SPACE JESUS: MASS EFFECT FAWTL

Game Master Freehold DM

Commander Shepard made the ultimate sacrifice to [red energy]DESTROY [/red energy] the Reapers. Eight years later, the survivors of the war seek to put the galaxy back together.


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Female Human Soldier
Who is that masked DM? wrote:
Grace Wright wrote:

"I'd assumed that the, er, ship would have been briefed beforehand. No worries, though, we're just going planetside for a little reconnaissance mission. Right everyone?"

Grace gives the squad the thumbs-up sign.

"Hello harsh, computer voiceUNNAMED C-DEF OFFICER, returns to normal voiceplease state your name for the log as well as for identification purposes."

"Sergeant Grace Wright reporting for duty, Mr. Kody."


Grace Wright wrote:
Who is that masked DM? wrote:
Grace Wright wrote:

"I'd assumed that the, er, ship would have been briefed beforehand. No worries, though, we're just going planetside for a little reconnaissance mission. Right everyone?"

Grace gives the squad the thumbs-up sign.

"Hello harsh, computer voiceUNNAMED C-DEF OFFICER, returns to normal voiceplease state your name for the log as well as for identification purposes."
"Sergeant Grace Wright reporting for duty, Mr. Kody."

Hello Sergeant switch to Grace's voice Grace Wright. switch back to normal voice. My name is Kody, as I'm sure you already know. Still, I am pleased to meet you."

harsh, computer voiceAccessing file, please wait.
normal voice"Okay! It seems you do have the authority to oversee extravehicular ground operations as a commanding officer of a Relay Inspection Team. Where would you and your team like to go today?"


Human, Genetically Engineered Shields: 4 ☺ ☺ ☻ ☻ Armor: 1 ☺ Stress: 6 ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ Fate Points: 3

"Man, I cannot believe how hideously clunky these things are," Hestia mutters, shrugging and settling into her seat with a vid playing quietly on her Omnitool, "Nice choice, Shep."


Human, Genetically Engineered Shields: 4 ☺ ☺ ☻ ☻ Armor: 1 ☺ Stress: 6 ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ Fate Points: 3

"I could tell you, Kory, but you're not allowed to listen. The sergeant will have to do that." Hestia settles back and closes her eyes, ready to nap like a seasoned shuttle passenger, smiling slightly.


Female Human Soldier

Grace brings up her omni-tool and types out a brief sequence, pointedly ignoring Hestia's sarcastic comments.

"Alright, Kody, I just sent you the coordinates for the LZ. Ready everyone?"


Human, Genetically Engineered Shields: 4 ☺ ☺ ☻ ☻ Armor: 1 ☺ Stress: 6 ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ Fate Points: 3

Hestia opens her eyes and briefly considers giving Grace a grinning double thumbs-up. Then she weights the other woman's scars and the positions of her own teeth, which are currently very much where she likes them, and settles for a businesslike nod. "Ready, Sarge." She yawns and closes her eyes again.


Male Salarian Engineer

Dern settles into his seat, straps in, and sits upright and alert, his eyes wide as if riding in a shuttle were the most interesting thing in the world. "Yes, let us depart," he says.


"Thank you, Sergeantswitch to Grace's voice Grace Wright. switch back to normal we will be departing in 5 minutes."

There is a rumbling after the requisite time, and the dropship slowly picks up speed before departing the runway. You are in space for a time, and then there is a rumbling as the dropship enters atmosphere. The ride becomes incredibly rocky and then suddenly smooth as things even out. The plunge as the dropship zooms in on the coordinates makes your stomachs go up into your throats, but the landing is quite calm despite it's precarious location- an unhealthy-looking skyscraper a ways away from the Exogeni colony on Feros. There is a hiss as the door goes up, and bright sunshine makes its way into the passenger compartment. You are apparently meant to explore the ancient alien building, its windows coated in a layer of silt from the dust storms that occasionally make their way across the planet.

"Everybody out. Worry not, I will be here ready to transport you back to Captain Arpin's voice The Dolphin."


Female Human Soldier

Grace dons her helmet, checks her rifle one last time (flipping a switch near the trigger, which causes a blue holo-icon to pop up next to the scope), and addresses the group.

