[Paizocon 2022] SF One-Shot 3: System Takedown (Inactive)

Game Master Sedoriku

Will try to dodge again reflex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Duthuj has seen enough of this trap for one lifetime. They try to disable it.

Engineering: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 12 + 2 = 30

Apologies. My post got eaten and I hadn't got back online until just now.

He tries to dodge around the razors again.

Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Not so well this time.

Veevee will try Computers to disable.

Once again, we see the Veskarium's disregard for the lives of others and common ethical practice. Fans, we could use your encouragement as we face off against these callous foes.

Computers check to disable the trap: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 8 + 2 = 24

Better

Both Duthuj and Veevee work on disabling the trap as Khavarku and Syrelle try to ready to avoid another battering from the trap.

Duthuj is able to disable the trap with a speed that only the truly fed up can achieve as Veevee gets the door to the next room open.

Please indicate if you're resting and regaining SP in your next post. Everyone is down a few stamina points.

As you rest, or press ahead your comms gives another hiss, spurting to life as Shethris’s voice issues from them once more. “I see you’ve made it into the bunker. You’re skilled, but your efforts will be pointless. Leave now, and I’ll make it worth your while—and maybe I won’t devote all my considerable resources to hunting down every last one of your rebel friends! I-” Once again his voice cuts out, as Vyrnandi sends a small apology text and a promise to try keeping him out of your comms.

The single door to the north opens onto a small kitchenette with a dining table and chairs in front of it. A worn couch sits in front of a vidscreen on the other side of the room. Two training dummies and a weight rack rest into a corner. A set of double doors to the north, two single doors to the west, and another set into a diagonal wall to the east allow exit from the area. The lights in the room are off, and only the light from the corridor illuminates the shadowed shapes of the furniture.

It takes but a moment to turn on the lights again, but as you do, Duthuj hears a creak and moves quickly enough to spot the shape of the previous pahtra mechanic ducking back behind the door to the east.

There's two major options here, you could head north and reach the communications array, or chase after the pahtra to the east. You could also go west and free the guards but that's probably not the best idea.

Veevee will not take a 10 minute rest, saving RP in case he needs it later.

I think we should follow the Pahtra mechanic and find out what they know before we tackle the communications array. They might have information that will help us.

So I vote East.

"Agreed. And we hardly need anyone sneaking up on us."

"I agree. Let's not give someone the opportunity to stab us in the back."

The group decides to move after the pahtra engineer. The door to the room has a metal plate with the name 'Setraal' engraved onto.

The single door in the diagonal wall leads into a narrow room. An
unmade bed is tucked into the southeast corner, though the majority
of the room is taken up by a large workbench strewn with tools and
engineering equipment. A computer sits at one end of the table. The man supposedly Setraal himself flinches from the door, the faceplate for a custom made lock in his paws, clearly about to put the finishing touches on his room lock. He scrambles back under his work table grabbing a wrench and trembles behind the table fruitlessly waving his 'weapon' around.

"Just leave here! Please. Things are going to be so bad if you don't. I'll... uh, hurt you if you don't?"

It's pretty clear Setraal is not a fighter, and terrified. You can convince him to 'stand down' with a Diplomacy or Intimidation check to talk him down. Alternatively, they can calm him down with an Engineering check to appeal to your common ground as a fellow professionals. If you fail two checks he will likely try fleeing; however, you can try aiding (possibly with different appropriate skills) if you'd prefer.

We don't want to fight you, Setraal. We are here t try and help everyone, but the Imperium is repressing us! How are things going to be bad? Who or what are you afraid of?

Diplomacy to try to calm Setraal: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

I don't think I have used my promotional reroll yet, and I have two Novas

Diplomacy to try to calm Setraal: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 12 + 2 = 16

Ouch

"What my friend here is trying to say is that we are not here to harm the ordinary workers. Indeed, we exalt you, as nothing in this facility could operate without your labor. We seek only to stop those who would oppress the working class."

Engineering: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

Khavarku chimes in to help Veevee and Duthuj. "Setraal, we are not here to hurt the workers, only those oppressing us. How can we convince you to trust us?"

