[SFS] 6-09 Ridgerock rescue - Jan 2024 (Inactive)

Game Master Kludde

"Agreed. That looks like an obvious trap of some sort!"
He also takes a look around.
perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Yonkers doesn't spot anything off, but he does smell something coming from further away, indicating there must be a passage somewhere.

Yonkers nods and points to his nose.

"Alright, keep looking. There must be a hidden door here."

He takes out his scanning device and starts looking for a switch, panel or concealed doorway.

Perception,circumstance bonus: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 4 = 12

"Everyone take a look as the nose knows."

As long as nothing threatens, we can take our time. Can we take 20 on the perception check?

Ebon looks for signs of traps or secret passages.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

I moved everyone's token into the storage room. Adjust as needed.

Filled out the form. Also I assume everyone was OK with being attuned to my custom microlab to get in game goodies. If not, let me know.

I have no idea what this is about.

As the group searches around the room, Bonkers notices something on the floor: it's a pressure plate that is set up such that anyone approaching the UBPs or the precious gem would trigger it.

Engineering to disable

Further searching of the room at first seems to yield nothing, but when Ebon sets out for a thorough investigation of the walls, he sees a mote of dust light up brightly, and then disappear. That's strange, and a close look reveals that part of the wall aren't walls at all, but carefully projected holographic images.

Map updated!

"That explains what my nose was telling me. Alright. I am going to start working on disarming that trap. If anyone wants to give me a hand or two I will take it."

"I knew that no ysoki would leave treasure like that unguarded. That would be almost criminal!"

Engineering, Trapsmith tools: 1d20 + 12 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 12 + 4 = 20

Aids are welcome, especially with that roll. :)

"Sorry Yonker's that's not my thing."

Hope it's not booby trapped

Yonkers tinkers with the pressure plate, and disables it, leaving the UBPs and gem up for grabs. The shiny little stone looks to be an aeon stone (a clear spindle aeon stone). Examining the holographic projector in the back of the room reveals an improvised, but potentially deadly sling device that would have projected a good amount of sharp, nasty debris had the group triggered the trap.

The the other passage hidden by a projector leads deeper into the compound, to a large wrap-around corridor where several more passages (now quite obsvious) are hidden.

"Oh my. That looks nasty. It's like the owner doesn't want company!"

"Never understood that tech stuff. The brothers at the monastery where I learned the art of solaria never used computers or even comm units." Ebon says as he cautiously looks into the halls revealed by the hologram. "Which way? Straight or left? I suggest we check all the spaces we can without opening any more doors, just to get the lay of the place."

As the group explores, Ebon speaks softly. "When we find Ongie, it's probably best if I back off and let you smaller ones to the talking. We vesk tend to be intimidating, and one with black scales, in my experience, well, people form dark assumptions."

"Let me check"

Balok looks around for anything suspicious.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Yonkers shoves the gem in one of his cheek pouches. He leaves the UBP for others to carry (party treasure).

"Nice mouth feel. I can get used to this!"

He turns to Ebon.

"I think that your black scales look awesome. Iconic actually."

The ysoki takes out a small aerosol can of lubricant from his engineering tool kit.

"You want a shine up? Make your scales really glisten?"

-------

"Right. Looking ahead. I do tend to get distracted, quite a bit."

Yonkers scans ahead with his scanning device with Balok looking for anything interesting.

Perception,circumstance bonus: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 4 = 11

The corridor winds around, and there are several points hidden by holographics projectors, that are easily discovered by Balok (The green lines on the map)

Ebon shakes his head to Yonkers offer of a shine. "I prefer the color of the void."

If no sounds or sights at any of the points explored provides any information about what is where, Ebon suggests we go the the door due north from the hologram covered entry point. Near where I've moved Ebon to on the map. Once those who are good at spotting traps have given it an inspection, Ebon will move through, ready to fight. Or if others prefer a different door, Ebon will go along with that.

Ebon steps through the holographic into a large room.

The large room has a second, smaller room nested at its center, with one-way windows that hide its interior and ceiling-mounted weapons at each of its walls.

Speakers in the ceiling crackle to life, and a high-pitched voice echoes through the area. “Nasty little sneakies have gone hunting for the wrong furry friend! Now Baazo the Defender will make sure you don’t go no further!”

There's the sound of something powering up, and the ceiling mounted weapons look to be activating...

Bonkers sighs."We don't know who you are, you are not the person we're looking for."

You can roll Diplomacy if you want

Ebon hastily says as loudly and calmly as he can, "We are Starfinders who come in peace, offering protection from assassins we know are close by." Then if he can he steps back out and gestures for the ysoki and skittermander to take it from there.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Let's hope that's good enough that a couple of aids from others can put us over the DC.

Yonkers adds a few words to try and help his scaly friend out.

"We are actually on a rescue mission. We mean you no harm."

Aid to Diplomacy, DC 10: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Hah! Assassins! My burnydooms will stop you from finding my tailfriend! No evil starfinders will... wait, what?

