Outpost V: GM S's "Perils of the Past" [Tier 3-4] (Inactive)

Game Master Chris Marsh

The Eternity Arch begins to glow as Felise completes her final attunements, the carvings across its surface shifting and twisting around each other. Turning to the Starfinders, Felise nods in satisfaction. “That should do it,” she says. “Thank you all for your assistance. The ritual is taxing, and we’ve all had a long day, so I suggest we get some rest and make preparations before I fully activate it.”

You are allowed an 8-hour rest.

Morning dawns bright in the Winterlands, and as the Starfinders gather in the inner sanctum, Felise stands in front of the Eternity Arch, excitement and trepidation warring on her face. “This is it,” she says. “Whatever happens, I want to thank you for your help. I can’t tell you how much this means to me. This will probably cause some temporary time rifts, so be ready.” She takes a deep breath to compose herself, then steps up to the ritual circle drawn in front of the arch.

As she begins to chant, the light flickering over the arch shifts from golden to black, and back again, the symbols on the archway writhing about of their own accord. Brief rips appear throughout the chamber, displaying scenes of innumerable time periods for only seconds before vanishing. One rip, however, is growing. An arid wasteland of rolling sand dunes stretches within the rift. Suddenly, a host of many-legged arthropods scuttle through, headed straight for the Arch.

The arrow of time moves forward, and in this ruin, it can travel at unimaginable speeds.

The Arrow of Time condition is in effect.

Gletch is fascinated by Felise's work and takes careful notes about what is happening. When he has time, he creates a couple of brief explanatory videos to post for his students.

At the end of assisting Felise (I guess other tables must have flown through this) you find a strange box marked with an archaic glyph on its side.
Culture check to learn what the glyph is

When you open it, you discover:
- A wooden box inside of the supply crate contains six thin bottles filled with blue liquid and stoppered with pieces of porous wood.
Mysticism check to examine

- A second wooden box holds six round-bottomed bottles filled with a red liquid.
Engineering check to examine

- A third wooden box holds three sacks made of a plant-based cloth and secured with a plant-based rope.
Sleight of Hand check to examine, but only the first check matters

- The crate holds a bow, a hatchet, and a longsword that are well-balanced despite their archaic materials of wood, steel, and sinew. These functions as a bow, a tactical handaxe, a standard longsword respectively.

Pausing for these checks, as it will be helpful

Recap of the conversations
Who are you?
“My name is Felise,” the ryphorian says with a mischievous smile. “Dimensional explorer extraordinaire—or at least, I was.” Her expression dims momentarily. “Lately I’ve been more focused on theoretical research.”

What are you doing here?
“This is the Eternity Arch. As far as I can tell, it’s a portal to the Dimension of Time, built eons ago, though I have no idea who originally constructed it. Its primary purpose seems to be psychic transference, allowing people to communicate briefly across time, but I’m trying to modify it to physically bring someone through instead.”

Who are you trying to bring here?
Felise looks wistful for a moment, then sighs. “My dragonkin partner, Heraxia. Years ago, we were exploring a temporal passageway when we were attacked by hounds of Tindalos. We escaped but got separated in the process. I was able to get back home, but Heraxia wasn’t so lucky. We’ve been able to stay in touch intermittently with empathic communication through our bond, and from what we can tell, she’s in the distant past—on Lost Golarion, if you can believe that!” She glances to the archway, brow furrowing. “It’s been a long time. I just want to get her back.”

Did you know this place has strange time warps?
“Yes, of course. Some of them are due to the Eternity Arch; it’s still somewhat unstable. I admit I might have exacerbated a few of them, though I had no idea they would trouble anyone else!”

Damorisovitch takes this all in. "Damorisovitch wonders what these things all are?"

culture on the glyph: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

mysticism on the vials: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

No engineering or sleight of hand

Culture: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
Engineering: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Sleight of Hand: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

“Fascinating.”

Culture: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Mysticism: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Engineering: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16
Sleight of Hand: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

"Hmm, what are those..."

Damorisovitch learn that the vials are some sort of healing serum. (They act as mk 2 serums of healing)

Vyecmuraf is able to guide one of the sticky bags out without breaking it. They determine that it is filled with sticky tree resin and could be thrown at opponents to entangle them. (Acts as a stickybomb grenade II)

Vyecmuraf also determines that the red liquid reacts violently to sudden
impact, much like a mk 1 incendiary grenade.

The crate also did have an iridescent spindle aeon stone

Please do note who has what. Assumption is that the vials, etc., are one per person if you do not state otherwise, and the weapons and Aeon stone are unused.

Also, please do take an 8-hour rest.

With a night's rest, Shaan recovers his 1 spent Resolve as well as the 4 remaining hp that he was still down - back to full health.

