GM Tyranius In Pursuit of the Scoured Past (Inactive)

Game Master Tyranius

"I'll also go. For some reason, visions of cheese in a maze popped into my head and I feel the urge to give it a try. Isn't that weird...??"

I'm guessing this is based on intelligence skills, so count me in as well!

So far Raatchet and M'shak are braving the Mindmaze. Will wait to see what Thomogar and Kultainen do.

"I will stay out and aid your bodies as I might, and provide while guidance I may." decides Kultanien.

"I'm afraid this is likely not my strength. I apologise but I might do better to stand guard and assist from outside." Thomagar is clearly bothered by a challenge that he is sitting out of but he is rationale enough not to let that lead him to do something unwise.

With the groups decision complete both Raatchet and M'Shak each place their hands on the Mindmaze. They both fall into a deep trance with their hands stuck to teh cube. Those who do not touch it was as illusionary duplicates of their comrades show within the cube's maze.

M'Shak and Raachet- each of you make 6 Intelligence checks. Those one the outside you may make 6 Intelligence checks as well as aid another checks, though please say who you are aiding as you can only aid 1 person per check by whispering directions to thsoe in the Mindmaze. Since someone in the group has High Society Influence (Royo) boon slotted then you each gain a +2 to your Intelligence checks.

Int: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 2 = 6
Int: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 2 = 8
Int: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 1 + 2 = 11
Int: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 1 + 2 = 14
Int: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 1 + 2 = 14
Int: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 2 = 5

Kultanien, already knowing Raatchet, spends most of her time encouraging him.

"Keep your paw on the one wall"
int aid1: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
int aid2: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

"Watch out for tracks that might lead you astray"
int aid3: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
int aid4: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

"If this is a tesseract, remember to think it four dimensions"
int aid5: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
int aid6: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

We should break into teams to help them. Thomagar, you can join me to help M'shak.

Thomagar has a +0 bonus, Kultainen has a + 1, Conrad has a + 2, and I have a +3. If we break up in the way I suggested, it should give each person a about an even chance.

Got ninja'ed but but you went the way I was suggesting anyway haha

"Huh. This is fascinating! Wish I could bring this home and examine it in more detail. Would love to figure out how this thing works..."

@Raat You got extra aid from Kultanien on #2,3 and 5...

Conrad tries to make sense of the situation, treating like helping in a vidgame. He nods to the plan and gets to it.

INT: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 + 2 = 13
INT: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 + 2 = 20
INT: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 + 2 = 20
INT: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 2 = 7
INT: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 + 2 = 14
INT: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 + 2 = 16

Kultanien's assist on #1 succeeded too since we all get +2 from Royo

Summary of Raatchet's rolls including aides:

Roll 1: 25+2+2=29
Roll 2: 18+2+2=22
Roll 3: 13+2+2=17
Roll 4: 24
Roll 5: 10+2+2=14
Roll 6: 22+2=24

Thomagar frowns with uncertainty. "I am not sure how much assistance I can be, but I'll do my best." He stands behind M'shak, staring into the cube and gives some advice where he can.

1: int, aid: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (5) + 0 = 5
2: int, aid: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4
3: int, aid: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (13) + 0 = 13
4: int, aid: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (17) + 0 = 17
5: int, aid: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (5) + 0 = 5
6: int, aid: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10

Raatchet takes off, zipping through the maze like a rat chasing after a wedge of cheese.

M'Shak on the other hand gets left in the dust. Even with a bit of guidance from the group the maze plays tricks on his mind, fogging it and making his thoughts muddy. 3 Wisdom damage total so far.

Looking the maze over from the outside it seems as if M'Shak is only half way there before Ratchet reaches the center.

M'Shak you have 3 out of the 6 successes. Need to make some more Int checks. You are now at DC 13. Each failure increases the DC by 1 and causes 1 Wisdom Damage. You need 3 more successes.

Can the rest of us help M'Shak?

