The Untamed Wilds: Electric Skies

Be Vewy, Vewy Quiet, We’re Hunting Lizards

Receive 5 xp for posting during the week. You may spend it before combat.

The Cleveland barrier is reinforced concrete a little over two feet thick, so it does not take long to step through into the wilds outside of Helton. The night sky is cloudy and dark, and it is unusual to look up and not see the passing lights of airships and drones. The booted feet of the three Runners come down into a muddy concrete collection pool that helps feed the gully that leads into the city. Just on the other side of the pool are the partial remains of a horse, its rent torso almost unrecognizable. The smell of the bloody remains blocks out all other odors. In the slick mud the Runners can see the clawed prints of lizard feet, wider than those of the giants. There is a fifteen foot wide path of cleared space separating the wall and the beginning of the forest full of towering oaks with spreading branches that provide plenty of dark recesses for creatures to hide.

"Be careful, those things like to jump out at ya," Travis offers, attempting to help.
One intense glare from Syd silences the man, and the farmers step away from the broken grate. Runners don't need to be told to be careful.

[sblock=Perception]Effectiveness: Mind + Knowledge + Commercial

This passive technique represents noticing patterns, anomalies, or dangers in the immediate area due to seeing or hearing or even smelling things subconsciously. This may be augmented by various active or passive Collegiate Tasks. There is no random aspect to this task. This task may be opposed by Blend or Stealth, whichever is more appropriate.

Check: effectiveness + Konokoro (Collegiate) + d100: number to hit - 100

Trollick 13 + 18 + 82 = 113; Hawkeye 19 +14 +63 =96; Syd Vicious 16 +12 +59=87[/sblock]

Trollick suppresses a grin as he turns his gaze over the green branches of the oaks, glad to be close to nature again. Whether it is his familiarity with the woods, or his magic enhanced senses, he can tell that the pair of lizards have set up an ambush for anyone pursuing them. He notes one branch of a tree to their left sits a little lower than it should, spots a horned head through a patch of leaves, and he sees a reptile tail visible from the other side of one thick trunk. With hand gestures he points out the intended attack of their prey.

Hawkeye is distracted by the size of the claw marks on the horse remains, grateful for his heavy armor. Once Trollick points out the lizards, he easily spots them.

Syd Vicious is eager for the fight after seeing what was left of the horse. Once Trollick points out the lizards, he easily spots them.

Surprise round has been successfully avoided. One lizard is waiting to pounce from a branch twenty feet off the ground, and the second lizard is waiting to attack from around the base of an adjacent tree. The body of the tree hiding lizard is partially obscured, but enough is visible for ranged attacks. Only a small portion of the tail of the second lizard is visible.

State intentions and roll for effect.

Hawkeye intends to shoot the lizard whose body is partially visible with his Ruger revolver.

After motioning to the others of the location of the hidden lizards, Trollick draws his heavy pistol and fires at the one within the tree.
[sblock=Reaction]Readiness (Combat) + Impetus (Commercial) + Clarity (Collegiate) + d100 - Armor Hindrance[/COLOR]
Reaction Time is a numeric value for mental and physical preparedness for action. This is the first calculation in a combat sequence as it determines the order of attackers and is generally only figured once at the beginning of any combat situation. Reaction time may be further modified if a character or creature is injured or otherwise impeded at the start of combat. Loss of Body or Mind reduces the final Reaction Time by 10 for every 1 point lost. For example, if a character had lost 2 points of Body before combat initiated, his total reaction time would be reduced by 20.
Trollick: 17 + 13 + 19 + 67 = 126 - 50 = 76[/sblock]
[sblock=Speed of Action]Reaction Time - Hindrance[/COLOR]
Though Reaction Time is a numeric value for mental and physical preparedness for action, a character who is able to think the fastest may not necessarily be able to act the fastest, especially if wielding a large weapon. This hindrance is determined by many factors that are quantified under their respective descriptions, such as weapons, movement, and manipulating Way. Like Reaction Time, Speed of Attack is further modified in the same manner if a character or creature is injured or otherwise impeded. After each action, the Hindrance is subtracted again from the previous total to continue the numeric sequence for the next action, unless the character or creature is fighting with two weapons; in which case, Hindrance for the weapon halved. Subsequent actions have a minimum hindrance of half a second or 50 tics, even is halving a weapon's hindrance would be less.
Trollick: 76 - 50(pistol) = 26[/sblock]
[sblock=Movement]The average human brain in real life can perform 5 conscious actions in 1 second, making the normal reaction time 1/5 of or .2 seconds, which corresponds to 20 of 100 tics in the game.

