[SFS_Aerondor] 01-18 The Blackmoon Survey. (Outpost IV) (Inactive)

Game Master Aerondor

"Unfortunately they are highly localized and unpredictable." sighs Bechta. "But we have some excavators on site, which should be sufficient cover if one does eventuate. The site is only a twenty minute hike from here, but the terrain is pretty rugged so the ATV won't be able to make it."

She sends a silent signal to Digger. "We can take you there if you like."

And as we are in PBP, I'll just move the story up a little.

As you head toward the site, Bechta keeps up a running commentary about the site and history.

"The latest dig site was established to excavate a series of ruins belonging to the lost necropolis of Muthal. Seismic disturbances unearthed these ruins several months back, and Taylehm ordered the expansion of the current excavation to encompass this site as well. The area is cut into the side of Blackmoon, with two sizable exits into the nearby open stretches of desolate terrain."

She points the way.

"I've been here a couple of times to set up the automated diggers and do maintenance on them, or relocate them." she says.

Feel free to move yourself on the map. Give me any rolls you feel are appropriate. In addition if you are trained in physical science, give me a check for that as well.

Knowing the two Starfinders were murdered near these ruins, Rilynn gives the grounds extra care. No doubt, when the bodies were recovered, little attention was given to preserving the scene, but there may be some clues still visible.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 16

And now that the team has finally reached the Blackmoon, she performs an analysis of the geological attributes of the site.

Physical Science: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Can you make sure you move yourself on the map to the area you are investigating. There are a variety of diggers. There are ruins. There is a big red rock in the middle of the site, there are various cliffs around the edge..

Where is the map and how do I move myself there? Sorry, complete newbie. :)

We were all newbies once, Tarifa--no worries. Up at the top of the page, there's a link: "Map." Click it and you get a Google drawing of the map that you can move your icon around on.

The dig site was new territory for Tari. She wandered over the nearest of the diggers to give it a once over, keeping an eye out for any odd tracks or things out of place.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Computers: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Engineering: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20; +4 vs. traps
Survival: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16

I swear I looked right past that link at least 4 times.

The dig site was new territory for Tari. She wanders over the nearest of the diggers to give it a once over, keeping an eye out for any odd tracks or things out of place.

[dice=Perception]1d20+4
[dice=Computers]1d20+6
[dice=Engineering]1d20+5; +4 vs. traps
[dice=Survival]1d20+0

I swear I looked right past that link at least 4 times.

Gletch confirms multiple times that his armor environmental seals are activated and intact as you make your way out to the site. Once there, he immediately focuses his attention on the rock. He casts detect magic as he moves through the site, to see if he senses any magical auras in the area, while also consulting his tools.

I have both a Chemalyzer and a Broad-Spectrum Scanning kit. I'm not sure if the Chemalyzer will help me with analysis of the rock or not, so won't include the modifier in the Physical Science check.

Perception, broad-spectrum scanner: 1d20 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 4 = 9
Physical Science: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

"We can only hope there was a forgotten clue but this rock here, what is it? Does it hold value or significance?" he says moving closer with the others and looking over it.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Physical Science check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Profession (Archaeologist) check: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

Muttering excitedly to himself, Talltree flits around the dig site, examining where the crew had been digging and trying to put themself into the mind of the slain researchers. "This is fascinating! So much easier when you can trust the AIs in the automated diggers not to break anything!"

Tarifa investigates the first digger. The machines are sizeable and have elevanted cabins, capable of holding up to five humans (or similar sized people).
Entering a cabin takes a move action

Tarifa notices that the excavators have been damaged. The movement systems compromised by something slashing at them. Tarifa is pretty sure it is not accidental, but a thorough examination of the diggers internals would be required to find out more.
And another engineering check

Meanwhile Gletch notices on the horizon he notices a strange dust storm starting to appear. It is too distracting for him to learn much more about the rock. Kharos however, climbing on top of it notices it is crisscrossed with reflective silver slashes where the excavators’ blades dulled themselves while unearthing the ground once above the stone. It would be a good place to hide.

Talltree heads over to the ruins. Someone has not been very careful here.
Can you give me a followup perception check Talltree?

Perception check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Talltree is taken with the orderly way the dig is organized.

Talltree notices nothing additional at this time.

Next actions?

Talltree notices nothing additional at this time.

Next actions?

Rilynn is in the Ruins as well - see above.

Rilynn continues to explore the ruins, happy that Talltree is with her. It's a very creepy place.

I'm surprised you trust the AI's, she says telepathically to the shirren Starfinder.I thought archeologists only trusted their own hands and tools. I'm not sure how I comfortable I would be with one of those machines hammering my dig site.

Gletch stammers, "Oh, well, it looks like perhaps one of those glass cyclones is on the horizon ..."

Can I tell roughly how long until it gets here? Does that take another roll? If not, I'll resume analyzing the material.

I wouldn't trust them, but this team apparently does.

"We'd better get to cover, then. The excavators are supposed to be good enough, and one of them will hold us all." The shirren suits action to words and climbs into the nearest one.

