SFS 1-36: Enter the Ashen Asteroid by AFIT (Inactive)

Game Master AFlashInTime

Sweet, I get an aoo against the Trox on my Right, then my regular attack, I think I'll attack twice on my regular attac.
hit: 5 + 1d20 ⇒ 5 + (9) = 14 vs KAC dmg: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 survival knife
hit: 5 + 1d20 - 4 ⇒ 5 + (5) - 4 = 6 vs KAC dmg: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 survival knife.
hit: 5 + 1d20 - 4 ⇒ 5 + (15) - 4 = 16 vs KAC dmg: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 survival knife.

Edit: I just now saw the reflex saves
reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Being a large creature with 10 foot reach, the third trox takes a swing at Hole Puncher as he fires in melee range.

Assault hammer attack vs KAC: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Blug. damage if hit: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Then, after taking damage from the first explosion, a hit by Vecro, a blast from Hole Puncher, and two hits from Z Data Z, the third cybernetic zombie trox goes boom!

This time I need a reflex save from everybody, including Gogglez and Hole Puncher, still DC 11. I still need the results of the first two reflex saves from Savoy.

Electric damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Much like the first trox, as soon as the third trox falls another trox pops up in the same place. It provokes AoOs from Vecro and Z Data Z before swinging its hammer at Vecro!

Assault hammer attack vs KAC: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
Blug. damage if hit: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Heroes are up!

Can you confirm if going prone behind the barricade is enough to upgrade it from partial cover to full cover? "The barricade grants partial cover against attacks with line of effect that pass through it. If the barricade is in a square that already granted partial cover, it instead grants normal cover". The idea here being that, if prone and not looking around the wall, it should cover more of his small body.

reflex save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16 +1 if partial, +2 if normal cover, +4 if improved cover Doesn't look like it really matters though since you don't gain evasion like in pathfinder.

reflex save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Hole Puncher takes some electrical damage (first damage its ever taken), but continues to unleash a barrage of laser beams!

laser pistol: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10 damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2
laser pistol: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18 damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

The fourth trox cybernetic zombie takes a swing at Hole Puncher as the drone blasts away!

Assault hammer vs KAC: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Bludg. damage if hit: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Also, be aware that Hole Puncher took another 8 damage from the AoO that trox 3 made when it was firing within the trox's 10-foot reach. Between the electricity (4), the first AoO last round (8), and the AoO this round (11), it looks like the 20 hp drone has taken 23 hp of damage.

Regarding cover, we're discussing a barricade created from the feat "Barricade" in the core rolebook on pg. 155, right? Based on it saying that (like you said) "the barricade is temporary and not particularly durable" and "If the barricade is in a square that already granted partial cover, it instead grants normal cover," I don't think the barricade would be sturdy enough to grant full cover. Gogglez is essentially ducking behind a pile of asteroid rocks he stacked together in three seconds. Being small, I think prone improving the cover to "normal" (for +2) is fine, but expect table variation.

I didn't think about AoOs for firing a ranged weapon, nor did I realize he had taken damage earlier from one as I completely missed that part of your post. Can he just have taken his guarded step 5ft back and been out of reach for both? Other than not provoking, which I definitely didn't do intentionally, I don't think it changes anything he has done, right? That's fine about the cover though, thanks! I just wasn't sure what bonuses I could apply or if going prone would make me more or less likely to be hit by a melee attack.

We're in a little bit of a pickle on Hole Puncher. Last round you needed all of the damage dealt to that zombie trox to take it out, and the shot that hit was the 2nd one. So I'm going to say it went ahead and shot twice last round, getting hit for the first 8 hp. Retconning that would change too much. Forgetting the big thing can whack you farther out happens.

For this round since nobody else has really acted, you can reconsider Gogglez's and HPv1's actions. It isn't in a position where it can simply guarded step five feet back to be out of the zombie's 10 foot reach, since "10 foot reach" doesn't count the second diagonal as more than five feet (see core rulebook pg. 255, last paragraph under the "Reach and Threatened Squares" section). HPv1 could use two move actions to "double guarded step" (which is a thing in Starfinder!) to get out of the trox's threatened range, but anywhere within 5 feet (other than off the edge of the bridge) is still threatened.

Edit: Wait, HPv1 can fly. So it could guarded step off of the bridge this round and taking one shot would be fine. Let me know how you want to use the actions for this round again so there's not (too much) confusion.

I'll say I'm reckless enough to have done that wrong and have my drone smashed to bits, whoops!

