Male NG half-orc cyberborn mechanic 6 | SP 37/42 HP 42/42 | RP 7/8 | EAC 22; KAC 24 | Fort +6; Ref +12; Will +3 | Init: +7 | Perc: +8, darkvision 60 ft., SM: +1 | Speed 25ft | Expendables: Thunderstrike Rifle: 40/40, Pulsecaster Rifle: 20/20, T-shirt Re-roll: 1 | Active conditions: None
Flenn nods. "I got no problem with dead bodies. Done more than a little research on cadavers in my day. If you all don't want to go to the morgue, I'm fine checking it out while you guys interview the bot."
Male LG ysoki priest soldier 5/envoy 1 | Speed 40ft 35ft. (armor) | Active conditions: None.
"A plan that appears to be most sound Hunterkiller 42-5" Lightfoot declares. I offer my skills both as diplomat and connoisseur. Shall I look up reviews before speaking with this most unusual food peddler."
Null Android Technomancer 6 | EAC 21 KAC 22 | HP 34/34 SP 35/35 RP 9/9 | F +2 R +4 W +4 (+2 vs. disease, poison, mind-aff., sleep, blind, dazz., rad.) | Resist Fire, Cold 5 | Init +7 | Perc +0 | Spells Avail:: L1(6/6);L2(6/6) | Status: --
"Sounds like a plan! And checking Ex-Maintenance-22's Yolp reviews is a really good idea. Gotta make sure we're not going to get machine oil and half-used batteries." She takes Lightfoot's paw in her hand. "Let's go!"
On the way over, she one-handedly plays with her datapad to see if she can access Mystic Hearth's messageboard solely from the infosphere.
Female (sterile) NG formian tempered pilgrim solarian 5 | SP 40/40 HP 39/39 | RP 4/5 | EAC 20; KAC 22 | Resist 5:Sonic | Fort +4; Ref +3; Will +3 | Init: +2 | Perc: +5, SM: +0, Blindsense (scent) 30' | Speed 25ft (30' fly with jump jets) | limited telepathy | Active conditions: Stellar Mode: OOO. Shirt Reroll Not used
Kitkul shrugs....seeing the that the smarter people in the group have a plan. It will follow Lynne and Lightfoot, just in case this 'something' is actually stalking people trying to find it.
Yep...solarian...good for a beating on the baddy....not so good (even at level 5) at being a skill monkey
En route to the makeshift morgue, Lynn hacks the Mystic Hearth infosphere (negating the need to catch somebody out jogging or buying groceries and doing Bluff/Diplomacy/Intimidate to ask for access).
You find 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.
Mysticism DC 21 Check:
This information, combined with what you learned previously, confirms that the creature can likely fly, turn invisible through magical means, and is some form of outsider.
~~~~~
You are led a spartan, chrome-colored, frigid room where the body of the latest victim, the male android Version-12, lies on a table covered with a cloth. Upon inspection, it’s clear the body suffered severe energy damage of some kind.
Medicine DC 20:
You find evidence of blunt-force trauma and constriction, as well as signs the body was dragged across a rough surface.
Physical Science DC 18:
You identify some of the damage as electrical burns and the rest as acidic erosion.
Mysticism DC 23 *only* if the Physical Science check succeeded:
You are able to identify the energy damage as the result of
magic, rather than technological weapons.
~~~~~
After heading out to Mystic Hearth itself, you find the anacite Ex-Maintenance-22 is at their usual corner maintaining their food stand, where you were directed. If you mention that you're looking into the murders, their processor hums for a moment.
"I may have data that can benefit you. Query, could an exchange of service for information be parsed? I still struggle to find recipes that are agreeable to organic digestive systems. I request at least one of you to sample my new "trisked" noodle dish." The anacite cook offer forward a bowl of thick wheat-noodles in murky brown broth.
~~~~~
As always, apologies for lack of weekend posting. This weekend was worse than most - being offline for almost a full day pushed my convention prep back by over a full day and I had three Roll20 games to run this weekend. BUT, back to our regularly scheduled program, now!
Female (sterile) NG formian tempered pilgrim solarian 5 | SP 40/40 HP 39/39 | RP 4/5 | EAC 20; KAC 22 | Resist 5:Sonic | Fort +4; Ref +3; Will +3 | Init: +2 | Perc: +5, SM: +0, Blindsense (scent) 30' | Speed 25ft (30' fly with jump jets) | limited telepathy | Active conditions: Stellar Mode: OOO. Shirt Reroll Not used
Kitkul thinks on what Lynn found on the infosphere.
