GM Jhaeman's SFS # 2-10: "Corporate Interests" (Inactive)

Game Master Jhaeman

Kosigan isn't planning to do much other than observe and provide telepathic communication to the others.

Okay, Round 3 actions.

Folks, I know this bit of the scenario can be a bit slow. It will pick up soon.

Lexicor will move to the gate desk next with as casual gate as he can manage.

Let us see what we can determine from this vantage.

Is the desk occupied by one of the staff?

No change here.

What the- my post from yesterday isn't here... Dangit! luciky I can repost it.
Thanks for the information, wasn't sure if it was okay to leave the statue yet or not.
Oraeus gives a small telepathic alert to Kosigan.

Unsure on how that affected the creature, so I'll wait on 3rd round for now.

Arvoris wants to be at the gate when our person arrives. Do we know how much time we have? If Arvoris has time he will check out the holo statue. Otherwise he'll stay by the gate.

Ashtif continues his translations.

Kosigan focuses its attention on the gardener, vowing to give them nanites to the face as well if they treat it like a potted plant.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Three of the Starfinders converge on the holo-statue and confront a "gardener" who doesn't seem to really know what he's doing. Meanwhile, Lexicor visits the information desk and Ashtif continues translating.

A couple of you have checks in the spoilers below, and everyone can now do their Round 4 actions.

Ashtif says over the comms, "The notes were nothing ... just work notes."

Ashtif returns toward the seating area, and if it looks like he has a chance again he'll try to disable the guy's mask again.

Stealth: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30
Engineering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

He's so focused on remaining unnoticed that he doesn't pay attention to the actual work he's trying to do.

Culture (untrained): 1d20 ⇒ 11
Life Science: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Kosigan enjoys studying the other plant. The person, not so much.

Arvoris approaches the gardener with what he hopes is a serious demeanor.

"So if you're not a gardener, what are you really doing here?

Whatever his reply, Arvoris tries to determine if he's being truthful.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Arvoris speaks to the man, who stutters "I'm uh . . . gardening. Because I'm a gardener." He points to the plants and his clippers as proof.

SM : 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (18) - 2 = 16 as Lexicor watches with suspicion but never been able to master human expression

”Excuse me. I have a question about the arrivals. Any unexpected delays? “

Oraeus tries to apply a little more pressure as he gives a mental message to everyone about possibly trying to scare the man into actually giving WHY he's here.

"You have the equipment, but that uniform is too slapdash for someone who does this on a regular basis, who are you REALLY?"
Intimidate: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Arvoris texts the group:

<This person is absolutely lying. I'm no good at intimidation - are any of you? Oraeus, can you send my message telepathically to Kosigan? Edit: Thanks Or, looks like you already covered it! >

Kosigan would be keeping an active telepathic link to all party members.

Everyone can now do their Round 5 actions.

Is there any area we haven't thoroughly investigated?

Oraeus doubles down. "NO, You are not a gardener! You are clearly lying. What are you doing here?" As he doubles down he sends a telepathic message to Ashtif.

Intimidate...PLEASE?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

"Does anyone need a distraction?"

Usually I'm the good cop, but I'll give it a try.

Sir, I suggest you stop lying to us, before we become very angry.

Hoping for a high roll on Intimidate: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Ashtif saunters over to the area of the altercation. As a halfling, he's not often called upon to be the intimidator of the group, but clearly that may be necessary here. He looks over the "gardener," trying to discern what he can from the man's appearance.

Life Science: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Assuming he reaches the same conclusion about this man's clear ill intentions, and that he's not really supposed to be here, Ashtif approaches close, crooking a finger to indicate the man should lean down toward him. In his most menacing tone, he says softly, "Listen, gardener ... You'd best make like a tree ... and leave."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Woot!! I know you technically can't crit a skill check, but I'll take it.

As the Starfinders congregate around the statue, the "gardener" looks more and more nervous. Hearing Ashtif's unsettling remark, the man backs out of the area quickly, looking so scared he's about to vomit!

Lexicor can do his Round 5 action.

Lexicor notices the gardener and his strange withdrawal.

I say, there seems an urgency to depart. I calculate his occupation and stamina are not in alignment for conflict. But I am not certain he will no longer factor into this equation.

He continues to watch the man depart and for any other odd reactions to the departure or arrival.

perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

An announcement comes over the public address system: "Incoming passengers will disembark at Gate 98 in thirty seconds. Repeat, Gate 98 in thirty seconds."

This means you have five rounds left to do anything before Tharsa arrives. We can continue with Round 6, or at any time we can "fast-forward" to the arrival. To recap the locations and what's happened there:
Seating Area: There's a dozing guy wearing a homemade mask that would allow him to see through smoke. A couple of attempts have been made to stealthily disable it (Stealth+Engineering), but no luck so far.
Information Kiosk: Nothing suspicious has been found here so far.
Holo-Statue: A man posing as a gardener has been run off via an Intimidate check.
Gate Desk: Scribbled notes in Akitonian have turned out to be innocuous. However, there is a passenger watching the gate doors with a weapon concealed at the back of her waist; a Sleight of Hands check could be used to remove it.

