GM Niles Rippers Campaign

Game Master nilesr

"That would make sense," Victoria says, examining the statue. "We were fairly sure she was a succubus, weren't we? I wouldn't be surprised, all things considered." She examines the body with Rasheed, a look of disgust crossing her face as he rolls the body over to examine it. "We probably ought to just get to chopping; I'd prefer to be more thorough, but time's of the essence."

Huh, that actually explain quite a bit. Thank you, I had no idea it did that.

Mei wrinkles her nose in disgust at the thought, the sheer unaturalness compared to humans. "Sense indeed. I had always assumed that Succubi were distinct from Inccubi, but perhaps my assumption was wrong. I wouldn't be surprised to know that hell's denizens posseed anatomy unilike our own, even those bred to sway our kind with lust."

She fusses around in her purse again, before retrieving her camera. It had a severly limited amount of charges compared to her other thigs, but she still felt it useful. She snaps photos of the dais, as well as the cultist, in hopes of further documentation.

"My word." Tristan examines the statue after hearing Rasheed's words, and contemplates it along with the others. "I say. You put it bluntly, but I agree it's a possibility. My. Quite a scandal indeed!" He shakes his head and taps his cane on the floor. "Do what you think best, Master Singh, and then yes, let's get a move on. We must find our young people before the Countess-Count has its way with them!" Once the deed is done here, he leads the way to the master bedchamber.

"Fertility signs, odd statues, I wasn't expecting some sort of pagan cult on top of the countess, but perhaps I should have." Carl sighs and absently rubbed his forehead, a headache still pounding in the back of his head. "Perhaps we'll be fortunate enough to pass through the kitchens. These headaches take ages to go away on their own." He shakes himself. "Let's go before we're too late."

Doh. Didn't see Tristan's pushing post....

Mei sets up her spirit camera and takes some pictures. Tristan leads the Rippers up through the kitchens and back to the Master Bedchamber.

Jacob Marsh seems a bit traumatized by the night's events. He stays very silent, which is unlike him from the little you've known the man.

The mansion seems abandoned, nothing stirs or disturbs your passage through.

Andrej breaks the silence. "Perhaps they are being outside. There, I can follow trail."

How extensive are the grounds around the mansion, and is there any forestation?

Mei frowns, at the knowledge that the house had been emptied. "Yes, that'd be my suggestion as well."

"The two Andrej and I managed to find commented on dumping our bodies into the marsh, I'd imagine that they couldn't have been planning to regroup too far from there." Victoria's face is twisted into a scowl, irritated that they not only haven't found the Countess, but that Carolina might also be in danger. "I don't know of a swamp near here, though. Andrej's right, though; if we head outside, we might be able to follow them well enough."

Jacob Marsh speaks up, clearing his throat as his voice seemed to have left him. Well. This. This has been most, unusual. I. I believe there is a hunting lodge on the acreage of the manor grounds. I've hunted this manor a few times with the former Lord Thornton, I believe I can find it again. If, if that's where you think they have gone.

"I apologize for getting you dragged in to this," Carl says. "But given what we see here, I believe explanations will have to wait for later. Would you be so kind as to lead the way? The quicker we find the lodge, the quicker we can deal with this mess. Unless someone has reason to believe they might be somewhere else."

Tristan clicks his tongue and beams at Jacob. "Ah, of course! Old Thorny's hunting lodge. That seems as good a place to check as any." He sweeps out his arm. "Please, Mister Marsh--lead the way, by all means. It's been some time since I visited the grounds."

"Lord Tristan, remember Gospozha Lawson and I can be scouting."

Give me a day to make some maps... sorry. The kids are home with me for Thanksgiving break.

Passing by so Niles doesn't wait for me: Rasheed doesn't have anything to add, the Hunting Lodge sounds like a solid place to search.

Okay. I am ready to proceed. Thanks for waiting.

Jacob Marsh leads the Rippers towards the Hunting Lodge. Everyone gets an eerie feeling as you leave the lawn and proceed into the acreage used for hunting.

Soon, the path leads you past a small pond.

Notice @ -3: 1d6 - 3 ⇒ (6) - 3 = 3
Wild: 1d6 - 3 ⇒ (1) - 3 = -2

Raise: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Total of 5, so a success.

The Russian hisses, "Ambush!", and draws his derringer, preparing to shoot if the target comes into better view and is confirmed hostile.

