GM Nomadical's Shades of Spite (Inactive)

Game Master Nomadical

Please dot and delete for now.

The Starfinder Society ship Gentle Gesture floats in orbit above Aballon. As you arrive by intrasystem shuttles from various parts of the Pact Worlds, your names are checked against a roster in the bustling docking bay. A xenometric kasatha android escorts you to a waiting room before your meeting with First Seeker Luwazi Elsebo. They ask that you wait here until the whole team has arrived and gently suggest that you get to know each other and sort out tactics and team roles before your meeting with the Venture-Captain. With a tight and clearly forced smile, they then return to the docking bay to await the next shuttle arrival.

Theme music

The streetwise Ysoki looks like he just came in from the rougher gangland districts of the Spike. He takes in the scene, clearly reading the room and taking mental notes. He then greets those present and hands out some business cards "Name's Roquefort..." the ysoki extends a paw to shake in greeting "Psychic Detective" he offers with a smile.

Despite his otherwise upbeat and positive attitude, the haunted look in his eyes makes it clear he has been to some dark places and seen things best left unspoken.

"I can read a room, in many ways, and read a person. I know my way around a medicine cabinet, a hard drive, and the sacred sites and practices of many cults both well known and those left unspoken"

"If things go bump in the night with no clear cause, or if you want to know if your partner has run off with the pizza guy or a cult of Urgathoa, give me a call"

Croaker enters the room, he sniffs the air and spots Roquefort. He is wearing a military uniform but without any symbols, a frequent practice for mercenaries, on his arm he has a medical patch and the med bag is hanging on his shoulder.

"They call me Croaker, in the docking bay I parked my war rig. If we need to travel on the planet we could take it with us, just as an option. "

"I, as Roquefort before me also read people, I can get into their heads, quite literally. Let's hope that this skill will not be needed. In the spare time we could play some cards or street craps."

He takes a sit checking his comm unit, he did request another favor from Hellknights. He believe that he exhausted their patients already, but they still owed him. I have the last tick in the boon to borrow a weapon for a mission, and I plan on using it here. But shall wait for the briefing to learn what could be of use.

"Always nice to have a mobility option, sure beats taking public transport"

"Card games huh? It'd be nice if this mission was an all-expenses paid trip to a space cruise on a luxury liner and a pile of complimentary casino chips. Can't get that lucky though I suppose!"

A golden android disembarks and looks around. It doesn't appear that she is armored, although there is an advanced laser pistol at her belt. Trailing behind her is a bespeckled human in a lab coat.

The android offers the human a dazzling smile "Come on Jopsie, this will be like a holiday! And you'll likely get some interesting things to study."

Making her way to the briefing room she gracefully takes a seat, offering a greeting "Hello! I'm Kultanien Vaimo. Diplomat in the service of the Pathfinder Society"

She extends a hand to Roquefort. "It sounds like many of our skills intersect. That will be helpful."

Turning her smile on the second yoski she nods to Spike. "It looks like for once the society has picked a team that is good for more than just blowing things up. What a pleasure!"

"It is a novelty, sometimes I wonder if the Society even checks resumes and references before they form these away teams, it is almost as though it is just the next cab off the rank in the main"

"I prefer to think of it as... a higher power knowing just the right combination of skills and attitudes." smiles Kultanien.

"Though they certainly seem to move in mysterious ways from time to time."

"Always nice to have a mobility option, sure beats taking public transport"

"Card games huh? It'd be nice if this mission was an all-expenses paid trip to a space cruise on a luxury liner and a pile of complimentary casino chips. Can't get that lucky though I suppose!"

"I was once or twice in a casino while on a mission, but very quickly it stopped being about the game. And yeah I can't imagine some agents walking for days on a new planet, I think they want to feel like knights of old tales spending months crossing the lands." Croaker chuckles

And welcomes Kultainen "Croaker, nice to meet you. I sometimes feel like Naiaj and Royo are throwing resumes into the box, whichever gets in are signed for the mission."

Walking in, currently finishing a comm call, a thin wiry halforc walks in. Except for the two slightly protruding tusks...and the weirdly purple eyes, they could almost pass as a human. Their jumpsuit is in a weird mostly white with green highlights on the chest, knees and elbows.

"Okay Denardo, my newest composition 'Aria in Eruptive Blue Fugue' will be done for you as soon as I set it up at your gallery on Eox. Just remember....the room has to be exactly 25 feet by 25 feet with a ceiling at 50 feet to get the right volatilization needed. That ceiling is particularly important, unless you want it to be a skylight version....No....okay. Look, I am at my other job. I don't know how long it will be, but right after this I will catch the next transport to Eox. Later"

Hang up, the halforc looks around.

