GM Bret's PbP Gameday IX: SFS #3-00 The Last Bite (Tier 5-6) (Inactive)

Game Master BretI

"Let's get going! I don't want to miss cocktail hour!"

You take a starship to Castrovel’s Qabarat spaceport. Once there you get directions to the resort,

The resort is a 3-mile hike up Yaro River through the coastal jungle. The humid air is alive with the calls of birds and insects, and though parts of the path are overgrown, the trek to the resort is uneventful.

Cloudview Resort is a beautiful and sprawling complex built atop a riverside cliff. It features impressive lofty terra-cotta buildings with thatched roofs and spacious courtyards. The hiking trail leads straight to the resort's visitor's center, where an android concierge explains that today's workshop is scheduled to take place in the nearby nature preserve. The concierge advises the PCs to wear comfortable, heat-appropriate attire.

A shocking scene greets the you upon reaching the preserve. The once pristine jungle along the resort's outskirts is a war zone. Guerilla soldiers dressed in khaki fatigues attack another indiscriminately, some organized into small squads while others fight alone. Gunfire rings through the hazy air as individuals of all species battle all around the PCs.

If someone wishes to, you can do a medicine check on some of the fallen.

Strangely, no one fires at your group.

Amid the chaos, a humanoid wearing goggles and a ghillie suit pops up from a trench and motions for you to join him. “I’m Yalus, archdirector of advertising. Which department are you folks from?” Now that you can see him more clearly, you recognize it is a male human under that ghillie suit.

"DAMMIT! ....we missed cocktail hour."

After the quip, Conrad stares at the camoflaged man, "The.... Starfinder department. We're not employees. Also..." Conrad crouches down and draws his pistol, "You care to tell us what in Abadar's arse is going on here?"

Conras is going to really pay attention to the man's body language and words... Preemptive Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 9 + (3) + 1 = 32

He is surprised by your response, then gets a calculating look on his face.

“I think you meant product testing.”

“This is just a little mock-combat exercise as part of our team building retreat. Get us thinking strategically and show what we can do away from our desks. Ingenuity is always rewarded at AbadarCorp.”

“You do have weapons suitable to non-lethal combat, right?” he asks, looking at the equipment the group is carrying.

"Phew.... I didn't miss it. Had me worried."

"Yeah, sorry bub, we're not exactly equipped for weekend warrior stuff. I mean, there's more to a fight than killing the enemy if you're looking for a little help. Is that cheating?"

Zarg checks his weaponry. "Erm... not really... but ah can throw a mean left hook! Ah ann I got one o' these too." He shows off his riot grenade. "Juss one though. But ya know, we can figure somethin' out ahm shore."

"Ha!" Srurdez exclaims, surveying the scene. "I guess that's one way to work out office tensions. But I reckon most of us rarely do this 'non-lethal combat', we're used to the real deal."

Gunnz nods. "I can do non lethal. And I've worked with Abdarcorp before. Are you running the exercise?"

Yalus looks a little disappointed at how few of you have non-lethal weaponry. "I'm not looking to kill her. Just give her a real challenge."

"So it seems a few of you have options. Is there a way the rest of you can help out -- if nothing else then as living armor? Get in the way of her good shots?"

"They setting snares ann stuff? Ahm a shore that between us we can do some scoutin and clearin... maybe even set a few snares fer them. Also confuse ann bamboozle em! They not expectin new recruits eh?"

Rubbing his chin, he says "I don't know. Suzi is pretty crafty. I was thinking you might be just the ones to dislodge her but now I'm not so sure."

Now would be a good time for a diplomacy roll or something else to convince him you are worth his time.

"Well, at the end of the day I've still got these." Srurdez flashes an extremely toothy grin. "Looks like you found the right group for your little pest control problem."

Diplomacy /w Slick Customer: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18

Slick Customer reroll: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31

"This here Suzi may be a crafty critter but ye never seen a bunch o' 'product testers' try to weasel their way outta a hairy situation. Sounds like you need a..."

Zarg tosses his wizard hat into the air and strikes a pose.
"...LIZARD WIZARD!"

Sleight of Hand: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

He carefully maneuvers the hat, via a Psychokinetic Hand spell, down onto Yalus's head instead of his own on accident.

Looking at Srurdez, he admits “Yes, those should work.” He seems amused by something that Srurdez said.

Having decided your group might just be able to do the job, he explains the situation.

“I want you to go after Suzi, the archdirector of accounting. I’m thinking this would make a fine thank you for that surprise audit she did a few months ago. She likes surprises, it is about time she got one herself.”

