Zoomba's Fragment of the 4th (Tier 9-12) (Inactive)

Game Master Zoomba

Well, we got some co-ordinates for a Drift Beacon so, presumably that's where we're going. And I consider Accordant-Contemplator-16 a friend so this is sorta personal.

She struggles to her feet, then looks a bit woozy for a moment.

Wooooo ..... bit dizzy there. If this ship can fly, I could pilot it.

Charli reaches out a hand to steady her friend. "Before we agree to fly a second ship, we need to explore it, and say prayers to settle the dead. Maybe even clean it up a little."

Nainiimii shakes her head at Poshkettle.

“I’ve been hiding in the maintenance and ventilation systems since they boarded us. It connects most of the ship, so I used them to gather supplies from the lounge and my old room when the intruders were being noisy in the bridge or the storage rooms. But I don’t think I would’ve lasted much longer without you. When you arrived, they were arguing about the ship roster. They found my name on it and realized I wasn’t dead. Thank you!" she exclaims again, wings aflutter.

Looking to Yith, she says "I don't think the Chornicler will be able to move anytime soon. Those four behind seemed to be working to try and get it back in order. When they attacked us they came out of nowhere flying a Triunite vessel. I think they seized that starship the same way they were then trying to seize ours!"

"There were a lot of them, but most left when they took Accordant-Contemplator-16 to see someone called “Fragment.” It sounded like that’s their leader. Fragment wants to use Accordant-Contemplator-16 to harness a Drift beacon and use it to upload something into the Drift. From what I overheard of their conversations, kidnapping Accordant-Contemplator-16 was the purpose of their attack here. But what they were saying wasn't making any sense! They talked about Triune was never meant to be a trinity, but a quaternary; that Triune had snubbed some fourth divinity and ascended without them. That’s who they worship: the supposed fourth. It’s all nonsense, of course. Isn’t it? It must be! I’ve never heard of any fourth aspect of Triune. They tried to get some of my fellow acolytes to give up faith in Triune and join their cult, but my friends refused. I guess the intruders didn’t like that. They..." Nainiimii sighs heavily. "They executed all of the acolytes on the spot. Tossed the bodies in some of the bedrooms. All except Accordant-Contemplator-16, anyway.”

The kiirinta looks at you. "“Look, I don’t know who this “4th” is, or if they even exist at all, but I do know the people who came here need to be stopped. They killed my friends—people who weren’t even doing anything wrong—and they’re trying to hurt Triune. That’s just... horrible! If you think I might be able to help, I can come with you”

The Chronicler is indeed not mobile for now, and will require extensive repairs beyond your immediate capabilities.

Nainiimii will tell you that the rooms 'A10' on the amp are where the Chronicler's crew have been tossed into, turning those rooms into impromptu mass graves. Accordant-Contemplator-16's room is 'A8', and she mentions that the '4th-ers' brought a lot of gear into there, though the sealed it with some sort of trap.

Yith nods. "IF we have a few minutes, a quick prayer at the least is needed for the crew."
She heads towards the indicated cabin.

Rani also nods, after inspecting the ship's readouts.

Yeah. We should also take the bodies back with us so that they can be reunited with their loved ones - if there is time of course.

Traps I can deal with so that won't be a problem. Erm - would you mind filling me in on Triune's backstory? Who were the three deities that merged?

"I'll join you," Charli says, walking with Yith.

Then she turns to Rani. "My mom was a Triunite, worshipping Brigh the Precursor. So let me tell you what I remember." Charli says, raising two fingers. Brigh, “The Precursor” and Casandalee, “The Created” were Golarian goddesses. We gnomes believe that Brigh was originally a gnome tinkerer who ascended, but ysokis and SROs claim her too. She's the goddess of invention, machines, and technology. Casandalee embodies technology's success in creating new forms of consciousness, and thus, the fabrication of life itself. Androids claim her as their own."

Charli raises a third finger. "Epoch, “The Transcendent”, was built on Aballon to be a god of machines. Imagine that, generations of faithful machine intelligences laboring to create a god to cherish as their own!" Charli spreads her hands. "And they succeeded beyond expectations. Legend has it that when Epoch ascended, he called out to find other gods like himself, discovered Brigh and Casandalee, and the three of them joined together in rapturous joy and creation."

