[SFS - PbP Gameday VII] 1-99 The Scoured Stars Invasion - GM bigboom (Inactive)

Game Master bigboom

As usual, feel free to throw up some RP posts that occur prior to the initiation of combat listed down below!!

After ‘landing’ the ship, You enter the starship graveyard complex and discover that some of the starships have fused together to form interlinked complexes across the surface of the world. The entire area has low gravity.

Shortly after entering the strangely fused structure you spot a group of Starfinder survivors huddled together. The Starfinders stare at you for a moment and then attack, their mouths opened in silent screams but not producing any sounds.

Map revealed!! It is very obvious they are attacking - you can try talking to them but it will be obvious to your characters that conversation won't be of much help.

Your party is exploring a strange, starship graveyard composed of humongous amounts of wreckage, not knowing what to expect. Under these circumstances, I will accept the assertion that your characters already have their weapons drawn when combat begins - if you wish.

This entire area is low gravity. Movement is still the same but everyone can jump 3x higher and farther than normal. Everyone can also carry 3x more bulk than normal. And finally, thrown weapons have their range increased by 3x.

Combat Initiated!!

Round 1
The following characters in bold may act:

Twik
Kato
Zac
Sharmain
Odo
Aldane
Red Starfinder
Blue Starfinder
Green Starfinder

THUD!!!!!!!!!

Sharmain releases a long, slow, controlled breath. "Like a leaf on the breeze"
She then seems to realise that she was the only one at the controls for the final landing, her eyes grow wide, she looks around..."Everyone OK?'

Once in the structure, Sharmain has her hopes up that they will discover survivors. Unfortunately, life's cruel irony determines that they do, but not in the way she had wanted.

'I don't like the look of this and I'm not close enough to get a read on them. I'm not sure I want to be close enough either. May Desna protect us."

Sharmain taps into her connection to the stars and gathers channels the nearby cosmic energy to release in their defence sending shooting stars toward the horrific apparitions that resemble those they came to rescue.

shooting star 1 force damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 targeted at Green
shooting star 2 force damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 targeted at Blue
shooting star 3 force damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 targeted at Red

Since the low gravity allows us to carry more, Zac takes both rifles with him, but keeps the laser ready and the hunting rifle stowed.

"I didn't come here to kill the survivors, but I not sure they can be called survivors. I don't think we have any choice but to fight."

Zac takes aim at the lead figure (green) and fires his laser rifle.

Laser: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Sharmain's energy stars and Zac's laser land square on their targets!!

Round 1
The following characters in bold may act:

Twik
Kato
Zac
Sharmain
Odo
Aldane
Red Starfinder (-2)
Blue Starfinder (-5)
Green Starfinder (-11)

Aldane moves closer to the enemy and shoots from his laser pistol.

to hit EAC: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Aldane's shot goes far off the mark!

Round 1
An aid token is available. The following characters in bold may act:

Twik
Kato
Zac
Sharmain
Odo
Aldane (-4SP, IB'd)
Red Starfinder (-2)
Blue Starfinder (-5)
Green Starfinder (-11)

An aid token is now available to the party! And don't forget, you have some preparation bonuses from the beginning of the scenario as well. Currently, slides 2-4 describe the aid token and prep bonuses available to you!

Botting Kato, Twik, and Odo's actions immediately after landing.

Previously, after the landing, Kato, Twik, and Odo look over the landing craft's computer:

Computers: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Computers: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Computers: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Working together, the three of them announce that the landing difficulties the party encountered was due to some kind of virus that infected the lander via Starfinder comms channels. It must have been implanted when the party received the 9 month old communication from Venture Captain Whiskan! It is a sophisticated virus that easily bypassed all firewalls and other defenses and targeted the lander's controls.

Botting Twik in the current combat

Twik moves up, taking cover behind the corner of a wall and fires off a shot with his pistol at the green starfinder!

Pistol vs KAC, range penalty: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 7 - 2 = 16
TA Damage (Piercing): 1d6 ⇒ 6

Twik's shot takes the green Starfinder down!! Once down, the previously silent but hostile Starfinder finds his voice and croaks out loudly, "I’m sorry… The nanites are too strong…” He then falls silent.

