Starfinder Society Profile
- Known Name: Riff
- Race: Space Goblin
- Age: mid teens
- Height: 3'2"
- Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
- Affiliations: None
- Belief: Triune, The All-Code
- Theme: Botscrap Junkracer
- Character Class: Operative (Daredevil)
- Place of Origin: Botscrap, The Spike, Absalom Station (The Nexus)
- Player: NPC
Appearance
It would be easy for the untrained eye to accuse Riff of looking "like any other Space Goblin" - short in height, greatly over-sized head, green skin and glowing red eyes, with tattered and beaten freebooter armour and weapons. To the discerning, Riff is actually a little under the average height for a Space Goblin and skinnier than most. The battered clothing and items he carries are proud trophies of his victories having either been taken off vanquished foes, or finances from loot taken.
Most notably, however, is that Riff has survived more than he really deserves to, and has the scars to show for it. The majority of his ears are cybernetic replacements, both of his hands and arms are mechanical prosthetics, as are both his feet (though the rest of his legs are still his own). And those are just the cybernetics that are visible - there are more "under the hood". At this stage, he is one explosion away from being considered a cyborg. Most of these prosthetics are not obvious when he is wearing armour, but he displays them proudly when in casual clothing as a form of war trophies.
Background
Riff was born and raised in one of the various Botscrap space goblin gangs squatting in the junkyards, often competing with Ysoki scavengers (and other races) for territory and junk to be able to compete in Botscrap's Junkracing circuits. Unfortunately, he was a little shorter than most, and so he would often get bullied by the bigger, stronger goblins, which is why he was originally named Nok-Nok (after the sound of objects striking his head). Although Nok-Nok was fairly quick to get into fights like all goblins, he was no different to other Goblins, who were generally fairly cowardly creatures that relied on strength in numbers for group courage, and typically quick to flee in the face of disaster or submit to stronger enemies. Nok-Nok, likewise, always cowered before the gang's leaders and craved their approval. He would try to prove himself and better his lot by scavenging better junk, by being better than others at fixing the junkracers they raced and the junklazers they used, and even self-taught himself how to use a human guitar he stole so he could play songs to entertain the gang. But although his peers generally appreciated him, he was taken for granted at best by the leaders, who often ridiculed or beat him for perceived slights (or simplly their amusement), and in true goblin fashion, no-one stood up for him. Then one day, Nok-Nok just snapped. He decided he'd had enough of always having to cower and flee from threats, and take the whimsical beatings from his bosses. He decided never again and, since then, dives into danger with reckless abandon, living off the adrenaline rush and preferring to have a short (but SO much more fun) life on his own terms than to survive a long one bowing and scraping for scraps.
The turning point was caused by a self-realisation that Nok-Nok had always been smart, with a natural affinity for technology above that of his kin, shaped by surviving enough mechanical mishaps, traps, dangers and beatings to force him to become smarter and more cunning than most other goblins. Humans say gravity was discovered when an apple fell out of a tree and hit some scientist in the head, causing an "a-ha!" ment. Nok-Nok's a-ha moment came when his boss "rewarded" Nok-Nok for his musical entertainment by smashing his own guitar over his head. As Nok-Nok stared at the broken pieces of his guitar and rubbed his wounded head, he had his epiphany, he just snapped and an idea came to him... Nobody noticed Nok-Nok crawling away, nor cared that he broke into a Xenon Dream store and stole a Chordpocalypse. No-one paid much attention as he took it apart, then rebuilt it whilst making "improvements" to it more to his liking. To his gang, he'd been distracted a couple of days and got a new instrument, but Nok-Nok had in fact made his first experimental weapon prototype. Eveeryone did notice when, in a night of glorious mayhem, Nok-Nok turned up to his gang and blew the leader away with his new "instruweapon" (and any of his loyalist cronies who didn't get the hint and and bow before him). Nok-Nok announced that from that moment on he was to be known as Riff, and took over leadership of the gang. As leader, Riff's gang became more daring and creative - with innovative "high-risk, high-gain" attitudes that reaped great rewards for the gang, or sent them home in pieces (often, literally). They won junkracer events more often, though they almost as often ended with the junkracer exploding or in flames... and the pilots rarely walked away. The problem was that although Riff appeared to be able to survive any danger he threw himself into (though he often ended up having to get cybernetics and prosthesis as a result), his followers were often not as lucky. So even though the gang as a whole prospered, the other goblins came to a realisation - they felt safer when he was just the comic relief. They preferred to be poor and alive, than rich and dead. He needed to go! But he was good gobbo and feared Honchohead... So, they came up with a cunning plan... and they threw a party...
