[SFS/Shifty] The Vast Experiment (A) (Inactive)

Game Master Nik B.

"Kay, shut it! We have work to do and I don't have the time or the patience to deal with your delusions. Pack it up, team, we've got a fugitive to catch!"

Rastar moved over to a stunned Bolgin and said, "Hey, Mister Transport, you want to deliver us to these coordinates? Looks like the same area where you dropped off our friend. If not, where's the nearest vehicle rental unit?"

Blogin slips on his well-beaten trucker cap and slams down the rest of his energy drink before shooting a wave goodbye to Keeper who calls something back - probably about the bar tab.

You head into the back lot and mount up in a hover-truck that is in surprisingly good repair, and moments later have dusted off and are gliding along the highway in the dead of night listening to Trucking Hits volume 18 as Bolgin asks whether he should be farming wheat or corn on his new sim-farm.

30 minutes later you arrive at your destination.

The coordinates on Firiz’s comm unit lead to a seemingly abandoned industrial building . The massive facility’s entrance is chained shut, but
looking closer you realize that the chain has been expertly cut and then carefully put back together again so that it appears unbroken.

Inside the dimly lit complex, hallways branch off in three directions, forming a maze for those who don’t know their way around the building. The area shows signs of neglect, such as dirty floors and halls littered with debris.

Each person can make TWO DC 13 Survival or DC 15 Perception checks

Rastar reached over to switch the station, but the only thing he could get that didn't sound like Strawberry Machine Cake was another truck driving song. He gave up and tried not to listen as the driver talked nonstop about some idiotic sim-farming game. It was only half an hour, but it was one of the longest half hours in his life.

When they got to the building, he thanks Bolgin and jumped out of the truck as fast as he could manage. As they got close to the facility and saw the cut chain, he motioned for the others to get in their normal combat patrol places. The heavy burner latched onto its carrying harness with a click, and his upper arms grabbed his new doshko.

He scanned the facility and the complex was a mess.

perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Both your trucker songs made me laugh!

J'Shun, spends the ride meeting with Commander Mahpu and Captain Chorizal to discuss potential tactics for the upcoming encounter.

When they arrive at the facility he fills his hands with his longsword, taclash, semi auto pistol, and knight's shield emblazoned with the heraldry of clan Summersword. Activating a switch on the handhold on the back of his shield, bright light projects in a 50' radius around him illuminating the dim spaces confronting the team. He then presses a sigil of the sun on the chest of his armor and activates its environmental protections.

He would normally be issuing orders at this point, but this time he looks at Vyviane and awaits her actions.

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Solid rolls!

Luckily, you can follow the trail of footprints and subtle clues Firiz left for you and you follow the trail quickly and accurately. At the end of the trail you arrive at a bulky, newly installed security door.

Computers or Engineering check to disable device

"Come on, Vyv. I know you've had a rough day of it so far, but you can do this!"

Another locked door, man, I'm tired of these things in our way.

"I'm going to take you up on that after this mission," Chorizal answers J'Shun's offer.

He actually feels a little bad. He didn't mean to hit the squid man quite so hard. Then, again, the guy probably should have learned his lesson the first time.

During the truck ride, he listens to Kay's briefing but also hums along to the music.

Fortunately, there are others to find tracks, since he wasn't paying attention.

"What's going on with the universe? So many locked security doors, these days. I miss the good old days when you just had a regular door and a couple guys with weapons standing next to it."

"This door seems to be newly installed. Someone does not want us to access this area. Acting Lieutenant Isafira, run a bypass."

As soon as they leave the bar, Vyviane pulls J'Shun aside and sits him down. "I know you consider yourself a ranking officer and that you have a personal policy or compulsion to call people by their supposed rank and last name. I also understand you don't have training as a covert anything, but if there is one thing you should learn from this is that you NEVER call someone under a codename or cover identity by their REAL name! This was not an important situation and things would readily be traced back to the Starfinders as everyone else gave their real names, but you could have ruined this whole thing if that had been a different situation. Do not do that again, or I will have to file a formal complaint about incompetence as a commanding officer to the Starfinder Air Force or whatever. Do I make myself clear?" She gives a sigh and then smiles at the man, "However you did well for a first covert mission other wise."

In the truck, Vyviane formulates theories about the possibilities of what could have happened to their man. She doesn't get too far on what they have now.

