Quest Calendar 2023: The Voidspark Chronicles

[Poli]

June 12:

The Karnack hovers above the dock on the station. Brokvar is firing at the shrieking creatures behind you as you race to the ship. The docking platform is extended but you will have to jump to get onboard.

1) Jump to the ship. D20+DEX+Athlete.

2) Pull yourself up. D20+STR+Athlete.

[Poli]

1) Jump to the ship. D20+DEX+Athlete.
19+6+2. You leap gracefully and land on the platform as the ship pulls away.

2) Pull yourself up. D20+STR+Athlete.
or in this case, as per the developer, since we made it on to the platform: 2) Hold on tight as the ship pulls away.

13-2+2. You struggle to maintain your balance but manage while straining your body to it's limit. -1hp.

[Poli]

June 13:

The Karnack pulls away and you head to your bunk for rest. You're awakened by the sound of an alarm and find Brokvar in the hallway. Captain Cayliss gets on the intercom: "We're getting reports of a foreign entity onboard. One of those things may have made it onboard."


1) Take a rest.

2A) Lock down the ship
or
2B) Gather the passengers.

[Poli]

Rest? Yes.

Let's lock this sucker down as well.

Captain Cayliss: "We've locked down the bridge but we've also lost vitals for one of the passengers. You need to check on them. What do you want us to do?


Locking down the ship will seal all the doors. It will slow down your movement, since you will need someone from the bridge to open each door for you. However, it could minimize casualties if the intruder is confined.

You have the captain shut and secure all doors. Note "LOCK DOWN".

[Poli]

I lost my "galaxy dice" while on vacation last month...rather I lost them after I got back. I was for sure they were misplaced. They finally popped up in my sock drawer. Probably after repopulating the drawer from our vacation laundry day.

The galaxy dice are just plastic, glittery dice, but they're super easy to read. I also received metal dice for the game...and while they're fun, they're both hard to read in their own way without great lighting.

[Poli]

June 14:

You move to the crew quarters to secure the area and check on the passengers. You find a horrifying sight. A young shrieker has burst out of one of the passengers.

1) What do you know about parasites? D20+INT+Student

2A) Try to subdue the creature D20+CHA+Animal Tamer
or
2B) Attack the creature. D20+ATK, Damage

3) Investigate the remains. D20+INT+Investigator

There's also a pickpocket try here.

[Poli]

1) What do you know about parasites? D20+INT+Student
10+1. This creature made a host out of the passenger and eventually killed him when it emerged. There's much to learn if you can capture it.

2A) Try to subdue the creature D20+CHA+Animal Tamer
This only makes sense given my CHA and Animal Tamer skill of +4.
20+6+4. The shrieker remains calm as you capture it in a container. Perhaps the doctors could learn something useful. Otherwise, you'll be able to sell it to a lab to study. Gain 5 credits.

3) Investigate the remains. D20+INT+Investigator
7+1+2. The passenger must not have been aware that the creature was inside him or he would have sought medical help. You find 4 credits among his belongings he will no longer need.

Pickpocket was a 4. We'll take the credits and virtue hit. Virtue is now 9.

[Poli]

June 15:

The shrieker is somewhere onboard. Search through the compartments and rooms until they're all cleared.

The Locked Down status of the ship provides a -2 on all rolls.

There are 6 rooms overall.

[Poli]

Room 1:
You spot a baby parasite chasing a passenger down the hallway of the crew quarters. Run to save them. D20+CON+Athlete.
16-1+2. You catch up to the parasite quickly and kill it. Note that you've saved 1 passenger.

Room 2:
You find a baby parasite paying no attention to you as it's much on food preserves in the cargo hold. D20+DEX+Stealthy.
13+6. You sneak up on it and capture it. Gain 3 credits.

Room 3:
You open the security vault to find a passenger hiding inside. Note you saved 1 passenger.

Room 4:
You open the door to the secondary bridge and engineering room to see a passenger cowering in the corner. When you enter, a parasite lands on you and squirts liquid in your face. D20+CON+Danger Sense.
12-1. You shove the creature off and feel sick. You're infected. While distracted, it kills the passenger.

Room 5:
The dining hall is empty and you move on.

