[Outpost VII] SFS #4-02 Settling Accounts (Inactive)

Game Master cmlobue

Wilson's shot barely misses the creature.

The katura once more rises to a higher atmospheric layer.

Round 4 - all phases

Layer: Second-Lowest

Azata
Katura (forward shields 5/15)

Pathfinders move first unless they beat an 18.

Round 5 Katura Initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Asgrok moves to the magic officer station and attempts to scry to see if there's any info they can get that the sensors missed.

Mysticism: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Oshari continues to give as much as he can to the guns.

Engineering, Divert Power to Weapons: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Piloting: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

Pogo keeps pace with the katura, letting it pursue but keeping it too far away to slam into the craft. Move two forward.

Asgrok can divine that the creature has no expansion bays or cargo. I don't think there's anything else to learn, but feel free to ask questions if you'd like.

The katura slowly continues is approach.

Tendril Strike: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4

Feeder Tendril: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

The first tendril may hit, depending on pilot actions.

Round 4 - helm and gunnery phase

Layer: Second-Lowest

Azata
Katura (forward shields 5/15)

Pogo watches the katura intently, steering the ship this way and that to avoid the tenticles.

Piloting, ship bonus, computer bonus, Evade Stunt: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 11 + 1 + 1 = 17
The DC is 13, so that's a success. +2 circumstance bonus to ship's AC and TL until the start of the next round.

Oshari, struggling with the engineering section, and seeing that the ship is in range, moves over to the EMP cannon.

EMP Cannon, Computer: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 + 1 = 13

Wilson again brings up the telemetry computer to try to get a firing solution on the creature.

Round 4 coilgun attack: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 5 + 1 = 19
Coilgun damage: 4d4 ⇒ (3, 3, 2, 1) = 9

Asgrok is out of things to scan. Asgrok can move to the engineering section next round.

Oshari might want to retcon that attack roll. The EMP cannon is in the fore gunnery port but the monster is chasing us. Of course, there might not be anything else useful that can be done at present. Boosting the weapons might help. With any luck, that last coilgun attack will end this.

Pogo gets the ship barely out of the way of the tendril.

Oshari's EMP doesn't get past the shields of the katura. Wilson's coilgun, however, does make contact, and pierces the creature's outer layer of defense.

1up: 1d2 ⇒ 1

The katura continues to rise towards space. Maximum safe speed 3, 4 HP damage per hex beyond.

Round 5 - all phases

Layer: Middle

Azata
Katura (HP 31/35; forward shields 0/15)

Starfinders move first unless they beat a 23.

Round 6 Katura Initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Oshari, running out of available options, finds a central chair with access to the targeting systems and attempts to give Wilson a boost.

Encourage, Wilson, Gunner (Aid Another): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Asgrok tries to divert power to the coil gun
Engineering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
"These new ships they just don't build them like they used to. Now I know what this green wire does I think I can get it next time."

Piloting: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

Katura moves first.

The creature moves slightly to the Azata's side.

Round 5 - helm and gunnery phases

Layer: Middle

Azata
Katura (HP 31/35; forward shields 0/15)

As soon as Pogo lines up his shot, Wilson fires the coilgun again.

Coilgun attack w/ computers: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 1 = 16
Coilgun damage: 4d4 ⇒ (4, 4, 4, 3) = 15

Pogo makes a turn but keep moving away from the Katura. "Fire when ready!"

That oughta hit and hurt.

Tendril Strike: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7

Feeder Tendril: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

1up: 1d2 ⇒ 2

The katura misses with both its tendrils, then moves closer to the planet. Wilson slams its forward arc with the coilgun.

Critical Damage: 2d100 ⇒ (10, 72) = 82
Arc 1=F, 2=S, 3=A, 4=P: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Round 6 - all phases

Layer: Second-Lowest

Azata
Katura (HP 16/35; forward shields 0/15; forward weapons glitching; heart glitching)

Starfinders go first unless they beat a 17.

