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Evil-Melissa gets to hacking, with the support of Guess?, while Jaraduk resists the urge to doshko-smash, without the support of Guess?. Akh is pretty confident that the server wouldn't be worth much in pieces.

Melissa hacks the computer, avoiding a feedback circuit and identifying a fake shell showing an empty computer. Behind that shell, Melissa unwraps all of Eline's memories! She shows the group her access to Eline Reisora’s entire life, displayed across the room’s many monitors. The images include elements from her childhood in an Absalom Station orphanage, her exploitation of natural resources sacred to an indigenous species to ascend the Company’s corporate ladder, and her concealment of the Oliphaunt’s theft from EJ Corp’s Board of Directors—as well as her clandestine activities, such as collaborating with the Golden League and her construction of a duplicate server that copies everything in the Company’s database. She also finds the REACTOR CONTROL file that - with a little tweaking - could be used to make the room go nuclear.

Jaraduk finds a few sturdy attach points in the mystical cargo hold that are perfect for tying up crates, rowdy livestock, and unconscious enemies.

"Cubey" waddles back and looks up at Melissa. (Could this be a first for the ysoki?) "Yes, Captain! I mean, thank you, Captain. By that I mean... no. No, they do not. Previous-Captain Eline was quite clear. Monologued on it quite often. Resurrection spells - against the ethos. Something about 'a cheat for the unworthy' or whatnot. I believe it was Eternity Server or self-mummification - the new way is preferred." Cubey happily follows Melissa into the supply closet. "Ooh, I've never been here before. Actually, I've never been anywhere outside the brid-" The door closes.

... Search and x ray Eline for wisdom teeth of death.

dang, this was literally my plan. lol

After Melissa gathers herself a new trophy with some pliers... You take some time to rest atop your riches and/or the unconscious bodies of your felled enemies. About five minutes in, a voice interrupts you. "Mistress? Did you evict the trespassers?" You turn around in alarm to the voice coming from the Bridge!! A two foot gold plated cube waddles through the doorway on short legs with clawed feet. The robot stops short. "Oh. It appears mistress is unconscious. And the rest of the crew is dead. I suppose the trespassers are the crew of the ship now... HELLO NEW MASTERS! I will be back in the bridge, awaiting orders." The robot awkwardly shuffles backwards out of the room. The more engineering-minded among you recognize this as an elite deckhand domestic drone. With it's control module already installed into the bridge of the ship, it will always recognize the ship's crew as it's owner. I'm definitely picturing a golden Claptrap here. Anything else you want to do before heading to the Server?

The rifle stays on stun mode, so Del will be stable rather than dying. Guess? has to spend a move action to flip the rifle between stun and lethal modes.

Thank you! Seems like all those lectures from Melissa really were worth something!

Jaraduk and Akh chase Eline through the familiar bridge, hacking away at her displaced secondary image and connecting in a rain of sparks once. Eline opens the secondary bridge door, only to get shot by Guess?. The goblin turns to see the real boss, Melissa, round the corner!

Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 91

"Del picked me! She chose me! She'll love me!" Eline sprints towards her sister, triggering another set of AoOs from Jaraduk and Akh! The human ends up right next to Guess?. Her words sound pleading, but there is only a mix of anger and sorrow in her face. "She just needed a bit of help remembering who she truly is!"

Round 10! Everyone is up!
Melissa SP 36/55 HP 71/71 RP 10/10 CONFUSED for 2 more rounds
Akh SP 89/120 HP 74/74 RP 8/8 CONFUSED for 2 more rounds
Guess? SP 33/60 HP 52/52 RP 10/10
Jaraduk SP 0/90, HP 18/76, RP 10/10

Red Eline Reisora, 129 Damage, Displacement, Resistant Armor - Electricity, Acid, Fire
Black Del Reisora, 171 Damage, Unconscious & Stable
Green Guard, 131 Damage
Yellow Guard, 127 Damage
Pink Guard, 162 Damage

Needler @ Robot: 1d20 + 26 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 26 - 2 = 27
P Dmg: 8d6 + 15 ⇒ (3, 3, 6, 6, 5, 2, 1, 6) + 15 = 47 Includes Basic Inhibitor, -2AC if it hits.

Sivvca stabilizes her rifle to better aim around Arc (-2 to cover penalty) and fires a weakening needle in the robot's direction. Unfortunately, it misses! "You've got this, Arc! Do it for the spawnling!"

"She sees through holoskins remember?"

hahahahahaha

Akh flies down the hallway unnaturally quickly while Jaraduk follows up behind. Guess? follows Akh's strike up with a shot of his own, while Melissa is a bit too overcome to aim straight. However... all three attacks flight right through her form without harming her at all! You cross your eyes and realize that her form is flickering in place.

Now that you are in the thick of the fight, you may recognize the glow across Eline's armor...

Eline gives Guess? a wink, at his own eyeline rather than the illusory one, and calls out haughtily. "I merely helped her become who she wanted to be. You, and her memories, were holding her back from her purest potential." Tableau on Slide 2! She takes a step back and casts up her hands, lightning arcing out from her palms. The mystical energy strikes a point just in front of Melissa and creates a tiny black hole! The gravity well pulls Akh, Jaraduk, and Melissa towards it! You three must pass a DC 22 Reflex save or be knocked prone! Then, at the beginning of your turn, pass a second DC 22 Reflex saving throw or be drawn 15 feet closer to the center of the area. (This movement provokes attacks of opportunity.) "Eline and I will live forever in matching servers. Once I elevate her to the executive ranks at the company, she'll be able to afford her own afterlife in no time." Del raises her long fingers and twists them in an arc. "Alright, time to to give this ship a bit of a makeover. Make it less... gaudy!" She begins to summon in large chunks of well-loved kitchen appliances. An oven, complete with still baking muffins, a kitchen island coated in flour and an industrial sized mixer. "Sister, PURITY!" Shouts Eline. Del catches herself; chunks continue to apparate from other dimensions, but have now become mirror-shined blocks of gold. The chunks of otherworldly substance stack in front of the double doors, separating Guess? from the rest of the group! Your goblin captain eyes the blocks, and is confident that a well placed shot with his rifle could probably destroy one of the five foot cubes. So that's two stacks of three cubes filling up the space in front of the doors. So you could destroy the top block and fly through the gap or destroy three and walk through the gap.

A third guard sprints into the corridor from the bridge, breathing heavily and brandishing a rifle with bayonet before stepping defensively in front of the Vice President. One of the other guards bravely fires his rifle up at Akh while the other grits his teeth then lobs the grenade under Akh's impending doom.

