GM Nomadical's SFS #1-31 Treading History's Folly (Inactive)

Game Master Nomadical

- An explorer among the stars. A musician in search of inspiration. A traveling preacher. The killer of the enemies of the starfinder society. Including hidden enemies. - she tilts her head on the last words, looking intently at the android.

Iris looks at Iteration-177’s wounds in shock “We should be healing you, you are in a very bad shape. How did you end up like that?”.

She starts getting her medkit out while trying to communicate with the spirit to see why it is reacting like that.

As she sees no way to confirm the identity of the android, she moves closer with her medkit, trying to see if she can treat his wounds.

Medicine, Treat Deadly Wounds, medkit DC 25: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

He should get back 1 hit point per level/CR

The chatty android tries to mimic Yarameh’s head tilt but finds themself unable to in their current state of disassembly. They laugh self-consciously before answering her. ”Oh, don’t worry, musician-warrior-priest, you’ve nothing to fear from me. I can’t seem to do much of anything in the condition I’m in, anyway.”

Then as Iris moves forward, their hand wiggles as if trying to signal her to stop. They look at the hand lying on the other side of the cavern with a smile. ”Heh. I got that working. But, no thank you, Iris. You don’t have the equipment to repair me. My construction is quite unique and specific. And please don’t move me. I prefer to stay here where I’m in relatively less danger than where I need you to go. Don’t worry about me, I’ve been through worse.” They suddenly lock gazes with Aravon, as if perhaps seeing their own future/past through the half-orc’s hardened eyes.

In that same moment, Iris’ friendly spirit manages to send her the quietest whisper of communication. The soul is shared with another, like us. They are destined for greatness. Like you. It then quiets down again.

Iteration-177 quirks an eyebrow as if to shake off the feeling and continues. ”But enough about me. I need you to purge this city of its spiritual influences, the souls that are still trapped here. The spiritual activity here in Xaharee is no accident. The mentrasi discovered an imminent seismic cataclysm and took desperate measures to survive it. I’ve uncovered a ritual the Xaharee leaders used to bind their spirits to this city, specifically the menhir in the center of the downtown park. I believe they misinterpreted the ritual and thought it would bind their life essence here, including their physical bodies. Instead it ripped the spirits of every living thing from the city and bound it to the menhir, the focal point of the ritual.

“Think of the menhir as a spiritual anchor; I believe that by disrupting the menhir we can free the trapped spirits. I want you to go to the city center, find the menhir, and destroy it. Be warned, it will put up quite a fight once it realizes you’re there to destroy it. I would rest and prepare before heading back into the city to face it. You certainly have time; it’s not going anywhere. And feel free to take some of my weapons with you,” Iteration-177 finishes with a meaningfully look toward a null-space chamber lying on a nearby rock.

Iteration-177 will chat about his other adventures, but is vague and uninformative about anything else related to his being here.

You may choose to take a full rest to recover spells, etc if you wish.

Aravon looks at Iteration-177 and is hesitant to trust this one.
He came alone here, interested in the scoured stars incident. How much did he know what has happened there? Did he provide any help to Jadnura expedition? Maybe he is involved in the trap and now tries to cover his track.

"How do you know about the ritual? Who did the damage to your body? For a friendly fellow that you seem to be, you keep plenty of things to yourself! When Jadnura was here he found something and trusted his instinct, leading plenty of agents into a trap. I will learn from that lesson and do not head into another one."

He turns towards the others

"I don't trust him. He is being nice and all, but we don't know what is his angle in this whole story. He could be trying to get rid of us and burry this whole place some that the truth never comes out. Why would he come here alone? Why didn't he go to a museum to learn about Mentrasi? Maybe he knows the story of those spirits ... maybe he knows about the godshield in the first place. Maybe he works with Starfinders but actually is leading them in more traps..."

Given what Aravon has learned of Godshield and this whole place, he would gladly help the spirits. But he has a hard time trusting Iteration-177 who just happens to be alone in the same place. He would be fine to free the spirits and destroy the menhir if they can double-check the information.

Ceolor steps up behind Aravon laying a hand on the half-orc's shoulder. "We can trust him, he's been highly involved in Starfinder business for the past year. If he was truly hoping to destroy us or something adjacent to that, he'd have had plenty of opportunities to do so already. For example, I, and a different group of agents, were completely in his power twice and he could have readily made us disappear. He genuinely has a deep interest in interesting stories. If you feel that he can't be left alone, then maybe we could jury-rig a way to bring him along with us."

