[SFS/Shifty] #2:21 Illegal Shipment (C) (Inactive)

Game Master Nik B.

Will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Zapp shrugs off most of the mental assault, being largely immune to such things. He then fires back on his attacker.

Azimuth Laser vs. Blue: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

These "spellcaster" swarm enemies are incredibly beefy. Are we really in low-tier? :O

With the little yellow swarm drone pausing for a moment, Kippi takes the opportunity to brighten her wings and send two simultaneous beams of light out to skewer the swarmian. (Full attack vs yellow! Since flight requires you to move each round, by full attacking Pippimi floats down to rest on the ground at end of this turn)

Solar Flare vs. EAC: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 6 - 4 = 13
Solar Flare damage, photon mode (F) (force effect): 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 = 6
Solar Flare vs. EAC: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 6 - 4 = 11
Solar Flare damage, photon mode (F) (force effect): 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4

These "spellcaster" swarm enemies are incredibly beefy. Are we really in low-tier? :O

You should have seen the horror story that was high tier - outrageous. With that said, you almost have them down.

***

Gus rolls in swinging and puts another blow on the creature's jaw!

Kippi obliterates the flying foe.

Zapp doesn't zap.

OMID & Dara up

R3
Zapp - attacked
Gustav - attacked

R4
Kippi- attacked
OMID
Dara
ENEMY

R Dead
O Dead
Y Dead
G 26
B 37

Sluggish: The victim takes a –2 penalty to Reflex saves and Dexterity-based ability checks, attack rolls, and skill checks; the DCs of her spells and special abilities decrease by 2; and she becomes flat-footed.

Stiffened: The victim loses her Dexterity bonus to her Armor Class, and she can’t take reactions.

OMID resorts to his pistol and fires at blue.
Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 - 2 = 14 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

OMID gets the shot on target and the foe goes down!

Dara up

R3
Zapp - attacked
Gustav - attacked

R4
Kippi- attacked
OMID
Dara - attacked
ENEMY

R Dead
O Dead
Y Dead
G 26
B Dead

Darakwinn finds herself marching toward a massive gate in an even more massive mountain. All around her are soldiers and warriors marching in precise time and formation. They represent all races, even ones she doesn't recognize, though the vast majority are dwarves. They're also armed in a variety of ways. She sees one dwarf carrying only a stone club and garbed in clothing made out of durable mushroom skins. Another is literally just wielding and armored in pure light.

With joy, she sees the commander-in-chief of this glorious army and marches to present herself to him.

But before she gets close, he starts to get further and further away. She is not even able to see his face before he aims one thick finger behind her. The message is clear and she turns.

Darakwinn gasps and half sits up as she regains consciousness. Her fist is still clenched when she looks down at it in bitter disappointment. She thrusts it toward the remaining Swarmian, opening her hand and pushing some of the stuff she brought back with her at it.

"Halt!"

Spending 1 Resolve to Stay in the Fight. Casting Command - DC15 Will Save or its Dazed for 1 round.

Will 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Dara manages to give a piece of her own alien mind - stupefying the creature!

R4
Zapp
Gustav

R5
Kippi
OMID
Dara
ENEMY

R Dead
O Dead
Y Dead
G 26
B Dead

Will 1d20+4

Dara manages to give a piece of her own alien mind - stupefying the creature!

.....and Gustav attempts to take advantage of this bringing his fist down on the remaining swarmian (Thanks Kippi for forever changing the name of these things in my mind).

to hit, Battleglove, Cestus: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Bludgeoning damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

I have been bit by the crit bug. See my comment in discussion.

crit damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Zapp is reminded that not all Swarmians share the same protections. He turns to chuckle at the stunned and alone creature. "What a joke of an apex predator! Can't even eat flesh properly, much less our station!"

Trying a Dispiriting Taunt. Bit late, but maybe these ones aren't immune to mind-affecting?

Intimidate: 1d20 + 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (6) + (6) + 8 = 20

Kippi flies up and over to float at Zapp's shoulder. She focuses herself and fires a fiery beam to try to finish off the last badly wounded swarmian monstrosity!

Solar Flare vs. EAC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Solar Flare damage, photon mode (F) (force effect): 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 = 6

Gustav puts yet-another cracking blow right onto the creatures chin - leaving it reeling.

Zapp gets it totally rattled.

Kippi turns its lights out.

End combat!

Dara is still down, and there is only one area unchecked

"Does anyone have any healing serums for Darakwinn?" OMID goes over to the table across form the door and levels his pistol in case anyone comes out of the door.

Darakwinn hauls herself painfully to her feet, leaning on her pike to do so. "'m fine...just...need to...take a little...break," she says.

She nods to OMID. "Thanks for that boost back there. That was an epic blow."

If we can take a 10 minute rest I can get my Stamina Points back and stay in the back. I've also got a usage of Healing Touch but it says it works on "Allies." I assume I'm my own Ally? Also, does it take an extra 10 minutes? I figure the things on the other side of the door can wait 10 minutes but sitting in a Swarm room for 20 seems ridiculous.

