SFS #2-12 Colossus Heist (Inactive)

Game Master cmlobue

Dusty smiles. ”Let me show you something.” He disengages his armor’s EP and pulls back the sleeve on his arm, revealing an apparent radiation burn in the rough shape of a jagged spire emerging from turbulent waters. ”See this? This is the mark of a Great Old One. Came face to face with it on my last mission. So evil it turned onlookers to stone and animated them as salt mummies. Yet here I stand. If that thing couldn’t kill me, then these big buggers certainly won’t.” He resets his armor with a nonchalant click.

Bluff: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26 Slight embellishment of a true story, from Dusty’s mission on…

Oddman does a very succinct explanation of how careful they'll be out in the wild:

Survival: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19

{Oooh, that is a good one,} Bugface says, admiring Dusty's scar. Then, the cockpit on Bugface's armor pops open and Bugface knocks on their left arm, which makes a metallic sound. {Bugface got this bad boy fighting a devil. It grabbed Bugface's old arm and flash-fried it into ash in an instant. Then it just sucked them up. Bugface couldn't hold a rifle anymore and had to finish the fight with a sword.} Bugface then goes into great detail on all the mechanics of losing an arm and having a replacement put on. As well as how much it stung.

Medicine: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

I can't really Bluff or Intimidate but I wanted to get in on trading scar stories. If that's not an appropriate check I'm going to roll another below but you can ignore it if this is good.

{Hmmm, lifepulse beacons... That sounds similar to some tech Bugface has seen before. With a little work...,} Bugface continues on a jargon-filled tangent for a few minutes filled with ideas on getting one back up and running.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

Moxie yawns and stretches. "If you knew who I am you would know that I've had more near death experiences than most people in the galaxy. And that was before becoming a Starfinder. If you want to see something crazy, just do a sphere search using the terms 'former child star', 'transdimensional pesh', and 'stolen hover boat'. I was strung out of my mind on uppers and hallucigens and I walked away from that incident with barely a scratch on that boat, by the way. I have always done my own stunts and I've personally negotiated deals with studio execs that make the Veskarium Imperial Command look like a bunch of fuzzy little squoxes. No one, including myself, thought I'd live to see my 30th birthday. And yet here I stand in front of you. A giant robot isn't something I won't be able to handle."

While the others are talking, Azara looks around at their host's exercise equipment. He does a few one armed chin ups, switching from one arm to the other at one point by letting go with one and catching himself with the other.

But he settles on the treadmill. Starting at a light jog, he sets the machine to increase the incline and speed steadily.

It isn't long before he is literally exceeding normal lashunta capabilities since he's had his legs bionically enhanced. The machine whines as it maintains the moving force field and tilts up at a 30 degree angle.

Athletics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

Gaiul seems impressed enough by Bugface and Moxie that he agrees to take you and Radaszam to the Dead Reef in his modified all-terrain transport vehicle, as well as use of his propulsion pod once the tekenki’s armor has parted.

Gaiul also provides you with some extra equipment for the journey: an incapacitator with a standard battery, an aphelion laser pistol with a high-capacity battery, and a D-Suit III.

You are free to leave New Valor with him in his colossi-tracking vehicle at any point.

Azara isn't exactly pleased with his performance or the lack of attention it gets. He makes a point of being nonchalant in the aftermath of the conversation, a task made much more difficult by the fact that he is panting for breath.

"Do we have any other business here or are we ready to go?" he asks the group.

He eyes both the pistol and suit of armor with obvious interest, his own pistol the model just below that one and his own Ysoki Refractor Suit providing perhaps two thirds as much protection as the D-Suit.

Dusty is also very keen on the armor and the incapacitator before taking off.

Happy to roll d1000 for each piece of gear that Dusty wants.

Armor: 1d1000 ⇒ 813
Incapacitator: 1d1000 ⇒ 705

Anything you want to do before heading out?

Unless there’s something plot-specific, Dusty is ready once we resolve who gets the armor.

