Hmm's SFS 1-09: Live Exploration Extreme! (Inactive)

Game Master Hmm

Ceolor Xusha wrote:

After getting the just of what's going on in the room, the man breaks into a grin that cracks his otherwise very pointed and sharp nose/chin combo. "Ooohhh! We're getting a chance to make discoveries on Salvation's End? And on live broadcast nonetheless? Brilliant! But before I get into my intro, can I do some self promotion on camera? 'Cause that'd be great for selling some books!"

"Yes, there's plenty of opportunity for NON-BORING self-promotion. You know who's gonna be watching?" Zo! proudly answers. “Everyone! Broadcast signals through the Drift will take several days to reach the Pact Worlds, but that's why I've transported 408 lucky audience members here to watch you from orbit, where they can witness the event in real time!”

Ceolor gives Zo! a small pout or annoyance and then quickly turns aroudn planning how to better self-promote and show the undead announcer just how EXCITING he could be.

As the waivers get handed out Ceolor starts to peruse the document before it is snatched from his hands by Luwazi. When he gets the document back he gives it a good one over and nods at her assement. He raises his hand before realizing that he's not in a classroom and insead just asks, "So what would qualify as 'appropriate behavior'? Of course, acting in a legal manner but any restrictions I should be aware of outside of those?"

He does however sign the document having no problems with the rest of the contents. Catching sight of Chorizal sulking over him moving in on Wazasha, Ceolor gives the man a big smile and a suggestive look. "Oh I know about 'dibs' but I'm quite ... uh, flexible when it comes to partners. If she is willing, of course! Also getting paralyzed sounds like it could be fun, assuming it doesn't progress beyond paralysis!"

The Hylki then jumps into the makeup chair and wonders what wonders the makeup artists could with his red skin and hair.

အရမ်းတော်တော်လေးကဲ့သို့သောအရာမျှမ

Chorizal gently grasps the make up artist's wrist and pushes it away. "Tell you what. That's enough for me. Use the surplus on that guy. He needs it way more than me," he says, aiming a claw at Jul.

He grins then as Ceolor talks to him. "Haw! Haw! Haw! Fair enough, pal. We can work it all out after the fightin's done."

He nods to Ceolor. "No offense meant, nipper. Hell, we get asked t' sing too. Whistle while ya' work!. Most my kids took topside jobs. And good fer 'em. I have worked with all types. Minnin an' just cuttin' rock. And I will respect anyon' that comes down t' hole wit'me. "

I forgot I wanted to respond to this! So to take a step back:

Ceolor gives Chorizal a grin in return. "Yup, probably should handle the fighting first. And I like the blue accents, they really highlight your tail!"

As everyone is preparing to board their shuttle to Salvation's End, Zo! invites Ceolor into a nearby room. “Ceolor! I have something fabulous to share with you! Our sponsors have sent in brilliant new gear that my close friends are welcome to test!”.

Music starts playing, and skeletons in ballgowns start bringing out equipment as Zo! describes the gear. “One main sponsor is Nova Solutions LLC, a family-owned half-orc company that specializes in frontier-ready weaponry able to stop even the toughest alien life form in its tracks. It's sent in several pre-production flame, laser, and plasma weapons from its new Scorched Earth product line, advertised with the motto ‘Why end a fight when you can end a planet?’” Zo grins. “Awesome, right?”

“The other main sponsor is Clashwear, the Verces-based producer of comfortably armored clothing that's on the bleeding edge of Pact Worlds fashion. This high-end stationwear covers everything from the stylishly casual to the glamorously eccentric, all created by the wildly popular shirren designer Neshkuay I with the tagline ‘Dressed to Express!’”

Additional equipment by less noteworthy companies is also available.

You can select up to two pieces of gear from the Subtier 1–2 lists below. Weapons and powered equipment come with the item's listed capacity worth of ammunition or charges.

Subtier 1–2 (Armor):

Earning Fan Favor

Over the course of the adventure, each of you can earn special points called Fan Favor by distinguishing yourself through actions and words. Fan Favor represents the degree to which the audience connects with that PC, perceiving a given character as especially charming, daring, energetic, fickle, memorable, philosophical, treacherous, tough, or whiny. The more you play to your persona, the easier it is for the audience to understand and judge your actions (and whether they approve).

Each of you begins with 1 Fan Favor, and multiple prompts in the scenario allow you to earn more. Ideally, I hope to offer several opportunities for each of you to increase your total.

You can also earn Fan Favor in the following ways.

The Booth: Someone who provides engaging answers or anecdotes that fits his persona can attempt a skill check to earn 1 Fan Favor. The skill must match your persona and responses, such as a Charisma-based Profession check for a bubbly aspiring actor, a Sense Motive check for an introspective wallflower, or a Diplomacy check for a wisecracking joker. In general, favor Charisma-based skills when determining which skill to use. Each of you should have at least one opportunity to enter the Booth during this scenario.

Risks: In the eyes of the audience, you are action heroes. By accepting a –4 penalty on a skill check, you can perform the skill in some overly flashy or clever way that impresses viewers. This skill must be one for which your deed is easily observable and for which there's real risk, so getting away with an absurd lie or back-flipping past a goblin would qualify, but recalling an obscure fact probably wouldn't. Each PC can earn only 1 Fan Favor in this way.

