[Archived] Act 2 — The Gods of Coxa II

[Grognardsw]

His phaser in right hand, Ensign Abbot steps forward and reaches for Mr. Fantor's belt to disarm him.

[Starbeard]

Fantor laughs sharply and waves away Ned's remark, as though sharing some inside joke between professionals. "Oh, no. This device has far too short a range for that, I've been studying it with interest. These people live long, healthy lives: by my tricorder readings the high priest of this village is almost 150 years old, but looks only half that. If it has any adverse affects at all, it's probably just sterility in the patient.
"However," he says, looking askance at Needles and his fellows, sizing them up, "…there is a negative radiation that appears to have sprung up in the area recently. It caught our ship in orbit, and in most respects seems to have the exact opposite effects of this Rod here." He squints a little, indicating that he doesn't quite trust the crew. "…What's Star Fleet doing on this planet, anyway? How long have you been here?"

Nadix admonishes the false god and orders him to apprehended as a guest, citing his duty as an officer of Star Fleet. Fantor's jaw drops, then he shuts it again in defiance. "The hell you will! What do you think we are, pirates? I'm a doctor! We've a right to be here as common law civilians!"

But he doesn't quite get his last sentence out. The Gareb, the ship's laconic Andorian engineer, and feisty Ensign Abbot step forward to disarm and apprehend the man. In one fluid motion, Abbot strips Fantor of his belt phaser and then stands by proudly, his own weapon pointed at Fantor's chest as Gareb moves in to apprehend him with a signature Andorian arm lock. Fantor stares stupidly at his assailants until he becomes suddenly aware that he has been stripped of his defense. In a flash of rage and panic he bellows out for help—"Help! Guards! Leigh, get away!"—and begins lashing out with his stony fists.

Gareb successfully tackles the enraged doctor to the ground, but not before he swings the strap of his tricorder full around his head like a morning star, connecting the dense metal object straight into the side of Abbot's head as the young ensign stands there in triumph. Skull cracked open, Abbot is dashed unceremoniously to the ground.

Two guards at the front entrance peek in, alarmed by the commotion, and give a war cry as they barge in to protect their god.

Order of Initiation
Abbot's DX: [3d6] = 11… Fantor's DX: [3d6] = 13

1. Abbot's initiative: [1d6+0] = 5+0 = 5
2 (tied). Gareb's initiative: [1d6+1] = 1+1 = 2
2 (tied). Fantor's initiative: [1d6+1] = 1+1 = 2

1. Abbot seizes phaser from Fantor
Abbot's ST: [3d6] = 9… Hand-to-Hand class: [1d6-3] = 1-3 = 0 ranks
Fantor's LK: [3d6] = 9… Hand-to-Hand class: [1d6-3] = 1-3 = 0 ranks

Abbot's attack: [1d6] = 3, vs Fantor's defense: [1d6] = 1 action successful

2. Gareb grabs Fantor by the arms
Gareb's attack: [1d6+4] = 4+4 = 8, vs Fantor's defense: [1d6] = 1 action successful

2. Fantor smacks Abbot with his tricorder and shouts for help
Fantor's attack: [3d6] = 16, vs Abbot's defense: [1d6] = 6 10 damage dealt to Abbot. Rendered unconscious and with a serious wound.
Abbot's CT: [3d6] = 15 Abbot's current hits = 5/15 (his life saved by a lucky CT roll!)

[Starbeard]

OOC: Not sure what roll, if any is needed here; but let me know if anything is needed

We'd have a high-rolling contest of 1D6+Dex vs 1D6+Ment, with whoever has the highest Luck getting a bonus. I'll roll it now to moves things along… Dale's roll of 7 is enough to beat the figure's hidden roll. With Dale's quick reflexes and superb hand-to-hand training, it turns out that apprehending the figure cannot fail.



Leigh Moore appears to lean toward repentance, but when the Captain asks about her vessel she hesitates, clutching her stomach as though suffering from pains, unsure whether to betray that information. Soon she breaks under the Captain's intense professional gaze, and gives in. "I suppose you'll find it soon enough anyway. Our craft is… out in the jungle wilderness, a few kilometers away. But please, Captain! Don't do anything rash out there… it isn't what you think."

