GM Quirk's AGAINST THE AEON THRONE (Inactive)

Game Master Quirk, Private Eye

Yoromishtali keeps his focus on the missile’s interception with the drone. He readies to launch another missile should it be necessary. As he watches the telemetry data on his screen, he becomes convinced it won't hit. Another deep breath, then he launches another missile.

Anton, if you want to use the turret/laser net, go for it.

Anton, if you want to use the turret/laser net, go for it.

And so, just as Anton was thinking about doing some SCIENCE! to the problem at hand, Chiaiese's strong suggestion (and that woman can make some strong suggestions!) that he instead take a more immediate and palbable action moves him to RACE into the cushioned gunner's chair in the turret and see if the short-range laser net could help their chances of survival!

Gunning at Yellow!: 1d20 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 3 = 10 Fffffffffffffffffff...

Thak rakes the nearest drone with coilgun fire, causing it to trail debris. It won't be able to take another hit like that.

You continue to have poor luck with your missiles.

Perhaps you should consider SURGERY on one of the two remaining missiles. Kidding. That's my pop culture reference for today.

Please see slide 2. If your starship role indicates you act in one of the BOLD phases below, please go ahead with your action. Please remember that the captain might possibly act in any of these phases. Also, if you want to try out one of the alternate starship roles (magic officer, chief mate, etc.), feel free to go if appropriate. ROUND 4.

Anton, you acted as science officer in round three. You may act as gunner in the new round (4) if you wish.

1. Engineering phase.
2. Helm phase.
a. Piloting check for initiative
b. Movement and Additional piloting checks for maneuvers
c. Science Officer
3. Gunnery Phase

So far you have taken 19 hull points. Yellow has taken 9.

Thak can practically feel the drone shudder as his shot finally lands home.

“Yes! Now, let’s do that again with feeling.”

Having to track both of those drones was beginning to wear on Neap, though thankfully the damage that was done was nothing that they could not handle. It looked like they were registering a few hits, though it seemed like the missiles were not performing as anticipated.
____________________________________________

Are you making me keep my old roll?

Yoromishtali tightens his vocal chords, emitting a low rumble, as he attempts to get a better missile lock on the far drone. Careful, he thinks. They’re not unlimited. Patience. He looks at the drone’s delta-v compared to the Fomalhaut’s. Nodding as the numbers change moment to moment. Now, he thinks pushing the launch command.

”Launching another missile!” the vesk calls out.

Yellow rolled low, so I have moved it. It's now Neap's turn to move the Fomalhaut, then I'll move red. You may continue with other checks, including Anton's gunnery and Chiaiese's captain action.

Please see slide 2. If your starship role indicates you act in one of the BOLD phases below, please go ahead with your action. Please remember that the captain might possibly act in any of these phases. Also, if you want to try out one of the alternate starship roles (magic officer, chief mate, etc.), feel free to go if appropriate. ROUND 4.

1. Engineering phase.
2. Helm phase.
a. Piloting check for initiative[/b]
b. Movement and Additional piloting checks for maneuvers
c. Science Officer
3. Gunnery Phase

So far you have taken 19 hull points. Yellow has taken 9.

It took a little bit of maneuvering, but Neap managed to get more distance on one of the drones, positioning them so that the both of them were in the forward arc of the Fomalhaut. The rest was up to the crew.
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Piloting(Evade@13): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

The red-painted drone charges forward, ending up on your starboard side.

With that in mind, Thak's shot will target Red. Yoro's missile shot will target yellow, and Anton can point the turret wherever he would like (though note that yellow would have a -2 range increment penalty to hit). I believe we're just waiting for the Captain's post, along with Anton's shot.

Both drones fire.

to hit, yellow with range penalty, then red: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 5 - 2 = 161d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

damage, yellow then red: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 1) = 52d4 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5

That's 10 more and another critical damage effect.

crit roll: 1d100 ⇒ 33

That's weapons again.

which arc: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Missiles are now glitching.

"Anton - don't miss."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 Demand action: +4 to hit

The screen flickers and digital fragments obscure the targeting icon after the latest hit to the Fomalhaut. Yoromishtali laughs, ”What else can go wrong?” Deep breath, do your best, and anticipate where the drone will be – where its flight path will intersect the missle’s.

"Is it supposed to work better if I close my eyes?" Anton accidentally wonders out loud before firing at the nearest ship.

