Vacuum
The void of space is effectively empty of matter, and this vacuum is perhaps the greatest danger of outer space. A creature introduced to a vacuum immediately begins to suffocate (see Suffocation and Drowning on page 404) and takes 1d6 bludgeoning damage per round (no saving throw). Because a vacuum has no effective temperature, the void of outer space presents no dangers from cold temperatures. A creature retains its body heat for several hours in a vacuum. Sound doesn’t travel in a vacuum.
Decompression occurs when a creature suddenly transitions from a pressurized environment to a vacuum, such as by being flung out of an airlock or being inside a sealed structure that becomes heavily damaged. Such a creature takes 3d6 bludgeoning damage (no saving throw) in addition to any suffocation damage.
Zero Gravity:
Movement in zero gravity (also referred to as zero-g) is not the same as flight. Controlled movement is difficult without some form of propulsion, and creatures without something to push off from often find themselves floating aimlessly. A creature in a zero-gravity environment can’t take move actions to move its speed, crawl, or take a guarded step. If a creature is adjacent to or in the same square as an object (including a wall, floor, or ceiling) or another creature one size category smaller than itself or larger, it can take a move action to push off that object or creature, moving at half its land speed in a direction of its choosing (as appropriate); if that object or creature is movable, it begins moving in the opposite direction at that same speed.
Moving in Zero-G: A creature that moves in a given direction continues to move in that direction at the same speed at the beginning of its turn each round (without taking any action); it must move the full distance unless it is able to change its motion by latching on to an object or creature, pushing off in a new direction, or creating thrust of some kind (all of which are considered move actions). If a creature runs into a solid object during its movement, it must succeed at a DC 20 Acrobatics or Athletics check to safely stop its movement; failure means that creature gains the off-kilter condition (see page 276). If a creature runs into another creature during its movement, both creatures must each attempt a DC 20 Acrobatics or Athletics check to avoid gaining the off-kilter condition. A creature anchored to a solid object (such as by the boot clamps available with most armor) receives a +4 bonus to this check. An off-kilter creature in a zerogravity environment can steady itself as a move action that requires a surface to grab on to or some method of propulsion; alternatively, that creature can throw a single item weighing at least 4 bulk (for Medium creatures; 2 bulk for Small creatures) to reorient itself and remove the offkilter condition.
If provided with sufficient handholds, a creature with a climb speed can move along a wall at full speed, as can any creature that succeeds at a DC 20 Acrobatics or Athletics check. Creatures that fly via methods that require an atmosphere, such as wings or turbofans, can’t use their fly speeds in a vacuum; once they reenter an atmosphere, they can recover and get their bearings within 1d4 rounds, after which they can fly normally. Magical flight and methods of flight that provide their own thrust, such as jump jets (see page 206), are not affected. A character in a zero-gravity environment can lift and carry 10 times her normal amount.
Weapons: Thrown weapons have their range increments multiplied by 10 in zero-g. In addition, all ranged weapons no longer have a maximum number of range increments—their wielders simply continue to accrue penalties the farther away the target is.
Male NG ysoki icon envoy 11 | SP 70/88 HP 68/68 | RP 8/10 | EAC 28; KAC 30; DR 2/- | Fort +5; Ref +12; Will +8 | Init: +9 | Perc: +11, darkvision 60 ft., SM: +15+1d6+2 | Speed 40ft | Expendables: Gelid Hail 20/20, Pulsecaster 20/20, Radshot 40/40, mk1 healing 5/5, mk2 healing 2/2, sp. amp. remove condition 2/2 | Active conditions: Con -1, -11 SP (
Gab nods. "Front door it is." He pulls out a medical scanner. With a tap of his cap, he activates his hat of disguise to transform his garments into the near-universal white clothing of the medical profession, complete with a stethoscope hanging around his neck.
GM:
The medical scanner is actually my bombarding glamered electromagnetic radshot pistol.
An eerie silence bathes this banal waiting room, a reprieve from the cacophonous sounds of gunfire and distant shouting beyond. A table and three chairs stand at the center of the room. The floor is constructed of ivory-colored tiles that feel strangely soft underfoot, and spherical light fixtures hang from the ceiling but are shut off and provide no illumination. A door to the east leads further into the structure.
The room appears to be empty at first glance, but as you push through the doors in your makeshift disguises, you see a pair of empty hands rise from behind the table in the center of the room. A voice calls in fluent vesk from the direction of the hands, "Please, do not attack! I am unarmed."