Meanwhile, Mr. Collins sinks into the background and casually paces the room, bringing himself up to the rear entryway to whatever revelry is going on in the rooms beyond. Quick as lightning he plunges his arm through the curtain and grabs hold of someone. A youngish man is yanked into the room, stumbling to the ground with a yelp. His dark crop of hair and green turtleneck suggest a civilian shipmate.

"Hey, alright, alright! Watch it," he says with more than a little sarcasm. "I get it, you win. But there's no need for such barbarism." He drags himself to his feet defiantly, grim eyes sizing up Collins and then the Captain. He ignores ensign Costello. "What is this, some other deal you didn't tell us about? Who are your compatriots, Leig—em, Grellia?"



As she begins to answer, they all hear brief shouts coming from the other room.

[Inferno]

Did this not occur?

Commander Nadix Ar Eth, Science Officer:
If Fantor yells to alert the Coxans, Nadix will have no choice but to quickly stun him with his palm phaser.

[Starbeard]

Did this not occur?

Commander Nadix Ar Eth, Science Officer:
If Fantor yells to alert the Coxans, Nadix will have no choice but to quickly stun him with his palm phaser.

It will at the start of next round, before others get to roll iniative, assuming you don't want the action changed now that Gareb's tackle was successful.

I didn't put the stun shot into the initiation order since it would have to wait until after Fantor attempted to get away anyway, and he only his action in the first place because he tied initiative with Gareb (who now has him in a lock). This would mean that any shot at Fantor now has a (small) chance of hitting Gareb instead. You can go ahead with the risk, taking that action before the next round starts, or redirect to another action and roll for initiative as normal.

For Everyone:

Now that we are technically in combat rounds, please make an Initiation roll with your intended action: roll 1D6, adding your DX modifier.

[Grognardsw]

Ensign Costello keeps his phaser trained on the man in the turtleneck. He glances over at the curtains when he hears the yells.

[Grognardsw]

Abbot holds Gareb's phaser in his hand and is startled to see a tricorder flying at his face. He doesn't remember that move in self-defense class, as the crack of impact and blackness overcomes him.

[Inferno]

Commander Nadix Ar Eth, Science Officer:

Wishing the captain were here, Commander Nadix has no recourse but to act.

Trusting the Andoran's strength to hamper any eloquence that Fantor might attempt, the peaceful Edosian uses his incredible speed to try to preempt the guards, diffuse the situation and resolve it nonviolently.

Initiative: [1d6+4] = 6+4 = 10

His universal translator on, he collects Fantor's weapon and holds it nonthreateningly, as his third hand is empty and palm out at the guards. He calmly says, "Gentlemen, stop! We mean you no harm.
"Your Fantor is a fake. You have been deceived, all of you. We are here to collect this criminal and see that justice is served.
He is not a god, but merely men like us. Men who can bleed," he says indicating Abbott.
"And men with the power to heal," he says, indicating Ryerson. "Doctor, would you please be so good as to give a demonstration on Mr. Abbott?"

If Fantor breaks free of Gareth's grip, and acts threateningly or violently, Nadix will have no choice but to stun him.
Likewise, should any of the Coxan guards attempt to harm his fellow officers. But Nadix hoped they could be momentarily shocked by this starting revelation about Fantor long enough to delay their action and listen for a moment.

[ybn1197]

Captain Dillon Wyse

Hearing the noise, the captain nods to Ensign Costello to go and see what is going on. "Leigh or Grellia or whomever you would to go by, I am sure you can enlighten us on who this is?And speaking of barbarism, it is uncivilized to eavesdrop on others' conversations. What is your reason for being here?"

[max_vale]

LCDR Dale Collins; Helmsman

Dale's eyes narrowed and his cheeks grew heated in anger, but he stopped himself from saying anything to the newcomer and instead, he just keeps his phaser trained on him as the Captain asks the questions....

[Starbeard]

"They're Star Fleet, Stirling," says Leigh Moore. Her expression toward the feisty man does not look wholly friendly.

"Star Fleet?" He looks them over, unimpressed. "Well, I guess the game's up then. For now." Stirling lowers his arms and slowly makes his way over to Dr. Moore, keeping his eyes locked on Dale Collins and Bud Costello.

