[SF Adventure] To Defy the Dragon

Game Master cmlobue

When it becomes apparent the golem isn't going to make the first move Telirix glances back at his companions. They've saved his bacon a number of times now, so even though he doesn't relish the prospect he steps into the room to talk with the golem, AFTER fading.

"Greetings, impressive golem. I am the spirit of Shadowknight and I greet you. May one inquire your designation and mission parameters?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (12) + 18 = 30 Diplomacy, expertise: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 [ooc] Total 38 [/dice]

The golem does not react to Telirix's voice or the lack of any obvious Shadow Knights in the room.

"There's no response. I don't think talking is going to work, but it doesn't seem to be able to see me. I'm going to cut the invisibility and see how it reacts to visual stilmuli."

Telirix cuts his mech's camouflage and braces for an attack from the golem. IF no attack is forthcoming, he tries his greeting speech one more time.

Lots of invisible creatures failing perception checks against each other.

Shadow Knight becomes visible. As Telirix is about to speak again, two other creatures become visible from behind the statues, as they fire at him.

Advanced Shirren-Eye Rifle: 1d20 + 20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 20 + 2 = 40
Piercing Damage: 2d10 + 9 ⇒ (2, 1) + 9 = 12

Advanced Shirren-Eye Rifle: 1d20 + 20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 20 + 2 = 41
Piercing Damage: 2d10 + 9 ⇒ (7, 7) + 9 = 23

The yellow robot takes careful aim at Shadow Knight and fires again.

Advanced Shirren-Eye Rifle: 1d20 + 20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 20 + 2 = 26
Piercing Damage: 2d10 + 9 ⇒ (6, 5) + 9 = 20

Not careful enough.

Round 1 - bolded may go

Yellow (tracking Shadow Knight)
Shadow Knight (-14 SP, 7 PP)
Time Knight (5 PP)
Palisade Knight (7 PP)
Flame Knight (4 PP)
Cyan
Magenta

Looking at the map, it appears we need to wait for Shadow Knight to move further in before the rest of us can proceed? Or do we still have "move through ally" even in mechs?

Yes, you can always move through ally squares unless they actively try to stop you.

Then

Yargnod spots two invisible robots near the statues. They don't seem to be doing anything or reacting to Shadow Knight, so perhaps they have been deactivated.

Now

Shadow Knight has been keeping an eye on the invisible robots, so is not surprised when one breaks cover and fires at him.

Round 1 - bolded may go

Yellow (tracking Shadow Knight)
Shadow Knight (7 PP)
Time Knight (5 PP)
Palisade Knight (7 PP)
Flame Knight (4 PP)
Cyan
Magenta (invisible)

"Alright, you want to do this the hard way? We can do this the fun way!" Yargnod exclaims.

He rushes into the room and past the golem which hasn't proven itself a threat, yet to stab at the no longer invisible bot, spotting another one that is still invisible as he goes.

Adamantine Rune Spear: 1d20 + 10 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 12 = 26
Piercing: 6d8 + 16 ⇒ (1, 6, 4, 1, 2, 8) + 16 = 38

Sefel proceeds into the room just past Shadow Knight, to lend his mech's firepower.

[move] 30ft

So... now I see what is going on in here.

He starts with the basics against the most obvious target.

[standard] attack Cyan (spending 3pp for Devastating Hit)
Plasma rifle attack Cyan, E and F damage: 1d20 + 10 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 10 + 12 = 376d12 + 11 ⇒ (6, 3, 12, 9, 12, 4) + 11 = 57
line, critical wound, 100ft

After hitting a creature with an attack, but before dealing damage, the mech increases its weapon’s damage value by one step against that creature (e.g. medium damage instead deals high damage). A weapon that already deals extreme damage instead adds 1 additional damage for every damage die rolled for the attack. This ability can’t be used for weapons that attack an intersection rather than a creature, such as weapons with the explode weapon special property.

How high is the ceiling? Or ceilings in general?

Telirix lifts off so that he can fire over Palisade Knight. "Remember to stay clear of the golem!"

Frost cannon, mech BaB, my BAB v yellow: 1d20 + 10 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 9 = 21 ... damage: 6d10 + 11 ⇒ (6, 5, 7, 9, 7, 6) + 11 = 51

Figures I'd roll great damage with a lousy attack.

