DM Brainiac's Starfinder Society (Inactive)

Game Master Brainiac

Karish is correct. He has spent two total RP.

As Luanna excitedly pulls out her comm unit, she notices something else important. Among the discarded wrappers on the floor is a series of packaging for five industrial explosive devices. She also finds a set of tattered instructions on how to arm and disarm the devices.

Karish almost gets past the firewall, but then the computer beeps angrily and boots him back to the start screen.

Unfortunately, nobody else is trained in Computers so there's nobody else who can aid him. Karish can try two more times.

Kultainen, we were so close! Let's try it again! I will try to focus more on the encryption problem.
Karish begins to sweat. He is so focused on the problem that he does not see what's going on around him.

Computers: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Yes, we did it Kultainen!

The computer beeps happily as Karish gains access to the data module. The module contains a file with a list of names, dates, and locations, cumulating with an alarming entry: "Luwazi Elsebo; Lorespire Complex, Skyreach Room, gala" and the present date. With a few minutes of research using the local infosphere, the techonmancer can ascertain that every individual on the list is recently deceased, save for Luwazi; the obituary dates and locations correspond with the dates and locations in the files, but the causes of death are widely varied. Most notably, those few that are documented as homicides all list radically different perpetrators: individuals of varying gender, race, and background.

"Let's go! There is no time to waste! We can let Radaszam know about these developments as we head back." exclaims Kultanien.

"He might not be prepared for explosives... although how anyone would have got through his security to plant them... unless it is one of his security staff!"

You gather the evidence, along with the dead electrovores--their hides are valuable and can be fashioned into electrically charged weapons. You quickly make your way back to the lifts and begin the 15-minute journey back up to the Lorespire Complex. Along the way, you contact Radaszam on the comms and fill him in on what you have discovered.

"So you think it's the AV tech with the curly hair? Yeah, I've seen her working to set up the stage for Luwazi's speech--if she smuggled in explosives, she probably planted them there. All those different descriptions of the assassin and that scale cream seems to indicate that she's not human--probably a shapeshifter of some sort. We'll have to make sure she doesn't get away, or she might just change into somebody else and then it would be next to impossible to track her."

The comm unit crackles with static for a moment, then Radaszam continues. "So, way I see it, we can do this one of two ways. You guys can focus on confronting Triloteya while my Obsidian Spiders handle the explosives. Or, if you want to be daring, the five of you can try to handle the entire affair yourselves. That would really make an impression on the guests--show them that the Starfinder Society is well and able to handle its own affairs and bolster your personal reputations in the process. It would be tricky, though--you'd have to simultaneously disarm the explosives and take care of the assassin. You would need to be subtle in your search for the bombs and keep her distracted so she simply doesn't blow them up early.

"It's your choice."

If we go two-way approach I choose an explosive.
Karish looks at others.

"I have no knowledge of explosives. If Karish is the only one who does, we should perhaps leave the explosives to the spiders. If someone can back Karish up, then the other three can concentrate on locating and detaining Triloteya.

"If she has changed shape, I might be able to detect her thoughts. The hygiene kit contained scale related cosmetics. That might suggest her natural form is a vesk, although I suppose there are other races that might use the same stuff. Once we identify her I can use a spell to daze her but beyond that, all I've got are my weapons to threaten her with. She's probably not going to be afraid of me, though."

We could just remove the explosives instead of disabling them and let them go off on the assassin. Use his own weapons against him.

Maybe is Luanna right. Disabling an explosive is a dangerous job, it might be better to give it to experts.

We could just remove the explosives instead of disabling them and let them go off on the assassin. Use his own weapons against him.

"Assuming there is a trigger, it might set the explosives off if we try to move them. I expect we would do better to capture the assassin rather than kill her, unless she puts up a fight and threatens others."

"I know something about explosives, but I wanna shoot the badguy. That would make Zo! really happy, and maybe we'll all be video stars on Eox or something? My mamma would be proud of that. I think we should handle the whole thing ourselves."

"I don't know much about explosives" admits Kultanien. "But I know a lot about people. I'd like a chance to talk with this assassin before she realises we are on to her. If we can put her at ease, that might make dealing with the situation easier. Who knows, we may be able to sort it all out without a fight."

"Where's the fun in that Kultainen? Besides, this person is likely a professional, and that means that they enjoy hurting other people. That makes them a bad guy in my book!"

"So, have you made your decision?" Radaszam asks over the comm.

If no one is willing to help me with an explosive then we leave the explosives to the experts, otherwise we go in both directions.

"Agreed. This Triloteya seems like a very slippery and dangerous character. It may take all of us to locate, distract, and ultimately capture her.... or him," Luanna chips in as we all hustle back toward the gala.

"Alright, I'll get my men in position. Once you confront the assassin, they'll start searching for the bombs. I'm going to let Luwazi and the other Starfinders know the plan, quietly so Triloteya won't catch wise. Good luck." The comm crackles as Radaszam ends the call.

