GM Jhaeman's "Dawn of Flame: Soldiers of Brass" (Inactive)

Game Master Jhaeman

Though Hani continues to try to get the creatures attention, he fights defensively. His head and limbs partially retract into his shell.

In fact, he uses the full defense action, so +6 to AC with his retract racial ability. AC is 19/21 right now.

Jin moves around the monster to avoid the cover penalty and attacks.

Enforcement-class capture pole: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 8 - 2 = 21
Piercing damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Zharis' bleeding stops, and Hani looms protectively over her. Jin starts to bring the pain, pinning the dangerous beast between the sharp prongs of his capture pole! Instead of chirping, the creature emits a pained screech!

Zharis is now stable. Jin's attack hit and did full damage. We've got Cabizo and Xylian left this round.

Xylian moves in to the structure to attempt to get a better shot at the bipedal creature. Was Zharis down? Impossible to tell past Hani's large shell.

Ice Carbine: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 5 - 2 = 14
P + C Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Move 25', Attack.
I'm pretty sure the card reader was secretly making attack rolls against Xylian, so that should count as an encounter.

Wary about hitting Hani, Xylian waits a second too long to pull the trigger, giving the Gashmaw time to dodge.

Soft cover makes the attack miss--if you can get just a bit further to the right, you should be good to go.

Cabizo, it's time for some skitter-magic.

Seeing his friends in danger, Cabizo tries to distract the enraged beast through magic.

Botting Cabizo. Cabizo, I'm taking the liberty of using a mind thrust I since this thing could be dangerous if not stopped.

Will save (DC 16): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
damage: 2d10 ⇒ (6, 3) = 9

The gashmaw instinctively lunges for the most dangerous target, and bites down on Jin's shoulder!

Jin, since you hurt it, it's coming after you with a guarded step and then a bite.

The attack hits, and Jin takes 9 P.

Initiative (Round 3)

Gashmaw
Jin
Cabizo
Zharis
Xylian
Hani

Bold should go!

Zharis uses another resolve point to stay in the fight.

Coming back to consciousness, Zharis looks up groggily and sees, right in front of her face, the Static Arc pistol that she had dropped earlier, and beyond that, the giant, scary creature that had knocked her down.

She reaches out for the pistol and shoots it at the thing.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

then she rests a little more, trying to work up the strength to stand.

With the turtlelike shell of Hani out of the way, Xylian finally has a clear shot of the clever girl.

Ice Carbine: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 6 - 2 = 21
P + C Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 3 + (1) = 7

Move action to use Combat Tracking, Standard action to Overcharge and shoot.

Jin full attacks the creature!

Enforcement-class capture pole: 1d20 + 8 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 8 - 2 - 4 = 22
Piercing damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Critical Piercing damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Enforcement-class capture pole: 1d20 + 8 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 8 - 2 - 4 = 19
Piercing damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

This might be a personal record

Sounds good, GM - thanks for the bot!

Cabizo aims again at the creature with the pistol. "Zharis, try pretending you're dead so it doesn't attack you again!" he suggests.

Skipshot Pistol: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Piercing damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Zharis' desperate shot wounds the gashmaw further, and Xylian adds a glancing hit. But it takes Jin to put the creature down permanently, crushing its head between the twin-mandibles of his capture pole!

We are off Initiative. Cabizo, please don't forget to adjust your tagline for the spell, but you don't need to expend ammo for your last attack because the creature died before your turn.

Jin looks shocked at the gory mess. "I barely even touched the creature..."

He swings his capture pole around, to clean it a bit, cursing himself for not buying a gear maintenance kit.

Zharis, contrary to her nature, doesn't search around for things to take (yet), but instead just rests there on the floor for 10 minutes, the cool floor soothing her forehead.

(10 minute rest if I can get it... didn't take the resolve point yet, because I realize that something else might interrupt us)

If nothing else bad happens during that time, she then gets to her feet and says

Well, guess we should go find Mama Throsh then.

Jin keeps watch at the only visible door during the 10 minutes break, expecting Mama Throsh to come check what happened to her animal - or some more bloodshoots to do so.

After the brutal fight against the Akitonian gashmaw, everything is quiet for a few minutes. Then, the door at the top of the ladder opens slowly and quietly. Part of a leathery snout and a big eyeball appears in the crack and notices Jin watching intently before the door slams shut!

We'll say this happens about three minutes into the ten minute rest; you can continue with the rest period, or choose to do something else.

"They don't seem willing to engage - if we delay, they might escape or summon reinforcements."

Does Zharis have serums of healing? It might be time to chug them down and press on

No, she doesn't.

Following the fight, Hani immediately breaks out his medkit and attempts to treat Zharis. "I earned a first aid merit badge in scouts. Maybe I can help."

This is a tough DC 25 roll, but it's worth trying. I'm guessing I still have to apply my penalty to this.

medicine, treat deadly wounds: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 9 - 2 = 17

No real effect. Maybe the bandages and salves at least feel good...

