[SFS_Aerondor] 01-12 Ashes of Discovery 2018A (Inactive)

Game Master Aerondor

A cluster of sleek black computers rests against the far wall of the meeting room. The Starfinder Society emblem at the center of the server cluster shines and begins projecting a stream of holographic light. The light takes the form of humanoid figure bereft of any definition, standing at the end of the meeting table closest to the servers.

“Greetings, I am Guidance. I have a new assignment for you. Please observe.”

The projection gestures a flicking hand to its side, and a stream of data detailing an outpost made of interconnected circular chambers scrolls beside it.

“One of the Pact Worlds’ most prestigious organizations recently discovered a dataset detailing the location of an outpost abandoned over two hundred years ago. The organization has requested that the Starfinder Society dispatch a team of agents to secure the site, along with any remaining equipment or data. Your team will travel to this outpost and retrieve as much information about it as possible. You should also salvage any relevant equipment, which the Society will take as part of its payment. If you have questions, now is the time to present them.”

.

Dotting for fun and profit.

No need to Ninja-dot. We can do the Q&A while others get their information into the discussion thread and images onto the map..

An android comes into the room wearing a freshly dry-cleaned lab coat over a suit of the modified "Hidden Solider Armor". Both the coat and the armor have holes in the back, but it is not obvious why (and hopefully it won't need to). The other modification to the armor is that the face part that normally covers the face of the wearing except the eyes is replaced by a built in surgeon's mask.

Hello everyone! Nice to see you again, Guidance. My skills must be in high demand, I just got back to my hotel room when I got a message to come here. I am Medrick. It is nice to meet you all.

He listens to what Guidance has to say. Sounds like this could be a fun job. What organization are we working for, if you don't mind me asking?

If it were possible for an AI to smile, Guidance would.

"I understand you have a bit of a history for AbdarCorp, so you will be pleased to hear they are sponsoring this expedition."

The image turns to each of you in turn. "AbadarCorp is the largest corporation in the Pact Worlds and has many subsidiaries underneath it. The outpost was one of many sponsored by AbadarCorp during the post-Drift colonization rush.”

Medrick lets out a small laugh. Interesting, I just came off a different job from them. Do they have any clue what they expect us to be facing?

"The planet had a pretty typical makeup, although the atmosphere was reported to be quite thin. Beyond the environment of the planet, it is unknown what threats may exist at the outpost. You should prepare for many possibilities, such as pirates, large predators, hostile native cultures, or supernatural events."

Medrick nods.

My questions have been asked and my boons are slotted. I am ready to go!

A human with a curious-looking apparatus on his head steps in and greets everyone in the room. He pays attention to the briefing and takes note of things they must do to accomplish the mission. After the briefing, he looks to be speaking to himself. "You got all that M.I.C.H.? We need every minute detail we can gather so we won't mess up." He then looks to everyone in the room and introduces himself. "Good day everyone. My name is Mobius. Mobius Caslan. And this is my exocortex, Modular Interface Conducting Hyperintelligence, or M.I.C.H. as I like to call her. How are you all doing?"

A blinged-out ysoki creeps into the briefing room. Upon seeing Guidance, he relaxes and saunters out of the shadows. "Not Naiaj," he grins in relief. "Just got back from another mission, which happened to start with that gnome trying to kill me. Accidentally backflip into someone a single time..."

"But that's one for another day. Hey all! I'm Alimony. I specialize in talking to, shooting at, and fixing things."

After listening to any introductions, Alimony mulls over what he's heard. "I think that's my all questions. Discovered by AbadarCorp; expect anything. Sounds about right. We'll find the best answers on site."

A figure wearing a dark cloak with a cowl covering most of his head is only recognizable as a lashunta by the 2 slender tentacle like appendages sticking out from under there.

'Greetings and salutations, I am Savoy."

"I'm curious about this new assignment Guidance has for us. retrieve information and salvage equipment, while being careful of not only the hostile environment but also predators and rival factions trying to kill us...sounds pretty standard."

Savoy seems to ponder something

"But as we all know...almost nothing ever goes as expected for us members of the Starfinder Society"

The Ysoki in the back seems to have waited in the shadows.

stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

He steps forward with a calm stance rarely seen when Ysokis are observed.

"Hmmmm ... excuse my silence dear ladies and gentleman and respected Guidance. I am Darqen Taabestuun and very pleased to make your acquaintance. I only recently joined the Starfinder Society and was assigned as a hacker and engineer to this mission."

