[SFS/Shifty] #3-03: Frozen Ambitions: The Shimmerstone Gateway (A) (Inactive)

Game Master Nik B.

5 Rounds down to 2.
You can safely rest for 10 mins here

***

Serum of Healing Mk. 1: 1d6 ⇒ 4

"Make it so Corpsman Oraeus. Take the point from now on. It is strategically prudent for us to have our heavy firepower at the front of our battle formation. You and Captain Chorizal will act as skirmishers."

J'Shun is looking energized again after taking the serum. He stands and moves to inspect the bodies of the dead vesk.

"Speak freely Captain Chorizal. What happened to these vesk?" he says as he shines his flashlight on the bodies.

The two bodies were wearing Defrex.

Medicine!: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23
Oraeus walks up behind the vesk and kasathan and looks at the bodies for a moment.
"Well, given the drying and desiccation, lack of obvious wounds and blood, as well as the scratch marks on their throats, I'd say these men died of suffocation from their environmental controls dying on them. It could be that they were trapped here for too long... But it doesn't explain the portal, could they have come through it and not been able to make it back?"

Oraeus locates a keycard displaying the model number of a starship, KV-2160, tucked into the pockets of one of the bodies

r: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
r: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Looks like a total of 3 damage

"More than likely. They said it was erratic, and it was off when we got here. If that's the only way back, then we're as like to end up like these as not."

Rastar hefted the doshko and looked at it, passing it back to Chorizal after he did. Then he examined the bodies and the area around them.

@GM - anything special about the doshko?

While the others rested, he stripped the armor and personal effects from the vesk, saying "Either this will help their next of kin find closure, or will get us funds. Either way, it's best they come with us." He bundled the armor and tied it with some straps.

perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

"If there is nothing else to do here, let's keep moving. I don't want my environmentals to run out on me."

Chorizal looks bewildered and put upon for a moment before Oraeus jumps in. Then, he points the first two fingers on one hand at the android, winks, clicks his tongue and says - "Yup. Just what he said. My analysis exactly."

But then, he really thinks about what was said and gulps. Of all the ways there are to die, suffocation is low on Chorizal's preferred list.

"Should we be trying to dig it out?" he asks, nodding back to the portal.

Was the doshko just a regular old Doshko?

"There's no turning back now. It's best we continue deeper into the caverns."

He shines his light projector into the unexplored portion of the cavern.

"Let's move."

J'Shun also deactivated his omnidirectional camera as soon as combat ended.

Oraeus takes up a lead position and heads in the direction J'Shun lit up.

"We should explore the cavern for the moment. We have a few days of protection and I have a mobile hostilier if things come to it."

Should we be keeping track of our armor's environmental protections. J'Shun's armor is only level 1 so he has 24 hours of protection.

If need be, Oraeus has a tent that provides the same protections (a mobile hotelier [don't know why I keep mixing that name up]) that works for 160 hours but can only hold two people I believe.

The Doshko is out of power, but is a chill frosthaft doshko.

The dark tunnel large enough for the kothamas to travel finally leads to
an ever-colder exterior. A severe, windless chill envelops you all as you step out of the cave system and into a deep trench.

You have yourselves on Traverse - the moon, in a trench formed by the moon’s volcanic activity. The rocky, slick walls are 20 feet high and difficult to scale.

You could attempt:
DC22 Athletics - of DC17 if you have a way to deal fire damage and make handolds.

Or

DC15 Physical science to find a better route

"Well, isn't this fun? On the moon, no less. Somehow I suspected that. The question is, how do we get off this thing? Anyone have a near-space radio that we could use to call Vesk-8 for assistance?"

Without waiting for a reply, Rastar started testing handholds to see if he could climb up and get a better view of where they were. The climb was difficult, but he used his daggers in his lower arms as pitons to help him brace as he ascended. Reaching the top, he looked around intently, Wishing he could unseal his helmet to see better.

athletics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

"Oooh shiny!" Chorizal says as he picks up the new Doshko and tests it's length. "Anyone mind?" he asks, swapping the battery out of his Ember Flame Doshko and slapping it into the new one.

He interlaces his fingers and pushes them out, cracking his knuckles then starts heading up the wall.

Athletics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 from the explode earlier, so half damage I was at displacement Con, so I got put behind on this. But of course Max will spend an RP point to recover lost SP points.
athletics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

"Belay that order Private third class. That ice wall looks extremely dangerous to climb. Wait.... what are you doing? Come back here Private third class! When I get up there I'm going to have you written up for disobeying orders. Captain Chorizal, give me your flame doshko."

