[SFS/Shifty/GDVI]#1-02 Fugitive on the Red Planet (Beta) (Inactive)

Game Master Nik B.

Altharikon's eyes widen slightly as he listens to his companions divulging information and the AbadarCorp representative's reply. Mind racing through the myriad tracks this conversation could take, he asks. "May we inquire as to your interest with him? Since we're putting it all on the table?"

"Talbot approached our corporate buyers in Maro with a new, alternative fuel for Drift engines. The fuel was purchased for analysis, and if it checked out, would have been evaluated as a new commodity on the galactic markets. To the chagrin of our buyers, the fuel reverted to common thasteron not long after the AbadarCorp ships made to depart Akiton’s orbit. Philt explains that the fuel was purchased in good faith and AbadarCorp does not tolerate outright fraud. We ask you not to interfere with our capture of Talbot and any evidence he may be in possession of to support our legal claims against him"

Altharikon telepathically broadcasts a thought to each of his companions, including Zoey. "Perhaps we could persuade them to contract us to bring in Talbot. Convince them it's more financially beneficial to them....?

Id responds to Altherikon, Yes, we might be able to kill two birds with one stone this way.
He turns to Mr. Philt and reaches out to him telepathically. I think there is ample room for collaboration here. You seek your prisoner, and we seek the artifact he used to pull off his deception. If we track down the fraud and capture him for you to bring to trial, along with detailed testimony about the powers of the device he used to glamer the thasteron, is there anything you can do to help this community avoid collapsing once the false market Talbot pioneered collapses? This way everyone but the charlatan can benefit.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

6ix listens carefully to the various conversations and accusations. It sounds perfectly likely, as the artifact was purported to do just this. Despite having cut short his own negotiations, the ones they have brought about seem mutually beneficial so 6ix keeps his trap shut... until his lack of social graces compel him to speak. "Conversely, we could allow you to capture him, but we would need the artifact as that is what we were sent to recapture specifically. I'm sure AbadarCorp wouldn't want to be known to be in possession of such an item regardless."

Zoey looks a Altharikon with a look of alarm, having only half-followed the conversation. Wuh? she says, followed by a more coherent, is he a fraud really?

She doesn't really see the conversation between Id and Philt, so she adds I'm not sure if his fraud is intentional, he may just not understand the conversion process?

Anyway, she adds, a bit nervously he seems to be pretty popular around here.

The shirren considers the arguments put forward bu Id and 6ix "You are a clutch of curiously golden-hearted freelance mercenaries, but we are not here to compensate the beneficiaries of crime for the cessation of their ill-gotten gains - gains fraudulently obtained from AbadarCorps pockets, no less. We are happy to let you capture Talbot and deliver him to AbadarCorp’s custody, that way we don't have to be involved with the handling of strange objects of dubious provenance and questionable danger. I would prefer Talbot alive but I do not require it, That is the only offer we will be making."

Zoey looks quizically at the Shirren and says, bluntly, Wuh? I thought you guys were all about trade. Where's the upside for us? You're offering nothing!

"You mistake us, bounty-hunter, we might be for trade - but we're not fools - and we certainly don't make our fortunes by allowing frauds thieves and cheats burn us. I have offered you the opportunity to claim your bounty for the capture of stolen goods for your benefactor - thus you receive your full payment - on the understanding that you hand us the man you claim to have no interest in, what exactly do you believe you are 'offering' here? The alternative being AbadarCorp simply claiming him, and everything on him - perhaps this item would go some way to compensating us for our loss."

Id shakes his head. We never claimed to be mercenaries, and we just don't like seeing anybody be hoodwinked, present company included. My guess is that these people will suffer far worse from the loss of the fuel sales than AbadarCorp will, so we just wanted you to wrack your brain about strategies that might help cushion the blow. If they have nothing of value, perhaps you could consider investing in the community in a way that will reap benefits for your investors as well as these civilians? Could you not set up a station here to help bolster the economy for what I'm sure is cheap real estate?

In any case, we will gladly track down your fugitive for you. No reason we can't help each other, since our objectives obviously align.

"Well, I certainly concur with my associate here. Our business is recovering the artifact, and you want the man who is illicitly in possession of it. We track your man, we'll find what we're looking for. T'is a fine deal, if I say so myself. All parties get what they want in the end."

Alton points his thumb over his shoulder towards the reveling crowd. "Clearly the locals love the guy, so we should expect zero help that way. Got any leads on his last knowns?"

"You are clearly mercenaries, and on the hunt for a target" it waves towards your weapons and equipment "They aren't losing fuel sales, they never had fuel! They were just the unlikely beneficiaries of a crime that served to empty AbadarCorp holdings!" the creature waves its antennae, agitated, "We aren't even asking for our money back, we just want the guilty party who hoodwinked us. We certainly wouldn't consider throwing a single credit into this town whilst it still harbours, aids, and abets the man who stole from us - they are no more than unwitting accomplices - show us Talbot, and then share with us the breadth of your business acumen"

"We suspect he is hiding out in the nearby thasteron mines, not far from here. So we have a deal - we allow you to capture Talbot and retrieve your item without interference, and we get the man for our purposes, yes?"