Diplomacy, aid: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Veevee tries to convince Setraal that the group is there and able to help him, but he just shudders at the thought and stares at her with unbelieving eyes. "I would hope that you, the freedom fighters, would know about the horrors of the Veskarium! How violent and heavy handed their retaliation can be. And then Sethris is the worst of the bunch!"

He starts to hyperventilate slightly, even after Khavarku adds a few words of support, but Duthuj cuts in with the reminder that you're here to protect workers like him and he gives a sigh, "Right, you're right..." He pulls a lever behind him and causes something to shift on the walls, sealing the area in a Faraday cage for a moment, cutting off the livechat and more importantly any tracking going on. "Promise me you'll keep me safe and I'll give you all the info you need to get access to the communications array. I've built and rebuilt most of the things in this place myself as the origianl components were... Less than optimal."

Once the promise is given, Setraal pulls out a piece of paper and writes down a 10 digit code for the door and his access key for the array before throwing a few things in a pack and then opens the cage. "They shouldn't track me down but I'm getting out of here nonetheless!"

After a moment you realize that the Livechat is back and b you're broadcasting again. "Oh! You're back and safe!" Vrynandi'S voice spurts out of your comms. "And you have a code. Right then Team, all you need to do is get into that communications array room and work your magic. Make theat equipment sing for us!"

While you were gone it seems that the Livechat has started to bet on what you'll face in the next room.

Getting into the communications room is a simple matter of punching in the string of numbers on the door to the north. It unlocks with a loud click as a set of electromagnets power down.

Just beyond the double doors to the north is a massive communications array and a satellite mechanism extending up from the equipment through the ceiling. Computer stations sit on either side of the double doors, and a large whirring power generator is against a diagonal wall to the northwest. Another door leads into a small interior room jutting out from the northeast corner, and a door of frosted glass leads out the wall to the southeast.

You readily step up to the equipment and start to try activating it, but you find that Setraal’s key doesn’t seem to be working. In fact, the device seems almost completely unresponsive as if some failsafe has been activated.

To broadcast the information, you must upload your data to the communications array and activate the emergency broadcast. However, someone has activated a failsafe to put the communications equipment into lockdown.

As you stand there for a moment, an intercom crackles to life from the direction of the glass door, and a female vesk-sounding voice comes through. “Who are you people? Well, no matter— if you’re here, it can only be to take over our communications! But you’re too late... I’ve already activated our failsafe to shut down the array. Never mind hijacking our systems; you’ll be lucky to get out of here alive.” As if to herself, she grumbles, “I’d better get a Damoritosh-damned raise for this.” As the intercom falls silent, a flashing countdown appears on the computer screen at the center of the communications array, and a pre-recorded voice echoes through the room. “Communications system total shutdown and brick in one minute.” The door to the interior room slides open with a soft hiss and the whirring of activating machinery is distinctly audible from within.

Hacking the Comms You can try to hack into or delay the shutdown on your turn as a standard action. You can use Culture (to interpret the system’s workings and identify the best paths of dissemination), Computers (to hack the computerized controls), or Engineering (to manipulate the communications arrays). Vyrandi can give you advice allowing two rerolls total for the group, and Setraal’s access key gives you a +1 to these checks. You need four successes total to stop the array shutting down.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Round 1: Total System Failure Imminent

General active conditions None
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
❕ Veevee: SP 35/35 HP 32/32;
❕ Khavarku: (Lesser Resistant Armor[DR 5]) SP 40/40 HP 36/36
❕ Duthuj SP 40/40 HP 36/36
❕ Syrelle (Zirul) SP 45/45 HP 39/39

The machinery sounds (It's probably nothing important)

Bolded may act.
>>>Maps<<<

Well, viewers, it's crunch time now. Anybody on the interwebs have any expertise with this equipment and can give us a hand to get the word out to everyone?

I would like to make the argument that Profession (Vidcaster) would be a substitute for the Culture check. After all, Profession(Vidcaster) is all about getting information out to the people that want it.

Profession(Vidcaster) with Setraal’s access key: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 13 + 1 = 30

If you determine this has to be a Culture check, it is four less.

Duthuj's tentacles fly over the keyboard as they search for commonalities between this system and those they are more familiar with.

Culture, Why Not, They All Have The Same Modifier: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

Khavarku stares blankly at the computers for a moment, then shrugs and moves towards the door that slid open. "That doesn't sound good over there."

