[SFS_GM Skeemo] 1–03 Yesteryear's Truth (Inactive)

Game Master Christopher Wasko

ROUND 9 - ENGINEERING

The ebb and flow of the combat is not lost on Kultha, and she once again chooses repair the vessel's battered shield array;

"Vil fokus on restoration of shields Komrades...Keep us in the fight! Gods villing ve vil prove viktorius!"

DC13 Engineering (DC10+Tier x1.5): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

The vesk-tek shifts power couplings, then hisses approvingly as the shield's energy bars rise once again;

"Forvard shields at 40% Kaptain. Starboard and Aft shields sitting at 30% each. Hull integrity reduced to 47.27%."

[Restore up to 7 Shield points; Forward Shields restored to 4/10 (+4), Aft Shields 3/10 (+3)]

Kat is right, no right or wrong decision, but with just rolls and no roleplay or without the characters really getting into discussion, whether agreement or heated debate, they are just robots otherwise. Debate, shakiness, sweating would all be something these characters would be doing right now.
Hey watch it, why so close to all the enemies? We might be taking out the enemy, but we are like on a suicide mission to do so. Mega Gelub is shaking and nervous, hoping this battle lets up soon. He stops to crack his knuckles as he is gripping the guns hard.

I more feel bad that Piloting kind of dominates other player's options. Where I put the ship limits what you get to do, realistic but not necessarily fun. Still massively enjoying the combat, not nail-biting yet but hand is moving closer...

Moved through blue, one free shot... *winces*

Pilot/Evade DC 13: 20 + 9 + 1 = 30 +2 AC and TL

Soryn continues humming quietly... Though the tune has definitely shifted. "Once we're back on Station, first round of drinks are me if that drone scores a hit." Again, he begins weaving the ship like needle through the fray. He slides the ship along side the platform, "This should keep a few drones in range and the platform."

Mega Gelub fires at blue Unless we aren't pointed in that direction, in that case I fire at the Platform, something tells me those turns are done wrong. I thought you had to move at least one Hex before you can turn the ship, so I think we are there illegally. I think legally we would be one hex to the left and one hex to the north. Again, so close, back one hex would do, I had a clear shot at the Platform there.

Soryn continues humming quietly.

Kat picks up on the old tune over the sparks and shakes of the ship as lasers impact it. Being a little more edgy, she begins rythmically drumming with her feet and humming at a faster pace than Soryn.

"it's going down, I'm not letting off!
She yells without loosing time with her feet.

Turret vs Orbital Platform: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Damage: 4d4 ⇒ (3, 1, 2, 3) = 9

Edit to movement - Mega was right, shifted two facing instead of one. Corrected on map, no change in end placement. Firing arc was me misremembering, thought the first hex was split not the second.
Nice remake Kat!

Soryn hears Kat's shift in tempo, and matches his tune and flight rythme. "Catchy!"

"If we can bring down some drones we may last long enough to bring down the launch platform. Go for it, Big-Guy-Mega!"

Encourage - Diplomacy 15: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Update coming tomorrow!

Nice remake Kat!

Soryn hears Kat's shift in tempo, and matches his tune and flight rythme. "Catchy!"

Some might call it blasphemous but it's pretty well done. You made my day yesterday with the original.

"I use music to calm myself during moments of existential terror. I gotta tell you a secret, I've never actually done this before! I hope to live to do it again."

With a final concentrated attack, your mining laser and coilgun bisect the platform, the two halves slowly drifting away from each other. All the ship's lights wink out at once, as do those of the drones, which immediately cease functioning.

Combat over! You win!

You now have the opportunity to scan the planet, since you're no longer harassed by automated defenses. Scans reveal that the planet has a breathable atmosphere, standard gravity, and higher than normal (though still harmless) levels of radiation. At a glance, most of the planet looks to be a sandy wasteland. While most of Elytrio shows little sign of life, your ship’s computer picks up a large energy output from what appears to be a fully functional city in the southern hemisphere. These readings indicate the city has a level of technology that is comparable to that of the Pact Worlds (albeit slightly outdated), and that the city contains life forms of some kind. It seems like the best place to fulfill your mission.

