[SFS_Aerondor] 01-28 It Rests Beneath (1-4) (Inactive)

Game Master Aerondor

Hey, COVID buddies! Wait...

Khubelu moved a step back into the corner, so unless the platform is smaller than it appears, she should be fine there. And fired, so two actions.

The platform is a pyramid with just a little space at the top. The square represents the base.

And no worries, I'm still in recovery mode for covid myself. It takes the stuffing out of you.

Draw and attack with a tactical baton then. Same 15 to hit, but vs. KAC.

Bludgeonging Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

The green bird suffers dual strikes, but keeps flying

Going to leave Talltree hiding this round.

The pink bird descends on Norbert
strike vs KAC: 1d20 ⇒ 18
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

The yellow bird directs itself against Dirk.
strike vs KAC: 1d20 ⇒ 12
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

While the green one on the tower picks on Khebelu
strike vs KAC: 1d20 ⇒ 3

Status, bold may post
Norbert 5 damage
Tania
Dirk 1 damage
Khebelu
Talltree - hiding
Chrysanthemum
Birds
pink 8 damage;
green 5 dmage

Guarded step away from Pink as part of Trick Attack

Bluff to Trick Attack Pink, Spy Specialization, DC 20+Target CR: 1d20 + 9 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 4 = 23
Attack Pink versus KAC: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Piercing Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Trick Attack damage, also Piercing Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Two dice rolls, the base of the low level operative. I hit the Trick, but miss the attack roll

Bad bird. Go away.

I don't think you can take a guarded step as part of a trick attack. You can move, but that is not the same as a move action.

Sorry, I thought that had been errata'd, but I guess not. So this becomes a Guarded step and a missed regular shot.

It could have been, If so, just point me at the errata. My and my operatives will be well happy.

I looked and I had misremembered the errata that allowed pulling a weapon during a Trick Attack movement. I thought it was broader, and it was not.

Talltree abandons their attempt to emulate their namesake. Focusing will and twisting arcane power via a lengthy series of gestures and clicks, the shirren looses a trio of mystical bolts at the unwounded bird.

Full-round casting of magic missile for three bolts vs. yellow.

Missile damage to yellow: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 3, 2) + 3 = 12

Tania moves a bit north, taking a shot at the pink bird with a head-fake first!

Bluff trick attack: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 11 + 4 = 26
DC 20+cr (success = flat footed)
Static arc pistol: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Electricity damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Trick attack damage?: 1d4 ⇒ 2

She curses as the shot goes wild and wide.

I haven't played my operative in awhile...there is errata that we can draw weapons as part of a trick attack? I'm not going to ask to go back to round 1 since I missed anyway, but can someone link me to this wonderful rules change? <3

I think the bird missed me? KAC 13?

He swings at the one near him again.

attack longsword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

"Right Norbert go away!"

Chrysanthemum changes her stance, becoming more fluid as she dances around trying to draw the bird's attention.

entropic strike, nonlethal: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 6 - 4 = 11
acid: 1d3 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
entropic strike 2, nonlethal: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 6 - 4 = 17
acid 2: 1d3 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

<Go away, bird! I don't want to hurt you.>

Tactical Baton: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20 vs. KAC
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

I think the bird missed me? KAC 13?

GM Aerondor doesn't show the enemies' bonuses to hit right away, and since the birds are certain to have positive bonuses a rolled 12 will hit Dirk.

@Dirk, I don't normally add monster bonuses into the dice rolls, but I do show the target I am aiming for so you know if I've made too much of a mistake. Part of keeping the encounters exciting.

Talltree blasts the yellow bird from the sky.

Tania is tricky... but maybe a little too tricky and misses her shot.

Dirk, having had his bird removed by Talltree, climbs the tower to slash at the one threatening Khebelu.

Chsanthemum and Khubelu then finish it off.

The last bird flaps away, realising it is outmatched.

Though you could get last parting shots at it if you wanted to

Status, out of combat
Talltree
Tania
Dirk 1 damage
Norbert 5 damage
Khebelu
Chrysanthemum

I remember seeing the discussion on drawing a weapon as part of a Trick Attack here and that seems to be the interpretation.

Well, that was more exciting than it was supposed to be, but then again it seems like most missions are. Should we take the bodies back for study?

"We will need to make sure that nothing on the towers moves, too."

@GM no problem

"We will need to make sure that nothing on the towers moves, too."

"Sounds good! Maybe we need to check out the towers?"

"I would say bring the bodies back. I've never seen anything like this before. And definitely finish calibrating the tower."

You can easily finish off getting the transmitter going. Throwing the dead bodies into your slowly emptying trailer, you are ready to head off... to where?

(There are sites at Windy Cliffs and Dry riverbed, or back to the base)

Status, out of combat
Talltree
Tania
Dirk 1 damage
Norbert 5 damage
Khebelu
Chrysanthemum

Expedition status: First tower assembled
Time elapsed 3 1/4 hours - plus change for the fight.
Time til dusk 6 3/4 hours.
buggy damage: 7
cycle damage: 1

"We should definitely keep going. I think we'll be all right to hit one more site ifwe make good time. Norbert, do you want to rest in the buggy while we go?"

Tania votes for whichever site is closer but won't vote against things just as long as we keep moving.

I might be offline for the next 24 hours or maybe a little bit more. Please feel free to make perception and any other checks you need to for me whenever they're needed!

