The Dire GM's [SFS] Into the Unknown (Tier 1) (Inactive)

Game Master CanisDirus

"JOY!" Zez'ka exclaims. She walks over to Kitkul and gives her a giant hug. She wraps her up in her arms and strokes her with her antennae. "AFFECTION! HAPPINESS!"

For the record, I <3 all of you :)

Having remembered Arvin's request to return the lost Starfinders' remains, and having recovered the data module from the Unbounded Wayfarer, you can safely retrace your steps to the Odyssey and leave Ulmarid’s surface.

You have completed Quest 4 of 5: "Salvage" - Quest 5 will begin shortly!

As you return to the Odyssey and lift off, a warning klaxon suddenly blares, and the ship lurches. The asteroid field around the world of Ulmarid is more agitated than on the descent down to the surface. Although it’s not clear what has caused the anomalous activity, what’s certain is that you must reach safer altitude before a more serious collision occurs.

Salamander - Please make a Piloting check! Kima can attempt a standard Captain's check to Encourage (Piloting, Diplomacy) or Demand (Intimidate) to help! Everyone else can take a science station and make a Computers check to scan ahead and help Salamander avoid a dangerous collision!

Computers: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Zez'ka hurries over to the console and clicks away.

"LOOK OUT!"

Cap-Diplo: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

"Can you take us higher? To the place where blind ship see?"

Shiohn follows Zez'ka's lead and quickly heads over to one of the computers.

Computers: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Salamander hits the throttle and attempts to navigate the asteroid field.

Piloting Check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

"Hold on to your seats!"

Kitkul figured how to jury-rig a seat belt/harness for itself, so it has that going for itself on this wild ride out of the atmosphere and into the asteroids field. And while it can't help with the piloting or computers, it does mutter a prayer to Sarenrae for protection for itself, its friends and its ship.

Salamander's expert piloting, aided by Zez'ka, Kima, and Shiohn is enough to evade all of the smaller asteroids, allowing you to reach a higher orbit. Just as you think you're in the clear, however, targeting lock alarms begin sounding throughout the ship!

A large vessel of rusted metal slips from behind an enormous asteroid, its weapons already firing. The front of the ship resembles a stylized skull with crossed bones beneath—a clear indication of space pirates!

BATTLE STATIONS!

Because you have obtained several clues throughout these quests as to the nature of your attacker, you get a few advantages!

First - Your Pilot can quickly evade the Lawblight's initial ambush. You can reposition the Odyssey up to 4 hexes in any direction, with any facing you choose.

Second - You begin combat with some information about the Lawblight!

• Lawblight - Medium Transport - Speed 6 - Maneuverability Average (Turn 2)
  
• Armor Class 13 - Target Lock 13 - Max & Current Hull Points 70 - PCU 130 (Arcus Heavy) - Shields Basic 30 (15/5/5/5)
  
• Forward Weapons: Coilgun & Heavy Torpedo Laucher
  
• Aft Weapon: Gyrolaser
  
• Turret Weapon: Coilgun

Third - Because you know how the Lawblight likes to group its coilgun shots, you know how to evade those weapons. This means that every time the Lawblight fires a coilgun at your ship, it must roll twice and take the worse.

There is a fourth benefit, but your GM will save that for if/when it comes up!

STARSHIP COMBAT!

Map is updated!

The shaded areas are large asteroids. They are floating so slowly that for purposes of combat, they are treated as immobile. Enter into the hex of one at your own risk (and to the tune of your ship's collision alarms).

ROUND 1
Odyssey: 0 Damage
Lawblight: 0 Damage

Your crew is up!

Diplo: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13 aiding pilot"That o' thing isn't anymore than a bucket of bolts slapped together by some goblins. They think painting the dead on the front is scary?"

Culture: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Phase: Helm
Role: Science Officer
Action: "Oh, my! What big guns they have!" Zez'ka exclaims as her fingers fly across the console. "Worried! I will target their weapons systems! Perhaps then we will not die a horrible death like the poor crew of the Endless Threnody! Hopeful!"

