Going for the direct lead, the party heads out after checking for directions, a site at the baseof the earthworks upon which the city’s northeast fortifications are built. Canker Slopes is the closest thing Grindhold has to a park, with cartilaginous growths resembling wraiths turned into fleshy trees flanking the winding paths up the cliff face, and colonies of tastebud-like fungus circling veiny rivers of greenish fluid along the lowest indentations. The bizarre flora seems more purposefully groomed than elsewhere around the city, with a visible partition between the park’s border and the chalky soil of the surrounding wilderness.
At the base of the mesa, an unusually spindly dwarf stands knee-deep in the green creek tending to the plants with a scalpel and a rubber brush. His beard, which eerily resembles a dense thicket of fingers, conceals a name branded with acid across his vest: Uhlsemet. He looks up, sees you, and goes back to work.
He very quickly starts signing his answers, but does not speak. He pulls a strange plant from his pocket and continues to sign.
Sense Motive DC 15:
You get the sense that he's earnestly answering you, but you can't understand what he's signing. If you pass a DC 20, check the spoiler below.
Spoiler:
He saw the lights , but not the event that produced them. He pulls from his pocket a plant totally unlike the rest of Aucturn’s cancerous landscape: a flower resembling an opalescent stalk of heather. He uses the crook of his elbow to signal that whatever happened occurred at the bend of the coastline between Grindhold and the Toothy Menhirs due northeast.
Human Female Operative (ace pilot)-10 (Spaceship speed +1 from sky jockey); init +10; SP 84/110; HP 84/84; Res 12/12; Reroll 0/1; Cloak 10/10; mk 1 healing serum 1 KAC29 ; EAC 28; (2d6 electrostatic field); DR 5/-; elect/10; Fort 8; Ref 13; Will 9; (immune to confusion)Perc +16; SM +16; Stealth +23 :T10=34 for trick shot)
Gunnz eyes up the odd dwarf warily...
SM:1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25
Her senses, made keen by several years of unwanted attention, allows her to draw some conclusions from the dwarfs actions.
"Look, that leaf... it looks a bit like the coastline we flew over. I wonder where the plant comes from... surely not here. I think we need to head bend of the coastline between Grindhold and the Toothy Menhirs due northeast."
He grabs Gunnz's arm and starts to sign. Uhlsemet repeatedly tenses his hands while pulsing them together, effectively saying that he’s experienced several “contractions” since seeing the lights.
Suddenly his eyes go wide as he realizes somethig a split second before you do. The ground vibrates briefly as if the planet itself were stifling a belch. A second later, the soil at the base of Canker Slopes splits with a wet ripping sound. Liquid in the green streams mixes with magma-like ichor, reacting to create plumes of putrid smoke that force the air to rush against the cliffside. Trees topple around and into the widening chasm as the juices congeal into a patchwork of scab-like crust over the hillside’s turbulent underlayer.
Begin your turn with a FORT save DC 18. On a fail, you start prone. Any square that isn't white is considered difficult terrain.
Also note that Aucturn has High Gravity
ROUND 1:
Ishkitik: Go
Kneepuncher: Go
Santos: Go
Yuqab: Go
Gunnz: Go
Hostiles (Life Science to ID): TBD
******************************************
TACTICAL MAP GM’s Tracker Party Conditions: Inspiring Boost: , Get'em: Red Gravity:High Atmosphere: Toxic Lighting: Normal Battlefield terrain: Anything other than white is Difficult Terrain
Human Female Operative (ace pilot)-10 (Spaceship speed +1 from sky jockey); init +10; SP 84/110; HP 84/84; Res 12/12; Reroll 0/1; Cloak 10/10; mk 1 healing serum 1 KAC29 ; EAC 28; (2d6 electrostatic field); DR 5/-; elect/10; Fort 8; Ref 13; Will 9; (immune to confusion)Perc +16; SM +16; Stealth +23 :T10=34 for trick shot)
"Gahh" exclaims Gunnz.
"This reminds me of Doug. He was totally into conservation and was into eating molds and fungi as well as "higher" plants. Although ones that move might be beyond even his palate."
life science:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
She activates her anti-gravity belt while she considers what they might be.
Life Science to ID, shaken:1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 10 - 2 = 23(Mostly looking for any elemental immunities, weaknesses, resistances)
--------
Yuqab dashes forward, grunting with effort as he moves through the intense gravity and drawing his weapon as he goes. Tucking and rolling as he arrives at his desired position, he comes up firing at the nearer of the two creatures.