Having already used his only healing resources after the deadly fight earlier, Shaan appreciatively tucks away one of the serums of healing.

"I'll take the grenades if no one else has any use for 'em. I tend to like to run on into battle but I guess that last fight showed me that's not always the wisest approach!"

He looks at the primitive weapons with studied interest. "Fascinating to think that soldiers used to have to rely on such tools..."

Even though we did everything, I am going to try the Engineering check, because if I crit on Engineering rolls written into the adventure, I can check a box on one of my boons.
Engineering: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Alas ...

Gletch offers his grenades to Shaan. "I am not trained in the use of grenades, so I am sure you can make better use of them." He looks over the tools. "I do not have a melee weapon, actually, and could make use of that axe, I believe, if no one objects."

so sorry. Stuck on travel and my laptop died. On phone now. Will be at work computer at 0715 EST

Moving forward for GM S

The barrier between past and present temporarily drops, letting in creatures from Akiton’s distant past when the Winterlands were warm! Three creatures that are a sort of arthropod—similar to a cross between a centipede and crab—with a hard exoskeleton, 20 segmented legs, and front-facing pincers. Two are ysoki-sized, but one is human-sized.

Yellow-dot and purple-dash are small. Silver is medium

Wave 1, Round 1
Knowledge: Life Sciences
Bold is up
=> Vyecmuraf
=> Damorisovitch
=> Shaan
Yellow-dot
Purple-dash
Helios-4
Silver
Gletch

Presuming that the creatures are hostile, Shaan steps 5' closer and bashes the closest one with his doshko twice.

Ember Flame Doshko: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Fire dmg: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

Ember Flame Doshko: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Fire dmg: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

Guarded step followed by full attack

One way Starfinder differs from 1E is that a Guarded Step is a Move action rather than a non-action, and thus prevents full attacks. Very annoying.

Vyecmuraf’s hands are suddenly full of pistols again, each pointing at a different bug. “Focus fire on that one,” they suggest, firing an ultrasonic blast at the closest one.

Bluff to Feint vs Yellow: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14 (This has no effect if they don’t have an Intelligence score)
Thunderstrike Sonic Pistol, Get ‘Em vs Yellow FF EAC: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 1 = 14
Sonic damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Swift action to Quick Draw, Move action to Get ‘Em vs Yellow, Standard to Clever Attack.

Yeah, I often forget the difference in stepping rules. Moot in this case... and moving Vyecmuraf's attack to Purple Shaan steps up and immediately cuts down the first creature.

Vyecmuraf's fancy moves seem to have no effect on the creature! Nevertheless his aim is true!

Wave 1, Round 1
Knowledge: Life Sciences
Vyecmuraf: Hit
Damorisovitch: Go
Shaan: Kill
Purple-dash
Helios-4
Silver
Gletch

Damorisovitch moves up, swinging his flame doshko at silver!
Flame doshko vs EAC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11 fire: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Confident after seeing a flaming doshko bring one down, Damorisovitch swings his own. A bit of bad timing foils the attack as the creature dodges it!

The creature reacts purely on instinct, devoid of planning or stratagem. It's razor claws seek the soft parts of Damorisovitch's armor:
Claw: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 for DMG: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Wave 1, Round 1
Knowledge: Life Sciences
Vyecmuraf: Hit
Damorisovitch: Miss
Shaan: Kill
Purple-dash: ATK
Helios-4: Go
Silver: TBD
Gletch: TBD

Will take a bot!

Super sorry for the absence, end of semester hit hard and I tested positive for covid yesterday

Helios looks at the creature curiously and aims. "Hmm. Looks like a thing straight from the history books."

Azimuth Laser Rifle: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Damage, F: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Sorry about the COVID! I hope it's mild. I also hear that about end of semester. Student or teacher?

Helios takes the shot, but it goes wide, striking the chamber wall.

The more atavistic-looking alien turns into a flurry of motion. The radiation sensors on your armors light up, though the level is low. I didn't check everyone, but is there anyone wearing either no armor or archaic armor?

It steps past Damorisovitch to focus on the one who killed it's brethren, Shaan:
Claw: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21 for DMG: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Wave 1, Round 1
Knowledge: Life Sciences
Vyecmuraf: Hit
Damorisovitch: Miss
Shaan: Kill
Purple-dash: ATK
Helios-4: Miss
Silver: ATK
Gletch: Go

Wave 1, Round 2
Knowledge: Life Sciences
Vyecmuraf: Go
Damorisovitch: Go
Shaan: Go
Purple-dash: TBD
Helios-4: TBD
Silver: TBD
Gletch: TBD

Shaan's KAC is 20, so I think that Claw attack hits.

Shaan continues trying to beat down Silver, first stepping into a flanking position.

