"Are we really rescuing a deadly beast just so it's babies do calmly?" Akh surveys the situation with dissatisfaction. "I can tug the mother free or try convincing it to leave, but not unless it has a way out. Who has an appropriately sized fishing rod in their pack?"
At a minimum, Akh draws his taclash to be prepared if the diatha come in closer, leaping into a spot close to the defrex in the process. If his allies prep a rescue device, he tries to push the defrex to safety - with the appropriate degree of friendliness of course. If not, he focuses this round on beating back the diatha.
From her perch on the cliff, Del calls, "Someone get that defrex out of there!"
She then proceeds to blast at the diathas! Recalling another bloody cooking mishap from her early days in the kitchen, a barrage of knives appear around the green and pink diathas, stabbing them repeatedly. Then the knives vanish, leaving bloody wounds.
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Seeing no chance to free the defrex right now, Akh faces the two diatha to the south and unleashes a burst of lightning from his mouth . He raises his taclash afterward, getting ready to intercept them should they move in.
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Your eyes flicker between the pained defrex and the newcomers. Though the defrex mother is in an unfortunate situation, she should survive another few minutes. Guess?'s shot echoes off the canyon walls, the shell slamming into the rippling fat of the diatha closest to him.
Del and Akh take the pair on the other side of the roiling mud pit. Del's knives swirl through the air, slashing at the slugs. Akh's electricity bounces between the tiny pieces of metal, creating a tornado of shock and pain. The slugs shake in place, then collapse in deflated mounds. But, from behind, the wounded defrex mother lashes out at Akh!
Whether as a cry for help or lashing out at the cruel world, the defrex grabs onto Akh with her sharp talons! They lock onto the android's body, refusing to let him move. The closer diatha crawls forward, looking to take advantage of the moment, but Akh is ready. His whip cracks through the air, leaving an deep bruise on the slug's back. but Akh can't move his arm in time to defend himself!
Despite Akh's vulnerable state, his thick armor protects him from the slug's small teeth. On the other side of the mud pit, the last diatha slides forward with surprising speed to scratch into Guess?'s armor!
Jaraduk SP 21/21, HP 27/27, RP 4/4
Akh SP 3/27 HP 25/25 RP 3/3, GRAPPLED
Strek SP 20/20 HP 24/24 RP 3/3
Guess? SP 15/18 HP 17/17 | RP 5/5
Del SP: 15/15, HP: 19/19, RP: 5/5
Melissa SP 19/19 HP 21/21 | RP 4/4
Yellow Diatha 4 Damage
Blue Diatha 0 Damage
Pink Diatha 18 Damage, BLEED 1 (2 more rounds)
Green Diatha 20 Damage, BLEED 1 (2 more rounds)
"Aaaack! Aaaakh!!" cries Guess?, distressed at the position Akh is in. But with no ideas on how to assist at the moment, Guess? offers, "Try maybe playing dead?!?"
Guess? attempts to tumble 20 ft. away from the yellow slug.
Guess? then moves up to Melissa and takes the lasso.
Guess? says to the party, "I can try to slip this lasso onto the defrex. But someone is gonna have to pull her out!"
Del casts another spell, stabbing the cyan diatha beside Akh with a barrage of kitchen knives that quickly vanish.
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"That was rude. I think it doesn't realize we're trying to help it." Akh stays calm in the way that only people convinced they're already dead can be. He reaches out with the back of one claw and tries to soothe the defrex mom so that Melissa's lasso will be able to slip around its midsection.
Already grappled, he leans into the grasp and gives the defrex a good cuddle.
Well, hey! That one looks far enough away! He points at a slug in the distance, hoping he's judging its distance correctly and fires on it with his grenade launcher.
Strek hops down the slope, pulling his old hammock from his starfinder backpack as he gets into position between Melissa and the Defrex.
"She's gonna need something to pull herself out after you lasso her!"
Strek tosses the hammock between him and the creature to create a sort of rope ladder for her to grip.
