[Outpost VI] SFS #5-07: Planar Bloom (Inactive)

Game Master Mustaparta

Stella does so, blushing because she forgot. It has been a while since she was in the field.

I got a lifebubble on is her excuse.

She also looks to download, and pay for, a copy of Shokil's books.

Twich turns on her environmental protections, too.

Shokil starts to nod, and then decides that maybe not to do so too entheusastically.

"Good thinking. Maybe it is some weird kind of radiation that is doing this to people."

Sgt. Smith surveyed the devastated terrain around where the tactical nuke had been deployed. It had been ten years, but the area still felt wrong to him. Maybe it was the quiet in the air. Maybe it was the way the buildings all leaned away from the detonation site. Or just maybe it was the way that vine in his sights was trying to stealthy, and far too rapidly, grow towards his position...

Gil-Oloth activates her own environmental protections.

Magic is better. she says for herself half-asleep.

To be clear, Shokil does activate his environmental seals.

Stella grins down at Gil-Oloth

Now that sounds like something my technomancer friend would say

As she does, her suits environmentals analyse the vapours around Gil-Oloth, looking for hallucinogenics or sophorics.

There is plenty of both.

After having explored around, you meet to a crowd that gathers at the base of a large paradelon tree towering over the town square. A makeshift stage has been erected under the tree’s branches, and standing speakers, spotlights, and smoke machines surround the stage. Two distinct groups of five performers leer and hurl insults at each other from either side of the stage. These groups are about to engage in a lip-sync battle. Both groups are dressed in gaudy, over-the‑top, matching outfits with one side sporting flowers, leaves and branches woven into their hair or placed atop their heads and the other wearing belts and improvised sashes decorated with large leaves and fruits.

When the lip-sync battle begins, each team takes the stage in turn and performs surprisingly well-choreographed dances as they silently mouth along to music blasting through speakers placed around the square. Meanwhile, each gang attempts to distract their opponents with jeering and absurd insults, and encourages the audience (including the PCs) to join them. NPCs in the audience enthusiastically join in. If any PCs want to participate in the jeering, they can attempt a DC 18 Bluff or Intimidate check to distract the performers with funny faces, insults, shouting out the wrong lyrics, and other tactics. Each PC can attempt this check against each gang once (if desired). On a success, one of the performers makes a mistake, such as mouthing the wrong lyrics, performing the wrong dance move, tripping, or laughing.

culture: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Shokil holds his head in his hands, trying to turn down the acoustic gain on his suit.

"[b]I'm not sure there is any point in intervening in this, except to "fit in"[b]" he says.

Do any either of the groups seem to have more popular local support?

Culture: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

Cavaler, isn't sure what the purpose of the performance is, so he holds back on taunting the performers until he know exactly what's going on.

Unlike the others, Stella is listening to see if they are using a song that has been 'filked' i.e. had the words changed to be of more sf or comedy lyrics Weird Al for instance. If there is, she'd belt out the revised lyrics hoping to make the audience laugh.

Yes, as well as being a 'closet' cosplayer, she is also a 'closet' filker.

culture: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
intimidate: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

She is also not favouring any group over the other.

Culture: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18 +4 if I can use my Library Chip for this roll

Sync battle seems quite too tiring and Gil-Oloth prefers to stay lying on her couch.

culture: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

Being shy and quiet and not knowing what is going on, Twich just watches.

They seem to be equal in terms of local support
With help of library chip Gil-Oloth succeeds.

Stella catches attention of Midnight charge members for a moment. In a half hour the battle ends in victory of team known as Re:Veal. Twelve members present celebrate by immediately setting up hammocks and swings in the prize tree. They give you as gifts a cyan-colored fruit from the paradelon tree and a colorful hat of disguise.

Twich (Perc): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Gil-Oloth (Perc): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (11) + 17 = 28
Stella (Perc): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20
Cavaler (Perc): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
Shokil (Perc): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Gil-Oloth and Shokil notice a ikeshti member of the Midnight charge gang, who didn't participate. He must be first unhappy person in Great Gwaz. picture on slide 2 link to slides

Cool Stella says when she receives the Hat of Disguise. She immediately uses it to cosplay a well known screen character from one her favourite show franchises: the Original, not the Next Generation or Deep Space or Voyager or Lower Decks - even though she enjoys all of those.

She also tries the fruit offered but saves a sample for later analysis.

She's also wondering if her fellow team members are all 'not-fun' people.

Slides are not open.

Shokil applauds as the show comes to an end. "Well, public entertainment! That is always nice to see."

He approaches the ikeshti. "Hello there!" he smiles. FanBoy rushes up to present him with a photocopied book cover.

"I notice you didn't participate in the contest? Was there a limit on numbers?"

diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16

Cavaler, sees Shokil approach the ikeshti and joins the pair.

