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Dakoyo and Gazigaz both hit their targets, wounding the beast!
In return, it swims closer and tries to take a bite out of Gazigaz!
vs. KAC
The bite is so fierce that the creature thrashes around in a death roll, knocking Gazigaz prone and dealing him extra damage!
The wounded scientist takes a full round action to crawl away five feet from the beast before surfacing.
ROUND 1
Quonx
Nako
ROUND 2
Dakoyo
Gazigaz - Prone
Unidentified Creature
Alien Scientist
Soundtrack 10: Save the Scientist! - DropBox mp3 Link: Robotech "Alien Attack"
"He bit me!! The ugly monster bit me!! What's that thing anyway??", screams Gazigaz.
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Gazigaz will shout for everyone to "get 'em" then get up from prone.
Seeing this monstrous creature, Quonx activates Combat Tracking and takes a shot with her laser rifle!
vs. EAC
After being shot, the creature lashes out at the closest foe - Nako!
vs. KAC
The bite is so fierce that the creature thrashes around in a death roll, knocking Nako prone and dealing her extra damage!
The lab-coated person continues to dig around, muttering in common "where's my gun where's my gun?!"
ROUND 2
Quonx
Nako - Prone
ROUND 3
Dakoyo
Gazigaz
Unidentified Creature
Alien Scientist
Soundtrack 10: Save the Scientist! - DropBox mp3 Link: Robotech "Alien Attack"
Gazigaz takes another shot at the creature.
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Your mechanic takes aim and fires two shots with her rifle at the creature!
vs. EAC
vs. EAC
Dakoyo, unfortunately, provokes an Attack of Opportunity due to firing a shot so close to the beast's maw!
vs. KAC
Dakoyo and Gazigaz miss their shots, but Nako lands a hit, even from the ground! The beast returns the favor by trying to bite the last skittermander to injure it!
vs. prone KAC
The lab-coated individual, having failed to find his pistol, simply cowers near the shore!
ROUND 3
Quonx
Nako - Prone
ROUND 4
Dakoyo
Gazigaz
Unidentified Creature
Alien Scientist
Soundtrack 10: Save the Scientist! - DropBox mp3 Link: Robotech "Alien Attack"
"No one hurts a skitter friend without any consequences! Hit him hard!", shouts Gazigaz.
"Hang in there Nako! You're the best skitter fighter I know, you'll kill that stinky monster soon!"
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Gazigaz bolsters Nako with confidence, and because of his inspiration and "get 'em" orders, she barely lands a hit on the creature with her doshko!
The creature begins to bleed profusely, and its thrashing seems more desperate than aggressive, but it continues to fight, still lashing out at Nako!
vs. KAC
The beast does another death roll, knocking Nako prone once more and dealing her extra damage, but after it attacks, it takes a guarded step away from her, as if gauging its ability to get away from the four of you!
The lab-coated individual continues to cower.
ROUND 4
Quonx
Nako - Prone
ROUND 5
Dakoyo
Gazigaz
Unidentified Creature
Alien Scientist
Soundtrack 10: Save the Scientist! - DropBox mp3 Link: Robotech "Alien Attack"
"Oh no, don't let it get away! No one is allowed to leave after hurting my friends, NO ONE!", shouts Gazigaz as he shoots at the creature .
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Taking careful aim, Quonx lines up a shot with her laser rifle...
vs. EAC
And with that last blast, the creature decides that seeking a meal here just isn't worth it. It withdraws, and heads for a much deeper part of the swamp. You are now out of combat!
Skitter Status:
Quonx
Nako
Dakoyo
Gazigaz
Alien Scientist
Quonx will come rushing up to Nako, since she has three serums of healing that she hasn't needed yet.
Soundtrack 07: Swamp - DropBox mp3 Link: Robotech "Boobytrap"
The bipedal slug-like lab-coated individual finally finds their weapon - a waterlogged pulsecaster pistol (that you recognize would have had a neglible effect on the battle, at best), holstering it and adjusting their goggles, speaking to you in the common language of the Pact Worlds as they approach.
"Oh, thank you so much for saving me from that nilothera! My name is Ponatia, I'm a research assistant at the osharu research station here on Varkulon 4. Who are you, and what brings you here in the middle of storm season?"