Drama: Being a Starfinder isn't always exciting, but Live Exploration Extreme! relies on glamorizing the Society's adventures. The more entertaining the PCs are—and that applies equally to being verbally thoughtful, decisively action-packed, or dramatically petty— the more the audience adores them. When you do something extraordinary like crack the perfect joke, propose an amazing plan, show off a sponsor's gear in a stylish way, or utterly embrace a fan vote's result, you might win a Fan Favor!

The Crew

Two teams accompany you as you head towards the shuttle. The first is the production team, consisting of two ghouls, two androids, and a hexapodal robot, that carries refreshments, portable seats, makeup, the bubble projector, a pair of heavy-duty broadcast relays, and other equipment necessary to keep the operation running.

The camera team consists of 10 ghouls bristling with holocord cameras, boom microphones, reflective screens to amplify natural lighting, and other equipment for properly recording your exploits in several multimedia broadcast formats.

The camera crew occupies a 10-by-15-foot space during combat, though it can break into two 3-square sections if necessary (representing the lighting team breaking away to better illuminate a shot).

The camera crew might periodically get in your way. You can move through the crew as though it were difficult terrain, but you can't end in the same space as the camera crew.

Bill-278 grins at you when he's done hauling stuff for the Production Team and fetches you all another round of drinks, “It always amazes me that we manage to get everything on the shuttle! Are you guys getting excited yet?”

As everyone is preparing to board their shuttle to Salvation's End, Zo! invites Ceolor into a nearby room. “Ceolor! I have something fabulous to share with you! Our sponsors have sent in brilliant new gear that my close friends are welcome to test!”.

Music starts playing, and skeletons in ballgowns start bringing out equipment as Zo! describes the gear. “One main sponsor is Nova Solutions LLC, a family-owned half-orc company that specializes in frontier-ready weaponry able to stop even the toughest alien life form in its tracks. It's sent in several pre-production flame, laser, and plasma weapons from its new Scorched Earth product line, advertised with the motto ‘Why end a fight when you can end a planet?’” Zo grins. “Awesome, right?”

“The other main sponsor is Clashwear, the Verces-based producer of comfortably armored clothing that's on the bleeding edge of Pact Worlds fashion. This high-end stationwear covers everything from the stylishly casual to the glamorously eccentric, all created by the wildly popular shirren designer Neshkuay I with the tagline ‘Dressed to Express!’”

A quizical look comes over Ceolor's face as Zo! calls him into the next room, but his eyes light up at the mention of the sponsorship. "Wait I get to use pre-production items? YES!" He tries to hide a smile over the disconnect of skeletons in ball gowns but soon zeros in on the weapons on display. "I love the sleek curves and flame motifs of this line! It looks so... deadly, and the motto will certianly be fun to say after taking down an enemy. ‘Why end a fight when you can end a planet?’"

Ceolor picks up the kukri and tries to strike a pose, before breaking into a smile and laying a hand on his rifle. "How'd that sound? Hmm, normally I'd shoot at someone from a distance with Ole' Azzy here but with such a cool weapon as this I might have to get up close and personal!"

He then goes over the provided armor and settles on a sleek and form fitting buisness stationwear suit, and adjusts the colors to an almost coal like black with a matching tie and shirt, before adding a few touches of red here and there. He quickly finds a changing room and gets dressed in the new armor, trying for an overall look of a sleek burning piece of coal. He picks up the kukri, turns the back of the blade along his forearm and riases the arm up like he'd just sliced down a goblin, trying to turn the blade of the weapon so the 'Scorced Earth' along it is clearly visible, and twists his leg in an attempt to make the Clashwear in a dark red along the side of it clearly visible. "How do I look? Think this could lead to a fulltime sponsorship?"

Ceolor is going to take the Red Star Plasma Kukri and Business stationwear. I do have some questions about the Fan Favor (and personalities in particular, but I have to run right now!

Ceolor's expression softens at Frank's words, the man breaking out into a smile. "None taken! And Oof that must be a fun stereotype to encounter. Especially if you can't whistle! But would you mind showing me about mining? I have to admit, I never did learn much about my grandfather's occupation, and it'd be nice to have someone who's an expert show me the ropes!"

Frank smiles cheerfully, "Aye, it aint a galm job but if you have a little mobility you will never be for want of money. Just you will never have a single place you call home. There's always some 'toid somewhere wit som min'rel worth enough for someone to seen a few brave souls to git. Tat's a hard thing for many to give up what they had called home. My uncle would always like a good crew o' Aki'es around for the low grav jobs. Had a good number of 'em after ta' thasteron crash. But ye'r right. Few took on t'mantle since then. I worked with one crew when I was young on a moon out in t'near. Now we'd be lucky to get one willin' to take the life, let alone a full crew."

Chorizal's eyes narrow and his teeth show as Ceolor is first taken away by Zo! then pops back up with fresh new gear. "Lucky bachuda. At least what he got isn't so great," he quietly grumbles.

