Dead Suns AP by GM Cellion (Inactive)

Game Master GM Cellion

Let's see...we don't get additional saves vs. the illusion, correct?

As Spectre seems Sydney looking for other ways into the building, he says "If anyone has a rope, I could use my jump jets to reach higher ground, then the rest could climb up."

Each time you interact with the illusion, or each time you see something that seems incongruous with the illusion (say a PC calling out from inside the illusion), you get a new Will save Spectre.

"Sarenrae! Do not abandon this one!" dice gods, please!

Isu gets a brief reprieve from attack, but he does not relent. Not yet. But he can't attack this creature while looking away. He attacks without hiding his face, ready to accept the consequences!

diamagetic hammer: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 7 - 4 = 181d8 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

diamagetic hammer: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 7 - 4 = 231d8 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
crit and knockdown! extra damage: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Arcalinte blinks in shock when he hears Isu's voice.

Will Save: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 + 4 = 22

And then he realizes the truth of the illusion.

"Get out of there, Isu! he calls. "Sarenrae says 'The best battle is a battle I win! If I die, I can no longer fight! I will fight fairly when the fight is fair, and I will strike quickly and without mercy when it is not!' Get back here, please!"

Looks like we've been missing Solaria for the last week. I'll just bot her to get the Fort save out of the way, then side-line her going forwards.
Solaria Fort; averting eyes: 1d20 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 4 = 11
Lol, not quite yet.

BTW Sydney, much like Spectre, you moved yourself onto the cliff-face. I guess the map isn't very clear. The area to the north and north west of you guys is rather steep cliffs heading upward to the plateau that the temple rests on. The area to your south is steep cliffs heading down the mountain. Directly north of where Solaria is currently standing on the map is a vertical sheer cliff 100ft tall that transitions into the wall of the temple atop it. Hopefully that helps clear it up.
-----

The worm pulls itself up off the rocky path, bewildered at the impact, and shines its faceted eyes around in an attempt to find the source of the danger. (But it fails its save again!) Likely rather spooked by this experience, it retreats cautiously away from the rocky avalanche. Provokes an AoO from Isu.

Spectre looks at the cliffs to the north and northwest and finds that in most areas the temple is abutting the cliffs directly, leaving no space for a jump-jet landing. The best bet appears to be a plateau to the NW (marked w/ a yellow x on Roll20), but even that is 100ft up and almost that far away... his jump jets might have a hard time getting all the way there.

|||| INIT ||||
Ted
Isu (30 dmg)
Sydney
Arc
Solaria (Fort save again next round)
Spectre (7 temp HP)
Ralkawi (nauseated from disease)
??? Worm Creature (36 dmg, provoked AoO from Isu)

Bold are up!

"Isu the undeterrable warrior!" Ted cheers as he moves up beside Arc. He stops concentrating on the illusion and fires a payload of missiles in to the beast.

magic missile full round: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 4, 3) + 3 = 12

The rock illusion will last for two more rounds now that Ted isn't concentrating on it.

Spectre gives up on looking for a place to jump jet to. It's simply too high for him to reach.

Turning back, and with notice that the rockfall is an illusion, his sensors are able to determine that it is a clever overlay, one that easily tricked his programming the first time.

will save: 1d20 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 1 + 4 = 16 Anyone else find it strange that the mechanic is the ONLY character in Starfinder with a weak Will save? Even the soldier, which usually only has Fort going for him, has a strong Will save. It's bizarre to me.

He shoots through the illusion, but it still impairs his aim.

Zero Rifle (frostbite-class) (weapon focus, combat tracking): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 121d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

diamagetic hammer AoO: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 141d8 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11 Isu misses as the beast stands and backs away.

Quite winded, Isu does not pursue immediately, in hopes that his ranged friends can bring the beast down. Instead, he waves his hand over his armor, enchanting it with the power of Sarenrae.

If Isu is hit, he'll dismiss the spell as an immediate action to do this affect: reflective armor: You create a shimmering skin-like coating of mystical force that covers your body, allowing you to reflect damage you take back against your attacker. At any time during this spell’s duration, when you take Hit Point damage from an attack made with a weapon by a foe within 100 feet, you can choose to dismiss the spell as a reaction. If you do, the armor crackles with energy as it disappears, arcing through the air to strike the attacking creature, which takes an amount of force damage equal to the damage dealt to you at the time this spell was dismissed (maximum 10). The target can attempt a Reflex save for half damage. (DC13)

Round 3:

Sydney yo-yos back towards her companions when she realizes they'd rather stay and fight. She attempts to look through Ted's fog so she can fire at her target. Sydney succeeds in looking through the fog, but becomes paralyzed by the worm again!