Room 6:
You find a parasite about to pounce on a passenger. It pauses when it sees you. You may be able to save the passenger. D20+CHA+Animal Tamer.
13+6+4. You distract it and capture the creature. Note you saved 1 passenger.

[Poli]

June 16:

You discover another parasite in the hall about to attack a passenger who didn't make it to safety. This one is larger than the others, but not the parent you're looking for.

4 rounds of combat. Constitution rolls will be involved.

[Poli]

Round 1:
Attack needed: 17. 15+7. Hit.
Damage needed: 10. 9+2. The enemy is stunned. No constitution roll needed.

Round 2:
Attack needed: 17. 1 (misfire, reroll). 16+7. Hit.
Damage needed: 12. 7+2.
Defense is less than 17. -2HP.
Constitution needed: 10. 14-1. You are not infected.
Round 3:
Attack needed: 17. 16+7 Hit.
Damage needed: 11. 9+2. The enemy is stunned. No constitution roll needed.

Round 4:
Attack needed: 17. 18+7 Hit.
Damage needed: 10. 5+2. Snipe, +3. The enemy is stunned. No constitution roll needed.


You dealt over 25 damage and defeated the enemy. Note you saved a passenger.
Gain 3 credits for stunning it 3 times.
Gain 3 credits for defeating it.

[Poli]

June 17/18:

Before you leave the area, you notice unusual movement from the corner of your eye. You turn to see a creature climbing through the vent. That vent leads to the bridge.

1A) Sneak up on it. D20+DEX+Stealthy
or
1B) Lure it out. D20+CHA+Animal Tamer.

2A) Capture the creature. D20+STR+Animal Tamer.
or
2B) Kill it. D20+ATK, Damage.

[Poli]

1B) Lure it out. D20+CHA+Animal Tamer.
10+6+4. You lure the parasite out with a false sense of security. +3 bonus to capture or Attack and Damage.

2B) Kill it. D20+ATK, Damage.

Attack needed: 16. 16+7+3. Hit.
Damage needed: 8. 5+2+3. The parasite dies.

Sunday lottery:
5, Gain 3 credits.

[Poli]

June 19:

You still haven't found the adult shrieker that started this mess. You head to the Fang section of the ship to clear out the rooms there.

From the bridge, you can climb down to the kitchen or the captain's office.

This map is kind of all over the place. I think we're visiting rooms 1 (kitchen), 2 (Captain's office), 3, and then up to the 4, 5 (the bridge), and 6.

[Poli]

Room 1:

You find one of the parasites rummaging around the kitchen looking for food. It's currently sitting on top of the stove. You could kill it by lighting the stove. D20+DEX+Stealthy.
11+6. You sneak up and light the stove. It incinerates the creature. Gain 2 credits.

Room 2
One of the passengers is fighting off a parasite inside the captain's office. She's pinned against a wall and holding the creature off with a chair. You can't attack it without hurting her. You try to get it's attention. D20+CHA+Animal Tamer.
8+6+4. The creature turns to attack you instead. Reduce your HP by 1. Note you saved one passenger.

Room 3
The door to the captain's quarters is locked and will not open. D20+DEX+Locksmith.
15+6. The lock opens and you get inside. You find a pile of 12 credits on the table but nothing else. Do you take them?
Yes, yes I do. Credits are king and I can take a virtue hit. -1 Virtue, +12 credits.

Room 4
One of the passengers has locked themselves into this medical bay. She appears sick and is gripping her abdomen tightly. D20+WIS+Survivalist.
9. You're unable to save her. A parasite bursts out of her and she dies.

Room 6 (Room 5 appears to be the end of this page)
You find 3 credits in the storage area. Maybe someone dropped them in haste?

Room 5
You get to the door of the bridge and see the queen shrieker trying to get inside.

[Poli]

June 20:

You've found the shrieker that somehow made it onto the ship. It looks unlike any of the others you encountered on the ship. It's clearly the queen responsible for the rampage and death of your passengers.

See special combat instructions.

Well, this should be entertaining.

[Poli]

Engage in combat.

Combat for today will operate in the following ways:

Each round, you will roll D20+Attack, D20+INT, then Damage.
You will continue to repeat the combat round until you have dealt enough damage to defeat the enemy.
You will roll D20 to determine your opponent's attack against you each round.
You will roll D4 to determine any damage against you each round.