Hole Puncher v2 gets smashed to bits, but Gogglez is already contemplating a new and improved version!

If you're sure. Technically the drone isn't destroyed, it's just inactive at 0 hp until it is restored to 1 hp or more (see pg. 74 of the CRB). You can rebuild it. You have the technology.

Because the AoO resolves before HP's shots get fired (see pg. 249 of the CRB), its last two shots end up not having occurred.

Reflex DC 11: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Not seeing the Trox explode, Bones is hit square in the back, and full blast, by this explosion.
"By Pharasma's knuckle bones!"
8 damage

Swivelling, he sees the latest Trox appear, and Hole Puncher on the floor, blinking.
Bones calls out: "Is anyone bleeding?!", as he looks at his comrades, trying to see if anyone is badly hurt, especially looking at Vecro, and then Gogglez.
If anyone has HP damage, please speak up.
Bones will use Lifelink and heal 3 HP, damaging himself.

Boron moves along the bridge, waving at the Trox: "Hey, ugly!", provoking from the beast--
(the Undead should use its Reaction vs. Bones, so that would free other people up from AoOs)
--and coming up beside the big zombie, he lashes out at it.
vs. EAC: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
So, Magic, Cold Iron: 1d4 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 3 = 12

Reflex save 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 vs 5 damage DC 11
Reflex save 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 vs 4 damage DC 11
Reflex save 3: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21 vs 8 damage DC 11

So a total of 13 damage

Sorry, I was on my phone for the weekend and I couldn't post a lot or figure out who was supposed to make the first few reflex saves

"Get "it!"

Seeing Vecro taking a hit or two Savoy tries to encourage him to stay in the fight
"It's but a flesh wound"

Vecro recovers 10 Stamina from my use of inspiring boost and get'em is active against the zombie

Vecro dodges one blow from the trox then he blocks additional one using his pike. He begins to feel fear, the blows are too strong and to close. He should have kept the distance and rely on his reach and speed.

When he lost the concentration the hammer connects with the kasatha torso. Solarian loses breath and sight for an instant. He wonders how did it happen?

Few moments back

Reflex save, against the 3rd bozos electrocution. DC=11: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

That was close, 4 Damage => SP 0/7 HP 8/11

Vecro saw the trox explosion and was able to dodge the most of it, but the electric charge hit his muscles making him slower and less accurate.

Then the rescue comes, inspiring words from his fellow envoy. Vecro feels the strength is returning.

SP 7/7 HP 8/11

As he notices another enemy he tries to pin him to the ground.

Attack vs KAC, AoO: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Damage piercing, photon attunement: 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 1 = 12

His attack is sluggish and enemy dodges it easily.

Seeing him the enemy attacks with speed and ferocity hitting Vecro in the torso.

-10 damage. SP 0/7 HP 5/11

Kasatha shakes the hit off, then he notices some sort of magic mending his bruise allowing him to stay in the fight.

I will use the lifelink, thank you. SP 0/7 HP 8/11

Seeing how little place there is, I can't supernova, so Vecro turns unattuned.

Vecro sees how dangerous this fight is so he steps away cautiously.

If the edge of the bridge close to the door is there, Vecro do double guarded steps and goes outside of the enemy's range. I positioned my avatar on that location. If that square cannot be stand upon Vecro does one guarded step just to the north of Z data Z and takes a stab at the enemy.

Thanks Savoy and Bones. I would end this action at -8 HP and the next electric explosion would kill Vecro.

Bones syphons his lifeblood off towards Vecro, healing the Solarian, and wounding himself.
-3 HP to Bones

Data will swing at it 3 times, 1 for aoo, and 2 for full round attack
hit: 5 + 1d20 ⇒ 5 + (4) = 9 aoo vs KAc dmg: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
hit: 5 - 4 + 1d20 ⇒ 5 - 4 + (17) = 18 vs KAC dmg: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
hit: 5 - 4 + 1d20 ⇒ 5 - 4 + (14) = 15 vs KAc dmg: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Oh right, Reflex saves reflex: 2 + 1d20 ⇒ 2 + (4) = 6 so I took 2, then another 2 from the second save, then 8, -12 to SP
preemptive reflex for when he dies: 2 + 1d20 ⇒ 2 + (14) = 16

The trox falls and explodes after Bones', Vecro's, and Z Data Z's attacks!

Last round of reflex saves from everybody.
Electric damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

After a few moments of silence following the explosion, no more trox burst from the ground to attack you. It seems the danger has passed, for now.