"Right, squad, form up. I'll take point. Dern, fall in behind me and watch our rear. 'Rimas, Harper, take the flanks. Keep sharp-like for anything from scavengers to falling debris, I want everyone to stay safe."

She takes a moment for everyone to acknowledge, then makes an open-handed cutting motion.

"Right? Let's move out."

Grace activates DISRUPTOR AMMO. MARKSMAN is always active while her rifle is readied.


Male Salarian Engineer

"Ready," Dern follows, his eyes scanning for dangers.


Human, Genetically Engineered Shields: 4 ☺ ☺ ☻ ☻ Armor: 1 ☺ Stress: 6 ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ Fate Points: 3

Did we land atop the skyscraper or are we ascending from the bottom entry points?

Like a seasoned traveler, Hestia apparently knows just when to unbuckle, rise, and deploy to maximize nap time and minimize her ready time. As Grace gives the orders and preps her rifle, Hestia nods, draws her pistol, and glides smoothly into the left flank position just in time to move out at Grace's hand signal.

There may be more, but I'm reading up on kinetic shields and barrier to try to figure out how to work them. :( Alertness is +2 (passive).


Actually, I'm thinking it's time for an old fashioned Alertness check to see what can be learned about the area.


Female Human Soldier

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

Nope.


Human, Genetically Engineered Shields: 4 ☺ ☺ ☻ ☻ Armor: 1 ☺ Stress: 6 ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ Fate Points: 3

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


Male Salarian Engineer

Alertness: 4d3 - 8 ⇒ (1, 2, 3, 2) - 8 = 0


The ancient skyscraper beckons each of you in its own way. For most of you it is simply a yawning, forbidding structure, mysterious for its age, remote location, and the mission you have been given to explore it. However, for one of you...

Hestia:
...it tickles a memory. Of the orange and white days, of the days when humanity was fighting for itself and on its own. Days of bunkers deep underground, where every other day included a...music lesson? Yes, definitely a music lesson. The entirety of human musical accomplishment was crammed into you between lessons, and the faint strains of classical music haunt you now as you go towards a structure that seems so very, very familiar, although you have never been here before...but someone has. The damage to the building itself and the dust decorating the upper echelons does not match that of the main entrance to the building itself. Someone has made use of this structure, but you aren't sure when, per se.


Human, Genetically Engineered Shields: 4 ☺ ☺ ☻ ☻ Armor: 1 ☺ Stress: 6 ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ Fate Points: 3

Hestia finds herself humming Zhou Long's threnody in memory of the Guanghui mining disaster, from when Feynman's moons were just starting to be developed, while her sharp eyes survey the building. Surely everyone else sees it? As the squad approaches the structure in silence, Hestia overcomes her fear of stating the obvious and murmurs quietly to Grace.

"You see it, right Sarge? The building didn't die all at once. Somebody used part of it while the rest was let go. The damage and dust isn't uniform." She shrugs. "Not sure when it was last occupied, though."


Male Salarian Engineer

"As long as it is not presently occupied..." Dern pauses in thought. "We ought to be ready for anything." His elongated fingers brush absently along the holster of his pistol.


The Sergeant gives a noncommittal grunt as she surveys the area. She gives the handsign to move forward- slowly- testing the weight of each step as she glides from foot to foot. Before long you find yourselves inside the structure, and the light becomes significantly dimmer, but it isn't impossible to see.

With the warning from the team biotic, it seems obvious that someone has been here. Nothing so blatant as footprints through a dusty floor, but there are signs of ancient- and likely worthless, considering how often this planet has been picked over by treasure seekers- furniture being moved around without much subtlety at one point in time. The area that has been cleared out creates a path that leads straight into the back, and a gentle slope indicates that you would be going down. However, you will also need a source of light, as the path fades to black.


Human, Genetically Engineered Shields: 4 ☺ ☺ ☻ ☻ Armor: 1 ☺ Stress: 6 ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ Fate Points: 3

"Out of curiosity, Dern, can you see in the dark?" Hestia wonders aloud, but softly, as she looks down into the blackness. After a brief hesitation, she continues, "And is it true you used to eat flies?"


