Hmm's Against the Aeon Throne -- The Adventures of The Teapot!

Game Master Hmm

minos will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Minor looks at his banana and feels a bit unsatisfying. He tries to remember the words of his ancestors

Minos Will reroll: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

The color comes back as he puts down the ancient data device.

"Careful with that. Might want to take some care with it"

He then devours large handfuls of cookies

Spec searches the room and Azlanti remainders
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
... but becomes sidetracked by the amazingly precise Azlanti script on the disassembled console.

Minos's groan distracts him from his distraction, and he hurries over to see what is wrong
Mysticism: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

"Oh dearie me ... that appears to be one nasty little curse there .... Ugh, gruel for a week... we should probably not go poking that datapad willy-nilly... maybe a team effort?"

He looks at the more modern (and hopefully un-cursed) datapad
"Maybe there is something in this one about how to get into that one?"
Computers: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Spec spends time breaking into the modern device owned by Lieutenant Sharu. Sharu's datapad is a more modern tier 1 computer, and Spec easily gains access to its files. Sharu's datapad contains reports made by Master-at-Arms Olajra in Madelon's Landing, which echo what you learned from Olajra's computer. (With the notable exception of Olajra's obsession with Strawberry Machine Cake.

In addition, you find more references to Lieutenant Sharu's superior, a member of the Azlanti nobility named Sardat Zolan Ulivestra, the noble that was behind the entire Nakondis operation. There are records and notes of Sharu's attempts to break into the ancient device, including notes on an ancient encryption key that might make further attempts to break into the device easier.

Finally, the datapad reveals that Cedona and the rune drive were both taken to a prison moon called Gulta in the Azlanti Star Empire. The datapad includes a flight plan to the moon but notes a checkpoint along the journey where an Azlanti transponder code is required.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

After you've all had a leisurely half hour to eat Wint's cookies and check out the gear on Lieutenant Sharu...

minos engineering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Minos reviews the notes from the data pad. "Well I doubt this ship will have the right transponder codes. And they don't just fall out of the sky"

The news from Madelon plays.

"Or sometimes they do. Looks like it is time for the Teapot to pour some retribution "

"Yes, that sounds like our cue." Dalinar moves towards the exit.

What kind of armor is that? We should definitely take the aeon stone and targeting computer.

"It is time for The Mysterious Seven to again take to the skies and rain tea'y Doom upon our enemies.

We need to take the chef with us, of course :-)

The armor is heavy armor. If no one else is going to take it, I will.

Pon helps root through the downed Azlanti, giving particular attention to the Lieutenant's armor.

after the message form Madelon...
"Dalinar, though we need to hurry, we also need to deal with the four Azlanti we sent outside. What is our game plan?"

"Indeed we do need to do something about them... And I'd prefer if that something didn't allow the vengeance-fuelled remainder of an imperial invasion force access to an ancient racist AI..

But could there be value in sending someone to get the Teapot while everyone else deals with the stragglers?"

OK, I'm back from convention action. Prosper will also take a 10 min rest, juuuust in case.

Prosper munches on a cookie as he he sits rather dazed upon the ground. "Um, thanks Wint. They're really good." He stares off into the distance as Spec reveals that Cedona's been taken along with some really important Azlanti tech to a prison moon. "Uh, wow."

He remains dazed (but is almost done with his cookie) when Madelon contacts the group. Slowly he pulls himself up to his feet. "So we're going to send the Barazad packing? That's umm, it sounds like a lot for the Teapot to manage. I mean, the colonists did put some pretty cool upgrades in there. I think we have heated seats now. But, this is an azlanti warship, right?" In his distress, his arms have started to wiggle and quiver, tentacle-like. But when he sees the rest of the team behaving bravely, he pulls himself (somewhat literally) together.

"Anyone see the main computer Ellioch was running from? I think we just accessed the terminal earlier. We could try to blow it up - just in case." He looks around for where the main computer might be.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

And also adds "Now that we're rested, we shouldn't have too much trouble with the cadets outside, and if our other fights are anything to go off of, it'll be quick. Let's all go together! Safety in big numbers rather than little ones."

Prosper switches from his spent flare rifle to the pulsecaster he picked up earlier.

"If we took the rest of the cadets prisoner, perhaps we'd have something to bargain with?

I think that we should CAPTURE the Barazad. We're going to rescue Cedona, right? I'm pretty sure it would be easier to get to the prison planet in an Azlanti ship than in the Teakettle"

"I'm not specifically opposed to trying to bargain with the Azlanti. I merely doubt that they would care about four cadets. I mean, they enslave whole planets and discriminate with the best of them. None of that screams 'I will coddle failures amongst our own'. But, you do what you want," Pon shrugs and begins putting on the new Azlanti armor.

