GM Ietsuna's - SFS 1-01 Commencement (Inactive)

Game Master Ietsuna

After your graduation ceremony, Guidance, the Starfinder Society’s compiled intelligence of Starfinder personalities, summons you to the Lorespire Complex.

The silver android with green circuit-tattoos walks to the Lorespire Complex. He is awed by it every time he comes here. He makes his way to Guidance's room looking out of place in his 'native' garb. "I was instructed to appear before you."

As the doors to 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.

Refer to the maps and handouts link in the header for the info on the Subdermal Implant

A rather trim red-headed female Dwarf enters the room and looks around in awe.

”Wow! Qubat university’s got nothing on this place” she says as she wanders into the room. ”Our xenoarchaeology department used to share a building with the experimental rock music department. This is so. . . Quiet.”

She provides the cheek swab and then gets the injection implant. ”Huh. Reminiscent of ancient Ryphorian clan identification with magic Tattoos. Is that where you got the idea?” she turns, asking Guidance.

A short, squat humanoid with a seemingly constantly furrowed brow and bald head (and no beard) steps through the sliding doors. He is decked out in all manner of tech from his head to his feet. Under the tech he wears a ceramic breastplate, shoulder guards, bracers, and greaves, though no helm commonly accompanying this style of armor.

He grunts and nods at the others, walks up to the panel and receives the implant as he uses the cheek swab.

The green holographic image of guidance smiles at Rudura warmly. Nothing is new in the universe. We got the idea from many places, perhaps a place inspired by the ancient tattoos.

A male human with light brown skin, bright white hair and matching close cut beard joins the group in the room. He carries a variety of gear for many different situations but is not overly armed or armored. A set of pistols are secured at his waist with a stun-gun in a shoulder holster.

He smiles and greets everyone in the group, "Hello there, Alejandro at your service. It's good to meet some new pathfinders. I may seem old and wizened, but that's far from the truth. I'm pretty new to the organization, though they lost my paperwork so I missed this part and got sent on THREE missions before they figured out I hadn't even been through the orientation!"

When it is his turn, he moves up and provides the cheek swab while joking, "I heard they do this to be able to match it to the bodies that come back so mangled they can't even ID them... just kidding! I've been on three missions, not even one death. They don't send us out to anything that crazy."

I better not tell them about my first mission though, but at least I pack a bit more variety of weapons now. That was a close call. Those who pay close attention notice he did not have the implant installed.

He sits down for the briefing, "these old bones ain't turning down a chance to sit, that's for sure."

"Greetings and well met" True Silver greets his fellow initiates. He'll give a sample and will accept the subdermal implant. "Is that it or is there a mission?"

Rudura saddles up next to Carlos. ”You think that’s bad?” she asks conversationally. ”I wasn’t even a Pathfinder. They hired me to do some xenarchaeology on a dig site and next thing I know I’m stuck behind an alien force-field wall for a year. Still, my group kept me safe, and I got rescued. Must be crazy but I’m going in. These Pathfinders can be can be very persuasive.”

She holds out her hand to shake. ”I’m Rudura. Rudura Storyscriber. Xenoarchaeologist specializing in ancient cybernetics and bio-augmentations.”

A Ysoki quietly enters the room during introductions. He is small (even for his species) and meticulously groomed. At a break in the conversation he introduces himself in a voice more stern than expected, "Hello, Smek Skytower at your service. Acquisitions and returns are my specialty." He offers a hand or bow as the others introduce themselves.

He moves forward to provide the cheek swab, and places his left hand on the panel receiving the implant. "It is an honor to finally meet you Guidance. What service can we render for the Starfinders today?"

I shall await everyone's genetic profiles, and give everyone the opportunity to have the implant, should they so choose, before I divulge the details

Baryon heaves a sigh, "I am Baryon of Ratheren. I am one of the few Ferran left. I have decided to join the Starfinders to aid in my people's search for a new home." His face definitely belays a grumpy demeanor, but his tone is more matter-of-fact.

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.

See slide 3 for a handout detailing the SFS factions. The missions are listed in an order in the scenario (the same as on the handout) or we can do them out of order if you are playing a Chaotic group :)

Just after Baryon, a new tall figure enters a room. It could be a comparison effect or a fact but the new Starfinder is rather tall, with hairless head, with his mouth hidden behind a piece of material of dark red color.

