Another day to lay low...
Jaraduk thinks of what might be useful to do today. Just in case they are caught, he figures it's best to maintain readiness.
"Yes. Yes it is! Hey, don't knock it. We ALL had fun that night! Del providing free booty purification advice. Strek doing research on how to construct mechanical booty. Jaraduk insisting everyone call it rump instead of booty. Akh lamenting how he'd never tasted booty before..."
"Hmmmmm... did that happen? It seems like something that might have happened. But it also seems like the kind of thing a ysoki-goblin captain might say if he was trying to pull our tails."
Akh stays sneaky throughout the second day, once more wiggling through ducts like a giant pipe cleaner. He pops into the galley at opportune times to take a look at what he can grab without it being noticed. He also takes a moment to check if the galley has any good hiding places in case the group needs to move.
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Guess? is not super familiar with the kalistocracy, with his previous experience mostly limited to the adherents of the Kelldor Memorial Center - the "religion's" public persona. He can think of a 16th tier Kelldor member, an elven man named Lindir, who recently disappeared from Absalom Station. Likely he has ascended to become a full kalistocrat.
Day 2
Environmental Stealth Bonus: 15 (Communications Hack, Shift Cameras, Fortify/Stealthify Position x4, Nocturnal & Location)
While Guess? works on the forged IDs, the rest of the group focuses on improving the security of the escape pod bay. Melissa does find time to sneak out to a terminal, where she successfully initiates the tracking program to follow the crew's datapads as they wander through the ship. Right before she leaves, she realizes that the ship is equipped with tiny pinhole security cameras! The crew must not be paying much attention to the video system since you're flying through the relative safety of the drift. However, it's very likely that someone will look over at those video feeds at some point... Thankfully a talented hacker could get in and point the cameras at the ceiling rather than a more useful view.
Akh sneaks into the galley during the day, finding that counters and appliances take up most of the wall space in this narrow room, and an open archway leads out to the mess hall. A shallow ionized sink is set into the counter in one corner. Judging from Melissa's info, the crew doesn’t linger in this small room except when preparing food, though someone in the mess hall could see into this area easily. He does find the greatest of all treasures. Bolted into the wall is a shining silver device. Emblazoned on it's plasteel surface is the esteemed monogram: . A brand new mk 3 culinary synthesizer is installed, ready and waiting for someone to wisk it away. Guess? heads into the room marked Engineering on the ship plan. Sleek metal controls line the walls of this room, and several comfortable hover-chairs sit in front of a data console. A humming power core is against the aft wall. Its other three sides are encased in fiberglass, with a small maintenance hatch allowing access. This room contains the ship’s power core and the controls for its machinery. Melissa's tracker tells you that Adalia checks on everything here every morning. This room contains an engineering specialty tool kit, a zipstick, three rolls of ion tape, and a Microbot Grenade, Mk 1 lying around.
Del was able to dodge into the pipes along with Akh, Guess?, and Melissa when Shiari-8 heads into the escape pod bay to do some routine checks. Unfortunately... Jaraduk was too busy working out to some drow heavy metal in his earbuds to hear the warning! The rest of you watch as the little dot that represents the android crew member gets closer to your own positions. You have just a few seconds to create a remote distraction before Shiari-8 heads into the room and notices Jaraduk!
nfortunately... Jaraduk was too busy working out to some drow heavy metal in his earbuds to hear the warning!
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Melissa points the camera's up. But loops their feed from the last few days. Camera futzing computer roll
Please insert security key card the other way. BADOOP The other other way.BADOOP the other other other way. BADOOP. +4 if thieves tools work in reverse?
Melissa would probably like to explore the bathroom, while pondering what % of her share she could afford to spend now to have Jaraduk dunk Guess? in the tub for a bit.
"You have fur now you have to brush it or you're going to start a wrapper and small parts collection......"
I think we can steal cheffy on our way out. I don't think we're leaving without a chefy III
Guess? is not super familiar with the kalistocracy, with his previous experience mostly limited to the adherents of the Kelldor Memorial Center - the "religion's" public persona. He can think of a 16th tier Kelldor member, an elven man named Lindir, who recently disappeared from Absalom Station. Likely he has ascended to become a full kalistocrat.
