Evervigilant 20

<Vigilant_GM> IT IS THE 41ST MILLENNIUM...
<Vigilant_GM> With some temporary relief from the pursuing horde, you make your way across Gantry to the final sumplift hub.
<Vigilant_GM> The thick musty fog lingers still, and it seems that every dozen meters sees another of the undead abominations turn a corner and attack.
<Vigilant_GM> Running up the rampway, the fog reveals a bottlenecked group of undead, who instantly turn and begin their advance.
* Tony stands with his Combat Shotgun aimed in the horde's general direction waiting for them to get closer
* Karpath aims his bolt pistol at one of the undead killing it.
<Tony> "This is about as bad as Hulee's Rush Hours."
<Vigilant_GM> Following the bolt pistol fire, a wave of roaring flame engulfs the undead, destroying their rotting forms.
<Vigilant_GM> +I have eyes on the lift hub+ Endish calls in.
<Vigilant_GM> +Emperor's teeth, there's dozens.+
<Vigilant_GM> His voice is a whisper.
<Baird> +Hold position Endish. We are coming from another direction. Hopefully we can catch them in a crossfire, just defend yourself for the moment. Fire only if they advance on you.+
* Baird continues moving towards the final sump lift, head on a swivel, watching for potential threats.
* Shiv reloads his hand flamer. He says "I wish I had more ammo."
* Karpath moves along with his bolt pistol at the ready.
* Nitrous moves along with his autogun out
* Shiv walks near Baird with his flamers ready.
* Tony Follows up behind the party
<Vigilant_GM> A high-piched hissing shriek is immediately followed by the incoming movement of a leaping abomination that crashes against Baird.
* Baird resists the crashing leap of the incoming abomination and responds swiftly with the final shot from his plasma pistol clip, destroying the filthy creature.
<Vigilant_GM> At last, you reach a wide street. At the end of it, the concentration of undead is a terrifying sight.
<Tony> "Best keep, an eye out, these things keep crawling out of the woodworks."
* Karpath switch to his lasgun as the move.
* Karpath freezes in place unable to move forward.
<Tony> "Ah Frakk, that's a large horde."
* Tony tries to keep vigilant but shakes alittle
* Baird swears under his breath, hoping the flamer would make quick work of the massed undead.
* Shiv walks up and sprays the horde of undead with his flamer.
<Vigilant_GM> Four of the outer group are set on fire. The horde reacts to this attack by mobilizing in the direction of the flame.
* Karpath takes aim with his lasgun and opens fire with a three round burst killing one but not moving as the fear somewhat keeps him in place.
* Tony cocks the Combat Shotgun and takes a breath and begins to fire upon the horde
* Shiv let's loss another fire burst from his flamer and kills 4 undead creatures.
* Nitrous fires a salvo and kills one
* Baird draws his bolt pistols firing four bolts into the horde felling at least that many with his well placed shots.
<Tony> "I think fighting them in the open is not a good idea, given last time"
<Vigilant_GM> As though a single body of rotting flesh, the mob rushes forward despite your attacks!
<Shiv> "Where could we run? The rooftops?"
<Baird> "We don't have time for that. We have to cut through this horde and make it to the lift! Endish is already waiting for us!"
* Shiv moves back as the horde approaches.
* Tony falls back a bit then fires a shot into the horde
* Karpath takes his lasgun and tries to fire but the lasgun fails to fire, seeing the horde approach he falls back.
* Shiv sprays the horde with a flamer.
<Vigilant_GM> Once more, the forward-most of the abominations are set alight.
* Nitrous shoots another zombie dead
<Baird> Once more unloading bolts into the horde Baird fells five of the wretched undead with his barrage.
* Shiv shrieks as the undead swipes at him, but they miss.
<Baird> As the horde advances Baird dodges the first of several attacks while being struck by the others, luckily the other attacks glance off his armour.
<Vigilant_GM> The horde's advance now begins to overwhelm your position as the undead claw and bite at you.
* Tony almost blanks out and almost got hit, as he leans back
<Vigilant_GM> Though a terrifying engagement, it provides an opportunity. Through the mob, you spot the crackling spears of the Endish Guard as the exiled noble and his party close the distance to the lift hub.
<Shiv> "REINFORCEMENTS!...Wait."
<Shiv> "it's them fancy guards."
<Tony> "I see them too, we need to move kid, we can't be tied up in this stick situation.""
<Baird> "Fucking Endish didn't listen..fuck!"