He does turn to Iteration-177, "Though how you know so much about thsi place and the spirits here, I do have to wonder. Care to explain?"

As she puts her medkit back in her backpack, Iris replies a bit for Iteration-177 as she tells “I believe he also has managed to contact one of the spirit here. Anyway, the Mentrasi believes that destroying the obelisk would be the only way to free them from the state they are trapped in.
Thought Aravon is right, as there is still plenty of unanswered questions, like how did he end up here, and in this state.” She’s looking at the android, wondering if she’s going to end up the same way; which she is not looking for. She adds, with a genuine interest, “What makes your body so unique?”

Iteration-177 listens carefully to Aravon’s words and smiles appreciatively at Ceolor and Iris’ votes of confidence.

”I completely understand your concern. How do I know so much about this place? The same way you do. I walked the halls, read the signage, and reached out to the natives. They whispered to me in passing in the language of stone and the earth.”

He looks to Iris, ”But it sounds like you’re more in tune with them than I am. Did one of them possess you? I think it tried to do so with me, but I wasn’t willing to let it. I wasn’t sure how it would interact with my more advanced systems.” His last comment about his ‘more advanced systems’ seems to be a polite way of not answering Iris’ other question: that his construction is a secret of technology beyond a normal android, and he’s either unwilling or perhaps even unable to answer in more detail. ”I’d love to hear how it felt and what it revealed to you. But later, perhaps.”

”My friend,” he returns to Aravon, ”my ‘angle’ as you put it, is to learn about the Tear that was here, about the Mentrasi, and about Kardical. I was drawn here, by a pull I cannot explain. Here in the cavern, I was simply overcome by the same spirits that protect the menhir and that possess your lovely Iris. I was caught unawares, and did not have the strength of a team at my side. You, however, are fully aware of the dangers, have the assistance of a spirit with you, and have the strength of allies. The fight with the menhir will be tough, but I’ve no doubt you’ll prevail. Then you can come back for me.”

Ceolor looks back at Aavaron. "Right, does that help convince you? He's been here longer than us, maybe he learned more than we could. And anyways, it doesn't look like he'll be going anywhere on his own right now. If he was going to collapse the tunnels he'd still be trapped here with no help."

Aravon nods his head "Sure, let's go and destroy that menhir then."

He pats Smiley on his neck. "Don't worry Smiley, you will not get locked in here."

He looks at the items

"Those weapons are prepared to hurt incorporeal creatures, funny coincidence that Iteration-177 had them at hand, maybe he always carry some. If menhir will put up a fight we probably should expect ghosts."

Aravon is fine to go. He did not use any of the resources. I think we should either use the weapons or move the fusion seals to others weapon. I am almost certain that Entropic Strike is a magical attack. I don't think I can do anything for Smiley as he only bites :| But that is fine.

- Breaking the menhir is not a bad idea anyway. Good. Don't go anywhere, we'll come back and continue the conversation.

How long will it take to replace the fusion on my bolter? I have mysticism, I can probably handle it.

Stiehle agrees with Ceolor. "I'll vouch for him too." The operative says simply. Looking over the items indicated by Iteration-177, he picks up the pistol and looks at the others. "If none of you object, I think this could be useful in my hands."

Wow! Lots of information to parse through since my last visit to the boards! Went on a short vacation, expecting internet and found none at all! Had a lot of fun, but boy I was jonesing for some pbp gaming! If nobody has already laid claim, I'd like to carry the ghost killer gelid hail pistol. Also one of those healing serums, if there are enough to go around for those that are likely to be hurt in the coming battle.

Ceolor looks at the gear and frowns slightly. It's all stuff he could use, but not effectively or as well as everyone else. "Don't need any of this gear, and I can stick to my own weapon if need be"

I forgot we had an Operative in the party. I was thinking either Ceolor or Byakurai take it, but trick attacks would be much more damage than we could pull off. I vote Stiehle take it, given the iffy-ness of moving fusions inside a scenario. You'd have to spend credits but then you don't get to keep it at the end, right?

Also I think Yarameh or Aravon are the best two for the spear if it's needed. Everyone in the party is high dex, but those two have a bonus to str. Aravon might want to be on the front line more, and Yarameh has the best str in the party.

Stiehle nods and holsters the weapon if the others are in agreement as well. "So... we get some rest first and then see about destroying this menhir? I guess we'll just sort of sneak up on it, as it sounds as though it has some sort of sentience?" The operative glances at Iteration-177 when he asks the question.