15-notch plasma fork @ Akh: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (14) + 19 = 33
E&F: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

frag grenade III @ Akh, Jaraduk, Melissa: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (5) + 19 = 24
P Damage, DC 16 Reflex for half: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 2, 1) = 9

Round 2! Everyone is up!
Melissa SP 49/55 HP 57/57 RP 10/10 Give me 3 reflex saves!
Akh SP 88/99 HP 67/67 RP 8/8Give me 3 reflex saves!
Guess? SP 54/54 HP 47/47 RP 10/10
Jaraduk SP 66/72, HP 69/69, RP 10/10 Give me 3 reflex saves!

Red Eline Reisora, 0 Damage, ???, ???
Black Del Reisora, 0 Damage
Green Guard, 0 Damage
Yellow Guard, 62 Damage, Flatfooted
Pink Guard, 0 Damage
Dimensional Wall, 0 Damage

The robot turns it's ruptured face towards Akh as Melissa shoots it full of electricity. "It was." Then it crumples in two from his entropic strike!

COMBAT OVER!

Enemies with an Electricity Weakness really don't like y'all.

You can see a shimmer around the robot's wounds as thousands of nearly imperceptible repair nanites flood the area. It'll be a few hours before the robot is up and standing again.

Speaking of standing up... through the office window you see two employees slowly rising with their hands held high. "Uh... hello Pirates! We don't have anything... sorry?" The more social among you can tell that these two may have more to share if properly intimidated or bribed. Melissa, on the other hand, can tell that she won't need any inside help hacking into that computer.

You wait in the asteroid field as the departing ships' drift drives begin to glow. Within a minute, the pair pop out of your plane. Ready to see how accurate the simulator is, Guess? moves the ship forward. He is able to dodge and weave through the asteroid with precise movements. The only thing you've seen Guess? do faster is palm bills during a transaction.

Zipping out of the asteroid field that surrounds the estate, you the multiple turrets surrounding the estate snap to attention. Lasers cross the blackness between you as they open fire! Jaraduk and Akh slide into the Gunner positions, with Guess? and Melissa in their slots. Give me Gunnery, Pilot, and/or Engineering checks! Your gunners begin to fire down on the turret emplacements - on the offense - with Guess? working to dodge the incoming shots and Melissa jamming the turrets' radar - on the defense.

Would be cool if so!

Alas, I am a fun killer. This should be a challenging fight, but nothing you can't handle.

I'm sure Guess? will pick up on this, but sharing so everyone can appreciate this. This pirate captain has a crew of envoys. A shipload of people to support and hype him up. The concept is so hilarious and perfect, I love the author for including this.

I'm travelling, so likely no post tomorrow!

Alright, looking forward an AP, we should just handwave the starship combats. This is the last serious one, everything after this is already a narrative challenge rather than combat.

Yeah, figured I would make that very clear so that this AP doesn't end in a fiery explosion... but also yes. For an AP that involves you stealing multiple ships... this one was hard locked.

Captain Rovu fervently shakes her head at Guess?'s statements, while the red-skinned akitonian woman behind her nods her head just as passionately. Three of the crew walk away mildly shaken, while Dizzy walks away with a paper card.

You head to the Rust Bug, ready to head out of the station and towards your destiny. You load up into the bridge, trying to sort out where you sit now that you are one fewer in number. As you discuss, you hear a... scratch. The scratch repeats itself, like a fingernail on metal.

helicase barb @ Guess?: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (5) + 20 = 25
A & P Damage: 2d8 + 18 ⇒ (5, 2) + 18 = 25

A barb comes out of the back of the bridge towards Guess?, pinging off his armor. You turn, seeing an aberration that appears to be a cancer cell given humanoid sentience. It looks vaguely goblin in features, but it's skin sags and face is distorted with pain. One hand reaches out towards Guess?, one finger attached to a thin yet durable strand. The other end of the strand is attached to the bone barb that lies on the floor at Guess?'s feet. The aberration, while naked, appears to have a sticky note pinned into the flesh of it's chest.

Everyone is up! Photo on Slide 2!

Vacation is going great! Here's a little update to keep us moving. Welcome back, Jaraduk! You became a bit of a slab of meat for a second there.

Around this point, Digit lets out a small BEEP! "Hey guys! I'm finished over here! What do you mean you're still fighting to defend me? Do like the ysoki said, 'Hurry up!'"

GM Ewok wrote:

I'll be taking at least one week almost entirely off PbP in mid-August, dates TBD. Thanks for the heads up, y'all!

Alright, y'all, my trip is from 8/8 through 8/23. I think I'll (we'll, lol) be taking almost that whole time off, with maybe a few posts at the beginning and end.

Alllllllllllright I'm off! I'll (probably) get a post in tomorrow but then things will be quite sporadic for the next two weeks. If folks are posting then I'll keep us moving forward. If not, then we'll do a bit of a lull period.

Hey its 100% a real item. I was considering picking one up for Akh as his between-books bonus item, since it would have been very funny.

DOH! And in the same book, I just tend to skim over the Equipment section... My bad, thanks for pointing that out!

"Oh, um, yes ma'am. Of course, I understand. What the company doesn't know, won't hurt them." He gives you an exaggerated wink. "And, uh, I'll contact the security office and ask." He types something into the computer and nods. "And of course, Ms. Reisora. I know you always take care of me." The door to his left slides open with a soft whirr.

You walk through the door and into a small office space. Three of the cubicles are currently occupied while two others are empty. A vending machine with snacks and beverages stands in the west, near a unisex restroom. Each of the cubicles has a computer on it. As you pass through the door, you see all three terminals flick to a lock screen. A series of groans echo through the room. One of the office employees turns around, already saying "Siro, we told you... KEEP OUT!" The three of them turn and stop, confused, before the idea of Eline being in office registers in their brains. The shirren, damaya lashunta, and human all freeze in place with the confusion playing across their faces.

When Guess? contacts Tarika, the Brenneri picks up right away with tear stains on her fur. "Guys, guys... she's gone. She's gone." Tarika wipes her eyes with the back of her hand. "Sent me a note, she did. Said she had to get out, get out of the game. Get out while she still can, you know?" A brief sob, then she continues. "She always was too good for us. This life is hard, too hard for some people. Didn't say where she went. Maybe back to her asteroid bakery, who knows..." When you ask about the assassins, Tarika just shrugs. "Two lines of uncoded text, that's all I got. I'd hoped y'all knew more."

