GM Quirk's AGAINST THE AEON THRONE (Inactive)

Game Master Quirk, Private Eye

Reflex save for the robot’s grenade
Reflex save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 Dangit... I had a 75% chance of making that save.

“Well, I definitely got its attention…”

Reflex save for the robot’s grenade

[Dice=Reflex save]1d20 + 5 Dangit... I had a 75% chance of making that save.

“Well, I definitely got its attention…”

Congratulations. You have the entangled condition for four rounds. Neap is up (who will also need to save).

The cough and explosion from nearby catches Neap before they can react. whatever that adhesive was, it fouled their movements, making their rush to aid the downed colonists require far more effort than it should have.
__________________________________
Reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
[ooc]Double Move[/dice]

The colonists desperately attempt to fight off the Azlanti.

Attacking red, and that's a miss!

to hit with flanking: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Bold may go. Round 4.

1. Sevens
2. Yoro
3. Enemy Purple Robot (-5)
4. Enemy Blue (DEAD)
5. Enemy Red (-14)
6. Duncan (-13)
7. Neap
8. Enemy Orange Sniper (DEAD)
9. Thak
10. Chiaiese (-4)
11. The rabble of colonists

The sensation of 'frustration' affecting their aim and resolve, Sevens decides on a more foolish course of action to prevent the Azlanti from hurting more of the colonists.

Trading rifle for datapad just long enough to execute a preprogrammed command, Sevens rushes forward to engage the Azlanti soldier, hoping their energy shield will hold long enough until there was a better plan.

Gonna try something dumb and different
Using mechancics trick;energy shield to give myself a temporary bonus 5 hit points for 2 minutes or until the bonus HP is gone, and I'm going to just run straight at red. I don't know if I get a melee attack or not, but thats the plan right now.

Using mechancics trick;energy shield to give myself a temporary bonus 5 hit points for 2 minutes or until the bonus HP is gone, and I'm going to just run straight at red. I don't know if I get a melee attack or not, but thats the plan right now.

I think bull rush is a full action.

Yoromishtali knows he can take two quick shots if foregoes aiming well. "Better to hit it," he mumbles to himself lining up the robot drone in the laser rifle's sights. He focuses on that target for a breath before squeezing the trigger.

Standard action: ranged attack

Laser Rifle at drone: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Damage (fire) if needed: 1d8 ⇒ 8

Sevens activates their energy shield and boldly moves toward the final soldier.

Activating your energy shield is a standard action. Doing anything like a bull rush would probably take a full round action. In any case, your energy shield is now in business, and you are close enough to attack red next round if you move a little more next time you go.

Yoro gets off a quick shot, winging the drone! It sputters and trails smoke, but it continues to fight!

In fact, it slowly backs away from Chiaiese, then turns and fires some sort of electrical charge at her!

Using guarded step, then firing.

to hit vs. EAC: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
damage, E, non-lethal: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Hit!

Defiant and bloodthirsty until the end, the remaining Azlanti soldier plunges his knife into one of the colonists, who collapses.

Bold may go. Round 4.

1. Sevens
2. Yoro
3. Enemy Purple Robot (-13)
4. Enemy Blue (DEAD)
5. Enemy Red (-14)
6. Duncan (-13)
7. Neap
8. Enemy Orange Sniper (DEAD)
9. Thak
10. Chiaiese (-6)
11. The rabble of colonists

Trusting the others to take care of the immediate threats, Neap attended to the downed colonists, hoping that they were not too injured to save. The shape of water that was their hand extended into a lattice that covered an exposed patch of flesh, feeling for a sign of life. There were only a handful of spheres(4) that were made this morning, and any more than three injured would require other means.

Duncan shot at Red last round, but I didn't see any indication that it hit or missed. If by chance he did hit and was killed, Duncan will attack the droid.

Duncan fires again at the Azlanti soldier savaging the colonists.

Trick Attack, Engineering using gadgets: 1d20 + 10 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 4 = 18 [DC = 20 + target's CR]
Success = Trick Attack Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2 + target is flat-footed against the attack (-2 to AC).

