GM Jhaeman's "Dawn of Flame, Chapter Four: The Blind City"

Game Master Jhaeman

Xylian goes to check on the hostages. He will administer drugs from his medkit to counteract the sedatives, if possible.

Med (?): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

Xylian's careful application of adrenal patches brings Nib and Otlo back to consciousness. Still groggy and obviously in bad shape from the explosion, flight, and capture, both express their gratitude.

"It's weird," says Nib with a rueful smile, "I feel like I could sleep for a week, even though I was just unconscious! Maybe we should head back to the DCI. Otlo, you can look over the tablet there."

The orocoran gathers enough strength to answer. "Yes yes yes. Study steadily and stridently. Answers we seek to peek through mystique."

"How did the cultists know we would be here? Who all did you tell we were coming to see Otlo, Nib?"

Didn't he have a disintegrator weapon as well... or is that what the decoupler is?

Zharis sees that Amaldriel's armor is really nice, so she changes into it. She'll probably swap out some of the upgrades and keep the electricity one that was on her old armor, but that was something for later.

She waits for Nib and Otlo to answer Xylian's question, but then suggests

Why don't we get you two some transportation back to the DCI. I want to clear out the rest of this building and make sure there aren't any more traps or cultists lying in wait.

Zharis should be able to use her stipend money to get them some transportation, so it won't cost us any party funds.

"I think Amaldriel must have had me followed," Nib replies to Xylian. "When he couldn't convince me to have the tablet sequestered, he was probably just waiting for an opportunity to have his goons pounce. I shoulda seen it coming--never did like that pompous know-it-all."

Nib nods at Zharis' suggestion of hiring transport back to the DCI. "Maybe we can scrounge a coat or something to keep Otlo out of sight a bit. We don't want the driver or people back at the Institute to start freaking out."

@Zharis: Yep, the decoupler is a type of disintegrator.

Zharis digs around in her pack and finds the alien cloak that they found in the core. She loans it to Otlo to cover up with, advising him to keep the hood low. Then she calls a space-cab and arranges for the transport. When the cab comes she gets the driver's name, the cab number, and a picture and forwards them to Nib's wife so that she has the information and can watch for them. She also passes her a one-time electronic signature so that she can sign off on the payment on the other end.

We'll catch up with you soon! she says as they drive away, and then goes back in to finish clearing the building.

Finish searching any areas that we have already visited, and then backtrack and check things we haven't seen yet? I think we saw most of the upstairs, but didn't look through the door that Amaldriel was trying to escape through, or check the crates in the room... and then there were plenty of things we didn't check on the first floor.

Jin looks around the building for any cultist vehicles that might've transported the weird snake they fought earlier.

If possible, he'll take a 10 minutes stamina break before starting his search.

"You should take care, Nib. Though strategy and subtly do not seem to be one of their strengths, there may be more cultists at the Institute, left in case this attempt were to fail."

After we take care of Nib and Ottlo, Tulgram will also insist on a full sweep of the clinic. We have already found a good supply of medicines here. It's worth looking for more.

Zharis takes a 10 minute break as well, before starting in on the unexplored parts of the building.

Spent one RP to regain stamina.

And I will spend this time restoring biohacks.

Nib and a cloaked Otlo are escorted into the safety of a Stellacuna robo-taxi. Afterwards, those remaining at the abandoned take a brief but much-earned rest!

Your 10 minute rest is uninterrupted, and you can each deduct 1 RP to regain SP if you'd like.

Okay, it sounds like folks want to continue exploring the clinic. The little yellow dots on the map indicates rooms you've visited. Just let me know where you'd like to go and/or search.

@Zharis: Your robo-taxi hire only costs 1 credit. (book price; I'm thinking those robots need to unionize!)

Nice and cheap. Now that she and her father are back on speaking terms, Zharis is using her 100 credit/week stipend for transportation, meals, charging batteries, and stuff like that. It doesn't allow me to buy any permanent items other than clothing, and it is use it in a week or lose it, so we are going to be living it up a little with services, perishable items, and clothing.

Since we're already on the second floor on the map, let's just say we went back there after seeing Nib and Otlo off... or maybe everyone else stayed up there when I went to send them off.

When Zharis gets back from seeing Nib and Otlo off and they all finish resting, she starts searching the room where Amaldriel died.

Zharis conducts a search of the operating room where Nib and Otlo where held hostage. Underneath a sheet on an operating table is a fully-functional (though not turned on) physician drone!

@Zharis: The stipend is a nice little special ability to have, and I like how you've integrated it with your character background.

A physician drone is a specialised type of "domestic drone" and can be found here.

Drone over here, looks like a medical specialty drone... physician drone. Anyone have use for one of these?

