[SFS] GM Berggen's SFS-01-01: The Commencement

Game Master Berggen

Please dot and delete once you've signed up in recruitment.

You have been summoned to the Lorespire Complex for a meeting with Guidance. Today, is your commencement as official members of the Starfinder Society.

As the doors to the briefing room 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.”

The Lorespire Complex. An awe-inspiring name for an awe-inspiring place, Violet muses to herself as she makes her way into the lobby. Stopping only briefly at the front desk to confirm the location she had been directed to arrive at for her commencement, she makes her way to the indicated room at a pace that, while just shy of a full jog, could technically still be considered walking. As she walks, her on-board tactical exocortex transmits a wry observation about her excitement over beginning her Starfinding career directly into her neural interface. Used to her AI's sass, she allows a small grin to tug at the corners of her mouth as her only response, though to an outside observer there was no obvious reason for this reaction.

Finally arriving at the door she had been directed to, Violet wastes no time in entering and stepping inside, settling into the military at-ease position as Guidance addresses her. "Hello. It's a pleasure to meet you, Guidance," she responds, her voice offering little of the inflections that would typically betray mood or tone for the average sentient, but not entirely the same lifeless, flat tone of an automated comm unit recording. Following Guidance's directions, Violet obediently takes one of the swabs and runs it along the inside of her cheek before returning it to its receptacle, then goes over to the indicated panel and placing her palm on its glowing surface, accepting the implant and swiftly stepping aside to allow others access to the panel, briefly examining the Starfinder emblem now emblazoned on the back of her hand before returning to the at-ease posture as she awaits further instruction from her holographic superior.

A tall, lean humanoid stalks into the room. All three eyes are narrowed in seeming annoyance, and he wears a flame doshko and a bow across his back and a quiver of arrows at his hip. When Guidance speaks, the creature gives a low bow to the AI before following it's instructions.

After receiving the subdermal implant, Gardam takes position next to the android. He leans over and mutters "I am unfamiliar with the ways of the Starfinder tribe - which ancestor is giving us these instructions?"

A tall, gray-skinned being with flowing robes and a pointed hat arrives. He looks around, seeming to assess the room. His obscured facial features also help obscure his thoughts.

I cannot believe it! They have granted me access to Guidance, those Starfinder fools! How I have longed an opportunity to examine the AI, to observe it functioning and processing. The loss of their numbers in the incident they keep referring to as "The Scoured Stars" has allowed me to readily infiltrate their number and plumb their secrets for my own. Not to mention, the promise of acquiring ancient technologies and valuable information, all under the guise of a Starfinder expedition. The eyes of the being seem to flash with a smile.

"Greetings, Guidance." he says. "I've received your request for my attendance. I am honored to be given a place among the Society, but do forgive me for not providing a cheek swab." From beneath his robe, comes a gray hand, which is placed over an already covered mouth. "It would be, of course, improper for me to expose my mouth here in public."

"However, I will gladly comply with your request for an implant." the Starfinder hopeful says, now reaching out a gray palm. I can't believe they are simply giving me their technology! It looks harmless enough and should be easy to remove should it prove to contain some sort of tracking device or... worse.

Assessing the other hopefuls, Morvruul again looks quite pleased. These are the other recruits? The android looks easy enough to disassemble, I suppose, should it be necessary. This... savage, however... the witchwyrd thinks to himself. He may be trouble, I will have to keep my eye on him.

With the implant now in, well, hand. Morvruul asks with a seemingly confused façade, "So, then, Guidance. Just what type of work you have for a humble jeweler such as myself?"

"Peanut Butter, I've a feeling we're not on Golarian anymore," Jelly whispers to her combat drone as she steps off the transport onto Absolom Station. A nudge from Peanut Butter startles her. “What’s that? Oh right, I mean we’re not on Salvation’s End anymore,” Jelly corrects herself, remembering the revelation that had overturned her understanding of the universe and motivated her into joining the Starfinder Society.

