@ Harqen - PCs are at level 1 and cannot advance beyond that during these quests. Harqen has already received 1 XP for completing the initial quest. (3 XP is needed to advance a level). The remaining quests, if completed with the same character, can only result in additional Fame/Prestige, credits, and boons.
Ozei Berrnshaw wrote:
Can we Aid Another on those Science checks?
Technically, no, per my understanding of the starship rules. The acting science officer can receive a bonus on the Computers checks from the Captain with a successful Demand or Encourage from the Captain.
However, since we are not in rounds, anyone can assume the Captain's role to aid with the check (i.e., another Science Officer acting as Captain).
Likewise, the ship is permitted to have multiple Science Officers, so if one fails the check, a second Science Officer may make the attempt (again with any assistance from the Captain).
Feel free to ask more questions if I have not made it clear.
Female Gnome Mech 1| SP 7/7; HP 8/10 | RP 0/4 | EAC 13; KAC 14 | Fort +3; Ref +4; Will +0 | Init: +6 | Perc: +4
Drone:
Drone 1| DR/1- | HP 10/10 | EAC 11; KAC 17 | Fort +2; Ref +1; Will +0 | Petrol 15/20
Computers:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Watdems searches through Wikipedia and drops her phone near Zapp. Using a small bit of gnomish magic she drags the phone back up to her plump and greasy hands.
Read spoiler
As the ship lands Watdems wheels off the ramp and quickly covers her face as the sharp smell hits her nose. Her wheels drag in the sand a small bit but she seems to be making it through fine for now.
I will allow for retroactive assists to the Pilot check to the landing if any of you so choose, depending on the type of "flavor" you may wish to give this mission. However, in the interest of moving on...
The once clear sky appears to be changing color rapidly--rather quickly you will be overcome by a storm!
Each PC may attempt a Survival check.
Survival (DC <15):
The storm quickly overtakes you. As the storm hits, unusual crystal formations begin to congeal out of the air around you.
Survival (DC 15+):
You are able to identify the storm before it overtakes you. The crystal formations congealing out of the air during the storm are poisonous. You gain a +4 bonus to your saving throws during the storm.
Survival (DC 17+):
You are able to identify the storm before it overtakes you and also have time to warn one of your companions. The crystal formations congealing out of the air during the storm are poisonous. You and one designated ally gain a +4 bonus to your saving throws during the storm.
Survival (DC 19+):
You are able to identify the storm before it overtakes you and also have time to warn two of your companions. The crystal formations congealing out of the air during the storm are poisonous. You and two designated allies gain a +4 bonus to your saving throws during the storm.
Survival (DC 21+):
You are able to identify the storm before it overtakes you and also have time to warn three of your companions. The crystal formations congealing out of the air during the storm are poisonous. You and three designated allies gain a +4 bonus to your saving throws during the storm.
Survival (DC 23+):
You are able to identify the storm before it overtakes you and also have time to warn four of your companions. The crystal formations congealing out of the air during the storm are poisonous. You and four designated allies gain a +4 bonus to your saving throws during the storm.
Survival (DC 25+):
You are able to identify the storm before it overtakes you and also have time to warn five of your companions. The crystal formations congealing out of the air during the storm are poisonous. You and five designated allies gain a +4 bonus to your saving throws during the storm.
If you reach into one of your pockets during the storm:
You feel a medicinal bulb that has been within your pocket now for days/
Once a sufficient number of successes or failures has been reached, I will move on.
Str 14 : Dex 16 : Con 12 - 2 : Int 10 : Wis 12 : Cha 9 | Acrobatics +6, Diplomacy +1, Life Science +4, Medicine +4, Piloting +3, Survival +5 (AC check -1)
Stepping off the Odyssey, Vchk notices the coming storm. {"Ah. That looks inclement. Didn't Wat find something about poison crystals? Quick, let's huddle together to try and mitigate our exposure!"}
Vchk uses his Communalism ability to roll his Survival check twice and take the better result.
"...and as you can see, it's a crap-tastic day here on Ulmarid," Neon says to the camera.
