[YFF/SFS/DMK] 6-14 The Missing (Inactive)

Game Master Kludde

The next room is some sort of control room, containing a computer workstation facing a wall of monitors and displays. Many of the monitors play live security footage showing every room in the facility, the entrance tunnel, and the grassy wilderness outside, and the group is clearly visible on the screens.

One monitor is tuned to Idari News Network on mute. Another monitor displays data about a creature labeled “leporine,” which looks exactly like the strange animals in the clearing:

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Leporine, a biohacked cross between several species of pack animals, Leoprines are known for their with powerful hind legs that have been modified to jump higher and farther. Leporines have been trained to fight tactically and hunt as a pack on command.
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"What is going on in this place, not how I expected this story to go - starcrossed lovers... I hope they aren't as 'crossed' as these creatures!"

Can we see any movement or people on any of the monitors?

Xoni gets an idea. She's not confident she can be convincing, but she will give it a try. First she taps a message on her comm unit and sends it to the others in her group. Then she gives her Starfinder comrades a knowing glance and then speaks loudly for the microphones. "Oh, good. You have cameras. We're just looking for a couple of Kasathans, a male and female, both young. We suspect they were kidnapped by anarchists from the Red Corridors. Can you tell us what might have happened to them? Did your cameras capture anyone following them?"

The comm message says, "I hope this may give us more time to investigate. If the operator of this place thinks he can get rid of us with some information, he may stop attacking us. Play along."

Xoni speaks up, and after a moment of silence an answer comes Looking for your friends, are you? spoken in a sarcastic voice Are mommy and daddy worried?

The monitors are currently static, but getting access to the console might change that.

Computers to ineteract, obviously

Drow stands with his arms crossed, waiting for the computer guys to do their job.

Computers 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

"Not familiar with this operating system..." Ratrace grizzles.

Xoni asks, "Can you turn it off and turn it back on?" With this she exhausts her knowledge of computer programming.

Theseius has some knowledge of computers.

computers: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

but is it enough.

Wouldn't you be worried if they were your children?

Ratrace starts to type on the console, but as he touches the keyboard, a surge of electricity arc up, making his hair stand up on end!

Electricity: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 1) = 6DC 12 Reflex for half

Engineering to disable trap

Oh, your lack of computer knowledge is truly shocking the intercom voice says.

engineering: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

Theseius grounds the charge plates, making the console safe for further interaction. Theseius manages to get access to the system, which contains two modules:

There's a security module which allows access to the security system
throughout the facility, including alarms, door locks, the intercom, and security cameras.

It's possible to sift through historical video feeds, but that may take several hours

The other module is labelled 'specimen data'. This module contains data about the creatures engineered and trained in this facility. The leporine display can be switched to a file named carusidae. The carusidae display shows a monstrous creature with a stinger and cybernetic augmentations. The carusidae is described as a modified ambush predator with a venomous sting and the ability to pounce and trample its enemies. The file notes that the carusidae’s ability to phase through walls can be stopped by materials made from starmetals, such as adamantine alloy.

Another file details an animal training regimen, based on a combination of behavioral science techniques and pure bravado. A short vid shows a kasatha demonstrating how his trained pack of leporines can perform tricks and attack on command.

Thrym-Who-Speaks-With-Spirits watches, his face impassive, as Thesius communes with the 'magic box'...

Ref 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Distracted, Ratrace gets zapped!

"This is outrageous!" he gasps at the information revealed in the files.

He expresses that outrage sitting down, hoping for the tingles to go away...
10 min rest if possible

Ahh, the ailments that come with old age the voice taunts Ratrace as he takes a rest.

Do you want to press on after the rest, or interact with the video feeds more?

Shall we go further? The drow is flexing his neck and fingers, preparing to fight these creations of a really sick mind. Just like home, he thinks again. I take it there's another door we can open?

"Sure, let's see what is really going on"

Xoni is ready to move on. "Let's assume this door is trapped," she says, pointing to the door on the west side of the room. She stands back ten feet while those better able to spot and disarm traps take a look.

Theseius downloads the information - this might be useful - probably in the ensuring court case.

The next room looks a lot almost identical to the specimen room earlier, also containing an adamantine alloy-reinforced cell, identical to the last one. The difference that this one is occupied: a Kasatha is cowering in the corner of the cell.

Theseius says in Kasathan. Hello. Who are you, and don't worry, we'll see if we can get you out of there.

It's interesting. This is the third time I've played a scenario directly related to the Kasathas and the third time it's a horror.

