GM Jhaeman's "Dawn of Flame, Chapter 1: Fire Starters" (Inactive)

Game Master Jhaeman

Cabizo flinches as the elemental sends Biko crashing to the floor again, but sighs in relief as she gets back up. He almost cheers as she swings her darkened fist, but chokes the sound back as the creature dodges out of the way. ”Now look here!” the skittermander says loudly, ”we’re trying to help keep your ship from blowing up and you keep hitting us. You need to stop that self-destructive behavior right now!” Power ripples through the air at the sound of the last word.

Mind Thrust I: 2d10 ⇒ (7, 7) = 14

Casting (Will 15 to halve) on the magma elemental. There goes all of Cabizo’s spell slots for the day.

Blaster bolts and projectiles streak through the confines of the chamber, turning the previously-pristine walls and floors into a scorched and pock-marked ruin. Vilo valiantly swings at the magma elemental, but it dodges easily and readies to launch another punishing blow. But then the surprising hero of the hour, Cabizo, sends a psychic lance into the creature’s brain, destroying it instantly! The monster collapses into a pile of smouldering rocks.

Nice! Whether it made the save or not, that was more than enough to take it down.

Initiative (Round 5)

Rifti
Zharis
Shujae
Xylian
Cabizo
Vilo

Bold may go!

"Ooh! That looks like fun. Let me try." The rifti sends a surge of psychic energy at Cabizo!

The rifti is using mind thrust on Cabizo. Cabizo, please roll a DC 14 Will save. If you save, you take 4 damage, if you fail the save you take 8 damage.

Initiative (Round 5)

Rifti
Zharis
Shujae
Xylian
Cabizo
Vilo

Bold may go!

Vilo will turn to face the Rifti, eye's blazing with fury. "And YOU!!!" she yells, advancing on the...thing, face bloody and hair askew. "I hope you like sipping soup through a straw because it'll be a week before I get your teeth out of my knuckles!" Drawing her fist across her chest, she swings out to swat the annoying pest away from Xylian and Shujae.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Zharis moves to get a clear shot and fires at the Rifti.

Attack with Skipshot pistol: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Piercing Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

missing again.

Will vs DC 14: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Cabizo seems more concerned about Vilo wanting to steal the rifti’s teeth than the creature’s counterstrike. ”Jealousy and envy are perfectly normal emotions,” he calls over the sound of his laser pistol warming up and firing, ”but this seems like an oddly specific fixation, Vilo!”

Laser Pistol: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Fire damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Seeing Vilo headed its way, the rifti turns into a small pink stuffed tashtari. "Well, it was fun existing while it lasted. Maybe I'll do it again sometime!" Vilo's powerful blow plunges into the rifti, dispersing its energies back into the Maelstrom from whence it arose.

We are off Initiative.

Zharis puts her pistol back in its holster and takes out her tactical baton instead, just in case she came face to face with another ... whatever.

Not taking time to search other than to check for other hostile forces, she walks further towards the front of the ship, looking for the bridge or control room. When she finds a likely door, she stops and calls Vilo over. Vilo. Not opening the door without you this time, promise... but I think we need to get to the bridge to get the ship out of danger. Maybe this way?

"If the engines are what are malfunctioning then its likely we will have to interface with them directly, I suppose that a trip to the bridge might reveal more information but I doubt we will be able to fix the problem from there." Shujae will say even as she moves to accompany the others.

There is obvious swelling on Vilo's face, and she lets out a small grunt of pain as she gingerly touches her nose. "Fltjnas thing br'k m' n'se," she mutters as she walks.

Standing next to Zharis, she thinks for a second and says "Ok, Zh'ris, yoo take lead, I dunno wh'r 'n th' c'lossi's name I'm goin'. We see anythin' host'l, take it out h'rd 'n f'st".

Zharis nods at Vilo, then waits till everyone is in the same room and ready, and then she tries the door.

That's a good point Shujae. If this doesn't work, we'll try that next.

Moved Vilo up to standing beside me, as stated, but not directly in harm's way, since she only has one hit point.

"This is proving to be a very interesting day." Xylian says in a tone that suggests little to no interest at all. He lowers his bolter, the ceramic radiator fins glowing red hot and distorting the air as they cool the weapon. He adds a mental note to run diagnostics on his exocortex when he gets the time. The creatures 'chaos' magic must have shorted it out. In the meantime he sets his exocortex to test his suits functions and ensure that none of its life-support faculties were compromised in the fight. "I can provide limited medical treatment to those who need it once the imminent threat of annihilation has been dealt with." He informs the others.

Zharis tries to open the doors leading to forward section of the vessel, but they must be locked with a keycard mechanism. The door the magma elemental was pounding on is scorched and dented.

