[SFS] 5-12 Envar's Expeditions II (Inactive)

Game Master Kludde

"All right, guys. If we're gonna check the data tag, now's the time. If we do that, we should move the data tag over to this rest station so his stupid fans don't get themselves killed looking for it. Other option: we could just ask Wertnabe how long ago Envar was here. This is only our second stop, so my gut tells me there's no way our mission will be over yet. Thoughts?"

She'll go if at least two others want to. If not, she'd rather just talk to Wertnabe.

I agrree that that fact his picturre is adverrtised means he has likely left Tocti agrees. But the tag may perrhaps also show inforrmation about wherre else he has been. If nothing else, if this tag has trraces of videos of Enverr's frrom otherr worrlds on his motherr's list, it would let us rrule them out. I think the tag is worrth investigating.

Based on our readings on the tag location, and the maps/brochures for this place, this waystation's likely the closest place on the official tour to the tag, is that my understanding?

The group slinks off and follows the signal of the data tag into an open plain. The area is quiet, not even the sound of birds can be hear. Suddenly, though the silence is disrupted by a thunderous sound. The ground quakes as a crevasse splits open across the plain.

A massive serpentine creature, competing in size with that of a starship, bursts from the crack in the earth, undulating wildly. Amid its coils, the faint glow of a hologram is visible on the ground.

The colossal creature doesn't even seem to register the Starfinders, let alone have any intent of looking them in the eye, but it is restless and thrashing about. Retrieving that data tag from under it, is no doubt going to be quite hazardous.

The blue star on the map is the data tag, the huge thing is the colossus. I'm putting you in combat rounds, everyone can act

---
Tocti
Twila
Lapodie
Dr. Lakare Koob
---

Thankful that this thing isn't going for them, Twila-5 looks around to try to determine what it's reacting to.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

Other actions dependent on the result of this check.

Life Science: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32 Lol, what a helpful spoiler.

Koob takes a wide berth, flying around the creature in a wide arc. Double move flying.

Tocti's eye widen as she sees the full scales of the massive snake. Running is certainly an option. But those movements away might draw its attention too. Glancing at the data tag so close, the pahtra shakes her fur. Nanites form around her in dull colors as she tries to slink closer to the tag without the snake noticing someone so small.

Move action to form a Sheath array (Acrobatics and Stealth), then starting to approach stealthily. That thing is so many sizes larger than us that we would be able to move through its space, right? (I think as difficult terrain IIRC)

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 12 + 2 = 23

The colossus doesn't seem to be reacting to anything, it's just being its trashing, ground-quaking self.

Doctor Koob not only knows this creature is one of the legendary colossi, but also that it whacks its tails a lot (as supported by present empirical evidence), and that it can breathe fire (not supported by empirical evidence... yet).

Tocti and Koob approach the creature from different sides. Tocti tries to stealthy, though the creature is not paying attention to the Koob either.

Waiting for actions from Twila and Lapodie

---
Tocti
Twila
Lapodie
Dr. Lakare Koob
---

Okay, so it's just...dancing? Weird. Like Tocti, Twila-5 opts for the stealthy approach, at least until she has to jump over a gaping crack in the ground nearly as wide as she is tall.

Stealth: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23
Athletics to jump, no running start (DC 10?): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Double move

Lapodie gets closer, unsure what to do.

Dancing, well. The way five-year-olds dance, mostly. The ground is shaking and trembling, making it harder to gain a steady footing

DC 14 Reflex or fall prone

target: 1d4 ⇒ 3

The colossus must have had a bad meal, because he is breathing out a gust of acid that sprays past Twila

Acid reflux, Twila: 5d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 6, 2, 6) = 21DC 15 reflex for half

Note that picking up the data tag (blue star) is a move action

---
Tocti
Twila
Lapodie
Dr. Lakare Koob
---

Reflex: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 2 = 11

Even her nanites can’t stabilize Tocti enough to prevent her from slipping from the powerful tremor. Rising quickly, she starts to make her way as fast an possible towards the tag before the colossus starts to really get annoyed at them.

