The clerk's initial distrust starts to fade away as Billie flashes her cash around--not to mention he actually gets a look at her. Billie manages to secure six backpacks, flashlights, and sleeping bags (though Mus’ad may have some troubles with the fit), a decent digital camera, 4 shop style lights on stands, 100 feet of rope that should even be able to hold Mus’ad, two sets of camo fatigues and 2-3 sets of ‘normal’ clothes for everyone but Mus’ad, a case of about 80 MREs, a solar shower, a space heater, and a very overpriced crossbow with two dozen arrows. All up it comes to about $3600, everything seems to have a slightly inflated price, but what can one expect under the conditions…
Belledonna:
Outside meanwhile, Belledonna’s ranting causing the pedestrians around her some consternation as she loudly harangues them for allowing themselves to be ground beneath the V’Sori’s heel. It is only when people start to actually scream and flee that she notices the squad of four drones, and two fins that seem to have taken an interest in her and leveled their weapons.
Initiative: Belledonna (KC), Drones (7H), Fins (5H), Devil’s Advocate (5D), Mus’ad (2C) Mus’ad and Devil’s Advocate please make a Notice roll. It may not be necessary though, depending on Belle’s action.
Free action: switch Powers of the Mind to Mental Illusions, standard action to create an Illusion around herself of a higher-ranking V'sori officer, I'm sure she saw some of those while she was in the infirmary.
Finally, to complete the image, Telepathic contact with the goon squad. Not us, them. 'You! Idiots! I realize none of you have the wits of a stunned guppy, but can't you see I'm working here? I'm trying to infiltrate the new Omega Cell that just broke out of containment yesterday & you are ruining it!' Persuasion:1d12 - 2 ⇒ (9) - 2 = 7, Wild Die:1d6 - 2 ⇒ (2) - 2 = 0; to convince them I'm actually an undercover V'sori whose cover they just blew. Really hope this works...
Same as big and gilded here. Devil moves after the drones so knowing if the bluff worked is rather vital. Smarts roll to 'disbelieve' 1d10 ⇒ 8, wild 1d6 ⇒ 1: total (8-2) 6.
That is not a Notice roll DA :p I'm going to be running illusions like in D&D, you have to actually interact with Belledonna before you can roll to disbelieve.
Also I did have a post typed up last night and then my laptop messed up before I could post and lost it. Stupid laptop...
Belledonna:
The two fins slowly raise their rifles as Belledonna sends her mental message, the two glancing at each other from the corner of their eyes, obviously uncertain about the situation. A moment later the drones do the same raising their blaster arms but keeping them at the ready.
One of the fins--the left you think--responds, his mental tone still holding a hint of suspicion. What do you want us to do then Sir? It would be suspicious if we just let you go...
DA Notice:1d8 ⇒ 81d6 ⇒ 3
DA & Mus'ad:
Mus'ad and 'Billie' notice, as they are wrapping up their business in the store, a distinct silence from outside. Belledonna seems to have fallen silent, and there is not even foot-traffic noise. Casting their gaze outside, they see a V'Sori officer, two fins, and four drones apparently readying for an assault, the officer with his back to the store, while the fins and drones have their weapons at the ready.
Remember, you are not privy to Belledonna's actions...
Sorry, if I'd been thinking I would have posted in a spoiler the first time...
'You are correct. Fall back when it becomes appropriate.'Dropping the Telepathic link to the Drones, but maintaining it with the K'tharen.'Selling this is going in your ledger. I'm going to have to break one of the toys. You get to explain it to your superiors.' I wouldn't add the appearance Charisma modifier to my Persuasion roll, but do I get to add my Charismatic mod? Persuasion:1d12 - 2 ⇒ (3) - 2 = 1, Wild Die:1d6 - 2 ⇒ (4) - 2 = 2, unless this roll is unnecessary to convince the K'tharen to 'sacrifice' a Drone.
Free Action: switch Powers of the Mind to Stun, coincidentally dropping the illusion of a V'sori. Standard action to place the Stun burst so that it covers as many of them as possible, they will have to make a Smarts roll to avoid being Shaken.
Round 1 5D
---------------------
Voice low to Mus'ad: "It's Bella, not a V'sori. I think she's trying a bluff....Smart girl. Let's keep quiet and back her if she needs it."
Range to the Drones/Fins?
The Devil's Advocate draws a pistol, glancing back at the clerk as the punk girl turns OFF the red eye sight. "Just another day in Star City, right?" She smiles as she takes a braced stance concealed by a display of hiking boots.
Drawing and aiming at the nearest Fin. If one cannot draw and aim in the same round then draw and hold to shoot the fin if they take aggressive action.
Environmental question. Are there weights or praise the gods charged propane tanks/fire extinguishers to hand?
Mus'ad's piggish eyes twinkle with delight at the present... though he is momentarily given pause when DA speaks of subterfuge. Brow furrowed in confusion, he adopts a fighting stance and stands ready next to DA "So Fin big man not real... why need bluff when can kill instead?"
Ready action to interrupt any offensive action made by the V'sori
Agility: 1d8 ⇒ 5 and 1d6 ⇒ 3
Yes you would get the +2 for Charismatic. The roll is not really necessary though.
