GM Nomadical's Great Grav-Train Robbery (Inactive)

Game Master Nomadical

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“There she is!” shouts Arda Vonn, wrenching the enercopter’s controls hard to one side. Straining to make her voice heard over the whirling rotors, the jububnan pilot motions to a pile of packages under a tarp behind the passenger seats. “Better get yer war bags on!”

Through dust-caked windows, the grav train can be seen hurtling through the desert ahead like a massive serpent of glass and steel. This is it: the big score that’s going to make the whole team rich. And the plan couldn’t be simpler! Just rappel onto the roof of a speeding train filled with armed gangsters, somehow get inside, find the passcode that opens the cargo car, locate and grab the prize, and then signal Vonn for pickup before the train reaches its destination. You could do this in your sleep.

According to Aramesh’s information, the prize is inside a crate sealed with magnetic locks traveling in cargo car 67C. If the team can access the car and open its bay doors from the inside, Ardo Vonn’s enercopter will airlift both them and the artifact to safety before anyone notices it’s missing. However, the console that opens the doors requires access codes that are currently held in a datapad belonging to Brom Lancaster, the train’s chief of security. You just need to find Brom among the other Ixo Syndicate personnel in the VIP passenger car, steal his datapad, take it to the cargo car, use the datapad to open the bay doors, find the right crate, and then safely escape on the enercopter. Easy as pie on a Sunday mornin’.

The enercopter circles once and flies off, leaving you within crawling distance of an access hatch in the train roof. It’s locked from the inside, but those of you with some skill in Engineering could probably get it open.

Do we know what Brom looks like?

Barat crawls along the surface of the train, naturally adept at moving in this form with his many tentacles. He glances between Kevan and LNA. "Okay," he says over the comms, "let's get a move on."

Kevan grunts, lumbering easily on all fours. "This bear is ready."

Kevan's got a hacking kit, but not an engineering kit or a trapsmith's kit. He's got the credits to buy one each, though, and will be presumed to have done so before the drop.

He reaches the access hatch, looking around for alarms before getting to work on it. Assuming he doesn't find any:

Engineering check to open the lock: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

The Sro comes up to you all, Filled with armed gangsters, I think it is best we take them out first, if we try to sneak on without touching anyone and we get caught, they sound an alarm, we take them out before they can do that.

Barat looks curiously at the drone. "Easy for you to say, tin can. The mission is to get to the target without an alarm being sounded. Is our thief saying it doesn't think it can pull that off? Might have been nice to let us know before we jumped out of an enercopter."

The hatch opens into a nondescript baggage car. A single nuar security guard sits here, distractedly browsing the infosphere on his personal comm. He doesn’t notice you opening the hatch, but it’s obvious that you’d have to be sneaky to get past him.

Stealth check to enter the baggage car without alerting the guard. Or not, and see what happens….

@DoubleGold/LNA-464/Max Willard: You gonna change that avatar image?

Max will try to use his retractable spike to take out the guard, he figures it is best taking out the guard in one hit than not alerting him. So he moves up to him trick attack sleight of hand: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22 if successful, he if flat footed until start of my next turnhit: 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 8 - 4 = 12 vs KAC dmg: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 trick dmg: 3d8 ⇒ (2, 7, 5) = 14 Nonlethal damage of course, hence the -4.

Aramesh has watching their team as they wait for the access hatch to be opened. They then silently watch Max go to take out the guard.

"So far so good. No time for any overconfidence. Can't help but be excited. Get this and boom! Big time baby!" the colony thinks to themselves quietly. They will have their time to talk. And then it will be magic!

Barat looks over at Aramesh, "That thing's the thief, right? You didn't hire two muscles on this job, did you? Well, better get down there before that walking glitch blows the whole job."

So ... looks like we're in combat, then, since I'm guessing the plan to single strike the guard didn't actually work.

Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Not even trying to be stealthy, the hired "thief" charges into the baggage car. The SRO moves to the front while also trying to slip his retractable spike out surreptitiously. The nuar looks up from his mobile match-3 game, and smirks at the little sentient robot’s attempt. Then when LNA-464 tries to stab the nuar, it simply glances off the guard’s heavy armor.