Round 7 Katura Initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Oshari keeps trying to assist Wilson on the coilgun.

Gunner, Encourage, Aid: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Wilson fires again.

Coilgun attack: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 1 = 14
Coilgun damage: 4d4 ⇒ (2, 4, 4, 3) = 13

I believe a 14 missed earlier.

Asgrok tries to divert power to the coil gun again
Engineering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

if that worked treat all 1s rolled on damage dice as 2s

Piloting, ship bonud: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 1 = 22

Katura may go first. Pogo will keep away from it and hope the coilgun finishes it off.

The katura tries to come up beside the Azata.

Tendril Strike: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5

Feeder Tendril: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Once you have moved I will resolve the attacks.

Pogo will keep leading the Katura while trying to present a harder target to hit by swerving.

Piloting, ship bonus, computer bonus: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 11 + 1 + 1 = 25
Evade Stunt, DC 13, +2 circumstance bonus to its AC and TL until the start of the next round.

Neither the katura nor the Azata can strike each other.

1up: 1d2 ⇒ 1

The katura rises once again.

Round 7 - all phases

Layer: Middle

Azata
Katura (HP 16/35; forward shields 0/15; forward weapons glitching; heart glitching)

Starfinders go first unless they beat a 18.

Round 8 Katura Initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Asgrok tries to divert power to the coil gun
Engineering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

if that worked treat all 1s rolled on damage dice as 2s

Oshari continues trying to assist Wilson's targeting.

Gunner, Aid: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Initiative, Piloting, ship bonus: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 11 + 1 = 14
Piloting, Evade Stunt, Ship bonus, computer bonus: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 1 + 1 = 23

With less atmosphere, Pogo steers the ship toward the monster while weaving erratically to make it harder for the beast to hit the ship.

Depending on how the katura moves, we may be able to hit it with the fore EMP cannon this round or the next.

Have we actually determined that an EMP.weapon affects this thing?

You have no idea if an EMP will work. Do you care at this stage of combat?

Tendril Strike: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 4 - 2 = 3
Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5

Feeder Tendril: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 4 - 2 = 3
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

The katura moves nose to nose with the Azata.

Round 7 - gunnery phase

Layer: Middle

Azata
Katura (HP 16/35; forward shields 0/15; forward weapons glitching; heart glitching)

Pogo continues evasive maneuvers, turning hard to starboard.

Successful Evade stunt adds 2 to the ships AC and TL.

Only the coilgun can target it this round. One hit from it ought to end the fight, I think.

Coilgun attack: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 1 = 26
Coilgun damage: 4d4 ⇒ (4, 1, 4, 2) = 11

Wilson gets the creature direct in his crosshairs as he fires.

Now that's a finale!

Wilson shuts off the comm from HQ that was in his ear about the reports he should be firing, which lets him concentrate on the guns. The shot square in the face clearly intimidates it, and it breaks off from the Starfinders and disappears into space.

At this point, you could chase it down and finish it, but it has no effect on what happens next.

With the katura chased away, the ixtli settlement is safe for a while. The Starfinders are welcomed back to the settlement and can assist in rebuilding if they wish. Ixtli technology accounts for fast construction of these prefabricated tunnels, and the attack resulted in few deaths—all thanks to the Starfinders’ actions.

Will you return to help rebuild?

Pogo is happy to help rebuilding efforts, offering his skills in engineering and computers.

Engineering: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

Asgrok also happyaly helps rebuild
Engineering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Officer Wilson offers some tips on good security fortifications, but mostly he and Domehead spend their time helping to carry supplies around where needed for the construction.

Engineering (aid): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Domehead's Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

All three members of the Triumvirate are pleased that the Starfinders remained to help, even when they could haveleft. They grant the agents access to examine Envar’s comm unit at the Seat of Learning. Byent is happy to receive them and loan them the device. Upon inspection, the PCs find that it contains several holovid files, Envar’s most recent, made before he left the planet, which have not yet been uploaded to any infosphere.

