SirAlexTheFirst: Mmmm.
SirAlexTheFirst: Random start? Or should I start rambling on about the exosuit pilots?
AndrewRogue: Go ahead and ramble for a bit.
AndrewRogue: Gorth is MIA ATM
Dark Japheth: ....
Dark Japheth: No Nightmare Before Christmas for you?
SirAlexTheFirst: Well, I would
Dark Japheth: I'm so sorry
SirAlexTheFirst: However
SirAlexTheFirst: I lack loggage of exactly what Kirk wanted.
AndrewRogue: I'm almost done.
AndrewRogue: It takes a minute for the ideas of summaries to flow.
Dark Japheth: IM spam/call me if/when game starts.
AndrewRogue: LOGs up
AndrewRogue: I can't believe Gorth is cruel enough to die his sister her desire to marry Jack because he wants to.
AndrewRogue: What a cruel man.
SirAlexTheFirst: ....
SirAlexTheFirst: 1. That sentence makes no sense. At all.
SirAlexTheFirst: 2. The title of the most recent session is....
AndrewRogue: <.<
SirAlexTheFirst: He's not actually...
AndrewRogue: *die = deny
AndrewRogue: I reiterate.
AndrewRogue: <.<
AndrewRogue: But fine.
AndrewRogue: I'll change it.
AndrewRogue: New title acceptable? <.<
SirAlexTheFirst: Oy.
AndrewRogue: You give me a title.
AndrewRogue: I'm stumped.
AndrewRogue: And I lack the ability to spell.
SirAlexTheFirst: The exosuit project began about ten years ago, possibly more, as an outgrowth - or the culmination - of the Lab's use of technology as a counter to magic.
SirAlexTheFirst: The concept is quite simple - five or so massive, powerful machines of war, loaded up with all the anti-magic devices, defenses, and technological weaponry and abilities possible, to be used as an anti-mage unit in the military.
SirAlexTheFirst: There was only one question - how would these machines be controlled?
SirAlexTheFirst: It was decided to use a mixture of human and computer control, and adapt both the humans and the computers to work in tandem.
Dark Japheth: ...Wow.
SirAlexTheFirst: For the computers, this was a fairly simple (at the conceptual level) feat, to have them take on personalities and interact with their pilots.
SirAlexTheFirst: For the humans... slightly more complex. They would have to be conditioned to it, and kept under tight control, being the keys to operating all this crazy military might.
SirAlexTheFirst: This necessitated the pilot program, wherein the actual pilots, one for each suit, would be heavily sequestered and trained day in and day out to work with the suits.
SirAlexTheFirst: (And yes, I am aware that this is all probably horribly cliche and exactly the plot of countless giant robot anime.)
SirAlexTheFirst: (It makes sense!)
AndrewRogue: It is!
AndrewRogue: <.<
SirAlexTheFirst: So the people in charge got together a large pool of potential candidates, which they've kept updated to this day, in case one of the real pilots bites it.
SirAlexTheFirst: The selection criteria are many, and stringent, and classified, but there are easily observable trends of heredity, magical aptitude, charisma, intelligence, and the like.
SirAlexTheFirst: The first two pilots were Langley and Quoheleth, up and comers in Whittyre, eager to serve their country, and recently engaged.
AndrewRogue: That explains the picture ^_^
SirAlexTheFirst: Yep.
AndrewRogue: See. I do pay attention on occasion.
MrSuperOblivious has entered the room.
SirAlexTheFirst: The Auras married shortly after joining the program, and endured the crazily harsh training well.
SirAlexTheFirst: They formed a nice pair. Langley remained calm and steady in all situations, while Quoheleth was a risk-taker, always out on the edge pulling off spectacular moves and overachieving.
SirAlexTheFirst: Marc Fremont was assigned to the program after a short time. While he continually and hilariously claims to be nothing more than a maintainance man, it's clear that he's the unofficial program director.
SirAlexTheFirst: He was deemed necessary to give the pilots some sort of face to voice their problems to, as the training became progressivly more intense and exhausting. The actual exosuits were finished and ready for use about now,
SirAlexTheFirst: over a year after the pilots started training with the prototypes.
SirAlexTheFirst: As the rest of the designs were finished, two more pilots were... recruited, from the pool of candidates.
SirAlexTheFirst: Eight and Chevka are very reticient about their backgrounds, but Bandon can pull their files so...
SirAlexTheFirst: Eight's exact age is unknown, but is well over a hundred years, perhaps two. He was one of the paragons of his hive/tribe, and is technically on a limited assignment to Whittyre as a show of good faith.
Dark Japheth: (hive?)
AndrewRogue: (...)
SirAlexTheFirst: Yes, hive. His race, which will probably be investigated in short order by Bandon, is the Yuan-ti, an ancient and nearly extinct race of serpentlike beings. They are now native only to the deserts of Whittyre.
SirAlexTheFirst: Bandon will probably encounter a few historical articles about Whittyre signing treaties with them and agreements about land use and area rights.
AndrewRogue: OH DEAR GOD
AndrewRogue: *breaks down and starts sobbing*
SirAlexTheFirst: What?
SirAlexTheFirst: WHAT?
AndrewRogue: *just sobs incoherently and let's Alex continue*
MrSuperOblivious: *feels like dying*
SirAlexTheFirst: WHAT?
MrSuperOblivious: *Dies*
Dark Japheth: YUAN TI ATE HIS HORSE
Dark Japheth: ..wait, not them.
SirAlexTheFirst: Yes they did
SirAlexTheFirst: Why has this suddenly made everyone cry and feel like dying?
AndrewRogue: Yuan-Ti scare me.
AndrewRogue: On many levels.
AndrewRogue: Including tentacle-ish shape.
SirAlexTheFirst: ...
AndrewRogue: Well... Yuan-ti mutants.
AndrewRogue: Normal ones jus scare me.
SirAlexTheFirst: ...
AndrewRogue: They are EVIL
AndrewRogue: With all caps.
AndrewRogue: Just like that.
AndrewRogue: And mean.
SirAlexTheFirst: Are they.
SirAlexTheFirst: Well, that's interesting.
AndrewRogue: I don't care how they are in your world.
AndrewRogue: Yuan-ti suck.
AndrewRogue: And need to die.
AndrewRogue: Because they are mean.
MrSuperOblivious: Sweet! Megas XLR!
AndrewRogue: Now.
AndrewRogue: Please continue and I'll shut up.
AndrewRogue: ^_^
SirAlexTheFirst: Eight doesn't think so. He was and is one of the leading scholars and philosophers of the hive - perhaps of the world.
AndrewRogue: Philosophers can be evil.
AndrewRogue: Oh yeah. Me. Shutting up.
SirAlexTheFirst: Why he's being a semi-grunt pilot is anybody's guess, but he volunteered, and was accepted as a sign of good faith.
SirAlexTheFirst: Nobody was saying no to that kind of experience.
SirAlexTheFirst: Chevka is similar, yet... not.
SirAlexTheFirst: Bandon will get a bit of a surprise when he checks out Chevka's file photos, as he's previously... well, not really seen or noticed him.
SirAlexTheFirst: Remember Jaypheth?
Adm H Sopko: Hunter sure does
SirAlexTheFirst: Yeeeep.
SirAlexTheFirst: He's one of those.
SirAlexTheFirst: Chevka is 42 years old, which is rather less in his unnamed race's terms.
SirAlexTheFirst: As seen at dinner, he is the very model of a postmodernist nihilistic entropistic death-obsessed goth teen.
coughingpuppy has entered the room.
coughingpuppy: Hokay.
coughingpuppy: What'd I miss?
SirAlexTheFirst: He follows orders well, though, and fears nothing, and is an utter terror on the field.
AndrewRogue: All our deaths.
coughingpuppy: Oh good!
SirAlexTheFirst: I've been laying out some stuff on the pilots.
AndrewRogue: You also missed me rant about Yuan-ti.
AndrewRogue: And what Alex said.
coughingpuppy: So everyone is learning about this but me?
coughingpuppy: Huh.
AndrewRogue: In the interest of Irony, yes.
coughingpuppy: That makes me sad.
AndrewRogue: Want me to C&P it to you in IM Kircie?
coughingpuppy: No, I don't want anything to do with you.
coughingpuppy: You're dirty.
AndrewRogue: *starts sobbing about how is lonely and no one loves him again*
AndrewRogue: *crybitchcry*
AndrewRogue: Anyway... do go on Alex.
SirAlexTheFirst: Shut up and deal. Nobody may love you now, but nobody ever loves a crybaby.
Dark Japheth: There's a goth Jaypeth. I like him.
AndrewRogue: I'm going to assume that was as sarcastic as I was being.
SirAlexTheFirst: Chevka took to the lifestyle immensly well, enjoyed it, and pressed his suit to the limits and beyond, constantly having to get it repaired.
coughingpuppy: Wasn't Chevka a girl?
SirAlexTheFirst: Only in your mind.
coughingpuppy: Okie dokie.
coughingpuppy: Stupid beholderkin.
coughingpuppy: Yes, Bandon will look into their racial profile when he discovers he has never heard of them.
coughingpuppy: He'll probably look up their medical records, too.
coughingpuppy: Why would he make special note of medical records, Alex?
coughingpuppy: Why?
SirAlexTheFirst: And he'll find a big Access Denied screen.
coughingpuppy: Ooooh.
SirAlexTheFirst: Yuan-ti stuff? Sure!
coughingpuppy: Not even mental health?
SirAlexTheFirst: Chevka's race? No!
SirAlexTheFirst: Heck, she might be a girl.
coughingpuppy: Does is have a huge eye for a head?
SirAlexTheFirst: You know, I think I like the character better that way.
SirAlexTheFirst: Yes. Yes she does.
coughingpuppy: Okie dokie.
coughingpuppy: That's very interesting.
SirAlexTheFirst: And is covered in tattoos, most of them temporary.
SirAlexTheFirst: According to the text descriptions Bandon can get to.
coughingpuppy: So, what does Marc say when Bandon tells him he'd like access to their medical records, both physical and mental?
SirAlexTheFirst: He'll fork them over.
SirAlexTheFirst: Chevka's records consist of lines of dates with the comment: "Good health"
coughingpuppy: HAH!
coughingpuppy: Then he will ask Marc if the difference in Chevka's physiology indicated a significant deviation from human psychology as well.
coughingpuppy: Beyond that he doesn't much care about the specifics of its biology.
SirAlexTheFirst: The answer to that would be no, as she's been raised around humans for most/all of her life.
coughingpuppy: Okie dokie.
coughingpuppy: Anyway, where were we with Miss Mab?
SirAlexTheFirst: The last pilot to be recruited was a very young adolescent human girl, named - oh darn, the terminal is smudged there.
coughingpuppy: HAH.
coughingpuppy: What about Eight, and the catman?
SirAlexTheFirst: I covered them already. Read the stuff I pasted to you.
coughingpuppy: Eight was the yuan-ti.
coughingpuppy: Right.
SirAlexTheFirst: Unless you want some more stuff than that. I'm getting there.
coughingpuppy: Langley was the catman.
coughingpuppy: Okay.
SirAlexTheFirst: And...... a brief note from your sponsor: Nintendo is perverted and you should not buy a DS, ever.
AndrewRogue: Come on Al.
AndrewRogue: The ads are cute.
AndrewRogue: In a horrible slutty way, but cute.
SirAlexTheFirst: http://punkito.com/images/7997-ds_girl_sex .jpg
SirAlexTheFirst: That's not cute.
SirAlexTheFirst: That's sad.
AndrewRogue: BWAHAHAHA
AndrewRogue: *dies laughing*
SirAlexTheFirst: ANYWAYS
SirAlexTheFirst: So they got this spunky crazy girl to round out the team, and paired her with the most erratic suit, to see what would happen.
SirAlexTheFirst: She wound up performing well, and kept on being hyper despite the soul crushing training blah blah
SirAlexTheFirst: So the suits got more features added, and their programs developed more.
coughingpuppy: SOUL CRUSH
coughingpuppy: That's a monk feat waiting to happen.
SirAlexTheFirst: About two years ago, the suits were out on a routine training run, blowing stuff up in the desert.
coughingpuppy: Hooray for blowing stuff up!