ROUND 1
Conditions:
Battle in the Baggage Car!
Aaramesh may act

Aaramesh
Nuar guard
Barat
LNA-464
Kevan

===========================

Everyone except LNA-464 is on the roof still.

The gray box is the hatch in the ceiling. It is big enough for a Large Bear to not need to squeeze.

Normally I roll Initiative for everyone. (I’ll add that to my Discussion Intro posts in the future.) Since Barat didn’t know that and rolled better than I did, I’ll let you keep that roll.

Is dropping down into the car a move action? Is there any roll associated with it to avoid landing prone?

Nah, just do it as part of your move, let's say it costs 10 feet. Funny thing, right this moment, I'm playing in a Roll20 game of this scenario. And we're doing the baggage car combat! Our GM just included it as part of movement.

They look at Barat. "Yeah she kind of whiffed the biff. Welp, no time to talk, time to move."

Well there goes the perfect beginning. No plan does survive first contact.

"Hey big guy, you are probably watching me right now but that would be the wrong play pal. Taking your eye off the ball and all that."

They are going to move down into cover if possible and use clever feint against the guard. Going to hold my Expertise die until I know if it fails or not, as per Convincing Liar

Clever feint: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

Clever Feint: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

”What….?” the hired guard says as he shifts his focus back and forth between the SRO and Aramesh, having trouble maintaining a defensive posture against both.

But he knows who’s right in front of him and simply reacts instinctively, goring the brash robot with a horn.

Horn stab: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19

But LNA-464 dodges the big brute’s attack.

ROUND 1 & 2
Conditions:
Battle in the Baggage Car!
Everyone may act

Aaramesh
Nuar guard (Flat-footed)
Barat
LNA-464
Kevan

===========================

Barat & Kevan are still on the roof, but just count 10 feet of jumping down as part of your movement, and no check.

The gray box is the hatch in the ceiling. It is big enough for a Large Bear to not need to squeeze.

1 EP at the start of the turn. I am thinking I can't charge, given my starting position. 2x Move at Speed. Spend 1 EP to get +10 feet, and then I gain 1 EP from the double move.

Barat leaps down, scuttling on his tentacles across the train car. As he moves, dark purple energy swirls on one of his tentacle arms to form a barrier. He comes rest next to the small robot. "Surrender now, and we will not have to hurt you."

If he attacks LNA, I will use my Bodyguard feat to grant LNA a +2 AC bonus at an expense of -2 to my AC. My AC is currently at +1 from the field riot shield I've manifested. I'm at 1 EP.

LNA doesn't know his swing was terrible, he figures the guard is just really good at dodging and really tough, so he will do lethal damage this time figuring that he won't kill the guard as he's got a lot of fight in him. He steps while doing his trick attack. trick attack sleight of hand: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18 hit: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 vs KaC
dmg: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 trick dmg: 3d8 ⇒ (8, 4, 6) = 18

Barat says to LNA, "Stop it. You're embarrassing yourself ..."

I use to be good, I must be cursed by an Evil deity, come now Barat, we've been on several missions together. I'm sure you've messed up many times. I'm assuming these 4 adventured together since level 1 and never switched groups like in Starfinder society, but stuck together as one group.

According to our character backgrounds, we know of each other by reputation, but haven't worked together yet.

Kevan drops through the open hatch and hustles towards the fight.

Double move.

Barat's tentacles twitch at the mention of having "messed up," a quick vision flashing through his mind of Commander Drury's dead body, lifeless tentacles sprawled on the ground in the ruins of Dustcrag. The Commander he was sworn to protect, killed at the hands of the Ixo Syndicate. The same Syndicate that this nuar works for. His eyes narrow as his attention returns to this time, this place, and this criminal in front of him. "I retract my offer for surrender," he says softly, in a voice dripping with the need for vengeance.

Oh, never mind Barat, I might be thinking of someone else?
He then turns towards Barat You think he is going to surrender? Well, you heard his offer.

"Aren't I supposed to be the talker?", Aramesh thinks to themselves. This is not starting out well.