Male Salarian Engineer

"I cannot see in the dark, alas," Dern replies matter-of-factly as he powers up the light on his omnitool. "As for flies, what a curious question. I understand human children eat sugary snacks made out of wax and processed meat products that are mostly wood pulp. We all have our comfort foods at that age."


Human, Genetically Engineered Shields: 4 ☺ ☺ ☻ ☻ Armor: 1 ☺ Stress: 6 ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ Fate Points: 3

"Sooo... yes, then." Hestia pulls out a flashlight and shines it down into the darkness. "Hey, no need to be defensive. Everybody has their little quirks. You guys must have great digestive or immune systems to avoid the diseases those things carry. So, you know, that's something."


The light reveals more evidence of this structure being occupied- varren scat, most of it old and crumbling, can be found here. But some of it is fresh. Varren can eat just about anything, so it goes that someone is keeping them fed around here. Or..something...

The sergeant notes this to everyone, pointing out how dangerous the pack animals can be in tight quarters.


Male Salarian Engineer

Dern unholsters his pistol. "If there are varren about, we should all be on our guard." He continues forward, moving slowly and warily.


Human, Genetically Engineered Shields: 4 ☺ ☺ ☻ ☻ Armor: 1 ☺ Stress: 6 ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ Fate Points: 3

"Always a good idea," Hestia agrees cheerfully, retaining her pistol and light and following Grace forward in formation, glancing at Gir to be certain he was prepared.


The team moves forward a bit and the light slowly reveals a short staircase that leads to a good sized landing, indicating that this building probably has not just one but several basements and sub levels. The scent of varren dander is strong here, almost overpowering.

one more perception check for the road, the things should get adequately hairy


Male Salarian Engineer

Alertness, you mean. ;)

Alertness: 4d3 - 8 ⇒ (1, 2, 2, 3) - 8 = 0

Dern hesitates a moment in the stairwell. "I see now why only a krogan would tolerate varren as pets. A most pungent aroma..."


Female Human Soldier

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


Human, Genetically Engineered Shields: 4 ☺ ☺ ☻ ☻ Armor: 1 ☺ Stress: 6 ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ Fate Points: 3

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

"Gakh, gag me."


Just over the lip of the landing, you see them on the floor below. Varren. And a lot of them- at least 6. They do not seem to have noticed the party yet, as they are lazing about, possibly having recently enjoyed a meal. But what would they have eaten here...?


Female Human Soldier
Hestia Harper wrote:
"Gakh, gag me."

Grace shushes Hestia quietly, then whispers to her.

"Harper, do you think you could catch all of those varren in a biotic field? We could try to scare them away, but they can be deadly at close range."


Human, Genetically Engineered Shields: 4 ☺ ☺ ☻ ☻ Armor: 1 ☺ Stress: 6 ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ Fate Points: 3

Hestia squints at the pack, grimaces, and shakes her head silently in the negative. She leans in to breathe in Grace's ear, "No, but I may be able make one turn on its fellows. Keep two tied up at least and sow confusion?" She gives the commander a questioning look.

GM: Are the varren within Range 2?


Hestia Harper wrote:

Hestia squints at the pack, grimaces, and shakes her head silently in the negative. She leans in to breathe in Grace's ear, "No, but I may be able make one turn on its fellows. Keep two tied up at least and sow confusion?" She gives the commander a questioning look.

GM: Are the varren within Range 2?

yes, they are


Male Salarian Engineer

Quietly, Dern taps on his omnitool and a protective field materializes around him, preparing him for the coming confrontation.

Activating tech armor. Systems: 4d3 - 8 + 5 ⇒ (2, 2, 3, 1) - 8 + 5 = 5

Dern has +2 armor, but recharge times are increased by 1, until such time as he chooses to detonate.

It gets a free invoke (per the description). Invoking MERCURIAL ARMOR for +1 armor and +1 detonation damage when the time comes. Armor bonus +3 for total armor 4.

GM can invoke compel if he wishes, such as the one associated with mercurial armor (spend supplemental action every exchange to maintain) or any other. Or none.


