SFS Gameday XI #1-04 Cries From the Drift (Inactive)

Game Master Qstor

"Perhaps we should investigate our insurance situation first. But I agree with your outlook on the Vesk. This may be a peaceful means of disputing their salvage claims. As long as this crew is true to the name of their ship, as you suggest."

He'll also try to subtly ask Momo, "You up for this? I don't want to pry, but you seem a bit, ah, apprehensive, on the ship. Are you gonna be alright, if this vesk doesn't back down?"

Momo, by now looking like a ghost, says It was a Kasatha who rescued me. All the time he was saying about the cycle, light and darkness, destroy and create. He told me one day I'd turn full circle, as much as he had saved me I'd save him one day. I owe it to the people on the Scholar's Struggle.

She takes a brief look at a folded colorful piece of paper, inhales deeply and stares back with resolve The batteries on the escape pods are fully charged, and I made sure they're no AbadarCorp rip-offs. I've tuned the shield phasing and ran diagnostic tests on the coilguns. Her voice breaks slightly towards the end of the sentence betraying she might not be as resolved as she tries to be. I've got the codes for the missiles and the cannon is fully calibrated.

"Perhaps we should investigate our insurance situation first. But I agree with your outlook on the Vesk. This may be a peaceful means of disputing their salvage claims. As long as this crew is true to the name of their ship, as you suggest."

The insurance company did declare the ship a loss. That's not in the scenario. I threw in THAT in as a plausible explanation under Anglo-American maritime law as to why the Vesk had a good reason to declare the ship a salvage :) cause the Society does own the ship and it's unclear to me if the Swarms are really a threat in the area

Have we picked roles? Captain - momo? Pilot ? Gunner etc.

From what others have said and our skills mix, I think roles look something like this:
Embidi: Science/Engineer (via Hireling), backup Captain
Niobrar: Pilot
Momo: Gunner
Skip: Magic Officer, backup captain/gunner
Definitely don't want to shoe-horn anyone though, so please correct me if I've got anything wrong!

From what others have said and our skills mix, I think roles look something like this:

Embidi: Science/Engineer (via Hireling), backup Captain
Niobrar: Pilot
Momo: Gunner
Skip: Magic Officer, backup captain/gunner
Definitely don't want to shoe-horn anyone though, so please correct me if I've got anything wrong!

does that sound right?

Embidi wrote:

From what others have said and our skills mix, I think roles look something like this:

Embidi: Science/Engineer (via Hireling), backup Captain
Niobrar: Pilot
Momo: Gunner
Skip: Magic Officer, backup captain/gunner
Definitely don't want to shoe-horn anyone though, so please correct me if I've got anything wrong!

does that sound right?

if so Helm engineering and gunnery can go?"

Precognition DC13 on tier 2 ship: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Skip peers into the chaos of the drift and sees for a brief flash what the Vesk crew might do to start the mock combat, and calls it out to Niobrar.

+2 on initiative on a success

Embidi will begin in the Captain's seat, but move to help his hireling do technical stuff next round. For now, he'll Taunt the vesk ship's Helm crew.

Embidi keeps the voice channel open to the enemy: "Wow, Honorbound, we've done a preliminary scan here, and - I'm actually seeing your engine core is leaking radioactive plasma at an alarming rate? Hope you're all up to date on your rad shots!"

Bluff vs DC = 15 + 1-1/2 × the enemy starship’s tier: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

If successful, their Helm actions take a –2 penalty (-4 for Push actions) to all checks for 1d4: 1d4 ⇒ 2 rounds.

Momo has climbed back up in the gunnery turret, trying to get a good view of the Honorbound.

She quickly turns her console into an array of blinking lights, most of them red, as she's powering up every single gun the has to offer. As the ship starts to move, the thrusters are accompanied by the low drone of the front laser cannon charging, and the high beep of the missile system trying to find target lock.

I'll make you dance she says as the beep beep is replaced by the long doooo indicating target lock.

Posting gunnery rolls, assuming we get a good bearing on the Honorbound, and we're not shooting at its backside (in which case Momo holds fire)

If the hireling has any form of gunnery skill, he could fire a coilgun? It's possible to switch stations after the round is over.

