[Outpost II] GM Wolffauer - SFS 1-20 - Duskmire Accord 9 (Inactive)

Game Master Wolffauer

"What are Gnolls?"

"So, it seems that you have already made the first step in dominance? Taking over a rival's village. Good. What is this swamp ghost you speak of?"

From the map, it looks like the temple is just inside the swamp. I've added some more notes to map.

"No, we have no memories from before we awoke here. I've gone near the temple, but dare not approach for fear of angering the swamp ghost. No one who has seen the swamp ghost has returned to tell about it."

"We drove off the Gnolls, but they are still out there. The tribe no longer cares about dominating them, or tangling with the ghost."

"How long have you been here? Not born here, right? Just arrived some time ago?"

"It has been several months since we woke up here."

"So, guys, where do we go: hunt the Swamp Ghost? Then move on to finish domination over the Gnolls?"

"The mysterious swamp ghost most interests me. I mean we don't want to leave our new tribe mates with such a dangerous being just running about."

"Not too fond of anything called a 'ghost', but I suppose needs must. Lead on, Pangea."

We'll call that a majority vote.

The Yeti send you off a little somberly. Inix offers some food for your journey.

Within a half hour, the land around you turns more marshy and slows your progress. A variety of mushrooms dot the landscape.

After some further travel, Baròleg spots something flying towards you from the east. It approaches quickly and you can soon tell that it is some sort of robotic drone. It pauses a few yards away from you.

Pangea raises its hands peacefully, and tries to look the drone over.
Engineering ID: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17 -5 DC to identify rare, ancient, or alien tech

The drone seems to some sort of observer-class security robot. The technology matches what you've seen around Salvation's End, but it doesn't appear to be overly complex.

A polite, cool voice speaks from the machine. "Greetings, interlopers. Your presence has been noted and appropriate adjustments have been made to the operation of this facility. External access is now prohibited until such time as the experiment has completed. Thank you for your cooperation in this endeavor."

"Thanks a bundle! Oh, any tip on what the rules for completing the experiment are?"

"One of the three subject inhabitant groups must achieve dominance over the others. Based on prior observation, dominance among sentient species typically refers to termination of the opposing groups' leadership. Complete extermination is not necessary for completion."

"Could the experiment also be completed by the cooperation of all units for the common goals?"

"Who is running this experiment? Elaborate on 'External Access is now prohibited' please?", Baròleg cast a glance back towards the cavern entrance. "What species are the three subject groups?"

"Seek and destroy the enemy's leadership, eh? Well, I suppose that is one way to go about it. What is the purpose of this experiment you are running, and on whose behalf?"

To Seven, the drone just repeats "Complete extermination is not necessary for completion."
--
Turning to answer Baròleg's questions, "I am sorry, but that information is restricted." The drone pauses and continues, "External access is prohibited until one of the three subject inhabitant groups achieves dominance over the others. When a single power remains, external access will be restored." Another pause, "The tribes that currently dwell in the northwest and just to the north, and the power centered in the southern swamp." As it speaks, the drone turns to face each direction.
--
"The purpose is to gather information on the dominance behavior of this facility's inhabitants."

Pangea notes where the drone pointed... imagining the Yeti are the ones just to the North.
"Lovely! Can you deliver us some food, drone?"

"Can you dissimilate any information of the other groups? Such as strengths, weakness, likelihood that peaceful overtures would be successful? "

"I am sorry, but that is beyond the scope of my job."

"Thanks a lot... so, go check the other two groups out, and see which one we need to help win to be able to get back to the Lorespire?
Or else just set up shop here?"

"Let's see about the ghost before making any decisions."

"It's like the 'ghost' is one of the test subjects, a species adapt at hiding and ambush. Which species we encounter next matters little, the 'ghost' is nearer to the structure and likely the power source. That's two birds with one stone."

As you discuss your next moves, the drone flies off back the way it came.

