GM Quirk's JUNKER'S DELIGHT (Inactive)

Game Master Quirk, Private Eye

Sen drops her zoomboard and jumps on it, the reactor humming warmly as she drifts on it after the others. She draws her pulsecaster and it gives a computery chirp as it's activated.

Janebok stumps along with her staff and draws her rifle as she enters the caryards with the others.

Gath is very particular about cutting his food into tiny pieces with his out-sized survival knife. He carefully spears the cut morsels with the knife, and drops the pieces well back on his molars. Despite his care, as he begins to eat, a trail of food bits and saliva forms a sullen, sluggish stream around the shobhad's large lower canines, and then a gruesome beard that drips from his chin. The stream surges every time he smiles, which is often. Enthusiasm overcomes decorum.

He finishes by drawing the back of his hand across his mouth. "Thanks, mister. I hope we can come back someday."

***

Gath pauses at the gate, then tries to squeeze through. He can't quite make it, and steps back. He puts his shoulder to one side of the gate, leans into it and drives with his legs. Only then is he able to force his way through.

"Tight fit."

Gath checks his rifle, pats the knife at his belt and hefts his club. "Let's go."

I have revealed more of the map, including the first "area" to investigate. I have also placed everyone on the map. Why don't we do this? Everyone move up to twice their normal speed. Or, if you prefer to take some sort of special action, move your speed and perform the action. Also, everyone may take a perception check.

Zetara walks in cautiously, moving around the outside perimeter with her weapon ready, understanding that this place was supposed to be overrun with vermin.

She keeps an eye out for them, but also for Vari-13, who she wants to meet.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Just a straight double move.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Gath steps carefully, feeling gingerly for each footfall while his eyes scan the area.

"This will just like hunting womprats in Beggar's Canyon"

You need a T-16 to really get them good.

Zetara moves forward quickly, keeping a sharp lookout with reptilian eyes sticking out from under the hood.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

The following describes the area you are entering. Please continue to move your tokens, if you haven't already.

The sounds of the city grow muffled near the surrounding
heaps of scrap and debris. The path widens a little,
zigzagging around collections of vehicle engines sorted by
type: internal combustion engines, electric power cores, and
even some ancient clockwork mechanisms.

Confident that he can shoot over their heads, Gath likes to keep one or two of the other team members in front of him. He keeps moving forward, looking for khefaks.

You ready for us to go further in, or are you waiting for people who have yet to enter?

Sen gasps a little.

"So. Many. Parts! I could make SO many upgrades to my zoomboard if I had time to scout this place for the primo stuff! Wonder how they do salvage rights on this planet..."

She follows after Gath, keeping close to him.

"Maybe we could finally get the right scrap to make YOUR zoomboard, Big Guy!"

Janebok scans the area, and soon begins to notice movement among the junk. Several insectile creatures emerge.

Yes, these are khefaks, and this area is swarming with them! Janebok's perception roll kept you from being surprised. I have moved Uchurtai and Locket forward somewhat. I moved Sen next to Gath, as directed. I modified somewhat the initiative order to make this little fight less of a pain. Bold may go. Round one.

1. Locket
2. Uchurtai
3. Janebok
4. Enemy Red
5. Enemy yellow
6. Enemy Blue
7. Zetara
8. Sen
9. Gath
10. Enemy green
11. Enemy black
12. Enemy purple

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 5

Uchurtai draws both of his weapons and fires off a shot at the blue khefak directly ahead of him.

Rolled above a 10! Things are looking up.

Uchurtai hits one of the Khefaks. How it's still alive, you don't know. It still struggles to crawl it's way toward you as it protects its nesting ground.

Hit and full damage. This poor guy isn't long for this world. Locket and Janebok may go.

It has been mentioned in numerous posts now, so I assumed it was made common knowledge even though Locket doesn't have the particular knowledge skills himself.

Watchful of the various part-mounds, Locket steps forward unfurling his kusari-fundo. "Just animals protecting their homes," Locket grumbles. "Doesn't seem right to kill them for it."

"See if we can slip by without disturbing them," he suggests. "Defend yourself if they're insistent."

"They're khefaks. My grandsire used to say you could boil them to make a nice soup. Trouble is water is hard to come by. And they're good target practice too."

"If you're still feeling peckish, go for it," Locket replies, gesturing toward the nests. "But I don't go for hurting things for no reason."

Janebok moves through to get an open shot and fires on another Khefak (yellow). She hisses "We have businessss here. They will kill ussss if we don't react..."

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 3

"Awww, they're funny-lookin' cute!" Senkuviene comments. "But since we don't got no Xenowardens with us, I don't think we're gonna be able to just tell them we're passing through..."

Janebok tags one of the khefaks, but it fails to stop it.