Semi-Auto Pistol, vs KAC: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 (range 30 ft.)
Damage, P: 1d6 ⇒ 5

His shot kicks up a puff of dirt several feet away from the soldier.

Thak was thoroughly caught in the stickbomb’s strands. Stupid… sticky.. crap… I could’ve sworn it was shooting to my right.

He sees the remaining Aslanti soldier slice open one of the colonists, but turns back toward the robot in time to see it hit Chiaiese again.

Shaking a few bits of webbing off his arm, he sights toward the robot. I’m SO done with you.

Pulsecaster vs Robot EAC: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 3 - 2 = 18 Includes -2 attack from entangled
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4 Electrical

And thus ends round 1 of 4 for Thak’s sticky situation…

With Thak's pulsecaster shot (which does double damage), the robot goes down. Also, for some reason I failed to note Duncan's attack--I suspect that when the posts rolled over to another page I may have missed it, or read it planning to act on it later (and then forgetting). In any case, COMBAT OVER. We'll do a post-mortem on this tomorrow. By the way, Neap should be able to the two colonists that are down due to their melee with the red soldier.

With the loathsome killer robot eliminated, Chiaiese sheaths her knife and moves immediately to help Neap and those tending to the victims of this senseless attack against the people.

Medicine: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

"Can we move the wounded somewhere safer?" she asks the locals. "Is there a house nearby we can take them for further treatment?"

Carried forward by momentum and doing their best to not get shot, Sevens crashes into (and likely trips over) the now dead Azlanti soldier, glad that their shield will at least absorb the brunt of the tumble.

Dazed, dirty and bloodied, Sevens recovers quickly and joins Chiaiese in applying medical aid to the wounded while refocusing from combat to triage.

Medicine: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

"Do you want assistance getting down?" Yoromishtali asks Duncan while looking over the edge of the roof. He kneels and checks the soldier to make sure he's dead. "I guess we have a sniper rifle now...There's probably stairs we could use to get back down." If Duncan doesn't want help, Yoromishtali will bring the corpse down to the square.

"I think I can gie doon the way I came up. It won't be such a problem when dobbers are nae shootin' at me as I dae it."

He picks up the sniper rifle and any ammo he can find, plus he takes the helmet to listen for messages from the garrison. "Mind if I take this? I was trained in sniper rifles ance upon a time."

With that he starts to climb back down. Will take 10 for a result of 15. He's open to negotiations with others who may want the sniper rifle.

When he gets down, he loads the sniper rifle and keeps watch for more soldiers and listens for radio chatter.

Once the colonists are not likely to expire immediately without care, Neap made a cursory check of the gear. It was unlikely that there would have been anything significant on the soldiers that would help in the current situation, but they checked anyway. Once things calmed down, they would be helping the injured to somewhere where they could heal. Once they were done, it was with some fatigue evident in the looser shape of the body and the movements that seemed less precise.

The colony now seems quiet. There is no sign of the Azlanti, other than the hulking, brutal barracks that stands in the center of the colony.

Most of the colonists are now back in their own pre-fab shelters.

Neap, with the help others, is able to assist two colonists who were injured while they fought the soldier. Jellik also should make it, despite life-threatening injuries.

Sadly, one of the brave colonists, a human named Phivnar, could not be saved. The Azlanti soldier knew what he was doing with his knife, and was brutally efficient with it.

You are summoned to Aibretta's junkyard. A few of the other colonists you have met are there.

"Well done, a'body!" Duncan says as he helps with the wounded. "The rest o' the rats'll be holed up in their garrison. They're next!"

Duncan helps with the transfer of the wounded, although he himself has a couple of nasty knife wounds. He doesn't complain but he will need healing if he is to be in top shape to attack the garrison.

Was Duncan able to find any sniper rounds on the Azlanti using it? How many weapons, batteries, and/or ammo did we collect all told?

Duncan is down 8 hp.

Yoromishtali retrieves his doshko by kneeling before it. He places one hand on his chest and the other hand on the doshko. He is silent a moment then chants in vesk.

