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

Game Master Chris Marsh

Gig sets to work....he finds the programming language strange and unintuitive. and accidentally sets off the countermeasures!

INTRUDER. INTRUDER. ALARM WILL SOUND IN SIX SECONDS.

Anyone want to take the keyboard?

”HELP! Some nasty programmer laid a nasty trap for an unsuspecting Ysoki! ?! How will I ever get my hover bike if this alarm goes off?! Hack! Help me quick! What did I miss?“

Hack-It pushes Gig aside. "Damnit! Let me do this!"

I'm assuming that I need to make a Computers check to hack the system and gain access first, and then another check to disable the countermeasures

Computers (Hack System): 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 21
F!&+ing dice. I'm using my 1/book reroll
Computers (Hack System): 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (15) + 20 = 35
Computers (Disable Module): 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 21
F~$+. I think I can try again. If failing this triggers something though, I have Hack Directory which lets me make another check to prevent the countermeasure from happening. If nothing more happens, he'll simply try again
Computers (Disable Module): 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (12) + 20 = 32

Hack-it manages to shut down the countermeasures before the klaxon sounds. It's a close call, but he gets it.

The highly skilled yoski also finds himself past the firewall. He turns the power on to the room and settles in for a little electronic hunting.

The platform near the center of the room flickers to life as a luminescent holographic projection manifests above it. Within seconds the light coalesces into a tall, regal humanoid form that resembles the images of the ancient kishalee found on Istamak. The figure is dressed in garb that appears to be a mixture of military and scientific outfits that seems to disappear into the glow of the circular dais at the figure’s feet.

The holographic figure stretches out an arm and starts speaking strange, spidery syllables with the rapidity of purpose, though her expression remains fixed and stoic.

Hack-it looks and sees that there is a language filter. He switches it to Common. The hologram then speaks.

“He has gone mad. His programming had degenerated and he kept raving about something called the Star-Eater. I confined him due to these critical errors, but now he is out, and I am in here! He and those who helped him must be stopped.” There is a brief pause. “From your attire, I assumed you weren’t allied with those cruel marauders. Please tell me you aren’t with them.”

Nope, Janzi says. We're here to stop them. Everyone we know is in this universe, so we'd just as soon not see it end in a hurry, you know?

He turns to Hack-It. How do we get this one out?

Answering the question not meant for her, "“My name is Osteth. I was once one of the many kishalee scientists who monitored this entire system, protecting its secret. Long ago, I had a physical form, but in order to maintain these computers past our civilization’s fall, another engineer and I created digital versions of our consciousnesses to serve as custodians for eternity. My programming has been sequestered to this chamber, and I can’t aid you outside of it until Eltreth has been “captured” once again."

I don't follow. How are you sequestered here? Can't my friend just take down a firewall or something to let you out? How does getting the other digital custodian back "free" you? He's a program like you. How are we supposed to capture it? Isolate it on a special hard drive or something? I'm confused.

The hologram's image twitches a bit. "My name is Osteth. I was once one of the many kishalee scientists who monitored this entire system, protecting its secret. Long ago, I had a physical form, but in order to maintain these computers past our civilization’s fall, another engineer and I created digital versions of our consciousnesses to serve as custodians for eternity. His name is Eltreth. We have operated here for millennia, keeping this place functional and its terrible secret hidden, until a couple of centuries ago. Without warning, he began to display signs of instability and critical errors. He became convinced that he was the tool of some being called the Devourer. I believed it to be just some sort of manifestation of degradation in his core programming, and I sequestered him to these servers before he could cause any damage. I had hoped he could be repaired, but recent events have changed my mind."

The way the word "sequestered" is used makes you think it was a mystical process, not a technological one. She speaks the word reverently, and specifically.

"It's not a hard drive you need. You must access the sequestering subprogram from the main operations room.” At this point, Osteth brings up a map of control center and points out an area highlighted with a red circle. “This should initiate an exchange of my core programming and Eltreth’s. Beware, though. Eltreth has probably installed countermeasures.”

Booker grunts an acknowledgement. "What of the others that came recently? Dressed funny?"

"Several days ago we were invaded by a group of raiders. Some of them looked much like yourselves, but others were like figments, strange dark apparitions with no true form. The raiders call themselves the Desperate Hunger and are led by an android woman named Null-9—I discovered this as they blasted their way into this facility spouting paeans to this Devourer and caught me offguard. Before I knew it, they had freed Eltreth and forced me into his prison. Luckily, I was able to place some roadblocks in their path to slow them down, but they cannot be allowed to access the Stellar Degenerator.”

Alright. Head to ops. Nerd stuff. Then, we're good to go and kill some raiders. Beware of traps. Sit tight, Osteth, and we'll have you out of here in no time.

