GM Quirk's JUNKER'S DELIGHT

Game Master Quirk, Private Eye

Locket grunts as he slams into the wall.

Blinking through the stars shimmering across his vision, he sends his kusari-fundo arcing out at his attacker.

Kusari-fundo: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Fire damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

"Sen! Look out!" Gath is alrmed at the sudden appearance of a burning enemy.

Locket misses his attack. Sen may go.

Over two weeks since Sen posted. I'll bot them just to try to keep things moving.
"Yikes!" Senkuviene chirps as Tezz Tronin reaches the corner. The shirren spins her board, plasma engine revved to burn them!

Python-Series Hydra Cannon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20 ... Damage , E&F: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Sen scalds the hylki human with her cannon.

That was a hit. Now it's my turn.

The ganger who slipped away (yellow) comes back around the corner, racking another round into the chamber of her rifle as she does. She fires at Uchurtai.

to hit: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Hit!

Tezz manifests a solar sword, and swings it at Locket (after making a guarded step forward).

to hit vs. KAC: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21
damage, S: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

[ooc]That's another nasty hit on Locket.

This is the third and final wave. Round 2. The turret trap is out of energy and will not function this time.

1. Enemy Orange (-5)
2. Sen
3. Locket (-27)
4. Enemy Yellow
5. Enemy Purple (-12)
6. Zetara
7. Gath
8. Uchurtai (-11)
9. Janebok

Attack v KAC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Damage: 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Uchurtai grits his teeth, powering through the damage that the foes are inflicting to him before taking a swing at Do'Trule.

Move action to Bolster Resilience, standard action to swing.

[dice=Attack v KAC]1d20+6

[dice=Damage]1d10+5

Uchurtai grits his teeth, powering through the damage that the foes are inflicting to him before taking a swing at Do'Trule.

Move action to Bolster Resilience, standard action to swing.

Do' Trulo had taken a guarded step back last turn, and is now standing 15' away (see the map). If you wish to move toward him, you may. It might cause some AoO's from both Do'Trulo and Tezz. You may also apply that to hit roll to Tezz, who is well within your reach currently (and your "21" would be a hit). Let me know what you prefer.

Oh, gotcha, I can guarded step forward and still get him, I've got 10 foot reach.

Oh, gotcha, I can guarded step forward and still get him, I've got 10 foot reach.

No, because then you'd be on top of Tezz. You'd have to move 10', which would draw two AoO's, one from Tezz and one from Do'Trulo (who also has reach). The slide with the map shows this clearly.

Janebok hisses "I mussst learn to cassst more ssspells..." and tries a shot at the furthest forward ganger.

Purple square, who is the human I think.

Needler against KAC: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
P Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Oops, sorry, forgot to check the map. I'll 5 foot step so I'm, not in the sight line of the hallway and redirect to Tezz then.

Sen zips back and tries to burn the person attacking Locket.

"HeyheyHEY! Lay off the flufferboi!"

Zoomboard Thrusters: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 191d6 ⇒ 3

Sorry not more involved in the fight... moved back to defend and can't see anything.

Zetara is still looking around for the one that disappeared, making sure no one can get around them.

Missing his strike, Locket sends his kusari-fundo arcing back into a fiery orbit.

Watching his foe, he takes a careful step back and, with practiced ease, zips the weighted end toward the sword-weilding opponent.

Kusari-fundo: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Fire damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

"Thanks, Sen," Locket murmurs. "I think." His ears flick. "Flufferboi?"

"Stay low, Locket!" Gath reloads, leans forward, and fires another round over his friends head at Tezz.

He happens to notice movement behind Uchurtai. "They're sneaking up behind Uchurtai!"

shobhad horizon strikerv Tezz, KAC: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10 ... damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 1) + 3 = 6 (critical -; 100' Analog, sniper (500') unwieldy)

Uchurtai, Sen, and Janebok all wound Tezz. She fights on!

Gath and Locket miss.

Do'Trulu steps forward, brandishing a flaming doshko. He reaches around the corner, attempting to strike Uchurtai.

to hit vs. EAC: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27
damage, F: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

That's a hit. These guys are nastier than the flunkies they sent in first!