He watches the loading of the two sets of crews with frank confusion, awe and admiration. In fact, he almost forgets to get on the shuttle, rushing in at the last moment because he got too busy watching everything.

He returns Bill-278's grin, though his expression is far more sly. "Oh, you'd always be amazed at how much you can get into a tight space if you work it right. Haw! Haw! Haw!"

I also have questions about the personality thing. Do we get to determine what our persona will be? Will you be doing it? If the latter, will you tell us what it is?

"You look fabulous!" Zo! exclaims to Ceolor. "Now dash off and catch your shuttle! I have a show to start!"

Ceolor is rushed by technicians to the sleek shuttle owned by Zo! productions. As you all board, you notice that it's particularly clean and comfortable -- or it would be, if you were not constantly being prodded by camera and lighting equipment. There is a cheery multi-colored skull theme throughout.

A bunch of ghouls bring up holoscreens as they watch a dancing animated version of Zo! dancing to the show's jaunty theme music. "It's about to start!"

"Hey, hey, Sentients of the Pact Worlds!" Zo! shouts as the audience roars its approval. "Are you ready for Live Exploration Extreme!?"

A film montage begins with clips of all your interviews, and scenes from the make up rooms. "We have six brave Starfinders off to face unknown dangers and lurking mysteries in the depths of Salvation's End, a moon of endless adventure!"

"We'll learn more about the personalities and concerns of our six Starfinders as we journey." Zo! notes. "But here they are!"

>> Basically I am hoping that everyone in the team chooses their own persona. Basically, be a wonderful, flamboyant, over-the-top version of the characters that you already have. But hey, here's how Zo! sees you. <<

"We have Abistar-4, slightly awkward yet thoughtful android student of the mystical arts! Ceolor Xusha, a colorful book writer from Akiton! Chorizal, a vesk soldier with a love of the glamorous, and a suicidal interest in our own Wazasha! Frank Gulp, the crusty but friendly miner, ready to really 'dig' into this exploration. We have Julkashatil, who eshews make-up, and already has a slight rivalry with Chorizal! Save your conflicts for the monsters, boys!" The audience laughs as a scene from the makeup room plays, with subtitles in Vesk. "Then there's Kastien, seeker of harmony, explorer of the universe... but do deadly skills lie beneath the surface? Only time will tell!"

When the holocam in front of him lights up, Chorizal bares his teeth then chomps them menacingly before smiling as he runs a hand over the frills on his jaws.

Then he glances behind him and spots Wazasha. He turns back to the camera and gives it a wink while aiming a thumb back at her.

Kastien looked around at the gear the others were choosing. None of it really appealed to him, though the static arc pistol seemed closest. Pulling on his power glove, he grabbed the pistol and struck a pose, pistol leading, and armored fist raised.

"Well, I suppose this excellent pistol would be a nice ranged backup to my primary weapon. Nothing like getting up close and personal, eh? Oh, and I can't forget that I bring my own armor with me everywhere I go!"

The crystal mote that had been hovering next to Kastien's left ear like a large anti-grav ear stud, suddenly disappeared. Kastien was wreathed in blue-white energy taking the form of small interlocking scales. He grinned through the display.

"Well, how do I look?"

Kastien is a character, high in Charisma but severely lacking in both intellect and wisdom. He makes a great foil, will often turn perfectly normal statements into jokes (usually bad ones), and is desperate to find oneness with the Universe, even if he has to smash his way through obstacles head first to get it. Physically strong, he likes to get in close to pummel enemies, but lacks the grace and robustness to do it well. The proverbial bull in the china shop.

Back in Zo's showroom, before the shuttle launch

"Sneaking into my showroom uninvited! I admire your spunk, Kastien!" Zo! grins. "But rules are rules!" Zo! plucks the pistol from Kastien's hand. "Only those who had another media experience with me get to visit the sponsor's showroom! Still, I have to remember that you are daring sort!"

The sponsor's showroom access is from the High Society: Zo! ally boon.

As he steps in he quickly looks over everyone and their equipment. Seems mostly out of habit than inquisitiveness. Satisfied, Frank settles in the shuttle. "This a fine much bettr' than most t'drop ships I been'n. Looks like a smooth ride down to t' 'toid"

Worth it! ;) Still a little out of it from the fever apparently. It affected by reading comprehension?

"While I find your assessment very accurate Zo!, I think it would be more accurate to say I'm a student of emotion rather than the mystical. I study and dissect the emotions of those around, both of my party and those we might meet, some might say that I'm overly oppressive with my opinions on these matters, for example," Abistar-4 turns to Chorizal as he tells him adjusting to a pleading tone calling to the vesk, "You leave this relationship! While it feels good now, can't you see that it will end with nothing but pain for you both? Mostly you?"

Chorizal looks to Abistar-4 then leans over his seat to check out Wazasha again then back to Abistar-4.

"#WorthIt, buddy. #WorthIt."

