Another piece of text appears as Mavericks fires his shots, that looks a bit more unhinged 'Yes, kill it! Your struggle only makes me stronger!'
The shot hits, and the mole, now severely bleeding and drained by Carlos' shadow magic, makes a few spasms and then dies.
The game's artificial night falls, and the ccolor palette shifts to purple lighting with dark blue shadows that move independently of lights. The lighting of the game is still quite bright, though, something that Carlos might not like.
The journal chimes, with the same cheerful chime as before, but with a more dissonant tone mixed it. Opening up the journal, the header has changed to
TortoiseHELL
and the page seems to have been modified: scratch marks appear over the previous quests, making them illegible, and a scrawling handwriting lists one single objective:
---
Objective:
[ ] Die!
---
Liquid beads up on the page, as though the paper is bleeding.
Oh, and the passage through the vines into the hill zone is now clear! There's an insistent hovering arrow pointing at the vine arch, which a text hovering over it 'You won't be the first to die here'
Male NG ysoki icon envoy 11 | SP 70/88 HP 68/68 | RP 8/10 | EAC 28; KAC 30; DR 2/- | Fort +5; Ref +12; Will +8 | Init: +9 | Perc: +11, darkvision 60 ft., SM: +15+1d6+2 | Speed 40ft | Expendables: Gelid Hail 20/20, Pulsecaster 20/20, Radshot 40/40, mk1 healing 5/5, mk2 healing 2/2, sp. amp. remove condition 2/2 | Active conditions: Con -1, -11 SP (
"I think a couple of us probably need a rest ..." He glances down to see if the "mysterious seed" is still in his inventory. "Wonder if I should still plant and water this ... "
m CN halfling (necrograft) Shadow Mystic 13 [Spacefarer] | sp 111/111 | hp 80/80 | rp 9/12 | EAC 28 KAC 29 | F+8 R+10 W+16 [+2 mind effects or +4 vs fear] | resist Sonic 5 Cold 10 | Init +5 [DISADV] | Perc +24 | DV60' | Stealth +25 [+4 in shadow] | Spells L1 3/6 L2 5/6 L3 5/6 L4 3/4 L5 3/3 | Shadow Weaver 11/12 | Concealment 20% (+), Resistant Armor (DR10/-) & See Invis (130 min both)
Charming. Carlos-squox takes out a pack of cigarettes and lights one, holding this object forbidden in children's games with a tentacle. However, the game has ceased to be a child's game too. (10-min-rest)
Male CG Human Ace Pilot Operative 13 | SP 104/104 HP 82/82 | RP 10/12 | EAC 32; KAC 33 | Fort +8; Ref +14; Will +11 | Init: +14 | Darkvision; Perc: +23, SM: +15 | Speed 70 ft. (Land, Fly) 40 ft. (Swim, Climb) | Active Conditions: none.
Maverick slides a fresh magazine into his semi-auto pistol. He's a little disappointed by his poor marksmanship, but he's sure going forward it won't be the norm.
The vine arch has transformed into an archway, which is large enough for tall creature to walk through, and beyond it, green fields give way to rolling hills carpeted in dry brown grass and withered, dying trees.
A high-pitched scream echoes through the night, followed by a desperate cry of “Stop! Don’t eat me!” Atop a ridge to the east, a squox avatar with nuar horns backs into a dark cave, arms raised in panic as a (cute!) large flower with jagged teeth snaps its jaws. “Help!” the squox cries.
You are at 0ft, the first ridge has a ladder that allows you to climb up (counts as difficult terrain. All other ridges need an athletics check
Male CG Human Ace Pilot Operative 13 | SP 104/104 HP 82/82 | RP 10/12 | EAC 32; KAC 33 | Fort +8; Ref +14; Will +11 | Init: +14 | Darkvision; Perc: +23, SM: +15 | Speed 70 ft. (Land, Fly) 40 ft. (Swim, Climb) | Active Conditions: none.
Maverick takes flight and rises 15', clearing the lip of the first ridge. He then levels his semi-auto pistol at the flower and fires.
"Maverick supersonic, I'll be there in 30 seconds."
For your debilitating trick, you can attempt to knock the target prone. The target must succeed at a Reflex save or fall prone. If the target gains a bonus to its KAC against trip combat maneuvers, it adds this bonus to its saving throw, and if it is immune to the trip combat maneuver it is immune to this operative exploit. Once you’ve used this ability to attempt to knock a target prone, that creature is immune to your knee shot for 24 hours. This exploit counts as staggering shot for the purpose of meeting the prerequisites of other operative exploits.
