Jimbles' SFS #1-25: The Beacon Code Dilemma (Inactive)

Game Master Jimbles the Mediocre

The vesk pushes his way into the room.

"Svadik slow! What noise a—медведь?! Er...how you say 'bear!'"

Svadik continues moving and stands between the bear and the other Starfinders!

Svadik turns to look Dash in the eye.

"Маленький человек! Держи людей подальше от меня! Я могу быть очень взрывоопасным!"

I'm guessing that they're obviously hostile?

Dash fires a counteragent towards the towering beast, but it clatters harmlessly off its broad armor plating. Meanwhile, the Dreamsmith grips the threads of alternate realities, waiting for the right moment (Dash and Driskinet, if willing, will be affected by parallel form at the beginning of Round 4 if they're still within line-of-sight of Flitweather).

Round 3:
Block 2: Dash, Driskinet (-20 SP), Flitweather (-18 SP), Svadik (-24 SP, +1 AC thru Round 6)

Round 4:
Block 1: Tiefling
Block 2: Alorea, (-11 SP, 2 clones), Ashrouk (-12 SP)
Block 3: Uplifted Bear

@Svadik: The bear tossed a grenade at Alorea and Ashrouk, so they could affirm that they are hostile. :P

Driskinet will move a short distance into the room, aiming a shot from his pistol at the large bear figure. {FFT! Big-furry-claw-tooth-man-thing!}

Tactical Semi-Auto Pistol: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Edit: Driskinet is also willing.

Dash is willing if he's still in position.

The tiefling ducks behind her bear compatriot, using the hulking mammal as cover. Ducking down, she extends her hand, firing two bolts of mystical force at Svadik! At roughly the same time, the forms of Flitwick, Dash, and Driskinet ripple and change to match the tiefling.

Svadik, you take 7 points of damage.

Round 4:
Block 2: Alorea, (-11 SP, 2 clones), Ashrouk (-12 SP)
Block 3: Uplifted Bear
Block 4: Dash, Driskinet (-20 SP), Flitweather (-18 SP), Svadik (-31 SP, +1 AC thru Round 6)

Round 5:
Block 1: Tiefling

Alorea moves to take cover behind a workbench. She begins to cast a lengthy spell to try to replace the uplifted bear with a kinder, more cuddly version of him from another reality.

Begin casting baleful polymorph (2nd level). It's a full round casting time. At the end of it, the bear will need to make a DC 16 Will save or take a -2 penalty to AC, attack rolls, melee damage rolls, Reflex saving throws, and Strength-and Dexterity-based ability checks and skill checks. He also must attempt an additional saving throw each round until it fails or the spell's duration ends. If the target fails this second saving throw, its appearance becomes more bestial and the penalty increases to –3. Break enchantment, remove affliction, or remove condition can end the spell’s effect.

Ashrouk takes a step to the side to gain a clearer firing lane on the uplifted bear and raises his drow-built weapon. His thumb toggles through the variety of darts he has loaded into the weapon until he finds the dart loaded with the exact counteragent he wants, then locks in his choice and squeezes the trigger to fire.

Move 5ft then standard to shoot. Using one of my AC penalty counteragents. On a hit, target's AC is reduced by 2.

Nightarch needler: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17 Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Remaining Injections
0/2 restorative (+1 AC)
2/2 restorative (+2 enhancement to all skills)
1/2 counteragents (reduce AC by -2)
0/1 counteragent (reduce energy immunity to resistance or reduce resistance by 10)
1/1 counteragent (reduce target's DR by 5)

As Alorea begins to weave her spell, Ashrouk fires a dart, catching the bear between two armored plates. He growls at Ashrouk before pawing at the wound. "Why... why am I so itchy?!"

With a foroceous roar, the bear charges forward, drawing a wicked-looking sword as he thunders forward towards Svadik. At the last moment, he swings the blades for the vesk's ankles, but Svadik is too quick and hops cleanly over the weapon.

