[SFS 5-03] Combatant's Concerto: Fugue of the Traitor (Inactive)

Game Master cmlobue

The mech certainly don't look centuries old, though you would need more time to study them to determine more accurately. Time is in short supply, however, as a security alarm triggers. A vast bay door opens in the south end of the chamber, allowing an enormous guardian mech to emerge. Towering over 40 feet, the enormous, automated defense system begins to clunk its way toward the interlopers.

The Liberators flee back into the previous area.

Round 1 - bolded may go

Chk'tarlsh (-36 HP)
Twich (-28 HP)
Yarameh
Kultainen
Black Mech
----
Blue Mech (uncrewed)
Tan Mech (uncrewed)

:Ugh,,," thinks Kultainen.,

"No way we can fight that thing... unless those crewed mechs are still operational.."

She dashes for the mechs, trying to open one up. "Hurry up!"

[ooc]Reading the rules, it looks like a full round action to enter these things, so even taking a move to get next to one, she can't get into it this round? Assuming that is the case, she will use the Hurry Up! improvisation to give Charles another move action this turn.

That is correct. I promise you won't get squished on turn 1.

Well, I said myself that it would be a good performance... Now... Run! Yarameh rushes to another (blue) mech. Guys, keep up!

Fast forwarding to "you're in giant robots" to keep things going.

The Starfinders run toward the pahtra mechs, hoping they will help against the giant menace. They clamber into the constructs, finding them in surprisingly good condition and ready at a moment's notice.

And none too soon - the large mech slowly moves into the room, destroying most of the south wall in the process. The demolition slows it down, but it does get close enough to fire on the mech with tan accents.

Rotary Cannon: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (8) + 20 = 28
Piercing Damage: 5d8 + 9 ⇒ (4, 7, 6, 4, 8) + 9 = 38

The bullet glances off its armor, not doing any appreciable damage.

Round 3 - bolded may go

Blue Mech (Twich and Yarameh piloting)
Tan Mech (Chk'tarlsh and Kultainen piloting)
Black Mech

With two crew members, each mech gets two standard and one move action per turn. One standard and one move or two standards can be combined into a full action.

Kultainen quickly sits at the computer scanning the enemy mech as it approaches.

computers: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29

She then aims at it and fires with the rifle.

attack, aim, scan: 1d20 + 18 + 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 18 + (1) + 1 = 26
damage: 5d6 + 8 ⇒ (5, 4, 6, 2, 1) + 8 = 26

One standard action left for Charles

Kultainen picks out a vulnerable spot on the giant mech and fires the rifle at it. Unfortunately, she is still getting used to the controls, and the bullet flies past its head.

Kultainen learns three of the following of her choice: hardness, maximum Hit Points, resistances (if any), EAC, KAC, number of passengers or operators, Strength DC to break, speed, systems or auxiliary systems, or weapons

Round 3 - bolded may go

Blue Mech (Twich and Yarameh piloting)
Tan Mech (1 standard action, Chk'tarlsh and Kultainen piloting)
Black Mech

Resistances, Max HP and number of operators.

The mech has two operators, construct immunities and 165 HP.

Yarameh is also adjusting to robot control for the time being, but half-drow does not hold her rage! She immediately starts firing frantically, and death metal is already roaring inside the cabin!

AIM & AIM
LASER RIFLE: 1d20 + 14 + 7 + 10 - 4 + 1d4 ⇒ (1) + 14 + 7 + 10 - 4 + (3) = 315d6 + 8 ⇒ (5, 2, 6, 6, 4) + 8 = 31
LASER RIFLE: 1d20 + 14 + 7 + 10 - 4 + 1d4 ⇒ (6) + 14 + 7 + 10 - 4 + (2) = 355d6 + 8 ⇒ (5, 6, 5, 3, 6) + 8 = 33

Move & Standard action as a full-round action; 1 standard action for Twich

PS Did I understand correctly that by determining the attack modifier, we sum up BAB and the piloting ranks? And did I understand correctly that piloting can be from one crew member, and BAB from another?

I thought atk modifier is 9 plus the higher of your BAB and piloting rannks

yarameh can't take two shots with the same weapon.

it can’t activate any one mech component (such as a weapon or auxiliary system) more than once per round unless otherwise noted

The automatic feature gives you a cone attack, not the ability to fire it multiple times.

