FMA:S Ep 02

[12/10/2013 10:02:56 PM] Josh: You find yourselves outsides of a town called Giyoir.  There are the sounds of explosions and bulletfire in the distance.  Your group, now at peak capacity, has 13 members.  Brandt looks towards Sieg for orders as you wait. You can see storm clouds on the horizon.
[12/10/2013 10:06:32 PM] Carl Knudson: Ian stands waiting and chewing on a handful of mint leaves he grabbed along the way
[12/10/2013 10:10:00 PM] Iron Spectre: Iron Spectre has kept quiet and to himself on their travel, unless necessary or directly spoken to. He continues to keep quiet now amidst the noise of warfare.
[12/10/2013 10:10:37 PM] Yana: Yana softly hums, grenade launcher cradled in her arms. She keeps near her team, doing her best not to make eye contact with the Sergant.
[12/10/2013 10:13:26 PM] MR RAGE: The Ishvalan frowns at the storm, attention focusing on the village. "Looks like we'll have to clear some shelter and hunker down for the time-being. Keep close, stay alert." Sieg plods ahead into the village proper, letting out a breath. Desert still smells like blood and gunpowder after all this time.
[12/10/2013 10:18:16 PM] Carl Knudson: Ian takes off his shirt and tosses it in his bag quickly
[12/10/2013 10:19:16 PM] Josh: The town is mostly abandoned, civilians were evacuated a long time ago.  You can hear some stray animals making their various noises.  You are right to remain cautious.  While the fighting is still several miles away, it is not uncommon for the Ishvalans to send squads of guerillas to hide out in these ghost towns, waiting for Anestrian reinforcements.

Nonetheless, Brandt, the Sergeant, and the Drachman soldiers follow Sieg's lead.
[12/10/2013 10:20:33 PM] Yana: Yana keeps her good eye open, the barrel of her MGL now resting against her shoulder.
[12/10/2013 10:22:41 PM] MR RAGE: "Brandt. Take those lot and check out the town hall." Sieg gestures to the PCs and a few more, splitting the group almost in two. "We're going to check the temple and meet up with you afterward."
[12/10/2013 10:23:44 PM] Carl Knudson: Ian rests his hand on his club tucked into his traditional attire
[12/10/2013 10:24:26 PM] Albért: Albért frowns, concerned at the lack of civilians around to revel in his theatrics and glory.
[12/10/2013 10:26:40 PM] Carl Knudson: Albert, brah are we going to be adding to your exploits today or are you going to be glum
[12/10/2013 10:28:43 PM] Josh: "Alright, sounds good."  Brandt nods to the Drachman and turns to go.  The Sergeant eyes Yana and Sieg silently, as if searching for something before turning to go as well.  They head off down an alleyway and dissappear from sight.
[12/10/2013 10:29:33 PM | Edited 10:30:12 PM] Yana: The girl lifts an eyebrow at that, glancing toward Sieg as well. It only  lasts a moment.
[12/10/2013 10:29:50 PM] Carl Knudson: Ian spits out the mint so as to make sure he can actually be heard if he needs to shout
[12/10/2013 10:29:59 PM] Albért: Albért snaps to attention, "Hm? Why, whatever do you mean? Do you honestly sink it possible for me to refuse, reject, or deny glory?? In. Con. CEIVABLE!"
[12/10/2013 10:30:40 PM] Carl Knudson: "then look alive and before long you will earn your headdress and  cape"
[12/10/2013 10:30:54 PM] Yana: "Quiet," Yana mutters harshly, looking back toward Albert.
[12/10/2013 10:31:00 PM] MR RAGE: If the Ishvalan planned to explain his decision, it wasn't now. Sieg takes his half of the squadron and heads off towards a tall domed building in the distance.
[12/10/2013 10:33:34 PM] Iron Spectre: Iron Spectre is happy enough to follow along, not voicing any opinions about his travelling companions.
