[SFS, Campaign Mode] GM Blake's Against the Aeon Throne

Game Master Blake's Tiger

"If this, 'Madelon’, is one of my former roommates--or anything like them-- then there must be some secret stashes that those bucket-heads likely didn't find." Rril remarks looking around the place.

"Could mean some parts for Steve. Could mean something more valuable."

I am all for Taking 20 on a search.

Rril looks at the giant, gold key. "I wonder how much we could get for it." he ponders aloud. "Bet things go missing all the time during planetary invasions."

Hmm. The authors did not expect you to stick around. We'll have to free form this a little if we get to that point.

Harro begins to fortify Madelon's personal quarters. Del looks around and considers his options for an ambush. The safest hiding spot would be inside the building. Alternatives include on the roof of the building or one of the two buildings across the path. The jungle edge is twenty feet behind the back of Madelon's building.

Antenor and Rril begin to systematically search the chapel.

2 minutes will have passed by the time Harro finishes fortifying the personal quarters. Does anyone want to do a more focused or general search using rolls? Or do anything else? I ask because something will happen before the Take 20 finishes, but there's still an unrevealed large chunk of time left.

Del will get his weapon ready, and hide just behind the small door we came through.
And keep an eye on the surroundings via "U.".

Lors will also take up a position outside. If the Azlanti come in numbers too great to ambush, she'll try to draw them away and use her greater speed to split up (if worst come to worst).

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Stealth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Steve grows bored and begins scavenging the rooms. "We been here FOREVER." He exaggerates.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Haro decides to look through the desk before they push it up against the door, but seems distracted by what's outside.

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

While you begin to wonder if the trap has alerted anyone at all, Steve notices a seam on the back of the altar. He gives it a good, goblin rap with a tool, and a panel springs open. Inside is a datapad. It is currently password secured (requires Hacking to access).

You really are about ready to give up on waiting for the security forces when two young Azlanti cadets finally (seven minutes after tripping the alert) approach the priest's living quarters.

The first soldier stops and says something to the other soldier, pointing at the corner of the building where Lors is trying to hide.

Neither side is surprised.

Combat! Round 1. Bold may act.

Steve
Antenor
Del
Red Soldier
Lors
Rril
Blue Soldier
Haro

Steve stuffs the datapad into his pack and moves to the window, drawing his laser pistol. "Calvary is here!"

Del scurries over to the window, while sending commands to "U.".

"U." receives orders from Del, and opens fire on the cadet with the red shoes.

Laser Pistol vs. EAC (80 ft.) #1: 1d20 ⇒ 19
Laser Pistol vs. EAC (80 ft.) #2: 1d20 ⇒ 19
Fire 1: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Fire 2: 1d4 ⇒ 1
(note 2 more charges used)

"Finally!" Antenor shouts encouragement while moving into a better position away from his current window.

Move + Get'em on Red

@ Del: Yes. Haro barricaded the door you entered. The main chapel door is off map: upper right. You can get out that way using a standard action to enter the passcode and a move action to open the door.

The hover drone fires accurate shots at the lead soldier. Not knowing how many charges are left in the drone's laser, he stops and fires back. The first shot nearly takes off a side panel. The second strikes the building's wall.

Combat! Round 1. Bold may act.

Steve
Antenor
Del ("U" -7)
Red Soldier (-5) (10/12)
Lors
Rril
Blue Soldier
Haro

Rril draws his laser pistol, moves forward to a window, then drops prone.

Reaction Cannon (Get 'Em): 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 1 = 21
Piercing: 1d10 ⇒ 1

Lors slid up to a better firing position and cracked off a shot a the wounded soldier.

Lors fires her reaction cannon and, surprisingly, none of your opponents explode in a gory mess. She only manages to graze the lead soldier.

The second soldier moves forward and returns fire at the shobhad, clipping her lower arm.

Combat! Round 1/2. Bold may act.

Steve
Antenor
Del ("U" -7)
Red Soldier (-6) (10/12)
Lors (-2)
Rril
Blue Soldier (11/12)
Haro

Del opens the window move action, and climbs out move action, or is like diff' terrain and some of his 40 ft movement left? Is so: trying to gather enough momentum to go after red, with his welder out.

Sparks coming out from its dangling side panel, "U." fires at red--
--and nails him in the head, right in the aeon stone part of his facial plate!
Laser Pistol vs. EAC (80 ft.): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Fire (crit' Burn 1d4): 1d4 ⇒ 2
Crit Fire: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Burn at red's round: 1d4 ⇒ 2

With a battle cry, Haro rushes the soldier on the left. He brings his tactical pike slashing down.

"RaaaaHHHH!"

Pike (tactical, reach) (P): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 201d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Antenor continues to move, stopping briefly behind Dell to offer encouragement Move plus Get'em on Red.