"I like the D-Suit line. Its very practical for the kind of work we do. But I like my tempweave. It even came with a cute skirt," Moxie says as she poses for a selfie in her armor, which is a retro style space suit with a gold tunic, skirt and boots over a black unitard.

"I think whoever is going to be putting themselves in the most danger should get the armor. Are either of you hand-to-hand fighters?"

"You take this and I'll take this?" Azara says, pushing the armor toward Dusty and taking the pistol for himself. He feels like a gunslinger as he rearranges the one he already has and straps the new one on so that he has two pistols riding on his hips.

"I like my Refractor suit but it's about time for me to upgrade. I need some more protection and some more slots so that I can get this forcefield to work right," Azara comments to Moxie. "Where'd you get yours? These off the rack models..."

He makes a face that eloquently describes how poorly the armor that everyone else wears is not really appropriate for someone of his celebrity.

He continues talking business while they head to the transport.

Gaiul drives each of you and Radaszam to the Dead Reef. There are three areas of interest here. Gaiul can drive you anywhere except to the top of the cliffs in the southeast.

Southwest

A wide pit bubbling with a quicksand-like substance opens its gaping maw in the ground here. Half submerged in the pit is a mechanical, robot-like vehicle that looks like a crude progenitor of the robotic valkos kept in New Valor: its bipedal form is rough and rudimentary, and its saw blade appendages dangle half-torn from its body. Every few seconds, sparks of electricity shoot from the robot and course into the air and throughout the sand below.

The beacon is atop the submerged creature.

Southeast

This two-tiered cavern of rough volcanic rock rises ominously from the desiccated ground. Its wide opening reveals a murky interior even as circular openings in the lower tier allow in shafts of light.

The beacon is at the top of two sheer cliffs, each 15 feet high.

North

This brittle, sun-bleached coral reef flashes under the hot sun in pallid shades of pink, green, and blue. Its once-supple arms now claw toward the sky like skeletal hands, wrenched in the agony of so much lost ocean lost.

The beacon is located at the top of one coral formation.

Beacons are indicated with green and orange stars on the map. You can attempt to reactivate a beacon with a full-round action and a Computers check, and others can aid as normal, and Gaiul will offer help as well if he is nearby.

Although we are not in initiative, you should take your actions in turns and move your tokens on the map (including Gaiul and the vehicle if he is driving you) because of various things that might happen. Any area with rocks in it is difficult terrain, and the colossus and coral can only be traversed with climbing or flight.

Dusty, now fully suited in the new armor and armed with the incapacitator melee weapon, hops off the vehicle and heads toward the nearest beacon—the northernmost one. He scours the reef for hazards using his scanning kit before making his way up to it.

Perception (scanning kit): 1d20 + 16 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 16 + 4 = 27

30-foot climb speed.

Computers: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (7) + 17 = 24

There is some sort of electricity coming from near the buried valko, but you will not be able to learn more about it from here.

The coral is peppered with razor-sharp barbs. Dusty must make a DC 22 Reflex save or take 4d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 4, 6) = 16 piercing damage. Other than that, he has no problem reaching the beacon.

Reflex DC 22: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

The sharp coral is little impediment to the nimble halfling.

Moxie climbs up into the thin air as if walking up a staircase, the enchantment in her feet creating a cushion of force that keeps her aloft. She dashes over the razor sharp coral without touching it, coming to a landing on the beacon itself.

Double moving. Moxie has force soles, which essentially lets her air walk, although she has to end her movement on solid ground.

Computers, Aiding Dusty: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Moxie still needs to make a save to avoid 4d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 3, 5) = 13 damage landing among the sharp coral.

Do we all need to get to the beacons to do something, or it's a computers/engineering thing?

Activating a beacon just takes a successful Computers check. Anyone adjacent can help, but a single character could do it with a high enough roll.

Reflex: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

Moxie lands gracefully on the coral, carefully balancing her weight on the brittle coral.

"Too easy!"

With Dusty and Moxie handling the first beacon, Azara jumps off the vehicle and starts hustling over toward the caverns and he beacon there.

Double move.

Otherwise useless in this challenge, Oddman double moves to a more equidistant position where he can get to any of the beacons, should his colleagues need assistance with a foe.

