" Sharp sticks work on them." Rhic grinned looking a little bemused by how she handled the knife." any thing does, they just come in gross packages only..sort of like corn chips... break all ya like they just make more.

"They are individually more fragile than humans but where human packs number perhaps a dozen or half that... Don't imagine anything less than twice for a Kobold incursion.  They actually have permission to fight in trios in what are typically one vs one arena matches... well, maybe permission isn't the right word."  Leo's hands clenched closed and his music volume rose up slightly, "I figure you all can shoot and I'll get the ones that make it close.  I may not quite get all of them so a knife isn't a bad thing to have on you... you remember any celebrations of the Valkiir 'Day of Swords'?  That is a knife."

Leo began to sway and stagger twisting and whirling it almost made it difficult not to look at him during the combat about to ensue.  Not to mention that his music volume went up as he moved a few steps away from the others.

T'risa took her plasma pistol from it's holster. Making sure it was fully charged, she switched her knife into her left hand. "Very well, you have it Leo. We blast and any that make it through are yours to deal with. I spent a year on Valkiir recovering after an assignment, I got fairly familiar with most.... well, with some of their customs. I love them all. The difference between me and a typical Valkiir, is that they could lift me in one hand and what they call swords, I call hull plating." her eyes watched around them. "Why do I think this is going to be like that human thing? The Gunfight at the mediocre compound."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:57, Wed 07 July 2010.

In reply to Prometheus (msg #154):

She heard something and looked around, then saw the strange creatures making short runs and screeching loudly.

"Oh no! What's going on? What the heck are those things? I've never seen them or anything like them before! Lets get out of here! They might bite and things that bite can kill you...errr, me! Blue, head for the ship you said you know of!"

   As soon as Sun Runner caught the Skandling scent the rest of the world disappeared from his sensors.  He gave Bright Star no further thought, she would catch up on her own.  His audio sensor suite, far more acute than his previous system had been, was also registering other life signs, humanoid from the modulation of their speech, but he paid them no heed.  Every circuit was on fire now, concern for Maran awakening power reserves he had not used since his last conflict with the cursed Skandling.  He would not fail her.  Never again would another human suffer at the claws of the Skandlings.  Never, ever, again!
   His powerful legs drove him forward until at last his optical sensors detected Maran and Blue.  Suddenly his sensors were overwhelmed with data, hostiles appeared on almost every rooftop; processors automatically tallying the number and range of the enemy.  Unfortunately he had no weapon suite available to him, no distance weapons to strike the enemy first.  This was going to get very ugly.  Time to see what his chassis could do.
   He sent a Focused Tachyon Transmission to Blue Steel, alerting him to Sun and Star's arrival.  He knew that Star would listen to this transmission, which made things more efficient.
   "Blue Steel.  These creatures are enhanced organic Skandling slaves.  They will try to swarm us, use their numbers advantage to surround and annihilate their target.  We have to get Maran to safety!  I've detected humanoids approximately one kilometer down the main road.  They have transport.  Take Maran there as swiftly as you can.  Star and I will cover you.  GO!"
   Quickly Sun Runner moved to protect Steel and Maran, an unexpected canine howl escaping from Sun's vocalizer before he could switch it off.  That animal mimicry program was prooving to be a nuisance, but for some strange reason the old Steed didn't mind.  He bared his teeth at the Skandling minions and dared them to attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:26, Mon 05 July 2010.

   "Hold on Maran, were going for a ride," Blue warned as he gathered himself for a leap and exploded into motion.  Powerful muscles bunched and tensed under his skin as he broke into a ground eating gallop that would leave many other mounts in the dust.  "I see them; they look human, Blue replied to Sun.
   The big Stallion moved at a blistering pace, leaping obstacles and stretching out his full length as he made for the sound of the humans engines. the buildings, scrub brush and tumbled stone blurring as he pounded along the ancient streets his hooves ringing like hammers as they hit the pavement.
This message was last edited by a game moderator at 20:59, Tue 06 July 2010.

 "Come ON you guys, don't fight unless you just gotta! We can get away if we hurry! They seem to want the aircar...I think. Sun? Star? We got to GO!"
 She hung on, though she didn't think she could fall off if she wanted to, which of course she didn't. Blue had her in a safety harness of some kind. The air stung her eyes and they teared up so she couldn't really see anything, so she just clung to his mane and let him run.

Leo saw the charger... just as he was about to try contacting Prometheus for a status update.  "...No, We're good, here comes the line we hold.  I admit, they have quite a number for catching only a few folks.  Then again, they shouldn't have been expecting us so what should we expect right?"