So she is.
While inspecting the ruins Rilynn also notices some blast marks in a couple of places. She recognizes them as marks that could be left behind from someone using a high powered sniper weapon.

As Gletch watches the dust eddy, suspiciously, he notices it moving around before rapidly changing direction and heading straight toward the ruins! He is pretty sure that being caught up in it will be something like being caught in a blender.

You have one round to act as it closes in. Remember, it takes a move action to cycle through the digger air-locks.

A sound like a depressurizing airlock roars through the area as driving winds rock the excavators with metallic creaks and groans. As dirt and dust fly up in a curtain of particulate fog, the wind’s sound begins to chatter like the sound of thousands of miniscule mandibles clacking together in search of things to shear and tear.

Rilynn follows Talltree into the digger nearest the ruins. Double move

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 19

Either that cloud is sentient or it's being controlled. We might need to get out of here - any chance you can drive this thing?

Talltree was close enough to the one excavator to reach it in a single move, and cycle through with a second move action.

Tari peers closer at the digger, but hears Gletch mention the approaching cloud. She scrambles into the digger's cab, checking her environmental seals as she goes.

Engineering: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17; +4 vs. traps

Not sure if I can do the engineering before the cloud hits.

Meanwhile Gletch notices on the horizon he notices a strange dust storm starting to appear. It is too distracting for him to learn much more about the rock. Kharos however, climbing on top of it notices it is crisscrossed with reflective silver slashes where the excavators’ blades dulled themselves while unearthing the ground once above the stone. It would be a good place to hide.

Am I correct in reading this to mean it's possible to hide under the rock? From my position on the ground, can I see a way to get under there for protection? If I can see a way to get cover under the rock, I'll go for it. If not, I'll head to the excavator to the north of me, get there in one move and then cycle through the airlock.

Gletch calls out over comms, "Get to cover quickly! That cyclone is coming our way! Fast!"

"Great, the other one is too far. Get to whatever one you can." Kharos says heading towards the one near Tarifa.

Will take a double move for me.

You could hide *on top of* the big rock. But it would be exposed to the weird storm.

Several members of the team make it to safety, but not everyone.

Kharos is caught out in the Storm.
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Once caught by the storm, he finds movement difficult. No running, and half speed
But even so, manages to quickly make it to safety.

The storm, having swept through the camp, leaves almost as soon as it arrived, having rearranged and scoured the rubble.

With the storm dissipated, or at least wandered, Tarifa returns to checking out the digger. She can't make out any more details of the damage though.
Anyone else trained in engineering who wants to try, or offer an aid?

Status
Karos 13/16SP

With the storm passed, Rilynn steps out onto the blackened surface, where Tarifa is inspecting one of the diggers. She lends what expertise she has for such machines, which is none. But perhaps some general knowledge will help.

Engineering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 I hope that helps.

That is enough for an aid!

Rilynn points out an odd missing bolt, and that leads Tarifa to look further into the internal components of the digger. It seems that there has been some very specific rewiring done, routing electricity from the powerful hydrolic motors into the more sensitive drive system - completely overloading it and causing a lot of burn-outs. You need to be skilled to do something like this, and mindless undead are not known for that level of ability.

It doesn't look like there is much more to learn here.

"So, murder and sophisticated sabotage. I would expect that on Apostae, and I suppose it's not that surprising here. We should send a preliminary report to Bechta in case the unseen adversary catches up with us."

There is radio communication with the main base, but as you start to make your report, you get a terse "Come back, lets not discuss this in public.."

Tari grins at Rilynn. "Thanks for the assist! Let's go check if the other diggers have the same sort of sabotage, before reporting in.

Hmmm, I wonder who could be behind this, if it's not the undead.

Culture: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19; DC -5 vs. criminal underworld

Anything else we can investigate here?

Gletch continues trying to identify anything about the rock, now that he's under less of a time pressure. He uses his chemalyzer, if it is at all helpful.

Physical Science: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

"Once you're done with that, let's get back."

The team packs up and heads back to the main camp. Taylehm asks you "What have you uncovered?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 4

Rilynn doesn't fully trust Taylehm, but can't decide why not. Lashunta intuition, maybe. It doesn't stop her form relaying all of the events at the dig site.

"No trace of the other Starfinders, unfortunately," answers Rilynn. "But the deaths of the two that were recovered was not an accident. They were murdered in cold blood." She draws a thumbnail across her throat.

"At the dig site I discovered scoring near the ruins, the pitting and char likely from a high-powered sniper blast. And Tari found that at least one of the diggers was sabotaged in such a way that only a skilled engineer or mechanic would identify the fault. Clearly, someone doesn't like you digging in their sandbox. They didn't want us poking around either; one of those glass storms blew up, changed direction and hit the site directly."

"Blast it. I thought some of the contractors were a bit too happy. I guess they think that this means I'll have to extend their contracts, because the work isn't getting finished. The worst bit is they are right. If only I knew which ones it were." she growls.

She opens a small safe under her desk and takes out some bits and pieces.

