[SFS/Shifty] #2:10 Corporate Interests (A) (Inactive)

Game Master Nik B.

Gordon checks if hi cultural contact know any more

culture: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

If I can have a look at the corpse it would be helpful anyone else have medical knowledge or knowldege of other planes for that matter

"I'm not too knowledgable about medicine or magic stuff, but I can give the body the ol' once-over. We should also go talk to this annocite."
I don't have ranks in medicine or mysticism, but can attempt them untrained with Jack of All trades. Medicine +6, Mysticism +5

"I am fluent in the composition of most biological beings."

Gordon doesn't recall anything not already identified by Fuunk and Duke

***

Do you have any idea just where this plana rift opened from or what might have come through it?

"In my lab, hence why I was close to it and had my arm amputated in the resulting tear" she once more looks to what is left of her arm. "What we were doing in there is mostly classified, unfortunately. I’m contractually obligated not to discuss my research, though I don’t believe the specifics will have any bearing on dealing with this problem. What I will say is that it’s possible something was unleashed from... somewhere far away. There is no further leads to be garnered from the lab, trust me, I had a great interest in sweeping it as thoroughly as possible"

***
The Infosphere

Numina cracks the Mystic Hearth message boards with ease.

Once inside she finds several threads discussing working for Resurgent Technologies and living in Mystic Hearth, discussions of workplace safety and benefits, and finally a thread where residents compare their creature sightings.

Several users state that they saw a cloaked shape roughly the size of a human that floated instead of walked roughly around the time of the murders. One person claims to have seen the creature vanish into thin air.

Duke and Fuunk confirm that if the creature can likely fly, turn invisible through magical means, then it certainly is some form of outsider.

***
The Body

The most recent victim was a male android named Version-12 whose body was found in an alley the day before your arrival.

You are led to a spartan, chrome-colored, frigid room where the body lies on a table covered with a cloth. Upon inspection, it’s clear the body suffered severe energy damage of some kind.

Numina shakes her head, You aren't listening, where did it open FROM, not too. That might give us a clue about just what this thing is.

Numina shakes her head, You aren't listening, where did it open FROM, not too. That might give us a clue about just what this thing is.

"All we know was that it was a temporary tear in the planar fabric that we caused - to or from where we don't know."

Physical science: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17
Mysticism: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

Numina examines the body, turning it over in a rather clinical way.

These injurries look magical, rather than technological, which would be consistent with outsider involvement

physical science: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Electric burns and acid outsiders tend to be immune or at least resistant to the damage they cause no?

Not having the skills to deduce anything from the body, Fuunk says,

"Yep, like the man said...
"This guy's dead."

Fuunk then falls silent listening to everyone else's insights...

"I agree with Numina. These wounds are from magical means."

With the investigation of the body complete, you make your way to down to the food stalls of Mystic Hearth, a slightly ramshackle affair on the best of days.

With your collective skills easily achieving the challenge (and the info from the message boards!) Ex-Maintenance-22 is found on corner maintaining their food stand. The anacite seems to be running a business catering to the organic residents of Endeavour.

"Noodles! Noodles and broth! Hot and tasty!" he calls out to passers-by.

Duke approaches the noodle vendor.

"Excuse me, Ex-Maitenance-22 is it? I was hoping we could procure your services. We were told you found a body? We are trying to stop whoever is doing the killings, so we would be grateful for any information you might have."

"Greetings anacite."

Gordon buys some noodles and gives them a professional appraisal

not bad but could do with a touch more sodium chloride

Taking ten on prof cook and diplomacy/bluff to aid maro

”Sure, I’d be happy to talk, but this new friend sounds like he knows something about the taste buds of my organic customers - so business before pleasure”

”I have a dish I have been working on, if your cook wants to sample it and help me I would be happy to share what I know. Customers complain about the aftertaste, but I’m sure if he samples it he can make good recommendations” he looks to Gordon.

Gordon samples the new dish and gives his professional opinion

prof cook: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

Numna watches on, rather bemused by the need for biological sustenance.

Gordon tries the new creation—a noodle dish with murky broth that smells reminiscent of an electrical fire.

Years of frat-house living and his apprenticeships in dodgy diners has hardened Gordons stomach and allowed him to endure the worst abuses of his palate. He manages to avoid becoming ill.

Gordon can see where the anacite was heading and suggests some 'rework' (entire re-do)

"Ahh yes, you had questions"

"On the night I heard a sound like metal scraping on metal, then a dragging noise. I investigated and discovered Version-12’s body near a service maintenance tunnel. When I initially arrived on the scene, they also noticed the door to an out-of-service maintenance tunnel slam shut, though I didn’t see any other creatures in the area"

"As you have done me a good turn on helping me with my recipe, I'll tip you off that the tunnels aren’t used anymore because dangerous fumes and other runoff from Resurgent Technologies’ activities occasionally leak into the space."

