[SFS 1-01] GM Cellion's The Commencement (Inactive)

Game Master Cellion

Breq pulls out a knife, absentmindedly. "The alien should be dealt with, indeed. We do not want it to escape. " Putting it away, she turns to the Host one last time. "Teenagers are known to be quite vicious. I assume you wish us to stick to non-lethal force should we be required to defend this record? "

The shirren positively recoils at the suggestion, mentally sending "Best you don't stick to ANY kind of force. Fans of SMC, that's Strawberry Machine Cake, might get excited about the music and new albums, but I can't imagine anyone who listens to sugar-pop getting violent with another fan!"

---------------

Once you head to the warehouse of interest:
A security blockade and minor force barrier have been set up around the warehouse. The building has only one entrance, the front, and a few small high windows. The Station security forces there wave you up with a "We got word you were coming. I haven't seen the creature myself, but we lost a pair of men to it before setting the barrier up. Massive feathers as sharp as razors were sticking through their chests. We'll bring the barrier down long enough for you to get in, but that's all we're doing until we see your signal that it's dead. We'll take the barrier down permanently and hand over the deed afterward."

Final map has been updated with the warehouse.
Once you go on in you see the warehouse is a single large open space with a 30ft tall ceiling. Cylindrical structures, which appear to be containers and 10ft tall, are clustered around the room. Crates are scattered about as well, some slightly open, as if something or someone tried to investigate what was inside. In the north west section of the room, an area of scaffolding 10ft high is piled with crates and boxes. In the south western corner a small shuttle appears to be plugged into maintenance equipment. A 10ft high catwalk circles the entire space.

The entire area has only dim, flickering light.

Battlestaff in hand, Compucast tentatively peers into the gloomy warehouse.

"Come out, come out, where ever you are..."

Breq draws both knives and steps into the warehouse, keeping an eye out for a deadly ball of feathers. "Come here, pillow monster! We want to meet you... " She looks back at Compucast briefly. "I don't think it can understand Common. But hey, let's keep trying. "

She carefully peeks around some large barrels.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Mustachio would like to get up on the catwalk. He looks around for a ladder. "I want to show all of you how the Green Sniper's part should have been written."

Mustachio has the new zero rifle drawn and ready to go.

Looking at the map, I see the way up is pretty obvious. Mustachio heads up into the catwalk.

"Don't shoot yourself in the head," Hesperrio cautions as he draws his hammer and pistol from his belt and enters the chamber.

Ack, Sorry. I meant to Take a Breather on the way to Ziggy, but posts flew too fast while I was at work.

If you guys want to say you took a rest to replenish stamina before talking with Ziggy, we can definitely go with that. Feel free to show 1 RP spent on your stat line and/or mention it in your next post.

Your voices echo through the cavernous space but there is no answer from the alien creature, or anything else for that matter.

Breq's careful investigation of the large cylindrical storage units yields no sign of the alien either. If it's in here, it doesn't seem to have been interested in these cylinders.

Mustachio walks along the catwalk, peering into the gloom. The shuttle catches his attention, and he wonders if perhaps the monster is hiding in it. Without thinking much about it, he shoots the shuttle's exterior with the zero rifle thinking to flush it out.

As much as I'd like to take a breather and replenish SP, that would drop me below 3 RP, which means I can't stabilize right? So, no thanks!

Storyn flips on the light on her spacesuit, draws her cannon, and moves in.

You need 1/4 your RP total (minimum 1 (7 or fewer), maximum 3 (12 or more)) to Stabilize. So you only need 1.

Hesperrio squeezes between the crates and heads toward the hole in the floor. "Marino, maybe if you sing to it," he texts over the comms.

Mustachio whispers back on the comms: "Use battle diplomacy... throw a grenade down the hole and see what happens."

Oh! In that case, yes, I rested!

The icy beam from Mustachio's new rifle impacts the side of the shuttle and quickly builds a layer of frost. Unfortunately, no creature shows itself.

