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

Game Master Nefreet

DICEBOT is curious what effect the many flashes and bangs will have on the creature. He stands ready in case the answer is 'Vesk sandwich'

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Your DICEBOT can create delicious Vesk sandwiches. All DICEBOT Vesk sandwich recipes are 100% lettuce free

"Well, then we'll just have to chase it off again." Vyecmuraf pulls their laser pistol from its holster. "This time permanently."

Draw weapon, readied to use Get 'Em when it comes within 60 ft.

Will to Disbelieve: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

You know... I'm not actually sure whether the DC reduction from distance would apply to the spell save DC, but either way in this case, it distracts the creature for a round ^_^

The Cresteater moves all the way up to the holographic vesk and delivers a savage gore, causing it to dim and flicker.

Kultha's direct hit on its eye doesn't help with its newfound hatred of vesk.

Lar may take two actions when you post next.

"How big a threat could it be?", Round 2

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 (–10 HP)

Lar will stay next to the tower, just in case he's needs to climb it
You know, to protect it. Though this creature does look much more intimidating than the birds. He will take two shots at it now that he has seen the other Starfinders do the same.

Azimuth laser pistol: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 31d4 ⇒ 2

Azimuth laser pistol: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 31d4 ⇒ 3

Lar sufficiently dispatches the hologram!

"How big a threat could it be?", Round 2

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 (–10 HP)

Boris yells at the beast,"Hey ugly! Yo momma su ugly she made you!"
He follows up this very juvenile insult he may or may not have learned from a halfling who convinced him it was the universal insult with a tail shake of contempt towards the beast...

Dispiriting Taunt. Intimidate check, I think the DC is 15+(1.5x his CR) or 10+ his intimidate score. If I fail he is Off Target, -2 to attacks til the end of my next turn. If I succeed he is Shaken, -2 to pretty much everything...Either way a win for us.

intimidate: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Boris's statement isn't too far off the mark... Up close, the creature does seem a little disfigured...

"How big a threat could it be?", Round 2

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 (–10 HP; off-target)

No! You'll pay fro slaying my best friend, Vesk #7! Mizix yells as she fires in rapid succession. The creature doesn't seem to be able to understand her words, but perhaps the emotion will comes across anyway.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 3 - 4 = 4 for Fire: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Attack 1: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 3 - 4 = 18 for Fire: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Kultha rumbles a laugh at the pale gnomes comment;

"Ach. Best friends kom from Vesk-4 Komrade!"

Holding position she once again she augments her shoulder mounted weapon and brings it to bear on the much closer Cresteater;

(Standard Action: Overcharge Ranged Attack vs Cresteater)

Ranged Attack (Shoulder Laser, Azimuth + Combat Tracking): 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 2 = 9
Fire Damage+Overcharge: 1d3 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (3) = 5

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

DICEBOT still finds himself standing with a melee appendage in his hand, and patiently waits for the beast to come within dicing range.

"You do know that it'll bite you in half and melt your bones, right?" Vyecmuraf asks rhetorically. "So shoot it first."

Laser Pistol, Get 'Em: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 2 + 1 = 15
Fire damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Get 'Em and shoot.

Gnome, Kasatha: 1d2 ⇒ 2

The Cresteater trumpets a challenge at Vy and tramples over the enercycle, triggering Dicebot's attacks, which just barely slices deep. It bites back in retaliation.

Bite! vs KAC: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14
Piercing: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11 plus 1 Con Damage

So lucky ^_^

"How big a threat could it be?", Round 3

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 (–21 HP)

Boris once again shakes his tail at the beast, "See! Ugly AND clumsy!"
Even with no language in common the taunt is obvious...

Giving him another dispiriting taunt...
intimidate: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Oh, that should get the full effect will get up to CR5, he'll be at -2 on attacks, ability, skill checks and saves. Good time to hit him with something that requires a save!

Vyecmuraf steps back instinctively. "Get it! Get it now!" they order frantically.

Guarded step and Get 'Em.

As the creature looms above DICEBOT, Kultha heeds their Kasatha's wise tactical acumen;

She backs away from the brute (Guarded Step - Move Action) and blasts it with her empowered shoulder laser; (Standard Action: Overcharge Ranged Attack vs Cresteater)

Ranged Attack (Shoulder Laser, Azimuth + Combat Tracking + Get 'Em): 1d20 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 21

Fire Damage+Overcharge: 1d3 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + (2) = 3 Wow. Just. Wow.

