Yason Fordaze

Yason Malcolm Fordaze is a player character associated with the All of the Above party during the CONSOLE Arc. He is a human male smuggler and captain of the Subliminal Message.

A notably skilled spacecraft pilot and former soldier in DEFTAS turned freelance criminal, Yason was court-martialed after disobeying orders to aid civilians, which resulted in a physical confrontation with his commanding officer. After being dishonorably discharged and serving his sentence, he became a cynical drunk and found spacefaring as a means to escape his past. He would come to acquire a decommissioned and heavily modified DEFTAS cargo ship, he dubbed the Subliminal Message, and take up odd jobs as a smuggler alongside a repurposed DEFTAS medical droid serving as his bodyguard named DAB.

Years later Yason would partner with a bounty hunter crew, which he supplied his ship for. They would come to contract with the artificial intelligence CONSOLE, causing several events that would lead them to becoming instrumental in his defeat.

After the fall of CONSOLE, Yason would marry shipmate Sherry Fal and continue his mercenary work.

Biography
To be added...

Appearance
Yason is a human male with light skin who, during the events of the CONSOLE Arc, was 36-years-old. He has blue eyes and dark brown hair worn in a messy side part with a beard and mustache. He stands at 6'3 '' and weighs 185lbs with a muscular build.

His outfit consisted of a blue, full-body flight suit worn underneath a black, slim fit Kevlar vest with three pouches on the front. He fashioned a utility belt which held various types of ammo, grenades, tools, and a combat knife sheathed on the lower back. His right leg fits a brown holster which usually fancied his revolver. His left leg fit a large, black pouch that stored various tools for quick access. Yason also wore an armored rucksack which stored various equipment. Other accessories included black fingerless gloves, shoulder and knee pads, steel-toed boots with a compact security kit hidden inside the left boot, and a gray scarf around the neck.

His helmet was a black combat helmet with a transparent face visor. The helmet outfitted a chin strap and an internal commlink. The visor was removable and could be substituted for night vision goggles or a breath mask depending on the situation.

When out of combat Yason would discard his helmet, scarf, rucksack, vest, and shoulder pads in favor of a brown, unzipped vest. The vest was padded with multiple pockets. He'd also roll his flight suit's sleeves up to the elbows. Finally he'd wear black welding goggles with maroon colored lenses. The goggles would normally rest on his forehead.

In colder environments Yason wears a blue parka jacket with a brown, fur-lined hood and brown gauntlet gloves. His formal attire consists of a standard white dress shirt, black pants, tie, and shoes accompanied by an olive green trench coat. His dress clothes are very worn with minor stains. When in rain or in need of a quick disguise he owns a gray poncho with a hood.

Later in his life, Yason's hair would gray and he'd abandon most of his armor in favor of his brown vest, taking less physically strenuous jobs.

Personality
Yason's most prominent trait is his dry humor. Whether drawing attention to his vanity or making openly sarcastic remarks towards others, Yason managed to express humor no matter the circumstances. With respect to personality, Yason is fairly brash and possesses a "shoot first" mentality.

Since abandoning the UEF he's become a more cynical and realistic person, adopting a pessimistic view towards most situations. His tolerance depleted as time went on and he became easily frustrated and aggressive, which in turn, made him exceedingly trigger happy with an innate desire for violence. He is however capable of controlling his outbursts as to not disrupt the productivity of a job. He carries much pain and resentment since leaving the UEF, developing fears of abandonment and intimacy. His rampant distrust in others stems from these fears. He is always suspicious of others and their intentions. Misplacing his faith in the UEF transformed his outlook on things as he would inadvertently use his humor or acerbity to keep people at a distance, sabotaging the development of close relationships. He was never fond of the idea of a long lasting crew.

Yason thinks of himself as an egotist but fundamentally is a man of compassion. He possessed a casual style of interaction with associates, despite his sarcastic remarks at their expense. He truly cared for his shipmates but lacked the ability to recognize or express it, denying such accusations. This is something Yason would soon learn to improve upon.

