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

Game Master Jhaeman

Initiative (Round 2)

Hani
Bots
Xylian
Tulgram
Zharis
Jin

Bold should go!

@Hani: Please don't forget to adjust your tagline for the 13 damage you took in Round 1.

Jin approaches and strikes at the robot over Hani's head, using the lunge feat.

Aurora Storm Doshko vs. Blue's EAC: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25
Electricity damage: 2d8 + 13 ⇒ (2, 7) + 13 = 22

Zharis doesn't have a shot from where she is without risking hitting her friends, so she moves closer to fire.

Attack (Thunderstrike): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Sonic Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Additional Critical Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Twice in a row? Dang. Dicebot and I were having trouble for a while, but I think this is proof. It loves me.

Extending to his full reach, Jin jumps and swings right over Hani's shoulder to decapitate the security robot! Zharis adds a pinpoint shot to make sure it doesn't get up.

Nice! Red is destroyed. We are off Initiative.

Hani begins searching the room.

perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

Zharis watches to make sure Hani checks *everything.* Looting was a fine art, after all.

(She waits until the room is cleared.)

Whether he finds what they are looking for or not though, she then takes a look at the western door, and when everyone is ready, she opens it.

As Hani searches the large storage area, Zharis opens the door marked "Chemical Storage".

Metal cabinets line the walls of the newly-revealed room, each with a door of transparent material. Most of the cabinets are empty, but some still contain neatly-labelled vials. One cabinet door is ajar, and a trail of viscous slime leads from the cabinet’s interior to a puddle on the floor, leaving an acrid tang hanging in the air.

An emergency wash station is set in the southern wall.

Jin checks if any other threats are in the new area:

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

If Jin determines that it is safe, Zharis goes and retrieves the vials that are still there, avoiding the spilled slime in hopes that what they were supposed to retrieve would be in a cabinet somewhere.

As Jin keeps an eye out for danger, Zharis inspects the labelled contents of the cabinets more carefully.

Zharis gathers it all up and says

We have the stuff he was asking for, and a little extra. Let's head back.

Xylian and Tulgram... you guys want the extra stuff? (See my spoiler above... I let everyone see what I found.)

Tulgram eagerly studies the medicines found. Excellent. It will be useful to us from galactic fever. It's from star diarrhea. It's from drift nausea. And this thing we're just going to drip into whiskey three drops at a time after a hard day's work, hohoho.

I'll take everything that Xylian won't take - it suits me thematically.

"Was it really this simple?" Jin waits for the other shoe to drop.

If the universe has ears, it also has an ironic sense of humour! Just as Jin observes that things are rarely this simple, he and two other members of the expedition team hear someone whisper from behind "Charges in place. Duck and cover.". Suddenly, a massive explosion rocks the clinic, sending shock waves through the hall! The eastern end of the passageway collapses with a roar and a cloud of thick dust, cutting off the eastern end of the hallway and leaving Nib and Otlo to an unknown fate!

We will now proceed to Initiative, and I'll give some more details about what you see in the next post.

Please feel free to use the discussion thread if you want to allocate who's taking what from the medicine cabinet.

Initiative (Round 1)

Hani (fort vs dust)
Xylian (prone) (fort vs dust)
Tulgram (fort vs dust)
Zharis (prone) (fort vs dust)
Jin (fort vs dust)

Bold should go!

Everyone but Zharis and Hani heard the whisper, and received a small bonus to the save to avoid being knocked prone by the blast. Zharis and Xylian failed the save and start the round prone.

The explosion has collapsed the eastern end of the hall, blocking passage to the reception area. My scribble shows the furthest you can proceed, and the two squares adjacent to that are treated as difficult terrain. It's obvious to you all that the entire front of the Salubrium must be in rubble.

The hallway you're in is thick with dust: at the beginning of each round you're in it, you need to attempt a DC 15 Fortitude save. On a failure, you spend that round choking and coughing and effectively lose your turn. The dust also obscures vision, providing concealment to anyone in it. (if you spend successive rounds within the dust, they'll be some additional stuff)

Fort save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
Going to assume that makes it.