He peeks into the room and (assuming there isn't a reason not to do this) casts fog cloud Red outline, if I'm getting this all correct.

IT's been over 24 hours, I'll be botting Syrelle

Syrelle moves up to the edge of the fog cloud, gun at the ready, prepared to shoot at the first enemy she sees step out of the fog.

Veevee is able to use her experience with being a Vidcaster and her small armada of followers to quickly gain some insights into the base operating system of the comms array. She is able to type out a few commands that start to open the operating system.

Duthuj is also able to use their understanding of how many types of systems like these are coded and takes advantage of a few of the exploits they commonly have.

Khavarku, though, pays some attention to the sounds machinery coming from the small room to the north. He realizes that there are some security robots in there. He can only see two, but a word of warning and Veevee glances over to see another 4.

Syrelle readies to shoot one if they should present themselves.

The robots then move. The first one flies out of the room and out of the mist to get a clear shot before being shot down by a quick shot from Syrelle.

Finding that their companion has gone immediately offline from leaving the mist the rest of the bots move slower and try to get closer to some enemies. The next two move up next to Khavarku and try to shoot him with their integrated pistols.

Pulsecaster: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Damage, E, Nonlethal: 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

Pulsecaster: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Damage, E, Nonlethal: 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

The next three also move into the room, but try to avoid getting to close to what ever was able to take out one of them in a single hit.

Hacking the Comms You can try to hack into or delay the shutdown on your turn as a standard action. You can use Culture (to interpret the system’s workings and identify the best paths of dissemination), Computers (to hack the computerized controls), or Engineering (to manipulate the communications arrays). Vyrandi can give you advice allowing two rerolls total for the group, and Setraal’s access key gives you a +1 to these checks. You need four successes total to stop the array shutting down.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Round 1: 55 Seconds until Total System Failure

General active conditions Obscuring mist (red outline)
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
❕ Veevee: SP 35/35 HP 32/32;
❕ Khavarku: (Lesser Resistant Armor[DR 5]) SP 38/40 HP 36/36
❕ Duthuj SP 40/40 HP 36/36
❕ Syrelle (Zirul) SP 45/45 HP 39/39

More Robots!

Com hacks 2/4

Bolded may act.
>>>Maps<<<

"Cover me while I finish this up, and then I'll help you dispose of the tin cans."

Computers: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 12 + 1 = 24

Faithful viewers, we're almost there. We are almost ready to expose the lies and corruption of the Vesk government.

Profession(Vidcaster) with Setraal’s access key: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 13 + 1 = 17

If the group is OK with it, I would like to use one of Vyrandi's rerolls to try and finish this.

Profession(Vidcaster) with Setraal’s access key: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 13 + 1 = 22

Maybe??

Khavarku takes a step backwards and casts Hurl Forcedisk on the nearest robot. A shimmering miniature doshko appears and bounces rapidly between the enemies.

Hurling vs. EAC blue: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
force damage: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 6) = 14

Hurling vs. EAC black: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
force damage: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 4) = 10

Hurling vs. EAC gray: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
force damage: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6

Hurling vs. EAC white: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
force damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6

Hurling vs. EAC black? back row: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
force damage: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 6) = 11

I honestly can't remember, but if I haven't used my reroll, I will on the first attack that misses.

I will ready another shot for a robot to step out of the fog hit: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18 vs KAC dmg: 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Veevee and Duthuj both succeed at one more attempt to break into the controls for the comms system, Vyrandi takes a moment to help Veevee with a few lines of code. However, the two quickly gain access to the whole system and turn off the complete system wipe failsafe.

