SatPM Session 5 (7/31/2017)

GrumpiestVulcan: Am I really the only one here?
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Seems like it.
GrumpiestVulcan: :/
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Ok... that's time.
Corey F.: Now to figure out how to add a character
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Hang on.
You've got Aspen. I'll get you access.
I can at least explain things. Do you have your google docs character sheet?
Corey F.: I don''t remember
GrumpiestVulcan: Yes, he does
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qkp9w6zPfYvgbE2uheSvsNr_L-ZnIDFFIzwAL8NpdLA/edit#
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Hi, Vega.
We're not really at quorum at the moment.
(SharpCLAW, sorry.)
Vega (CLAW): Hiya folks, sorry i'm late
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Owten's not going to make it.
Hi Louis. Glad you could make it.
L(ou)is: I was on time this time because I was playing casual games with my friend and I was keeping track of time after each one
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Ok... that's quorum. I'm going to make a start now. Kain should be joining us before too long.
GrumpiestVulcan: Initializing...
XD
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): *The party are almost there. They have successfully made contact with General Tallus and established themselves as friendly to her. They are about to contact Commander Sima and blow the lid off of the Divayinese conspiracy to conquer Shang Tu. All that stands between them and safety is a private phone call and a short march to HQ. However…
…a complication has emerged.
General Shizi, commander of Shang Tu’s special forces and brother to the slain General Arthur, who died the previous day during battles in Shang Tu’s now collapsed drainage tunnels, has taken the party’s prisoners, and intends to execute them. Unconvinced of the party’s intentions and with a burning hatred of Sash Lilac and the Scarves, who he blames for his brother’s death, he intends to execute them. If these prisoners are killed, the truth may yet die with them… though the party has collected considerable evidence of outside involvement that may still swing the balance. In addition, Shizi himself commands the best of Shang Tu’s elite infantry forces. If he is killed or turns against the party, Shang Tu could be dealt a mortal blow.
The current plan is as follows. After contacting Sima and informing him of the situation, Jake intends to imitate Haixi. He intends to convince Shizi to bring the prisoners to HQ. In order to do this, Jake will need to successfully imitate Haixi’s mannerisms and language. He will then have to convince the wayward general to bring the prisoners in rather than executing them on the spot.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM):
Once this is done, the party will need to either rendezvous with Shizi or somehow protect him en-route. Once they reach the barracks, they will need to ensure Shizi actually stands down, or else all may go wrong at the end.
Should things not go to plan for whatever reason, the party may have to adapt or even abandon their initial plans. The enemy are still on the move out there, and with the amount of noise the party have been creating, they are likely to be responding by the second. The party arrives at Tallus’s house… good luck, everyone.
Jake, you sense a presence on the roof. They're armed... and have some kind of round object on them. Nobody has any way of seeing this figure with their eyes yet.
(Deploy)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Corey, if yuo go into the Journal tab above the chat, you should see your character. Drag them into the pale blue square.)
(Hi Kain. We've just started.)
Jake Satomi: Jake beckons to Tallus, leaning in to whisper something to her.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Tallus listens.
Jake Satomi: "There's someone on the roof, armed. They might also have some heavy weapon with them, I'm not sure."
Roland: Roland checks the bullets in all his guns as he takes up position just beside Jake.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "Ok. I want half of you to take the stairs to our left, (northern stairs next to the party) and half of you to take the stairs to the south. Let's try and nail him quietly."
Jake Satomi: Jake heads South, taking the fire escape as quietly as possible.
(but isn't going to cross the top until they're ready)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (You guys can deploy inside the new boxes now.)
Vega: Vega heads to the staris
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Everyone roll Stealth D70.)
Roland: rolling 1d100
(
47
)
= 47
Vega: rolling 1d100
(
51
)
= 51
Alyssa Aspen: rolling 1d100
(
66
)
= 66
Jake Satomi: rolling d100
(
70
)
= 70
(hrm)
L(ou)is: rolling 1d100
(
48
)
= 48
Roland: (42, I forgot I have a proficiency in that lol)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Everyone avoids detection. However... Jake does provoke a reaction from the figure on the roof. He starts to make his way towards the eastern side of the roof... and he deploys his shield.
Jake, he suddenly disappears from your radar.
You can either step onto the roof or withdraw.
Corey F.: Can I roll to cloak?
Roland: Roland attempts to peek out onto the roof while waiting for a signal of some sort.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (You can do that automatically, Aspen.)
(Roll a D60 Stealth check.)
Roland: rolling 1d100 - 5
(
23
)-5
= 18
Jake Satomi: "Hmm... is this the EM shield Tallus spoke of?" he thinks. Then he does the same as Roland and attempts to use his eyes to spot the indivudual.
Alyssa Aspen: Quickly, Alyssa goes into hiding.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Roland can see the wildcat from the sewers. He is facing towards the direction the party are coming from, clearly aware something is happening. A metal shield has sprung up around him.
Roll Combat Awareness. D40 to pass, D25 for a better result.