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"Nufriend Doctor! I am glad you are safe. I am Dakoyo, healer, astronomer, and friend of Ibra. And this is Quonx and Nako and Gazigaz. Pirates crashed into our ship and somehow teleported us into space above your planet. We barely made it to a life pod. Now we want to get back to the Pact Worlds. Can you help us?"
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If a slug could blush, Ponatia would do so. "Ohh, well, I'm not a doctor...yet. I'm still just a research assistant for the Headteachers."
After Dakoyo tells his brief tale...
"Wow! It sounds like your ship got caught up in the Drift Cyclones that we study! I don't know of any way to help you, but our Headteachers might! I parked my hovercruiser just over the next hill. Can I offer you an air-conditioned ride to our university? You can dry off and rest up along the way. I'm sure the Headteachers will figure out some way to assist!"
Assuming you accept Ponatia's offer, he leads you about a quarter of a mile through the swamp across osharu-built bridges, eventually reaching dry land and a paved road stretching into the distance. A sleek hover cruiser is parked here which he ushers you into as he hops into the drivers seat. During the drive, he tells you about his peoples' research!
Once a year, the world of Varkulon 4—a dismal and swampy yet habitable planet—passes through a unique cosmic phenomenon where the barrier between the Material Plane and the Drift is thinner than anywhere else in the galaxy. When it does, terrible storms of planar energy wrack the surface for several days, sometimes even transporting objects from random areas of the Drift into the planet’s atmosphere. Lingering pollution from these storms doesn’t harm Varkulon 4’s living creatures, but it can interfere with technology, especially communication devices.
Several years ago, a cadre of sluglike osharu scientists discovered this anomaly and established a research base on Varkulon 4 to study the Drift cyclones, as they named the storms. They called their settlement the Helix Lyceum, and it is a typical osharu mix of religious and academic facilities. Thanks to the planet’s humidity and boggy terrain, the osharus live comfortably and have made great strides in their studies, though they have yet to fully understand the Drift cyclones.
As you approach your destination, Ponatia glances up at the sky and, with a concerned tone, says, “Looks like the Drift cyclone is growing a bit more active. But don’t worry, we’ll be safe once we get inside.”
The skies above swirl with angry, dark-gray clouds illuminated by frequent flashes of purple lightning. Outside the cruiser, the winds begin to pick up, buffeting the windows with leaves and other small bits of debris from the swamps. Ahead, a city comes into view, mostly consisting of squat, three-story buildings, though a few taller spires rise above the rest, topped with what looks like advanced scientific equipment. The central tower is built to resemble a twisting spiral staircase. Ponatia turns and, with pride obvious in his voice, says, “Welcome to the Helix Lyceum.”
It takes a few more minutes for the cruiser to reach the city limits, during which time Ponatia explains that the Helix Lyceum was built several years ago for the express purpose of studying the planet’s unusual yearly Drift storms. The osharu scientists here live a studious, almost monastic lifestyle, though like most osharus, they are a bit wary of outsiders using the knowledge they have accumulated against them. Ponatia assures them that the headteachers—the city’s scientific and spiritual leaders—are “very wise and learned individuals who will certainly see the wisdom in helping you.” Ponatia also explains that while the city is usually in contact with their far-off home world, the current Drift cyclone makes any off-planet communication impossible.
As the cruiser enters the streets of the Helix Lyceum, you can see the osharus going about their business as usual, many carrying handfuls of datapads or chatting animatedly with one another.
No one seems to pay attention to Ponatia’s vehicle until he pulls up in front of the central tower and escorts the PCs inside. As the four of you step inside, one osharu drops the dozen datapads he was carrying in surprise upon suddenly seeing skittermanders in front of him!
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"Oh sorry, we didn't mean to frighten you nufriend. I'm Gazigaz and those are my friends: Nako, Quonx and Dakoyo.", says Gazigaz, getting immediately on one knee to help the osharu.
"This is an impressive facility. I would love to stay and admire its design, but I don't want to stay long enough on this planet for my fur to take its stinky odor. You all seem pretty busy anyway, we would not want to disturb you any longer. Ponatia, can you introduce us to your wise headteachers now?"
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Dakoyo stoops to pick up the datapad, then quickly straightens up. He's a little annoyed that Gaz was able to help first, but still says good naturedly, "Greetings, nufriend. We're here to help. -- And here for help."