He stows all the gear in his hands and when Chorizal hands J'Shun the doshko he inserts a battery of his own and ignites the weapon. He begins to carve handholds in the ice and then climb up the ice wall after Rastar.

Athletics DC 17: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

The first of you reach the top of the slope, a frozen wasteland stretches out before them, with more trenches cracking the terrestrial surface. In the distance, a faint silhouette of a large shape stands out against the black shadow of distant mountains.

Perception + Binoculars: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 = 15

As J'Shun reaches the top of the slope he is ready to berate Rastar, but when he sees the large shape in the distance he turns his attention to it instead. Taking his binoculars out of a reinforced pouch attached to his utility belt, he brings them up to his eyes and begins to try to focus them on the mysterious shape.

"I can just make it out. It's a starship. Form a skirmish line; we will approach it with caution. Corpsman Oraeus take the point."

He removes his battery from Chorizal's doshko and hands it back to him.

With his light projector shining a cone of light out in front of him, J'Shun unsheathes his longsword, grips his tactical shield, and draws his semi-auto pistol before beginning to trudge through the snow toward the fallen spaceship. As he walks he periodically stops to bring his binoculars, held in his fourth hand, to his eyes to continue to get a closer look at the starship.

Using his binoculars, J'Shun scans the ship from the safety of significant distance.

The starship’s large loading doors and hull indicate that it’s a cargo ship. Substantial damage to the port side make it obvious that the ship is in no state to fly. Although the damage has destroyed the portside personnel door, the starboard personnel door softly blinks with blue light.

Physical Science: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Oraeus looks at everyone climbing the wall and then looks for some place easier to climb. He sadly doesn't find anything so he settles for just leveraging himself up.

Athletics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Up top he takes a moment to analyze the area. Physical Science: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

He doesn't get to complete his analysis before he gets pushed along t the front of the group. Alright. Alright. Let me take a moment to get some water and then we'll get moving. Wait is that starship a KV-2160?

Arugh! Those should have been easy rolls for him!

Piloting: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Peering trough his binoculars again J'Shun says, "It's a Kevolari Venture. Ships of this kind frequently fly out of Castrovel and are manufactured by the Kevolari Collective. Their primary flight profile is long deep space voyages."

Guess I gotta try again since I failed, though you didn't mention any bad happenings for failures.
athletics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22
Now I can make that perception perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24 and darkvision.

"Well, I've never known a ship that could fly long distances that couldn't fly short ones, too. And since I don't feel the urge to suffocate and freeze here when my armor gives out, may I respectfully suggest that we haul our tails there, Admiral?" Chorizal comments, continuing to take the lead and continuing to walk in the ship's direction without awaiting confirmation.

"Wedge formation, Captain Chorizal take the left flank. I will take the right. Corpsman Oraeus has the point. Private Maxamas cover our rear. Private third class Rastar, take the center of our formation and be ready to back up Corpsman Oraeus at a moments notice."

@Chorizal, if you didn't take 10 minutes and spend 1 resolve point to restore your stamina after our last fight you should have 18 stamina because J'Shun used his Battle Leader ability Victory Cry to give you 2 points back during the battle.

You keep your formation on the move and close the distance on the Kevolari Venture. As you get closer you note its model number, KV-2160.

The starboard personnel door blinks with soft blue light and appears to have swipecard access.

"Standard breaching procedure. Corpsman Oraeus take the number one position in the stack followed by Private third class Rastar, Captain Chorizal, myself, and pulling rear guard Private Maxamas. On my command door breaching will commence. Take your positions."

When everyone is in position.

"Go, go, go. THIS I COMMAND!"

The card you retrieved from the corpse earlier works on the door.

A functioning air lock noisily seals in the atmosphere before the interior doors open. A flickering light, dislodged from the ceiling, swings over a decrepit corridor. A malfunctioning door along the right wall spasms halfway between open and closed. A surveillance camera looming overhead slowly swivels. Sparks from exposed wires and yellow emergency lights provide dim light throughout the halls and rooms of the ship.

"Somehow I don't think we are going to get anywhere in this ship unless we can patch up a few systems. Still, it's worth seeing what can be done. Even if we can just get the comms working, it might be worthwhile. Or a recharger for our suits."

Rastar followed Oraeus inside, eyes open, looking for trouble.

perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

"Secure this room. Private Maxamas see if you can get access to an engineering panel and get us control of the ship's computer. It seems the surveillance system is still online. Maybe we can patch into the cameras and see what is happening in the other areas of the ship."

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

J'Shun stows his binoculars, but keeps all his weapons ready in hand and his light projector on to illuminate the dim ship interior.