Mysticism +sidereal influence:1d20 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (18) + 4 + (5) = 27 GASP....Kitkul has a clue on this!
"One thinks that this creature has to be an outsider that can fly and turn invisible. O...I think this might be hard for some of us to hit the creature."
Kitkul watches its allies poke at the dead body. Bodies should be reclaimed by the soil, not sitting on a slab of metal.
When the anacite offers food, Kitkul will be the first to try, as it likes trying new foods.
HK is able to determine some clue from the bodies. It shares his founding with its comrades.
Interrogative tone : Do you know any creature able to do that type of damages?
@GM can I use my profession "Bounty Hunter" to have more info ?
Male NG half-orc cyberborn mechanic 6 | SP 37/42 HP 42/42 | RP 7/8 | EAC 22; KAC 24 | Fort +6; Ref +12; Will +3 | Init: +7 | Perc: +8, darkvision 60 ft., SM: +1 | Speed 25ft | Expendables: Thunderstrike Rifle: 40/40, Pulsecaster Rifle: 20/20, T-shirt Re-roll: 1 | Active conditions: None
Medicine:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11 Physical Science:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18 I only have a +1 on Mysticism, so I can't succeed even if I take 20 with infosphere access. Doesn't look like Hunterkiller can, either.
Flenn looks somewhat perplexed at the body. He brings up comms to the rest of the group. "Yo, mates, we got electricity and acid damage on this corpse. Nothing else useful here."
Null Android Technomancer 6 | EAC 21 KAC 22 | HP 34/34 SP 35/35 RP 9/9 | F +2 R +4 W +4 (+2 vs. disease, poison, mind-aff., sleep, blind, dazz., rad.) | Resist Fire, Cold 5 | Init +7 | Perc +0 | Spells Avail:: L1(6/6);L2(6/6) | Status: --
Mysticism:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
"You sure are right Kitkul! Sounds like a pretty quirky outsider at work, doesn't it? It's going to be tricky to get a hand on. But I'm sure we can do it!" Lynn pumps her fist in a show of confidence.
Once the group reaches Ex-Maintenance-22, Lynn holds back from eating any noodles. She's had some bad experiences before and Kitkul seems more than eager. "Nice to meet you Ex-Maintenance-22! What's a 'trisked' dish got going on in there?"
Male LG ysoki priest soldier 5/envoy 1 | Speed 40ft 35ft. (armor) | Active conditions: None.
Mysticism:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
" That energy damage which you have described in analytic detail, Hunter Killer 42S, almost certainly the result of
magic, rather than some technological weapon or device " noted Lightfoot over the comm.
Then, when the anacite offers a morsel, Lightfoot politely accepts, "You have my gratitude for your generosity and kindness" says the ysoki. He quietly says a prayer to his goddess, then takes a bite.
Ex-Maintenance-22 happily hands over the bowls, speaking while you sample them. "The name is derived from a records-related story of a food-naming 'mystery' from an unknown planet in the Vast. A snack food called the "Triscuit" enjoyed decent sales for at least a full century, but had a name with etymological origins unknown even to the company that produced it at the height of its popularity. An independent researcher later discerned that the company's origins were from a hydroelectric plant at a large waterfall, and the ancient 'tag line' for sales of the item were that it was 'cooked by electricity' - the electric biscuit, so to speak. Thus, as my noodles and broth are likewise thoroughly cooked by electrical currents, I named them 'trisked' in similar fashion.
...are they to your liking?"
(This has been "Etymology of the Triscuit as interpreted by an anacite npc after your geologist/historian GM learned this as an 'odd facts' during grad school." Cake or death)
If you sample the noodles:
The noodle dish with murky broth has a subtle scent only noticeable right as you take a bite...reminiscent of an electrical fire.
DC 16 Fortitude Save or be Sickened for 1 hour! :P
Because at least half of you sample the dish, Ex-Maintenance-22 is exceptionally pleased and gives you all of their data and analysis!
