Malakai Wainwright's page

The winding trip down the service tunnels is long and eerily quiet. Malakai keeps expecting some Chaos horror or cultist to jump them at every corner. His caution and expectation is finally rewarded when they reach the main intersection leading to the central power core or off to the main foundry.

Ducking behind the cover of a nearby service locker, Malakai checks the charge on his lasrifle and takes a bead on the nearest servitor. The trigger starts to move and he abruptly stops. Seeing the one armed with the flame thrower, he shifts his aim. It's an awkward adaptation, hastily done. The fuel tanks attached to the wretched creature bulging like two great, ugly mounds from its back and forcing the servitor to move in an awkward, hunched, crab shuffle.

A quick judging of the distance. We're far enough back, any residual blast'll be a nice bit of warmth on the frozen rock. He thinks. His aim switches to the burner's fuel tank. A nice big target with surprise in his favor. Exhale, inhale, exhale again. Wait for the nod from Karina. Then...fire.

Shoot: 3 + 2 + 4d3 - 8 ⇒ 3 + 2 + (2, 3, 1, 1) - 8 = 4 Shoot for the flame thrower fuel. Spend a FP for +2

Malakai nods at the Lieutenant's line of reason, his eyes try to avoid staring at the blood seeping through the bandages. There was little doubt in his own mind of what needs to be done. The inquisitor would have to wait. "The Emperor protects." He says thinking of all of those gathered here. The visual of the pretty, young Lieutenant and her men freezing in the cold as well as whatever survivors Aterro and Ansgar would be bringing in sealed his decision and stired life into his own cold joints and weather beaten frame. "Can't save the world if everyone just freezes to death. It seems the Emperor's blessing is upon you and his hand guided Karina and I here ahead of the others. All of these colonial systems are pretty much the same. If we can get to it, I should be able to get the power back up and running." The mock bravado is mostly lost on the ears of the cold, wounded, and battered guard soldiers.

Taking in the survivors Malakai hesitates, but the task ahead demands he at least ask the question. "I know you and your people have been through a lot already, But are any of your squad able to provide support? There's a better chance of us getting through if there's more than two lasrifles going in. Plus it'll take some time to get the systems online and running. Time where I'll likely be a bit vulnerable."

Grabbing a replacement rifle from one of the badly wounded soldiers he readies himself at the entrance to the depths of the mining colony, waiting for anyone else who is willing and able to join him.

Now where's the power station most likely to be in this set up? He wonders to himself, remembering the dozens of layouts and schematics he'd seen back home on Rhodin as well as some of the other colonies he'd visited across the Imperium.

Lore for the various routes to power core and where it might be located.: 4d3 - 8 ⇒ (1, 3, 3, 2) - 8 = 1 Spend a Fate Point for +2 using my survived the Forge World aspect to have a better understanding of central systems and set ups. Total result +3

Beneath the rebreather that makes Turqoul's air bearable if not palatable, Malakai's face grows more and more grim as their band of survivor's pass one abandoned site after another. The bloodstains simply add to the pit growing in his stomach. And the questions circling in his head. Where are the bodies? Why are all the airlocks open? What does Sa'Vere hope gain by releasing the demon once born on this world? Sewing simple chaos or something else? The mad psyker loved to weave plans within plans. There had to be something more to it.

The sight of Orlos breaks Malakai from his thoughts and he offers a quick salute back to the Lieutenant as he approaches. He takes in the battered squad and raises an eyebrow at the young woman using the wall to keep herself upright. Most among those on the Yann Hall considered the Lieutenant to be somewhat plain looking. He wasn't ever sure if that was the slightly wide nose and almost elfin ears characteristic of her great, great, great grandsire's genetics or the simple fact she still carried that fresh faced innocent look of a cadet fresh from the academy. Either way, what others found to be plain looks or dangerous inexperience, Malakai, for some reason, found attractive. Of course, he hadn't ever acted upon his crush. Not given the differences in age, rank, the mission, and his own work which occupied the bulk of his free time. Still his heart skipped a beat and he couldn't completely conceal his concern at the sight of the mass of bandages and blood covering her chest and tattered uniform.

"We've made contact with the other members of the Inquisitor's personal guard. Aterro and Ansgar should be bringing in Sargeant Paxton and the survivor's he'd gathered at the escape pods shortly." He rattles off in a business like manner to over compensate for his worry. "Chaos holds Mount Serenity. The mad sorcerer Sa'Vere has established a perimeter up there with several cultists. They're moving equipment to the summit." He pauses for a quick internal debate on whether to share his theory on Sa'Vere's plans or not. Not wanting to spread more fear among the already rattled looking cadians, he lands on not sharing that right now. Instead he pivots to the needs and curiosity of the present situation.

"If you or any of your people require additional aide, I've a few survival rations, med kits, and other bits and bobs from my escape pod." He says pointing to the makesift sled and the contents he's dragged across half the planet. "I must assume that you've not located either the Inquisitor or any survivors from the colony? Yet you did run into some kind of trouble." He adds, obviously curious as to what happened to Orlos and her squad.