DA both drawing a weapon and aiming are an action, can't really do both. Can draw and shoot at -2 for multi-action, or go on hold (do nothing now, but take your full turn when you choose). I'll assume you're on Hold, and have rolled Agility for you to interrupt the aliens Troops.
Does their beacon activate when they are fighting? I show have remembered that splitting up was always a bad idea!
Professor Mayhem looks over the warehouse in disgust. Filthy humans can't even watch out for the magical inscriptions that he had drawn about... he wasn't going to waste time to redo them again for them to get wiped out. He would wait for the others so he could explain to them why the inscriptions were there and tell them in no uncertain terms that they are not to mess with them.
If you're referring to their commlinks, then no, not unless they deliberately contact you. They function more or less like advanced smartphones.
Hmm, I guess I should have narrated what happened, heh :p
The V'Sori disappears, leaving Belledonna standing in it's place, as a violet/pink light emanates from her eyes. A moment later two of the drones and a fin stagger, seeming disoriented, while the other fin, and two drones bring their weapons to bear on Belledonna.
The initiative posted is using your previous agility roll to interrupt the V'Sori's action.
Dammit! I had a post completely ready...
& then connectivity f@!#ed up on me. Really getting annoying.
GM-Peanuts:
Free action: switching 'Powers of the Mind' to Mind Control. Standard action: Mind Control attempt on the unshaken K'tharen. opposed Smarts:1d10 - 1 ⇒ (9) - 1 = 8, Wild Die:1d6 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1, Belledonna has dropped all Telepathic links to concentrate on this.
Well, they have either bought it & are trying to make it look good...
Or, I had better hope that Advocate & Mus'ad are ready to come out & 'play'
Billie's figure blurs for a moment as Rebecca activates the deflection field.
Assuming the storefront is not armor-glass The Advocate will activate the Red eye and fire two quick shots at the nearest Fin aiming for an unarmored location if the target is wearing armor.
Double tap on nearest Fin the staggered one if there is a choice. Shooting 1d8 ⇒ 5, wild 1d6 ⇒ 3 {5 +1Double Tap +1Red Eye -4/6 bypassing armor} total 7or 3 or 1 depending. If target is armored and this will cause DA to miss then spending one benny to re-roll.
Re-roll1d8 ⇒ 2, wild 1d6 ⇒ 6 wild ace 1d6 ⇒ 5. Total {11 +1DoubleTap, +1RedEye, -4/6 bypassing armor} 9 or 7.
Damage {2d6 ⇒ (6, 5) = 11 +1 Double Tap} 12 ap1. If there was a raise add 1d6 ⇒ 1 for a total of 13 ap1. Oh well at least I cleared the glass.
After firing The Advocate will move to heavy cover if available or dive behind a concealing shelf unit and drop prone.
If the shop front is armored glass DA will move to the door or to whatever exit Mus'ad makes and shoot as indicated above, going to cover or prone as able.
Mus'as leaps into action... quite literally. Two ponderous steps are taken forward before he pushes off his forward foot as though twere a coiled spring and Mus'ad becomes an aerial ball of angry meat. Crashing through the glass window as though it were paper, the culturally transposed fist of fury attempts to land a double armed haymaker on the Fin that retains his senses...
Additional Mus'ad damage (Ace and Raise):2d6 ⇒ (6, 2) = 81d6 ⇒ 1+24=33
Mus'ad burst through the shop window, flying over the heads of the ranks of drones, landing atop the unshaken fin. That he kept his wits about him doesn't seem to aid him however, as Mus'ad's fists land upon his head, caving in his helmet.
Advocate quickly flicks his targeting reticule from the dead fin to the still standing one, moving it rapidly over the target as he searches for an unarmored spot which he can't seem to find. Finally he simply aims at where the armpit join of the full-body armor, and squeezes the trigger twice. Blood fountains from the holes punched in the join, the fin dropping his weapon as he looses strength in the arm, before he follows the weapon to the ground, unconscious and rapidly oozing a viscous turquoise fluid.
Shot at -6 for a tiny target. One benny spent, for 7 to hit, and 16 damage.
The two drones affected by Belledonna's mental blast struggle to right themselves, while the other two unnafected ones move. The leftmost one takes several steps closer to the enraged Mus'ad, reaching out to touch him with one crackling gloved hand, while the other finishes lining up it's shot on Belledonna, and fires several blasts of energy.
Mus'ad quickly elbows the Drone's arm aside as he turns to the new threat, while all three bolts 'miraculously' miss Belledonna, sizzling past her through the shattered window into the shop behind, splashing over a rack of coats, which burst into flame.
Can I use that Mind Control Smarts roll against one of the two unaffected Drones?
Because that is what Belledonna will do with both 'fins' down, Mind Control one of the Drones who managed to shake off her Stun.
If I don't get to use the same roll. Smarts:1d10 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1, Wild Die:1d6 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4, aaaand I'm really hoping I get to use that previous Smarts roll now, although past experience tells me that Drones don't have much in the way of Smarts...
Laughing heartily Mus'ad spins and lashes out at drones with elbow and knee with gay abandon. "The Kashmiri blender destroys you... even though you are not worthy of being crushed by my fist."
