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

Game Master Kludde

Dirk actives his solar weapon.

"Like they said, move back!"

Don't hurt me! Don't hurt me! It was all Oshessa's plan, it was her who poisoned the other Kalo, and it was her whose plan it was to indoctrinate and convert this last surviving member! She is terrible! She'll kill you all! And.. Teltham seems to have a moment of clarity She'll kill me as well if I don't stop you!

The Morlamaw foolishly attacks!

---R1
Gold-Flecked
Kalhoun
---R1
Teltham
---R1
Stell
Vega
Twila-5
Dirk
---

I will be keeping my promise, then...

Trick: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (17) + 21 = 38. Flat-Footed for 1 round on a success.

Holy Underwater Living Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14, for 1d6 + 2 + 3d8 ⇒ (2) + 2 + (4, 7, 7) = 22 Electricity damage.

"Not if we kill her first." Or you, you poor, terrified fool. Twila-5 abandons counting and takes aim.

Can't we just subdue her? Vega protests. This one that is, not the real villain

"I concur. Stunning force only."

Kalhoun moves to the best effective range of his rifle, flips the switch to reduce the power to avoid a lethal blow, and fires.

Underwater Thunderstrike Blindmark Rifle: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16 vs. EAC
Nonlethal Sonic Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6

Gold-Flecked puts Teltham on the wrong footing, but fails to follow up. Kalhoun does take advantage, though, and hits with his underwater rifle.

Teltham moves closer and blasts Twila with a mental jolt

Mind Thrust, Twila: 2d10 ⇒ (1, 10) = 11 DC 13 Will for half

---R1
Stell
Vega
Twila-5
Dirk
---R2
Gold-Flecked
Kalhoun
---R2
Teltham (6)
---

DC 13 Will vs. 11 Mind Thrust damage: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 2 = 27 Success for 5 damage.
Includes +2 racial bonus vs. mind-affecting effects

Ow. We're trying to help you, fool. Twila-5 sighs, then backflips to get farther away from Teltham. As soon as she lands, she plants her feet and aims for his shoulder area, hoping to incapacitate the guard.

Trick Attack, Acrobatics: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (9) + 17 = 26
DC = 20 + target's CR
Pinhole Rift Rifle vs. Teltham, nonlethal: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 10 - 4 = 21
Nonlethal slashing damage: 1d10 ⇒ 9
Trick attack damage, if applicable: 3d8 ⇒ (2, 1, 7) = 10
If both Trick attack and the strike hit, the target is Staggered until the start of my next turn.

Vega takes the opportunity and makes a dash for the cage, taking advantage of the 3-D environment.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

I'm assuming after the door was opened, Stell got a telepathic message to join the fun. She would find an excuse to conclude her conversation with Oshessa and work her way back to the others.

Stell enters in time to overhear the situation and draws her static arc pistol, set to stun and squeezes off a shot, hoping the underwater mod works and she doesn't end up frying herself. As usually, she plays it casual as if observing, then fires from the hip.

Trick Attack, Bluff, Skill Expertise: 1d20 + 15 + 4 + 1d6 - 20 ⇒ (16) + 15 + 4 + (4) - 20 = 19 = CR affected.
Success: Target is flat-footed against the trick attack; if attack hits add Trick Attack Damage and target is flat-footed until the start of Stell's next round.
Trick Attack Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Static Arc Pistol, vs EAC: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Damage, E, nonlethal: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 (range: 50')

Gold-Flecked Black continues to try and fry the morlamaw.

Trick: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (3) + 21 = 24. Flat-Footed for 1 round on a success.

Holy Underwater Living Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26, for 1d6 + 2 + 3d8 ⇒ (2) + 2 + (4, 4, 4) = 16 Electricity damage.

Dirk moves towards the creature and activates his solar weapon.

"You're in for it now!"

double move

Kalhoun attunes and fires another stunning blast.

Underwater Thunderstrike Blindmark Rifle: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18 vs. EAC
Nonlethal Sonic Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6

Twila deals a literally staggering blow to Teltham, while Vega makes a break for the cage. Twila then adds to the confusion with an arc blast, followed by another shocking hit from Gold-Flecked.

Dirk moves in, and Kalhoun takes advantage of the situation by landing a loud hit.

