As Jade opens locker 3, you see something that shocks you.  The locker opens to a tunnel that goes about five feet deep into the wall and then opens up into a spacious room beyond.  The far room is lit, but you cannot see much about it because of the narrowness of the tunnel through the locker.

Methesulah looks surprised, then mumbles, "Mental note to self: we're not in Kansas anymore."  He gazes over Jade's shoulder and down the forboding corridor.  "Hmm, if that hallway doesn't scream trap, then slap some sunglasses on me and call me 'Agent'.  So who wants to venture down there first?"  All the while, his eyes scan for cracks or lines that would indicate panels or pressure plates within the locker.

Jade looks at Daredevil.  "Your name says it all.  You wanna go first?"

"Ooh." Fault says, steping forward into the open locker.

::visibly angry::

Fing bull#$&!, that's the complete opposite of every other combination lock in the world....

::goes through the door::
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:23, Mon 07 Mar 2005.

Screed pokes his head out after having hearing absolutely nothing unnerve him.  He sees the others starting to head into the other locker and says, "Oh, you found a better way?  I this one is a dead end."  He smiles sheepishly and gets in line to move in.  Glancing over at the honeymooners, he finally takes his turn and steps in.

Jade makes sure her automatic rifle is ready, and then she steps in after Screed.  "Weapons on the ready, guys," she says.  "We ain't back in Kansas yet."

Methuselah looks about, making sure the group stays together.  "I have a feeling that closing the door behind us won't deter the two constructs from following us.  Let's keep moving."  And he wedges himself through the locker opening, into the new hallway.

Fault, Daredevil, Screed, Jade, Methuselah, Demian, and Snow crowd through the space one after another, in that order.  The two AI constructs follow from behind.

You squeeze through to a large room, much too large to actually be inside the Luxor hotel hallway.  The spacial dimensions aren't right, and you realize that you have passed into some sort of bubble in the Matrix.

The room itself is about 50 feet wide by 80 feet long.  The ceiling is about 12 feet off the ground, and on the left and right are pillars spaced about 10 feet apart, six of them between you and the far end of the room.  The floors and ceiling appear to be made of a high quality marble, and the pillars are elegantly designed.

The last 20 feet of the room is a raised dais.  On it stand five men dressed in brilliant purple and gold silk garments with gold sashes.  They carry no weapons and are all perfectly bald.  They have no shoes on, and their hands are clenched into fists.  It is difficult to tell their race, neither black nor white nor of Asian descent.  Their heads are bowed.

Behind them is an entrance to a corridor.  A figure steps through and stands behind the five men as you finish filing into the room.  The figure is a man nearly seven feet tall, extremely muscular, and with chiseled features.  His long hair is pulled back into a pony tail.

The two AI constructs move to either side of the room and begin walking forward up the aisle.

The five bald men raise their heads.  The huge figure behind them is smiling.

Screed immediately moves left to be closest to a pillar as the group moves into the room.  You can see him wanting to duck behind it, but he keeps looking at the goings-on with intense curiosity.  His weapons are not out.

Jade's weapon is pointed at the men on the dais.  Her finger is on the trigger.  She is waiting for something to happen and ready to fire if threatened.

Snow walks towards the large figure. He'll have his hands out and be conscious of any movemnt from the figures on the dias.

I guess you know why we are here. To make you an offer... He says calmly.

::approaches silently hoping if this was a trap he'd know before anyone else, his hand near but not on his silenced glocks::

Methuselah shakes his head.  "That can't have been the only test to reach our target.  Stay on your toes."  He watches the two AI programs closely, since for some reason they seem content to not follow along with the group anymore.

The large man behind the group of bald men ignores Snow and instead briskly claps his hands together.  The five bald men step off the dais.  One breaks off to the left side of the pillars.  Another breaks off to the right side.  The other three begin to walk up the center toward you.  They then break into a light jog.

The two AI programs are quickly moving up the other side of the pillars.  They will reach the two bald men before the other three bald men reach you.

The large man is standing just in front of the doorway.  He crosses his hands and watches the spectacle.

It does not appear that the three bald men jogging toward you are going to be speaking to you.  Their hands are curled into fists and they move with cat-like grace.

Taking the lack of talking as his cue, he ducks out of sight behind the pillar he is next to and pulls out his weapon.  He then checks the ammo and releases the safety as he slides further around the pillar.

OOC:

Please note that I have copied your character sheets into the notice board as private messages.

