[SFS / Shifty] The Starfinder Four vs The Hardlight Harlequin (A) (Inactive)

Game Master Nik B.

"I wonder if it is magical?" muses Gliko.

"I mean... so many stories about magical rings.."

"Wow, look at that! Let me see it!"

Err@r is in full-on fanboy mode as he rudely pushes past everyone to look at what could be a one-of-a-kind collectible from one of his favourite tv show/games ever!

Casting detect magic on the ring. If it's magical, he'll try to identify it.

Mysticism: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

It has been transmuted by Jaype’s rogue code into an actual in‑game item—functioning as a mk 1 ring of resistance.

"Well, that's interesting." says Chox, a bit fascinated at how an in-game item became a real life magic ring.

Assessing the current situation, Chox says, "I believe we've cleared the hall of all survivors. Let's now get to the root of the problem and head to those server room doors, yah? If we have a moment, I'd like to take a quick break before we head in there..."

If allowed, Chox will take a 10 min break to spend a RP and recover SP. I've moved the tokens to the eastern double doors.

Prior to trying the keycard to open the doors, Chox will look over the doors...

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Ritta puts the ring on, "Follow the way Chox! So far we saved everyone... that there was to save."

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

This small, brightly lit chamber normally functions as something of a waiting room, as guests and most employees weren’t allowed to walk freely among the servers. An IT professional would sit at the desk in the northwest corner of the room to assist anyone who entered. Now, the room’s eastern wall is gone, replaced by a vast, dark maze of humming computer equipment and chilly coolant fog. Three paths lead into the dim space beyond, each with thick bundles of cables in various patterns and colors running along them through the maze. An inanimate robot stands in a stylised pose in an alcove to the south.

There are three exits from the room, each of the exits has its own pattern of cables. Basically it will be a case of picking which set to follow.

Err@r shrugs and looks to Chox. "You've led us well so far, I'll follow your lead."

Culture: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Ritta looks around and smells the air

"Any ideas? How about we go north?" asks Vlaka

"Sounds like a plan!" agrees Chox.

Gripping his blade firmly, Chox says, "Stay alert!"

To the north we go! Throwing another perception roll out there for Chox looking around as the party moves forward.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

The robot in the south begins moving!

R1
Ritta
Err0r
Gliko
ENEMY

"Hey, it could be friendly. . . . But I doubt it." Err@r begins conjuring drops of acid to fling at the robot just in case.

Readying an action to attack the robot with caustic conversion in case it takes a hostile action.

Ranged attack vs EAC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
damage (acid): 4d4 ⇒ (1, 2, 3, 4) = 10

Ritta runs paast Err0r and swings her axe

Attack@robto: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Damage, slashing, solarian stone: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (3, 1) + 7 = 11

The blow was powerful, just lacked aiming...

"I don't trust technology here!"

You can feel the menace oozing from the robot and can sense it is posturing to attack - but the early shots by the Starfinders do not land.

Gliko up :)

Glixo slips from shadow to shadow, trying to find just the right one. Eventually it settles into a spot that has a nice angle on the robot..
tricky shot: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30
attack vs FF EAC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
E damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
trick damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3 Plus off target

culture DC 19: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24

"It's from Humans Hunted, which centered around a deadly robot uprising... I didn't really like that game before... I like it even less now!"

The shot slams home with much sizzling and popping and the smell of burning wiring.

The machine tries swatting Ritta away.

Attack 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 12 - 2 = 20 vs KAC
Damage 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

R1
Chox

R2
Ritta
Err0r
Gliko
ENEMY

E 10

Err@r dashes to get closer--but not too close--and then snaps off a shot at the robot.

Attacking with my tactical semi-auto pistol. The robot may have soft cover.

First Level Spells: 2/4 left. Second Level Spells: 2/3 left.

attack vs KAC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
damage (piercing: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Gliko continues to flit from shadow to shadow. Only the glow of their wrist-com gives away their position as it readies another shot...

steatly trick: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17
attack vs EAC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

But a really, really interesting game flashes up, with a beep indicating Gliko's new high score on Jinsul Clicker. The distraction not only gives away their position but causes their shot to go far away from the robot.

Ritta focuses on her alignment with stars and her axe begins to glow with brighter light. Plasma sheath

Then she takes a swing at the robot

Attack@robto: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Damage, slashing, solarian stone, plasma sheath: 2d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (6, 1) + 7 + 2 = 16

But, yet again her aim is off

The robot avoids the wave of attacks coming its way...

Let's see what Chox has!

Apologies, still out of town and unable to post properly. Shifty, can you move Chox up to the enemy and bot a curve blade swing please? Thank you! Back in about 2 days!

Chox moves to the robot and swings!!

carbon steel curve blade vs KAC: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
S damage: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Botting Chox, as instructed and to aid Shifty

TY Botting creature!

Chox slams the blade home!

The robot responds by hammering away at the wto Starfinders!

Against Chox
Attack 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 12 - 4 = 18 vs KAC
Damage 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Against Ritta
Attack 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 12 - 4 = 13 vs KAC
Damage 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

R2
Chox

R3
Ritta
Err0r
Gliko
ENEMY

E 26

A small furry creature holding strings attacked to chox arms and legs nods to the audience.

Chox swings twice

carbon steel curve blade vs KAC: 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 8 - 4 = 22
S damage: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

carbon steel curve blade vs KAC: 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 8 - 4 = 12
S damage: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

Ritta yells "Get them Chox!"

