GM Frost's (SF2E) S01-03 Disaster at Dreamlink Labs [PbP Gameday XIV]

Game Master Frozen Frost

Botting Bannakaffalatta

"Bannakaffalatta!" the android announces. Internally, Bannakaffalatta needs to buy a gun with a longer range.

He charges forward, wading across another batch of clouds to take up a strike position.

◆ Stride
◆ Stride

Merasmos: If you move blue twice toward the bottom of the screen, it'll be in range for him (and stuck in difficult terrain).
◆ Strike
Autotarget Rifle, 30’ range, Magazine: 20/20: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Piercing damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1 Critical Hit: Double Damage

"Bannakaffalatta!" he yells, conveying an air of disappointment with a sense of pathos that is rarely felt from an android.

Just realized I need Will saves first from targets...
Blue: DC 16 Will save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 vs Influence Dreamscape Fail, Success remains Success to be Influenced
Blue: DC 16 Will save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 vs Influence Dreamscape Fail, Success remains Success to be Influenced
Yellow: DC 16 Will save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 vs Influence Dreamscape Fail, Success remains Success to be Influenced

I moved Blue twice 15 ft south, while Yellow once 15 ft south too,

Banna disappointingly shoots the cloud instead of the target close to him.

Red Shosadax reloads and points their weapon at two targets together, Banna and Chi, and then reloads.
Reaction Breacher, Raider's Assault: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24 vs Chi
Damage + Psychic Resonance: 1d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (2) + (4) = 6 bludgeoning plus mental
Psychic Resonance Shosodax has forged an intense psychic connection with their reaction breacher, channeling their hatred into every shot fired and wound inflicted. They deal an additional 1d8 mental damage with their reaction breacher (already included in damage) and their reaction breacher gains the magical trait.

Reaction Breacher, Raider's Assault: 1d20 + 11 - 5 ⇒ (2) + 11 - 5 = 8 vs Banna
Raider’s Assault [two-actions] Shosodax makes two ranged Strikes with their reaction breacher, each at a different target, then Interacts to reload their reaction breacher.

Yellow still goes to reaching the scientists even after being pushed away, and kills one of the scientists, now that their shield breaks!
Proboscis: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 P damage

Arta pushes away the Yellow Raider twice to south 15ft twice

After being attacked, Blue turns at Chk, and slowly gets closer. It then spews vomit! Spew Vomit to Chi and Banna for 2d6 ⇒ (4, 6) = 10 acid damage (DC 16 basic Fortitude save). Can't use it again for 1d4 ⇒ 1 rounds

⬤ INTO THE DREAMSCAPE! Round 4 ⬤
Terrain Feature(s): Nothing in the dreamscape is quite solid, but it’s not unsolid, either. Creatures can traverse the platforms and dream cloud alike, though the clouds are difficult terrain.
Map Link: ENCOUNTER MAP

BEFORE YOUR TURN
❗ Bannakaffalatta: DC 16 basic Fortitude save vs 10 acid damage ❗
❗ Chk Chk: DC 16 basic Fortitude save vs 10 acid damage ❗

➤ BOLD NAMES CAN ACT; STRIKETHROUGH MEANS ELIMINATED.
Blue Raider (-3 HP) | Spew Vomit CD 1rd
➤ Merasmos the Magician (AC 18) (26/26 HP)
➤ Kunris (AC 18) (17/17 HP) | AC 22 vs ranged attacks
➤ Bannakaffalatta (AC 17) (20/21 HP)
➤ Trex Xert (AC 14) (18/18 HP)
➤ Chk Chk (AC 17) (12/18 HP)
Red Shosodax (-21 HP)
Yellow Raider (- HP)
Arta (AC ) (0/ HP)

REFERENCES

Not sure I read that right. Does yellow has a 35 foot reach on the proboscis?

Kunris lines up a shot on the raider that just murdered a defenseless scientist and fires.

◆ Aim at yellow raider

◆ Strike
Laser rifle attack on yellow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Laser rifle damage (fire): 1d8 + 1d4 ⇒ (2) + (1) = 3
Hopefully a crit ... though certainly wish I'd rolled better on damage.

A red light on his gun flickers, notifying him that it's out of charge, so he swaps out the battery.

◆ Interact: Reload

Vitality pool + 4 from round 3 for a total of 10/10
Fortitude: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Chk Chk falls over and lays on the ground.
spends hero point to Adviod death and stablist at 0 HP.

Fortitude E: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

"Bannakaffalattaaaaaa!" he screams in pain as the acid burns him.

In a pain-induced panic, he pulls out his auto-rifle and mag dumps back at the Blue raider.

