[SF Adventure] To Defy the Dragon

Game Master cmlobue

The stairs descend to another hangar, this one with 60 foot high ceilings. Banks of computer terminals line the northeastern and northwestern walls. Though you can't read them from here, the displays seem superficially similar to those from Flame Knight's cairn. In the center of the room is a metallic dragon, similar in appearance to the one you fought over the skies of Genrovis, but much smaller. It regards the team as one might a gem whose provenance you are not sure of.

"Jacaren," says a metallic voice that emanates from the dragon, though its mouth does not move. "Have you brought more worshippers?"

"Yes," the green-clad creature replies. "They seek to commune with you, your mightiness."

"This pleases me," the dragon answers. "Lay your gear on the floor before me and we shall discuss your positions here."

Just to be super clear, is this a real flesh and blood dragon, not an animated dragon-shaped mech?

How does laying gear on the floor work for Sefel, who's driving the flame knight?

Telirix - Definitely a robot or other construct.

Sefel - You would probably have to get out and hand over the keys.

Yargnod twists a part of Justifier's stock and it becomes a small disk, again.

He flips and fiddles and twists it in his hand, fidgeting.

"That's as much as you're going to get. Let's talk about YOUR position here. As in, who are you, what are you and why are you here?" he says.

My gear is on the floor of this cockpit. I swear!

"I am Ayleth... no, I am an improved version of Ayleth! These creatures recognize me for the god I shall become, and you will join them in supplication or perish."

Telirix talks telepathically to his companions. "I think we want that suit, but I don't want to fight it and destroy it to get it. Sefel don't reveal yourself. You are Fire Knight right now."

The he addresses 'Ayleth'. "Oh great and powerful Ayleth below. Reserve your judgement for we have seen Ayleth above. We have heard of your destiny to supplant her and wish to help. The legends say that long ago you had three lost brothers and sisters. We believe we have found one of them. Here stands Igneous, the Fire Knight, your kin of old!"

Bluff: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (16) + 17 = 33
diplomacy: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (9) + 17 = 26

Sorry for the delay. RL holiday activities are starting early this year.

"Fool! The starmetal tyrants are no kin of mine. Hand it over, and I shall melt it down for scrap as it deserves. Now I grow impatient. Lay down your arms or I will have to demonstrate my power."

"Yargnod, what do you think?" Telirix asks the kanabo. He thinks he knows what the answer will be.

Sefel nonchalantly ducks down a bit so that his head isn't peeking over the console of his flame knight.

I'm not here. I'm not here...

"I think I'm going to let my friend do the negotiating for me," Yargnod says, tossing the disk up in the air.

It spins slowly seeming to hover for an instance at the top of the arc before falling rapidly.

The kanabo claps his hands on it when it is chest level and is suddenly holding Justifier.

"Say 'hello' to my little friend!"

That seems to end the conversation.

Round 1 - bolded may go

Telirix
Ayleth
Flame Knight (Sefel piloting)
Mordack
Yargnod

Knew Yargnod would handle it with style.

Telirix takes a few steps back, swinging his own rifle from his back and raising it to firing position. Will draw AoO.

"You all see the target!" The lashunta pulls the trigger. Get'em as part of attack action. +2 for everyone.

Hailcannon, Ultracold Cryo v EAC Ayleth, get'em: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 13 + 2 = 35 ... damage: 4d8 + 11 ⇒ (6, 7, 2, 8) + 11 = 34 C & P

Crit: 4d8 + 11 ⇒ (6, 3, 7, 1) + 11 = 28 And 4d8 + 11 [/dice] [ooc] and the target must succeed at a Fortitude save or be staggered for 1 round. Staggered : You can take a single move action or standard action each round, but not both, nor can you take full actions. You can still take swift actions, but not reactions.
Sorry I can't find the critical saving throw DC.

4d8 + 11 ⇒ (5, 5, 4, 7) + 11 = 32
Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32

Telirix opens the next round of negotiations by shooting Ayleth Mk 2 right in the motherboard. She shrugs off the staggering effect but is clearly damaged. She flies into the air and breathes a cone of flames at the group.

Fire Damage: 13d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 2, 3, 2, 1, 2, 1, 3, 1, 1, 4, 3) = 29 (Reflex DC 19 for half)
Recharge: 1d4 ⇒ 3

A good portion of the fire is really just smoke from her damaged chipset.

Round 1-2 - bolded may go

Telirix (Reflex save)
Ayleth (-129 HP)
Flame Knight (Sefel piloting, Reflex save)
Mordack (Reflex save)
Yargnod (Reflex save)

Refl: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Yargnod takes the full brunt of the flames and smoke.

"Scatter!" he shouts, though he doesn't move from his spot, instead, making slight adjustments to Justifier while squinting and scowling at this Ayleth knockoff.