(Drains last 3 charges from current Weapon Battery 0/20 remaining)

With concern the vesk-tek notes her weapons battery reading is now showing WARNING: EMPTY... PLEASE RELOAD... WARNING: EMPTY... PLEASE RELOAD...

Unfortunately...

CHOMP!: 1d20 + 13 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 13 - 2 = 26
Piercing: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 plus 1 Con Damage

...it has reach =(

"How big a threat could it be?", Round 3

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 (–8/18 SP, –0/18 HP; –1 Constitution)
Cresteater (–24 HP; Shaken)

DICEBOT narrowly escapes the grinding maw of the creature, and tries to stab back

Attack (Get Em): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 1 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Thank you for exposing a new tactical position Kultha! Mizix yells as she races around the distracted beast to get in position before channeling the inevitable end of all things at it. Your loss of bone marrow will allow us to succeed!

Move, then Entropic Strike

attack v EAC: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 3 + 1 = 21 for Acid: 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

"This was someone's pet?!"

Attempting to aim above everyone's head, Lar pops off a shot at the beast.

Azimuth laser pistol: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 2 + 1 = 221d4 ⇒ 4

This time Dicebot is unable to penetrate the creature's hide, but Mizix and Lar each find their mark. After having tasted blood, the creature's crests flare a deep orange! It pivots away from Kultha to take a bite out of its two new assailants.

CHOMP! vs Dicebot: 1d20 + 13 - 4 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 13 - 4 - 2 = 10
Piercing: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 plus 1 Con Damage

CHOMP! vs Mizix: 1d20 + 13 - 4 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 13 - 4 - 2 = 15
Piercing: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 plus 1 Con Damage

"How big a threat could it be?", Round 4

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 (–8/18 SP, –0/18 HP; –1 Constitution)
Cresteater (–34 HP)

DICEBOT prefers his food a bit less lively, but still persists in defending himself. To prevent injury, he says, always cut away from the body

Attack (get em assumed): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 1 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Just don’t cut all the way through. I’m back here! Mizix yells over the creature as she steps into a flanking position and then reaches out at it again.

attack v EAC (including flanking, and assumed Get’Em): 1d20 + 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 1 + 2 = 13 for Acid damage: 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Dicebot is Slicebot, and Mizix is Misses!

"How big a threat could it be?", Round 4

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 (–8/18 SP, –0/18 HP; –1 Constitution)
Cresteater (–44 HP)

"It's the gnome's pet now," Vyecmuraf answers irritably, "which means its her problem. And ours, apparently."

Laser Pistol, Get 'Em: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 9
Fire damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Get 'Em and shoot!

Bereft of juice for her laser and clearly within chomping range, Kultha once again gingerly shifts backward (Move Action: Guarded Step), then slams in a new power module (Move Action: Reload)

LASER NOW AT FULL POWER. READY TO ENGAGE...

"Vatch out for bite. Nasty."

azimuth laser pistol: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 91d4 ⇒ 2

Lar fires again at the creature, not with so many moving forms his shot goes wide.

an overheated cone is out of the question.

Boris yells at Kultha, "Hey, that bite wasn't so nasty! See, the bruising is nothing!

inspiring Boost, gain 8 Sp back!

The smells emanating from the distressed and enraged beast are not pleasant... from either end...

RAWR!!

CHOMP! vs Dicebot: 1d20 + 13 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 13 - 4 = 27
Piercing: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 plus 1 Con Damage

CHOMP! vs Mizix: 1d20 + 13 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 13 - 4 = 25
Piercing: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 plus 1 Con Damage

"How big a threat could it be?", Round 5

Vyecmuraf (–0/7 SP, –0/10 HP)
Mizix (–8/10 SP, –0/11 HP; –1 Constitution)
Dicebot (–13/14 SP, –0/18 HP; –1 Constitution)
LAR 612 (–3/6 SP, –0/9 HP)
Boris (–0/14 SP, –0/16 HP)
Kultha (–0/18 SP, –0/18 HP; –1 Constitution)
Cresteater (–44 HP)

This time Boris points to Mizix.
Hey! You really dodged that one well! See!