Darqen pauses a moment to let the information sink in. "I would suggest to consider in our planning that the organization that is dispatching us, AbadarCorp, has motives that could get us killed and weaken the current status of the Starfinders. What do you know about their motives and their more shady actions with respect to this mission dear Guidance?"

As indicated in the discussion section I need to level him up to two but can only do so on Monday so please ignore the profile at the moment. :-)

Will nods to the familiar faces.

"It would appear that there is No Rest For The Wicked..."

He then nods to Guidance.

"Given that a number of us are on reasonable terms with AbadarCorp, it makes a certain degree of elegant sense to send us to investigate the site for them."

A thought then occurs to him.

"What ship have we been allocated for this mission?"

The hologram turns to Darquen “The exact reason remains unknown—and part of the reason you’re all needed to investigate the site. Records indicate the outpost confirmed its arrival and establishment with the hiring organization, but since then there
have been limited communications. No reports or responses have been received in over two hundred years.”

To Will it gives the predictable response:

“For this assignment, you have been authorized use of a Drake or a Pegasus starship. Both starship frames can complete this assignment. Please consider the following advantages when making your decision: Drake frames have greater firepower, whereas Pegasus starships are equipped with advanced science labs and sensors. As always, to optimize the chances of completing the assignment, it is recommended that each Starfinder team choose a ship that covers any area of weakness. However, the final decision is based on your personal preference. Safe travels.”

You should pick your starship roles and finalise your boon slots.

"Drake it is, then," Will says, without a moment of hesitation.

"I agree! I am a good pilot but could work on any position aboard a ship."

"The Drake? Are you sure? The Pegasus is more ..well rounded"

I'm personally not a big fan of the slower speed of the Drake..or the fact that it's turret runs out of ammo after 5 shots,sure the missile damage is nice when it hits..but miss 5 times and we're in trouble. It also has some trouble shooting to it's sides and if we face multiple opponents the pegasus has a better chance of getting multiple guns to shoot with at the same time. But I'll go by majority vote

I make a decent gunner, but I am well versed in the sciences. I am happy to hop behind a computer if someone is better at gunning. I also like the Pegasus. I like the movement it gives us.

"I'll have to put my vote on the Pegasus. I agree with Medrick that it gives us better maneuverability."

Let see what Darqen and Alimony think about ship hulls.

She team try to arrange themselves into various roles
Captain: Savoy? Bluff +11(+1d6)
Science
Engineer: Alimony +11
Pilot Darqen +? / Mobius(+11)
Gunner(s) Medrick +5;
undecided Mobius, Will

Darqen has Pilot +10 so let Mobius fly as the pilot role is so important. Darqen has engineering +12 and Gunnery +6.

"I'd go for the Pegasus," Alimony muses, idly twirling a whisker. "They've got enough weaponry to keep the bad things dead, if not as much as the Drake. Plus the improved systems and engines aren't anything to sneeze at."

Darqen, you're +1 over me at both Engineering and Gunnery. Given that, I'd suggest you take the latter, as Engineering DCs are easier to hit.

I just looked at Will's character sheet and he would be a way better science officer than I. With Daeqen having a higher gunnery than I, he could take the turret and I will take back up guns?

makes sense

Sorry for the boring stuff now, but it makes it easier later on
The crew check out each others credentials and play a couple of simulated flights to get a feel for each others skill.s

Captain: Savoy? Bluff +11(+1d6)
Science: Will?
Engineer: Alimony +11
Pilot Mobius(+11)
Gunner(s) Darqen +6; Medrick +5;
undecided

You can always change of the fly if you like. I'll give it a few hours for folk to chime in and make sure you is happy with the placement.

I like this set up.

Seems fine to me for basic set-up. As a default let's also give one of the floating bonuses to our pilot since initiative is pretty important and depending on what ship we end up with at least one more to our biggest weapon/turret gunner. From what I've seen so far people tend to forget about the little bonus you get just for being on a spaceship

The Starfinders quickly choose their roles and do a quick check over the spacecraft. It looks in a pretty good state. "Just make sure you return it in this condition..." they are warned.

With a blast of engines you are off. Shortly after leaving Absalom station you engage the Drift engine and end up in that quiet other-place.

stuff: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 4) = 13

It takes almost two weeks before the computer announces "Destination system coterminous in one hour, prepare for exit!"

The drift engine is cut and you return to normal space.

As the destination planet appears on the starship’s main viewscreen, alarms suddenly blare. A slender form emerges from the distant void, slithering from out of the planet’s shadow. It moves directly toward the starship, as if drawn to it.