The Advocate looks about the shop. Notice if needed: notice 1d8 ⇒ 1, wild1d6 ⇒ 3
1. What is the clerk doing?
2. Is the cash register/valuable stock unattended? (and the greedy hindrance kicks in)
3. Is there anything other than the rack of coats on fire?
3a. Is the flaming rack something that could be hurled clear of the shop now that there is a Mus'ad sized hole in the front?
It doesn't matter in this case,but for future reference Mus'ad, when you make two attacks like that the second is at -4 due to it being your 'off-hand/foot/elbow' (-2 multi-action, -2 off-hand). You also only roll one wild die for both attacks, and it can be used in place of only one of them.
additional explosion (for fun :p):1d6 ⇒ 5+25=30 damage to drone 2.
Mus'ad crushes the chest of the drone who just tried to attack him, before leaping the few meters to the next one, and likewise pummels it into submission.
Drone 4 Smarts:1d4 ⇒ 1 You do not get to use the smarts roll, but it doesn't really matter.
Violet light flares around Belledonna's eyes and the faceplate of one of the drones, which then simply stands idly, awaiting instructions.
If Mus'ad plans to clobber the other two drones into the ground he should make a Notice roll to see whether he realizes.
The Devil's Advocate meanwhile turns his attention to his more close in surroundings. A few meters from him a fire merrily blazes, sending a growing pillar of smoke up towards the ceiling. The clerk can be seen hiding behind the counter, deciding whether he'd rather burn to death, or get pulverized or shot; his attention consumed with his immediate survival. As DA looks around he can't seem to spot any extinguishers.
3. Not yet, Fire goes after you :p 3a Mus'ad certainly could, but throwing a rack of around 2 dozen burning coats would likely prove difficult for someone of more 'normal' strength such as yourself. That's pretty much your action.
Fire:1d6 ⇒ 1
Tongues of flame lick from the rack of coats towards other racks and displays, but apart from some singeing it remains localized to the coat rack for now.
Seeing the slackened eye of one drone Mus'ad disdains destroying it for the moment. There is no pleasure to be gained from crushing something when it is unaware of your magnificence.
Instead he reaches out and grips the other drone by the shoulder... and attempts to punch it's head off of it's body...
That's you as in Mus'ad I hope :p In which case being forced to bathe would probably be the correct penance :p
1d6 ⇒ 3
With the only living/conscious drone under Belledonna's control the danger seems to have passed. The fire within the camping goods store triggers the smoke alarm, and the sprinklers activate, soaking Devil's Advocate and his purchases as it extinguishes the coats.
'Remove your armaments & armor.' Belledonna directs the remaining Drone.
"Are there any survivors in the store?" She asks DA & Mus'ad.
I just got done spending 7 minutes trying to get my Dad to recognize that it is a bad idea to try driving from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Kansas City, Missouri today...
I love family.
Mus'ad is saddened greatly by the lack of resilience shown by the drones and fins. He despondently picks up the one who's skull he crushed... shaking the corpse to see if he might bring it round... so he can hit it again.
"Well done! We have about five minutes until company arrives so time to gather up their toys and vanish."
'Billie' Hauls their purchases out to the street and then moves to the dead fin Mus'ad is not playing with and rapidly strips it of everything that comes off easy starting with its gun. All this goes in the backpack.
"Pity we can't take the armor. Time to go!"
Once out of sight of the shop and any security cameras 'Billie' presses a few buttons and where she was standing there is now a morbidly obese man in a stained yellow sweater and leaning on a walking cane.
"There that should help hide the pack"
The Advocate walks towards the nearest Mag-lev station.
The remaining drone buzzes at Belledonna's instruction but doesn't move.
Devil's Advocate is able to collect three fusion grenades and two blaster rifles from the drones, but nothing else that seems particularly useful apart from the armor.
Drones or Fins? Not that it matters I suppose. But you mentioned in the prison break that the drone guns were internal. So 2 blaster rifles and a total of 3 fusion grenades.
b]"Damn. Hate leaving them here but dragging bodies around is a non starter."[/b]
"Who said anything about dragging?" Belledonna replied. Pausing a moment to find her bearings, she turns to the drone, the odd lightshow about her eyes & the drone's helm cycles faster for a time & the Drone takes off in a Southerly direction.
'Keep yourself out of sight of others & head to this location.' As she gives him a mental image of an abandoned lot only a few blocks away from the Warehouse. "Shall we depart as well?"
Mus'ad brings a small smile to his face by disposing of the dead fin... by throwing it through the window of the store that was not yet broken. After that he sighs, stretches out a kink in his back and then sets to follow the others kicking at occasional stones as he sulks.
The drone sets off immediately after being given it's instruction, heading towards Southpoint. The rest of Mus'ad's Harem follows it after the titular member indulges in some further violence, making their way back to the warehouse, where they find the Professor still scrawling symbols on floors, walls and even the ceiling.
Alright, advancing this a little bit, if you guys are doing anything significant in the intervening time then let me know :) 1d10 ⇒ 8
A few days pass with no sign of Bad Penny or Masque at the warehouse. The professor completes his preparations and converts the warehouse into something more palatable--at least temporarily. Belledonna brings in the captured Drone, and DA goes to work at butchering it up and figuring out what it is and how it ticks.