Jelly and Peanut Butter make their way to the Lorespire Complex, and Jelly is delighted by how easy it is to navigate an entirely strange city when equipped with a GPS unit. They enter their designated room, unsurprised to see yet more unfamiliar races, and listen to Guidance’s greeting. She follows the instructions, watching the implant machine studiously as it does its work on her palm, then joins the group of initiates who are also done. Anything she perceives as a greeting she attempts to return in kind.

Identifying unknown life form...
Life Science, taking 10: 10 + 8 = 18

Kish, a somewhat primitive race recently encountered on Nejeor VI, in the Vast. Violet's expression doesn't really change much as her exocortex feeds this information into her neural interface, but she does find herself intrigued by this new sentient as it... he? He approaches her. In response to his query, she informs him, "It is called Guidance. From what I understand it is an artificially intelligent matrix composed of the personalities and knowledge of former Starfinders. I am unsure whether this visage is of a specific 'ancestor,' as you put it, or some form of constructed guise to represent the amalgamated whole."

Funfreemy swabs his cheeks as told but doesn't want his hand implanted or imprinted. Yes, I'm fat, but Feran's are built as fat. We are as tall as gnomes and as fat as dwarves, but we can do a lot, and we've got skills.

In response to his query, she informs him, "It is called Guidance. From what I understand it is an artificially intelligent matrix composed of the personalities and knowledge of former Starfinders. I am unsure whether this visage is of a specific 'ancestor,' as you put it, or some form of constructed guise to represent the amalgamated whole."

Gardam blinks his three eyes for a moment, allowing the synthetic beings words to wash over him. There is no 'a-ha!' moment of understanding. "...So... Not an ancestor's spirit," he says flatly, doing his level best to parse the technospeak into something he understands.

And definitely failing.

You can do this. Nikon thinks to himself. All the nights studying all the research you are ready for it.
He steps up and takes the swab using it to the best of his ability then puts his hand out for the imprint. His face is still not betraying his excitement or his anxieties. This is it time to make our mark.
“Hello my fellow Starfinders I am Nikon. I look forward to working with you on this mission.”

From beneath his robe, comes a gray hand, which is placed over an already covered mouth. "It would be, of course, improper for me to expose my mouth here in public."

Guidance nods to Morvruul. "Of course. There are private rooms available if you wish, and you should understand that some Starfinder policies might work more smoothly if we can identify a body."

Does Nikon take the implant?

Guidance continues “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 receive a digital message from Guidance on your communicator detailing the four major factions.

Guidance continues “As you complete your missions, each faction leader will let me know that you have done so. Once you have completed all of your missions, please return to the Lorespire Complex to finalize your commencement as Starfinder agents."

Characters may use culture to recall information about absalom station, representing what your character has heard about:

Characters may use diplomacy to gather information about absalom station, representing what your character has heard about:

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 14

Gardam considers the small talk he overheard while surveilling some other Starfinder recruits, but ultimately considers the information unimportant. "I would like to meet the warrior known as Zigvigix," Gardam says. "These 'Exo-Guardians' seem to be the warrior caste of your tribe and I would know who is strong enough to lead them."

Culture, untrained: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22 If I understand correctly, since it's untrained I can only learn the first two spoilers even though I rolled high enough to beat the 15+ one as well, is that right?
Diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9

"I would like to meet the warrior known as Zigvigix," Gardam says. "These 'Exo-Guardians' seem to be the warrior caste of your tribe and I would know who is strong enough to lead them."

Violet nods in acknowledgement of the kish's statement, "Their faction does seem to be the most suited towards combat engagement, though I imagine most Starfinders can at least defend themselves, should it come to it. For myself, while my training has primarily been in military engagement tactics, I am quite eager to meet Historia-7. I hope to be able to make use of my data acquisition and analysis functions as well as my combat experience in these tasks we are to complete."

