[SF] Fly Free or Die AP - GM Ewok

Game Master EwokBanshee

"Must work well with others." Well, maybe next time will work out...

He snickers before conceding

Yeah, will the job still be there after we tie up our big loose ends?

"Live cargo so probably not. "

Looking at the Triaxus job, it expires in five days. No way you can get to the Diaspora and back in that time. Of course, you could always reach out to the job listing after it expires and hope for the best...

Elapsed Time: 7 + 1d5 + 1d6 ⇒ 7 + (1) + (5) = 13

The copy of Eline's calendar that you pulled from her office shows that she was scheduled to be at the Company retreat for 1 month. She is 13 days into that 28 day span. Triaxus is about two days away. The job will take four days. The Diaspora will be about a week away from there. So you SHOULD have time to pull of this job and make it to Eline in time.

Choices, choices...

OOC credits are always good, but IC we're currently unable to spend them and have some powerful organizations ready to make our lives miserable. Dealing with that first seems obvious. Other jobs will always be available later.

"See if we can get paid in UPBs and we should be able to print out nearly anything we need. I don't feel nearly geared up enough for what we're getting into. I think we also might want a week of killing total strangers before we go guns blazing with crew in the way... "

I'm okay either way. Guess?, however:

"I vote to do the Triaxus job. If we do it, I'll see if I can negotiate UPBs rather than cash once we arrive.

"What does everyone else vote? If it's a tie, then I'm okay with skipping the job and going straight to Eline. No harm, no foul."

Waiting one more day for Jaraduk's vote! There will indeed be other jobs, though this one won't come up again. Your characters will hear about the results of the side job events eventually, so no mystery either way.

Jaraduk was leaning (now voting) skip the triaxus job and keep focus, even with *this* job likely not still being around (there will be others).

Thanks for the clarification!

The crew discusses and debates, landing on a tie vote. Yet another time where you miss Del. Often the tie-breaking vote, and always towards the side of good... You decide to move forward towards the Diaspora. Partially because Guess? conceded, away from a money making opportunity (perhaps he really is a GeneReaver?).

You fly onwards for four hours through the light asteroid fields on the outskirts of the Diaspora. Then, suddenly, alarms begin to blare! MWEH! MWEH! MWEH! MWEH! A bulky transport, its hull heavily patched and augmented with decorative spikes, darts out from behind an asteroid with uncanny agility. Its prow is emblazoned with the mark of the Free Captains, and the Vesk words for “Lost Cause” have been scribed boldly over its forward window. A light flashes on the Rust Bug’s interior as the comms activate. “This is Captain Kyanhex,” the unknown party growls. “Of the Free Captains. Surrender your… vessel… and prepare to be boarded. Judging by the looks of your ship, we’ll be doing you a favor.”

"Oh no. These people were probably hired by Sinjin. That would be just our luck." Akh thinks it over for a bit, then adds "Then again, that ship is pretty agile. Maybe when they try to board us we board them instead and take it over. It'd be an upgrade. Then we can sell Ratrod's ship to a nice scrapyard and/or electrovore rehabilitation center, and make even more credits than that job was going to give. After we clear our names of course."

"The electrovore rehabilitation people are broke but maybe it can be a tax write off...."

Hide on the ceiling over where they're planning on coming in, use the grandchilds cloak to turn invisible, run onto their ship and begin the reisoraing while Guess? BSes them for a while. They should have the keys in the ignition for us....

Guess? is, as always, disguised. This time, he's a skittermander named Laurie.

"First, metal-eating rock bugs that wanna eat our ship. Now flesh-eating space fairies that wanna eat us... Whatever happened to good ol fashioned space pirates?"

"Gobbammit! I spoke too soon!"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18

"Guys, I have no idea what their intentions are but if I had to guess, they're gunna take this poor excuse for a ship and indenture us. Or if we refuse servitude, they'll just space us.