Just in case, here's the attack:

Shoot!: 1d8 ⇒ 4
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Rasheed hears Andrej's advice and prepares himself, focusing his inner energies. With a whispered prayer, the sikh blesses his sword cane, which glows briefly.
Casting Smite
Faith: 1d8 ⇒ 11d6 ⇒ 3
Aaaarg! Benny! I'll reserve the last one for the Countess, but I'll be damned if I don't get to be an Hindi Paladin!
Faith: 1d8 ⇒ 31d6 ⇒ 6
Ace: 1d6 ⇒ 2

With that raise I get +4 damage for 3 rounds, if I haven't misread the power.

"Wonderful..." Carl simply focuses and attempts to detonate a psychic shockwave in the bushes before their ambushers can attempt to make a move. The bushes shudder as a sphere of force blasts the entire area, but Carl staggers and drops to one knee, a trickle of blood running from his nose.

Psionics: 1d8 ⇒ 1
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Stun on the bush that Andrej pointed to. Carl is staggered by psychic backlash, but the power goes off, so anyone hiding over there needs to make a vigor roll or be shaken.

Notice: 1d6 - 3 ⇒ (4) - 3 = 1
Wild: 1d6 - 3 ⇒ (4) - 3 = 1

Tristan simply raises his cane to defend himself. (I'm not positive if we all get actions before combat, or only if we succeed on Notice, but if I do have a shot then I just use the Defend action for extra Parry.)

I'm assuming that Andrej warning us would let us do something. If it doesn't, just use Carl's action as his first move once combat starts, providing someone doesn't run in to the blast radius before he goes.

Notice: 1d4 - 2 ⇒ (3) - 2 = 1
wild: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (5) - 2 = 3

Mei, for her part, will opt for defending herself and Mr. Marsh, by standifng next to him with her device pulled and ready to shoot at oncoming attackers.

Notice: 1d6 - 3 ⇒ (3) - 3 = 0
Wild: 1d6 - 3 ⇒ (3) - 3 = 0

Victoria snaps loose her claws as Andrej gives his warning, raising them in front of her body to ward away attackers.

If we get an action, Victoria is taking the Defend action just like Tristan.

Andrej calls out the ambush and draws his derringer.

(You only get the action if you made the Notice roll.)
Round 1 Card Draw
Andrej Three of Diamonds
Mei King of Clubs
Carl Ace of Diamonds
Rasheed Queen of Diamonds
Victoria Ace of Spades
Tristan Ace of Hearts
Marsh Queen of Hearts
Cultists Ten of Diamonds
Cult Leader Five of Spades

Right now it's considered "Dark" Dark –2 (targets not visible beyond 10”) unless one of you has a light source.

Round 1 Initiative
Victoria snaps her claws out.
Tristan takes the defend action.
Carl uses his psychic powers. 2d6 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4
Mei draws her device
Rasheed uses the Smite power on himself
Marsh says What's happening! It's bloody dark out here.
Cultists 2d6 ⇒ (6, 1) = 7 three dagger wielding maniacs charge out of the underbrush, attacking Victoria 2d8 ⇒ (8, 6) = 14 1d8 ⇒ 7(raise) one of the Cultists hits Victoria 3d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 5) = 16 1d6 ⇒ 61d6 ⇒ 3 total=25...shaken plus 3 wounds. (Wow)
One Cultist goes at Tristan 1d8 - 2 ⇒ (7) - 2 = 5 missing him.
Cult Leader creeps forward...
Andrej

Round 2 Draw
Andrej Ace of Diamonds
Mei Seven of Spades
Carl Three of Diamonds
Rasheed Nine of Diamonds
Victoria Five of Spades
Tristan Nine of Clubs
Marsh Ace of Hearts
Cultists King of Hearts
Cult Leader Seven of Clubs

Round 2 Initiative
Andrej
Marsh
Cultists
Rasheed
Tristan
Mei
Cultist Leader
Victoria
Carl

Andrej is up twice!

Round 1 & 2:

Andrej shoots the cultist right next to him, then fires again as he sees them savage Victoria. "Yob tvoyu mat!"

Shooting: 1d8 ⇒ 6
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Damage, if applicable: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 4) = 9

Shooting: 1d8 ⇒ 4
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Damage, if applicable: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4

Unfortunately due to Dark penalties (and the firing in melee rule meaning you have to hit TN parry) Andrej is gonna miss both shots. Unless of course one of you were using a lantern or torch. No one mentioned that but it wouldn't be outside of the realm of normality and we can retcon that if you all would like. Also, I'm kinda waiting to see if Victoria chooses to soak those wounds or not. One more wound and Victoria could be incapacitated (or dead)

It makes sense that we would have grabbed one if at all possible. I don't have one in my equipment, and wouldn't have brought it to the party regardless, but assuming we could find a lantern on our way out of the house, I'm happy to be carrying one.