Is moving under/through the creature regular or difficult terrain? Moved Tocti as though it were difficult - if not she could get adjacent to the tag this round.

Reflex vs. reflux, DC 15: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Failure for 21 damage

A swift intake of breath is all that escapes Twila-5 as the acid sprays toward her at mid-jump. There was just no dodging that one, despite how she twisted her body in the air. She takes only a few seconds to check the severity of her wounds before continuing to sneak along the perimeter of the thrash zone for a bit. Noting that the data tag appears to have fallen into the deep crack, she pauses to get out her titanium alloy cable line (50') and grappler.

How deep are the cracks? Is my reading of the map right? It looks like the data tag is over a dark gray crack area.

Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Koob flutters a few inches up off the ground to avoid the shaking. Seeing Tocti making a run under the creature, Koob taps a few buttons on the computer at his wrist as he moves forward, then snaps his fingers, a rifle appearing in his hands. Taking aim, he fires at Tocti, a small needle jabbing into her and a carefully tailored cocktail of substances causing her muscles to move more quickly!

Move to move, swift to call needler rifle, standard to hit Tocti with a basic booster (+10 bonus to speed for 5 rounds).

The crack is just a small step down, it looks more dramatic than it is (more like a dried-up mudstream). There's also no dificult terrain penalty anywhere.

The crack is just a small step down, it looks more dramatic than it is (more like a dried-up mudstream). There's also no dificult terrain penalty anywhere.

Moved Tocti a bit farther in then (still not next to the tag though: I mis-judged the squares.

Lapodie joins the others, training her sniper rifle on the colossus out of the vain hope that perhaps it could do anything.

Tocti is the designated main scout, and he moves into the danger zone, exposing him to a swipe of the tail. The tail swoops toward the pahtra, but miraculously deflects off a boulder.

Tail, vs Tocti: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 163d12 ⇒ (12, 8, 8) = 28

Everyone is up! Move action to pick up the tag

---
Tocti
Twila
Lapodie
Dr. Lakare Koob
---

Tocti offers a quick prayer to whicher God seems to be listening as she narrowly avoids getting crushed. She strides a bit forwards and grabs the tag up from the ground before it too gets trampled.

I have it. Now let's get back and away frrom this thing!

Twila-5 would love to run away from this thing, but not without Tocti. She enters a defensive position, ready to run alongside her ally once she's out from under the colossus.

Total Defense: Both EAC and kAC are now 23. She'll run away from the danger-thrasher when Tocti is clear.

Twila stands her ground while the colossus hovers above Tocti. Let's hope it doesn't feel the urge to sit down.

---
Tocti
Twila
Lapodie
Dr. Lakare Koob
---

Lapodie backs away, keeping her sniper rifle trained on the colossus.

Going to put Koob on delay, since Tocti seems to be the focus of the action now

The massive creature looks as if it's about to sit down and crush tocti, but instead swipes with its tail.

Tail Swipe: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 163d12 ⇒ (11, 7, 3) = 21

Lucky, you say? Ask Tocti if he feels lucky standing under that colossus. It's not clear what the brown stuff is, and we haven't even talked about the smell!

---
Tocti
Twila
Lapodie
Dr. Lakare Koob
---

Tocti mentally ticks off another of her lives. Then books it north and away from the snake-thing as fast as she can go. As she reaches her allies she keeps moving, hissing GogogogoGO!

Run full action to get ~17 squares above the map. We've got the tag, now let's get back to safety!

Tocti legs it, and that's only for the best. The shaking ground and rampaging colossus has, of course, also attracted the attention of First Hunter Wertnabe, who allows the group to rejoin the tour with a disapproving Tsk tsk, what did I tell you? The first hunter circles around the vehicle for another good look at the colossal creature, allowing Trober to avoid to stare death in the eye once more.