AndrewRogue: Wasn't Soul Crush out of FFT? <.<
coughingpuppy: It might have been, at that.
coughingpuppy: An Agrias skill.
SirAlexTheFirst: This particular mission was unusual in that it called for the suits to infiltrate a cave of sorts, filled with magical traps.
SirAlexTheFirst: And no, there is no "Soul Crush" in FFT.
AndrewRogue: Maybe it was an attack announcement. *recalls it for some reason*
coughingpuppy: Crush Punch.
SirAlexTheFirst: I don't think it's in any of the battle quotes either.
SirAlexTheFirst: Crush Punch, yes,.
coughingpuppy: That's what I was thinking of.
AndrewRogue: Sure it wasn't in one of the Bios maybe?
coughingpuppy: Carry on.
SirAlexTheFirst: "By the power of the Orb, die!"
SirAlexTheFirst: Oh wait, that was Loki
coughingpuppy: CARRY ON
SirAlexTheFirst: Oh FINE then
SirAlexTheFirst: So they went down there, and it turned out that there were some people down there, when there weren't supposed to be. Mages from Whittyre who'd gone adventuring and ignored the "KEEP OUT" signs, far as anyone guesses.
SirAlexTheFirst: The traps that the crew had set up started going off, and the suits started doing their thing with the weapons and the shooty, all nice and proper.
SirAlexTheFirst: The people in the cave strenuously objected to this, and started blasting the suits with real magic and pulling out all the stops.
SirAlexTheFirst: Of course, the pilots assumed this was part of the training. They assumed that the yelling from base was part of the training, too.
SirAlexTheFirst: So things got really out of hand, and the pilots started using all the stuff on the suits that they weren't really supposed to. This caused some problems with the Yuan-ti who technically owned the land later, but who cares.
SirAlexTheFirst: Quoheleth's suit got bashed up pretty bad, and the people saw that there was someone piloting the crazy metal golems.
SirAlexTheFirst: Mindrape spells ensued.
coughingpuppy: So these mages were both very powerful and very hostile.
SirAlexTheFirst: Yes. Yes they were.
AndrewRogue: Geeze. Mages with Mindrape JUST being there.
AndrewRogue: Sounds like plot.
AndrewRogue: Or a fanfic.
AndrewRogue: *starts on that next week*(
SirAlexTheFirst: Events from that point on are not precisely clear, as the suit's recorders stopped functioning and the pilots' memories got hit.
SirAlexTheFirst: What is clear is that Chekva got out of her suit and killed most of the opposing force with her bare hands.
SirAlexTheFirst: Or whatever she has.
SirAlexTheFirst: And Quoheleth either witnessed this brutality or joined in, probably the latter.
SirAlexTheFirst: Much death cursing and really crazy stuff went down.
coughingpuppy: So the suits failed to actually kill anyone, but the pilots succeeded.
SirAlexTheFirst: Yep.
coughingpuppy: Interesting.
coughingpuppy: So Quoheleth came back in something less than complete mental health.
SirAlexTheFirst: The effects of that mission on the psychology of the team was quite severe. Chevka really got into her goth stride after that.
SirAlexTheFirst: Quoheleth came back screaming and crying, and ever since has been exceptionally quiet, shy, and afraid to anger anyone.
SirAlexTheFirst: She's terrified of Chevka in particular.
SirAlexTheFirst: And she wears all white, and is considerably more distant from everyone than before.
SirAlexTheFirst: Langley has been much saddened by these changes in his wife.
SirAlexTheFirst: They still get along well, and love each other, but the magic just isn't there anymore.
Dark Japheth: Awwwww.
SirAlexTheFirst: Eight was furious about the trespassing and the damage that was caused to his homelands, and got into a large fight with Quoheleth about it - the only fight she's had with anyone since then.
coughingpuppy: Has she had a lot of magical restorative assistance, mental healthwise?
SirAlexTheFirst: She accused him of not caring about the lives that were lost, and he countered that the trespassers deserved it.
coughingpuppy: Or is Bandon the first divine caster to really be taking an interest in their mental health?
SirAlexTheFirst: The program put out a call to the church of Luthien for some heavy-duty clerical assistance.
SirAlexTheFirst: They sent one person.
SirAlexTheFirst: This priest concluded that the training programs should be vastly scaled back and aimed at promoting the mental health of the pilots.
SirAlexTheFirst: And so it was done - since that point the pilots have been sent on far fewer and less strenuous missions, and the rest of their time is mostly unregulated.
coughingpuppy: How do the people in charge feel this has effected their efficiency as pilots?
SirAlexTheFirst: The young'un, who thought that the mission was "Cool, but Quo really bit it hard", has been bored and restless, and seems to want to look up to Chevka, although Chevka herself and the others have been discouraging her.
coughingpuppy: And who was this cleric that came and went? How long did they stay?
SirAlexTheFirst: Their efficiency ratings are lower now than they were then, but 'getting back up there just fine', according to Marc.
SirAlexTheFirst: Brother Sanders stayed with them for two months before turning in his report and leaving the facilities.
SirAlexTheFirst: You've vaguely heard of him as one of the leaders of the church in Whittyre.
coughingpuppy: Have I heard anything more substantive than that about him?
SirAlexTheFirst: Not particularly. You can easily call up the local temple and ask.
coughingpuppy: Some other time.
coughingpuppy: So Bandon is basically doing a follow-up job?
SirAlexTheFirst: Bandon's being called in apparently for a separate problem now.
coughingpuppy: Ah.
SirAlexTheFirst: Marc doesn't think it has any real connection to the previous call.
SirAlexTheFirst: Other than the obvious that the events back then may have led to the current problem.
coughingpuppy: What does he think it is about, then?
SirAlexTheFirst: Well, the team's not really so much a team now. They've been talking more and more with their suits, who have in turn changed their personalities to suit the post-trauma mission pilots.
coughingpuppy: So they want Bandon...to be a teambuilding consultant?
coughingpuppy: He'll have them all fall backwards into each other's arms!
coughingpuppy: It's a Teamwork Workshop!
SirAlexTheFirst: Yep
SirAlexTheFirst: More or less
coughingpuppy: Okie dokie.
coughingpuppy: Coolness.
coughingpuppy: So, Miss Mab@
coughingpuppy: !!
SirAlexTheFirst: Right
coughingpuppy: Read me the lines, Andymaroo!
AndrewRogue: ...huh?
AndrewRogue: *points at Website* I do this for a reason you know.
coughingpuppy: The most recent log is up there?
SirAlexTheFirst: Yes it is
AndrewRogue: No. I just point because I like to.
coughingpuppy: Ah ha!
coughingpuppy: I found you out.
coughingpuppy: Chicken Fucker.
AndrewRogue: *Cat
AndrewRogue: But that's a story for another time.
AndrewRogue: Get to RPing bitch.
Dark Japheth: Like never.
coughingpuppy: SirAlexTheFirst: Mab smiles shyly. "I do... everything."
SirAlexTheFirst: SirAlexTheFirst: Mab smiles shyly. "I do... everything."
coughingpuppy: coughingpuppy: "You must be very good at it."
SirAlexTheFirst: coughingpuppy: His eyebrows go up slightly. "That's a big job."
SirAlexTheFirst: coughingpuppy: "You must be very good at it."
coughingpuppy: SirAlexTheFirst: "I'm quite good at it. That's why it's my job."
SirAlexTheFirst: SirAlexTheFirst: "I'm quite good at it. That's why it's my job."
AndrewRogue: (Coordination people.)
Dark Japheth: echo
AndrewRogue: echo
SirAlexTheFirst: So.
coughingpuppy: Bandon nods, and writes down a few of the things she tells him, notes his new authorizations, and whatnot.
SirAlexTheFirst: I'm gonna get a drink and be right back.
coughingpuppy: While he does this, "Are you a Whittyrian native, Miss Mab?"
SirAlexTheFirst: "Yes, I've lived here all my life. Is this your first visit here?"
Adm H Sopko has left the room.
Adm H Sopko has entered the room.
coughingpuppy: "It is. This is an amazing place - there's a lot about it I like. Many things here could be a godsend for every living person in the world. It's really amazing what's been done here since the country was founded."
SirAlexTheFirst: ("Amazing things will happen here soon. You just wait.")
SirAlexTheFirst: Mab nods and smiles. "Isn't it wonderful?"
coughingpuppy: (Would she like a sense motive on Bandon?)
SirAlexTheFirst: No.
coughingpuppy: "I think so. You know, I've traveled a lot of Amaryllis since I joined the clergy, and nowhere have I felt...like I could make as much of a difference as I do here. I almost wish I'd been born here - there's so much to learn.
SirAlexTheFirst: Okay, now she does.
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 1 20-sided die: 15
coughingpuppy: On this one?
coughingpuppy: Sincerity pouring out his ass.
SirAlexTheFirst: "You could decide to stay here. Join the crew, help with the psychology of the Labs, or the country, or experiment and learn more about the psychology of the world."
coughingpuppy: "I might like to do that. There's a lot to learn about what happens here, though." He pauses, then gets up from the desk and comes around to sit also in a beanbag chair.
coughingpuppy: "Why did you join the labs?"
SirAlexTheFirst: She blinks, somewhat taken aback by the question. "I? I joined them because of what you laid out, just now. They're where one person can truly make a difference and do great things."
coughingpuppy: "Bandon nods. "Everyone has dreams of greatness. Everyone can see a brighter future." He looks wistful.
coughingpuppy: "Can you share your vision of the future with me? Whittyre's vision?"
SirAlexTheFirst: Mab blushes a bit. "Well, and my family works here...."
AndrewRogue: (HOW OLD IS SHE?)
Adm H Sopko: (13_
SirAlexTheFirst: "I wouldn't say that my vision is Whittyre's vision, dearie. Awfully presumptious... and, well, I'm not really sure what my vision is. I've never really thought about it like that..."
Adm H Sopko: (Bandon: "Back away, not today, Disco Lady...")
coughingpuppy: Bandon smiles.
coughingpuppy: "Well, close your eyes and think about it. What do you see?"
coughingpuppy: Sense motive!
*OnlineHost*: coughingpuppy rolled 1 20-sided die: 3
Dark Japheth: (She replaces Tarin as the coolest NPC if she says "the inside of my eyelids)
SirAlexTheFirst: She closes her eyes, and smiles. "Actually, I guess you could say that my vision is Whittyre's vision. I want whatever's best for the Labs, and for the country, and for the world, even though I'm not sure what that is."
coughingpuppy: ^&$#&^($#
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 1 20-sided die: 19
SirAlexTheFirst: You can
SirAlexTheFirst: t tell anything about her.
AndrewRogue: (Welcome to our world... a world of bad-rolls and being outwitted)
coughingpuppy: Damn.
coughingpuppy: Oh, and sense motive on her vision, too.
coughingpuppy: Specifically on her not being sure what that is.
*OnlineHost*: coughingpuppy rolled 1 20-sided die: 13
coughingpuppy: 33.
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 1 20-sided die: 3
SirAlexTheFirst: She seems kind of dreamy.
coughingpuppy: He leans forward and unobtrusively takes her hand. "Well, you work very hard to make this world better at the end of the day than it was at the begining. When will your work be done? What are you trying to build?"
coughingpuppy: His voice is quiet and encouraging.
coughingpuppy: Dip check?
SirAlexTheFirst: Sure.
coughingpuppy: C'mon, dice! Give Kirk the lovin!
*OnlineHost*: coughingpuppy rolled 1 20-sided die: 12
coughingpuppy: 37.
coughingpuppy: You can trust Bandon!
SirAlexTheFirst: Mab folds her hands around yours. "Those are... good questions. I feel like we are building towards something here. Something great."
Dark Japheth: (Now's when bandon changes it to Barry White)
coughingpuppy: He nods. "I believe it. I can feel it, even. When I walk around here. Great things are happening here. Things that could change the face of Amaryllis. Things that have never been done before. Where is it going?
coughingpuppy: Where is the future of Whittyre?"
coughingpuppy: (He doesn't have a remote control.)
coughingpuppy: He'll start to gently massage her hands.
