Rise of the Kinori - D20 Future Campaign

[atanakar]

CAN THE POWERS THAT BE MOVE THIS TREAD INTO PLOTS & PLACES ... SORRY !!!!!

[Moved from the D20 WOC Forum]

CAMPAIGN MAPS

The Milky Way
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg28/atanakar/Milky_Way_D20.png

The Galactic Concord
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg28/atanakar/Milky_Way_galactic_concord2.png

The Solar System
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg28/atanakar/Milky_Way_solar_system_CLR.png

•••••••

Rise of the Kinori Campaign
This is a synopsis of my current Modern campaign. The first game took place in 2004. The 4 main characters are Eva (Fast), Terry (Dedicated), Charisma (Smart) and Benster (Strong). The events take place in Montreal, Canada. The campaign started as a run of the mill Shadow Chaser story until I pulled the rug under my players...

Prologue
After their first encounter with shadow creatures the characters are recruited by Specter leader of a secret organization knowned as « The Veil ». Specter wants to rebuild the Montreal Chapter of the organization. Characters are told that «The Veil» is dedicated to counter incursions by shadow creature into the modern world. In fact the leaders of «The Veil» actively seek out humans with the mutant gene marker. Their self appointed role is to find these individual, help them discover their latent mutant abilities and use them in a much larger war against «The Void». An ancient and dark entity constantly trying the throw the galaxy into chaos. (Future : From the Dark Heart of Space)

After they have proven they have the «right stuff» the heroes are brought to a secret facility at Mont Tremblant to undergo a complete DNA mapping. Satisfied that they are genuine mutants Specter spills the beans to them. Eva learns that she can fly. Terry can use his mind to interface with any electric or electronic device. Charisma is an telepath/empath. Benster learns he can move up to twice has fast as a regular human. (Future : Mutations) At this point characters have reached level 6. Players elect to branch out into advance classes: Eva (Fast5/Gunslinger1), Terry (Dedicated5/Medic1), Charisma (smart5/Field Scientist1), Benster (Strong5/Purifier1). Months go by at the Mont Tremblant mutant training facility until one day the world changes forever...

The Apocalypse
The Kinori (Menace p.56), an ancient race of aliens who arrived on Earth during the dinosaur era, have finally decided to claim the surface of the world for themselves. The human usurpers must die. Their diabolical plan has two steps. First use small tactical nukes to destroy all major cities on the globe simultaneously. At the same time they unleash an airborne human DNA specific virus that kills after a few minutes of atrocious suffering. Humanity is caught off guard. Billions die. The only human survivors are those that have the mutant gene: 1 in 1 000. The long prophesied Apocalypse has happened. The greatest coup orchestrated, on Earth, by agents of «The Void» since the Holocaust.

War has raged on for the last three years between Humans and Kinori. Characters are now level 10. Both races are evenly matched. Population level is similar on both sides. Kinori have superior technology but human have mutant abilities. Kinori have complete control over the southern hemisphere (except China who remains neutral). Humans have control over almost all the northern hemisphere. Siberia, Scandinavia, Alaska and Iceland are currently contested in the Ice Wars.

Player reaction
Most players agree that actually living the Apocalypse has probably been the best RPG experience they ever lived. The «first year» was very harsh on characters. I gave them no free bees. They had to fight and think to survive. Especially the first «canadian winter» !

The Fraal
After three years of hard negotiations at the Galactic Concord (Star*Drive) the Fraals have finally convinced the council that a special military force must be sent to Earth to put an end to the conflict. A peace treaty must be signed by both parties. Earth will be shared equally by both races. It has also been agreed that to «compensate» the humans for letting them down the Galactic Concord will implement a five years «Marshall Plan» to bring Humans at the same progress level as other members of the Concord.

What Next?
Characters will continue working for «The Veil» at the galactic level. So the campaign will become a full fledge FUTURE affair. «The Void» never sleeps ... Already it has the Technophage* aliens under its control. Will the Galactic Concord fall ? Mouahahahaha !