Arvoris will check out the information kiosk. Since it sounds like we have group telepathy Arvoris will think Can anyone grab that woman's weapon?

Perception to Search: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (15) + 17 = 32

Ashtif sweeps through the gate area again, trying to grab the hidden gun.

Sleight of Hand: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Ashtif walks casually around the gate desk and leaves with a new static arc pistol in his hand!

Anything for Lexicor, Oraeus, or Kosigan in Round 6?

Unless something else comes up, Kosigan will just be monitoring the situation until the target arrives.

Oraeus moves over to the information desk and takes a look around.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Okay, folks can go ahead and take their Round 7 actions. (Lexicor, you can take actions for Round 6 and Round 7).

I'll be away until Sunday night in upside-down-Aussie time.

Sorry was driving cross country all day yesterday

Lexicor awaits the arrival of the passengers. (no further actions)

Arvoris takes a closer look at the woman.

Mysticism: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Ashtif comes over the comms, "I think the gate and seating area is pretty clear ... How are things over at the information kiosk? Any other concerns we need to take care of?"

He again tries one last attempt to disable the guy's gas mask helmet.

Stealth: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28
Engineering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Oraeus picks up a travel bochure from the kiosk and sends a message back no his data pad trying to look like he's messaging a friend. <Nothing here from what I can see. I'll stay here for a bit just in case.>

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Ashtif has mastered the quiet tip-toe, but just can't quite figure out how to disable that darned mask! Meanwhile, the others notice nothing of interest.

Formally, you all have three rounds left to do anything you'd like. To speed things up, instead of going round-by-round, I'm just going to ask for last call on your actions (you can declare up to three rounds' worth). Then, we'll jump to the arrival in about 14 hours or so real-time.

Lexicor is going to use the time to check for any engineering anomolies in the gate area.

” Never hurts to perform a level 1 diagnostic…“

Engineering : 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

totally feel like missing soMething but no other actions

Arvoris will retry mysticism twice more (if that's allowed) then move to the gate where the people will be arriving.

Mysticism: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

Mysticism: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Assembling near the gate, the Starfinders watch as passengers begin to emerge. It's long before Tharsa is there, and the kasatha smiles in relief to see her escort is waiting for her. But before you can greet her, Gate 83 erupts into chaos as four humans scattered in different areas pull out pistols and grenades. "That's the target!" one of them shouts, pointing at Tharsa.

This encounter is on Slide 3. Yellow hasn't actually drawn a weapon, as she's fumbling around for a pistol that you already stole. Red (the one wearing the mask) has drawn a pistol. Blue is Sickened from having been frightened by the intimidating Starfinders, and starts far away with a smoke grenade in his hands. Black has drawn a smoke grenade as well.

We'll roll Initiative on the next slide.

Initiative (Round 1)

Lexicor
Kosigan
Arvoris
Ashtif
Oraeus
Mercs

Bold may go!

Lexicor is about to greet the arrival when chaos ensues

”How Terribly inappropriate! “

He turns to assess and confront the ambushers

He casts full magic missiles on the red-masked, would-be-shooter

MMx3 : 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 1, 3) + 3 = 11

Oraeus gives a few blinks as the person fumbling for their weapon attacks from beside him. He reaches across his back and pulls out his frost maul.

Frost Maul vs EAC: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Cold damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

He then readies the weapon to try prevent anyone from passing past him without his consent.

Entropy 1/3, AC is 17/18

Kosigan moves toward Yellow and punches them.

Cestus Battleglove: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 vs. KAC
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Assuming all the mercenaries are alive, Kosigan has blindsight against them if within 30 feet, so no miss chance.

Assuming Red is still standing, Arvoris will cast Shooting Stars (magic missle) at him.

Shooting Stars: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 3, 4) + 3 = 11

A barrage of force missiles from Lexicor and Arvoris slam into the masked assailant, each hitting him with the power of a solid punch to the jaw. He reels, and barely keeps his footing! And in another display of Starfinder teamwork, Kosigan and Oraeus confront another foe in hand-to-hand combat!

Red is *barely* standing after six magic missiles. Oraeus hit Yellow's EAC exactly, but Kosigan missed KAC.

Ashtif is still to go, and then the bad guys.

Ashtif is positioned near the guy in the mask, hoping to be able to disarm him when he trips from having his legs tied up. He activates his environmental seals and has the stolen arc pistol and his detonator held in his hands, discretely, as the passengers disembark.

As things go sideways fast, Ashtif stays behind the cover of the chair to fire at the masked man, yelling at the top of his voice, "The gardener has a gun! Get 'em!"

Trick attack, survival+4: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31
Pistol attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Pistol damage (Electricity, nonlethal: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Trick attack bonus damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5 +off-target

Typical Operative roll sequence

Arvoris calls out "Surrender Masked Man, and drop your weapon - unless you think you can take another six force bolts! All of you - there is no need for anyone to die here today. Don't throw your lives away. We may not repeat this offer, so consider your next actions carefully.

Arvoris is not attempting to use a skill here, just talk and offer our opponents a chance to end things without killing anyone - some times the bad guys actually listen.