[SFS] GM Nefreet's #1-28: It Rests Beneath (Inactive)

Game Master Nefreet

Boris flounders up the hill side.
"Ah yes, those birds do look ominous. Now, about this tower..."
He will help as much as he can, considering his bulk...

engineering: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

"Why is everything in the pact worlds so small!"
He looks over at Vyecmuraf and smiles "I know,I know, why is everything back home on Arniselle so big?"

Once the deed is done Boris will steel his nerves and stand right there, as still as he can.

stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Lar will park his orange enercycle close to the tower site. Having little real fear, he will climb to the top of the tower in order to take instructions from Dr. Montressi in calibrating the scanner.

athleticism: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (5) + 0 = 5

Slipping a couple of times on the metal bars, Lar finally makes it to the top, curious as to how butterflies made it to the inside of his abdomen.

Whew!

Having nowhere to hide, Lar simply tries to stand very still while waiting on the good Dr.'s call...with a pistol in hand.

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Kultha pulls up in her Enercycle, then enthusiastically sets to work assisting with the requisite engineering.

She is about to volunteer to climb the tower, when LAR scrabbles up, looking less than comfortable.

The big Vesk watches him with concern;

"Ach. I hope LAR vill be okvay. Komrade Boris perhaps you should be under him should he need a soft landing yes?"

When concern of the gathering flock of stonegulls is raised, she attempts to remain still, knowing it is not her forte:

Stealth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

I still need that Computers checks, Lar. Add +2 for Mora "Aiding" you.

Boris proves to be one with the mountain, flattening out his bulk and leaving the activity to the smaller humanoids.

As Lar completes the final round of syncs, the sonar pulses spook the majority of the flock, many of which begin to fly away while wailing in shrill tones. The four largest ones, however, begin fluttering their wings and tapping each other’s shells with their proboscises before they DIVE!

"The Birds", Round 1

Mizix (–0/10 SP, –0/11 HP)
Dicebot (–0/14 SP, –0/18 HP; 20' up)
Vyecmuraf (–0/7 SP, –0/10 HP)
LAR 612 (–0/6 SP, –0/9 HP; 30' up)
Green Bird (–0 HP; 120' up)
Orange Bird (–0 HP; 120' up)
Red Bird (–0 HP; 120' up)
Yellow Bird (–0 HP; 120' up)
Boris (–0/14 SP, –0/16 HP; undetected)
Kultha (–0/18 SP, –0/18 HP)

Those who succeed at a DC 14 Stealth check effectively become undetected until you move again.

Vyecmuraf dives under the buggy, pulling out a laser pistol from the relative safety. ”Well, now they’re mad,” they dryly observe. Don’t know why I ever agreed to leave Absalom Station if everywhere’s going to be as miserable as this.

Stealth, Buggy: 1d20 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 2 + 4 = 20

Move and draw weapon.

DICEBOT raises his flamethrower toward the flying creatures and gets readies to air-fry the buggers: I wonder what we'll have for dinner he says, slightly too eager.

computers: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 2 = 18

Putting in the final codes, Lar looks up to see several of the birds diving toward the now complete tower.

"Dicebot. I seem to be finished, but now we must protect the tower from these native birds.". States Captain obvious.

Lar begins to pull the heat from the rising currents and shape them to his will.

I thought a security assignment would be more 'saboteurs' or 'arisen undead' Mizix thinks as she spies the birds circling ominously and draws out her pistol. Not skeet-shooting

Hey! Gulls! she calls out to them, waving her hands wildly. Those guys are silicon and metal. Got some real calcium bones right here!

Move to draw, Readying to shoot if they swoop down to attack DICEBOT or Lar on the tower.

CHARGE!

vs Lar:

Reflex, Green: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Reflex, Yellow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Proboscis, Green: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 5 - 2 = 10
Piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Proboscis, Yellow: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 5 - 2 = 14
Piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 3

vs Dicebot:

Proboscis, Orange: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 5 - 2 = 9
Piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Proboscis, Red: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 5 - 2 = 16
Piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Dicebot overcooks his two, Lar incinerates his two, and Mizix toasts one, but all of them are left standing flapping!