<Baird> +Endish what happened to holding position?!+
* Karpath swaps out his lasgun for his bolt pistol, putting two shots into the horde killing three more.
* Tony begins to backstep then leg it away, ducking to avoid the mad walker.
* Shiv uses his hand flamer to attack the horde while in melee.
* Nitrous runs to where Tony is
<Tony> "Ah, never would I thought I would be working side to side with a Arbiter again."
* Baird fires his pistols into the three surrounding him, afterwards backing away to get out of easy reach of the advancing wretches.
* Shiv gets clawed by the undead and his leg is hurt.
 Nitro is now known as Nitrous
<Vigilant_GM> Now the undead begin to push to either side of you on the wide street. Their numbers, however, have dwindled as the flame has begun to spread.
<Tony> "Say Nitrous was it?, Do we still have any of those Explosive Charges on hand, might be handy right now."
<Nitrous> "Currently with the pilot."
* Karpath opens fire with his bolt pistol and kill's one of the undead but then falls back.
* Tony Fires into the Horde his shots going wide
* Shiv continues to shoot at the horde with his hand flamer.
<Tony> "I guess our best bet, is to do this the hard way."
* Nitrous shoots and kills 2 zombies
<Nitrous> "Indeed."
<Baird> Continuing his backpedaling Baird keeps up his barrage of bolts into the horde felling several.
* Shiv screams "HELP ME! AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH" as he is smashed to the ground by a flaming zombie.
* Karpath fires two more shots into the horde but both miss and his bolt pistol goes click as his last clip is empty as he then falls back.
* Tony Continues to panic fire into the horde
<Nitrous> "Might wanna switch to single shot Tony."
<Vigilant_GM> The bright rays from Endish's servitors illuminate a volume of fog as they begin their work on the sumplift.
<Tony> "Might be a good call." As he seems a little spooked
* Nitrous fires at the zombie on top of Shiv
* Shiv leaps up when the zombie is off of him.
<Baird> As Bairds bolt pistols click on empty he quickly reloads one of them while quickly drawing his plasma pistol. Unleashing a burning blue shot of plasma and a shot from his forearm mounted crossbow he fells three more zombies.
<Vigilant_GM> The tell-tale electric lighting from the weapons used by the guards of Endish Manor suddenly fly up in the air in a group of four. At the same time, the las-streams on the lift hub go silent.
<Vigilant_GM> +We need you here! We must focus fire on tha--+ the transmission ends short.
<Karpath> +Shit that's not good.+
<Nitrous> +Nope+
<Vigilant_GM> A beastly growl echoes through Gantry from the last of the sumplift hubs, and the horde before you turns, and follows the call.
<Baird> +Endish? Endish?!? ENDISH!!?+
<Nitrous> "That's not.... good...."
<Shiv> +The feck is going on?+
<Tony> "What isn't good?"
<Tony> "...That did not sound good." Hearing the growl
* Tony Reloads his Shotgun given his chance
* Karpath falls back to Tony and Nitrous position and then reloads his lasgun from being Jammed. "They were calling for backup from us but I think they are dead."
<Vigilant_GM> Thick streams of las weaponry puncture the horde of undead at intervals.
* Shiv patches himself up and switches to a fresh clip of ammo for both his flame weapons.
<Baird> After checking for a few moments for his fired crossbow bolt, Baird reloads his other weapons and prepares himself for the inevitable cluster fuck ahead.
<Vigilant_GM> +...ve us surrounded!+
<Tony> "Do we have any Explosives left? I think we might need them for well.." points to the lightshow "that."
* Karpath looks towards the lift, "Maybe not yet though."
* Shiv runs back to group. He says "This is bad. This is very bad."
<Karpath> "We have twelve explosives left."
<Tony> "Mr Baird, might be a idea to use the extra explosives, for whatever is that way."
<Shiv> "Beard, we can't let that idiot die, right? He is like evidence or something?"
<Nitrous> "Tony boy, gonna need that second shotgun."
<Baird> "Let's discuss this on the move. They need our help up there." Baird begins moving towards the surrounded Endish forces. "If that's the plan let's hash out how we're implementing. Myself and Karpath each have a grenade left so that should do well in thinning them."
* Tony loads the spare Shotgun and throws it to him with a extra 2 clip
<Vigilant_GM> Another stream of energy sweeps through, missing you by a few meters.
<Nitrous> "Thanks."
* Tony Pulls up his Revolver and Chainsword
<Tony> "Might be an idea for some of us to sneak around and do the job using those building as cover for our movements.."