"Sorry about that, you know art curators...they always want things done on a schedule...but art isn't that way. Especially my brand. My name is Azzirm T'sash, but here at the Society I go as Zir. Artist, General Contractor, and Demolitions expert at your service. Also," he gestures at his apparently no armor or weapons on him, "my working attire is currently being offloaded from the shuttle. It should be ready to go once we get done with the briefing. Usually I don't show up in it, as it is kinda bulky and makes some interesting sounds. But I tinker with armor, and an excellent programmer and mechanic to boot."

Seeing the two ysoki's he grins a little and extends a handshake in greeting to both, "Ahh...always great to see that there are some inquisitive minds that will be on the team. I have had excellent dealings with your folk...especially Fitch...though I did have to keep her grandkid--can't remember which...there are so many--from getting into Anlet and firing the cannon while in the Master of Stars," he chuckles. "That is probably the first time I actually saw Fitch do what she has promised so many times...the Mallard Tape, the kid and a wall....the little scrap had the nerve to actually enjoy being strapped upside down to the bulkhead for 10 minutes."

Azzirm then turns and bows to the striking android, "Azzirm at your assistance. If you need somebody to stand behind, please stand behind Anlet. Anlet makes a good wall."

Kultanien offers a short bow to the mechanic.

"I'll bear that in mind, although I do prefer missions where resorting to violence isn't necessary." A sigh from her golden face is quickly quashed. "Though that seems to rarely be the case with Society missions. We do seem to rub folk up the wrong way somehow."

Offering up her sparkling smile she ads "I'd love to hear about your latest composition. An audio-installation?"

A gloomy halfling who has quietly slipped behind one of you has been watching the party for some time. His hair is dyed blonde (too chemical) and he is dressed in dark clothes and light armor. His face looks somehow pale and lifeless, and his attentive eyes are unpleasantly empty and indifferent.

At some point, he coughs softly so that everyone will pay attention to him. Instead of greeting, he pours a handful of broken ion stones on the table.

Carlos. I travel around the universe and solve problems in a certain way. In recent years, I have been busy on safari for azlantians. One powerful corporation wanted them to interfere with it a little less on a remote planet. The guys and I have solved the issue. He nods at the ion stones. These are only officers', I didn't collect soldiers'.

(Imagine Sean Penn dyed his hair bright yellow and playing a killer... a halfling killer. This will be it)

"That is quite a collection - perhaps you could work with Zir to create an art piece? It can be quite an effective practice for deeper introspection and development"

"I create different art installations - usually pictures of missing people, locations, maps, all covered in drawing pins and string" Roquefort jests "But I always find them, whether it is a lost friend or relative, a witness, a suspect, or a debtor"

A blue-furred Skittermander with a Starfinder insignia that looks like it gets polished a bit too often is the latest arrival. He is positively bristling with weaponry of all types (approximately 10 bulk's worth), and seems to have some black makeup in the normally lighter-blue fur surrounding his face, making his bright blue eyes stand out even more than usual.

"Yar there! I can tell just by lookin that ye be needin' my help! Not nearly enough guns 'n' blades around this ship, gree?"

"...Oh right, me name! Chip - Chip Ramsey, of the Besmaran Ramseys...adopted...and totally a Starfinder first and pirate second...yar! Drift t'meet ya!"

My local players first got to know me by a family of PFS pirate characters I played when I first moved here. One of them challenged me to make a distant off-shoot of the family in Starfinder. The family was always keep on adopting "like-minded" folk, and so here we are! :P

Your kasatha android guide stands stock still at the doorway to the conference room after delivering Chip. Presently, they nod as if in response to something unheard and open the doors. They usher you all through the large double doors into the First Seeker’s briefing room. Luwazi Elsebo stands across a carved obsidian conference table next to a white-and-brown-furred ysoki. The ysoki wears a fine black suit with matching black vest and tie.

“Thank you for meeting with us, Starfinders. Let me introduce you to our guest, a priest of Lao Shu Po who believes he can help us with our current public relations problems. His name is Biter.” Luwazi Elsebo sits down while attempting to stifle the hint of an amused smile.

The well-dressed ysoki shoots a sidelong glance at Luwazi, “Hello! Yes, I am Biter, acolyte of Grandmother Rat. My sect is aware of the horrible, yet oddly efficient, attacks on the character of your Society and the negative spin you’ve been getting in the press across the Pact Worlds. I’m sure you’ve figured out that these attacks can be traced back to a single ysoki named Datch. I come offering a tool to help you solve your problem with her. My master, a very resourceful fellow, would like to offer this tool to you—”

“In exchange for?” Luwazi’s smile fades.

Biter laughs as if Luwazi had just told an excellent joke. “Your friendship, of course. Grandmother Rat is all about resourcefulness and making the most of things. Our sect is no friend of Datch, and she seems to be no friend of yours, so why wouldn’t we help you? We just need to make sure that we’re giving this tool to capable friends who will know what to do with it. That’s why my master would like you all to undergo a few trials to prove you’re ready for what we have to offer. I’ll guide you on a short journey to my master’s starship in the Shadow Plane, where he will test your abilities. I will act as your guide along the way, answering questions and observing your progress. This should be simple, considering the reputations of Starfinder agents.”