Definitely take a long rest first. If anyone wants to strip the fusion off the pistol that's fine with me - if it's feasible to do so. The pistol does better damage than anything in my inventory, which is the only reason I was thinking of using it. And yeah, being a small arm weapon he can use his Operative abilities with it. Though my luck at rolling twice for a good result on the d20 has been really shaky thus far...

Aravon nods,

"I will keep guard as first, then I will wake up another one."

says Half-Orc as he removes his backpack and removes the saddle from Smiley. He leaves his collar to protect him from environmental changes and night cold.

He gets a bowl and gives him water then drinks himself. He sits some distance away from the others and look around.

> Yarameh has the best str in the party
Very surprising for me ))

Great, then we won't change anything - and off we go!

Iris is fine with resting a bit. She looks around for a way to recharge her super-capacity battery, not very confident there’s a way here.

She spends the rest of the night and her shift to look at personal projects, and tries to communicate with the spirit in her. She wonders if it will still be there the next day.

Iris is unable to find a charger, adapter or outlet anywhere. Iteration-177 leaves you to your rest, understanding the need that you biologicals have. He remains quiescent, perhaps seeing to his own damage somehow.

In the morning, Iris finds that the spirit is still with her. It sends a feeling of hope that you will succeed in your task, thereby releasing it and the other trapped mentrasi.

As you return to Xaharee’s downtown district, a haunting presence in the city grows. Ghostly wails becomes louder until they reach a constant wind-like howl in the city center. Stones and debris around the city begin to vibrate and crack and then continue to do so with increased frequency adding a counterpoint of popping to the unearthly howls.

In the center of the downtown area lies a slightly raised pedestal with the remains of a fountain in the center. Debris and tools surround the fountain from the hurried installation of a seven-foot-tall stone menhir.

As soon as you set foot in the city center, you get the distinct impression that, although immobile and appearing lifeless, the menhir itself knows you are here to destroy it. Even now, it has begun to marshal its energies to repel you with extreme prejudice.

Before any of you can even act, a spirit that looks much like Iris’ friend oozes out of the menhir. But unlike Iris’ friend, this one has red eyes blazing with hatred for you, the living that would disrupt it. It races across the square, passing straight through Aravon and Smiley’s bodies before erupting out the back and moving on through the rest of the front line. As it passes through you, you feel as if you are being eaten alive from the inside.

Aravon, Smiley, Byakurai, Ceolor, and Yarameh take 4d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 2, 5) = 12 acid damage. DC 15 Reflex save for half.
GM stuff: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Mysticism to know about the Spirit.

Round 1
Everyone may act!
Disrupting the Menhir

Menhir
Green Spirit (*3)
Stiehle
Byakurai (pending Reflex save)
Yarameh (pending Reflex save)
Ceolor (pending Reflex save)
Iris
Aravon (pending Reflex saves)

------------------------------------------------------------

Anyone within 30 feet may attempt to analyze the menhir for weak points as a move action during their turn each round. Succeeding at a DC 24 Engineering or Physical Science check lets you identify a weak spot on the menhir, allowing the next successful physical or energy attack against the menhir to ignore the structure’s hardness. A successful DC 29 Engineering or Physical Science check also allows that attack to deal an automatic critical hit. Similar to an Operative’s trick attack, the skill check is done each round before your attack if you choose to do so. You are looking for a specific weak spot for that next specific attack. No, you don’t have to do these checks to attack it, but doing so and succeeding provides nice benefits for the cost of your move action against an immobile target. Iris gets a +2 to these checks from the friendly spirit.

Also, as a reminder about attacking immobile objects:

“Furthermore, if a creature takes a full action to line up a shot, it automatically hits with a melee weapon and gains a +5 bonus to an attack roll with a ranged weapon.”

[ooc]You could not also gain the benefit of the above Engineering or Physical Science checks if you do so, though.

Reflex save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Ceolor rolls out of the way of the blob of acid as his eyes take on a burning red coloration. He lands out of the roll running, forming his mote into his laser rifle. He ends in a set position and contemplates the menhir for a moment before he fires a shot at the spirit instead.

Solar Flare, Heat drain: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Photon Aligned, d4+5 Cold, d2 Electric damage: 1d4 + 6 + 1d2 ⇒ (4) + 6 + (2) = 12

Kinda torn as to what to prioritize here. I can use my once per day spell to give Ceolor an automatic aid another to Mystiscism for a +8 total, or a +7 modifier for engineering or physical sciences, but either way he's going to be needing a dang good roll to be hurting the menhir much.

