[SFS 1-12] GM Cellion's Ashes of Discovery (High Tier) (Inactive)

Game Master Cellion

Altronus gives a small bow to the mayor, "Thank you for the warm welcome, this is a lovely city you have here. I am very interested in these starsigns, do you learn much from them?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

”It is being our pleasure to have defeated the sky warden. Has the creature been a problem for you? We come from a collection of people who cherish knowing one another, and celebrating our many differences to being making is stronger. We wish to be friendliness with you, and to learn things of you while you can be learning things of us.”

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Lucky doesn't love being the center of attention, so she does her best to split off a smaller group of the ones who seemed the most interested in the drones, and true to her word, does her best to explain Sparky's gubbins.

Engineering: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Wow, this would have been so much harder without the Share Languages spell...

Piggy smiles and waves, showing off Porker to the group.

Diplomacy, Aid: 1d20 ⇒ 12

"Are we the first beings from the stars to come here?"

0689 follows along with everyone. He pull out a data pad and shows a group of them the current systems they are in and compares it to their location.

computers: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

Yeah, share languages is a silver bullet in this scenario!

The natives recoil from Altronus' bow, clearly not understanding the meaning behind it. They remain tight lipped (or would that be tight-helmeted?) about the starsigns, whatever they might be.

Keskodai's friendly attitude and words seem to be far more effective at getting the alien natives to loosen up. The mayor crackles a response, which the translator then speaks out in common "Innn age-ohhhld hhhhistohhrrry, Khh'tekh rreachhhhed ffor sttharrs withhh ggreat machhiine. As machhiine ffflewwh, skhhhhy warrrden apppearhhhed and ffflooded skkhhhy with fffire and llighhhtning. Machhhiine and mmany Khh'tekh towns werhe desthhrroyed. Khh'tekh turrrned away from starrrhs in fearrh. By endinghhhh whhhharden, yyou hhhave let Khh'tekh once aggaihhn lookhh to sttarhhs."

Lucky's impromptu lecture on Sparky's systems and parts commands the rapt attention of a group of the aliens. Despite the language barrier, they seem fascinated by the very advanced mechanical components.

0689 brings up a map of the local system, and while some seem interested, he has a hard time holding their attention. They don't seem to understand the significance of the map of space, and almost seem more interested in the datapad than anything it may be showing.

Now somewhat more relaxed, the mayor answers Altronus' earlier question "Sttarhhsigns khhhan do manhhhy thinghhhs, but fffewh Khh'tekh khhan read thhhem. Khhhan be dangerhhhhous. Only oldhhest and wisest arrrhe alllowhhed to use thhhem." the translator indicates Keskodai with a claw "Thhhat one whhove sttarhhhsigns into words forrrh I!"

At Piggy's question, the mayor responds with "Longhhh ago, othhhherr skhhhy travelers khhhame. Khh'tekh were weaakhh and fearrrful, rekhhoverring fffrom khhhatakhlysm. Khh'tekh khhhept far awayhh fffrom travelers, and ghhoood chhoice: Travelers invvverhhhht starrrhsigns, brrring terrrhible neverrr-endhhing hhhrhkk'thhhrk. Brringhh rrruin to selvvvhes, laahnd. Traveler towhhn rruined, kkkhhursed."

(Two successes so far)

Can we roll again since it seems we need more successes?

You can definitely roll again. If you fail a check by a large enough margin, it *can* lock you out of future attempts with that skill though. None of the attempts thus far have triggered that lockout.

Engineering: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

Seeing the success Lucky had, Piggy brings Porker forward and begins showing the crowd the mechanical workings beneath the beer barrel. "Yes, those gears turn each other! It's amazing!" He lifts the tail and points inside the other side of the barrel. "And this, is where the hydraulic oil comes out! Yes, it is sticky!"

Lucky continues her show and tell with the... "Hey, what do you call yourselves anyways?"

Engineering: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

Gear gulps and let's the others talk. Even in past lives she was never big on talking to people, though she tries to assist by showing her own "Inner parts" from some of the movable panels, showing how both she and Boytoy work.

