Opening the Scoured Stars Chapter 1 (Inactive)

Game Master therealthom

Round 3

Thundergun knows he's far from best regarding reading other personalities.

He decides to depart from Ykris and approach Royo. He listens for discussion for a while and perhap participate a bit, but tryin not to bother other scholars or Stell.
He'd gladly discuss academic matters while nearby and ask couple questions regadding Pact World most impressive inventions
Physical Science: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Round 4...

I'll get another post up this evening or tomorrow morning.

Thundergun earns a respectful nod from the scholarly ysoki, and the circle of academics around him parts to welcome Thundergun.

Well done.

R3

Kuozar politely nods to Ykris and goes on. He's coming to Zo! and telepathically tells him, "toss the canapé that you have in your hand." After undead showman does this, nuar picks up a heavy artillery laser with incredible agility and speed and shoots at the food, completely deentegrating it...

Artillery Laser: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 61d10 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 3 = 12 - Fire | EAC

...at least that's how Kuozar imagined it. In fact, the canape fell back Zo! on the suit, and a belated shot smashed one of the chandeliers.

S!%!.

Stell will engage Naiaj in some general conversation to get a sense of her interests.

"Any Starfinder projects on the horizon that could use an up and coming envoy/operative such as myself? I've had some experience now, traveling to a number of worlds, but I'm looking forward to learning more and contributing to the efforts of the society." If interested, Stell will mention some of the missions she has helped succeed. If she learns any good ways to influence Naiaj, she'll pass them on to everyone else.

Sense Motive, skill expertise: 1d20 + 5 + 1d6 ⇒ (17) + 5 + (2) = 24

Kuozar tries some fancy shooting. Very unsuccessful.

"Are you a lame comedian?"

Zo! is unimpressed.

Stell discovers that Computers, Engineering, or Piloting checks (or other checks, if very effectively performed) will influence Naiaj. (Sorry no time for a better post. Please go to fourth round.

No, it's just an experimental sample of a gun, sometimes it goes wrong. Kuozar does not come up with anything better than to pretend that everything is fine and leave with an indifferent look.

Then he goes to Naiaj. Having telepathically asked Stell what she learned about the captain, Kuozar nods, approaches them and begins the conversation with words about the construction of ships in the Starfinder fleet.

Engineering: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Soory, I did not finished Round 4... - had to run away.

Thundergun takes a break after serious converstaions with beverages and finally decides to approach intriguing android - Iteration 177.

-Greetings, person Iteration 177. Are you really this number of iteration? No offence. I wanted to discuss with you reincarntion and form changing subject of matters. How do you think, changing type of existence within one peronality - can we call it evolution? Exmaples are: from mamal - to plant, from living shell - to code... or reverse , from onne specie to another due to reincarnation. -
Thundergun enjoys start of conversation expecially hoping that the android will be at technomancers level emotionally around 0

Mysticism: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Thats s$#%y... I'd like tp spend t-shirt reroll with 1 Supernova
Mysticism: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 1 = 21

Idir is still people-watching when Kuozar's attempt at a stunt goes terribly awry, prompting a gasp followed by a horrified moan from the timid Starfinder.

He immediately turns his attention to Zo! his mind scrambling to figure out the best way to mollify the miffed mogul...this was bad...REALLY bad. Not only was that suit probably worth a Venture Captain's entirely quarterly budget, they'd have to fix that light fixture too!

Sense Motive (Zo!): 1d20 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 6 + (2) = 12

...

"Any Starfinder projects on the horizon that could use an up and coming envoy/operative such as myself? I've had some experience now, traveling to a number of worlds, but I'm looking forward to learning more and contributing to the efforts of the society." ...

A little more detail than my last post.

Stell notices that Naiaj hasn't really dressed for the occasion. The bleachling is wearing her trademark carbon skin armor. Perhaps she isn't in the mood for a party either; her datapad is never out of sight and wrist-based comm unit is constantly blinking with updates. Despite her small size, the gnome looks as if she would enjoy staring down a team of hardened vesk mercenaries.

She looks particularly vexed as she gets off another call. "Sorry.
It's this blighted shipment from the drow on Apostae. They're playing games that I don't like. It might come to shooting." She looks around. "And I didn't tell you that. Should have kept my mouth closed..."

The VC could also be influenced by a little soothing to ease her stress. Culture or diplomacy one time check.