Reflex save, DC15: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24 Smiley's reflex save is +7 so it would still make it.

Aravon pushes Smiley to run at the menhir and yells at the ghost

"You wicked ghost. Do you feel like we are afraid of you?" he makes few rude gestures towards the ghost trying to antagonize it

Intimidate@green ghost, language independent: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19 Vanguard feat - antagonize the DC is 15 + 1-1/2 × the opponent’s CR. Antagonize rules

Move: Move smiley
Standard: Antagonize@green ghost

Reflex: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Mysticism: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17 Spirits?

- It hurts, yes. But I've been dead inside for a long time, guys.

Mysticism: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 12 + 2 = 26 Abilities of Menhir?

Yarameh seems to be burning with righteous anger. This is her moment. Everything she had learned and believed in now came together. The indestructible power granted by Our Lady in the Shadows. Heretical views proclaiming that music is one of the aspects of her Goddess. And now she goes forward, slightly adjusting the speaker near her mouth, and begins to sing! Her voice roars and reverberates over the square, and moaning spirits act as a chorale accompaniment and a fanzone at a rock concert at the same time. Her equipment begins to emit light and shimmer with purple, dark pink, crimson and neon. She's singing hymns to Nocticula! She sings about the greatness of the power of Faith! How Faith gives birth to Heroes! And how the Heroes demolish any obstacle in their path, and even after dying they live for thousands of years in legends, and their souls turn into powerful balor warlords in the Abyss - to serve Nocticula forever!

Mysticism: 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 12 + 2 + 2 = 35 DMG to Menhir!

Stiehle focuses on the spirit creature that appears to tear through people like a knife through butter. "I ain't afraid of no ghost." He mutters to himself in response to Aravon's words as the wily operative tries to slip into the shadows of the nearby house and take a shot with his new-fangled pistol.

Move to within 20' range, using Trick Attack ability - I think the KAC is targeted with this pistol, but let me know if I'm wrong!

Trick Attack (Stealth): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (13) + 17 = 30 vs DC20 + Target's CR
Ghost Killer Gelid Hail Pistol w/ Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 10 - 2 = 16 vs Target's KAC
Pistol Damage w/ Deadly Aim: 2d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1, 5) + 2 + 2 = 10 C & P + Trick Attack Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7 (if applicable) for 17 total
If enemy is hit, Debilitating Trick makes Green creature flatfooted until beginning of my next turn.

Mysticism about the menhir: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

Iris concentrates on summoning some help.

Casting Summon Creature 2 as a 1 round spell.

Ceolor rolls to the side as the deranged spirit tries to pass through his body, only managing to clip the solarian’s side. In response he blasts it with solar energy which the spirit definitely didn’t like.

Aravon and Smiley approach the menhir, though they have to stop a little short due to the fountain taking up much of the raised platform. The big half-orc makes some rude gestures at the ghost, but it seems that those gestures might have had some very different meanings in mentrasi culture. (You didn’t quite hit the Intimidation DC.)

Even with the help of her friend, Iris can’t seem to recall much about the menhir, so she begins summoning some aid from the planes beyond.

Stiehle easily hides from the spirit, but his shot misses by a ghostly hair.

The warrior priest of Nocticula fails to dodge the spirit, but doesn’t seem to care about the pain. In fact she almost relishes it and uses it as a focus to bring forth her rage in song. Whispers from Her Lady in Shadow tell Yarameh that the spirits are obviously undead with all those normal immunities, but they also whisper to her that these are more vulnerable to the Flames of Hell. As she then turns her gaze to the menhir, the drow is granted a brief glimpse of the future by her goddess. She sees that this construct isn’t going to just sit there waiting for the Starfinders to destroy it. It will spawn an undead defender each and every round. Some of them will be spirits like the (Green) one already on the battlefield. But other times it will merge a spirit with rock, thus spawning one of the haunted earth elementals that you fought in the caverns the day before. The vision ends before Yarameh can see how this fight will turn out….

Her voice fills the cavern with hymns to the Shadow Queen and the popping of the rocks and the moaning of the spirits add a choral backdrop. The menhir shudders and begins to crack!

Spirits are vulnerable to Fire damage.
That skill check did 70 damage to the menhir because it exceeded a 29 result!

Round 1
Byakurai may act!
Disrupting the Menhir

Menhir (-70)
Green Spirit (*3, -12)
Stiehle
Byakurai (pending DC 15 Reflex save vs 12 acid dmg)
Yarameh (-12)
Ceolor (-6)
Iris
Aravon (-6, GM question below)

@Aravon: I only see one save. Was that for you or Smiley? Both of you were attacked.
@Stiehle: Yes, it still targets KAC, but it will do full damage to incorporeals *if* it hits.

