Game Master S's "Devastation Ark"

Game Master Chris Marsh

Everyone took at least some damage. 10 Minute rest and 1 RP to get the SP back?

"Hack, as your Emperor, I grant you your twenty minutes to repair the drone known as Hum. What do you think, Booker? Do we have enough time?"

Booker shrugs and reaches for his cigarettes. "I'll allow it."

After smoking two, Booker gets bored of waiting for Hack-It to finish his curse-laden tinkering. He looks over the scroll tube Janzi found, then carefully pulls out the star charts from within.

T20 Perception: 20 + 22 = 42

Skill check to investigate the star charts?

Hack-It rolls his eyes but gets to work.
Profile is current now.

The party puts there heads together and concludes that these charts make ZERO sense to anyone...

Booker shrugs. "Pre-Gap, maybe? Or a hidden message? Who knows." He stuffs the charts back into the tube and stows it. "Something to piece together later. You done yet, Hack?"

”I’m happy to offer you some bubble gum if that would help speed up your work?”

Gig takes a partially chew piece out of his cheek pouch and offers it to Hack.

The old soldier shakes his head in disgust, and goes to check out the door (bars?) at the far end of the room.

T20 Perception: 20 + 22 = 42

The bars are controlled on your side of the gate it seems. Booker can't make out the details on the other side very well, but there are a trio of meditating giants. you understand only one word of their litanies. sivv.

Booker comes back. "Hard fighting ahead. Three giants, though not as big. Didn't catch the words but they ain't gonna be friendly."

"Would it be helpful to soften them up with an explosive blast before we enter?"

"Maybe. Unless doc wants to try an' talk 'em down first."

Janzi peers in.

Take 10 on Life Science for 34. (Reduce the DCs of Life Science checks by 5 when recalling knowledge about xenobiology.)

"Feel free to talk to them. If they are amenable, then maybe I could hire all three of them to work on my tour."

Janzi makes a face. Moon giants. Tend to be fanatical about whatever they believe in. Not likely to be reasonable about things.

The celebrity mystic takes a moment, casting tongues on himself (duration 3 hours), then listening to the meditation.

"Right, everybody ready?" When he gets the nod, Booker flips the switch to drop the door. He stays tucked into the corner. Stealth: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (2) + 31 = 33

the door opens noisily, alerting the giants, though Booker doesn't know if they saw him.

ROUND 1:
Gig: Go
Janzi: Go
Booker: Go
Hack-it: Go
Giants: TBD
Dunk: TBD

Hostiles: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Booker: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20
Dunklezahn: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
Gig: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Hack-it: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Janzi: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Booker gets started on taking down giants as quick as he can, using their slow reaction to his advantage, and readies himself to bear the counterattack, at least until Dunk can come up.

Ambuscade Focus Fire @ Black: 1d20 + 27 - 2 + 2 - 5 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 27 - 2 + 2 - 5 + 9 + 1 = 50
Piercing Damage: 7d10 + 23 + 9 + 9 + 2d6 ⇒ (10, 3, 10, 4, 6, 4, 6) + 23 + 9 + 9 + (5, 3) = 92 reduce DR by up to 15

Ambuscade Focus Fire @ Black: 1d20 + 27 - 2 + 2 - 5 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 27 - 2 + 2 - 5 + 9 + 1 = 45
Piercing Damage: 7d10 + 23 + 9 + 9 + 2d6 ⇒ (2, 9, 7, 2, 2, 3, 5) + 23 + 9 + 9 + (3, 5) = 79 reduce DR by up to 15

Ambuscade Focus Fire @ Black: 1d20 + 27 - 2 + 2 - 5 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 27 - 2 + 2 - 5 + 9 + 1 = 46
Piercing Damage: 7d10 + 23 + 9 + 9 + 2d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 4, 2, 2, 3, 5) + 23 + 9 + 9 + (3, 2) = 72 reduce DR by up to 15

Notes: Booker will switch to White if Black falls. Booker's Init modifier is currently +12 (and he automatically wins ties).