If you don't have the Odyssey information still open in a tab, look in the ~151-200 section for this date/time From Dire GM Tue, Aug 7, 2018, 05:45 pm. The information in in that post link.
Additionally, job roles....
Captain:Kima
Science officer: Zez'ka??? (okay...was the pilot last ship to ship combat)
Pilot: ? Salamander ?
Main Gun: ? Kitkul ?
Secondary Gun: ? Vodra ?
Engineer: Shiohn

"Vodra, take either the forward or aft gun, whichever arc is best. The last time we had a ship combat, Salamander was on main, and myself and you were on secondary. I think I might be slightly better shooting last time....maybe better now since I have this harness to keep me in the seat.."

The ship has +1 to any three checks per round. I would recommend that both myself and Vodra get one each, and maybe our pilot...

Phase: Gunnery
Role: Gunner (missile launcher) (Missile 1 of 5)
Kitkul fires the missile launcher at the enemy ship, keeping an eye on the limited number of missiles available.....

1 of 3 of the ship's bonuses used

...Science officer: Zez'ka??? (okay...was the pilot last ship to ship combat)

Yeah, I was NOT pilot last time. Salamander was. I was the science officer.

As for the three floating modifiers: I agree! One to our pilot for sure, and one each to our gunners.

Hopefully my rolls are better this time around but the dice gods are not usually kind to me

Phase: Helm
Role: Pilot
Action: Salamander attempts to evade the incoming fire by moving the ship behind the adjacent asteroid using the 4 free hexes, and then gets ready for a maneuver that will put the Odyssey on the flank of the enemy.

This turn I want to hunker behind the asteroid and wait for the Lawblight to move closer so we can attempt to move to one of their weak sides, shield-wise, next turn.

Your GM screwed up - I posted the wrong ship. You are flying This version of the Drake - Tier 4 for this mission! Sorry about that!

Tis Okay Dire GM. First round of combat..no effects or consequences have been done...glad it got caught before that.

STARSHIP COMBAT!

Shiohn (botted) tries to boost power to the weapon systems, Engineering: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20 DC 16
...and succeeds! (All 1s on damage rolls are 2s this round)

Zez'ka is able to plot a targeting solution into the computer, giving the gunners an increased chance of hitting the Lawblight's weapon systems.

Salamander opts to hold position and make the pirates come to you! Kima's encouragement is lost a bit through the comms, though.

The Lawblight boosts power to their weapons and their pilot is able to increase their ship's maneuverability as they come after you! The Lawblight's Science Officer targets your engines while their Captain encourages their torpedo-gunner.

Both ships are in multiple firing arcs, but the nearby asteroid prevents direct weapons fire, leaving Vodra with no shot. Missiles, however, work just fine!

Kitkul fires, and HITS!
Damage: 4d8 ⇒ (4, 5, 1, 3) = 13 (1s are 2s)
Kitkul does so much damage that it crosses a critical threshold!

The heavy torpedo from the Lawblight's forward arc comes flying around the asteroid, heading right for the front of your ship!

...but then Salamander remembers the information your crew recovered observing the damage dealt to the Endless Threnody, and thrusts your ship forward just enough that the torpedo breaks up on impact before its warhead arms itself!

This is the 4th benefit from the previous quests! It only works on the first torpedo, though - the crew of the Lawblight removes all safety features from their weapons after this point!

ROUND 2
Odyssey: 0 Damage
Lawblight: 14 Damage
Kitkul please roll a 1d100 and a 1d4 for the critical hit!

Map is updated!
The shaded areas are large asteroids. They are floating so slowly that for purposes of combat, they are treated as immobile. Enter into the hex of one at your own risk (and to the tune of your ship's collision alarms).

Your crew may now act!

Percentile: 1d100 ⇒ 93
d4: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Kitkul notices that this ships turret has multiple weapon systems....the missile launcher and then a coilgun. Seeing that there is the second weapon, Kitkul is not as worried about only having 5 shots...though it does think having these limited weapons around is not super smart....