She gives a look at Rastar and silent nod as command to Rastar for the man to do his dayjob and hunt some bounty. Arriving at the door she gives a sigh and pulls out her hacking kit slightly singed from the exploding comms unit from earlier and takes a deep breath, before trying to hack the door.
Computers or Engineering, they the same: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
She gives a grimace and hope she didn't set something off and tries again.
Computers or Engineering, they the same: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

A broad, well-maintained hallway runs from west to east
between the metal security door and a roomy stairwell.
Another hallway branches off to the south, leading to a dead
end. Doors designed for large creatures line the halls, and bright
fluorescent lights shine overhead.

You are shocked to find two Shobhad laying in wait as the door opens - one steps around the closest corner lashing at Chorizal, the other coming around the far intersection closing on the party.

Both of them appear to be jacked to the eyeballs in rage, veins pulsing, eyes bulging, and frothing at the mouth as they attack fiercely!

Attack vs Chorizal
Attack 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16 vs FF KAC

Fortunately, his armour turns the blow.

They have reach with large swords, and are also holding sidearms

R1
ENEMY - Acted
Bodo
Chorizal
Rastar
J'Shun
Viv

"Oh! HERE are the guards. That's another way to go," Chorizal says as his armor saves him from a nasty cut.

He steps in past the door, pulling his dragon glaive loose.

"Stand down or get knocked down!" he says to the shobhad that attacked him.

Intimidate (Challenge): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Basic Dragonglaive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Sonic and Electricity Damage: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

Well, that Challenge was better, but I suspect not equal to 15+1-1/2 times the Shobhad's CR.

Rastar saw the roid rage in teh shobad's eyes and called out, "Don't bother with words. They're too jacked to hear you, anyways."

Rastar moved through the upper door, stabbing at the lead shobad with his doshko.

attack vs eac: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
C damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

"To battle Starfinders!"

J'Shun moves in on the one Chorizal and Rastar are attacking and sends a strike with his taclash at the shobhad's ankle. As the lash wraps around the shobhad's appendage J'Shun gives a violent tug as he tries to send the creature falling to the floor. Going to try the trip maneuver to make the shobhad fall prone.

Trip vs. White KAC +8: 1d20 + 5 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 5 + 7 = 26

If that connects the shobhad is prone. I'd suggest Vyviane and Bodo only attack it if they use melee weapons. The shobhad take a -4 penalty to its AC from melee attacks, but gets a +4 bonus against ranged attacks. I checked the rules and I guess it can still make AOO while prone, but it takes a -4 penalty to its attack. Entropy points +1, EAC 15, KAC 17 this round.

What gives the additional +7?

Improved combat maneuver trip from J'Shun's exergy aspect +3, taclash is a trip weapon +2, and hindering fusion +2.

Vyviane gives a shriek of alarm as the shobhads pop up from behind the door and fumbles as she draws her pistol 'accidentally' discharging it in her 'rush'

Trick Attack, Bluff: 1d20 + 18 - 20 ⇒ (11) + 18 - 20 = 9 =CR tricked
Extra damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Boom, Holla, BOOM! (Thunderstrike pistol) vs. EAC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Sonic Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Her bluff about being freaked out by the raged out creatures works wonders, but sadly she's not quite the best shot with a fumbled weapon.

The raging shobahd eats to brutal blows and is then tossed to the ground by J'Shun. Vyv bamboozled the unhinged thing but the shot goes wide.

It didn't seem at all rattled by Chorizals threats.

Bodo up!

B
W 26

Move and fire at the black one straight ahead hit: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18 dmg: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

The Shobad gets back to its feet and attacks J'Shun

Attack vs J'Shun
Attack 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20 vs KAC
Damage 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

The other one plows in like a freight train, swinging at Rastar!
Attack vs Rastar
Attack 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32 vs KAC
Damage 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

R2
ENEMY - Acted
Bodo
Chorizal
Rastar
J'Shun
Viv

B 7
W 26

Rastar turned to engage the new opponent, shoving his doshko at the creature's face, but his elbow caught the burner hanging at his side and his strike was weak.

attack vs eac: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
C damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

J'Shun, moves in on the shobhad who just struck him. guarded step His longsword flashes through the air as he sends a slash at the menacing shobhad.

Longsword vs. White KAC: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Entropy points +2, EAC 15, KAC 17 this round.

Chorizal steps closer to the two Kasatha to help hold the line then strikes twice at the Shobhad on their flank.