“Hello my fellow Starfinders I am Nikon. I look forward to working with you on this mission.”

Turning to face the identifiably elven man as he speaks up, the android gives him a polite nod in greeting, and takes a moment to survey the other gathered inductees as well. A four-armed gentleman who seemed to match the description of a witchwyrd, a dwarven woman, and and a male that had identified himself as a feran. Quite a colorful crew, especially considering her own glowing purple circuitry that marked her as an android. She hoped that whatever the faction leaders had planned for them did not involve a stealth mission. "A pleasure to make all of your acquaintance," she addresses to the room, knowing that starting off on the right foot with any unit is important to team cohesion.

Culture: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

"A pleasure to make all of your acquaintance."

"Same! I'm Jelliadreth, but please call me Jelly. This is my drone, Peanut Butter," she indicates to the combat drone that has been following her. ”I’m super interested in meeting Historia-7. She’s gotta know all kinds of stuff, stuff I’ve never even dreamed off.”

Funfreemy will aid Gardam in his diplomacy quest. Don't forget to bow first. And ask specific questions. diplomacy aid: 4 + 1d20 ⇒ 4 + (7) = 11

Yes he gets the implant

Culture: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

It is my pleasure to meet all of you. I hope my academics and knowledge of the mystic arts can help
Nikon thinks to himself what a diverse group of individuals. I hope I will be able to discover and add to the collections of Exo-Guardians rare and powerful artifacts.

If I understand correctly, since it's untrained I can only learn the first two spoilers even though I rolled high enough to beat the 15+ one as well, is that right?

That's correct. The cap at 10 with untrained is also why themes reduce the DC instead of add a bonus to the roll.

It sounds like there was a pretty even split on interest between starting with Dataphiles and Exo-Guardians. Let's start the group on Exo-Guardians to keep things moving.

It's a quick trip to the Downlow to meet with Zigvigix.

Garbage litters the ground around the district’s largest art park—a cement lot filled with undulating metal sculptures and covered in graffiti of grotesquely adorable creatures. The sounds of music and chatter drift over from the nearby clubs, chronically interrupted by the roar of the local gangsters’ engines. A heavily augmented host shirren is sitting on one of the park benches, eating a simple meal of cold grub-noodles and rice candy. Their antennae perk up at the tremor of approaching footsteps. “Welcome, new Starfinders! And congratulations!” the shirren’s voice telepathically projects. “My speech-name is Zigvigix, but feel free to call me Ziggy, if that would be easier for you. Have some rice candy to celebrate your graduation! Today is your big day

“My second assignment...” Zigvigix twitches their tooth barbs for a moment and then holds out a credstick. “Please buy the brand-new Strawberry Machine Cake album, Star Sugar Heartlove!!!, which is out today, and give it to Historia-7 when you see her. She is the head of the Dataphiles, so you should meet her today! I wish to do it myself, but I... I have trouble standing for long periods of time. Thank you very much!”

Gardam tries the rice candy, but nearly immediately unceremoniously spits it out onto the ground. "Too sweet," he grunts by way of explanation.

"This first errand seems fitting for warriors, and I gratefully accept. The second mission... What is this 'Stawbree Macking Cake'? I am unfamiliar. Will it save us your station 'credits' if we were to simply take it from those who hoard it?"

That's correct. The cap at 10 with untrained is also why themes reduce the DC instead of add a bonus to the roll.

That makes so much sense, I had never thought of that.

Violet politely declines the offered candy, but attentively listens as their mission, or rather missions were outlined. She nods in acknowledgement when his explanation is complete, remarking, "Of course sir, we shall rout the target from the designated area without delay. May I ask if there is any additional intelligence you can provide as to the nature of the creature, its tactical capabilities, or the terrain in which we will be engaging it? Further, is termination or live capture of the target preferable?"

