You shouldn't play with scissors, little one.
It most certainly should not.
Ritta's solar weapon slams into the promo , opening a series of fractures along its plastimolded parts.
Willy will take that attack roll, he's done.
Willy slashes the other promo
The promo responds with snaps of its sheers!
The toy jester in front of Ritta also snips back at the cause of its damage.
CUTTING EDGES IN THE CHAMPION SQUAD BOOTH! - Second Full Round Begins!
Promo (red) -31 HP
Willy/Chox
Ritta -23 SP
Gliko
Err0r
Promo (yellow) -18 HP
Let's try to finish off Red.
I can't do a combat round this fast at a live table! Red if it's up.
That is the exact opposite of Gliko's last round.
Ritta's weapon fails to make contact.
Willy slashes the promo, leaving it on its last legs box.
Err0r's first shot misses and the second may have hit, but for the cover its box provides to the toy.
Gliko nearly tricks theirself and misses the shot.
Badly damaged, the promo near Willy tries to take the Starfinder down before it goes down.
Nearly as desperate, the toy jester in front of Ritta tries to do the same.
It manages to draw blood!
CUTTING EDGES IN THE CHAMPION SQUAD BOOTH! - Third Full Round Begins!
Promo (red) -31 HP
Willy/Chox
Ritta -32 SP | -1 HP
Gliko
Err0r
Promo (yellow) -37 HP
Ouch, that really hurts you bloody stupid toy!
The little promo shatters into a series of small, but still collectable, pieces!
CUTTING EDGES IN THE CHAMPION SQUAD BOOTH! - Third Full Round Cont'd!
Promo (red) -43 HP
Willy/Chox
Ritta -32 SP | -1 HP
Gliko
Err0r
Promo (yellow) -37 HP
Let's try to finish off Yellow.
Gliko tries to Trick Yellow
Gliko zaps the remaining promo and it falls to pieces.
Suddenly, one of the vidscreens flickers the image of the gnomish jester.
"Not bad, Chump-bein' Squad!" cackles the figure. "You may have taken down my lethal likenesses, but they were, after all, just a pale imitation of the real deal, the Hardlight Harlequin!"
"It is one thing to out wit a pair of packaged promotionals, but when it comes to facing me, you'll have to think "
The jester errupts in laughter before disappearing from the screen in a flash.
Collapsed in the booth’s corner is the body of a slain lashunta programmer whose embroidered polo shirt names him Mairso Daradhol, lead developer for the Champion Squad product line. A keycard is attached to his belt.
Those of you familiar with the Champion Squad comic book series or games realizes the Hardlight Harlequin is a variant of the Horrible Harlequin from the series.
Err0r tries to access the computer.
But has little success.
"Let's check the other two booths along this wall first."
"Let's check the other two booths along this wall first."
The stark, military-themed Call to Honor booth sports a stark, military theme showcasing an immersive, military-simulation first-person shooter game in which the main character, a decorated war hero, blasts their way through ravenous hordes of the fearsome insectile Swarm in high-action firefights. On one vidscreen, the game’s promo loops take the form of an in-world recruitment propaganda reel with old-fashioned closed captions, which is now periodically interrupted by the Hardlight Harlequin assuring viewers that the new game will give players a “true life-or-death experience.”
Sudden, it seems the action has escaped the game as several holographic soldiers appear briefly to open fire on the entire party as it steps within the booth!
NOT-SO-VIRTUAL FIREFIGHT! - Surprise Round Begins!
The holographic soldiers quickly fire off another round!
NOT-SO-VIRTUAL FIREFIGHT! - Round One Begins!
Holographic Soldiers
Err0r -18 SP
Willy/Chox -13 SP
Glika -24 SP | -1 HP
Ritta -30 SP | -1 HP
Gliko ducks behind the table and tries to shut down the game.
Gliko shuts down the game as Chox orders the more-than-virtual soldiers to stop firing.