From his kneeling position, Yoromishtali bows to the doshko, takes the shaft, and stands. He turns off his video recorder. Not wanting to be caught unaware, he stands at a building's corner, watching for any response from the garrison.

When summoned, he arrives with the others at Aibretta's junkyard.

Yoromishtali is down nine sp.

With the fighting done and the last sticky webbing gone, Thak dives into assistance and cleanup, with a special eye toward gear, weapons, and ammunition to help them finish kicking the Aslanti off the planet.

Along the way, he helps a couple of the colonists check for wounds and offers words of encouragement all around.

As the scene gets quiet, Thak joins his companions at Aibretta’s.

GM Q — I’ll second Duncan’s question about what we found on the Azlanti soldiers. Likewise, I’m assuming the colonists stashed the soldiers’ bodies somewhere so they aren’t cluttering up town square. Once we're at Aibretta's, Thak is all for a 10 minute rest to reset his Inspiring Boost ability.

Here is a list of gear you find on the soldiers: 3x troop ceremonial plate, 2x standard taclash, 3x survival knife, 3x tactical semi-auto pistol with 9 small arm rounds, and one Azlanti sniper rifle (the equivalent of a tactical shirren eye rifle) with 10 rounds.

BACK AT AIBRETTA'S, a sweet scene plays out. Aibretta now embraces her ex-husband tightly. "You're such a complete idiot, but I still love you! Don't you ever do such a stupid thing again! I still need you around here, even if you do get on my nerves!"

Jellik seems like he is going to be okay, in large part due to Neap's healing magic.

The lashunta Goraya Li, along with Ludvar Cresk (his voicebox now working properly) also join you in Aibretta's pre-fab.

Goraya addresses all of you. "It's time to take the fight to the Azlanti. Are you ready to clear out the barracks?"

Jellik interrupts, "I think I rigged the back door so you can hack it...I would have had it open, but they caught me. Hopefully you can finish the job..." Jellik grunts in pain and shifts uncomfortably on the couch he is laying on.

Duncan rests while securing the sniper rounds so he can load the rifle as needed. Spends 1 RP to recover stamina.

"We're pretty skelped a' the moment," he says, glancing at the knife wounds he received. "Might be best ta rest an' recoover a wee bit afore we attack."

What sort of healing resources do we have? We've thinned out the soldiers a good bit, so they may not venture out, waiting for reinforcements from elsewhere. It would be good if we could start with full hp and spell casters with all their spells.

Yoromishtali will take one of the pistols if one is unclaimed. Probably a good idea to have a back-up ranged weapon.

"I like the idea of recovering from that fight before storming the garrison," Yoromishtali says. He examines the weapons won in battle paying particular attention to one of the semi-automatic pistols.

"I don't know. They may expect a counter-strike right away so waiting will make them more on edge. I'm trying to put myself in their position." He looks at Aibretta and Goraya, "Do you know anything about who is in charge for the Azlanti?"

Chiaiese takes one of the pistols and a share of the ammunition.

As she relaxes at Aibretta's, having patched her wounds, she looks out across the landscape, dusk having reclaimed much of the color from an otherwise beautiful world. It's almost easy to forget, in this moment of relative quiet, that this world is enslaved, and the small group of aliens, of which she is a member, is the last hope for freedom.

She chewed a mega vitamin and washed it down with a glass of fresh milk, then rejoined the others inside.

"I don't know. They may expect a counter-strike right away so waiting will make them more on edge. I'm trying to put myself in their position." He looks at Aibretta and Goraya, "Do you know anything about who is in charge for the Azlanti?"

Goraya answers. "A weedy little Azlanti named Olaraja is the one I have seen most often lately. I'm pretty sure he uses magic."

Aibretta makes a suggestion. "I agree that rest may be a good thing--and that includes you too, my dear Jellik! We can have a few of us colonists keep an eye on the barracks for any movement while all of you get a bite to eat and get some shuteye. You all did good work today." The emotion of the day suddently gets to Aibretta as she tears up and turns away from all of you.