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Del summons more knives, piercing the diatha's blubber. As it bleeds from tiny wounds, its skin takes on a red hue and the creature begins to shake.
The other slug does not manage to dodge Akh's grenade. The blast burns the diatha badly and its skin begins to discolor as well. Meanwhile, the rest of the group works to rescue the sunken defrex, and Akh at the same time! Melissa quickly twists a cable into a lasso, tossing the bundle towards Akh. The android catches the device with a free hand and wraps it around the distracted defrex's midsection. Strek grabs the free end of the cable and in a herculean feat of strength he pulls the defrex out of the mud! As the defrex pops free, it lashes out at Strek in pain and confusion. The large beast's sharp talons dig deep into the brakim's armor!
Once free, the defrex releases Akh, shakes off the steaming mud, and ambles over to comfort her children.
With the defrex free, Akh stands as the only force between the two vibrating oversized slugs and the rest of the party. Both diathas begin to make a quiet humming noise, staring down the android. Then they charge as one, both crashing into his legs. One's teeth get a hold on Akh's leg, barely piercing his armored shell. The diathas' humming grows in pitch until the slugs explode in a pop of flame, acid, and entrails. When the dust settles, Akh is still standing - though covered in gore and soot.
COMBAT OVER!
Jaraduk SP 21/21, HP 27/27, RP 4/4
Akh SP 0/27 HP 20/25 RP 3/3
Strek SP 3/20 HP 24/24 RP 3/3
Guess? SP 15/18 HP 17/17 | RP 5/5
Del SP: 15/15, HP: 19/19, RP: 5/5
Melissa SP 19/19 HP 21/21 | RP 4/4
Yellow Diatha 14 Damage
Blue Diatha 14 Damage, BLEED 1 (2 more rounds)
Pink Diatha 19 Damage, BLEED 1 (1 more rounds)
Green Diatha 21 Damage, BLEED 1 (1 more rounds)
You search the area and find amid the diatha mounds a decomposing corpse. Garbed in the heavy clothes of someone who works outside, the person's pockets are full of the husks of diatha larvae. His corpse has a tactical railgun and 25 longarm rounds of amplified diatha ammunition. With a little bit of time, you are able to calm down the rescued defrex and her pups and add them to your herd.
Akh blocks the tiny diatha at the last moment, but then has to hop and twist to try to avoid the fiery, acidic bursts.
He comes through the puffs a little singed and a little more covered in gore. He peers up at the mama defrex and comments "Yes, I think my future as a chew toy is quite inevitable. A shame that defrex don't at least pay well for the service." He leaps back up and then over to the place his enercycle is idling before lying down next to the vehicle and stretching to try to pop the metal plates along his back back into position.
Guess? says to Akh referring to the gore and soot, "Nice! That's a good look for you! Stick with this style and there's a few ladies in my tribe who'd definitely want to get your number!"
Seeing Melissa desecrate Akh's appearance, Guess? remarks, "Well buddy, you can kiss that sweet, sweet goblin lovin' goodbye!"
Well, that was exciting... Jaraduk remarks from under his ten-gallon hat.
I reckon if we have too many episodes like that our herd is going to be a little excited or irritable. We ought to get the drive going again.
He remounts his defrex and takes a position at the head of the herd.
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Jaraduk SP 21/21, HP 27/27, RP 4/4
Akh SP 27/27 HP 24/25 RP 2/3
Strek SP 20/20 HP 24/24 RP 2/3
Guess? SP 15/18 HP 17/17 | RP 5/5
Del SP: 15/15, HP: 19/19, RP: 5/5
Melissa SP 19/19 HP 21/21 | RP 4/4
Most of the group drive slow circles around the herd while Akh and Strek take a brief rest to catch their breath. After ten minutes, you get back on your way. About thirty more minutes of hard riding brings the barely-controlled stampede up and out of Kahrudi Gulch into Ghilki Ravine, a slender, 20-foot-deep passage through the southernmost portion of Kahrudi Canyon. The plateau cliffs on either side are 20 feet high;
Midway through the ravine, a loud echoes through the canyon as the area surrounding Jaraduk explodes in a bright burst of light.