Ember Flame Doshko, flank: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 2 = 17
F dmg: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Non-archaic armor here!

“While they’re keeping the big one busy, take out the little one so it can’t get them in the back.” Vyecmuraf takes aim and fires another ultrasonic blast at the little bug.

Thunderstrike Sonic Pistol, Get ‘Em: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 1 = 21
Somic damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Get ‘Em is currently on Purple.

Modern armor as well.

Damorisovitch takes advantage of the flank, and attacks silver with his doshko again.
flame dosho w/ flank on silver: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
fire: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Vyecmuraf connects, adding encouragement for all. The hit is telling, but the creature fights on.

Meanwhile the two vesk agents gang up on the primal looking thing. ONly Shaan connects, leaving a moderate wound in its side.

Will take a bot on Gletch

Meanwhile
Wave 1, Round 1
Gletch: Go

Wave 1, Round 2
Knowledge: Life Sciences
Vyecmuraf: Hit
Damorisovitch: Miss
Shaan: Hit
Purple-dash: TBD
Helios-4: TBD
Silver: TBD
Gletch: TBD

As the last of the arthropods fall, the time rift displaying a vast desert closes. To its right, another rift opens, containing only a swirling void, releasing new creatures into the chamber. The mist in the middle of the archway clears for a moment, revealing the outline of a dragonkin which is quickly replaced by a lanky, crystalline humanoid reaching through the arch, its not-yet-fully-manifested hand clawing in Felise’s direction. “We need to hurry!” she calls, between incantations. “That’s a time dimensional, and it doesn’t look pleased!”

Table GMs, Checkpoint 1 is complete, and the Borrowed Time condition is in effect.

Gletch begins casting a spell. This time, instead of a solid hologram of air, the ground around his foot begins swirling, eventually forming into an earth elemental.

Gletch connects to the terrain as he prepares to summon some back up!

The smaller critter skitters around to come straight at Damorisovitch!
Claw: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12, but it's a feeble attack at best.

Wave 1, Round 2
Knowledge: Life Sciences
Vyecmuraf: Hit
Damorisovitch: Miss
Shaan: Hit
Purple-dash: ATK
Helios-4: Go
Silver: TBD
Gletch: TBD

@Chris: Thank you, it is very mild fortunately. I am a student, currently doing a bachelors in physics :)

As Helios' shot goes wide, he holsters the blaster and quickly rubs his palms together, emitting sparks and radiating energy. He strides over to Shaan and places both hands on his Doshko, transferring his energy to the weapon, which begins humming and crackling.

"C'mon, give it a good hit!"

Using Supercharge Weapon on Shaan's doshko for +4d6 damage if the next attack hits

Heck yeah! I'm teacher and Dean of Faculty at a STEM school, so that makes me happy!

Helios-4 gives Shaan's weapon a boost, hoping to drop the creature before it wreaks too much havoc.

The creature skitters out of the way and brings its razor claws down on Shaan!
ATK: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23 for DMG: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Wave 1, Round 2
Gletch: Go

Wave 1, Round 3
Knowledge: Life Sciences
Vyecmuraf: Go
Damorisovitch: Go
Shaan: Go
Purple-dash: TBD
Helios-4: TBD
Silver: ATK
Gletch: Go

I'm an academic too - humanities at a liberal arts college but physics was one of my other loves once upon a time :-)

Shaan swings his supercharged doshko at the beast next to him.

Ember flame doshko: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
F dmg: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11 + Supercharge!: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 6, 6) = 17

The vesk nods appreciatively at the android technomancer. "Thanks, Helios-4 - that's a handy trick!"

Vyecmuraf points again at the smaller creature. “Perhaps I didn’t make myself clear. That one.”

Thunderstrike Sonic Pistol, Get ‘Em: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 1 = 9
Sonic damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Get ‘Em and attack.

Shaan's supercharged doshko lands and delivers a wicked, nearly fatal blow!

Unfortunately, even with his own encouragement misses the nimble alien.

Wave 1, Round 2
Gletch: Go

Wave 1, Round 3
Knowledge: Life Sciences
Vyecmuraf: Miss
Damorisovitch: Go
Shaan: Hit
Purple-dash: TBD
Helios-4: TBD
Silver: TBD
Gletch: TBD

The denizens of the Dimension of Time fade away as they are slain, only for another rift to open nearby. Numerous dinosaurs charge through the rift, advanced cybernetic augmentations visible on their bodies.

Table GMs, Checkpoint 2 is complete.

Damorisovitch determines he needs to end this fight soon. Ignoring the little one, he glares at the silver one and gives it a piece of his mind.