Phase: Gunnery
Role: Gunner (missile launcher) (Missile 2 of 5)

One of the free +1's used

Phase: Pilot
Role: Captain
Action: Encourage "We may want to move...like faster, really really faster than those weapons."

Phase: Helm
Role: Science Officer
Action: Zez'ka double checks that our shields are still undamaged, then decides to continue locking onto the enemy weapon systems.

Phase: Helm
Role: Pilot
Action:If Salamander is forced to move first: Salamander blasts around the asteroid and turns face to face with the enemy, evading the enemy fire as it is launched, after realizing the asteroid would not wholly protect them from harm. "I'm of the opinion that we need to face this threat head on! Any disagreements?"
Action:If Salamander is able to move second: Salamander attempts to evade the incoming fire and moves to the side of the Lawblight, facing the flank, to allow for strong shots to penatrate their weak side shields. "I'm going to try and give you the best shots possible, make them count!"

Stellar rolls as usual...

STARSHIP COMBAT!

The Lawblight's Power Core is now glitching!

Shiohn (botted) tries to divert auxiliary power to the weapon systems once more, Engineering: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16 DC 16
...and succeeds! (all Damage dice 1s are 2s for this round)

Zez'ka once again locks your weapons onto the enemy's weapon systems!

Salamander comes flying out from around the asteroid, but the sudden jolt of the engines causes a problem with his attempted evasive maneuvering, even in spite of Kima's successful encouragement, causing your ship's AC/TL to decrease momentarily!

The Lawblight engineer fails to increase their weapon power, but their pilot is again able to increase their ship's maneuverability. This time, they pull hard turns, circling around like a shark to approach you from your starboard! The Lawblight's Science Officer targets your engines but their Captain is unable to encourage their torpedo-gunner after the recent miss.

Kitkul fires a second missile, and once again HITS!
Damage: 4d8 ⇒ (3, 2, 7, 4) = 16 (all 1s are 2s)
Your GM screwed up last round and forgot about the Lawblight's shields, so I'll do the correction on this round, when you should have had the critical threshold - not last time)

Vodra (botted) is able to access the coilgun in the turret, and fires!
Gunnery: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 1 = 16 ...HIT!
Damage: 4d4 ⇒ (2, 2, 3, 3) = 10 (all 1s are 2s)

The Lawblight opens fire with two different coilguns at the same time, but both miss due to Salamander having learned from the wreck of the Unbounded Wayferer as to how the pirates like to group their shots!

Their heavy torpedo, however, scores a direct hit on your starboard shields!
Damage: 4d8 ⇒ (1, 2, 7, 2) = 12
But your starboard shields barely hold on!

ROUND 3
Odyssey: 0 Damage (Shields: 20/15/3/20 - Total 58/70)
Lawblight: 25 Damage (Shields: 0/5/5/5 - Total 15/30)
Critical 1: Power Core (G)

Map is updated!
The shaded areas are large asteroids. They are floating so slowly that for purposes of combat, they are treated as immobile. Enter into the hex of one at your own risk (and to the tune of your ship's collision alarms).

Your crew may now act!

Kitkul thinks it would be great if it understood these weapons better and felt more at ease on firing multiple weapons at the same time. As it is...it thinks that with the seatbelt/harness and the luck of Sarenrae that they might have a chance to get out of this alive.

Phase: Gunnery
Role: Gunner (missile launcher) (Missile 3 of 5)

One of the free +1's used

All picture files and rolz logs mentioned in this post can be found HERE. Thank you for all of your patience with the paizo website downtime!

STARSHIP COMBAT!

The Lawblight's Power Core is still glitching!

Shiohn (botted) succeeds at diverting power to your weapon systems. (rolz log)
(all Damage dice 1s are 2s for this round)

Zez'ka tries to lock your weapons onto the Lawblight, but is unable to plot a firing solution this time. (picture file)

Kima is able to encourage Salamander's ability to react better versus the enemy ship (piloting - initiative). (rolz log)

Salamander's piloting maneuvers finally give him the upper hand against the Lawblight's pilot!