[12/10/2013 10:38:57 PM] Iron Spectre: Iron Spectre shakes his head, looking down and covering his ears.
[12/10/2013 10:46:42 PM] Josh: You all head towards the temple.  There's not much happening besides the low rumble of thunder and the sounds of distant warfare.  The temple is one to Ishvala.  It's Mosque like structure makes it unlikely that there are any floors other than the first and possibly a basement.
[12/10/2013 10:47:35 PM] Albért: Albért is fully alert and entirely aware of every single thing occuring within his boots. Eyes down, spirits up.
[12/10/2013 10:49:33 PM] MR RAGE: Should be easy to clear, then. Sieg leads the way, glancing back before checking the door, just a bit, and hurling it open if it proves to be unlocked.
[12/10/2013 10:52:39 PM] Carl Knudson: Ian readies his club "Ia ora te natura, e mea arofa teie ao nei"
[12/10/2013 10:52:54 PM] Josh: It does indeed prove to be unlocked.  The room inside is mostly empty.  There are four large pillars that seem to be supporting the building, several mats on the floor for worship, and an altar at the back of the room.  Other than that, the room is empty.
[12/10/2013 10:54:01 PM | Edited 10:55:06 PM] Yana: "Shhh." Yana pushes to the front and puts a hand on Sieg's shoulder.
[12/10/2013 10:55:44 PM] MR RAGE: Sieg glances back at the Drachman, briefly looking surprised, but he steps in carefully, automail arm at the ready. The other gestures to the squadron with curt, silent commands. 'Spread to cover.' 'Clear rooms.' 'Hostiles.'
[12/10/2013 10:57:00 PM] Yana: Yana elbows Iron Spectre and motions for him to follow before breaking off to circle around the pillars from the outside edge.
[12/10/2013 10:57:26 PM] Iron Spectre: Good enough for him, he follows behind the girl.
[12/10/2013 10:59:01 PM] Yana: She makes a motion pointing her good eye then at Sieg before moving a little faster, pistol coming out of its holster.
[12/10/2013 11:00:27 PM] MR RAGE: Sieg flanks the opposite way, senses alert.
[12/10/2013 11:10:47 PM] Albért: Albért contemplates contributing in a tactical, meaningful way, then realizes if he helps the team, then there will be no one to stare at his boots. we can't have zat, can we??
[12/10/2013 11:12:11 PM] Carl Knudson: Ian starts to psyche himelsf up by slaping his tattoos on his arms
[12/10/2013 11:13:30 PM] Iron Spectre: Iron Spectre bolts ahead of Yana suddenly, using one of the pillars to spin around and sink a dagger into the throat of a man.
[12/10/2013 11:22:57 PM] Carl Knudson: Ian sticks his tounge out and starts making faces
[12/10/2013 11:25:24 PM] MR RAGE: Sieg takes off after Spectre calls out their likely hiding points (physically), rounding another pillar and swinging his metal arm, the temple ringing with the impact as he fails to find flesh.
[12/10/2013 11:32:19 PM] Iron Spectre: Iron Spectre runs off ahead, keeping low and knife trailing behind him. He rounds another pillar taking the man off guard and ramming the knife up and through the bottom of his jaw into his head.
[12/10/2013 11:39:08 PM] Yana: Not one to be left out of the action Yana dashes forward with her pistol at the ready. She skids past a pillar and twists, firing a shot into the unfamiliar figure waiting for her. <Too slow!>
[12/10/2013 11:46:52 PM] Carl Knudson: Ian stops his haka and savagely attacks the man struggling with his CO, cutting the man's neck with his shark toothed club, slicing the arteries and breaking his neck at the same time
[12/10/2013 11:50:28 PM] Carl Knudson: Ian wipes the blood off of his club and paints it along the spear tip tails of his sting ray tattoos
[12/10/2013 11:50:33 PM] Josh: The battle ends quickly, the bloodied remains of your enemies lies on the ground.  They were all armed with small handguns, most of them are dressed in rags.  For a guerrilla squad, these men were grossly outclassed.
