Calder Soren's page

"I do have to say, it's nice that Calder Soren himself is here engaging with the rank and file agents. Working hard on that campaign."

I appreciate the sentiment, Darwyn. I believe it is the only true way to be - engaged with the agents of the Starfinder Society and not removed.

Calder Soren wrote:

James Anderson wrote:

Comfortably Dumb wrote:

CorvusMask wrote:

Nothing about being musician relates to being hippies, thats more of xenowarden thing ._.;

Psychadelic walrus. Lennon glasses. Guitar.

Seemed the pretty obvious roleplaying hook to me. "I Am The Walrus"? Pity I can't do a decent Lennon voice imitation.

According to the writer, Morlamaws were inspired more by "The Walrus and the Carpenter" than "I am the Walrus".

Though that doesn't appear to be the same for Calder.

Calder’s inspiration came from the bass player in a metal band. The skin color is defined in Alien Archive 3 in the racial description. The John Lennon glasses are an effect I chose, similar to how Ozzy Osborne wears them. Anyone considering this character a hippie or inspired by hippies is sorely mistaken.

Yeah, have to say that I was unsure of John Lennon being the actual reference because of the "brutal bass solo" he does in the scenario :D But I don't even know anything about John Lennon to refute any claims players make.

(...What? Its not that weird that I can't recognize any of Beetles. He is one of them right? I've never really listened their music either)

Corvus, if you want to see the inspiration for Calder, look at the picture for the bass player from Nightwish and all will make sense.

Comfortably Dumb wrote:

CorvusMask wrote:

Nothing about being musician relates to being hippies, thats more of xenowarden thing ._.;

Psychadelic walrus. Lennon glasses. Guitar.

Seemed the pretty obvious roleplaying hook to me. "I Am The Walrus"? Pity I can't do a decent Lennon voice imitation.

According to the writer, Morlamaws were inspired more by "The Walrus and the Carpenter" than "I am the Walrus".

Though that doesn't appear to be the same for Calder.

Calder’s inspiration came from the bass player in a metal band. The skin color is defined in Alien Archive 3 in the racial description. The John Lennon glasses are an effect I chose, similar to how Ozzy Osborne wears them. Anyone considering this character a hippie or inspired by hippies is sorely mistaken.

Thank you for the question, Jimaa.

I have not yet had any exposure to the Manifold Host and am not yet familiar with their goals. However, if, as you've stated, my goals and those of the Manifold Host are closely aligned, I would absolutely want to work more closely with the faction.

As you can see, what I intend is to play to the strengths and goals of the factions within the Society. That does not change at all with any faction, major, minor, new, old, or not yet begun. If there is something that falls within their area of expertise, I intend to lean on them to assist in moving forward by doing the things that make them stand out from the others.

One thing I have not addressed is my platform and how I would work with the other factions.

As a leader, and understanding that each faction has an agenda, while still looking out for the Society on the whole, I would prefer to send agents on missions that play to the core values of the Society (Explore, Report, Cooperate) while also cementing our place in the universe. Exploring new worlds; investigating planets where lodges were founded and abandoned; bolstering our fighting forces through diplomacy and negotiation; acquiring new technology to assist us in facing the jinsuls, the Swarm, and the Azlant Star Empire; meeting new races; and mutual defense missions supporting our existing and newfound allies throughout the universe. By doing so, we will have the manpower to handle the exploratory missions needs to advance our science and technology to benefit all citizens of the Pact Worlds and its Protectorates.

I would prefer to keep warm relationships with each faction within the Society, relying on them to further my goals by playing to their strengths, and would want to encourage the minor factions to step up to take on a larger role. If we learned anything from the Scoured Stars incident, it is that there are beings out there who are fanatical, technologically advanced beyond what we have accessible to us currently, and have numbers that far exceed our roster of agents.

I would expect the Acquisitives to seek out ancient artifacts, new technologies, and to leverage their relationships with the mercenaries they hired or served with (for those who stayed with the Society) to help us become stronger and more ready for new threats that have yet to be discovered. Having them seeking these things out will lead us closer to solving the mysteries of Golarian and the Gap, and would help the Society become further prepared for the future and also to help us learn more of our past.
I would wish the Dataphiles to continue searching for information on the Gap, what happened to Golarian, and to coordinate our activities with the keepers of knowledge throughout all of space, cataloging and studying any artifacts, technologies, resources, species, and worlds discovered, as well as performing important research and development of new technologies that will better all in the Pact Worlds and beyond.

