Dawn of Flame - Delving the Brightest Depths (Inactive)

Game Master Luke_Parry

The Sktitermander brightens up at the mention of friends helping friends of friends, thereby making new friends!

"Ah, of course! Happy to help! I'm Honorary Officer Mims, by the way! Pleased to meet you!"

She then pushes a button, which opens one of the doors, and with her three right hands, ushers John into a new area (B5).

------------------------

This large room has doors on all four sides, with a long conference table running down the center and lockers lining the walls. A hologram projector in the table’s center shows a three-dimensional model of Asanatown and its side-bubble, Clearlight, with several locations labeled in red. A window south of the door in the eastern wall looks into a small room.

Pacing up and down the room is a lashunta with antennae that look like
cooling lava, with red-and-gold mottling on his skin reminiscent
of flames. He glowers at John as he enters.

"Mims, I thought you were being helpful; didn't I tell you that I wanted to be left alone?"

"Yes Sir, but he needed help, and the help that he needed might make things easier for you, too, so I thought that I should help!"

With a weary sigh, the lashunta turns to John, and looks him up and down, with obvious distaste.

"Well, what do you want?"

John bows respectfully.

"I had been told that an Ysoki by the name of Nib was here? I have been led to believe that she might have put her foot in her mouth one too many times... she is fairly harmless; not worth the effort of keeping her in custody. Certainly not a terrorist. I was hoping to smooth things over, and get her released?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16.
Diplomacy - RP: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13.
Diplomacy - RP: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24.

The Commander groans.

"That little rat? You are welcome to her - she's been a pain in my arse since she mouthed-off at one of the gate guards. If I see her around here again, though, she will be shot."

He then tosses John the key to a set of restraints, and jerks his head in the direction of the eastern door.

When John enters, he finds a brown-furred ysoki wears a pink plaid suit, a tan shawl, and a pair of goggles, manacled to a loop built
into the table.

As soon as she sees John, she shakes her chair, yelling “this
detention is illegal” and demanding a lawyer. However, when John explains the situation, she quietens down long enough for him to get her out of the Checkpoint.

Once reunited with Taeress, she bites her lip, then acidly says, “Glad you checked your messages for once.”

The two set to bickering. Taeress says it’s no wonder Nib got arrested since she never knows when to keep her snout shut. Nib replies that she’s shocked Taeress would stop working for something as petty as civil war. It goes on from there...

Eventually, the two reach an uneasy verbal truce, and Nib turns her attention back to John. She offers him a job working for the Deep Cultures Institute, helping unravel the secrets of the sun. When Taeress points out that Nib can’t reach the Deep Cultures Institute until the current crisis is over — its campus is in Stellacuna on the other side of the Archipelago — Nib reluctantly concedes that John probably has to “fix the local situation” before she can officially offer him a job.

"I heard the soldiers talking about having the councillors locked up in Horizon House, where the Collective has a command center. You should head over there, but I doubt that lot will go down without a fight..."

John nods.

"Agreed. I have no desire to stay in an anarchic police state with active martial law any longer than I have to..."

Nevertheless, he does rest for the night, before heading out.

In the morning, John has no trouble making it to the linecrawler to Clearlight. The vehicle is smaller than the one from Dawnshore and crammed with people. Since the Collective runs its operations from Clearlight, the group’s leaders have an interest in keeping local businesses going and, in turn, keeping Collective troops comfortable. Collective soldiers try not to hassle anyone going from Asanatown to Clearlight. Nevertheless, Clearlight Station is guarded...

...John sees through bored, and rather tired, lashuntas slowly processing everyone who gets off the crawler.

Bluff to bypass without being interrogated deeply.

John does his best to seen generally inoffensive.

Bluff: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12.
Bluff - RP: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17.

John manages to talk his way past without too much difficulty.

Heading to Horizon House...

Asanatown’s capitol building, Horizon House, stands in a park at the center of Clearlight, its manicured grounds separating it from the shops and homes of the rest of the neighbourhood.

Sparkling steps lead up to a columned portico shading several doors. To the east and west, the glimmering white building sprawls out in two asymmetric wings. The west one is shaped to accommodate a massive orrery that stands amid a circle of low benches.

As John steps up onto the portico, a reedy voice rings out:

“This area is closed by order of the Sunrise Collective. Trespassers will be shot. This is your only warning.”

