[M&M2e] Red Sands Chronicles

Brian Shaugnessy

"Guys! I have something! That signal we've been tracking here...it's a code! It's a call for help coming from a bunker. It MUST be nearby too. The signal's been getting stronger and stronger all this time. Also, the guy on the cross is alive, but I think he's bait so be careful if you want to go get a look."

Brian shudders. "We can't just leave someone like that," he whispers, eyes wide with what he imagines the victims going through. He looks to the others. The Ottoman continues to be inscrutable. Deezy, of course, is hidden inside the bulk of the Metal Beast. Most importantly, though, he knows a calculating strategist Seif isn't likely to approve a rescue. Not without an advantage.

The young man glances back to the steady heat signature of the crucified man, then he closes his eyes, swallows hard, and finally says, "I may have a way to get him down without getting too close. Just don't--" he glances nervously to Seif--"Just remember I'm on your side, okay?"

OOC: Intending to use his Weaken 6 ([cold] drain toughness ranged) ability on the crucifix to force it to crumble, but as a ranged ability he'll have to get closer to work it. I'll also roll a hide in plain sight, as well.
 

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"Considering Sister Deezy's report, I am certain that our brothers will be more comfortable if they had some first hand knowledge that no one would be launching rockets at us while we pass that settlement."

At first Seif thought the man had not fully grasped the situation: the townsfolks were under siege by beasts – worse than beasts - and neither was likely in a position to shoot at a convoy that... completely disregarded their plight. Ah.

“We will be your ambassadors, lord,” acknowledged the desert man. He signed off without further ado and then looked at his three comrades in arms. “Thoughts?”

Cautiously, the group makes their way towards the settlement.

As they set off once more, Seif contrived to be close to the white and red Ottoman.

“You control many spirits, wise one.” He quietly gestured to each in turn: “Water,” the departing mist; “Fire,” the blackened and still smoking ghost; “Ice,” the white-sprinkled statue at their backs, rigid with frost.

No questions anywhere in there. And yet, clearly...

<Response Ottoman? Note that Seif *intends* this to be a private conversation. :)>

[The Platform]
[sblock=Relique and Sahid]
The structure is used for "sky burials" and cremation... which might explain why the ruins were not cleared of mutants.
Not sure I follow the logic here: why is the presence of a burial device linked with not clearing the ruins of mutants? Is this type of burial structure linked with something my character should be aware of?[/sblock]
The young man glances back to the steady heat signature of the crucified man, then he closes his eyes, swallows hard, and finally says, "I may have a way to get him down without getting too close. Just don't--" he glances nervously to Seif--"Just remember I'm on your side, okay?"

“He has survived this long, he can wait until after we have secured the base settlement,” points out the desert man.

If he’s basically talking only to Deezy at this point:
“The joys of being a guide,” in a voice drier than the desert. To Klatta he said, pointing: “I will jump to the top of the building to square left. There. Watch my signal for the locations of dangers ahead... No indirect weapons?”

<Response Deezy?>


Seif kicked his camel into a charge. He will Pole Vault well before reaching the gate, land on a roof and shout back the location and number of any enemies he sees (Perception +10). If he can, have Deflect active after he lands.

[sblock=IF, ON THE OTHER HAND, BRIAN or THE OTTOMAN STAYED]“Let’s start acting like a team. They probably intend to charge from the houses surrounding the square -- maybe raising the pylons to block us in or break the group in two. I suggest that Shaugnessy and you Ottoman ride on the Beast’s shoulder, keeping you out of hand to hand range and *together*.” Good tactics against mines as well, but that is neither here nor there. He goes on with the actual plan: “One, the Ottoman cloaks us in mists. Two, I jump on top of that building to the left of the square and report on any dangers I see. Three, you charge through the gate under cover of mist and make for one side of the square. If they have to charge out of sequence, we can take them out one group at a time.” He stopped drawing in the sand and awaited comment.[/sblock]
 

OOC: Just answering this question before I go through and type my post a min update tonight..
Not sure I follow the logic here: why is the presence of a burial device linked with not clearing the ruins of mutants? Is this type of burial structure linked with something my character should be aware of?

Seif (by virtue of wasteland knowledge) and Sahid (by virtue of being an immortal who traveled to regions on earth where sky burials were practiced) would know that structures like these are generally kept far away from settlements because of various cultural views/beliefs. It should be noted that some cultures do actually treat the deceased who are used in the sky burial as becoming "offerings" to the gods, spirits, nature, or whatever.

As far as Seif is concerned, he would have heard rumors (though mostly unverified) that "feral mutants" or "mutant cannibals" tend to congregate at these sky burial sites and that they either feed on the deceased or on the creatures that scavenge off the remains of the deceased. So if those rumors are true it could explain why there were mutants in the ruins.
 

"It's not all of my making as you might have already presumed my friend. I think our friend Bryan is making temperature shifts here. I'm a humble servant of the Moon and she grants me control over water and it's various states, despite beeing so far away." The Ottoman is lost in a couple of seconds, staring at where the Earth's moon should be. "I miss the Earth a lot." Sahid finished, before disappearing ahead, going to the settlement.
 