Female Human Soldier
Hestia Harper wrote:
Hestia squints at the pack, grimaces, and shakes her head silently in the negative. She leans in to breathe in Grace's ear, "No, but I may be able make one turn on its fellows. Keep two tied up at least and sow confusion?" She gives the commander a questioning look.

After a brief moment, Grace nods, then whispers to the rest of the squad.

"Right, keep quiet and be ready to engage if they decide to charge up the stairs."

Quietly, she activates her targeting visor and and draws a bead on the biggest varren.

Invokes IN MY SIGHTS on the most dangerous target


Human, Genetically Engineered Shields: 4 ☺ ☺ ☻ ☻ Armor: 1 ☺ Stress: 6 ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ Fate Points: 3

Hestia waits until everyone else looks prepared and expectant, then launches her attack.

Should I wait for Synos to prep for combat or do you want me to go ahead and roll Dominate?


Male Salarian Engineer

Does Hestia want to have her barrier up for the assault? It's probably a good time to "buff" like Dern did.


Human, Genetically Engineered Shields: 4 ☺ ☺ ☻ ☻ Armor: 1 ☺ Stress: 6 ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ Fate Points: 3

Wait, I can do both? Ah, I see. Duration scene, and it's not ended by another biotic use. It does reduce biotics rolls by one, but that's probably worth it.

Flexible Barrier: 4d3 - 8 + 5 ⇒ (3, 3, 1, 1) - 8 + 5 = 5
Effect: everone without tech armor within one range of Hestia gets a strength 2 (5/3 rounded up) barrier atop their kinetic shields.

Hestia's eyes unfocus slightly and a blue glow shimmers around her, drifting to encase Grace and Gir.

EDIT: To fix barrier strength. Thanks, CH.


Hestia Harper wrote:

Hestia waits until everyone else looks prepared and expectant, then launches her attack.

Should I wait for Synos to prep for combat or do you want me to go ahead and roll Dominate?

I will rule that you will attack after everyone has prepared.


Zinnius Dern wrote:

Quietly, Dern taps on his omnitool and a protective field materializes around him, preparing him for the coming confrontation.

Activating tech armor. [dice=Systems]4d3-8+5

Dern has +2 armor, but recharge times are increased by 1, until such time as he chooses to detonate.

It gets a free invoke (per the description). Invoking MERCURIAL ARMOR for +1 armor and +1 detonation damage when the time comes. Armor bonus +3 for total armor 4.

GM can invoke compel if he wishes, such as the one associated with mercurial armor (spend supplemental action every exchange to maintain) or any other. Or none.

No need for that (invoking compel) yet as these are meant to be mooks and an intro to combat.


Male Salarian Engineer

Hestia's barrier strength is 2 (1 point for every 3 shifts, rounded up). The -1 is a compel if the GM chooses to evoke it (which he is not doing). If he were to do so and you were to accept that, you would gain a fate point.


Grace Wright wrote:
Hestia Harper wrote:
Hestia squints at the pack, grimaces, and shakes her head silently in the negative. She leans in to breathe in Grace's ear, "No, but I may be able make one turn on its fellows. Keep two tied up at least and sow confusion?" She gives the commander a questioning look.

After a brief moment, Grace nods, then whispers to the rest of the squad.

"Right, keep quiet and be ready to engage if they decide to charge up the stairs."

Quietly, she activates her targeting visor and and draws a bead on the biggest varren.

Invokes IN MY SIGHTS on the most dangerous target

there seems to be an alpha down there, his belly large and glistening despite the sleek muscles in its four legs


Human, Genetically Engineered Shields: 4 ☺ ☺ ☻ ☻ Armor: 1 ☺ Stress: 6 ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ Fate Points: 3

Dominate vs +2 difficulty: 4d3 - 8 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (1, 2, 1, 1) - 8 + 5 - 1 = 1

No dice - literally.

As everyone nods their readiness, Hestia focuses on the alpha, lips parting as she seems to breathe power at the thing. Only... it doesn't happen. Just like when she woke up and tried to move the bracket in that damned bunker. Again?! Her cheeks flame red with anger and embarrassment while she prepares to meet the wrath of the disgusting beasts.


