SFS Bounties 1-4 (KS) (Inactive)

Game Master phaeton_nz

It looks like Ria Vash has not posted anything since last week.

Ria sits by one of the windows to the ship and reaches out with her senses to see if the ship's layout is conducive to scrying. She tries a simple meditation to see close stars, then pushes her senses outwards to try and locate more distant places.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
1d1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

She ends her meditation with a headache.

Easy and average tests here.

That's a total of 12 Data Points.

The rest of the trip is uneventful and the PCs arrive safely at S-413, one
of Liavara’s smallest shepherd moons, where they can begin to transmit their data to an unmanned UIE relay.

Before the flight records finish uploading, the ship’s sensors alert the PCs to approaching contacts.

Could each of you please make a Culture of Life Science check to recall knowledge?

Ria looks up from her books at the beeping of the sensors. She snaps the tome shut and stands with a vaguely alarmed expression. "I'll get out the fine china, looks like we have unexpected company"

Culture Check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

Ria recalls hearing a recent news report that pods of voraijas have been spotted in Liavara’s upper atmosphere. Many tourist ships skim Liavara’s orbit hoping for a rare glimpse of the creatures feeding or giving birth, all carefully monitored by the Xenowardens organization.

The Grimshaw’s sensors indicate these two carnivorous creatures are lost, hungry, and apparently interpret the organic shape of the ship to mean that it’s edible! To avoid becoming devoured in a grim case of mistaken identity, the characters must devise a stratagem.

Po'ogaan sizes up the lost, hungry, and carnivorous pair of creatures.
Life Sciences: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

He wonders if they are edible or, if not, who might pay for their hides.

"Should we attack them and lead them back to their herds? We might as well alert the Xenowardens about this." Ca Shel points out the situation.

"Should we attack them and lead them back to their herds? We might as well alert the Xenowardens about this." Ca Shel points out the situation.

"If we try and keep their attention, we can lead them away. I'd rather not strike them until we are in absolute danger. Them being a monitored and all."

Ria will go to the coms and try to reach out to the Xenowardens.

"If we were on Castrovel, I would leave them food to distract them, while we slipped away. I am not sure that would work here. Maybe we can outrun them. Or maybe we fire on one."

Sovellis says all this while he settles into the pilot's chair and straps in.

phaeton_nz, how big are these things? Is this a ship-sized encounter, or do they have to board us for a person-size encounter?

Also I'm thinking of the news this week. In the Faroe Islands a bunch of eco tourists arrived just in time to see the annual whale harvest. If you believe the internet.

It's a ship sized encounter

Ria soon gets a reply from the Xenowardens. Thanks for finding them. Looks like they've got themselves a bit lost. What you need to do is to use that tasty looking ship of yours ... what the heck is it anyway? ... and lure them back to Liavara. So .. you need to act like wounded prey. This is how you do this .....

To do this, each voraija must be “lured” with three DC 18 skill checks per creature. GMs are encouraged to award a +1 circumstance bonus
for creativity, but should not allow PCs to use the “aid another” action. Examples include Piloting to fly how prey might, Life Science to broadcast starsongs, or Engineering to invert the polarity of the ship’s drive emissions to create a better “scent” to follow. This option does not use a map, but GMs should track each of these rounds as if they were combat for timing purposes. On any round with 0 successes, the voraija both vocalize at the Grimshaw, which is damaged to its next critical threshold.

We'll be with you as soon as we can

Po'ogaan heads to the audio station to do some mixing. "Yes, lure them in close for an easier shot..."
Life Science: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

"Let's give it a reason to really follow us." Ca Shel heads to the drives system to tinker it, allowing the voraijas to follow the ship's 'scent'.
Engineering: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

One success, one failure this round. Other PCs still to act.

"Strap in. Our course will be erratic."

Sovellis kicks the ship into a random walk pattern around an average course line toward Liavara. He hopes the frequent direction and speed changes are sufficiently fly-like to draw the vorajias after them.

Piloting: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Ria's eyes dart between the creatures. "The small one, it's distracted by something else. Tilt us port to draw it back in!"

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Waiting for Max Angel to post - still only one success so far but at least they're not annoyed at you.

The only thing I have is diplomacy. I can't get higher than a 10 because I'd be using those other skill untrained.
Put your mind into it crew. Think back to what you learned in space ship academy diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Round 1 - One success only. That is enough to make them curious but not attack.

Round 2 - Everyone can act. Be creative.

Come on, ya'll, you can do better than that. diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

"Maybe if we're more aggressive. Perhaps I'm too far out to really draw their attention."

Sovellis sweeps the ship into a wide arc that climbs above Liavara's ecliptic plane. He eyes the pair of vorajias and mentally projects their course and where it will line up with that of a small shephard moon.

The nose rotates back 'down' until it's pointed right at the pair, and he pushes the throttles all the away forward. The wings sweep back as the ship accelerates. It's immediately apparent that he's planning to shoot the gap between them.

Piloting: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Po'ogaan tries to adjust the sonic emitters to mimic the sound of space krill.
Life Science: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

One failure, two more successes this round.

Ca Shel keeps tinkering with the system, sending electromagnetic waves through space to get the attention of the voraijas, tuning them to the right frequency that they will respond to.
Engineering: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

And that is another success.

Ria Vash still to post for Round 2

Ria continues to study the creatures, trying to figure out what they are reacting to the most. "Po'ogaan, whatever you are doing with the sound field, keep it up."

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

End of Round 2
A total of five successes. You really only need one more to get them really interested and follow you back to Liavara.

Everyone can post.

Alright, no more mr. nice guy. You all really need to do this. If you don't do this, I will stop adventuring with you. diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14 Seriously, my character steps away from the nice guy approach and still can't get a roll above a 5.

