[Outpost VI] SFS 5-10: Shadow of the Vault Lord (Inactive)

Game Master cmlobue

Q-K telepathically replies to Compucast.

They do seem... off. Maybe we drag our feet a bit to get a better feel for the situation out here?

Quantum-K askes the rest of the previous party (out loud)

"So, none of you seem hurt. You're all sure that you're fine?" And what was that? nodding her head toward the red circling mote.

Solarion I guess Katrina deduces. My sister used to be one before she got stuck in the Scoured Stars. Well a mix of technomancer and solarion to be more accurate but yeah, she used to have a mote

Picking up on her compatriots' unease, Grey will try to take a moment to stop and think about what she's seen from Merin and Anavay, and listen to her instincts - especially if she notices any signs of mental whammies going on here (she's cast many a Charm Personal/Monster in her day, so presumably she has some idea of what it looks like?)
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30

Q-K also wonders about people being under the sway of some outside influence & looks for signs of that.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 14 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 14 + (5) + 2 = 24

Merin and company are not under any kind of mental effect that either Grey or Quantum can determine.

"Fine," Anavay mumbles as the light dims and moves closer to her body. Merin presses onward.

Are you planning to take any action now, or should we move to Lunesha's office?

If we have a sec before entering the negotiations, Grey would gird herself for social encounters: cast Charming Veneer on herself and Quantum-K (and anyone else who wants one) and chug one of her warrior serums of enhancement.

Fine to carry on from the Vesk.

Compucast keeps his eyes open as the group passes through the strange city. He's been into a variety of vaults before, but they never cease to amaze him.

"Have you made any headway in what this experiment is about? Eutopia?" he asks.

Q-K is ready to move along to the office...

Oh - one more thing - as long as we can buff up, Grey will also throw a Communal Bond up before we meet Lunesha. There's a bunch of people with good Bluff, Diplomacy, & Intimidate in the party, it looks like, so this will help us be more effective with Aiding Another in there :)
(If it lasted for >1 round per level, I'd cast Empathic Bond too, to let Aid Anothers gives us 5E-style Advantage; but I don't think that'd be worth it, for what I imagine will be long, drawn-out, talky bits.)

Compucast, I need you to sign in, though I'm pretty sure you're high subtier regardless.

As Grey begins to cast spells, Merin remarks, "There's no need for that. Lunesha will accept you for who you are. tough I understand wanting to make your best first impression." She does not further interfere. However, the location she leads you to does not turn out to be an office.

Vidscreens around the arena project the Starfinders’ image while a richly-dressed audience cheers and shouts. A ramiyel seated in the bisellium motions for quiet. “Our honored guests have finally arrived. You must be the ones who killed Vradak. Welcome, noble worm-slayers.” She laughs. “What a week I’ve been had. I’ve conquered this vault, seized everyone here and sent them to my Lord, and now I’ve got more Starfinders to play with.” The crowd shouts, “Kill them! Death to the Starfinders!” The ramiyel laughs. “Well said! Still, the Vault Lord wants a few alive. Let’s say… last two standing? Yes? You know what, we’ll play it by ear.”

>Slide 6<

Merin sneers as a hum emanates from the four pillars in the center of the room, and a shimmering force barrier appears separating the Starfinders from the crowd and exits.

Round 1 - bolded may go

No one on either side has weapons drawn because this was presented as a meeting, not a combat.

Igrim draws a sword and wades into the Starfinders' midst.

Igrim Copperview
Quantum-K
crowd
Katrina
Merin
Betsy Blast
Z Data Z
Empress-on-Grey
Anavay
Compucast

Quantum-K looks toward the barriers, those being the biggest threats to the team presently. What does she think it would take to take down those barriers, since she loathes to draw arms against any of the Starfinders trapped in the arena with her?

Triggering her forcepack, she launches herself into the air, to a height of 30 ft, pulling her Aurora Arc rifle as she ascends. What does she learn from her varied experiences with all things Tech?