I will require a Knowledge: Biology and Knowledge: Electronics roll please :) Professor I also need the list of what modifications you are applying to the headquarters. What are Belle and Mus'ad getting up to during this time?
"Ah bella my dear I did not know you delivered." The Devil says with a smile.
Choppy choppy:
Safeguards, Likely needless but you never know.
1) Appearing as King Richard II when we pick up the Drone from the carpark.
2. Using one of the captured nullifiers on the drone before we bring it to the lair.
3. Scanning it for radio signals multiple times both inside and outside the lair.
Once drone is in what ever lab the Professor agrees to provide The advocate will fully restrain the Drone before converting the Chameleon device into a series of specialized tools, sensors and expert systems.
{Invent 3 converting to 3 levels of Super Skill giving the Advocate a Kn. Bio and Kn. electronics of d6 each.}
Rolls: Kn. Biology 1d6 ⇒ 4 wild 1d6 ⇒ 5 total 5 or 9 if interface applies. Kn. Electronics 1d6 ⇒ 5 wild 1d6 ⇒ 3 total 5 or 9 if interface applies. Plus or minus any lab modifiers.
After cleaning up the Devil's own will start examining the blaster rifles and grenades. Kn. Electronics 1d6 ⇒ 2 wild 1d6 ⇒ 2 total 2 (+4 interface -4 alien tech) plus any lab modifier.
One roll for the lot or should I try more?
If there is time The Advocate will take a further look at the communicator watch that the Doctor provided. What exactly does it do?
Headquarters (4) - 10 HQ Points
Command Center (1)
Personal Quarters (2) - 8 heroes
Teleporter (3) - Teleport Door up to half a mile from base that can accommodate up to 10 people.
Well-Hidden (3)
Kitchen & Dining (1)
Professor Mayhem places the sigils and begins to summon in the various locations in the warehouse.
As soon as Devil's Advocate applies the nullifier gauntlets the drone goes immobile, forcing him to drag the creature back to the warehouse, or remove the gauntlets. Prior to applying the nullifiers he did detect some transponder signals (IFF, short range communications capability), but said signals likewise stopped with the application of the gauntlets.
I'll wait for some clarification from the Professor before I elaborate on the rest. One roll for each type of gear, so we'll say that's for the Rifles, give me another for the grenades.
Professor:
Alright, that seems fine, except you haven't put any points towards improving the condition of the facilities you're summoning, so they will remain at Pathetic :p Might want to reconsider your points spending. Average is 1 point, Good is 3.
Mus'ad is sullen, grumpy, prone to rage and unhappy at being idle... in other words Mus'ad is Mus'ad. The days between the last time he managed to exercise his knuckles stretch like saltwater taffy and do not pass easily.
The others have likely taken to completely ignoring the bestial wrestler as he wanders the street in search of good tandoori and entertainment of a more martial nature... as in people to punch... in the head...
Mus'ad have simple tastes... but not much to do in downtime.
By the end of the first day the lair has been transformed from a slightly musty, empty warehouse, into a simple, dark lair. One corner has been walled off, containing 8 alcoves, two on each wall 'bunk bed' style with a moderately comfortable mattress and clean sheets--two of them large enough to accommodate Mus'ad. Beside that is another room, with a large archway opening into a room with a large wooden table, a dozen chairs, and an opaque oval taking up most of one wall. The final feature of note is a large circular platform against one wall in the remaining open space, encircled with strange runes and symbols.
The first time everyone leaves the place they struggle to find their way back, their memories feeling fuzzy as they try to navigate to the unfamiliar location.
DA:
Devil's Advocate spends most of the next two days dissecting the drone, fashioning himself a scanner with designs he stole from an Alpha force device, and securing some tools to properly crack the thing open. He quickly confirms his earlier assumptions, beneath the armor is a largely organic being; the armor itself is bonded onto the organism's musculature as the creature's 'skin'. Peeling that back, and the layers of muscle beneath he starts to encounter the complex circuitry and mechanics that power the Drone's abilities.
He discovers a number of interesting things:
The creature's biology as far as he can tell roughly matches up to human physiology
The creature's 'lungs' and 'trachea' have been supplemented with an artificial system resembling gills, potentially allowing them to operate underwater
Superfluous organs (stomach, digestive track, reproductive organs) have been removed to make way for a large internal capacitor in the abdomen, it is this capacitor that powers the drone's weapons
The right arm contains a large superconductor cable which runs from the abdomen capacitor to both the Blaster Rifle implanted in the drone's forearm, and the drone's armored glove
The right hand/glove seems to contain several contact points that would allow it to discharge electricity directly into a target with direct contact
Contained in the left hand/glove are vibro-blades which can extend from each finger and thumb
Progressing his examination to the creature's head he finds it less recognizable as human, at least superficially. There is no sign of a nose, and the mouth has been replace with a respirator device. The eyes are cybernetic, able to function more efficiently in adverse conditions
The brain has been significantly altered, but the ability of his scanning device and the information Rebecca is able to retrieve can only go so far. Whatever performed the many surgeries this creature has undergone did so with incredible finesse and accuracy.