A bright array of colors burst from the screen, along with the words ‘Envar’s Expeditions’ in large cartoonish letters. Then, appearing on-screen at an ear-piercingly high volume, Envar gives a cheerful “Stellar! Hey followers, check this out! This is our last day on this mondo crystal planet with those hoppy bunny folks. Check out what we’ve found!”

The camera pans around to show the Ruptured Hills. “It’s totally awesome, huh? Look at them, floating like that. Totally transcendent.”

The camera pans back around to Envar. “Anyway, we’re leaving this place in a few hours, so stick around for the next episode. I really think you’ll love it; and here’s a clue, it’s somewhere really warm and it has the most awesome beaches! If you think you know where it might be, leave your guess down in the comment section below and you could win one of these fantastic t-shirts! Until then, don’t forget to like, comment, and subs—”

The Starfinders are allowed to take the comm unit with them when they leave, as Byent already made copies of its data.

After they return to the Pact Worlds, the Starfinders can send the video data from Envar’s comm unit to Radaszam. The vesk is extremely impressed with the agents’ perseverance and forwards a copy of the holovid data over to Celita, commenting: “If anyone can analyze the digital signatures here and triangulate Envar’s next destination, it’ll be her and the Dataphiles. You did well, so enjoy some time off. But keep your schedules flexible! We’re likely to need you for the next stage of the investigation before too long.”

Ilia is grateful for the Starfinders’ help in tracking this information down, though she’s concerned about her son’s continued absence. “It looks like he has a knack for making quite the impression on people,” Ilia says wryly after reading their report. “Sadly, it seems that’s made your job harder. Thank you very much for taking this stage of your investigation as far as you can.”

When the agents return to the Lorespire Complex, they find that, in addition to their payment, Ilia has dispatched a crate of luxury goods for their enjoyment: rare, imported fruits and meats from outside of the Pact Worlds, wines and ciders from distant star empires, a few perfumes and bath lotions, and several of her son’s leftover branded ‘Envar’s Expeditions’ t-shirts.

Fin

Oshari helps rebuild, taking extra care to hold everything up to safety standards.

Engineering: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

A bright array of colors burst from the screen, along with the words ‘Envar’s Expeditions’ in large cartoonish letters. Then, appearing on-screen at an ear-piercingly high volume, Envar gives a cheerful “Stellar! Hey followers, check this out! This is our last day on this mondo crystal planet with those hoppy bunny folks. Check out what we’ve found!”

The camera pans around to show the Ruptured Hills. “It’s totally awesome, huh? Look at them, floating like that. Totally transcendent.”

The camera pans back around to Envar. “Anyway, we’re leaving this place in a few hours, so stick around for the next episode. I really think you’ll love it; and here’s a clue, it’s somewhere really warm and it has the most awesome beaches! If you think you know where it might be, leave your guess down in the comment section below and you could win one of these fantastic t-shirts! Until then, don’t forget to like, comment, and subs—”

Oshari's nostrils flare a bit at the video "Influencers."

When the agents return to the Lorespire Complex, they find that, in addition to their payment, Ilia has dispatched a crate of luxury goods for their enjoyment: rare, imported fruits and meats from outside of the Pact Worlds, wines and ciders from distant star empires, a few perfumes and bath lotions, and several of her son’s leftover branded ‘Envar’s Expeditions’ t-shirts.

"I-I can't take this." Oshari says, nostrils flaring a bit. "Right? I-I mean, it'd be illegal. I'm a government employee, I can't just take gifts from major CEOs."

Ariadne examines on of the perfume bottles in wonder.

"You don't even have a sense of smell, why do you--"

She looks back at the nuar, pleading.

*sigh*
"I suppose, considering this is not related to work done under government contract, that... I could make an exception this time."

The blob of nanites silently cheers.