SFS 2-13 - Storm of the End Times (KS) (Inactive)

Game Master phaeton_nz

Liftt can't help but be somewhat impressed with the Shaban ship. "She certainly looks impressive." he starts.

"Robust too. I bet that could take a missile to the wing and still keep flying."

The CAAMC looks on. "Given some of the situations that You have caused me to experience, I think even this ship would be hard placed to keep me safe. Dragging me to the swamp that had been relocated out of Hell itself..." she starts.

"Oh.." he replies, somewhat put in his place. "It wasn't *that* bad was it."

"It has taken me months to get the stench of brimstone out of my equipment.."

Gong for intimidate here. The "we go to dangerous places and then just talk about the smell afterward" vibe. That is, them Azlanti star emprie don't scare us none. Not that she is aiming to actually threaten them, just impress them.
intimidate: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

That is a success. Anyone else?

While Lifft speaks, Momo gracefully moves around the ship, trying to display grace, and quick reflexes.

Profession(Dancer): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

Not sure if this qualifies for 'initiative'

Tofana asks for a tour of the Shaban scientific equipment and compares notes on capabilities and equipment settings.

Don't have any of the requested skills. Will role engineering for scientific impartiality.

Engineering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Sorry, that last roll was +12, not +8. Should be a net 18.

You manage to impress the Shaban so much that you can return to your rock with an offer of collaborative research, a CHERAV (see slides) to help navigate Wealdriad without needing your starship, access to the shatori armory and a lasting impression on the shatoris.

Their armoury contains: a frostbite-class zero rifle, two suits of graphite carbon skin armor with hydrojet armor upgrades, and two iridescent spindle aeon stones

A short time later another starship arrives and lands on A5
1d6 ⇒ 4
It bears the logo of Land-Hoard Holdings Inc. which is a Triaxian DragonCorp infamous for seizing newly discovered planets and leasing out their valuable land. Another starship is already arriving in orbit.

We are up to Setup Period 5 - what do you wish to do?

"Wow... that is quite some vehicle." says Liftt.

"Anyone mind if I take it out for a quick trial run, just to try out that configuration flip..."

As the Dragon-corp ship lands he adds "I guess we should say hello to them too. I wonder what they are doing here? If they were land grabbing, why wait until now?."

"Now that we've secured our ride, shall we continue on to our earlier anomalous readings and investigate? If we proceed to The Dome, we can investigate and make contact at the same time."

There does seem to be some anomalous readings coming from Pillar A2 (The Amphitheatre) seemingly organic and metallic material on Pillar A5 (The Dome), and more organic material on Pillar A6 (The Honeycomb). The magnetic interference makes it really difficult to get more accurate information

Antethriss, who has just finished equipping himself with a new armor, nods to Skip's words. Yes, there's no reason not to go there after all. We're researchers, right?

Took: graphite carbon skin armor with hydrojet armor upgrade and iridescent spindle aeon stone

Yes, let's go and greet them!

So it's off to the Dome. The oversized peak of this basalt column contains hollow caverns that served as secret vaults for the humanoids who previously inhabited Wealdriad. The vaults contain an assortment of strange devices, ancient ritual tools, and bundles of desiccated offerings.

You decide to collect those later so go to visit the Triaxians. You discover that their leader, Peraxecon (male green dragon), is strongly interested in space travel and celestial events He puts on a stoic front but you can convince him that Starfinders make better friends than enemies by succeeding at an Intimidate check, or you can surmise his true intentions (and use them as leverage) by succeeding at an Sense Motive check.

Tofana tries to engage the Triaxians the same way she had the Shatori, by talking about equipment and settings to optimize observations of the aurora. While donig so she observes their equipment and demeanor.

Sense Motive, android: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 5 - 2 = 16

That's a failure unfortunately

Sneaky post

The CAAMC watches Liftt carefully as the negotiations with the dragoncorp start up. "Remember, stressful situations are what triggered you last time..."

Liftt nods "How d..do.. y..ou suggest I, ah... approach it?"

She considers things for a moment or two. "Flattery. Dragoncorps reps bear more than a passing similarity to their masters. And in this case, is a dragon. Flattery, but from a point of strength."