Melissa would probably like to explore the bathroom, while pondering what % of her share she could afford to spend now to have Jaraduk dunk Guess? in the tub for a bit.
"You have fur now you have to brush it or you're going to start a wrapper and small parts collection......"
"For 10%, I'll dunk myself! And for 20%, I'll let you hands on dunk me! Whaddaya say?!? Deal?"
"Oh don't give up so easily! Make me an offer!! You want an indulgent fantasy and I want creds. There's a win-win deal to be had here!!"
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"Oh don't give up so easily! Make me an offer!! You want an indulgent fantasy and I want creds. There's a win-win deal to be had here!!"
"How much of a circle my life's moved in that not sneezing from ysoki dander has become a fantasy... You know they finally got BIG sis in a tub once turns out she wasn't coal she was barely a dark gray... "
"Done! For just an extra 1%, I'll cover myself in coal dust, just like your big sis. Melissa, you've got some strange fantasies but lucky for you, I have no shame!"
Guess? doesn't touch any of the items in engineering. When the party gasps at this exhibition of self-control, Guess? says, "I agree with Melissa, let's not do something obvious to draw attention. We can swipe these items when we eventually make our way out."
Akh pulls his tongue out of a box of Fortunate Talismans, alarmed by the blipping close to Jaraduk on the map Melissa set up, but not at all in position to do anything about it.
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Melissa is able to play with the cameras, helping you get around in the upcoming days secretly living aboard this ship. While in the system, she is also able to distract the android crew member with a frustrating door lock that suddenly engaged outside the bay you're squatting in. Jaraduk has just enough time to squish his body into a pipe before Shiari-8 gets the door open.
Melissa checks out the lavatory aboard, tired of using empty wine bottles. This spacious washroom, just off the hallway, contains sonic toilets and sinks, as well as a sonic shower. The white tiling on the walls is engraved with golden patterns. Though not well-hidden, the washrooms could serve as a convenient place to hide in a pinch, due to their centralized location - but only for a short time. They are typically unoccupied. At night, you can freely use these facilities without being noticed by the mercenaries, provided you verify that the crew member on duty is still on the bridge. Perhaps this will help with Guess?'s holo-dandruff. During the day, you would need to maneuver carefully to avoid notice here.
Guess? doesn't touch any of the items in engineering. When the party gasps at this exhibition of self-control ...
Guess? is only able to control his kleptomania for so long. He quickly gets into the wine, nabbing the six bottles from the escape pods. Then, he heads to the beautifully jeweled security droids parked in the cargo hold outside your hiding place. They haven't reacted or moved in any of the times you've examined them or walked by so surely they won't notice or mind if some of those jewels disappeared, right? Or maybe even a whole robot? (Hacking it will give Melissa something to do.) Unfortunately... when the goblin/ysoki approaches one of the robots this time, it's eyes snap to glowing attention! Seconds later, the other four robots also come to life! "Unholy. Intruder. Exterminate."
The robots are slow in booting up, but their sudden appearance surprises both Jaraduk and Melissa.
"What did you DO?" Del hisses as quietly as she can. She creeps forward and gestures, whispering a few more words as she pushes at the robots with a barrage of force. The wave passes so close to Guess? he can feel it WHOOSH just barely past his skin.
After her spell completes her eyes widen. "...That was louder than I intended."
Mouth agape, "I didn't do anything. I mean I was thinking about it but I hadn't done anything yet!"
Guess? tries to tumble away while drawing his weapon.
Then he fires on red!
(Manual sight reduces range and AC cover bonuses by 2)
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"What did we say about stealing things that move under their own power again Guess?? If they can move, they will move." Akh admonishes the goblysoki before turning his attention to the robots "So, any airlocks nearby we can send them out of?"
He swipes his claws at the most injured of the bots.
