Dungeon World - Strom's Six (Inactive)

Game Master Infernal Zero

Hey, don't forget the acid I shot at them!

Igloo was her words, not mine. Besides, doesn't fix her roll!

I did choose to draw attention to myself, that might help her out.

Clever git.

Just call me Jeff Goldblum! For my next trick, I'll light a torch and run around to attract the golems.

"What? Avast, crow's nest-" Bikke starts to object, but Terestria is too quick to change to a crow. Bikke takes off his hat, and scratches his head, puzzled.

"Blimey... Me ain't used ta workin' under these 'ere circumstances."

(The, uh, the rope + grappling hook was in Terestria's possession, right? What happened to it when she transformed? Did it disappear along with her other gear, or can Bikke pick it up?)

Things on Terestria's person like clothes and gear transform with her. Sucked into a pocket dimension, or maybe it's that she wears all natural fabric and leathers and they are shapeshifted too? Terestria hasn't actually thought very hard about it.

But things she's left out like the grappling hook will be fine

The crow hops around on Bikke's shoulder, and pecks him once in the ear lobe "Caww!!"

As the golems come, they come in hard, making an effort to be aware now that they can’t communicate so easily. The Herald’s golems notice her trying to brace against the impact, and they strike upwards, lifting her off the ground and into the air. The frosted golem runs in and follows up with a dropkick that sends her flying away. Take 1d6+2 damage as their formidable teamwork sends you sprawling across the ground. You gather yourself for the next assault and - your staff! It’s still wedged into the ground, and the golems stand between you and it. What do you do?

Fizzwiddle is having better luck. When he cheers for Gromroir, his golems jump away from each other and turn, ready to deal with the dwarven mechanic...who isn’t there. One of them turns back to Fizzwiddle as its companion is blasted by the tricky gnome, dealing the final blow required to take it out of commission. For a strange moment, the chest of the golem you just took out begins to glow, and the Herald can feel magic stirring within it, different to that of Fizzwiddle and herself. The next moment, there’s a searing burst as it erupts in flame, spraying Fizzwiddle with shattered clay and broken gears. The remaining golem doesn’t hesitate, and it runs for the ruins. It's going to be bad if it get away, but if you don't cover yourself from the flame and debris it's going to hurt, to say nothing of the chance that something on you is set alight. What do you do?

Gromroir attempts to break away from his golem and...it doesn’t follow? In that instant, it seems to have noticed something, and it takes off as you're still making distance. Something comes up on the display - one of the golems is making a break for the ruins, and Elena’s right in its path as she moves to spray one of the golems enclosing the Herald with acid. She’s not there much longer, as the golem that got away from you barges into her and backhands her away, sending her skidding along the ground as the running golem slips past. Take 1d6 damage, Elena. Assistance rendered, the golem follows, running with its partner toward the ruins. They’ll get away if something isn’t done. What do you do?

Bikke rushes down the side of the tower, with Terestria on his shoulder. As they go down, she tries to push against the instincts of the ram with the crow’s spirit. The pressure to flock subsides, but the awareness of your teammates remains, mixed with an overwhelming caution and hostility toward the golems. They hurt your allies. How dare they. You can act freely, but take -1 forward if you don’t intend to harass the golems directly.
You both get down safely, and get through the hole in the wall to find the Herald separated from her staff by three still-enclosing golems, Fizzwiddle dealing with a fireball from a broken chassis, and two golems headed for the ruins, not far from where Elena is regaining her footing. What do you do?

Fizzy yelps and dives to the ground trying to avoid the flames

2d6 ⇒ (6, 3) = 9 DD Dex

He then rolls on his side and stops, he raises his finger guns and sights down them and says

Pew Pew! sending another pie at the Golem as it flees

2d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 6) + 2 = 10 for 2d4 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5

I read about a situation just like this in a book once! If it was at all accurate that golem should explode in a ball of flame from this! he says confidently

Bikke is upset to see so many golems harassing his "mateys". It's up to Bikke, he thinks, to save them.