After an uncomfortable pause, Luwazi adds. “Whatever they’re planning to put you through, it’s likely dangerous. I won’t lie: the Society could use a weapon to fight against Datch. Every good deed we do is twisted to look like a selfish act. Every historical find gets shrouded in allegations of damage to cultures or planets. Right now, we can’t even defend ourselves against physical attacks without being painted as an aggressive paramilitary force. We need something to fight back with.

“I won’t force you to go.” Luwazi pauses for a moment to compose herself. “Lao Shu Po and her followers have an infamous reputation as assassins, spies, and thieves. What you’re being asked to do is likely quite dangerous, and I’m offering you this choice only because you’re some of my best agents.

“If you decide to go, Biter can bring you to his master’s ship through a planar gateway we recently secured on Aballon, in the Gullet Ice Well. He’s also promised transportation back to Starfinder headquarters on Absalom Station. Do you have any questions before accepting or declining this mission?”

You might also know more about Lao Shu Po and her acolytes. Culture to Recall Knowledge OR Diplomacy to Gather Information:

==========================================

Mysticism to Recall Knowledge about the Shadow Plane:
@Carlos & Roquefort: As a Shadow Mystic and from previous experience on the Shadow Plane, respectively, you may each reduce the DC of this check by 5.

Carlos is smiling nastily listening to the briefing and his smile is getting wider and worse with every word.

It's clear why I'm here. Darkness is where I shine.

...Lao Shu Po and her followers have an infamous reputation as assassins, spies, and thieves...

He looks at her for a long time with his cold and distant gaze, without blinking. I'm no better, we both know that. Let's leave these ceremonies and get down to business. I'm in.

No mysticism oddly enough, Carlos is focused on the assassin's craft and not on magical theory.

Diplomacy, gather knowledge: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
Mysticism, shadow plane: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27

Croaker listens to what Biter is saying

"Look Luwazi, I don't mind going to shadow plane. But even I can smell a rat from a mile."he turns towards Biter "No offence"

"On Akiton I saw plenty of her figurines, altars, and such. Goddess of Ysokis, avoiding notice, assassination, thievery. She is an evil goddess, and I would imagine that her clergy would be similar. I am expecting us being stabbed in the back, either literally or tricked into something even worse."

He turns towards Carlos and sees that he is not saying anything so Croaker continues.

"Shadow plane is like a reflection of what is in here. Just darker, way darker and sometimes twisted. I will send you a briefing for my mercenary team that we shared when considering job on the other side. Give it a moment to read." Sharing three spoilers about shadow plane and two first about Lao Shu Po

Kultanien listens to the briefing. "Testss can be more than just martial." she notes.

"I've heard a bit about Lao Shu Po." she says. "Grandmother Rat is the goddess of the night and those who would shroud their activities in darkness. She’s a neutral evil goddess, strongly associated with rats due to their resilience and resourcefulness. Often called the patron of the ysoki race, most ysoki pay respect to her for no other reason than to avoid her notice. Her symbol is a curled and emaciated rat. Not that I notice many thin yoski. Lao Shu Po often embodies three aspects, which in turn become her primary areas of worship: the assassin, the spy, and the thief. And you wonder why the ysoki are not always welcome? "

She pauses, leaning forward with her last bit of information. "Silent Strike is a one-eyed master of assassins. He trains assassins from the Executioners’ Nest, a starship dedicated to Lao Shu Po that traverses space on the Shadow Plane. Silent Strike is known to be a brutal and unforgiving instructor. He takes only three candidates every 6 years, one for each of Lao Shu Po’s aspects. Let us hope we are not part of there tests."

As Spike starts to talk about the shadow plane, Jopsie nods along.
"A strange dim light barely illuminates much of the plane without any apparent source. This half-light pervades in outer space, which seems like a starless void of perpetual shadow. But this appearance is false; in fact, dark stars burn in the distance, shedding faded twilight on the planets that circle them. The range of any light source is halved. Creatures from the Shadow Plane there tend to recoil from light and fire, but I hear that producing these through magic is difficult."

Kultanien offers a beaming smile, sure to cut through any shadow plane dimness, to her assistant. "Thanks Jopsie."

diplomacy: 1d20 + 18 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 18 + (5) + 2 = 28
mysticism: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 20

The halfling nods to Spike and Kultanien. I like to act in the dark. So I'll be fine there. And so that you can say the same about yourself... I am ready and willing to share with you a little blessing of darkness in order to grant temporary darkvision. 8 hours per day per person. I want to give to everyone who does not have their own DV. I took this spell on purpose, since Carlos periodically turns out the light himself.