<Baird> After dividing up the demo charges the groups split. Baird leads Karpath and Nitrous towards Endish and his men as Rikk, Shiv and Tony break away, planning to sneak around the conflict and disable the cables holding up the lift.
<Tony> "I guess it is you and me again kid."
<Shiv> "I AM NOT A KI...oh feck it."
<Tony> "Woah take it easy, just take it easy, I was only joking."
<Shiv> "Just because I am not a giant like ya'll."
<Tony> "Wait your short? didn't notice."
* Karpath plants two of the explosives along the way in the street for falling back.
<Baird> Advancing upon the packed zombies clawing and biting at Endish's men, Baird lobs a frag grenade into the mass felling 10 of them with the blast.
* Karpath moves up as well and tosses his frag grenade into the mass killing 8 undead.
* Tony Begins to move up ahead slowly maintaining Stealth
* Shiv moves up a little ahead of Tony.
* Nitrous fires and kills 2 zombies
<Baird> +We're here Endish. Doing our best to thin them out on our side.+
<Vigilant_GM> The blasts create confusion, followed by the drawn attention of the undead. This allows Endish and his men a moment of reprieve, permitting them to regroup.
<Vigilant_GM> Through the air, a torn combat servitor spins with its heavy las weaponry laying down a continuous stream of fire in a terrifying display of violence.
* Baird dodges the servitors indiscriminate display of firepower.
* Tony leaps forward into the ground to avoid cover, seeing the glow of las weaponry at him
<Vigilant_GM> The terrifying firepower shreds through several undead. In worse fashion, the beam angles towards the approaching acolytes, catching Nitrous. The concentrated energy evaporates his right leg below the knee, and follows to do the same at hip-height on the left. With the tremendous temperatures reached, Nitrous is utterly consumed in flame... his charred remains falling limp on the
<Vigilant_GM> street.
<Vigilant_GM> ...and yet, he breathes.
<Nitrous> "......"
<Karpath> "Fuck, Nitrous."
<Baird> "Fucking hell!"
<Baird> "Fall back Karpath! Lets use those charges to thin them out!" Baird turns and runs back the way they came getting out of the potential blast zone.
<Karpath> "Understood."
* Karpath falls back as well running back with Baird.
* Shiv sneaks up and plants the explosives.
* Shiv gives Tony the thumbs up.
* Tony nods to him
<Vigilant_GM> Through the incoming horde, a massive figure of decaying flesh bursts forward with a low, dry roar.
* Karpath dodges out of the way just in time.
<Vigilant_GM> The monstrosity charges through Karpath, and into Baird in a thundering charge, striking the acolyte dead in the back with its massive bone limbs.
<Baird> "FUCK!" Baird curses loudly as he is smashed in the back by the monstrosity.
<Vigilant_GM> +We must fall back!+ A voice unfamiliar to you calls in.
<Vigilant_GM> +Lord Endish must be taken back to the Manor!+
<Karpath> +Do so we have should have it handled.+ he says in reply.
<Vigilant_GM> An explosion is followed by another not a half-second after... the charges vaporizing some two thirds of the undead hordes.
* Baird scrambles further away from the blast zone and thumbs the activator for the demo charges planted in the street.
* Tony Ghosts up, and passes a charge to Shiv, briefly glancing the Noble being carried off
* Tony taps Shiv on the shoulder and then points towards the noble
* Shiv nods.
* Karpath takes aim with the lasgun at the monstrosity hitting with all three shots.
* Shiv plants the last charge and sneaks towards the noble.
<Vigilant_GM> The beast charges forward in a rage after receiving fire from Karpath. A blind rage - its tunnel vision allowing Baird and Karpath both to leap out of the way.
<Baird> After dodging the creatures charge Baird fires his bolt pistols into the abomination. The first salvo blowing it back and knocking it down while the second salvo finishes the creature off.
<Karpath> "Nice shots Baird."
* Tony sneakily moves right up close to the group
<Tony> "Hey, psst, you lot" He Gestures to them
<Vigilant_GM> A spear swings, stopping inches from his face.
<Vigilant_GM> "You shouldn't have done that, outsider."
<Tony> "I am with Baird, we have little time to waste."
<Vigilant_GM> Powering down the speartip, the guard withdraws it.
<Tony> "The Charges have been set, but we need to get out of here, setting them off here will surely take us with it."
* Karpath sees a group of torch wielding people coming from the directing they where running to.