The sealed door still stands before you. Now that you have a few minutes, you're able to read the runes on the door's surface, written in the dwarven language.

Text on the door

You have a chance to make a Life Science of Physical Science check during the investigation. DC15

Life Science or Physical Science

You also notice the unholy symbol of Droskar appears to be projected from a holographic projector built into the door. The holographic projector would be worth some credits to somebody back on Absalom Station and could easily be altered to not display the Droskari symbol. Engineering check to remove it from the door.

We're now out of initiative. The door before you still looks sealed with the molten crater below. Feel free to heal or rest up and let me know what you'd like to do next!

Also, a few notes on the combat, in no particular order.

One note for Bones

Two things for Vecro

Reflex save, DC=11: 3 + 1d20 ⇒ 3 + (3) = 6

Even that Vecro moved away knowing very well what will happen he wasn't able to escape the electric charge. It jumped from the fallen enemy onto kasatha. His muscles spasm, he let go of his pike and falls on the ground unconscious.

Taking 8 damage, which brings me to 0 HP.

Even that Kasatha lies on the ground, the telepresence robot is hoovering and observing the doors.

Physical science: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Unfortunately, the connection dropped during the transmission of the video and Raven can't assist in any way.

When being unconscious Vecro has an illusion of Eloritu laughing at believers thinking that good armor can help when the gods will not.

Bones first heals Vecro, before he needs to be stabilized.
Bones takes damage, as his lifeblood flows out to Vecro.
"No Black Hole for you, Solarian, not the time to slip to Pharasma's Boneyard.
We need you here to fight the Vile Undead for the Lady of the Graves!"
Lifelink, taking 3 HP damage to heal Vecro 3 HP

Reflex DC 11: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Once again battered by the electric blast--
8 damage
--Boron is shaking a bit, and bleeding.

Boron translates the writing in Dwarven, but does not speak the words, typing them instead via Comm Link:
An ounce of blood, a pound of sweat; this is what the Dark Smith gets.
Pound the anvil, blisters set; this is what the Dark Smith gets.
Toil on without regrets; this is what the Dark Smith gets,
Hammer til you can no more, then Droskar shall unbar the door.

"I will not speak such vile words, nor let any ritual be done with that Deity..."

Life Science: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
"Look... maybe Trox, or other tunnelers."
Boron points to piles of rubble.

"Who can remove that image...", he asks, pointing to the symbol and the projector."[/b]

Bones picks up the pike, and steps over to Vecro, handing the weapon to the Kasatha.

"Let us heal up here... all right?"

Who needs HP healing?
Bones plans to take 10 minutes to heal SP by spending 1 RP ; and also use his daily Healing Touch to heal 15 HP (takes 10 minutes too), thus getting to max HP
Bones can heal via spells if there are no Healing Serums given by the scenario and you wish to keep your own serums

Reflex save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15 8 damage DC 11
4 damage added to the 13 I already had. Savoy will spend 10 minutes and 1 Resolve to regain all his stamina and I'll be full

"Let's take a breather people. You've earned it"

I can also heal people a bit, since Bones is taking the extra 10 minutes to use healing touch I could heal someone for 5 hp's at the same time...assuming nothing happens to us during those 20 minutes

Life science: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
"hrm..interesting. Small piles of rubble have accumulated near the door, and I determine that most of the rubble appears to be spoil from a large tunneling creature or creatures (based on our recent combat, probably trox) that has previously burrowed to the east and west through now-collapsed tunnels."

"Does anyone with more expertise wish to try to pry that projector loose? I can lend a hand."
engineering (aid): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Gogglez looks over at the sparking junk heap that used to be Hole Puncher, "About that breather...Hole Puncher has a few too many holes punched in him and some of you guys don't look to good yo. We've got three days right? Lets head back for now and report on what we've found, rest, and come back. It'll give me time to completley rebuild Hole Puncher over there." he says before turning to one of the stronger party members, "Uhh...you mind carrying that hunk of metal for me yo?"

He then sees what Savoy is trying to do, "Oh here, you just do this and use this here blowtorch I've got yo!" he says as he pulls out all kinds of potentially dangerous tools to get the job done.

engineering: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

Voting for taking a 24 hour break back on the dwarf ship, reporting what we found, and coming back.

physical science: 10 + 1d20 ⇒ 10 + (4) = 14 We should go in one of those computer rooms and take a 10 minute rest. Why do we need 24 hours, did you expend spell slot or get really hurt?