The sounds of powering up ceases, and the ceiling-mounted weapons deactivate. With most of the noise cutting out, the intercom is easier to hear, and the high-pitched voice asks So... what is you game here?

Yonkers replies to the sound in the wall.

"No game. We are here to find Ongie before the Organization thugs find her."

"We can offer her a safe haven. It is not safe anymore on this planet for her."

"Yes we're looking for Ongie"

"Consider that if we can find you, so can your enemies. They will not engage in this kind of discussion. They will let their weapons do the talking."

Yonkers laughs at Ebon's brutal and direct approach.

"Tone it down a bit there. It is all true of course but ysoki don't respond well to threatening talk."

Oh, you're here to help! In that case... Baazo says, stops the intercom and peeks his head out of the small room in the middle of the area

Portrait in handouts

Tail-friend is really quick, but I'll bring you to her.

He gets out of the box, and starts walking to the edge of the room, into a corridor that ends in a sturdy steel door that has been polished to a reflective gleam. He starts chit-chatting So you want to offer her a safe haven? Where do you think it is safe?[/b] He pauses as if he's having a sudden realisation Safe...

“Oh!” shouts the skittermander, a look of understanding suddenly dawning on his face. “I know you’re not here to do the hurting, but my tail-friend doesn’t! We’d better hurry, or there’s going to be a big boom and burn!”

The door suddenly buckles and bends as a rumble followed by a loud explosion sounds on the other side. A flash of heat surges through the corridor, and a thick acrid smoke flows from the newly created bends in a door that once stood flush to its frame. Unceremoniously, the steel door falls forward, revealing a burned and ravaged room inside.

Perception to search

Yonkers examines the room with the aid of his high tech tool. Numerous dials turn on his scanning device and detailed pictures appears on his view screen.

Perception,circumstance bonus: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 5 + 4 = 20

You have to love all the relatively inexpensive but fun gadgets in this game. It pays to be prepared. :)

"Anyone who is being stalked by assassins should feel threatened. I was emphasizing the need for urgent action, not implying we would initiate hostilities."

Ebon's defensive response is cut off by the skittermander's entrance.

He follows to the door, retreats from the explosion and then cautiously returns too look in the room. "Where is Ongie? Can you contact her? We don't want anymore explosions, plus we need to move quickly as possible."

Percpetion, Low light vision: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Baazo is so eager to join in the search that he at first doesn't hear Ebon's question I can help! he says, as if that ever is in question with a skittermander, I know what the invention room looked like. Looksee! There are tail-friends notes!

Most of the notes on Ongie’s bulletin board have been burned away, but Yonkers finds a singed paper that remains, which indicates a connection between the Mongers of Kortus IV and something that Ongie calls “the Order.” Ongie’s notes seem to use the two terms interchangeably, with the newest notations using “the Order” exclusively.

Ebon finds a desk drawer that holds some printouts of recent news from Braerton. There are lines drawn all over the place, and big red lettering that says 'DISASTER' and 'TERRIBLE'. There are numerous sketches and plans, which all seems to be plans for rescue of someone from a farm. 'Doesn't work' is scribbled in the margin, another one 'Doomed to fail', a third one 'Father wouldn't survive'. Some optimism here...

Yonkers also notices a cracked datapad filled with mostly corrupt data on it. There are still a few files in a folder named 'Stooges'. The files contain details on three separate people: A human caled 'Jana Rin', who is supposed to be the sheriff of Braerton, with a note saying 'crack shot with dual pistols', a Kasatha called 'Zatteh', described as the strongest personality of the three and an adept technomander favourding electrical attack, and a vesk called 'Redozoko', described as 'probably as good with machines as myself'.

Baazo then looks at Ebon and finally answers his question: Tail-friend has super-secret passageway! , pointing to a hidden passage in the ground I'm not allowed to tell anyone!

And yet he did. You, go go! I stay here and erase all traces of tail-friend! Baazo the defender will become Baazo the destroyer!

another percept just in case: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
"Well. I guess we should go before something else explodes..."

Yonkers nods at Bonkers.

"Yes good plan. Let us check out this secret passageway and find Ongie before the Organization does."

"Thanks Baazo. We won't tell anyone you showed us the passageway" says Balok.

He looks at Bonkers. "Did you see anything?"

Yes, no tell! You go find tailfriend now, keep her safe! Baazo says.

The trap door descends into a tunnel, which first descends 20 feet, then goes on for at least half a mile without any branches. It is narrow, and cold. During the last hundred feet, the tunnel gradually slopes upward before reaching its exit point at a cavern entrance.

Out in the distance, nearly invisible in the flurry of snow, there is a small humanoid figure bundled in warm winter clothing, making a frantic dash for... something out in the snow.

Quite quickly, the figure look backward then makes a cut, disappearing behind some rock.

