(4) GATE! (Inactive)

Game Master mdt

Chase the likely aggressors? Dawn points to the westerly trail, or any likely captives? She swings her arm towards the east.

what direction did they come to the town by? Can you overlay what their scout path was?

"My personal opinion would be to rescue any captives, but the point that we don't know if there is any, is making this a hard choice."

You aren't sure which way they came into town. You think it might have been from the north road, as there's not as many horse hoof marks on the east road, but they could have come in overland as well, over the farm land. Path on map.

My vote is to go for the wagon. Likely captives are with it. It will be moving slowly with few horses and it cannot go through the trees where mounted men can go. Also mounted men can split up and scatter in the hills. We can easily follow the wagon in our ride. Also if we take back what these men took they may come looking for us. Daniel adds with a wry smile. Save us the trouble of hunting them down.

"Same. We're not supposed to be engaging a military force, but a single prisoner wagon? Maybe there's a chance to do something humanitarian, as long as we don't wind up in any dangerous mountain passes."

"True, if we rescue some locals maybe we can earn their gratitude and use there knowledge of the land to improve our exploration and maintain a pressence in this world."

Perception checks all around please

Search DC 12: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 3) = 7

Perception 12: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 6) = 15

Perc vs 12: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 6) = 9

Laine, looking through the range finder for the main turret gun, finally has his sniper instincts kick in. He picks out a target about a mile ahead on the road, which is good considering that while the road is fairly straight, it's up and down with rolling hills. A heavy wagon, built of wood and iron is ahead on the road, surrounded by men in armor.

The back fo the wagon is built up as a cage, he estimates it at about 15 ft off the ground at the top of the cage, based on the men walking next to it. Inside, he sees four or five figures huddled down in white robes. However, there's a female figure hanging from chains in the cage as well, it's head encased in a metal mask, and what looks like hevy metal weights attached to it's ankles, keeping the figure suspended hanging from the cage top. Laine can tell it's a female figure because it's naked other than the mask and chains.

"I see a wagon about a mile ahead of us. It's surrounded by armored men. It seems to contain some people in white ropes, perhaps priests of some kind and a female suspended in chains wearing only a mask covering her face. Should we pan to help the folks out?" Laine says keeping an eye on the events to unfold.

Daniel squints to see if he can make out any of the details. How many armored men? I sure would like to know more about this place. Those men in white robes could be the bad guys after all. But if we are not gonna intervene then why are we following them, right?

Nadezhda holds a hand above her eyes, "Bad guys have veapons and arrrmor in storrries. And ve arrre bad guys to bad guys. Kome, let us save some and bekome herrroes!" She wiped her forehead against a sleeve and wiped her hands on her uniform, ready at the gun.

perception @ 9: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 6) = 14

"As horrible as that sounds," Hudson adds, "Do we know this is someone taken prisoner from the village? Could be these are the good guys, and they just captured a genocidal monster. I'd rather not snipe everyone without knowing a bit more."

"I agree, I would rather not start an incident on a misunderstanding. We should strive to make good with the locals here if possible. So how do you suppose we go about this? I rather think the poor woman tired to in chains without clothes is a bit cruel." Laine says still keeping an eye on the wagon.

Search 12: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 2) = 10 If needed to spot anything extra

But I can imagine all sorts of reasons why it might be needed. What if she is some powerful shaman or witch or something? Lets close the distance without violence and see how they react. If they attack us when we only want to talk, well that will say something about them, right?

Remember, nobody has encountered actual magic yet here, so 'shaman' and 'witch' would be ridiculed by the forces

Are you closing distance with the LAV, splitting up and some on foot some in the LAV, or following? Your engine makes you obvious, and Laine can see the men pointing toward the LAV and readying weapons.

"Magic is just superstition. All those people in white seem to also be women huddling together, they might be scared of something." Laine says turning his scope to get a look at the men around the wagon.
"They seem to have noticed us and are readying thier weapons, how do you think we should proceed?"

As the group is debating what to do, the LAV suddenly rocks on it's wheels, a deafening shriek-boom takes place, and the smell of ozone fills the air. The LAV's systems sputter and the engine dies as smoke begins to ooze from the control panels. Everyone's hair stands on end. Electricity dances over the controls for a second, arcing around, but the wheels of the LAV, being rubber, offer good insulation and prevent the crew from being electrocuted as something hits the LAV under a blue sky.

Damage: 8d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 6, 5, 3, 3, 2, 5) = 28

Note the following about Dainel. First, his mother was a shaman of an american indian tribe. He was raised to believe in such things in the same way normal americans are indoctrinated into an organized religion. Second he has studied Occultism (2 points). And third, all his life strange and unexplainable things have happened near him (Weirdness Magnet).