Roland: rolling 1d100 - 10
(
97
)-10
= 87
L(ou)is: rolling 1d100
(
84
)
= 84
Jake Satomi: Hey, at least radar shadows can help. But not from this angle, there needs to be a gap in the return from something behind him, and there's nothing like that on the roof. Or is there?
rolling d100 - 5
(
30
)-5
= 25
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): You can't really see anything special about him other than he has a rather nasty looking sword. There's some weird disc thing, but that's all you see.
Jake Satomi: (mfw I hit the DC exactly twice)
Roland: (tfw exactly 25 from the guy who has less proficiency than me)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): The figure suddenly leaps off the building and runs off into the street.
L(ou)is: Went from having a large amount of awareness to being insanely oblivious
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): He disappears quickly from view.
(Right, Vega, Aspen, do you want to roll?)
Alyssa Aspen: rolling 1d100
(
34
)
= 34
Roland: (that's for combat awareness, correct)
Vega: rolling 1d100
(
94
)
= 94
(Damn....(
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Jake, you noticed that he has several shuriken on him, along with two shock grenades. He also has a very dangerous looking metal disc that looks like it could eviscerate someone if it started to spin. It emits the same eerie light. Aspen, you only identify the shuriken and grenades. Vega, you only notice the sword.
(The same eerie light as a dragon boost, sorry)
Alyssa Aspen: Alyssa reaches out to Jake telepathically.
Jake Satomi: "Quietly, my ," he thinks. "It's the wildcat from the tunnels. Pursue or abandon?" he radios to Tallus.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Getting hit by that disc unprotected would be a death sentence to most of the party.
Jake Satomi: (Expletive. Angle brackets hide text, apparently.)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Tallus radios back
"He's withdrawn, leave him be. We've got other errands.* Tallus instructs.
Jake Satomi: Jake picks up on the link. "Yes?"
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Guys, can we try to move on fairly quickly?)
Jake Satomi: "Very well." he replies, and glides down to the ground next to the front door.
Roland: Roland tsks to himself and moves from the stairs to the streets.
Vega: Vega sighs and moves near a wall on the streets
Alyssa Aspen: "Those grenades look like trouble. I'll use my fire if one's thrown." She then notices Jake moving, and follows him.
Roland: "I remember that wildcat, by the way. He very nearly got Joan killed and blew up part of the underground hideout."
"...also he killed a lot of people while waiting for us."
Jake Satomi: "Agreed. To you, definitely, but I can take them. I'm more worried about that disk."
"Where's the tools and computer?"
L(ou)is: The hedgefox walks back to the street, arms crossed. A frown was visible.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "Right this way," Tallus instructs.
Joan manages to make two primitive fire grenades, a poisonous smoke grenade, and a weak metal shield out of the materials in Tallus's house. The party also find a stun grenade, alongside a row of spike strips about 50 yards across. Jake manages to make contact with General Sima through Tallus's personal computer. The general answers the call.
"Who is this?"
(Sorry, trying to compress things a bit. You can all talk here.)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "Does anyone want any of these things?" Joan asks.
Alyssa Aspen: "I'll take one. I have an idea involving them."
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "One of what?" Joan asks.
Roland: Roland perks up upon seeing the stun grenade, poison smoke grenade and spike strip.
"May I have these," Roland asks, pointing to the items he wants.
Alyssa Aspen: "Maybe a fire one."
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Joan looks around in case anyone wants the poison smoke grenade. She hands Roland the stun grenade.
Vega: "One had a sword..." Vega says quietly
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): She hands Aspen one of the fire grenades.
"Uh... you do know how to use this, right?" she asks hesitantly.
Jake Satomi: "Commander, this is Jake. I'm with Tallus. Did you get the fliers yet?"
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Alyssa has an F in Thrown. This means she has a small chance of blowing herself up with her own grenade.)
(Joan gives Roland the poison smoke grenade and spike strips)
Aiden Nate: (Oh darn...)
Alyssa Aspen: ((I had the idea to have her use telekinesis for it))
Roland: "Thank you."
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "What fliers, what are you talking about?"
"The message, General. About enemies in the tunnels."
"Oh... oh, that was you? And by the sound of things, you've gotten Tallus out of a bind too. Is Carol alright?"
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "Yes!" Carol says, a little too quickly.
The general is silent for a moment.
"Alright. That's good to hear. Now, who are you all, and what do you want?"
You hear officers shouting orders.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM):
"I'm afraid we are not in a position to talk for long."
"There's heavy fighting in the West half of the city, and I'm stretched to breaking point. We don't have anyone to spare, and I'm about to go into combat myself. So let's keep this brief."
You hear him clicking a clip into what sounds like a rifle.
Corey F.: Would telekinetically moving a grenade around count as throwing?
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Actually, that would count as telekinesis. Which would remove the incompetence penalty. Good thinking.)
Alyssa Aspen: "Not sure if I do. I've seen people using grenades on TV shows back home, but that's fiction and alien tech..."
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Would anyone like to briefly explain the workings of a grenade?)
Jake Satomi: "Yes, that was us. In short, Shizi has the prisoners that have the information about the enemy we need to make our case. We're concerned that he'll do it anyway, and he gave us a deadline to meet with him. We would much rather he take them to Southern HQ, where you can safely outnumber him."