First I move in the door, can’t move myself on phone, put me next to red. Then sonic shotgun pink. hit: 1d20 + 10 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 10 + 13 = 41 dmg: 6d8 + 11 ⇒ (5, 2, 4, 3, 1, 8) + 11 = 34 sonic

Ceilings are 30 feet tall.

Round 2 - bolded may go

Shadow Knight puts a very strong shot into the wall.

Palisade Knight enters and stabs the yellow robot while Yargnod calls out the location of the third hostile.

Time Knight enters and tries to hit the invisible foe.

Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 50

Just a bit outside.

Flame Knight puts a little extra juice into shooting at the golem. Unfortunately, the electricity seems to have the opposite of the intended effect.

The golem begins to move, and finds two nearby targets.

Nanite Filament vs. Flame Knight: 1d20 + 27 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 27 - 4 = 36
Slashing Damage: 4d6 + 20 ⇒ (2, 6, 6, 4) + 20 = 38

Nanite Filament vs. Time Knight: 1d20 + 27 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 27 - 4 = 36
Slashing Damage: 4d6 + 20 ⇒ (1, 5, 1, 5) + 20 = 32

Magenta comes out of cover to take a careful shot at Flame Knight.

Advanced Shirren-Eye Rifle: 1d20 + 20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 20 + 2 = 30
Piercing Damage: 2d10 + 9 ⇒ (2, 8) + 9 = 19

Yellow switches targets to Palisade Knight and attacks.

Advanced Shirren-Eye Rifle: 1d20 + 20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 20 + 2 = 36
Piercing Damage: 2d10 + 9 ⇒ (8, 7) + 9 = 24

Round 2 - bolded may go

Yellow (-38 HP, tracking Palisade Knight)
Shadow Knight (8 PP)
Time Knight (-14 SP, -2 HP, 7 PP)
Palisade Knight (-13 SP, 8 PP)
Flame Knight (-14 SP, -27 HP, 4 PP)
Cyan (-19 HP)
Magenta (tracking Flame Knight)

Not yet taking a prohibitive amount of damage, Sefel continues flame knight's assualt.

[standard] attack CYAN
Plasma rifle attack CYAN, E and F damage: 1d20 + 10 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 10 + 12 = 376d10 + 11 ⇒ (4, 9, 10, 10, 6, 7) + 11 = 57
line, critical wound, 100ft

Telirix stays airborne, near the ceiling. Normally he'd focus on one of the smaller combatants to try to put them out of the fight, but he's curious whether his cold-based weapon will slow the golem.

Frost cannon, mech BaB, my BAB v golem: 1d20 + 10 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 10 + 9 = 28 ... damage: 6d10 + 11 ⇒ (9, 7, 4, 9, 6, 9) + 11 = 55

Yargnod checks his readings and hits the shortcut button to Refresh Shields. He's tired of having to fix this thing.

Then, he continues to show the yellow robot the finer portions of stabbing town.

Adamantine Rune Spear (Full Attack): 1d20 + 10 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 12 - 4 = 32
Piercing: 6d8 + 16 ⇒ (6, 3, 1, 5, 3, 6) + 16 = 40

Adamantine Rune Spear (Full Attack): 1d20 + 10 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 12 - 4 = 19
Piercing: 6d8 + 16 ⇒ (6, 1, 8, 1, 3, 3) + 16 = 38

For the first one (if either) of those that hit, he'll spend the PP for Devastating Hit and use the below damage instead.

Piercing: 6d10 + 16 ⇒ (3, 6, 4, 3, 3, 2) + 16 = 37

Flame Knight fires on the golem once more. And once more, the electricity seems to mitigate the damage from the fire somewhat.

Palisade Knight stabs at the yellow robot once again. The first one connects, but somehow, Yargnod misses the devastating hit button on the console and instead activates the windshield wipers.

2d8 ⇒ (6, 4) = 10

The shield repair button is where he expected it, though.

Telirix does not learn what cold damage does to the golem, as Shadow Knight's attack misses.

Round 2 - bolded may go

Yellow (-78 HP, tracking Palisade Knight)
Shadow Knight (8 PP)
Time Knight (-14 SP, -2 HP, 7 PP)
Palisade Knight (-3 SP, 6 PP)
Flame Knight (-14 SP, -27 HP, 4 PP)
Cyan (-38 HP)
Magenta (tracking Flame Knight)

facepalm, note to self to try the rockets next round

recharge sp sp: 3d8 ⇒ (6, 5, 7) = 18 fire shotgun at magenta hit: 1d20 + 10 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 10 + 13 = 36 dmg: 6d8 + 11 ⇒ (1, 4, 7, 6, 8, 4) + 11 = 41 sonic

Time Knight blasts the now-visible magenta robot.

