Kait'lax's page

Kait'lax was glad they had time to say goodbye to the children they'd never met.

The shirren had entered the Society as a mechanic obsessed with vidgames and what they considered a 'live-action' vidgame: building a combat drone, even giving it the name 'Killdroid' so there could be no mistake what they were bringing to the table. And they did get to use their drone to stab a fair number of hostiles - including a satisfying number of jinsuls — during their time as a Starfinder.

The mechanic barely survived the Scoured Stars invasion, though, and took this as a challenge to optimize the drone further. They constantly tinkered, adding new or improved weapons, mods that improved its combat capabilities, and increasing armor, to the point where they neglected their own training.

However, the times when the Starfinder Society needed nothing but a wall of alloys with guns attached turned out to be few and far between. Kait'lax repaired starships, rescued hostages, and explored the galaxy, finding that their knowledge was worlds more valuable than their ability to cause harm.

Kait'lax also appeared as a contestant on game shows and shared the stage with Strawberry Machine Cake, and discovered that they wanted to be seen. Not for self-aggrandizement, though; they wanted to share their knowledge and experiences, and entertain while doing so.

That led to a rechristening (and repainting) of the drone and a new infosphere series starring the mechanic, 'Knowdroid's Corner'. The technical aspects of Kait'lax's society membership ranged from the niche to the classified, but they could always teach the basics and give viewers a glimpse of all the amazing places they traveled, both on Society missions and during downtime. Animated squox and colossi, cartoonish renkroda and ovibovoj, and all other manner of alien creatures interleaved themselves into lessons about science and technology. There was also music when possible, though the biggest act you could ever book was Neon & Noqual.

Being a Society agent was still how the mechanic paid the bills, though, and as they advanced — eventually joining the Forum and briefly considering a run for First Seeker — they found themself with fewer opportunities to explore and more requirements to fight. And fight they did, even to the end of a world, because it was what a Starfinder must do.

Eventually Kait'lax had come back to the Scoured Stars, been tested again, and apparently passed. Living through all of the major events of the Society's recent past only solidified in the mechanic's mind that they were better suited for the role of educator.

When Jadnura asked for volunteers to destroy the tear, Kait'lax thought about all their followers in the Pact Worlds. But they also thought about all the children of the izalguun, of Kreiholm, of the yet-unknown Scoured Stars species... and maybe even one day, children of a peaceful jinsul people. They have as much right to learning as the youth from their home, and would have fewer chances to receive it without the shirren's help.

They asked the former first seeker for a bit of time to put their affairs in order before the ritual, which Jadnura readily agreed to. Kaitlax ejected the radioactive material from their staff out an airlock, snapped Knowdroid's spear and removed key components from each of their firearms. And they used the drone's recording equipment to make a final broadcast for all of their followers, with a message to Fitch with details for its transmission - to a Wayfinder with many of their own offspring, from a Wayfinder who was only ever a vicarious parent.

That done, Kait'lax returned to complete their duties as a Starfinder and begin those as a fledgling divine herald of Kadrical. They claimed the title Master of Education, ready to being the light of truth to any in the Scoured Stars who sought it.

Many days later, a drone stood alone in the field of a holocamera, replaying the final mortal words of a host who has dedicated their last years to creating fun and educational content for children. "...but now I will be helping to teach other children, far from Absalom Station, who don't have all the resources you do. You all made this channel a wonderful place, beyond my imagining..." There is a choked sob as the drone raised its arm to wave. "...and I will miss each and every one of you. But now it is your turn. Learn all you can, and share all you learn. This is Kait'lax, saying, 'Farewell, my dearest friends.'" After the recording ended, the drone held up a datapad displaying a pixelated strawberry and powered down for the final time.

"You’ve been invited to a trendy arcade run by a famous demoscene artist and vidgame programmer" I interpret that as you are being invited because you have a high profile.

Myself and most of my fellow invitees are members of the Forum, candidates for First Seeker or other Starfinders of Note. Surely our endorsement of this farming simulation that cannot possibly go wrong in any way will make this one of the most successful games ever!

Profession (Vidgamer): 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (16) + 25 = 41

No need to update chronicle. I'll add it myself. Everything else looks good.

