Winona - Doohan Mission

[01:57] <Roland[DM]> ==BEGIN! AGAIN!==
[01:58] <Roland[DM]> Let's start it off right with a charisma roll. Persuasion/diplomacy if you like
[01:58] <Winona> 13+2=15
[01:59] <Roland[DM]> He considers your proposition... "How can I trust you when it's YOUR ship parked out there? How can I know you're not in league with the Disrupters?"
[02:00] <Winona> You quirk a brow at him, amused. "☆|| Praetor, if i were against you, why would i help your men escape the Disrupters and come into your territory, alone and under my own power?"
[02:01] <Winona> "☆|| or assist them at all?"
[02:01] == Roland_Mobile [uid122637@id-122637.brockwell.irccloud.com] has joined #RPGStuck_Orwell
[02:01] <Roland[DM]> ((In case I need him))
[02:02] <Winona> ((Shit I didn't bring a paster.))
[02:02] <Roland[DM]> ((>tfw you're on esper))
[02:02] <Roland[DM]> Anywho...
[02:03] <Roland[DM]> "Very well. Once again, I've no clue why I give a suspected felon agency of this nature, but I shall." he says, semi-blankly. Roll... insight, I believe.
[02:03] <Winona> 19+4=23. Nona's got his number.
[02:03] <Roland[DM]> Oh, not HIS number.
[02:04] <Roland[DM]> This is to stop events from skipping forward again as your vision flickers.
[02:04] <Winona> Maybe not yet. Ye of little faith.
[02:04] <Roland[DM]> RESYNCHRONIZING MEMORY...
[02:04] <Roland[DM]> ((Sorry; I've always wanted to say that for some reason))
[02:05] <Winona> You blink, a little dazed. What..?
[02:05] <Roland[DM]> He ends the "dinner", though it can be said that you didn't enjoy much food, by snapping his fingers.
[02:06] <Roland[DM]> Servants come in and collect the plates. NOW you can roll insight to get some numbers, so to speak.
[02:06] <Winona> When was there dinner? Not that you're hungry, but you don't recall being FED.
[02:06] <Winona> You've been had!
[02:06] <Winona> 14+4=18 to collect numbers.
[02:06] <Roland[DM]> ((AHAHAHA! YOU EXPECTED DINNER, BUT IT WAS I! DIO!))
[02:07] <Roland[DM]> Perfect. I coulda also made you roll perception, but I think you're proficient in both.
[02:07] <Winona> That'd be a yep.
[02:07] <Roland[DM]> You catch one particularly disgruntled looking servant.
[02:07] <Winona> Maybe he was also hoping for dinner.
[02:07] <Winona> Poor soul.
[02:07] <Roland[DM]> He looks so disgruntled, you might even suspect it's... *puts on sunglasses* disruptive. YEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!
[02:09] <Winona> "☆|| well then Praetor," You begin as you push out your chair and resist the urge to slip on your shades and say something terrifically corny, "☆|| thank you kindly for ''''dinner.''' ...and for confirming i'm a suspected felon. may need to quote you on that later."
[02:09] <Roland[DM]> "Well, suspected in the sense that you've parked your ship in orbit over the mines."
[02:09] <Roland[DM]> "The silicon nodule mines."
[02:10] <Roland[DM]> "Where we produce the silicon nodules that fuel our valued way of life."
[02:10] <Roland[DM]> He sounds like he's reminding himself more than you.
[02:10] <Roland[DM]> But it's the sort of writing that can be expected from a scenario such as this one.
[02:10] <Winona> "☆|| where my Engineer went missing, and have otherwise made no effort to interrupt your valued way of life." You helpfully remind him.
[02:11] <Roland[DM]> "Yes, ye-WAIT A SECOND! DON'T YOU GET A WILY ON ME."
[02:11] <Roland[DM]> He seems incensed. It may be best to take advantage of your newfound, inexplicable agency and make yourself scarce.
[02:12] <Winona> "☆|| me? wiles? never!" You play it up, all breathy and wide eyes, but otherwise bow your head to the Praetor and excuse yourself.
[02:13] <Roland[DM]> "I'M WATCHING YOU, CAPTAIN. ALLLLLLWAYS WATCHING."
[02:13] <Roland[DM]> Anyway, let's put some XP on your sheet for the dinner.
[02:13] <Roland[DM]> Get 30 XP for now. We'll work on more later.
[02:13] <Winona> "☆|| don't you worry, i'm used to the attention! watch to your heart's content." You can't help yourself.
[02:14] <Roland[DM]> wew that was awful
[02:14] <Roland[DM]> What will you do now?
[02:15] <Winona> Start down the hall, then find a way to follow the servants. Seems you're on your own for so much as gathering information about what was stolen, from where, and how.
[02:16] <Roland[DM]> Those would probably be problems.
[02:16] <Winona> You'd think he wanted to make a federal fucking issue of this mess.
[02:16] <Roland[DM]> Tell ya what, roll me a couple of perception checks.
[02:16] <Winona> Define a couple?
[02:17] <Roland[DM]> Two
[02:17] <Winona> 8+4=12 and 18+4=22
[02:18] <Roland[DM]> Nice. You catch the disgruntled gentlecorgi slipping down a hallway not too far away from the dining hall.
[02:18] <Roland[DM]> He has not noticed you yet.
[02:18] <Winona> Has anybody else noticed you at the current moment?
[02:18] <Winona> Are you alone? Can stealthery be afoot?
[02:19] <Roland[DM]> Stealthery can be afoot.
[02:19] <Roland[DM]> But, if you prefer, it can also be ahand.
[02:19] <Roland[DM]> By ahand I mean using a hand to roll the stealth die
[02:19] <Winona> Fantastic. Practically giddy with glee, you uncaptcha your box, get under it, and get to sneaking.
[02:19] <Roland[DM]> Oh my god
[02:20] <Winona> ....
[02:20] <Roland[DM]> I
[02:20] <Winona> It gets better.
[02:20] <Roland[DM]> I need a moment
[02:20] <Winona> TOO BAD NAT 20 TO STEALTH
[02:20] <Roland[DM]> Can I just let you win everything
[02:20] <Roland[DM]> Okay okay okay, I clearly can't do that
[02:20] <Winona> Aw shucks.
[02:21] <Roland[DM]> What I CAN do is give you another 20 XP
[02:21] <Winona> We take that.