Maybe it's just me, but I like the image of a 'light's' priest wielding the lantern. So Rasheed can be carrying the lantern if you all agree.

Rasheed steps forward and thrusts with his blessed sword cane. "Beware the leader!" he yells as he strikes.

Moving to D16
Wild Fighting: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 121d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Aceeee: 1d10 ⇒ 5

Damage: 1d6 + 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (3) + (1) + 6 = 10
If Raise: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Soak: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Soak; Ace: 1d6 ⇒ 4

So that's two wounds soaked. Also, did Carl's power not succeed in stunning them, or did they manage to Unshake and attack us? I'm just a little confused as to how that went down.

Yeah, same

It succeeded on both of them. That's the first 2d6 I rolled, neither was above a 4 so they were both shaken. On their turn one of them unshook, thats the 2d6 right after their turn, and joined another that wasn't in the blast in attacking Victoria the 2d8 was their attack rolls. One is still confused in the bushes.
Retcon: Rasheed has a Lantern in one hand, casting light for 30' around him.

Victoria staggers from the wound inflicted by the wicked dagger. However, the mean streets of London's west end have toughened Victoria.
Round 1
Andrej puts a hole in the nearest Cultist, the man crumples.

Round 2 Initiative
Andrej fires his small caliber pistol again, this time he doesn't do more than deafen the cultist.
Marsh By Jove, these men mean to murder us! I'll not have it! No sir! Jacob Marsh moves and attacks the cultist standing over Victoria! 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 but he misses.
Cultists
1 Unshake: 1d6 ⇒ 6 moves and attacks Victoria 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 missing
2 attacks Victoria 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 hitting 2d6 ⇒ (1, 5) = 6 (shaken)
3 attacks Tristan 1d8 ⇒ 7 misses the man who has adopted a dueling stance.

Rasheed steps forward and brings his blade down, ending a cultist!
Tristan
Mei
Cultist Leader
Victoria
Carl

Tristan and Mei are up

Actually, since Victoria (along with Tristan) took the Defend action on her last turn, her Parry is a 10, not an 8... unless I'm missing something somewhere. Which is pretty important, considering that Victoria is still Shaken because she didn't soak all the damage from the last attack, meaning that would be another wound. As for Stun, I think I misunderstood and assumed the bushes were rather small, so I didn't think anyone would be outside the radius; thus, the three people rushing out were the total of three people I mentally assumed would fit in the bush. Thanks for clarifying, though.

There is a map for reference. Also, I thought if you spent a benny to soak you automatically unshook.

That could be errata that I don't have in my copy of the book, I'm not sure. Either way, with the Defend action it wouldn't matter since it lasts until my next action (which I don't think includes Soak rolls).

Just recalled I have the First Strike Edge, meaning I get a free Fighting attack against the first enemy who moves adjacent to me each round; I think this is the first fight where it could have come up so far. Not sure if we'd want to even try working that in, I'm fine if we don't this time, it shouldn't matter too much.

Tristan easily parries the cultist's attack and lashes back with his own, driving the cane at his assailant. The attack doesn't connect, unfortunately, but it keeps him on his toes.

Fighting: 1d10 ⇒ 4
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 2

In case we do want to try and work First Strike in somewhere so it doesn't go without any use in this fight...
First Strike: 1d10 ⇒ 3 Heh, never mind.
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Re: Bennies and Shaken, you're right, GM. Spending a Benny means you automatically unshake and can act; it was more important back when you needed a Raise to act on your turn, since it was a good way to avoid that scenario, but it still stands today. It does remain particularly useful in some ways since you can spend it at any time, even when it isn't your turn--potentially turning multiple small hits from Wounds to Shaken status.

Currently cooking, will post again when I can if her turn comes up again. Assume she is defending meanwhile

Tristan deftly parries and dodges, but his strikes are more defensive in nature and so he misses
Mei defends herself.
Cultist Leader begins chanting in a strange Language(Kn:Languages at-2 for more) and raises a vial of liquid to his lips, he quaffs it and points at the Rippers three black lines of energy streak out at the RippersRasheed: 1d8 + 1d6 + 1d8 ⇒ (8) + (4) + (5) = 17 13 hit Tristan: 1d8 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + (3) = 6 miss Andrej: 1d8 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + (1) = 6 hit The Bolt fired at Rasheed hits 2d6 ⇒ (6, 5) = 11 and 1d6 ⇒ 1 (Shaken and 1 Wound) the Bolt fired at Tristan misses the wiley veteran, the Bolt fired at Andrej hits 2d6 ⇒ (5, 3) = 8 (Shaken)
Victoria
Carl