Just as you all notice Tezz beginning to glow, she explodes outward and superheated energy washes all over each of you.
fire damage: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 1, 5) = 9

Wow! Lucky for all of you that damage roll was terrible! Each of you may take a DC14 reflex save for half (Zetara is out of the effect, but everyone else is within). This includes Do'Trulu.

reflex save, Do'Trulu: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

The lieutenant with the rifle steps back (guarded step) and fires at Uchurtai.

to hit vs KAC: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
damage, P: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Another hit! Is Uchurtai teetering?[/dice]

[ooc]This is the third and final wave. Round 3. I think I may have messed up the order a little, giving a turn a little early to Sen and Locket. It's no big deal, I'll just have yellow go, along with orange. We'll be where we need to be. This will simplify things anyway. The turret trap is out of energy and will not function this time.

1. Enemy Orange (-9)
2. Sen
3. Locket (-27)
4. Enemy Yellow
5. Enemy Purple (-27)
6. Zetara
7. Gath
8. Uchurtai (-25)
9. Janebok

Reflex DC14: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Success! Locket will take 4 damage

His attention keenly focused on his opponent, Locket notices a subtle shift in Tezz's posture and, ready for an attack, is able to dodge the worst of the blast.

Seeing Uchurtai being targeted by multiple foes, Locket changes the rotation of his kusari-fundo to a slower cross-body left-right-left.

Spotting an opening, the pahtra lets his weapon fly toward Tezz.

Kusari-fundo: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Fire Damage: 1d1d8 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Crit?: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

[Dice=Reflex DC14]1d20+4

Success! Locket will take 4 damage

His attention keenly focused on his opponent, Locket notices a subtle shift in Tezz's posture and, ready for an attack, is able to dodge the worst of the blast.

Seeing Uchurtai being targeted by multiple foes, Locket changes the rotation of his kusari-fundo to a slower cross-body left-right-left.

Spotting an opening, the pahtra lets his weapon fly toward Tezz.

[dice=Kusari-fundo]1d20+5
[dice=Fire Damage]damage]1d8$+5
[Dice=Crit?]1d8+5

Yes. It's totally a crit, and absolutely WRECKS Tezz.

Locket takes a vengeful swing, and Do'Trulu's second in command is no more.

Nice one, Locket!

Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Janebok hisses at the flames as she dodges out of the way, loathing extreme temperatures. Seeing Tezz drop, she targets the lesser officer next.

Needler against KAC: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
P Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

But the distraction of the flames leaves her aim shaky at best. She steps back to the north a bit in case the melee was about to come here way.

"Locket! Uchurtai! Coming through!" Gath rounds the corner and stays against the right hand wall to squeeze past his friends. Then he confronts the ganger sneaking up behind Uchurtai. The club in his lower hands swings in a compact horizontal arc.

doshko, tactical (large): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22 ... damage: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 (critical -; Analog, unwieldy)

Sen moves her zoomboard around Locket and sends a wave of plasma exhaust towards Do'Trulu, silently hoping to Accelsys that the others would get between her and the angry shobhad before he squished her.

Zoomboard Thrusters: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 191d6 ⇒ 5

Zendara keeps looking around for the person who went over the barricades, and listening to the battle in case her friends call for backup.

Z, back on Mar 1 , Gath tried to let you know where the barricade climber went. He's Gath so it wasn't reall clear.

Janebok -just- misses the ganger near Uchurtai, but Gath steps forward and cracks her ribs in a most painful way!

Sen points the business end of her zoomboard at Do'Trulu, catching him in a deadly, face-melting blast!

Uchurtai may go this turn. Zetara, if you would like to move toward the sound of the fight, we could backtrack and say you double moved last turn if you would like. This might make sense in light of Gath's information. HEY! I need reflex saves from Gath, Uchurtai, Janebok, and Sen! Failure means you take 9 points of damage from Tezz's earlier supernova. Locket made his save, and will take half.

This is the third and final wave. Round 3. I think I may have messed up the order a little, giving a turn a little early to Sen and Locket. It's no big deal, I'll just have yellow go, along with orange. We'll be where we need to be. This will simplify things anyway. The turret trap is out of energy and will not function this time.

1. Enemy Orange (-14)
2. Sen
3. Locket (-32)
4. Enemy Yellow (-8)
5. Enemy Purple (Dead)
6. Zetara
7. Gath
8. Uchurtai (-25)
9. Janebok

Janebok made the save and took half damage.

Ref save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Sorry, GMQ.....

Shielded by Locket and Sen, Gath is hardly affected by Tez' pyrotechnics before he charges.

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Okay, that makes sense. Sorry for missing my cue, Gath. Double-moved back to the group.