[02:21] <Roland[DM]> Because... The box. You came inside the box (hue hue hue).
[02:21] <Winona> -facepalm-
[02:22] <Roland[DM]> Hm. While you follow this gentlecorgi, occasionally pausing and lowering the box so passing guards can completely ignore it, roll perception for me.
[02:22] <Winona> 3+4=7. Suppose I can handle that after a 20 for box stealth.
[02:23] <Roland[DM]> You're not perceiving anything terribly important anyway. Just... what's that taped to the interior of your box?
[02:23] <Winona> Hn?
[02:23] <Roland[DM]> It's an old-timey picture of a grubslinger, grinning brilliantly and giving you a thumbs up!
[02:23] <Winona> You feel a surge of pride.
[02:24] <Roland[DM]> Written on it in messy cursive? "Yer welcome, cully!" Signed: Roland Orwell
[02:24] <Winona> ....And now you're a little confused, and this is now weird.
[02:25] <Roland[DM]> AC: I got the sudden impression that something awful just wronged the universe after a moment of beauty.
[02:25] <Roland[DM]> AC: Is this feeling normal?
[02:25] <Roland[DM]> ((Messages from Harken))
[02:25] <Winona> Who stowed their signed autograph of Roland in the storage room at the compound and forgot about it? Monsters!
[02:25] <Winona> RR: ☆|| mmmnah, all's well on my end.
[02:26] <Winona> RR: ☆|| then again, hard to have it bad where i am.
[02:26] <Roland[DM]> AC: Alright. Lemme know if you need anything. I'm debating the wisdom of picking a fight with these angels.
[02:26] <Roland[DM]> AC: Trigger finger's been a bit itchy of late. I'm worried about getting... rusty, shall we say.
[02:26] <Winona> RR: ☆|| then shoot em up, Deadeye. what's stopping you?
[02:27] <Roland[DM]> AC: *Okay.*
[02:27] <Roland[DM]> * abrasiveCaliginist is now away.
[02:27] <Winona> RR: ☆|| you can do it, Cully. i believe in you.
[02:28] <Roland[DM]> In the interest of using our time efficiently, you follow this disgruntled unicorgi to... a dead end? He's gone!
[02:28] <Roland[DM]> You didn't see him deviate from the path. You are one hundred percent certain he turned down this hallway.
[02:28] <Winona> You must have missed him turning somewhere while you were pocketing the autographed photo.
[02:29] <Roland[DM]> Nope, you weren't even 100 feet behind him.
[02:29] <Roland[DM]> He definitely came HERE.
[02:29] <Winona> Huh. You peek around for other souls. Or places he could have vanished to.
[02:29] <Roland[DM]> Roll investigation.
[02:30] <Winona> Yeah that's a 4.
[02:30] <Roland[DM]> Yeah that's nothin' doin' is what it is.
[02:31] <Winona> You get the feeling the box has done all it can for you, so you climb on out.
[02:31] <Winona> Patting it in thanks for it's loyal service.
[02:32] <Roland[DM]> But, when we eliminate the impossible (i.e.: he turned around and left before you got here), whatever remains, no matter how implausible, must, in fact, be possible.
[02:32] <Roland[DM]> Pick a skill and roll it, describing what you do before you roll.
[02:33] <Roland[DM]> Bear in mind: some options are more retarded than others lmao
[02:34] <Winona> No such thing as impossible! ...But seriously yeah what's in this dead end? You start feeling along objects you find, or failing that features of the crown molding, using slight of hand to try and detect anything you can trigger.
[02:35] <Roland[DM]> That's an interesting choice. Not a retarded choice, but an interesting one. Roll it for... thoroughness? The solution of this """"puzzle"""" may disappoint you in that sense.
[02:35] <Winona> 11+4=15 to give that a go, and my won't you look stupid if 'secret tunnel' isn't the answer here.
[02:36] <Winona> You'd just be feeling up wall, is what.
[02:36] <Roland[DM]> Not secret tunnel: as you come to the end, you find that the end of the hallway is, in fact, illusory.
[02:36] <Roland[DM]> It's like platform 9 and 3/4 but for space and stuff
[02:38] <Winona> Ooo. Handy. This is absolutely something you would do if you could set up illusions, so you can applaud good concealment.
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[02:39] <Roland[DM]> Rather boringly, the only thing beyond the illusory wall is more hallway. It seems the only option is to follow it, as one does with hallways.
[02:40] <Winona> Quick! Back to the box!
[02:40] <Winona> ...It's worked for you so far.
[02:41] <Roland[DM]> Of course. tbqh I'm just going to give you the stealth nat 20 you rolled as two servants walk past with nary a second look at the box. The only indication they notice it at all is a series of exclamations aimed at a "david", whoever that may be.
[02:43] <Winona> That's.. Odd. But alright, you'll take it. Neither of them are disgruntled unicorgi, you take it?
[02:44] <Roland[DM]> Not the disgruntled droid-er, unicorgi you're looking for.
[02:45] <Winona> Lets continue on then. Only so long until SOMEBODY questions the moving box. ..Or where the alien captain went.
[02:45] <Roland[DM]> If you're continuing to follow the hallway, you'll notice that it's becoming considerably less extravagant as you go on. Fancy marble flooring gives way to crappy stone.
[02:45] <Roland[DM]> Like limestone or some shit. I dunno what they put in these.
[02:45] <Winona> Can always roll to identify the stonework.
[02:46] <Roland[DM]> That assumes that I'd have an answer to the question; stonework is not my forte.
[02:47] <Winona> The temptation to roll anyway and be a geology nerd is stifled then.
[02:47] <Roland[DM]> My apologies.
[02:48] <Roland[DM]> Ah, hell, roll it anyway. I can at least tell you where you might have seen similar stone. Wisdom, methinks.
[02:48] <Winona> Anyway, it'd be odder if the secret hidden pathway with just servants in it was all polished and fancy, really.
[02:48] <Winona> 11+3=14 to recall memories of stonework.
[02:49] <Winona> Pumice, y/n?
[02:50] <Roland[DM]> Suffice it to say, not pumice, lessin' you wanna roll sanity for me. You probably saw similar stonework in whatever the troll equivalent of ancient Jerusalem is.
[02:50] <Roland[DM]> Shall we continue down the hallway, you think?
