Topside Decks (This is the flat portion of the ship, on the left side of the top-deck map I just added to the slides.)
You dock in one of the empty escape pod ports, allowing access to the fore deck. Steel platework reinforces the deck of the crystalline vessel, the flat metal surfaces marred only by angular modules protruding from the floor. Electrical wires and robotic targeting mechanisms extend from two hemispherical cannons with small tubes pointing out toward space, the equipment visibly damaged from starship weapon fire. No railings line the edges of the ship, providing no apparent barrier between the end of the deck and the void beyond.
The aeon diffuser and artificial gravity installed in the King Xeros protect passengers on the decks from suffocating or floating away, but the seemingly unobstructed access to space still induces vertigo. The two cannons are fire projectors, modified to serve as the starship's turret weapons but disabled during the dogfight. The escape pod port from which you emerge is attached to the fore deck. The fore and upper decks stand 20 feet higher than the mid and aft decks, and ceilings are all around 12 feet. The deck's artificial gravity extends only 50 feet from the ship's surface.
As you walk onto the deck, you see the parts of a number of Azlanti Adjutant robots, all of them apparently hit and damaged by your starship fire. You are able to pass through this section unimpeded.
Perception DC 28:
You notice a small fragment of crystal wedged into the crease between the fore and mid decks. It is similar in color to the rest of the ship but otherwise out of place with the vessel’s symmetry. Upon picking it up, you realize that it is no stronger than hardened clay or stone, despite its similarity to the King Xeros’s ultrahard crystal frame. A tarnished steel badge engraved with what appears to be the faded image of a lion rests underneath the shard.
You (or anyone) can attempt a Culture check to study the badge further.
*****
Command Structure (This is the small area on the right that sticks up above the top-deck. Refer to the image of the King Xeros if you’re having trouble visualizing it.)
This towering superstructure of crystal interlaced with supercomputing circuitry overlooks the topside decks from the ship's stern. A lens of opaque crystal faces the other decks, flanked by facet-cut segments of the hull that seem to focus the lens. Three sail-like, crystalline vanes extend out from the command structure's sides and keel, forming something akin to ethereal rudders, while modern thrusters protrude from the rear below the aft castle. Somewhat sloppily integrated into the aft castle is the Drift engine, which rattles the command structure with intermittent bursts of light and energy, sometimes appearing to flash in and out of physical existence as if it were made of vidcom static. Similarly, the lens appears to depict a monochromatic window into the Drift, which sporadically warps and shifts to show the colorless void of the Ethereal Plane.
Engineering or Mysticism DC 24:
You recognize this bizarre phenomenon as a tangling of interplanar navigation systems that will cause a devastating explosion in just under 10 minutes if left unchecked. You do not have long to explore this vessel at all.
Goose takes his time to calm his nerves and change his pants before meeting with the others. Back-slaps and high-fives are the order of business before the boarding action. Goose personally thanks each of the team for their part in the harrowing victory.
As the board and look around, Goose uses all of his operative training to assess the situation.
Perception check:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
Action from Perception success:
Culture check:1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25
After the careful scrutiny, the ysoki pays closer attention to the crystalline structure.
Buzz notices the out-of-place piece of crystal at the same time that Goose does.
Engineering: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (7) + 19 = 26.
"Hmm... I don't wish to cause alarm, but we need to keep moving; by my calculation, we have about 10 minutes until the engines go critical, due to feedback between incompatible systems. We need to find engineering, and shut them down!"
You hustle downstairs, looking for a way to prevent the ship's destruction. We're moving to the mid-deck level of the King Xeros. I've added your figures to the map where you come out of the stairs, for reference. The squares here are 10ft each, so you each take up a quarter of a square.
Magazine
This chamber features mannequins for holding armor and equipment racks stocked with Azlanti weapons and starship equipment. What may have once been firing ports in the antiquated design now contain strips of processing modems, creating a striped pattern of crystal and computer strips along the walls.
The equipment is locked into the racks, and would take 10 minutes to extract. I assume you keep moving, given the time constraints. The only exit is a door continuing forward on the ship.