Carlos is smiling nastily listening to the briefing and his smile is getting wider and worse with every word.

It's clear why I'm here. Darkness is where I shine.

Luwazi nods to the halfling. ”Yes, sometimes we have the luxury of selecting members specifically for certain missions.”

She subconsciously glances at Croaker as she continues, ”But sometimes we do not, and we get whoever is available.”

Biter clears his throat. ”My brother,” he addresses Croaker, ”Let me clarify. Neither I nor my master are what you would think of as clergy of Grandmother Rat. I use the term acolyte to mean “devoted follower.” My apologies if you misunderstood.”

He smiles disarmingly, ”But we have no intention of stabbing you in the back, brother.”

"Silent Strike is a one-eyed master of assassins. He trains assassins from the Executioners’ Nest, a starship dedicated to Lao Shu Po that traverses space on the Shadow Plane. Silent Strike is known to be a brutal and unforgiving instructor. He takes only three candidates every 6 years, one for each of Lao Shu Po’s aspects. Let us hope we are not part of there tests."

Biter’s eyebrows go in in surprise. ”You are quite well informed. I wouldn’t have expected Starfinders to know that much about my master, but I suppose it goes to show how thoroughly competent you are. I hope these tests don’t prove to be too trivial for you.”

The halfling nods to Spike and Kultanien. I like to act in the dark. So I'll be fine there.

Biter claps his hands together once, but you note that they barely make a sound. ”Excellent! A being after my own heart. I’ve no doubt you’ll feel at home in the Nest. Perhaps you’ll even consider joining us when this is all done.”

Sorry, I forgot to reveal the slide of their pictures. Also, I’ve revealed the Shadow Plane mechanics slide for future reference.

I’m gonna give Zir, Roquefort and Chip a chance to ask questions before moving us on. Of course, the others can continue to ask and banter, I just want to make sure everyone had a chance.

"Would you be willing to share any more details of the tests with us in advance?" asks Kultanien.

Roquefort continues to scroll quietly through a datafeed on his personal comms unit for a minute whilst the conversation carries on in the room -"Interesting"

Take 20 Culture (Library Chip - downloaded data set) = 41.

"So Biter, at the end of their training, students receive a final trial to murder their fellow acolytes. Is this considered part of the 'training', and if so, would you care to send a few of your acolytes? I'd prefer to not have to murder my Starfinder friends"

"Would you be willing to share any more details of the tests with us in advance?" asks Kultanien.

Biter considers the question for a moment, “I can’t tell you what to expect, but I can tell you that Grandmother expects her grandchildren to be resourceful and to survive against all odds. My master will expect the same from you. Bring your wit, your resilience, and your versatility. Leave your honor and your courage at home. Those will not help you here.”

"So Biter, at the end of their training, students receive a final trial to murder their fellow acolytes. Is this considered part of the 'training', and if so, would you care to send a few of your acolytes? I'd prefer to not have to murder my Starfinder friends"

Luwazi raises an eyebrow at Roquefort’s discovery and turns to listen carefully to Biter’s answer. Biter smiles as if greatly impressed with the Detective’s ability to find such secret information. “Cousin, as I’m sure you know, Grandmother Rat teaches us that ‘Death is always on the horizon; we should scurry, claw, and bite to keep ahead of it.’ That is to say, you could die for any number of reasons, and you should try your hardest to prevent that from happening.”

He pauses to let that sink in. ”But our goal is not to kill you, and this is not training for you. We need you to survive if we are to be friends and help each other. And if any of you are afforded the great honor of training under the Master at a later date, it will likely not be as full acolytes, but instead as Associates. I presume that as Associates you would not have to undergo the Final Trial.”

He smiles disarmingly, ”But we have no intention of stabbing you in the back, brother.”

Croaker looks at Biter "Those exact words I heard from my cousin who ratted me to my grandma looking to culprit of eating her dinner." he looks at Biter I will attempt Sense Motive +13

And you wonder why the ysoki are not always welcome?

"Oh wow! When grenade sends our parts all over the place, I will make sure to patch you last. So that you can have the backing to your prejudice" Croaker takes his chair and moves to the other side of the briefing room sitting next to Roquefort

"...I'd prefer to not have to murder my Starfinder friends."

Croaker turns towards Roquefort and waits for him to say that it is a joke "You would prefer to not murder your friends. Hmm" he stands up again and drags his chair next to Chip

"I will stay close to the alleged Skittermander who is supposed to be underneath this orbit of weapons. I am afraid that if he picks up some more weapons he would begin to collapse under his own mass, but time will tell. Do you have black holes in shadow plane Biter?"

"Or would they be white holes?" quips Kultanien.

