Game Master S's "Devastation Ark"

Game Master Chris Marsh

Dunk climbs out of the capsule and starts limbering up, unashamed of his nakedness and ready for action.

Hack-It shakes off the fluids, stopping when he sees Gig beat him to the first computer. He hastens over, watching his fellow ysoki work. When he hesitates he grabs Gig's hand, as if to steer it. "Gig, you should know by now. Always press the button."

And then he makes Gig press the menu option to Empty Quantum Entanglement.

Hack-it hits the button. Instantly a small tube overhead spouts forth ALL your equipment. All of it. Anything in the simulation is gone though. This is just what you had on you when you entered the Ark.

"Hey, I was going to push that button on my own! Find your own buttons to push, Hack! Well, at least we can wear our clothes again. I hope they took good care of my cape. I want to use it for my next tour you know!"

Are we still seeing holographic letters and hearing the alarm?

The alarm continues to blare. The holographic letters, now alien symbols which you cannot read, light up the room. Who knows how long you've got?

Given that, what's the party doing. Keep in mind, you're all naked, especially Dunklezahn.

Janzi, with great effort and obvious strain, tosses Dunk's armor to Dunk and then grabs his own stuff. Gear up as quick as ya can...this is likely to get ugly in a hurry, he says, out of breath.

Janzi will start with his D-Suit V. I'd suggest everyone start with armor, not so much for the naked bits as cos that's been our protection for a lot of levels.

Immediate plans:
Booker: ???
Dunklezahn: ???
Gig: ???
Hack-It: ???
Janzi: Suit up!

Suiting up!

Sorry guys, what I should be asking is if you're donning properly, or hastily. Hastily means all your armor's stats are 1 worse than normal until you have time to fix it. So.....

Time to Don:
Booker: Suit up! (Full donning is 1 round.)
Dunklezahn: 4 Rounds, (Hasty is 2)
Gig: (Full donning is 1 round.)
Hack-It: 2 Rounds, (Hasty is 1)
Janzi: Suit up! (Full donning is 1 round.)

Choice:
Booker: Donned
Dunklezahn: ???
Gig: Donned
Hack-It: ???
Janzi: Donned

Hack-It takes the time necessary to suit up properly

"That was interminable," Booker groans upon waking up. "I need a smoke." He clambers out and stretches his tired limbs, either not cognizant or not caring about his lack of clothes.

"Huh," is all he says when the equipment dumps out. He immediately fishes for a pack of smokes and a lighter. He takes a long draw on the first cigarette, leaning, still nude, against his erstwhile prison tank. "That's better."

Only then does he start climbing back into his armor.

Dunk takes the time to make sure all the seals and clasps are secured properly.

Less than 10 seconds after Dunklezahn gets suited up the field keeping you in the room drops. A pair of robots enter. They resemble large metal sivvs with short, blunt tentacles.

Round 1:
Booker: Go
Hack-it: Go
Dunklezahn: Go
Sivv Robot: TBD
Gig: TBD
Janzi: TBD

Hostiles: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Booker: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
Dunklezahn: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
Gig: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Hack-it: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Janzi: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"Payback time." Booker flips on his haste circuit and vaults towards the ceiling, literally stepping over Hack It in the process. Move 20' SW and 15' up via Force Soles.

Ambuscade Focus Fire @ Pink: 1d20 + 26 - 2 + 2 - 5 + 1 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 26 - 2 + 2 - 5 + 1 + 8 = 35
Piercing Damage: 7d10 + 22 + 8 + 8 + 2d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 1, 10, 1, 4, 3) + 22 + 8 + 8 + (1, 2) = 67 reduce DR by 15

Ambuscade Focus Fire @ Pink: 1d20 + 26 - 2 + 2 - 5 + 1 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 26 - 2 + 2 - 5 + 1 + 8 = 38
Piercing Damage: 7d10 + 22 + 8 + 8 + 2d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 2, 7, 7, 4, 10) + 22 + 8 + 8 + (6, 1) = 83 reduce DR by 15

Ambuscade Focus Fire @ Pink: 1d20 + 26 - 2 + 2 - 5 + 1 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 26 - 2 + 2 - 5 + 1 + 8 = 45
Piercing Damage: 7d10 + 22 + 8 + 8 + 2d6 ⇒ (7, 1, 4, 4, 10, 9, 5) + 22 + 8 + 8 + (5, 3) = 86 reduce DR by 15

Clip: 88/100 rounds.
Haste Circuit: 9/10 charges.