Once Duncan has recovered a bit, he volunteers to take the sniper rifle and climb up onto the roof of the workshop to keep watch for enemies approaching, fearing the Azlantis may send out another reprisal attack. If there are colonists willing to do that, he'll eat and rest, the quicker to be ready for the final, he hopes, attack.

If we have any healing magic left, use it all up before resting. Duncan is down 8 hp and Yoro is down 9.

Aibretta makes a suggestion. ”I agree that rest may be a good thing--and that includes you too, my dear Jellik! We can have a few of us colonists keep an eye on the barracks for any movement while all of you get a bite to eat and get some shuteye. You all did good work today.” The emotion of the day suddently gets to Aibretta as she tears up and turns away from all of you.

Thak involuntarily moves one paw over his chest at he looks at each member of the team. He finally turns back to Aibretta. He hurts over their physical wounds, but he also feels the emotional trauma Aibretta and Jellik went through today.

For a moment he sees Nip’s intense green eyes looking at him with concern. I’ll have so much to tell you when I get home, my waif. And yes, I know… ‘be careful’.

“A rest sounds good for everyone. I’ll take first watch.”

No healing items recorded for Thak, but didn’t we get some healing goodies off someone early in this? It’s a dim memory…

Seeing the severe injuries that Duncan and Yoro have, Goraya produces two serums of healing (Mk 1) and gives one each to the two.

Otherwise, you may rest. Remember, you get your level back in HP after a long rest. You may set watches if you like. As noted, the colonists, now emboldened, will assist keeping watch on the barracks.

With the wounded tended to and spirits surprisingly high, Sevens claims an out-of-the-way surface and dumps their laser rifle into it, tapping their exo-cortex and connecting it to their datapad, preparing to run a full diagnostic on the rifle - In the heat of combat their shooting had been sub-par at best, and that needed to change before the fight against the barracks.

There's something making the diagnostics and repairs difficult, and Sevens finds than they can't stop flexing their hands into fists. Their jaw hurts. Anger? No, not quite, but similar.

Frustration.

Sevens sighs and huffs and stands, pacing in a small space as they attempt to process the difficult emotions and the effects on their sense of self.

We'll get some good RP out of those dice rolls. Silver lining!

Duncan thanks Goraya and takes one of the serums. When Yoro has the other, Duncan uncaps it and holds it up, and says to Yoro, "Довге життя і мертві вороги!" Then he drinks it down in one gulp.

Healing Serum Mk 1: 1d8 ⇒ 3

He checks his knife wounds. One was healed completely and the other still felt a bit tender but was not much of a hinderance. After resting his hp will be 13/16.

Yoromisthali pounds his chest, "To dead enemies!" and drinks the serum down. He closes his eyes and breathes deeply as if focusing on the healing sensations coursing through his body.

Healing Serum Mk 1: 1d8 ⇒ 1

He inspects his injuries and does a few practice punches and one kick. "Well, I'm off to sleep. I'll feel better in the morning." He heads out the door to sleep in the junk yard, like he did the night before.

After resting he'll have 14/20.

Neap was sitting calmly once they returned, the form floating in that humanoid shape of water, inspecting some of the weapons that they had taken from the Azlanti patrols. Their commlink was active as they raised an arm over the weapons that were laid out, and smaller tendrils descended to disassemble the weapons one by one, and then reassembling them until the motion was smooth. Each time, the smaller tendrils got thinner and thinner until they reached a point where it seemed that they were too thin to manipulate the items. Then the item was cleaned, reassembled, and stowed.

As everyone began to turn in for the evening, Neap gathered the medkit that they had in their pack and went to check on the most injured of them. What was different than the last time was that they seemed to be within a faintly visible cloud that extended a few feet away from their body. Politely, the voice that ever-so-barely reached their mind, as if not wanting to intrude, spoke. "Hσɯ αɾҽ ყσυɾ ɯσυɳԃʂ?"

If allowed, they would administer what treatment they could, which mostly amounted to making sure the wound was clean and covered. For Yoro, whose wounds were more severe, their mental voice was heard offering, "Oɳƈҽ ɱσɾҽ? I ɯιʅʅ ƚɾყ ʂσɱҽƚԋιɳɠ ԃιϝϝҽɾҽɳƚ."