You continue travelling in the direction indicated by the drone. Ahead you can see a mushroom forest, with an undergrowth of tangled vegetation. The mushrooms come in a variety of sizes and colors, some reaching the heights of over 40 feet. The air is hazy with spores. Occasionally you spot a flash of light in the canopy, like a silent lightning.

"Anyone capable of scouting should move out and ahead slightly... Those of us who are less stealthy keep to a staggered center line? It will make ambushes slightly more difficulty. Keep in contact over comms."

Baròleg begins moving carefully into the fungal growth, "I can take lead in the center, trying to maintain some stealth. Remember, this species may be open to first contact. We don't know how the Yeti may have approached them initially." He readies his Arc Pistol, confirming it is set to stun, in case they aren't open to first contact.

Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

That is NOT what I expected for stealth... So ninja, Baròleg doesn't even know he's a ninja...

"This unit was not designed for stealth. So this unit will stay in back."
Stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Pangea tries to go discreetly...
Stealth: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Donovan moves along cautiously and carefully.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

As you travel deeper into the swamp, the air around you grows thick with humidity. Donovan spots some lights off in the distance, but as soon as you notice them they vanish again.

Suddenly you hear a primal roar like that from some great predator off in a different direction. As the echos die away you realize that apart from your own footfalls, that has been the only sound you've heard in this swamp. No other animal noises or insects.

Everyone can give me a perception and/or survival roll

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Pangea tries to understand what might be going, what type of animal calls out like that...
Survival. trained: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

PERCEPTION: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Could the power be failing with the lights going out? Seven of Eleven thinks to himself.

perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
survival,untrained: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

Rastar followed with the others, marveling at the fun-sized fungi.

"What was that sound? I got the impression that there were no wild animals here, just the three powers. Could it be the ghost?"

Survival untrained: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

No one recognizes the sound, but as you pause again the roar rings out, this time much closer. A scream from some animal follows, along with the sound of tearing flesh.

"If it is feeding, maybe it won't attack...? Shall we go see?"
Pangea is ready to start jogging towards the sources of the sound.

Baròleg tilts his head listening to the sounds, "I was wondering that too Rastar. There don't seem to be another other animals in here. I was starting to wonder what the tested species eat... The Yeti don't strike me as vegetarian, and there's no live stock or game to be seen."

"Maybe food sources are pressure used to push the dominate goal," still looking thoughtful and moving behind Pangea, "I'm not sure I believe these sounds, roaring and animal cries. Beasts hunting when there's no game? Suspicious."

Baròleg continues to move stealthily through the fungi-marsh, following Pangea.

"A trap?! Oh... cunning!"

"Let's go find out what that is. Be ready for anything." Donovan sets his weapon and goes forth.

"Yes let take a look."

As you head in the direction of the sounds, the swamp's tangled vegetation gives way and opens into a wide clearing bordered by towering, mildly luminescent mushrooms that stand over twenty feet tall. The smell of rotten flesh pervades the area, lingering in the stillness as if trapped. The dim green light from the massive fungi illuminates several figures sitting up against one of the mushroom's stalks.

Alive, dead...?
Pangea tries to see what the figures are...
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Donovan looks around for any traps of ambushes.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Rastar keeps his hands on his weapons as he moves. His eyes scan the swamp for signs of trouble. When he saw the figures, he waved for the others to stop, pointing them out to any that might not have seen them for themselves.

perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

You spot no other activity in the area, and cautiously approach the forms to try and identify them. Closer inspection reveals them to be the bodies of four dead gnolls.

Medicine and/or Survival to investigate the bodies. Life Science or Perception to investigate the clearing.

Pangea will check out whatever these gnolls are--
Medicine: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
--while trying to figure out what this kind of clearing is.
Life Science: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Survival: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Baròleg examines the bodies, and notices how dead they are...

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

He then moves methodically through the clearing, looking for any signs of who or what may have kill the creatures.

Taking a look at the bodies

"Very strange life form units. This unit as not seen the like before."

Medicine: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17