John amicably addresses the air:

"I have no desire to be shot; can't we just talk this through?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16.

"No."

Suddenly, a grenade drops out of thin air...

Frag Grenade: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23, for 1d6 ⇒ 2 damage. DC 13 Reflex.

...a tiny humanoid with bat-like wings and a scorpion-like tail appearing fluttering up at ceiling-level.

John: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12.

John has no idea what it is.

Melkobaz: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11.
John: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15.

Welcome Wagon, Round 1:

John (-)
M (-)

Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7.

With a regretful sigh, John draws his weapons, and starts firing.

Light Reaction Cannon: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13, for 1d10 ⇒ 5 damage.

Cackling madly, the creature completely ignores the damage from John's weapon.

It responds by firing its pistol...

Azimuth Laser Pistol: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 6 - 4 = 16, for 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 Fire damage.
Azimuth Laser Pistol: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 6 - 4 = 17, for 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 Fire damage.

...landing two hits.

Welcome Wagon, Round 2:

John (-11)
M (-)

"Damn it!"

John carefully lines up his next shots.

Trick: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 11 + 4 = 34 Vs DC 20 + CR.
Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19, for 1d6 + 1d4 ⇒ (3) + (2) = 5 damage.

Light Reaction Cannon: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6, for 1d10 ⇒ 9 damage.

John tags the creature with his arc pistol, but to his horror, sees that it immediately starts healing again!

It responds by firing its pistol...

Azimuth Laser Pistol: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 6 - 4 = 17, for 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 Fire damage.
Azimuth Laser Pistol: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 6 - 4 = 5, for 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 Fire damage.

...this time, it only hits once.

Welcome Wagon, Round 3:

John (-15)
M (-3)

"Frell!"

John starts fan-firing with his electricity weapon.

Trick: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 11 + 4 = 17 Vs DC 20 + CR.
Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8, for 1d6 + 1d4 ⇒ (1) + (1) = 2 damage.

Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8, for 1d6 ⇒ 6 damage.

John's attacks miss.

It continues to heal, and keeps firing...

Azimuth Laser Pistol: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 6 - 4 = 11, for 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 Fire damage.
Azimuth Laser Pistol: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 6 - 4 = 19, for 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 Fire damage.

...this time, it only hits once.

Welcome Wagon, Round 4:

John (-21)
M (-1)

"Stupid!"

Trick: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 11 + 4 = 33 Vs DC 20 + CR.
Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13, for 1d6 + 1d4 ⇒ (2) + (1) = 3 damage.

Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15, for 1d6 ⇒ 2 damage.

This time, John catches it a little off-guard, but it is a tenacious foe.

Azimuth Laser Pistol: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 6 - 4 = 16, for 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 Fire damage.
Azimuth Laser Pistol: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 6 - 4 = 13, for 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 Fire damage.

...this time, it only hits once.

Welcome Wagon, Round 5:

John (-27)
M (-4)

"FRELL!"

Trick: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 11 + 4 = 21 Vs DC 20 + CR.
Trick - RP: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 11 + 4 = 21 Vs DC 20 + CR.
Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18, for 1d6 + 1d4 ⇒ (3) + (4) = 7 damage.

Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24, for 1d6 ⇒ 5 damage.

John is starting to wear it down, but there is still a lot of fight left in it...

Azimuth Laser Pistol: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 6 - 4 = 5, for 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 Fire damage.
Azimuth Laser Pistol: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 6 - 4 = 11, for 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 Fire damage.

...but this time, he manages to dodge.

Welcome Wagon, Round 6:

John (-27)
M (-10)

John decides to go for broke.

Trick: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 11 + 4 = 22 Vs DC 20 + CR.
Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18, for 1d6 + 1d4 ⇒ (1) + (4) = 5 damage.

Light Reaction Cannon: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 5 - 4 = 17, for 1d10 ⇒ 7 damage.
Light Reaction Cannon: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 5 - 4 = 19, for 1d10 ⇒ 6 damage.

With that final push, John manages to take the fiend down.

Combat over.

Searching the body reveals an Azimuth Laser Pistol (charge drained), and a spare battery.

John breathes a ragged sigh of relief, then goes through the door to the East.

