Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Tierfon Mission: Turbulence

Here's the other scenario that I ran at Con of the North.

Turbulence

-Nate



Star Wars: Age of Rebellion: Turbulence
The planet Dac is a major bastion of support for the Rebel Alliance, home to the dedicated Mon Calamari and their shipyards. Recently a team of Irregulars operating out of Tierfon Base acquired a supply of starship-grade ore from the planet Flax; now they are delivering to the allies who will build from it vessels with which to continue the battle against the Evil Galactic Empire. Even on this friendly world, however, they are walking into the middle of unexpected dangers. 

Unbeknownst to the Mon Calamari, a Quarren crime boss by the name of Toruck Chel is running a series of illicit skiff races on Dac's watery surface. Participating in them is a risky but potentially lucrative proposition, and one that has drawn numerous competitors. Some are desperate, some are fearless or foolish, and some are ruthlessly determined to win by any means necessary.

Adventure Summary
This adventure begins with the PCs finishing a delivery of crucial supplies to a Mon Calamari contact on the surface of the planet, when they overhear a distress signal from one of the racing skiffs. Should they investigate, they find a vehicle that is malfunctioning, leaving its occupants exposed to the attack of a deadly keelkana. As long as they can make the rescue, the PCs can meet Gaea Rus and learn of the illicit skiff races. Provided they are interested in becoming involved, they can be introduced to Toruck Chel and interact with him and the other competitors. In the end they can compete in the race...

Planning and Preparations
Unlike other missions, this scenario finds the PCs caught up in the midst of unofficial business. Although it could ultimately prove useful to the Alliance, it also tests their willingness to operate outside of normal parameters.

Involving the Player Characters
This scenario should begin in media res, as they finish dropping off the supplies for their Mon Calamari contact, Lieutenant Aneru. From that point onward, the situation develops as it may.

Mission Objectives and PC Duty
Detailed below are some of the ways in which this assignment can tie into different characters' objectives.
  • Combat Victory—While this scenario might not seem to present much opportunity for pursuing this duty, interactions with the keelkana and the saboteurs do so.
  • Counter-Intelligence—This character faces the task of making sure that PCs are not revealed to be agents of the Rebel Alliance, something that could become more challenging, depending on how the situations develop.
  • Intelligence—The interactions with Lieutenant Debah provide a chance to gain information that could become important in the future.
  • Internal Security—This character might see Gaea Rus, a potential ally, as a possible threat; this can make for some interesting interactions with her, and with those PCs who seek to recruit her.
  • Personnel—On the other hand, this character probably sees Rus as a good opportunity to recruit a wealthy and daring potential operative, and is right in doing so.
  • Political Support—For this character, the publicity that can be gained by participating in the race is a good thing, and so providing dramatic competition and playing to the fans is a desirable objective.
  • Recruiting—Much like with the Personnel duty, for this PC securing the support of Gaea Rus is also a positive outcome.
  • Resource Acquisition—Acquiring and delivering the foodstuffs should be this character's primary goal, but there could be other opportunities for acquisition along the way.
  • Sabotage—The encounter with Drunn Debah is a good chance to do some harm to the Empire.
  • Space Superiority—The race itself presents a challenge for this hero, as do any potential Imperial Entanglements as the PCs make their exit from Dac.
  • Support—This character can, as usual, help fellow operatives in attaining any of the aforementioned duty objectives.
  • Tech Procurement—The waveskimmer skiffs could be an interesting asset for this character, along with any chance to develop equipment for use on aquatic worlds.

Episode 1: The Rescue
Begin this scene by setting the stage. The PCs' ship is parked on a docking platform on a small rocky island, one used by the Mon Calamari for transferring goods from starships to submarine vehicles. Lieutenant Aneru is looking over the supplies, making a list on his datapad. At the same time, the PCs can load aboard sealed containers of flash-frozen seafood for the return trip.

Lieutenant Aneru—Use the stats for a Mon Calamari Shipwright from page 35 of Strongholds
of Resistance.

As the waves lap against the footings of the platform and the sun is beginning to set on the far horizon, have the PCs make average Perception checks; success allows them to hear the crackle of a faint transmission from their ship's comm system.

