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Meet the Iconics: Obozaya

Monday, May 15, 2017

The countdown to Starfinder is on! We're highlighting the iconic characters and core classes that appear throughout the pages and covers the Starfinder line. Today we meet Obozaya, the iconic soldier!

Illustration by Remko Troost

In classic vesk fashion, Obozaya Ymeros lets her friends shorten her name to "Obo," but not even Damoritosh himself can protect those who attempt to use her nickname without earning it first.

Obozaya was born on Vesk Prime, the planetary capital of the Veskarium, to a family of low-level military bureaucrats. Distinguishing herself with her determination and ferocity on the sports field and in the dueling ring—if not in her academic studies—Obozaya quickly established herself as a top-notch military cadet, enlisting as soon as her basic studies were complete.

Obozaya took to military life like a swamp lion to water, and soon outpaced many in her cohort. In Veskarium society, social status is most easily earned through excellence in combat, and Obo had no desire to spend her entire life at the same forgettable rank as her parents. Though her dreams of glory were hardly unique, she nevertheless proved herself in several early battles, putting down a vicious rebellion among the feline barbarians of Vesk-6.

Yet in her youthful arrogance, Obozaya overlooked the power of political connection. After dueling and deeply shaming another member of her unit—one with family ties to high-ranking military officials—she found herself promoted and assigned to patrol a section of frozen tundra on Vesk-8, where the staunchly pacifist residents refused to give her any opportunity for righteous combat. It soon became clear that neither appeals to her superiors nor prayers to Damoritosh the Conqueror were going to get her a better assignment. Thus, as her first term of enlistment drew to a close, a frustrated Obozaya took the Soldier's Due, the time-honored vesk tradition of being honorably discharged and taking your government-issue armor and weapons with you.

Still in love with the idea of one day becoming a major player in vesk society, and disgusted by the idea that politics could exist within the Veskarium's vaunted military meritocracy, Obozaya followed in the footsteps of many other legendary vesk warriors and left home to work as a mercenary in the Pact Worlds. Here, at last, she found what she'd been searching for: an endless series of battles and adventures, with no restrictions but her own sense of honor. Rather than signing on with an established mercenary company, Obozaya found herself better suited to working with small groups of explorers and adventurers. Small teams mean more glory per person when you succeed, and she often finds herself the sole front-line fighter on a crew, which appeals to both her vanity and her showboating style. As she's fond of saying, battle is too important to leave to amateurs, and Obozaya believes that the best way to win a fight is to move fast and hit hard. Though she's drifted away from Damoritosh's faith in recent years, coming to appreciate some other races' criticisms of the Conqueror, she still adores using his sacred doshko for her close-up fighting.

Personality-wise, Obozaya is a study in contrasts. While she appreciates material wealth and creature comforts, her true desire is for recognition. This is perhaps best exemplified by the holoprojector on her back, which usually projects a modified version of Damoritosh's symbol to advertise her as a warrior for hire, but which is capable of projecting a personalized holographic war-banner in combat to make sure the enemy knows exactly who's coming for them. Brilliant on the battlefield, Obozaya nevertheless finds herself a little slow on the draw in most intellectual pursuits, having little patience for any education not directly related to her vocation. She believes that honor demands honesty, and while she's not against lying by omission, she would rather die than break her word or renege on a contract. In conversations with new people, she's either unnervingly stoic or direct to the point of rudeness, and thinks that most species talk more than they need to as an attempt to cover up their cowardice.

All of which makes it that much more surprising to discover how much her companions adore her. Sure, Obo may explain her loyalty as a mercenary's pragmatism, yet everyone in her crew knows they can count on "the big lizard" to pull them out of a scrape, no matter the cost. As with many vesk, her gruff manner is punctuated with sudden outpourings of emotion, and with her characteristic directness, Obo finds no fear or shame in telling her friends how much she loves them. Much of her life is spent on or training for missions, yet when Obozaya sets out to celebrate a success, it's with her trademark bombastic zeal. Eschewing the berserker drugs favored by some of her kindred, she's nevertheless fond of the Veskarium nose-hookahs sometimes called "dragon's breath," as well as the mildly hallucinogenic brain snails of Vesk-2 and other traditional vesk snacks. More than one bar has been sacrificed to (and well compensated for) her parties, and the heavy bass of her beloved revelaz dance-pop beats is notorious for bursting rivets on ship bulkheads.

James L. Sutter
Creative Director

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Tags: Iconics Meet the Iconics Obozaya Remko Troost Soldiers Starfinder
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Another great character! :P

I've really been loving the bits of lore and world details in these stories, makes me very excited to jump in and play!
2 people marked this as a favorite.

There are so many cool things in this post! Vesk-2 and Vesk-6! Military Meritocracy! Nose Hookahs, brain snails, and heavy bass music! This is my favorite Iconic by far, and I absolutely am in love with the Vesk culture so far.