Queen:
Attack needed: 17.
Intellect needed: 10. Otherwise you are confused.
If confused, you will roll damage twice and take the lesser of the two values.
When TOTAL Damage is 30 or more, the queen is defeated.
If the queen is not defeated, it will attack. If the D20+2 roll is higher than your defense (16), you take damage.
If you take damage, roll the D4 for the result.


Round 1:
Attack roll 16+7. Hit.
Intelligence: 2+1. Confused.
Damage dealt: 9+2. 11.
Queen attack roll: 13+2. Miss.

Round 2:
Attack: 13+7. Hit.
INT: 1+1. Confused.
DMG: 4+2. 6. Total: 17.
Queen: 4+2. Miss.

Round 3:
ATK: 20+7. Hit.
INT: 11+1.
DMG: 11+2. 13. Total 30.

Not as bad as I thought. I was prepared to smash our Snipe ability twice at the end but we didn't need it.

The parasite queen is tired and backs down but it somehow still standing. You watch as the creature is regenerating and healing from its wounds. You will need to find another way to destroy this creature.

Collect 7 credits.

[Poli]

June 21:

If you can't kill this creature, you need to get it off the ship. Perhaps you can still get it to the airlock and jettison it.

1A) Shove the creature into the airlock. D20+STR+Athlete
or
1B) Lure the creature into the airlock. D20+CHA+Animal Tamer.

2) Vent the airlock. D20+INT+Engineering.

[Poli]

1B) Lure the creature into the airlock. D20+CHA+Animal Tamer.

Well, this isn't as easy as I hoped. I'll need 5 Success rolls to get the shrieker to the right location.

In this process, a roll of 5 or less I lose 1 HP and 1 Success. This is impossible considering I have a whopping +10 modifier thanks to CHA and Animal Tamer.
6-10 is -2HP, also impossible to get thankfully.
11-15 will reduce HP by 1, but be counted a success.
16-20 is 1 success.
21 or more is 2 success.

Roll 1: 4+10. -1HP, 1 Success.
2: 15+10. 2 Success.
3: 11+10. 2 Success.

2) Vent the airlock. D20+INT+Engineering.

Due to safety issues, this isn't as easy as pressing a button on the wall. There's a series of controls and knobs to get in the right order. Meanwhile, the creature continues to emit a painful sound that causes your eardrums to bleed.

2+1. You take 2 damage as you struggle to follow the steps to open the airlock. You engage the inner door lock, release the outer seal, check the safety, pull the lever, and vent the airlock. You hear the immediate rush of pressure as everything in the chamber, queen included, gets pushed out into space.

[Poli]

June 22:

Many have reported being ill. They're being treated in the medical labs. Thankfully, Doctors Latimer and Serphent have enough medical experience to help.

1) What do you know about medical science? D20+INT+Student.

2) Help the scientists cure the other passengers. D20+WIS+Survivalist.

3) Collect your reward.

Pickpocket try here as well.

[Poli]

1) What do you know about medical science? D20+INT+Student.

14+1. You have extensive experience and will be quite useful. +4 to helping the scientists.

2) Help the scientists cure the other passengers. D20+WIS+Survivalist.

7+4. You were able to aid in saving another passenger. Note that you saved 1 passenger. That's 6 now.

3) Collect your reward.

You check on everyone to see how they're doing. It's sad what these people have gone through. First, they lost their home on Nyx Station when the star went supernova and now this. The passengers you saved are thankful and shower you with credits.

6 passengers saved. 16 credits.

Pickpocket attempt: 2. 2 credits.

[Poli]

June 23:

Latimer and Serphent are running tests on everyone to make sure no one else is infected with the parasite. It's time to run your test.

1) Test your sample. D20+CON.

2) Discuss the next destination with them. D20+WIS.

3) Discuss Maddox with them. D20+WIS+Arcane Adept+Engineering.

[Poli]

1) Test your sample. D20+CON.
14-1. Tests reveal a parasite in you which is no longer alive and will need to be extracted. -2HP.