Zir just listens to the conversation, as this seems to be a more diplomatic and mystical conversation...which he leaves to the more aptly suited people in the group. While idly listening, hementally starts to wonder if he should switch out one of his armor upgrades with the brightlight projector. He also had his datapad out recording the meeting, as this has saved his life at least once....

"Carlos, Biter....I have a hybrid item for my armor that projects magical light, and is supposed to work even in magical darkness....do you think that this would be of use, especially to scare/intimidate/hurt creatures on the plane of shadow?"

Brightlight Projector armor upgrade

And on that thought, Azzirm will make a mental note to buy at least a few more batteries...both for his gun, his armor, and even the brightlight projector if needed.

The joys of having all their items run on batteries.....and being paranoid that we will be somewhere where recharging them won't be easy....

If Chip wants to ask any questions in hindsight, I’ll allow it. But I’m gonna move us on.

A quick consult with the Society Armorer lets you know that since the dimness of the Shadow Plane isn’t magical per se, the brightlight projector will just be a regular light source still susceptible to being reduced in its range. She does note that if any opponents were to invoke magical darkness, it would surely work on that. But, I mean, would assassins trained on the Shadow Plane use darkness magic? Surely not…..

When you are ready to depart, you join Biter on a Starfinder shuttle to Aballon’s Gullet Ice Well. Roquefort readily recognizes the area, and the route to the planar portal he helped uncover. After descending to the bottom of the cylindrical pit, Biter disembarks onto a structure of stable, high-tech scaffolding standing in a pool of water and surrounding a submerged pit, black as midnight. He beckons you to follow him as he pulls the statue of a small rat from an inside coat pocket and starts to walk around the scaffolding. After reaching the lowest platform, he stops and whispers in Ysoki,

When he finishes, the waters start to gently swirl into a whirlpool at the center of the dark pit. “After you,” says Biter in Common, gesturing toward the now-swirling vortex. When you enter the well, you feel a great pulling sensation, dragging you down into the dark abyss, but you do not feel the water. After what feels like falling for minutes, your feet find the solid ground of a metal grate, in an antechamber on the Executioners’ Nest.

The interior of the Executioners’ Nest is comprised mainly of black metal, with intermittent blue lights along the bottom of the walls that cast dim illumination across steel grated walkways. The ship has the pervasive dim illumination that infuses much of the Shadow Plane, making these lights the only source of visibility. Occasional glass panels interrupt the black walls, coming to life with a touch and illuminating a brilliant display of technological controls. The ceilings are 10 feet high.

As you wait for Biter, moving about the chamber you immediately notice that the floor panels and door hinges creak and squeak, betraying the presence of movement around the ship. But it seems that you are the only ones making such noise; the rest of the ship is eerily silent.

Biter is the last to arrive on the ship, after each of you has crossed through the portal. He lands without making a sound and moves around the ship just as silently.

The creaking floors cause PCs to take a –4 penalty to all Stealth checks within the starship. It’s just like the famous nightingale floors of Edo period Japan, particularly in Nijō Castle in Kyoto, which I’ve been to. Interestingly, according to signage at the castle, the effect was not intentional.

perception#1: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
perception#2: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

"Interesting way you have of walking.." notes Kultanien to Biter.

She activates her own force soles (mk2) to mimic the effect.

Zir nods at what the armourer says about the Shadow Plane. He still will take a few minutes to install the armor light....just in case.

Following the acolyte of Grandma Rat....Zir overhears the Ysoki says, and mentally stores that in his mind...it might be important later.

Perception 1st check: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

Walking into the ship....Zir sees that he can change into his work outfit. Not having the problem with the dim lights, he goes to a side room with a bulky container, and comes back in a medium sized power armor that has a very Azlanti look about it....Mostly green and white with a glaring red crystal in the center of the armor's chest. A large cannon is on the left shoulder sits idly on the back, and a assault rifle on their right arm.

Walking on the floor, he pauses as the creaking sounds.

Perception 1st check: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

Roquefort notes the 'prayer' and jots it down in a spare moment.
Perception 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (1) + 19 = 20
...clearly missing something else as he does so.

Perception 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (15) + 19 = 34
Stealth 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29

After watching Biter, Roquefort does his part to 'fit in' with the Ysoki assassins and matches the effort.

This was indeed the right character to bring!

Zir, I'll be grateful if you don't use this next to me. Otherwise, I might shoot straight into the searchlight out of fright. Later, he will comment on the armor of the half-orc. That's impressive. Trophy, I hope? I'm talking about the materials.

Perception: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (15) + 19 = 34

The gloomy halfling looks at the figure of a rat, but does not comment. It is clear that this does not shock him and does not arouse interest. It's just information. Everything in the world is information... wind adjustment for the sniper.

With some such thoughts, he takes a sniper rifle out of his Null-Space Chamber and, with an absolutely imperturbable look, begins to alter the silencer to it. Accidentally meeting Biter's eyes, he smiles with the corners of his lips. But the look remains like that of a butcher who is figuring out exactly how to carve the carcass in front of him.

