Jupitus's page

Chronicle looks good on my side - thanks for running!! This was a fun romp with a great GM and great group - thanks, everyone! And, nice to play with authors to get their take on seeing previously-introduced NPCs return to be horribly killed lol

"Finitrium! Of course! It was a burglary attempt at a museum earlier this year that tipped us of to the Organi-, I mean, the Order's needs for Finitrium in the first place. It's all coming together. Ongie, we'll do everything we can, for your father and Kortus IV."

Haha, ah crap, I was all exited to use my Enemy of the Organization boon from 6-01 when we were fighting Organization stooges, and then forgot all about it until now :D Oh well. Next scenario!

Jupitus lets loose a long exhalation as our pursuers back off, crippled. "Phew. I never doubted it for a moment! This Gorgon handles like a shopping cart, but she's got it where it counts."

Later, Jupitus would join the conversation with Ongie and Zynn. He is curious to hear her answers about the Organization.

After she's had a chance to answer Zynn, he would ask, "And what do you know about its characteristics? Obviously they have military capabilities and assets through the galaxy - this is a serious outfit. Your red-string board back on Vesk-7 looked fairly thorough, though. I am sure the Starfinder Society will be able to put the knowledge you've gathered to good use!"

Profession Clergy: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33

Jupitus is pretty happy with our current facing, so will just slalom our Gorgon in place to remain evasive.

Not moving, but trying Evasion to give us +2 AC.
Piloting Evade, DC 16: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 1 = 27

Dang, I've been crushing the rolls! Historically this will come crashing down around me any moment now, lol. Hopefully, they'll be Exploded by then!

"Ongie, see if you can boost gains to shields!"
Ongie Divert Power to Shields, DC 16: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Ongie does not seem to understand that the Gorgon is, for all practical purposes, a large single cannon with a cockpit stapled to the front :D

Listening to his captain, Jupitus does his best to out-fly our foes...
Piloting Init, Encouraged: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 1 + 2 = 26

Truthfully, this is the first time Jupitus has gotten to bring the Gorgon out of drydock, and I was kinda excited to see how it does!

So far, it's making me think that "the biggest cannons in the galaxy mean nothing if you don't have the floating ICM +Xs to actually hit things" :D

Luckily, we have the toughness to wait until we roll well - and I get the feeling that we only need a small number of hits to land!

Jupitus tries to duck & weave along their predicted targeting lines, while still keeping them in our Fore.
Evasion to give us +2 AC.
Piloting Evade, DC 16: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 9 + 1 = 30
Ooh, nice. Too bad the Natural 20s in Starship Combat bit from SOM isn't Society legal.

Piloting Init: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 1 = 27
Aw yiss! I'll try and keep them in our Front Arc so we can bring the pain; will decide after they move of course, but probably a Back Off stunt.

"Ongie, see if you can lock down forwards shields!"
Assume it's ok to bot Ongie? Gonna guess she's got the same Engineering check she has with Computers: +7?
Ongie Divert Power to Shields, DC 16: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

The shield rules for SSC say that "at the start of combat, when the starship’s crew takes up battle stations and the shields are activated, the Shield Points must be divided up between the four quadrants of the ship. No quadrant can be assigned less than 10% of the total number of Shield Points available at the start of combat," so, given the forwards-facing nature of the Gorgon, would've started off with Fore 42, and 6 in the other three. So shields should be Fore 25, Port 6, Star 6, Aft 6, and nothing's punched through to hull yet?

Jupitus turns the weapons-laden shopping cart that is the Gorgon around to face the interlopers. "All hands, prepare for battle! Gorf, Skiratrisk - give 'em the business!"
We are now 12 hexes away, so I'll Turn In Place to bring us about, and put our strongest facing forwards. (The alternative would be the Flip & Burn, but that would put us even further away, and could fail on a bad roll, so it's not a better option.) So the Heavy Laser Cannon will be 1 range increment out, but the Twin Lasers and Tactical Nuke Launcher are within range.

Like I said in that other post, too, since there's usually one way to orient the Gorgon (towards its problems :D) our initial shield loadout would be as forwards-facing as possible: Fore 42 Star 6 Port 6 Aft 6.

I misunderstood where we were in SSC phases, so I rolled already - 22. Can I keep that roll?

I believe we have no Engineer at present, so - up to the pursuers!