"Well like I said, Hole Puncher got scraped and I think Vecro almost died, yo!" Gogglez replies to z data z.

Judging from everyone's comments, it looks like you're taking at least a 10 minute rest. From a time perspective, you're about an hour, maybe two, into your exploration. Rebuilding a drone takes "24 hours of uninterrupted work including a single 8-hour rest" (paraphrased from the CRB, pg. 74). If you want to go back and rest/rebuild the drone, you can come back to this area at 28 hours (out of 72) of exploration time used (including travel time back to/from the ship).

Bones rests and heals himself, probably in one of the safer computer rooms, as Data advises.
Using 1 RP & my daily Healing Touch

• Savoy could use his Healing Touch on Vecro to get him to 8/11 HP (and Vecro will spend 1 RP to get to full SP I imagine?)
If we get into a new combat, I can heal the last 3 HP on the first round w. Lifelink
• Gogglez can just spend 1 RP and "heal" 10% of Hole Puncher, getting him up to 2 HP (the drone was just reduced to 0 Hit Points, and made inactive, so, when restored to 1 Hit Point or more it is active again).
There is no rebuilding needed at all, that is if the drone is destroyed (if it takes damage from a single attack equal to or greater than its max' HP while a 0 HP).

Yeah, I know I can repair him to 2 hp, but that is a lot less than 20.

Seeing that the party only wants to take a short break, Gogglez tries to piece together what he can of Hole Puncher. After ten minutes, Hole Puncher is able to fly around again, but barely. Sparks shoot out constantly and the flight is pretty wobbly, but that's all he has time for.

Spending 1 RP on my stamina as well as bringing Hole Puncher to 2hp.

Vecro accepts the pike and nods his head to Bones.

"Thanks for the help Bones and Savoy! I am at your debt. The death was reaching for me as I was over my head in this fight. I will contemplate on that."

He follows Bones to one of the computer rooms. Solarian sits in the corner of the room and recalls breathing exercises to regain strengths that he was taught over and over by his trainer. It soothes him.

From Vecro perspective a day off gives him nothing. You regain 1 HP resting, I can regain all with a spell or a healing serum. I would go with Bones suggestion.

Everyone is rested and little the worse for wear (well, except Hole Puncher). Now that you've rested, what's up next?

"Back to the door to the North!"

When Solarian is a bit rested he says to Bones:

"When I was contemplating on the incantation that you read, it sounds to me like you need to turn the device on and then the doors will open. It all speaks of the duergar ritual. If that is true, I wonder if we should not go an look for the missing piece of the device."

After he's finished mediating above Vecro Savoy stands up and follows after the others

Just to confirm that I'll restore 5 hps to Vecro with healing touch

"Think we need to go walk on the lava after all?" Savoy comments at Vecro's words about looking for a missing piece

"Yes! Look for the missing piece so I can turn it on yo!" Gogglez says in response to Vecro's statement.

Following to the north door unless thats not somewhere we can go.

Data spent 1 RP to get his stamina back as well. and Just follow the party.

You head back to the large door to the north, but after nearly half an hour of searching there does not seem to be a way to open the door from here.

Everybody had time to take 20 on Perception.

With no way to attempt to restart the Stone, you decide to decend almost 400 feet into the crater below.

I need Acrobatics checks from everybody if you're scaling the wall down. The exceptionally weak gravity makes this a relatively easy climb.

After descending nearly 400 feet, you see a twisting series of bridges comprised of glassy strands of hardened magma arches above the asteroid's outer core of congealed magma, which bubbles 30 feet below. Wedged between the two bridges, partially fused into place by the heat, is what must be the missing eastern crucible. Broken chains stretching all the way back up to the Stone dangle about 20 feet above the crucible. Large amounts of heat distortion, smoke, and steam make it difficult to see clearly here.

Check the slides for a new map. The brown on the map represents the bridges, with the lava representing the magma 30 feet below the brown and the large circle shape representing the crucible's location (Sorry the grid lines are hard to see on the brown. Increasing the zoom to 200% helps a little bit.). The smoke, steam, and heat cause creatures in this area to have concealement (20% miss chance), with creatures more than 60 feet away having total concealment.

In addition to the crucible and the network of bridges, you find two insectoid creatures visible from your current position, probably some kind of space vermin, moving around on the bridges. One of the creatures are about the same size as Gogglez, but a larger one is about the same size as the trox zombies you fought earlier. They appear to be preoccupied with the asteroid rocks and don't seem to have noticed you or haven't minded.