2) Discuss the next destination with them. D20+WIS.
We believe you discovered a key clue as to where we should go next. You reminded us about the mural on the wall in the back of the lab. It was of the city Vyxx on the planet Abramia. We primarily worked with Andi there and believe that might be where Andi went after she escaped the lab."
15. The situation doesn't feel right. The scientist know more and aren't telling you everything. Why would Andi go to Vyxx on Abramia? Why wouldn't she just return to her home? What was their real relationship with Andi?

3) Discuss Maddox with them. D20+WIS+Arcane Adept+Engineering.
1 (MISFIRE, THANK YOU). 18.

You press on to find out more about the health of the crew and talk further with Latimer and Serphent about Maddox. They seem hesitant to reveal what they've found, but you insist.

"We have been checking everyone on the ship to make sure they do not have a parasite. We found some odd results as we looked closer at Maddox's samples. It might explain why he wasn't responding to our med kits earlier. He might be infected with a mechanical virus. His body or this virus was attacking the medications as a foreign entity." They invite you to look in the microscope.

The cells look normal in structure. However, they're composed not only of biological tissue but include mechanical microorganisms unlike anything ever seen in robotics or living tissue. There's no sign of destructive damage caused by a virus. In addition, the structures seem to afford the cell with an enhanced connection to metaphysical properties.

[Poli]

June 24/25:

Abramia is too far away to make in one trip. We need to stop on Ethilia. Let's hope the Stitchers forgot about us, eh?

Fly the Karnack. Navigate to Ethilia.

A) Take the safe route.
or
B) Take the risky route.

D20+WIS+Piloting.

[Poli]

B) Take the risky route. D20+WIS+Piloting.

You begin plotting the course to Ethilia. The charts show two routes, one goes around two converging planetary nebulae (the long but safe route), and the other goes through it (Faster, but more dangerous). Engaging the Voidspark engine, you hear it whir up and feel the vibration through the metal floor plating.

18+2. Going through the navigation data, you find a shortcut that should take you through the path of a neutron star. You should be able to use it's gravity to decrease your travel time. Piece of cake. You arrive early. Consume 1 ration.


Sunday lottery: 4. Gain 2 credits.

[Poli]

June 26:

City: Rygon
Planet: Ethilia

Arriving at Rygon's largest spaceport, you are surprised to find people and market stalls so close to the open landing zones. Immediately after exiting the ship, you find yourself inundated with strange and alien smells and sounds.

Explore the city of Rygon.

[Poli]

Gray Rock Tavern and Inn:
With beautiful views, this tavern and inn is nestled high up on a rocky pillar. You have the option to spend 3 credits to take a rest.

Yep, definitely. We're at 146 credits currently. 24/28 HP, but I'll take it.


Handouts:
A purple scaled Husqel alien with glowing green eyes motions you to come closer. He holds up an empty syringe and a credit chip. He seems to want a sample of your blood.
Hey, why not?
+3 credits, -1HP.

Oni's One Stop Medical Shop:
A one eyed Erzan with an eyepatch is shouting for attention at his medical supply kiosk. A brown Gobrant alien starts to haggle with the merchant. Something seems strange about the interaction. D20+WIS+Arcane Adept.
1. Misfire. 5. You know little about this alien and it's bartering tactics and decide to move on.

There are things for sale here. Things we need for sure.

We will take 1 Med Kit for 6.
1 repair kit for 6.

[Poli]

June 27:

A rotating job board hangs down in the civic center. There are many help wanted ads you can take for credits.

Help Train My Tefoopa. D20+WIS+Animal Tamer.

Bounty on Crew. D20+CHA+Persuasion+Intimidating

Electrical Malfunction D20+INT+Engineering+Arcane Adept

[Poli]

Help Train My Tefoopa. D20+WIS+Animal Tamer.

A merchant is trying to train some tefoopas as pack animals as they are excellent for traversing the terrain of this planet. One of them breaks loose and starts wreaking havoc on the market.
20+4. You manage to calm the beast down and get it back to the merchant. The shopkeeper activates the containment collar and thanks you for your help. +5 credits.


Bounty on Crew. D20+CHA+Persuasion+Intimidating

You're shocked to see Ascel's face on the posting of a bounty. You talk to the agent to find out what trouble he got into. "A fleet captain for a transport company put this out. A moon cycle ago, Ascel was a mechanic on one of these ships. Turned out he was working with the competition and sabotaged a ship. It caused millions in damages and killed 3 of the crew."
19+6+2. You convince the agent with proof and testimony that it couldn't have been Ascel since he was present at the destruction of Nyx Station when the sun collapsed. The agent lets you collect the bounty of 10 credits.


