1-28 It Rests Beneath (Inactive)

Game Master Saashaa

Umbro stares in disbelief as he watches True Silver drive his enercycle straight into a ditch.

Piloting: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

Majko does her best to help navigate.

Navigate, Aid: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Both buggies drive easily across the terrain toward the cliffs, but Silver, in his enercycle, has a very difficult time. It takes 3 hours to get to the cliffs.

Like the rest of the plateau, Forsaken Canyon is a bleak and lifeless region, the ground covered in a hard, gray substance that resembles the shell of a lobster or the surface of an oyster. But here, the ground slopes steeply down into a wide canyon with large mounds the size of vehicles and narrow gullies that wind between hills. The coordinates you have been given lead you to a hill in the middle of the canyon. The scanning tower must be erected at the top of the hill. The path is 10ft wide and ascends gradually, whereas the sides of the hill ascend at about an angle of about 35–45 degrees, making these slopes difficult terrain. I need Piloting checks to drive a vehicle up, down, or along these slopes (3 in total to get to the top).

True carefully goes up the trail.

If True takes note of the birds, is this normal behavior?

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Survival: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Umbro skillfully maneuvers his buggy onto the trail.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

Piloting #1: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

Piloting #2: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

Piloting #3: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Umbro activates his comm unit, "I see a flock of what seems to be bird like creatures observing us from about a mile out. Better keep an eye on them just in case they aren't friendly."

I'm pretty sure Darkrunner had suggested we go the Windy Cliffs now and we had agreed upon that, but it looks like you've got us at the Forsaken Canyon. It's OK, since we are already here I'm fine with just playing it out.

Excellent driving Umbro

These don't look like the cliffs at all. Did somebody mess with my nav settings...

He frowns as he tries to figure out how this happened.

This looks difficult, but we have to deal with it sometime. Hold onto your seats friends, there might be some rough riding here...

Piloting: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11 arg... do I try again until we get success or do we have to play out a tumble now?
Piloting: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Piloting: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Perception, DC 15: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (15) - 1 = 14

Majko doesn’t originally see the flock of birds, but once they are pointed out she is very interested. ”One of my duties on Castrovel was to protect the preserves of Ukulam. I’ve seen many birds - many of which were not friendly. Be careful.”. She takes a closer look at the birds.

Life Science: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 Reduce DC by 5, for my theme.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

"Well thats weird... Why are all those birds watching us? See them? Up there?"

Ko'Ka tightens its grip on the spear.

Indeed, my apologies. We shall proceed as the order you do these in doesn't truly matter.

Also, as the 'birds' are still a ways off you cannot identify them. As for their behavior, it is hard to tell. Different birds are different.

It seems that the scientists must have mis-labeled this location.

Darkrunner pilot: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

While Silver takes the the slow and steady tactic, guaranteeing his arrival, Darkrunner tries to just gun it up the slope. The tires spray dirt and gravel uselessly. He then notices some periodic flat portions on the way up and steers for those. Umbro on the other hand sees the slope and guns it a fair bit ahead of time as utilizes the momentum to make it most of the way up the slope, but then has to utilize the flat portions to make it the rest of the way.

It takes the two buggies about 5 minutes to get up the slope, Silver looks like he will take 15.

The buggies are at the top. The 'birds' are closer, but still a ways off. What would you like to do?

"Let's get the scanning tower up while we still have some daylight. I'll keep an eye on the flock of birds."

Umbro climbs to the roof of the buggy where he has a clear view of the birds; his acid dart rifle at the ready.

Zak will study the birds movements to see if they have any pattern of movement or if they are looking for food, notice us, etc. survival: 4 + 1d20 ⇒ 4 + (9) = 13 to track that.

Darkrunner gets out the next tower kit, hopefully more prepared than last time.

Who would like to help? I'm feeling more confident for this second tower.

Engineering, setup tower: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

Computers, calibrate instruments: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

Once True Silver makes it to the summit, he again patrols the perimeter and keeps a watchful eye.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Survival: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Umbro continues to observe the behavior of the flock of birds.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Majko nods and jumps right in. ”I will help. I am not scared of some birds. Back on Castrovel, the birds were the size of entire tunnels. These do not scare me.”

Engineering: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

"I'll stay on guard and be ready incase something happens." Ko'Ka unslings its spear again, and stays vigilant...

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Then takes out a banana and starts munching on it.