Alyssa Aspen: "The TV versions are just people pulling the pins and throwing. Is there anything else to it?"
Jake Satomi: (*that he'll execute them anyway)
Roland: "Well, yes, that's all you'd really need to know. There's technical details that go into it, such as how long the fuse is and what kind of explosive it is, but I'd say you have the gist of it."
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "It's not so simple as telling him, General," Tallus clarifies, "Shizi has gone off the rails. We've come up with a plan to impersonate Haixi and demand his withdrawal, as he is already familiar with us. But, there's no guarantee he will listen. We may have to relieve him of the prisoners by force."
"That's not an option, Tallus. If we lose Shizi now, we could lose the city. Do not let him die, understood?"
"But general-"
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "No buts, Tallus. If you can persuade or manipulate him into coming here, a few guards can assist... but I'm afraid you'll have to disarm him yourselves. I do not have the manpower to spare for anything right now."
"You have my blessing to do whatever it takes to get those prisoners to HQ safely so we can understand what is going on. But, killing Shizi is not something we can afford. Understand?"
"Now, unless there is something else I can do for you, I'm needed on front lines. You're going to have to handle this on your own."
(Any last remarks?)
Jake Satomi: "Does Shizi know anything about your status? In other words, will we be able to bluff your current capabilities if we need to?"
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "Some of Shizi's men are in the thick of the fighting, but he doesn't know our condition, so that may work. He was on his way to join them when he heard reports from Tallus. I only know because some of my soldiers spotted him moving towards her house, and also heard the disruption."
Jake Satomi: "Is it plausible that Haixi would know that he probably has the prisoners?"
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "Hmm..."
The commander thinks for a moment.
"We already came up with a plan for that," Tallus reminds Jake, "Sima heard it from forces who captured the prisoners and then abandoned them to the enemy. He passed that information onto Haixi. Remember?"
Jake Satomi: "I know." he replies. " But if something goes wrong, an additional reason could add more credibility."
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Any suggestions for how Haixi could have found out about the prisoners?)
Jake Satomi: (Flash priority notice?)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Elaborate. In character, preferably)
Roland: When Tallus, Jake and Sima finish deliberating on that additional reason, Roland decides to interject.
"My apologies for the interruption and the possible irrelevance of this question, my name is Roland. Two questions, if you may.
Would it be plausible for Haixi to have contacted you regarding the fliers in the tunnels?
And, how well do you know an, ah, Quartermaster of the Red Scarves?"
Jake Satomi: "If Sima has the information about the invasion, and some of his men had captured prisoners which know more about it, this would be a FLASH priority matter and taken to the top of the command chain within minutes."
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Sima pauses for a moment at Roland's words.
"It might be, yes. As to the Scarves, I am familiar with their organisational structure. We are at war with them, after all."
"General, the Scarves aren't behind the war! We have proof!" Lilac says.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Sima goes quiet again.
"Lilac, again?" He says, audibly tired, "And what proof is this? Yes, the enemy are operating underground. No, that does not prove that the Scarves aren't involved... in fact, that only cements their guilt. This had better not be a repeat of the tunnels!"
"Flash priority... that's a good idea. It would indeed be something I would technically be obliged to report at once... or someone could have gone over my head. Good thinking."
Jake Satomi: "That's why the prisoners are so important! The actual Scarves have been helping us, not hindering us, in this matter. The enemy is merely posing as them to make you think that."
Roland: "I would just like to say that we were recommended to talk to you by the Quartermaster, just before all of this happened."
Aiden Nate: (I'm getting forced out again...)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): You hear Sima audibly sigh. He appears to be on the move; you hear a door opening.
"I am just about to go into action, so I'll keep this brief. You must be the group that kidnapped Lilac from hospital, so I'll make myself clear. As far as I'm concerned, you're all still wanted for felony kidnapping, and Carol is under house arrest. I am willing to hear this story out... but you had better have solid, material proof of the Scarves' innocence, or at least a reliable witness. If you don't have that, you're going to jail. If you don't keep Lilac safe, I'll ensure you rot in jail anyway. You all have a single chance at this. If all you can offer me is some weapon that could have come from anywhere, or something I already know, I would advise you to leave town instead of coming to Headquarters. But, if you can find me solid evidence that someone else is involved, I will listen.
Aiden Nate: (I gtg)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Ack. Ok, see you.)
"I don't need help staying safe, commander." Lilac observes, "I'm here of my own free will now."
"Then I hope you know what you're doing." Sima says coldly.
Corey F.: Should have moved Liss over earlier.
Jake Satomi: "That's all I have for now. If everything goes to plan, hopefully we'll meet soon, on good terms."
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "Good luck."
The General hangs up.
(Disconnects would have been better.)
Roland: (mmhm)
Jake Satomi: Jake then attempts to harvest the necessary codes from the machine.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Tallus provides him with them.
(Roland?)
Roland: (just OOC stuff that's unimportant)
(was gonna say 'muh narrative')
Jake Satomi: "Alright. If that's all here... do you have the tools?" he asks, stepping towards the exit.
Roland: Roland ponders a bit. The Quartermaster said that she knew Sima well enough to act as a middleman, but Sima didn't appear to have any special recognition when asked about her..
