...but I don't think I can Tumble as part of the move with a Trick Attack, even though the Tumble is part of the move up to your speed action
As long as you do not have the encumbered or overburdened condition (see pages 275–276), you can use Acrobatics to move through a space threatened by an enemy or enemies without provoking attacks of opportunity from them. Tumbling is a move action, and you move at half speed...
...If you attempt to move through multiple threatened spaces or opponents’ spaces during the same round, you must succeed at a check for each space, and the DC of each check beyond the first increases by 2.
Rodkin carefully squeezes past the hologram and shoots the flying projector again. It wobbles unsteadily in the air, but still has enough circuits intact to try to ram its smoking body into Aluradux as she draws her pistol...
...and from the sound of the impact, it must have picked the right image to ram. The hologram ignores the technomancer and focuses on the fellow shooting its projector instead. "Hey kids! Did you hear about the clown that ran away with the circus?"
"The ringmaster made her bring it back! Haha!" If the jester is upset that Rodkin ducked out of the way of its kick, its manically-smiling face doesn't show it.
Round 4! Bold may act!
Aluradux (0/20 SP, 22/24 HP, 1 image)
Rodkin (10/24 SP)
Red Jester (-34)
Sev (4/24 SP)
Nicknick
Black Projector (-28, 5 ft above ground)
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So are you happy with this? You're totally out of law.
A new volley of missiles strikes the clown.
Magic missiles, Harmful spell:
Nicknick's missiles slam into the jester, one after another, and the last punches through the hologram's still-smiling face to completely destroy it. Sev capitalizes on the moment to land a well-placed sonic blast on the projector. It vibrates for a few moments before exploding like a badly-made firework. Small bits of smoldering electronics rain down on Aluradux's head.
"Is... are they gone?" Yichen cautiously peeks back through the garage door. A pair of furry skittermander faces appear beneath the android's like some strange snowman. "Oh thank goodness! Thank goodness you were here to take care of that! Let's, uh, patch these up real quick before the parade starts in like..." Yichen glances at their wristwatch, then at something outside. "Um, like right now. So any last-minute fixes, and then I'm gonna need your help operating the Flower during the parade. You're still good to help with that, right?"
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"Well the holoprojector is destroyed. Hmm..." Aluradux's face grows pensive for a moment the suddlenly brightens. I'll ride with the float and provide holograms of famous androids myself. This'll be great. I can have the hologram interact with people in real time instead of a programmed routine. I can even have Mr. Fancypants give me some data during the parade when I want to change to a different personality. I have plenty of spell energy left. I should be able to do that at least five times today."
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"Well the holoprojector is destroyed. Hmm..." Aluradux's face grows pensive for a moment the suddlenly brightens. I'll ride with the float and provide holograms of famous androids myself. This'll be great. I can have the hologram interact with people in real time instead of a programmed routine. I can even have Mr. Fancypants give me some data during the parade when I want to change to a different personality. I have plenty of spell energy left. I should be able to do that at least five times today."
"Accordingly, I will deactivate the existing programmed routine to avoid undesired redundancy," concludes Sev.
The android flips a switch in a highly-skilled manner.
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As the Jeweled Flower gracefully makes its way down the street, the crowd applauds and cheers. Nicknick's steady control of the float's animatronics flawlessly complements Aluradux's projections. Sev has his hands full making sure none of the quickly-finished implementations malfunction or activate unexpectedly, but you'd never know from outside the float how busy the android is. Between data dumps, Mister Fancypants sends Aluradux a notification that the hashtag #JeweledFlower is currently trending across multiple social media platforms with overwhelmingly positive word associations.
At the end of the parade route, Yichen descends from their hovering perch over the float with a wide smile spread across their face. "That was amazing! Like, really really amazing! You've made this a celebration worth remembering for sure! I've got some nice overhead pics I'll send you later, but right now I want you to have this as thanks." The android pops the hat off their head and plops it onto Sev's. There's a subtle shift, and suddenly both androids are wearing identical extravagant attire. "In case you need an outfit - or a disguise - in a hurry."