Guns!: 1d20 + 2 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 3 + 4 = 14
Damage!: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 4) = 9

You just have to laugh, otherwise you'll cry. On the plus side, Yoro's missile will hit yellow this round, so yay!

With Chiaiese's hard-line management style in full effect, Anton takes control of the turret and hits the nearest drone.

In addition to this, one of the missiles finally hits, finishing the second drone.

Combat is over.

Technically, since the gunnery phase happens at the same time, the missile was not glitching at the time Yoro fired it. That said, there is no reason for us to keep throwing dice at each other. I should be getting back in the groove after the family events of this past weekend. We'll see if you can set the Fomalhaut down on the planet surface in posts tonight or tomorrow.

Yoromishtali bellows in celebration as the drones are destroyed. ”Well done! My performance was substandard. I will practice more on the way back to Absalom Station.

"Yeah! Did you see me? I totally participated!"

A ripple of color passed over the Stellifera, an equivalent for a sigh of relief, as the display indicated that there were no further targets. Still, that raised the question of who would put drones out, and why. They did have a bay on the ship that could make use of anything they could salvage in time, it would be a shame not to attempt it.

/"Viable Salvage?"/, came the next query, popping up on Anton's station.

Just as Osamiri voices this, there is an explosion.

Both drones self destruct.

Although there isn't much worth salvaging, you can scan the wreckage.

The targeting display lights Thak’s fur as the crew’s onslaught tears into the drones. Then it suddenly glows bright as the self-destruct systems go off.

“Whoa... didn't expect that. Someone doesn't want us to know who they are.”

His fingers move deftly over the panel controls, engaging the ship’s digital eyes to probe the remains of the drones. "Scanning...

Computers check for salvage scan: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Dear dice roller, we need to get your priorities in sync with the plot. Sincerely, me

“Nothing much left to see out there, but there’s also no drift technology. Looks like these were dropped from a larger ship. We’ll need to keep our eyes open.”

”Could they have been from the colony? Maybe malfunctioning?” Yoromishtali says. He leaves the weapons station and goes to his berth. He inspects himself in the mirror, cleaning his scales, making sure his clothes are clean.

recap:

The sensors light up and the pair of small ships appear on an intercept course. "Drones," she quickly surmises. "I've seen these before - or ships like them. Azlanti Star Empire attack drones. Red alert - Weapons stations!"

/negative/ Anton types back, confirming Thak's scan. "But yeah, Thak, it seems that some very not-nice evil empire planted these around the one planet we were trying to go to. What are the odds?

Anyway, it's in the past. Um, I can fix the ship, but it might take awhile. Do we wanna put in at a starport and get going, or try to fix it in orbit, or....?"

Anton might know a lot about fixing starships, but he's never actually done it before.

{"That planet is our destination. Does the colony remain?}

There was a scroll of coordinates across the main screen, the location given for their delivery destination. Hostile drones greeting arrivals put some uncertainty into the idea of them landing directly at the indicated location, just in case things were worse.

"Well done, team." Chiaiese sits heavily in the command chair and pats the console. The ship took a beating but got them through.

"I'll help you take a look at the damage, Anton. It would be good to have weapons systems online in case we need them again."

Chiaiese heads for the port coilgun, engineering toolkit in hand, and attempts a bush fix to get the weapon functioning in the event that more drones show up.

The systems of the Fomalhaut were familiar; all that time on her father's flagship had prepared her for moments like these. She took time to reflect on her performance in the command chair. She had been demanding of the crew, perhaps too much so, and given it was everyone's first time in a starfight, the team had performed respectably, and rose to the moment when the situation was most dire. They deserved some downtime, but she doubted they would get it.

Engineering: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31

A few things become apparent as you drop out of orbit.

First, any attempt to contact the settlement fails. Your comms only show some sort of modulated static on all channels.

Nakondis is a forest planet draped in perpetual fog so you can’t visually see the settlement of Madelon’s Landing as they fly above the landscape.

By using their ship’s sensors, the PCs can detect the general layout of the settlement and determine that it contains just over 100 humanoid life forms, most of which are human.

With the ship currently in not-falling-apart status, Anton resumes the familiar territory of the science-officer station to get ready for planetfall.

Computers!: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Engineering!: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

"Um, Captain?" Anton calls out, mostly because he's always wanted to say that. "Not only are there no response to hails, but Madelon's Landing is running, uh, military-grade interference."

He keeps scanning, becoming one with the ship's primitive scanners to glean data from what is, or is not, getting picked up.

