GM Quirk's Threefold Conspiracy

Game Master Quirk, Private Eye

"How close be you? It be suspicious and sniffing around. I can distract it when you be ready to drop in."

Delay. Based on John's knowledge of the situation, he's waiting for the party to descend the ladder to ceiling level, at which time he can move to position 2 and shoot it as a distraction while you drop the last 10 feet. OOC, for the record, I support Yariel's feather fall plan. Way more awesome than climbing down the ladder!

The seconds tick by as you quickly organize yourselves to descend the ladder and confront this monster...this Ungeheuer of immense proportions.

The monster sniffs the air, but does nothing else.

John and T'sorkel (and anyone else who delays), you may take your turn at any point here. It will likely take each of you your whole turn to descend the ladder (it's 50' of climbing total). With four ladders (one on each wall), it won't be hard for you all to get down this turn.
Round 1.

3. Enemy Black
4. Beauregard
5. Dr. Flint-Bridge
6. Yariel
7. Rar'gul
8. Hrog

Delayed
1. T'sorkel
2. John

Beauregard is willing to jump down and be feather falled.

”If y’all trust me yet, I can get both big guys down really fast. But ya gotta jump together.”

Not sure if the large PC and NPC could ‘fall’ down a chute that small, but if they can Yariel can hit them both with Fly (aka feather fall) as they drop down.

Update about the spell. I can send Rar'gul and Hrog down together OR I can send Rar'Gul and TWO of the medium sized pc's.

Lilly listens to Yariel’s plan. “Sounds like it’ll be perfect. I can shimmy down on my own ladder and get into a covering position.”

She secures her rifle and steps onto to a rung. Moving with graceful and silent deliberation -- while mentally calling for help from a variety of Halfling ancestors and deities both real and imagined -- she disappears down the ladder like a fading mirage at twilight.

Double move down the ladder being all stealthy-like with a +5 bonus to moving with stealth from Sneaky. If the roll isn’t enough, there’s a bottle cap I can cash in…
Stealth with Sneaky + 5 bonus: 1d20 + 9 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 5 = 20

After reaching the bottom, she pads silently behind the console on the east wall and aims her rifle at the massive creature, ready (sort-of) for whatever is ahead.

"I trrust you with my life, Flash," Rar'gul states simply, taking his hammer in both hands and stepping up to the shaft's edge. "John, incoming!" the trox utters into comms before stepping into nothing.

"Ungeheuer" is one of my favorite German words. It means "monster," but it often is used for "ogre" as well. I live across the street from my high school German teacher. Hell, he was my DAD'S high school German teacher. He's 97.

And with Rar'gul jumping down the 50' shaft, that should start a chain of all of you triggering actions.

Let's make this simple: if you use Yariel's spell to jump down (Rar'gul + two others--I will have Hrog follow up last), you may use your move action to fall down the shaft and still have a standard action. If you climb down, you can double move, which would still give most of you about 10' to move at the bottom.

So, Rar'gul, please go ahead and take your standard action. The rest of you may commence with your actions if you haven't already.

Can you go as well, Yariel, or does it need to be someone else? If someone else, T'sorkel will jump down after Rar'gul. If you can go, I defer to if you want to be in the fray.

The Ysoki nods at Rar'gul, "Thank you big guy."

But she raises an eyebrow at T'sorkel's question, "At what point in this entire adventure have I made any indication that I wish to go first or even second into a dangerous situation? No thank you. I will happily follow you all into the fray though."

That looks like Rar'gul, T'sorkel & Beauregard are going down with magic. Then doc and Yariel will go halfway (stealth is half speed and Yariel only has a single move left after her spell reaction). I'm assuming the NPC will also get down a double move's worth.

Instead of magicking up her allies, she actually just points at the floor below the ladder and creates a nice soft fluffy landing pad that absorbs all their falling energy.

John makes it down.

It hasn’t attacked anyone yet, right? Are we gonna try diplomacy? What’s the plan?

Thanks for the correction, Yariel! As you can tell, I don't stealth much.

