[SFS/Shifty] #3-16: Silence at Outpost 634 (A) (Inactive)

Game Master Nik B.

"We were attacked by jinsul that seemed to just come out of nowhere. Vos Avino our security specialist fought them bravely but was eventually overrun and killed. Bhennie got down to this ship and began to sabotage it to prevent it flying, but the jinsuls forced her to repair it"

"Millie, large creature, thick armour plates - likes fruit"

"Millie is alive. We fed her the fruit you speak of. She was extremely hungry after having survived by eating jinsuls for the who knows how long. Tell me now, how many jinsul are left on the station and where are they."

"I'm glad Millie is ok. I don't know how many there are left - the leader at least, maybe a couple more as I could hear others moving in the hall. I know the leader is alive as he just came and took the Doctor away at gunpoint a couple of minutes ago"

"Courage doctor, we will save her and return all of you to Absalom Station safely. Captain Chorizal and Private Rastar, take the lead. When we find the jinsul I want a full frontal assault. Once you two have broken through their perimeter defenses Corporal Mars, Corporal Isafira and I will exploit the opening you've created and together we will crush the jinsul. Forward to victory Starfinders! THIS I COMMAND!"

"The computer lab is down the hall to the left, the escape pods to the right. More crew quarters are through the double doors and that also leads to the cockpit"

OK which way?

"I hate leaving unknowns behind us, but if this ship is flyable, we need to get to the cockpit and prevent the jinsuls from taking off. Forward is my vote!"

Rastar moved tot he double doors leading to the bridge and waited for the others.

Chorizal nods. "Agreed. I don't want to end up in Jinsul space or on a hidden base somewhere," he says to Rastar as he joins him, ready to breach the cockpit girl.

"Hey, Vyviane...you wanna check this door for heat before we knock it open?" he asks.

Then he squints in contemplation as a random thought occurs to him.

"Were you actually born in fire Commander Kay? Like, your mother went into labor while the place was burning down around her...or is that a metaphor?"

J'Shun, slowly turns to look at Chorizal in response to his question. With great gravitas he says,

"For as long as anyone can recall every member of my clan has been born on one of the bubble cities that orbit the sun. Our clan monastery is located on the Burning Archipelago. Every member of the clan must pass three trials in order to adapt the honorific, born in fire!, to their name: the trial of valor, the trial of discipline and finally the trial by fire. Those who fail the trials are cast out our clan and stripped of all their honorifics. You are a formidable warrior Captain Chorizal. I invite you travel with me to the Summersword monastery and partake in the trials. Should you succeed in all three you will be invited to join our clan as a fifth son, pick a warrior house to train with, have your heroic exploits added to the lineage of the line of Atsu, and you will be granted the great privilege of adding the honorific, born in fire!, to your name. What say you to my offer Captain?"

Vyv checks the door, and you crack it open to reveal the fore of the ship. Several other doors are barricaded per earlier - and there is a set of doors that clearly lead to the cockpit.

Vyviane gives a small pause at the door, checking for traps along the hallway, sure anything set up in such haste would be easy to spot. She does take a moment to look over it thoroughly, though, just to be safe.
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

She then tries to slink down the hall, not making much noise as she comtemplates to herself, J'Shun may be crazed about being a leader and having rank, but he does seem to reassure people who are afraid... and that family life explains soooo much about his personality.... Hrmm I've certainly done something similar to a trial of Valor when I infiltrated Life Innovations, Discipline with that dang trip to Apostae... and well depending on what a trial of fire involves, I might have been through a similar trial by shadow in the month I spent in a cargo hold... I wonder if I should start adding 'born in shadow' to my title?

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

She does lightly comment over their communication channel, "Seems the door here is clear, I'm going to go and check on the cockpit door."

All seems very quiet from the cockpit door as Vyv arrives.

No sign of any barricades, just the sound of her own breathing.

J'Shun, checks the new barricades for traps.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

He says over comms, "Continue your reconnaissance Corporal Isafira, we will sweep and clear the rooms you bypassed."

He makes the hand signals for search and destroy in pairs to Chorizal and Rastar. Then signaling to Bodo to follow him he begins to dismantle the barricade to the rooms to the west. Unless it has a trap of course.

Bodo and J'shun start the process of dismantling barricades An athletic or engineering task whilst Vyv checks the doors.

What are Rastar and Chorizal doing?

"Put your back into it Corporal Mars."

Athletics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

sure thing athletics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Vyviane keeps a watch at the door, silent as a shadow and watches the movements of everyone else in the hallway. She gives an internal chuckle over Bodo showing up J'Shun with dismantling the barrier, but stays in place where she can listen for movement on the other side of the cockpit door.

