GM Rednal's Godbound on Post-Apocalyptic Earth (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

The rubble itself didn't move. As near as you can tell, it's genuinely nothing more than rocks and debris piled high, as mundane as anything you're likely to find. Listening closer, Lucas hears a sound moving from one side to the other deep beneath the tunnel - echoing slightly as it goes.

Lucas points his cane at the base of the pile.

"Something's moving down there. Sounds like there's a tunnel or cave."

Photon takes a knee and aims at the pile. I finally get to prove myself.

"Maybe we ought to get the jump on them then," Raul says, looking for an entrance to the cave.

Tenchi nods, sheathes his blade, and looks around for something he can use as a spear.

Wisdom 13: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19

There's no immediately obvious entrance to whatever sort of passage might be under the rubble. However, you can tell that the pile eventually arcs around towards the east as it runs for another two blocks or so, and there might be some sort of entrance concealed near there. A more direct approach would also work - though you'd have to be careful of collapsing the entire thing. Too much shifting of the weight could have unfortunate consequences.

Spear-like items are in plentiful supply, at least - mostly ancient pieces of metal that have survived the weathering of the years with at least some of their structural integrity.

Photon maintains his vigil, scanning for dangers. They're looking at something. I wonder what's up?

Grabbing a decently sharp piece of metal relatively free of burrs or holes that would cut his hands while wielding it, Tenchi takes a moment to hone the sharp end to something resembling a point.

Finally satisfied that he has a workable spear, Tenchi looks at the group and says "We. Go. Now." and gestures to the tunnel.

Photon can't help but be excited as he follows

Lucas follows the group as they look for an entrance. He keeps listening for signs of movement.

I hope it won't just be my ears that are useful today.

Hearing 5: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Lucas doesn't hear much from the tunnel area as you follow the edge of the rubble to try and locate an end. He does, however, hear a quiet tink, tink, tink sound coming from up ahead. As you round the corner, you see what looks like a primitive windmill of sorts that's slowly raising, then dropping a rounded piece of metal onto a long plate. The metal chain hooked to the metal looks well-used, but not too weathered.

"Well, if that's not a sign of civilization, I don't know what is," Raul muttered. "That's no boar's house...but what is it?"

Lucas takes a moment to enjoy the mechanical, yet gentle sound of the contraption.

"What's important is that at least one person has lived here recently. And people, unlike boars, can be reasoned with."

Seeing that his allies did not sense danger, Photon catches up. "But if there is a gifted, we must give the ultimatum," his airy voice says seriously.

Tenchi moves up and puts a piece of rubbish in between the two pieces of metal, something that will dull the sound. He then moves to a position he can strike from, trying his best to hide in the wreckage.

Photon acknowledges Tenchi's tactic with a nod and also finds a spot for hiding and vantage.

The sound immediately quiets, though it takes a little while to find the right material. The metal being dropped isn't being dropped down hard or slammed like some sort of hydraulic press, but any loose dirt would be smashed aside pretty fast. In essence, it was a very blunt sort of pick, though not one being used to dig through the dirt.

There was no immediate reaction from the area - but this was the clearest sign yet of someone living in this ruined and forsaken area, and they might well come to check once they noticed the sound had stopped. How long do you want to wait and watch?

probably about 30 min

sounds good to me

Tenchi will wait until the Earth ceases spinning, if need be.

It takes a moment for Lucas to figure out what the others are planning, but once he does...he simply sits down on a nearby slab of concrete, laying his cane on the ground in front of him.

"You may all hide if you like, but I think it would be better to meet this person openly. To show them that we have come with friendly, peaceful intentions."

"Besides, someone with the patience and forethought to build a machine like this doesn't strike me as the type who would attack a stranger without provocation."

*Waits* o wo~ By all means, please talk amongst each other! ...It's often hard for players in PbP games to feel like they're really interacting with each other, so I highly encourage discussing things. XD

"Better. Discuss. From. Power. Position." says Tenchi as quietly as he can.

Lucas sighs and tilts his head back.

"And what if they turn out to be a non-Gifted person, just trying desperately to make their way in a world that left them behind? Would showing off our power accomplish anything, aside from being terrifying?"

"The primary goal of the Organization is to keep Gifted people in check. To assure the average person that we are not a threat to them. How can we do that if our strategy when meeting new people is to lure them into an ambush and intimidate them?"

"And we are certainly not defenseless if they turn out to be hostile. Photon has his rifle sights trained on this spot. Tenchi and Raul, you are both seasoned fighters. And if this person uses their Connection to attack, the four of us can retaliate with our own."