Basic Dragonglaive: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 9 - 4 = 23
Sonic and Electricity Damage: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

Basic Dragonglaive: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 9 - 4 = 6
Sonic and Electricity Damage: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Rastar misses, but J'Shun and Chorizal land blows on the raging creature!

R2
ENEMY - Acted
Bodo
Chorizal - acted
Rastar - acted
J'Shun - acted
Viv

B 7
W 51

Fire at black again hit: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17 dmg: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Oh shoot! I forgot to shoot.

Vyviane decides to try turning on the water works her gun in hand as the big scary shobhads come in closer.

"Stay away! Don't come closer... *wah*"
Trick Attack, Bluff: 1d20 + 18 - 20 ⇒ (18) + 18 - 20 = 16 =CR tricked
Extra damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

Boom, Holla, BOOM! (Thunderstrike pistol) vs. Black EAC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Sonic Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Crit!: 1d8 + 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + (4) + 1 = 8
Woot crit and really good damage rolls! Black needs to make a fort save or be deafened for 1d4 ⇒ 4 minutes

Black Fort 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

***
The first one just unleashes on J'Shun!

Attack vs J'Shun
Attack 1d20 + 13 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 13 - 4 = 11 vs KAC
Damage 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Attack 1d20 + 13 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 13 - 4 = 19 vs KAC
Damage 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

It then seems to sieze up and collapse.

The other one just hacks away at Rastar!
Attack vs Rastar

Attack 1d20 + 13 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 13 - 4 = 14 vs KAC
Damage 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Attack 1d20 + 13 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 13 - 4 = 26 vs KAC
Damage 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

R3
ENEMY - Acted
Bodo
Chorizal
Rastar
J'Shun
Viv

B 32
W Dead?

fire at black again hit: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 dmg: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Is it dead? Some of J'Shun's abilities get activated based on who struck the killing blow.

It is now - It continued to fight on and stab you after you had all hit it, then after it was done it simply fell over on its own

Bodo manages to land a shot.

R3
ENEMY - Acted
Bodo - acted
Chorizal
Rastar
J'Shun
Viv

B 38
W Dead

J'Shun, spins around as soon as the shobhad he was fighting falls. Bringing up his shield, he aligns it to defend against any incoming attacks from the other shobhad. Then he strikes out with his taclash, aiming for the shobhad's ankle in an attempt to send it falling to the floor.

Trip vs. Black KAC+8: 1d20 + 5 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 7 = 14

Entropy points +3, EAC 17, KAC 19 this round.

"They don't die immediately? That's jsut soooo creepy! And scary" Not sure if the creatures even care anymore, Vyviane keeps up her helpless woman scared half-to-death routine, and fires a shot at the lumbering shobhad.

Trick Attack, Bluff: 1d20 + 18 - 20 ⇒ (3) + 18 - 20 = 1 =CR tricked
Extra damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Boom, Holla, BOOM! (Thunderstrike pistol) vs. EAC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Sonic Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Chorizal doesn't manage to trip.

Vyv doesn't fool it (but still clips it!)

R3
ENEMY - Acted
Bodo - acted
Chorizal
Rastar
J'Shun - acted
Viv - acted

B 40
W Dead

Rastar grunted "It's known as ferocity! They can push their bodies beyond death for a short time. Just keep hitting them!"

Rastar drove his frosthaft doshko at the one in front of him again, aiming for center mass. no more fooling around!

attack vs eac: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
C damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

"An impressive ability! I need to learn how to do it. Although, I guess maybe I already know how to do it and just don't know I know how to do it. Seems like a one time thing," Chorizal says.

He faces the remaining Shobhad. "We're going to test the process on you!"

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

He slashes at the guard, too.

Basic Dragonglaive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Sonic and Electricity Damage: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

With a concerted effort the second Shobhad is felled.

Vyviane gives a small release of breath as she tries to dispel the persona she'd be inhabiting and strides into the room near the dead shobhads. "Right, good work team. We should be careful of more of them showing up. Seems we have stumbled into some place that is doping up Shobhads and making them loose sense. We should move quickly. Chorizal, if you don't mind, cover the hallway to the stairs, and make sure nothing attacks us from there. J'Shun, could you get the other hallway to the south? Rastar, give them artillery support, if you don't mind. Bodo, can you check the shobhad that went done first for any clues or information. I'll handle this one in black. Once we're done checking them for any clues, we need to move. I'd suggest we head to the south and make sure there's no enemies behind us before we press for the stairs, but I'm open to suggestions on other courses of action."