<Static> “...anyone there? I've suffered a malfunction and my skiff is sinking.
If you can hear me, I need help. Please, if anyone is out there...” <Static>

Hopefully this is enough to pique the PCs' curiosity. The voice, it should be mentioned, is that of a Human female, one who sounds fairly refined in her upbringing. 

At this point, an average Computers check using the ship's sensor suite can locate the source of the transmission. It's not far away by freighter. As long as the PCs are willing to have a look, it becomes important to know where each is stationed aboard the ship, since this influences how they can react when they arrive on the scene.

Keelkana Attack
The source of the transmission is an Ubrikkian Bantha II cargo skiff, one that is clearly having problems. The vehicle is partially emerged in the turbulent ocean, with waves continually cresting over it. At the control console, a Human female struggles to keep it operating, while also fighting the waves to keep an unconscious Human male aboard. What is more, their predicament has attracted the attention of a keelkana that prowls in these waters. 

Have the PC in the best position to do so make a Perception check opposed to the keelkana's Stealth effort. Success for the hero means that none of the PCs are surprised by the attack, while failure means that the keelkana gains a free attack (with a boost die added) before initiative begins. Once the battle is underway, the PCs should suffer setback dice to ranged attacks against the creature because of the protection afforded by the water. For its part, the keelkana targets the Human male first, and then targets of opportunity after that.


Keelkana—Use the stats from page 34 of Strongholds of Resistance.

The PCs don't need to kill the beast in order to complete their rescue. If they can reduce it to half of its would threshold, or inflict multiple critical injuries upon it, the keelkana decides to seek easier prey elsewhere and swims away. Options here include rigging a cable to the skiff and towing out of harm's way (a hard Survival check), lifting the victims to safety aboard the freighter (average Athletics checks for each) or other strategies (GM's determination).

Gaea Rus—Use the stats for a Wealthy Noble from page 430 of the core rulebook.

Gaea Rus's Story
As long as they can rescue her, Gaea can explain her situation to the PCs. She might be willing to share more information if a character makes a suitable Charm check opposed by her Discipline. Through conversation or recitation, she relates the following details.
  • She is the daughter of an influential family in the Tion Hegemony.
  • She and her brother, Derc, are preparing for a local skiff-racing competition.
  • The competition is not entirely legal, promoted by a Quarren crime boss named Toruck Chel.
  • It consists of a race through a series of rocky islands using skiffs with repulsorlifts modified to decrease their flight ceilings, making for difficult flight. The prize is 10,000 credits.
  • She and her brother hope to win the prize of ten thousand credits.
  • The two are bored of their ordinary lives and are seeking a little excitement.

An average Outer Rim knowledge check reveals that Gaea and Derc's family is connected to the noble Tion family and its holdings; they are wealthy and influential beings.
At this point, of course, Derc is incapacitated (or possibly dead) and Gaea's skiff is badly damaged (or even lost at sea). If she is going to compete in the race, she needs help, and asks for it from the PCs. What is more, because she cares little for money, she offers them the full prize if they will assist her. 

Note: The PCs' interaction with Gaea Rus—and with the other NPCs in this scenario—can make for some good roleplaying as they try to explain their business on Dac without giving away their Rebel affiliations. On the other hand, considering the fact that Gaea is a wealthy and influential young woman who lacks a sense of purpose in life, perhaps the PCs might want to try recruiting her.


Episode 2: Meeting the Competition
If they're willing to work with her, Gaea can lead the PCs to the islands where the competition is being held. One in particular boasts sandy beaches and private cabins, along with a restaurant and bar. This is where Toruck Chel has set up his base of operations, and where the competitors are being lodged. 


The restaurant is run by a friendly and outgoing Nautolan named Nadira. It has a broad common room filled with tables and chairs for patrons, along with two smaller rooms for private seating. The kitchen and pantry are in the back, along with the rear exit. There are refreshers in the front corner. Nadira welcomes newcomers and enquires about the purpose of their visit as she takes orders for food and drinks. She can provide most of the popular potent potables from around the galaxy, but the cuisine runs heavily toward seafood. It is still delicious, though. 

Once they're settle, the PCs can also meet the organizer, and then interact with some of the competition. Toruck Chel, surrounded by his Quarren bodyguards, greets them. Assuming that he hears of Gaea's accident, he expresses his relief that she is okay and then discusses any changes to her racing situation that are necessary. He can also assign the PCs to their own private cabin, one of the many located along the beach.



