[SFS/Shifty] #3-02 The Subterranean Safari (C) (Inactive)

Game Master Nik B.

Spike can't seem to get the gadget to align with where you think you might be. Teshgari snatches the device and quickly directs you to the correct path and order the group forward and strides off confidently. Once out of easy earshot her skittermander followers turn to you "We profusely apologize for the overbearing attitude. She can be very particular about hunting and survival" - Mimzy offers out fresh baked goods to help keep the peace.

***

After an hour, the group arrives in a large cavern with multiple branching tunnels. Brigadier Teshgari retrieves and deactivates the projector, gestures at the cavern, “What do you see? I’m curious on how skilled you Starfinders truly are at these sorts of things.”

"Take your time, then tell me which of the paths lead to the largest predators - preferably stridermanders"

Life Science: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Activating Memory Module/
Life Science: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Drift has some trouble seeing anything that stands out but he pauses for a moment, activating a few circuits in his cybernetic eye. The color flashes a few different colors.

"The blood and fecal matter is a lot thicker down the east tunnel. I can't say with confidence what is down that tunnel but there is something." he says to the others.

Survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28 Now we are talking

Croaker looks at the 'fecal matter' pointed by Drift.

"It is a dump! No need to call it anything else." speak with bluntness not uncommon among mercenaries

He smells it and looks around smelling a few corridors.

"It belongs to stridermander and there is some sour odor down that tunnel. The beast that you are looking for is there." speaks almost certain Croaker.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Bar seems to be getting more frustrated dealing with the Brigadier, as
he seems to be unable to do anything constructive. He does his best to help, but barely can even do that.

I think I am paying for the last games good RNG luck....

I think I am paying for the last games good RNG luck....

It is karma! For picking up on Croaker :P

Rattus looks around the area and munches on baked goods.

"These are good..."

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

He turns to Croaker. "If it's down there. I better finish this muffin."

He gobbles it down then licks his tiny claws. Then he draws his pistol.

"I'm ready"

"Can I have one more bun real quick. I love bread." he asks Mimzy before they move out. With the bun still in his mouth, he pulls the plasma fork from his back.

Ceolor gladly accepts a pastry, pressing Mimzy for a non-sweet one if she had one, but accepting a sweet roll if sweet was it. He chomps down on the delicious thing and watches the experts expert. Though he does turn a near shade of pink hearing talk about scat and dumps while he'S chewing. He finishes up the pastry qickly clearly not enjoying it anymore. "Did you really have to talk about that while I was eating?"

Mimzy slides Drift another delicious pastry on the downlow with a nod and a wink, Ceolor likewise notes the skittermander is packing more pastries than should be possible in such a small backpack.

"I really like baking because pastries and cakes and bread are delicious and you can always make nufriends by having something nice to share and as they say a meal shared is two problems solved and food is a universal language but I suppose if someone had an allergy that makes it hard so its a good idea to also carry some medicine I suppose but I am not a doctor I am more of a baker but then again isn't medicine just another form of cooking I think it is because you are still just adding ingredients but you call them medicine and they fix illness like pastries fix hunger and you always have to get your quantities and dosages right or else you end up with a disaster speaking of disasters all bad news is easier to deal with when you have a full stomach and a tasty pastry did you have enough... ummm what was I saying again?"

***

The sour scent of stridermander musk grows progressively stronger as travel east through the tunnels until you eventually emerge into a larger chamber. Thick stalagmites rise up from the uneven floor of this vast cavern, reaching for the stalactites mirrored on the jagged ceiling thirty feet above.

The air is thick with a sour stench and a haze of grit, which drifts down from the ceiling, becoming lost amid the pebbles and filth coating the stone floor. As you enter on the far edge, a stalactite falls from the central ceiling, triggering a chorus of high-pitched screeches from the stridermander whelps. A dozen stridermander whelps scurry around, hunting for small prey. They hiss at you, rubbing their eyes when light is directed at them.

"Pah, those ones are puny and weak" the Brigadier looks like a fisherman who has pulled in a tiny fish and wasted their bait.

Stalagmite/stalagtite area denoted by the white line

Ceolor pulls out a mask with some nicer smells than the sour and progressively worsening smell. He pauses as they encounter the little stridermanders, "Awww, these guys are cute for right now... but the bigger worry, Brigadier, is where is momma? Cause we are effectively carrying a giant 'Kill ME!' target by being here near her whelps. I'D reccomend getting somewhere where we have a good solid surface behind us if we are going to wait, or getting someplace away from here and watching the entrances if we aren't going to wait."

