Iron Kingdoms: Trollkin Unleashed! (Inactive)

Game Master Mark Sweetman

But I believe the answer to be aye.

Aye

All in for the money, your legs pump as you try and breach the distance a pace. All the while the sounds of fury and thunder begin to thin out and fade... though with some concern you note that the screams are also dying away. Still shielded from line of sight of the most of the action - you can only react to the flashes and booms as they cut through the air.

After what feels like an eternity of running you begin to get some further clarity... Khadoran voices upon the air. Sharp and short comments fly with answering salvos of words. An option presents itself as you figure on which way to approach...

Do you seek to:
A) Skirt the kriel and come upon the entrance conventionally from the side?
B) Seek to bust through the wall / fence that surrounds the kriel and come into the central area through the ring of huts?
C) Something else?

Is there an approach that would allow us to flank or surprise them? I'm not in favor of going through the wall as it would take longer than we could afford (I would think).

When could chuck the wee fella o'er the wall? ;)

Seriously skirting makes sense, although Oengus will be advocating a blood and thunder charge!

Detection-2d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 2) + 4 = 11

Specifically Havar is listening for the sound of Warjacks. And if there are none, he would suggest avoiding the Front Gate.

Eoghann has no opinion on this matter. He will follow our leader-type(s), as he would expect to be followed in situations within his sphere of knowledge.

As you draw near there are two primary sources of noise that can be heard:
Firstly - what appears to be a large number of persons and creatures of a mechanical bent in the direction of the entrance of the kriel.
Secondly - a nearer thread of sound from what appears to be a single warjack... and the grunts of a trollkin in pain.

For approaching / flanking - if you skirted the kriel, you'd be able to get eyes on whatever is on that side. From there you might be able to plan an assault... but you'd risk exposure if you weren't stealthy enough.
Similarly - coming through / over the wall and at something from the kriel side might be unexpected as well... though also you'd be able to us the huts as cover / obfuscation.

probably should skirt/flank. or at least some of us do so while some barge in...

Right - I see that we've still got the partial question open of whether you're skirting or coming through and over.
Without any further posting in the next while I'll assume you'll go with Eoghann's suggestion.

If there is a Jack in there, which there is, we need to kill its handler. We can not kill that jack, not without one of us dying. I'd say skirt. And we need to shoot the Marshal or the Caster. I'm praying Marshal.

alrighty, i dunno anything about that as a player, didnt have much opportunity to play my caster. But since Eoghann has spent some time in civilization maybe he knows something?

"can ye punch through that thing?"

Katherson shakes his head.

"We should flank them, but I don't think we have time. Let's go up the gut."

The scrapper scowls and runs a huge mitt across his scarred noggin.

"We can try tae punch thru it aye? I'll keep the tin man busy while you lot cut the guts o' its hander eh?"

Óengus grins at his suggestion of a forlorn hope;

"Mind lads Ah'm a Son O' Bragg... that walkin' kettle winnae know what hits it!"

alrighty, i dunno anything about that as a player, didnt have much opportunity to play my caster. But since Eoghann has spent some time in civilization maybe he knows something?

"Let's hurry"

Havar shakes his head and sighs before shrugging. "I wish you well Oengus but I fear we'll be burying you at the end of the day. Down the gullet it is. Let's do this!"

I really don't thing engaging the Jack is the right thing to do but I don't see another way.

My logic is for the scrapper to engage the jack to buy the rest of you time to take out its handler or the other Khandor foot soldiers? I've no idea how long I'll last, but thinking Fell Call: Sonic Blast might be a decent opener??

Óengus shoots a wide toothed grin at Havar and nods;

"Aye. Down the gullet and hope I stick in its throat eh? Har!"