He carries a long pike in one of his hands, his remaining three hands hold nothing. His clothing is also of dark red color with some grey elements in them. In a few places, you can see an emblem on his clothing representing a four-hand dragon holding scepter, skull, sword, and scroll. Next to his head floats a red sphere of constantly floating energy, it can remind you of a miniature size star. This flying ball seems to have no effect on its surroundings, besides shedding light around it.

The person looks around and speaks in a deep voice:

"My name is Vecro Asynti from the House Khadil and it is a pleasure to meet you."

With saying that he goes to give his genetic mark and collect the implant.

Vecro looks at the handout and says:

"I heard only the best things about Radaszam The Dealmaker. We can start with him. The list seems to be ordered alphabetically by the Faction Name which is as good as any other way of ordering the tasks."

With saying that Vecro shows readiness to keep begin with the tasks.

Smek looks over the list, "Unless you have any preferred order Guidance, I'm indifferent to where we start. Radaszam is as good as any." He gives a shrug, and passes on the forms.

Alejandro agrees that any order will do, unless one has a particularly time-sensitive priority.

Having player this before, I won’t argue with order. However, I will say the story flows slightly better if we do xenoguardians then dataphiles. Whichever order those to fit in. Just my two cents.

So let's start with Radaszam and then head to exoguardians.

Sounds good.

So let's start with Radaszam and then head to exoguardians.

Sounds good to me.

After a short walk you arrive at the offices of the Aquisitives.

The plain white doors of the office slide open to reveal a stark, dimly lit room. The chamber is bleak and expressionless in its emptiness—no vanities line its smooth black walls, and no signs of use mar its smooth black furniture. The only occupants of the suite are a bug-eyed tadpole wriggling in a glowing blue aquarium and a reptilian vesk seated behind an onyx desk. The vesk gestures to a number of chairs in front of him, his features sharply illuminated by the light of his desk’s green holoscreen. The new graduates, he greets, in a low and pleasant voice. Good day. I am Radaszam, though since you are here, I should hope you already knew.

I trust you are aware of our Society’s traditions, so I will cut to the point. I have a minor situation that needs resolution. One of our members, a human named Laboni, had a rather public altercation with a junk scavenger from the Spike. You might be more familiar with the scavenger than I, actually; he is a ysoki who fancifully calls himself Ratrod. I am told he runs a popular racing competition that has, hmm, several hundreds of thousands of viewers on the station’s infosphere. For some reason, Laboni felt the need to tell him that any ‘real’ mechanic could easily beat the garbage that Ratrod and his associates slap together. Now that Ratrod has issued an infosphere-wide demand that she race him and prove it, Laboni doubts she can back that claim up.

Embarrassing, isn’t it? Not really the sort of troublemaker that suits our Society. Perhaps she would be better suited to the bottom of a trash compactor... Well, we cannot afford to throw her out, not after so many Starfinders were lost in the Scoured Stars. Besides, we can’t let people think we are so weak that we can’t control our own members, or that we cannot stand up to a scrapyard junker. No, I would like you to assist Laboni in winning this race. Show our detractors that even the least of our Society is not someone to be trifled with.

Radaszam reaches into a desk draw and pulls out a small stack of badges. Here. These will get you into the pits. They identify you as Laboni’s support crew. I suggest you make your way there in a timely manner so as to give you the most time to prepare before the race. With that he gives you directions to the area in Botscrap where the races are held

Culture: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Rudura will share culture checks for 5, 10, diplomacy for 5, 10

”So we’re going to help this woman beat a man she insulted for doing his job? I mean, okay, not really what I signed up for though. . . “

Culture: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

As they walk Smek takes a few moments to check in with his contacts and to look at the news vids from the infosphere. He shares his insights, "... Seems like Absalom is hopping today. I wonder what we'll get drafted into." Shares spoilers up to what I rolled.

Smek re-introduces himself formally to Radaszam, having met briefly at party before. "It is an honor and pleasure to formalize my entry into the Starfinders. Can you tell us more about these races?"

What can I roll to see what Smek already knows about junk racing?

Baryon grunts and nods in the back of the group.

Smek can roll a culture check to see what he knows about Junk Racing. I am about to post the next part, which does have a small robot who will explain the rules and answer questions perhaps.