I would push the Exo-Guardians to organize our defense of the Pact Worlds and to reach out to and network with the Stewards, the Star Knights, the Knights of Golarian, the Skyfire Legion, and others to come together to defend the Pact Worlds from any external threat. The jinsuls, the Swarm, and the Azlant Star Empire are still out there, as are other unknown and unseen threats. Having strong alliances with police or military forces in mutual defense is paramount to the continued survival of both the Starfinder Society and the Pact Worlds.

I would task the Wayfinders to seek out undiscovered or forgotten worlds, make contact with unknown races and species, and to scan the universe they reveal to the rest of us for both potential allies and threats. Their desire to be the first into the unknown will prove invaluable in our ongoing quest to establish lodges where there are none currently.

As for the Second Seekers, I would direct them to never lose sight of the Society's ongoing goals, as well as those goals I bring to the position. I would want them to take part in every mission undertaken by the Society to make sure they always advance the Society and present it in the best possible light. I would hope and expect that they would be a guiding hand in the overall direction of the Society.
I would want to set goals according to a need I see in the Society. The biggest need I see to be filled is the research, development, and dissemination of newer technologies in all aspects of life in the Pact Worlds and the Society. Advancements in entertainment, health, military, agriculture, and other technologies will make lives better for all, and may also entice worlds outside the Pact Worlds to join the society, especially if they have encountered the jinsuls, the Swarm, or the Azlant Star Empire.

With respect to our current situation regarding the media campaign against us, I would urge patience. We know almost nothing about Datch. She wears a gray suit and an AbadarCorp pin, but we do not know if she is truly part of or representing AbadarCorp. If she is part of AbadarCorp, is this sanctioned by their leadership, or has she struck out on her own and made allies? If she does not represent AbadarCorp, who does she represent, and who backs her? To attack this issue head on, and to restore our good name throughout the Pact Worlds and beyond, we need to find the answers to these questions, and more. We cannot allow ours lives to fall into her trap, but must outsmart her, as well as her allies and backers, so that they, instead, fall into ours. In the end, the truth will come to light, and when it does, those attempting to paint us negatively will realize not only how untrue this campaign has been, but also that they need us.

So, are we going to hear from the other candidates? Or is this just an endorsement using the guise of an NPC's name? I hear VCs are telling their players how to vote, too. This is why we can't have nice things.

TurnProphet,

I can assure you that Zo! Jr. and I are not the same person. I was invited to make my character known here by answering questions that were posted both in the 2-07 thread and sent here or to Zo. Jr, and did so. If this is being perceived as being told how to vote or to sway the vote, that was not the intention, which was solely to give the players a way to give further insight into their characters. To date, only myself and Avor have posted to the forums.

Hearing that VCs are telling people how to vote actually upsets me. I get that people have their favorites, and they want to help them get elected. But telling people to vote a certain way is not the right way. I don't want anyone told to vote for this character. I want people to vote for this character because they believe, from the scenario and any interactions on here, that he's the one best fit for the position. If they believe he's not and vote for another, that doesn't upset me (though it does then make me wonder what I could have done differently or better to earn their vote).

Truth be told, I have been hoping to see posts from the other candidates, and was glad to see Avor's posts. In reading through his background information, I was happy that someone else was coming forward to present their character so others on the forums could see what they stand for and to give some further background and guidance on how they should be run. I was hoping that would encourage the others to also participate, and that it would evolve into an online character debate among the four of us where people could ask questions and get clarifications.

As the question was posed about how to portray Calder, and I did respond in a PM, the suggestion was that I post it where any could see, and that in doing so, it could afford all the other candidates the opportunity to do the same.

This is the description I sent to Paizo in my 75 word submission with respect to his look and his personality:

Calder Soren has multi-colored skin (green, blue, and black with yellow patches, similarly colored whiskers, and runes carved into his tusks which are also brightly colored. He quickly assesses both situations and people, delivering his messages very directly and bluntly. He is also a musician, playing bass in an all Morlamaw metal band with a somewhat large following.

I gave him the Icon theme on creation.

When I was given a request for a description for the art order, what I gave was this:

I envision him to be mainly a deep blue in color, but also not solely deep blue, having patches of color ranging from nearly a teal to a purple across his body (more so on his back and torso than his face). Since he is an icon and a rock star, I kind of pictured, during the day and on land, him wearing John Lennon style glasses, tinted to be more the color of the sea on Arniselle, though that would likely not come up so much in a mission briefing unless it were to be taking place outdoors and in bright sunlight. His clothes would be considered bordering on flashy, though not gaudy. He wears his whiskers long, and his tusks are carved with both musical notes and runes or glyphs, each filled with a different color to make them stand out. Beyond just the bust portion, he carries an assault hammer and a tactical semi-automatic pistol (when he's not performing on stage, carrying his guitar). He has his solar mote orbiting his head most of the time, just in case it's needed, and that mote is as dark as a black hole.