[02:51] <Winona> Ahh yes. The tomb of the sufferer. ..Minus the blood paint.
[02:52] <Winona> Yes, continue. Though now you're kinda bummed thinking about how that ruin, and every other ruin you ever explored, is probably rubble now.
[02:52] <Roland[DM]> Don't be bummed; troll jesus' ruins live on in your heart as you roll perception.
[02:53] <Roland[DM]> please
[02:53] <Winona> 15+4=19. You do believe in troll jegus! You do, you do!
[02:54] <Roland[DM]> It's music. Someone's playing a fiddle like, well... A DAMN FIDDLE.
[02:55] <Winona> You've been known to be drawn to random musicians before. This is not the time to break that pattern. That being said, you're going to continue to stealth it up as you do so.
[02:56] <Roland[DM]> Roll it
[02:57] <Winona> 10+4=14 to creep up under cover of fiddle.
[02:59] <Roland[DM]> It works. There's no dancing. The fiddler plays something more mournful, and you can hear someone complaining: "See, I don't get why they have all the pretty stuff when we have to live in this squalor!"
[02:59] <Roland[DM]> Another replies: "You think this is bad? I've seen how the Terruvians live."
[02:59] <Roland[DM]> He shudders: "They just live in the caves, like lizards or something..."
[02:59] <Roland[DM]> "Isn't there something funny about those caves?"
[03:00] <Roland[DM]> "I can only hope you don't mean 'haha' funny..."
[03:00] <Roland[DM]> The conversation continues for quite some time. You can roll perception to get a look into the room for your man.
[03:00] <Winona> "☆|| Terruvians, eh?" You decide to interupt. ..Not moving from your box for giggles. "☆|| figured Disrupters sounded a fair bit like propaganda."
[03:01] <Roland[DM]> Bold move, cotton. Let's see how it plays out for her.
[03:02] <Roland[DM]> It's time now to roll charisma.
[03:02] <Winona> Eh, stealth gets boring after too long.
[03:02] <Winona> And really, it's dishonest with friendly folk.
[03:03] <Winona> 18+2=20 as you pop up out of your box, leaning against the rim like you're honestly just fixing to join the chat.
[03:03] <Roland[DM]> "You're that captain." The disgruntled guy-I'm gonna start calling him Bob-says.
[03:04] <Roland[DM]> His words are coarse and curt. Like socializing is almost entirely foreign to him. He sounds like a cro-magnon man might have sounded if he spoke English.
[03:04] <Winona> "☆|| my reputation proceeds me!" You laugh with a cheeky little salute. "☆|| sorry to say i don't know your name, friend."
[03:04] <Roland[DM]> He looks at you for a moment. Then grunts and returns to... it looks like he was whittling something.
[03:04] <Roland[DM]> Roll perception.
[03:05] <Winona> 14+4=18
[03:05] <Roland[DM]> He was carving a little pony!
[03:05] <Roland[DM]> It's so cute!
[03:06] <Winona> D'aw, pony!
[03:06] <Roland[DM]> As a bonus to your roll, you can see a bunch of other cute animals on a table by his bunk.
[03:06] <Roland[DM]> Puppies and kittens and birdies and otters and so on
[03:07] <Winona> "☆|| gracious, but you're handy with a whittling knife. you do all that for fun?"
[03:07] <Roland[DM]> He grunts, turning away from you.
[03:08] <Roland[DM]> "Listen," one of the others says, "about him..."
[03:08] <Winona> "☆|| what about him?"
[03:09] <Roland[DM]> The others pull you aside. "He's... He's what the higher-ups call a 'reformed one'. He's had all the 'therapies'."
[03:09] <Winona> You frown ever so slightly. "☆|| reformed? from what, if you'll pardon my ignorance?"
[03:10] <Roland[DM]> One of them looks around, really careful, like anyone could be listening, then says, "He's a former Disrupter."
[03:11] <Roland[DM]> "They caught him and 'treated' him for his 'ailment.'"
[03:12] <Winona> "☆|| ..and what 'ailment' do they say he had?" You don't like this. But you're asking anyway.
[03:12] <Roland[DM]> They look at you like you're being a moron: "Being a disrupter. Duh."
[03:12] <Roland[DM]> Then one of them gives some pause.
[03:13] <Roland[DM]> "Fellas, don't you think it's weird that they apparently successfully 'treated' an *ideology?*"
[03:14] <Winona> "☆|| ..where i come from, that's not really a 'cure' so much as forcing somebody to bow to your way."
[03:15] <Winona> "☆|| on the brighter side, having the wrong ideology has been known to get a body culled there, so it's an improvement."
[03:15] <Roland[DM]> "Well, naw, you don't *get it.* He goes in, raging and violent, comes out after about a day of screaming just... mild as you can imagine, albeit slightly cranky."
[03:15] <Roland[DM]> "Not even screaming in pain, neither."
[03:15] <Roland[DM]> "Yeah, just angry screaming."
[03:15] <Roland[DM]> "Sounded like he was more upset he'd been caught than anything."
[03:16] <Winona> "☆|| well, wouldn't you be?" You reason to the bunch of them.
[03:16] <Roland[DM]> "Yeah, sure, but we don't think it was torture that made him scream is the point."
[03:16] <Winona> "☆|| say the Disrupters caught you, and told you they were fixing to make you one of them. you'd be a mite pissed too."
[03:16] <Roland[DM]> "We know what Cirran torture sounds like, and that ain't it."
[03:17] <Winona> "☆|| more the screaming in pain sort, eh?"
[03:17] <Roland[DM]> "It wasn't screaming in pain, neither."
[03:18] <Winona> "☆|| then what does Cirran torture sound like?"
[03:18] <Roland[DM]> They look at each other.
[03:18] <Roland[DM]> oh my god look at that d20 oh no the closer i get the more i realize it is actually a full-grown roll charisma jesus christ how horrifying
[03:19] <Winona> 11+2=13, if I translated that right?
[03:19] <Roland[DM]> lmao yeah
[03:19] <Roland[DM]> "Well," one asks, convinced of your status as 'not really an asshole', "wouldja like to find out?"
[03:20] <Roland[DM]> The others chastise him: "Don't be so callow!" and "Really, you'll scare her!"