(Assuming you don't open fire) A figure slowly rises up from the behind the table. As the creature gets a clear view of the four of you, you can tell that they breathe a sigh of relief and seem almost on the verge of weeping, their breath shallow and rapid as they move toward you. "Please, help us," they plead rapidly in vesk, "My name is Dr. Yuuqa. I am a physician here at the hospital. The jinsuls--they attacked us...bombed the hospital! Our life support equipment was shut down during the attack, and now some of the patients...they will die without it, o! And even if we do survive--oh it's so terrible--all the schematics for the new life saving technology will be lost! Those monsters will surely destroy the plans...or steal them! Please, I have the plans on my datapad. It's in the operating theater. Please help! Save the patients...oh and my datapad! Ohhhhh..."
The person before you seems to be on the verge of panic, and clearly is in need of help. What do you do?
It's okay .. okay .. she says in a soothing voice, treating this Vesk as a patient. We're Starfinders .. we're here to help. Don't worry. Go to our ship, the Honourbound. We'll get your datapad and save your patients.
She then turns and translates for the others. Looks like there's patients in immediate danger and a datapad to collect - and time is of the essense - we may need to split up.
Envoy-10: SP 100/100; HP 84/84; RP 12/12; reroll(+2) 1/1; mk 3 serum of healing 1/1; KAC 25 (DR 5/-); EAC 25 (resist F&C/5); Perc +13; SM +11(+1d6+2) (KEEN OBSERVER); Init +3; Fort +11 (IGF 1/1); Ref +11; Will +11 (IIW 1/1);
Kultanien approaches, speaking vesk.
"Why hello. We too have suffered from the jinsul. Though we didn't realise that anyone over here would speak vesk. It seems the empire's reach is further than we expected. We have a ship, and we could help evacuate your wounded if you show us the way." she suggests.
diplomacy:1d20 + 16 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 16 + (2) + 1 = 32realistically probably an aid given our other envoy is a higher level than me!
Male NG ysoki icon envoy 11 | SP 70/88 HP 68/68 | RP 8/10 | EAC 28; KAC 30; DR 2/- | Fort +5; Ref +12; Will +8 | Init: +9 | Perc: +11, darkvision 60 ft., SM: +15+1d6+2 | Speed 40ft | Expendables: Gelid Hail 20/20, Pulsecaster 20/20, Radshot 40/40, mk1 healing 5/5, mk2 healing 2/2, sp. amp. remove condition 2/2 | Active conditions: Con -1, -11 SP (
Gab smiles at the creature, trying to think if he has ever encountered such a creature before or can identify any features of the species.
Life Science:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16if there is a way to casually check my wrist computer to help with the research, I do have a library chip that could offer an additional +4
He says, also in flawless Vesk, "Probably best for you to wait here for the moment ... The Honorbound is trying to keep those jinsul ships busy right now, I imagine, but we'll be sure to grab you on the way out. How many staff and patients, and any visitors I guess, when the attack happened? Have you seen any jinsul troops enter the building? Also, do you have any advice on their specific ailments and medical assistance they might require with their life support failing them?"
If no one objects, I'll take the black force field. I'll have unslotted my hat of disguise and agility enhancer, to open up the two slots for the force field, and then I'll just be wearing the hat of disguise. So I have the black force field and haste circuit installed as upgrades.
Sorry, to be clear, this person is not a vesk, but does speak the language. She is some form of monstrous humanoid that resembles a cross between a chameleon and a seahorse, with coral-like growths sprouting from their head. She has hundreds of cilia that allows them to move on land, as well as a large tail. You could give me a Life Science check to identify what type of creature they actually are.[\ooc]
Between Selene reassuring her that the team will help and Kultainen’s soothing voice, Dr. Yuuqa calms down enough to relate information on the jinsuls’ recent attack on the hospital. ” The invasion only started a few hours ago, but we quickly became a place for civilians and wounded combatants alike to be evacuated for treatment. Unfortunately, bombs destroyed most of the southern wing. We’ve converted the patient rooms to the north of here into a makeshift triage unit, and the survivors have barricaded the doors there against the ongoing jinsul invasion. Once they got that set up, I came here to try and send out a distress signal. That must be how you found your way here!”
A loud explosion outside startles the doctor, and she seems to come back to the present moment, though with much for clarity than before, ”I think there is a group of jinsul soldiers in the hospital and they seem well armed. I only caught a brief glimpse in the way in here, but I think I saw a lot of heavy weapons, and the one I think is the leader seemed to have some strange orb of light floating around him.
“Please, there’s not much time! I don’t know if those jinsul are looking to kill the patients or if they’re here to steal or destroy our medical technology, but we need your help! Please, will you help us?”
[ooc]Decision time: with the jinsul guard patrol roaming the hospital, it sounds like you’ll have to choose whether you will go to help protect and possibly save the wounded and ill patients, or if you will prioritize this system’s medical technology. Go ahead and make your decision!