GM: Sorry for your loss and I totally understand the need to step away. Take the time necessary, we'll be here when you're ready.

Karina: As I said in the other game, I hope you feel better soon and that this "phase" passes quickly.

"Play with drone..." Malakai mutters under his breath as he sends Byt scouting into the storm. "More like actually find some place we can get out of this wretched dust and wind." He adds fine tuning the feed into his cybernetic eye.

The visual from the drone clears a little. At least enough so he can order Byt to conduct a slow circuit to get a read that includes his own energy signature along with those of his current companions. Satisfied that all seem to be working well enough, he resumes his trudging journey in line with the others.

The minutes or hours all blur into one long storm oppressed slog. Just as he's about ready to give up on any hope of actually finding this mythical mining colony, he notices a change within the perpetually gray and fuzzy display from the drone. He sends a signal to Byt to swing back over the area. Gotcha! A heat signature. Feint. But Emperor's Light it's big enough to be the colony.

"Karina!" He calls out to the scout. "I've got an energy and heat source. Five point four degrees off our current course. About three hundred yards!"

"I hope they've put the kettle on." He adds looking forward to a reprieve from the dust, at least for a short while.

Perception: 2 + 4d3 - 8 ⇒ 2 + (1, 2, 3, 3) - 8 = 3 Assuming the difficulty hasn't changed the +3 should be enough so I'll save the Boost.

GM: I know I need to make a second roll, but wanted to see if I get a Boost from my initial check and to give Karina a chance to chime in since I might be able to build off her action/rolls. She of course, might be able to use a boost from mine if needed.

Also, I'm forgot to state what Action I was taking. I think in this case it would be Create an Advantage with the Aspect of something like "A Stronger, Better Scanner" or "Cutting Through the Interference"

Wiping the dust from his goggles and adjusting his rebreather, Malakai steps into Karina's wake along with the Cadians and begins trudging through the snow, dust and wind once again. He was content to follow the scout. After all, she was the one who studied the maps and set up the rally points. And she seemed fully confident as she marched off from the others. Still all the studying in the galaxy does no good if you can't find any decent points to navigate by. Turquol blasted VII was built for getting lost.

Little but static filled the tiny screen of his auspex. "Need to figure out a way to cut through this cursed dust. Can't get a signal more than a hundred feet away." He says to Byt who responds with his usual *beep*. The mechanik comes to a sudden stop, his eye landing on the little drone.

"Beep?" Byt responds with more than a hint of concern.

"You my little friend will be part of our salvation."

"Beep...beep" The drone replies backing away.

"Oh...stop fussing. Emperor's Light I'm not talking a complete rebuild or anything. Not even messing with your internal cognitive functionality. Just listen for a minute while I tell Karina. a bit of a signal boost and tying your close range auspex into one of these stronger units."

Calling out to the scout, he hurries along the line, his servos whining as the sled slides along behind.

"I've got an idea that might help us cut through some of this interference and hone in on the colony without trudging through this benighted dust until we freeze to death. I'll just need a half hour to make the modifications to Byt here and we might triple our scanning range." Not really waiting for her reply he starts removing the covers on his own auspex to get at the wiring and gear inside. "You see, Byt and I have a communication range of about a hundred yards or so. Give or take. But he's only got a limited range scanner. Maybe fifty feet. But if I wire his system to a more power auspex, the boost will help increase his range and cut through some of the interference. His signal can be relayed back to me. We'd be able to at least detect the colonies energy signature if it were within three, four hundred yards." He works as he chatters, so that it doesn't take long before the once sleek and elegant lines of the drone are broken up by the slapdashed addition of the larger auspex.

"Beep?" Asks Byt.

"It looks...fine..." Replies Malakai. "Besides, it's only temporary."

"Beep...."

"Never mind that now initiate scan override alpha one-seven-nine dot alpha."

"Beep." Responds the drone, as a green light illuminations on the auspex.

"Ahhhh....got it." Malakai says, his cybernetic eye peering into the density of the never ending storm. "I can actually get readings. As long as you get us fairly close to the colony, Byt and I should be able to hone in on it." The mechnik says to Karina with a satisfied smile.

Tech Roll to Modify Byt: 4 + 4d3 - 8 ⇒ 4 + (3, 2, 3, 3) - 8 = 7

"No one should venture out alone." Malakai says staring back in the direction of Mount Serenity. His live hand pulls thoughtfully at his lower lip.

"While making my way across this desolate waste, I had some time to cogitate on why Sa'Vere might be here on Turquol VII." He says, his cybertek arm clicking almost nervously as he speaks. "At first I couldn't fathom it. Little population, few resources, almost nil life to corrupt. Then I recalled a text I reviewed just prior to leaving for this assignment. It was an old biography of Inquisitor Aldous." He shrugs and offers a half smile. "Most of the book was speculation and likely more fiction than fact, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to try and learn more about my new beacon of the Emperor's Light." He starts to veer off track, but manages to pull himself back on point without too much of a digression.