"Also, they've sort of got, uh, a fortress in their town center with impressive anti-air capabilities.

Let's not land there."

Culture dc 17: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Yoromishtali watches the monitors with Anton’s explanation of what the sensors reveal. ”This isn’t what we signed up for,” the vesk says with a resigned throat rattling sigh. ”Any identifiers about who it might be?” Please don’t be the veskarium.

”I’m back in a gunnery station, until we land.”

{"Any good landing options nearby? Preferably under their range?"}

Neap was definitely uncertain about their approach if those guns were active. This was already more interaction with a planet than they were used to, so the relevant functions that Anton and Chialese were performing were over their head. To be fair, they were certainly anxious about what was to come, but this was already outside their realm of comfort.

Cubber peeks out of his pocket in Thak's armor and yaps once at the misty display screen image.

“I know. Looks pretty, but something’s not right down there. Well, I did promise you an interesting trip, you know.”

With a couple of thin whines, Cubber rearranges himself in the pocket, his eyes shifting between Thak and the screen.

Thak’s fingers move across the console, checking the weapon systems and scanners in case more drones show up. He gives Cubber some quick ear scritches, his eyes never leaving the screen displays.

I don’t like it either, buddy. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

Cleaning the grease from her hands, she packs her tool kit and returns to the bridge to join her companions for the landing.

Culture: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

"That's interesting. The style and apparent function of those buildings are representative of the Azlanti Star Empire - same as the drones we just encountered. Cedona, what did you get us into?"

She stands behind the command chair, fingers flexing into the cushioned seat. "Anton, give us a safe place to set down. Neap, begin landing procedure at those coordinates."

She watches Thak tend to Cubber, then remembers what he asked her before all the excitement."Please, Thak, call me Chasey."
Apologies for the delayed response!

"Uh, those guns are bad, but the fog is good. I'd recommend we just land outside their range and hoof it in. Better late than never."

Anton tries to get an idea of the land outside the guns' range where they might land.

Computers!: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

There is a clearing a few miles outside of the settlement. It's just big enough for the Fomalhaut to set down on.

It will be about a one hour walk toward the settlement. You may make whatever preparations and take whatever precautions you deem necessary for this walk. Just let me know.

Setting down in the clearing, Neap took stock of the situation and considered options. They still had a delivery to complete, and though this was a somewhat significant snag in the intended plan, putting a mark on their record was not a favorable outcome.

Cedona had helped them gain recognition, and not the public kind either, so seeing this through was an imperative.

As the ship was run through all of the landing procedures, and the power down procedures were running, they set to what had become routine for them— getting their daily nutrition. {"Dailies are done"}, they announced over the intercom.

It had been noted back at Absalom station that the production systems for this ship were incredibly basic, due to the choice to supply the nutrition system with the simplest ingredients. That also meant that they were the longest-lasting, but that was it. The nutri-cubes produced were bland and tasteless. In fact, it was Thak that noticed it first and brought it to light, which prompted Neap to demonstrate the reason for it.

The small blue spheres that were produced by the Stellifera's watery body shimmered as if there were a galaxy contained within them, and when ingested, they popped. Startling at first, but the taste of the contents were not what was expected. Refreshing and satisfying, the flavor came and went— tangible, significant, but indescribable.
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Megavitamin: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5 vitamins produced.
Megavitamin boba? Yuuuuuup.

Once they landed, Yoromishtali doesn’t waste any time in donning his armor. He adds some dehydrated meat and a water bottle into his backpack. His puts his doshko in the holder to keep it on his left flank, so he can use his rifle as they make their way towards the town. Making sure his camera works, he adds it to the mount at the base of neck.

”I’m taking a little food and water, just in case we can’t come back to the ship for a day or two,” he comms to the rest of the ship. ”I’m ready to leave.”

Although the forests of Nakondis are dense and misty, the fungal undergrowth is light and doesn’t impede overland movement. There does seem to be some sort of trail, so perhaps the residents of Madelon's Landing have come this way before.

The most pervasive feature of this area is the soupy fog. It carries with it a faint electrical charge. While it doesn't seem to be dangerous, your skin does tingle. You vision is also limited here.

The rules for fog are in effect here. Basically, creatures further than 5' away have concealment (20% miss chance). Darkvision does not help you here.

There are sounds of wildlife that come from the forest surrounding the trail. You would guess the sounds mainly belong to birds and insects.