Mind Thrust DC14 for half: 2d10 ⇒ (4, 5) = 9

AoO: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 MISS

Damorisovitch magically reaches out to scramble the alien's mind, and finds that it's completely devoid of thought! Utterly mindless, the attack is as effective as writing words on water.

The alien responds by trying to claw him to pieces!
Claw: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 for DMG: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Wave 1, Round 3
Knowledge: Life Sciences
Vyecmuraf: Miss
Damorisovitch: Mind Thrust
Shaan: Hit
Purple-dash: ATK
Helios-4: Go
Silver: TBD
Gletch: TBD

So ... do the bugs go away and now we're facing cybernetic dinosaurs? Or are we still fighting the bugs. Not sure how the waves happen.

We're still fighting these, the waves continue, so a victory here still counts.

"Thanks, Helios-4 - that's a handy trick!"

Helios winks as he sidesteps away from the big creature. "Wait 'til I show you my other party tricks!"

The android takes the rifle back from his hip and aims down, trying to finish the large alien.

Azimuth Laser Rifle: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Damage, F: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Helios nails the stronger looking foe, but it's not enough to bring it down. Still, it looks like it's on death's door.

It's got enough life left in it to slash Shaan:
Claw: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20 for DMG: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Wave 1, Round 3
Knowledge: Life Sciences
Vyecmuraf: Miss
Damorisovitch: Mind Thrust
Shaan: Hit
Purple-dash: ATK
Helios-4: Hit
Silver: ATK
Gletch: Go

Wave 1, Round 4
Vyecmuraf: Go
Damorisovitch: Go
Shaan: Go
Purple-dash: TBD
Helios-4: TBD
Silver: TBD
Gletch: TBD

“Fine, shoot the big one, shoot wherever, just do it quickly!” Vyecmuraf shifts their focus to the larger bug.

Sonic Pistol, Get ‘Em: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 1 = 13
Sonic damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Get ‘Em is now on Silver.

Annoyed, Damorisovitch swings at the purple-dashed bug.
flame doshko: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 fire: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

The earth elemental manifests, burrowing through the ground toward the nearest enemy. It comes up opposite Damorisovitch, slamming into it.

Slam attack w/ get 'em, earth mastery, flanking vs. Purple's KAC: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 21
Slam damage w/ earth mastery (bludgeoning): 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 1 = 9

Gletch moves up to have a clear shot at the silver creature and fires his pistol.

Static arc pistol attack w/ Get 'Em vs. silver's EAC: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 = 4
Static arc pistol damage (nonlethal, electricity): 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

OK, I'll go ahead and use my shirt re-roll on that, because I don't think I've used that yet.
Static arc pistol attack w/ Get 'Em vs. silver's EAC: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 2 + 1 = 18

Shaan grimaces as the Silver creature hits him yet again. He hefts his doshko with determination and tries to give back as much or more.

Ember Flame Doshko, Get'Em: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 1 = 24
F dmg: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

Gletch and the elemental combine to finally take down the more bestial alien! The rest of the party easily brings down the other!

I'll get the next wave up in about 45 min or so. Gotta get to class!

If we have time to rest, Shaan spends 1 Resolve to restore his lost stamina.

Sadly there is NOT time to rest! Only 1 round passes, which means the elemental is still here!

Before anyone can catch their breath, a pair of large winged dinosaurs, infused with technology throughout their bodies appear and attack!

Round 1:
Shaan: Go
Gletch: Go
Vyecmuraf: Go
Damorisovitch: Go
Hostiles: TBD
Helios-4: TBD

“That one that one that one…” Vyecmuraf’s voice doesn’t rise in pitch, but it certainly seems like it is struggling to under the grip of an iron will. Pistols point at both creatures, but only one fires.

Bluff vs Red: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Sonic Pistol, Get’Em vs Red (FF) EAC: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 1 = 13
Sonic damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Get ‘Em on Red and Clever Attack - guessing these things have minds, but one never knows.

Hoping to coordinate a quick counter, Vyecmuraf directs the party's onslaught. It is only by virtue of his clever attack that he connects!

Round 1:
Vyecmuraf: Hit
Shaan: Go
Gletch: Go
Damorisovitch: Go
Hostiles: TBD
Helios-4: TBD

With a shriek, the last dinosaur collapses to the floor. The reprieve is short-lived, as another rift opens near the chamber’s sharply angled walls. Crawling through the rift are bizarrely‑proportioned, emaciated quadrupeds, their sharp teeth dripping with dark saliva. “Almost there!” Felise shouts. “Just hold them off!”

Table GMs, Checkpoint 3 is complete, and the Temporal Fluctuation condition is in effect.

The temporal flux brings you back (or is it forward) slightly. All PCs can recover their Stamina Points as though they had taken a 10-minute rest without spending Resolve Points.