SirAlexTheFirst: "I don't know," she murmurs. "Perhaps the journey is the destination? Oh, silly proverbs."
coughingpuppy: "Hmm...perhaps. Well, where is your future? Your family's future?"
SirAlexTheFirst: She laughs, softly. "My family's been pushing me forward for a while now. I'd settle for being a very, very good Director here."
coughingpuppy: "You'd run the entire labs?"
SirAlexTheFirst: "If I could. Maybe." She sounds confident.
coughingpuppy: "I'm sure you could. You're a strong woman, and carry a heavy burden. I saw that when you walked in here."
coughingpuppy: "When was the last time you took a break?"
SirAlexTheFirst: "A.... break?"
coughingpuppy: "A break. Time off. Time for yourself."
SirAlexTheFirst: "Why would I need time for myself?" She sounds vaguely puzzled, and a bit amused.
coughingpuppy: "To relax. To meditate. To center yourself." He stands up and starts to rub her shoulders. "To take some time and think. About the future. About the present. Maybe to have a little fun."
SirAlexTheFirst: "I'm thinking about the present and the future right now..."
coughingpuppy: "Yes. But are you having any fun?"
SirAlexTheFirst: "Well... yes, a little. Your office has a very fun flavor to it."
Adm H Sopko: (Must... resist... making... comment...)
coughingpuppy: Bandon smiles. "It's not really mine. But I try. You should stop by more often."
coughingpuppy: "I appreciate your coming down here to talk to me about this, by the way."
SirAlexTheFirst: "Oh, anytime... I'm sure I'll come back and visit you again." She sighs contentedly.
coughingpuppy: He smiles. "I'm here to help everyone. If there's ever anything I can do for you, or anything you'd like to talk about, please, let me know. I would very much like to share your vision of the future -
coughingpuppy: of the Labs, of Whittyre...and of yourself."
SirAlexTheFirst: "Oh, I shall, oh I shall," Mab hums. Then she opens her eyes, gets up, and pecks Bandon on the cheek. "Thank you for doing an excellent job here. Take care, and sleep well tonight - tomorrow's a big day."
AndrewRogue: (...)
coughingpuppy: Bandon nods and smiles. "You too, Miss Mab."
SirAlexTheFirst: And she exits.
coughingpuppy: Yay?
coughingpuppy: Did I do something good or bad?
coughingpuppy: No idea!
coughingpuppy: HUZZAH!
AndrewRogue: Bad.
coughingpuppy: Are we still on Bandon, or do we cut to the other kids now?
AndrewRogue: I was clearly waiting for the sex to occur.
AndrewRogue: And Bandon failed me.
AndrewRogue: FAILED. ME.
AndrewRogue: Can you live with yourself knowing that?
AndrewRogue: I hope not.
coughingpuppy: ....yes.
SirAlexTheFirst: Uh.... whatever people want.
coughingpuppy: Yes I can.
coughingpuppy: I can hop over to another computer and do IM stuff with Alex while the rest of you finally go on this freaking raid.
Dark Japheth: We've got something to do before then
Dark Japheth: ...But its up to y'alls.
AndrewRogue: I'm up for play. The night is young.
coughingpuppy: Goooood.
SirAlexTheFirst: So.
SirAlexTheFirst: Finally, raid time.
Dark Japheth: Thank god.
Adm H Sopko: Oh boy!
AndrewRogue: Aria will briefly blah blah negotiations suck, Voice is back, Mab has something to do with it I bet, time passes WHAM raid time.
AndrewRogue: This seems like a good time to organize a playlist.
SirAlexTheFirst: This seems like a good time to put on Excel Saga music.
SirAlexTheFirst: Les' go.
AndrewRogue: Okay.
AndrewRogue: You know what.
Adm H Sopko: ...
AndrewRogue: Screw you :p
Adm H Sopko: No Excel Saga
AndrewRogue: Screw you to hell.
Adm H Sopko: ::Puts on BLUES DRIVE MONSTER to counter ES::
coughingpuppy: Okay.
Dark Japheth: *has Savage Butchery on*
Dark Japheth: *turns it off for bad mojo*
SirAlexTheFirst: So.
SirAlexTheFirst: In the morning.
SirAlexTheFirst: Everyone is heading to Yarovan?
AndrewRogue: WAIT, need make bad-ass playlist.
AndrewRogue: But yes.
AndrewRogue: I guess we are.
AndrewRogue: All grim and cool-like
Dark Japheth: Indeed.
Dark Japheth: Marching onward, valiant like.
coughingpuppy: Or very gloomy and determined-like, as it were.
Sarcazmo47 has entered the room.
SirAlexTheFirst: It's a dim, cloudy, chilly, foggy morning.
SirAlexTheFirst: And you're all heading to Yarovan.
SirAlexTheFirst: Upon entry you are directed to the tactics room once more, where Taggart is lecturing a stiff crew. Lea recognizes them as the people going on the raid.
Dark Japheth: Zao sits and listens
SirAlexTheFirst: Taggart nods as you enter, and motions for y'all to join the group.
coughingpuppy: So does Aurelia. She listens very attentively.
AndrewRogue: *Aria does so, looking highly uncomfortable*
Adm H Sopko: ::Hunter sits, seeming to be a million miles away and yet intensely focused::
Sarcazmo47: The plan: To ninja. In the night.
MrSuperOblivious has left the room.
Sarcazmo47: Or maybe in the day.
AndrewRogue: (Indeed.)
SirAlexTheFirst: "All right, kids, listen up. The prep team's already been briefed and is getting ready for drop as we speak. You guys are the A-Team. Your job is to go in, find where Verity is, and get him out, then get out."
Dark Japheth: Zao is jittery, perhaps more than should be expected. He's also a little hung over from last nice.
AndrewRogue: (AND WE GAVE ZAO A CIRCLET)
Sarcazmo47: Guy can't hold his nice.
Sarcazmo47: You gave Zao a circlet, but not Aurelia?
Sarcazmo47: Nice.
Adm H Sopko: ... he asked
Dark Japheth: I agree.
SirAlexTheFirst: Taggart points to a bulky backpack on a cart beside him. "Now, we're betting that Verity's going to be locked up, or shielded, or something, so you won't be able to just smash and grab."
SirAlexTheFirst: "You're also not going to have time to bypass any sort of complex defenses other than the perimeter ones, and the shields on the labs will prevent normal teleportation out."
SirAlexTheFirst: "This device," he points to the backpack," is going to be your savior today. We've stolen parts and plans and cooked this baby up real good, and it's the key to what you've got to do."
Dark Japheth: *nods*
coughingpuppy: Aurelia looks closely at the device, trying to figure out exactly what the hell it IS.
AndrewRogue: *notes it as well*
SirAlexTheFirst: "In a nutshell - it's a teleport device, nonmagical, built with pirated Whittyre tech, with enough juice to punch through the shields around the place and get one person out one time."
Sarcazmo47: Sense Motive!
*OnlineHost*: coughingpuppy rolled 1 20-sided die: 17
coughingpuppy: ((And the elven lie detector does her work. 28.))
SirAlexTheFirst: Do you have an actual in-character reason to Sense Motive on that?
AndrewRogue: (Aria does. She doesn't trust Yaravon more than Whittyre. Mind if I take a check?)
coughingpuppy: ((Yes. She has no idea what the hell it is and has heard many things about the raid being an assassination attempt.))
AndrewRogue: (However useful that is <.<)
SirAlexTheFirst: Suuure.
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 1 20-sided die: 15
*OnlineHost*: AndrewRogue rolled 1 20-sided die: 19
AndrewRogue: I'm saddened by that roll.
AndrewRogue: Please continue. Aria's suspicions are not confirmed.
SirAlexTheFirst: Taggart's speaking with military precision, and there's a great deal of tension in his posture and voice.
coughingpuppy: Aurelia, thinking nothing unusual about that, relaxes.
SirAlexTheFirst: He continues. "All you have to do is set it down somewhere near Verity. We'll trigger it and it'll pull him out of there no matter what sort of crap they have set up around him, as long as it's within 200 feet.
SirAlexTheFirst: It can try for more if you really need it to, but anything outside that isn't guaranteed, depending on how much they get running, so get as close as you can with it. If you're being chased, and you will be...
Adm H Sopko: ::Hunter keeps his face passive hearing this explanation::
SirAlexTheFirst: Well, just try to drop it off somewhere where it won't be found for a minute or so. If necessary....." Taggart pauses. "Have someone stay behind with it. It'll be easier to get them out than Verity, later on."
AndrewRogue: (...)
coughingpuppy: "I thought the device itself was supposed to get him out?"
SirAlexTheFirst: Taggart breaks off and looks at Aurelia funny. "Yes, that's the point."
coughingpuppy: ((Mrrrr...I must really not have been following something within those last few sentences.))
Dark Japheth: (I'm going to start working on the backup character now, hope nobody minds.)
SirAlexTheFirst: "Now," he continues,"we've tried to make it as light as we can so that the person carrying it can move quickly. However, this had to be balanced with the power packed in, and with the shielding on the device."
SirAlexTheFirst: "In other words... it's not fragile, and it won't break if you drop it, but it might if a guard shoots it or something. Do not let that happen."
Dark Japheth: Zao fidgets, almost as if he has a question.
coughingpuppy: Aurelia is just looking vaguely confused, trying to figure out why someone would need to stay behind with the device if they were being chased instead of just going straight through, and why a teleportation device would
SirAlexTheFirst: Taggart pauses. "If the power cores get damaged, not only will the device not work, it will most likely explode. I'd rather not lose more people on this mission than we have to, so I repeat, keep it safe."
coughingpuppy: work, even when he said teleportation wouldn't.
Dark Japheth: "Who will be carrying this device?"
SirAlexTheFirst: "Good question, sir. We're open to volunteers, although we did have a couple of people in mind."
coughingpuppy: "I would be willing to carry it."
Dark Japheth: *nods*
AndrewRogue: "I... I could do it as well."
SirAlexTheFirst: *nods to Aurelia* "I thought as much, Mrs. Liadon. Thank you. Come up and try it on."
coughingpuppy: Aurelia gets to her feet and walks to the front.
SirAlexTheFirst: Trying on the backpack?
coughingpuppy: Yep.
SirAlexTheFirst: It's heavier than it looks, and feels like it's carrying metal. Weighs about 50 pounds.
AndrewRogue: (Ow.)
coughingpuppy: Aurelia has to take a moment to adjust to the weight, but doesn't seem to have that much trouble with it.
SirAlexTheFirst: Taggart adjusts the straps some for you.
SirAlexTheFirst: "Comfortable?"
coughingpuppy: She nods. "As much as is possible."
SirAlexTheFirst: "Think you can run fast enough with this on?"
coughingpuppy: "Fast enough for what?"
SirAlexTheFirst: "To get in there. Evading the guards is going to be essential."
coughingpuppy: "What does evading them entail?"
SirAlexTheFirst: He shrugs. "Hell if I know. That's why we say 'fast enough'."
coughingpuppy: "I think so, then." Or she hopes so, rather.
SirAlexTheFirst: "All right. After you're sure that the teleporter is close to Verity, you'll have to either return to your insertion point for pickup, or blow another hole in the roof so we can grab you."
SirAlexTheFirst: "Time is critical on this part - the extraction team will wait as long as they can, but that's not going to be much time. There is a possibility that they won't be around at all, if things go badly."
coughingpuppy: She nods.
SirAlexTheFirst: "If that's the case, try to get outside and stay outside as long as you can. We'll try to send reinforcements for them and get whoever we can out."
coughingpuppy: "To be honest, it wouldn't be difficult for me to get out on my own after it's placed, so the others should be your concern."
SirAlexTheFirst: Taggart looks to Aurelia. "Well, that's good. But you'd better be sure that it's going to stay where you place it and not get turned off or damaged."
coughingpuppy: "I'll remain with it, then."
SirAlexTheFirst: "Do whatever you feel is wise, but remember that ensuring that device is intact and within 200 feet of Verity is the primary mission."
SirAlexTheFirst: He looks out over the room again. "Like I said, we'll pick up anyone we can outside. That may not be everyone, though. If you get captured, try to keep yourself alive. Don't do anything stupid."
