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The last remaining gremblin is hit with Tegrodera's needle, and Zantos is flailing about. "Kill that thing and then somebody come help me! I can't stand incompetence!"
After the needle attack, the remaining gremlin gives a final “Nah nah!”, flies by Zantos, (just as he is getting his footing with the help of some railing), de-pants him, and then disappears into the stairwell. You can give chase, but he manages to get to the airlock and escape into the void.
You do find a ring of resistance mk 1 on the body of one of the dead gremlins.
There are multiple problems with the ship: life support is glitching; the power core is critical and you are on emergency batteries; and the engines are malfunctioning. Pulling up his pants, Zantos huffs, “I assume you have a plan to fix the ship? I don’t want to have escaped the Swarm only to die out here in space.”
Let’s get some Engineering checks, one for each system. I’m guessing Telsix is taking the lead and can get aids from two of you. I’d also like everyone to make a Perception check.
Sevash will ignore Zantos and get to work helping Telsix
Life support
Power Core
Engines
"I in fact have no plan to fix the ship and intend to simply die in space to spite you."
Aysén will walk up to Zantos and gesture towards the stairs he entered from.
"Stop distracting my fellow soldiers please, you are the opposite of helpful."
Telsix approaches the glitching systems with curiosity and a heaping dose of concern.
Just as you are about to get to work, Telsix senses something in the controls, and after a moment of looking finds runes floating behind a control panel. The gremlins had left a final gift, but thanks to Telsix’s many eyes, they were able to spot the glitch curse trap before they or Sevash set it off.
Telsix may use the mystic arts to dispel the bad juju.
Telsix tries to pick apart the strands of magic.
Unfortunately, Telsix's mystic connection seems antithetical to the mischievous fey power, and they set of the trap. Glowing runes come swarming out of the control panel like a bee hive that has been rattled, covering Telsix and burrowing into their technological items (so anything with a battery).
Sevash and Telsix are eventually able to get all systems back online, but it takes long enough that more than once you hear a voice from the stairwell calling, "Haven't you finished yet! I'm starting to find the atmosphere quite thin and I have a medical condition!"
Your beds beckon after the interrupted sleep and stress of the battle and repairs, and you easily find oblivion.
Aysén can make his next two Radiation Sickness saves, with the medical assist that Tegrodera can provide, as you have some smooth sailing without the interruption of the gremlins putting you off course.
Aysén will shout back up the stairs "Being a jackass is a terminal illness, there's nothing we can do for you unless you want me to put you out of your misery!"
First save
Second save
So unfortunately for Aysén, he takes a turn for the worse over the next two days, despite Tegrodera’s efforts.
Telsix, do you want to attempt some checks to remove the curses during that same two day time span?
"We are beset with poor luck. I suppose those fey wanted to escape the planet as much as we did, but I hope it is a long time before we encounter their like again."
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My only regret as I fade away is that pompus buffoon Zantos may live longer than me. And that my fellow solder did not warn me of this terrible radiation danger. And that we lost the war and I gained no real estate despite all of the lives lost. And that I am dying. I'll think of some more.
On the fifth day of your exodus from Suskillon, things have been quiet, although the refugees you are sheparding seem depressed and sullen. Over the two days since the gremlin attack, often when one of you walks into the observation deck, or the galley, you’ll find Zantos in hushed conversation with another passenger. You awake and begin what has become your routine aboard ship when the voice of Zantos Loachwurt comes over ship’s internal comm system to ask everyone to meet on the observation deck.
When you arrive, the majority of the refugees look downcast, and they refuse to make eye contact with the you. Xelonan shrugs apologetically, and before he can say anything, Zantos turns to face the party.
Zantos Loachwurt stands in front of the other evacuees, his chest puffed up in a show of defiance. “I suppose you’re wondering why I’ve called you here. Your assistance so far is greatly appreciated, but you must realize that the military phase of this operation ended once the Swarm broke off pursuit. In fact, half the problems we’ve had since we left orbit seem to be your fault. You didn’t even check the ship for monsters before shoving us aboard. And the repairs would have been much faster if we’d been consulted from the beginning. Many of us have valuable skills and experience, and we could be doing more than sitting on our hands. It’s past time we had some say on the operation of this ship.”
