Hmm's Incident at Absalom Station (Inactive)

Game Master Hmm

Simagus listened to the preps as he made his way towards the lock and grabbing his rifle and pistol as he made his way towards the airlock. "locked and loaded..."

You exit the tunnel you set up and gain entry through the aft airlock, moving into the Acreon.
You see that, inside, standard gravity is in effect, and the airlock and ship’s corridors are lit with emergency lighting, providing dim light, and the ceilings are 8 feet high. So will be the rooms beyond.
Obviously the ship has no atmosphere in and just past the airlock.

Finish any preparations, and then you can put your minis on slide 3 (around where Zeyram is).
Tell me what your default status will be re. items/weapons in hand ; armor/suit (respirators & lights)...

Flickering emergency lights do little to dispel the darkness inside the derelict ship, and the sense of abandonment is only heightened by the apparent lack of any movement or life inside its airless corridors beyond the airlock which is open on both sides, like a gaping mouth
Artificial gravity is still functional as you set foot on the freighter, however, so there’s likely still power to run essential systems and possibly restore life support and atmosphere to the ship.
Unfortunately, there are still no obvious clues as to the fate of the Acreon’s vanished crew.

An articulated helmet extends from the back of Hawthorne's armor and covers his face with a stylized, androgynous face (a representation of Brigh), providing him with environmental protection. The eyes reflect the ambient light as the infrared sensors engage as the engineer steps off of the Hippocampus and onto the dark Acreon.

He slips the extra battery into his utility belt and readies his rifle.

"Find me a terminal or an open conduit, and I'll see about turning on the atmosphere," he says as he searches for an active console inside of the ship.

Computers for the future: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Zeyram engages his environmental system, then the new infrared system. Looking around, he takes a moment to adjust the helmet’s HUD display before stepping forward.

He waits patiently as everyone assembles in the Acreon’s airlock before sealing the outer doors behind them.

He announces over the comm “Best to have the doors sealed now for when we bring up the atmosphere.”

Jim seals his suit and activates the flashlight. He holds his pistol in hand. Buster rolls along in front of him.

As they step into the gloom, Cade activates the infra-red on his second skin.

The respirators in Xyklik's armor engage as he moves out of the airlock and into the ship proper. He carries his laser rifle in the sling on his back and, anticipating close-quarters fighting, he keeps his club out in one hand and ready. Seeing two doors before him, right and left, a flood of joyous chemicals flood his receptors as he chooses the left door to move up to.

He checks to see if it is sealed.

Besides the flickering emergency lights, Big Jim's flashlight emits some extra illumination.

As Xyklik exits into a long chamber that stretches across the width of the ship, and is surrounded by machinery, it seems like all of the Acreon’s main engineering functions can be operated from this room, which also contains a tech workshop expansion bay... well, as Zyklik enters and is about to move to the left - Hawthorne, who was beside him, spots movement as two creatures come charging down the corridor and are upon him--

only Hawthorne may act - surprise round
Then, after Hawthorne:
Round 1
Red
Big Jim
Blue
Zeyram
Cade
Hawthorne
Simagus
Zyklik
__________________________________________
• Simagus?: grabbing his rifle and pistol - one in each hand? (have to drop pistol to use rifle?). Not closing helmet vs. void?
• Cade? - Not closing helmet vs. void? - no weapon in hand
• Hawthorne - closed helmet & respirator - rifle in both hands
• Zeyram - closed helmet & respirator
• Big Jim - closed helmet & respirator - pistol in hand - light on
• Xyklik - closed helmet & respirator - club in hand
_______________________
Perception, Big Jim: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (6) + 0 = 6
Perception, Cadence Rem: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Perception, Hawthorne the Innovator: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Perception, Simagus: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10
Perception, Xyklik: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Perception, Zeyram: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
______________________
Initiative, Big Jim: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Initiative, Cadence Rem: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Initiative, Hawthorne the Innovator: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Initiative, Simagus: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (11) + 0 = 11
Initiative, Xyklik: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Initiative, Zeyram: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Hawthorne's gasp echoes across the communication units as the two strange creatures charge him from the shadows. He takes a careful step away from the beasts in an attempt to fire a rifle shot.

Move: Guarded Step

Identification Roll: 1d20 ⇒ 20
+4 for Culture
+7 for Mysticism
+7 for Physical Science

Sigamus is an android and immune to the void.

• Zeyram - closed helmet & respirator

laser, knife, and arc pistol in hand.

Cade is fully-suited up. I thought I made that clear. Sorry. His hands are empty though: he’s done a lot of work on wrecks and old satellites: not his instinct to expect combat yet. Plus, he has his own tricks.