However, as you enter Elytrio’s atmosphere, the computer warns that the city and a half-mile radius around it is encased in a powerful force field. Your starship can’t land in or next to the city, but there is a safe landing zone fairly close to the edge of the force field. You can set down your vessel there with no problem.

Feel free to play out this aftermath however much your choose, then give me a Perception check to look around after you disembark.

As the shots intersect the platform, Kat lets out a cheer of exhilaration. She mentally sets her voice to maximum Auto-Tune. "OoOoOoOoOoHhHh YeEeEeEeEeEeAaAaAaAaHhHhHhHh" and goes to give Mega Gelub an energetic high five. "Great shooting, we did it!.

When the post victory celebration dies down, Kat will return to the science station and wipe debris off the inputs. She begins scanning the remains of the platform, and the planet, sharing what she finds.

I was hoping that's how it would play out, the drone's being controlled by the main unit. I was getting nervous that we'd still have the second half of the fight coming though. Wish I had been a little less busy to engage more in the dialogue earlier on.

It's a classic song. Glad to bring back up for you.

Soryn settles the ship next to the platform, eyeing the alien tech wistfully. "In another life my luscious lump of salvage." Seeing that the team is able to pull some useful (and cred earning) information from the platform his grin returns.

"That's ok Kat, it was my first time as a combat pilot!" He lets out a hearty laugh,"Of course back at station they'll hardly believe us when we tell them about the three platforms and ten drones!"

"Good job Captain Izzip you saw us through, Mega and Kat fine gunnery. Kultha they'd be hauling us for scrap if it wasn't for you." Soryn raises his fist in a brief salute before swing the ship towards the planet. "Let finishing up any repairs, in case the natives are as friendly as the platform. I'll bring in this boat once Kultha gives all fixed."

No roll to land then?

As the team preps to disembark...
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

At her station Kultha nods, flashing a toothy smile as the team celebrate and accolades are given;

"Vell done Komrades! I vil get to vork on restoring Shields and to fixing malfunktioning Sensors..."

DC19 Engineering (15+2xTier) - 1 minute's work - Double shield regeneration rate: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

DC15 Engineering (+10 minutes of work) - repair Glitching system (Sensors): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

After some 10 minutes of work the big mechanic's voice rumbles over the comms;

"Ach I could niet accelerate the shield restoration Kaptain. Good news is Sensors now vorking perfect and shields vil be at optimum in good time."

By my reckoning the 10 mins to fix Sensors. 20 minutes for Shields to fully regenerate.

Kultha frowns, patting a bulkhead sympathetically;

"To fix hull vil need us to be landed. Need time to access and access damage."

Mega investigates the wreckage and looks around
engineering: 4 + 1d20 ⇒ 4 + (16) = 20
perception: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Whoops! Forgot the DC. Engineering DC is 16, so Mega got what's in the spoiler. No check to land.

You land a few hundred feet from the nearest edge of the forcefield. As you disembark, you see the surrounding sand is dotted with humanoid-ish figures made from crosses of petrified wood and strips of corroded, scaly skin. Upon closer inspection, each object emits a foul odor like a cross between methane and ammonia. Mega and Kat get absorbed in examining these primitive effigies, but Izzip, Kultha, and Soryn all notice something emerging from behind a nearby sand bluff: an alien creature that looks like a muscular lion with a beige-colored manes and dark brown scales lining the lower half of its body. It has a stubby face, a big, fanged mouth, and a segmented tail that whips around as it lays eyes on you. Without even a second's pause, the beast lunges in your direction!

Surprise Round (single action only, bold may post)
Izzip
Soryn
Sand Brute
Kultha
Round 1
Kat
Mega
Izzip
Soryn
Sand Brute
Kultha

Sorry for the delay, this weekend was way busier than I was expecting and it sort of got away from me.

Izzip jumps up and down as the drone platform explodes. "Capital performance, fellow Starfinders, Sarenrae did not lead us astray! Now let's go meet the locals!"

----------

Izzip's antennae perk up as the lion-like creature approaches. "Heads up, team - it looks like at least one of the locals has decided to greet us in person!" the shirren shouts out, drawing their azimuth pistol.