"It would be an honor," Chorizal answers J'Shuns offer simply and honestly.

He lingers only a moment before moving ahead down the hall in Vyviane's wake to clear another barricade.

Athletics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

Rastar moved up with Vyviane, giving her enough room to work, but not letting her get so far away that he couldn't support her. When she indicated the cockpit door was clear, he braced himself to go through the door fast and take whatever was on the other side.

...And just as people are deep in barricade removal is when a number of doors open and the ambush is sprung.

You can see inside the bridge. The viewscreen that takes up most of the wall in this room is currently dark as computers run automated diagnostics.

Near the northern wall, a heavily armored jinsul stands with a battered female half-orc propped in front of him as a living shield. He hurls an object through the door without wasting time to exchange verbal barbs.

Mk 1 web grenade
Attack 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

Marked area is now difficult terrain

R1
Rastar
Vyv
Chorizal
J'Shun
ENEMY

"The battle is joined Starfinders. ATTACK!"

J'Shun, barrels forward through the difficult terrain and then through an adjoining door to a room connected to the bridge, expecting to arrive on the jinsul's right flank.

"I am Space Admiral J'Shun Kay, first son of Clan Summersword, House Davion, line of Atsu, born in fire! Surrender now and release your prisoner or we will destroy you."

Spent 1 entropy point to boost J'Shun's movement speed. Entropy points +1, EAC 15, KAC 17 this round.

Or not - J'Shun gets into the room but finds the door into the cockpit firmly locked from the bridge - forcing him to yell through the door.

So much for J'Shun's brilliant grasp of battlefield tactics.

Nah all part of the ambush they had time to set up

Vyviane gives a small start at the door opening and the grenade from no where. She gives Rastar a look of annoyance as the man clearly alerted the jinsul to their prescience. She tries the doors in front of her with one hand, her pistol out in the other.

Not sure if the cockpit is open or not. If not, what check would she need to make to try getting in?

The main cockpit doors are open - they lobbed the grenade through :)

For some reason, I thought this was a limited use ability but it can actually be used against each opponent once per day...I need to start using it all the time. Using Challenge from my Starknight Archetype.

"By Command of the Order of the Pike let the lady go and we'll let you live! Otherwise, I'm going to chop you up into tiny pieces and use them as fertilizer!"

Challenge Intimidate to Demoralize: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Directed at the leader. If he's CR4 or lower or if his total intimidate bonus is less than 11, he's shaken for 1 round and off target for any attacks that don't include me for the same duration.

Rastar stepped up and slammed his assault hammer out at the jinsul closest to him.

vs white kac: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
B damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
crit damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Nothing special on the crit other than double damage

As Rastar steps in the scientist is thrown into his path.
DC 12 Reflex or gain the off-kilter condition for one round

Then we can resolve that hit :)

***

Yeah Chorizal its like a budget trick attack - even though it has the same name as the limited daily use Cav ability from Pathfinder
The leader is indeed shaken

reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Oh FFS! Rastar is totally useless! Worst bounty hunter ever! :P

Rastar was certain the human shield would be held in reserve, not used as a missile. He tried to fend her off and pass her behind him all in one move...and failed spectacularly.

Rastar gets slammed by the flying scientist, only managing to get to his feet for the time being.

***
1d4 ⇒ 1

The Jinsuls attack.

One stabbing Rastar
Attack 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 vs KAC
Damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

One tries shooting ov Vyv
Attack 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25 vs EAC
Damage 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

And the boss lobs a second grenade!
Hits Chorizal/Rastar/Vyv
Attack 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18
Damage 1d6 ⇒ 6 Flame
+Burning 1d4 ⇒ 3
DC12 Reflex for half damage and prevent burn.

The webs are all burnt away.

R1
Bodo

R2
Rastar
Vyv
Chorizal
J'Shun
ENEMY

Faced with a locked door. J'Shun looks at it in frustration, but only for a moment.

"The battle is joined Starfinders!" J'Shun yells as he sprints back the way he came and through the rest of the party right into the face of the jinsul commander.

Presenting his longsword with a flourish he feints with his tactical shield and then sends a savage slash with his sword at the jinsul commander's head.

Longsword vs. Black KAC: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Spent 1 entropy point to boost J'Shun's movement speed to 35'. Entropy points +0, EAC 14, KAC 16 this round.