Cade has a second skin, so I imagine it’s the ‘environmental field’ protections rather than a physical helmet. I picture it as a sparkling, misty layer just around him.

Hawthorne has no idea at all what these things are.

As he steps back, the red beast see slide 2, bottom left moves after him and bites his leg.
3 dam'

Big Jim sees this strange night-blue beast with long dreadlocks...

________
Round 1 Bold are up
Red
Big Jim
Blue
Zeyram
Cade
Hawthorne (3 dam')
Simagus
Zyklik
__________________________________________
• Simagus?: grabbing his rifle and pistol - one in each hand? (have to drop pistol to use rifle?). Not closing helmet vs. void? - DV/LL
• Cade - closed helmet & respirator - hand's free - DV
• Hawthorne - closed helmet & respirator - rifle in both hands - DV
• Zeyram - closed helmet & respirator - laser, knife, and arc pistol in hand - DV
• Big Jim - closed helmet & respirator - pistol in hand - light on
• Xyklik - closed helmet & respirator - club in hand - blindsense
__________________________________________
So, all but Big Jim & Xyklik have Darkvision?
__________________________________________

And Jim has low-light vision from his race.

"Those aren't Goblin-rats!"
Jim and Buster open fire!

vs Red

Jim - Tac Semi auto pistol
Attack 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 2 - 4 = 6
Damage 1d6 ⇒ 2

Buster - Tac Semi auto pistol
Attack 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Damage 1d6 ⇒ 4

Jim is wary of hitting his comrades, and his shot goes wide, whereas Buster has a clearer line of sight and hits the blueish beast.
Without atmosphere the shots are soundless, and the smoke from the guns...does whatever smoke does in space.

The blue beast steps up beside its fellow beast, and also bites Zyklik's leg.
3 damage

________
Round 1 Bold are up
Red (-4)
Big Jim
Blue
Zeyram
Cade
Hawthorne (3 dam')
Simagus
Zyklik (3 dam')

Xyklik hefts his club and attempts to smash the creature's face in that Hawthorne injured to finish it off, a single grunt of effort escaping his helmet. At the same time, he keeps watch of Hawthorne and the others to intervene if it attacks any of them.

Xyklik will use his reaction for his Bodyguard feat to cover anyone attacked other than him, granting +2 AC.

It is unclear to me if the 'engine equipment' blocks a diagonal guarded step. If it doesn't block it, I would take a guarded step to flank first.

Attuning himself with light, Zeyram then attempts to cut the space doggie in front of him with his knife.

Survival Knife: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Slashing damage, photon mode: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5

@Zeyram: you are inside the airlock, with thick walls, and facing an open door, so that is what blocks stepping across the corner.
The engine equipment is outside the airlock, along the sides of the hallway/corridor.

He has both weapons, I am asssuming the pistol is holstered and rifle carried and helm locked

Muttering a curse in the helmet he steps back and takes a shot at one of the blue creatures as he is trying to process what they are

Life Science: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

attack laser rifle: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Strange, the slide looked slightly different on my iPad than it does on my computer. I moved my figure up to where I could have attacked. Thanks for the additional description, that explains the situation well.

Boxed in, Cade draws his pistol but uses his energy ray ability to send fire lancing toward the nearest foe.
attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

The ferocity of the attack by the space lions leaves Hawthorne little time to coordinate his thoughts with Sophia. He disengages from the alien beast even as the self-sealing property of his armor prevents his oxygen from escaping into the void.

His rifle hums as it rapidly charges and discharges its energy into the red space lion.

Pulsecaster Rifle: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
E, NL: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Critical: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Thanks Simagus. I put the list on Slde 2 of what is in hand, types of vision
re. androids & void: closed helms can also protect them from whatever contact poison/disease is sprayed (androids are not immune to such ailments).

The creature manages to dodge Xyklik's club, and Zeyram's knife only slashes air - or non-air.
You feel Zeyram starting to draw energy around himself.

Simagus' shot goes wide.
The android is not able to recognize these "space lions", but it does process the fact that these are aberrations.
Cade's shot goes wide too

But Hawthorne hits the critter smack in the head, making it buckle for a second as the energy burst damages it.
Recovering its wits, and furious, the red beast moves in to attack Hawthorne, but he trips for a second and is unable to try to bite.

Big Jim...

@Simagus: you are still in the corridor linking the two airlocks, right? (your mini is "off map"?)

________
Round 2 Bold are up
Red (-9)
Big Jim
Blue
Zeyram
Cade
Hawthorne (3 dam')
Simagus
Zyklik (3 dam')

Jim delays, allowing his friends to keep pushing out into the combat "Don't let 'em box us all in!" he calls to his companions.