You wait impatiently for the lift to finally arrive at the level of the Skyreach Room. After a few more minutes, it dings and the doors open. A small drone hovers in the air in front of you, and it lets out a few beeps before depositing a small package at your feet and departing. Inside the package are six healing serums and a message:

Drink up, newbies. We want you at your best before you get into a scrap. --Naiaj

There are six mark I serums of healing inside.

Once you step back into the Skyreach Room, you see the gala is now in full swing. Several dozen guests mingle about, while a dozen or so service staff distribute food and drinks and collect empty dishes.

Radaszam and the Obsidian Spiders are milling about near the stage. The vesk meets your eyes and gives you a slight nod.

Did Luanna borrow his serum to Karish? If she is, then Karish returns his serum to her.

I don't think she gave you her serum yet, Karish. Drink these free serums first since they will go away after the adventure if not used.

I do not know in what kind of health condition are you, so I'll ask. Can I take 2 serums since there are 6 serums and 5 of us?

A small drone hovers in the air in front of you, and it lets out a few beeps before depositing a small package at your feet and departing. Inside the package are six healing serums and a message:

Drink up, newbies. We want you at your best before you get into a scrap. --Naiaj

Should have added: "May the odds be ever in your favor." Nice to have sponsors. :)

"I do not know in what kind of health condition are you, so I'll ask. Can I take 2 serums since there are 6 serums and 5 of us?"

"I'm fine. That electrical blast didn't burn me. Someone can have my dose."

Luanna did not yet give her serum to Karish. It is still available if needed once the gifted serums run out. If any of the six serums from Naiaj are not used, those most likely to be in the thick of battle should keep them as backup healing. Luanna still has one of her own. She is out of magical healing, just so you know.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Luanna does a quick scan of the room. "I definitely don't see Sannivi Acheosi in the room. She was working the AV equipment. That is most likely behind the stage. Let's check the halls for a door to the backstage area."

Edit: Modified Luanna's telepathic communication.

Exploring the access hallways reveals two doors leading into the AV booth--one to the north and one to the south.

You may arrange yourselves as you wish in front of the doors--either all at one or split between the two.

Karish drinks one serum and one puts in pocket.

serum: 1d8 ⇒ 1

These serums are useless! I will drink one more!

serum: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 9

"Why don't we just follow the people who are taking trays out? They probably go into a hallway and then into the kitchen, why don't we just go into that hallway?" says Gidget over her comms as she starts doing exactly that.

"We need to have people at both doors so she can't bolt and run," Luanna suggests. "What if Gidget and Huckle Jim take one side, we three take the other? I can see if I can detect her thoughts from outside the door to confirm she is in there and maybe learn something of when the bomb is set to go off or how it is controlled. That might not work if the doors are metal and too thick, but regardless, we enter and block that exit. If she fights us, the other two come in and use their guns to try to take her down. If she tries to run the other way, they stop her and we open fire."

I realized after I had posted this that I'm forgetting that Karish is also Lashunta and he too can detect thoughts. That opens up some interesting strategy options here.

"Or," Luanna continues after a moment's thought, "Karish and I could try to get in and just claim we want to check on something for Radaszam. We could both try to detect thoughts to pick up what she's thinking. That way if one fails to get through, the other might. We can also communicate to the rest telepathically to signal what is happening, signal you to signal Radaszam that he can start looking for the explosives."

Leaving the explosives to the experts may have been easier, but they might cut our play. Huckle suggests The player too believes that if we were to do both, that we would have a greater reward, otherwise, why would we be given the option.
Huckle in the hallway steps forward. Moved him to the left on the map, unless that is where we came from, then I'd be moving right on the map.

Huckle Jim if I understood you well, I offered an option to deactivate an explosive if someone helped me and no one answered my call.

Luanna, are we going to the north and the other at the south door or we going together at one door?

Can we get a feel for what type of skill check it would be to work with the explosives?

actually after rereading the doors are to the right, so moved Huckle to the north right door and he opens it after checking for traps, if none are there, he opens it. About the explosives Huckle is not trained, though he could attempt an aid check, since the DC is 10 to aid, that is of course if Karish really wants to. Wonder if our characters could call off the others searching for the bombs. If not, hopefully we don't lose too much of a reward by letting them handle it.
perception: 0 + 1d20 ⇒ 0 + (10) = 10

So people then tell who wants to go with Karish to deactivate the explosives. The skill to do it is Engineering if I'm not mistaken. I have already asked a few times who wants to go with me and no one answered the call. You just need to say "I'll go with you."

Yes, it's Engineering to disable the explosives. Kinetic damage would also work, though it would take longer to destroy an explosive that way.

Karish goes to the south door and tries to hear what's inside.

Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (3) + 0 = 3

And he does not hear anything.

Neither Jim nor Karish can hear anything behind the closed doors.

Luanna accompanies Karish and suggests they both attempt to detect the thoughts of anyone inside. Once there, she'll try to appraise the thickness and material of the walls and door to see if they would block the attempt.

