GM Bugman's SFS #1-03 Yesteryear's Truth (Inactive)

Game Master McBugman

Thorval will take the rifle, if no one else wants it. He bows to the Ghibrani that presents it.

"Tolmu, ask them why this one is so different than they are?"

Builder would back off if the Orc made a move towards the offer.

Actually, Ryu would also like the rifle. I suggest a simple d20 roll. Highest gets it? That way all who would like it has a fair chance to get it.1d20 ⇒ 19

Ryu inspects the weapon as one accustomed to such things. "Quite a lovely piece of work. you make these here?"
"And these are some of the drink you were talking about before? Thank you. We will use these judiciously."

"Good question Thorval." answers Tolmu, who then turns and asks "Why are there so many differences between those of your species who live in the city and those who live without? Why do some of your kind live within the safety of the force field while others live without?"

Many generations ago, after the war, a faction of my people received protection from a divine power named Mother Touloo. They struck out into the wastelands at their deity’s behest. In doing so, they eventually lost the use of their wings. These ‘husks,’ as we call them, are those you followed out in the wasteland," she says with a gesture back out of the city. “Those of us who retained the power of flight are known as ‘membranes’ by these people. We live within this city, Arkeost.”

"What else can you tell us of Mother Touloo?"

"Also, I noticed you were injured before. Can I ask what happened?"

"Long ago Mother Touloo promised salvation to those ghibranis who gave up the comforts of civilization. The Husks out in the waste land consider themselves the children of Touloo, but that was long ago. I do not know much more.." Looking at her healed wounds she nods, "Yes, due to a case of wanderlust I have been exploring outside the city. Unfortunately I stumbled into a tangle of soarnettles. I was lucky to be found by those kind husks, who bandaged my wounds and gave me a place to spend the night."

Most of the ghibrani citizens around you stop what they are doing and stare at your group as you walk with Klarima. In short order, a contingent of ghibranis wearing formal armor and carrying weapons that look like taclashes flutter down to confront you. Klarima steps forward, "There is no need to be hostile or alarmed, these are my guests." The armed contingent shift uncomfortably.

sense motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 4

Ryu makes sure to keep his hands away from his weapons.

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 3

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

"So, fellas, how is it going? We ain't here to cause any harm." says the half-orc. "We're just here to learn about your city. In a good way, of course." He gives a big, toothy smile.

He then realizes that they can't understand him, and turns to Tolmu. "Can you translate that? They ain't too comfortable with those weapons, by the way. Pretty sure they ain't ready to really fight."

Klarima talks a bit more to the guard and then turns to those who she can communicate with, "Good news! You are going to be allowed to speak to the Most Elevated! Follow me and don't mind them, they'll fall inline with us now harmlessly." The group of soldiers flank your groups sides and rear.

You all head towards the tallest, fanciest building in the center of the city. The guards flit their wings and fly toward an opening in the structure 40 feet off the ground. Klarima appears to be about to do the same, when she suddenly realizes that you probably don’t have the ability to fly. Using her datapad, she summons forth a table-sized hovering drone for each of you. These drones are clearly meant to only haul cargo and have no real safety measures for carrying living creatures. The five platforms hover in front of you with a soft hum.

Tolmu climbs on one and goes to one knee.

BTW, Ryu can have the gun. Thorval is more a fists kind of guy. Maybe a little explody, too.

Thorval immediately jumps on to one of the platforms, and then starts doing push ups on it. Just to make sure that they are safe.

sense motive: -2 + 1d20 ⇒ -2 + (16) = 14

Ryu nods his understanding. "The Most Elevated? Is that an individual or a governing body? What is the proper way to show our respect? What is the correct form of address?" Ryu follows the others onto the lift.

As people step onto the platforms they begin to raise up and carry you to the ledge above. To Ryu, Klarima simply smiles. The guards continue to usher you forward, leading to a large central chamber with vaulted ceilings. A large table occupies one end of the room, behind which sit five membrane ghibranis dressed in elaborate robes. They stand and bow to you. "Please, let those of you who do not speak ghibrani know that we can bestow understanding upon them." Everyone is then offered a chair.

