Makai causes the clockwork components of one of the robots to glow a bright red.
Reflex:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Rilynn applies another coat of grease to the floor, causing the glowing robot to fall over.
Reflex:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14 Reflex:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Grease is on a 2x2 area on the map.
Chadrah focuses fire and deals a solid hit to the north robot.
The robots, faced with the close proximity of Burnham and Chrysanthemum, switch to injecting their target with nanobots.
Resistance is futile, you will be annihilated
Inject Nanobots, Burnham:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 Damage:4d8 ⇒ (7, 2, 7, 4) = 20DC 17 Fort save for half. Confused if you fail
Female Quorlu Icon Battleflower Vanguard 7 | SP 32/91 | HP 55/55 | RP 9/9 | EP 2| EAC 26 KAC 28; +1 when EP>0; unflankable, evasion, uncanny agility; +4 vs. bull rush, reposition, or trip | Fort +11 Ref +8 Will +3; resist cold 7, elec 5, fire 5; +2 vs. bleed, disease, poison effects; vuln to cold (fatigued) | Init +3; Perception +11; Darkvision, low-light vision | Speed 45 | Reroll | Campaign Coin | Active effects: none
Chrysanthemum shrugs as the words bounce off the robot's heads. "I apologize for this destruction, but I do not care to become unalive." She targets the prone one, hoping it's non-vertical state will aid in her attacks.
Makai, Chadrah and Chrys concentrate their attacks on the downed machine, making sure it never gets up. The volley of attacks all hit, first burning the machine, then punching a hole in it and finally causing it to corrode. It is Rilynn cold blast that finally does it in.
The other robot is still going strong, venting its delusions of grandeur
Ace Pilot Human Soldier 4// Init +2 Percept +0 SenseMotive +0 // F 5 (*check toughness) R 3 W 4 // EAC 20 KAC 23 // Stamina 36/36 HP 32/32 Resolve 5/5 // Speed 25 Fly 25
Fort save v confused:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 Confused action:1d100 ⇒ 4
Almost forgot , will save v off-target:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Burnham steps into the wake of Rilynn's frosty breath and circles the last robot, fending off its blade with his own and a curious stop and start gait. Reaching the far side of the mechanical menace he tries a crippling low blow.
Move as shown. +4 to AC v the AoO he draws. Also, Coordinated Shot: You can maneuver a foe to be in the direct line of an ally's fire. 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.
Chadrah and Chrysanthemum rip apart the final robot, disproving its claim of supremacy.
Combat over
Albryan asked to recover a copy of the virus. The lore warden have been knocked out, though some power is left in the memory core, so it might not be too late to copy the code before the whole thing shuts down.
You might try copying (computers), jury-rigging (engineering) or careful component surgery (sleight of hand)
Ace Pilot Human Soldier 4// Init +2 Percept +0 SenseMotive +0 // F 5 (*check toughness) R 3 W 4 // EAC 20 KAC 23 // Stamina 36/36 HP 32/32 Resolve 5/5 // Speed 25 Fly 25
Burnham watches to make sure the machines are really inactive. Then he quickly inspects his sword while Chadrah does her thing. No blood to clean, but cleaving metal leaves dents, burrs, and scratches. Finding it defect free, he sheaths the sword.
"I've got a spare battery if we need to keep one on life support."
Engineering, aid:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Good combat team. Nice roll, Chadrah. Too bad it wasn't the main roll.
F Lashunta Technomancer (3), Operative (1) | HP:25/25 SP:21/21 RP:3/5 | EAC:14 KAC:14 BAB:+2 INIT:+1 PER:+8 | F+1 R+4 W+4 | 1st Lvl Spells: 0/5+1 | Living Staff, Tactical +3/1d6+4 B | Boons: Envar's Gift, Dream Whispers, High Society Influence
Rilynn exhales sharply as the last lore warden falls, then admires the team's efficient execution of combat.
"Good work, everyone. Now let's see what's left to salvage."
With Chadrah and Burn already working on the memory core, Rilynn pulls out her engineering toolkit and attempts to rig the core so the virus can be safely extracted.