The open pit in the northern side of the room is both deep and dark. An array of heavy power and comms lines seems to lead up from below... or maybe go down there? From the depth it probably leads to a lower level of the Station rather than just a basement.

"I don't have a grenade," Hesperrio responds. "No, please don't toss me one."

As requested, Storyn pulls a grenade; states ”the fire is in the hole;” and tosses it towards the hole...

Shock Grenade I: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 191d8 ⇒ 6 E; 15ft; DC 13

Mustachio comes off the catwalk to stand by Hesperrio and gaze into the dark hole.

"So who is going into the deep dark hole first? Compucast? Oi, Compucast, get over here and go into the deep dark hole. I'll cover you."

The grenade sails over Mustachio's head and cleanly into the pit. It explodes in a flash of light and a crackling boom, letting the actor see the rough outlines of the pit's interior for just a moment. There doesn't appear to be anything down there.

Suddenly a resonant hum picks up from the top of the scaffolding in the north west of the warehouse. A flicker of pale, white, feathery appendages betrays the presence of a creature hiding there! But before any of you can react, it fires a massive feathery projectile at Mustachio. The bladed feather strikes a shallow cut across his leg. 3 damage, surprise round attack from stealth. The creature seizes the initiative and follows with another feather at the actor, which also strikes him. 5 damage

Round 1, you're all up!

Storyn moves to get a better angle at the creature and fires her cannon...

Light Reaction Cannon: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 131d10 ⇒ 9 Pierce; Penetrating

"Gahhhhckkk!" Mustachio is caught completely by surprise and dealt a tremendous blow. He falls back immediately, trying to find cover among the boxes and cylinders.

"Friend Storyn, loved the grenade! Throw another one at that thing! Please!"

As a second move action, Mustachio enacts Get Em, giving everyone +1 to hit for the round

I’ll take that +1 if I can!

Up to Cellion... technically it only affect people until the beginning of my next turn and I am moving earlier in the initiative order than I should be

Hesperrio moves forward, pressing himself against a crate. He leans out and shoots at the giant bird from behind cover, the gun making a loud crack as it fires.

"Did that thing just launch spears at us?" he asks, then looks back over his shoulder where Marino bleeds. "Oh."

Semi-Auto Pistol, 1 Range Penalty: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 - 2 = 10 +1 if block initiative
P, Solar: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Compucast advances and takes a pot shot at the feathered creature.
attack - K: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Storyn, you can absolutely take the +1 from Get Em. Since everyone in an initiative block can act in whichever order they choose (via delaying), I'll resolve actions in the more beneficial order for you guys. I've seen other GMs do this to help combat move quickly in PbP (you're never stuck waiting for one person to post before you can) and it works really well IMO.

With Mustachio's aid, Storyn's cannon blast blows out a seemingly massive chunk of feathers, along with a spray of something grey-ish yellow. The explosion also helps you all make out its form more clearly. While it has a small black spherical base, the large majority of its body is composed of long white and black feathery appendages that waver back and forth with alertness.

Hesperrio's follow up misses, passing harmlessly through its fronds, but Compucast's wild shot connects with one of the creature's many limbs.

|||||INITIATIVE|||||
Feathery Pal (11 dmg)
Storyn
Rynner
Compucast
Hesperrio
Mustachio (8 dmg)
Breq (12 dmg)

Round 1, Bold are up!

"Storyn... let me enhance your weapon.."

Next round Compucast will move up to Stolyn and cast Supercharge weapon on it. That will add 4d6 damage if you hit, but just try the one shot as it only affects the next attack. I'm just posting now so Stolyn can take advantage of this on his turn if he posts before me. Not generally an issue with block initiative, but I'd feel bad posting after him and adding the supercharge to something that was an already known hit.

I too would like to take a rest.

Breq pulls her knives close to her armored chest. She runs forward, diving between cover until she is close to the monstrosity.

Is it above us? I'm done for this turn, but curious how I get there next turn...

Breq, the creature is on top of the scaffolding, which is 10ft high.