Haro forgoes the cover he created and rams his pike into the Azlanti soldier firing at Lors. Del opens a window and joins him in charging the Azlanti. (Like Climbing, so 20 ft movement to go up and over.)

"U" fires its laser beam into the Azlanti's face.

Combat! Round 2. Bold may act.

Steve
Antenor
Del ("U" -7)
Red Soldier (-9 + burning 2) (10/12)
Lors (-2)
Rril
Blue Soldier (-7) (11/12)
Haro

The soldier's armor catches on fire a moment later. He rapidly fires twice at the oncoming mechanic, scoring a single hit. The other bullet hits the wall of the compound.

Combat! Round 2. Bold may act.

Antenor
Del (-5) ("U" -7)
Red Soldier (-11 +burning) (8/12)
Steve
Lors (-2)
Rril
Blue Soldier (-7) (11/12)
Haro

Rril stands up and fires at shot out the window at the nearest trooper.

Trick Attack, Bluff w/Spy Spec: 1d20 + 9 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 4 = 30
Ranged (pistol, semi-auto) v red KAC: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Damage (pistol)(P): 1d6 ⇒ 6
Add Damage if Trick Attack Successful: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Grabbing his handaxe in his other hand Steve moves to the window and breaks it. With shattering glass the little goblin attempts to crawl through the broken window, whether he cuts himself or now on the remaining shards. After all what is a goblin life without thinking of risks.

Athletics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Lors shifts her aim to the closer target, hammering a pair of shots into their armor.

Reaction Cannon: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 - 4 = 14
Piercing: 1d10 ⇒ 1
Reaction Cannon: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 - 4 = 2
Piercing: 1d10 ⇒ 10

Rril shoots the burning soldier through the heart, putting him out of his misery as his armor continues to spark and smolder.

Steve tumbles out of the window in goblin style.

Lors grazes the remaining soldier with her first shot, but her second shot misses and punches a hole in the building across the path.

Being significantly outnumbered and apparently outclassed, the last Azlanti soldier makes a break for it.

Ranges: 70 ft from Lors, 30 ft Del, 35 ft from Steve, 40 ft from Haro, 45 ft from Antenor, out of line of sight from Rril

Combat! Round 2/3. Bold may act.

Antenor
Del (-5) ("U" -7)
Steve
Lors (-2)
Rril
Blue Soldier (-8) (11/12)
Haro

Used to running a swift Del hauls butt—
40 ft move
—and tries to hit the fleeing soldier in the back: oh so elegant!
Welder vs. EAC: 1d20 ⇒ 2
E & f (no crit'): 1d4 ⇒ 3

"Don't let him get away! Get'em!" Get'em ATK EAC: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 + 1 = 12 for DMG: 1d4 ⇒ 3

"Oh, no you don't." Rril mutters and he fire a shot towards the remaining trooper.

Trick Attack, Bluff w/Spy Spec: 1d20 + 9 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 4 = 16
Ranged (pistol, semi-auto) v KAC, Get'em: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7
Damage (pistol)(P): 1d6 ⇒ 4
Add Damage if Trick Attack Successful: 1d4 ⇒ 4

"Or, perhaps you do." he mutters as his shot goes wide, vanishing in the distance.

Haro shakes his head, knowing he can't catch the runner in his armor.

"No one runs from Haro Phane!" he yells. "I always collect!"

mind thrust, DC 15 Will for half: 2d10 ⇒ (10, 5) = 15

Also move 25' toward him.

Before anyone else can act, Haro chooses to turn off the fleeing Azlanti's brain. The soldier collapses like the lifeless corpse that he has become.

Antenor and Rril can save their ammunition.

End of Combat

Hiding the corpses and resuming your search turns up little except that those who missed it before now notice the open and freshly empty hidden compartment that Steve left behind before rushing to your aid in battle.

Calling "U" to his side, Del sits down inside the chapel, and stares at the golden key, while resting, and fiddling with "U.".
spend 1 RP to get SP back (and drone gets 10%, meaning 1 HP, back, right?)

Correct. Unless someone has mending.

"U."'s side panel fixed by Del, the drone stops sparking.

"We shouldn't stay here long. Eventually they'll send a second patrol."

"Should we head back to the shop?" Steve returns holding one of Oonopidae's leg's as he drags the drone behind him. He holds a datapad up in the air. "Found this." He smiles and as one of the crew reaches for it he yanks it back. "I called dibs!"

"Yeah, let's not linger." Antenor speaks with a bit of a smile. It appears like he's genuinely having fun, despite the danger.

The datapad is a Tier 2 computer and is currently password secured. Hack access DC is 21.

Having fulfilled all of the items on Steve's plan, you make your way back into the jungle and around the settlement to reconvene with Aibretta. Moments after you emerge from the misty edge of the jungle behind the machinist's shop, she runs out from around the corner looking quite distressed.