If someone wants it, Zharis gives it to them. Otherwise, she stores it.

Then she opens the door that Amaldriel was trying to escape out of, to see what is on the other side.

Hani will take advantage of the opportunity for rest.

Hani examines of the medical drone. Later on, he'll attempt to look up information about this model. It should come in handy later.

Zharis opens the eastern door to reveal a rooftop platform presumably intended to provide a landing area for flying emergency vehicles. None are present are present, and the platform is otherwise empty.

For loot, it's probably a good idea for everyone to be very specific if they're adding an item to their personal inventory or if something has been added to group treasure. Otherwise, duplication or forgotten items become more likely.

I've been adding all of it to the loot sheet, and there is a place to claim items individually on there. If I pick something up it goes on the loot sheet, not in my inventory, unless I claim it on the loot sheet and mention taking it in the story.

Zharis proceeds to search the rest of the upper floor to make sure they didn't miss anything. She also takes a look at the elevator, wondering how hard it would be to get it back in working order.

Engineering: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 24

A search of the top level reveals no other valuables. As for the elevator, the explosion must have jostled the car out of alignment with the shaft. The problem shouldn't be too hard to fix, but would require some work on the anti-grav generator at the base of the shaft.

Crap, sorry--I (thought) I had a post up about the elevator this morning, but the site must have ate it.

Zharis proceeds downstairs and searches the room at the bottom of the stairs. It doesn't look like she can access the bottom of the elevator from here, since it is on the other side of the cave in, but she checks out any unexplored doors from this room before moving back the way they had come.

After searching the main area, I put little 1-4 numbers on the map for the doors she wants to check, just in case there is nothing in any of them and we can speed through this part... but there is an order in case we do run into something. She'll search each area just to be thorough, and of course let me know if I need to roll any saves or whatever.

Zharis starts conducting a sweep of the lower level, but finds little of interest.

Thanks Zharis, the numbering helps. You don't find any valuables in those areas. One of the rooms has a security console that brings up live video feed from surveillance cameras, but only of rooms you've already been in.

Xylian attempts to download any saved video footage from the security console, then attempts to wipe the footage from the console.

Zharis keeps methodically checking doors and searching rooms while Xylian works on the security console.

Okay, 6 numbers this time. I don't know if that is too many, but all of them looked minor. 1-3 look similar to ones we've seen already... if there is a creature or event in one of them, just tell me where we stopped and I can renumber for next time. 4 looks like outside, but still want to check, 5 looks like a twin to the other bathroom to the left of it that we already checked and there was nothing, but again, want to be sure, and I think 6 someone already went into on the way here, but we didn't search. And of course checking the main areas as well. Didn't add the long hallway yet, just the the shattered glass room and the shelves room and the doors that connect to them.

As Xylian covers the groups tracks, Zharis continues the search. The pahtra finds dusty offices, an empty cargo dock, empty washrooms, and finally a refrigerated storage room. In it, the temperature is just above freezing. A mattress, several pillows, and disheveled blankets form a bed or perhaps a nest at the west end. A few tables set up nearby have numerous apparatuses on them, comprising a small but serviceable life science lab. The adjacent shelves and clear-faced cabinets are stocked with chemicals and tools, and it looks like it's used regularly.

@Xylian: You have no trouble accomplishing this task.

Hani assists Zharis with her systematic searching. He's especially curious about the refrigerated storage room. He'll spend some extra time there attempting to ascertain who was using this room, and if there is anything interesting in the room.

perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28

Xylian cocks an eyebrow when the cold blooded tortoise enters the freezer.

Hani enters the refrigerated storage chamber and looks around.

Zharis wonders if Otlo was using this space, since it looks like it has been recently lived in. She shivers, and seals her suit back up to keep out the cold. She could definitely never work or sleep in this space, but to each their own.

If Otlo chooses to stay at the DCI, maybe she can pay someone to pack it all up for him.

She leaves Hani to check the room out more thoroughly and moves through the door to the long hallway, searching there while she waits for the others, and then checking out the room next door.

Just one hall and one room this time in case Hani spots something weird. If there is nothing here, then I'll put up numbers for around the big corner.

"I think it's safe to assume that Otlo must live here. He's got a pretty nice set up, looks like he can use this room as a pretty nice lab as well as his personal quarters."

According the spoiler, this room functions as a science lab.

Zharis tries to enter the next room down the hallway, only to find it locked!

Zharis smiles, anticipating something interesting to solve. She examines the lock to see what kind it is.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

If it is a biometric lock, she has biometric implants and a vocal modulator that should make it simple.