Shujae sees the damaged door and moves forward to take a look. she unconsciously mumbles to herself and the door as she is examining it "Somebody beat you up pretty good, huh, let's see if we can't help that"

Enginerring: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

After examining the door with her kit Shujae will address the party "It looks like the lock on these could theoretically be bypassed but honestly it might be a waste of time, they are locked up tight. If we could power down the ship temporarily it might make it a bit easier and obviously with a key card it would be a nonissue." she looks down for a moment before continuing "I'd recommend we move on for now and come back when we have another angle we can chase to get past them."

Zharis tries the other double doors on this wall to see if they are also secured in the same way.

If they open, then she believes they have a way forward, but if they are also secured, then she heads back through the Rifti room to the rear of the ship as Shujae initially suggested.

Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15

At Shujae's mention of the key card, Vilo casts her eyes about, looking for anything that might look like a key card or indicate where a key card could be.

As Vilo takes a look around the room, Zharis tests the other doors and finds that one pair are in fact unlocked. The doors slide open to reveal a long room, the ceiling of which rises in two almond-shaped domes, their crystal emblazoned with a slowly shifting holographic fresco of giant, fire-horned warriors wearing gleaming power armor.

One wall holds a couple of shallow alcoves with charging hook-ups, while the other is lined with clear-fronted lockers holding a variety of armaments. Two airlocks cover most of the forward wall.

Zharis, not seeing any enemies, steps into the new area, checking through the lockers as quickly as possible for a possible keycard.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Also, is there a window on the airlock... can you see what is beyond there, or would we be going in blind?

I wonder why there is an airlock here. It doesn't seem to be on the outer hull. Could this be a smaller attached shuttle perhaps? If so, we might be able to detach it and save something for study, even if the larger ship is destroyed...

Are there protective suits in the lockers as well (in case the atmosphere on the other side of the airlock is unbreathable), or just weapons?

"Y'd think fer a long trip the folks would've used their ent'rtainment stuff more," Vilo says, poking through a projector. "Look at this. They don't even have any video's ready f'r the trip. It's like no one came in here at all."

”Ooo, maybe this ship was stolen!” Cabizo posits excitedly. ”And the ship’s owner sent the captive whale after it, but the ship got far enough away and the whale had to turn back or it would have broken free of whatever was controlling it!” He eagerly looks around for clues to support his hypothesis.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

Looking around the new chamber, it's easy to confirm it must be an armory. The alcoves are clearly intended for recharging powered armor, and the lockers (made of transparent aluminium) contain a variety of weapons, armor, and ammunition. However, all of the equipment is secured behind digital keycard locks.

Zharis guesses that if something is pounding on it, that there is atmosphere on the other side, which is at least partially a good sign. Even better of course if it is someone that they can talk to/reason with, although given their track record so far, she isn't holding out a lot of hope.

You guys, there might be something hostile behind this door. It seems to be shuddering. I suggest being ready for an attack when I open it... if I can.

She examines the airlock to see if she can operate it.

Engineering: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

If she is able to open it, she waits till everyone comes forward/nods that they are ready, keeping her tactical baton out to use if necessary as soon as the airlock cycles.

"Seems like a luxury craft, with all these tapestries and carpets." Xylian suggests, wondering how much one of the larger murals might fetch. As to the unused entertainment equipment he says "Could be the crew was only delivering it from the manufacturer to the end buyer. Most wealthy people don't like long treks across space; they buy fine ships to dock outside their homes and show off."

At Zharis' instruction, Xylian raises his bolter, bracing against one wall to both steady his weapon and grant him limited cover from the airlock.

Shujae and Staim each ready their weapons.

Before that Shujae will look at the keycard locks on the equipment, is it the same design as before or a different one?

Not sure if that's computers or engineering but they're the same modifier so I'll just roll once

Computers or engineering: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Vilo steps next to Zharis, ready to charge in at anything that might be hostile.

After everyone takes positions, Zharis activates the door. It spirals open to reveal a short, heavily armed female warrior whose hair seems to be made of living flame. She stumbles, off-balance, before bellowing in rage at the sight of you and reaching for the battle-maul leaning nearby!

The image I've placed on Slide # 3 is of a male member of the species, though the one in front of you is female.

On your turn as a free action, you can try to identify the alien's species.

Initiative (Surprise Round)

Flame-haired woman (surprised/flat-footed)
Xylian
Vilo
Zharis
Cabizo
Shujae

Bold may go!

I'm giving you guys a Surprise Round because you were aware there was someone on the other side of the door, and she wasn't expecting it to open suddenly or that anyone would be there. During a Surprise Round, you can only take one action (move or standard, not full). Make it count! :)

Physical Science (Pious Scientist): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

POST WIP

Sorry, my post got eaten.