The Lawblight engineer fails to increase their weapon power due to the power core's glitch, and their pilot, forced to move first, evades to increase his ship's defenses. The Lawblight's Science Officer fails to target your engines but their Captain is able to demand that their torpedo-gunner focus better! The Lawblight moves almost directly behind your starting location, hoping you won't be able to maneuver enough to get your heaviest weapons aimed at them.

Salamander is able to juke this way and that, evading as well, taking the Drake on as hard of a turn as he can coax out of the heavily armored ship to face the unshielded quadrant of the pirate vessel's ship! (picture file)

Kitkul fires a third missile, and once again HITS!
The missile strikes true, dealing 25 points of hull damage and past two more critical thresholds! (rolz log)

Crit 2: Forward Torpedo Launcher is now Glitching
Crit 3: Aft Gyrolaser is now Glitching

Vodra (botted) fires the turret coilgun, but misses. (rolz log)

The Lawblight is only able to bring its turret coilgun to bear due to Salamander's flying, and thanks to his evasive maneuvers, it misses completely!

ROUND 4
Odyssey: 0 Damage (Shields: 20/15/3/20 - Total 58/70)
Lawblight: 50 Damage (Shields: 0/5/5/5 - Total 15/30)
Critical 1: Power Core (G)
Critical 2: Fwd Torpedo Launcher (G)
Critical 3: Aft Gyrolaser (G)

Map is updated!
The shaded areas are large asteroids. They are floating so slowly that for purposes of combat, they are treated as immobile. Enter into the hex of one at your own risk (and to the tune of your ship's collision alarms).

Your crew may now act!

Muttering to itself, "These missiles seem to hit all the time, O..I can't be that good at targeting, can I?"

Phase: Gunnery
Role: Gunner (missile launcher) (Missile 4 of 5)

One of the +1's from the computer used

Vodra takes a shot with the turret coilgun

Phase: Gunnery
Role: Gunner (turret coilgun)

Phase: Engineering
Role: Engineer
Action: Divert power to restore shields!

Phase: Helm
Role: Pilot
Action: Salamander attempts to stay on the Lawblight's weak side to give the gunners the best chance and taking it out. While maneuvering for better trajectories, Salamander is also keeping an eye out for incoming fire.

These are same numbers that I gave you during the down time so something is being funky. If you want to roll for me this time Mike that would be amiable with me.

Phase: Helm
Role: Science Officer
Action: "Balancing shields!" Zez'ka exclaims. She tries to balance the shields evenly, with the excess going into the forward shields.

Phase Gunnery
Role Captain
Action: "Perhaps we ought to prove to these Pirates they should have never left the oceans."

Diplo: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

STARSHIP COMBAT!

The Lawblight's Power Core, Torpedo Launcher, and Gyrolaser are still glitching!

Shiohn tries to bring power back to the shields, but isn't able to just yet.

Zez'ka is likewise unable to rebalance said shields.

The Lawblight engineer boosts power to their weapon systems, and their science officer targets your life support, while their captain, eerily aware at just how badly damaged their ship is, fails to demand more from their gunners!

Salamander is forced to move first, but sees an opening - the forward shields on the Lawblight are down, so, while evading, Salamander drives the Odyssey right up face-to-face with the pirate vessel! The enemy pilot has to perform the "back off" (aka the Star Trek VI) maneuver in response!

Kima encourages Vodra to steel his nerves and aim true!

The Lawblight fires all of its weapons in desperation, but thanks to glitching torpedo launchers and Salamander's evasive maneuvers, all of them miss!

Vodra scores a direct HIT with the coilgun for 13 damage, making the Lawblight's superstructure shudder!

Kitkul fires another missile, and is now 4 for 4, as it HITS!
Missile Damage: 4d8 ⇒ (8, 6, 3, 2) = 19

The missile tears into the pirate ship's hull before exploding - you can see massive secondary bursts of fire and electricity going off inside the enemy vessel, before all of its systems go dead, and it drists lifeless in space.