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The following week is full of events at the Lorespire Complex - a concert, two vidgame competitions, and a self-defense class hosted by former First Seeker Jadnura, to name a few. But as soon as there's a lull, the Starfinders' comm units chirp once more in response to an incoming message.
Thank you for your help with the Newspark Parade! Yichen’s been gushing over how you handled the hologram and what an inspiring show you put on!
As you might know, Reunion Day is approaching. Reunion is a time for reaching out to distant family and friends and returning home to feast with your inner circle. Well, our fellow Starfinder, Alora Cembar, is having a rough Reunion. Her grandmother passed away this year, and she’s returned home to Akiton to mourn. She and her family are determined to celebrate Reunion “just like Granny would’ve” and I’m worried the pressure is too much for her.
While I’d love to help her myself, other obligations prevent me from leaving Absalom Station at present. I’d like you to travel to the Cembar homestead on Akiton and assist the Cembars in completing their preparations so they can focus on coming together as family. I’ve already booked you a shuttle, and your travel itinerary is attached.
All my thanks,
Camellia
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It's a short ride from the North Akiton spaceport to the Cembar homestead on the edge of the Winterlands. The weather outside is frightful, but the hoverbus is well-insulated and well-heated. The homestead itself appears tiny, but the cultured agents know that most of the building is likely built underground to protect against the frigid wind. Ever from outside, the sounds of a gathering inside can be heard. When Aluradux knocks on the door, there is no change in volume.
Seconds later, the homestead door is opened by two skittermanders - one with green fur, the other purple. They blink in surprise at seeing the Starfinders again, then quickly pull the four visitors inside.
"Nufriends! What are you doing over here?"
"I didn't invite them, but I should have! Did you, Violet?"
"Nope! Wait, you didn't either Olive?"
"Nope! Alora must have invited them! Do you know Alora, nufriends?"
A towering shobhad woman wearing a frilly apron appears behind the skittermanders. The look of confusion on her face is quickly replaced by relief. "Starfinders! Good to see familiar faces - well, more familiar faces. Camellia said she'd send help, and I am so glad you're here. Put your boots over there by the door and I'll give you a tour of the place and introduce you to everyone."
"Alright, this is the living room. You met Olive and Violet already, so this is Bitts, Flutter, Grubby, Popper, Scamp, and Slicer. Slicer, remember to let everyone have a turn!" The six young ysoki wave frantically before turning their attention back to arguing over whose turn it is to play Junk Race Jitters. The popular two-player racing vidgame is projected on the one clear wall of the crowded room, though shadows occasionally run through the light beam as one of the kids changes seats.
"Alright, this is the dining room. Becca, Cass, Orence, stop bickering for a moment and say hello to some of my coworkers." The three hykli all pause for a moment and murmur a greeting before returning their attention to the assortment of dishes, cutlery, and cups spread across the long table.
"Here's the de- Oh, sorry Agner, I didn't realize you were sleeping. Don't know how they do it with all this rukus. And the squoxes are Musa and Gator." The half-elf doesn't respond, and neither do the slumbering squoxes curled around their feet as the door closes.
"And this is the kitchen." Alora shuts the door behind her, but it does little to drown out the sound of raised voices from the other side. The warrior releases a deep breath as she struggles to retain her composure. "Well, that's my family. The Cembars might be odd, but we chose each other, and I love them dearly. Right now, though, we're falling apart. We lost Granny earlier this year, and things have been rough ever since. Granny was the glue that held us together. Since she passed away, we've been lost. This is the first time we've all been together since the funeral. I thought Reunion would bring us together, but it's pulling us apart instead. They're all so determined to make today perfect in honor of Granny - to do everything exactly they way she would've done. So here I am, in an apron, with no idea what to do!"
Alora pauses, two hands still raised, and sniffs the air. "Smells like... smoke," she remarks slowly. Her eyes widen, and she dashes to the oven, removing a baking sheet covered in an unidentifiable charred lump. Alora's lip quivers, then she screams, tossing the ruined meal into the sink. "I quit! I can't focus with them bickering, and this is hard enough on its own!" The shobhad sinks to the floor, sobbing into her hands.