Round 4:
Block 4: Dash, Driskinet (-20 SP), Flitweather (-18 SP), Svadik (-31 SP, +1 AC thru Round 6)

Round 5:
Block 1: Tiefling
Block 2: Alorea, (-11 SP, 2 clones), Ashrouk (-12 SP)
Block 3: Uplifted Bear (-6 HP)

"Let us find out who these beings are and what part they play in this dream." Flitweather says as he assumes the appearance of the tiefling. He slowly moves into the room and casts detect thoughts.

Flitweather detects the surface thoughts of intelligent creatures around him, 60 ft. cone covering foes. The amount of information revealed depends on how long he studies a particular area or target. First round, he detects the presence or absence of thoughts from conscious creatures. W ill save (DC 14) negates.

Driskinet, now looking like the tiefling, will run up to the bear and slam her shield into them.

Entropic Strike vs EAC: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Damage: 1d4 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

The grenade in Svadik’s hand begins to glow with intense heat as he pulls the pin with his teeth and chucks it over the bear’s head!

Grenade vs AC 5: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

As the frag detonates the shrapnel spontaneously combusts and pierces right through the bear’s skin!

Piercing Damage (Reflex 14 halves): 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (4, 5) + 2 = 11

Svadik Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Despite being caught right in the middle of the blast radius, Svadik shrugs off the flaming shrapnel like it was nothing.

Move: Spend 1 resolve to gain 1 entropy. Standard: chuck grenade (15’ AoE centered on purple circle). Reaction: activate the Accelerate discipline (adding +1 per die to the grenade). Since I am my own ally, the Friendly Fire discipline prevents up to 8 damage, meaning I take nothing from the grenade.

Dash moves into the room to where Driskinet was recently standing and fires his static arc pistol at the Bear. "I'd be shocked if this works." He grumbles to himself as he fires.

Arc Pistol Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 vs EAC -2 + Cover
Electricity Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 if it hits.

As the Dreamsmith casts his magics, his mind's eye spies the minds of bot the tiefling and the bear, confirming that they do indeed stand in front of him - in this reality, at least.

Driskinet, favoring a less subtle approach, runs up and slams her shield into the bear. Disguised as the tiefling, however, she appears to be slapping the bear with the flat of a dueling sword. Svadik injures the bear with a grenade, successfully dodging his retaliatory attack. Dash is less lucky; his shot goes wide.

As Flitweather concentrates on his spell, the door slides open behind him. A rougish-looking human, pistol in hand, addresses his tielfing guise. "Teslie! What in the hells are you..." Seeing Dash, also disguised as the tiefling, she swears, leaving her weapon at the Dreamsmith.

"Hey, that's my look! No stealing!" With a vengeful pout, the real tiefling fires off a series of mystical projectiles at Driskinet!

Driskinet takes 13 damage.

Round 5:
Block 2: Alorea, (-11 SP, 2 clones), Ashrouk (-12 SP)
Block 3: Uplifted Bear (-11 HP; -2 AC 'til Round 6)
Block 4: Dash, Driskinet (-33 SP), Flitweather (-18 SP), Svadik (-31 SP, +1 AC 'til Round 6)

Round 5:
Block 1: Captain, Tiefling

Alorea, your spell will finish up this round, so you just have a standard action remaining.

"It appears we have more company," Ashrouk calls out to his fellow contract-Starfinders as the human appears behind him. "Dreamsmith, please step aside. I will face this new challenger. In the meantime, please allow me to treat your wounds." Ashrouk raises his custom scanner and quickly applies a pulse of restorative energy to the gnome.

Using my Field Dressing theorem to restore 1d6 stamina to Flitweather.

Field Dressing: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Alorea finishes her spell, hoping to polymorph the bear. She turns to the new arrival and casts a swifter spell, attempting to startle the captain with confusing visions of parallel realities.

The bear must save against baleful polymorph now. Cast fear on the captain. If she is CR 4 or lower, she must make a DC 15 Will save or be frightened for 1d4 rounds. If she succeeds, she is still shaken for 1 round.

As Ashrouk tends to Flitweather, Alorea's spell finishes, transforming the bear into... a less scary bear. With softer fur, shorter claws, and a diminished stature, he appears less threatening than before! With a quick twist, she casts another spell on the captain, who staggers back as frightful visions plague her mind.

