GM Dinketry |
The security guards frown, unsure of what to do, their batons hanging loose and useless at their sides. Finally, one of them gives a short upward nod at the other, and the other touches a panel on the front of his jacket, his eyes trained on August as he has the following remote conversation.
”Yeah, I’ve got five guests who want entrance under VIP status.” A pause ensues, and the guard continues with a grimace. ”Yeah, but one of the guests is a known celebrity. Diamaante. Yeah, the lashunta. She’s got her security detail with her, and they’re requesting VIP entrance.” A further pause. ”Confirmed.” A deep frown creases the guard’s brow, and he averts his gaze from August. ”Confirmed,” he says with a grave tone in his voice to match the look on his face. ”Right.”
The guard finishes his remote conversation, pats the panel on his jacket, and looks back up at the group. ”No visible weapons allowed inside. Two drink minimum. Don’t be starting any trouble; we will finish it if any weapons are displayed.” The guard gulps, looking visibly galled despite trying to use tough words. ”We will hold tight to the weapons you already checked; they are secure, and they’ll be collateral if you choose to go against the agreement.”
The guards move aside, allowing the group to enter the heavy metal door unless further conversation ensues.
August Vydoc |
August will grunt, nod at Telion the other "bodyguard", open the door and do a quick sweep with his eyes, motioning Telion through first, then Diamaante, then Idar and Jaxom.
He'll grin at Idar once they're inside.
"Honestly, you checked your rifle? Have a little faith."
GM Dinketry |
Upon entry to the exterior door, you immediately enter a cramped foyer with a small desk where a bored-looking kasatha sits, fiddling with a vid-screen while waving a scanner at you with a spare hand. The scanner blinks blue as its beam flashes by each of you. A second door hearkens the cacophony of sensory tumult you are about to experience as you open the door to the Fusion Queen.
Within the main interior of the Fusion Queen, audible conversation is no longer possible. All Perception checks take a -2 due to the disorienting nature of the room.
The dimly lit interior of the nightclub is filled with the press of sweaty bodies, a haze of narcotic smoke, and the pounding beat and ululating vocals of bakarang music blaring from the main stage in the northeast corner of the room. The eastern wall of the dance club features a huge sign indicating the "Fusion Queen Main Reactor", a rotating mock-up of a fusion reactor core that gives the illusion that the room is far bigger than it is. Possibly because of this, many of the dancers on the floor crowd against this side of the wall.
A sinuous bar winds around the northwest corner, offering a variety of drinks and drugs for purchase. Booths line the south wall of the club, facing the main stage in the northeast corner and the crowded dance floor beneath it. Gyrating dancers stand atop four smaller stages scattered around the club: one behind the bar, one in the center of the room, and two flanking the main stage. Wide double doors marked “Staff Only” exit the room to the west.
Perhaps because of the aforementioned smoke in the air, you all feel tingly.
As the music pounds your senses and the lights strafe you, you struggle to orient your senses.
Diamaante |
Diamaante's antennae wiggle as she looks around the club. "Stay close together. Let's not get separated here," she tells the others telepathically.
She pretends to dance and gyrate around the club, slowly making her way towards the doors marked "Staff Only." When she is close, she concentrates to see if she can sense any thinking minds beyond.
Use detect thoughts, DC 15.
August Vydoc |
August strongly considers firing his pistol in the air to clear the club but decides against it in case the ceiling is as shoddily made as the rest of the station.
He takes a post at the bar and lights a cigarette as he scans the room for security and/or a camera set up.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
GM Dinketry |
Even with a -2 to your Perception check from the club (see my note above), a 24 is a stellar roll, August. Pun intended.
August Vydoc |
August pulls out his burner and checks it real fast, pretending to get a security notice. He moves over towards Telion and mentions the cameras to be given out using Telion's telepathy.
Idar the Houseless |
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"Long rifle elegant weapon. Precise." Idar shrugs. "Subtle, not." And, of course, he still has a very sharp knife and some boom-booms.
He stays close to Diamaante, upper arms out from show, lower arms inside his poncho near his other weapons. Not so much to keep them ready, but ot keep them from being disapppeared by those with 'light fingers' in the dense crowd.
He does not dance.
