Henri looks back and forth. "I think the creek bed is our best bet, if only because we can all stick together. But this is your party, what do you suggest?"
"Honey, you're not a freak; you're speci--" begins one of Genius's dads.
"... especially freaky," finishes Genius. "We don't have time."
"Don't worry." "Being freaky has its upsides." "I never need a can opener."
Zellgato was about to respond to Genius commented, about his thoughts on Nissa's psyche and various problems to work through, but drops it rapidly "Time to go. You lot, evac the Meadows. Genius, do you know which direction or how many? Evacuation group, interception and rescue group."
Charles follows after Zellgato. "If you're fighting..." "We're coming with you." "They'll travel lighter without me." "And you'll need some real teeth for a fight."
"Any of you know how to ride a horse? Just curious about our options. I think we need to grab whatever we can get our hands on in the way of water and food."
"Horses," says Alt-Greer, "I love horses; I grew up around them."
This is something he shares with his late counterpart from your world.
The Meadows nod as well. One of Genius's fathers says he can "make do" but her mom and other dad say they can ride. "One of the refugee camps we stayed at had an equestrian camp program. We all took part. Genius is great with horses."
"I've got your back, Z." Theo nods down at the biohacker.
"Quickly, the path will be rough. Get your best shoes, boots if you have them, and clothes that will stand up to the brambles. Any food you have and any water or containers to carry it - we can't have too much, the desert will be unforgiving."
"And if you have a weapon, bring it. We won't be coming back."
"Quickly, the path will be rough. Get your best shoes, boots if you have them, and clothes that will stand up to the brambles. Any food you have and any water or containers to carry it - we can't have too much, the desert will be unforgiving."
"And if you have a weapon, bring it. We won't be coming back."
Lamenting the lack of time to prepare his extra shots, Zellgato makes sure his weapon is loaded, and attached his bayonet. Then sets it along his back with the sling. "The main one is the lost agent, I'm going to tell him such. It'll stop them with us. If he resists and can be save. I'll try. If not. I'll do him a favor. Either way it won't be quiet. Should cover the egress nicely for the others. "
Zellgato will also set his older phone to keep trying to send a message to his old team. Uncertain when Archon's action will occur, but the timing may occur during frantic situations.
Howdy
Just a note, if things go weird and old or present Zellgato gets infected feel free to run with evil Zellgato if it works for your plot. Not gonna bother me~
** spoiler omitted **
Somewhere across the camp, unknown to anyone in the Meadows' tent, a fight breaks out between two contractors working for RAIN. RAIN contractor Zellgato has just discovered that RAIN contractor Von Junzt has been infected by some kind of parasite that doesn't seem to be entirely in this dimension. RAIN contractor IX decides that killing Von Junzt would result in the least civilian casualties.
"We've got to go!" says Genius summing up what everyone is thinking right now or would be thinking if they knew what she knew. "They're here! Right outside. Crius and his--what did dad think they were?--goons."
Genius points to the hastily made rear exit in the tent. "Dads, you should help Mr. Greer. Mom and I can take care of ourselves."
Crius stands across from the Meadows' tent and begins to preach.
"Gaia is merciful. Gaia is love. Surrender entirely to Gaia and you will not fear the wind, for the Gaia is the wind. Surrender to Gaia and you will not fear hunger, for Gaia is abundance. Your bellies will be full, but you must give Gaia complete control ... hold nothing back."
He looks around at the few people still standing around the Meadows' tent and continues, "The campers in ARIZ-29B17A have brought intruders into the camp and are being brought to Camp Administration for questioning."
He whispers to his goons, "Get them. Use force if necessary."
More loudly he continues, "Gaia is LOVE. Give everything to Gaia and you will be rewarded..."
The crowd has heard it all before.
Nissa says, “I can distract and disappear… or we can move together. Or…”
She draws a gun in each hand.
☀️
“Is this the only way?” She looks to Zellgato and Genius. The young mind-reader might pick up Nissa’s assurance that her mercy pistols subdue without killing.
"There's always another way," says Genius. "Let your heart guide you, Nissa."
Genius slips out the back of the tent, not waiting to see whether Nissa decides to blow up Crius.
