DMD's Against the Aeon Throne PbP

Game Master dickie

The fixer waited in a seedy shanty bar deep in the bowels of Absalom Station with no name but plenty of atmosphere. Loud music and dark lighting punctuated by neon create a sense of privacy among the throng of laborers, addicts, criminals, and the occasional rich kid slumming it with the worst of them.

“Good to see you, old friends! I heard about that scrape you got into a few months back, but surely your ship is back in top shape now, right? Good, because I have a contract for you!” He sets his comm on the table and initiates a holo display. An android woman’s face manifests, slowly rotating before everyone.

“This is Cedona, and she has requested some assistance securing something she found on a Pact World colony called Nakondis. She is waiting at the main settlement, Madelon’s Landing. Now, she was a little tight with the details, but she indicated she had no reason to believe she was in danger. Personally, I think she is just paranoid, but she is offering four thousand UPBs for a team to meet with her and get her and her whatever back to civilization. She has assured me the spools of UPB have been cleaned of tracking isotopes.

“You won’t have any support once off the station, but I can get you out of here and to Nakondis without any legal entanglements. The colony needs a shipment of supplies delivered, and they’re ready to go right now. That job also pays, so bonus! Another four grand upon receipt by the colony administrator. Cover and a pay bump, am I a great agent, or what? So what slip is your ship berthed at? We can get those supplies ready as soon as we are done here.”

I am recruiting five players for the Starfinder AP Against the Aeon Throne. The story features intrigue, action, sneaking, fighting, and overcoming language and cultural barriers. Characters will operate outside of the Pact Worlds for the duration of this adventure path, meaning they will encounter a host of strange new lifeforms and technologies. As the name suggests, the Azlanti Star Empire features heavily and they are, as expected, the major villains!

Before considering your concepts and builds, please take a minute to read through this “Player's Brief”. I wrote it to serve as a Player's Guide for this AP, and it's a very short and to the point read that I promise will put you on the right path.

Submissions will be open for ten days. The deadline is at midnight Eastern Time, November 15th. Selections will be announced within 48 hours of the closing deadline.

Definitely interested. There is a good chance I will make a submission.

Interest!

I'm interesting in trying SF, so I'll try to figure something out. Just got the book last week.

I am QUITE interested!

Ack! Notably absent from my info above is that I will be using Roll20 for maps and visual handouts.

Any questions, just fire away. Otherwise I look forward to checking out cool characters (and am NOT looking forward to having to choose only five, I should have shortened the deadline, lol).

My current thought is a technomancer using the new options from Tech Revolution that allow them to have a drone (and I might use one of the new drone variants). May multi-class into mechanic then.

Someone asked about prior knowledge of the AP in a PM so I'll share the important part of my response for others wondering the same thing:

I'm okay with people who are already familiar with the AP so long as they make a good faith effort to keep player and character knowledge separate. I wouldn't count that against anyone since even changes in theme and different portrayals of NPCs can alter a lot of content.

I would suggest that if you know the AP well you might not want to take on a leadership type of role in the group since it is easy to unconsciously make calls that are influenced by what you know, but most players in my experience don't want to spoil things for others and tend to not take undue advantage.

Never played Starfinder, but would really like to try. I will attempt a new character and see if I can figure out the character generation...lol

Very interested too!

I would love to play an operative or Envoy.

Dot.

You know, I’ve been wanting to try playing a starfinder AP, and this seems like a good opportunity. I have a concept based on Athena from Borderlands that I’ll play around with

Welp, I'm definitely submitting to this one.
Here goes:

Dr. Neco Sentiana is a Nanocyte (for no other reason than I really want to play one. His abilities and skills are geared towards engineering/sciences support aboard a ship, but frontline combatant in the field.

The good doctor is something of a wanted man in some parts of the pact worlds. His passion for technological advancement led to a cushy position for Frozen Trove in R&D, but he became more and more uncomfortable with how his works were marketed. In the end, when he had replicated and improved upon some of the nanite technological weapon systems making their way to militaries and other organizations, he drew the line at Frozen Trove trying to sell the technology to a particularly vile group of pirates in the Diaspora, implanted the prototype into his own system, and left Triaxus and Frozen Trove behind. So far, Neco has been able to avoid the company's reach, but just in case, he actively seeks out work that will get him far from the Pact Worlds and the limits of Frozen Trove's reach.

Character Prompt:

The alien, a spider-like being that looks to be made of translucent crystals, swiftly moves to block you from proceeding down the space station corridor. It's body flashes rhythmically in bright reds and dull oranges as it makes a series of popping and crackling sounds similar to fireworks while pointing at the grenade on your belt

BTW, I don't yet have a copy of the new Tech book. That's why the PB document doesn't include any themes from that source, if there are any. I don't see much on Nethys ATM, so if I select a character with abilities/gear/whatever from that source I may need you to provide blocks of text until I get access to those rules by either book or they post it to AoN or another SRD type of site.

I think they just updated AoN with Tech Revolution's stuff today, actually!

I think they just updated AoN with Tech Revolution's stuff today, actually!