Survival:1d20 ⇒ 16
"Poison crystals and deadly storms aside, this isn't the kind of place where I'd want to build a summer home." He double-checks the seals on his armor, his faceplate's graphic display showing a tiny humanoid figure slowly being worn down to their skeleton by debris.
And it comes down to the last roll. One last PC. One more last success needed to benefit all.
@ Zapp - No pressure or anything!
Meanwhile, back on Absalom Station, Venture-Captain Arvin leans back in his comfy chair, thinking of the Starfinders' mission and the potential for danger. "Who knows?" he wonders aloud, "Perhaps I have seen the last of..."
As he utters aloud the Starfinder's true name, a noise anachronistically covers over the sound, obscuring what he says. He reflexively checks his comm link. "It's not mine!" he shouts out into the hallway, "It must be one of you all."
Male Human Envoy 2 | SP 10/14 | HP 16/16 | RP 4/4 | EAC 12, KAC 13, CMD 21 | Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +3 | Init +1 | Perception +5 | Conditions:
Survival:1d20 ⇒ 12
Zapp is at his wit's end. Surely there is no way to fight this nefarious crystalline menace! Soon, even his leadership will buckle, compromising his faithful team. But through his comm, he hears a noise from Kiff, who he assigned to lurk around Venture-Captain Arvin's office. But the shiftless subordinate forgot to turn off his ringer. It sounds like...an old telephone?
With that sound, it all comes back to him. A similarly barren world. Left for dead. By his one true love. Barely managing to survive the harsh environment long enough to escape. But that wasn't all. Who would've known that was what lurked beyond the Godshield? He needed to tell someone before...
"Miranda!" he suddenly blurts out, sweating. What was I just thinking about? Looking around at his surprised-looking team, it seems he had been silent for some time prior. "Oh, sorry, just thinking. I seem to have figured out how to fight the crystals." He searches through a long row of buttons before pressing one that was taped over. With a pop, the environmental protections form a tight seal.
And the adventuring party came to a quick and ignominious end. Search parties eventually found their desiccated bodies, clutching their useless Swiss Army knives tightly in their lifeless hands, and their mouths and eye sockets now home to fantastic and beautiful poison crystal formations...
Vchk decides who lives and dies (well, who gets a bonus anyways)! Vchk, you and Neon Punk each made the check, so designate who gets the other three available bonuses.
Str 14 : Dex 16 : Con 12 - 2 : Int 10 : Wis 12 : Cha 9 | Acrobatics +6, Diplomacy +1, Life Science +4, Medicine +4, Piloting +3, Survival +5 (AC check -1)
GM Valen wrote:
Vchk decides who lives and dies (well, who gets a bonus anyways)!
Muah haha HAA ha ha HAA! Thank goodness for Communalism, or Neon would be dragging all our sorry butts back in plastic tubs.
As Vchk struggles to corral his compatriots together to shield them from the oncoming poison rock storm (wow, space can suck sometimes), he recalls the message sent to him by the Venture-Captain...
GM Valen wrote:
...if a couple of your fellow agents decide to remain on the desert plant, I wouldn’t mind...
Cruel whims of (alphabetical) fate:1d2 ⇒ 1
Trying to compress everyone into a huddle to reduce their overall exposure to the oncoming storm, Vchk reaches out and grabs Zapp by the back of the collar, pushing him unceremoniously into the pile. Unfortunately, Wat has paid no attention to the shirren's efforts and has already driven out into the desert and beyond the reach of safety...
Harqen, Ozei, and Zapp all get a +4 bonus against the poison storm as well as Vchk and Neon (sorry, Wat). GM, does this bonus stack with the bonus provided by Tiny Tim's medicinals?
About fifteen minutes after you begin your trek to the crash site, a rainstorm of poisonous crystals coalesces out of the clear air and pounds down on the region for a short period of time.
The storm lasts for three rounds. I need a single Reflex save from each PC for each round (so a total of three Reflex saves). All PCs, but Wats, get a +4 bonus to each one of their saves.
