GM Quirk's Threefold Conspiracy

Game Master Quirk, Private Eye

Rar'gul, you probably haven't heard of the Stardream II, at least until this moment. You might overhear the doctor or John saying something about a cruise ship that disappeared near the sun some 20 years ago....

Let's see if we can locate this door. I'm assuming everyone is headed for the engineering deck, specifically the area marked with my red arrow. I will need perception checks from anyone looking for the door. Should you wish to check for possible traps, let me know and I will roll for you.

Yariel looks for the door and then for traps.

Perception Door: 1d20 ⇒ 1

Unable to fully piece together the whole picture, Rar'gul joins his companions in the hunt for the secret compartment. He also keeps an eye out for signs of possible traps.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Well, let’s see if there is a trap.”

Beauregard busts out his scanner

perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Your searching yields the feint outline of a door, and a nearby keypad turns out to be connected to the door. Yariel, perhaps with assistance from others, is able to hack or engineer a way to get through the door.

Opening it reveals the following:

Automatic lights click on inside a room beyond the open
secret door, revealing a cargo hold full of dusty boxes.
Netting hangs from the ceiling. The form of a male kasatha
lies in the center of the room, his arms twisted in painful
positions and one of his shoes missing. A puddle of blood has
dried under his head.

Please see slide 2. You may place your tokens within this room. There were no traps, and I didn't see a need to go through all of the computer/engineering rolls to get in.

"If I had a hat, it would be off to you. You certainly be a nuar detective." John says to Beau as he hurries into the room. He kneels beside the body, but doesn't retrieve his medkit. He knows someone who has better knowledge and equipment.

"Doctor?"

If there are traps inside, better I set them off than Dr F-B.

Aid medicine: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

"If I had a hat, it would be off to you. You certainly be a nuar detective."

”Let’s not jump to conclusions. I was wrong about the incinerator, I could be wrong about this too.”

Beauregard. Checks the resemblance of this Nuar to the captain, then begins looking through the crates while those with medical training tend to their patient.

”Maybe these crates will tell us why everyone was so hot and bothered about this room.”

T'sorkel click loudly as he surveys the scene. Let's cut him down from there. Doctor, I think we will need your trained eye. Is that the Captain?

The captain is not up in this netting. He's actually simply laying on the floor, as noted on the map (slide 2).

Yariel stays at the door, watching the hall, ”That the captain?”

"That be my working hypothesis."

"So." Doctor Flint-Bridge approaches the body, flexing the fingers of her left hand to activate the integrated scanners. "Will this be an answer, or simply more questions?"

Medicine check: 1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (16) + 8 + (3) = 27

A familiar voice sounds out. "Hello? Anyone in there?"

It's Trostinek. He enters the secret compartment and seems surprised to see you all (and perhaps even surprised that this compartment exists).

He stands in the doorway, and peers in at all of you.

"Trostinek! Stay right there. We've found the captain."

John looks over Doctor Flint-Bridge at Rar'gul and Beauregard, and jerks his head meaningfully at the vesk.

Wondering what Doc finds out.

Wondering what Doc finds out.

Gah! Can't believe I forgot that!

The doctor takes a few moments to give a cursory examination of the body. The subject is a kasatha, and has been dead for 24-48 hours. Cause of death appears to be head trauma. There is a large wound on the back the subject's head.

You have every reason to believe this is Captain Rameem.

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Trostinek replies to John, "The captain? And what...where are we? I had no idea this room was on this vessel."

Trostinek replies to John, "The captain? And what...where are we? I had no idea this room was on this vessel."

"Unless I have taken leave of my senses, this appears to be a cargo hold," Doc replies dryly, "and it contains exactly what one would expect, given the circumstances. The open question, however, is why you are here, Trostinek. You've missed not one but two firefights in the past hour. We have established the location and condition of every crew member and passenger aboard this vessel save one. Where have you been, and what brings you here at this moment?"