Yesterday afternoon while closing up their shop, they heard a sound like metal scraping on metal, then a dragging noise. They investigated and discovered Version-12’s body near a service maintenance tunnel. When they initially arrived on the scene, they also noticed the door to an out-of-service maintenance tunnel slam shut, though they didn’t see any other creatures in the area. Ex-Maintenance-22 also informs you that the tunnels aren’t used anymore because dangerous fumes and other runoff from Resurgent Technologies’ activities occasionally leak into the space.
After departing the anacite food stall, (and checking under the spoiler for those of you trying the dish) you follow their directions to where they found the body.
No Survival check is needed (thanks to the anacite's help) to find the area where the body was found to notice a blood trail that leads to the maintenance tunnel door.
To open the door, a DC 20 Engineering Check or Strength Check must be made!
HK: I would have let you roll as a Bounty Hunter for more if anyone had failed any part of the investigation, but it looks like you all rocked this part! :)
| ES (0/10) | SP 42/42 | HP 40/40 | RP 7/7 | EAC 23 KAC 24 | Fort +6 Ref +11 Will +5 | Init +6 Perception +12; Darkvision | Speed 30 | Energy shield (ES) inactive, memory module inactive, combat tracking active (red) | Female Human Ace Pilot Mechanic 6
Sorry I missed all that. Looks like my timing was just a bit off the other night
Kaylee will be more than a bit freaked out and keep her weapons ready during all of this. The idea of things coming in from across the planes to dismember and murder is clearly not sitting well with the young mechanic who oesn't deal much with magic to begin with also that music is perfect because it's creeping me out a little.
She will try the noodles though since electricity is something she gets an can wrap her mind around.
...
Eating my words?:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
GM?:
freaked out Kaylee + sickened = barf on random person?
Male NG half-orc cyberborn mechanic 6 | SP 37/42 HP 42/42 | RP 7/8 | EAC 22; KAC 24 | Fort +6; Ref +12; Will +3 | Init: +7 | Perc: +8, darkvision 60 ft., SM: +1 | Speed 25ft | Expendables: Thunderstrike Rifle: 40/40, Pulsecaster Rifle: 20/20, T-shirt Re-roll: 1 | Active conditions: None
You can't get a spell ampoule of see invisibility, can you? The range is "pesonal". Is there a device or serum or something that we can access at our level that would let us see an invisible creature? Maybe some way to gain a vibration blindsense for a time period?
Male LG ysoki priest soldier 5/envoy 1 | Speed 40ft 35ft. (armor) | Active conditions: None.
Fort:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
"Certainly, a unique flavor. " comments the ysoki, trying not cause offense with his distaste for the substance.
"The culinary arts, however, like other forms of art remain quite subjective. Please, do not be offended if your works are not to everyone's liking."
Null Android Technomancer 6 | EAC 21 KAC 22 | HP 34/34 SP 35/35 RP 9/9 | F +2 R +4 W +4 (+2 vs. disease, poison, mind-aff., sleep, blind, dazz., rad.) | Resist Fire, Cold 5 | Init +7 | Perc +0 | Spells Avail:: L1(6/6);L2(6/6) | Status: --
@Flenn and HK: No spell amps allowed for See Invis because its divination, not because its personal. Lynn has one See Invis cast available if we need it. She can triangulate for the rest of the party in a pinch. A weapon with a limning fusion would help as well, but I don't have one unfortunately.
Lynn follows behind HK and starts taking out a bobby pin to work on the door. But when HK has no trouble with it, she places the pin back in her hair. "Everyone get ready! This thing sounds pretty scary."
Kitkul and Kaylee don't really find the noodles to their liking (Sickened for 1 hour) even though Lightfoot doesn't think they're all that bad. HK gets the door open, and you descend beneath the streets of Endeavor.
The tunnel 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.
DC 17 Life Science:
The plants are a result of magical energy suffusing the area from Resurgent Technologies experiments. They’re harmless, though.
To navigate the tunnels, a series of Survival checks must be made. You can aid a lead-roll or roll individually, but the number of successes vs. failures matters!
(Let's start with three and see how that goes)
Also, everyone please give me either a Perception OR Physical Science check (whichever is better for you), please. Thanks!
Android mechanic 6 EAC15 - KAC17 | SP36/36 HP38/38 RP7/7 | Init +8 | Perc +12 SM -2| F +5, R +13, W +3
Life Science:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19 Descriptive tone : These plants are a result of magical energy suffusing the area from Resurgent Technologies experiments. They’re harmless, though.
