GM Tarondor's The Pirates of Drinax - Traveller (Inactive)

Game Master Tarondor

I think Steph's player is taking a break, so count on her abilities if necessary, but play through for now.

"Remember we don't know if Ehfyohoikoaleai -is- a traitor. His servants should be left alone if at all possible. Stealth or subterfuge are called for, I think."

"Well, yeah, but just because we are trying to be stealthy, that doesn't mean the maid won't accidentally walk in on us. I like to be prepared."

Daneel thinks a bit, trying to wrap his head around planning a stealthy intrusion, then says to Hteleitoril, "You should head to this guys house. We'll trail you, and stake out the place while you are inside. When your tour heads out, we will make our move."

"When the tour is over, radio us and tell us to get the ship ready. Then if we haven't finished, we'll know to get things wrapped up."

"I was thinking that myself and, possibly, some others should accompany you in the role of retainers or employees," suggests Jerry to Hteleitoril.

"If that would be plausible, of course. It should not be suspicious that your employees are left behind while you tour. We can let the others in while we distract the servants."

Ray, who is pretty sure she looks nothing like a rich guy's servant, nods, clearly assuming she'll be one of those watching and let in after the fact.

I'm fairly good with computers, and I speak and read Aslan. I should be able to get in to the system. I'll work at the house." She makes sure her computer is in her pack.

"What Church people? She asks the Captain." as they are heading off the ship.

"The only significant settlement on Sink is a small monastery from Earth," replies the dockmaster, over the comms. "Those weirdos spend their time sinking things in the deep swampy lakes around their fortress. Wackjobs, all of them."

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Hteleitoril listens to your plan. "Very well. If you think that will work, I will trust to your expertise. I imagine that Ehfyohoikoaleai and I will be busy for an hour or so. But don't count on that. Find me proof, one way or the other, my friends!"

The walk to Ehfyohoikoaleai's estate is long, but very pleasant. The lakes and meadows of Sink are beautiful and the skies are filled with sleek animals that remind you of birds. Frankly, none of you have ever seen so beautiful a landscape outside of holovids. The estate is a large ranch where fat animals wander over close-cropped ground cover.

A large aslan-style house sits atop a stately hill overlooking a serene pond. Tall, bluff walls over hang an open portico that wraps clear around the house while any of the several outbuildings are large enough to house half a dozen noble families back on Drinax.

Who's headed to the house, and who's hanging back, and where?

Ray lets out a whistle. "Nice digs. Guess I know where I'm retiring after we strike it rich." As they approach she looks around for movement, trying to spot a place where there's not much foot traffic or employees wandering around.

Does she see people anywhere? If so, is anywhere free of people and relatively sheltered?

A few aslan are working or moving about the estate. Most of those are also watching your group come up the long walk. However, Ray thinks it might be possible to slip into the tall trees that line the walk and go unnoticed, especially if she waits there until nightfall. Alternately, most of those workers are to the left side of the main house. As she gets close to the main house, she might be able to slip around the house and into the shadows on the right.

Jerry slips into the role of a factotum, albeit one armed with sword and pistol such as may be needed in a lawless place like this. He refers to his computer, not trying to hide the fact that he has the daily itinerary and records of his employer with him.

Much as he did when he was a junion diplomat, he steps quietly into place slightly behind and to the right of Hteleitoril.

He turns to address those who are hanging back, saying loudly, "Stay here - I will summon you if you are required. If possible, I will ask some of the servants to bring water and food out to you."

Wait, I thought I was supposed to hide. Is Jerry talking to Ray? Am I supposed to be some eccentric bodyguard left outside? I prefer the hide in the tall trees plan, but I'm fine with whatever the group plan calls for. Also, I won't be able to post again today and maybe tomorrow, so you might need to bot me to move ahead with the plan.

ARE YOU STILL THERE?

"Ray, do whatever you do. We will try to distract any guards," says Jerry.

"Anyone coming up to the house with me, let's get going. I will try to distract them."

Jerry begins walking towards the house.

The doors open as you approach. An elderly female aslan greets you at the door and speaks to Hteleitoril in Tyokh.

Hteleitoril replies.

She replies.

She leaves. Some time later, an elderly Aslan enters and lifts his arms in greeting.