"That's what I'd do if I were a pirate, yaaaarrrrrr!!!"

How long does it take to scan a ship? Any chance we can do a scan to identify their crew complement?

"Okay, they're not gunna be friendly. That's a given. So if Melissa is going to sneak on board their ship to reisora it, Akh, Jaraduk and I will have to keep them busy.

"I suppose I can keep them talking for a bit as they board. But positioning-wise, Akh and Jaraduk, would you be okay meeting them on the same level in the cargo hold where the airlocks are? I'd take a sniping position up on the catwalk overlooking the hold.
(kind of like how we were positioned when those assassins tried to take us out on this ship)

"Problem is whether they'll still have crew on board the ship when Melissa sneaks on board. If they do, no offense Mel, but I don't think you've got enough firepower to overwhelm them. But given our skeleton crew, fortune favors the bold!"

----

To buy some time while we're getting ourselves set up, Guess? responds to the intial hail, "Greetings nufriend Kyanhex! Always happy to be of service! But maybe you don't want to board just yet. We're transporting some highly unstable materials, liable to go critical if any explosions or severe tremors should occur. That will trigger an even larger reaction - big enough to destroy us and you as well!

"We don't want this to happen to nufriends! How about we finish our delivery first, safe and sound? After that, we come back to you for boarding! Sound good? We'll be back in about three days, promise!!"

Take 10 bluff for 31.

I like how he had to pause just before designating our ship as a "vessel." Low confidence already. We could probably request their assistance with a "massive electrovore nest and infestation" and they would probably be on their way. I like the idea of raiding their ship while they raid ours though. If they don't leave us be, let's do it!

sense motive: 1d20 + 12 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 12 + (1) = 14

**facepalm**

"I like how you're thinking Jaraduk. We tell them our ship has a rabid electrovore infestation - probably not a lie - and that they love drinking the juice from transport reactor cores - also not a lie. And we can spice it up by telling them we've already been bitten, and now we're contagious too." Akh offers his alternative. "On the other claw, going down to roll out the red carpet for them in the cargo bay seems smart too. Let's see what they'd like."

Good with Guess?' plan especially if we can get some life sign counts to let us know how likely we are to succeed.

Melissa: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (5) + 18 = 23

Melissa can tell that the pirate ship holds a crew of six.
Scan Results:
LOST CAUSE TIER 5
Medium transport
Speed 10; Maneuverability average (turn 2)
AC 20; KAC 21
HP 85; DT —; CT 17
Shields light 70 (forward 25, port 15, starboard 15, aft 15)
Power Core Pulse Red (175 PCU)
For comparison, your ship is a Tier 2 with Speed 8.

"Ah, a skitter! Good, good, I always like finding you fluffy little buggers out here in the black. Don't you worry, don't you worry. Here's what's going to happen. You're going to shut off your engines." The vesk captain pauses, as if waiting for some skittermander-affirmative. "Then we're going to come in nice and easy, use our nice soft-touch tethers hold you close. Like an embrace! Then we'll come aboard and relieve you of those dangerous dangerous materials. Practically saving your life, we are! That's a good skitter, just shut down those engines. Elsewise, we might have to shoot you down just to protect ourselves from your unstable cargo. Yes, it's a dangerous world out here it is. Gotta protect ourselves from hazmat." The honey dripping from Captain Kyanhex's voice is difficult to stomach. Not one for subtlety, the vesk either thinks that skittermanders have no choice but to obey or he thinks that your puny ship has no choice but to obey.

You can definitely do a starship combat. It would be tough for an optimized crew. Your scan tells you that it would be near-impossible for your crew.

Engineering: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (4) + 19 = 23

Looking over the scan results, Guess? remarks gleefully, "Just six of them? Oh man, this hijac... This reisora-ing will be easy, amirite?!?!"

Turning to Melissa, Guess? says, "If all six of them board, then you can sneak onto their ship and take over. Akh, Jaraduk and I might even retreat out the other airlock, you detach their ship, we board their ship and leave them stranded on the Slim Chance. At that point we'll have control of the more powerful ship!