Reflex save (DC <12):
You take 1d6 slashing damage from the densest clusters of crystals. Please roll the damage with your posts. In addition, you must make a Fortitude save. All PCs, but Wats, get a +4 bonus to this Fortitude save.
Reflex save (DC 12+):
You have avoided slashing damage from the densest clusters of crystals.
If Wats ingests the plant bulbs provided by the ysoki at the Vat Garden:
The crunchy tuber tastes far too much like a raw vegetable for Wats to find it enjoyable. However, it has a medicinal benefit. Wats gains a +4 bonus to Fortitude saves for one hour.
If anyone other than Wats ingests the plant bulbs provided by the ysoki at the Vat Garden:
The bulb has a crunchy, cool taste that many would find enjoyable—sort of a cross between a carrot and a cucumber. The bulb also seems to have soe medicinal benefit. You gain an additional +4 bonus to Fortitude saves for one hour (This bonus stacks with the prior +4 bonus for a total bonus of +8).
Once prompted, Fortitude save (DC <12):
The poisonous crystals sap your muscle strength as they cut into you. You gain the encumbered condition (regardless of the weight you are carrying) for 1 hour.
Once prompted, Fortitude save (DC 12+):
The poisonous crystals do not leave any lasting adverse impact on you.
After a few, violent moments, the storm of poisonous crystals ends as quickly as it began. The harsh metallic smell in the air abates, as there is no similar storm pending in the near future as you continue on towards the crash site.
In the distance, about 120 feet away, you spot the crash site of the Unbounded Wayfarer, much of it now buried in the soft sand. A piece of the wreck, half-buried in the sand contains the Unbounded Wayfarer’s antipersonnel weapon, a tactical X-gen gun. The heavy weapon looks as if it is still operational, but it has less than a dozen charges remaining and its reloading mechanism is clearly damaged.
Map with elevations marked is revealed on Slides – Please place your PC token within the designated “Starting Area.”
Male Human Envoy 2 | SP 10/14 | HP 16/16 | RP 4/4 | EAC 12, KAC 13, CMD 21 | Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +3 | Init +1 | Perception +5 | Conditions:
About to sign off for the night, so I'll respond tomorrow. But before I make a bunch of saves, can I make a bunch more using Dive for Cover? We don't need to press forward during this storm, so mechanically I can pick myself up every round. Zapp repeatedly screaming and hitting the deck with each squall would be a sight, that's for sure.
The crystals creep into Watdems lungs. At first it is hard to breath, but nothing she isn't used to as she lights up another cigarette. "This ain't so bad." She croaks.
Seeing the gun she squints as the sun is in her eyes. "This is not handicapped accessible." She glowers. "What is Arvin doing to me."
Neon decides that now is a great time to practice his moves. As the storm closes in, he breaks it down with a sick shuffle, sliding and spinning this way and that as the toxic crystals fly around him.
Reflex 2:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Visible even in the midst of the storm, Neon's faceplate displays a series of falling rhythm indicators and messages like Perfect!Stylish!Unbelievable!
Then the rock hits, prompting a Better luck next time... message and a groan of disappointment from the icon himself. "Aw, [censored] - you threw off my groove!! He shouts at the storm, but of course, the storm is unfazed by his rage.
He does surprisingly well, too, until a shoelace comes untied. He falls flat, narrowly missing some crystals headed his way but landing on several more. Even the bulb fails to keep his weak system from feeling heavy.
Str 14 : Dex 16 : Con 12 - 2 : Int 10 : Wis 12 : Cha 9 | Acrobatics +6, Diplomacy +1, Life Science +4, Medicine +4, Piloting +3, Survival +5 (AC check -1)
Begrudgingly munching on the bulb from the vat garden (it's sat in his pocket for a few weeks now and is none too crisp), Vchk huddles with the others and uses the forearm guard of his ceramic plate armor to bat away any crystals headed for his face.
Harqen's fur stands up on end as he gets a sense that something is moving below the sand, but before he can react, a burrowing beast with a carapace made of thick reflective crystal and enormous, thrumming mandibles emerges from the ground!