"Would you all just get him?", they say as they fire their laser pistol at the guard

Using "Get Em" on the guard and then firing from cover (if there is cover)

Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 212d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 4) + 3 = 9

The SRO certainly does embarrass themself as they are neither tricky nor effective. Barat gets worked up, and prepares to defend the little machine as Kevan hustles into the fight. But LNA-464 didn’t get the memo to stay close and steps away out of Barat’s protective aura.

Aaramesh tries taking a shot, but there’s way too much cover.

Seeing only one target, and that one undefended by their friends, the guard stabs again.
Horn stab: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
Just barely missing.

”Look, I’m just here to keep strays like you outta the VIP car. Like the squid said, stop embarrin’ yerselves, and just git out.”

ROUND 2 & 3
Conditions: Get ‘Em on guard (+1 attack)
Battle in the Baggage Car!
Everyone may act

Aaramesh
Nuar guard (Get ‘Em'ed)
Barat
LNA-464
Kevan

===========================

@Aaramesh, way too much cover to hit him from where you are.

@Barat, you also get +1 enhancement bonus to AC whenever you have 1 EP.

@GM: Thanks for the reminder on that. Still getting used to these fun new powers.

Barat scuttles around, through the space containing the small SRO and triggering an AoO. "You mean this VIP car?" One of his tentacles points behind him at the door as he punches at the nuar.

Entropic strike attack, get 'em: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 9 + 1 = 15
Entropic strike damage (acid/bludgeoning): 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (3, 5) + 10 = 18

We are beating the heck out of the air around this nuar.

"This bear is not pleased to have to make a crude physical attack." Kevan closes with the nuar and swipes at them with a massive paw.

Claw attack, including get 'em: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 1 = 25
Claw damage, if applicable: 1d3 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

LNA 5 foot steps while trick attacking sleight of hand: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32 hit: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 8 + 1 = 25 vs KAC includes getem
dmg: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 trick dmg: 3d8 ⇒ (4, 5, 7) = 16

Barat squeezes past LNA, and the guard sees an opening
Horn stab: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20
And is just as effective as you all have been so far. He declines to answer the vanguard’s question about the VIP car.

Nerd bear is the first to draw blood with a powerful claw slash across the nuar’s ugly mug.
LNA slips to the side and finally finds their groove.

Aaramesh moves in to join the fight while continuing to provide tactical advice.

The guard grabs his pike from where it had been resting. Having been the first to hit him, and being the biggest of the three targets surrounding him, he swings at Kevan.
Tac Cryo Pike: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
damage, C: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

ROUND 3 & 4
Conditions: Get ‘Em on guard (+1 attack)
Battle in the Baggage Car!
Everyone may act

Aaramesh
Nuar guard (Get ‘Em, Flatfooted, -34)
Barat
LNA-464
Kevan (-18)

===========================

@Aaramesh. I botted you since you didn’t post in Gameplay for 48 hours.

@LNA-464, could you please specify when you make your trick attack which Debilitating Trick option you are choosing: Flat Footed or Off Target. Most people choose Flat Footed, so I’ll go with that this time.

As a move action, I will expend my 1 EP to enhance my entropic strike.

The deep violet energy around his tentacle begins swirling faster, the energy undulating and bubbling as he goes to strike the nuar.

Entropic strike attack, get 'em, flanking vs. flat-footed EAC: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 1 + 2 = 26
Entropic strike damage(acid/bludgeoning): 2d6 + 10 + 1d4 ⇒ (5, 3) + 10 + (4) = 22

Unfortunately Aramesh doesn't have a clear shot nor can move to fire, they think to themselves.

They just take aim and fire and then get back behind cover. Slightly shrugging as they fire. Get Em

Ranged Attack and Damage: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 252d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 3) + 3 = 7

Kevan gives a rumbling growl of pain at the impact, then lashes out again at the nuar.

Claw, including get 'em: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 1 = 19
Damage, if applicable: 1d3 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

The poor security guard doesn’t stand a chance once he’s surrounded. He goes down under the combined attacks, bleeding out onto the steel floor plates of the now silent baggage car.

