Uncle Jangly is quiet for a moment. Its hard to judge if he's any more rattled by the threats Jelico is implying, given his madness, but at the very least it seems he's considering what to say. "YEH, SO THERE'S TREASURE ON ONE A THE MOONS. BIG PILE OF YOO-PEE-BEES, THERE IS. I HID IT ON THE GREEN MOON, BURIED THE WHOLE LOT, BEFORE THE OTHERS COULD SEE ALL OF THEM. EVEN NULL-9 DON'T KNOW NOTHIN!" He hurks up some phlegm before continuing "NULL-9'S ON THE GREEN MOON TRYIN'A WORK OUT HOW TO GET ALL THIS BUSINESS RUNNIN'. 'ER AND TWO DOZEN OF 'ER CLOSEST PALS" He eyes Jelico with a gleam of interest in his eye "GOOD INFO YEH? YOU LET ME LEAVE AND I SEND YOU THE COORDS TA THOSE YOO-PEE-BEES DOWN ON THAT MOON. DEAL?"
Jelico feels that he's being honest and forthright, at least in the offer he's providing.
Male Human Mystic 12 | 76/76 HP, 97/97 SP, 9/9 RP | Init +3 |Perception +25 | EAC 22, KAC 23 | F +7, R +8, W +12 | Spells/Day Left: oo/6/5/2/3/0/0
Jellico turns to the others. "If you can get past the madness and all the yelling, he's telling the truth, about this treasure and my quarry anyway.
I'm inclined to give him what he wants. Perhaps we can disable some of the more lethal systems on this ship before we leave but, if he knows where Null-9 is, I want to find out. She's the last one I need to bring to justice."
"Spectre, can you disable the weapons systems from bridge? Alternatively we could get out and shoot at the ship until it can barely fly."
Isu pulls out some cable and starts to secure Uncle Jangy. He doesn't do it too tight, so the...thing... would be able to escape after a good long while.
Droid Outlaw Mechanic 12 | SP 108/108 HP 76/76 RP 11/11 | EAC 28 KAC 30; | F +11; R +16; W +6 | Init +8 | Perc +16 | Conqueror (white star-class): +16 (3d12+12 E&F)
Spectre takes a look at disabling, hopefully permanently, the ship's weapon systems.
"If you would like, I could also give him a limited supply of oxygen. We said we would let him live, but we did not indicate for how long."
computers (expert rig):1d20 + 23 ⇒ (6) + 23 = 29If successfully hack into a computer, also disable one countermeasure installed in the system (except firewalls). In addition, counts as engineering or hacking specialty kit and counts computer with a tier equal to half level with the Artificial personality, hardened, or security I upgrade module. It also has an audio/video recorder.
Male Half-Elf Solarian 19 | SP 169/169 HP 139/139 RP 11/11 | EAC 35(37) KAC 36(38); DR 5/- Resist Fire 15 | F +15; R +15; W +14 | Speed 25 ft. | Init +6 | Perc +28
"As aggravating as he is, that doesn't seem fair, Spectre," Arcalinte replies.
Uncle Jangly makes no attempt to resist being tied up. In fact, he even says "HAH, TIGHTER KID! TIGHTER SO I HAVE TO SQUIRM. HEHEHE."
A survey of the ship's systems from the bridge is difficult thanks to the extensive damage to the power core. Spectre is able to determine that most of the ship's systems are damaged well beyond the ability to quickly or easily repair. It's well and truly derelict. Just to get the ship flying, it may take a week of concerted work on repairs, and the weapons systems are just as badly damaged.
Seeing that you seem to be taking up the offer, Jangly explains that there's an ancient kishalee landing pad on the jungle-covered moon, and a control facility of some kind an hour away through the jungle. He doesn't have any information on what may lie inside, but he offers a hearty assurance that Null-9 will be there.
Last chance to ask Jangly anything or do anything on his ship. Otherwise I'll move us on to Gate-01, the Jungle Moon.
In advance of the approach to Gate-01, please give me a starship piloting check for... reasons :)
"Very good. Know this, if you see us again, we will kill you. This one's mercy is feeling stretched to the limit but this one is trying to be a good friend to Arcalinte Soter."