Life Sciences to Identify (if rare creature, reduce DC by 5): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Damage (fire): 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

As the best crests the dunes Soryn's eyes widen momentarily. "That's not the welcoming party I was hoping for. Anyone have an inordinately large ball of yarn to distract it?" Soryn bounds across the rocky landscape, his frame built for speed over brawn. His Arc Pistol appears in his hand as he moves.

"We should spread out, so it can't lock all of us down in hand-to-paw."

Move action (on map), free action draw during move action

Izzip dubs the creature a "sand brute," for fairly obvious reasons. They deduce that this is a species of reptile that has been severely mutated by ambient radiation over thousands of years. Choose one detail to learn: HP, EAC, KAC, Saves, Defensive Abilities, Offensive Abilities, Attacks w/Damage, or Skills.

Izzip learns about one of its abilities the old-fashioned way: the beast's brownish hide reflects some the shirren's laser shot, bouncing off its skin and darkening a patch of sand 15 feet away. Meanwhile, the beast tears across the dunes toward your party!

Surprise Round (single action only, bold may post)
Kultha
Round 1
Kat
Mega
Izzip
Soryn
Sand Brute (-1 HP)
Kultha

Mega fires his Artillery Azimuth Laser Rifle at the creature hit: 4 + 1d20 ⇒ 4 + (16) = 20 vs EAC dmg: 1d10 ⇒ 6 fire.

Soryn continues to bob and weave, trying to disorient the creature as he lines up his shot.

Trick Attack/Acrobatics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
Attack/EAC: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Weapon Damage/E: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Trick Damage/E: 1d4 ⇒ 3

SURPRISE ROUND

As the strange beast lopes toward the group, Kultha reluctantly pulls herself from the beginning maintenance on the Pegasus' scarred hull.

"Ach. I do neit haf time for this. The ship needs fixing."

She hefts her Plasma Bolter and follows Soryn's stratagem, spreading out to give the creature multiple targets... (Move Action: 30ft)

Sorry for delay,big interview today. Because we jumped right into combay, Kat would usually have her rifle out in a strange place like this, having a Merc/security background. I'm going to act accordingly, but GM if you would like her to use her move action to draw her weapon, please subtract the +1 from Combat tracking

Kat stands her ground. The lines across her face shimmer and pulse into her eye as her exocortex scans and tracks the beast as it beats feet across the sand towards the group. Move Action - Combat Tracking, +1 to BAB vs targeted creature.

She levels her laser rifle at the creature and fires.

Laser Rifle VS Sand Brute EAC: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7
damage, F: 1d8 ⇒ 6

She lowers the rifle and bangs the optics with her open palm in frustration.

Izzip would like to know about it’s offensive abilities.

Izzip suspects this is an apex predator, and likely stakes out its territory in ways similar to the renkrodas of Castrovel: through sonic displays of dominance! As a move action, a sand brute can emit a ferocious roar. Each creature within 60 feet of the sand brute must succeed at a DC 12 Will saving throw or be shaken for 1d4 rounds. A creature who succeeds at its saving throw is immune to the same sand brute’s imposing roar for 24 hours. This is a mind-affecting, sense-dependent, fear effect.

Going to delay Izzip after the sand brute for this round just to keep things moving. Izzip can post two turns in their next post.

The beast closes the distance further, deflecting some of Mega's laser blast but seeming to take the brunt of Soryn's trick shot. It throws back its head and lets out a guttural bellow, then whips its head around seeking a target. The shock of the roar throws off Kat's attack, her laser shooting off into the horizon.

Izzip Will DC 12: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Kat Will DC 12: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Kultha Will DC 12: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Mega Will DC 12: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Soryn Will DC 12: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Duration: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Round 1 (bold may post)
Izzip (delayed)
Kultha (shaken 1/4 rounds)
Round 2
Kat (shaken 1/4 rounds)
Mega
Izzip
Soryn (shaken 1/4 rounds)
Sand Brute (-9 HP)
Kultha (shaken 2/4 rounds)

ROUND 1: Shaken: –2 penalty to attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks for 1d4 ⇒ 1 rounds.