Teltham takes a swipe with his tusk at Vega

Tusk, Vega: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 231d6 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

---R2
Stell
Vega
Twila-5
Dirk
---R3
Gold-Flecked
Kalhoun
---R3
Teltham (41 - Staggered, FF)
---

Gold-Flecked Black keeps trying to shock the morlamaw.

Trick: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (9) + 21 = 30. Flat-Footed for 1 round on a success.

Holy Underwater Living Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21, for 1d6 + 2 + 3d8 ⇒ (5) + 2 + (7, 3, 4) = 21 Electricity damage.

And there goes all of Vega's stamina. She backs off a bit (guarded step).

If I have to kill you to free that Kalo ... so be it. Last warning

She fires a cold energy ray.
er: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20 cold: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Next time, it'll be bolts of force

Gold-Flecked once again shocks the morlawa, and causing some of the smaller fish in the area to drift up in paralysis. Vega backs up and sends a ray of cold it, which causes a bit of frostbite on the morlamaw's flipper

---R2
Stell
Vega
Twila-5
Dirk
---R3
Gold-Flecked
Kalhoun
---R3
Teltham (64 - Staggered, FF)
---

Regardless of the others' stance on this opponent, Kalhoun does not want to kill. He will try to judge when a shot from him will safely knock out the mormalaw and fire then, or after all the other Starfinders have acted if that moment does not arrive this turn.

Fully attuned, he has something in his back pocket in case things go pear-shaped.

Medicine: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23 (to try to judge when the mormalaw has 8 or fewer HP remaining)

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

"Come on! Stop fighting and let us help you. We don't want to kill you. We'll defend you against your leader." Stell tries to negotiate an end to the fight, although she doubts her words will have much effect with all the attacks shocking and freezing Teltham.

Stell fires another static arc shot to try to subdue the morlemaw.

Trick Attack, Bluff, Skill Expertise: 1d20 + 15 + 4 + 1d6 - 20 ⇒ (8) + 15 + 4 + (4) - 20 = 11 = CR affected.
Success: Target is flat-footed against the trick attack; if attack hits add Trick Attack Damage and target is flat-footed until the start of Stell's next round.
Trick Attack Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Static Arc Pistol, vs EAC: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Damage, E, non-lethal: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 (range: 50')

Twila-5 tumbles acrobatically backwards through the water, landing in a spot where she has line of sight on Teltham and through the door into Oshessa's quarters. Planting her feet, she aims for a flipper to avoid killing him.

Trick Attack, Acrobatics: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (8) + 17 = 25
DC = 20 + target's CR
Pinhole Rift Rifle vs. Teltham, nonlethal: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 10 - 4 = 13
Nonlethal slashing damage: 1d10 ⇒ 7
Trick attack damage, if applicable: 3d8 ⇒ (3, 1, 8) = 12
If both Trick attack and the strike hit, the target is Staggered until the start of my next turn.

She glances quickly out the door and listens for signs of approaching Morlamaw(s).

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

Dirk swings at the one near him.

Melee solar weapon (minor muon crystal: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

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

Kalhoun medical insights tell him that Teltham can take another few hits, even though his shot misses.

Stell proves Kalhoun right: the morlamaw is still standing after she hits, and after Twila misses and Dirk hits, the walrus-like creature is still up!

Not ready to surrender, Teltham screams No! Oshessa will punish me if I stand down! You have to leave!

Tusk, Dirk: 1d20 + 17 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 17 - 4 = 221d6 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
Tusk, Dirk: 1d20 + 17 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 17 - 4 = 181d6 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

---R3
Stell
Vega
Twila-5
Dirk
---R4
Gold-Flecked
Kalhoun
---R4
Teltham (77 - FF)
---

Same as last time, Kalhoun looks for the incapacitating shot.

Medicine: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16 (to try to judge when the mormalaw has 8 or fewer HP remaining)

Underwater Thunderstrike Blindmark Rifle: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13 vs. EAC
Nonlethal Sonic Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7

He certainly does not find it.

Do not worry - we intend to leave. After putting you down, and rescuing the kalo, that is...

Gold-Flecked Black once again tries to fry the morlamaw.

Trick: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (13) + 21 = 34. Flat-Footed for 1 round on a success.