"Ahh, Mr Peraxecon. Which particular Dragoncorp do you represent again? I'm sure you are aware that the Starfinder Society has had DEALings with some of your colleagues in the past. Very successful dealings... for both parties. Now, I would hate to see that type of relationship become fraught due to any... imprudent... acts happening here. "

intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

(A success)

Peraxecon laughs heartily. I like you. You are not afraid to speak your mind instead of pussyfooting around the subject. Yes I admit I have an ulterior motive. We were thinking of seeing what ... erm ... resources this planet has to offer, but to be honest, there doesn't seem to be much land to grab. So we may as well watch the aurora. It should be a wonderful sight.

Do you wish to gain Favour with the DragonCorp or ask for a copy of their recordings? You can do either. Recordings represent various data sets documenting the aurora, each providing new insights into the mysterious celestial event while Favour represents goodwill among the factions attending the aurora, which can help offset the media smear campaign the Starfinder Society is facing back home.

Tofana watches the interchange, storing data on personal interactions for later analysis.

I'd vote gain favour, we have our own equipment good to go... What about scanning the area for the Desnans?

Yes, you can do that on the way back. It will take you the rest of the hour to collect the items in the vaults. Your findings, you can then share with the Desnians

Sounds like a plan, but it's really up to Lifft. Tofana doesn't care one way or the other.

I'm back from a long holiday vacation. Apologies if I did not inform everyone for the second time.

I vote for Favor too. But Tetra has Diplomacy +1 only if that skill is needed.

Tetra listens intently to the communication between his allies and Peraxecon. He is about to ask the dragon of what does they give in exchange to resources of the planet they just seized to their own, but keeps his mouth shut.

"I'm sure you will find that many of our rank are straight shooters as my college here" He makes a hand motion at Lift "in both of the uses of the term. I took forward to continued co-operation between our clans! We will leave you to your scans, but first, I'd like to discuss with you the recent campaign against our kind. I'm hoping we can count on your services to spread the word that we are a fair people, and if necessary, I hope we can count on your assistance to crush our mutual enemies beneath our boots!"

Going for a show of strength, and trying to appeal to how Skip perceives the dragon and its culture. The dice will now let me know how much of a stereotype it is.

Indimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Intimidate, aid: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Momo makes an impressed but surprised face at Skip, wondering who our mutual enemies might be.

Skip also successfully influences the dragon-kin.

You manage to come to a mutual agreement with the dragonkin and form an alliance.

After leaving them you can retrieve the contents of the strange vaults of the previous humanoids who previously inhabited Wealdriad. The vaults contain an assortment of strange devices, ancient ritual tools, and bundles of desiccated offerings.

The crevasses containing the artifacts are cramped and difficult to reach. requiring an Acrobatics or Athletics check to collect the relics.

While you're doing that, another ship lands on the Honeycomb (A6)
1d6 ⇒ 1
which has the markings of the Castrovel Planetary Broadcasting Network.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

Clambering around the rocks and through the vaults is a physical task to which Tofana is well suited. She climbs and wriggles and chimneys to help retrieve the artifacts.

Acrobatics, Aid: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Momo moves with elegance to guide Tofana through the cracks, lending a hand where needed.

Having kept silent all negotiations with the dragon ("if they will be killed by such a powerful creature, I will simply change the employer... it seems to be the fifth time... true, the last four were in Nightarch, I thought everything would be different with Starfinders...") drow perks up when someone from the team needs to climb for artifacts. This is the case for me! Take me on camera, please. Heroic music seems to be playing. And no, it doesn't "seems", since the sound comes from his communit.

Athletics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

The way Antethriss climbs up, managing not only to move with great speed along the cliffs, but also to effectively flaunt his musculature and training, you will remember forever... At least that's what he hopes.

Hey, is that Blaze the Plasma Trails playing? Momo wonders out loud, until she notices the music is coming from Antethriss comm unit.

Barely audible, she mutters tacky...

The artifacts are collected just as the rain stops and the clouds begin to part revealing the aurora.

We are in setup period 6. What do you wish to do?

"Should we make contact with the Castrovel; ship?" asks Liftt.

"I mean, they may have some interesting instruments on board, and science staff to give a running commentary. Getting onside with them... Maybe helpful?"