Cargo Hold
Numerous crates of miscellaneous spacefaring supplies fill this room, whose only feature is a crystalline grill in the ceiling with porthole blocked by a seamless crystal plug. Some of the containers sit in hanging nets reminiscent of old seafaring vessels. Quick perusal of the crates' contents indicates that most of the goods stored here are perishable or consumable, such as food and medicine.
Searching more carefully would again take time that you don't really have now. The space opens out to a conjoined room.
Crew Quarters
The walls of this chamber are packed with technologically advanced sleeping units stacked three high, enough to hold about 39 humanoid passengers comfortably albeit compactly. Closer inspection of the lowest cells reveal breathing tubes and intravenous feeding lines, evidence that they are Drift stasis units rather than conventional bunks. Some personal effects lie about in disarray, evidence of the crew's hasty flight from the malfunctioning ship.
Searching the room... you guessed it, would take a while. You still haven't seen any people on the ship.
Strange Compartment
A door from the end of the crew quarters opens to a compartment with angled walls terminating in a point. Vertical incisions create the illusion of a lengthy passageway, though you know from the layout of the ship that it can only be the size of a closet.
Having rushed through midship rather quickly and culminating in a strange compartment, Goose elects to figure out if there is more than there seems to be. Obviously they figure out quickly where to go to stop the impending doom!
Perception to figure out if there is more here...:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25
Mordack and Goose move forward to investigate the compartment, and do notice some words written next to the door.
Azlanti:
It reads 'Portal to Helm'
However, the two of them disappear from view and are instantly whisked to a separate angled chamber of similar appearance, opening to a set of stairs instead of the crew quarters they were just in.
I've moved you to the map of the lower deck. You're at the base of stairs that lead back up to the mid-deck.
Perception DC 32 for anyone who gets to the far side:
You notice a series of shock casters flanking the stairway that look like they are poised to rain electricity on anyone who passes through.
If you make a DC 27 Engineering check:
Spoiler:
You are able to disable the motion sensors and believe the passage is safe.
If you make a DC 27 Culture check:
Spoiler:
You suspect if you pass yourselves off as Azlanti you could get past safely. This would mean presenting an aeon stone and speaking an oath to the Aeon Throne in Azlanti.
Nobody specified who they were aiding, so without further guidance I'll assume each of you aided one of the two who rolled the check. That's enough for Pangea, and it makes sense that it would be the one to spot the thing because... it's a trap! Assuming you point it out to the others, you can all read what's under the spoiler.
Buzz does an admirable job passing himself off as a devoted member of the Azlanti empire, and he can walk in front of the trap without causing so much as a twitch from the equipment. But to be safe, Goose also disables it before the group passes through.
You head up the stairs, and come out to a confined room. A floating brass cube, its sides covered with countless shifting glyphs and sigils, spins slowly on its corner atop a low crystal plinth. Its base is heavily augmented with cables and processing boards, fanning out to an elaborate network of computer screens and video monitors akin to most starship command centers that runs the perimeter of the room. Two crystal doors stand in the wall opposite the stairs, the wall between them set with a cylindrical chamber containing an iridescent spindle aeon stone held in place by tendrils of electricity.
As you enter, you see the startled face of a human wearing Azlanti armor. (His image is now shared in the slides.) There are three others wearing Aeon Guard armor as well, though their faces are covered so their expressions are impossible to discern. There is also a robot near the floating cube. The human yells in Common, “It’s them!” and then swiftly shifts to a fighting stance. This must be Aldroxis, the leader of the Azlanti you read about earlier.
Sexless Android (Xenoarchaeologist) worships Triune | Neutral - Vanguard 8 | 104/112 SP | 68/68 HP | 7/10 RP | Init +9 | Perc +13 w. Trap Spotter (10 ft.) | SM -1 | EAC 26 ; KAC 26 -8 kinetic dam' (-2 lunge, +1 shield, +1 block/EP) | vs. CM 34 | Move: 50 ft | F +12 | R +11 | W +3 | (+2 vs. mind-affect', disease, poison...) | Lunge, Dirty Trick, Sunder, Deadly Aim, Enhanced Resistance
"Crafty Azlants, trapping their own ship like that..."
