[SFS/Shifty] #2:15 Infernal Gallery (B) (Inactive)

Game Master Nik B.

Agatio nods. "You are welcome to join us on our trip home once we clear the unsearched rooms. Sit tight!"

"I suppose I'll follow you, seems far safer than wandering around by myself to end up falling victim to something horrid." - the bird follow on.

***

Which way?

"Excellent!" Astran moves a bit deeper into the building. Map Updated.

"Happy to wait right here out of danger" Iffelby hangs around the cage, ready to use it to keep things out

***

pair of filthy stone statues rise up out of the deep mud that fills this ruined art gallery. A soggy velvet bench sits forlornly between them, tangled with heaps of swamp plants, and five paintings hang askew on the walls. Jagged shards of wood, crumbling tiles, stone limbs, and the tattered remains of eviscerated paintings float in the Drift, which has overtaken the north end of the hall and the ceiling.

Who would like to examine what...? :)

"Can anyone detect auras of magic, evil, or.... I don't know danger?"

Agatio carefully approaches the near statue and checks it out.

Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9

The statues are each cut from a single piece of heavy stone and stand six feet tall. One depicts an ysoki in a triumphant pose, and the other depicts a graceful elf looking very solemn.

Although both statues appear dirty, upon closer inspection it’s clear the statues weep a thick red substance from their eyes.

They'd fit in the chamber, but would require some Str related manhandling

Seven of Eleven takes a closer look at the substance.

Medicine: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

"Looks like blood is weeping from the eyes. If you are turned in to stone can you still bleed?"

Life Sciences: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

"In hell, with a Duke's magic? Of course. If they're still alive in there, there's nothing we can do here. Maybe the Society can."

Tavia will also Detect Magic, as requested earlier. "No evil or danger, I'm afraid. We'll have to find those the old-fashioned way."

Agatio growls in concern. "Maybe we should take the statues with us? Try to lift this curse?"

"Okay, help me on the other side. You ready? 1. 2. 3." STR: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

"No, ON three, not AFTER three." STR: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

STR: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11 "Okay, take a break. Someone else try."

I assume with a group of you and a willingness to take your time you'd collectively manage to manhandle the things into the bag

You turn your attention to the artwork in the gallery.

***

Painting 1: A beautiful, androgynous human dancer adorned with sashes.

Painting 2: A portrait of a smiling, athletic shirren cradling a crystalline ball in their arms.

Painting 3: A serene pastel landscape of rolling meadows beneath a yellow sky.

Painting 4: An augmented holo-painting of skittermanders on parade.

Painting 5: A happy kasatha family sits around a table piled high with delicious looking food.

Yes, team work makes the dream work!

Astran moves over to the second painting and Culture: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17 "Hey this is a famous sports star, Elzozle. I know him. He died a decade ago and..... What in the hell? Look! That's my freaking severed head he's kicking around. How the hell‽"

Agatio shakes his head with increasing fervor. ”This place is poisoning my mind. The dancer is amputated and dances on tendrils of ash, a stage of flame! This portrait depicts all of us, but we eat spoiled food at the behest of a dark master!” He turns to his allies. ”Is there anything we should take here? Agatio wishes to be rid of this place.”

Culture: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Life Science: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Tavia recoils recoils as well. "That's no parade. It's eating them."
She turns away, controlling herself. "I'm starting to wonder if we should take any of this. This is part of Hell. Perhaps bringing it home isn't the best idea."

Tavia is unsure what the creature is.

You do recall that the brief was to collect items... but should you...
Evil GM laugh

Agatio sighs. ”Let us gather these disturbing artworks. If that is all, we shall leave this foul place.”

"Agreed. And quickly."

You cast an eye towards the last place you haven't searched.

This crowded room is packed full of children’s toys from throughout the galaxy and time. Most are dolls of all sorts— porcelain figures, marionettes, and puppets sit alongside action figures, fashion dolls, and soft stuffed animals. Only two walls and a precariously tilted floor have not yet floated away into the Drift.

"Very well. I believe there's only one more room in this house of horrors?"

[ooc]Also, I assume we took the jewelry from the previous room, after smashing the souls gems. Not sure if it was mentioned.[/b]

Agatio looks around the toy room for anything of note.

As Agiato moves forward all the toys turn and look at him with their artificial eyes. A strange tune fills the air and then there is an explosion as several toys come to life...

A toy soldier, a marionette, and a stuffed bunny.

These are size TINY

R1
Tavia
ENEMY

"How cute. And given this place, probably horrific."
Tavia steps into the room and casts Overheat. Should be able to catch all of them.
Reflex DC 14 for half
Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (2, 6) = 8

I may regret this as they swarm all over me, but it's rare to get off a good area effect without other PCs in the way.

"What manner of horror is this‽" Astran makes sure his shield is in place as he takes a pot shot with his azimuth pistol. His mote begins to hasten as he attunes.

ATK: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 but hits an inert toy.

As Seven of Eleven moves toward the room he see Tavia blast the toy. seeing the room full of toys Seven of Eleven pulls a pin on one of his Frag Grenades and throws it into the room just behind the advancing toys.
Thrown Frag type 1 grenade: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
OH that's bad

Where it falls: 1d8 ⇒ 5
How far: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Damage Per.: 1d6 ⇒ 6

So it looks like I just threw it into the void

R Ref 1d20 ⇒ 16
O Ref 1d20 ⇒ 18
Y Ref 1d20 ⇒ 4

The blast catches the toys, but the soldier copped a big hit!