UPDATE
Lilly secures her rifle and steps onto to a rung. Moving with graceful and silent deliberation -- while mentally calling for help from a variety of Halfling ancestors and deities both real and imagined -- she disappears down the ladder like a fading mirage at twilight.

She makes it 30' down the ladder, pausing to see what will happen next and preparing to protect her friends.

At this point, Lilly is 10' up the ladder from the bottom. Next turn, she plans to move the rest of the way down, slip to the side behind the control panel, and draw her rifle, ready to protect her companions.

Kill it. Shut down the reactor. Get off this rock. Take the short route despite this thing's reputation for reasonable discussion.

+1 EP first action in combat. EP: 1/3

Dropping through the shaft, Rar'gul - thanks to Yariel's spell - lands gently on the hard floor below.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

His hammer gripped tightly in both hands, the trox quickly scans the area for threats and appraises the creature, once he's located it.

Knowing how dangerous the creature is, Rar'gul jumps at the chance to strike first, immediately hurling his hammer through the air at the beast.

Called thrown diamagnetic storm hammer: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 7 - 2 = 20 in 2nd range increment
B/E damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Muttering a word in N'chaki, the hammer vanishes from where it landed and materialises in his hand.

Suddenly realizing that his territory is being invaded, the troll-like beast roars and turns toward all of you. To your horror, you realize it has two heads!

Current status for round 1: Rar'gul drops down via Yariel's spell, along with T'sorkel and Beauregard. Rar'gul HITS with his thrown hammer, drawing first blood! Beauregard and T'sorkel may still take a standard or move action since they dropped down via Yariel's spell. John may also take his action, as he delayed. Meanwhile, Hrog, Yariel, and Dr. Flint-Bridge should emerge from the ladders next round. The troll did not realize anyone was there this round, so it will act at the top of round two, at which point things become interesting!

Beaugregard will cast wisp ally, set to hinder its attacks. The first attack it makes every round is at a -2 for 4 rounds.

T'sorkel lands and takes his first look at the troll. His eyes go wide at the enormous figure, but he holds up his hand and simply says, Stop.

Cast Command. Will DC 17 or be dazed for 1 round.

will save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

The massive beast is unfazed by T'sorkel's magic.

A wisp appears near the beast, and it waves ineffectually at it.

I believe we are waiting for John to scoot and shoot, then it's off to round 2.

John hurries to the next pillar. He rounds the corner and fires , then ducks back behind the pillar.

arc pistol v EAC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 ... damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 critical Arc 2; Stun

John moves about and blasts the troll, who flinches when hit!

Hrog begins his descend down ladder. He'll hit the floor later on round 2.

As you all emerge from the ladder to confront the two-headed troll, you have a sense of unease. It's a vague sense that you have.

A series of 5-foot-square grates form a gridded alloy
framework that functions as the floor.

The troll roars loudly. Rar'gul, you can "feel" the deep bellowing screech of the creature as it faces you, and you can smell its breath.

The creature pulls up a piece of the floor grate and hurls it at Rar'gul!

to hit with wisp penalty: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 11 - 2 = 19
damage, B: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 3) + 6 = 10

Appears to be a hit.

Shared a great piece of artwork on slide 3. Take a look. Bold may go. Round 2. Due to various delays that happened last round, this is all screwed up, but I think it should work...

1. Enemy Black
2. Beauregard
3. Dr. Flint-Bridge
4. Yariel
5. Rar'gul (-10)
6. T'sorkel
7. John
8. Hrog

T'sorkel's 'voice' rings in your heads in a panicked tone. There's some sort of psychic alarm going off about the reactor! We need to fix it! This thing will only slow us down, and we'll all die! The Shirren's panic is palatable and he reaches into the Archive in a frenzied state. In a microsecond, he finds the troll-beast's memories, he does what would normally horrify him -- he simply begins ripping and yanking at the memories, tearing them right out of the beast. In the physical world, T'sorkel hurries over to the control panel, trying to find a monitor or control system for the reactor.

Mind Thrust (Will DC 16 for half): 4d10 ⇒ (1, 6, 8, 7) = 22

Lilly slides down the last 10 feet of the ladder and dashes to the control podiums.

She aims her micro lab's sensors toward the two-headed creature.