If the hireling has any form of gunnery skill, he could fire a coilgun? It's possible to switch stations after the round is over.

yeah sure!

looks like we're low tier

Niobrar roll Piloting for iniative

The Vesk ship looks like it's moving past you and is going to fire. But the Starfinders beat them to the punch.

Piloting: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

botting Niobrar. EDIT are you guys moving or staying put? Let's try to keep this moving. I know that Starship combat can take a little while in IRL don't want to get bogged down.

Piloting: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Is the Honorbound staying put? I'm confused, which one is our Initiative and which is one the enemy's?

Is the Honorbound staying put? I'm confused, which one is our Initiative and which is one the enemy's?

you're is 2nd. I think the vote is to evade

The Honorbound moves and the Pilot tries to turn.

"Forward!" Shouts the Vesk Captain.

Pilot: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

The Gunner tries to fire two laser cannons at the side of the Starfinders ship.

Gunnery: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Gunnery: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

But it misses. As the Vesk ship turns the Starfinders missile destroys its port side shields and the laser scars the side of the Hull.

Vesk ship 27 damage

I think I got that right overall? I moved the Vesk ship. @Momo I assumed the intent was to use the laser after the Missile? Sorry if I missed something. I think the Starfinders are up.

I think the evade roll isn't needed?

I think I got that right overall?

Only thing I can think of is critical threshold that we might have exceeded.

Up above in the gunnery turret, Momo keeps all crosshairs tightly aimed at the Vesk ship. The console is lit up like a christmas tree, pulsing and whirring as the missiles reload and the cannon charges up once again. In between the noise, singing can be heard...

Returning to the void
The lights are are fading, the sky is falling
A wish devouring all
Why aren't you hearing my call?
So drift a bit closer to me
A little bit closer to me
Before the darkness swallows all

Only thing I can think of is critical threshold that we might have exceeded.

Up above in the gunnery turret, Momo keeps all crosshairs tightly aimed at the Vesk ship.

Nice rolls...again I'm assuming that you're targeting the area where the shields are down.

Momo keeps the crosshairs on the Vesk ship. Blasting it and scarring the hide! Both hits strike hard and cause the engines to malfunction. It's power could drop...but the Vesk Captain shouts in the communicator!

"We yield the skill of your gunner is no match to mine! If only the Veskarium taught such skills to it's youth!"

I suppose this means I'll be rolling 1's for the rest of the scenario :-P

Momo powers the laser cannon down to stand-by, and stops the beeping. She climbs down from the turret and moves onto the bridge.

I think you were right about the plasma leak, mister Embidi. Should we offer help?

---
This is AbadarCorp Entertainment with a statement. Recent rumours have been circulating that alongside providing our trainees with education in dancing and singing, we also provide markmanship training. AbadarCorp Entertainment emphasizes that these rumours have no ground in reality and are utterly false. Unrelatedly, we are currently hiring no further Vesk trainees. Please continue to support our artists in all corners of the galaxy.
---
AbadarCorp Entertainment press release

Embidi was getting up from the Captain's seat to rush to Engineering - until Momo lit 'em up like the 4th of Erastus! The dino's eyes go a bit wide. "...wow. Nice shooting, Strawberry!" He takes a moment to comport himself before replying to the vesk ship. "Captain Yuluzak, we accept your honourable surrender. Thank you for proposing this match - how bracing! Do let us know if you require any aid."

Embidi will blow out his cheeks and share a look with the crew, and then hop down from the chair. "Now that that's been dealt with - shall we? Mr. Platt, take us in and begin docking with the Scholar's Struggle, if you please. When we're ready, meet at the airlock - I've got a spell gem of Life Bubble for us all."

"Excellent shooting, that made quick work of the rascals! That was quite thrilling indeed!" Skip stands up from his leisurely position in his chair after appearing to have done nothing during the engagement, not so much as having reached for a console. "If the Honorbound doesn't require assistance, let's move back to the task at hand!"