J'Shun runs past his burning friends and jumps on to one of the high backed chairs clamouring over the furniture and stabbing at the Jinsul leader with surprising effectiveness.

R1
Bodo

R2
Rastar
Vyv
Chorizal
J'Shun - acted
ENEMY

B 13

"Don't think I don't see you over there in the corner! Face your doom at the hands of the Order of the Pike!" Chorizal declares, moving into a corner himself to strike out at the gray shelled Jinsul.

Intimidate (Challenge): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Basic Dragonglaive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Sonic and Electricity Damage: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

Challenge is effective if the Jinsul is 3rd level or below.

Bodo moves up and fires at black hit: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 6
crit damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3 with needler rifle.

Chorizal comes clambering in and lashing at the jinsul whilst demoralizing it - all the more impressive as Chorizal is a walking bonfire burning away... the jinsul dies.

Bodo places a neat hit on the enemy as well - impressive through all the cover!

R1
Bodo - acted

R2
Rastar
Vyv
Chorizal - acted
J'Shun - acted
ENEMY

B 22
G Dead
W

Vyviane, after a long moment to process the shock from getting ambushed when she was setting up her own ambush, gives a small growl and backs away a step. With her gun in hand she gives the jinsul a long deathly glare and snarls something like a wild animal. She then charges part way into the room, planning on making it look like she's about to pounce on them and start tearing off chitin with her bare teeth. Partway through her charge though she fires off a shot at the one in black.

Trick Attack, Bluff, CR tricked: 1d20 + 18 - 20 ⇒ (18) + 18 - 20 = 16
Extra damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

Little Zap-Zap (Static Arc-Pistol) vs. EAC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Electric Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
CRIT!: 1d6 + 1 + 1d8 ⇒ (6) + 1 + (8) = 15

Welp, that proved to be extremely good rolls.

Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

vs white kac: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 6 - 4 = 3
B damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
vs white kac: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 6 - 4 = 8
B damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Rastar stood his ground flailing away at the jinsul next to him and missing completely. Likely due to the presence of the hostage. "Get out of the way, lady!"

And the gross incompetence keeps on coming

Whoops missed there was a reflex save needed.
reflex save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16 Evasion makes it so she avoids the effect completely.

Chorizal, needs a reflex save.

The static arc pistol fries the Jinsul leader, and also gives Dr Ordez a good zap as the arc leaps across multiple targets.

The last Jinsul is easily toweled now it is alone.

Yeah that crit kinda ended things - you can extinguish the burning Starfinders

***

Dr Ordez thanks you profusely for the rescue "That Jinsul, Kkevorak told me more jinsul ships were on the way to extract his squad; I believe the best course of action is to temporarily abandon the outpost until the threat can be properly ascertained"

Using the outpost’s plentiful resources, your group and the research team get their starship in working order and able to depart.

Anything to gather up before you head off? You have already sent a warning transmission

Perhaps Millie?

Definitely Millie. The body of the Jinsul commander (for proof of what happened.) Maybe some of that fruit?

Rastar, glum about his complete ineffectiveness this mission, said "Take anything that isn't fastened down. I have a feeling we're not goign to be coming back here for a while. Grab any of the computer drives that are removeable and slag the rest. Any idea when the jinsuls are expected? No? Then we'd better move quickly. How close are you to getting these ships back in working order?"

"We can be out of here in a couple of hours"

Grabbing Millie and all the important items (easier given how many you recovered) the scientists load their ship.

The scientists ship had been pretty well sabotaged by Bhennie their engineer - who appears to have turned the ship into a large bomb - clearly set on having the jinsul blast into space in a way they weren't planning on.

After you return to Absalom Station and make your report, you receive their promised complimentary meal from Venture-Captain Arvin.

Jadnura thanks you for the information you share with him about the outpost team’s research concerning the starship fragments.

A few weeks later, you receive a follow-up message from Arvin.

“I hope this finds you well. Thank you again for your efforts to save your fellow Starfinders. I know it wasn’t the mission you originally signed on for, but your heroism never goes unnoticed"

“I’m writing to update you concerning the events at Outpost 634. The Society sent three starships to reclaim the outpost after your return, but their efforts were unnecessary in the end. All subsequent investigations indicated that the jinsuls never returned. Upon examining the communication equipment the jinsuls used to contact their fleet, we discovered they were attempting to call a vessel located in a system in the Vast where the Drift Beacons have suddenly deactivated. Concerning reports from nearby outposts indicate that this ‘dark space’ is expanding, and the Society is currently preparing for an expedition to investigate the extent of this phenomenon"

“Regards, Arvin”