“Let’s see what you’re made of...”

Move action to use Life Science and her trusty custom microlab to identify the troll. Looking for weaknesses, immunities, resistances, AC, attacks.

Life Science with micro lab, auto 20: 20 + 10 = 30

She aims her micro lab's sensors toward the two-headed creature.

“Let’s see what you’re made of...”

Move action to use Life Science and her trusty custom microlab to identify the troll. Looking for weaknesses, immunities, resistances, AC, attacks.

[Dice=Life Science with micro lab, auto 20] 20+10

Dr. Flint-Bridge identifies this creature as a QUANTUM TROLL.

You know two things about it. No weaknesses or resistances, so I won't count those against your two things. It is immune to radiation. EAC 17, KAC 19.

will save vs. mind thrust: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

In this case two heads are NOT better than one, and T'sorkel's mind thrust is fully effective. You guys needed that.

Just as T'sorkel casts his spell, a giant claw strikes him WHERE HE CURRENTLY STANDS. Those of you near the shirren see a large arm and claw appear out of a flash of inky blackness, strike the shirren, then disappear. The troll in the corner of the room retracts his arm as if he were the one who just attacked T'sorkel.

attack: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28
damage, S: 1d6 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

A hit.

Bold may go. Round 2.

1. Enemy Black
2. Beauregard
3. Dr. Flint-Bridge
4. Yariel
5. Rar'gul (-10)
6. T'sorkel (-16]
7. John
8. Hrog

"Hold on, never tried this before!" shouts Beauregard as he holds out his hand and tries to subtly shift the footing of where the troll is for something less favorable from a neighboring dimension.

Beauregard expends a second level spell and the troll needs to make a reflex save (DC 15) or fall prone. If he rolls a nat 1, then I get to move him ten feet. This is a SUPERNATURAL ability and thus, does not provoke OAs

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

Rar'gul watches on in shock as the troll slashes at T'sorkel from the other side of the chamber!

"See what you can find our - I'll keep it busy!" Rar'gul calls to his shirren companion.

"Nothing gained from kkkeeping at a distance," he rumbles, sliding a step forward.

"Why don't you trrry that on me!" he bellows, swinging his hammer at the troll.

Diamagnetic storm hammer (vs KAC): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Bludgeoning & Electricity Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Not good.

John takes another shot at the creature. Then realizing the Rar'gul is going to need help -- or more realistically, that a distraction would help Rar'gul, John tucks his cane under his arm and draws the blade. The wooden sheath clatters to the ground behind his feet while he charges forward.

arc pistol v EAC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17 ... damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 critical Arc 2; Stun

Move as shown with the anti-AoO class feature. If Rar'gul shifts to his left we can flank.

Yariel moves down the ladder and rushes over to the control panel, "Need some help here? I heard we would all die if this wasn't stopped."

Double Move

reflex save vs. Beauregard's effect: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

It makes the save.

Rar'gul slams his hammer into the troll, causing the creature to howl with anger. John also hits with his pistol.

Hrog finishes climbing down the ladder. He hisses, and attempts to claw the troll.

to hit: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25
damage, S: 1d6 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Once again, there is a flash of inky blackness, then the troll is gone. It reappears almost instantly behind Rar'gul.

The troll then trains its wrath upon Rar'gul, seeing him as its biggest threat.

to hit, bite: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29
damage: 1d6 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

Hit.

Bold may go. Round 3.

1. Enemy Black
2. Beauregard
3. Dr. Flint-Bridge
4. Yariel
5. Rar'gul (-25)
6. T'sorkel (-16]
7. John
8. Hrog

+1EP from damage. EP:3/3

Grunting, Rar'gul stands firm in the face of the troll's attack, hammer already moving into a rapid double strike.

Diamagnetic storm hammer 1 (vs KAC): 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 7 - 4 = 23
Bludgeoning & Electricity Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Diamagnetic storm hammer 2 (vs KAC): 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 7 - 4 = 18
Bludgeoning & Electricity Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Crit? Bludgeoning & Electricity Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 and Knockdown

T'sorkel speaks in a frantic tone to Yariel. The reactor system is sending out constant warnings! I don't even know if this system can control it. And watch out for that troll thing, it can hit you from across the room! The Shirren continues his assault on the Troll's memories from the Akashic record, making a wreck of the creature's mind.