The insectoid wings sticking out of Bugface's armor start flapping and Bugface heads out toward the remaining beacon.

5 feet above the ground.

Dusty and Moxie reach the beacon on top of the coral, and the rest of the party spreads out.

Round 2

Azara keeps trotting toward the beacon to the southeast and starts to climb up the cliffs, already on his way before he considers the fact that the caves might be occupied.

He uses his Gravity Boost Revelation to literally walk up the walls as easily as he does across the flat surfaces.

And now we're in initiative. Azara would have triggered this after the first move, so I moved her back 30 ft. and she will have a standard action remaining, as will the creature that started the encounter with its movement.

Round 2 - bolded may go

Bugface
Azara (standard action only)
Creature (standard action only)
Dusty
Oddman
Moxie

Azara really needs a reach weapon...but since he doesn't have one, he draws his stellar mote down, the spark of solar fire becoming a large ankh that he holds by the loop like a katar.

And he backs off, getting closer to his fellow Starfinders for when the trouble really starts.

Bugface moves to make a stand with Bugface's new friends. Bugface pulls out their plasma fork as they go and aim it at the creature. Bugface takes a potshot at the thingy.

Fork Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19
E&F Damage: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Azara backs away, while Bugface fires a shot that barely misses the creature.

It watches the party warily.

Round 2-3 - bolded may go

Bugface
Azara
Creature (ready)
Dusty
Oddman
Moxie

Oddman moves ahead and jump jets on top of the first cliff (two move actions). He has his trident and one singing disk in hands.

Dusty watches Bugface's shot whizz by the monster while he clambers closer along the coral, whipping out his pistol and taking a shot while swinging upside down from a branch of coral.

Full action trick attack (climb 20 feet closer while drawing small arm, then shot with semi-auto). Specialization Skill Mastery allows him to automatically trick the monster is CR 12 or lower using Acrobatics.

Attack vs KAC (wounding advanced semi-auto pistol, flat-footed if CR 12 or lower): 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 12 + 2 = 30
Damage (piercing, magic, trick): 2d6 + 4 + 4d8 ⇒ (2, 5) + 4 + (1, 1, 6, 8) = 27 11 rounds remaining

Reflex save (if needed): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

Dusty picks his way through the coral and takes a shot at the creature, hitting it squarely.

Oddman approaches the creature, and it flies closer to him as well.

Round 2-3 - bolded may go

Bugface
Azara
Creature (-27 HP)
Dusty
Oddman
Moxie

{Bugbrain, kindly paint this target please.}

Bugface's tracking software activates and Bugface tries again.

Using Combat Tracking.

Fork Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27
E&F Damage: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Moxie aims her pistol at the flying creature and calls out to her allies, "Come on everybody! Hostile coming in!"

Improved Get 'Em grants a +2 morale bonus to hit until the start of Moxie's next turn. Using Double Tap as a standard action and FmGrt Em as a move action. She also has long range improvisation, so Get 'Em has 120 ft. range.

Thunderstrike Sonic Pistol, Double tap, 2nd range increment: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 14
Sonic, Double Tap: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

"Looks like it's a good thing I got this new pistol," Azara says, taking a step forward while drawing the weapon.

He lines up and takes a shot.

Aphelion Laser Pistol: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Fire: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 2, 1) + 3 = 7

Moxie encourages her allies to strike the beast, though her own shot misses. Bugface and Azara, however, both hit it with their ranged attacks.

The creature flies carefully closer to Oddman and bites him.

Attack vs. KAC: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (2) + 19 = 21
Piercing Damage: 1d10 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18

Although the attack is clumsy, it still deals a fair amount of damage.

Round 3-4 - bolded may go

Bugface
Azara
Creature (-51 HP)
Dusty
Oddman (-18 SP)
Moxie

Oddman full attacks with his trident.