Can it be that these Starfinders are acting against their will....?

It has become apparent to your characters that these Starfinders are somehow being mind controlled. So as a fair warning, if anyone kills the remaining two Starfinders, your character will receive infamy. And on that note, all lethal weapons can be used to attack non-lethally with a -4 attack penalty.

Round 1
An aid token is available. The following characters in bold may act:

Twik
Kato
Zac
Sharmain
Odo
Aldane (-4SP, IB'd)
Red Starfinder (-2)
Blue Starfinder (-5)

An aid token is now available to the party! And don't forget, you have some preparation bonuses from the beginning of the scenario as well. Currently, slides 2-4 describe the aid token and prep bonuses available to you!

Botting Kato in current combat

Kato, thinking that there might be some hope of recovering his fellow Starfinder, fires his static arc pistol in stun mode at the blue starfinder!

trick shot: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31
atk, -2 range, -4 cover: 1d20 + 4 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 - 2 - 4 = 12
dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 4
trick shot dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Kato pulls off an amazing shot as the blue Starfinder also goes down!! There is one remaining hostile Starfinder left standing but he looks a bit tougher than the other two....

Odo moves up to get a clear shot at the remaining hostile and attempts to hit the target nonlethally!

Laser Rifle vs EAC, nonlethal: 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 1 - 4 = 16
Fire Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Odo aims at the Red Starfinder's legs and manages a hit, avoiding shooting any vital areas!!

The red Starfinder moves up and takes cover behind the neon pink displays and takes a shot at Aldane with a pulsecaster pistol!!

Round 2
An aid token is available. The following characters in bold may act:

Twik
Kato
Zac
Sharmain
Odo
Aldane (-4SP, IB'd)
Red Starfinder (-6)

An aid token is now available to the party! And don't forget, you have some preparation bonuses from the beginning of the scenario as well. Currently, slides 2-5 describe the aid token and prep bonuses available to you!

Aldane tries not to kill red enemy.

to hit EAC nonlethal: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 2 - 4 = 16
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Odo moves and takes another shot.

Laser Rifle, Non-Lethal: 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 1 - 4 = 8

I am thinking that the "Provide Spellcasting (Remove Affliction)" quality of the aid token may be useful if we can rescue at least one of these survivors.

Hearing the Starfinder's apology as they fall, Sharmain is racked with remorse and guilt. I let my fear rule me and wounded the very people we were sent here to rescue. I knew I was out of range to detect their thoughts or try to daze them and I feared to approach. How can I remedy this now?

Sharmain moves up as close as she can, taking cover so as not to make herself an obvious target. Her intent is to daze the remaining conscious survivor or move to stabilize and treat all the survivors if one of her teammates has already incapacitated the other.

Round Two: double move

Zac moves up a bit and takes a shot at the red starfinder, being careful not to hit anything vital.
Laser: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 2 - 4 = 16
I'll let the GM take the modifier for any cover.
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1
"Did you hear that? Nanites! Let's try and subdue them, maybe they can still be saved!"

First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo addresses the Society through communication devices across the Scoured Stars: ​“Starfinders, thanks to your efforts, we have gathered a large amount of data about the whereabouts of several groups of survivors from the first mission to the Scoured Stars. We have analyzed the data and now know enough to start locating and evacuating our friends and allies. We still need more intelligence on other groups of survivors, however, and we must continue to run reconnaissance missions at the same time.”​

Table GM’s- You are now set to start Part 2, but remember Part 1 missions that are still open still need to be accomplished.

First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo pings each of your comm devices. ​” Starfinders have recovered a signal beacon from a steamy swamp on Agillae-2. Our analysis of the data indicates there is a large group of survivors on another planet in the same system, and we will soon be ready to commence the evacuation mission.”​

Planet of the Dinosaurs location is now closed and Last Outpost is now open.

Starfinders are filled with confidence. All Starfinders receive a +1 Morale bonus to attack rolls, saving throws and skill checks until the end of the current mission.

Botting Twik...

From his position of cover, Twik takes another shot at the Starfinder, intending to incapacitate, not harm!