Inspiring boost on Mizix, gain 8SP back. Sorry Dicebot, you have more HP, don't want him getting in the danger zone from one more hit...

He will then move closer to give another possible target.

Oh. You know what, everyone who has Constitution damage, give me a Fortitude Save in your next post. The ability damage isn't automatic. That's what I get for only copying/pasting part of the statblock to my prep document.

Fort save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

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Your DICEBOT has a powerful self-cleaning procedure, that will help its joints stay clear from foreign matter
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DICEBOT takes a dent from the teeth of the creatures and issues a warning to the creature: I would be the worst thing you have ever eaten. I taste BLAND!

Chop chop, flanking, getem: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

”Enough with the false optimism - just take it down fast!” Vyecmuraf orders with another blast of laser fire.

Laser Pistol, Get ‘Em: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 2 + 1 = 23
Crit - Fire damage: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7
Burn: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Dicebot schools the creature, distracting it long enough for Vy to get in the killing shot!

COMBAT OVER!!

Vyecmuraf (–0/7 SP, –0/10 HP)
Mizix (–8/10 SP, –0/11 HP; –1 Constitution?)
Dicebot (–13/14 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; –1 Constitution?)

The last few blows knocked some of the creature's bony plating loose. Since you do not have sufficient space in your vehicles to haul the carcass back to camp for a thorough analysis, grabbing the bony protrusions may suffice for a genetic scan of the creature's age, health and possible origin.

Searching the creature's lair you actually find that the tunnel descends deep into the plateau, and may be the reason for the riverbed drying up!

Where would you like to go next?

• Starship
• Cliffs
• Riverbed
• Canyon

Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Nothing false Vyecmaruf Mizix says. The gnome has seemed a bit frightened for a moment, but Boris’ Pepe talk really got her going again. See: it’s down! Only took a few battery charges, a decoy, and a sizable chunk of flesh or three!

Would vote for the Cliffs: get the third tower up so scanning can begin, maybe still getting done while we then can check out the ship.

"Well, that creature was tough! Shall we rest for a few minutes or head on to the cliffs to finish that last tower?"

Pfft! It was tough, but we all made out okay thanks to your Pep talks and Vyec's targetting advice.

Right DICEBOT? Mizix say, looking at her dance partner. The gnome's eyes widen. Oh, that's a lot of fluids. What is in android blood anyway?

What is in android blood anyway?

Electrolytes DICEBOT answers without offering further details, taking a moment to patch himself up.

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Under no circumstance should children be allowed to go near a bottle of DICEBOT refill liquid.
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I'd use a resolve point to regain SPs. Let's head for the cliffs next

Fort Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Kultha flashes a toothy smile as the creature is felled;

"Da. A vurthy foe. Best ve get last tover up and funktioning, so kliffs is my tinking."

Disappointed at the loss of the stony bird carcass, Lar takes up the bony protrusions from this mighty creature to take back for analysis.

" To the cliffs! " Lar large proclaims in an impersonation he had heard in a hologram program back in his old lab. It may have been to the trees instead of the cliffs, but he was taking a slight creative license.

Lar can barely contain his excitement at the thought of what information might be in that starship!

Mizix wrote:

What is in android blood anyway?

Electrolytes

This made me burst out loud with laughter ^_^

With Mizix once again guiding your convoy you eventually arrive at a high cliff that curves along one edge of the plateau. The wind is noticeably strong, so much so that there are no flying creatures nearby. Additionally, the ground here is a strange field of uniform shallow depressions, each about 10 feet long, 5 feet wide, and about 1-1/2 feet deep. At scattered intervals throughout this strange geological feature, the shallow depressions are replaced with long, low, mounds equal in size to the depressions, but rising about 1-1/2 feet above the ground. They are so numerous that you are rarely more than 15 feet from the nearest depression or mound.

Building the scanning tower on this unusual terrain and in the middle of fierce winds is particularly challenging, however, since you have already set up two towers, you are practically experts and have no difficulty with this one—with one exception—the lightweight tower is built to withstand only rough weather or a technician at the top, not both. Whoever is attempting the calibration needs to give me an Acrobatics check in addition to their Computers check or risk falling due to a wind gust.

As the computer begins to calibrate, a strange earthquake jostles the group as well (I need a Fortitude save from everyone)

Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Okay: security job descriptions are clearly for threats from outside agents. If the ground hates us, I’m not sure what more I can do!

fort: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

"Oh my! No fair being attacked by a planet!"