Don't be afraid. We're on your side. We've come to help. Who are you? Antethriss makes calm, smooth gestures and approaches very slowly. Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Xoni steps forward and reassures the kasathan in the cage. "We're here searching for a kasathan who disappeared near here named Nindir. We know others have also disappeared. Hold on. We'll get this cage open and get you out of here. Do you know of any traps on the cage?"

Diplomacy, aid: 1d20 ⇒ 11

I am Rahosa the kasatha answers, We found this complex when we were fleeing those beasts outside, but we didn't know what was in here! Nindir managed to escape, deeper into the complex, but I got stung by that shark creature. Nindir helped me hide here, but I think it's even more dangerous where she went. I hope she is ok... the kasatha adds with a faint voice. He looks very weak. I don't know if this cage is trapped... this place is so strange...

Theseius starts working to get the cage open.
engineering: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

Theseius easily opens the cage to let Rahosa out

We will find both your friend and this experimenter. Stay here as you are, in case that shark thing comes back. Antethriss heads for the next door, snapping his fingers as if kneading his knuckles.

Xoni gives Rahosa a quick medical check.
Takes 10 on medicine check for a 16.

Once she is sure she is okay, Xoni holds her doshko again and readies to move through the next door that opens.

A sheltered observation deck rises 15 feet off the floor at the center of the room. A specimen cell identical to the one that held Rahosa stands open to the south.

The scorpion-tailed, shark-faced monster is also here, as well as a lanky kasatha with a doctor's mask (See Handouts), and a familiar voice: Get these intruders, my pet! he shouts, his voice easily recognisable as the taunting voice over the intercom. With that, he activates a laser turret and hides behind cover.

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Ratrace
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Shark-face scorpion-tailed monster (15)
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Anthetriss
Thrym
Theseius
Xoni
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Scrapheap repositions and both drone and master open fire!

Ratrace
azimuth laser rifle
Attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 vs EAC
Damage 1d8 ⇒ 7 F

Scrapheap
static arc caster
Attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 vs EAC
Damage 1d8 ⇒ 3 E

Yuck!

Ratrace reacts fast, but inaccurately. The shark-faced creature teleports itself to back of the group, becoming a very lively spirit for Thrym to speak with

Stinger, Thrym: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 271d4 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 Plus a Fort save vs poison

The laser turret - quite a similar model from the one in the entranceway - opens fire on the intruders!

Laser Turret, Ratrace: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 121d6 ⇒ 1
Laser Turret, Scrapheap: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 241d6 ⇒ 5

Engineering at the base of that platform to disable the turret

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Anthetriss
Thrym
Theseius
Xoni
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Ratrace
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Shark-face scorpion-tailed monster (15)
Laser Turret
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Scrapheap smokes a bit from the blast.

Ratrace peppers the Shark-face scorpion-tailed monster with mystical bolts!

MM 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 1, 3) + 3 = 11

Scrapheap fires back at the turret!
static arc caster
Attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 vs EAC
Damage 1d8 ⇒ 8 E

Xoni normally likes to make a ranged attack before closing for melee, but given the close quarters, she has been keeping her doshko in hand. When the stinger monster attacks, she gets close and swings for its throat.

Tactical Doshko vs KAC: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Damage, P: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

GM: could you clarify where on the map the laser turret gun is?

The turret is the 'T' on the map, next to the masked villain

Ratrace peppers the shark-scorpion with missiles, and Xoni steps in to disassemble it, cutting open large ribbons of sewn-together flesh.

The laser turret starts to smoke heavily when it takes a hit from Scrapheap

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Anthetriss
Thrym
Theseius
Xoni
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Ratrace
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Shark-face scorpion-tailed monster (35)
Laser Turret (8)
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Fort: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4.

Thrym-Who-Speaks-With-Spirits looks increasingly likely to be joining the spirits soon, but steps back to preternatural grace (Uncanny Mobility), and fires upon the hybrid monster.

Trick: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 24. Flat-Footed on a success.

Tactical Skipshot Pistol: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6, for 1d4 + 1d4 ⇒ (1) + (4) = 5 Piercing damage.

Theseius does a double move dash to the base of the turret.

Thrym speaks with the ceiling and Theseius moves up to the base of the platform.

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Anthetriss
Thrym
Theseius
Xoni
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Ratrace
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Shark-face scorpion-tailed monster (35)
Laser Turret (8)
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Stunt and Strike (Athletics): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23 - vs DC 20 + target’s CR
Mae Geri: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 2 = 101d3 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 - Bludgeoning vs KAC; target could be FF (see check above)
If Stunt and Strike and attack roll both succeed, target should roll a DC 15 Reflex check or be knocked prone

With deft movements, the drow shifts behind the monster's back and delivers a powerful kick! The kick at the monster turns out to be not as successful as Antethriss would like, but he does not despair - there will be many more attempts... At least while it's not eating him.