Male NG ysoki icon envoy 11 | SP 70/88 HP 68/68 | RP 8/10 | EAC 28; KAC 30; DR 2/- | Fort +5; Ref +12; Will +8 | Init: +9 | Perc: +11, darkvision 60 ft., SM: +15+1d6+2 | Speed 40ft | Expendables: Gelid Hail 20/20, Pulsecaster 20/20, Radshot 40/40, mk1 healing 5/5, mk2 healing 2/2, sp. amp. remove condition 2/2 | Active conditions: Con -1, -11 SP (
Swift action: Activate haste circuit. +30 speed, to 70 feet.
Gab touches a button on the front of his armor, and his limbs begin vibrating as he begins to move more quickly.
Move action: Move speed. Standard action: Move speed. I moved myself to where I think I can get, taking into account 30 feet of movement to move up the ladder.
He runs forward, nearly leaping up the ladder, and then advances toward the enemy, pulling his radshot pistol in one hand and then his gelid hail pistol into the other. "Hey, back off of him and fight with somebody your own size ... I mean, yeah, we're all the same size ... but y'know what I mean."
Male CG Human Ace Pilot Operative 13 | SP 104/104 HP 82/82 | RP 10/12 | EAC 32; KAC 33 | Fort +8; Ref +14; Will +11 | Init: +14 | Darkvision; Perc: +23, SM: +15 | Speed 70 ft. (Land, Fly) 40 ft. (Swim, Climb) | Active Conditions: none.
Did Mav's Knee Shot work in round 1? The plant needs to make a DC 22 reflex save.
Maverick ascends another 15' up and squeezes the trigger on his semi-auto pistol again.
Yeah, I forgot to process the damage, thanks for pointing that out
Round 1
Roquefort light the plant on fire without hesitation, while Maverick fires at the knees of the plant. Or at least where the knees would be. Buzz closes in rapidly.
Reflex:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22
Round 2
Gabbers goes full power, closing the gap, while Maverick squeezes the trigger again, this time putting the plant completely offguard against further attacks. Buzz lines up a shot, and douses the plant in acid. Hey! Careful with that! Xiffany shouts as she sees the glob coming her way, clearly not used to combat situations.
Roquefort fires a shot form afar, and completely immolates the plant. The plant goes limp, and the voiceover shouts in frustration Die! Die! Die!
Combat over!
Xiffany looks a bit distraught What is going on? I don't like this game anymore, it is so scary...
---
Objective: Die!
[O] I will consume you!
[O] I will consume you!
[O] I will consume you!
[O] I will consume you!
[O] I will consume you!
[O] I will consume you!
---
Male CG Human Ace Pilot Operative 13 | SP 104/104 HP 82/82 | RP 10/12 | EAC 32; KAC 33 | Fort +8; Ref +14; Will +11 | Init: +14 | Darkvision; Perc: +23, SM: +15 | Speed 70 ft. (Land, Fly) 40 ft. (Swim, Climb) | Active Conditions: none.
Maverick flies over to Xiffany and begins looking around the area in anticipation of the next level of threats that are about to appear.
While the voiceover chimes Die, die! Xiffany looks quite hurt I could use some help, yes. This hurts so much...
Maverick looks for the next level of threat, but it's almost as if this level isn't properly finished - the only way seems to be back through that vine arch.
Male NG ysoki icon envoy 11 | SP 70/88 HP 68/68 | RP 8/10 | EAC 28; KAC 30; DR 2/- | Fort +5; Ref +12; Will +8 | Init: +9 | Perc: +11, darkvision 60 ft., SM: +15+1d6+2 | Speed 40ft | Expendables: Gelid Hail 20/20, Pulsecaster 20/20, Radshot 40/40, mk1 healing 5/5, mk2 healing 2/2, sp. amp. remove condition 2/2 | Active conditions: Con -1, -11 SP (
Gab nods to Roquefort. "Yeah, but gimme a minute, so I can heal her up..." He pulls some comically-large band-aids out of his advanced medkit. To her, he says, "You can answer their questions while I'm mending you ... But keep it short, because this won't take to long." He chuckles in a disarming manner and winks.
Treat Dead Wounds, 1 minute, w/ expertise vs. DC 20:1d20 + 18 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 18 + (5) + 2 = 45
That heals her Level/CR in HP + 9 (Intelligence modifier from a high roll and Charisma modifier from my Bedside Manners improvisation).