[Private to Maran; Prometheus; T'risa K'mahda: Leo's mental voice was like a man standing in an otherwise silent room, and seemed to have almost nothing in common with his actual words at the time, "Maran, I see you, it's Leo, I'm with two others and we have a bit of firepower between us all.  We should be able to let you rest a bit once you get behind us."]

[Private to Prometheus: Are all of them infected by SHE or only certain ones?  If only certain ones, Leo would try to tell his companions that they are what passes for leaders among the group.]

 As the Steed thundered across th plaza heading toward T'risa's group the kobolds went crazy. a dozen of them leaping into motion after the fleeing Steed chasing it at breakneck speeds down the street around The Grav Sled the Kobolds jumped from roof tops and screeched insanely running at preternatural speed towards the group.
   the small creatures were leaping and bounding heedless of any threat, their spindly legs and arms stronger than they looked from the speed the small terrors ran with.
[Private to Leoulin: You see five that are infected. they are screeching and motioning the others forward. ]
[Private to T'risa K'mahda,Leoulin : You just felt a definate Psionic twitch. not strong enough to get any details on but someone is using psionics nearby]
[Private to Sun Runner: Sonic weapon System Online As runner see's The attack begin nested software kicks in and activates a system hidden from his initial scans.
OOC use these stats for lethal and non lethal..."Bark:
Sonic Stunner +2 to hit 20 cell 2d6 sonic    non lethal crit range 20 X2 range inc 20 ft single shot
Sonic disruptor +2 to hit 20 cell 2d6 sonic    lethal crit range20 X2 range inc 20 ft single shot



 ]

OOC:
Two rounds till the Kobold's reach the group.
one round till Blue reaches group

Kobolds Move action jump from roofs
Kobolds Move action Pursue Blue
Kobolds Move action Move toward group

T'risa's eyes furrowed tighter as she looked into the distance. "I guess we shoot the small things?"

She raised her plasma pistol towards the the incoming crowd of beast, just knowing she was going to hurt. Her voice took on the more serious tone of someone used to command.

"Fire on the beasties. Take tactical spacing. Anyone gets overwhelmed yell for help."

Her first shot was very poor. It went very wide, the plasma spilling over rocks wasted. T'risa's cheeks burned in embarassment. "and shoot better than I do"


10:46, Today: T'risa K'mahda rolled 18 using 1d20+13. Knowledge:Tactics.
OOC:Not sure if Leo or Rhic would like to be linked to T'risa. If they do take a +3 to defense for 4 rounds.
10:48, Today: T'risa K'mahda rolled 6 using 1d20+5. to hit. I won't bother rolling damage lol

Leoulin relays mental data on the 5 'leaders' to T'risa, he could get it but it was complicated for him to say anything while he worked on being ready to kill things... it actually bothered him that we was likely to have to kill some other than the five he had designated though.

A series of circuitry lines ran between Leo's right hand and the spike of mental energy that had projected from it and there was the soft hum and crackle of the thin line of energy that promised to keep the wounds delivered from bleeding much... "Damn I hate just doing my job sometimes..."

Holding action to attack the first one that makes the mistake of closing in persuit.

  Watch your backs, they try to swarm around you in a fight. Rhic warned as he reached into his cargo pockets and came out with a metal spere the size of a baseball. He snagged the safety ring of the grenade on the buckle of his harness jerked it free and let the safety spoon fly off ...
    " One thousand one, one thousand two....He counted aloud as the fuse inside the body of the grenade sparked to life and began to burn. calmly measuring the distance by eye he gave it a toss aiming for the middle of the group charging in from T'risa's side."FIRE IN THE HOLE!

   Sun Runner didn't have time to debate with Maran.  He fought the almost overwhelming urge to obey Maran's command, which was directly at odds with his primary function as her protector.  Desperately he initiated his emergency override protocols, which allowed him to disobey a direct command that could inadvertently harm another sentient.  He could see Blue Steel racing ahead, his speed impressive even for the normally swift Steed.  Sun would have to buy them time to ensure Maran arrived safely.
   His surprise upon discovering the previously overlooked systems gave way to steely determination.  His brown optical sensors gleamed as weapon specs uploaded to his central matrix.  Let's see what this unit is capable of...wait, I have to bark?  He growled, programming a reminder to adjust or reconfigure the weapons system requirements, then turned his muzzle in the direction of the Skandling foes closest to Blue, targeting systems quickly finding his target.  Knowing it was for Maran's safety he accepted the indignity and BARKED loudly!