Hani is at first surprised by the blast, but quickly recovers. He powers up his gauntlet and looks around the room to see if he can locate whoever may have caused this mess.

perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

Hani also backtracks a little toward the west end of the building.

Fort: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Tulgram immediately activates the life support system on the armor. (move action; no more fort saves) Then, as a doctor, he does the same thing on Xylian. (I would say that this is a standard action, since the armor is on another creature; I would also say that a fort save is still needed for this round, but regardless of the results, he will continue to breathe and act normally on the next one).

Surprisingly, dumbfounded and slightly shell-shocked by the explosion, the duergar does not even swear. His eyes are a mixture of concentration and rage. He will finish helping to allies and then move on to new enemies and... uh.

Fortitude DC 15: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

"Terrorists."

Jin activates his armor and starts moving the long way around.

I believe that Xylian and I both stated that we had sealed our armor, so would the dust affect us? Minor detail, but could make a difference here. Continuing with things as stated, but just a hopeful thought. :)

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Zharis stands up and consults their very dated blueprints and hopes that there is a way back to Nib if they circle around, but she can't really tell. She follows Jin, her gun in one hand and her sword in the other.

Hani reacts quickly and backs away from the blast, peering carefully around the corner. Jin and Zharis start to follow. Meanwhile, Tulgram activates his environmental seals.

@Tulgram: It's a standard action to activate a suit of armor's environmental seals on yourself, and a full-round action to activate the seals for someone who is helpless. (see spoiler at bottom)

@Zharis: Yes, if you've previously stated your environmental seals were activated, you don't need to make the check to avoid coughing from the smoke. (the prone condition and limited visibility still apply, of course).

Xylian is up and then we'll start Round 2.

Wow! I was very wrong about the rules, thank you! In this case, the Tulgram will go ahead after activating the system.

Since Hani didn't use a standard action, can he now use it to seal his environmental seals? Unless his perception counts as his standard action.

Hani whispers on comms "We have two people heading down this corridor. Fall in behind me! And brace for another explosion!"

As Hani whispers of intruders in the building, Xylian rolls to his feet and takes up a position near his allies.

Botting Xylian as standing up and moving to support the others to the west.

@Hani: Yep, okay.

Looking down the western hallway, you can just make out a pair of humans clad in metallic gold-and-white jumpsuits with red accents. They're crouching down covering their ears, glowing hammers leaning against the walls nearby. As you look, a third intruder emerges from a set of doors at the far end of the hallway.

Initiative (Round 2)

Hani
Xylian
Intruders!
Tulgram
Zharis
Jin

Bold should go!

A pic of these intruders is on the left side of the map.

Everyone has environmental seals active, so you no longer need to worry about coughing. However, there is still a 20% miss chance due to concealment from the dust and smoke.

Hani bursts around the corner, rushing toward the strangers. "Who are you, and what are you doing here? Did you cause that explosion? Speak quickly, or prepare for extreme violence!"

Hani also activates shielding around him, fully expecting that the answer will indeed be violence.

Move action to move as shown. Standard action to activate energy shield, giving him 9 temporary HP.

The gleam of madness and murder in the eyes of the intruders is the only answer to Hani's question, but the telia's energy shield is ready for action!

Xylian is up.

Xylian targets and shoot at one of the hostiles. The icy shard richochets off of Hani's shell, smashing harmlessly against the ceiling.

Move action to target Red. Standard Action to Overcharge and Shoot.
Ice Carbine vs Blue KAC (Ignores up to 4 AC from cover): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14
P + C Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + (5) + 6 = 12
Miss Chance 20%: 1d100 ⇒ 9

As Xylian's shot goes awry, Hani finds himself surrounded by all three of the murderous foes swinging heavy, glowing hammers!

Xylian's attack missed.

Of the three attacks against Hani: the first one hits and does 16 So. The second one misses due to concealment. The third one hits and does 19 So. (factoring in the 13 damage from the robot fight and the 9 temp hp from the energy shield, I think that puts you at 22/61 SP).

Initiative (Round 2)

Hani
Xylian
Intruders!
Tulgram
Zharis
Jin

Bold should go!