Eventually, the two agree to go on a walk around the estate and leave by the front door. The woman brings you a tray of raw and half-grilled meats as well as some unusual cheeses and a carafe of some spicy drink.

"I...certain... return." she says in broken Anglic, then departs, leaving you alone in the large central chamber of the house.

Daneel looks at the others, shrugs, and follows Jerry into the house.

Inside, he watches the Aslan woman withdraw, then pours himself a glass of the drink. He sits down and sniffs at the drink before trying it. "Not bad," he says before taking another sip.

As he slowly sips at the drink, he lowers his mental walls and reaches out into the mansion, feeling for the presence and locations of anyone else in the mansion.

Using:

Telepathy + PSI: 2d6 + 0 + 0 ⇒ (5, 6) + 0 + 0 = 11

Byron moves to the door and looks to see if there are any surprises.

Recon+Int: 2d6 + 1 + 0 ⇒ (3, 2) + 1 + 0 = 6

I am looking to see if there would be any alarms or other ways of notifying people that the door is opening once we hear from Daneel. I am not sure if that falls under INT or EDU so I took the worse roll. If its EDU then add +1 to the roll.

Generally, EDU is for knowledge-based skills and INT is for observation-based skills, so it's probably INT. However, I could be convinced that EDU is the right skill for quite a lot if you're not in the heat of combat or some other pressure. So sure. Byron uses his training to run through various types of possible sensors.

Without a "sniffer" or some other form of gear that can sense hidden observation, Byron is limited to things he could observe directly. However, he's pretty sure that he's not under any direct surveillance. There doesn't seem be much in the way of security.

Steph follows Jerry and Hteleitoril into the house and acts as if she doesn't speak Tyokh. If Byron gives the nod she'll move to a door to listen at it. She's trying to hear if there's been a guard left outside the room.

That'd be a RECON+INT roll, unless you have another suggestion.

Byron begins making his way towards what he hopes will be the office.

Recon +Int: 2d6 + 1 + 0 ⇒ (5, 1) + 1 + 0 = 7

Daneel moves to the door through which the woman exited and keeps a lookout. He continues to focus on the other minds nearby, and if any of them approach, he will let the others know that he hears someone coming.

Jerry watches Byron and Daneel leave. "Ah ... time to seek out the washroom, I think."

Jerry exits the room, moving in the direction that the Aslan woman left. He makes no attempt at stealth, instead walking deliberately so that his heels sound on the floor. He calls out in his native tongue.

"Excuse me? Ma'am? Anyone? Do you have facilities suitable for humans? I am afraid that something has disagreed with me."

SOC(+2) + Deception (+2): 2d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2, 2) + 2 + 2 = 8

The aslan woman looks curiously at Jerry for a moment, then nods. "Left at the end of the hall. Can I bring you something?"

No way I'm getting into the particulars of Aslan restroom design!

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Byron slips down the hallway and reaches a room with a solid-looking door. As he is checking it out, he hears a male voice just down the hallway, coming towards you. Quick! Byron needs to do something!

Back! Sorry for the delay on my part. Since everyone went inside, I'll say Ray went with them.

Ray quickly stuffs her face, gorging on half-grilled meats and cheese. After a minute or two she picks up the carafe of spicy drink, pours some out for everyone, then chugs the rest until there's no drink left. She lets out a loud burp, then wipes her mouth, and picks up the jug. "I'll be back," she tells Daneel. Then she walks off down the hallway, peering into each room along the way.

She's not slinking around suspiciously, but she's not being super loud either. Just walking normally, as if she's looking for something. If she happens to run into anyone she waves the carafe at them and asks which way to the kitchen in Anglic.

Byron darts into the room and closes the door as quietly as he can.

Steph peeks out the door to see who is coming down the hallway. She'll get their attention if they are continuing in the direction that Byron went.

Daneel, what are you doing?

Ray, what are you hoping to find?

Byron, the door is locked. What do you do?

Byron swiftly heads back in the hopes of getting out of line of sight before he is spotted.

Daneel remains in the central chamber while the others spread out. He moves around the room, stopping to peer out each of the room's exits in turn.

Ray is looking for a computer room or office where she can direct a friend to snoop around. But, for cover, she's looking for a kitchen.

