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

Game Master Jhaeman

Pleased that he was able to disable the robotic arm (yes, it might have been Xylian, but Hani doesn't know that!), Hani turns his attention the Ikeshti. Making a fist with his heavy battleglove, he steps forward and gives a good left hook!

to hit: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

The robo-arms dealt with, Xylian picks up his carbine and also fires at the enemy.

Ice Carbine: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
P + C Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Cabizo's first laser shot grazes the ikeshti's arm, while the second disrupts the burglar's last holographic clone! Jin seizes the opportunity and lands a blow with his capture pole, though the ikeshti somehow disrupts some of the weapon's circuitry.

Zharis, Hani, and Xylian all pile on, but none manage to land a solid hit.

Cabizo's first attack hit, while the second was a miss by 5 or less and thus destroyed an image. Jin's second attack hit, but as a reaction the ikeshti used an ability called Countertech to reduce the damage by half. The other three PCs' attacks missed.

"Five against one? Fighting a Bloodshot, that means you're outnumbered!" The ikeshti laughs and extends a glowing hand toward Jin again!

Another jolting surge attempt. Jin, you take 8 E.

Initiative (Round 4)

Zharis
Xylian
Jin
Hani
Cabizo
Ikeshti

Bold should go!

Hani, though out of breath and perhaps in over his head, presses the attack. He does a quarter-turn toward the ikeshti, optimizing his armor against him. Then he strikes with his battleglove again.

to hit: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Move action to optimize armor (giving Hani +1 AC against any attack from the ikeshti.

”I can see that you’re saying something, Zharis, but I can’t hear you!” Cabizo hollers back, trying to exaggerate his mouth movement so it’s easier for her to read his lips.

Laser Pistol, Full Attack: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 3 - 4 = 3
Fire damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Laser Pistol, Full Attack: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 3 - 4 = 17
Fire damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Jin gets thoroughly electrocuted and collapses.

He uses a resolve point to stabilize.

Lucky rolls on that damage - that could've killed Jin

The ikeshti ducks under Hani's punch, but gets caught by another of Cabizo's laser blasts.

Hani missed, one of two Cabizo's shots hit. Don't get discouraged guys--you've done something like four encounters back-to-back!

Zharis and Xylian are up.

Xylian's exocortex switches from robot-hacking mode to combat mode and he squeezes off a shot of razor sharp ice.

All hail Cabizo, mighty gunslinger!
Move action to use Combat Tracking on the baddie, Standard action to overcharge, shoot the baddie.
Ice Carbine: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
P + C Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + (1) = 5

Zharis shoots again at the Ikeshti, saying

Oh, yeah, that must be why all the other Bloodshots are dead already.

Then she recalls a line from one of her former roles, which seems to fit:

I sure hope there are more of you out there so that I can get an even ten kills.

(Even though the numbers weren't quite right, it seemed to be a good line for this situation.)

Attack (Tactical Semi-Auto): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Piercing Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Seeing Cabizo mouthing something at her and acting like he is confused, she mouths back DO NOT CRY WHILE YOU ARE SHOOTING, not bothering to actually make the sounds.

A chunk of ice slams into the ikeshti's back as Xylian shot hits home, but Zharis only manages to damage some of the lab equipment.

"I think I'm done here," the ikeshti says with a sneer. "So you can get stomped down like your bulky friend here, or step aside and call yourselves lucky." Once again, a glowing hand reaches out--this time, for Hani! Then, the ikeshti moves next to the strange, smoking device on the counter.

Good hit, Xylian. Zharis' attack missed.

The ikeshti is again using jolting surge and then taking a guarded step. (Don't worry, I am keeping track of spells left and this foe is going through them quickly).

Hani, the attack hits and you take 17 E.

Initiative (Round 5)

Zharis
Xylian
Jin
Hani
Cabizo
Ikeshti

Bold should go!

Xylian sends another accurate blast of ice at the ikeshti. As he does, the battery in the carbine chirps and the blue light on the battery switches to red, indicating it had been completely drained.

Ice Carbine: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
C + P Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + (1) = 6
Move action to move wherever Xylian can make a shot without having to shoot through Hani. Standard Action to Overcharge and Shoot.
THAT IS THREE NAT 1'S ON AN ATTACK ROLL IN THIS ONE ENCOUNTER. PAIZO PLZ. USING 1/DAY SCRAPPY TO REROLL ATTACK ROLL.
Ice Carbine Reroll: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

I'll go last, just in case someone drops him and I don't need to risk certain death

Once again, Hani tucks most of his head and arms into his shell.

Going full defense with the Telia special ability that gives him +6 AC. Currently EAC 19 KAC 21 for the round.

"There's no need to keep fighting! If you do, it's certain death for you, and I don't want to see that happen!"

Cabizo starts running back around the room as he sees Jin fall out of sight.

Double move

Xylian gets a lucky shot as his icy projectile careens off the wall and into the side of the ikeshti's face! Meanwhile, Hani takes a defensive stance while Cabizo runs back toward the lab.

Xylian, as requested I've moved your token to a spot where you will get a clear shot. The reroll hit.