At some point during the process the drone ceases functioning.
Sounds like Mus'ad needs another hobby. Or should perhaps try and track down a certain alien infidel who stole his turban.
Remember your beliefs people :) If everyone could go over them again and make sure you're happy with them; they should have some goal that you can reasonably accomplish in a shortish time frame.
Late in the evening of the third day (approx 08:40pm) after the prison break the communicators provided by Doctor Destruction indicate an incoming message. When activated, the below message plays.
"The information Mindjack brought me reveals that there is a power source located deep beneath Star City that the aliens haven’t discovered. I need access to that power source for my own purposes.
"Finding it won’t be easy, however. It was created by the villain named Terron some years ago, and its exact location died with him. It is my firm belief that the Undergrounders who live beneath the city know its location. Persuading them to share this information is another matter.
"You’ll need a very heavy piece of equipment to make the power terminal useful to me, it should be delivered shortly. You'll need Mus'ad to carry it, or else find another way to transport it.
"Since Bad Penny and Masque seem have reconsidered my offer, I'll be sending someone along to replace them, his name is Happy Jack."
Approximately 10 minutes later there is another message from the Doctor, only text this time.
"You've been busy; good. Collect the device from the storage facility at <address>, unit E28; the code is 4723" the provided address is to a storage hire site a few blocks away.
Happy Jack:
You can't quite seem to find the address Destruction gave you, but after some examination of the surrounding area you spot some suspicious looking fellows traveling the street in the darkened evening. You're not quite sure where they came from, but by the size and appearance of the hulking brute you'd guess these are who you're after.
Just let the others post who's going to collect the device and then insert yourself from there :)
Your Adventure Deck card is... Turncoat
"How much are they paying you?"
Your hero somehow convinces or bribes a minor foe to perform a small favour--such as helping the hero escape, revealing the location of the "boss" etc.
Didn't want to go running off for a solo adventure :P
Mus'ad listens to the message, but doesn't bother reading the text afterwards. Turning to DA he speaks "Fine... Mus'ad come and lift heavy things for you..." scratching his itching scalp and scowling.
Yeesh, I have one connectivity moment, then get some sleep & the world changes.
the Drone:
Once the nullifiers are on & the Drone has been properly restrained, but before DA has begun his 'Mad Scientist'(tm) bit, Isabelle will go 'mind diving'.
switch 'Powers of the Mind' to Mind Reading, Smarts:1d10 ⇒ 8,Wild Die:1d6 ⇒ 4; trying for as much information about what/possibly who the Drone is before the pain starts. Depending on what she finds out, Isabelle may remain on hand during the 'Mad Scientist'(tm) bits to attempt some measure of anesthesia.
In response to the changed Warehouse.
"Ah, 'professor', I see you've made productive use of your time as well. Good, 'idle minds' and such..."
Once Isabelle notices Mus'ad's general dis-interest in anything not involving violence, she will try to arrange a 'play-date' for him. She, Oz, & Mus'ad will go looking for another patrol comparable to the one that netted DA a drone & other toys to play with. This of course assumes that Mus'ad is amenable to this idea. She won't describe it to him as a 'play-date', of course...
"I can't help but think you are using a condescending tone with me. I am not your underling or lackey" He gestures at Oz, and then continues, "It appears that our benefactor has work for us again. Do not go running off to play on your own."
1. So can The Advocate solidly confirm or deny that the drone was human? Or at least made from human and/or atlantean bits?
2. Any evidence of non-drone life? Tattoos, piercings or branding sort of things
3. Are any of the bits recoverable? I realize converting them will take time just looking for "possible with work" vs. "you have got to be kidding".
a. The artificial gills?
b. Capacitor? Could be useful to supplement high draw power needs. Mainly fluff I suppose.
c. Implanted rifle?
d. Could the shock glove be adapted to something usable?
e. Could the hand-knives be converted to a vibro-dagger?
4. What type of energy, for the purposes of the Energy Control power, do the Drone/Fin blasters use?
"That's not too far away. I am not so certain I like the good Doctor knowing exactly where we are..... Does anyone know anything about Teron or these Undergrounders?"
(For that matter does The Advocate know anything? Streetwise at d4 if it is relevant.)
So it appears to be just DA and Mus'ad going to collect the device.
DA:
Also, the Doctor was the one who gave you this place, so of course he knows where it is :p
1. As stated previously the drone's physiology appears to be very heavily modified human, or at least something very similar to human if not. It's impossible to be certain with the amount of modifications, but from what his systems can tell him there's nothing there apart from the tech that wouldn't be in a human.
2. The skin layers have been completely removed and replaced with armor, it no longer has ears, about the only thing he can determine is that there are no burn marks on the musculature that one would expect from a branding.
3. All of the parts are designed to function as part of the whole, in an organic form. You're not really going to know until you tinker with it. Implantation into another host would be the most likely to work. The weapons could potentially work separately, but would require some other sort of power source. The capacitor is way above DA's understanding at this point, so doing anything with that would be extremely iffy.
4. You've spent pretty much your entire time focused on the drone, but from what you've seen some sort of plasma, so I guess... heat? I'll have to get back to you.