Diplomacy aid?: 1d20 ⇒ 10

Ah, starsigns are just magic.

"Interesting. Among my people I am known as a solarian. I follow an ancient tradition that studies the power of stars to seek enlightenment." Altronus points to the golden mote circling him, "This is a bit of that solar power in fact. I think we could teach each other a great many things."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

”What more can you be telling us about the earlier travelers? Were they being good to you? Bad to you? Where are they now? We are seekers of knowledge and truth.”

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Piggy enthralls the mechanically-inclined aliens with his demonstration, the language barrier somehow enhancing the experience!

Lucky find success by expanding her own demo to include some additional details. The interpreter answers her question with "Khh'tekh are Khh'tekh."

Altronus and Keskodai both manage to exude diplomatic smoothness as they ask questions (with the aid of Gear and Boytoy providing incentive for the aliens to listen).

With the entire alien group now engaged either with the mechanics and their drones, or with the diplomatically inclined folks, it seems their previous wariness is entirely gone. The translator answers Keskodai's questions with "Khh'tekh hhhid fffrom old travelers. Thhhhhat was tiihhhme of ghhhreat ffear and Khh'tekh were rrrebuildhhing damagehhhd civilization. Bhhhy thhe time Khh'tekh hhhhad rekhhovered, old travelers alllh ghhhone. Dhhhead? Maybhhhe. Only towhhn rrrremainh."

"Khh'tekh avoidh it. Onlhhhy one, ekhhhsile from Khh'tekh society fffor using khhhorupt starhhhsign. Thhhat one hhheaded to traveler towhhhn. Thhhat one said zhe will use starhhhsign to khhhill Warden. Thhhat one mhhad and danghhherous."

Six successes.

"I'm sorry, mad and dangerous? " Piggy frowns. "Well, we are looking for an outpost of the star people. It sounds like it may be your traveler town. " He looks around curiously. "Who is this Warden? "

The mayor responds to Piggy, his words translated as "Thhhe grreat beasthhh that khhhlaims the skhhhy as its domhhhain. Thhhe one you ffffought." and also adds "Ifff you seekhhh the wayyy to thhhe traveler towhhhn, bewarrrhe. Thhhe wayy is trrreachherous. A storm of stohhhne, fffueled by starrsighns, surrrounds it. One offf the Khh'tekh went into it in searrrch of thhe ekhhhsile thhhree days ago and hhhhas not returhhhned."

"Oh... got it... well, we're sorta kinda trained for this. Do you want this exile back if we find him? " The Ysoki looks from side to side, awkwardly. "Or it that more of a permanent exile sort of thing? "

The mayor crackles and buzzes and rumbles in a way that seems angry, the translator provides his answer of "The ekhhhsile is not welkhhhome withhh othher Khh'tekh. Guilty of khhhrimes. Zhe shhhould rrremain ekhhhsiled."

Lucky shrugs, We're here to explore, not patch things up between squabbling aliens.

"If this wielder of corrupt starsigns attacks us, we might be forced to hurt them then."

Gear tries not to make eye contact, but mentally catalogues the various crimes that she has been, both rightfully and falsely, accused of in the past several centuries. But perhaps not the best thing to bring up now.

"Well... alrighty, then! Which way to the Traveler Town, and how far of a journey is It? " Piggy rubs his hands together, ready to get through the terrible weather. "By the way, any tips for avoiding getting crushed while we're on the way? " He smiles big, ready for anything.

The aliens quiet down, but don't say anything to contradict Lucky's statement. When Piggy asks for advice on reaching the 'traveler town', the aliens split off briefly and return with schematic maps of the terrain between their town and the outpost.

The aliens slowly but surely explain how you might be able to get to the traveler town. They show you the safest path (though they warn that even along the safest route the threat of bludgeoning rocks is ever present) and explain that this route will take three hours to traverse. Once they've explained the safest route, they hand over the maps and offer wishes of good luck.