Gab identifies Dr Yuuqa as a species known as a synhnathrix. This amphibious species of monstrous resemble a cross between a chameleon and seahorse, with coral-like growths sprouting from their heads. Syngnathrixes have hundreds of cilia that allow them to move on land, as well as prehensile tails that they use to manipulate tools. No two sets of syngnathrix growths are exactly alike, though the females’ coral tends to be larger—Dr Yuuqa appears to be female. Male syngnathrixes carry young to term during gestation.
Male NG ysoki icon envoy 11 | SP 70/88 HP 68/68 | RP 8/10 | EAC 28; KAC 30; DR 2/- | Fort +5; Ref +12; Will +8 | Init: +9 | Perc: +11, darkvision 60 ft., SM: +15+1d6+2 | Speed 40ft | Expendables: Gelid Hail 20/20, Pulsecaster 20/20, Radshot 40/40, mk1 healing 5/5, mk2 healing 2/2, sp. amp. remove condition 2/2 | Active conditions: Con -1, -11 SP (
Gab nods. "Yeah, we'll help. You get back into the triage area with the patients, and get ready to treat anyone we can get your way." With another tap of his hat of disguise, his body shimmers and he now looks like a synhathrix, to the best he can, though probably a bit of a short one.
He glances among the group, nodding toward the hallway that Magnus is standing near. "I can be sneaky and scout ahead, or we can just get moving. I'm fine with either strategy."
"Oh thank you," Dr. Yuuqa exclaims with obvious relief, "If you want to help the patients, just head through the door here and take the first door on your left. That will take you toward the greenhouse. Once you reach the greenhouse, there will be a door to your right. That's the way to the triage unit where the survivors are holed up. I'll stay here and keep monitoring the comms in case your ship hails us with news. Be careful!"
Before you depart, she answers Kultainen's question, "The jinsul were in the main hallway on the eastern side of the hospital. I'm not precisely sure of where they are this moment, but I'd say stay on this end of the hospital if you don't want to mix with them.
"I'm afraid we don't have any vesk support. It's just the united species of the Freehold here. I'm not sure how long we can hold out against the jinsuls. Please hurry!"
”Well, not exactly, though we do have fungal incubator tanks used in treating nelentus. But we also use the greenhouse for hydroponically grown plants cultivated for medicinal purposes.”
Life Science check to see what you know about nelentus.
Male NG ysoki icon envoy 11 | SP 70/88 HP 68/68 | RP 8/10 | EAC 28; KAC 30; DR 2/- | Fort +5; Ref +12; Will +8 | Init: +9 | Perc: +11, darkvision 60 ft., SM: +15+1d6+2 | Speed 40ft | Expendables: Gelid Hail 20/20, Pulsecaster 20/20, Radshot 40/40, mk1 healing 5/5, mk2 healing 2/2, sp. amp. remove condition 2/2 | Active conditions: Con -1, -11 SP (
Gab says, "Hey, Lucy, check the library to get the highlights on nelentus for me ..." A sultry female voice replies from his wrist computer, "Of course, Mr. McTalkington. Here are the key files." Reports begin scrolling across the screen.
Kultainen and Gab both remember hearing about nelentus. They are
winged, bat-like humanoids that coexist in symbiosis with a species of telepathic fungus. Originally from Agillae-2 in the Scoured Stars, these unintelligent creatures encountered the fungus early in their evolution. The fungi colonized their new hosts and thrived in the creatures’ brains rather than killing them, creating new brain structures. As a result,
both species attained a higher level of consciousness and consensually formed a society based on this symbiosis. In modern times, nelentus consider themselves to be a singular species. A nelentu can be male or female, but always refers to themselves and other nelentus using plural pronouns in deference to the species’ dual nature.
Not sure what Gab is looking for with that Medicine check
Dr. Yuuqa isn't very clear on how the vesk language was introduced to the system. "I'm sorry, but history wasn't my best subject in school. Maybe we had contact with the vesk a long time ago, or some of our explorers traveled to the vesk home world at some point?" For now, the mystery will have to remain as such, for you have some patients to tend to beyond the greenhouse.
Anything else you want to do before pushing through the greenhouse to get to the triage unit?
Envoy-10: SP 100/100; HP 84/84; RP 12/12; reroll(+2) 1/1; mk 3 serum of healing 1/1; KAC 25 (DR 5/-); EAC 25 (resist F&C/5); Perc +13; SM +11(+1d6+2) (KEEN OBSERVER); Init +3; Fort +11 (IGF 1/1); Ref +11; Will +11 (IIW 1/1);
"Wow, a symbiotic species. That is fascinating. I always think thinks are better where you are not alone."
Kultanien offers a fond smile to the white-coated Jopsie.
"To the greenhouse!" she says, leading the way. She does pause for a moment. "I guess we just call out your name so they know we are friends? Do any of them speak vesk?"