Surprise Round!
Creature borrowed up! Move action with 18 on Stealth
Male Human Envoy 2 | SP 10/14 | HP 16/16 | RP 4/4 | EAC 12, KAC 13, CMD 21 | Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +3 | Init +1 | Perception +5 | Conditions:
Zapp jumps, but is luckily behind the much stronger target that is his favorite shirren. "Give that thing a Society welcome," he cries, drawing his gun.
Vchk's hammer bounces off of the creature's thick carapace. It moves closer to the shirren. Move action=Guarded step
It then tries to chomp on Vchk.
bite v. Vchk's KAC:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31Damage (S)+(So):1d6 + 3 + 1d3 ⇒ (2) + 3 + (1) = 6
Its gaping maw snaps against the shirren's carapace!
Initiative Order - Round One/Round 2 All PCs may now act
Zapp
Vchk
Creature
Harqen
Ozei
Neon
Wats
Mysticism (DC 15+):
This creature is a skreebara, a 14-foot-long burrowing beast with six powerful legs. Its carapace is made of thick reflective crystal and it bears enormous mandibles that thrum with sonic energy. The tough, overlapping crystals that make up the
skreebara’s carapace are valuable.
Mysticism (DC 19+):
In addition to the information underneath the above spoiler, you know that a skreebara can unleash a devastating sonic cry every several hours. {b]Sonic Screech (Ex)[/b] As a standard action, a skreebara can unleash a 30-foot line of sonic energy. Creatures in the line each take 4d4 sonic damage (Reflex DC 12 half). Once a skreebara uses this attack, it must wait 6 hours before using it again, and during this time period, its bite attack does not
inflict any additional sonic damage.
Neon springs into action, his recent failure to keep the beat fading from his mind. "Whoa, that's uglier than sin!" He double moves past Harqen, manifesting his Solsword as he goes, ending his movement right next to the crystal beast.
Presented with so many targets, the creature finds it hard to choose. Pick PC within 10 feet in Initiative order:1d4 ⇒ 1
It then tries to chomp on Vchk, apparently having found him tasty.
bite v. Vchk's KAC:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28 Damage (S)+(So):1d6 + 3 + 1d3 ⇒ (5) + 3 + (3) = 11
Its gaping maw now crunches into Vchk's carapace!
Initiative Order - Round 2/Round 3 All PCs may now act
Neon, deeply offended by the creature's apparent negligence toward his flashy appearance and techniques, takes a guarded step to flank before lashing out with his blade in frustration. "Validate me!!"
Writhing in pain from the Starfinders' combined assault, the monster decides that the nearest creatures, particularly the one with the burning blades, are too unpleasant to deal with. So, the sanddweller moves towards what it has decided is the tastier meal. (Once you have had shirren, its hard to go back!)
Move =Guarded Step
As it makes its way toward Vchk, it finds that the shirren is just short of its reach, but it instead encounters the creature that has been firing flames around it and decides to try a sample.
Melee bite v. Wats’ KAC:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14Damage (S plus So):1d6 + 3 + 1d3 ⇒ (6) + 3 + (3) = 12Ouch! Sorry, Wats.
It chomps down hard on the fat morsel, then spits it out, finding none of the various tastes that exude from it to be in any way appealing.
Initiative Order - Round 3/Round 4 All PCs may now act
Zapp
Vchk -8 SP | -9 HP
Creature -15 HP Edited - to include damage to creature Harqen
Ozei
Neon
Wats -7 SP | -10 HP (dying)
Str 14 : Dex 16 : Con 12 - 2 : Int 10 : Wis 12 : Cha 9 | Acrobatics +6, Diplomacy +1, Life Science +4, Medicine +4, Piloting +3, Survival +5 (AC check -1)
Afraid to render medical aid while the creature is still thrashing, Vchk elects instead to nobly abandon Wat and put some distance between himself and the proliferation of teeth. While backpedaling, he draws his rifle before steadying up and firing a shot.
Drawing a weapon as part of a movement; standard attack.