"Now, we all know Aldous got the injuries that put him in that chair by fighting a greater daemon. According to Prelate Reginald Codswoddle of the Ministorum this daemon may have originated on Turquol VII. Called into being by a cult that opened the Warp and caused the extermination of nearly all life on the planet. Now if one were insane enough to want to recall this daemon, which Sa'Vere most certainly is, starting your vile ritual where the beast supposedly originated would be a most logical beginning point." He brows crease in further worry.

"I didn't get much of a look, but he's certainly got enough gear being hauled up the mountain for a major summoning. All he really needs is a big enough sacrifice."

"More reason to bring Paxton into the fold." He adds with a casual shrug. "Yet he doesn't harbor much fondness for me. I would suggest I make for the colony with Karina. We can coordinate with the Lieutenant and I can hopefully locate a better power source. Aterro joins Ansgar in rounding up Paxton. Their firepower should be enough to hold off any immediate threat. What say you all?" The mechanik asks his eyes touching on all those present.

"Greetings. Karina, Ansgar. It is good you are not dead yet," he says, finishing his salutations. "Is this all that survived? We should follow the message and gather our host at the colony. There we can gauge our numbers and make appropriate plans."

Malakai shakes his head hesitantly. "Not all." He says. "Sergeant Paxton is holed up with about a dozen cadians where their pods landed. He and his troop were the first to encounter Sa'Vere on the mountain. Lost a couple of men to the sorcerer and retreated back to the pods."

"I expect he remains...er...guarding the escape pods and awaiting reinforcements. I doubt they'll last long if Sa'Vere decides to clear away any possible threat to his flank."

"Emperor's Light guide you." Malakai says blandly, offering his own shrug back to Paxton before hurrying off into the blowing, dust, and snow of Turquol VII.

His thoughts during the trek to the second rally point churn around his encounter with Sa'Vere and some way of inhibiting the sorcerer's effective range and power. As is his custom, he bounces ideas back and forth between himself and Byt, the drone often pointing out either the futility or the blatant heresy involved in some of the more outlandish things proposed by the mechaniker.

The other question that he puzzled and pondered was perhaps more immediate and concerning. What was that Emperor forsaken scum doing up on Mount Serenity?

His cybernetic eye had recorded the images of his encounter with Sa'Vere. He called those up into his memory as he slogged through the gray snow. Images of the cultists and equipment they carried, the shuttle, even Sa'Vere himself to try and discover any clue or hint about what the chaos agent might be up to or why he'd suddenly taken an interest in a backwater rock like Turquol. He cross referenced the recording with the creatures past schemes as well as other references, histories, and schematics he'd discovered over the years. Some perfectly legitimate, others less so.

Heretical Lore to discover something.: 2 + 4d3 - 8 ⇒ 2 + (3, 2, 2, 2) - 8 = 3 Spend a FP to gain +2. Total of +5.

He continues to cogitate upon the problem until suddenly the hiss and swirl of the open sea appears through the blowing dust. A bit further up the shore his eyes capture the welcome sight of several of his companions.

Frost rims Malakai's bulkier than usual frame and the tug of the sled causes a slight listing to his right side as his lurches steadily across the frozen waste. His nearly constant drone companion hovers at his shoulder. His smile of welcome quickly dissipates as he remembers the news he needed to share.

"We've got trouble." He says without much preamble. "Sa'Vere is atop Serenity and he's building...something up there."

Personally, I think rolling 4d3 better reflects rolling of the four +,blank, - Fate dice. But I'm not a statistics whiz myself. The curve is probably a bit more centered between -2 and +2 with 4d3 vs d5-d5, but again I haven't run any tests to prove that.

Since we are learning and testing, you could leave it up to player choice and see if any significant patterns or differences emerge. The big thing is either way we all have access to the full range of potential results. My guess is that d5-d5 might hit the extremes a bit more often given that the odds of a 5 minus a 1 (or the reverse) are probably a bit more likely than four 3's or 4 1's. (That is based on pure gut feeling, not math, so could very well be wrong.)

And of course this doesn't even remotely take into account the quirks and weirdness that is sometimes the Paizo dice roller. ;)

One thing I've noted is that right now the way we are rolling only gives a range from +3 to -3 instead of the usual +4 to -4. Not a big difference, but it could be skewing things a little. The way I've seen the Fate roll made in other games is using 4d3-8 for the Fate dice. That would give us the usual range I think.

I believe generally stress does go away after a scene is complete. Consequences can linger longer and come with negative modifiers or aspects. Of course it's up to the GM when a scene is actually over. :)

I do have the Fate Core book in pdf. Happy to share if anyone is interested, just PM me. Core is the more "complete" ruleset vs condensed but it might have some better examples and descriptions for the basic actions and outcomes vs what is available in the SRD. This may or may not be helpful. :)

"Oh, I'll be back you twisted freak." Malakai mutters to the wind as he makes his way back down the mountain.

Catching his breath after the run, the Mechaniker shakes his head at Paxton. "Whatever Sa'vere is doing up there, he'll not be content to let us simply wait for reinforcements to arrive. He's up to something. And while he's absolutely a creature of warped evil and full of himself, he's also bloody smart. He'll not leave a potential threat sitting on his flank." He sighs as thoughts cascade through his mind. Scenarios playing out, few of them ending well. "True, that holding the escape pods may buy a little time. But the only real hope we have is to find the others. If Inquisitor Aldous was killed in the crash, then my team is the best chance at stopping that creature and anyone getting off this rock alive."