Zharis is up, and then the ikeshti since Jin delayed.

Zharis shoots again, hoping that the creature can't escape somehow with whatever machine that is.

Attack (Tactical Semi-Auto): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

but she unfortunately misses again, and frustrated, she holsters her gun, planning on using a melee weapon next for more certainty.

The ikeshti chuckles as he picks up the strange device and strolls toward the door. "Did you lot really take down the rest of the crew? You got potential, I'll give you that. Still, you should know when to call it quits."

The ikeshti does a move action to pick up the device and then a move action toward the door. As Hani is doing total defense and Xylian only has a ranged weapon, the movement won't provoke an AoO.

Initiative (Round 5)

Zharis
Xylian
Hani
Cabizo
Ikeshti
Jin

Bold should go!

Jin uses a Resolve Point to stay in the fight.

He takes out his singing disk and tosses it against the ikeshti.

Sopranino singing disk vs. Ikeshti’s EAC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Sonic damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

“Where are you going… coward… get back here… and finish the fight…” he lets out a very weak threat.

The shrieking disc smashes into the ikeshti's arm with an audible "crack"!

Initiative (Round 6)

Zharis
Xylian
Hani
Cabizo
Ikeshti
Jin

Bold should go!

Hani steps to the side, pulls his pistol, and fires.

to hit: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Cabizo turns the corner to see Jin back on his feet, and the skittermander has to blink a few times to make sure he’s actually seeing what his eyes are telling him is happening. Then he looks up at the large scaly creature next to him.

Gulp.

Bravely, Cabizo steps into the doorway and draws his knife. “I... um... no.” he stutters, not having heard Zharis’s speech moments earlier for inspiration. Raising the blade above his head, he jabs at the invader’s foot.

Survival Knife: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Slashing damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Move (drawing weapon as part of movement) and Strike.

We did indeed take down the rest of the crew. Zharis says

And you would do well to take your own advice, and know when to back down.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Zharis moves up to the Ikeshti, drawing her tactical dueling sword as she moves, and slices at the creature to prevent him from fleeing.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Slashing Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

She also says Well done, Cabizo! to try to bolster his spirits, because he looks a little weepy still.

The slug from Hani's skipshot pistol teleports right into the ikeshti's back, leading to a groan. Cabizo adds a painful stab to the foot and Zharis a cut to the abdomen. Despite a brave face, the burglar is clearly bruised and bleeding in multiple places. Seeing his only exit blocked, he sighs.

"Okay, okay, you got me. I ain't fightin' no more. But I ain't talkin' neither!"

All three of those attacks hit!

We are off Initiative.

Zharis manacles the Ikeshti and searches him, removing any weapons and anything else that looks valuable. Then she leaves him for Jin.

She takes the machine he was holding and hands it to Xylian to look at, and then goes back to search the other ikeshtis as well if nothing else happens to prevent that.

(She doesn't take anything that belongs to the museum, but loots anything that belonged to the bad guys.)

”Oh, could I see that?” Cabizo holds his hands out and gazes into the smoky orb. ”I think it’s a transponder... or some sort of communication device that bypasses most security measures. I wonder if we can trace where it was sending data...” He looks over at the bound man. ”What kind of information did you need to send? These people here at the museum are very nice - I sure they would have helped you if you’d asked.”

Zharis gives it to Cabizo instead, of course.

"Wise, wise decision." Jin catches his returning disk, gets up from the floor.

"Let's get you away from this place, since you seemed so interested in it." he locks his capture pole around the ikeshti and starts pushing him towards the renovation area (A7).

"Security will be here any minute." he'll force the ikeshti to stay on his knees, or even prone, if he doesn't fight back. He'll use the reach on his weapon to stay 10 ft. away from the enemy, just in case he decides to burn another jolting surge and escape.

Zharis searches the fallen and captive ikeshtis, turning up a nice selection of weapons and other gear.

Cabizo takes the strange device he's recognised as an astral transponder and talks to the ikeshti as Jin leads the bound foe over to the renovation area. The ikeshti chuckles in response to Cabizo's question. "Hey, you got me, but you ain't got what I know. Unless we make a deal, that is. I tell you what I know, you let me go." He looks over at Jin. "A few minutes before security shows up? Better hurry then before I clench these teeth tighter than a droid's sphincter!"

It will take an Intimidate or a Diplomacy check to get this ikeshti to talk (the DC is lower for the former, but may have different effects). Remember that failing either of these can have consequences as detailed in the skill description.

Xylian begins to reload his Ice carbine, but before he has even ejected to battery, Cabizo and Zharis cut the intruder down with their blades. It occurs to Xylian that the blades would be a far more unpleasant way to go than with the firearms.

When Zharis uncovers two key cards, Xylian takes them and attempts to see if they are generic keys or if they are assigned to a specific individual.

Hani finds the two key cards to be interesting. "I'm sure the institute will be interested in knowing someone got a hold of one of these. They may need to take a look at their security procedures." Hani pauses and takes a look at the captured loot. "I could use another option for a pistol. I suspect I can avoid killing someone with one of those pulsecaster pistols. I wouldn't mind one of those. I could also take a medpatch for safe keeping."

