GM Quirk's Threefold Conspiracy

Game Master Quirk, Private Eye

Breez soon finds all of you, and is keen to know what John found on the computer. "Sounds like it's time to get out of here. I heard the guards speak in that strange language not long ago, right after the one escorted T'sorkel back from the medbay. No way we're getting the Peryton out of the landing bay without the hangar bays getting opened. Have to get to the command center for that to happen."

"I have no goods to gather, nor goodbyes to say. I be ready to leave immediately. Anyone else have a reason to delay?"

"I have no goods to gather, nor goodbyes to say. I be ready to leave immediately. Anyone else have a reason to delay?"

Lilly’s thoughts flash to Yariel. Her eyes take on a faraway look, then she snaps back into the moment and nods to the group. Yariel can take care of herself. It’s time for the rest of us to move.

“I’m locked and loaded. Ah’ planned to nick one’na them logo coffee mugs from the mess hall, but I’m not sure I want any reminders. Let’s get out of here.”

”I think we all know where this is going.” Beau says a bit sarcastically. ”I’m ready as I’ll ever be.”

Breez is willing to make a plan with you. She suggests starting with a diversion by going to the reactor room (A15 on the map). She even goes so far as to hint that the Perytons might be able to cause a ruckus that will attract some attention before all of you head off for the reactor room, and eventually the command center to get the hangar bay doors open.

Rar'gul is still standing by his post in the doorway to the gym when John returns. Without a word, the trox turns and disappears into the training room. A short moment later, he reappears in the doorway, carrying his pack and hefting his hammer.

"Time forr us to starrt ccalling the shots," he rumbles.

Your first task will be the two guards at A10 and A11. Of course Breeze and the Perytons will be starting a ruckus in the landing bay at the same time you are all storming the gates.

As it's becoming apparent that the time has come to possibly employ deadly force to break out of this place, Yariel decides it would be a good idea to wish all of you luck. "I'm going to do my thing with the Perytons. Don't worry, I won't let them leave without you. We'll cause a nice little distraction so you can get the doors open."

She hugs each of you, then heads off to grab her gear.

T'sorkel nods and waves at Yariel. He turns to the others. I'll go up and try to charm the two guards. If that works then, they should let us through without any issue.

So we're trying to get to the hanger bay to escape? And to do that we go to the reactor to cause a diversion (overload)?

I'll try to map out what Breez proposed over in discussion.

Have the Perytons been interrogated too? Why would they back our play when Pike's their eponymous boss?

John taps T'sorkel on the elbow. Once he has the shirren's attention the operative points from his forehead to T'sorkel's.

The Peryton's have not been interrogated, at least not recently. They are probably concerned about getting out of here. Breez has observed the suspicious activity by their boss and the Steward guards. Or...perhaps they're just paranoid!

You are all able to get a few productive hours of rest, though one of you always stayed on watch.

Finally the dawn comes. Breez checks in one final time, then gives the nod to her mercenaries. Soon they are breaking into the landing bay as you prepare to make your way down the corridor and into the secure area of Tyralkis base.

I have positioned your tokens on the current map, along with those of the two guards who are always posted at the door. Tell me how you all proceed.

T'sorkel initiates a psychic link between everyone before he begins. One last check in. Is everyone ok? I'll head out to try and Charm the two guards.

Sorry, long weekend for my wife's 40th. I missed John's indication for a chat.

All in a good cause, ET.

You want some backup, T'sorkel? In case the magic doesn't work.

Suggest only 1 companion. Doc FB volunteered to go along too. I suggest a couple of the more threatening types hang out in the gym.(a9) On slide 2 I've put T'sorkel in area 10 and John in the hall where he'll wait if T'sorkel doesn't want him along. I'm fine if Doc goes, although John thinks he's more expendable than her.

Hammer in hand, Rar'gul nods wordlessly to his companions and sets up just inside the gym...