Zapp charitably offers up one of his serums of healing. "If only their fellows would take the hint. Find some far-off corner of space to hole up in without bothering anyone. Or, more preferably, stand still as we easily annihilate them."

The Core rulebook p242: Sometimes an ability targets or requires an enemy or an ally, such as the envoy’s watch out improvisation. You count as your own ally unless an ability says otherwise. The GM has the final say on whether someone is an enemy or ally; you can’t declare one of your fellow party members to be an enemy or an enemy to be an ally just to trigger a special ability.

The Mystic's Healing Touch ability does not say you are not your own ally.

Gus will suggest heading back to the front office area to take a breather. He'll take a rest as well.

spending an RP.

"Thanks," Darakwinn says to Zapp, giving him a wink and nod before downing the serum.

Healing: 1d8 ⇒ 2

She heads back with Gus to take a breather in the front office.

Spending an RP.

10 minutes later

You take a breather in the front office to assess your wounds. It feels like a long ten, and you have the feeling that you could be jumped 'at any minute', but time passes and you are mostly recovered.

***

Once recovered you move to check the door to the cargo bay.

***

The doors slowly open revealing a cargo bay - and more swarm!

This room is mostly intact from its time before the Swarm invasion.

The cement and metal walls are largely barren, but a thick metal sectional roll-up door stretches 20 feet across the eastern entrance to this room.

The west wall has a small office for security and management, with a single desk and chair inside and a window overlooking the loading dock. Internal cameras and monitoring systems have long since been removed when the warehouse closed.

Next to the office are three forklift robots in their charging docks used to assist with loading and unloading shipments. Of the three, only one looks operational—the other two are obviously damaged beyond immediate repair.

As you stand there eye to...eyes... with a massive creature and its friend, you hear the far roller door clatter open and three gun-totting Six Tip gang members stand there a touch confused by the sight in front of them - "Hey its those Starfinders, but what the **** are those?"

The gang members seem a bit torn on what to do - perhaps a well placed Diplomatic overture could sway them.

R1
Dara
Zapp
OMID

Earlier:
While some of the party members rested, Kippi floated back and forth looking to be the first to spot any additional swarmians. When they failed to materialize, she settled atop Darakwinn's head to exude a "calming" presence for the group. "Everyone OK? That was pretty tough!"
----
Later:
"Oh! Hi there Six-tippers!" Kippi waves a long antenna at the gang members. "That's one of the swarmians you were trying to buy! I think. Gross, right? Want to help us fight it?"

Diplomacy if she can take it when it isn't her turn: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

"That, and the only being that will occupy your thoughts as it shatters this station," Zapp adds to Kippi's description. He is quite confident in the Starfinders' ability to deal with it, and simply petitioning for help feels odd. "Your spouses and their 'good friends' will not have the clout to factor in. Unless you do what's right and follow our lead in destroying this foul alien!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Assuming that wasn't an action...

He then turns back to the smaller awful Swarmian. "That's right, I was talking about you! What'll you do about it, blink at me?"

Intimidate, Dispiriting Taunt: 1d20 + 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (5) + (4) + 8 = 17

Zapp also tries to match this particular one to anything from his vast stores of alien knowledge.

Life Science to ID (-5 DC if rare): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

- Sluggish: The victim takes a –2 penalty to Reflex saves and Dexterity-based ability checks, attack rolls, and skill checks; the DCs of her spells and special abilities decrease by 2; and she becomes flat-footed.
- Stiffened: The victim loses her Dexterity bonus to her Armor Class, and she can’t take reactions.

OMID shoots the swarm.

Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 - 2 = 17 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Diplomacy is a standard action, so will hold that Kippi passed the check for [REDACTED] to happen :). On that basis I will take Zapps initial roll as his Intimidate action.

Zapp hurls his anger at the Alien creature which doesn't understand the words but clearly gets the intent - but the swarm creature doesn't seem to care...

He knows it is a swarm Comvectye.
Identified, two facts!

Meanwhile, OMID zaps it.

Dara up!

R 1

"Don't be dumb!" Darakwinn says to the gangers. "That thing wants to eat your brains and lay its eggs in your skull!"

She doesn't rush forward, this time but rather reaches out into the aether to call for reinforcements.

Casting Summon Creature I

The creature moves forward and attacks Zapp!

Attack 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
Damage 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

***

The gang listens in to the Starfinders and seem positively influenced.
"Get it!"
The gang swarms the swarm creature - attempting to shank it.

Attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Damage 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Damage 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Attack 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 2 = 10
Damage 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

***
R1
Kippi
Gus

R2
Dara
Zapp
OMID

R 5

Gus carefully calibrates his defenses against the creature (+1 AC).

He then punches the beast.

to hit: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

It appears Gus may get a flanking bonus. If so, that is NOT added in to the to hit roll.

bludgeoning damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Darakwinn steps back as her reinforcements arrive. She's summoned forth a tiny spark of the heat that exists at the molten core of each planet, the fire mighty Angradd uses in his forge to craft the tools of destruction and defense that keep dwarves strong and safe.