Culture for Tech Familiarity: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (3) + 19 = 22

<<"If you forgo rolling your expertise die on a Culture check, you can use Culture to identify hybrid, magic, and technological items as though you were using Engineering or Mysticism skills.">>

(I'm using my t-shirt reroll on this))

t-shirt reroll Culture for Tech Familiarity: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (18) + 19 = 37

The four pillars appear to be generators. You would probably need to neutralize all four to completely take down the field. You could do this with Computers or Engineering to stop them from functioning or Athletics or damage to break them.

Over the telepathic network Q-K broadcasts
"We can take this force field down. Hackers. engineers, and big burly tough guys - get to work dealing with those pillars. hack 'em, short them out, knock them down - whatever works best."

Quantum-K studies the force field and sends telepathic instructions to her allies. Mysticism can also be used to drain their energy; my apologies for failing to mention that earlier.

1d4 ⇒ 4

The crowd cheers raucously, filling the enemies with confidence. As they do, a burst of flame emerges from the southeast pillar. Only Quantum-K is close enough to be harmed.

Fire Damage: 6d12 ⇒ (12, 2, 6, 6, 8, 2) = 36, Reflex DC 20 half

Round 1 - bolded may go

No one on either side starts with weapons drawn because this was presented as a meeting, not a combat.

Igrim Copperview
Quantum-K (-18/36 SP, Reflex save)
crowd
Katrina
Merin
Betsy Blast
Z Data Z
Empress-on-Grey
Anavay
Compucast

Q-K's reflex save: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29

13 fire damage, after her Thermal capacitors kick in.

Katrina moves adjacent to a pillar and attempts to disable it.
computers: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (15) + 22 = 37

Katrina quickly hacks the tower on the southwest, and the force field begins to weaken.

Merin pulls her sidearm and fires on Katrina.

Elite Semi-Auto Pistol: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (4) + 19 = 23
Piercing Damage: 3d6 + 9 ⇒ (5, 3, 1) + 9 = 18

She can't quite find a good line.

Betsy vanishes from sight.

Round 1 - bolded may go

No one on either side starts with weapons drawn because this was presented as a meeting, not a combat.

Igrim Copperview
Quantum-K (-13 SP)
crowd
Katrina
Merin
Betsy Blast (invisible)
Z Data Z
Empress-on-Grey
Anavay
Compucast

Grey is not so much a fan of being in flanking, so she'll take a guarded step out of flank, beside Z Data Z. Next, she'll activate her Skitter Heart Hyper Graft for another move action, to move north (using her Starfinder Backback to draw her gimmick as part of the move.) Finally, she'll say "Don't worry, Starfinders, we'll get you out of this. Once we figure out what 'this' is, at least," and finally throw out Fear IV in a 30 ft cone.

Fear IV is a DC 23 Will save, or Panicked for 1 minute; Shaken for 1 round on a Pass. If Invisi-Betsy is in the blast, she'd also be affected.
I really hope this doesn't bite me in the ass, but - I think Grey would have included Igrim, Merin, Anavay, and Betsy as her allies when she cast Communal Bond, so...they would get a +1 Morale bonus vs Fear effects /cry

Grey tries to frighten those she thought were allies. The dwarf resists, but the other no longer think this is a good idea.

Round 1 - bolded may go

No one on either side starts with weapons drawn because this was presented as a meeting, not a combat.

Igrim Copperview (shaken 1 round)
Quantum-K (-13 SP)
crowd
Katrina
Merin (panicked 10 rounds)
Betsy Blast (invisible)
Z Data Z
Empress-on-Grey
Anavay (panicked 10 rounds)
Compucast

Magic missile Igrim dmg: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 1, 3) + 3 = 9

Z Data Z sends some bolts of force into the dwarf.

Anavay runs, but finds she can get no further than the force field blocking the doors.

Round 1 - bolded may go

No one on either side starts with weapons drawn because this was presented as a meeting, not a combat.

