Sorry for ghosting guys. Life has been very busy lately with work and family and just not leaving me a lot of free time or mental energy. (On the positive side, the parents are all improving.)

We are going to be on vacation next week with what I expect is limited internet access (I know, ideally we shouldn't be doing anything, but its basically a deserted beach, so...) I'll try to check in and post quick updates but wanted to apologize for being such a flake.

I was going to ask which tentacle y'all were shooting at (assuming Yellow is down) but with those attack rolls, I guess it's a moot point. :p

Set moved into the room -- Athletics check = 22 -- and deftly maneuvers about the writhing tentacles. "Ugh! Organics are so disgusting!!!"

It opened fire on the purple tentacle. "Die you tentacle-waving... tentacle-thing!"

Athletics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

Trick Attack (DC 20+CR): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
Attack (Pistol): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Trick Attack Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Whether it was the circuitry or a blessing of Besmara's fickle favor, Set was able to shrug off the psychic attack, then responded with another blast from its pistol, firing at the tentacle attacking Bravo.

"Would one of those grenades work?"

Trick Attack (DC 20+CR): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21
Attack (Pistol): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Trick Attack Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 3

All,

I'm very sorry for the sporadic posts but now in addition to my in-laws having health problems (FIL had a stroke and MIL's best and last close friend just died), my mother is as well: shingles in (or behind?) the eye which is proving very debilitating. It's eating up a ton of emotional energy and time. It's eating up a ton of emotional energy and time.

I'll try to keep up on this game as best I can but my posts will likely stay short and a few days between them. Please bot as necessary (usually a trick attack, which is formatted in my status line)

Snow

Set comes up behind Bravo and fires a shot from where the tentacles would least expect it... between the soldier's legs.

Trick shot vs Yellow

Trick Attack (DC 20+CR): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28 If it hits, target is considered flatfooted.
Attack (Pistol): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Trick Attack Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 3

"The recruitment poster is correct. Less talky, more shooty. Or boomy. Or explody. Or burny. Or..."

Blah. Great roll on the trick attack; poopy roll on the actual attack.

"Bow before your god..."

"To be proselytized in such a fashion is incredibly rude and inappropriate. This one already worships a deity. She promises huge booty..." Its iris closed and open again, "This one is afraid this will end with violence." A pause. "Good."

It then attempted to enter the room stealthily so as to obtain a tactical advantage in what was surely a looming fight of epic proportions. Can one kill a god?

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

With the others ready and the door before them, Set takes a position of cover at the side of the door before attempting to open it.

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20 Not sure a big door can be opened without notice, but trying to have Set himself be hard to see behind the doorframe/bulkhead.
Comps or Eng: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26 [ooc]In the event a roll is needed to open the door.[/dice]

The SRO nodded. "Fires in nautical or sealed environments can be extremely hazardous for those who require oxygen, but if you think it wise, 'kill it with fire' has always been a reliable extermination protocol for dangerous -- or merely undesirable -- biologicals." Its oculus cycled once. "So this one has been told..."

After visually surveying the status of the other members of the party and checking its own weaponry, Set stated, "This one will scout a short distance ahead and will message with any new hazards."

GM, Set isn't going to go all the way back, but is going to scout ahead just a little bit to make sure nothing is creeping up on the party while they rest and Bravo makes his next grenade.

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

As it moved through the abandoned science station, Set began to quietly hum to itself:

We are two mariners
Our ships' sole survivors
In this belly of a whale
Its ribs are ceiling beams
Its guts are carpeting
I guess we have some time to kill

Set stares at the spot occupied by the ghost, now empty once more. I wonder if I will make a ghost... When Bravo speaks, it jerks out of its reverie, focuses on the soldier for a few seconds, then adds, "This one supposes we should return to the corridor with the tentacles. Unless any of you need to rest or reload?"

If it's not Paizo, it's the whole danged internet. Went freaking on the East Coast yesterday, knocked us out here at home, and a lot of my clients. Spent most of today digging out from the backlog. Should have an update up tonight or tomorrow morning.

The shorter SRO dipped its head in a nod and gestured towards the central databank, "Krizen, take the first crack. Just watch out for more corrupted data."

Krizen has a +10, so Set will Aid Another for Krizen.

Computers Aid Another: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Before we jump ahead... We should probably unlock the door first.

:-p

I blame Bravo.

If the door resists Bravo's efforts to open it, Set will look into circumventing the lock.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15 Same bonus for Computers and Engineering

Set takes a position on the opposite side the door, pistol at the ready.

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19
Perception (darkvision): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17 Looking through the open door.

"That could have gone worse."

"Indeed," replied SET. "If we're going to do badly, let us excel at it."