As Raatchet comes around, Kultanien tries to encourage M'Shak.

"Ancient lore told of leaving a trail behind in the maze, you may be able to use a similar technique."

aid: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

"Remember A maze is a complex branchin puzzle that includes choices of path and direction, may have multiple entrances and exits, and dead ends. Don't get diheartened at the dead ends, they show progress."
aid: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

"[b]Keep your eyes open for the Bottleneck. This is a passage connecting one area of a maze to another, and that must be traversed in order to solve the maze.[b]"
aid: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

Int: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 1 + 2 = 15
Int: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 1 + 2 = 12
Int: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 1 + 2 = 23
Int: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 2 = 9
Int: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 1 + 2 = 22

Finally M'Shak finish to reach the center of the maze! But she seems quite exhausted and quite confused after. 5 WIS damages at the end

With Kultanien's aid, you made the second check. That would mean you didn't take any more damage. Right?

Seeing how drained M'shak is but how much help Kultanien is being, Medrick focuses on M'shak's vital to make sure the maze isn't draining her too much.

@Medrick Yes, you're right! I don't know why, but I wrongly believed that to aid you need to reach the DC :P
Thanks!

With the aid of everyone outside M'Shak is able to make it to the center of the Mindmaze with only a minor headache. A dozen precious green gemstones line the walls in the center of the mindmaze.

A trinary star system—a place you instinctively know to be the Scoured Stars—floats in the center of the maze. Many of the planets around the three stars grow green, representing an abundance of life. Suddenly a dark presence, felt more than seen, descends on the room and hungrily encircles the stars. One of the worlds pulsates with a golden aura that continues to grow. Eventually, this vast golden shield covers all the worlds of the region. The clawing darkness recedes.

Time passes, generations come and go in the blink of an eye. Gradually, the golden shield lowers. Soon after, eight groups of ships, their shapes too intangible to make out, depart into the cosmos beyond. Each fleet travels through the void on a different path. The home of these eight fleets soon goes dark, and over the coming generations the last vestiges of life in the Scoured Stars disappears.

Sometime later, eight small objects hurtle out from the lifeless planet that summoned the shield. Each object, a relic of immense magical power, follows the course of one of the previously departed groups. The objects disappear along their trajectories, and the vision abruptly ends as the worlds of the Scoured Stars fade to black.

As the scene finishes you are shaken awake from your trance from the Mindmaze. The gems gently glide off the walls as the vision ends. You find these same gems in your hands after you wake from your trance. In total, the gems are worth 1,600 credits.

Royo adjusts his glasses. "Those relics sent out at the end of your experience are reminiscent to the object found by the Society’s previous First Seeker, Jadnura. That object kindled the former First Seeker’s desire to enter the Scoured Stars, and it ultimately led to the incident that crippled the Society." Royo smiles as he begins to get excited. "With additional research using the star charts available on Athaeum, I may be able to track the path of the relics, which could be a key to returning to the Scoured Stars."

Do you think we will need to hunt down the other 7 to save them? This stuff is getting pretty big. It seems like we found the info we were talked to find. Hopefully with the help of Royo, we will be able to save our friends.

"I don't know boss. We're 0 and 1 against that place.... Yet somehow I get the feeling that I'm going to get the call to check it out. So, now what?"

Did the darkness that was pushed back by the golden shield come back after the shield dimmed? That is unclear..

"I worry about the objects that trailed the fleets. They may have been the last survivors.. or maybe they were hunting parties." admits the golden girl.

"And what of those that fled to begin with? What happened to them? Do they still walk among us?"

Thomagar's usual stolid facade is shaken by what he experienced, even from outside the mindmaze.

"How long do you think all these occurred? And does anyone know in what form was the relic that Jadnura found? It could give some clue of what the others are."

M'Shak is quite excited by what she saw!

What a discovery! It explain so much and put the odds of being able to save our comrades on the Scoured Stars around 47%!
May be having one of the relic in our hands could help us disable the golden shield? or find a way to open it in some way?
This is quite a discovery!