The Olympian walks outside the tent and faces the Gaia party with crossed muscular arms but a large smile. "Hello, gentlemen. Nice day, isn't it?"
Following up with Theo, Zellgato is simple with his approach. Not knowing what Nissa's doing but Nissa's always doing something. Hey Crius, Been a while. for me. Are you in there? Did you willingly agree to become one of the creatures, or did they trick you into it? If they haven't hollowed you out, and you need help. I think I can help you get free. Or.. we can do this. You and your lot attempt to kidnap and hurt people under the guise of peace. What is your choice?"
Henri will flank the party trying to sneak out so he's in a better position to intercept any problems. Genius will know if there's someone ahead far sooner, anyway.
"If you are spotted, angle off and circle to the creek. When you get there, sit tight and we will come to you. If we get separated, same thing - get to the creek and sit tight. Let's go."
Nissa says, “I glow too much. Mind if I hitch a ride?”
She shrinks to fairy size and hops in Henri’s chest pocket.
“Please tell me when it’s safe to… oh! I can hear your heartbeat!”
"And you are surprisingly warm. Don't set me on fire, OK?"
Genius sees some kids playing. One of them wears a hat; another wears a hoodie. She walks up to them holding out her left hand, palm up, as if she has something in it. They look at her hand, eyes wide with excitement. "Trade you for your hat and your hoodie," she offers sweetly. They quickly make the trade and Genius hides her bright red hair beneath the hat and hoodie. When she turns back to you, her nose is bleeding.
Her mom tells her, "This one time you're allowed to do that, but this is an exception."
No one seems to pay undue attention to you.
The Olympian walks outside the tent and faces the Gaia party with crossed muscular arms but a large smile. "Hello, gentlemen. Nice day, isn't it?" [dice=Intimidate]1d20 + 8
"That's debatable," says one of the militia members. "You're coming with us, this time, and no 'ifs,' 'ands,' or 'buts' about it."
Following up with Theo, Zellgato is simple with his approach. Not knowing what Nissa's doing but Nissa's always doing something. Hey Crius, Been a while. for me. Are you in there? Did you willingly agree to become one of the creatures, or did they trick you into it? If they haven't hollowed you out, and you need help. I think I can help you get free. Or.. we can do this. You and your lot attempt to kidnap and hurt people under the guise of peace. What is your choice?"
[dice=diplo if needed]1d20
Crius blinks at Zellgato, "You think you knew me? ... knew me before? The man you knew was afraid. He was afraid of shadows, afraid of his past, afraid of his future, afraid of what he had done, afraid of what he hadn't. In Gaia, I have no fear. I will let Gaia's will be my will. I will be the hand of Gaia and herald in a glorious new day."
Theo draws the Angel Sword and his shield. "I have no fear of Gaia. She's my exalted great-grandmother."
"Fear means you are alive. Are you alive now? Under no control, dreaming a dream while you're eaten from the inside out? Losing all that you were, leaving only what it is.... sighing, realizing he actually had a mild hope it would go differently. Stuffing that back down he shouts out loud to the public. "RUN. Gaia cult is stealing your children.
"RUN. Gaia cult is stealing your children.
"Yes, we are," shouts Crius, "But only from 10-3 Monday through Thursday if they sign up for the summer arts program. Don't forget to sign up, or you're stuck with them."
[dice=Initiative]1d20 + 2
Theo draws the Angel Sword and his shield. "I have no fear of Gaia. She's my exalted great-grandmother."
"Then you need not fear opening yourself up to her love and you have nothing to fear from Brother Andrew. Come with us to the compound and we will discuss more," says Crius.
Charles prowls out of the tent behind the others, a triple growl building in his chest. The false-faced Crius's words make them angry, for many reasons, and they are ready to make their displeasure known.
Before he knows what he's doing, their 'dinosaur' and jaguar heads start speaking. "Liar." "Invader." "Deceiver." "How many must you infect before you are satisfied?" "How many worlds must you conquer to satisfy your hunger?" "We know hunger," "Madness," "The yawning, insatiable void." "It never ends if you feed it..."
They bare all their teeth and snarl, all being in agreement on one thing. "So we will let you feed here no longer," they chorus.
Zellgato was no expecting Charles statement is is momentarily caught off guard indeed.