Trick Attack (Bluff) vs 20+CR: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31
If the Trick Attack succeeds, the attack roll is vs flatfooted KAC and the bonus damage is applied
Trick Attack - Pistol vs KAC, cover, morale, nonlethal: 1d20 + 7 - 4 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 7 - 4 + 1 - 4 = 19
TA Damage (Piercing): 1d6 ⇒ 6
TA Bonus Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Botting Kato...

With the hostile Starfinder moving in behind cover, Kato no longer has line of sight. Kato moves up behind Twik in order to get eyes on the target, and takes a non-lethal shot!!

Static Arc Pistol vs EAC, morale, cover: 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 - 4 = 6
Electric damage, nonlethal: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Aldane, Zac, and Twik's shots all hit the out-of-control Starfinder in non-vital areas! He's looking pretty worn down!

Round 3
An aid token is available and everyone gets a +1 morale ATK bonus from Luwazi's announcement! The following characters in bold may act:

Twik
Kato
Zac
Sharmain
Odo
Aldane (-4SP, IB'd)
Red Starfinder (-17)

An aid token is now available to the party! And don't forget, you have some preparation bonuses from the beginning of the scenario as well. Currently, slides 2-5 describe the aid token and prep bonuses available to you!

Aldane moves closer for the better view and shoots again from his laser pistol.

to hit vs EAC nonlethal: 1d20 + 2 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 2 + 1 - 4 = 11
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Twik continues to fire carefully at the brainwashed Starfinder hoping to put him down without killing him.

Trick Attack (Bluff) vs 20+CR: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21
If the Trick Attack succeeds, the attack roll is vs flatfooted KAC and the bonus damage is applied
Trick Attack - Pistol vs KAC: 1d20 + 7 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 7 - 4 + 1 = 18
TA Damage (Piercing): 1d6 ⇒ 1
TA Bonus Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Apologies for my absence folks. RL has been hitting me pretty hard these last 3 or 4 days. Besides I think that GM BB has been rolling pretty well for me. I feel like the two rolls you made me total more than my attack rolls for my entire previous scenario with this character :P

Aldane's shot connects while Twik's shot to the Starfinder's shoulder brings him down.

Combat Concluded!!

The party quickly moves forward to examine the downed Starfinders. The first one who went down is, sadly, dead. However, due to the party's efforts, the last two are in stable condition. You restrain them appropriately while also making sure they receive the medical attention they need to ensure they do not die.

After battling the mind-controlled Starfinders, the party continues searching the starship graveyard until you make a terrifying discovery: dozens of Starfinders are currently comatose and held in secure stasis chambers!!!

With nothing else of note, you gather the secured, mind-controlled Starfinders back into your lander and return to the command ship, reporting what you've found to Historia-7. She congratulates you on your success at locating live Starfinders and assigns a team of medical experts back to the starship graveyard to analyze their condition and determine how best to evacuate them.

Congratulations!! Mission successful!!

Per the discussion thread, I'll move the party on to the City of Ancients recon mission! However, as usual, feel free to retroactively RP your characters actions to go along with the conclusion of this mission.

Entirely up to the party, but I would also suggest that the party either use the aid token or boost it for another table. One possibility would be to use its First Aid ability and heal everyone for 1d6 (which would apply only to Aldane presently since he's the only one who's injured.

The imposing vesk Radaszam, leader of the Acquisitives, stands near a large screen that displays a tidally locked planet labeled as Callion-2. “Starfinders,” He greets, in his pleasantly low voice, “I’m sure you’ll find this mission interesting. Our sensors have detected numerous communication signals broadcast from Callion-2. Because one side of the planet is always facing the sun, only a narrow habitable zone exists, but here’s the interesting part: the entire habitable area is covered in one big, technologically advanced megacity. Finding survivors, or at least useful information in the city, seems likely. I’ll upload mission data on your ship’s computer. Good luck and come back safely!”

Following the Radaszam’s instructions, you easily find the right location in the sprawling megacity to take their landing craft. You are able to find a suitable place to land on a rooftop. As you approach the destination, you realize the only living things in the city are plants and small insectile invertebrates.

Doing a quick scan with your equipment you find five locations within proximity of your landing zone worth investigating. Strangely enough you can hear strange alien music (akin to distorted modern elevator music) playing in the background through loudspeakers integrated into the city’s buildings and infrastructure. Where do you go first?

