SFS Bounties 5-8 (KS) (Inactive)

Game Master phaeton_nz

Assuming no further questions, you make any necessary purchases (including flashlights) and head for the hospital. Kivala Hospital stands on a dark, dead-end road at the edge of town, its grounds overgrown with dying vegetation.

In the entryway (A1) sickly plants cover the floor and walls. A few appear to reach out to you. A metal fence separates this area from a room of sand (area A6).

"Scout, why don't you give us the view from above?"

Quig sends Scout flying over the fence.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Will also buy a flashlight and spare battery. 61 credits.

I have put your tokens on the map. Please indicate where you wish to go.

Scout flies over the fence and scans the sandy area. The sensors detect a heat source under the sand that is moving.

Sovellis groans inwardly at the news. "It could be an animal or an unexplained occurence. I can think no plan better than to use one of us as bait. Does anyone have a better idea?"

Sovellis groans inwardly at the news. "It could be an animal or an unexplained occurence. I can think no plan better than to use one of us as bait. Does anyone have a better idea?"

"Your request to serve as a volunteer is accepted. You may proceed" Mech-Ro-Nancy replies, she walks past what she believes is the reception area to get a better look at the sand-covered room.

RKT-7 lets watches the proceedings of the drone with interest. A sandbox is not a common sight in hospitals, is it?

She holds her laser pistol over her flashflight (Cop-style), while making sure her little squox is close.

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I was prepared for anything to jump at Sovellis from under that sand-heap. The only thing I could do what make sure he had the backup he needed
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"Well, the good news is, if it's giving off a heat signature, it's not a ghost!"

Sovellis walks over to the fence and looks over the sand room. He pushes on the fence experimentally. "There is a door on the far side."

Engineering, how easily will the fence come down: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

There's nothing in the scenario that says you can or can't do that so I'll allow it ... especially with that roll

Sovellis dismantles the fence

Whilst the rest of the part is playing with the sand pit, Thrym-Who-Speaks-With-Spirits moves over to the double doors, and opens them, taking a peek inside (A2).

Now that the fence is out of the way, RKT-7 goes to have a look at the sand, rolling it between her fingers to check if it's really just stray soil that's on the floor here. What do you make of this, Sovellis?

Dunno, Physical Science?
PS: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

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Sand. On a hospital floor. Was this a veterinary place?
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It's sand alright. A children's sandpit perhaps? Who knows. And it's warm.

As RKT-7 examines the sand, a rather annoyed squox bursts out, hisses, and dives back under the sand.

Removing a squox requires two phases. First, a squox must be coaxed out of hiding or calmed using Diplomacy, Life Science, or an applicable Profession check. Then, the squox must be carried off the grounds with an Acrobatics or Athletics check, scared off with an Intimidate check, or coaxed away with a Life Science check. A PC who offers a squox food gains a +2 circumstance bonus on all checks to interact with that squox.

The android Mech-Ro-Nancy does not dream of electric sheep, but of other possibilities. She attempts to coax one of the raw materials to come to her.
Life Science to coax: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Life Science to carry away: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Unlife Science for later(?): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Startled by the sudden appearance of burrowing fox-like animals, Thrym-Who-Speaks-With-Spirits does his best to coax and evict one of them, using food to tempt them.

Life Science: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 2 = 16.
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 2 = 17.

RKT-7's deadpan stare break for a moment to show suprise, and then endearment at the discovery of the furry creature Here, squoxie, squoxie... she says, seemingly completely forgetting her normal unreadable demeanor. Even her own pet seems unconvinced...

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Acrbatics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

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Even Sparky was surprised at the discovery of another squox. Though I normally carry some squoxie-snaxx, my empty pockets weighed on me this time around, and there was little that I could use to please the squatting squox
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RKT-7 looks around and ... sure enough, there's a squox-snack dispenser on a nearby wall, selling a bag for 2 credits apiece.

Mech-Ro-Nancy is able to catch and eject the squox out the door where it scampers off into the bush.

There is only one squox. What now?

Through the door Thrym was in front of before, to what looks like a surgical theatre with observation seating?

Thrym discovers that the desk is a mess of torn papers and books. Hallways
on either side lead to a raised, windowed seating area overlooking an operating room (area A15). When you look through the window you see a ghostly reflection behind you, but nothing is there. (see slides)

Utterly unperturbed by the transient appearance of yet another spirit, Thrym pads on to the next area.

A3, but fully intending to go 4/5/6/7 thereafter.

You looks again, This time you see Sikooli staring up at you from the operating room, then walking south and out of sight. On your way to A3, you hear a rattling from the nearby bathroom door.

"Think someone got locked inside?" Quig gestures with a thumb at the bathroom door.

Sovellis watches with some degree of admiration as Mech-Ro-Nancy deals with the sand-squox. He watches the sand for a while to make sure no more squox are hiding in it. Then turns and follows the party deeper into the complex.

"Think someone got locked inside?" Quig gestures with a thumb at the bathroom door.

"May be it is another squox. Care to open it for me." The elf draws his sword and flashlight. He flips the switch to turn the flashlight on.

phaeton-nz, Sikooli???

See slides

Thrym-Who-Speaks-With-Spirits back-tracks to check the toilet block briefly, just in case, and then returns to checking-out A3.

Ah, sad ghostly lashunta.

RKT-7 checks if the vending machine is operational, trying to extract two packets of squoxie-snaxx. Her squox is looking a bit dejected when it doesn't get one, to which RKT-7 says Later, sparky... you had food before. Let's first take care of the hungry ones

She follows Thrym in inspecting the bathroom, and with-pan delivery, she says No signs of haunting so far.