With at least some semblance of hope for Del's situation, and little else to go on, you decide to follow the only lead you have left: Del's sister. Eline's private office is in the Ring district. You head to the address, Dizzy's drone Digit beeping within your bag of holding. Melissa translates; he says something along the lines of "Let's go deposit that code and save a man's life! Onward, minions!" You walk by the address that Dizzy gave you and do a bit of surveillance. The office is marked only with an unassuming sign declaring E.R. Industries. The door is glas-steel, and within is a small reception room featuring a man behind a desk. Both the room and the man are comfortably and expensively decorated in white with gold accents. What's your tactic here?

But, it's time to say goodbye.

It has been a delight to play with you, and with Del. We will miss you, but understand that real life must come first! Please do check back in 2025 as we work through the book your book. It is going to be a grand finale.

I'll be taking at least one week almost entirely off PbP in mid-August, dates TBD. Thanks for the heads up, y'all!

Alright, y'all, my trip is from 8/8 through 8/23. I think I'll (we'll, lol) be taking almost that whole time off, with maybe a few posts at the beginning and end.

With the electrovores saved - as much as they can be - the group heads to the bridge to find a key, a way to get this ship working, and maybe a few extra socks. You head through the Engine Room and up the far stairs into the Bridge. Once there you are sorely disappointed. The basic architecture of the ship’s bridge remains sound, but electrovores have devastated the electrical work. Chewed, tangled wires carpet the floors, while gashes and cracks splinter every computer monitor. Everything from the captain’s chair command keys to the pilot’s joystick hangs together by strained shards of plastic and strips of metal. While the bridge is not going to win any beauty pageant awards, it looks workable. A few taps of the keys and Melissa is able to get power fully throughout the ship. Lights flicker, fans whir, and the lifts in the cargo holds hum to life.

Jaraduk, from his old days flying the edges of space doing less-than-reputable things, recalls that one of those lifts led somewhere you haven't seen. A hidden hold, perhaps? He leads you to the aft cargo hold where you head up the lift D. You head up two levels to a tech workshop! This was likely once a wondrous laboratory, but you can see that the electrovores have ravaged its electronic equipment and the scavenger slime pilfered its metallic contents to make the room all but useless. Its tool shelves lie empty, and its robotic arms hang listlessly. One floor-level cupboard remains sealed behind a padlock.

You continue to walk through the ship, searching for loot or any other surprises. You follow the mysterious stairs in the mess hall upwards and find the Captain's Quarters. This room overlooks the starship’s sorry exterior through a shattered windshield. The mattress appears intact but ancient and hard, while dust blankets the desk. However, a keyring bearing a transparent, bean-shaped jewel and a single key lies inside the desk drawer underneath some stiffened and illegible papers. The key looks like it will fit the Rust Bug’s power core! Del and Melissa recognize that the jewel is a mk 3 air elemental gem.

Sorry, Del, I could have made that clearer. I had a feeling you might be back during this fight so I had Guess? botting you one turn behind.

Reflex DC18: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28
Reflex DC17: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
Reflex DC17: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

Jaraduk, Melissa, and Del fill the room with power (and shotgun shells), dropping a dozen electrovores to the ground. Akh cuts more surgically, knocking another electrovore to the ground. The swarm moves back into the center of the room, chasing after Melissa. Small tendrils of electricity pour out from the power core, draining the starship and powering up the winged vermin. They lash out in a tornado of violence, practically filling the room.

troop Damage, B & E - Akh: 1d10 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20
troop Damage, B & E - Melissa: 1d10 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
troop Damage, B & E - Jaraduk: 1d10 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
Each of you three must succeed at a DC 16 Reflex save or be Staggered for one round.

Akh and Jaraduk's mouth's begin to taste of iron as the ceaseless battering of the electrovores overwhelms their defenses. Meanwhile Melissa's outline on your HUDs begins to flash a ysoki-shaped yellow.

The swarming troop's numbers have thinned - allowing you to see more clearly through the mass - and the electrovores are beginning to show signs of slowing down. Melissa's trained eye can tell that a few more large explosions should disperse the lot of them. All the while Guess? is upstairs watching something similar (although a lot more cute) being done with a herd of kittens and a rotating laser display.

Everyone is up! Round 4!
Melissa SP 0/55 HP 24/57 RP 9/10
Akh SP 0/99 HP 59/67 RP 8/8
Guess? SP 54/54 HP 26/47 RP 10/10 ; Fortitude Debilitated (-4 penalty to Fortitude saves, Constitution checks, and Constitution-based DCs. If he takes a standard action, he immediately loses 1 Hit Point.)
Del SP: 45/45, HP: 42/49, RP: 5/5
Jaraduk SP 0/72, HP 51/69, RP 10/10

Electrovore Colony Troop 155 Damage

Melissa helps Guess? out, pursuant to his actual ancestry, so it's a complete surprise when Guess? pukes all over the proffered credstick! YIKES, Guess? is now Debilitated. If he takes a standard action, he immediately loses 1 Hit Point. Melissa, starting to get worried now, makes a quick infosphere search. The good news, one dose of arsenic poisoning wouldn't kill a goblin of his size. Bad news, if Guess?'s immune system doesn't start working fast then he will be filling Del's spot on the group's coma stretcher.

Not one to let a little poisoning get in your way, the group heads outside. You figure that you should get as far as you can with the goblin on his own two feet, in case he goes sideways and you end up dragging carrying him. Wait, I've lost track. I thought Guess? was in Rovu disguise. Is he in generic-goblin disguise?]