Go ahead and arrange your tokens on slide #2 in marching order you would like to use for now. Position yourselves on the west (left) side of the map.

I took the liberty of arranging us on the map, figuring Yoro and Chiaiese should be in front.

Chiaiese closes her eyes and inhales deeply. The heavy atmosphere and dense vegetation remind her of home. She can almost hear herself laughing with her sister on pilgrimage to the Shrines of Biskoova. But this place was very far from the jungles of Castrovel, and the fog did nothing to quiet her unease. Literally anything could be hiding only feet away, ready to pounce. She held tightly to her knife, a spell on her lips.

While they walk, Chiaiese focuses on what she can recall from her studies of the Azlanti Star Empire.

Recall Knowledge (Culture): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

Periodically, in an effort to deter hidden predators, she throws a sound of a growling Great Ursaur.

Cast Ghost Sound (continuously, at a distance of 25' to the SE)

Content to travel behind Yoromishtali, Neap was relishing the chance to refresh the moisture that comprised their external body. The fog was terrible for vision, but the moisture was something else. It was a unique feeling, as they got a sense of this region, offering brief tips and insights where they thought it may be helpful to keep them headed in the correct direction for the settlement.
_______________________________
Survival: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

The perpetual mist refuses to let up, though you do find that this path remains clear, giving you an easily followed route toward the settlement.

Chiaiese's magic creates an interesting sound that is perhaps somewhat muffled by the fog, though no less audible to all of you and anything nearby. You do notice that the sound of nearby birds has quieted somewhat since Chiaiese began casting her spells.

Suddenly, to your left there are several small animals. They seem tentative, but they hoot and screech loudly.

Chiaiese, your spell was a good idea. Though these things are too curious about all of you to simply avoid you or run away, your magic did make them pause, negating any chance to surprise you.

As the first one approaches you, you see that they are the size of a small dog, no more than 10 pounds. They seem vaguely simian in appearance. There may be several up in the trees to your left, though the mist makes it hard to be sure.

Yellow runs forward, crawls up Yoro's tail, and attempts to take something from his backpack or pocket.

to hit: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Yoro, you will take no damage, but the creature has your personal comm unit.

Bold may go. Please remember that anything further than 5' away has concealment. The black and blue creatures are perched up in trees, about 10' high. I'll put a picture on the slide.

1. Yellow
2. Anton
3. Chiaiese
4. Red
5. Orange
6. Thak
7. Black
8. Neap
9. Yoro
10. Blue

Catch-up post — disembarking

Cubber lays on the bunk, watching Thak go through his preparations for the walk to the outpost. His movements look a little jerky, as if he has too much energy and his muscles don’t know what to do with it all.

“I don’t like this, Cubber. Something’s very wrong. These Azlanti people shouldn’t be here. And why are they here? This isn’t a military outpost or a strategic location. It’s… nowhere. It doesn’t make any sense.”

He looks in the mirror and gives himself a quick pat-down equipment check. Satisfied, he moves to the bed and holds out his arm. “Up and in.” The squox jumps onto Thak’s arm and climbs up to his pocket, pausing on his way to lick and nuzzle Thak’s face.

“Hehe… I love you too. Now c’mon, they’re waiting.”

Walking down from the ship onto the misty planet, Thak thinks for a moment, then draws and checks his pulse caster pistol. He takes a place in the party line as the crew moves into the fog, keeping a wary eye out for danger.

Cubber’s head and front paws stick out of the pouch, looking at everything and sniffing the air warily.

Anton felt uneasy as soon as his foot touched the planet. He was used to having wizard tech around him, with plastcrete walks and neon lights. This whole 'nature' thing seemed too...natural.

When the group is arranged into a marching order and he finds that he's forced to walk behind the shapely form of Chiaiese, he seems to relax.

As the party is accosted by kleptomaniac monkeys, Anton is caught wrong-footed.

"Are, are we killing these things? They look like the live in trees, which isn't natural, and we should probably wipe them out. For civilization. But I just wanna be sure."

Chiaiese can feel Anton's eyes on her during the trek. Part of the job; it wasn't her fault second skin armor was so revealing. And what the hell, it was hard work staying thin and toned, so she took it as a compliment, so long as it didn't distract him from the job at hand.

Which maybe what just happened.

While Anton recomposes himself, Chiaiese launches a trio of magic missiles at one of the oversized vermin attacking the group.

Magic missile at Red: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 4, 1) + 3 = 11

'Wow. It's no wonder they call it "second skin,"' Anton thinks.