He glances at Jenkins and Gart then back to the sergeant. "You're welcome to join me. But if you're still intent on retreating back to the pods, I'd like to keep the loan of these two for a bit longer. The second rally point isn't too far. Could be the others have gathered there. Best we at least check. Three are more likely to get through verses just one. If no one is there, we'll rendezvous with you at the pods. Emperor's Light shine upon you."

He grabs a replacement cell from his sled for Gart's rifle and then turns to head out for the Crater Sea rally point.

Malakai, you don't need to spend a FP to escape - you gain 1 FP for conceding.

Karina, yes that's fine.

You've probably all worked out that I'm experimenting with the game, working out what tolerances it has and how balanced conflicts are. Thank you for being my patient guinea pigs :)

Thanks for running it. It's been a blast so far. I've had the FATE books since their kickstarter several years ago and this is the first chance I've actually had to play it. (My local group is still pretty much PF 1.0 oriented.) And you can bet I'm taking my own GMing notes since I'm really starting to lean toward the less crunchy and more narrative systems.

One thing I've been surprised by, is how quickly one can get to +8 or more on any reasonably good roll. Those Boosts add up quick.

Quick question, when you say the headaches go away, I'm assuming that means I've had enough time for all of the mental stress boxes to clear? So essentially I'm back to 0/4 mental stress, correct?

Malakai doesn't mind the caution of the veterans as they all work their way up the mountain. He's all caution when it comes to sneaking up on unknown threats and potential death.

"Hrmmmm....interesting." He whispers as they reach the little vale with the chaotic shuttle and it cultists. He's just about to lean out a little further when he spots the psyker.

"Blast and damnation! Both of you back down the mountain! Recognition hits him like a hammer blow. He waves Jenkins and Gart back down the slope, but it's too late. The fiend has somehow spotted them.

The wave of power that bursts upon his mind is painful, but still better than listening to the egotistical lunatic ramble on about how everyone has wronged him, world would pay, on and on. He'd heard it all before.

Gritting his teeth, the pain is almost overwhelming and he can feel blackness swooping in on his consciousness. Finally his psykic dampeners kick in. They were standard issue for Mechaniker's assigned to Inquisitors. The expense for the somewhat meager defense was considered worth it to prevent the loss of yet another tech because an Inquisitor became a little overzealous during interrogations or combat situations. The installation of the basic PsiSentinel package from Vortex Industries improved the survival rate of Mechanikers across the Imperium by over twenty-five percent. Malakai was now living proof of the success of the policy.

The dampeners quickly dissipate some of Sa'vere's initial assault. Instead of a brain turned to jelly, Malakai would merely have a nausea inducing, throbbing headache to deal with for a while.

No way I can take on Sa'vere and a pack of his rabid cultists. Got to get out and get word to the others. With adrenaline flooding his system, he races through several options. Landing finally on one desperate ploy that might give him and the others just enough time to skip clear of the sorceror's range.

While Sa'kere drones on about the various ways he was going to kill Malakai and his teammates, the Mechaniker rips the cover of his laspistol to expose the inner crystal and workings. It's only a matter of seconds to knock out the focusing element with its thousands of micromirrors that give the beam its cohesion and power. Then jamming the oversized power cell from Jenkin's rifle into the pistol chamber he yanks out the overcharge safety and locks the trigger in place. The whine of the charge is ear piercing as he tosses the pistol across the rocks, grabs Jenkins and gives Gart and shove backward.

Moments later the overloading pistol lets loose with a starburst of tiny laser beams. The unfocused beams from the generator hit the crystal and bounce about like it was a disco ball. Without the focus and aggregation of power, they don't do a thing to Sa'vere or his armor. But each small super heated beam of light that hits the snow and ice of Tarquol VII creates a momentary eruption of dust and gas. Hundreds of geysers shoot into the already dust filled air between the chaos psyker and Malakai. The pistol spends its last moments before melting down into a heap of useless slag sending more beams into the air where they reflect and bounce off the newly created glitter cloud. The wind disperses it quick enough, but not before Malakai is able to dash into the dust with Jenkins over his shoulder and Gart stumbling next to him.

Defend with Zeal: 1 + 1d4 - 1d4 ⇒ 1 + (1) - (1) = 1 Spend a FP to add +2 based on Part Man, Part Machine. So that brings my defend to a 3. Leaving me with 1 mental stress left.

Tech: 4 + 1d4 - 1d4 ⇒ 4 + (2) - (3) = 3 Spend a FP to invoke the Dust Clouds environment aspect. That brings the Tech roll for the pistol distraction to +5. And is basically how I concede and escape. Maybe I don't need to make the roll and spend a point to concede. But I've got it there just in case and it seems fitting.

I think all that leaves me with 2 FP. Started with 3, spent 2, gain 1 for conceding. Correct?