The enemies see no reason to change tactics.

Nanite Filament vs. Flame Knight: 1d20 + 27 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 27 - 4 = 26
Slashing Damage: 4d6 + 20 ⇒ (2, 3, 1, 1) + 20 = 27

Nanite Filament vs. Time Knight: 1d20 + 27 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 27 - 4 = 37
Slashing Damage: 4d6 + 20 ⇒ (3, 3, 5, 5) + 20 = 36

Advanced Shirren-Eye Rifle vs. Flame Knight: 1d20 + 20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 20 + 2 - 4 = 20
Piercing Damage: 2d10 + 9 ⇒ (9, 3) + 9 = 21

Advanced Shirren-Eye Rifle vs. Flame Knight: 1d20 + 20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 20 + 2 - 4 = 23
Piercing Damage: 2d10 + 9 ⇒ (1, 2) + 9 = 12

Advanced Shirren-Eye Rifle vs. Palisade Knight: 1d20 + 20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 20 + 2 - 4 = 36
Piercing Damage: 2d10 + 9 ⇒ (2, 10) + 9 = 21

Advanced Shirren-Eye Rifle vs. Palisade Knight: 1d20 + 20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 20 + 2 - 4 = 26
Piercing Damage: 2d10 + 9 ⇒ (6, 1) + 9 = 16

Round 3 - bolded may go

Yellow (-78 HP, tracking Palisade Knight)
Shadow Knight (9 PP)
Time Knight (-14 SP, -13 HP, 8 PP [max])
Palisade Knight (-13 SP, 7 PP)
Flame Knight (-3 SP, -27 HP, 7 PP [max])
Cyan (-38 HP)
Magenta (-41 HP, tracking Flame Knight)

Enough curiousity. I can't hit this thing. Let's put down something I can hit.

Yargnod in Palisade Knight seems to be most at risk of being double-teamed, but if yellow goes down, Yargnod will be free to help with the golem. Telirix lines up his shot on Palisade's smaller foe.

Frost cannon, mech BaB, my BAB v yellow: 1d20 + 10 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 9 = 23 ... damage: 6d10 + 11 ⇒ (9, 4, 9, 4, 5, 5) + 11 = 47

"Oh a tough guy, huh?" Yargnod says as the Yellow sniper refuses to succumb to the current level of stabbing.

Someone once said insanity was trying the same thing repeatedly while expecting different results.

Yargnod would have stabbed that person...repeatedly.

Adamantine Rune Spear (Full Attack): 1d20 + 10 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 10 + 12 - 4 = 37
Piercing: 6d8 + 16 ⇒ (7, 5, 3, 4, 7, 3) + 16 = 45

Adamantine Rune Spear (Full Attack): 1d20 + 10 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 10 + 12 - 4 = 30
Piercing: 6d8 + 16 ⇒ (8, 1, 1, 7, 7, 8) + 16 = 48

Yargnod demonstrates his mastery of psychology by poking the yellow robot with a spear until it falls apart.

Telirix, would you like to redirect your shot?

Round 3 - bolded may go

Yellow
Shadow Knight (9 PP)
Time Knight (-14 SP, -13 HP, 8 PP [max])
Palisade Knight (-13 SP, 7 PP)
Flame Knight (-3 SP, -27 HP, 7 PP [max])
Cyan (-38 HP)
Magenta (-41 HP, tracking Flame Knight)

This time remembering to not waste time with plasma...

*scrtch* Switching to rockets...

[standard] attack CYAN
Missile battery attack CYAN, F&P damage: 1d20 + 10 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 10 + 12 = 289d4 + 11 ⇒ (3, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 2, 3, 1) + 11 = 35
200ft

I'm not afraid to pick on the little guy. Magenta.

Oh right, shotgun blas magenta after recharging sp sp recharge: 3d8 ⇒ (7, 4, 3) = 14 hit: 1d20 + 10 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 10 + 13 = 29 dmg: 6d8 + 11 ⇒ (1, 2, 5, 5, 5, 2) + 11 = 31 sonic

Telirix switches targets and shoots the remaining robot.

Mordack follows up with a shotgun blast at the same enemy.

Sefel switches to the non-flame setting of Flame Knight, which works much better.

