[PbP Gameday VII] GM Mjolbeard's SFS 1-12 Ashes of Discovery (Inactive)

Game Master Mjolbeard89

"Wait, wait, wait! Let's not do anything too drastic yet." Speck creeps over quickly and examines the panel, suspecting a trap from the elders' advice, looking to see how he could disable it.

engineering: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

Cournae tosses a rock in front of the motion sensor, and the group breathes a sigh of relief as the blinking light momentarily blinks red, but then emits a spark. With a moment to get to the sensor, Speck moves in and quickly gets to work disabling the trap. He soon is able to do just that, and additionally finds that the group had a short delay to reach the sensor and deactivate it, thanks once again to the atmospheric interference that had affected the door.

Where to next?

"Nice work." Asterion enters the room, looking around and kicking at the debris a bit. He goes over and checks out the door to the north.

Asterion tries the access panel on the northern door, but the screen flashes a red padlock icon back at him. It appears the door is locked.

"Aye. Good work, ye two," Mordin says as he heads into the courtyard. He moves on to inspect the southern door. "May need some engineering on these doors."

Zez'ka pulls out her hacking kit and attempts to deactivate the door locks.

Computers: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

"Hopeful!"

Speck sighs a sigh of relief then move over to help Zez'ka.

In case engineering is needed instead.
engineering: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Unlike the door to the north, Mordin finds the southern door unlocked, and it slides open smoothly as he presses the access terminal.

On the other end of the room, Zez'ka and Speck work together to unlock the northern door. Turns out disabling the lock mechanism was a moor mechanical issue, so Speck's expert engineering skill comes in handy, and he is able to open that door as well!

Both doors are open! Which way would you like to go?

Asterion gestures to the northern doorway while calling back to Mordin, "Let's see what they wanted locked away."

"A'ight! Wait for my stumpy legs."

"Curious!"

As the northern doors slide open, a corridor beyond is revealed, with another door opposite. The further door opens as well, and Asterion sees three flashes of light as three creatures suddenly pop into existence. The creatures immediately notice the Starfinders and shout in unison: "Intruders! Intruders! Intruders!"

INITIATIVE
Busted! - Round 1
Bold may post!
Speck
Security creature (red)
Security creature (green)
Security creature (blue)
Cournae
Zez'ka
Asterion
Mordin

"What's happening?" Pushed to one side, Speck can't quite seeing what's happening and moves behind the group to look through the doors. "Woah, what are those?"

What checks to identify?

Lifting up his rifle, he fires away.

azimuth rifle vs green TAC: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22 dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Mysticism checks to identify!

Speck's rifle blasts the green creature in the shoulder, and the wound seems to let off smoke for a moment before it clears and appears to repair itself somewhat! Both the green and the red security creatures move through the further doorway and raise an arm toward the group. The
red creature fires on Zez'ka, while the green fires at Asterion. Meanwhile, (realizing that he wasn't supposed to be in this encounter) the blue creature scurries off to the east and out of sight.

Red arc weapon vs Zez'ka EAC, cover: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 - 2 = 1 Damage (E): 1d4 ⇒ 4

Green arc weapon vs Asterion EAC, cover: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 - 2 = 14 Damage (E): 1d4 ⇒ 3

The electric bolt intended for Zez'ka strikes the door frame, but the green security creature's shot hits Asterion squarely in the rump roast thigh.

INITIATIVE
Busted! - Round 1
Bold may post!
Speck
Security creature (red)
Security creature (green) (-1)
Cournae
Zez'ka
Asterion (-3 SP)
Mordin

Zez'ka dives forward and fires a blast from her static arc pistol at the green robot!

Trick Attack (acrobatics): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27
Ranged Attack vs. EAC: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Electricity Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Trick Attack Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Asterion smarting from the shot to his thigh, advances right up the the green robot swinging his pike.

Pike (vs KAC): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Zez'ka sends a shower of sparks cascading down over the scene as her shot strikes one of the panels on the ceiling. The flash of electricity is enough to distract the green security creature and give Asterion an opening to defeat it. The creature stumbles back, falling to its demise, then disappears with a pop and a cloud of smoke. His second strike fails to connect with the red creature, though.

INITIATIVE
Busted! - Round 1
Bold may post!
Speck
Security creature (red)
Security creature (green) (-9)
Cournae
Zez'ka
Asterion (-3 SP)
Mordin

Mysticism check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

"Inevitables! Who would be summoning inevitables in a place like this?"

Cournae creeps up to the doorway (move action), using the wall for cover, and fumbles her pistol out of an oversized sleeve (move action to draw weapon).

"Could'a been a trap," Mordin says as he trudges into the building and fires off a shot at the remaining inevitable.

Pulsecaster Pistol: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
E: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Can Speck go since his initiative cycles to the top? Or only on round 2?