Telion of Castrovel |
Telion followed Diamaante, skirting the dance floor while keeping his eyes on his ward. At the far end, he leaned up against the wall so he could keep a clear view of Diamaante and any possible threats, but his gaze kept drifting to the flashing colored lights overhead.
"Makes sense for them to keep an eye on things. I imagine trouble breaks out fairly often, what with all this junk in the air. Feels nice though, especially the blue. Know what I mean?" Telion replied to August.
Jaxom Sandstrom |
Computers: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Mysticism: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Medicine: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Nothing from me. I’m not a loud bar person. I am watching for things, but my skills keep failing me.
August Vydoc |
August snorts at the idea of casual drug use while he takes another drag on his cigarette.
"I was always taught drugs are a poison that detract from a true citoyen's duty to provide their maximum effort for the good of the community. Plus I don't breathe."
GM Dinketry |
All of a sudden, the image of the 'Fusion Queen Reactor Core' begins blinking red and a loud klaxon sounds in the club. One of the two DJs on the stage comes on overhead with a fake-sounding level of alarm in their voice.
"Uh-oh! You know what that sound means, people? The Fusion Queen Reactor Core has gone into MELTDOWN!!!"
Squeals of pleasure sound from the clubbers as heretofore hidden nozzles in the ceiling and the floor begin pumping phosphorescent foam into the throngs of people. Additional streams of dry ice-like mist creep up from the floor, and the lights in the club go ultraviolet.
Foam areas represented by blue circles. Mist areas represented by the green circles. Ultraviolet area represented by the purple outline. Perception checks are now at a -2 for each additional condition in the square you are in; they are cumulative. Foam (blue) and mist (green) act as Obscuring Mist for combat purposes.
GM Dinketry |
The three minds in the closed room adjacent to yours are of an intelligence less than your own.
You notice that your companions have veritably disappeared in the chaos of the club.
GM Dinketry |
As the party rages, Diamaante focuses her mind...
1.) "Two stars and moon high...Jud only had a bolt and a skull showing..."
2.) "That bastard is cheating if I know my own face. If he pulls this hand, I'm going to say something..."
3.) "I wonder if I still have any pocket-bread in my locker...I'm hungry..."
The club raves on...
Diamaante |
Diamaante releases her focus and wanders into the mist. She sees Telion's looming shape nearby, and reaches out a hand to touch his arm. She has him guide her to the rest of the group, and once everybody is together, she reaches out telepathically.
"There are three guards in the staff room. It seems like they are playing cards. How do you want to play this?"
August Vydoc |
"Really? I always like being straight the point myself. Diamaante, flag down a bartender and see if you can get invited to the game or get an audience in any case. See if you can play up the idea that you want to create "the hotspot" and are looking for possible VIP rooms and such to draw other holovid stars."
Diamaante |
Diamaante nods at August. She saunters up to the bar and gives the bartender a dazzling smile. "This place is simply aces! I can't believe it took me so long to get down here. I must tell my fellow holovid stars about it. Say, you don't think I could meet with the manager, do you? I think the two of us could work out a lucrative advertising deal. We can make the Fusion Queen the next big thing!"
Bluff: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Telion of Castrovel |
"Just gotta ride it out. I ended up with a faceful of haze when I first walked in. The round guy over there by the door seemed to think it was funny."
GM Dinketry |
Diamaante wades through the fluorescent foam ensconcing Idar, Telion, and August towards the bar (I moved your icon, Diamaante). As the human bartender approaches, he points at the digital display on the surface of the bar that allows patrons to wordlessly order drinks and recreational materials. He reacts bodily when Diamaante contacts him telepathically.
"No, I don't think the manager would be available to talk right now; you'd have to come back during daylight hours. You want a drink or something else?"
Diamaante |
"Hmm, not right now, thanks," the lashunta says as she leaves the bar. She rejoins the others. "That was a no-go. It doesn't look like we'll be able to talk our way inside."
Telion of Castrovel |
"That might be a bit... extreme? Jax... what if... like... the foam went out of control. And just started spraying everywhere, filling up the place, and then we could just slip through the door in the chaos. Think you could make that happen?"
Jaxom Sandstrom |
Jaxom will try and determine how the special effects are operated to see if he can cause such a distraction as described by Telion...