Numina raises an eyebrow at that and ativates her armour seals. Can you give us directions to that tunnel entrance?

"Of course, I'll get you over there in a minute, want to try some soup?"

"Sadly I cannot."

He hands out a few more soups and takes you for a walk to a nearby alleyway.

"I'm sure it was that one over there" the anacite gestures to a metal door. True enough you find blood spatter nearby.

The door opens onto a tunnel that smells of stale air mixed with something acrid. The walls and low ceiling are shot through with rusted pipes littered with corrosive holes. Small patches of a plant with pale blue glowing fronds dot the way, growing straight from the exposures in the metal.

Survival checks - require 3 please! Also - are you sealing your suits?

Smelling the air, Fuunk says,

"Dang this air is funky!
"Not in a good way... Like a horde of junkies!"

Fuunk activates his seals.

Survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

As assists

Leave seals open

Surviva: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18
Surviva: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27
Surviva: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29

Note, all checks are at +4 to follow a map, and if it is tracking, I can track while at full speed with no penalty to survival. Environmental seals are up, Tailblade is attached, gun is out and set to lethal.

It’s to navigate the tunnel system and follow the odd blood splatter

Numina wanders through the tunnels paying more attention to her datapad than their surroundings. Occasionally you hear shwooming noises, Just practicing she says, the next tournament is coming up and I have to be ready.

Survival: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Survival: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Survival: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Duke and Numina both hear a strange hissing, but before they can warn the party, the tunnel fills with boiling steam pumped from the research labs!

Damage 4d12 ⇒ (7, 6, 5, 6) = 24

DC 16 Reflex for half, Duke and Numina get a +2 to their roll

Reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

"I have been burned by the steam. Is anyone else injured?"

Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Fuunk's years spent on the dance floor doesn't help as he suffers the full brunt of steamy heat damage...

Numina tries to duck!

Reflex, bonus: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 2 = 14

But she is too slow!

Reflex save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17
Duke just barely manages to dodge out of the way.
Evasion, no damage
"'m fine."

reflex: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18 with evasion that will be no damage

"I'm OK"

It appears to be steamy at about 3' and above

It appears to be steamy at about 3' and above

Classic :)

You have the opportunity to heal/rest, please post in your first post of you did so.

***

The cramped tunnels suddenly open into a what looks to have been a shuttle station at some point long ago before it was buried by newer construction. The remains of eviscerated rats and other pests lay scattered about the floor, staining it a dark and rusty crimson.

A raspy voice resonates from within your mind, saying, “Finally. It’s been too long since I’ve snuffed out the life of a living, breathing creature. These machines just aren’t the same.”

There is no obvious enemy, but you know you are under threat by 'enemies unknown'

New map up!

R1
Fuunk
Ua
Duke
ENEMY

will spend 1 rp to recover. Ua delays.

Ua stands still but broadcasts, [i]"Life is precious. Your passion for ending it will be stopped.

Fuunk will take a rest.

Not able to see or identify the source of the voice, Fuunk moves towards the rooms center, drawing his plasma ribbon and readies an action to attack anything hostile that comes into melee range.

R1
Fuunk - moved
Ua - Boradcasting
Duke - TBA
ENEMY

Duke, with weapon out, will begin scanning the area, including looking for tracks.

Survival?: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25

You hear the sounds of a spell being cast deep with the room (indicated area on map)

R1
Gordon
Numi

R2
Fuunk
Ua
Duke
ENEMY

"Anyone know the spell?
"Please do tell!!"

Fuunk draws his laser rifle in his other two hands as he double moves towards the incantations, taking cover behind a long-abandoned vehicle.

Duke moves and takes cover behind a discarded vehicle and readies an action to shoot any hostile that reveal themselves
Merciful is off.

Ua moves toward the sound.

The party begins taking tactical bounds towards the foe!

gordon and numi up

Numina jogs forward towards the sound of spellcasting while lights begin to flicker through her exposed circuitry. Suddenly there are multiple copies of her all around!

Moving forward and casting mirror image creating 1d4 ⇒ 2 images

Gordon moves forward drawing his azimuth laser pistol and his anchoring throwing knife

...Further casting is heard!

R2
Gordon
Numi

R3
Fuunk
Ua
Duke
ENEMY

Fuunk moves towards the casting sounds....

I've moved Fuunk his move speed of 40'. From this position on the map, does he see anything? I'll determine his standard action after finding out if he sees anything.

Duke moves forward, gun still raised, to another bit of cover.

Still ready an action to shoot if an enemy presents themselves. Mercy still off

Numina moves further down the passage, drawing a strange looking staff covered in eldritch glyphs and symbols. A wizard has to have a magic staff you know she mutters, perhaps a little sheepishly.

Double move, draw glamered rifle as part of move

Fuunk there is no visible opponent