OOC: 14:22, Today: Sun Runner rolled 19 using 1d20+8. Sonic Stunner +2 attack on the pursuing Skandling.  (Move action if necessary to get close enough for attack)

14:29, Today: Sun Runner rolled 5 using 2d6. Sonic damage if applicable.

 When she suddenly seemed to hear voices in her head, she cried out briefly and clamped her hands over her ears, though that seemed to do little to keep them out. She feared she was going crazy all of the sudden, with the screeching and the noise and the shooting and the fear she felt with all the chaos. She closed herself off as tightly as she could and refused to hear all of it, just concentrating on getting away from it all as soon as possible.
 "Run Blue Run!"
This message was last edited by a game moderator at 03:24, Wed 14 July 2010.

  " Oh no you don't." Star hissed as she leaped after the Kobolds, a low feral snarl of anger ripping from her new body. " I got a fist full of razor blades with your name on 'em bub.

   The Kobolds seem to pour from the rooftops two dozen at least, as hammers up the main avenue more fall in on his heels. screaming jabbering and screeching as they bound after the fleeing steed. Star catches one of the Kobolds from behind, leaping at it's back with all six limbs. trying to sink needle sharp class sinking into its back to secure her grip. and then her jaws closing over the back of it's neck. She was only half the size of the kobold but that was plenty large enough to do the job.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:35, Sat 17 July 2010.

  As T'risa raises her weapon and fires Blue leaps into her line of fire vaulting over an obstacle causing her to miss her mark but fortunately missing the steed as well. The group sees a massive warhorse, that looks to be formed out of living gun metal blue steel hurtling down the lane toward them. a human girls held to it's back by tendrils of more living metal that form a safety web and armor of some sort.
   Rhic's grenade hits the pavement and bounces. hitting a Kobold in the face as it rebounds the surprised Kobold gets only a moment to look at the object with a puzzled expression before it detonates sending Kobolds and Kobold limbs flying as the pint sized monstrosities are ripped into by a hail of jagged steel and piano wire wound inside the casing of the grenade.
    As Leo charges up his psiblade the leaders stand bolt upright. Shrieking in rage, black smoke begins to pour from every pore, eyes and mouth as they his and spit in a long forgotten language. the five hurl themselves forward hurtling toward Leo with a berserk rage in their eyes.

   As sun chases the pack of Kobolds he unleashes his inbuilt weapon. a loud very eerie bark is heard by most but to the target in the beam of the sonic module in his throat the sound is more like the sound of a jet engine revving to full power accompanied by a thousand fingernails on chalkboards.
    Stars target goes down under her leaping attack rolling cursing shrieking as it tries to dislodge the three cat body from his back. until jaws close over his neck and teeth sink into his skin. the damage front he teeth not as dangerous as the pressure across the veins leading to his brain. in seconds the creature goes limp and lays unmoving.

OOC:
Free round two
Leo, looks like your enemies are coming to you.
T'risa.. have Conrad check the sights on that pistol when you get back.

T'risa looked curiously at the steed before her attention was drawn back to the impending fight. Raising her pistol she ignored the targetting scanner using her immediate prescience to fire where the kobold was going to be.

As she fired the shot she knew it would hit. As the kobolds approached her left arm ballooned a shield forming on it.

"Be prepared. cover your backs."

OOC:
12:58, Today: T'risa K'mahda rolled 16 using 1d20+5. Confirm crit?.
10:28, Today: T'risa K'mahda rolled 24 using 1d20+5. To Hit
12:59, Today: T'risa K'mahda rolled 10 using 2d8+1. damage.

Everyone still has +3 defence except Maran and the sentient steeds
T'risa's psi shield is now active.

Leoulin let himself drift on the waves of the music as his enemies drew near.  This was how he accessed his combat prescience... already shifting to the sounds that would come a second or two later this was an almost meditative practice and had been his joy for years.  The burning blade at his hand and the circuitry along his arm, not to mention the dancing, whirling and flashing, lent a very dance hall visage almost terrifyingly surreal to be in a combat zone.

OOC: that +3 Defense puts me at 22 with only the lightest of armors...
I have an 18... counting my precognition, and we'll call it a smite reserved for a smokey one.  Make that a 21 to hit and 22 damage
This message was last edited by the player at 13:04, Wed 21 July 2010.