“They’ve got him! The Azlanti, I mean. They’ve got Jellik. The idiot snuck out for some ill-advised sabotage, and a pair of those damned soldiers caught him. They’re not going to imprison him—they’re going to execute him any minute, just to the southwest of here. I think they’ll wait only long enough for a small crowd to gather, and then make a lesson out of him. Please hurry, rescue that damned fool.”

Haro puts his helmet back on and nods to Aibretta.

"I'm here...don't worry," the bounty hunter says. "Let's go!"

"Who am I to say no to such a pretty lady?" Rril smiles. Glancing at the rest of the party, the smug scoundrel adds, "Won't be my first rescue of an 'idiot' or a 'damned fool'."

"Well, a public attack will garner some support!"

"We'll have to make this count. They'll move around in force after this."

"I'll be right behind you," Aibretta says. "I've got to get in touch with some of our collaborators to keep the other soldiers distracted."

----------

The more you move around the settlement, the more you realize that between the mist and what must be a relatively small garrison--of which you have killed ten and know of two other dead--it is fairly easy to sneak through the area without being noticed.

The crossroads where Jellik is being tortured to death is only about one hundred yards from the eastern edge of Madelon's temple. Through the mist, you see scattered silhouettes of around a dozen people. You hear the sound of a taclash and the wet thump of a fist against a body.

Moving close enough to see, you find Jellik hanging by a pair of manacles from a lamppost. His toes just fail to reach the ground. His wrists are scraped where the manacles support his full weight. His face is purple and swollen with fresh bruises and his nose is bleeding. Two Azlanti in slightly more ornate troop armor stand on either side of the unconscious colonist. Their helmets dangle from their belts. These Azlanti are older--young men rather than adolescents--with pointed beards and sharp widows peaks.

In the moment you get close enough to see these details, one of the Azlanti slices a wound across Jellik's abdomen. It is deep but not immediately fatal. The other cracks his taclash as the bystanders with a sneer.

Current Tactical Map

Combat (I assume)! Round 1. Bold may act.

Antenor
Rril
Del
Red Azlanti (taclash and pistol in hand)
Haro
Lors
Steve
Blue Azlanti (survival knife and pistol in hand)

"If there's one thing I can't abide, it's torture. !@#@#$% Get'em!"
If surprise was the plan, Antenor blows it with a quick shout, pointing his azimuth pistol at one of the Azlanti Red and takes a pot shot:

ATK: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 + 1 = 22 HA! for DMG: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5 and Burn: 1d4 ⇒ 3

"Remind me not to torture anyone in front of Antenor." Rril mutters under his breath as he sees the flesh of the Azlanti burn.

He moves cautiously forward with his hands forward and his pistol dangling from one finger.

"We thought you could use some help." he says, before he spins the pistol round to get a grip, then he fires a shot at the injured Azlanti.

Trick Attack, Bluff w/Spy Spec: 1d20 + 9 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 4 = 14
Ranged (pistol, semi-auto) v Red KAC, Get'em: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 1 = 21
Damage (pistol)(P): 1d6 ⇒ 5
Add Damage if Trick Attack Successful: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Steve begins working on the small datapad but more than likely doesn't have enough time as he is interrupted by Aibretta. he let's out an audible and rude groan in annoyance. "Busy!" Seeing everyone wander off he follows behind, still fiddling with the data.

Computers: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

He pays little mind to the taclash and torture as it sounds no similar to a goblin brood being born and raised.

Del moves forward, his welder in hand: "Widow's peaks?! How appropriate as we gonna make a couple more widows today!"

While moving he directs "U." to blast away.

With the master control, "U." is able to fire away at will, and aims at red.

1st Laser Pistol vs. EAC (80 ft.) #1: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 (added Get Em)
2nd Laser Pistol vs. EAC (80 ft.) #2: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Note: I count just under 80 ft. range ; did not count any cover, "U." is up in the air
1st Fire (crit' Burn 1d4): 1d4 ⇒ 2
2nd Fire (crit' Burn 1d4): 1d4 ⇒ 3

Antenor fires his laser, striking the first of the soldiers in the chest. The armor begins to bubble and smolder where it was struck. Rril fails to distract the soldier but still manages to land a slug in the enemy's shoulder. Random laser fire falls from above but fails to strike anyone, foe or friend.

The soldier moves forward and strikes at Del with the taclash. The serrated whip tears across the mechanic's shoulder and chest, leaving a bloody gash. The smoldering armor cools.

Combat! Round 1. Bold may act.

Antenor
Rril
Del (-8)
Red Azlanti (-13) (taclash and pistol in hand)
Haro
Lors
Steve
Blue Azlanti (survival knife and pistol in hand)

The blow takes the wind out of Del's lungs, and numbs muscles...