[03:21] <Winona> "☆|| well that depends, Cully." You remark, trying to keep it lighthearted, "☆|| are you a practitioner of the dark Cirran torture arts, inviting me in for a session?"
[03:21] <Roland[DM]> "Naw naw naw! Nothin' like that!" he sounds young. The troll analogue would be about five sweeps old. "I just know where they do it, s'all."
[03:23] <Winona> "☆|| that so?" What the hell does this kid get up to? "☆|| awful dangerous place to be, ain't it? how'd you find that?"
[03:25] <Roland_Mobile> "I know the whole palace!" He says proudly before being bapped on the back of the head by an older unicorgi.
[03:25] <Roland_Mobile> "Really, he means well, and he's just playing around. Ain'tcha?"
[03:25] <Roland_Mobile> "Naw! I'm true, I'm true!"
[03:27] <Winona> "☆|| i am a mite confused." You admit, tilting your head to put off the air of one perplexed, "☆|| i'd heard you all were peaceful folk. did i hear wrong?"
[03:27] <Roland_Mobile> "Well, you didn't *hear* wron-" WHAP.
[03:28] <Roland_Mobile> "The official explanation-which you'll mind if you've one of your own-is that it's complicated." The oldest one says.
[03:29] <Winona> "☆|| ah." You nod, understanding. "☆|| of course, right. nothing's simple, is it?"
[03:30] <Roland_Mobile> "Real question is why you're here. Most folks don't even find the servants' quarters, much less strike up a conversation with us."
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[03:32] <Winona> "☆|| i've a keen eye for hidden places, and a keener ear for good music." You shrug, then nod to the fiddle player. "☆|| the Praetor, for all his pomp, didn't offer much of a friendly welcome besides."
[03:34] <Roland_Mobile> >tfw "keen eye"="stumbled through an illusory wall" lmao
[03:34] <Winona> There was a check! The stumbling was totally purposeful!
[03:34] <Roland_Mobile> Lmao gain 10 XP cause that was just funny
[03:34] <Winona> You've a keen hand for hidden passages!
[03:35] <Winona> ......I shoulda thought before typing that.
[03:35] <Roland_Mobile> As I'm certain several trolls can attest.
[03:36] <Winona> Attest, not complain, mind.
[03:36] <Roland_Mobile> Bob continues whittling. It looks like they're waiting for you to do or say something worth consuming their valuable free time over.
[03:39] <Winona> After a moment, you cave. "☆|| so, since he wasn't much help, i figured i'd come to all of you. everyone who's anyone knows the help are the ones with the actual skinny on going ons like theft and intrigue."
[03:39] <Roland_Mobile> Hello?
[03:39] <Roland_Mobile> Ah
[03:40] <Roland_Mobile> ">tfw you're just the help-" WHAP
[03:41] <Roland_Mobile> "Theft... You talking about the silicon nodules?"
[03:41] <Roland_Mobile> The speaker, surprisingly, is bob.
[03:42] <Winona> "☆|| i am." You confirm, feeling bad for the poor mouthy kid. "☆|| seems it's on me to hunt them down. only i know next to nothing about the case."
[03:43] <Roland_Mobile> He beckons the loudmouth, who tentatively shuffles forward, then delicately puts the pony in his hand.
[03:43] <Roland_Mobile> Then he stands up, walks past you and beckons: "follow".
[03:45] <Winona> "☆|| ..i do appreciate the strong, silent types." You quip, standing and packing away your box. You pat the kid's head on your way out. "☆|| thank you kindly for your time, folks. sorry to interrupt."
[03:47] <Roland[DM]> Without delay, he leads you out of the servants' quarters and through the elaborate main hallways. There are all sorts of incredible works of art and sculptures and books and stuff.
[03:48] <Roland[DM]> Eventually, he takes you through another illusory wall. Roll wisdom for me, please.
[03:48] <Winona> 10+4=14
[03:48] <Roland[DM]> It'll be sufficient for now.
[03:49] <Winona> Well.. Alright then.
[03:49] <Roland[DM]> If you thought the servants' quarters looked rather shoddy and unwelcoming, this takes it to a whole different level.
[03:49] <Winona> Hey, who said unwelcoming? You, you like a little rough around the edges.
[03:49] <Roland[DM]> The temperature drops several degrees the moement you step beyond the illusory wall, and the air is rent with a shriek.
[03:49] <Roland[DM]> It's dark, so bob takes up a torch, and bids you to continue following.
[03:50] <Winona> You cringe. That's.. more than a little rough.
[03:50] <Roland[DM]> Well, that, and it sounded like Doohan.
[03:50] <Winona> "☆|| this'll be that tortue, the-aw hell naw." You scowl.
[03:50] <Winona> "☆|| can you take me to where he is?"
[03:51] <Roland[DM]> Bob never actually stopped walking, though you do detect him nodding.
[03:52] <Winona> "☆|| thank you. ..i would have played along, if they'd kindly refrained from beating a body." You feel the need to explain yourself through gritted fangs.
[03:53] <Roland[DM]> Bob suddenly tenses up, then dashes to hide behind a column.
[03:54] <Roland[DM]> You can probably guess what's happening right now.
[03:54] <Roland[DM]> Conceal yourself!
[03:54] <Winona> Best follow the guy that knows what he's doing. There another column?
[03:54] <Roland[DM]> Yes
[03:54] <Winona> That'll be yours, then.
[03:55] <Roland[DM]> Roll stealth, I reckon. Do so with advantage.
[03:56] <Winona> You duck behind it, kinda wishing you could do something more concealing than a pillar. Maybe you're just spoiled by those illusory walls. 18+5=23
[03:57] <Roland[DM]> Four guards march past in a neat, orderly square. Looks like they're headed out for their shift. Roll insight.
[03:58] <Winona> 13+4=17
[03:59] <Roland[DM]> ...which means others will be coming BACK from their shift pretty soon. Bob gets to walking, intent on making as much progress as he can before that happens.
[04:00] <Winona> You stick close, eyes on the scenery as you go, looking for good places to dart behind as you whisper. "☆|| not looking to get you in trouble here, friend. turn back when you must. i'm sure i can follow the screams."
[04:01] <Roland[DM]> As you get decently close to the screaming, bob tenses up again. There's only one column, though... Hm, what to do, what to do...