Embidi was getting up from the Captain's seat to rush to Engineering - until Momo lit 'em up like the 4th of Erastus! The dino's eyes go a bit wide. "...wow. Nice shooting, Strawberry!" He takes a moment to comport himself before replying to the vesk ship. "Captain Yuluzak, we accept your honourable surrender. Thank you for proposing this match - how bracing! Do let us know if you require any aid."

"I thank you. My crew is fixing the damage now. I will let you know. Your gunnery is quite skilled! With your permission, I will quickly

- - - -

The Starfinders use the scanners and locate the ship. After only a half-hour of scanning the asteroids to find the beacon lodged in a gray hunk of rock. The lightly encoded message contained within is easy to crack with the decoder provided by Zigvigix. They encounter no enemies.

see new message you found on the slides.

- -

I assume you're going to follow the message if so

Oh, I thought the ship we came for was here in the Drift already! It's just a beacon telling us where it left the drift, though? Gotcha.

Embidi will ask his pocket-nerd to scan the ship, as well as this scary looking space storm.
Computers to scan: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 1 = 27
Physical Science (if called for): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

On the bridge, Momo is looking as if she's about to have a bad molt again. All she does is stare out into the storm-filled space, at the vessel. She doesn't see the storm, she doesn't even look at the vessel that much. She is just transfixed on the orange blinking light.

Almost silently under her breath, she finishes her song.

"Oi, I think we'll need to get there as quickly as possible. Want to move on out before that storm hits."

[spoiler=DC 15 Mysticism]you recognize the stellar event as an etheric storm, an uncommon event where the barrier between the Ethereal and Material Planes is thinnest.[/ooc]

The Starfinders edge their ship near the as the Struggle’s Scholar floats nearby. The ship is eerily quiet. Black marks from battle scar the hull.

are you going onboard?

Mysticism: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Skip peers out at the darkness of space but is distracted by the battle scared ship ahead of them.

"Well, shall we? I've no fear of ghosts ships! No! Have any of you ever spoken to a ghost before? It's a lot of boo-hooing about some such thing in life. You just have to remind them that they are quite dead, 'off to the light with you!' and all that. It may however be quite chilly there, if the ship is powered down and exposed to the vacuum of space. I suggest layers."

He will throw a scarf around his neck knowing full well his second skin affords him environmental protections.

He catches himself suddenly as he catches Momo's reaction to the scene. You old fool... jokes about ghost ships. You've done it again.

"Will you be comfortable accompanying us?" he asks her quietly

Mysticism: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Embidi joins Skip looking at the derelict out the viewport, and having no clue on what that storm is.

He'll button up his own armour seals, and then pull out the two spell gems of Life Bubble he purchased before shipping out, to make a show of casting on everyone in the airlock before heading over. "It never hurts to have some magic overtop of armour! You never know what will fail...or why."

Good to go!

Mysticism: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

"No! Have any of you ever spoken to a ghost before?

Yes Momo says, not offering a whole lot in terms of explanation.

"Will you be comfortable accompanying us?" he asks her quietly

I owe it to the crew, mister Intro Momo knows quite well that the answer is 'no', and tries to summon whatever resolve is needed to board the wrecked vessel.

She points out her Lashunta Tempweave, which has a label 'Property of AbadarCorp Entertainment'. I'll take any magical protection you have to offer, mister Embidi

She steps into the airlock, a little mote of yellowish energy clearly visible in the darkness, hovering close-by.

You're my starlight... you're my starlight...

Niobrar puts on his electrocellular plasma claw, in case things go down.

"Well no time like the present for this to go all bollix." he says glumly, "Let's do this."

The Starfinders are able space walk over to the ship and the force the airlock. The stranded ship is on low power.

map on slide 2

This entire chamber is one large airlock, with access doors to
the north and south. Loose netting floats in the gravity-free
chamber. A warning light above the interior door flashes every
few seconds, periodically bathing the room in a dim orange
glow. A small panel next to the door flashes orange in time
with the warning light.

there's also some crates in the airlock. Are you closing the airlock door to space?