No, it's just an experimental sample of a gun, sometimes it goes wrong. Kuozar does not come up with anything better than to pretend that everything is fine and leave with an indifferent look.

Then he goes to Naiaj. Having telepathically asked Stell what she learned about the captain, Kuozar nods, approaches them and begins the conversation with words about the construction of ships in the Starfinder fleet.

Kuozar smooths over the shooting debacle before departing from Zo!

Nice RP on that .

The nuar engages Naiaj, and she seems to welcome the distraction. " It's not glamorous, but we're working on a new air recycler that should allow us to shave a few hundred pounds off the stored air supply that could be used for other things, or keep the stored air and extend mission life. What do you think would be more useful?"

That is also a success.

Soory, I did not finished Round 4... - had to run away.

...

-Greetings, person Iteration 177. Are you really this number of iteration? No offence. I wanted to discuss with you reincarntion and form changing subject of matters. How do you think, changing type of existence within one personality - can we call it evolution? Examples are: from mammal - to plant, from living shell - to code... or reverse , from one specie to another due to reincarnation. -
Thundergun enjoys start of conversation expecially hoping that the android will be at technomancers level emotionally around 0

...

No worries, KS. I had a posting slow down too. Reroll noted. You got good use of it.

" Hullo. It's strikingly coincidental that you should bring this up. These matters have been on my mind very much lately, along with questions of the obligations of loyalty and morals.
"You started with a very personal question, which I normally wouldn't answer at all, but perhaps a little background knowledge can help you help me with these philosophical questions. This is the 177th iteration of which I am aware. My data banks were no more secure than any others during the gap. I have fragmentary memories of pre-gap lives. And have had a large number of iterations since the gap.
"Now, what about you? Tell me a little about yourself so that I can better appreciate your perspective...."

Success!

Idir is still people-watching when Kuozar's attempt at a stunt goes terribly awry, prompting a gasp followed by a horrified moan from the timid Starfinder.

He immediately turns his attention to Zo! his mind scrambling to figure out the best way to mollify the miffed mogul...this was bad...REALLY bad. Not only was that suit probably worth a Venture Captain's entirely quarterly budget, they'd have to fix that light fixture too!

...

A team of servitors very smoothly and discreetly clean up the damage.

Idir tries to feel Zo! out.

Not a great roll, but still good enough to learn 1 influencing skill. Zo! can be influenced by an athletics check.

I would use all the available space for the ship's guns... But hand on heart, everyone always chooses Pegasus for its mobility. Drake is not in high esteem, right? Heh... So the space freed from air reserves should be applied to new engines and maneuver control systems of the ship.

))

"Starfinders." Luwazi's voice sounds softly over the groups comms. Please meet me near the north canape table. Take your time be discrete. The horizon's clear."

Luwazi just wants a little status check to see how you're doing. You can also plot a strategy for the next 4 rounds if you like.

I've added a new scorecard on slide 4.

APZ, I think Idir still owes me a round 4 check.

Just a meta-comment -- remember repeated checks with the same skill against the same guest get harder. The usual SFS procedure is the first check is against the stated DC. The second check is against DC+2 ; the third, DC +4, etc.

If one uses a sense motive check to learn topics, can this be followed up with an influence check the same round, or is it just one sense motive or one influence check per round, not both? What follows will be in the next round if it's necessary to do it then.

Stell senses Naiaj's stress levels, so she tries offers to get her a drink or some yummy hors d'oeuvres (not the eel mind you). She looks around and starts making snarky comments about some of the others apparel and formal behaviors, wondering what they do for fun and making some slightly off-color hypothetical possibilities.

Then she asks what kinds of music Naiaj likes and plays something appropriate on her synth-fiddle.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
That was the roll to influence. The next is just how well she plays if she can perform something pleasing to the VC.
Profession (musician): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Stell finishes her tune and gives Naiaj a smile and excuses herself. She circles around hovering around the edge of a few interesting conversations before reaching the canape table. She selects a stalk of Castrovelian Bendivi wrapped in a delicate pastry dotted with spicy Pikqua seeds. Then she casually gravitates toward Luwazi.

"So far so good," Stell reports. "Zo! was impressed by my playing. I traded stories with Royo about how an oral tradition had advantages over digital records. He seemed impressed. I've been talking to Naiaj and may have helped take her mind of some of her ongoing cases of crisis management, at least for a bit. I suspect others could interest her with technical topics like computers or engineering, maybe spaceship piloting."