Realizing that there is no time to sort out the rubble (or that I did not understand correctly... it turns out to be ruins on the right and not a thick fog), Tulgram rushes back to the sounds of blows.

Tulgram rushes into the fray!

Zharis & Jin are up.

Zharis moves up and shoots at Blue.

Attack (Thunderstrike): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Damage (Sonic): 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
20% Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 39

Jin double moves through the sleeping quarters hoping to flank the enemies next round (his speed just gets him in front of the double doors).

Deadly soundwaves focussed into a narrow beam tear a hole in one of the intruders' armor as Zharis' attack hits home. Meanwhile, Jin plans a surprise attack!

Zharis' attack hit.

Nib's voice, breathing heavily as if she's been running, comes over your comms: “We’re alive! Otlo’s terrified. Says it’s cultists of Azathoth. Says they’re here for the tablet. Reception’s collapsed. We ran up the stairs. Otlo says you can circle through a hall, employees only, near the patient area. I’m going silent. Be careful! And please, please find us!”

Initiative (Round 3)

Hani
Xylian
Cultists?
Tulgram
Zharis
Jin

Bold should go!

Hani follows up Zharis' shot with a punch of his gauntlet, all while fighting defensively.

to hit on blue with penalty for fighting defensively: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 6 - 4 = 18

damage, B+So: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Fighting defensively is full-round action that gives Hani +2 to AC.

Hani tries to give as good as he gets, but his defensive posture keeps him from connecting with enough force.

Meanwhile, with the hallway crowded to the south, Xylian decides to cover Jin's back for an approach from the east.

Hani's attack *just* missed.

Botting Xylian as following Jin.

"Die, interloper!" shouts one of the cultists, as all three continue trying to hammer Hani flat!

Blue does a guarded step so that it and Red have flanking on Hani, and then all three attack. Two hit, but Hani's fighting defensively causes the third one to miss. Hani, you take 19 S and 14 S which puts you at 0 SP and 32/43 HP.

Initiative (Round 3)

Hani
Xylian
Cultists?
Tulgram
Zharis
Jin

Bold should go!

@Jin: Since they aren't anticipating trouble from the east, I'll treat you throwing open the doors as a surprise that leaves the cultists as flat-footed against your attack this round.

Jin, happy the doors aren't locked, opens them and tries to cut down the allegedly red cultist:

Aurora Storm Doshko vs. Red’s flat-footed EAC: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25
Electricity damage: 2d8 + 13 ⇒ (8, 7) + 13 = 28

Zharis steps in to flank Blue, swinging her sword.

Attack (Tactical Dueling Sword): 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 7 + 2 = 27 (2 for flank)
Slashing Damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Zharis rushes into the fray to help her surrounded ally, slashing deep into the back of one of the cultists. Simultaneously, Jin throws open the doors and lands a devastating hit from an unexpected direction!

Jin's and Zharis' attacks hit.

Tulgram is up.

Azathoth? Seriously? Bloody circus of freaks. Duergar approaches and with some anger hits one of the attackers.

Merciful Capture Pole: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 211d8 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14 - vs BLUE (piercing vs KAC; non-lethal dmg)

One of the cultists screams in pain as Tulgram's capture pole squeezes into the soft flesh of his triceps!

Tulgram's attack hit, but these guys have a lot of fight left in them.

Initiative (Round 4)

Hani
Xylian
Cultists?
Tulgram
Zharis
Jin

Bold should go!

Somehow Xylian knew cultists would be involved with the tablet. They have a singular way of showing up, at least in every case related to the Great Old One's that he has ever heard of. He takes another shot through the crowded doorway.

Standard Action to Overcharge and Shoot.
Ice Carbine vs Red KAC (Ignores up to 4 AC from cover): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21
P + C Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + (5) + 6 = 17

Xylian blasts one of the cultists with a supercooled chunk of ice!

Xylian's attack hit. That ability to effectively ignore soft cover makes a big difference!

Hani's turn.

Hani swings his fist at the cultist in the doorway (the same one that Jin just attacked).

to hit, red: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Hani's powered gauntlet passes an inch in front of a cultist's nose, but doesn't connect!

That attack *just* missed.