Male Human Mystic 12 | 76/76 HP, 97/97 SP, 9/9 RP | Init +3 |Perception +25 | EAC 22, KAC 23 | F +7, R +8, W +12 | Spells/Day Left: oo/6/5/2/3/0/0
Jellico can feel that his oath is nearing its completion. He can think of little else, other than bringing Null-9 to justice. He ignores Jangly for the rest of the time the group is on the ship.
Once they spacewalk back, he immediately heads to the cockpit and gets the ship ready to head toward the kishalee landing pad.
Piloting:1d20 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 29
Droid Outlaw Mechanic 12 | SP 108/108 HP 76/76 RP 11/11 | EAC 28 KAC 30; | F +11; R +16; W +6 | Init +8 | Perc +16 | Conqueror (white star-class): +16 (3d12+12 E&F)
Spectre decides not to tamper with the oxygen levels they leave for the crazy old man.
"I, for one, am glad that we are finally prioritizing treasure acquisition. Let us hope that he was not lying to us, but I am eager to see if what he leads us to is valuable."
Male Half-Elf Solarian 19 | SP 169/169 HP 139/139 RP 11/11 | EAC 35(37) KAC 36(38); DR 5/- Resist Fire 15 | F +15; R +15; W +14 | Speed 25 ft. | Init +6 | Perc +28
Isu Greelax Zyte wrote:
"Very good. Know this, if you see us again, we will kill you. This one's mercy is feeling stretched to the limit but this one is trying to be a good friend to Arcalinte Soter."
"Thank you, Isu. You've made Sarenrae proud...and me too."
Returning to your own ship with new information and a lead on Jangly's treasure hoard, Jelico fires up the thrusters and heads toward the jungle moon. As you approach it, you see the moon frankly overflows with life. A thick, cloudy atmosphere opens up every so often to reveal blues and greens, large oceans and sizable continents. A few quick scans from the computer savvy members of the group reveal that scattered all over the planet are technomagical antennae emitting some kind of atmosphere maintaining field. Essentially, it appears that the moon's life-supporting state is maintained artificially, even after all these years.
Your scanners also reveal a number of ruins scattered across the planetoid's surface - ancient structures of metal and ceramic that appear to be thousands of years old. Thanks to Jangly's information, you're able to focus your attention on a particular ruin and recognize that the central building is still intact! Additionally, a nearby landing pad is still in good enough shape that you can land your ship there. As you get closer, the scans pick up curled, wave-like mountain ranges, undulating jungles, stampedes of wild, horned quadrapeds, and flocks of bright, double-headed birds.
Descending through the atmosphere proves surprisingly difficult, even for a pilot as skilled as Jelico. Strange gravitational fluctuations send the Sunrise Maiden tipping and plunging with almost no warning, and its all Jelico can do to keep the ship moving at about the right pace. You slam into the landing pad with a jarring impact, but no damage to the ship.
Looking out from the ship's viewscreen, you can see a dead, charred gap in the jungle. A clear sign that someone, or a group of someones, carved themselves a path to the central control building half a mile away.
I'll pause here a moment to give you guys a chance to prep.
"How come everytime we land, we are so far away from where we are going? You would think the universe is out to get us." complains Isu as he secures his power armor, activates his environmental controls, and steps outside.
He checks his onboard computer system to see what the oxygen and temperature levels are out here.
Male Half-Elf Solarian 19 | SP 169/169 HP 139/139 RP 11/11 | EAC 35(37) KAC 36(38); DR 5/- Resist Fire 15 | F +15; R +15; W +14 | Speed 25 ft. | Init +6 | Perc +28
"And at least we have experience on our side this time. Compared to Castrovel this should be relatively easy...We should, of course, be wary of any more 'surprises' they've laid for us. Remember that crazy shirren sniper who stayed behind to lead hostile wildlife to attack us?"
Arcalinte leads the way, carefully proceeding to avoid attracting attention and keeping his eyes and ears open.
Spec's last minute scan turns up plenty of pings of movement and life, but nothing that seems like it could be immediately hazardous.
With the benefit of life bubble and your environmental seals, you step out of your ship and begin the trek through the charred jungle path. As you travel, you hear screams and howls in the distance from the local fauna. While these sounds at first seem like exclamations of pain, you soon realize that their ubiquity suggests them to be part of the normal ecosystem. Although Arc manages to move very stealthily ahead, the rest of you experience local carnivorous plants reaching out to grab you with green tendrils. With your skills and equipment however, these are easily avoided.