I'd been going to suggest something similar to Tom's idea, although to lure the guards down the corridor with a ruse. Charm has a little more finesse, though.

T'sorkel comes down the corridor to the two that are standing guard. He waves at them and reaches into the Archive. He finds the memories of friendship and camaraderie through so many lives of so many creatures. Lifting out those memories, he tries to lay them over the psychic forms of those two in front of him.

Hi, I don't know that we've had the pleasure of meeting. I'm T'sorkel. The Shirren smiles at them, showing some weariness, but then indicating the two twins he has strapped to his suit. My sons woke up in the middle of the night and can't seem to get go back to sleep. I was hoping to take them for a walk on the ship. We've seen this part so much. Could we go though there? He points past them.

Casting Charm Person on them both. Will Save DC 16

The steward guard near the door to the secure area seems surprised to be asked such a question. Even more surprising, he begins shaking his head "yes." "Sure, I see no problem with a little walk around the secure area. Go right ahead."

Just as you are about to step up to the door, the other guard, a Kasatha, pipes up. "Ychabo, what are you doing? They're not allowed to be in that area. I'm afraid I'll have to ask you both to return to your assigned quarters. I can have a sedative brought up if you can give me 10 minutes."

One made the save, one did not. I'm going to assume that at this time, they don't understand that you have attempted to charm both of them, though there could be a "WAIT JUSTA MINUTE" moment soon. Your move.

Oh, a sedative could help. Could you go get it and I'll just stay here with Ychabo. He'll keep me company. T'sorkel nods enthusiastically, smiling at Ychabo.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

Best case here is the non-charmed guard is convinced to go get the sedative. If he won't, then T'sorkel will ask Ychabo to go get it instead, at least getting him out of the room.

(Assuming we have Red charmed and still need to work on the Blue guard, the Kasatha, who's in the locked security room.)

Lilly casually walks up the corridor toward the intersection. She steps past T’Sorkel and smiles brightly to the two guards.

“Good morning. Dr. Flint-Bridge from Medical here. I’m doing some check-in rounds today. Everything all right? I heard reports that some of the security staff had a bit too much last night, iff’n you know what ah mean, so I thought I’d pop ‘round to check on everyone just in case. Don't want anyone getting into problems just o'cause of a little too much celebrating.”

She turns to the kasatha guard and peers a little closer. “Oh, look at you… how long have you had that coloring around your eyes? That doesn't look good.”

Lilly pads the description with some appropriately worrisome medical terminology and slightly grim looks on her face.

Medicine: 1d20 + 15 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 15 + (5) = 25 to conjure up appropriately worrisome medical terminology

Bluff: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19 hoping that's enough

** If the kasatha guard DOES respond well to the bluff:
Lilly smiles supportively. “Let me pop in there and take a look at you. Won't take but a minute, and it'll make me feel a lot better knowing that you're taken care of.”

** If the kasatha guard DOES NOT respond well to the bluff:
She calls over her shoulder to T’Sorkel, “This fellow isn’t looking well. Could you please ask the other guard to let me into his room so I can take care of his friend?”

The guard in the locked security room looks out his window at the halfling. Speaking into a microphone, he indicates he isn't interested in any sort of examination. "Whatever I have can be cured with a pot of good, strong coffee. There's no need for your assistance."

With that, the other guard gets the cue from T'sorkel. "Come on, Ryes, she just wants to help. She's a doctor!"

Before the kasatha can react, the charmed guard has the door open for Dr. Flint-Bridge to enter.

Dr. Flint-Bridge may enter A-11.

She smiles sweetly at the charmed guard.

“Thanks… you know how some people get around doctors. It’s just irrational.”

Lilly steps into the doorway to prevent Ryes from shutting the security door, counting on her small size (and Scurry feat) to allow other members of the team into the space.

“Oh dear, this looks more serious than I thought. I’ll need to call for some support.”