"Liar." "Invader." "Deceiver." "How many must you infect before you are satisfied?" "How many worlds must you conquer to satisfy your hunger?" "We know hunger," "Madness," "The yawning, insatiable void." "It never ends if you feed it..."
They bare all their teeth and snarl, all being in agreement on one thing. "So we will let you feed here no longer," they chorus.
Theo nervous-laughs as he turns to see the hulkling Charles being a badaśś.
"Wow! You guys are sooooooooooo fùckęd!"
Charles prowls out of the tent behind the others, a triple growl building in his chest. The false-faced Crius's words make them angry, for many reasons, and they are ready to make their displeasure known.
Before he knows what he's doing, their 'dinosaur' and jaguar heads start speaking. "Liar." "Invader." "Deceiver." "How many must you infect before you are satisfied?" "How many worlds must you conquer to satisfy your hunger?" "We know hunger," "Madness," "The yawning, insatiable void." "It never ends if you feed it..."
They bare all their teeth and snarl, all being in agreement on one thing. "So we will let you feed here no longer," they chorus.
The Brigade members try to play it cool, but you probably see through them. They're shook.
Crius, however, contemplates what Charles has said and, then, approaches and speaks quietly enough only the party can hear. When he speaks, he makes no pretense of being human. His voice is otherworldly, both sinister and sibilant, hollow and hissing, "This world belongs to the one who sent me. We claim this world for the Lord of Waking Dreams. You do not belong here. Come with me to the nest and we will discuss your violation of the Infernal Treaty."
Theo matches Crius's tone and volume. "Infernal Treaty? That would probably be the one word in that statement not to say."
The Angel Sword gives off a valorous gleam in the Arizona sunshine.
[dice=Sense Motive]1d20 + 5
Theo matches Crius's tone and volume. "Infernal Treaty? That would probably be the one word in that statement not to say."
The Angel Sword gives off a valorous gleam in the Arizona sunshine.
[dice=Initiative]1d20 + 2
Theo's 'Angel Sword' thrums when Crius gets close.
Charles's growl builds to a roar so powerful it blows dust from the ground.
Nissa, Henri, and the 'Saving Genius Meadows' party hear a roar in the distance. You recognize Charles' roar, but you've never heard it so loud before. It shakes the camp. No one is looking at you.
Back in front of the Meadows' tent, Charles' roar caused Crius and his 3 goons to stumble back, holding both hands to their ears. As soon as it stops, the goons reach for their tasers--a predecessor of the more technologically advanced arcing shock truncheon.
"Please, please, we don't need to fight," says Crius. He is looking at Theo when he says this, staring into Theo's eyes with an intense gaze. "Lower your weapons and come with us." Theo feels this very reasonable suggestion influencing him and must make a DC 15 Will save or feel compelled to go along with this reasonable request.
"And you are surprisingly warm. Don't set me on fire, OK?"
Nissa giggles at the comment. “Oh, I’m not that haw—”
She clams up halfway through the word ‘hot,’ troubled by the distant roar.
I should be there with them. Even as these words cross her mind, she already knows they’re wrong.
“I don’t think we need to worry about drawing attention now. Who could compete with that?”
(And as those words leave her mouth, Nissa knows damn well she could best damn near anyone at drawing attention.)
Crius had approached the party to respond to Charles, one 'demon' to another, for he heard the hint of the demonic in Charles' reference to the abyss and to a yawning hungry madness and the Rakshasa are another type of evil outsider and know of demons and demonkind.
Theo headbutts him. A headbutt from Theo could kill most humans, or, at least, render them unconscious. It sends Crius stumbling back.
Nissa, Henri, and Kai are almost at the edge of the camp when the sirens start blaring. They see a mother calling to her kids, "The sirens. Into the tent. It's a lockdown. That's what the sirens mean." People are watching the escapees as everyone but them steps into a tent.
"It's a lockdown," says Genius. "What should we do?"
"We're almost at the edge of the camp," says one of Genius's dads.
"No change. We get out of the camp. Firefly's friends are going to keep things hopping for a while, I'd wager."
Internally shrugging and discarding attachments as previous, he simply laments "When home-Do like home." and promptly steps to the side of Theo and Charles and shoots Cruis in the gut.
