Sea of Stars - OOC III

[Destro_Yersul]

All hail the quick drop harness. Anyone going to volunteer, or do you want a praetorian to do it?

[Blarghy]

I don't know if we want to leave a rear guard but I'll leave that for others to decide.

I definitely recommend that Anika orders a team of Rings to stay behind. My two theories here are either that A) Thule has set a trap for us, or B) Thule is dead because the Stalker knows we're onto her and killed her pet heretek to cover her tracks and is using him as bait for a trap for us. Either way, somebody should cover the retreat, or at least make sure that an enemy can't come behind you and drop heavy things down on your heads while you're descending.

[Haval]

I definitely recommend that Anika orders a team of Rings to stay behind. My two theories here are either that A) Thule has set a trap for us, or B) Thule is dead because the Stalker knows we're onto her and killed her pet heretek to cover her tracks and is using him as bait for a trap for us. Either way, somebody should cover the retreat, or at least make sure that an enemy can't come behind you and drop heavy things down on your heads while you're descending.

Let's do that. If they don't have a way of seeing in the dark Anika will lend one of them her preysense goggles.

[Destro_Yersul]

Can I get some Awareness rolls from the lower level folks?

[Blarghy]

Yeah, this is a great sign already. I'm assuming you don't want me to roll five times for each of the individual nameless rank-and-file Rings, so I've done one roll for Granos and another for his subordinates, since they have different Characteristics. Hopefully that's fine.

Granos Awareness (50): (1d100)[44]
Team Awareness (40): (1d100)[88]

[rax]

...Ze plot thickens!

[Haval]

Everyone feel free to make suggestions. Assuming the Stalker isn't actually still here.

If the Stalker killed Thule before we talked to him that does suggest that the Stalker knows about us.

[Leon]

[QUOTE=Haval;25605751](or Ravia for that matter), 'Do any of you happen to have medicae training? It would be nice to have a professional opinion on how long ago this happened.'

If you send her a nice high quality pic feed maybe or are willing to wait for however long it will take to come down

[Haval]

[QUOTE=Leon;25605760]

(or Ravia for that matter), 'Do any of you happen to have medicae training? It would be nice to have a professional opinion on how long ago this happened.'

If you send her a nice high quality pic feed maybe or are willing to wait for however long it will take to come down

Might as well. That was a terrible Scrutiny roll. But it's not that important. Maybe we can borrow a Verispex Adept for that sort of thing.

[Destro_Yersul]

Everyone feel free to make suggestions. Assuming the Stalker isn't actually still here.

If the Stalker killed Thule before we talked to him that does suggest that the Stalker knows about us.

You haven't exactly been subtle. You are, however, pretty sure the Stalker isn't still here. First of all, it would be kinda weird for them to kill the dude and then hang around waiting long past the point that all the blood dried. Second, and perhaps more importantly, your auspex didn't pick up any lifesigns.

[Blarghy]

Let's definitely get Ravia down here. She's the best suited to study both Thule and his lab. And then let's comb over this place as thoroughly as we possibly can. Can you "take 20" in Rogue Trader? I think it's safe to assume that Thule wasn't just one of the names on the Stalker's list, but rather, was helping her. Which means we are on the right track--and that she might not be able to keep fooling the hive's security measures. So this could still be a good thing.

Hopefully there's a clue in the lab. I think that's our best bet. If we can't find anything, then at that point, all I can think of is for Anika to go back to her Red String Board and keep talking to nobles. Or we could revisit the Kindjal estate to find that mysterious xeno, and hope that it's the Jokaero. Hell, I'm down for leveraging your goodwill with Etula to present our slim evidence to Hax and get permission to outright storm the manor with Praetorians and Rings. I'm sure we'll find something incriminating, even if it isn't the Stalker. We might wanna hustle out of the sector afterward to avoid the fallout, but, I'm willing if the rest of you are. If you're not, then we could finally be out of options to progress with the mystery. *shrug* At least we'll have given it our best try.

But giving the lab a very, very detailed search and pointing Ravia at it seems like the safest options to me at the moment.

[Haval]

Just being paranoid. Feel like something like this was always likely. Maybe a Rogue Trader is too big a target to go after just in case we know the Stalker's name.

I would like more then circumstantial evidence to get the KIndjal's raided but I'm ok to do that if we can't dig anything up here.

[Leon]

On the Scale of Like Rogue Traders ~ Our Inquisition Team who is pretending to be a Rogue Trader, have just flown down to a former imperial world and have crashed into a lake of what's been discovered to be blood. The heavy lander is upside down and leaking (its why we know its warp blood)

We had the option to order Extermintus on the world and are now thinking that was a smart suggestion by the Captain with Hindsight

[PotatoGolem]

Sorry about that, got unexpectedly busy and had issues with my email (not the gianitp notification system, for once!)

[Haval]

On the Scale of Like Rogue Traders ~ Our Inquisition Team who is pretending to be a Rogue Trader, have just flown down to a former imperial world and have crashed into a lake of what's been discovered to be blood. The heavy lander is upside down and leaking (its why we know its warp blood)

We had the option to order Extermintus on the world and are now thinking that was a smart suggestion by the Captain with Hindsight

I'm sure it's fine

Sorry about that, got unexpectedly busy and had issues with my email (not the gianitp notification system, for once!)

I figured. Long as it's not just me making decisions.