Prior to heading to deal with the spirits, Byakurai would swap out their least electron weapon crystal for their shard apocalypse crystal, manifesting their solar flare as chains of light once more.

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Wincing, they still enter photon attunement (1) and plant their feet, attempting to fire twice at the menhir itself to bring some sort of relief to these unquiet spirits however they can.

Deadly Aim:
Anchoring Solar Flare 1: 1d20 + 11 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 11 - 2 - 4 = 20 vs. EAC
Holy/Fire Damage 1: 1d4 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 13 (Force effect)

Anchoring Solar Flare 2: 1d20 + 11 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 11 - 2 - 4 = 19 vs. EAC
Holy/Fire Damage 2: 1d4 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 12 (Force effect)

The big borai is a little too slow to get out of the vengeful spirit’s way and the acid eats away at their already undead insides. In retaliation, they fire twice. As they watch their well aimed shots hit, Byakurai realizes that the menhir’s constuction appears to be ignoring almost all of the damage they should have inflicted, but also it seems that the holy effect worked like it did on the elementals earlier.

As Byakuai recalls the big rock elementals, it’s almost as if just thinking of them again summoned one. For as they do so, one rises from the ground right by the menhir. Its eyes glow red with the same hatred for you all, and it immediately lashes out at one of the nearby living beings. Ceolor, Yarameh, Aravon?: 1d3 ⇒ 2

Slam vs Yarameh: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22
damage, B: 1d6 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

The rough rocky arm connects with the drow priest, pummeling her body but not breaking her rage.

Meanwhile the green ghostly spirit moves to catch the back row in a cone of otherworldly force.
Force blast SLA, 30’ cone vs Byakurai, Iris, and Stiehle.
Force damage, Reflex DC 16 for half: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 6) = 11

Bull Rush vs Byakurai: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Bull Rush vs Iris: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
Bull Rush vs Stiehle: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

The blast of ectoplasmic energy buffets the Starfinders, inflicting damage but failing to move them from their spots. Iris, however, has her concentration disrupted by the flying debris and loses her spell (unless she has a way to take no damage or ignore it while casting.)

Round 2
Everyone may act!
Disrupting the Menhir

Menhir (-77)
Green Spirit (*4, -12)
Red Elemental
Stiehle (pending Reflex save)
Byakurai (-12, pending another Reflex save)
Yarameh (-24)
Ceolor (-6)
Iris (pending Reflex save)
Aravon (-6, GM question below)

@Aravon: I only saw one save. Was that for you or Smiley? Both of you were attacked.

Ceolor raises his rifle one more time, glancing at Yarameh, "These spirits burn? Right, I got you covered then!" The burning flame from his eyes wash down over his rifle as he re aims at the spirit. "Probably going to take a good fist to the ribs for this but..."

Fully expecting some pain he fires a shot.
Solar Flare, Heat drain: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Plasma Sheath, Photon, Fire damage: 1d4 + 1d2 + 8 ⇒ (4) + (2) + 8 = 14

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

"Gah!" Byakurai recoils again as they are slammed by another blast of pain. "I'm no use trying to destroy that focus. Maybe I can be useful, for a change, keeping the others off the rest of you!"

Continuing photon attunement (2), Byakurai aims and fires multiple solar flares at the incorporeal spirit (unless Ceolor destroys it first, in which case these will target the elemental).

Deadly Aim:
Anchoring Solar Flare 1: 1d20 + 11 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 11 - 2 - 4 = 6 vs. EAC
Holy/Fire Damage 1: 1d4 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 10 (Force effect)

Anchoring Solar Flare 2: 1d20 + 11 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 11 - 2 - 4 = 17 vs. EAC
Holy/Fire Damage 2: 1d4 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 10 (Force effect)

The two solarians team up on the angry spirit, bathing it in plasma and holy fire. Its form shreds and ectoplasmic particles begin to flake off, but it holds itself together, just barely….

Round 2
Bold may act!
Disrupting the Menhir

Menhir (-77)
Green Spirit (*4, -45)
Red Elemental
Stiehle (pending Reflex save)
Byakurai (-23)
Yarameh (-24)
Ceolor (-6)
Iris (pending Reflex save)
Aravon (-6, GM question below)

@Aravon: I only saw one save. Was that for you or Smiley? Both of you were attacked.