[12/10/2013 11:51:44 PM] Yana: Yana squats down, looking over her confirmed kill before patting him down.
[12/10/2013 11:52:02 PM] MR RAGE: Sieg frowns, kneeling to close the eyes of those who still have them after combat, dragging the corpses to lie with their heads at the altar. If he expects help, the Ishvalan doesn't ask for it.
[12/10/2013 11:52:07 PM] Albért: Albért laughs obnoxiously loud, and wills his gloves to expand into enormous metal hands which he claps with VIGOROUSLY
[12/10/2013 11:52:25 PM] Albért: "magnifique, mon ami! zis is ze glory i have been WAITING FOR!!"
[12/10/2013 11:52:44 PM] Iron Spectre: Iron Spectre stares momentarily at Albert's display, then cleans his dagger and hides it away.
[12/10/2013 11:52:54 PM] Carl Knudson: "albert come here"
[12/10/2013 11:53:10 PM] Albért: Albért approaches with a smile and two large hands.
[12/10/2013 11:53:32 PM] Carl Knudson: "let me see your arm"
[12/10/2013 11:55:06 PM] Albért: Albért extends his arm.
[12/10/2013 11:55:07 PM] Yana: The girl hums again as she takes ammo from the dead, leaving them otherwise unmolested.
[12/10/2013 11:56:34 PM] Carl Knudson: Ian traces the same spear design onto Albert's arm as he had on his arm and chest.
[12/10/2013 11:58:32 PM | Edited 11:58:35 PM] Albért: /me 's face fills with confusion
[12/10/2013 11:59:10 PM] Iron Spectre: Iron Spectre ignores the two men, and drags a body over to the altar.
[12/10/2013 11:59:14 PM] Carl Knudson: "it is a spear, the mark of a warrior... we don't have a design for magnificent boots"
[12:01:57 AM] Josh: The dead men are all lying by the altar, so Yana, Spectre, and Sieg can see fairly clearly.  The altar is unadorned except for one delicately carved figurine of Ishvala and a bowl.  The men were obviously having some sort of ceremony, the bowl is filled with strong smelling alchohol.
[12:02:52 AM] Albért: "but, i 'ave not shown you my belle combat abilities?! 'ow 'ave i earned zis mark?"
[12:04:09 AM] Carl Knudson: "that is why you only got one instead of both arms"
[12:04:16 AM] MR RAGE: Sieg lets out a sigh, running his fingers through his hair.
[12:05:09 AM] Carl Knudson: "one day when you have proven yourself worthy... that spear will never leave your arm"
[12:06:04 AM | Edited 12:08:39 AM] Yana: "Now ve vait out ze storm?" Yana was off to the side now, demolition kit open as she emptied the gun powder out of each bullet she recovered.
[12:07:54 AM] Carl Knudson: Ian starts to rummage through his sea bag for some jerky
[12:11:13 AM] Iron Spectre: Iron Spectre takes the time to go around the room just in case they missed anything.
[12:12:09 AM] MR RAGE: "We'll meet back up with the other group when we're done here." The Ishvalan looks over his hand, scuffed from the stone pillar. "Assuming it doesn't come pouring down on us."
[12:12:42 AM] Josh: The storm still sounds far away.  You weren't fighting for very long.
[12:13:11 AM] Yana: Empty brass is dumped on the floor and Yana closes up her kit, securing it to her person.
[12:13:41 AM] Albért: Albért nervously fidgets with his armor buckles at the sound of the storm. His hands are still huge, so the fidgeting is anything but subtle.
[12:14:16 AM] Albért: "we should make sure we are nowhere dangerous when ze storm comes... ze last sing we want is to deal with such dreary weazer during an already gloomy mission, non?"