She steps back and stabs the Swarm creature with her pike.

Tactical Pike plus Flanking: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 2 = 9
Piercing: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

The soldier from Angradd's Army is ready to strike as soon as he is deployed and does so, throwing a tiny, fiery fist at the creature.

Punch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Half Bludgeoning, Half Fire: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Special Attacks and Immunities, please.

Seeing as Zapp's primary form of melee defense (cowering) won't be effective against this mindless beast, Zapp simply draws his baton and swings for the fences.

Baton: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Bludgeoning: 1d4 ⇒ 2

- Sluggish: The victim takes a –2 penalty to Reflex saves and Dexterity-based ability checks, attack rolls, and skill checks; the DCs of her spells and special abilities decrease by 2; and she becomes flat-footed.
- Stiffened: The victim loses her Dexterity bonus to her Armor Class, and she can’t take reactions.
OMID continues to target the creature.

Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 - 2 = 13 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Gus narrowly misses with his strike.

Dara also fails to connect.
The firey beast summoned in gets to work, landing a quality blow!

OMID gets a zap on target!

Zapp - not so lucky.

Kippi up!

R 16

Kippi spirals up higher into the air to get a clearer shot on the monstrous swarmian. Her wings light up and she sends a beam right at its maw.

Solar Flare vs. EAC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Solar Flare damage, photon mode (F) (force effect): 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5

The solar flare chars chitin to good effect!

***

The creature strikes back at the summoned beast!

Attack 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 11 - 4 = 12
Damage 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Attack 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 11 - 4 = 26
Damage 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

***

The gang continues to hook in with their blades!

Attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Damage 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Damage 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Damage 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

***

The creature cracks open under the assault - exploding in a wash of acid! Whilst you are all injured by the burn, it is nothing too serious.

The gang look rather satisfied with themselves, despite the acidic splash - "Time for us to get out of here, looks like the job is done" they throw you a 'peace' sign and depart.

You have cleared the threats from the warehouse, final actions before returning for debrief :)

"Perhaps we ought to give this warehouse a quick once-over. Make sure there isn't anything valuable brought here by the swarmians."

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Kippi floats around giving people high fives, then suddenly stops in mid-air "Wait! Shouldn't we have caught those gang members? Aren't they really bad people? Uh..." She floats back down to the ground "At least we got the swarmians. Lets hope that was all of them!"

Make sure to clear the warehouse of any swarm.

"But the lesser of many evils that were in this room," Zapp says, not sounding happy as the gangers leave. "Anyway, they'd cause problems of some sort if we tried bringing them in."

He takes a few non-victory laps around the room, typing up some notes. He is of the opinion this building should be torched after investigation, just in case.

Gus continues to check the warehouse thoroughly - unfortunately, he misses a vital sign that the egg sacs are quite dangerous as they emit a large clour of corrosive acid - clearly intending to dissolve him into goop-food.

Acid 4d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 2, 5) = 14
DC13 Ref for half.

***

Realising there is nothing moving in the area, and that the whole lot is still an acidic deathtrap, you decide to call it in and depart.

You return to the Master of Stars and find Fitch and Zigvigix waiting for you "Thank you for your efforts, we will be sending a cleanup crew to remove any remaining traces of the Swarm incursion on Absalom Station - especially in Fogtown."

Fitch pipes up "So, what are your thoughts on turning Zelrai into the authorities? Doing so could needlessly hamper the Society’s and other organizations’ ability to come and go from Absalom Station, and if we don't hand Zelrai over to station security, the ferran owes the Society an enormous favour".

"On the other hand", Zigvigix interjects "Zelrai’s greed threatened so many lives and cost several, and worries that letting her get away with shipping Swarm creatures could merely embolden her toward more further dangerous activities".

Cast your votes!

Turn her in.

0 - Godfather, all about the favours.
1 - Judge Judy, all about justice.

Zapp looks as if he's almost considering the alternative before he thinks better of it. He starts by reiterating Ziggy's argument in his own special way, uncaring of the shirren's bias. "We could've been dissolving into biomatter in a Swarmian stomach around now! Some surely were. She should feel quite lucky if we attempt to have her sentence commuted. But a sentence she should serve."

Darakwinn helps with the final patrol, as well but is glad to leave when she realizes the whole place is a deathtrap. She's a warrior, after all, not a cleaner.

"If she hadn't known what she was doing, I might say to let her go. But she did. And everyone who's not an infant knows that you don't mess with the Swarm. If she did it once, she might do it again. And what's to stop her from bragging about it and encouraging other people to do the same? She has to be turned in," Darakwinn voices her opinion when it comes time to determine Zelrai's fate.

0 - Godfather, all about the favours.
3 - Judge Judy, all about justice.

***

Ziggy looks rather happy.

"Your well informed and considered opinions are highly regarded - we shall make our decision"

With that, the pair go back to debating - leaving you to see your own way out.

***

End!

CHRONICLE SHEETS

Nice, thanks for running the game for us Shifty! My chronicle looks good. And thanks to all the rest of you for a fun time.