[OutPost VI]Redelia's SFS 1-22 The Protectorate Petition (Inactive)

Game Master Redelia

We do understand. Do you want us to take this little guy to safety too?

Impressive Tables says as the drone flies by quite a feat. His genuine admiration clearly implies that he means the drone no harm - quite the contrary.

Perhaps we should introduce you to a follower of Triune? Bobby says, ready to introduce Therseus to their latest acquantaince.

"That would be a good idea."

"I certainly do not want the authorities to destroy this little guy. And I would be happy to meet the robot you found. You probably want to try to keep him hidden from the other researchers, though."

Hmm... I can't imagine why anyone would want to harm such mechanical marvels. yes! We will keep them safe. Drek remarks enthusiastically.

That's our point exactly. Let's keep him safe, he looks to be the last of his kind. You wouldn't want to be responsible for an extinction.

Should we move to the next area? Not sure how many are left?

"We could transport him ourselves, bring him to Absolom Station and give him to a temple of Triune there. They'd be happy to help him."

So we don't forget it later, I need a bluff, profession(smuggler), or stealth check to smuggle the robot you found onto your ship.

After that, we have two more sites to explore, unfortunately. I think they will go faster than the second one did, though. I hope we can finish up in about two more weeks if we keep pushing.

Please place your tokens on the map I just revealed, also. I will explain where you are and start things up at the same time.

Placed! I took the liberty of placing George as well, not sure if that is where he wanted to be

Bluff, aid: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Bluff, expertise die: 1d20 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 6 + (1) = 14

aid from George and Drek: 2d20 ⇒ (7, 8) = 15

George, Drek, and Tables are all unable to aid Navasi.

As you try to smuggle the robot onto your ship, the three other researchers all notice it. When they notice the robot is intelligent, they want to take it to a lab to do research on it.

You try to bluff the researchers into letting you take the robot.

Navasi, primary: 1d20 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (19) + 6 + (1) = 26
Drek aid: 1d20 ⇒ 10
George aid: 1d20 ⇒ 9
Tables aid: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

They nod understandingly, letting you get the robot onto your ship.

Next, you investigate the war-torn gardens.

Weeds and ugly vines extend along these silent stone pathways. Crumbling statuary and collapsed walls, riddled with bullet holes and scorch marks, stand testament to a great conflict long ago. Dented helmets and battered, rusted vehicles stand in stark contrast to their stone surroundings. Hundreds of grave markers and monuments dot the landscape, each covered in old inscriptions that the years have worn to the point of illegibility.

You see something moving near the fountain. Two crubling, partly burned copaxi exoskeletons move towards you threateningly.

(The low wall surrounding the fountain is only 2 feet tall, is suitable for sitting, and provides partial cover to Medium creatures. A creature can cross it by leaping or by treating the next square as difficult terrain. The fence surrounding the grave markers is 5 feet tall and comprised of vertical iron bars about 6 inches apart. The fence provides cover and can be scaled with a successful DC 15 Athletics check. Creatures can easily move through the several breaks in the fence.)

George and Tables may act.

Tables takes to the sky, trying to get a view from above, while drawing his pistol.

Move: fly up, move: draw

George moves to get a better angle and shoots at yellow.
attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

partial cover and flat-footed balance, so George's shot barely hits.

Is it the monster's turn?

sorry... this is really embarassing, but I misread my own posts...

The reddish undead creature moves into melee with George.

Drek is up now.

Drek strides up alongside George to shoot into Pacman's face!

[move] 20 ft
[standard] attack
azimuth laser rifle, F damage: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 151d8 ⇒ 5

It's getting crowded here already!

Drek's shot hits.

The yellow undead creature moves out for a clear shot and then shoots at George.
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Nope.

Navasi, Tables, and George may act.

status: pacman -11 HP, at about half HP

Navasi tries to catch the closest creature off-guard

Improved Feint: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Attack : 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 101d4 ⇒ 1

Bobby hovers above the battlefield, and starts spraying bullet at the foe below

Full Attack: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 3 - 4 = 151d6 ⇒ 6
Full Attack: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 3 - 4 = 191d6 ⇒ 2
Crit extra: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Navasi's shot misses. Bobby's attack brings down the closer undead.