<Karpath> +We got Company unknown contacts coming towards me and Baird from the other direction.+
* Shiv waves at the guard while behind Tony
* Karpath decides to stand there with Baird. "What's the plan?"
Shiv> +I found Endish and his guards looks pretty bad. Also, charges are set.+
* Shiv stops the noble from bleeding out.
<Karpath> +Copy that, also Nitrous is down not sure if he is alive.+
Shiv> "Feck."
<Vigilant_GM> The remaining undead continue onward undeterred, they crawl over the carcass of the largest of the abominations, and press on as fast as they are able.
<Vigilant_GM> In response, a call roars as the torches rise and fall, "RED AS BLOOD! SHARP AS STEEL!".
<Vigilant_GM> The sounds of blade clashing against blade echo in unison as the group advances at a steady pace, and then a full-blown countercharge against the sump abominations.
<Baird> "RED WALK HALT YOUR CHARGE! YOU'RE RUNNING INTO A BLAST ZONE! IF YOU KEEP CHARGING YOU WILL ALL BE VAPORIZED BY THE BLAST!"
<Vigilant_GM> The charge presses on...
<Vigilant_GM> ...until a single indistinct call causes the charge to waver.
* Baird moves out of the way of the foolhardy charge by the Red Walk, into a nearby building.
<Vigilant_GM> From the fog, a vague figure in tattered cape begins to emerge at a jog.
<Tony> "We will need to move, if we want to live to fight another day gentlemen, So let us move."
* Karpath begins to do so but sees the figure come out of the fog.
<Baird> Seeing the figure approaching out of the fog Baird moves towards them to intercept.
* Shiv tries to help carry the injured Noble, but gets pushed away.
* Karpath follows.
* Tony takes point to help guide the group to relative safety
<Shiv> "Let's... just go."
<Vigilant_GM> "You lot. Again," Vornas Crimson observes.
* Shiv follows behind Tony.
<Baird> "Yeah. Us lot. Rikk gave us the idea to disable the lifts. This is the final one, didn't want you guys to rush headlong into the blast zone of the explosives."
<Shiv> +Fire in the hole.+
* Shiv ducks behind a wall.
* Tony follows suit
* Karpath braces himself.
<Baird> "Brace yourselves my comrade is setting off the charges."
* Shiv pushes the button.
<Vigilant_GM> The vast, percussive explosion shakes Gantry as the soundwave echoes through the Chasm. Some ten seconds later, the sumplift hub structure splashes on the sump below.
<Vigilant_GM> Vornas doesn't flinch. After the shockwave blows out several of the torches carried by his men, he simply nods at you.
<Vigilant_GM> "I don't trust you."
<Vigilant_GM> "But there will be hell to pay for this. And you lot did well by Gantry."
<Shiv> +We did it! HAHAHA". He gets on his vox "Beardman, who died again?+
<Baird> "No one deserves this horror Vornas and the trust thing? Goes both ways." Baird chuckles slightly after saying that. +Nitrous is down. Presumed dead Shivvy.+
* Karpath responds to Shiv over the vox, +Yea, we lost The Law man though not sure if he is alive or dead, last we saw him was just outside blast zone.+
<Vigilant_GM> "We'll take care of the rest now," he unties a red armband and hands it to you. "Go back to the Skyship. You and yours will be taken care of."
<Baird> "Appreciate it." Baird accepts the armband.
<Shiv> +What a shame.+
<Shiv> "So Detective, Lawman may be dead."
* Tony pulls out a lho Stick, then lights it then stops as he mentioned it as the lighter is still lit.
<Vigilant_GM> Vornas waves his men, and they press on, charging the remaining walking corpses. Nodding to Baird, he turns and rejoins his men.
<Tony> "Well, ether way Shiv, we need to get the tags if that is the case."
<Shiv> "What about the noble?"
* Tony begins to smoke
<Vigilant_GM> "Lord Endish goes to Endish Manor" one of the guards replies sternly.
* Tony as he glares at the Noble's host
<Shiv> +Hey, Beard. What should he do? Regroup?+
<Shiv> +Also, they want to go to the manor.+
<Tony> "Will he be fine, or will you lot need a guide?"
* Karpath watches as Vornas rejoins the fight, he then looks to Baird, "We should at least retrieve some of the items on Nituous."
<Vigilant_GM> Ignoring Tony's comment, the guard barks orders to return to the Manor with Endish.
