[Gameday XIII] SFS1 #3-21: Frozen Ambitions: Renevval's Blight (Inactive)

Game Master cmlobue

"Possibly a tactical advantage. I shall consider it in my next weapons purchase."

A lot of my PCs get an arc pistol. I've been inconvenienced by the move action more than once.

I pretty much always get a merciful fusion on my weapons, but for some reason I thought it was a move action to switch it. Didn't realize it was only swift.

Mossgrove grumbles about litterers while cleaning up the campsite. While he appreciates Dawnfriend's... enthusiasm... the camp looks to have been cold enough that there was no lingering hazard.

The pack contains two brown nanite hypopens, a thunderstrike sonic pistol, a trailblazer weapon fusion seal (4th), a sniper scope, and two mk 2 serums of healing. Mossgrove is happy for you to take them as long as you clean them up.

There doesn't seem to be any sign of the people who left this here, so once the site is clean, Mossgrove continues the patrol.

>Slide 5

A deep gloom clings to the roots and branches of trees in this well-shaded portion of the forest. Deep gashes mar the trees’ clustered trunks. White sap oozes from their wounds, and psychic cries of pain echo through the thicket. Glimmering, winged creatures flit among the branches of the trees, using their curved blades to strike the ravaged trunk of the tallest sapling and laughing with cruel glee.

Mossgrove clutches his head and tells you that the trees are crying out in anguish. The Starfinders feel uncomfortable, especially those with telepathic abilities. Two small flying creatures to the south who were cutting into a tree notice the group and turn to attack.

Mossgrove moves forward and casts a spell at the creature in orange.

Damage: 2d10 ⇒ (7, 10) = 17
Will Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Enraged, the creature moves forward and swings a blade at the ghoran.

Basic Spined Blade: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
Piercing Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

Round 1 - bolded may go

Mossgrove (-5 HP)
Orange (-17 HP)
Obozaya
Aluradux
Yellow
Tofana
Dawnfriend

"Oooh the poor trees! They're screaming out in pain. It's those little guys. They're hurting the trees."

mysticism, identify creature: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Aluradux pulls out her pistol and fires on the nearest creature.

arc pistol vs orange: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
damage, electrical, nonlethal: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Lot of good stuff in that pack. Tofana will request the sniper scope and will carry away anything not claimed by someone else.

Is the map correct? The orange one that attacked Mossgrove with a blade looks like he's 30 away. If it's up by Mossgrove, then move Obo back, because I wouldn't want to provoke an AoO.

Obo looks over the supplies. "I have a healing serum." Dawnfriend says, "And I can heal and cast lesser remove condition, so don't need them." He hands out one hypopen and one serum each to Aluradux and Tofana.

As the creatures move to attack, Obozaya strides forward. She almost pulls her automatic rifle, but at the last second grabs the blindmark rifle instead and fires at the injured creature.

Blindmark rifle attack vs orange's EAC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Blindmark rifle damage (sonic, nonlethal): 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (2, 1) + 4 = 7

You are correct, I forgot to move the creature. Feel free to adjust Obo's location.

Obozaya and Aluradux both zap the orange-clad creature.

The other creature also moves toward Mossgrove and takes a swing.

Basic Spined Blade: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22
Piercing Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

The ghoran looks more woozy than you would expect for such a relatively light blow.

Round 1 - bolded may go

Mossgrove (-8 HP, ???)
Orange (-28 HP)
Obozaya
Aluradux
Yellow
Tofana
Dawnfriend

Mysticism: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (12) + 16 = 28

Identify Creature (Mysticism?): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 24
Not sure if I get the library chip bonus from researching fae earlier or not ... but that's hopefully a success.

Dawnfriend shrieks as he sees Mossgrove taking damage and draws the wounds into himself.

Free Action: Lifelink - Take 5 of Mossgrove's damage as HP damage to me.

He casts shield other at Mossgrove, so that he will take part of the damage for his nufriend moving forward, and then runs into the forest, trying to get around the creatures to get into a position to help the others stop them.

Using my Hyper 1/day ability to get a double move, which should let me move through the difficult terrain to get into that flank position (assuming the forest area isn't greater difficult terrain).

