GM Zoomba's SFS 4-09 Through Sea & Storm (Inactive)

Game Master Zoomba

The worst of fortune seems to strike Jim and Katrina, while Buster seemed to have more luck when aiding their ally than firing on their own. But Troivayan manages to slice into Roros, causing the giant to further bleed and start to begin looking concerned.

Initiative

Big Jim 0/91 SP, 52/67 HP (fire resistant)
Katrina
Roros (blue), 124 damage
Maverick 26/88 SP
Gab 62/88 SP
Igvale (red), 98 damage, bleeding
Data 12/72 SP, 2 of him
Troivayan, photon 4

Data attacks with his survival knife hit: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23 vs KAC dmg: 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Data strikes with his knife, but the android's years spent working magic seem to have left his martial strength still somewhat to be desired. Through a combination of poor luck and uncooridnated strikes, Roros laughs mostly unscathed. The giant spins around singing to himself.

Hah. Eeny Meenie Min - The rhyme cuts short as his knife cuts into Troivayan, just able to slice through the solarian's armor.

1d3 ⇒ 2
Trick: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (15) + 31 = 46
Attack v flat-footed KAC: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (8) + 22 = 30 for Slashing: 6d4 + 18 ⇒ (4, 4, 1, 4, 1, 2) + 18 = 34 plus Fire: 14 = 14 plus Trick damage: 7d8 ⇒ (8, 7, 6, 2, 4, 3, 6) = 36

Initiative

Big Jim 0/91 SP, 52/67 HP (fire resistant)
Katrina
Roros (blue), 124 damage
Maverick 26/88 SP
Gab 62/88 SP
Igvale (red), 98 damage, bleeding
Data 12/72 SP, 2 of him
Troivayan 48/132 SP, photon 4

Maverick, strafes past Roros, firing his thunderstrike pistol, Shot on the Run and then flies into the cover of the smoke cloud.

Acrobatics Debilitating Trick (Flat Footed) Take 10 + Alien Archive Bonus: 10 + 24 + 2 = 36
Thunderstrike Pistol vs. Roros Flat Footed EAC: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17 If the attack hits Roros he is flat footed to all other attacks for the rest of this round.
Sonic Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Trick Attack Damage: 6d8 ⇒ (3, 8, 2, 1, 7, 1) = 22

DAMN YOU DICEBOT!!!

I feel your pain

Gab darts through the smoke cover, calling out, "Let's keep at it, everybody!" A jagged shot of ice flies out of the smoke cloud, aiming at Roros.

Move action: Move speed.
Swift action: Invoke my United Society boon. All allies within 60 feet gain one of the following benefits immediately:
* Gain +2 morale bonus on all attack/damage rolls until beginning of my next turn
* Regain Stamina Points equal to your level
* Remove a single condition, as per remove condition

My understanding is that, unlike my Envoy abilities, I do count as an ally in this case ... in which case I'll regain 11 Stamina Points.

Standard action: Clever Attack on Roros

Clever attack(Bluff, Convincing Liar): 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (19) + 21 = 40
Expertise: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Ghelid Hail attack vs. Roros' flat-footed KAC: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
Ghelid Hail damage(cold/piercing, nonlethal): 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (6, 2) + 5 = 13

This might be the most consistently unlucky attack-rolling fight I have every seen a party go through

The surrounded giant does seem a bit confused but Gab's shot hits sand either way.

Stop playing with them Ror' Igvale bellows as she shoots Torivayan while moving a bit closer to Buster. This is getting a bit tiring. If they aren't going to just hand over their finds willingly, let's just drop 'em and get on with it.

SoH Trick: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (1) + 31 = 32
Attack v flat-footed EAC: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (15) + 22 = 37 for Fire: 5d4 + 14 ⇒ (3, 1, 3, 1, 1) + 14 = 23 plus trick damage: 7d8 ⇒ (6, 1, 2, 3, 3, 1, 2) = 18
bleed: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Initiative

Big Jim 0/91 SP, 52/67 HP (fire resistant) (pick bonus from Gab - 10SP or +2 att/dam)
Katrina (pick bonus from Gab - 11SP or +2 att/dam)
Roros (blue), 124 damage, flat-footed
Maverick 26/88 SP (pick bonus from Gab - 11SP or +2 att/dam)
Gab 73/88 SP
Igvale (red), 104 damage, bleeding
Data 12/72 SP, 2 of him (pick bonus from Gab - 9SP or +2 att/dam)
Troivayan 7/132 SP, photon 4 (pick bonus from Gab - 11SP or +2 att/dam)

At this point, a rather frustrated Katrina is very tempted to throw her new weapon as far into the ocean as she can. The only thing stopping her is the thought that she can't claim her warranty if she can't produce the faulty weapon - assuming its the weapon and not her. She has to admit she has not been practising small arm firing in a rather long time and there was a memo from her faction leader that "you'd better be on the range to complete your yearly certification as soon as you return ..... or else your next mission is going to be on a dry desert planet"

Ouch! Jadnura .... that really hurt she thought to herself. It hadn't helped that it had been signed and cced to Luwazi. Double ouch. Plus her sister had thought that was extremely hilarious.

