[SFS_Aerondor] 04-01 Year of the Data Scourge (level 1-4) (Inactive)

Game Master Aerondor

As they return home from a successful mission, a team of Starfinders are caught in the chaos of an ongoing digital attack on Absalom Station. Can the PCs battle their way through malfunctioning technology, hostile robots, and panicked crowds to help defend headquarters, or will the Society's most important digital assets be corrupted by the Data Scourge?

Makai is a rather less muscular dwarf. She wears practical clothing, a set of tools, and a gulchgun on her back. Her undercut hairstyle shows few tattoos that she has on her neck and sides of her head, one is of Triune the other of Angradd.

She moves fast for a dwarf and feels best on spaceships and in zero-g. After her last mission in one of the Salvation End Vaults, she comes back to Absalom station...

An izalguun approaches, followed by a metallic sphere that rolls around behind him. "Why, hello colleagues! I'm Vaal Noor, professional artist - if you can call art a profession - and this is my, hmm, eighth? Already? Assignment with the Starfinder Society. So far, a bunch of them have been a marvelous source of inspiration for my master pieces! The Metal Sphere here is based on ancient solarian technology, found in some weird asteroid being mined by dwarves! What an exciting time! I hope we run into astonishing things this time around!” he summarizes.

A well-muscled dwarf woman smiles at the party. She promises to do her best to protect you from harm. Looking at her, she will probably be pretty successful against physical threats.

A half-orc walks in. As he hears about Vaal Noor's art. Art, well, art attracts the ladies, now we are talking. Draw pictures of princesses and other beautiful women. Man, I wish I was an artist. But when you say, Metal Sphere, sounds like your prefer artifacts over gorgeous women.

"Izalguun females look exactly like Izalguun males - we usually choose our mates by more practical aspects, like personality, skills, or wealth. And I couldn't tell what is a gorgeous female of other species - everyone looks so alien to me!"

Vaal Noor tries to justify his art.

The deep rumble of the train as it skims along its metal track creates a pleasant bass line for the sounds of the cityscape. The car’s glass and metal walls shield the interior from the roar of traffic outside, but the faint howl of sirens and cab horns occasionally pierces this sanctum. Cradled safely inside the car, passengers murmur in private conversation or play muted vidfeeds on their comm units and datapads. The familiar click and whir of assistant machines fills the aisles.

Feel free to chat while I continue reading the scenario.

Hagitha spends her time watching educational videos on the newest martial techniques and weapons when not conversing with her fellow Starfinders. She listens to any stories the others tell, but remains quiet about her own experiences.

Hagitha starts watching instructional videos. Every now and then she gets a concerned glance from a nearby shirren in the same carriage. Generally when she is enthusiastically miming along with a move.

Mega spends some time admiring an especially attractive elf further forward. Vaal thinks he could probably do a really good drawing of her, but her hair keeps moving, almost as if there was a secret wind that only it can feel.

Makai slumped in her seat casts a suspicious glance at and android who is staring out the window. Or are they checking out the starfinders in the reflection?

RP time for your trip. You are on a land train heading towards the Lorespire complex.

We know each other right? I mean the PC's know that we are starfinders? Or are we strangers in the metro.

Makai glances at the android in the metro. But gives him no more attention. She takes out her datapad and begins reading news of the day. Metro in the station

She throws a smile at Hagitha seeing a fellow dwarf on the train. She nods to Mega Gelub who she knows from her last mission.

"Isn't it amusing to meet up on the way of a mission? We usually only see each other when we are at the Lorespire Complex! I'm sure this is a good sign."

A good sign indeed, I agree Vaal.

You can assume you know each other and are returning from a very important mission. Buying Strawberry Machine Cake tickets for a VC. From the "In person only" ticket booth for Very Important People.

The train car is crowded but not uncomfortably packed. Nearby passengers sink into a sleepy lull as a kasatha softly plays a portable theremin in the aisle near an emergency exit in the back of the train.

"Yeah, especially that I don't like this tube much. I usually spend my time in a bar before the briefing, but here we are." ;)

Even as Makai speaks the train abruptly jolts to a halt with a jarring screech. All electronic feeds and holoscreens flicker and shut off at once, as if controlled by a master switch. For a moment, a roaring silence replaces the city’s constant symphony. An insistent beeping pierces the air and the train stutters, rolls a few feet, then jerks into stillness once again. A palpable hum fills the train car as dozens of crimson lights blink in frantic, random patterns. The helpful machines patrolling the aisle or hovering near the ceiling twitch and spark erratically as the train suddenly lurches forward again, now accelerating at a frightening speed.

Hagitha's hand instinctively grabs at her survival knife. She forces it to relax as she looks around, seeing if anyone's reactions are anything other than terror.

Hagitha notes that there are three androids, just standing there, looking a little confused. An SRO at the front of the carriage sits and just spins in a circle.