Duthuj and Veevee, just about to plug in their external drive with all the information to be broadcast hear their comms echoi with a crackle of static, though it’s difficult to tell whether the distortion in the voice that follows is due to the connection quality or his barely suppressed rage. “Ṙ̵͎ḯ̸̺̽g̶͉̓̚h̵̢̉t̶̰͙̊̕.” Shethris snaps. “F̶i̸n̸e̵.̷ ̶Y̷o̵u̷’̶v̷e̵ ̴h̸a̴d̸ ̵y̴o̸u̸r̶ ̷f̴u̷n̶.̸ ̴S̷t̶o̵p̷ ̸t̵h̷i̶s̷ ̷i̴m̶m̵e̴d̷i̶a̷t̶e̸l̵y̷,̷ ̸a̶n̴d̷ ̶I̴ ̸c̴a̸n̸̴ m̸a̴k̶e̵ ̸i̶t̷ ̶w̶o̵r̶t̴h̷ ̴y̸o̶u̴r̷ ̶w̸h̴i̸l̵e̸.̴ ̷W̵h̵a̵t̸ ̷d̶o̷ ̷y̶o̵u̷ ̸w̷a̴n̴t̵?̴ ̷M̶o̷n̶e̶y̵?̴ ̷S̴u̵p̶p̵l̸i̷e̸s̴?̵ ̷I̵̴ h̸a̶v̵e̶ ̶i̶n̷f̶l̴u̵e̴n̶c̴e̴.̶ ̶I̶ ̵m̸a̵k̸e̵ ̶a̶ ̸f̸a̵r̶ ̸b̷e̵t̷t̴e̶r̸ ̸f̶r̶i̵e̶n̷d̵ ̵t̶h̶a̶n̷ ̷a̷n̵ ̸e̵n̸e̷m̵y̷.̴T̸e̵l̶l̵ ̴m̵e̸ ̶y̸o̶u̷r̸ ̸p̶r̸i̸c̶e̷ ̸a̵n̴d̴ ̸i̷t̵'̵s̴ ̷y̵o̶u̶r̵s̶!̷”

While Sethris tries to bribe the two technological minded members, both Khavarku and Syrelle try taking out the robots in the room. Khavarku makes and fires a force blade into the mix of robots, but the fog makes it a much less secure deal.

Miss chances, Low=bad: 1d100 ⇒ 351d100 ⇒ 741d100 ⇒ 921d100 ⇒ 1001d100 ⇒ 28
REroll vs. Gray: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

The blade flies into the mists and takes a cut out of blue then black, white-dash and black-dash but fails to hit gray and instead sounds like it buries itself into the wall behind the robots.

Sorry for the two posts, I accidentally posted early and had the website eat my post when I tried editing it to be complete. Don't want to try that again.

The robots then act. Blue first moves out of the mist to confront Khavarku due to the threat he poses. Syrelle's readied shot takes out the bot with a single shot. The white-dash is just barely able to record this interaction and convey it to the other bots. They decide to try staying in the fog instead of moving out and into risky territory.

Black moves up to Khavarku and tries to fry the spellcaster, while gray does the same with Veevee.

Pulsecaster, vs Khavarku: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Damage, E, Nonlethal: 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

Pulsecaster vs Veevee: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Damage, E, Nonlethal: 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

White-dash and black-dash both move closer but don't have clear targets to be shooting and instead wait in the safety of the fog.

From the intercom to the south, the sound of the female vesk screams out, "STOP! STOP THAT UPLOAD! I have hundreds more bots! If you don't upload that and leave, I'll turn them off and you can leave safely. If not, we'll kill you!"

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Round 3: 55 Seconds until Total System Failure System wipe aborted

General active conditions Obscuring mist (red outline)
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
❕ Veevee: SP 34/35 HP 32/32;
❕ Khavarku: (Lesser Resistant Armor[DR 5]) SP 36/40 HP 36/36
❕ Duthuj SP 40/40 HP 36/36
❕ Syrelle (Zirul) SP 45/45 HP 39/39

Security bots:
White
Blue
Black -10
Gray
White dash -6
Black dash -11

Bolded may act.
>>>Maps<<<

Duthuj starts the upload. "Done. Time to get gone!"

They head for the door, taking a potshot at Gray along the way.

Stealth, Tricks CR: 1d20 + 16 - 20 ⇒ (10) + 16 - 20 = 6
Frostbite-Class Zero Pistol: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Cold Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Trick Damage: 3d8 ⇒ (7, 2, 8) = 17

ready another shot for another one to come out of the fog hit: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17 dmg: 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Miss chance, Low=bad: 1d100 ⇒ 16
Duthuj takes a shot and leaves a hole in the wall just over Gray's shoulder, missing the robot by a bit.