With the fire-fight over so quickly, some of the equipment used by the soldiers remain, made real by some reality-shaping program. These include four frag grenades II, two incendiary grenades II, and a mk 1 thermal capacitor.
At the Doshko Legends booth, holograms feature lizard-like humanoids in heavy parade armor marching to a triumphant score. These projections are part of a seemingly normal promo vid for a game blatantly designed to appeal to the Veskarium’s sense of military pride.
In stark contrast to the displays, a living vesk in plastic replica armor peeks out from behind a line of projections along the back of the booth, carrying a doshko—the traditional vesk weapon— with brightly flaring blades that hiss with heat.
She whispers, “Help! You’ve got to come help me! I didn’t sign up for this at all!”
"Don't worry, I'm not some hologram. I'm just an actor!" says the vesk, cowering from within the booth. "My name is Ikoren. I believe HACTech had hoped to make inroads into the Veskarium with this 'historical' game set during the history-absent Gap and featuring a cast of vesk heroes. I was hired to stand around and look intimidating with this fancy-looking fake doshko." She waives the weapon back in forth clumsily. "I think whatever is going on has turned this into a doshko! But, I have no idea how to actually use it. I just want to get away from here.
"If you help me out of here, I'll give the credstick I got for this gig," she desperately begs. "Just escort me to safety. And, if you are helping others, I also watched people flee to other areas. A large group of survivors fled over there in the nearby restroom," she points with a clawed finger.
The credstick Inkorne offers you has 700 credits on it. You can see that malicious code also turned Iskorne’s doshko into a real weapon, likely the result of whatever malicious code is affecting the rest of the expo.
Gliko and Err0r also need a rest. Hit the restrooms, then the booths to the south?
The party rests after the last encounter with hardlight creatures.
Thereafter, the party heads to the restrooms indicated by the vesk. Opening the door, you find an all-gender bathroom with several stalls and a row of sinks.
A dozen expo attendees are huddled in here, nearly senseless with fear.
"Oh, you are not those bat-things!" One cries out in relief. "We fled those awful, scary things coming out of the Necromancer booth when they first showed up and have been hiding ever since!"
"Please, please, take us to safety!" another frantically cries.
"Here, take this,' he says, handing you the fragment. "I picked this up at the Necromancer booth as I was running. But, I think it would be better if you had it."
It looks like there is one more booth to the North. The question is Restrooms first or the booth?
I have now updated the mini-map, indicating the unexplored areas (A7-A9) in red.
This stylish booth sports a multitude of hardware options for HAC users with all manner of physical shapes, sizes, and abilities. Its visual displays feature customizable setting interfaces from a number of popular HAC titles, while a gentle voice at one edge of the booth clearly articulates a similar menu in audio format.
Sudden, the ears of a wounded vlaka that had been taking cover in this booth, having tucked himself neatly beneath one of the tables, draw up to full height. He seems to be delighted to hear the sounds of your approach and he ducks out of his makeshift fort to draw your attention.
Picture of the Vlaka now on slides.
"Greetings! I am Aeru Wirgarah, one of the senior technicians for SDC," he doubles his speech with signed Vlaka, likely for Ritta's benefit. "Jaype’s program has unleashed quite a disaster! Jaype Meriandrew is the company’s Chief Technical Officer. He had plans to rocket HACTech from the relatively small company it is today into a corporate giant, like AbadarCorp. He’s had several teams working day and night for months to create the most realistic holographic amusement chamber--or HAC--simulation ever, blending tangible hardlight projections with bleeding-edge VR technology to create an experience that truly blends the physical and virtual."
"Working with code from Champion Squad, HACTech’s most popular game, he decided to unveil his simulation in a surprise reveal here at HACTech’s annual “HACTexpo.” Unfortunately, Jaype’s program has had minimal testing," Aeru continues. "The few tests that were completed hadn’t revealed the fact that the program was effectively a ticking time bomb."