Klaxons blare. Red lights flash. Everyone hurries to action stations.

init for GM: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
distance: 3d6 + 5 ⇒ (2, 6, 5) + 5 = 18
Status, round 1. Actions required from bold:
Mobius.(pilot +11): Pilot check for initiative. If you don't at least meet the 24, then please move the Pegasus on the map when you post. Your current facing is marked on the map, please leave a dotted trail for your movement.
Savoy (captain): Bluff +11(+1d6)
Will Science:
Alimony (Engineer +11)
Darqen (gunner +6)
Medrick (gunner +5)
Space-shark!

Mobius goes on the alert as he hops into his station. "Alright M.I.C.H., you know what to do. Activate flight sequence." Activating memory module.

Pilot, Initiative: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 11 + 1 = 27

BTW, I need to know what weapon arc will our gunners be taking so I know where to apply my Starship Boon. One arc (Forward, Starboard, or Port) will instead have a Light Plasma Cannon at a -1 penalty.

The thing closes on the Pegasus with terrifying speed! On the scanners it looks like nothing so much as a giant space shark. As it gets closer it opens its mouth, and a horrible radioactive beam strikes out at the Starfinder ship.
attack: 1d20 ⇒ 6

However MICH deftly flips the Pegasus into a roll that sees the ray narrowly avoided.

Status, round 1. Actions required from bold:
Mobius.(pilot +11): Move the Pegasus on the map when you post. Your current facing is marked on the map, please leave a red dotted trail for your movement. Please also roll your initiative for next round.
Savoy (captain): Bluff +11(+1d6)
Will Science:
Alimony (Engineer +11)
Darqen (gunner +6)
Medrick (gunner +5)
Space-shark!

BTW, I need to know what weapon arc will our gunners be taking so I know where to apply my Starship Boon. One arc (Forward, Starboard, or Port) will instead have a Light Plasma Cannon at a -1 penalty.

I guess they'll take the turret and the forward one if we can manage. I'll apply my starship boon (+1 damage to a laser weapon to our Starboard port in case we ever need to shoot from a side)

"Does anyone know what that thing is?"

"And can someone shoot it out of our skies?! I mean, can someone _please_ shoot it."

Diplomacy to encourage our turret gunner: 1d20 + 11 + 1d6 ⇒ (13) + 11 + (5) = 29 (target DC 15 for a +2 to hit)

REmember you can run two guns, if you don't mind firing at a penalty. I'd suggest one takes the turret and either port or startboard, and the other the forward and other side gun.

Darqen sees the strange giant space shark and aims. He is very silent and concetrates.

I am not so firm with starship combat yet. So I have +6 , +1 floating bonus, +2 from Savoy. Is that correct or did I miss something?

turret: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 1 + 2 = 18
turret damage: 4d4 ⇒ (4, 3, 4, 2) = 13

Bonuses seems to check out if you are lvl 2 and put 2 ranks in piloting as far as I can tell;
Gunnery Check = 1d20 + the gunner’s base attack bonus or the gunner’s ranks in the Piloting skill + the gunner’s Dexterity modifier + bonuses from computer systems + bonuses from the captain and science officers + range penalty

Science Officer is pretty superfluous against a living opponent (as opposed to a ship), so I'll just sit this out.

"Exactly what I was going to say. What is that thing and can we please kill it back to Hell?" Alimony queries to no one in particular as he pulls additional power into the guns.

Divert to Weapons: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

All our damage rolls resulting in a 1 become 2s instead.

Science Officer is pretty superfluous against a living opponent (as opposed to a ship), so I'll just sit this out.

I'm not sure how a living thing is different then a starship for space combat rules..but can't we still scan it to learn stuff? AC and total hp and stuff would be nice to know

You can make all the regular checks a science officer would against a starship against this. Also note the life sciences check up a way, that could be helpful. Also, Will could easily move and take a gun, which would remove the penalty for firing multiple guns from one of your gunners.

Savoy offers Darqen encouragement, which does the trick as the turret unloads a large amount of high-tech-lead into the creature, damaging the claws on its left hand side.

Status, round 1. Actions required from bold:
Mobius.(pilot +11): Move the Pegasus on the map when you post. Your current facing is marked on the map, please leave a red dotted trail for your movement. Please also roll your initiative for next round.
Will Science: - maybe passing?
Medrick (gunner +5)
Space-shark!
Darqen (Turret gunner +6)
Alimony (Engineer +11) - power diverted (1s are 2s for damage)
Savoy (captain): Bluff +11(+1d6) - encouraging

If Will would rather, he can snag the weapon seat and I will take the science seat. I do this round as a gunner, but next round, if you want to switch, Medrick would be happy to be a science officer. I figured Will had a better check then me.

