I'm sorry to hear that. If we find that ship during our journey, we'll see if we can find out if she is still alive. Were you traveling someplace in particular?
Thank you for your help, Uzmat. Our meeting was fortuitous. May your assistance be effective and timely, as I hope ours will be as well.
She welcomes Rikard into the ship, showing him into the entertainment area and showing him how to work the player so he can watch As the Black Hole Turns, or you know, anything else...
We are trying to save our people. If you have time, I'll tell you the story.
Zharis proceeds to tell the basic facts, and answer any questions if they have time to get into more detail... the more allies they can get out here the better, and ones that can apparently just swim through the sun would be an enormous help.
She also politely asks him about himself and his people.
Diplomacy:1d20 + 19 + 1d6 ⇒ (15) + 19 + (2) = 36
Also remember this from "Expert Negotiator": "If a creature’s initial attitude toward you would be unfriendly, indifferent, or friendly, you instead treat its attitude as one category higher."
We have long range sensors now. Can we see where the message is coming from?
Zharis responds
Hi Rikard, we'll certainly consider it, but we need an exact location. Is it safe where you are to open a hatch? Also, you should know that we are flying into mortal danger, so depending on your situation, where you are might be safer? Maybe you should tell us a little bit more?
Zharis will send off the newly edited adventure to her agent and to her father so they can get things going. If she dies on this one, at least her fans will get one last look.
Yes, stasis pods, sorry. Not everyone can fit on the ship otherwise, but we'll definitely wake you up for the excitement.
Zharis smiles, trying to stay light-hearted, but she adds
Thank you. You don't have to risk your lives with us. You could choose to stay here and stay safe, but I won't try to talk you out of it. I honor your commitment to helping your families and friends. Let's do this. Finish up anything you have going on. We'll leave first thing in the morning, if the installation can be finished by then.
Okay, gang. That sounds like hope right there. We have something we can do to make a difference, and theoretically through the portable window we can reassure the DCI, and they can help spread the word. Maybe they can hold out until we solve this problem. Let's get on it. We need to find out how to use the prototype transponder, get it installed in the Sun Diver, and go take out their headquarters. This cannot be harder than saving a whole planet, which we have already done. We've got this!
Internally, of course, she knew that it could definitely be harder, and that they could be going to their deaths... but while there was even a sliver of hope that they could stop this invasion... what other choice was there? Plus, it would look REALLY good on camera.
Zharis had a few more edits to do on her filming of their last adventure. She would do those tonight before they left, and get it sent off... hopefully to a world still intact and ready for some quality, true-life entertainment. The rush of pure authenticity was wild. Hero on-screen AND hero in real life. Doesn't get any better than that.
Just a note... the broadcast has Taeress speaking, but Taeress is with us. Probably just the default wording for people who didn't talk her into going?
Zharis takes in the news with a mounting sense of horror, but she controls her expression, thanks Hop, and then smiles at Nib.
Hey emergency meeting. Can you get everyone?
Getting everyone that they brought along gathered together, along with any of their allies that are around, Zharis fills them in on the message from Lu, and then says
On our ship we have a portable window connected to the DCI. We might be able to communicate with them further through that... but only visually. Before we go over there though, can anyone think of what we can do to help?
She hopes their allies will offer help, or that Taeress and Nib have come up with some new technology that might help, but ideas are all she has. Fighting one ship they could maybe do, but all of those, and so far away... her expression remains positive, but internally she is very concerned. All her new fans, about to be snuffed out? This can't be happening.
It was the best longarm we had in loot.
(Or at least the highest level. I don't know longarms well.)
_____
Personal purchases:
I bought the following Aeon stones
Clear Spindle -- No need for food
Turquoise Cube -- retroactive +1 if you miss a roll by one (once a day)
Bright Yellow Cabochon -- +4 decipher old writing / can cast comprehend languages once a day
Kehtarite Oval -- +4 circumstance bonus to saving throws against the burning condition, automatically extinguish nonmagical fires near you.
Viridian Balbis -- +10 to any movement speed you have
Dark Blue Rhomboid -- +2 insight bonus to Perception and Sense Motive skill checks
(and already had this one)
Iridescent Spindle -- No need to breathe
I'm here, but my stuff is not updated. It will be on the weekend though. Just too slammed by work to get it done before that, sorry. I need to finish updating the loot sheet, selling stuff, and buying gear. The ship should be good to go though. Sorry I am behind.