C2:

This windowless hallway has doors to the north, east, and west. The south wall is lined with small alcoves surrounded by gleaming silver arches.

With a shrug, John goes through the Eastern doors.

C4:

Paintings depicting the discovery, exploration, and settlement of the Burning Archipelago, with a focus on critical moments essential to the development of Asanatown, line the walls of this chamber. Doors engraved with similar scenes stand to the north, east, and west. Transparent display cases in the room, most freestanding but a few along the walls, hold curious items.

Of more immediate concern, however, are the two security robots in the room; one appears to be slightly damaged, but its gun emplacement is still distressingly functional.

John: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19.

John recognises these as Observer-Class Security Robots.

+++You Do Not Have Permission To Be Here+++

OCSR: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5.
John: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12.

Repurposed Security, Round 1:

John (-)
OCSR (-, -9)

Gritting his teeth, John tries to take down the healthier-looking robot.

Trick: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 11 + 4 = 34 Vs DC 20 + CR.
Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9, for 1d6 + 1d4 ⇒ (3) + (2) = 5 damage.

Light Reaction Cannon: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9, for 1d10 ⇒ 3 damage.

Unfortunately, the robots dodge John's attacks.

Both shoot at him...

Integrated Pulsecaster Pistol: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 9 - 4 = 15, for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 Electricity damage.
Integrated Pulsecaster Pistol: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 9 - 4 = 12, for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 Electricity damage.
Integrated Pulsecaster Pistol: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 9 - 4 = 21, for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 Electricity damage.
Integrated Pulsecaster Pistol: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 9 - 4 = 21, for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 Electricity damage.

...causing a respectable amount of damage.

Repurposed Security, Round 2:

John (-13)
OCSR (-, -9)

"Frell!"

Taking his situation a bit more seriously now, John opens-up, targeting the injured one!

Trick: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 11 + 4 = 24 Vs DC 20 + CR.
Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23, for 1d6 + 1d4 ⇒ (4) + (1) = 5 damage.

Light Reaction Cannon: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17, for 1d10 ⇒ 8 damage.

John causes a fair amount of damage.

With machine remorselessness, both continue to fire...

Integrated Pulsecaster Pistol: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 4 = 19, for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 Electricity damage.
Integrated Pulsecaster Pistol: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 9 - 4 = 18, for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 Electricity damage.
Integrated Pulsecaster Pistol: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 9 - 4 = 7, for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 Electricity damage.
Integrated Pulsecaster Pistol: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 9 - 4 = 13, for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 Electricity damage.

...causing a respectable amount of damage.

Repurposed Security, Round 3:

John (-20)
OCSR (-15, -9)

Accepting the hits with gritted teeth, John keeps up the pressure!

Trick: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 4 = 25 Vs DC 20 + CR.
Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15, for 1d6 + 1d4 ⇒ (2) + (4) = 6 damage.

Light Reaction Cannon: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17, for 1d10 ⇒ 4 damage.

John's pistol shot fries the circuits of the less damaged one, then his cannon further damages the other one, allowing him to duck out of view of the immobile robot.

Repurposed Security, Round 4:

John (-47)
OCSR (-13)

John takes full advantage of the situation to duck in and out of the room.

Trick: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 11 + 4 = 29 Vs DC 20 + CR.
Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23, for 1d6 + 1d4 ⇒ (4) + (3) = 7 damage.

Light Reaction Cannon: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18, for 1d10 ⇒ 6 damage.

John's pistol shot destroys the already damaged robot.

Combat over.

Treasure: Pulsecaster Pistol x2, Battery x3, Stickybomb Grenade I x2.

Breathing a ragged sigh, John heads through the door to the north.

C5:

A set of stairs at this room’s southern end descends five feet into an open circular area. Murals of blazing angels and a golden sun decorate the small dome overhead. A door on the northern wall bears a handwritten sign reading, “KEEP OUT!”

John: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26.

John easily recognises that this is a shrine to Sarenrae.

Nodding in satisfaction, John barricades the southern doors, and his a brief kip, and injects himself with a healing serum 1d8 ⇒ 4 for good measure, before going through the northern door.

C6:

Large, inset circular tubs about three feet deep cover much of the floor, each with a brass spigot and separated from the other tubs by thin walls five feet high. In the room’s north-western corner, stairs curve up ten feet to a door, while another door stands at tub level in the southern wall. One of the eastern tubs has a ragged, two-foot-wide hole in its bottom where the spigot should be, and the whole chamber
looks gnawed on.