While Jaraduk and Akh's gunboat "diplomacy" only add tension to the situation, the rest of you are able to tone things down a little. "Beaumont, huh... this crew sure does burn through captains..." Captain Niva shakes a thought away like an annoying insect. "Maybe we could let bygones be bygones. But I sure ain't going to be paying you some sort of reparations." Both Jinx and Dizzy roll their eyes at this showmanship, while Nemelith just looks disappointed. "How about this. Let's go get these noodles that the PHD of MSG keeps hyping up and see if we can come to an understanding..." You decide to go along with the group. Over the course of the next hour you have some incredibly spicy noodles (never let Del and Akh choose the place to eat) and begin to cool off your relationship. By the end of the meal, Niva pushes Dizzy - who has been intermittently whispering in her ear - away. "Alright, get off me you big oaf. This sweetheart over here thinks we owe you an offering of good will. I DISAGREE, but we've seen you do enough goodhearted things for the less fortunate... softens a person's heart, it does." She taps her datapad to yours and sends over a data packet. "This is a bit of an odd job. Pay is extraordinary for the work, so we were a bit dubious. But with the type of work we've seen you do... might be right up your alley. Hey, a job is a job and from what I hear... you might need everything you can get right now." She grimaces, then heads to the bathroom. As she does so, Dizzy slides onto her stool. “I'm so glad we're not shooting at each other right now. First, because you're hecking cool. Second, because I have information you can use. And I’ll give it to you, if you help me with something at
the same time.” Dizzy explains. "“I did a little look-see for this woman who hates you so much. Executive Vice President Eline Reisora. Now I couldn’t find out where she is. But I did find her private office… right here on this station. I bet if you get in there and hack her terminal, you’ll be able to find out where she’s hiding. And, while you’re there, maybe you could do a little snooping for me, too?” He gives you a saccharine sweet smile. "Niva has forbidden me from going anywhere near it. But you guys... so here's the thing." He continues, using his large hands and wings to emphasize his words as he rushes to get them out before Niva returns. "My uncle, a dragonkin named Darzalfen, is a public relations agent in a Company office on Triaxus. Uncle D suffers from lung and kidney disease and will die without medical care. Unfortunately, the Company refuses to cover Darzalfan’s medical costs, citing “preexisting conditions.” I've written some code that will alter the Company’s records and get my uncle the treatment he needs!" He pauses for dramatic effect, holding his hands together. "My boy Digit here can carry the code but I need somebody to get him to the office’s secure server, where the code must be uploaded, and protect Digit long enough for the code to do its work. So..." He lays his hands out flat, then looks to the side with urgent eyes. "Oh, she's coming! Think about it!" Then he rushes off.

You continue to chat with Niva, then look over the job file she gave you. To Whom It May Concern. The Archonomix company of Triaxus is in need of security contractors to escort a high priority live cargo for four days. You came highly recommended. 12 hour work days, night shift (local time), Drakelands. Must work well with others. Must bring own weaponry. NDA required, willingness to kill optional but highly encouraged. No insurance provided. Relocation not included. Payment: 18,000 credits.

Well... you have two local threads to pull on (Eline and the starship) and one Pact Worlds thread, for later. Where to now? Anything else to talk over with the crew of the Wintermourn?

Melissa shocks both anacites, and Akh bleeds both - moving between the two nearly as fast as the ysoki's lightning. Lift cries out, his left arm nearly falling off, as he is covered in webbing. "Alright, alright! I l-ahved ya Monitor, but I ain't dying for ya!" He backs up into the corner, holding up one arm while the other dangles.

AoO @ Jaraduk: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (4) + 18 = 22
F Damage: 3d8 + 12 ⇒ (8, 5, 1) + 12 = 26

plasma cutter @ Akh: 1d20 + 18 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 18 - 4 = 24
F Damage: 3d8 + 12 ⇒ (7, 3, 6) + 12 = 28
plasma cutter @ Akh: 1d20 + 18 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 18 - 4 = 25
F Damage: 3d8 + 12 ⇒ (5, 1, 5) + 12 = 23

The other anacite lets out an angry groan, halfheartedly swinging a lightning tool at Jaraduk's back. "C'mon, man, you're in a bar fight! A little ambulance ride ain't gonna hurt you." He swings at Akh twice, but these swings aren't any better aimed than his first two at Jaraduk. Perhaps he was poisoned too?

Everyone is up! Round 2!
Melissa SP 22/55 HP 50/57 RP 10/10 ; Arsenic, Weakened
Akh SP 80/99 HP 60/67 RP 8/8 ; Arsenic, Weakened
Guess? x2 SP 54/54 HP 40/47 RP 10/10 ; Arsenic, Weakened
Del SP: 45/45, HP: 42/49, RP: 5/5 ; Arsenic, Weakened
Jaraduk SP 53/72, HP 62/69, RP 10/10 ; Arsenic, Weakened

Red Anacite "Lift", 110 Damage Surrendered?
Grey Anacite "Haul", 42 Damage

"Oh crap... he didn't make it? " Melissa looks slightly surprised and more than a little crestfallen.

I actually reread the thread several times to make sure before I posted that... I think that's exactly what happened! Unfortunately for Melissa (and for Monitor 77B) the rest of the crew is not quite as first aid oriented as she is. Also, excellent "dwarven" word choice there.

"No. No. Well... ok, sure." Somehow, through a decent amount of skill and a touch of luck, Guess? manages to convince Tsalu to rope you into "The House" for the fight. By the time those two are done with their brief negotiation, the rest of the crowd has heard that you're fighting over an anacite that repressed androids. Unsurprisingly, in a mech-bar filled to the brim with anacites, that just about set off a civil war. Confident that you're (barely) preventing the downfall of the entire Station, you head towards the ring. On the way, Lift gently punches Akh on the shoulder. "Funny? Modulat-ahs cost a pretty cred! S-ah-pposed to make ah-s sound tough!" Haul, the other anacite, calls out to Melissa as your approach the ring. "You may have gotten bett-ah at putting folks back together, but we've gotten bett-ah at taking folks apah-t!" He flexes his metallic muscles ominously. He burps drunkenly, then adds, "I appreciate the th-ah-ght though. From the vids, it looked l-ah-k you were torturin' him or somethin'. Glad to hear you tried your best." He sways in place, somber, before the roar of the crowd behind you in the hallway brings him back to the moment. "Doesn't mean I can't bring honor to his name as I Kneipenschläge your face!"

*I do solemnly apologize for my horrific New Jersey accent for these two... It just felt right!

You separate from the anacites, filing into an elevator that brings you thirty feet down into "The Pot". The VR projectors built into the Pot’s walls project shifting holographic environments, making it difficult to see anyone more than ten feet away. Lift and Haul arrive on the other side, ready to rumble. The rhyphorian owner, Barnaba, takes to the microphone. His tenor voice drops a few octaves as he yells into the vintage microphone. "On the north side, we have two very drunk and very vengeful anacites on the side of justice - ready to salvage their dead comrade's honor!" A good portion of the crowd cheers for the pair. "And on the south side, a mob of ruthless killers!" He cocks his head to the side, listening to a whisper from his partner. "-I mean... a band of misunderstood ragamuffins eager to make their way in this world!" The remainder of the crowd begins to chant a popular Android Abolitionist Front slogan. With the room heating up, the bell rings! "ANNNNNNNND FIGHT!"