They respond!

The bunny launches forward and thumps at Tavia!
Attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16 vs KAC
Damage 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

The marionette lashes at Tavia with razor-sharp wires
Attack 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Damage 2d6 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8
Knocking her prone (and unconscious?)

The soldier zaps at Agatio with a toy laser rifle!
Attack 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Damage 1d4 ⇒ 2
***

Seven lobs a grenade but it rolls along the floor and over into the void.

Astran likewise has no joy.

R1 Cotd
Astran - attacked
Seven - grenade
Agatio

R2
Tavia

R 4
O 4
Y 8

Tavia collapses to the floor, bleeding a surprising amount of blood from the tiny razor wire wounds.

Astran risks entry into the room, coming around the toy to the other side of the fallen Tavia. He continues to increase his attunement as he attacks. 2/3

Solar Weapon: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15 for DMG: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10 and 1 Elec

Tavia will burn a Resolve Point to stabilize. Beyond that, she just lies there.

"No!" Agatio shouts as Tavia falls. He retrieves his serum of healing and administers it to the Akitonian, the tips of his coral radiating golden energy.

Photon mode 1, move retrieve mk 1 serum of healing, standard administer it to Tavia.

Serum of Healing: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Astran knocks the stuffing right out of the toy rabbit.

Agario administers some healing.

Tavia stirs!

***

The marionette attacks Astran!
Attack 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16 vs KAC
Damage 1d6 ⇒ 6

The soldier zaps at Astran as well!
Attack 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 vs KAC
Damage 1d4 ⇒ 4

R2 Cotd
Astran
Seven
Agatio

R3
Tavia

R Dead
O 4
Y 8

Seven of Eleven takes a shot at the marionette with his Hunting Rifle
Hunting Rifle Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Per Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1

He's cursed with the die rolls

With Tavia conscious, Agatio rises, the extensions to his coral prongs growing longer, brighter, and sharper. He grasps his solarian crystal tightly and rushes toward the hostile toys, throwing a pronged punch at the nearer target.

Photon 2, move to square while drawing weapon, standard attack vs. orange.

Attack vs KAC: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Damage (P, photon): 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 1 = 8 plus 1 E = 9 total.

Well, since Tavia got healed and doesn't have to stabilize herself, she's still going to lie there quietly and slip herself another serum.

Serum of Healing: 1d8 ⇒ 8

Seven misses, as does Agatio...

Tavia heals up.

Astran up :)

Astran, now fully attuned steps up with his solar weapon ready. "Back off for a few seconds, I'm going to light this place up!"

For now though he tries to drive his weapon into the toy with the creepy smile!

ATK: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 Grrrrr. Two Nova Reroll

ATK: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 2 = 25 for DMG: 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 1 = 9 and 1 Elec

The marionette is crushed by Astrans attack.

The soldier zaps at Astran!
Attack 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25 vs KAC
Damage 1d4 ⇒ 1

R3 Cotd
Astran
Seven
Agatio

R4
Tavia

R Dead
O Dead
Y 8

"I would not do such things if I were you!"

Well you can go ahead and stop the toy attacker if you want :)

"This unit must recalculate for the voids gravametric pull."

He says as Seven of Eleven aims and fires at the toy soldier.
Hunting Rifle Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Per Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2
Crit Per Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Seven recalibrates - and in doing so knocks the batteries right out of the toy soldier - ending the combat.

Combat over

You now stand in a room for of toys - some of which may or may not be possessed by evil spirits.

DC 17 Culture, Perception, or applicable Profession check (such as auctioneer, puppeteer, or toymaker)

"Great... This isn't creepy at all. I assume these are human toys strange." Astran pokes around: Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Culture DC 17: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Promotional Reroll (2 GM novas): 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 2 = 22

Agatio sifts through the toys, his ephemeral corals disintegrating into sparkles of light.

Agatio finds a few spectacular toys in the collection that are undamaged and worth collecting - rare collectables that the Society will no doubt take interest in.

***

The house is now cleared - last actions before heading back?

"I'm pretty eager to get back. I don't see this place giving up anything more."

Agatio nods. "Agreement. Let us leave this foul place." He takes the toys, returns for the Elysium bird, and heads back.

"I think we've found more than enough. Now we just have to trudge back through the swamp."

You all go dashing back out of the house and as you pass the mural The Duke is no longer there

You get back to the ship and Iffelby squeals with delight "I was blessed by your arrival, and true to your word you have a means to escape!"

***
You board your starship and leave the Drift Bog behind, flying back to Absalom Station.

Throughout the journey you hear child-like giggling, sudden inexplicable screams, and footsteps down an otherwise empty corridor, and you occasionally have a nagging feeling that you’re being watched. Two days later the strange phenomenon ceases.

***

You finally touch down at Absalom station and start unpacking, Iffelby cuts in "Thanks for everything friends, I'll be off. Time to make my way home"

"No, Elysium bird! Come to the Lorespire Complex and tell the Starfinder leadership about all you witnessed!"

"Thanks for the invite, but you know, I don't think this is really my kinda place..."

Iffelby flits into the throng of commuters passing through the station - a strange shimmer comes over the bird as it transforms into an Imp - gives you a grin, a salute, a 'so long' and then vanishes into the crowd.

***

You eventually arrive back to Arvin "So, tell me, what did you find?"