"When Jaype launched his program at the height of the expo, it interacted with the myriad other pieces of technology connected to the hall’s network and caused a cascading failure the likes of which has never been seen before," Aeru explains. "In addition to several small explosions and the loss of power in parts of HACTech HQ, the accident fused Jaype with one of the game’s villains, the Horrible Harlequin. His mind appears to have been overwhelmed by the game’s code, but he developed incredible powers that combine his technomantic magic with holograms; he has essentially become a living video game character who now calls himself the Hardlight Harlequin!"
"This resulting, twisted fusion of man and code has begun to overwrite physical reality to create the best virtual reality game the galaxy has ever seen. The berserk software continues to run out of control, magically digitizing more and more of the surrounding building and threatening to turn the whole moon into a holographic simulation!" exclaims the vlaka. "Fortunately, the distance between mybooth and the central hub gave me enough time to react to the colossal failure of Jaype’s program, during which I took cover and have since rewired some of the booth’s equipment into impromptu defenses, plus an emergency transponder I had used to send the distress signal that it would appear that you have all received."
"Like many vlakas, I may be blind, but I have been well aware of the chaos erupting around me," he continues. "I know that Jaype—now technomagically modified to become the Hardlight Harlequin—has fled into the server room of HACTech’s HQ, where the gnome is likely expanding the
reach of his reality-replacing program." The canine creature stiffens as he points in the direction of the doors.
Location of server doors now indicated on map.
"Unfortunately, my access keycard to the HQ and server room was destroyed during the initial explosion," laments Aeru. "So, I would suggest hacking or blowing up the door instead. Alternatively, you can try to find my colleague Mairso and get his access card. He was manning the Champion Squad booth when it all hit the fan, so to speak."
Aeru warns, " I haven’t heard anything from that booth but the corrupted chatter of holographic demos since the disaster started."
Though well-defended, the vlaka happily accepts an escort to safety if offered one.
"We have a keycard that should work, but I think we'd best make sure everyone is out of this room before moving on."
Err0r moves toward the Necromancer booth.
This gothic booth advertising the The Necromancer: The Series is surrounded by tall walls of fluttering draperies of tattered black silk, made far creepier by the dim lighting in the expo hall. Startlingly cool breezes waft out from within. Near the entryway, a holoprojection of a undead humanoid dressed in a snazzy outfit and bearing a wide grin, holds a microphone and gestures toward the entrance.
An image of the grinning undead now on Slides.
“Right this way, folks! Over two centuries of lost magic, upscale living, and haute couture will make your bones positively quiver with excitement, no matter how long you’ve been dead. Now available in your own HAC!” A holographic sign overhead flashes these last few words over and over.
Advertisements lining part of the booth indicate that the HAC experience offered at this booth is a licensed tie-in with a famous, critically acclaimed show that ran for nearly 2 centuries (and has generated almost as many game sequels as seasons), produced by the undead media mogul Zo!. Episode 157 of The Necromancer: The Series, entitled "Dead Air", is among those prominently featured.
This interactive entertainment experience is produced by a third party and available on basically every platform, including several HACTech consoles.
A carrion bat, bearing wounds inflicted by the party earlier, hangs from the ceiling overhead.
In its current condition, the creature will be occupied for some time and poses no immediate threat.
A glass case in the center of the booth contains a ring. This collector’s item is engraved with the number 157 and Zo!’s signature on the band.
You can tell that a ring in a glass case in the center of the booth emits a magical aura. It appears to been transmuted by Jaype’s rogue code into an actual in-game item—functioning as a mk 1 ring of resistance. The case can be broken open easily and ring grabbed without fear of alarm or reprisal.
Moving toward the HACTeach area , which sports a spongy foam floor in high-contrast alternating squares, with bright decor and cheerful, boppy music, you find a holographic display that shows a kasatha couple looking on proudly as their two children busily occupy themselves with glowing computer consoles and swirling magical effects.