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Del's wave of force crashes over the nearby robots, threatening - but not quite managing - to knock them over. Guess?, heartbroken over having to work for the shining jewels on the robots' chests, misses with his opening shot. Akh manages to wound one of the robots as it charges in. The robots move forward in a wave of clanking metal, quickly closing in on you. While the right hand of each robot is conspicuously empty, the left hand is formed into a nano-sharp spike!
Though the attack is ferocious, the robots are clumsy and your armor is thick. Well, everyone's armor but Melissa's - which seems to be about as strong as the coveralls she left the mines in. The last robot stabs into her armor, weakening it. You take a good look at the robots, sizing them up.
These are a type of security robot specific to the kalistocracy. Kalistocrats consider ownership of a luminance-class security robot to be a status symbol, using them to guard homes, businesses, and other important locations. Though some view the expensive materials required for the robots’ construction as unnecessarily extravagant, devout Kalistocrats believe that the more credits one invests in these robots, the better they perform their duties, and they add their own personal touches to the robots they commission. Luminance-class security robots are intelligent but highly deferential, and the Kalistocracy jealously guards the secrets of their manufacture.
These robots are vulnerable to Electricity and Critical Hits!
A character trained in Engineering can remove the weapon and components from a destroyed luminance-class security robot with 10 minutes of work. Sometimes the starmetals and gems removed from these robots have substantial resale value.
The robots' right hands should have an incorporated numbing beam in the palm. These ones don't. Perhaps their manufacture will be completed on the station. They also are lacking the surprise weapon incorporated into most luminance-class security robots: the shardspray cannon in the chest that can weaponize those beautiful gems in the robotic armor.
These robots were deactivated when you entered the ship. You're guessing that they are additional cargo meant for a special customer in the kalistocracy and someone, likely Shiari-8, was messing around with the robots when you heard the crew member wandering around the crew bay yesterday. Likely they were activated on accident.
The robots have the traditional immunities of constructs.
Guess? SP 42/42, HP 37/37, RP 8/9
Akh SP 77/77, HP 53/53, RP 7/7
Del SP: 35/35, HP: 39/39, RP: 5/5
Jaraduk
Melissa SP 34/43, HP 45/45, RP 9/9
Purple luminance-class security robot, 0 Damage
Pink luminance-class security robot, 0 Damage
Yellow luminance-class security robot, 24 Damage
Red luminance-class security robot, 5 Damage
Blue luminance-class security robot, 5 Damage
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Blue can whack melissa in the face as she ducks under Dels legs
"Say hello to my little friend, while I hide behind my giant friend..."
the rodent snatches the gun off her back on the go and PHATOOHS one eel in front of del and another behind purple
EAC
2 higher on red +2 higher on everyone
I forgot i'm a real envoy now
"Plus two on all of em. ZAP EM ALL LET SARANRAE SORT EM OUT MUAHAHAHAHAH!!!!! "
Electric
"Get red!!!" Zap em all!!!!
" Shock em if you got something electric!"
+2 hit and damage on everyone!
Shock 'em eh?
Hearing the potential vulnerability, Jaraduk draws his storm doshko. He maneuvers around his teammates to get at the first robot.
'scuse me. Pardon me. Excuse me...
Shock 'em eh?
Del takes a guarded step back, careful not to step on Melissa, and unleashes another wave of force, catching the red, yellow, and pink robots in the blast.
Guess? moves back and fires again at red!
or below is flat-footed
(Manual sight reduces range and AC cover bonuses by 2)
flat-footed to all, -2 to ATK and -2 to saves if Stunt and Strike succeeded
Akh twists, focusing his slashes on the already-damaged yellow robot that seems a little frisky with its nanospike. His claws glow dimly with the entropic energy that infuses them.
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Melissa gets a bonk on the head, but gets into a perfect position to put her eels to work! Just as she figured, the electricity lights up the robot's circuits with well placed power. Jaraduk pulls out a monstrous doshko, which proves to be SUPER EFFECTIVE!. Del's powerful force passes through the room again, twisting one of the robot's heads around in a full circle!