Full Action Trick attack, drawing pistol as he moves (30 ft -> half of normal 60ft).
Take-10 on Trick attack for 34 (includes Shaken) -> CR 14 Hailstorm class zero pistol vs. flat-footed black EAC, Shaken:1d20 + 16 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 16 - 2 = 21 Cold:2d4 + 5 ⇒ (4, 3) + 5 = 12 Trick attack damage:5d8 ⇒ (7, 7, 6, 5, 3) = 28
Posting my attack for PbP expediency, but if that Life Science check to ID reveals cold resistance, then he would use his laser pistol (2d4+5 F) or tetrad rings (1d6+5 B-force).
Fort Save DC18 while Shaken:1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 11 - 2 = 19 vs Prone
LS to ID while Shaken:1d20 + 18 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 18 - 2 = 20
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Ash will move to get a clear line of fire and take a shot at Black
EAC shaken vs Black:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23E dmg if hits:3d8 + 10 ⇒ (1, 1, 8) + 10 = 20
Gunnz falls to the ground and takes a minute to sort out what the heck is going on. IT looks like these things are native creatures called Carrion Wheels. They're not resistant to any type of damage, but those tentacles are highly toxic!
Yuqab keeps his feet, and despite the awkward attack, connects with his target. It's a solid shot too. Santos adds another wound with a quick shot.
Meanwhile Kneepucher closes in, where he can see TWO more of these things emerging from the ground.
Ishkitik and drone get up and get in.
When Ash takes his shot it puts the first creature down!
ROUND 1:
Ash:
Ishkitik: Close
Kneepuncher: Move
Santos: Hit
Yuqab: Hit
Gunnz: Go
Carrion Wheels: TBD
******************************************
TACTICAL MAP GM’s Tracker Party Conditions: Inspiring Boost: , Get'em: Red Gravity:High Atmosphere: Toxic Lighting: Normal Battlefield terrain: Anything other than white is Difficult Terrain
Human Female Operative (ace pilot)-10 (Spaceship speed +1 from sky jockey); init +10; SP 84/110; HP 84/84; Res 12/12; Reroll 0/1; Cloak 10/10; mk 1 healing serum 1 KAC29 ; EAC 28; (2d6 electrostatic field); DR 5/-; elect/10; Fort 8; Ref 13; Will 9; (immune to confusion)Perc +16; SM +16; Stealth +23 :T10=34 for trick shot)
Gunnz, regaining her feet, takes a quick shot at the closest wheel.
attack(Perforator pistol, refraction) vs EAC:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32 S damage:2d6 + 5 ⇒ (6, 1) + 5 = 12And if they have hardness, which seems unlikely ignores 9 points of it
Gunnz shows off some crackerjack aim and shoots the wheel.
The remaining wheel closes as two more burrow up to attack!
ROUND 2:
Ash: Go
Ishkitik: Go
Kneepuncher: Go
Santos: Go
Yuqab: Go
Gunnz: Go
Carrion Wheels: TBD
******************************************
TACTICAL MAP GM’s Tracker Party Conditions: Inspiring Boost: , Get'em: Red Gravity:High Atmosphere: Toxic Lighting: Normal Battlefield terrain: Anything other than white is Difficult Terrain
Male CG halfling vanguard (power armor jockey) 9 | SP 30/117 HP 83/83 | RP 10/10 | EAC 26; KAC 31 | Fort +13; Ref +10; Will +7 | Init: +3 +1 | Perc: +15 +13, SM: +0 | Speed 30 ft., fly 30 ft. (average) | Entropy 1/6 | Reactive 1/1 | Size: Large | 0 Reroll | Active conditions: Shaken 24 hours, Weird Stuff, Other Weird Stuff
Kneepuncher charges into the area near the black- and green-tinged creatures. He starts pounding on the black one, as it is slightly closer to his teammates.
Both did. I accidentally ran it like 2e. They're not resistant to any type of damage, but those tentacles are highly toxic!. You can each ask a question if you'd like.
Kneepuncher drills the wheel. The acid of his weapon does little, but hitting it HARD still works.
Ash shoots twice and hits twice, despite the effects of the space experience. A split second later Gunnz hits the exact same spot. A second after that Yuqab finishes it off!
Will let Ishkitik pick a new target. Keep that roll though!