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The ysoki is glad that their improvements for the Flowers were efficient even if he’s quite not active in the spectacle world and entertainment.
Once they meet some other ysoki and are introduced to several people the lawyer takes the lead to present them his card. They are potential new clients.
And when the shobad sinks on the floor he goes to help her. My name’s Twisted Nicknick the well-known lawyer. Let me represent your interests. Here is my card. Do you have a contract?
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At the end of the parade route, Yichen descends from their hovering perch over the float with a wide smile spread across their face. "That was amazing! Like, really really amazing! You've made this a celebration worth remembering for sure! I've got some nice overhead pics I'll send you later, but right now I want you to have this as thanks."
"Yichen, my audio receptors registered you saying that you found the float to be 'really really amazing', repeating the word, 'really' in duplicate," notes Sev flatly. "However, while my analytical programming detected an increase in your heart rate and respiratory function, it has not detected any form of fluency disorder evident within the remainder of your speech nor has my internal chronometer registered any recent temporal distortion or similar anomalies."
"Therefore, Yichen, I must inquire: Are you currently functioning at standard efficiency? Or, as in the alternative as Aluradux Hass--a Starfinder that I like--has suggested, are you attracted to the float and see it as a potential life partner?"
"Granny was the glue that held us together. Since she passed away, we've been lost. This is the first time we've all been together since the funeral. I thought Reunion would bring us together, but it's pulling us apart instead. They're all so determined to make today perfect in honor of Granny - to do everything exactly they way she would've done. So here I am, in an apron, with no idea what to do!"
"Have you considered obtaining funds for a resurrection spell?" suggests Sev, his delivery as emotional as it is helpful. "Or, in the alternative, you could seek a replacement. I am aware of the existence of several forms of adhesive."
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Alora, May I suggest you make today special by remembering your Granny but still doing things your own way. The problem is that you aren't Granny, so you can't do things Granny's way. Granny did things her way, and it brought you all together. Doing things your way could do the same thing. Granny contributed based on her talents, but each of you need to contribute according to your talents. In some cases it will be the same, but in other cases it will be different, but that is OK. I am sure Granny would want you together, each contributing in some way, and she wouldn't care whether it was her way or not, as long as you are together.
Now if you will excuse me, I am going to go and try to entertain the kids so they will stop squabbling and you can think. I have some experience with this, as Ysoki tend to have large families. Take a Minute, breathe, then start to figure out what YOU want to do for today.
While juggling/doing magic tricks, he tries to remember an appropriate way to bring the family together over Granny's memory.
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As the Jeweled Flower gracefully makes its way down the street, the crowd applauds and cheers. Nicknick's steady control of the float's animatronics flawlessly complements Aluradux's projections. Sev has his hands full making sure none of the quickly-finished implementations malfunction or activate unexpectedly, but you'd never know from outside the float how busy the android is. Between data dumps, Mister Fancypants sends Aluradux a notification that the hashtag #JeweledFlower is currently trending across multiple social media platforms with overwhelmingly positive word associations.
Aluradux jumps at the opportunity and begins an impromptu livestream of the event.
""Yichen, my audio receptors registered you saying that you found the float to be 'really really amazing', repeating the word, 'really' in duplicate," notes Sev flatly. "However, while my analytical programming detected an increase in your heart rate and respiratory function, it has not detected any form of fluency disorder evident within the remainder of your speech nor has my internal chronometer registered any recent temporal distortion or similar anomalies."
"Therefore, Yichen, I must inquire: Are you currently functioning at standard efficiency? Or, as in the alternative as Aluradux Hass--a Starfinder that I like--has suggested, are you attracted to the float and see it as a potential life partner?"