Everyone but Melissa is up! Also... Whoops! I missed a tableau of the CCC and Tsalu's portrait. Check out Slides 2 & 3 for that goodness.

Hey, y'all! I'll be traveling from the 17th through the 24th. I'll keep some posts going to keep us moving, but will definitely be a bit more limited than normal.

Agreed! One more success... I'll admit, this has me tense!! I'm so impressed with this scenario. Cellion, you are delivering this with excellence!

Initiative: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (8) + 25 = 33 Yikes

"If the brethedans were also cherished vassals, I'd rather die..." The pilot continues it's lumbering wide turn, being outpaced by the incoming swarm of enemies.

NPC Piloting, Evade DC 36: 1d20 + 25 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 25 + 5 = 50

---

"We are not doing enough damage to the destroyer..." She fires again, starting to get desperate.

Gunnery @ Green: 1d20 + 25 + 5 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 25 + 5 - 2 - 2 = 29
Gunnery @ ???: 1d20 + 25 + 5 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 25 + 5 - 2 - 2 = 29
Gunnery @ ???: 1d20 + 25 + 5 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 25 + 5 - 2 - 2 = 27 Well... I was going to say that in case some others were in the same quadrant then I'd shoot at them... but I guess I'll just miss everybody.
linked heavy laser arrays: 12d4 ⇒ (3, 2, 1, 1, 3, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 4) = 22

After a few days of being cooped up, you are thrilled to breathe fresh air. Any special precautions you want to take? As you move towards Botscrap you feel the eyes of the public on you. That man in the sharp leather jacket, did his stare have a tinge of venom in it? The kasatha... was that doubletake at Akh's shiny behind one of lust, or murder? The pair of pale little girls in blue dresses, what were they muttering? Nah, you must just be paranoid! You continue on your way, grabbing a few snacks as you walk.

Suddenly you round the corner and see haphazardly spaced lampposts assembled from assorted machine parts that illuminate a colossal mound of scrap. A wide groove cuts a crooked path through the base of the junk pile, its curves bordered by rows of flattened steel that resemble bleacher seats. A distant echo and swirling dust make the junkyard seem lonely and deserted until the roar of an unseen engine or the crash of splintering metal shatters the quiet. A mottled gray-and-white ysoki stands in the front, yelling and pointing directions to the staff that crowd the track. Melissa recognizes the great Ratrod! As you approach, a small explosion lights up the metal ceiling far ahead and a spray of metal shrapnel scatters into the air. "Cursed drones..." The ysoki's voice is tense but he wipes a look of desperation off his face when he sees you. “Oh hey!” Ratrod exclaims, smiling broadly as he recognizes you. “You’re the dopes who got smoked by EJ Corp and the Golden League! I got a call from some old friends. Surprised they're still alive, to be honest." He waves his right arm in the air wildly. "Hey everybody, we got us some celebrities here! Introduce yourselves now, for everyone. Speak up.” He takes a step back, looking at you expectantly.

Melissa hits the infosphere, searching for the Wintermourn. She finds a short article and attached police report. STATION OFFICERS 'BOOTED' A CARGO HAULER ON DOCK 244 THIS MORNING. THE WINTERMOURN'S CAPTAIN HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF THEFT AND SMUGGLING BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. AUTHORITIES ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR THE SHIP'S CREW, BELIEVED TO BE HIDING OUT IN THE SPIKE. IF YOU SEE THESE PERSONS, CONTACT STATION IMMEDIATELY. Below are several photos of the Wintermourn's crew, obviously pulled from social media. Akh and Jaraduk debate the pros and cons of contacting Captain Rovu and her crew on the private numbers they gave you. Alright, with the new info... what do you think? Contact them, or not?

Melissa sprays the goblin shaman in the face with some hand sanitizer as he applies some lip gloss. Pouting, he wipes his bloodshot eyes and administers the medicine the old fashioned way. Without any fairytale flair or unrequested kisses, Del returns to the land of the living!

You send off a pair of data packets to both Captain Fireheart and the goblin tribe at the ranch. Then, you call Rygan, but his line is dead. A quick infosphere search shows several articles about his "temple" mysteriously burning down one night. You move on in your rolodex, sending a message to Agavana "Oathbreaker" through the same pathway that she sent her thank you note after you escaped from the prison planet. Jeeze, that feels like a long time ago - only a few months of excitement and growth.

You spend a few days eating takeout and trying not to get flashbacks to your time stuck in a cargo hold of a treasure barge as you enjoy each other's company (as well as a few dozen goblins) in the tight confines of the manufactured warren. One day in, an elven man walks up to the door and knocks. He speaks in an elevated accent. "Hello, I believe you are one of the acolytes in the recent No Guesswork goblin redevelopment program. Our data analysts expects there is a 79% chance your teacher is one of a crew that helped out my master. Sevaranna Pilos' life was saved by them, and she never forgets a friend. Even if they've been burned." He pulls out the datapad, with surveillance footage photos of several of your disguises while on the kalistocrat station. "Do you recognize any of these people? We were told that there were a few non-goblins at your opening feast..." Do you choose to reveal yourselves?

Later, you receive a message from Captain Fireheart. "Esteemed Colleagues. May the Despots' grace shine upon you. I am sorry to hear of your predicament. I am afraid that I cannot break the rule of law. It seems you are wanted, both officially and unofficially, in every civilized sector. However, that's not to say that I can't lean on some of my friends in the Pact Worlds to make things easier for you. I have some contacts in local law enforcement. I will see if they can arrange for some of your enemies to end up on the local watch's radar. I'm sorry I can't do more. Best of luck, Captain F"

A few hours later you get a video message from Rattlesnarp, Fleagreeb, and Goog. The three goblins are knee deep in a muddy field, massive dinosaurs running around in a pen in the background. They keep tossing the recorder between the three of each other, finishing each other's sentences. "“We heard about what happened,” says Goog in a holographic recording. Fleagreab continues, “but we’re from Botscrap, and scrappers like us, we pay our debts." Rattlesnarp catches the datapad upside down, disorienting the recording. "Head down to the junkracer tracks and look for Ratrod. We put in a good word for you. Maybe he can help.” Give me a Culture or Piloting check to learn more about Ratrod. OOC, you Starfinders may remember him...

You move into the goblin den, enjoying the lush amenities and only holding your nose for a small portion of the time. While Guess?'s minion goes to fetch a doctor-for-hire, you settle in to decide what's next. Yepp, you can hire Services!