Behind the pilot's seat, Jupitus begins tapping out commands, as all four of his vestigial grab the control stick. "Ooop - strap in, Kids!" he calls out over the ship's PA system, as he warms up the maneuvering thrusters.
Piloting Initiative: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 9 + 1 = 22
Whew, close one. The ideal strategy for the Gorgon is straightforward - literally. Point the front of the ship at the thing you want to explode :D Depending on their actions, Jupitus will likely go for a Turn in Place to turn and face them, without putting more distance between us (since the forwards heavy laser cannon is Med range, so ideally they're within 10 hexes of us. Given that plan to try and face them, I'm going to suggest we similarly begin with our shields as forwards-facing as the math allows; so Fore 42 Star 6 Port 6 Aft 6.

They first appeared in 5-13 Finding the Forgotten! I haven't played all the adventures between that one and this one, so I'm not sure if they show up elsewhere.

I think I've experience just about all of the "meta" season 6 plot, and FWIW I haven't seen them come up anywhere before here.

If we use Jupitus's proposed configuration from earlier (Captain Zinn, Pilot Jupitus, Gunners Gorf and Skiratrisk), then Ongie slots in nicely as Science/Engineering! Maybe we have Ongie starts as Science Officer and do a scan, then switch to Engineering?

Sounds good to me! If we start taking hits, then we can have Ongie try for the shield regeneration.

Jupitus shakes his head as the captives self-terminate, and sighs. "What a waste. What kind or organization would drive a person to such things..."

At Skiratrisk's guilt, he'd offer a quick benediction. "We tried to settle things peacefully; be not burdened, Sister. Hylax calls on us to defend and protect, against those who refuse to see reason."

Ha ha, it's so weird to fight NPCs that we created for a different adventure.

Must be a bit surreal, yeah! Luckily they aren't exactly likeable NPCs; I imagine this would be harder if it was, like, a beloved ally NPC like Ziggy or something :)

Jupitus doesn't think too highly of these people, but, he also values life. It looks like the vesk is too far gone, but, he'd make an effort to make sure the other two don't just bleed out.
Jupitus used non-lethal damage to finish off the human, so he should be just unconscious; and if he's right beside the kasatha, he'd try and First Aid with a +11 Medicine check to keep 'em stable. This is more a roleplying note; we don't have to spend a lot of time on it, especially if the adventure assumes we kill them and move on. If the situation permits, he'd tie up the baddies & call in to the local authorities in Forget to come and pick up the trash, or whatever is most appropriate.

Jupitus cocks his head at Gorf's slip. "My friend, you seem more time-addled even than some precogs I know...but regardless, you're right. Ongie, we're here to help protect you - and we hope you can in turn help us Starfinders with what you know about those people, and the Organization they work for. Will you come back to Abasalom Station with us? We can offer the full protection of the Lorespire Complex."

At first he takes a guarded step backwards, but then breaks for it.

It is a bad day for the Human, then, as today is the day he learns that Trox are the good kind of Large, and have 10 ft reach. Jupitus would try and knock 'em out with the flat of his blade, rather than going for the kill, though. Something something Hylaxian something.

On his second turn, Jupitus sees Zatteh preparing something nasty, and thinks, "not today!" He full-action charges the prone kasatha. I figure the -4 vs melee attacks Zatteh gets for being prone outweighs the -2 Jupitus takes for attacking during a charge :D
Charge vs Zatteh KAC: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 8 - 2 = 17
S dmg: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Yay free move action!
Quick as a Large-sized whistle, Jupitus springs into action. Seeing Zynn head to the vesk, he'll rush up towards the pistol-wielding human! "Ongie, get down!" he shouts, drawing his massive sword. Mystical blue energy flares around the trox's eyes as he tries to peer just a split-second into the future to strike true.
Move action to move up + draw sword, then Full Action to trick attack advance to Human, then attack Human.
Mysticism Trick Attack: 1d20 + 14 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 14 + 4 = 29
vs KAC, maybe Flat-Footed: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
S dmg: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Probably that Trick succeeded, so Jupitus would make the human Flat-Footed. Heavyweight Skirmisher trick attack doesn't add extra damage (...yet) but instead lets me re-roll damage dice, but I'm gonna go ahead and keep that 10, lol.
Crit dmg + Bleed 1d6: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Hmm, what do you think GM, does HWS Trick Attack let me re-roll the damage dice, of a crit? The verbiage, "If you succeed at the trick attack skill check, you can reroll one of the attack’s damage dice and use the higher result" sounds like yes to me, but up to you :) If so,
Crit dmg reroll: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Ah, well, it's lower, but I can keep the higher, so: academic, anyways. Still, a pretty good round!