And swings herself

Attack vs KAC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Damage: 2d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (1, 4) + 7 + 2 = 14

The pair of starfinders manage to land two blows between them!

R2
Chox - acted

R3
Ritta - acted
Err0r
Gliko
ENEMY

E 52

"This is way more intense than any vid!" Err@r sends yet more force missiles streaming toward the robot.

Casting magic missile as a full round action.

magic missiles: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 3, 1) + 3 = 11

First Level Spells: 1/4 left. Second Level Spells: 2/3 left.

Gliko, still smarting from the earlier battles, continues to flit around the edges of the battle, trying for a clean shot...

stealth TS: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29
attack vs FF EAC?: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
E damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 Plus FF vs everyone
trick damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

The magic missiles and the well places sneaky shot shut the robot down.

/end combat

Which cables were you wanting to follow? North?

North yeah, but probably 10 min rest to regain stamina

Ritta looks at the fallen robot. "That looks like a regular robot right? Or is it also a hero from a game?"

Stam break - who is also spending an RP? :P

Not me--not to give the GM ideas, but Err@r is in tip-top shape.

With a shake of its vines Gliko fills in the team. "Nope. That robot was straight out of Humans Hunted. A bit obscure I agree. I only played it once, survival games don't really appeal.."

I'm good on stam after my last break.

As Ritta takes a seat, Gliko approaches the fallen robot, trying to see if he can salvage a souvenir.

You can souvenir bits off the robot - not like it can stop you now :)

You follow the cables and as you come around a corner you can see what appears to be a network node, a blank screen sits above it, gently illuminating the corridor in a blue glow.

Looks like a Tier 2 computer terminal

See map

Heya! I'm back! Thanks for the botting posts!!

"I'll take lead. If anything happens, let it happen to me first!"

Chox will cautiously move forward towards the terminal, on the lookout for any traps or hidden enemies.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

I've moved Chox's token further north.

Gliko, after securing some memorabilia, skulks along behind Chox. "While this is exciting, other people are starting to approach some of my high scores... We need to get this resolved quickly."

1d4 ⇒ 3

As Chox advances the monitor lights up, the Harlequins leering face appears on each screen "You would-be heroes aren’t going to stop ME from reaching my goal of creating the ultimate game, your impending doom is assured!"

The screen flashes silver and metal shards materialise, flying at Chox!

Attack 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18 vs KAC
Damages 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (5, 2) + 2 = 9

You suspect it is resetting and will go off again after a short delay... time for a disarming the computer-based trap!

Gliko dashes up to the scren. "This is just like in 'Operation: Livewire!'" they squeak excitedly. "I loved that game, but it was too short."

computers: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

Gliko manages to cut off the security countermeasure and lock the Harlequin out.

Whilst the security system is reset, it is still there. Computers check to hack the terminal (and if it is a bad roll the security may trigger again)

"Let's see what else we can discover in here.." grins Gliko.

"Maybe even source code to a new game..."

computers: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

Given we have some time, aid-anothers might be an option here if any of the rest of you are trained.... Err@r....

Gliko manages to hack into the system and start reloading some of the original uncorrupted programming - the computer’s screen flickers black with bright-green text reading “Simulation effectiveness reduced. Maximum capacity 80%. Refer to the main terminal to rebalance simulation parameters.”

"I guess we continue to follow the cables... lets see if we can reduce the simulation further..." he starts.

Then stops. "Or, if we follow in the other direction, we may find another terminal that could also reduce the effectiveness of the simulation. You can be sure he has a boss monster guarding the main terminal..."

Following the cables you find two more terminals. You know (based on the first one) that approaching within 10 feet triggers the countermeasures, but you then have a gap in which to attempt to disarm them.

From a safe distance, you also pass the main server room door and can see that it is ridiculously strong, but also covered in small weapons and miniature turrets that look nasty and capable of inflicting significant pain.

Orange and yellow are the two pther terminals

Is there anything we can do to avoid the countermeasures? Stealth?
Showing our pass card?

It looks like you dont have any way to 'remote hack', so its a case of dancing around and trying to avoid the worst then rushing pretty much, in fairness the last one missed :P

"I'll see if I can draw their fire, then the rest of you try to disable it, okay? Now, on three... One... Two... Three!!!"

Chox will lead the way to draw fire, hoping to give his teammates an opening to head in and disarm the trap.

I'm happy to use Chox as a meat shield. But as he approaches the orange and later the yellow terminals, can he do so with total defense, giving him a +4 boost to AC?

After Chox has taken the heat... Gliko slips in to try and disable the computer security.
hack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

Chox in Total Defence can use their special defence and roll up into a ball, making it +5!

Chox goes rolling in!

1d4 ⇒ 2

This time the screen goes red and there is a fiery explosion!

Fire 3d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 3) = 9
DC15 for half

***

Gliko manages to hack into this second system and start reloading some of the original uncorrupted programming - the computer’s screen flickers black with bright-green text reading “Simulation effectiveness reduced. Maximum capacity 60%. Refer to the main terminal to rebalance simulation parameters.”

"How you feeling Chox? Up for that last terminal?" asks Glixo, looking slightly envious at his companions defensive abilties.

Thanks Shifty! Forgot about the balling up ability!

Reflex: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Chox takes a bit of a hit but is ready for more!

"Let's do it Gliko!"

Chox again balls up and rolls out against the last terminal!

And once again the dynamic duo spring into action. Once RollerBall(tm) distracts the lasers, ComputerKid(tm) slips in to try the keyboard...

computers: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

"Hopefully that should make the boss fight easier..."