"ARRR! Prepare to be boarded, ye lot of piss-fueled bucket-fer-a-bodies!" Axe held high, he charges the golems approaching the Herald.

(If they were prepared for me, which I suppose they were, after a warcry like that:)
Hack&Slash: 2d6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (1, 3) + 1 - 1 = 4
(Then again, maybe I took them by complete surprise, and just roll damage.)
Axe to the head, 2 piercing: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"Arr! Ho, Polly! Give 'em a piece o' yer parrot claws, too!"

Bikke, you know that one mook that tries to come up behind someone, and gets taken out without a glance? That is you right now.

Don't forget to mark XP for your miss.

Elena wobbles back to her feet and looks at tbe fleeing golems. "Oh no you don't!" Elena gives chase while reconfiguring a few switches on her magnetic reversal belt. Supercharging the field it produces and reversing the polarity, she extends its effects and slows the golems to a crawl as they get ensnared in the magnetic field. "Grommy, quick! Grab them!"

Damage: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1
Field Test: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (4, 3) + 2 = 9
I'll put someone in a spot and the effects will be temporary.

Most of the golems beat up an old lady: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
HP: 7/19

The herald rolls into a heap of loose robes a safe distance from the golems. From the pile of folds, her arm shoots up to wave. "Don't mind me dearies. Just a little disarmed of all magical powers. Nothing to worry yourselves over."

With a grunt, the crone rights herself, taking a moment to pull the hair out of her face and look at the source of magic. "Had I a certain staff, I could wear down the self-destruct wards built into these damnable poppets."

From her position, a safe distance from the golems, she surveys the area on the other side of the wall.
Discern Realities: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (3, 1) + 1 = 5

...Oh, man. I have a really terrible idea now, but it's whether I'm willing to do it.

If people want to guess in discussion, there's a bonus if you get it right.

Terestria flutters around Bikke as he flails awkwardly trying to fight.

Shaking her bird head in dismay, she takes flight, cawwing madly and summoning a flock!

I'll give these damn golems something to .... caww about. She thinks, her bird brain clearly interfering with her normal wit.

Spending 1 hold to round up the crows to face a threat

People never understood why so many crows hung around Hohenheim, but the fact is, they're there all the time. And at Terestria's cawwl, they form into a great murder, following her lead. She doesn't gather all the crows, but enough to impress upon others that see them together.

I don't care if you hate the pun, I HAD to.

This is probably the only campaign where puns suit the feel of the campaign so well!

The flock of crows barrels down on the fleeing golems, buffeting them and trapping their escape through a massive whirlwind of beaks, feathers, and claws.

When you can, Herald - what are you interested in finding out as you look about? Just in the interest of being informed on the fiction.

My (flawed) understanding of the scenario so far: We arrived on side A of a wall with a tower as golems ran through a portico to the sound of golem-flavored destruction. An old golem spotted us, we disabled it and took its power source. Then, other smaller, less cool golems came to attack us. The crone and the wee one passed to side B.

Now, because of the panic and confusion, we haven't gotten a good look at anything on this side of the wall, and she's mostly looking out for whatever was making the golems run away from us at first. Her main question would have been "what should I be on the lookout for?" with a little "what is about to happen?" and "what here is useful or valuable?" if I got lucky. It would be totally cool if she just turns around and finds a giant throw switch that says "main golem override".

Pretty sure I said it before, but you aren't the only ones here. The golems that initially ran into the ruins aren't the same ones coming for you now. There were a load of wrecked golems everywhere when the group was able to get a proper view from the watchtower.

Think I only relayed this to Grommy before, but whoever it is happens to be a fairly talented mage - the golems were blasted from inside out, and it's very hard to form a spell out of line of sight. They can blind-cast, basically. Don't think he said, but now he's out, just act like you have any relevant info I gave him.

The golems running now...well, you've done a number on them. Since Elena blew up the transmitters of the nearby golems (and took their heads with them), there's only one way to inform the rest of the golems.