The post begins to crack loudly and it slowly begins to list to one side as a result of Brian's heat manipulations.


Leaping ontop of a roof, Seif is able to see about a dozen mutants wandering within the square. Several of them (four total) appear to be foraging through the refuse near of what appeared to been several tables that have been tipped over and smashed. In the immediately vicinity of the tables, you can also see what appears to be several stacks of banners or streamers, giving you the impression that the settlement's population were preparing for a feast prior to the attack.

However, as Seif looks upon the scene, he can't help notice on thing: The ground appears to be shot up near some of the bodies.
 

"It's not all of my making as you might have already presumed my friend. I think our friend Bryan is making temperature shifts here. I'm a humble servant of the Moon and she grants me control over water and it's various states, despite beeing so far away." The Ottoman is lost in a couple of seconds, staring at where the Earth's moon should be. "I miss the Earth a lot." Sahid finished.
Seif nodded, sympathy for the emotion more than even vague understanding of what moon (Phobos probably?) and water/the rest of it had in common. Astrology. Signs and portents. Mysteries. Sorcerors.

“He hides his skills,” he pointed out instead.

***​

«Assuming a 'No' from Deezy to his question about available weapons:
“Luck,” the desert man wished them.

Seif kicked his camel into a charge and immediately extended one sword out to ten feet. Well before reaching the gate though, that point went forward and down into the sand. Like asping-loaded nightmare, he pole-vaulted into the air and somehow managed to trigger sudden and full extension at just the right moment to boost him well over both ditch and low wall. *PTHUNK*.

However, as Seif looks upon the scene, he can't help notice on thing: The ground appears to be shot up near some of the bodies.
The man in dark robes hold up two hands of fingers for Klatta’s benefit <and Brian plus the Ottoman if he can see them> and then points out the mutant’s location with sharp, purposefully exaggerated gestures. Meanwhile, his hard blue eyes frantically scan windows, alleys and doors. This is not good news!

[sblock=Actions]Notice +10 again, trying to spot potential shooters in the most likely places. Immediately shout warning of location plus number if he does spot them. If he doesn’t spot any, look for recent vehicle tracks in the dirt of the square+Gate below for 1) where they might lead and 2) nature of vehicles (Tracking +11). This is assuming there isn’t evidence of any mine-planting, of course. :eek:[/sblock]
 
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"Indirect...you mean like artillery, or unguided ballistic trajectory weapons? Nah. That's specialized gear. The ol' Beast is just a ground-pounder." She said the words with obvious affection. "Even the anti-infantry guns are designed for area saturation. They burst at preprogrammed ranges. No way to really change that to try to get more range."

She pauses when Seif jumps up to the roof and squints at the visual feed in confusion when he does his signal.

"Okay...so ten mutants," she hazards. "And they're over there. Hm. Ten's a lot, but they shouldn't be able to hurt me. Want me to just run in and start shooting?"
 

The buildings are only one or two stories tall. Looking around there doesn't seem to be any shooters.

For the most part the vehicle tracks appear to be that of dune runners (wide tire marks), however there is one pair of crawler treads that indicate that they used a medium crawler.
 

OOC: Shayuri: As mentioned earlier, Seif doesn't have a personnal radio so... are you expecting a reply or was that just a rhetorical question? As I understand it, you and the Beast are somewhere outside the gate in the no-man's land while Seif is inside the town, past the moat, the low wall and a portion of the square (he can Jump *very* far :)).

As it is, how about the followig?
When he looked back, the Beast was still where he had left it, awaiting the ancestors knew what. He gestured her forward impatiently, holding his actions till she got there. Then he jumped and landed back on her shoulder, momentaraly scrambling for a hold...

"Charge through the square, to the vertical trains, then drive the mutes back through the gates! Scavengers!" he concluded, as if that explained everything.

[Sblock=Actions]Pole Vault on the Beast's shoulder. Ride it as it <possibly> charges accross the square. Switch Array to Impale. Impale the first mutant that they meet: 1d20+6=21. Tough 21 save, please. :devil:

Relique, I'm assuming the pylon controls to close access to the bridge are, well, accessible? If this works, Seif is planning to close the pylons shut after the last mutant has been driven out.[/sblock]Guinevere and Lancelot, like you've never seen them before. ;)
 

OOC: Sorry for the slow responses. Not having as much time online with family still in town, and probably not utilizing it as effectively as I should. In any event, though, I think I'm a little confused. Have we not yet made it into the settlement? I thought we had, which is why I had Brian moving to weaken the crucifix, but that may be outside of town and I'm just completely wrong.

Okay, wherever we are / it is, the crucifix is weakened but hasn't yet broken. I'll roll a Notice check to see if any of the mutants or anyone else seems to be reacting to the cracking. If not, he'll weaken it further, trying to sneak in to get the man once he's down. If anyone starts shooting, I'll give Brian's Fire Shield a try (6 Deflect against ranged attacks).
 

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