Do vesk give live birth or come out of eggs? I like the story though.
2 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Starfinder Society Subscriber

I am guessing that we can add Damoritosh to the list of major Starfinder deities.
Dark Archive

Swamp lions? Cool
Sovereign Court
Pathfinder Starfinder Society Subscriber

I need some beloved revelaz dance-pop beats in my life.
Grand Lodge
Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Okay, a tiny bit the warrior cliche, but it works. I love the touches of Vesk society.

A shame her picture gets marred by the glaring lack of triggerdiscipline (I refuse to believe in futuretech removing the need for it).

Also: new godname! Damoritosh the Conqueror. I'm guessing battle, war, conquest as areas of concern.
Silver Crusade
20 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Hold up. She started her career by putting down the Thundercat rebellions!?
Dark Archive
1 person marked this as a favorite.

We're gonna need a revelaz dance-pop mp3 album now.
1 person marked this as a favorite.

Neat.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

I love her.
3 people marked this as a favorite.
DM_aka_Dudemeister wrote:
Hold up. She started her career by putting down the Thundercat rebellions!?

And she's a mercenary. Interesting...

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

ALL GLORY TO DAMORITOSH THE CONQUEROR!

ALL GLORY TO DRUNKEN LIZARD-WARRIORS TEARING APART BARS TO DANCE-POP!

Sounds like the Iconics are gonna have a fun ship...
1 person marked this as a favorite.

Yay I was right. She's a girl. I had to use my color blindness glasses to tell if she looked colorful or not, but I got it right!

"Nose-hookahs sometimes called 'dragon's breath,'"

This is awesome! My favorite Iconic yet. I wonder if actual dragons use these hookahs...

Are the three vertical lines Damoritosh the Conqueror's symbol or is that Obozaya's personal standard?
5 people marked this as a favorite.
CKent83 wrote:

"Nose-hookahs sometimes called 'dragon's breath,'"

This is awesome! My favorite Iconic yet. I wonder if actual dragons use these hookahs...

I've already had a long planned out encounter that involves the PCs running across a Jaba the Hutt style Dragon - Obeese, obscenely wealthy, surrounded by ruffians to do his bidding. Taking huge breaths of hookah and laying on his side on a floating platform suspended in the air by hover technology. "Bring me Iseph and the Vesk!"

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Aunders wrote:
I've already had a long planned out encounter that involves the PCs running across a Jaba the Hutt style Dragon - Obeese, obscenely wealthy, surrounded by ruffians to do his bidding. Taking huge breaths of hookah and laying on his side on a floating platform suspended in the air by hover technology. "Bring me Iseph and the Vesk!"

You forgot the laugh :D

3 people marked this as a favorite.

"Obozaya, no!"

"OBOZAYA YES!"
4 people marked this as a favorite.

She's clearly all about that bass.

I like how they mentioned Vesk being prove to emotional outbursts, but of every emotion. They feel it, they let you know. Loudly. Very cool! Also, that big weapon is a doshko, likely Damoritosh's favored weapon. Wonder what his looks like.
Pathfinder Lost Omens Subscriber
Damanta wrote:


A shame her picture gets marred by the glaring lack of triggerdiscipline (I refuse to believe in futuretech removing the need for it).

What if it's a 'release activated trigger'?

RPG Superstar 2015 Top 8
2 people marked this as a favorite.

Excuse me, ma'am, if you could please be so kind and turn down that, uhm, music just a little? There have been compl--oh, it's you. I see. Never mind, carry on...
4 people marked this as a favorite.
DM_aka_Dudemeister wrote:
Hold up. She started her career by putting down the Thundercat rebellions!?

If we are talking about the 'new' thundercats then she could have been in the battle forces of the series premire.

If we are talking about 'classic' thundercats, perhaps her dancing blew up thunderra.
david grubbe 586 wrote:
DM_aka_Dudemeister wrote:
Hold up. She started her career by putting down the Thundercat rebellions!?

If we are talking about the 'new' thundercats then she could have been in the battle forces of the series premire.

If we are talking about 'classic' thundercats, perhaps her dancing blew up thunderra.

I believe you mean Vesk-6.

Dark Archive
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Wei Ji the Learner wrote:
Damanta wrote:


A shame her picture gets marred by the glaring lack of triggerdiscipline (I refuse to believe in futuretech removing the need for it).
What if it's a 'release activated trigger'?

What if it's against Vesk traditions? Unplanned shootings are just par for the course?

Sovereign Court

The Vesk remind me of the great reptilian races the Ram and Python Lizards in my old favorite Scifi-RPG Battlelords of the 24th Century, though they're far more civilized. I can't wait to play one and live by the motto "If it moves kill it. If it doesn't move, pick it up and kill it!"

--Vrock of Bral

Hmm. I'm struggling with the contrast between 'sacred doshko' and home system planets that a merely numbers. The former begs for some description, while the latter need some names to flesh them out.
Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Always did like military background for characters.

