Commander Shepard made the ultimate sacrifice to [red energy]DESTROY [/red energy] the Reapers. Eight years later, the survivors of the war seek to put the galaxy back together.
If the alpha doesn't seem to sense the failed Dominate, Hestia will try it again. If he was annoyed by the first one and gets busy, disregard this.
[dice=Dom vs +2]4d3 - 8 + 5 - 1
If I am reading the initiative rules correctly, I believe Grace goes next, using IN MY SIGHTS on the alpha.
IN MY SIGHTS es exactly what it sounds like: Grace is using her STAY ON TARGET passive ability to keep the alpha in her sights. In other words: target the alpha, then hold action until (if) it gets close.
Dern observes his companions as they diligently assess the situation. Grace is peering through the scope of her weapon, sizing up the enemy. Hestia is concentrating hard on dominating the alpha varren. Gir is diligently scanning the pack for anomalies. The mood is tense and quiet.
Behind them, Dern casually hoists his grenade launcher, takes aim at the pack, and fires a fragmentation grenade into the lot of them.
Artillery:4d3 - 8 + 3 ⇒ (1, 2, 3, 2) - 8 + 3 = 3
That is sufficient to hit the zone containing the varren pack. They take damage 5 unless they roll an Athletics check that beats my Artillery roll.
Yes, please. Dungeon Master Player 15/Dungeon Master 13/Monk 2(I'm out of practice!)
Grace Wright wrote:
Who is that masked DM? wrote:
Hestia Harper wrote:
If the alpha doesn't seem to sense the failed Dominate, Hestia will try it again. If he was annoyed by the first one and gets busy, disregard this.
[dice=Dom vs +2]4d3 - 8 + 5 - 1
If I am reading the initiative rules correctly, I believe Grace goes next, using IN MY SIGHTS on the alpha.
IN MY SIGHTS es exactly what it sounds like: Grace is using her STAY ON TARGET passive ability to keep the alpha in her sights. In other words: target the alpha, then hold action until (if) it gets close.
Athletics:4d3 - 8 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1, 1, 2) - 8 + 2 = 1 The blast decimates the slothful, but dangerous beasts, leaving them inert. The only downside is that the explosion was clearly heard for quite a ways.
sorry about the delay, there seemed to be a problem with the dice
You should theoretically be rolling Athletics for each one, and if it fails it would cause them 1 stress. Unless 1 stress is enough to take them down, they would still be standing.
You should theoretically be rolling Athletics for each one, and if it fails it would cause them 1 stress. Unless 1 stress is enough to take them down, they would still be standing.
As these are just mooks, essentially, I'll rule that it is enough to take them out. Also, it makes Zinnius look cool to toss a grenade and walk away from the explosion nonplussed. Don't worry, there are more dangerous foes ahead.
As the din of the explosion fades, Hestia's laughter grows distinguishable from the ear-ringing. "I knew I liked you." She thumps Dern affably with an elbow. At his suggestion they proceed, though, she hesitates and looks to Grace. "Gir picked up an environmental hazard. Think it's safe to go on, Sarge?"
Gir maintains his aim for a long moment after the explosion, keeping a vigilant eye as the dust clears.
Empathy 3:
Deceit:4d3 - 8 + 3 ⇒ (3, 1, 1, 3) - 8 + 3 = 3
Gir is trying to appear calm, but the pace of his breathing and the rigidness of his stance suggest otherwise.
When the coast is confirmed clear, Gir takes a quick assessment of the room, in case the sudden explosion in the old building caused any instability, and performs another scan, to determine if the haze, whatever it was, remained.
This time in passive mode, to avoid being picked up on scanners. Reckoning if they weren't aimed here before, they certainly are now.
Rejoining the others, Gir adds "Potential environmental hazard. My scan is picking up a... haze, in the area. I haven't quite pinned down the nature of it yet, outside of it lacking a visual component." Gir glances at Dern before continuing. "It could have ever been ignitable, and brought this room down around our heads. Thank the ancestors that wasn't the case. Give me a moment before we proceed and I'll see if I can find out more about what we're walking into."
Gir maintains his aim for a long moment after the explosion, keeping a vigilant eye as the dust clears.
** spoiler omitted **
When the coast is confirmed clear, Gir takes a quick assessment of the room, in case the sudden explosion in the old building caused any instability, and performs another scan, to determine if the haze, whatever it was, remained.
** spoiler omitted **
Rejoining the others, Gir adds "Potential environmental hazard. My scan is picking up a... haze, in the area. I haven't quite pinned down the nature of it yet, outside of it lacking a visual component." Gir glances at Dern before continuing. "It could have ever been ignitable, and brought this room down around our heads. Thank the ancestors that wasn't the case. Give me a moment before we proceed and I'll see if I can find out more about what we're walking into."