After ten minutes of hiking, you begin seeing the first glimpses of the large building you earlier spied from above - the Kishalee Control Center. However, just as its in your sights, Arc turns around and notices a flash of black and red in the sky above.
A human figure descends, floating through the air without any obvious means of propulsion. Red lightning crackles from its eyes and sizzles from its skin. It raises its hands toward you, and fanged mouths open on its palms. Though its very human-like mouth on its face doesn't open, an oppressive aura of hatred flows from it.
----
With Arc's warning, not only is its surprise attack thwarted, but you're all able to go first!
(I didn't see anyone mentioning they wanted to rest after the fight with Jangly, but you had ample opportunity to on the flight to the moon. BTW, Mysticism if you want to identify this fella.)
|||| STATUS ||||
Jelico
Spec
Isu
Arc
Ted
??? Red Lightning Man (currently floating 50ft above the ground)
Not knowing what this is, but seeing its aggression, Isu does what he does best and get in its way. He moves forward and then uses the weapon installed in his suit to shoot up into the air.
Indeed Isu doesn't recognize what kind of creature this is, and his artillery laser lances through a line of thorny plants without coming close to striking the floating figure.
Looks like the weekend was pretty busy for folks.
|||| INIT ||||
Jelico
Spec
Isu
Arc
Ted
??? Red Lightning Man (currently floating 50ft above the ground)
Male Human Technomancer 12 Dataphiles | SP 84 HP 64 RP 10/11 | EAC 28 KAC 29 CMAC 37 CMD 29 CMB +9 | Kinetic DR 5/- | F+6 R+10 W+11 | Init+6 | Perc+3 | 1st 1/6 2nd 0/6 3rd 0/5 4th 0/4 Cache 0/1
Ted moves to cover and fires.
Hailstorm class Zero Pistol:1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 10 - 2 = 23 damage (cold):2d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 2) + 4 = 12 Took a -2 for range increment since the pistol has a range of 60' and the thing is 50' in the air. Mystic strike makes it a magic weapon
Male Human Mystic 12 | 76/76 HP, 97/97 SP, 9/9 RP | Init +3 |Perception +25 | EAC 22, KAC 23 | F +7, R +8, W +12 | Spells/Day Left: oo/6/5/2/3/0/0
Jellico moves up, closer to Isu to try and get a better look at this figure.
Mysticism:1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22
Drawing his pistol as he moves, he takes a shot at it as it floats in the air.
Zero Pistol Frostbite-Class hit:1d20 + 5 + 3 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 3 + 1 - 2 = 19 Zero Pistol Frostbite-Classl damage:1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Male Half-Elf Solarian 19 | SP 169/169 HP 139/139 RP 11/11 | EAC 35(37) KAC 36(38); DR 5/- Resist Fire 15 | F +15; R +15; W +14 | Speed 25 ft. | Init +6 | Perc +28
"Really need to invest in a force pack." Arcalinte mutters as he rejoins the group, unhooks his starknife and wings it at the strange entity.
Though both Jelico and Ted recognize that this is some kind of outsider, its Ted that realizes this is an Atrocite. These creatures are beings of destructive malevolence, direct agents of the Devourer itself, sent from some outer realm into the material to physically remove obstructions to the universe's unmaking. While you don't know too much about them, you do know that they are more capable of shielding themselves from energy (their EAC is higher) and they have potent magic at their disposal, including the ability to throw bolts of crushing gravity.
You send a volley of fire into the air at the atrocite, with only Spec and Ted's attacks connecting. Thankfully it doesn't appear to be resistant to either of their weapons, staggering slightly under the assault. It turns its hand-mouths toward your team and the red lightning around it begins to emit hazy smoke.
Suddenly, the gravity around you turns wild, pulling you in every direction at once and attempting to tear you apart!
All of you are slammed into the ground as the gravitational vortex tears at you. (Ted, Spec and Jelico take 13 bludgeoning, Arc takes 8, Isu 5. Everyone's prone) The gravitational twists lose their initial intensity, but linger in the area. (Everything within the red area is treated as difficult terrain regardless of movement type. Luckily, there's no more damage even if you remain in the area)
Male Human Technomancer 12 Dataphiles | SP 84 HP 64 RP 10/11 | EAC 28 KAC 29 CMAC 37 CMD 29 CMB +9 | Kinetic DR 5/- | F+6 R+10 W+11 | Init+6 | Perc+3 | 1st 1/6 2nd 0/6 3rd 0/5 4th 0/4 Cache 0/1
Ted remains on the ground +4 AC vs ranged!, fires on the outsider, and crawls behind cover.
