SFS 4-01 Year of the Data Scourge Intro (KS) (Inactive)

Game Master phaeton_nz

Inovu jogs over to the service vehicle. "Gather up, chaps! Can anyone pilot this contraption along the Ring Road? I imagine it's the best way to return to the Lorespire Complex without crossing paths with any more of these rogue machines!"

Arboreal scratches the back of their head sheepishly. "I am ashamed to admit that I don't know anything about computers and I never really needed to learn how drive either. I like the plan of taking the road back, though."

They then turn to the rest of the group. "But before we go, I'm a little winded but mostly unharmed, but does anyone else need to sit down for a moment?"

I took some SP damage but I have a good chunk left if we want to push on but if anyone needs a rest I'll take one as well

A ten minute rest is feasable at this stage

Jyskos is going to sit down for ten minutes and rest up and restore his stamina.

Jyskos turns to his colleagues, "Well, I can pilot the vehicle no worries at all, but Computers or Engineering? That's not for me I'm afraid! Sorry mates!"

"Bloody oath those Robots hurt though, why did they even turn on us?!"

Arboreal picks up a sugary drink from the ground near one of the machines and takes a seat next to to Jyskos to rest up for 10 minutes as well. They sip away at it for a moment then look immediately disgusted. "Well I... didn't expect this drink to be quite THIS sweet. Anyone else want the rest of these 'Diasporan Dews'?"

Darkvoid takes the can without thinking and goes to drink it before remembering his suit is sealed.
"Guess, I'll need to invest in one of those gill breathers I've seen advertised. I'm also a moderately skilled pilot and I know my way around most computer systems. Maybe if we keep the automated features offline we can make us of the transports. I'm afraid I'm not very good at mechanical work though."
He goes over to a nearby waste bin to put the drink can into the trash.

Examining the vehicles, you discover that each vehicle’s manual controls can be reset with a successful Computers or Engineering check. You can manually operate a service car with a successful Piloting check.

"Ok let's give this a try."
computers: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
"hmm no, I'm not sure that's the correct command to reset to factory default..."

T| pulls out his tool kit and takes a crack at hotwiring the vehicle.

Engineering check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

"That's not it, either...."

Both attempts cause the same tune to eminate from the radio speakers, a trumpet blowing descending notes in a 'wah wah wah wahhhhhhhhh' pattern.

Sad Trombone

"If we want to take these, I'm not gonna be of much help myself, but if one of you would take a quick jap from my gun here, I can make you a bit better."

Zamba is willing to help someone else by giving them a basic biohack, increasing their skills by +2 for this.

Arboreal stands up again after the first batch of ten minutes and starts doing some leg stretches. "Well, if those vehicles are too wrecked, I could go for a good jog through the station. I never really trusted machines much to begin with; at least my own legs I know won't break down and try to kill me."

Inovu sighs. "Quite right, looks like we'll be 'hoofing it' as the Triaxians say. We should form up, at least, lest we be ambushed by more malfunctioning drones!"

Inovu lacks Computers or Engineering, so unless Darkvoid or Tik have some kind of reroll I think we're stuck on foot.

Well is there any reason we can't try again? It's not a check to recall knowledge. Unless something was damaged by the failed attempt.

I can't see any reason why you shouldn't. Plus there are two of them.

"Ok let's just take our time...careful with the red wires...they're....they're all red...okaaaaaay."
computers: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

It takes a bit of fiddling, but between the two of you, you are able to get manual control of one of the service cars. So now, who's driving?

"I think I'm the best pilot here, at least on paper." The ysoki takes the controls and does adequately at guiding the vehicle around.

Piloting +10.

Piloting check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

Jyskos hops in the co-pilot seat.

"Happy to help with the directions"

Piloting Assist: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

So everyone piles in to the service car, grateful that none of you are large creatures. Driving down the Ring Road isn't too difficult, especially since there is an unusual lack of other traffic about.

Unfortunately, half a mile later ......

The pavement of this wide, surface-level intersection is normally kept clear of debris. Its lanes are neatly demarcated by metal railing and medians planted with colourful flowers. The scene that unfolds here is one of nearly unrecognizable destruction. Vehicles crushed like tin cans completely block the intersection, and twisted metal and hunks of scuffed plastic litter the roadways. The squeal of brakes and honking horns rises to form a din that barely covers the loud arguments in a dozen different languages erupting from the traffic stalled behind the wreckage. Up ahead, the source of the problem is clearly visible: a traffic signal’s tri-coloured lights blink red, green, and yellow in senseless patterns.

You can
a) Ignore this and proceed on foot
b) Attempt to field repairs on the malfunctioning signals and clear the intersection.

Definitely not me... I crashed one too many of those back on the farm...

T| rolls his eyes, chittering out a muffled curse in ysoki. "I'll see what I can do with the signals. Let's do this cooperatively, though."

What sort of roll do we have to make here?