Several of the beasties swarm and attack!

yellow attacking Janebok: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Miss!

red on Locket: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

blue on Locket: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Hit and a miss!

Yes, these are khefaks, and this area is swarming with them! Janebok's perception roll kept you from being surprised. I have moved Uchurtai and Locket forward somewhat. I moved Sen next to Gath, as directed. I modified somewhat the initiative order to make this little fight less of a pain. Bold may go. Round one.

1. Locket (-4)
2. Uchurtai
3. Janebok
4. Enemy Red
5. Enemy yellow (-3)
6. Enemy Blue (-5)
7. Zetara
8. Sen
9. Gath
10. Enemy green
11. Enemy black
12. Enemy purple

Zetara shoots at purple.

Attack (Tactical Semi-Auto Pistol): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Piercing Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

"WATCH THIS!" Sen says as she steers her zoomboard around in a spin and flashes its plasma engine! Miraculously, Locket is completely missed by the blaze.

Python-Series Hydra Cannon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 51d6 ⇒ 1

"If you're still feeling peckish, go for it," Locket replies, gesturing toward the nests. "But I don't go for hurting things for no reason."

Gath looks at his feet for a few seconds, then starts to raise his head saying, "Okay. If that's how you want it, I'll LOCKET!"

Gath steps sideways and raises his rifle to aim at the khefak attacking his friend. The high shot crushes a junked vehicle's headlight.

shobhad horizon striker, tactical: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10... damage: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7 critical -; Analog, sniper (500,) unwieldy)

Gath and Sen can't find the mark, though Gath's shot was close enough to throw sand in the air right next to the creature.

Zetara does hit with her shot, but she doesn't stop the creature, and it continues to swarm forward.

black on Sen: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Hit!

purple on Zetara: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

narrowly a miss!

green on Gath: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

I assume a hit--Gath, could you add your EAC/KAC to your signature line?

Bold may go. Round two.

1. Locket (-4)
2. Uchurtai
3. Janebok
4. Enemy Red
5. Enemy yellow (-3)
6. Enemy Blue (-5)
7. Zetara
8. Sen (-2)
9. Gath (-3)
10. Enemy green
11. Enemy black
12. Enemy purple (-3)

"Aargh!" Gath shouts as the khefak sneaks in under his field of view and strikes.

That's a hit. And sorry GMQ, I thought it was in there. Maybe I am subconsciously embarrassed by low Gath's AC is.

Thinking about the last turn, I think it's likely Locket would have had an AoO against one of the nearby khefaks. By all means, go ahead! I have more!

Uchurtai fires off a shot at the khefak he'd targeted before. The shot goes long, but he fires again with better luck.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 - 4 = 5
Attack 2: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 - 4 = 17
Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 4

Janebok decides to take a risk and fires at the same khefak again (yellow).

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Dam: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Will provoke from two...

"Gah!" Locket shifts away as the khefak nips him. "I'm trying to do you a favour, but you're really making this hard!" he growls at the nearest critter.

GM Q: in our previous adventure, you ruled that Locket's unarmed strike could be used as non-lethal as well as lethal (from alternate racial trait), without penalty. I have applied that here, but please adjust accordingly, of that is no longer the case.

"Get back!" Locket kicks at the black khefak in an effort to shove it back as it closes on Sen.

AOO, Unarmed strike: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Bludgeoning damage: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

"Back, I said!" the pahtra snarls as he kicks out at the blue and red khefaks.

Unarmed strike 1: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 - 4 = 11
Bludgeoning damage: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Unarmed strike 2: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 - 4 = 13
Bludgeoning damage: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

"LOCKET! DUCK!" Sen telepathically calls as she tries another spin with her zoomboard!

Python-Series Hydra Cannon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 81d6 ⇒ 1

There is khefak chitin, blood, and guts all around you. Uchurtai even manages to bring one down with a blast from his large gun.

Janebok and Locket do manage to do more damage to the swarming khefaks, but they continue their attack.

red attack on Locket: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Hit!

yellow attack on Janebok: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Miss!

Sen brings her cannon around, but can't find the mark. Perhaps some maintenance is required to get it dialed in...

Sen went a little prematurely, but that's okay. There are possibly two AoO's pending for Janebok, depending on whether she wishes to use her move action. If she does, yellow would step forward into her current space. Bold may go. Round two.

1. Locket (-5)
2. Uchurtai
3. Janebok
4. Enemy Red (-4)
5. Enemy yellow (-5)
6. Enemy Blue (DEAD)
7. Zetara
8. Sen (-2)
9. Gath (-3)
10. Enemy green
11. Enemy black (-3)
12. Enemy purple (-3)

Zetara had nowhere to retreat, and they were going to be all over her... but she had little choice.

She wasn't sure if you could trick these little bugs, but she decided to try. She adjusted her torso to make it seem as though she was going to attack green, raising her pistol with her right hand...