Turning to Royo she adds worried Did the Curators will let us search the charts? Is it still in the agreement with them?

Suddenly a small flying clockwork drone, roughly a foot wide, whizzes into view and rapidly approaches. A holographic projection of Albryan the Curator emerges from the top of the drone and begins to speak.

“Starfinders, I am glad that I have reached you. The Order of the Pyre Hellknights who accompanied you to Athaeum have destroyed the lore wardens in a nearby tower and are burning one of our most ancient book collections! We have more wardens on the way, but they will arrive too late to save our books. Please, hurry to the Tower of the Ellicoth and stop the Hellknights from causing further harm! If you do so, the Curators will waive your research fee entirely and offer whatever assistance we can!”

Royo's eyes widen "Avoiding that exorbitant research fee is too great an opportunity to pass up. I'll head back to the main libraries of Athaeum to further research the location of the mysterious Scoured Star objects while you all travel to the Tower of the Ellicoth to confront the Hellknights."

Seems logical with their domain of expertise but against the odds for a peacefull interaction with our host.
Lets stop the Hellknights from burning all the books of this place. If we go know, our odds will be on our favor.

M'Shak is ready to go.

"Oh man, giving the hellknights a little comeuppance would make my day. Let's do this!"

Conrad closes his eyes and remembers what he can about the hellknights (numbers and aramament mostly.)

The Tower of the Ellicoth is roughly 10 minutes away from the Tower of the Oma via the connecting bridge, which allows the PCs some time to prepare on their way to confront the Hellknights. and to take a rest to recover Stamina Points if you need it.

A narrow hallway circles the entire tower. In the northwest corner, a stone double door leads further in.

New map up.

"What tha...?!?! Why would the hellknights have started going on a rampage? Aren't they fanatically law and rules abiding party poopers? Anyone else find this strange?"

Raatchet pops a fresh battery into his laser rifle.

------------------------

In the tower of Ellicoth, Raatchet examines the door for traps, then moves back to his position within the formation.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 9 - 1 = 23

In hindsight, sending a group of people named after a pyre into a library seemed like a bad plan... especially those who want to make sure illegal books are destroyed... Why did we not think of this sooner? Medrick muses.

Is the plan to try diplomacy them first? Or shot first?

We can try, but my data says that trying to discuss with fanatics as a 4% chances of success.

Lets be ready to shoot first and discuss later.

"Works for me. Open the door before it catches fire too."

"Let us see if words will suffice. There may be a misunderstanding..." says the golden girl, but even she doesn't sound hopeful.

Kultanien advances to the door to open it.

I agree, I hate the idea of hurting people over a misunderstanding. I am sure this will result in a fight, but it seems wrong to not try and get get answers first. Medrick double checks that is pistol is set to stun before the door opens.

The smell of petrol and smoke fills the air here. Cracks and blast marks pit the floor, all of which surround a gaping hole in the wall. A stone control console covered with metal dials rests in the center of the room. The floor-to-ceiling glass windows to the southwest overlook a library filled with shelves, flames, and billowing smoke.

This is the control room for this floor of the tower, where the Curators can monitor temperature and moisture conditions. The central console also has control over the fire-suppression systems in the tower, including the cryo-nozzles in the library. The control room overlooks the library. Metal columns located in the library support the floor of the control room. During their recent attack, the Hellknights blew a minor hole in the northeast wall of the room.

The console’s stone buttons control hundreds of variables in the library below, ensuring that all items stored there are perfectly preserved. The Hellknights deactivated and destroyed the automatic fire-suppression systems.

The Hellknights threw several grenades during their combat with the lore wardens. The resulting explosions blew a hole in the wall and greatly weakened the supports under the control room.

A pair of hellknights brandishing wicked looking flamethrowers level them in your direction. "Do not interfere Starfinders. This library must be expunged."