*Technophage : A race of aliens that finds nourishment by eating carbon based technology.

 

[atanakar]

News time

... 4, 3, 2, 1 ...

(jingle)
NCNN the most trusted news in the Northern Hemisphere ...

(Camera 1/general shot/hard light)
Good evening, I'm John Nash, you host.

(Camera 2/slow zoom in/lights dim slowly)
Its with great pride that we present the first global news broadcast since the catastrophic events of 2004. First, we would like to take a minute to think back on those that were left behind...(60 sec wait)

(Camera 1/close up/slow zoom out)
Thank you.

(Image feed - voice over by John Nash)
Tonight in the news :
• Galactic Concord official confirms existance of a «Fraal lunar base» going back to 1949
• Alaskan settlements finally receive much needed fision powerplants
• GC peace troops under heavy Kinori fire at the Panama Canal
• Its plump and looks delicious : Is it safe to eat or is it radioactive ?
• Skipper, the dog that survived the New York bombing

(Camera 1/general shot/hard light)
JN: And now a word from our sponsors ....

 

[atanakar]

Solar System

Solar System • Asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter • Fraal Monitoring Station

AI : Warning - Abnormal Tachyon surge detected on Jupiter's satelite Europa
Fraal : Scan for life forms
AI : Scanning - 5 life forms of unknowned origin detected
Fraal : Scan for ships
AI : Scanning - 1 tretrahedral structure of unknowned composition
Fraal : Size ?
AI : Base 400 feet - Height 400 feet
Fraal : Send complete report to our base on the Moon
AI : Sending
Fraal : Dispatch spy drone to coordonates of the surge
AI : Opening lauch tube - drone sent
Fraal : Attribute level one priority to this event.
AI : Level one priority attributed
Fraal : Good

 

[atanakar]

Earth

Earth's Orbit • Fraal Lunar Station • Dark side of the Moon

A Fraal leader, code name Sinatra, as just received the last transmission from the spy drone launched from the Monitoring station. Crooner music can heard in the background. Blue smoke swirls upward from an unfinished cuban cigar. Sinatra picks up a glass filled with Glenfidish Whiskey. With a quick movement of the arm he swirls the two ice cubes in the glass than rapidly swallows the last drops of his drink. He reads the report again :

[target location reached] [cloaking activated] [landing completed] [detecting 5 life forms/distance 1000 feet] [2 lifeforms approaching 900 feet] [2 lifeforms approaching 500 feet] [bioscan results: height 7 feet / width 1 feet / no torso / 1 cubic foot head tops 3 feet long neck connected to three 4 feet long legs / cold blooded / thick exoskeleton-skin resistant to the vacuum of space / digestive system in symbiosis with breathing system / Stomach content: carbon/quartz] [2 lifeforms within a foot] [2 lifeforms spitting liquid from mouth] [alert: exterior shell breached] [opening signal to monitoring and lunar stations] [compressing data for speed transmission] [alert : primary systems failing] [secondary systems activated] [sending compressed data] [auto-destruct activated] [5,4,3,2,1.................

Sinatra : AI please connect with monitoring station
AI : Connection opened
Sinatra : Davis Junior?
Davis Jr: Yes
Sinatra : What do you make of this?
Davis Jr: We should send a team as fast as we can to collect more data
Sinatra : All your resources are on missions already
Davis Jr : What about Specter's team?
Sinatra : They've never been in space !!
Davis Jr : There is always a first time. Mission reports from this team are outstanding.
Sinatra : I have a FTL lightfreighter at my disposal. Its feasible. We'll have to use nano augmenters to give them the spaceship operation skills they will need. Its settled. Sinatra out.
Sinatra : AI, please connect to Mont Tremblant's Veil Base
AI : connection established
Sinatra : Specter
Specter : Sinatra, good to hear from you. What kind of crazy plan have you prepared for us this time?
Sinatra : Grab a chair ....