The datatag contains a holographics recording:

A hologram of a young lashunta man with pink-dyed hair shimmers to life. He grins and tips his sunglasses down to wink at the audience. “Hello hey, Envies and lucky new fans! If you’ve found this message, you’ve uncovered a secret sneak peek of an upcoming Envar’s Expeditions episode: my intrepid trek to Daimalko to stare down its famed colossi!” With a sweep of his arm, he indicates the plain behind him, where a herd of horned animals grazes. “Behind me are the majestic vielaks, one of Daimalko’s only surviving native animal species!”

Envar tiptoes closer to the creatures, making an exaggerated show of stealth, and the herd shifts uneasily around him, scuffing the ground with their hooves. As he stops next to a vielak and holds out his datapad to snap a selfie, the animal suddenly jumps, headbutting him to the ground. “Augh!” he yells, scrambling away amidst the ensuing stampede, as the camera view whirls erratically. “Cut the feed! Cut the—”

The recording suddenly cuts out.

Zoology Success! Envar isn't here, but maybe he's at one of the other locations... which one next?

Sorry for the delay, I've been a little swamped for the last few days.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25 Are those items on the ground here, or visible in the video?

Just for the sake of suggesting something, I vote geology next.

Twila-5 snorts with derision. "Yup. Envar's a Grade A touron. He's lucky he didn't get gored."

I second the question about the items' location. Geology works for me.

both :-P

It seems you werre rright. Tocti says to Twlia-5, clearly frustrated. The tag is useless forr ourr quest. But at least it could have been worrse. Desna, orr some otherr god, appearr to be smiling down on me.

"At least we made sure that no one else will get hurt trying to get the tag."

I'm good with geology.

The next data tag leads to Vesk-4 in The Veskarium...

The data tag coordinates lead to an island called 'spinebreaker', so called because of the tall volcanic mountain range on it. The spaceship can land on a small port on the coast, reaching the base camp of the mountain climb (as it indeed seems Envar attempted the ascent) takes an hour by shuttle.

An immense mountain peak towers over the clusters of colorful tents and wooden shop stalls at its base, its tip vanishing into the clouds. The shop proprietors call out to passersby, advertising a variety of wares from climbing gear to hot chocolate, and a photo booth is positioned to allow visitors to take their picture in front of Spinebreaker.

A friendly reminder that climbing kits cost 10 credits and provide a +4 bonus on climb (athletics) checks

Oh, my my a female vesk, followed by a mechanical drone exclaims as she sees the group Look what the pahtra dragged in. Sir Clifton she commands the drone start filming! The drone raises a camera and holds the Vesk (and the group) in a steady shot.

Your Princess of Peaks Jiana here! Looks like we have a follow-up of last week's celebrity cameo. Remember Envar's appearance last week? Well, peak-lovers - and to new-joining Envies: hi! Thanks for joining a real channel. Let's see what these newbies have in store, and if they are anything but new corpses for the mountainside...

Tocti's brow furrows deeply as the vesk's dismissive quasi-slur. Another delightful example of Vesk culture

Ah, you know Envarr then? She asks biting her tongue to try and maintain a neutral tone. Strrange, I don't rrememberr seeing you in his strream. Oh well, it must be harrd I imagine to make the tough cuts when editing to keep what's most imporrtant.

Tocti will definitely purchase a climbing kit.

Earlier:

Koob examines the hypopen to make sure it's in good working order, then stows it with his other close-at-hand medical supplies. He looks at the massive weapon lying near it, then to his allies. "Any of you comfortable with a weapon this heavy?" I don't think we have any heavy weapon users among us.

--------

Now:

Koob looks on in amusement at the banter between Tocti and the vlogger. Seeing the climbing kits for sale, he looks up at the mountain and sighs. May as well try, I guess, but I'll probably end up flying up.