T'sorkel come up to Trostinek. "You sound like you don't even know how you got here. What where you doing these past few hours? And why did you decide to come to this spot?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Gah! I thought I'd posted on Friday, but it mustn't have submitted. Sorry folks!

While his more qualified colleagues inspect the body, Rar'gul assists Beauregard in his inspection of the crates.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

At the sound of Trostinek's voice, the trox looks up from his search. "It's good to see you, Trostinek. We had worried for your safety when you were unaccounted for earlier," he says, sounding relieved.

"You should join us. We might not be out of the woods just yet. We could use your expertise."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Yariel eyes the thug with suspicion as well, though obviously not as much as most of her allies. She agrees with Rar'gul, "Yeah, this whole mess is starting to unravel. Stick by us..." ...where we can keep an eye on you.

-EARLIER-

Rar'gul takes a moment to check in on the captain. His knock on the captain's cabin door is met by the captain's voice. Although he is cordial, he does say that he would prefer some quiet rest with no visitors, and that the ship was in good hand with the first officer.

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Trostinek's presence is met by a wide variety of responses from all of you. He seems particularly out of sorts by the accusative tone from Dr. Flint-Bridge and T'sorkel.

In fact, Trostinek snarls at you all. "Curse you, meddlers. We were so close to pulling this thing off with minimal bloodshed, but you just had to nose around.”

Initiative

Yariel: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Rar’gul: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Dr. Flint-Bridge: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
John Rawlins: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
T’Sorkel: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Beauregard: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (12) + 0 = 12
enemy Trostinek: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Trostinek produces a large hammer and steps through the door to attack Yariel.

to hit: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24
damage if hit: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Bold may go

1. Trostinek
2. Dr. Flint-Bridge
3. John
4. Beauregard
5. T'sorkel
6. Yariel
7. Rar'gul

"Temper, temper!" Doc chides as she smoothly draws her pharma-cannon. "Count to ten and try again, dear." A beam of bioactive-laced energy flies towards the vesk.

Move action: draw weapon. Standard action: Use the caustolance to deliver a specialty inhibitor biohack to Trostinek. If it hits, he becomes encumbered (no saving throw) and possibly entangled (DC 13 Fortitude save) for 5 rounds. Caustolance battery is at 19/20; biohacks at 2/3.

Attack vs. EAC w/ Caustolance: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
sad trombone...

Beauregard will step forward, swift action call his called handaxe to his hand, then throws it.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
damage if hit: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Doc misses, but Beauregard scores a hit with his axe.

"Stand down bud, we already figured out about 90% of your plan, and it's six on one. Don't be a fool."

"Calm down, Trostinek! What has gotten into you?" He flicks his hand and a loose piece of crating flies at the Vesk.

Telekinetic Projectile: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Caught off-guard by Trostinek's sudden hostility, Rar'gul is a little slow in reacting.

Dashing forward, he slides across between Beauregard and the vesk, crowding their opponent in the doorway while leaving a lane open for his companions. "I've got this now, Flash," he rumbles.
+1 EP

Hefting his massive hammer, he tries to pound Trostinek to pulp.

Glamered assault hammer (vs KAC): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

John stands and starts moving smoothly toward the melee. He draws his pistol on the way. His cane is, as always, in hand.

"You've no talent for this sort of thing Trostinek. Give up and you might see Alonya again."

Move as shown.

Yariel hears some words and stuff behind her, but her head is still readling from taking a surprise sledge upside the head. She stumbles back, "You'll PAY FOR THAT, I'LL BURN YOU ALIVE!!!"

Guarded Step, Cast Overheat for 2d8 ⇒ (6, 5) = 11 fire, Reflex DC 15 for half.

Apparently Trostinek has no talent for making friends either. He just alienated the party member most well disposed toward him.

Oh, and nice roll there, Pete.

REF save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Trostinek is injured by Beauregard's axe, and seems to be badly burned by Yariel's spell. (Everyone else missed, though Rar'gul was close). He joins in the witty repartee:

"Six on one? I've had it worse! COME GET SOME!" Turning to John, he says, "Alonya? Which one of you was Alonya?"

