Korasha Lashunta Solarian 11th | INIT + 3, Senses Perception +13 Darkvision 60' | EAC 26 KAC 28 DR 11/B or S| Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +9 | [THP]5[SP] 110/110 [HP]82/82| Resolve: 9/9 |
Azara begins hurrying to the space platform and begins the process of pulling a module out of his armor (the infrared sensors) and placing the jetpack in once he gets there...assuming he gets there.
Let's get out of here before that thing decides that the power coming from the station is either a threat or a tasty snack.
Deckard heads to the space platform with everyone else, quickly pacing past the leaders with her faster movement speed and pausing just before stepping into the open to make sure we're not walking into a trap.
As the party scrambles onto the space platform with Dr. Tsorsk and the two anacites, Fitch's voice again comes over comms.
"There's a nice updraft coming your way really soon that'll help you get up here even faster. I'll position the Pegasus above you. Good luck... wait for it..."
Even on the relatively large space platform, you feel a warm rush of air rising up all around the doomed station.
"...NOW!"
At Fitch's urging, Dr. Tsorsk engages the space platform's boosters. The platform separates from Indigo Deep and begins flying upwards, pushed on by the wind!
Time for some special rules! Fitch has positioned the Pegaus about 1,500 feet above the station, and between the boosters and the updraft the space platform is moving upward at about 150 feet per round: it's 10 rounds to safety and escape! Each round, I'll update the list with special options, in addition to normal character actions, depending on where in the "chase" the party is:
*Stealth: Attempt a stealth check to avoid the leviathan's notice. All party members must succeed, or the beast notices the space platform flying away from the station.
Korasha Lashunta Solarian 11th | INIT + 3, Senses Perception +13 Darkvision 60' | EAC 26 KAC 28 DR 11/B or S| Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +9 | [THP]5[SP] 110/110 [HP]82/82| Resolve: 9/9 |
Azara peeks over the edge of the platform and sees the leviathan below. He ducks back as though his head hanging over the side will be the bit that draws the attention of the thing instead of the platform more than big enough to hold them all hurtling up through the atmosphere.
"Wouldn't that be a little like jumping at the last moment when an elevator you're in is falling?" he asks about the jetpack suggestion.
Not possible to aid on the stealth check last round. And just to be clear, the platform is ascending on its own power, helped by the updraft; on it, you're automatically moving at 150 feet per round. You can hop off the platform and use your jetpack to gain additional "ground" (air?) covered in addition to the automatic 150 feet per round ascended, but Dr. Tsorsk and the anacites aren't going to be able to come off the platform unless they're carried.
Seconds after the platform lifts off, you hear a roar coming from below Indigo Deep.
"Uh oh," Fitch says over comms. "I think it noticed."
Peering over the edge of the space flatform, you see the giant centipede-like leviathan begin its ascent after the space platform. Its several hundred feet below you, but you're not really sure how fast it can move.
"It's hard to pilot and shoot at the same time. Maybe one of you could help?" Fitch asks.
Korasha Lashunta Solarian 11th | INIT + 3, Senses Perception +13 Darkvision 60' | EAC 26 KAC 28 DR 11/B or S| Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +9 | [THP]5[SP] 110/110 [HP]82/82| Resolve: 9/9 |
Aaaaaannnd...NOW!" Azara calls out, watching the thing far below them and giving the signal to Fitch (or whichever of her kids is manning the cannon) to fire.
|Vesk Mystic 8 Soldier 1 |SP 64/64 HP 61/61 RP 8/8| Spd 40; EAC 28 KAC 30 ; Fort +6 ((+7 Currently)) Reflex +6 Will +12 | Perc +15 SM +12
perception:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
Yith is too busy pulling her tail back over the side of the station after she accidentally waved it at the monster...
Sorry if this one was unclear, but only one person needed to succeed at the check/attack. There's no benefit to multiple successes. Also, attempting the check only counts as a standard action - everybody still has a move action if they want to do anything with it.
Korasha Lashunta Solarian 11th | INIT + 3, Senses Perception +13 Darkvision 60' | EAC 26 KAC 28 DR 11/B or S| Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +9 | [THP]5[SP] 110/110 [HP]82/82| Resolve: 9/9 |
I got nothing to do with a move action. Even if we all jet pack up, that leaves the people we rescued behind, potentially to be eaten without any protection from us. Unless getting to the ship means that we'll be able to do something else for them.
With his move action, Conrad blasts 15 feet above the platform (30 foot fly speed hindered by half speed for ascending)! I'll leave everybody else on the platform for now.
As you give instructions, you hear Fitch's voice over the comms. "I've got my hands busy, you're going to have to--oh, hey there, Reepu. How about you be a sweetie and help your gran-gran out and hit that button labeled 'orbital strike' a few times, hmm? That's dear."
The Pegasus blasts away at the leviathan! Starship-sized lasers, which many of you haven't ever seen in action outside of a starship, bolt past you through the atmosphere and hit the creature! Over comms you hear Reepu making high pitched firework sounds.
The leviathan recoils for a second as the powerful blasters scorch its skin! But, concerningly, it does not seem to be losing altitude. A moment later, it resumes its pursuit.
The updrafts and platform boosters push everyone another 150 feet toward the Pegasus!
On the platform, BY7 makes a comment. "Did anybody tether Indigo Deep's lasers to a comm unit? You might be able to hit it from the station, too!
Special (standard) actions:
-Attempt to hit the creature with Indigo Deep's lasers from one of your comm units. Requires a Computers check or ranged attack. Multiple successes do not stack.