Idir, noting Luwazi waving them over, thinks the unthinkable and rushes towards the group, taking a running jump right over Zo!'s head!

Athletics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Thundergun takas a walk on his 2 around to look at disposition over guests heads. He thinks a bit about Kuozar lazer spoiling food and decided not to follow such examples.
Although he feels Stell is a real star, hi also could not follow her example.

After finding some food - technomancer was happy to answer call from Luwazi.
The Izalguun constantly feels a lot of attention and tries to avoid thought wearing helmet right here...

—I am not sure what to do with Zo! - entertainment is not my field of interests. But I think I found some connections. With iteration we discussed progress and species, let's say. Royo is an academic who likes not only attention, but physics. I am going to spend more time with Naiaj and Royo if you do not mind. Any clues and topics to discuss are appreciated.

A sense motive check is your action for the round.

Naiaj seems soothed by Stell's words and playing.
Success for Stell in Round 5.

Apparently frozen, Zo! watches Idir charge and leap. The undead twists away and ducks to avoid the dromada's hoofs. He bumps into a nearby shirren. The only damage is from the shirren's bevergage spilling onto its holder and Zo!
That'll be a failure for Idir.

Luwazi stops talking to watch Idir's flyby. "That was clumsy, but might've worked if it'd been better done. Zo!'s business is built on physical spectacle and risk."

"If you think you've got your best chance with Royo, then work it. I'm sure we'll need the ysoki's expertise in the future. Don't overstay your welcome though. "

"Don't overstay your welcome..." just a reminder that using the same skill against a guest raises the DC of subsequent checks. Also, Luwazi didn't say it because she's more concerned with the outside guests, but Naiaj is a legitimate target for skill checks.

Also, the team has 3 successes v Naiaj. The quota for each guest is 4.

Thundergun heitates for a few minutes clearing his large mouth-maw out of guests vision before returning to Iteration 177. The technomancer decides to ontinue previous discussion about evolution but now in a cultural and legacy approach
Culture (Untrained): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

--
Likely gathered enough material and good point, thundergun returns to Royo to come up with the matter he just discussed with the android - evoltion and options to mindful species to be.

Life Science: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

--

Thereafter thundergun goes to a bleesching Naiaj. He brings some colourful fruits to suggest to VC and continue discussing different ways of communications and information storaging in Society

Comuters: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

--

Thundergun looks around finding a worth person who lack of Stardinders attention... still saving Round 8

Idir grimaces as he botches his stunt and embarrasses Zo! even more.

"With all due respect, First Seeker, that isn't the reassurance you think it is," he says softly. "All we seem to be doing is embarrassing ourselves and Zo! alike...It would not surprise me if we undid all the good will Miss Z-Lin curried with him."

Whilst the conversations go on, Idir's eyestalks turn to Ykris and he thinks on the best way to approach them...

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (9) + 6 + (4) = 19

Kuozar will go to Iteration-177 and try to communicate with him telepathically about the goals and methods of Society.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Thundergun succeeds v I-177. Fails with Royo, whose understated scorn is none-the-less withering. The izalguun cosies up to Naiaj later in the evening, and succeeds.

Naiaj is successfully influenced.

Idir listens to the conversation around Ykris . He learns that Life Science and Medicine will also influence Ykris.

Kuozar fails in his diplomacy check v I-177.

Everyone is through with round five. TG is also done with 6 and 7. Let's have everyone post for rounds 6 and 7 to catch up with him.

Stell circulates again, drink in hand. She approaches Ykris, introduces herself and listens a bit as another guests finishes a story. The other guest was talking about some new medical technique and Stell seques with a story about her past.

"While music is my first love, I've had to be a Jill of all trades to get by. My parents, before they became inspired to join the Starfinders, did a variety of creative ways of financing their fun-loving lifestyle, which is to say they often ran cons in various places on Verces, where I grew up. I got my first chance to apply some of the first aid I was learning in school when my father tried a con on an alien, who, as it happens, sweat acid when upset. They got into a tussle and my father wriggled away, but when he got home, his skin began to turn orange and burn and itch. Mom was on another job and I was the only one who could help.