She then pulls out her recorder and with a mischievous grin plays a sound clip of J'Shun shouting, "And This I order!"

She then moves to the downed shobhad and looks him over for anyhting that might be relevant. Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15 Add another 4 if she can use her Broad-Spectrum Scanning kit

J'Shun, takes 10 minutes and spends 1 resolve point to regain stamina.

J'Shun, considers reminding Vyviane that the command words are "This I command!", but he thinks better of it.

He then heads down the southern corridor, his light projector illuminating the area around him and his longsword, taclash, and pistol at the ready.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Vyv examines the bodyguards and their armor. Even if the PCs used nonlethal damage, both
shobhads are dead; in this case, a PC who examines them and
succeeds at a

Vyv finds one of the shobhad’s comm units contains a stored message of an audio recording.

“Suur, stop whining and haul those crates. Our benefactor just graciously approved more shipments, so we need to make room for more product... No, we can’t send them back on the same ship, that’s just bad business. Besides, from what I’ve heard, those squid-brains Nraall hired are still looking for the goods. Fire up the van and let’s get those crates to the pickup point. This new production schedule is going to make us rich enough to buy half of Akiton when we get home... Hey, what’s that light on your comm unit—are you recording this?... I don’t care if it’s an accident! Turn it off and get moving!”

***

J'Shun can see there are a couple of very large industrial doors that need opening...

Chorizal moves up to the hallway, taking up a spot near the middle and blocking as much of it as possible (which is a lot) with his pole arm.

"Sounds like someone is creating some sort of blackmarket item. Maybe the pharmaceuticals that our large friends here were using. That could earn them big creds in certain markets," he comments after the audio is played and while waiting for the group to move on.

"See? That's how you take command!" Rastar said to J'shun as he moved to cover the southern passage as he rested and recovered his stamina.

J'Shun, doesn't seem to hear Rastar's comment and checks the industrial doors to his west for traps before opening it.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Vyviane however does hear the comment and gives a small smile and a shout of "Thank-you Rastar!" She then checks her comms device to see if Kelvad has gotten back to her about the pictures she sent him.

Medicine, Hireling, Professional?: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18 I can'T remember if he's still an amateur or if I upgraded him to professional, but wither way that's a high enough check to get the info.

She gets back to the group, jogging as she does. "Chorizal, we're going down this hallway. Fall back and stay on rear gaurd. Unless you want to handle the front lines. As for the shobhads, it seems that it was less the damage we were doing to them than the stresses that there bodies were udner tha killed them. Or at least that's what Kelvad is telling me the results of their blood samples were."

"Well, that's just rude," Chorizal says, as he falls in with the rest of the squad.

"I mean, I didn't hit them as hard as that squid man but I wasn't exactly giving them gentle neck massages. Surely the damage we did to them had some effect."

Vyviane comes up behind J'Shun and his open door, gun in hand. "I'm willing to bet that you hitting them helped speed that along though. I mean my cortical... critical... criminal.. uh, my stress hormone levels go up when I'm being beaten about. Knowing you Chorizal they'd have died in 15 seconds more of fighting you, but the stress just got to them earlier, I think."

J'Shun hears a noise...an odd crackle? Is that smoke? Deciding it is safe to do so, the part opens the door.

Benches line this workshop’s eastern and southern walls, with racks of spare parts located to the north. The room seems to have a lot components that appear to have been scavenged from around the abandoned industrial complex.

A small fire still burns in a metal crate, but the contents are charred beyond recognition. There are papers scattered across the floor—mostly useless scraps including takeout receipts, mundane internal memos, and a drawing of a stick figure shobhad in a lab coat with a devil’s tail, horns, and a swear balloon.

Checking the racks to the north you find 2 high-capacity batteries, a cartridge with 20 darts, and an engineering specialty toolkit.

Perception checks!

perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Rastar scanned the room, noting the fire and seeing that it posed little threat, other than to whatever it was destroying. "Anyone see a fire extinguisher?"

Bodo did reload his gun during that time, now perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

"Either someone is planning on roasting garara grubs or someone is trying to get rid of evidence," Chorizal says when he comes into the chamber and sees the fire.

He looks around for a fire extinguisher.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 12