[12:14:33 AM] Iron Spectre: Iron Spectre finding nothing of interest he regroups with Seig and Yana.
[12:15:26 AM] Albért: Albért groups to the others as well.
[12:17:12 AM] MR RAGE: A long breath, and Sieg stands, casting a look down at the fallen men. "Let's move, then."
[12:18:13 AM] Iron Spectre: Iron Spectre nods.
[12:18:25 AM] Carl Knudson: Ian jons the others while chewing on the teriyaki jerky "right the rain, hopefully will cleanse us warriors, for it is pure and good"
[12:19:12 AM] Josh: You move out, heading back the way you came.  The storm is getting closer as you arrive to find the others waiting for you.  Brandt looks happy.
[12:19:33 AM] MR RAGE: "Report."
[12:19:38 AM] Yana: Good for him. Yana looks off into the distance.
[12:23:10 AM] Josh: "Found ourselves in a bit of a situation.  There were at least a dozen of the bastards waiting for us.  Luckily some quick thinking and a few fancy tricks let us gank em all without losing any of our own."  He drops a backpack at your feet.  "Found some info on troop movements, ammo, and field rations."
[12:25:01 AM] MR RAGE: "Good work." Sieg gestures. "We'll look over the information inside. Should help us avoid any trouble on the way to the relic."
[12:26:25 AM] Josh: "Thanks cheif.  Where are we taking this party?"
[12:32:03 AM] Carl Knudson: "Albert, would you like some jerky?"
[12:33:06 AM] MR RAGE: "For now? We're sitting tight here in the hall. I don't want to be caught in a flash flood, and there won't be another village before that storm hits. It'll cost us an hour or two,  but it gives us time to plan out our route and stay away from-" A mortar explodes, and Sieg thumbs towards it. "-that."
[12:34:18 AM] Albért: Albért glances from his boots to Ian. "What iz "jeghkey"?"
[12:36:11 AM] Josh: Brandt nods and motions to his squad to head in. "Sounds like a plan.  How'd your guy's trip go?"
[12:36:40 AM] Carl Knudson: "it is meat dried and smoked then flavored"
[12:37:06 AM] Yana: "Four hostiles neutralized."
[12:37:17 AM] Albért: "well if eet's food, and it is most delectable, zen how can le prince say non? Don't mind if i do!"
[12:37:31 AM] MR RAGE: The Ishvalan simply nods, and plods into the town hall.
[12:38:48 AM] Iron Spectre: Iron Spectre follows after Seig.
[12:38:52 AM] Carl Knudson: Ian hands Albert two pieces of it
[12:40:05 AM] Josh: The whole place is filled with steam.  There is a bit of blood on the floor in trails.  It looks as though they dragged the bodies off when they had cleared the place out.  Brandt leads you upstairs, there is a lot less blood and it looks like the upper level was used for barracks.  There would be plenty of beds and sitting space.
[12:43:41 AM] Albért: Albért idly remarks about the town hall's state of cleanliness while munching on jerky."Zis place is filsy. My shoes will get covered in all zis blood if i do not watch my step most carefully."
[12:45:10 AM] Carl Knudson: "if you are worried, take them off and let the blood get between your toes, brah"
[12:45:35 AM | Edited 12:45:56 AM] Yana: The Drachman sets up near her squad and stows her things under the cot. Sitting down she ejects her pistol's magazine and starts to take it apart with practiced ease.
[12:45:48 AM] MR RAGE: The Ishvalan grits his teeth, but doesn't say anything. He digs out the mission's dossier as Brandt pepares the maps on troop movement, spreading them out on a card table.
[12:46:03 AM] Albért: "...BAHAHAHA! Eeyen, you are too 'umorous! I can barely stay focused on ze mission wis you cracking wise all ze time. Heheheh, remove ze boots, he says."
[12:46:24 AM] Iron Spectre: Iron Spectre moves to a window, standing to one side of it while watching outside.
