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

Game Master Jhaeman

Mysticism: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Medicine: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Physical Science: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

<This poor soul was harmed by both acid and electricity.>

Arvoris shares his information via the telepathic link.

It looks like this damage was caused by magic, not a weapon.

Ashtif investigates the details of the body as best he can, assisting the more specialized team members.

Physical Science (aid): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Medicine (aid): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Mysticism(aid): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Need one more aid on Medicine, it looks like

Physical science : 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Mysticisms : 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Lexicor ponders the topics at hand and consults his colleagues

”I concur. Acid and electrical burns is an odd combination. “

An examination of the most recent victim's body has revealed a few useful clues. What's the next step in your investigation?

As Ashtif washes his hands from the investigation of the body, he says, "Well, guess it's time to head to that housing district and see if we can get a lead on the ground. Before we go, any ideas of how to resist acid and electricity damage? Maybe we should pick up some adaptive serum? Anybody have an electrostatic field armor upgrade?"

"I have no way to resist those energies, but I should be able to heal the team up if we get seriously damaged."

Likewise, reflecting or absorbing energy is a concept I have not mastered. I have been more focused on spells or abilities to project electrical energy at distance.

He performs a few more computations.

Should an exchange occur, our chances of success are statistically higher if we employ stand-off weapons or neutralize would-be assailants before they can employ such energies to seriously damage our group.

Lexicor only confirms what everyone else already would know by experience.

Let us proceed.

It doesn't take long to reach the housing complex where the murders have occurred. A few minutes later, using the information provided, you reach the crime scene where the most recent body was found. At first glance, it looks unremarkable.

Oraeus moves into the morgue and with the movements of someone trained in medicine picks up the patient's charts and starts flipping through them first.

Medicine DC18: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

"Seems the coroner also found signs of blunt force trauma, constriction and even abrasions consistent with the body being dragged around. I wonder if this thing is also moving its victims or not."

Does anything specify specifically what the cause of death was? Cause energy damage, blunt force trauma and constriction can all kill.

Getting to the most recent crime scene, he bends down and looks for any signs of biological matter that doesn't belong to the victim. "I've only got training to survive in a Castrovel-like enviroment, I'm not the best at dealing with these types of enviroments."
No training in Survival

Lexicor nods at Oraeus discovery.

survival: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20 Dang!

Lexicor looks down and finds something unusual.

I have noticed a faint trail of blood leading to a locked maintenance tunnel door. Perhaps that will illuminate our search.

@Oraeus: Unfortunately, you're not able to pinpoint a precise cause of death.

Kosigan moves next to the door Lexicor indicates and extends its sense.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16 (blindsense (vibration) 30 ft., blindsight (life) 30 ft., blindsense (electricity) 60 ft.)

Survival: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29

Ashtif nods to Lexicor, also following the trail of blood to the door. He then pulls out his broad-spectrum scanning kit and checks the door for any traps or other hazards. He checks his bone cestus to make sure it is in place, then makes sure everyone else is ready before trying to open the door.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 12 + 4 = 36
Engineering(unlock, or disarm trap if needed): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Arvoris readies his laser rifle and prepares for the door to be opened.

Ashtif struggles with the lock, but then, with an audible "click", he gets it open!

On the other side, a maintenance tunnel smells of stale air mixed with something acrid. The walls and low ceiling are shot through with rusted pipes littered with corrosive holes. Small patches of a plant with pale blue growing fronds dot the way, growing straight from the exposures in the metal. It looks like a veritable maze down here.

Following the trail of blood is going to require some Survival checks. This is a situation where the number of successes and the number of failures are tracked, because it'll be easy to confuse yourselves and get lost.

Life Science: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

No survival. Is this something where we can do each check as a group, or is it individuals only?

Not everyone has to attempt a check, and the same PC can do all of them if desired; the consequences of success or failure redound to the whole group.

Life Sciences DC 15: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28 - 5 to the DC if this is to identify a poison or disease.

Oraeus takes one look at the plants. "A common variety of oxygen producer engineered to keep the air on stations like this breathable for life that needs oxygen. Harmless with a LD50 of about a metric ton and hypoallergenic pollen. So don't eat every single plant here and you'll be fine."

...So don't eat every single plant here and you'll be fine."

glares in Khizar

”I am by no means an expert at tracking. The fact that I was able to spot this at all was by total chance well beyond two standard deviations. I would not expect to be able to repeat this feat. “

Lexicor only has 1 rank in survival so if anyone has better, he will aid

Ashtif nods to Lexicor, taking point in tracking the trail. "I've got experience at this sort of thing ..."

Survival: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22

Arvoris will assist Ashtif in tracking.

Tracking assist: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

If Ashtif takes 10 on survival that will give us a 23. That might be good enough, especially with a few assists.

With Ashtif taking the lead and Arvoris making sure he doesn't miss anything, the group stays on the trail of the occasional drops and smears of blood.

That's one attempt and one success. Please give me a second attempt.