Tofana steps around the corner and raises her rifle. She sights through the new scope and fires at the fey on the right.

Shobhad horizon striker, tactical v KAC, orange: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 ... damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 2) + 3 = 6 SP 100 ft. — 2 rounds 1 2 Analog, sniper (500 ft.), unwieldy

Dawnfriend recognizes the spell as mind thrust i and these creatures as lurkers in light, fey with the extraplanar trait. They seem weaker than usual for their species. 3 questions

He then moves to protect Mossgrove.

Tofana takes a shot at the orange-clad lurker, who seems to shrug off part of the damage.

Mossgrove steps back and pulls a vial from his pouch.

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

He definitely looks worse for wear.

The creature in orange doesn't seem to want anything else to do with you, as it backs away from Dawnfriend before flying away.

Round 2 - bolded may go

Mossgrove (-3 HP, ???, shielded)
Orange (-39 HP, fleeing)
Obozaya
Aluradux
Yellow
Tofana
Dawnfriend (-5 HP)

Any special defenses/weaknesses/immunities? (Not sure if that counts as 1 or three questions.) Any special attacks?

For a moment, Obozaya looks like they want to shoot after the fleeing cowardly creature, but then turns her attention to the remaining one.

Using Deadly aim
Blindmark rifle attack w/ Deadly Aim vs. yellow's EAC: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 - 2 = 6
Blindmark rifle damage (sonic, nonlethal) w/ Deadly Aim: 2d4 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 2) + 4 + 2 = 10
Distracted by her annoyance at the fleeing creature, her aim is not very deadly.

arc pistol vs yellow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
damage, electrical, nonlethal: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

"Leave the trees alone you awful, awful creature."

Aluradux is a bit too upset to aim properly and misses her target.

Lurkers in light. Had a really bad experience with one once.

Lurkers in Light have DR 5/cold iron and immunity to blindness. They are invisible in bright light and can teleport from one area of bright light to another.

And everyone has bad experiences with them. Nice of Paizo to throw them in an area with dim light for a change, though.

Neither Starfinder gets a good shot at the remaining fey.

The yellow-clad lurker 'steps' toward Dawnfriend and hacks at him.

Basic Spined Blade: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29
Piercing Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Round 2 - bolded may go

Mossgrove (-3 HP, ???, shielded)
Orange (-39 HP, fleeing)
Obozaya
Aluradux
Yellow
Tofana
Dawnfriend (-8 HP)

Did the lurker's attack bypass SP? Or am I at -3 SP & -5 HP?

Dawnfriend takes the remaining damage from unfriended Mossgrove. Another -3 HP and Mossgrove heals up to full

"You are a little grumpy. I think you need a nap and a hug..." He moves to hug the creature.

Cast fatigue
Touch attack vs EAC: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
If that hit, then Fort save DC 15 or fatigued for 5 rounds

Tofana sights in on the remaining lurker and fires.

Shobhad horizon striker, tactical v KAC, yellow: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 ... damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 4) + 3 = 11 SP 100 ft. — 2 rounds 1 2 Analog, sniper (500 ft.), unwieldy

Sorry, yes, stamina damage to Dawnfriend. I should probably stop running all three systems at once.

Dawnfriend heals Mossgrove further and tries to tire out the fey.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Zzz...

Tofana takes a shot, barely missing the now-tired enemy.

Mossgrove injects himself with the substance, then retreats further.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 7

It doesn't seem to have helped much.

The enemy in orange disappears into the trees.

Round 3 - bolded may go

Mossgrove (???, shielded)
Orange (-39 HP, fleeing)
Obozaya
Aluradux
Yellow (fatigued 5 rounds)
Tofana
Dawnfriend (-3 SP, -8 HP)

It made the save, so not fatigued.

Obozaya lowers her gun and steps up to the lurker, flanking with Dawnfriend, and punches it.

Static shock pad attack w/ flanking vs yellow EAC: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 2 = 18
Static shock pad damage (electricity): 1d4 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Aluradux decides to get serious and fires several mystic bolts at the creature.

magic missile vs yellow: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 3, 3) + 3 = 11

Obozaya smacks the faerie while Aluradax tosses some magical energy at it.