Gir:
With THAT systems result, you notice that the haze that was on your sensors before is gone. You are fairly confident that it had something to do with the unmourned varren- maybe it's time for an autopsy?
Dern packs up his grenade launcher with efficiency and looks expectantly at his companions. "Shall we proceed?"
Hestia Harper wrote:
"Gir picked up an environmental hazard. Think it's safe to go on, Sarge?"
"I think we should wait until Specialist Rimas finishes scanning the area before heading deeper into the complex. Dern, a word in private, please."
Grace lowers her rifle, and motions the salarian to join her a few feet away from the group. She removes her helmet, speaking quietly.
Zinnius Dern:
"Next time, I wouldn't go launching any ordnance without letting the rest of us know first. That was dead reckless, there's no telling what kind of structural condition this place is in. You could have brought the whole building down on the four of us. I'll let this go once, but next time, ask, or at the very least, warn me. Right then?"
dice, just in case:
Rapport, in order to SMOOTH OVER the situation, if need be:4d3 - 8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1, 3, 2) - 8 + 3 + 2 = 6
Gir approaches the lip of the landing, and begins to take another scan. After a few moments, he returns his focus to the others.
"The haze appears to have cleared with the death of the varren. I believe the varren may have been... generating it, whatever it was. A closer examination of the remains might reveal more. We certainly have enough pieces to work with."
With a sigh, Gir turns back towards the landing and (assuming no-one stops him) headed down the stairs, towards the remains of the varren. While keeping an eye open from anything they might have missed from above, he makes his way towards the most intact varren carcass, and begins an impromptu examination.
Dice Rolls:
Stealth:4d3 - 8 + 1 ⇒ (2, 3, 3, 1) - 8 + 1 = 2
To move in quietly and unnoticed.
Alertness:4d3 - 8 + 1 ⇒ (2, 3, 3, 3) - 8 + 1 = 4
In case of things unseen.
Security:4d3 - 8 + 4 ⇒ (2, 1, 1, 2) - 8 + 4 = 2
In case of traps (though I imagine any down here would have been set off by the boom. :P )
With a sigh, Gir turns back towards the landing and (assuming no-one stops him) headed down the stairs, towards the remains of the varren. While keeping an eye open from anything they might have missed from above, he makes his way towards the most intact varren carcass, and begins an impromptu examination.
** spoiler omitted **
Moving with a certain grace that is renown among some quarians, Gir stalks over to the corpses and runs some tests.
Gir:
What you find is disconcerting. You are familiar with mechs, at least in passing, as well as the programming that keeps them acting as something of a cohesive combat unit. This is the same technology used to horrid biological effect, as the varren had some cranial implants (damned good ones, to survive the salarians grenade attack) to allow them to remain on constant mental contact with not just each other, but someone else giving them commands- you think the "haze" was some kind of primitive, yet genius communication network similar to ancient pre-extranet communication technology- you theorize the varren were close to each other not just because they were a pack but because they needed to keep their private network going. You are certainly not alone here, as there was certainly someone looking through their "eyes".
Would the wireless networking be at all reminiscent of how the Geth networked? While Gir is no expert engineer, his knowledge of networks, and their security, leaves less to be desired. He's considering hacking into the network and seeing if he can't get input from the other end, but does that seem at all possible?
Also, could Gir extract one of the implants intact? Are they still actively transmitting, or has the death of their hosts caused them to stop receiving inputs?
From above, the others would note Gir cutting into the skull of one of the varren, and examining some form of implant. He whispers into the comms "I think our resident engineer might want to look at this."
From above, the others would note Gir cutting into the skull of one of the varren, and examining some form of implant. He whispers into the comms "I think our resident engineer might want to look at this."
Gir:
No, it is more akin to mechs as noted above. However the melding of machine and organic on this level is truly concerning and THAT part of it is what brings husks to mind.
As for hacking the network, it would be difficult, but that is what high rolls are for- go for it!
Dern approaches and examines the implant that Gir extracted. "Unusual technology. Reaper, perhaps? Collector technology? Perhaps this will reveal what manner of research Cerberus was performing here." He inspects it and scans it with his omnitool to discern the possible origin and mechanism of this tech.
Hestia yawns and leans against the wall at the top of the stairs, waiting for the Science Aliens to finish whatever the heck it is they are doing to the dead things.
"It appears to be facilitating some kind of bio-mechanic network. It is uncomfortably reminiscent of husks, including that they're getting their orders from someone, or something, remotely. I want to know more about the device before proceeding."
Gir nervously looks about the area as Zinnius works on the device. Staying still in the area of the noisy explosion for too long maybe wasn't the best plan, but running ahead blind seemed much worse.
"Think we should go down and be sure they're not having lunch without us?" Hestia remarks to Grace in an offhanded manner that belies her state of readiness.
"Think we should go down and be sure they're not having lunch without us?" Hestia remarks to Grace in an offhanded manner that belies her state of readiness.