A soothing voice advertises the offerings, the words also appearing as colorful subtitles on the display. “Let HACTeach prepare your child for success in today’s competitive world. Our unique Intro to Technomancy interactive learning tools put real computers and real spells into your child’s hands for a bright future.” Beneath the calm voice is a muffled sound of a crying child.
The booth appears perfectly normal from the outside.
If questioned, the staff explain that, when Jaype's program began running amok, they responded quickly, repurposing the spell gems in the demo hardware into makeshift defenses. They concede that HACTech’s educational arm, HACTeach, doesn’t actually promise parents it’ll turn their children into technomancers, although it strongly implies that it will. Still, the staff concede that have some training in magical arts. They insist that they’re secure where they are, but they’re extremely grateful if offered escort them to safety and offer some leftover spell gems. They also point out that another group of attendees is taking shelter in the nearby restroom.
They explain that the three spell gems contain the spells daze monster, holographic image , and knock.
HACTech’s expo hall adjoins the corporate HQ and accompanying server room, but entry to it is currently blocked by locked doors along the expo hall’s east wall.
The keycard secured by the party , as previously suggested, readily opens the doors.
Beyond them is stands a small, brightly lit chamber, which 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.
Picture of area and maze on slides.
A robot stands in a bay on the south wall. It does not appear to be activated.
Picture of robot on slides.
Three comically large bundles of cables start in this area. Their ends cannot be seen as they weave through the maze in different directions. Each cable has a specific color and pattern (one blue, one red-and-white striped, and one bundle of white and black cables).
easily open the door.
|
I found some extra supplies: advanced medkit, a fire extinguisher, three mk 1 serums of healing, and two mk 2 serums of healing. Can anyone use the Advanced Medkit?
Also, it looks like if we follow the cables, they will likely lead us to the server office. We will need to find the network node attached to each bundle of cables to more easily open the door.
And naturally, everything in this room will be friendly
Err0r says the opposite of whatever is under the spoiler. He is not trained in the use of the medkit either.
Gliko looks at the cables.
"Actually," Gliko says, correcting Err0r, "That robotic construct’s style is indicative of the obscure survival game Humans Hunted, which centered around a deadly robot uprising. Not at all ominous, wouldn't you agree?"
"These cables likely lead to the server officer. We will probably need to find the network node attached to each bundle of cables to more easily open the door," says Gliko. "This way, follow me."
As the party begins to enter the maze, the robot activates!
Gliko tries to identify the robot.
"It's a guardian robot!" cries the raxilite.
The raxilite rushes out of the maze, drawing a static arc pistol. Then, they fire at the robot/
The shot goes wide.
ENTRY: DENIED? or HUMANS HUNTED (NOW WITH NON-HUMANS!) - Round One Begins!
Err0r
Gliko
Ritta
Willy/Chox
Robot
Err0r casts caustic conversion and then moves away.
vs. EAC
plus 5 persistent acid for 2 rounds
Err0r casts caustic conversion and then moves away.
ENTRY: DENIED? or HUMANS HUNTED (NOW WITH NON-HUMANS!) - Round One Cont'd!
PCs in bold may act
Err0r
Gliko
Ritta
Willy/Chox
Robot -18 HP
Ritta will manifest her Solar Weapon as she moves up to the robot.
ENTRY: DENIED? or HUMANS HUNTED (NOW WITH NON-HUMANS!) - Round One Cont'd!
PCs in bold may act
Err0r
Gliko
Ritta
Willy/Chox
Robot -25 HP
The bolida moves toward the robot to strike it with curve blade.
The blade slides off the robots plating.
Having been struck by the vlaka, the robot tries to put down the canine with a series of blows.
Acid burns into its robotic frame.
ENTRY: DENIED? or HUMANS HUNTED (NOW WITH NON-HUMANS!) - Round Two Begins!