Dunk starts making his way to the operations room.

"Calling it 'nerd stuff' is almost endearing," Hack-It says, following close behind Dunklezahn with his weapon ready.

Map updated to open the door?

"Let's get to it," Booker says, putting out his cigarette and hefting the cannon.

Map updated.

Housekeeping: Janzi grabbed the 5 incendiary grenades, the 3 disruption grenades, and the minor disruption pistol. If the consensus is to split the grenades, it's cool, just let me know.

Right, Janzi says, his corona laser pistol in one hand and a disruption grenade in the other, let's frack some cultists up.

The door of this chamber opens onto a raised platform that overlooks various panels alight and abuzz with digital activity. Screens flicker with schematics of the many pieces of technology that control the kishalee megastructure, while others show views of legions of small robots repairing and maintaining massive mechanisms. The shadows here move strangely, seemingly having a life of their own. A circular dais occupies a second raised platform in the eastern end of the room.

Hard at work is a pair of cultists. Also in the room is a trio of the oblivion shades. Standing above it all is a shade somehow darker and more sinister than the others...

Hostiles: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Booker: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Dunklezahn: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Gig: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Hack-it: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Torin: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Round 1:
Gig: Go
Booker: Go
Hostiles: TBD
Dunklezahn: TBD
Hack-it: TBD
Janzi: TBD

"Malice!" Booker hisses. "Focus yer fire on the master shade!"

To punctuate his point, the veteran takes up a position athwart the raised landing and fires a laser lance at the leader.

Artillery Laser @ Malice EAC: 1d20 + 16 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 16 - 2 = 18
Fire Damage: 3d8 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (2, 7, 2) + 8 + 4 = 23

Charges: 16/20.

The shade wordlessly and somewhat easily, dodges Booker's shot.

Round 1:
Gig: Go
Booker: Miss
Hostiles: TBD
Dunklezahn: TBD
Hack-it: TBD
Janzi: TBD

Gig follows Booker into position. At the sight of so many shadows, the Ysoki technomancer moves his hands in rapid somatic gestures then with an utterance that invokes what can only be described as magic, hurls an Explosive Blast straight into the center of the shades engulfing them all in flame.

Explosive Blast: 9d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 5, 6, 2, 2, 4, 6, 3) = 36

Reflex DC 18 for half

”Sorry to get carried away, Booker, but these shadow creeps will just not do!”

Gig's explosion licks the feet of Booker and himself! It completely covers all of the enemy!
Red Cultist: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Black Cultist: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Blue Shade: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Purple Shade: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Grey Shade: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Malice: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

With everyone a bit wounded, the cultists take aim at Gig before dropping their pistols to engage Booker:
Red v. Gig: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21 for ACID: 1d10 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Black v. Gig: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15 MISS

All of the shades float towards the pair, two coming up from under the floor, and the other Grey floating in the air by the railing.

Blue v. Gig: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29 for Acid: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Purple v. Booker: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16 MISS

Malice then gets involved, thrusting into Gig's mind with tremendous power! Mental damage: 7d10 ⇒ (9, 6, 8, 4, 7, 1, 2) = 37 Will DC 20 for half

Round 1:
Gig: BOOM!
Booker: Miss
Hostiles: ATK
Dunklezahn: Go
Hack-it: Go
Janzi: Go

Dunk wastes no time to close with the shade and draw its ire.

Ultrathin Longsword: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21
Slashing Damage: 4d8 + 17 ⇒ (4, 6, 6, 1) + 17 = 34

Dunklezahn cuts a swath from the shade. Indeed, it's ire is drawn

Round 1:
Gig: BOOM!
Booker: Miss
Hostiles: ATK
Dunklezahn: Go
Hack-it: Go
Janzi: Go

WillSave: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

As Shades start firing their pistols, Gig gets hit and starts to feel the burn of acid bite into his soft Ysoki fur.

Heehee. Those scorched shadows are pretty wimpy. That wasn’t so bad.

However, out of nowhere, the mental thrust of Malice reaches into his mind like a dagger of pain thrust into his head. With his head screaming in agony, Gig fights with all his will to stay conscious.

Help. Nooo! Mummy! I know I should have listened to you and stayed working in Dad’s shop instead.

Janzi moves forward and flings the temporal disruption grenade in his hand (targeting the grid intersection as indicated on the map).

ranged attack vs. AC 5: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 8 - 2 = 14

Hack-It quickly hustles over to get line of sight, his drone following behind. The mechanic then takes aim and fires upon Dunk's target.
Attack w/Zero Pistol: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27
Cold damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 5) + 4 = 13

Looking to use the newly acquired gear, Janzi lobs a grenade into the mix.
Red: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Black: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Purple: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

The cultists hold it together, but the shade seems quite out of sorts after the temporal burst!
Hack-it scores a light hit on the shade by Dunk!