Booker, back to normal, opens with a penetrating barrage. The rapid rattle of his gun feels like ol'times. The robot shudders and sparks. It turns turquoise optics on the human.

Round 1:
Booker: Hit
Hack-it: Go
Dunklezahn: Go
Sivv Robot: TBD
Gig: TBD
Janzi: TBD

Dunk prepares for the charge, powering up his force field and positioning his Titan Shield, hoping Booker can hold off the other.

Dunklezahn is back to his former self, and ready to receive and counter, extreme violence.

Round 1:
Booker: Hit
Hack-it: Go
Dunklezahn: Set
Sivv Robot: TBD
Gig: TBD
Janzi: TBD

With a clear shot at the robot sivv in front of Dunklezahn, Hack-It draws his pistol. Instead of firing though he enters a series of commands into his wrist console. Two things happen.

Hum whirs to life, mounted turrey swivelling to fire upon the nearby robot.
Parallax Laser Rifle vs Pink: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (3) + 20 = 23
Damage (Fire): 8d6 + 17 ⇒ (3, 1, 5, 5, 2, 4, 4, 6) + 17 = 47

An electromagnetic pulse, directed at the robot, attempts to scramble their programming.
Overload vs Pink. DC 25 Will save or be Dazed for 1 round. If it fails by 10 or more I get to dictate its actions for 1 round instead

Hum's aim is off.

Will: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (9) + 18 = 27 And Hack-it's attempt to overload the robot doesn't fare much better.

The robots close, and as they do, they each reach out to move some of the party to rel-state. An extradimensional snare launches from the robots! Dunklezahn and Booker, pass a DC 25 REF save or have your right arms (and only your right arms) sent into rel-state...

Round 1:
Booker: Hit REF
Hack-it: Miss
Dunklezahn: Set REF
Sivv Robot: Rel-snare
Gig: Go
Janzi: Go

Reflex: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20

Me arms gone!

Reflex: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19 +2 if this counts as a spell or SLA

Huh. Booker moves to draw a pistol with his left...

You still have your weapons, just.... only one arm. Using your weapon one handed like this gives you a -2 to attack. Reloading is a much bigger issue though

Both soldiers bloodlessly lose their right arms!

Round 1:
Booker: Hit
Hack-it: Miss
Dunklezahn: Set
Sivv Robot: Rel-snare
Gig: Go
Janzi: Go

Oh, that's just... Janzi uncharacteristically doesn't finish the thought, moving behind Dunk and weaving a spell targeting both Sivv-bots. Cast slow, DC 25 Will.

To Gig specifically, he asks, Got any electricity for the metal cans here?

Pink: 1d20 ⇒ 20 PASS
White: 1d20 ⇒ 7 FAIL

Janzi slows the unharmed robot down!

Round 1:
Booker: Hit
Hack-it: Miss
Dunklezahn: Set
Sivv Robot: Rel-snare
Gig: Go
Janzi: Slow

Gig casts Arcing Surge at the Sivv Robot.

Arcing Surge: 10d6 + 8 ⇒ (3, 2, 2, 5, 5, 5, 6, 2, 1, 1) + 8 = 40

DC 25 Reflex Save for Half

Spell Penetration: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (17) + 18 = 35

Pink REF: 1d20 ⇒ 15 PASS

Gig tries to fry the robot, but finds it's resistant to magic. Thankfully the technomancer is the stronger. There's little he can do about the robot's reflexes though.

Round 2:
Booker (Arm missing): Go
Hack-it: Go
Dunklezahn (Arm missing): Go
Sivv Robot: TBD
Gig: TBD
Janzi: TBD

Booker adroitly slides his left hand down to pull the trigger thrice more. The awkward weight of the gun quickly throws him off, despite an initial adjustment.