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Tallus hands Jake the fine tools.
(I'll explain that later.)
Jake Satomi: *Jake pockets them and waits for anyone to wrap up in the house.
Vega (CLAW): (Opps sorry kinda gave a black out here XP)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (A black out? As in the lights went out, I hope.)
Vega (CLAW): (Yeah XP, nobreak saved my pc once again)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "Ok. Are you ready to place the call?" Tallus asks.
Vega: (Could Vega get to a higher point?)
Roland: (what for)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Not much point. Though I am almost at the point of breaking out the random orc horde.)
Vega: (Better for her to see things coming)
(But i guess she'll just stay in place)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Remind me always, always handle stuff like this in ic-chat from now on.)
Alyssa Aspen: ((gtg))
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Ok. See you later.)
Jake Satomi: He takes a deep breath. "Ready as I'll ever be..."
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "Everyone ready for their death warrants?" Carol snarks.
"Carol!"
Roland: "Yes," Roland deadpans. "I already know what one looks like as of less than an hour ago."
Jake Satomi: Jake glares at the wildcat before sending the first transmission.
Haixi: "General Shizi, report."
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): There's an eerie silence.
"This had better be good, windbag."
Roland: Roland raises an eyebrow at this line.
He then looks at Jake expectantly. Hopefully, this Shizi person hadn't already executed the prisoners.
Jake Satomi: Haixi: "I've been made aware of new information regarding the group responsible for your brother's death. A task force recently captured members of the enemy force, but they were ambushed in Nán Zhèn. Due to being severly outnumbered, they were forced to abandon the prisoners and flee. I'm ordering a sweep of the area to recover them. Report to Southern Headquarters immediately for debriefing."
(s/flee/retreat)
Roland: (your self-bot has no power here)
Jake Satomi: (that's not a selfbot command)
Roland: (r u sure??)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Shizi is ominously silent for a moment.
"Why?" He asks.
He says nothing more.
Jake Satomi: (Considering I made the selfbot, pretty sure.)
Roland: (ok.)
(go on)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): You can hear Tallus shuffling nervously. Lilac is visibly sweating, while Carol has a tense grimace on her face.
Roland: Roland starts feeling an itch in the back of his neck. This brand of nervousness was contagious, it seemed.
Jake Satomi: Haixi's voice is firm. "If your brother's death meant anything to you, Shizi, you will report as ordered. Otherwise, they are more likely to escape with information about your brother's killers."
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): There's a long, ominous silence. You hear Lilac softly fasten her hand to her face.
"You idiot." she hisses.
Jake Satomi: Jake blanches. "What?"
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "General... I do in fact happen to have these prisoners. What I want to know is what mystic force touched you and allowed you to know I have them. ould you care to answer that?"
Vega: Vega keeps both of her paws in her overcoat and stands ready just in case
Roland: (check that FLASH priority yo)
GrumpiestVulcan: (I'm still puzzling over what I said to make him think that)
Roland: (hmm)
(' Due to being severly outnumbered, they were forced to abandon the prisoners and flee.')
(that?)
(cause I got nothing.)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (I've messed up)
Roland: (or that)
GrumpiestVulcan: (yea, this is an obvious pitfall and I made sure to review before sending)
Vega: (Uh... wait, did i get the wrong picture or something?)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (I figured the "return to base for debriefing" line would look like Jake was jumping the gun. It's actually a perfectly reasonable request to return to base for something like this. Ignore Shizi's last comment.)
"General... I happen to have these prisoners. I am about to execute them. So, what is it that they could possibly know that justifies me not doing so? We know the Scarves are responsible."
Jake Satomi: Jake looks to Tallus for ideas on how to rebut this without giving too much away. If she doesn't have a quick one, Jake has a reply prepared that might work.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Tallus mouths back.
"Run with the Scarves for now." she warns.
You hear the voice of the girl you rescued through the radio faintly.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "We're not with the Scarves you crazy, psychotic-"
"Shut up!"
A foreign, male voice interrupts her.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "We're with the Scarves. Get it over with, energy thief."
"That's curious." Lilac intones silently over her radio connection.
Roland: Must be that RPG soldier Roland shot with beanbags. Certainly sounds like something he would say.
Jake Satomi: (here goes nothing)
Haixi is quiet for a moment. "I see. Since you already have them, I should warn you: If you do anything that could put information critical to national security at risk, I will have your head for treason."
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): A moment of silence.
(go on)
Jake Satomi: "Am I making myself clear, General?"
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Shizi laughs through the radio.
"That's... that's a good one general. Really. You, execute me?"
"That's rich. I'm the one busting my ass out here saving the people of the slums while you sit in the Magister's palace and rot. You think nobody's noticed you don't have the guts to come out and face the enemy?"
"You think nobody but your little cadre of Absolutists gives a toss about what you think?"
"You couldn't execute me, Haixi. In fact, I think I'll find myself in that pathetic little palace of yours quite soon if you continue on at the current rate. Now, last chance..."
Jake Satomi: As Shizi monologues, Jake looks to Tallus for advice once more.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "...give me a reason to spare the prisoners... a real one... and I'll do as you ask. But don't think for one second I'm scared of you."
