Game Master S's "Dead Suns" (Inactive)

Game Master Chris Marsh

Lamenting the hostility of this "paradise" Janzi just barely pings the eel.

Round 2:
R1G5: Hit
Gig: MM
Eel: ATK
Booker: Go
Dunklezahn: Go
Janzi: Hit
Hack-it: Go

Dunklezahn continues to harry the eel, hoping to end the fight quickly.

Curve Blade: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Slashing Damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Crit Damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Crit: Bleed: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Dunklezahn sees the perfect angle and puts all his might into it. The eel's head drops to to the ground in a bloody mess!

For decapitating the adolescent mountain eel, the party earns 1,600 XP.

Booker checks the body, and finds most of the gear destroyed. There's a battery (17 charges) and a survival knife. Everything else is beyond repair.

The party hikes up the last of the steps. A series of weathered pillars arcs around the entrance of the temple, marking a curving border around a small plaza.

Standing before the entrance is an elf out of time.

The elf seems old beyond possibility, yet hale as he moves.

Your temporary translator, Rogo, stands in shock. He struggles to translate the ancient dialect from a spoken source.

"What'd he say?" Hack-It says, not understanding a word of Elven.

"He says he's Panellair, an' he's tellin' us to leave," Booker says, surprising everyone but Rogo, with whom the old soldier has been taking lessons. He responds to the ancient elf in stilted Elven.

No, no. I am not spending any more time on this gods-damned planet without learning Elven. Spending a skill rank for 4th level.

"He's telling us to leave?!" Gig asks incredulously. "Can any of you diplomatic ones tell him no? I mean we haven't endured snipers and mountain eels just come all this way and then turn around and leave. Let's tell him we come in peace. Booker, can you hide your guns a little better?"

Leveled up.

Janzi touches his own arm, casting share language, and steps forward.

Assuming everything is translated:

"I believe you. The speaker for the Star-Eater does not wish to allow you to enter however, and by his will, I must insist. You are not welcome here. I am sorry. I am happy to converse, but I cannot let you pass.”

Hoping someone will translate for him...

We may not need to pass further if we can get your aid in a simple task. We're only here in an attempt to translate some writings we discovered on a strange asteroid found in Drift Space. If you could translate it for us, we can be on our way.

"Star-Eater? I don't like the sound of that. No, don't translate that!

Panelliar gestures at the structure behind him, Behind me lies the Temple of the Twelve, the last repository of my people’s lore in this system. Before me is the Veil, beyond which terrestrial ignorance melts beneath the weight of cosmic enlightenment. This is a sacred space. The knowledge within is for only those who have a right to enter. I am sorry.”

You can be sure at least one of us is translating everything.

Janzi cocks his head a bit.

If you'd just read a little bit of text for us, which we obtained outside of your Temple, we can be on our way.

"Alas, I cannot. “Centuries ago, a child of Golarion came. He sought the secrets beyond for his own glory, so I had to turn him away with violence. A band of lashuntas and an unfamiliar alien arrived recently. I recognized them as pawns of the Star-Eater, and although I turned them away, the leader’s conviction and magic were strong; I relented. I have failed my duty once. I must not do so again.”

Gods damn it. This guy is probably immortal, too. Looks badass though.

Booker frowns and shakes his head, as though trying to clear it. "Alright, I got a buncha questions. First, who in the Hells is the 'Star-eater?' And you said Golarion? The Golarion? Which child?"

"If you do not know the Star-eater, I do not ken your own past. He is the Destroyer of Worlds, the Herald of the End, and the Darkness that Darkness fears. To measure the passage of time as does the universe, my vigil has been but a moment. By the revolutions of Castrovel, I have been here for millennia. Still, I mean, as you put it, the Golarion. Are you not of there? Your planet may be gone, but your race sprung from her soil, did you not?"

Not mine. I couldn't give a stingbat's butt about the place.

Is there anyway we can get your help here? These Star-Eater mooks got one up on ya and they've given us grief getting here. Maybe we can help each other. If we could rectify your brief lapse in duty and expunge these Star-Eater creeps from the planet, would that ease your conscience enough to give us entrance?

“The speaker for the Star-Eater does not wish to allow you to enter, and by his will, I must insist. You are not welcome here. I am literally unable to allow it, though you speak reasonable words Vesk."

DC 12 Mysticism: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Gods damn it.

Botting Gig's Mysticism: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
MOTHER F**#$%&@

I am SO BAD at this game.

Ah, so it's the Star-Eaters that are preventing you from allowing us to enter. Not any other sense of duty. Well, that's simple then. We take out the speaker, end his compulsion on you, and we can go about our business in the temple. Which way to these Star-Eaters?

"I understand your desire vesk, but if you step between me and the door, I have no choice. I must fight you..."

Enter Photon mode

"...to the death."

Woah! Scale it back, buddy. I take it then that the speaker is in the temple now?

"Indeed."

Mysticism: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1

Gig watches, but is completely unaware how to persuade the ancient elf to let them enter.

Booker notices the stairs leading around the Temple for the first time. He points at them with his gun. "Where do those lead?"

"...to the death."

NO! To the PAIN!

Janzi takes a careful step behind Booker. Is violence the only way? I mean, I'm fine if it is, but you seem like a decent fellow and we'd hate to kill you.

</Princess Bride references>

"More than a mile beyond that trail leads to the aiudara, the Gate. I'm sorry. It appears that there's little left we can do. I lament your death."

Hostiles: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Booker: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Dunklezahn: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Gig: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Hack-it: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (8) + 0 = 8
R.1.G.5.: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Torin: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Panelliar's body becomes instantly sheathed in an envelope of fiery plasma. He swings his solar spear at Dunklezahn. "We might have been friends in another life warrior."

