Combined slashes and energy blasts from Isu, Ted and Spec are more than enough reduce the blue ellicoth to a charred heap, at which point Spec is able to send his remaining attack right into the blue ellicoth's face to join Jelico's volley of missiles. Although Arc's first two slashes fall short, his third cuts into the beast's tentacle legs.
The red ellicoth strikes back against Arc, flailing its tentacles in an attempt to crush him. Only one blow manages to get through his defenses, bruising him, but not otherwise seriously injuring the solarian. (18 dmg after DR) The yellow ellicoth lumbers closer to the train car and reaches in through the window to slam a tentacle into Jelico. (24 dmg)
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 Arcalinte joines in as well, hoping to finish the creature off.
Although Ted and Isu's attacks glance off the ellicoth's radioactive hide, Arc and Spec manage to deliver a fiery slash and blast into its slightly softer underside. The ellicoth wavers, but stays standing for now.
It reaches for Arc with its tentacles, trying to slam him into the ground. Although he guards against one tentacle, a second strikes him from the side. (dealing 24 damage after DR). Meanwhile, the yellow ellicoth continues trying to force more of its limbs into the lead train car in an effort to reduce Jelico into an easily absorbable paste. His armor dissipates one of the blows, but a second tentacle strikes him in the chest. (Dealing 18 dmg)
Isu severs a trio of tentacles, finishing off the beleaguered red ellicoth. On the other side of the train, Ted lands a disruptive pulse, while Spec's plasma blasts narrowly miss the beast, despite its inability to see him.
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 turns back as the ellicoth falls and ZOOMS through the tram, past Spectre and Ted, to slam into the final ellicoth like a comet!
The yellow ellicoth catches Arc with a tentacle as he zooms in, but the blow isn't enough to take him off his intended path. (Takes 20 dmg after DR) He collides with a fiery bang, knocking the massive beast back several feet and burning it lightly. Twin volleys from Jelico impact its eyes.
The final ellicoth tries to crush between two of its tentacles. He deflects one with his blade, but the second slams into him from the side. (22 dmg after DR)
Getting knocked back means that it provoked an AoO from Arc also.
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 attempts to follow through on the momentum of his attack with a flurry of shining cuts!
While Ted and Spec deliver a hail of weapons fire that glances off the ellicoth's tough, radiation-resistant hide, Arc lays into the beast with a flurry of slashes. His opportunity attack narrowly falls of target, as does his next blazing attack. His final slash plunges deep into the ellicoth's underside, but the powerful blow isn't enough to bring the monster down.
Laser fire from Isu and Jelico glances off the towering be-tentacled beast. Its accumulated wounds induce a panic in the beast. It bellows as it flees for a corner of the station.
Life Science DC20; Interpreting the ellicoth's behavior:
This particular ellicoth looks to have been starved and then driven by its collar to attack you. It likely has no particular drive to fight to the death and you may be able to leave it alone if you don't harm it further.
As Spectre's shots narrowly miss due to Ted's interference, the colossal beast attempts to make itself smaller in the corner.
Combat Over! If you'd like to finish it off, you can certainly do so.
Looking around the station, the sweeping staircases lead to what is likely the quarters of various lower tier officers. However, the massive, ostentatious doors toward the fore of the ship are a clear indication of where the bridge lies.
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 is confused initially by Ted's words but once they sink in his expression shifts to stunned regret almost immediately.
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 kneels and takes some time to recover as well.
Taking ten minutes as well.
Then he rises and approaches the wounded ellicoth slowly, with his weapon sheathed.
The ellicoth's fear and hostility is not much reduced after 10 minutes. As Arc approaches, it bares its tentacles in a decidedly defensive manner, though you get the sense that approaching too close will only earn a beating. (If you'd like to do anything to calm it, you'll need survival. Up to you if you think that's worthwhile at the time.)
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 tries to make himself seem smaller and more harmless to the ellicoth.
Wisdom:1d20 + 0 ⇒ (3) + 0 = 3
He quickly decides that that's not a possibility given he smashed into the poor thing while on fire, and backs up quickly.
"Do any of you wanna try and calm this poor thing down?" he asks to the others.
We can retroactively do something with the ellicoth if you like, in the mean time...
After Jelico and Arc rest, you head up the stairs and forward into the Command deck proper. The empty halls of the deck are lined with ornate metal inlay that glints in the lights of your armor as you stride ahead. Along the hall, doors open to less important meeting rooms, offices for low level officers, and various chambers seemingly designed for some arcane rituals. Most are empty, and the few officers and staff that you come across are easy to dispatch before they can get away or raise further alarm. For the most part, the Command deck is sparsely populated during your thirty minute hustle through the corridors.