Hailstorm class Zero Pistol:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15 damage (cold):2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 6) + 4 = 11 mystic strike makes it a magic weapon
Math time! ted is 25' away on the ground, the creature is 50' in the air: pythagorean theory says the hypotenuse distance is the square root of (25 * 25 + 50 * 50) = 55.90'! That's within the Ted's range increment! so no -2 to his attack, but got a lousy roll :(
1-10 General — Bleed 1d6bleed:1d6 ⇒ 3 11-13 Eye (sensory) Ref Lost eye, -2 Perception 14-15 Leg (mobility) Fort Severed limb, -10 land speed 16-17 Arm (manipulation) Ref Severed limb, lose a hand 18-19 Vital organ Fort 1d4 Con damage 20 Brain Fort Stunned 1 round
Male Half-Elf Solarian 19 | SP 169/169 HP 139/139 RP 11/11 | EAC 35(37) KAC 36(38); DR 5/- Resist Fire 15 | F +15; R +15; W +14 | Speed 25 ft. | Init +6 | Perc +28
"I can, but I need more time to gather the gravitic energy!" Arcalinte replies, stepping out of the field of gravity and running further towards the atrocite, throwing his weapon again.
I will note, if a creature is flying above you, I don't generally give the +4 to AC for being prone (which is intended to simulate the fact that you have a smaller profile while flat on the ground. This round, I'm letting you guys have the AC bonus because its a deviation from the expected rules. @Arc: I'm going to assume you instead took a move action to stand, since you wouldn't have been able to run and attack. Spec crit:3d12 + 9 ⇒ (5, 4, 11) + 9 = 29
Up in the air, the floating atrocite takes direct hits from Isu and Spec, weapons fire burning holes through its body. Despite several gaping, bleeding wounds, it shows no signs of slowing down. Ted and Arc's attacks fall short of connecting.
The atrocite's palms emit echoing howls and twin pinpricks of void fire down at your team. One aimed at Isu connects, phasing through his armor to deliver a gravitic crush to his internal organs. (Deals 19 force damage) The second narrowly misses Spec.
The atrocite loses some elevation, its billowing cloud of lightning and smoke getting weaker.
Male Half-Elf Solarian 19 | SP 169/169 HP 139/139 RP 11/11 | EAC 35(37) KAC 36(38); DR 5/- Resist Fire 15 | F +15; R +15; W +14 | Speed 25 ft. | Init +6 | Perc +28
Darnit, I just realized it's too far away for my powers to reach it! Black Hole only reaches creatures 20 ft. away and Crush only reaches things 30 ft. away. Between the 40 ft in the air and how far it is from my position I can't do anything to hurt it! I hate flying stuff. >:(
A pair of shooting stars pummel the atrocite, despite its attempt to thwart their approach by wreathing itself in red lightning. It powers through the psychic attack with only minimal mental injury, then dodges Spec's lance of plasma by a hair's breadth.
With multiple holes punctured through it and other visible wounds from your attacks, it seems the atrocite is barely holding itself together.
Male Half-Elf Solarian 19 | SP 169/169 HP 139/139 RP 11/11 | EAC 35(37) KAC 36(38); DR 5/- Resist Fire 15 | F +15; R +15; W +14 | Speed 25 ft. | Init +6 | Perc +28
Annoyed, Arcalinte stands and claps his hands together.
"ENOUGH!"
Then he parts his hands, and the very air splits as if he's opening a door, revealing a path of bright streaks of light spiraling into a dark central void. Then he looks beneath their enemy and a similar door seems to open there.
Zenith Revelation: Wormholes!
"Follow if you wish, I'm going to try and close with it!" Arcalinte says as he dashes in, popping out the other side beneath the atrocite.
Then he hurls his starknife at the creature again, now much closer, and when it reaches the end of its flight, it vanishes and reappears in his hand, ready to throw again!