You also find that the aliens are happy to offer for you all to stay in town if you wish, particularly if you're willing to teach more about drone mechanical operation and other related topics.

-------
Once you're ready to head to the outpost:

It doesn't take long after leaving the town to hit the outskirts of the storm, a massive swirling terror to behold. You ready yourselves and dive in, sticking to the relatively protected route indicated to you. Nevertheless, gravel and smaller bits of stone pelt your armor as you soldier onwards.

With the aid of the aliens, it takes only three hours to make it almost to the outpost. For each hour of travel, you have a chance of incurring damage from particularly large chunks of flying stone striking weak points in your armor. Please make three Fortitude saves (one for each hour of travel)

fort: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
fort: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
fort: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

0689 takes the first two objects, but finally ends up protecting himself from the third.

"I think we should have drove ourselves.

Fort Gear: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Fort Gear: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Fort Gear: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Fort Boytoy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Fort Boytoy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Fort Boytoy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Gear just barely manages to dodge the first one, though it cuts a nice scrape into boytoy.

That's gonna take forever to get out she mutters.

The other two impact hard, sending the android coughing and pulling gravel from her hair as the hard armored shielding of Boytoy shrugs it off.

Remind me again...She mutters...

Why I put the armor on YOU and not ME?

[Honest Innocence]Because you like to look pretty?[/honest innocence]

Oh shut up.

Fort : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Fort : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 2 damage
Fort : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 2 damage

Sparky
Fort: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 4 Damage after DR
Fort: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Fort: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Lucky
Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 5 Damage
Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Lucky and Sparky take a nasty bump early, but she takes a moment to reorient some of the defensive plating of their armor, and push on through the rest with no difficulty.

Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Altronus bears the force of the stones with no complaint.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Fortitude: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Fortitude: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

4 damage taken.

Piggy withstands the first portion of the storm, but then he gets cocky. The next two hours are occasionally interrupted by his yelps as the rocks bruise him.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Fortitude: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Fortitude: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

The drone beneath Piggy's belly manages to withstand the pelting rocks, but is not fast enough to avoid the large boulder which struck the pair at the end of their journey.

After 3 hours of grueling travel, you make your way over the final rise towards the outpost. As the aliens warned you, you find yourselves facing the most exposed and dangerous section of the route.

Map revealed. I didn't see aliases or pic references for Sparky and Boytoy, so they've gotten a Pikachu icon and a Claptrap icon respectively. Feel free to replace with anything you find more appropriate.

Ruined cylindrical buildings dot the landscape, evidence of a Khh'tekh town that once may have sat here. The tumultuous storm rages all around them, blasting every exposed surface with gravel and larger floating stones. A crumbling stone bridge crosses a broad gorge, serving as the shortest path through this final section of the storm. In the distance to the east, you can see the storm seems less violent. If you can make it past this last gauntlet, it looks like there is safety to be had.

Traversing the bridge is particularly dangerous in this storm and requires a successful acrobatics check (to balance across it safely without being blown into the 30ft deep chasm by wind and flying rocks). Furthermore, this whole map is exposed to the storm. Every round you remain in it, you must make a fortitude save at the end of your turn to avoid being battered by flying debris. Intentionally moving at half speed gives you a +2 bonus on this save. Hiding inside the ruins of one of the circular buildings gives a +5 bonus instead.

|||||Round 1:|||||
All may act.

Lucky doesn't like the idea of staying out in this any longer than normal, and hustles forward, Sparky bringing up the rear. With a new icon :p

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Fortitude: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Fortitude: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Keskodai gives it a go...

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Fort : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Altronus follows behind.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Gear and Boytoy move as quickly as they can...

acrobatics Gear: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Fort Gear: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

acrobatics Boytoy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Fort boytoy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 2 = 10

Piggy slowly moves across the bridge.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 3 + 2 = 18

Porker was created for this, however, and sprints across the bridge.

Acrobatics : 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Fortitude: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

0689 stays in the shelter currently until more of his comrades make it across the current bridge.

Delay this round.

fort: 1d20 + 3 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 5 = 13

Do we have to move at half speed while balancing? If not I would go farther.