Female NG Medium Lashunta Damaya Envoy 4 | ST:24/24 HP:28/28 RP:5/5| EAC 17; KAC 18 | F+4 R+2 W+1 | Init +6 | Perc +11 | Speed 30ft | Active Conditions: None.
Chadrah sighs. "Sometimes, it's just luck," she offers a half smile to Burn as she disconnects a couple of chips. "Last mission I had, I really thought I would be the last one standing... and I couldn't do enough. I'm glad I can help this time."
Female Quorlu Icon Battleflower Vanguard 7 | SP 32/91 | HP 55/55 | RP 9/9 | EP 2| EAC 26 KAC 28; +1 when EP>0; unflankable, evasion, uncanny agility; +4 vs. bull rush, reposition, or trip | Fort +11 Ref +8 Will +3; resist cold 7, elec 5, fire 5; +2 vs. bleed, disease, poison effects; vuln to cold (fatigued) | Init +3; Perception +11; Darkvision, low-light vision | Speed 45 | Reroll | Campaign Coin | Active effects: none
Chrysanthemum takes a moment to check around the room, making sure there aren't any further robot surprises. "I am most pleased to be of help to you, friend Chadrah. Do you need any further assistance in reclaiming the lost knowledge?"
With concerted efforts, the team manages to extract the memory core and hook it up to a spare (non-sentient) battery.
Onto the next level!
The top floor of the tower is a single open chamber. A lone pedestal rests in the center of this space, with a small cube floating atop it. Complicated ridges cover the surface of the cube, forming a maze that somehow moves in on itself. The object glows with a faint blue aura.
Royo immediately gets excited about the sight Who would have thought, he says a mindmaze!
He stares a couple more moments in pure awe, then continues [b]ah, yes. Mindmazes, you might not be familiar with them. These were once constructed by an now-extinct race called the chitakin, who used these to store valuable information. I have to warn you, these things send people into a trance and can be quite dangerous.
That's all Royo knows. You may attempt Mysticism or Physical Science to learn more
Ace Pilot Human Soldier 4// Init +2 Percept +0 SenseMotive +0 // F 5 (*check toughness) R 3 W 4 // EAC 20 KAC 23 // Stamina 36/36 HP 32/32 Resolve 5/5 // Speed 25 Fly 25
"Dangerous?" Burn isn't quite dense enough to point his reaction cannon at the cube, but he does observe it closely through narrowed eyes, and keeps his rifle in hand.
Rilynn and Makai know a thing or two, enough to know that touching the cube causes anyone to fall into a trance and be transported into the mindmaze. Anyone entering the cube will arrive at the same location inside it, so its possible to travel together.
Navigating a mindmaze is difficult and taxing. Navigating takes intelligence (read: a number of subsequent intelligence check) and is harmful if it goes wrong (read: potential from wisdom damage). Anyone inside the maze cannot voluntarily wake from the trance, though for anyone remaining outside it is as simple as shaking the person awake. Escaping from the maze is only possible by reaching the center.
Female Quorlu Icon Battleflower Vanguard 7 | SP 32/91 | HP 55/55 | RP 9/9 | EP 2| EAC 26 KAC 28; +1 when EP>0; unflankable, evasion, uncanny agility; +4 vs. bull rush, reposition, or trip | Fort +11 Ref +8 Will +3; resist cold 7, elec 5, fire 5; +2 vs. bleed, disease, poison effects; vuln to cold (fatigued) | Init +3; Perception +11; Darkvision, low-light vision | Speed 45 | Reroll | Campaign Coin | Active effects: none
"I am not known for being a quick thinker, but I will come if you want someone to come with you, friend Makai. Or I will stay outside and wake you up if it goes on too long. I am very patient."
Chrysanthemum has dead average int and just slightly higher wis.
Ace Pilot Human Soldier 4// Init +2 Percept +0 SenseMotive +0 // F 5 (*check toughness) R 3 W 4 // EAC 20 KAC 23 // Stamina 36/36 HP 32/32 Resolve 5/5 // Speed 25 Fly 25
I imagine the valuable information we seek is held within. Burn has 10 int and wis. Not sure he'd be an asset.
Burn looks uncertain. "Should I stay or should I go now? If I stay there could be trouble...."