Jul looks at Celor coming out of the showroom

"So, nothing actually USEFUL in there I'm guessing? You look like an idiot, in case you care. And if you use that tag line I'm going to hit you"

My persona is based a whole lot on Rory from Legends of Tomorrow. Gruff, likes violence, likes to insult his team mates, impulsive, the kind who LOVES to start barroom brawls. Appears stupid but is actually brighter than he looks

Frank smiles cheerfully, "Aye, it aint a galm job but if you have a little mobility you will never be for want of money. Just you will never have a single place you call home. There's always some 'toid somewhere wit som min'rel worth enough for someone to seen a few brave souls to git. Tat's a hard thing for many to give up what they had called home. My uncle would always like a good crew o' Aki'es around for the low grav jobs. Had a good number of 'em after ta' thasteron crash. But ye'r right. Few took on t'mantle since then. I worked with one crew when I was young on a moon out in t'near. Now we'd be lucky to get one willin' to take the life, let alone a full crew."

Ceolor's bright white smile splits his red face. "I certainly got quite a bit of mobility! But I'm glad to hear that there were hylki able to find work after the crash. Not too many who did. I think most of us who are at least inclined to pick up an axe are browbeat into not ever even trying. Not much love for the mines back home anymore."

"You look fabulous!" Zo! exclaims to Ceolor. "Now dash off and catch your shuttle! I have a show to start!"

a brilliant grin plastered on his face, Ceolor gives an almost cheeky salute. He gives a toungue-in-cheek "Aye Aye, sir!" before turning around and hurrying after everyone.

Later on the shuttle, Ceolor tries not to frown over the end of the mike boom lightly pressing against his cheek as he watches the intro of the show. Pushing away the metal stick he turns and jumps into the conversation of Chorizal and Abistar. "Just set some boundaries, man. If you aren't wanting to find out what being aghoul is liek jsut tell her, geez. Also make sure to use safe words!" He glances at Wazasha, Or in this case, safe... eye movements, I guess?"

Jul looks at Celor coming out of the showroom

"So, nothing actually USEFUL in there I'm guessing? You look like an idiot, in case you care. And if you use that tag line I'm going to hit you"

Ceolor gives the man a distrusting look for a second before realizing that that's just how Jul is. He gives a s$#*-eating grin and snipes back, "Useful like a potiental tertiary source of income? Thasteron-hell yes there was! And hey at least I'm not going to be washed out on the holo-screens." Now how often can I work that tag-line in before he actually punches me?

As your shuttle pulls into an oversized hangar at the space dock on Salvation's End, there's construction equipment and bots everywhere, along with a Starfinder team of engineers. "How exciting!" Wazasha exclaims. "What are you Starfinders doing here?"

"Lots of repairs and an expansion," the bright yellow skittermander who's the chief engineer says. "This may be a lodge someday, depending on what all of you find! I'm Aba, by the way." She looks over the make-up that you're all wearing, and the camera team. "Hello nufriends! You all look great!" She puts away her tools to shake each of the Starfinder's hands at once. Aba then looks at the ghouls, hesitates and then just bows in a friendly manner. "Welcome to Salvation's End!" Then she pauses and says, "Let me guide you past all this construction, okay?"

Aba leads you to a heavy hatch deeper in the facility, beyond which lie dark tunnels that lead deep below the surface. "I'm not cleared to go any further, but good luck! Find cool stuff!"

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

A network of service tunnels crisscrosses this outermost subsurface layer, providing avenues for repair drones to service the chambers deeper inside. Wazasha turns to all of you. "Excellent. Now the real fun begins. As you explore, I want you to voice your thoughts aloud. Tell us, and the rest of your team, what you're thinking. Be vocal, be active,", Wazasha prompts. "Oh and feel free to keep developing your personae by bantering with each other. The audience loves that!"

As you walk along, you find broken and incomplete robots and drones of unknown design at irregular intervals along the worn steel hallways. Almost every light fixture is broken or malfunctioning, making the 15-foot-tall tunnels dark but for the occasional, haunting flicker of light from the distance. In the few places where it seems signage once hung, someone has purposefully defaced or removed the analog signs and torn out any digital displays.

Franks takes in the scene and quietly observes for a for moments. He taps the wall some times and at one point pokes a pile of robot parts with his spanner.

Engineering: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

"The tech is...different. Solid... not from 'round here...It's old manufacturing, but just a' good as we gots"

Physical Science: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 +5 for Geology scholar

Frank spends a good deal of time touching and feeling the exposed rocks. He face goes a bit sour. "This ain't good. Ta ijidits most likely over did the gravity. Lots o' power need'd to keep this place at normie 'grav. But untended that can make things wonkie. The jobos that made tis place were clever, but not'in with that much grav power does well when left alone. 'toid like this shouldn't have plates and faults like this. Should be solid, make crack from collissions, but...." he thoughtfully puffs on his c-gar. "this...this ain't stable."

Kastien was thrilled to meet the skittermander. Despite the yellow creature's thick accent, he could tell that Aba really enjoyed her job.

"My greetings to you, Aba. I am Kastien, Seeker of Truth and Enlightenment. I do indeed think that we will 'find cool stuff', but I am wondering how you came to be here as a chief engineer? That seems like a very important position."