Breath wheezing a bit through his spiracles, Jupitus says, "Assassins? Oh Queen's Crown, no! We're Starfinders - we've been looking for you we since we found out about the Mongers on Kortus IV. We need your help - and we think we can help you keep safe. I am Jupitus, priest of Hylax, and these are my fellow Starfinders," he says, motioning to everyone else.

"Large furred creatures on Vesk-7 and -8, calming aura...I think those are kothamas! I would love to stay and chat, but it will have to wait for another time."
Jupitus would try and once again help Skiratrisk find the path.
Aid Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

"Ah, I will never understand the instinct to hide among the larger ones. Ha, mammals, am I right?" Jupitus says, looking at Skiratrisk and Gorf. "Oh, uh, present company excluded, of course, Zynn."
Mysticism: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19

"Baazo, I don't suppose you have Ongie's comm unit number saved anywhere, do you? It seems to me like a quick phone call from a trusted tail-friend could save us all a lot of trouble."

Failing that, though: "Skiratrisk, as our resident Wild Warden, I'm sure that tracking a tiny ysoki during a snowstorm is child's play for you, right? ...right?"
Aid on Survival: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

"I am Jupitus, of Nchak. It is a pleasure to meet you, Baazo!" Jupitus is quite pleased with talking down a fight, and with a little skittermander, no less. (Interstellar Species had a bit in the trox write-up about how trox feel protective of sktitermanders, after seeing how easily they are taken advantage of, so I am imagining Jupitus's protective instincts kicking in!)
"Big boom and burn..? Tell me, Baazo, is Ongie, ah, alright? Only, we've noticed a nasty trap, plus, well, all of these holographic walls. I understand she's hiding from some scary people, but. Is she alright?"

In the empty room, he'd take a look around, but mutters something to himself about getting lost in your own holograms.
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

Jupitus throws up all six arms in a palms-outwards "don't shoot!" gesture, and says, "Oh, wait! I'm sorry to have caught you unawares; I've been yelling hello and knocking on doors for the past fifteen minutes! We're Starfinders, not Mongers, and we're here to help. Definitely no need for flamethrowers!" He points at the symbol of Hylax on his cassock, and then gives his best charming smile (which is mostly just baring teeth and mandibles, and may or may not be charming, or a smile.)
Diplomacy+2: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 2 = 23

Well, that's good news - and it looks like that 15' radius is even helpfully marked on the floor :D Jupitus would point this out to the rest of the team. Finally, he'd knock on the door to the centre room once more, hoping to finally find this Ongie we're looking for. Sounding slightly irritated at all of the repetition, he'd say, "Hello, we're not Mongers, we're here from the Starfinders trying to help one 'Ongie.'" If there's no reply, he'd open the door, or try and crack, it if it's locked.
Engineering, if needed: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 11 + 4 = 21

Is it possible to tell what's up with the weapons mounted on the ceiling? Do they seem to be active, powered, controlled, etc? Jupitus feels uneasy about having ceiling weapons, lol.
If it's possible to disconnect or otherwise render them inoperable, that would be good to know ... but I am hesitant to do so, in case these defenses are useful? What does everyone else think?

Seeing the foreboding room, Jupitus remarks, "And what was this facility used for, previously? Prison? Weapons testing?" He will cautiously look for threats, and if it appears safe, warily head in to inspect the centre chamber.
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

As a shirren, I assume Skiratrisk has blindsense (vibration) - is it plausible that she could sense the mismatch between visual input but no vibrational input, to tell which walls are holographic? I dunno, just thinking out loud.

"I'm no computer expert, but, holograms don't run on zero energy. There must be some sort of control centre or power station here, no?" he thinks out loud, to the group.

Jupitus moves ahead to the newly-revealed door at the end of the hallway. He'll check it for traps (given the atmosphere in this place), politely knock, and then open it (in the order:D)
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

"Someone sure likes holograms. There's a fine line between 'reasonable security measures' and 'paranoia.' I hope that this Ongie isn't on the wrong side. Although, I have heard people say that it's not paranoia if they really are out to get you..."

Looks like Skiratrisk is heading down the West corridor first? Just based on token placement. We don't really have any reason to think any way is better or worse than the others, so, whichever way works :)
Jupitus follows along. Despite his big frame, Jupitus can be quiet and stealthy when called for. But, we're trying to find someone and make friends, so he's trying to be detected. "Hello? Ongie? We're Starfinders, here to help!"