Malakai listens to Paxton's wizened old NCO act powered by fear and his own keen sense of self preservation. "Aye, well, I thank you for the loan of your men Sergant." He says plastering a smile across his face. "Best you keep those pods nice and secure."

He waves to the two men voluntold to join him and starts plucking rations, water, hand auger, and a spare laspistol from his sled. "Best stock up, just in case." He says to the two veterans. "We'll leave the rest here. No sense dragging the whole lot up the mountain."

Ready enough, Malakai turns and starts to work his way up the mountain. For a moment the Mechaniker stops and calls brightly back over his shoulder to Paxton. "Oh and sergeant. I wish you the best of luck if you run into any of my fellow team members." He flashes the man another smile. "I'm the least contradictory and military of the bunch..."

Once Paxton and the others disappear into the swirling dust, Malakai turns to his two newfound companions.

"Jenkins. Gart. Why don't you tell me what happened up there." He says pointing up the slope as his picks his way along the path left by the fleeing Cadian's.

Oh! I didn't mean for them to disobey an order. I was thinking more of Paxton saying 'sure you can have Charlie over there, he was already aching about leaving the others behind. The rest of us are heading back to the pods. Good luck to you both.'

I'm totally fine either way. Yes or No. I'll still head up the mountain because, you know, I can't leave well enough alone. :)

Ah, sorry. I missed that post where you filled in his other aspect.

And fair enough. I wasn't sure how much influence the team had. But totally agree that Malakai isn't going to be a Command and Lead type. Thus trying to appeal to something else. It was worth a shot, but I don't think I want to burn another FP here.

Would my +3 at least get one or two mooks to head back up the mountain with me? Perhaps the one private that actually likes the Lieutenant. There's got to be at least one, right? ;)

The shouted order stops Malakai in his tracks. His surprise quickly turns to happiness as the burly snowmen reveal themselves to be Paxton and a sizable group of Imperial Guard. He happiness in turn is quickly replace by concern at hearing the sergeants story. When Paxton reveals his plan to retreat back to the pods, Malakai pulls a grim face.

"Emperor's Light! It's good to see a friendly face." He says. "And excellent report sergeant, but a word if you please." He says to the old Cadian. The fear and panic are clear in the soldiers eyes. If he was going to be any use at all to Malakai or his own men, the Mechanicus needed to set the warrior's mind back on stable ground.

Someone like Aterro would just brandish his chain sword, call the men heretics for running and order the men back up the mountain or face the consequences. Malakai had neither the convictions or the power armor for such a thing. But he'd sweet talked his way around more than a few problems back home and he knew the sergeant well enough to know the man was a good man and good soldier.

"Look Paxton, it's been a rough day what with the ship crashing and everything. So I'll not say anything to Aterro or the Inquisitor about your men retreating. A wise choice to pull back and regroup until you made contact with someone else." He says. "Now you have. And if what you report is true, then the Inquisitor's hunch was right and the Enemy is here on Tarquol and it is up to us to stop them."

He looks the man directly in the eyes, he tries to pull on the man's own sense of honor and his well known hatred for the empires enemies. "We are the rescue party. We're what the Empire could spare to deal with whatever treachery and heresy is happening on this backwater ice ball. There are miners and their families stationed here. If there's a heretic psyker, mutant, or whatever out there, then it needs to be put down else it bring more harm and misery to the Empire and those poor families." He pauses a few moments to let the words sink in, then takes a firm, more commanding tone. "So you and your men will not scatter back to the pods to sit and die. That's a fools errand. You'll be easy to pick off in smaller groups. Especially since the enemy can track those signals just as easily as the Navy, and they are a lot closer."

He thinks for a few moments. What to do? What to do?

"The original plan was to establish a base camp here at Serenity. We'll stick to that for the moment. I salvaged quite a bit from my pod. Should be a temp shelter in there. Even a heater if you've got spare power cells to run it. There's a handheld comm unit as well. Get someone scanning the spectrum for signs of survivors or hostile chatter. Try to find out if the Inquisitor and the others survived." He looks around at all the blowing dust. "Range is probably pretty weak, but its worth a try. Don't broadcast unless its on the mission's secure channels. And then only short bursts. When I get back I'll see if I can boost the signal."

He looks up the mountain. "Finally, Karina and I were to scout the mountain. She's not here, but we've got to know what we're up against. So I'll need your three best to go up with me." He claps the man on the shoulder. "Emperors Light! Folk are depending on us. The Emperor is depending on us. Are you with me man."

Persuade: 2 + 1d4 - 1d4 ⇒ 2 + (3) - (4) = 1 You still had one missing aspect for Paxton, but in your description you said "On the battlefield, nobody fights harder and hates the xenos, mutants and heretics more than he does." There's got to be an aspect there I can invoke/compel to get a +2. :)

Who me? It isn't my fault. I'm innocent I tell ya. Innocent. :)

Creating a makeshift sled from a few of the removed panels, Malakai fills it with the rations, water, medkits, rebreathers, thermal gear, hand auger, weapons, and anything else of potential use. Given the low gravity and ease of moving across the winter landscape he even tosses the heating unit aboard. "If they've got a regular power unit, I can hook it up. I'm guessing no one will complain about more heat." He says to the little drone as he loads up the sled.