“She got out in the field early, I‘ve found out where she is supposed to be, now I just need someone to get her out of her tree. Defeat her and I’ll owe you a favor.”

He shows you a map of where she is supposed to be. “Should be able to come in from the west.” Then he says “Most people wouldn’t consider her small. Here is her photo.” showing you an image most likely from the staff directory.

Map moved to slide 9. A picture of Suzi is to one side of the map.

For this combat, please draw lines showing your path as you move.

Bolded may move.

Round 1:

Orrian
Suzi
Gunnz
Thom
Zargothrax
Srurdez
Conrad

Orrian blinks at the picture.

"Suzi's a bear? I mean, of course she is. Why wouldn't she be?"

Not seeing Suzi when he first enters the jungle, Orrian takes a look around as he moves cautiously down the path, drawing his advanced infinity rifle as he does so.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

Orrian easily spots Suzi attempting to hide in a cluster of stone ruins, 30 ft. tall, that are reinforced with deadwood and crude sheets of corrugated metal.

DC 25 Athletics to climb.

Placed her on the map. Sorry, I do not have time to do her action tonight, will get it in the morning,

Suzi peeks over the top of the the ruins and says “Hello! What department are you from? I thought that I knew all the major players. I’m Suzi from accounting!” Well, she seems friendly enough.

Then she yells “Catch!” as she throws something in a high arc that lands just behind Orrian.
Grenade!: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (18) + 17 = 35
Sonic damage: 2d10 ⇒ (2, 7) = 9 DC 16 Reflex to avoid Deafened for rest of battle
More precise duration, in minutes: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Please show path using arrows.

Bolded may act

Round 1:

Gunnz
Thom
Zargothrax
Srurdez
Conrad

Round 2:

Orrian -9 stamina
Suzi from Accounting

Conrad sticks with the party No line as I'm going through allied squares already occupied., not really feeling the grenade party, "Hey Suzie, heard you've been messing up your TPS reports!" As she looks, Conrad pantomimes throwing a grenade. Clever Feint

Bluff: 1d20 + 15 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 15 + (5) + 1 = 26

With a growl, she replies “My TPS reports are fabulous! The predictions have been within 3% of actual for the past 11 quarters running!”

Just barely miss the feint DC

Please show path using arrows.

Bolded may act

Round 1:

Gunnz
Thom
Zargothrax
Srurdez
Conrad

Round 2:

Orrian -9 stamina
Suzi from Accounting, flat-footed to Conrad till end of his Round 2

I take it that the green areas are difficult terrain? And that she is standing behind cover? How high is the cover? Asking because using his jetpack, he could potentially do a charge, i.e. flying straight at Suzi but higher than the cover. If the cover is 5' or 10', and assuming she is 10'.

Yes, the foliage is difficult terrain.
The cracks are a deep chasm. Do not fall in!
The ruins are 30’ and yes she is behind cover at the top of those ruins. You would probably need to fly 35’ up to get past her cover.

Ah, got it. She threw the grenade from the right side of her cover. I assumed she tossed it overhead and duck back behind cover. So she's behind total cover.

Thomagar ignores the banter as he summons the mote to fuse with him. In the process, his arms in particular starts glowing with a greenish hue. With a quick flick of his wrist, Thom activates his newly purchases jetpack to fly ahead and start circling around the barrier that Suzi is hiding behind.

Double move.

photon mode 1

Ref to avoid deafened: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Orrian ducks and protects his head with his hands just before the grenade goes off. He feels the force of the explosion but doesn't suffer any other ill effects.

On his turn, Orrian looks up into the cluster of stone ruins and yells back, "That's the great thing about retreats, you get to meet new people..."

He powers up his advanced infinity rifle move to boost and then fires at Suzi, taking careful aim to avoid dealing lethal damage taking the -4.

Advanced Infinity Rifle nonlethal: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 10 - 4 = 26
Boosted Nonlethal F damage: 4d4 + 5 ⇒ (3, 4, 2, 2) + 5 = 16
Boosted Nonlethal F crit damage: 4d4 + 5 ⇒ (3, 4, 3, 3) + 5 = 18

"...and then take shots with them! Oh that might have hurt," he tacks on at the end, seeing the result of his shot for 34 nonlethal fire damage.

Wait, is Suzi behind total cover for just normal cover? If she's behind total cover, then...

"Ow!" Suzi cries out as the shot hits. Then she responds "Nice shot!" Seems she can take it as well as she gives.