"I grabbed our medkit and touched his skin with a diagnostipad and found out what the stuff was and was able to neutralize the stuff before it did any serious harm. My father had to take a break until he stopped looking like a orange skinned clown. I've gotten a bit better at such things over the years. Medicine is such a challenging profession with so many different types of biology to master."

Medicine: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Assuming that is a success, Stell has now had one success with each of the five guests. Should she make a second attempt with a different topic for her next round action? Alternatively, she can sense motive on Zo! to learn more topics that might influence him.

I also wonder about the parasite.
Stell, regarding attempts - I believe you can and prhaps even should spend more time with guests. But seems like Naiaj already at our's side.

Izalguun twering over otherseasily finds Stell and approach her to hear stories and see how Ykris behaving...

Stell impresses Ykris with a tale of improvised healing.

RE: sense motive. I don't want to tell you what to do. If you're going to sense motive, now's the time so that everyone can use that knowledge. The party is roughly done with round 6, more or less. You have up to 12 rounds available. You know 2 things that will influence Zo! and there's a hint for something else in the text. You can work with those if you think the party can score 4 successes v Zo! based on just them.

Regarding choice of skill check. The check DCs go up for each attempt with a particular skill against the guest. It doesn't matter who tried it. I'll use Naiaj as an example since the team has succeeded with her already.
Engineering : check DC = base DC + 2x(the penalty).
Computers : check DC = base DC + (the penalty).
Piloting : check DC = base DC.

Another example : I-177 has had a success from TG in culture and a failed Culture check from Kuozar. For any new Culture attempt against I-177 : check DC = base DC + 2x(the penalty).

Idir gulps and approaches Zo! with a napkin.

"Let me help you with that, sir...I'd like to apologize for barreling by earlier. Post-mission nerves...or perhaps stage fright, as you're probably more familiar with."

He does his best to clean off what spilled on him, knowing it probably won't be enough to keep it from staining, but hoping the mogul appreciates the effort nonetheless.

"I was curious about some of your plans for working with the Society for a joint-entertainment production as a matter of fact. I understand the logistics involved must be astronomical, especially for a businessman who's been in the business for as long as you have. Literal centuries! I mean keeping up with the shifts in legal precedent and contract law alone! And making sure you have the right people with the right skills as long as possible, since not all of them can live forever..."

He proceeds to try and chat with Zo! about the finer points of business administration in the sometimes literal cutthroat world of Eoxian entertainment.

And hopes the GM will buy his player's bull**** rationalization of using Profession (Administrative Assistant) to try and influence him! :P

Profession (Administrative Assistant): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Stell refreshes her drink, a Whiskey Monsoon, sips it and drifts back around to Zo!, once Idir is done making amends for his failed attempt to impress him with his athletic talents. She asks him about his latest promotions and listens as others engage him, seeking to learn what else might impress him.

Sense Motive, skill expertise: 1d20 + 5 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 5 + (3) = 10

Wow. That could have been much better.

Kuozar lights a stinky cigar and takes a glass. It seems to him that he has already surpassed himself in the matter of diplomacy. He looks at Stell and Idir and smiles at those who are in their element now. Salute! He grunts again and takes a big sip of something alcoholic that he took from the table.

Idir is somehow able to impress Zo! with his clerical expertise.
I'll give you that one as a one off.

Stell must be getting tired. Her mind wanders while she listens to the talk around Zo! All she can glean is that he's looking for athletic, active people for a new project.

Good enough to learn 1 thing. Acrobatics will influence Zo!

Kuozar takes a pass.

Idir and Kuozar are on round 6. Stell and Thundergun are round 7.

Seeing Zo! has been somewhat mollified, Idir takes his leave and approaches Iteration-177.

"Salutations, Iteration-177! Idir of the Herd Fernas, formerly of the Absalom Huddle, at your service. I wanted to thank you personally for the hard work you've conducted in convincing the Aspis Consortium to lend us support. Our organization has had conflicts with theirs dating all the way back to the Gap, and to enable us to come together and become safer as a herd shows magnificent insight and people-skills! Very similar to the mission we've just returned from on Tabrid Minor as a matter of fact! It may not be long before the first copaxi to leave their world visit Absalom Station!"

He answers Iteration-177's questions about the mission and Tabrid Minor, while laying on more flattery about their diplomatic skill.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Iteration-177 doesn't say anything rude, but the android makes a polite excuse and slides away to join a different conversation.