 

[atanakar]

The Vrusk

Vrusk Heavy Freighter of the House Tjik_Vrass in orbit around Earth

Fraal AI : Vrusk vessel Tjik_237 you are cleared to enter Earth's atmosphere and land at the Tijuana Space port.
Captain G'chich Tjik : We thank you in the name of House Tjik_Vrass. Tjik_237 out.

Tension eases slowly inside the spaceship's command center. Captain G'chich look at the rest of his command team. Knowing their place in the hierarchy none dare speak unless asked a direct question.

Captain G'chich : We will pull this off. The Galactic Concord Inspection troops will want to check the cargo. Lieutenant Yl'tak, tell the laborers to get ready. For once we are not trying to smuggle something on the planet. The stupid Fraals will never suspect we are trying to smuggle out five Kinori special troops ! If this works we will rise in the hierarchy. If we fail and our attempt becomes public I will take full responsibility for the disgrace caused to House Tjik_Vrass. You need not fear, your families will not have to jump off Mont T'mowr. Any questions?

Lieutenant Yl'tak : Can we trust the Kinori Captain G'chich?

Captain G'chich : They are a people in need. The Kinori will be here. Only the Vrusk dare go against the wishes of the Fraal. Who else can provide them with a spaceship equipped with stealth shields ? It is their only hope to thwart the embargo imposed on them by the Galactic Concord. This new race will prove to be a very profitable market. War always is...

Lieutenant Yl'tak turns on a small microphone near is lower mandible : Attention laborers prepare to welcome the Galactic Concord inspection troops. Make House Tjik_Vrass proud!

 

[atanakar]

Diary

Dairy • Specter O'Reily • January 15 2008

Looking back at the last few years one event, other than the actual apocalypse, remains vivid in my mind. Ah! I get ahead of myself. First a bit of background ... Having been responsible for the Montreal chapter of the Veil for more than 23 years I have overseen the creation and tutelage of 4 teams of «Shadow Chasers» for the «Church of the Stars». The fourth team, which I secretly call F4, is still active today. At first, I regarded them as nothing more than a strange amalgam of misfits, intellectuals, bullies and nerds. I cursed fate for giving me a group of what appeared to be inept candidates. But I was humbled by their exploits over the years. Today I hold them in the greatest respect. At the risk of sounding melodramatic, and breaking the Veil code of conduct, I will admit that I have come to love them as if they were my own children.

In the early hours of March 2nd 2006 the unexpected attack of Mont Tremblant's mutant facility by a KET (Kinori extermination team) almost destroyed the F4 team. Armed with incendiary and fragmentation grenades the Kinori were able to storm the facility using teleportation technology. This new tactic became a KET trademark after the success of the fist attack. 10 adult mutants, 26 mutant infants were killed by the three Kinori suicide bombers. The F4 team, caught by surprise, was mortally injured. Its is only shear luck that saved them from certain death. At the time of the attack I was holding an early secret meeting with the Fraal Leader, code name Sinatra, in the hydroponic farm of the facility. After the onslaught, Sinatra and I rescued the few that had survived. Being a field medic myself I could tell that the injuries of the F4 team were fatal. In a rare emotional display Sinatra offered the help of the Fraal. On his command the Fraal AI beamed the F4 team to their medical facility on the Moon station.

After three months of medical care and rehabilitation therapy the F4 team was able to function again. What I did not know at the time is that they had to pay a price for survival: Cybernetic implants. Eva's maimed lower legs were replaced with rocket «flight systems». Her damaged nervous system was augmented with «reflex wires». Charisma's burned eyes were replaced with «laser optics» and her skin was grafted with «identity mask» technology. Terry's left eye was replaced with «light amplification optics» and «sensory recorder». He also had to received «total organ replacement» due to extreme internal injuries. Benster's hands were reconstructed with retractable «spurs». He also received «sonar & smoke screen skin» to heal the 95% third degree burns he suffered.

In the end the cowardly attack of the Kinori was a turning point for the Mont Tremblant mutant facility. We shifted from survival mode to aggression mode. The F4 team was at the forefront of the exaction teams. Infiltrating deep into Kinori territory they ruthlessly attack their leadership. Those the Kinori left for dead became cold and efficient death dealers...