The other passengers half-heartedly mumble assent, although you bet your last credit that Zantos has bullied the other evacuees into supporting him.
[ooc]For each of the three opposed checks, Zantos attempts a Diplomacy check to sway the evacuees to his side. Each time he does so, he mentions some error the PCs have committed during the trip in order to discredit them. For instance, if any of the PCs’ attacks damaged the starship’s systems during the fight with the glitch gremlins, Zantos describes how their actions harmed the group’s chances of getting to Utraneus. Including these comments grants Zantos a +4 circumstance bonus to his Diplomacy checks, but only if the PCs made enough errors for him to include. If the PCs managed to repair the ship and defeat the creatures without any obvious errors, Zantos’s arguments against the PCs are more generic, focusing mainly on his view of their treatment of him; he gains no bonuses in such a case.
The captain can attempt either a Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidate check to oppose each of Zantos’s Diplomacy checks. Deceiving Zantos and the others by positing a persistent danger that requires the PCs to remain in charge (or a similar tactic) requires a Bluff check. Speaking in reasoned, measured tones about compromise and remaining calm in anxious times requires a Diplomacy check. Shouting down Zantos’s objections and browbeating the other evacuees into doing what the PCs say requires an Intimidate check. The captain can change tactics with each check.
For each check other PCs can chime in with something they did during the journey that was particularly noteworthy (such as rolling higher than 30 on a skill check or scoring a critical hit on a creature) to grant the captain a cumulative +2 circumstance bonus to that check; each accomplishment can be used to grant a bonus only once. Alternatively, up to three other PCs can use the aid another action with the same skill to assist each of the captain’s checks.
I’d like to RP this, so give a little talk, along with any supporting comments or actions from other PCs, and we’ll go round by round, with you going first and Zantos retorting, since he’s had his opening salvo. Try to match your flavor to the skill you are using.
Also, feel free to come up with other strategies/responses not listed here. We can be pretty open about this.
Sevash is going to take Xenolan aside at some point and ask him if he has anythign that could help with radiation (ie lesser restoration, resist radiation or remove radioactivity mystic spells or something along those lines)
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Standing with the rest of the Midnight Squad, Tegrodera takes a moment to collect his thoughts before responding to Zantos’ demands.
”Thank you for bringing this to our attention Zantos, you’ve certainly been busy communicating with our fellow citizens to bring everyone’s concerns to the fore and I appreciate the work that’s gone into giving everyone a voice. While my squadmates and I certainly understand these issues, we do still consider this a military endeavor as we’ve yet to reach the evacuation site. I know that this has been hard, not counting the further incidents we’ve had onboard this ship, but we must ask for everyone’s cooperation for a little while longer.
It was our understanding that the ship was secure when we were forced to board it but unfortunately that’s proven to be incorrect. Nonetheless, my squadmates and I have endeavored to solve issues as they arise and while I believe we are safe for the time being that's certainly come with it’s own costs. Aysen is laid-up in the medical bay and while Hylax knows I’m doing all I can to aid him perhaps we can better use the skills and talents of all those onboard rather than overtaxing a few.”
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"The situation is unprecedented and we are dealing with problems as they come. We have kept the ship working and on course up to this point. We will not stop trying to get you to saftey. I am guessing none of you have been formally trained in spaceflight or combat, so please help us help you"
Sevash will say, using her most placating tone
"Without our leadership and expertise, this group would have been trapped on the planet and subjected to a horrible fate. We should be working as a team, and your attempt to breed conflict among us doesn't reflect well on your judgement or capabilities."
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Zantos retorts, “That just sounds like a bunch of excuses. Admit it, you don’t know what your’re doing. We’re still a few days from Urtraneus. What other trouble is going to befall this ship with you in charge?!”
"We are in a war! Trouble will constantly befall us. We have taken care of every problem so far. Has anyone, here other than the person who has blatantly ignored our advice, been hurt?"