When the door opens, Hani becomes alarmed and looks to the others for leadership and direction.

Sense Motive vs Personal Mission: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

“Zharis, I can feel that you’re tired.” Cabizo sits on the ground next to the pahtra and clasps a pair of hands together in his lap. “I can help now, but would you like to talk about why you felt the need to jump straight into violence with the gashmaw? You’re a great speaker, and I don’t know how many more injuries your body can endure and I don’t want you to push yourself harder than you can handle. You’re our leader, but you don’t have to do everything yourself.” He pats his companion’s knee reassuringly, glowing softly as his hand makes contact.

Mystic Cure: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 + 10 (from Cabizo) = 21

“Let me know if you want to schedule a chat after this,” Cabizo says, slowly pulling himself to his feet. His tan fur is duller now, and his eyes don’t have quite as much sparkle behind them.

Cabizo, we can talk about it later if you want, but the short answer is that it was going to kill us, so I tried to stop it. That's it.

She smiles, feeling much better.

Did Cabizo just give me his own hit points or something?

... Thank you very much for the healing. Are *you* okay?

Zharis gets up, puts her weapons away, and goes to the side of the door (not in front of it... she isn't presenting a target if they open it) and yells

Mama Throsh! We just came to talk. We are trying to recover the data you stole from us. We talked to Big Tola already. She said it wasn't even anyone from your gang. We don't want to hurt you, and we don't have to fight. Just tell us where the data is, and we can wrap this up right now.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (16) + 9 + (2) = 27

She idly looks around for anything worth taking while she waits for a reply.

Zharis' shouts go unanswered, but she notices some valuable spare parts on a table near the front door.

Just to remind everyone (because it's not clear from the map), there's a ten-foot ladder ascending to a small balcony and the door that was cracked open and quickly shut.

Zharis motions to the spare parts by the front door.

Cabizo, do me a favor and add that stuff to our stash. We need it.

Then, to Jin,

Well, we tried to do what Big Tola asked and not hurt Mama. Want to go up and introduce yourself?

She hands him Big Tola's keycard in case there is a reader on the door.

If he gets the door open, she'll go up and join him.

"My pleasure."

Jin climbs up the ladder and checks the door for more traps.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

If he doesn't find any, he'll use the keycard if there's a reader, or just open the door.

He'll step inside, calling his capture-pole to his hands, unless there's someone blocking the passage.

Jin bravely ascends the ladder and, finding no traps on the door, pushes it open and steps inside the room. Bunks line the northern walls here, near a round table with a few chairs. Two computer workstations sit in the southeast corner, and a pair of doors are on the west wall, just south of a small kitchenette.

Crouched behind the table, sighting along the barrel of a humming thunderstrike sonic blaster, is a heavyset female ikeshti. "You wanted Big Mama? You got her!" Her finger moves toward the trigger.

Initiative (Round 1)

Mama Throsh
Cabizo
Jin
Zharis
Xylian
Hani

Bold should go!

Blood squirts from Mama Throsh's eyes, arcs across the room, and gets into Jin's face, momentarily blinding him. She then follows up with a powerful blast from her pistol.

Move action to Squirt Blood, standard action to overcharge and attack.

The table counts as partial cover.

Jin, you take 8 So.

Initiative (Round 1)

Mama Throsh
Cabizo
Jin
Zharis
Xylian
Hani

Bold should go!

For everyone except Jin, you'll need to climb the ladder (two squares of movement) to reach the doorway.

Zharis climbs up after Jin, drawing her Static Arc Pistol (still set on stun) as she moves into the room, and fires.

Static Arc Pistol (Ranged, Small Arms)

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Electricity Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Unfortunately however, she completely misses.

Mama Throsh, please. We just want the data from DCI. We promised Big Tola we wouldn't hurt you. Help us keep that promise. Just stop shooting at us.

Likely pointless, Zharis knew, but she wished she would listen.

Hani hustles off toward the ladder.

Double move will get him just to the ladder.

Xylian wonders if living on the sun can be so bad that everyone who does is suicidal. He follows after Hani as the sounds of combat break out above.

Also double move.

“Commendable, but pointless. Feel free to give up at any moment.” Jin activates his Frenzied Fighting as a swift action. “I recommend the quicker the better” he growls.

Frenzied Fighting rounds: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

He moves and strikes Mama Throsh!

Enforcement-class capture pole vs. KAC: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Piercing damage: 1d8 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 2 = 17

Cabizo trots after everyone else, stuffing stuff into one pocket and pulling another random pistol out of another.

“I think you know more about negotiating and diplomacy than I do,” he calls as he trots, “but imagine that someone you just met shot at you and then told you they just wanted to talk. That would be difficult for me to believe at least.”

Double move. And backseat diplomacy advice. XD

Mama Throsh screams as Jin puts the squeeze on her with his capture pole! She wriggles free to the far side of the table and shoots at him again; the resulting sonic blast strikes him right in the chest.