Movement as it is figured into timing: Motility = max strides / second(100 tics)

• From a standing position, 1 stride = 50 tics, 1 pace = 100 tics
• Second motion, 2 paces = 100
• Third motion, 4 paces = 100
• Forth motion, 6 paces = 100...
• The maximum = Motility Score in paces / 100 tics

This should seem reasonable that an arm length sword has a hindrance of 100, meaning that it takes 1 second to effectively swing the sword from a resting position. Fighting with two weapons simultaneously halves the weapon hindrances after the initial swing, though a minimum hindrance of 50 is always required for functional mechanics.[/sblock]
[sblock=Firearm Assault]Launch (Combat) + Precision (Commercial) + Clarity Collegiate) + d100 +/- range - cover
Once Speed of Action is determined, the character or creature may choose to launch a projectile at his opponent. Whether the launch is performed by mechanical means (firing a gun) or manually thrown, the mechanics are the same. The advantage to the attacker of a Projectile Assault is that it may not be defended. It must be avoided by use of one of the Defensive Commercial Tasks. If the target is unaware of the attacker, he may add his Stealth or Blend Task total to the first assault. Projectile Assault is further modified by the following range statistics:

Range Statistics: distance in paces
If the target is engaged in physical combat with a friendly, then the shooter receives a penalty to hit of 50%. If the shooter misses, there is a 50% chance that the projectile will strike the friend. If the miss ratio is significant, then the projectile goes wide, missing any target.
Trollick: 17 + 13 + 19 + 73 = 121 +/- range - cover[/sblock]

Syd takes off, watching Hawkeye's shot at the one in the tree, and bolts after Hawkeye's bolt. Whether the bullet hits or not, soon afterward, Syd would be there and, with pistol in one hand and sabre in the other, it was time to "Get Vicious". His heart was all a-thrill.

For posting earlier in the week gain 5 xp

I See Dead Lizards
[sblock=Reaction Time: Readiness + Commercial + Clarity + d100 – hindrance for armor and weapon]
Trollick: 17+13+19+67-5-15= 96
Hawkeye: 17+20+15+158-20-15= 175
Syd: 20+16+11+50-5-12-8= 72
Tree Lizard: 20+12+0+04-5= 31
Ground Lizard: 20+12+0+78-5= 105 [/sblock]

Order of Action: Hawkeye, Ground Liz, Trollick, Hawkeye, Syd, Tree Liz, Ground Liz

Hawkeye: As soon as he identifies the body of the lizard in the tree he points his Ruger Phoenix MK IV heavy revolver and fires a bit too soon. He feels the familiar kick of his sidearm, but misjudges the size of the creature hidden behind the leaves and his shot goes wide.
[sblock=Hawkeye revolver shot]
Hawkeye: 17+20+15+31+0=83
T Liz avoidance: 12+0+04+100=116
Hawkeye=miss [/sblock]

Ground Lizard: Immediately after Hawkeye fires the first shot the lizard hiding behind the tree bolts around the trunk and charges at the Runners. You can clearly see the creature now, and it has thick green scales, a horned frill, and a mouth of razor sharp teeth. It is not able to close within melee range this turn.

Trollick: He targets the tree lizard with his Mars 50 heavy pistol. He hits but it is only a glancing blow, tearing off a chunk of the creature’s thick hide.
[sblock=Trollick pistol shot]
Trollick: 17+13+19+73+0= 122
T Liz avoidance: 116
Damage: 1
Deflect: 10-1=9 [/sblock]

Hawkeye: Undeterred by the charging lizard, he targets the one in the tree again. This time he gets a solid shot in, shifting the weight of the creature on the branch, but not drawing any blood yet.
[sblock=Hawkeye second shot]
Hawkeye: 52+84+0=136
T Liz defense: 116
Damage: 6
Deflect: 9-6=3 [/sblock]

Syd: he charges in to meet the ground lizard. While using his saber to keep the lizard at bay, he fires point blank with his Tiger Mac-10 medium pistol, but the bullet doesn’t penetrate the thick scales.

