[SFS_Aerondor] 01-04 Cries from the Drift (Inactive)

Game Master Aerondor

Alejandro slowly peeks into the room after hearing the outburst of disgust at the carnage. He moves up to inspect the bodies.

Medicine (t): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

"Two bodies here, the android back in the other room. Who else is there left to find? Anyone have the crew manifest handy?"

____________________

He looks around for something large, "We should move the remains to the airlock with the android, then brace this door open in case it shuts when I swap the battery over to the bridge."

He mutters to himself as he works, "Oh yeah, go investigate a ship lost in the drift, what's the worst that could happen? I guess being violently carved up by a murdering ghost is on the top of the list..."

May be it's another member of the crew who attack his teammates?

As Ysh'yaal wonders what happened here, she lets Alejandro examine the bodies.

Alejandro notices that in addition to the regular wounds, one of the bodies has a single strange puncture wound in its chest.

You can haul a chair back to the door to wedge it open.

The Specialist thinks the keycard looks exactly like the type of thing that might open the captains cabin.

"..." says the Specialist, holding his tongue. He's recognized long ago that his lack of empathy can be a source of conflict, especially when moments arise that deserve the empathy that he cannot provide. In those instances, he simply remains silent and allows others to voice their feelings.

He examines the keycard. "This will open the captain's quarters."

He waits, holding his customized huchket rifle at the ready. He strokes the stock of it, tracing the words "Positive Thinking" with his fingers.

"You'll want to do something with the bodies, but I suggest we do it after dealing with whatever did this."

"Yeah...whatever did this, it's locked in the captain's quarters or...it's ahead, on the bridge," Prim nods, swallowing hard. "Either way, it's still on the ship."

Unless it's a ghost.

No way, ghosts don't exist out here in space.

...do they?

"But we're already here so let's hit the bridge. Then we can go open up the captain's quarters."

If you want to try for the bridge, arrange your icons, and then let me know you are ready. Ale or someone else will need to be in the engine room. Assuming he is happy being there all alone...

Why does someone need to be in the engine room alone? In order to operate the battery? Or is there some other reason that I've missed.

"I'm ready to go in there, though I don't like the idea of splitting up."

Shaan advances to the door to the bridge and grips the force baton tightly.

They don't need to be alone, but they do need to be there to swap the terminals over on the battery. If they want someone with them there, that is more than fine, but then they will be in the engine room, not clustered about the door to the bridge.

Gotcha. Ok, let's split the party. What could possibly go wrong?

"Oops, almost forget - let's at least try and keep the door to the mess wedged open," Prim suddenly pipes up again. She grabs a chair - or something else similarly heavy and bulky - and drags it over to the door leading back out of the mess. There, she does her best to position it to where it should prevent the door from closing entirely once the battery in the engine room is switched.

"There! Let's hope this holds."

That done, she heads back towards the door to the bridge and falls into formation a few paces back from Shaan, pistol at the ready.

I have Ale in the engine room, Shaan and Primrose in the mess and the other three in the corridor where they can cover both areas. Is that where you want to be?

Moved my mine where I want it to be

With her scrap weapon in hand, Ysh'yaal stands next to Shaan, ready for what's beyond.

Lets be ready for anything. Something is alive here, and unfortunately I don't think it's one of the crew...

Ysh'yaal weapon has reach

Alejandro's voice crackles on the comm, "I'm ready to swap the battery to open the bridge, say when."

The Specialist moves up with his weapon ready. "Ready."

"Ready." Shaan prepares to leap through the door as soon as it opens.

The battery is changed over. The door to the mess shuts, half crushing the chair - but the chair does block it.
Squeeze to get through

The ship’s bridge is alight in red warning screens. The nearing ethereal storm looms beyond the forward viewing platform, while the ship’s failing power causes each station’s panels to flicker intermittently. A battered captain’s chair oversees two tiers of descending operations panels.

The dead pilot sits in one of the front chairs. That the pilot is very dead is evident from the amount of blood in the area.

By the Devil's tail, were are those life form I've detected...

[b]I'm right behind you Shaan.[b] she says to the Vesk, ready to follow once he enters the room.

Shaan enters the bridge and warily moves towards the dead pilot, all his senses peering about to detect any possible foe.

Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14

"Well...that's a fourth accounted for," Prim sighs as she follows the group onto the bridge and takes in the sight of the dead pilot. "Same manner of death?"