An artillery laser beam blazes through the atrocite's chest moments before a spinning starknife cleaves its head clear off its shoulders. The smoke and lightning surrounding it writhe and twist as it releases an unearthly scream from its open palms. Its body begins drifting down toward the ground, but it dissolves as it drops, turning into grey fog. And even that fog and lightning fade back to the reality it came from, leaving you alone in the jungle once more!
With the atrocite gone, you're able to advance the rest of the way toward the kishalee control center. The jungle foliage parts and the building ahead is clear to see. The area directly around the building is badly scorched, most likely the result of a large explosion that has blasted a hole through the near wall of the one-story control center.
Even from a distance, the sounds of cruel laughter can be heard from inside. However, you don't have line of sight on the source of the laughter from this far away.
Map updated. You guys are currently not on the map, but instead a hundred feet or so to the west.
Male Human Mystic 12 | 76/76 HP, 97/97 SP, 9/9 RP | Init +3 |Perception +25 | EAC 22, KAC 23 | F +7, R +8, W +12 | Spells/Day Left: oo/6/5/2/3/0/0
Jellico furrows his brow. "More laughing. That's just what we need. Do we go in, guns blazing? Or does someone want to sneak up and get they lay of the land first?"
Male Half-Elf Solarian 19 | SP 169/169 HP 139/139 RP 11/11 | EAC 35(37) KAC 36(38); DR 5/- Resist Fire 15 | F +15; R +15; W +14 | Speed 25 ft. | Init +6 | Perc +28
"All too easy," Arcalinte replies, activating the inlay of his armor, the scales shimmering for a moment before he vanishes from sight. He begins to scout ahead, literally invisible but for his footsteps.
Up close, Arc sees that the bunker-like control building has been constructed of primarily the strange, long-lasting metallo-ceramic material all so common back in Istamak. Jungle plants festoon the exterior surface, and you can see location where curious alien creatures have attempted to claw or gnaw on the building's corners. The large blast hole directly ahead though is the only piece of major damage.
Secure in his invisibility, Arc moves forwards and sees the remains of a wrecked lobby area. The warped pieces of a large double door lie broken on the floor in the middle of this place, while a few bizarre looking chairs and couches sit mangled against the northern wall. Two short sets of steps lead up to a raised section of the room, from which a double door exits to the north. A smaller door to the southeast sits open, revealing an empty closet.
Three Devourer cultists, their armor covered in wild red scrawl, stand in the eastern half of the room, laughing as they slowly torture a native animal. The small beast is a furry, three-legged creature with a long neck and a pale, spherical head. It is currently letting out pulses of light and steam from its head, likely evidence of its distress.
None of the cultists notice Arc. Even if he wasn't invisible, they're rather engrossed in torturing the animal.
Male Half-Elf Solarian 19 | SP 169/169 HP 139/139 RP 11/11 | EAC 35(37) KAC 36(38); DR 5/- Resist Fire 15 | F +15; R +15; W +14 | Speed 25 ft. | Init +6 | Perc +28
Arcalinte retreats and reappears among the team again.
"Only one way in, and I suspect they made it. There's three cultists inside who SHOULD be standing guard, but they found some local wildlife and decided to torture it for fun. We should be able to get the drop on them easily," he reports.
Isu looks up from checking the coordinates. "The..."treasure" is just on the other side of the building. And as they inflict pain on an innocent creature..and laugh about it...The best way to the other side is through!"
Isu flicks his hand and pops Xavra out of his palm. Lofting the sword aloft, he begins to thunder forward to engage these bastards.
Male Half-Elf Solarian 19 | SP 169/169 HP 139/139 RP 11/11 | EAC 35(37) KAC 36(38); DR 5/- Resist Fire 15 | F +15; R +15; W +14 | Speed 25 ft. | Init +6 | Perc +28
"Probably more further in. We best be prepared if they call their friends for help, though knowing their callousness, they might find it amusing to let the lowest-ranking people who they assigned to watch the front door die."
Droid Outlaw Mechanic 12 | SP 108/108 HP 76/76 RP 11/11 | EAC 28 KAC 30; | F +11; R +16; W +6 | Init +8 | Perc +16 | Conqueror (white star-class): +16 (3d12+12 E&F)
Spectre's head swivels toward Ted. "It pleases me that you remain focused on obtaining the treasure. Let us fight our way through this group and I am sure we will find it soon enough."