"The Birds", Round 1-2

Mizix (–0/10 SP, –0/11 HP)
Dicebot (–0/14 SP, –0/18 HP; 20' up)
Vyecmuraf (–0/7 SP, –0/10 HP; undetected)
LAR 612 (–3/6 SP, –0/9 HP; 30' up)
Green Bird (–5 HP; 30' up)
Orange Bird (–5 HP; 20' up)
Red Bird (–2 HP; 20' up)
Yellow Bird (–9 HP; 30' up)
Boris (–0/14 SP, –0/16 HP; undetected)
Kultha (–0/18 SP, –0/18 HP)

Reeling at the buffeting wings of these stone gulls, Lar attempts to release another gout of overheated air at the two menacing him.

Assuming that they are still packed close enough and not right in my grill. Not sure if there is room for a guarded step up here.

Overheat (R15 for 1/2): 2d8 ⇒ (6, 1) = 7

"Shoo birds. Do not bother me."

Boris shrugs and aims his plasma claw at Yellow, "Get off my friend, silly bird!"

pewpew: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
E+F damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

We've done "theatre of the mind" before. Let's say there's room for you to Guarded Step back this one time, but if they move up next round, you're trapped. Same for Dicebot.

Reflex, Green: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Reflex, Yellow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

And Lar overheats them both enough that they each drop to the platform with a solid, stony THUD!

"The Birds", Round 1-2

Mizix (–0/10 SP, –0/11 HP)
Dicebot (–0/14 SP, –0/18 HP; 20' up)
Vyecmuraf (–0/7 SP, –0/10 HP; undetected)
LAR 612 (–3/6 SP, –0/9 HP; 30' up)
Green Bird
Orange Bird (–5 HP; 20' up)
Red Bird (–2 HP; 20' up)
Yellow Bird
Boris (–0/14 SP, –0/16 HP; undetected)
Kultha (–0/18 SP, –0/18 HP)

DICEBOT carefully steps back to the edge of the platform, and points the nozzle of his burner at the stonegulls Did anyone order bird brulee?

Attack: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 - 2 = 6
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Attack: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 4 - 2 = 18
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

ROUND 1

Kultha focusses on one of the remaining flock (Orange Stonegull) and engages her Exocortex's Combat Tracking (Move Action)

"Da. Ve need to repel Stonegull! Komrade LAR, stayputski! Do nyet fall!"

Her shoulder laser mirrors the direction as targeting telemetry floods her inner vision, then as she channels her custom rig, she fires at the creature! (Standard Action: Overcharge Ranged Attack vs Orange)

Ranged Attack (Shoulder Laser, Azimuth + Combat Tracking): 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 + 2 = 20

Fire Damage+Overcharge: 1d3 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + (2) = 3 (Drains 3 charges from current Weapon Battery 9/20 remaining)

Mizix moves south to get a better shot, then fires up at the closest Orange bird.

Attack v EAC: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19 for Fire damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Vy, you can feel free to take two rounds of actions when you post next.

The first stonegull that accosted the android is broiled to a medium well, and Mizix pops the other, which hops forward to give Dicebot a love tap.

Proboscis: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Piercing: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2
Crit, Injection, Acid: 1d4 ⇒ 2
Fortitude: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Luckily for Dicebot, his skeleton isn't calcium...

"The Birds", Round 2-3

Mizix (–0/10 SP, –0/11 HP)
Dicebot (–4/14 SP, –0/18 HP; 20' up)
Vyecmuraf (–0/7 SP, –0/10 HP; undetected?)
LAR 612 (–3/6 SP, –0/9 HP; 30' up)
Green Bird
Orange Bird
Red Bird (–6 HP; 20' up)
Yellow Bird
Boris (–0/14 SP, –0/16 HP)
Kultha (–0/18 SP, –0/18 HP)

ROUND 2

As the stonegull she targetted is dispatched by their diminutive security, Kultha shifts her attention to the remaining threat (Red Bird) moving toward it (25ft Move Action) before once again engaging her AI to track the target (2nd Move Action - reassign Combat Tracking to Red Stonegull).