"Pardon my ailing vision. I'm not sure how well the rest of you can see in the dark, but I'd much rather be able to see my way through this old wreck clearly"

As he speaks, 4 motes of light being to glow in a ten foot radius from him. As he glances around the room the lights follow his gaze, moving over the crates and refuse floating here. It's uncertain what is causing the lights, but it's almost as if Skip he just chosen to perceive the places he's looking as though they were well-lit.

Cast 0level spell dancing lights, there is no casting cost so he will continue to cast is as they move through the ship, and direct the lights on whatever he's looking at, including potential combat targets.

"Let's close the door, shall we? We're letting the cold vacuum of space in"

"I mean, I don't have an issue with the vacuum, yeah, but if you like," Niborar says shrugging. Mighty wings of orange energy are sprouting from his back in the vacuum of space. Its more fun to fly but apparently most non-Sarcesians don't like the vacuum.

"I mean, I don't have an issue with the vacuum, yeah, but if you like," Niborar says shrugging. Mighty wings of orange energy are sprouting from his back in the vacuum of space. Its more fun to fly but apparently most non-Sarcesians don't like the vacuum.

The lights are a "light" anchored to the wall that's a flashing "bulb" as in a warning light. I'm going to assume you close the rear airlock door.

Fresh air pours into the airlock. As air fills the room, a blaring alarm can be heard, timed with the light. About 30 seconds later the alarm and the lights stop.

moving on?

Embidi, who has Life Bubble up, a climb speed, and is pretty comfortable in zero g, gives Niobrar a look as if to say, "Humans, mirite?" and then shrugs. He'll move out of the airlock to investigate the derelict.

I can see the full map, is that intended?

Thanks, Mister Intro Momo says as the lights becomes ever so brighter. When the airlock opens up, she moves along with Embidi.

Is that blood on the floor?

I can see the full map, is that intended?

Yes. My graphics skills aren't great enough to creature a "black" cover. It's fine :)

A gruesome trail of blood runs across the floor of the ten-foot
wide hallway that runs horizontally across the ship; at each
end of this hall are metal access doors leading to the north
and south. A shorter hall leads to a door to the north, with
two doors halfway up that hall exiting to the east and west.
Finally, a large airlock seal covers the center of the southern
wall here. A double-barreled weapon turret limply hangs from
the ceiling, just west of the southern airlock door.

Momo thinks it IS blood

You've noticed so far that the ship is on "emergency battery power" for basic life support and gravity but that's it. Only the low-power emergency lighting is on

Embidi eyes the weapon turret warily. "Niobrar, you're tech support on our little venture, yeah? You wanna make sure that thing's not gonna give us any problems?" He'll direct his tech support Hireling to assist.
Comp or Eng Aid vs DC 10: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Unfortunately, the bumbling skittermander just seems to get in the way :D

Beyond worrying about turrets shooting him in the back, he'll take a look at the blood trail. "I suppose we should see where this trail leads?" Drawing his longarm, he'll head towards the north door down the east wing, trying to keep his eyes open.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

"Yeah, yeah, do the weapon turret, Niobrar," the Sarcesian mumbles to himself.

Engineering: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Skip tries to hold one of the dancing lights for Niobrar as he works. Can't aid, untrained in engineering

"Which way does the blood stain go?" Skip wonders aloud as Embidi begins to move off, and makes his way to follow him deeper into the ship.

Momo stays close to Embidi, following the trail of blood, moving lightly for the off-chance that something is alive.

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

sorry was busy over 3 day weekend

Embidi and Skip head down the hallway. They notice that the door to this room is locked. door to the "north"

if opened:

south door if you try it it's locked

Embidi will try the codes we got from Ziggy at the start, to see if that'll unlock the North door. If not, he'll call Niobrar / his pocket nerd to come and try and slice it.
Engineering (or Engi Aid if Niobrar makes main check): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Embidi will try the codes we got from Ziggy at the start, to see if that'll unlock the North door. If not, he'll call Niobrar / his pocket nerd to come and try and slice it.