Auto-Fire, 15’ cone, DC 16 Reflex Save: 1d6 ⇒ 5

◆ Interact to Draw
◆◆ Mag dump vs Blue

Redoing Chk Chks turn since I miss calucated how much damage they took

Failed saving throw 10 damage leaving me wiht 2 hp

◆ Transfer Vitality 10 points, remaining vitality points 0/10
should brings my hp to 12 again
◇ drops pistol
◆ change grip to the two-handed grip on painglave
◆ Painglaive 10 reach, powdered, tech (attacks blue)
Painglaive : 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Damage slashing: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Merasomos' eyes flash open, blazing with Arcane energy even as their zone diminishes and fades back into them. Twirling his hands like an orchestral conductor, he moves the aliens away from the scientists and his friends.

Arcana Blue to Influence DC 15: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 Success, move away from team and scientists

Arcana Yellow to Influence DC 15: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26 Crit success, move away from team and scientists

He raises his Reaction Breacher and aims it at the alien, saying "I see a vulnerability in the badly written codebase that is your life - and I'm about to Alt+F4 your existence!" With that, he fires the gun right into the Shosodax's forehead.

Strike Shosodax: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Bludgeoning: 1d8 ⇒ 5 Doubled to 10

◆ Influence, ◆ Influence, ◆ Strike Shosodax

Triple move towards the enemy. Having trouble moving me on map right now, speed 25 if someone wants to move me.

I moved you. It looks like one move got you 30 feet from red, so you could use other 2 actions for.ignition if you want.

Not sure I read that right. Does yellow has a 35 foot reach on the proboscis?

It used two actions melee into one of the scientists, then an action to attack. Then Arta pushes Yellow away to where it is now.[/ooc]

Kunris aims and makes a deadly shot at Yellow before reloading. crit, 6 damage Yellow Raider turns its attention at him.

Chk Chk heals from their pool after failing to evade the spit. -10 damage then +10. Dropping pistol, Chk goes for painglaive, and leaves a gash on Blue's body. [ooc]10 S damage

Banna screams, and opens fire in return to Blue.
DC 16 Reflex save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22 Success, 2 damage

Blue: DC Will save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 Crit Fail, Succes remains Success
Yellow: DC Will save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11 Fail, Succes remains Success
Merasmos influences the space around Blue and Yellow to move them away from the poor scientists. I cant remember the last locations of Blue and Yellow, up to you to move them away accordingly.

The witchwarper then shoots Shosodax that goes straight to its chest. crit, 10 B damage Shosodax hisses at the attempt.

Trex Xert keeps moving.

Red Shosodax shoots back at Merasmos and to Trex who is advancing.
Reaction Breacher, Raider's Assault: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14 vs Merasmos

Reaction Breacher, Raider's Assault: 1d20 + 11 - 5 ⇒ (19) + 11 - 5 = 25 vs Trex
Damage + Psychic Resonance: 1d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (3) + (4) = 7bludgeoning plus mental

It misses Merasmos, but not Trex.

Yellow Raider slowly makes its advance to Chk who is too far.

Blue spits another vomit.
projectile vomit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4 acid

⬤ INTO THE DREAMSCAPE! Round 5 ⬤
Terrain Feature(s): Nothing in the dreamscape is quite solid, but it’s not unsolid, either. Creatures can traverse the platforms and dream cloud alike, though the clouds are difficult terrain.
Map Link: ENCOUNTER MAP

➤ BOLD NAMES CAN ACT; STRIKETHROUGH MEANS ELIMINATED.
Blue Raider (-15 HP) | Spew Vomit CD 1rd
➤ Merasmos the Magician (AC 18) (26/26 HP)
➤ Kunris (AC 18) (17/17 HP) | AC 22 vs ranged attacks
➤ Bannakaffalatta (AC 17) (10/21 HP)
➤ Trex Xert (AC 14) (11/18 HP)
➤ Chk Chk (AC 17) (8/18 HP)
Red Shosodax (-31 HP)
Yellow Raider (-6 HP)
Arta (AC ) (0/ HP)

REFERENCES

I have fired since taking cover, so I have only regular cover not greater cover. AC is 20 not 22 against ranged attacks. Just noticed it was wrong in the tracker.

Kunris realizes that Shosodax is probably the bigger threat, but can't get out of his mind that vicious and senseless murder, so remains focused on the yellow raider.