Victoria and Carl are up. Andrej was shaken and Rasheed was shaken and Wounded (1) by the Cult Leader's Bolt spell.
Round 3 Initiative
Cult Leader
Rasheed
Cultists
Tristan
Mei
Victoria
Marsh
Andrej
Carl

Round 3 Draw
Andrej Three of Hearts
Mei Eight of Spades
Carl Two of Clubs
Rasheed Jack of Hearts
Victoria Five of Clubs
Tristan Nine of Clubs
Marsh Four of Clubs
Cultists Ten of Diamonds
Cult Leader King of Spades

Unshake: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Ace: 1d6 ⇒ 3 Total: 9

Carl wipes the blood from his lip with the back of his hand and rights himself. "I hate when that happens..." He winces as one of the cultists fires some black sorcery in to their little group. "Wonderful..." Already starting to run a bit low on power, he elects to aim for the greatest threat first, hoping to slow him down before he can rain more dark magic on the group. He winces as the power crackles, but fails to manifest. He mutters a German curse under his breath.

Psionics: 1d8 ⇒ 3
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 2

I need some clarification regarsing ny edge, Champion(Good). The description says I gain '+2 Toughness when suffering damage from supernaturally evil sources, including arcane powers', but I am unsure if it would apply here. If so, I would be merely shaken I think.

In any case, and to not use this post as merely test, I'll roll unshaking here.

Unshaking: 1d8 ⇒ 71d6 ⇒ 4

While Marsh's attack misses the cultist in front of her, it draws just enough of his attention for Victoria to duck back from the blow, turning a grievous wound to a small, but still painful, scrape across her ribs. Victoria retaliates, swiping her claws towards the man and connecting with a blow; unfortunately, as she grins in triumph her claws come away with nothing but a few pieces of torn cloth from the man's shirt. "God d*mmit!" she growls, looking to Rasheed and Tristan. "I could use some help here!" she hollers, wincing as she twists and aggravates her wound.

Fighting: 1d10 ⇒ 7
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3

I rolled without my -1 because according to the map Marsh and I currently have a Gang Up bonus on the one cultist, correct?

[ooc[ @Rasheed Yep! And Yep! @Victoria Yep! [/ooc]

Victoria, wounded and unbalanced lashes out with her Claws, but she fails to score a meaningful hit!
Carl shakes his head (even though I don't have him as Shaken) and focuses his mind, unfortunately he is more used to therapy and less to life and death combat!

Round 3 Initiative
Cult Leader pulls a strange looking statuette from his belt and points it at the Rippers 1d8 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + (2) = 5 WC Benny 1d8 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + (1) = 6, a small sphere of black light extends from the statuette and covers most of the Rippers the light is deadly cold and freezes the blood in their veins! (Rasheed, Tristan, Carl, Mei and Andrej) Rasheed: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6 unaffected Tristan: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5 shaken Carl: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 3) = 8 shaken Mei: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 3) = 9 1d6 ⇒ 5 Shaken and 2 wounds Andrej: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 6) = 111d6 ⇒ 6 1d6 ⇒ 2 19 4 Wounds (since he was already shaken)
Rasheed, the Lion of Kangra steels his will and prepares to act
Cultists
Tristan
Mei
Victoria
Marsh
Andrej
Carl

Rasheed is up

Status Update (Correct me if I'm wrong)
Marsh: Normal
Victoria: 1 Wound
Andrej: Shaken with 4 Wounds (Still can soak/must soak at least 1 wound or be incapacitated)
Rasheed: Normal
Tristan: Shaken
Carl: Shaken
Mei: Shaken with 2 Wounds (Still can soak)

Okey guys, I'm killing this bastard who's trying to manipulate forces he can't even begin ticomprehend. Buckle your belts, this gonna get spooky.

Rasheed, the Lion of Kangra, steeled his mind after the edlritch forces the leader invocked stroke true.
Amidst the darkness and pain, his blade still shed pure light.
Amidst the growls of the wounded and the swearing of the battlers, his voice started chanting, everclear.

Calming his heart and mind, the sikh dashed towards the foul sorcerer with his blade held high.
The sikh jumped as a feline predator and thrusted forwards, his sword held tight as the blessed steel seaked its target's heart.

Moving towards the last known position of the leader. Wild Fighting. That's it, if the bastard didn't move, if he moved and I can't reach him even with dash, everything I wrote would be what Rasheed would have love to do XD
Wild Fighting: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 31d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Ace: 1d6 ⇒ 5
13 total.