An alarmed Aluradux grabs Sev by the arm and quickly leads him away from Yichen. She laughs nervously over her shoulder as she leads the android away. "Haha that Sev. He's such a kidder. You never know what he's gonna say next ha ha. Well we better be going now..." Once they are out of sight she sighs and slumps against a nearby wall. "Lady of Wisdom give me strength. Sev, you're going to be the death of me. Look, you need to think about the context of people's words. Obviously he's not attracted to the float. Besides he didn't say like like anyway. This was completely different. Yichen said the float was 'like really really awesome. That 'like' is just a nonsense filler word and he emphasized the second 'really' to add extra oomph to the first. Get it?"
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"Have you considered obtaining funds for a resurrection spell?" suggests Sev, his delivery as emotional as it is helpful. "Or, in the alternative, you could seek a replacement. I am aware of the existence of several forms of adhesive."
And when the shobad sinks on the floor he goes to help her. My name’s Twisted Nicknick the well-known lawyer. Let me represent your interests. Here is my card. Do you have a contract?
Aluradux glares at the android and the ysoki. She speaks uncharacteristically harshly to the pair. "Really Nicknick? I mean I expect that sort of thing from Sev but you really should know better. Can't you see she's in a bad way? Try to show some empathy. Waitaminute, you're a lawyer. Pretend to show some empathy." The Lashunta kneels down and puts her arm around Alora. With one last glare at the lawyer she speaks soothingly to the sobbing shobhad. "I know it's hard Alora but you're not alone. Your whole family is here for you and so are we. What can we do to help? I know my way around a kitchen. Let's see what we can do about salvaging dinner, okay sweetie?"
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The ysoki doesn't understand at all the words of the technomancer. He tried to help as well as he can. And the best would be to win a fair trial. But if she has no contract that's less easier. Let's see if she has one or not. Ah these people...
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Alora doesn't respond to Nicknick or Sev, but she looks over at Aluradux (for a crouching lashunta is practically on the same height as a seated shobhad) and tries to twist her mouth into a smile. "I almost wish I was alone, you know?" she says slowly. "Fighting a battalion of jinsuls would be easier than trying to work with everyone screaming at each other at the top of their-" Her words are cut off by an alarmed cry from the doorway.
"Alora! Nufriends, help me help her!" Olive dashes into the room, handkerchiefs fluttering in three hands. The skittermander dabs at the shobhad's face and hugs her tightly at the same time. Alora sighs and leans into the hug, opening one arm for Aluradux to join if the lashunta wishes. After a minute, she gets back to her feet and shoos Olive back into the living room. Then she dusts off her hands and surveys the kitchen like a general surveying a battlefield.
"Sorry you had to see that. And thanks." Alora nods and takes a deep breath before continuing. "So I was given the 'privilege' of preparing dinner. Granny would always make roast arabuk stuffed with stone-stored apelos and served on a bed of sticky rice with gravy. As you can see..." She gestures, stone-faced, at the baking sheet in the sink. "...that was a disaster, to put it positively. I can try again, but I'm out of arabuk. If you can go hunting and bring back more, I'll get this cleaned up and try to stop the kids from strangling each other. Here, you'll want this." She pulls out an advanced shobhad horizon striker rifle and a veteran shobhad harness from a closet and hands them to Rodkin. "My old hunting gear. You don't want those cats near you, but you're not safe at a distance either. Oh, and see if you can find some winter herbs while your out there. It might improve the taste." The warrior smiles even as she mutters to herself, "Not like they could make it worse, after all."
Outside, the sun is rapidly setting and the temperature is falling even faster. The Starfinders quickly activate their environmental protections and get to work tracking their quarry.
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Once they are alone, the ysoki expresses himself.
Well what did I know about these animals? I'm not a trapper, en entomologist, a taxidermist, or a butcher. I'm a lawyer. Is it so difficult?