◆ Aim at yellow

◆ Strike
Laser rifle attack at yellow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Laser rifle damage (fire) w/ Aim precision: 1d8 + 1d4 ⇒ (7) + (4) = 11

◆ Strike
Laser rifle attack at yellow w/ MAP: 1d20 + 9 - 5 ⇒ (13) + 9 - 5 = 17
Laser rifle damage (fire) w/ Aim precision: 1d8 + 1d4 ⇒ (8) + (1) = 9

Over comms, he says, "I am guessing I have yellow's attention now ..."

Bannakaffalatta reloads, then swaps his rifle out for his painglaive before swinging at Blue.

◈ Painglaive, 10’ reach: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 for Slashing damage: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
◈ Painglaive, 10’ reach, MAP: 1d20 ⇒ 1 for Slashing damage: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

◆ Reload
↺ Quick Swap
◈ Come close to taking off own foot
◈ Come close to taking off own foot again

gains 4 vitality points, total 4/10

◆ Transfer Vitality 4 points to self, remaining vitality points 0/10
◆ Boost d10
◆ Painglaive 10 reach, powdered, tech attack on blue
Painglaive : 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
spends a haro point
Painglaive : 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Damage slashing: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Boost Damage slashing: 1d10 ⇒ 3

Kunris watches Chk Chk waving around a chainsaw on the end of a stick and is happy to be positioned at the far end of the battlefield.

I have moved Blue and Yellow so they are in a nice convenient area fire cone for our Soldier :)

Merasmos ducks the first shot from Shosodax.

"You shoot like an amateur! I would have hit that shot. Now, eat Lightning...again!"

Merasmos calls down another Thunderstrike onto Shosodax.

DC 18 Reflex,: 1d12 ⇒ 91d4 ⇒ 2

He then shoots Shosodax in the chest...again!

Reaction Breacher: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Bludgeoning: 1d8 ⇒ 2

◆◆ Thunderstrike Shosodax, ◆ Strike Shosodax

Kunris aims at Yellow getting close to him, taking it down. Yellow out

Banna seems to be better with his ranged weapon as he is not hitting with the glaive.

Chk continues healing, then boosts weapon, but the glaive hums too much to connect.

Merasmos calls lightning and thunder, that electrocutes Shosodax wholly. The enemy slumps down the floor. Shosodax out
DC 18 basic Reflex: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14 (Fail, 9+2 damage)

Redirecting... Merasmos shoots the remaining enemy, puncturing a hole, but the enemy remains standing. 2 B damage to Blue

Trex is up to take down the last enemy!

Looks like the last target is 10 feet away? 5 foot step first, I have feather step to be 15 feet away, then electric arc reflex 17 dmg: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4

Trex retreats and jolts the last enemy to death.
DC 17 basic Reflex save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 4 E damage

ENCOUNTED OVER! WELL DONE!

Tadasi reunites with Arta and other scientists. With threats eliminated, the dreamscape dissipates, returning everyone to the lab.

“Oh, thank goodness the Newborn answered my prayers!” Arta exclaims. “You arrived just in time! Or a few hours late, depending how you look at it, I suppose. But really, you could hardly be expected to arrive before I prayed for your arrival!”

Arta looks panicked and emotionally overwrought, but she straightens her coat and rearranges her hair, clearly trying to maintain an air of professionalism despite the grim situation. “Pardon the terrible state of the station. I assure you we usually maintain the strictest standards here at Dreamlink Laboratories.” she motions for the other scientists to perform system check on the lab, while Tadasi spends time with the fallen scientist.

With a flourish and a tilt of her head, she introduces herself. “I’m Arta, founder and head researcher of Dreamlink Labs, professor at the vaunted Arcanamirium, and devout worshipper of the Newborn. How can I help you?”

You might have some questions for her.

Did the dead bodies of the raiders and the scientist come out of the dreamscape with us?

Assuming it is present, Kunris runs over to the scientist killed a few seconds ago, slapping a medpatch on it. "Chk Chk, any chance you can bring them back?" Once any medical aid is completed, he turns his attention to Arta.

"We were sent by Venture-Captain Arvin, from the Starfinder Society. We have a delivery of some material you could use." Kunris motions to whichever of the more non-shootie people would have been carrying it. "Isn't the Newborn like 6 months old or something? How did you become a devout worshipper of a toddler god?" Not exactly tactful, this one, though he's not particularly rude about it, just curious.

Chk Chk tries to revive the fallen
Medicine T: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
I'm assuming this doesn't work, but trying all we can to help
but realises it's too late
"I'm sorry."

"Venture-Captain Arvin said you made an important discovery and needed some help to perform a follow-up investigation. Venture-Captain Arvin thought this might help you. We have with us a sample of Aucturn’s crust, taken only hours before the Newborn hatched."

Keskodia looks around for the sample

Telepathically to just the team.
"Did we leave the sample back on our ship?.