Cournae gets ready to join the fight, and Mordin manages to fire off a shot, though it goes wide of its mark. Speck, however, steps in and fires a few bolts of magical energy that quickly destroy the remaining Inevitable, ending the fight.

COMBAT OVER!

Beyond the door to the north, an L-shaped plastic table and accompanying chairs are haphazardly shoved in the northwest area of this circular space. Doors exit to the south and east of this otherwise empty chamber.

Suddenly, static crackles around you as an intercom pops to life. A voice reverberates from the walls, "So, it seems I have some unwelcome guests intruding upon my solitude. Leave now, or you will regret ever venturing farther. This is my first and final warning, trespassers." With another pop, the intercom cuts out, leaving you in silence.

What will you do?

"Huh, I've done many things I've regret, so what's one more." Speck moves to the eastern door, first checking to see if the room has any more surprises, before examining the door to see how to open it.

perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
engineer: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
computer: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

"Was that Common?" Mordin asks rhetorically and then more seriously, "Can someone engineer those speakers to transmit? Maybe it is one of the lost colonists."

Speck doesn't finds only chairs that are either overturned on the floor or haphazardly shoved in one corner of the room, and some very outdated ready-to-eat food packets. The food packets are dated nearly 200 years ago, reminding you of the age of this abandoned outpost.

After sorting through the spoiled food packets, Speck moves to the eastern door, ready to put his technical skills to use in opening it. The door slides open immediately, however, when he presses the access panel to test it.

As the door slides open, the intercom crackles again and the voice returns, "So, you have chosen death! Very well! I see that the short-sighted people of my village have left their stain upon you. They think the star-beast's eggs are just for the protection of this world? Pah! They are our future! The expansion of our people to dominate worlds beyond our own. For your intrusion, I will begin my conquest with your world, intruders!"

"But I only desire to make 'the friendship' with you! Come and let me give you 'the hugs'!" Zez'ka calls out with a clacking of her mandibles. Her antennae twitch in the hopes of making friends. "Hopeful!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

The intercom pops again the voice replies with a somewhat mopey sounding, "No!"

Cournae idly mutters to whomever happens to be nearby, "An egomaniacal would-be interstellar despot? How quaint. A herd of angry space whales is hardly a threat for the navies of the Pact, however; I hope his plan is more elaborate than that."

She progresses forward with the rest of the group, roughly 10 feet behind the leader.

Asterion speaks to the air, "You must be the exile that the villagers told us about. You and your "dark magics" will do no better than the star-beast did."

Asterion will take the lead down the corridor.

"Oh. Not a long lost settler," Mordin says as the voice acknowledges relation to the village. "I wonder how he learned our language or if he is using magic."

The dwarf follows into the corridor, pistol at the ready.

"SAD!" Zez'ka replies. When everyone else starts insulting the poor, lonely, villager's plan and methods, Zez'ka shakes her head. "Let us not be mean, friends! The poor voice over the intercom is just lonely! You will see! We will be great friends in time! A hug can heal any heart! Excited!"

Zez'ka proceeds down the hallway with her gun drawn in case of any more robots, but fully intends to greet the mastermind behind these attacks with open arms and love!

When she enters the next room she looks around curiously.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Zez'ka and Asterion are the first to open the door at the far end of the eastern corridor. Beyond the door, you find supply lockers lining the walls of a thirty-foot-wide circular room. Varied pieces of equipment are visible within some of the open lockers, while others are piled on the floor in front of hastily cleared units. Doors exit this chamber to the west and southwest.

Zez'ka immediately notices a few pieces of useful equipment in one of the lockers near the western door.

In the locker, you find four incendiary grenades I and a set of squad defiance series armor.

Please give me Perception checks if you would like to search through the lockers any further.

Mordin looks through the lockers for salvage.

"Sad, indeed," Mordin says. "The other villagers were so welcoming. I wonder what happened to drive this one to such a megalomaniacal plan."

...a dice roll would help.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

"That's a good question," says Asterion. He looks around for any speakers here. Calling out he asks, "Hey, can you still hear us? Why do you think the star-beasts are intended for more than just protection of this world?"

"You could not understand the masterful workings of a mind as powerful as mine! Perhaps, however, a response will silence your insolent prying. The star-beast, as you saw, is a mighty creature that inspires awe and fear into all who see it. Those fools in the village believe the beasts to be their protectors and are content to remain in their simplistic, dull little lives. They watch over the eggs, they say, in gratitude for the star-beast's protection. I, on the other hand, have ambition! Ambition to see distant worlds and to make them my own! And with the star-beasts at my command, that is exactly what I shall do! MWAHAHAHAHA!!!"

While the Exile monologues, Mordin searches through the lockers and discovers a hidden panel inside one of them. Behind the panel, he finds a squad machine gun and two screamer grenades I.