As his two assailants fall with a thud, Lar grabs a corner post and leans over the edge to see what is happening below. Seeing one more bird attacking Dicebot, Lar fires at it with his laser pistol.

Azimuth laser pistol: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 191d4 ⇒ 4

"I wonder if we should not find where these birds are nesting and relocate them so they do not come back? Perhaps when We have finished with the other two towers and the spaceship."

Lar is feeling like a hero at the top of this tower! Hitting birds left and right! I saw him in my mind's eye falling to his death at the beginning of this encounter.

"Worry about that later when it's not trying to liquify your skeletal structure!" Vyecmuraf snaps from under the buggy before firing awkwardly at the gull.

Laser Pistol, Get 'Em: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 2 + 1 = 12
Fire damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

"Now hurry up!"

Laser Pistol, Get 'Em: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 2 + 1 = 18
Fire damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Same actions for both rounds - Get 'Em and shoot.

Oh, yeah. That's a dead bird.

COMBAT OVER!!

Mizix (–0/10 SP, –0/11 HP)
Dicebot (–4/14 SP, –0/18 HP)
Vyecmuraf (–0/7 SP, –0/10 HP)
LAR 612 (–3/6 SP, –0/9 HP)
Boris (–0/14 SP, –0/16 HP)
Kultha (–0/18 SP, –0/18 HP)

Lar successfully calibrates the computers on his first go-around with Mora, and the first tower is finished!

Time elapsed: 2 hrs, 45 min

• Starship
• Cliffs
• Riverbed
• Canyon

Where to next?

As they are cleaning up, "I believe the riverbed was the next closest. Shall we head there?"

Kultha grins as their first tower comes online.

"Da. Bed of river was next I tink. Best ve let Sekurity Officer Mizix guide us vunce again."

DICEBOT climbs down to inspect the fried stonegull, but it is as he feared Overcooked, completely charred. Disgusting.

With a sigh, he turns off the flamethrower (safety first!) and heads back to the buggy. As soon as the Kasath by-rider sits down, DICEBOT activates the setting 'Planking It'.

Take 10 for 16 on piloting

Boris eases himself into the buggy, trying to make the best room possible for his passenger.

Also take 10 for a 15

Curious if the bird's matching calcified shells, Lar inspects one before hopping back on his enercycle taking 10 for a 16 and joining the convoy as an outsider.

life science: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Lar is quite surprised to find that, despite their hardened exterior, their bone structure has evolved hollows allowing for a high level of weight distribution efficiency, making them easily as light as any actual bird. Even stranger, their digestive tract seems suited for removing organic molecules from the calcium that they ingest, suggesting that this plateau may not be a purely geological phenomenon!

You store the least-charred carcass for later study, and Mizix guides you efficiently to the next location.

A long, shallow depression winds across the plateau in this area. Like the rest of the region, it is entirely covered in a gray, shell-like substance. The edges of this riverbed rise to a height of about 4 feet. The toppled and busted up tower lays ahead of you, and a large hole at the end of the site appears to descend into the plateau!

The deep furrows in the gully are difficult terrain. If you wish to take a vehicle outside of the gully, it will take a DC 17 Piloting check, and you cannot Take 10.

What you don't spot until you arrive is a large, green-skinned quadruped with a flame-colored crest and massive bony projections apparently resting just inside the hole.

What would you like to do?

”Wonderful. A cresteater.” Vyecmuraf’s tone does little to hide their enthusiasm - or lack thereof - as they point to the creature. ”It’s been domesticated once, but allowed to go feral since then. Unlikely to be directly from the kasatha ship, though it might be a descendant of a pet. Unlikely though, given the scarcity of intelligent life on this planet, unless I am mistaken about it having been domesticated previously.” A sniff communicates volumes of how unlikely the critic believes this last statement to be.

