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

Game Master Nik B.

Ceolor looks at the larder with a look of abject horror for a few moments before an empathetic switch seems to flip off in his mind and his eye take a more appraising look. "Hrmm this could be a great setting for a horror scene... The dangling corpses and dead ones. People the hero failed to save, perhaps a face of a friend or a loved one. Further proof that our dragon riding ysoki hero is in the right by fighting the big bad."

He walks through the place mutter things and taking detailed notes on the feel and look of the place. He spots the bullet riddled thing in the back and stops for a second.

Culture: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

A look of genuine emotion breaks through his apathetic facade as he recognizes the machine. "Oh! Hop-mander! We used to have one of these in my school, salvaged from an old vesk wreck from when the Pact Worlds and the Veskarium were fighting. Had to get the skittermander across the busy road without getting hit... These were made, what... 200 years ago? It's certainly an ancient relic that's for sure! "

Croaker looks at the corpses and the overwhelming stench of blood and decay. And he throws up in the corner.

"I should not have eaten that pastries!"

He takes a sip of water, as he turns his head slightly to look at Ceolor. Croaker shakes his head a bit. Letting one hand off his rifle he extends his paw and sucks some magic in, his eyes begin to glow as he extends his senses to look of magic items.

Casting detect magic on the room.

Ceolor moves in and is surprised to see that two of the 'corpses' wing into life - or rather it was two stridermanders who have matched the exact skin tone of the desiccated corpses!

R1
Ceolor
ENEMY!

"Oh this is vile...certainly won't feel bad for hunting these things. " Drift exclaims when entering the room hiding his nose in the crook of his elbow.

He shakes his head as Ceolor focuses on a nicer train of thought.

Ceolor gives a jerk as he realizes there's other things in he room with him. "Blargh! Striders! Wasn't expecting Striders! And disguised as corpses nonetheless! Ugh gross creepy and unsettling!" He rapidly snaps his fingers, gun appearing in hand and takes a step back, aiming at the stridermander right in front of him. His eyes take on a burning glow as he focuses on the beast and fires away.

Solar Flare, Heat drain: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Photon Aligned, d4+5 Cold, d2 Electric damage: 1d4 + 5 + 1d2 ⇒ (3) + 5 + (2) = 10
He'll get to use his new revelation! But dangnabit does he need to stop being he front line, so he doesn't constantly have to keep moving!

sorry was swamped yesterday

Baurquathus strides into the room, weirdly not as affected by the sight like Croaker. Surviving the Scoured Stars for over a year....things he saw....

Seeing the whelps, Bar keeps his gun pointed forward, keeping an eye on if there will be a whelp swarm.

"There must be 40 bodies here, and easily that many whelps. This is a larder, and a grotesque one at that."

As Ceolor calls about striders, Bar nods, then sees that Ceolor is pointing to a corpse that became a pahtra size stridermancer.

That is what Bar is for...front lining....why is Ceolor in the front...last time he did that he was poisoned into almost a stiff board.....

Oi last time was intentional and I learned my lesson. This time was accidental!

Ceolor proves he won't be an easy meal, delivering a solid blow to get the creatures thinking, but they are thinking about a meal still.

The creatures attack back.

R
Attack 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27
Damage 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

O
Attack 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
Damage 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Add crit 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Mimzy dives behind Rattus, gripping her backpack-cakeshop tightly, Jomp appears to bristle with weapons, and the Brigadier grabs one as she wades forward and opens fire "Aha! the Hunt is on!"

Psychic wave canon
V Red Attack 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 11 - 2 = 28
V Orange Attack 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 11 - 2 = 25
Damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

R1
Drift
Bar
Croaker
Rattus

R2
Ceolor
ENEMY!

R 17
O 7

Ceolor groans in pain as the stridermanders wear down his defenses and then nearly rip through his armor. He takes a step back and then rushes behind the rest of the group. "Another set of hits like that and I'd need someone else to finish my novels!"

Ceo beats a hasty retreat!

R1
Drift
Bar
Croaker
Rattus

R2
Ceolor- acted
ENEMY!

R 17
O 7

Bar sees that the stidermancers decided to attempt to take a few choice gobblets out of Ceolor. He rushes in a bit, trying to get a good line of sight through the hanging bodies, hoping that whelp swarm doesn't happen.

Trick attack on Red: 1d20 + 12 + 4 - 20 ⇒ (5) + 12 + 4 - 20 = 1 Hahaha...right
Scorch gun (lethal) EAC, maybe flat footed: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Damage (fire): 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Damage Crit: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Well...at least it was a crit.....min AND max....so average

"Ceolor, why is it that everything we come across wants to taste you....does the Akitonion blood in your veins just scream 'taste me'?"