Second time is the charm, as a robot bonk's Guess? on the ysoki-shaped noggin. Apparently the blow was harder than it looked, as his shot - for the second time in a row - hits the ceiling.
Akh's acidic claws pierce the most wounded robot's chest, piercing a critical set of components. It falls to the ground in a pile of parts. The two robots standing shoulder to shoulder with the fallen one turn their heads and look down at the mechanical mess for two second. Then, as one, their right hands flash with a blue plane of light. They align their energy shields at Akh as the third robot steps around Akh to flank. The trio slash down at the android as one; together their teamwork penetrates his flashing defenses and one cuts into the weaker armor at his neck.
The final robot flashes on an energy shield of his own, pointing it right in Jaraduk's face. It's integrated sword brushes against the nuar's thick armor, but is unable to pierce it.
Guess? SP 30/42, HP 37/37, RP 8/9
Akh SP 57/77, HP 53/53, RP 7/7
Del SP 35/35, HP 39/39, RP 5/5
Jaraduk SP 56/56, HP 55/55, RP 9/9
Melissa SP 25/43, HP 45/45, RP 9/9
Purple luminance-class security robot, 26 Damage
Pink luminance-class security robot, 30 Damage
Yellow luminance-class security robot, 62 Damage
Red luminance-class security robot, 39 Damage
Blue luminance-class security robot, 44 Damage
That was... SUPER EFFECTIVE! Let's do it again!
He tries to cut down his current target for good.
Del pulls a handful of caustic nanites from another reality into our own, then tosses them at the red robot.
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Guess? fires at the closest robot still standing, "We byte back!"
or below is flat-footed
(Manual sight reduces range and AC cover bonuses by 2)
flat-footed to all, -2 to ATK and -2 to saves if Stunt and Strike succeeded
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"Hey Melissa, by the way, did I mention that you look particularly nice and well-groomed today?"
Akh flings the robot that manages to stab him off, slashing claws through the bots as he does "Bite? They don't look particularly appetizing Guess?"
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Melissa's well placed shot decimates the ranks of the security robots, sending one of them to the ground in a spasm. Jaraduk moves up cleaving a robot in two with his shocking axe. Del's otherworldly acid covers the faceplate of a fourth robot, melting inwards and dropping it to the floor. Akh turns on the final robot, claws ripping out it's insides.
COMBAT OVER!
Guess? SP 30/42, HP 37/37, RP 8/9
Akh SP 57/77, HP 53/53, RP 7/7
Del SP 35/35, HP 39/39, RP 5/5
Jaraduk SP 56/56, HP 55/55, RP 9/9
Melissa SP 25/43, HP 45/45, RP 9/9
Pink luminance-class security robot, 90 Damage
Purple luminance-class security robot, 64 Damage
Yellow luminance-class security robot, 62 Damage
Blue luminance-class security robot, 65 Damage
Red luminance-class security robot, 104 Damage
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A moment of silence passes over the hold and that's when you realize... did the crew hear you?! Melissa pulls up her datapad, looking at those blinking dots. Three of them are unmoving in the crew quarters and the captain's room while the fourth sits in the bridge. Even after a few seconds, nothing changes. It seems your little scuffle was either fast enough, or quiet enough, that nobody heard.
You look over the five busted up security robots with a choice to deliberate. Melissa - or anyone else trained in Engineering - could take an hour and pull the valuable weapons, energy shields, and gemstones from each robot. Of course, that would leave quite the evidence of intruders... Alternatively, with some engineering and disguise talent you might be able to fake these robots back into a semi-reasonable appearance.
After you're done, you hunker back down for another day in the Drift!
Day 3!
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Melissa starts putting the robots back together. Either they're going to be our robots soon, or we're going to be so rich we can buy them by the six pack. Or both. If they're going to be our robots we REALLY need to get them some rubber tank treads or something...
"guess? see if we can acid wash these. Its a cool effect and it might start a trend."
He could of course, come along AFTER waiting for melissa to get them back to factory specs and THEN loot them...
Stealth day three
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I think I just remembered some things Strek taught me...
"Yah, we can grab the loot later. Let's try to keep our presence concealed for now."