Mind Thrust (Will DC 16 for half): 4d10 ⇒ (10, 8, 8, 3) = 29

That will probably still provoke, though if it's prone from Rar'gul's attack, it's at least at a -4.

Lilly hears T'sorkel's scream and turns in time to glimpse the troll’s claws disappear into blackness, then she sees the whole troll flash from one spot to another and slash into Rar’gul.

Her brain jackpots out a stream of colorful and biologically improbable Halfling invective, although it only echoes through her head. Teleporting trolls obviously aren't doing anything for Lilly's mental health.

Well, if this thing can hit us like that, then cover's useless. Time to get up front.

Lilly pulls her syringe stick from its sheath, loads it with a biohack, and steps toward the troll.

“I hope this stings A LOT!”

Syringe Stick: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16 (Since she’s in melee combat, the biohack is not expended if the attack misses.)

Damage plus injection: 1d3 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) - 1 + 2 = 4

Inhibitor: You introduce a mild hallucinogen into a living creature’s body, making it difficult for the target to move or act. The target gains the encumbered condition and must succeed at a DC 13 Fortitude save or also gain the entangled condition. This is a mind-affecting poison effect.

... The troll then trains its wrath upon Rar'gul, seeing him as its biggest threat....

Seldom have I been so grateful to be inconsequential in combat.

John watches in amazement when his target disappears."Abadar's golden key! That be a tricky beast!"

He hurries to the corner to line up a shot along the wall.

arc pistol v EAC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 ... damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 critical Arc 2; Stun

Yariel scans the screens to see if there is an easy and quick way to start shutting this thing down.

Engineering (t): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30

Rar'gul knocks down the troll with an amazing swing. Dr. Flint-Bridge follows up with a quick poke from her syringe.

Fort save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

It made the save, so it is merely encumbered.

will save vs. T'sorkel's spell: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

T'sorkel may be your MVP here...

The troll goes down.

Hrog seems disappointed he didn't get one more hit in.

We're still in initiative for the moment. Beauregard may do something, and the rest of you may do a one round action.

Bold may go. Round 3.

1. Enemy Black (Dead)
2. Beauregard (may take two actions)
3. Dr. Flint-Bridge
4. Yariel
5. Rar'gul (-25)
6. T'sorkel (-16]
7. John
8. Hrog

T'sorkel starts to breathe a little easier as he sees the troll creature fall and not get up again. Oh, thank goodness! I thought he was going to hurt me even more. I-- The Shirren suddenly stops as he realizes that the creature might have died of psychic damage rather than physical wounds.

You hear a squeak and chitter as the student realizes what he's done. He delves into the Archive and sees the creature's Akashic link simply severed; the memories tied to it in complete shambles. Oh! I...I never meant to destroy his mind! I didn't even know that was possible! I work so hard to preserve the Archive; How could I have done such a thing?!

No action yet. GM do you have a ruling on whether T'sorkel can use his ability to give him Profession (Reactor technician)? See Discussion thread.

Yariel hollars, "Ah great, good work on that beast. It wasn't that tough. Listen, this reactor is built by grays for grays, so it requires a telepathic input as well as physical input. It seems we will need to work together."

She gets on the comms and rings up their allies across the compound, "We are at the reactor, found a Quantum Troll, put it down. But the reactor requires at least one telepath to do anything. We have one of those so will get cracking, do you all have one?"

Culture check to know about trolls: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

”Trolls have to be hit by fire, right? To put them down for good? Not sure about quantum trolls but let’s not take any chances.”

He walks over and touches Ra’argul’s hammer. Shifting surge, change lightning to fire

”Might wanna hit him one more time just to be sure. Piece of mind and all that.”

Yariel hollars, "Ah great, good work on that beast. It wasn't that tough. Listen, this reactor is built by grays for grays, so it requires a telepathic input as well as physical input. It seems we will need to work together."

She gets on the comms and rings up their allies across the compound, "We are at the reactor, found a Quantum Troll, put it down. But the reactor requires at least one telepath to do anything. We have one of those so will get cracking, do you all have one?"