Electrical Malfunction D20+INT+Engineering+Arcane Adept
(I kind of don't want to do this, but at the same time, we're up 15 so far)
Construction workers are building a large infosphere transmission antenna for a local media broadcast company. However, none of the signals are working. The designers are bickering that the workers didn't build it to specifications, but the builders claim the specifications were wrong. They need a consultant and mediator.
7+1. You show the designers that the builders constructed the antenna exactly as designed. You see nothing wrong with the specifications, either. You suggest it's the equipment that is faulty. They pay you 6 credits.

[Poli]

June 28:

You enter a tavern to ease your mind and have a moment of entertainment. The tavern is relatively quiet and sullen. You don't see a single smile in the building.

1. Look over the menu. D20+INT+Arcane Adept.
2. Optional. Enjoy your drink. D20+CON.
3. Converse with others. D20+CHA.
4. Optional. Play some darts.

As you might imagine, there's a pickpocket opportunity here.

[Poli]

1. Look over the menu. D20+INT+Arcane Adept.

The bartender places a drink in front of you and a white vapor bubbles out and floats out of the cup. You didn't order this. Before you can ask, the bartender is across the way talking to another patron. What is it?

16+1. You've heard of a magical chemical made from pure extracted apathy. It invokes a sense of calm if you have the right frame of mind when you consume it. Gain +5 to drink it.

2. Optional. Enjoy your drink. D20+CON.
The drink stops smoking before you take a sip.
2-1+5. Your head fogs and you feel sluggish. -2 to other rolls.

3. Converse with others. D20+CHA.
The humans next to you tries to strike up a conversation.

11+6-2. They have a fun conversation and enjoy themselves. One makes contact with someone and shakes his head. That's odd.

4. Optional. Play some darts.
Someone's throwing darts at a target. They ask if you want to wager on it. You can bet 2, 3, or 4 credits. D20+ATK.

Bet 4.
9+7. We tie. No credits exchange hands.

Pickpocket time. 2 credits.

[Poli]

June 29:

An emergency broadcast is sent out and interrupts all comms and media channels on registered ships. Captain Cayliss pulls it up on the bridge's holographic display.

1. Hear the message.
2A. Negotiate the reward. D20+CHA+Persuasive.
or
2B. D20+STR+Intimidating.

[Poli]

1. Hear the message.

"This is Security Secretary Amalya Boons with an urgent message and mission for any available vessels in the area. We've identified an unknown threat just outside of the Pheobis System. An object larger than any known vessel is fast-approaching our planet. Many lives could be in danger. No remote scanners can identify it. We need a scout team to intercept and identify the threat. If you're capable and willing, send your tracking information and we will reward the first ship to delivers an ID. In the meantime, we ask all other ships to avoid this area. Good luck."

2A. Negotiate the reward. D20+CHA+Persuasive.

"This is Mission Command on behalf of the Security Secretary. We are sending you the current coordinates of the object as we are tracking it. We request you to remain in the object's vicinity should we need to administer further orders. We understand this puts you and your crew in potential danger."

Virtue is +8. +3 to roll.
15+6+2+3. "We can advance you a payment of 10 credits. Upon successful completion and identification of this threat, we will provide you with 10 more credits.

[Poli]

June 30:

Several individuals with varying skill sets ask to accompany you on this important mission.

We've got a boatload of credits now. 167.

Analyst. 20 credits. +1 Integrity, +1 Student.
Mechanic. 20 credits. +1 Integrity, +1 Engineering.

Done and done. We'll take both.

I assign the mechanic to Engines and the analyst to weapons. I'm reminded that the crew quarters is in dire shape. I hope we get some parts soon or a chance to repair.

[Poli]

July 1 and 2:

You travel to the outer rim of the system. Before you get there, you spot a massive object pulsating and moving in the black as it passes over a barren planet. Teeth and tentacles emerge, revealing a living creature large enough to eat planetary objects.

1. What do you know about this creature? D20+INT+Student+Arcane Adept

2. Fire a shot to test it's defenses. D100+Aim
or
Flee. D100+Evasion.

[Poli]

Not excited about this remembering that the crew quarters is on it's last leg.

