[SF] Attack of the Swarm! (Inactive)

Game Master artjuice

Round 4 Status: Shaken (–2 penalty to ability checks, attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks)

As the dredger he removed attempts to turn of him, Brundus avoids its mandibles and counters with a heavy punch (Melee Attack - Standard Action);

[KAC Melee Attack vs Dredger B] Battleglove, Cestus: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 5 - 2 = 22
Damage [Bludgeoning]: 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

(Holding position pending dredger smush

"Welcome to the party, Leech. The water's warm," Ryder coughs as he dives to his right hoping for a better vantage point to shoot the Dredger without hitting his squadmate.

Trick Attack (Adjusted for Shaken)
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
SA Tac Pistol vs. KAC: 1d20 ⇒ 10
Damage (B): 1d6 ⇒ 5

The Dice Curse continues

Jerry takes a step back to distance himself from the bug that keeps attacking him and fires at it but slips on the rock as he's firing and misses.

Attack (Hunting Rifle): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Damage (P): 1d8 ⇒ 6

Round 4

Brundus’ heavy punch seems to do quite a bit of damage to the dredger, but despite looking wounded, the dredger is still standing. In response, it lurches at Brundus and latches onto him.

Attach vs. KAC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Brundus, as the creature is still standing, I'm assuming you're going to use your pending move action to step away, so the dredger is going to use its turn to follow you and then attach.

Aygavan, you're up!

@GM Artjuice: Will do. Bait, Lure & Bash technique

Aygavan moves backwards, out of reach of the Dredgers. He then levels his pistol at the one furthest from everyone and fires.

Attack vs EAC: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Round 5

Aygavan’s shot goes wide, but the shot draws the dredger’s attention and it scuttles in Aygavan’s direction. When it reaches him, it clambers on to him, its barbed legs helping it attach.

Attach vs. KAC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Leech, it's your turn to act!

Strength: 1d20 ⇒ 16

Leech shakes off the bug. Ryder, this may help you stay on your feet a little longer. He fires a boost at his squadmate.

4 rounds of +1 to AC; +2 to skill checks; +10' speed

I could attempt a battle heal but it might only heal 1HP. I'm thinking maybe this boost first could help more?

Round 5

Despite being shaken off by Leech, the dredger is persistent and tries once again to attach to him, lashing out with a claw once it has.

Attach vs. KAC: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 7 - 4 = 18
Claw vs. KAC: 1d20 + 7 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 7 - 4 + 2 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Oof, that's a hit. Brundus, Jerry, and Ryder, you can act now.

For a moment, Ryder considers pulling the dredger from Leech's body, but decides that killing the creature is the best recourse.

Trick attackorama (adjusted for shaken and Leech's boost)
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
SA Tac Pistol vs. KAC: 1d20 ⇒ 18
Damage (B): 1d6 ⇒ 3

Well, Acrobatics didn't do it so no Trick Damage, but that might have hit.

"Brundus, let's finish this one off so we can help the others," Jerry says as he fires at the nearest bug.

Get 'Em = +1 attack on D

Attack D(Hunting Rifle): 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 1 = 14
Damage (P): 1d8 ⇒ 1

Round 5 Status: Shaken (–2 penalty to ability checks, attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks)

Nodding to Jerry, the armoured lashunta swings another heavy punch at the nearest dredger (Melee Attack - Standard Action):

[KAC Melee Attack vs Dredger D] Battleglove, Cestus:1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 5 - 2 = 13
Damage [Bludgeoning]:1d4 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

He then steps away from the creature (Move Action) pending its demise...

Round 5

Despite the dredger’s attchment to Leech making it a tricky shot, Ryder is able to hit the creature. It makes a high pitched chittering noise on impact, but is still alive.

Both Jerry and Brundus manage to land a hit on the other dredger, and when Brundus’ fist slams into it, it falls still and its legs curl up as it dies.

Aygavan, it's your turn to act!

Ayg stabs at the insectoid beast latched onto him, though without much success.

Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Round 5

Despite Aygavan’s attempts to injured the one attached to him, he’s unable to hurt the creature.

Round 6

In response to Aygavan’s attempted attack, the attached dredger tries to claw at him. Its first attempt gets through Aygavan's armour, but it's unable to land a second hit.

Claw vs. KAC: 1d20 + 7 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 7 - 4 + 2 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Claw vs. KAC: 1d20 + 7 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 7 - 4 + 2 = 13 Miss!

Leech, it's your turn!

1d20 ⇒ 2

Leech struggles with the bug, but can't pull its claws off of him. He swears in infernal. Somebody get over here and help us with this! he yells, feeling his own injuries and seeing those of Ryder nearby and starting to feel a little desperate.

He turns his hand and aims his needle pistol as best he can at the side of the dredger.

Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12 Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Can't recall if there's any modifier or other circumstance issues with attack a bug attacked to yourself.

The bug gets a bonus to AC but that's it. Unfortunately, that bonus makes your attack a miss

Round 6

Although the needle misses, the dredger reacts quickly, swiping twice at Leech. The first attempt to claw at him is unable to get through the armour, but the second slices into Leech.