[12:47:14 AM] Albért: Albért notices Iron Spectre's vigil. "What eez it you see, mon ami?"
[12:48:49 AM] Carl Knudson: Ian searches for someplace that will hold up his hammock
[12:49:12 AM] Iron Spectre: Iron Spectre looks at Albert a moment, then back to staring out the window without a response.
[12:49:23 AM] Josh: The clouds are getting closer and the thunder's louder.  It won't be long before the storm comes.

Brandt lays out the maps and holds down the edges with some paper weights.  He looks over them, getting a bearing on what the maps were of.

The Sergeant walks over to Yana, watching her silently.
[12:49:56 AM] Yana: Yana does her best to ignore the Sergant in return.
[12:51:44 AM] MR RAGE: "Hnh... If they're pushing forces this way, then... Amestrans must be coming down this way. And that means most of the fighting will be..." An ideal route ends up looking circuitous and tangled, wrapping around mountains and taking much longer than expected or predicted. "No, that won't do. Maybe if we cut across here...?"
[12:55:22 AM] Yana: Finally the girl looks up from her gun and salutes. <Can I help you, Sergant?>
[12:56:21 AM] Josh: <You are getting rusty.  Weren't you faster at this before we left the Motherland?>
[12:56:59 AM] MR RAGE: Tap, tap, tap... "Ah--animal trail. They're scarce, but they needed safe routes as much as the rest of us. If we follow them--aside the combat hotspots..."
[12:58:05 AM] Yana: <I can do it again if you want to time me.>
[12:59:58 AM] Josh: "We could get to...Aha! That village there.  "Guud. Looks like both guys are avoiding it.  Maybe we can get lucky and take that straight east."  Brandt says, drawing a straight line with his finger.

<If you think you can impress me.  Then do so.>
[1:00:47 AM] MR RAGE: "I don't like planning around luck. We'll gather supplies where we can." The Ishvalan stands, glancing at the gathered soldiers.
[1:00:53 AM] Yana: She takes apart the gun and spreads the pieces out in front of her.
[1:01:11 AM] Carl Knudson: Ian sets up his hammock and sits on it
[1:01:43 AM] Josh: The Sergeant takes out a pocket watch.  <Go.>

Brandt shugs.  "It's as good a place as any."
[1:02:43 AM] Josh: One of the soldiers is eyeing you, Ian.  He's one of the bigger guys and he looks kinda hungry.
[1:04:14 AM] Carl Knudson: Ian eyes the soldier and gets out his te re re  and uses it to get the jerky bits out of his teeth
[1:06:00 AM] Josh: He raises his eyebrow, and pulls out one of the rations they'd picked up.  looks like a bag of beef jerky.
[1:07:06 AM] Yana: Yana works as fast as her slender fingers can manage, cursing herself for not being as good at this as she was with the MGL.
[1:07:44 AM] Carl Knudson: "You like the Jerky too, brah?"
[1:09:14 AM] Josh: The sergeant stops the watch and tsks.  "Perhaps vhen you are not so tired from dealink vith four unarmed priests."

"Da."  He nods.
[1:09:21 AM] Albért: "eet eez no regal feast, but I sink in order to earn ze respect of ze commoners, i must first EAT like ze commoners. Zat said, eet could use a vinaigrette, or perhaps oleev oil..."
[1:10:08 AM] Carl Knudson: "Have you a traditional recipe?"
[1:10:15 AM] Yana: Her lips twist but she stops herself from sneering, holstering the gun instead and leaning to the side to fish around her gear.
[1:11:21 AM] Albért: "I, uh... don't know 'ow to cook. just 'ow to critique, heh."
[1:12:34 AM] Iron Spectre: Iron Spectre finally moves away from the window and onto a cot, stretching out.
[1:12:44 AM] Josh: The man leans foreward, a grin on his face.  "Ve vorry more about what kind of beef ve eat.  This, cow, is okay.  Better, is the Thunder Volf meat."