Tarika stares down Akh and shrugs. "I mean, you could try and escape out into the Vast. Personally, I've gotten used to my weekly massages." She shakes her head. "I'm thinking that, hypothetically, if we were to Reisora another ship we should focus on the Second Chance, your treasure barge loaded with well itemized and pre-ordered goods, rather than the Last Chance. Though both are likely with Eline, or at least with her kalistocrat leaders."

While Melissa desperately sprays some hand sanitizer in the general direction of a goblin who just 'used' the corner, you focus on what's next. Tarika, helpful - or at least trying to be - as ever, speaks up. "With everyone, except for your acolytes or distant family members, treating you like you're radioactive then maybe you should try to reconnect with people you've encountered in your travels! Always nice to call in a favor... then we can focus on how to get a ship that flies off this station."

FYI, I'm travelling the next three days and may not be able to post!

PSHHHHHHH... BEEP BEEP BEEP A belated fire alarm begins to sound in the hallway outside the penthouse and sprinklers turn on inside your room to put out the fires still roaring on various pieces of furniture and artwork on the walls.

You get Tarika on the comm, who breathlessly explains The Golden League! I just escaped a car chase, they boxed us in on our way to meet you! Shan and Strek led them off while I dived out a side door, I think I've lost them." She pauses a moment, your words sinking in. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN ASSASSINS?" She has more to tell the crew. “I'm thinking... Sinjin and Reisora, they couldn’t beat ya on their own, so they’ve joined forces! If Sinjin could have done it on his own, surely he would have done it by now! And maybe Eline was feeling all conflicted after you were nice to her? I dunno... I tried to warn ya as soon as I could, but it sounds like I was far too late and the shootin’ had already started. We gotta get to the ship and figure out our next move, stay one step ahead of Eline and that drow sonofa… ” Even as Tarika speaks, a horrifying sight comes into view. At the shipyards far below, through the broken window, the kalistocrat treasure barge Second Chance, flanked by two other starships, rockets out of a dock on Absalom’s Arms, headed for space. The ship doesn’t respond to any communications and is too far away to reach. Within seconds, it’s gone from sight.

dun DUN DUN!

Guess?, you or anyone else is welcome to Take 10. Though you are in a penthouse in a fancy hotel that has just had a fire and a body thrown from the window.

That extra movement makes life a lot easier, thanks Ajithu!

The Starbrand, from the far distance of the Station's telescopes, appears to continue a lazy wide orbit. But from the bridge of the massive station, it feels like competitive drag racing at speed. Then repeat the previous turn's actions + rolls.

Cellion you have got to tell me how you did those starship pawns. They are clear and awesome looking.

Due to a witchwarping of the area... the assassin thought he was chasing after the unarmored Melissa... When he blinked, the ysoki disappeared and a very well armored android stood in her place! Triggering AoO from Akh, missing with his knife.

DOH! Nope, that mook is ACTUALLY throwing himself into the Akh-Blender. Nothing like triggering an AoO so that you can miss...

Love that final message, Arc!

Also check the new slides! Slide 2 has our title card and Slide 1 has what Tarika was imagining you were up to over the last month.

"A ship of this size, might be difficult to do much on the bridge with just the three of us." She looks to Ajithu. "Does the intel suggest that the power core or other vital systems are not valid targets?"

A ship combat with three PCs... Might be tough. Can we bot/automate a fourth somehow?

I'll give one more day for Jaraduk to post and for folks to level up then we'll start up Book Five in earnest!

Guess?'s month goes extremely well - only fourteen armed robbery attempts, and only two by one of his most trusted relatives! A few weeks in, his students begin gaining students, creating a pyramid organizational structure. With just a few days to go before meeting up with Tarika, Station Spike State University reaches out to discuss bringing his courses on campus as part of their new marginalized people's development program. At the end of the month his clamoring students - ready to go out into the Pact Worlds and better themselves - come forward with a massive card signed by all of them and promises to spread his lessons. For the next week, whenever you attempt a Charisma-based skill check on a creature that’s indifferent, friendly, or helpful toward you, you can use either the result of your roll or the result as if you had rolled a 10, whichever is greater.

A few dozen levels down at the end of the month, Akh is reclining on a throne of empty credsticks. Before him is reclined a goblin. "My lord, I seek entrance to The Culinarians. I have my certificate from my Capitalism 101 course and I have a complete understanding of the Kalistocrat way of life! I have the perfect way to breach their protections!" A pale kasathan man approaches, hunched, to stand beside Akh. "Why do you lay these troubles on an already troubled mind?" He leans down to whisper into Akh's ear. "My lord, even if the Kalistocracy is breached, it will take a number of credits beyond reckoning." Akh, checking the date, remembers that he may just have that. The android picks up his favorite memento from The Culinarians and sets out. You acquire one technological, magic, or hybrid item of item level 10 or lower, or two such items of item level 8 or lower, at no cost. Additionally, for the next week you get +2 to any skill check related to Kalistocrats.

Del gains a sense of calm but also loneliness unlike anything she's experienced in a long time. She befriends her sarcesian neighbors, enveloping herself in a racial heritage she was cut off from since birth. Dinners at the house next door, asking a new friend for a cup of sugar (rather than warping it in from the Sugar Plane), planting seeds in the district garden. It's everything she's ever dreamed of. And yet, the highlight of every day is checking the box on her digital calendar and seeing the countdown tick another step towards the day she will be reunited with her found family. Del, double fisting a cupcake in each hand, dictates the message to her sister with the information for her account on the team's corporate card. Unfortunately, two days later a band of half-orc, human, and orc pirates land at the creche's port. They claim to mean no harm, just stopping for fuel, but begin asking if anyone knows a Del Reisora at the port bar. Del's new community does not betray her, stalling the pirates and giving her time to escape. She makes it out with just one treasure to remember her time on the asteroid. Give me a Profession check (normal rerolls allowed). You can get an item worth up to 700 times the result or UPBs equivalent to 700 times the result.

Melissa heads back home for a "quick" visit to her family. Somehow that leads to several weeks of chores and helping grandma fix up some heavy laser mining tools. Leaving space for you to expand on that if you'd like.

You land on Absalom Station, at Docking Bay 94. Scarred from previous Spike gang skirmishes with each other and the station police, it has fewer authorities than other docks. You all say goodbye to Tarika, who waves you on. "Don't you worry about a thing! I'll take care of business, and keep your mountain of gold warm while you're out partying. See you in a month, dearies!" You then turn to each other, preparing to say goodbye - for now - to the crew who you've grown so close to in the past few months. Alright, please drop in your goodbye (sappy or short) and a bit of narration about your month away (also detailed or summary).