"Twist the knife..." Carol mouths
Roland: Despite himself and in spite of the seriousness of the situation, Roland conceals a wide grin under his hand as Shizi rants.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "Channel your inner sociopath." Tallus breathes, "What does he care about?"
Jake Satomi: "Arthur will have died for nothing?" Jake quickly runs the idea by the group.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Lilac very quietly nods.
"Will that really be enough?" Carol wonders.
Jake Satomi: Haixi: "Arthur will have died for nothing if we don't get this information, Shizi. And that will be on you."
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Dead silence.
Vega: (Guys i'm sorry Vega isn't talking much, its just that i don't know what can she say XP.)
Roland: (just do like me)
GrumpiestVulcan: (not much at the moment)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (This really isn't your fault. I should have planned this better.)
"I have the support of the people wherever I go, Haixi. We're winning this fight, and I don't see what could possibly change that. Winning without your precious engineers and artillery, I might add. We'lll take full credit for your lack of gumption. The Scarves are on the back foot, and I don't see that changing now. Why should my men risk their lives dragging these prisoners back for information on a defeated foe? And if it's for the location of a few tunnels, you can forget it."
(You can pass suggestions very quietly.)
(Don't overdo it though.)
You get the feeling that Haixi might overhear if anyone gets too vocal.
(Shizi, sorry)
Jake Satomi: (kek)
Vega: (I guess i'll just take Kain's advise had show Vega's expression towards that)
Jake Satomi: "Mention escort? Or that Scarves are allied with other enemies that will outnumber the Guard?" Jake whispers.
Roland: "The location of the Quartermaster's hideout...?"
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Tallus, Lilac and Carol seem out of ideas.
Vega: "Gezz...now we need an army or something" Vega whispers
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): rolling 1d100
(
100
)
= 100
Jake Satomi: (wewlad)
Roland: (gg ez)
Vega: (lol)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "Who's with you?" Shizi asks sharply.
Jake Satomi: (hold up) Why would they overhear the party if Jake is controlling the radio? :thonk:
Roland: (also I thought that was a crit fail in Shizi's favor.)
(therefore he wouldn't even know anything would've said anything lol)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Oh yeah, personal line... darn it.)
(Continue)
Roland: *anyone
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (You can rabbit away.)
Roland: Roland waits to see if Jake got his suggestion.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Ball is in your court at this point.)
Roland: "Okay, well. We're playing with the Scarves angle, aren't we. We should continue playing with that, give this Shizi person a reason to keep the prisoners alive. If you were to drop that you have a reason to believe the prisoners knew the location of the Quartermaster's hideout, perhaps that would do the trick? Give him a target to strike back against the so-noted weakened Scarves."
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "Answers, General. My trigger finger is getting itchy."
Jake Satomi: (once again, here goes nothing)
Haixi: "I wouldn't bother with them if they were low-level operatives. These prisoners know about the locations of hideouts, weapons caches, planned movements, and other things that we will use to crush them with ease, once and for all." his voice has hints of predatory anticipation.
Jake looks to others for their reaction.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Lilac looks about ready to die. Carol is slumping, looking at Jake as if to say 'that's the best you guys could come up with?! You had so many good ideas!
Jake Satomi: "Give me a break, I'm not an actor!" his expression signals.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "General, I would love to know how you think these low-level grunts know anything. I've been around them for a while. They're ground-pounders."
"I've heard enough. Shoot them."
(Last chance.)
One round of suggestions, and then a sentence long answer. That is the margin of error now.
Roland: Roland blanches as he looks towards the girls. He steals a glance at Tallus to see what her reaction to this is.
Jake Satomi: "They know where the force from the tunnels went? The one that killed Arthur?" he suggests.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "Hold that order." Shizi says, instantly.
You sense you have his attention again.
"And why, 'general', would they know that?"
Jake Satomi: (That wasn't over the radio but lol ok)
Roland: (that was a suggestion tho)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (facepalm.)
(Roll with it.)
Roland: "Because these people were there at the battle and personally killed Arthur?"
Roland winces a bit, not confident in this suggestion, but this is the best he has.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "How could we possibly know?" Lilac hisses.
Jake Satomi: "The original task force found out?" _Jake_ suggests again.*
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (You guys are so close. This is exciting and frustrating at the same time.)
Jake Satomi: Lilac's reply to that?
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "The truth is that we don't know," Lilac says, crestfallen, "Uh... can we do anything with that?"
You sense that's the most your allies can come up with.
Jake Satomi: (roland?)
Roland: "...bring up the equipment they have on them?"
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Think. You don't know that these prisoners have the information. Is there any logical continuation from that?)
(Open question)
GrumpiestVulcan: ...but they know who does? Or where they went?
Roland: ('if you shoot them, we'll never know' kind of reasoning?)
Vega (CLAW): (This is just really funny for Vega(
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Does Vega have an idea?)
GrumpiestVulcan: Maybe, because they were part of the group that evacuated the tunnels?
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): One of you has the idea. I'm not going to say which one.
