[SFS/Shifty] Veskarium (B) (Inactive)

Game Master Nik B.

Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Seeing how the gray wolf is being taken care of by his companions, Murgatroyd switches to the black wolf!

He aligns his knight's shield against the black wolf, increasing his AC by +2 against attacks made by this creature!

He also punches it!

Hammer Fist vs. black wolf's KAC: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Bludgeoning damage: 1d4 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
Critical bludgeoning damage: 1d4 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14

It's highly effective!

Murg finds that not only are the spines in his flesh painful, they are also highly irritating Off target on next attack

Murg punches the next wolf squarely in the jaw.

Murg - DC 13 Reflex saving throw or take 1d4 ⇒ 3 piercing damage and off-target for one round

R2
Benny
Murg - acted
Gulk
Kyra
ENEMY

B 30
G 40

Reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Several spines find purchase in Gulkyn's arm, while he continues to photon attune. He steps up and strikes at the grey wolf again.

Solar Weapon vs KAC: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17 off-target -2?
Damage (B + 1E): 1d6 + 9 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 1 + 1 = 12

Kyra steps up to behind Gulkyn.

She also wonders if these wolves are native to Vesk-6. They certainly look vicious enough.
life science: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24 ((Xenoseeker = -5 DC to identify rare creatures))

She then loads her Nightarch Needler pistol with enough anaesthesia to take down a horse.

"Yell at 'em, with your guns if you can," Benacu says, now free to enter the room. Without a sonic weapon of his own, he fires his trusty laser.

Azimuth Laser vs. Black EAC: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Fire: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Kyra doesn't recall anything Benny hadn't already identified, and Kyra also agree the wolves are from an unknown world in the Vast

Gulkyn and Benny successfully land shots on the wolves.
DC 13 Reflex saving throw or take 1d4 ⇒ 4 piercing damage and off-target for one round

They keep trying to bite Murg!

Attack 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25 vs KAC
Damage 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Attack 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18 vs KAC
Damage 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

R3
Benny
Murg
Gulk
Kyra
ENEMY

B 34
G 52

Some entity planted these wolves here Kyra exclaims as she fires at the grey wolf

tnn: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 piercing: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

She then says a very rude word that she remembers Merisial using.

Reflex save DC 13: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

"And by the light of Iomedae they will be removed!"

Murgatroyd aligns his knight's shield against the black wolf again, increasing his AC by +2 against attacks made by the creature!

He also punches it another time!

Hammer Fist vs. black wolf's KAC: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 10 - 2 = 15
Bludgeoning damage: 1d4 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

Iomedae giveth, Iomedae taketh away

Reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

This time Gulkyn avoids the spikes.

Now fully photon attuned, he strikes grey again.

Solar Weapon vs KAC: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Damage (B + 1E): 1d6 + 9 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 1 + 1 = 12

Kyra fires wide, managing to damage the food trolley.

Murg hits the wolf.
DC 13 Reflex saving throw or take 1d4 ⇒ 4 piercing damage and off-target for one round

Gulkyn also hits, slaying the beast.
DC 13 Reflex saving throw or take 1d4 ⇒ 4 piercing damage and off-target for one round

R3
Benny
Murg - acted
Gulk - acted
Kyra - acted
ENEMY

B 51
G Dead

Oof, on ranged attacks as well?

Reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Benny dodges the resulting shards and fires again.

Azimuth Laser vs. Black EAC: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Fire: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Sorry, just on Gulk for the landed melee hit

Benny lands another shot.

***

The wolf keeps trying to bite Murg, hungry, angry, and confused!

Attack 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26 vs KAC
Damage 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

R4
Benny
Murg
Gulk
Kyra
ENEMY

B 57
G Dead

If the food trolley was a mimic, it would have slumped and gone to sleep

Kyra loads another dart and fires

tnn: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17 piercing: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Reflex save DC 13: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Murgatroyd keeps aligning his shield and punching the wolf:

Hammer Fist vs. black wolf's KAC: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 10 - 2 = 17
Bludgeoning damage: 1d4 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

Reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Okay, enough of these things.

Gulkyn releases his Supernova behind the remaining wolf, where it won't hurt anyone else.

Supernova (Distant Burst): 6d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 4, 6, 2, 6) = 25 Reflex DC 15 for half

The wolf is rapidly overcome by the onslaught, the damage to the shop from the blast mostly superficial thanks to the area being largely industrial.

There are a pair of cages tucked away in the back of the hall.

***

In the theatre, people are coming and going normally, nothing looks out of the ordinary.

Murgatroyd could use a stamina break, but he'd rather take it when the party returns to the main event.

He approaches the cages, looking for clues about who released the monsters:

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 16

Back at the gala, Speaker for the Dead mingles with the guests, pleasantly surprised nothing really bad has happened yet. From what he's picked up from other Starfinders, past formal functions they're asked to attend usually end in disaster!

Kyra also inspects the cage looking for genetic samples of who may have handled them.

perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

She then reports back that the threat has been neutralised.

Benny takes a peep at the cages too.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

Back at the party proper, the kalo hopes to mingle, maybe talk about his most recent deed and how they saved the gala. But that would probably be better kept on the down-low.

While investigating the cages you locate tags indicating that the animals were purchased from a seller on Vesk-6.

You hanging around for the 10 minute break now or heading back?

Kyra spends some time gently pulling spines out of her companions and treating the resulting wounds before heading back.

