-------------------
Celly's efforts with the hypernutrients are rewarded with the coral rapidly growing into a unique, complex shape. You pick it up and pack it away.
As soon as Celly does so, your comm units buzz with an incoming voice call. Kyefi’s voice suddenly breaks the silence. “Err, folks... you should really be getting on your way. There’s some foul weather up in the west, and the tide is coming in faster than the original forecast showed. I suggest you leave. Right now!"
-------------------
The party rushes towards your buggy but to reach it, you'll need to climb up out of the basin you're currently in!
Max, Eiju and Pheobe struggle with climbing quickly out of the basin. However, Oz, Celly and Sir Feighnswelle have no issue hustling up and out, even managing to assist the slower party members!!
-------------------
During the Pilot Actions Phase, PC drivers choose pilot actions as normal, but only the Evade, Keep Pace, and Speed Up actions are relevant in this phase. Because they’re ahead of the tide, the drivers receive a +2 circumstance bonus to their Piloting checks. The level of the PCs’ vehicle is 2 (4 for Levels 3–4). The tide doesn’t take pilot actions.
In the Chase Progress Phase, the PCs advance 1 zone as normal (assuming they succeed during the Pilot Actions Phase); after that the tide moves ahead 3 zones.
If the tide reaches the same zone as a vehicle, the vehicle is destroyed.
In the Combat Phase, instead of fighting enemy vehicles, passenger PCs can take actions to help speed up their vehicle. They can use any skill as long as they come up with an idea that could be useful, such as using Computers for satellite navigation, Diplomacy to encourage the driver, or Athletics to provide counterweight to the vehicle during sharp turns. Encourage the players to be creative!
Each chase round, each passenger PC can attempt one such check. When a PC succeeds with a particular skill, that PC cannot use it again for the rest of the chase, but other PCs can attempt that skill. The DC for all these skill checks is 12 (15 for Levels 3–4). If a PC succeeds this DC by 5 or more, it counts as 2 successes. PCs can assist other vehicles by donating the success of a skill check they’re about to attempt. At the GM’s discretion, expending a resource such as a relevant spell gem can also count as an automatic success.
Keep track of the number of passenger successes per vehicle during the chase. Each time the number of successes in a vehicle reaches the number of passenger PCs, the vehicle moves 1 zone ahead. For example, a vehicle with four PCs has one pilot and three passengers, so it needs only three successes to move up 1 zone.
-------------------
Vehicle HP: 24/24
Non-pilot actions to speed up (5 needed): 0
Round 1
The following characters in bold may take their turn:
Oz (pilot)
Max
Pheobe
Sir Feighnswelle
Eiju
Celly
|
"It is indeed a shame that the designer of these buggies failed to take aquatic capabilities into account!" notes Sir Feighnswelle. "As it appears that the tides have turned, I hereby suggest we do the same!"
The oversized mammal shifts his weight as the buggy goes into a turn.
"If that doesn't work, then I'm going to have to flop out and push!" notes the morlamaw .
|
Since Celly was in the water all she's currently wearing is her swimsuit while nursing the box with the coral key in it.
She glances behind her and sees the rapidly advancing water.
Erm, I don't want to be an alarmist here but I would recommend getting the heck out of here - not all of us can breath in an aquatic environment ... so yes ... pedal to the metal please. Show us how good a pilot you are
to encourage Oz
|
Eiju summons the last of their magical energy to reach into another dimension. What they really want is to pull through a solid stone wall as a barrier but the best the can manage is a tall, thick kelp forest planted into the tide pools, hoping to slow down the waters progression just a tiny amount.
This is my last spell slot used. If you need a roll as well, I am thinking Mysticism.
"Look at the angles of those rocks, you can use the slope as a ramp and avoid that boggy patch."
"You are the best driver in the multiverse, Oz. You can do this blindfolded."
"Seriously, you are doing better than any of us could ever manage. I am grateful we only took the one buggy."
|
Oz hops into the driver's seat and spares a glance back at the others. "Yea, just remember that I didn't exactly volunteer for this...if we die somebody please make sure no Eoxian megacorps(e) get their bony claws on mine, k?"
Skipping seat belts, he grumbles as everyone piles in, "Okay, no blocking the rear-view. Engaging 'getting the hell out of here maneuver in 5...4..." and before counting to 3 he takes off at high velocity!
Speed Up DC 19:
(aid another not included)
Pilot Actions Phase:
After Oz barks out his 'welcome aboard' message to everyone, he hits the ignition and speeds off at top speed, successfully pushing the buggy beyond manufacturer's recommended limits!!
Soon enough, the party is propelled into the obisdian swamps where the buggy takes a battering from hunks of rocks scattered about but the vehicle suffers no damage!
Chase Progress Phase:
Making good speed, the buggy enters the mud flats while the tide unceasingly advances!! The mud flats provide the ideal terrain for the buggy to continue speeding up!
Combat Phase:
Sir Feighnswelle uses his size and mass to great effect, helping Oz swerve when needed and make tighter turns!
Celly firmly but calmly communicates the urgency of the situation and reassures Oz that he's the right man... errr... corpse(?) for the job!!