I assumed from "treating nelentus" that "nelentus" was a disease.
Oh, haha, nope! As my previous post makes clear, nelentus are another of the species that makes up the Kreiholm Freehold.
Responding to Kultainen, Dr. Yuuqa confirms that giving her name should let the others know that you are there to help. "I believe some of the soldiers that brought their comrades in for medical attention do speak vesk, so you could try that."
Male NG ysoki icon envoy 11 | SP 70/88 HP 68/68 | RP 8/10 | EAC 28; KAC 30; DR 2/- | Fort +5; Ref +12; Will +8 | Init: +9 | Perc: +11, darkvision 60 ft., SM: +15+1d6+2 | Speed 40ft | Expendables: Gelid Hail 20/20, Pulsecaster 20/20, Radshot 40/40, mk1 healing 5/5, mk2 healing 2/2, sp. amp. remove condition 2/2 | Active conditions: Con -1, -11 SP (
Gab heads a few steps ahead of the others, trying to avoid notice, as he follow's the doctor's instruction, heading left into the greenhouse and then taking the door on the right once they get to the greenhouse. "Keep an eye open for any injured patients that need rescuing, or useful supplies we can salvage ... or, you know, jinsuls."
With your instructions to find the triage unit, you leave Dr. Yuuqa and make your way into the greenhouse. Radiant light from the yellow star Saaruq cascades through the domed glass ceiling. Tiers of ceramic shelves filled with gravel and other substrate contain an array of unusual plant life. The room is uncomfortably warm, and water droplets drip like sweat off the glass walls of the room. As promised, you notice the fungal incubator tanks Dr. Yuuqa mentioned, along with an assortment of hydroponically grown plants.
As you make your way through the greenhouse, though, you feel a tickle at the back of your throats or an itchy sensation around your eyes and ears.
Everyone please give me a Fortitude save!
(This is a poison effect in case you have a pertinent feature/bit of gear)
As you make your way through the greenhouse, most of you make it through without any trouble. Selene, however, begins to grasp at her throat as she breathes in some loose spores from the incubator tanks.
GM Screen:
1d4 ⇒ 1 1d100 ⇒ 17
She seems to lose focus for a moment, her eyes hazing over as her mind begins to wander. Thankfully, her she retains enough clarity of thought not to lose herself, and within a few seconds, the feeling goes away.
With that minor hurdle overcome, you continue on to the door toward which Dr. Yuuqa directed you and try to open it. As you push open the door, however, you find it blocked by a barricade. You suppose you could break down the barricades, though you suspect that would make some noise and potentially bring unwanted attention; otherwise perhaps someone with particular agility could get past them.
You can either spend 4 rounds breaking down the barricades for the whole party (attack rolls to break barricades) or 1 round and an Athletics check for each person
Magnus has gravity boost which grants him spider climb. Would he be able to climb up and over the barricade?
The barricade is constructed to completely block the door, so the Athletics check is not so much about climbing over as it is about disassembling the barricade with some sense of control rather than just busting it down. It's like the difference between finding a way with strength and coordination to fit your couch out of your apartment door rather than just using a wood axe to chop it into smaller pieces so you can throw it in the dumpster.
(What?! No WAY am I speaking from personal experience there! You've got the wrong guy!)
Male NG ysoki icon envoy 11 | SP 70/88 HP 68/68 | RP 8/10 | EAC 28; KAC 30; DR 2/- | Fort +5; Ref +12; Will +8 | Init: +9 | Perc: +11, darkvision 60 ft., SM: +15+1d6+2 | Speed 40ft | Expendables: Gelid Hail 20/20, Pulsecaster 20/20, Radshot 40/40, mk1 healing 5/5, mk2 healing 2/2, sp. amp. remove condition 2/2 | Active conditions: Con -1, -11 SP (
Gab pulls out a bulky visor that he uses to look through the barricade into the next room (or through the wall itself if that's easier than the barricade).
X-ray visor mixed with motion detector
Assuming there's no reaction from anyone that stops him, he tries to help remove the barricade.
The entire party of Starfinders steps up to the task of dismantling the barricade smoothly and quietly, but the obstacle proves too mighty a challenge for them! The attempts at shifting the furniture makes some degree of noise, however, so when Gab tries to peer beyond the barricade and look for any motion, he sees a solitary figure step out into the middle of what appears to be a long corridor and raise a weapon in a defensive posture.
The figure calls out in a loud voice, so as to be heard through the barricade, and speaking first in a language that only Selene understands (thanks to her Tongues spell), then in jinsul, and finally in vesk, "Come no further, jinsul savages! We are armed and that door is rigged to explode if you come inside."
Sense Motive DC 10:
No it isn't. This person is bluffing to try and defend the patients inside.