Don't think I said anything I either hadn't said before or that you couldn't have determined. Hope this makes things clearer.

As the flames reach toward him, Fizzwiddle dives to the ground. The pyre passes over his head, but part of the debris spray scratches across his face. Take 2 damage, without armour. It’s not enough to send his shot off though, as the pie caves in the back of one of the fleeing golems, causing it to crumple to the ground.

Nearby, Bikke lets out a mighty warcry and charges the golems harassing the Herald. The ice-fractured golem is shattered by his blow before it's able to react, but its companions step in as he’s at the end of his swing, delivering a combined punch to the gut while they’re inside the range of his axe. The force of the blow sends him back, and while he’s still standing, it feels like all the air has been forced out of him. Take 1d6+1 damage, and -1 forward. As you're recovering, they start to close in again, and if you don't make an effort here they're going to worm their way into your range again. What do you do?

As all this happens, Elena’s got her eye on the remaining fleeing golem. With the flick of a few switches, they’re barely able to move due to the magnetic forces imposed on them. She calls out to Gromroir...who is currently unable to move as well. The strange effects of her gadget appear to have disabled the Myrmidon’s systems. The golem is beginning to get moving again, but is halted once more as it is surrounded by a storm of black feathers, Terestria and her crows harrying it beyond any ability to act effectively. However, it's slowly making progress, and there's only so long the crows will follow Terestria's lead. What do you do?

The Herald stays back from all of this, watching with an experienced eye. As she scans the area, there’s a feeling from below...magic? The same as what she had felt when the flames burst from the golem.
They’re inside. Whoever the intruder is, they’re inside the Skyruin. And you get a bad feeling about where things are going. What do you do?

Pew Pow

Fizzy aims at another boxing glove at the Golem attacking Bikke

2d6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 4) + 2 = 11 for 2d4 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6

Hmm fire definitely is accurately described in the books. It hurts. For sure.

Oof, golem is not cushy: 1d6 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 1 - 2 = 1

Bikke is sent flying back by the counterattack. Luckily his armor protects his vital organs, and he lands on his feet with only a bruise. "Blimey, me felt tha' in me diaphragm."

(Indeed, Bikke can pronounce 'diaphragm', but not 'that'.)

To his apparent delight, Fizzwiddle assists him with a good dose of magic. Bikke decides to take full advantage of the help, and seizes the moment by making another attempt to attack the golems in front of him. The sinister axe swings.

Hack an' Slash, arr: 2d6 + 1 - 1 - 1 ⇒ (2, 4) + 1 - 1 - 1 = 5
(Marking XP. This is a learning experience.)

"I need some juice! Grommy, don't move!" Elena runs up and snatches the glowing orb from Gromroir and hooks it to her backpack gizmos.

Using the power thingy to recharge in a hurry.
Jury-Rig: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 1) + 2 = 4
Ugh, 1 XP at least.

Ruffling her robes with indignation, the crone wades into the battle with little more than gristle, bone, and marrow. She's not fit, and the arthritis keeps her from being particularly nimble, but it's like watching a speed runner play both controlers in ikaruga blindfolded. She starts dodging before the golem decides to attack. Sticking between blind spots and through legs like a concerned matron scouring the floor for dropped spectacles. All to lay hand on her staff. These were mere constructs after all, and no match for her superior mind.

Defy Danger(DEX): 2d6 + 0 ⇒ (2, 6) + 0 = 8
That's a 10 if I properly telegraphed DD(INT).

Terestria keeps the murder of crows flying at the golem. Squawking along with the others.

Boring action, I know.

While Bikke prepares to face off against the golems once again, Fizzwiddle’s boxing glove zips past him, shattering one of the pair advancing on him. With it down to a duel between the Bikke and the golem, the two clash once more. Even without its head and its allies, the remaining golem still proves itself a problem to deal with, directing Bikke’s swing harmlessly down the length of its arm and pushing it away. The first swing comes and the pirate catches its arm easily, but when the golem pulls him in by his grip, his fatigue leaves him unable to react in time as it drives its knee in. Take 1d6 damage. You let it go and kick it away from you, but it’s still coming. What do you do?