Survival:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
Following its tracking protocol, HK is able to easily navigates through the tunnels.
Too focus on its target, it don't seems to remark anything else.
Perception:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
Survival(untrained, aid whoever is next):1d20 + 0 ⇒ (18) + 0 = 18 Wow, should have tried a real, grown-up roll.
Flenn's life science isn't up to snuff today, but he's alert for details related to physics and chemistry ... and his orienteering skills are surprisingly on point as he helps coordinate through the tunnels.
Male LG ysoki priest soldier 5/envoy 1 | Speed 40ft 35ft. (armor) | Active conditions: None.
No Life Science here; looks like best Survival are HK, Kitkul, and Lightfoot (in that order). So... Survival w/aid:1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 3 + 2 = 16 Perception:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
With Flenn suggesting certain smells to be on the lookout for, Lightfoot keeps his nose out for trouble as he ventures with the others through the tunnel.
Null Android Technomancer 6 | EAC 21 KAC 22 | HP 34/34 SP 35/35 RP 9/9 | F +2 R +4 W +4 (+2 vs. disease, poison, mind-aff., sleep, blind, dazz., rad.) | Resist Fire, Cold 5 | Init +7 | Perc +0 | Spells Avail:: L1(6/6);L2(6/6) | Status: --
Life Science:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18 Survival (aiding always HK because he has our best mod):1d20 + 0 ⇒ (9) + 0 = 9 Survival #2 (aiding always HK because he has our best mod):1d20 + 0 ⇒ (8) + 0 = 8 Survival #3 (aiding always HK because he has our best mod):1d20 + 0 ⇒ (5) + 0 = 5
Lynn gets a little distracted by the glowing plants and ends up picking a few of the glowing fronds to weave around her glimmering dress' collar. "They're really nice, don't you think? Shame about the smell around here." She looks down the corridors. "Hmm, they sure all look the same to me. What do you think Lightfoot?"
HK leads the way, finding easy passages through the subterranean tunnels. However, about twenty minutes into the journey (after the second check), some of you notice a subtle hissing sound...
A split second later, super-heated steam blasts through the tunnel system!!!
Everybody takes 4d12 ⇒ (12, 10, 2, 6) = 30 fire damage! (DC 16 Reflex Save for half!) Anybody who made a DC 26 Perception or DC 21 Physical Science check upon entering the tunnels gets a +2 on their saving throw! Remember that two of you are still Sickened, however.
After the steam passes, HK believes that it will be another 30 minutes before that kind of steam pressure builds up again, but thanks to his navigational skills you probably only have another 10 minutes of walking ahead of you.
Female (sterile) NG formian tempered pilgrim solarian 5 | SP 40/40 HP 39/39 | RP 4/5 | EAC 20; KAC 22 | Resist 5:Sonic | Fort +4; Ref +3; Will +3 | Init: +2 | Perc: +5, SM: +0, Blindsense (scent) 30' | Speed 25ft (30' fly with jump jets) | limited telepathy | Active conditions: Stellar Mode: OOO. Shirt Reroll Not used
Reflex Save:1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 - 2 = 7Yuck (though to be fair....Reflex is not a Solarian's best save)....going to use my shirt reroll...3 nova GM being added
Kitkul's apparently supernatural reflexes kick in as it starts to have a weird taste in its mouth. It hunkers down as much as it can behind its shield.
Still ouch! My guess is if HK thinks we have 30 minutes before it does that again, but we have 10 minutes to be out of this area...we might be able to take a 10 minute rest and 1 RP to heal...which Kitkul is fine with.
Null Android Technomancer 6 | EAC 21 KAC 22 | HP 34/34 SP 35/35 RP 9/9 | F +2 R +4 W +4 (+2 vs. disease, poison, mind-aff., sleep, blind, dazz., rad.) | Resist Fire, Cold 5 | Init +7 | Perc +0 | Spells Avail:: L1(6/6);L2(6/6) | Status: --
Oof, brutal. Reflex:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Lynn gets fully engulfed in the blast of steam, and emerges from it with a sulky expression. She smooths out her dress and feels out her now wild-looking hair. "Gross. We should tell Eshazi that Resurgent has a whole bunch of super dangerous tunnels down here." She looks over her attire.
As the group takes their seats, she begins to hum and then starts to ♫♪ serenade those resting ♫♪. While she sings, streams of light flow out of the air around her and caress her clothes and hair, settling them back into perfect shape.
