SPACE JESUS: MASS EFFECT FAWTL

Game Master Freehold DM

If I am reading everything correctly, it is the varren's turn now. One will attack each of the active PCs to keep things simple.

Varren 1 vs Grace: 4d3 - 8 + 3 ⇒ (1, 2, 2, 3) - 8 + 3 = 3

Varren 2 vs Zinnius: 4d3 - 8 + 3 ⇒ (3, 3, 3, 3) - 8 + 3 = 7

Varren 3 vs Hestia: 4d3 - 8 + 3 ⇒ (3, 3, 3, 3) - 8 + 3 = 7

Again, strange rolls...max for the latter two. Hm.

Base damage is 2.

Grace turns to face the remaining varren attacking her and fires off a pair of well-placed disruptor rounds.

Guns (defense): 4d3 - 8 + 4 ⇒ (1, 2, 2, 3) - 8 + 4 = 4

Resolve (right place, right time): 4d3 - 8 + 4 ⇒ (3, 1, 3, 1) - 8 + 4 = 4

Hestia saunters out of the way behind Dern, but the varren changes direction surprisingly quickly and manages to sink its stinking fangs into her.

Base damage is 2 and they get 3 shifts (7-4), so damage is 5. Armor is 1, reducing damage to 4. Barrier is 2 protection and shields are 4, so the barrier is down and the shields are down to 2. Hestia takes no stress.

Fortunately, the biotic is well-protected by her armor and shielding, though the blue barrier shimmering around her disappears.

Reave recharge: 2
Dominate recharge: 4

As the varren rebounds from the shields with its quarry untouched, Hestia whirls and tosses an innocent-seeming girl punch in its direction. Her fist suddenly glows blue as the hit connects.

Biotics for biotic punch!: 4d3 - 8 + 5 ⇒ (1, 3, 3, 2) - 8 + 5 = 6

minus varren defense. Any shifts are damage to the critter.

Dern tries to defend himself again.

Guns: 4d3 - 8 + 2 ⇒ (1, 2, 2, 3) - 8 + 2 = 2

The mauling by the varren significantly reduces Dern's shields.

Dern responds by giving the varren a delighted smile as he detonates his tech armor right in its face.

Systems: 4d3 - 8 + 5 ⇒ (3, 2, 1, 3) - 8 + 5 = 6

Weapon 5 power opposed by Athletics or Systems.

Grace turns to face the remaining varren attacking her and fires off a pair of well-placed disruptor rounds.

[dice="Guns (defense)]4d3 - 8 + 4

If, I repeat IF I am reading this right, it means that varren basically growls and snaps at you but does no damage. Am I reading that right?

[dice=Resolve (right place, right time)]4d3-8+4

Hestia saunters out of the way behind Dern, but the varren changes direction surprisingly quickly and manages to sink its stinking fangs into her.

Base damage is 2 and they get 3 shifts (7-4), so damage is 5. Armor is 1, reducing damage to 4. Barrier is 2 protection and shields are 4, so the barrier is down and the shields are down to 2. Hestia takes no stress.

Fortunately, the biotic is well-protected by her armor and shielding, though the blue barrier shimmering around her disappears.

Reave recharge: 2
Dominate recharge: 4

As the varren rebounds from the shields with its quarry untouched, Hestia whirls and tosses an innocent-seeming girl punch in its direction. Her fist suddenly glows blue as the hit connects.

[dice=Biotics for biotic punch!]4d3-8+5

minus varren defense. Any shifts are damage to the critter.

The varren goes flying, a thin trail of its glistening blood demarking its parabolic arc through the air. It lands and does not attempt to rise, or even stir.

Only two varren remain to oppose you.

Dern tries to defend himself again.

Athletics or Systems or its rough equivalent: 4d3 - 8 + 1 ⇒ (2, 3, 2, 2) - 8 + 1 = 2

In a puff of insert the color of your tech armor here! energy, there is suddenly one less varren in the world.

Only one remains to oppose you.

Grace Wright wrote:

Grace turns to face the remaining varren attacking her and fires off a pair of well-placed disruptor rounds.

