GM SFS's 1-12: Ashes of Discovery (Inactive)

Game Master Eric Collins - France

Just as Kei' raises his leg to kick, he hears a distant clank and he hesitates for a second...
to kick or not to kick?

In the entrance room, Elwin sees the blast door to the north swing open.

Two small creatures, one all red, the other more black, with devilish faces, look around.
They have claws.
slide 4

Round 1
-may act-
Numina6
Laniakea
Smek
-later-
Red
Elwin
Chetna
Kei’Jon - leg raised to kick
Black

Smek calls out, "We have company back in the foyer... Two small devilish bulters come to take our coats. So polite the Hellknights, though I must admit I find the color scheme tedious."

What skill to id the creatures? Mysticism?

He glides across the room using the interruption of Elwin in line of sight to garner a better shot at the black devil. "I don't have a coat, perhaps you can take this... "

Trick Shot/Stealth: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (12) + 18 = 30 DC = 20 + Target CR; flat-footed
Attack/EAC: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Damage/F/Trick: 1d4 + 1d4 ⇒ (4) + (3) = 7

We have new friends back here Numina murmurs as she turns her internal processors into matching these creatures with entries in her database of all things weird and wonderful.

Creature ID: 1d20 ⇒ 17
Life science +11, Mysticism +8

"Kei! We have a problem back here!" Laniakea shouts as he fires his difraction pistol at the (red) devil.

Difraction Pistol/EAC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Sonic: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

18\20 charges

Smek reacts rapidly, and stealthily tricks the black critter, shooting it.
But the fire simply trickles over the red skin of your target, without seeming to burn it.
0 damage
Mysticism, yes
Black giggles: "Cut it out, that tickles!"

Numina recognizes these small devils, which are normally lawful evil outsiders (devil, evil, extraplanar, lawful).
Three questions.

Laniakea's sound burst seems to hurt the red devil.
It starts, and rubs its hurting arm: "Oï, mate, you daft? Hurting us like that!"
2 damage

Round 1
-acted-
Laniakea
Smek
-may act-
Numina6
-later-
Red (2 damage)
Elwin
Chetna
Kei’Jon - leg raised to kick
Black

Chetna rushes back to meet this possible new threat.

Damage reduction, resistances and special attacks please

Numina knows these little devils are immune to fire and poison and have a slight resistance equal to creature’s CR to acid and cold.
Since there are no special attacks, Numina knows they areCR 1.

Chetna rushes back.

Round 1
-acted-
Laniakea
Smek
-may act-
-->Numina6 <--
-later-
Red (2 damage)
Elwin
(Chetna - acted)
Kei’Jon - leg raised to kick
Black

Kei rushes over to the doorway as the heavy weapon appears in his hands and he shoots at the creature he can see. (red)

pew: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
pew: 1d12 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Will wait for Numina and red to act first, then see Kei's shot

Numina cocks her head to one side. These little things are immune to fire which is...a bit awkward. Smek you should probably get back behind us.

With that she forms a small flight ofglowing blue vesk battleships and sends them hurtling at the red enemy.

Magic missile as a full round action dealing 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 4, 3) + 3 = 13 force damage

Red is nearly torn to pieces by Numina's attack.
Red yelps: "ARE YOU DAFT! THAT HURTS... and I hate blue too! And I hate Vesk battleships, they're ugly!"
Red is quite upset: "You lot are really aggressive. Didn't even say as much as hello or nothin', and just start hurtin' us!"
Red moves forward: "An' of course you shoot missiles but stay behind. Let the elf get clawed up you say, huh?! Bleedin' coward! Don't take responsibility for your anger issues..."

Black calls out: "Just shut up and hurt the elf, will ya'!"

Red shrugs and claws at Elwin.
Elwin avoids the attack.

Black laughs: "Can't even claw the bleedin' elf, can y'a?!"

Red mopes: "Well you do it then, smarty pants..."

As Chetna is rushing back, Kei'jon lowers his leg, and strides back... firing away at red, that he barely sees...
miss

Elwin...

Round 1
-acted-
Laniakea
Smek
Numina6
Chetna
Kei’Jon
Red (15 damage)
-may act-
-->Elwin<--
Black

Talking is a free action...

Chetna notices that there may be some existing turmoil in this fortress to take advantage of. She asks over the din of combat, "Wait! Who is Blue and why do you hate him?"

Red snaps back: "I ain't waitin'! That's some kind of sweet talkin' trap! As for blue, it's not a who, it's a color. An' I don't like it. Puke... Ugly... It's insulting those Vesk spaceships were a glowing blue..."