The android who was staring out the window continues to stare as if nothing has happened. And the train continues to gain speed!

Makai looks around and stands from her seat when the train car stops. She nearly falls to the ground when it begins to move.

"That does not seem right." she says to herself

Using her augmentation she reaches to SRO's Technopathy Node (Magitech throat) - it gives her telepathy to construction (SRO, Androids or computers)

"Are you ok? I am Makai, are you fully operational?"

She looks at the other Starfinders

"We are accelerating too fast, this does not look safe."

In the 90's I would suggest us heading to the front of the metro where there is a guy that controls the metro ;) Now, most of the lines are automated and in Starfinder I would assume as well. So @Gm - are there safety breaks in metros, control room to manually stop the train?

"How peculiar!" Vaal Noor ponders about the situation, with the following skill checks, if applicable:

Engineering: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21
Computers: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

Good job Vaal, we really need to slow the train down before it crashes or overturns on a bend.

A nearby info-tech screen dissolves into static as the train continues to accelerate.
There is a control panel located at the front of the train which is where the automatic pilot is normally located. That is a couple of carrages (roughly 120') ahead of you.

@Vaal it is like all the computers on the train have gone haywire. You think if you could get to the auto pilot you may be able to activate a manual override.

Status: Train accelerating, round 1. Bold may act
Players are 120' away from the front of the train.
Mega
Vaal
Makai
Hagitha
Train

Hagitha moves forward, making sure the way is clear for the techie ones to fix the train.

Vaal Noor changes his posture to quadruped and moves ahead with the group, trying to stay in the middle - not too close to danger, but with enough room to shoot anything without too much cover.

Makai moves after Hagitha reaching for the gulchgun from her back. Seeing looks from the others she simply throws

"There could be someone that took control of the train. The SRO's acct odd, they seemed to be doing something using up all of their cycles. I think someone could have hacked them and overload them with commands or data."

Out of curiosity, is Vaal Noor droid acting any different?

Good point. @Vaal, can you give me a will save for your droid.

The team starts down the train. From the gasps around you, it looks like your fellow commuters are starting to realise that this is not something that is going to fix itself in a hurry. Of course the gasps of horror maybe to do with their online games no longer being... online.

The train rumbles as it continues accelerating. A quick glance at the automatic station notification board shows... well, that it is offline as well.

Hagitha's steady pace takes you to the back of the front carriage. You can see a sharp corner approaching, if you don't get the train stopped in a hurry it might not take it...

Status, round 2
Team is 80' from the front of the train.
Mega
Vaal
Makai
Hagitha
Train - dangerously fast.

"Sorry Hagitha, but we need to move faster." says Makai as she bypasses fellow dwarf

Makai as Zero-g dwarf has land speed of 25 compared to Hagitha's 20. Vaal Noor has 40 as he changed his hands to feet, so I think we need to move in a different formation.

If doable Makai would run => flat-footed but can move up two 4 move actions within the round. However, if there is plenty of people and doors in between she can't.

Drone will save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"Starfinders, coming through! Excuse us, we need to pass - stay sitted, everything will be fine in just a bit!" Vaal Noor double moves towards the control panel, considering the timing.

And will probably be destroyed by an ambush, but that's just how things go

Oh, right, was inactive for a day. Mega would have doublemoved each turn, and he has a speed of 40, so he'd be there by now to the front of the train.

The team, seeing problems approaching hustles even faster toward the front of the still accelerating train. Who knew they could go so fast?
The sound of metal wheels screeching on the tracks has now penetrated the cabin as the train starts to shake.

At the front, Mega has located the control panel, but how to access it?

Computers check!

Status, round 3
Hagitha - 40' from the front
Vaal 20' from front
Magai 30' from front
Mega at front
Train screaching and corner very close!

Hagitha continues to move forward, and then when she rejoins her companions, she turns her attention behind, watching for any threats.

Vaal Noor moves ahead, looks at the panel to make sure it's safe, and gets into it.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Computers: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

Hagitha hurries forward. Around her the sounds of panic start to rise. One of the androids shakes its head as if coming out of a daze. The SRO continues to spin in place.

Vaal gets to the front and quickly hacks an access to the system. The manual override still needs to be activated though!

Someone within the team within range of the panel will still need to make another computers or engineering check.

Status, round 3
Magai 30' from front
Mega at front
Train screeching and corner very close!
Hagitha - at front
Vaal 20' - at front

Makai's speed is only 25 ft :( so in theory after the first round of movement, she would be 5 ft away from the panel. I will do the check if GM would allow it to do it in part of the action.

Makai runs forwards and attempts to help with the computer...

Computer: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Vaal how were you able to have +12 computer bonus? Asking out of curiosity

Heck, 5' I'll give it to you

Makai manages to activate the emergency breaks. With a horrible shrieking and tipping the train...

stuff: 1d100 - 20 ⇒ (14) - 20 = -6

..stays firmly on the tracks, coming to a halt just short of a (now deserted) train station.