Now fully enraged by its wounds, the feathery alien advances to the edge of the scaffolding and sends a feathery missile at the source of its torment, the cannon carrying vesk! The feather blade scores a shallow cut. (4 damage to Storyn) Its long feathery fronds swirl and stab threateningly in Storyn's direction, as if promising future punishment.

|||||INITIATIVE|||||
Feathery Pal (11 dmg)
Storyn (4 dmg)
Rynner
Compucast
Hesperrio
Mustachio (8 dmg)
Breq (5 HP dmg)

Round 2, Bold are up!

Hesperrio advances to the edge of the hole, his black armor flickering with hungry flames once again. He raises his pistol and fires at the feathered creature.

Semi-Automatic Pistol vs. K: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
P, Solar: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Compucast advances on Storyn, as he taps a small computer on his wrist. Blue light jumps from it into Storyn's rile.

"A little overclocking of your rifle's charging unit may help here. Aim with care. This shot will hurt."

Cast supercharge weapon. Weapon's next shot does extra 4d6 damage if it hits

"Kill it! Kill it! " Mustachio is hyperventilating.

But he does refresh the Get Em as a move action (+1 to hit for everyone).

He fires his zero rifle.

Zero rifle w/ damage: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 2 + 1 = 231d8 ⇒ 7

Natural 20! Target is Staggered thanks to the gun's special property. Also additional damage?

extra crit damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

"Good shot Green Sniper!" calls out Compucast.

Maybe I should have supercharged the actors weapon? But who thought he had it in him?

Storyn takes a well aimed shot at the creature...

Light Reaction Cannon: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 1 = 121d10 + 4d6 ⇒ (9) + (6, 5, 5, 4) = 29 Pierce; Penetrating

Sorry, I missed with the extra damage on it!

Unlucky!

This should have adequate hand holds, so DC 15 Acrobatics?

Acrobatics, Climb, DC 15: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Wow, I'm buying a ranged weapon after this mission.

Breq pockets her knives and attempts to climb the scaffolding. Unfortunately, her joints are tight and she gets stuck partway up. Please don't let them see. So embarrassing...

Hesperrio misses a shot against the creature, but is followed by a particularly well aimed beam of cold from Mustachio's rifle. Frozen feathers flake off and shatter, but despite the beam striking right at the creature's base, it neither seems particularly slowed down nor as injured as you might have expected. Crit indeed, though the staggered critical hit property allows a Fort save to resist (DC=1/2*Item level+Dex mod, or DC14 in this case). Unfortunately the creature made its save.

Storyn's shot roars out of the cannon with absurd force, tearing forth like it was fired out of a railgun rather than the economy-model cannon that Storyn is holding. The extra force proves detrimental to her aim however, and the shot lances over the creature and into the wall of the warehouse with a scream of tearing metal.

Breq pulls herself up the scaffolding with a little difficulty (Actually, climbing is athletics rather than acrobatics. I peeked as your sheet and with the substitution you do manage to succeed! This particular scaffolding is DC10), though as she pulls herself over the lip and to her feet she finds the feathers of the creature turning towards her.

The feathery beast slams the android with a pair of feathery appendages. She steps to the side of one of the two, but the second connects with a surprising amount of weight behind it. 5 damage.

|||||INITIATIVE|||||
Feathery Pal (19 dmg)
Storyn (4 dmg)
Rynner
Compucast
Hesperrio
Mustachio (8 dmg)
Breq (5 HP dmg, 5 stamina dmg)

Round 3, Bold are up!

Mustachio spends another move action to maintain Get Em

Mustachio fires again.

Zero Rifle w/ damage: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 = 111d8 ⇒ 8

"Friend Breq, I realize you are quite tough, but is engaging in melee a wise action? I fear for your safety! You should try hiding behind Compucast and let him take the hits, like me!"

Breq winces as she takes the blow. "Do not worry, Green Sniper! I was just acting! " She follows this up with a combination of a wince and a wink. Then, having drawn her blades previously, she spins, attempting to cut the feathery blob.