Then he turns back to Ponatia, "Oh, yes please. I've just got to get home."
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More than enough datapads clattered to the floor that all of you can help pick them up. The osharu who dropped them started to stammer an apology, bending down to grab his belongings but freezes in fascination at the sight of a small army of skittermanders stopping to help!
Ponatia hurries you along to an elevator, which takes them to the top of the tower. Ponatia explains, “The headteachers are always in symposium during the Drift cyclone. We’ll be interrupting their research, but I think this is important.”
Ponatia leads you from the elevator, down a corridor, and (after touching a biometric touchpad) through a metallic double door. The room on the other side is packed with computer terminals showing camera feeds and scrolling lines of data. Five osharus in monastic robes bustle about the chamber, tapping equations into datapads and briefly conferring with one another. They look up from their work when Ponatia and the skittermanders enter, bristling at the intrusion.
One osharu in navy-blue robes steps forward, her antenna wriggling in consternation. “Ponatia, what is the meaning of…” she waves a hand at your assembled group. “Who are these furry creatures?”
“Apologies, Headteacher Zoni,” Ponatia says. “But the Drift cyclone has deposited these travelers on our doorstep and they need our help.”
Ponatia explains the skittermanders’ predicament and how you saved his life while he was going to fix Monitoring Station #47. At that, he suddenly remembers that he never reached the monitoring station and slaps his forehead, mumbling an apology. Headteacher Zoni steps forward to firmly but politely tell you all that they are too busy to do anything for you at the moment, but perhaps when the storms die down in a few weeks, maybe then.
Another osharu—Headteacher Kiodea—speaks up. “Could their arrival have anything to do with that strange starship we picked up on the sensors not far from here? You remember, the one that looks like two vessels fused together?” The Headteachers mumble a bit amongst themselves and go back to their research, all but ignoring the four of you as Ponatia looks on. Ponatia whispers to the four of you, "Maybe if you had a quiet word with each of the Headteachers? If you got a majority of them to agree to help, that would work, right?"
Headteacher Cheliko: Purple robes. Main Check: Diplomacy
Alternative Check: None
Headteacher Kiodea: Red robes. Main Check: Diplomacy
Alternative Check: None
Headteacher Olavier: Dark gray robes. Main Check: Diplomacy
Alternative Check: Mysticism
Headteacher Saguntes: Green robes. Main Check: Diplomacy
Alternative Check: Medicine
Headteacher Zoni: Navy-blue robes. Main Check: Diplomacy
Alternative Check: Physical Science
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Ponatia says. “Maybe if you had a quiet word with each of the Headteachers? If you got a majority of them to agree to help, that would work, right?”
"Sure it would." Dakoyo pulls a tongue depressor from his pocket and taps his chin with it. "Maybe they would all like a medical examination. These ancient healing sticks can do wonderful things. Let me think....Let's all think how to make them nufriends, before we start to talk. Gree?"
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After a few minutes of wandering through the scrum of scientists, dodging legs and much tongue depressor chin tapping, Dakoyo meets back with the others.
"The first is so simple! Cheliko in purple was very disappointed that monitor station 47 wasn't fixed. So we help Ponatia with that, which we would do anyway, and Cheliko is our nufriend!"
"Did you see that the one in grey, Olavier, has Yaraesa's symbol on his robes? Maybe if I talk to him as one believer to another, he'll help. The gods must be old nufriends."
"Green-robed Saguentes really might need a healer! See how she moves so stiffly? She trying to act normally, but she's fighting some pain. I could help with that!"
"Zoni cares only for the Drift cyclone. Big surprise there. But if someone could talk science to her...."
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"I'm not good at the other things, but I can at least go tell her how we got here!. Nako good at defending cluch not so much at blinky computers or finger wagling talking to big things!"
Nako will at least attempt to help describe the ship in detail (at least the skittership), including anything she knows about its capabilities and drift engines that may have had any effect. She has enough physical sciences to know that much at least. Probably at least aiding.
"It was so drift! It was like both of our ships fused into one. Unfortunately, this Frankenstein of a ship was inoperable. It became obvious that staying meant certain death. We immediately fled from this crashing abomination in an escape pod and landed here, on this muddy planet.", adds Gazigaz.
