[SFS_GM DocDoc] 2-13 Storm of the End Times (author-run) (Inactive)

Game Master Nick Wasko

Botting Dr. Helix's Scan - Computers: 1d20 + 9 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 3 = 29

Dr. Helix can see how the magnetic fields have been flummoxing the unmanned probe's scanners, but with the Pegasus' superior sensors he manages to work out the planet's geography. He identifies that the best location to view the upcoming aurora is a closely packed cluster of basalt columns close to the northern apex - the ship's computer (programmed with sufficient dramatic flair to do the Starfinder Society proud) automatically labels the sheer archipelago "Wealdriad’s Crown" (See slide 3 for the layout). Some of the columns have superior topography for setting up recording equipment, but each column has only enough room to host one or two starships. International respect for the "finders keepers" doctrine in uncharted space means you can claim a site by landing your ship on the chosen column. However, as long as you need to use the Pegasus to travel between columns, you run the risk of losing a preferred spot to another spectator.

The initial scan also establishes a timeline for when the aurora will manifest. Dr. Helix estimates the aurora’s peak brilliance will occur in about 12 hours. You can use this time (which will be broken up into 12 "setup periods," roughly 1 hour long each) to explore the planet’s basalt pillars, interact with other attendees, or prepare your own recording instruments. Everyone can set their clocks based on their initial scans, establishing a countdown to the event. In other words, I'll keep you appraised of how many Setup Periods remain before the aurora. Responding to the Whispered Wish's distress call will consume 1 Setup Period; I assume this won't change your group's decision to help, but if it does let me know.

While Dr. Helix finishes finalizing the timeline, your comm unit pings with a tracking pattern wired to you from a grateful Jinnra. "Ibra be praised!" the halfling sighs in relief. "Our faith teaches us that true meaning exists in the farthest reaches of the universe, and you've certainly shown us the Starfinder Society's quality when the media isn't watching. I've sent you our orbital coordinates so you can board through our airlock, I'll explain everything when we meet face-to-face."

I've placed your tokens aboard the Whispered Wish on Slide 2, arrange your marching order as you like.

---

The Whispered Wish's airlock closes behind you, and you find yourselves in a well-lit starship bearing numerous signs of habitation, including drying laundry draped over a few seats and children's illustrations hung up on several walls. "Sorry for the mess," Jinnra says sheepishly, "I tidied up as best I could but there's only so much you can tuck away when the faithful spend most of their lives on this ship.

"Our recording equipment for the aurora started malfunctioning as soon as we got into orbit - or rather, the recorders themselves are fine, but the stabilizer matrix I set them in is... misbehaving. I brought the matrix because your invitation warned about inclement weather, so I figured we could use a ferrofluid foundation to position our scopes correctly and keep them from blowing away. We didn't have a problem in the Drift, but as soon as we got close to Wealdriad the ferrofluid seemed to take on a life of its own. I've been able to contain them in the storage bays, but if we don't stop them from running amok we'll never get our recorders set up, if they still work at all." She barely seems to breathe, talking a mile a minute in an effort to convey the urgency of the situation.

"You seem to be better equipped for this kind of trouble, do you think you could, like, shut them down and get our recorders back safely?"

We're happy to help, Dani assures her. Now what is this about ferrofluid coming to life? I don't know much about the properties of ferrofluid, but for something like this... I'd be wondering about mystical causes. Can you show us any of them on an internal security camera?

She tries to think about what might animate a ferrofluid, and what sort of creature it might become.

Mysticism: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24
(+1 Yaraesa to recall knowledge)

My position looks fine. GM can you also put your maps in your header? It will make them easier to find.

"Animated ferrofluid?" Beran's head pops up and her whiskers twitch with excitement at the thought of the academic paper she could write on this. "Fascinating. They did not cover this in my engineering classes at Solar University! We should totally study and document this important scientific phenomenon."

