[SFS/Shifty]#1-05 The First Mandate (Inactive)

Game Master Nik B.

Jaxon activates the comm on his surgical computer to contact Radaszam. "Sir, we have completed our investigation, but there is evidence that multiple explosives may have been planted to kill the First Seeker. We have the the identity of the assassin and she is disguised as a staffer at the gala. We are making our way back to you now."

Fixit agrees with Markar...

"Yes we should call ahead to Radaszam. Perhaps he can make some preparations"

If he can, Ceolor would love to spend ten of those fifteen resting to regain his lost SP, other wise he will bevery happy to stay very far away from any possible resulting fight.

Ceolor nods emphatically. "Thanks for calling Jaxon! I'll get the cab."

Te red-skinned man then pulls out the personal comm from the business suit he is wearing and types in a number from memory. "Hey, Frank! Do you think you could send Speedy Suzy in the fastest cab you've got? ...No, I'm not running late again. It's for work and important! ...Thanks! I'll send you our address in just a sec."

In the cab, Ceolor straps into the racing harness, gives Suzy the address, and tries to get comfortable for the ten minutes the trip will take.

Strapped into the cab with Speedy Suzy at the stick, the party whizzes off at dangerous speed back towards the Lorespire Complex. Suzy seems to be of the belief that corners are best taken at 90 degrees and at maximum speed, but she sure knows how to haul steel to a destination.

Radaszam answers the comms unit "Speak, what have you got for me" he enquires down the line. He listens to your report intently, asking questions to help him fully understand the situation.

"So, how would you like to proceed? I can offer support from my security agents, the Obsidian Spiders. This will allow you to focus on confronting the assassin while the Obsidian Spiders handle the explosives. That is, of course, unless you were looking to deal with both by yourselves?"

Tamon whispers to the party conspiratorially,

We do not know what the capabilities of the Obsidian Spiders are. I feel we should handle this ourselves to be sure.

Jaxon nods. "Besides, if we can get these explosives intact, we may be able keep them." He takes one of the explosive wrappers and begins trying to look up information about the device.

Engineering: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Physical Science: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Tamon sees what Jaxon is doing and thinks it's a good idea.

Engineering: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Physical Science: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Are we sure it's not a chocolate cake?

Jaxon and Tamon work out that they are fairly common industrial explosives, and pay attention to the small print in the manual.
You'd have a small situational bonus on your Eng roll

Radaszam awaits your answer...

It's not Physical Science, just Engineering

Ceolor looks to the two excitedly nattering away about the bombs, and opens his mouth to say something when the world, or more specifically the car around him, lurches to the right, Speedy Suzy achieving a 45 degree angle from the car. Taking a few second to catch his breath, Ceolor finally responds to Radaszam. "I think we can handle everything!, We know what to be looking for with the explosives and the assassin, but if you could have them on stand-by just in case, It'd be very helpful."

Once they get to the place, Ceolor hops out of the cab first and rushes over to the driver's window. "Thanks Suzy! Is it just me or did you possibly set a new record? Anyways, here's the usual and a little extra for the rush job, and can I get a receipt? This time the Society's footing the bill. Oh and if you see a girl with some amazing red curly hair leave the building can you follow her and let me know? I'll pay rush hour rates!"

Suzy nods and pulls the cab up out of the main drag - the cab goes (mostly) dark and the words 'not for hire' scroll slowly across an LED screen.

***

"Ballsy plan. You’ll need to be subtle in your search for the bombs or keep the assassin distracted so she doesn’t simply detonate them early. Naiaj is sending you a package. I'll keep the Spiders back and let you handle it all"

A small drone passes by and drops a bag - which contains 6 mk 1 serums of healing.

Jaxon looks at the others. "We need to find the assassin first. If she realizes that we're poking around, she might just detonate all the bombs."

He speaks to Radaszam. "Have you noticed any curly, red-headed staff? That's who we're looking for. That's who we're looking for."

Ceolor is 100% certain he saw a recalls having seen a staffer at the gala who matches this appearance working on the audiovisual setup for the event.

***

"Doesn't sound familiar, but there are a lot of people here. I've pulled the Spiders back so we're pretty blind now"

The elevator stops and the doors open to the event in full swing, laser lights and holograms abound, and the music is very lively as the event is drawing towards the close.

For ease of tracking, we are now back in rounds.
Given what we know (don't know) please ensure you include all descriptors/rolls as necessary

R1
Ceolor
Fixit
Jaxon Kyber
Markar
Medrick
Tamon Si

Tamon moves into the room casually, so as not to call attention to himself, and scans the crowd.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

Detect Magic and Telepathic Message active.

R1
Ceolor
Fixit
Jaxon Kyber
Markar
Medrick
Tamon Si - Looking for the woman.

"Radaszam - Is there a way we can delay Luwazi's presentation to give us a chance to search for the assassin and the explosives?

Presumably she will be on the stage for the presentation so that seems like a likely target point - is there a cellar or basement level? What about a level above this main level or possibly a ceiling space?"