"We should get back to the party in case these were a distraction of some sort."

"Plus I spotted an odd keycard in the backroom, but couldn't get a better look. Perhaps one of you will have better luck."

Murgatroyd will try to rest back in the event.

You get back to the event, all is still continuing without incident. Whilst you take a 10 minute rest (and some snacks from the buffet) you also retrieve the keycard as no one seems to own it.

Benny works out that it is actually a very well-made forgery of a master key, and whilst it might be a forgery, it does appear to work.

Reporting back to Jex?

Yes, we'd best let Jex know about this forgery.

"Did we perhaps defeat the beasts too fast, or is our thinking too paranoid? Iomedae bless us, it seems like the party will have no further problems!"

Someone sense motive Jex as well

Speaker for the Dead is pleased to greet the returning Starfinders. "This one is very pleased to hear those these ones dealt with the threat so quickly and with so little harm to themselves! This one can report that no threats emerged during their absence."

OK if replrting back, what are you reporting, and trying in person for a sense motive?

Murgatroyd heads back to the security office (hopefully with a high Sense Motive PC in tow!).

"Jex, we are here to report that the wolf threat has been taken care of. We also found the cages they were transported in - perhaps you could check the security footage to see if they just escaped or were let out?" Murgatroyd informs the vesk.

"We also found a forgery of a master key in the backroom - I regret to inform you that it's very likely one of the employees here has been seduced by the world of crime and filthy lucre. A thorough investigation needs to be conducted, to root out this evil. May Iomedae cleanse his soul, after some years of jail and hard labor."

Gulkyn joins Murgatroyd and pays attention to how Jex responds to our information.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Kyra listens in the background.

sm: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

"This is highly concerning" the cat-like brow creases with concern "It suggests a well planned activity, forgeries imply they knew enough about our systems to come up with forgeries, and time and resources to produce them. There's no useful security footage back there, security cameras are used in guest areas and areas where there is likely to be opportunistic crime - like the casino - not in a staff only back of house area. I'll send the teams to do a sweep in the area - why would someone just leave a bunch of wolves in a hallway?"

No sign of any duplicity evident in Jex.

"Did you run out of cameras or something? In an important ship like this, they should be everywhere!" Murgatroyd looks puzzled at the 'security' officer. "There is an evil ploy happening - we shall keep watch over the celebration and ensure the safety of the guests."

Ready to move back to party, unless someone wants to grill/talk with Jex some more.

Can the rest of the group try to investigate the areas where Murgatroyd failed, or has that ship sailed already?

Kyra goes back to talk to the Vesk-2 enthusiast some more.

"On a ship like this they are where they need to be, this isn't a warship, it is a pleasure craft. I appreciate Starfinders have a need for large security details and cameras everywhere - but the Grand Mezzanine is not usually flying into the face of the Jinsul or some other intergalactic threat"

Kyra returns to find the VIPs have long departed for the shows, the only people still mingling are the staff cleaning the area at great speed before the guests return between meals.

You can still wander around, buit most of the people have moved off

"Perhaps these ones and this one should take in a show as well to be near the VIPs in case of emergency?"

I suppose we could. Kyra replies. Erm ... anyone know what sort of shows? As long as it isn't Skittermander music groups or that Abysshead noise they call music - it hurts my ears just thinking about it - I am okay with most genres - although the jury is still out on Strawberry Machine Cake and such ilk.

You begin watching the current show, a rather over the top and verbose piece on the triumphant vesk heroes of some battle you don't really know or care about...

Your comms pick up the chatter on the security net as the guards do their sweep "Hey can you tell those Starfinders to refrain from using poison gas in the ship? We found they left their gas canisters stashed in vicinity of the cages, that could be really hazardous to the housekeeping staff - the things are even marked hazchem. There's some other junk here too, looks like some sort of glue tube? Is it harmless?"

Excuse me a moment Kyra says to the others.

She moves discretely away then presses 'Push to Talk' on her comms. This is Kyra of the Starfinders. We did not bring any poison gas cylinders on board. Could you please tell me where they are located?

"Where you left all this mess back in the ship. We were cleaning up the dead wolves, getting housekeeping to clean up what looked like your group detonating something in the hall, and pulling out the cages - we found these cylinders, and some sort of other glue or cement? We're you sticking something together around here?"

Not that I am aware of. I may have left a tranquilizer dart behind, but I am sure we cleaned up. I cannot explain the glue or the cylinders. I will be right there.

We splitting the party or all moving to the location?

Murgatroyd will go help investigate this new flag!

The group heads back to where the combat took place, and there is a two-man security detail standing around near the cages, and one of them is holding a tube of some sort of compound, looks like adhesive...

A few cleaners are busily trying to get the destroyed trolley, dead wolves, and blackening from a blast off the metal surfaces.

"This is what we found"

Kyra easily identifies it as an adhesive exclusively used to rig explosives.

Everyone can make a piloting or engineering check

Piloting: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

"How devious! This could be prevented if the security in this ship wasn't so lax. Truly disappointing."

"This one knows little of explosives, but could speculate: was a small amount remotely detonated to blast the cage door free and unleash the beasts? If so, the culprit could be anywhere aboard the vessel!"

Gulkyn leans in to get a better look.

Piloting: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

It dawns on Gulkyn that you are standing near the core room of the ship, and that would likely be a great place to plant an explosive if you wanted to cripple a ship.

See map

engineering: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24