Sadly that won't succeed.

Round 8 everyone and Kuozar can post round 7 if desired.

Idir gives a "hrmmph" at Iteration-177 brushing him off, and walks away.

He then approaches the other corporate lobbyist, Ykris.

"Greetings to you!" he says, introducing himself again.

He begins a conversation about the Pathfinder Society, thanking Ykris for their contribution to keeping the Society afloat in these current struggles, along with sharing his own unique perspective as a member of the Society's staff turned field agent due to their low numbers, noting the strangeness of living the dangers he'd only seen described in the reports he'd catalogued.

Culture: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Thundergun decides that he know how to play this game and stands not far from Zo! with different postures tryin to show different pustures and showing grand new suit in black / white coloure with silverish stripes.

I suppose we are using all the equipment so my ACP my interfere things a bit

Athletics to impress Zo!: 1d20 + 7 - 5 ⇒ (4) + 7 - 5 = 6

Crap! I knew this!
Seems like he is not really get to his new suit and during especially impressive (as he thought) posture, Thundergun realized that Space Yoja lessons were not supposed to work in heavy armor.

Ykris has his half-elf host nod politely while Idir talks, but Jhireu can't fully contain a yawn. "It seems that you are well-suited to the clerical vocation."

Thundergun poses to impress Zo! but the undead entertainment mogul doesn't seem to notice.

Thundergun, you could strip off your armor. Then Zo! could see you flexing.

Two failures so far in round 8. The dice have turned against you.

Stell asks Zo! what sort of acrobatic acts would be needed. Once he fills her in, she says, "Well, this may be the Whiskey Monsoon talking and the same drink may make it harder, but let me demonstrate a few dance moves I've developed that incorporate some moves that are more gymnast than ballet dancer."

She sets her violin on a side table and makes sure she has a bit of room. Guests form a circle as they detect she is going to do something in the area, so no one is at risk of walking into her as she attempts her moves.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

She dances and establishes a rhythm and then does a series of flips and spins, before finishing off with the same dance steps she started with.

Zo! breaks into applause following Stell's dance. His hands continue to shake in front of him with excitement while he talks to those around him. "See that's IT! Physical attractiveness, grace, power and control. That's what the audience wants!"

Naiaj signals the group on comms. "How are you all making out? I was just talking to Ykris and they seemed unimpressed. I hope Stell's dance was able to recover from those missteps with Zo! Come out to the elevators and let's talk about strategy for the rest of the evening. "

Kuozar can still make a round 8 post if desired.

Naiaj is worried that you're not going to succeed. She wants get everyone together to plan how you're going to handle the rest of the evening.

"I'm plenty physically attractive...I work very hard to keep my coat clean and healthy! I'm not balding somewhere am I?!" Idir mutters to himself as he notices Naiaj's comm message. He clops over.

"I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to speak to you sooner, Venture-Captain. I won't lie to you...I'm not sure how much of this we'll be able to salvage..."

Seriously, if our luck doesn't turn around soon we may blow this...

Thundergun going to Naiaj to discuss social and guild things with her and ask for advise who he should to handle around, and if he should remove this armour.

- I am aware some social occasions might be dangerous. So I need a permission or at least bow to remove my protective suite. Not sure if it is wiase to get closer with necro-man or symbiont infused creature without proper protection...

The technomancer waves to other teammates to participate in a short meeting and maybe stick a plan?

Stell arrives to discuss strategy. She gets caught up on what topics might be helpful to engage the interest of the ones not sufficiently impressed with the groups wonderfulness.

Iteration-177 has diplomacy listed under "influenced by" column but also under the "not influencing" column. Stell can try Diplomacy on I-177 with a good chance of success. Is there a penalty for duplication on this skill for this guest?

"Who's our best pilot? A good space battle story should impress Naiaj." Actually, looking at skills on profiles, it looks like Stell is best equiped for this topic. She'll try that.

"TG, why don't you talk life science with Royo or Ykris? If that doesn't work, bring mysticism into the mix."

"Someone should talk computers with Naiaj, and we've got a lot of people good at that."

How many more rounds do we have? Stell can accompany others as they work and provide an aid roll if it seems needed. She's got some ranks in all skills. I assume an aid roll counts as the action for the round.