The SRO continued to search the room. If it found nothing, it proceeded to examine the doors.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Set glances down at the pistol in its hand, at the now harmless robots, then at the pistol again as the iris of its ocular sensor spirals open and shut. "The malfunctions of this environment are infecting everything..." It then shrugged, reloaded the pistol, and proceeded to search the fallen robots and environment for anything that might be useful.

"DEACTIVATE YOU BAG OF BOLTS!!!" Set begins to rant, gesticulating wildly with its arms before firing off a seemingly random shot.

Trick Attack (DC 20+CR): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30
Attack (Pistol): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 RAAAAAAAWR!!!!!!
Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Trick Attack Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 4

I feel like I'm saying this a lot lately but sorry for my absence. My mother came here for Christmas and daycare was closed, so I wound doing a lot of entertaining. Things are getting back to normal now and I am aiming to get back to daily updates on weekdays.

And reliable! :D Should put this on our holocards and marketing materials.

"Senseless, unaware, lackwits... Here are this one's credentials!" BLAM!

Trick Attack (DC 20+CR): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14
Attack (Pistol): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Trick Attack Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 2

The dice hate me.

Set considered trying to weave through the scrum but dismissed it. If it failed, it would have become dangerously entangled with Bravo. So, it continued firing at the dull-witted robots.

Attacking Red
Trick Attack (DC 20+CR): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32
Attack (Pistol): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Trick Attack Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Hi all. I'm back online and should be able to start posting regularly again. GM, hope your finals are going well, and things are well in everyone else's lives, too.

FYI, my father-in-law had a stroke yesterday. Sounds like it was relatively mild but my husband is flying out tomorrow to get a better sense of what’s going on and help his mother. In the meantime, I’m going to be solo-parenting and trying to work, so my schedule may be off this week. Sorry in advance.

Set takes aim at the red robot, trying for a well placed shot.

Trick Attack (DC 20+CR): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33
Attack (Pistol): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Trick Attack Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 2

I'm still not clear where everyone is on the map. I seem to be alone in the room/hall with the robots, so it's making my decision about tactics difficult (i.e., do I stay or backup)

Set takes a guarded step back into the hall to reduce his exposure and adopts a defensive posture.

Total Defense; +4 to AC

I'm a little confused as to where folks are, so I'm going to hold off on posting until positions on the map are clarified (plus I think I go after Krizen and Soundbte anyway).

My reading is these are robots so not as susceptible to hacking...

"Ironically, this might be an ideal scenario for one of your electro-magnetic discharges..." Regardless, SET stepped forward.

Bluff: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 :-p

"This one's credentials have been... RRRRRRRR- corrupted? Yes, corrupted."

With the others having recouped from the worst of the blast, SET advanced, alert for other dangers.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

I see nothing... but nothing sees me. Does that make me Schrodinger's Scout?

Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 With evasion, I believe that means no damage.

When the SET triggered the electrical discharge, it's quick reflexes allowed it to leap in such a way to avoid being grounded and provide a path for the burst. Remarkably, it was completely unharmed by the first.

It looked over the party, particularly Soundbyte, and trilled plaintively. "This one is very sorry. This equipment is perplexing."

Good with a 10 minute rest for everyone else.

I've never heard the expression "doomscroll" before but heard it a LOT on Tuesday. Anyway... I'm back. Hope everyone and their families are well.

Hi all. Just an FYI, I'll try to stay current this week but it's the election, our son's daycare is closed tomorrow so teachers and staff can vote, and I may have a 48-hour hangover after tomorrow night. Seriously, though, I'll try to stay current, just wanted to explain in advance if I'm AWOL.

Updated the map with what I think is our current location? Maybe?

Set entered the room with Krizen and inspecting the consoles to see if anything could be salvaged or worked with. "We're trying to disable the security lockdown, not implode the entire station. We should be judicious in the use of further explosives."

Computers: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Engineering: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Set considers the door and the blinking panel. Before anything else, the SRO steps up to the door to examine it for any hazards and see if it can hear anything from the other side.

Perception (Traps): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Perception (The Other Side): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Assuming all is clear, Set looked back towards Krizen and gestured towards the panel, "Do you think you can open it?"

If Krizen tries to open the door, Set will try to aid him.
Computers (Aid Another): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Unable to make heads, tails or tentacles out of the pods, Set turned back to listen to the Krizen and the recording. "We haven't seen an armory, but unless it's near the entrance -- unlikely -- it is probably to the east. It seems our next order of business is to remove this lockdown. Krizen, can you override it at this terminal, or would you like assistance?"

If we decide to override and if a check is needed, rolling for an aid another now.

Computers Aid Another: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

While Krizen manipulated the computers and pulled out what data he could, Set went to examine the cylindrical pods at the other end of the room.

Perception?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Set sends a message back to the group: Poss cmd ctr. More containment pods. No threats obsrvd. Adv w caution

Despite not observing any threats, the SRO was still cautious and advanced into the control center quietly, looking for traps or anything in the pods that might be observing him.