Ceolor chuckles from the hallway. "I've been told I'm irresistible before!" He then catches a whiff of the room again, and adds, "But ugh, i don't think this is the place to be thinking about that..."

Drift moves to the side of the room for a clear shot, taking one at the orange striderwhelp.

Plasma Fork, 12-Notch: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Damage (E&F): 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

"Down you go!"

Croaker still uneasy with the smell is worried for his friend

"Ceolor step back!"

But he decides to use not his weapon but instead extends his reach and breaks into the mind of one of the whelps

Mind Thrust@Red if still alive: 2d10 ⇒ (3, 6) = 9DC14 will save for half

Rattus moves and fires his pistol at the nearest creature. red if alive

"These things got spirit!"

attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Bar isn't fooling anyone - but with that said fires and amazing shot anyway!

Drift zaps the other Stridermander.

Rattus shots one as well, but still they persist!

Croaker matches minds - 1d20 ⇒ 16 - but it shakes off the worst of it.

***

The creatures step in one attacks the Brig
R
Attack 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15
Damage 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

The other chases Bar.
O
Attack 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29
Damage 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

The brig just punches at it then steps in to guard Bars flank.
Attack 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Damage 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

***

R2
Drift
Bar
Croaker
Rattus

R3
Ceolor
ENEMY!

R 34
O 14

Croaker curses, this fight was a mess. He missees the flame rifle that he got from Hell Knights in the past missions.

He raises his rifle and takes two quick shots

Attack vs EAC@Orange: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 5 - 4 = 19
Damage, laser: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Attack vs EAC@Orange: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 5 - 4 = 14
Damage, laser: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Drift sets his cortex to track the orange stridermancer before firing again.

Plasma Fork, 12-Notch: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Damage (E&F): 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

However he still struggles with his vision clouding.

Ceolor wreaths his 'rifle' in flames as he takes aim at the orange stridermander. "Think I'm pretty safe from this position... I'll let you know if there's anything coming up from behind us!"

Solar Flare, Heat drain vs orange EAC: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Plasma Sheath, Photon, Fire damage: 1d4 + 1d2 + 7 ⇒ (3) + (2) + 7 = 12

Bar sighs slightly as any ability to retreat is denied, and then gets slashed by the stridermancer. With that he just pulls his survival knife and attacks the one in front of him.

Survival knife (KAC) at orange: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Damage Slashing: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

As part of a move action on movement (not moving), pulling knife, standard action to attack

Croaker lands a shot.

Drift finds his shot obscured by all the hanging meat.

Ceolor gets a clean shot in too.

Bar, not so much.

R2
Drift - acted
Bar - acted
Croaker - attacked
Rattus

R3
Ceolor - acted
ENEMY!

R 34
O 33

Rattus fires his pistol again. at nearest one

"These things won't back off!"

attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Funnily enough as Rattus manages to tag one of them and it drops, the other breaks contact and flees.

***

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.

The Brigadier rolls over the stridermander body as she hands her weapons to Jomp for cleaning "A bit on the small side, disappointing, but they are getting bigger so some promise in this place yet"

Culture: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27 -5 to DC to recall customs or related topics. EDIT: not that it matters here.

Ceolor points to all the bullet holes. "Oh, These would ahve been made by a VAC~456 Standard Issue bullet. They were the bullet that the Veskarium used 180-230 years ago. They were known for their ability to puncture through metals as you can see, and may or may not have been the bullet of choice of my home town... You don't want to see what they can do to a living body, let's just say that."

Croaker lowers his gun and scans the surrounding. Not seeing more threats he reaches out for his medical bag.

"Drift, you probable are better at this, but I can assist you. Our pal Ceolor got some beating there. "

He reaches for the tools, and begins to unwrap them.

Medicine, aid Drift: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

"We liked them because they were cheap and very effective, they were popular with many different groups for that very reason"

Rattus looks around the area.

Engineering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

He glances at the General.

I hope these things don't get ANY bigger

Other than the mess and grot there appears to be nothing else of note in here.

Bar moves farther forward, looking around to make certain the stridermancer doesn't sneak back and ambush them.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Engineering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Listening to the conversation between Ceolor and the general about the ammo, Bar nods. It makes sense.

"Oh sure, let us see if we can patch up some of those real quick." Drift says opening a kit attached to his leg as well.

Medicine: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12 Gah. That 25 DC is still a pain.

Ceolor seems to get caught up in the discussion of the bullets and doesn't seem to notice the Dr. and Croaker trying to get him patched up. "Good grief don't need to tell me about how efffective these things could be! I nearly got shot by one on my way to school when I was 6. Scared me half to death and that was the moment I decided I wasn't going to stay on Akiton. You have much experience with these Briagdier?"

Ceolor does stay far far to the back and tries to not get ambushed.