Pangea takes a few seconds to note down this archaeological discovery, before rushing off to follow the others once "Goose" fixed the way.
Then, Pangea tries to take all in, to be ready to act, as battle begins.
Goose and Buzz react quickly and almost simultaneously. While Buzz fires devastating shots at the leader, Goose moves to line up a shot, attempting to use his stealthy nature to land a shot and leave the leader open to his team's further attacks.
Buzz’s first attack crashes into the equipment surrounding Aldroxis, and the second splatters his armor but doesn't appear to have injured him. Goose tries to sneakily slide off to the side, and though the maneuver doesn’t make Aldroxis any more surprised than he already is, the shot does hit. (Trick attack failed, so only the weapon damage applies.)
The center console does provide cover from both sides, but doesn’t block line of effect from any square.
Two of the guards step up to defend their leader. The one with orange armor pulls out a curved steel blade and walks over to the ysoki wielding the terrifying acid weapon. (This would provoke an attack from Pangea, but you can't take the reaction because you haven't acted yet, unless you have some weird vanguard thing that lets you do so.)
The red-armored guard pulls out a grenade, tugs on the pin, and then tosses it down the stairs right into the middle of the group of incoming Starfinders. The blast hits his fellow guard as well.
This hits the intersection I marked on the map, with a 15ft blast. Everyone can attempt a DC 14 Reflex save for half damage. Goose gets a +2 bonus on the save for being around the corner.
Orange guard Reflex:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Round 1
Buzz (-9, Reflex save)
Goose (Reflex save +2)
Orange Guard (-6)
Red Guard
Pangea (Reflex save)
Mordack (Reflex save)
Aldroxis (damage pending until I know what the damage type was)
Purple Guard
Gear (Reflex save)
Sexless Android (Xenoarchaeologist) worships Triune | Neutral - Vanguard 8 | 104/112 SP | 68/68 HP | 7/10 RP | Init +9 | Perc +13 w. Trap Spotter (10 ft.) | SM -1 | EAC 26 ; KAC 26 -8 kinetic dam' (-2 lunge, +1 shield, +1 block/EP) | vs. CM 34 | Move: 50 ft | F +12 | R +11 | W +3 | (+2 vs. mind-affect', disease, poison...) | Lunge, Dirty Trick, Sunder, Deadly Aim, Enhanced Resistance
(This would provoke an attack from Pangea, but you can't take the reaction because you haven't acted yet, unless you have some weird vanguard thing that lets you do so.)
Weird Vanguard thing!:
REACTIVE (EX)
Once per day, you can take an additional reaction during one round, though you can still take only one reaction per triggering event. You can take a reaction before the first time you act in a combat, though not during a surprise round in which you are unable to act.
So this works, right? (not surprised)
Using the powers of Entropy, Pangea manages to react even before it is fully aware of its surroundings, and it hits with its shield at the passing orange Azlanti with the curved blade.
Entropic Strike vs. EAC:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33 Acid or Bludge:2d8 + 14 ⇒ (1, 1) + 14 = 16counts as Force & Magic & Cold Iron Of course it's a crit! Acid or Bludge CRIT:2d8 + 14 ⇒ (6, 7) + 14 = 27 43 dam' total
Reflex:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19-8 DR vs. Kinetic, so no damage even if save fails (right?)
Pangea then levels its shield to block incoming attacks from the boss Azlant.
move action for +1 AC vs. boss
And, at the same time, quickly smashes its shield at the orange Azlanti using deadly aim,
Entropic Strike vs. EAC w. Deadly Aim:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22 Acid or Bludge w. Deadly Aim:2d8 + 18 ⇒ (3, 8) + 18 = 29counts as Force & Magic & Cold Iron
Male Laborer Half-Orc Android StarWright Daredevil Operative 11: Spd:70, Swim:30, Climb:30: Init:7, KAC:29, EAC:27, SP:114/132, HP:70/70 RP:8/9, 11 Piercing Resistance, 11 Fire Resistance, Fort:8, Ref:11, Will:12(misc bonuses for all saves), Perc:19, Darkvision, Electrolocation
reflex:6 + 1d20 ⇒ 6 + (12) = 18
Mordack will then magic missile him back dmg:3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 4, 1) + 3 = 9Not sure what is cover and what isn't on the map, if I have to move to see him, just move me to where I can see him and ignore the third missile as I no longer took a full round action to MM.