The spell can penetrate barriers, but 3 feet of dirt or wood, 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or any force field blocks it.

She will wait until the rest of the team is in place.

When she gets the signal that everyone is ready, she draws her pistol and then attempts to detect thoughts. She focuses her mind in a cone that takes in anyone in the room but excludes anyone east of the control booth.

DC 12 Will save negates, but she would still know if there was an intelligent being in the room somewhere, although she could not pinpoint the location.

The door is made of plastic, which isn't on the list. But it's not metal, so I'll let your ability work!

Will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Luanna detects the presence of one thinking mind of higher-than-average intelligence. However, she is unable to read its thoughts.

The mind has a +2 Intelligence bonus.

Let me try to detect thoughts in that room.
Karish try so hard to enter in the mind of a person in the room.
DC 12 Will save negates

Will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Karish detects the same mind in the room, but he too is unable to read its thoughts.

What shall we do now?
And prepare the pistol.

"<Someone's in the room, probably our target, but can't get any thoughts. We'll have to enter.>"

I suggest we put any communications over our comm units be in <> brackets. Anything in italics is telepathic.

Luanna holsters her pistol and steps up to the door. "<Let's enter and ask if she needs anything prior to the start of the evening presentations. Keep her occupied. Kultainen, do you want to do the talking? We can back you up.>"

Let's wait for Kultainen and Gidget to post. I'd suggest Gidget join Huckle Jim to the north and Kultainen join Luanna to the south. Have we definitely decided to let the Spiders take care of locating the explosives while we keep the assassin occupied? If Kultainen wants to enter and do the talking, she can move herself to the door and move Karish and Luanna back, if Karish agrees.

Huckle will take that out of character post as Luanna communicating telepathically with him.

Lunna just gave me an idea, she communicated with me telepathically the idea. Gidget join me to the north and Kultainen join Luanna to the south. Have we definitely decided to let the Spiders take care of locating the explosives while we keep the assassin occupied? If Kultainen wants to enter and do the talking, she can move herself to the door and move Karish and Luanna back, if Karish agrees.

Karish agrees with Luanna about moving.

And let the Spiders take care of locating the explosives.

"Okay, let's see what sort of crazy plan we have going. I'm on my way."

Gidget moves to join Jim.

Kultanien heads in through the door. She looks around in agitation.

"Jazz. We need old style Jazz music. Oh gods, the envoy from Akran is here and he is a jazz fan."

She looks around for a 'sound technician' who can help with the sound 'crisis'.

bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

The AV booth overlooks the Skyreach Room through a wide window of transparent aluminum. The window and the booth alike are hidden from view by means of a one-way holographic projector to appear no different from the other walls around the room, though viewers within the AV booth can see into the room unobstructed.

A curly-haired woman is in here--Triloteya in disguise! She looks up in surprise as Kultainen rushes into the room. "What? What's going on?"

The woman scowls. "Jazz music. Of course. If we knew the envoy was coming, why didn't they alert me earlier?" She heads over to a control console and starts pushing some buttons.

Through the window, you can see the Obsidian Spiders beginning their search of the stage.

You will have to make a skill check each round to keep Triloteya distracted from noticing the Obsidian Spiders. Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidate could work, as well as creative uses of other skills. Only one PC can make a check each round.

"I'm not very good at games with words, I'm more man of action." Whispers Karish.

Luanna strolls in once Kultainen has Trilloteya's attention. "Kultainen, that creepy undead guy keeps asking for you. Can you chat with him? We need to keep him happy."

While Luanna talks, she looks at the control panel for a button to push or a switch to turn that might make something happen to distract Triloteya. She intends to use her psychokinetic hand to change something while keeping well away from the switch.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26 I'm going to assume that's a success and suggest something. GM may veto, of course.

She spots something promising, a panel marked special effects. One says 'Auroral dance effect.' She taps the control.

Out in the main ballroom a holographic mirror ball comes on, sending aurora-like shimmers throughout the room. "Oooh! Pretty! Can you do shooting stars?"

"I'm not very good at games with words, I'm more man of action." Whispers Karish.

"There are other ways to distract, especially for someone with telepathy and psychokinesis."

You can see some of the guests gasping and applauding as the ball shines its light, though you can't hear anything in the soundproofed booth.

"Gah! That bloody thing isn't supposed to come down yet," Triloteya scowls. She moves over to the console to deactivate the mirror ball.

Through the window, you can see the Spiders safely remove and deactivate a bomb. One down, four to go.

Gidget, never really a still person to begin with, starts getting antsy and after a few minutes, says "since you won't let me go shoot her in the face, I'm going to go help the spiders with the bombs. Just sitting here missing everything is silly. I'll be right back. Don't get dead." Gidget then tears off to go help with the bombs.
<Karish, this waiting is stupid. Let's go deal with the bombs!>"

I know it initially seems like the group didn't want to do both, but it later sounded like they did, so since Gidget is an action junkie and has engineering, I figured I would split the middle and just go start disarming bombs.