To chase, I need a main Perception or Survival check. Anyone else can aid, but I'll take the first check that doesn't say 'aid' as the lead check

Upon embarking on the long tunnel walk to the surface, Ebon observes, "Looks like some prisoners found a few tunneling tools. Anyone see the Shrewskink Redemption?"

Looking out at the blowing snow, Ebon notices the distant figure. "Someone's out there. Damn this snow. I lost it."

Perception, aid: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Looks like Balok and possibly Yonkers has one better than me so...

percept aid: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Yonkers takes a few pointers from his teammates as he adjusts a dial on his Broad-Spectrum Scanning Kit.

"Don't worry people. I will switch to thermal view. That should cut through the snow I hope."

Perception,circumstance bonus: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 4 = 24

Plus all the aids that should do I hope for a 1-2 adventure. :)

Yonkers gets a stark reminder of exactly how awfully cold it is out here, when his thermal view clearly outlines Ongie's cutting and turning.

She is crafty, though, and rushes toward an observatory of kothamas, keeping a safe distance from the creatures

Same rules as before, different check: Culture or Mysticism to figure out what she is doing, or Stealth to avoid attracting the kothamas' attention

"Alright, people let us try to avoid these creatures. Follow my lead."

Stealth: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Ok, that should do it. I think! :)

@DM Kludde - I am assuming that we cannot stalk her at a distance and find out what she is up to but if we can attempt the culture check as well that would be a nice bonus. :)

you can try the culture/myst check as well

"Ah, walk this way.. yes..."
stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

"What IS she doing?"
culture: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

"Wait, where did Yonkers go?"

There's always one game where Dicebot hates you, looks like it's this one! :)

Yonkers has an idea or two about what she might be doing.

Culture, Aid DC 10: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Others can help with the Culture roll. I think 31 (so far) for Stealth should suffice. ;)

Ebon's time coming of age was spent in isolation from information about the Pact Worlds and Veskarium, so he is not much help figuring out the tactical aims of the ysoki. He understands stealth, even if he's not particularly good at it. He relies on his armor and scales reflecting little light to creep closer to Ongie.

Stealth: 1d20 ⇒ 18

The group slips past the Kothamas without being noticed by them. Still trailing Ongie closely, she now seems to head for a wide open space, but she's till zigzagging through it...

Life Science or Survival to notice something about this area, or Perception or Sense Motive to just copy her zigzagging path

Yonkers sets the dial on his scanner to track and follow as he ponders why she would be zigzagging across.

Life Science: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

Perception,circumstance: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 4 = 10

I am going to need some aids on the Perception roll for sure. :)

Ebon focuses on tracking Ongie.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

They're ice puddles! Yonker's scanners clearly show the water underneath the snow, and Ebon picks up on the pattern that Ongie is walking. She is skipping left and right to avoid cracking through the thin ice that covers the puddles.

Following the same pattern allows the group to stay close. In a desperate attempt to shake off the group, Ongie crosses an inlet of the Ice Sea. She jumps from ice floe to ice floe to reach the other side.

Acrobatics or Athletics to follow

Ebon is in pretty good shape when it comes to moving gracefully. Still the ice floes are tricky to land on without slipping.

"I just hope all this is leading her away from the assassins," Ebon huffs, his breath forming clouds of light frost.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Yonkers tries to point out the melting ice as he jumps from ice floe to ice floe.

Acrobatics, Aid DC 10: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Yonkers catches up to Ongie, who looks alarmed at the Ysoki. Before she can say anything, a trio of figures, weapons raised, approaches from the northern hills. A tall vesk with rust-colored scales and a slender human with a pair of pistols flank a kasatha who flexes the fingers on each of her four arms in anticipation.

“All that running, and you don’t even realize there’s nowhere left for you to go,” the kasatha says tauntingly to Ongie. “We know all about your little starship, Ongie. I hate to spoil a good surprise, but Redozoko here blew it to pieces.”

The vesk grins as the kasatha continues. “You have nowhere to go, and no way to fake your death this time, Ongie. But don’t worry—old man Roget will be joining you soon.” Ongie recoils in surprise, clearly shocked by the arrival of these new foes. Despite her fear, she stands tall and keeps her voice steady as she replies, her twitching tail the only outward sign of her panic. “Leave my father out of this, Zatteh. He’s nothing to you.”

In response, the kasatha laughs. “Oh, but Ongie, he’s everything to you.”

---
Bonkers
Yonkers
Chance
---
Jana
Zatteh
Redozoko
---
Balok
Ebon Doone
---

Yonkers knows that teamwork and focusing fire on one opponent is a sure way to win.

"Start with Redozoko. Take him down!"

The little mouse-man concentrates his will and sends three missiles his way.

Magic Missile vs Redozoko, Full Round: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 2, 2) + 3 = 9

Regain Paradox (1/day): 1d20 ⇒ 13

Move while shooting at Redozoko with his heavy laser gun hit: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 vs eac dmg: 1d10 ⇒ 4 fire and the weapon has penetrating