Guidance nods to Morvruul. "Of course. There are private rooms available if you wish, and you should understand that some Starfinder policies might work more smoothly if we can identify a body."

"Yes, of course, I will find a way to get you a sample discreetly." Morvruul responds, though he strongly wonders whether he truly wants to give the Society an actual sample of his genetic material. Hmmm. Which course of action is more likely to draw suspicion? Providing my own sample, so that it will match any future inquiries? Or providing a false sample, so that I can... disappear... more readily if necessary?

As the "Merchant" contemplates his course of action, he contemplates what he knows about the Starfinder Society that he now has an opportunity to fully join.
Culture: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

"People around the station are increasingly amenable to Starfinders." he notes aloud. "They respect both the dogged veteran field agents who were not lost in the Scoured Stars disaster and the new recruits, whose presence brings renewed hope. Stating one’s association with the Starfinder Society is likely to garner support from the locals of Absalom Station." Morvruul smiles to himself, Yes, membership will open quite a few avenues for my... business.

At the kish's suggestion to begin with the Exo-Guardian leader, Morvruul nods. "I agree. We should begin with an analysis of potential threats, but then, I too, would very much like to... converse... with Historia-7 and offer to... help... her with her acquisitions of information"

His eyes, however, focus on the female android. Has she discovered that I am a witchwyrd? he quietly ponders. I must keep an eye on her and this... Jelly... as well These women seem to be too smart for their own good.

Eying the others, he thinks, The elf and ferran seem innocuous. Perhaps, I could mold them for my purposes?

As the party heads to Downlow, the witchwyrd discretely makes inquiries.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

"This first errand seems fitting for warriors, and I gratefully accept. The second mission... What is this 'Stawbree Macking Cake'? I am unfamiliar. Will it save us your station 'credits' if we were to simply take it from those who hoard it?"

"It is 'Strawberry'." Morvruul chimes in, attempting to appear helpful. "Like the fruit. The sugar-pop sensation is known as 'Strawberry Machine Cake'. Their newest single is about to being released. Unlike previous releases, the band is putting out a limited-edition physical copy prior to the concert when the released single and additional tracks are scheduled to debut and become available in digital form."

"Many are talking about it, although more seem enamored by an upcoming junkrace, in which some apparent nobody mouthed off to Ratrod, the reigning junkrace champion. People know that trash talking really gets under Ratrod’s fur and wonder whether there will be more harsh words exchanged before the race. Unfortunately," Morvruul notes, "that is all the information I was able to gather." Despite my efforts to learn more about you and the other new agents that are being inducted into the Society. Were you each sent to spy on me? Does Guidance suspect my true purposes in joining the Society?

Well folks, if we put our credits together, we can buy an album. Also we might want to purchase some for ourselves as well.

Nikon quietly follows his team to the Downlow and their destination. Trying not too look repulsed by the garbage strewn everywhere.

How do these people live like this? Would it be too much to ask to have a cleaning robot or some lesser species clean up after them

Upon arriving at their destination he bows seeing the leader of his faction on the bench.
It is our pleasure to meet you Zigvigix. I am Nikon your loyal follower. Please allow me to clean your area.

Nikon accepts the credstick they are offered and bows again. He quickly cast Token spell to clean up all the trash in the immediate area around Zigvigix.

Thank you for allowing us this honor to do your bidding.

I must make sure we defeat this alien and then procure this "album" he has asked us to do. My first impression on our leader needs to be perfect if I am to climb to the top of my faction.

Jelly accepts the candy from Ziggy, studies it carefully, then cautiously puts it in her mouth. She finds it quite pleasant and makes a note on her comm unit of the name on the wrapper so she can look it up later.

"Right, so clear a warehouse and get a CD. Got it." Jelly enters these items into her comm unit's checklist.

"Unfortunately," Morvruul notes, "that is all the information I was able to gather."