Clip: 88/100 rounds.

Janzi conveys that and turns to Gig. Try that explosive blast. They might understand something like that kind of pyrotechnics.

Gig moves his hands in quick somatic gestures and lets his Explosive Blast fly past booker to the back of the room with the giants.

Explosive Blast: 9d6 + 9 ⇒ (3, 6, 6, 2, 4, 4, 1, 2, 1) + 9 = 38

20 foot radius blast. Reflex DC 25 for half. Hitting Black and White

"Hi you big boys, I was thinking that you might enjoy a little heat!"

Gig REALLY interrupts with an explosive blast!
Black: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31 PASS
White: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34 PASS

Booker follows up with a trio of hits, gravely wounding one of the giants.
Will update tracker for init Booker. also, if this post isn't an advertisement for 1.5 edition this fall, nothing is.

ROUND 1:
Gig: Boom
Janzi: Go
Booker: Pew pew pew
Hack-it: Go
Giants: TBD
Dunk: TBD

Janzi nods as Gig hucks his boom, then slides into the room carefully, focusing on White. You there, hold up a moment. Or, perhaps, longer. Cast hold person, DC 25 Will.

Will: 1d20 ⇒ 2 Janzi's magic holds one of the giants fast!

ROUND 1:
Gig: Boom
Janzi: HOLD!
Booker: Pew pew pew
Hack-it: Go
Giants: TBD
Dunk: TBD

"Fanatics. Always so fricken dumb," Hack-It mutters, turning to his drone. "How bout we kill them, hey?"

Hack-It's pistol appears in his hands, and the two open fire.
Laser Pistol vs Black: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (11) + 21 = 32
Damage (Fire): 8d4 + 15 ⇒ (3, 1, 4, 2, 1, 4, 3, 3) + 15 = 36

Laser Rifle vs Black: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (5) + 21 = 26
Damage (Fire): 8d6 + 18 ⇒ (1, 1, 2, 3, 1, 5, 3, 3) + 18 = 37

Hack-it scores a hit! The giant seems seriously wounded before it gets a chance to attack. The wound seems too light though, like the laser was less effective than it should have been.

The trio work as one (well, 2 of 3). The severely injured giant closes for melee. It exudes a strange feeling that actually feels... good. Everyone within 60' of the black giant heals 15 damage and can make a 3rd attack with each incurring a -5 (total, not MAP like PF2).

The severely wounded giant swings its fists at Janzi:
ATK 1: 1d20 + 25 - 5 ⇒ (10) + 25 - 5 = 30 MISS
ATK 2: 1d20 + 25 - 5 ⇒ (7) + 25 - 5 = 27 MISS
ATK 3: 1d20 + 25 - 5 ⇒ (18) + 25 - 5 = 38 for DMG: 8d6 + 24 ⇒ (1, 2, 3, 2, 1, 1, 3, 3) + 24 = 40

The third rushes forward, and exudes an aura of sleepiness. [ooc]EVERYONE must pass a DC 21 Will save or fall asleep

ROUND 1:
Gig: Boom
Janzi (SP: 122/162): HOLD!
Booker: Pew pew pew
Hack-it: Hit
Giants: ATK
Dunk: Go

Will: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (7) + 19 = 26

Booker keeps his eyelids up.

Will, DC21: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35

Dunk steps into the room and swings.

DevastationBlade: 1d20 + 26 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 26 - 2 = 31
S&E Damage: 12d8 + 30 + 9 ⇒ (6, 8, 3, 5, 5, 6, 5, 7, 5, 8, 5, 2) + 30 + 9 = 104

DC 21 Will: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (13) + 18 = 31

Janzi doesn't even yawn.

Dunk's blade is overwhelming, and he drops the wounded giant. The waxing aura is now gone, no 3rd attack unless you have one normally.

ROUND 2:
Gig: WILL + Go
Janzi (SP: 122/162): Go
Booker: Go
Hack-it: WILL + Go
Giants: TBD
Dunk: TBD

Will Save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Gig moves his hands drawing forth his magic and casts explosive blast to toss a ball of fire into the room.

