[SFS/Shifty] The Great Grav-Train Robbery (B) (Inactive)

Game Master Nik B.

Looks like we have guests! We don't need that at all right now. Kevan, maybe you could seize control of the doors and close them back, at least until we deal with this rogue fauna?

Meanwhile Elena continues to stab the eel.

Sleight of Hand for trick attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22

opportunistic tactical retractable spike, flanking: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 2 = 28

damage, piercing: 1d4 + 3 + 3d8 ⇒ (2) + 3 + (4, 7, 8) = 24

Computers: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34

"On it" he uses the console and crane to try and keep the roof locked for the time being, at the same time he tries to take a peek what is opening it?

Kevan works out Royce has control of the roof and is controlling it from inside his protected bubble, there is no 'quick fix' here - you are going to have to deal with what is coming...
Refunding your action

LNA doesn't trick the beast this time, but does stab it.

R3
Kevan

R4
LNA - acted
Aramesh
Barat
ENEMY

Enemy 69

corona laser pistol: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 1 = 212d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 1) + 3 = 7

Aramash takes a better aim and shoots again.

+1 from the bard!

____

So, just to clarify again. 1. Our goal is here. 2. We need to take the box up to the roof to be picked up. 3. This can be done with a crane. 4. We will have guests all this time who are about to arrive. 5. Maybe then we should not kill the eel, but leave the guests to deal with it? But it's just a fantasy. In any case, GM, are points 1-3 correct?

Oof im surprised 18 didnt hit FF EAC ah well. And theres another entropy point for me

Barat continues his assult on the creature,
vs EAC : 1d20 + 9 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 4 + 1 = 20
B/A damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (4, 1) + 10 = 15

vs EAC: 1d20 + 9 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 4 + 1 = 20
B/A damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (5, 4) + 10 = 19

Maybe keven can use the crane on whatever is incoming when it gets here?

Aramesh manages a well-placed shot into the beast whilst he considers the current situation.

1. You need the crate at the bottom of the stack of three steel crates, that has the item you are seeking in it.
2. The object is the size of a briefcase, you could take it to the roof and attempt a getaway, but you get the feeling that the opening of the roof is probably a sign something bad is happening.
3. You can lift the two heavy crates off the top of the crate you need with the maglev crane. Or you could force them off but they look super heavy.
4. It does appear you are about to be joined by guests.
5. The eel looks like a 'community problem' for everyone, on the upside it looks almost defeated.
6. BONUS *yes this is a big 'action movie sequence' :)

R3
Kevan

R4
LNA - acted
Aramesh - acted
Barat
ENEMY

Enemy 76

Oof im surprised 18 didnt hit FF EAC ah well. And theres another entropy point for me

Correction - it did, I deducted HP from it :) I just borked the text.

The two mighty swings from Barat land, the first rocks it, the second flattens it.

R3
Kevan

R4
LNA - acted
Aramesh - acted
Barat - acted
ENEMY

Enemy Dead

Kevan, we're still in rounds as that roof is about to be fully open, so you can prepare something (ready) or delay

Then I would like to use the above check to grab first crate from the stack and drop it in front of Royce place. I assume that we can move one create at a time.

Yep, and cool :)

A heavy crate makes a satisfying thud as it lands in front of Royces locker, that is going to be a serious problem for him if he intends on opening that doors.

Meanwhile, the roof completes opening - the lights in the carriage glint off the belly of a sleek enercopter flying low above the roof. You can see four shadowy figures about to rappel down into your carriage, and a laser cannon mounted on the copter is facing down towards you all. You have little doubt this is Royces crew come to heist the heist!
They are 30' up

R4
Kevan

R5
LNA
Aramesh
Barat
ENEMY

Barat will use his SLA to cast wisp ally on whoever seem to be in the gunnery position then try to move under the enercopter to try to make himself harder to shoot.
no sure where that would be on the map
"Hey Bear-tholomew maybe you can lasso that 'copter huh!"

Can crane reach the copter?

If yes

Kevan uses the console to move the crane and reach towards the four guests and their flying copter

Computer: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17 Nope

If No

Kevan leaves the console for now and waves his paws towards the four bad guys, soon weapon of one of the guys activates and he uses it to shot

casting Manipulate tech on weapon of red and shoot it at green

Shooting red's weapon@green: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18 I don't know what would be the damage of that weapon

Elena retreats to the back of the train car to get out of the direct line of fire from the laser cannon. She pulls out her needler pistol and loads a dose of amblaree into it.