Belledonna:
You forgot your fatigue penalty :p Both that and the one you're about to incur will be gone before the current events however. Drone Smarts:1d4 ⇒ 1
Belledonna easily slips into the creature's thoughts, but finds little of interest, memories of it's recent patrolling, it resting in an odd electronic 'rack', it mercilessly slaughtering someone. When DA starts to remove it's armor however, she feels pain bloom in it's thoughts, thought there is little outward indication of such.
Anyone wishing to know anything about the Undergrounders, or Terron can make an appropriate knowledge roll, or a common knowledge (Smarts) roll. Rolls for Terron will be at -2 (separate rolls please). You can use Streetwise if you wish to head out and talk to people to try and find out that information, which will take some time (an hour or two).
As Devil's Advocate and Mus'ad approach the location given, a pale grinning figure in black blurs up to them. "Hail and well met, new friends! Had the deuce of a time finding it, which is odd as I've visited most places in this city, but never mind.". He briefly pulls a sleeve to show his Omega comms unit. "So, shall we about tonight's business?"
No, you indicated that about three days passed between the 'shopping trip' & the call from Dr. Destruction. I was posting what Belledonna was doing over those three days.
Common Knowledge/Undergrounders:1d10 ⇒ 3, Wild Die:1d6 ⇒ 6, 'ace':1d6 ⇒ 5 for a total of 11
Common Knowledge/Terron:1d10 - 2 ⇒ (10) - 2 = 8, 'ace':1d10 ⇒ 9 for a total of 17, Wild Die:1d6 - 2 ⇒ (6) - 2 = 4, 'ace':1d6 ⇒ 2 for a total of 6
So CK/Undergrounders: 11, one raise
CK/Terron: 17, three raises, obviously Terron was considered a key individual in the future.
Though her significantly slighter figure is easily missed next to/behind Mus'ad's, Belledonna answers quickly...
and Telepathically. 'We've business. You look like some jape-ing, capering fellow...'
Yes, unfortunately not everyone can camp the forums and post within a few minutes :p and I won't be able to always either, I just had tonight off :) Back to work tomorrow.
In roughly twelve hours I will willingly subject myself to an eight hour period of physical exertion, sleep deprivation and general sanity slippage.... that is to say I'm flying down to Australia with two kids on a red eye. I shall be doing the christmas thing, familial visitation thing and even attending a ten year University re-union... which should be interesting to say the least.
That will mean that I shall not be my usual self when it comes to internet connectivity and PbP response. I should still get online here and there, but it's unlikely to be every day - and even when I do time will be short so you will have to endure a lesser amount of my usual sesquipedalian loquaciousness. If at any time you feel I'm holding things up, feel free to DMPC... or you know have Mus'ad roar something non-sensical before attempting to punch everything that moves.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Krazy Kwanzaa or even Positive Emotion Non-Religious Holiday Vacation Day... depending upon your own predisposed proclivities. I look forward to further electronically shared adventures in the post-Mayan calendar New Year.
Have fun with the angry-wall-of-meat. I mean the family. :7) Looks like the prison break should see us past the holidays and that will be mainly mayhem so all I think will be good.
Mental notes for DA
Things we need edition:
Funds. I have some cash coming in soon. $75/year is +-$6k/month, or +-$3 a fortnight. Starting cash of $3k looks an awful lot like one fortnight's cash. But DA cannot fund the cell. Robbery? Legit businesses? Jobs for org. crime? Any unlooted rubbled banks? Smuggling operation from the mainland? Cigarettes and booze likely at a premium in Star City.....
(GM-PEANUTS. $75/year = $6250/mo or $3125/two weeks. Fortnightly payments sound about right? No rush, just letting you know I am thinking about this. ~DA)
Base. Perhaps taking over one of the support tower/tunnel complexes in the causeway? I really enjoyed the bridge in Half-life and could see something like that that making a decent base. Subnote ~Might have power and access problems.
Hmmmm or a derelict ocean liner like the MI6 base in The Man with the Golden Gun Good water access but again possible power issues.
~Other options: Disused factory? Already wired for heavy power usage. Lots o'tools. Can we get it running as a cover? Possible source of funds/goodwill? Disused asylum/hospital. Good access. Likely tools supplies remain. Run a free clinic for goodwill and experimental subjects?
Disused subway station? Abandoned high rise? Several brownstones/houses gutted and connected? Abandoned amusement park? Classic but might have a scooby problem i.e. Random kids poking around.
Guns. Suggest arming any guards/minions with sawed off double barrels. Toss on a laser sight for +1 shooting and looking at 6d6 damage as a first shot. HK Shells will be $200 each (as heavy ammo) but we may have cheaper and effective options using foam or net trick rounds.
Information on V'sori/Quisling targets. Media? High-tech companies. We know Atlantis was orbital struck but were there other smaller undersea cities? Or perhaps something left in the ruins...... Or the ruins of Langely/Pentagon/Area 51/Groom Lake. hmmmmmmm
Post will be incoming, but a bit sleep deprived at the moment with the ramp up to christmas. May take a day or two (I stupidly dumped a bunch of extra stuff on my plate at the same time as getting this up and running)
Devil's Advocate: Good to see your enthusiasm, will get to discussing that with you as we'll need to figure out where the payments are coming from and the like. The bases topic should have some answers at the end of this mission.