Smiley reflex save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23 Sorry was thinking that one save for the two of them is enough. MB

Aravon looks at the elemental and shifts his head towards the sky. He begins to yell and one can see something within his throat move. He looks again at the elemental and spits with a freezing blast like a dragon.

Wyrmling gland, cold: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 3) = 7 Dragon Gland, wyrmling should cover red elemtal and Menhir. Reflex Save DC17 to take half

Mysticism: 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 12 + 2 + 2 = 17

A blow to the chest knocks Yarameh off the rhythm, causing him to cough. The song is briefly interrupted...

- Bastard! Go to hell... - clearing her throat, she spits and glares at the elemental. Then, straightening up, she seems to go into the shadow for a second, becoming a barely perceptible silhouette, and after that, with amazing speed, she slides back and takes her usual appearance there.

10ft guarded step via Shadow Nerves

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Stiehle tries to twist away from the attack but winds up tripping over his own feet in the attempt! Stumbling, he fires off another shot as he more or less falls into the shadows, but again his shot is wide.

Trick Attack (Stealth): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (8) + 17 = 25 vs DC20 + Target's CR
Ghost Killer Gelid Hail Pistol: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16 vs Target's KAC
Pistol Damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 3) + 2 = 7 C & P + Trick Attack Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7 (if applicable) for 14 total
If enemy is hit, Debilitating Trick makes Green creature flatfooted until beginning of my next turn.

Sheesh! The dice are not liking me at all! Even dropped Deadly Aim from the attack and still came up with the same result as last time... Maybe I'll go after the menhir with my next shot after taking the move action to hit a weak spot. I'll see how this round goes.

Reflex save DC 16 for half of 11 force damage: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
25 stamina left

Iris manages to evades a part of the blow but in doing so, she is unable to finish her spell.

I was afraid of that, full round spells are a bit useless in Starfinder against intelligent enemies.

The android moves closer to the menhir and starts using some mystical formula trying to unravel the magic containing it.

Move to get in range then using the option to damage the menhir using Mysticism. Using one resolve point to trigger surging nanites and get a +2 racial on the check.
Mysticism against the menhir: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 10 + 2 = 30

Pending Stiehle’s rewrite of history per my post in Discussion, but also moving on. You could target the menhir or the Red elemental, or do something else, but you can't target the new spirit in your Round 2 rewrite as it wasn't there. Feel free to shoot it in Round 3, though.

The two solarians team up on the angry spirit, bathing it in plasma and holy fire. Its form shreds into a cloud of ectoplasmic particles and it dissipates. As it does, the menhir appears to simultaneously crack a little more also.

Iris’ friend flares with joy at the release of the spirit to the afterlife. It then reminds Iris of what they know about mentrasi magic as the lovely android proceeds to disrupt the ancient ritual. Iris, don’t forget to include your +2 bonus to these Mysticism checks from your friendly spirit.

But the menhir isn’t out of options, and another ghostly spirit oozes out of the south face and again races through several of the Starfinders. Aravon, Smiley, Iris and Byakurai again feel like their guts are being burned out from the inside.

Reflex saves DC 15 from Aravon, Smiley, Iris and Byakurai. 4d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 5, 3) = 13 acid, save for half
GM thing: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Round 3
Everyone may act!
Disrupting the Menhir

Menhir (-197)
Yellow Spirit (*x)
Red Elemental
Stiehle (-11)
Byakurai (-23, pending another Reflex save)
Yarameh (-24)
Ceolor (-6)
Iris (-5, pending another Reflex save)
Aravon (-6, pending 2 more Reflex saves)

Reflex saves DC 15 against acid from angry spirit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Even has her inside starts melting, Iris goes on trying to disrupt the menhir magic, trying to say magic words in the reverse of what was used in the ritual and words of power that do the inverse of the ritual.

Using 1 RP for surging nanites, and +2 from the spirit.
Mysticism: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 10 + 2 + 2 = 33

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Byakurai winces, acid-burned once again as they stand resolute in one place even to their own detriment. Gritting their teeth, red eyes glowing with concentration rather than malice, they fully (3) photon attune...using their ability to focus a Distant Burst, sending a Supernova at the menhir and elemental!

(Orange burst on map)

Holy/Fire damage: 6d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 4, 1, 4, 2) = 16
DC 16 Reflex save for half

Following this, they move around to separate from the others to make the group a less-appealing target.