[dice="Guns (defense)]4d3 - 8 + 4

If, I repeat IF I am reading this right, it means that varren basically growls and snaps at you but does no damage. Am I reading that right?

From what I can tell, if the defender wins the exchange, the attacker deals no damage, and the defender deals base damage (I could be wrong on this, but the book is kind of vague). Exceeding the opposed roll by 3 or more gives the defender the ability to spin the attack.

HAPPY N7 DAY EVERYBODY!!!

bump

Is it me? Sorry, didn't realize. Geeze, don't stand on formalities; kill the damned things. Currently crunching through the manual trying to understand it.

Hestia follows the flying varren to the next one and socks it in the head as well.

Biotics for biotic punch!: 4d3 - 8 + 5 ⇒ (2, 2, 1, 1) - 8 + 5 = 3

Not having allowed her powers to recharge, her second effort is much more feeble.

Sorry about the delay, work and computer issues became a problem that needed fixing. I actually thought you were going to take Gir's turn, but that's okay.

The varren, exhausted by the combat and already injured, collapses to the ground, where he snaps the air a bit, and finally expires.

The A-Team stands triumphant over this most recent foe. An eerie quiet settles over all now that the combat is over. The area where the varren pounced out at you lies ahead, ready to be explored.

"And this is what happens when you don't neuter your pets," Dern says dryly as he brushes a bit of viscera off his armor. He trains the light from his omnitool onto the path ahead.

"Everybody alright?"

"The hell-puppies aren't feeling so hot. Where's the little traitor?" Hestia searches for the puppy among the corpses.

"The hell-puppies aren't feeling so hot. Where's the little traitor?" Hestia searches for the puppy among the corpses.

You do not find a puppy among the slain.

"And this is what happens when you don't neuter your pets," Dern says dryly as he brushes a bit of viscera off his armor. He trains the light from his omnitool onto the path ahead.

The light reveals much- a muck filled set of stairs going down level by level. This particular staircase seems to go almost all the way down, although there are levels that could be explored if you choose to exit the staircase. Most interesting is that things get noticeably neater the further down you go- if you are on the "first" floor, the "third" floor down is almost pristine.

"That little spy has gone off to cause further damage," Hestia grumbles. "Orders, Sarge?"

"That little spy has gone off to cause further damage," Hestia grumbles. "Orders, Sarge?"

"If everyone's alright, we'll head down the stairs and scout out the next level. I'll take point. Just remember, stay sharp and be careful."

Alertness: 4d3 - 8 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1, 3, 1) - 8 + 2 = 2

Dern nods and follows, looking warily into the shadows for any movement.

"Down we go, yo-ho," Hestia babbles, falling into position behind Grace and listening for trouble.

Alertness: 4d3 - 8 + 2 ⇒ (1, 2, 2, 3) - 8 + 2 = 2

This level seems to be an unused kennel of sorts. Rows upon rows of metal crates large enough to hold several varren are uniformly build into the wall. Filth is everywhere, but in the back there seem to be some unopened boxes. A very well gnawed upon dispensary of some sort on the wall seems to refuse to give up its contents despite the massive gouges varren teeth and claws left upon it.

"Alright, Gir, check those boxes against the back wall, they might be booby-trapped. Dern, Harper, cover the stairs, I don't want anyone or anything sneaking up on us. I'll check out the rest of the room."

Grace moves to inspect the cages further in an attempt to determine if they were recently opened and/or occupied.

"Looks like we may have found where the varren came from..."

Alertness: 4d3 - 8 + 2 ⇒ (1, 3, 2, 1) - 8 + 2 = 1

I'm assuming that in addition to the stairs leading back to our previous position, there are also stairs leading down to another sublevel. Is that right?

"You want the up-stairs or the down-stairs, Dern? Hestia inquires in a bored fashion.

"Alright, Gir, check those boxes against the back wall, they might be booby-trapped. Dern, Harper, cover the stairs, I don't want anyone or anything sneaking up on us. I'll check out the rest of the room."

Grace moves to inspect the cages further in an attempt to determine if they were recently opened and/or occupied.