Fixit turns to the team and speaks "I'm confident that with the instructions and background info we have on the explosives that I can, possibly with help from Jaxon, disarm them. It's just a matter of finding them & then disarming them without the assassin noticing. Which means we also need to locate our curly red haired friend pronto!"

"You're going to have to move fast, if we delay the assassin will almost certainly put two and two together, and trying to draw people away will also draw suspicion"

The ceiling is 60' up, and below you is another floor of the building.

Medrick looks to his friends Look guys, I don't know much about bombs and stuff. Not sure how much help I will be there.

Just a thought I had before falling asleep last night, does Medrick know the existence of an alien race that shapes changes? Since we know it has "disguised" itself for many of it's assignations, it might actually shape shift. I will roll a life science if that helps.

life science: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Medrick goes to look around the room for what we think the assassin looks like. I am afraid to go ask around about her because we don't her want to hear that people are on to her. But then again, the head of catering might be able to help us. For now I will just look.

perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Sadly, Medrick doesn't notice anything. Someone must be wearing the perfume he is allergic to because Medrick just can't stop sneezing.

Ohh nice idea Medrick, I'll take a roll at that too!

Ceolor thinks about what kind of creature can use scalesheen, and still look like the woman he saw at the party.
_______________
Life Sciences: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
_______________

having had a second to catch his breath in the car, Ceolor is back to his usual bubbly self. He strides back into the party with a grin on his face, rady to take the assasin down. Turning to the rest of the group he comments. "Of course the party livens up after we leave! I would have preferred dancing to the cocktail event from earlier. But now that we are here, it really can get started!"

Ceolor gives the crowd a quick once over making sure no one with red curly hair is near before he drops into a whisper. "As for our lovely staffer, I think I can work on distracting her myself or maybe with someone acting as a wingman. If you see her though, let me know!" He taps on the comms unit built into the buisness stationwwear and then heads off into the fray, keeping his eyes peeled for some vibrant red and curly hair.

________________
I'm not sure if Ceolor can find her right away. I'll get another post together if he can, but if he can't:
perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Not getting much so far., Tamon telepaths to the party.

Assuming they discuss their "shapeshifter" hypothesis,

That's right. What could it be?

Physical Science: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

It occurs to you that a Reptoid is both scaly and can change shape and appearance, and can do so quite rapidly.

R1
Ceolor - Looking for the woman.
Fixit
Jaxon Kyber
Markar
Medrick - Looking for the woman.
Tamon Si - Looking for the woman.

As the others get off the elevator, Jaxon says to them, "I'm going to cause a distraction. Watch people's reactions. It might tell us who is the assassin. "

He spots Zo and heads for the undead man. As he nears, he pitches sideways and stumbles into a server, causing the two of the to crash into Zo and sending food flying everywhere. "Play along for the ratings!" he hisses at Zo.

R1
Ceolor - Looking for the woman.
Fixit
Jaxon - Distraction/Aid
Markar
Medrick - Looking for the woman.
Tamon Si - Looking for the woman.

Per: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
While the rest of the team looks for the assassin Markar decides to look for the bombs. The loud music is throwing the Kastaha off terribly though.

R1
Ceolor - Looking for the woman.
Fixit
Jaxon - Distraction/Aid
Markar - Looking for the bombs
Medrick - Looking for the woman.
Tamon Si - Looking for the woman.

Figuring the stage is the best place to start looking for the bombs, Fixit casually heads in that direction.

We are doing this round by round? Fixit can't make it to the stage in one round but he will casually look at the stage and surrounding area to see if anything stands out.

Perception, T10: 10 + 5 = 15

Sort of round by round - time matters at the moment, and there's a lot going on so we need to ensure everyone gets a go :)

Zo begins playing along, a bit confused but getting that something is going down, and Luwazi looks on from nearby the stage...

R1
Ceolor - Looking for the woman.
Fixit - Looking for the bombs
Jaxon - Distraction/Aid
Markar - Looking for the bombs
Medrick - Looking for the woman.
Tamon Si - Looking for the woman.

Bluff 1d20 ⇒ 7
Party 2d20 ⇒ (6, 2) = 8
Opposition 2d20 ⇒ (14, 2) = 16

***
A loud chain of explosions echo through the hall, the stage being obliterated by the bombs. The gala is thrown into an uproar. Four of Radaszam’s agents surround the
First Seeker to keep her safe while a couple of others scan the room for the assassin!
Luwazi is unharmed, a few guests have minor wounds!

R2
Ceolor -
Fixit -
Jaxon -
Markar -
Medrick -
Tamon Si -

Finding himself alone in the far end of the hall from the action, Tamon watches the doorways for anyone entering or exiting.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12 Low-light, Darkvision

Tamon watches carefully...!

R2
Ceolor -
Fixit -
Jaxon -
Markar -
Medrick -
Tamon Si - observing

Medrick panics a moment when the bombs go off Maybe we should of let the Vesk help us... Medrick decides to go talk to the head of the catering.

Hello! I am wondering if you know where one of your members of your staff is. We saw her earlier and need to have a word with her. She has red hair... Medrick goes on to give a full description.

diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (9) - 1 = 8

Medrick starts trying to question the staff.