Turning in the direction of Mt. Serenity, he sets a steady pace for the jagged peak hoping to link up with any other survivors.

The simple physical activity of placing one foot in front of the other allows his mind a bit of free time to ponder what went wrong back on the ship.

"What do you think happened to BORUS back there on the ship, eh Byt?" He says to the drone clinging to his shoulder to avoid being blown away in the wind.

"Beep."

He'd followed the schematics closely. Only making a few minor adjustments here and there. And he did put in place the standard safety protocols.

Something, somehow must have corrupted the AI processors within the Battlefield Ordnance for the Removal of Unfriendly Systems drone. I mean that was definitely a warp entity type reaction, wouldn't you say.

"Beep" Solid agreement on that front. Unusual for the drone excepting mistakes by its current owner.

"A flaw in the Geller Field inscriptions? Maybe the Chaos Matrix Power Core wasn't as secure as I thought. Could unfiltered energy have leaked into the system? Couldn't be the warp generator, that was copied directly from the source. Still...?" He ponders the possibilities. "Ah well. It doesn't matter. Old BORUS was most likely blown to bits by the explosion and crash. Can't cause anymore harm now."

"Beep." Replies the drone, returning to its usual skepticism.

"Right. Welcome to Tarquol VII. A vacationers paradise." Malakai says into the wind before ducking back inside the pod. Karina's briefing inserts itself back into his recent memory. The cold, the nitrogen sea, the three meeting key points.

He glances at the removed heater for a moment. "That might have come in handy. Still naught to do but soldier on.

After wrapping himself as best as possible in thermal clothing and slipping a respirator on, he steps back outside with a pair of binoculars and starts scanning the area for any sign of other pods, the ship, or the mining colony.

"Is anybody out there?" He says trying to find some landmark or sign through the dust and clouds.

"Beep?" Byt says, agreeing with the sentiment.

Perception: 2 + 1d4 - 1d4 ⇒ 2 + (3) - (2) = 3

Malakai Wainwright wrote:

One quick question, I'm curious how you are handling Refresh? Since it is typically based on game 'sessions' and PbP doesn't really have those, what's the alternative? Something similar to a 5e long rest or beginning of a new 'chapter' in the gameplay? Just curious more than anything at this point.

My current plan - which is subject to change as we see how it pans out - is to divide the game up into the "adventuring phase" and "downtime" (unoriginal, but I'm not looking to patent any of this). If this were a Kingmaker-type game with a long story arc, downtime would be measured in days or possibly weeks. This is a much shorter compressed story so downtime is when you get an hour or so in comparative safety to relax, bind wounds, clean weapons and so on.

ALSO: don't be afraid to fail dice rolls (except in combat. That really does matter). In most cases it won't mean you actually fail, it will just mean that you get what you want at a price. That too can drive the story forwards.

Sounds good on the Refresh.

As for failing rolls I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities for me to do so. I just really wanted to succeed on that first challenge. :)

It doesn't take the tech long to locate one of the pods internal power arrays. But when he does, another curse escapes his lips because the needed cells are buried behind the recycler, heating unit, and the almost useless Little Eyes Sensor Suite. LESS was standard on most Imperial escape pods. Cheap and with just enough power to keep a pilot or the computators from crashing into a planet. Beyond that the unit couldn't find an Ork in a chicken farm.

"Nothing to it. We'll have to tear most of that out to reach the power cells." He says to the still charging drone.

"Beep?"

"I'll salvage what I can, but we're working quick here, so I can't be too careful." The small power blade unit on his arm is already cutting through panels and various internal wires, pipes, and filters before he stops speaking. The ungodly sound of the shearing metal echoes like some unholy banshee wailing within the tiny space of the pod, but it doesn't seem to phase the Explorator.

Within fifteen minutes he has most of the equipment out of the way and half the lights on the main pod panel have gone dark. Fortunately the fire suppression system was also disabled otherwise the smoke from the saw would have caused the cabin to be drenched in several gallons of retardant. Having finally reached his goal, he attempts to remove the cells only to have them remain firmly in place.

"Blast and damnation! What idiot designed this? Whoever it was ought to be flogged and then flogged some more." He hollers seeing the row of screws holding firm on the nearly impossible to reach back side of the casing. "Well only one thing for it." He checks his remaining power. "I've got just enough juice to do it."

The small saw retracts and is replaced by a sturdy articulating gripper. With a simple thought, he pumps most of his remaining internal power into the servos of his cybernetic arm. Metal shrieks and groans. Then a series of pops as the screws and the array break free in a final shower of sparks.

"Beep."

With sweat pouring from his forehead, Malakai nods at the drone. "Got it." His breathing is labored as the full weight of his now drained arm hangs at his side. Still a look of stubborn triumph fills his eyes as he starts to remove the smaller, individual cells from their housing with his one still working arm.

