[SFS] Dead Suns, Book 6: Empire of Bones (Inactive)

Game Master Nefreet

That's about a round of activity for everyone...

The face angrily sputters, stutters and sparks!

ROUND 1
BOLD MAY ACT!!
------------------------------
Thrym ()
Shandi ()
RD-S2 ()
Inevitable ()
Botamo ()
Kush ()

In addition to the actions spoilered earlier you can also spend X rounds attempting Diplomacy; if you choose to, I'll let you know when you can make your roll.

If you attempt remove affliction, I need an attack roll and a caster level check.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Whaaaaa... First Thrym and now Shandi....

"Shandi what devilry is this? Where'd you go now?"

What exactly was the reason of the beginning of fight? It is important for me to understand the actions of my character. If nothing, then stealth 32.

Thrym waits patiently for Kush to calm the Spirit...

What exactly was the reason of the beginning of fight? It is important for me to understand the actions of my character. If nothing, then stealth 32.

i think it’s because Botamo failed to ID this thing, took its sudden arrival as a threat, and readied for combat while he awaited his science officer to relay info to him. Or at least that’s how it worked on the vids Ardee has showed him called Space Quest?

You have identified that this creature is acting strangely. It is normally a protector of interstellar travelers and is usually lawful. It boarded your ship after presumably fleeing a chaotic storm, and was demanding your departure from this sector while calling you "interlopers".

Behind the scenes, I have a list of responses the group could have done to delay or avert its hostilities (bluff that you're leaving right now, cast the listed spells, or something equivalent), but none of them happened. That isn't necessarily a bad thing. The book says it attacks "immediately", so I figured one round beforehand to identify its predicament and interact with it was generous.

Apologies for the rocky first start =\

RD-S2 waits for an aggressive action to be made before they act

move in half speed, draw a laser pistol & stealth 32

Perception: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (1) + 19 = 20 Haha, nice!

"Y-y-y-you will be d-d-d-destroyed for your transgressions!"

And with that, the creature bursts into a swarm, engulfing Botamo!

Swarm Damage: 1d10 + 12 - 10 ⇒ (1) + 12 - 10 = 3 and Fortitude DC 17 vs Distraction.

ROUND 1-2
EVERYONE MAY ACT!!
------------------------------
Shandi ()
Inevitable ()
Thrym ()
RD-S2 ()
Botamo (-3 stamina; Fort save)
Kush ()

Stepping onto the bridge, Kush sees the axiomite dissolve into a swarm, and recognizing it from ancien moving-image frame-boxes he watched--
previous roll, choosing "Other" as my +5 bonus (all can open thosee spoilers)
--he says: "Oh?! I know this visitor, or at least who he is!"
To the creature: "Hello Anhamut Inevitable, welcome onboard the Sunrise Maiden, do you fancy some tea?"
To his companions: "This is a Lawful Neutral Outsider, ordered to hunt down those who attempt to destroy the hyperspace beacons and sometimes aid adventurers who have discovered a new planet or alien society in returning home to report this information to their societies!"
To the creature: "Thank you so much for coming to aid us, we are not going home right now, but please join us."

Seeing the creature dissolve into a swarm, Kush smiles, and looks at his comrades: "See that?! It is called discorporation! An anhamut’s robotic body can discorporate its component nanites into a swarm. I am so happy to witness such things I have only read about."
To the creature: "I imagine that means 'No' to tea?"

Kush steps forward, and, beside the swarming creature, casts Remove Affliction, and tries to touch it to help heal it as requested.
You see Kush's armor shine with rust-red liquid, guiding the eldritch energy much as copper guides electric currents.

Touch vs AC: 1d20 + 7 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 5 = 20
If it wants to resist it must pass a DC20 Will save
If the target is a creature, you must attempt a caster level check for each Curse, disease, infestation, and poison affecting it (DC = 4 + the DC of the affliction).
Here is my first roll if one is necessary, tell me if any other needed?
Caster level check w. armor: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27
(Finally, tell me if the creature has SR, in which case I need to make a CL check to pass that, here is one in case:)
Caster level check w. armor: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

fortitude: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

"Jeeeeeze these folks are itchy!" Botamo yells out as he moves from their space.