Vega (CLAW): (Like, she doesn't know the area, for my saying, she's still thinks that the type of 'land' is different then Unit's, thats why i don't know what i can say with her, again sorry for that)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Surely she can still understand Shizi's motivations and the goal here. They're trying to get him to not shoot these prisoners because they have information the city needs to know and the party needs them to know. Surely that is something Vega can appreciate the seriousness of.)
(Why don't you quickly discuss it in-character?)
(Argue it out if you must.)
(I'm interested in people's reasoning)
Roland: "I have no idea what to say, but what if you were to play off of that uncertainty of ever finding Arthur's killers?"
Vega (CLAW): "Is there anyway for just one to check out the tunnels in stealth, and come back with info of the area?"
Jake Satomi: Jake: "So, the ideas are: they were part of the group and know the hideout's location; shoot them and we'll never know; or their equipment?"
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "Seems like it to me." Lilac almost whispers.
Roland: "That's...the gist of it really."
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "We don't have time to check the tunnels. He's about to shoot those people dead!" Carol hisses to Vega."
"Answers, General. Otherwise, I'm going to assume you have nothing."
It's time to make a call.
Vega (CLAW): "Darn it...if we had a decoy or something.."
Jake Satomi: (I already said it. Please be nice.)
"Because both your prisoners and the soldiers were part of the group that evacuated the tunnels," Haixi states, a hint of bitterness at his tone. Nobody was supposed to get away from that, but thanks to Lilac, they did.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "Are you saying that the apprehending group recognised the attackers?" Shizi breathes.
GrumpiestVulcan: (can you explain the subjects he is referring to in that sentence?)
(whose attackers?)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "He's talking about the group we claimed apprehended the prisoners." Tallus clarifies, "Two hostile forces met, and they recognised one another from the tunnels battle. Quick. You can exploit that."
Jake Satomi: Haixi: "Yes."
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Steely silence.
(go on)
Jake Satomi: (nothing)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "If you're wrong about this Haixi... and any of my men die trying to get these worms back to HQ... I will personally have your head if they have nothing," Shizi warns, "You had best be ready to back your words up. We'll make our way back now. Try not to destroy the city while I'm gone."
"He's about to hang up!" Lilac hisses.
Jake Satomi: "Mention that we're sending reinforcements?" Jake asks. "Or should we just trail them?"
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Lilac winces.
"Trail them. Either that, or I need to stay out of sight. Shizi thinks I'm the arch-traitor, remember? I suppose you could meet up with him, and I'll stay just out of sight. Carol and Tallus can back me up."
"Both options would work." Tallus concludes.
(Hi Louis. Shizi didn't shoot everyone... yet.)
L(ou)is: (Has he shot anything???)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (So, meet Shizi directly, or trail him? Jake can probably track the radio signal.)
Roland: "We should trail them, I think."
Jake Satomi: Jake: "Sending reinforcements is logical. We did say that were were marshalling a search team."
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (No friendlies or reluctantly-restrained hostiles were hurt in the making of this RP)
Jake Satomi: (*we were)
L(ou)is: (That is a lie and you know it)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Vega, you get the tie-breaker.)
Jake Satomi: (Aiden, too. But that's an even number so)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Actually, Louis? We're debating whether to trail Shizi's group as they make their way to HQ)
Vega (CLAW): (XD XD XD)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Or meet up with him)
(One requires meeting Shizi. The other requires Lilac, Carol and Tallus to trail behind the group, as Shizi hates Liilac.)
Jake Satomi: (Lilac can trail tho)
Vega (CLAW): (Is Shizi like the last puzzle piece we need? Or just simply another piece?)
Roland: "On the other hand, less than half of us look like a proper search team. We have several kids and aliens here, and you're not exactly the military type I think."
Jake Satomi: The dragon nods in concession.
Aiden Nate: (Trail. I say
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "You're definitely not the most military-looking group of people. On the other hand, if we get cut off from you or spotted by Shizi, there could be trouble." Tallus observes.
(Say it in character, then.)
Jake Satomi: "So, say nothing? Two of us can fly high above them, and Sima needs to know about this."
Aiden Nate: "Trail. I say trail the guy."
Vega (CLAW): "Hmmm i think they wouldn't know i'm a alien, and yes i would go with Trail, it seems more safer"
Jake Satomi: "I guess this is risky enough. The search team would be able to rendezvous without question, but we don't look like part of a search team. Trail it is. But, what to reply with?"
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): At that moment, Shizi hangs up. Looks like the call was made for you.
Jake Satomi: "Nevermind."
Roland: "Well, then. Shall we?"
"We know his location, right."
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Shizi is starting to march at an alarming pace towards the HQ. Looks like you'll need to depart immediately.
Jake Satomi: The dragon relaxes all of a sudden, almost slumping where he stands. "Yes. I have a direction bearing, but I'll trail him from above."
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "I'll radio general Linus and ask her to clear the air for you." Tallus says, "Wouldn't want an air patrol to think you're a wanted criminal... though technically, you still are."
Jake Satomi: "I can evade radar, but I suppose that helps." Jake patches Tallus's insecure radio into the secure network using her codes, then nods at her to go ahead.
Roland: "That's a new name for me."
Jake Satomi: (mfw the name isn't Chinese :P)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "Unless you can evade eyes as well, the air marshals will have a field day with you."