Altharikon nods and quickly glances at his party. "Yes, yes this arrangement sounds just fine."

Turning, he says. "Off to the mines?"

"We have a bargain then" the shirren and the vesk seem comforted.

***

The place goes quiet a second, and you pick up the 'something wrong vibe'

A deep booming female voice echoes from outside the front of the bar. “Intruders! We know you’ve come to Tasch in search of our savior. I give you this one chance. Lay down your weapons and leave our town. You will not disrupt the salvation of Akiton, not when Reynald Talbot has come so close to saving our world! You have one minute to decide.”

The miners all start moving out of the way, some darting out the front door quickly... no one wants to be involved.

Philt gets bundles up by his minders and they push to the exit "We'll be in touch!"

***

Over to you!

Altharikon's antenna droop visibly as the voice booms from outside. He furtively peers around the bar, looking for another, more discrete exit.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

This doesn't sound good. Anyone see a back exit? He telepathically broadcasts to his team members.

Alth can see a door to the bathrooms, and an office door behind the bar.

Id draws his laser pistol and looks to the door. This is exactly what I was worried about. To us and AbadarCorp Talbot is a crook, but to these people he's their salvation. We should see if we can get the miners to see reason, and maybe lean on Philt to help them out once we bring him Talbot.
The shirren calls out to the front door, "We want to do right by your planet and your people, but this is not the way! Walk away from this before someone gets hurt!"

Clearly no one ever thought about negotiation as an option. 6ix sighs. "Do we inform them that their savior is a fraud and a... what was that word... charlatan? Or do we fight our way out? I would greatly prefer not to have to kill them all if it can be avoided."

Alton rises from his chair at the sound of the announcement, and his eyes dart around the room towards the exits, where he sees the mass of people funnelling towards them.

"Well, it's either we run, talk or fight. I'd rather not have to shoot someone today." says Alton, walking to the door behind the bar. More like "I don't want to get shot over this Talbot fool."

"I'll check door number one." he mutters as he draws his knife in one hand, and his laser pistol in the other. He then opens the door gently.

Alton cracks the door to the back office and finds himself looking down the barrel of an Azimuth laser pistol held by a shady looking ysoki. It appears there was a back door, and he has just come through it. The bartender (another ysoki) looks on, staying out of it.

Alton manages to shut the door before being shot in the face.

R1
Altharikon
Alton
Id-Sinitis
6ix
Zoey
ENEMY

Can't edit map, atm

Cursing as he sees Alton brought up short, Altharikon dashes to the bathroom door and opens it, praying there is a window to exit through. "Alton! What's in the back!?

Ath moves towards the bathrooms. Past a pair of swinging double doors is a
short hallway with a door on either side. Both doors lead to unisex restrooms.

"DEADEND!!" Althar yells. Let us take the path of least resistance. Alton? What is back there?" The lashunta suggests telepathically to his group.

R1
Altharikon - moved/door
Alton
Id-Sinitis
6ix
Zoey
ENEMY

I can't seem to access the map. Is the link working?

"I believe it's our way out of here; I saw the light of day, but it's on the other side of an angry rat with a gun!"

Alton slides over the corner of the counter, and takes cover behind it. (Assuming I can get some sort of minor/half cover bonus by doing so.)

I can't seem to access the map. Is the link working?

Should be, Alton just used it and moved...

Alton takes cover behind the bar (soft cover -2 to be hit from the doorway)

R1
Altharikon - moved/door
Alton - moved/cover
Id-Sinitis
6ix
Zoey
ENEMY

Got it, seems to be working now. Thanks!

Id pulls his laser pistol from its holster and trains it on the door.
Move action to draw weapon, standard to ready a shot against the first enemy to enter.
Readied Attack (azimuth laser pistol, energy): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Damage (fire): 1d4 ⇒ 3

R1
Altharikon - moved/door
Alton - moved/cover
Id-Sinitis - READIED!
6ix
Zoey
ENEMY

The android moves himself behind a pillar and tries his best at being invisible, while readying his pistol.

Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

Oh, no! What to do do! Zoey moves toward the exit and draws her pistol.

6ix begins hiding as Zoey moves and draws her pistol...

The front doors burst open and a hulking shobhad strides through, Id-Sinitis pulls the trigger and the shot barely misses the advancing giant! In two hands it holds a rifle, in the other two, a massive battle-staff. The shobhad glares at Zoey, then projects its will into her!

Mind Thrust
Damage 2d10 ⇒ (1, 7) = 8
DC14 Will save for nil damage.

Another yskoi moves in and opens fire at 6ix, the pillar not providing any concealment from the wrong side...
Attack 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
But the shot hits a table instead.