"If anyone from their crew doesn't board, then perhaps best you stay on board and help us take out the boarders. After that, we can then all board their ship to mop up whomever remains."

Guess? says to everyone, "Whaddaya'll think?"

DC28 Engineering: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

Jaraduk watches carefully and thinks for several moments while the communications proceed. Finally he speaks up to the others on the bridge, NOT while the comms are open.

There's something odd about that ship...

Then it clicks for him.

I can see right through the outer edges! Just like the holo-pics of Corpse Fleet vessels that you've seen, this one might be open to the vacuum. I suspect that this crew doesn't breath air.

"I can see right through the outer edges! Just like the holo-pics of Corpse Fleet vessels that you've seen, this one might be open to the vacuum. I suspect that this crew doesn't breath air."

"Do you have a jet pack? LAUNCH THE BULLPEDO "

"Six!!!" Akh coughs in amusement, though it ebbs with Jaraduk's conclusion "If it's actually a Corpse Fleet ship in disguise, they might not have life support for you all. Won't be terribly comfortable for the rest of the trip." Akh pauses and then adds "I wonder why they're in a ship like that..."

Culture; Is this Kyanhex not a vesk name, but instead an eoxian one?: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34

"Well, that sounds like an okay plan Guess?. Let's invite them over and see what happens. Oh, and make sure you all have your environmental protections on for when they inevitably try to depressurize the ship and turn out to be Eoxian supersoldiers."

Akh is confident that the name is a vesk one. Which makes sense when the airlock door opens and a group of undead vesk with glowing eyes step through. The clear leader is heavily armored with a glowing chain of energy wrapped around his chest. Behind him stand five more vesk with standard pirate weaponry. "Aye aye, where is this skitter-fiend! Bow down before our immortal might! Your pitiful ship will be a meager prize."

Alright, spring your ambush!

Move action as they open the door darth vader style: Grandchilds cloak to go invisible. Scoot past them.

stealth: 1d20 + 21 + 20 - 10 ⇒ (10) + 21 + 20 - 10 = 41

will save: to not whistle "a reisoring we will go" on the way by. :)

In preparation for the other ship to board, could we have spent time setting up booby traps with grenades in the cargo hold and airlock areas? Sticky entangle grenades in the airlock vicinity to bottleneck them. Damaging grenades close to deal as much AOE as possible amongst them. Also, could we have set up some container boxes to provide Jaraduk and Akh cover when they're in the caro hold?

Later, when the other ship boards...

"Wait their ship isn't pressurized? Then let's just kill 'em all. There's no point in reisora-ing..." Guess? notices Melissa has already taken off.

"Hmmm... well okay then! Maybe if we delay them in the airlock long enough, Melissa can take control of the ship, steer it away, tearing at the connection between their ship and ours, and fling them off into space!"

Guess? yells out to the visitors, "Nufriend Captain Kyanhex! We welcome you! But before we formally surrender and before you cross the threshold onto the soon-to-be-your ship, we must first engage in the formal conqueror's welcome ceremony and recitation! It's a tradition amongst this crew and our peoples to welcome all superior beings properly.

"First, the arriving conqueror dance!!"

Bluff/Diplomacy to convince them to stop advancing and observe the so-called ritual: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (13) + 21 = 34

From up high on the catwalk, Guess? begins a dance, "This dance represents your power and glory as the arriving conqueror!!"
Profession (dancer): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

Guess? intends to try and hold the boarder's attention, keeping them in place with 1) a conqueror dance to symbolize their arrival, 2)
a welcome dance to symbolize our acceptance of the new conqueror, 3) a speech describing the great glory of our new captain, 4) a speech declaring why our crew is pitiful, deserving and in need of the great new captain, and 5) a declaration of legal rights and obligations that both parties have and owe to each other.

