Monsters and Men Table 2 (Inactive)

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"Right, that settles that," Jarrod said decisively as he took the phone back. "At least the phone didn't blow up like with Dresden,' he thought as he slipped the device into his coat pocket. "Unfortunately, missing, possibly dead, parents trumps the manly need for large exploaions. So, unless we find something on our way out that necessitates a change in plans, we need to get to the kid's house." Turning around, he hopefully led the others back to his truck while keeping an eye out for any surprises.

Notice: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32
Search: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32

"Agreed."

The group makes its way back to the truck and piles in, heading toward Julian’s suburban home. As Jarrod maneuvers through traffic as quickly as possible, he has the sense that he is being tailed or watched, but can’t pick out a vehicle following, or anything in the sky.

"Something scanning us or something. Anyone else see that light?"

"Frakkin' tails," Jarrod muttered as he attempted to lose whatever was following them. "This one daen't even have the common courtesy tae be seen!" with the mounting frustrations of the night, his accent was starting to come in full swing. "Oi, maegic man, ye got something on your radar?"

The beam is in the infrared spectrum and flashes in a pattern that Aaron can't comprehend. I don't think anyone else can perceive it, but I may have missed something.

As they rush out of the building, Kishan leans down to pluck a few hairs from the fallen nurse's head, before placing them in a baggie from her infinite pocket. Chances were that tracking him later would only lead to wherever they had decided to dump his body, but on the off chance they didn't kill him, being able to track him to their new base in the future might be useful.

In the truck:

"I don't see anything?" No Infra-red vision for me...

Kishan reaches out with her senses, trying to determine if the source is magical.

Awareness: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (12) + 17 = 29

"Could it be technological? A helicopter, or one of those camera robots everyone seems to be getting for Christmas these days? John? How close do you have to get to co-opt something? Can it be from a distance, or do you have to touch it?"

"Looks like an infrared scanner of some kind, now I'm looking closer. What's the purpose though?"

Was the type of truck established? I'm picturing a pick-up with one of those cramped backseats.

Julian pushes his knees against the back of the Detective's seat in an attempt to reposition himself in a way that would allow him to peek out the rear window.
"So what's your deal? Are you for real a dragon-man? How do you know what's out there?"

"I'm as close to a dragon-man as you can get, as far as I know. Enhanced senses, greater speed and strength. Increased lung capacity, though no fire. I can see in the infrared and ultraviolet, among other things."

He gives Julian a grin.

"Came in handy avoiding some laser tripwires earlier. I felt like James Bond or something."

to Kishan

"Nah, Darlin, I've got to handle somthin', to touch it's heart, to call it awake. Seein' it would help, too."

to Aaron
"Like a scanner at th' market? I've heard o' some odd uses for that in some of the newer traditions. Word is there's a bunch over in Europe callin' themselves 'City Sorcerers' who use modern stuff like that for their rituals, but I'd not heard anything like that over here. With the fellows we've been dealin' with, I'd lean more to black op helicopters wit' 5th Reich stormtroopers or gargoyles. Gargoyles would suck."

Was the type of truck established? I'm picturing a pick-up with one of those cramped backseats.

I think Aaron said somewhere previous that it is a pretty utilitarian pickup, and not one of those ironically luxury "trucks" richer rednecks are so proud of. I think he said that it only has a single bench seat in the front, and no back seat at all.

I did say that, but it's not my truck. =)

Are we happy arriving at the house knowing something is tailing us?

Not like we have any choice, considering the tail is apparently undetectable.

"Options? I could throw a burst of static back that way; hope it disables it if it is a drone or a helicopter..."

I was thinking it was looking something like this, only with a small backseat.

"Call the lightning, lass, you won't be hurtin' much in this old girl," Jarrod said as he took a sudden right turn to hopefully throw off whatever was tracking them. A sudden thought made his pale, though. "John, can you talk to the girl and see if someone mighta stuck something on her to track us with?"

