[SFS] 1-08 and 7-07 Arniselle Double Feature

Game Master Kludde

Amy takes a good blast at the monster, and when Dirk and Twila lays into it, it quickly goes down.

Kalhoun and Stell focus on the last enemy, and both manage to injure the underwater predator, but not enough to take it out.

Slam, Stell: 1d20 + 16 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 16 - 4 = 321d8 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
Crit damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Slam, Stell: 1d20 + 16 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 16 - 4 = 211d8 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

---R4
Kalhoun
Amy
---R5
Stell
Dirk
Twila
---R5
Monster (Blue DEAD)
Monster (red 47)
---

Amy delays until just before the monster to see if she has to use shooting stars again.

Stell withdraws from melee with the sea monster, after receiving serious wounds requiring immediate attention. She has 7 hp left. She'll draw a serum of healing as she hydrogets away. She is using the withdraw action to avoid AOOs.

Her rifle out of juice, Twila-5 drops it and draws her tactical rotating pistol as she somersaults closer.

Trick Attack (Acrobatics): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22
DC = 20 + Target's CR
Tactical Rotating Pistol, underwater property: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Piercing damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 4) + 3 = 8
Trick Attack damage, if applicable: 3d8 ⇒ (1, 8, 8) = 17
If both Trick Attack and Attack roll hit, the target is staggered until the start of Twila-5's next turn.

(She will pick up the pinhole rift rifle as soon as combat is finished. If there's time, she'll immediately swap out the battery for a fresh one as well.)

blue was still on the map?

Dirk swims to the other creature.

athletics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

He stabs his his spear. But kelp gets in his eye.

"Ack"

attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Kalhoun recognizes a team bordering on rout, and continues to attune while firing off two more shots.

Underwater Thunderstrike Blindmark Rifle: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 9 - 4 = 22 vs. EAC
Sonic Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6

Underwater Thunderstrike Blindmark Rifle: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 9 - 4 = 20 vs. EAC
Sonic Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 3) = 6

"Fall back to behind my position. I can still take a lot of punishment."

Stell swing, but misses by a hair.

Puzzled as to why Stell's last attack missed with a result of 17 (presumably vs flat-footed), but an earlier attack Twila botted Stell on 2/28 hit with a 15 attack result (also flat-footed). Both weapons used have the underwater modification, so no penalty for underwater should have applied to either.

@Stell: because I messed up the Twila hit - sorry for that.

Amy ponders her timing as Twila and and Kalhoun cover Stell's retreat with solid hits. Dirk misses.

---R4
Kalhoun
Amy
---R5
Stell
Dirk
Twila
---R5
Monster (Blue DEAD)
Monster (red 67)
---

Amy fires another volley of bolts
ss: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 1, 1) + 3 = 7

Ugh! That probably won't be enough

---
It wasn't
---Evil voiceover

With Stell retreated and Dirk presenting himself as the new target, the monstrous sea creature looks as ravenous as ever

Slam, Dirk: 1d20 + 16 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 16 - 4 = 291d8 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Slam, Dirk: 1d20 + 16 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 16 - 4 = 131d8 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

---R5
Kalhoun
Amy
---R6
Stell
Dirk
Twila
---R6
Monster (Blue DEAD)
Monster (red 73)
---

Stell drinks a serum of healing to take the edge off the brutal blow she just suffered.

Serum of Healing Mk 1: 1d8 ⇒ 2

It only helped a little bit. She made a mental note to get more powerful healing serums.

Again, Twila-5 tumbles forward to aim another shot at the surviving worm.

Trick Attack (Acrobatics): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31
DC = 20 + Target's CR
Tactical Rotating Pistol, underwater property: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Piercing damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 1) + 3 = 7
Trick Attack damage, if applicable: 3d8 ⇒ (6, 5, 2) = 13
If both Trick Attack and Attack roll hit, the target is staggered until the start of Twila-5's next turn.

Amy swims over to Stell to help heal her. ((Where is she on the map))

mc2: 3d8 + 3 ⇒ (4, 8, 7) + 3 = 22

Dirk swings at red.

attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

damage: 1d6 + 9 + 1d2 ⇒ (6) + 9 + (2) = 17

"Agh"

Kalhoun continues unloading into the remaining monster as his attunement approaches its peak.