Igrim Copperview (-9 HP, shaken 1 round)
Quantum-K (-13 SP)
crowd
Katrina
Merin (panicked 10 rounds)
Betsy Blast (invisible)
Z Data Z
Empress-on-Grey
Anavay (panicked 9 rounds)
Compucast

Compucast tries to deactivate the closest pillar to him.

"Let me see..."

computers: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (7) + 24 = 31

"Hmm.. this is harder than it looks."

Compucast, the nearest active pillar is 40 feet away. Do you have something like Remote Hack that would allow you to access it from where you are?

Nope, so I'll move up to it. It is a full round or a standard action to disarm? If a full round action (so I can't do it this round) Then I will haste the party first. Otherwise move and disarm.

Standard, but I don't see your movement speed on your sheet. Can you get there without double moving?

Standard Vesk. So I'll haste the group and stay away from the pillars likely blast radius. Next round I can move and act, given the extra speed from haste.

Compucast concentrates for a moment, hacking the never nature of reality around the group to create a temporary temporal flux that enables the Starfinders to move at speed.

Use adaptive casting to cast a haste.

Compucast technomagically speeds the Starfinders' actions.

Igrim steps toward Empress-on-Grey and takes a whack at her.

Microserrated Longsword: 1d20 + 21 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 21 - 2 = 39
Slashing Damage: 2d10 + 18 ⇒ (7, 6) + 18 = 31
Critical Damage: 2d10 + 18 ⇒ (10, 2) + 18 = 30

How he found the fish through all that armor and water is anyone's guess.

Round 2 - bolded may go

Igrim Copperview (-9 HP)
Quantum-K (-13 SP, haste)
crowd
Katrina (haste)
Merin (panicked 10 rounds)
Betsy Blast (invisible)
Z Data Z (haste)
Empress-on-Grey (-60 SP, -1 HP, haste)
Anavay (panicked 9 rounds)
Compucast (haste)

Quantum-K's voice booms out across the arena, as much directed to the crowd as to her fellow Starfinders.

"Starfinders - there's no need for us to fight their fight. Focus on the real threat - take down this barrier!"

Carried by her force pack, she nimbly flies to the NE pillar (hasted move). As she nears it, a flick of her finger triggers a spell chip in her flight computer. A small, robotic-looing cat manifests on the side of the pillar (it's pretty much Sox from Buzz Lightyear).

"Hiya Sox - we need this barrier taken down. Think you can manage that?"

A flick of his tail is all the comment that the spiritual cat offers before diving into the pillar's network.

Spirit-bound Computer check: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (2) + 18 = 20

His head pops back up briefly.

"This code is pretty complex. This may take a while."

Sox begins decoding the next pillar.

The crowd doesn't seem pleased with Quantum-K's call to avoid fighting, booing loudly as the pillar near her responds with a burst of energy.

1d4 ⇒ 3
Electricity Damage: 6d12 ⇒ (7, 8, 2, 11, 3, 6) = 37, Reflex DC 20 half

Round 2 - bolded may go

Igrim Copperview (-9 HP)
Quantum-K (-13 SP, haste, Reflex save)
crowd
Katrina (haste)
Merin (panicked 10 rounds)
Betsy Blast (invisible)
Z Data Z (haste)
Empress-on-Grey (-60 SP, -1 HP, haste)
Anavay (panicked 9 rounds)
Compucast (haste)

Katrina moves up to the NW pillar (50ft move speed) and attempts to disable it.
computers: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (18) + 22 = 40

Reflex save: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

Katrina quickly interrupts one of the pillar's key subroutines, and the field weakens further.

Merin also flees, though he tries to go around the pillar toward the luxury box.

You hear Betsy incant another spell.