We'll need a navigator doing one pilot check and your drivers for the cycle and buggy also making theirs. The two sites are roughly equidistant given the odd terrain.

Can we take a few minutes to rest before moving on? That "Bird" did a number on me.

If possible, Norbert would like to spend a Resolve and recover stamina, given he was hit for 5 out of his 6 Stamina in that fight.

Piloting check for the Buggy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Norbert is obviously shaken from the fight and has trouble driving the buggy down.

"Anyone know where we're going?"

Survival to Navigate?

Khubelu takes the controls of the bike again.

Piloting: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

I'm good with taking 10 minutes to rest.

While the halfling recovers, Talltree will examine the bird bodies more carefully.

GM A, are there any parts on the tower that move while it's operating? Sweeping directional antennas, or things like that?

random choice, 1 for cliffs: 1d2 ⇒ 1

"Choosing randomly, I'd say let's head for the cliffs for now, unless the other one is on the way."

Aid in Navigation: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Pilot to navigate in this situation. Get +2 from Chysanthemu's help

Tania did the earlier navigation at +12, but posted they would be offline for a day or so

Tania looks at the maps
pilot to navigate: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

Tania's directions are good, but Norbert's buggy gets stuck at one point. Still, eventually you make it to the Windy Cliffs.

You arrive at a high cliff that curves along one edge of the plateau, the wind is noticeably strong (flying creatures will have trouble).
The ground here is a strange field of uniform shallow depressions, each about 10 feet long, 5 feet wide, and about 1-1/2 feet deep. At scattered intervals throughout this strange geological feature, the shallow depressions are replaced with long, low, mounds equal in size to the depressions, but rising about 1-1/2 feet above the ground.

A perception check maybe helpful here

Trying to assemble the tower in the winds will be difficult. Assembly takes an engineering check as before. Others may aid-another using either engineering or athletics, as they help brace the tower against the wind.

Expedition status: First tower complete. At windy cliffs
Time elapsed 6 1/4 hours - plus change for the fight.
Time til dusk 3 3/4 hours.
buggy damage: 7
cycle damage: 1

Let's see what there is to see.

Perception check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Not much to see, apparently

Perception check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Talltree gives only a cursory look at the surroundings, focused entirely on the technical challenges attendant on setting up the tower in a high wind. Their planning efforts pay off, though.

Engineering check to raise tower: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Chrysanthemum sets her feet deeper into the ground and looks around for anything of interest.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Not seeing anything, she helps brace the tower as it goes up.

Athletics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Khubelu looks around...

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

...and then tries to calibrate the tower.

Engineering, Aid: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Khubelo eyes up the depressions warily. They look... not the result of weather. They almost remind the stelifera of the pods of a venus flytrap...

Talltree meanwhile gets going on the tower. Even with the wind, they do a fine job and in half an hour the tower is assembled. Second time is much easier than the first.

Of course now is when a small design flaw becomes evident. You still need to get someone to the top Athletics check to calibrate the equipment computer check. But while the tower was built to be climbed, and was designed to withstand the winds... it was not really designed to withstand the winds and something climbing it at the same time.

You'll need two PCs on the "lower" platform to help brace the tower while a medium sized PC goes up to the top. Athletics checks for both of them and an acrobatics check for the person at the top.

Chrysanthemum continues with the digging in of the feet and braces the tower to help whoever is going up.

"We might want to mention this 'little flaw' to the monitoring team," she says, holding onto the vibrating platform with all her hands.

Athletics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Dirk tries to climb too.

[b]"Good point Chrysanthemum"[/dice]

athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

The shirren looks up at the finished tower in satisfaction before shaking their head. "I'm not going up there. I can give anyone up there advice, though."

Dirk and Chrysanthemum brace the tower... but who is going to climb to the top to perform the calibration?

Expedition status: Windy cliffs tower calibration.
Time elapsed 6 3/4 hours - plus change for the fight.
Time til dusk 3 1/4 hours.
buggy damage: 7
cycle damage: 1

The shirren looks over at Tania expectantly. "I can talk you through the calibration, if you can climb the tower. It looks like Dirk and Chrysanthemum have it braced."

If you have remote hack, you could probably do it from the base even, otherwise you really need to be up there. Talking someone through it would be nice aid-another.

I really hope my +4 is not the best check we have available...

I don't have a rank in Computers?

I was thinking that a comm link would let Talltree Aid Another from the ground, not make the main roll. Tania would be the best one to actually climb up.

Tania is a little better than I am in both of the required skills. I guess the options are wait for a response from Tania, bot Tania, or I can give it a go.

I would go for a bot to move things along.

Agreed, unless there's a significant risk to the character. That's not something we can answer, so I'll leave it to GM A to make the call.

Tania tries climbing...
athletics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
the ladder. She makes it to the top securely. The winds buffer her mercilessly.
acrobatics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14
But the android is incredibly flexible and has no trouble keeping her balance as she works on the calibration
computers: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Which she succeeds in without any problems at all. Climbing down you are all aware of one tower left to try..

Time to either explore those odd formations near by, or head onto the last tower location... the dry riverbed...

Expedition status: Two towers finished..
Time elapsed 7 hours - plus change for the fight.
Time til dusk 3 hours.
buggy damage: 7
cycle damage: 1

last tower?