Game Master S |
Breath caught, cigarettes smoked, and grenades checked the party decides to....
Booker Broadshaw |
"Let's see where this wound leads." Follow blood spatters.
Booker returns to the hallway outside and sets up the autocartographer again. Pointing west 50' from where I stand.
Game Master S |
Vines, mushrooms, and puffy blue fungi cover the walls and floor of this room. The fungi are concentrated at the end of the room opposite two open doorways. There, two large rounded machines with claws are nearly obscured by colorful growths. Life Science check here.
Game Master S |
Those aren't mere mushrooms. Those are sentient fungi known as frujais. Despite their strange shapes, frujai colonies and soldiers are surprisingly intelligent. Frujais see themselves as ecological caretakers, weeding out the weak and clearing the path for stronger creatures.
Gig suspects the party is looking at enough mass to warrant two whole colonies.
Hack-It |
"Any way someone can get diplomatic immunity for us? Two whole colonies sounds like a lot of fighting for no real gain."
Gig Razorbyte |
"I'll admit, my heart is not into fighting mushroom colonies. My thought is to live and let them live in their own fungi existence. I wonder if they can just let us go by. I mean, none of you have a craving for mushrooms do you?"
Torin Janzi |
Take 10 on Diplomacy for 40, if applicable.
Game Master S |
With a shared language, Janzi reaches out, "We do not want fight. We do not want extermination. We want life.".[/ooc]
Torin Janzi |
Janzi cocks his head to one side, raising a single finger to Booker's inquiry as he concentrates...
Take 10 on Sense Motive for 41.
Assuming Janzi thinks the reply is legit...
Same here, frankly. The Sivv are threatening our existence. If they're threatening yours too, we're on the same side. You give us free passage, we have no desire to destroy you or to let the Sivv do the same. And I promise we will do everything we can to help you survive — we don't want to kill anything that doesn't already want to kill us.
Game Master S |
"This deal is acceptable. Pass." Janzi knows it to be true.
Janzi's diplomatic efforts save time, blood, and ammo. For the success, the party earns an incredible 358,400 XP.
Gig Razorbyte |
"That's most impressive, Janzi! I didn't even hear you say a word, but somehow we get to pass through safely. We also get a tour of the two mushroom colonies as a bonus. Lead us onward, Janzi."
Gig follows along carefully.
"Oh, and make sure we don't accidentally step on a mushroom."
Booker Broadshaw |
"Aye, if you're sure they'll let us by," Booker agrees, gesturing for Janzi to lead the way through the colonies. Continue west. Should we check out those overgrown machines?
Torin Janzi |
They will, Janzi replies simply. And we should try not to blow up the ship, unless we can take the fungi with us.
Janzi picks his footing carefully as he guides the group through.
Gig Razorbyte |
"And we should try not to blow up the ship, unless we can take the fungi with us."
"Well, taking the fungi with us sounds a little complicated. Let's just leave the ship intact. Maybe you could tell them that I like fungi but never to eat and that I never have mushrooms on my pizzaz pie. Oh, and maybe you could lead us through first."
Game Master S |
The party takes some time looking about. The colony moves aside to give you better footing as you go. In the search you find a rel-state contingency armor upgrade.
As the party approaches the door, Janzi feels a tinging in his mind
There is danger on the other side of the door. We have locked it. A moveable creature like you is there. It means us harm so we have locked it. If you want to see it and fight it, we will open the door.
Torin Janzi |
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (10) + 31 = 41 Well, I guess I Take 10 then.
Can you withdraw if we confront it? I would prefer no harm come to you and yours.
Game Master S |
It moves like you, but is more massive. It speaks with pressure like you do, but lower. It does not care for us. We can protect ourselves, but may do so by closing the door.
Torin Janzi |
Janzi nods and then telepathically addresses the party. Something big on the other side of the door. It doesn't like fungus and probably won't like us either. We should go in hot.
Game Master S |
The party prepares, and once Janzi broadcasts intent, the colony releases the door.
This long, narrow room is illuminated by bright depictions of celestial bodies painted on the ceiling, resembling moons and comets that seem menacingly close. Piles of debris are pushed against the sides of the room and coated with stripes of black paint to resemble a night-time savanna. At the far end, the debris forms a sort of throne with improvised risers leading up to a sizable makeshift chair. A stream of light from a large moon falls directly across the throne, as though to highlight the importance of its occupant. The best part is, you're entering from the rear of the room. It's a giant, literally, a giant. Standing at over 25 feet tall and with skin the color of dark ash, it's a brute.