Life science:
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As Aluradux leads the group through the snow in search of arabuk, she lets Mister Fancypants narrate to the group. "tThese artic predators not only have sharp claws and a fearsome bite, but can use their antlers to amplify the sound of their chattering to bring down prey at a distance. A side effect of this ability is that the arabuk is not only resistant to the cold, but to sonic attacks as well. As one would expect from an arctic predator, their large paws allow them to tread through deep snow without impediment. This is relevant because-"
Aluradux shushes the computer and points. Nearby, a pair of white-furred feline-adjacent antlered creatures paw at a frozen pond as if attempting to force water out of cracks in the ice. According to Mister Fancypants's description, these should be arabuks - albeit juveniles. One notices movement and looks up. It sees the Starfinders and growls threateningly.
The Starfinders are ready and spring into action! The snow is difficult to walk in (as is the ice), but they won't let that hold them back!
Round 1! Bold may act!
Rodkin
Sev
Aluradux
Nicknick
Red
Blue
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What? Why are they attacking? I take for granted that it's useless to speak them about a fair trial. Well, in this case...
Because a quick ysoki is better than a dead ysoki...
Magic missiles, Harmful spell:
The ysoki unleashes a volley of missiles towards the red one.
As Sev and Rodkin creep forward stealthily, Aluradux and Nicknick draw the arabuks' attention with a barrage of magical missiles. The wounded cat growls, then charges forward across the snow to ram the lawyer with its antlers - and then shakes its head to maul him again!
The vicious attack takes the ysoki by surprise, tossing him back and forth and leaving a red stain in the snow! Meanwhile the other arabuk bounds along the edge of the frozen pond and snarls at Sev (who is unfortunately standing out against the snow like a lightpole). The sound reverberates through the cat's antlers until the sheer volume assaults the android!
The force of the vibration threatens to stagger Sev...
...but he pushes through the sensation!
Round 2! Bold may act!
Rodkin
Sev (19/24 SP)
Aluradux
Nicknick (0/24 SP, 13/22 HP)
Red (-23, Charged)
Blue
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Hey, it hurts! And do you know how much do these clothes cost? Of course it's now no longer question of a fair trial for you. You're a murderer to be killed.
Sev doesn't recall any other pertinent information on arabuks as he marches through the snow. Rodkin's bullet explodes in front of him, but he doesn't stop until his knife is in the cat's neck and its blood is spread across the snow.
Aluradux's missiles streak through the air, ramming into the other arabuk and eliciting a yowl of pain.
Round 2! Bold may act!
Rodkin
Sev (19/24 SP)
Aluradux - Movement retcon?
Nicknick (0/24 SP, 13/22 HP)
Red (-57)
Blue (-8)
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The ysoki looks at the cadaver of the creature.
I told you. Now you’re well advanced, don’t you?
Then he looks at the other one and fires some missiles.
Magic missiles, Harmful spell:
The remaining arabuk cub withstands Nicknick's storm of magic, then charges forward towards the closest prey it can see - Rodkin.
Rodkin is fast, but the arabuk is faster. The snow tastes blood for a third time this night.
Round 3! Bold may act!
Rodkin (0/24 SP, 22/26 HP)
Sev (19/24 SP)
Aluradux
Nicknick (0/24 SP, 13/22 HP)
Red (-57)
Blue (-21, Charged)
Another barrage of missiles, explosives, and a knife cut down the arabuk cub. Amid the falling snow, the Starfinders stand victorious.
But now comes an unfamiliar challenge - bringing home the meat. While it would be possible (albeit tiring) to bring the whole carcass back to the homestead, it might be possible to butcher the arabuk in the field instead.
On the trip back to the Cembar homestead, the Starfinders keep their eyes open for the winter herbs Alora requested as well. The wind has picked up and just looking around is ineffective - knowing where the herbs should be will be key.
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Aluradux lends a hand to the two ysoki in their construction efforts.
"Oh those look like hangman's trees over there. Let's take a quick look." She examines the area around the trees. "Ha! I knew it. Here's some squoxtail. You can usually find some underneath hangman's tres. This will make a shining addition to the roast."
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Blessed with an overabundance of travoises - and one person to do most of the pulling - the Starfinders head back to the homestead. Everyone stops to harvest a different winter herb along the way: Nicknick finds an Akitonian rosemary bush, Rodkin some furled parsley, Sev a sprig of blue thyme, and Aluradux some bushy sage (otherwise known as squoxtail).