Medrick switches the monitor to show the forward facing weapon. I am sorry guys, but this is my first time firing one of these! Here goes nothing! He messes with the controls and fires at the incoming living enemy!

Light Laser Canon: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
damage: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5

Medrick's inexperience with this type of weapon shows when he misses wildly.

*shrug* Fair enough.

I'll roll a Computers check now, to 'scan' the enemy 'ship', but moving forward, I am happy for the GM to make the roll for me, so that the rest of the party can act on the intel I discover each round.

Computers: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16.

The Pegasus scans the odd creature. It gets a match against something known as a "Besmaran Whelp". They are the size of a medium starship. While the records show them as fast, this thing is even faster than normal (speed 12), and the tales of their agility are common. Good maneuverabilty.

Digging deeper he also learns that they have few defences although their heats are huge. AC 13, TL 11, hp 55; 150 CPU

Finally the scan shows that this Whelp has radioactive eyes that could seriously damage the Pegasus if the ray from it hit.

None of which helps Medrick who nervously misses.

Status, round 1 and pilot round2. Actions required from bold:
Mobius.(pilot +11): Move the Pegasus on the map when you post. Your current facing is marked on the map, please leave a red dotted trail for your movement. Please also roll your initiative for next round. If you fail to meet the Whelp's initiive of 29 then also move for round 2.
Besmaran Whelp. init for round 2: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
Darqen (Turret gunner +6)
Alimony (Engineer +11) - power diverted (1s are 2s for damage)
Savoy (captain): Bluff +11(+1d6) - encouraging
Will Science: - computers +10
Medrick (gunner +5)

Whelp stats you are aware of
damage - 13/55 damage
Port claws damaged (glitching)
AC 11, TL 11, hp 55; 150 PSU
Speed 12; Good maneuverabilty;
Weapon: Forward arc, radioacdtive beam (4d4, line; medium range)

Alrighty. Treat the forward arc weapon as the Light Plasma Cannon (Short Range, Damage: 2d12, -1 penalty to attack) upgrade. Moved the Pegasus.

Mobius tries to get out of the creatures front arc and swerves the Pegasus towards the port side of the whelp. "Good job M.I.C.H.! Continue evasive algorithms."

Stunt, Evade DC 13: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 11 + 1 = 14

Pilot Init for R2, node bonus: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 11 + 1 + 1 = 30

The Whelp comes around behind the Pegasus...

Going to hold off attacking until the Pegasus has moved.

Status, round 2. Actions required from bold:
Mobius.(pilot +11): Move the Pegasus on the map when you post. Your current facing is marked on the map, please leave a red dotted trail for your movement. Please also roll your initiative for round 3.
Darqen (Turret gunner +6)
Alimony (Engineer +11) - power diverted (1s are 2s for damage)
Savoy (captain): Bluff +11(+1d6) - encouraging
Will Science: - computers +10
Medrick (gunner +5)
Besmaran Whelp. init for round 2:

Gunners you may make your attacks, I'll discount any in arc's that are not appropriate after Mobius does the move.

Whelp stats you are aware of
damage - 13/55 damage
Port claws damaged (glitching)
AC 11, TL 11, hp 55; 150 PSU
Speed 12; Good maneuverabilty;
Weapon: Forward arc, radioacdtive beam (4d4, line; medium range)

Darqen aims again and shoots.

turret: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 + 2 = 15
turret damage: 4d4 ⇒ (1, 4, 3, 3) = 11

"Does anyone have some of the Star Sugar Heartlove? If so, play it over our comms at that thing, maybe it get's distracted..and Pilot, while you are at it..also wiggle our tail at it..let's see if we can get it confused on what's going on."

Going to taunt it this round. DC 15+(1,5*tier)
Bluff: 1d20 + 11 + 1d6 ⇒ (19) + 11 + (2) = 32
If that's enough it get's a -2 to all checks during the gunnery phase for 1d4 ⇒ 3 rounds (-4 if it's pushing)

Mobius sees the whelp fly too close and obeys captain's orders to make it confused. As he shakes off the creature, he carefully goes around it, and faces the starship towards the creature's tail.

"Alright gunners! Make it count! M.I.C.H., try to alert the ship of any incoming threat. And please someone turn on some music."

Stunt, Evade DC 13: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 11 + 1 = 24

Pilot Initiative for R3, node bonus: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 11 + 1 + 1 = 27