No worries, Zanbabe. I deliberately obscured the message somewhat. Gath's command of language is not optimal, nor even precise. He's also prone to marginally useful exclamations that can be ignored without penalty.

Attack v KAC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Damage: 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Uchurtai moves into the passageway to get up close and personal with Do'Trulu before taking a swing with his swoop hammer at the gangster.

Re-introducing yourself with style!

Gath's status after solarian damage: 9/21 SP, 24/24 HP 1/3 RP . 2 first level spells left.

Uchurtai lands a bruising blow on Do'Trulu! The gang leader is bloodied. "So you DO fight with some skill! It was a mistake for me to doubt you, but rest assured, you will now see the afterlife!"

With that, Do'Trulu swings his doshko.

to hit vs. EAC: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14
damage, F: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

A hit! Barely!

The lurking lieutenant produces a dueling sword and attempts to fight back against Gath.

to hit vs. KAC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
damage, S: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

That's a hit! Gath and Uchurtai are taking a beating. Locket is also messed up![/dice]

[ooc]This is the third and final wave. Round 3. I think I may have messed up the order a little, giving a turn a little early to Sen and Locket. It's no big deal, I'll just have yellow go, along with orange. We'll be where we need to be. This will simplify things anyway. The turret trap is out of energy and will not function this time.

1. Enemy Orange (-26)
2. Sen (-4)
3. Locket (-32)
4. Enemy Yellow (-8)
5. Enemy Purple (Dead)
6. Zetara
7. Gath (-10)
8. Uchurtai (-34)
9. Janebok (-4)

The dueling sword is quicker than Gath's spiked club, but the shobhad has a brilliant strategy to compensate. He swings harder.

"Run away ,little one."

doshko, tactical (large): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20 ... damage: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15 (critical -; Analog, unwieldy)

Janebok's shooting is not doing much but with cold rationality, she keeps doing it. This is her best option for helping at present.

Needler: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 I believe the yellow enemy is the only one I can fire at with the crossed out one indicating dead.
Dam: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

"BIKERBOY!" Sen thinks at Uchurtai. "DUCK!"

She tries to arc the zoomboard's flare over the big shobhad's head, hoping the other big shobhad didn't take the hint and do the same.

Zoomboard Thrusters: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 221d6 ⇒ 5

Seeing that Locket doesn't look too good, Zetara pulls a serum of healing from her bandolier and pours it into his mouth.

Attack v KAC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Damage: 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

The warrior is beaten, bruised, and bloody, but honor is on the line. He swings his swoop hammer with vicious force, hoping to end this once and for all.

The battle take a decided turn toward the heroes, with Uchurtai, Sen, Janebok, and Gath all landing serious blows.

The gang lieutenant falls under Janebok and Gath's attacks.

Only Do'Trulo remains, and he swings his doshko with great vigor at Uchurtai.

to hit: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20
damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Hit! 10 points of damage. How are you looking, Uchurtai?

This is the third and final wave. Round 3. I think I may have messed up the order a little, giving a turn a little early to Sen and Locket. It's no big deal, I'll just have yellow go, along with orange. We'll be where we need to be. This will simplify things anyway. The turret trap is out of energy and will not function this time.

1. Enemy Orange (-42)
2. Sen (-4)
3. Locket (-32)
4. Enemy Yellow (Dead)
5. Enemy Purple (Dead)
6. Zetara
7. Gath (-10)
8. Uchurtai (-44)
9. Janebok (-4)

Lookin’ mighty unconscious.

"Bikerboy!" Sen telepathically shouts as she sees Uchurtai fall. "Okay, Do'Trulu, NOW I'M MAD! TIME TO GIVE YA THE BUSINESS!"

She tries to blast his face with plasma exhaust!

Zoomboard Thrusters: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 181d6 ⇒ 5

"Essskerat deeya nussssk!." Janebok curses in Vesk as Uchurtai falls. She moves to a better position, levels her rifle, and fires with calm menace at the gang leader.

Attack KAC, he probably has some cover: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Dam: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Extra crit dam, I think: 1d6 ⇒ 5

" I'm sorry. You should have listened to me." Gath's moment of solemnity, ends abruptly, shattered by the clatter of Uchurtai's fall. Gath tiptoes carefully around the fallen shobhad to face off with Do'Trulo.

"You shouldn't have hurt my friend."