Guess? figures if he can hold their attention through all that, Melissa should have plenty of time to pull whatever shenanigans she's got in mind.

In preparation for the other ship to board, could we have spent time setting up booby traps with grenades in the cargo hold and airlock areas?

In general, no. There's a Downtime activity for this, which makes me think it takes significantly longer than a few minutes. And boarding probably takes only a minute or two, though I don't think there are any official rules for it. I think Jaraduk's Bombard specialty is close enough that I'll let him make an engineering roll, DC 23, to turn one of his grenades into a Claymore. I'm willing to hear arguments for any other special niche class features that could apply here.

Also, could we have set up some container boxes to provide Jaraduk and Akh cover when they're in the caro hold?

Sure thing. Each character, who isn't doing something else in the prep period, can move a box that's five feet wide, five feet tall, and as long as they are. (AKA, Akh gets a 5x10.) Place yours onto the Map.

As the undead vesk board, Melissa notices that none of their armor has a retractable helmet slot. Perhaps they really don't need to breathe. Do you still want to stealth past them?

Sorry, ran out of time to address the remainder of Guess?'s post. Hopefully this info helps inform your ambush strategy. Also, with those rolls, I'll say that Guess? can buy Melissa one additional round of pre-combat actions.

Quite tight in this cargo hold for large creatures :). BTW, what if we closed the airlock right NOW while he's the only one inside? Split the encounter up. Maybe it's too late for that.

Akh shifts some crates around (likely disturbing a few little electrovore grubs in the process) and then hides behind them at the eastern end of the cargo hold. He waits to find out what kind of reaction the pirate captain might have to Guess' overtures.

Stealth: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 36
Mysticism: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26

Our armor protections last 9 days.

We can also use that ship to haul this one, work a shift in armor come back and sleep. Or just steal their guns and use the electrovores as additional power stations...

Not comfy, but it beats being raided by every pirate ship from here to Timbuck II

"Yes, wonderful dance my underling! Finally, the respect we deserve! Broken Rock won't pity us when we return with the start of our fleet!" The captain turns and flexes to his crew. The group all take a few steps closer into your ship. "Now, hand over the keys and we'll take you all to a nice cozy asteroid for you to spend the rest of your days on."

Guess? continues his delaying tactics.

"And now, the welcome dance as we accept and submit to you, our betters! You've always deserved respect and anyone at Broken Rock who has ever disrespected you will assuredly eat their words!"

Bluff: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (7) + 21 = 28

And on that note, Guess? breaks out in a welcome dance (although the accompanying song lyrics isn't quite exactly the right application in this context).

Profession (dancer): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

As soon as he finishes his dance, Guess? immediately rolls right into a speech describing the great glory of our new captain. "OH BEHOLD! The undead greatness of Captain Kyanhex! Never has there been an undead vesk with such a glowing, healthy hide! His intelligence, a brain the size of a planet! ...." And so on... Guess? lavishes praise for as long as he thinks he can hold the boarders' attention.

Profession (orator): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

Then Guess? rolls into a speech declaring why our crew is pitiful, deserving and in need of the great new captain.

"Look at us!! A crew short of the minimum headcount needed to even operate a ship! Consisting of a bull who, let's admit it, has no skills whatsoever. He's basically just labor. And a dragon-shaped robot who complains and is around mostly just because he's tall. We really needed someone who can reach the galley's top shelf, I certainly can't! And hey, I'M the captain?!? How desperate can we be when the skitter is the captain??? ..." Guess? continues to denigrate Jaraduk, Akh and himself for as long as Guess? thinks it'll continue to elicit laughs and chuckles from the boarders.

Profession (orator): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

And finally, Guess? rolls into a declaration of legal rights and obligations that both parties have and owe to each other.

"Captain Kyanhex may demand the cleaning of his boots four days per week... Akh may, upon request, eat any organic materials left on the shower caddy every fourth day of the month... " Guess? throws out all manner of statements until it appears the boarders are on the verge of losing patience.