Notes
Kultainen Inspire Boost (Conrad)

Round 1
M'Shak (SP 21/21; HP 22/22; RP 5/6; 3 Wisdom Damage)
----------------------------------------------------------
Pyre Hellknights
----------------------------------------------------------
Raatchet
Kultainen (SP 17/21; HP 22/22; RP 4/5)
Conrad (SP 20/20; HP 22/22; RP 3/3)
Medrick (SP 25/25; HP 25/25; RP 3/4)
Thomogar (SP 21/21; HP 24/25; RP 3/4)

Engineering: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Careful! One more explosion, like one caused by a grenade, and the there is a 100% chance that the floor will collapse.

M'Shak moves, tricking one of the Hellknight and shooting.

Trick (Computer): 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 11 + 4 = 23 vs Red
Sonic Pistol: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Damages: 1d8 + 1 + 1d8 ⇒ (2) + 1 + (5) = 8

M'Shak tricks one of the Hellknights as her sonic pistol seems to reverberate through the man's demonic armor.

The frontal assault causes the pair to raise their flamethrowers and overlap their firing arcs across the group of Starfinders.

Green Flamethrower vs Thomogar EAC 16; Sickened: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 11 - 2 = 24
Green Flamethrower vs Conrad EAC 16; Sickened: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 11 - 2 = 13
Green Flamethrower vs Medrick EAC 16; Sickened: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 11 - 2 = 19

Green Fire Damage (Thomogar and Medrick); Sickened: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (5) - 2 = 3

Red Flamethrower vs M'Shak EAC 20: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21
Red Flamethrower vs Thomogar EAC 16: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23
Red Flamethrower vs Conrad EAC 16: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
Red Flamethrower vs Medrick EAC 16: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

Red Fire Damage (M'Shak, Thomogar and Conrad): 1d6 ⇒ 6

Torrents of flame wash over the group as the Hellknights close in. Their ifrit-class flamethrowers spits out fire that seems to melt even your armor.

===================================================================

Notes
Kultainen Inspire Boost (Conrad)

Round 2
M'Shak (SP 15/21; HP 22/22; RP 5/6; 3 Wisdom Damage)
----------------------------------------------------------
Pyre Hellknights (Green -8)
----------------------------------------------------------
Raatchet
Kultainen (SP 17/21; HP 22/22; RP 4/5)
Conrad (SP 14/20; HP 22/22; RP 3/3)
Medrick (SP 22/25; HP 25/25; RP 3/4)
Thomogar (SP 12/21; HP 24/25; RP 3/4)

@GM Using a blast weapon impose a -2 penalty on all attack rolls.

Should M'shak's attack damage be applied to red instead of green?

Kultanien calls out encouragement to Thomogar. "Don't let them get to you. Put a hole in his fuel tank, that'll show him who is boss."

Inspiring words to get Thomogar back to full stamina

Engineering: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

"Well this is just great! Can't the library give us some friggin back-up?!"

Conrad levels his pistol at the one to his left green "Gang up on them!"

Get'em on Green for a +1/+1

Azimuth: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 1 = 8 He then hammerfists his pistol. "Why can't you hit anything?!"

I do not believe I can get a shot at Green. Their is a wall right in front of him. If you rule otherwise, I will shoot green.

Medrick draws his arch pistol as he gets set on fire. Why must the library be burned? This seems extremely chaotic?

He then lines up a shot through his allies at the Red looking enemy. Under his breath I hate when we are stuck in such cramped conditions...

Arch Pistol (Red, EAC): 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 7 - 4 = 12
-4 from shooting through allies.
damage (electricity, nonlethal): 1d6 ⇒ 3

Move action to draw my pistol, standard action to shoot.

Medrick, I think if green could burn you with the flamethrower, you can shoot it. I think GM mentioned they have blown a hole in the wall.

"Why are you doing this!" demanded Thomagar. "The lore wardens let you in on good faith and you betrayed it!