The nuar's eyes are Blinded by the sudden flash. Just after, the sound of gunfire patter-patters and several slugs dig into the nuar's armor! Your eyes move back along the tracer fire, seeing a familiar undead nuar mercenary lying prone on top of the plateau in front of you. At the same time, you see his pet skellid hound swagger out of the bush towards Jaraduk. Kreech Nakkan calls out. "Jackman and friends, good to see you again! Too bad you won't live to brag about it!"
The herd of stampeding defrexes pause in place. The fear and confusion from the explosion and gunfire ripples through the crowd. The defrexes turn in place, preparing to run down Del and Strek!
Akh SP 27/27 HP 24/25 RP 2/3
Strek SP 20/20 HP 24/24 RP 2/3
Guess? SP 15/18 HP 17/17 | RP 5/5
Jaraduk SP 8/21, HP 27/27, RP 4/4
Del SP: 15/15, HP: 19/19, RP: 5/5
Melissa SP 19/19 HP 21/21 | RP 4/4
Kreech Nakkan 0 Damage, PRONE
Ghoul the Skellid Hound 0 Damage
Yelling back at Kreech, "Dude! This is BULL-s+~@!! Pun intended!! Once your undead rump steak is dead dead, you'd BETTER have some alcohol on you! After all those drinks I got you, I want payback!!!"
Guess? says to Akh, "Can you fly up there and kick his ass?"
Akh doesn't dismount safely from his enercycle. Instead, he launches like a golden missile at Kreech, drawing his taclash as he goes. "It's kind of funny. You were a lot more scary in that bar bathing in a tub of raw meat. Now you just kind of look like you were left too long in the sun." He lands atop the cliff, towering over the prone gunman.
"Wait, why's he shootin' at us?"
Since he has both hands free, Strek dismounts from his savage steed and attempts to climb the cliff wall.
Jaraduk grunts and shakes his head violently to ward off the flash effect. Blinking his eyes back open, he focuses on Kreech and grins.
Well then, you're talking my language. He brandishes his grenade launcher.
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Strek manages to clamber up the wall with no problem, his stetchy hands making quick work of the challenge. As Akh flies up to the sniper's perch like an avenging angel, Kreech's decaying muscle around his eyes moves in surprise. "Nothing personal, bub. Just business." The undead nuar eyes his precarious situation, then decides to fully commit. He turns over onto his back, firing the rail cannon up at Akh's imposing form. Much to his dismay, the rail cannon jams! The only thing coming out of the muzzle is a puff of smoke.
On the canyon floor, the bone dog snarls and attacks Jaraduk's leg! It snaps twice, it's teeth digging into the nuar's flesh. As the blood-covered teeth pull away you notice that they glow slightly with radioactive power!
Behind the pair, the defrexes are running scared! They push their way forty feet to the west, running over Del! Thankfully she avoids the creature's claws, but the crush of bodies is still quite painful!
Akh SP 27/27 HP 24/25 RP 2/3
Strek SP 20/20 HP 24/24 RP 2/3
Guess? x2 SP 15/18 HP 17/17 | RP 5/5
Jaraduk SP 0/21, HP 25/27, RP 4/4
Del SP: 6/15, HP: 19/19, RP: 5/5
Melissa SP 19/19 HP 21/21 | RP 4/4
Kreech Nakkan 0 Damage, PRONE
Ghoul the Skellid Hound 0 Damage
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Guess? yells a response back to Strek, "Welp, someone with deep pockets wants us dead. This guy is currently working on retainer for a sole employer. Who? Your guess is as good as mine..."
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Round 1 actions:
Guess? dismounts and draws his rifle .
Then fires at the hound! .
But the shot is thrown way off having just dismounted the defrex.
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Round 2 stunt and strike full action:
Guess? moves in a bit closer, lines up another shot and yells, "You can't PAW-sibly win this fight!!"
or below is flat-footed
flat-footed to all and -2 to saves if Stunt and Strike succeeded
Akh's taclash blurs through the air as it goes for Kresh's head.