Ellioch's main home is on the bridge. If you want to destroy it, you could either just blow up the terminals on the bridge or give me an engineering check to cut its power or fry its circuitry.

Or a computers check, if you're not worried about Azlanti cursed countermeasures...

Dalinar's jaw almost hits the floor.

"Did you just...," he begins to ask Pon a question then catches himself. "As much as I hate to say it, I think Pon is right. Not that I hate to agree with Pon. No. I mean, I doubt they will make good bargaining chips. And I also doubt taking them captive is much of an option, that is what I hate. I would prefer to give them a chance to see how the Empire uses them but they are likely too far gone. I am not sure what the plan should be but it must be something quick."

Minos takes some time to study the terminal and Ellioch's internals.

Computers: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Minos finally speaks in azlanti to the AI.

अब मुझे पता है कि मैं बस कुछ हानिरहित सेवक जाति हूं, लेकिन मैं एक चतुर गाय हूं और यदि आप व्यवहार करने का वादा करते हैं तो मैं आपको बचा सकता हूं। अन्यथा, मुझे संदेह है कि मेरे सम्मानित साथी खुशी से आपको उस झुलसाने वाली नई तलवार के साथ फिर से उकसाएंगे जो उसने अभी-अभी उठाई है

Minos would like to not destroy the AI, but only if it starts to behave. Otherwise he won't stop any concussive reprogramming efforts.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1

Well without a serious RP bonus, looks like it will be the axe

Minos ponders. "At this point the remaining cadets have been defeated, even if they do not know it yet, or at best moot. Once we deal with the Barazad we will be dead, in which case the Azlanti will just land reinforcements and take over the colony again. Or we will prevail and they will be isolated. They will then have to decide to either make peace with the colony or live in the wild. Seeing what gear they did have, I do not think they will last too long in the wild. Now if we see them on our way back to the Teapot we can deal with them. Otherwise hunting them now would be a waste of time"

He pulls out another banana. "Besides Hogbars really like their technical toys. I think we and leave them to the locals"

Prosper runs a hand thorough his hair "That makes sense to me Minos. And I don't know about you, but I'm hoping that just maybe we won't have to kill EVERY azlanti we come across. We've killed so many of them already. They're so crazy though..." He shakes his head in a mix of disbelief and nausea at all the death-dealing over the last few days.

Pon merely shrugs again as he continues to put the armor on. The energy and passion that once displayed on his face many hours ago seems to have left. What remains is just indifference.

During the break
Spec worries over the battered condition of his teammates
Medicine->Dalinar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Medicine->Wint: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
But seems unable to do anything but use his Healing Touch to grant the most injured back some vitality +5HP
"Oh no Wint... here, feel a little bit better"

-------
Hearing Minos's mission to try and save the obnoxious-yet-strangely-entertaining AI from concussive reprogramming, the professor goes over the computers to see if there is some sort of maintenance disconnect for removing malfunctioning AIs.
Computers: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

"Wow. Thanks Prof, I feel MUCH better now. Anything special you want in the next treats? I'm not sure what your people find exceptionally good."

Minos nods at Prosper. "You never notice the dead till the battle is over. One moment it is two sides facing off, then it is the lucky few standing. Sometimes we can be consoled by saying they shot first. But in the end, death is on my hands."

Does anyone aid Spec's computer check to isolate the AI? I am willing in this instance to let you "aid" with engineering.

Minos helps the Professor

Computers: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Ellioch shouts, "मैंने कम जमा करने से मना कर दिया ... ओह, धिक्कार है!"

SHOOOOOOOP

His words of protest die down as he's sucked into a datapad for easy transport.

Do you try to distract the teens with a mission before going, or just let them shoot at you as you leave?

Guess I will also take a 10 minute rest and patch myself up.

Prosper hunches over as Minos lays down some truths. "Yeah, its like a pit in my stomach. They were really crazy and really horrible, but it's still on us that we killed them. Ugh-" He shakes his head, determined not to dwell on it too much. "I'll go send those four cadets on a wild goose chase and we can deal with them later. Maybe... just maybe... we can get them to stop being super evil?" He looks hopefully at the rest of the party.