[04:03] <Winona> Shit. Shit shit shit-you'll do what you can, is what. You give him a nudge to get behind the pillar, press yourself to the wall opposite, and pray it's dark enough or the guards dumb enough. ...Then for some strange reason the wall appears to grow around you like a pocket.
[04:04] <Winona> Call it my first use of Lose: Perception.
[04:04] <Roland[DM]> Alright. Roll concentration.
[04:05] <Winona> 17+3=20. Thank you dice, Imma treat you extra nice.
[04:06] <Roland[DM]> It's easy enough to maintain (and roll with the idea that the wall just swallowed you up like a pill). Another four guards head inwards, and this is when bob gets a little frantic. He gestures you to hurry along quickly, but quietly.
[04:08] <Winona> Hold up, need to deal with with part where you were just swallowed into the wall once you hear they've marched off. Heart thumping, you reach out to touch the new section of wall... only for it to pass right on through, then the new wall to fall apart before your eyes, the pieces vanishing to nothing.
[04:08] <Winona> "☆|| ..what in the what."
[04:09] <Roland[DM]> Hm. Take your time. There are other ways to handle this infiltration.
[04:11] <Winona> Sorry, just had to take a second to cope with the realization that either a-the wall just illusioned you behind it, or b-you just made a damn illusory section of wall. ..You're not sure which you believe right now. The latter is giving you some minor heart palpitations however, so you'll clamp down on that panic attack, put it with the others, and
[04:11] <Winona> go.
[04:12] <Winona> .....It occurs to me that you may be tempted to use your favorite words right now.
[04:12] <Roland[DM]> What, roll sanity?
[04:12] <Winona> Exactly those.
[04:12] <Roland[DM]> eh fuck it, why not
[04:13] <Roland[DM]> Roll sanity
[04:13] <Winona> I wouldn't want to deprive you. 6+3=9.
[04:13] <Roland[DM]> You now know kung fu for some reason.
[04:14] <Winona> "☆|| ...i know kung fuu.." You whisper under your breath for.. Fuck, you don't even know why. But you do.
[04:14] <Roland[DM]> Gain the fistkind specibus, way of the crane, where T=3 for the next one hour.
[04:14] <Winona> ....I'll uh. Welp, I'll just go dig that up.
[04:15] <Roland[DM]> Hey, look: scrubs you can try it out on. A couple of Cirran guards look terribly confused as to why you just came out of the wall. Bob appears to be growling at them.
[04:16] <Winona> "☆|| ..down boy. i got this." You pat his shoulder, smile, and wave for the gentlecorns as you size them up.
[04:16] <Roland[DM]> Oh, yeah, and let's allow you to use a 1d4 block as a reaction on your turn with fistkind, and allow you to add wisdom to your damage rolls.
[04:16] <Winona> .....Jesus fuck Bill I'm still hunting the fistkind.
[04:17] <Roland[DM]> There's bonus experience involved if you do your best Bruce Lee impression with a charisma roll.
[04:25] <Winona> (17+2=19) Sadly, going shirtless is not an option, but you dramatically throw off your duster, bust out a pair of metal poles from the popup tent in your sylladex, and brandish them as you strike your most badass kung fu pose. "☆|| HWA-CHAAA!"
[04:26] <Roland[DM]> hahaha, this is great
[04:26] <Roland[DM]> Roll initiative
[04:27] <Winona> I'm torn between asking if that counts as succeeding on a charisma based roll immediately before attacking, and assuming ditching the duster meant I lost out on the ability.
[04:27] <Winona> ...Also, a whopping 2+3=5 initiative.
[04:28] <Winona> Wasting time on the pose was totes werf though.
[04:29] <Roland[DM]> Both of those dudes are going first.
[04:29] <Roland[DM]> They pull out batons of some sort, then advance on you.
[04:29] <Roland[DM]> You DO have a block. If you wanna use it, roll a d4
[04:29] <Winona> BRING IT! YOU KNOW KUNG FU! YOU CAN MAKE ILLUSIONS. YOU ARE A CAPTAIN! HWAAAAAAA
[04:30] <Winona> 4 on a d4.
[04:30] <Roland[DM]> Not bad. Neither hits, and now it's your turn.
[04:30] <Roland[DM]> It penalizes one attack. By default, I assign it to the highest.
[04:30] <Winona> Ahh.
[04:31] <Roland[DM]> Unless you have a particular dude you'd like to block in any scenario, anyway.
[04:31] <Roland[DM]> In any case, it's your turn.
[04:31] <Roland[DM]> You know kung fu.
[04:32] <Roland[DM]> Your fists. Their faces. Make it happen.
[04:32] <Winona> Right then, uh.. Welp, guess you're gonna do some kickass nonsensically over the top cool twist and pivot against the successful block and fly in to sock that dude in the face at least one time. Twice if that's possible, because I know jack and shit about fistkind.
[04:33] <Roland[DM]> Fistkind: everything else is a normal attack, "punch" is a combo, meaning if you use punch, you can use it again for your minor action.
[04:34] <Roland[DM]> The damage for your minor is unmodified
[04:35] <Winona> 11+4+1(if considered proficient, but then, you know kung fu)=16 to hit, and 12+4+1=17 to hit with the minor, or correct me if I need to subtract anything.
[04:35] <Roland[DM]> Perfectly adequate.
[04:35] <Roland[DM]> Roll damage. T=3
[04:35] <Roland[DM]> So it should be 3d4 per punch. For your major, you can add wis to the damage as though you had insightful attacks and maximum BP
[04:36] <Winona> ..Now to get this straight.. You want me to add dex AND wis?
[04:36] <Winona> Huh.
[04:36] <Roland[DM]> I'm just enjoying goofing off
[04:36] <Winona> Just clarifying.
[04:37] <Winona> 3+4+3=10 for major, 4+4=8 for minor, and what the fuck is happening to Nona right now jesus christ.
[04:37] <Winona> Insert your own kung-fu movie sound effects here.
[04:39] <Roland[DM]> KERCHOW! You hit the guy with a palm strike to the chest and send him FLYING as his buddy comes in for another strike (which you can totally block with a reaction).
[04:40] <Winona> Only a 1 to block, but you'll totally try.
[04:40] <Roland[DM]> Ach, sorry; it didn't work. THAT SAID, you only take 3 damage, so that's worth it. That, and he, I dunno, chipped a nail or something.