And then it occurs to her that the ship's Captain had talked of the fluids running amok... What if they turned out to have large metallic claws and a taste for ysoki?

"So... here's my plan. Vecro smashes whatever they are, and the rest of us analyze their properties later. From a safe distance. Preferably another room." She dodges behind Vecro, tail twitching. "You can do this, buddy! Remember that it's for SCIENCE!"

Still, Beran tries to consider what she knows about the properties of ferrofluid, in case she can remember anything that might help Vecro smash things.
Beran's Engineering: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

"Living ferrofluid huh? Sounds interesting. We'll take care of it." Guli shouts and then draws his doshko.

Vecro smiles seeing all signs of little ones on the ship.

"No need to apologize, at least half of my meetings with Fitch, the chief of one of the factions, takes place with her grandchildren. And let me say that they provide a lot of distraction."

Kasatha listens in silence to the explanations and nods to Berans proposition

"I sure can do it, but tell me what are those ferrofluids? Is it some sort of iron supplement?" asks in a lower voice.

Then he sends a question to his associate Raven asking about the ferrofluids.

Hireling, life science/mysticism/physical science: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

I don't know much about the properties of ferrofluid, but for something like this... I'd be wondering about mystical causes. Can you show us any of them on an internal security camera?

She tries to think about what might animate a ferrofluid, and what sort of creature it might become.

"Sure thing, I don't think they've compromised the internal cameras yet, though I should warn you they don't have the best acuity." Jinnra brings up a somewhat choppy video feed of the cargo bay, where two clumps of metallic fluid lurch around, scraping at the interior walls. They take the form of a jagged pillar, with rippling pseudopods around their bases that resemble crashing waves. The profile looks eerily familiar to Dani, though she can't quite put her finger on why.

Nice Mysticism roll, we'll hold onto that for a little while - the ferrofluid oozes themselves can't trigger this finding, but I'll rule that this gives you a big circumstance bonus when that image comes up again later.

Vecro sends a question to his associate Raven asking about the ferrofluids.

Vecro gets a brief dossier from his associate describing case reports of semi-sentient ferrofluid oozes that arise when rudimentary AI is added to ferrofluid matrices and somehow goes awry. The fluid poses a threat to anyone using metallic equipment, since it can modify its own polarity to rapidly close the distance between itself and any target susceptible to a magnetic field before engulfing its victim. However, its ferrous components readily conduct heat, which interferes with its polarizing energies and can temporarily suppress its magnetic field.

Cavaler introduces himself to the skittish halfling and begins to assure her that the Starfinders can help her. "No need to worry Jinnra we'll help you take care of your problem. Don't be alarmed by my dwarf compatriot he's a little hard of hearing and consequently has no concept of what an acceptable level of speech is. I assure you that we won't let him destroy any valuable equipment on your ship.

He then moves over to where Vecro and Raven are so he can look at the dossier on the ooze.

"Seems like this ooze problem will not have an easy solution. According to the dossier it is vulnerable to heat. How many of you are armed with laser or plasma weapons," he says as he unslings a slim laser rifle of elven design from his back and attaches a syringe stick to the bayonet bracket on its barrel.

I placed my token up front with Guli.

"We're always happy to help, and no need to apologise for your place looking like it is lived in - the faithful always have more pressing matters to deal with, so some things are simply less of a priority"

"It looks like your cargo bays join up - do we all want to pile through that skinny door and get in each others way, or crack open the other doors as well and attack from the flanks?"

”Good idea Benny. Take half the team and approach the oozes from the south and I’ll take the rest of the team and attack from the east.”

Helix flutters just behind the big morlamaw. If you feel a PRICK in your EPIDERMIS, that's JUST ME. Go GET 'EM, big guy!

Vecro shares the notes related to ferrofluids.

"I probably should stand at the front. Benny can you even fit through those doors?" asks concerned.