 

[atanakar]

Synopsis : Episode 32

If you have read all the previous «mini stories» you understand that everything is now in place for a game. The Technophage invasion has begun on Europa. The Fraal will equip the players with what they need for the mission. The Kinori, as usual, are playing with fire. The table is set. Here is the synopsis of Episode 32 that I have prepared for my players.

Episode 32 – Europa

001 Mission briefing

* Specter explains the mission


002 Injection of the nano augmenters

* Sinatra and Specter implant the nano augmenters to the F4 team
* STRESSFUL : Terry quickly displays adverse reactions due to his total organ replacement. He must be stabilized. (Make look like Terry can actually die. But he is saved in the end)


003 Beamed to the Fraal ultralight freighter

* The team is beamed to the ultralight freighter NY/NY•01
* HUMOR : Crash course in spaceship operation with Sinatra


004 Going to Europa

* Stop over at the asteroid field Fraal Station
* HUMOR : Spaceship weapon operation target practice with asteroids


005 The Technophage surprise attack

* When they reach Europa the NY/NY•01 is attacked by a technophage boarding party
* CRITICAL/STRESSFUL : Battle scene, flat-footed, surprise round.


006 Beaming down inside the Pyramid Ship

* Sensors reveal the Technophage pyramid ship is protected by an unknown shield system
* PUZZLE : One of the players discovers the portable teleportation device the Technophage used to board the ship / One of the players discovers how to activate it and beam inside the pyramid ship.


007 The Technophage

* The team explores the pyramid ship
* ANNOYING : Internal automated defense systems activate : force fields go up and 5 floating mini-bots armed with lasers pursue and engage the invaders. (20 HPs / AC 25)


008 The Hatchling Chamber

* KEY INTELLIGENCE: The F4 team discovers the Technophage have a hatchling chamber that can grow embryos to full adults in a few days. The 3 remaining technophages protect the hatchling chamber with all they've got. When it appears the F4 team will win the last living technophage activates the auto-destruct system.
* CRITICAL/STRESSFUL : Players have 5 minutes to teleport out of the pyramid ship. It is also possible to exit the ship by anyone of the 6 hatches or with the lifepod. If the players fail to leave the ship by the end of the fifth round they discover that the technophage auto-destruct system releases a nanobot cloud that eats away the pyramid ship in about 15 minutes.


009 Return to Earth

* MYSTERY : As they return to Earth the Kinori stealth spaceship uses the NY/NY•01 as target practice. The «invisible» Kinori ship leaves at FTL speed when a Fraal drone approaches the coordinates of the battle and broadcasts a Galactic Concord Warning Message. Origin of attack remains unknown to the players.


010 Debriefing on Earth (XP rewards)
1.Bringing back the technophage portable teleportation device : 1250/per player
2.Bringing back a living technophage hatchling : 1250/per player
3.Quality of role playing (per player) : 250 low / 500 average / 750 good / 1000 excellent

011 END

 

[atanakar]

Starship Notes

NY_NY•01

The starship «New York/New York-01» is the personal property of the Fraal leader code name Sinatra. Although Fraal civilization has reached PL 9, Sinatra loves to tinker around the antic PL7 ship during his time off. The crew quarters, galley and lounge area have been remodeled in a tribute to New York's 1950 architectural and design styles : Dinner style for the galley, Cabaret style for the lounge, Art Deco/Frank LLoyd Wright inspirations for the captain and crew quarters. When not in use the intercom system doubles has a sound system that plays crooner music classics... When he retires from active service Sinatra plans to transform the two cargo holds of the ship into deluxe passenger cabins and accommodations.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg28/atanakar/ny_ny01_ultralight_ftr.jpg

STATISTICS

* Type : Ultralight
* Subtype : Civil Freighter
* Constructor : MindHive Engineering
* Galactic Concord Model Code : FRL_MHE_124b
* Size : Colossal
* Length : 160 feet
* Weight : 4000 tons
* Cargo Capacity : 2000 (2x1000)
* Crew : 4 minimum
* Passenger Capacity : 4