She continues to look around nervously, ready for anything.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

The wary Shaan approaches the pilot, his eyes darting about, wondering what could have done this to the poor kasatha.

Primrose however keeps her eyes fixed on the pilot, her gut telling her there is more her that is seems, then she notices the pilots body twitch. Sure, maybe it is just the ship rocking in the approaching storm. Speaking of the storm, gosh, what a great view you have of it bearing down on you. Beautiful. But very scary looking.

Speaking of scary looking...

Surprise!"
The pilot turns, the skin falling to the floor as some other four armed creature steps out of the body.

Status, bold may post
Surprise round
Primrose
Ysh'yall (if she makes a perception check DC 19)
Specialist "(if he makes a perception check DC21 (further away)[/b]
Foe
Everyone can you also make a regular initiative check as well please.

Init: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

"Holy cats!"

Unwilling to stand by but also unwilling to immediately start shooting, Prim attempts to call on her magic to try and slow the thing down....whatever it is.

Cast Daze; DC 13 Will save.

What is this thing?

Mysticism: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

PRimrose has heard of these before. They are known as Xill. Their bite can paralyse a person, and they tend to then lay eggs in the person, which eventually hatch and eat the living person from the inside... They are not know to be immune to anything, but are reputed to be able to travel the various layers of the multiverse with surprising ease.
will: 1d20 ⇒ 16

It shrugs off Marigolds spell with a snarl.
xill init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Status, bold may post
Surprise round
Ysh'yall (if she makes a perception check DC 19)
Specialist "(if he makes a perception check DC21 (further away)
Ale (just roll for init)
Xill
Everyone can you also make a regular initiative check as well please.
regular round
Shaan - init 25
Primrose - init 14
Xill - init 7

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Perception DC19: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (13) + 0 = 13

Ysh'yaal is completely taken by surprise when the creature jump out of the body!

Perception DC21: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

"What the f!@!? says The Specialist when he notices the creature twitch and stand up. "PRIMROSE, OUT OF THE WAY!"

He raises his huchket rifle and quickly boosts its recoil technode (move action), and then shoots at the xill.

Huchket rifle (experimental prototype): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 Dmg (F&P): 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

"S%!+.

We're going to kill this thing dead, easy. Enemy in which to put explosive positive thoughts, FINALLY. Things are really looking up. POZZZZZZ-ITIVE THOUGHTS!

Initiative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

The xill turns on Shaan, savagely biting the vesk! Shaan feels his muscles start to slow down as the poison enters his veins.

Status, bold may post
Shaan - init 25; 4/18SP; Fort DC12 save or paralyzed.
The Specialist - init 23
Ale - init 18
Primrose - init 14
Tania - init 11
Ysh - init 9
Xill - init 7

The Specialist walks around the table, finding a place to place his heavy bipod. He takes aim and fires again at the xill.

Huchket rifle (experimental prototype): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23 Dmg (F&P): 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Uh oh. Are there any options for rerolls, like there are in Pathfinder Society? Or can I use Resolve for anything useful here?

Also, does 4/18 SP mean that I have 4 SP remaining? Or that I've taken 4 SP dmg?

Also, is this thing incorporeal?

"A xill...they inject eggs into their host and then the host is eaten from the inside out!"

Now that she knows what it is, Prim has no moral qualms about using more lethal means to subdue the creature. She obligingly takes a step away from the door and then, using the power of her mind, she reaches out and grabs a nearby object - perhaps one of the cups from the mess - and flings it at the xill!

Telekinetic Projectile (Ranged vs. KAC): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Damage (Bludgeoning): 1d6 ⇒ 3

very sorry, super busy start to my week

Tania rushes up to help (double move).

The specialist plugs the xill with a well placed shot. It screams in pain and anger, the lights flickering almost as if echoing its cry. Behind in the storm also flashes, getting ominously closer...

@Shaan, there is a promotional boon slot that you can "slot" a t-shirt reroll into. I'll assume you did that. Good time to use it. 4/14 means you are on 4/14 stamina.

The creature is most definitely not incorporeal, and deftly avoids Shaan's return blow.

Primrose sends a nearby book at the xill's head, but it bounces off the creatures thick skin, while Tania rushes forward.

Status, bold may post
Ale - init 18
Ysh - init 9
Xill - init 7; 10 damage
Shaan - init 25; 4/18SP; Fort DC12 save or paralyzed.
The Specialist - init 23
Primrose - init 14
Tania - init 11

Someone want to suggest an action for Ysh or Alejandro?