Asking at all of the routes have the small ysoki-sized doors ;)

He grabs his pike in both hands and takes out starknife in the third. With his fourth hand, he reaches for the globe of darkness hovering next to his head which immediately begins to spill on his body. The solar energy creates a surface of constantly moving blackness on top of his armor.

"Ready when you are."

"I'll fit, I've been dieting. Not by choice though, the Society went cheap on the frozen fish and even King Takalua looks in need of a few fresh morsels. Right. We crack the doors and give them some grief"

Benny repositions the team "Cutlasses at the ready..."

Guli grips his tactical doshko and wishes it was a flame doshko.

With the group in agreement, everyone takes positions at the two bay entryways. On a given signal, Jinnra opens the doors; the ferrofluid oozes cease their ambling and turn their ire towards you!

Vecro stands before the doors griping his pike. He feels the eagerness for combat, he knows the thrill of combat very well. Vecro also fought enough times to know that a lot of fight outcomes are set in few seconds after they start. When the doors opens Vecro instinctively begins to channel the power of the stars, his armor begins to leak tiny bits of light as he moves into the room. He bows his head showing respect to the enemies.

Vecro stands in the room observing both enemies. After a second he tosses his starknife at one

Throw vs KAC@blue, 20ft: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Damage, piercing, photon attunement: 1d4 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 = 6

After few seconds the starknife returns to his hand.

Photon attunement: 1/3
Move into the room and throw @blue
Vecro holds a pike which has reach. So he threatens 2 squares around him.

The ooze's pseudopods lash at the engulfed solarian, grinding through his carbon skin but held at bay by the solar field surrounding him. Since you had the drop on them, I assume you activated your solar armor just before combat so you could still take your move action. That +1 made all the difference.

Round 1 (bold may post)
Vecro
Ooze (blue)
Cavaler
Ooze (red)
Guli
Dani
Benny
Dr. Helix

Cavaler glides into the room like only an elf can and positions himself at an angle where he can see both oozes. His laser rifle is of elven design, slim almost like a child's toy, but its look belies its deadly nature. Leveling his rifle at the ooze attacking Vecro, Cavaler pulls the trigger and a bolt of fiery energy flies from its barrel.

Laser Rifle vs. Blue Ooze EAC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Fire Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

As the first ooze tightens around the solarian's torso, the second one leaps towards Vecro as well. Red ooze now also attached to Vecro. The ooze forms jagged pseudopods and lashes out at the engulfed kasatha, but his solar armor foils the attack before it can do much damage.

Round 1 (bold may post)
Vecro
Ooze (blue)
Cavaler
Ooze (red)
Guli
Dani
Benny
Dr. Helix

At Cavaler's comment, Dani sighs. She had planned to do harrying fire, but she did have a flame weapon. She waits until Juli moves in, and then full attacks blue. Maybe one of them would hit?

Zap (merciful azimuth laser pistol): 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 3 - 4 = 16
Flame Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Zap (merciful azimuth laser pistol): 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 3 - 4 = 13
Flame Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

The kiirinta flies in, queues am inhibitor dart into his needler, and fires and the writing ooze. Get THAT one, Vecro!

Move to square (difficult terrain to ascend to 10 feet), standard shoot red ooze with biohack dart.

Attack vs KAC: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Damage (P): 1d4 ⇒ 3 plus reduce target's DR by 5.

Benny summons a swarm of shooting stars that spear into the rusty red ooze.

Magic Missile - full round.
Damage 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 4, 1) + 3 = 12

Yeah I 'put on' my solar armor, I could have been more explicit in my RP post. My action will be after end of round 1 so I will post.

Vecro is surprised how fast the monsters are, he hoped for them to move slower and to be able to use his pike to stab them on the way. What did he say about the begging of the fights?

Vecro tried to keep his head clean even with the treat of two enemies trying to hit him. His allies also try to hit him, but they hope to deal harm only to the fluids. He focuses on the energy of stars as his pike bursts into flames Plasma sheath. He attempts to stab the most injured being

Attack vs KAC: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Damage, fire, photon attunement, plasma sheath: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 + 1 = 8

But trying to hit enemy attached to you with a long pike is not an easy task.