Spiked club (tactical doshko): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 ... damage: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 (critical -; Analog, unwieldy

Serum of Healing mk I: 1d8 ⇒ 7 Thanks, Z!

"Thanks," Locket murmurs with a nod to Zetara.

Licking the last of the serum from his lip, the pahtra abruptly ceases swirling orbit of his kusari-fundo. Coiling the weapon around one fist, he skips past Sen and slides to a stop behind Uchurtai and Gath.

"Shdfh!" he exclaims in kasathan and a starknife materialises in his free hand.

Bringing his arm across his body, he sends the blade whirring toward Do'Trulo.

Called Tactical Starknife: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Piercing damage: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Sorry, Uchurtai, I only had one serum.

Zetara moves through her friends and shoots her sniper rifle.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 1) + 3 = 7

No worries! It happens.

A flurry of attacks squarely hits the gang leader, staggering him. Clearly, he is mortally wounded, but somehow he manages to strike out one more time.

This time he attacks Gath.

to hit: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27
damage, F: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Gath, that's a hit. 13 more damage to you.

With this last act of defiance, Do'Trulo falls to the floor of the Stellar Flare, stone dead.

The wreck of the Stellar Flare is secure, and its secrets now belong to Vari-13 and all of you.

Murkk and Qesch are ecstatic. They are nearby, and (with your permission) enter the wreck.

Vari-13 and Riddle recommend you return to Khefak Depot for some rest (Riddle with arrange for other guards to relieve you at the wreck).

When you return to Adventures in Junk, the exterior
stands open and the neon sign is switched on. Riddle
greets you warmly at the door and says, “Since
you took care of Do’trulu, I’m open for business again!”

The agency’s interior remains devoid of customers,
which the ysoki notes with a shrug. “I’m sure
the tourists will be flocking back in no time.” She
invites you all inside, where Vari-13
waits, eager to see what you have found.

After a few minutes of
quiet examination, Vari-13 exclaims, “You’ve
done it! I have no idea if the theories
presented here are viable—after all,
Vari-8 was the scientist—but if they are, this could bring
safe, reliable, and cheap energy to the entire galaxy!”

Vari distributes credsticks to each of you, adding "this won't be the end of my payments to each of you. If these theories are successful, I'll be able to afford to pay you in perpetuity for the work you have done here! I can't thank you enough!"

Riddle then asks you all what’s next. "You've been paid, so I'm betting you'll be making some plans for yourselves quite soon. Any ideas what you'll be up to?"

This is your opportunity to write a short epilogue for your characters to share with all of us! I'm curious what you all think. Assume you have all leveled up here, and that you will all have enough income to live at least a comfortable middle class life.

Janebok listens with great interest, cocking her head from side to side as Vari-13 speaks. "Thisss is of utmossst importanccce. It could be pivotal in helping defend the Pact Worlds againssst the Ssswarm. I would like to help with the research. Technomancccy could be mossst ussseful." Vari-13 does not find Janebok the easiest person to get along with but Janebok's utter focus on efficiency and problem-solving help them make great progress on the energy project over the next few years.

I don't want to assume too much about how the project works out as that seems like the kind of thing that would reshape the entire setting, potentially.

Zetara goes back to work at her undercover job for now, but if the payments keep coming in and she can afford it, she joins Vari-13 and Janebok in fighting the Swarm.

Uchurtai grins and takes his payout.

With newfound skills and a bit more creds, Uchurtai returns to the life he knows and loves best.

For any of the party who want to keep in touch with him, he can be found out in the Akitonian deserts, the wind on his tusks as he tears along the shobhad convoy routes on his newly upgraded and tricked-out enercycle.

In time, perhaps, he will make the pilgrimage to the Pillar of the Sky, to climb to it's height and become a warchief of the shobhad, maybe even lead them in a great raid to cement their independence.

But for now, Uchurtai is free and happy, doing what he loves best.

Suddenly flush for the first time in his memory, Gath doesn't change much at all. He continues his tour of Akiton, his ancestral planet, hopefully in the company of Locket, Sen, Uchurtai, and anyone else who wants to come. Along the way he finds and purchases the curve-blade of another 'great shobhad hero' in a second hand market.

After Akiton, Gath returns to Absalom Station and his job in the warehoues.
Whenever he accumulates enough money, he tours another of the Pact Worlds. And he works hard to keep in touch with anyone who will give him contact information and return his occasional message.

And if Uchurtai does make his climb, Gath is more than happy to go along.