The golem continues flailing at the nearby mechs.

Nanite Filament vs. Flame Knight: 1d20 + 27 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 27 - 4 = 34
Slashing Damage: 4d6 + 20 ⇒ (4, 3, 2, 6) + 20 = 35

Nanite Filament vs. Time Knight: 1d20 + 27 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 27 - 4 = 41
Slashing Damage: 4d6 + 20 ⇒ (6, 4, 4, 4) + 20 = 38

Magenta focuses fire.

Advanced Shirren-Eye Rifle vs. Flame Knight: 1d20 + 20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 20 + 2 - 4 = 25
Piercing Damage: 2d10 + 9 ⇒ (4, 10) + 9 = 23

Advanced Shirren-Eye Rifle vs. Flame Knight: 1d20 + 20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 20 + 2 - 4 = 21
Piercing Damage: 2d10 + 9 ⇒ (2, 8) + 9 = 19

Without nearly enough focus.

Round 4 - bolded may go

Yellow
Shadow Knight (10 PP)
Time Knight (-14 SP, -26 HP, 8 PP [max])
Palisade Knight (-2 SP, 8 PP)
Flame Knight (-14 SP, -39 HP, 7 PP [max])
Cyan (-69 HP)
Magenta (-119 HP, tracking Flame Knight)

As the yellow bot goes non-functional Yargnod stabs behind him at the golem using the same motion to spin around and stab again with the Adamantine spear. It's mostly the Mecha doing the work but it looks cool and he'll take the credit for it.

Adamantine Rune Spear (Full Attack): 1d20 + 10 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 10 + 12 = 34
Piercing: 6d8 + 16 ⇒ (6, 8, 4, 5, 3, 5) + 16 = 47

Adamantine Rune Spear (Full Attack): 1d20 + 10 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 10 + 12 - 4 = 34
Piercing: 6d8 + 16 ⇒ (1, 6, 1, 3, 5, 1) + 16 = 33

He sets an extra charge to go through the spear to detonate on impact.

Spend the SP for Devastating Strike on whichever one hits first.

Piercing: 6d10 + 16 ⇒ (8, 4, 2, 6, 8, 3) + 16 = 47

Sefel switches to the non-flame setting of Flame Knight, which works much better.

It works so much better! he announced with glee and lets it rip again.

missile battery attack CYAN, F&P damage: 1d20 + 10 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 12 = 249d4 + 11 ⇒ (3, 3, 3, 3, 1, 1, 3, 4, 3) + 11 = 35
200ft

Telirix brings the cryo-cannon to bear again, and fires in rapid succession.

Frost cannon, mech BaB, my BAB v magenta, full attack: 1d20 + 10 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 9 - 4 = 25 ... damage: 6d10 + 11 ⇒ (9, 9, 6, 5, 5, 6) + 11 = 51
Frost cannon, mech BaB, my BAB v magenta, full attack: 1d20 + 10 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 9 - 4 = 29 ... damage: 6d10 + 11 ⇒ (10, 10, 5, 2, 1, 10) + 11 = 49

Mojo dojo casa house!

It works much better.... if it hits.

Yargnod continues to have trouble with the Devastating Hit button, as he doesn't manage to activate it until the second stab. Which seems like deja vu.

Telirix blasts the magenta robot to bits. Unfortunately, he can't get a bead on the golem after changing targets,

Round 4 - bolded may go

Yellow
Shadow Knight (10 PP)
Time Knight (-14 SP, -26 HP, 8 PP [max])
Palisade Knight (-2 SP, 5 PP)
Flame Knight (-14 SP, -39 HP, 7 PP [max])
Cyan (-163 HP)
Magenta

Forgot I was still up recharge sp: 3d8 ⇒ (8, 7, 6) = 21
hit cyan with aim: 1d20 + 11 + 13 + 1d4 ⇒ (2) + 11 + 13 + (4) = 30 dmg: 6d8 + 11 ⇒ (8, 4, 2, 1, 4, 2) + 11 = 32 sonic

Mordack blasts the golem once more. It doesn't seem to be quite done yet.