Profession (lawyer): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

At this point, Guess?'s next action depends on how long he was able to stall and how far Melissa has gotten. If she's gotten far enough to reisora the undead ship, before Guess? gets to the end of his speeches, then we'll resolve Melissa's actions first? If Guess? gets to the end of his speeches and Melissa hasn't yet gotten far enough to take their ship, then Guess? kicks off the ambush!!

Akh peeks around the crate, looking for the exact moment that several of the enemies group up a little closer together...

(If possible, I'd like to catch them in a moment I can get more than two in a 15ft breath weapon cone. Looks like if they are in their current formation the best I could get is flying up and over to float above red and catch green, blue and red. Unfortunately this is more than a single standard action. Not sure how surprise would work in this situation.)

In the stall time, Melissa would have either enough time to get to the Bridge, or to set herself up in the perfect ambush position.

The pirate crew tightens up their formation as they move into your ship. Their laughter echoes off the walls as the pirates guffaw at your weakness and poverty. The captain cranes his neck upwards towards Guess? and smiles. "I do love skittermanders who know their place... I think I'll keep you around as ship jester. Might even pay you for the privilege! " Guess?, having found the moment of prime dramatic flair, shouts NOW!" and fires a 'warning shot' above the vesks' heads.

Surprise Round & Round 1! Melissa gets a Surprise Round, everyone else gets a Surprise and Round 1!
Melissa SP 40/55 HP 57/57 RP 10/10
Akh SP 99/99 HP 67/67 RP 8/8
Guess? SP 54/54 HP 47/47 RP 10/10
Jaraduk SP 72/72, HP 17/69, RP 10/10

Red Captain Kyanhex, 0 Damage
Green Pirate Varculak, 0 Damage
Blue Pirate Varculak, 0 Damage
Orange Pirate Varculak, 0 Damage
Yellow Pirate Varculak, 0 Damage
Pink Pirate Varculak, 0 Damage

Surprise round:

It's time for explosions! Even undead bodies shouldn't like that. But just in case...

[move] draw storm doshko

Round 1:

He then procures the promises explosion, a mk2 web grenade.

[move] draw storm doshko
[standard] throw web grenade ii to SE intersection of YELLOW's square, where a 10ft radius catches YELLOW, PURPLE, BLUE.

grenade to square (AC5), mired rounds (no save): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 172d4 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3

welp... So from Standard Actions Missing with a Thrown Weapon

Miss direction, where 1=falls short on direct path: 1d8 ⇒ 2
How far away: 1d4 ⇒ 1

At 1 square back, the direction which is 1 additional turn clockwise from the SW path (so 1 square East). Area captured on map catches RED/BLUE/YELLOW/GREEN. He wanted to push the grenade further for safety but got super lucky on the d4 (!!)

Surprise round turn on the grandchilds cloak
Round 1 I'm just a little black raincloud.... (DC 41 to notice)

I think Melissa already has her cloak turned on. During Guess?'s antics, Melissa could have already made it to the bridge to try and take over their ship or selectively decide what position you're in to engage in combat. Up to you.

This is probably going to be a tough combat though. If you hijack their ship, it might draw off one or two of them. Or like Akh said, I wonder if there's a way to seal the air locks on both ends and trap some of them.

"Skitter emancipation!" yells Guess? as he fires another shot.

If Guess? gets another shot from surprise round:
24-atm extrusion rifle vs KAC: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20
Damage (B): 2d10 + 9 ⇒ (1, 8) + 9 = 18

Guess? fires during round 1:
24-atm extrusion rifle vs KAC: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33 (Manual sight reduces range and AC cover bonuses by 2 if character doesn't move)
Damage (B): 2d10 + 9 ⇒ (7, 1) + 9 = 17
Trick Attack Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 1, 5) = 13 and flat-footed to all, if trick attack succeeded
Targets CR10 and below are auto flat-footed vs trick attack

Akh zips out of cover like a fountain of gold, arriving 10 feet above the vesk captain and two of his best goons. With an elaborate flourish, he breathes out a rain of lightning bolts down upon the three of them. (green, blue, red)

DC18 Reflex for half.
Dragon Breath (E): 9d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 2, 2, 5) = 24

He'll be 10ft above the deck, which means 5-ft above their heads and with all three of them in claw range for any AoOs.