Diplo Aid
"You would not even have known about the problems in the power core if we had not investigated. Those intruders could have scuttled the ship."
”As my allies have stated, we are working to ensure that no further incidents occur but if there are those who wish to contribute their skills and talents productively we’d be happy to have that discussion. Our specialties are aligned with trying to ensure the safety of those aboard this vessel, as I’m sure you’re aware of having watched us do so twice Zantos...”
While continuing to speak, Tegrodera pulls up a coincidentally convenient photo of Aysen going supernova in the encounter with the oozes (albeit with a Shirren “finger” slightly on the camera)
”...and as we can’t ask anyone else to put themselves in harm’s way we’re still counting this as a military endeavor. Now I can make no promises but it is my sincere hope that once we reach Urtraneus we may all disembark and the people on this ship may take the next step in rebuilding what the Swarm has taken from all of us. Until that time if there are people interested in volunteering to help improve the remainder of this voyage we’d be happy to have that discussion.”
Zantos splutters a bit, taken aback by your more conciliatory tone. Also, the image of Aysén going supernova may serve as a reminder to the crowd of who controls the means for violence on the ship.
”I understand your frustrations, Hylax knows I try to speak with Xelonan any chance I have to process things myself, and there’s still a great load left to do once we reach Urtraneus but right here and right now we’re better working together. I’m sorry if we’ve overlooked your concerns and I apologize if the evacuation has gone less-than smoothly but please trust that my squadmates and I hold everyone’s health and safety in the utmost priority. That’s why I insist on doing regular checkups with all of you to ensure that our physical health is as good as can be expected. That’s why Sevash and Telsix run hither-and-yon throughout the ship making sure that it’s running as smoothly as it can, even when besieged by creatures who wish to destroy it. That’s why Aysen is lying up impaired from risking his own life to keep us all safe.”
“I know things are stressful, I know things are scary, I know we’re all dealing with a situation that we never thought would happen but if we stick together I know we can persevere through this. At the very least we can help Xelonan in the galley which I’m sure would benefit us all.”
"We saved an entire settlement, and are the ones most invested in this group's survival. Be assured that you are in good hands."
"Yeah, we survived against all odds so far. Not gonna stop now"
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Tegrodera’s words reach the hearts (or other key organs) of the refugees. Zantos, in a desperate bid, pulls up a video of the gremlin fight. The security camera clearly shows Telsix and Tegrodera flailing in the grease. It isn’t flattering. . .
. . but then you see Xelonan pressing some buttons on an access panel, and the image shifts to a different angle from the same fight, showing Zantos slipping and falling down the stairs, and then flailing around cursing. It breaks the tension in the room, and everyone laughs, except Zantos. He turns a bright red and Kilora Gishi, the councilwoman from Reos City, steps forward to place a hand on his shoulder, clearly communicating to all that this is over. Zantos storms out of the room, not to be seen again during your journey.
Kilora apologizes to you about the scientist’s bid for power and assures you that the other refugees have full confidence in your efforts.
When the Terminus Wild nears Utraneus,a day and a half later, the vessel is contacted by authorities on Oddrock, an asteroid modified into a space station in a geosynchronous orbit around the colony world’s capital city. The Terminus Wild is directed to join the other fleeing starships docked at Oddrock so its passengers can be shuttled to the surface.
As the Terminus Wild passes one of Utraneus’s three moons, a fascinating sight comes into view: a massive space station built in and around a craggy asteroid. Dozens of starships
are docked at the station, and even more have been placed in a similar orbit as the asteroid, nearly creating a ring around the entire planet. Past the space station, the blue waters of Utraneus’s oceans peek through banks of swirling clouds in the upper atmosphere.
You are given permission to tether the Terminus Wild at one of Oddrock’s unused docks and are met at the airlock by an escort of medics, soldiers, and engineers who ensure that everyone is in good health and begin any necessary repairs on the vessel. An attache informs you that the Terminus Wild will be placed in orbit with the other refugee vessels from Suskillon and will be available by shuttle if necessary.