Wow, you really did have a weird vanguard thing! Yes, that works. The DR also would prevent the grenade damage.
After being thoroughly pummeled by Pangea, not to mention injured by his own ally's grenade, the orange guard is down!
Mordack, I assume by 'him' you mean the guard who threw the grenade. Let me know if you intended someone else.
The magical bolts fire unerringly into the guard's chest, and he jerks back slightly with a grunt of pain.
Aldroxis's head whips around when he sees Pangea make such a strong attack. He holds out both hands and whispers a few words, and sends a stream of nanites toward the android.
Attack Pangea's EAC:1d20 + 17 ⇒ (7) + 17 = 24
However it reflects harmlessly off the shield raised his way. Aldroxis frowns and draws a small arm. The guard on the other side draws a curved blade but does not move. A laser beam flies out of a red stone embedded in his armor chestpiece, headed toward the ysoki skulking off in the corner.
Attack Goose EAC:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
The weak blast doesn't get through Goose's armor.
Round 1&2 Buzz (Reflex save)
Goose (Reflex save +2)
Orange Guard
Red Guard (-9)
Pangea
Mordack
Aldroxis (damage pending until I know what Goose's damage type was)
Purple Guard
Gear (Reflex save)
Goose blinks as the multiple attempts to damage the leader resulted in little net effect. He changes his tack and focuses on one of the guards instead.
Gear: the guard was actually one more square back when he died. I've moved you there. The weapon you pick up is a carbon steel curve blade. You didn't indicate a target for Boytoy's attack so I'll send it at the purple guard who has the least amount of cover.
Boytoy's laser blast hits the guard on that side of the room, though some of it appears to be absorbed by his armor, and the red stone that had gone dark suddenly begins to glow again. However, some of the fire damage still makes it through.
However, Buzz follows up with two massive blasts that completely cover the guard. He falls to the ground, his armor sizzling from all that acid.
Purple guard is dead. Redirecting Goose's attack to the red guard.
Goose uses the cover in the room very well and the guard opposite doesn't see the shot coming, especially so since the shot goes over his head and into the wall behind.
The guard in red, seeing the threat to his leader, stalks forward while drawing his own blade and attacks the nearest person.
Attack Gear's KAC:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31 Critical slashing damage:2d10 + 14 ⇒ (10, 9) + 14 = 33 You also start bleeding, and need to take 1d6 bleed damage at the start of each turn until you're healed.
Sexless Android (Xenoarchaeologist) worships Triune | Neutral - Vanguard 8 | 104/112 SP | 68/68 HP | 7/10 RP | Init +9 | Perc +13 w. Trap Spotter (10 ft.) | SM -1 | EAC 26 ; KAC 26 -8 kinetic dam' (-2 lunge, +1 shield, +1 block/EP) | vs. CM 34 | Move: 50 ft | F +12 | R +11 | W +3 | (+2 vs. mind-affect', disease, poison...) | Lunge, Dirty Trick, Sunder, Deadly Aim, Enhanced Resistance
These are 10 ft. squares?
The object just above the "boss" is not a wall, correct, it's a pipe on the ground?If it does not block from going after Aldroxis, then:
Pangea moves around the core cube.
is that more than 6 squares, if the "pipes" are diff' terrain?
If an action left:
Pangea gives deadly aim to its strike, and tries to hit with its shield.
Entropic Strike vs. EAC:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19 Acid:2d8 + 18 ⇒ (6, 3) + 18 = 27(counts as Force & Magic & Cold Iron)
Pangea strides around the room and swings his shield, but Aldroxis dodges out of the way. Meanwhile Mordack's magic missiles continue to whittle down the strength of the remaining guard.
Aldroxis reaches out one hand, crackling with entropic energy, and tries to grab part of Pangea's armor.