After that, he hangs the rifle behind his back, and before entering the portal, he says a few words in Abyssal, like a preacher spreading his arms a little to the sides.

Perception: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (9) + 19 = 28

Carlos looks at the creaking floors for a couple of seconds, after which he says "like children, by Goddess." He retreats a couple of steps and almost instantly disappears from sight.

Stealth: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (15) + 23 = 38

+ this: Shadow Weaver (Su): If you have concealment from dim light or darkness, you can become invisible as a standard action. This invisibility lasts for a number of minutes per day equal to your mystic level. This duration needn’t be continuous, but it must be used in 1-minute increments.

Carlos goes to investigate the ship. He will use invisibility where necessary (please tell me how many minutes I have to write out), but he immediately wants to find the most unsightly secrets on this ship. He is especially interested in traps, dangers and torture rooms. Perhaps he will try to steal some secret plans of the ship and so on.

Croaker gets his weapon before they depart and spends the journey on cleaning, assembling, and disassembling it. Only once he was left with spare parts. He kept himself busy during the trip

Perception, 1: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31

"How fitting, gnawing on a jawbone, and that blood makes it adequate for the occasion." comments Croaker and jumps into the Vortex

Perception, 2: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23

He does not notice anything "Can't you make a ship to not make such noise?" he asks

I've been in that castle, walked that floor ;) a bit like in my grandfather's house :D

Yea, profuse apologies - the extra work that popped up that I needed to do for Gen Con sidelined me in a big way for the last 48 hours.

Chip truthfully sleeps through most of the briefing, other than to occasionally drift awake long enough to check the battery power on his weapons, then his one eye starts to close again. Once, you see him lift up his eyepatch to rub the perfectly fine and usable eye beneath it and notice that its mesh makes it see-through from the inside.

Chip couldn't beat any of those checks even on a natural 20 :P

Finally awake, Chip yawns until it becomes apparent that we're about to step into a potentially dangerous area. He suddenly becomes quite animate.

"Yar! Allright! Time to have allsix ready for anything, gree?!" He exclaims loudly, drawing to his six arms, his: Opportunistic Called Yellow Star Nova Lance (2 hands), his Tactical Rail Cannon (2 hands), and his Field Tactical Shield (1 hand), strangely leaving one hand open just in case he needs to choose from his variety of other weapons on the fly.

He then stomps his way through the portal with absolutely no attempt at stealth or guile, Environmental Seals and Infrared Sensors on his armor both active!

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

Will post slotted boons momentarily. Sorry again and in advance for any delays in my posting.

Zir looks to Carlos, "If the plane of shadows really reduces the power of this...it would still be a 25 foot bubble around me, or a cone in front of me probably to 50 feet or so. But I will do my best not to get you in the spot light."

****

"Actually Carlos, the first iteration--before power armor--was actually from ...welll....my father. If a brain-dead Azlanti being used by the Drow as a breeding stock can count as a father. This version is one that I bought because unless you have Azlanti genes you can't activate most of their equipment, so most people who want them for collection, but can't use them. 'Luckily' I can. It was some kind of Royal Regalia armor before I figured how to turn it into power armor."

before stealth mission.

It's an impressive story, Azzirm T'sash. When I see such armor, my hand reaches for the weapon itself. Hah, although we ourselves put on this armor to mislead the enemy. Well, us... I mean my comrades. I was covering at that moment - he slaps his hand on the sniper rifle - as not so many azlanti of my height, you know. Carlos's voice sounds lively, but his eyes are bored and empty.

"Oh....I understand. The Drow of Apostae have been trying to find a way to make 'infiltrator' units for the Azlanti. I am one of the more--and less--successful experiments from their breeding pits....Hence why I do not look as 'orc' as a lot of half-orcs. I even had to cosmetically reconstruct my face--as they had 'humanized' my face when I was a kid." Zir's voice is very much dripping with vitrol when talking about the Drow.

"Anyway....it sounds like we both have hatred for a few races....you the Azlanti, me the Drow--though I also hate the Azlanti for other reasons. So, don't accidentally shoot me in the back for having tainted blood."

Carlos disappears into the shadows and explores the nearby rooms of the ship. The first one beyond the entry area appears to be a small shrine to Grandmother Rat. The small sparse room consists of a metal floor, the grate patterned to look like an emaciated rat, and an ancient metal altar with rows of candles in front of a taxidermied dire rat. Only 17 of the 41 candles are lit, in no particular pattern. The room has only one exit, on the forward wall opposite the shrine; it is surrounded by a dim blue light and is unlocked.