No engineering sadly

Engineering: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

"I agree, partially, give those stalactite and stalagmites a wide berth. They are all unstable like the one that just fell...one of those could do serious damage." Drift speaks up after examining the area.

Croaker breathes in the air and is glad of being right. When they spot the young ones he scans the chamber hoping to see it's mother.

"I don't know much about stridermanders, but most creatures require at least two adults to have a litter. We might not be facing one stridermander but potentially more. "

Can I determine if the number of whelps might indicate that this is a pack of stridermanders? Meaning a couple of females having whelps

Life science: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

[ooc]It looks like 'lots' - so there's clearly a fair few Stridermanders around the cave system somewhere.

"Well then, lead on" the Brigadier comments from the rear.

Croaker comments

"There are a lot of Whelps here, more than one stridermander would have. "

Question is there a passage behind the black screen? Meaning do we have to enter the stalctite 'mine' field. Or is the road leading us north?

There is nothing really visible over there (you could wander into the field to check if you want!) the passage looks like it continues past the chamber.

Ceolor shakes his head. "So there are multiple parents and not a one is left behind to protect the kids? I know I'm not an expert on biology, and correct me if I am wrong, but how did a species survive if they leave their young near the front of a cave system and unguarded. I don't care if you're the biggest apex predator, any good carnivorous species could come in here and wipe these guys out which is never good for a species. Ever. That's not even mentioning how a good single quake means half this room is a death trap."

Ceolor sighs for a second, before looking at the possible pathways. " Right we should get moving. Someone want to check the northern route? It looks like it leads nowhere but I could be wrong. I'll try tackling what looks like a route through that 'death trap' wish me luck."

Typed up and forgot to hit submit, whoops

Croaker goes to check the northern passage. He is looking for any signs that stridermanders are using it as a passage. Signs of any defecations, any smell in the air, leftovers of fur etc.

"Let me check if the passage north is any good."

Engineering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Bar nods to Drift, who apparently has the dwarven ability to see problems with bad caves, and stays away from the possible cave-in potential.

Seeing the small stridermancers running around, Bar nods to the Brigadier on these being nothing but whelps and not worth her time.

"Yeah Croaker, with these many whelps, it is likely their parents are around. That might be more in the lines of what the Brigadier wants to hunt."

With that Bar will go around the dangerous area, looking around.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Rattus follows Bar.

"Parents?" He scratches his head. "Hope they don't pack too much of a wallop"

As Ceolor hits the edge and starts to negotiate the troublesome terrain, a few of the bigger Stridermander whelps spring to ambush him!

A bunch of rocks fall on Ceolor though!

Ceolor is hitby a partial cave-in
Damage 2d6 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7 plus 'buried'
Reflex DC 12 for half and avoids being buried

R1
Rattus
Bar

The Rat and The Cat are too fast!

Since I didn't say that Bar had his weapon out...no trick attack this round

Bar moves forward, pulling out his scorchgun (which is set for lethal). When he feels he has a good line of sight he fires.

Scorchgun, Microwave, EAC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Damage (Fire): 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Ceolor dodges the worst of the falling stalagtites, ready for the possibility. He's not ready for the young to come attacking him though. "Okay, I see that the whelps aren't completely helpless here! I should give the Stridermander parents a little more credit."

Bar zaps one.

Ceolor avoids being buried, but can see the whole area looks pretty treacherous.

R1
Rattus
Bar - acted

R
O
Y
G 7

Rattus points and shoots. at green

attack pistol: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

But his gun jams and he clears it. He shakes his head in anger.

"This thing was brand new!"

Bar shakes his head at Rattus's comment, "That is why I never use a brand new gun on a mission. At least 3000 shots have to be fired before I feel comfortable in using a 'new' gun."

He gets ready for the stridermancer whelps advance.

Ceolor looks over at Bar, brushing off dust and standing up from the stalagtite-fall. "Bar, not everyone is going to have the money to be wasting 3000 rounds or charges. Before started following the Cycle, I was lucky to have enough for 25 shots."

The new pistol appears to have had an issue that has temporarily vexed the enthusiastic starfinder.

The whelps converge on Ceolor.