Please show path using arrows.

Bolded may act

Round 1:

Gunnz
Thom
Zargothrax
Srurdez
Conrad

Round 2:

Orrian -9 stamina
Suzi from Accounting, -36 NL flat-footed to Conrad till end of his Round 2

Zargothrax turns on his jetpack and begins to ascend. "Tahm for some air-ree-ahl ree-con! It's a good excercise... I tell ya what I see ann you blow it up!"

"HEYA SUZI! AH SEE YA!"

"Tiny flying vesk, so far away. What is your name? I want to sing it out when I defeat you!"

So Zargothrax just moved this turn?

Please show path using arrows.

Bolded may act

Round 1:

Gunnz
Thom
Zargothrax
Srurdez
Conrad

Round 2:

Orrian -9 stamina
Suzi from Accounting, -36 NL flat-footed to Conrad till end of his Round 2

Srurdez presses a claw to his throat as he jogs forward, activating his voice amplifier, before saying loudly to the group. "I guess if she wasn't behind cover there wouldn't be much sport in this, would there?"

"Ah well, get her anyway!" He shouts.

Move action to move 35ft, Swift to activate Voice Amp, Standard -> move to use Improved Get 'Em, +2 to hit for everyone.

Doh! I saw the dragon avatar and was for whatever reason thinking Srurdez was Dragonkin! Only noticed my mistake when you corrected the avatar size.
Also noticed I hadn't marked Thom as having acted. Fixed that as well.

Srurdez moves up and encourages everyone to get Suzi.

Get’Em active, +2 hit everyone
Please show path using arrows.

Bolded may act

Round 1:

Gunnz
Thom
Zargothrax
Srurdez
Conrad

Round 2:

Orrian -9 stamina
Suzi from Accounting, -36 NL flat-footed to Conrad till end of his Round 2

Gunnz dashes forward.
Log jam, and I guess I know where the next grenade is going to go.. she sighs.

Activated jetpack and flew for my turn.

"Ahm Zargothrax McDonald from... product testin!"

Gunnz moves up.

Suzi says "So you work for Zelgra?" Then she lobs another grenade.
Grenade: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (9) + 17 = 26
Sonic damage: 2d10 ⇒ (6, 3) = 9 DC 16 Reflex to avoid deafened
Duration in minutes: 1d4 ⇒ 3

I believe everyone except Thom is in the area. Although Zargothrax is flying, they aren't flying high enough to avoid the explosion effect.

Get’Em active, +2 hit everyone
Please show path using arrows.

Bolded may act

Round 1:

Gunnz 9 DC 16 Reflex or Deafened
Thom
Zargothrax 9 DC 16 Reflex or Deafened
Srurdez 9 DC 16 Reflex or Deafened
Conrad 9 DC 16 Reflex or Deafened

Round 2:

Orrian 18 DC 16 Reflex or Deafened
Suzi from Accounting, 36 NL flat-footed to Conrad till end of his Round 2

Reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

"WHADJA SAY? I WORK FOR ZELDA? ISN'T THAT THE GREEN ELF DUDE?"

He ascends high enough to get a clear shot and fires a single shot from his Ghost Killer Liquidator Disintegrator pistol. Aiming to wing her a bit of course.

Attack vs EAC: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 - 4 = 16
Damage, A NL: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

reflex: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

"Arrghhh," says Gunnz as the grenade explodes right at her feet.

"It's like the time the sound engineer hit the "eleven" button while I was dancing right in front of the wooofer!"

She dashes further forward, getting a line on Suzzi at last, but not able to hear anything apart from the ringing in her ears.

1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22 "Okay that was a little much!"

Zargothrax and Gunnz find they can no longer hear anything over the ringing in their ears.

Zargothrax takes a shot at Suzi but misses.

Gunnz finds a surprise! They trip across a mine!

Get’Em active, +2 hit everyone
Please show path using arrows.

Bolded may act

Round 1:

Gunnz 9 Deafened
Thom
Zargothrax 9 Deafened
Srurdez 9 DC 16 Reflex or Deafened
Conrad 9

Round 2:

Orrian 18 DC 16 Reflex or Deafened
Suzi from Accounting, 36 NL flat-footed to Conrad till end of his Round 2

Ref save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Orrian ducks again, and just in time.

"Thanks!" he calls back to Suzi, aiming again.