"That's super helpful, Morvruul. Thanks! I also did some research before coming here and learned that a host of starships, known locally as the Armada, orbits Absalom Station. Ships from the Armada are often starships that have taken advantage of the station’s Starstone core—a mystical device that allows for quick travel through the Drift back to Absalom Station. The ships of this fleet are increasingly at risk of bringing back undetected alien life, simply because the policing Stewards lack the numbers to search every orbiting ship. Maybe this info will be useful to us as we go through our Commencement tasks."

Well folks, if we put our credits together, we can buy an album.

"Ziggy, does the credstick you're giving us have enough funds to cover the cost of the CD?"

Zigvigix replies telepathically to the group in response to the questions. "The cred stick I gave you has the fifty credits required to purchase the album. Furthermore, Although there is much excitement around this album, it would not be appropriate to acquire a copy by force. We use credits instead of bartering as the basis for our trade, and the people who made the album would be wronged if we took it without paying for it.

"The vicious alien has been cordoned off in a warehouse nearby. The Stewards have set up a perimeter, but are hesitant to go inside due to it shooting nasty harpoon like feathers at its victims. One of the Stewards was impaled already, so it seems that it's very dangerous. If you feel that you can safely capture it alive, it might be interesting to study, but do not compromise your safety to do so. The Stewards and the warehouse owners only care that we remove the threat."

"Shall we neutralize the source of these 'nasty harpoon like feathers' before engaging in our capitalist pursuit?" Morvruul proposes. I need to assess the combat prowess of these other Starfinders. And the sooner the better, thinks the witchwyrd. If there is an opportunity for economic exploitation in relation to this album release, it would be well not to have the others try and stop me.

Harpoon-like feathers? Interesting. I wonder how such a creature could have arrived on the station? Perhaps from this 'Armada' that Jelly mentioned? In which case, did it escape captivity, or was it released for some purpose? As she muses on these questions, the android says aloud, "I concur with our four-armed compatriot. If this creature has already caused casualties, it becomes even more vital to neutralize it before further injuries are incurred."

"Yeah, let's do this thing!"

It sounds like this alien attacks from range. I hope Peanut Butter and I will be able to close in on it. Tactical doshkos have many good qualities, but attacking from a distance is not one of them.

Can I try and mysticism or Life science check to identify the creature before we arrive? I will look sup the Stewards reports and see if I can get a better description of it.

Yes lets make to the warehouse with haste I will research and see if I can identify any know creatures with harpoon like feathers. That we may find out its weakness.

Can I try and mysticism or Life science check to identify the creature before we arrive? I will look sup the Stewards reports and see if I can get a better description of it.

Yes lets make to the warehouse with haste I will research and see if I can identify any know creatures with harpoon like feathers. That we may find out its weakness.

if Life science just add 1

First, we gotta wait in line to purchase the album, then deal with the alien.
And funfreemy will purchase an additional copy for himself too.

Please Mr. Shinefloat he wanted us to clear the alien first. So that no more Stewards get hurt. And to honor the Starfinders. We can procure this album after.
Where is my brethren Exo-Guardian we will need his brawn a I could use the help to keep this team focused on our mission

"Agreed," Gardam says, nodding to Nikon. "To hunt and kill this monster will make the station and it's weak, helpless inhabitants less likely to be in danger. We may... purchase this item for Zigvigix's gift for his intended." The kish looks back at Zigvigix. "Would you not rather have us bring the carcass of the beast we kill, as a sign of the strength of the warband you lead? On Istamak, I was known as something of a 'playboy,' as you station-dwellers say - many an eohi-heart dinner was followed by an eohi-liver breakfast courtesy of my bow... if you know what I mean." The kish winks with two of his eyes.

FYI, Zigvigix's gender pronoun is they.

By studying the Stewards report, and your own life life science expertise you realize this crinoid like creature is Large and has long feather appendages that give it 10' Reach. You also realize that the stiff feather structure is going to impart some resistance to sonic weapons.