In this case I can open it automatically if I have a genetic sample (for instance if it is keyed to Otlo I could get something from his bed and it would just work, no roll). If I don't have a sample, I can cast a disguise spell and use my implants to get a +19 (+21 if it is a voice-keyed lock).

If it is a computer or engineering challenge it might be a touch harder, but she has confidence in her abilities.

In this case +12 or +16

If it is a old school job that requires a lockpick, she is a little less sure of herself, but she did play an internationally famous cat burglar in a short vid series once, and learned a few things... she should be able to pick it with a little luck.

Not sure what I would roll for that though... sleight of hand? If so, +8

Looks like my perception roll to just tell the type of lock was not high though, so maybe she has dust in her eye or something, which would complicate things. :)

... and you know, if not, she is sure that Xylian or one of the others will be able to get it open, even if it took brute strength. She could probably just shoot off the doorknob if it came to that.

[Ooc

Post got messed up. Xylian and his exocortex will both make computers checks if the door is locked by computers. Exocortex can make its own computers checks via Wireless Hack.

Xylian computers: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (8) + 17 = 25
Exocortex Computers: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34

> In this case I can open it automatically if I have a genetic sample

Tulgram smiles and takes out one of the many test tubes. I have Ottlo's blood. I took a sample before the cultists attacked. I can share it if the lock is biometric. He hands the test tube to Zharis.

After a close examination and an impromptu hallway conference, a consensus is reached: the door is protected by a good old-fashioned, low-tech, key-based lock!

It'll be Engineering to get through the lock without the key.

Hani smiles as he retrieves a couple of tools and goes to work on the lock. "This should be an easy one. I'll have it unlocked in a jiffy."

engineering: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (5) + 19 = 24

Zharis stands back and gives Hani tips on getting it open, holding her flashlight to give him more light.

Engineering (Aid): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

I have an engineering toolkit and engineering specialty toolkit, but reading the descriptions just now I can't tell if I can use my specialty kit for unlocking stuff, or if they only come in armorcrafter and weaponsmithing specialties rather than just generic. If I can use it, I offer it to Hani for a +2 to the roll.

With a shimmy to the left and a hop to the right, Hani pops the lock! Inside, the office contains a low desk, a low stool, and a large metal cabinet. A partially disassembled drone sits on the desk near a built-in computer console.

A bed like one you sleep on?

Hani seems pleased with this find. He may have found a new hobby!

Added the stuff to the loot sheet.

Zharis checks out the cabinet and the drone, but is sure to search the rest of the room as well.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

She isn't the best computer expert in the room, but she's willing to try to get the system going if no one else is. First though, she says

Hey, anyone want to see if they can get the computers up? Might be something interesting there about this drone... or other things maybe.

Zharis searches the rest of the room but doesn't turn up anything of interest.

@Xylian: I guess so--it's sized for a Small creature and "quite comfy". Maybe it's the equivalent of the cots that hospital doctors use to rest in between long shifts?

Zharis tries to access the computer console.

Computers: 1d20 + 12 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 12 + (5) + 1 = 21

Ahh yes, computers: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (20) + 17 = 37

Zharis and Xylian team up to access the computer, but time and neglect has taken its toll: the device is completely inoperable.

I think "inoperable" is the adventure's way of having computers present for verisimilitude without having to spend the time and space detailing their contents :)

Which rooms would you like to search next?

We've searched all the yell0w d0ts, yeah? How bout' all those little patient rooms next.

I put numbers up. I also want to try to fix the elevator, just to see if it goes anywhere else, but not sure which side to access it from. I guess run through the numbers and if we don't see the access, we'll go around to the other side again? ... Also, put a lot of numbers in there because all the rooms seem similar except 10 has a different color bedspread, so left that for last. :)

The search of the abandoned clinic continues with a look into what must have been patients' rooms. Each room contains a hospital bed, a private washroom, and a series of wall-mounted instruments. They all look the same, except that one of them has a humanoid-shaped growth of foul-smelling mold with tiny writhing filaments.

Afterwards, the searchers look into one final room to see that it houses machinery and control consoles to the east and south. The southern console flashes red. A circular zippered container about the size of a dinner plate hangs from the back of the door.

You don't see any valuables in the patients' rooms. The fungus room is the one labelled # 7 on your map.

The machine room is # 10 on your map.

"A small, private clinic. I wonder what took them out of business; death of the owner should not have stopped them, if business was good. The building is quite functional, overall. A wide variety of businesses could operate out of here. I would say Ottlo is wasting its potential, but I am not going to question an orocorans thought process." Xylian leaves the fungus to the MD and sets to work enabling the elevators lateral realignment units.

Engineering: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (17) + 16 = 33
Shrooooomy: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28