SirAlexTheFirst: "I recommend you cooperate with any interrogations and demands, and don't kill yourself, because - well, to be honest, they have ways to make you talk that will work. Even if you're dead."
Dark Japheth: *nods*
coughingpuppy: Aurelia frowns. Cooperate with interrogations? That just sounds spineless.
SirAlexTheFirst: A woman sticks her head in the door and nods; Taggart, seeing her, glances around the room.
SirAlexTheFirst: "We're ready to go. Any other questions?"
coughingpuppy: "No."
Dark Japheth: "I am ready."
Adm H Sopko: ::Hunter seems abnormally quiet and nonexpressive::
AndrewRogue: "You all right Hunter?" *quietly*
coughingpuppy: Aurelia glances at Hunter, ready to go over and speak with him as soon as people start moving out the door.
SirAlexTheFirst: "All right. Get moving. Good luck."
Adm H Sopko: ::He nods:: "Yeah... just focused, I guess."
SirAlexTheFirst: Taggart jogs out the door, and the group follows him quickly.
Dark Japheth: *follows*
coughingpuppy: Aurelia walks over to Hunter, still making minor adjustments to the straps on her shoulders. "Are you certain you want to do this? It's still going to be quite dangerous, even with their help."
Adm H Sopko: ::He looks to Aurelia and nods:: "Yes. Don't you think if I didn't want to, I would have just bowed out?"
AndrewRogue: *grits her teeth, takes a deep breath, smiles and follows the group*
coughingpuppy: Aurelia gives him a thin smile. "Once in a while, some of us feel obligations to our allies. I thought there might be some miniscule chance that you were one of those."
coughingpuppy: "There is no reason for you to risk your life, or, moreover, the lives of those following you right now."
Adm H Sopko: ::He gives a small smile of his own:: "People risk their lives for many reasons, and each one instance provides any number to choose from. I have my misgivings, but this must be done."
Sarcazmo47 has left the room.
coughingpuppy: "You could be sending your followers to their deaths." Aurelia looks at him for a moment. "Sometimes it seems to me that you're too concerned with playing hero to protect what is really important to you.
coughingpuppy: That isn't noble, that's stupidity."
SirAlexTheFirst: (where'd Kirk go?)
coughingpuppy: ((I don't know.))
SirAlexTheFirst: (Where was he anyway?)
AndrewRogue: (He just idled in IM O_o)
coughingpuppy: ((Rachel's room.))
Dark Japheth: Zao smiles.
coughingpuppy: ((He says her computer was being retarded.))
coughingpuppy: ((So he restarted it.))
AndrewRogue: *Aria pats him on the back*
SirAlexTheFirst: (Ahh. We do need to know what Bandon is doing right now)
coughingpuppy: ((He's hitting on Miss Mab.))
Sarcazmo47 has entered the room.
SirAlexTheFirst: So, people going to the room o' readyness?
coughingpuppy: ((Does Hunter answer Aurelia?))
Dark Japheth: Yes.
coughingpuppy: ((Mrrr? I didn't see it.))
AndrewRogue: (Response to Alex that was)
Adm H Sopko: ::He just looks at her, at a loss of what to say""
Adm H Sopko: (Seriously. I've been puzzling of what to say all this time)
coughingpuppy: Aurelia just watches him for a moment, and then, convinced that a smirk is not forthcoming, leaves.
SirAlexTheFirst: To the ready room.
Adm H Sopko: Yep
SirAlexTheFirst: The line of people goes downstairs.
SirAlexTheFirst: And down more stairs.
SirAlexTheFirst: Into the basement of the Yarovan, and down a hallway, around the corner, and into a large but featureless room. There are quite a few people there, obviously mages, and Taggart and the team.
SirAlexTheFirst: Taggart walks briskly over to Aurelia, reaches inside the backpack and twiddles a few things, causing clicks and a hum that quickly rises in pitch to be inaudible.
SirAlexTheFirst: "You're sure you want to carry this?"
coughingpuppy: "Yes."
coughingpuppy: "Unless someone else is much more suitable."
Sarcazmo47: Is the man having an attack of conscience?
SirAlexTheFirst: "I think you're the best candidate. Good luck, and godspeed."
Sarcazmo47: Nope.
AndrewRogue: *Aria remains simply quiet, looking around at the people around her... the people she could see dead in the hour... and tries to hold her smile*
coughingpuppy: "Thank you."
SirAlexTheFirst: He turns to the mages. "Send them in when the hole's ready."
SirAlexTheFirst: And to the team. "Don't get trained."
coughingpuppy: ((HAHAHA))
AndrewRogue: (D'vinn train to zone!)
Sarcazmo47: Aint no gettin offa this train we on!
SirAlexTheFirst: Here comes the MANTRAIN!
Dark Japheth: Oh gods
Adm H Sopko: ::Hunter looks to Lea, then to Aria, giving them one last look thats filled with love and emotion. Then he closes his eyes, steeling his nerves and feelings to prepare for the mission::
SirAlexTheFirst: Everyone is silent, except for one of the mages, who speaks briskly.
coughingpuppy: Aurelia deadpans.
SirAlexTheFirst: "Insertion team out."
AndrewRogue: *gives Hunter a chipper smile and lil' salute*
SirAlexTheFirst: "Spells away."
Adm H Sopko: ::Lea reaches out and gives Hunter's hand one last squeeze before it begins::
SirAlexTheFirst: "Go!" And the floor drops out from beneath you, and you're falling.
Adm H Sopko: ::Hunter looks around, trying to gain his bearings as he falls::
SirAlexTheFirst: If anyone's eyes are open, they'll barely catch a glimpse of several people standing on a roof in bright daylight, and the sizzling edges of said roof as they fall through it.
AndrewRogue: *shuts her eyes tightly for sack of balance*
Dark Japheth: *also shuts his eyes out of UNGODLY FEAR*
AndrewRogue: *well, that too*
Dark Japheth: Zao casts Mage Armor, actually, on the way down.
coughingpuppy: Aurelia lets out a startled yelp before quieting herself.
SirAlexTheFirst: The team is falling down into one of the great hangars, which is quite empty at the moment. You fall very quickly, at roughly 32 feet per second squared, until a feather fall catches you about ten feet off the ground.
Adm H Sopko: ::Hunter panics for a moment before he realizes he's wearing a feather fall ring::
AndrewRogue: *activate Ring of Blinking*
AndrewRogue: *put Heartfelt Bond on... Zao and Hunter*
SirAlexTheFirst: Aria is immediately disoriented badly by the blinking effect zapping her around randomly.
AndrewRogue: *Which makes it a very good time to try and adjust and figure out how it feels. She kills the effect if its too much*
SirAlexTheFirst: Indeed.
Adm H Sopko: Do we land?
SirAlexTheFirst: As soon as everyone's feet hit the floor, cries of "MOVE, MOVE!" break out, and the team scrambles for the teleporter.
coughingpuppy: Aurelia moves as soon as she hears the order, and moves in the direction of everyone else.
Dark Japheth: *runs and follows*
SirAlexTheFirst: Are any of you taking point?
Adm H Sopko: ::Hunter and Lea bust out in a run:
AndrewRogue: *joins the scramble, having decided to kill the ring on the way down and save it for emergencies**
Dark Japheth: (I'm not familiar with terminology. What is point?)
AndrewRogue: (The front)
coughingpuppy: ((Aurelia doesn't take it because she doesn't want to be any more conspicuous than she already is.))
AndrewRogue: (Aria will scramble for front, but she's prolly a touch slow to stay at the very so)
SirAlexTheFirst: Hunter or Lea?
Adm H Sopko: They know better than to take point in this place
Dark Japheth: Zao will.
Dark Japheth: If only to better issue commands.
Dark Japheth: He's done this sort of thing before.
Dark Japheth: (...So a paladin/cleric of tiyrael work for backup character?)
AndrewRogue: Then Aria sticks close to Zao. He ain't a fighter.
Dark Japheth: (Awwwwwww.)
SirAlexTheFirst: All right.
SirAlexTheFirst: Zao knows the teleporter codes?
Dark Japheth: ...Well no.
Dark Japheth: I dunno. He might. 'sup to you.
Dark Japheth: :P
Adm H Sopko: He would
Adm H Sopko: If he was listening to the briefing
SirAlexTheFirst: Yes he would.
SirAlexTheFirst: He better, if he's got point.
SirAlexTheFirst: Well, whoever has them punches them in, and people start running into the teleporter.
SirAlexTheFirst: Elapsed time, about fifteen seconds.
SirAlexTheFirst: On the other end of the teleporter is... the hallway Hunter came into for his interrogation.
Adm H Sopko: What is there?
SirAlexTheFirst: One of the soldiers whips their head around to Hunter. "Which way?"
SirAlexTheFirst: The hallway is quite straight and narrow, but has doors branching off it every ten or twenty feet, and extends several hundred feet to a junction and beyond.
SirAlexTheFirst: How far are you going down?
SirAlexTheFirst: People are looking at Hunter and Aurelia for leadership now.
Adm H Sopko: ::Hunter replies silently, keeping the party moving as he retraces his steps to the area he was lead to:: "There will be more than one room to check."
coughingpuppy: Aurelia looks at the map, if there is one.
SirAlexTheFirst: You have no map of this area.
SirAlexTheFirst: >_>
coughingpuppy: She goes with Hunter, then, rather than make it seem like they don't know what they're doing. He seems to have some idea of where he's going.
SirAlexTheFirst: So Hunter goes down the hallway around the corner over the bend and through the woods, everyone following. There's still nobody else around.
AndrewRogue: (Bad Alex. No SH. *pulls out to Lab Level 1 Map*)
SirAlexTheFirst: No alarms have rung, no guards, nothing.
Dark Japheth: I assume by this that Zao is no longer point.
SirAlexTheFirst: Are you going to enter the room in which you met with Miss Mab, or no?
Adm H Sopko: ::Yes. He directs everyone else to check the other rooms along this particular hallway as well to cover the most ground::
coughingpuppy: Aurelia has her bow and an arrow out and is keeping an eye out for guards.
Dark Japheth: Zao will then pick a random door to go through with a squad of three, if it can be spared.
SirAlexTheFirst: Hunter opens the door?
Adm H Sopko: Yes
AndrewRogue: ~Shouldn't we be seeing someone by now?~ *sticks with CO Zao*
Dark Japheth: <Its... too easy.>
Adm H Sopko: ~I agree.~
SirAlexTheFirst: Miss Mab is sitting in the room, in her white jumpsuit, legs crossed and grinnnig.
SirAlexTheFirst: As she sees Hunter, she rises swiftly. "Good morning!"
Adm H Sopko: ::Hunter enters slowly, not 100% suprised. More like... 50%... or 43.577%:: "Hello, Miss Mab."
coughingpuppy: Bow comes up.
Sarcazmo47: Remember, kids.
SirAlexTheFirst: The door slams shut behind Hunter.
Sarcazmo47: God Will Sort The Dead.
SirAlexTheFirst: In Aurelia's face.
Dark Japheth: (I was thinking more along the lines of... "The Smirk did indeed kill us all, although it pretended to be a grin")
Adm H Sopko: ::Hunter winces when he hears the door slam, but he keeps his eyes on Mab:
coughingpuppy: Aurelia looks angrily at the door, swears, and turns to the rest of the group. "Let's go, before she can raise an alarm."
SirAlexTheFirst: So what's everyone else doing?
Dark Japheth: Exploring another room. A random room.
Adm H Sopko: ::Lea checks another room with a partner::
SirAlexTheFirst: That room will be empty.
AndrewRogue: *will do something nifty and attempt Ring of Blinking and a push through the door*
SirAlexTheFirst: Ooh.
Dark Japheth: With Aria, and two generic unnamed NPC's!
SirAlexTheFirst: I think you need a check for that.
AndrewRogue: I have a 50% chance for every 5 feet. Or do you need a specific check?
Adm H Sopko: Their names will be Ungrel and Deb
SirAlexTheFirst: d2 then.
*OnlineHost*: AndrewRogue rolled 1 2-sided die: 1
coughingpuppy: Aurelia goes to look into the rooms, too, trying to get a general idea of what they are and if they're in some sort of section of the building.