Koob will purchase a climbing kit as well.

YEs on the climbing kit!

Lapodie scowls at the vesk alongside Tocti.

She does look nervously at the height of the peak. Why couldn't Envar have gone swimming?

Is this a rental fee for a climbing kit, or is it a scenario discount on the usual price to purchase? Just wondering whether I should add it to my persistent gear list, or if it's just for the scenario.

It's me failing on comprehensive reading, apologies. It's indeed the price for a rental kit, not to buy.

Envar? the princess of peaks responds to Tocti's taunt What would you watch that null-brain's stream for. He should be up there, say hi to his corpse from me, if you're still daft enough to take the ascent. It's pros only here, so if I need to give you a tip, just go home! She does a double-take to the camera, which Sir Clifton is still rolling.

With that, she starts livestreaming some trivia questions, checking in every now and then to harass the group, putting them in as bad a light as possible.

At this point, you can try and attempt the ascent, or try to knock down the princess a peg. For the latter, I need a Bluff check to throw her off her game, a Culture check to recall climbing history, or Physical Science check to know mountain geology

To climb, athletics checks are needed, and I need three successes to advance a segment. Instead, it is possible to replace an athletics check to aid another adventurer, using Perception, Survival, Physical Science or an appropriate Profession Check (of which Wilderness guide is one). For a successful check you can assign a +2 to another character.

Why does she think we're Envies? Twila-5 is perplexed and insulted, though she chooses not to engage with the "variation on a theme" that is the vesk influencer-wannabe before her.

She rents a climbing kit and cold weather clothes without comment on the taunter. (Yes, cold weather, even though it's a volcano. She's not about to make any assumptions. And it'll probably come in handy at some point.) She proceeds to check her gear, ensuring that she has rations and a full canteen, again without any indication that she's heard a word of what that egotistical brat is saying. Finally, she can't take it anymore and remarks over her shoulder, making sure to speak loudly enough that the camera picks up every word: "The data does not support your melodrama. There have been four deaths here in the past three years, three of which were due to a freak storm that suddenly blew in last year. The vast majority of amateurs turn back once they've reached the end of their capability. A boring statistic, which won't get you many views."

Culture: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

She spends 20 credits for a climbing kit rental and buying cold weather clothes.

Physical Science to taunt: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

"All it takes is the slightest bit of learning about the structure of such mountains to see how ill-informed you are on the subject. You've said no less than three incorrect things about the geology of this mountain just in the time we've been in earshot--not only incorrect, but mutually incompatible statements, as well!"

--------

When the climbing begins, Dr. Koob does his best to get in the spirit of the ascent. Having little in the way of physical prowess, however, he frequently abandons climbing altogether, instead using his wings to propel himself upward to the next safe landing spot. He tries to aid his allies by using his knowledge of geology and physics to identify the most stable locations for pitons and anchors, to make the climb as safe as possible.

Physical Science to Aid Lapodie: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33

To climb, athletics checks are needed, and I need three successes to advance a segment. Instead, it is possible to replace an athletics check to aid another adventurer, using Perception, Survival, Physical Science or an appropriate Profession Check (of which Wilderness guide is one). For a successful check you can assign a +2 to another character.

Is that each of us need to make three Athletics checks for our PCs to climb up to a new section? Or that as a party we need to achieve three, and the 4th of us could instead try to Aid one of the others with those alternate skills?

Looking at the far too tall mountain peaks ahead, Tocti shakes her fur and sends nanites raining down to help reinforce her claws and pads. Forming Sheath Array with bonuses to Athletics and Acrobatics. then with a sigh, she begins.

Athletics: 1d20 - 1 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (12) - 1 + 4 + 2 = 17

Taking a brief glance upward, Twila-5 sighs. Envar, you suck a donkey's left hind hoof. She begins climbing.