[dice=Engineering (or Engi Aid if Niobrar makes main check)]1d20+6

Embidi is able to unlock the door.

feel free to read the spoiler

what are the rest of you guys doing?

"Well, it appears this is where the trail of blood began. I suppose it's prudent to discover where it ends!" and he will work his way back down the hallway, carefully stepping around the trail of blood on the floor so he doesn't get any on his loafers.

He inspects the door, bringing his dancing lights with him, ready to illuminate the room.

perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Is this door locked as well? Did the codes work or was it the engineering check that opened it?

"Well, it appears this is where the trail of blood began. I suppose it's prudent to discover where it ends!" and he will work his way back down the hallway, carefully stepping around the trail of blood on the floor so he doesn't get any on his loafers.

Mister Embidi... Momo says carefully, Do you think the ship was boarded after the fight?

She takes a moment to process, looking at the tear in the bed and wondering what caused it. Do you think the boarding party left?

When Mister Intro skips off, she'll follow, only to make sure she stays illuminated.

Mister Embidi... Momo says carefully, Do you think the ship was boarded after the fight?

"I suppose that's what we're here to find out. It's possible that something happened to the crew, and the damage to the ship was all caused from within?" Seeing the look on Momo's face, he'll hasten to add, "...but not to worry! If anything's still here, I'm sure it's nothing a group of Starfinders like ourselves can't handle!"

Insert weak-spongebob-strong-spongebob meme about the 90 cm, 8 str, dinosaur telling the lvl 4 160 cm solarion that it'll be okay :D

Embidi will gingerly climb over the blood puddle, and take a quick look inside the North room (including a sweep with Detect Magic) to look for any clues or (remembering Ziggy's briefing) personal effects to bring back to the crew's family.
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

After that, he'll move ahead to follow Skip & Momo to the other end of the bloody trail.

"Well, it appears this is where the trail of blood began. I suppose it's prudent to discover where it ends!" and he will work his way back down the hallway, carefully stepping around the trail of blood on the floor so he doesn't get any on his loafers.

He inspects the door, bringing his dancing lights with him, ready to illuminate the room.

[Dice=perception]1d20+1

Is this door locked as well? Did the codes work or was it the engineering check that opened it?

the southern door? The northern door opened with the Engineering check

Insert weak-spongebob-strong-spongebob meme about the 90 cm, 8 str, dinosaur telling the lvl 4 160 cm solarion that it'll be okay :D

Embidi will gingerly climb over the blood puddle, and take a quick look inside the North room (including a sweep with Detect Magic) to look for any clues or (remembering Ziggy's briefing) personal effects to bring back to the crew's family.
[dice=Perception]1d20+5

After that, he'll move ahead to follow Skip & Momo to the other end of the bloody trail.

Embidi notices a lifeless kasatha in a suit of battle harness powered armor lying on the floor. The armor glows with a barely visible force field that projects around the armor at a range of about one foot, and a cable on the floor leads from a starship battery pack

"Team? Uh, got one. Come take a look at this."

So, this kasatha is dead, but its armour is still projecting a forcefield that's hooked up to the ship's power? That can't be good :s Any checks we can make to investigate the kasatha?

"Bleeding Humans, and their tiny hallways," Niobrar says as he comes to Embidi to see this thing.

Momo looks amazed when she returns after Embidi calls the battery still holds... how long has this ship been here for?

Better not to disrupt the forcefield. Momo checks from the outside for signs of life in the Kasatha, hoping that the lifelessness of the Kasatha is a state of deep meditation. Finally, she speaks Hello? Mister Kasatha? We are here to help!

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13 Not trained in medicine... do we have a medic?

The extent of Embidi's medicinal abilities is to jab something with a Serum of Healing, but it looks like this kasatha is well beyond that :D

"Team? Uh, got one. Come take a look at this."

So, this kasatha is dead, but its armour is still projecting a forcefield that's hooked up to the ship's power? That can't be good :s Any checks we can make to investigate the kasatha?

you can do a Medicine or Perception but it's inside the armor so it will be a bit difficult to get like an exact cause of death. The armor is powered up by the battery