Then Charli scowls. "And now this 'Fragment' wants to force his way in, and is spilling the blood of Triune's innocent faithful in the process."

Rani follows Charli and Yith, pondering what she had been told. Wow. I probably should have known that but .... I wasn't the best student at school. Most of my skills were in the pool and the gym.

When they reach the mass grave, Charli offers her own words of prayer alongside Yith.

"Hail the travelers and the lost.
Those who risked and knew the cost;
From shining circuits to gleaming lathe
They stayed true and kept the faith."

She kneels. "Brigh, you're my mum's goddess, not mine. But please... Take these souls in and see them home."

And may Desna guide them to their destination and the Black Butterfly keep them safe through the Void

Maverick, will head to Contemplator-16's room and remove a trapsmith's tool kit from his null space chamber so he can use it to disarm the trap.

Engineering + Trapsmith's Tools (Disarm Trap): 1d20 + 21 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 21 + 4 = 28

Should have taken 10.

Actually, I'll use Mav's Kaleidoscopic Icosahedron Aeon Stone to reroll that check.

Engineering + Trapsmith's Tools (Disarm Trap): 1d20 + 21 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 21 + 4 = 43

Rani soon joins Maverick at Accordant-Contemplator-16's cabin and watches as he works.

Then she turns to Rani. "My mom was a Triunite, worshipping Brigh the Precursor. So let me tell you what I remember...

Nainiimii nods her head as Charli gives Rani a quick summary. [b]"That is a good summary, yes. I've always been a bit more drawn to Brigh's aspect myself - when my people had advanced technology dropped on us not long ago I got fascinated by them. But that's part of the wonder of Triune: they are One being, but each entity retains their own personality and aspects. It's a beautiful merger that becomes something greater. But a merger of equals, joined together by choice. This 'Fragment' or '4th' or whatever it is, what it wants to do would be abominable!"

When you reach the re-purposed bedrooms you are greeted with a terrible sight. The chambers

are filled with the corpses of the crew of the Chronicler. Human, shirren, and android bodies are piled, each still in their uniforms and marked with the religious symbol of Triune, their name, and the starship’s name. Many have their hands still bound, making it obvious they were executed. Nainiimii gives a wailing chitter for a moment, then settles down to offer prayers to her fallen colleagues.

MAy the All-Code guide your spirits through as you pass from this version of existence to the next. Even as your souls move on, your lives and memories shall be preserved by those who remain."

Maverick, will head to Contemplator-16's room and remove a trapsmith's tool kit from his null space chamber so he can use it to disarm the trap.

Meanwhile Maverick and some others head towards the captain's cabin. The electronic keypad is simply enough, but the pilot has a momnetary slip and barely manages to correct himself before a shocking surge trap is triggered. Eventually disabling it and opening the door, he and the others see that this large bedroom has become a makeshift storage space for numerous sets of gear and equipment - likely items scavenged and stripped off of the Chronicler's crew after the fighting.

The stolen gear includes four mk 3 shock grenades, a staff of mystic healing topped with the religious symbol of Triune, an impact scattergun, regimental dress II with a mk 1 magic resistor installed, a mk 4 grenade scrambler, and an elite deckhand drone that is currently powered down.

Looking through other rooms, you will also be able to find serveal other items overlooked by the invaders: two mk 3 serums of healing, and elite semi-auto pistol and a clarity scope and a plastic figure that is actually a titanium hashukayak figurine of wondrous power

Neroo joins the others in prayer for the soul of the deceased.

How people can do that purposely?! I wonder... Don't people never understand or learn from their mistake?

After a moment a silence she says Lets put a stop to this nonsense if we can. Or learn enough so people will be aware of this new arising danger and contact the authorities to deal with them.

Then she adds I agree we need to give all those people some decency in death, they worth it. I will help doing that.

Too stunned by what she's seen, Neroo is unable to help Maverick before he takes care of the trap.
But after a time, she recovers from the shock and help her comrades recovering equipments.

"We need to record this scene as evidence against this 'Fragment' before we take care of the bodies." Charli bites her lip, suppressed rage clear in her face, eyes glittering at this horrific scene. She records each name with its own photo, so that relatives can finish the identification, and then cuts the bonds as she takes care of the bodies. She turns to Captain Azara. "Should we make a section of our hold into a makeshift morgue for them? Their families should determine their final funeral rites."