AndrewRogue: Did I want high or low Alex?
SirAlexTheFirst: You want high.
AndrewRogue: Whee. 1d6 damage.
SirAlexTheFirst: All of the other rooms you look into are empty, just blank white walls.
Adm H Sopko: ::Lea reports back the room is empty, and notices that they're surrounding the door:: <L> "What's going on?"
*OnlineHost*: AndrewRogue rolled 1 6-sided die: 6
AndrewRogue: ...AIM lives to spite me.
AndrewRogue: Aria is unhappy with said door and Mab. And she will angrily try again unless something prevents that.
coughingpuppy: "Hunter's trapped inside. I don't know if there's anything we can do for him, but we need to get through here before whoever is inside there can raise an alarm."
SirAlexTheFirst: The door throws you back violently if you try again.
AndrewRogue: Yay for violently thrown.
AndrewRogue: Because Aria does.
SirAlexTheFirst: One of the soldiers speaks up. "Sirs, I think we should get moving."
Dark Japheth: "...This... isn't good."
coughingpuppy: Aurelia nods. "Let's see what's in these rooms. We should try to figure out what section of the building we're in."
Dark Japheth: "Anyone have a ring of the ram?"
Dark Japheth: "I want at least two people with them."
SirAlexTheFirst: Heads shake, it seems not.
Dark Japheth: Zao looks at his own. "Fuck." And he backs up. "Back away."
Dark Japheth: Expending three charges.
SirAlexTheFirst: The soldiers start checking all the other rooms, yelling back "Empty!"
AndrewRogue: *Aria grits her teeth and backs off that very bad door*
coughingpuppy: Aurelia nods. "All right. Move to the end of the hall." She looks back at Aria. "Stay and try to get him out if you can."
Dark Japheth: Str check, I think.
Dark Japheth: Lemme check rules on it.
coughingpuppy: And then will head to the end of the hall with all the soldiers.
AndrewRogue: *nods tensely* "Be careful Aurelia."
SirAlexTheFirst: Don't bother, it's not going to work
AndrewRogue: Well then, can Aria's guantlets harm the door?
SirAlexTheFirst: The door doesn't even budge at the shock.
Dark Japheth: Right.
SirAlexTheFirst: This door is locked and cannot be opened.
AndrewRogue: That's lazy programming.
AndrewRogue: :p
SirAlexTheFirst: Listen checks please.
Adm H Sopko: ::Lea bites her lip hard, watching the trials with the door:: "We... we can't stay here... they'll come for us if we do. We have a mission to complete"
Dark Japheth: Wait. You forget it'll be unlocked once we come back after Kefka gets the power of the three statues and turns the world into the world of ruin.
*OnlineHost*: Dark Japheth rolled 1 20-sided die: 2
*OnlineHost*: AndrewRogue rolled 1 20-sided die: 1
Dark Japheth: 2.
*OnlineHost*: Adm H Sopko rolled 1 20-sided die: 7
AndrewRogue: ...
AndrewRogue: FUCK
AndrewRogue: AIM
AndrewRogue: ALEX
AndrewRogue: I WANT REVERSED ROLLS <.<
SirAlexTheFirst: NO.
AndrewRogue: :p
SirAlexTheFirst: Roll it, Aurelia
Adm H Sopko: 19
AndrewRogue: -9
*OnlineHost*: coughingpuppy rolled 1 20-sided die: 3
AndrewRogue: (...)
coughingpuppy: ....16.
SirAlexTheFirst: Nothing over 20....
SirAlexTheFirst: Okay, carry on.
Dark Japheth: "Where was Verity's holding cell?"
AndrewRogue: I assume mental cominique with Hunter died?
coughingpuppy: "We have yet to find it."
SirAlexTheFirst: There are 15 soldiers with you, by the way.
Sarcazmo47: Should you roll their listen checks?
SirAlexTheFirst: And no, it did not, actually. Although you should post mental communication in chat.
Dark Japheth: "....All the rooms were empty?" he asks the soldiers.
coughingpuppy: She leads the soldiers to the junction at the end of the hallway, pausing before she steps out into the open and peering around the corners.
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 15 20-sided dice: 12 9 9 14 4 9 14 12 2 15 10 11 16 8 19
AndrewRogue: ~You okay Hunter?~
SirAlexTheFirst: One of the soldiers peers down the hall. "What was that?"
Dark Japheth: *looks*
Adm H Sopko: ::Lea turns to look, repeating what she said before:: "We can't stay here"
SirAlexTheFirst: Then shakes his head. "We need to get moving."
AndrewRogue: *and Aria turns in that wonderous direction* (What's our second count?)
SirAlexTheFirst: 2, 3 minutes now.
SirAlexTheFirst: With nervous glances toward the leaders (aka the PCs), the soldiers begin to jog down the hall.
Dark Japheth: Zao will take point.
Adm H Sopko: ::Lea moves with them::
AndrewRogue: *takes up point with Zao*
Dark Japheth: Any doors that haven't been gone down?
Dark Japheth: *that someone hasn't checked out yet*
SirAlexTheFirst: There are five junctions that branch off to both the left and the right, as well as the doors on either side, before the door at the end of the hallway.
Dark Japheth: At teh end of the hallway, we will take the left route. Unless its been explored.
SirAlexTheFirst: To the left, not through the door ahead?
Dark Japheth: ...Actually
coughingpuppy: ((Is the door big?))
Dark Japheth: Sure, the door ahead.
Dark Japheth: Doesn't matter.
Dark Japheth: *opens door*
SirAlexTheFirst: Same size as all the other ones.
SirAlexTheFirst: That door opens onto a considerably larger area, though.
SirAlexTheFirst: Namely a large rectangular room that stretches in all directions further than anyone can see, and is filled with huge glass cylinders, containing bright green fluid.
Dark Japheth: Whats in them other than fluid?
Dark Japheth: Peeeeeeple?
SirAlexTheFirst: Nothing.
coughingpuppy: Aurelia decides to look at the cylinders, to see what the fluid is and what the cylinders do.
AndrewRogue: *Aria bites her lip* "What do we do Zao?"
AndrewRogue: (ARGH! One sec BRB)
Dark Japheth: Hmm.
Dark Japheth: *walks down the hall*
Dark Japheth: He'll cast Mirror Image as he walks, and curse lesbians forever.
Dark Japheth: "We have to find Verity."
coughingpuppy: "We should see what these are. Perhaps we can use them, or they might give us some idea of what other rooms could be around here."
Dark Japheth: So Zao splits into...
*OnlineHost*: Dark Japheth rolled 1 4-sided die: 2
SirAlexTheFirst: It's bright lime green fluid, the type of which can be found in many science fiction media. The cylinders have long strings of numbers and letters stamped upon them, and small terminal displays, which are all blank.
Dark Japheth: +3. I'm laggin.
SirAlexTheFirst: Argh lag
Dark Japheth: "...It seems teh only way to find out is to smash them. Any volunteers, or...?" Zao brandishes his ring, and looks to everyone.
coughingpuppy: She looks around at the soldiers and points to the terminals. "Does anyone have an idea of how to operate one of these?"
SirAlexTheFirst: Should we get a new room?
coughingpuppy: "Don't smash them. We don't know what they are or if they're alarmed."
SirAlexTheFirst: Hmm better now?
AndrewRogue: "We shouldn't stand near them when they break Zao."
SirAlexTheFirst: The soldiers do not know anything about them, and say as much.
AndrewRogue: (Need me to make a new room Alex?)
SirAlexTheFirst: Nah it's better now for me at least
Adm H Sopko: ::Lea moves forward to the terminal:: "What do you need?
Adm H Sopko: "
coughingpuppy: "See if we can find out what purpose these cylinders have. They're numbered, so maybe they're linked to prisoners in some way."
AndrewRogue: (Are the soldiers spreading out into tiny groups and doing a quick exploration of the room?)
SirAlexTheFirst: They are.
Dark Japheth: They BETTER BE
SirAlexTheFirst: Listen checks.
*OnlineHost*: AndrewRogue rolled 1 20-sided die: 9
*OnlineHost*: coughingpuppy rolled 1 20-sided die: 17
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 10 20-sided dice: 15 3 12 9 15 18 3 11 12 13
coughingpuppy: 30.
AndrewRogue: 10
AndrewRogue: (Agh. Lesbians.)
*OnlineHost*: Dark Japheth rolled 1 20-sided die: 8
Dark Japheth: ....Sweet merciful jesus
Dark Japheth: LAG BAD
Dark Japheth: LAG MAKE GORTH CRY
SirAlexTheFirst: Aurelia and several of the soldiers hear muffled cries from the group who went to the left.
coughingpuppy: ((Wait, a group went left instead of through the door?))
AndrewRogue: (Left in this massive room.)
AndrewRogue: (Okay... Lag bad.)
AndrewRogue: (New room I think is needed.)
SirAlexTheFirst: We need a new room.
SirAlexTheFirst: Log this and make one, Andrew
SirAlexTheFirst: Left inside the room.
AndrewRogue: Lag better?
SirAlexTheFirst: Logged the other one?
AndrewRogue: Yes
coughingpuppy: Aurelia went to go help out the group on the left, if you missed that.
SirAlexTheFirst: Aria suddenly feels a stabbing pain in her forehead, which starts bleeding to the tune of 11 damage.
Dark Japheth: Zao is following Aurelia.
AndrewRogue: *and about the same moment Aria stifles a sharp cry and begins bleeding slightly from her forehead, but wipes it away and follows them*
SirAlexTheFirst: Aurelia and the ten soldiers who go with her find the five others who went this way on the ground. All are dead, by puncture/gunshot wounds.
coughingpuppy: Aurelia checks to make sure they're actually dead.
SirAlexTheFirst: They are.
Dark Japheth: "...Fuck." I look around for what killed them.
AndrewRogue: *Aria grits her teeth and a cold sweat builds along with the blood*
coughingpuppy: So does Aurelia.
SirAlexTheFirst: Search, or Spot?
Dark Japheth: Spot.
*OnlineHost*: Dark Japheth rolled 1 20-sided die: 13
Dark Japheth: 13.
coughingpuppy: Spot. Please.
*OnlineHost*: coughingpuppy rolled 1 20-sided die: 5
Dark Japheth: That likely fails so Search.
coughingpuppy: Damn it. 19.
*OnlineHost*: Dark Japheth rolled 1 20-sided die: 10
Dark Japheth: 11. Also failz.
*OnlineHost*: Adm H Sopko rolled 1 20-sided die: 14
AndrewRogue: Search implies we are walking around looking for them Gorth.
*OnlineHost*: AndrewRogue rolled 1 20-sided die: 8
AndrewRogue: 9 Spot. *sighs*
Adm H Sopko: Lea gets a 26
Dark Japheth: Righty. Thats what Zao'll do when he can't find it with a spot.
SirAlexTheFirst: Okay.
SirAlexTheFirst: None of you are seeing anything with those...
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 2 20-sided dice: 18 4
coughingpuppy: ((What about Lea?))
Dark Japheth: Zao casts See Invisibility.
SirAlexTheFirst: Aurelia. Touch AC? Any evasion or special mods?
coughingpuppy: ((What's touch AC? That's without armor, right?))
SirAlexTheFirst: Yes.
coughingpuppy: ((I always get it confused with flat-footed.))
coughingpuppy: ((It's 13.))
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 1 6-sided die: 5
SirAlexTheFirst: Congrats, you've been shot for 17 damage.
coughingpuppy: Aurelia staggers backwards and looks down at the wound in surprise.
SirAlexTheFirst: Zao cast See Invis?
Dark Japheth: Yep
SirAlexTheFirst: Give me another Spot check.
*OnlineHost*: Dark Japheth rolled 1 20-sided die: 13
Dark Japheth: 13.
Dark Japheth: Yeah, I still don't see the ninjas.
SirAlexTheFirst: No, you don't.
AndrewRogue: How about gunshot trajectory calculations Al?
SirAlexTheFirst: Not gonna be helpful.
SirAlexTheFirst: Next round. What flys?
coughingpuppy: Aurelia...looks around for them again.