SYSTEMS

* Power Core : Antimatter Reactor
* Engines : Induction Engine + Thrusters
* Armor : Cerametal
* Defense Systems : Light Fortification + Particle Shields
* Sensors : Class IV Sensor Array, Improved Targeting
* Communications : Drivesat Comm Array
* Weapons : 2 Mass Cannons (Firelinked), 1 Rail Cannon
* Grappling System : Grapplers

 

[atanakar]

Dairy

Dairy • Specter O'Reily • January 25 2008

Today, while I was sitting in front of the fireplace at the Mont Tremblant mutant facility my mind wandered ... I remembered Montreal before the bombing. A thing I had refused to do for many years ... Although its one of the oldest cities in North America, Montreal was a «Lolita». She was young of heart and had a Latin soul. She had the all the right moves, an inclination towards the celebration of all life's joys ...

Every year from May 1st to September 30th the city would explode in International Festivals of all kinds. At the height of summer heat the «International Jazz Festival», a 14 days affair, would see no less than 1 million human souls wander the streets of the Cultural district ... Moon light , asphalt, 90°, high humidity, perspiration, women's perfume, fire trucks sprinkling water fumes on the crowds, jazz rhythms & melodies in the air ... One could not help become fully alive for a few evenings a year ... Montreal was a «Lolita» and died way too young...

 

[atanakar]

News Time : NCNN

... 4, 3, 2, 1 ...

(jingle)
NCNN the most trusted news in the Northern Hemisphere ...

(title)
SPECIAL REPORT

(Studio camera 1/general shot/hard light)
Good evening, I'm John Nash, you host.

(Studio camera 2/close up/hard light)
J.N. : A few hours ago NCNN as learned that the Galactic Concord is about to change its «Humans in Space Policy». We go to our reporter in Tijuana : Harry Harrison.

(Exterior/In front of the Tijuana Space Port Authority building)
H.H. : Yes John. Today a high ranking Fraal official of the Tijuana Space Port called the NCNN office of the «United Mutant States of America». He requested to use 2 minutes of our daily broadcast to speak directly to our viewers. We have kindly agreed to his re...

(Cut away to a AI robot digicam #1 – voice over by Harry Harrison)
A Fraal wearing a gray fedora steps outside the SPA building. The camera follows the Fraal leader.

H.H.: Here he comes... Since Fraal names cannot be pronounced by humans this one has chosen an Earth name. He has chosen Sinatra. My sources tell me he his a big fan of American culture of the 50s.

Sinatra approaches Harry Harrison.

H.H.: Sir Sinatra, we are broadcasting live ... look into the camera ... here ... yes ... go ahead ... our audience is watching you ...

Sinatra : Humans of the Earth, the Galactic Concord has ruled two days ago that you will be allowed to travel freely in space. I now that it is a dream that you have cherished for a long time. The Galactic Concord offers you this dream today. If I may paraphrase one of your famous movie characters, you will go «to the stars and beyond !» We call upon all those who believe they have what it takes, to come forward, at the Space Port Authority buildings across the Northern hemisphere. All able candidates will be fully trained in spaceship maintenance and operation on the Fraal Lunar base. That is all.

(Cut away to Harry Harrison – AI robot digicam #2)
H.H.: Incredible! Sir Sinatra can you explain why the Galactic Concord has changed its policy?

(Cut away to a AI robot digicam #1)
Sinatra : Not today – (white light flash : Sinatra is beamed out of the picture)

H.H.(voice over) : Well ... John, back to you!

(Studio camera 2/close up/hard light)
J.N.: Thank you Harry. Excellent work – (turns head slowly to camera 1)

(Studio camera 1/close up/hard light)
J.N.: When we come back after the break, our political panel with : Elisa Shue of the Democratic Mutant Party and Keifer Nutherland of the Republican Mutant Party....