Actually, now that I look carefully at the map, red, pink and orange are actually in our ship's airlock. Can Melissa or Guess? spend a surprise round or round 1 action to hit a button to make the airlock doors come slamming down, trapping those three?

Would be cool if so!

It's too late to do an airlock trap. There are manual buttons you can hit to close the closest airlock door. I've marked those with yellow pentagons. (The airlock controls are on both sides of the wall.)

Green Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Blue Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Red Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

The pirates become mired in Jaraduk's grenade, then are tossed around by the onslaught from Akh and Guess?. "Now, that's not very subservient of you! Kill 'em, boys!" The pirates utter a unison "HUAH!" in response. One pumps his fist. "Yeah, get 'em!" Frost builds along the captain's skin and he whips his energy chain around his head in a flourish.

acolyte shadow chains @ Akh: 1d20 + 19 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 19 + 2 - 4 = 29
Cold Damage: 3d4 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (4, 4, 3) + 14 + 2 = 27
acolyte shadow chains @ Akh: 1d20 + 19 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 19 + 2 - 4 = 19
Cold Damage: 3d4 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (1, 3, 4) + 14 + 2 = 24

The chain reaches out to lash against Akh's thigh, the cold dissipating slightly against his armor before biting into the protections. Behind the captain, a Varculak curses. "Torag's left cheek, sorry boss!" The pirate pulls out an enormous gun that looks like it should properly be used to suck up ghosts in a haunted mansion. Instead, the weapon emits a noodle of force that reaches out to wrap around the Captain in a bubble of safety.

Shield: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 5) = 9

Another pirate, in the back of the group, claps his hands. "Way to go, boss! We'll sing epics of this battle for generations to come!" The wheedling needling voice grates on your ears, but seems to bolster Captain Kyanhex. Another pirate raises both hands into the air. "BEHOLD, HIS EMENANCE! HIS GREATNESS! QUAKE AT HIS POWERFUL FORM!"
Intimidate: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (20) + 19 = 39

The pirate's confidence causes you to stutter, wondering if you perhaps are in the wrong. All of you, except for Melissa, are Shaken! The final pirate lights up his jetpack and shoots past Akh towards Guess? with a brandished knife! Triggering an AoO from Akh.

Round 2!
Melissa SP 40/55 HP 57/57 RP 10/10
Akh SP 77/99 HP 67/67 RP 8/8 Shaken: –2 penalty to attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks
Guess? SP 54/54 HP 47/47 RP 10/10 Shaken: –2 penalty to attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks
Jaraduk SP 72/72, HP 17/69, RP 10/10 Shaken: –2 penalty to attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks

Red Captain Kyanhex, 35 Damage, Flatfooted, shielded 9
Green Pirate Varculak, 24 Damage
Blue Pirate Varculak, 24 Damage
Orange Pirate Varculak, 0 Damage
Yellow Pirate Varculak, 0 Damage, has defender shield projector
Pink Pirate Varculak, 0 Damage

(...) the weapon emits a noodle of force that reaches out to wrap around the Captain in a bubble of safety. (...)

Smells like a Mania Noodles commercial in the making.

Akh wriggles off the icy chain and eyes the weapon rather enviously "That's pretty good..."

AoO vs. flying pirate; Entropic Claw vs EAC: 1d20 + 16 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 16 - 2 = 25 Damage (A, force): 3d6 + 13 ⇒ (4, 5, 1) + 13 = 23

He swipes at the pirate flying past and then digs into the captain with his claws.