Jupitus puts an arm out to prevent Zynn from lathering up the aeon stone. "No no; it's not for washing. Looks more like a..."
Mysticism to ID: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16
"I think you might actually need to ingest it? It's been a while since Magical Devices class, I must confess..." He'd pass it to anyone else who wants to check it out.

Regardless, he'd check the next door, and then move on the next room.

"Well, well. Can't say I blame anyone on the run from The Organisation, but these wires are dangerous," Jupitus tsks as he gets out his trapsmith's kit.
Engineering with Kit & Aid: 1d20 + 11 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 11 + 4 + 2 = 20

Heh, classic. The Aid Another roll is always way better than the aided roll :D

Jupitus again calls out into the new room, "Hello? Anyone? We are not The Mongers, if that means anything to anyone here!"
Pile of UPBs and gems feels too good to be true, so once again suspecting a trap, Jupitus checks around.
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Jupitus can carry extra gear - he's got capacity.
As long as we're not getting an answer, Jupitus would make to head into the next room. But, since this is a "someone not wanting to be found" situation, he'd check for traps.
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

Jupitus politely knocks, and then moves into the (for him) tight corridors. "Hello? Anyone home?"

Jupitus pulls out his thieves’ tools and gets to work.
Engineering: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 11 + 4 = 17
"Bah, must be frozen or something."

"So, prison is abandoned and turned into military base, base is abandoned and turned into military stockpile, stockpile is abandoned and...there's just a pile of obsolescent Veskarium military gear there? And a self-contained power grid. Seems the perfect place to check for our wayward ysoki. Everyone ready for a wintry hike? And, knowing the Veskarium, an oh I don't know, Expired Munitions Golem or something?"

"Ridgerock, Ridgerock...hmm."
Culture: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
"Nope, doesn't ring a bell."
Unlikely to come up now, but, Jupitus's Priest theme reduces the DC by 5 if this is religion related?

Back during the journey
Jupitus would have agreed with Zynn. "Yes, The Professor is not, what you would call, a 'people person.' But they're working on it. Or, I am, at least. In any case, their scientific knowledge is a boon, even if it comes with a side helping of scorn," he says, with good nature.

The Present
"My last assignments saw my friends and I taking an 'unscheduled portage' through the Darkside of Verces - very chilly. Not much fun. But, it did motivate me to purchase a thermal regulator, which seems like it will come in handy, today! So, who's laughing now, Verces! Ha!" Jupitus says as he buttons up his armour seals and activates said thermal regulator, before leaving the Gorgon. "Don't forget to turn on your environmental seals, Team! I don't suppose anyone is capable of casting Life Bubble? No? Well, stay warm! Does anyone need a hat, or a scarf?"
Note to self: take a rank in profession: knitting to make mittens for teammates!
On the ground, Jupitus would set about assisting Zynn hitting the pavement and asking around.
Aid Another, Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Turns Zynn's result into a 22.

”Well, glad I ain’t a mammal then, huh?” Gorf says with a grin.

Jupitus replies with his own smile. "Ha, amen to that! Every day, I am grateful to not be a small mammal. Could you imagine! ...uh, no offense meant, of course, Zynn."

Over the course of the journey to the Veskarium, everyone would find Jupitus generally amiable and eager, and much less awkward than over a video call. Where appropriate, he uses his knowledge of Castrovelian and Shirren to speak with Zynn and Skiratrisk, and while he's never met a grippli before, he'd be delighted to learn about Grippli culture, society, and language from Gorf.

Also on board our loaned Gorgon is a surly urog who Jupitus introduces as "The Professor," who mostly keeps to themselves. "The Professor has a prickly shell, but knows many strange and interesting facts. They mostly just get upset when asked about matters outside of their scientific endeavours, so I try to give them all the space they need. One day, though, I will break through that shell, and we will have tea, and we will be friends," Jupitus says with a far-away look in his eyes, before snapping back to finish, "...but until then, they prefer to be left alone - unless you're discussing hyperfine transitions of hydrogen or somesuch."
aka Jupitus is bringing along a Tech Support hireling. Since we have a mechanic in the party, The Professor will take a backseat, and just Aid Another as needed on Computers and Physical Science checks.
The Professor would help to examine the mysterious signal, though.
Hireling Aid Another, Computers: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

This being a Gorgon Run™, I'm going to suggest we want out best and brightest (i.e. the highest Dex characters, with ranks in Piloting) shooting things, to take advantage of the ship's destructive output. So it might be best to do something like:
Gunners: Gorf & Skiratrisk
Pilot/flex to Sci or Eng if needed: Jupitus
Captain/flex to Sci or Eng if needed: Zynn

But that's if we want to min/max the crap out of it, which, meh. I'm fine with people just doing whatever :)

...this does make me wish I had the Starship boon to get a Skittermander to help out on this character, though.