1. What do you know about this creature? D20+INT+Student+Arcane Adept

16+1+2. Fictional stories are told throughout the universe about a planet eating creature called a Gluttanic. That must be what you see before you. Maybe previous generations had encountered one. It must have come from another dimension through transference energy, a metaphysical force. You relay this information back to the Security Secretary. Gain 20 credits.

2. Fire a shot to test it's defenses. D100+Aim

79+20. The shots you fire don't affect the creature, but one missile appears to have went inside it's mouth and gathered a reaction. Did it flinch? +20 to Aim for tomorrow.

Weekend lottery: 3. Gain 1 credit.

[Poli]

July 3:

The planet eater's behavior changes. It begins to pursue you. The tentacles reach out while it's teeth grind in a circular motion.

4 rounds. D100+Aim, D100+Evasion.

[Poli]

Round 1:
Aim needed: 70. 8+20+20. Miss.
Evasion needed: 70. 34+10. Take 2 damage. Weapons takes a second hit. Cargo with their first.

Round 2:
Aim needed: 65. 96+20+20. Hit.

Round 3:
Aim needed: 55. 63+20+20. Hit.

Round 4.
Aim needed: 75. 82+20+20. Hit.


Whew.
With 3 hits, we have defeated the Gluttanic for now. It stops its pursuit. It turns to Ethilia. Gain 5 credits.

[Poli]

July 4:

You meet with the security council as everyone discusses what to do about the approaching creature. Fear and anxiety are abundant among the crowd.

1. Hear the council's concerns and discussion.

2. Vote for a battle plan:
A. Shield the planet.
B. Evacuate the planet.
C. Boost the fleet.

Pickpocket attempt here.

[Poli]

1. Hear the council's concerns and discussion.

Fear and anxiety grip everyone as the council room erupts in chaos. Everyone is shouting.

"We need to mount an attack against it and stop it before it gets here. It won't stand a chance against our full fleet if we work together."

"We've been working on technology to shield the planet with a forcefield. If we can finish it, the abomination may never get through."

"We can't risk sitting here and letting this thing destroy us all. We need to evacuate while we still have a chance. Save as many as possible!"

A voice in the crowd manages to silence the others with reason:

"All the plans have merit. However, we won't overcome this threat if we're narrowminded and approach this with only one objective. We may not stop this creature even if we had every ship in the galaxy. We stand the best chance of saving lives if we evacuate. But our shield could slow it down to help us evacuate even more. If it stops the creature entirely, then it will likely move on to consume another planet. Our fleet would still be needed."

Due to the versatility of the Karnack's crew and ship, you have a chance to help with one of the legs of the plan. But what will you focus on?

B. Evacuate the planet.
Note that for future use.

Pick pocket attempt: 4. We'll pass on this since Virtue isn't maxed.

[Poli]

July 5:

Every passenger ship is ordered to fill to max capacity and beyond to escort as many citizens off the world as possible and to the closest planet outside of the system. With the Karnack's voidspark engine, you can make this trip a couple of times before moving on to other parts of the plan.

1. Organize passengers as they board the ship. D20+STR+Intimidating.
2. Keep passengers calm and collected while onboard. D20+CHA+Animal Tamer.
3. Navigate through the chaos in the airspace. D20+DEX+Piloting.
4. Collect a reward. D20.

[Poli]

1. Organize passengers as they board the ship. D20+STR+Intimidating.
With a more organized boarding process, you can fit in more passengers and leave faster.
4-2. This process was a mess.

2. Keep passengers calm and collected while onboard. D20+CHA+Animal Tamer.
The citizens are scared and anxious. Keeping them calm, comfortable, and light hearted will help make this a smoother trip.
7+6+4. The passengers are as calm and collected as they possibly could be. +2 to the reward roll.

3. Navigate through the chaos in the airspace. D20+DEX+Piloting.
With so many ships leaving at once, traffic is dangerous and must be navigated carefully.
1. Misfire. 12+6+2. You help organize the ships so others can follow behind your path. Gain +2 to the reward roll.

4. Collect a reward. D20.
You saved several citizens. They thank you with a monetary reward.
16+4. Gain 6 credits.