Nanite Filament vs. Flame Knight: 1d20 + 27 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 27 - 4 = 29
Slashing Damage: 4d6 + 20 ⇒ (3, 3, 6, 6) + 20 = 38

Nanite Filament vs. Time Knight: 1d20 + 27 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 27 - 4 = 35
Slashing Damage: 4d6 + 20 ⇒ (6, 1, 3, 6) + 20 = 36

Round 5 - bolded may go

Yellow
Shadow Knight (11 PP)
Time Knight (-14 SP, -37 HP, 8 PP [max])
Palisade Knight (3 PP)
Flame Knight (-3 SP, -39 HP, 7 PP [max])
Cyan (-195 HP)
Magenta

Telirix hasn't hit the golem yet. He steadies Shadowknight in mid-air and takes careful aim.

Frost cannon, mech BaB, my BAB, aim, devastating hit: 1d20 + 10 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 10 + 9 + 1 = 35 ... damage: 6d12 + 11 ⇒ (3, 4, 5, 9, 9, 7) + 11 = 48

Spend 1 PP for aim. If it hhits the spend 3 more power points on devastating hit. (Already included in damage roll. This is COLD damage.

It can't dodge this forever...

Sefel does not relent.

missile battery attack CYAN, F&P damage: 1d20 + 10 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 12 = 259d4 + 11 ⇒ (3, 4, 1, 4, 1, 3, 1, 2, 2) + 11 = 32
200ft

one more than the last roll... sheesh

Why kill when you can OVERKILL? Even as Telirix and Sefel blast the seriously damaged golem, Yargnod stabs it.

Adamantine Rune Spear: 1d20 + 10 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 10 + 12 = 27
Piercing: 6d8 + 16 ⇒ (6, 7, 8, 5, 5, 3) + 16 = 50

Palisade and Flame Knights miss the golem, but Shadow Knight's attack strikes true.

Time Knight presses the attack.

hit cyan with aim: 1d20 + 11 + 13 + 1d4 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 13 + (3) = 37
dmg: 6d8 + 11 ⇒ (6, 8, 6, 4, 5, 8) + 11 = 48 sonic

The enemy disperses in a cloud of nanites.

Time Knight (-37 HP)
Flame Knight (-39 HP)

I assume we've made enough noise that we shouldn't stop for repairs...

Sefel moves the flame night to the foyer in the North and opens the door to the East.

"Well, I'm not worried about repairs," Yargnod answers over the comms, with a certain smugness in his tone as he looks at Palisade Knight's structural integrity monitor.

He's starting to like Sefel, diving in like this and follows him to back him up against whatever menace is on the other side of those doors.

Telirix touches down behind Palisade Knight, ready to follow the others through the door.

Luxurious carpets line the bottom of this otherwise empty room. Two doors exit to the north and another to the east.

"That looks like the fancy way to me," Yargnod says, pointing Palisade Knight's spear toward the East door. "If I was a dragon, I'd live at the end of the fancy way.

"Actually, I'm not a dragon and I'd still live at the end of the fancy way."

"If I was a unpopular ruler, I might put a garrison next to my quarters. I'll bet you're right about Ayleth being behind that door, but maybe we want to check the other doors first."

How about this one?

Sefel's mech points to the door East from the room before the fancy walkway.

"Ensure our line of retreat? Good idea."

I could be swayed either way. Go for the dagger thrust at the end of the hall or methodically clear the rooms. Anyone up for a Leroy Jenkins?

Sounds like there is a slight preference for east.

Pots and pans sizzle on a stove along the wall, though the process appears largely automated with levers shifting the dishes’ positions periodically. Massive sides of meat hang in a refrigerated pantry. Copper pipes snake around the ceiling’s perimeter.

"Weird throne room," Yargnod comments as it becomes evident that this is not the dragon's throne room.

"Most important for last, I suppose," he continues, turning back to the North doors.

This looks insignificant. Better to clear it and know an additional ambush is waiting for us while we take the final room...

Sefel has Flame Knight point at the 2nd door out of the dining room/kitchen.

He's next to it on the map.

"I'll back you up." Telirix maneuvers Shadow Knight behind Sefel.

Vidscreens line the walls, displaying soundless clips of Ayleth fighting monsters, meeting with supplicants, or basking atop her Cloud Throne. Alternating with the vidscreens are four breathtaking paintings, each depicting Ayleth destroying an immense metal machine in battle. A set of iron-railed stairs ascends along one side of the room.

We cannot enter that room yet. There is a trap. Let me see to it...

Disable trap (Computers): 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (15) + 25 = 40

Sefel investigates the trap. He determines that it will open a portal to another plane and summon enemies here if anyone who is not an authorized visitor enters the room. He reprograms the computer so each of you is an authorized visitor.