Back to talking ot Arta
"Looks like you have had some success with your research. Can you tell us more about what we just experienced in the dream scape? How did that even work?"

Did the dead bodies of the raiders and the scientist come out of the dreamscape with us?

Yes.

As the dreamscape dissolves, Chk quickly goes for one of the scientists that is in life-and-death situation. Thankfully, the mystic is able to stabilize its vital signs, but remains unconcious. Tadasi gives Chk a hug for saving the scientist's life.

Arta gasps gasps in surprise while receiving the sample from Chk. “Oh, this is a magnificent sample! Thank dear Arvin for me, won’t you? Dreamlink Laboratories is at his disposal!”

"Recently, I caught a glimpse of what I believe is a holy site important to the Newborn, perhaps even a temple, in the dreamscape. Once I get the dreamscape a little clearer, I’ll be able to pinpoint the location. I’d like the Starfinder Society to help us explore it—in the real world, of course! While we here at Dreamlink Laboratories possess boundless enthusiasm, we admittedly lack the field experience to undertake what could be a dangerous mission alone. You’ll help us, won’t you?"

"For now, we'll get back to work, of course. Needs must, and all that. We’ve friends to lay to rest, rooms to clean, and research to continue. The Newborn brought us here for a reason. A few disasters won’t sway us from our course!” she remains enthusiastic but holds strong despite what happened to other scientists.

While Tadasi handles the welfare of other scientists, Arta guides them for a proper tour of the entire space station, including the laboratories. Arta doesn’t allow the them to make a recording of her, her researchers, or the laboratory—”for privacy and safety reasons”—although she does allow them to take photos and recordings of the rest of the Dreamlink Labs space station.

She then gives them a data packet with a selection of information, "Take this to Arvin in return, select information that might help the Society, not all my research as it is property of Dreamlink Laboratories, of course, and I believe it has great value."

The trip back to Absalom Station through the Drift takes 1d6 ⇒ 3 days. They don’t encounter any anomalies or strange structures on the return visit, although anyone who experienced hallucinations in the extraction lab finds their dreams plagued by disturbing sights and haunting cries.

Back at the Lorespire Complex, Arvin thanks the Starfinders for their hard work and apologizes for the unexpected complication. He promises to investigate the data they collected and asks each of them their opinion:

"Should the Starfinder Society help Dreamlink Labs with their research?"

As a show of his appreciation, Arvin takes them for dinner at a high-end restaurant called Perfexion located in the Eye of Absalom Station. The restaurant is known for its experimental cuisine and psychic chefs who deliver delicious meals the guests didn’t even know they wanted.

Would like to know your answer to Arvin's question, for Reporting Notes. Majority answer will be reflected on it.

Merasmos holds his tongue as the voices of the scientists fade into the background like tinny sounds at the back of his mind. The dreamscape has affected him more than most - his teammates don't see him for the entirety of the flight back. He sequesters himself in his quarters as he peers into the code of the universe, trying to comprehend just how dangerous this eldritch threat really is.

As Arvin asks his question, Merasmos glares back at him and says, his voice tinged with a serious edge.

"Never. We should shut it down now. I mean, seriously, why would you open a portal to an Eldritch God's basement?" He gesticulates wildly.

"Even as someone who regularly opens up portals to other places, I think Dreamlink Labs is going too far. It is my firm opinion that we should dump the entire data packet into the Sun."

No.

Not wanting to disagree with Merasmos, Chk Chk looks like they are about to begin talking, then pauses.

"I..."

Chk Chk thinks to themself there's got to be better options...

"I think..."

Pause thinking I don't like the options, but got to do something.

"I think, I mean... Although I'm not sure what Dreamlink Labs is truly up to or what their real motive is, their work is, however, very interesting, even if potentially dangerous. There is just too much we don't know about the Newborn. I think continuing to work with Dreamlink Labs is our best option for keeping a close, cautious eye on both Dreamlink Labs and the Newborn situation. We don't want to get blindsided while also dealing with the wreck of the returned. There, I said it, that's the option I chose."

Yes.

"Bannakaffalatta says why experiment with forces you do not know! I almost died in that fight!"

No

"Hey, a job's a job, and I have worked with way worse folks than this. Plus, I think it might be good to provide some babysitting ...er oversight ... on these folks."

Yes

Venture-Captain Arvin listens attentively to each explanation, nodding thoughtfully as they finish. With two in favor and two against, his gaze turns to Trex, the deciding voice on whether they should assist Dreamlink Labs in their research.

"What about you, Trex?"

Trex votes yes

"It is a majority yes, then." Venture-Captain nods and finalizes their report.

-FIN-