With all the remaining golems tied up, it’s not a problem for the Herald to retrieve her staff. As she yanks it out of the ground, she hears sounds of protest from Gromroir as Elena yanks the orb from his possession and begins connecting it to her backpack. ”Damn it Elena, you can’t just -” His protesting is interrupted as the orb lets out a great flash of red from the artificer’s ministrations. Your gadgets fill with power once more, energy surging into your reserves. You have to wonder if you remembered to put in that overflow, and then...it stops. No more. The orb doesn’t seem any different. Everything seems to work. But when you try to unattach the orb from your backpack, it won’t come apart, and the orb begins to flash angrily. What’s more, when you try harder, the orb flashes again, power surging once more as the goggles let out an unexpected gout of fire. It doesn't cause any damage, but that is not supposed to happen. What do you do? You DID charge up again, so put your Charge back at 3, but something else happened. I think you have enough info, so can you guess what?

Terestria keeps the crows on the other golem as it tries to flee, but it’s still moving along, step by step. The crows are starting to disperse though, and it’s picking up the pace. While the majority remain, enough have left to let the golem move at a slow walk, and it won’t be long before they disperse in full and it gets into the ruins. Fizzwiddle notices what’s happening, but with all the crows, if he tries shooting the golem before they disperse he may blast some of them instead, possibly hitting Terestria. What do you do?

1v1 me, golem!: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (3) - 2 = 1

The duel between the seven seas' happy-go-luckiest dwarf and some nobody machine gives another bruise for Bikke, who is already showing signs of fatigue. Luckily the fight is slowly turning in the party's favor. Bikke the pirate is used to the chaos of the battlefield, and so weighs his options.

His allies seem to be doing fine, relatively speaking. The only one in immediate danger is himself. It's best to press this advantage, and finish the troublesome clay pot.

Hack & More Hack: 2d6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (5, 5) + 1 - 1 = 10
Oh, there's Slashing, too? 2 Piercing: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Bikke's axe bites into the enemy. And, just to prove a point to all golems in the world, Bikke headbutts his foe to finish the job. Sure, it hurts to bang one's head against a machine, but when's a little headache ever stopped a true pirate?

Finish! Extra damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

2d6 + 2 ⇒ (4, 4) + 2 = 10

Just like in the picture books! Fizzy casts prestidigitation to create a cartoon looking wall of flame directly in front of the golem. It is obviously fake, but perhaps it is enough to make the golem pause for just a moment, while he closes the distance to get another good shot off.

The Herald gives her staff an experimental wave, creating a small flurry of snowflakes, before brandishing the bough of mistletoe at the fleeing golem. "It's very rude to leave a party without saying your goodbyes."

A snowball forms and arcs through the air toward the fleeing golem. On impact, it explodes into a blanket of snow to hinder movement.
Cast a Spell(Chill them to the Bone): 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 3) + 2 = 7
I choose "your spell won't last long - you'll need to hurry to take advantage of it", and "the casting saps your energy. You take -1 ongoing to INT until you have a few minutes to clear your head".

We LIIIIIIIVE!

Bikke may have had problems with multiple golems, but with it down to a one on one he proves just how lucky those golems had been. As it attempts to close again, the powerful pirate bats the golem away and cleaves its arm off with a sound of buckling metal and shattering clay. Before it has any chance to recover, the headbutt comes, shattering the shell of the golem as it collapses to the ground. Good old dwarven hard-headedness defeated it, and it didn’t even hurt much.

Meanwhile, the fleeing golem can’t catch a break. As soon as the crows have mostly dispersed, there’s a wall of flame before it. The golem slows a brief moment before continuing to advance - it didn’t particularly have to worry about burning, being made of clay. It was only a wall, not a fireball. Fizzwiddle’s work is enough though - in its brief hesitation, it’s coated with a blanket of snow from the Herald, some finding it’s way into its internals through the opening in its head. Its movements slow, and it can’t move any further.