The bear, roaring at a slightly higher pitch, swings its sword twice - once at Svadik and once at Driskinet - but only manages to strike the shirren.

Driskinet takes 7 slashing damage.

Round 5:
Block 4: Dash, Driskinet (-40 SP), Flitweather (-13 SP), Svadik (-31 SP, +1 AC 'til Round 6)

Round 6:
Block 1: Captain (frightened 'til Round 8), Tiefling
Block 2: Alorea, (-11 SP, 2 clones), Ashrouk (-12 SP)
Block 3: Uplifted Bear (-11 HP; polymorph [-2])

Dash decides to take a couple risky shots to try to end the threat coming from the Uplifted Bear.

Arc Pistol Attack 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 vs EAC + Cover and Penalty(s)
Electricity Damage 1: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 if it hits.
Arc Pistol Attack 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14 vs EAC + Cover and Penalty(s)
Electricity Damage 2: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 if it hits.

I'm sure the first shot missed, but not sure about the 2nd.

"Another mind, apparently minding." Flitweather notes when the captain appears. When the kasatha asks that he step aside, the gnome complies. Guarded Step

He then turns his gaze at the newcomer. "What thoughts have you brought?" he mutters aloud.
Not sure if maintaining concentration requires an action or not.

Looking up at the now slightly-less-intimidating bear. She sends across a telepathic growl before attacking twice in quick succession.

Entropic Strike vs EAC: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 6 - 4 = 3
Entropic Strike vs EAC: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 6 - 4 = 19

Damage: 1d4 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

Svadik spits the grenade pin out of his mouth and runs around the bear provokes from the bear and kicks it!

Entropic Strike vs EAC; flanking & Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 7 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 7 + 2 - 2 = 26
Acid Damage; Deadly Aim: 1d4 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 2 = 14

As Flitweather concentrates on his spell, he is able to resolve the number of conscious minds within the room - every mind has a body, and every body has a mind (concentrating on a spell takes a standard action).

Meanwhile, Dash, Driskinet, and Svadik focus fire on the bear, each of them landing a solid hit. The bear catches Svadik on the runaround, however, striking him with his sword!

Svadik, you take 10 slashing damage.

The enemy captain, spooked by Alorea's spellery, flees without a word, running towards the bridge of the Amber Reconnoiter. The tiefling, working her way closer to the exit, fires off another spell at Svadik, pelting the vanguard with a pair of magical force bolts!

Svadik, that's another 11 damage.

Round 6:
Block 2: Alorea, (-11 SP, 2 clones), Ashrouk (-12 SP)
Block 3: Uplifted Bear (-43 HP; polymorph [-2])
Block 4: Dash, Driskinet (-40 SP), Flitweather (-13 SP), Svadik (-48 SP, -4 HP, +1 AC 'til Round 6)

Round 7:
Block 1: Captain (frightened 'til Round 8), Tiefling

Alorea tugs the strings of reality to lessen the impact of the tiefling's magic missiles on Svadik. The halfling then fires on the bear!

Thunderstrike Pistol, Full Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 7 - 4 = 181d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 7 - 4 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 61d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Spend 1 RP to use lessen injury, reducing the magic missile damage from 11 to 5.

"Alright, that also works," Ashrouk comments wryly as the captain flees the combat. He steps up and joins the fray with the uplifted bear, leaving the flanking position open for Driskinet.

Tactical Dueling Sword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24 Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Crit damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Between Alorea and Ashrouk, the bear goes down in a hail of sonic bolts and sword thrusts!

Round 6:
Block 4: Dash, Driskinet (-40 SP), Flitweather (-13 SP), Svadik (-46 SP)

Round 7:
Block 1: Captain (frightened 'til Round 8), Tiefling
Block 2: Alorea, (-11 SP, 2 clones), Ashrouk (-12 SP)

Svadik moves over to the tiefling and holds up his Fist menacingly.

”Lay down arms. Might not get hurt.”

Dash moves forward to a clear path to the Tiefling, saying "There's no way out." As he does so, he spins the cylinder on his injector pistol selecting the fatigued dart and readies an action to fire it if the Tiefling does anything other than surrender.

