickly to stand before the hologram in the center of the room, surprisingly agile for all their obvious (even audible) wear. ”xxiit is an honor to meet you.”

Null waits only a split second—not long enough for a response—before walking through the hologram and to the receptacle. They provide a sample and then place their hand on the implant panel, removing their hand afterward without looking at it.

Null moves to stand closer to the vesk mechanic, not facing him, but clearly trying to listen to his answer to the more colorful vesk’s question.

Tuudak clasps Rogers's forearm in greeting. "Nuar follow their own meandering paths; it's good to cross yours!" He introduces himself to Popokya along with a quick, shallow bow.

When asked about the subdermal implant, Tuudak politely declines—swab still in his mouth. "Oh ahnk oo," he begins before grimacing and dropping the device in its receptacle. "One after market purchase, as it were, is enough for the moment." His right "eye" flickers.

He pats Zaldekan's shoulder as he strides past to stand before the hologram. He looks up at the hovering shape, hands clasped behind his back. "Guidance? A pleasure, and a new one! You seem important, if you don't mind my saying—what is your role in the Society?"
With his back to the others, intricate patterns are visible on his vermillion robes, clusters of thin parallel lines embroidered in several shades of yellow and orange thread.

"That we are, friend, that we are" Rogers says, reaching down to shake the ysoki's hand. He straighten's up, narrowly avoiding catching his horn on Tuudak's, the strides over and casually slaps his palm down on the implant panel. "I could see this comin' in handy, that's for sure."

Zaldekan responds to the vesk, "That is true, much to chagrin of some. I am hoping to put my skills to use in the defense of this system and ours."

When the ysoki approaches to greet him, Zaldekan extends his hand, taking care not to crush Rafflesia's small paw. "It is an honor. Thank you for your kind words." Upon hearing Rafflesia's compliment, Zoomy bounces excitedly. :3

As Tuudak approaches Guidance, Zaldekan turns to listen to what the hologram has to say.

Guidance continues, once you've all finished. “It is our pleasure to officially welcome you into the Starfinder Society. Today is the commencement of your new role as a Starfinder field agent. It is our tradition, at the end of the graduation ceremony, for new graduates to present themselves to the heads of our most prominent factions and complete a task at those leaders’ behest. This allows the leaders of these groups to become familiar with all new Starfinder agents, and it provides a constant supply of agents for handling situations in our holdings on Absalom Station. While these tasks were formerly symbolic, the heavy loss of Starfinder agents in the Scoured Stars necessitates that these missions become something more. Please treat any tasks given with the gravity you would grant any other Starfinder assignment.”

You might know things about Absalom Station itself with a Culture check! Make one check, and you can read every spoiler with an equal or lesser DC. If you are untrained, your result is capped at 10.

You also might know some of the current events in Absalom Station with a Diplomacy (Gather Information) check!

Handout #1

THE ACQUISITIVES
Leader Radaszam “The Dealmaker”; Location Nyori Palisades
The Acquisitives represent the result of Luwazi Elsebo’s efforts to hold the Society together by hiring mercenaries to fill the role of missing Starfinders. Many mercenaries realized that the Society was a far more lucrative venture—both monetarily and in terms of popularity—than their old line of work. The faction’s current leader, Radaszam, is concerned with maintaining the organization’s public-facing reputation, as well as the reputation and fame of those Starfinders directly serving the Acquisitives’ interests.

THE DATAPHILES
Leader Historia-7; Location Lorespire Complex
The Dataphiles cherish information above all else, seeing themselves as the guardians of any knowledge obtained by the Starfinder Society. Their leader, Historia-7, promotes a belief in superiority through the acquisition and controlled dispersal of information. While cataloguing and data searching are necessities in this faction, the Dataphiles are known to employ less technologically savvy combat experts to procure information.

THE EXO-GUARDIANS
Leader Zigvigix; Location None (Downlow)
The Exo-Guardians are made up of Pact Worlds citizens who are concerned for the safety of their home, and who act to ensure that safety. They believe that the best defense is a strong offense, and they work to build up a stockpile of magic and technology to deter external threats. Most of the faction’s operatives were lost in the Scoured Stars. The Exo-Guardians utilize lower-grade installations within the Pact Worlds, having lost their headquarters and many of their operations in the aftermath of the disaster.

THE WAYFINDERS
Leader Fitch; Location The Armada (Master of Stars)
The Wayfinders are Starfinders who adhere to the Society’s primary mission of exploration. The most transitory of the Society’s membership, the Wayfinders are dedicated to exploring the Vast and maintain few direct ties to the Pact Worlds. Wayfinders specialize in both exploration and first-contact scenarios, thriving on the thrill of the unknown and the monumental task of meeting new species.

"I've done a bit of work for the Wayfinders, so it would be nice to finally meet the illustrious Fitch!"
While the group heads to their next destination, Tuudak rambles good-naturedly about Absalom Station—"Not quite as enjoyable as living on the sun, but it attracts a wonderful array of beings!"—and stops to exchange words with folks he recognizes.

Everybody can read the DC 15 Culture and DC 5 Diplomacy spoilers above!
Culture: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Also getting ready to GM WotR, so short posts for the time being!

"The Wayfinders seem to fit mostly with my own goals. I think that's where I'll be heading too." Pokya follows closely after Tuudak so as not to get lost and politely smiles an nods along with the conversations while not paying particular close attention.

You board a Society shuttle to the Armada (which Tuudak told you about, if you read the DC 15 Culture spoiler a few posts back), heading toward the Master of Stars.

