Amazed at his new found processing surge, Mechanus looked at the fleeing guard. "He can't get away!"
He quickly pulled forth a numenera contraption, something akin to a strange hand-crossbow. Two shooting guides at one end which had what looked like two hooks tied together by a thin wire.
Mechanus activated it with a loud bang, his shoulder recoiled from the explosion.
The two hooks shot forth and painfully pierced the legs of both guards. The fleeing guard tripped over as the metal wire tensed, partially moving the prone guard.
Fighting with a group of like-minded companions was such an adrenaline rush. Breona watched in sheer admiration as Mechanus' ray of energy hit both snake creatures and landed the killing blow on both. "That was amazing!" she exclaimed towards the nano with the hint of a smile on her lips, then aimed her crossbow at the remaining foes.
One of the guards started to make a run for it. Mechanus was right, he should not get away. He might alert reinforcements! She operated the trigger of her weapon, hoping another bolt would strike true.
GM Intrusion: Basai tries to hit the fleeing guard but only manages to get in Daks way. +2 step penalty to Daks attack of opportunity.
Mechanus' tether connects. +1 step to anyone trying to catch the fleeing guard.
Edit: Anyone who has initiative lower than Mechanus, so just Basai.
Jay Zin notices most of his allies focussing on the man running for the door and decides to leave that to them.
well at least no one is asking me questions...
He decides to do his best to deal with the one he had just tripped. He pulls out his crossbow and loads a bolt while takeing a five foot step back. Having finished this task, with practiced hands, he finds himself actually waiting for what seems like hours as the man gets back up off the ground in his slow motion state. As the guard finally gets to his knee Jay Zin addresses the man.
I would stop right there if I were you...
As the guard ignores the advice the young man with the crossbow pointed straight at his face and continues to try and get up in slow motion... Jay releases a clean shot straight at the mans face.
Azzuretta came up from her attack against the Queb with a mouth full of fur. She sensed more than saw one of the guards running... well no reason to let him get away. She flapped her wings twice once to be air borne and a second time to change directions to get to the man and lashed out at the man... now staked to the ground...
having caught him she also bites at him.
Basai registered a few words shi'd encountered but didn't quite understand emanating from Azuretta's human but shi was too preoccupied with the guards and the surge of rejuvenation within her to say much. Jay's maneouver proved successful and Basai watched as the guard fell to the ground only to find the other one begin running away.
”No!” Shi shouted, twisting awkwardly as shi moved to grab the man before he got out of reach. However, a Diruk isn't the daintiest or most agile of creatures and while shi did manage a good twist of the body, all of the people and creatures at hir feet made hir stumble and nearly fall on Daks with a hiss of steam and a grumble of irritation. So many things were tying up hir feet! The momentum of half-falling half-recovering and trying very hard to squash an ally resulted in Basai sort of jogging in the fleeing guard's direction. When shi finally regained hir balance, hir crystals flickering awkwardly, the Diruk looked up at the guard.
Before shi could do anything else, however, Mechanus tethered the guard and Azuretta flitted over to bite the guard as one of Breona's bolt struck true. More than a little embarrassed – all of these humans were so agile compared to hir, even with the paint's effects - huffed tried to stay out of the way of the numerous projectiles being flung at the guard - shi'd been poked and prodded enough already, thank-you.
@ Jay Zin - Please Roll to intimidate the guard to surrender
@Basai - Yes the chase is an action. Sorry if I didn't make that clear. Since you failed the Chase check, I would like you to move towards the fleeing Guard but not all the way. You may determine how many feet you move in that direction.
Group Shot
Very nice! Thanks!
Jay Zin was screaming at the fallen guard, threatening to shoot if he moved. Looks like he's got him under control. As the second guard saw his partner and their attack dogs brought down, he made a mad dash for the door. Daks charged after him, but, as he started to run he had to duck below a large swinging arm of granite. Careful! He shouted, as he continued his stride.