Barat fires a wisp off that starts irritating the 'copters gunner.
LNA gets ready for more brutality.
Kevan realises the crane could potentially magnetically tether the copter and lock it in place, but doesn't quite get the hang of the new 'claw machine game' just jet.

R4
Kevan - acted

R5
LNA - acted
Aramesh
Barat - acted
ENEMY

Aramesh up :)

I'm sorry for the delay; Do I understand correctly that not the whole roof is open, but only the part where the copter is drawn?

I'm sure his guys would have attacked anyway. The strategy of scoundrels... Hey, you a**$*@$s, look at our fighter from behind!

Bluff: 1d20 + 13 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 13 + (4) + 1 = 21 -5 to give the opportunity to hide to all allies who wish it

Diversion: When you successfully use Bluff to create a distraction, you can allow an ally to attempt a Stealth check to hide (instead of attempting to hide yourself). You can attempt to allow multiple allies to use Stealth to hide, but you take a –5 penalty to your Bluff check for every ally after the first, and on a failed check no ally can attempt to hide.

Guys, hide!

Theres about 15' at either end of the carriage that is not open, but most of the roof has been opened right up

Glad to see someone using that feat! Doesn't come up very often

Aramesh draws attention to himself, the raiders are momentarily paying attention to him!

4d20 ⇒ (9, 3, 16, 12) = 40

Almost all of them are paying attention to Aramesh!

PARTY: Someone could hide from MOST of the enemy...LNA?

Elena sneaks under a small cart next to her and disappears from the enemy's line of sight.

Stealth: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29

This will be my reaction, right?

Yep - looks like it gives you a reaction

Aramesh draws fire from the four raiders as they rappel down their ropes.

Attacks 1d20 + 8 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 8 - 3 - 2 = 12 vs KAC
Damage 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Attacks 1d20 + 8 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 8 - 3 - 2 = 18 vs KAC - hit
Damage (Crit) 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 2) + 2 = 9

Attacks 1d20 + 8 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 - 3 - 2 = 23 vs KAC - hit
Damage 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Attacks 1d20 + 8 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 8 - 3 - 2 = 15 vs KAC
Damage 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Enemy now in the carriage on top of the boxes

The mounted weapon shoots at the enormous bear!

Attacks 1d20 + 8 - 3 ⇒ (9) + 8 - 3 = 14 vs EAC
Damage 2d8 ⇒ (8, 2) = 10

R5
Kevan

R6
LNA
Aramesh
Barat
ENEMY

Kevan again tries to mess with the copter using his crane

Computer: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26

Kevan roars and keeps pushing the screen off the terminal. "I will take you down Birdy!"

Aramesh winces in annoyance when some of his midges fall dead to the ground. In response, he points a blaster at the intruders.

To hell with them all. We'll take them down one by one! Let's start with the one in the red hat! +1 vs red everebody

corona laser pistol: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 = 192d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2) + 3 = 9 (vs red)

Barat hoists himself up onto a box
athletics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31
and makes a strike at red,
entropic stike vs EAC: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 1 = 11
Damage(B/A): 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (1, 4) + 10 = 15

Elena peeks out from her hiding spot and fires a needler pistol, loaded with amblaree, at one of the "guests" (the red one).

Sleight of Hand for trick attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (14) + 16 = 30

advanced needler pistol: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 24

damage, piercing: 1d6 + 3 + 3d8 ⇒ (2) + 3 + (7, 8, 4) = 24

I'd also like to make him flat-footed for my allies!

Kevan locks the Enercopter into place, the pilot is trying to pull away but to no avail.

Aramesh shoots one of the raiders and encourages the group - Barat gets up in the foes face but misses the blow, but that was the last thing they saw - because they certainly never saw LNA (or the shot that killed them).

The three raiders try shooting holes in Barat!

Attacks 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27 vs KAC - hit!
Damage 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Attacks 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 vs KAC
Damage 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Attacks 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19 vs KAC
Damage 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

***

The gunner tries shooting holes in Kevan again.

Attacks 1d20 + 8 - 3 ⇒ (16) + 8 - 3 = 21 vs EAC
Damage 2d8 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7

R6
Kevan

R7
LNA
Aramesh
Barat
ENEMY

R Dead
O
Y
G

Kevan leaves the console and charges towards the new guests, he roars and runs past the crates swinging his junksword

Junksword@green, reach: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Damage: 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

Ferocious Charge - charge without penalty to AC

Kevan releases the controls and heads into the fray, the enercopter starts breaking free.