Claw vs. KAC: 1d20 + 7 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 7 - 4 + 2 = 9 Miss!
Claw vs. KAC: 1d20 + 7 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 7 - 4 + 2 = 15
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

I can't believe how difficult these dredgers are! I haven't adjusted anything for a slightly larger party, although the dice rolls haven't exactly been going in your favour

"2 down, 2 to go. This one's next," Jerry says pointing to the bug attached to Aygavan as he fires.

Get 'Em = +1 attack on C

Attack C(Hunting Rifle): 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 2 + 1 = 15
Damage (P): 1d8 ⇒ 7

As the Dredger slashes at the squad's medic, Ryder tries weakly to skirt around for a good shot on the dredger and continue his attack.

Trick attack (adjusted for shaken and Leech's boost)

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
SA Tac Pistol vs. KAC (+2 for Flanking): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Damage (B): 1d6 ⇒ 2

Once again, not even close for Acrobatics. Think I hit it though.

Botting Brundus

Nodding to Jerry, the armoured lashunta swings another heavy punch at the nearest dredger (Melee Attack - Standard Action):

KAC Melee Attack vs Dredger C - Battleglove, Cestus: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 5 - 2 = 13
Damage (B): 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Apologies GM - missed I was up. Don't think there's a dredger nearby, so he'll use his actions to Move (25ft) & Guarded Step (5ft) - putting him in melee range of the Dredger menacing Ayg. Thanks for the botting regardless Jerry :)

Not sure if I made it clear that it was Aygavan’s turn. I hope you don’t mind me botting things just to get things going again. Let me know if you would have done something else!

Aygavan pushes the dredger off and then takes a 5-ft step away.
Strength: 1d20 ⇒ 15 Success!

Round 7

Having just been pushed away by Aygavan, the dredger (C) turns its attention to Brundus and manages to latch onto him, although it takes two attempts.

Attach vs. KAC: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 7 - 4 = 12 Miss
Attach vs. KAC: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 7 - 4 = 15

Leech, it's your turn. You can use a Resolve Point to stabilize. I'm not sure if you have any other options available. If you don't stabilize, you lose a Resolve Point.

Use a RP to stabilize.

"Leech is down but I don't have a clear shot! We need to focus on the bug on Brundus," he yells before firing again.

Get 'Em = +1 attack on C

Attack C(Hunting Rifle): 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 2 + 1 = 17 -4 if still attached. Forgot about that.
Damage (P): 1d8 ⇒ 4

The dredger that had attached itself to Leech detaches from his unconscious body and turns to Ryder, attempting to latch onto closest moving target.

Attach vs. KAC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Round 7

Jerry's shot hits, but although the dredger looks very weak, it's still moving.

Brundus, Ryder, and Aygavan, you can act now!

Aygavan concentrates and his crystalline hand grasps onto...something. He pulls. With all his strength he pulls.

A few seconds later a howling wind can be heard as countless shards of crystal lash against the Dredger near him and Brundus.

The strain is audible in his voice as he says, ”That bug is currently in between our reality and one where it is raining glass sideways! Stay...away!”

Casting puncture veil, bug takes 5 damage and 2 bleed damage.

Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5

"Well this is a fething terrible way to start the day!"

Ryder tries to throw the Dredger off of him with all of his remaining strength and tries to put a bullet in it's body.

Strength: 1d20 ⇒ 15

SA Tac Pistol vs. KAC: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Damage (B): 1d6 ⇒ 3

PleaseDiePleaseDiePleaseDiePleaseDiePleaseDiePleaseDiePleaseDie

Aygavan's rip in reality and the shot from Ryder is enough for each dredger to fall still. As the battle comes to an end, the dust settles around you and you get a moment to catch your breath.

Your comms are all buzzing intermittently, and have been doing so all battle, but the signal is too weak to make out what's being said. As you spend a few minutes recovering, you can piece together that through the crackling, you’re receiving reports from all around Brinnoa about thousands of Swarm creatures exiting the city.

The reports are interrupted by a message from Jaldamarrak. ”All SDF forces, this is a full retreat. Fall back beyond the Dethomar River and regroup at Fort Gallant.” His orders are followed by the sound of close-range fire from a semi-auto pistol, and then the signal cuts out.

Good job, everyone! That fight was tough and the dice were not rolling in your favour. Leech, you can use another RP to Stay in the Fight and go back to 1 HP, or someone else can try to heal you if they have the option.

"A full retreat...This does not bode well. At all. I'd say we try to make it part of the way there, and then try to get a night's rest. May not go well."

When he sees the last 2 bugs drop, Jerry runs over to Leech to check if he's still alive. Relieved that he appears to be stabilized, he reloads.

"He's still alive. I was worried we were going to lose someone. These bugs are tough. We are going to need some more supplies when we get a chance," he says while reloading.

Culture: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

"Ugh, Fort Gallant's an 8 hour walk from here. Let's take 10 before we start off. If the bugs are pulling out, they may be getting ready to hit the city with some big weapon. I know we've been up all night and are tired, but I don't think we have the luxury of sleep right now," he says glancing over at Aygavan.

Brundus grimaces at the thought of another cross-country slog, then nods his head toward where Leech lies;

"Anyone get him up and running before more of the buggers come? If not... we need to secure some transit as hefting him will slow us down more..."

The lashunta checks over his recovered heavy weapon, making sure it still functions after being unceremoniously ditched in the melee.