As Byron darts back into the guest room, Ray wanders the other side of the house and soon smells the pungent aromas of aslan cooking, heavy with spices and the thick smell of animal grease.

An Aslan woman nearly as tall as Ray comes out of the kitchens and sees her. She bows her head respectfully and says in Anglic "Honored Guest, do you require anything we might provide?"

Meanwhile, Byron, you're pretty sure something important is behind the door you found.

Steph, the male aslan you see coming down the hallway is young and while not as big as Hteleitoril, he is still hugely built and intimidating. He regards Steph with mild curiosity, but slowly walks on by and turns down another hallway. The corridor is empty once again.

Ray waves her jug at the lady and smiles. "We're all out. You got anything else?"

After a moment she nods, "Thanks."

As she waits she gawks around curiously, looking like a lost foreigner.

What skill is it to unlock a door? Would Mechanic work for a normal lock?

Mechanic seems like an excellent fit for a simple mechanical lock. Many locks in the modern world of Traveller would require Computers, of course. This one looked like a simple and old-fashioned, if stout, lock.

Ray waves her jug at the lady and smiles. "We're all out. You got anything else?"

After a moment she nods, "Thanks."

As she waits she gawks around curiously, looking like a lost foreigner.

The kitchen is large. Three cooks bustle to create some sort of sauteed meat. The kitchen, like the rest of the house, is done in a rustic style beloved of wealthy aslan, but also contains a number of high-tech food preparation appliances. Despite the abundance of cutlery, Ray doesn't think anything or anyone in here would be a threat to her.

Ray, give me a RECON+INT roll. Steph, do the same.

Recon + Int: 2d6 + 0 + 0 ⇒ (6, 6) + 0 + 0 = 12

Through the open doorway at the far end of the kitchen, Ray happens to catch a glimpse of a bank of monitors - it seems that there is a security station there.

Is there a drink, bar, or a fridge near the far end of the kitchen by the security station that could conceivably contain a drink?

So is anyone else in the room we started in or did everyone else go?

Daneel stayed behind in the room we started in (in case one of the staff came back).

Is there a drink, bar, or a fridge near the far end of the kitchen by the security station that could conceivably contain a drink?

There is a cooler in the kitchen, yes. It's not too near the far end of the kitchen, but you could get closer than you are now.

Steph is standing at the door of the room we were shown too. She's keeping an eye on the hallway. She hopes to distract anyone walking toward the direction Ray and Byron went with a request for the facilities or water.

Ray wanders over to the cooler, giving the lady a smile. "In there? I'll help myself. I don't want to interfere with your other work. You look busy." Turning her attention to the cooler, Ray heads over -- giving the security room a passing glance (If anyone in the security room looks at her she gives them a smile and a nod) -- then turns her attention back to the cooler and opens it up. She snoops around inside for a beverage of some kind she can bring back to the group and grabs it. Then she shuts the cooler, gives the cooks and servers a nod (and the security personnel if there was one) and heads back out, calling "Thanks!" over her shoulder.

Ray saunters back to the waiting room and returns to her companions.

Recon + Int (if needed to snoop further at the security room): 2d6 + 0 + 0 ⇒ (1, 2) + 0 + 0 = 3

Byron walks to Steph and whispers, "I found a locked room that seems important. I can try and pick the locks, but I need someone else to deal with any computers in the area."

Ray sees that the house has fairly modern security systems staffed by two female aslan, one of whom gets up and shuts the door when she spots Ray in the kitchen. The security system isn't up to Drinaxi standards (high TL 14, bordering on 15), but is probably top notch for the Hierate's TL 12. It's enough to let you know that your every move is being watched.

When Ray returns to her companions she hands out the drinks and tells them quietly that they're all under surveillance. "Security room is in the kitchen."

Steph keeps her face toward the floor, and responds to Ray and Byron. "Jerry or Daneel can deal with the computers. I can read what's on them. It sounds like we need to stay put for a little while. The security system needs dealt with first."

"If they are running cameras we can hit the power and that should give us some time. If we can find the breakers." Byron suggests.

Steph suggests, "I'd have the breakers in the security room or someplace else that there are people all the time."

No power, no computers...