[Blarghy]

Ok, so, just skimmed some bits of the Rogue Trader rulebook in a rush before work, and it looks like searching the lab could be an Investigation challenge? Destro, how do you want to go about this? I don't think Ravia has Search as a trained skill. Do you think it makes sense for the Rings to have it? Either way, I want them to leave no stone unturned until we either find a clue or run out of time. Can't stay down here forever, I suppose, and eventually somebody else is bound to come poking around and word'll drift back to the Arbites. But while we have control over this crime scene, I intend to make the most of it. I'm willing to have the two teams of Rings rotate out so they can rest, if that's what it takes. Hell, if necessary, Echo can send down a dozen more teams, although that might attract more attention from the hive.

What should I roll? How many rolls will you let me make?

[Destro_Yersul]

Today's my birthday, so I am spending it with my family. I will have an update for you either later on, or tomorrow.

[Haval]

Happy Birthday.

[Leon]

Happy Birthday

[Destro_Yersul]

Took a look through the rulebook, and the way they've set this up (Search is actually an Exploration skill), I think an Exploration challenge would be more appropriate. So!

If you want to take a quick look around, grab anything that looks interesting or relevant, you can just roll a single Search check. The Rings could do that, I figure covert ops type training probably includes 'find hidden stuff.'

If you want to go over the entire workshop with a fine-tooth comb, catalogue everything you collect, and haul it all back for analysis or what have you, that sounds like an Exploration Challenge might be more appropriate. In which case, I think the Rings shouldn't be able to help beyond assisting, or maybe a single search check, since.. well, they're sort of equipment, in terms of the game? They aren't full PCs, and they aren't aware of the fine details of the investigation and what you might be looking for.

[rax]

Happy Birthday!

I have a suspicion that the Stalker may be trying to cover up more than Thule's assistance in her B&E endeavours. Doing a proper investigation might turn up something useful and Hannabel might even be persuaded to come down to check things out...

[Haval]

Does anyone have Search?

[Destro_Yersul]

It's basic, so you can all at least roll it. Other Exploration skills might also apply if you go for the 'tear the place apart' option

[Blarghy]

Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday!

What they said.

If you want to go over the entire workshop with a fine-tooth comb, catalogue everything you collect, and haul it all back for analysis or what have you, that sounds like an Exploration Challenge might be more appropriate. In which case, I think the Rings shouldn't be able to help beyond assisting, or maybe a single search check, since.. well, they're sort of equipment, in terms of the game? They aren't full PCs, and they aren't aware of the fine details of the investigation and what you might be looking for.

Yep, this is what I want.

Does anyone have Search?

Just checked, and nope! Echo has the best Perception by a wide margin, so I guess he's coming back down to the planet with Ravia and Hannabel if she's willing as well. If everyone will please Assist, along with the Rings and even the Praetorians, then hopefully we can brute-force our way through this.

I'll start with five rolls and keep going if Destro allows and says that it's necessary.

Search (27+hopefully a lot of Assist bonuses): (1d100)[53]
Search (27): (1d100)[9]
Search (27): (1d100)[92]
Search (27): (1d100)[3]
Search (27): (1d100)[57]

[Blarghy]

Other Exploration skills might also apply if you go for the 'tear the place apart' option

Yes please, if anybody can think of options. I feel like Ravia should be able to use her Tech-y skills somehow.

I'll use all of Echo's Fate Points for this day to reroll the first, third, and last rolls, mostly to just try lowering the degrees of failure, in case that matters. I'm hoping rolls two and four are good enough to get some progress if the others just don't counterbalance them.

Search 1 (27): (1d100)[24]
Search 3 (27): (1d100)[74]
Search 5 (27): (1d100)[77]

[Destro_Yersul]

Strictly speaking, with a Challenge like this you're only supposed to roll once each per skill. So I'll take that Fate point for Echo's first roll, but you can keep the others. 24 is a pass, with a degree for assistance from the Rings. Technically you're supposed to have training in a skill to assist, but for basic skills I think I can count it, so we'll give you one more assist from the Praetorians. Neither the Rings nor the Praetorians may assist with anyone else's checks, though. You have accrued 2 degrees of success towards the challenge.

For reference, Exploration skills are Awareness, Search, Security, Survival, Tech-Use, Tracking, and Trade - though that last one I'd need a pretty good reason how it's applicable. There's also Navigation, but that one wouldn't apply here. And before you go off rolling all of them you can, keep in mind that failures make the next test harder and reduce your overall chance of success.

[Leon]

if you go for the 'tear the place apart' option

So finish what the stalker started eh

[Haval]

It's basic, so you can all at least roll it. Other Exploration skills might also apply if you go for the 'tear the place apart' option

I keep rolling badly when it matters. Happy with going over the place really closely though.

Anika could roll Awareness and Tech Use with TN 53 but is outclassed by Echo and Ravia in each. I could roll security as well but she's less good at that so I'll leave it till later if it's needed.

Going to hold off rolling for a bit as the order seems to matter.

[Blarghy]

So finish what the stalker started eh

But with finesse!

Echo is much better at Awareness, so I'll certainly roll that if it's allowed.

Awareness (74): (1d100)[51]

I'll boost that with a second Fate Point for an additional degree of success. If Ravia will go for Tech-Use with Anika's assistance, maybe that'll finish the job. If not, then let's see what else we can scrape together at that point.

[PotatoGolem]

Happy birthday! Macharius is not much use here, other than offering his 10% bonus through general pep and managerial oversight.