On a side note it is very annoying not to have my gear/guns or my overload discs.
Question assuming DA survives this fight. I am wondering how hard it would be to convert the Ruger RE-IV Target eye to work with more than one weapon? I will probably be replacing it by upgrading Rebecca {super skill, notice and shooting, device} but that is at least seasoned if not later. I am wondering if anything can be done with skills and cash? Something to think about while i'm bleeding anyway.
Trying to cut back on the number of out of character posts cluttering up the gameplay thread, so if you could make such enquiries here instead please :)
Masque wrote:
I knew I was forgetting something. +4 to hit and damage is a pretty big something. And I have a question, if I duplicate while invisible, will the duplicate appear invisible (ok, you know what I mean) as well?
I'm not too sure, I'll leave the decision up to you, either the duplicate will always appear in 'the physical realm' (visible), or in the same state as you (invisible if you're invisible, etc). I can see benefits to both :)
DA: Regarding the Ruger eye I believe making it work universally would be a bit powerful. I would probably allow you to make a Repair roll in order to realign it to another weapon of your choice with a minute or two or work however.
Devil's Advocate. wrote:
GM-Peanuts wrote:
According to the interface power in both SPC and NE, the appropriate skill is actually Kn: Electronics. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you meant your Kn: Engineering to be that, and let you change it. Sorry for not picking that up before.
No, have to drop completely prone if you want cover in this wide open area. On the other hand you're now out of the drone's line of fire :)
Small problem Invent requires that d10 engineering so no swapping for me. Very much out of the line of fire. Mirage + prone = -5 to be hit
GM-Peanuts wrote:
DA meanwhile hobbles slowly over towards Mindjack's cell, belatedly activating his shielding as he tumbles to the ground.
You sure you don't want to spend a second benny to keep your round three action? Remember he was after the drones in round 3, so that's actually a revised round 3 action, he's still got his round 4 action.
Eh, what the hell. Spending second benny to unshake. Btw did you consider giving Prof. M a benny for blowing the gaff re Mindjack? It was a classic villain blunder and fits his hindrances.
Ahh right, I thought it was a prereq for something but Mechanical Genius didn't need it :) Ahh well, guess you're not as good with locks as you thought you were :p
Hmmm, you are right about the hindrances being appropriate. If anyone else feels that they or someone else should earn a benny then please nominate it in this thread, trying to clean up the gameplay thread so it's a bit less cluttered and confusing :)
Not quite sure what I need to roll to hit since it is a magical ranged attack. Agility? Another Spellcasting? Should I have gotten Shooting?
Damage: 1d6; 1d6; 1d6
Going back to this question, the book doesn't really state, so I'll give you the option. You can use the spellcasting roll to also attack with the spell in question, but will face the same risks and penalties as with a normal spellcasting roll (backlash, including if you used additional points), and once the spell is cast the power disappears again; or you can cast the spell once to gain the attack, ranged power, and the points will stay assigned to that power--until you choose to dismiss it and cast something else--but you will need to use shooting to actually fire your attacks (or fighting for attack, melee).
DA: Regarding the Ruger eye I believe making it work universally would be a bit powerful. I would probably allow you to make a Repair roll in order to realign it to another weapon of your choice with a minute or two or work however.
The Ruger can already be adjusted (via repair skill) to work with a different gun. What I was hoping for would be something like an ungraded Ruger that has settings for two or three specific weapons and can switch settings on the fly. So DA could be using the glock then switch over to the Taser and not loose the +1. Basically the same as having multiple Rugers but only wearing one at a time.
How does this sound? Adding a second gun to the ruger costs $200 for parts (more on the black market, same cost as a ruger rig) or requires a ruger rig to cannibalize. Switching settings is a free action but the rig takes time to adapt and so provides no bonus for the round that the settings change.
I think the biggest difference is the savings in weight over carrying multiple rigs. But this is a minor quibble. A nice toy but nothing I am overly attached to. Suppose I am just feeling combat inadequate given that the Prof, the Camel, and the Masque did all the heavy lifting in the fight.
Uhh alright well if you can get the other Rugers to cannibalize then that could potentially work. Might still require a Repair or Electronics roll to switch between them.
Awareness doesn't quite give you that sort of resolution DA :p
So currently Masque and Belledonna are scouting around/keeping an eye out, Bad Penny is blasting away at a door for a while, DA I'm assuming you're going to keep opening doors? Any order in particular? If Mus'ad doesn't post by himself soon I'll assume he starts smashing cells up too, which leaves the professor unoccupied at the moment.
If you guys could figure out how long you intend to stay trying to free prisoners (barring arrival of reinforcements of course) and what you're doing with Mindjack and any of the other ones you rescue, that'd be good, thanks.
Still on scatty internet for a while longer - 8 month old tends to monopolize my time by sleeping on me in the evenings... but managing a little bit here and there.
Still on scatty internet for a while longer - 8 month old tends to monopolize my time by sleeping on me in the evenings... but managing a little bit here and there.