ATK: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14, but the thrust is ill timed.

Round 1:
Panelliar: ATK...
R1G5: Go
Dunklezahn: Go
Gig: Go
Booker: Go
Hack-It: Go
Janzi: Go

"With regret, guardian," Booker nods solemnly, hefting his rifle. As soon as the thrust is parried, he jukes to the right and runs along the edge of the pillars, firing between them.

Reaction Cannon @ Panelliar: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 1 = 21
Damage: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Using my new shiny Shot on the Run feat. Full-round action to move up to my speed and fire at any point during the movement.

Booker's words get a nod from the guardian, then a grunt as the shot is extremely powerful.

Round 1:
Panelliar: ATK...
R1G5: Go
Dunklezahn: Go
Gig: Go
Booker: ATK
Hack-It: Go
Janzi: Go

"Honor is so stupid," Hack-It says as he and Sputter begin opening fire.
Attack w/Tactical semi-auto pistol: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Attack w/Azimuth Laser Rifle: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

"Hold still so we can make this quick!"

The guardian dodges both shots rather easily.

Round 1:
Panelliar: ATK...
R1G5: Go
Dunklezahn: Go
Gig: Go
Booker: ATK
Hack-It: Miss
Janzi: Go

Gig moves his hand in somatic gestures and draws forth arcane powers yet untapped. With a sharp command and a point of his fingers, he casts Caustic Conversion and flings magical nanites.

Range Attack vs. EAC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Damage: 4d4 ⇒ (4, 3, 1, 3) = 11

If the nanites hit, the target takes 4d4 acid damage and it takes 5 additional acid damage at the end of its turn each round for the spell’s duration (2 rounds).

The magical nanites begin to convert water vapor around the guardian into deadly acid

The nanites fly out, but fail to connect with the guardian.

Round 1:
Panelliar: ATK...
R1G5: Go
Dunklezahn: Go
Gig: Miss
Booker: ATK
Hack-It: Miss
Janzi: Go

Agreed. May your death be a worthwhile one.

Pleasantries out of the way, Dunklezahn engages the elf, holding nothing back.

Curve Blade: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 9 - 4 = 20
Slashing Damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Curve Blade: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 9 - 4 = 21
Slashing Damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Twice the vesk's weapon flashes, and twice deep wounds open on the guardian. Panelliar doesn't fall, but Dunklezahn knows that the odds favor the Starfinders. Another pair of hits like that would surely lay the guardian low.

Round 1:
Panelliar: ATK...
R1G5: Go
Dunklezahn: Hits
Gig: Miss
Booker: ATK
Hack-It: Miss
Janzi: Go

Sorry about this, Janzi mumbles as he delves into the venerable elf's mind.
Mind thrust as a 2nd level spell, DC 14 Will to halve 4d10 ⇒ (2, 9, 4, 4) = 19 dmg.

Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 Panelliar resists much of the spell, but it still clearly affects him.

Round 1:
Panelliar: ATK...
R1G5: Go
Dunklezahn: Hits
Gig: Miss
Booker: ATK
Hack-It: Miss
Janzi: Scramble

Sigh. I'm gonna feel bad about this...

Move and trick attack.

Stealth: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29

Laser Pistol vs EAC-2: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 9 + 1 = 261d8 + 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + (2) + 1 = 7

With my new Debilitating Strike, you are flat footed -2 to AC until the beginning of my next turn.

R1G5s pulls off a spiffy move and the Guardian falls for it. The hit is solid, but he's got some fight left in him.

He takes a guarded step closer, the flames surrounding his body burning Dunk, Hack-it and Sputter. [ooc]You take Fire DMG: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 3) = 8

He swings his blade HARD at Dunklezahn, trying to give as good as he gets ATK: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32 for DMG: 1d8 + 1d4 + 11 ⇒ (6) + (3) + 11 = 20

Round 2:
Panelliar: ATK
R1G5: Go
Dunklezahn: Go
Gig: Go
Booker: Go
Hack-It: Go
Janzi: Go

Dunklezahn lefts out a growl as he just barely gets his curve blade in the way of the elf's ferocious attack; the force of the blow causing the large vesk to stumble back a few steps.

Curve Blade: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Slashing Damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Dunk tries to score another blow against the elf, but the elf's control of his blade does not allow Dunk to connect.

Hack-It takes a guarded step away from the old elf, and he and Sputter continue shooting.

Attack w/Tactical Semi Auto Pistol (Hack-It): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Attack w/Azimuth Laser Rifle (Sputter): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Fire Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Janzi probes again, still reticent to snap the elf's mind in two.

M2 Mind thrust, DC 14 Will to halve: 4d10 ⇒ (9, 5, 2, 1) = 17

"He can fight, I'll give 'im that..." Booker mutters to himself, lining up another heavy shot.

Reaction Cannon @ Panelliar: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 10 + 1 = 27
Damage: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

The combined might of the party is simply too much. Before he can fully harness the power of the sun, the part cuts him down in a blaze of power. Ruling that Janzi did NOT use his spell. Once the smoke clears, there's nothing between the party and the building.

Whatever you were looking to translate, whatever truths there are to be found about the mysterious Drift Rock... it's inside.

For defeating the Guardian Panelliar, the party earns 2,400 XP.

Booker lowers his rifle and peers through the smoke. "You alright there, Dunk?"

The veteran approaches the body of the slain guardian amid mixed emotions. He straightens the splayed limbs into a more orderly repose, and lays the elf's glittering weapon respectfully atop the body.

Gear?