Syrelle readies a shot in case anything should step out of the fog again.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Round 3: 55 Seconds until Total System Failure System wipe aborted

General active conditions Obscuring mist (red outline)
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
❕ Veevee: SP 34/35 HP 32/32;
❕ Khavarku: (Lesser Resistant Armor[DR 5]) SP 36/40 HP 36/36
Duthuj SP 40/40 HP 36/36
Syrelle (Zirul) SP 45/45 HP 39/39

Security bots:
White
Blue
Black -10
Gray
White dash -6
Black dash -11

Bolded may act.
>>>Maps<<<

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

No idea whether he has tons of robots or not, but that's not why we are here.

Sethris, we're here to expose your lies and corruption. You can send all the robots on the planet, but we're still going to do what we came here to do.

Veevee starts the upload.

Veevee pulls his spear and attacks Black, trying to protect the drive long enough for the upload to complete.

tactical spear versus Black robot KAC: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Piercing Damage, block: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Miss chance, low is bad: 1d100 ⇒ 8

Miss all the way around

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

"Hey, if you call off your bots, we can talk."

Bluff: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Khavarku tries to convince her to stop attacking long enough to get us out of here, but it's obviously not his strong suit. He takes a guarded step away, then retreats and draws his weapon, thumbing off the merciful switch as he does.

"Let's *go*, folks. Taking out robots doesn't actually prove anything."

Veevee starts the upload of the data. The powerful processer and proper cable connectors make it a simple quick process. By the time Veevee has finished spearing at the robot next to her, it's finished it's upload and added her comms as a trusted user with wireless access.

Khavarku joins Duthuj at the door out of the room.

Sethriss's voice crackles over the comms for a second, his voice a scream of fury and cursing that can barely be understood. The mods on the livestream have to rush to bleep out some of what he says in case the stream gets flagged.

The intercom cuts out with a curse.

The robots then start moving. The two robots next to Veevee take shots at the skittermander, the first one in black taking a spear stab for it's efforts.

Pulsecaster: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Veevee Spear, AoO: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 48

Pulsecaster: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
She misses her spear attack, but the robots also miss their shots at her.

White-dash decides to move out of the mists to swarm around Veevee, but gets downed by a shot from Syrelle, the black-dashed one gets out and tries to take a shot at Veevee as it tries to surround the skittermander to keep her from leaving.

Pulsecaster: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Round 4: 55 Seconds until Total System Failure System wipe aborted

General active conditions Obscuring mist (red outline)
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
❕ Veevee: SP 34/35 HP 32/32;
❕ Khavarku: (Lesser Resistant Armor[DR 5]) SP 36/40 HP 36/36
❕ Duthuj SP 40/40 HP 36/36
❕ Syrelle (Zirul) SP 45/45 HP 39/39

Security bots:
Black -10
Gray
White dash
Black dash -11

Bolded may act.
>>>Maps<<<

Duthuj would like to enjoy the uploaded message from a safe distance.

Double Move

Viewers, the data will be free now. They can't stop us if we all rise up together. Also, if you know anything about how to fight these robots, it would help us live to fight another day!

tactical spear versus Black Dash robot KAC: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Piercing Damage, block: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

And I don't like being surrounded

Guarded step between Black Dash and Syrelle.

The uses Once per Day Hyper ability to take another Guarded Step next to Syrelle.

Khavarku shoots at the robot that has stepped out and continues to move back. "I don't have anything good against the mindless."

shoot: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
sonic: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Approaching 24 hours and we have about a week for a HARD deadline to finish this game. Botting Syrelle

Syrelle takes a shot at the one exposed robot.

Shot: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Piercing: 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

She then moves to the doors and readies to cover everyone's escape.

Duthuj moves out of the room and starts heading for the stairs. Veevee on the other hand stabs out at the robots and then steps out of their reach. She misses her spear, but Khavarku and Syrelle both hit her target and turns it into smoking junk.

The robots look at the pahtra that has been consistently killing one of them every time they leave the fog. They take a moment to think about what to do and their self-preservation routines kick in and they decide to stay in the fog and can't relaibly shoot at anyone.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Round 5:This might be over?

