GM Jhaeman's Dawn of Flame, Chapter Five: "Solar Strike"

Game Master Jhaeman

Remember to keep your stat lines up to date so we know when to heal you.

Wait, you mean everyone else can't see this pdf I have open? Thanks for the reminder, I'm bad about that.

Amhesha takes another step back as she asks her exocortex, aloud, in Protean.

Attack v. KAC: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
Damage, P/C: 3d4 ⇒ (2, 2, 1) = 5

Only one plasma elemental is left, but although its corporeal energy is nearly dissipated, it moves with such speed that neither Amhesha or Tulgram can hit it!

Amhesha's attack misses.

Botting Tulgram's attack. Result: Just misses. Somebody hit this thing! :)

Zharis is up (and Xylian needs to make a save vs Wound).

Zharis tries to finish off the nearly-dissipated plasma elemental before it can wreak more havoc on Xylian!

Botting Zharis as shooting at Yellow again. Result: Hit! Yellow is in single digits.

Frostbite Class Zero Pistol vs Yellow EAC: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Cold Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Initiative (Round 6)

Theodore
Xylian (need Fort save vs Wound)
Plasma Elemental
Zharis
Amhesha
Tulgram (+1 AC)

Bold should go!

The elemental gets in a good hit, but Xlyian never had much use for his body anyways, and he blasts it back.

Xylian's only 'Vital Organ' is his brain, thus he is immune to wounds.
Fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Guarded Step away. Overcharge and Shoot.
Hailcannon vs KAC: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31
P + C Damage: 4d8 + 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (3, 4, 7, 8) + (6, 6) + 9 = 43

Too far to claw the last elemental, Theo runs toward it, pulling his carbine as he goes.

Full action to run 240 feet closer, should put me ~360 feet from the door.

Although badly burned by his elemental foe, Xylian manages to destroy the creature--forever!

Xylian fails the Fortitude save and takes the 3 Constitution damage. @Xylian: Please factor in the effects of that and the regular damage from the previous hits into your tagline.

Xylian's attack hits and destroys Yellow.

We are off Initiative.

Zharis makes sure that Theo and Xylian are okay, and asks if either of them need a rest before moving on.

Looks like Theo might need a stamina refresh?

Then Zharis approaches the bodies to see if there is any loot.

Amhesha picks up her sniper rifle and comes down from the high of her old job. "Haven't done THAT in a while. I see what you mean about elementals, Theo. Old targets were Pharasmins targetting ghosts we were gathering language data from, so they had. Well, actual anatomy. Threw me and the exocortex-without-a-name-in-Common for a loop. Probably not worth checking the bodies, Zharis, they're elementals. They didn't seem to be the type to have lootable stuff on them."

Zharis nods, but checks anyway.

Zharis examines the scorched ground and steaming piles of inert manner that were once the plasma elementals, but nothing else of interest remains.

Sorry, no loot on these guys.

A stamina refresh or healing would be good, but we maynot have time to stop for 10 minutes.

Do you want to try?

Zharis walks within 100 feet of the entrance to keep watch while the serious combatants recover.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

Ha ha. Wow, bad roll.

She notices the blinking light on her drone and realizes it is time to change out the battery on her camera though, so she starts digging in her backpack, because she forgot to put a spare on her bandolier.

Story fluff to explain why she is completely oblivious with her head in a sack.

Leaving the others behind, Zharis races back to the shrine to see a pair of azers armed with battle-mauls and grenades emerge cautiously, alert for danger. One keeps watch while the other activates a comm unit and begins speaking in a loud, almost panicked voice.

@Zharis: If you want to roll a Stealth check to reflect keeping behind some of the trees in the park, etc., I've rolled an opposed Perception check in the spoiler to see if the look-out spots you.

When Zharis looks up she sees some azers, and ducks behind a tree.

Stealth: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25

Her natural stealth comes in handy sometimes. She pulls up her comm unit and types to the rest of the group

>Sorry to ruin your rest, but the azers have a backup team arriving in 9 minutes. We should take these ones out before their backup gets here if possible. Amhesha, want to do another long range shot and then head closer?<

Theo, hands on his knees, sighs heavily. "I can't fault your logic. Very well, let's do this."