"This is an Azer, they have settlements here in the burning archipelago but also in the plane of fire itself."

She then will take a shot at the Azer

Physical attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
Cold and piercing damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Zharis can't understand the language, but she can tell it isn't time for diplomacy. She jabs the creature with her tactical baton.

Attack Tactical Baton: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Xylian's exocortex targets the creature, but he doesn't have a shot through Zharis and Vilo.

Mysticism vs DC 13: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Cabizo starts to open his mouth to say hello and that he's so happy to see them and ask how they're doing and if they know their ship is about to blow up and if they'd like any help with the ship not blowing up, but then Zharis swings her baton at the azer and the skittermander retracts the words before the two contrary forms of greeting confuse the poor creature. "I don't suppose anyone speaks Ignan, do they?" he asks cheerfully. "She's probably tired and scared and thinks that we're invading her ship. Maybe we can help her take a quick nap so she doesn't hurt herself? Or us? If anybody's got more cold weapons like Shujae, those would be most effective. Lasers, not so much." Nevertheless, he grabs the pistol from his belt. Maybe I can try to distract the azer so she doesn't hit Vilo and knock her down again. I don't know if her pride could handle that - or her nose, for that matter.

Draw weapon.

"I think I'm with you on this one, Cabizo," Vilo says, readying herself. "Unfortunately, I don't think we're going to get to do much talking for the moment." To illustrate the point, Vilo punches around the corner at the Azer.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Entering Photon mode again.

Seeing the enraged azer reach for a weapon, Shujae reacts first and opens fire! The bullets hit the frame of the door, however. Zharis lashes out with his baton, but the azer’s heavy armor absorbs the blow, just like it absorbs Vilo’s photon-empowered punch.

Even with the azer being flat-footed, the soft cover provided by allies is enough for Shujae’s attack to miss. Zharis also *just* misses. And cover for being around the corner from Vilo is enough to make her punch miss. You guys are having poor dice luck (another +1 or +2 would have made all those attacks hit), but hopefully what goes around comes around!

Initiative (Round 1)

Azer
Xylian
Vilo
Zharis
Cabizo
Shujae

Bold may go!

The azer grabs the maul and swings at the most threatening immediate foe--Vilo! The hammer impacts with a sickening crunch!

Vilo, you'll get a +4 to AC from cover as the azer is attacking from around the corner.

Vilo, you take 12 damage (half bludgeoning, half cold).

Initiative (Round 1)

Azer
Xylian
Vilo
Zharis
Cabizo
Shujae

Bold may go!

Seeing Vilo go down again, and also knowing that she is in the way of everyone's shots, Zharis jabs at the creature again, and then takes a guarded step back.

Attack Tactical Baton: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

If I'm not allowed to take my move action after my attack (couldn't find a rule about it, but ?), then she moves back and pulls a spell gem out of her pocket instead.

Staim hearing that his weapon won't work will also move out of the way.

Shujae will fire on the creature again before moving.

Kenetic Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Cold and Percing: 1d4 ⇒ 1

"Be careful, this thing looks like it packs quite the punch."

Cabizo pulls the trigger of his pistol involuntarily as Vilo hits the ground again. "Ah! Stop doing that!" It's not clear whether he's talking to the azer or to the damai.

Harrying Fire vs AC 15: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Thank goodness he's not wielding a goblin-made weapon!

Xylian steps away from the wall to get a clear shot on the woman and squeezes the trigger.

bolter: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5
fire and electricity damage: 1d10 ⇒ 4

The azer bellows angrily but withstands the expedition's counter-attack, as only Shujae's shot manages even a glancing hit.

Vilo, I'll assume you spend 1 RP to stabilize on your turn. You'll want to update your tagline from this and any spent in the previous encounter.

Initiative (Round 2)

Azer

Xylian
Vilo
Zharis
Cabizo
Shujae

Bold may go!

Hearing your words, the azer speaks in strangely-accented Common: "That traitor Tash will die, and no witnesses shall live to see his fate!" She steps into the room and swings the maul at Zharis.

Zharis, you take 12 points of damage (half bludgeoning, half cold). Really sorry guys--the second time in a row I've rolled max damage!

Initiative (Round 3)

Azer
Xylian
Vilo
Zharis
Cabizo
Shujae

Bold may go!

Oof

"Wait, who is this Tash. We are here because your ships engines are melting down, We want to save the ship!" Shujae will shout as she drops her pistol and holds up her empty hands. "Please. It seems we want the same thing we can help each other!"

diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 15

Staim seeing shujae has dropped her weapon and knowing that his won't be effective anyways will drop his as well.