R
Attack 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 vs KAC
Damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
O
Attack 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 vs KAC
Damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Y
Attack 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 vs KAC
Damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
G
Attack 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 2 = 16 vs KAC
Damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Seems the Stridermanders were suffering the same vexation, perhaps it was a passing cosmic wind?

The brigadier takes aim with her pistol and shoots one of them in return.
Attack 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24
Damage 2d4 + 5 ⇒ (1, 2) + 5 = 8

R1
Drift
Croaker
Ceolor

R2
Rattus
Bar

R
O
Y
G 8

Ceolor thinks for a moment about tumbling backwards and avoiding the whelps getting another chance to try scratching him, but decides that this might be better to just get out of the way properly.

DC is horrendous 15+2+2+2+2+(highest CRx1.5) meaning a 24 min he'd have to roll a 15 or better to make it

Ceolor then gives a snap as his dark weapon extends from his little star mote taht appears behind his head and forms into his hands. He raises it, his eyes taking on a flaming appearance, and then fires at the whelp with the green fur.

Solar Flare, Heat drain: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Photon Aligned, d4+5 Cold, d2 Electric damage: 1d4 + 5 + 1d2 ⇒ (4) + 5 + (2) = 11

Also GM does Green have some nasty DR or did Bar and the Brigadier's damage not get combined?

AOO festival
R
Attack 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 vs KAC
Damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
O
Attack 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 vs KAC
Damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Y
Attack 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 vs KAC
Damage 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 1) + 6 = 8

Ceolor gets tagged on the way out.

***
Ceolor badly wounds one of the striderwhelps!

R1
Drift
Croaker
Ceolor - acted

R2
Rattus
Bar

R
O
Y 11
G Dead

Plasma Fork, 12-notch: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Damage (E&F): 1d8 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 3 + (3) = 10

Drift moves up while adjusting his plasma fork, it begins to glow dangerously hot before unleashing a large bolt of plasma.

Move and Overcharge.

"If this doesn't draw out the parents, I don't have much confidence in the species."

Drift finishes the injured striderwhelp!

R1
Drift - acted
Croaker
Ceolor - acted

R2
Rattus
Bar

R
O
Y Dead
G Dead

Croaker was investigating the ground when the fight begun. He raises his rifle and focuses his sight on the enemy. But before he pulls the trigger two of the whelps fall down.

He aims at the third one and pulls the trigger

Attack vs EAC@orange: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Damage, laser: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

But his rifle also jams

"What the hell? Is it the dust, two guns at one mission! That can't be an accident!"

Seeing that the whelps decided to go for a hot lunch instead of a cool cat, Bar moves closer to hopefully draw their attacks.

Trick Attack vs Red: 1d20 + 12 + 4 - 20 ⇒ (18) + 12 + 4 - 20 = 14 This is the CR tricked
Scorchgun, Microwave, (EAC, poss flat footed): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Damage (Fire): 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Trick damage (if applicable): 1d8 ⇒ 6

Shrugging his shoulders when Croaker mentions dust, "It might be, or maybe you didn't clean crystal dust out of your firearms after the last mission? I know my sonic pistol had a lot in the resonator chamber."

Rattus shoots the nearest bad guy.

attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

damage if crit: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"That's better!"

Croaker also gets a jam.

Bar drops one of them and Rattus badly injures another.

The brigadier ulls the trigger on her massive revolver once more
Attack 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30
Damage 2d4 + 5 ⇒ (3, 4) + 5 = 12

And the creature crumbles.

/end combat

***

As the dust settles you note the the rockfall has revealed a metal structure high on the cavern’s south wall, which the stridermander whelps have clearly into.

"That must be the stridermander nest, prepare to enter once you have brushed yourselves off."

Checking the chamber you are in you note that the far end of the tunnel is blocked by rubble.

Once done, you start picking your way up towards the metal opening.

Ascending the rubble without injury requires a successful DC 22 Athletics check or take 1d6 damage from sliding and falling rubble

Take 10 for 19 on Physical Science.

"That end of the tunnel has been collapsed for some time, settled in enough to have been at least a month." Drift adds as they prepare to head towards the metal opening.

Take 10 for 20 on Engineering.

"Over here, the rubble is impacted. Should be a bit safer."

Athletics: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 2 = 9

Still, Drift proves athleticism isn't a strong suit as he still struggles up the incline.

Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Ceolor looks at the new rubble pile and sighs, wishing there was a better way but not having much of a choice in the matter. If I go slipping down this, someone got some bandages for sealing up the scrapes I'm going to get? Hate to get an infection. I should carry my own. "

Athletics: 1d20 + 0 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 0 + 2 = 9
Damages: 1d6 ⇒ 6

He grumbles as he slips, slides and slurries all over the pile. When he gets to he top he looks over all the scrapes from his sliding, the whelps and the stalagtite-fall. " Ugh mind if I take ome time and cover these up?"
Ceolor would love to ake 10 mins to recover stamina unless people have ant to push on.

You can take 10 minutes to have a rest if you wish, but kinda need to know if this is happening before or after you get up the rockpile

Preferably after to heal that damage too.

Bar looks at the pile of stones and sighs.

He does his best to look for the best way up.

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 2 = 18

But catches his food on a loos stone and tumbles down scraping his knee.

Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Athletics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Croaker saw how his allies rolled with the stones so he assumed the worst.

And the worst happened. Few big stones hit him in the head

"Ceolor how about we take a break enjoying the pastries?"

I would also take 10

"Resting...perfectly fine with me." Drift sighs, rubbing his bruises.

The bane of Starfinders: Athletics!

As you ascend the rubble you find a backpack from a previous victim of the stridermanders. It contains a beacon, ten flares, and two mk 2 serums of
healing.

***

The wooden door of this dark underground room lays shattered on the filthy tiled floor. The walls show signs of bright paint beneath layers of muck and dust, and rows of lights line the ceiling. The stale air is heavy with the stench of rot and stridermander musk. Three wide hallways echo with sounds of dripping water, scrabbling claws, and hissing.

As you come into view, a trio of stridermander whelps shriek in panic
and flee, two run down the east hallway, while the third scrambles into a nearby vent in the west hall.

Sticking out of a vent in the west hallway is a lightly dented vivifier flare rifle - it looks like it has gotten jammed in there.

Croaker rests while eating pastries.

"Not the worst rest that I had in my career!"

After found he takes a look into found backpack and is glad to find there healing serums.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

"Look here, there are some blood smears here, and here and there they seem to lead down the east hall!"

Bar sits down for a few minutes, and asks Mimzy for a small pie if she has one.

I loved RPing Mimzy when I ran this....she is so.....cute!

Bar gets up after a quick rest and looks around.

Perception roll 1: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Perception roll 2: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Walking to the front door, Bar looks down at it. Frowning at it, he looks up to see something in the smudge. Wiping it clear with a scrap piece of cloth he says, "Welcome!???? Hmm, not what I would think a stridermancer den would have on their wall, and so prettily written too... "

Looking over at where Croaker is pointing,"Yeah, looks like some things have been dragged or something down that hall...it doesn't look TOO fresh, but it isn't years old either."

"Well, that rifle looks like it may be all that is left of another adventurer down the west hall. Watch yourself near the vents...they could be anywhere, the little ones at least." Drift says a little grim looking at the blood smear. He keeps his weapon at the ready.

Mimzy waits to make sure that the Brigadier isn't looking then opens her backpack conspiratorially and seems to have just the right small pie tucked away carefully "She doesn't believe in second breakfasts at all"

Jomp pulls out a polishing cloth and starts cleaning the Brigadiers pistol "Perfectly presented"

The Brigadier looks at the resting Starfinders with a bit of judgment "Which way are you planning on going?"

Croaker looks at Bar and then Drift.

"The blood marks indicate that someone was dragged there. Which means that we should stumble on the enemies in that chamber. I vote to move into their lair instead of trying to check the side passages. What do you think?"

One vote to go after the blood.

"Agreed, better we get the known threat out of the way."

Desiccated corpses hang from the ceiling of this vile larder in long, irregular rows. The maze of swaying bodies obscures the chamber’s deeper recesses.

Stridermander whelps scurry around, nibbling on corpses. As you advance the whelps shriek in panic and flee into the walls or deeper into the complex. Most of the corpses can be identified as humanoid hunters (primarily vesk and pahtra).

Brigadier Teshgari is energized at the sight of this macabre larder and prepares for battle, checking her weapons. Mimzy and Jomp look horrified. Mimzy covers her backpack of baked goods protectively.

An oldfashioned entertainment unit riddled with bullet holes rests against the east wall.

Examining the walls reveals the metal was painted with inconsistent bright patterns. The paint is chipped, and the walls are dented from bullet impacts. Longarm bullet casings litter the floor.