You are allowed a night’s rest on the space station if you want one . Otherwise, you are given transportation to the planet’s surface to rendezvous with Commander Najiri and receive your next orders.
+4 to both!
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First save
Second save
"You would do well on my home planet Tegrodera. My people consider it an art to allow a creature to suffer a misfortune you are aware of, knowing they'll have to come to you for help. With my last breaths, I'll write you a stellar recommendation letter."
The medics and mystics on Oddrock are able to cast Remove radioactivity and cure the radiation sickness, and after a good night's sleep, Aysén is back to his old self, more or less.
After receiving any necessary medical attention, the other evacuees are shuttled to Utraneus, where they are assigned to temporary camps outside of New Grakka, the capital. With the exception of Zantos Loachwurt, they bid fond farewells to Midnight Squad, thanking you for saving their lives. You see Zantos furtively board the shuttle, pointedly not looking in your direction.
Xelonan shares that he plans to join up with other priests of Hylax after telling the SDF all he knows about the strange behavior of the Swarm creatures at his temple. He leaves you his contact information in case they want to talk to him in the future.
When the shuttle delivers you to the New Grakka spaceport on the city’s outskirts, you are met by a military escort that takes you to the center of the metropolis, where much of the SDF leadership has been given temporary offices in the city hall. As your transport passes through the streets, you can see the difficulty of taking in Suskillon's evacuees: stores are empty of wares, roads have been blocked off and filled with tents, and everyone looks on edge. This barely contained chaos is mirrored in the city hall, where military and governmental officials jockey for space in the hallways and hold tense meetings to discuss the future of the system and its people.
Commander Najiri has been given the use of half of a conference room, partitioned with a flimsy prefab wall. She looks understandably tired, but it is obvious she has complete proficiency with her new cybernetic leg.
“I’m glad you could join us here in New Grakka, recruits,” she says, snapping a salute. “Your resourcefulness and quick thinking saved the lives of those final evacuees, but unfortunately, the war isn’t over. The government of Utraneus has declared a planet-wide state of emergency in anticipation of an inevitable Swarm assault. The SDF is working with local governments to fortify cities across the continent as best as we can. But before I give you your next assignment, I’d like to hear your report of your final mission on Suskillon and subsequent events.”
Aysén would fill them in on various lives we saved and the daring escape we made, doing his best to leave out any details where he was severely beaten.
"Can't say I expected to fight any mind-controlling oozes, but one does what they must in order to complete the mission. Saved that entire city I'd warrant."
"I was worried at one point just punching a bug the size of a jeep was going to get me killed, but really, that's why they hired me. I'm here to get the job done. Also I need to buy a gun."
"Truly beautiful countryside we passed by, really inspires one to fight these wretched invaders. I would love some of that real estate when the war is won. Do they award land with medals of valor?"
"Oh, and my fellow soldiers did an excellent job. I would certainly be dead without their technical expertise and sharp shooting."
Aysén stares at Tegrodera while stating "I would certainly be dead"
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When you finish your report, Commander Najiri picks up a datapad, stands straight, suddenly taking on a more ceremonial air. She reads from her datapad, “In recognition of your bravery in the face of overwhelming odds and certain danger, the Suskillon Defense Force awards each of you the Radiant Star Medal of Courage.”
She picks up a wooden box from her desk and opens it to reveal several glowing medallions. As she pins them on, she apologizes. “Sorry there isn’t more pomp involved, but we don’t really have the time or resources for a full parade. In addition, each of you has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant. You’ll still be reporting to me, but you are now considered a special squad outside of the normal battalion structure, performing unique duties as I see fit. Congratulations.”
She also informs them that you have been given a stipend of 2,000 credits each, which can use to upgrade or purchase gear. Quartermaster Janxer, who has been given a small desk in the city hall’s basement, can help you find what you want around the city. Commander Najiri tells you to report back to her in 2 hours. She also says you can name your squad if you wish, or you can continue to go by the name “Midnight Squad.”