R2
Ceolor -
Fixit -
Jaxon -
Markar -
Medrick - Investigating
Tamon Si - observing

I assume that we can't see anyone fitting the description in this room?

Can we see into the back room or the corridors from the main room where we are?

What are the little square rooms on the right hand side?

The little square rooms are elevators - you have been coming up and down the guest elevators into the main room. You cant see into the corridors (as they have doors on them) or room at the rear, you know they are there and the general layout though. You can't see anyone fitting the description at this stage. There's a lot going on in the room which may or may not be hindering that as well

"Well, that didn't go well! " Jaxon shouts. He yells at Radazsam's agents, "Stay with the First Seeker!"

He runs to the nearest door to the southern corridor and yanks it open, stepping out and looking for any sign of the assassin. If he doesn't see anyone immediately, he'll begin making his way to the back room.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Were there five explosions?

Fixit sees Jaxon dash for the side corridor and so does the same for the corridor on the other side of the room calling out for the others to coordinate their efforts as they go.

"Some of you try the other doors! If you don't see anyone head towards the room at the back!"

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

You suspect it was 5 devices going off simultaneously - each approximately the blast of a grenade.

R2
Ceolor -
Fixit - Moved north
Jaxon - Moved south
Markar -
Medrick - Investigating
Tamon Si - observing

I'll be honest. I'm very confused as to what to do right now.

Me too! I hope we don't do anything too stupid, but seeing as the bomb has gone off already we probably have.

Ceolor, shocked by the bomb going off, decides to step in and help protect the First Seeker, afraid the assassin might have taken a different form and might go after their target directly.

"Luwazi, Ma'am, the person targeting you might be a shapeshifter. So we need to be careful just in case they try to get close to you in a form you trust." ...which in retrospect might include me, hmm

_______________
It's a roll, add what's needed if anything is needed: 1d20 ⇒ 13

I'm guessing we botched a roll. Might have been an impossible DC or related to something we did or did not do before. Now it would seem that if we can catch the assassin and keep Luwazi alive, we might salvage the situation.

Seems like the quest called for a high bluff to not tip the assassin off. We're not a socially oriented group seeing how very very creative we had to get during the schmoozing session. I get the sense there was no way for us to do well if that was the case.

It was certainly possible, but was higher risk/higher reward/higher difficulty option. It wasn't just bluff rolls though, there were a few other avenues too. Unfortunately you tripped the trigger conditions, fortunately (in some ways) you did it really early and Luwazi wasn't seriously injured. You still have a (very much alive) shapeshifting assassin on the floor though.

R2
Ceolor - Moves to Luwazi
Fixit - Moved north
Jaxon - Moved south
Markar -
Medrick - Investigating
Tamon Si - Observing

Per: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 Markar looks around for anyone with very curly hair.

No one can really see any danger, and the four bodyguards pack in tight around Luwazi.

As Fixit steps into the service hallway, he sees a figure bolting for a waiting elevator...she keeps sprinting away and is inside it before he has time to react!

R3
Enemy - Acted
Jaxon
Medrick
Ceolor
Markar
Tamon
Fixit

Fixit shouts to the team....”She’s in this corridor elevator. Can we head her off anywhere?”

Has the elevator left? If Fixit runs there will he be able to catch it to open the door? Or is he going to need to go for a different elevator

She is in the elevator, the door has not yet closed. Fixit could reach the elevator by running (16 squares) - just be aware that you would end your turn flat-footed base to base in front of the assassin

Jaxon curses his luck and reminds himself not to buy an Absolom lottery ticket today. Then he rushes to the elevator on the south side, hoping to find a way to stop the other elevator.

double move into the elevator on the south. Jaxon's idea is to attempt to gain control of the other elevator, but given he can't try this round, this might end up a chase.

Medrick hears Fixit's shout about the assassin. Of course, I am not even near the elevators. No chance of catching it. Medrick moves as close to the elevator as he can.

Are there other people on the elevator? also I just took a double move action. The dice have not been on our side this adventure.

Hmm, I don't know where I should be moving from on the map. Last turn I said Ceolor was going to move over to Luwazi, but I didn't move him on the map (and I'm not entirely sure if I should have...) As such I put in two options of where he can double move this turn.
Ceolor, hearing Fixit's call on the comms rushes for the nearest elevator, pulling out his baton as he goes, hoping to catch it before it leaves the floor.

I have calculated incorrectly. Of course, the elevators!

Tamon moves into the hallway where he heard Fixit's call. Seeing the quarry about to get away, he attempts to make her miss the button to close the doors.

Casting Grease in the elevator. Reflex DC14 or fall prone.

Spells 1:0/3

The party scrambles, running towards the elevator!
Tamon steps in and casts Grease to try stop the assassin,
Reflex 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
- though the Assassin still stands!

R3
Enemy - Acted
Jaxon - Moving
Medrick - Moving
Ceolor - Moving
Markar
Tamon - move/casting
Fixit

Ceolor - up to you, protect Luwazi or chase an assassin... :)