All is recorded by my drone. says Neroo.

She adds Yes, having a morgue for them will be a good idea Charli.

"Thank you." Nainiimii says. "Though if we can rbing them back to their rooms and beds, it might be better to leave them here. Your Society knows where this ship is, yes? If you are willing to head off immeadiatley to rescue Accordant-Contemplator-16 and stop this vile group that is wonderful, but could also be dangerous. Should the worst happen, I would not want to have the bodies lost a second time in your hold if you too run into trouble at this Beacon." If you want to take the bodies with you into your hold, you can: Nainiimii's comment is just an in-character thing rather than a 'GM begging you to not break a scenario' thing

---When you eventually are ready to depart to pursue the other cultists...---

Heading back to the Thunderbolt, Nainiimii in tow, you enter the coordinates to the Drift Beacon flagged in the 4th cultists' datapad and launch out towards it. It's close enough to travel to using conventional thrusters - a good thing, given that Drift Travel times are wildly erratic currently - but the distance still takes the better part of a day to cover. Which will give you all the chance to fully rest, restore spells and RP, etc. Nainiimii spends most of the time on your ship nervous and fiddling with several hand-crafted figurines she brought with her, though she also does occasionally move over to speak with Azara and Maverick about Drift-travel.

As you get close to the datapad's coordinates a small planetoid looms in the distance. A few miles in diameter, it’s composed of two nested spheres that rotate independently of one another; the inner sphere is covered in colorful crystals, like the interior of a geode, while the exterior sphere is broken into pieces that move and orbit around the inner sphere in a complex pattern, each a landmass covered in verdant jungle.

The Thunderbolt continues to approach the Beacon, when suddenly lights begin flashing and alarms blare throughout the shuttle as your ship is getting pinged by something from the direction of the planetoid. A tight communication beacon sends the message <UNKNOWN VESSEL. APPROACH RESTRICTED. ACCESS CODE REQUIRED.> Nainiimii flutters about in a panic. "Code? What code? These beacon's aren't supposed to need a code to even approach!"

The one where I met Aye Cee Sixteen didn't require it either Rani replies. When not joining Azxra and Maverick for the discussions on Drift travel, she had spent much of the entire trip to here, resting in her cabin or in the water tank practicing her stunts, even trying to swim like a mermaid for a while.

I gotta admit that's a rather pretty looking beacon though. Or is it covered in Paraforans?

Computers +21

"The beacon is emanating an enormous amount of magical energy."

Maverick, disengages the Thunderbolt's autopilot and takes control of the the starship's controls.

"Time to turn and burn."

Before leaving the derelict ship, Neroo puts a small encoded report of what happened with the coordinates of the drift beacon into the ship’s computer.
if something happened to us, our friends will have some clues

===== Once near the beacon ====

Maverik,give the password I’ve found hidden in the cultist’s datapad!

Yes, agreed, this place is something special and full of magical energies

You trasmit over the passcode Neroo discovered deep in the datapad. There are several seconds as the beacon seems to process it, then another message is beamed back to you.

<ACCESS CODE ALPHA ACCEPTED.> As you receive this, the Thunderbolt's scanners detect a ripple of magical energy dispersing. Some sort of mystical repulsion field around the planetoid seems to be being lowered.

And then another message comes through -

<ACCESS CODES BETA THROUGH ECHO REQUIRED. FAILURE TO UPLOAD WITHIN 10 SECONDS WILL RESULT IN AGGRESSIVE RESPONSE>

And your radar starts beeping as the Thunderbolt is getting locked onto by dozens of targeting systems...

--

So: The passcode you found did let you bypass the first layer of defenses these 4th-worshippers have placed around this Drift Beacon planetoid, but lacking the passwords for the rest you're all gonna be in for a turbulent approach.

Essentially there will be several phases/challenges as you try to reach and land on the Beacon. For each obstacle, there will be a certain number of checks that need to be done. Each time there is one type of check that must have at least one PC succeed at, while a certain amount of other success will also be needed.

AUTOMATED DEFENSES

Your scanners light up to show projectiles suddently hurtling towards the Thunderbolt Through the viewscreens you see that turrets are firing massive crystalline chunks at you that could pulverize your ship if you can't avoid thm of blow them away with point defenses before impact!