Engineering: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 (or Computers, it's the same bonus)
GM Dinketry |
Between the mist seeping from the floor, the fluroescent foam pumping from the ceiling, and the bakarang music blaring in his ears, Jaxom does not think that he could use his mechanical skills to engineering a foam-based explosion as suggested.
Great idea, though.
Diamaante |
"Well, the music is loud enough that most people won't realize what's going on... Should we just kick in the door and hope for the best?"
GM Dinketry |
August, if you had a computer panel or control monitor to access...but you don't.
GM Dinketry |
Idar, based on your last post, I took the liberty of moving you towards the 'Staff Only' door on the map. I hope that is correct.
The music pounds on, the whirling dancers on the floor keeping time with the chaotic bakarang beat like puppets on strings. The foam dissolves but more still pours from nozzles in the ceiling, replacing that which dissipates. The lighting patterns change up with musical phrases, disorienting the eyes as beams refract off of bodies, foam, and mist.
The crew stand near the entrance as the main door to the club opens, admitting an android and a korasha lashunta. Their dress - and the fact that they both carry openly-brandished weapons - identify them immediately as trouble.
Remember: a -2 blanket penalty to all Perception checks, plus an additional -2 for each additional environmental circle that your character sits within (e.g. August has the universal -2 as well as a -2 for the foam; Diamaante has the universal -2 as well as a -2 for the foam and a -2 for the mist)
Random GM roll: 1d8 ⇒ 12d10 ⇒ (4, 1) = 51d8 ⇒ 82d10 ⇒ (2, 1) = 3
Both of the newcomers pull grenades out from their waistcoats and lob them into the club blindly.
Reflex Saves - NPCs: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 61d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 91d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 31d20 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 41d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Reflex Saves - PCs: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 131d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 221d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Ranged Attack with Grenade - NPCs: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 161d8 ⇒ 5
Ranged Attack with Grenade - PCs: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 161d100 ⇒ 451d8 ⇒ 4
Two loud electrical blasts sound out in the club, nigh-impossible to discern over the high-energy clanging of the bakarang music. Nigh-impossible to discern unless one of the grenades lands near you, that is: August, Diamaante, and Telion experience jolting pain as a high-energy shock grenade blasts into them. The lashunta envoy instinctively turns from the blast, deflecting a portion of the damage.
August and Telion, take 4 points of electricity damage; Diamaante, take 2 points of electricity damage.
Round 1!
Diamaante Initiative: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10
Idar Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Jaxom Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Telion Initiative: 1d20 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 1 - 2 = 12
Twill #1 Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Twill #2 Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Other #1 Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Other #2 Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Other #3 Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
The android Twill levels his rifle at Jaxom and fires.
Ranged Attack on Jaxom: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 51d6 ⇒ 6
The weapon goes off harmlessly into the floor.
You may all act now!
Jaxom Sandstrom |
Jaxom draws and fires back at the jerk that shot him...
Azimuth Laser Pistol: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 3 + 1 = 241d4 ⇒ 2 Fire, Burn 1d4
Crit Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3 and Burn 1d4
”Oh no you don’t!”
Perception: 1d20 + 0 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 0 + 1 - 2 = 10
GM Dinketry |
[dice=Perception]1d20+0+1-2
Since you’re in the mist, you’ll need to make a 20% concealment roll for that attack, Jaxom. Also, your perception is at -4 (-2 universal; -2 mist).
Telion of Castrovel |
Perception: 1d20 + 3 - 2 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 3 - 2 - 2 - 2 = 7
Telion turned just in time to see the grenade flying toward them, but too slowly to do anything useful before it detonated.
As the flash subsided, a furious Telion barreled out of the mists towards the attackers. A moment later, the familiar black and purple oversized fist appeared in a vicious haymaker. Deep within the fist, a small ember ignited and began to glow.
Solar Fist: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20, Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 7
Attunement: Photon 1
Everyone gets +1 to hit on ranged attacks against the targets I threaten in melee.
GM Dinketry |
Just to clarify: the mist in the area where the two attackers and everyone else but August are acts like a weaker obscuring mist spell: attacks from more than 5 feet away incur a 20% concealment effect and Perception checks have a -2 penalty in the mist. The green rectangle is the misted area.
Also, as Telion goes before Idar in Initiative, Idar cannot complete his action to disarm as described. Idar, you may revise your action as previously stated. Don’t forget to move your icon on the map. Thanks.