Grace shrugs, then motions to the stairs.
"I don't see why not, Harper. Just remember, stay sharp. After you?"
"Hey, how's it going? Ready to move on?" she asks, squinting at the mess that Gir and Dern are making of the varren corpses. "You, uh... you're not going to eat that, are you?"
Dern looks back at Hestia with a blank expression. "I hadn't planned to, but you are welcome to help yourself. The livers are rich with iron." He turns back to what he was doing, studying the tech implanted in the creatures.
"Thanks, I'm good. Livers tend to have a lot of Vitamin A, which is toxic to humans," Hestia says faintly, "Why are you guys mucking around in varren brains, pray tell?"
Dern approaches and examines the implant that Gir extracted. "Unusual technology. Reaper, perhaps? Collector technology? Perhaps this will reveal what manner of research Cerberus was performing here." He inspects it and scans it with his omnitool to discern the possible origin and mechanism of this tech.
[dice=Systems]4d3-8+5
[dice=Engineering]4d3-8+4
Spoiler:
It takes no small amount of work, but you are able to verify that yes, this is a strange network that is reminiscent of husks, but scaled down to almost-sane parameters with an EYE toward making the lives of the creatures so linked better, not worse. With these varren, it seems as if they were encouraged to remain near each other as breaking the link would be akin to going blind in comparison to the increased sensory acuity the varren enjoy being so connected - like having several sets of eyes and ears, useful for a hunting pack. There is indeed an extra line or port that someone could use watch through the varren's eyes, and if they were watching, they know you are here- of course the explosion could have tipped them off as well. This is definitely human technology- no salarian or asari tech even in the places that would have made it more efficient, and rather dated- pre reaper war- used to ingenious though primitive effect.
"Think we should go down and be sure they're not having lunch without us?" Hestia remarks to Grace in an offhanded manner that belies her state of readiness.
You are quite confident you are not alone. You thibk you hear a whuffing sound coming from below.
"Oh, and by the way, you might want to ap-wray is-thay up-ay and et-gay our-yay uns-gay." Hestia pants a couple of heavy breaths and peers farther into the dark.
"I never learned Latin. There are enough human languages to worry about without trying to concern oneself with the dead ones," Dern says. "In any event, with this tech someone could watch what the varren were seeing. The living varren never got a good look at us - I saw to that. Nevertheless, if the tech in some of the creatures survived the blast and continued transmitting, the owner of that tech will know we are here. For good or ill I cannot say."
"The technology appears to be human, with reaper inspiration. If a salarian had aided in its development, the design would have been more efficient. I believe I could improve it significantly." He proceeds extracting the device to take with him for further study.
"Are they just communicators or is there VI involved?" Hestia is curious despite herself. "And I said you might want to get your gun because there's something there in the dark."
Dern is already stashing the implant in a pouch when Hestia's second statement registers. He jumps to his feet and unholsters his pistol. Still, he answers her question. "No indication of virtual or artificial intelligence. It is cruder technology than that."
"I never learned Latin. There are enough human languages to worry about without trying to concern oneself with the dead ones," Dern says.
"Then again, quidquid latine dictum, altum videtur."
Zinnius Dern wrote:
"The technology appears to be human, with reaper inspiration. If a salarian had aided in its development, the design would have been more efficient. I believe I could improve it significantly." He proceeds extracting the device to take with him for further study.
"If it's based on Reaper tech, best be careful. People aren't themselves after too much contact with the actual stuff, and when they start to mess about with it..."
Grace trails off, but the illuminated eye-slits of her inscrutable helmet offer up no further emotional clues.
"In any case, we should get moving, in case whatever's in here with us decides to be unpleasant. As Harper said, keep your weapon ready and your eyes sharp."
The whuffing sound from earlier turns into a curious, high pitched yip, as a varren pup makes its way into the area. Much larger than a terran puppy but smaller than its brethren, its fangs seem too large for its head in a hilarious, almost endearing sense. It yips again, and cocks it's head to the side, unsure of what to make of you.
"Huh. Any of you guys need to see what's inside this one's head?" Hestia sights down her pistol at the little varren. "Take us to your leader."
unperturbed by the gun, the little fellow yips again. Nothing seems out of the ordinary about him other than his friendliness(although you can still make a check to see if it is some type of evil cyborg puppy or something).
It seems normal for a while, but just then, the light catches the left eye of the varren pup- definitely a camera. And a good one, it looks almost organic.
Dern raises his pistol at the varren pup. "They know we are here, but I would just assume not have our movements tracked from here." He pauses and looks to Grace. "Permission to fire, sergeant?"
Dern raises his pistol at the varren pup. "They know we are here, but I would just assume not have our movements tracked from here." He pauses and looks to Grace. "Permission to fire, sergeant?"
Grace turns to Gir.
"Given your previous analysis, what do you think? My expertise doesn't much run to surveillance tech."