This is his readied action rolls.
Injector Pistol Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 vs KAC
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 if it hits.

And he's fatigued if it hits.

As the captain flees, Flitweather finds himself in a bit of conundrum. Flitweather notes that the one who flees likely has more thoughtful thoughts worth picking. However, Flitweather picks thoughtfully that it is more worthwhile to be the one who stays. No desire to run off on my own--at least not intentionally.

Continuing to concentrate to maintain his detect thoughts spell, the gnome makes inquiry of the remaining combatants (assuming at least one is conscious), hoping to evoke some surface thoughts to harvest, "Who are you? What are you doing here? Who was the man who just ran away? Where do you think he is going?"

Flitweather focuses his mental prying on the last remaining combatant, but the only thought he is able to glean from the tiefling is, "get out of my head, you little fuzzball!".

(Botting Driskinet) Unable to close with the tiefling, Driskinet heads after the fleeing captain, keeping her shield at the ready to strike any sudden threats.

The tiefling thumbs her nose at the vesk before darting out the door, dodging Svadik's entropic strike but not evading Dash's loaded dart.

Round 7:
Block 2: Alorea, (-11 SP, 2 clones), Ashrouk (-12 SP)
Block 3: Driskinet (-40 SP), Flitweather (-13 SP)

Round 8:
Block 1: Captain (frightened 'til Round 8), Tiefling (-8 HP, fatigued 'til Round 9)
Block 2: Dash, Svadik (-46 SP)

Flitweather casually follows the shirren. As he moves through the ship his pistol at the ready, he continues to concentrate in hope of picking up some new thoughts.

Double move; detect thoughts

Ashrouk moves up behind the mighty Svadik with his scanner already tuned in to restore some of the vesk's energy. "Here, Svadik. This should help." A beam of blue light radiates from the scanner and helps Svadik regain some of his lost stamina.

Using Field Dressing theorem to heal Svadik

Field Dressing: 1d6 ⇒ 6

"I'll circle around to cut the tiefling off," Alorea says before rushing off to do just that.

Double move.

(Botting Driskinet) Driskinet runs after the captain, finding her on the ship's bridge, cowering behind a console.

Flitweather scans around, but he finds no minds to detect (not sure what area, exactly, you're attempting to scan).

In the hubbub, the tiefling runs around a corner and out of sight!

Round 8:
Block 2: Dash, Svadik (-40 SP)
Block 3: Alorea, (-11 SP, 2 clones), Ashrouk (-12 SP), Driskinet (-40 SP), Flitweather (-13 SP)

Round 9:
Block 1: Captain, Tiefling (-8 HP, fatigued thru Round 9)

Alorea runs to the ship's stern and peeks around the corner.

Double move, token moved.

Dash rushes out of the room after the tiefling. When they get into site, he fires his static arc pistol at them.

"I told you not to run." He grumbles over the open comms as he fires his pistol. "I'm getting too old for this..."

Arc Pistol Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 vs EAC
Electricity Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 if that hits

Ashrouk moves after Dash and the tiefling. "That's the direction of that energy field I was trying to have someone lower earlier! Unless she knows how to lower it, she'll be trapped," he calls out to his team over the comms.

Double move

Svadik growls as he gives chase after the tiefling double move

Moving towards the captain, Driskinet calls out with her mind {I don't want to have to hurt you. Surrender, and you won't be harmed. You have twelve seconds to decide.} As she goes, she keeps her shield raised to protect herself against anything that the captian might decide to do.

Move Action: move to new location; Move Action: ready shield towards the captain.

Flitweather scans around, but he finds no minds to detect (not sure what area, exactly, you're attempting to scan).

He scanning the area directly before him in the direction he is moving.

Flitweather follows the shirren on the bridge and seeks cover.
Move action; standard to detect thoughts (dotted cone indicates area of detection on map).

As Alorea, Ashrouk, Dash, and Svadik close on the tiefling, she's frantically rewiring the control panel next to the energy barrier spanning the hallway. Just as Svadik catches up, the barrier falls! Peaking around the corner, Dash (who still looks like the tiefling) fires a shot that strikes her in the shoulder.