Guess? gets to work with Melissa on making the robots appear perfectly fine. "Acid wash? The crew probably won't notice but it might offend a kalistocrat's asthetic sensibilities. How about we throw in a bit of paisley? Too much?"
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Stealth day three 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (18) + 20 = 38
My brain does lovely images...
Melissa is under the couch while the crew are watching the new season of the necromancer. One calls for more popcorn and Melissa holds a bowl up, not wanting anyone to miss a minute. Both crew members say "oh thank you" at the same time and everyone goes back to munching and watching.
But I can't. Johny has been reincarnated as my species enemy! How Can I, a ranger of the Diadem order, love a GNOLL of all things!
Akh clanks and clonks his way through the ducts, somehow always evading direct observation by any of the ship's crew. This time around, he dares to scope out the guest stateroom. Maybe someone's hidden some useful hints as to the upcoming ship handover there?
After he returns to rejoin the group, he comments "Not sure how convincing those broken robots are going to be. Are you sure we don't want to just space them and then let everything think they just went missing?"
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Melissa, with the help of Jaraduk and Guess?, is able to patch up the robots' innards. Guess? then is able to cover up the breakage lines with some clever usage of makeup, oil, and shifted armor plates. You set them back against the wall, embedded gemstones and all.
Guess? takes a look at the names that Del was able to offer up of significant kalistocrats, and decides that the simple wardrobe demanded by their religion should make disguising as them easier than most targets. Without the need to practice, the goblin decides to pull pranks instead.
Melissa heads to the recreational suite through the mess hall. As she's about to pop out of the vent, she sees a nuar rifling through the cabinets. He comes away with a bottle of top shelf vesk whiskey, wandering out into the hallway. She drops into the room. Two long metal tables rings with chairs take up the center of this room, and the port wall holds an open archway to the galley. Cabinets holding expensive bottles of wines and liqueurs line the wall behind it. The cabinets hold several bottles of valuable wines and liquors worth a total of 1,500 credits.
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Having established that Melissa has absolutely no taste for Expensive grape juice
Melissa will Leave it. As an experiment though she'll pour a bottle of her Space Mart brand wine " Unscrewit" into an expensive empty bottle and see if Guess? and Akh can tell the difference or if it's just her.
Guess? feeling particularly lucky while sneaking around, decides to check out the bridge!
Del tries her best to stay hidden, and focuses her time on securing their sleeping area.
With his newfound engineering work completed, Jaraduk gets back to laying low. He's starting to get comfortable with his lashunta visage, though the presence of another nuar bugs him on some level.
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Guess? has a hard time getting to the bridge, but eventually finds a time when the android on duty is visiting the lavatory. He sneaks in, checking out what he can in the short break. A double door in this cone-shaped room, at the nose of the ship, leads out to the hallway. Near the door is a large navigation table surrounded by chairs; its holovid display currently shows a route winding through the Drift of Pact Worlds space. At the pointed tip of the room is a piloting console, and enormous windows looking out onto space take up most of the room’s sides. Much to his dismay, he finds no treasure. He does, however, take the most of the opportunity to set up some pranks.
Akh finds his way into the guest stateroom. The door has a lock, but right next to it is taped a keycard with a note: For Guest Room. Don't go in there. - Adalia. Akh ignores the note, and utilizes the card. A king-sized four-poster bed sits against the wall of this lavishly appointed stateroom, its fine silk bedding covered with a white comforter embroidered with golden thread. To either side is a mahogany nightstand. In the center of the room, a plush couch and two chairs surround a low table. A vidscreen set into the wall near the entry door cycles through a variety of nature scenes, from lush forests to beautiful ocean beaches. In the drawer of the nightstand is a gold-embossed copy of the Prophecies of Kalistrade worth 625 credits, an empty silver jewelry box worth 250 credits, and two vials of pheromonal perfume designed to affect humans.
The group manages to stay hidden during the third day in the Drift, starting to get into a rhythm while dodging the legitimate passengers of this ship.
Day 4!
Jaraduk gets comfy in lashunta skin.