[04:42] <Winona> You wag a finger, playfully mocking his silly chipped nail, and spin around for a good backhand and followup strike to his kidneys, or chi point, or god who even knows anymore.
[04:42] <Winona> But you believe you know. Because apparently you just do.
[04:43] <Roland[DM]> HWAAAAAA CHA! Roll your attacks
[04:43] <Winona> 9+4+1=14 to hit, and 11+4+1=16 for the 'chi blocker special.'
[04:44] <Winona> You may or may not have announced that attack as you did it.
[04:44] <Roland[DM]> 'ow perfectly... adequate
[04:44] <Roland[DM]> Roll damage
[04:44] <Winona> 3+4+3=10 for the major, 1+4=5 for the minor.
[04:45] <Roland[DM]> those d4s...
[04:45] <Roland[DM]> Still, these guys were statted to be knocked out pretty fast.
[04:45] <Winona> Never roll 2s, apparently.
[04:46] <Roland[DM]> The guy buckles on the spot, despite how trash D4s are, and collapses.
[04:47] <Winona> You grin, rabbit punch the air a few times in your best Vera impression, and straighten up. "☆|| next time you'll be eating worse than fists."
[04:47] <Roland[DM]> *eyeroll*
[04:47] <Roland[DM]> Gain 25 xp
[04:47] <Winona> ...Looking down, it seems that guy chipped his nail ripping up your overshirt. "☆|| dangit, i go through these like tissues.."
[04:49] <Winona> You go to retrieve your coat.. Then put away your tent. That was kinda silly.
[04:49] <Roland_Mobile> >H-how...?
[04:49] <Roland_Mobile> >I don't know, okay?! I'm working on it!
[04:50] <Roland_Mobile> Roll perception, lest we forget why we're here.
[04:50] <Winona> 17+4=21
[04:50] <Roland[DM]> You see what looks like a keycard hanging off of the closest guard's belt.
[04:51] <Winona> You ignore the narration apparently having an argument with itself, and help yourself to a keycard. "☆|| ..we should maybe shove the stiffs, hm? any broom closets nearby?"
[04:52] <Roland[DM]> Bob shakes his head.
[04:52] <Roland[DM]> Sounds like your time is limited.
[04:53] <Winona> "☆|| ain't that always the way. we'll need to hurry then. lead on."
[04:54] <Roland[DM]> We are now beyond walking. We have progressed into the realm of... dun dun dun! Trotting!
[04:55] <Roland[DM]> Bob trots to a door. Interestingly, there's a keycard reader to the right of said door.
[04:56] <Winona> You pause before slotting the obvious card into the obvious hole. "☆|| ..don't suppose you're handy with any weapons, are you?"
[04:57] <Roland[DM]> He has, interestingly, gone back and picked up a baton without a word.
[04:57] <Winona> "☆|| good man. ..i was going to offer a flamethrower, but good man."
[04:58] <Winona> You unlock the door and push it open dramatically.
[04:59] <Roland[DM]> Either side is lined with cells. They look kind of shoddy, almost like they're made out of papier-mache, but testing one just reveals that that's the aesthetic they like here.
[05:00] <Winona> Who's in them?
[05:00] <Roland[DM]> You hear someone singing The Bonnie Banks O' Loch-Lomond down the way, as an answer.
[05:02] <Winona> You waver, but.. Dammit, pull of music, why must you be so perfectly romantic? You glance into cells as you race down the way, looking for other occupants,
[05:04] <Roland[DM]> Well, interestingly enough, this is where things sort of start to go off the rails.
[05:05] <Roland[DM]> The cells are full of hanging, draining corpses. Roll sanity.
[05:05] <Roland[DM]> >How did things get so out of hand?! What were you DOING?! >I dunno, she just-
[05:06] <Winona> 12+3=15, and either way the color will be draining from your face.
[05:06] <Roland[DM]> ((We are so far off of Allie's original rails it ain't even funny))
[05:07] <Winona> ((I'd laugh, but I don't even know how close we are and just prepare to apologize profusely.))
[05:07] <Roland[DM]> The place shakes, as though from an explosion, but the singing persists, slow and quiet. The corpses have kindly vanished from the cells, however, in place of just... empty cells.
[05:08] <Winona> You pause to steady yourself, both physically and mentally, before forging on ahead. Doohan needs you. No time to go cracking up.
[05:08] <Roland[DM]> You soon come to Doohan's cell. Ach, the beasties've beaten 'im to a bloody pulp! He doesn't look good!
[05:09] <Roland[DM]> "Captain..." he croaks, pausing his verse.
[05:09] <Winona> Damn the lump in your throat. "☆|| ..sorry Doohan. shoulda come sooner."
[05:10] <Winona> Check the door. There an obvious spot for a keycard?
[05:10] <Roland[DM]> Yes.
[05:10] <Roland[DM]> It doesn't make much sense, but it would appear that the place has begun literally falling apart.
[05:11] <Winona> NOTHING MAKES SENSE. You grab the keycard, swipe, and get moving. "☆|| we gotta hurry."
[05:12] <Roland[DM]> "Ach, bloody hell I can't move." he says, triggering dozens of call of duty 4 players.
[05:12] <Roland[DM]> "Sorry cap; you're gonna hafta carry me."
[05:13] <Winona> You laugh, and it's nearly an exasperated sob. "☆|| do i look like i can carry a body with these noodle arms?" You look around for Bob in hope of an alternative.
[05:14] <Roland[DM]> He's gone, though you never saw him leave. Perhaps he was as fake as the other things were...
[05:15] <Roland[DM]> The building rocks.
[05:15] <Roland[DM]> >The disrupters aren't supposed to- >I know, alright?!
[05:15] <Roland[DM]> "Cap... in my effects... a beacon... we get that, get outside..."
[05:16] <Winona> Fake? ...Nope. Holding it together. You go to grab Doohan yourself then. "☆|| gonna be a long walk. where're your effects?"
[05:17] <Roland[DM]> "Down the hall... opposite the way you came in..." he coughs emphatically.
[05:17] <Roland[DM]> You need not roll to drag him. If Nona knows what a fireman's carry is, now's a pretty good time to bust it out.
[05:18] <Winona> Well, if she didn't she can just remember that time Harken carried her like one and adopt it. "☆|| oh good. we don't want to go out the way i came in. kinda dark and gloomy."