If there are light ones there, we may have a misunderstanding. There is a grin in the voice, misunderstanding clearly means violence, and the "light ones" are probably elves from Castrovel. I would prefer any other place.

So you miss an opportunity to go on camera? Momo asks of Anthethriss, the marking are of the broadcasting network. I doubt they are here for a... misunderstanding

"Heading to the "honeycomb" pillar would give us an opportunity to investigate the organic matter our scanners picked up there as well, how could we resist!"

Sounds good, another vote for going to see the castrovel news ship

So, off to the Honeycomb. You discover that the media crew plan to make a documentary about the aurora. The director, a female ysoki named Makkaran wants to keep her footage exclusive to CPBN but would love to add some interviews or voice-overs to engage viewers.

You can barter your services as expert commentators by succeeding at a Physical Science check or enhance her production quality by succeeding at a Charisma-based Profession check.

Sadly, Liftt is unable to provide any assistance to the crew.

No relevant skills here.

I could offer other charisma based skills, but do not have any of those listed

Profession(Dancer): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16 Bit of a stretch... :-P

You know, we sometimes shoot out music videos at location, and there's always a lighting master checking the light. I think you can easily reflect some natural light to your presenter to make him better?

Drow chooses to sit on the sidelines. (no suitable skills)

Also no suitable skills. Someday I have to train in physical or life science.

Tetra also has no suitable skills here so you say goodbye to the CPBN then go looking for the source of the organic readings you obtained earlier. The peak here is mostly flat but some collapsed holes create uneven terrain. Some of these holes served as a natural crypt for Wealdriad’s former inhabitants, and many still contain humanoid remains. You can collect these remains but limited airflow and mystical preservatives kept these corpses remarkably intact, but still somewhat rancid.

Please make fortitude saves. You are also being followed by a camera crew.

Tetra moves on with the group to their next location. As he participates in the collection, he notices the camera crew following them but he just shrugs. The smell though is not helping.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16

"Is it a good idea to loot graves with a camera crew watching? Would it help the Society's image?"

Tofana tries to keep her voice down.

It depends on how we show ourselves... And I'm going to show myself great!

Fort: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Yuugh! Really, really gross! Momo says, thinking of all the ways the AbadarCorp trainee manager will shout at her if she's caught retching on-camera.

Not able to stand to go anywhere near the bodies, she tries to talk to the camera crew's producing director, to see if he up for a little chat off-camera.

We could give them 'scoop' right to film this, making this a bit of a 'live archaeology extreme'

A perfect specimen for a flawed organization. Tofana thinks. She follows the others lead.

Fort: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Liftt is going to keep their environmental seals well and truly shut while on this strange place. Who knows when they may be swept into the sea by a freak gust of wind.

fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

'

Fortitude: 1d20 ⇒ 2

Skip doesn't have much of a stomach for exploration of tombs. His primal fear and disgust of the undead colours his perception of their current goal.

"Yes, I agree with Tofana.... Perhaps we shouldn't be scouring the remains of the interred people here. No good can come of it. And what if one of them suddenly stir and re-animate. Abhorration!"

Those that rolled less than 18 for their Fort are sickened for the next four hours.

Momo is able to explain what is going on and the director says that this could be very important and if the Society discovers any more evidence of who was here, they would be interested in documenting it. They promise to be in touch.

((You now have two Findings - Where next do you wish to explore? We move to the next setup period.))
random arrival: 1d6 ⇒ 3
A ship from the Kreiholm Freehold lands on the Lily Pad (A7)

Momo looks a bit like a lizard who just had a bad molt. She sheepishly thanks the director.

Who are the Kreiholm Freehold?

Does the "gas" work through environmental filters? in our armour?

Lift tries to recall what he can about the freehold.

culture: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

It's a smell so, if the environmental seals block out such things, then no

The Kreiholm Freehold is a multiplanetary federation of several intelligent species that inhabit five planets in the Saaruq-Ruaan binary star system in the Vast. Member species include the:

Matoh, native to Saaruq-3
Nelentu, originally from Agillae-2 in the Scoured Stars
Syngnathrix, native to Saaruq-5
Tekian, originally from Callion-1 in the Scoured Stars
Thyr, originally from Bastiar-7 in the Scoured Stars