Yariel, that spell has worked well for this group. John, you'll be getting your second bottlecap for remembering Trostinek's wife back on Vesk Prime. It's telling that he can't seem to place that name....

Trostinek aggressively steps toward Rar'gul and strikes!

to hit: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16
B&E damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Forgive me for not remembering the rule. Trostinek's hammer does both bashing and electrical damage. Will the to hit be against EAC or KAC? If it's EAC that is a hit vs. Rar'gul.

Bold may go

1. Trostinek (-17)
2. Dr. Flint-Bridge
3. John
4. Beauregard
5. T'sorkel
6. Yariel (-8)
7. Rar'gul

The rule is that if any component of the strike is physical, the attack goes against KAC unless there is a specific rule for that specific attack (like Vanguard's weapons or Solarian Weapons.)

Swift action call axe back to hand, move action guarded step up, Standard action attack.

Axe him a question: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
damage if hit: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

I was hoping the emotional plea would work.

"Alonya is the one who is going to miss Trostinek very much," John replies.

He lowers his pistol as if to shoot the vesk in the leg, then whips it up for a head shot.

Trick Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
static arc pistol v EAC: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 ... Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6 critical Arc 2
If trick worked Trosty is flatfooted and takes : 1d4 ⇒ 2 damage.

Yariel steps back and hacks the AC pipe above Trosty, venting coolant right at him.

Guarded Step, Energy Ray

Energy Ray vs. EAC: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 for Ice: 1d3 ⇒ 1

Thanks for posting that rule, Beauregard. I was at work and really didn't have the chance to research this. Would have preferred to be home with my old-fashioned book to look this up. SO, Rar'gul, looks like that was a miss!

Beauregard is able to connect again with his axe, while John and Yariel miss.

"You'rre not Trrostinekkk," Rar'gul
rumbles, beginning to catch on. "I suppose that Algiada you werre worrkking with was not rreally Algiada, eitherrr," he speculates.

He swings his hammer at the imposter again, trying to crush him with the transferred energy. Twice.

Entropic strike 1 (vs EAC): 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 - 4 = 9
A&B Damage: 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Entropic strike 2 (vs EAC): 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 - 4 = 14
A&B Damage: 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

T'sorkel continues flinging bits of tooling and scraps at the Vesk.

Telekinetic Projectile: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

"Six on one? I've had it worse! COME GET SOME!"

"You've also had it better and still failed." Doc matter-of-factly adjusts some dials on her microlab before leveling the caustolance at the apparent vesk and firing a beam of pharmaceutical-laden energy. "Please contact your doctor if you experience any unusual side effects, such as exhaustion, muscle stiffness, or complete dissociation from reality."

Standard action: Use the caustolance to deliver a specialty inhibitor biohack to "Trostinek". Caustolance battery is at 18/20; biohacks at 1/3.

Attack vs. EAC w/ Caustolance: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
If it hits, he becomes encumbered (no saving throw) and possibly entangled (DC 13 Fortitude save) for 5 rounds. This is a mind-affecting poison effect.

Rar'gul is able to connect on his second attack, though barely.

Dr. Flint-Bridge threads the needle and connects with her rifle through the swirling melee!

fort save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Trostinek, already taking a good beating, now finds himself seemingly stuck in place. He even seems to have a hard time raising his weapon.

He commits to perhaps one last act of defiance. "I don't matter. The rest will be here soon. You all should have survived this. Now I'm not sure they'll spare you!

He swings one more time at Rar'gul.

to hit with entangled penalty: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 11 - 2 = 20
damage if hit: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Bold may go

1. Trostinek (-28)
2. Dr. Flint-Bridge
3. John
4. Beauregard
5. T'sorkel
6. Yariel (-8)
7. Rar'gul

Move around Trostinek (provokes an attack of oppertunity)
"Don't think you're getting off that easily!"

standard nonlethal punch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
damage if hit: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

He's encumbered and entangled right now. Not sure if this is technically the right thing, but I am going to say he can't do an AoO right now.