"Yes, everyone seemed to be having so much fun taking part."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29

Slides are not open.

Shokil applauds as the show comes to an end. "Well, public entertainment! That is always nice to see."

He approaches the ikeshti. "Hello there!" he smiles. FanBoy rushes up to present him with a photocopied book cover.

"I notice you didn't participate in the contest? Was there a limit on numbers?"

[dice=diplomacy]1d20+13

"Just look at those folks. Some grow plants in their bodies, some are covered in glitter and some have weirdly glowing eyes. This place has become a freak gallery since people started eating these fruits and, in addition to mutations, their personalities have been affected as well." he says shaking his head

I did check the slides and anyone should be able to edit. To research paradelon fruits:

mysticism: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 24
life sciences: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

"Fascinating, I assure you none of us intend to grow plants on our bodies or change our personalities."

Mysticism (Aid Another): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Stella steps over, looking like she's wearing a ST-TOS, blue, miniskirt uniform, including the delta, while discretely spitting out the bit of fruit she was chewing on into her hand.

They taste really great, could be addictive to some, and they're magically enhanced. What sort of personality shifts?

"Yes, What sort of change to personality have you seen?" agrees Shokil.

"And what are you surviving on, if not the food of this region? Stuff taken in from outside?"

Life Science: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27 +4 if my Library Chip can help
Mysticism: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32 +4 if my Library Chip can help

Looking at the fruit, through her hooka's smoke, Gil-Oloth can tell a lot of things on them.

Very interesting, my understanding of these fruit is that the fruits contain proteins that rapidly shift on a molecular level to match the exact preferences of the sensory nerves they come into contact with. It means that paradelons are always the perfect level of sweetness for everyone regardless of their personal tastes.

Continuing to scan the fruit, she adds I'm sure that theses paradelons are not native to any planet on the Material Plane that I'm aware of and I've visited numerous planet, in dreams and in person...

The couch turns toward Luce and from it, GIl-Oloth says I agree with Luce, these fruits have been magically enhanced. Their uniformity suggests that the enhancement has occurred during the growth process, which indicate that something in the trees or something in the planar bloom is causing this enhancement, not an individual after the fact.

Twich shakes her head, wondering why someone would do such a thing.

Stella steps over, looking like she's wearing a ST-TOS, blue, miniskirt uniform, including the delta, while discretely spitting out the bit of fruit she was chewing on into her hand.

They taste really great, could be addictive to some, and they're magically enhanced. What sort of personality shifts?

"They become totally euphoric. Look, Midnight Charge’s known for tearing up the streets, not frolicking through the jungle and giggling like children. But that’s exactly what happened! They’ve all been guzzling fruit like it’s the nectar of the gods, and I’m pretty sure that’s what’s causing them to act all funny. I’m not the brightest star in the sky but even I can figure that since I haven’t eaten the fruit and haven’t changed one bit, the fruit’s probably what’s causing the changes! Since I figured this out, I've eaten only stuff from outside.”

Stella discretely drops the remains of the fruit in the nearest dustbin, a bit worried she's going to start popping out in spots or something.

I guess we'd better go in and have a look she says. With full environmental seals on and everything.

"We have the information we need Starfinders. Let us continue our investigation."

Stella discretely drops the remains of the fruit in the nearest dustbin, a bit worried she's going to start popping out in spots or something.

I guess we'd better go in and have a look she says. With full environmental seals on and everything.

Since you tasted the fruit roll Fortitude save DC 21.

As you continue to explore Great Gwaz, the peace is abruptly shattered by high-pitched screaming. The screaming emanates from the agape mouths of horrifying, monstrous creatures with humanoid faces that waver in and out of visibility as they make their way through the town. Map on slide 3. Monster image on slide 2 (left). Place tokens in yellow rectangle.

Any chance you could add the slide deck link to the header?

Shokil takes out a surprisingly large rifle as the odd keening sound starts to echo through the village.

"Oh my.. I hope those are not people who have partaken of forbidden fruit!" he quips before the sounds get to him. "I think I need another drink.."

Cavaler's dual crossbolter is already in his hands as the screaming begins.

"Prepare yourselves Starfinders."

If this is the case, better to strike them non lethaly.

fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Aw crap. I think something's happening to me, most probably to my antennae, cause the area arounsd the base is itching like CRAZY!

She activates her Solar Armour, surrounding herself in a red glow.

Shokil tries to climb onto a nearby roof for a better view of what is happening.

climb: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

The two creatures approach from southwest lashing out at anything nearby, including people, buildings, and flora. Meanwhile, the locals move out of the way with unnatural calm, completely unconcerned that khefaks are destroying town.

First Twich and Cavaler

How high up are the roofs of the buildings? I want to use Cavaler's gravitational harness to jump up on top of one of them.

