[YFF/SFS/DMK] 6-04 Secrets Long Submerged (Inactive)

Game Master Kludde

Now that the threat of the serpents has cleared (and it looks like no further eggs are about to spawn). There's a computer system hooked up to the servers which looks like a reasonable candidate for getting up and running. It would take some work, though.

About two hours of work and a Computers or Engineering check

Jim gets to work...

Engineering 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (14) + 21 = 35

Also have - Engineers Eye in case it is trapped, and Quick Repair to halve the time required on repairs

Jim manages to repair the computers and get access to some data. There is a lot to unpack:

Storm engines were developed and maintained by storm giants, who kept their creation and operation secret. This particular site looks to have been a research site founded shortly after the gap, with the goal to reverse engineer, recreate, and improve upon storm engines.

The founders of this research facility were clearly cloud giants of the ruling Cloud Imperium who believed that their storm giant colleagues would soon betray them. They feared that when this betrayal occurred, they would lose access to the storm engines that protected their cities, for the storm giants would surely sabotage, destroy, or weaponize the engines against them. The founders of this research facility were led by a very powerful, well-respected Cloud Imperium bureaucrat, though the founders’ identities were never entered into the system. Instead, they used code names. The codename of this ringleader was “The Weathered One.”

The storm engines were researched, concepted, and prototyped in this facility, but manufactured and tested elsewhere, at sites likewise hidden behind code names, such as A-21, C-6, S-13, U-27, or V-9. These storm engines performed only fractionally as well as those created by storm giants and required more than a tenfold increase in power to function even suboptimally.

Spies reporting to the Weathered One discerned that storm giants mystically transferred a portion of their own electric aura into the storm engines they crafted during the construction process. With dozens of storm giants providing a portion of their aura to each engine they built, this amplified the power of the engine exponentially while having a negligible effect on individual giants. This led the research facility to turn to biological sources to power their storm engines, including captive storm giants, electric eels, and Pholskar serpents. Being used as a power source in this way rapidly drained one’s life force and was always fatal.

Researchers were attempting to reduce the lethal effects of aura siphoning by cryogenically cooling subjects such that their bodily functions slowed to a near standstill.

Two researchers, named Algernal and Sopholine, were opposed to the heinous experiments they had become a part of and were instead attempting to create an artificial or biotech substitute. Their research proposal was denied by the Weathered One and they were fired shortly thereafter. There are no further records of these researchers on the servers.

You've effectively explored all of the site. There is one more encounter, but here is where you've outsmarted the module design: you can almost trivially bypass it. There's two options here, and I'll leave it up to you:
(1) Bypass the last encounter, which would complete the module
(2) Run the last encounter as if you 'copter is a boat
Either is fine with me

I'm okay with a narration, but won't deny anyone looking to experience it!

After the combat, Krag gets really excited. "Man! I really want to face a fully grown one of those!" When it comes to the computers, he watches the magic, but has little to contribute.

No need for an unnecessary fight from me, but happy to partake if others want it.

"I wonder if those other dead giants we found were the missing ones. "

She shakes her head. "This is not going to go down well. I feel kind of glad it was not the Storm giants doing it to their own though. That option did concern me."

She takes the offered pistol. "Thanks Katrina. See if you can figure out what is wrong with mine. It's a brand new one. Hope I didn't buy a dud."

Katrina helps Jim with the computers.
computers: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (8) + 22 = 30

I'm okay to bypass

Returning to the surface, Krag in his eagerness is the first to spot the humongous serpent headed for the site and the group. Fortunately, Big Jim has just the getaway car - or rather 'copter - for such an occasion.

It's quite the monster, and it looks like years of exposure to the leaking storm engine hasn't stunted its growth - on the contrary!

As soon as the group makes it back to the spacedocks, it is in fact Kurvasyr greeting the group. You are back she says, suggesting she is there by chance (which of course she isn't), did you find out anything useful?

As a quick reminder: Kurvasyr was the giant trying to make the group switch sides

Umbro-187 watches the huge serpent from his seat in the enercopter. A part of him wants to feel the thrill of the big game hunt, but he knows that this time it isn't going to happen. Back at the spacedock he takes notice of Kuvasyr, but lets his more eloquent teammates speak to her first.

Jim grumbles about the findings on the computer, clearly shocked at the lack of any sort of ethics involved in the scientific research.