Carlos quietly and invisibly proceeds past the unlocked door and down a hallway with only a set of double doors at the other end. Beyond those doors, he finds a large octagonal chamber featuring several three-foot-high walls arranged in various patterns. Clearly a training room of some type, each of the eight side walls features a large set of sliding double doors. All of the other doors are surrounded with dim red lights and are securely locked.

With nowhere else to go, Carlos heads back to the entry area just as Biter arrives. The ysoki looks at Carlos with a slight smile as if he suspects something, but says nothing. ”Nicely done, cousin,” he says to Roquefort as the Detective mimics his gait. ”Perhaps the both of you have what it takes to join us.”

Biter turns and leads you into the next room and immediately turns to a small wooden altar in the back of the room. He reverently snuffs out one of the candles with his fingers. After a moment of silence, he asks, “Would you care to pay your respects?” indicating the handful of lit candles still on the altar.

One minute of invisibility used. Nothing to find here, but I will keep it in mind that Carlos is looking for opportunities to sneak off and discover things. If it looks like that’s a possibility, I’ll let you know.

I wonder how that conversation about Drow would have gone if Yarameh had come instead of Carlos?

Minor detail. I forgot to uncover the slide with the art of the ship from the cover of the scenario. Note the curled rat insignia on the forward hull.

I think I still need a token on Slide 1 from Zir, please. I mean, I might need it … soon.

Kultanien, remembering this is a diplomatic mission as much as anything else, steps forward to pay her respects at the shrine.

It should be noted that she does have environmental protections active here, and while she doesn't look armored, she is.

Reaching out a delicate hand, Kultanien is about to snuff out a particular candle, when Jopsie points to another one.

Not sure if either of these are helpful for picking an appropriate candle but..
mysticism: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31
culture: 1d20 + 18 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 18 + (2) + 2 = 23

She then snuffs it out.

Zir follows the small ysoki--and his other two ysoki companions--into the room with the altar.

Watching Biter snuffing out a candle and being offered, he looks at the alter, and then sees Kultanien snuff one out. He delicately--with the hand that doesn't have the plasma torch--reached out with the power armor and snuffs out a small candle.

Roquefort snickers to himself as he cottons on to Carlos's actions as the sound of the halflings heartbeat fades off into the distance, leaving only the steady and certain beats of his companions and Biter around him - a bunch of fleshy metronomes ticking away.

"Respect is important, it is important to give it if one is desiring to recieve it"

Roquefort snuffs a candle.

Croaker waves his hand and sends a gentle blow of the wind to put down a candle.

"There are many tools Biter, walking on a squeaky deck is just one of them." he reaches into his pocket and takes out some beef jerky that he puts next to the candles. Then he takes some more and chews on it.

"You know, you need to eat when you are hungry. "

| BEFORE |

Zir, I don't hate Azlanti. It was a job, and I did it well. Strangely enough, the real hell began after this little victorious war, on a regular vacation... The nightmare is not waiting for you in the jungle with a rifle. A nightmare awaits you over a lonely cocktail in the suite later.

| NOW | GM, thanks! Yes, the dialogue about the drow could be entertaining. However, about azlanti is also good. Thank you, yes, Carlos is ready and willing to stick his nose in other places too.

Carlos indifferently extinguishes one of the candles with his fingers. No one knows, but at this moment he is mentally thanking another goddess...

Chip kind of looks around a bit confused, scratching his head with his free hand, muttering to himself...

Intelligence: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

"Er...so, if putting out a candle is respect...okay, you got this, Chip Ramsey!"

The skittermander boldly strides up to the altar and waves the wide, flat side of his tactical shield with a powerful swing to snuff out as many candles as he can at once!

As Nomadical pointed out, I'm off to Gen Con in the morning...well, later this morning once I pack (now that I'm finished printing stuff for other people lol). My deepest apologies for slowing us down!

You didn't slow us down, Chip. I would've paused here anyway. Have a good weekend, everyone. See you back here on Monday (US time). 

Biter raises an eyebrow as Chip manages to extinguish (1d12 ⇒ 9) nearly all of the remaining candles, but doesn’t remark on the skittermander’s technique.

Your guide turns from the altar and leads you down a hall that is familiar to Carlos and into the same large octagonal chamber that the sneaky little halfling explored earlier. It features several three-foot-high walls arranged in various patterns perhaps for some type of training. Each main wall features a large set of sliding double doors. All doors are surrounded with dim red lights except for the ones you’ve just entered through.

Biter allows you to enter first, as this is your trial, not his. He follows you in and steps to the north side of the room. As soon as everyone is in the training room, the doors abruptly shut and the lights around them turn red. Over the ship’s intercom booms the voice of Silent Strike, patient and precise.

“You’ve come here, at my request, to prove yourselves worthy of my assistance. I assume you are expecting an ambush. You expect that this is all an elaborate setup. Very well, let us begin by meeting your expectations.”