Bent over from ducking under the Diruks arm, Daks saw his opportunity. a gap in the thick metal armor, where the front and back latched together. Rising behind him, Daks let out a yell and thrust the blade deep between the ribs of the guard. The guard shook from the electricity running through the blade.
7 Cyphers:
My post is coming in the next hour or so.
Mechanus winced as he saw how the hooks in the tether had painfully dug into the guard as the other one had tried to flee.
With the only guard alive now surrendering, it was no longer his concern. At least not more so than the loonie and his bird. He kept his distance from both of them as he searched the courtyard.
"Everything here is very interesting and potentially useful. We should take it all and then sort out what's best. I've heard horrible stories of storing too many strange devices in close proximity but it should be OK in the short term. You guys want to help gathering them up?"
tag?
The nano then peered down the eastern hallway, "I think this is where we have to go? Who hears knows what's next in this... revolution?"
He looked around, "Anybody?" Seeing none of his companions raise their hands right away the nano shook his head, Maybe this wasn't such a good idea...
With the fight coming to a close and it looking like the humans having to take a moment to deal with their captive and going through random material items, Azzuretta figures she has a moment to herself. She flaps once and ends up landing on one of the Queb's. Looking around to make sure no one objects she starts tearing at the soft underbelly of the creature she had decided to name breakfast.
Jay Zin smiles at his new captive.
Smart Choice...Why don't you drop all your gear and go ahead and jump in that cell over there... I think it's your turn to spend some time in the cage. Anyone want to check him for random tricks?
Jay starts pointing the captive guard to one of the cages...
Man I feel just like a hero... capturing villains, slaying ferocious beasts... generally saving the day...
"Everything here is very interesting and potentially useful. We should take it all and then sort out what's best. I've heard horrible stories of storing too many strange devices in close proximity but it should be OK in the short term. You guys want to help gathering them up?"
Yes I would like to help gather up these things but I feel like I'm a bit busy.
And then there was that.... still under the effect of the truth telling cypher... ok that wasn't too bad.
"I think this is where we have to go. Who hears knows what's next in this... revolution?"
I'm pretty sure Fannar Bryn knows what the next step in the revolution is... and I would hazard a guess that there's a fair number of his associates who also have a good idea what's going to happen next.
Well I just told our captive who is in charge of this little branch of the revolution....
"Anybody?"
I'm pretty sure Fannar Bryn knows what the next step in the revolution is... and I would hazard a guess that there's a fair number of his associates who also have a good idea what's going to happen next.
And now I'm repeating myself like an idiot.
Feeling foolish but still needing to ask a queston Jay addresses hes new associates....
So...Um... Anyone know how to work the door to the cage... and more importantly how to make it lock? I know that one of you has to be able to do that.
This could come in handy. Daks thought, grabbing the closes cypher.
"I think this is where we have to go. Who hears knows what's next in this... revolution?"
Dak's made for the hallway.
I'll scout ahead. Regardless of what's next, we need to keep moving. Daks said, although he was somewhat overshadowed by Jay Zin, who was babbling on about things that they already knew. Daks looked to Jay Zin, a smirk spreading across his face. Hey Jay. Off the top of your head, name every embarrassing thing you've ever said, done, or had done to you. Thanks! And, with a laugh, Daks took of down the hallway.
The combat was over rather quickly and Basai hirself sort of standing listlessly to the side as the remaining guard gave up. Sheepishly, shi wandered over to Daks and made an expansive gesture to indicate his body, ”Okay? Not hurt?” Shi'd nearly done more to hurt hir allies than hir enemies and it didn't sit very well with hir... it was obvious from the way shi was hovering near Daks that shi was concerned shi'd struck him.
Still bleeding from the stabbing, Basai carefully spread the molten rock around the wound, patching hirself up a bit. Some of it was already cooling into obsidian-like ripples... hir body was covered in such 'scar' tissue, though much of it was centered around that injured site. Shi shuddered as the fissure pulsed, the pain familiar now, and took in a great gulp of air before exhaling a fair amount of steam. The molten streaks cooled further as shi twisted hir torso, testing the patch. It held.