"Looks like we may have found where the varren came from..."

[dice="Alertness]4d3 - 8 + 2

I'm assuming that in addition to the stairs leading back to our previous position, there are also stairs leading down to another sublevel. Is that right?

yes you are correct

Dern regards Hestia curiously, trying to judge whether the question is rhetorical. He calls back to Grace, "Don't forget the dispensary. Let me know if you need anything detonated." He looks with boredom upon the quiet stairwell.

Since Dern seems disinterested, Hestia moves to the top of the staircase heading down into further trouble. She peers into the depths, looking and listening and smelling for whatever might be down there.

Alertness: 4d3 - 8 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1, 3, 2) - 8 + 2 = 3

Dern regards Hestia curiously, trying to judge whether the question is rhetorical. He calls back to Grace, "Don't forget the dispensary. Let me know if you need anything detonated." He looks with boredom upon the quiet stairwell.

Grace gives Dern a thumbs-up.

"Will do, Specialist."

Just trying to keep things going here. Is it just me, or has Lord Synos disappeared?

Sorry about the delay. Work stuff got in the way, but it shouldn't be a problem now. Turned the new year corner.

Gir says something about this dispensary holding a strange combination of omni gel and medi gel and nutrient paste...Something that would feed and heal and feed these..creatures. Apparently their unique physiology means they need unique food- or maybe that their body is rejecting the implants on some level? Or are they simply fighting each other and so need to heal faster?. There is more to these creatures than would meet the eye, it seems.

Distant movement can be heard coming from the floor beneath. There is something uniform about it..

"Alright, Gir, check those boxes against the back wall, they might be booby-trapped. Dern, Harper, cover the stairs, I don't want anyone or anything sneaking up on us. I'll check out the rest of the room."

Grace moves to inspect the cages further in an attempt to determine if they were recently opened and/or occupied.

"Looks like we may have found where the varren came from..."

Alertness: 4d3 - 8 + 2

Does Grace find out anything regarding the cages? Also, were the medi-gel and nutrient paste the only things Gir found in the boxes?

Grace Wright wrote:

"Alright, Gir, check those boxes against the back wall, they might be booby-trapped. Dern, Harper, cover the stairs, I don't want anyone or anything sneaking up on us. I'll check out the rest of the room."

Grace moves to inspect the cages further in an attempt to determine if they were recently opened and/or occupied.

"Looks like we may have found where the varren came from..."

Alertness: 4d3 - 8 + 2

Does Grace find out anything regarding the cages? Also, were the medi-gel and nutrient paste the only things Gir found in the boxes?

Whoops, forgot about the boxes

The boxes are full of dated but sturdy materials that look like they went into the... Enhancement... Of these varren. They are of various sizes and types, it looks like these varren reproduce as normal and are altered not long after they are born.

"Looks like this must be where they grafted all of this tech onto the varren we ran into upstairs."

Grace closes the lid on the crate she was inspecting, and moves toward the Hestia top of the stairs.

"See anything down there, Harper?" she asks the young biotic, trying to keep her voice low, just in case there is anything interesting down there.

"No, but I hear it. Sounds like... I dunno. Marching?" Hestia scrunches up her face in annoyance for not being able to hear better and scratches one arm nervously. "I dunno, Sarge. Maybe Dern or Gir can get a reading?"

"No, but I hear it. Sounds like... I dunno. Marching?" Hestia scrunches up her face in annoyance for not being able to hear better and scratches one arm nervously. "I dunno, Sarge. Maybe Dern or Gir can get a reading?"

Grace strains to hear anything from down below.

Alertness: 4d3 - 8 + 2 ⇒ (2, 1, 1, 3) - 8 + 2 = 1

"I can't hear anything, but then again, your ears are younger than mine, and I'm pretty sure that you never took a piece of burning tank to the side of your head either."

She flashes Hestia a quick smile, then replaces her helmet and motions to Gir.

"Specialist, do you think you could cloak up and do a little bit of silent recon?"

Might be time to break out a "DMPC Gir'Rimas" alias for this game...

