OOC: Ah! Thank you kindly.

"That's our power!" He shouted to the Little Gods. "You, helicopter, take out Monday!"

22:34, Today: Tobias Byrne rolled 18 using 1d20+3. Charisma. Woot.

One of the other helicopters spins up and buzzes towards Mr. Monday.

"Fire on the chopper pursuing me, now!" Frank shouted at the artillery team who were loading their weapon ready to fire on Monday. "Toby, we need better cover!"

He was moving back towards the doors they had entered through. His shirt was sticky with dark coloured blood, and around the place where the rocket had hit, the linen shirt was scorched. His face and neck had some minor lacerations from (very) small arms fire, but by far his worst wound was an ugly burn on his chest at the point of impact for the rocket.

OOC: 00:44, Today: Francis 'Frank' Decourcey rolled 22 using 1d20+13. Intimidate vs. Artillery.
Move out of room and behind the wall for total cover. Draw Five-seveN as a free action with Quick Draw feat, just in case the artillery and Toby both fail to take it out.  Defence: 19  HP: 3

[Private to GM: I checked the dimensions of the Oval Office, and it's only just over 35ft at it's longest axis, so I figure I could get outside the room as a move action, right?]

As Frank runs out of the room, the helicopter buzzes behind him in pursuit. The artillery unit frantically spins around, trying to get a lead on the helicopter. Frank ducks behind the wall and just as the helicopter tries to round the corner the artillery fires and the wall explodes, spraying chunks of flaming drywall and blowing the helicopter wildly off-track. It survives the blast, though not without some damage. It recovers and resumes flight, until Mr. Monday bellows, Ignore him; he's run away! Get the one coming after me!

The helicopter shakily changes course, and lines up behind the one zooming towards Mr. Monday. It opens fire, sending sprays of bullets towards the other bird; you hear tiny pinging sounds as some of them hit their target. Suddenly a small, bright object about the size, shape, and speed of a bottle rocket shoots forth towards the other helo. It tries to dodge out of the way, but the missile follows. It connects with a sharp bang, and the helicopter clatters to the ground, lifeless.

Mr. Monday simply smiles and says, Tank? If you want to earn your keep, take out that one cowering over there.

Much to Mr. Monday's frustration, the tank doesn't budge.

[Private to GM:
  Mr. Monday (24/37)
    Controls H1 (5/10)
  F+T
    Control A1 (10/10) (reloading)
    Control H2 (0/10)]

[Private to Francis 'Frank' Decourcey: You are correct. Not only that, but you were not very far from the exit to start with.]

"I suggest a strategic withdrawl," Tobias said with irony, aiming and firing once more before dashing out of the room.

17:18, Today: Tobias Byrne rolled 8 using 1d20+7. Woot. ANOTHER FRIKKIN CRITFAIL

Frank looked terrible when Toby made it through the doors to join him in cover. He was leaning his weight against the wall to the side of the door jamb, breathing heavily. The wound in his shoulder was bleeding badly; one side of his shirt was darkly stained with blood.

"We can't win this," he gasped. "Not right now. We need to go, back through the portal."

"Move. Run!"

He holsters his weapon and sets off at as fast a pace as he can manage, weaving until he can get around a corner and out of the line of fire.

Toby's bullet shatters the glass window three feet to the left of Mr. Monday. He chuckles and says, Strategic withdrawal? What's the matter? Mommy calling you back for supper? Here, why don't you borrow my toy helicopter?

Mr. Monday commands the helicopter, now heavily streaming smoke, to fire at the fleeing men, but it apparently has trouble maneuvering. Instead of turning around, it keeps going on its current trajectory, flying past Mr. Monday.

The humor now gone from his eyes, Mr. Monday bellows at the tank again, and this time the tank listens. It lays down covering fire to distract Toby then turns its cannon towards him. Unfortunately the distant is too great and the .014 caliber spray is easy to dodge. The tank fires its gun early, before the cannon is fully turned; the shot goes wild and takes out a chunk of the floor.