Justifier (Doom Caller Desperation Cannon): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29
Electricity and Fire (Calibrated): 3d12 + 11 + 11 ⇒ (7, 8, 8) + 11 + 11 = 45

Here we go!

Sefel exclaims as the flames wash over them.

DC 19 Reflex for half: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

He quickly fires his plasma rifle over Telirix's head at the dragon.

[standard] attack
Plasma rifle attack, E and F damage: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 306d10 + 11 ⇒ (10, 1, 7, 2, 7, 6) + 11 = 44

reflex: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12 but I do have 11 fire resistance, so 18
Move while trick attacking
shoot at dragon
trick attack: 21 + 10 = 31 extra dmg: 6d8 ⇒ (7, 6, 1, 1, 2, 6) = 23 and flat footed
Disintegration SMG, Decimator: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28 vs eac dmg: 3d4 + 5 ⇒ (4, 1, 4) + 5 = 14 acid

reflex: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

"Sound tactics. Keep targeting her." Telirix moves quickly to his right to spread the group. He let's fly another shot.

Hailcannon, Ultracold Cryo v EAC Ayleth, get'em: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 13 + 2 = 20 ... damage: 4d8 + 11 ⇒ (5, 2, 6, 8) + 11 = 32 C & P

Get 'em as part of the attack. +2 to hit for all of us.

Flame Knight strikes the dragon with a laser. The flames wash over it harmlessly.

Yargnod's fire is similarly ineffective, but the electrical component of his blast seems extra effective.

Telirix can't find his target among all the fire.

Mordack, however, takes advantage of the distraction to dissolve the remaining important circuits from upstart Ayleth.

Combat over - congratulations on bribing the RNG.

Jacaren decides that discretion is the better part of valor and flees as his deity is easily defeated.

The heroes can examine the computer after defeating Ayleth-MK-2. A character can unlock Time Knight with a successful DC 32 Computers or Mysticism check. A character with at least 5 skill ranks in Mysticism has a +2 circumstance bonus to this check, and a character who’s a follower of Iomedae has a +4 divine bonus.

"We're your gods now!" Yargnod declares as the false dragon is destroyed. "Bring your finest riches and bi...women and lay them at our feet!"

But, in truth, he suspects their finest riches are beyond this computer. He examines it closely but then snorts in disgust.

"Does anyone know about this woo-woo magic stuff?" he asks when he realizes the mystical component.

The good news is we can get to the... "magic stuff" via a computer interface.

Sefel approaches the Time Knight...

We're about to have two of them!

DC32 Computers: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (10) + 23 = 33

"That was surprisingly easy."

Telirix slings his rifle over his shoulder and moves to the computer consoles.

computers: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

" I'm glad you're on it, Sefel. This is way too complicated for me."

Tel does not undergo a sudden religious conversion.

'bribing the Republican Naional Convention?"

You now have >two of them<.

For thoroughness, you check the remaining unsearched room. Two workbenches covered in ancient tools and equipment of more recent make line the eastern wall of this room. A sleeping pallet sits at the room’s southern end, and diagrams of machines are pinned on the walls.

This is probably where the leader lived, but he is not in residence now.

When they get Time Knight out, Yargnod walks slowly around it, running a hand along it, leaning down, going up on tip toes, cocking his head to the side as he closely examines it.

He leans into the access hatch and looks around.

"So...we don't have to walk, anymore. Let's talk about piloting and co-piloting and who's gonna ride with who," he says with a grin.

I am a proficient enough pilot +18, so I will keep on that task. I have become familiar and comfortable with flame knight but I remain flexible.

"I thought Time Knight was your choice of mount, Sefel. " Telirix grins. "But if you're more comfortable in Flame Knight.... "

I've no real preference. I just think we should maximize firepower.

Palisade or Shadow next?

Palisade sounds cooler, though I can't figure out the Starmetal...Adamantine?

To the Palisade!

The northern cairn is in the Sestarral foothills. Short, craggy mountains bisect the landscape, dusted with snow and stretching into a larger mountain range in the distance. Evergreens dot the base of the mountains, and the cool air smells of pine and snow. A close examination of the area reveals that one of the larger, rocky hills conceals a metal building.

Mount up, and then make a Computers, Engineering or Strength check to get past the door.

Sefel pilots along comfortably in the flame knight until they get to the door of the metal building. He's able to approach hacking it quite leisurely.

Computers: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (20) + 23 = 43

Yargnod hops into the cockpit behind Sefel, Justifier stored in a pocket. He looks around for a few moments then starts flipping switched, pressing buttons and entering command prompts.

He hums a jaunty tune for a while as they move along to the next temple/hangar.

"Nice one!" he says as Sefel handily handles the security computer. Perhaps he is sick. Or possessed. How else to explain his pleasant demeanor?

>Slide 16<

Images of dragons running rampant are emblazoned on the metal walls and floor, shining in pale green crystal. Scale patterns ripple over the doors with the top of each labeled in swirling script.