Sorry about that, noticed this morning it was my action but didn't get around to post.

Alejandro hears screams, but not screams to shut the door so he darts out of the room and squeezes through the doorway, a pistol slipping into his hand as he rushes to help with whatever.

Double Move

sorry, was kayaking all day for team-building!

Ysh'yaal strikes the creature with her makeshift weapon.

junksword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Damages, S: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Then she moves around the creature that Primorse called a Xill.

How come I never get invited on that type of team building exercise?

Ysh's junksword isn't quite fast enough to land a strike on the Xill.

The Xill continues to try and bite Shaan.
bite: 1d20 ⇒ 3
However the careful vesk is onto the creature now and dodges back at the last moment.

The flickering red lights cast the whole of the pilot deck into a hellish scene of blood and horror.

Status, bold may post
Shaan - init 25; 4/18SP; Fort DC12 save or paralyzed.
Ale - init 18
The Specialist - init 23
Primrose - init 14
Tania - init 11
Ysh - init 9
Xill - init 7; 10 damage

Seeing that the creature seems to be made of flesh and blood, Shaan drops the force baton, draws his doshko, and then tries to bash its brains out. If it has brains.

I assume that, like PF, it's a free action to drop and a move action to draw, and neither provokes?

ember flame doshko: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
F dmg: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Shaan has the Step Up feat and will use it if it tries to move away

"Okay, enough playing around!"

This time Prim conjures forth the tiniest of shooting stars, which slam into the xill with full force.

Prim spends a full-round action to cast Shooting Stars (Magic Missile) at the xill.

Shooting Stars (Force): 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 3, 1) + 3 = 8

I think that is right, happy to be corrected by someone else though.
Shaan hits, a large gash forming as the doshko cuts deeply into the creature.

Why does your doshko do +6 damage, rather than +4?

Why does your doshko do +6 damage, rather than +4?

It's +6 to hit (+4 from STR and +2 from BAB) and +4 dmg (+4 from STR)

Having rested his rifle's bipod on the table, The Specialist takes careful aim at the xill.

Huchket rifle (experimental prototype): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 Dmg (F&P): 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Huchket rifle (experimental prototype): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14 Dmg (F&P): 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Zing, Zing! Both bullets miss. But not by much.

Tania moves into the room, doing a roll past Prim to try and obscure her movements to throw the creature off!

Bluff trick attack: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 11 + 4 = 17
DC 20+cr (success = flat footed)
Static arc pistol: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19 eac
Electricity damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Trick attack damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Tania hits, but the creature seems not caught as unaware as she hoped. Still between her pistol, the shooting stars and the doshko, it is starting to look bad. Not that it was attractive to begin with.

The ship shakes with increasing ferocity as if in sympathy with the creatures pain.

Status, bold may post
Ale - init 18
Ysh - init 9
Xill - init 7; 36 damage
Shaan - init 25; 4/18SP; Fort DC12 save or paralyzed.
The Specialist - init 23
Primrose - init 14
Tania - init 11

Ysh'yaal moves to get into a better position guarded step to fight the Xill and strikes it with her junksword.

Junksword + flank vs KAC: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 2 = 13
Damages, S: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Stop moving! she says to the Xill in Infernal as she misses again.

Huffing and puffing a bit with all the quick action going down, Alejandro moves into the bridge and points his pistol at the Xill, "Aim center mass, keep blasting!"

Move, Get 'Em for +1 to all to hit the Xill

Ysh'yaal misses with her sword, and the creature turns on her..
multiattack: 3d20 ⇒ (13, 14, 13) = 40
bite: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

In a frenzy it manages to bite Ysh'yaal who also feels the insidious poisons slipping into her veins..

Status, bold may post
Shaan - init 25; 4/18SP; Fort DC12 save or paralyzed.
The Specialist - init 23
Primrose - init 14
Tania - init 11
Ale - init 18
Ysh - init 9 - 0/10SP; 13/14HP; Fort save DC 12 vs paralysis
Xill - init 7; 36 damage

"Geeze, how strong are these things!?"

Prim focuses her energy and fires off another small blast of shooting stars, hoping to bring the xill down before it takes out one of her teammates.

Shooting Stars (Force): 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 3, 3) + 3 = 10

And with a final wail of pain, suffering and anger, the horrid creature drops, landing next to the body it had been hiding in.

The approaching storm is making the ship rock even more than before. This appears to be where the computers are, so any information is likely to be accessible from here.