As the copter outflies the giant serpent Jim seems smugly satisfied "Imagine how bad the tongue on that one would be! Someone hoped one of those things would kill us, I also had a suspicion about that research team on the beach turning on us but I'm pleasantly surprised to be wrong"

***

"We found a few things, there's a lot of data, will take us a while to get through it and catalog it, nothing too unexpected. Couple of days or something" Jim offers in a friendly manner, but seems clear there isn't a lot to discuss right now.

If you would be willing to share in the information, I would be able to get you a recommendation letter to Ehu Hadif, and grant you exclusive archaeological exploration rights to Talgradur for the next 4 years.

Once onboard the enercopter, Katrina hurks up all the water in her lungs, drains her armour before taking it off, removes the mermaid tail, reconfigures the clearweave for legs, and redons the armour.

While doing that .... Ye Ghods ... that thing's GINOURMOUS. I'm glad I'm not swimming with THAT. Is there anything like that on Vesk-2 Jim?

She too is annoyed at the lack of ethics in the uncovered research.

After landing ...

sense motive: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (20) + 20 = 40

It is an ... interesting offer ... but I am not sure we have the authority to do that. Let me check with my superiors and I shall get back to you.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (12) + 20 = 32

Gunnz nods her head. "We did find some old chests... most had not survived the waters too well." she says.\

"Boy, the predators there are something else again. I think any future expedition is going to need armed guards if they are not going to get eaten."

Croaker observes the creature and says nothing, just wonders how they would avoid being eaten if not for the copter.

When they land and meet Kurvasyr he observes the creature with caution

Sense motive: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21

"I am a mercenary, and I take pride in not changing sides mid-contract. You can learn what we found by asking through an official channels."

I vote to tell Kurvasyr nothing

"This planet sure is full of snakes" Jim offers, though it is unclear what sort of snakes he might be referring to.

SM: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21
"And I think by following through on our agreement, we'll get those contracts anyway..." she adds after a moment.

"This kind of negotiating and business makes my head spin. I'll go with whatever you lot decide."

"Since the moment we've landed on this planet all we have been subjected to is subterfuge and deception. We will honor our original agreement."

Kurvasyr shrugs with a feigned apathy, well, then she says you'll eventually regret that decision, but it is your call

---

Returning back to the grand hall of Emproa, the group is given the opportunity to report to Ethiel. She is waiting for audience in the same gigantic (literally) hall as before.

Once he is certain he has uploads and scans of everything loaded into his computer systems Big Jim readies all the data and retrieved artifacts to hand over to Ethiel.

"Ahh Ethiel, we meet again. Can't say this expedition was any more pleasant than the last and this planet has a pretty troubled history - we have done as you asked and you have a lot to consider"

"Also, your political opponents were disruptive the whole way, and were quite brazen in approaching us to switch to working for them instead of you"

"Also, after being told about the giant sea snakes over and over we did in fact find giant sea snakes ready to devour us - seems it isn't very safe for boats. I will be reporting to the society that any expeditions here require aero capability"

Gunnz nods along with Jim. "You'll find our complete report. But it...makes for somber reading. It looks like there may have been."

She shrugs and continues in a slightly more subdued manner than is normal for her "Distasteful activities involving Storm engine research."

Your success is truly commendable Ethiel says and I will make sure it becomes visible to your senior ranks. With your continued effectiveness, I'm sure there are more independent work contracts to be awarded.

Ethiel takes the report, and has a glance over This is sobering indeed. I had long suspected something foul was occuring in Talgradur. This information is sensisitive, and unsurprisingly, interference is already being attempted, as you have noticed. We must make sure this original data is duplicated and thoroughly stored before we can make any public announcement. I would ask that you give us a week before we disclose any findings.

---

The debrief at the Lorespire complex is brief, though Ehu is in an elated mood. “even the darkest parts of history must be brought to light.” The Kasatha notes, "and you have done a great job making a start."

Naiaj, on the other hand, is worried, sarcastically retorting, “Yeah, I’m sure that digging up the dirty secrets of a planet’s government won’t cause us any problems.”

Mission success! Can you all please roll day jobs, so I can do the reporting?

Profession, gambler: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (16) + 20 = 36

Guard: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11 LOL

Security Contractor: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (9) + 21 = 30

profession mermaid: 1d20 + 23 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 23 + 4 + 1 = 31 (professional tools and clothing))

On the way back Katrina takes a look at Gunnz weapon, running a series of simple tests such as bench locked accuracy, checking the lineup of sights, making sure the beam isn't askew etc, as well as test firing it a few times.