Well that is nifty! Disregard my previous statement, I had checked last night but not today and it looks like the update must have been shortly after I'd looked, lol!

Great submission, Dr. Neco! Hoping to get something up soon.

Haven't made an alias yet, but I'll throw in my opening submission here:

Tori "sunskimmer" Steelfoot is a halfling operative who wants to build and fly the hottest starships in the galaxy. She's skilled, resourceful and knowledgeable. She'll snipe your eye out at any range, on foot or in the cockpit and she'll find a way to tune your ship to perfection...just don't ask her to arm wrestle.

As for the crunch...how do you feel about a link to a mythweavers sheet?

As for the crunch...how do you feel about a link to a mythweavers sheet?

Works for me! I don't expect an alias for a submission, though folks creating or repurposing one is obviously okay too. I will require an alias that's easy to read and complete when the game starts, but for submissions I just need the information.

Alrighty, here's all the background, appearance, personality, and character prompt stuff for my submission. I just need to finalize the stat block and I can post it, too.

No worries; I know about the statline trick. Just need to make sure I get the pertinent stuff for Starfinder since I've had basically zero playtime with this system.

Lohse is a Skittermander Mechanic who pals around with a drone whom they affectionately call Songstress! Their abilities are pretty much centered around them getting into technology and then making tools and boomsticks out of them!

They are originally from Vesk-3 but was removed from their homeworld due to their innate talent with mechanical engineering by the Veskarium. Serving under a family of armorers as an armorer/quartermaster themselves, Lohse was intrigued at the idea of a family unit and wanted to join one. However, as a Skittermander, their Vesk employers didn't quite see them as an equal.

Bitter and enraged, Lohse snuck out on a starship of their's one night and angrily swore an oath to make the best armor that the Veskarium has laid eyes on in a desperate bid to earn their respect and to be among the few aliens that they see as an equal.

PROMPT:
The alien, a spider-like being that looks to be made of translucent crystals, swiftly moves to block you from proceeding down the space station corridor. It's body flashes rhythmically in bright reds and dull oranges as it makes a series of popping and crackling sounds similar to fireworks while pointing at the grenade on your belt.

They hated arachnoids. It wasn't the legs nor the fangs really, it was how close they resembled the Stridermanders from their homeworld. That alone gave many Skittermanders a nightmare to have on repeat. And it wanted their grenade?

"Ain'tcha got mouthparts t'move? Try speakin' Vesk for a change, won'tcha?" Two pairs of their arms crossed in an annoyed fashion, Lohse's tail flicking with agitation, "Bad enough you giant folk gotta tower over me, now you want my handiwork? Gimme some credits there darlin', and you get the grenade. Or I can just arm the 'nade right now. I've got less f&$#s t'give than I've got arms."

So we are just over halfway point to the cut-off and the submissions are currently:

Updated Palladia with most of the stat block. I'll finalize the rest of her purchases and double check for any errors over the next few days.

Oh duh...of course it might help if I actually do get that link, wouldn't it...here we go with a crunchy alias, fluff to follow.

It's actually kind of startling just how many skill bonuses an operative can stack up...not used to having a 13(!) in anything at level one.

EDIT: also, am I just not seeing it, or is there no suite of bonuses and penalties for small size in Starfinder?

Yeah, it's one of the weird rules differences. There are no size bonuses or penalties (including weapon damage dice reduction).

Looks like what this group needs is a mage of some sort. I'll start cooking up a Mystic.

How much more time do I have? I've got the basics: an Akashic Mystic who Cedona mentored, and who adopted her pet squox, Cubber, when she moved away, but the details are forming a little slow.

How much more time do I have?

Good time to put out that reminder for lurkers considering submitting a character and everyone else, too:

Submissions close in 60 hours, 2.5 days from this post.

Current status:

OK, guess I better get on making that character. Maybe a soldier since there isn't one yet.

I've been working on a technomancer.

OK, got a character worked up.

Lyle Norg, maintenance engineer at Absalom station. His main job has always been piloting a small flitter for repair tasks on the outside of the station. Over time he's had some scary encounters with critters out there so he picked up a rifle and got good at shooting the critters so he could get his job done. Eventually he was caught in the act of killing some critters outside the station with his rifle and was fired from the position in the engineering department (you're supposed to call security and wait).

The alien, a spider-like being that looks to be made of translucent crystals, swiftly moves to block you from proceeding down the space station corridor. It's body flashes rhythmically in bright reds and dull oranges as it makes a series of popping and crackling sounds similar to fireworks while pointing at the grenade on your belt.

Looking down at what the strange being was pointing at, Lyle responds.

A bit late to the submissions, but I adore Starfinder and almost never get to play it, so I'll try to put something together tonight!

I think I have it now! The character will be a kasatha Akashic Mystic with the Steward Officer archetype (rationalized by having been mentored by Cedona initially and then cemented/made official further on in the campaign).

They'll be complete tonight!

Ahhh, the idea I have in my head isn't quite coming together and I don't know that I'll have time between now and the deadline to work on it some more. So I'll bow out on this one, regretfully. Hope everyone who's selected has a blast!