A large creature made of pale green metal stands before the double doors. As you enter, it says in a mehcanical voice, "Warning! Your presence is not authorized. You must leave immediately."

The decorations are real pretty but the fancy writing doesn't mean anything to Yargnod so he doesn't pay them very much attention.

Physical Science: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (7) + 18 = 25

"Noqual. This will help against a dragon," he says when he recognizes the crystal.

Engineering: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (17) + 21 = 38

"No, we won't be doing that, we'll be coming in," Yargnod replies. He gets a sense of the golem and carefully subverts one of its subroutines.

"What are the criteria for bypassing you without resorting to combat?"

"What other defenses does this installation hold?"

"Where is the Palisade Knight located?"

Telirix cedes control of Time Knight to Mordack, if the half-orc android wants it.

At the Sestarral cairn, Telirix observes telepathically, "Odd that the text is in Castrovellian. Yargnod, Mordack, the small door leads to storage, and large door leads to 'Repair'. "

The lashunta makes his own estimate of the construct that is challenging them.

Engineering : 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33

What immunities, if any, does it have? What special abilities?

The golem is immune to electricity and magic, in addition to immunities common to constructs. If it scores a critical hit, it also dispels one magical effect on the target. Anyone casting a spell within 10 feet must make a DC 22 Will save or the spell is cast at 1 lower CL.
Force damage instead heals it, and dispel magic will suppress both of the listed abilities for 3 rounds. It also has a breath weapon - 30 foot cone of force.

Sefel notes the labelling on the doors as Telirix points it out to the team. Then Yargnod identifies the noqual. He speaks to the group telepathically.

It may also be that foes here are already protected by it. I will be watching out for this...

Then the noqual golem appears. Sefel simply sighs.

Of course.

DC 22 Engineering: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (6) + 20 = 26

He does not recall any additional facts about the construct. Player sigh

Does the golem respond to Yargnod's questions?

"This information is available to authorized personnel only."

"This information is available to authorized personnel only."

"This information is available to authorized personnel only."

Sefel looks around the room for an access panel where they might be able to do a little hacking, either of the locks in this place or else disable the golem.

He uses the flame knight's loudspeaker (?) to ask it If I have authorization, where is your access console or panel that I might be able to employ authorized functions?

"This information is available to authorized personnel only."

"And exactly who are the authorized personnel?" Yargnod asks.

"This information is available to authorized personnel only."

"Final warning! Your presence is not authorized. Leave immediately or be terminated."

You all could probably depart and enjoy your pair of mechs, but that doesn't seem to suit your style.

The golem breathes out some weird gas before approaching the team.

Force Damage: 13d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 3, 1, 1, 2, 5, 2, 6, 6, 6, 2, 2) = 43
DC 19 Reflex half
Recharge: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Round 1 - bolded may go

Noqual Golem
Flame Knight (Relfex save)
Time Knight (Relfex save)

"Scatter!" Yargnod says as it becomes evident that this creature can affect large areas at once. He moves over slightly to avoid the thing smacking them while they're exposed in moving then takes a shot with the plasma rifle.

He also boosts his chance of avoiding the force attack (spending the PP on the Resist action.)
Refl: 1d20 + 11 + 1d4 ⇒ (1) + 11 + (1) = 13

Plasma Rifle: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 13 + 2 = 28
Electricity and Fire: 6d10 + 11 ⇒ (8, 2, 8, 4, 4, 1) + 11 = 38

Sefel aims another shot from the plasma rifle.

Plasma rifle attack, E and F damage: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 146d10 + 11 ⇒ (10, 1, 9, 9, 2, 7) + 11 = 49

What's the +2 from on attack? (unfortunately this attack roll is tragic)

Sefel aims another shot from the plasma rifle.

[dice=Plasma rifle attack, E and F damage]1d20+10; 6d10+11

What's the +2 from on attack? (unfortunately this attack roll is tragic)

Unless I'm reading it wrong or misunderstanding it, Flame Knight gives a +1 to melee attacks and a +2 to ranged attacks.

Nope you're right. I missed that. 16 it is (but probably still a miss).

Telirix tweaks Time Knight forward to get within striking range. Time Knight rears upward, then drives its swordarm down with as much leverage as it can muster.

10' Guarded step as shown.

Swordwhip: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28 ... damage: 6d8 + 17 ⇒ (4, 2, 5, 6, 2, 4) + 17 = 40

Oh! Ref save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19

Let me know if I've got this right. 21 damage. Shields absorb 15, means 6 real HP of damage. Shields automatically regen back to 15 next round with no PP expenditure.
When do new PP kick in? End of the round, or beginning?

Starting PP as soon as combat begins, per turn at the end of round.
Shields regenerate the mech's tier, so 11 at the start of its turn.

Mordack, you have one action to spend in Time Knight.