Kush reaches out to touch the cloud, but can't seem to focus on any one particular nanite.

Your attack roll missed, but I also don't think you could target the swarm form anyways, since it's a single target effect; but with its erratic behavior, you'll probably have multiple opportunities to retry ^_^

And yes, it has spell resistance.

ROUND 1-2
BOLD MAY ACT!!
------------------------------
Shandi ()
Inevitable ()
Thrym ()
RD-S2 ()
Botamo (-3 stamina; Photon 2)
Kush ()

Thrym continues to do nothing, waiting for the creature to be calmed down.

Since it doesn't seem to be much of a threat, I see no reason to attack it.

More, more! Nice... Rip his skin slowly, little cute extraplanar swarm...

watching it from shadows; stealth 42 now (didn’t move for a round)

Botting RD-S2

The little droid rolls back and activates their Energy Shield.

The entire swarm glitches as Botamo takes his leave. When the glitching ceases, the swarm coalesces once again into a single, solid creature!

...with a nasty-looking blade of nanites very near to Kush's face.

ROUND 2-3
EVERYONE MAY ACT!!
------------------------------
Shandi ()
Inevitable ()
Thrym ()
RD-S2 (10 rds Energy Shield)
Botamo (-3 stamina; Photon 3)
Kush ()

So does Kush keep the spell? If Botamo can tell he is still holding a spell he will delay until kush acts.

Good news!

Some effects, most notably spells, have a range of touch and require an action to activate. In most cases, if you don’t discharge a touch effect on the round you create it, you can postpone the discharge of the effect (also known as holding the charge) indefinitely. You can make touch attacks round after round until the effect is discharged. If you make any other attack, activate another ability, or cast a spell during this time, the touch effect dissipates.

Some touch spells allow you to touch multiple targets as part of the spell. You can’t hold the charge of such a spell; you must touch all targets of the spell in the same round that you finish casting the spell.

So all I need is a successful touch attack against their EAC, and then I'll roll the Will save. No need to reroll Caster Level checks for this casting of the spell, but if they succeed at their Will and resist the effects then future castings will require more checks.

NOICE!!!

Botamo leaps around the console to flank and says, "Just calm down now eh, ye hoser." with his solar sword held ready to strike.

Touch vs EAC: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

Kush avoids, barely, sticking his finger in his own eye... but the fear of seeing that big sword looming above him while he is only trying to fondle the strange creature means that he is not very good at touching it.

Delaying, watching, having fun

“Captain what are our orders” RD-S2 readies their rifle.

"I'm through playing nice, We'll Teach this hoser some manners if he doesnt calm down soon!"

Not seeing an icon for Thyrm on the map?

Botting Thrym.

Thrym double moves back towards the bridge, drawing his primary weapon.

Icon placed on map.

EDIT: Also, this post saved Kush from a Crit ^_^

In its confused rage, the creature lashes out at each Kish flanking it!

1=Botamo, 2=Kush

1d2 ⇒ 1
Inevitable Onslaught: 1d20 + 21 - 6 ⇒ (11) + 21 - 6 = 26
Slashing Damage: 2d8 + 12 - 10 ⇒ (2, 7) + 12 - 10 = 11

1d2 ⇒ 1
Inevitable Onslaught: 1d20 + 21 - 6 ⇒ (7) + 21 - 6 = 22
Slashing Damage: 2d8 + 12 - 10 ⇒ (6, 3) + 12 - 10 = 11

...but cannot land a single blow.

ROUND 3-4
EVERYONE MAY ACT!!
------------------------------
Shandi ()
Inevitable ()
Thrym ()
RD-S2 (9 rds Energy Shield)
Botamo (-3 stamina; Photon 3)
Kush (Holding the charge)

 »What?!  HEY! Calm down! »
Kush is amazed, wondering why this guest is prone to
Waving a big blade around.
Kush tries to slap some sense into the creature, and land his spell!
EAC Touch attack w. Flank: 1d20 + 7 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 5 + 2 = 23

Will Save: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18 Fails!

...and with a single touch, the creature regains their composure.

COMBAT OVER!!

Seeing everyone with weapons drawn and on the defensive, the creature retracts their nanite blade and stands with arms outstretched, palms forward.