She then returns it to Gunnz with the comment. I'm no expert but it seems ok. But, if you're still not sure, take it to an expert. I did with with one of my new weapons and it turned out I wasn't holding it right. Ended up having the grip modified - although it didn't help with me being a lefty

Upon arrival at Absalom Station and after debriefing she sighed. Time to deal with Forum business again, and hoping this wasn't going to be her last mission.

After another scary, but ultimately successful, mission to the Land of The Giants. Gunnz feels a bit of a need to unwind.

She heads down to her agent to find to find a gig that needs a really top-class dancer there.

prof(dancer): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (15) + 18 = 33

Thanks for the game everyone!

Thank you! I'm sad I can't keep the pace up. I'll be reducing my total games while my job is nuts... and apparently making a 2 year dash to earn my 5th nova?

Jim gets Big Jim One unpacked from the starship and has his production team getting to work splicing up the footage from the Land of the Giants into another family-friendly episode featuring the allowed footage that doesn't upset any political sensitivities.

"And Naiaj, it was very dirty laundry indeed - some of the blackest, almost as horrible as what went down on Elytrio, possibly worse? Still digesting. I also don't trust anyone on that planet and am convinced they were deliberately manufacturing ways to get us eaten by snakes"

***

Profession Video Personality 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (17) + 22 = 39

Turns out it was an amazing episode of Jims Jams, a great audience response to having some of his fellow guest stars - dancers, mermaids - quality family viewing.

Thank you! I'm sad I can't keep the pace up. I'll be reducing my total games while my job is nuts... and apparently making a 2 year dash to earn my 5th nova?

I hope your job return to less insane states soon. I know the feeling... I took several GMing breaks just because I would be too exhausted in the evening to type anything. Hard to have fun that way. Just take it at any pace you feel comfortable at.

I guess you're talking about SFS2e? Being limited to PbP-only, and with my my start-a-game-every-one-or-two-weeks schedule, I'll get to 4 novas at best (and the special requirement for five is hard to fulfill anyway).

They'll probably retire SFS1 before I hit five novas, and then I'll start again at zero... nebulas? I recall a similar discussion when PFS2e came around.

Still happy that there's a system upgrade. People really seem to like the PFS2e action economy, and it's a good chance to iron out some of the starfinder rough edges.

...and while I was typing that, the minions managed to prepare the chronicles. Can you all let me know if they're accurate?

Correct answers for the chronicle are:
X Completed
X Elthel
X impressed
X Elthel

Katrina saves a copy of that episode of Jim Jams and ponders fun ways of improving her own social profile. Maybe a travel log of the underwater vistas of Vesk-2 .... and maybe also do something with all that footage of Castrovel dives. And how much footage of her as a mermaid is out there. Maybe it's time to own it and proudly say ... that's me. Maybe it's also time to 'out' herself and go for it, dating wise.

Could she combine mermaiding and computer use?

She thinks about the possibilities while shopping for a dive boat. After all, she has the credits to spare.

Honestly the Stars/Glyphs/Novas thing irks me.

Our 5 Stars didnt count because 2E was a new game and they brought in Glyphs.

Our 5 Novas wont count because we are now playing 2E in space.

As the two games are now the same game then Glyphs should be the ONLY measurement.

I say this as a 5 Star / 5 Nova that is a bit tired of their arguments from the first couple of times round this debate.

Chronicle retrieved and filed - character updated.

Now ... who to play for 6-05.

Cross-post from Castamir:

Ok, that went quick. We have two tables for 7-05, and still one more spot available!

---
Table A: please go here
Shifty
Scottybobotti
‘Eκάτη
George 09-23
Joe Jungers (Dr. A-Prof)
Inspector Xagyg
---

---
Table B: please go here
Dash Riprock (Halgur)
Jek
Twila-5 (Warah)
Kaath (Solarian)
Ilmakis
---

Still one more seat! Feel free to claim it here, then proceed directly to the table!

---
The two games share a common discussion thread, so please go there here if you want to switch seats, as long as you have found a seat by the time the music stops. Fortunately for you, the current music is an Astrowerk song, and they tend to run long...
---

For Table B of 7-05: The Day the River Died

I have the following boon:

Weapons of a Lost Civilization (Starship Boon): (Chronicle 9) When you slot this boon, select one light weapon onboard your starship and replace that weapon with a tactical nuclear missile launcher (Starfinder Core Rulebook 302). Alternatively, select one heavy weapon onboard your starship and replace that weapon with a heavy nuclear missile launcher (Starfinder Core Rulebook 303). This new weapon must go in the same arc as the replaced weapon, and only one weapon can be replaced on a starship by a boon with this name. The modifications are somewhat jury-rigged, and as a result, all gunnery checks using this weapon take a –1 penalty. Anytime you fire this weapon during the course of a scenario, check a box for the corresponding weapon. Once all boxes for a weapon are checked, you can no longer gain the benefits of this starship weapon (though you can still benefit from the first part of this boon).
Tactical Nuclear Missile Launcher: [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
Heavy Nuclear Missile Launcher: [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

If we use that we need to be careful not to poison the river between with radiation. On the other hand even a warning shot with something that powerful should scare off most pirates.