Against the Jack? Maybe. If it is a Khadoran Jack then you will be 8 off dice for damage, or maybe only 6, but still. Yeah if you can catch a lot of people in the spray that would be good.

yeah my OOC question to the GM above was wondering maybe if i would know if it is the kind of jack with someone inside it or the kind with someone controlling it. and if so, how to spot the controller

No Jack has a person inside it bar Karchev the Terrible. And if he is the "Jack" we are totally f@#&ed. Man o Wars are about our size but are just steam powered armour. They wouldn't really sound like Jacks. And the controller would be visible by the rune marks used to control the Jack. (Though there could be Koldun present too, if so we should kill them pretty fast also)

The group focuses on the nearer noise and looks to burst through the kriel's walls and into it's interior. Those of the group with weapons that crush and hack put them to use with the strength of a anxious trollkin fuelling their thews... and a breach is readily made. The sight that greets you after you push through though... is less easy to stomach.

The kriel is in disarray, huts are leveled, spot fires burn amongst the wreckage... and bodies both whole and parted are strewn about. The metallic tang of blood and foul stench of spread innards mix with the musty post-explosive haze. Even from the corner of the kriel, flashes of the slaughtered trollkin sear into your eyes and mind... as those who you grew up with, fought with and potentially had romantic designs upon are laid bare with stark reality.

Across the central clearing you can spy the coats and tails of a Khadoran warparty departing the kriel. They have at least a second warjack with them, as you can tell by the sound rather than sight, and number at least in their twenties by rank and file if not more. You don't believe they've noticed you... at least their step has not been checked... however you're a little more distracted by a closer anomaly that's given you cause to focus your attention.

A heavy warjack standing roughly eleven feet tall at it's peak is screeching and stomping it's way through the kriel's center. In it's o'erlarge metallic fists it carries a pair of heavy brutally crude looking waraxes... smeared with blood. The central portion of the jack is partially crushed, as though struck with metal twisting force by a massive fist or club. From what little you know of the Khadoran war machines... this one looks to be acting somewhat oddly. It's movements are jerky and overcompensate... but that doesn't detract from it's lethal appearance.

Before it, and arguably in it's sights, is Conrael... prone and with his arm and torso wounded foully. He still lives though... for now...

Óengus grunts a "feck this" as he takes in the grim sight, and shifts forward - his thick neck swelling with power...

The scrapper bellows his war-cry at the damage jack, the ancient words of the kriel booming from the Son of Bragg:

"Buaidh no Bàs! Buaidh no Bàs!"

(Victory or Death)

Fell Call - Sonic Blast: 2d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2, 6) + 2 + 2 = 12
SP 8 - POW 12 Attack: 2d6 + 12 ⇒ (2, 4) + 12 = 18

Katherson runs to nearby cover, scanning the Khadorans for whomever is running the jacks.

Detection: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 5) + 6 = 12

Katherson can't see anyone specifically focused upon the remaining jack... but he has heard rumour and conjecture that some of the older Khadoran models have a tendency to 'run rogue' if their internals get damaged.

I dunno how many actions we get while interjecting ourselves into the conflict like this (Init 13 if it matters), but if i only get one, I'd like it to be this:

on the Jack, unless I see the controller, then on the controller.

MAT: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 2) + 4 = 11

if i can do more actions, i gladly will.

Katherson scarpers to cover as Eoghann is overcome with internal thoughts.
I've mentioned this previously, but if you can state actual actions in character rather than in OOC text.

Ignoring the overwhelming force of men and likely other warjacks only now withdrawing from the kriel, Oengus steps forward to bellow an announcement of their presences. The axe bearing jack is rocked and shaken by the bellow... but does not show any overt signs of damage. It does turn it's attention away from Conrael though and scans in your direction.

More chillingly though... Oengus bellow seems to have gathered the attention of the withdrawing Khadoran troops. A few sharp commands can be heard on the breeze as boots stop moving... From this vantage you can't see much of what's going on though.

We're 'roughly' in combat rounds... though this doesn't need to be resolved explicitly as a combat encounter.

Eoghann will cast Marked for Death on the jack, or on the jack's controller if he can see them.

Óengus stares with a moment of incredulity at the lack of damage apparently inflicted by his bellow.

The moment is fleeting as the scrapper seeks to remedy the affront that the jack still stands... he rumbles forward and brings his heavy bludgeon to bear;

"Feckin' Wreckin'!"