"Clearing a traffic jam shouldn't be too hard and will make sure any emergency services can move about the ring freely. Let's get to it."

"Well... I wanted to walk, actually. Never been a fan of big moving vehicles but I guess we'd better help out the rest of these people stuck here, so I guess it's worth helping out even if it means we keep driving too."

Arboreal slides out of the backseat and shuts the door behind them. "I'll see if there's anything I can move out of the way that would help clear this wreckage."

Jyskos gets out the co-pilot seat.

"I can't ignore people who are in need, I'm a Starfinder after all!"

"Ok fellow Starfinders, how do we help these people in their time of need? Let's find some options!"

And Jyskos will purposely stride to go to help out while beckoning his fellow Starfinders forward

To clear the intersection, you must overcome each of the following challenges by succeeding at least one of the associated skill checks.

A) Evacuate vehicles. Athletics or Mdicine (for first aid) to help them out of their vehicles.

B) Clear the Intersection. Once (A) is complete it is Engineering to perform quick repairs to get vehicles moving or Piloting to drive them clear. Profession(general contractor) or Profession(maintenance worker) can be used to tow the vehicles away with your service car.

C) Debug the signals. Computers to remove the malware or Physical Sciences/Profession(Electrician) to shut them down.

Creative uses of other skills are also possible.

How do you want this? Everyone makes a check and we take the highest or you want one person to make the main and we can assist?

I'd say if there are one or two people with very high bonuses in the skill they both roll and everyone else assists who they like. Preferable split osmewhat evenly. I have +8 athletics

I got a +4 Athletics so I can try to aid with that if Darkvoid's is higher. Not trained in the rest of those skills though.

I've got a +7 Athletics.

Ok I would say Tik and I should each roll athletics and people can assist who they want. I'll put it in a spoiler so people can decide w/o my roll influencing their choice of who to aid.

I think we're better off all aiding Darkvoid, even though that puts us at the mercy of a bad roll. Zamba can also try a Medicine check.

Athletics check to Aid Another: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Arboreal tries to carry any people Darkvoid manages to pull out of the cars away off of the main street.

Athletics aid Darkvoid: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Jyskos is not good at Athletics so will try aid and follow the others.

Athletics to Aid Darkvoid: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Jyskos doesn't really know how to save people properly.

Inovu hops among the various vehicles, using his telepathy to try to coordinate escape methods.

Athletics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Okay who insulted the dicebot?

Zamba will start looking at those in the vehicles, trying to patch them up and help them to their feet.

Medicine: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Not sure, but the dicebot god doesn't like me either....

Ok with that spoilered athletics and 2 assists I have a 16 total. Does that clear the wreckage so we can work on the next phase?

It takes a bit of work but with some careful handling, you can get the victims out and on the side of the road where they can be treated.

Now you have to get all those cars and stuff out on the intersection.

"I think I remember how the controls work on most of these." T| starts moving any vehicles that are still mobile out of the intersection.

Piloting check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

Oh, come on!

Arboreal finishes up carrying people to the walkway beside the road and stays with them only to quickly jump out of the way of Tik nearly driving a vehicle on to the curb. "Hey watch out for the people here!"

"Oooh this is why I hate vehicles."

I don't have Piloting or Engineering so I'll sit this one out and go make a sacrifice to the dicebot gods for luck.

Jyskos finishes dragging a body off the street assisting someone out of their car and to the side of the road.

He looks up, "Well, these cars aren't going to move themselves, time for me to get in the driver's seat and move some of these bad boys myself."

Piloting: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Jyskos starts to steer cars out of the way, "Ah it's been a long time since I've had to do this myself, sometimes being part of a Drow family has it's benefits."

"I've seen parking services return cars looking worse than this, how hard can it be.
piloting: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Inovu would hardly call himself a master pilot, so he scrambles up to a high perch, using hand gestures and telepathy to help his companions navigate the pile-up.

ZeeZee doesn't do well at all with either of those, so instead sits to the side and helps tend to those who are hurt.

Jyskos and Darkvoid are able to move the pilotable vehicles out of the way. Some of the civilians help push. Tik soon discovers the reason he's having problems - somehow he managed to put the silly thing into reverse.

Darkvoid begins trying to purge on of the signals,
computers: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
"Maybe if I flash purge the cache and roll back the memory to a previous image..."

Tik lends a hand with the signals.

Computers check to Aid Another: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

And, between the two of you, the signals have been reset and purged of the virus. There are cheers from the crowd.

In total, it has taken you three hours to do all of this.

You could continue on to Drifter's End, which is very close to the Lorespire, or go to either the Freemarkets (back the way you came) or to the nearby Security Pavilion.

"Let's check the Security Pavilion first. We might be able to get some useful information to take to the Lorespire Complex."

Arboreal nods, "Security stations tend to know things. I think, anyway. I've actually never been to one before but I trust you. You seem pretty smart! Let's go there."

I'm sorry, the poor ghoran is not very smart but they're trying, I promise.