Croaker looks at the patching that they did to Ceolor and he does not look much better. He pats him at the shoulder

"You look all ready better, you will heal up in no time." And he quickly follows Bar hoping that Ceolor will not notice how bad they did.

Bar is satisfied the room is now 'safe'.

Ceolor gives Croaker a puzzled look at the hand on his shoulder. "Wait, what? Of course I'll heal up... Wait were you doing something?"

Ceolor nods at Bar's comments that the room seems relatively safe. "Right then shall we push on then?"

[ooc[Which direction?[/ooc]

Drift just nods alongside Croaker. As they move about the room, he eyes the misplaced bandages occasionally.

He looks around and notices what looks like a door behind Rattus.

"Can we get that open?" he asks.

The small room and then the double doors?

Drift cracks open the door to the small room (after checking it was safe) and finds it is a completely filthy but very functional lavatory.

"Oh...well, does anyone need to uh go before we move on?" he gives it one more glance over before closing it back.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Then he waits for a more burly member to open the double doors.

Bar watches Drift as he opens the door to the restroom. As he sees it doesn't have anything jumping out to get them, Bar moves towards the double doors.

"I can open these I think. Let's see"

Perception on door: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Looking the doors open, Bar will open them if he doesn't see anything strange.

Rattus covers Bar with his pistol.

"Be careful!"

You crack the double doors.

Six bullet-riddled alcoves dominate this semi-circular room, each cradling an empty bed frame, broken shelves, shattered glass, and heaps of debris and personal items. The walls in each living space are painted a different color and feature a different word along the back wall in bold font.

Bullet casings on the floor match those in the 'larder'.

Prismacora - pink:
A triticale (three-necked guitar) hangs on the wall and an old-fashioned speaker system sits in the corner.

Sprout - green:
Contains a dozen dirty planters and twenty jars filled with seeds.

Viverivim - blue:
Contains painting supplies and canvases leaning against the wall which depict skittermanders and idyllic landscapes. Many feature a serious red skittermander. The bed is pushed up against the bed in the red alcove next to it.

Bixby - red:
Contains illegible heaps of rotten paper, a gold wedding band, and a framed photograph of two smiling male skittermanders dressed in old-fashioned wedding robes. The bed is pushed up against the bed in the blue alcove next to it.

Tipps - yellow:
Contains rotten stuffed animals, dirty plastic toys, and a hand-held comm unit.

Razzlefrazz - purple:
Contains four sparklers and a half-filled lighter.

Brigadier Teshgari looks in "This room looks clear, we should move on, nothing to hunt in there. It looks like some sort of unprofessional barracks"

Mimzy and Jomp examine the names and forgotten possessions with curiosity. Jomp remarks “This place needs cleaning.” Mimzy nods, “Yes! Can I help?” Brigadier Teshgari immediately interrupts, “No! You’re helping me. Stay on mission.” Mimzy and Jomp snap to attention, brandishing warm rolls, bottles of water, weapons, and a polishing cloth wildly.

"This is interesting. After we snag our prey I will help you clean Mimzy...if you have more buns." Drift says looking through each of the alcoves with particular fondness to the paintings of Viverim.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

He doesn't waste too much time though as impressing Brigadier is part of the mission.

"I am certainly find of these rooms being dead-ends. Looks like this hallway heads deeper in. Going to be single file for a bit, be careful." he says position himself between the larger allies.

Croaker pats Mimzy and Jomp saying quietly

"We will come here before leaving. Let us go and clean this place from stridermanders first."

Let us go and check the corridor.

You push on down the corridor to the next area.

This computer station is filled with damaged monitors, electronics, and an array of rotten stuffed animals and plastic toys. A swivel stool stands in the middle of the chaos. The electronics are bullet-riddled and bloodstained.

A skilled engineer or computer skilled person might be able to effect a patchy repair.

As Bar walks into the....well, bedroom, he looks around. "This is obviously a skittermander bedroom. I wonder what they were doing down here."

Looking over the items, he will grab the triticale, and see if it is playable. Playing with the tuning screws, he lightly riffs a quick few bars.

Seeing a old comm unit, he picks it up and sees what he can do with that.

As everybody else leaves, Bar pockets the comm unit, and puts the triticale on his back, near his own guitar.

The triticale is quite out of tune but responds well enough to a quick adjustment.

The comms unit probably works, but needs batteries.

Computers: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31

"Alright, computers inside...and outside the body is something of a specialty. Let me take a look!" Drift says sitting in the stool with a bit of excitement. As he works he tosses away the stuffed animals.

Drift manages to get the computer system 'safe' and repaired enough to actually function, but there seems to be a lack of mains power to get it operational...

Croaker keeps watching for any signs of danger as Drift works with the computer.

"I would feel better if we first cleared the place and then played with toys."