On hit: -1 penalty to hit, 50% movespeed decrease. Exposure to Zellgato's Venom. 4 Damage +Fort Save vs
Crius falls to the ground clutching his gut and the Devil's Bridge Brigade look uncertain about what to do.
"Let's get out of here" says one.
"Not without Crius," replies another.
"Is he dead?" asks the third.
"No change. We get out of the camp. Firefly's friends are going to keep things hopping for a while, I'd wager."
"Firefly?" asks Genius. "Is that your code name?"
"Look at you," says Genius's mom. "Asking instead of prying.""I don't pry." whines Genius. "I can't NOT hear people's thoughts."
As you exit the camp, people stand at the door of their tents pointing and shouting. Not a lot of people, but your exit has not gone unnoticed. There's about 200 feet of open ground before the land gets rocky enough that it might be hard to follow in a vehicle. There are places to hide closer, but you're being observed so that might be hard to manage.
Nissa pokes out of Henri’s pocket. “It’s actually the Subatomic Bombshell… but that’s a mouthful, so everyone just calls me Nissa. I do like Firefly though. It works when I’m like this.”
Seeing all of the people pointing, she says, “I’m gonna give ‘em something to point at. Try to hide while I distract… and Genius, use your mind to know where I am because you won’t be able to see me so easily if you only look with your eyes!”
Nissa flies low to the ground in her tiny form, until she’s relatively far from the group.
She finds a high mound—a rock—anything she can use as cover to get back with Herni and Genius. She hovers above, then transforms—forming her armor at its maximum luminosity! She spreads her angelic wings and says, “People of ARIZ 29, I am—“ She remembers Zellgato’s paranoia about real names. “—Ms. Yellow—“ Shoulda said ‘Gold.’ Can’t go back. “—Angel of Hope, and Faith, and The Sun That Will Come Out Tomorrow. I bring you a message, you who are so quick to point fingers. And my message is…
Nissa shrinks to subatomic size, as if to disappear. Then seconds later, she emerges on the west side of whatever mound (or rock) she stood on to address the people. She grows to firefly size and stays low to catch up with Henri and Genius.
Charles bares all his teeth, one head looking at each of the men.
"Are you brave...""...Or simply foolish?""Think you that your lives are not in my teeth should I desire them?""Do you still hold loyalty to the invader...""...Or are you invaders yourselves?""Flee, or watch as we reveal the truth of your master."
He narrows all three sets of eyes.
With that, he trots over to Crius, watching the fallen 'man' warily for signs of danger.
"I don't have a code name yet, Genius, but I need one. Maybe you can think of one for me. What's a good name for a fast medic? Doctor Speed?" As 'Firefly' goes off to do her thing, he looks concerned, "We need to just go. I wasn't expecting to get out unseen, anyway. If we hide in a tent, we are still just in a tent waiting for them to find us."
Charles bares all his teeth, one head looking at each of the men.
"Are you brave...""...Or simply foolish?""Think you that your lives are not in my teeth should I desire them?""Do you still hold loyalty to the invader...""...Or are you invaders yourselves?""Flee, or watch as we reveal the truth of your master."
He narrows all three sets of eyes.
With that, he trots over to Crius, watching the fallen 'man' warily for signs of danger.
The goons are freaked out, but hesitant to abandon Crius. They are also legitimately confused by some of what Charles has said. 'Invaders'? They have roots from this region, going back to the time when the United States existed. They stand back but don't attack again for the moment.
The human body once known as Chris is twisted and dead, as far as you can tell. The entity it housed manages to speak through it, but it sounds breathless, "The host has become unsuitable. You have damaged the host. The Lord of Waking Dreams will hear of this and you will not be forgiven. He will have you for dinner! What you have done to the lowliest of his servants, you have done to him."
The entity seems to be losing control over the body. His voice slows as he speaks and it takes more effort to force the dead or dying body to utter words.
"Let's get out of here," says Genius's mom. "I don't think they'll shoot us."
Greer, barely conscious, speaks, "I can make it. Look, all eyes are on the Bombshell."
Nissa is addressing the camp, giving you a chance to run.
You're almost at the rocks when you get spotted.