The volume level inside seems to have only increased since the last time the Starfinders were here. Alora happily retrieves the corpses from the sleds and gets to work butchering them. "This may come as a surprise to you," she says dryly while she works, "but I'm going to need some help in the kitchen. But you know what they say about too many cooks - maybe some of you can help calm everyone else down before dinner?" She smiles gratefully when Rodkin scampers off to the living room to entertain the children. Shrieks of anger quickly turn to shrieks of glee and begging to "teach me how to juggle!"
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The ysoki had first the idea to spread the idea of a game with him casting a grease and the people to go on the surface trying to be the last one up. But he doesn't know how the people would react so he prefer to help in the kitchen without a word. In a kitchen, the great lawyer himself... Well...
Life science:
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Observing how the juvenile stage organics appreciate the ysoki's efforts of continuously tossing objects into the air and catching of them so as to keep at least one in the air while handling the others, Sev concludes that they may appreciate the experience themselves.
The android abruptly takes ahold of one of the residents and tosses them into the air.
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Alora is very grateful for the help in the kitchen as Aluradux and Nicknick get to work. First things first - the purple and blue root vegetables are roughly chopped and put in a pot of vegetable stock to boil. The greens are next, wrapped in foil and placed in the oven to slowly stew. Nicknick is put on pie duty, rolling out dough and mixing white berries with red sugar for the filling. Aluradux also has to deal with filling, albeit one of apelos and herbs that she spoons into the arabuk roast. Alora pulls the greens out of the oven and replaces them with the roast before she cocks her head in worry. The other two cooks pause for a moment before realizing the same thing - a suspicious lack of sound is coming from the living room.
All three stick their heads around the corner to see Scamp, Slicer, Grubby, Bitts, Popper, Olive, Rodkin, and Violet all staring at Sev, who is currently in the process of throwing Flutter within a millimeter of the ceiling. The kid doesn't seem to be upset at the experience, and everyone else is quiet, so the cooks decide to leave well enough along and get back to the kitchen to make the sticky rice and gravy.
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The Starfinders join the Cembars on colorful chairs around the long table, each place set with mismatched porcelain and cutlery. Alora places the roast arabuk in the center of everything, and each of the children adds another bowl or plate of side dishes to the feast. Before anyone is served, Alora puts her hands together and stands. "Let us take a moment to remember our loved ones," she states simply. "Both those lost, and those found." After a minute of silence, she invites everyone to enjoy the Reunion feast.
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Camelia is waiting at the arrival gate at the Absalom Station spaceport when the Starfinders return from Akiton. The tiny plant is wearing both a new red-and-white holiday sweater and a beaming smile as she waves down her coworkers. "Aluradux! Nicknick! Rodkin! Sev! It's soooooo good to see you again! And I'm so grateful you were willing to help everyone enjoy their holidays! Here, I brought you all presents!"
From behind her back, the raxilite produces four glittering flowers very much like the one atop her head. "These are flowers of celebration!" she explains, still grinning widely. "They're magic flowers from the First World that'll never fade or wither, just like your sparkling spirits! Now you can share holiday cheer all year round! How wonderful!"
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The Starfinders join the Cembars on colorful chairs around the long table, each place set with mismatched porcelain and cutlery. Alora places the roast arabuk in the center of everything, and each of the children adds another bowl or plate of side dishes to the feast. Before anyone is served, Alora puts her hands together and stands. "Let us take a moment to remember our loved ones," she states simply. "Both those lost, and those found." After a minute of silence, she invites everyone to enjoy the Reunion feast.
Aluradux's eyes mist over as she bows her head and clutches the locket that she always seems to have around her neck. Her mind seems to be somewhere far away as she opens it and stares wistfully inside. She jerks back to the present as Popper nudges her and he passes a bowl of vegetables to her. She closes the locket and smiles at the youngster, her melancholy forgotten, as she takes the bowl from him and helps herself to some of the delicious fare.