Round 2 - bolded may go

Igrim Copperview (-9 HP)
Quantum-K (-32 SP, haste)
crowd
Katrina (haste)
Merin (panicked 9 rounds)
Betsy Blast (invisible)
Z Data Z (haste)
Empress-on-Grey (-60 SP, -1 HP, haste)
Anavay (panicked 9 rounds)
Compucast (haste)

Is Grey able to tell what spell Betsy cast, using the Identify a Spell Being Cast function of Mysticism? If so, she'd have a go at that - it may inform her tactics. If there's a Readied Dispel Magic in the wind, that changes things :D
Mysticism, DC = 10 + (5 × the level of the spell being cast.): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (1) + 17 = 18

Ooooooof

Grey staggers under Igrim's blow, and realizes she'll have to focus on this dwarf herself, and leave dealing with the Pillars to her allies. "Remember yourself, Dwarf! You're a Starfinder - act like one!"
She'll guarded step back, hope that Betsy isn't a jerk, and casts Hold Person through her focused gimmick to boost the DC, on Igrim.

DC 23 Will save, or Paralyzed for 12 rounds, with option to spend a full round action to attempt a new Save each round.

If he fails his save, anticipating that he'll probably Save out of the Hold before the duration ends, she'll use her Reaction to proc Frightening Display, becoming a scary little cuttlefish.

Intimidate if Igrim fails, DC = greater of: ● 15 + 1½ CR -or- ● 10 + Igrim's Intimidate bonus: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (18) + 26 = 44

If Grey overcomes his DC, he's Shaken for 1 round, +1 for every 5 by which she beats the DC, +1 from the Warrior Serum she chugged earlier, and all of it's doubled because she's wearing a scary magic accent piece.

You saved me the trouble of looking up how hard it is to identify an invisible creature's spell.

Will Save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

Igrim does not seem inclined to stay put.

You saved me the trouble of looking up how hard it is to identify an invisible creature's spell.

lol well, always happy to roll a Nat 1 if it means fewer obscure rules lookups :D

Step over to Ingrim and use inject nanobots hit: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18 vs eac dmg: 4d8 ⇒ (7, 2, 2, 3) = 14 and the target is confused for 1 round And must make a fort save if that hits, to take half damage, also saving negates confusion.

Z Data Z tries to inject some nanobots into Igrim, buthe gets out of the way.

Anavay continues to cower.

Round 2 - bolded may go

Igrim Copperview (-9 HP)
Quantum-K (-32 SP, haste)
crowd
Katrina (haste)
Merin (panicked 9 rounds)
Betsy Blast (invisible)
Z Data Z (haste)
Empress-on-Grey (-60 SP, -1 HP, haste)
Anavay (panicked 8 rounds)
Compucast (haste)

Compucast rapidly heads toward the southeast pillar. "Hold on my friends, I'll have this deactivated.."

computers: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (11) + 24 = 35

"About now."

Compucast deactivates a third pillar. The force field looks like you might be able to push through it - though it would probably hurt a lot. Best to finish the last one first.

Igrim objects to the idea of nanobots being injected into him. His preferred method of lodging a complaint is by lodging a sword into Z Data Z.

Microserrated Longsword: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 21 - 4 = 22
Slashing Damage: 2d10 + 18 ⇒ (9, 6) + 18 = 33

Microserrated Longsword: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 21 - 4 = 21
Slashing Damage: 2d10 + 18 ⇒ (6, 4) + 18 = 28

Igrim's objection is noted, logged and lost.

Round 3 - bolded may go

Igrim Copperview (-9 HP)
Quantum-K (-32 SP, haste)
crowd
Katrina (haste)
Merin (panicked 9 rounds)
Betsy Blast (invisible)
Z Data Z (haste)
Empress-on-Grey (-60 SP, -1 HP, haste)
Anavay (panicked 8 rounds)
Compucast (haste)

Quantum concentrates to keep Sox on task, attempting to bring down the final pillar.
Sox hacks the last pillar: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 34

"Good job, Sox - Catch ya later!"

Turning her attention back to her flight computer, she scrolls thru her options before settling on one titled Frak U, Spooks!
Another spell chip cycles up, imbuing her with See Invisibility.