SirAlexTheFirst: Spot check.
*OnlineHost*: coughingpuppy rolled 1 20-sided die: 17
coughingpuppy: 31.
Dark Japheth: Gotta love ninjas who stack Hide and Invisibility.
SirAlexTheFirst: You see a vague shimmering pass by one of the cylinders in front of you.
coughingpuppy: She raises her bow, which has been out, and shoots at it.
*OnlineHost*: Adm H Sopko rolled 1 20-sided die: 9
Adm H Sopko: Lea = 21
*OnlineHost*: coughingpuppy rolled 1 20-sided die: 8
coughingpuppy: 22.
Adm H Sopko: ::Lea follows Aurelia's lead and fires in that general direction with her Colt::
Dark Japheth: Zao hastes himself, and then looks for them to cast Phantasmal Killer.
SirAlexTheFirst: Concealment
SirAlexTheFirst: 2 = miss
Dark Japheth: (Why am I getting flashbacks again)
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 2 2-sided dice: 1 2
SirAlexTheFirst: 22, Aurelia?
coughingpuppy: ((Yep.))
AndrewRogue: *Aria will attempt to charge the shape is one of them identifies it for her*
*OnlineHost*: Adm H Sopko rolled 1 20-sided die: 14
Adm H Sopko: 29
Sarcazmo47: Are they stil concealed if you spot them?
SirAlexTheFirst: Yes. Aurelia hits anyway though, her arrow thuds into something, which screams and thrashes.
SirAlexTheFirst: Damage>
AndrewRogue: *Aria charges it then*
*OnlineHost*: coughingpuppy rolled 1 8-sided die: 2
Adm H Sopko: Does Lea hit?
*OnlineHost*: coughingpuppy rolled 1 6-sided die: 4
coughingpuppy: 8 total damage. And a second shot.
SirAlexTheFirst: Lea does not.
coughingpuppy: ((Lea missed because of concealment.))
*OnlineHost*: coughingpuppy rolled 1 20-sided die: 15
Adm H Sopko: Oh, the second roll was for Lea's. I see
coughingpuppy: 24.
SirAlexTheFirst: Also hits
SirAlexTheFirst: Well
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 1 2-sided die: 2
SirAlexTheFirst: No it doesn't.
SirAlexTheFirst: Wait, yes it does. *remembers*
SirAlexTheFirst: I r smrt
SirAlexTheFirst: No more concealment, guy has an arrow sticking in him.
AndrewRogue: Is he chargeable Al?
SirAlexTheFirst: Yes.
AndrewRogue: Nifty.
SirAlexTheFirst: Damage on second arrow
AndrewRogue: Charge and -4 for PA once she finishes.
Dark Japheth: (I wonder where inits are. They have vanished.)
AndrewRogue: (We never used them yet <.<)
*OnlineHost*: coughingpuppy rolled 1 8-sided die: 7
*OnlineHost*: coughingpuppy rolled 1 6-sided die: 4
SirAlexTheFirst: (The ninjas won.)
coughingpuppy: 13 damage there.
coughingpuppy: So 21 total.
SirAlexTheFirst: That'll earn you a scream.
SirAlexTheFirst: And Aria?
AndrewRogue: Yeah. We'll do that nifty thing she does.
AndrewRogue: Charge, -4 PA, Trip Attempt first. Her movements are half mechanical in nature!
*OnlineHost*: AndrewRogue rolled 1 20-sided die: 4
AndrewRogue: 16 Touch
SirAlexTheFirst: Hits
AndrewRogue: Opposed Checks
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 1 20-sided die: 1
*OnlineHost*: AndrewRogue rolled 1 20-sided die: 18
AndrewRogue: I win
SirAlexTheFirst: You win
AndrewRogue: Is his gun seeable?
Adm H Sopko: From Hunter: ~Arianna. Verity is in one of the first tanks in the room at the end of the hallway of the interrogation rooms is on.~
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 1 20-sided die: 3
Dark Japheth: (Just for Aria or do we all hear it?)
SirAlexTheFirst: The figure falls over with a cry, and its gun falls out of its hand, seemingly appearing on the floor.
AndrewRogue: He's unarmed?
SirAlexTheFirst: Maybe.
AndrewRogue: One gun is out of his hand?
SirAlexTheFirst: Yes.
AndrewRogue: Aria winces as she brings the Guisarme down on him.
AndrewRogue: Follow Up
*OnlineHost*: AndrewRogue rolled 1 20-sided die: 19
AndrewRogue: 31
SirAlexTheFirst: Hit.
*OnlineHost*: AndrewRogue rolled 2 4-sided dice: 2 2
AndrewRogue: 18 Damage
AndrewRogue: And she quickly relays the message back to the rest of the group.
Dark Japheth: Zao's turn?
AndrewRogue: Seems to be the order :p
Dark Japheth: Cool.
SirAlexTheFirst: Blood splatters out as you plant the polearm in the guy's chest. With an electric crackle, he fades into visibility - a young man, maybe 20 years old, pulling his goggles up with one hand
Dark Japheth: Ring of the Ram is used on the first tank in the room. On the... right side.
SirAlexTheFirst: and holding his chest with the other. He starts to say something, coughs blood, gurgles, and falls back.
Dark Japheth: 3 charges expelled.
Dark Japheth: I think, and hope, that works.
AndrewRogue: (Technically he was already down Al <.<)
Adm H Sopko: ::Lea follows Zao, covering him and looking around for anyone else::
coughingpuppy: "Where is the hallway the interrogation rooms are in?"
AndrewRogue: (I think this is the room Hunter meant, no?)
Adm H Sopko: (Yeah)
coughingpuppy: ((Nix what Aurelia just said, then.))
SirAlexTheFirst: Spot for Lea.
*OnlineHost*: Adm H Sopko rolled 1 20-sided die: 11
coughingpuppy: Aurelia has another look around too.
Adm H Sopko: 23
*OnlineHost*: coughingpuppy rolled 1 20-sided die: 18
coughingpuppy: 32.
SirAlexTheFirst: You see nothing besides the cylinders.
Dark Japheth: Even with See Invisibility, do I see anything?
SirAlexTheFirst: No.
AndrewRogue: *Aria quickly kneels down to check the young man's... y'know... living ot not*
coughingpuppy: Aurelia looks over at Lea. "I'll cover the mage. Can you attempt to open the cylinders with the terminals?"
Dark Japheth: nice.
SirAlexTheFirst: He's dead.
SirAlexTheFirst: Mad hax0r Lea?
Adm H Sopko: She'll try
AndrewRogue: Aria will begin a quick look around with maybe a soldier or two to see if they can find the cylinder with Verity. While this happens.
Dark Japheth: I assume then that the ring of the ram used to try and break the cylinder open didn't work. oh well.
SirAlexTheFirst: It did not.
Dark Japheth: Right. That could have been helpful to know. Well then, Zao is going to wander around ineffectually. Keeping his eyes open for invisible ninjas.
Dark Japheth: Actually.
SirAlexTheFirst: Aria and her soldiers will quickly find a small portion of the room where the green tanks are actually holding things.
coughingpuppy: Aurelia goes to cover Lea, then.
Dark Japheth: No, I'll activate my ring of invisibility first.
SirAlexTheFirst: One of them contains a mass of silvery threads.
AndrewRogue: Oh nifty. Aria calls Zao and begins looking fast at things.
Dark Japheth: <I'm invisible. Don't shoot the invisible guy in red.>
Dark Japheth: Zao wanders over to Aria
AndrewRogue: ~Zao! I found cylinders with things in them!~
SirAlexTheFirst: Another, a huge round brown ball. By the way, the cylinders are about 20 feet in diameter.
Dark Japheth: Zao will go over there.
Dark Japheth: And try to open terminals.
AndrewRogue: *Aria tells the soldiers to cover that area and she continues look, look, looking.
AndrewRogue: *
Dark Japheth: Zao's just trying to open *all* the cylinders. Even the ones without verity.
SirAlexTheFirst: Another cylinder contains a curious creature, vaguely reptilian but without scales, 30 feet tall with two large stocky legs, two small vestigal arms, a long tail curled beside it and a large head of foot-long visible teeth.
Dark Japheth: If nothing else, it'll provide a distraction.
Adm H Sopko: ::Lea keeps working at the terminal, attempting to locate Verity and open the one with him in it::
AndrewRogue: ~Threads... a brown ball... a giant lizard...~ *lists things she finds to Zao*
AndrewRogue: ~You doing okay Hunter?~
SirAlexTheFirst: Lea. Gimme a Use Magical Device.
coughingpuppy: Aurelia calls over her shoulder to Aria, "These cells are numbered. Ask Hunter if he can get a number for us."
*OnlineHost*: Adm H Sopko rolled 1 20-sided die: 12
AndrewRogue: ~And do you have a cell number thing?~
Adm H Sopko: She has no ranks
Adm H Sopko: ::No answer from Hunter::
Dark Japheth: It can't be used untrained
AndrewRogue: (...Lea is a rogue without ranks in UMD?_
Adm H Sopko: She's been trained to use Whittyre technology though
SirAlexTheFirst: Really? I coulda sworn I gave her some.
AndrewRogue: (*punts somebody*)
Adm H Sopko: Hold on
Adm H Sopko: 18
SirAlexTheFirst: Yes, I did.
SirAlexTheFirst: *punts Soppy*
Adm H Sopko: Sorry. I'm kinda preoccupied
AndrewRogue: *Aria grits her teeth and continues looking as she feels a slight pang of... something*
SirAlexTheFirst: Lea manages to make all the terminals light up, and get: "1024 cells available. 10 cells filled. 1014 cells empty. Command:"
Adm H Sopko: ::She runs a search for Verity::
coughingpuppy: "DON'T open them all, whatever you do."
SirAlexTheFirst: "Verity Liadon, cell #1. Condition: Stasis. Command:"
AndrewRogue: (And what cell number are we over by?)
Adm H Sopko: ::She hits the command to open the cell::
Adm H Sopko: "CELL NUMBER 1! I'm opening it now!"
SirAlexTheFirst: And yes, the group looking through the cylinders has found the one with him floating in it, looking just like he was when the giant metal people from the sky grabbed him.
AndrewRogue: ~Got him Zao!~
Dark Japheth: *heads over there*
Dark Japheth: <I'm here.>
AndrewRogue: *and Aria waits to hear something on whether we have cell opening or not*
SirAlexTheFirst: The green fluid in the cylinder drains, and one side of it slides open. Verity's body topples stiffly out. It is encased by a rainbow prismy shelllike matrix, and completely stiff and hard.
AndrewRogue: *she catches*
coughingpuppy: Aurelia stares at him. "What's wrong with him?"
AndrewRogue: "Ah... this is like that thing that happened to Bandon!"
AndrewRogue: "Zao, can you break it? I know clerics could do it..."
coughingpuppy: "I may, if he can't, if you tell me what I have to do."
SirAlexTheFirst: There's a slight gurgling noise behind you.
Adm H Sopko: ::Lea runs up, reaching into her pack and pulling out a small rod. She touches it to Verity::
AndrewRogue: "Its... magic I think. You just break the spell thing. The Clerics at the Church of Gabriel could..." *she turns*
Adm H Sopko: It's a Want of Dispel Magic
Adm H Sopko: Wand even
SirAlexTheFirst: Caster level check
*OnlineHost*: Adm H Sopko rolled 1 20-sided die: 12
Adm H Sopko: 22 I think
SirAlexTheFirst: Failure.
Dark Japheth: Behind us?
SirAlexTheFirst: Nothing happens.
Dark Japheth: What is there? Zao turns around.
coughingpuppy: Aurelia looks up at Lea. "Maybe I or Zao-Lot can try."
Adm H Sopko: ::Lea growls and tries again::
AndrewRogue: (So Lea is attempting Spell Busting, Aurelia is trying to help, Zao and Aria are looking towards gugrling... what are soldiers up to?)
SirAlexTheFirst: Lea is not going to succeed.
SirAlexTheFirst: Neither is Aurelia.
SirAlexTheFirst: Zao and Aria see the tank with the previously described reptilian creature drain of its green fluid.