Daniel regards Laine with a knowing smile. Then what in the hells was that? Are we still a mile away?

Yep, no issues with Daniel based on background, Just a reminder for those without that bckground. Yeah, my assumption was you'd stop when you saw them, to discuss what to do next.

Laine looks to Daniel "Well color me corrected, lucky the vehicle is well insolated against lightning." He pauses for a moment to calm down. "I say they have shown their hand time for us to show ours." Laine says as he begins to look for his sniper.

We were attacked. I wonder how close they have to be to pull something like that. I bet they left a man back on the trail to hit us with whatever that was. If so, he will be close. He thinks for a moment and adds Unless one of you is a lot better at repairing electrical systems than me, I think we are finished riding for the foreseeable future. He scans the area around the vehicle looking for threats but sees nothing.

Perception 12: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 6) = 15

Dawn barks in her best impression Laine, take out anyone you see as a possible threat to us first, driver of the wagon second.

Don't leave the LAV yet, whatever that strike was, it grounded on the vehicle, not us.

Dawn pulls back on the charging handle of the M240 in front of her and aims towards the wagon guards, and prepares to fire if they approach.

Laine already has his sniper rifle (it's scope is what's letting him see things). Laine sees the driver (barely, the cage blocks, along with the hanging prisoner) begin whipping the lizards and the wagon begins lurching down the road. He thinks the men in armor are cheering that the vehicle was hit by the lightning.

Note the metal armor of the vehicle does nothing to stop lightning, oddly enough, it just conducts it inside into the wiring

Oh right I oversaw that part.

Laines attempts to find the old man again so he can give him a round of his weapon. "Where are you, you old geezer. An old man waved some kind of weapon just before the lightning stroked. They are pulling away from us now, cheering we got hit."

Search 12: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 5) = 8

Laine sees the old man, he's using rocks and brush for cover, and peeking out, so it's a tough shot at a mile. Being closer would make it easier.

"I need to be closer to hit the old man, he is hiding behind some rocks."

Put a couple rounds into one of the lizards pulling the wagon.

Did the lightning short all electronics, or just those directly connected to the vehicle? The vehicle would have also had multiple electrical systems, are they all shorted? Does this include my watch?

Damage is kind of genericized, so, likely your watch is gone if it's a cheap digital. If it's got shock guarding and such, then it's fine. If it's a $30 WalMart special, then it's toast. Basically, some of the electrical system is out, some is smoking but working, an some is unaffected. Until you take the time to do a full diagnostics (Mechanics or Electronics), exactly what's working or not working is up in the air. Again, it only took 25 electrical from the lightning/emp blast. So it's lightly damaged, with most of the damage being in the electrical system and paint job.

Daniel watches the wagon move down the road and tries to estimate its speed relative to what speed a man could make double timing.

"Alright I'll try hitting one of them." Laine aims at one of the big lizards.
Attack 25: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 3) = 12
Damage: 9d6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 1, 3, 5, 1, 4, 6, 6, 5) + 1 = 33

I'm not sure about the penalties for this shot but I have 25 before those apply.

The lizard is blocked by the wagon and prisoners, you only get a glimpse of scaley flesh every once in a while. You either need to pass them up, or go off road and get more parallel to them to hit the lizard.

If you see the old geezer setting up another attack, hose 'em. Driver! Get us out of here!

Dawn keeps her machine gun trained on the guards.

Well in that case let me try to hit the old man. put a scare in his life

"Alright I'll try hitting one of them." Laine aims at one of the big lizards.

[dice=Attack 25]3d6
[dice=Damage]9d6+1

I'm not sure about the penalties for this shot but I have 25 before those apply.

Actually, you have a 28, after aiming for 10 seconds, or a 24 after aiming for 1 second, or 25 after 2 seconds. Sniper ammo is Match grade, +1 acc. 15 skill, +7 acc with the bipod, +1 for aiming 1 second, +1 for aiming second second, +3 for aiming 10 seconds with scope, +1 for match grade ammo. Unfortunately, your penalty at 1 mile is -18, leaving you with a 10 or less to hit.

The bullet ricochets off a rock near the old man, making him duck and cover.

Grumble grumble grumble, I did the damage wrong on the lightning bolt, I misread it, sorry, should have been 9d6-9, not 9d6. So damage was 9 less, 25 through defenses - 9 is 16. So 16 HP to the LAV.

To bad was a close shot.