Hopefully, that invisible boomer is more apparent now.

Do you have an ability that lets you perform one of those actions as a move or swift? You have to expend the actions a hireling uses to perform an action, and disabling the pillar and casting the spell would both normally be standards.

Apologies - I thought that the spirit conjured by the spell was able to act autonomously.

I'll walk back casting the See Invis for now & will move away from the pillar instead.

Sorry, thought it was a hireling, not a spell. You still can't do both, but for a different reason - the spirit requires concentration, as does casting a new spell.

Sox takes down the force field. Quantum-K prepares to search for Betsy.

The crowd ceases jeering and begins to flee. They are not panicked, but definitely know that it is time to be elsewhere.

Round 3 - bolded may go

Igrim Copperview (-9 HP)
Quantum-K (-32 SP, haste)
crowd
Katrina (haste)
Merin (panicked 9 rounds)
Betsy Blast (invisible)
Z Data Z (haste)
Empress-on-Grey (-60 SP, -1 HP, haste)
Anavay (panicked 8 rounds)
Compucast (haste)

Right! Who's in charge here. I think you and I need to have a little chat

A rather annoyed Katrina moves towards the main stand. Since she currently has her jetpack slotted into her clearweave armour, she activates it and flies into the main stand to confront whoever is there.

Seeing Katrina heading straight for the box, Lunesha makes for the exit while mockingly clapping. “You’ve gotten past my clones; truly your minimal competence deserves a reward. Your true allies await you below… but what’s this?” The screen shows Anavay, Betsy, Igrim, and Merin near a large bomb with a timer counting down. “Oh no! Better hurry, heroes!” A hatch opens in the center of the arena, which leads to an elevator.

Seeing Lunesha flee, the false Starfinders also make for the exit.

Combat over!

Quantum-K (-32 SP)
Empress-on-Grey (-60 SP, -1 HP)

You have three options here - chase Lunesha, go after the clones, or rescue the true Starfidners. It is pretty clear that two of these will result in you failing your mission and possibly receiving Infamy, but it's still your choice.

Grey, still nursing that dwarven crit-to-the-face, looks at the retreating Falsefinders. She 'paths, "Clones? Did she say, 'clones?' What is happening here?"

Not expecting it to work, she'll try and hail Vex and the Starfinder Lodge on comms, just in case taking out the pillars has re-enabled comms. "Salvation's End Lodge, come in. Vex, come in. Does anyone read me?"

Can we tell how long is on that bomb timer? Grey would love a 10-min rest to get her SP back, but if there's (real)Starfinder lives on the line...

Still no response from the Lodge.

The issue is not the timer on the bomb, but that you don't know how far away it is. The scenario says that you can take a 10 minute rest "any time you are exploring", but I don't think that applies now.

The scenario says that you can take a 10 minute rest "any time you are exploring", but I don't think that applies now.

Copy that. Just making it's not one of those scenarios that's like, "if the PCs rest they auto-fail their Secondary Objective ¯\_(ツ)_/¯" lol

She'll 'path to the rest, "we should get out of here in case the crowd returns. We've got to find the real B-Team, before that bomb goes off! ...although I could use a breather. That dwarf took a good chunk of my water body off. The ambient moisture here isn't ideal, but it'll do - it would be good to replenish."

If possible, Grey would walk over to pickup Merin's dropped Elite Semi-Auto pistol (He had fired it before becoming Panicked, so presumably he dropped it in the arena?) and uses a watery pseudopod to pick it up and stash it into her waterbody. "Anyone mind if I take this? Looks fancier than my longarm. Anyone who can make better use of it is welcome to it, though!" Unless anyone else wants it, she'll take the Frost fusion seal off of her plasma bolter and affix it to the pistol, so it can start attuning which is a thing we can do in the field now ^ __ ^

Fwiw, during the monolog, Q-K could've used her Rah-Rah envoy ability to restore 35 SP to Grey.

GM permitting, that is.

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36