The attack bonus with the laser rifle is 9 + (higher of character's BAB or Piloting), as Kultainen said.

Got it! Then it's a miss (nat1), I took one shot and Twitch has a full round of action.

Twich? Chk'tarlsh?

Twich fires the other weapon.

attack: 1d20 + 9 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 6 = 17
damage: 5d6 + 8 ⇒ (3, 4, 6, 6, 3) + 8 = 30

Sorry, IRL spontaneously combusted

I may have this the wrong way about but, if I understand correctly, the mech has one rifle (hence one ranged) attack and one melee attack available each turn. So, since we are currently out of range, the only option Chk'tarlsh really has is to move? TIA

Operating under above interpretation...

Thrilled by the experience, but entirely uncertain about exactly what he is doing, Chk'tarlsh tentatively engages the mech's locomotion in an attempt to put some space between the two smaller mechs.

The Starfinders, still getting used to their machines, do not land a hit on the giant robot this time.

The enemy mech continues approaching the Starfinders and fires a pair of weapons on them.

Rotary Cannon vs. Tan: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (18) + 20 = 38
Piercing Damage: 5d8 + 9 ⇒ (5, 2, 6, 7, 5) + 9 = 34

Laser Rifle vs. Blue: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (9) + 20 = 29
Fire Damage: 4d8 + 9 ⇒ (6, 3, 8, 4) + 9 = 30

Both strike hard enough to penetrate the shields. The Blue mech's armor can absorb the impact, but the Tan mech takes some damage. Both regenerate some of their shields.

Round 4 - bolded may go

Blue Mech (-19 SP, 4 PP, Twich and Yarameh piloting)
Tan Mech (-19 SP, -7 HP, 4 PP, Chk'tarlsh and Kultainen piloting)
Black Mech (8 PP)

Kultaniin continues to try and get an accurate shot, aiming carefully before firing the laser rifle.

attack: 1d20 + 18 + 1d4 ⇒ (6) + 18 + (1) = 25
damage: 5d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 4, 2, 3) = 17

"See if you can get us closer. Physical attacks may work better..."

* aim (move)
* fire (standard)

Antennae twitching, Chk'tarlsh eyes the massive mech standing across from them with apprehension.

After a moment's consideration he nods. "We're ssittinhk ducksh out here anyway, with nowhere to hide. Ash they say, the bigger they are..." he says over comms, charging in closer.

Taking careful aim, Kultainen manages to score a hit against the giant mech. Chk'tarlsh maneuvers the tan mech into a better position.

Round 4 - bolded may go

Blue Mech (-19 SP, 4 PP, Twich and Yarameh piloting)
Tan Mech (-19 SP, -7 HP, 4 PP, Chk'tarlsh and Kultainen piloting)
Black Mech (-17 SP, 8 PP)

Twich continues to attack.

attack: 1d20 + 9 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 6 = 19
damage: 5d6 + 8 ⇒ (2, 6, 2, 1, 3) + 8 = 22

Yarameh pilots the blue mech around the enemy while Twich tries to get the laser aligned properly.

The giant robot's shield knit together while it lashes out in both directions with its arm weapons.

Buzzblades vs. Blue: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (13) + 20 = 33
Slashing Damage: 4d8 + 14 ⇒ (6, 3, 1, 7) + 14 = 31

Thunderclaw vs. Tan: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (14) + 23 = 37
Slashing and Sonic Damage: 4d8 + 14 ⇒ (3, 2, 3, 1) + 14 = 23

Giant saws cut into the blue mech while a vibrating claw rakes the tan one.

Round 5 - bolded may go

Blue Mech (-19 SP, -19 HP, 7 PP, Twich and Yarameh piloting)
Tan Mech (-19 SP, -18 HP, 6 PP, Chk'tarlsh and Kultainen piloting)
Black Mech (-5 SP, 8 PP)

Kultanien continues to focus on trying to aim, before sending the right arm in a viscious swipe at the mech.

attack, aim, flank: 1d20 + 18 + 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 18 + (1) + 2 = 36
damage: 5d6 + 15 ⇒ (4, 3, 1, 1, 3) + 15 = 27

Twich keeps firing.

attack: 1d20 + 9 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 6 = 19
damage: 5d6 + 8 ⇒ (2, 3, 4, 4, 1) + 8 = 22

sigh, using pin reroll, 1 nova

attack: 1d20 + 9 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 6 + 1 = 24

I'm gonna to blow his head off! Yarameh is almost inaudible in the roaring dark metal.