"Air Marshal Linus," Tallus clarifies, "You almost met her personally. She was part of the force that tried to apprehend you after your inspired rescue."
"Cut him some slack. I'm glad I'm out of Haixi's clutches." Lilac says, "Even if it did possibly knock a decade off my life."
Tallus looks at Lilac oddly for a second.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM):
"I'm guessing something has transpired between you and Haixi that made you say that," she concludes, "It'll have to wait. We need to go."
(Wait, never mind. This was discussed.)
Jake Satomi: "My... father made sure that you were better than new," he replies, with a sadness that nobody present knows the reason for IC. "I can tightbeam the full recording to you from above, if you want. But you might want to let Lilac stay out of earshot."
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): "Alright... this'll make good bedtime reading." Tallus drawls."
There's nothing left to do here. Move out?
Jake Satomi: "I'll go up once Linus clears me. In the meantime..." he starts walking towards HQ.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): .
..
...
Processing...
GrumpiestVulcan: inb4 ambush
L(ou)is: SHHHHHH!
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Jake, make a D80 Combat Awareness Roll. Make D20 for an even better result.)
Jake Satomi: rolling d100 - 5
(
4
)-5
= -1
GrumpiestVulcan: tfw!
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Stares
L(ou)is: Another crit? Are you being serious here?
GrumpiestVulcan: Momented
L(ou)is: Crit count: 2
Roland: (what was the first one.)
GrumpiestVulcan: I don't remember?
I failed the stealth roll
L(ou)is: 1. Aiden/Joan fire wall (Aiden's roll)
2. a CA rol for Jake
Roland: (so you're remarking on a crit that happened two sessions ago)
L(ou)is: Yeah.
We've gotten two crits, maybe more
Roland: (how misleading.)
GrumpiestVulcan: Go to OOC chat to tease the hedgefox pls
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Jake takes to the air with Linus's blessing. As he soars towards Shizi's position... he notices something very disturbing.
Groups of bike-equipped Scarves are surging towards Shizi's position, and Jake can even make out ground movement as well. Soldiers. However... he notices something even worse. Some of the bikers aren't making their way towards Shizi. They're splitting off to intercept the party as they make their way towards the rest of the party as they proceed towards HQ on foot. Jake is going to have to decide what to do. Does he help the rest of the party, or does he try to help Shizi immediately?
The party aren't facing such steep odds. The force there is likely of a delaying nature. On the other hand, Shizi looks set to be overwhelmed... though the party may well have time to break through the enemies and help. Jake, you're going to have to make a call. Help Shizi, or help the party?
Roland: (>Scarves)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Jake also notes the presence of metal shields... loads of them, like they've suddenly become standard issue. What the heck is going on?
Roland: (in case you wanted to give truth to the lie.)
Jake Satomi: Are they ACTUAL scarves, or the defectors?
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Judging by the company they're keeping, defectors or frauds.)
Roland: (make a call, Jake)
(I think we can handle things, tho)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (go on)
Aiden Nate: (Just go kick the bucket for the idiots after Shizi. We can most likely handle the squad of canon fodder heading our way
Jake Satomi: Jake relays this info to the rest of the party, and opts to assist Shizi. But how to let him know of the enemy presence? Hmm...\
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Ok... hmm...)
Jake Satomi: "Tallus, how should he be informed? As reluctant as I am to offer aid, he needs it for the prisoners' sake."
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Party thoughts?)
Vega (CLAW): (Jake still with radio? can Vega and him talk?)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (yes)
Jake Satomi: "If you can spare a member, I can carry one person."
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Jake has a built in one, and there are allies with radios who can offer one to speak into)
(Hmm... I'll allow it.)
(Actually...)
Roland: Roland sighs heavily upon hearing about the upcoming Scarves ambush.
"That white scarf wasn't lying, huh. We can handle them, but I hope I never hear about these white scarves again."
Vega (CLAW): (?)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (No, I'll allow it.)
(But it'll require a D60 Flight check not to arrive at a disadvantage.)
Vega (CLAW): (Okay then)
Aiden Nate: "I'll assist Jake if everyone is okay with that."
The hedgefox stated with a shrug to follow.
Vega (CLAW): rolling 1d100
(
4
)
= 4
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Tallus speaks into the radio.
"Jake, he's about to become severely outnumbered. I'm pretty sure he'll just be grateful for whatever you can spare him."
(That's for Jake.)
Jake Satomi: "Make a call, we're nearing V2..."
(sorry)
Vega (CLAW): (Ops, my bad(
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (If he chooses to take a second character with him to the battle.)
Jake Satomi: (Aiden can help with the flight check, too)
Roland: "So, who would you want to take along? Mind you, I'm injured and I don't know if I want to risk it."
And then Aiden volunteers himself, and he shrugs in return.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Joan does the obvious thing and heals Roland while they're marching.
Along with any other injured party members.
Jake Satomi: "Some additional air support would be nice," he adds, hinting that Linus could help them further...
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Alright. Aiden can add his Flight proficiency bonus to the roll... now let me just check to ensure Aiden does have Flight proficiency.)