Entropic Claw vs EAC: 1d20 + 16 - 6 ⇒ (16) + 16 - 6 = 26 Damage (A, force): 3d6 + 13 ⇒ (1, 4, 1) + 13 = 19
Entropic Claw vs EAC: 1d20 + 16 - 6 ⇒ (1) + 16 - 6 = 11 Damage (A, force): 3d6 + 13 ⇒ (4, 3, 4) + 13 = 24

Okay, that takes some of them out for a time. Let's whittle this crew down...

He steps out from behind his box, slamming the nearest foe with his doshko.

[move] Step south
[standard] attack GREEN
aurora storm doshko; E damage: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 322d8 + 15 ⇒ (4, 2) + 15 = 21

Guess? takes a guarded step away from yellow then activates his jetpack to navigate over to the airlock button and hits it, intending to lock out pink and orange!

If hitting the button requires a move action, then Guess? won't have enough actions to take a guarded step, in which case Guess? will just provoke yellow.

"Nope, you two are NOT invited to the party!"

Guess?, activating the jetpack takes a Move action, so you'll still be stuck five feet away from the pirate.

Akh digs into both undead pirates that attract his attention while Guess gets himself some breathing room. Jaraduk slams his doshko down onto the nearest pirate, returning some classic vesk diplomacy.

The captain growls up at Akh. "Alright, maybe y'all are stronger than you look." He flexes and a cold aura bursts from within him. It coalesces into a frosty set of heavy armor that entirely encases his form.

acolyte shadow chains @ Akh: 1d20 + 19 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 19 + 2 = 35
Cold Damage: 3d4 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (4, 1, 2) + 14 + 2 = 23

The bubble continues to surround the Captain, trailing from the yellow-garbed pirate, though it appears weaker having been broken.

Shield: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2

While another pirate encourages the Captain, a third yells out "BEHOLD! His supernatural power protects him! The gods are on his side!"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (12) + 19 = 31

The pirate at the edge of the group swings back at Jaraduk, nicking him once.

tactical knife @ Jaraduk: 1d20 + 13 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 13 - 4 + 2 = 28
S Damage: 2d4 + 7 ⇒ (2, 3) + 7 = 12

tactical knife @ Jaraduk: 1d20 + 13 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 13 - 4 + 2 = 18
S Damage: 2d4 + 7 ⇒ (1, 2) + 7 = 10

Up top, the vesk pulls a pistol and fires it just over Guess?'s shoulder.

corona laser pistol @ Guess?: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24
F Damage: 2d4 + 7 ⇒ (3, 2) + 7 = 12

Round 3!
Melissa x2 SP 40/55 HP 57/57 RP 10/10
Akh SP 59/99 HP 67/67 RP 8/8 Shaken: –2 penalty to attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks
Guess? SP 54/54 HP 47/47 RP 10/10 Shaken: –2 penalty to attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks
Jaraduk SP 60/72, HP 17/69, RP 10/10 Shaken: –2 penalty to attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks

Red Captain Kyanhex, 45 Damage, Flatfooted, shielded 2
Green Pirate Varculak, 45 Damage
Blue Pirate Varculak, 47 Damage
Orange Pirate Varculak, 0 Damage
Yellow Pirate Varculak, 0 Damage, has defender shield projector
Pink Pirate Varculak, 0 Damage

ooc So should I keep trying the plan to reisora the ship or just blast them from back here and we'll loot the ship from their cold dead corpses? t... that were totally like that when we got here. really this time.

I think we're stuck in combat. Even if you manage to steal the ship, we'll probably be done fighting these guys by that point. So maybe come on back?

Akh mitigates the new icy strike from the chain, reducing it to a minor inconvenience (9 dmg after resist and mitigation). "I don't think we're particularly strong. Are you maybe a little weak? Maybe you're still hiding your true power?" He swipes twice at the captain while hovering in place.