-----------------------------

In the tunnels, Kastien absorbs his mote once more, covering himself with the glowing interlocked energy scales of his armor. It gave off a slight glow, miniscule to the lighting rigs carried by the camera crew, but it made him feel a little better.

"Friend Frank, it is good that the tech level is not so far beyond our own as to be perceived as magic, yes? But what do you mean about the gravity? Are we in danger of being crushed in a graviton wave? My connections with the universe give me some minor control over local gravity, but I am certain at this stage in my journey that it is too small to stave off any serious gravitational anomalies."

Frank picks a few pebbles and bits of dirt and tosses them in the air and watches them fall. He licks the dust off his fingers, ponders the flavor, then nods satisfied. "Should b'fine. The 'toid donna look like its ready t' crack just yet. But wit out t'see'n t'power core, I can'na say about long term stability"

Earlier

Aba grins at Kastien's question. "I became Chief Engineer because I like helping and fixing things!" Then she whispers. "Also because I don't mind filling out boring paperwork."

Now

The camera crew closes in as Frank shows off his expertise, filming the rocks from all angles as he speaks. Then Wazasha smooths out her hair and turns to the cameras, speaking in an urgent and dramatic voice. "The Starfinder team has discovered that Salvation's End has gravitational instability! Will this all lead to a crushing defeat for them?"

"Gravitational instability? How very exciting!" Zo! says to his studio audience back on the Exemplarion. The studio audience cheers. Zo! points to a screen. "I guess that means its time for our first poll! Studio audience, what do you think the odds are for our intrepid explorers to survive in such an instable environment?"

Audience Vote on the Odds of the Party's Survival: 1d100 ⇒ 1

Zo! claps his hands. "WELL, you've heard it here first! Our Starfinders are entering the DANGER zone!"

Farther down their chosen tunnel, you also find a midden containing both refuse and excrement. Wazasha and her crew step carefully around the waste, but gleefully film all your facial reactions as you explore this smelly and squishy midden heap.

Wazasha turns to the cameras. "This looks like a literal pile of crap, Zo! I wonder what our team will make of it!"

life science: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
survival, untrained: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7

Kastien moved in close to the midden pile to look it over and see what he could tell. Being an Exo-Guardian and a Seeker, he had a strong desire to learn about the universe's inhabitants. In this case, though, he was disappointed.

"Goblins. Just goblins. And lots of them from the size of these piles. They must be close too, because goblins don't normally go far from their homes to dump their trash and excrement. Never know when you might need it again, you see. This one's a bit different, though. Something more like what Chorizal might leave behind."

Thnking about what he had said, Kastien quickly stood and bowed slightly in the vesk's direction. "No offense meant, friend Chorizal. It is only that this excrement came from something roughly the size and appetites of a vesk. And given your dining habits at the buffet..."

Kastien trailed off as his normally diplomatic tongue failed him repeatedly.

As Kastien mentions Goblins, Frank scowls.

關於寄生蟲害的繁殖

Egnineering: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Survial: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Poking around the midden "Yap, that's gob-o work. Buggers went that way." The plasma end of the c-gar glows brightly as he sighs. He pulls forth his scatter gun and checks the shells. "Well, nippers. Looks like ter's some trouble a'head"

"Your audience are all idiots! We're going to go in, kick alien ass, and come back alive. Or not alive in the case of your crew"

On seeing the dung, Jul looks at Kastien. It is obvious from his body language that he is thinking of "accidentally" knocking him into the pit. But apparently he thinks better of it and just passes the pit with a scowl.

He is careful to be in the lead (or close to it) as the group proceeds on

Chorizal happily shakes the hand Aba offers him and then ruffles the fur on her head before following along behind her through the construction. He pays no mind to any of it. It's all pretty boring. It's much more entertaining to break stuff and build it, after all.

When the poll results come back, Chor gapes then scowls into a camera, pausing to smash the head of one of the deactivated robots laying around with an armored fist. "By Damoritosh's Powerful Right Fist! I can't believe there's something me and Jul actually agree on. You people think a little thing like gravity is gonna stop us? Although, I kinda hope that the gravity will give out entirely. Jul seems like the type to go...a little green in zero-G. Haw! Haw! Haw!"

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

"You an expert on Vesk dumps, Kastien? I mean, you ain't wrong. When you eat like a male like I do, you gotta deal with the consequences. I just didn't know you Solarions had classes on the loads folks leave behind."

He nods at Frank's analysis, coming to the same conclusion. Then he looks to the camera again.

"Aight, folks. Time to get ol' Clatty some bidness."

Then he turns to Wazasha. "Got any requests? Brains? Guts? You look like a leg woman, to me, but lady's choice."

Turning to the camera again, he gives it a wink.

But as he moves down the hall, he's all business. Artillery laser at the ready as he scans for threats, taking up a spot next to Jul in the vanguard.

"I may need to agree with them. So far, from the interior of this place, there are no known survivors. Continuing with that trend is a reasonable guess. Although, it does hurt me that they don't trust in our abilities. I will try to change them as we proceed."