"I say, what a bloody mess this turned out to be! Apologetics are in order. I am named Quillius. Right pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Travelers. I seem to have been out of my mind there for a moment. I hope I did not trouble you terribly so?"

"Oh no... so, Quillius, good to meet you. I am Kush. Do you fancy some herbal tea?"

Quillius claps his hands together in rapid succession.

"Ooooh that would be delightful! No added carbohydrates, please."

He teleports in a small table and chairs, complete with place settings.

Thrym bows politely.

"A pleasure to meet you, Spirit Quillius. What happened to you? We are chasing some Cultist-Demons who are seeking a Weapon at the Gate of Twelve Suns, capable of harming the cosmos. Have you encountered them?"

"I say, what a bloody mess this turned out to be! Apologetics are in order. I am named Quillius. Right pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Travelers. I seem to have been out of my mind there for a moment. I hope I did not trouble you terribly so?"

"Oh no more than an itch doncha know. Ye got any clue as to what caused you to act so rudely there Quillius? S'not every day some space being comes and attacks mah crew, eh?" Botamo says rolling 3 eyes at how quickly the situation defused itself. "Good work there Mistah Kush, fine work all." he adds looking to the whole crew.

Kush marvels at how easily the guest conjures things.
Nodding to Botamo, he then goes to make some herbal tea.

“I would like some tea as well.” they put their rifle away. “Greetings Quillius.”

- I can also offer bitter black coffee. It's hard to drink, but it's very invigorating. Carbonates are not provided by prescription.

Shandi comes out of the shadows and cleverly hide his displeasure that he had no opportunity to start working on this creature through pain.

Quillius considers everyone's questions before answering.

"As one bestowed the title of Edgeseeker, I am purposed with surveying intelligent life across the galaxy! I recently arrived at a curious system of twelve stars orbiting a central point in space. You call these the 'Twelve Suns', I take it? It is quite an oddity! None of my kind have catalogued such an occurrence before."

He stirs his tea by idly dripping nanites into his cup, which then swim around both clockwise and counterclockwise before emerging and recombining with their creator.

"I observed a single planetoid orbiting each star, but only one had any semblance of an atmosphere remaining. When I approached, I was surprised by a group of vessels. At first I assumed them to be natives of this sector, and was full of questions for them! And, given the nature of their derelict ships, I was more than happy to offer them any aid."

Quillius finishes his first cup of tea. "This is marvelous, by the way. Simply marvelous!"

One person can give me Diplomacy to improve his starting attitude, and anyone else wishing to engage in the conversation can Aid. The tea will give +2 on its own ^_^

Quillius smiles at Shandi and claps his hands together in rapid succession.

"Why, your generosity knows no force fields! I will take some 'to-go', if you do not mind. My work can be quite tiring."

He then teleports an odd white cup in front of Shandi. It appears to have a green-embossed mermaid design on the front, complete with a plastic sealing lid.

Diplomacy Aid Another: 1d20 ⇒ 14

"Oh, what an interesting life you have! Traveling, seeing such stellar visions! Please continue, please..."

"Dontcha know I wonder if this other ship ye found is the cultist we're chasing every which way," Botoma says while rubbing his chin,"Did ye come onboard their bridge and cause a scuffle too?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (19) + 18 = 37

- We're glad you're safe.

Bluff: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22 not glad at all

- Hope you like it and the your duty will be easier! *pours coffee*

Diplomacy AID: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

"Did ye come onboard their bridge and cause a scuffle too?"

Quillius gasps and dramatically places a hand upon their chest, "I would neve–... Well, not in my usually perfectly functional state. My normal order of operations is to preface a boarding with a broad range of intergalactically accepted gestures of peace. My attempts at communication went without answer, so I boarded their vessel with haste, wondering if everyone was okay. Instead, I was brutally assaulted! When I observed the symbol of the Devourer around their necks, I knew I had to retreat."

"So you know which planetoid orbiting which star these people were on? You could point it out to us?"

Quillius pauses to consider Kush's words.

"...I am not actually sure where I am now, but your course seems to be on track to where I remember being last. You will find eleven barren, rocky planets devoid of life or atmospheres, and one verdant planet covered in jungle. I did not have time to survey anything in detail, and I do not wish to return. My last memory is of... hearing... terrible, despicable words... of destruction."