Ah, that makes sense. There is a buzzblade dueling sword in the loot too, so probably I just didn't realize that they were part of the same thing. And good to know on the Siccatite, thanks. I'll probably buy some... just taking me a while to sort everything out, sorry.
Okay, that is all the time I have today, but will try to sort the rest of it out soon. If anyone wants to look up prices to help out, feel free to add them to the loot sheet.
We have a maze-core aphelion laser pistol, and in looking that up, the maze-core part means it can be used as two different pieces of equipment (https://www.aonsrd.com/AlienDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Nuar%20Enforcer&Fami ly=Nuar), but the loot didn't say what the other side was.
Sorry, I already split it off from the group before I realized the issue, so I am not sure where we got it offhand. If you can't find it, I'm sure I can dig up that information in the document history, but just in case your GM document is searchable, hopefully that is enough to go on.
Going through the loot now and trying to get everything onto individual lines, consolidating things, seeing what we can get for old gear, etc. It does look like we got some jewelry, which wouldn't be 10% since it states its actual worth, so we do have a little more. Just haven't figured it out exactly yet.
Moving things that are claimed to the Using tab, so look there if you claimed something and need to look it up.
___
Also, Tulgram... you might not have been with us when we got this, but it really sounds like something you would want:
Black Iron Case (contains reagents to animate undead, materials equivalent to an advanced medkit, a subdermal extractor, and an unlocked datapad containing macabre observations and notes on prophetic visions; anyone trained in Medicine recognizes the reagents, which are worth 30,000 credits and weigh 5 bulk)
___
Xylian... which brawler frame did you want? Minor difference between deflective reinforcement and explosive defense:
If you see something on the loot sheet that you can use, speak up... but selling stuff is unlikely to get us much of anything since you get one tenth of the worth. And I don't have time to go through and sell it all off right now, so you're stuck with the distribution for now.
Should be 100,000 minus 21,000 divided by 5.
My trusty computer calculator tells me that is 15,800.
... I do have a question about siccatite though... are we getting some? We really need that for the ship, and we usually get some of that when we get our money. Or, is there a place to buy it here?
Xylian, take the brawler armor if it will help you... that's what the loot is for. Everyone feel free to look through and grab something you want. I know the sheet is sometimes a mess with things combined because I haven't listed them out individually, but if you leave a note here I'll update it.
It is based on Xylian's version of Tier 9, but I did change a couple of things from that, and added in other things.
Also, there is now an antipersonnel weapon at the front door of our ship which requires a longarm. There are plenty of those in our loot, so at random I am saying we are using one of the phantom assassin rifles we got (line 37 of the loot sheet), but if anyone knows the longarms better and we have a better one to put in there, feel free to change it up.
It is part of the ship's system now, so I imagine Hop now has a gun. :)
I did not update crew stats to current level, so let me know what your new numbers are, and I will update mine as well, but don't have the time right now, sorry.
Third time is a charm, with total cost to party $21,000.
... then we divide the rest.
I've been working on the ship. Changed a couple of things, added in some long range sensors so we can see what is going on, and some security so people can't break in. Not sure if we're done, but late for work, so will look at it again later.
Oooh, you use light armor? We might have to roll for it, because that would be a significant upgrade for me as well. (Actually, if you use light armor, go ahead and take it... you are the front-line guy and I am not.)
And they gave us 100,000 credits, which is kind of a laughable amount with the armor prices at these levels... should we just divide it equally instead of reserving some for group protective stuff like we normally do?
Hopefully. We should check out the quarters downstairs and see if there is anything we missed that might give us more information about how to stop them. And maybe go shopping in general. They seem to have some tech that we don't have. We're going to need additional resources if we have to take this fight home with us.
Zharis asks their allies if there is anyone who can cure the maladies of her friends who seem to be cursed in some way, and she turns their prisoners over to their justice as well, if they agree to a trial at which the wronged brother can testify.
If necessary, she will use her persuasive abilities to encourage them to partake in a trial so that their society can see justice done rather than a summary execution.