• Factory
  
• Library
  
• Military Base
  
• Residential Area
  
• Shopping Mall

Your comm device tune erupts, breaking the silence once again in quick succession as the dreaded group chats will. ”The results of your explorations are coming in fast. Our agents explored a starship graveyard on Agillae-5, where they found many more of our comrades kept comatose in stasis chambers. Our scientists are studying the strange technology so we can decide how to safely release them.”

Starship Graveyard location is now closed and The Cracked Mirror location is now open.

Previously

Sharmain is relieved when her team manages to bring down the survivors and does her best to help them recover.

"Well done everyone. I suspect time is of the essence but I am going to exam these survivors so we can include as much information as possible in our report and the ship will be prepared to treat them on our return. Let me see what I can find out about the nanites. Be careful around them though, at least until we have a better understanding of what is going on."

Medicine with morale bonus: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 1 = 18

As the party continues its search, revealing another collection of survivors held in stasis..."Praise Desna we have found so many who have survived whatever events took place here. I don't know how they came to be in this condition and clearly, we cannot transport so many. Does anyone recognise this tech?"

Sharmain follows through with her plan, preparing more information for her superiors and quietly praying that they will be able to truly rescue these people, returning them to themselves.

Medicine with morale bonus: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 1 = 9

The first medicine check I was thinking of as potentially boosting the aid token if Aldane does not use it. Is Aldane able to take a 10-minute rest while we travel?

Later, on Callion-2...

Sharmain is awed by the great city as they approach.

"Should we start with the library? I am always one for seeking knowledge before acting and a library seems like a good place to do that."

Culture to consider the music for important clues or information: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

I do not want to rest because I only have 2 RPs. I do not want to spend 1 RP on 4 SP. I will use token if it's not too selfish.

aid token: 1d6 ⇒ 2
"Yes we can go to library!"

Previously....

Sharmain, you're unable to learn anything about the nanites but you are able to confirm their presence in the poor Starfinders. You do also manage to extract a sample which you then later turn over to Historia-7 upon your return to the command ship before the next mission.

Yes, a 10 minute rest is available in between missions and potentially within a mission, depending upon what is occurring. Aldane, I believe this to be a pretty good use of the token, particularly as you're the team's primary front-liner and you've already been inspiring boosted. I'll consider the token used and it has healed two of your SP.

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

Currently...

The party heads to the library, hoping to gather some information amongst its records. With the exception of the ever-present alien music, this enormous building remains completely silent. Digital and physical records from the planet’s past fill shelves and data archives stretching for the equivalent of city blocks.

After the party has spent about an hour or so looking through the records Aldane and Twik spot an androgynous human down a row a databanks, watching the party from a fair distance away.

Previously:
Computers: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Life Science: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Currently
Culture: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Assuming Aldane or Twik points out the observer,and Odo looks up at the human, "Greetings, friend. Are you the librarian?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (18) + 8 + (3) = 29

Currently, in the library:

Sharmain is quietly ecstatic at so much potential new knowledge. She diligently scans, trying to extract the most relevant information for their current needs.

Life Science: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

"Wow, there is so much information here and much of it is very advanced, I think we have much to learn from them though no time to study it now. I have found a log entry here that looks like maybe some of our Starfinders came through. No indication of what happened to them though."

Zac examines the records in the Library.
Computers: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

"If there are log entries here about the Star Finders, then someone is making log entries. This place isn't abandoned. Heads up people."

Previously....

Kato is glad they were able to neutralize the two starfinders without incident. After they go down he rushes over to inspect them and ensure they are stable

Medicine: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Computers: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

In between missions...

Kato chats with to his fellow team and about what they say. He tells them about the time he and fathers team came across on parasitic mind worm on Terobin-5 in the vast. He was infected by one. Although, he doesn’t remember must of the event he does remember the unquenchable thirst. His father told him that he would fill the wash station with water and stay under until he lost consciousness. The parasite lived in water in its larval stage and required the host to find water.

If you think that is neet. Look up horse hair worms

Currently...

Kato seeks out a terminal in the library. He begins tapping away at the station seeking information about the city as well as any information about the system they are in currently.