"We need to decide now if we move closer or drive away, we can't keep sitting here and wait for another lightning strike to hit us. I'm in for moving to intercept them." Laine says a bit annoyed no action is taken yet.

Ok, with 16 damage is the LAV operable or no? If yes does the damage impact the speed or drivability?

As I've said before, the LAV works, just needs to be restarted. The speed/drivability isn't affected yet, but some of the electronics (speaker, lights, etc) won't work without some maintenance

"Lightning isn't something you can put a bandaid out!" Hudson calls out from hiding behind the LAV. "Everyone, in cover! If we're going to pursue we need a plan that keeps that weapon from hitting any of us!"

"What do you plan Hudson? I could try and hit the old sorcerer or what ever he is, but I need him to get his head out of cover."

Taking 2 secs to aim at the mage once he is out of cover and trying to put a round through him before the weapon is ready again.
Attack 25: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 1) = 5
Damage: 9d6 + 1 ⇒ (2, 1, 3, 6, 3, 3, 3, 6, 6) + 1 = 34

25-5 = 20. Penalties are -18, hit, but not a crit

Location: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 6) = 10 chest
SubLocation: 1d6 ⇒ 4 Non-Vital

Laine sees the old man move from one bit of cover to another, and puts a round through him. The old man flips backwards, whatever he was wearing for armor, if anything, no match for the 223 round that slammed into his chest. Max Damage x2 HT His mace goes flying.

HTcheck: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 5) = 10

Perception: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 3) = 9

Laine notices that the other armored men seem upset that the old man is hit, and they take cover. As they do so, the one driving the cart jumps off and begins pointing at the prisoners and yelling something.

Laine sees one of the robed prisoners suddenly jump to it's feet, just in time to block an arrow from hitting the chained prisoner. The prisoner who jumped up staggers back, blood staining it's white robe as an arrow hits it in the leg.

Several other figures stand up and interpose themselves between the soldiers and the chained prisoner. More arrows fly...

Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Location: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 5) = 14 Leg
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Location: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 3) = 7 Leg
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Location: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 4) = 8 Arm
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Location: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 5) = 13 Leg
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Location: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 2) = 7 Leg

One falls to the floor of the wagon, two arrows protruding from it's legs. The other 3 each take a single arrow.

"I... get... behind something?" Hudson stammers out in response to Laine, unsure of whether the sniper managed to hit anything.

Feeling helpless and confused Daniel looks to their commander and ask Should I at least try to fix the LAV?

We are still a mile away from the enemy and I have no way to impact their killing the prisoners. This is no fun.

As I've said two or three times, the engine stalled from the lightning blast/EMP/surge. 'Fixing' is more than likely restarting. Not all the electronics will work, but the engine is shielded from EMP, even if all the electronics aren't shielded from actual lightning hits. I've been waiting for a 'I try to restart the engine' post.
I probably have been slightly confusing because I keep trying to explain what I said before with more and more detail to make it clear.
So when I say I've posted before, I mean I've said the LAV is not non-functional, the engine died and it's damaged. I then go on to explain more and more that some stuff won't work but it's still a viable vehicle. I don't know how to make it any clearer that someone has to post and say 'I do something' rather than just ask questions.
APologies if this sounds rude, I'm not trying to be, I'm just trying to post quickly on my lunch break, so please forgive any rudeness as haste to get posted.

I've been trying to avoid using the NPC to control things, because I'd prefer you guys decide what to do and post for them. But I guess, after a PM, I will go ahead and do so.

"Rainwater, get your damn ass in gear and get the engine started so we have power to the turret! Svensson, get on the turret and start taking down those damn murderers before they kill all the prisoners. King, get on the Ma Deuce and help her! Laine, take them down too!"

Assuming Rainwater tries to get the engine started...

The engine coughs a couple of times, and then starts up again. It's running rough, as if a cylinder is not firing all the time, but it runs. Power comes back up into the systems. The radio is still black, but the turrets power and motors are working. The AC isn't working, so the inside of the vehicle is going to get hot sooner than later. The inertial navigation system is blown as well.

Coming out of a daze of indecision, corporal Rainwater springs into action like a wound up spring being released. He pumps the gas a couple time to prime the engine and tries the starter. It does not start immediately but he is encouraged by the noise he hears and tries again. That's right darlin, start for me. When it does Daniel begins to drive forward, trying to get his gunners closer and a better shot.

Hudson! Get your ass back on the LAV!

Dawn, in the commander's seat, taps Laine, Drop a 20mm near the front of the wagon.

Daniel, stop us at 100 yards.

"What's our status on their sniper?" Hudson asks as he runs back to the LAV, shielding his face with his hands.