"The Stewards ground commander be a lashunta. Be a way I can help here?"

...”Trolls have to be hit by fire, right? To put them down for good? Not sure about quantum trolls but let’s not take any chances.”

He walks over and touches Ra’argul’s hammer. Shifting surge, change lightning to fire

”Might wanna hit him one more time just to be sure. Piece of mind and all that.”

John stops walking toward the control console just long enough to fire his weapon into both heads of the troll. Before he reaches the console he reloads his pistol with a fresh battery.

Engineering Aid, if possible: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Lilly eyes the downed troll suspiciously.

They regenerate, I remember that. But how do we stop It? C’mon, you covered that in xenobiology II, uh, XBIO 578 with that crazy prof and the cute guy… Harriken… oh, gawd so cute… and the wine and the candles and it was so dark… ohhh, not right now, Lils. Trolls. Think trolls. What’s that thing with trolls?

Life Science: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

As she ponders, Lilly steps toward the reactor console and swaps her syringe stick for her caustolance rifle in case anything else weird happens.

“Anything I can do to help?”

Engineering aid: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

T'sorkel puts on the gray device, linking into the reactor control. Hopefully it will recognize me just like a gray. Hopefully it doesn't stick something into my brain...

As he does, he reaches back into the Archive, trying to avoid the evidence of his recent destruction there which still gives him shudders. In the time that can only be measured by synapses, he filters through the Archive to find memories associated with a reactor and similar engineering technology.

Spend 1RP to gain skill levels equal to his level in Profession (computer technician) or (reactor technician) or something along those lines. I think it would be an Int skill still, so T'sorkel would have a +5 to that. He also have a +6 to just regular Engineering skill.

Beauregard and John keep a weather eye on the troll. It's badly burnt and scarred body does not seem to further regenerate, leaving you with the feeling that beast is permanently dead.

T'sorkel has accessed the computer.

This will require some hacking to further access the control module for the reactor.

Two of you may assist with this roll. T'sorkel will have to make the primary roll.

Is anyone doing anything else?

Of little help with the computer, Rar'gul checks the crumpled bodies of the grays.

Standing, he wanders over to the airlock door, where he runs a broad finger along one of the deep gouges.

I can't fail an Aid on Computers, so that is one auto-success.

Yariel frowns, "I think you'll have to do the commands, but my best guess is you should search for a help FAQ first, then just follow the steps to shut it down."

+9 to computers so I'm able to auto-aid also.

John moves toward the control console to see if he can help Yariel and T'sorkel.

"And remember, you can't have too much water in a nuclear reactor."

One of my favorite SNL references.

Her voice is clear over the noise, but still waivers a bit. “Wait, T’sorkel… I can help you.” She hopes the offer sounded supportive and not semi-frantic.

Lilly digs into her kit bag and comes up with her last prepared biohack. She plugs the cartridge into her microlab, taps a few commands, and carefully fills an injector.

“We’ll start with this…” She injects the serum into into T’sorkel with practiced ease.

Basic booster: “The target gains a +2 enhancement bonus to skill checks.”

“…then I'll help Rar'gul search the room while you all make sure there's gae'n tuh be a room left tuh leave,” she adds, with far more more brogue than usual.

T'sorkel reaches out with his mind as well as trying to use what he can understand from the Archive to operate the machine.

Computers: 1d20 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 6 = 19

There is a long pause.

The computer processes the information.

An error message returns, and alarms blare.

Six hatches open in the ceiling, and small defense lasers emerge.

There is a to hit roll for each of these. I'm not going to go through all of that. It's only d4 damage. I'm going to assume half of you are hit. This round it's Beauregard, Yariel, and Dr. Flint-Bridge. You each take: 1d4 ⇒ 2 fire damage.

T'sorkel, you may attempt to hack again. As an alternative, Yariel points out that the ceiling lasers receive a confirmation transmission. You can interrupt this and shut down the lasers. Actually anyone can try this, you just won't be able to assist T'sorkel this round. Dr. Flint-Bridge's biohack is still in effect.[/ooc]