-Attempt to help Fitch and Reepu hit the creature again. It might be expecting an attack from the Pegasus, now, so this runs a serious risk of not actually slowing the creature down. Multiple successes (if success is possible) do not stack.
I'm not sure I ever want to be that close to starship weapon fire again Rani remarks as she uses her comm unit to fire the station's weapons. Hey. Reepu. Having fun up there?
|Vesk Mystic 8 Soldier 1 |SP 64/64 HP 61/61 RP 8/8| Spd 40; EAC 28 KAC 30 ; Fort +6 ((+7 Currently)) Reflex +6 Will +12 | Perc +15 SM +12
Seeing the ship's weapons having little effect Yith just looks over and down at the leviathan.
"Well, that's disconcerting..."
I have to say that "Reepu. How about you be a sweetie and help your gran-gran out and hit that button labeled 'orbital strike' a few times, hmm? That's dear."" is one of the best things I've seen posted in a game here and got a serious laugh out of me. Kudos, sir.
Korasha Lashunta Solarian 11th | INIT + 3, Senses Perception +13 Darkvision 60' | EAC 26 KAC 28 DR 11/B or S| Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +9 | [THP]5[SP] 110/110 [HP]82/82| Resolve: 9/9 |
Azara flinches away from the lasers as thick as his legs, the heat from them intense even from this far away. It is a stark reminder that, though no match for a star, their ship contains enough power to easily destroy any of them.
He contemplates that for a moment before focusing on directing that power properly.
All thanks for the Reepu line should go to scenario author John Compton-that specific situation is laid out in the text. I really like Fitch's grandkids here, too. I'll hold off for a bit for Conrad's turn and then we're onto the next round.
Jetpacks can't carry somebody if they're encumbered. You'd have to use another type of flight to get the NPCs off the ground, so to speak.
Although the Fitch's blasts from the Pegasus hit the creature again, it doesn't seem deterred by them any more. A split second later, however, it is hit again from below by the lasers firing from Indigo Deep! The massive creature lets out a surprised roar before turning to look behind it.
After spotting the station's lasers, it swings its massive lower half and obliterates that part of the platform, taking the lasers permanently offline!
Meanwhile, the updraft takes everyone 150 feet closer to the Pegasus.
Conrad Acrobatics:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25
Conrad keeps his orientation steady in the updraft; everyone else remains on the platform.
No obvious special actions this round that haven't already been attempted.
Sorry for the delay. I got behind, and then with the Easter weekend I decided just to resume posting today.
Mechanical background on what's happening if I'm not describing it well:
The beast is essentially acting as a hazard as the party attempts to flee to the Pegasus. There are other options that will become apparent later in the chase for "distractions," which is what the ship and station shots have been, but the distractions only work once per combat; essentially the beast/hazard will get to takes its first "real" turn of the chase in round 4, thanks to the stealth/ship lasers/station lasers successes you had in rounds 1 through 3.
Dr. Tsorsk turns to Deckard. "I'm afraid wrickreechees weigh at least 250 lbs; even in my malnourished state, I don't think you'd be able to lift me with your jet pack. We'll all be to the ship soon enough," she says, trying to end on a hopeful note.
The platform flies another 150 feet closer to the Pegasus! The party successfully targets another blast from the Pegasus onto the Leviathan! It definitely does damage, but doesn't have the same effect as before-the creature continues in pursuit of the party!
As it flies, the beast takes a few of its front tentacles and flings something forward toward the space platform. Almost unbelievably, it seems that the beast has flung three broodlings into the skym! As the mini-leviathans approach, they deploy a long fan of rigid white threads, like a mix of a parachute and a sail, and begin riding the wind toward the platform!
Map updated. Before the broods' turn, they're floating/flying on their tendril fans 60 feet below the surface of the space platform. Between the updraft and the momentum of being flung, they'll be able to catch up to the platform and potentially land this round.
Bold up! R5 Deckard
Conrad
Sefel
Yith
Rani
Brood red
Brood yellow
Brood blue
Azara
Space platform 600 (Conrad +15)
|Vesk Mystic 8 Soldier 1 |SP 64/64 HP 61/61 RP 8/8| Spd 40; EAC 28 KAC 30 ; Fort +6 ((+7 Currently)) Reflex +6 Will +12 | Perc +15 SM +12
Yith looks over the edge at the annoyingly tough creatures hurtling towards them. "Huh, neat trick."
She then points the plasma cannon over the edge at Yellow...
"Eat this.." plasma cannon:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20 E+F damage:2d10 + 9 ⇒ (8, 2) + 9 = 19
Male NG Human Icon Envoy 7 | SP 63/63, HP 48/48, DR: 5/-| RP 8/8 | EAC 21; KAC 22 | Fort +6; Ref +9; Will +5 | Init: +8 | Perc: +10 (DV 60'), SM: +10+d6+1
Power, Abilities, and Ammo:
Clever Improvisation: 1/1
Comm Unit 80/80
Translator 10/10
Jetpack 40/40 (2/Round or 1/Min)
Ammo (Skipshot) 18/20)
Gah! Neat? Holy crap this thing is awful!" Conrad, regardless of his words, is smiling a bit through it all. He let's himself fall back to the platform while taking aim at the same one:
As the brood flies toward the platform, Deckard and Rani shoot Red while Conrad and Yith blast yellow! Sefel prepares for the combat by casting a spell.
The brood continue their ascent, flying onto the platform and attacking!
Red brood attacks Rani, Yellow brood attacks Conrad, and Blue brood attacks Azara!