---
Olajra cleans himself up a little to look presentable and then heads back out of the ship to meet up with the four cadets he sent outside earlier. He calls them to attention and then looks down his striking nose at them. "एक विद्रोही आप सभी से फिसल गया और लगभग लेफ्टिनेंट तक पहुँच गया! मुझे बेहतर उम्मीद थी। बेहतर है।" He gives his best Olajra sneer. "जबकि हमारे अधिक सक्षम सैनिक इस साइट की रक्षा करते हैं, मैं आपको अपने आप को भुनाने का एक मौका दूंगा। उनके असुरक्षित संकेतों के आधार पर, तीन विद्रोहियों का एक समूह यहां से तीन मील पश्चिम में हैं। उन्हें खोजें और न आएं। जब तक आप उनसे सफलतापूर्वक नहीं निपटेंगे, तब तक यहाँ वापस।"

"याद रखें, एओन सिंहासन अयोग्यता को बर्दाश्त नहीं करता है। यदि आप इस सरल कार्य में सफल नहीं हो सकते हैं, तो आप अपने आप को मूल निवासी तक दे सकते हैं। शायद वे आपको अपनी पसंद के अनुसार कोड करेंगे।"

Bluff: 1d20 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (14) + 6 + (6) = 26

With that done, he waits until the remaining cadets are well off into the forest and then rejoins the party inside.

"Maybe we can Prosper. If we cannot then at least we tried. Sometimes trying is all a person can do." Dalinar looks off into the distance as he mutters another quote from his ancestor, "The most important step a person can take is always the next one."

Pon finally places the head-covering helmet, the last piece. "You delude yourself if you believe that all can be saved," Pon's voice expels from the helmet with an electronic filter. Despite the helmet filter there is a clear hint of bitterness. "I will relish the day that my talents are no longer needed. I do not get pleasure. But I will not weep for those I kill. I do not have the time to. You should resolve yourselves as well. For if you plan to continue on this path to Cedona, you will undoubtedly be killing more Azlanti."

Pon begins checking his weapons for readiness, "It sounds as if we will be going into the thick of them. If you hesitate and are compromised, I won't hesitate to do what is needed to succeed. Even if that means I leave you behind or even kill you myself. This has stopped being a vacation." He then follows after Prosper to address the cadets.

He stands imposingly as Prosper addresses the cadets.

Auto aid on bluff

Dalinar sighs heavily, "Considering the fact that we have killed nearly two score in the past few days I think we are past the point of believing all can be saved Pon but you delude yourself if you think none can be saved. I have plenty of resolve. That does not mean we have to like it. Willingness to kill and apathy about the people you kill are not the same thing."

"I'll kill when necessary.My people don't have the same qualms against killing as many races do. But only when necessary. I'd much prefer to help the Azlanti realize that there is another way.

They are not without hope. Any race that can spend such energy on art, on music, on cooking cannot be without hope. They're much better than the Vesk!!"

Minos offers. "My old troop commander had a saying. We don't take the first shot, but we take the last one. Of course back then it was the job. Also the money helped clear up any moral dilemmas of my younger self. Or at least bought enough drinks to make me forget the dilemmas. "

"Observation: I am detecting high levels of depression in this room in regards to life and death and the act of killing. Resolution: If you desire to save lives without needless killing, I will assist by having Rush engage enemies in a more docile manner that leaves them beaten and bruised but breathing, to which enough medical attention can be provided to ensure they do not die. If not, he will remain on enough adrenaline to kill. What is you're preference?"

Minos smiles. "It is just the fall of adrenaline, friend Lingston. Let the body work itself out. I expect that many more azlanti will fall before us in the coming days. Hope keeps our own souls from getting lost in the fray. Given the life we choose, I doubt this will change"

"Confirmation: I am afraid for Rush and myself, it is the intent of survival. Whether or not I believe the group to be foolish in its decision making is irrelevant. As long as we are here, we need each other to survive."

SHIP COMBAT TIME -- ROUND ONE

You hurry back on the hovertrikes, arriving back at your ship in minutes. It’s time to take off in the Teapot to confront the Barazad!

Hex Distance: 3d6 + 5 ⇒ (5, 3, 4) + 5 = 17

Because you were swift getting out there, you can choose the initial facings for both ships!

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Ship Role Cheat Sheets

The Teapot -- Ship Stats
(And the Glossy Picture)

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Piloting Initiative:

Wint Piloting: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
Barazad Pilot + Node: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 10 + 1 = 27

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Ship Status Report:

The Teapot -- Shields at full, no damage
Barazad -- No damage

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

INFORMATION from BARAZAD SCANS

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

STILL TO ACT

If your roll will be affected by another's actions, feel free to place it under spoilers.