Checking his gear, you find he’s wearing a pair of magboots. He’s also carrying a pair of type II frag grenades and a mk 1 serum of healing.

According to Aramesh’s information, the syndicate VIP passenger car lies just beyond the next door. Yes, the one Barat waved a tentacle at, and which upon inspection you find to be electronically locked. (Computers or Engineering to bypass)

Max will give it a go engineering: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31 It was easy

Kevan pauses to drink his serum of enhancement (scientist) before continuing.

Aramesh, Kevan could use an inspiring boost around now. He's down 18 stamina.

Barat looks around for a storage unit or restroom stall [ooc]or whatever those things on the bottom of the train map are[/i] and shoves the guard into one of them, if he is able. He points a tentacle at the blood on the ground and says to Kevan, "Can you use that spell that cleans things up on that?"

He turns on LNA and says, "Your job is to be silent and unseen, not to begin stabbing people who aren't paying attention to us. The job goes smoother if we don't pick unnecessary fights. My job here is to keep you guys alive in a fight, if one becomes essential. If there's a change to your job description, let me know in case mine needs to change."

Kevan pauses to drink his serum of enhancement (scientist) before continuing.

Aramesh, Kevan could use an inspiring boost around now. He's down 18 stamina.

"You did good kid. We got much longer to go. Get hyped!"

Inspiring Boost. Get 16 SP back

The VIP car is to the right of us. I assume the cargo car is somewhere to the left of us. Do we know how many cars down it is to the cargo car? Also, I asked this earlier but am not sure I got an answer ... Do we know what Brom looks like?

On the other side of the easily hacked door, you find a well-appointed luxury passenger car filled with Ixo Syndicate’s finest. Here, well-dressed passengers fill a lounge area with a fragrant haze of cigar smoke, conversing with each other from upholstered leather chairs and engaging in a lively game of skimmer around a card table. At the bar, an android bartender diligently mixes drinks as they’re ordered. Six security guards keep watch over the proceedings. It's readily apparent given the way they carry themselves and how they're kitted out that these guys are a whole order of magnitude tougher than the lonely nuar you just took out. Even your professional sneak-thief, LNA-464, can tell that violence is not an option.

The Bar

Brom Lancaster, a well dressed male damaya lashunta, sits at the bar, sipping from a tumbler of bright blue liquor; Brom is the train’s chief of security, and he has the datapad that you need. A throng of well-armed personal bodyguards surrounds him, but you attention is immediately drawn to his conversation partner, a sharply dressed human in a spotless white suit. Some of you recognize Royve Flynn immediately, and you’re certain that the only reason he’s here is to pull the same heist as you.

ROUND 1
Slide 6: Get the Pad!
Everyone may act

Aaramesh
Barat
LNA-464
Kevan

See Discussion for the rules of this encounter

@Barat: Sorry, I meant to answer you earlier. The scenario doesn’t say whether you do or not, but presume that Aaramesh did his homework and has a photo. When you enter the VIP car, you know who your target is. As to how far away the cargo car is, it’s not mechanically relevant.

As you enter the VIP car, Barat banks off and tries to look discretely in a corner, watching for any trouble. Over comes he says, "I'll run interference ... Let me know if you need a distraction."

Round 1: Interference
Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

Kevan looks around for a computer port and prepares to perform some surreptitious environmental manipulation. To start with, he'll subtly alter the light level so that the fixtures pointing at Royce's face are brighter than they should be for comfort.

Computers check, including serum: 1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 16 + 2 = 30

LNA will be a distraction intimidate: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18 Hey what gives. This train isn't moving fast enough. I paid for a fast moving train. I'd like to see a manager!

Aramesh goes up to the bar to engage Brom Aramesh has switched his clothes to the Diplomacy side, giving him expertise dice there

"Hey chums, mind if I join you all for a drink?"

Reroll of Diplomacy Die rerolled Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22

Kevan finds a port and begins hacking the lighting controls. Royce certainly looks uncomfortable, pulling at his buttoned collar and squinting at Aaramesh. It’s clear that he knows what you’re up to, just as you know his game. Kevan: Success!