Attack vs. Pangea's EAC:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20
He can't get around the shield to have the effect he wanted. He takes a careful step backwards.
Female Android Mechanic 6 Scholar Theme HP 40/SP 31/ KAC 18 EAC16 FORT 6 REF 7 WILL 3
Drat, misunderstood what his weapon was, thought it was an energy blade, can't use my fun tricks with that.
Gear yelps loudly as she's struck, stepping away from the enemy who attacked her.
BOYTOY!
The robot turns it's beam on the one threatening it's master and unleashes a hailstorm of fire!
Buzz tries to shoot acid at Aldroxis, but the weapon jams for a second and the shot doesn't go anywhere near its intended target. Meanwhile Boytoy goes to town defending its mistress and fires a double blast from its chest cannon. Both hits land, but the damage is partially absorbed by the guard's armor. He still stands, though quite wounded. Goose lands a sneaky attack from the side, and though some of that damage is also absorbed, enough gets through to slay the Azlanti guard.
Male Laborer Half-Orc Android StarWright Daredevil Operative 11: Spd:70, Swim:30, Climb:30: Init:7, KAC:29, EAC:27, SP:114/132, HP:70/70 RP:8/9, 11 Piercing Resistance, 11 Fire Resistance, Fort:8, Ref:11, Will:12(misc bonuses for all saves), Perc:19, Darkvision, Electrolocation
Mordack moves over to get a better shot at the azlanti guard. He uses his ray gun to save spells hit:11 + 1d20 ⇒ 11 + (10) = 21 vs EAC dmg:3d4 + 4 ⇒ (2, 2, 2) + 4 = 10 fire.
Had to do an edit, cause I had the wrong numbers typed for damage.
Usually if damage has two types it means half of the damage is each of the types. Let me know if it's any different for vanguard.
Pangea's attack hits solidly and most of the damage goes through to Aldroxis's frame; part of it is absorbed by his reinforced armor. Mordack's ray gun almost hits, but his aim is thrown off by the cover provided by his own allies.
Aldroxis sees enemies closing in and the moment is visible on his face when he realizes that he has backed himself into a corner. He moves off to the left (provoking an attack of opportunity from Pangea) and when he is over five feet away from everyone he casts a spell.
1d4 ⇒ 3
There are now four identical copies of Aldroxis, moving in parallel and making it difficult to look directly at him. He smirks triumphantly at Pangea and grips his weapon a little tighter.
Round 3&4 Buzz
Goose
Red Guard
Pangea (AoO on Aldroxis)
Mordack
Aldroxis -20
Gear (1d6 bleed x2)
With Pangea keeping the leader engaged in melee, Goose moves up and pounces onto the console between him and the enemy in the hopes to remove the barrier from his vision.
Acrobatics check to jump on console:1d20 + 18 ⇒ (5) + 18 = 23 Trick attack attempt on Leader:1d20 + 23 ⇒ (15) + 23 = 38 -2 AC to target for all of team from successful TA Fire at Leader:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26 Damage from Azimuth Laser Pistol:1d4 + 3d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + (4, 8, 8) + 3 = 25
Sexless Android (Xenoarchaeologist) worships Triune | Neutral - Vanguard 8 | 104/112 SP | 68/68 HP | 7/10 RP | Init +9 | Perc +13 w. Trap Spotter (10 ft.) | SM -1 | EAC 26 ; KAC 26 -8 kinetic dam' (-2 lunge, +1 shield, +1 block/EP) | vs. CM 34 | Move: 50 ft | F +12 | R +11 | W +3 | (+2 vs. mind-affect', disease, poison...) | Lunge, Dirty Trick, Sunder, Deadly Aim, Enhanced Resistance
When Aldroxis moves away, Pangea backhands him--
AoO Entropic Strike vs. EAC w. Deadly Aim:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14 Acid OR Bludgeoning w. Deadly Aim:2d8 + 18 ⇒ (6, 8) + 18 = 32 If Pangea can tell how it was absorbed by the armor: was it DR or was it Acid resistance? It will use the other attack only (ie.: if DR, then acid...). If no idea, then both again