Ted's Fog - Fort DC14: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Worm Stare - Fort DC 14: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

@Syd: You don't need to attempt new Fort saves after you've succeeded once against the gaze. See this post

Arg, I'm sorry. I'm just not very familiar with concealment and stuff. Does she still need to roll for the fog each turn?

Arcalinte marches into the fog, taking a place beside Isu.

"Let me take the hits for a bit, Isu, your valor's earned you a rest," he says in a low voice, trying not to alert the beast.

I presume I'd need to get closer to get within striking distance?

Photon Mode: 1

Ted sends a trio of force bolts through the air that leave dark green welts across the worm creature's body. It spins from side to side, tormented by its inability to find the source of its agony. Spectre follows with a shot that ripples just to the right of the beast. And unfortunately Isu's opportunistic attack falls far short of impacting the creature as it starts backing up.

Its bewilderment is obvious to all of you, as is the fact that its looking quite injured!

Need new actions from Sydney - and Arc should check out my response to Sydney's questions in discussion. Arc, you can check the map and see where you are with respect to the worm creature. Its location is accurate.

|||| INIT ||||
Ted
Isu (30 dmg)
Sydney
Arc
Solaria (Fort save again next round)
Spectre (7 temp HP)
Ralkawi (nauseated from disease)
??? Worm Creature (48 dmg)

Bold are up!

Round 3:

Sydney yo-yos back towards her companions when she realizes they'd rather stay and fight. As a Swift Action, she take out her Static Arc Pistol as she moves. Tossing it forward into the air and catching it by the handle. She twirls it once in her hand upon catching it and fires: shooting arm crossed above her free arm forming a horizontal X. She calls out loudly: "Why we fighting this thing? Can't we just break a window and sneak in?" One of Sydney's pod racing buddies had a collection of aluminum bats. She wished she had one now. Causing some misdemeanor-level destruction in this backwoods hellhole (infested with cultists) sounded great. Sydney wasn't the least bit interested in the ancient ruins. All she wanted was to get paid and get a gods-d@%& cheeseburger and french fries smothered in hot sauce. Was that too much to ask?

To hit (Arc pistol, static): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 Electric. Critical Arc 2 (jumps to another enemy)
Trick Attack (Acrobatics): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26 DC is equal to 20 + the target’s CR
If DC passes, Sydney deals 1d8 additional damage (level 3) and the target is flat-footed.
Damage (Arc pistol, static): 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 Add 1/2 Level to dmg see Weapon Specialization. Electric.
Trick Attack Bonus Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Botting...
Solaria does her best to shake off the creature's paralyzing gaze.
Solaria Fort, Averting Eyes: 1d20 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 4 = 17
and finally manages to break her body free from the worm's influence. She holds back from drawing attention to herself with a feint or attack, considering how confused the creature is right now.
-
Arc takes up refuge inside the illusion, readying himself in case the worm attacks. (Total defense)
-----

You guys can pursue if you'd like, otherwise this is effectively Out of Combat!

Illusions OP :>
----
|||| Final Status ||||
Ted
Isu (30 dmg)
Sydney
Arc
Solaria
Spectre (7 temp HP)
Ralkawi (nauseated from disease)
??? Worm Creature (56 dmg, fled combat)

Isu pursues, not wanting the creature to heal and then attack them again.

He moves to the east to get a better view, and fires his artillery laser.

artillery laser: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 51d10 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

His shot goes wild and Isu curses.

"Everyone, fire! End it before it can hide and come upon us while sleeping!"

because I would totally do that if I was the GM!

Spectre agrees with Isu, and sends one frosty parting shot at the creature's behind.

"The last thing we need is another malevolent stalker," he drones.

Zero Rifle (frostbite-class) (weapon focus, combat tracking): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 201d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Isu rushes after the creature but finds that it moves fast! He just barely sees its tail disappearing over the landing at the top of the stairs. He sends a laser blast at it for good measure, but the shot is far off the mark. Spectre rushes over to join Isu, but by the time he gets line of sight on the long stone staircase ascending the side of the temple, the worm has already slipped out of sight.

A few seconds later however, the worm lets out a keening cry that can probably be heard all over the plateau. It gurgles, there's the sound of a heavy thump, and then silence.

"Spec, go distract whatever killed that beast so we can sneak by," Ted grins as he makes the rocks jump in the air, pop in to a cloud of pebbles, and blow away on the wind. His top returns, panting from the exertion of creating the illusion.

** spoiler omitted **

Isu rushes after the creature but finds that it moves fast! He just barely sees its tail disappearing over the landing at the top of the stairs. He sends a laser blast at it for good measure, but the shot is far off the mark. Spectre rushes over to join Isu, but by the time he gets line of sight on the long stone staircase ascending the side of the temple, the worm has already slipped out of sight.

