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

Game Master Chris Marsh

Hey! Woah! Back the frell down! We just got here! We're chasing down some ne'er-do-wells lookin' to unsettle the peace. We're on a gods-damned mission to save the galaxy. So, stand down and help us stop those idiots and we'll all be out of your circuits faster than an electron through copper.

Something wrong...? Can Janzi get a check to determine what?

Janzi can make a second Sense Motive or Mysticism check.

The creature completely ignores Dunk's words, simply raising his bladed arm...

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12 ugh
Mysticism: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (12) + 18 = 30 maybe, I dunno

Surely you can define these transgressions? We're just flyin' here, and we have no quarrel with you...unless you're part of the Corpse Fleet in which case yeah, we have a big ol' fracking quarrell.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 7
Mysticism: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

"Relax, my nanite friends! There is no need to be alarmed. We certainly mean no harm to you. Tell us how we can help you."

Aid to Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 10

Janzi determines that the Inevitable is corrupted with some kind of affliction. Likely the only way of avoiding a fight is to "remove affliction." The silver lining is that the party might be able to get through it as its defenses are worn down if a fight breaks out.

And breaks out it does. "You have not complied. You will be retired."

If you spend a move action during the fight to make a Diplomacy or Mysticism check, you might be able to get through to it as its nanites are damaged. Additionally, Janzi has time to say that a Remove Affliction spell will do it automatically.

Hostiles: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Booker: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Dunklezahn: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Gig: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Hack-it: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Torin: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Round 1:
Dunklezahn: Go
Booker: Go
Hack-It: Go
Inevitable: TBD
Gig: TBD
Janzi: TBD

And Janzi HAS that spell.

Defend yourselves, Janzi shouts, but try not to hurt it yet...I've an idea that JUST! MIGHT! WORK!

Strictly speaking, Janzi would have the chance to use that before violence breaks out... Go ahead and post as such.

Strictly speaking, Janzi would have the chance to use that before violence breaks out... Go ahead and post as such.

Schweet.

Now, now, friend, Janzi says, as he gestures a bit, there's no need for that. We're here to help, and I might even do it for free, as I'm feeling very magnanimous today.

Cast remove condition on the inevitable.

...how does that feel? No need to thank me, and I did say I'd do it for free. Pause. We do accept donations, of course.

caster level check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Janzi's spell seems to reorder the Inevitable's nanites, though it's obvious that it won't last forever.

"There is.... something wrong. WRONG. I can't keep it together. Long. Why are you here?"

Booker stands. "We already toldja that. Some brain-addled cultists came out here lookin' fer Starkiller Base a giant superweapon that kills suns. We're tryin' to stop 'em from usin' it. Why are YOU here?"

His question takes a less than friendly tone. Not that the rest of it was friendly, exactly.

"I... it is my purpose. I recently came across a kishalee megastructure as part of .... megastructure... exploration of the galaxy. I will download my ...files... no worry. Not corrupted..."

It's nanite blade dives into the system and immediately downloads.

"Gravitational forces at play within the system that make it difficult to navigate, will program a set of compensation equations into your space skin. " As the Inevitable continues to speak it seems to grow increasingly in control of itself. Janzi knows his spell won't last, but for now it's working.

"With your permission."

"Fine, but I'm monitoring you," Hack-It says, looking over the computer console in front of him. "Any funny business and I will purge every part of code you have, and hunt down your backups."

The Inevitable stands motionless for a second.

"I experienced an altercation with a fearsome group entering the system in an unsafe-looking fleet of vessels. I attempted to speak peacefully with the group but was attacked for the trouble, and though I escaped, I was summarily shunted into the Drift. My.... affliction started then. This hostile group was very angry, but somehow delighting in that anger. They wore spiked armor decorated with a red-and-black circle."

Again, a pause. "Query. Who were they?"

Sounds like our friends the Corpse Fleet. And by friends I mean people we're desperately trying to kill.

Janzi then asks, What can we do to stop this thing corrupting you?