Athletics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Sorry, with four players you only need two successes per segment. It's basically a round-by-round thing where you all advance a segment as soon as you have two successes. So you either:
- Climb (Athletics) to try for a success
- Help someone else (Perception, Survival, Physical Science or an appropriate Profession Check) for a +2 to someone else

---Lower Slope---
1/2 Successes
Koob - Aid Lapodie (S)
Tocti - Climb (F)
Twila - Climb (S)
Lapodie (gets a +2)
---(Next try)---
Koob
Tocti
Twil
Lapodie
---

Lapodie looks nervously at the peak, but dutifully puts grasps a bunch of different rocks with her tentacles and attempts to pull herself up.

Athletics to Climb: 1d20 + 6 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 4 + 2 = 16

Lapodie tries to advance up the slope, but only seems to be slowing the group down. From below, the princess of peaks can be seem filming the struggles of the starfinders. Not a good sight, let's make sure it doesn't make the final cut of her episode...

---Lower Slope---
1/2 Successes
---(Try 1)---
Koob - Aid Lapodie (S)
Tocti - Climb (F)
Twila - Climb (S)
Lapodie Climb (F)
---(Try 2)---
Koob
Tocti
Twil
Lapodie
---

Noting Lapodie's struggles, Twila-5 pauses to help scope out good tentacle-holds.

Perception to Aid Lapodie: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

"There's a good section to your left. Keep going... Up a little... There. You got it."

May be better for Tocti and Dr Koob to aid you and Lapodie for future rounds Twila-5: I think you two might be our only passable climbers :)

Nevertheless, she persisted!

Tocti bristles under the ill-concealed mockery of the 'Princess of Peaks'. Determined to prove the vesk's opinions of the non-vesk stuck in the Veskarium wrong, she continues to attempt to climb.

Athletics: 1d20 - 1 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (13) - 1 + 4 + 2 = 18

Lapodie tries again!

Athletics: 1d20 + 6 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 4 + 2 = 14

Shirt re-roll!

Athletics, re-roll: 1d20 + 6 + 4 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 4 + 2 + 3 = 26

Twila helps Lapodie, who manages to find a route to the upper slopes. Tocti is struggling a bit, perhaps he will be better later.

You have now made it to the upper slopes! The air is getting thinner here, but it's not much further to the start of the summit!

I need DC 15 Fort saves to avoid becoming sickened due to altitude sickness

---Lower Slope---
2/2 Successes
---(Try 1)---
Koob - Aid Lapodie (S)
Tocti - Climb (F)
Twila - Climb (S)
Lapodie Climb (F)
---(Try 2)---
Koob
Tocti
Twil
Lapodie
---(Try 3)---
Koob
Tocti
Twil
Lapodie

"Hold still everyone! We're getting high enough that you may begin feeling some effects of the elevation." Koob injects everyone with an immunology booster (+2 to Fort saves).

Fort save: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 2 = 13

He continues flying ahead, trying to guide others in their placement of pitons and such.

Physical Science to Aid Lapodie (Try 2): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

Physical Science to Aid Twila (Try 3): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33

Fort: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 2 = 6

Noooooo, my only weakness.

Feeling terrible, as only a squid trying to climb a mountain could, Lapodie presses on.

Athletics, sickened: 1d20 + 6 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 4 - 2 = 23, plus 2 if I get aided

Since Androids don't breathe, does the altitude sickness still affect her?

"Thanks, Dr. Koob." Twila-5 pauses to check on Lapodie. "How are you doing, Lapodie? We can take a break if you need it."

Fort save DC 15: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 2 = 9

Once the group is ready, she starts climbing.

Athletics: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 9 - 2 = 9

Unfortunately, she spends too much time looking over at Lapodie to pay attention to her handholds.

Fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Seeing Lapodie get the hang of it but Twila-5 now struggling, Tocti tries to grip as tight as she can with her claws to drag herself ever upwards.

Round 3 Athletics: 1d20 - 1 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (16) - 1 + 4 + 2 = 21