You advance up another set of stairs and the main artery through the Command deck opens up to an open pair of doors. The large room beyond has double doors centered in the fore and aft walls. Two large computer consoles flank the fore door. Ten-foot-wide raised platforms with metal railings run along the port and starboard walls, each with an exit out of the room. Four large display cases made of a clear material stand evenly spaced in the center of the room. Each case contains a different item under a harsh white spotlight: a red-and-gold spear, a humanoid skull and spine, a desiccated severed hand with a gem embedded in the palm, and a spacesuit helmet with swirling red mist within it and blood spattered on the inside of the visor. The whole room as the feel of a museum.
Map updated. See handouts for a pic too.
Three perfectly still humanoids dressed in tattered rags stand within this room, each one standing on one leg while the rest of his limbs are unnaturally twisted and contorted. Their hollow, sunken eyes stare unblinkingly at your team as you enter. One by one, they intone.
"As we three have foreseen in the stars," "So it has come to pass in the earth." "The last delicate gasp awaits."
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's eyes widen at the treasures in the room before being addressed by their guardians.
"How has your Cycle become so twisted, both in body and soul?!" he exclaims.
The three undead monks speak in unison "Let life end." as a dark, rippling aura surrounds each one.
The blue monk extends a hand toward Arc and waves of gravitational energy attempt to Arc's weapon from his grasp. Luckily, Arc retains his grip as the surge ebbs. The red and yellow monks instead make hungry, grasping movements toward your group, attempting to draw the air from your lungs. Isu, caught directly in the middle between the two, is caught by both monks. Spec, as an unbreathing android, is not affected.
Isu and Arc feel themselves grow lightheaded, becoming fatigued for 1d4 ⇒ 4 minutes.
Fatigue reminder:
You can neither run nor charge, and you take a –1 penalty to your Armor Class, attack rolls, melee damage rolls, thrown weapon damage rolls that add Strength to damage, Reflex saving throws, initiative checks, and Strength- and Dexterity-based skill and ability checks. The amount of bulk you can carry without becoming encumbered is reduced by 1. If you are already fatigued and would gain the fatigued condition, you lose the fatigued condition and are exhausted for the total duration of all fatiguing effects. After 8 hours of complete rest, you are no longer fatigued.
|||| INIT ||||
Arc (fatigued)
Isu (fatigued, 3 dmg)
Jelico
Ted
Spec
Blue Kurobozu
Red Kurobozu
Yellow Kurobozu
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 thinks on what these things they're facing could possibly be.
Ted's rifle sends a ripple through the blue monk, breaking the surface of its undead flesh. Meanwhile, Jelico's spell infuses the group with extra speed.
Arc recognizes the creatures as kurobozu, a type of undead also known as black monks. These undead rise when a member of a religious or spiritual order violate their tenets in ways that create great suffering, both for themselves and others. They are resistant to frost and fire, possess a strong will, and are capable of manipulating gravity - crushing throats and lungs, drawing foes and objects closer to them, and leap through the air. Up close, they can cloud the minds of their victims when they strike them.
|||| INIT ||||
Arc (fatigued)
Isu (fatigued, 3 dmg)
Jelico
Ted
Spec
Blue Kurobozu (13 dmg)
Red Kurobozu
Yellow Kurobozu
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
"Kurobozu! They can cloud your minds if they strike you and they're resistant to fire and cold!" Arcalinte explains as he drags himself towards Isu, hoping to take at least one of the black monks down before their foul magics hurt them further.
Though the blue monk manages to dodge Isu's swing, a blast of plasma and two powerful slashes from Arc tear holes through the creature. It seems to hold its body together through sheer force of will.
The blue monk twists even further in upon himself before springing forward to deliver a blindingly quick flurry of strikes with his palms. Two blows impact the center of Arc's chest (Dealing 9 and 13 dmg after DR). Arc feels a strange stillness seeping through him and rising up to his head, but he overcomes it before it can debilitate him.
Arc Fort:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Meanwhile the other two monks advance along the balcony and focus their gravitic powers on Ted and Jelico, attempting to crush them under the weight of gravity.
Though Ted resists the crush, Jelico feels his body struggling to function. (You're staggered. At the end of each of your turns, you can make a new Fort save vs. DC18 to end the stagger early)