Round 2:
Gig: Go
Booker: Go
Hostiles: TBD
Dunklezahn: TBD
Hack-it: TBD
Janzi: TBD

"Malice, people! Malice!" Booker growls, sidling to the right and, uh, eating three AoOs from the shades.

He cracks off a shot as he moves (Shot on the Run).

Artillery Laser @ Malice EAC: 1d20 + 16 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 16 - 2 = 25
Fire Damage: 3d8 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (7, 3, 4) + 8 + 4 = 26

Charges: 12/20.

Gig, who is badly hurt withdraws from the shade and takes cover behind his friends.

”Help, the maliciously nasty shade is trying to destroy my brain!”

Gig withdraws to safety while Booker does the exact opposite!

Grey AoO: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15 MISS
Purple AoO: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28 for DMG: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Blue AoO: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24 MISS

He dodges most of the attacks, getting tagged once. His shot though is dead on and strikes the center of the shade!

Two shades focus on Dunklezahn while the other slides through the wall and attacks Janzi!

Grey v. Janzi: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28 for DMG: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Purple v. Dunk: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25 for DMG: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Blue v. Dunk: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24 for DMG: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

The two cultists drive towards Booker, using Sintered Longswords to keep him up the the stairs:
Red: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (15) + 17 = 32 for DMG: 2d8 + 14 ⇒ (1, 6) + 14 = 21
Black: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (9) + 17 = 26 MISS

Malice immediately weaves a spell on Booker! Will DC 19 or be HELD.

Round 2:
Gig: Run!
Booker: Hit
Hostiles: ATK
Dunklezahn: Go
Hack-it: Go
Janzi: Go

Janzi growls at Booker. Which is a great idea, if we can actually, you know, get at it instead of its mooks. Any ideas on that?

Holding action until Dunk goes, hoping he can take out one of the lesser shades.

Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20 whew!

"That's what the guns're for!" Booker bellows. The lesser shade's acid is processed by his rebreather, but the cultist's blade stings.

EDIT

As the second cultist goes by, Booker smashes a lobstered fist into his face.

Cestus Battleglove AoO @ Black: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

"I can't pass through walls! At least, not until these damnable shades kill me!"

He and Hum continue to figure upon the same target, hoping this time to finish it before it does anything to Janzi.
Attack w/Hailstorm Zero Pistol vs Blue Shade: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31
Cold Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 4) + 4 = 12
Crit Cold Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 2) + 4 = 12 Plus The target must succeed at a DC 19 Fortitude save or be staggered for 1 round

Attack w/Frostbite Zero Rifle vs Blue Shade: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Cold Damage: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

Booker's punch doesn't connect as the cultist simply sneers.

Hack-it's shot is perfectly aimed, though the undead doesn't seem to suffer the staggering effects of the blow.

Round 2:
Gig: Run!
Booker: Hit
Hostiles: ATK
Dunklezahn: Go
Hack-it: Hit
Janzi: Go

Dunk tries to make some room for the others, keeping the pressure up on Blue.

Will switch to grey if blue falls

Ultrathin Longsword: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 15 - 4 = 26
Slashing Damage: 4d8 + 17 ⇒ (6, 2, 6, 5) + 17 = 36

Ultrathin Longsword: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 15 - 4 = 20
Slashing Damage: 4d8 + 17 ⇒ (1, 2, 2, 7) + 17 = 29

It takes two swings, but Dunklezahn severs the shade's connection to this world!

Round 2:
Gig: Run!
Booker: Hit
Hostiles: ATK
Dunklezahn: Kill
Hack-it: Hit
Janzi: Go

w00t! Thanks, Dunk!

As Blue falls, Janzi springs into action, darting past the remaining shades and getting alongside Booker. He lets fly with a seven-pointed force disk at Malice.

ranged attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
force: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 2) = 5 ...really? >.>
Eat your dinner, now. Force damage to what I can only assume might perhaps be your face.

Janzi's disk strikes with deadly aim, directly and completely affecting the shade. Malice makes no noise whatsoever...

Round 3:
Gig: Go
Booker: Go
Hostiles: TBD
Dunklezahn: TBD
Hack-it: TBD
Janzi: TBD

"That's more like it," Booker grumbles. He does not like stepping in front of Janzi, but he does not like getting stabbed either. "Watch out now," he warns, taking a guarded step to the left.

His cannon thunders at Malice a third time.

Artillery Laser @ Malice EAC: 1d20 + 16 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 16 - 2 = 21
Fire Damage: 3d8 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (1, 3, 7) + 8 + 4 = 23

"Dunk! Get in Malice's face, dammit! Ignore the kids." You have jumpjets, right?

