Zarrex's page
 15 posts. Organized Play character for Freedom Snake.
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Undead?
The tracks are from a Brush Stalker, a local endangered predator. The tracks are hours old, so the thing is long gone.
Medium in size, brush stalkers usually hunt during the twilight hours. They have razor sharp claws and a very keen sense of smell.
Undead?
Life Science: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Undead?
Kelkikt, you've got first watch, Enoot, you've got second watch, Kita you go third, and I'll take the last watch. As I'm sure you're all aware, I'm a pretty heavy sleeper, so if you see something, throw a rock at me or something. In the meantime, I'm gonna get my camo attuned for the area before I git the sack. Keep your patches handy. We've been up all day and have the whole night ahead of us as well. If something happens, we may need to slap em on quickly. I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't plan on getting much sleep until after our shift. Plus, I don't mean to be literally caught with my pants down, so I'm sleeping in my armor tonight.
Zarrex then preps their camo for the biome before heading to sleep until 4th shift.
This decision is based on the assumption that you are not adding a penalty for sleeping in armor as a house rule. If that is not the case, please let me know.
perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Undead?
Thank you, Quartermaster.
Xellic grabs the package, scans their IDENT, and places it in their bag. They then proceed over to Enoot and wake them indifferently.
Go get your patches and scan your IDENT.
Zarrex steps outside, ready to begin the trek.
Undead?
Zarrex looks at the quartermaster suspiciously after being promised some Wake-up Patches by the Major.
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
"Quartermaster, good to see you. I don't think we need much in the way of supplies, but Major Jaldamarrak did instruct us to 'go see the quartermaster to get some Wake-Up Patches,' so we're just here to claim a few of those and we'll be on our way."
Undead?
After waiting a few moments to see if anyone has any more questions, as soon as we're all done asking questions, Zarrex speaks up and says Yes sir! We'll make preparations with the quartermaster and move out right away!. They give a salute, about-face, and exit headed directly toward the quartermaster.
Undead?
Trying to recall as much knowledge about them as they can, Zarrex asks Sir, I have very little recollection of my past life in the SDF. Have I encountered these 'dredgers' before? What can you tell us about them?
Life Science: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Is our first shift right now or do we have time to rest before our first shift?
Undead?
Sir, I would like to requisition a patrol vehicle with a planetary comm unit to enhance early warning and detection capability, as well as providing room for additional provisions.
As the primarch for Midnight Sqaud, it is my duty to inform our superiors that although we are ready, willing and able to follow all orders as they are issued, we will be operating at reduced effectiveness. We were not afforded the opportunity to properly regenerate our energy stores and correct our circadian rhythms for the mission at hand. If we start this evening, which we are more than capable of doing, we will be fatigued and bordering on exhaustion going into our first shift. If we are to start immediately, I would also like to requisition excitants and stimulants for each of us.
May I see the latest intel brief on the Delta Escarpment?
Do you have any suspicions as to what the swarm might be up to?
Are work-rest cycles authorized during our acclimation period?
Will we be provided with night vision equipment. I am concerned because not all of my squad have a natural ability to see in the dark and I believe using flashlights to highlight ourselves on a mission where we are supposed to observe without being observed would jeopardize the mission you have set forth for us.
Thank you for the opportunity to advance our defenses, rather than relax during the calm before a proverbial storm, sir.
Undead?
Let’s go. This must be important. Remember to address the Major as Sir or Major. Our meeting is in 10 minutes, so let’s get there in 5.
Zarrex grabs their gear and heads directly to Major Jaldamarrak’s office.
Undead?
As Zarrex goes through the attunement scanning process they listen to everyone else’s stories before speaking, beginning with Kelkikt.
First of all, they say as they make eye contact with Kelkikt, I’m going to assume you just don’t know any better, but my spiritual matters are my own. You don’t need to ask about them. I don’t withhold necessary information from my squad. If we can’t trust each other to be forthright with critical information we may as well surrender this planet to the swarm now.
As he continues his work he breaks eye contact with Kelkikt and talks to the group around them.
If you all haven’t figured it out yet, rumors run rampant, especially in a place like this where everybody is in the dark and desperate to know something....anything. Folks start filling in the gaps with their own version of things. Some folks make things up entirely for the appearance of being in the know. Others tend to remember slightly different versions of the truth. I’ve heard some things as well, but I’d encourage you to take them with a grain of seasoning. There’s no telling how much embellishment or misinformation may have found its way into these rumors. I can’t personally confirm them.
There is a rumor that if Brinnoa falls, SDF command has plans to shower the continent with nuclear bombs, even if civilians and soldiers are caught in the blast.
Additionally, some folks claim to have seen a massive, multi-headed creature they say controls the Swarm invasion force. It is the size of a skyscraper and can kill anything within a mile using only its mind.
Do with that what you will. The attunement is complete. We’ve got about 10 minutes until things get started today. Double check your that all of your things are in order, grab a bite and form up for the day’s activities. I’m sure we’ve got our work cut out for us.