Akh, I've got a twist on the Lavish Lifestyle perk that fits perfectly actually. If anybody else wants to get creative, please let me know.
Charitable Work: Melissa & Guess?
Entrepreneurship: Del & Jaraduk
"Anti-Kalistocrat" Lifestyle: Akh

I'm like, wow, this is a surprisingly normal letter from Guess?... where's the twist?

Regards,
Niva Rovo
Director, Ship Testing Division
Bullseye Shipping, LLC

THERE IT IS

You land your enormous treasure barge on the chosen barge, next to the comparatively subtle Last Chance. A small figure in a patchwork space suit, still containing many pieces that are EJ branded, hops in the low gravity over to you. Even as you open the cargo door ramp, Tarika bounces up and into the ship. She tosses the wrench she has been worrying and gives each of you an enormous hug. "YOU'RE ALIVE!! I KNEW YOU WOULD BE! NEVER DOUBTED IT FOR A SECOND! ImeanIkindOFdidFORaMINUTEbutTOTALLYjustFORaMINUTEandNOTreallyIbasicallyALWA YSbelievedYOU'DdoITiMEANwhoWOULDN'TitWASjustAheistOFepicPROPORTIONStoRIPoff Asemi-evilRELIGIOUScultOFtheirENORMOUScapitalisticDIRTBAGriches!" She takes a huge gasp for breath, then breaks down into asthmatic coughs and gives you a chance to chime in. "A little behind, but when isn't my favorite crew!? YO, you will never guess. You're famous! Kind of..." She pops a tape (stick? disc?) into the ship's terminal. Several late night type info-mercials begin to play. "HAVE YOU SEEN THESE CRIMINALS? THEY MURDERED A LITTLE OLD LADY IN HER SLEEP! CALL NOW, FOR YOUR REWARD!" - "IF YOU HAVE SEEN THESE DISGUISED CELEBRITIES IN YOUR COMMUNITY, CALL TODAY FOR YOUR PAPARAZZI BADGE AND FINANCIAL AWARD!" - "HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED THESE PACT WORLDS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN THE LAST NINETY DAYS, YOU ARE ENTITLED TO FINANCIAL COMPENSATION. CALL TODAY!" Tarika shrugs. "Many powerful groups are now hunting you. I'm guessing most of these are funded by the Kalistocrats, but who knows. Sinjin, Eline, some random dead mercenary's sister? Hard to say. Now, everyone’s lookin’ for you as a crew,” she says, “the crew of the Last Chance. It’s time for ya each to go your own ways for a while, leave the ship somewhere safe, and let the heat die down. I’ll take care of sellin’ the loot. For a very small fee, of course! Tiny! Percentage wise, I mean.” She gives you a familiar cheesy smile.

"Now, you're in an awkward sitch. Two hard-stolen, I mean, earned ships and only enough crew for one of them! Well I don't do ship sales. Too much robbing-at-gunpoint for my taste. So I firmly support you giving it away. And I suppose Ms. Reisora would take better care of it than your gobbo friends - not racist, just true." Her eyes flick to Guess?, then she scootches backwards a ways. Your group splits in two and you fly both ships to Del's family mountain. Once there, you all gather on one ship to write a message to Eline using Del's infosphere account. At this point, there's so much hard evidence on y'all that you might as well use your true email address. Melissa, do give me a computers check to see how well you can bounce it around the Pact Worlds for delivery. Melissa gets the Eline voice right, but the AI spits out I'll kiss my mister someday. Guess? is able to set it to the proper password with a few more tries. Anybody else (Del, or others) want to add anything to the message to Eline? Either digitally or physically? In the meantime, Tarika begins lining up trusted long-time clients for instant-sales of the more easily moved inventory in your barge.

Shocca pulls Trevor aside as he gathers up the baby 'manders. "They really like kits. You know, those things they sell at Adventurer-R-Us stores? Grab a few and they'll be busy for at least ten minutes. Then you'll spend ten minutes putting the kit back together, and repeat." She hurries back up with the rest of the group, taking in the chaotic religious scene. Ah, what a cool art tableau this would have been! Fun to imagine. The ikeshti listens intently. A second time? So that time traveler was not just working on their behalf, but for them? Interesting... Her thoughts whirl at the challenges ahead. "The brave hims, hers, and thems of our Navy should be able to keep the drone fleets occupied." She pauses a moment, absorbing the sentient cost that 'distraction' would require. "Disrupting the shields... there are likely several engineering solutions there. Or have we penetrated their code base yet?" She waves that problem away dismissively. "I've tackled my fair share of genetics problems, written a few thesis's on them... taking the DNA samples we've brought and mix it with a little modern tech... maybe..."

Engineering or Computers: 1d20 + 26 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 26 + 4 = 33

Life Science: 1d20 + 32 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 32 + 4 = 56

You enjoy the moment of receiving good karma and no traps for making the right decision. The group, with heavy influence from Del, decides to keep the treasure barge - to be modified with your Veskarium BP Vouchers at a later port. Akh raises two very good points, one of which captures your imagination. What shall you name this new glorious golden vessel?! Del recalls a particular mountain in the Drakelands of Triaxus where her family went on vacation as a child. Her father toured the group, sharing one of his favorite stories for the hundredth time. "This is where I got my start, strip mining this area from orbit. It was a simple matter to extract the minerals after the exotic vegetation was removed."

You decide that after meeting up with Tarika and the Last Chance, you can fly both ships to the mountain and leave the null space cargo hold freighter behind for Eline to pick up. You take off from the asteroid, heading to the Diaspora to meet up with the brenneri. On the way there, you discuss how you want to communicate to Eline. Del & Eline have each other's infosphere addresses, so they can already communicate. So it's more about what you want to say and what information you want to provide.

Whoops, I missed that action from Akh! My bad. Yepp, those doors are open.

As the last anacite falls, Akh opens the door to the hanger. A quick glance shows vacuum sealed sugar-free-carb-free-sin-free coffee tumblers sitting on a few of the crates in this hanger; the gravity is still on over the threshold of the door. Jaraduk and Del move in behind him while Guess? works to catch up and Melissa runs a temporary hospital. The last two anacites, healing darts still sticking out of them, crack open their eyes then play dead.

...This whole friendship thing was getting pretty hard to justify. ...

Maybe friendship was the ships we stole along the way...