"Let's get back this ship and report what we found to the proper authorities." Ca Shel suggests to them, now that they have successfully lured the voraijas back to Liavara.

You're still one success short

Oh, I thought it was over. Ha!

Ca Shel amplifies the system to produce a higher frequency of waves to call the attention of the voraijas.
Engineering: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Pretty sure that would do it, but just in case.

Sovellis splits the gap bewteen the two creatures, when they turn in pursuit, the elf rolls the spaceship and pulls back on the control stick, and the ship responds by arcing around the shephard moon. He straightens out in the clear space between Liavara's rings, and keeps the throttles set just high enough to maintain the ship's distance from the vorajias.

Piloting: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

"Po'ogaan, whatever you are doing with the sound field, keep it up."

"Fine, fine. I'm doing the best I can," Po'ogaan croaks in reply.

"That looks really good guys! You got them in a nice tight group, I don't think we have any breakaways!"

Also just in case

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

You succeed in leading the voraijas back to Liavara. The Xenowardens escort you the last bit of the way sending a message of praise on how you performed.

You are also able to upload all your flight data to the relay station and managing to get the creatures back without assistance earns you a total of 17 data points.

Upon arrival back at Absalom Station, J’scib is delighted to meet you back in the hangar. The host shirren sends a limited-edition holographic screen-saver of the Grimshaw to each of your personal comm units as a memento, and informs you that someone from accounts payable will be in touch once all the flight data has been compiled.

The test flight is considered a success and you are each paid 200 credits for your time. In addition, you are awarded a mk 1 mindlink circlet (Starfinder Core Rulebook 226) and a grappler (Core Rulebook 219).

--- End of Bounty ---

Will report, get out Chronicles, and set up Bounty Three tomorrow.

Game has been reported.

Chronicles are here

Game has been reported.

Chronicles are here

Sorry for the confusion, but I played B2 with Po'ogaan (rather than Mechro-Nancy), so the PC number on the chronicle is off. It should be for 90900-728. Mechro-Nancy will return for B3

Fixed - Reporting also corrected.

--- Starting Bounty 3 ---

The adventure begins when you arrive at Thamal’s recently constructed visitors center, which is surrounded by a mix of trees, older buildings, and new construction. The surface of the visitors center’s large silver dome is covered with thousands of small colored lights that display the message, “Welcome to Thamal.”

Whether they are citizens of Verces or visitors, each of you has heard a rumor there is a job available at the visitors center for brave and skillful individuals interested in helping the city, though the rumors contain no further details. You are greeted by Councilor Kirslin Auganir, who strides out to meet you. During introductions, her skin flashes in vibrant, colorful patterns.

Thank you for coming, Councilor Kirslin Auganir says, I’m sure you’ve noticed the city’s recent power troubles. It’s a problem the city council would like remedied as soon as possible.

The lights flicker out, along with the lights and displays of nearby buildings. After a few moments, the lights flicker back to life.

Councilor Kirslin sighs heavily, her skin paling to a dismal gray. Did you see that? This city’s about to be named a top Verces travel destination for the first time in its history, but nobody’s going to want to visit us if the power won’t stay on. I can see the next story now: ‘Thamal’s future is looking dim. Literally.’ Luckily, that’s where you come in.

The city council managed to narrow the power issue down to a single plant. Station Green has gone completely offline, and the other power plants can’t consistently compensate. We sent repair drones in three times, but they went dead upon arrival. So now I’m sending you, if you’ll take the job, that is. And please, keep it quiet? We’ve got a reputation to maintain.

Don't tell others the power plant went down and we were sent to repair it, got it. All machines malfunction, nothing to be embarrassed about.

"Nobody wants power interruptions." Ca Shel arrives and introduces himself. "My name is Ca Shel, and I would like to help you with your conundrum. As long as you pay well." he adds with a smirk.

"Have you considered alternative sources of power?" asks Mech-Ro-Nancy. The android seems sincere. "Undead servants don't run low on batteries like many mechanical ones."

"It seems likely that some creature or environmental factor is disabling the drones. Do you have telemetry or video from the repair drones? It might help us prepare. Failing that can you station a wide range of envronmental gear, and support troops near the entrance to the power plant?"

Ria nods to Sovellius "I agree with those precautions. It might behoove us to bring some equipment that doesn't rely on power to function to. The drones going dark worries me."

Mech-Ro-Nancy gets a curious look. As it happened, we did get a proposal for that but ...... there was quite a bit of backlash to that idea

I hate to say it, but the outages were the first real sign. We get logs from the power plants, sure, but who has time to dig into all that? I do know this: the plant didn’t send out any warning before it stopped functioning, and there’s no indication of intrusion, an explosion, or anything like that.

Kirslin also gives you several tourism brochures, logs from the plant and repair drones, and a map to Station Green.

You may make Computers or Culture checks to Recall Knowledge or Diplomacy to Gather Information.

Max will ask around to see what people know diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Max discovers the following:

15+: The logs from the plant are unnaturally consistent, as if they’ve been doctored. This oddity goes back to the earliest days of the plant, long before the outages began. Kirslin thought they might be too good to be true, but had no time to follow up.
20+: The faked logs contain patterns that mimic organic processes more closely than technological ones. The drone data and regional rumors show evidence of unexpected plant life around the power plant.

Sovellus grins. "Organics, plant life. My money is on fey. Anybody want to wager on it?"

Other people can still roll. There may be more to discover

"Plants? I'd heard something about that when I was getting lunch earlier." Ria's face screws up and her antennas flicker as she tries to recall what she heard.

Culture Check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

"Plants in a power plant?" Ca Shel ponders. "Do plants now need electricity to live?" he asks out of ignorance.