CAPTAIN
ENGINEER
PILOT
SCIENCE OFFICER (+2 to scans)
GUNNERS

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Wint, you move first!

Once back on the ship, Lord Dracos sits on top of the console while Minos preforms the his scans

Computers Scan Ship: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 8 + 2 = 20

Well they are a solid ship, and they got a nasty missile in that turret of theirs.

Sorry, but which ship is ours? Not that it really matters much right now :-)

Wint just has the ship fly evasively at the moment, trying to not get hit as the distances close.

Auto succeed on evade roll

Edit: Ship moved forward very slightly

Hmmph. One of my edits didn't go through. The Teapot is RED. The Barazad is Azlanti GREEN.

The Captain of the Barazad hails you, and speaks in Azlanti-tinted Common. "Rebel Colonist Scum, prepare to be blown out of the sky. You incompetent colonists not only can't shoot, you can hardly aim in one of those primitive outhouses of yours. But that's alright. I give you permission to piss yourselves."

The Captain attempts to taunt your gunnery, but really, the attempt falls flat.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Meanwhile, the Barazad pilot takes evasive action!

Evasive Maneuvers: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 10 + 1 = 22

Go ahead and choose the facings for the ships now, since that is a bonus you earned in the adventure.

While we're still far away, we'll have three weapons that can fire at the azlanti ship. Two turret coilguns and a forward light laser. Lets make sure all those are manned and firing, and take this wimpy ship out :D
BTW, the Teapot now has a Quadnode computer, so we can add +1 to four separate checks each round. I'd say piloting plus the three gunnery rolls, but we've got flexibility if we need it.

Prosper opens comms with the Barazad as he brings the ship's turret around to bear. He calls out Pact-Worlds-tinted azlanti "बिल्ली है कि होना चाहिए था?" and scoffs at the enemy captain.

With a couple of taps to his computer console, Prosper locks the enemy ship in his targeting reticle and sends a laser blast into their shields!

The teakettle bravely shows its spout to the enemy

Facing is fine

Dalinar responds to the hail from the Barazad. "I would tell you to ask your soldiers on Nakondis how well we can aim but they are all dead. I could also give you permission to piss yourselves but you won't have time. You shall be vaporized before you get the chance."

Intimidate Taunt: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

To Dalinar

"How rude! Just because we're going to kill them, there is no need not to be polite about it. Manners matter."

"I disagree Mister Wint. I reserve being polite for people who do not enslave and murder people simply for existing."

Rush and LINGSTON work on boosting the weapons.

Can't seem to find the starship stats so I'll just roll gunnery.

Gunnery: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Coilgun: 4d4 ⇒ (2, 4, 1, 3) = 10

SUMMARY OF SHIP COMBAT, ROUND ONE

Dalinar schools the Azlanti Captain in the proper way to taunt.

Rounds of Taunting vs Gunnery: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Wint evades, while Minos scans! Rush boosts the weapons.

Then Pon and Prosper both land hits on the evading Barazad but Spec's shot goes wild! After eating through the Barazad's forward shields, 18 points goes right into the Barazad's hull!

Critical Threshold: 1d100 ⇒ 73
The Barazad's engines are glitching!

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

It is now Team Azlant's turn to shoot!

Taunted Gunnery, Turret Light Aeon Torpedo Launcher: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 6 - 2 = 11
Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 6) = 17

Taunted Gunnery, Forward Coil Gun: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 - 2 = 17
Damage: 4d4 ⇒ (3, 2, 1, 3) = 9

With Wint as pilot, the evading Teapot's Armor Class is 17, so only the second shot hits. They eat up nine points of your forward shield!

SHIP COMBAT TIME -- ROUND TWO

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Ship Role Cheat Sheets

The Teapot -- Ship Stats
(And the Glossy Picture)

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Piloting Initiative:

Wint Piloting + Node: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 11 + 1 = 25
Barazad Pilot + Node: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 10 + 1 = 30

Alas Wint positions first!

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Ship Status Report:

The Teapot -- Front Shield (-9)
Barazad -- No Front Shield, -18 hp, glitching engines, taunted gunnery

INFORMATION from BARAZAD SCANS so FAR

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

STILL TO ACT

If your roll will be affected by another's actions, feel free to place it under spoilers.

CAPTAIN
ENGINEER
PILOT
SCIENCE OFFICER (+2 to scans)
GUNNERS (+ 1 from nodes)

"No need to get discouraged Professor, you did well in our last dogfight."

Encourage Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11