Underwater Thunderstrike Blindmark Rifle: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 9 - 4 = 20 vs. EAC
Sonic Damage"]2d4[/dice]

Underwater Thunderstrike Blindmark Rifle: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 9 - 4 = 14 vs. EAC
Sonic Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6

Stell is licking her wounds, while Amy administers first aid. Twila still covers the monster, but misses this time, as does Dirk. Kalhoun scores a reverberating hit that tears off some of the monster's tentacle, and that's enough for it to conclude it's not having dinner here.

The monstrosity flees down into the abyss...

Combat over

Stell thanks Amy for the healing, which fixes most of the damage, leaving some bruises and sore spots. Stell would like to rest a bit before moving on, as that fight took a lot out of her stamina.

Twila-5 nods her assent and takes up a guard position while Stell takes a breather. She's glad Amy was able to help Stell staunch the wounds.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26
Looking for threats.

Amy sticks close to Stell in case more healing is required. Besides, she's a fan.

Kalhoun slowly circles the perimeter, searching for any further danger.

Kalhoun circles the perimetwr and notices a dimly glowing substance smeared along one of the metal poles supporting the spire.

Beyond the trench, An ancient ruin sprawls atop a massive stone platform that rises above the ocean floor on towering metal supports. The focus of this ruin is a slender spire of stone and shell that rises at least 50 feet and is topped by a strange-looking dome. Around its base is a series of smaller structures, their walls half-buried in silt. The entire site is coated in coral, barnacles, seaweed, and other aquatic growths and ocean detritus.

The once grand entry to the lower ruins is buried under centuries of silt and ocean debris. A few squat stone structures rise from this morass, their walls caked with barnacles, algae, and other growths. Between these structures are two wide planting beds, now an overflowing mass of arctic sea pens and tangled kelp that rises over 30 feet. In the distance looms the entrance to a cracked and crooked spire.

There's a sea green morlamaw here, tending to the Kelp gardens and completely ignoring the Starfinders.

Dirk looks a the substance.

Medicine: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

"Any ideas as to what this is?"

Life Science: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Twila-5 swims up to take a closer look.

DC 25 Medicine: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29

"Hmm. It's the sap of a cephalume. That's a kind of humanoid squid. Interesting. Well, now we know to watch out for them. I have no idea if they'll be a threat to us, though."

I'll let a CHA-based character make first contact with the morlamaw.

Amy swims over to the morlamaw to have a closer look at what they are doing.

Spending an RP to recover stamina after a rest.

Stell takes pictures of the various features of the ruin before moving toward the Morlamaw. Having learned that music is important to Morlamaw culture, she takes out her synth-violin, adjusts it for underwater performance, and plays a melody she developed after her first contact with the walrus-like people. She plays a playful melody in a major key and shifts her body as her hydrojets propel her to weave back and forth with dance-like movements.

Profession (musician): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30

When she gets close enough and finishes her melody, Stell calls out, "Greetings! I am Stell, a visitor from the Starfinders. We are trying to locate a group led by a Morlamaw who we believe came to this place. We've not heard from them and are concerned for their safety. Have you seen any people here exploring recently?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26

Amy does an improvised dance to Stell's music

uw dance: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

"Yes, we have worked with Suulhu-Hurr and their crew in the past, and have returned to assist further. Please tell us what you can."

Diplomacy, Aid Another: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27

Despite Stell's silver tongue, the morlamaw is not responding, instead staring groggily, muttering some incomprehensible words and altogether giving a vacant expression. The morlamaw is wearing a starfinder vest, though.

Mysticism or Medicine might help

That's strange. Swimming cautiously up to the Mormalaw, Twila-5 closely inspects the individual. "Hey, are you okay? I'm Twila-5. I'm going to do a quick medical examination of you, unless you decline. Okay?" She pauses a moment to give them time to respond. Barring a refusal, she commences with a basic med check.

Medicine: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26
Does this Mormalaw match the description of any of our missing team? Is there a name tag or other identification on the Starfinder vest or anywhere else on their person?

Stell is not used to having a great performance produce no response. While Amy inspects the docile Morlamaw, Stell watches the area of any threats.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

"Watch out Twila"

Amy swims around the morlamaw
mysticism: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

Twila checks on the Morlamaw - who fits the description of crewmember Asthemir - and concludes nothing less than that the aquatic resident is possessed by a ghost. Fortunately, she has the medical knowledge do drive out the possession and help Asthemir gain control of his faculties.