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Stray animals and plumbing problems was all we found until now. Could this be all there was toward the stories of a haunting? Little did I know that Thrym was keeping his ghost sightings all for himself.
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Nope, no sign of a haunting here but you do spot a lanky squox that screeches before scrambling into a vent.

RKT-7 does manage to get two packets of squoxie-snaxx.

Thrym goes ahead and discovers an office. The exterior windows in this large office are boarded up. You see a framed photo of a lashunta boy holding a squox.

perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (8) + 0 = 8

"Squox everywhere. Maybe they were used in treatment when the hospital was operational?"

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9.

Thrym remains oblivious, and moves on to the next area.

A4.

Mech-Ro-Nancy accompanies Thrym.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

"These boards here are a false window covering that easily swings open. Footprints on the windowsill indicate this window entrance is regularly used by a humanoid," notes the android.

"So a very non-ghostly person is going in and out."

Thrym discovers that this abnormally cold room was used for research. Messy laboratory counters hold scattered research equipment, a vat of a strange shifting black substance, and a computer.

Did anyone check out the small office just south of A8?

Weren't the vending machines there? ;-) I think everybody skipped it(including me) because it doesnt have a label... Happy to take the fall and pass through it, though, seems only reasonable to assume somebody covered it.

No the vending machine was in the foyer - and I forgot to point out that you only got two snack packets before it jammed.

As RKT-7 enters the side office off the foyer, the computer there turns itself on, emitting a high-pitched warbling, then a distorted audio recording of a woman speaking. You make out the following. “They’re dead… My work… complete…". It then shuts down. Any attempt to turn it back on fails.

Thrym-Who-Speaks-With-Spirits eyes the vat of black ooze suspiciously, but ultimately moves on.

A5.

This area used to be a garden. Sickly plants grow in this ominous conservatory.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12.

Thrym-Who-Speaks-With-Spirits finds nothing of interest in the garden, so he moves on to the dormitory block.

A6/7.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

"There are some little footprints here. Critters have definitely been eating the plants."

I'm not sure I like what that woman is saying. Did you hear that? RKT-7 asks "They're Dead, My work complete" is that what she said?

She follows Thrym, making sure Sparky doesn't get lost.

Don't eat these, Sparky RKT-7 says, looking around if there is any more signs of squoxes.

Is everyone just following Thrym from place to place without doing anything?

Thrym walks into what used to be a ward. These patient rooms are long since abandoned.

Make a perception check for the garden area RKT-7

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Hold on RKT-7 says Someone was just there. I think we have a squatter here, and he's trying to scare us.

There's also quite a few more wild squoxes here, but so far I haven't seen much the would could as a dangerous occurence.

Thrym discovers that this abnormally cold room was used for research. Messy laboratory counters hold scattered research equipment, a vat of a strange shifting black substance, and a computer.

I think I was too focus on the other comment in that post :). This is room A3?

Maybe we should check that computer, to see if we find any records of the research that was conducted here? RKT-7 says, herself not being very good with computers.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24.

Thrym-Who-Speaks-With-Spirits looks around, alarmed by the fact that a shadow-spirit seems to have taken an interest in him... but after a few taut moments without them reappearing, returns to his usual level of equanimity.

Happy to pause for a moment to let others do some investigating, but otherwise, I will move on to A9.

I'm not sure I like what that woman is saying. Did you hear that? RKT-7 asks "They're Dead, My work complete" is that what she said?

She follows Thrym, making sure Sparky doesn't get lost.

Don't eat these, Sparky RKT-7 says, looking around if there is any more signs of squoxes.

"It sounded like it. Perhaps we should have done more research on the last operational days of the hospital."

Sovellis wonders if he looks a little ridiculous walking around with naked steel in his hand, but this place has him a little jumpy. The squox are an annoyance, but a gloomy air of neglect, the sounds and moving shadows have the elf a little on edge.

He waits behind to cover the party's retreat while it explores the infirmary ward.

When Thrym returns to move on to the other wing, Sovellis follows the kish.

Maybe we should check that computer, to see if we find any records of the research that was conducted here? RKT-7 says, herself not being very good with computers.

"Agreed," says Mech-Ro-Nancy. "I have a way with computers. Lead the way."

The android sits down at the desk and summons a spirit to enter into the computer.
Casting spiritual consultation.

"What manner of research was done here?" The android asks the spirit.
I assume Life Science is the proper skill, +6 bonus for the spirit to recall knowledge.

The computer in the research lab yields the following: There is evidence that the head doctor, Dr. Sikooli, and her research assistant Ajanu were attempting to fuse nanites with energy from the Shadow Plane, although there’s no indication of their intended purpose. Additionally, you find a single distorted video recording.

“No more… mistakes… It was… supposed to end like this…”

The lab equipment includes a syringe inscribed with strange symbols.

"Fusing anything with the shadow plane seems like a bad idea. Anyone got any idea what these symbols are?"

Energies from the shadow plane. That makes playing with fire sound safe. RKT-7 says

She takes a moment to inspect the syringe.

Mysticism: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

I'm not a specialist. Do any of you know what these strange symbols mean? RKT-7 says, making sure her squox doesn't get anywhere near this equipment.

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Perhaps there was some truth to the rumors after all. The dark shadows and mysterious self-playing messages, could they all be connected? What manner of disaster happened here. The more I saw, the more I started to believe this place was far less benign than our client told us it was.
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When RKT-7 touches the syringe they get a vision of Sikooli filling the syringe with a swirling black substance. RKT-7 also gets attacked by the black particles from the vat. Unfortunately a higher mysticism roll is required.

bite: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13 c&p: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5

What do you all do?

Thrym-Who-Speaks-With-Spirits listens to the spirits...

Mysticism: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27.