Booker just barely tags the silent Malice, but the hits are adding up.

Round 3:
Gig: Go
Booker: Hit
Hostiles: TBD
Dunklezahn: TBD
Hack-it: TBD
Janzi: TBD

Gig takes a guarded step back from the advancing shade and the furiously casts Magic Missile.

Magic Missile: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 4) + 2 = 8

Hack! Stop this thing! It’s chasing me! We need to get back in this room and take down the real threat!”

Gig tries to buy some space in order to stop the shade. Two missiles strike, but the shade keeps coming!

The shade slides forward. Both Hack-it and Gig feel its negativity and cold. It reaches with a hand out to Gig: ATK: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29 for ACid: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Dunklezahn faces his own shade: ATK: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22 but the big vesk isn't as easy a target.

The cultists advance. They eschew the easy target of Janzi, focusing their sintered blades on Booker:
Red ATK: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (20) + 17 = 37 for DMG: 4d8 + 28 ⇒ (1, 2, 8, 7) + 28 = 46
Black ATK: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (16) + 17 = 33 for DMG: 2d8 + 14 ⇒ (6, 8) + 14 = 28
Their attacks are devastating! Booker is clearly wounded by the barrage.

Malice piles on the hurt, assaulting Booker's mind to boot. Mind Thrust III: 7d10 ⇒ (9, 1, 5, 1, 4, 8, 4) = 32 Will DC 20 for half

Round 3:
Gig: MM
Booker: Hit
Hostiles: ATK
Dunklezahn: Go
Hack-it: Go
Janzi: Go

Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 Good time for that, I guess, though I would rather that go to hurting the bad guy...

Booker emits a sharp, involuntary grunt as the blades find a way through his armor. He spits blood into the face of the closer cultists and turns back to Malice. Then the headache hits. He grinds his teeth and fights through.

Dunk taps the button on his glove to activate his armor's haste circuit. As the world starts to slow down around him, Dunk leaps from the railing, aided by his jump jets and continues running as his feet touch down. He closes with Malice and assaults the cultist with all the skill he can bring to bear.

Ultrathin Longsword: 1d20 + 15 - 4 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 15 - 4 - 2 = 25
Slashing Damage: 4d8 + 17 + 4 ⇒ (6, 6, 2, 4) + 17 + 4 = 39

Ultrathin Longsword: 1d20 + 15 - 4 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 15 - 4 - 2 = 18
Slashing Damage: 4d8 + 17 + 4 ⇒ (6, 8, 3, 1) + 17 + 4 = 39

The two shades reach for Dunklezahn as he leaps:
Purple AoO: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13
Grey AoO: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
but he's too fast!

The ultrathin longword slices through. Dunk Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11 Suddenly he feels some of the pain that should have been inflicted by his blade. Somehow Malice is sharing it with him! Dunk takes 9 DMG It sends his second swing off target.

Round 3:
Gig: MM
Booker: Hit
Hostiles: ATK
Dunklezahn: Bring it!
Hack-it: Go
Janzi: Go

Seeing his meat shield defender rush Malice, Hack-It swears and follows. He also activates his armor's haste circuit, sprinting around the shades and leaping over the railing. When he lands, he levels his pistol and fires!
Hailstorm Zero Pistol vs Malice: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
Cold Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 6) + 4 = 15

Hum continues to follow its programming and fires at close range on one of the shades.
Frostbite Zero Rifle vs Purple: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Cold damage: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

Hack-it can't adapt to the changing battlefield, and his shots all miss.

Round 3:
Gig: MM
Booker: Hit
Hostiles: ATK
Dunklezahn: Bring it!
Hack-it: Miss
Janzi: Go

Janzi ducks behind Booker (going through his square, so it provokes from Nietzche and Heidegger but not from the minishade) and follows Hack's leap down to the lower level, letting fly with another seven-pointed force disc.

ranged attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
force dmg: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 1) = 7 >.<

The shades aren't ready for another creature passing through and he gets to the floor. His disk strikes, but the power behind it is minor.

Round 4:
Gig: Go
Booker: Go
Hostiles: TBD
Dunklezahn: TBD
Hack-it: TBD
Janzi: TBD

”Hack! Don’t you dare leave me alone with these shady characters!”

Using his resolve, Gig activates a magic hack and as a move action, teleports himself 30 feet down on the floor. Next he continues to cast One of his most powerful spells. Moving his hands in quick somatic gestures in an unusual pattern never seen before, Gig releases Arcing Surge upon Malice.

Electrical Damage: 10d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 5, 6, 3, 1, 6, 1, 1, 4) = 37

Reflex Save vs. DC 18 for half.