Lilly draws her syringe stick and preps a biohack, then triggers her comm unit.

“Gonna need some help in the security office with guard that’s afraid of needles.”

And now the fun begins…

T'sorkel looks alarmed at the medical procedures. Oh, goodness! Please, help the doctor with Ryes! He points to the other guard. I can help security through the doors. Just give me your access card.

The Kasatha in the office is more forceful this time. He steps away toward the back of the office and draws a pistol. "I NEED YOU TO STEP OUT OF HERE RIGHT NOW! I WILL SHOOT YOU IF YOU DON'T COMPLY."

Dr. Flint Bridge, as he steps away you may take an AoO. Of course if you do, "it's on like Donkey Kong!"

Ychabo just looks confused. He looks to T'sorkel for further guidance.

Remember, a charmed person will NOT attempt to harm an ally.

John steps into the intersection of hallways to control the space, obscure the view, and prevent anyone who's not us from going to the guard station.

“Thank you, Ychabo. Ryes is very sick and needs our help. See the darkness around his eyes, his irrational anger toward me, his paranoia? It’s just as I suspected — a classic case of Bendii Syndrome. This medicine will help him. But it will hurt if he keeps acting this way.”

Medicine: 1d20 + 15 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 15 + (1) = 19 to keep feeding a believable stream of medical terminology to Ychabo

Syringe stick AOO at Blue: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18 If the attack misses, the biohack is not used

Damage: 1d3 - 1 + 3 ⇒ (3) - 1 + 3 = 5 Using her Miracle Worker ability to mix the basic inhibitor and minor inhibitor into a single injection that gives BOTH -2 to AC and -1 to attack rolls. No saving throw.

GM Q: If I also have a move action, I’ll step up to him to the right (southeast) and open up space by the door. If I don't have a move, my Scurry ability will let others be in my space without any problem.

GM Q: I'm not sure of timing of actions ie if currently in any form of initiative, but at the guard's threat against Doc (assuming Rar'gul is aware of what is going on) he will move to support Doc and T'sorkel.

GM Q: I'm not sure of timing of actions ie if currently in any form of initiative, but at the guard's threat against Doc (assuming Rar'gul is aware of what is going on) he will move to support Doc and T'sorkel.

Rar'gul and the rest of the team should be aware that one guard isn't playing along.

That's why Lilly hit her comms in my post earlier this week (#2721) with the request for help because there's a guard who "doesn't like needles."

Beau will walk up to John and whisper
"Think she can talk her way out of this or do I need to get involved?"

I was hoping restraining him wasn't considered hostile, but that's fine.

The access card, Ychabo! Please, we need more security! T'sorkel holds out his hand urgently.

I think I will allow everyone to move up to their speed from their current positions (though not Dr. Flint-Bridge). Dr. Flint-Bridge did hit with her AoO, so the guard has the listed penalties at the moment. Tonight I will roll initiative.

Beau will walk up to John and whisper

"Think she can talk her way out of this or do I need to get involved?"

"Rar'gul's on his way already. You're going to run out of room and talking points. Head that way, but keep an eye out for me back here in case any of our fellow guests side with the guards. "

...Lilly hit her comms in my post earlier this week...

Thanks for the reminder, I'd forgotten about that!

Hearing the demands of the resistent guard escalating, Rar'gul moves toward the security checkpoint to support Doc and T'sorkel.

"I'm on my way," he rumbles over the comms, readying his hammer as he moves.

FYI Rar'gul is squeezing to be standing in the doorway with Doc Flint-bridge. He is occupying a square on either side of the door.

Dr. Flint-Bridge stabs the guard, injecting him with a cocktail of drugs that slow him down. Still, he levels his pistol and prepares to fire.

At that moment, the imposing form of Rar'gul appears behind her.

Ychabo holds out his security card, but seems confused about what's going on.