[05:19] <Roland[DM]> The, uh, way to the effect lockers isn't much better, actually. More of those creepy, empty cells, and the lights have begun flickering erratically.
[05:20] <Roland[DM]> Still, if you go, you go unmolested. You can distantly hear more explosions, MAYBE a shout or two here or there.
[05:21] <Winona> You dart out to follow his directions, lights be damned. "☆|| i know you've got a great view of my ass Doohan, but i would consider it a favor if you could focus on directing me instead."
[05:22] <Roland[DM]> You get to the end of the hall. There is a door that leads into a sort of guard break room (empty) with a trail of blood leading under a door to the right.
[05:23] <Winona> What kind of blood?
[05:23] <Roland[DM]> Red blood.
[05:23] <Roland[DM]> Much like the red blood caked on doohan's fur.
[05:24] <Winona> "☆|| remind me to make blood donors of them later, Doohan." You remark, oddly peppy as you follow after to find his things.
[05:26] <Roland[DM]> Roll sanity again as you open the door to see a few moments of Doohan's interrogation play out in front of you.
[05:27] <Roland[DM]> One punches doohan: "Once more: WHERE ARE THE NODULES?!" "I dinnae take yer nodules ye bastards!"
[05:27] <Winona> 17+3=20. You're getting alarmingly better at handling this fuckery.
[05:28] <Roland[DM]> Which is good, because that interrogation wouldn't have gone anywhere anyway; Doohan is truly innocent, and they'd just keep punching him and asking him again.
[05:29] <Roland[DM]> The room is lined with lockers, and most of them, save one, have been opened and emptied.
[05:29] <Winona> "☆|| what is even..??" The seeing things, that's more your beef. You look around anyhow and dash for the locker, yanking it open.
[05:29] <Roland[DM]> Roll strength to yank a locker door open.
[05:30] <Winona> 3-1=yeah not gonna happen.
[05:30] <Roland[DM]> S'whatcha get for not thinking like an action hero.
[05:30] <Winona> Well you need two hands to shoot
[05:31] <Roland[DM]> For a utility shot, I'd let you fire one handed.
[05:31] <Roland[DM]> Also, even if you put Doohan down, no one said you were putting him down forever.
[05:32] <Winona> No one said, but no one confirmed the opposite either, thank you very much not putting the doggie down.
[05:33] <Winona> Fine then, one handing the Soldadera it is: 9+6=15 to melt in the locker.
[05:34] <Roland[DM]> Perfect. The thing slides open to reveal... a bag of stuff. A few gadgets and gizmos you don't recognize, a small, self-defense phaser, a few spare red shirts, and so on.
[05:35] <Roland[DM]> "The one that looks like an oven timer..." Doohan croaks. "That's the beacon... But we'll need to get out..."
[05:36] <Winona> Tuck away the gun. Grab the beacon, jam it in a pocket. Captcha the bag whole. Turn and look for an exit. "☆|| we'll get out. you point, i run."
[05:37] <Roland[DM]> Remember that wisdom roll from earlier? Yeah, that was to remember the way out of the guards' quarters/prison.
[05:37] <Roland[DM]> ;)
[05:37] <Winona> Dude I don't even remember what the roll was. Was it exceedingly good, or exceedingly bad?
[05:38] <Roland[DM]> 14 actually
[05:39] <Roland[DM]> [03:48] <Roland[DM]> Eventually, he takes you through another illusory wall. Roll wisdom for me, please. [03:48] <Winona> 10+4=14
[05:39] <Winona> Huh.
[05:39] <Roland[DM]> Gotcha covered, fam
[05:39] <Winona> Assuming that at least gives you a hint, you start sprinting as fast as you can while carrying a bleeding doggocorn.
[05:41] <Roland[DM]> More rumblings. It must be a warzone out there. Roll endurance to keep up your pace until you reach the illusory wall leading out of the guards' area/prison
[05:42] <Winona> -facepalm- GOOD TIME FOR A 1, EH?
[05:42] <Roland[DM]> F
[05:42] <Winona> F
[05:43] <Roland[DM]> That's not happening, huh? You trip and fall. Doohan groans as he slips off of your shoulders and rolls across the floor.
[05:45] <Winona> Goddamn lousy cliches. You struggle to get upright, breathing heavily and pushing the bangs out of your face as they're starting to stick.
[05:46] <Roland[DM]> Whenever you're ready to proceed.
[05:48] <Winona> Just.. Needed to catch your breath, that's all. "☆|| ..you always this heavy, Doohan?" The jokes don't sound as good when you're winded. But hopefully you still get points for effort as you collect him, double check your pocket, and keep running.
[05:50] <Roland[DM]> His cracked laugh gives way to groaning pretty quickly, but you got points for effort.
[05:50] <Roland[DM]> We'll skip the endurance roll this time in favor of taking you back into the hallway. Are you headed back out through the illusory wall?
[05:51] <Winona> You manage a grin. "☆|| ..made ya laugh." That helps, honestly, as you keep running for the wall full tilt.
[05:51] <Roland[DM]> You phase through it flawlessly. Could you imagine if you'd just slammed into it? Lmao I would be so salty...
[05:52] <Roland[DM]> Ah, but, here's the rub:
[05:52] <Roland[DM]> You've come out into the middle of a firefight.
[05:52] <Roland[DM]> Cirrans on one side, Terruvians on the other.
[05:52] <Roland[DM]> And in the middle?
[05:52] <Roland[DM]> A fucking.
[05:52] <Roland[DM]> Case.
[05:52] <Roland[DM]> Of Silicon Nodules.
[05:52] <Roland[DM]> Just like the ones the Cirrans have been missing.
[05:53] <Winona> Yeah. Yeah you don't have time for this.
[05:54] <Roland[DM]> It's just the icing on the cake, huh?
[05:54] <Roland[DM]> Frosting, and they used it to write: "CONGRATS DROXIES YA FOUND YOUR GOD DAMN SILICON NODULES" on it instead of "Happy Birthday!"
[05:56] <Winona> Time to be the fucking peacekeeper. You (rather calmly, considering) reach into your modus, find your grappling hook, and try to play crane game with the case.
[05:57] <Roland[DM]> Roll dexterity, I think.
[05:57] <Winona> ....Ahahaha.
[05:57] <Winona> 20.