"If they are playing rough, you might need these." she suggests, handing over a pouch with four mk1 serums of healing.

Then, takes a key from the safe and opens a weapons locker.

"Load up statfinders." she suggests.

Inside the locker is a frostbite class zero rile, a thunderstroke sonic pistol and a suit of basic iridishell armour. You are free to take any of that if it would be helpful.

Gletch takes the thunderstrike pistol. "If no one objects?" To Taylehm, "There was a curious rock formation at the site. It seemed quite dense. Can you identify what it's made of?"

"I'm not too sure." admits Taylehm. "But that is the least of our worries at the moment. I think I need to get that security detail recalled. And at the moment, you are the only people here I can trust to do that."

She squirts a local map over to your datapads. "Charge up your suits again, and then head out to this canyon. That was where probabilistic analysis showed the undead were likely coming from. They should have dealt with *that* problem by now at any rate."

Tari suddenly notices Kharos' suit looks mildly damaged. "I'm sorry, I didn't think to check on you. Are you OK? Did you get caught in that storm?"

She picks up one of the serums of healing and tucks it into her backpack while waiting for her suit to finish charging. I'm ready when you are. Anyone else a decent pilot?

"I don't think any of us can use the rifle or the armor. Let's go."

As Tari makes not of the damaged suit, Gletch casts mending on Kharos' suit while they're charging up. "There you go! Good as new."

At Tarifa's question, the shirren shakes their head. "I skipped those classes in technomancer training--they were scheduled on top of social studies."

The canyon is just over a couple of miles away from the main Starfinder camp. Again, the terrain is rough so your ATV is no help and it is matter of slugging across the rugged terrain.

checks: 4d20 ⇒ (10, 20, 11, 12) = 53

This time, at any rate, there are no obvious signs of more of the glass-storms that sprung up at the dig site. Two long weary hours later you come to the edge of the canyon.

At the bottom of the gradually canting hillside lies a clearing, where the high, stony rocks of Blackmoon form a canyon of sorts. Along its bed a series of red pillars jut up toward the sky like stalagmites, as if the skeletal digits of a gigantic hand were rising from the cursed earth of the canyon. Near the base of one of the rocky protrusions is a strange mass, discernible even from a distance, its coloring different than the reddish stone and sallow dust of the canyon.

Between you and the "fingers" is an area of ruins.

Map is updated. Please note this is not a normal map. The area is BIG. Each square is 30'. So I'm going to suggest you just use arrows from your icons to point to the square you end up in each turn.

"Good driving, Tarif," says Rilynn.

The Lashunta Xenoseeker heads toward the ruins. double move

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 2

Just to clarify, GM A--a single 30' move is one square?

Tari hopped up on a slightly taller rock to get a better view. "Hey, those rocks up there looks like the same kind as the big one in the other location. Not that I know much beyond 'big red rock.' Gletch, are you our analyst? Or is that you, Talltree?" She looked around at the walls of the canyon slightly nervously. I hope that's as stable as it looks.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Clambering down the other side, she headed for the nearby ruins. "Rilynn, anything interesting?"

Survival: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16 to look for tracks.

Not sure if I moved too far or not far enough. :)

Gletch activates his broad-spectrum scanner as he surveys the area, remaining at a distance. "Yes, I will see what I can find from here before we get too close, in case it is a toxic substance of some kind."

Perception: 1d20 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 2 + 4 = 23

I bet even the undead need moisturizer. In a place as hostile to flesh as this, how could they not? It's not like one loses its sense of vanity or personal pride just because they're dead, do they? I certainly hope not. What would be the point otherwise? These mindless pitiful creatures shambling across the blasted plain - abominations...

But what if I died, and the raise dead spell was botched like poor Taylehm? I'd want to still exist, wouldn't I? Of course. Although being sequestered on Eox is a poor alternative to death. Maybe I could just go back to Castrovel and live the rest of my unlife in peace in the wilds. I wonder if mother would visit her undead daughter? Not if I can't moisturize...

Such are the thoughts in Rilynn's head as she strides through the canyon toward the ruins, observing nothing.

"Hmm, Oh, Tari! No, nothing interesting. But perhaps you'll have better luck."

Yes, each square would be one move action.

The starfinder team starts down the canyon, spreading out to try and spot the security detail. Those red-shirts should be easy to spot.

Rilynn spots the tracks of three people heading down, but none coming out.
[ooc]Dun dun dun![/occ]

The group eyes the walls around them cautiously, but nothing seems immediately unstable. Of course that is when the first laser sizzles through the poisonous air. The shot came from somewhere at the far end of the canyon.

attack vs EAC Rilyn: 1d20 ⇒ 12
F damage: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (2, 6) + 3 = 11

init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Status, init. If you equal or beat at 21 then you can also act
Karos 13/16S
Rilyn 0/5sp; 3/9hp;
Gletch
Tarifa
Talltree
Baddies?

Init: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Uh-oh.

Initiative roll: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

Not quite.

Initiative: 1d20 ⇒ 13