Gab expertly wraps her wounds up with the digital bandages. "Okay, that should hold ya up for a bit... Let's get a move on, then."
Gabbers heals up Xiffany a bit. That feels a lot better, thanks you! You're a real friend... she says in a slightly too clingy voice.
Oh, when Lecti hooked you up, I... eh... asked him to also let me join She says, but it's a better guess that she begged Lecti, ...and he let me play as well. It took me a while to make my avatar, and I thought it looked really cute. But I didn't expect this.
The only way out is through the Vine Arch. Passing through the vine reveals the exact same beach as before, but severely distorted and with many obstacles. The tortoise-house seems to be completely unaffected, though, and the only hope of escaping.
What is even worse, the game seems to be slowly absorbing the life force of the group.
When the group passes through the vine arch, the dead cutie pie plant teleports in front of them, and vines come back into motion trying to snare the starfinders!
I need a profession(vidgamer), acrobatics or athletics check. I'll also allow creative solutions. I need a check for each PC, and you can aid another.
This is an obstacle course divided into rounds, and I also need a DC 18 Fort save every round. On a failure, you lose 1 Con.
---
Xiffany (-1 Con)
Gabbers
Carlos
Maverick
Roque
Buzz
---
Male Ysoki Ace Pilot Mechanic 13 (SP 104/104) (HP 106/106) (EAC 26, KAC 28) (Fort +10, Ref +17, Will +6) (Init +13) (Perception +23)
Buzz frowns.
"How annoying."
Tapping into the wealth of knowledge he has from the plethora of games he has delved into over the decades, Buzz tries to plot a steady course through the vine patch...
Profession(Vidgamer): 1d20 + 30 ⇒ (18) + 30 = 48.
...essentially ambling through as if on a gentle stroll, the slightest movements of his various limbs gracefully dodging the clinging vines, as if they were not there.
If possible, I would like to 'Aid Another' on Xiffany's check. I don't think I can fail ;-)
Male CG Human Ace Pilot Operative 13 | SP 104/104 HP 82/82 | RP 10/12 | EAC 32; KAC 33 | Fort +8; Ref +14; Will +11 | Init: +14 | Darkvision; Perc: +23, SM: +15 | Speed 70 ft. (Land, Fly) 40 ft. (Swim, Climb) | Active Conditions: none.
Prior to entering the vine arch Mav would have turned on the laser sight attached to his pistol.
Carlos makes it past the vines with a blink, but Roquefort gets himself entangled in the vines, just as Xiffany makes her escape. The vines tangle and cut.
Damage Roquefort:4d8 ⇒ (4, 3, 5, 1) = 13
No progress for Roquefort, who will have to try again...
This ends here! the evil voiceover shouts, as the whole area starts glitching heavily, revealing and hiding open pits, and random heavy objects falling from the sky.
For the second obstacle, I need a Reflex save, vidgamer check or perception check to avoid getting hurt by the objects. Creative solutions work as well
Male CG Human Ace Pilot Operative 13 | SP 104/104 HP 82/82 | RP 10/12 | EAC 32; KAC 33 | Fort +8; Ref +14; Will +11 | Init: +14 | Darkvision; Perc: +23, SM: +15 | Speed 70 ft. (Land, Fly) 40 ft. (Swim, Climb) | Active Conditions: none.
Roquefort makes it out of reach of the vines, and is making good progress. Maverick and Gabbers manage to avoid the falling obstacles, and Buzz again cheats his way through. The tortoisehouse - with the save game and exit function - comes into view, but just as Buzz gets close, the sandy beach sinks into the roiling ocean, leaving a 15-foot gap of 10-foot-deep water between the shore and the house. Steam rises from the boiling water, indicating that swimming is a poor choice.
Xiffany manages to dash along, mimicing the moves of Maverick and Gabbers.
You need a method to cross the water, either over it, or through it (at your owl peril)
===(Round 3)===
---(Obstacle 2)---
Carlos [Has 2 actions: round 2 and 3)]
Male CG Human Ace Pilot Operative 13 | SP 104/104 HP 82/82 | RP 10/12 | EAC 32; KAC 33 | Fort +8; Ref +14; Will +11 | Init: +14 | Darkvision; Perc: +23, SM: +15 | Speed 70 ft. (Land, Fly) 40 ft. (Swim, Climb) | Active Conditions: none.
Carlos jumps through shades and shadows, while Maverick and Roque just fly across the water. Buzz again cheats his way through - if he keeps this up he'll end up getting banned from the server!