The other competitors also happen to be gathered at Nadira's. They are a mixed bunch, including the following characters.
  • One is a local Mon Calamari named Mujnah. She is well regarded by others, a skilled pilot and a fair competitor.
  • Another is a Xexto hotshot, Togala Genu, one who is full of confidence and has the aptitude to back it up. While he can talk trash, he is not known to cheat.
  • The third is a Corellian. Golthani Ru, who makes her living by piloting for an Ugor reclamation vessel; not too much is known about her.
  • There is also a Shistavanen named Sen Wral. His reputation is not good, as it's believed that he'll resort to any means necessary in order to win a race.
  • Last is an Imperial officer who can't resist the temptation of the race, a Human by the name of Lieutenant Druun Debah. He is taking a considerable liberty by participating in the competition.
Note that stats for these characters are provided in an appendix that can be printed and shared with other players during the race, allowing non-pilot types to participate in the dice rolling (see below for more details). 

During these interactions, Lieutenant Debah inevitably makes his way over to where the PCs are seated. While not suspecting them of Rebel activity, he is always on the lookout for that kind of thing. As such, his seemingly innocent questions require the PCs to be careful. This requires either some clever half-truths from a PC, or perhaps even a Deception check opposed by the Imperial officer's Perception effort. The GM should, as always, assign bonuses or penalties to these checks based on good and bad roleplaying. 

Mixing and mingling with these beings can take as much or as little time as the players and GM want. Once they're ready, one of the staff members escorts the PCs to their private cabin.


Preparations
While they have a little downtime, one or more of the PCs might want to do some work on the skiff that they'll be using in the race. This is a good chance for mechanically-minded characters to use some of their special abilities. 

First up is the task of repairing Gaea Rus's waveskimmer. It has suffered the effects of an Engine Damaged critical hit, reducing its speed by 1. A hard Mechanics check is required to restore the engines to maximum capacity. 

At the same time, characters such as Riggers might want to use talents like Bolstered Armor or Tuned Maneuvering Thrusters to improve the performance of their 'skimmer. At the GM's discretion, the PCs could make other modifications to the vehicle, such as adding a weapon emplacement to it.

A Little Romance?
Another potentially interesting development is the possibility that Gaea Rus becomes romantically involved with one of the PCs. This is likely to be one with a higher Presence score, or a character who took a particular risk in order to help her.

Episode 3: The Race
As the race approaches, pilots and their crews should board their waveskimmers and then head for the starting line (1). Toruck Chel is present, too, and looses a number of camera droids to monitor the race. They broadcast back to Nadira's Cantina, as well as “to those who are watching around the galaxy.” Once everyone is in position, Toruck produces an old-fashioned slugthrower pistol and uses it to accentuate the “On your marks, get set, go!”

Keeping Score
To conduct the race, use the following guidelines. Every time the racers make skill checks, the one with the highest result scores 4 points; next highest scores 3, and so on down the line. This creates a running tally, affected by every check, that reflects the overall positions of the competitors, and the one with the highest total after the last check is the winner. Every triumph scores 2 bonus points, too.
Order / Points
First / 4
Second / 3
Third / 2
Fourth / 1
Fifth / 0

The Course
Refer to the map of the islands for a layout of the course.

1. Fast Start
To begin the race, all competitors should make Cool checks for initiative, representing how quickly they can jump off the line.

2. Open Stretch
This part of the course requires pure speed, so characters who've made upgrades to that quality for their vehicle should receive bonuses to their Piloting (Planetary) checks. Here the lead vehicle should roll first, and can use Advantage generated by the check to add setback dice to other racers' checks. 

3. Sharp Turn
Rounding this island requires average Piloting (Planetary) checks, this time with bonuses for those who've increased their waveskimmers' handling. In addition to determining the scoring for this part of the course, failure on these checks requires pilots to make a second check in order to remain in control of the vehicle. Failing that second check means the pilot temporarily loses control and the vehicle suffers a minor collision with the rocks (see page 256 of the core rulebook for details).

After the sharp turn is another run through the open stretch, with another round of speed-based checks.

4. Wide Turn
Coming around the back of the island, the camera droids have a hard time keeping track of the racers amid the crashing waves and spray. Due to the turbulence, competitors should make hard checks, with failure requiring a second such check to avoid losing control (see above). This is perhaps the first opportunity for competitors to engage in any shenanigans, as detailed below.