"Doesn't seem like very good business to me. Why not turn over a new leaf and take up transporting cuddly sheep? Would be a lot safer."
He follows up by reaching over and trying to snatch the rail cannon directly out of Kreech's arms. "Careful with that."
"Is 'business' worth losing your last hound?"
Strek moves along the cliff edge, drawing his heavy weapon as he does so, and unleashes an overcharged burst of microwaves at the undead canine below.
Ow, ow, OOWWWWW! Leash your dog Kreech!
Jaraduk snarls as he deals with its bites.
The first one leaves something behind and he doesn't like it. He violently recoils and avoids its second try.
That's not going to be good for business...
He draws his doshko as he hops off of his defrex and slams it down on the nearby undead dog as he lands.
Let's get this over with so I can trade grenades with your daddy.
"Why not turn over a new leaf and take up transporting cuddly sheep? Would be a lot safer."
"Akh, when we're back on the ship, remind me to help you practice on your delivery!"
"Is 'business' worth losing your last hound?"
"I suspect buying undead hounds are probably a dime a dozen..."
.
Del shrieks in pain and tries to drive forward out of the way of the herd, not quite managing to get out of the way of the herd. She casts her arms out and draws a barrage of chef's knives out of another reality and plunges them into the undead dog monster.
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Akh punishes Kreech for the risky shots, the taclash cutting into his tight flesh. From below in the ravine, Guess? fires a sniper bolt that heads straight through the side of the undead nuar's head! Skull fragments fly everywhere. A lethal blow to an ordinary nuar only irritates the mercenary, who turns to stare down the goblin with his blank dead eyes. "That's gonna take my whole check to patch, Jackman!" He then yanks the cannon out of Akh's reach and stands up. "Alright, tin man, let's party." Ignoring the threatening whip, he fires his cannon at close range. "Maybe I'll take your cuddly sheep after I kill ya. You didn't wipe your nav computer, I hope." The white hairs on Kreech's chin shake as he laughs in the glow of Akh's whip.
On the canyon floor, the rest of the team fight off the mercenary's loyal companion. From above, the mercenary's voice echoes into the canyon. "Business was worth it for the last dozen hounds, it will be worth it for the next!" Jaraduk's HUD starts flashing as the dog's teeth puncture his armor. DANGEROUS RADIATION PENETRATING SUIT. EVACUATE AREA. SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY. The nuar doesn't have time for warnings, sending his doshko into the hound's exposed tibia. The group piles on, sending energy waves and piercing extradimensional blades its way. The undead hound sways in place, then scrunches down onto its haunches to leap up at Jaraduk's face! But even as it snarls, the dog's milky eyes roll back into its skull and it collapses to the canyon floor, bleeding out. Kreech screams in grief, his pained vocal cords straining. "GHOULLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!"
The defrexes continue to crush their way through the ravine, back the way you came.
Akh SP 15/27 HP 24/25 RP 2/3
Strek SP 20/20 HP 24/24 RP 2/3
Guess? SP 15/18 HP 17/17 | RP 5/5
Jaraduk SP 0/21, HP 25/27, RP 4/4, Latent Radiation Sickness
Del SP: 0/15, HP: 17/19, RP: 4/5
Melissa SP 19/19 HP 21/21 | RP 4/4
Kreech Nakkan 26 Damage
Ghoul the Skellid Hound 31 Damage, BLEED 1
Jaraduk sighs when his HUD lights up with warnings, right at the same time he thrusts the doshko blade down into the doomed dog.
That's also not going to be good for business.
Stowing his doshko, he draws his grenade launcher while jogging to the nearest outcropping of canyon wall to brace himself against.
Akh's body rings like a gong as a rail cannon shell deflects off him and dents a plate. He strikes back as the merc leaves himself open.