Life Science: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

"Not just Kastien, the feces appears the same to myself. It was part of a larger class dealing with known biology throughout the Pact Worlds. I would highly recommend it, such classes can create bonds that last decades. It would likely be a bonding experience if we were to take such a class all with one another! It would help dispel the ongoing hostility that permeates between us."

The cameras lovingly follow Kastien, and then there's a close up of various types of excrement, with the production crew happily adding in arrows and identifiers for the Studio audience.

As Jul calls the entire audience idiots, the camera crew practically trips over themselves to capture his insults on screen. Then different camera people follow up with Cho's banter and Abistar-4's theories.

Sensing a slight lull, Wazasha grins at Chorizal. "Whatever you serve up would be lovely. As for what I want? I want to pull someone into the booth!"

BOOTH TIME!

The hexapodal robot plants itself on the ground and unfolds its top like a box, deploying a seat in front of a two-panel screen to create a visually neutral backdrop. At the same time, the robot deploys a pair of tiny hover drones equipped with cameras as well as a slightly opaque, noise-cancelling bubble to provide some privacy.

Wazasha pulls Kastien into the booth and peppers him with questions.

"Tell us a bit about the world where you grew up, Castrovel. Where are you from? What made you decide to become a solarian, and then a starfinder?"

"So, I hear that you snuck into Zo!'s showroom uninvited. Have you always been this ballsy?"

"You were awfully quiet when the first fan feedback came back about your survival chances. Are you scared inside?"

"When did you become such an expert on excrement -- especially Vesk excrement?"

"What do you think of some of your fellow contestants so far? Any interesting first impressions? Any good gossip?"

Trips into the Booth are short, and should not impede the party's continued travel and exploration!

Going back some:
Ceolor's face lights up as he sees Aba, and the man rushes in and takes the offered hand. "It's always a pleasure to meet a nufriend skitter! And might I say yellow is a dashing color on you, Aba! Hopefully we can find something cool enough to make this place a proper lodge." He slightly overhears her conversation with Kastien, and smiles, before adding in in his own small voice, "Oh, oh, can you help me with my paperwork? It's soooo dull, and no chance to get creative with wording."

Moving up a little further:
Ceolor gives a raised eyebrow at the revalation that the gravity might be unstable, before smiling as his eyes light up at the prospect. "That sounds like it could be all sorts of fun! I love zero-G and heavy gravity is always fun to mess around in too!" His face clouds over as the poll results come in. "Wow, didn't think everyone would think so little of us, I'm kinda disappointed. But maybe they know something I don't. But, eh, why worry about it, if it happens it happens!"

"By Damoritosh's Powerful Right Fist! I can't believe there's something me and Jul actually agree on. You people think a little thing like gravity is gonna stop us? Although, I kinda hope that the gravity will give out entirely. Jul seems like the type to go...a little green in zero-G. Haw! Haw! Haw!"

Ceolor gives a laugh along with Chorizal, "Haw Ha! You're right he does seem the type! Though wait, Cho, ain't he already green? You think he'd go even greener? Wonder if he'd reach Castrovel levels!"

And then to the midden pit:

Ceolor's face gives a quick falsh of immediate disgust over the stinking pile, but soon remembers he's on TV and tries to plaster a fake smile on his face as he looks at it some more. His left eye starts to visibly twitch as he decides not to approach the area further.

"... This one's a bit different, though. Something more like what Chorizal might leave behind."

Thnking about what he had said, Kastien quickly stood and bowed slightly in the vesk's direction. "No offense meant, friend Chorizal. It is only that this excrement came from something roughly the size and appetites of a vesk. And given your dining habits at the buffet..."

Ceolor's eyes go wide as Kastien gives Chorizal an unexpected burn. And I thought I was going to be the pot stirrer! "Dang, Kastien! I wouldn't have expected that from you! Nice dis there."

"You an expert on Vesk dumps, Kastien? I mean, you ain't wrong. When you eat like a male like I do, you gotta deal with the consequences. I just didn't know you Solarions had classes on the loads folks leave behind."

Ceolor shifts over to look ing at Cho, and gives a small hoot, "And Cho returns it, double! Give me five!" He holds up a hand and then realizes it's the same on as Clatty and quickly shifts to the other, clearly expecting a high-five.

"Not just Kastien, the feces appears the same to myself. It was part of a larger class dealing with known biology throughout the Pact Worlds. I would highly recommend it, such classes can create bonds that last decades. It would likely be a bonding experience if we were to take such a class all with one another! It would help dispel the ongoing hostility that permeates between us."

Ceolor looks at Jul as the vesk is clearly contemplating pushing Kastien into the pile, and then at Kastien and Chorizal, before giving the andriod a slightly disbelieveing look. "Uhhhh, if you say so..."

"You an expert on Vesk dumps, Kastien? I mean, you ain't wrong. When you eat like a male like I do, you gotta deal with the consequences. I just didn't know you Solarions had classes on the loads folks leave behind."

Kastien took the comment in stride. "I don't think it's a solarion thing. It falls more in line with my studies to be a xenoseeker, and all that that entails. I love studying xeno culture, first other sophonts, and then to the flora and fauna that have been discovered. It is one of the things I looked forward to most when joining the Starfinders, getting to see new worlds and new species, and learn more about them and how they can point me forward on my journey."