Just for flavor, she's casting Token Spell and/or Mending while resting. Otherwise taking a 10 min rest as well.
You are all able to rest up enough to recover from your bruises - thankfully none of you were hit hard enough to be bleeding from that blast.
After another ten minutes of walking, 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. The ceilings here are fifteen feet high and the ambient light is dim.
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.”
| ES (0/10) | SP 42/42 | HP 40/40 | RP 7/7 | EAC 23 KAC 24 | Fort +6 Ref +11 Will +5 | Init +6 Perception +12; Darkvision | Speed 30 | Energy shield (ES) inactive, memory module inactive, combat tracking active (red) | Female Human Ace Pilot Mechanic 6
"I *Really* hate this planet!! Simon, run program Mal!" she calls into her exocortex as an energy shield activates around her. She runs behind cover with her rifle at the ready still clearly shaking!
Male NG half-orc cyberborn mechanic 6 | SP 37/42 HP 42/42 | RP 7/8 | EAC 22; KAC 24 | Fort +6; Ref +12; Will +3 | Init: +7 | Perc: +8, darkvision 60 ft., SM: +1 | Speed 25ft | Expendables: Thunderstrike Rifle: 40/40, Pulsecaster Rifle: 20/20, T-shirt Re-roll: 1 | Active conditions: None
Flenn brings an arm up, and his koto appears in his hand. With the other arm, he begins piling trash in front of him. As his exocortex scalp nodes flash, a glimmering blue energy field surrounds him. "Let's dance, demon."
Swift: Summon called thunderstrike rifle. Move: Barricade feat. I assume I already have cover from that crate I'm next to, so creating the additional cover in the brown spot indicated on the map. Standard: Activate energy shield
Male NG half-orc cyberborn mechanic 6 | SP 37/42 HP 42/42 | RP 7/8 | EAC 22; KAC 24 | Fort +6; Ref +12; Will +3 | Init: +7 | Perc: +8, darkvision 60 ft., SM: +1 | Speed 25ft | Expendables: Thunderstrike Rifle: 40/40, Pulsecaster Rifle: 20/20, T-shirt Re-roll: 1 | Active conditions: None
Quick question: I have a fire extinguisher. Any chance it's the sort of extinguisher that shoots foam? Might reveal the location of an invisible creature?
Male LG ysoki priest soldier 5/envoy 1 | Speed 40ft 35ft. (armor) | Active conditions: None.
Lightfoot instinctively goes for his dueling blade, and then relents."A demon is not worthy of the honor of being dealt with by righteous blade." Lightfoot declares as he draws his sonic pistol, then moves out into the open area, offering himself as a target and trying to draw any impending ambush away from his colleagues.
Null Android Technomancer 6 | EAC 21 KAC 22 | HP 34/34 SP 35/35 RP 9/9 | F +2 R +4 W +4 (+2 vs. disease, poison, mind-aff., sleep, blind, dazz., rad.) | Resist Fire, Cold 5 | Init +7 | Perc +0 | Spells Avail:: L1(6/6);L2(6/6) | Status: --
Lynn dons her headset, extends the boom mic, and taps through a radial selection on her datapad. "Alright! I like your idea Flenn! Lets. Dance!" As she speaks, she flips a switch on her headset and the speakers begin to play externally, flooding the old shuttle station with a low, thumping beat.
She raises an arm toward the cavernous space, places the other hand against her chest, and ♫♪ begins to sing ♫♪! Vibrating ripples of sound form around her and begin to surge through the room, rebounding off her allies and returning to her.
(Burning a spell chip in her headset for See Invisibility, 50 mins. See also has android vision to defeat the low-light)
She strides, glittering, toward the center of the room.
You all make your preparations, and Lynn casts See Invisibility from a Spell Chip!
Lynn Only:
You see This charming snarling creature floating five feet off the ground. As you watch, it flies forward to the square on the map marked with a white star and cast a spell, causing its tentacles to electrify with jolting surges of energy as it licks its lips, looking right at you!
You can roll a Mysticism check (free action) to recall knowledge as to what kind of outsider this is!
Since you'll lose your spell at the end of your turn I will let you shoot if Lynn directs you - feel free to make an attack roll and a 50% miss chance. In my pbp games, high is always good for the person rolling, low is always bad.