I’m moving you along, but folks can still attempt the Diplomacy (Gather Information) check! You do not need to be trained.

The station’s Armada can be seen from the shuttle’s view screen as it takes off, gleaming figures standing out against the emptiness of space. The Master of Stars immediately stands out from the rest, as layers and layers of scaffolding obscure its hull. Tiny lights flicker among the metal beams as distant figures weld plates and heat shields to the ship’s exterior. The shuttle smoothly glides closer until it reaches the starship’s docking bay, slipping through the magic field that keeps the hold pressurized with breathable atmosphere. As the shuttle doors open, a small drone flies in and pops up a holoscreen, displaying a harried-looking ratfolk.

“Finally, fresh meat!” the ysoki exclaims over the screen, sounding pleased. “Name’s Fitch—pleasantries over, time to get to work. I had some trouble earlier with the lights flickering on the ship, and now both the lights and computers have suddenly gone out on E-Deck. No idea what’s causing it, but you work this job long enough and—” Fitch’s attention flicks to something offscreen, and she shouts “Kirkath! The welding torch is not a toy! You wanna go in the toddler’s pen with the other kids?” She snorts dismissively before continuing, “Sorry, some of these little ones would cut off their own heads if I let them. Anyway, it could be some lunkhead screwed up the wiring, but that’s a pretty big system failure for a simple electrical short. I’d prefer to send in some people with combat training to scout it out, just in case someone or something is sabotaging the ship. If it’s nothing, great, get the power back on if you can. If there’s something suspicious, use your comm units to report in to me. I’ll give you the access codes, so— Selicha! If you touch that panel I will staple you to the hull!”

The screen on the drone cuts out, then flashes to display the ship’s schematics and the passwords for the computers on E-Deck.

The only bad part of doing this in Play-by-post is I don’t get to do the voices.

"She's, ah." Tuudak turns to the others. "Not quite what I expected."
He considers a moment before his face breaks into a wide grin. "I like her!"

"Stars and void, wish I'd had a Defender of Engineering Education in my younger days," he mumbles, kneeling in front of the displayed schematics.

"Uh, understood!" I'm sure we'll have time for proper introductions at another time. Zaldekan looks at the screen over Tuudak's shoulder, while Zoomy hovers over the nuar's head. Zal's eyes light up as he examines the schematics.

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 14

We get the DC 10 stuff too! (14 -_-) Slotting the Exo-Guardians Champion boon.

"Hmm? I take you can decipher these?" Tuudak taps a thick, blunt finger against the display. "With all the repair work and scaffolding and the like I can hardly make sense of it."
He turns his head to Zoomy and performs his best attempt at :|

"I can certainly try. I've encountered schematics like these in my textbooks." Zaldekan moves past Tuudak to get a closer look.

Zaldekan can easily read the schematics, identifying the way. You can use the working lifts and maintenance tunnels to reach E-Deck. The doors on E-Deck are closed and do not automatically open without power, but since the magnetic seals on the doors are also disabled due to the power loss, you can force your way through without too much trouble.

It is, as reported, completely dark.

Not completely! Also, nuar have darkvision 60 ft.

Tuudak rolls his shoulder after helping pull the door open. He squints his eyes and peers into the darkness. "Hmm. I can do a little something about that."

Without any further motion, the glowing orange light in his right eye socket floats out of his head and rests in the crook of one curved horn. Its light expand, glinting faintly off the metal confines of the entryway. Dim light in a 20 ft. radius!

Totes slotted the dataphiles champion boon. And Null has Profession (electrician)—I promise I forgot about this part!

Null’s dim circuit tattoos glow brighter as they cast detect magic, looking for anything unusual in their monochrome field of vision.

There’s nothing magical, but you do spot a control panel that could perhaps be used to get the lights on! Computers or Engineering check, or I’ll allow the Profession (electrician) if you’d like.

"All we gotta do is turn the lights on? Can't be too hard." Rogers saunters over to the control panel and begins to poke around.

Engineering to aid another: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

“xxiiindeed.”
I had hoped we’d be put to better use.

Null leans their metallic staff against the control panel to ground it, in case their and Rogers’s ministrations prove effective.

Profession (electrician): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19

Null and Rogers's combined efforts are more than sufficient to restore power to the area, turning on both the lights and the security cameras, which you can also access from this panel.

Reviewing the live feeds, you spot two human children hiding in an empty storage room.

Children. Unfortunate.

Null turns to survey the team, looking from boisterous, hulking nuar to scaly vesk to the ysoki with—Is that mold? Disgusting.

Their gaze finally settles on the drone, and they gesture at the live feed.

"xxmmperhaps you should make our introduction."

Zoomy extends its manipulator arms, performing some version of a salute, and then flies determinedly toward the empty storage room.

Zaldekan watches nervously as the drone flies away, monitoring Zoomy's mood through his custom rig.

When he sees children on the screen, Tuudak snaps upright, his face suddenly very serious. He immediately runs after Zoomy.

Is the group splitting up, or is everyone going after the kids?

Upon seeing Tuudak run after Zoomy, Zaldekan follows in suit, running after the nuar.

There's my answer for Zal! :)

I got a 50 ft. movement speed and poor impulse control!
But for real, if making that split decision is disruptive, I'm 100% ok rolling that action back and talking out a plan of action first!

No problem either way; I just want to know who's in the room when you get to the kids!

Rogers is slow to react, distracted as he is by the electrical panel, but he quickly follows after Tuudak and the others.