Ratrod’s racing circuit is a hollowed-out section of a mountain of spare parts in Botscrap, the track specifically sanctioned by the ysoki-dominated Salvage Union that controls most of the yards.

When you arrive at the competitor’s entrance a small robot greets you. Welcome. Are you a racers or pit crew? After you show your badges it continues. Our rules here are simple. 1. Racers and their pit crews are to build and improve their vehicles from the available scrap around the racetrack. Vehicles built at previous junkraces can return. 2. Racers can fire upon other competitors during the race, but firing into the audience is grounds for immediate disqualification 3. racer weapons must be nonlethal and may affect only opponents’ vehicles. Are there any questions?

Culture: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Rolling as there was one more spoiler. Nope

Vecro presents himself to Radaszam and later on follows the team to the racing grounds. "I am not an engineer, nor a driver but I will try to help as best as I can. I heard that Ratrod responds and can be affected by trash talking, and with that, I can help."

Gruffly, Baryon asks, "Yeah, where's the Starfinder racer?"

Once you have entered the area designated for competitors and their support crews you easily find Laboni. She is easy to spot in her paisley clothing and long white labcoat. She stands beside a junkracer that looks to be well constructed, but will clearly not be a match for those vehicles that have been through several races and been improved over that time.

Ok, so this is fun. You each get 4 actions during the race preparation time. You can use them to do one of several things. You can improve Laboni’s junkracer (Computers, Engineering, Perception, or Physical Science), investigate the other racers (Sense Motive or Engineering. Can be done as part of the improvement or on its own), sabotage (Stealth then Engineering) or socialize (No skill, just generally chatter with opponents).

Do we declare all 4 actions at once? Or we go in turns (so each says one action for every round)?

Vecro starts with walking around and trying to get a feel at what is the competition and what is the state of their junkracers.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

From the listed skills I have Sens Motive +1, Perception +1 and social skills.

We'll go round by round.

Vecro: 1d5 ⇒ 2

Vecro manages to scout the female Ryphorian driver Nyizin.

Still bearing the scars of the fight that killed her dragonkin partner, Nyizin is a racer with an obvious death wish. Unstable black-market mods made of dragon bone and elemental energies fill Nyizin’s vehicle. So long as she is alive, she intends to win in honor of her fallen companion. She is a decent driver, but an excellent shot with her vehicles weapons.

I forgot to include the list of upgrades you can give to Laboni's junkracer.
• The vehicle’s base speed increases by 5 feet.
• The vehicle gains a +1 Piloting modifier.
• The vehicle gains a +1 attack modifier.
• The vehicle gains a +2 bonus to its EAC.
• The vehicle gains a +2 bonus to its KAC.
• The PCs install a basic energy weapon on the vehicle (imposes a
–4 base Piloting penalty on a hit).
• The PCs install a basic kinetic weapon on the vehicle (imposes a
–4 base Piloting penalty on a hit).
• The PCs upgrade a weapon to impose an additional –2 penalty to
enemy Piloting checks on a successful hit

I'll get to work on the Junk Racer. I think it best if we do them one at a time, that way we can react to new things.
GM: My Geneturge mystic special ability allows me to take ten on Engineering checks always.
"Hello, I guess I'm here to help you Laboni . . . though I'm not sure why you picked a fight with an innocent Junk Racer. Most of the Engineering I've done have been on cybernetics, but I know how to wire a circuit board."

Take Ten on Engineering: 17-Improve Racer- Improve Speed.

Sounds great Rudura.

Rudura tinkers with Laboni's junk racer and manages to improve its speed a little.

Laboni's junk racer stat block below. Updated with Rudura's speed increase.

BASIC JUNKRACER
Speed 45 ft., full 450 ft.
EAC 10; KAC 12
Attack - energy weapon (–4 to Piloting)
Modifiers +2 Piloting, –3 attack
Passengers 1

SPECIAL ABILITIES
Remote Control Laboni’s junkracer and weaponry can be
remotely controlled by the PCs, allowing them to make attack
rolls and attempt Piloting checks in her place.

Round 1 Actions - Bold Still to Act

Alejandro
Baryon
Rudura
Smek
True Silver
Vecro

Alejandro follows along as the group makes their way to the pit area. Looking around and assessing his crew he just says, "I think I'll go take a look around, see what I can see."