He appeared to pride himself on his professionalism. His pride could sometimes exemplify his stubbornness. He could easily be found arguing over how something should be handled, normally becoming angered by an idiotic proposal. He can come off as abrasive and isn't afraid to voice his opinion. Mostly holding great faith in his decisions, Yason isn't short of caving into panic when a situation goes awry. However his panic will slowly transition into frustration. Nevertheless Yason is capable of showing incredible acumen. Although susceptible to change, Yason would prefer his own methods of handling a situation to others. However he will immediately dismiss himself if directly proven wrong. He also maintains his ship with much care, becoming aggravated when something that affects the ship is done without his permission. Yason has displayed himself to be fairly intelligent, acting as an engineer and strategist.

In conjunction with his professionalism, Yason took up whatever jobs he could get, often turning a blind eye to a job's legality. He tried to avoid doing the wrong thing in terms of morality. For example he would rather steal from a large corporation with a reliable income of resources rather than a struggling populace. When a job conflicted with these morals Yason never failed to abandon a job to do the right thing, albeit at times begrudgingly. Yason cared a great deal for a job's success because that ensured payment. He was not above petty theft, smuggling, or even killing, but would rationalize such behavior to make it appear less undignified, such as stealing from bad people.

Politically, Yason has no love for the UEF. After his dishonorable discharge he carried a strong prejudice towards them. Nonetheless he remembers a time when he held great respect for them and their cause.

Sherry
Yason and Sherry's initial opinions of one another weren't necessarily positive. Yason opposed the inclusion of Sherry and Hyote in the crew. Sherry proved herself through helpful mechanical and navigational skills. These skills would result in she and Yason working closely together, Sherry acting as a navigator for Yason and the two being responsible for maintenance aboard the ship. Yason humored the idea of Sherry possessing feelings for him and was never shy to admit he considered her to be attractive, although presented in a mocking demeanor. The two argued plenty. Yason found Sherry to be demanding despite having no authority and Sherry found Yason to be self-centered and disagreeable.

Time proved beneficial in their relationship as the two became more accustomed to each other's imperfections. Yason acknowledged Sherry's mechanical competence and Sherry took notice to his surprising moral alignment for a criminal. The two were also similar in that they freely voiced their opinions when dissatisfied.

Eventually the two managed to interact on a more personal level when the entirety of the crew ventured to a bar to collect a profit from a recent job. Yason purchased the two drinks and they had a nice conversation. Unfortunately their moment was interrupted by the mercenary Salzuin. The ensuing battle left numerous casualties, with Sherry left debilitated. Thankfully her synthetic origin allowed her to successfully recover with no lasting effects. Yason recovered the two glasses the two shared and kept them as a souvenir. After this Yason became more protective of Sherry.

Their opinions of each other improved exponentially. Yason learned to not mind Sherry's involvement in ship alterations without his knowledge and embraced trust in her. In turn Sherry respected him a lot more and the two became more comfortable around each other. Sherry became the first person Yason accepted getting close to in a long time.

After the events of the CONSOLE Arc, Yason, Sherry, and DAB continued to act as bounty hunters after the All of the Above party disbanded. Many years later Yason and Sherry would marry.

DAB
DAB can be described as Yason's best friend. Yason admired DAB anatomically and noticed immediate potential in his contributions for the group. Yason also took part in naming DAB. The two work well off each other with Yason's aggression and DAB's carefree personality. DAB also has a minor knowledge of piloting spacecrafts granting him the qualifications of being co-pilot. Yason would be responsible for repairing DAB whenever necessary. Despite his somewhat vulgar mannerisms at times Yason overall enjoyed DAB's company over most of the crew.

Justiev
Generally Yason and Justiev were on good terms. Despite Yason's ownership of the Subliminal Message, Justiev was the leader of the group. Yason would consider Justiev's desire to help people as troublesome when it interfered with a job's success. However Yason never possessed any true quarrels with Justiev.