Thanks to everyone who played and ran this series. That was intense, and this was just the group I wanted to do it with.

Kait'lax ponders Guidance's words for quite a while before responding. "Conflict and unrest find us regardless, and if these Mechanizers show up again, it would be best for us to be prepared as possible for whatever they have in store for us. I'm not going to do a segment on them for my show, but I'm sure the Society has some bright people who can figure out a way to get the information to whoever needs to see it without making the public worry about a crazy cult from before most of our grandparents were born."

"I don't mind the opportunity to put some Hellknights in their place, but... you had what we needed the entire time?" kait'lax answers incredulously.

Kait'lax attempts to move the runes off Joe again.

Computers: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (1) + 25 = 26

Definitely feeling the handwave now...

Once the remaining Hellknights are dealt with, they begin searching again for the data Guidance requested.

Computers: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (4) + 25 = 29

"I'm getting so fired."

I assume your lash is a reach type weapon, I don't know much about Vanguards

Vanguards can use their entropic strike through a weapon. It uses the weapon's materials and traits, but the damage type from the entropic strike (and possibly increased damage as well, depending on the character and item levels).

Sure, let's deal with those runes now.

Overloading enemy tech would be fun, but feels like poor action economy. Looks like there were three runes on Joe when he was attacked before, so Kait'lax will ready their check for a third rune appearing.

Now would be a great time for whatever influence we exerted with those skill checks to show up and help us. Not sure how much more I can do except get scraps of data and save some or all of us the cost of body recovery.

This is nothing new for Kait'lax. They activate their contingency for having the important parts of Killdroid retrieved so they can craft a new body later.

Not enjoying the enemy having air support, Kait'lax tries to manipulate the runes on Joe, taking a bit of extra care to make sure they end up where we want them.

Computers, Certainty: 1d20 + 25 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 25 + 2 = 32

They then take a step away in case it failed, so they are not likely to be bombed again, and look around for something, anything they could interface with.

Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (10) + 17 = 27

Plan Z, which I think we are on now, is to Remote Hack the database and grab whatever scraps of information I can before fleeing. Kait'lax has 50 foot range on that, so might be able to hide and continue the download from off the battlefield.

Killdroid is not out yet, but the burn might do it before the drone actually gets to act again.

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

DR 5/- and resist fire 5, so 31 damage, and thankful this is not PF2.

I think some of the higher tier scenarios are balanced as if everyone is an operative.

I take solace in the fact that I have enough AcP to get my bloody corpse dragged back to Absalom Station after this debacle.

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
Reflex Save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

DR 5/-, so two hits of 14 takes them to 82 SP.

Kait'lax positions themself behind a column, ready to start blasting next turn.

"I'll take a beat up Starfinder over some stupid Hellknight any day. If they were so great, they would have already found a way out of here. After all we've been through, we're not weak, we're stronger! We... folks? Why are you all lying on the ground?"

Conceding defeat, Kait'lax sits down and tinkers with his drone for a while.

Transfer charge topped up the batteries on all the antigravity belts, at the cost of one of my own batteries. Also, Killdroid recovers 25% of its max HP during a short rest, so now at 81.

Initiative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

That's three votes for rest, so I guess it's naptime.

Never been involved in a d20 TPK, though I have had two in other systems. One was a silly game where we expected it to happen at some point, and the other was a long-term WoD game where the GM retconned it into a dream so we could keep playing.

Oddly, both were initiated by the same player.

Kait'lax would vote to push, but they are still in good health and not as much danger during combat.

Kait'lax casts transfer charge so that all the batteries in everyone's equipped devices are full.

The round before entering, they will use Miracle Worker to enhance their own armor and Killdroid's glaive.

I think so. I definitely got the boon for sharing a memory, but it's been two years, so I'm not positive.

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

Kait'lax will once again try to make an opening for Joe.

Attack vs. KAC, Aid Another: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Kait'lax has also done that mission.

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

I don't really want to fail a save now.

Fortitude Save, Reroll, 2 Novas: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 11 + 2 = 28

Kait'lax will try to help Joe land a more impressive attack.

Attack vs. KAC, Aid Another: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Kait'lax usually tries to avoid physical effort, but they remember the time they jumped onto a Daimalkan colossus.