General active conditions Obscuring mist (red outline)
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
❕ Veevee: SP 34/35 HP 32/32;
❕ Khavarku: (Lesser Resistant Armor[DR 5]) SP 36/40 HP 36/36
❕ Duthuj SP 40/40 HP 36/36
❕ Syrelle (Zirul) SP 45/45 HP 39/39

Security bots:
Black -10
Gray

Bolded may act.
>>>Maps<<<

"What are you all doing? We're not here to kill robots, and I prefer not to be here at all!"

Duthuj readies to close the door once their last ally is through.

Ah, Gentle viewers, we seem to be on our way to saying good night. Thank you for your support during this mission, and always remember:
Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.

Double move toward the stairs.

Khavarku races past everyone and down the stairs. "Last one out uses vesk deodorant and they smell bad for fun!"

I will shoot at the closest one in the mist hit: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22 vs KAC miss chance high is good: 1d100 ⇒ 79 dmg: 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Syrelle takes out the second to last robot as everyone starts to flee the building. The last robot does not give chase.

The group gets out of the combat with only a few scrapes and bruises.

As you rush up the stairs and back outside your comms buzz again, this time playing a much friendlier voice.

“Nice work!” Vyrnandi exclaims. “I’ve been monitoring the chatter over the Veskarium’s lines—with all the bad publicity, they’re cutting Shethris loose! And they’re even planning to issue a statement promising to work with pahtra leadership to appoint Voyedris’s new regional consul. We couldn’t have done this without all of you, and I’ll bet drinks are on the Mrraheen’s credstick tonight. Now get your tails out of there and head back to base!"

You take a moment at the bottom of the steps to take in the information and celebrate for a few moments. After a bit of reading the chat Veevee and anyone else reading through the comments notices a few worrying ones about something that might be headed their way.

You quickly step outside into the open jungle again, but the place isn't as empty as you left it. An enormous mech stands before the bunker entrance.

“I told you rebels you’d regret this.” Shethris’s voice spits from the mech’s speakers. “No one crosses me and gets away with it. You may have cost me my post... but I’ll make sure you don’t live to see the results!” The mech steps forward, moving to attack!

====Begin Combat====

This combat is a modified mech combat, where the mech is effectively treated as a creature, given how you don't have mechs of your own. Because of this the mech has a few advantages against you.

First, it has a shield with shield points that act like temporary HP and that it regains some of every turn. These shield points are taken off first and then any further damage is then reduced by it's hardness (in this case very low) before the mech takes damage.

Second, the mech’s power core grants it excess energy that it can exploit to supercharge its systems. It has points that it can spend to do special actions, and they slowly return every turn.

However, you have some advantages against the mech:

Livechat: As you fight, you get a morale boost from the livechat cheering you on. Once during this combat, each of you can reroll a single attack roll, saving throw, or skill check during the combat, taking the better of the two results.

Defenses: You might be outgunned, but you aren’t defenseless! Due to the Ripclaw’s size and the jungle terrain, anyone who succeeds at a DC 20 Acrobatics check during a move action on their turn gains a +2 circumstance bonus to their EAC and KAC until the beginning of their next turn.

Turrets: The mech has the proper ID cards to not be targeted by the turrets... if you hadn't hacked them. All three turrets still standing will take attacks against the mech each turn.

The warnings from the livechat and then Sethiss’s long winded spiel about taking you down with him gives everyone a chance to react before he can open fire on you.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Round 1: It’s a frog! It’s a mech! No, it’s an angry deposed Vesk!

General active conditions: None
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
❕ Syrelle (Zirul) SP 45/45 HP 39/39
❕ Veevee: SP 34/35 HP 32/32;
❕ Khavarku: (Lesser Resistant Armor[DR 5]) SP 36/40 HP 36/36
❕ Duthuj SP 40/40 HP 36/36

Turrets
Sethiss in a mech

Bolded may act.
>>>Maps<<<

Do you think that thing might get stuck in the Webvines if we lead him through them?

This is our chance folks so Get'Em

Veevee puts Get'em on the mech, and moves through the bushes.

Acrobatics check for extra AC DC 20: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

+1 to attack for everyone!

"Won't hurt to try!" the vesk responds telepathically to Veevee.

Can we target the user at all? I have mind thrust for example.

Khavarku summons a ball of light and shoos it towards the mech (Wisp Ally, harrying), then dances to the side hoping to split the targets and let us all get away.