Two Life Science checks for the creatures (additional questions for every 5 by which you exceed the DC below)
DC 5

How would you like to proceed?

Data has a -1 to acrobatics, so he will just cast spider climb and do it that way. It last 10 minutes, so if he don't use it all, he might be able to climb back up

Boron pulls out his coil of titanium cable, 50 feet long, to help him and others climb down.
"If someone else has some cable, we can do it bit by bit."
Acrobatics: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (20) - 3 = 17
Despite his armor, he does the best he can.

Down at the bottom, in the heart of furnace, at the core of the volcano, Bones looks around and sees the insectoids.
Life Science: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
"Those are a big asteroid louse and its smaller lice, they are immune to damage...
Maybe we can move carefully over to the thing we're here to check out?
I can remain between them and us."

Your life science check also lets you deduce (or remember) that asteroid louses/lice typically feed on mineral deposits intersperced with infrequent helpings of organic matter and refined metals - refined metals much like the large door at the northern end of the crater 400 feet above you.

"Those things eat metal. If we can get them up in front of the door... luring them with R2Es or such, they might eat through it. Would be a way of getting through without using the ritual, that I will not be part of. Probably easier to get these critters up than lug that enormous contraption."

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Not even close! :D

Vecro climbs down using Bones cable. After he is down, he takes a look around and reaches out to his completely useless telepresence device:

"Raven, we have here asteroid louse and lice, can you tell me something about them! We know that they are immune to fire damage."

Life Science: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

"Never mind Raven, yeah we know about fire damage immunity."

Bones you wrote: "they are immune to damage" It puzzled me so I had a look at the spoilers and it says fire damage.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Following the others down the cable Savoy joins them for a game of the floor is lava.

Life science: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

"..I'll take your word for it, I have no clue what those are."

Gogglez checks the library chip he has on living creatures.
life science, DC 5: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
life science, DC 9: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

1st question about either: Are they agressive or hostile to living creatures since they eat metal? 2nd question about either: Are they somewhat intelligent? Capabable of any form of communication?

I assume Gogglez has a +4 to Acrobatics anyway but please to confirm.

Gogglez recalls that the asteroid louse/lice are aggressively territorial and do, on occasion, eat organic matter in addition to their regular mineral and metal based diet.

Regarding their intelligence, they actually have the "mindless" trait (they lack an intelligence score) and are incapable of communication involving language. A survival check or maybe an intimidate check might work to convey simple messages, but you're not going to be talking about anything.

You also know at least the lice possesses a corrosive, acidic spray that they use to defend themselves or attack prey from range. Finally, you know that at least the lice's acidic nature (now partially also adapted to heat/fire resistance) makes it easier for them to break and consume objects. They ignore a degree of hardness from objects they attack.

"So... non lethal their lousy - louse-y - butts, and hoist them up with cable?"

Nonlethal, I ain't built for that? Data steps back.

"We need to bring back either the crucible or the monsters. We can probably do either of those. I am indifferent, if we enable the device by science we bypass the Duergar ritual completely."

When Solarian says that he is constantly looking at the enemies.

Ah, what the heck, the odds of my magic missiles killing them outright is about 11% Data magic missiles the nearest nonbig one dmg: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 3, 3) + 3 = 10

I've actually only got a +3, I just forgot to roll it.
athletics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Gogglez shares the info he knows, "These guys are jerks, yo. They'll eat you just for getting too close even though they normally only eat metal. They are dumb as a rock too, yo. No chance of taking to them, but maybe we can scare them off with a grenade or something flashy."

Data’s magical barrage strikes the smaller of the two creatures. Both begin hissing aggressively through the heat and move to attack!

Data Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Bones Initiative: 1d20 ⇒ 7
Vecro Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
Gogglez Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Savoy Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
Asteroid Lice Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Asteroid Louse Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Bolded characters can act.

Savoy
Vecro
Data
Asteroid lice
Asteroid louse
Bones
Vecro

Slight error on my part guys. The smoke and steam make it so you can't see anything beyond 60 feet, but originally the vermin were 80-90 feet away. I moved them so they're 60 feet or less from Data, so everyone can see them.

I moved them so they're 60 feet or less from Data

Bones shakes his head, thinking: "I knew it, Data sure attracts lice..."

Vecro is delaying his action till after the enemies move.

Data will now fire at the big one dmg: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2, 1) + 3 = 10 magic missile
If I fire at the little one, I might kill it, we don't want that.