ROUND 2:
Ash: Hit
Ishkitik: Redirect
Kneepuncher: Hit
Santos: Go
Yuqab: Hit
Gunnz: Hit
Carrion Wheels: TBD
******************************************
TACTICAL MAP GM’s Tracker Party Conditions: Inspiring Boost: , Get'em: Red Gravity:High Atmosphere: Toxic Lighting: Normal Battlefield terrain: Anything other than white is Difficult Terrain
Santos misses his first shot by a hair, and his second by a bit more. Ishkitik's shot leaves a splatter on Kneecap's armor.
Kneecapper suddenly finds himself in the ....excretions of the ground. It's... strange, disquieting... It's Will save inducing.
The carrion wheel senses an opening and lashes out with two tentacles:
ATK 1:1d20 + 16 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 16 - 4 = 25 MISS
ATK 2:1d20 + 16 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 16 - 4 = 20 MISS
Clearly, it's not used to such armor.
The other rambles forward to whip a tentacle at Yuqab:
ATK 1:1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23 MISS
ROUND 3:
Ash: Go
Ishkitik: Go
Kneepuncher: Will (No turn until resolved.)
Santos: Go
Yuqab: Go
Gunnz: Go
Carrion Wheels: TBD
******************************************
TACTICAL MAP GM’s Tracker Party Conditions: Inspiring Boost: , Get'em: Red Gravity:High Atmosphere: Toxic Lighting: Normal Battlefield terrain: Anything other than white is Difficult Terrain
Moving with practiced skill, Yuqab bounds away only to turn and shoot with a second display of training.
Santos misses his first shot by a hair, and his second by a bit more. Ishkitik's shot leaves a splatter on Kneecap's armor.
Kneecapper suddenly finds himself in the ....excretions of the ground. It's... strange, disquieting... It's Will save inducing.
The carrion wheel senses an opening and lashes out with two tentacles:
ATK 1:1d20 + 16 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 16 - 4 = 28 MISS
ATK 2:1d20 + 16 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 16 - 4 = 15 MISS
Clearly, it's not used to such armor.
The other rambles forward to whip a tentacle at Yuqab:
ATK 1:1d20 + 16 ⇒ (12) + 16 = 28 MISS
ROUND 3:
Ash: Go
Ishkitik: Go
Kneepuncher: Will (No turn until resolved.)
Santos: Go
Yuqab: Hit
Gunnz: Go
Carrion Wheels: TBD
******************************************
TACTICAL MAP GM’s Tracker Party Conditions: Inspiring Boost: , Get'em: Red Gravity:High Atmosphere: Toxic Lighting: Normal Battlefield terrain: Anything other than white is Difficult Terrain
In what feels like a moment of deja vu, Gunnz shoots one dead just as Ishkitik takes aim. The shirren and her drone take a bite out of the remaining one though!
ROUND 3:
Ash: Go
Ishkitik: Hit
Kneepuncher: Will (No turn until resolved.)
Santos: Go
Yuqab: Hit
Gunnz: Kill
Carrion Wheels: TBD
******************************************
TACTICAL MAP GM’s Tracker Party Conditions: Inspiring Boost: , Get'em: Red Gravity:High Atmosphere: Toxic Lighting: Normal Battlefield terrain: Anything other than white is Difficult Terrain
Uhlsemet approaches, nodding and signing. He hands the party a squamous plant from his garden that bonds to active armor. At least that's what it seems he's saying. Life science or engineering to figure out what it does.
He signs something that makes you feel like that fight was an omen of things to come.
The problem at hand is the fact that hundreds of miles of hilly terrain separate Grindhold from the Tooth Menhirs, where Uhlsemet found it. This means you will need to either return to the starship or use a vehicle to cover the distance. Scanners still don’t function within Aucturn’s atmosphere, so you'll have to survey the terrain with your own eyes as you travel. Mechanically the same, though I'll take a Perception check for your scouting...
Human Female Operative (ace pilot)-10 (Spaceship speed +1 from sky jockey); init +10; SP 84/110; HP 84/84; Res 12/12; Reroll 0/1; Cloak 10/10; mk 1 healing serum 1 KAC29 ; EAC 28; (2d6 electrostatic field); DR 5/-; elect/10; Fort 8; Ref 13; Will 9; (immune to confusion)Perc +16; SM +16; Stealth +23 :T10=34 for trick shot)
"I don't know about you, but I would feel better flying there. Walking will take forever and the environmental protections on our armor - or our belts - won't last forever." she points out.