He wanders off and tries to sneak up to do a bit of sabotage against the crazy female Ryphorian driver Nyizin.

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Engineering (t): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

As Alejando attempts to slip into the pits of Nyizin some of her pit crew grabs him. What you think you doing? Why you in our pit. OUT! OUT NOW!

Round 1 Actions - Bold Still to Act

Alejandro
Baryon
Rudura
Smek
True Silver
Vecro

True Silver isn't much for tech but he does have a keen eye for finding things. He'll look through the parts for ones needed by the group.
Improve Piloting Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Truesilver goes digging through a pile of scrap, looking for something that would improve the handling of the junk racer, but cannot seem to find anything.

Round 1 Actions - Bold Still to Act

Alejandro
Baryon
Rudura
Smek
True Silver
Vecro

Smek looks over the racer, "Well Laboni, I'm not sure taunting Ratrod was the best idea... I think we could salvage this with some hard work and luck."

He then begins looking through the scrap for some choice parts...

Engineering/+1 Pilot: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

Baryon looks at the junk racer skeptically, "I think this thing could use some aero efficiency."
+1 Piloting
Engineering turn 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
"Nope! that won't work. I should put that back on there."

"Let's try this again.."
+1 Piloting
Engineering turn 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
"Hmm...that might work..."

Smek tinkers with Laboni's racer and makes it slightly easier to pilot.

Baryon tries to do the same, but isn't quite as skillful. He tries again, almost getting it to work, but just can't quite do it.

Round 2 Actions - Bold Still to Act

Alejandro
Baryon
Rudura
Smek
True Silver
Vecro

BASIC JUNKRACER
Speed 45 ft., full 450 ft.
EAC 10; KAC 12
Attack - energy weapon (–4 to Piloting)
Modifiers +3 Piloting, –3 attack
Passengers 1

In a methodical, almost mechanical-like fasion, Rudura continues working on the bike
(Take 10 for a 17 again, on speed.)

Rudura continues to tweak the engine to produce more speed.

Round 2 Actions - Bold Still to Act

Alejandro
Baryon
Rudura
Smek
True Silver
Vecro

BASIC JUNKRACER
Speed 50 ft., full 500 ft.
EAC 10; KAC 12
Attack - energy weapon (–4 to Piloting)
Modifiers +3 Piloting, –3 attack
Passengers 1

Vecro comes back to share what he learned of Nyizin. He looks as his team work on the racer he tries to see if there are some unused parts that could be of value from the previous races.

Looking for +1 to attack modifier. btw. can we aid as an action - roll against DC 10 to give +2?

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Vecro finds something in the pile of junk and brings it to Rudura who seems the most capable.

"Look what I found? Can it be used to augment the aiming mechanisms in the racer?"

True Silver keeps looking for good parts to aid in steering the racer.

Take 10 for 17 on Piloting.

Smek continues digging around, hoping to find some propulsion aid...

Engineering/Speed +5': 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

Alejandro tries to smooth it all over when he gets caught with his smooth trustworthy voice, "woah woah there, my bad. I'm old and got confused. No problems here."

He returns to the pit and looks to see if there is a place to slot another weapon, if not he'll work on the shields a bit.

Try to add a Kinetic Weapon, if no space then try to upgrade the EAC armor.

Engineering (t): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Yes, you can aid

Vecro's part does indeed help with the aiming of the weapon.

True silver tinkers with the steering assembly and manages to get it even more responsive.

Smek bolts a fuel injection port to the engine making the whole thing faster.

Alejandro looks the racer over looking for somewhere to bolt a weapon or some shielding but just cannot seem to find a place to bolt them.

Round 3 Actions - Bold Still to Act

Alejandro
Baryon
Rudura
Smek
True Silver
Vecro

BASIC JUNKRACER
Speed 55 ft., full 550 ft.
EAC 10; KAC 12
Attack - energy weapon (–4 to Piloting)
Modifiers +3 Piloting, –2 attack
Passengers 1

I'm assuming that I simply failed to do the task and not that it was an impossible one to complete, so he'll try again.

Alejandro, slightly miffed that his knowledge is not helping him just grabs some shielding and bolts it in place, hoping for the best.

Engineering to add to the KAC

Engineering (t): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Do we have anyone working the other racers? Does anyone want Smek to switch to social skills?