Jin's attack hit and did full damage. She does a guarded step and then Overcharge (she's using up ammo in a hurry, but desperate times . . . )

Jin, you take 9 So.

Initiative (Round 2)

Mama Throsh
Cabizo
Jin
Zharis
Xylian
Hani

Bold should go!

Jin moves right next to her and smacks her again!

Enforcement-class capture pole vs. KAC: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Piercing damage: 1d8 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 2 = 15

If you want her captured, say the word and Jin will switch to grappling next round - I doubt she can survive another attack

Zharis rolls her eyes at Cabizo's advice, even though he can't see her. She yells back

I tried to talk to her BEFORE this, Cabizo. I'm only shooting her with my pistol on stun, and I have to defend myself!

Then she wonders why she feels the need to justify herself. It was really weird having your therapist along when you were in a battle.

More calmly she says

Try not to kill her if you can help it, Jin. We need information from her... and we promised Big Tola we'd try.

If she says anything like she is wanting to give up, Zharis doesn't shoot, and will instead talk. But playing it like she is still up and intent on causing us more harm.

Zharis shoots her again

Attack (Stun): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Electricity Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

She mumbles under her breath (just to herself)

Shut up Cabizo, you are making me miss. Stupid emotions.

"It was really weird having your therapist along when you were in a battle." Okay, that was pretty funny.

Hani clambers up the ladder and steps toward the thieving culprit, pulling out his arc pistol as he does.

Setting it for stun, he fires.

to hit: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 - 2 = 6
non-lethal damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Xylian climbs the ladder after Hani, stopping partially up the ladder with his head and torso protruding above the trapdoor in the floor. He aims near the scaly legs on the other side of the table and sends a blast of ice at whoever the feet are attached to to distract them, but the ice only shatters against the desk.

Covering Fire (Jin): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Covering Fire
You can use your standard action to make a ranged attack that provides covering fire for an ally. Make a ranged attack roll against AC 15. If you hit, you deal no damage but the selected ally gains a +2 circumstance bonus to AC against the next attack from a creature in your line of effect, so long as that attack occurs before your next turn.

"If you want me to be quiet, all you have to do is ask." Cabizo's cheerful face doesn't flinch at Zharis's whispered words as the skittermander pops up from the trapdoor. "Though if you're feeling conflicted about the actions you're taking, that might be an indicator that you're not certain they're the right ones. If you want help processing your thoughts, I brought my travel paints. Oh, and talking is not required to use them! Hold on, they're somewhere in here..."

Double move up the ladder and into the office.

Okay, then... PLEASE shut up, Cabizo. We can talk about this when we're alone. You know how I hate talking about my problems in public.

Desperate to get the focus off herself, she adds

Maybe you should offer Mama Throsh some advice? It sure looks like she could use it. Doesn't she seem stressed out?

Mama Throsh takes another deep wound from Jin's capture pole, but manages to dodge Zharis' and Hani's attempts to stun her. With no room to run, she drops her pistol and, in one fluid motion, draws a sword and slashes Jin! "Don't be comin' round messin' with Mama Throsh or her babies!"

Jin, you take 5 S

Initiative (Round 3)

Mama Throsh
Cabizo
Jin
Zharis
Xylian
Hani

Bold should go!

Zharis shoots again at Mama Throsh

Attack (Stun): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Electricity Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Additional Crit Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Also Critical: Arc 2 ... I think that means that Jin takes two damage (sorry Jin), but I hope that it is also just stun damage, since that is how the gun was set... but really don't know.

Hani moves toward Mama Throsh. "I've had just about enough of this! We just need our data back! Drop your weapon, and I promise you won't get hurt!"

Hani brandishes his battleglove, but does not strike Mama Throsh.

Instead, Hani will use another move action to optimize defenses, giving him +1 Ac against her.

Coruscating electric shocks leave Mama Throsh spasming for several seconds, and she drops her sword. "You beat Big Mama. Hope you're proud of yourselves--good scrap! So, Jalusann paid us good to do the job. Place her transponder. Transfer data. No idea what the data was, though. Old girl plays it close, ya?”."

We are off Initiative. Jin does take 2 E, but it won't matter whether it was nonlethal or not unless that would actually take him to zero.

“Oh, that’s an excellent idea Zharis!” Cabizo pivots and heads towards Mama Throsh, a pod of silver paint held in one hand. “I’m very sorry for how we burst into your home and immediately started shooting your dinosaur friend. I would imagine you’d feel anxious and angry about it - I know I would be feeling similar emotions if that happened to me.”

Sense Motive to Empathize: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

“But don’t worry - when we’re done helping the DCI get their data back I’m certain Zharis would be happy to help you find a replacement dinosaur. She’s very good at helping people, you know. But unfortunately she’s busy right now - though if you can help us find this Jalusann then she’s be able to help you sooner!”

Diplomacy to Aid: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9