Adamantine sintered trident vs. KAC: 1d20 + 12 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 12 - 4 + 2 = 28
Piercing damage: 2d8 + 13 ⇒ (6, 1) + 13 = 20

Adamantine sintered trident vs. KAC: 1d20 + 12 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 12 - 4 + 2 = 26
Piercing damage: 2d8 + 13 ⇒ (4, 8) + 13 = 25

Moxie rallies her allies to take out the flying alien. "Don't give up on me Oddman. Support is coming! Come on guys, your buddy is getting ripped apart by that thing! Can I get some firepower over here?"

Using Get Em for the +2 bonus, and Inspiring Boost to restore 19 Stamina to Oddman.

Dusty darts to the east to get a better angle, tuck and rolling under another coral bank while firing another shot.

Full action trick attack (move 50 feet, then shoot with semi-auto). Specialization Skill Mastery allows him to automatically trick the monster is CR 12 or lower using Acrobatics.

Attack vs KAC (wounding advanced semi-auto pistol, get ‘em, flat-footed if CR 12 or lower): 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 12 + 2 + 2 = 34
Damage (piercing, magic, trick): 2d6 + 4 + 4d8 ⇒ (6, 4) + 4 + (8, 1, 6, 6) = 35 10 rounds remaining

Moxie once again calls out helpful advice for the team, as well as healing the wounds Oddman received.

Oddman strikes the creature twice with his trident, while Dusty tumbles through the coral and fires another shot that hits true.

Dusty needs another Relfex save for moving through the coral or take 4d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 2, 2) = 14 damage.

Round 4 - bolded may go

Bugface
Azara
Creature (-131 HP)
Dusty (Relfex vs. 14 damage)
Oddman
Moxie

Azara ignites his whole body in cosmic fire then charges at the creature, slamming into it with all the force of a comet.

He feels a little bad about hurting the thing since it's only defending its territory but now it's a kill or be killed situation and he doesn't feel bad enough to come out on the wrong side of that choice.

Stellar Rush: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
Fire Damage (DC17 Refl Half): 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 2, 3) + 2 = 9

The attack is considered a bull rush, but even if it doesn't succeed, the target takes the damage (modified by the Refl Save, of course.)

Reflex: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

Bugface makes some adjustments on their weapon and fires again.

Move action to use boost.

Fork Attack+Get em+Tracking: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18
E&F Damage+Boost: 1d10 + 8 + 1d4 ⇒ (8) + 8 + (3) = 19

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

Bugface is unable to hit the creature this time, but Azara sheathes herself in flame, causing a small burn.

The beast lashes out with fang and talon.

Bite vs. Oddman: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19
Piercing Damage: 1d10 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18

Claw vs. Azara: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

Claw vs. Azara: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

Oddman dodges out of the way, but Azara is raked twice.

Round 4-5 - bolded may go

Bugface
Azara (-33 SP)
Creature (-135 HP)
Dusty
Oddman
Moxie

Dusty rounds the rocky terrain and sprints a short way up the steep incline, firing another bullet at the monster.

Full action trick attack (move 50 feet with some climb speed, then shoot with semi-auto). Specialization Skill Mastery allows him to automatically trick the monster is CR 12 or lower using Acrobatics.

Attack vs KAC (wounding advanced semi-auto pistol, get ‘em, flat-footed if CR 12 or lower): 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 12 + 2 + 2 = 33
Damage (piercing, magic, trick): 2d6 + 4 + 4d8 ⇒ (6, 6) + 4 + (8, 3, 3, 2) = 32 9 rounds remaining

Another well-placed shot from Dusty and the creature collapses to the ground.

Combat over, and you no longer need to work in rounds, but there are hazards here including the coral.

It is with some disappointment that Azara sees the creature fall and with it, the level of life and death stress that allows him to remain attuned to the song of the spheres.

"Well...shall we continue?" he asks, looking at his companions but not waiting for an answer before heading back up the cliff to check out the 2nd beacon.

Unable to assist with the beacons (unless they are magical), Oddman will hang around close to the charged robot, waiting just in case there's the need to fight it.

Dusty takes a moment to reload the fired rounds in his semi-auto, then approaches the nearest beacon and tries to activate it.

Computers: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (11) + 17 = 28