She records the whole thing if it happens, of course, and spends times editing her footage into a documentary, then sends it to her father for distribution, and looks into local distribution as well, getting her lawyer involved in the rights issues for this part of space.
Zharis would rather kill the dragon as well, but if they withdraw from the planet, that is a bigger win. And honestly, you get to choose to attack if you want to. It's your character, not mine.
Zharis steps down off the computer keyboards, which were fun to walk on, and walks up to the dragon.
If you're serious, agree to never return, and leave. Seems to me that you could have flown away at any point, and YOU attacked US. We're just trying to stop you all from zombifying the populace. If you stay, we will continue to fight you, and anything else that stands in the way of freeing these people.
Sorry for missing my turn. The person who worked for me moved on and haven't found a replacement yet.
Zharis can SEE! She grins, making sure the camera is catching the action, and jump jets to a better vantage point. Up on top of whatever that is... a barrier?
Zharis doesn't want to damage the resonator, so she pulls out her Resonant Dirge pistol (antibiological... only harms living targets), and fires at the dragon, hoping that it will work against the dragon.
The thought does not cross her mind that she is equally ineffective as she was when she was blind... she's got too good a self image for that kind of negativity.
Zharis stays where she is, and starts talking, inspiring her fellows with highlights of their journey so far, what they have overcome, and what they have accomplished... singling out each of her companions and something they have done that was fabulous and heroic. She can't see the camera, but she acts for it anyway, pulling in the audience and making them feel amazing about themselves and their chances.
Sorry I don't have time to write something amazing here, but imagine the "band of brothers" speech from Henry V, except Zharis would consider them her littermates, facing dragons together makes them so.
Inspiring Oration--all allies within 60 feet get back 36 Stamina Points [2x level (20) + cha mod (6) + 1x level (10)]
Inspiring Oration details:
All of these abilities are being used to some extent.
Inspiring Boost (Ex) (Improvisation) [As a standard action, you can signal an ally within 30 feet who has taken damage from any attack made by a significant enemy at any point after your last turn ended. That ally regains a number of Stamina Points (up to his maximum) equal to twice your envoy level + your Charisma modifier; at 15th level, this increases to three times your envoy level + your Charisma modifier. Once an ally has benefited from your inspiring boost, that ally can’t gain the benefits of your inspiring boost again until he takes a 10-minute rest to recover Stamina Points. At 6th level, you can spend 1 Resolve Point to add your envoy level to the number of Stamina Points regained.]
Inspiring Oration (Ex) (Improvisation) [You can use inspiring boost as a full action. If you do, all allies within 60 feet of you regain a number of Stamina Points equal to twice your envoy level + your Charisma modifier (up to their maximum); at 15th level, this increases to three times your envoy level + your Charisma modifier. Once an ally has benefited from your inspiring boost or inspiring oration, that ally can’t gain the benefits of either improvisation again until they recover Stamina Points following a 10-minute rest. As with the inspiring boost envoy improvisation, you can spend 1 Resolve Point to add your envoy level to the number of Stamina Points regained. You must have the inspiring boost improvisation to select this improvisation.]
Signature Support (Enhanced, Ex) [At 2nd level, choose one of the following envoy improvisations: clever feint, dispiriting taunt, get ‘em, or inspiring boost. If you do not have that improvisation already, you gain it. If you do have it, you can instead gain a different improvisation for which you qualify. At 6th level, you can use the chosen improvisation as though you had spent 1 Resolve Point without having to spend a Resolve Point. You can do this once per day for every 6 envoy levels you have.]
No one can cut through the glass this turn no matter what, so you should take a turn not counting on that. You could hear me offering a glass cutter to Tulgram and see him freezing up, and walk over and get the glass cutter yourself if you want.
Zharis wonders if her sight is gone forever. She shakily gets to her feet, being careful to avoid tumbling down the steps. This not-seeing thing is hard. She drops a handful of healing potions down the stairs, and says "Theo, make sure you are standing within about 60 feet of me. I'm going to give a speech."
Then she hands her glass cutter to Tulgram (unknowingly facing a little to his left, making it obvious that she is blind), saying
"This will cut through transparent aluminum. Could you make a hole for people to shoot through?"