At least one of you will need to make an Piloting check to maneuver your ship out of the way of the makeshift missiles. Others could also try to help point out an evasive course with Perception, make minor course-corrections on the fly with Sleight of Hand, or shatter some of the crystals into harmless tiny pieces via Gunnery.

Charli would not dream of interfering with Maverick's Piloting, but she'll happily shoot crystals to aid him!

Gunnery: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (17) + 16 = 33

"This is so cool! They shatter into glitter when I hit them!"

Neroo focus on the trajectories of the crystalline chunks and tries to help Maverick fly through the automated defenses, giving him indications to anticipate their course.

Right, Left, Up! Down!

Perception: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (18) + 20 = 38

"Banking left, banking left."

Piloting: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (10) + 28 = 38

Maverick, guides the Thunderbolt through a series of violent maneuvers to avoid the first wave of automated defenses.

Rani gets on the thruster controls to help

sleight of hand: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (4) + 20 = 24

Well, a very active group indeed! Apologies. Used to most games not being extremely active over the weekend. My daughter was over this weekend and I hadn't seen her in several weeks so.. .spent a lot of time with her.

Back it up a bit:
Yith also joins in with a short, solemn prayer to Desna. She grunts/growls in agreement with Neroo about stopping this in a very decisive manner.

After the remains are properly settled and the group is looking at the cultist's pile of loot Yith sighs, picks up the staff and looks at Nainiimii. "This may be extremely useful. Do you think the owner and Triune would mind me borrowing it for a short while?"

Approaching the beacon:[b]"Yes, this is absolutely not the same ride as any beacons i've boarded before!"

She helps watching for any obstacles that may be trying to sneak past our amazing pilot and gunner.
perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24

Azara is too stunned by the violence to speak much on the Chronicler. He ends up agreeing with Nainiimii when it comes to dealing with the remains. He ensures each person is unbound then laid to rest in their own bunks until more permanent solutions can be found. Though, if the Drift was more reliable at the moment, he would suggest sealing it up and sending it through so the Triunites could be in their deity's realm.

"It calls itself a Fragment
Tries to force wholeness
A Fragment it shall remain."

"It's beautiful," he comments when they arrive at the coordinates.

But doesn't have long to enjoy the view. As the projectiles come hurtling at them, he hits a code on his station to switch the role from Captain to Gunner, linking up with one of the weapons Charli isn't using.

gunnery: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

Yith and Rani try to help guide the Thunderbolt, though they find it tricky to track all of the incoming crystals. Meanwhile at the cannons Azara struggles to get a good lock on the hunks hurtling towards you.

Luckily Charli is more successful, blasting a few of the larger lobbed masses to bits and allowing Maverick to fly through the gap with some directional advice from Neroo! Success for that obstacle!

Debris Field

While the turrets stop lobbing massive crystals at you as you race closer to the planetoid, ahead of you a massive debris field formed of other vehicles or devices that weren't so lucky block the way to the beacon!

Someone is definitely going to need to apply their Computers skills to rapidly re-balance the shields to best protect your ship from the debris. While there's almost no way through that won't get at least some scratches, some Gunnery could reduce the larger bits of debris into more harmless smaller chunks while Perception or Piloting could help spot and steer a safer course through the least-dense parts of the field.

Gunnery: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23

The tinier bits of debris are proving difficult for Charli to target.

"Excellent job, team! Keep at it!" Azara says.

After his poor showing previously, he focuses his attention on the guns again.

gunnery: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27

"Watch out for that tree like object!"
Yeah, old joke, some may not get it

Computer: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (1) + 28 = 29
Computer (Coin Reroll 2*): 1d20 + 28 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 28 + 2 = 50

Neroo rapidly re-balance the shields to best protect the ship from the debris.

Desna seems to protect her as she almost enters the wrong coordinates before adjusting perfectly their course!

Desna be praised!

"Great Balls of Fire!"

Maverick, yells as he guides the Thunderbolt through a barrel roll in order to avoid some debris.

Piloting: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (3) + 28 = 31

I had no idea a Drake could do that says a rather impressed Rani.

Since Azara is on a gun, she takes the Captain's position.

Charli proves better at hitting bigger targets than these smaller ones, but Azara clears a path and Yith and Maverick team up to zoom through it. All the while Neroo's last minute tweak to the shileds keep the Thunderbolt well protected as the debris glances off of her. Another success!