Reflex save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Reflex save Smiley: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Aravon and Smiley dodge the worst of the hit. But the half-orc is aware that the ghost will attack his allies. He causes some of his entropic energies to explode as the ghost passes, ripping a bit portion of his acidic substance and dispersing it. As a reaction using Dampen spending 1 Ep to make the ghost deal half-damage in its area damage. From what I read Line is an area

Aravon smacks the elemental with his fist

Attack@red vs EAC: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Damage, acid: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Then Smiley tries to bite the same target

Attack@red vs KAC, smiley jaws: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Damage, piercing: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Reaction: Dampen, Standard: attack elemental, move: Smiley attacks elemental. @GM did the elemental attack the previous round?

Thanks for catching that GM! I totally forgot about that myself!! OK, for Round 2 move 45' and shoot the Red Elemental with a Trick Shot.
For Round 3, I'm going to be within 30' of the menhir, so use move action to study it for weak spots and then attack the menhir. Not using Trick Attack obviously, and I seriously doubt that'd do anything anyway!

Stiehle grins as the spirit creature evaporates, and he looks at his weapon with newfound respect. But everything is going to hell fast, and the operative is already on the move again, this time swinging around the south side of the menhir to take a shot at the huge elemental creature threatening his allies.

Trick Attack (Stealth): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (2) + 17 = 19 vs DC20 + Red Elemental's CR = Failure!
Ghost Killer Gelid Hail Pistol: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29 vs Target's KAC
Pistol Damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 3) + 2 = 10 C & P

Closer now to the menhir itself, Stiehle believes that they need to bring it down fast before it sends forth any more of those nasty spirit creatures. The operative studies the menhir, then takes a shot... Using Deadly Aim since it's... you know... not moving or anything...

Engineering Check: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30 vs DC 29 = Auto Crit! I guess you can ignore the attack roll below...
Ghost Killer Gelid Hail Pistol: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 10 - 2 = 18 vs Menir's KAC
Pistol Damage: 2d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3, 4) + 2 + 2 = 11 C & P
Pistol Damage (Crit): 2d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3, 5) + 2 + 2 = 12 C & P

I'm guessing the Menir doesn't bleed (the crit effect of the Hail Pistol), but just in case...
Pistol Damage (Crit): 1d8 ⇒ 1 Bleed

Even as her internal components begin to dissolve, Iris fights on. She recites the mystical words backwards, easily able to get the pronunciation and cadence just right with help from her nanites and spiritual hitch-hiker both. A large crack forms along the top of the menhir extending down the north face.

Byakurai unleashes the pent up energy of an exploding star into the center of the mentrasi city, bathing the ruins in light and fire.
Elemental Reflex save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
The elemental doesn’t dodge out of the way, and the menhir simply can’t. The holy fire washes over both of them causing the cracks in the menhir to grow just a little more.

Aravon and Smiley work together against the haunted elemental. Aravon’s entropic strike dissolves part of its leg, and although Smiley is able to bite it, the rocky form blunts his teeth.

@Aravon, you know what, it didn’t. My bad. Thanks!
As Stiehle fires at the elemental, it simultaneously swings at Ceolor or Aravon: 1d2 ⇒ 1 Ceolor.
Slam vs Ceolor : 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (4) + 16 = 20
damage, B: 1d6 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
But the solarian’s armor shunts the attack off, and he’s unhurt!

Stiehle then takes his time lining up a shot on the menhir. He realizes the effect that ice would have to increase the propagation of fissures, and puts a blast of freezing ice pellets straight into the crack that Iris started, and it grows even more.

You are correct. Construct = immune to bleed

Chunks of stone and slate veneer are beginning to fall from the menhir. Large cracks are spreading across all four of its facets. It looks like it wouldn't take much more to destroy it.....

Round 3
Ceolor and Yarameh may act!
Disrupting the Menhir

Menhir (-307)
Yellow Spirit (*6)
Red Elemental (-43)
Stiehle (-11)
Byakurai (-36)
Yarameh (-24)
Ceolor (-6)
Iris (-18)
Aravon (-12)

- And now no one prevents me from singing... Oh, the stone-with-ghosts, a big mistake for you.

Mysticism: 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 12 + 2 + 2 = 33

The seriousness returns to the half-drow priestess. She offers a new black-death-metal prayer to Nocticula, shaking the stronghold of Yarameh's otherworldly enemies almost to the ground!

I think Ceolor would have taken an AoO last round if the golem thing could/wanted to take one.

Ceolor takes a step back and aims again at the spirit again. "Nice pipes you have there, Yarameh! You're really singing the place down."