Riff doesn't remember much of that night, except that his gang threw a party in his honour to celebrate their latest junkrace victory - then everything else is fuzzy. He woke up on a pirate vessel bound for the Diaspora, having been sold to the crew as a slave. When his new owners tried to set him to task, he went absolutely nova on them - requiring several of them to need medical treatment - and fled into the ship's maintenance ducts. He held out for several days, hiding in the darkness, jury-rigging or hacking and subverting the ship's systems to his advantage, and fighting his own little guerrilla war against the pirates - until the crew finally realised they could use Riff's own belly against him, and lured him into a trap with food (though Riff ate a week's worth of rations for a normal human before his capture). Impressed by his cunning and skill, the crew saw more potential in him than as a mere slave and agreed to let him join the crew, immediately putting him to more meaningful work. Soon enough he became a respected member of the crew, respected for his natural technical skills, his unorthodox engineering tricks that sometimes made key differences in battle, and his amusingly madcap antics. He learnt many things from them in return and so would often treat them to musical performances in appreciation. The fact he was the only one to actually appreciate his musical talent was totally lost on him! The entire crew generally agreed that whilst Riff's music playing ability was actually pretty good his dire taste in music, and his singing (dear gods, the singing!!!), were like being exposed to mind-shattering sonic attacks from the Abyss! Captain Portia Ching, in particular, seemed to have a fondness for him. But soon Captain Ching became a big shot Pirate Lord of the Free Captains and someone else took over running of the ship in her regular absence. And things changed. Without Ching's presence to temper Riff's activities, it eventually once again occurred that Riff's willingness to take [often totally unnecessary and costly] risks made many of the crew nervous or caused more problems than the crew wanted. Plus the music - sweet Besmara someone stop the music!!! - was driving them insane. But Free Pirates don't normally kill other Free Pirates in good standing (especially ones in the favour of a Pirate Lord). So, after smugglilng the latest haul to Absalom Station, they threw a party...
And so it was that Riff woke up to find his ship gone and himself abandoned by the crew. Again. At least this time he hadn't been sold into slavery! Riff isn't mad. Life is an adventure, and as long as he can tinker on ships and weapons, (and pretty much anything else mechanical or technological), play music, shoot tall folk (or small folk for that matter), watch inter-species porn, and occasionally get blitzed out of his skull, life is good and he's happy to see where the universe takes him.
Personality
Riff has never really shaken off the Space Goblin instinct of strength in numbers and instinctively needs a group to be with - whether this is an understanding of needing others for success, or simply requiring an audience for his madcap hijinks, is anyone's guess. He is surprisingly loyal and reliable for a Space Goblin. Sure, he's just as loud, frantic, obnoxious and prone to violence as any Space Goblin, but he seems to enjoy the thrill more than the actual violence, and he doesn't want to kill his crewmates for any little thing. When treated well (albeit like a pet) by others, he has been extremely loyal and supportive of them (albeit, again, like a pet). Unfortunately, this loyalty is tempered by an aggressive need to take unnecessary risks, usually whilst cackling maniacally, that indicates he is either supremely overconfident, or psychotic. Unlike most Space Goblins he is more likely to run towards danger, even when terrified, than from it. Although he was once the honchohead of his own gang, the reality is that Riff doesn't seek power - he seeks acknowledgement. He simply wants to enjoy his existence without regrets, not have to worry about being stabbed in the back by his own team (again), and tinkering with techy things.
Other Notes
Riff's key role is usually as that of ship's engineer - and indeed he is capable of performing feats of engineering that normal people cannot (and, sometimes, the engine doesn't explode as a result of his tinkering). He is also surprisingly naturally adept with computers, however, and it often surprises people to find that he can make a far better science officer than he would appear to be. It even surprises Riff. Whilst he's no operative, he is small and sneaky, and can make a surprisingly good saboteur or companion to an operative. The problem is getting him to follow directions.
Combat Style
Riff is fast and knows how to use this to his advantage. Although he is technically a better combatant with ranged weapons, his incredible dexterity, sheer fearlessness, and combat cunning makes him unpredictably nasty in any circumstance as his amazing speed allows him to cross great distances very quickly, often to others' surprise, and his acrobatic skills help him open up opportunities for dirty hits on enemies. As Riff says, he fights smart, not nice. Unless told to hang back and stick to ranged combat, Riff's default setting is "charge at the enemy, shooting at them, until you're close enough to stab them." It doesn't matter if his target is another Goblin or a Space Dragon, the tactic is the same. His primary weapon is his heavily-modified Cordpocalypse guitar. Not only is it a mean Axe for his shows, but it is a surprisingly deadly sonic weapon. He is always tinkering with it, so it's capabilities vary frequently.
In his right prosthetic arm is a concealed mini-rocket launcher. He doesn't use this as often (mostly because he's usually broke and mini-rocket ammo is expensive, averaging about 30-45 cr per shot), but it can be a nasty surprise for those who underestimate him, and particularly useful against swarm creatures and those with vulnerability to fire attacks.