Not expecting the Hellknights to back down, however, Thomagar presses in for the attack, stepping towards the two, then bringing his glowing palm against the (green) Hellknight on his left.
solar palm vs green KAC, photon mode, get'em: 1d20 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 4 + 1 + 1 = 15 bludgeoning dmg: 1d6 + 4 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 3 + 1 = 14

photon mode rd 1

"Green it is!"

Raatchet activates combat tracking on green and fires off an overcharged shot!

Laser rifle vs EAC: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 18
Fire damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 3 + (2) + 1 = 11

@M'Shak- Correct, it does. I just assumed they imparted that into the enemy stat already but no mention of it on GM Forum. I'll add in the penalty so that will miss M'Shak for now.HP adjusted.

@Raatchet- yup. Missed that the target was after the roll there.

@Medrick- That is not a wall, but rather a set of double doors that are now open.

Raatchet overcharges his laser rifle and shoots a hole right through the sickened and wounded Hellknight.

Kultainen inspires Thomogar so Conrad calls out to gang up on teh remaining Hellknight. Thought it is too tight of quarters and he misses. Medrick falls to the same fate.

Inspired, Thomogar brings his fist crashing to the Hellknight's armor, denting it in. Though the armor is thicker than expected and doesn't seem to wound the knight.

"No use going against the law."

===================================================================

Notes
Kultainen Inspire Boost (Conrad; Thomogar)

Round 2
M'Shak (SP 21/21; HP 22/22; RP 5/6; 3 Wisdom Damage)
----------------------------------------------------------
Pyre Hellknights (Red -8)
----------------------------------------------------------
Raatchet
Kultainen (SP 17/21; HP 22/22; RP 4/5)
Conrad (SP 14/20; HP 22/22; RP 3/3)
Medrick (SP 22/25; HP 25/25; RP 3/4)
Thomogar (SP 21/21; HP 24/25; RP 3/4)

Again, M'Shak tries to trick the already wounded Hellknight Red with some noises from her comlink.

Trick (computer): 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 11 + 4 = 26
Sonic Pistol (vs EAC): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Damages (So): 1d8 + 1 + 1d8 ⇒ (2) + 1 + (6) = 9

M'Shak continues to assault the Hellknight with sonic vibrations that cause the man's ears to bleed.

The Pyre Hellknight creaks back, his canister of petrol sending another charge into the flames. Small flickers drip to the ground as a torrent of fire washes back over M'Shak and Thomogar.

Red Flamethrower vs M'Shak EAC 20: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 11 - 2 = 17
Red Flamethrower vs Thomogar EAC 16: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 11 - 2 = 28

Red Fire Damage (Thomogar): 1d6 ⇒ 3

===================================================================

Notes
Kultainen Inspire Boost (Conrad; Thomogar)

Round 3
M'Shak (SP 21/21; HP 22/22; RP 5/6; 3 Wisdom Damage)
----------------------------------------------------------
Pyre Hellknights (Red -17)
----------------------------------------------------------
Raatchet
Kultainen (SP 17/21; HP 22/22; RP 4/5)
Conrad (SP 14/20; HP 22/22; RP 3/3)
Medrick (SP 22/25; HP 25/25; RP 3/4)
Thomogar (SP 18/21; HP 24/25; RP 3/4)

Kultanien points her pistol at the red Knight. "Get
em!" she calls out as she shoots to indicate the target.

+1 for everyone to hit him

attack vs EAC,getem, cover: 1d20 + 3 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 1 - 4 = 12
damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Your buddy is dead and you are sorely outnumbered. Please surrender so I my friends do not need to kill you as well. Medrick takes a few steps forward to wear there is a clear shot on him and takes it, hoping that it is non-lethal damage that drops him.

Arc pistol (Red,EAC): 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 1 = 19
+1 from Get'em
Damage (electricity, nonlethal): 1d6 ⇒ 5

Move action to move, standard action to shoot.