Barat takes a step towards the other 3 and swings away at Green,
vs EAC: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Damage(A/B): 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (3, 5) + 10 = 18

Aramesh walks a little forward and still remaining behind the bear throws a grenade behind the enemies' backs.

incendiary grenade I: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 241d6 ⇒ 3 F plus burning 1d4, DC 13
Crit!: 1d6 ⇒ 6 bad day for them! *)

Elena climbs onto a nearby crate to get a better shot and shoots at one of the intruders (this time the green one).

Sleight of Hand for trick attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36

advanced needler pistol: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 2 = 18

damage, piercing: 1d6 + 3 + 3d8 ⇒ (5) + 3 + (7, 8, 3) = 26

Barat thumps one of the raiders, leaving them reeling.

There is the flash of a well placed incendiary grenade going off!
Crit target 1d3 ⇒ 3
Ref 3d20 ⇒ (19, 9, 18) = 46
One avoids the worst of it, one catches fire, and the other is slain regardless!

LNA puts a needle through the burning raider, they are no longer worried about being on fire. Yellow

The last raider pulls a sword and tries shanking Barat.

Attacks 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 vs KAC
Damage 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

***

The gunner tries shooting holes in Kevan again.

Attacks 1d20 + 8 - 3 ⇒ (9) + 8 - 3 = 14 vs EAC
Damage 2d8 ⇒ (1, 8) = 9

***

The sound of combat almost drowns out the crackle of the comm unit and the sound of Arda’s voice. “What in tarnation’s goin’ on down there? Whatever ya done, it’s alerted every damn body on the train, and...” She trails off. “I can’t get in there with the other chopper down there, even if the bulls weren’t all riled up to shoot me down. ‘Specially not with y’all so close to the—” The comm goes silent with a blast of static.

R7
Kevan

R8
LNA
Aramesh
Barat
ENEMY

R Dead
O 1
Y Dead
G Dead

In the case of a copter, if we want to shoot at it, will we try to hit the aircraft itself, or do we see the shooter and can shoot him?

If the copter has not yet completely freed itself from the gravcrane's grip, can we use the terminal controls to fling it away from the train?

Someone could regain control of the copter by using the crane... is that a tunnel coming up?!

Kevan annoyed that enemies are falling like leaves runs towards the console and tries to keep hold on the chopper

Computer: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33

"Back to the chopper!"

Elena tries to take down the last enemy standing.

Sleight of Hand for trick attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (12) + 16 = 28

advanced needler pistol: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 2 = 22

damage, piercing: 1d6 + 3 + 3d8 ⇒ (2) + 3 + (6, 6, 5) = 22

And also makes them flat-footed!

Kevan locks the chopper back in as LNA slays the last raider.

Other two still to act

R7
Kevan - acted

R8
LNA - acted
Aramesh
Barat
ENEMY

R Dead
O Dead
Y Dead
G Dead

Aramesh and Barat up :)

Aramesh targets the shooter or pilot and tries to hit him exactly in the head to end this fight with one shot. He accompanies all this with threats and distracting attention in every possible way, in particular, so that they do not shoot at Kevan, who is currently engaged in our rescue by means of computers.

corona laser pistol: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 262d4 + 3 + 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 2) + 3 + (1, 2) + 3 = 13
Fort save (DC?) or burn: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Bluff: 1d20 + 13 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 13 + (6) + 1 = 35 - Clever Feint; if successful enemy FF for attacks of all my comrades for 1 round

Someone in the copter appears to light up as the miraculous shot strikes the cockpit, it all looks VERY dramatic - the copter stays perfectly in position though due to the grav-loader!

Barat

Barat will grab the Mcguffin if possible and move over Kavan in the grav loader.

Barat can see the crate is still at the bottom of the heavy stack and heads to Kevan and the grav loader to try work on getting it free.

***KABOOM***

Flaming debris showers the carriage as the copter connects with top of the tunnel and a bright (and terrifically loud) explosion lights up the night sky.

There is no doubt in anyones mind that time is now very short and the whole train knows something is going down in this carriage.