The creature begins lashing out wildly.

Basic Spined Blade vs. Obozaya: 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 12 - 4 = 18
Piercing Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Basic Spined Blade vs. Dawnfriend: 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 12 - 4 = 28
Piercing Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Obo dodges, but Dawnfriend takes a solid hit.

Mossgrove is unlikely to do anything other than keep trying Fort Save: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 2 + 1 = 18.

Round 3 - bolded may go

Mossgrove (???, shielded)
Orange (-39 HP, fleeing)
Obozaya
Aluradux
Yellow (-23 HP)
Tofana
Dawnfriend (-15 SP, -8 HP)

"Stop it!" Dawnfriend says, "You are not being helpful!" He goes in again to try to hug the creature.

Grapple attack w/ grappler racial bonus vs. KAC+8: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 3 + 2 = 14

The creature does not seem to want a hug.

Obozaya uses the distraction from Dawnfriend to punch it again. Repeatedly.

Full attack
Shock pad attack 1 w/ flanking vs yellow EAC: 1d20 + 7 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 2 - 4 = 22
Shock pad damage (electricity): 1d4 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Shock pad attack 2 w/ flanking vs yellow EAC: 1d20 + 7 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 7 + 2 - 4 = 23
Shock pad damage (electricity): 1d4 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Aluradux attempts to finish the fight without killing.

arc pistol vs yellow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
damage, electrical, nonlethal: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Hugging does not seem to work on the fae, but punching does. Obo leaves it weak enough that Aluradux' shot knocks it to the ground, unconscious.

Dawnfriend (-15 SP, -8 HP)

You have an unconscious fey and a weakened guide. Now what?

Tofana walks up to the fey, and kicks its knife away. She points her rifle at its head. "Does it have interrogation value?"

Medicine: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Okay, going to use my shirt re-roll on that. I have a nova.

Medicine re-roll w/ nova: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 1 = 18

Dawnfriend first almost misses how serious Mossgrove's condition is but, as soon as he does realize it, he casts lesser restoration to ... um ... restore their guide's health.

He looks down at his own wounds. "This is pretty minor ... let me just use my medkit."

I'll take 20 to heal 5 HP. I'll just carry the SP damage for now. I'll save my RP for channels if needed.

Tofana walks up to the fey, and kicks its knife away. She points her rifle at its head. "Does it have interrogation value?"

"No! Don't hurt him. Put that rifle away. He's not a threat anymore." Aluradux gives the trees a concerned look. "We need to see if we can help the trees."

Is there anything we can do for the trees? not sure what sort of check we need but here's a life science just in case.

life science: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (11) + 19 = 30

She attempts to telepathically calm the injured trees. **We're here to help. Please hold on.**

Tofana puts up her rifle, slinging it over her shoulder.

Observing the skitter's ministrations, he says, "Dawnfriend, maybe you should avoid wrestling if there is further combat. Stay by me and we will shoot whatever Obozaya engages. How is Mossgrove?"

Dawnfriend hugs Tofana's leg. "Ah, thanks so much for that awesome suggestion. Yeah, I'm just not sure they were in the hugging mood, ya know? Maybe once we heal the trees."

He looks at Aluradux. "I can cast shared language if we need help talking to them."

After receiving Dawnfriend's spell, Mossgrove recovers quickly from the toxin. He glances at the vial in his hand. "Expired in 319. No wonder it didn't work. Medicinals are something else we do not have as much of as we need." He then moves to examine the trees with Aluradux. "The damage is superficial," Mossgrove says, and Aluradux agrees with this assessment. "It will heal on its own, as long as we can keep attacks like this from happening again."

The tortured sapling projects a feeling of gratitude to the Starfinders using its telepathy. It shakes its branches to drop down two large seedpods that function as cover seeds.

After defeating the fey, the team can investigate the central part of the thicket. Here, they find that the wounded kinwoods leak a sap that looks similar to the sample provided by Ehu Hadif.

Tofana reloads her rifle, and takes the fey's spineblade before moving on. She suggests Dawnfriend take the gifted seeds.