Bluff: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

... but then attacked purple instead, drawing her baton and smashing down with it left-handed. Luckily, androids weren't cursed with being weak-handed on either side.

Attack (Tactical Baton): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Gath holds his rifle high so that he can drive his club at the vermin harrying him.

doshko, tactical v KAC,green: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 - 4 = 12 ... damage: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Zetara and Gath aggressively defend themselves, and this results in two of the khefaks expiring violently.

one of the remaining khefaks snaps its claw at Locket.

black on Locket: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Hit!

Since I didn't get a response, I went ahead and assumed Janebok would use her move action to make a guarded step last turn, which would allow her to avoid two attacks of opportunity. With this in mind, yellow would have followed her, allowing Locket to once again make an attack of opportunity. Bold may go. Round three.

1. Locket (-8)
2. Uchurtai
3. Janebok
4. Enemy Red (-4)
5. Enemy yellow (-5)
6. Enemy Blue (DEAD)
7. Zetara
8. Sen (-2)
9. Gath (-3)
10. Enemy green (SMOOSHED!)
11. Enemy black (-3)
12. Enemy purple (DEAD)

"Stay back!" Locket demands of the khefak, shoving the bug following Janebok with his foot. (Yellow)

AoO, Improved Unarmed Strike: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Non-lethal Bludgeoning Damage: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Pivoting, he kicks out once at each of the other two khefaks. (Red then black)

"Get back, I said!"

Improved Unarmed Strike 1: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 - 4 = 3
Non-lethal Bludgeoning Damage: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Improved Unarmed Strike 2: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 - 4 = 15
Non-lethal Bludgeoning Damage: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Edit:
Critical, Non-lethal Bludgeoning Damage: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

I'm happy to take a guarded step if I'm able. I assumed that was a hard corner of the wall but it's definitely fine with me that it's not!

Janebok steps further back and fires at yellow again, hissing. "Nuisssanccces! Focusss on the weakessst."

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Dam: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Her needle darts past Sen with fair accuracy and at high speed.

"They can't talk, Locket. They'll eat you and your stuff if they can. "

Despite his disparaging comments, when Gath notices that Locket is still fighting with restraint, he sweeps the khefak he just killed under the protruding metal body of a major household appliance, before moving to the aid of his friend.

Janebok: Heh. That's a rule I never noticed before. You can't take a guarded step around a sharp corner if you are taking a diagonal step. Thanks for that. We'll just have to imagine that this time there was just enough room to squeeze by...

Between Janebok and Locket, all of the Khefaks are out of commission. Four are stone-cold dead. Two are unconscious, and could probably be placed safely away from all of you.

"Sorry we couldn't just scare them off, Locket," Sen comments, her antennae drooping a bit.

"Yeah, Locket. They're nasty little buggers. Let' just keep moving. "

Zetara makes sure the bugs beside her are dead before carefully stepping over and around them to move farther into the junkyard.

Anything salvageable/useful from a khefak corpse?

Janebok looks quizzically at Locket. "What is the utility in concccern for those mindlesssss creatures? They were a hazard and nuisssanccce, nothing more."

She reloads her rifle and extends the search a bit further into the junkyard, scouting.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Actually, a khefak carcass does have some value. Once they have been dead for an hour or so, the innards are easy to clean out, leaving a valuable carapace.

I believe those of you who are natives of Akiton may have recalled this earlier. Basically, the four dead khefaks in front of you are worth 25 credits each. You can find someone to sell them to somewhere here in town. MOVING ON...I have revealed the rest of this particular map. There are two directions you can head. The RED arrow points toward what appears to be a massive pile of tires. The GREEN arrow points toward a maze of fenders stacked neatly (it's actually not too much of a maze, you should be able to make it through easily, though the shobhad may have to squeeze a bit).

Janebok looks quizzically at Locket. "What is the utility in concccern for those mindlesssss creatures? They were a hazard and nuisssanccce, nothing more."

She reloads her rifle and extends the search a bit further into the junkyard, scouting.

"Locket's a primo cove...doesn't kill if he can help it," Sen replies. "Even inspired me to be more careful with who I shoot at and what I do the shootin' with."

Zetara stacks the corpses nearer to the entrance with the ones that she and Gath took out so she can retrieve them later to clean out and sell. Then she accompanies Janebok.

Janebok is quiet underneath her dark hood, then responds to Sen "For what purpossse?"

Which direction are we going? Tires or Fenders?

I don't really care... I'm following Janebok's lead. On the off chance that no one else cares either though, I'll vote tires.

"If Vari was looking for artifacts, she'd look where there's metal."

Actually I like tires too. I just couldn't think of a reason Gath would. So overrule him if you like and let's go tires.