Computers: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Physical Science: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Once he hears Twik talking, he stops what he is doing, draws his weapon and stands with the short smooth talker.

Previously...while examining the SF's in stasis

Computers: 10 + 6 = 16

Now..

Twik, noticing that they are being watched, taps his fellow charismatic halfling on the shoulder and points out the stranger.

He backs up Odo with some friendly "We mean you no harm gestures"...

Auto Succeed at Diplomacy Aid Another

When Odo and Twik addresses the human (who is too far away for you to see distinct features), she/he tilts her/his head to the side, obviously able to hear your words. But then the human turns away and walks into the rows of databanks out of sight.

The party attempts to follow but even splitting up to search around, there is no trace of the human - no footprints, no fingerprints, no objects disturbed or moved out of place, no heat signature...nothing. Aside from seeing the human with your own eyes, you never would have thought there was anyone there...

There are four other areas within range for the party to explore. Where to next?

Shall we just go down the list? To the Factory?

Factory it is!!

The factory district is full of activity: industrial robots building and repairing other robots. The party can easily see that the level of robotics is highly advanced, and everything looks fully automated. Aside from other robots, various spare parts and construction materials are being produced - everything needed to keep this megacity up and running in working order.

After exploring around for a while, Twik and Zac spot off in the distance what appears to be the same androgynous human, observing the party. When you try to greet or get closer to the human, the human again withdraws - this time she/he disappears into the crowds of automated robots going about their work. And like in the library, the human disappears seemingly without a trace...

If there is anything you'd like to do here in the factory district, please go for it!! Otherwise, you have three other areas available to check out:
1. Military Base
2. Residential Area
3. Shopping Mall

First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo's voice rings out with more news of hope on each of your comm devices. ”Starfinders have penetrated the defenses of an ancient automated city on Callion-2. They discovered that a group of Starfinders visited the city a year ago, trying to find a way to help other Starfinders stuck on the desert planet of Callion-1. We’ll begin moving resources to Callion-1 immediately.”

City of the Ancients is now closed and Sands of Oblivion is now open.

Let's go to Military Base.

"I wonder if that is a sophisticated projection, the way it disappears so completely."

Military Base is fine by me, or do we now move on to another mission? If so, then perhaps Callion-1 and Sands of Oblivion makes the most story sense.

City of Ancients is now closed which means that no table is allowed to start this mission. However, tables such as ours that have already started this mission can proceed with finishing it.

As the party approaches the military base, the human you spotted observing you walks straight out to the party approaching to within easy speaking distance. As the human comes closer, you see the unmistakable signs of a holographic projection - a little flicker here and there, a bit translucent in some areas, etc. The hologram addresses the party in a soft-spoken voice:

"Greetings. My name is A-1. This city does not often have visitors. May I ask what is your mission here and what are you seeking?

Of steps forward to address the hologram, "Greetings, A-1. I am Odo Tosscobble. We are here looking for lost colleagues of ours. Have you had any visitors here within the last year?"

"Pleased to meet you, Odo. I'm afraid that information is classified. Perhaps you'd care to sample some of our city's steak sauce? We have a fully automated facility back in the factory district that is well known for the quality of their steak sauce..." replies A-1.

Twik frowns at the mention of steak sauce...

"If ever there was an invitation to join the missing Starfinders, that's probably it..."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

@GM... Is the creature actually present this time? ie not a hologram?

The creature speaking to you is obviously a hologram, not a real live flesh and blood creature. It looks like an androgynous human and is speaking common.

Stepping forward, Sharmain responds "Hello, A-1. Unfortunately, our quest to find our missing colleagues is our highest priority so we must defer a factory tour until a later time, though it does sound fascinating. We noticed a great deal of activity in that area but have yet to note any cellular lifeforms similar to ourselves. Are there such on this planet?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Says A-1, "Steak sauce was once highly regarded here. But I see how you may be interested in other topics. You are correct, there are currently no other sentient lifeforms currently residing in this city. I cannot tell you much about the species that built this city or why they left, I'm afraid. They activated me only right before they left and charged me with keeping the city in operational, working order. Especially the steak sauce factory!"

Anyone who passes a DC18 Sense Motive roll may also read Twik's sense motive spoiler above.