Auto Trick Attack (taking 10 to trick CR 15 or lower)
uw pilot handcoil: 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 15 + 2 = 21 (+2 from Gab)
electricity: 2d8 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (1, 5) + 5 + 2 = 13
trick: 6d8 ⇒ (8, 7, 3, 8, 6, 6) = 38

Using my T-Shirt reroll with three Novas
uw pilot handcoil: 1d20 + 15 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 15 + 2 + 3 = 37 (+2 from Gab)

She also suddenly realises, with horror, that she is going to get a right earful from VC Naiaj if she finds out about this which spurs her to greater effort.

"If I'd have known you wanted the old junk this bad, I'd probably have let you take it," mumbles Troivayan in between swings. "But I guess it's too late for that now."

Full attack, taking the +2 att & damage from Gab. Thanks Gab!

Attack # 1 (w/ flanking, boon): 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 13 + 2 + 2 = 22
damage (slashing w/ photon & boon): 5d6 + 14 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5, 4, 3, 3, 4) + 14 + 2 + 2 = 37
Attack # 2 (w/ flanking, boon): 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 13 + 2 + 2 = 19
damage (slashing w/ photon & boon): 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 13 + 2 + 2 = 31

Man! Okay, I'm going to use my t-shirt reroll w/ 2 novas on one of those.

reroll Attack # 1: 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 13 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 31

Data will swing his knife at the blue one, feeling like he can hit anything with the bonus, he actually does a full attack and swings twice hit: 1d20 + 10 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 10 + 2 - 4 = 16 vs KAC dmg: 1d4 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 2 = 10
hit: 1d20 + 10 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 10 + 2 - 4 = 25 KAC dmg: 1d4 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 = 9

* Gain +2 morale bonus on all attack/damage rolls until beginning of my next turn

Flanking/Gab-bonus/Full attack

Attack 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 14 + 2 + 2 - 4 = 27 vs FF EAC
Damage 4d6 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (4, 1, 2, 2) + 15 + 2 = 26

Not convinced that a 25 lands...also going to follow Katrinas lead and Nova roll it
Attack 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 2 - 4 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 14 + 2 + 2 - 4 + 4 = 29 vs FF EAC

***

Buster scoots away Guarded step, sending an emergency call to Big Jim One to start heading back from its waiting area on top of whatever geographic feature it was perched on with great haste.

The tide finally seems to turn.

Inspired by Gab's words (and in one case fear of the former First Seeker's disapproval), the surrounded Roros is pummeled by pick, blade, and coil. With a roar of pain the fire giant drops, blade and pistol scattering in the sand.

Seeing her partner fall and hearing the roar or enercopter engines surging to life, Igvale starts to look extremely nervous.

Initiative

Big Jim 0/91 SP, 52/67 HP (fire resistant)
Katrina
Roros (blue), 124 damage, flat-footed
Maverick 26/88 SP (pick bonus from Gab - 11SP or +2 att/dam)
Gab 73/88 SP
Igvale (red), 104 damage, bleeding
Data 12/72 SP, 2 of him
Troivayan 7/132 SP, photon 4

Maverick, makes a strafing run on Igvale before flying back into the cover of the smoke. Shot on the Run.

Acrobatics Debilitating Trick (Flat Footed) Take 10 + Alien Archive Bonus: 10 + 24 + 2 = 36
Thunderstrike Pistol vs. Igvale Flat Footed EAC: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (14) + 16 = 30 If the attack hits Igvale he is flat footed to all other attacks for the rest of this round.
Sonic Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Trick Attack Sonic Damage: 6d8 ⇒ (1, 6, 7, 4, 5, 5) = 28

The losing streak is broken!

<BEEP_BOOP_BOT>

Bluff: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (11) + 21 = 32 plus Expertise: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Attack v EAC: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24 for Cold and piercing, nonlethal: 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (6, 2) + 5 = 13

Gab moves about, firing at Igvale though slightly missing her. Maverick manages to hit just fine though, and seeing her partner dropped the bleeding giant turns to begin racing away down the beach.