As the beast emits a fearsome bellow, Kultha feels a tightening in her gut;

Po Shkalam Zavoyevatelya! (Vesk: Conqueror's Scales!) Zhis brute is truly fell!

Nonetheless she attempts to swallow her fear, readying her Plasma Bolter (Move Action), then taking aim and firing;

Ranged Attack (Plasma Bolter): 1d20 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 1 - 2 = 1 Wow. Just. Wow.

Kat reels at the sonic assault on her ears. She raises her rifle after having "readjusted" the sights and fires again.

Laser Rifle VS EAC: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 5 - 2 = 12
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

These dice aren't with us

I'm guessing this creature has reach, so moving and attack means AOO from Brute.

Soryn watches as the Brute bounds across the stony landscape towards him, its sudden roar shaking him to the core. As the laser weapons reflect off the beast's scales he shouts, "Do we have any other not-so-beamy weapons?"

He quickly tumbles and rolls away from the Brute, draw his sword cane into his left hand as he moves. His motions are less about defense, and seem focused on disorienting the Brute.

-2 from Shaken
Trick Attack/Acro/DC 20+CR: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 12 - 2 = 14
Pistol Attack/EAC: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 5 - 2 = 19
Pistol Damage/E: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Trick Damage/E: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Trick Attack, free to draw weapon during movement... Let the mauling begin...

It must have some resistance to fire as it deflected part of my blast
Mega fires at it again hit: 4 + 1d20 ⇒ 4 + (18) = 22 vs EAC
dmg: 1d10 ⇒ 7 fire
Then puts away his gun while moving forward to it in melee.

Izzip calls out what he knows about the sand brute, but his advice is quickly drowned out by the beast's terrifying roar. Seeing Mega stepping forward to engage the beast, the shirren decides that the best way they can help is to keep the half-orc alive while he confronts the brute. "I'm right behind you, Big-Guy-Mega; Sarenrae guide your blows!" Izzip tells the soldier telepathically while aiming for the beast's eyes.

Move near Mega Gelub, use Azimuth laser pistol to provide covering fire for both turns.

Attack DC 15: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Attack DC 15: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 Sorry, not much use here I'm afraid.

Round 2 (bold may post)
Kultha (shaken 2/4 rounds)
Round 3
Kat (shaken 2/4 rounds)
Mega (-8 SP, -1 HP)
Izzip
Soryn (shaken 2/4 rounds)
Sand Brute (-20 HP)
Kultha (shaken 3/4 rounds)

ROUND 2: Shaken: –2 penalty to attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks.

As the brute chews on Mega, Kultha bites down with a frustrated hiss - concentrating and allowing her internal AI to engage.

A targeting HUD appears in her internal vision offsetting some of the unsettled fear still chilling her to the scales...

(Move Action - Combat Tracking: +1 vs Sand Brute)

Eying the creature she once again fires off a shot with her trusty Plasma Bolter;

Ranged Attack (Plasma Bolter): 1d20 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 1 + 1 - 2 = 8 (Well... its a improvement... ahem)

Soryn dashes across the rocky ground, his lithe frame makes him quicker than one would expect. "Hold on Mega!"

His sword flashing as rolls behind the Brute trying to slice its underside.

Trick Attack/Acro/DC 20+CR: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 12 - 2 = 16 -2 Shaken
Sword Attack/KAC: 1d20 + 5 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 5 - 2 + 2 = 14 -2 Shaken, +2 Flank
Sword Damage/S: 1d4 ⇒ 2
Trick Damage/S: 1d4 ⇒ 3

I believe we may have offended Dice-bot...

Kat tries her laser rifle one more time.

Laser Rifle VS EAC: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 5 - 2 = 13
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6
I assume that's a miss. Soryn I think you are correct.

"Hang in there, Big-Guy-Mega, we can take 'm!" Izzip chirps excitedly. The half-orc has not taken enough bodily harm for the shirren's healing magic to work, so Izzip continues to harry the sand brute with their pistol. Provide harrying fire.