Some of your character sheets are much easier on the eyes than others.  Some of you also have not listed your Codebreaker Skills or have mixed them in with the others.  If you have not already done so, please make sure you have separated out your character sheet into:

Skills
Example:
Judo 13
Karate 12

Codebreaker Skills
Focus - Speed 3
Decreased Life Support
Sixth Sense - Level 1
Absorption - Level 3
Chi Mastery - Level 2
Enhanced Concentration - IQ (indicating IQ roll)
Penetrating Vision
Chambara Martial Arts (see below)

As you can see, some of these have skill levels associated with them.  If so, please indicate.  If they require a certain roll for success, please also indicate (such as IQ above).  If you have chambara martial arts, please have a separate listing for Chambara Martial Arts Skills.

Please remember that you all start with a Focus of Speed 3, so that should be listed on every character sheet.  (If you are confused about focus because of previous postings or rules, please remember that the previous "Focus Rule" was replaced once I introduced the codebreaker skills, so it was turned into a Focus 3 and the old rule is no longer used.)

If you do not remember how CB Skills work or what they do, click here:  http://www.fortunecity.com/riv.../693/matrix/id99.htm

If you need to update your character sheets because of this information, please do so by including a PM directly in the Notice Board for Character Stats, and I will make the appropriate updates.  If you entirely redo the organization of your character sheet, then do the same thing, and I will transfer it over.  Also update your personal character sheets as well.

NOTE:
Whoever gives me the best organized and put together character sheet will have that character sheet posted as the "ideal example."  That character will also receive 2 extra CBP's at the end of the adventure.  (Any other really good ones will receive 1 CBP for the effort.)

Time is of the essence.  Once I receive the "ideal example," I will post it and later entries will be excluded from consideration...although they will still be eligible for 1 extra CBP if put together well and following the ideal model version or something equally as good.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:22, Fri 11 Mar 2005.

OOC:
I also wanted to address a few rule technicalities.  Because the Codebreaker Skills are completely my creation and have not been subject to exhaustive playtesting, there may be times when a clarification from me is required.

First, regarding the Sixth Sense ability, there are three aspects to it:

(1)  The "impending" of "impending attacks" is the key.  Basically, this means that while being attacked, the hacker gets 2 added to his PD to account for the ability.  Think of it as intuitively ducking or moving aside.  It is not the same as a "danger sense" or something like that, so there's no real understanding if something may attack it in the near future.

(2)  A hacker is aware of an AI passing within 30 feet of him.  This requires him to concentrate momentarily (i.e. send a post to me saying he is trying to be aware of it).  --My initial intent was to not have this requirement, but it's too hard logistically for me to remember to apply it all the time.

(3)  The hacker gets an enhanced sense of deja-vu for any changes in the code perpetuated by Zero-One.  This also requires a concentration (i.e. notice to me), although I may sometimes say that the hacker is aware of a certain change.

CODEBREAKING FATIGUE
In your character sheet, make sure you have two attributes listed:
Example:
Fatigue: 10/13
Codebreaker Fatigue: 9/13

(Remember, your basic fatigue is your basic Strength Score.  How much fatigue is used for each use of a skill is listed under that attribute.  Use of CB Fatigue does not affect regular fatigue, which is handled the same as in the GURPS rules.)
Please see: http://www.fortunecity.com/riv.../693/matrix/id58.htm

One house rule we modified from the site is this:
If you use all Codebreaker Fatigue points and still need to use Codebreaker Skills, then you can tap into your regular fatigue, but it will physically fatigue you as it does in the regular GURPS rules.  In other words, you get your strength points worth of CB fatigue for free, but after that it starts affecting you.

Your CB Fatigue is fully regenerated each time you enter the Matrix.

More OOC:
Many of you are not aware of how the regular fatigue points work.  Here's a basic summary:

Battles
After a battle lasting more than 10 seconds, fatigue is calculated on a 1-5 point basis depending on your encumbrance.  A very long and/or strenuous battle may cost more based on GM discretion.  Other modifiers (such as fighting in heat) may also apply.

Marching
For each hour of road travel, fatigue the same as above.

Running or Swimming
After 100 yds, roll v. HT.  A failure means lose 1 fatigue.  (Not affected by encumbrance, as that only affects speed.)

Overexertion
Too much encumbrance, pushing/pulling a heavy load, etc. costs 1 fatigue per turn.  Some cost 1 fatigue per attempt.

Losing Sleep
5 Fatigue for a night without sleep.  Half night costs 2 fatigue

Fatigue can be gained back by resting quietly; 10 minutes per point of Fatigue.  Lost sleep fatigue is regained by a full night's sleep.  Drugs and other things may also affect fatigue.

PM

Screed continues to be wary and out of sight.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:02, Fri 11 Mar 2005.