Dropping things doesn't count as an action (I think), so hopefully I can stand up, talk, drop, and hand something off, but if not, then I'll just skip the standing up part. I still have a couple of rounds to do that. :)
I have 12 MK1s, but Tulgram was the only one with anything bigger. Ones we picked up I think. Those giant healing potions cost too much. If you see anything on the loot sheet, it's yours, but I haven't searched it recently.
Zharis still can't see, but she hears Theo go down practically in front of her, so she reaches into her pocket and pulls out one of her 4 remaining Stabilize Spell Gems, reaches out to make sure she has her target, and casts it.
I don't see anywhere on the spell that you have to see to cast it. You just have to be able to target an individual, and I think she probably can through sound and feel... but let me know if not, and I will choose to do something different.
... Okay, looked it up, and it says "You must be able to see or touch the target," so being close enough to touch should work.
Zharis thinks that editing this scene will be amazing, because she will be seeing it for the first time, just like an audience. A new experience. ... Of course they have to kill the dragon first. Which... will be difficult without Theo.
Not sure it is relevant, but my disintegrator has the "Called" fusion (it will teleport to my hand).
Zharis hears the dragon's voice, and figures that is the direction she should go while waiting for her blindness to wear off. She doesn't want to run into anything though, so she thinks that crawling is safer.
She crawls a little way and runs into Tulgram, who is at the head of the stairs as she remembers, so she knows where she is, a little, and heads parallel to the stairs, hoping to run into the outside door.
Double-move at a crawl rate, which I think is half? gets me to the door.
Zharis jump jets up the stairs with her trusty drone camera following her like an adoring winged puppy, and suddenly, when she catches sight of the dragon, she can't see anymore. She plows into a wall, >BAM< bouncing off in an unknown direction, and falls to the floor. She sits up woozily, but isn't sure what direction she is facing anymore, or whether she is in imminent danger or not. She says through her suit com "Everyone okay?", but otherwise stays put, hoping that the effect will wear off.
Zharis hears a roar above and knows she has to go up and help her friends. First though she moves back over to Gorchak and makes sure he is manacled to something... perhaps the handrail on the stairs. Just in case he does wake up, she doesn't want him to be able to wander off.
Then she prepares to go up the stairs herself.
She doesn't really prepare anything, that's just fluff. Her whole turn is used up getting Gorchak to the railing and manacling him there.
Zharis drags Gorchak's body out of the elevator, ungently. If he happens to hit his head on several things while she is dragging him by his ankles, well, that's just too bad. She disarms him and slips manacles on him at the end, just in case he wakes up. If he does not wake up, she proceeds to search him, and then the whole level since they missed it on the way up.
Zharis tries to finish Gorchak off with her claws, but as she goes to extend her claws into his throat, the wildness suddenly wears off, she remembers who she is and that her fans are watching, and that even though Gorchak is pure evil, she probably shouldn't murder his helpless body on camera.
Shakily, she sits down on the floor, trying to calm down.
Zharis moves down the stairs enough to see Gorchak in the elevator, trying to get away.
Instead of attacking with a gun, she uses her jump jets to jump straight into the elevator with him, landing above him and grabbing onto his hair and screeching and spitting like her ancient ancestors. Felt good to go a little wild, and the cameras would eat it up.
The landing on his head thing is just flavor. Technically, it is just a double move, not an attack or grapple or anything, and just trying to provoke maybe a little bit of emotion for the camera. Just want to get into the elevator to make sure he doesn't get away from me. (If the elevator isn't high enough to have me come in the door above him, please roll for me whatever is necessary. My acrobatics is +15, but not sure if that is the right thing to roll, or if it is needed.)
That's a miss anyway, but wasn't sure if he was just at the bottom of the stairs in sight or if that was just a representation of him being on the next level down, out of sight, but she will use her jump jets and the rest of her movement to follow him. He killed their friend's brother, and she wants to make sure that he goes down before he can get any reinforcements. Their main mission is still the resonator, but hopefully Xylian already has a start on that.
51 fire damage divided by 2 = 25 minus 5 fire resistance = 20 fire damage deducted... but not sure if I should take off the resistance before dividing, or round up instead, so let me know if my math is wrong.