”Oh, and try not to let its bone-melting acid get on you. It’ll never stop hunting you if that happens.”

*snoooore*

Kultha pulls up alongside on her Enercycle, then nods her head towards the apparently slumbering creature;

"Maybe it vill remember its domestikation if presented vith vun like its Master or Mistress? Maybe try to kommunikate vith it Komrade Vyecmuraf..."

She flashes a toothy grin at the Kasatha;

"Just do nyet get bone meltink acid on self yes?"

life science: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

"An interesting choice for a pet. Perhaps we can avoid it?"

Does it seem hostile?

"Kultha's plan sounds viable to me! We'll be back here to assist in case anything goes wrong..."

Boris tries to look serious when saying that but just can't quite pull it off...

10/14 SP

I'm no specialist in biology DICEBOT says, but if it a descendant of a Kasathan pet, shouldn't there be more of them?

Maybe we should feed it that stonegull corpse? Would it like treats?

DICEBOT activates 'Kid-Friendly' driving and tries to avoid the furrows, driving up to the tower.

The sounds of the buggy's wheels clawing its way across the gravely surface awakens the creature. Standing, it bellows a challenge, flares its crests and begins to approach.

Someone may attempt a Survival check to calm the creature; I'll say that offering a sufficient amount of food will grant you +2, and anyone who wishes to attempt an Aid may do so (even if untrained).

Well, it will do one of two things. Mizix says as she goes to grab one of the charred stonegull corpses from DICEBOT. Or other food if people have it. Mizix in her haste to get out from the facility forgot to bring rations. Either it can eat the meal and become more in touch with its calm ancestors. Or it will reject the trappings of the past and fully embrace the shift from servitude to lesser beings into instead ruling as the master of its domain. Likely by asserting its power through eating me. the gnome continues cheerily as she turn to the beast.

I would prefer the first. Still, best to stay back?

Mizix steps slowly towards the advancing creature. Hello! You like dissolving bones? This thing liked eating calcium! I'm sure there's still a lot in there for you to chomp on!

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Gonna use my Promotion re-roll boon (prefering to not be eaten). 1-Nova bonus included; if the stonegull body or other food is available add 2 to it.

Survival w/ 1 Nova re-roll: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 1 = 22

+2 indeed for the Stonegull carcass...

*sniff snifffff*

Anybody else wish to step up and Aid?

survival aid: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1

"Perhaps someone should pat it on it's back.". Lar says in all seriousness. Then, addressing the creature, he says, "There, there.". He then smiles, thinking that he has done precisely the correct thing to calm the least.

Boris shrugs, "Ah, how can I make it worse?"

He slowly approaches near Dicebot with some InstaMeat (tm) in his hand, "It's OK. We really don't want to hurt you. We just need to set up a little tower and then it's all yours again!"

survival: 1d20 + 0 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 0 + 2 = 10

"OK, maybe that didn't help much.."

That Aids!

Maybe it's the sweet, savory smell of the InstaMeat™, or maybe it's the sight of something bulkier than the cresteater, but in any case, it grabs the food offerings and lumbers away from the area, allowing you to repair the tower in peace.

Repairing the Tower and Computers is more difficult than setting up new ones. Please give me Engineering checks for setup, and one person give me a Computers check while up top (with the +2 Aid from Mora).

Towards the end of your setup, you spot the creature lumbering back towards its den, and you realize it may very well just knock down the tower after you leave. Difference this time is, you can form yourselves (and your vehicles) into a defensive perimeter as you see fit, or even take shelter on the lower platform.

I have placed it where it will be coming from on the map.

"Good. See, it's your friend now." Vyecmuraf pauses in handing off another pipe to Boris to point at the returning cresteater. "So that means it's your problem now, Mizix."

Fine to circle the wagons vehicles, but not sure how that's going to keep this lizard from knocking things down after we leave.

"Ah, good, that worked!"