I basically looked at him as being very similar to Naiaj in personality, temperament, and delivery. In part, it's him getting used to dealing with people, as the Morlamaws communication style is less verbal than visual, so speaking to people was not something where he was necessarily comfortable. Music became that means of expression and of getting more at ease with that style of communication.

If you need any more detail, feel free to let me know.

Thank you for the question, Thide.

I agree that expansion will be seen and spun by some as an act of martial aggression, however, that is not the intention at all. In order to fulfill the Society's mission statement of "Explore. Report. Cooperate.", expansion is a must. We need to go back to the lodges that were abandoned, as well as to explore further in Near Space and The Vast. By doing so, we are in a better position to discover new races, technologies, possible allies, and even those who wish us harm.

As it stands today, had any of those lodges been open, we may have had advanced warning of the Jinsul threat, or of the movements of the Swarm, or even of what the Azlanti Star Empire is doing. We rely on information to be passed to us by those who come across this information, and more, in their travels. If we were able to get this first-hand, we could better coordinate with the Stewards and others charged with the defense of the Pact Worlds.

That's not to say we should ever give up the ability to defend ourselves. Exploration can be dangerous. The Scoured Stars reinforced that fact. We always need to be prepared, but that does not mean being the initiators of the conflict.

Those who would attack us in the media will not see it this way, but it is the truth of the mission.

Hello, Zach.

I have no desire to merge the Wayfinders and the Second Seekers if elected. In my meetings with the faction leaders, I have assured them of my wish to play to their strengths and the strengths of their factions. The Second Seekers would follow my agenda, but the Wayfinders will continue to do what they do best.

No offense taken, Dr. Cupi. It is a fair and valid question.

Before leaving Arniselle, I spent time in the lodge on planet, speaking with some Starfinder agents and reading or listening to anything I could about the Society at the lodge. That got me interested in the Society, as did tales told by those Morlamaws who witnessed the heroism of the agents who journeyed to Arniselle and defeated the cult.

When I made the decision to leave Arniselle, intrigued by what I had already learned, I needed to satiate my appetite for knowledge of the Society, its goals, its successes, its failures, and its past and present leadership. I spent time speaking with both novice and veteran Starfinders, listening to their stories from completed missions, and, when I decided to get further involved, started speaking at some length with faction leaders, Venture-Captains (Naiaj and I seem to share the same direct approach in dealing with people), First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo, members of the Forum, and Guidance. I spent a lot of time listening to what worked, what didn’t, and paid close attention to why as well as how. I learn more about the Society with each passing day, and will continue to do so.

The influences all come from Arniselle and life underwater. You feel the sound more than hearing it, at times. The songs of the other life living below the water in communicating with each other is a song that is not easily forgotten.

The one most speaking to me currently is Call of The a Deep. The sounds we achieve on that song are intense

A number of other Morlamaws and I got together some time back and started playing music together. Because of our heavier sound, people have likened is to Abysshead, however, we are not a death metal band.

Song writing for a new album took a back seat to preparing for the election, however, I believe we will get back to it after the election. As for a favorite song, I’m not sure I have one. It’s hard to choose a favorite from a labor of love. It would be as difficult as choosing a favorite child, which just should not be done.

I would tell them that freedom does not equate to lawlessness, and that if they disagree with laws, work to change them, and that I will stand by them in their quest.

Thank you for the kind offer. After a day on stage with the band, I will partake of alcohol, but being amphibious, I also have to keep hydrated. Water will suffice, thanks.

It is normal to question the unknown. We were, as a people, given a chance after Starfinders came across a number of our kind taken in by the corruption of worshipping a god whose followers espouse views that do not align with Morlamaw societal views. Those who came to Arniselle deemed us worthy of being given a chance, in spite of those misguided few they initially encountered. Allow me the chance to prove their judgment to be accurate.

Thank you, Zo! Jr. It’s a pleasure to be here.

It’s a bit overwhelming and humbling, to be frank. It’s also a little nerve wracking. I have 3 very tough opponents with strong platforms to overcome if I am going to be chosen as a successor to both Jadnura and Luwazi Elsebo.