Explosive Blast (Fire Damage): 9d6 + 9 ⇒ (4, 3, 2, 3, 1, 1, 3, 6, 6) + 9 = 38

20 foot radius blast. Reflex DC 25 for half. Hitting Black and White

Blue: 1d20 + 17 - 10 ⇒ (17) + 17 - 10 = 24
White: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (20) + 17 = 37
Gig's spell wounds both giants!

ROUND 2:
Gig: Boom
Janzi (SP: 122/162): Go
Booker: Go
Hack-it: WILL + Go
Giants: TBD
Dunk: TBD

Janzi's ears are ringing from the giant's blow, and he struggles to pull our his degenerator pistol through the disorientation. He takes a guarded step and fires, but can't focus on anything but the massive headache he has right now.

pew: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 19
acid & sonic: 7d6 + 7 ⇒ (6, 4, 5, 3, 6, 3, 5) + 7 = 39

48/80 charges remain.

Booker turns his attention to the mobile giant.

Focus Fire @ Blue: 1d20 + 27 + 2 - 2 - 5 ⇒ (18) + 27 + 2 - 2 - 5 = 40
Piercing Damage: 7d10 + 23 + 9 + 2d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 5, 4, 6, 2, 4) + 23 + 9 + (2, 5) = 70 reduce DR by up to 15

Focus Fire @ Blue: 1d20 + 27 + 2 - 2 - 5 ⇒ (15) + 27 + 2 - 2 - 5 = 37
Piercing Damage: 7d10 + 23 + 9 + 2d6 ⇒ (8, 2, 10, 6, 2, 5, 2) + 23 + 9 + (1, 3) = 71 reduce DR by up to 15

Focus Fire @ Blue: 1d20 + 27 + 2 - 2 - 5 ⇒ (19) + 27 + 2 - 2 - 5 = 41
Piercing Damage: 7d10 + 23 + 9 + 2d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 1, 5, 1, 5, 10) + 23 + 9 + (5, 5) = 75 reduce DR by up to 15

Clip: 76/100 rounds.

Will save vs DC 21: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19

"I don't wanna go to b-" Hack-It collapses, asleep.

Hack-it decides it's nap time as Janzi misses with his shot. Booker hits thrice, severely wounding the giant.

White: 1d20 ⇒ 19 Janzi's held giant breaks free!

The other steps in to try and kill Booker:
ATK: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (5) + 25 = 30 MISS!

ROUND 2:
Gig: Boom
Janzi (SP: 122/162): Miss
Booker: Hit
Hack-it: Zzzzzz
Giants: ATK
Dunk: Go

ROUND 3:
Gig: Go
Janzi (SP: 122/162): Go
Booker: Go
Hack-it: Zzzzzz
Giants: TBD
Dunk: TBD

The stream of bullets from Booker's gun is nigh continuous, and he gets a bit lazy about controlling the climb from the recoil. Will eat an AoO if necessary.

Focus Fire @ Blue: 1d20 + 27 + 2 - 2 - 5 ⇒ (12) + 27 + 2 - 2 - 5 = 34
Piercing Damage: 7d10 + 23 + 9 + 2d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 10, 2, 1, 6, 10) + 23 + 9 + (6, 3) = 79 reduce DR by up to 15

Focus Fire @ Blue: 1d20 + 27 + 2 - 2 - 5 ⇒ (2) + 27 + 2 - 2 - 5 = 24
Piercing Damage: 7d10 + 23 + 9 + 2d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 9, 2, 9, 5, 10) + 23 + 9 + (2, 4) = 79 reduce DR by up to 15

Focus Fire @ Blue: 1d20 + 27 + 2 - 2 - 5 ⇒ (6) + 27 + 2 - 2 - 5 = 28
Piercing Damage: 7d10 + 23 + 9 + 2d6 ⇒ (4, 9, 7, 3, 9, 8, 4) + 23 + 9 + (6, 5) = 87 reduce DR by up to 15

Clip: 64/100 rounds.