When he was asked to join Wazasha in the booth, Kastien looked a little taken aback. Surely the others were more interesting than him? Still, he pasted a cocky grin on his face and joined the ghoul in the private recording chamber. As the answers came peppering in, he relaxed a little and got into the rhythm of things.

"Tell us a bit about the world where you grew up, Castrovel. Where are you from? What made you decide to become a solarian, and then a starfinder?"

"Well, as I am sure you know, Castrovel is a jungle world, filled with some of the most beautiful plants and amazing animals in the Pact Worlds. It is also a so-called "death planet" where practically everything, including the fuzzy and cute-looking, but very deadly, drop-bears seem to want to kill you. We lasunta have evolved on Castrovel and the universe has sculpted us to thrive there, along with several other sapient species, despite the dangers. It's a beautiful world, Wazasha. have you been there? Life teems on Castrovel. It was that life that made me decide simultaneously to take up the mantle of a solarian and become a Seeker. The Starfinder Society seemed to be a good fit for a young Seeker, giving me both employment and many opportunities to learn more about the Universe."

"So, I hear that you snuck into Zo!'s showroom uninvited. Have you always been this ballsy?"

"Well, you see, he intimated that there was some equipment there to choose from, for his special friends. How was I to know that just meant Ceolor? I thought we were all his special friends. Still, the arc-pistol would have been a nice addition. I'll just have to make use of my pulsecaster for now. Though this is my preferred weapon. The K-Systems pulse-strike 35J gauntlet. I like to be in close when the scrum starts."

"You were awfully quiet when the first fan feedback came back about your survival chances. Are you scared inside?"

"Scared? No! As a Seeker, I know that all must die. Even the universe will one day heat its inevitable heat death. But, until our appointed time, why shouldn't we joyfully experience all that this amazgin universe has to offer? "

"When did you become such an expert on excrement -- especially Vesk excrement?"

"Oh, well that...umm...you see...I took a class at the Kontovaran University on xeno culture and the professor there was very proud of her excrement collection. She taught us all about the diets of various species, how to determine an individual's health from the consistency and smell, and even identify an individual from a pack simply by their scat. It was gross at first, but also very interesting. I heard she died a few years ago. A tragic accident involving a renkroda and freshly collected scat. Suffocation. Bad way to go."

"What do you think of some of your fellow contestants so far? Any interesting first impressions? Any good gossip?"

"I think this group is an amazing collection of individuals. Really. I mean two vesks, both in obvious dominance mode, a dwarf with a fake accent - I mean, really, he can't keep up with it. Haven't you noticed? - an Akitonian human, and an android mystic. Delightful! I can't wait to see how well we manage to work together as a team."

Shortly after Kastien is released from the Booth, an explosion shakes the walls and echoes overhead. "Oh my, Zo!" Wazasha enthuses. "Perhaps we're already seeing some of that structural instability!"

The camera crew fans out, ready to film your explorations or perhaps your deaths on camera. But the first corpses that you see are those of charred goblins, who clearly laid down some explosives and miscalculated the payload. A team of goblins is sifting through the wreckage, but they all shriek with blood lust as they see you!

With them is a strange creature that looks like a six legged armadillo with compound eyes.

Due to the poor lighting conditions, the camera crew turns on an array of bright set lights that several ghouls turn toward the action. This creates an area of bright light in a 30-foot radius around the camera crew, and the light level decreases to normal light for 30 feet beyond that.

The goblins, knowing they are in a deadly musical, burst into song!

♫ We're the Exhaust Drinkers
Secret treasure to decant
We're scheming deadly stinkers
With our mighty Spicodranth
Silly longshanks will quake in fear
With shots and sharps defeat you
Singing, we grin from ear to ear
We'll kill and cut and eat you ♫

Map on Slide One

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Round 1
Active conditions:

Kastien
Frank Gulp
Chorizal
Ceolor

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Spicodranth

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Julkashatil

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Red Space Goblin
Green Space Goblin
Blue Space Goblin

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Abistar-4

Frank moves forward, pulling out a red stick of explosives. Touching one end of the stick to burning end of his c-get, it begins to flame. Tossing the stick, he cries. "I got something for you t'fear

Stick o'Dynamite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18 35ft range increment
Boom! Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5 P DC 12 ref for half

Ceolor gives a start at the unexpected sound, "OMG The audience was right we're gonna die!" His eyes take on a yellow glow as he readies himself to try dodging out of the way of the collapsing tunnel, only to find that the 'structural integrity failure' was just goblins. "Dangit, should have known! Gobbos!"

Ceolor ducks and weaves under the people standing in front of him, "Oof, scuse me. Cho, get your shapely ass outta my way! I see that foot, Jul! Can't trip me up that way!"

As he moves Ceolor pulls out the Scorched Earth kukri and rushes headlong into the fight, until he realizes that the goblins are... SINGING! He skitters to a stop in front of the ghoul group an incredulous look on his face. "Wait, noone said this was going to be a musical! I did not sign up for this. I don't care if it was written into that contract, I ain't singing! Period!"