Dave2

Planets in sci-fi often are a name followed by a number. its a staple of the genre-and doing it in the militant race is perfect-and I'm sure some natives still have names for the planet, but don't use it in front of a Vesk soldier. Yet just because they are conquerors doesn't mean they can't have things sacred to themselves. If anything, the naming of all other planets after their homeworld is, to them, I'm sure an honor. The highest of which being Vesk Prime. My issue with the whole thing is everything is named after their race. Welcome to Human Prime-I mean, earth.
Voss wrote:
Hmm. I'm struggling with the contrast between 'sacred doshko' and home system planets that a merely numbers. The former begs for some description, while the latter need some names to flesh them out.

I actually think the names do flesh them out, as part of the Vesk Empire. When the Vesk come in, you are subsumed and become a part of them. Just a number in their horde. I like it.

Lots of fun here. Cements the Vest as my favorite race in the core. Lashuntas are still cool though.

As cliche' as she is, she is so much more that the some of her tropes. I really like her. I like all the iconics so far.

So excited for the game!
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Once again, I love the worldbuilding baked into this write-up. Great job, James!

What kind of melee weapon is that, it appears to only have a small spike as a piercing edge.
Liberty's Edge
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Okay, we need to put together a dance pop Starfinder playlist.

Wow so uh...i love her? She's much more interesting than I thought she'd be.
1 person marked this as a favorite.
Slothsy wrote:
Okay, we need to put together a dance pop Starfinder playlist.

YES!

Browman wrote:
What kind of melee weapon is that, it appears to only have a small spike as a piercing edge.

In another piece of art, you can see it projecting a sort of energy blade. Perhaps it's a plasma axe?

TheGoofyGE3K wrote:
...Welcome to Human Prime-I mean, earth.

I think you mean Terran Prime, thank you very much! ;)

Browman wrote:
What kind of melee weapon is that, it appears to only have a small spike as a piercing edge.

Here's another look at her axe/scythe.

Edit: Anyone know what a "swamp lion" is?

Sounds like a fun, if noisy, ship-mate! :)
Pathfinder Lost Omens Subscriber

Now filling in the role of 'Space Hobgoblins'...

Seriously, though, I'm now more pumped than ever to roll out my custodial engineering technician.
Paizo Employee Developer
4 people marked this as a favorite.
CKent83 wrote:
TheGoofyGE3K wrote:
...Welcome to Human Prime-I mean, earth.

I think you mean Terran Prime, thank you very much! ;)

Browman wrote:
What kind of melee weapon is that, it appears to only have a small spike as a piercing edge.

Here's another look at her axe/scythe.

Edit: Anyone know what a "swamp lion" is?

That's a doshko.

As for a swamp lion, it sounds like something you probably don't want to encounter in a swamp.
1 person marked this as a favorite.
Mark Moreland wrote:
CKent83 wrote:
TheGoofyGE3K wrote:
...Welcome to Human Prime-I mean, earth.

I think you mean Terran Prime, thank you very much! ;)

Browman wrote:
What kind of melee weapon is that, it appears to only have a small spike as a piercing edge.

Here's another look at her axe/scythe.

Edit: Anyone know what a "swamp lion" is?

That's a doshko.

As for a swamp lion, it sounds like something you probably don't want to encounter in a swamp.

Imma go ahead and tack on probably anywhere.

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Mark Moreland wrote:
CKent83 wrote:
TheGoofyGE3K wrote:
...Welcome to Human Prime-I mean, earth.

I think you mean Terran Prime, thank you very much! ;)

Browman wrote:
What kind of melee weapon is that, it appears to only have a small spike as a piercing edge.

Here's another look at her axe/scythe.

Edit: Anyone know what a "swamp lion" is?

That's a doshko.

*snip*

FOREEEEEE!

Damanta wrote:
A shame her picture gets marred by the glaring lack of triggerdiscipline

An all too common trope in sci-fi however, along with supposedly experienced soldiers who when stacked up are pointing their weapons at the guys in front of them.

I just noticed she has a little tail blade it looks like. Combined with the art of a Vesk envoy with a tail ring, I think the Vesk like accentuating their tails.
Pathfinder Lost Omens Subscriber
jedi8187 wrote:
I just noticed she has a little tail blade it looks like. Combined with the art of a Vesk envoy with a tail ring, I think the Vesk like accentuating their tails.

Could just be a tail guard, to prevent unwarranted reactions from contact in a sensitive area?

1 person marked this as a favorite.

If you got it flaunt it.
14 people marked this as a favorite.

Anyone who's a specialist in anything in real life will probably have to swallow their disbelief frequently when that particular thing arises in pop culture. I'm a law nerd, so I often cringe whenever I see the depiction of lawyers and trials on TV dramas. Doctor nerds surely do the same with the trope that a single punch instantly knocks out any unaware mook with no long term consequences. As a gun/military nerd, you'll just have to get use to things like "a lack of trigger discipline" in pop culture (including RPG) portrayal of soldiers or drive yourself insane trying to fight the good fight :)
Starfinder Charter Superscriber

Preach it, other.
1 person marked this as a favorite.
TerminalArtiste wrote:
Slothsy wrote:
Okay, we need to put together a dance pop Starfinder playlist.
YES!

Start it off with Starships?

"Eschewing the berserker drugs favored by some of her kindred"

Berveskers!

Sign me up now :)
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