Athletics: 3 + 1d4 - 1d4 ⇒ 3 + (2) - (4) = 1 Spend a Fate Point to Invoke Part Man, Part Machine to give +2 to Athletics roll to tear out the panel. So that gives me +3.

The task of wiring together the cells in a manner that is compatible with his internal systems and power unit would be tricky under usual circumstances. One armed and stuck in a vandalized escape pod it is practically a fools errand. But he's a talent for such things and once set to a task isn't one to give in easily.

Precious minutes tick past, but eventually he's got the jury rigged power unit ready. Sliding the feed into the connection just beneath his upper rib he grins at Byt. "Told you I'd get it done. No trouble at all. Now let's get some juice back to this hunk of metal." He says, patting the inanimate cyberarm.

"Beep beep?"

"Yes, I calibrated the feed so it wouldn't draw to fast."

"Beep?"

"Yes, I insulated the rewired coupler." Malakai sighs. "And before you ask, yes, I've shutdown all non essential systems to avoid any kind of surge. Emperor's Light what do you think I am a novice or something?"

"Beep beep beep beep." The sarcasm is palpable in every pulse of the drones tiny speaker.

"I'm telling you that was not my fault. It was just a coincidence."

"Beep."

"Enough. I'm flipping the switch." And he does so. The effect is instantaneous as his teeth begin to chatter, his arm flails back and forth and his whole body spasms in an uncontrolled fit.

Beepbeepbeepbeep." The little drone exclaims in concern.

Finally, the connection breaks when Malakai's body topples to the floor. Some minutes later his eye flutters open and a groan shuffles across his lips.

"Beep?"

"Yes, I'm alright. Survived worse during the apprenticeship trials back home. Damned tech priests were always zapping us kids from the undercity. Said it was the Omnissiahs will to test our faith and make us stronger." Malakai answers slowly leveraging himself upright. "Bloody priests just enjoyed seeing us squirm."

After several more minutes going over the system again, rechecking, recalibrating, he flips the switch a second time. This time his arm and other cyber systems hum to life without any adverse effect. He shines a wide grin upon the drone.

Haha! Success at last! Now let's see about the others." He says grabbing one of the pods emergency envirosuits. Slipping it on he realizes there is no way it would fit over his bulky power pack. With a sigh, he struggles back out of the suit and turns to the drone.

"Do you recall if the briefing said the atmosphere on this rock was breathable?"

"Beep."

"Me neither. Guess there's only one way to find out." He says unplugging the drone from its charger and slapping the panel to open the door.

Toughness: 1 + 1d4 - 1d4 ⇒ 1 + (2) - (3) = 0 Spend a Fate Point to Invoke Survived the Forge World Slums to get a +2 to Toughness for a total of +2.

Down to 2 Fate Points.

GM: Sounds good on the challenge. I'll try to work up the second post later today if I get time.

One quick question, I'm curious how you are handling Refresh? Since it is typically based on game 'sessions' and PbP doesn't really have those, what's the alternative? Something similar to a 5e long rest or beginning of a new 'chapter' in the gameplay? Just curious more than anything at this point.

The pulse of the internal alarm is what finally rouses him from sweet oblivion. Between the pulsing red light blinking directly on his ocular nerve and the beepbeepbeep thrumming away like a rabbit’s heartbeat Malakai is unable to put off waking up any longer. Other beeps and warnings make their own symphony of irritation, but they are more distant. Or at least not directly within his head.

It wasn’t my fault! It wasn’t my fault! Emperors light, it wasn’t my fault. The panic filled phrase whirls around in his head for several moments before he finally forces himself to stop. That’s not going to do any good. Pull it together and figure out how to survive. First things first, where am I?

It takes a moment for his memory to clear. The drone’s disappearance. The eruption of alarms and the shudders of explosive decompression throughout the ship. The mad dash to the escape pod. The chaotic flight then….nothing.

”Hello? Who else is here?” He says getting no response except the blinking lights on the pods flight panel.

Obviously a successful landing. He overrides his internal alarms creating a blessed silence that allows him to think.

Got to check on the others. Have to help. He tries to pull himself up only to be restrained by the safety harness. With a curse he unclicks the have dozen buckles and manages to stand. Power saving mode causes his arm to drag at his side. He stumbles through the cabin looking for anyone only to find the entire pod empty. Surely I wasn’t the only one to get out?!” A wave of guilt rising up to crash upon the shores of his battered mind.

”There must be other pods. Have to try and find them.” He says to no one but himself.

”Beep.” The sound is muffled, somewhat weak. But it is delight to Malakai’s ears. He rummages through a pile of supplies to find his drone buried beneath. A few new dents but otherwise functioning.

”Glad you made it Byt.” He says unlocking the drone from the magnetic clamp and giving it a quick check for any malfunctions or severe damage. Finding none, he sets the drone down and connects its battery charger into one of the emergency outlets provided by the pod. ”This’ll do to get your systems back up and running. But it’ll take forever to recharge my own at the trickle these emergency outlets provide.”

”Beep” The drone answers. Grateful for the power supply.