Shi noticed Mechanus looking at the hallway and tilted hir head as shi tried to pick up the conversation... What was next? It seemed fairly obvious to the Diruk. ”Find Ma—ntz. Capture. Kill. Something.” That was why they were heading along this hallway wasn't it?
Basai pointed at the guard, ”What defenses? How many guards?” Shi knew very little of how Mintz travelled or what his personal retinue was composed of... but to get to him, the rebels – and they, shi supposed – would have to go through that defense.
At the request to seal the guard into one of the cages, Basai wandered over to one and stood, waiting for the guard to do as commanded. If nothing else, shi could probably warp and smash the metal into a small enough hole the guard wouldn't be able to get out.
As shi waited for the guard, shi glanced around at the items scattered in the room. What had they been training the Queb with?
Nothing looked familiar... it was probably stuff brought it on the crates shi hauled but rarely go to see in to. Idly, shi picked up a small box and turned it over in hir hand before shrugging and setting the small thing into hir storage cavity alongside hir ring. Shi'd ask Mechanus about it later.
Then Daks was off again and Basai rumbled loudly, ”Wait Daks!”
Daks looked to Jay Zin, a smirk spreading across his face. Hey Jay. Off the top of your head, name every embarrassing thing you've ever said, done, or had done to you. Thanks! And, with a laugh, Daks took of down the hallway.
Daks turns to Basai. Me! Look at you! Are you gonna be alright?
Basai paused at Daks' query then patted hir side, colours flickering pleasant shades, "Endured worse." Shi hadn't expected hir own well being to be a concern of anyone... even traveling abroad, people hadn't asked hir about hir health. And here, well... they didn't care as long as shi could work to their satisfaction. The Diruk rumbled thoughtfully, unaccustomed to such questions.
Good. Good. I'll scout ahead. You take a breather. Putting away his sword and shield Daks drew his bow. I'll scout ahead. Don't worry! I'm just going to take a peak
"Careful..." Basai rumbled but didn't stop Daks. He'd proven himself both quieter than hir and quite agile so hopefully he'd get around fine. Basai just didn't like that hir line of sight was broken now.
The bolt Breona shot at the fleeing guard hit his body with force, with a 'thump' sound that would likely haunt her for a while. Tethered, and attacked multiple times, it was her bolt that caused the guard to fall. It was her bolt that killed. She had never killed before. White around the nose, she lowered her crossbow to survey the situation. Everything...every opponent was dead or subdued. It was overwhelming. It was not until Mechanus spoke that she was able to focus on acting again.
"Everything here is very interesting and potentially useful. We should take it all and then sort out what's best. I've heard horrible stories of storing too many strange devices in close proximity but it should be OK in the short term. You guys want to help gathering them up?"
It was then that she noticed the amount of technology to be salvaged here. She approached Mechanus and nodded to him. "I'll help you. Oh wow, there's some fascinating stuff here." She picked up the tiny metallic insect, such an intricate design. "We should figure out what they're good for."
She held the metallic insect on her palm. "I think it can record what it sees. This could be useful for reconnaissance. Anyone mind if I keep it?"
So...Um... Anyone know how to work the door to the cage... and more importantly how to make it lock? I know that one of you has to be able to do that.
She shook her head, rising after having gathered up all cyphers. "Sorry, I'm afraid I can't help there." She looks down the hall. "Not sure we'll have much time before they throw more guards at us." Breona looked a tad bit queasy at the thought.
I kinda rushed to put this together this morning, I'll be out until noonish Central time. Forgive its rough polish. I wanted to outline broad strokes here - if you have any more ooc stuff I will be back to answer later today.
OOC: I'll get my posts later today, busy until afternoon/evening.
However, I wanted to ask you about your ruling for Breona, "All actions will have a -1 step penalty while you are over your limit."
Where's that from? Is this a home rule?
Daks stomach dropped as he saw a painted guard headed upstairs with a pot of paint in his hands. $#!+. That paint has given such an advantage. With out it... Daks didn't have time to finish his thought. Daks didn't hesitate. Pulling back a crackling arrow he braced himself for what came next.