Sword Cane Damage: 1d4 + 1d6 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (1) + (6) + 2 + 4 = 13
Ace: 1d6 ⇒ 5
If Raise: 1d6 ⇒ 5
23 total.

Vigor: Soak Roll: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Wild: Soak Roll: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Vigor Ace: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Wild Ace: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Vigor Ace #2: 1d4 ⇒ 2
Total of 10, all wounds soaked, nonshaken.

The eldritch sphere dosn't seem to effect her as well as it should, which Mei chocks up to her Armour device momentarily sparking to life. She takes a moment to activate the device as she should've done already, before arming to shoot her plasma device at the nearest cultist!

Weird Science: Armour Activation: 1d8 - 2 ⇒ (7) - 2 = 5
Wild: Armour Activation: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (6) - 2 = 4
Wild Ace: 1d6 ⇒ 5
A raise, she now has 4 points of armor for 3 rounds, 2 points of power were spent to activate.

Shooting: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (2) - 2 = 0
wild: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (6) - 2 = 4
Wild Ace: Shooting: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 3) = 8

Mei, as you're not in melee range, that 9 on Shooting may be a raise; I'd roll the extra damage just in case.

Hmm, alright sure!

Possible Raise Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Rasheed, the Lion of Kangra steels his will and prepares to act. The Sikh darts forward and stabs the Evil Cult Leader in the heart!(4 Wounds!!!) GM Benny! to soak! Soak: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4 The Cultist Leader crumples, dead.
Cultist1 screams and attacks Victoria, aiming to kill at least one of the hated Rippers. 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 Damage: 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + (1) = 6 (Shaken)
Cultist2 aims to kill the civilian! 1d8 ⇒ 7 hitting 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + (6) = 12 wow 2d6 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7 Jacob Marsh is struck down....Vigor?: 1d6 - 3 ⇒ (3) - 3 = 0 Jacob Marsh is dead.
Tristan
Mei fires her Plasma Pistol, felling a cultist!
Victoria
Andrej
Carl

...I still need a soak roll from Andrej. Tristan,Victoria, Andrej and Carl are all up. I won't bother with a new round since this guy is toast.

Status Update (Correct me if I'm wrong)
Marsh: Dead
Victoria: Shaken with 1 Wound
Andrej: Shaken with 4 Wounds (Still can soak/must soak at least 1 wound or be incapacitated)
Rasheed: Normal
Tristan: Shaken
Carl: Shaken
Mei: Normal

Unshake: 1d8 ⇒ 5
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Tristan is momentarily stunned by the sudden display of supernatural power, but he recovers as soon as he sees Jacob Marsh fall. "No!" he cries, his voice anguished, and he lunges forward with his sword suddenly bared, naked silver flashing forward by lantern light.

Wild Fighting: 1d10 ⇒ 6
Wild Die: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Damage: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1) + 2 = 6

I think that's right.

"Son of a b*tch," Carl mutters. "You'll pay for that." With his powers already having trouble focusing, he elects to step forward and attempt to beat the man unconscious with his cane. Unfortunately, Carl isn't much of a melee combatant and he misses rather badly.

Fighting: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Almost forgot this...
Unshake: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Benny
Unshake: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 2

"You mother f*cker!" Victoria shouts, the sight of Jacob Marsh dying shocking her into action. Her teeth are bared as she brings back the arm with her Ripper Claw, taking advantage of Tristan's attack to launch her own. As the older Ripper knocks the man off-guard with his own attack, Victoria takes her free hand and grabs him by the shirt, slamming her claws forward again and again into the man's chest and neck, before dropping the dead cultist to the ground, her off-hand covered in blood. She breathes heavily for a moment, her teeth still bared with an expression of ferocity, before the adrenaline leaves her system and she simply stands there, shell-shocked.

Spirit: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Fighting; Wild Fighting: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Wild: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 2) + 2 = 10
Damage; Ace: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Total of 15.

Took some liberties there, but I'm pretty sure Victoria kills the guy.

Burning the benny to soak:

Soak roll: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Wild roll: 1d6 ⇒ 3

OK, I think that means I take only 3 wounds. I'd taken one before, though--where does that leave me?

ETA: I may have missed a chance to become unshaken, a round or two ago--it looks like my Round 3 action was skipped over while I was afk. Under the circumstances, I'd burn another benny to become unshaken, if that changes anything.

Burning a Benny to unshake would have left you with three wounds, meaning you'd now soak one, leaving you with three total. Carl has Healing, so he may potentially be able to heal at least one of those Wounds. However, potentially rolling to soak again to try for a higher result isn't a terrible idea. You will still soak one, as you take the highest of your rolls when you spend a Benny.