Jaraduk, Akh, and Del take a few stumbling steps into the hanger, adjusting to the gravity before looking up. The White Wind is nestled in the docking bay with an array of more than fifty security robots standing guard. They activate as the door to the bay opens—then settle back into passive monitoring as the deactivation code is transmitted from Estriar’s datapad. You breathe a sigh of relief. Then... a familiar voice. "REISORA-ING IS NOT A THING! Time to take out the trash..." A holding cell in the docking bay of the cargo ship opens with a BANG. Behind it are two scavenger slimes! The two slide down the ramp of the ship to the hanger floor in front of you. The gelatinous red blobs are often used for ship repairs and seem to have been let loose by your favorite sister. Each has numerous bits of broken technology sticking out of it. The gun jutting from its amorphous form, however, looks quite functional...

Everyone is up! Round 1!
Melissa SP 30/43, HP 45/45, RP 9/9
Akh SP 48/88, HP 60/60, RP 8/8
Guess? SP 13/42, HP 37/37, RP 9/9
Del SP 31/35, HP 39/39, RP 5/5
Jaraduk SP 6/56, HP 55/55, RP 9/9

Ahhhhhhh, rereading the sinking section makes more sense with that reminder! I love that, and crazy immortals.

I'm so glad you included the cathedral! I understand why they don't want to include a canon description of the Starstone... but that cathedral reveal absolutely dropped my jaw. When I realized that we actually made it here, that just re-emphasized how high level play this really is.

Putting that energy resistance to work!! Wild.

Akh is surrounded by a frosty cloud of fog cloud as the cold beams hit him; he is obscured from view for a second. Your thoughts race; what a massive blast! Surely our friend is tough enough to stay standing... Does Melissa need to rush over there with her mechanical medical kit? Then the area clears and Akh is hovering there, water droplets forming and dripping from his (nearly) unharmed body. Melissa fires and Akh roars, cascading electricity over the group and one of the sentries freezes in place without gravity to catch her unconscious body.

Reflex, DC 18: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Reflex, DC 18: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

I assume the Get 'Em damage boost applies to AoE weapons as well?

Everyone in bold is up! (Still) Round 7!
Melissa SP 30/43, HP 45/45, RP 9/9
Akh SP 20/88, HP 60/60, RP 8/8
Guess? SP 13/42, HP 37/37, RP 9/9
Del SP 31/35, HP 39/39, RP 5/5
Jaraduk SP 22/56, HP 55/55, RP 9/9

Orange Anacite Sentry 39 Damage (Stabilized)
Blue Anacite Sentry 41 Damage (Stabilized)
Red Anacite Sentry 51 Damage (Stabilized)
White Anacite Laborer 116 Damage (Stabilized)
Green Anacite Sentry 31 Damage (Dying 0)
Purple Anacite Sentry 24 Damage
Yellow Anacite Sentry 0 Damage
Teal Anacite Sentry 13 Damage
Pink Anacite Sentry 5 Damage
Orange Anacite Sentry 13 Damage

Wow, that is so close! Awesome!

"Reisora it? No, we are not making that a thing!" The near-quote of Del would be funny, if you couldn't see the heartbreak on her face. In response to Del's heartfelt outreach Eline simply raises her eyebrows, purses her lips slightly, and cocks her head to the side before fading back into the crowd. "You're not getting away this time..."

---

Will Save, DC 18: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Will Save, DC 18: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Will Save, DC 18: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Del masterfully targets the robot's weak minds, catching them all in her spell. They immediately slow, as if they're moving through custard. Akh's disappointment (happiness?) at being proved right results in a sloppy slash, but it is still enough to knock some valuable jewels off the security robot. Jaraduk comes from the other direction, slamming his monster axe into a robot's chest. "D-D-DANGER IDENTIFIED" One of the robots steps forward, taking slow deliberate steps. The central robot flexes it's arms backwards and then twitches twice. "GEM SHARDS... UNAVAILABLE... MAGICAL INTERFERENCE." It and the third robot both throw themselves towards you!

slam @ Del: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22
B: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

slam @ Jaraduk: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29
B: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Del sidesteps the move, while Jaraduk is too busy with the follow-through on his swing and tanks the blow. The crowd continues to surge around you, with those at the back of the group pushing towards the exit and those at the front fleeing your violence.

Everyone is up! Round 2!
Guess? SP 13/42, HP 37/37, RP 9/9
Melissa  SP 30/43, HP 45/45, RP 9/9
Akh SP 88/88, HP 60/60, RP 8/8
Del SP 31/35, HP 39/39, RP 5/5
Jaraduk SP 36/56, HP 55/55, RP 9/9

Black Luminant 19 Damage
Orange Luminant 21 Damage
Red Luminant 0 Damage

Ha, I had so many comments I had to take it to the Discussion.

-Excellent usage of "Reisora", I've been looking forward to this interaction since that phrase first came up.

-Melissa, keep your rolls for your round but realign the blow since the folks are moving.

-Del mouthing I love you absolutely broke my heart

-Eline absolutely spotted you at the first interaction, but wanted to see if you would lead her to the stolen ship.

-Jaraduk, thank you for not throwing grenades... the casualties would have been awkward... though I suppose at this level none of the named NPCs would get hurt, just their flunkies.

It wasn't until recently that I realized just how powerful Flatfooted is. I do love my Medicines.

It seems Arc's blade isn't fully effective against the Hound's resilient hide, but Shocca's needles have better penetration.

Ooh I don't think I've used this feature yet...

If you weren't dying and/or grappled (metaphorically) in a life or death melee, you could practically see the lightbulb appear over Shocca's head. She begins whispering manically to herself, "With his interactions with time, and slipping through the spaces between spaces, then perhaps my medicine could slip between the spaces between his spaces and superbly utilize the timestream within his stream to supercharge some medicine into the next century..." Her portable lab begins to shake violently as it concocts a medicine that has to be breaking several Pact Worlds ethical codes and laws. The ikeshti's tail brings it to her rifle, injecting the noxious substance into a dart. Using a Spark of Ingenuity to hit him with two basic biohacks at once.

Needler @ Thing: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (20) + 24 = 44
P Dmg: 8d6 + 15 ⇒ (2, 3, 2, 3, 1, 5, 2, 4) + 15 = 37 -2 AC AND reduce DR by 10 if it hits.
Crit Dmg: 8d6 + 15 ⇒ (4, 3, 4, 5, 1, 1, 5, 6) + 15 = 44