Over the 30 minutes that it takes Darkrunner and Majko to efficiently set up the tower, the bird-like creatures slowly get closer. By the time the tower is ready to be calibrated, several stonegulls are circling overhead, and more perch atop nearby hills.

All but Majko can make a Life Science check (as Majko made one earlier)

The instruments’ signals and pulses distress the stonegulls, though, and after about 30 seconds of the calibration process, they begin fluttering their wings and tapping each other’s shells with their proboscises. Shortly after that, another test pulse from the instruments spooks the stonegulls, many of which begin flying away while wailing in shrill tones. Several others instead respond by attacking.

We’ll go into rounds now. You all can go, and then the birds will. This disturbance occur while Darkrunner is beginning to calibrate, so he is alone up there. Only 4 of these braids look like they are going to be particularly aggressive initially. 2 of them are 60ft above the top of the tower where Darkrunner is; 70ft above Majko on the secondary platform; 90ft from the ground where the rest of you are. The other 2 are at ground level to your hilltop but about 90ft west. A map of this combat would be next to unhelpful as this combat is almost 100% an elevation based fight.

You all go

life science: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Just as he starts the calibrations, DarkRunner looks up and see the birds getting closer.

These birds must consume an enormous amount of calcium to maintain their shells, likely liquefying the calcium before drinking it up through their proboscis.

life science: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
life science: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Arg, disappointing that their behavior isn't uniform, and that they didn't all fly away.

He pulls out his laser pistol, advances the calibration to disturb the bird just a bit more, and fires up at it.

Computers for trick attack (DC20+target CR): 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 11 + 4 = 32 If it succeeds, it is flat-footed
azimuth laser pistol attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
F damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2
Trick attack damage, on hit and if computers check succeeded: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Life Science: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 Reduce the DC to identify creatures of the animal, plant, and vermin types using Life Sciences by 5.

Umbro keys his comm unit to the teams' frequency.

"These creatures are attracted to movement. They're only attacking because the scanning tower has agitated them."

With smooth and practiced movements Umbro steadies his aim by grasping the forward grip that houses the heavy bipod on his acid dart rifle and prepares to fire if the Stonegulls attack.

Move action: steady aim with heavy bipod.

Standard action: Ready attack (acid dart rifle) vs. approach within 80'.

Acid Dart Rifle vs. KAC: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Piercing/Acid Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Life Science: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Life Science: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

True Silver casts Telepathic Message and his Speak with Animals ability to the two over to the west. "Leave here. There is nothing for you here."
Intimidate: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Ko'Ka throws its spear at the nearest bird.
Tactical Called Spear Throw: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Tactical Called Spear Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Then as a swift action, Ko'Ka calls the spear back to it's hand.

Zak looks over at Ko'KA True Silver is trying to get the birds to leave, attack them if they don't leave. There are several birds and few of us, and unless you have a machine gun, fighting against them is a death wish.

Majko shakes her head in frustration. "This never would have happened in the tunnels. This is why tunnel-based civilization is clearly superior!" Though her tone is angry, you can feel a subtext of fear. The formian does NOT like birds. Her hand strokes the bag of junk at her waist then moves instead to a battery at her chest. Slapping it, she unleashes three magical bolts of energy which fly unerringly at a bird above her! [ooc]Casting Magic Missile at one of the highest elevation birds.

Magic Missile!: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 4, 2) + 3 = 10

"How do you know that?"

Ko'Ka would not know if True is doing a telepathic message or who it would be going to, and sees Darkrunner has already shot.

"Cut the chatter on the comms and everyone stay frosty."

We are acting first so the birds are still 90' away from us. Ko'Ka if you throw your spear now it would be a -8 range penalty to hit. You can however, ready an action until they approach to say 20' before you throw. Also, you could move toward them first and then throw. I think the range modifier would be -4 for that.

I'll move up and throw for the -4 penalty then.

I missed the we are first thing.
Zak fires his flare gun at the closest one range 30, so it might have range penalties
trick attack acrobatics: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27 hit: 4 + 1d20 ⇒ 4 + (20) = 24 vs EAC dmg: 1d3 ⇒ 1 fire.
trick dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 2
crit dmg: 1d3 ⇒ 1

Zak if you move 30' and then fire the penalty would be -2. That is if you are shooting the ones that are on the ground that Silver is trying to speak to.