The paint!
Mechanus mind whirred so loud that he knew people could hear it. It didn't matter. Their advantage would be lost if that paint got distributed.
His lens put a bullseye on that can of paint and Mechanus took a moment to line up the shot. His hand vibrated with energy and it became painful to not let it gush out. But he waited for just a moment longer...
His shot hit dead on, virtually exploding the can of paint all over the stairs. Mechanus almost wanted to jump up and down.
Jay picks up a shield and both of the spears that have been dropped by the fallen guards as well as recovers his own daggers. He takes a moment to recover himself. And scoops up one of the larger Cyphers having no idea what any of them are.
The whole while Jay Zin tells a couple tales about people none of the characters know or have heard of. But apparently he had an unrequited crush on a girl who was the daughter of a fisherman in Ledon, and once while mucking out the Rectory where the Xi-drakes stayed managed to have an elder Xi-Drake, that had been half asleep relieve itself on him.
When Daks comes back Jay Gives him an angry look. AS the group heads off down the Hall Jay Zin says...
I think it's my turn to take point.
He activates his light shield, hoists up the new shield he found and heads down the hallway spear in hand.
Action 1
Jay Zin advances 10 feet tossing his spear at the running guard(5) and draws the other spear. Addressing the room of guards he says...
Bring it boys
Action 2
Jay Zin attacks the closest guard to him.
Azzuretta will continue dining on her repast as the humans plan the next move....
Action 1 and 2
Azzure flies over to where the can of paint falls on the ground and retrieves it flying out of reach of the guards with what she knows is a prize.
OOC (totally OOC):
As some of you may know, I'm also running a Numenera Game here.
We are about to start the Devil's Spine campaign and two players have dropped out so I am looking for two players.
Beware that the reason that the players dropped out was because they could not commit to at least one post per day. If you think you can do that and are interested in playing then please post your PC ideas in the Recruitment Thread of the game.
Questions?
Game on!
OOC: I'll get my posts later today, busy until afternoon/evening.
However, I wanted to ask you about your ruling for Breona, "All actions will have a -1 step penalty while you are over your limit."
Where's that from? Is this a home rule?
Action 1
Basai wasn't really much help in identifying the numenera but shi did activate the cage and lock it without destroying the mechanism. Assuming the guard was found, he'd live... if not, well... Basai didn't really care that much. Shi looked at him then puffed steam at him and pressed against the side of the cage, making it creak and wrinkle from the pressure. When shi spoke, shi tried to be as clear as possible, ”What do you know about Mintz' guards? His saferoom?”
Shi remained relatively motionless for a moment, listening, then noticed hir allies were moving off and turned away, hurrying after them.
Action 2
The group hurried down the corridor to a find an array of guards, all glowing. Basai rumbled unhappily, spotting the running guard but knew shi was too slow to cut him off and instead stepped up behind Jay as his spear cut through one of the guards as if it were nothing. Impressed, Basai rumbled hir approval then shifted into a defensive stance to back up Jay.
Easily distracted, Breona marveled at the intricate insect. She held it on the flat of her palm, studying it closely. She briefly looked up when Daks rushed ahead to scout the hallway. When everyone else moved to follow him, she regretfully put the insect away and moved to follow. At the end of the corridor she stopped along with her companions, assessing the new situation. Oh no. They have the paint. There went their advantage.
It was clear that the paint must not be brought deeper into the compound, or they would have a great numbers of foes against them, no longer sluggish in movement compared to them. This must not be.
She helped stopping the other runner, she might as well succeed here. Crossbow locked and loaded, she fired a shot at the guard trying to escape with the paint.
Just before she pulled the trigger, she heard the 'thump' in her mind again. That terrible sound, the bolt between the guard's shoulder blade, killing him. He probably went to work with his lunchbox, expecting another boring day guarding a rich merchant, and instead got a bolt to the back, killed by a rebel without a cause of her own.