<Baird> +Karpath will retrieve Nitrous's tags..or him if he's alive. After the retrieval he can meet up with you and go with you to the manor. I'll head to the airship and wait for Vornas to return. Wouldn't mind some backup though if you'd care to join me Tony.+
<Shiv> +Understood.+
<Baird> +Also send Rikk back to his boss..or if he's not in ship shape send him to me since I'm heading to the airship anyhow.+
* Tony walks up to Shiv and offs him a lho Stick
<Karpath> +Going to make my way now to where I last saw Nitrous's body.+ He looks to Baird and nods as he then makes his way off.
<Tony> "Want one?"
<Shiv> "Hey, Tony,. Beard needs ya at the airship."
* Shiv takes stick and lights it. He says "Thanks."
<Shiv> "Hey Rikk, your boss is alive."
<Tony> "Does he now? Well tell him I will met up with him then."
<Shiv> +Beard, Detective is coming to yea.+
* Tony Holsters his Revolver and sheathes his Chainsword
* Baird awaits the Detective before heading to the airship to await Vorna's return.
* Tony goes to find Baird
<Vigilant_GM> Over the next day, the Red Walk is able to clear Gantry of any remaining undead. The fog, too, steadily dissipates and clears. Endish is tended to by two medicae-trained staff in his manor. Though Vornas never loses his skepticism, he remains grateful for your intervention in the crisis.
* Karpath informs the group of this just being a test and the real attack could be happening soon after receiving some info.
<Vigilant_GM> More importantly, the man is intent on vengeance, cursing the name Ferrue, and burning any corpses on Gantry.
<Baird> Once Vornas returns to the airship Baird asks for a sit down to discuss his questions further, as was the plan before everything went to shit.
* Shiv waiting outside the manor and smoking.
<Tony> Once the Chaos of that night is over, Tony along with Shiv, are heading to the manor for some answers.
<Shiv> "Took ya long enough. You need a one of these commbeads."
<Shiv> "Beards handling the big man I take it? We got the fancy one."
<Tony> "To be fair, I had been looking around for you lot for awhile, since the Employer did not give as much details."
<Tony> "Given we helped them, might be better we do it."
<Vigilant_GM> Vornas remains cooperative. Candid, in fact. He explains to Baird that his dealing were directly with Ferrue. Indeed, both he and Endish dealt with him on the corpse trade. Endish, naturally, being the master merchant on Gantry.
* Baird thanks Vornas for the information, preparing to join the others at Endish's Manor. +Turns out the merchant working with Ferrue is Endish. I'm on my way, tread carefully.+
<Shiv> +Great...+
* Tony finishes his lho stick then readies himself to head on in
* Shiv whispers to Tony "The fancy lad is the merchant."
<Tony> Whispers to Shiv "Would explain the guns and Servitors."
<Shiv> "Also, Beard is coming and should we wait or...?"
<Vigilant_GM> Your arrival appears to be expected, as you are allowed in by the Endish guard, and seated in a waiting room with ready-made refreshment... or what passes for some kind of quality in food in Gantry.
<Tony> "We will wait a bit for him."
<Tony> "Keep your eyes sharp."
<Baird> Arriving at the manor Baird enters the waiting room alongside the others.
<Karpath> While walking around the area sees both Shiv and Tony and meets up with them as Baird arrives.
<Baird> "This should be an interesting conversation gentlemen."
<Vigilant_GM> At last, someone descends the stairway, and enters the room.
* Shiv leans in and whispers to Baird "Or a trap."
<Karpath> "Yep its going to be, to bad Nitrous is in pretty bad shape, he would want to be here for this I think."
<Vigilant_GM> "Master Endish sends his regards, and bids me welcome you to his Manor as honored guests," the frail old man calls with a bow.
<Vigilant_GM> "He, however, will be unable to enjoy your company in present condition."
<Baird> "Always assume that Shivvy. It's the safer bet. Nitrous will pull through. He was thrown off a building, beaten and shot by Sanctionaries. He'll recover."
<Vigilant_GM> "Make yourselves comfortable, and any assistance the manor can provide is yours," he smiles reassuringly.
<Baird> "If he's unable to come down we can go to him. It'll be far easier on him will it not."
<Baird> "Either way we have things we have to discuss with him."
<Vigilant_GM> "Impossible, sir," he shakes his head.
<Tony> "To be fair sir, I would like to check up on him, if it were not for me and my friends here. He would not be still among us."
Vigilant_GM> "Something he remains grateful for, sir! He has instructed me to make resources available to you," he nods. "However, his medicae attendants will be the only people he will see."
<Vigilant_GM> "Is there anything, perhaps, I can assist you with?"