Holy Underwater Living Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27, for 1d6 + 2 + 3d8 ⇒ (6) + 2 + (6, 5, 2) = 21 Electricity damage.

Extra crit damage: 1d6 + 2 + 3d8 ⇒ (1) + 2 + (4, 2, 2) = 11 Electricity.

Vega currently has no non-lethal options apart from punching the morlamaw in the face so she has another go at dashing past.
athletic: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

There isn't time for fancy tricks. Oshessa will surely be here any moment. Twila-5 simply fires, aiming again for a shoulder to incapacitate Teltham.

Pinhole Rift Rifle vs. Teltham, nonlethal: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 10 - 4 = 21
Nonlethal slashing damage: 1d10 ⇒ 1
Cue sad trombone sound

Kalhoun's missed shot almost collapses the cave, but then Gold-Flecked steps in, and scores a hit straight between the eyes of the morlamaw. Teltham collapses and stops resisting.

Vega, already on her way to the cage, is the first to reach it and find a Kalo, on the brink of unconsciousness and severely poisoned.

Are you... the Kalo mumbles looking at the various starfinder insignia have you come to rescue me? Is it over?

Gold-Flecked Black changes his skin to a soothing shade, and then gently telepathically caresses the kalo's mind.

Indeed. We are a Starfinder rescue squad, sent to find out what happened to you. I am Gold-Flecked Black. Who do I have the pleasure of addressing?

He also wordlessly hands over one of the Serums of Healing that the party found earlier - it isn't much, but it should help to take the edge off the kalo's trauma.

"Yes...hopefully it's over soon!"

Vega works to open the cage.

Have you out of there in a nano-jiffy

engineering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Since Twila-5 is the better medic, Stell holsters her pulse-caster and attends to Teltham, to make sure she will no die from her wounds. She has access to a basic medkit. DC to treat deadly wounds is 25. Success = you restore 1 Hit Point per level or CR of the creature you are treating.

Medicine: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Twila-5 gestures for Dirk to keep watch for Oshessa and hustles over to the Kalo, packing away her rifle and pulling out the healing serum they'd found earlier.

I'm assuming Vega's "Engineering 27 roll" gets him out of the cage.

"I'm Twila-5. This is a healing serum." She helps the Kalo drink it down.

Mk 3 healing serum for Kalo: 6d8 ⇒ (1, 3, 2, 2, 5, 8) = 21

The medical aid stabilizes the Kalo, but with the enormous amounts of poison and the result of his abysmal treatment, it's clear that it will take a few weeks of recovery before he can be any help. He is ready to talk, though I am Suulhu-Huur... of the Manta Corps. The kalo speaks with a phrasing of someone who is on the brink of losing his mind. The cult leader... terrible... killed as of us, except me. She poisoined me, subjected me to torture... tried to ot make me think I have gone insane... convert me to her cult. The other morlamaws... they're oblivious... don't know the real nature...

Suulhu-huur seems exhausted, and finally asks Permission to return to ship?

Gold-Flecked Black flashes red in indignation.

We will be sure to... deal... with their leader appropriately. For now, stay behind us - we do not want you to meet with an 'accident' on the way back to the ship.

the cuttlefish then turns his attention to the rest of the party.

I think we now have more than enough evidence to go have a... heart to heart... conversation with the cult leader.

I am honoured to meet you. I am Vega. And yes, permission granted.

"I'm so sorry we didn't arrive sooner." Twila-5's normally flat voice cracks as she speaks; there is a hardness to her typically blank expression. She offers her shoulder for Suulhu-Huur's support. "Keep him in the middle of us. Is there any evidence here that we should bring?" She glances around, but leaves any serious searching to those who aren't helping hold Suulhu-Huur upright.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
Can she spot anything that would be of interest to the Society or helpful in convincing the Morlamaws that Oshessa is a sadistic fraud?

Within the room, a number of (waterproofed) notebooks and datapads contain meticulous notes of the goings-on of the cult, the plans with Suulhu-Huur, as wel as a trove of information on Arniselle's life forms (which the Society would be quite interested in). There is no shortage of evidence of the maltreatment of the Manta Corps here.

Stell documents Suulhu-huur's words with her video camera, then hastily takes digital pictures of the pages of the notebooks to make sure the evidence is backed up.

"Do we think we've got enough evidence?"