Attack DC 15: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 Jeez, we are sucking wind in this fight...

oouch as Mega pulls out assault hammer to swing at it hit: 4 + 1d20 ⇒ 4 + (15) = 19 vs KAC dmg: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Round 3 (bold may post)
Kultha (shaken 3/4 rounds)
Round 4
Kat (shaken 3/4 rounds)
Mega (-8 SP, -13 HP, unconscious, dying)
Izzip
Soryn (shaken 4/4 rounds)
Sand Brute (-24 HP)
Kultha (shaken 4/4 rounds)

Soryn now has position regrets...

Soryn grimaces as the half-orc falls. "Izzip, can you help Mega?"

Continuing to shift and weave, Soryn tries desperately to find an opening in the Brute's defenses.

-2 Shaken
Trick Attack/Acro/DC 20+CR: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 12 - 2 = 26
Sword Attack/KAC: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 5 - 2 = 21
Sword Damage/S: 1d4 ⇒ 2
Trick Damage/S: 1d4 ⇒ 4

"Mega! Kat calls out to her fallen comrade. She looks down at her rifle. "Come on you piece of slag" Kat yells at her rifle in between "re-adjustments". She raises the rifle again, takes steady aim, and fires.

Laser Rifle vs EAC: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 5 - 2 = 23
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5
Crit Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1
Critical, Burn: 1d6 ⇒ 3

ROUND 3: Shaken: –2 penalty to attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks.

Kultha hisses in frustration as she eyes the power bar on the barrel of her bolter;

"60% remaining. More than enough to take this brute down."

Continuing to allow her AI to feed telemetry of the creature, she once again tries to calm herself and fires;

Plasma Bolter (vs EAC): 1d20 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 1 - 2 = 6

But once again her shot flies wayward!

"I'm on it, Lover-Soryn!" Izzip cries, conjuring Sarenrae's mystic guidance before crouching over the half-orc's wounds. Spend 1 Resolve Point to use Healing Channel on Mega Gelub.

Healing: 2d8 ⇒ (2, 7) = 9 Mega Gelub heals 9 hp.

Izzip is third level, so he heals an extra 2d8.

Healing: 2d8 ⇒ (6, 2) = 8

@Mega: You get all HP back and may now take your action. Izzip acted quickly enough so you don’t lose any Resolve. Remember, you don’t provoke attacks of opportunity by standing from prone in Starfinder.

Mega Gelub stands up and swings again hit: 4 + 1d20 ⇒ 4 + (12) = 16 vs KAC dmg: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

I forgot to tell you and a little late this round since I was healed and cause I probably should have prewarned you as this is PBP, since you don't deal with half-orcs often, next time I loose all my HP but ain't outright dead I will use this. I have orc-ferocity. Once per day, a half-orc brought to 0 Hit Points but not killed can fight on for 1 more round. The half-orc drops to 0 HP and is dying (following the normal rules for death and dying) but can continue to act normally until the end of his next turn, when he becomes unconscious as normal. If he takes additional damage before this, he ceases to be able to act and falls unconscious.

Sorry for the delay, crazy day today. And thanks for the heads up, Mega, good to know.

Izzip rushes forward and keeps the half-orc upright, allowing Mega to swing and make a powerful hammer strike on the beast. He then gets burned as some of Kat's laser shot ricochets off the monster's chest, but it catches fire and begins flailing about in pain. In the brute's pained fervor, Soryn slides in a deadly stroke with his sword, laying the beast out to bleed to death.

Combat over!

Kultha
Kat
Mega (-8 SP, -3 HP)
Izzip
Soryn

As you catch your breath from the melee, you look around for other threats. There are no more beasts on the horizon, but at the crest of a nearby dune stands a small group of three beetle-like humanoids. They wear heavy desert gear and are visibly armed with arquebus-style weapons, but they are not pointing them in your direction.

As the creature falls, Kultha rumbles in frustration at her own toothless display - checking over the balance of her Bolter and examining it for any defects or mechanical issues.

"Ach. Should haf stuck with Flame Pistol... Damn cheap Bolter..."

When collective eyes are drawn to the distant watchers, she shoulders the weapon and nods toward them;

"Now vhat Komrades? Are they friend or foe?"