Answering Gorf, Jupitus says, "I love making new friends, but ... I admit smaller mammals often find me a bit, ah, intimidating. The elders of my Order say adventuring with the Starfinders should help me work on my 'marketable skills' in this regard." The effect is a bit lessened over a video call, but it's hard not to notice that Jupitus is a twelve foot tall slab of muscled tank-beetle.

Jupitus's heart, and ranks in Diplomacy, are in the right place, but, he just doesn't have the Cha score to back it up XD He's not bad at Cha-stuff, but, if there's a better talky-talker in the group, like say a Solarian or Envoy, he's happy to Aid Another.

"Yes, sounds like truly a wild time in that Braerton. Only sick, twisted, minds could have devised something so cruel! Horrible, devious, sapients, indeed!"
:D

Jupitus waves when Skiratrisk joins the call, and says in Shirren, "Oh, hello Skiratrisk! Hylax smiles, when friends become re-acquainted!" he says with infectious cheer. Returning to Common, he adds, "and to those I haven't yet had the pleasure of meeting - it is my privilege and sacred duty to make your acquaintance! I am Jupitus, priest of Hylax, working with Zigvigix and the Society to help those in need." He probably doesn't have a good angle on his comm unit so you're looking at mostly thorax or something, but you can see Jupitus is using his central vestigial arms to make the appropriate Hylaxian motions and benedictions of friend-making.

"It sounds like this Ongie could use our aid! I have a friend in the hangar bay that can provide me with a Gorgon for transport to the Ghavaniska system. I'll send rendezvous coordinates shortly."

Yup, that's the name! If you ask him, Jupitus says his parents named him that because of visions of some far-away gas giant they divined during his incubation, and named him after that gas giant that reminded them of their home's shepherd, Liavara.

...but if you ask me, as a player, it's because trox are big and have a commanding presence, so I wanted a name that also sounded big and impressive, too (and maybe kinda sorta also after British B-List comedian, Phil Jupitus.)

Sorry, I had edited my message to add this question, but did it a bit too late.
At the urgings of off-screen tech support, Jupitus moderates his voice, but it's clear he's suspicious you can't hear him. "Do we have any leads on where to find this 'Ongie,' or how to start looking, beyond Forget?"

I assume this is some kind of Space-Zoom situation, so we're all on the same call? Time to put those "zero ranks in Computers" to work :D
A new connection enters the call, but the image is just black. A deep grumbly voice, partway through a sentence, says, "..into the lobby, yeah, but it's just black? And now I can't hear anything! This is worse than the Data Scourge was, how in the hells do yo - Oh!" A large insectile face framed by two large scythe-mandibles comes into view, entirely too close to the camera and out of focus. "Oh I see Radaszam! And someone else! HELLO RADASZAM, THIS IS JUPITUS, I GOT YOUR MESSAGE, CAN YOU HEAR ME?"

Once (digitally) settled, Jupitus would listen to the briefing, but at no point would he be able to put himself on mute. There's probably a bird chirping behind him, and you can hear his breath through his spiracles from the still-too-closely-held comm unit throughout.

Jupitus scoffs at mention of The Orgnization, but is otherwise quiet. "DO WE HAVE ANY LEADS ON WHERE TO FIND THIS 'ONGIE' OR HOW TO START LOOKING? Professor, do you know anything about Vesk-7?" you can hear Jupitus ask someone off-screen, before he shout-talks back into the comm, "RADASZAM, I AM ASKING THE PROFESSOR ABOUT VESK-7, HE IS VERY LEARNÈD ABOUT THESE THINGS."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Hireling Physical Science: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Hey everyone! Kishmo here, bringing Jupitus, my "huh, I wonder if heavyweight skirmisher operatives work?" test case character. He's a lot of fun to play so far, and I enjoy chewing the scenery with the Priest theme.
Jupitus is capable in nearly any Starship Combat role (except Science Officer) but he's best at Chief Mate or Magic Officer. Usually I'll let everyone pick what they're best at, and then fill in the gaps. Oh, and, he has access to a Gorgon :D

Thanks for running for us!