My last column is doing double duty for not influencing and failed rolls. Italics or color highlighting indicates the skill will not influence. Plain text represents a failed attempt with a skill that will influence.
Naiaj has had 4 successes. She's on your side. Maybe she called this little meeting to help you out. You can try to influence her some more but it will be like beating a dead dromada. I mean horse. Sorry, Idir.
You have up to four more rounds. Aid rolls do count as your action for the round.

This next round, Stell will join others as they attempt influence checks, ready to aid if it looks as if it will help. Have we figured out what the DC is on these rolls? She recommends focusing on Royo and Ykris, as she can likely get Iteration-177 with a diplomacy check and could probably influence Zo! with another profession (performance), since she has a lot of bonuses with that and can overcome the penalty for 2nd attempt.

Thank you SO much for waiting for me! I was stranded at the hotel for three whole nights because of the snowstorm! I actually went up there ON MY DAYS OFF so I could come in to work safely!

Idir grimaces at Stell's assessment.

"Um...Stell? Venture-Captain Naiaj is...um...right here..." he explains, gesturing awkwardly at her.

"It may be best to speak with Iteration-177 first...I felt like I would have secured their favor with our conversation...it was no small amount of flattery, regardless of sincerity...but it appears I merely bored them."

Thundergun bows down to Stell, bowing as she speaking. He removes part of aromor decideing ti undressing fully later perhaps.

The technomancer checks data regarding guests, glowing under his helmet and after removig it watch how Idir performs and tinking about copy his manners.

He then decides to give one more shot and listens for Royo and his schollars interrupting with only one question to conclude professor or push him further...
Life Science - Royo: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

TG feels a wave of idea and suggest Ykris to come and participate in the discussion and TG remembering Idir shortly moderate conversation between 2 notable guests.
Life Science - Ikris: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

-This is proper stage to discuss high science matter unoficially. It is honour for me to stay among so eminent species. Please, lets talk about evolution. Do you believe and have points regarding civilisation singularity?...

While Stell and Idir survey the crowd and plot strategy, Thundergun pulls Royo and Ykris into a joint discussion on social evolution and the civilization singularity.

Royo dismisses such a singularity noting, "... the resilience of organic social systems is great while retaining significant flexibility. We've seen several proposed singularities come and go without effect. The development of AI, Drift travel, and perhaps the Gap, are the three greatest examples that many expected to drive a singularity ..."

Ykris concedes that a societal singularity has not occurred in known Pact Worlds or Veskariium history " ... but what about the Swarm? Or the shirren schism ? Surely this kind of shift from hive mind to individual consciousness indicates that a social singularity is possible...."

The two notable guests seem to enjoy the verbal sparring immensely, and also the attention given by the growing crowd around them.

TG scores successes in round 9 and 10.

Stell senses that Thundergun has Royo and Ykris coming around, so she drifts over to see if she can help Idir or Kuozar before she tries to influence Iteration-177 and/or Zo! again.

Idir approaches the animated academic discussion surrounding Royo and tries to insert himself, bringing up the material culture of the copaxi they had discovered in their latest mission. He emphasized things like the strange arena and the books of rudimentary theory, and how it contrasted with some of the "official" histories provided by their hosts, though he doesn't bring up the very prominent technological discovery of Less Than Three, figuring Royo's favoring of physical data storage might make him suspicious of a machine's memory, even one who was a person like Less Than Three.

Culture (Royo): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Kuozar smokes a cigar, drinks cocktails and communicates with some attractive elf, telling her the rules of the "princess-in-the-maze" game, common among adult men and women of the nuar race.

I'm here, although I've been missing from all the games for a week due to personal circumstances. But I'm back! I don't see how else I can help except with aid another action. Call Kuozar so that I give you +2 for any check where I can. It seems to me that I should not do the checks myself - from now I only worsen the situation with failures.

Kuozar moves away from the elf for a while, making sure that no one takes his place instead of him and approaches the conversation between Idir and Royo. After inserting a couple of successful (in the mechanic's opinion) comments on a historical topic, he returns to the lady.

Сulture Untrained, AID: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Stell stands at Idir's side and makes additional comments when she senses Royo may be losing patience with some aspect of Idir's delivery, reminding Idir of things that he may be forgetting.

Culture, aid: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Royo is unimpressed. Idir leads the culture club from luxury to heartache.