After the wide turn, the course leads through a third open stretch, a second sharp turn, and then the fourth and final open stretch before reaching the finish line.

Meanwhile, back at Tierfon Fighter Base...
This scene could provide a good chance for the GM to use a humorous cut-away scene. Back at Tierfon Fighter Base, an enterprising technician has managed to patch a live feed of the race into the base's command center holoprojector. While some of the off-duty Rebels are watching, one of them leans in for a closer look at the competitors. “Wait a minute,” she asks. “Isn't that __________?” 

Needless to say, once they return to base, the PCs are going to have some explaining to do. This scene can develop with cheering and/or booing, depending on the developments in the race.

Shenanigans
Nobody really expected this to be a fair and honest race, did they? In the event that the PCs are proving to be more of a challenge than what they expected, some of the competitors are willing to cheat. Presented below are a few of the possible strategies that they can employ.
  • Somebody surreptitiously loosens the cover on his engine compartment (Perception opposed to Skulduggery to notice the action) and a moment later it flies off into the path of the next 'skimmer. Dodging it requires a Pilot—Planetary check, with failure causing a collision that inflicts a major collision, as detailed on page 256 of the core rulebook.
  • Another character produces a small globe containing some kind of liquid. It is, in fact, oil secreted by female keelkanas, and is a powerful attractant for the males. The offending character must succeed at a Ranged (light) attack to hit with the globe. An average Survival check can identify the liquid, and a hard check of some kind is required to remove it. Options here include dipping that part of the waveskimmer into the water to wash it off, removing the part of the vehicle that's been befouled, or whatever else the PCs can think to do.

Keelkana Attack!
This event can happen for a number of reasons. One is if a competitor hits an opponent with the globe of keelkana oil; another is if a competitor lose control of a vehicle and crashes. Whatever the case, a keelkana lances up out of the water to attack the beings on the vessel in question. This requires going into initiative, using the stats provided above. 

This situation could also present an interesting moral dilemma for the PCs, as well as a chance to make the Empire look bad. After all, Lieutenant Debah does not even hesitate if a competitor is in trouble, but the PCs could demonstrate their altruism by stopping to aid a rival. Given that this event is being broadcast throughout the Outer Rim territories, that's some good publicity for the Rebel Alliance—especially if someone is so bold as to fly a banner with the Alliance starbird on it.

Conclusion
The winner is, of course, the pilot with the highest point total after finishing the course. Toruck Chel, Nadira and the assembled visitors are waiting to congratulate the winner, and to present him/her/it with the 10,000-credit purse. Gaea Rus insists that the PCs keep all of it, since all of this is just a hobby for her. What is more, she could become a useful ally for the PCs, since she is an influential noblewoman and has been impressed by their character.


Epilogue
As long as the mission is a success, the PCs have won a considerable prize for themselves.

Rewards for Risks
At the GM's discretion, the PCs should earn 10 experience points for a complete success, or 5 xp for a good effort; players who stick to their characters' motivations should earn another 5 xp. At the same time, they should each increase their Duty rating by 5.


Appendix 1: Opening Crawl
Presented below is an opening crawl in the style of the Star Wars movies for use with this scenario.


STAR WARS

AGE OF REBELLION

TURBULENCE

It is a time of civil war.

As part of the ongoing war effort, Rebel agents

are delivering a valuable cargo of supplies to

Mon Calamari technicians on Dac. Little do they

know that they're about to stumble into a cutthroat

competition, a chance to win fortune and glory

if they can survive it.
Appendix 2: The Competition
Presented here are stats for the various competitors in the waveskimmer race. They are formatted so that they can be cut out and given to players who don't control the party's pilot to keep them more involved in the race.