Using Communalism to get roll twice, take the better on a skill check.

Athletics: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30
Athletics: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27

Kait'lax will join with Id to determine what the dragon - corpse? - wants.

Diplomacy, Aid: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

Kait'lax flies around the tower to see if there are any other obstacles between them and the Hellknights.

Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (2) + 17 = 19

And finds none, unless there is a neon sign that says "AMBUSH".

Kait'lax activates Killdroid's energy shield and continues up the tower.

Ghost Killer Frost Staff of Nuclear Vengeance: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16
Fire and Cold Damage: 4d4 + 5 ⇒ (1, 3, 3, 4) + 5 = 16

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
Will Save: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 2 = 28

Acid Resistance drops that to 16 damage.

Since operation make them plummet to their doom failed, Team Kait'lax is back to just smacking everything and hoping for the best.

Ghost Killer Frost Staff of Nuclear Vengeance: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19
Fire and Cold Damage: 4d4 + 5 ⇒ (1, 4, 1, 2) + 5 = 13

I was hoping that since their "floor" is perpendicular to gravity, they would fall instead.

Kait'lax flies away from the wall (provoking) and casts grease on it in the midst of the horde. (DC 17)

The creatures are climbing, not flying, right?

Kait'lax flips on the antigravity belt and starts firing indiscriminately, since their grenade will be worse even with the troop modifiers.

Ghost Killer Frost Staff of Nuclear Vengeance: 1d20 + 14 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 14 - 4 = 13
Fire and Cold Damage: 4d4 + 5 ⇒ (1, 2, 2, 1) + 5 = 11

Ghost Killer Frost Staff of Nuclear Vengeance: 1d20 + 14 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 14 - 4 = 12
Fire and Cold Damage: 4d4 + 5 ⇒ (4, 3, 2, 2) + 5 = 16

Initiative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Waiting for the recall knowledge result to act.

Kait'lax has no desire to separate from the group, so follows whatever route they choose.

Rope?

I saw a PF2 chart once that said a Medium creature was 6 Bulk, and each size category off doubled or halved that. I can't find it any more, but it's not far from the GM's estimation and still tells us we are not carrying each other around in this gravity.

Kait'lax unfurls their wings (ultralight strix wings) and activates antigravity and flies up 40 feet, while instructing Killdroid to cover the distance any way it can.

"Joe, can you carry other people when you teleport?"

If necessary, I can use Killdroid as a distraction for us. It will weaken us against the Hellknights - if they have the decency to be on the ground - but may save us a lot of time and trouble getting to them.

Kait'lax has a fly speed, but Killdroid has just jump jets.

Kait'lax activates their holoskin to make them blend in as much as possible.

"I know Fitch will drag me home - by the antennae, probably - if I get killed in this godsforsaken place," Kait'lax says sardonically as they ascend, "if I give my best effort to stop the Hellknights. If I give up and live, I should probably start getting used to the gravity here."

Anyone wonder why Kait'lax is not an envoy?

"I disagree. We have come through everything else together; we can take on some pitiful Hellknights. To spend weeks here and still fail our mission... not sure I could show my face to Guidance after that."

Will Save DC 21: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

What to do?: 1d100 ⇒ 51

Holding nothing but a dwarf, Kait'lax somehow manages to smack herself with Kihgtsa.

Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

It is not strong enough to get past the armor's deflective reinforcement.

Can't try this round, but could the ally use Kait'lax's Communalism or Certainty?

With yellow calm, Team Kait does the move and one attack version of their turn.

Will Save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Kait'lax fights off the ichor.

Will Save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Kait'lax shakes off the ichor's effect and helps his ally position himself for another attempt.

Antigravity is swift, so they can turn it on during the first turn of each combat encounter. Apologies for not mentioning it this time.

Yellow, since it's closest.

If Kait'lax is able, they will move to another nerve cluster with dwarf in tow.

Can I tell if the Life Science check worked? If 36 is no good, we pretty much have to violence this.

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

The hireling basically does not exist except when making checks - My main has to be in the right place and uses their actions, and the NPC can't be affected by anything. I just find it more fun to roleplay him on PBP since I have the chance.