Focus Fire @ Pink: 1d20 + 26 - 2 + 2 - 5 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 26 - 2 + 2 - 5 - 2 + 1 = 36
Piercing Damage: 7d10 + 22 + 8 + 2d6 ⇒ (2, 9, 7, 9, 5, 4, 4) + 22 + 8 + (3, 2) = 75 reduce DR by 15

Focus Fire @ Pink: 1d20 + 26 - 2 + 2 - 5 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 26 - 2 + 2 - 5 - 2 + 1 = 21
Piercing Damage: 7d10 + 22 + 8 + 2d6 ⇒ (3, 9, 8, 5, 7, 10, 8) + 22 + 8 + (1, 5) = 86 reduce DR by 15

Focus Fire @ Pink: 1d20 + 26 - 2 + 2 - 5 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 26 - 2 + 2 - 5 - 2 + 1 = 21
Piercing Damage: 7d10 + 22 + 8 + 2d6 ⇒ (6, 9, 1, 8, 7, 8, 2) + 22 + 8 + (5, 1) = 77 reduce DR by 15

Clip: 76/100 rounds.

Booker gets a single shot off despite the impediment (or imbracchiment as the case may be). Unfortunately, the recoil spoils his other two shots. Still, it's enough to drop one of the robots.

Round 2:
Booker (Arm missing): Kill
Hack-it: Go
Dunklezahn (Arm missing): Go
Sivv Robot: TBD
Gig: TBD
Janzi: TBD

Dunk hefts his blade in his one remaining hand and filets the robot.

DevastationBlade: 1d20 + 25 - 6 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 25 - 6 - 2 = 31
S&E Damage: 12d8 + 29 ⇒ (6, 4, 3, 8, 8, 6, 3, 4, 5, 1, 5, 4) + 29 = 86

DevastationBlade: 1d20 + 25 - 6 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 25 - 6 - 2 = 25
S&E Damage: 12d8 + 29 ⇒ (4, 5, 6, 4, 7, 2, 5, 4, 2, 3, 6, 7) + 29 = 84

DevastationBlade: 1d20 + 25 - 6 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 25 - 6 - 2 = 37
S&E Damage: 12d8 + 29 ⇒ (2, 6, 8, 8, 5, 2, 7, 8, 1, 1, 7, 8) + 29 = 92
Crit Damage: 12d8 + 29 ⇒ (8, 1, 8, 5, 2, 3, 8, 6, 4, 6, 3, 3) + 29 = 86

With one arm, Dunklezahn swings the legendary devastation blade. He makes two cuts, the second extremely deep!

Round 2:
Booker (Arm missing): Kill
Hack-it: Go
Dunklezahn (Arm missing): Hit&crit
Sivv Robot: TBD
Gig: TBD
Janzi: TBD

"Aww yeah! Light em up, Hum!" Hack-It shouts gleefully at his drone.
Zenith Disintegrator Pistol vs Robot: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (2) + 20 = 22
Damage (Acid): 2d20 + 14 ⇒ (3, 3) + 14 = 20

Parallax Laser Rifle vs Robot: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (14) + 20 = 34
Damage (Acid): 8d6 + 17 ⇒ (2, 2, 4, 1, 1, 6, 5, 4) + 17 = 42

Team Hack-it lights up the room, and the laser strikes the robot!

Staggered from Janzi's spell, the remaining robot only lashes out at Booker once from where it stands:
Slam: 1d20 + 30 ⇒ (4) + 30 = 34 and the solider easily dodges it, with only the ashes from his ciagerette taking damage.

Round 2:
Booker (Arm missing): Kill
Hack-it: Hit
Dunklezahn (Arm missing): Hit&crit
Sivv Robot: ATK
Gig: Go
Janzi: Go

Round 3:
Booker (Arm missing): Go
Hack-it: Go
Dunklezahn (Arm missing): Go
Sivv Robot: TBD
Gig: TBD
Janzi: TBD

Still getting used to the odd configuration, Booker dumps lead into this next robot.