The blue-tinted beast bites at Xyklik once, ripping deep into the shirren's leg apart (13 dam' - crit'!), and then again, barely getting a solid grip, but just enough to crunch again! (8 more damage: total of 21)
________
Round 2 Bold are up
Red (-9)
Blue
Zeyram
Cade
Hawthorne (3 dam')
Simagus
Zyklik (24 dam')
Big Jim

"Zyklik!" Hawthorne shouts as he defends himself with his rifle in order to gain some distance between himself and the space lion. He spends more effort trying to avoid the lion's bite than aiming.

Move: Guarded Step
Standard: Fighting Defensively: +2 AC to KAC 19/EAC 17, -4 to hit

Pulsecaster Rifle, Defensive: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 3 - 4 = 1
E, NL: 1d6 ⇒ 1

I can't get out without provoking multiple AOO.

Cade reaches over to Zayram and places a hand on his weapon, "Go get 'em."

Casting superhcharge weapon, +4d6 damage

Then he draws his own knife.

Zeyram attacks the Blue monster.

Survival Knife: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Slashing damage, photon mode, Supercharge: 1d4 + 1 + 1 + 4d6 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 + (3, 5, 5, 4) = 20
Crit damage, photon mode, Supercharge: 1d4 + 1 + 1 + 4d6 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 + (6, 4, 5, 4) = 24

If Blue goes down, he will take a guarded step into the area where it was.

Hawthorne's energy bolt zings against the corridor wall...

Cade funnels power into Zeyram's knife, the blade of which starts crackling with energy, blade that Zeyram promptly plunges into the blue hued beast.
The blade slashes deep in itself, opening the beast's throat, and the energy explodes against its target, racing over the body, as well as entering within the wound, into the throat.
Wracked by these powerful kinetic and energetic blows, the beast does not go down--it simply disintegrates, disappearing in a little cloud of particles, that are propelled away.
Zeyram steps forward.
________
Round 2 Bold are up
Red (-9)
Hawthorne (3 dam')
Zeyram
Cade
Simagus
Zyklik (24 dam')
Big Jim

"Sigamus. Can you help Zyklik?" Hawthorne asks over the comms while he continues to watch the remaining beast's movements carefully.

Unless Zyklik has some special reaction or such:
You saw that Zyklik fell unconscious...

Just realises Hawthorne never rolled for life science

life science to identify: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Jim moves out and takes a swing at the creature with his massive Vesk fists...

Attack 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Damage 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Buster opens fire

Attack 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Damage 1d6 ⇒ 4

Seeing his companions in trouble the android calls upon the power of Sarenrae to keep them in the fight "Stay in the fight, don't falter, Sarenrae is with us!"

Healing channel: 2d8 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10 -1 RP

Big Jim and Buster both are unable to pierce the rubbery skin of this beast that Cade has no idea what it might be... when a burst of Positive Energy washes over you all, restoring health in the name of the Dawnflower.
Xyklik opens his eyes: he is prone, and the club is at his feet. He realizes he was hurt badly and passed out, but is now back in the fight. @10 HP

________
Round 2 Bold are up
Red (-9)
Hawthorne (3 dam')
Zeyram
Cade
Simagus
Big Jim
Xyklik (SP 0/0 HP 10/13)

Gah, sorry about the wait. I thought this got posted up Saturday.

Xyklik's body convulses as the creature tears through him and he falls unconscious amidst the melee. His spirit holds on, unwilling to die.

Upon waking from the healing magic, Xyklik growls into his suits comm receptors and stands, picking up the club that he dropped on the ground when he went unconscious.

The beast turns towards Big Jim as he moves in and leaves himself open to an attack
and bites him, just managing to hit, but hurting a lot.
AoO (correct? moved through Zeyram, provoking) ; 8 dam' ; 0 sp 11/12 hp

The beast thus keeps its attention on Big Jim, biting at him again twice.
Despite Xyklik leaning in to deflect the attack, the beast has now focused its attention, and mangles Big Jim twice. The first bite hurts a lot too, and though the second does not hurt much, it is enough to drop Big Jim, who goes down, out.
8 dam' ; 0 sp 3/12 hp - 3 dam' ; 0 sp 0/12 hp

________
Round 3 Bold are up
Red (-9)
Hawthorne (3 dam')
Zeyram
Cade
Simagus
Big Jim (SP 0/0 HP 0/0 - prone ; dying)
Xyklik (SP 0/0 HP 10/13)

Wouldn’t the AoO happen before the healing burst? I think Big Jim should be at 1HP.

“We are getting torn apart here! I think we need to spread out!”