A survival check may help identify where you are

Around you the other passangers start to flee the train. The adroids have come around and the SRO has stopped spinning. Vaal's drone seems to have recovered too.

Makai grabs to the rail when the train begins to stop. After they fully stoped moving she looked outside of the window

Survival: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15

"What on Absalom Station is happening here!"

Makai recognises the station quickly. You are only a few blocks from the Freemarkets.

The iconic landscape of Absalom Station’s byways, which range from the cramped metal corridors below to wide alleys and streets here at the surface level, has drastically shifted. Plumes of smoke curl into the manufactured air, billowing up from vehicular wrecks and the smashed remains of glitching machines. Residents gather in uneasy crowds, barely speaking to one another, all frantically checking their comm units to no avail. Lone figures shuffle down the streets in a state of panic or shock.

A deserted train station provides a haven from the surrounding chaos, sprawling beside the winding metal tracks. Abandoned benches and flickering vending machines are the area’s sole occupants. Here, a gentle breeze ruffles the leaves of the trees shading the square. This hidden place offers a brief glimpse of normalcy.

The sloping Eye of the Station rises in the distance. A metal blast shield stutters as it struggles to close over the glass dome, its erratic movements an obvious sign that it, too, is malfunctioning.

Further survival or profession(tour guide) checks would help you navigate toward the Lorespire complex. If you have played a scenario on Absalom station you get +1. If you are native to Absalom station you get a further +2. An alternative would be to try to have one of the vending machines dispense a map of the area (computers or engineering check). Just one attempt (or aid), pick which approach you would like so just one check.

The crowd rapidly starts to break up into small groups and disperse.

Hagitha gestures to the others to follow her.

survival: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 2 = 10

Survival to aid another: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Vaal Noor has been here before, but can't tell the eye from the spike, it seems.

---

Vaal how were you able to have +12 computer bonus? Asking out of curiosity

Not a clue - just trusting the character sheet

As he crowd disperses the Starfinders try to work out exactly how on Absalom the best way to get to the Lorespire complex would be. Hagitha and Vaal scratch their heads for a moment or two... They stop when they notice two sentry droids emerge from behind a ticket stand, scan the almost empty platform, and start to power up their weapons.

init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Status, init, if you beat a 15 you may also act
Hagitha
Vaal Noor
Makai
Mega Gelub
Robots (init 15)

Doublemove towards them while pulling out my warhammer. I suppose they had something do with train almost crashing, them darn robots.

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Oh, sorry, though init was rolled for us, as I'm use to. init: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25 okay, so action stands as is, I'm now in melee with them.

Thats okay. Sometimes I roll init, sometimes I don't. Various people have special init abilities, so I try to let folk roll for themselves, but if they don't roll by next day, I roll for them. It doesn't actually slow things down much as you get to take an action if you have init

Init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15 Ok, a tie. According to the Rules the one with higher Init modifier goes first. Robots has +4, Makai +3. Robots go first

Makai looks at the robots and freezes for a moment...

The red robot surges forward, tossing a stickybomb crowdControl(tm) grenade at the largest concentration of Starfinders.
Reflex DC 14 or entangled

The blue robot runs into Mega.
attack vs KAC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
B damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Status, bold may act
Hagitha - ref DC 14 or entangled for 2d4 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5 rounds
Vaal Noor ref DC 14 or entangled for 2d4 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4 rounds
Makai ref DC 14 or entangled for 2d4 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5 rounds
Mega Gelub - 4SP damage;
Robots (init 15)

Reflex save, DC14: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Makai gets hit by the entangling effect. As she had her weapons drawn she attempts to escape to get rid of the entanglement

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 I guess no

Sighing loudly she raises her gulchgun and takes a shot at the robot

Shoot@red, entangled: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 4 - 2 = 22
Damage, fire: 1d8 ⇒ 8
Damage critical, fire: 1d8 ⇒ 6
Critical effect, burn: 1d6 ⇒ 2

The robot shudders and spins, circuits overloaded by the energy of the laser strike.
fort: 1d20 ⇒ 14

Status, bold may act
Hagitha - ref DC 14 or entangled for 5 rounds
Vaal Noor ref DC 14 or entangled for 4 rounds
Mega Gelub - 4SP damage;
Robots
blue
red 16 damage, staggered.
Makai entangled for another 4 rounds.

Reflex DC 14: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Vaal Noor gets out of the sticky situation! He moves back a little and gives a move action to his drone to switch places with him - then the metallic ball shoots at the robot!

Ember agitator vs. Red's EAC: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Fire damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Talk about extremes

init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

not sure whether it's her turn yet or not, but I'll post an attack that you can resolve at the proper time

Hagithat shoots at the nearest robot.

attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

attack blue robot with assualt hammer full attack hit: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 5 - 4 = 2 dmg: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
hit: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 5 - 4 = 17 dmg: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5