Having completed their daily preparations, Zarrex heads toward the exit to grab a quick bite of chow to go.
Undead?
Waking up 30 minutes early, Zarrex gets ready to rouse the rest of the recruits. As has become their daily ritual, they begin by asking Pharasma's forgiveness, and praying for the blessings of Hylax on this day. Noticing Kita, they give a wry smile and a nod in anticipation of what's about to happen as they walk over to the entrance of the barracks. All at once Zarrex flip the lights on to full bright and starts yelling as loud as they can.
GETUPGETUPGETUP! EVERYBODY OUT OF BED! MOVEMOVEMOVE! LET'SGOLET'SGOLET'SGO! YOU WOULD THINK THAT AFTER WEEKS OF TRAINING YOU WOULD HAVE FIGURED OUT THAT EARLY IS ON TIME AND ON TIME IS LATE! GET OUT OF BED, GET FED! GET YOUR DAILY PREPARATIONS DONE!
Walking away from the light switch and back to their corner of the barracks, they add
You three, attunement in 10. You know the drill.
After weeks in training with me, you all would know that I can attune my custom microlab to 4 creatures (which would include Little Foot). This takes 10 minutes, which I can combine with the time needed to prepare my biohacks for the day, and the creatures must be present, willing, and able to cooperate with the scan. Under some circumstances, I can deliver biohacks to attuned creatures using ranged injection weapons without making an attack roll. This means I can buff you without missing.
Zarrex spends the next 10 minutes preparing their camouflage membrane for the current biome, after which they start the 10-minute process of preparing their biohacks for the day and conducting attunement scans on party members who choose to do so.
Undead?
As Zarrex single-mindedly works through the assigned tasks, flashbacks of going through training with their brother Xiktavarrex less than a year ago continuously cloud their mind.
A steadying arm reaching out as they try to balance across the rope bridge...
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Shouts of encouragement while attempting to scale the climbing wall...
Athletics: 1d20 ⇒ 4
Xiktavarrex timing them breaking down, cleaning, reassembling and performing a function check on their rifle in the dark...
Engineering: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Learning to safely harvest fruit for food from dangerous plants...
Survival: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19
The constant flashbacks of life with their brother fills Zarrex with a mixture of rage and sadness, a decidedly unsafe combination for live-fire training, so they decide to spend some time working on their hand to hand combat skills. It will feel good to use a sparring partner to take out their aggression.
Unarmed strike: 1d20 ⇒ 7
Unarmed strike: 1d20 ⇒ 10
Despite the intense hand to hand combat training, a feeling a tearful rage wells up inside Zarrex, so he reluctantly decides to visit the division chaplain after carefully making sure no one else sees them heading that way.
Zarrex is thinking to themself in a kind of telepathic mumble that someone really close might be able to overhear, though he makes sure to be alone when heading off to see the chaplain, not wanting others to know they are seeking help.
Afterall Zarrex, it's always good to get things off your thorax. Besides, the chaplain usually has sweet drinks and snacks they don't mind sharing and oftentimes some really good anecdotes about things going on in the world. Surely they can tell us something to help focus our mind and channel our energy.
I take a -2 penalty to this diplomacy check if the chaplain is a shirren
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
After getting things off their chest, Zarrex heads to the firing ranges.
First, the indoor close quarters firing range...
Pulsecaster pistol: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Then his favorite, the sniper range...
Yellow jacket wraith-sting rifle: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Fearing the pain of loss, Zarrex keeps his mandibles shut and his eyes and antennae open, watching and listening to those around them.
Undead?
Zarrex looks around, seeing the questions on the faces of the rookies riding alongside them. Watching some of them stare at their half-rotten flesh. Resigning themself to the fact that this awkwardness will only get worse with silence, they speak up.
"I can see the questions on your faces. Well, most of your faces. It's ok. Not many people have seen someone like me before. I was on Alipu Minor, serving in the 5th Battalion when it was hit by The Swarm. That's how I ended up this way. I don’t remember much, but I’ll tell you everything I can. Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. My brother, Xiktavarrex, lay motionless beneath me as I reached for a healing serum. I could hear his telepathic screams of agony filling my head while explosions, a high pitched ringing, the sounds of weapons smashing against armor, gunshots, the all-too-familiar squish and crack of flesh being violently penetrated, and bones snapping like tree branches filled my ears. As I pulled the serum out of my bag and prepared to administer the injection, I looked down at Xiktavarrex just in time to see a barbed foreleg pierce my exoskeleton with a loud crack. Excruciating pain instantly surged through my body as I went limp, dropping the serum to the ground. Just as quickly as it came, the pain left. As I flew backward through the air, the world went silent and still. A dark emptiness engulfed my senses.
The next thing I remember is looking down at myself. I saw my own body, but there was something different about it. It was distant, fading, surreal. It is hard to describe the passage of time in that place, almost like there was none. Rage and sorrow filled my being. Watching my friends…no, my family, slaughtered around me..watching those creatures gut our home, our way of life, and our very existence from around me...killing everyone and everything I held dear. It tore the very fabric of my soul. I had to go back! I could not let it end that way. I clawed and fought my way back against a current of souls that threatened to wash me away for eternity. Not this time! Not without Xiktavarrex.