"Get me back to the Prime Material Plane and out of Drift Space. I'll be able to reorganize myself."

It shudders a bit, almost out of focus and static-like. "Corpse Fleet. Query, the Corpse Fleet is not all 'cultist,' explain identity of this cult."

"What this bozo means," Booker grimaces at Janzi, "is that that sounds like th' Cult of the Devourer. They worship some Devourer god an' want to use the superweapon to destroy all life. The Corpse Fleet has been followin' 'em too, fer reasons unknown."

He turns back to his console and drops the ship out of the Drift.

For the first time, emotion creeps into the chorus of tones, "“This is very disturbing. If what you say about the weapon is indeed true, the Cult of the Devourer must not succeed. The entire universe is at stake! You must continue with haste to stop them. While I am technically programmed not to interfere in the discovery of this megastructure, such destructive power cannot be loosed on the galaxy. I can offer you a modicum of aid if you so desire. But you must not fail! I can bequeth a portion of nanites - fear not, they are stable - to a handful of weapons.”

For peacefully handling the Inevitable, the party earns 9,600 XP. Additionally, 4 melee weapons are granted a free nanite weapon fusion.

"Wasn't plannin' on failin', bud." Booker offers up his cestus battleglove for the fusion, and looks to Dunklezahn.

”Agreed,” chimes in Gig. ”When I’m done all of this, I want to learn how to play keyboards like Thrul Magnar and I can’t exactly do that if this super weapon takes out every living thing. So, I’m not planning to fail either. But, I sure appreciate your help.”

When you emerge from the Drift, you're still nearly a day’s travel from the Gate of Twelve Suns. Your Inevitable passenger discorporates with nary a word. As you approach, it’s obvious even from a cursory scan that the system is not a natural phenomenon. A perfect circle of a dozen stars appears stationary with respect to one another, maintaining a perfect gravitational balance.

Computer Scan:

"Alright, let's see what we have here..."
Computers: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 36

"Well, well. Scans tell me that there's a single planet orbiting each star at exactly the same distance. They all have the same diameter, mass, and rotation too. Even the orbits are synchronized! It means they all face the center of the circle of stars at the same time."

Hack-It keeps analyzing the data he's getting. "That gravitational balance is pretty much impossible, meaning magic is at play to make this work. Either way, taking a Drift engine through that is pretty much out. If we did it'd not be pretty. If we're going to get in there, best thing to do is reach one of the planets when it's at the furthest point of its orbit. It'll take some calculations and fancy piloting. I can do the calcs, but Booker will need to bring his 'A' game. Oh, and only one of the twelve planets can support life, so at least the choice is easy. And... yup, there's a structure of some sort on the surface."

"Oh, that's interesting. The planets have these occasional burst of gravitational energy. Happens when they're closest to the center of the system. There's a hole in each planet that goes straight to the core." Hack-It stops and turns to Janzi. "Come here and look at this with me, will you?"
Rolling a Mysticism check for Janzi
Physical Science (Hack-It): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28
Mysticism (Janzi): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (12) + 18 = 30

"Let me turn this scan up to 11. Hey, that a music reference Gig? I get that right? It's just-" Hack-It stops, bending down to read the scan results better. "Huh. Almost didn't catch that. There's some kind of small, cosmic strings. Best word I can think of for it. They're defects in space that are producing gravitational waves. But they're being mystically contained within each planet's core. That's some powerful s!#+."

Booker nods solemnly. He reaches into a pocket and pulls out a pair of battered, ratty leather gloves you have never seen before. Gingerly, he puts them on.

He cracks his knuckles.

Reposting Hack-it with more information. "Oh, that's interesting. The planets have these occasional burst of gravitational energy. Happens when they're closest to the center of the system. There's a hole in each planet that goes straight to the core. The release of this energy likely keeps the system stable."

Janzi adds that if focused properly, the energy can be used to open a large portal to another plane.

Why the heck would you want to do that?