Jake Satomi: (He never thought to add it. But he should.)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Aiden, you now have flight proficiency at rank D.)
Aiden Nate: (Alright
GrumpiestVulcan: Moving things along...
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Roll for it.)
Jake Satomi: rolling d100 - 20
(
50
)-20
= 30
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Jake easily gets Aiden to the battlefield with him in time.
(Ok, this leaves me in an interesting position.)
GrumpiestVulcan: That being 6 minutes on the clock left, with a split party and combat about to start?
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): In so many words, yes.
GrumpiestVulcan: We can press on, or defer combat to later. You'll have to choose a side to do first, and I expect either one to proceed at the same rate due to the present member count
Roland: (combat will be fun, but will also take forever)
(even the curbstomps take 10 subjective eternities lol)
Aiden Nate: (^
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Ok, here's how this is going to go.
The party are going to fight their battle first.
GrumpiestVulcan: Lous and I are generally available, so our schedule will be easier
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): This will affect how long Jake and Aiden have to hold out.
Ah... hold on.
That would mean that... hmm...
At the moment, it would just be Kain, Claw, and a whole lot of NPCs.
It probably makes more sense to do the party's side of things first. On the other hand, it's a lot easier logistically to do Jake and Aiden's side of the battle.
Roland: (always did want to play Tactics Advance, sort of)
(in that I've already played the game, but never went past the early game)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Roland, Vega, are you up for a scrap?)
Roland: (I am)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Claw?)
Vega (CLAW): (Sorry went to get something to eat)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Fair. Are you up for a late fight?)
Vega (CLAW): (Sure, i'm in)
GrumpiestVulcan: grabs popcorn
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Processing.
L(ou)is: ;^; I don't have popcorn.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): Deployment Phase.
As the party get closer to Shizi's position, the delaying force arrives. Groups of Scarves appear from three different directions and begin to charge towards them.
Roland, Vega, roll Combat Awareness. DC 65 to pass, DC 50, 35 and 25 for even more information.
Roland: rolling 1d100
(
15
)
= 15
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): These dice today...
(Louis, for the laughs?)
(Sorry, Claw)
Vega (CLAW): rolling 1d100
(
28
)
= 28
Roland: (oh right, proficiency, pretend that's a 5)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Can people give me 5 minutes?)
L(ou)is: wait what?
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Bathroom.)
L(ou)is: Oh. Roll for the lolz?
rolling 1d100
(
4
)
= 4
Roland: k lol
L(ou)is: I'M WEAK
Roland: extreme keks
L(ou)is: I'm done
It's over. I'm out. These freaking dice, man.
Aiden Nate: > leaves the party
> crits CA roll
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): *Roland, Vega, you can tell just about everything there is to know about this force. (And despite being a mile away, you somehow know it all too, Aiden.) These Scarves are likely to move very fast, being on bikes. They're armed with automatic pistols which, due to their low accuracy and damage, will do little more than sting. However, they will tend to shred shields.
you notice the way they are carrying their javelins. Those Scarves are couching them They will likely deliver a very nasty charge, especially if they are allowed to hit home all at once. Worse... that guy at the head of the group? He's armed with a proper lance, and a carbine that will give him the range of a rifle without having to dismount from his bike. He has grenades too... and you think you see groups of them taking out pouches of something. It's probably not a nice thing to get on you.*
GrumpiestVulcan: "The floor here will kill you. Try to avoid it."
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Ok, deploy!)
(I'll deploy the rest of the group after you place your pieces.)
Roland: (right, how do the rotting tenements work)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (They're run-down tenaments that will probably go up like a candle if you use fire near them. Fireballs aimed properly will be ok, but be cautious with those walls of fire...)
Roland: (ok, not something I can use to rek scrubs, right)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Ok.)
Player Phase
(This is going to be the weirdest battle I've ever conducted.)
Roland: (I just realized, that's 50 feet of spike strips.)
(therefore like one square if I'm reading the ranges correct)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (You are correct, yes)
Roland: (darn)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (I'm going to assume Vega is on autopilot for now.)
(Roland, the fate of the party rests on your shoulders!)
L(ou)is: (No pressure
Roland: Roland moves to the rightmost path and puts down a spike strip.
Joan casts a wall of ice on the leftmost path.
Shunji takes a poisonous smoke grenade and jumps on the slanted roof, waiting to throw it at the right moment.
Alyssa follows him, not taking a grenade because it's the in-character thing to do.
Aspen nervously levitates a fire grenade, waiting for someone to tell her what to do.
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Ok. This is a bit silly, and there's probably a better way of doing this.)
Roland: (like having more than two people around to do this?)
Vega (CLAW): (Sorry about that i was washing my plate)
Roland: (:>>>)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Right now, we have one person present. If we can get even two people present through the week, it would be better than what we have)
(Well, three)
(now)
(Surely we can get four out of the five players who are not on hiatus available to play this out at some point during the week.)
Roland: (yes.)
(Joan getting blown up by sudden no-internet blows, tho)
Slightly Dazed Bystander (GM): (Oh, right. Let's return to IC for now.)
(Wheeled can talk there.)
L(ou)is: I'm guessing a pause?
Vega (CLAW): (Bummer XP)