Dirk looks around for anything else of use.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

"Yeah. Let's go. Time to find out how many of the Morlamaws are all-in on being evil. We should try to get to the airlock before stopping to talk, to ensure that we can get Suulhu-Huur out if it comes to a fight." Twila-5 begins aiding Suulhu-Huur toward the exit, ensuring that they're in the middle of the group. "Besides, I don't fancy getting stuck in the sound-proof room with Oshessa. She's bound to be more powerful than she seems, and witnesses will give her reason to hold back."

Kalhoun assumes a natural pose of authority. "Granted, soldier" he answers the kalo's request. Until they can return, he will stick close to the Manta Corps officer.

He assist in cataloging the evidence found in Oshessa's room while remaining alert for its owner.

If she is the sort of mystic I think she is, be prepared for a lot of pain - mind thrusts for instance

Vega collects the information on Arniselle's life forms for later publication.

She then turns to Kalhoun. Since we're both waterbreathers, and I'm ... um ... not very good at combat, I'll get him to the airlock. Best I can do is Force Bolt covering fire

Say. Aren't you the one with the named weapon? Muncher? I think we found it. Did anyone pick it up?

Muncher was Ushuul's Suulhu-huur says with a hint of sadness.

The group starts moving towards the exit, but Twila's fear indeed becomes true: as soon as they enter Oshessa's quarters, they see Oshessa, flanked by two of her cronies, smirking and reasdy to fight. So you think you've uncovered my little secret, have you? You will make a great sacrifice to the weeping knight!

---
Gold-Flecked
---
Oshessa
Crony
Crony
---
Twila
Stell
Dirk
Vega
Kalhoun
----

Gold-Flecked Black, with a certain degree of relish, tries to fry Blue.

Trick: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (4) + 21 = 25. Flat-Footed for 1 round on a success.

Holy Underwater Living Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12, for 1d6 + 2 + 3d8 ⇒ (4) + 2 + (6, 2, 2) = 16 Electricity damage.

Twila-5 slips out from under Suulhu-huur, hoping he can support himself. "Stay back. We've got this."

Suulhu Huur stays back as instructed, as Gold-Flecked manage to severely hurt one of the cronies.

As twilight foretold, the cultist use mental pain to attack the starfinders

Mind Thrust, gold-flecked: 4d10 ⇒ (4, 4, 7, 7) = 22 DC 16 Will save for half
Mind Thrust, vega: 4d10 ⇒ (5, 9, 3, 5) = 22 DC 16 Will save for half

Oshessa herself moves forward in the cramped room, and tries to inject Kalhoun with a poisoined needle

injection glove, Kalhoun: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 191d4 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

---R1
Twila
Stell
Dirk
Vega
Kalhoun
---R2
Gold-Flecked
---R2
Oshessa
Crony (Blue, 16)
Crony
----

The quarters are far closer than Kalhoun is comfortable with. He steps back and fires on Blue while attuning himself to energy.

Underwater Thunderstrike Blindmark Rifle: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14 vs. EAC
Sonic Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4

I know this might not be far enough to avoid an AOO, but his other choice of running into the open space is even worse.

Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20.

That stings!

Gold-Flecked Black's skin flashes a slightly bruised reddish-purple, and then he floats back, and shocks Blue again.

Trick: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (11) + 21 = 32. Flat-Footed for 1 round on a success.

Holy Underwater Living Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25, for 1d6 + 2 + 3d8 ⇒ (2) + 2 + (2, 6, 8) = 20 Electricity damage.

Stell draws her knife and takes the fight to Oshessa, feinting as she closes and then trying to slash the Morlamaw leader. She's not used to knife fighting underwater and although her knife helps compensate for the effects of the water, she still does not get a lot of force behind the attack. If it hits, it does minimum damage, alas.

Trick Attack, Bluff, Skill Expertise: 1d20 + 15 + 4 + 1d6 - 20 ⇒ (11) + 15 + 4 + (4) - 20 = 14 = CR affected.
Success: Target is flat-footed against the trick attack; if attack hits add Trick Attack Damage and target is flat-footed until the start of Stell's next round.
Trick Attack Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Survival knife vs KAC, underwater: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Damage, S: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

ref: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Did we have time for a ten minute rest to regain stamina?