You are now out of combat!

With the Lawblight defeated, you are free to return to Absalom Station with the information retrieved from the wreckage of the Unbounded Wayfarer. Venture-Captain Arvin greets you in the docking bay with a warm smile as you disembark. “You can undergo the tedium of a complete debrief later. First, I’ve arranged for you all to enjoy a few days’ downtime in Kemanis, at the high-end clubs, theaters, and VR parlors. You’ve earned it. But,” he warns, with a sly twinkle in his eye, “after that, I think it’ll be time to put you back to work.”

With your safe return to Absalom Station with news of the last voyage of the Unbounded Wayfarer, you have now finished your journey...Into the Unknown!

I hope you all had a fun time with this quest, in spite of the scheduling (Gen Con) and technical difficulties (this site) slowing things down! I'll get your chronicle sheets posted to my Dropbox (as well as a blow-by-blow image set of your starship combats) within the next 24 hours!

For all of our records, when I report this game, it will be dated August 11th, because we totally would have finished this a long time ago if not for the aforementioned issues. Feel free to RP out anything you'd like during/after your trip back to Absalom Station, and ask me anything you'd like in the Discussion tab!

Chronicle sheets are posted!

"Oh, joyous day! We did not die a horrible death! HAPPY!"

Zez'ka goes around giving everyone hugs and caressing their faces with her antennae.

"I have many happy feelings for all of you! JOY! Would anyone like to have dinner with me? I hear there is a lovely restaurant in Kemanis where they have eighty custom cocktails and two hundred flavours of ice-cream!" she squeals in glee. "I cannot wait to read their menu! ANTICIPATION!"

"Agreed Zez'ka, it is a joyous day...we did not die."

After getting hugged by Zez'ka, Kitkul addresses the rest of the group. "Thank you sisters and brothers, I am glad that the Starfinder Society has accepted me as one of their guardians. I hope someday to help you all again in other adventures that our leaders send us out on."

A blue-furred Skittermander with a shiny new Starfinder Insignia of his own is coincidentally also visiting that same restaurant in Kemanis at the same time Zez'ka is. He is positively bristling with weaponry of all types, and seems to have some black makeup in the normally lighter-blue fur surrounding his face, making his bright blue eyes stand out even moreso than usual.

"Yar there! I can tell ye be needin' my help! They say they only have open tables for parties of two or more, and I'm mighty hungry, so what say I help you out by going t'dinner with you, us both bein' Starfinders and such?!"

"...Oh right, me name! Chip - Chip Ramsey, of the Besmaran Ramseys...adopted...and totally a Starfinder first and pirate second...yar! Nice t'meet ya! So, shall we dine?"

My local players first got to know me by a family of PFS pirate characters I played when I first moved here; one of them challenged me to make a distant off-shoot of the family in Starfinder. The family was always keep on adopting "right/like-minded" folk, so seeing as how I just acquired a boon to play a Skittermander...here we are! :P

Thanks for running us through this Mike. It was a lot of fun!

Kima would at least hold back laughing at being greeted by a pirate after defeating a ship of pirates. Quickly counting the party orders them a table.

"Oh, wonderful!" Zez'ka exclaims as she claps her hands. "I am Zez'ka and I adore 'the greetings'! Happy! You may certainly eat with us. I desire to befriend you! Hopeful!"

Zez'ka eyes the menu. Her mandibles clack, and her antennae quiver so much it makes her hair shift around her head in a way that is quite unnatural. "Look at all the CHOICES! Excitement!"

Zez'ka spends a solid twenty minutes examining the cocktail menu before she finally narrows her choices down to four exotic space cocktails...

"Oh, this is most delightful! I have yet to taste anything and already it is my favourite restaurant! Joyous!"

Ha! Awesome! I too have a space pirate. Thought I haven't played her yet so I have no idea how she'll talk yet... It's unlikely it will be as awesome as that. Haha.