Barat notices Royce subtly signaling to a nondescript guy drinking alone at a table, and sees the guy get up and begin heading toward Kevan. The vanguard leaves his dimly-lit corner of the car, intercepts the schmo, and prevents him from disturbing Kevan’s work. Barat: Success!

The little SRO tries to sound peeved, but no one even notices the kiddy-fit he’s throwing. LNA-464: Fail

Brom nods politely to Aarmesh’s request to join them. Royce is busy fidgeting and trying to escape the spotlight, and Brom turns his attention to the newcomer. ”Welcome aboard. I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure. Brom Lancanster,” he says by way of introduction. Aaramesh: Two Successes, thanks to the help from your teammates!

ROUND 2
Slide 6: Get the Pad!
Everyone may act

Aaramesh
Barat
LNA-464
Kevan

See Discussion for the rules of this encounter

Reminder: you may change roles (Except Aaramesh). If a role allows the use of multiple skills, the same skill can’t be used on two successive rounds, even if a different PC takes over the role. Meaning: Barat can use Perception again if he stays in Interference, since that’s the only skill for that Role. But if Kevan stays at Saboteur, he has to use Engineering this round since he just used Computers for that Role.

@Barat: Darkeus/Aaramesh: Yes, just RP and roll Diplomacy, and don’t forget to change the drop-down to your Aaramesh alias when you post. It’s just a habit that you’ll develop over time. We’ve all done it (multiple times, for sure.)

The bear stands up, striding in the general direction of the meeting and bellowing, "That's amazing! There's a paper out in J Theological Mathematics that proves Driftspace exhibits the behavior of a pseudo-Riemannian manifold! Do you know what this means?"

Physical Science check for Windbag,including serum bonus: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 14 + 2 = 21

We'll see...that serum may have tipped it over the edge.

Ask Brom where his favorite vacation spot was. culture co pilot: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24

Barat continues keeping his sets of keen eyes alert for any trouble, working to divert it before it causes any problems for the team leader. He looks around for any other possible members of Royce's crew that he can disrupt.

Interference(Perception): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

Aramesh puts out their hand "Name is Aramesh. Wondeful lounge you have here. Wonderful indeed. Oh Royve, fancy meeting you here chum. See you found a way on board?"

Expertise Die: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Feeling a little smarter thanks to the serum he just imbibed, Kevan heads for the bar. Brom and Royce are suddenly distracted by a large bear bursting into the conversation, excitedly waving his paws and rambling about pseudo-Rhymes. They both take the interruption in stride, being used to their own nerd-lackeys, but it does throw them off for a few seconds. Kevan: Success!

LNA sidles up to Aramesh as Kevan continues talking about Drift manifolds and warp-space tori. The SRO gives their leader a little advice on what to ask Royce, perhaps seeming to know about the gentleman bandit’s preference for beach-front resorts. LNA-464: Success

Caught in the scrum of conversations, Royce turns to the perky blonde halfling at his side and tries to get her to engage with Kevan. Barat catches where this is going, and slides up to the bar offering to buy the lady a drink. She considers her options of listening to nerd-bear or drinking with squid-face, and chooses the later as far more tolerable. Barat: Success!

Royce seems taken aback by how smoothly Aramesh’s team is ruining his chances at getting the datapad. He takes the opportunity to duck out of the glare of the misaligned spotlight so he can focus on Aramesh. ”Ah, Aramesh, a pleasure indeed. Wait, Aramesh Maageri? I’ve heard good things about you. In fact, there’s something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about. Excuse us for a moment please,” he adds to Brom as he steps away from the bar.

With a bit of privacy, Royce makes you an offer. ”Let’s be frank, you’ve assembled quite the crew. You’re obviously more cut out for this part of the job than I am at the moment. Though I daresay I’ve got assets nearby that will make the next part of this job go a lot easier. How about we work together? You get the datapad off Brom, and I’ll meet you at car 67C. We’ll split the take fifty-fifty between our two teams. Deal?” He doesn’t offer the spathinae his hand, just the charming smile for which he is known system-wide.

Kevan considers the gentleman thief's offer.

GM N, do you want to roll the Sense Motive check, or shall I?