Larfleeze
To be added...

Hyote
Yason never trusted Hyote. He found his unwillingness to engage in social activity with the group questionable and disliked his overall character. Yason only learned after Hyote's leaving that he would conduct illegal experiments within his quarters. Of his fellow shipmates Yason found Hyote to be the most unsettling.

B4UC/KYS/Orion
While in his prismatic form Yason didn't mind KYS. He refused to refer to him as B4UC as he considered it to be a ridiculous name. Collectively he was given the name KYS. He found him useful yet in turn obnoxious. When KYS activated the assassin droid that killed Hermes, the group developed an overall dislike for KYS. When KYS upgraded his body into a stealth droid his personality shifted and he became more stubborn and abrasive. Yason also refused to call him his new name, Orion, and continued to call him KYS. Yason grew to dislike KYS' constant immaturity and irresponsibility, trusting him with little to no tasks. When KYS was killed Yason's focus was primarily on Sherry's condition, but Yason felt bad for KYS despite his disliking of him.

Hermes
Professionally Yason respected Hermes, but the two would casually argue with one another over pointless affairs. Yason considered Hermes' isolation from others to be odd and disliked the overall mystery surrounding him. When Hermes was killed Yason was sad along with the rest of the group. Years later Yason would install an artificial intelligence program into the Subliminal Message and name him after Hermes.

Laxus
When Laxus introduced himself to the party, his unexpected presence was enough for Yason to dislike him. However Laxus consistently insulted the group and spoke highly of himself in an obnoxious manner. Yason demanded a meeting be held to discuss Laxus. Yason considered Laxus to be dangerous, untrustworthy, and disrespectful. He protested against Laxus joining the party however Laxus was persistent about being included for personal reasons. Due to his self-absorption, Laxus took it upon himself to lead the group in jobs. This angered Yason because Laxus had no business in their affairs. Laxus' constant attempts to offend the group confused Yason as to why Laxus wanted inclusion in the group to begin with and continued to question it, only to receive little insight. In retrospect, Yason would most likely not care for Laxus despite outright saying he disliked him. Regardless Yason can't deny Laxus' impressive skill in combat and strategic ability.

Interestingly Yason and Laxus had very similar characteristics, both being short-tempered and isolating themselves from others due to their inability to express compassion.

DEV
Yason and DEV were indifferent towards one another. When DEV attacked the party at the UEF data vault Yason helped subdue him. When DEV temporarily joined the group Yason took issue with his Paladinian Guardian.

Trust
Yason can be characterized by a rampant distrust in others. After his departure from the UEF his faith in other people appeared to be shaken. Immersing himself in the criminal line of work most likely continued to hinder his trust issues. He is always suspicious of others and their intentions, wary of double agents and sabotage. He is also very protective of his belongings.

Alcoholism
Yason failed to adjust to life after the UEF and found sanctuary at the bottom of the bottle. He carries a flask on him regularly and almost always looks forward to a celebratory drink at the end of job well done.

Piloting
Yason is easily recognized as All of the Above's pilot. The captain of the ship he finds himself most comfortable when flying the ship himself. He has the most experience through his extensive pilot training prior to the group's formation. His extensive pilot training coupled with years flying for heists and jobs make him the perfect candidate. He transports the team to various locations and can successfully maneuver in dangerous environments. Yason's hubris gives him the belief that he can pilot nearly any vehicle.

Combat
As a former soldier and careered mercenary Yason has a great deal of experience in combat. Yason has demonstrated formidable proficiency with firearms. He has exceptional aim, capable of incapacitating DEV by shooting him in his Paladinian eyepatch during a battle at a UEF data vault. He also is capable of hand-to-hand combat. His military background and career as a mercenary prior to the formation of the All of the Above crew help exemplify his many skills.