Actually you rolled a natural 20 so you roll your trick attack damage twice also and you do 1d6 burn damage at the beginning of the stonegulls turn since that is the critical effect of your flare gun.

Round 1 player action summary
Darkrunner and Majko take 1 bird from group 1 out
Ko'ka and Zak take 1 bird from group 2 out (in a fiery ball of still burning)

Round 1 bird actions
The one bird left above the tower (group 1) angrily flies down to Darkrunner and...
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 1
...stabs into him with it's proboscis.

The one bird left flying from the west (group 2) surprisingly turns around and flies away.

Round 2 you all are up.

"Damn" Umbro swears softly to himself as his shot goes wide on the approaching stonegull. However, moments later, to his surprise the gull is wreathed in a ball of fire as Ko'ka's spear and Zak's flare strike home simultaneously.

"Got to make these next shots count." Seeing the remaining stonegull to the west turn and fly away Umbro quickly turns his attention to the one attacking Darkrunner.
Umbro squeezes the trigger twice on his acid dart rifle sending two darts spiraling toward his target.

Full attack against the remaining stonegull

Acid Dart Rifle vs. KAC #1: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 8 - 2 = 14

Acid Dart Rifle vs. KAC #2: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 8 - 2 = 24

Piercing/Acid Damage #1: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Piercing/Acid Damage #2: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Umbro, how do you only have a -2 for full attacking?

First round of combat I used my move action to steady my aim with the grip of my heavy bipod. Once you do that it brings down the penalty to full attack to -2. It's on page 58-59 of the armory book.

The way I understand the rule is once you use a move action to steady your aim with the bipod you keep the bonus until you move again and then you have to use another move action to steady your aim again.

Nice. Haven't seen one in use before.

Majko throws her disk straight up into the air, and it lets out a hum as it goes. Unfortunately her aim is off and it goes off in a wide circle before returning to her hand.

Singing Disk: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Damage vs KAC: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

True Silver causes a loose stone to fly up at the stonegull that attacked Darkrunner.

Telekinetic Projectile: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

now that we're in combat, what is it to climb back down from the tower? A move action, more?

Darkrunner again works the instruments so that the tower emits a pulse that should disturb the nearby birds.

He picks the closest remaining gull to pick off within 80'

Computers for trick attack (DC20+target CR): 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 11 + 4 = 29 If it succeeds, it is flat-footed
azimuth laser pistol attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
F damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Trick attack damage, on hit and if computers check succeeded: 1d4 ⇒ 4

If it is still up after that, Ko'Ka will move closer towards the bird and once again throw its spear at the bird.

Attack Roll: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Damage Roll: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

AOO: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
1d6 ⇒ 2

The bird next to Darkrunner gets hit twice by Umbro, but is still up. Darkrunner distracts it to get a good shot in, but it still manages to take advantage of an opening he presents. After Darkrunner's shot, however, it fall from the sky. The rest of the flock flies off.

Darkrunner computers: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

Darkener gets back to calibrating the tower. After about 25 minutes you receive a call from Mora.

"Good news, your tower is showing all green lights. Bad news, the first tower you set up isn't reading anything anymore."

At hearing this news, Ko'Ka slams it's spear into the ground. "What the crap?!"

Umbro slips a fresh magazine into his rifle and turns to the team.

"Looks like we'll have to go back to the first site and find out what's going on. I have a feeling the crest eater we left behind there could be the problem. Also, the unaccounted for Kasathan pilot could be the reason the tower isn't sending a signal anymore."

Zak reloads his gun, his last flare.

The android operative gets an android look of resign: a regrettable, manually repeated task.

It appears we need to travel back to the first site. Time to make the drive again. Thank goodness we lose no ground on the third tower.

Do we need to remake all of the piloting checks to re-navigate the hills nearby?

"Wait! Do we all have to go?" After the difficulty he had on the way to this location, True Silver is in no rush to return to the first.

Survival: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 8 - 2 = 12

Yes

[ooc]I figured. I forgot the piloting roll.
Piloting: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 - 2 = 14

Rolling rolling rolling...

Getting back out of the loca hills:
Piloting: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
Piloting: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
Piloting: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
Piloting: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

Driving back to tower 1
Piloting: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
Piloting: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

piloting navigation: 8 + 1d20 ⇒ 8 + (5) = 13
piloting navigation: 8 + 1d20 ⇒ 8 + (11) = 19

How many piloting checks do we need to make?