Thunderclaw: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 18 + 2 = 335d6 + 15 ⇒ (3, 5, 1, 1, 2) + 15 = 27

I want also to use this, but didn't get what is "medium damage" and "high damage":
Devastating Hit (3 PP): After hitting a creature with an attack, but before dealing damage, the mech increases its weapon’s damage value by one step against that creature (e.g. medium damage instead deals high damage). A weapon that already deals extreme damage instead adds 1 additional damage for every damage die rolled for the attack. This ability can’t be used for weapons that attack an intersection rather than a creature, such as weapons with the explode weapon special property.

It's a little more than halfway down >this page<. The pahtra mechs are level 8, so the weapons are both medium damage and step up to 4d10. Feel free to do that, if you're willing to give up the 12 rolled on the dice.

Thanks!
MEGA STRRRRIKE: 4d10 ⇒ (8, 2, 6, 1) = 17

Kultainen hacks at the large mech with the claw. its shiels seem to be holding, but barely.

Twich's shot is less accurate.

Yarameh juices her mech's claw and finishes off the shields and well as leaving a large gash in the side.

Chk'tarlsh tries firing a shot.

attack: 1d20 + 9 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 6 = 17
damage: 5d6 + 8 ⇒ (6, 1, 5, 1, 5) + 8 = 26

The enemy continues lashing out in both directions.

Buzzblades vs. Tan: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 21
Slashing Damage: 4d8 + 14 ⇒ (5, 6, 7, 2) + 14 = 34

Thunderclaw vs. Blue: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (19) + 23 = 42
Slashing and Sonic Damage: 4d8 + 14 ⇒ (2, 3, 6, 2) + 14 = 27

All the mech's shiels regenerate a bit.

Round 6 - bolded may go

Blue Mech (-19 SP, -38 HP, 7 PP, Twich and Yarameh piloting)
Tan Mech (-11 SP, -18 HP, 8 PP, Chk'tarlsh and Kultainen piloting)
Black Mech (-24 SP, -31 HP, 8 PP)

Thunderclaw: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 18 + 2 = 215d6 + 15 ⇒ (5, 4, 6, 3, 2) + 15 = 35
:(

Kultainen continues to prioritize accuracy as she tries to hack through the black mech.

attack: 1d20 + 9 + 9 + 1d4 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 9 + (2) = 23 Hahahahah.. I love you RNG, I really do, but sometimes... sometimes...
damage: 5d6 + 15 ⇒ (4, 3, 4, 4, 1) + 15 = 31

I think you have +2 for the flank. I add this bonus to my attacks.... Although of course in this case it will not help .)

Also, I think Kultainen should have an extra +1 to that attack - the melee weapon has +10 + bonus, the ranged +9 + bonus.

Engaged in close proximity as they are, and with Kultainen opwrating the claws, Chk'tarlsh takes another point-blank shot at the large mech.

Rifle: 1d20 + 9 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 7 = 20
Damage: 5d6 + 8 ⇒ (3, 2, 3, 4, 6) + 8 = 26

attack: 1d20 + 9 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 9 + 6 = 28
damage: 5d6 + 8 ⇒ (2, 2, 4, 1, 6) + 8 = 23

The Starfinders continue their assault, though only Twich manages to connect out of this barrage.

The enemy spins once more, trying to bring its melee weapons down on the pahtra mechs.

Buzzblades vs. Blue: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (7) + 20 = 27
Slashing Damage: 4d8 + 14 ⇒ (4, 3, 8, 5) + 14 = 34

Thunderclaw vs. Tan: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (4) + 23 = 27
Slashing and Sonic Damage: 4d8 + 14 ⇒ (3, 5, 3, 2) + 14 = 27

Both Starfinder-piloted craft get out of the way, enabling them to recharge their shields more.

It then carefully moves toward the blue mech.