Ashtif tracks as long as he can.

Not sure how many you need, so here are a few ...

Survival: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24
Survival: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
Survival: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

"Hmm ... The trail gets really faint around here."

Hopefully some assists are coming my way, if it takes more than 2 successes. :)

Survival aid : 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
Survival aid : 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Survival aid : 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Lexicor tries to help

Aid Survival: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Aid Survival: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Aid Survival: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Oraeus hangs back and watches the tracking professionals do their work. He does pick up some of the blood and start to wish he had a chemalyzer to be able to analyze what kind of creature's blood it might be.

Ashtif knows what to look for now, and is able to lead everyone confidently through the confusing tunnels, still following the trail.

But suddenly, a rush of scalding steam flies through the vents of the tunnels!

Each PC should attempt either a DC 24 Perception check or a DC 19 Physical Science check to deduce the danger, gaining you a +2 bonus to the Reflex save everyone needs to make. If you succeed on the subsequent DC 15 Reflex save, you take 9 F. If you fail the save, you take 18 F.

Please don't forget to update your own taglines, as I don't keep a tally of damage or healing.

Physical Science: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Reflex Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Steam does not fall into one of the categories Kosigan can easily perceive, so it takes the full force of the blast.

Lexicor ambles along, trying to keep up with the trail…

”Well this seems odd…oh oh!!! “

Phys science : 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Reflex : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18 +2 ?

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17
Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

18 F damage. Am on my phone right now. Will update tagine when I get back to my laptop.

Ashtif, intent on following the tracks, is completely blindsided by the blast of scalding heat.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Am I correct in guessing the the F means fire damage?

Lexicor jumps behind an insulated pipe and avoids the worst of the steam, but Arvoris, Ashtif, and Kosigan take the full, scalding brunt of the blast!

@Arvoris: Yes, the "F" stands for fire damage.

Oraeus still needs to attempt the save, and then I'll assume the group is pressing on unless I hear otherwise.

Kosigan switches into its sheath array and moves on.

+2 Reflex, Athletics, Engineering, Piloting, Stealth

Assuming the tunnels are still passable, I would want to proceed. This seems, at the moment, like it was a one-off blast.

The cramped tunnels suddenly open into what looks to have been a shuttle station at some point long ago before it was buried by newer construction.
The remains of eviscerated rats and other pests lay scattered about the floor, staining it a dark and rusty crimson. A raspy voice resonates from within your mind, saying “Finally. It’s been too long since I’ve snuffed out the life of a living, breathing creature. These machines just aren’t the same.”

You've come upon the lair of the beast--but where is it?

This encounter takes place on the new Slide # 2.

Initiative (Round 1)

Ashtif
Arvoris
Oraeus*
Beast?
Lexicor
Kosigan

Bold should go!

*Need save vs steam.

Arvoris takes a move action to try and find the creature as he says through the telepathy link Does anyone see the creature? Where is it?

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16

My standard action will depend on if I spot the creature or if any of my team mates tell me where it's at.

If no one sees the creature or you need my standard action right now, Arvoris will take the total defense action.

Ashtif moves behind some boxes, scanning with his broad-spectrum kit as he does so. In his other hand, he summons his sniper rifle out of his backpack.

Perception, broad-spectrum: 1d20 + 12 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 12 + 4 = 20

In the room with a monster that can't be seen, Oraeus tries a new tactic for him. He pulls out his frost maul and readies it as he focuses for a second and sends a mental ping out to the room, looking for the thoughts of the creature. It might not tell him exactly where, but it would help him to figure out the general direction, perhaps.

Casting detect thoughts in the direction the voice came from.

Arvoris girds himself for battle as Ashtif scans the area and Oraeus casts a spell.

"Now now now . . . which of you will be tastiest?" The voice comes from out of nowhere, accompanied by arcane muttering and cackling. Where is it?!

Initiative (Round 1)

Ashtif
Arvoris
Oraeus
Beast?
Lexicor
Kosigan

Bold should go!

I have the perfect tool for this... and it takes three actions to use because the enemy is adjacent.

Kosigan changes its array to the defender icestar staff.

<The enemy is immediately north of me... right here!>

It then takes a swing at the enemy.

Defender Icestar Staff: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 vs. EAC
Cold and Fire Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Blindsight (life), so no miss chance.

Thanks, Kosigan! Please keep us updated if it moves.

There's an audible "thunk" as Kosigan's staff slams into something unseen!

Kosigan's attack hit; whether it did any visible damage, you can't confirm yet.

Lexicor is up.

Lexicor looks around at his allies reactions

So what have you discovered? I did not like the sound of it regardless.

He steps besides kosigan and breathes lightning from his dragon gland at the spot indicated.

breath: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 5) = 11 dc reflex for half electric

having problems updating map on tablet

Lexicor breathes lightning! "Ah, mortals." says a voice from nowhere, with a bemused tone. "Lives of ignorance and despair. Allow me to relieve you of your burdens."