The grav-train rushes on through darkness broken by the regular flickering of lights mounted on the tunnel walls. The sound of whistling wind overhead is replaced by an ominous silence as the train barrels down the tunnel at top speed, its frictionless runners barely making enough sound to echo off the cavernous walls as they fly by. Suddenly, your comm units crackle to life, and after a moment of static, you recognize Arda’s voice. “Come in! Are ya alive in there? Did ya make it?”

Computer: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30

Kevan releases the debris of the copter from the crane and tries to move the last crate

"Working on it!"

Kevan starts clearing the wreckage and getting to the crate.

“Damn! I was sure y’all were gonna cash in back there. That’s on me for doubting ya, I guess. Listen, I reckon ya ain’t got long before that train pulls into Steepshore, and that oughta be more than enough time for Ixo to throw together one helluva welcome wagon. If ya could handle that last hullabaloo, though, I suppose ya could still wriggle outta this".

“So listen up. I know a spot about a mile outside the station where I can set down and wait for ya; I’ll send ya the coordinates. Ya make it out there alive, and we might still pull this thing off. It ain’t gonna be easy, but I’ll do what I can. Ya still in the cargo car? Tell me what yer thinkin’, and I’ll check the manifest and see if any o’ them crates has anything useful inside.”

Option 1: Get outta dodge! (Escape and evade)
Option 2: Be cool. (Escape in plain sight)

What this is giving you is the way in which you want to end the movie-adventure, do you want an 'action movie' with escape and evasion and potential gunfights, or do you want some sort of 'Oceans XX/Italian Job' caper where you hide in plain sight and use wits and guile (on top of smooth-talking) to make good the escape undetected. Each has their risks!

I don't want to meta or tip your hand but the question has come up at a few tables, the scenario does provide a reasonable opportunity for everyone to contribute to Option 2 it isn't just one person making Diplo rolls - everyone has a job to do

I would vote for option 2, Kevan signed up for thief gig and not blood bath ;) But I can go through 1 as well ;)

I say, let's leave quietly, - Elena suggests. - We don't need more trouble than we already had today.

"Getting out without a big hastle would suit me just fine."
Barat pulls some sunglasses from somewhere and puts them on.

Why are you all looking at me? Of course I love westerns, but even more I love when everything in our work turns out elegantly. Let's hang out!

"Might be the best way outta this.” Arda pauses thoughtfully. “Okay then. Ya definitely don’t wanna be in that car when the train reaches the station. Bulls got the cars on both sides of ya locked down. But if ya can get on the roof, ya could crawl down to the entry hatch and sneak back into the lounge. Y’all do stand out a bit in a crowd, though, and I reckon everybody’ll remember ya were the ones jawin’ with Lancaster right before his datapad went missin’. Lemme see if I can help ya find any cargo what could help with that.”

With the crates moved with the grav-crane you also grab the main score - The artifact is a crystalline cube covered with intricate runes and radiates a strong magical aura. It measures 2 feet on each edge and weighs approximately 25 bulk.

After a few moments, Vonn indicates that you should examine one of the containers which turns out to contain a stash of five aluminum briefcases that each have a holoskin, a set of reconfigurable clothing (Armory 129), and a thick dossier on an employee of Ulrikka Clanholdings (potentially worth 500 credits to the right buyer). Tucked into one of the briefcases is a mk 1 null-space chamber that resembles a fancy wristwatch.

A moment for a fast plan before hordes of Ixo arrive!

"Ok, this is the plan, we put the clothes and use those fancy holoskins to change our looks. Then Aramesh can try to bs our way out, we were part of Ixo Syndicate team sent to protect the train and cargo. We got hint that a top-tier thief will try to steal the cargo. We stopped the thieves" he points at the guards

"And locked the brain of the operation in that locker, as well as destroyed the copter. Since the train security proved to be incompetent we will escort the cargo oursevels."

Kevan begins to dress while looking at others for approval or dissaproval

The cube would fit in the null-space chamber, just to help planning

A wonderful plan, says Aramesh, putting the artifact in his new "wristwatch". It remains to be decided - we will climb through the roof and try to tell this story inside the lounge area, OR we will call the train guards ourselves now and just try to talk them down right here, pointing at the dead and so on.

Who thinks what about it? The second one leaves less room for maneuver, but so audaciously that it can even work.

Kevan, LNA, can you quickly make any digital forgery confirming that we work for the syndicate? For example, create a record of a non-existent transaction of credits to our accounts from their accounts or something similar?