If only she had a cure for not speaking common.

Asthemir rambles in Morlamaw, and after getting nowhere for a while, he starts stammering and pantomining while making guttural sounds, then saying something that sounds like 'Lekeetri', while pointing to a far area, and then saying 'Lyuurhoi', pointing in a different direction.

"Uhh... Can anybody translate? Asthemir here is possessed by a ghost. If we can translate into Morlamaw we ought to be able to exorcise it. Or we could look for Lekeetri and Iyuurhoi and see if they're faring any better."

They seem to be indicating where their crewmates are. Amy says. Unfortunately I only have Share Language not Comprehend Language

"I speak six other languages but not what we need," Stell says. She tries to interpret Asthemir's body language.

Sense Motive, skill expertise: 1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 8 + (5) = 16

"Share Language might be useful, but let's find the others first. It kinda looks like Asthemir isn't inclined to go anywhere, at least for now."

Twila-5 is inclined to search for Iyuurhoi next, if we don't have a good way to take care of Asthemir yet.

"Beats me...I don't have magic!"

Kalhoun's hireling tries a different tack for figuring out the mormalaw's intentions.

Culture: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Stell tries to interpret the Morlamaw's body language. For sure, he is friendly, and isn't trying to 'bird the flipper', which would be rude. He seems genuinely unsettled, and as soon as Twila shows the first sign of being inclined to moves for Lyuurhoi's location, the Morlamaw shouts Lyuurhoi! Lyuurhoi! and moves to the door himself.

Somewhat startled, Twila-5 steps aside to let the possessed Morlamaw lead the way. "Uhh... Okay. Show us." Aside, to the Starfinders on her team, she mouths: "Watch for traps."

How far apart are the two directions pointed to by Asthemir. If not too far apart so we end up split up, it would be good for some of us to investigate where Lekeetri was supposed to be.

Since we all saw the briefing, we know that Iyuuhoi is a kalo witchwarper and Lekeetri is a ijtikri envoy. There is another team member named Pri-Pri, a celephume mystic.

They seem to be indicating where their crewmates are. Amy says. Unfortunately I only have Share Language not Comprehend Language

I'm not clear why share language would not work here. The spell says, "The target can read, understand, and communicate to the best of its ability in up to three languages that you already know." As I read it, if you cast that on Asthemir, (the target) he could understand common and communicate common. Isn't that what we need?

'Lyuurhoi' and 'Lekeetri' are on opposite sides of the map. Also, what Stell is saying about languages is correct.

Twila leads the way to the room called out by the Morlamaw. The door readily opens to a room filled with two dozen illusory images of stellar events and planets, all hovering in the room in a jumble.

A few of them depict interesting stellar alignments while the others depict four different planets - one of them is clearly Arniselle.

There's a kalo wearing stylish but tattered clothes swimming back and forth while examining the images and muttering to herself in Kalo.

Culture: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31

Stell recognizes the planet Wealdrid, while noticing the other two deserve a report the the Starfinders. She makes a mental note to take pictures of it when the emergency is past.

She calls out, "Iyuuhoi, what's wrong? We've been worried about you!"

She doesn't speak Kalo but she hopes she understands common.

"Blast. I've gotta get a universal translator." I know eight languages for crying out loud, but of course none of them apply.

Physical Science DC 20: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

Twila-5 is too busy bemoaning her linguistic limitations to realize what the planets and stellar alignments.

I was thinking that if the target is possessed, it would only be using their native language or the native language of the posessor but, the more I dwell on it, the more I can conclude that you are correct.

Amy, being an astronomer/astrophysicist and currently working on her first Doctorate, is completely fascinated by the images. She starts taking images for later analysis.

phys sci: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

Maybe I should have rolled Profession Astronomer

Amy documents the images while the Kalo keeps investigating the projections in amazement.

Unlike Asthemir, the Kalo seems to actually understand what Stell is saying. That being said, the aquatic creature is completely distracted by the fascinating view that is the stellar projection. Wouldn't you believe it she says such a discovery

She isn't possessed, but thorougly fascinated. Bluff, Culture, Diplomacy, or Intimidate can be used, or a more physical approach with Acrobatics or Athletics (the latter two are slightly harder)

"We want to help, can you settle down for a second please?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

Dirk seems confident in his request.