But seems to still be reeling. He lunges forward again in an attempt to pull the weapon away from the undead fellow. "I am starting to think that maybe you're not interested in jobs that don't involve killing things. You would get along great with some of the Xun assassins I know!"
"You should just kick him off the cliff, Akh!"
Guess? moves to get a clear sight on Kreech while remaining in cover, then attacks!
"Whomever your employer is, they steered you in the wrong direction coming after us!"
or below is flat-footed
flat-footed to all and -2 to saves if Stunt and Strike succeeded
Del focuses all her remaining magic on the nasty, undead near on the ridge, puncturing it with all the knives pulled from other realities that she can muster. Distantly, the hopes the other Del's she "borrowed" the knives from take the time to wash them thoroughly before continuing with their meals...
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Melissa's yell carries over the sounds of fleeing defrexes, but her bullets just crash into the ravine wall. Up top, Akh distracts with his whip in one hand and snatches the mercenary's cannon with the other! "Oye! That's my gear!" He makes a half-hearted attempt to grab the cannon back before flexing the now-empty hand. "I wanted to be a Xun once. Didn't have the temperament. Too quiet, that lot." Below, Jaraduk moves into place and Guess? adds another bullet to the dirt wall. At the same time, a flurry of knives punch into Kreech's skin before disappearing back into their alternate dimension.
The mercenary steps forward, open hand reaching toward Akh. The nuar pushes forward, crashing his hand against the android's chest. "I'm here because I'm good at turning wrong directions..." As he does so, heat flows from Akh's circuits and into Kreech's arm! "...into right ones."
Akh SP 0/27 HP 14/25 RP 2/3
Strek x2 SP 20/20 HP 24/24 RP 2/3
Guess? SP 15/18 HP 17/17 | RP 5/5
Jaraduk SP 0/21, HP 25/27, RP 4/4, Latent Radiation Sickness
Del SP: 0/15, HP: 17/19, RP: 4/5
Melissa SP 19/19 HP 21/21 | RP 4/4
Kreech Nakkan 21 Damage, Bleed 2 (2 more rounds)
Ghoul the Skellid Hound 33 Damage
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Guess? again repositions to get as clear a shot as possible on Kreech, then attacks!
"If you don't surrender now, you're gunna regret it in a minotaur two!"
or below is flat-footed
flat-footed to all and -2 to saves if Stunt and Strike succeeded
As Kreech plunges his hand into Akh's chest, Del reaches out and sifts through alternate realities, desperately trying to find one where the nuar didn't hit quite so hard. She grasps one, and imposes it over her friend, shoving Kreech's attack slightly off target.
Unable to reach the combatants with her magic, she drives forward.
Struck by a deathly chill, Akh briefly ponders whether disarming Kreech more literally is within his capabilities. He endures the icy surge running through him through his own grit and Del's help, but doesn't come through unscathed.
Hoping the merc doesn't have any more tricks in the other arm, Akh retaliates with full force then steps back to get a little distance, landing on a bush in the process.
Jaraduk takes aims to the side of Kreech opposite Akh.
Here, try something basic while I think about which of the "specials" to queue up.
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From below, Melissa and Guess? send a hail of small arms fire up at the mercenary that pings off his armor. Jaraduk's grenade flies in a high arc to explode behind the other less-alive nuar. Del and Akh's supernatural efforts bring some heat back into his chest. But what really brings warmth to the android's heart is his taclash crossing Kreech's face - causing his muscles to go slack! With a loud thud, Kreech Nakkan collapses, unconscious and dying, on the dirt floor.
Akh SP 0/27 HP 22/25 RP 2/3
Strek SP 20/20 HP 24/24 RP 2/3
Guess? SP 15/18 HP 17/17 | RP 5/5
Jaraduk SP 0/21, HP 25/27, RP 4/4, Latent Radiation Sickness
Del SP: 0/15, HP: 17/19, RP: 4/5
Melissa SP 19/19 HP 21/21 | RP 4/4
Kreech Nakkan 54 Damage, Bleed 2 (1 more rounds)
Ghoul the Skellid Hound 33 Damage