As the snow comes, Terestria is still leading the remaining crows, and they’re all covered by the snow. It’ll be a struggle to get out in this form, and the cold is neither good for you nor the other crows. The snow may be receding fairly quickly, but you’re sure to suffer ill effects from the cold if you wait it out like this.

Destroyed golems cover the courtyard, shattered by your handiwork and that of the intruder that came before. The only remaining golem still functioning is currently helpless against all of you. Gromroir is trying to fix the Myrmidon, and not having a lot of luck. He looks to the rest of the group, visibly frustrated. ”Elena’s ruined the old girl. I swear girl, if you’d just add a safeguard or two to your devices then we wouldn’t have this issue!” He looks at her a moment...then sighs. ”Nothing to be done now. Go on ahead without me. I’ll fix the Myrmidon as fast as I can, then I’ll follow you in.” He walks around to the back of the Myrmidon, opening a panel and muttering to himself as he tries to get it working again.

It’s getting noisy in the ruins. The sound of explosions reverberates out from within, and there are several other noises indicative of activity. What do you do?

"There is a child of magic down below. An impetuous braggart at that. We'd be best to explore in his wake, and hope he is not here to protect the boy." It's not the crone's job to clear out the rabble, so her posture returns to a frail lean into the support of her staff. She points in the direction the stalled golem was headed, "I'll look on ahead while you children clean up." Truth be told, she might just make the doorway before they're finished with the buried golem.

As she begins to hobble forward at a speed you all know she can easily double, she hums a few bars of a long-lost song, hoping to clear her migraine.

"Sorry, granny. Me dinnae get any o' what ye just said," Bikke says while taking a look around at the destroyed golems. He nods approvingly.

"Make me savvy 'bout this. Tha fancy lad we be comin' after be in tha' noisy temple, right? Why are all these flower-pot-fer-a-heads headin' there?"

Elena climbs onto the buried golem and phases her hands into its head. "Let's see, cross this wire here, and we'll remove this gear, and this switch should be off… Hahahaha! It worked!" Elena points towards the source of the noises, and the golem dutifully sets off, albeit twitching quite a bit.

The golem is mine! Ahahahaha! The is a quirk or complication though.
Jury-Rig: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 5) + 2 = 8

Terestria flies high up above the snow, and seeing no more immediate danger, she finds a high perch and surveys the area - noting any threats on the road ahead.

In fact, she caws briefly with a few of her crows, seeing if any know the recent happenings in the skyruin.

Spend a hold to quickly recognise local threats

After scouting, and having spent her last hold, she rejoins the group and drops out of her crow-form in a pirouette of black feathers taking her normal shape once again.

"Thank you, my feathered friends" She says waving off the flock.

"We should keep moving, or at least find a safe place to hide... being out in the open like this is dangerous"

Don't know if I was unclear about that, but I'm pretty sure I said you and the other remaining crows got covered in that snow.

I just think anything that would effectively stop a golem would be able to catch some birds in its line of fire easily enough. A "blanket" was specified.

Ok, well first they spend a moment to shake the snow off. Not sure how the snow is slowing them down?

It was enough to stop a golem. That's a fair amount of snow, in my mind.

The image in my head is a golem fighting the winter winds and getting bogged down in the snow. Whereas the crows are flying, and significantly smaller, perhaps blown about and disoriented at most?

Could you please describe the scene in greater detail for me and let me know what I would have to do first in order to achieve the outcome as I described?

A snowball forms and arcs through the air toward the fleeing golem. On impact, it explodes into a blanket of snow to hinder movement.

I was mostly basing it on this, but I realise right now after rereading and reminding myself that it was snowball -> blanket, rather than just blanket. You'd...probably be able to avoid that. As you will, sorry.

I did, at that. All good!