[sblock=Syd pistol shot]
Syd: 20+16+11+50+20=117
G Liz defense: 20+12+0+81=113
Damage: 1
Deflect: 10-1=9 [/sblock]

Tree Lizard: it scrambles along its limb before leaping at the runners in a clumsy fashion. Trollick is the intended victim, but he has the battle presence to step aside and pistol strike the creature as it tumbles past him. He catches it on the back of the neck under its armored frill and there is a resounding crack. The lizard tumbles to the ground, unmoving.

[sblock=Trollick counterstrike]
T-Liz Leap Attack: 12+12+12+12+04=52

Trollick defense: 17+13+19+73=122
*greater than 50 difference* counterstrike: 122-52=70%*20=14
Damage: 14
Deflect: 14-3=11 Body damage
T Liz Body: 8-11=3 Mind damage
T Liz Mind: 4-3=1 [/sblock]


Ground lizard: the remaining lizard takes a swipe at Syd, but he turns it aside with his sabre.

[sblock=claw attack]
G Liz attack: 113

Syd defense: 20+16+12+50+25=123 [/sblock]

[sblock=Combat Status] Runners: 0 damage; Tree Lizard Body: 0, Mind: 1, practically deaceased; Ground Lizard: 0 damage, Deflect: 9 [/sblock]
Roll reaction and action rolls for next sequence and state intentions.

Hawkeye adjusts his aim, and keeps trying to gun down the lizard.

Syd attacks with gun and sabre. He tries to shoot the ground lizard in the eye while making a slash attack at the base of its skull using a leaping attack to get advantage of downward force with the sabre attack.

Holstering his pistol and running for the lizard on Syd, at the same time, Trollick, preferring melee combat, hopes to punch the lizard with his sonic fist, an unexpected adjunct to his martial skill.

For posting during the week receive 5 xp

A Farewell To Lizards

[sblock=Reaction]
Hawkeye: 48+7=55
Syd: 64+12=76
Trollick: 61+29=90
Lizard: 57+27=84 [/sblock]

Order of action: Trollick, Lizard, Syd, Hawkeye

[sblock=Trollick Punch]
Trollick attack: 20+14+21+96+56=207
Lizard Defense: 20+12+49=81 [/sblock]
Damage: 7-5 soak=2 Mind damage; Mind: 4-2=2
[sblock=Trollick Thump]
Trollick Thump: 173
Lizard Defense: 67 [/sblock]
Damage: 10 Mind; Mind: 2-10=8 Body Damage; Body: 8-8=0 deceased

Slapping his pistol back in its holster, Trollick surges forward and hammer fists the lizard on top of its skull. Already a devastating blow, at the same instant he twists the Way lines to Thump the creature directly into its head. He can feel the magic energy reverberate inside the animal’s skull, scrambling its brains. The lizard drops, no longer a threat. It takes little effort to remove the heads of the two lizards, and return through the wall to deliver them to Travis and Luceena, who pack them in plastic bags.

Travis says to the Runners, “Nicely done. We’ll turn these into the Animal Awareness Committee at our building and authorize your payment.”

The Runners take their leave of the farmers, pleased with their effective disposal of the pests. Shatterframe is in her car in the same spot with her remote headset on, and greets the team when they return. “Excellent work, and not a scratch on you. I was hoping that would be an easy task, but your next opponents won’t be as relaxed as a couple of uppity reptiles. Regardless of which job you would like to take on next, meet at the same address tomorrow night.”

Shatterframe will take the team members wherever they wish to go, but once they exit the vehicle, she goes her own way.

Gain 2000 credits for job completion

Include in this weeks post any conversation with Shatterframe, and tasks the runners wish to do before the next job including new purchases.

Once back in the car with Shatterframe, Trollick steadies his breathing as the adrenaline from battle subsides. He looks over his two new friends, seeing that like him, they are uninjured. "Well gents, this may be a bit blunt but was raised mostly outside the walls. Would one of you have a pad where I can crash for a bit? I will gladly contribute some of my part of the fee toward costs. Also, despite my size, I do not snore." He laughs.

"Back on business, I am leaning toward the job in Sugarland for our next venture. The pay is better than that gig down at the beachside and a locked storage unit infers some intrigue."

With any business with his friends concluded, Trollick will turn his attention to Shatterframe. "How time sensitive are these runs? I was figuring a day or two of downtime to put our earnings to some personal use would be good. I was also wondering if you might know of any talisman shops or some such dedicated to folk culture where I might acquire a functional fetish, talisman, or totem. I ought to do something with my cred other than buy food and I have an aversion to integrated technology."