Adm H Sopko: ::When that becomes apparant, Lea puts it away and looks around to see whats going on::
SirAlexTheFirst: A few needles extend from the tank and poke into the creature, which suddenly begins to show signs of life.
coughingpuppy: Aurelia looks at Verity with a sinking feeling, then looks up at the tank the creature is in.
AndrewRogue: ...
AndrewRogue: How heavy is Verity?
Dark Japheth: Zao immediately casts Phantasmal Killer.
coughingpuppy: Aurelia begins pulling the device off of her back. "Maybe the Yarovan can help him. Let's get out of here."
Dark Japheth: On this nasty looking critter.
Dark Japheth: Two saves, DC 24 on both.
Adm H Sopko: ::Lea then looks to Aurelia:: "Right."
SirAlexTheFirst: Verity at the moment? His usual weight +50lbs
Sarcazmo47: So 230.
AndrewRogue: ...Aria attempts to heft him... and I cdan't remember loads.
AndrewRogue: 13 Str... what's the load?
Sarcazmo47: Enough. He's heavy.
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 2 20-sided dice: 16 5
AndrewRogue: Will - Fort <.<
coughingpuppy: Aurelia sets the device on the ground and looks it over to try to figure out how to operate it.
SirAlexTheFirst: HAHAHA.
AndrewRogue: ~We got him Hunter! We're setting the device. Last obstacle looks to be a big lizard but... but I think we can handle it.~
SirAlexTheFirst: The creature shakes its head at Zao's spell, a bit puzzled, then stands up in the cylinder,.
Sarcazmo47: Do it again!
Dark Japheth: Indeed!
Dark Japheth: Actually.
Dark Japheth: Haste.
Dark Japheth: On teh me.
SirAlexTheFirst: The cylinder begins to open... but the creature doesn't care and smashes through, letting loose a feral roar as it charges.
AndrewRogue: I think this necessitates Inits this time.
SirAlexTheFirst: Pinky Rex wants to hug you. Yes.
*OnlineHost*: Adm H Sopko rolled 1 20-sided die: 5
*OnlineHost*: Dark Japheth rolled 1 20-sided die: 8
*OnlineHost*: AndrewRogue rolled 1 20-sided die: 17
AndrewRogue: 14
*OnlineHost*: coughingpuppy rolled 1 20-sided die: 7
Dark Japheth: 12.
Dark Japheth: Wait.
Adm H Sopko: 11
Dark Japheth: 14.
coughingpuppy: 13.
Sarcazmo47: Remember, guys. Strafe, and use the Machine Gun.
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 1 20-sided die: 20
AndrewRogue: (What the hell are our soldiers doing? Oh... that's lovely.)
SirAlexTheFirst: Pinky wins.
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 1 20-sided die: 2
SirAlexTheFirst: The soldiers collectivly lose.
*OnlineHost*: Sarcazmo47 rolled 1 20-sided die: 3
Sarcazmo47: For his round, Verity.....is stasised.
SirAlexTheFirst: BANDON APPEARS!
Sarcazmo47: FUCKING POOF!
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 1 15-sided die: 8
Adm H Sopko: ~Everyone, just get out of here. I don't think I'll be able to make it, but I'm trying.~
SirAlexTheFirst: The creature lunges at one of the poor soldiers...
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 1 20-sided die: 7
SirAlexTheFirst: ..catching him up in its jaws, and....
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 1 20-sided die: 10
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 1 20-sided die: 11
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 1 20-sided die: 4
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 1 20-sided die: 1
SirAlexTheFirst: .....swallowing the screaming man whole.
SirAlexTheFirst: I'm not gonna bother to roll damage for that.
SirAlexTheFirst: I think Aria is up next?
Dark Japheth: Nameless NPC's don't get HP, AC, or a chance to survive.
AndrewRogue: ...well.
Sarcazmo47: This might be a bad time to ask, but, ah.....was there an escape plan?
AndrewRogue: Yes!
AndrewRogue: The backpack!
AndrewRogue: Let's fucking use it!
AndrewRogue: Anyway.
Sarcazmo47: The backpack was an escape plan?
AndrewRogue: For one of us.
Sarcazmo47: No, really. Was there one?
AndrewRogue: I think it was run and pray.
Adm H Sopko: ~Damnit... what can I do to beat her?~
Dark Japheth: <If you cannot, run!>
SirAlexTheFirst: A voice rings out from the backpack; it is Taggart. "Have you got Verity yet? I hope so, if not get clear!"
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 1 20-sided die: 1
SirAlexTheFirst: Aria?
AndrewRogue: ~Hit her!~ *and Aria gulps and rushes the beast to distract it*
AndrewRogue: ...hoo boy.
Dark Japheth: "Aria! Don't!"
AndrewRogue: This is gonna be fucking nifty.
SirAlexTheFirst: Are you doing anything besides moving?
AndrewRogue: Yeah.
AndrewRogue: -6 PA
SirAlexTheFirst: Are you coming within 10 feet of it?
AndrewRogue: Then Trip
AndrewRogue: 10ft even
AndrewRogue: Yes. Aria trips the fucking T-Rex.
SirAlexTheFirst: Hmmm. O...kay.
SirAlexTheFirst: You do that.
AndrewRogue: Its possible.
Dark Japheth: No, but try anyway!
Sarcazmo47: STRAFE AND MACHINE GUN
Sarcazmo47: NOT TRIPPING!
Sarcazmo47: USE THE CHAINSAW!
AndrewRogue: Actually... how big were T-Rex's again?
Dark Japheth: Huge
coughingpuppy: ((About 16 feet tall.))
AndrewRogue: They fall under huge which is... +what on opposed checks?
Sarcazmo47: 8.
Dark Japheth: ...And they have huge strength.
AndrewRogue: *punts* I thought they were smaller.
Dark Japheth: Pray you get a 20 and he gets less than like 10.
AndrewRogue: Ix-nay on the ip-tray
AndrewRogue: Just... hit it.
AndrewRogue: Hard.
*OnlineHost*: AndrewRogue rolled 1 20-sided die: 7
AndrewRogue: 19. I cry.
AndrewRogue: Because AIM lives to spite me.
SirAlexTheFirst: Hit.
AndrewRogue: Nifty
*OnlineHost*: AndrewRogue rolled 2 4-sided dice: 1 4
AndrewRogue: 19
AndrewRogue: "Try and get Verity out or use the bag or whatever!"
coughingpuppy: ((We're in rounds, right?))
AndrewRogue: Yes
AndrewRogue: Meaning Zao goes now.
Dark Japheth: Yep
Dark Japheth: Did the haste go off before combat?
SirAlexTheFirst: The beast bellows at the pain, and looks angry.
SirAlexTheFirst: And no, it did not.
Dark Japheth: Ok.
Sarcazmo47: He casts the spells that makes the peoples fall down.
Dark Japheth: Alrighty.
Dark Japheth: Mirror image still active?
SirAlexTheFirst: Yes.
Dark Japheth: Wonderful
Dark Japheth: Then Zao... hastes.
Dark Japheth: And moves so he's within 15 feet of the beastie.
Dark Japheth: Making himself look MIGHTY TASTY
Dark Japheth: ANd I'm done
Dark Japheth: Still got my five images. One in six chance to eat me, T-Rexy.
SirAlexTheFirst: Next!
AndrewRogue: ACK
AndrewRogue: 17 to hit >_<
AndrewRogue: *took off more than he thought on PA*
Dark Japheth: Aurelia.
Sarcazmo47: Bandon goes on 3.
coughingpuppy: Aurelia looks around at the others. "Taggert said to get clear! Run back to where we came in, NOW."
coughingpuppy: And she will attempt to get the soldiers out the door first. Then I'm done.
SirAlexTheFirst: The soldiers follow orders very well, running the heck away and for the door.
SirAlexTheFirst: Who else?
SirAlexTheFirst: Bandon acts now?
AndrewRogue: Lea.
Dark Japheth: Then teh bandon
Sarcazmo47: Gogo Lea, then!
Adm H Sopko: Lea RUNS!
Dark Japheth: Yay!
Dark Japheth: Running!
Sarcazmo47: I'm a little uncertain of the layout and where Bandon is, but he darts to the nearest downed cyberninja and blows his Cure Serious load.
Dark Japheth: What?
Dark Japheth: ....I'd ask why.. But eh.
Sarcazmo47: You would, wouldn't you?
SirAlexTheFirst: The ninja gasps and gapes, eyes opening again.
*OnlineHost*: Sarcazmo47 rolled 3 8-sided dice: 7 7 4
Sarcazmo47: 28 of the happy healing times.
AndrewRogue: (I thought he was dead ;_;-)
AndrewRogue: *;_; )
Sarcazmo47: You thought wrong. Bitch.
SirAlexTheFirst: (You have no Wisdom and just looked at him.)
Sarcazmo47: And thus, Bandon is done.
AndrewRogue: (She kneeled down and checked, thank you.)
SirAlexTheFirst: And now?
AndrewRogue: (I think its top of the order.)
SirAlexTheFirst: Are we down to 1 init?
SirAlexTheFirst: We are.
SirAlexTheFirst: You know who's at 1 init?
SirAlexTheFirst: Taggart.
Dark Japheth: Yeah.
SirAlexTheFirst: Everyone make Ref saves.
Adm H Sopko: WOO
*OnlineHost*: coughingpuppy rolled 1 20-sided die: 14
*OnlineHost*: Dark Japheth rolled 1 20-sided die: 11
Adm H Sopko: This is Lea's time to shine!
coughingpuppy: 24.
*OnlineHost*: Adm H Sopko rolled 1 20-sided die: 20
AndrewRogue: Including the folks running to the door?
Dark Japheth: 16.
*OnlineHost*: AndrewRogue rolled 1 20-sided die: 18
AndrewRogue: 15
Adm H Sopko: HEH
AndrewRogue: Lea fucking evades.
SirAlexTheFirst: Everyone.
AndrewRogue: WAIT 21!
AndrewRogue: I MEANT 21!
*OnlineHost*: Sarcazmo47 rolled 1 20-sided die: 20
AndrewRogue: ...
Dark Japheth: Zao, I don't think, does. :P
Adm H Sopko: Lea = 47 + Evasion
Sarcazmo47: 36.
SirAlexTheFirst: Anyone getting a 35 or higher takes half damage.
Sarcazmo47: Oh boy!
SirAlexTheFirst: Wow, two people made it.
Adm H Sopko: What about Lea? No damage?
SirAlexTheFirst: Lea takes none.
Sarcazmo47: Oh!
coughingpuppy: ((Aurelia probably dies. She's only at 40 HP right now.))
*OnlineHost*: Sarcazmo47 rolled 1 20-sided die: 11
Sarcazmo47: Verity fails.
AndrewRogue: Verity gets 0!
Dark Japheth: (*has 45 HP, also dies*)
Sarcazmo47: Can Bandon try to shield the cyberninja?
*OnlineHost*: SirAlexTheFirst rolled 15 10-sided dice: 2 5 2 10 7 4 3 6 7 3 6 8 8 9 3
SirAlexTheFirst: Yes.
Sarcazmo47: He shall do so.
AndrewRogue: (Let's see the damage before we die... and can Aria use Protect Others on Zao?)
Sarcazmo47: Thusly failing his save and taking full damage.
AndrewRogue: Since he is, you know, by him?
AndrewRogue: *her
SirAlexTheFirst: Yes.
SirAlexTheFirst: 83 damage in full.
Sarcazmo47: Suuuck!
Dark Japheth: I still die, I think. How much do you take, Aria? 1/4?
coughingpuppy: Yep. The bomb blows up in Aurelia's face.
AndrewRogue: Zao takes... half because of Protect others?
Sarcazmo47: Well, on her back.
SirAlexTheFirst: The backpack's hum increases in volume, and then explodes in a flash of brilliant white light.
SirAlexTheFirst: As if you didn't see that coming.
Sarcazmo47: We did. PC's didn'.
Dark Japheth: I did but it was metagamign.
coughingpuppy: Aurelia has time for a minute of complete shock before getting flung by the explosion.
SirAlexTheFirst: The soldiers are fried.