The light level elevates - you can see the ship is what you thought it was, significantly damaged.

Direction of march?

Yes sir, as he moves over to the engineering panel as told
engineering: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

Oraeus holds up a hand fist clenched, trying to call for people to move to radios or stay silent. In your heads you hear his slightly mechanical sounding voice. <<We don't know if there is anything hostile on the ship. Move to radios or telepathy if you can. Hopefully anything here won't be able to intercept those.>>

He then gestures to head to the right left on the map but everyone is facing down and gives a short telepathic call to move in that direction to the rest of the group.

You begin moving forward, nil opposition identified. The ship is a real mess - it has significant damage this it looks like people have had a go at repairing at some point, but the repairs are unfinished.

The camera system gets hacked into, revealing more of the ship.

<<"The camera system seems to be inoperative on the bridge and on the port side of the ship.">>

J'Shun turns off his light projector and removes his flashlight from his utility belt with his fourth hand, turning it on. He knows the flashlight's tighter beam is easier to control in the cramped corridors of the ship and possibly more stealthy.

<<"Stay together, we don't know what could be in here. To the bridge, move out.">>

He looks at Corpsman Oraeus, nods, and points the beam of his flashlight in the direction of the bridge.

Feel free to mark your route :)

Oraeus strides through the area and stright up to the bridge, but keeping an eye out for anything that might be dangerous along the way.
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Oraeus arrives at the cockpit door. Both it and the one on the port side are closed but have obvious switches to operate them.

Oraeus looks back to make sure that everyone is in place and ready before hitting the swtich to the cockpit.

J'Shun takes up position behind Oraeus and activates his armor's omnidirectional camera. <<"As soon as Oraeus breaches the door continue to maintain a tight formation as we enter the bridge. Clear the corners of any potential hostiles and stay out of each others fire lanes. By the book troop; just like we practiced in our combat simulations.">> Bracing his tactical shield in front of him he says, <<"Prepare to breach.">>

Rastar moved in to support Oraeus slapping the android on the shoulder to let him know he was ready.

"Let's do this!" Chorizal declares over the radio as he joins the group.

He stows his laser and pulls out his shiny new, chilly Doshko, figuring he'll be able to get at whatever he needs to with it in such tight quarters.

As Oraeus touches the switch mechanism it turns to silvery liquid in his hand - as does a section of the wall around it, rapidly running down his arm and pooling past his legs - unfortunately the other starfinders around him also get covered in the rapidly moving puddle!

The other door seems to have the same thing happening!

At the start of their turn - J'Shun, Oraeus, and Rastar = DC12 Reflex or entangled 1 round

R1
J'Shun
Chroizal
Maxamas
Rastar
Oraeus
ENEMY

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

J'Shun's highly trained combat reflexes allow him to spring back and away from the silvery liquid trap.

Going to wait until at least Oraeus moves before I move J'Shun. Sorry, I thought the door was open. Are we actually fighting T2?

Oraeus gives a jump at the unexpected result and regrips his frost maul in both hands. He take a moment to adjust his footing...
Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Before he slams his maul down into the silver puddle and tries to freeze it in place.

Frost Maul vs EAC: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Cold damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

I take it he door isn't open? If it is then Oraeus take a guarded step into the room if it isn't he'll step to the south.

reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Oraeus managed to bump Rastar as he jumped away from the goo, and Rastar stumbled. In moments, the silvery liquid was pooled around his feet, grabbing at his legs. He aimed his arc pistol at the silvery puddle around him and blasted off a couple of shots.

attack vs eac: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 6 - 4 = 15
E damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3
attack vs eac: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 6 - 4 = 21
E damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Are we actually fighting T2?

It LOOKS like it - perhaps an Engineering check to recognise what might be going on...

The door is still firmly closed, the cameras are focused on the party though

The maul seems to do most of its damage to the floor as the silvery surface mostly splits aside.

Likewise the arc pistol seems to just hit small points on the things surface harmlessly...

R1
J'Shun - acted
Chroizal
Maxamas
Rastar - acted
Oraeus - acted
ENEMY

this probably provokes, but move away and then shoot then shoot the black one hit: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15 vs KAC.
dmg: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

J'Shun says over the team's comm channel, <<"Private Maxamas, get up here and run an override on this door.">> Do an engineering check.

J'Shun moves between Rastar and Chorizal and checks to see if the other door is trapped like the last one.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Max moves away from the pool and opens fire - the shot has the same effect as the others - not a lot, the 'liquid' pretty much absorbs it.

J'shun inspects the door - it looks like a normal internal door, it would probably just open if used.

Chorizal up