"I have no hobbe hound in this race - if you want to negotiate, I do not mind letting him go. If you want to question him further, I can hide him in the dormitories." he addresses Zharis.

I just want cold hard cash - gotta buy a personal augment

Zharis manacles everyone who is still breathing, tries to put the minerals/materials back in the exhibits that they were taken from, takes the spell gem and tucks it in her pouch, and then brings everything else back to Cabizo.

Here Cabizo, you can carry all this stuff. You have enough arms.

Jin, since Starfinder stuff can only be sold for 10% of its worth, it's going to take a while to earn much "cold, hard cash" ... might as well take some extra weapons, batteries, or better armor if you want any. Anything that can be used should be used rather than selling it for very little. ... But if you mean trying to get the guy to give you money for letting him go... go for it. :)

When Jin addresses her in front of the prisoner, she looks at Jin for a moment but says

No, he's going to the authorities. Talking might help with his sentence, but we're definitely not letting him go. He probably doesn't know anything worth letting him go anyway.

--If he protests that he does in fact know something worthwhile, then she might engage with him, but for now she plays it cool, as though it doesn't matter to her.

@GM - do you want Cabizo to roll with lvl 2 or lvl 3 stats?

Cabizo’s pockets overflow with stuff as his spare arms distractedly put the stuff Zharis stuffs into them away. ”Hmm... Oh! Xylian, Hani, could you come look at this? I think there’s some writing inside, and I thought I recognized that curly brace thing I see in the message text when I get an email-bounced notification so I bet it’s computer code.”

We can make Computers or Mysticism checks to identify where this transponder crystal might have been transmitting to!

The ikeshti shrugs at the rebuffed offer and clams up.

You hear sirens from outside getting closer. Either some late-night pedestrian heard the running gun battle inside the museum and called the authorities, or Nib and Taeress finally checked their messages!

@Cabizo: You can use your Level 3 stats.

Okay, Zharis is going to try her Cultural Liaison/Role-Specific XP award thing now... level three will make it easier, hopefully. Here are the rolls, but tell me who I meet on my way through these next scenes leading up to the gala and I will roleplay through it. (Do the cops count as part of it, or only DCI people? Just name the people and I will try to make it good.) :)

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 9 + (5) = 17
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 9 + (6) = 22
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (19) + 9 + (5) = 33
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (10) + 9 + (2) = 21
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (19) + 9 + (4) = 32

Not trying to distract from the current situation, just trying to work it in since it seems like we're going to be meeting a ton of new people shortly.

Hani takes a look at Cabizo's item and attempts to do an assessment.

computers: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Cabizo gets bored of staring at Hani's face through the smoky crystal and starts looking through all the stuff in his pockets.

Mysticism to ID vs Vials: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Still bored (and still without finding his finger paints), the skittermander turns his attention back to the transponder.

Mysticism vs Transponder: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Inventory sheet can also be found in Cabizo's stat bar. I think I've got everything, so feel free to claim some stuff by picking your name from the dropdown menu for that row.

While they wait, Zharis pulls up the infosphere and does a search for bloodshots.

Hey Xylian, what did you get off those IDs?

"Access to 'Cryo-Generics' and the access ID of one 'Sessil Vand'. Looks to be a researcher." Xylian says. He casts his mind back to the map of the musueum. Was Cryo-Generics labeled as part of the facility? "Signal jammer and a way to bypass said jammer. Maybe they didn't know what they were searching for and needed instruction?" He suggest.

I don't see Cryo-Generics on the earlier list of places in the museum, so maybe it's a different building?

Maybe Cryo-Generics is where they are from? Sounds like a company.

She searches the infosphere for the name Cryo-Generics.

Is Sessil Vand in on it, then, or do you think they just stole the ID?

She searches for Sessil Vand on the infosphere as well.

"It could be either, but it would be very stupid to use their own ID if they are in on it. Of course, 'losing' ones ID in the right place would not be too difficult, either."

Xylian returns to the lab to see if he can suss out what the ikeshti had been doing in the room, or if he had merely holed up in there once the fighting started.

Hani and Cabizo take a look at the strange, smoking device the ikeshti was using in the laboratory. Meanwhile, Xylian examines the lab while Zharis does some quick infosphere research. Jin keeps a close eye on the prisoners.

Within minutes, Stellacuna security officers arrive at the Museum of Endosolar Sciences. They're taken aback by the scale of the crime scene, but they don't doubt your word as all of the dead or captured ikeshtis wear insignia of the Bloodshots, a notorious street gang from the bubble-city of Corona.

As the officers begin hauling away the prisoners and collecting evidence, Nib and Taeress arrive in the company of a pajama-clad kasatha who doesn't appear overly pleased at being dragged out of bed in the middle of the night. Nib is breathless by the rush to get back to the museum, but relieved to see you're all okay. "Oh, everyone, this is Director Radeam. Director Radeam, these are the folks from Near Space I told you about. Now they've saved Asanatown and the museum!"

Director Radeam nods at you and says gruffly "I thank you for your service this day. Was anything taken or damaged by these hooligans?"