[05:57] <Winona> Kay dice, you're cool again.
[05:57] <Roland[DM]> You grab the case. Might as well gain 5 xp while we're at it.
[05:57] <Roland[DM]> It would seem that the firefight continues.
[05:57] <Winona> That's quite alright.
[05:58] <Winona> Buys you time to reel the case in, get a foot on it, tuck the hook away, set Doohan down, pull out the spare grenade in your inventory, then clear your throat for a good holler.
[05:59] <Roland[DM]> ((So, I need a 15 minute-ish break, cause my brain is just buzzing like a motherfucker for some reason))
[06:00] <Winona> ((Do it. I can.. Figure out what the fuck she's going to yell.))
[06:00] <Roland[DM]> ((oh my gosh you didn't actually know lmao))
[06:00] <Winona> ((I have a JIST.))
[06:27] <Roland[DM]> Ready?
[06:27] <Winona> Sure.
[06:28] <Roland[DM]> Alright. You had the floor. So go ahead whenever.
[06:30] <Winona> Taking a deep breath, you shout to be heard over the din, foot on the case of precious, precious nodules and a grenade poised above it. "☆|| I ADVISE Y'ALL MOVE BACK AND LOWER YOUR WEAPONS, QUICKLY AND QUIETLY. OR YOU MIGHT GET INJURED BY FLYING BITS OF SILICON."
[06:30] <Roland[DM]> Roll charisma, with advantage
[06:31] <Winona> 17+3=20, thank you blessed advantage, for I need not take that 4.
[06:31] <Roland[DM]> Everyone looks at you.
[06:31] <Roland[DM]> Everyone stos.
[06:31] <Roland[DM]> *Stops (fingers are cold)
[06:32] <Roland[DM]> They don't quite relinquish their weapons, but then again, I wouldn't want to be the first to put down my weapon either.
[06:32] <Roland[DM]> Sounds like you REALLY have the floor now.
[06:35] <Winona> Oh good, they can at least half follow directions. You lower your voice back to a more sensible volume. "☆|| almost, but not quite. i'm afraid i'm fresh out of patience for the evening, folks. so i'll make this quick. you need these Nodules. you're clearly willing to do terrible things to get them. ..and i am just this side of crazy enough to pull
[06:35] <Winona> this pin and damage every last one in this case if i so much as hear another shot go off. pretty sure neither side can handle that. so there are your options, nice and simple: peace, or utter destruction. it's up to you."
[06:36] <Roland[DM]> "PEACE? WITH DISRUPTERS?!" one shouts, clearly indignant.
[06:36] <Roland[DM]> "And I've no love for these Cirrans!"
[06:36] <Winona> "☆|| ah ah ah!"
[06:37] <Winona> Your fingers grow near the pin. "☆|| those sound like fightin' words!"
[06:37] <Roland[DM]> They flinch and grumble.
[06:37] <Roland[DM]> "What do you want?" one asks.
[06:41] <Winona> You smile wide, palming the grenade long enough to scoop up the case and deliver both items to Doohan's possession so you can scoop him up again. "☆|| what i want is very simple, folks. i want you to make nice. talk. try it for.. say a half hour. per intergalactic regulations, i cannot be a party to this-i'd be biased, you see." Hefting Doohan as b
[06:41] <Winona> est you can, you start looking for an exit. "☆|| the Nodules, my associate, and myself will wait outside within earshot. if we hear shots, bye bye case. if, however, at the end of a half hour you can reach no agreement? ..i give it back to you, unharmed, and you may continue."
[06:44] <Roland[DM]> tbqh while I'm a little mentally fatigued after a veritable four or five hour IRC, I am pleased that you would find the time and put forth the effort to attempt to resolve things peacefully between the two factions of the droxies.
[06:44] <Winona> Something something a peculiar variety of diplomacy.
[06:45] <Roland[DM]> It's not my intent to skim over or skip this with that remark. That remark is my justification for handing you 75 experience points.
[06:45] <Winona> It really helps when she's one or two sanity rolls from being willing to go down with the case.
[06:45] <Roland[DM]> That said, they look like they're gauging you very carefully. On the one hand, you'd blow yourself up! It'd be suicide to do that! On the other... do they really wanna risk it?
[06:46] <Roland[DM]> Eventually, they decide they don't, and agree to your terms.
[06:47] <Winona> "☆|| half hour, Cullies!" You remind them cheerfully, wandering towards what you hope is the exit. "☆|| i won't even need to hurt myself out there, that's the fun part! don't test me!"
[06:48] <Winona> Somewhere in the back of your mind, you imagine how furious both Harken and Innana would be if they saw this playing out.
[06:48] <Roland[DM]> "Bluh bluh why bother bluh bluh you have what you want" for Harken and "stupid arrow thing, you know the one" for Innana amirite?
[06:49] <Roland[DM]> Anywho, as you stand outside, you hear the terse conversation begin almost at once.
[06:49] <Winona> You were hoping for something more to the tune of 'no, Winona my love, don't!' but sure, that works too.
[06:50] <Winona> You close the door, set the case down on the other side, and take back your grenade as you get clear of here. "☆|| right then. beacon, you figure?"
[06:52] <Roland[DM]> I dunno if you can see him nod, but he nods, flooded with relief.
[06:53] <Winona> You set him down outside, and hand him the beacon from your pocket. "☆|| care to do the honors?"
[06:54] <Roland[DM]> He shakily grabs the beacon, then, barely creaks down a lever. Almost instantaneously, you are enveloped in a golden light, and... Well, I got nothin' for this.
[06:55] <Roland[DM]> This takes you out of the mission but Allie never specified where.
[06:55] <Winona> STILL A MISSION COMPLETE!
[06:56] <Winona> ...Also I'm figuring it takes me back to the spire.
[06:56] <Roland[DM]> Not bad, eh? Gain another 200 experience for completing the quest.
[06:57] <Winona> Jesus christ I think that would land me just shy of a second level.
[06:57] <Roland[DM]> Aw, hell, let's make it 205. Bring you up to Harken's level
[06:57] <Winona> NOT WHAT I MEANT.
[06:57] <Roland[DM]> Eh whatever lmao
[06:58] <Roland[DM]> You add that stuff and roll your HP, and I'll get the paste
[06:58] <Roland[DM]> ==FINISH!...FOR NOW!==