Mujnah (Rival)
Brawn 1 Cunning 2 Presence 2
Agility 2 Intellect 3 Willpower 2
Soak: 2
30
Wound Threshold: 11
Strain Threshold: 13
M/R Defense: 0 / 0
Skills: Astrogation 2, Computers 1, Core Worlds 1, Gunnery 2, Mechanics 1, Outer Rim 2, Perception
1, Piloting--Planetary 2, Piloting--Space 3, Ranged--Light 1, Vigilance 1
Talents: Full Throttle, Skilled Jockey
Abilities: One free rank in Perception; Amphibious
Equipment: Heavy clothing, blaster pistol, comlink

Mujnah is a highly skilled pilot, and she enjoys the challenges that are presented by her work for
Captain Zate. Even so, she longs to do something more important. Having heard stories about the
oppression of her homeworld by the Empire, and how such brave individuals as Captain Ackbar are
fighting for freedom, she dreams of having a chance one day to make that kind of difference. She questions her own skills, however, and wonders if she would be able to do what must be done if such circumstances befell her.









Togala Genu, Xexto Hotshot (Rival)
Brawn 1 Cunning 2 Presence 2
Agility 4 Intellect 2 Willpower 1
Soak: 1
Wound Threshold: 10
Strain Threshold: 10
M/R Defense: 0 / 0
Skills: Astrogation 2, Computers 1, Cool 2, Gunnery 3, Mechanics 1, Piloting—Planetary 2, Piloting—
Space 3, Ranged—Light 2, Streetwise 1, Vigilance 2
Talents: Confidence, Corellian Sendoff, Dedication, Grit, Koiogran Turn, Shortcut, Showboat, Skilled
Jockey
Abilities: One free rank in the Confidence talent; Additional Limbs (one free maneuver per turn)
Equipment: Heavy blaster pistol, long-range comlink, A/KT Wing Commander armored flightsuit

Togala is a brash, boastful pilot; the only thing he enjoys more than piloting his ship in dangerous
situations is telling others about it later. Even so, he is friendly with other pilots and loyal to those who earn his respect. He has no love for beings who lie or cheat others (but taking a little license in storytelling is another matter entirely).
Sen Wral (Rival)
Brawn 3 Cunning 3 Presence 2
Agility 3 Intellect 2 Willpower 2
Soak: 5
Wound Threshold: 12
42
Strain Threshold: 12
M/R Defense: 0 / 0
Skills: Athletics 1, Brawl 2, Coercion 1, Cool 1, Gunnery 1, Mechanics 1, Medicine 1, Melee 2,
Negotiation 1, Perception 2, Piloting—Planetary 2, Ranged—Heavy 2, Ranged—Light 2, Resilience 1,
Stealth 1, Survival 3, Vigilance 2
Talents: Expert Tracker, Hunter, Outdoorsman, Swift, Tracker
Abilities: Night Vision: Shistavanens remove one setbeck die imposed by concealment that is caused
by darkness; Uncanny Tracker: Shistavanens always treat Survival as being a career skill
Equipment: Padded armor, blaster carbines, force pikes, comlink

Sen Wral is an unpleasant being, a Shistavanen bandit who has decided to wager some ill-gotten cash on this race. He does not hesitate to cheat if he thinks he can do so without being caught.
Golthani Ru (Rival)
Brawn 2 Cunning 2 Presence 2
Agility 3 Intellect 2 Willpower 2
57
Soak: 2
Wound Threshold: 12
Strain Threshold: 13
M/R Defense: 0 / 0
Skills: Astrogation 1, Athletics 1, Brawl 1, Computers 1, Cool 2, Coordination 2, Core Worlds 1,
Gunnery 2, Lore 1, Mechanics 2, Medicine 1, Melee 1, Outer Rim 1, Perception 2, Piloting—Planetary
2, Piloting—Space 3, Ranged—Heavy 1, Ranged—Light 2, Resilience 1, Skulduggery 1, Stealth 1,
Survival 1, Vigilance 1
Talents: Full Throttle, Grit, Improved Full Throttle, Rapid Reaction, Skilled Jockey
Abilities: One free rank in each of two skills
Equipment: Flightsuit, blaster pistol, comlink, datapad

Known as “Golly” to those who are close to her—and there aren't many who can make such a claim—Golthani Ru is a skilled pilot, as befits a native Corellian. While she longs for more adventure in her life, she is happy for now to be working as Ma'char'ba's personal pilot. When she has a chance to do so, she likes to test her abilities by weaving in and out of asteroids and performing other such stunts. One day she hopes to have her own ship, something small, fast and sleek. Until then, she tolerates her unusual boss and coworkers. Golly is a good-looking young woman with black hair, brown eyes and a dark complexion.





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