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

"We may not be able to avoid physical contact with these tendrils much longer," Set said to the others. It carefully proceeded into the room and moved towards the western hall.

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

The smaller SRO looked over the group, glanced at Krizen and -- if the Gosclaw was ready to proceed -- proceeded silently down the hall. It briefly inspected the door for traps and, if it found none, opened the door as quietly as possible.

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

But... it goes boom!

And yeah, the isolation itself didn't bother me, it was having our almost five-year-old son stuck home with us while working that drove me batty.

Thanks! Yeah, all good (I think). Been feeling fine for a week, just stuck in isolation, although yesterday I started coughing again. Might be temperature swings in our region.

Set stares at where the ghost "evaporated" from for a moment, then says in an unusually subdued voice, "This one has a bad feeling about this..."

And then, a second later, it shrugged and gesture down the hallway. "Shall this one continue scouting, or should we discuss first?"

I have 0 ranks in Mysticism (and actually don't remember how Starfinder handles ghosts), so I'm keeping my OOC speculation about ghosts and 'still can't sleep' on a leash, but if someone does have ranks...

LOL. I clearly read too fast, as I first read that as "none of the attacks really do any good until Soundbyte looks at it and... poof." I was going to have Set stare at his knife in confusion.

Set spares a brief moment to glower at the survival knife in its hand -- This seems to be an unsuitable implement against a ghost -- but with no other options tries once more. "Die!!! Again!!! Forever!!!"

Trick Attack (DC 20+CR): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26
Attack (Knife): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Trick Attack Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 3

All, we’re going at a comfortable pace so I don’t expect it will be an issue, but I have been having a lot of fatigue and body aches lately, so I got tested for Covid and it came back positive. Seriously not worried about myself, but if I’m a little slow in updating, that’s why (exhaustion).

”Make it stop make it stop make it stop...”

”We are trying! You need to hold still so you can be suitably neutralized!” Set declared as he stabbed at the ghost again.

Trick Attack (DC 20+CR): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21
Attack (Knife): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Trick Attack Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Sorry for the delay. Struggling with a bad cold (don't think it's 'Rona but I'm not sleeping too well so get exhausted).

"Bullets solve most problems!" Set replied. What was discouraging, however, was the way the enemies kept coming up next to the SRO, making bullets more difficult to use.

The survival knife appeared in Set's free hand then slashed out towards the apparition.

Trick Attack (DC 20+CR): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19
Attack (Knife): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Trick Attack Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 2

It was not one the SRO's finer moments.

Maybe I’m missing it but RAW, I’d say they’re just as vulnerable:

Robotic

SROs are immune to bleed, disease, death effects, poison, nonlethal damage, and sleep effects unless those effects specify they affect constructs. SROs can be affected by effects or spells that normally target only humanoids, but receive a +4 racial bonus to saving throws against such effects. SROs can eat and drink, though they don’t need to, and they must recharge their internal batteries by entering an off-line mode that is similar to sleep for 8 hours every day. SROs do not breathe or suffer the normal environmental effects of being in a vacuum.

Unless it’s a death effect (in which case they’re just immune), there’s nothing there about immunity to aging. I haven’t dug through Starfinder on references to aging, and I honestly don’t remember in Pathfinder, but I know in 3.5 I had a PrC that specifically got immunity to aging, so at least some designers are aware of it.

Which is to say, I’d be fine being vulnerable to the full effect, but I certainly won’t refuse partial or full immunity (‘cause I’m greedy like that).

"Large feline named Krizen, you must endeavor to aim better..." Set fired its pistol down the hallway, hopefully without the spirit having known the SRO was there.

Trick Attack (DC 20+CR): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17 Fail
Attack (Pistol): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18 Against flat-footed if it didn't know I was there.
Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Trick Attack Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 4

It wasn't the precise shot the SRO had been attempting, but...

I took the liberty of moving Krizen and Bravo's tokens into the room just because we were all talking in there.

Set maintains a position of cover at the side of the door, pistol at the ready in case the dead body forgot it was supposed to be dead.

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

Set listens to the translation and, while it wouldn't say it was 'nervous', there was an curious irregularity in its circuits. "It would seem they lost control of their experiments. Could the organism, this Octis, be the tendrils we're seeing? And how could this be related to the Unity entity? Too many variables."

As Krizen came in and began working with the computer, Set switched its attention more to watching for the inevitable threat that would rend flesh from bone. Not the SRO's flesh, for it had none, but perhaps ceramic from circuit... "It seems the tank does not contain a threat after all, though incineration may still be advisable."

Set looked about, then proceeded to door at the opposite end of the room. It made no effort to open the door, but rather quietly stood guard and listened to the others reports.