Elwin takes a step back and points at Red. "Don't like the color blue, eh?"
He then sends an Energy Ray towards the devil, electricity. Yes, blue electricity.

ranged spell: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
electrical damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

Lol

Black moves around the wall and comes up behind Chetna, talking to red: "See, mate, that's how you do it! Clever devil I am. Setting up to flank with ya', mate!"

Red answers: "No use, Brian, I'm gonna be sent back to Hell any second now."

Black: "Not by the Elf. He can't hit a thing!"
Black slashes Chetna!
7 damage
"Not like me! I HIT THINGS!"

Red: "Way to go Brian!"

Round 2
-may act-
Laniakea
Smek
Numina6
Chetna (7 damage)
Kei’Jon
-next-
Red (15 damage)
Elwin
Black

Chetna whirls around on the devil and slashes with her blade...

Trick Attack: 1d20 + 10 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 10 + 4 = 19
Attack (survival knife): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Damage (survival knife): 1d4 ⇒ 2
Damage (trick attack): 1d4 ⇒ 1

...

Brian? Your name is Brian? Hardly likely to inspire infernal terror is it? Numina asks before sending another swarm of glowing blue Vesk fighters straight at red.

Full round magic missile dealing 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 1, 1) + 3 = 6 force damage to red

"Hold on, Chetna," Laniakea says. "Kei is on his way."

Inspiring Boost: Chetna gains up to 9 stamina.

pew: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
pew: 1d12 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Kei squeezes back into the hallway between the modules and sticks his large, heavy weapon through the door and tries to get a shot off on Brian. It is quite ineffective.

Chetna shouts, "Cheers, Lani!" as the envoy's words bolster her strength.

"You know, if they weren't trying to kill us, I might like these two!"

Chetna does not trick black--
"HA! Silly human! I'm SMART! I saw that coming!"
--who avoids the blow.
miss

Chetna is also invigorated by Laniakea.

Black sighs: "Six against two, and you heal up... how can I do mischief with odd like this?"

Red sees the very weak magic missiles coming at it: "Wait? You can't gather more power than that?! I truly..."
But the hits are just enough to make the devil disappear in a puff of sulfur and rotten eggs.
"THANKS! I am FINALLY going home!"
it is gone

Black: "Now it's six against one! Crickey... WHAT'S THAT?!"
The small black Brian's eyes bug out upon seeing the giant Kei'!
But he ducks the shot.
miss from Kei

"Lani?", black Brian says, "I've an aunt called Lina!"

Elwin & Smek are up

Round 2
-acted-
Chetna
Numina6
Laniakea
Kei’Jon
-may act-
Smek
Elwin
Black

Elwin once again tried an energy ray....

spell attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
electricity damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

As Elwin's ray go astray--
miss
--Black Brian sighs: "Give it up, Elf, give it up. Sometimes we're just not good at things. Look at me, I never passed Imp Summoning 101..."

Smek is up

After seeing his laser fire brushed off, Smek draws his sword and takes a defensive stance. "I don't think I'll be much use, but it seems everything is well in hand."

Move action draw, then total defense.

Brian laughs: "Not as useless as an elf, and much cuter, Ysoki! At least you're the right size!"
Then Brians starts singing:
"Well, I don't know why I got summoned here tonight
I got the feeling that something ain't right
Clowns to the left of me"
The black devil slashes with its left paw at Chetna--
Slash left: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 191d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
--and slices her.
6 damage
"Jokers to the right"
Right paw slash at Chetna--
Slash left: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 121d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
--that misses.
"Here I am
Stuck in the middle with you
Yes, I'm stuck in the middle with you
And I'm about to be sent back to Hell!"

Chetna glares at the devil and says, "Yes, I'm stuck in the middle with you. And I'm wondering what it is I should do." For a brief moment it appears as if she's going to take another swipe with her dagger, but she quickly takes a step backward and fires at the outsider with her arc pistol.

Trick Attack: 1d20 + 10 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 10 + 4 = 26
Attack(arc pistol): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Trick Attack Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

She continues, "It's so hard to keep this smile from my face. Losing control, yeah, I'm all over the place."

"Here comes the pain!"
Brian winces as Chetna hits him.
6 damage
"Get in line to harm poor Brian!"

Round 3
-acted-
Chetna (6 damage)
-may act-
Numina6
Laniakea
Kei’Jon
Smek
Elwin
Black (6 damage)

Laniakea draws a tactical baton with his free hand, extending it with a snap.