All right, can't blame a girl for trying. Keep the loot, but come after me and I still think I can take a couple of you out first!

Igvale is fleeing, rendering this combat potentially over. Let me know if you would like to pursue (she is 70 feet off the map to the south at the moment, with a 50 ft movement speed) or if you are fine catching your breath and loading up the Big Jim One.

Big Jim has no interest in pursuing a fleeing opponent, just shaking his head at the whole situation and the willingness of others to try and violently rob people out of sheer greed and nastiness. Jim gets to seeing if anything can be done to stabilise the fallen giant (and identification taken to provide a report later to the authorities, but Jim is also not to concerned if the Giant doesn't make it, pretty certain the Giant had no cares for Jim and his wellbeing.

Katrina reconfigures her armour and wades ashore, sealing her armour to retain the water within as if she was a Kalo. She too will do what she can for the fallen giant.

Let her go she says. It's not worth it. Still, I wonder if they were the actual guards or imposters?

Z Data Z will not chase after her, not worth his time.

Maverick, reluctantly does not pursue the fleeing giant.

With quick attention, you Jim and Katrina are able to stabilize the fallen fire giant. Basic ID on the body does indeed confirm he is named Roros Roros Bellarn though he is certainly not an actual member of the Cloud Imperium. In addition to his pistol and dagger you find a sniper rifle slung close to his back, along with a bag of old keepsakes and baubles hidden nearby not far from the guard tower above.

The six of you spend some time loading up the Big Jim One with the items retrieved from Talgradur and are about to depart when you spy movement on the rocky outcropping above the beach. Several cloud giants are riding towards you upon large fully-grown Upondos, each of the riders fully decked out in bright armor emblazoned with the symbol of the Imperium.

Halt! Who are you? What are you doing here?

Jim groans and resists the temptation to suggest something sarcastic. "Ahh Local law enforcement has arrived, welcome! Big Jim of Jims Jams. We were undertaking an authorized archaeological dig, at least we were until we were attacked by a couple of fire giants who had been pretending to be guards. One is having a bit of a nap and reconsidering their life choices"

Katrina walks up to the cloud giants and waves her datapad in their direction.

We are Starfinders and we have been authorised to explore an area of the crashed sky city. This datapad contains our authorisation documents.

All right hold on. I gotta call this in.

The lead Imperium giant graciously takes Katrina's datapad and checks the authorization forms. He and several other giants listen to your descriptions of what occured and your encounter with the fire giants while one of the cloud giants also calls it back in to their colleagues. After hearing the tale and confirming the docs check out, the lead guard replies:

Well, it seems I would not only like to offer an apology for your attack in Impeirum territory, but also extend our thanks for stopping these fire giant traitors. A massive fire broke out at a refinery some ways away a few days ago. My men, women, and I moved to investigate and provide aid: I know suspect that may not have been an accident but rather an intentional distraction. We will see what the one here has to say when brought to interrogation.

Several of the cloud giants move to re-mount their upondos and head off in pursuit in the direction Igvale fled. The main guard adds I can call in a transport ship for you if you would feel more secure on it, given the circumstances. Though that enercopter of yours seems mighty fine as well. All of your paperwork checks out: I am sure Speaker Elthel will want to meet with you as soon as possible to discuss your expedition in detail.

You are free to return to Anduwar however you like. However, you should decide what you are going to submit to Elthel when you meet with her again: sharing all of your findings, or not reporting anything?

I was wondering what had been going on Katrina replied. And yep ... that's a mighty fine enercopter She grins over to Big Jim.

Data will not report anything, not wanting to cause panic or even unwanted attention.

"We should get back to Anduwar and report all that we've found."

After Katrina had drained the water out of her suit and lungs, she helped load the enercopter then climbed on board, letting either Big Jim or Maverick pilot.

Mind doing a circuit around the fallen city? she asks. I'd like to get some high-def pictures and scans of the exterior. Basically, well, looking for bits that are likely to break and fall off or the whole thing is going to break in half or something.

Apart from that, she is rather quiet on the way back. I'm not sure what to report to them she says. What do you think their reactions will be when they find out about the sabotage and using sentients to power the storm engines. I ... don't think they're going to like that. Although, I am telling our superiors ... and Guidance is going to get a full report. I always tell Guidance at least.