MACE ATTACK: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (6, 4) + 6 = 16
MACE DAMAGE: 3d6 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (2, 4, 1) + 4 + 6 = 17

Havar sighs before bellowing a loud challenge and charging in after the Scrapper, placing himself side to side with the other Troll, to hopefully take some of the heat from the Iron Beast.

Spend a Feat Point for Backswing-

Charge Attack-2d6 + 6 ⇒ (5, 5) + 6 = 164d6 + 13 ⇒ (3, 6, 3, 4) + 13 = 29

Backswing Attack-2d6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 6) + 6 = 153d6 + 13 ⇒ (4, 3, 5) + 13 = 25

Locations-1d6 ⇒ 11d6 ⇒ 5

Swinging his axe as hard as he can, Havar stores two powerful hits

Katherson carefully sights on the column of troops, looking to drop their leader quickly.

Standard
Attack: 3d6 + 7 ⇒ (6, 3, 1) + 7 = 17 16 to hit.

Damage: 3d6 + 12 ⇒ (2, 5, 4) + 12 = 23 21 damage.

Free to Reload

Skilled

Attack: 3d6 + 7 ⇒ (5, 3, 5) + 7 = 20 17 to hit.

Damage: 3d6 + 12 ⇒ (5, 4, 6) + 12 = 27 23 damage.

Free to Reload

A point of order... this is a group of Khadoran soldiers / military that has just completely laid waste to your entire kriel. You are four... the kriel was a lot more than four.
There are a hell of a lot more dead trollkin on the ground than there are dead Khadorans.
By charging out to melee engage the malfunctioning warjack and taking a couple of potshots at the column you will be explicitly and openly garnering the Khadoran's entire attention.
I will query once and once only - Are you sure? before resolving.

just read the above, will wait to post. I dont imagine we want to take them all on. But what are our other options? Moving to discussion.

I assumed we waited till only a few were left. If the column has just departed, attacking is not what I'd be doing. Sorry. Misunderstanding.

Cowards! We can take em! ;) I jest of course - thought the column was also off and this was looters and casualties left...

Retconning above

As if struck by divine intervention, the ever canny scrapper grins and draws his comrades close;

(whispering): "Lads... that jack ain't long fer chopping poor Conrael... but it ain't long for choppin' them Khador basterds either... it's oot o' control like!"

The scarred brow on the stout troll furrow;

"We need tae draw the steamer away... subtle like until we hae nay need fer subtle an' can get auld school on the tin fecker!"

"Mebbe shoot an arrow over their way? Might sound like battle, especially if they holler."

Still don't have a confirmed way forward...

Katherson waits in his perch.

"Trollkin be tough. Conrael is probably still alive. Somebody throw a rock or something at that 'jack and we'll let it chase us around the village a bit."

if Kath doesnt shoot an arrow and oengus doesnt do something then eoghann will throw a rock and hope for good aim...

Havar picked up a rock and tossed it beside the Jack and away from Conrael.

Rock Versus Reflex 5? I mean the ground doesn't have a Spd so he loses Def, right? :P-2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 6) + 2 = 14

The ground moves at 30km/sec...

Apologies, pathetic GM was pathetic

Havar pitches a rock that lands exactly where he intended it to land - beside the jack... however the effect is less than impressive as the jack ignores the missile.

Though to prevent a pause...

One of the other trollkin picks up a second rock and has the brighter idea of pitching it at the jack, scoring a glancing blow to the side of it's armor. This serves the intended purpose and the metallic clang is rewarded by the Khadoran hunk of metal turning it's attention from the fallen kriel-kin and outwards towards where the more able bodied among you are standing...

"Get ready, this is gonna get rough."

what i dont get is, the point of telling us the creature could go berserk and lose track of friend/foe, we try to sic it on the khadorans, but it comes after us? if that is the case, the point of telling us that in the first place is lost on me unless it was just meant to be an extra tidbit.

I took it as a hint as to what Jack it was, a Berserker

oh, i didnt know that was a specific kind. I took it as a hint, but perhaps there is no way to sic it on the khadoran scum without inviting their entire force back to retaliate.

Óengus grins as the damaged jack begins to lurch and lumber toward the companions;

"Och aye. Now we'll hae our hands full.. time tae kick that bucket lads!"