Err0r
Gliko
Ritta -23 SP
Willy/Chox
Robot -30 HP
Err0r throws three pixelated fireballs at it.
Gliko tries to trick attack the robot.
plus flat-footed
Struck by the combined might of the Starfinders, each finding vulnerable spots , the hunting robot clatters to pieces on the floor.
Following the route of one of the bundles of cables leads to a glowing cubical computer under a vidscreen.
There are three such cubical computers within the maze, the location of each now indicated by red dots on map.
The vidscreen pulses with blue light. As you approach within ten feet of the screen, the leering face of the Hardlight Harlequin appears on the 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 creepy clown's program is being run from these nodes. We should be able to shut it down."
"The creepy clown's program is being run from these nodes. We should be able to shut it down."
"No, no, no!" warns the leering image of the Hardlight Harlequin as Err0r attempts to hack into the program and tweak it. "Hands off! I'm afraid that I must now unleash an attack upon you all. I'd say your actions really burn me up, but I suspect that they will burn you up even more!"
The blue screen turns red as a fiery explosion erupts from within the node!
Though scorched, Gliko attempts to hack the node. As a result of their efforts, the computer’s screen flickers black with bright-green text, which is also read aloud by a calm voice, “Simulation effectiveness reduced. Maximum capacity 80%. Refer to the main terminal to rebalance simulation parameters.”
Disabled node now indicated by green dot on map.
The vidscreen above the node pulses with blue light as did the one before. Again, the Hardlight Harlequin appears on the screen. "Have you learned nothing from my last attack? No matter how hard you try to stop me, I will be sure to hardlight stop you first!"
While the Hardlight Harlequin has digitally expanded the server room far beyond its original confines, it would appear that the main office and central computers are still held behind a door, which appears to be locked.
Party Status:
Err0r -6 SP
Gliko
Ritta -6 SP
Willy/Chox
So do we go all the way South? Or hit the one midway down?
Along the route of another bundles of cables, the party comes across another glowing cubical computer under a vidscreen to the south.
Err0r and Ritta spot an explosive device on the node capable of covering the area in metal shards.
Gliko instructs the others to step back and then tries to disable the explosive.
The raxilite is successful and spends 10 minutes to try and hack the terminal to lock out the Hardlight Harlequin.
As a result of their efforts, the computer’s screen flickers black with bright-green text, which is also read aloud by a calm voice, “Simulation effectiveness reduced. Maximum capacity 60%. Refer to the main terminal to rebalance simulation parameters.”
The party follows the final bundles of cables to a glowing cubical computer under a vidscreen in the middle of the maze.
Seeing no traps on this node, Gliko steps forward. A device detonates, bathing Gliko in metal!
Though slashed by metal, Gliko moves ahead to try and disable the device.
Successful, the raxilite spends 10 minutes to try and hack the terminal to lock out the Hardlight Harlequin.
As a result of their efforts, the computer’s screen flickers black with bright-green text, which is also read aloud by a calm voice, “Simulation effectiveness reduced. Maximum capacity 40%. Refer to the main terminal to rebalance simulation parameters.”
Approaching the door to the northeast, Gliko concludes that, while the Hardlight Harlequin has digitally expanded the server room far beyond its original confines, the main office and central computers are still held behind a door that appears to be locked.
Map now updated with locations of PCs now on Slides.
Glikp determines that the bundles of wires that lead here were feeding into the door’s invincibility, and, with the computers with the nodes at the other end now shut down, the door might be easier to open.
Gliko rushes to the door and tries to open it.
The raxilite is unsuccessful.
A trio of unspotted laser turrets begin firing on three of the Starfinders!
Gliko rushes to the door and tries to disable the turret trap.
Err0r, Gliko and Ritta are hit!
The turrets begin humming for another strike!
THE TERRIBLE TURRET TRAP! - Round One Cont'd
Err0r -22 SP
Gliko -26 SP
Ritta -22 SP
Willy/Chox