Did the spinebkade have a scabbard? If so she takes that too. What can you tell us about the spineblade?

In the central Grove she keeps watch while the others examine the flora.

Basic spined blade. No info about a scabbard, but it seems like the sort of weapon you would not want just flopping around, so I'll say you get one.

Life science: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 2 = 27
Mysticism: 1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 16 + 2 = 31

Dawnfriend shakes his head. "This is the same illness that Edufriend told us about, and that has been affecting the other kinwoods! It is definitely magical in nature."

I assume I can't target the trees with remove condition or lesser restoration or anything similar. Would it have any affect on alleviating the symptoms, even for a brief period?

Casting spells on the tree could provide them some temporary relief, but will have no mechanical effect on the adventure.

Dawnfriend shakes his head. "This is the same illness that Edufriend told us about, and that has been affecting the other kinwoods! It is definitely magical in nature."

life science DC17: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (17) + 19 = 36

"I agree. We need to find who or what is causing this. I don't think it was those fey."

Could the fey have caused this or was it something else?

Tofana listens to the conversation while continuing her watch.

Dawnfriend frowns. "I could soothe a few of the trees for a moment, but it really will not help them for long. We really must help them all, or the illness will keep coming back."

He turns to Mossgrove. "Do you have any ideas on the source of this illness? Any other leads we can investigate."

"I don't know, though these creatures don't seem powerful enough to cause the damage we have seen across the forest. But the blight has spread since the last time I entered the thicket. Would you agree to his terms a bit longer so they can accompany him deeper into the forest?"

As you continue following the ghoran, a building comes into view in the
middle of a clearing. Your path to continue your investigation takes them through the ailing forest.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

Dawnfriend points toward the building and says to Mossgrove, "Do you know what that is? Does someone live there? Maybe they've seen something."

could conceivably hit that perception DC on a 19 with aids from Alaradux and Mossgrove.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 Not with that roll.

Tofana walks along with her rifle cradled muzzle down in the crook of one arm. When they sight the building she tips the muzzle up and sideways so that she now holds it in both hands.

[perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

Aluradux is too busy paying attention to the glitch gremlin in her bag to notice anything.

"Whether he knows what it is or not, let's check it out."

Tofana marches to the building door, looks around, and tries to open it.

Perception, unusual stuff, traps etc : 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Obozaya also notices nothing as the group proceeds.

This part of the forest is affected by the collective trauma of the kinwoods being harvested and processed in the nearby mill. Creatures passing through this area experience tangible pain as a result of their anguished psychic energy.

Damage: 4d10 + 2 ⇒ (10, 9, 8, 3) + 2 = 32
Will DC 15 half, counts as mind-affecting and pain for any modifiers

Obozaya Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Mossgrove Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

The vesk grunts in pain (anything more would be undignified). Mossgrove is also visibly wincing, though he is more used to the kinwoods.

Obo is at 0 stamina and full HP. Mossgrove has no SP as an NPC, and is around half HP.

Will save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
16 damage, I assume it goes to SP first ... so clears out my SP and gives me 1 more point of HP damage

Do we know about this "nearby mill" (is that the building) or was that a bit of OOC knowledge that slipped into the text? I assume resting outside in the forest will just get us more damage, right?

"Oh, this forest is so sad it hurts!" Dawnfriend laments. To Tofana he says, "Maybe we can find a place inside to rest?" He calls out. "Hello!"

will save DC15: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

"Oh this is awful. The poor trees. We need to stop whatever they're doing in that building up ahead." Aluradux tries to telepathingally project to the trees that help is on the way.

Is there anything we can do do calm the trees?

Nothing you can do to help here. We'll just say it looks mill-like from here.

As Tofana is investigating for traps, Dawnfriend opens the door and calls inside, "Hello!" as he walks in. "We are friends, looking for a place rest and take a nap, to recover from the sad trees! Can you help us, please?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

Anything people want to do before barging into the building?

I asked if we felt it would be a bad idea to rest outside. I didn't see a response, but I'm assuming we'd just take more damage. If that isn't the impression I'm getting, then I'd recommend resting before proceeding.