Photon attunement: 2/3
Move action: Plasma Sheath
Attack action: attack

While Vecro tries unsuccessfully to impale the ooze, it continues to lash the solarian. Despite its efforts, the solar armor holds fast and keeps Vecro unharmed. The cover bonus to AC for attached creatures foiled a couple of hits there, but at least the oozes are rolling garbage for their own attacks. Vecro, remember that you can remove an attached creature with a successful Strength check (DC = 10 + 1-1/2 × the creature’s CR) made as a move action.

Round 2 (bold may post)
Vecro
Ooze (blue) - attached to Vecro
Cavaler
Ooze (red) - 12 damage; attached to Vecro
Guli
Dani
Benny
Dr. Helix

I remember, but having them both attached will help me supernova in safety next round -> my movement drags them around and do not provoke. We are still missing action from Guli for round 1. Just saying..

"Concentrate your fire on the northern ooze," Cavaler yells as he aims his laser rifle at it and fires again.

Get'em on the blue ooze. Everyone gets a +1 to their attack on the blue ooze.

Strength Check: 1d20 ⇒ 15

Laser Rifle vs. Blue Ooze EAC: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 1 = 16

Fire Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Guli lumbers up, his heavy armor thudding against the ground, and swings his doshko at the ferrofluid ooze.

Tactical Doshko, attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
piercing: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Learning from his prior experience, Cavaler braces against the magnetic pull, but needs to angle his shot away at the last second to avoid hitting the engulfed kasatha. Guli swings his doshko to no avail against the amorphous foe.

The other ooze finally gains some purchase against the solarian’s armor, sending spikes of iron into Vecro’s soft tissue. Vecro takes 11 bludgeoning damage.

Round 2 (bold may post)
Vecro
Ooze (blue) - attached to Vecro; Get’m target
Cavaler
Ooze (red) - 12 damage; attached to Vecro
Guli
Dani
Benny
Dr. Helix

that was my round 1 action so get em did not apply anyway

that was my round 1 action so get em did not apply anyway

Gotcha, I missed that you hadn’t acted in round 1. Please post your round 2 action as well.

Guli takes a guarded step, hoping to flank the ooze even as it envelops his companion.

IF we can't flank in these circumstances and IF Guli would know that, please place him back where he was and he'll do Combat tracking for +1 attack instead

Then he swings his doshko again.

Tactical Doshko, attack, get em: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10
piercing: 1d12 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 1 = 16

Max damage on two misses in a row is a bummer

Is there a skill roll Cavaler can make to see if he know if oozes are affected by poison?

Is there a skill roll Cavaler can make to see if he know if oozes are affected by poison?

Life Science, or Physical Science in this case due to the nature of the ooze.

Unfortunately, Cavaler does not have any points in those skills.

Helix's antennae droop as his dart clatters to the ground. Well THAT didn't work. He impotently tries to ping the other ooze to create an opening for a teammate.

Standard harrying fire on blue.

Attack vs AC 15: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13 Fail

"Why would you want to poison an ooze?" Beran asks Cavaler. "Aren't most constructs and machines are immune to poison? Though you could be right that it is more gooey and oozy than constructed, so I suppose anything is possible."

Beran considers Cavaler's question.

Beran's Physical Science: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

"You know what you should do? REVERSE THE POLARITY!" Beran shouts, waving her furry arms. "No, I have no idea what that means, but I've always wanted to say that. On the vids it's the answer to everything!"

"Shake it off Vecro!"

Inspiring boost - regain 5 SP!

Dani attempts harrying fire but misses completely.
Harrying Fire (DC 15) Zap (merciful azimuth laser pistol): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

@Shifty, You posted as Shifty, not Benny!