As John enters, four creatures that look like a cross between a crab, a cockroach, and a ball of fungus, scrabble out of the tub, regarding him hungrily...

K: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14.
John: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19.

Vermin In The Bathroom, Round 1:

John (-)
K (-, -, -, -)

With a surprised curse, John shoots, and then backs away.

Trick: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 11 + 4 = 18 Vs DC 20 + CR.
Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15, for 1d6 + 1d4 ⇒ (6) + (4) = 10 damage.

Light Reaction Cannon: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25, for 2d10 ⇒ (8, 9) = 17 damage.

John fails to 'Trick' the vermin, but his pistol fries one, and then his cannon pins another to the ground.

The remaining two chase after him!

Vermin In The Bathroom, Round 2:

John (-)
K (-, -)

Heartened by how easy that was, John tries again.

Trick: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 11 + 4 = 18 Vs DC 20 + CR.
Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15, for 1d6 + 1d4 ⇒ (3) + (3) = 6 damage.

Light Reaction Cannon: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9, for 2d10 ⇒ (7, 1) = 8 damage.

This time, John only lightly scorches one.

Vermin In The Bathroom, Round 3:

John (-)
K (-3, -)

Cursing, John Steps back, shoots, and then fire-and-retreats...

Light Reaction Cannon: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23, for 1d10 ⇒ 5 damage.

Trick: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 11 + 4 = 27 Vs DC 20 + CR.
Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25, for 2d6 + 2d4 ⇒ (6, 4) + (1, 3) = 14 damage.

John pins one creature to the floor, then electrocutes the other into submission.

Combat over.

John reloads his cannon, and heads for the other exit from the bathroom.

C7:

This room has been decorated with overstuffed armchairs, wooden desks, bookshelves, a thick green carpet of actual moss, and a replica of a classical lashunta ice fan blowing cool air. On the western side of the room, a camera attached to a datapad has been set up to film a currently empty desk and chair in front of a large Sunrise Collective flag. At the eastern end, a door bears a handwritten sign reading, “KEEP OUT!”

John: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14.

John: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16.

John recognises the set-up as being the location from which Zeylan made his broadcast earlier, and John thinks that he could do one himself.

John: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29.

John: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20.

John also manages to hack the Datapad, showing that the amount Zeylan paid to gain the assistance of the Brass Dragons was substantially below standard contract rates... suggesting that their leader may have had ulterior motives for accepting the job...

Treasure: Scanner video camera and scanner shotgun microphone, as well as a datapad.

John collects the equipment, then heads through the door to the South.

C3:

This grassy courtyard has a paved and columned breezeway to the west and an arc of decorative ponds to the east along a similarly curved wall. Stairs rise to a door in the north, while another door opens at ground level to the south. Two ornate doors stand in the curved wall of the compound’s domed central building at the northern end of the breezeway. Statues of lashuntas in majestic poses flank the northern doorway.

Defending this area is a grim lashunta female with an acid-scarred face, riding atop a large reptile.

Sunrise Collective Soldier: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4.
John: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27.

Against the Cavalry, Round 1:

John (-)
Sunrise Collective Soldier (-)
S (-)

A little taken-aback, Charles opts for the easy option - targeting the rider.

Trick: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 11 + 4 = 22 Vs DC 20 + CR.
Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12, for 1d6 + 1d4 ⇒ (3) + (3) = 6 damage.

Light Reaction Cannon: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 5 - 4 = 19, for 1d10 ⇒ 3 damage.
Light Reaction Cannon: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 5 - 4 = 18, for 1d10 ⇒ 5 damage.

John easily takes down the rider with his weapon barrage, which has a dramatic effect upon the mount, as well!

3d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 6) = 16 damage, and Dazed for 1 round.

Against the Cavalry, Round 2:

John (-)
S (-16)

Surprised, albeit pleasantly so, John tries to take down the mount.

Trick: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 11 + 4 = 16 Vs DC 20 + CR.
Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25, for 2d6 + 2d4 ⇒ (3, 3) + (3, 4) = 13 damage.

Light Reaction Cannon: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16, for 1d10 ⇒ 6 damage.