Male Quarian

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

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

Sorry for the major delay in posting, but always feel free to keep things moving as necessary. :)

In case of traps: Security: 4d3 + 4 - 8 ⇒ (3, 3, 2, 1) + 4 - 8 = 5

Using the Tripwire Sensibilities skill stunt to replace Perception/Awareness for Security, when it comes to traps.

Gir was quiet from the moment they reached the dropship, though whether due to nerves or part of his "game face" was hard to tell. Upon landing, he fell into formation with the others, but also began scanning the area for any energy or communications signals which may have been obscured from orbit.

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

Using Systems to make an Assessment, per page 94.

When they find the varren, Gir tries to make himself as unnoticeable as possible, before readying his rifle and lining up a target.

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

Activating/invoking the Camouflage aspect of my armour for a +2 bonus to Stealth.


Gir'Rimas nar Mesa wrote:

** spoiler omitted **

Gir was quiet from the moment they reached the dropship, though whether due to nerves or part of his "game face" was hard to tell. Upon landing, he fell into formation with the others, but also began scanning the area for any energy or communications signals which may have been obscured from orbit.

[DICE=Systems]4d3+4+1-8

Using Systems to make an Assessment, per page 94.

When they find the varren, Gir tries to make himself as unnoticeable as possible, before readying his rifle and lining up a target.

[DICE=Stealth]4d3+2+2-8

Activating/invoking the Camouflage aspect of my armour for a +2 bonus to Stealth.

Is this an active assessment or a passive assessment?


Male Quarian
Who is that masked DM? wrote:
Gir'Rimas nar Mesa wrote:

** spoiler omitted **

Gir was quiet from the moment they reached the dropship, though whether due to nerves or part of his "game face" was hard to tell. Upon landing, he fell into formation with the others, but also began scanning the area for any energy or communications signals which may have been obscured from orbit.

[DICE=Systems]4d3+4+1-8

Using Systems to make an Assessment, per page 94.

When they find the varren, Gir tries to make himself as unnoticeable as possible, before readying his rifle and lining up a target.

[DICE=Stealth]4d3+2+2-8

Activating/invoking the Camouflage aspect of my armour for a +2 bonus to Stealth.

Is this an active assessment or a passive assessment?

Gonna go with active. If something is hidden, he's not gonna pick it up with just passive scanning.


Gir'Rimas nar Mesa wrote:
Who is that masked DM? wrote:
Gir'Rimas nar Mesa wrote:

** spoiler omitted **

Gir was quiet from the moment they reached the dropship, though whether due to nerves or part of his "game face" was hard to tell. Upon landing, he fell into formation with the others, but also began scanning the area for any energy or communications signals which may have been obscured from orbit.

[DICE=Systems]4d3+4+1-8

Using Systems to make an Assessment, per page 94.

When they find the varren, Gir tries to make himself as unnoticeable as possible, before readying his rifle and lining up a target.

[DICE=Stealth]4d3+2+2-8

Activating/invoking the Camouflage aspect of my armour for a +2 bonus to Stealth.

Is this an active assessment or a passive assessment?
Gonna go with active. If something is hidden, he's not gonna pick it up with just passive scanning.

in that case you know that there are actually 8 varren down there, along with...something else you can't quite identity. It seems like a haze hanging over the area that only appears on your sensors, not in the flesh.


Male Quarian

Gir cursed silently as he got more of a reading on the situation, and quickly shot a message to the others over their omni-tools.

Message:
8 Varren below, 1 potential environmental hazard. Maintain high ground.


Human, Genetically Engineered Shields: 4 ☺ ☺ ☻ ☻ Armor: 1 ☺ Stress: 6 ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ Fate Points: 3

If the alpha doesn't seem to sense the failed Dominate, Hestia will try it again. If he was annoyed by the first one and gets busy, disregard this.

Dom vs +2: 4d3 - 8 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (3, 3, 1, 1) - 8 + 5 - 1 = 4


Hestia Harper wrote:

If the alpha doesn't seem to sense the failed Dominate, Hestia will try it again. If he was annoyed by the first one and gets busy, disregard this.

[dice=Dom vs +2]4d3 - 8 + 5 - 1

If I am reading the initiative rules correctly, I believe Grace goes next, using IN MY SIGHTS on the alpha.

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