Anyway... We're chasing a bunch of undead, right? They don't necessarily need life support. Am I wrong? Couldn't they go to any of the planets? Or is that one the only one with a structure on it?

Did the scans pick up any kind of a picket out our way? Seems odd that a fleet wouldn't leave some early detection for hostiles out here. It's not like they aren't aware of our pursuit. Even if they think we bit it out with the kish, a little caution seems appropriate. We've proven to be resourceful.

Heck, did the scans pick up any sign of the Fleet? Or other ships?

The party members who believe in such things think that Dunklezahn immediately jinxed their approach.

From the vicinity of the nearest planet, a trio of ships approaches: one large ship and a pair of escorts speeding alongside. All sensors indicate that they are on an intercept course! The comm channels screech to life, and a gaunt man leers toward the camera lens. His skin is dark but is made nearly iridescent by a swirl of glowing nanites. Long, silver dreadlocks and an unkempt charcoal-colored beard frame his face. The distortion of the lens puts a shade of menace to the man’s movements and appearance.

“Are you ready for the end?” The question hisses out from a mouth of brown crooked teeth; a yellowish, soapy spittle flies forth with every syllable uttered. “I am the agent of oblivion! I am the fang of the Devourer! I am the herald of annihilation. I will sing when your bodies—then only shells— drift and twirl through the void, charred amid the tangled wreckage of your ship, and your journey to nothingness is nearly complete!”

Shadows flit behind the Jangly Man as he babbles verbosely.

From the ENTIRE crew, I'll take EITHER a Perception check or a Sense Motive check.

"Sonofa..."
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Either: 1d20 ⇒ 1

Welp.

Booker is too focused on firing up the engines to pay any attention to the screen. This is the Cult of the Devourer, and he will see their hulks burn in the void before long. "Let's do this!"

Just a note on the story here: we are following the Cult of the Devourer (actual cultists), which is not the same thing as the Corpse Fleet (rebel Eoxians). The latter is following the former, just like we are, but we do not have a clear indication of why.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

”I think I’ve seen this guy before. He looks like the theremin player for a group called annihilation.”

Janzi starts tracking the hidden messages, but after about 12 seconds or so, the man on the screen gets jumpy and immediately cuts off communications.

The Singularity fires up tactical weapons and thrusters!

-----------------------------------------
Initiative
Combat Role sheets
If you beat a Piloting: 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 14 + 1 = 27 Take your Engineering Phase. If you lose initiative, take your Engineering and Helm Phase.

"Here we go," Booker grins, a mad glint in his eye. Piloting: 1d20 + 21 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 21 + 2 = 30

"Hack-It, I want some scans, startin' with the big 'un. Need to know what we're steerin' at."

"Gig, I'mma want you on guns fer the moment. I can get enough juice outta this baby on my own. Gonna set you up for a broadside." He comms over to Dunklezahn in the starboard gunner's station. "Gonna have Gig take the first shot with a broadside. Need you snipin' at one o' the little 'uns with another gun."

"Janzi, uh, do yer thing."

Feel free to ignore Booker's instructions, but that is my recommendation.

I recommend the three +2 aids from the computer be allocated to Booker (initiative check above), Hack-It (scan), and Gig (gunnery). I recommend Janzi encourage Gig.

”You really want me on the guns? Woohoo! Well, that sounds fun.”

Gig eagerly jumps right into the gunner’s chair and puts his hands around the aiming console. Pushing a series of buttons and taking aim, Gig prepares a broadside against the first enemy ship comes into range.

Gunnery Check: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (10) + 19 = 29 (Computer bonus and captain’s bonus not included.)

"Hold your horses, I'm on it," Hack-It works the computer console, scanning and interpreting the results.
Computers: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (7) + 18 = 25 I think our computer system also gives him +2? I don't remember

Hack-it quickly runs down the readout! The Singularity is a modified ATech Bulwark; a large destroyer with a crew of 6. It's got a speed rating of 6 with average maneuverability. Hack-it also throws up a pop up on the screen with the defensive capabilities:

AC: 22
TL:20
Hull: 170
Shields: 22 in each quadrant, with slightly more (24) in the forward arc.