Atmospheric Interference

Approaching the planetoid the Drift Beacon is integrated into, the Thunderbolt enters its atmospheric field. The strange nature of the planetoid is resulting in strange atmospheric pressures to build however, and your hull begins to flare up as it moves through it.

We'll definitiely need an Engineering check to divert power to the shields and protect the starship from the atmospheric heat, while others can pitch in with Computers to calculate the safest descent trajectory, Physical Science check to analyze the atmosphere's composition to know how to best withstand it, or Survival to predict what areas of the biosphere have the calmest weather patterns to fly through.

Charli just looks at Spoons, and Spoons feels the weight of expectation on him as he frantically tries to make Physical Science calculations.

Poshkettle Tea Intern’s Physical Science: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (10) + 19 = 29

"This atmospheric field reminds me of some of the simple physics of what you can find in a tea cup. There's the Brownian motion of random particles hitting each other, the diffusion of heat, the convective action as you stir it..."

Spoons's whiskers twitch, and then he pronounces, "And when you have to do hard calculations, do you know what really hits the spot? A nice, steaming cup of..."

"...Poshkettle Tea!" says, Charli, amused. And this time, she brings her intern (and everyone else) a cup, to aid her team with their calculations.

Maverick, looks over the ship's current scans of the biosphere's atmosphere and attempts to find the calmest area to fly through.

Survival: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32

"That cloud formation looks good.."
survival: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

Engineering: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (6) + 26 = 32

Concerned by the pressure on the ship from the strange atmosphere, Neroo tries to balance the shields. But she struggles a little bit with them and is not completely satisfied by her work.

Sorry guys, not my best work, hope the shields will keep up!

Azara is largely out of his depth here. It's all techy stuff that's needed and he's not very techy. He plays with his tablet enough to know a little about computers, though.

Computers: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

He probably would have contributed more by carrying tea.

Click. Whirr.

BOTTING RANI

"Here, Azara. You got one of your calculations wrong. Allow me to help you fix it!" Rani tries her hands at computers.

Computers: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26

Neroo keeps the Thunderbolt while the rest of you - even the interns! - combine your efforts to descend as quickly as possible. Another success!!

Electronic Interference

Your vessel is apportioning the ground now. But a strange storm front shifts unexpectedly and engulfs the Thunderbolt The electricity within is also teeming with magic, and the strange combination is wreaking havoc on your navigational systems as you make your final approach!

The last step before landing safely on the Beacon planetoid...or crash landing on it. You need some nice Piloting to touch down safely, and the rest of the crew can either brace yourselves Athletically, or identify the softest and clearest landing spot through Life Science or Survival skills.

survival: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
"Don't land on those volcanic rocks to the northeast.."

Charli, her hands full of tea cups, looks at her marketing intern again.

"Spoons, can you help out here?"

Poshkettle Tea Intern’s Life Science: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (9) + 19 = 28

"...aim for the springy moss over there!"

"If we land well, a quick tea break sounds like a wonderful idea!"

I'd like a cup please, preferably with tea in it.

athletics: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (16) + 17 = 33

A bergamote tea, with a pinch of Kalzara's herbs from Akiton will be perfect!

Adds Neroo while scanning the landing areas for the best place to land.

Life Science: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (15) + 21 = 36

Piloting: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (7) + 28 = 35

"Don't serve the tea yet. This landing could be rough."

And together that is another success. A perfect approach!

The rest of the crew's help lets Maverick guide the Thunderbolt in gently despite the poor conditions and he sets it down in a clearing on a stable bit of landmass.

As the ship's engines wind down, you finally have a chance to see the planetoid up close. The core of the object is a massive crystalline structure orbited by hundreds of large landmasses of various sizes one of which you've landed on. Each landmass is constantly moving and occasionally overlapping around the core in an intricate pattern that brings to mind the motion of gars within a complex machine. The land itself is lush and verdant: the scent of moss, flowers, and damp earth permeates the air as birds, insects, and mammals scurry about the brush and undergrowth all around your clearing.

Using the Thunderbolt's computers to scan you see that this planetoid his safe and breathable atmosphere and Station-standard gravity. The entire Beacon radiates overwhelming levels of magical energy, but you do notice a few spots where these energy readings register slightly differently than the rest. One such anomalous reading is centered about a 20-minute trek from your landing site, while the other is about 15 minutes past that.