He looks down at the table in silence. When he looks up, his face is a moving conglomeration of millions of nanites.

He speaks in a robotic voice, "I mustn't try to recall those words. I need to regenerate. Here, perhaps you can find use in these. Whatever you do, try not to listen to those horrible words. They have the power to unmake reality."

As he finishes his cautionary warning, several tendrils of nanites snake out for him, reaching for your weapons.

Kush offers some more tea, but keeps his axe safe.

"Well that sounds like a fine enough map eh?" he says looking to Ardee,"A nice jungle planet sounds plenty fine."

he holds out his crystal,"I suppose you cant do much harm to a crystal now ya?" he says as the nanites settle in,"Not sure what ye did just there Quilly but it seems to work just perfect still" he says as he activates his solar weapon and flourishes his blade around.

The tendril momentarily melts and coats the crystal in a moving layer of silver before the crystal shines brightly back to its natural state.

"Oh you'll simply love nanites! Think of them as millions of tiny friends always looking out for you!"

"Oh I'll try to keep that in mind now, eh? Anyways we'll be heading to this jungle planet on the quick no- WAITAMINUTE... .Millions?!" he says, holding the crystal up to his eyes to inspect it closely,"they don't reproduce do they? I'm not exactly fit for raising little rugrats eh?" he asks seriously.

- Millions of little lives cause millions of little pains... we are glad...

With these words black spike extends from the wrist on a black demonic Shandi's armor.

- Enchant it!

Quillius's tendril cautiously glances over Shandi's spike, imbuing it with the same light and silvery effect as Botamo's crystal, before all of the tendrils snake back towards their maker.

Quillius stands, their features now entirely a moving cloud of nanites. Their robotic voice echoes, "There are gravitational forces at play within the system that make it difficult to navigate and impossible to activate a Drift drive. I will program in some compensation equations to better assist your piloting efforts. By Triune's will, I wish you safe travels. And thank you."

The cloud of nanites enters through cracks and buttons in your ship's navigational systems, and the entire bridge resumes the golden glow from moments ago. After a few minutes, everything returns to normal, and you are left with the characteristic pink and purple hue of the Drift as your sole companion.

Merely a day goes by before the Sunrise Maiden unceremoniously exits the Drift with a jolt that spills your tea and an audible "POP!" as though you'd broken through some sort of sound barrier.

When everyone reaches the bridge, your viewscreen brings up a beautifully symmetric sight of twelve stars orbiting a spherical distortion in space. Your visual then zooms in on one of the planets orbiting these stars, a bright blue and green marble compared to the brown, tan and red desolation found on the other eleven.

Computers, Quillius's Aid: 1d20 + 22 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 22 + 5 = 35

It’s obvious even from a cursory scan that the system is not a natural phenomenon. The perfect circle of a dozen stars appears stationary with respect to one another.

Scans reveal that a single planet orbits each star at exactly the same distance. The planets have roughly the same diameter, mass, and rotational period. Even stranger, each planet’s orbit is synchronized with all the other planets in the system so that every so often they all face the center of the circle of stars at the same time.

The gravitational forces exerted by the twelve stars is in a delicate balance, achievable only with exacting measurements and more than a little magic. These forces make navigating through the system very difficult and using a Drift engine within the system impossible. The safest time to attempt to reach one of the planets is when its orbit reaches the point farthest from the center of the system.

Eleven of the planets are lifeless hunks of rock with no atmosphere; only one can sustain life—it is, in fact, teeming with it. A single intact structure can be detected on that planet’s surface.

The occasional burst of gravitational energy emanates from each planet as it reaches the point in its orbit where it is closest to the center of the system. The energy comes from a hole in each planet’s crust at the equator that seems to reach straight down to the planet’s core. This release of energy likely keeps the system stable. You surmise that, if focused properly, the energy can be used to open a large portal to another plane.

Deep scans of the system’s planets reveal small cosmic strings—one-dimensional “defects” in the fabric of space that produce gravitational waves—mystically contained within each planet’s core.

Kush remains speechless... Wow!
Beautiful.