Entropic Claw vs EAC: 1d20 + 16 - 6 ⇒ (7) + 16 - 6 = 17 Damage (A, force): 3d6 + 13 ⇒ (1, 2, 5) + 13 = 21
Entropic Claw vs EAC: 1d20 + 16 - 6 ⇒ (7) + 16 - 6 = 17 Damage (A, force): 3d6 + 13 ⇒ (2, 3, 5) + 13 = 23

Well, its consistency I guess...

Smash!

[standard] attack GREEN
aurora storm doshko; E damage: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 202d8 + 15 ⇒ (7, 8) + 15 = 30

Then back way...
[move] Guarded step

Yeah, at this point I'd suggest just ambushing them from the back in Round 2 and 3!

Round 2

"BOOM "

Green and red
attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23 +2 vs the captain
damage: 2d8 + 9 ⇒ (5, 4) + 9 = 18

Round 3

GET EM ALL!!!
Green and red
attack: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 13 + 2 = 23
damage: 2d8 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (8, 6) + 9 + 2 = 25

"Melissa, if things go sideways, hit the airlock, reisora their ship, then enter negotiations, okay?"

Guess? fires at Red!

24-atm extrusion rifle vs KAC: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23 (Manual sight reduces range and AC cover bonuses by 2 if character doesn't move)
Damage (B): 2d10 + 9 ⇒ (8, 8) + 9 = 25
Trick Attack Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 3, 1) = 14 and flat-footed to all, if trick attack succeeded
Targets CR10 and below are auto flat-footed vs trick attack

"Before your corpse is cold captain, despite you being in the void of space. I know you wouldn't want it any other way"

bzzzzt

Akh consistently deflects his blows off the captain's icy armor. "It seems my true power is plenty!" Below Akh, Jaraduk knocks a shoulder plate off his pirate with a weighty blow. Then, out of nowhere, Melissa's lightning bugs pop out and fry the pirate! A pop comes from up above and Guess? sends another bolt into the captain. Kyanhex shakes off the pain, flinging his chain around in several broad strokes before landing on Akh's leg.

acolyte shadow chains @ Akh: 1d20 + 19 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 19 + 2 - 4 = 20
Cold Damage: 3d4 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (4, 2, 3) + 14 + 2 = 25
acolyte shadow chains @ Akh: 1d20 + 19 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 19 + 2 - 4 = 34
Cold Damage: 3d4 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (1, 2, 1) + 14 + 2 = 20

The pirate with the shield projector takes several steps backwards into the hallway, ending up next to Melissa. Are you still near-invisible even while firing? His projected shield continues to trail out towards his captain.

Shield: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 6) = 10

While another pirate encourages the Captain, the vesk up top yells out "I thank the Besmaran Whelp who cracked our ship like an egg. For it unleashed YOUR GLORY!"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (15) + 19 = 34 Absolutely crushing these rolls. Y'all continue to be Shaken.

From below, a vesk pulls a pistol and fires it at Jaraduk. "Not cool, bro!"

corona laser pistol @ Jaraduk: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22
F Damage: 2d4 + 7 ⇒ (1, 4) + 7 = 12

Round 4! Everyone is up!
Melissa SP 40/55 HP 57/57 RP 10/10
Akh SP 53/99 HP 67/67 RP 8/8 Shaken: –2 penalty to attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks
Guess? SP 54/54 HP 47/47 RP 10/10 Shaken: –2 penalty to attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks
Jaraduk SP 60/72, HP 17/69, RP 10/10 Shaken: –2 penalty to attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks

Red Captain Kyanhex, 125 Damage, Flatfooted, Shielded 10
Green Pirate Varculak, 118 Damage
Blue Pirate Varculak, 47 Damage
Orange Pirate Varculak, 0 Damage
Yellow Pirate Varculak, 0 Damage, has defender shield projector
Pink Pirate Varculak, 0 Damage