You are able to travel to the warehouse without difficulty. The Stewards have set up a force barrier around the warehouse, and when you arrive they carefully let you through. If a character needs to make any purchases, they would have time to do that before proceeding inside.

A massive 15 foot sliding door opens easily. The locking mechanism of the door is already broken apart. You've entered the warehouse.

A catwalk runs along the outer walls 15 feet above the floor. Safety lights evenly spaced above the catwalk provide dim lighting throughout the warehouse. Large cylindrical containers 10 feet in height and crates 5 feet in height fill the warehouse. A raised platform in the back corner of the warehouse rises 10 feet off the floor. A pile of rubble in the center of the floor creates difficult terrain. From where you stand a 10 foot wide pit is barely visible along the right side of the warehouse.

Each PC & drone may take 1 move action now.

"Does anyone see the creature?" Jelly whispers, surveying the room herself.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Not sure if Peanut Butter gets his own perception check, but here's his roll if he does.

Peanut Butter Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 13

If Jelly and Peanut Butter don't see anything, and no one tells them they see something, Jelly moves towards the high ground and signals to Peanut Butter to take the other stairs to get a better view of the room.

From your current position, no one is able to spot the creature.

Gardam quietly moves up the stairs, passing the drone.

"Well, this is certainly an interesting place." Morvruul notes aloud. "I wonder what treasures it holds." The "Merchant" begins searching for merchandise in addition to the creature.
Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15

Scanning for threats...
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Violet starts to skirt around the rubble in the center of the floor and towards the pit, curious what its purpose could be, as well as figuring it a likely hiding place for their quarry. She holds her azimuth rifle at the ready, keeping her head on a swivel as the saying goes. Her artificial eyes prevent a loss of visual acuity, even in the dimly lit warehouse. On the other hand all of the clutter filling the space, while likely excellent for cover once the shooting breaks out, proves to hamper lines of visibility rather more than she would prefer. "No contact thus far," she reports in a hushed voice over the comms.

I'm assuming Violet would have had time to draw her rifle before they entered the building.

All characters had time to draw a weapon if it suited them before entering the warehouse. Note that there is a link to the map above, and repeated here.

Funfreemy moves forward with his solarian weapon at the ready.

Nikon follows 10 feet behind Gardam pistol in hand.

Feel free to move your characters on the map. Everyone has posted but not everyone moved, so I wanted to make sure everyone knows that you can move your own token on your turn :). I've moved pawns to match the description for remaining characters.

The sudden rumble of the cooling system sounds unnaturally loud as you peer around the dim warehouse.

Each PC & drone may take 1 move action now.

Jelly and Peanut Butter continue in their respective directions while scanning the room from their high vantage points. They both hold their doshkos at the ready.

Morvruul set out to look through the other sets of containers, looking for items of interest.
Location updated on map.
Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10

@ GM - You may wish to add the link to the map either in one of the profile headers for your GM alias or in the campaign profile, so that it can be quickly found by you and the players. Makes for faster posting, particularly once the "page" turns on the posts.

My bad, I completely missed the link to the map in the post originally. Thanks for pointing it out.

Once again activating her comm unit so she can speak with everyone spreading throughout the warehouse without needing to yell, Violet announces, "Moving to investigate the breach in the floor." She then does just that, advancing to the edge of the pit and peering inside, keeping her wits about her as she tries to identify whether the creature was inside and what might have caused this kind of damage to the building's metal floors.

Not sure if this merits a new perception roll, but just in case...
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Gardam continues to keep pace with Peanut Butter, rushing himself a little to make sure that he stays in front of the machine. "I'll let no machine take the front line while I stand," he mutters at the drone as he passes it.

Nikon follows Gardam up the cat walk and keeps his 10 feet between him and Peanut Butter.

I must keep radio silence until we find the monster. Do not want to give our position away.Stay in the back that is where you can help the others the most

Stealth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Funfreemy moves up behind the car.