Anthethriss looks to be in that part of the battle where the hero isn't landing any kicks. The muscular, shark-headed monster growls at the drow, then bring down its stinger

Stinger vs Ante: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 201d4 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11 Plus a fort save vs poison

The turret keeps firing, with Theseius and Ratrace the obvious targets

Turret, Theseius: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 121d6 ⇒ 1
Turret, Ratrace: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 291d6 ⇒ 6
Crit damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

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Anthetriss
Thrym
Theseius
Xoni
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Ratrace
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Shark-face scorpion-tailed monster (35)
Laser Turret (8)
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Fort: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10.

Thrym-Who-Speaks-With-Spirits continues to get closer to his ancestors...

Which physical stat track am I moving down? Also, what was the DC, so I know how many hit points I lose?

Trick: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (12) + 16 = 28. Flat-Footed on a success.

Tactical Skipshot Pistol: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22, for 1d4 + 1d4 ⇒ (2) + (2) = 4 Piercing damage.

...listening to their voices, he manages to fake-out the shark-scorpion.

Dexterity, DC 12. Damage from the initial attack was 8, damage from poison is 2.

Thrym feels weaker, and very stiff. In a last-ditch effort to bring down the shark-like creature, he lands a pistol shot, which all but takes down the monster.

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Anthetriss
Thrym
Theseius
Xoni
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Ratrace
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Shark-face scorpion-tailed monster (39)
Laser Turret (8)
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Theseius attempts to engineer the turret into inactivity.
engineering: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

Ratrace and scrapheap continue to blast away!

Ratrace
azimuth laser rifle vs Sharkface
Attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 vs EAC
Damage 1d8 ⇒ 1 F

Scrapheap
static arc caster vs turret!
Attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 vs EAC
Damage 1d8 ⇒ 4 E

Jeez

It's not a particularly powerful shot, but it is enough to bring the already badly hurt shark-man down. Meanwhile, Theseius work on disabling the turret, ending the threat.

I surrender the voice of the masked Kasatha shouts.

Combat over!

There’s no sign of Nindir until the dust settles. A clattering sound rings through the laboratory as a ceiling tile falls to the floor. A tall, slender kasatha lands gracefully beside it, her headscarves fluttering as she runs to embrace Rahosa.

Once the two have had their moment, Nindit explains We were just enjoying a picnic in our lookout spot, because I had just landed a new job at the boutique and Rahosa got accepted into a prestigious medical school in lower Khovi. She explains We were just talking about the future, when these two creature attacked giving a despription of the Leporine monsters and we fled towards this place

We fled into these tunnels and got lost. We've been hiding in a maintenance shaft until we heard the monster leave. I don't know how long we've been down here, but we were just surviving on the supplies we found until somebody turned the facility’s security system back on.

We tried to get out, but the laser turret hit me, and then that Sharkk monster appeared and stung Rahosa

Mission almost complete - you can roll day jobs, and do any interrogating you might want to do

With the stinger monster between Antethriss, Xoni swings her doshko again, hoping to gain an advantage from her flanking position. She hits one of the weak points where different parts were sutured together.

Tactical Doshko vs KAC, flanking: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 2 = 26
Damage, P: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Damage, P, critical: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Not quite...

Fort: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1. Thank goodness 'crit fails' don't exist yet!

Fort: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (12) + 0 = 12.

By the time Thrym-Who-Speaks-With-Spirits fights off the effects of the poison, he has slowed down significantly (Staggered).

Day Job - Profession(Herbalist): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25.

I have a feeling that this time around, Thrym will be crafting antidotes for his day job ;-)

This is also the last chance for Thrym to avoid a RZMR photocard, by filling out RPG Chronicles ;-)

Fixed!

Thrym-Who-Speaks-With-Spirits slowly staggers back over to the corpse of the hybrid beast, and offers up a silent prayer for the tormented spirits of the animals forced into this horrifying creature.

F: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17 F: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10 F: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Antethriss approaches the surrendered opponent. Who the abyss you are? Explain immediately, or here's the drow's word for you, I'll cut you open with my knives from navel to neck. He's clearly in a bad mood.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

profession (diplomat): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

Prof (Electrician) 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

"Not how I thought this was going to end up"

"Do as the drow says, we don't appreciate your sense of humour and I don't mind leaving you to your fate half stitched into a shark as some sort of drow fleshwarp experiment"