Now, for this tower..
engineering: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
computers AID: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

After the tower is up and the animal heads back, "Oh, that's unfortunate."

Very DICEBOT says without sincerity as he draws his tactical sword, positioning himself between tower and pet.

Hoo-ray! Mizix smiles to Vyecmuraf.

As the tech-smart people get to work and the gnome notices the beast beginning to lumber back she sighs. It probably won’t be able to knock the tower down in one blow, right? So if most of you get up there and pepper it if it comes closer it might decide to go away for real this time. For her own part she goes next to DICEBOT, then pauses and chuckles.

Heh, ‘pepper’. Food joke.

Fine to circle the wagons vehicles, but not sure how that's going to keep this lizard from knocking things down after we leave.

As in, it's essentially an unavoidable combat, but now you're in a better tactical position against the reason why I wanted frontliners for this adventure.

Glad to see that there is no need to fight that creature, Lar gets busy helping repair the tower. "The scientists will eventually want to erect fortifications around this tower to keep lumbering beasts from destroying it in the future."

engineering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

computer: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 2 = 19

As the creature returns, Lar pulls his bike up between the tower and the creature, and draws his pistol. "I suppose this was inevitable. Building the tower next to the creatures home was not ideal."

Kultha watches the drama unfold, then throws herself into repairs and system set-ups;

Engineering Aid: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20
Computers Aid: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

"Da. Fortifikations vud be best bet. Am sure Sekurity Officer Mizix vil ensure it is done."

As the creature lumbers back, she big vesk emits a rumbling sigh;

"Ach. Kreature cannot stay avay..."

"Da. Fortifikations vud be best bet. Am sure Sekurity Officer Mizix vil ensure it is done."

Of course. Piece of cake. After all, there's nothing much around here for this thing to have learned to hunt. How big a threat could it be?

Apologies. 8 hours of conference calls followed by my usual Thursday night Campaign meant very little time for in-depth posting.

The tower is erected in expert fashion, practically like new. Elapsed time: 2 hrs, 45 min.

Interrupted, of course, by the bellowing of a burdensome beast.

Vyecmuraf (–0/7 SP, –0/10 HP)
Mizix (–0/10 SP, –0/11 HP)
Dicebot (–4/14 SP, –0/18 HP)
LAR 612 (–3/6 SP, –0/9 HP)
Boris (–0/14 SP, –0/16 HP)
Kultha (–0/18 SP, –0/18 HP)
Cresteater (–0 HP)

All right, here it comes! Mizix advises as she braces her pistol against the buggy. the gnome calls out one more time before firing. Sorry thing! We tried to just feed you!

Attack v EAC: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 for Fire damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Entropy Pool: 1

"He looks fierce, let's see if we can distract him."

Boris pulls and throws a grenade. Wherever it lands, a fierce looking Vesk warrior bursts from the ground in an exaggerated display of fierceness, shaking his Soshko with fervor...

Holo Grenade, aiming for the square to the top right of the green buggy.

grenade!: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 - 2 = 11

Temp Vesk placed

Kultha flashes a toothy grin at Boris' interesting munitions;

"Vesk in kan? Most interestink Komrade Boris... A handsome vun too! Spasibo!"

Trying not to get distracted by the sudden appearance of the Vesk warrior, the bigger mekanik engages her AI's Kombat Trakink which locks onto the lumbering creature with a slew of range telemetry:

(Move Action - Combat Tracking on Cresteater)

Her shoulder laser mirrors her head's direction as she again links her custom-rig to augment the shoulder mounted Azimuth and fires! (Standard Action: Overcharge Ranged Attack vs Cresteater)

Ranged Attack (Shoulder Laser, Azimuth + Combat Tracking - Range Increment): 1d20 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 + 2 - 2 = 22

Fire Damage+Overcharge: 1d3 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + (5) = 8
Critical Fire Damage+Overcharge: 1d3 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + (1) = 2

(Drains 3 charges from current Weapon Battery 6/20 remaining)