Lucky and Sparky move so adeptly across the bridge that they make it seem like it'll be easy. Unfortunately, it doesn't quite turn out that way for the people following in their footsteps. Keskodai, Boytoy and Piggy are each pelted by rocks as they attempt to balance across and a stray blast of wind and gravel knocks them clear off the bridge and down into the chasm below! Those three take 11 points of damage from the fall and land prone.

For reference: The chasm is 30ft deep and has reasonably rough walls that make it a DC15 Athletics check to climb. You can place yourselves in any square adjacent to the bridge but within the chasm to represent the location you fell to. This doesn't change how high you need to climb to get out.

The storm buffets the whole group as you quickly try to cross the exposed area, but Sparky, Boytoy and Porker are particularly badly struck by flying debris. (Each taking 3 bludgeoning damage prior to any damage reduction)

@Altronus: You do move at half-speed while balancing.

|||Round 2|||
All may act.

Gear books it the rest of the way across the bridge...

acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

or at least, tries to.

Reflex save to grab the edge maybe? Otherwise, frankly, I may be dead!

Reflex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Boytoy Climb: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
boytoy fort: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

"Don't worry about climbing out, I've got some cable!"

Lucky ducks into the shelter of the building, and begins looking around for a secure place to attach a cable line to help out her fallen compatriots, but mainly devotes time to helping Sparky extricate itself. Rather than chance a nasty fall, Sparky's jump jets glow red hot and they power the drone through the air and into the shelter of the dome.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Fort (Ruins): 1d20 + 4 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 5 = 28

Fort (Ruins): 1d20 + 3 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 3 + 5 = 17

Altronus continues on.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Can someone place me on the map please?

Keskodai starts the climb...

Athletics: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (12) + 0 = 12 Fail

The damn environment is going to kill me!

Piggy stands up and tries to climb out.

Athletics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

It doesn't work out well for him. That was one to many chocolate bars...

Fortitude: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Porker continues moving, though slower since he is past the chasm now.

Fort: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 2 = 15

0689 begins to make his way cautiously across the bridge.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 + 2 = 14

second movement

acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 + 2 = 19

fort: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

@Gear: Unfortunately, looks like no second chance reflex save on this one. But thankfully 3d6 falling damage isn't too lethal at your level!
@Keskodai: I've moved your token to the chasm.

Gear is struck by a boulder just as she almost reaches the end of the bridge, loses her balance, and tumbles down, striking some jagged rocks along the way. Taking 15 points of damage from the fall, and ending up prone. Feel free to move Gear's token to a location in the chasm, adjacent to the bridge.

Boytoy, Keskodai and Piggy each struggle against the walls of the chasm, but find the rough rocky surface more challenging to climb than expected. Each of them remains at the bottom of the chasm after a couple of abortive attempts.

Lucky and Sparky each manage to reach the safety of the ruined building on the far side, Sparky's jump jets proving very useful! Lucky's shout about having a cable line can barely be heard over the howling of the wind and clashing of rocks.

Altronus and 0689 both work their way across the bridge slowly but safely.

Keskodai FORT vs storm: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

While most of the party endures a rain of marble-ball sized rocks without serious injury, they pepper Piggy and Keskodai while the two try to climb. Dealing 1 point of bludgeoning damage to each.

I keep forgetting I gotta run through my SP first... still, I'm on my last point of it!

Gear coughs up some oil and shakes her head.

And this... is why I moved to a mechanical body... come on Boytoy...

They both try climbing out of the canyon...

Climb Gear: 1d20 ⇒ 9
Climb Boytoy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Fort Gear: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Fort Boytoy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

And there goes my last point of SP...

I should have listened to my momma. "It's not about speed son, it's about versatility." Why did I choose the speed booster over the clawed feet for Porker?! Piggy snaps back to reality and works to climb up the cliff. "Ya, that rope is a great idea! Thanks!"

Athletics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Fortitude: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 Great...

Porker stands out in the rain, waiting for master. OINK

Fortitude: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9