Knife Full Attack, vs KAC: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Knife Full Attack, vs KAC: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Knife dmg: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Knife dmg: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Compucast reaches out a hand. "Steady my sister. " More blue light jumps from his wrist computer to the Vesk's rifle. "I'm running low on charges now. But I am sure you will finish it off."

Storyn feels the power thrum in her rifle, and she lines up the target, squeezes the trigger,...

Light Reaction Cannon: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 91d10 + 4d6 ⇒ (5) + (1, 1, 1, 6) = 14 Pierce; Penetrating

... and watches the shot go wild and miss the creature. ”Dammit!”

Wow, the double Supercharge miss. :<

The team keeps up its onslaught, but it seems as though the creature is growing a sixth sense for keeping its feathery appendages out of the line of fire. Mustachio's zero rifle sends a beam of frost right between two feather fronds, while Storyn's supercharged cannon slags an adjacent crate with another powerful boom.

Only Breq manages to deliver a shallow cut with her knife, as the creature's feather appendages start to surround her on all sides. While it doesn't matter in this case, you mentioned you had stowed your knives to climb the scaffolding. So you'd need to take an action to get them back out afterward, and then could take a single attack. I've used your first attack roll for this purpose (second one was a miss anyway), so nothing changes.

|||||INITIATIVE|||||
Feathery Pal (22 dmg)
Storyn (4 dmg)
Rynner
Compucast
Hesperrio
Mustachio (8 dmg)
Breq (5 HP dmg, 5 stamina dmg)

Round 3, Bold are up!

Hesperrio skirts the pit and climbs the scaffolding like a monkey. He pulls himself up on to the platform behind the feathered beast. His armor ripples with hungry, black flames.

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Move 25 ft, Climb 10 ft (20 ft), Move 5 ft

|||||INITIATIVE|||||
Feathery Pal (22 dmg)
Storyn (4 dmg)
Rynner
Compucast
Hesperrio
Mustachio (8 dmg)
Breq (5 HP dmg, 5 stamina dmg)

Round 4, Bold are up!

"Enough!" shouts Compucast.

He raises his staff and advances on the feathery fiend. Those close hear him muttering something about laws of thermodymnics, before they feel a slight chill go through their bones.

Suddenly a blast of heat shoots out from the Vesk's staff engulfing the feathered monstrosity.

Casts overheat, Ref DC 15 for half; cast from his spell cache, no more magic for Compucast.
fire damage: 2d8 ⇒ (4, 7) = 11

Breq leans back as the fires lick her face. Hmmm... This featherball is more fire resistant than the pillowcase in our lodgings. Perhaps it's glands should be researched for resistive properties...

Her knives out now, she stabs twice into the mass of charred feathers.

Knife Full Attack, vs KAC: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 1 = 7
Knife Full Attack, vs KAC: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 + 1 = 17
Knife dmg: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Knife dmg: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

"It's almost dead! Pour on the firepower! Good work, you two!"

Refreshes Get 'Em and fires rifle (poorly)

Zero Rifle w/ damage: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 61d8 ⇒ 1

Hesperrio warily steps closer to the creature in order to shield those below with the landing's edge and then erupts into a black, fiery hurricane once again, engulfing the feathered alien with the dire heat.

Move: Guarded Step; Standard: Supernova

Fire: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (3, 4) + 1 = 8 Reflex DC 11 for half

Compucast's wave of fire, one of Breq's knife stabs, and the wash of flame emitting from Hesperrio assault the beast from all sides. As the last of the flames clear, you see the creature waver for a moment before collapsing in a charred heap. Its feathery corpse smells faintly of grilled iguana bits and spoiled milk.

Enemy down and out of combat!

"Well done all. Those powered up blasts really helped!"

"Ah, it hurts, it hurts! Is this what pain feels like?"

Mustachio starts crying in a way most unfit for a leading man. He would like a sit still and cry for 10 minutes to regain his stamina.