Weaponry
A weapons specialist, Yason gravitated more towards the use of many high-technology weapons, especially guns and explosives. He has expertise in handling multiple types of ranged weapons but often prefers his model T Plasma Assault Rifle, nicknamed the PAR-T, which he stole. He was also equipped with various types of grenades. Yason finds enjoyment in loud, impactful weapons which support his trigger-happy tendencies. He is a practitioner in weapons design and enjoys crafting his own prototypes.

Engineering
Yason exhibits labored engineering skills. He was capable of maintaining his ship for years, upgrading and repairing varied components. He was also responsible for repairing DAB when in critical condition. He supplied the group with custom made communication devices and was once able to repair a tram system while posing as a guard during the infiltration of a data vault, among other achievements. He found joy in experimenting with firearms.

Theft
As a smuggler Yason is familiar with thievery. From stealing entire shipments of cargo to casual pickpocketing, Yason has accumulated an impressive collection of stolen machines, gadgets, and trinkets. He would frequently steal miscellaneous items just for fun, a tendency he's admitted to being problematic.

Leadership
Being the unofficial second-in-command of his group, Yason was more than capable of taking command of the group if necessary. Although Justiev being in charge of the team, all matters pertaining to the ship was under Yason's authority. Having a tendency to come off as assertive, Yason was a quick thinker and could devise strategies under pressure.

Weapons

 * PAR-T (Plasma Assault Rifle, Model T) - A fully automatic heavy assault rifle with rechargeable magazines. This is Yason's preferred weapon.
 * Wingman - A double-action heavy revolver and Yason's preferred sidearm.
 * Minigun - A heavy minigun with a rotating barrel that can reconfigure to be transported more comfortably.
 * Shotgun - A pump-action shotgun with a disk-shaped magazine.
 * Sniper Rifle - A gas-operated, semi-automatic sniper rifle.
 * Torrent Rifle - A fully automatic rifle with specialized rounds for damaging highly durable machinery.
 * Combat Knife
 * Fragmentation Grenades
 * Explosive Charges & Detonators

Items

 * Binoculars
 * Night Vision Goggles - Compatible with Yason's helmet.
 * Breath Mask - Compatible with Yason's helmet.
 * Data Crystals - Drives that store various information.
 * Assortment of Tools - Screwdrivers, wrenches, and other machine tools.
 * Compact Security Kit - A sensor-baffling wallet hidden inside one of Yason's boots filled with tools for lockpicking.
 * Flask
 * Lighter
 * Pack of Cigarettes
 * Dog Tags

Development
Originally the All of the Above party consisted of three player characters: DAB, Larfleiz, and Justiev. The party's name was The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, referring to each player. Just before the game began the characters of Yason and KYS were created. With this required a party name change. A joke referring to Yason as all three aspects of the title, being "all of the above." The name stuck with the slogan: they could accomplish all of the above.

Yason was created to fill a DPS role for the party. The only two major things known about Yason in the beginning was he carried a big gun and flew the ship. Being the owner of the group's ship resulted in Yason having a skill in mechanics. Yason was always meant to be depicted as apathetic, jaded, and down on his luck. Due to art created by the GM, Yason was always depicted wearing a SWAT-inspired outfit with a face shield helmet.

Being a cocky pilot and smuggler Yason derived multiple similarities to the character Han Solo from the Star Wars universe. The player of Yason describes him as a fusion between Hawkeye and Rocket Raccoon from the Marvel universe.

Trivia

 * Yason is responsible for the All of the Above party's name.
 * The catchphrase "Yason for days" was stated frequently out of character. It had to be made clear that this was an out of character expression not used by the character in game.
 * Yason's last name is a reference to this expression.
 * Yason would regularly disassemble and reassemble non-essential components of the Subliminal Message out of boredom.
 * Yason knew German.
 * Yason's Wingman revolver is directly taken from the Titanfall franchise.
 * The name Yason was suggested by the GM Nathan Barnes.
 * Yason's favorite color is blue. This is only because it's the color he wears.
 * Yason is agnostic.