Klarima conveys that you are from another world and this council nods while exchanging looks. "Tell us of where you are from, how did you arrive here?"

Builder walks up to the platform and crouches to look at the workmanship, then slowly walks around it until they see an access panel.

With a quick tap behind their ear they produce a fine screwdriver an lean in to open the panel, that is about the time Builder notices that the rest of the team has climbed on their platforms and they follow suit.

When the question about speaking ghibrani is asked Builder meekly raises a hand.

Thorval will gladly accept the ability to speak Ghibrani.

"We're from SPAAAAACE!" Thorval says, waving his hands dramatically. "The Pact Worlds, to be specific. A long way from here! We came in a SPAAACE SHIP!" Again, he waves his hands.

In Common Builder asks "Do we tell them about the battle with the orbital guardian?"
Suddenly something new occurs to Builder. "Frak, we are trapped on this bug planet!"

Tolmu bows, then sits down. "My name is Tolmu. My companions and I are from a group of explorers called the Starfinder Society. We live in a world sized space station called Absalon Station in a what we call the Gloarian system. We traveled here on a ship over many days to explore this world. We seek to find information about new species, intelligent and not, as well as the civilizations that exist on these worlds to extend possible trade and to expand knowledge to all."

dipllomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

The council members are the ghibrani equivalent of wide-eyed as Thorval dramatizes the fact that you are all from SPACE. Listening to Tolmu several of the members nod, "Tolmu, I am Council Galkrad. Welcome, and thank you. Trade and knowledge of all that is out in this Space interests us greatly. We are the Ghibrani, our race is the only intelligence to survive the invisible fire of long ago, the Husks and us Membranes."

A gentle tone rings throughout the room, interrupting the Council Member. Klarima visibly perks up. "Dinner!" she explains. "It feels like ages since I’ve had a proper meal." The guards, who had been standing at attention near the door to this room, pull chairs up to the table and a handful of hovering drones enter from previously hidden hatches in the walls. The drones place ceramic plates and utensils in front of each person; the utensil each person receives is a flat piece of metal with a slight indent at one end—almost like a spoon. Each person is then given a serving of a thick, light tan liquid in which floats irregular chunks of protein. The food has a smoky, cheesy odor. As the ghibranis begin scooping up their meals, Klarima explains, "This is a traditional dinner of kahlgee," But the word that doesn’t really translate into Common. It looks very unappetizing.

Ryu is a soldier. He is accustomed to eating unappetizing food. He tries to copy the ghibrani's manner of eating as he scoops up a generous portion of food.

Just in case. Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Data enjoys.

"You are most gracious."

Tolmu joins in with the dinner.

Thorval sees food, and eats same.

Just in case
fort save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

"Had worse." he says in common.

what are you waiting for, fort saves from everyone? fort: 1 + 2 + 1d20 ⇒ 1 + 2 + (20) = 23 androids, +2 against poison

Many apologies for this delay, a lot happened while moving that we did not expect. We can try to wrap this up this week if that's what everyone is interested in.

Trying your best to force down the food, it is hard not to spit the awful stuff back up. Luckily, halfway through the diner the power suddenly goes out. Just moments later it comes back on, but the ghibranis seem not barely notice. "The Mainframe acts up occasionally, but it always self-corrects after a few seconds," one of them says nonchalantly. Almost on queue, another dinner chime rings once again and is followed by drones placing clean plates on top of the dirty ones and inaccurately squirting kahlgee across the table. The ghibranis smile awkwardly and attempt to act as if nothing is amiss,
although no one eats a second time.

"This happens a lot?" asks Thorval, as he cleans kahlgee off of his armor. "Why don't you just fix the Mainframe?"

The council seems somewhat embarrassed but one speaks up, "Well, you don't need to, we're getting by just fine, but if you insist, being from the stars and all.. Klarima, could you escort them to the Mainframe?"