"Might be I could, but wakin' her up while yer drivin' might not be the best idea. Kinda like you wakin' up from a strong dream- ya can't always tell how she'll react at first when she's all charged up."

"Also, she's kinda special to ya, that makes a difference. Ya gonna want ta look back and say, 'We met the first time when I poked her and asked if she had an itch."

"A magical hex does more than disrupt electronics; they're just the most vulnerable. Mechanical items have a tendency to break down too. That's why most wardens carry a revolver, if they don't just dispense with a firearm altogether. Some of the younger ones use Glock pistols, but I'm told the design is simplistic enough that there is little in the design that can fail. Mine is the opposite; relatively complex, but old enough to be very non-modern. Basically, the more moving parts, and the more modern the design, the more likely magic is to cause a malfunction. An internal combustion engine has a lot of moving parts, even if this truck is old enough not to use a computer. I think I'd have to get out at the least; sending off a concentrated hex from inside would probably at least cause a cylinder to jam, or a break coupling to seize, or a gasket to blow, or... you get the idea."

"So, either let me off here and I'll see what we can do, or we rush into the house and just accept that we're being followed or monitored. We don't do anything obvious that could be misrepresented on film. Keep your weapons hidden until you need to defend yourself. We need to appear to be what we are; concerned people rushing to the rescue, and not anyone that can be framed as the perpetrators of a crime by a misleading video."

"Right, rushing it is," Jarrod said as he pressed down harder on the gas, keeping his truck just this side of legal speed limits. "But if nothing jumps out at us while we're there, we need to do something to lose the trackers before heading back to the shop."

"Agreed. But first, let's just get there and hope we're in time to help Julien's parents."

As you approach the well maintained suburban house, nice, not too snouty, mums blooming in the Fall air.

As Jarrod pulls up in front of the house, you scan the area for threats, seeing nothing. The afternoon light slants into your eyes. A school bus approaches from the opposite direction, only about 100 feet away.

Suddenly something slams into the house and for a moment, the world cracks open as the house first expands like a balloon and then rips itself to shreds, leaving a shattered wooden skeleton, scattered bricks, and fire shooting from the rubble.

The truck is subjected to a DC 20 toughness check as the explosion and shrapnel burst outward.

Jarrod Initiative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Aaron Initiative: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Julian Initiative: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29
Odd John Initiative: 1d20 ⇒ 16
Kishan Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

So

Julian
Jarrod
Kishan
Aaron
Odd John

What modifiers would my truck have? At work so I don't have my books with me.

"S@$*!" Aaron curses, looking around for the beam that was hitting them earlier.

If it's still around that informs my actions.

Yes, still tracking you.

Truck has toughness 9.

Truck Toughness: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

So the truck suffers an injury, which reduces toughness by 1. But not disabled, so not affected as far as rules. Cosmetic damage as desired.

Aaron warns the group.

"That infrared beam is what blew up the house! It's still on us, we need to run for it!"

Jarrod watched in stunned silence as a piece of flaming sofa soared through the air and impacted the hood of his truck, leaving a large dent in the metal. "Ah s#%#e, the blaggards are gonna pay!" he yelled angrily as he quickly put the vehicle in reverse and roared away. "Alright, they have a small Death Star. Warden, how fast can you whip up spell to hide us? Aaron, anything you can tell us about what, exactly, you saw in reguard to the beam right before the house blew up? John, how quickly can you talk to my truck to see if she has a tracker or something? Julian, sorry about the house, but there's no proof your parents were in there."

Suddenly something slams into the house and for a moment, the world cracks open as the house first expands like a balloon and then rips itself to shreds, leaving a shattered wooden skeleton, scattered bricks, and fire shooting from the rubble.

Aaron warns the group.

"That infrared beam is what blew up the house! It's still on us, we need to run for it!"

I interpreted the first comment to mean that something physical hit the house, like an invisible creature, or perhaps even a fast moving projectile, like a missile, or a bomb. tumbler could you clarify? Did it look like something is out there, the house was nuked by a missile, or like it was an energy weapon of sorts..."