Bold may go. Round 1.
1. John Rawlins
2. Rar'gul
3. Dr. Flint-Bridge
4. T'sorkel
5. Ryes the kasatha Steward (-5, -2 to AC and -1 to hit)
6. Beauregard
7. Ychabo the human Steward (charmed)

T'sorkel takes the access card from Ychabo. Thanks! Now you should lock yourself into your station there (A6) for you own safety.

He moves to open the doors for the others to enter the checkpoint, waving them forward.

Seeing the pistol in the guard’s hand, Lilly moves closer and brandishes the syringe stick menacingly, opening up space for T’sorkel to move fully in.

Lilly speaks to the guard in an unsettlingly flat clinical tone. “You’re feeling chills and weakness. Your eyesight is blurring. You're very sick. You’re in no condition to fight.”

Lilly jabs the Kasatha with her syringe stick. No drugs; just using it as a weapon

Syringe stick at Blue: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28 It's a crit!

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

If we’re incapacitating the guard, subtract 4 from the attack roll as she tries to poke a non-lethal hole through the guard.

T’sorkel — Bring it in! Lilly can share space with T’sorkel without any penalties thanks to Scurry.

EP +1, EP: 1/5

"You should have listened to the Doccc's advice," Rar'gul rumbles regretfully to the guard. "This way is going to hurrt farr morrre."

He thrusts the head of the hammer toward the guard's torso.

Entropic strike (vs EAC): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
B Damage, Force: 2d6 + 11 ⇒ (2, 6) + 11 = 19

" Maybe you better go. I'll hold here."

Delay. And staying out of Beau's way.

Rar'gul and Dr. Flint-Bridge relentlessly batter the kasatha, who now stands bruised and beaten.

He throws down his pistol. Just when you were hoping maybe he was surrendering, he pulls out a wicked looking hooked sword and swings it at Dr. Flint-Bridge.

to hit vs. KAC: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
damage, S: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
crit damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

One good crit deserves another! Dr. Flint-Bridge also has critical bleed 1d4 ⇒ 2.

Finally, the Kasatha speaks into his comms. "The guests are attacking me! They're trying to get into the secure area! I think they did something to Ychabo!"

Ychabo is concerned about Ryes, but isn't otherwise sure what to do.

Bold may go. Round 1.

1. Rar'gul
2. Dr. Flint-Bridge (-26 and bleeding)
3. T'sorkel
4. Ryes the kasatha Steward (-31, -2 to AC and -1 to hit)
5. Beauregard
6. Ychabo the human Steward (charmed)
7. John Rawlins

Beauregard walks forward and sees Ryes, and points behind him where suddenly there is another black-and-white beauregard shadowboxing him

(Cast Wisp ally, -2 to vs. the first attack against Ryes each round)

John backs slowly down the hall behind Beauregard.

Move as shown. Reserve standard action.

Beauregard summons a magical helper who seems to be attempting to distract the Kasatha, hopefully preventing another bloody slash with his sword on the good doctor.

Bold may go. Round 2.

1. Rar'gul
2. Dr. Flint-Bridge (-26 and bleeding)
3. T'sorkel
4. Ryes the kasatha Steward (-31, -2 to AC and -1 to hit, another -2 to hit from wisp ally)
5. Beauregard
6. Ychabo the human Steward (charmed)
7. John Rawlins

Lilly takes 2 bleed damage, putting her at -28 total.

The sword attack catches Lilly out of position, and the strike bites into her shoulder. She stumbles backward into a control panel. Blood runs down her arm, landing in spots that turn into smears across the floor.

She mutters a classic Halfling curse at the Kasatha. “You. really should’ve followed the doctor’s instructions. He’s all yours, Rar’gul.”

Move action: Guarded step to the rear position.

If Lilly can do First Aid as a standard action in combat
Lilly rips a bandage from her belt pack and slaps it onto the wound. The bleeding slows and then stops.
First Aid to stop bleeding is a DC15 Medicine check. Lilly’s minimum roll is 17 (15 + 1 + 1) which automatically succeeds.