Doing just so, Klarima brings you to a building near the outskirts of Arkeost, on the opposite side of the city from where you entered. There is an increased concentration of drones and other hovering robots in this neighborhood, though none seem to pay any attention to your group. A large doorway leads into the structure and a ramp descends a bit into open garage-like space where thousands of drones are stored. Many are powered down and others are being repaired by other drones, leaving you to walk through patches of dead silence followed by stretches of frantic activity as you descended on curving ramps farther and farther below. There are several signs in Ghibrani that read “Taboo Area,” “Keep Out,” and other warnings with similarly grave images to accentuate the point. Eventually, the Klarima stops before a hallway that branches off from the garages. "In there. It is a holy site and I don't wish to enter, but the Most Elevated have given you their blessing. Good luck, and be careful."

The hallway before you eventually opens into a rectangular room of white plastic, a stark contrast to the smoky, grease-stained garages that led up to this place. Fans whir quietly overhead. Track lighting along the floor illuminates much of the chamber. Several white coveralls hang on the wall behind a bench to the north. A door leads to the east.

Map updated

Tolmu casts Detect Magic and peers into the room...

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Builder walks over to inspect the coveralls, do they look like they would fit over Builders armor?

Data moves up, given he can see in the dark, it might actually be dark in there and we need someone with darkvision to move forward

As Data moves up, Throval gives him a look, like he's the one that belongs on point. He then shrugs, and goes to look at the coveralls.

Builder and Thorval see that the coveralls were designed for ghibrani anatomy, though they definitely could be stretched onto any humanoid body.

Will instead move to the back after given the look. Rogue go first

"First rule of the server room, wear the proper PPE"

Builder grabs a set of coveralls and begins to pull them on.

"What's PPE?" asks Thorval, as he copies Builder-42's actions. "These sorta fit funny. You sure they's necessary?"

"And, Data... who's a rogue what?"

"Personal Protection Equipment. In this case I suspect the coveralls are for the protection of the servers. Static is a killer in the server room, Well not literally. Soon that will be you"

'I think that was a joke'

"Well, I can keep my solarian crystal turned off, for now. But if we're attacked, I cannot promise anything." says Thorval.

Other than the coveralls, there is nothing else to note of in the room.

Tolmu puts on a set of coveralls, then casts Token Spell to cause his coveralls to emit Light.

Light as dim light, 30' radius

"Thorval, would you be so kind as to open the door?" says Tolmu as he draws his Azimuth Laser Pistol.

"uh, sure." says Thorval. He moves up and looks at the door to see how to open it, and then opens it (assuming he figures it out).

Ryu follows. He has his Huthket Rifle in hand but not at the ready.

Builder has a very hard time taking a e-weapon into the server environment. but decides to trust his companions and swaps a fresh battery into the his rifle.

As Thorval touches the door an electrical arc explodes from the surface, jolting the half-orc!
Reflex DC 12: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Taking full damage of: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 6) = 15

"Well now, that looked painful. Let me heal that for you."

Tolmu moves forward and casts Mystic Cure on Thorval...

Mystic Cure vs. Thorval: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

...and again...

Mystic Cure vs. Thorval: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Thorval took no hp damage, so mystic cure won't help

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL!!" bellows out the half-orc, as electricity arcs through his body. Smoking, he runs up to Tomlu, "Dude, did you just set me up for that? Why do you hate half-orcs! What did we ever do to you?"

With that, he sits down and pouts. (Taking a 10 minute rest)

Data will attempt to disable the trap engineering: 8 + 1d20 ⇒ 8 + (8) = 16
His computers is also 8, and he has both hacking and engineering kit.
I don't think a 16 will set it off, but I doubt that will do it.
engineering: 8 + 10 = 18 Data is doing this before the 10 rest is taken and takes 10 the 2nd time around if he didn't disable it the first time.

Data tinkers with the arc emitter embedded into the door and feels confident in their work. Taking a short break, Thorval feels rested and ready once again.