Pheobe fills Oz with ridiculous notions but she's just so dang convincing! Oz is convinced!
Eiju digs deep and summons through plantlife to impede the incoming tide. Every little bit counts!
Round 2
The following characters in bold may take their turn:
Oz (pilot)
Max (may take two actions this round)
Pheobe
Sir Feighnswelle
Eiju (actions for rounds 2-4 already posted)
Celly
|
|
Nobody is dying on my watch Celly replies If worst comes to worst Ozmin, I'll breath for you
She looks around the cabin at her companions, the rest of her gear at her feet, then tries to remember the proper procedure for rescue breathing on a screedreep. At least she won't have to worry about Sir Feighnswelle if the water does catch up with them.
She then uses Perception to point out the best route
|
|
Oz mutters, "Must go faster, must go faster...yea yea, heard it on the dinosaur movie vids..."
Speed Up DC 19:
(aid another not included)
Oz looks over his shoulder at Max.
"...what exactly do you think you're doing, other than distracting me? I don't think the tidal wave behind us is impressed."
In response to Phoebe, "Anyone else doing parallel bars in the back of the jeep and I'll WANT my turban blinding me."
Pilot Actions Phase:
Chase Progress Phase:
Combat Phase:
Round 3
The following characters in bold may take their turn:
Oz (pilot)
Max
Pheobe
Sir Feighnswelle
Eiju (actions for rounds 2-4 already posted)
Celly
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Don't be wishy-washy! The way is clear! Even though we may face the coming Tide, you need not deter, gents!" Sir Feighnswelle warns!
|
|
In response to everyone encouraging him, Oz just grumbles, "You know, if you all keep blowing hot air through my ears, my head will explode and then you'll all see what a bad turban day really looks like!
Seeing trouble ahead, Oz decides to focus a bit more, engaging in a Double Maneuver piloting action (2 actions, each at -4). First he keeps pace through the Parade Crab Tracks...
DC 12 (not including aid)
Then he evades through the Lava Tubes...
DC 12 (not including aid)
"Don't be wishy-washy! The way is clear! Even though we may face the coming Tide, you need not deter, gents!" Sir Feighnswelle warns!
-------------------
Pilot Actions Phase:
Chase Progress Phase:
Combat Phase:
Stairways aren't really the type of terrain the buggy was built for but then again, this party wasn't built for casually swimming around in a 500 foot tidal wave either. It's a bumpy ride but Oz takes the buggy up the stairway directly to the ship's entrance. The party has no problem taking off before the tide hits!!
-------------------
You hear Kyefi’s classroom break into cheers over their comms channel! Kyefi says over comms, "What a relief! Glad to see you have all made it safely out of the preserve. But I do hope you had a glorious time. The entire area just teems with fascinating bits of life, doesn't it??"
-------------------
After departing the planet, you receive a comm message from a blocked number. A modulated voice states, "Hello Starfinders. I've followed your progress with great interest and I have a small request of you. These passcodes you have recovered - delay just one week before turning them over to AbadarCorp. Are we agreed?"
Kyefi is overjoyed with the opportunity to speak further with Pheobe. He explains that the planet, Varturan was once in danger of planetary disaster when its decaying orbit would result in a collision with one of its moons, leading to an extinction-level event. However, the various sentient species of the planet banded together and prevented this apocalyptic disaster. Since then, the various sentients on the planet have lived in harmony and with their shared understanding and appreciation of their planet, decided that maintaining environmental balance would be their main priority.
As for where to live, aside from the above water cities that you've observed, Kyefi speaks highly of the large stone and coral cities under the sea built by the grejonns.
-------------------
The voice replies, "I have no name. But names don't define me. Actions define me. It would be fair to say that my actions define me as an anticorp activist. Considering all the harm they do, all the repression they cause, the dystopia they enforce, well... I'm just looking to take the megacorp down a peg. Trust me, delaying a week will only make the corp sweat a bit and not hurt any Pact World residents. My interests do not like in hurting my fellow sentients - merely in loosening the corp's control on the good people, even if it is just a small tiny fraction for a short, short period of time.
"I hope I can rely on you, Starfinders, with this request. In your heart, you know it is a worthy cause."
And with that last statement, the communication ends.
|
"So... you're a bully who wants to make them fearful, but they're a bigger bully who wants to hurt good people. Neither is good."[b]
Thinking to herself I thought that I would leave these kinds of bullies behind in Azlanti space... This is just like the fights back home.
[b]"As much as I don't WANT to help you, I think that they are the BIGGER bully, so... fine, I will.
After deciding to assist the unknown anti-megacorp activist, the party delays passing the passwords/passkeys for a week. When you finally do turn the information/objects over, the designated AbadarCorp representative thanks you profusely, obviously relieved.
A short time later, you get a call from Handsome Gob...
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
"Hey guys! I heard you've finished the mission! Good job! Anyone wanna get eaten over at Mama Fats? Errr.. I mean, anyone wanna get bitten at Mama Fats? Errr... I mean, anyone wanna join me for a bite at Mama Fats????"