George and Drek are up.

George fires at the packman.
attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

George is unable to hit the sniper.

Drek?

Hold still!

azimuth laser rifle attack, F damage: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 101d8 ⇒ 4

Even if it held still, Drek's hand does not appear to be steady right now.

What is going on in my head!

The ranged undead is still uninjured. He fires back at Drek.

attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

The party is up.

Improved Feint: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 161d4 ⇒ 3

Navasi takes aim at the skeletal creature, and tries to hit a rib.

Bobby tables keeps spraying lead from above, to mixed effect.

Full attack: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 3 - 4 = 41d6 ⇒ 5
Full attack: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 3 - 4 = 161d6 ⇒ 6

Navasi hits the undead creature, as does Bobby Tables's second shot.

Drek and George may go.

Drek encourages the others for their better aim.

Woohoo! We're starting to slow it down.

azimuth laser rifle attack, F damage: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 61d8 ⇒ 5 woooow

"Just die already!"
attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

The last undead falls. Therseus again contacts you for an update as to your progress.

one more location to go, team.

Hi Therseus. I think you guys might want to have a brush-up on your burial rituals. Either you've had an Eoxian invasion, or somebody hasn't done their job right. We felt so free as to recify the situation, hope that's ok with you... Navasi reports to Therseus.

Did we find anything of interest? Otherwise, let's go to the last location

You discover a few tiny, multicolored flowers growing among the weeds near the cemetery. These plants are unique to the atmospheric
and meteorological conditions in the floating city and are likely extinct elsewhere.

The graves are unmarked, but an inscription covers the remains
of a nearby monument. It reads (in Copaxi): “…those who died of the Message of Madness are forever a part of this great city, their contributions forever a part of our memories.” Graffiti left by the soldiers mars the monument. It reads, “Your lies cannot silence the Signal! Long live the First to Listen!” You know that this is a reference to the revelation of Drift technology in 3 AG—though the copaxi government claims to have translated the Signal only in the last few years.

the technology, though inferior to that of the Pact
Worlds, is far beyond that found in the surrounding areas. An
examination of the battlefield shows that one force had this
technology, while the opposing force fought with devastating magical attacks. All these objects are about 300 years old. Both sides took
heavy casualties. The last standing wall of a nearby building is
riddled with bullet holes and faint stains, as if the wall was used as a backdrop for executions.

Therseus admits that the modern copaxi government’s portrayal of the sky cities’ downfall is inconsistent with your findings. The premise that divine intervention destroyed the sky cities clashes with the signs of urban warfare and unrest. Therseis notes that stories of the “Message of
Madness” are not widely known. When the message arrived, copaxis lacked the technological framework to understand it. Those who heard it suffered psychological trauma and ultimately took their lives. Only recently did these records resurface and inspire the copaxis’ recent ventures into space.

automatic success at check to influence

pausing for any reactions or discussion before starting final area to explore

Not everything is at it seems, from the look of it. I think this place may hold a few more secrets still. Navasi says, I think we still have one area to explore, shall we move on?

You find yourselves in a large open-air arena, clearly meant for a game of some sort. A faded mural at the entrance to the stands depicts a dozen copaxis flying among black spheres; some of the copaxis carry short rods, and others pass fist-sized cubes to one another. Detritus litters the outer stands, but all the litter closer to the center has been pulled into the field by ten floating black spheres, each five feet in diameter. The spheres float in erratic patterns, crisscrossing the arena in a series of ellipses. As they float and spin, debris orbits the spheres, lazily flowing from one to the next. Several intact objects float amid the debris, including a few books, weapons, and other items.

Therseus has explained to you that none of the copaxi are able to explore here because they experience terrible headaches when they approach.