Acrobatics hahahaha: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

"I told them something smelled fishy out here. I just didn't think it was you!"

Duthuj flips through the tree cover and tries to fire at the mech from cover.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33
Stealth, Tricks CR: 1d20 + 16 - 20 ⇒ (14) + 16 - 20 = 10
Frostbite-Class Zero Pistol: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 1 = 15
Cold Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Trick Damage: 3d8 ⇒ (7, 2, 3) = 12

They really want to land a hit.

Frostbite-Class Zero Pistol, Chat Reroll: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 1 = 9

Last time I take directions from backseat hackers.

Both Veevee and Khavarku try to take cover in the trees from the mech and it’s many missiles, but fail to find a good spot to hide.

Veevee points out the mech and inspires everyone to get it, while Khavarku tries to make it even easier to target with a wisp of light.

Hrmm, I’ll let you try mental spells against Sethiss himself, but he’ll effectively have cover (20% miss chance) from your spells and a moderate (+2) bonus to saves, however any damage you do will be deducted from the mech’s HP given I have no stats for the vesk himself. That sound fair?

Duthuj dances into the tree cover and nearly disappears from sight. The mech is unable to track their position and Sethiss is surprised when the ijtikri pops out from behind a large leaf and fires on the mech. They bore through the shields and into the meck leaving a good scratch on the body of the mech.
Keep your reroll, a 15 hits with flatfooted and the +2 from the harrying wisp.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Round 1: It’s a frog! It’s a mech! No, it’s an angry deposed Despot!

General active conditions: None
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
❕ Syrelle (Zirul) SP 45/45 HP 39/39; Reroll available
Veevee: SP 34/35 HP 32/32; Reroll available
Khavarku: (Lesser Resistant Armor[DR 5]) SP 36/40 HP 36/36; Reroll available
Duthuj: SP 40/40 HP 36/36; Reroll available

Turrets
Sethiss in a mech: -7; Shields down, Harrying wisp, Get’em (+3 to hit total)

Bolded may act.
>>>Maps<<<

Botting Syrelle as we have less than a week to finish.

Syrelle takes her gun and aims at the mech.
X-gun: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 2 + 1 = 26
Damage: 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

She slams a bullet into the mech and then tries to dive for cover behind the foliage.
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

The turrets then take aim at the mech that landed among them and fires.

Blue Turret vs. Mech: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 13 + 2 = 20
Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 6) = 12

Pink Turret vs. Mech: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 13 + 2 = 21
Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 2) = 4

Yellow Turret vs. Mech: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 13 + 2 = 35
Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 5) = 8
CRIT: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 2) = 6

They lay into the mech and leave it reeling.

Sethiss inside the mech gives a roar through the outside speakers and fires 4 different missiles at the party.

Missile vs. Duthuj, AC bonus: 1d20 + 14 - 5 ⇒ (11) + 14 - 5 = 20

Missile vs. Syrelle, AC bonus: 1d20 + 14 - 5 ⇒ (9) + 14 - 5 = 18

Missile vs. Veevee: 1d20 + 14 - 5 ⇒ (18) + 14 - 5 = 27
Fire and Piercing: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (4, 1) + 6 = 11

Missile vs. Khavarku: 1d20 + 14 - 5 ⇒ (11) + 14 - 5 = 20
Fire and Piercing: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (1, 2) + 6 = 9 Reduced by 5 due to spell

He then moves over to one of the turrets and starts preparing to toss it at someone.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
Round 1: It’s a frog! It’s a mech! No, it’s an angry deposed Despot!

General active conditions: None
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
❕ Syrelle (Zirul) SP 45/45 HP 39/39; Reroll available
❕ Veevee: SP 23/35 HP 32/32; Reroll available
❕ Khavarku: (Lesser Resistant Armor[DR 5]) SP 32/40 HP 36/36; Reroll available
❕ Duthuj SP 40/40 HP 36/36; Reroll available

Turrets
Sethiss in a mech: -45; Shields partially up, Harrying wisp, Get’em (+3 to hit total)

Bolded may act.
>>>Maps<<<

Zirul fires at sethiss in a mech after moving hit: 1d20 + 3 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 3 + 9 = 21 vs KAC dmg: 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14