Truns out Jek has the same boon so we have enough firepower to take over a good part of the Diaspora and retire there. However, Jek's preference would be to use that kind of firepower to find and take back the original shirren home world from the swarm.

Pockets, one of my other characters recently tried to intimidate/bluff someone threatening them with an orbital bombardment, I so need to get Pockets this boon to back up that bluff.

I'll be unable to post on Monday, so 'bot Stell as needed.

@Kaath: Here are some links that tell you what each position on a starship does and which skills they require.

Captain, engineer, gunner, & pilot, science officer, etc.

Chief Mate, Magic Officer, etc.

Based on your stats, Chief Mate is probably your best option.

Thanks!

Kaath is not the best in any category, so did not want to take a preferred role from anyone else. I highlighted the two roles I saw as 'claimed' in yellow on the tracker. Chief Mate would be fine, unless

Here's our ship stats if needed

Starfinder Society Pegasus Tier 6
Medium explorer
Speed 10; Maneuverability good (turn 1); Drift 1
AC 14; TL 16
HP 65; DT —; CT 13
Shields medium 100 (forward 25, port 25, starboard 25, aft 25)

Attack (Forward) twin laser (5d8; range 20)
Attack (Port) light laser cannon (2d4; range 5)
Attack (Starboard) light plasma torpedo launcher (3d8; range 20; speed 14; limit 5)
Attack (Turret) light particle cannon (3d6; range 10)

Power Core Pulse Blue (200 PCU)
Drift Engine Signal Basic
Systems advanced medium-range sensors, crew quarters (good), mk 3 duonode computer, mk 4 armor, mk 6 defenses
Expansion Bays cargo hold, escape pods, science lab, tech workshop

Modifiers +3 to any two checks per round, +4 Computers, +1 Piloting
Complement 4–7

Here's the ship for Table A

Starfinder Society Drake Tier 6
Medium explorer
Speed 8; Maneuverability average (turn 2); Drift 1
AC 15; TL 14
HP 55; DT —; CT 17
Shields medium 100 (forward 25, port 25, starboard 25, aft 25)

Attack (Forward) particle beam (8d6; range 20), Coil Gun (4d4; range 20)
Attack (Port) Coil Gun (4d4; range 20)
Attack (Aft) Coil Gun (4d4; range 20)
Attack (Turret) heavy plasma torpedo launcher (5d10; speed 12)

Power Core Pulse Blue (200 PCU)
Drift Engine Signal Basic
Systems advanced medium-range sensors, crew quarters (good), mk 2 trinode computer, mk 5 armor, mk 5 defenses
Expansion Bays cargo hold, escape pods, science lab, tech workshop

Modifiers +2 to any threechecks per round, +4 Computers
Complement 4–7

I'm probably not going to be able to post today, so 'bot Stell if needed. She will probably encourage whoever may need it.

It can really be hard to write Dash's accent sometimes. Just try to imagine Vinnie Jones's voice whenever Dash is speaking.

Vinnie Jones is awesome. Love his CPR video.

Sorry, it's been a very busy 5 days.
I will return to the game during the day. Bot me if needed.

7-06 Archives of Eternity Table A.

What PCs are we playing? I've a number of characters in the right level range and am willing to adapt.

Vinnie Jones is awesome. Love his CPR video.

Nice.

@therealthom, evolutionist 3

I am flying to Hawaii for a holiday 26 Oct - 02 Nov, will change my posting time, and may have some delays to posting as I transit

Thanks for ruining for us!

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Profession (Counselor) +6 (+7 to earn a living)

I wonder if this scenario is a setup for changes coming in SF2e

Profession(Vidgamer): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (2) + 18 = 20.

profession-athlete: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

Prof (Corporate) 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

Hitting the road early tomorrow to take a convoy out to Broken Hill (legit Mad Max territory from the films) will be two days out and two days back into the desert. I expect I'll have some comms in the night locations (near townships) but if I lose comms for a day or two please bot me :)

If you see a guy with a mohawk wearing chaps with no pants underneath and riding a motorcycle I have one word for you... run.

One of my favourite movies :)