"Displaying our power isn't the issue, in my mind. The issue is showing that we aren't mad with power."

If they are non-Gifted, then we question them if they know where Gifted are. If still no, then we move on. Such tactics are necessary in this day in age. Though he did give a vote of confidence my way...cool! Photon think to himself.

"Well, we know there's a connection here somewhere, and if it wasn't the pig, it's gotta be someone. There weren't even supposed to be people around here. But if we do end up with a warlord or whatever, they'll likely attack us and name their intentions known. That's been my experience, anyway... Nice folks, sure we can leave em alone, but something is here...

That much, at least, was definitely true. Information was scarce in this wasteland, but you had clear evidence of intelligent inhabitants. The important thing was what to do with it.

In case it wasn't clear, this is the first opportunity for real player initiative in what you want to do. As a game, Godbound works best when you take partial control and make decisions, acting upon them, rather than waiting for the GM to set out every plot point. ^^ Don't be afraid to be bold with whatever level of power you're currently using.

Tenchi's plan remains the same: ambush whoever shows up to investigate the noise. He was taught, and believes, in negotiating from strength.

^ this is the only lead we have as to what's happening here

Raul shrugs, taking initiative, and opens his connection. The comforting feeling of power rejoining him causes him to smile as his limbs tingle with energy, begging to be used. "If it's an ambush we're setting then, I'll not have us caught in one ourselves. Let's find a good place to hide then, and if that doesn't work, we can always draw some more attention."

Can't be surprised due to alacrity.

If Pho is aware of Raul's gift unlock...
Pho hunkers down even more, training his sights on Raul.

If he becomes a problem, the First would want this. If he causes trouble, it'll likely be centered on him. His impatience is unprofessional.

After about two hours, part of the rubble shifts - then moves aside as you see what's revealed to be a door carefully hidden under the rubble and leading to a rather sturdier tunnel of sorts. A cloaked figure hops out a moment later, slowly approaching the no-longer-functioning noisemaker, and they begin examining the object placed there. They don't seem to be aware of your presence just yet.

Tenchi will step quietly from his perch and say "Yield." in a quiet voice, spear partially extended.

Lucas emerges from his hiding place after hearing Tenchi speak, his eyes closed and his cane held non-threateningly.

"I would do as he says, friend. We only want to talk with you; there's no need for this to become violent."

Pho levels his sights on the new figure.

Raul silently holds his position, just in case further locals take up position.

Would you like to make any checks to try and persuade/intimidate/otherwise convince them to stick around? They look like ready to bolt, but I do want to give you guys the chance to use any skills you'd like to try. Note that you don't have to - seeing what happens without using skills can also be fun.

If they try to run Photon will attempt to shoot a leg. Though at this point I am unsure how to do that.

1d20 ⇒ 10

Lucas continues being friendly, hoping to calm this person down before they start running.

"I'm Lucas, and this is Tenchi. What's your name?

Charisma, target 7: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Cha to intimidate, TN 8: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Remaining hidden and on the lookout at least until the results of Lucas and Tenchi's 'Good Cop/Bad Cop' routine are known.

Targeting a specific limb is like making a normal attack. Godbound has a very small number of actual rules. Don't forget that we add the opponent's AC to your attack rolls - a number you often won't know until you bash someone for a bit - so you may end up hitting a target even if you thought you missed. ^^

"Gah!" the figure yelped - a young voice, and quite accented in comparison to yours, as if they hadn't learned language the same way. "Wh-who are you!? W- I d-don't have anything valuable!"

So that 10 + 3. So my toal is a 13

"Easy now, we're not here to rob you. We just want to ask you some questions."

Cha to calm down, TN 7: 1d20 ⇒ 16

'He said 'I' not we, that's a good sign...' Raul thought, continuing to watch and see how it developed...

Tenchi said nothing, but instead drew upon his knowledge of Human body language that was so integral to being a good swordsman.

Wisdom, TH 13: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15

@Tenchi: What are you trying to communicate with your body language, precisely? More Intimidation? ...You're probably succeeding, but clarity helps ensure we're all on the same page. XD Very important in a free-form game like this one.

"I d-don't know anything useful, either!" they said, calmer than before but still clearly worried about your intentions. "J-just ask already, and th-then we can go our own ways!"

Actually, trying to read his body language, to see if he's lying.

Need to get them to open up. Let's start with something easy and non-personal.

"First off, we were curious about this contraption here." Lucas points his cane vaguely towards the windmill. "What does it do? Did you make it?"

Raul continues to hold his position, silently.