Costello is distracted by the sounds coming from the curtain. Stirling is sharp, his eyes quickly noticing the ensign's distraction. If he saw an opportunity for escape, however, he hesitates—for Collins remains calm, his phaser levelled and ready to stun. Stirling flexes his jaw in frustration and finishes his cocky swagger over to Moore, where he prefers to stand.

Captain Wyse reprimands the newcomer for eavesdropping, and Stirling scoffs in response. Wyse chooses to ignore it and press on with his interrogation, asking him what his role in this mess is. "Just… a hired hand." His smirk challenges the others to probe further. "Ships need engineers," he shrugs, "and I'm an engineer."

At any time, anyone can make a 3D6 test vs Mentality to make a quick analysis of Stirling. If you have ranks in Sociology, Anthropology or Psychology, you can add one of those to your MN.

[ybn1197]

Mentality Test:
MNT (11): [3d6] = 6

[Grognardsw]

Captain Dillon Wyse

Hearing the noise, the captain nods to Ensign Costello to go and see what is going on.

"Yes sir," Ensign Costello says and parts the curtain to investigate.

He sees Commander Nadix holding Fantor, and Ensign Abbot unconscious.

"What's going on here?" asks Costello.

[Grognardsw]

Captain Dillon Wyse

Hearing the noise, the captain nods to Ensign Costello to go and see what is going on.

"Yes sir," Ensign Costello says and parts the curtain to investigate.

He sees Commander Nadix holding Fantor, and Ensign Abbot unconscious.

"What's going on here?" asks Costello.

[Starbeard]

Young Mr. Costello enters the temple hall—stumbling onto a scene that is mere moments from dissolving into chaos—and asks for some answers.

Mr. Endilev the Andorian continues to keep Fantor physically subdued, who continues to bellow at his Coxan followers until the engineering officer increases the pressure of his special hold. Watching the blood from Mr. Abbott's head wound ooze across the floor, Fantor finally begins to exhibit a realization of his own increasingly dire predicament.

The Edosian officer Nadix makes nonthreatening signs and attempts to explain the situation to the Coxan guards. They seem uneasy, but do not attack—it appears his statements have caused some hesitation on their part. They stare in shock at Abbott's wound, and one of them mutters to the other, "Fantor has struck a being!" The other finishes the thought, his voice quavering, "Fantor cannot know violence!" Their faces freeze blankly, devoid of any obvious emotion and without blinking; an expression which the party by now has determined to indicate genuine fear.

Nadix diplomacy (MN 14): [3d6] = 11 modified by Coxan 'stubborness/belief' bonus… Success!

[DadsAngry]

Dr. Ryerson:

The Doctor quickly move into action. He quickly rips the right sleeve off Abbott's shirt and balls it up. Uses it as a makeshift gauge pad he applies pressure to Abbott's head wound.
"Someone get me Fantor's medical equipment! Ensign can you hear me? Wake up!"

[Inferno]

Commander Nadix Ar Eth, Science Officer:

"Fantor has struck a being!" The other finishes the thought, his voice quavering, "Fantor cannot know violence!" Their faces freeze blankly, devoid of any obvious emotion and without blinking; an expression which the party by now has determined to indicate genuine fear.

Carefully watching Fantor, the serene Edosian says reassuringly to the Coxans, "Yes. It's true. I'm very sorry. But please understand, there's nothing to fear. Everything will be all right.
"Perhaps one of you should go and tell the other villagers what you have witnessed?"

If Fantor breaks free of Gareth's grip, Nadix will have no choice but to stun him.

[Grognardsw]

If Fantor breaks free of Gareth's grip, Ensign Costello shoots him with his phaser.

[Starbeard]

If Fantor breaks free of Gareth's grip, Ensign Costello shoots him with his phaser.

On what setting?

[ybn1197]

Captain Dillon Wyse

Never taking his eyes off of Stirling, Dillon hollers "Ensign, report. What is the ruckus?" Not waiting for a response, Dillon addresses Leigh. "This farce is over. We need to wrap this up and remove ourselves as quickly and quietly as possible so as to disturb the native culture here as little as possible and hopefully repair the damage that has been done."