In a distant room at the far edge of time, space, and reality, a geographically dispersed group of humanoid aliens are scrying on the party and cheering them on to greatness. Benny is a Star Shaman - he channelled the astral energy of one of those aliens yelling at the screen in encouragement and transformed that energy into a healing word of light and love. #starshaman, #mystic

The magnetic fields emitted by the ferrofluid continue to foil the Starfinders' efforts to subdue the rogue oozes. Vecro continues to get engulfed as his solar energy reaches its zenith.

Round 3 (bold may post)
Vecro - 11 damage, 5 SP restored
Ooze (blue) - attached to Vecro; Get’m target
Cavaler
Ooze (red) - 12 damage; attached to Vecro
Guli
Dani
Benny
Dr. Helix

Wow, we have some really low rolls here.

Vecro feels the hit which makes him lose his breath for a second, but the reassuring voice of Benny brings back some of his strengths. He takes a step away from Guli and Dr. Helix, then another and another.

Vecro tries to ignore the presence of the oozes and the danger that they present. He closes his eyes and reaches for the solar energy that is everywhere and begins to channel it out. First is his pike which begins to burn with more intensity, then his armor begins to shine with light and single tongues of flames occur that very quickly gain in insensitivity.

With a big roar, Vecro explodes in a supernova

Supernova, 10ft: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 3) = 10 DC13 reflex save to take half, it is fire damage. I think I moved far enough to not hit anyone else.

The less-damaged ooze instinctively flees from the solarian, lurching over to Guli and whacking him with a wave-like pseudopod. Guli takes 7 damage; Blue ooze's magnetic field is restored at the end of its turn.

Round 3 (bold may post)
Vecro
Ooze (blue) - 5 damage; attached to Vecro
Cavaler
Ooze (red) - 22 damage; attached to Vecro; magnetic field disabled
Guli - 7 damage
Dani
Benny
Dr. Helix

Cavaler repositions himself so he can get a clear shot on the ooze attacking Vecro, lines up his rifle sights, and fires.

Laser Rifle vs. Red EAC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Fire Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

My bad, both oozes were no longer attached because of Vecro's supernova.

Round 3 (bold may post)
Vecro - 8 damage
Ooze (blue) - 5 damage
Cavaler
Ooze (red) - 22 damage
Guli - 7 damage
Dani
Benny
Dr. Helix

"Sort it out Guli! REPEL BOARDERS!" the Morlamaw spits with a strangely piratical inflection in his voice.

Guli - 5 SP recovered

Guli remains focused totally on the ooze and doesn't seem to hear his companions. He takes a moment to study the ooze with his exocortex, then swings his doshko high and hard.

Tactical Doshko, attack, combat tracking: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 1 = 23
piercing: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

how did I know I would roll a 1 for damage when I finally hit?

5/7sp, thanks Benny

Realizing that as bad as her harrying fire is, she might as well just try to hit it, Dani comes in and shoots at Blue.

Zap (merciful azimuth laser pistol)+Get ‘em: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 1 = 19
Fire Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Stay strong, team. I really wish that these oozes had minds, because then I could do something about them! Then she suddenly gets excited. Wait a minute! I may have actually hit one of them!

Dani fights off the magnetic pull on her pistol, and her laser beam causes a ripple of heat to pulse through the ooze, neutralizing its magnetic field once again.

Round 3 (bold may post)
Vecro - 8 damage
Ooze (blue) - 10 damage; magnetic field disabled
Cavaler
Ooze (red) - 22 damage
Guli
Dani
Benny
Dr. Helix

Vecro is glad that the ooes let him go. He can breath more comfortably now, and at least have some space to launch the attack. He begins with channeling fire through his pike. As soon as it begins to burn he makes a thrust with it at the most wounded enemy

Attack vs KAC@red: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Damage, fire, photon attunement, plasma sheath: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 + 1 = 6

Plasma sheath & attack. SP: 0

Are both oozes unattached now?