The Exile carries on with his rant, "Those imbeciles in the village said I was mad-- that I was power-hungry-- that I was cruel to try to control those pathetic guards' minds to let me take the eggs for myself! THEY are just too apathetic to realize our people's true potential! WE COULD RULE THE GALAXY, IF ONLY THEY WOULD LISTEN!"

"Oh, honey," chides Cournae, "I think you've overestimated your baby whales by just a touch. Why don't you come with us? We'll get you some warm cookies and a nice, soft padded room to enjoy."

You hear the scream of rage echoing from the next room through the closed door to the southwest, instead of through the speakers as usual. After a moment of silence, the speakers crackle and squawk again, and you hear the furious panting of the Exile before he speaks, sounding like he's talking through teeth gritted in anger. "Very well then. If you want me, come and get me!"

There is a sound of the microphone being thrown down and smashed, then the speakers cut out again.

"I think you are having the 'stress.' Nothing a hug won't fix! Also, I hear a massage is wonderful! Then we will fly off together on my ship. I can take you on a tour of the Pact Worlds! It will be great fun! Hopeful!"

Zez'ka approaches the closed door to the southwest.

Asterion quickly catches up to Zez'ka. "You have a good heart, but I fear this one may not be very receptive to your message," he cautions. "May I lead the way? Just in case."

Zez'ka's mandibles clack in excitement. She squeals, then strokes Asterion with her antennae. "FLATTERED!"

She lets her sweet friend Asterion lead the way.

"No one wants this machine gun?" Mordin asks as he collects the screamer grenades. He then trundles after the the nuar.

Zez'ka and Asterion open the door to the chamber to the southwest, and are greeted once again by a chorus of "Intruders! Intruders! Intruders!"

This immense circular room is bare, except for several computer screens and databanks that line the inner walls. Chairs jut out from some of these computerized desks, while doors exit to the northeast, southeast, and southwest.

"Kill them," you hear the Exile shout from across the room. The native stands near the southeastern door of the room beside a computer terminal with wires and smoke pouring out of it.

INITIATIVE
Facing the Exile - Round 1
Bold may post!
Zez'ka
Asterion
Inevitable (green)
Exile (black)
Speck
Mordin
Cournae
Inevitable (red)

"Here we go again!", Asterion shouts as he steps into the room. He swings his pike at the first Inevitable he sees. Green

Pike vs KAC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Asterion eliminates the first inevitable with a single thrust of his pike!

INITIATIVE
Facing the Exile - Round 1
Bold may post!
Zez'ka
Asterion
Inevitable (green) (-10)
Exile (black)
Speck
Mordin
Cournae
Inevitable (red)

"Oh, you!" Zez'ka remarks with a twitch of her antennae. She dashes into the room, aims her pistol at the red inevitable and fires off a shot.

Trick Attack (acrobatics): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27
Ranged Attack vs. KAC: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Piercing Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Trick Attack Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

"Someone needs a huuuuuuuuug!" she tells the Exile. "It'll make you feel much better! Certain!'

Zez'ka tumbles nimbly into the room and twists around to fire off a shot at the remaining inevitable. Her shot catches the security guard in the arm, and outsider shouts in pain, but does not disappear.

"I. Don't. Like. HUGS!" The exile grits his teeth and screeches in fury. He directs his anger at Asterion and he feels as if some outside force is trying to overwhelm his mind.

@Asterion, please make a Will save, DC14. On a success, take half the damage below...

Mind Thrust: 2d10 ⇒ (8, 8) = 16

INITIATIVE
Facing the Exile - Round 1
Bold may post!
Zez'ka
Asterion
Exile (black)
Speck
Mordin
Cournae
Inevitable (red) (-4, flat-footed)

"You're not the only one with magic here." Speck decides to leave the other guard to the rest of the team since they seem to go down rather quickly (and also since he can't see it from where he is). Again, the rapid taps across his forehead and arms and three arcane bolts fly and smash into the exile.

magic missile vs black: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 4, 3) + 3 = 12

Will Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
"Argh! Get out of my head!", Asterion yells as he shakes his horned head, before focusing on the exile.

Speck's bolts of magical energy strike the Exile without failure, but he still stands!

"I. Don't. Like. HUGS!"

"Are you sure? Perhaps you just need to experience some more!" Cournae strides forward into the center of the room, hands upraised. Tapping into the Akashic plane, she collects the memory of every hug ever received involuntarily. Compressing this psychic impression into a sharp blade, she thrusts it directly towards the exile's consciousness.

Move action to walk into the room; standard action to cast mind thrust (1st level; DC 15 Will save for half damage).

Mind Thrust Damage: 2d10 ⇒ (8, 9) = 17

Mordin steps into the room and focuses his attention on the wayward exile. "Disagree'n with me companion: ya need a spankin'!" he says just before he assaults the exile's mind with sheer force of will.

Mind Thrust (DC 15 for Half): 2d10 ⇒ (4, 10) = 14