Round 6 - bolded may go

Blue Mech (-11 SP, -38 HP, 8 PP, Twich and Yarameh piloting)
Tan Mech (-3 SP, -18 HP, 8 PP, Chk'tarlsh and Kultainen piloting)
Black Mech (-21 SP, -45 HP, 8 PP)

Kultainen continues to struggle with the controls, trying to deliver a finishing blow to the Black mech.

And when she actually manages it, the android redirects the mechs backup power into making sure the blow really counts.

attack,aim,flank: 1d20 + 9 + 10 + 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 9 + 10 + (4) + 2 = 37
damage(devastating hit): 4d10 + 15 ⇒ (9, 6, 6, 3) + 15 = 39

Twich keeps up her attacks.
attack: 1d20 + 9 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 9 + 6 = 27
damage: 5d6 + 8 ⇒ (6, 1, 4, 1, 2) + 8 = 22

Chk'tarlsh looses another blast of the rifle at the massive mech.

Rifle: 1d20 + 9 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 7 = 23
Damage: 5d6 + 8 ⇒ (4, 4, 2, 2, 5) + 8 = 25

Twich, I need to know which weapon you are using, since the target's EAC and KAC are different.

Thunderclaw: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 18 + 2 = 295d6 + 15 ⇒ (2, 4, 2, 5, 1) + 15 = 29

sorry, I thought it would be clear that I was continuing to use the laser rifle, same as previous turns

The Starfinders find their groove - everyone except Chk'tarlsh manages to strike the large mech, which is definitely showing its wear. The shield flicker back to life as it begins to move, but the repeated blasts and strikes are taking their toll.

It continues approaching the blue mech, this time focusing its attacks.

Buzzblades vs. Blue: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (13) + 20 = 33
Slashing Damage: 4d8 + 14 ⇒ (2, 2, 8, 4) + 14 = 30

Thunderclaw vs. Blue: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (18) + 23 = 41
Slashing and Sonic Damage: 4d8 + 14 ⇒ (5, 3, 1, 5) + 14 = 28

Twich and Yarameh's mech is barely hanging on as well.

Round 7 - bolded may go

Blue Mech (-19 SP, -80 HP, 8 PP, Twich and Yarameh piloting)
Tan Mech (-18 HP, 8 PP, Chk'tarlsh and Kultainen piloting)
Black Mech (-21 SP, -123 HP, 8 PP)

Thunderclaw: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 18 + 2 = 255d6 + 15 ⇒ (1, 5, 6, 2, 1) + 15 = 30

I'm telling you, he'll break first! Take him down Twich, take him down! Yarameh turns on the black metal even louder, but it seems she got too carried away and does not hit accurately enough.

Kultanien takes the time to move the tan mech forward, sandwiching the black mega-mech between the two smaller ones. She then lashes out with another thunderclaw strike.

attack, flank: 1d20 + 9 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 9 + 2 = 22

But the moving has upset her rhythm.
"Sorry, I'm not the best at actual combat..." she says.

If I'm understanding the rules correctly, I have to use the laser rifle, because the thunderclaw has already been used this turn.

attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35
damage: 5d6 + 8 ⇒ (2, 6, 6, 2, 6) + 8 = 30
critical extra damage: 5d6 + 8 ⇒ (3, 5, 4, 5, 6) + 8 = 31

Yarameh and Kultainen both take ineffectual swings at the mech, but Twich sees a perfect opportunity and fires the laser straight into the power core. It sparks and then falls to the ground, motionless.

While the Pulonis mechs have definitely proven their worth, you don't see any easy way to get them out of this area, and nothing of value in here is particularly portable. There doesn't seem to be much left to do but report back to Miiyu about the results of your two objectives.

"Shoudln't we look inside that other mech... to see who - or what was driving it?" asks Kultainen.

Inside the other mech is... no one. Searching through the remains of the computers reveals an AI piloting routine.

Kultainen pokes around in the computer a bit to see how long ago it was activated, or what triggered it to attack the expedition.

"Something must have made it attack us.." she muses, suspicious.

computers: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29

Kultainen sucks all the data she can from the computer for later analysis. (Beyond the scope of this scenario)

At this point, the question is whether you are ready to accuse someone of being a traitor.

Well, what are the conclusions? I'm not much of a detective. Yarameh discusses with the team who the traitor is, while Kultainen digs into the "brains" of the mech (implying that she can also combine routine work with a computer and this conversation).