With a little less than a day and 8 hours time remaining we currently have:

Z here, posting my character sheet so far. I just need to finish her equipment and spells, and then my backstory, but there IS one question I had.

The broad strokes of Lenesel's backstory is that she grew up on Absalom Station, the child of kasatha expatriates. She lost her mom at a young age, which she took really hard, especially because given kasatha culture is matriarchal, she felt like she was losing her connection to her people and identity. Cedona was their neighbor, and they became friends while Lenesel pet-sat Cubber, Cedona's pet squox. Eventually, with a little mentoring from Cedona, Lenesel discovered the power to tap into the Akashic Record, discovering the connection she thought she'd never have. Shortly after, Cedona informed her she would be moving away, and since Lenesel had done so well pet-sitting Cubber, she allowed Lenesel to adopt him as her own. Now Lenesel is preparing to go on her Tempering, strengthening her powers and learning more about the galaxy.

So my question is this: will I need to pay full price for Cubber, which'd be 400 credits? I don't want to necessarily handicap Lenesel by not having essential combat gear, but with only 1,000 credits to start with, Cubber would wipe out nearly half of those funds.

So my question is this: will I need to pay full price for Cubber, which'd be 400 credits? I don't want to necessarily handicap Lenesel by not having essential combat gear, but with only 1,000 credits to start with, Cubber would wipe out nearly half of those funds.

How about 100 credits as if it was a newborn?

Keep in mind that if selected you'll most likely be "undercover" as it were. Might have to work hard to rebuild up some in-character trust if the secret ever comes out. But that's drama, hehe.

EDIT: OTOH, the crew isn't being hired for anything seemingly illegal...but independent operators might be leery of letting a Warden fly with them. Let's just see how things shake out and figure it out in Discussion.

That seems fair. I'll have the gear assembeled tomorrow morning. But what do you mean by "secret?"

See the edit above lol.

With under 13 hours left:

See the edit above lol.

I wasn't thinking Len was training for the Stewards and joining them right away. I figured the mentoring Cedona gave her was more generalized "how to be a mystic" stuff with some diplomatic and self-defense on the side: stuff Cedona KNOWS as Steward techniques but she doesn't tell her kid neighbor that outright. So when the big reveal comes it's as much a surprise to Len as it is to the rest of the group.

You know, like that scene in Star Wars where Obi-Wan is training Luke on the Millennium Falcon with the remote and the blindfold, while any potential later training and official licensure is like the training from Yoda in Empire Strikes Back.

The Star Wars influence is strong in Against The Aeon Throne!

That could certainly work.

Had a busy weekend but I should finish Palladia’s purchases tonight! She’ll be completely done and ready to go then

Lenesel's sheet is now finished, and here's my response to the RP prompt:

The alien, a spider-like being that looks to be made of translucent crystals, swiftly moves to block you from proceeding down the space station corridor. It's body flashes rhythmically in bright reds and dull oranges as it makes a series of popping and crackling sounds similar to fireworks while pointing at the grenade on your belt.

Cubber lowers himself into a crouch, giving a wheezy little bark to alert Lenesel...who immediately shakes her head.

"Cubber," she says, clicking with her tongue afterwards and motioning to the squox pocket at her hip. Cubber turns and hops up into the pet carrier, turning around and staring out its open hatch at the strange creature.

Lenesel raises her arms, hands open to show no threatening implements to the stranger, and shuts her eyes. She focuses her will, and lets her mind drift upwards, just like Cedona taught her. She then begins narrowing her mental gaze, the faint outlines of books and shelves taking shape...the Record. Her mind zooms through the stacks, images of the alien bouncing around her peripheral vision as it orients her, and then she finds it: a rough, approximate translation of the statement they had made to her, and the best way to form a response they could understand in turn.

She opens her eyes, the time passed having been but a blink. She makes clicking and popping noises of her own with her mouth, while her mind reaches out to the alien with flashes of colored light.

"I will surrender the grenade if you will let me pass. I mean you no harm or ill will."

Then she proves it by removing the grenade, displaying it to show the pin still in place, and then rolling it towards the stranger, awaiting their response.

I was deciding what I would bring in, but here he is my Technomancer, a last minute submission.

Oh well. Haven't had a chance to finish my technomancer but it looks like you have your group. Have fun.

So there's the buzzer sound.

Now one of my selection criteria is always based on following instructions for character builds, so I'm pretty sure I know who I'm going to end up selecting in the end, but I'm still going to go over everything before deciding.

Since there aren't an overwhelming number of submissions that shouldn't take very long, so give me time to sleep on it and read everyone's stuff completely. I should have a list of characters to report to a fancy new discussion thread before this time tomorrow.

Ugh. Tough call. I'm trying to avoid too much overlap and also ensure the party has a good mix of skills to handle different situations. Not to mention taking into consideration what might add some drama.

In the end though, I'm going to overload myself somewhat.

Would the following characters please report to the Discussion Thread:

Woohoo! Congratulations, everyone!