You know that to explore the area, you need to enter the arena.

please give me two athletics or acrobatics checks each, and then I'll tell the story of what happens. If you have an ability that lets you effect gravity, let me know and it might provide a bonus.

Navasi mostly tries to evade the spheres, while Bobby seems to be more at ease.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Acrobatics, bobby tables: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28 BT has a fly speed

History always looks more messy up-close, when you get the see the remains.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

OR if athletics would entail climbing then athletics+8 instead. But I suspect not.

George acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

On the first round of playing, Navasi fails, but George, Drek and Bobby succeed. You maneuver to the center and are able to collect the stuff there and safely leave the arena.

By successfully navigating the parabolas playing field, you discover that the black spheres are made of highly concentrated and graviton-enhanced copi. You recover several items of interest to the investigation and to the research team. One is a rules manual and playbook for parabolas; you learn copaxis played parabolas to hone their gravitational influence. You also discover the basics of how the game was played—though coming to a full understanding of the rules would take several hours.

As you leave, Therseus contacts you again. When you discuss your success, Therseus explains that the copaxis have known how to manipulate the gravitational properties of copi for millennia. In fact, their starships’ hulls and engines are made of a highly processed form of copi, a sort that is mostly inert but durable, malleable, and space-worthy. What most copaxis do not realize is that all copaxis—not just those who lived in the cities— could once harness their connection to copi and produce magic.

Having thoroughly investigated the city, you return to Therseus and the rest of the research team. When you first arrive, Therseus requests a private meeting with you. He talks through everything you have discovered.

Therseis has come to question the sparse official story provided by the planetary government. They help the Starfinders piece together the history of the sky cities’ magical aristocracy, the exploitation of robot laborers, the silencing of those who heard the Signal, and the bloody coups that followed. While Therseis finds this cover-up distasteful, they find solace in the knowledge that you have an accurate
view of copaxi history. Furthermore, the agent notes that these actions occurred several lifetimes ago; this does not excuse the government for perpetuating these myths, but none of them are directly responsible for committing these atrocious behaviors.

Therseis makes one last request: to return with the Starfinders to act as an ambassador and, perhaps one day, to become a Starfinder themselves. He also rejoices in the fact this will let his little buddy be free from risk.

OK, team, decision time. Do you let Therseus come along? What is your recommendation about admission to the Pact Worlds You will each be submitting your own report, so can individually decide.
majority decision.

Therseus has a lot to learn about security, but I don't see harm in letting him be an envoy and educate his people. Bobby says, while Navasi takes a backseat (I'm leaving her out of this decision :-P).

BT votes in favour

Therseus, I wouldn't think of stopping you from returning with us. But I have to ask, where does your heart lay? Wait, does that expression work? Do you have multi-chambered organs that pump a viscous life fluid through narrow channels in your bod... nevermind. You are heavily invested in this planet. Can you promote the truth better from within or by joining us?

Basically agreeing, but giving him things to think about.

"We should let him come along."
The Copaxi should be allowed to join the Pact Worlds

Bobby and Drek, I need your recommendation on admission to the Pact Worlds. That's actually a reporting condition from this adventure.

Bobby recommends admission

The Stewards accept your reports, and promise to read them and carefully consider them in making their decision. They thank you for your hard work.

Therseus accompanies you, and seems to be settling in and building a new life well.

Drek agrees to his admission as well, despite the additional thoughts he has.

Please post the information needed for your chronicle sheet here.

1) Character name: Theʼ❫; DROP TABLE BANDS; RUN;--
2) SFS#-Character#: 108716-708
3) Character Class & Level: Operative 1
4) Faction: Dataphiles
5) Have you played or GM'd this before? No.
6) Anything unusual or fun about your PC that you think the GM or other players may like to know? The semicolon, bracket and apostrophe are alternate characters to prevent an actual SQL injection

Hi, everyone, I need sheet information from most of you still. Please provide it so we can start.

Also, please fill out the first slide in the maps link at the top.