"Wait! Jackson, the school bus! Did anyone see if the bus got hit?"

I figured it was a laser beam, or some laser guided fire spell or something. A missile would have been visible to the naked eye.

"The light started blinking, fast, and then the house just exploded!"

"Wait! Jackson, the school bus! Did anyone see if the bus got hit?"

"If the Death Star is tracking us for impending termination, I really don't think we should he the ones to check on a bunch of children," Jarrod said with a scowl. "Ah, hell." Quickly pulling over onto an empty stretch of road, he jumped out and grabbed his shotgun. "John, Aaron, Kishan, stay here and see what you can do about stopping them crom blowing up my truck, and us as well. Me and Julian here will head back and see what we can find out."

I figured Aaron could keep watch on the red light while John searches the truck and Kishan does her thing.

Apologies, I intended to give the impression that something like a missile or rocket had hit the house. I don't believe anyone has military experience, so I was keeping it vague and poetic.

Well, I'm pretty sure the average civilian knows what a missile looks like. Just sayin'. =)

"A school bus could potentially have its top sheered off back there, and you could just leave it? Sorry, but I can't!"

Invoking my complication Honourable: Do the right thing for a Hero point, and to keep us in the action.

Kishan cracks open the door on the moving truck, and quickly scans the rapidly moving ashfault beneath them. Bracing herself for a bare moment, she braces herself against the doorway, and then launches herself into the air from the moving vehicle.

Of course I've never done this before, and I had to try it for the first time from a speeding pickup. Here's hoping I don't crack my skull open.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

She launches upwards, with a powerful leap that should have lifted her half a dozen feet in the air. Of course, with her weight magically distorted by the long coat, she launched some 60 ft vertical instead. Her blurring shape shifts out of sight during the rapid movement, invisible to the naked eye. Catching the air, she begins to glide, steering herself back towards the house and the school bus. Capable only of gliding on air, and not of true flight, she touches down to earth about 120 ft from the spot she left the truck. She does so running, headed first towards the yellow bus, as fast as she can move.

Jackson, did you edit your post? Could have sworn you said "No" to stopping, and then asked me to cloak the car... That was what I was responding to with my post. Didn't notice you'd changed it until after I was done mine if course.

Either way, Kishan will decline to stay in the truck, and move towards the school bus, with her leap and glide. Whether the truck is moving or not is immaterial.

I posted that I stopped the car and that Julian and I were going to head back that way. I just didn't want to bring the quite possibly targeted truck near a school bus.

Julian goes catatonic at the sight of his home being destroyed. The world around him seems a bit dimmer now, despite the words of hope from the detective. The flames of the wreckage mesmerizes him and for a split second, he hears blood curdling screams, gun shots, smells the burning flesh of people, his people. The air gets thick around him and, in his delusion, he charges headfirst towards a tank to protect his people.
Kishan's shouting snaps Julian back into reality. The school bus. Protect the children.
Julian rips himself free of the truck, nearly bending the frame as he ejects himself. The boy breaks into a beastial sprint, reaching speeds that are wholly inhuman and impossible.

Protect.

"A plan isn't outside of our capabilities, people!" Jarrod yelled before looking at John. "Damn it, leave the truck and let's make sure they don't kill themselves!" With that, he took off.

As you pile out of the truck, some of you heading toward the school bus, bits of flaming debris rain from the sky. Julian makes a mess of someone's Mini Countryman on his way, the folding up exactly like a tank would not.

Along with the smaller debris, six objects slam into the ground. At first, the look like immense man sized bullets made of marble. Each hits the ground like a small meteorite, and then begins to unfold. They might be living statues, or some sort of gothic nightmare, but they are in fact gargoyles, heavily muscled, indestructible creatures of the NeverNever.

As they unfold, they seem to focus their attention mostly on Julian, while at the same time acknowledging the rest of you.