Before anything else, someone can make a Life Science check...
Torin Janzi |
Life Science: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (14) + 24 = 38 (reduce the DCs of Life Science checks by 5 when recalling knowledge about xenobiology)
Game Master S |
An Eclispse Giant! Eclipse giants are known to wander worlds with little care, and during an eclipse, a hidden “inner self” takes control, often changing the giant’s personality and approach to life. Given that this one is hefting an ultra serrated longsword and not asking any questions, it's clear where this one's mind lies.
Janzi knows that when they hurl debris, they infuse it with destructive energy. It backs a BIG punch.
It raises its blade, but wordlessly offers you an opening to talk...
Torin Janzi |
Janzi holds up a finger and casts tongues on himself.
You would like to speak? Then let us speak.
Game Master S |
"Xiello. I am Xiello. I am emperor by the grace of the sivv. I have taken their training, and I accept it. Now you shall too. You may either submit to me as subjects of my empire, or you can learn via the Program. Unless you are here as enemies of the sivv, and therefore of my and my empire. If you are here for plunder, I shall eat your corpses whole."
Hack-It |
"I mean... we've been through the Program already," Hack-It says when Janzi translates. "Graduated even, you might say. Maybe let him know that?"
Torin Janzi |
Janzi nods. We went through the Program already, thanks, Janzi says. Lots of sivv training. Glorious Sivv Empire, and all that.
Also of note, I should point out that anyone who is emperor by the grace of another is, by definition, no true emperor at all. Or does emperor mean "subject to the whims of another" in your language? I may not understand your colloquialisms quite right.
Game Master S |
"IMPUDENT FOOLS! PREPARE FOR PUNISHMENT!"
ROUND 1:
Dunk: Go
Booker: Go
Giant: TBD
Janzi: TBD
Hack-it: TBD
Gig: TBD
Hostiles: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Booker: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
Dunklezahn: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
Gig: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Hack-it: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Janzi: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
Booker Broadshaw |
"Woulda been hard to say we ain't enemies of the sivv, anyway," Booker shrugs. He opens fire.
Booker reduces the foe's benefit of cover by 2 by default, and can spend 1 RP to reduce it by another step if needed. Please let me know if I need to spend the RP to remove all benefits of cover.
Ambuscade Focus Fire @ Xiello: 1d20 + 27 - 2 + 2 - 5 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 27 - 2 + 2 - 5 + 9 + 1 = 41
Piercing Damage: 7d10 + 23 + 9 + 9 + 2d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6) + 23 + 9 + 9 + (1, 1) = 64 (reduce any DR by 15)
Ambuscade Focus Fire @ Xiello: 1d20 + 27 - 2 + 2 - 5 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 27 - 2 + 2 - 5 + 9 + 1 = 41
Piercing Damage: 7d10 + 23 + 9 + 9 + 2d6 ⇒ (8, 2, 10, 2, 2, 4, 7) + 23 + 9 + 9 + (1, 6) = 83 (reduce any DR by 15)
Ambuscade Focus Fire @ Xiello: 1d20 + 27 - 2 + 2 - 5 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 27 - 2 + 2 - 5 + 9 + 1 = 38
Piercing Damage: 7d10 + 23 + 9 + 9 + 2d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 7, 5, 5, 6, 4) + 23 + 9 + 9 + (4, 1) = 80 (reduce any DR by 15)
Clip: 88/100 rounds.
Game Master S |
Yes, you're approaching from behind. The throne gives him partial cover, but there's no need to spend RP.
Booker opens up with a trio of hits!
ROUND 1:
Dunk: Go
Booker: Hits
Giant: TBD
Janzi: TBD
Hack-it: TBD
Gig: TBD
Giant: 227
Dunklezahn |
Seeing a giant with an awesome sword, Dunk can't wipe the smile of joy off his face as he charges forward.
DevastationBlade: 1d20 + 26 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 26 - 4 = 39
S&E Damage: 12d8 + 30 ⇒ (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 7, 6, 2, 4, 2, 2, 5) + 30 = 79
DevastationBlade: 1d20 + 26 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 26 - 4 = 24
S&E Damage: 12d8 + 30 ⇒ (3, 8, 4, 5, 5, 8, 6, 1, 8, 3, 5, 1) + 30 = 87
Game Master S |
Dunk's opening cut is deep. It would have cut the head off an Akitonian auroch!