Move to boost, standard to shoot, still non-lethal

Adv Infinity Rifle: 1d20 + 10 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 10 - 4 + 2 = 9
Nonlethal fire: 4d4 + 5 ⇒ (3, 1, 1, 2) + 5 = 12

Orrians shot blasts harmlessly across a rock.

"Still working on that consistency though..."

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Half damage as well on a successful save?

Srurdez manages to cover his ears just in time and saves his eardrums from the horrible ringing. "Down to business then." he says with a low growl and he rushes forward along the same path Gunnz took, unslinging his axe as he goes.

He throws the giant axe at Suzi, a big overhand swing. It looks like there are actuators in his armour which help him put it on target.

Move action to move and draw weapon while doing so.
Standard Action to Expertise Attack.

Expertise Attack Intimidate DC 15 + (1.5x Suzi's CR): 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (5) + 19 = 24 (Success if she is CR6 or less)
Attack Roll for Dispelling Returning Throwing Sintered Greataxe, NL: 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 11 - 4 = 24
Greataxe Damage: 3d6 + 12 ⇒ (5, 3, 3) + 12 = 23
Bonus Expertise Damage (only if Intimidate was a Success, which also causes Grim Trophies-modified Shaken conidtion): 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

"Stop playing around with your toys and try to hit me!" Srurdez bellows, a somewhat manic grin on his face.

They are mk II screamer grenades. As I understand it, the save for Grenades is only against the condition they may apply. You take the full damage regardless of save or not.

Srurdez, to help resolve things faster please give a Reflex save vs the mine. It is likely Gunnz will have made the save, in which case you might have set it off.

Orrian and Srurdez both manage to protect their hearing.

Orrian has some problems with their aim.

Srurdez doesn't manage to intimidate the big bear in spite of the axe hitting them!

Suzi growls back "You want to feel what it is like to get hit by me?"

Get’Em active, +2 hit everyone
Please show path using arrows.

Bolded may act

Round 1:

Gunnz 9 Deafened
Thom
Zargothrax 9 Deafened
Srurdez 9
Conrad 9

Round 2:

Orrian 18
Suzi from Accounting, 59 NL flat-footed to Conrad till end of his Round 2

Reflex Save vs. Mine 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

"Hell yes! I wonder if you hit as hard as a giant robot!" Srurdez says back, clearly eager!

reflex: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
Ears maybe ringing, but that doesn't stop Gunnz from noticing the crude mine on the ground.

She carefully hopes over it, "LOOK OUT FOR THE MINE" she shouts.

Went back to start of combat and recalculated all damage from grenades.

Evidently there is something wrong with the trigger on the mine as both Gunnz and Srurdez move past it without triggering it.

Get’Em active, +2 hit everyone
Please show path using arrows.

Bolded may act

Round 1:

Gunnz 9 Deafened
Thom
Zargothrax 9 Deafened
Srurdez 4
Conrad 4

Round 2:

Orrian 8
Suzi from Accounting, 59 NL flat-footed to Conrad till end of his Round 2

Thomagar continues to fly in, circling around the large Suzi before closing in. Once in melee range, he raise his glowing right palm and slams it down upon her head. (She might get an AoO.)

solar palm vs KAC, get'em, nonlethal, photon mode: 1d20 + 5 + 5 + 1 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 5 + 5 + 1 - 4 + 2 = 23 bludgeoning dmg: 1d6 + 5 + 5 + 3 + 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 5 + 3 + (1) + 1 = 20

Thomagar is unlikely to use his supernova as that can't go nonlethal, but still staying out of range just in case.

>I am assuming your ‘solar palm’ is your solar weapon. If it is something else, please point me to what it is. Also it doesn’t look like you updated your position on the map.

Thom barely manages to hit Suzi, but she certainly feels the hit!

Get’Em active, +2 hit everyone
Please show path using arrows.

Bolded may act

Round 1:

Gunnz 9 Deafened
Thom
Zargothrax 9 Deafened
Srurdez 4
Conrad 4

Round 2:

Orrian 8
Suzi from Accounting, 79 NL flat-footed to Conrad till end of his Round 2

Does someone want to bot Conrad?

Yup, yup. Sorry I didn't make that clear. But the map looks updated on my side?

Now it has updated for me. All good!

I'm bolded, but did post a round 1 action.

I think this is actually round 2.

Doh! Yeah, I forgot to increment the round after Suzi acted. Sorry about that.

Conrad, you are up!

Conrad moves closer and pointing at Suzi commands everyone “Git’Em!”

Since it is sense dependent, only those who are not deafened will benefit from it.