Anyone else in Engineering or Helm?

"Roger," Booker acknowledges. "Based on their current heading an' the shield tilt forward, I'm guessin' that's where they like to do battle. Gig!" He calls over to the other ysoki. "I'm layin' her along fer a broadside starboard. Fire the launcher first. Lessee if they got any nets or th'like."

"Dunk, be ready w'that forward laser."

Booker squeezes the throttle and eases the Maiden towards one of the fighters, out of the maw of the Singularity. Evade DC 22: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (13) + 21 = 34

The Maiden has AC 23, TL 27 for this round.

If Gig spends an RP to Broadside and we keep his first roll, the Heavy Antimatter Missile Launcher hits (+12 gunnery, -2 Broadside, +2 Computer, +TBD from Janzi) with a 22 against their TL, doing 10d10 damage if they do not have a point weapon to negate it with. Gig needs to make two additional rolls: +10 total vs AC for the Particle Beam (8d6 damage), and +8 total (due to range) vs AC for the Heavy Laser Net (5d6 damage).

I can’t believe Booker thinks I’m ready for shooting big guns on the Maiden. I must have impressed him with my laser pistol firing. Well, I can’t disappoint him now or he will never let me sit in the gunnery chair again. Here goes nothing.

Damage for AntiMatter Missile Launcher: 10d10 ⇒ (4, 4, 1, 6, 3, 8, 3, 5, 7, 10) = 51

Particle Beam: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Damage: 8d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 5, 3, 1, 3, 1, 1) = 19

Heavy Laser Net: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Damage: 5d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 1, 6, 2) = 14

Oh no! There went nothing.

"YEEEAAAHHH! There it is! How you like them apples!!!" Booker croons at the pilot's station. "Crack shootin', Gig!"

Gig's opening broadside is a fiery show of pyrotechnics! Immediately its clear that the enemy is damaged. There's no time to celebrate though as the trio of ships open fire on the Maiden

Singularity: high explosive missile launcher: Gunner 1: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

Green Fighter: high explosive missile launcher: Gunner 1: 1d20 + 7 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 3 = 12

Yellow Fighter: high explosive missile launcher: Gunner 1: 1d20 + 7 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 3 = 16

And NOTHING hits the Starfinder ship!

To Act:
Dunklezahn
Janzi

Following directions from Slack...

Dunk stares at the computer screen, as it targets an incoming fighter. When the reticle turns red and beeps at him, he pushes the glowing button.
Heavy Laser Net: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Damage: 5d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 1, 3, 6) = 15

BOT per Slack

Janzi reminds Gig of the biological distinctions between rats and bats, though makes no mention of ysoki. Somehow, Janzi's calm blather encourages the musician. Janzi's +15 auto-encourages, making Gig's first attack vs TL a 24.

Dunklezahn's shot with the net is dead on target, enveloping the enemy's shields for a moment, severely weakening them.

Initiative
Combat Role sheets
If you beat a Piloting: 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 14 + 1 = 16 Take your Engineering Phase. If you lose initiative, take your Engineering and Helm Phase.

The Singularity and one of the fighters close distance, while the other fighter pulls off a risky flyby maneuver. The fighter nearly collides with you, and passes too quick to turn a weapon on them.

Starfinder Helm and Engineering Phase, Go!

"Alright, they got no nets, but they got some HEMLs... what else they got Hack-It?" Maybe one more scan on the Singularity? Not too concerned about the fighters just yet.

Booker eases the Maiden to starboard, ready to zigzag the ship as necessary. Evade DC 22: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (9) + 21 = 30 SUCCESS

"LIGHT IT UP!!!"

Particle Beam (8d6), Heavy Laser Net (5d6), and HAML (10d10) are all available to smash the Singularity's injured starboard quadrant. There are two +2 bonuses from the computer remaining (assuming Booker used one for the initiative check as default).