I'd assume they're at least 10 feet high, max 15 feet

Cavaler, activates his gravitational harness and sprints toward the nearest building before leaping on top of it to get a better view on the khefaks.

Athletics + Leapers (Jump, DC 20): 1d20 + 6 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 8 = 27

Standard action to activate his gravitational harness so that he gains the benefits of low gravity for two rounds and then move to jump on the building. He is only attempting to jump 5', but will go 15' up because of the light gravity rules. DC is the distance he is attempting to jump times four.

Botting Twich
Twich casts haste on the party.

Yellow khefak runs to center of the area using double move.

Next Stella, Gil-Oloth and Shokil

The couch activates its thruster and starts flying Jetpack activated 2/40 while Gil-Oloth calls her weapon in her delicate hands.
As the same time, the vines on the couch starts animating, ready to strike any enemy getting too close to the elf. Drawing my Xenolash

Then she shoots at the one closest to them Yellow

Aphelion laser rifle vs EAC (1/40): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20
Damages, F&So: 3d6 + 8 ⇒ (3, 3, 3) + 8 = 17

Shokil climbs to a roof. Rolls above.

Stella moves them activates her Starlight form (20% concealment)

Gil-Oloth's laser hits the creature and Shokil climbs to roof. Purple follows same path as its mate.

Cavaler's turn, botting Twich tomorrow if they hasn't posted by then

Cavaler, crouches low on the roof of the building he is on as if he is trying to hide, but then pops up and fires his dual crossbolter at the closest khefak.

"Focus your fire on that one Starfinders." Improved Get 'Em

Bluff (Improved Feint): 1d20 + 15 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 15 + (5) + 1 = 38 Pink is flat footed to Cavaler's attack if the roll is successful.
Dual Crossbolter + Improved Get 'Em vs. Pink KAC: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 11 + 2 = 29
Piercing + Improved Get 'Em Damage: 2d10 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (10, 7) + 7 + 2 = 26

Cavaler, spends 1 resolve point to apply Improved Get 'Em to both khefaks (+2 bonus to attack rolls and damage).

Twich fires two magic missiles at yellow khefak, which targets Cavaler with its haunting howl.

MM: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 1) + 2 = 7

Cavaler gets a DC 16 will save or be shaken
rounds shaken: 1d4 ⇒ 2 how many rounds before can howl again?: 1d4 ⇒ 2

He hits the pink, but it resists some of damage.

Next Stella, Gil-Oloth and Shokil

The couch lands on one of the roof Jetpack activated 4/40 while Gil-Oloth aims at the creature, shooting twice.

Aphelion laser rifle vs EAC (2/40): 1d20 + 11 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 11 - 4 + 2 = 13
Damages, F&So: 3d6 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (1, 5, 1) + 8 + 2 = 17
Aphelion laser rifle vs EAC (3/40): 1d20 + 11 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 11 - 4 + 2 = 16
Damages, F&So: 3d6 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (3, 5, 3) + 8 + 2 = 21

Stella fires three shooting stars at Pink
ss: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 1, 4) + 3 = 9

Shokil lines up his rifle for a shot at the approaching creature in pink.

The sergeant would make this a one shot one kill..

attack vs EAC, deadly aim, get'em: 1d20 + 14 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 14 - 2 + 2 = 34
F damage, deadly aim, getem: 2d8 + 7 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1, 6) + 7 + 3 + 2 = 19 Crit, x2 = 38
Sadly just double damage on the crit, no special effect. Gota upgrade that rifle.

The author looks on, impressed with his own work.
Smith eyed the smoking remains of the creature that had dared attack his squad. Let that be a warning to the rest.

Gil-Oloth misses both shots, but Shokil scores a serious wound on pink, which was battered by Stella's shooting stars. Yellow demolishes a water tank for the funs.

3rd turn. Next Cavaler and Twich.

Cavaler, fires another two armor piercing SABOT bolts at the same khefak he just shot.

"Don't let them destroy the water supply, Starfinders." Improved Get 'Em

Bluff (Improved Feint): 1d20 + 15 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 15 + (3) + 1 = 35 If Cavaler's Bluff succeeds pink is flat footed to his attack.
Dual Crossbolter + Improved Get 'Em vs. Pink KAC: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 11 + 2 = 16 If Cavaler's attack roll misses by 1 he will activate his Turquois Cube Aeon Stone as a reaction to add a 1 to the roll and allow it to hit.
Piercing Damage: 2d10 + 7 ⇒ (5, 7) + 7 = 19

Everyone gets a +2 bonus to their next attack roll against pink.

Will Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

The creature's howling doesn't seem to bother Cavaler at all.

Twich sends more magic missiles.

3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 3, 2) + 3 = 12