"One long range shot, coming up. Azers will be easier to deal with, fire elementals and all."

I'll fire if we can have a surprise round.

Okay, let's see if you can complete this raid in enemy territory before reinforcements arrive!

Initiative (Surprise Round)

Amhesha
Theodore
Zharis
Tulgram
Azers
Xylian

Bold should go!

This is a Surprise Round, so you can take one move or standard action.

Going to assume I have combat tracking up.

Amhesha fires at the (yellow) Azer, maintaining her calm and hoping to wipe them out fast with chilled bullets.

Attack v. KAC: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20
Damage (P+C): 3d4 + 8 ⇒ (3, 4, 4) + 8 = 19

Feeling somewhat lightheaded, Xylian follows Amhesha's lead.
Hailcannon vs KAC: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27
P + C Damage: 4d8 + 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (7, 4, 1, 3) + (4, 5) + 9 = 33

Zharis shoots at Yellow.

Frostbite Class Zero Pistol: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 9 - 2 = 25 (range penalty)
Cold Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

How far are we from them? I'm mostly a melee fighter.

Amhesha actually got to use the sniper part of the sniper rifle. So we're... fairly far, but we'll be closing in IIRC since reinforcements are coming? I've been out of it due to consecutive doctor's visits recently.

Amhesha's pinpoint blast is the signal for her fellow explorers from distant worlds to open fire! Zharis shows off some pistol marksmanship, but Xylian's hailcannon misses by an azer's fiery whisker!

Amhesha's attack hits Yellow, and the part of the damage that is cold does a little extra to boot.

Xylian's attack misses--it came close, but a -10 range increment penalty (465' away) makes the difference.

Zharis' attack hits Yellow and does extra damage.

Theodore and Tulgram are up. (@Tulgram: You're currently 460' away).

Amhesha is a bad influence

Theodore considers moving closer, but decides to take a shot at the rightmost azer, just in case.
I'm at very long range, these numbers are stupid, but screw it, I have ammo.

Gelid Ice Carbine: 1d20 + 12 - 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 - 12 = 20
Damage, C/P: 3d8 + 8 ⇒ (2, 4, 1) + 8 = 15

Holy [censored] Uh, Sweet. 30 damage to Yellow.

Even more. Cold!

Tulgram mumbles and curses in dwarven, but not too displeased. On the one hand, bulky biohacker himself could participate in the melee. On the other hand, others do his job for him, and that's sweet to the heart of any duergar. (delay)

Despite no expectation that it'll hit, Theodore casually takes a shot at the nearest azer . . . and hits the foe right in the forehead! The azer crumples to the ground, killed instantly.

Theodore's attack hits and kills Yellow. (@Theodore: I'll roll for the additional critical hit damage in the spoiler below).

That's the end of the Surprise Round, so we'll now move on to the first regular round of combat.

Initiative (Round 1)

Amhesha
Theodore
Zharis
Tulgram
Azers
Xylian

Bold should go!

Despite no expectation that it'll hit, Theodore casually takes a shot at the nearest azer . . . and hits the foe right in the forehead! The azer crumples to the ground, killed instantly.

Theodore's attack hits and kills Yellow. (@Theodore: I'll roll for the additional critical hit damage in the spoiler below).

That's the end of the Surprise Round, so we'll now move on to the first regular round of combat.

** spoiler omitted **

Mea culpa. I remember that we don't roll for confirmation, but usually when I roll confirmation I roll damage again, and with no confirmation roll I just doubled the damage instead or rolling again, I guess. No complaints about your damage roll though, wow!

Not trusting his luck to hold, Theo drops to all fours and races forward, hoping to reach melee as quickly as possible. Run Action, 240 feet.
Incoming furmissile.

Zharis shoots at Blue.

Frostbite Class Zero Pistol: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 9 - 2 = 20 (range penalty)
Cold Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Seeing Theo coming closer her she says

Stay within 60 feet of me until Xylian gets here and I can try to give you both an energy boost.