The giant decides against single combat, taking a step back AoO available for Dunk The giant connects his spirit to the cosmos and suddenly stellar plasma rains down on everyone. Everyone takes Elec + Fire: 6d8 + 6d8 ⇒ (3, 2, 3, 5, 8, 2) + (6, 2, 4, 4, 2, 5) = 46. REF DC 24 for half.
ROUND 1:
Dunk: Hit AoO
Booker: Hits
Giant: Spell
Janzi: Go
Hack-it: Go
Gig: Go
Giant: 306
Dunklezahn |
Hey, where ya goin'?! The fight's here with me!
AoO, Stand Still vs KAC+8: 1d20 + 26 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 26 + 4 = 45
S&E Damage: 12d8 + 30 ⇒ (7, 3, 2, 3, 8, 7, 1, 8, 6, 4, 2, 7) + 30 = 88
Reflex: 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 15 + 2 = 20
Dunk takes a face full of magic energy, but is undaunted.
Torin Janzi |
DC 24 Refl: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22
Ouch.
Janzi shakes his head to clear it, but puts on a good face, moving up behind Dunk. No, no, no, no moving, now, Mr. "Emperor". See? We're treating you just like the Sivv do, meaning you're an "emperor" subject to our whim too! Cast hold monster, DC 25 Will.
caster level check w/Spell Penetration & Greater Spell Penetration: 1d20 + 18 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 18 + 4 = 32
Game Master S |
Shockingly, Dunkelzahn holds the two-ton giant in place in the moments before it completes the spell.
Will: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (14) + 22 = 36 Janzi's spell can't do the same though.
ROUND 1:
Dunk: Hit
Booker: Hits
Giant: Spell
Janzi: Hold
Hack-it: Go
Gig: Go
Giant: 394
Gig Razorbyte |
"Although I could have used you at our concerts, we have to get out of here alive before the tour will even start."
Moving his hands in somatic gestures, Gig draws forth his magical powers to casts Disintegrate on the massive foe!
Spell Attack Roll: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (12) + 21 = 33
Caster Level Check vs. Spell Resistance: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 18 + 2 = 32 (+2 Spell Penetration Included)
Damage if DC 25 Fort Save is Failed: 14d20 + 9 ⇒ (10, 6, 1, 12, 2, 16, 4, 16, 14, 9, 14, 2, 11, 13) + 9 = 139
Damage if DC 25 Fort Save is Made: 4d20 + 9 ⇒ (3, 7, 19, 9) + 9 = 47
Game Master S |
Gig scores a hit! FORT: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (14) + 20 = 34
The wounded and weakened giant succumbs to the his wounds as a chunk of him is turned to space dust! The body hits the floor with a massive thud! For your victory, the team earns 204,800 XP.
Gig Razorbyte |
"Wow!". Gig declares with surprise as he looks at the pile of dust. "That worked far better than I anticipated. Too bad he wasn't willing to negotiate working as a head bouncer to my security detail, but at least he didn't crush us."
Gig looks over the pile of gear left around the dust pile to see if there is anything of value.
Booker Broadshaw |
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"So..." Booker looks from the giant's remains to the ysoki, and back again. "Does this mean Gig's the emperor now?" The old soldier makes a face. "At least it ain't Hack-It..."
He reloads his gun.
Torin Janzi |
Janzi grins and gives a sweeping bow to Gig. My emperor, who serves at the whim of us rather than the whim of the Sivv, he says magnanimously.
Once requisite homage is paid, he starts a search of the room. Take 10 on Perception for 44.
Gig Razorbyte |
"What do you guys mean by calling me emperor? I know I like wearing my capes, but just because I disintegrated this beast doesn't make me an emperor, especially since it has nast sivv connotations. I much prefer the title 'keyboard wizard'!"
Game Master S |
Janzi finds little.... until... wait a second.
He finds a secret compartment in the throne. Within are some star charts. The star charts consist of two sheets of flexible hybrid electronic paper, each rolled into a tight tube.
Hack-It |
Reflex (Hack-It): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15
Reflex (Hum): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23
Hack-It shrugs. "That giant was a brainless dud. If that's all it takes to be an 'emperor'... the title is all yours, Gig."
Regardless, the mechanic looks really concerned at his drone. "I need ten minutes to deal with the damage to my drone. Twenty would be better"
Need to perform the Repair Drone action, because Hum is at 8hp. 20 minutes would allow me to recover 85hp for it