Without warning, I woke up. I thought it must have been a nightmare. Darkness and silence surrounded me. I could see, but there was no light. I should have been able to hear the sound of my breathing, but I did not. I reached up to my chest, to feel the place where my wound felt so real. I cut my flesh on the razor-sharp barbs of the foreleg still lodged into my chest, broken off from the creature that pierced my heart; however, I did not bleed. I was not breathing, I was not bleeding and I could not see. It took me a moment to realize that I had been sealed up inside some sort of bag. I had to claw my way out. Eventually, I calmed down enough to come to my senses. I was in a morgue. I had died. Pharasma had given me a second chance. One that I will not squander, which is why I am here today. You should have seen the look on the coroner's face when one of the corpses woke up and let itself out of the body bag with a Swarm limb still lodged all the way through its chest and out of its back. I think they almost died of a heart attack seeing me. Anyway, after they calmed down, they helped me remove the limb.
I spent the last 5 months in a lab full of doctors, generals, scientists, and priests. Each of them trying to explain how it is that I'm here and still alive if you could call it that. It's taken me until now to be cleared to return to the battlefield where I belong.
I may not have been able to save Xiktavarrex, but I will avenge him! Those monsters have to pay. They will pay! I will not rest until they know the pain that I know, feel the loss that I feel, and die the way I did, with violence and extreme prejudice.
I am Zarrex, and with Pharasma's blessing I have returned to the Suskillon Defence Force, 5th Battalion, not to offer my life; but to avenge my brother, Xiktavarrex, by doing everything within my power to protect my allies as well as purge the Swarm and all who stand with them from existence."
Zarrex grabs the holy symbol of Pharasma they are wearing around their neck, touches it to their forehead, mumbles something quietly in shirren and puts it back under their shirt. They then lean back and close their eyes, waiting.
Undead?
For daily preparations, I plan to spend 10 minutes attuning my microlab to the party and any willing allies traveling with us, up to 6 total creatures. During this same 10 minutes, I will also be preparing 4 biohacks. I will then spend an additional 10 minutes putting on and adjusting my camouflage membrane for the current terrain.
Anytime the GM indicates an upcoming change in terrain, time permitting, I will request the party allow me to spend 10 minutes readjusting my camouflage membrane to the new terrain.
Undead?
Zarrex looks around, seeing the questions on the faces of new and veteran members of the 5th Battalion alike. Resigning themself to the fact that this awkwardness will only get worse with silence, he speaks up.
"I can see the questions on your faces. I was on Alipu Minor. I don’t remember much, but I’ll tell you everything I can. Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. My brother, Xiktavarrex, lay motionless beneath me as I reached for a healing serum. I could hear his telepathic screams of agony filling my head while explosions, a high pitched ringing, the sounds of weapons smashing armor, gunshots, and the all-too-familiar squish and crack of flesh being violently penetrated and bones snapping like tree branches filled my ears. As I pulled the serum out of my bag and prepared to administer the injection, I looked down at Xiktavarrex just in time to see a barbed foreleg pierce my exoskeleton with a loud crack. Excruciating pain instantly surged through my body as I went limp, dropping the serum to the ground. Just as quickly as it came, the pain left. As I flew backward through the air, the world went silent and still. A dark emptiness engulfed my senses.
The next thing I remember is looking down at myself. I saw my own body, but there was something different about it. It was distant, fading, surreal. It is hard to describe the passage of time in that place, almost like there was none. Rage and sorrow filled my being. Watching my friends…no, my family, slaughtered around me..watching those creatures gut our home, our way of life, and our very existence from around my body...killing everyone and everything I held dear tore the fabric of my soul. I had to go back! I could not let it end that way. I clawed and fought my way back, fighting against a current of souls that threatened to wash me away for eternity. Not this time!
Without warning, I woke up. I thought it must have been a nightmare. Darkness and silence surrounded me. I could see, but there was no light. I should have been able to hear the sound of my breathing, but I did not. I reached up to my chest, to feel the place where my wound felt so real. I cut my flesh on the razor-sharp barbs of the foreleg still lodged into my chest, broken off from the creature that pierced my heart; however, I did not bleed. I was not breathing, I was not bleeding and I could not see. It took me a moment to realize that I had been sealed up inside some sort of bag. I had to claw my way out. Eventually, I calmed down enough to come to my senses. I was in a morgue. I had died. Pharasma had given me a second chance. And that is what brought me here today.
I may not have been able to save Xiktavarrex, but I will avenge him! Those monsters have to pay. They will pay! I will not rest until they know the pain that I know, feel the loss that I feel, and die the way I did, with violence and extreme prejudice.
I am Zarrex, and I have returned to the Suskillon Defence Force, 5th Battalion, not to offer my life; but to do everything within my power to protect my allies and purge the Swarm and all who stand with them from existence."
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