Focus Fire @ White: 1d20 + 26 - 2 + 2 - 5 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 26 - 2 + 2 - 5 - 2 = 20
Piercing Damage: 7d10 + 22 + 8 + 2d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 2, 6, 1, 10, 7) + 22 + 8 + (3, 6) = 71 reduce DR by 15

Focus Fire @ White: 1d20 + 26 - 2 + 2 - 5 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 26 - 2 + 2 - 5 - 2 = 21
Piercing Damage: 7d10 + 22 + 8 + 2d6 ⇒ (5, 7, 9, 6, 4, 9, 2) + 22 + 8 + (4, 5) = 81 reduce DR by 15

Focus Fire @ White: 1d20 + 26 - 2 + 2 - 5 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 26 - 2 + 2 - 5 - 2 = 30
Piercing Damage: 7d10 + 22 + 8 + 2d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 3, 8, 2, 4, 7) + 22 + 8 + (6, 1) = 68 reduce DR by 15

Clip: 64/100 rounds.

Booker dumps lead into the walls and floor near the robot.

Round 2:
Booker (Arm missing): Kill
Hack-it: Hit
Dunklezahn (Arm missing): Hit&crit
Sivv Robot: ATK
Gig: Go
Janzi: Go

Round 3:
Booker (Arm missing): Miss
Hack-it: Go
Dunklezahn (Arm missing): Go
Sivv Robot: TBD
Gig: TBD
Janzi: TBD

Gig casts Magic Missile and launches it directly at the robot to blast it with Force Damage.

Magic Missile: 3d4 + 3 + 8 ⇒ (3, 3, 3) + 3 + 8 = 20

"Try dodging out of the way of those, you mechanical beast!"

Bit by bit the party wears it down. The trio of missiles from Gig always works!

Round 2:
Janzi: Go

Round 3:
Booker (Arm missing): Miss
Hack-it: Go
Dunklezahn (Arm missing): Go
Sivv Robot: TBD
Gig: TBD
Janzi: TBD

Hack-It and Hum continue to fire upon the remaining robot. Y'know, because what else do you do with rogue robots.

Zenith Laser Pistol vs White: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (4) + 20 = 24
Damage (Acid): 2d20 + 14 ⇒ (1, 20) + 14 = 35

Parallax Laser Rifle vs White: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (16) + 20 = 36
Damage (Acid): 8d6 + 17 ⇒ (6, 3, 5, 1, 6, 2, 5, 2) + 17 = 47

The laser rifle strikes again! The second robot collapses in a heap. All five party members (and 8 arms) get a moment to breath...

And for it, your party earns 204,800 XP.

"This is... inconvenient," Booker grumbles, looking down at the continued absence of his arm. "Thing's a robot, yeah? Maybe it's got somethin' in its memory banks that can tell us how to, y'know, undo the who rel-state thing..."

Janzi onows about missing arms...

1d20 ⇒ 18

Mysticism +29, Medicine +24, Life Science +23. He does have the regenerate spell if he thinks that will do it.

Janzi know sit's either coming back in 1 minute..... or never.

Gig checks over the robot and looks to retrieve any useful information in its memory banks.

Engineering: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (9) + 31 = 40

Gig finds that the computers here have been cut off from anything else, and literally incinerated. It likely happened as soon as the alarm went off.

The good news is that Janzi was right.... it was about a minute. Booker and Dunk's arms return to this reality.

Where to now?

Booker shakes out his arm a bit, eyeing it skeptically as though uncertain it actually belongs to him. After a few moments, he digs around in his null-space chamber for a small holographic display. He walks over to the door and, after opening it, pushes a button on the display.

A hundred tiny bots pour out of the back of the machine and race down the hallway.

Activating my autocartographer.

Booker gets a glimpse with his own eyes of a large hallway. He then sends the autocartographer forth. A minute later, he's got a better idea of what's out there.

"The hall outside runs north and south," Booker announces as he packs up the autocartographer, pointing first left and then right, since cardinal directions have no meaning aboard a space-faring vessel. "There is a room close by to the south; let us begin there."

If the others are ready, Booker will lead the way a few paces ahead. Stealth: 1d20 + 30 ⇒ (6) + 30 = 36

"That sounds good, Booker! Get us out of here!"

Gig tries to be as stealthy as Booker by tiptoeing carefully, but he doesn't quite do it.

Stealth: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (2) + 25 = 27

This small chamber has a bank of computers on one wall. Two large, empty housing mechanisms, each containing several cables and tubes, fill the wall opposite the room’s only doorway.

"Lessee what those consoles have t'offer," Booker mutters. Meanwhile, he looks carefully at the empty housings.

Perception: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (12) + 21 = 33 were these containers for the bots we just fought?