Maybe you could install a fan in the tyke and hey presto! Custom laptop stand!
Ok... perhaps not one of my better ideas... Hold on CPS is at the door....
If you guys could figure out how long you intend to stay trying to free prisoners (barring arrival of reinforcements of course) and what you're doing with Mindjack and any of the other ones you rescue, that'd be good, thanks.
Well I am waiting to know if DA has managed to remove the nullifiers and if so how many cells were opened before the 10 rounds of penny blasting are over.
DA's goals
1. Get a set of working nullifiers in order to learn how to bypass them. (Success?)
2. Get some dead drones to play with. (Success?)
3. Actually do what Dr. D wants so as to escape alive. (Success?)
4. Free ALL the people to annoy the v'sori and Professor Mayhem. (In progress??)
Considering leaving with the delightful Ms Ramierez.
M-J will be leaving with Dr.D. At least as far as DA cares.
Belladonna will be arguing in favor of all the prisoners so long as it remains feasible. If there are no re-enforcement's threatening us yet & there are still prisoners in cells, she will want to free them.
Awaiting Bad Penny and Professor Mayhem to let me know what they're getting up to now before I post again.
Belledonna, as posted in the thread Masque will be able to tell you that the compound seems to be empty, and there is a fairly significant distraction currently going on in the skies over Star City. You should have a few minutes at least.
um boss.... damage dice do ace. DA is a shambling example thereof. Also see the cell Penny shot up. Or am I missing something?
GM wrote:
Without really trying Mus'ad walks up to a nearby cell and tears the door of it's hinges, freeing the person inside.
Objects have Parry 2, so since your minimum Fighting is a 4 so you can't really fail to 'hit' the door, but raises don't increase the damage and damage dice don't ace. Your Attack Melee gives +2d6 to your damage though :)
What is Bad Penny planning to do? I suppose ineffectually shooting up cell doors til we're ready to evac. Don't see a pressing need for his skills elsewhere and henchman math says more bodies equals more targets that arent you.
I have received a message from Prof Mayhem that he was out with the flu. He's said he should post in the next day. My own post might take a little bit longer after that, but should be sometime this weekend.
Alright, just about ready to post. DA, are you taking the time to unlock everyone's gauntlets? Because everyone wants their hands free and their powers (if any) back before they go running for their lives :p
GM Peanuts; would it be allowable to 're-skin' the Summonable modifier for the Minions Power to reflect Belledonna basically just 'taking over' a bystander at a particular locale? Obviously there would be the limitation that if there were no bystanders it wouldn't work.
'Summonable' as written means I basically bring them to me through some means of trans-location & they arrive in 1d4 rounds. It increases the cost of every Minion that has it to 3 PP from the base one.
Or would that by too powerful?
No, I have no plans to replace Ozymandias at the moment, although the fawning & sycophancy is bringing to mind the downside of a +6 Charisma...
Never played an Evil Mastermind before
Hmmm, that seems like it would work Belledonna, and no it's not really too powerful with that restriction, that's the whole point of the modifier :p Some sort of low level hypnotic effect or something.
Apologies for the absenteeism, holiday evenings are basically consisting of me welded to the couch with an eight month old on my chest and I've not been able to wrangle posting time until late at night (generally past midnight). Normal service will resume in three-ish days once I'm back at home base.
Alright, just about ready to post. DA, are you taking the time to unlock everyone's gauntlets? Because everyone wants their hands free and their powers (if any) back before they go running for their lives :p
DA focuses on folks with Nullifiers. Always good to add to the collection.
I say our hero would make sure to have at least 2 sets of nulls stowed away before making the posted announcement about who walks and who rides.
So it looks like DA has 3 sets? MJ, Ramierez and one other lucky soul. Right?
You could always grab them, stuff a dead drone in their hands and kick them into the transport. DA will back you so long as the drone is included in the deal.
So DA is heading off on his own then? As to rigging the drone to blow you've not had more than a few seconds to look at one, and then it was only it's arm; you were able to figure out that it was drawing power from inside the body somewhere, but you're not yet sure where or what that power source is, you'll have to take a closer look, and you still don't really have very good tools at this point to do so.
Just so everyone's aware I'm waiting for everyone to post before things continue, so consider time largely frozen after you've made your post :)
Belladonna, why are there two prisoners following her? You don't seem to have indicated what she's done to make this occur (not saying they won't necessarily, but there are certain circumstances which might affect their behavior ;) ).
GM-Peanuts; there is a Social Edge in the 'Pirates of the Spanish Main' venue, 'Seducer', which allows a character to use Persuasion as a Test of Will vs. Smarts & the Character gets to add their Charisma to the roll.
The requirements are Novice & Attractive. Would this be an allowable Edge, considering it isn't in either the Core rules or NE, to my knowledge.
Uhh yes that would be fine, from what I read it's basically you using your looks to distract someone, as you can pretty much already seduce someone with Persuasion (Persuasion is used to affect a character's attitude towards you), while Test of Wills are generally more about things being used in combat. It will pretty much only work on targets who are attracted to you, or perhaps jealous of your looks.
If that sounds okay then go ahead :)
As to the spoiler in the gameplay thread, give me a Persuasion roll to see how you do :)