Amhesha shoots at the azer, unbothered by petty squabbles such as distance as she smirks.

Attack v. KAC: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24
Damage (P+C): 3d4 + 8 ⇒ (4, 2, 2) + 8 = 16

Theo be a damn fierce buddy. There is genuine respect in the duergar's voice. But apart from this remark, Tulgram doesn't seem to be going to do anything.

As Theodore races forward on all fours, Zharis and Amhesha unleash more devastating blasts of freezing energy, striking their target with practiced ease!

With a look of sheer panic, the azer shouts for help while shooting from the hip before ducking inside for cover from the door frame!

Zharis' attack hits Blue.

Amhesha's attack hits Blue.

Blue does a ranged attack on the admittedly scary Theodore and then a move action to get cover. Result: Miss.

Initiative (Round 1)

Amhesha
Theodore
Zharis
Tulgram
Azers
Xylian

Bold should go!

Xylian moves up. He's not a fan of running though.

Full round to run 120' closer.

Initiative (Round 2)

Amhesha
Theodore
Zharis
Tulgram
Azers
Xylian

Bold should go!

Zharis performs an Inspiring Oration even though Xylian isn't close enough, not wanting to put Theodore at further risk.

Theo gains 32 total Stamina points restored. (2x envoy level (9) + charisma mod (5) + another envoy level (usually costs a resolve point, but I have signature support which negates that cost), so 18+5+9=32). Also, just FYI to everyone, only works once between short rests for each individual, so I can't affect Theo again this battle, but I can do it for Xylian as well when he gets close enough to me.

Amhesha fires again.

Attack v. KAC: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19
Damage (P+C): 3d4 + 8 - 1 + 1d4 ⇒ (3, 1, 4) + 8 - 1 + (1) = 16

Zharis' declamation inspires her allies, but Amhesha's foe ducks behind the door frame just as she pulls the trigger on her sniper rifle!

But now I'm curious what Zharis said that was so inspiring :)

Amhesha's attack misses Blue due to cover.

Theodore and Tulgram are up.

ONLY cpver?

Yes, the +4 to AC from cover makes it a miss unless you have an ability to reduce or ignore cover bonuses (like Xylian).

Nah I meant "Wow I'm shocked I'd hit otherwise. My other SF character can/will ignore cover though :3

But now I'm curious what Zharis said that was so inspiring :)

Oh you know... "Theodore, you are a superhero among bearkind... our enemies cower before your beary presence... if you had a couple extra appendages you could probably do this whole mission solo... wait, did that guy behind the door just call you "Teddy"?" ... stuff like that, and probably some movie quotes adapted to bears instead of noble cats. :) I believe there was also something about him being a "juggernaut of destruction."

It seems to me that the Inspiring Boost has a distance of 30 feet, btw.

Well... Tulgram is moving forward in a small way. 40 feet. He doesn't like running either, ever since the grueling training sessions of the collegiate wrestling section. He was young then and showed promise in a completely different field. Well... Bulky duergar slowly goes into battle...

Theodore continues to run, barreling into the shrine and leaping on the terrified defender! Meanwhile, some distance away, his duergar companion advances as well--just much more slowly . . .

Botting Theodore as doing a move action to move closer and then doing a special standard action charge attack with Blitz (and no penalties on attack or AC). Result: Hit. Blue is down to single digit HP.

@Tulgram: Yep, and Theodore was 20' away from Zharis after his previous turn (before I just botted him) while Xylian was 245' away--so everything checks out.

Having been blasted with multiple freezing rays and projectiles, and then nearly torn to ribbons by a ferocious bear, the azer guarding the doorway has obviously had enough--he turns and bolts, passing right by two fellow occupier soldiers from the inner room of the shrine intending to join the fight!

Blue does a Withdraw action.

Two new azers, Gray and White, emerge from the inner room and fire disintegrator rifles at Theodore. Result: One hit for 17 acid damage (remember that DR doesn't apply against energy damage).

Initiative (Round 2)

Amhesha (460' from door)
Theodore (at door)
Zharis (100' from door)
Tulgram (420' from door)
Azers
Xylian (345' from door)

Bold should go!