"We have our own transport, thank you. We shall return to Elthel and show her what we have recovered, and what we have found out." Jim hands out some signed 6" x 8" photos to the Giants and poses for a few selfies he shares on his ClumpedIn profile #imperium #cloudgiant

As the enercopter does loops slow low-level passes around the city for Katrinas photography, Jim talks through his thinking "That find is likely to be a hot political issue - I think we need to let Elthel know, and obviously report it back to the Society. The ethics of it all, and whether it should become common knowledge is outside my area of expertise, but if we are supposed to be fostering stronger ties here I think we need to be seen to be coming from an open and honest place, even if that honesty is literally about skeletons in the closet"

Katerina looks over to Jim with a sigh Guess you're right. We have to tell her at least, but in private.

She pats the case containing the portable hard drive they found. Dunno if this thing is going to be readable after all this time in salt water anyway

Troivayan shrugs after listening to Big Jim's and Katrina's conversation. "Let one of the V-Cs decide. Isn't that why they get all the big credits anyway?" The solarian leans his head against the curved wall of the enercopter, closes his eyes, and starts to softly snore.

Erm .... you do realize it was VC Naiaj who sent us out here. She's likely to tell us to use our own judgement. She ..... oh never mind. Katrina stopped speaking when she realized Troivayan had gone to sleep. She then sighed and tried to nap herself, so she would be fully rested if she had to take a turn at the controls.

Was waiting to see if Gab had thoughts, but with votes of 3-2 right now to share all going to bring this home.

When you eventually return to Anduwar in a return journey somewhat quicker than your trip out. It seems the flying city has drifted a bit closer to the ruins over the last few days, Elthel is able to meet with you quickly. Your skirmish with the fire giants has her concerned for you - "Killing and picking the bones of the dead for profit; I will never understand the mindset of those scavengers" - but the cloud giant is relieved you are not harmed and impressed you small creatures managed to hold your own.

When you begin going over what your found and recovered from Talgradur, her mood lightens at first as she examines the relics you excavated. But the news about the storm engine's interior, the power core, and the viral datapad...Elthel seems shocked by these revelations. "That...that is a heavy thing you have discovered Starfinders. I will have my best, and discrete, analysits and techs see what we can recover from this datapad. And it would seem much more additional explorations of Talgradur are warranted. Yes..."

She drifts off for a moment, then comes back to focus on the room. "I must say Starfinders. When I was first assigned your case I had assumed you were handled to me as another form of sabotage: getting me associated with feckless outsiders who would fail and discredit me within the Imperium. I am thoroughly pleased to have been mistaken. Stay in Anduwar for a while if you wish, but when you return let your First Seeker Hadif know that his agency is approved for future expeditions. I hope to be able to meet him some day if he wishes."

Gab nods, offering agreement with the consensus of the group. After explaining the situation to Elthel, he nods. "We'll send your greetings to First Seeker Hadif. I am sure the feeling is mutual. I'm sure what we've found will get some attention from him. We're pretty good at uncovering mysteries, so please reach out if there's any way that we little folk can help out with your investigations."

Katrina nods in agreement with Gab.

And to be honest ma'am, I was initially a bit reluctant to 'tell all', cause this revelation .... well ... I fear it will cause a diplomatic 'hot potato' when the news gets out. I know how I felt when we discovered what had been going on. I'm a bit concerned how some people will react.

But, yeah, if you need our help again, please. I'd be happy to do whatever underwater archaeology you require. But I'd recommend doing it soon, cause the gravity and acidic atmosphere, plus the rusting from the salt water at the bottom, well .... it's only a matter of time before that sky city will collapse and break apart.

"We were delighted to be able to help, I even got some quality footage of some of the more general interest stuff that is going to make a great episode of Jims Jams, of course none of that controversial stuff will be omitted, and everything vetted by yourself or agents"

Elthel gives a wry smile at Katrina's fears. "Eventually I'm sure. But Pholskar has been a tumultuous place since long before even the Gap. Talgradur may be fallen, but I am confident a city still that intact for three-hundred years will be able to survive a bit longer. But yes, perhaps your guild could be a part of one of those future endeavors."

She also nods to Big Jim, though a bit slowly. As she does, the vesk's datapad vibrates. Checking it, you see the contracts you signed have somehow been brought to the fore, with a section on NDAs regarding video recordings highlighted. Not prevented, just to emphasize that yes: some vetting would be done before any wide-public release.

Katrina spent most of the trip back to Absalom Station in a large tank of oxygenated pure water, in order to flush contaminates out of her gill implants, something that had to be done from time to time, leaving Maverick to do most of the flying.

While inside she discussed plans for renovating her apartment with Big Jim as well as talking with Gab about ysoki families and how the heck they cope with so many children. She wasn't even sure she could handle one.