Social Style
Riff is brutally honest and doesn't lie. Or he lies through his teeth. He says whatever he feels like saying or reasons is the best in his interests to say. He does not do diplomacy (though can be surprisingly tactful when the need arises, leading some to believe that it's a case of "can do, doesn't") and is naturally loud, vulgar and obnoxious. He doesn't understand social right and wrong like most species and acts on his whims without decorum, be it laughing at and mocking important people because he finds their attire or accent amusing, or deciding to watch interspecies porn in the recreation room whilst in the company of others. He finds "tall folk" use too much words and worry about too many things that aren't important, and thinks they'd be much happier if they used less words and were more honest about what they want. He is a true free spirit, and will get along well with anyone who encourages or supports that; and more likely to clash with those who try to restrain or restrict him.
Signature Equipment
Armour & Weapons
- Tattered Freebooter Armour II: this armour has a large crack in the visor which is visibly held together by a generous splash of ion tape. Riff has upgraded his armour with paint-on solar panels that allows him to slowly charge a single battery.
- "Horseburster": A mini-rocket bracer integrated into his right prosthetic arm.
- "Dogslicer": a large, crude goblin-style "sword" (meaning it's the size of a large knife to most humans).
- "Riff's Axe": a custom-built and heavily-modified Cordpocalypse guitar; an electric guitar and a deadly sonic weapon rolled into one.
- "Grenades": Riff carries an assortment of grenades or equivalent explosives (usually ones he has made himself) on his person, typically several Mk 1 frag grenades, a couple of Mk 2 concussion grenades and, for a special occasion, he carries one screamer grenade. He is fond of using these with his detonator (frag grenades) and proximity switch (concussion grenades).
Augments
- Fortified Feet: After his feet were fried by electrical cabling on a wet floor, his feet were reconstructed with prosthetics built from a matrix of adamantine alloy prisms and regenerative ligaments, which are able to withstand significant punishment against ground-based hazards that would harm him as he walks over them, such as electrified floors created by a computer’s shock grid defensive countermeasure, spikes, or puddles of acid.
- Lightvision Shades: After being blinded for 2 hours after a misfire with a laser he was tinkering with, Riff had these installed. Plus they look cool! This augmentation is a pair of stylish sunglasses that are integrated into his head which he can extend or retract at will.
- Lurker Graft : After hiding in dark starship vents for several days from space pirates, Riff learnt the value of darkness. He had pigmentation filters applied to his skin which allow him to almost disappear in areas of shadow. Better for sneakiness!
- Pressurized Lungs: Riff got caught in a depressurized engine room during a starship battle and refused to leave because his pirate friends needed him to keep the engine going. His lungs burst from vacuum exposure but they saved him - and in gratitude put these lungs in - so now he can hold his breath for up to 1 hour and is immune to the normal environmental effects of being in a vacuum!
- Prosthetic Limb, Standard (left arm): Hey, sometimes junkcycles explode... though not usually whilst you're working on them. It did this time, and took both of Riff's arms with it. He had them replaced with mechanical prosthesis that restored functionality, but are no more durable than and doesn’t otherwise function differently than a normal limb for his species. But they make him look tough!
- Prosthetic Limb, Weaponized Mk 1 (right arm): The other arm that Riff had replaced after that junkcycle accident. But this one he got sneaky - it is lighter and hollowed in places to accommodate one integrated weapon and presently houses his mini-rocket bracer.
- Voice Amplifier: After accidentally eating some unidentified creature that had a natural acidic defence (spicy!) Riff's throat was repaired with cybernetics - and upgraded whilst they were at it. He can substantially increase the volume of his voice as if he's a walking megaphone. All the better to please his adoring fans when he performs, and to show other Gobbos who's the honchohead!
Magic Items
- Ring of Fangs: This magic ring makes Riff's teeth longer and sharper, giving him a powerful bite attack. He mostly uses this to help him eat stuff (that really should not be eaten) but it can make a nasty surprise when this mini-shark clamps his jaws on you.
Technological Items
- Custom Rig: Riff's own custom-built mechanic's rig. A cross between a computer, a personal comm, an engineer's toolkit and a hacker's toolkit. Riff relies on this for many of his special tricks and abilities.
- Datapad: used mostly for entertainment purposes (bigger screen better for vid games and movies).
- Gear Clamp: usually stuck on his arm and holding his Custom Rig in place.
- Xhinti Holdings Demolition's Kit: specialty toolkit for arming and disarming explosives.
- Detonator: For making explosives go boom from a distance.
- Proximity Switch, Mk 1: For setting up explosives to go boom if someone gets too close.
- Ion Tape: strips of adhesive tape that when charged with power becomes a mass of highly durable plastic-like material. A second charge returns it to it's weaker state.
- Zipstick: supposedly for use with charging Ion tape, Riff is annoyingly fond of using this to zap unsuspecting colleagues.
Signature Quotes
- "Say hello to my little friend! HAHAHAHAHA!!!!" *BOOM*
- "Science is knowing, engineering is doing."
- "Engineers solve problems. If no problem, create problems!"
- "Want know how work? Take it apart!"
- "I'm a mote in the Vast. Watch how I Drift. HAHAHAHAHA!!!!"
Gallery
Riff in action