Meanwhile, Driskinet and the Dreamsmith pin down the captain on the bridge - no longer cowering, she shouts out at Driskinet, "Ha! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!" This revelation shakes Driskinet to her core. Before she has a chance to process it, however, the captain fires in her direction, striking the shirren with a laser pistol!

Driskinet, you are shaken through the captain's next turn and you take 7 fire damage. FLitweather, you detect that there are indeed conscious minds within the cone of the spell.

Round 9:
Block 2: Alorea, (-11 SP, 2 clones), Ashrouk (-12 SP), Dash, Driskinet (-47 SP, shaken thru Round 9), Flitweather (-13 SP), Svadik (-40 SP)

Round 10:
Block 1: Captain, Tiefling (-11 HP)

Thunderstrike Pistol, Full Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 7 - 4 = 41d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 7 - 4 = 7

"Gotcha!" Alorea shouts. She proceeds to fires two shots into the bulkhead behind the tiefling.

"Good job, Alore---whoa!" The normally placid kasatha flails wildly as Alorea's two shots nearly catch him after sailing past the tiefling. "Please be more careful!" He draws yet another weapon--this time, an azimuth laser pistol--and fires off a shot at the tiefling when he has a clear shot from behind Svadik.

Azimuth laser pistol: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 Damage (F): 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

{Alright, I gave you a chance.} Driskinet then moves up to the captain and slams her shield down towards them.

Entropic Strike vs EAC: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 6 - 2 = 6

However, the insult that was thrown in her direction throws off her aim, leaving her off balance as her attack swishes through the air.

Move Action: move to new location; Standard Action: attack.

"There is no need to fight!" Flitweather cries, attempting to sound somewhat hoarse and attempting to mikic the boice of the tiefling whose form he still wears. "We just need to stop and discuss what is going on here."

Bluff: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

The disguised gnome continues to concentrate and try to discern whether his bluff is successful and what other thoughts he can.

Dash moves forward to get a clear(er) line on the tiefling before firing his arc pistol again.

"Clearly, you skipped vocabulary class on 'surrender' day." he adds over the open comms with an exasperated grunt of frustration.

Arc Pistol Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23 vs EAC
Electricity Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 if that hits.

"Uh...What they said!"

Nonlethal Entropic Strike: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 7 - 4 = 5
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d4 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

As Flitweather calls out duplicitously, the captain laughs at his efforts. "You think I don't know me own crew? Fool!" Despite the unsuccessful bluff, the gnome is able to resolve the conscious minds within the room - one for Driskinet, and one for the captain.

The captain, uncomfortably pinned against a wall, tries to somersault past the shirren, but she's not nearly fast enough. Stumbling through, she calls out, "I'll use small words so you can understand me, fakeface - you suck at your job!" Driskinet feels even more stung than before!

Still shaken, Driskinet, but you may take an attack of opportunity against the captain, if you wish.

"Clearly, you skipped vocabulary class on 'surrender' day."

"Ow! Ow! Okay! Uglier me, you win!" The tiefling, pelted by shots, throws down her weapon and sticks her hands in the air, a sulky pout across her face.

Round 10:
Block 2: Alorea, (-11 SP, 2 clones), Ashrouk (-12 SP), Dash, Driskinet (-47 SP, shaken thru Round 10), Flitweather (-13 SP), Svadik (-40 SP)

Round 11:
Block 1: Captain, Tiefling (-24 HP)

Alorea nods in satisfaction, then turns to sprint towards the bridge to assist her other companions.

Double move, token moved.

Keeping his gun trained on the 'less ugly' tiefling, dash switches the arc pistol to nonlethal and readies to shoot him again if he tries any funny business.

Over the open comms he says, "My beautiful friend here is going to put binders on you."

To the vesk he adds, "Свадик, у меня на поясе вяжущие, если у тебя их нет."

As Flitweather calls out duplicitously, the captain laughs at his efforts. "You think I don't know me own crew? Fool!"

"I think you don't know your own cruel self. Fully!"

Flitweather casts baleful polymorph on the captain.