If Lilly cannot do First Aid as a standard action in combat
Lilly grabs a syringe from her microlab, fills it with a biohack, and jams it into her thigh.

“I hate using a biohack on myself, but… ”
Specialty biohack: You deliver a coagulant to a living creature, granting it immunity to the bleeding condition for the duration of this effect (5 rounds). If the creature is under the effect of the bleeding condition when you administer this biohack, that condition ends.

"Watch out, Doc!" Rar'gul calls, striding forward to position himself between Doc and the kasatha guard, his bulk filling most of the small Security station.

"It didn't have to ccome to this. But you chose yourrr ccourrse," he rumbles regretfully.

Pausing long enough to sync his strike with the movements of the ghostly Beau, Rar'gul swings a blow at the guard's head, hoping to knock him out.

Entropic strike (vs EAC): 1d20 + 10 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 10 + 2 - 4 = 17 w/bonus from Wisp Ally
Non-lethal B Damage, Force: 2d6 + 11 ⇒ (1, 1) + 11 = 13

Dr. Flint-Bridge stumbles back and treats her wound, bandaging it tightly.

Yep--as a standard action you can do this. Bleeding condition is gone.

Rar'gul lands a punishing blow. The kasatha is clearly ready to go down.

T'sorkel is up.

T'sorkel winces as Rar'gul hits the Steward. He was still uncertain as to whether or not they were really being influenced by the grays. Oh! Oh! Just stop fighting back!" His mind reaches into the Archive and pushes against the Steward's memories to get him to stop.

Mind Thrust (Will DC 17): 4d10 ⇒ (3, 2, 9, 8) = 22
I don't see an option to make this nonlethal, but T'sorkel will try anyway. Of course just turning someone's mind 'off' might not work that way.

will save vs. mind thrust: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

The steward falls. He dies horribly at the hands of T'sorkel's spell.

Ychabo looks extremely uncomfortable.

Combat is over. We're out of initiative for now.

Klaxons are now sounding across the base. You receive a comm message from Breez. She indicates that they are all aboard the Peryton, and that they are currently taking fire from Stewards, but they are holding their own. She wishes you luck, and reminds you all that they are going to wait for you.

Lilly moves into the hallway, wincing and checking her bandage as she goes.

“We need to keep moving and get to the control room. Once we open the docking bay doors, we make for Breez and the Peryton.”

Assuming we still have some kind of telepathic link running so we can communicate silelytly…
Lilly looks to T’sorkel and taps her temple.

“Can Ychabo go check on something or lock himself in a closet? I don’t want to harm him but we’re on a deadline. And you have his security badge, right? So we can open this door?”

A look of alarm goes across T'sorkel's face as he realizes that he's killed the Steward. He doesn't need to check the man to know he was no longer connected to the Archive. Oh no! I didn't mean to push him that hard!

The Shirren is suddenly made aware of Ychabo presence by Lilly. He turns to the remaining guard. Ychabo, something is happening! Go into your station lock yourself in until we come back for you! Don't trust anyone else!

John moves up with the others. He looks around, takes in the scene. He slides past T'sorkel. "You're doing this for your kids," he whispers as he passes.

"Let me take point. I'm fastest, and pretty alert."

Thinking if we meet someone in a hallway, John's got the best closing speed. Might be able to engage before an alarm gets raised.

”Let me take point. I'm fastest, and pretty alert.”

Lilly waves a bandaged arm toward John. “Ye got it, mate. I’ll be at your back.”

She holsters the syringe stick and swings her caustolance rifle into position.

Lilly smiles as she watches T’sorkel cleverly dispose of the charmed guard.

She concentrates to silently connect with the Shirren. “Nice work with that one, T’sorkel. And thanks for ending the guard. Twasn’t the way we wanted that tuh go, but he would’a killed me if you dinnae step in like that.”