A few seconds later however, the worm lets out a keening cry that can probably be heard all over the plateau. It gurgles, there's the sound of a heavy thump, and then silence.

I assume we're not getting XP for that kill...

"Isu, please! Let me take point! You're injured!"

I've never thought we had to KILL something to get XP for it. Defeating an enemy should be sufficient.

Spectre turns toward Ted.

"Your suggestions seem intent on maximizing the probability of my destruction," he says. "I suggest that you distract it. In the meantime, let us enter this structure."

If I find opals again, I'm removing them.

I've never thought we had to KILL something to get XP for it. Defeating an enemy should be sufficient.

But we DIDN'T defeat it. Whoever just shot it up there did.

S-P37 'Spectre' wrote:

I've never thought we had to KILL something to get XP for it. Defeating an enemy should be sufficient.

But we DIDN'T defeat it. Whoever just shot it up there did.

Sure we did! It ran for its life! If anything, whoever got the kill shot on the death's door monster didn't get XP! ;P

Lol you guys. Obviously the stolen kill was enough to level up the fella up top. :P

BTW If you want to take a 10 minute rest before you continue, feel free to indicate with your next post. I'll move us along in the mean time.

You ascend up the stone steps as a group, Arc taking the lead and the rest of the team not too far behind. When you reach the top of the plateau, you're greeted by a beautiful vista - the jungle wreathed mountains of the Singing Range rise in a perfect cascade. On the plateau itself, you see the front side of the temple rising grandly up towards the sky. A set of double doors made of intricately carved red wood are securely closed in the center. In front of the temple is a courtyard that sports a series of weathered stone pillars in a rough semi-circle, each pillar carved with unusual markings - circles and lines interconnecting in a myriad of ways.

(Map updated. I've moved you all up)

The worm monster lies dead in the courtyard, steam rising from an already-cauterized wound that sheared its guts open. A humanoid surveys the corpse and then turns his attention to your group as you approach. The man has blue-grey skin, glowing golden eyes, and elven features. He holds an archaic looking ranseur at the ready, but one that glows brightly with heat and light. His armor seems similarly archaic, featuring metal plates and straps of animal hide rather than the advanced materials of today's equipment. (Pic in handouts)

He raises his free hand as if to warn you or ward you off. Then he intones in a clear voice, speaking in ancient, but still roughly understandable elven. "Im veren cin, glenn- baw goáran gwehe. E fána sohe ú- n- feres. Mihei, a rinn- na i voann cin tul o."

Arcalinte's eyes widen at the sight of this apparent guardian and steps to the front of the group, displaying his solar armor and raising his hands so this sentinel can see them.

"Sídh na cin, tiri-o hi near! Mín ceri-ú-foeg na tul-breged hi. Mín mellon na-hi dan hen anír-na n-lain na hi near. Mín iest na lain hen. Im Arcalinte Soter-o i Tinuferedirs. Cin?"

After pausing 10 minutes to regain his strength, Isu followers Arc up the rest of the stairs.

His eyes widen at the sight of the old elf...thing. That looks like a solarian. He gasps and whisper.

"Arcalinte Soter... could it be? It is you. When you get old you must travel back in time and protect this place. This type of thing happens all the time. I read about it in my favorite graphic novel, "The Adventures of Captain Mustachio and his Merry Band of Drunk Brothers.""

The fellow raises a hand and traces out a symbol, probably religious in the air in front of him before speaking "E feila sorevi -o i elena. Im et Panelliar, anor ech -o i eirkin. Ha na- mui dutui na tiri- hi near dan tuin van etre davara ben mehel mui núr's dona-kei."

"Im feil ú- -o otal gweg cin ped-, ne goah -o lashunta a e coiein etara lui. Im feise hain sui pata -o i tinu-magia, a sebei im abia hain awaui, i leata ceidena a gúl vo polodren a im vo-fore na ceire. Ha maui n- i cín mellon na- ameco hain."

mysticism dc16: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
mysticism dc20 vs symbol: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Ted talks to the other non-elfians in the party, "Don't ever trust the undead. Especially an undead elf." His top bobs in agreement.

Arcalinte rolls his eyes at Ted's words.

"He hasn't attacked us yet, and if we don't pull anything funny I imagine it'll stay that way. His name's Panelliar and he protects this place. He saw the people we're looking for."

He turns back to Panelliar.

"I coiein etara cin saw na-indire i gweg mín're megana an. Tuin lashunta volare hen na tegi-hain hi. Whau ceri-cin foeg cin vo-fore na ceire? Whui did theui ú-destroui cin an beii i te waui?"