Stepping back to the flight panel he glances at several of the gauges and panels. ”Plenty of power left, just need a better way to tap it so we can find the others. Or maybe…”

He stops and thinks for several moments. The various wiring diagrams and schematics being generated in his mind. Finally he nods.

”It should work. I should be able to string together an array from some of the pod’s nearly fully charged power cells. Modify an adapter to match my own. It’ll be a little bulky, attached to one of the survival suits, it shouldn’t be too onerous. I know it’s not within the bounds of Mechanica Canon to modify such things, but it’ll at allow me to take a look around, see where we are and if anyone else is nearby or needs help. Better to save time and maybe a life or two than simply sit here and wait because we don’t want to violate the cults crusty old laws.”

”Beep.” Byt replies as Malakai begins removing panels and power cells.

I'll spend a Fate Point to create the story detail that the pod power cells are charged and that they can be separated to be small enough to be able to carry in a makeshift belt or backpack.

I think this is an Overcome action using Tech to replace the Power Level: Critical aspect with, Running on Bulky Temporary Power.

Tech Roll: 4 + 1d4 - 1d4 ⇒ 4 + (2) - (3) = 3 For a Good result. If that isn't enough I'll spend a Fate Point to bump it 2 to Superb.

@Malakai: equipment is generally kind of hand-waved; special stuff (power armour, Karina's sniper rifle, Malakai's tech gizmos) is handled by aspects and stunts.

That's what I thought, but wanted to make sure. :)

I think Malakai is pretty set unless there's another step we need to take. Do we need to record any mundane equipment or will that all just be Fate Points and narrative?

@Malakai: that all sounds great. Maybe "A Pawn in the Game Between the Inquisition and the Adeptus Mechanicus" should be your High Concept.

Cool. I like that better and I think surviving the slums might be more useful as an aspect in the long run. So I will keep that and update my High Concept. Change has been made on my sheet.

Wandering GM Wastrel wrote:

The Inquisitor is largely up to you. I think it might be fun if each of you gives me an aspect that they have, based on your backstory and how you joined them. Suggestions for a name and appearance would also be taken into consideration.

Any takers on this?

Being from Armegeddon, the Inquisitor fought and vanquished a greater daemon, but not without cost. He suffered massive wounds that left him dependent on a variety of mechanical life support devices. Movement is by a wheel chair equipped with both life support as well as interrogation and other equipment most Inquisitors would need. Malakai was brought aboard to insure the Inquisitor's machines were maintained and functioned at peak performance. In reality, Malakai's superior in the Machine Cult, the Tech Priest, Malon de Haberville, has a grudge against both Malakai and the Inquisitor. Knowing Malakai's penchant for messing things up, de Haberville hopes the explorator's lack of discipline will result in the Inquisitor's death or at the very least get Malakai excommunicated and exterminated for heresy. And if neither of those outcomes are achieved he still has a potential spy on the Inquisitor's payroll.

Not sure how this might affect my Aspects. The "If I Can't Fix It, It Can't be Fixed" would fit for being the one to keep the Inquisitor's gear up and running. I'd be willing to change the Rhodin IV aspect. Maybe to something like "Pawn Caught Between the Inquisition and the Adeptus Mechanicus"

GM: Here's a possible intro for what Malakai was doing right before things went so terribly, terribly wrong. If it doesn't fit or work for what you have in mind, then I can try something else.

I would prefer to avoid Extras for now as it's one more rule to play with in a system that we are all just getting to grips with. I think however that your Stunt is a little harsh on you, especially as I've let Therenger take a more broadly applicable Stunt. I'm going to suggest that you get rid of the Fate point requirement and you can simply use Tech to make an Attack, provided that it's a reasonable attack for a drone to make (causing physical rather than mental stress, for example).

No problem on the Extra. I can put that aside. Here is the reworked stunt:

Mark IIV Drone: Because I built an attack drone, I can use my Tech skill to Attack an opponent. This attack is limited to physical harm and effects.

Also, I've been tinkering with some aspects, here is what I have so far.

High Concept: Only Knowledge and Technology Can Truly Bring Chaos to Heel

Trouble: Can't Leave Well Enough Alone

Aspect: Survived the Forge World Slums of Rhodin IV
Aspect: Part Man, Part Machine
Aspect: If I Can't Fix It, It Can't Be Fixed

GM: Here are some stunt ideas for Malakai.

All-in-One Craftmaticus 2000: You don’t ever have to spend a fate point to declare that you have the proper tools for a particular job using Tech, even in extreme situations (like being imprisoned and separated from all your stuff). This source of opposition is just off the table.

Advanced Optical Replacement: Because of my cybernetic eye implant I get +2 to Perception rolls when attempting to Overcome adverse conditions like darkness, fog, or smoke.

Mark IIV Drone: By spending a Fate Point I can use my Tech skill to Attack an opponent if they are in the same zone as I am.

I'm wondering if the drone might be an Extra rather than a stunt, but I'm not sure. I'm thinking it would be interesting to make it something like a familiar that could be upgraded, etc. over time. And of course with an aspect or two, those could be Compelled.

Here is Tareth's alias. Still filling in many details, but this is a start.