  "Stay Close T'risa. Rhic moved slightly blocking the shortest route to T'risa. His left hand twitched shifting the barrel of the heavy hand cannon he held. thumb clicking back the hammer as he sighted. the big gun thundered  twice...Thoom...click...Thooom...

OOC:
Designating T'risa as subject of Bodyguard ability Harm's Way
14:26, Today: John 'Rhic' Rhictor rolled 5 using 2d8. damage.
14:25, Today: John 'Rhic' Rhictor rolled 24 using 1d20+8. to hit.
14:25, Today: John 'Rhic' Rhictor rolled 12 using 1d20+8. to hit roll.

   Sun Runner allows himself a wolfish grin as he detects Bright Star entering the fray in her usual graceful style.  He could not allow himself to lose focus, however, and he renews his attention with the Skandling adversaries.  His IFF display was lit up with targets, they were all swarming on this location.  If they weren't thinned out, and fast, they would completely overwhelm the Steeds with their numbers!  Sun Runner would NOT permit that to happen.
  The only thing that would bring these reeking Skandling slaves out of hiding  to attack now...is Maran and the rest of these humanoids!  Prometheus Life-bringer!  What if the reactivation of the Steeds' tech inadvertently led the Skandlings to these humans?
   Sun Runner's powerful legs loped tirelessly on as he ran behind Maran and the her racing Steed mount.   chose another target, taking care to pick the enemies coming closest to Blue Steel's flanks.  He shut down all non essential functions, deciding he needed all available power and a minimum of distractions.  With an angry growl he focused on his target and let out his sonic bark once more.

11:33, Today: Sun Runner rolled 10 using 2d6. Sonic damage x2.
11:27, Today: Sun Runner rolled 25 using 1d20+8. confirm crit.
11:25, Today: Sun Runner rolled 27 using 1d20+8. Sonic Stunner +2 attack on Skandling foe.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:40, Tue 27 July 2010.

   Blue felt the air rushing over his mane and the street under his hooves.  He loved a good run through the country but the situation didn't leave much room for enjoying the scenery.
     " Next time we go for a nice easy trot around the lake." Blue promised Maran. "A picnic basket, a blanket, a few sandwiches and some apples for me." He kept his tone calm and easy, trying to sound reassuring as he stretched out to his full stride, aiming for the cluster of human soldiers up ahead. As he reached them, he leaped going full extension up and over the low slung grav sled aiming to land on the other side of it and put solid metal between Maran and the creatures.
This message was last edited by a game moderator at 19:39, Tue 27 July 2010.

 "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeooooooowwwwww! The blurry landscape around her tearing eyes changed suddenly into moving chaos as she felt Blue ready to jump, and she barely had time to brace herself for the leap before he was air-born in a mighty leap no real horse could ever manage! She knew intellectually that she wouldn't fall because he had her in a safety net, but still her body and mind reacted with a rush of apprehension as he sailed into the air.
 She was nearly knocked breathless by the sudden landing as well, but managed not to grunt with the impact. She really was going to have to have a little talk with him someday about all this! She tried to wipe the tears from her eyes and look around, wondering what all the commotion was going on around them.

   " Pthewwwww...ick...pthewwwStar spat a gobbet of Kobold out of her mouth and bounded off after the next one she spotted. Barreling as fast as her six legs could carry her she let out a low feral mewl, and growl and leapt again trying to thin the herd as fast as she could. she was fighting herself to keep from mauling and playing with the one she had just finished. and the urge to stop and wipe the bluish ick off her face and fur was overwhelming.

     The Kobolds moved faster than any creature their size should be able to leaping over one another jumping obstacles and clawing their way toward their targets.
    The first Kobold literally blew apart under the impact of T'risa's plasma shot. ripped in half by a pea sized packet of superheated gas rapidly expanding as the gravity bubble around it ruptured. the force of the blast scattering several of the insanely leaping Kobolds as they recoiled and skittered backwards at the sight of her handiwork.

    a second leaped for Leo, To his eyes it left a murky trail of black smoke behind it, it's eyes twin pits of darkness as it shrieked a shrill hate filled scream. it never made it to him the shimmering blade of psionic energy sliced through it's body like it was tissue paper. the smell of seared flesh filling the air as the blade passed through it. both halves falling to the ground twitching and kicking black ichors and smoke boiling out as it died.

   Leo spun twisted leaped and danced among half a dozen of the larger Kobolds who seemed centered on him. their tail spikes lashing and darting. as they tried to mob him. two of the rapier thin spines of bone struck home on his body unable to find a place to dig in they still left painful bloody welts across his skin.