Provided Yoro gave his assent, the faint cloud seemed to extend and envelop him, facilitating healing like the last time, though the display was a bit different. After a short amount of time, the majority of the cloud that had surrounded Yoro returned to Neap, shrinking into the form until they had disappeared.

"Iɱρɾσʋҽԃ?", Yoro could hear their voice ask in his head.
____________________________________
That's what I was waiting on. +5 HP to Yoro from Healing Touch delivered via Cloud Array.
Neap will also be claiming one of the spare Hunting Rifles, and Pistols from their previous caches.
Medicine@Duncan: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Medicine@Yoro: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Morning's Megavitamin: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4

"You know, in the frenzy of battle, feeling adrenaline, I didn't feel too bad," Yoromishtali says. "It was only after that I realized how wounded I was. Maybe I'm too accustomed to getting punched and kicked I don't realize when I'm actually starting to get really injured." He looks at his hands. "I'm willing to try anything you suggest. You're the healer."

As Neap begins to envelope him in a faint cloud, the vesk closes his eyes. He sits calmly, gently breathing.

"Oh, much better!" Yoromishtali says as if startled from a reverie. "Thank you for the healing, Neap. That was peaceful, soothing. That's the word: soothing. It's hard to describe exactly. Like a dry shower?" He exhales slowly, sounding content.

The following morning, Aibretta wakes you with hot coffee and some freshly baked bread. Jellik is resting comfortably, but he wanted to tell you something important--JELLIK! I told you I would tell them!"

But it's too late. Jellik emerges from one of the bedrooms. Remember, the back door! I think you can get through with just a little work. I left some of the wiring exposed, so you should be able to get right to work."

Aibretta ushers Jellik back to the bedroom.

Placing your tokens on the slide, northeast corner of map.

The doors, along with most of the garrison building, appears to be starship-grade material. It would be very hard to blast your way through. The easiest way is probably going to be to hack your way in.

True to his word, Jellik has been at work back here. The pad is exposed. Strangely, the exposed wiring appears to be chewed. Could have those critters you let loose done this?

We're looking for a decent computers check here. Both Jellik and the hobgars have probably helped you here.

Chiaiese wakes a little sore and with a headache, which she quickly chalks up to mild dehydration. Fortunately they have a wonderful host, and after a couple glasses of water, fresh bread and a steaming mug of deliciously bitter black coffee, she feels more of her old self. She can feel the electricity returned to her fingers, at any rate.

She smiles at Aibretta's wonderfully loud but caring way of running the resistance out of her own home, and realizes that she will miss it when all is said and done. Today might be the day for the festivities to reach a crescendo.

The garrison building is indeed formidable, and the incident at the square yesterday has left Chiaiese wary. The Azlanti would not be removed easily, and she would need to conserve her magic. Luckily, the first test has already been laid bare by Jellik, and with a twist of wire, she jacks into the security for the back door.

Computers: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32

The task is simple. A good omen, perhaps. She steps aside to let the warriors in the group enter first. "After you," she says quietly.

Duncan wakes and checks his wounds, which he is pleased to discover have healed except for a few tender spots. He checks that his weapons have a full load of ammo and readies for the assault on the garrison. "'Member, they have some o' our people in there, so we need ta be quick an' efficient, so they don't try to use 'em as hostages."

When Chiaiese begins to work on the door lock, Duncan watches and kibitzes as she works, although she seems to know what she is doing.

Computers, aid: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

With that extra healing Yoro is 19/20 hp.

Yoromishtali stands near the others as Chiaiese and Duncan hack the door. He breathes quietly while listening to the ambient noises. Is that a hobgar in the distance? He's in a neutral stance, holding his doshko horizontally at his waist.

"Thank you, Chiaiese," Yoromishtali says before opening the door. "We all have our strengths. If we stay focused, I think we will claim victory."

He steps inside the building and hurries to stand next to a door fifteen feet, doshko ready to be unleashed.

I placed Yoro's token inside.