Solar Flare, Heat drain: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Plasma Sheath, Photon, Fire damage: 1d4 + 1d2 + 8 ⇒ (3) + (2) + 8 = 13

Ceolor releases the sun’s combustive energies on the menhir as he compliments Yarameh’s “pipes.” Yarameh’s pipes indeed reverberate clear across the immense cavern, filling the space with her hymn of pain, darkness, and death. The menhir itself begins to vibrate in harmony to the sounds of anguish. Great chunks fall away, and spirits begin to seep out of widening fissures in the stone.

Suddenly, a great shock wave blasts out from its center, shaking the foundations of the buildings and causing dust and rubble to fall from the stony ceiling far above. A colossal swirling vortex of spirits manifests above the city, ascending upwards, away from the ruins of Xaharee.

After a few moments, the swirling spirits dissipate, leaving the city in almost complete silence. Only the echoes of settling rubble pierce the final stillness of the last city of the mentrasi. All the spirits in the city have departed to the River of Souls, leaving it truly empty.

After the final destruction of the menhir, there is nothing left that the city of Xaharee has to offer you. If you go back to find Iteration-177, there is no trace of the android’s body or evidence that anything stirred in the chamber since you found them. The trip back to the surface is somewhat uneventful, and any further scans of the star system still show no other starships in the vicinity.

When you return to Jadnura to report your findings, he listens to your entire report in calm silence while staring out the window at the skyline of Absalom Station’s Eye. Once you’ve finished, he slowly turns to face you, his face stoic.

“Thank you,” the once-First Seeker begins, “you’ve done a commendable job and shown me just how reckless I’ve been. The idea that there is a deity sleeping within the Scoured Stars is… It matches my visions and the records recovered from the survivors of my expedition there.” He looks pointedly at those of you who fought in and survived the Scoured Stars before he lowers his head for a moment, rubbing his temple. “Your report mentions that Dhurus is the name of one of Kadrical’s four heralds. I fear this is the same Dhurus that leads the jinsuls against us now. This fact is… daunting. I’m concerned about what happens if this deity eventually ‘wakes up.’ Are the jinsuls typical followers or extremists? It sounds like the mentrasi fled from this god’s overbearing protection, which makes me even more concerned about our future.”

He removes an ancient looking compass from his pocket and turns it over in his hands several times, brushing his fingers across the surface. “The Society cannot afford to sit back and react to these ongoing events. We need to formulate a strategy for dealing with the damage we’ve caused—I’ve caused. I’ll meet with First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo and decide what to do next. Thank you, Starfinders. You are dismissed, with my personal thanks.”

That’s the end. Sorry it was so abrupt. Please feel free to RP, and I’ll reply for a few more days. I’ll try to get chronicles up tomorrow, assuming that my flight schedule doesn’t change.

Stiehle grins at Yarameh after the mehir's destruction. "Hope you got that on vid, it'd make a helluva impact at your next concert!" The operative is concerned at the disappearance of Iteration-177 and brings up the android's presence at the debriefing.

Bidding farewell to his fellow Starfinders, he heads back to his flat - hoping to make it in time for that evening's vidgaming session.

Thanks GM! Was a lot of fun, and felt good to get back into Starfinder again!

- Oh yeah, Stiehle. I never forget to turn on the camera. But for such an event, a first-person perspective is nothing. Damn… I will definitely buy a drone.

On the way back through the dead city, Yarameh is surprisingly silent and immersed in herself. It seems that she gave all at this mystical rock concert and now is internally exhausted. Or maybe she experienced some kind of catharsis? Who knows.

The only comment will be about the missing android. "And we all knew that he would run away, right?». Surprisingly, there was no threat to kill either.

Aravon simply nods seeing that the android is gone. He finally calms down when they reach their ship. He is glad that they destroyed the menhir, being a trapped spirit does not sound thrilling.

He throws smiley a piece of meat "You did well friend, let us see if a new mission awaits us."

Ceolor pops up from behind the rubble that came tumbling down. "Yarameh! I was recording the fight myself, thought a literal haunted village would be a great thing to record and use for a novel later. I got a lot of our singing too. It might not be professional quality but I can send you a copy of the data if you're interested."

Arriving back to where Iteration-177 had been, Ceolor gives a small shake of his head. "That wasn't a very smart move to do. We had someone here doubting he was trust worthy and sneaking off while we deal with the threat doesn't help that. Even if he wanted to take his own ship back, he could have waited."

He heads back to the ship and starts a write up for Jadnura while it's still fresh in his mind before shifting to novel writing on the trip home.