Looking up at the swaying tower, Lar informs the others "I feel confident about calibrating the computer, but I did nearly fall off of the last tower that was not swaying.". Looking from the starfinders and then back to the newly constructed tower. "This one is swaying."
fort: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Boris moves his bulk against one side of the tower, trying to steady it just a bit.
"Well, if you fall, fall this way, i'll cushion you!"
From the smile on his face you aren't sure if he's kidding or not.

DICEBOT is clearly used to doing the tossing himself.

Fort: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Not sure what the outcome is - this doesn't sound like a X or fall save...

Not sure what the outcome is - this doesn't sound like a X or fall save...

I agree that a Fort save is a weird way to handle this "hazard"; I probably would have written it as an Acrobatics check to Balance, like standing atop the tower is.

Since Kultha is the only other one who could stand atop the tower and work the computers...

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 - 1 = 19 Good!
Computers: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 2 = 24 Better!

Kultha expertly programs the computers, her bulk helping to avoid the worst of the wind gusts.

Vyecmuraf, Fort Save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20 Great!

What happens to Lar...?: 1d100 ⇒ 85 *phew*

Lar is knocked prone by the trembler and sent rolling! What happens next is a gut-wrenching sight:

Several of the "blisters" of stone erupt with the seismic activity, revealing cavities of acid and stone spikes almost akin to the leaves of a Castrovelian Flytrap. Inside some of these new depressions are the unrecognizable remains of several creatures of various sizes, one even almost as large as Boris!

Thankfully, you are all quick enough on your feet (or flippers) to escape being devoured by one.

After having erected and calibrated all three scanning towers, Dr. Motressi contacts you, congratulates you on your work, and announces that she’s ready to perform a deep image scan of the entire plateau.

10 minutes later...

The three scanning towers slowly construct a 3D image of the Big Mina Plateau on the screen of your comms, narrated by the good Doctor as things develop. Terrain features over many square miles begin to come into focus. But the image also goes down into the ground, and as temperature, seismic activity, and other geological readings begin to light up on the screen, Mora’s voice becomes more and more excited.

“This is wonderful. You’ve saved us years of work! I can’t believe some of these readings. Wait... is that right? That doesn’t make sense. These tunnels look like some kind of... respiration network? And the composition of the plateau... that mineral doesn’t appear naturally on this planet. Is this whole area some kind of...” Mara audibly consults with several puzzled scientists in the background.

The scan concludes, showing deep below the surface of the planet where a network of narrow tunnels come together to form a large chamber filled with a crystalline object. Mora’s face appears in a small window on your screen. “According to these readings, that crystal is giving off an incredible amount of heat. And all the tunnels we’ve found—like the one at the dry riverbed where you put up one of the towers—converge at that spot. Starfinders, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think this entire plateau is one enormous, living creature! And since its composition isn't native to this planet, it must have migrated here from another world. Big Mina is alive!”

“I know I've asked a lot of you today, but, this is the xenobiologist finding of a lifetime! If you feel up to it, could you investigate it further, since you're already up there? I'd like to get a visual on that central crystal. Maybe find out if we can communicate with it! We don’t know how or when it got here, how it grows, or if it poses any danger to the rest of the planet’s inhabitants,” she says. “And we can’t answer those questions if we have to scan through a mile of rock. If that crystal object is what I think it is—some kind of brain—I need you to get down there and find some answers. What do you think?”

You have lots of options...

• Tunnel
• Starship
• Cliffs
• Riverbed
• Canyon
• Back to camp to rest

Boris looks at the area, remembering just how big it was from space. After making sure they weren't transmitting back to the base he looks to his friends, "They want us to go inside that?"

"I don't know why she thinks it's alive when all she can see it that there's a hot rock in the center of some tunnels," Vyecmuraf adds. "Still, might as well get some pictures and snag some publication rights on whatever writeup comes out of this. Though..." They pause for a moment, one hand rubbing their chin thoughtfully. "We've already seen the kasatha influence on this planet from that cresteater. If Mora thinks this plateau is non-native, that spaceship would be the most logical place to start searching for a means of arrival to this planet."

"I imagine that this 'crest creature' arrived in this planet as a much smaller creature, and has grown to this size they past few hundred years. I agree, we should investigate the ship first."