Giving the singing pack of little green space men a horrified look he spends a second to bathe his fire knife in a sheath of fire. "I'll want the extra fire power, joke intended, to deal with this musical menace before it becomes a song and dance number." He gives a small shudder at the thought.

Slipping into Photon mode as a free action, then moving 40', and topping the round off with activating Plasma Sheath.

Chorizal is the kind of guy who high fives WAY TOO HARD, a trait only accentuated by fact that he has done all he can to turn the gauntlets of his armor into weapons.

Despite his bravado, he looks around, clearly worried as there is an explosion. But he also rushes forward toward it, getting his artillery laser ready along the way.

A wicked grin comes to his face as he sees the goblins.

"Welcome to the asteroid, Gobbos! You're gonna die!" he calls out in a strangely high pitched voice as he moves closer and pops off a shot at the one wearing blue.

Artillery Laser: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Fire Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 2

life science: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Kastien charged forward with Chorizal, drawing his pistol as he went. Reaching the vesk soldier, he cocked his power gauntleted fist back and leveled his pistol, ready to pulverize anything that came through the door. Kastien subtly adjusted his posture and the glow of his stellar armor dimmed slightly as all light nearby seemed to stream towards him.

"Goblins, yes, but that is also a young spicodranth. Watch out, I think its bites are poison and it is likely the spoor back there was from it, so definitely a meat eater!"

Kastien wasn't really sure about the spicodranth. He had read about them, but couldn't really recall any details. But, most bites are bad for you, and he was certain it was a meat eater.

Move forward, drawing pistol and preparing to smite the enemy. Entering graviton mode.

Zo comes in on the broadcast. "Kastien, do I need to remind you are a Xenoseeker? Really, don't force me to break the fourth wall -- our repair bills are enormous!"

Flip that spoiler!

Oops!

"Wait, I just remembered, they aren't poisonous, they are reflective! They can redirect fire or electrical attacks. Watch those laser weapons! Also, don't shine those camera lights on it, as they help its reflective armor!"

Reflex Green Goblin: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Reflex Blue Goblin: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Reflex Spicodranth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

This is not Blue Goblin's day. He takes full brunt of the blast, and then dies to Chorizal's shot!

The spicodranth howls piteously, and then runs in pain towards the Starfinders, ending up at the person who slaughtered his goblin friend!

Kastien, he had partial cover from you, no attack of opportunity!

Spicodranth claw vs Chorizal: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

The spicodranth misses Chorizal!

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Round 1
Active conditions:

Kastien
Frank Gulp
Chorizal
Ceolor

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Spicodranth (-2)

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Julkashatil

================================

Red Space Goblin
Green Space Goblin (-2)
Blue Space Goblin

================================

Abistar-4

Sorry for the delay

Julkashatil rushes toward the Dranth, drawing his longsword in one hand and laser pistol in the other

"You are ugly!! WAY too ugly to live!!"
longsword: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 for damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Jul attempts to slay the Dranth, but discovers that in the bright light of the cameras that the spicodranth is darn near unhittable. Meanwhile, the film crew comes even closer, trying to get a good shot of the beast.

"Also, don't shine those camera lights on it, as they help its reflective armor!"

Do you want to phrase that request with a diplomacy or an intimidate roll?

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

"Our monster! We found it first!" The goblins cry out.

Unstable Junklaser vs Chorizal: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 3 - 4 = 17
Flame Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Unstable Junklaser vs Jul: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 3 - 4 = 13
Flame Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Green and Red fire on the two imposing looking Vesks, but miss because of all the cover in the way.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Round 1
Active conditions:

Kastien
Frank Gulp
Chorizal
Ceolor

================================

Spicodranth (-2)

================================

Julkashatil

================================

Red Space Goblin
Green Space Goblin (-2)
Blue Space Goblin (DEAD)

================================

Abistar-4

Abistar-4 moves forward and gives an ernast, and over the top, plea to the crew to stop lighting the creature. "Please, I know this ultimate desires, but you need to divert the lighting. Your continued push forward is disrupting the flow of our energies and building negative emotions, creating a catastrophic cascade that conflicts with our combat. Even now the burning lights are igniting the ongoing strife between us all. Ceolor is so beset that even music can't move his soul."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

"Oh sorry!" one of the ghouls wielding a camera says, as he directs his colleagues to dim the lights.

"Right," Wazasha says, thoughtfully. "Time to use the infrared cameras! They'll create a spookier-looking atmosphere for the shot!''

Meanwhile, from nowhere, some theme music plays.

♫ On Live Action Extreme
It's time to put on makeup
It's time to douse the lights
It's time to don IR goggles on Zo's Show tonight… ♫

Annoyed at the singing, Frank moves up to the one goblin, while pulling out his welder. "Stop that infernal racket, or I'll seal ya' mouth shut"

Double move due to Dwarf speed

Kastien thought he had been clear enough, but apparently he needed to be more congenial about such things next time. He was about to speak again, but the fighting was at hand. He brought his pulse gauntlet forward in a low strike, aiming for the dranth’s spine as it joined the body. Darkness seemed to flow around his armor as he sucked in the nearby light.

kac: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
b,so: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8