To keep things rolling in the short bit of time I have right now:

The undead elf speaks with a hint of regret in his cold, clear voice.

Yeah, the translation thing is getting kinda pesky...

Arcalinte sighs.

He turns back to the group.

"Ted, Isu...He says Tahomen cast a spell on him that forced him to obey him. Can either of you break it with your own magic?"

Spectre isn't happy with the turn of events.

"Is there some other way around that does not require you to break your oath? Time is of the essence."

Spectre isn't happy with the turn of events.

"Is there some other way around that does not require you to break your oath? Time is of the essence."

Arcalinte gives a disappointed look to Spectre, though it's more at the situation than Spectre's perfectly warranted suggestion.

"Spectre, it's not an oath making Panelliar oppose us, it's a magical compulsion. Unless we can break Tahomen's spell, we're going to have to fight him. And I don't think he speaks Galactic Common."

Panelliar nods solemnly.

"Sarenrae has only granted this new healing magicks, at least this one thinks so. It is all so new. Ask the future-Arcalinte-in-the-past how we can break his compulsion. Maybe he will just... tell us?"

"Must we pass through this place?" Spectre asks. "Or might there be a way around?"

Arcalinte rolls his eyes a bit.

"Isu, he's not me from the future. He's...well...was...a full-elf, not a half-elf like me. And he uses a solar weapon. I have solar armor. And he's only speaking in Elven, if he was me from the future, he would have addressed us in Common so we'd understand him. And his name's Panelliar."

He turns back to Panelliar.

Then he looks at the surroundings to see if there's an answer to Spectre's question.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

"Arc-- Arc-- ask yourself if there is a way to break the compulsion. Also, ask him at what point in your life you changed your name, so you know for later."

Panelliar is still for a moment, the only movement the ebb and flow of solar energy from his weapon. After what seems like almost a minute, he intones the verdict.

Arc inspects the area around the building from his vantage point. It seems that Panelliar is bound to guard the entire plaza, including the entry door on this side of the building. There are no other obvious entrances.

Panelliar also offers some useful information.

I'll say OOC, Ted doesn't have Command Undead, so you're not able to magically wrest control away or otherwise break the Command Undead currently affecting him.

Arcalinte sighs.

"It doesn't look like there's any way to get in without getting past Panelliar. And our magic isn't strong enough to break Tahomen's."

He gives Panelliar a sad, but determined, look.

Appropriate theme music!

We do not have the tools. I would imagine 99% of starfinder groups do not have the tools to avoid this fight, because at this low level casters get so few spells, it would be a person concentrating on undead who takes command undead. So we fight!

Isu stretches his neck by moving his head from side to side, hoists his hammer, and regrips his artillery laser, waiting for the fight to begin.

"He wouldn't attack us if we were part of Tahomen's crew, would he?"

"We are sorry for the delay you have caused us. Though we regret that you were unable to resist the magical effect upon you, we have no alternative but to engage you in combat. Perhaps my friends will donate some of their credits in your honor," Spectre says as he activates his shield.

Arcalinte raises his hand behind him at the rest of the party.

"Wait. I may be able to keep from killing him by making the fight a duel. Nothing is more honorable in solarian traditions than testing your connection to the cosmos against another solarian's."

Panelliar hefts his solar polearm and responds to Arc's suggestion.

And assuming Ted's suggestion is relayed to Panelliar, he adds

Looks like two votes to fight and one Ted suggestion. I'll let you guys settle on a course of action before pushing the scene forwards.

"He says he'd be forced to let us pass if he were to believe we were part of Tahomen's band, but I don't see how we're going to make him believe that, considering how honest we've been with him thus far..."

"Perhaps we tell him it was a test, but we were part of their group the entire time. We will tell him he has passed the test, and that the spell should wear off shortly after he lets us through," Spectre says quietly.

"There is no way this one would let you fight a duel, Arcalinte Soter. No. Way. But, I do not care if you try to lie to him."

seriously. duels in pathfinder/startfinder = dead or unconscious PC. Almost always.

"Ralkawi wouldn't have to lie," Ted whispers.

OK, considering that no one is explicitly trying anything else here, I'll assume you guys have chosen to fight your way through. Since we're down Sydney and Solaria, it'll just be the four of you guys and Ralkawi in this fight. It'll be just as challenging as the book intended ;>

The team readies their weapons and for a moment there's just a stare down between your team and the undead elf. He nods to Arc and utters something in his ancient elven tongue, then twirls his weapon into a more combat-ready posture.

|||| INIT ||||
Ted
Panelliar
Arc
Isu
Spectre
Ralkawi

Bold are up!