Meanwhile, the door at the bar opens.

R2
Altharikon
Alton
Id-Sinitis
6ix
Zoey
ENEMY

LOL, I totally did hide on the wrong side of the pillar!

6ix suddenly realizes he's made a grave mistake and found himself on the wrong side of a gunfight... the side toward the people with guns! He quickly scrambles back to the other side of the pillar, doing his best once more to use it as a form of cover to hide his intentions... as he snaps off a shot at the rat who just shot at him.

Trick Attack, full round action
Stealth: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21 If his CR < or = my result, he is flatfooted and I deal +1d4 damage.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Damage: 1d4 + 1d4 ⇒ (3) + (2) = 5 If he's above CR 1, ignore the 2nd d4

Antenna twitching, Altharikon closes his eyes and begins manipulating the air in front of him.

Begin full round casting of magic missile

Alton peers over the bar counter, and spots a ysoki pressed against the wall just beyond the door's threshold. He aims his laser pistol and waits for his adversary to peek around the corner. Once the ysoki leans around, Alton squeezes the trigger, and the sharp snap of the beam rings out...

Attack (laser pistol): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Damage (fire): 1d4 ⇒ 2

That doorjam never saw it coming. Alton ducks back behind the bar and hopes that a stray round doesn't come his way.

6ix is smooth and slick as he slips the pillar and slots the ysoki!
Alth starts casting...
Alton fires a shot, goes wild though!

R
O 5
Y

R2
Altharikon /casting
Alton Fired!
Id-Sinitis
6ix Moved/fired
Zoey
ENEMY

Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

HP 2/10

Oh, wow. I didn't see you there, Zoey says sheepishly as the large woman comes in. I must be going now. Zoey nimbly steps back and dances back to behind the bar's barrier.

Guarded step, then move

HP 2/10

[ooc}Should have dropped your Stam Points before HP... :)[/ooc]

Right, new system. SP 0/6, HP 8/10

Pending Id

Id locks his multifaceted eyes on the shobhad, funneling magical energy into his hand to counter her eldritch attacks.

Ready a standard action to cast magic missile on the shobhad if she starts casting again.

The ysoki at the front of the bar pushes up to some better cover and opens fire again having a clear shot at Id it pulls the trigger of its laser pistol...

Attack 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Damage 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
The shot managing to stike the shirren!

The other one comes out of the back room and dives behind the bar to continue shooting at Alton

Attack 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
Damage 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Alton too gets hit.

The large Shobad begins casting...

Id, triggers your ready

Id grunts as the laser burns a hole in his second skin, but redoubles his focus on the spellcaster and flings two bolts of force at her.

Magic Missile damage: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 2) + 2 = 8

The magic force bolts strike the shobad, which foils its casting impressively!

Id is surprised to see a wave of energy streaking back along the path of his force bolts!
DC 12 Will save or take 8 damage!

R 8
O 5
Y

R3
Altharikon
Alton
Id-Sinitis
6ix
Zoey
ENEMY

Altharikon finishes his spell and launches three more missiles of force at the shobad.

Magic Missile: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 2, 3) + 3 = 11

The lashunta then draws his pistol, takes aim, and fires a laser burst at the Ysoki behind the bar.

Laser Pistol: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Alton takes the opportunity to pile on, holding his laser pistol above the bar and firing wildly downwards in the general direction of where the ysoki who tagged him ended up behind the bar.

Attack, ranged (laser pistol): 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (7) - 2 = 5
Damage, fire: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Attack, ranged (laser pistol): 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (17) - 2 = 15
Damage, fire: 1d4 ⇒ 4

He then ducks back behind the bar, shouting to Altharikon. "Can you see him? Did I get him?"

6ix once again tries to hide his movements and strike from behind cover, but perhaps because he's so focused on being sneaky the shot doesn't go anywhere near his ysoki prey.

Trick Attack, full round action
Stealth: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Damage: 1d4 + 1d4 ⇒ (2) + (3) = 5

Id works his way to the far wall and fires back at the ysoki that shot him, but only hits the cover it's hiding behind.
Move to left wall, standard to shoot. 18 charges remaining.

Attack (azimuth laser pistol): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Damage (fire): 1d4 ⇒ 2

EDIT: Forgot the Will save!
Will save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Atharikon sees the bolts of force streak away, and the same thing happens - a shockwave comes back down the path of the bolts and slam home with a wave of pain...

DC12 Will save or 10 damage

Then opens fire on the ysoki, hitting with a bit of ricochet!

Alton fires off a couple of shots, the second one winging the ysoki!

6ix and Id shoot up more of the bar, and less of their foes...

Zoey up

R 19
O 5
Y 5

Zoey fires her pulsecaster, while screaming get the big one, she's blocking the door!

Pulsecaster, Shoban: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 171d4 ⇒ 4

Standard: fire, move: get'em -> Everyone gets a +1 morale bonus against the shobad