As Grace goes through the contents of the crates, Dern muses, "It appears the Shadow Broker was right to send us here. Who else but Cerberus would take the time to enhance varren? It seems a highly peculiar occupation, and thus highly consistent with Cerberus's modus opperandi."

When he and Hestia hear the sounds from below, he looks alert, and trains his gaze upon the lower stair, his weapon at the ready.

Hestia sighs. "Cerberus, Cerberus, Cerberus. Always a convenient whipping boy for anything strange or creepy, especially for non-humans." She keeps her pistol trained down the stairs as well.

As Grace goes through the contents of the crates, Dern muses, "It appears the Shadow Broker was right to send us here. Who else but Cerberus would take the time to enhance varren? It seems a highly peculiar occupation, and thus highly consistent with Cerberus's modus opperandi."

When he and Hestia hear the sounds from below, he looks alert, and trains his gaze upon the lower stair, his weapon at the ready.

"From what I remember, it definitely does seem in keeping. Let's stay on the lookout for more of this kind of thing."

Hestia sighs. "Cerberus, Cerberus, Cerberus. Always a convenient whipping boy for anything strange or creepy, especially for non-humans." She keeps her pistol trained down the stairs as well.

"Specialist Dern's analysis isn't unfounded, Harper. We should talk later. Right now, though..."

Grace signals down the stairs, then raises her rifle to a low ready position.

Any word from Gir?

unfortunately, no. But I will continue to run his character until his return

The quarian, uncharacteristically quiet, nods and literally disappears as he scouts ahead. He is not gone long. He reappears a moment later to report that mechs are making their way upstairs, LOKI mechs, and a lot of them. He also noted seeing the varren pup from before with them, guiding them upstairs. He theorizes that the varren pup may be communicating with them somehow.

"That little traitor!," Hestia fumes, "I'll never leave anything cute and harmless alive again. This looks like a good place for a bomb. Anybody got one?" She looks hopefully at Dern.

A broad smile spreads across the salarian's face. "Perhaps an inferno grenade," he says, already loading his grenade launcher.

A broad smile spreads across the salarian's face. "Perhaps an inferno grenade," he says, already loading his grenade launcher.

"I think that your frag grenades might work better on these mechs," Grace replies, thumbing the activation stud on her rifle's magazine, causing a blue holographic icon to appear next to the scope.

She nods in the direction of the approaching mechs. "I'll try to hit them with a few disruptor charges, then you launch a grenade or two into the mix." Grace spreads her hands apart in the universal gesture for "big explosion," then moves to cover, rifle at the ready.

Activates DISRUPTOR AMMO (Damage +1 to shields, Damage +2 to synthetic enemies)

Disruptor ammo is a source power for tech bursts, and fragmentation grenades are one of the detonation sources. Given their backgrounds, I'm assuming both Grace and Dern would know this.

Hestia raise her hands and concentrates, and a translucent, crackling blue wall rises partway down the first set of stairs, between the oncoming mechs and her waiting allies.

Biotics check vs +0 difficulty: 4d3 - 8 + 5 ⇒ (2, 2, 1, 1) - 8 + 5 = 3
Raise flexible barrier (except on those with tech armor), shield value 1.

The approaching mechs slow to a stop. Seeming very human seeming, one of them goes up to the barrier and touches it with its hand, almost curious. This is definitely behavior that is extremely unusual with respect to mechs- perhaps they have been altered as well?

If there's a time for initiative, it's now! Let's see some rolls. The barrier will provide a bonus that I have yet to determine.

Our init is Alertness order: Grace, Hestia, Gir, Dern.

The approaching mechs slow to a stop. Seeming very human seeming, one of them goes up to the barrier and touches it with its hand, almost curious. This is definitely behavior that is extremely unusual with respect to mechs- perhaps they have been altered as well?

Grace raises her hand in the sign for "wait." Whispering, she addresses the squad.

"Hold up. These mechs aren't acting like any I've ever seen. We should watch for a bit, see what they do."

Hestia makes like a statue, blue-wreathed hands raised to maintain the glowing wall.

The mechs curiosity abates with the puppy's patience. It barks, and the mechs start to take combat positions.