Currently in a tactically not-advantageous location.

Your time is up

Numina draws a slim gem tipped wand from her belt, glowing runes and wires swirl around it as she levels it at the devil. Goodbye she says smiling as the wand barks out a sharp retort.

Draw weapon, shoot with glamered tactical auto pistol

Pistol vs KAC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

While the bullet buries itself in the floor.

Oops says Numina with a shrug of her shoulders.

Smek shrugs his shoulders, "Well, Brian, if you miss Hell I suppose we shouldn't keep here any longer than necessary." He dodges through and around teammates taking advantage of the breaks in sight to gain the advantage...

Trick Attack/Stealth: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 38
Attack/KAC: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Dang, feel the dice love!
Damage/S/Trick/Crit: 1d4 + 1d4 + 1d4 + 1d4 ⇒ (3) + (1) + (1) + (2) = 7

Brian jumps up and down, taunting Laniakea and Numina6: "Ha, didn't move fast enough you... you... you whatever the heck you are!"
"The floor? You shoot the floor? You an elf android?"
Then Smek hits him with his perfect trick shot.
"Told you small guys are the best! WAY TO GO FURRY!"
7 damage
"The elf misses again... and then scary monster as tall as a house shoots me?"

Round 3
-acted-
Chetna (6 damage)
Smek
Numina6
Laniakea
-may act-
Kei’Jon
Elwin
Black (13 damage)

Kei does not join in the banter. He just fires his big gun after reaiming.

Big gun: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
1d12 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

"Told you! The scary mon--"
And Brian is back to Hell.

Combat Over
Chetna (6 damage)

"Come, this 'exile' has provoked me," Kei says as he moves back to the door he was going to kick in.

Not so fast Kei-Jon. Lets at least check out this room says Numina. I mean its covered in a bunch of weird organic life, who knows what properties it might have

Numina scans around the room for anything out of the oridinary.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 7
Life Science: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

"Be careful," Laniakea cautions. "Some of this flora looks hungry."

As Numina 6 looks around, one plant tries to bite its finger.

The android realizes there are many various species here, probably mostly selected for their black and red color, and only some for food.

Other than that, nothing special.

Key stands at the door looking impatiently at Numina.

"Well, I'm glad he's gone. I was getting sick of missing him..."

Numina snaps her hand away, How odd

Lets get going, do your thing Kei

After Kei kicks the next door... and hurts his foot, realizing the door opens into the room, you open it manually, move down the next corridor, after having checked for traps, and kick the following door in!
You look in and see panels of electronics wrap around this thirty-foot-wide circular room.
The steady hum of energized black-coated computers gently drones, while reddish lights rhythmically flash on and off.
Monitor screens display live images of various rooms throughout the outpost.
Doors exit to the west, where you are, and also to the north.

Numina pokes her head into the room, examining it with detect magic.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 16

Numina sees nothing special.
The magical detection pings off the computers... they seem to some sort of older form of hybrid technology and magical.
This hybridization exists often in off-world or far-off outposts and is intended to allow easier access for colonists that are proficient in one or the other of computer or mystical skills.

Intrigued Numina heads inside and tries to get one of them working properly. These moght tell us more about this place.

Computers: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

Numina 6 moves in.

Looking around the computers, you rapidly realize this is the security center for the outpost.

Displays feed the video from the outpost’s cameras into this room.

The controls are in effect that older form of hybrid technology and magical defenses that you surmized from your detection.

Numina sees that the terminals in this chamber have the command authorization to program some magical security forces.
You can spend some 5 minutes at one of the terminals to try and deactivate the outpost security.
DC 18 Computers or Mysticism check

The screens have names explaining which rooms they are linked to.
Ones you've seen:
• Entrance Chamber
• Hydroponics
• Security - this room
And others you have yet to explore:
• Mess Hall - which is where the security forces are supposed to be, that you can try to deactivate
• Medical Center
• Barracks
• Command Center
• Armory
• Officer Quarters

You can try to gain control of the cameras and check them out.
DC 14 Computers or Mysticism

An outpost-wide intercom can also be used in this room.

Kei moves into the room, gives it a quick scan and then stands guard at the next door as Numina fiddles with the computers.

Smek moves along carefully behind Numina, seeing the computers he offers a helping hand. Working diligently he attempts to take control of the base security systems, deactivating them if he is unable to control them.

Computers: 20 + 8 = 28

Smek successfully deactivates the security... and then realizes that said security consists of summoned devils.