The Sergeant smirks and saunters off to sit with the other men.  She says something in a low voice and they burst into laughter.
[1:13:59 AM] Carl Knudson: Ian shakes his head "Pork is best but so few try making it like that, and Albert... think of the flavors of your home and maybe we can work together to create a national jerky for you"
[1:14:08 AM] Yana: That gets a look from the girl, her one good eye boring into the men that laughed.
[1:14:44 AM] MR RAGE: The smell of sand and gunmetal approaches Yana from behind. She doesn't need three guesses to figure out it's the Ishvalan. "Dissent in the ranks?"
[1:16:37 AM] Albért: "ze flavours of my 'ome? hm.
...Iz zere such a sing as 'cheese jerky'?"
[1:17:17 AM] Yana: "Nosink unusual unt nosink to be concerned about."
[1:19:11 AM] Carl Knudson: "we could try to infuse the jerky with it, maybe using a hard chese mixed in with the meat"
[1:19:28 AM] Josh: The storm's well overhead by now.  Rain patters on the roof as lightning pierces the darkness.  It's hard to tell thunder from cannon fire at this point.
[1:20:55 AM] MR RAGE: "If you say so." Sieg rests a hand on the Drachman's shoulder, squeezing as thunder barks.
[1:22:52 AM] Yana: She shrugs her shoulder. "Eef I cannot take care uf myself novun else vill."
[1:25:04 AM] Albért: Albért shows concern for something besides his boots, glory, or stomach for once, after hearing Yana's somber remark. "Quoi? Do you not 'ave family or followers to 'elp you, mees, uhh... What waz your name again?"
[1:33:42 AM] Yana: Whats with these people all of a sudden? "My name ist Yana Dzhamgerchinov, Drachma's youngest Corportal at ze age uf sixteen." A little jab at the Sergant.
[1:34:22 AM] Josh: You can tell she's watching you all out of the corner of her eye.
[1:34:43 AM] Yana: "Am having a family but zhere eez vun rule en Drachma. Survival uf ze fittest."
[1:35:07 AM] Carl Knudson: Ian rummages through his sea bag searching for something
[1:36:39 AM] Albért: "Yana? You 'ave a nice name. It eez a shame zat your country is so brutal. Well, as long as Albért Sébastian Clouseau eez around, none of you should 'ave to fear loneliness! I am 'ere to look after you all, and lead you to ze glory we are all destined to ACHIEVE!!"
[1:37:20 AM] Albért: quickly getting wrapped up in his motivational speech, Albért poses dramatically, with spear held aloft, just barely scratching the ceiling with the tip
[1:37:39 AM] Yana: The Ishvalan boy was looking better and better.
[1:38:00 AM] Josh: Albert's pose is punctuated by thunder.
[1:38:08 AM] Carl Knudson: Ian pulls out a weapons grade fruit cake "anyone want a bite?"
[1:38:50 AM] Iron Spectre: Iron Spectre shakes his head while laying back on the cot.
[1:39:42 AM] Albért: Albért shows minor signs of fear at the crack of thunder. he drops his pose and slowly backs away from the window, before approaching an unclaimed bed and sitting atop it.
[1:40:34 AM] Yana: Surrounded by weirdos. The girl sighed and scooted back until her back was against the wall, opening up a small book and writing in it with a pencil.
[1:41:48 AM] MR RAGE: The Ishvalan cracks out a laugh.
[1:42:42 AM] Josh: Brandt just smirks and shakes his head.
[1:42:57 AM] Carl Knudson: Ian takes a huge bite of his fruit cake
[1:43:20 AM] Albért: Albért transforms his armor into thick, fuzzy pajamas.
[1:47:49 AM] Josh: The storm lasts longer than then the few hours that was predicted.  You all get a chance to catch some shut-eye before the sun rises in the morning.