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After chatting with her for a bit, you are fairly certain that Headteacher Kiodea would like to help you out, if you can get other Headteachers to go along with her on that.
(1 down, 4 to go!)
In response to Dakoyo, Headteacher Saguntes just waves a sluggish hand, "Oh, I'm fine, must have just been something I ate."
You can make a Medicine check to try and ID what's ailing her!
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Quonx turns to Zoni.
"I'll go talk to her. I like blue."
Quonx walks up to the scientist and looks through the large window overlooking part of the city. She admires the Drift cyclone swirling in the sky, then tugs on Zoni's sleeve. The osharu is visbly irritated, but the mechanic starts rambling anyway.
"That cyclone is pretty drift! Pun intended!" Quonx grins at the scientist, waiting for a laughter that never comes. She clears her throat. "Interesting. I meant interesting, of course. Have you read the works of Dr. Willford? He's a vercite scientist that wrote an entire encyclopedia on cataclysms found throughout the Pact Worlds! I bet you could find something in there! Let me see... If I recall correctly, he has a whole chapter on atmospheric depression, and he managed to link the Coriolis effect with strange occurences throughout a few planets." Her face suddenly lights up. "Which makes me think!"
She rummages through her pockets and whips out her datapad containing Dr. Zambressa Von Vultoor's work. She holds it in the air for the osharu to pick up. When she does, she starts speaking again.
"Open up to page 486! Some of Von Vultoor's studies suggest that there might be a correlation between zones where the squall lines of a cyclone are and quantum effects, namely entanglement and wormholes to the Drift opening due to the very high level of electrical perturbations. Now, I'm no expert on cyclones, but I think this might be a good lead!"
The blue furred skittermander scratches her head. "I have a few other papers I could send you, but they're aboard our ship, so we'll need to get there before I could send them..."
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Zoni is absolutely enthralled by Quonx's mastery of theoretical planetary meteorology and the juxtaposition of those events in conjunction with interplanar boundaries!
Even Ponatia is left slack-jawed at the sight of the "most hard-line teacher on campus" gushing about nouveaux quantum theories with a skittermander nufriend who seems to be brightening up her robes just by proximity!
(2 Teachers down!)
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Havong finished his conversation with Zoni, Quonx goes up to Dakoyo and puts a hand on his back.
"Let me help you, Dak! Tell me what to do, gree?" The mechanic, having overheard part of the prior conversation, adds: "Something you ate, you say? What do you guys eat on this planet? Is it good? Is the food abundant? Would you, by chance, have a supply of vercite potato chips?" Quonx pauses and turns to Dakoyo.
"Oh! Right, the examination. Carry on!"
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MMmmm. Vercite potato chips. Last time I had too many and got an upset stomach... !
Dakoyo rummages in his pack and withdraws a small vial that he holds up to the osharu. "Madame Headteacher, I suspect you are in the early stages of food poisoning and will shortly suffer a voluminous and embarassing expulsion of something you ate. I have here a simple curative antitoxin serum. It would be my pleasure to bestow it upon you."
Quonx looks at the two remaining headteachers.
"I'm no good at god stuff! Sounds like Olavier needs your help, Dakoyo, gree?"
The blue furred skittermander tugs on Gazigaz's arm.
"Come, Gaz! Let's go talk to Cheliko!"
Quonx waves her hands at Cheliko. "Hi, nufriend! We would need you help in order to leave this planet!" She pauses for a moment and adds: "If you have any technical problems, maybe we could help you with them?"
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"Gree, Quonx."
Dakoyo wanders over to Olavier. "It can be hard to be a person with faith in the gods when you're immersed in science and surrounded by its marvels. As a devotee of Ibra, I've felt that conflict many times, the need to reconcile empiricism with the dictates of an invisible greater power."
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By talking to Olavier for a bit, Dakoyo is able to engage the Headteacher who is one of Yaraesa's faithful, and convince him that helping your crew is the right thing to do!
Having convinced four of the five headteachers, they collectively decide to assist. They offer you a graduate student (but not Ponatia, who has to return to his duties) to drop you off one mile from where they detected your ship, and also give you a mk 1 nullspace chamber containing four mk 2 serums of healing and one spell ampoule of the spell haste!
Your grad student drop you off at the appointed location, and you are able to walk the rest of the way...