Rhic Punched two round into two targets the overpowered hand cannon punching them backwards to lie on bloody heaps. the older man grunted as a spine dug into his thigh and two of the small creatures literally scaled him biting and gnashing at his shoulder and face. this armor and the heavy casing of steel that protected his arm blunting their efforts as he grappled with the small creatures.

    The suicidal rush of bodies was a powerful method when numbers were so one sided however each time the creatures leaped to attack they were open to reprisal. three more of the Kobolds fell to the group. The Heavy blade in Trisa's off hand snapping out into thin air only to have a Kobold leap onto it. the blade arriving before the Kobold leaped.
    Leo spun and twisted almost without effort his blade passing through another body sending it to the ground.once again black blood staining the ground as he danced surreally detached from the carnage.
    Rhic almost casually snatched one out of the air the metal fist of his right arm closing with a sickening sound as he shook the creature like a terrier with a rat.
   Sun found himself facing a quartet of Kobolds, the small creatures recoiled and hesitated unlike their counterparts, the feral growls and menacing teeth less of a threat than the guns and knives of the humans but something held them off, their strikes tentative. when he barked again the center of the group shrieked and covered it's ears, the compact sonic weapon in his throat hitting him with subsonic waves at the same decibels as a rocket lifting off, or front row at a Kronos concert.

OOC
07:28, Today: Prometheus rolled 7 using 1d8+4. AoO dmg rhic.
07:28, Today: Prometheus rolled 4 using 1d6-1. AoO dmg trisa.
07:27, Today: Prometheus rolled 8 using 1d4+6. AoO dmg T'risa.
07:27, Today: Prometheus rolled 8 using 1d4+6. AoO dmg leo.
07:26, Today: Prometheus rolled 10 using 1d20. leo AoO dmg.
07:25, Today: Prometheus rolled 26 using 1d20+9. AoO Rhic.
07:24, Today: Prometheus rolled 13 using 1d20+5. AoO Trisa.
07:23, Today: Prometheus rolled 21 using 1d20+7. AoO Leo.
07:06, Today: Prometheus rolled 2 using 1d6. kobold attack(leo).
07:06, Today: Prometheus rolled 4 using 1d6. kobold attack(leo).
07:04, Today: Prometheus rolled 7 using 1d20+4. crit confimr (star).
07:03, Today: Prometheus rolled 5 using 1d6. kobold attack (star).
07:03, Today: Prometheus rolled 2 using 1d6-2. kobold attack(sun).
07:02, Today: Prometheus rolled 1 using 1d6-2. kobold attack(sun).
07:02, Today: Prometheus rolled 2 using 1d6-2. kobold attack(sun).
07:01, Today: Prometheus rolled 14 using 1d20+4. kobold attack(sun).
07:01, Today: Prometheus rolled 16 using 1d20+4. kobold attack(sun).
07:01, Today: Prometheus rolled 12 using 1d20+4. kobold attack(sun).
07:01, Today: Prometheus rolled 16 using 1d20+4. kobold attack(star).
07:01, Today: Prometheus rolled 21 using 1d20+4. kobold attack(star).
07:00, Today: Prometheus rolled 13 using 1d20+4. kobold attack(trisa).
07:00, Today: Prometheus rolled 11 using 1d20+4. kobold attack(trisa).
07:00, Today: Prometheus rolled 7 using 1d20+4. kobold attack(trisa).
07:00, Today: Prometheus rolled 5 using 1d20+4. kobold attack( rhic).
06:59, Today: Prometheus rolled 14 using 1d20+4. kobold attack( rhic).
06:59, Today: Prometheus rolled 18 using 1d20+4. kobold attack( Rhic).
06:59, Today: Prometheus rolled 23 using 1d20+4. kobold attack( leo).
06:59, Today: Prometheus rolled 22 using 1d20+4. kobold attack( leo).
06:58, Today: Prometheus rolled 10 using 1d20+4. kobold attack( leo).

Leo Two attack hit
6pts total
Sun two attacks landed
 3pts total before DR

The dancer moved like a dark, glistening, cyclone, complete with ethereal light and fire... not even really pausing his movement long enough for what most would consider a decent shot, his mind created blade ripped another skittering Kobold open.

OOC: Leoulin rolled 14 using 2d6+7. assuming they aren't heat resistant.
Leoulin rolled 27 using 1d20+8. Psiblade to hit.