Character Name: George-23
SFS# 292559
Character # 702
Faction: Wayfinders
I have not played or gm'd this scenario.
George has a personality like a jaded, snarky IT guy or programmer. He has an odd infatuation with his baseball bat that has "Percussive Maintenance" burned into it.

Character name Drek Krebit
SFS#-Character#272301-706
Character Class & Level mechanic 1
Faction Wayfinders
Have you played or GM'd this before? No

Bobby Tables holds up his datapad while Drek changes his password and goes hmm hmm in acknowledgement. I'd choose a more complicated one if I were you... he finally says.

[dice=Bluff]1d20+7

Given how the activity wasn't stated out loud, I'm unclear how Tables would have even known that's what he was doing. I was trying to think of how believable it would have been (not very) and couldn't get past this fact.

Given how the activity wasn't stated out loud, I'm unclear how Tables would have even known that's what he was doing. I was trying to think of how believable it would have been (not very) and couldn't get past this fact.

I actually meant to imply that Tables didn't know what you were doing, and was just adding sounds to make you feel nervous (hence the bluff roll). Tables is, in fact, just a mediocre hacker who is full of it. I was just goofing around, my apologies if that felt like overreaching.

Aah, I see. Nah, no worries. I was probably just thinking too hard about player vs character knowledge :)

I still need info here from Noss Heldan, and for both Noss and George to fill out the first slide.

Character Name: Noss Heldan
SFS: 292558-702
Faction: Exo-Guardians
I have not played or gm'ed this before
Noss is a tad rash but charming and a strong sense of honor

Bobby Tables is fresh from the academy, so not much to slot in terms of boons.

No boons to slot.

Everyone should at least slot a faction boon... But I can take the faction mentioned above as slotted.

Everyone should at least slot a faction boon... But I can take the faction mentioned above as slotted.

That works for me!

FYI: After tonight I'll be away in nature all day tomorrow, but then back Sunday mid-afternoon'ish.

Drek has only played in a bounty, so I believe all he can slot is Wayfinders Champion.

FYI: After tonight I'll be away in nature all day tomorrow, but then back Sunday mid-afternoon'ish.

Back!

I'll assume Noss only slots a faction boon...

We've lost Noss, due to real world stuff. Which pregen would you guys like to make four in the party?

I think we really need a character good with... (checks notes)... computers. Yeah, that's it.

I think we're light on charisma skills, so the envoy? I can set her up with my profile and bot her for you.

Ok, I think I'm going nuts. Is it really true that there's no Navasi among the board avatar picks, or am I just really incompetent?

The envoy sounds like a good choice!

I'm traveling over Easter (Wed to Wed), so my posting may be slow. Please bot me as needed.

At this point, I expect this adventure to not be done by the end of the convention. (your rolls for the current fight have been really awful...) I do think we will be done by the start of PaizoCon Online. Is this a problem for anyone?

At this point, if we keep rolling like this, we might finish on time o_0....

I haven't entered this character in any PzO game, so I'm good with any timeline.

(BTW, should I announce Paizocon-online games in the lodge, or is that 'not done'?)

(BTW, should I announce Paizocon-online games in the lodge, or is that 'not done'?)

I think one post stating what you're running and encouraging people who are interested to sign up for your games would be fine.

At this point, I expect this adventure to not be done by the end of the convention. (your rolls for the current fight have been really awful...) I do think we will be done by the start of PaizoCon Online. Is this a problem for anyone?

No problems for Drek.

Hello! This is an FYI that I'll be away in nature (and away from internet and computers) starting Friday (5/26) evening, until I return late Monday (5/30). I will catch up on posts that evening.

Thanks for playing, everyone. Your chronicle sheets can be found in the link above, where the maps link was.

Drek's doesn't seem to have any of the character info filled out. Is it okay for us to do that after you've signed it?

Sorry, there's a problem with the chronicle sheets. I turned off the link, and I'll fix them later today.

OK, sheets are fixed and link turned back on.

Awesome. They look correct to me. Thank you!