Gig continues to hurl pyrotechnics behind the giants to try and soften them up!

Explosive Blast (Fire Damage): 9d6 + 9 ⇒ (4, 5, 2, 5, 3, 6, 2, 1, 1) + 9 = 38

20 foot radius blast. Reflex DC 25 for half. Hitting Black and White

Dunk charges in and continues his assault.

DevastationBlade: 1d20 + 26 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 26 - 4 = 28
S&E Damage: 12d8 + 30 ⇒ (2, 8, 3, 2, 4, 7, 7, 6, 7, 1, 2, 8) + 30 = 87

DevastationBlade: 1d20 + 26 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 26 - 4 = 34
S&E Damage: 12d8 + 30 ⇒ (4, 4, 2, 4, 2, 5, 1, 3, 8, 8, 3, 6) + 30 = 80

Blue REF: 1d20 ⇒ 15 PASS (Immaterial)
White REF: 1d20 ⇒ 2 FAIL

Dunk steps up and nearly drops the giant. When Gig's spell explodes, the burning wound is too much and the giant succumbs. It gives Booker an open field. he shoots the remaining giant in the shoulder!

ROUND 3:
Gig: Boom
Janzi (SP: 122/162): Go
Booker: Hit
Hack-it: Zzzzzz
Giants: TBD
Dunk: TBD

BOT JANZI

Janzi maneuvers to the corner and takes another potshot at the the last giant.

Pew: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 38 CRITICAL
Acid and Sonic: 14d6 + 14 ⇒ (6, 1, 2, 5, 1, 5, 2, 5, 5, 1, 2, 3, 2, 4) + 14 = 58 plus Degeneration: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 4, 3) = 14

44/80 charges remain.

Janzi's shot is dead on! Degeneration is on the giant's turn. It's DC 25 for Janzi. It's cells begin to degenerate in a cascade of apoptosis.

It takes a singular step towards Dunk and swings:
ATK: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (14) + 25 = 39 for DMG: 8d6 + 24 ⇒ (6, 3, 5, 3, 3, 1, 5, 2) + 24 = 52
FORT: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 23 FAIL

ROUND 3:
Gig: Boom
Janzi (SP: 122/162): CRIT
Booker: Hit
Hack-it: Zzzzzz
Giants: TBD
Dunk (SP: 146/198): Go

Dunk does not hesitate to charge in and continue the assault.

DevastationBlade: 1d20 + 26 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 26 - 4 = 30
S&E Damage: 12d8 + 30 ⇒ (2, 1, 1, 8, 7, 3, 5, 2, 7, 7, 8, 2) + 30 = 83

DevastationBlade: 1d20 + 26 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 26 - 4 = 37
S&E Damage: 12d8 + 30 ⇒ (8, 6, 2, 3, 4, 7, 3, 1, 8, 5, 2, 2) + 30 = 81

The giant swings and slams Dunk as he closes:
AoO: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (17) + 25 = 42 for DMG: 8d6 + 24 ⇒ (4, 2, 1, 4, 3, 4, 6, 2) + 24 = 50.

By virtue of the fatigue of Janzi's shot, Dunk connects twice, dropping the final giant!

For your victory, the team earns 153,600 XP.

"Gig, wake Hack up, wouldja?" Booker asks, reloading his gun. He looks over each giant, and scans the room for anything of note or value.

T10 Perception: 10 + 22 + 4 = 36

The giants’ belongings include nine large moonstones carved with celestial symbols worth 11,000 credits each. There is nothing else of note.

"Might fetch a pretty price," Booker mutters, stuffing the stones away.

He straightens. "We got doors east, an' a door south. I say that one first." He moves to inspect the southern door. Perception: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (19) + 22 = 41

Gig goes over and tries to wake up the other ysoki.

"Wakey, wakey, Hakey! You need to get more rest at night. Even when we are facing giants, you are falling asleep. I can give you some gum. That sometimes helps."

"Who touched my cheese!" Hack-It shouts, waking with a start. He then looks around, bewildered. "What? What'd I miss?"