Gargoyle Image

Each Gargoyle is about 50 feet from its closest companion, arrayed along the street from the house to the bus on both sides of the street.

Round 2

Gargoyles

"Aw s+$*e s%~$e s+*&e," Jarrod muttered as he quickly chambered iron slugs into his shotgun. "Now, see, this is why I left Chicago!" he yelled to nobody in particular as he took aim and fired at the nearest creature.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Solid iron slugs, +7 damage bonus.

Julian pounces on the first gargoyle he sees, ignorant to their nature. He lets out a coarse, gravel-y battle cry as he drives his fist into the Gargoyle's face.
"RAK CHAZAK!"
Unarmed Power Attack DC24: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 7 - 2 = 20
If successful, he'll initiate a grapple via improved grab

Gargoyle toughness vs slugs: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

Jarrod's slug slams into the armor on the creature's chest, ricocheting off with a spark.

Gargoyle toughness vs Julian: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Julian slams into the Gargoyle's face, wrapping his arm around the creature's neck as it reels at the force of his blow.

Kishan continues running towards the school bus, her mind fixated on find out if it bears children within, and whether there are any injured. When the monsters fall out of the sky, she reacts on instinct.

Lightning Stream: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Toughness save DC 20 +1 for each 1 over defense (Autofire 2)

That's a weak attack, so even if it hits, the Toughness DC likely won't be much higher, and can't be higher than 25, and I doubt they have a defense of 9...

Toughness Save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

So: Fails by 5 or more Stunned + Bruised + Injured

Can you give a translation for Julian's battlecry, Myron? It looks like it's supposed to be Yiddish or some such (since I'm pretty sure your idea is that Julian is a golem?) but I don't speak it and Google Translate gives me nothin'. Aaron speaks/reads/understands all languages.

"What did they do? Drop gargoyles from orbit?"

Aaron launches himself at an unoccupied gargoyle with a flying leap, drawing his sword mid-air and slashing.

Slash: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

But his zeal does little to make up for his awful aim.

I figured there had to be a hebrew warcry, so I googled it and found some Christian websites that claimed "Rak Chazak" was an ancient Hebrew warcry that meant "Be Strong". I don't know if I fully believe it was, but it serves my purpose. And yes, Julian's a golem.

Yeah, I Googled the phrase you can find lots of probably specious explanations and uses of it. It fits nicely into the mythological muddle we have going.

The gargoyle embroiled with Julian calls to him in a voice that somehow shrieks and rumbles at once in strange harmonics.

"Neboj sa golem , sme nepočuli , aby vás . Druhý dvanásť stačí zaútočiť brány . Budete zničený , vzhľadom na smrť , tie misie skončila ."

While the one Aaron engages says, "Sword taker, you should leave behind these magicians and broken men. With your power and your grasp of the sword, you could replace the Golem in our quest to Storm the Gates and grasp Life."

Grapple check vs Julian: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25
Julian opposed grapple: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29

The gargoyle's tail attempts to coil around Julian's arm, but the powerful golem grabs the tail before it can get a grip.

The gargoyle Aaron attacked hesitates, waiting to see if his words had any effect. He seems genuinely interested in the proposal.

One gargoyle drops to his knees as he reals from Kishan's lightning attack, electricity crackling around him.

The three other gargoyles fly toward the bus, slamming into the side passenger side. Glass flies inward as windows shatter and the mass of yellow and black steel tips slowly onto two wheels, hanging for a moment before toppling onto the driver's side, crushing the flashing stop sign that folds out from the side.

"Those are just wee chisellers, ye bloody feckin' blackguards!" Jarrod screamed as he abandoned his previous target to get at the bus. Chambering another round, he took aim at one of the gargoyles that flipped the bus and fired.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
DC23 toughness save. If they weren't right next to the possibly occupied bus, I'd try out one of my explosive rounds. Speaking of, do we hear any cries coming from the bus?