The lights around the forward-port doors (Left on The Map) turn blue and the doors suddenly open, revealing two cat-like creatures with five legs, bat-like ears, a long snout, and covered in thick hair. You notice that they are each wearing brightly colored collars, one Red and one Blue. A moment later, all lights in the room extinguish, plunging the room into darkness!

The one in the Blue collar rushes around the edge of the room moving absolutely and eerily silently. It lashes out at Zir

Claw: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (4) + 18 = 22
But the claws merely scrape across the powered armor frame. Zir notes with interest the fact that the contact and scraping also made no sound whatsoever.

Round 1
Bold may act!
Ambush! Duh

Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: Completely Dark, Shadow Plane

Blue Sonorivore
Roquefort
Chip
Carlos
Red Sonorivore
Croaker
Azzirm
Kultainen

Life Science to know about these creatures.

As usual for the Shadow Plane, the range of all light sources is halved. See the Shadow Plane slide for reference, although you all have darkvision.

You may enter and use the square that Biter is in without squeezing. He’s not an obstacle and won’t interfere with your training, but I need to keep him on the map for … reasons.

Roquefort takes aim at the creature in the dark and squeezes the trigger.

Trick attack
Sense Motive Take 10 = DC13 tricked.
Attack 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24 vs FF EAC
Damage 2d4 + 4 + 4d8 ⇒ (4, 2) + 4 + (8, 4, 7, 5) = 34
+Bleeding Shot = 9 Bleed.

That's what I'm talking about! Yar!!!"

Chip moves up a bit towards the red creature, unleashing a blast from his big gun!

Tactical Rail Cannon: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29 vs. KAC
Piercing Damage: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Chip's Yellow Star Nova Lance is also ready to take advantage if the red creature gets close, calling out. "Don't get in front of me!"

Chip has 10 foot reach with his Opportunistic Nova Lance. Expecting the red creature to provoke an AoO when it attacks him, I'll roll that in advance:

Opportunistic Yellow Star Nova Lance AoO: 1d20 + 15 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 15 + 3 + 2 = 24 vs. EAC
Electricity & Fire: 1d4 + 17 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 17 + 3 = 24

(Bah, bad roll, but Opportunistic +3 plus Opening Volley +2 maybe help it hit?)

Note to all, Chip has Coordinated Shot: When you are threatening a foe with a melee weapon, any ally that has line of sight to that foe without you granting that foe cover gains a +1 bonus to ranged attack rolls against that foe.

Carlos walks forward. The hands are relaxed and take out a sniper rifle on the move, the eyes look carefully and assess the situation. He steps smoothly and speaks softly, looking around when the lights go out and the doors turn red:

They say hope begins in the dark, but most just flail around in the blackness, searching for their destiny. The darkness... For me... is where I shine.

Then he directs his hand to the side where one of the creatures is standing, at which the Chip is firing. Concentration, a snap of fingers, and a good third of the room is enveloped by creepy tentacles that seem to consist of concentrated darkness.

Umbral Tendrils, DC 22 Will (this includes +2 for darkness), 3 rounds (red lines on the map)

black tentacles: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 6, 5) = 14

The Detective’s laser seems to be extra effective against the strange silent creature, dealing far more damage than he expected on top of the bleeding gash it left.

Chip’s rail cannon puts a hole in the other one just before Carlos entraps it in a mass of shadow.

Will save, initial: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
The creature makes no sound, but you hear it telepathically screech in frustration. Although the shadows had torn through its fur, the wound seems to partially knit itself back together. It struggles against the shadows,
Will save, it’s turn: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25
and manages to break free, though the shadows continue to pummel it Shadow, half for saved: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4

It moves as fast as it can to attack Chip, clawing at the soldier

Claw: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (12) + 18 = 30
Claw, S: 4d4 + 8 ⇒ (1, 2, 2, 3) + 8 = 16

It tears a decent gash in one of Chip’s many arms and for a moment Chip feels like the sounds of the fight, though already eerily quiet get even quieter.

@Chip, DC 18 Will save needed, please

By this point in the battle, your experience with fighting all kinds of strange aliens tells you that these creatures are vulnerable to Fire and that their wounds naturally Regenerate, though you’ve yet to determine what effect might be used to stop such regeneration.

Round 1
Bold may act!
Map: Ambush! Duh

Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: Completely Dark, Shadow Plane, Interior walls are only 3 feet tall, Umbral Tendrils around Red (inside red lines)

Blue Sonorivore (-51, Bleed 9)
Roquefort
Chip (-11, Pending Will save)
Carlos
Red Sonorivore (-53)
Croaker
Azzirm
Kultainen

Life Science to know about these creatures.

As usual for the Shadow Plane, the range of all light sources is halved. See the Shadow Plane slide for reference, although you all have darkvision.

You may enter and use the square that Biter is in without squeezing. He’s not an obstacle and won’t interfere with your training, but I need to keep him on the map for … reasons.