Fizzy looks around at the carnage.

That. Was. AWESOME! First it was like...then...and then...and then...it was just like in my stories! So amazing! We should do it again!

As he speaks he is re-enacting everything that happened.

Now what?

Terestria, the crows spend their time outside of the ruins, and as such know little of within. They do know a few people went in - some draped in dark cloaks, and one with a head that would have shone had it been day. They all seemed worthy of caution.

Elena, you’ve successfully hijacked the golem, but it is not going to stop for anything. It’ll take you to the sounds faithfully as it can, but it will not stop for anything. With it’s communicator detonated, it can’t even be controlled that way. Weren’t there other golems ahead?

Everyone else keep doing as they will. You seemed content to talk, even if you didn't talk much, so I just left it at that. If you followed Elena and the Herald you’re there for the fun, but otherwise you’re where you were, and will take a bit to catch up with them.

Having been passed in the snow, the golem's long stride quickly overtook the cone's awkward gait. That is, until they started to descend, whereupon the Herald began to glide across the floor, leaving a trail of frost in her wake.

Skating to a stop in the library, the Herald stops to gape at the monk. "Children! Come see! It's a custodian." Mirth bubbles up from the hag in a hacking cackle. She glances where the monk is looking. "Would you like me to get that for you, dearie?"

(Where is Bikke right now?)

I didn't move anyone who didn't say they were moving. If you would have went along with the Herald and Elena, then you can say you did and that's that. Otherwise, you never moved from your spot outside the ruins.

(Well, Bikke was kind of in a conversation with the Herald, and so he'd have gone with her and Elena. I'd assume everyone sticks together at this point, anyway.)

"-besid's, me dinnae think tha machines need any cleanin'. A fancy place in tha sky like this ought'a have a janitor or two..." Bikke thinks aloud, finishing a monologue, upon entering the ruins.

In the library, Bikke pays attention to the cloaked figure. "...Did tha' fella look like tha fella we was 'ere to hack, aye? He's gettin' away, arr."

Ignoring everyone except the man in the purple cloak, MWG runs after him, dashing behind a bookcase, out of sight of the newcomers.

And tries to attack him, if possible, his nunchucks whirling in a frenzy (Messy) :

Hack&Slash: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 2) + 1 = 4 Nope.

XP=1

Terestria follows the crowd after reverting into human form again. Feels good to be with the flock -errrr, the group. She smacks the side of her head, dislodging leftover feathers from her ears.

"Hey, wait for me! Do we even know where we are g-" She says blundering her way in to the Monk and the robed man. Talk about awkward.

Not sure of the layout of this room, but it would be amazing if - in her blundering - she managed to walk right into the purple robed fellow and knock him over!

You're free to post and talk amongst yourselves after your first post, if you thought otherwise for some reason. I'm not going to give things too long after everyone's posted in an attempt to keep things in motion, but until then you can do as you will until you commit to something or things get ridiculous. Talking is for the most part, a free action. Just recall you can be heard by other people.

Just saying since I feel like at least some of you are still in a position to respond, and there's been a certain precedent before.

Oh, and you'd have been informed of what your target looks like. If nobody has given a description yet, feel free to fill in the blanks there yourself. Hope you were relatively sober for the briefing, Bikke. Admittedly, you can't tell so well what your fleeing man looks like so well with the cloak, but he sounds older than you'd expect from Lincoln. More grumpy, too.

"In a famously old library of magic? Of course I know where we're going. They're going to have a hard time running the stacks in that direction, dearie. We could head them off if we take this route." The Herald takes a few hobbled steps toward another opening in the shelves of books, pushing off with her staff, then skates across the stone floor at a reasonable pace.
Spout Lore?: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 2) + 2 = 7

Spotting a large, alder-bound book on a shelf, the crone skids to a stop. "Ohh, delightful." She pulls the tome down from the shelf with her staff and it lands with a shower of snow shaken loose from the crone's robes. Having forgotten the chase entirely, she begins to skim through the text.