Adm H Sopko: ::Lea goes flying, tucking and rolling and landing gracefully, turning back to see whats up::
AndrewRogue: (WAAAAIT ONE SECOND)
Sarcazmo47: *waits*
Dark Japheth: If half is taken from protect others, Zao lives with 3 HP. If he takes 1/4, I am at -20 or so and die. :P
Sarcazmo47: No, protect others is where she jumps in the way.
Sarcazmo47: So I think all the PC's live but Aurelia.
Dark Japheth: Oh.
Dark Japheth: .....That... seriously sucks.
Sarcazmo47: INDEED.
Dark Japheth: *hugs*
AndrewRogue: *Aria... does something odd. Her Aura glowing brightly, she takes an almost instinctive rush in the way of the bag. Her aura matches the light of the blast, and seems to expand around her*
coughingpuppy: ((Meh. I was expecting it, honestly.))
Adm H Sopko: ::Lea looks around warily with her gun, for anyone who might be waiting for them::
Sarcazmo47: What, is Aria using Protect Others to jump on the bomb like a marine on a hand grenade?
AndrewRogue: *her Aura shields in an awesome manner and heavily dulls the blast on the allied side of the room*
AndrewRogue: Gooooo Hero Point
Sarcazmo47: Ahhh.
AndrewRogue: I'm thinking no damage for anyone not her.
SirAlexTheFirst: Yeah more or less
Dark Japheth: .....
AndrewRogue: And OMG FUCKING PAIN
AndrewRogue: For her.
Sarcazmo47: I declare that to be a very, very good use of a Hero Point.
SirAlexTheFirst: Aria dies.
Adm H Sopko: ...
Sarcazmo47: AGAIN.
AndrewRogue: How about Hero Point 2?
AndrewRogue: <.<
AndrewRogue: -22 HP maybe?
SirAlexTheFirst: That's not going to bring her back.
Sarcazmo47: Hero Point 2: This Time, it's not Hero Point 1!
SirAlexTheFirst: Try -220.
AndrewRogue: Okay Alex.
AndrewRogue: One thing.
AndrewRogue: I don't mind this.
AndrewRogue: Because its IC.
AndrewRogue: But next time tell me first.
AndrewRogue: K'thanks.
AndrewRogue: Aria. Fucking. Dies. Again.
AndrewRogue: ^_^
Dark Japheth: ....Well. Whats up with the T-Rex?
Adm H Sopko: (Alex? Mab?)
Sarcazmo47: You'd think she'd be used to it by now.
Dark Japheth: Zao will pick up her body. Again.
Dark Japheth: "....Nooo...
Sarcazmo47: Her body? There's a body?
SirAlexTheFirst: (Sorry. I've been almost falling asleep for the last 4 hours...)
Adm H Sopko: ::Lea looks on, horrified:: "No... ARIANNA!"
Adm H Sopko: (S'alright. You've been busy here anyway)
coughingpuppy: Aurelia stares as Aria jumps in front of her and more or less shields her from the blast, and for a good few seconds is completely struck dumb.
Dark Japheth: I hope there is. If not, he'll scoop up some dust or miscellaneous body pieces to get her rezzed.
AndrewRogue: (You know what. I declare HF bond works backwards. Hunter gets it clearly she is dead.)
SirAlexTheFirst: There is certainly not.
Dark Japheth: Ok. Bloody or dusty?
SirAlexTheFirst: The bomb didn't even blow a hole in the ceiling.
SirAlexTheFirst: There's a scorch mark on the floor where Aria stood.
SirAlexTheFirst: The lizard is cooked, badly.
Dark Japheth: "No.... Aria.."
coughingpuppy: Aurelia returns to her senses after a moment, heads over to Verity, picks him up, and makes tracks after the soldiers.
Adm H Sopko: ::Lea grits her teeth, and after a silent farewell, she begins to lead everyone else back out::
Sarcazmo47: Uh...
coughingpuppy: "There's time for mourning after we get out," she tells Zao.
Dark Japheth: Zao will sit there dumbfounded for a second. Then see if he can scrape some of the scorch mark off the floor- anything. And pocket it. Then reactivate invisibility, and follow.
Sarcazmo47: Don't drop out of rounds just yet.
Dark Japheth: "I know."
Dark Japheth: "...But we've got to get something to get her back."
Sarcazmo47: Bandon helps the cyberninja to his feet, and then calls out, "Stop!"
coughingpuppy: "If there were something left of the body, it would be possible, but as it is..."
coughingpuppy: She ignores Bandon and heads for the door to the hallway.
Sarcazmo47: I figured.
AndrewRogue: (Did somebody... pick up Verity?)
Dark Japheth: Zao stops. But he's invisible.
coughingpuppy: ((Aurelia did.))
Sarcazmo47: Aurelia did.
Sarcazmo47: Bandon shakes his head and....
Dark Japheth: (..Would Zao have heard anything about Bandon? And possibly a physical description?)
*OnlineHost*: Sarcazmo47 rolled 1 20-sided die: 7
Dark Japheth: (Cuz that actually would determine if he stops)
Sarcazmo47: Does he spot Bandon?
Sarcazmo47: ...
Sarcazmo47: Ack.
AndrewRogue: (In brief.)
Sarcazmo47: Does he spot Verity?
AndrewRogue: (When Aria mentioned him.)
Dark Japheth: Alright. I assume thats enough.
Dark Japheth: Through telepathy to bandon- <I am here, but unseen, Bandon, priest of Luthien.>
Sarcazmo47: Bandon shouts, "Halt!"
Sarcazmo47: And nine people need to make will saves.
*OnlineHost*: coughingpuppy rolled 1 20-sided die: 2
Dark Japheth: What if they've already stopped?
coughingpuppy: Fuck!
*OnlineHost*: Dark Japheth rolled 1 20-sided die: 6
coughingpuppy: 19.
*OnlineHost*: Adm H Sopko rolled 1 20-sided die: 7
Dark Japheth: (12. Still fails)
Adm H Sopko: 11
Sarcazmo47: Everyone that fails has to stand still for...nine rounds
Sarcazmo47: Bandon is holding up a wounded Cyberninja.
Sarcazmo47: "What the FUCK are you people doing?"
Dark Japheth: <Retrieving Verity.>
coughingpuppy: ((What was the DC, Kirk?))
Sarcazmo47: 26.
coughingpuppy: Aurelia looks very angrily at Bandon and doesn't answer.
Sarcazmo47: "Retrieving him? You're killing people, and the exosuits are waiting for you outside! Lay down your weapons, now!"
Sarcazmo47: Is the cyberninja just kind of leaning on Bandon?
coughingpuppy: "As though nothing will happen to us if we're taken into custody."
SirAlexTheFirst: The ninja is just leaning on Bandon, yeah.
Sarcazmo47: Also, some of the soldiers are not affected.
SirAlexTheFirst: The soldiers are dea- oh wait. True. They're staying still anyways.
AndrewRogue: They better fucking be alive.
Adm H Sopko: ::Lea just watches, since she was pretty far away due to her running and evading moves::
Dark Japheth: <I killed no man.>
Sarcazmo47: "I don't know what you think you're doing, but you're trapped. The teleporters are locked down, the exosuits will cut down anyone that gets outside, and...and..." he looks pissed.
Sarcazmo47: "God damn it, what do you think you're DOING?"
Sarcazmo47: The effect of the command is probably wearing off at this point.
coughingpuppy: "Getting Verity back."
Sarcazmo47: "Back? Back from.....what...."
Dark Japheth: <And what are you doing, Bandon-san? You have allied willingly with these people your friends have sworn to defeat as long as they could rescue Verity.>
coughingpuppy: "From being imprisoned here!"
Sarcazmo47: Bandon looks perplexed.
Sarcazmo47: "He was....in Gelendar...."
Dark Japheth: <Until he was captured. Do you not watch the news?>
coughingpuppy: "Yes, he was." Aurelia looks down at the sparkly body in her arms. "As you can see, he was brought here and now there's something wrong with him."
Sarcazmo47: Yeah, Command is over. Ya'll can move as you wish.
Dark Japheth: Doesn't matter, at this point, Zao isn't moving. Bandon's got a point.
coughingpuppy: Aurelia stays there. She's hoping Bandon can help them get out.
Adm H Sopko: ::Lea will walk over to rejoin the group::
Dark Japheth: Does casting Detect Thoughts on bandon destroy the invisibility?
Sarcazmo47: Bandon blinks. "I...don't know what's going on with Verity..but whatever you're doing, it's not working. I'm taking you into the custody of the Church Of Luthien. Put down your weapons.
Sarcazmo47: "
Dark Japheth: <Will we end up in the tanks, Bandon-san? Or will you turn us over to the Whittyre government?>
AndrewRogue: *a teeny almost thoughtful voice reverberates slightly in the room. Maybe explosion just made ya'll tone deaf* ~Savedthemsavedthemhelpsavethemliveliveli velive~
Dark Japheth: <Aria?!!>
Dark Japheth: *turns to the burn mark*
coughingpuppy: "We didn't know the thing we brought in here would explode."
Sarcazmo47: "I don't know anything about these tanks, whoever you are that's talking to me." He cocks his head at the sound of the voice.
Dark Japheth: <I am Isawa Zao-Lot, of Nagukor. I prefer the term Zao. I found Aria's body.>
Sarcazmo47: "Put your weapons DOWN, or the guards are going to kill you! Put down your weapons and surrender to me!"
Dark Japheth: <And you will guarantee we do not end up as Verity?>
coughingpuppy: Aurelia sets down her bow, watching Bandon. "You swear that we'll be brought to the church instead of to the government here?"
Sarcazmo47: "You're under my protection. The Church deals with this sort of thing. You've been under our care before, if you remember."
coughingpuppy: "Yes, I do." Aurelia calls back to the soldiers, "Put down your weapons."
Dark Japheth: <Yes, I have. But I know not all priests are alike. I will trust you based on your church and the words of your friend Aria.>
Sarcazmo47: Bandon, still supporting the Cyberninja, will step over to a terminal that isn't broken."
Sarcazmo47: Strike that "
Dark Japheth: Zao removes the only weapon he's got on him, a Ring of the Ram. And tosses it to Bandon. All while deactivating invisibility, and turning off the Mirror Image.
coughingpuppy: "Hunter is trapped. You may wish to retrieve him as well."
Sarcazmo47: Bandon doesn't catch it.
Dark Japheth: Oh. Well. "Sorry about that."
Sarcazmo47: "If he's not here, there's nothing I can do for him." To the terminal, "Connect to the ranking Priestess of the Church Of Luthien. Now."
Sarcazmo47: How many living grunts are there?
AndrewRogue: 11?
SirAlexTheFirst: All of em, then
SirAlexTheFirst: 9
SirAlexTheFirst: One got eaten.
AndrewRogue: 5 Got Ninja'd?
AndrewRogue: This makes me sad.
SirAlexTheFirst: I really can't go on anymore
Sarcazmo47: So 9 grunts + Aurelia + Lea + Zao.
AndrewRogue: That makes me very sad.
Sarcazmo47: Then call it a night, boss.
AndrewRogue: ;_;
coughingpuppy: Verity has to be teleported, too.
Sarcazmo47: + Verity.
Sarcazmo47: So thirteen prisoners, total.
Sarcazmo47: Anyway, we shall stop there.
Sarcazmo47: With the party surrendering to freaking Bandon
AndrewRogue: That makes me sad considering I am now totally wound up.
Dark Japheth: ....If only Chrome was on.
Dark Japheth: THen I'd run DAoA. :P
Dark Japheth: For y'alls if yah wanted it.
coughingpuppy: It's sleeptime for me, I think...
Dark Japheth: Aww. Ok. Good night.
Sarcazmo47: Indeed.
Sarcazmo47: Did Alex just pass out?
Dark Japheth: I... I think so.
coughingpuppy: I think he may have.
AndrewRogue: Bummer.
Sarcazmo47: Interesting.
Sarcazmo47: I guess we're halted.
Dark Japheth: He needs a coffee injection.
AndrewRogue: -220 HP
AndrewRogue: I declare a new record.
coughingpuppy: Thanks for saving my ass, by the way, Andrew.
Dark Japheth: We can always do RP not involving important DM stuff.