A piece of metal scrap flies towards the Vesk. "Who are these others? The crew?"

Telekinetic Projectile: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

+1 EP from taking damage. EP: 2/3

"You will not get off so lightly; you have much to answer for," Rar'gul rumbles, shifting his grip on his hammer.

The trox thrusts the flat of the hammer's head at his foe, drawing in and shifting inner energy in an effort to knock the wind from Trostinek.

(Non lethal) Entropic strike w/flanking (vs EAC): 1d20 + 4 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 4 - 4 + 2 = 7
B Damage + Entropic Boost: 1d3 + 3 + 1d4 ⇒ (3) + 3 + (1) = 7
-1 EP. EP:1/2

That's interesting.

John flips his pistol to stun mode. Then he takes careful aim, supporting the pistol over his opposite forearm, and fires at the vesk.

Was going to move to cut off the door, 'cause I could have done it without provoking AoO, but Beau beat me to it. Works out 'cause now I can try a non-lethal attack. No trick attack this time.

static arc pistol v EAC: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24 ... Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2critical Arc 2

OH! Crit! Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Does the arc damage Beau or Rar'gul?

Yariel holds off on another attack with a bit of annoyance, "Ugh fine, don't kill him or whatever. But if it backfires, I'm putting the guy down. Cheapshots are for chumps."

Delay

John hits Trostinek with a carefully aimed arc pistol shot, causing him to first convulse, then fall onto the floor unconscious.

Beauregard, T'sorkel, and John managed to do the exact number of hitpoints needed to drop him. Doc's inhibitor helped T'sorkel hit.

The Shirren slowly approaches Trostinek. "He did not seem...right. He didn't really recognize his wife's name and he seemed very confused. What did he mean by 'the rest will be here soon'? Could he be a shapeshifter too?" He bends down to examine the Vesk, wondering if a shapeshifter would revert to their true form.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Medicine: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Mysticism: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

"Cerrtainly possible, given all that's trranspirred arround herrre," Rar'gul rumbles his agreement as he lifts his hammer to rest on a shoulder.

"What do you makkke of... it?" the trox asks T'sorkel, peering over the shirren's shoulder for a better look at the unconscious foe.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Mysticism: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

"I'm not sure, but 'the rest will soon be here' were a statement of fact rather than threat. We need to get the ship moving again. Then take down the captain. Then winnow out the details. And we need to keep Trosty here restrained. Doctor, have you something to make sure he stays unconscious? "

John changes the battery in his pistol, and leaves it on stun mode.

”Listen up! Heal up, grab some healing serums from the med kits if you need. If my hunch is correct, I think an attack is coming soon. We were stranded here on purpose, and someone wanted to keep us here longer by further sabotaging us. With what he said, I think the idea was to strand us in the drift and make us easy prey for Trostinek’s, whoever he is, friends to come in, board us, and take the cargo without a fight. Problem is, drift travel is unreliable so they couldn’t have an exact timeframe. We need to secure the imposter, lock Trostinek up, then get ready to repel borders. If I’m wrong, all that’ll happen is we’ll be ready for an attack that’ll never come.”

Beauregard was checking out the contents of the cargo hold, what did he find?

"Nothing too bad here, Beauregard. I just need a moment to catch my breath..." Anyone mind taking 10 mins for a short rest, if available?

"We're going to need to deal with the "Captain" quickly and start getting ready for our guests," Rar'gul rumbles. "In case Kiiv can't get the Chimera back online so Flash can get us out of here before they arrive."

"Let's get Trostinek secured and find out what's so important about this room. At the least, the "Captain" would know about this room. It makes me wonder what might have already been taken," Rar'gul adds, looking around the room.

Rar'gul had also been checking the crates with Beauregard, while the others inspected the body.

Another Perception, if needed: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12