His reverie is broken by a barrage of arcane violence. "Oh, so we are killing these things. Ya, that seems right. Stupid un-natural tree-dwellers."

He couldn't engineer trees, so he couldn't understand trees. And you always fear, what you don't understand.

*beep?*

"Yep, let's let 'em up, Viv!"

Anton reacts to violence the way he reacts to most things--he builds something.

Move action to build barricade on north edge.

Then the firing starts.

Shoot!: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Damage!: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Viv Shoot!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Damage!: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Viv Shoot!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Damage!: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Chiaiese deals with one of the pests with extreme prejudice. It won't be climbing anymore trees.

The hail of gunfire from Anton and his drone is much less effective. One bullet grazes one of the creatures.

Anton, were these attacks vs. EAC or KAC? And which one were you targeting?

One of the little creatures creeps forward and begins to gyrate in a most peculiar manner. Suddenly it erupts with electricity, and an arc hits Chiaiese!

to hit: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
electrical damage: 1d3 ⇒ 1

Bold may go. Please remember that anything further than 5' away has concealment. The black and blue creatures are perched up in trees, about 10' high. I'll put a picture on the slide. Planning to come back to black at the end of the round. Round 1.

1. Yellow
2. Anton
3. Chiaiese (-1)
4. Red (DEAD)
5. Orange
6. Thak
7. Black
8. Neap
9. Yoro
10. Blue

With the mist so thick, it was not until there was the sound of some sort of conflict going on just ahead that Neap stepped forward to see what it was. Some sort of lifeform that was an annoyance at best and only truly dangerous in numbers, it seemed. Probably best to attempt to drive it off, otherwise they'd have no peace.

A fist sized globe globe of water shot off of their hydrobody, aimed directly at the nuisance they could see, impacting with the creature to some effect.
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TK Projectile@Yellow(KAC): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14, Damage(B): 1d6 ⇒ 1

The ape-thing moved out of the mist so quickly that by the time Thak turned to look at it, the creature was leaping off Yoro’s tail with something clutched in its paws.

“Wha—? Did that thing just steal your comm unit, Yoro?”

After seeing the one in front of Chasey zap her with an electrical shock, Thak draws his other pistol and lines up a shot on the closest thief.

Besides, it might be good to have my hands on both guns if these things get grabby again.

Move action to draw the skip shotpistol. Shooting at yellow.

Skipshot vs Yellow KAC: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4 Piercing

“Damn!”
“Yip!! Grrrr...”

It disappears into the fog again.

”What?!” Yoromishtali exclaims as his comm is stolen. He had underestimated how quick they could be.

”This one did it!” he says to Thak. Using the laser rifle’s stock as a club, he attempts to hit the creature, hoping it will drop his property. ”Be thankful this isn’t my doshko.” He isn’t sure how much honor there is in killing this creature, but he doesn’t think there would be much. Plus he’s reluctant to fire his rifle in case there are enemy soldiers near.

melee attack with rifle stock (improvised weapon) vs Yellow KAC: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 5 - 4 = 5

Standard action: melee attack
Move action: move five feet to be side-to-side with the yellow square

Anton, were these attacks vs. EAC or KAC? And which one were you targeting?

Apologies. We're all shooting guns, so KAC. And targeting the closest one, so, Yellow?

We can't forget we're in this pea-soup mist. 20% miss chance for any hit. miss chance for Chiaiese, orange, viv, and Neap: 1d5 ⇒ 31d5 ⇒ 21d5 ⇒ 51d5 ⇒ 4 All hits!

In this increasingly chaotic situation, Neap still manages to graze the larcenous creature with his magic.

Yoro and Thak are less accurate.

The two creatures up in the tree climb down and attack!

Black attempts to bite Neap.

to hit: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Blue arcs electricity toward Yoro.]
to hit: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
damage: 1d3 ⇒ 1
miss chance: 1d5 ⇒ 3

Those are misses!

The larcenous creature scampers away with Yoro's comm unit and climbs a nearby tree. You can just make it out through the mists...

Bold may go. Please remember that anything further than 5' away has concealment. I'll put a picture on the slide. Planning to come back to black at the end of the round. Round 1, start of 2.

1. Yellow (-2)
2. Anton
3. Chiaiese (-1)
4. Red (DEAD)
5. Orange
6. Thak
7. Neap
8. Yoro
9. Black
10. Blue