Sevens had spent as much time as they could spare calibrating and re-calibrating their rifle, stopping only to borrow some of the items taken from the Azlanti, calculating the value with intention to repay should it be required, and making a little time to attempt to socialize before the mission.

Rested and shaking off their sullen mood, Sevens triple-checks everything during the trip to the garrison and keeps their datapad in hand while watching Chiaiese and Duncan handle the wiring on the entry pad, impressed at how effective and effortless they made it seem as the door slid open.

Knowing their strengths Sevens steps aside near Chiaiese to let the stronger fighters past, slipping their Datapad safely away and looking down the hall with their rifle.

I don't know if Paizo is borked or if it's at my end, but I keep dropping posts, so here's to this one sticking. I moved my token a little on the map but don't want to crowd out anyone just yet.

This wide room features a single blank screen on the south wall. A stout metal door in the east wall has an unlit red light above it(this is the one you just came through)(. Two other doors—one near the heavy door and other in the west wall—are smaller and labeled with vivid green letters.

The screen on the south wall cycles through various surveillance pictures and short video clips.

They're all of the six of you. Apparently you've made an impression.

Taking a closer look at the surveillance videos, Chiaiese notices her posterior is a bit more plump than she is accustomed to.

Gotta cut back on Aibretta's cooking, she thinks to herself.

Duncan enters with his semi-autokmatic pistol in one hand and his sword cane in the other, ready for anything, he hopes. Inside, he points to the green writing and translates. Pointing to the east wall, he whispers, "Supplies" The west wall, "Barracks."

Duncan points at the barracks door, sheathes his sword cane and grips his pistol with both hands, ready to fire once the door is open. He gestures for Yoromishtali to try the door.

If it matters, he still has one of the trooper helmets attached to his pack, in case it has some kind of transponder that might trigger doors to open.

"Can we find out where Cedonna and the other hostages are and can we transfer those images to our comm?" Yoromisthali asks pointing to the screen. "I'd really like that for my personal archives."

Yoromishtali gives a quick nod to Duncan. The vesk waits for everyone to get into position with weapons or magic ready before attempting to open the door.

Before Yoro opens the door, Duncan points to the computer terminal and then to Chiaiese. "Can you locate the prisoners or maybe link to a camera system?"

There isn't really a terminal in this area, just a screen that cycles through surveillance pictures of all of you, starting with the battle that took place just outside of the settlement right after you met Jellik.

There most likely is not a way here to find out the location or disposition of prisoners.

I will give until tomorrow (Wednesday) for everyone to make a post and position your tokens. Then it seems like the plan is to open the barracks door and enter SWAT-team style.

Chiaiese draws her survival knife. She won't be caught off guard this time.

Duncan positions himself opposite the door, with his pistol drawn, sword in his other hand. He suggests Yoromishtali enter first. Duncan will advance behind him and try to make ranged attacks at any he can hit.

Sevens carefully approaches the screen cycling through their appearances. Apparently they hadn't been as hidden as first thought during the beginnings of the occupation. A mistake. Nothing that could be done about it now.

Rifle in hand and giving Duncan and Yoro space, Sevens is ready to provide support, one hand quickly tapping at the knife they'd borrowed - with hope they won't have to use it.

I have attempted to move my token using my phone, it should be opposite Chiaiese.

Yoromishtali looks at the camera in the center of his chest armor. With a hissing sigh of disappointment, he turns it on. "Thanks Neap."

Maybe it's a good thing I'm so focused on this that I forgot to turn on the camera, he thinks. ...And I don't always forget. I remembered yesterday when we rescued Jellick.

Duncan is glad Yoro will be recording the encounter. So little is known about the Azlanti that any information obtained from these encounters is bound to be highly sought after and valuable, particularly to the Starfinders and the Pact World governments. He plans to try to study and document what he can of their computer systems and engineering techniques, but that will have to wait for victory in the upcoming battle, which he knows is far from assured.

He returns his thoughts to his center of gravity, bring his mind to his core and preparing to fight without thinking about the future or the past, as his martial arts teachers taught him.