Another growl echoes through the comms.

"End you, little thing."

Xyklik moves to the right and strikes out with his club at the creature whilst providing cover for others attempting to move around.

Sorry, you are right about AoO and healing.

--the second bite does not hurt as much and thus, Big Jim, who was slightly healed by the Healing Burst, remains standing, though he is bleeding vesk blood.

As Xyklik swings his club, he sees the beast's eye flick away from him for a split second, as the beast is checking out the threat of Big Jim's claws... this flanking helps Xyklik and he just manages to connect with the club, which bashes the creature, wounding it-- but not putting it down.

________
Round 3 Bold are up
Red (-14)
Xyklik (SP 0/0 HP 10/13)
Hawthorne (3 dam')
Zeyram
Cade
Simagus
Big Jim (SP 0/7 HP 1/12)

Sorry about the AoO, I did not check the map when I read Big Jim's post and thought it must've been a Guarded Step.
Just remember you can roll for Acrobatics (DC 15 + 1,5xCR) to avoid the AoO, but failing does stop your move, which in this case would not've been good, but for other times).

“Big Jim! Carefully move to port!” Zeyram says as he gestures with his free hand to the port side of the ship.

Delay waiting for Big Jim.

If Big Jim takes a withdraw or guarded step back, Zeyram will step into his place and attack once with his knife. If he doesn’t move he will full attack with the knife. I will try to catch his post, but if I fail go ahead and Bot these actions.

Hawthorne! Hawthorne!

"Yes, Sophia, I'm here." Telemetry data begins to infuse his cortex as the space lions turn their devastating attention to others.

These are critical threats. I can see why the crew perished.

Hawthorne raises his rifle, taking aim at the remaining creature.

Pulsecaster Rifle: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
E, NL: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Move: Combat Tracking
Standard: Attack

Joe-bot takes a careful step away from the savage blue alien and inputs directions for Buster-bot to fire.

Buster-bot fires a tactile projectile toward the space lion.

Buster's Pistol: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
P: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Zeyram carefully steps into the area that Big Jim just vacated and then slashes at the space loin with his dagger.

Survival Knife, Flank: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 2 = 13
Slashing damage, photon mode: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 = 6

Big Jim takes a step back... while shots ring out and miss, fired by Buster and Hawthorne.

But Zeyram steps forward, the Void and the Sun part of him, as he slashes-- and terminates the life of this "space lion".

You all take a deep breath - for those who breathe - of your respirators.
A harsh fight...

You look around what is obviously Engineering.
Two dead creatures.
A lot of machinery, with the engines in aft of the ship, making up the walls.
This long chamber stretches across the width of the ship.
You see for good that all of the Acreon’s main engineering functions can be operated from this room, which also contains a tech workshop expansion bay facing the wall on the prow side, wall that protects the ship’s power core, which can be accessed through maintenance panels in the forward wall.

You spot a tactical arc emitter underneath one of the engineering consoles.
Just lying there, most probably dropped by someone.
The rifle’s battery has 12 charges remaining.

Numerous resinous shards litter the floor of this hallway-room.

Xyklik (SP 0/0 HP 10/13)
Hawthorne (SP 4/7)
Big Jim (SP 0/7 HP 1/12)

Hawthorne heads over to engineering terminal and attempts to access the ship's systems. "Let's take a moment to rest while I try to get the systems running."

Computers: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Big Jim looks around to make sure there are no more space lions.

Then nodding in agreement with Hawthorne he calls out “Take ten!” as he takes a seat on Buster.

Zeyram says “Seems those creatures don’t need air. Can you get to environmental controls and restore the atmosphere?”

Figuring he wouldn’t be much help with the computers, he checks around to see if there is anything else interesting in this area.

A spartan ship, or maybe to avoid pirate intrusions? Anyhow, not much can be done from the computers here, other than manage the fuel cells, the engines, and the power core.

Hawthorne remembers seeing that the aft airlock can be closed from controls in that airlock itself, but finds nothing to do so from the computers here.
He neither finds anything in the computers here about repressurizing the ship with a breathable atmosphere.

Zeyram does not see anything else of interest... other than those strange resinous shards that litter the floor .

Big Jim rests.

Xyklik (SP 0/0 HP 10/13)
Hawthorne (SP 4/7)
Big Jim (SP 0/7 HP 12/12) 1 RP spent

Taking a breather restores SP, not HP.

I believe my Datajack allows me to access a system's data and functions from any terminal/access point, unless it's in a closed system behind an Engineering check. Basically, if there's wiring, I can jack my brain into it and go wherever the wires go. However, I will readily acknowledge that the datajack enhancement is confusing to me.