Her hand shook. Her bolt did not hit her intended target. Up to her companions to save the day.
Wow! You all posted this morning, cool. I'm working on Post 012 now. I'll have it soon.
Yes I am using the alternate cypher rule but I don't know how much I like it. I want to ensure that characters use their cyphers often and that we have a constantly changing roster of cyphers. But the penalty to everything is a bit draconian.
I am thinking that maybe instead home-brewing the following rule:
You can exceed your cypher cap by up to 2 cyphers. But, instead of only getting free GM intervention on rolls of 1, I would get free intervention on rolls of 1 + (amount exceed cap.)
Example: if you are a nano with cap of 3 and carried 5 cyphers (exceed by 2), anytime you rolled a 1,2,or 3 I would get a free DM Intervention.
Example: if you were a Jack with 3 cyphers(exceed by 1), I would get DM Intervention anytime you rolled a 1 or a 2.
Thoughts?
Free action
The guard shouted at Basai as he swung, the motion reckless and shi swept it aside easily, the metal clunking off hir stony hide as shi used the momentum to respond with a solid strike to the other's torso, crumpling metal as blunt rocky fist met armor. ”No.” The rush of confidence from being to actually defy a direct order was astounding as hir punch made the guard stagger towards his friends.
In the meantime, shi registered an explosion of paint and vented her call of congratulations at the accuracy of hir comrades. Shi was satisfied now that shi'd fallen in with the right folk.
Action 1
Basai turned with the guard shi'd just attacked to face the one at hir side, sweeping hir arm around the man and clothes-lining him with great force, taking him away from Jay's side. The scrape of metal on rock was audible as Basai withdrew hir arm, human blood streaked across the crystals. Steam hissed from hir as shi flicked her arm spraying the ichor on the floor. Shi was evidently recovered from the stabbing earlier.
Shi rumbled at Jay, hir crystals flickering with confidence as shi vented a proud sigh, "Got you covered."
Taking a deep breath, Breona reloaded her crossbow. I'll have to check the guards to see if they have more or salvage mine. Rising panic at the thought of pulling bolts out of corpses is quickly suppressed as Breona aimed at one of the guards surrounding Jay Zin in furious rage.
For all that her first shot had gone astray from a shaky hand, this one pierced her target deeply. Thump. That sound again. She was not a waste of space in this fight. She mattered.
Yes I am using the alternate cypher rule but I don't know how much I like it. I want to ensure that characters use their cyphers often and that we have a constantly changing roster of cyphers. But the penalty to everything is a bit draconian.
I am thinking that maybe instead home-brewing the following rule:
You can exceed your cypher cap by up to 2 cyphers. But, instead of only getting free GM intervention on rolls of 1, I would get free intervention on rolls of 1 + (amount exceed cap.)
Example: if you are a nano with cap of 3 and carried 5 cyphers (exceed by 2), anytime you rolled a 1,2,or 3 I would get a free DM Intervention.
Example: if you were a Jack with 3 cyphers(exceed by 1), I would get DM Intervention anytime you rolled a 1 or a 2.
Thoughts?
I like this and will probably steal borrow it as it promotes both things we all want: a) cypher use and b) GM intrusions. :)
I would also roll once per day on the Cypher Damage Table (pg. 279) but perhaps make each additional cypher above the limit worth 15 points instead of 10. Just to be mean. :)
Amazed at the skills of his new companions, Mechanus cocked his head to try and determine whether they also implants.
He moved aside and continued to provide support with his charged attacks.
______________
Jay Zin felt excited... and a little worried... here he was about to stand up to three enemies... He hoped his light shield was upto the test.
He takes the defensive stance that Grand Knight Clare't Mon had drilled into him for so many hours. This was the first time he had ever used it in an actual fight though. Never had there been his life on the line though. The slight flickering of the light shield gave him a little more confidence. Addressing his opponents...
You should all realize by now that you are all outclassed here. If I were you I would surrender.
Honestly he hoped that they didn't surrender. It would be a shame to not get to use his light shield.