He looks to the doorway and then to the cube. "I know i can help if something comes through that door. Can you signal us if something goes wrong in there?"
probably best if at least three people go. Is anybody rocking a high wisdom?
Female NG Medium Lashunta Damaya Envoy 4 | ST:24/24 HP:28/28 RP:5/5| EAC 17; KAC 18 | F+4 R+2 W+1 | Init +6 | Perc +11 | Speed 30ft | Active Conditions: None.
Quote:
Mindmazes, you might not be familiar with them. These were once constructed by an now-extinct race called the chitakin, who used these to store valuable information.
"Do you know if our Lashunta telepathy would work while you are there? We might be able to communicate that way."
Chadrah doesn't have a high will save. Neither does Chrys but at least she can help if anything attacks them there. Burn and Chadrah could keep watch outside with Royo. She has a high perception
The mindmaze is where the knowledge of the Scoured stars is supposedly stored
It's hard to tell if telepathy would work Royo says after all, these things were constructed to completely separate the mindscape. Physical sound vibrations are potentially more effective (Shouting, that is)
Ace Pilot Human Soldier 4// Init +2 Percept +0 SenseMotive +0 // F 5 (*check toughness) R 3 W 4 // EAC 20 KAC 23 // Stamina 36/36 HP 32/32 Resolve 5/5 // Speed 25 Fly 25
Burn nods at the disposition of the party. "We'll hold base camp here. Good luck in there."
He lets his back pack slide to the ground, then takes his rifle in both hands. He circles the pedestal until he reaches a point where he can watch the door, and the mind maze with just a flick of his eyes between.
Chrysanthemum, Makai and Rilynn touch the mindmaze cube, while Burnham and Chadrah keep watch outside.
Inside the cube:
The inside of the maze is a weird place, with up, down, left, right, forward and backwards, but also sideways-back-onto-itself and bottom-back-to-the-top. And these are only the directions the group directly recognises. There's a faint light visible in a direction that can be best described as future.
Suddenly, there is the familiar voice of Royo, a booming overhead voice that says The light is your target. Try to move into it
I need each of you to roll an intelligence check to make progress
---
Rilynn
Chrys
Makai
---
----
Outside the cube:
Outside the cube, Burnham and Chadrah see the cube trio slump onto the ground, unconscious as if in a deep sleep. No sign of distress or any discomfort is visible. For now.
The cube in the center of the changes, showing three tiny specks on the ridged surface, in the distinct colors of Rilynn, Makai and Chrysanthemum. It might be possible to whisper suggestions for movement.
Royo immediately does so, whispering The light is your target, try to move into it
You can make attempts to aid another by rolling an intelligence check
--
Burnham
Chadrah
---
Ace Pilot Human Soldier 4// Init +2 Percept +0 SenseMotive +0 // F 5 (*check toughness) R 3 W 4 // EAC 20 KAC 23 // Stamina 36/36 HP 32/32 Resolve 5/5 // Speed 25 Fly 25
Outside the cube:
Burn notices Royo whispering to the cube, then the miniature Starfinders. He takes a few seconds to really look at the cube then says, "The next passage left is a dead end."
Makai shifts sideways and forward, and finds a way closer to the light. The dwarf hears a loud LEFT IS A DEAD END without seeing what the voice is referring to.
Suddenly, a loud booming voice overhead shout OKAY, WHEN YOU REACH THE INTERSECTION, TURN RIGHT. Chrysanthenum figures out the correct 'right' Chadrah is referring to, and makes further progress to the center.
The source of light is now a lot closer, it seems, but the cubes direction keep on shifting and turning...
Burnham and Chadrah sees the tiny figure progress, in strange, sometimes incomprehensible directions. Makai steps forward, while the room around the dwarf inverts, while Chrystanthemum side-steps backward, but toward the middle of the cube. Overall, it looks like there's some progress...
Female NG Medium Lashunta Damaya Envoy 4 | ST:24/24 HP:28/28 RP:5/5| EAC 17; KAC 18 | F+4 R+2 W+1 | Init +6 | Perc +11 | Speed 30ft | Active Conditions: None.
"Ok... ok." Chadrah starts pacing around watching the tiny specs moving on the cube. "If you are facing west, you should be able to follow that wall until the next crossing before it closes..." Int Aid:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