[Private to GM: Reflex (20): Successful

21:40, Today: Facilitator, on behalf of Tobias Byrne, rolled 20 using 1d20+5. Toby Ref.]


OCC: Here's an updated map. Running at full tilt, it will be 2-3 rounds to get back to the door.

                               More Building                     |
             +------x----x-+----w---w---w---w---w---w---w---w----+          |
   Entrance  G             G         Black Brick Pathway         {          | Central
     <--     |             G                                     {          | Building
             |  +----------+  o   o   o   o   o   o   o   o   o  +-----{{{--+
             |  |   ____   |  _________________________________  |          |
       --w-+-+  x  /    \  x  |           Garden              |  |          |
           |    |  |    |  |  |                               |  |          |
           x    |  |    |  |  |    G = Glass Doors               |          +-
           |    |  |    |  w  |    x = Door
    -------+  |S|  |    |  |  |    o = Obsidian colonnade
              |S|  |    |  |       w = Window
    -------+  |S|  |    |  w       { = Wrought-iron fence
           |  +-+  |    |  |       S = Stairs (down)
           |    |  \____/  |       s = Secret door
    -------+    x          w
                |          |
    -------+    +----xx----+
           |       F       |       F = Frank
           |    +----xx----|       T  = Tobias
           +-  -+         /        M  = Mr. Monday
          /      \___ss__+         H1 = Helicopter (M)
         x       /      T1\        T1 = Tank (M)
     ---/       x       A1 \       A1 = Artillery (F/T)
               /       T    \
     ----------|            |
               |            |
               |            |
               \            /
                \    M     /
                 \_____H1_/

[Private to GM:
  Mr. Monday (24/37)
    Controls H1 (5/10)
    Controls T1 (10/10)
  F+T
    Control A1 (10/10) (reloading)
    Control H2 (0/10)]

Frank glanced back to check Toby hadn't been hit and then continued to run back towards the corridor that lead back to the portal. He ignored the catcalls of Mr Monday and the searing pain in his chest, keeping his mind focused on the one thing at the forefront of his mind; escape.

"Keep moving Toby," he yelled back. "Whatever happens, just get to the exit!"

OOC: Sorry, I've only just realised it was my turn. It's been crazy busy at work and my brain is mush.

Toby avoided the tank, dashing out the diagonal door, heading with Frank to the exit. "You don't have to tell me twice!" He called in reply, limping heavily and bleeding profusely.

Mr. Monday yells again, but between the distance and the buzz of the pursuing toys, Frank and Tobias can't understand what he's saying. Frank can hear the engine roar behind him, but he quickly escapes around the corner before the tank can catch up. The helicopter, meanwhile, pursues Tobias in a somewhat erratic path. Tobias throws open the door and runs out of the room just as the helicopter launches another barrage of rockets. The attacks miss, but he is showered with splinters of wood which are blown off the door frame. He continues running and the helicopter follows; he ducks through an ornate archway just in time to avoid machine gun fire from the trailing bird. As he passes the hallway Frank just came out of, the tank, which was lying in wait, unleashes a blast from its cannon. Tobias, luck on his side yet again, runs by just as the shell blows a hole two feet wide in the wall.


                               More Building                     |
             +------x----x-+----w---w---w---w---w---w---w---w----+          |
   Entrance  G             G         Black Brick Pathway         {          | Central
     <--     |             G                                     {          | Building
             |  +----------+  o   o   o   o   o   o   o   o   o  +-----{{{--+
             |  |   ____   |  _________________________________  |          |
       --w-+-+  x  /    \  x  |           Garden              |  |          |
           |    |  |    |  |  |                               |  |          |
           x    |  |    |  |  |    G = Glass Doors               |          +-
           | F  |  |    |  w  |    x = Door
    -------+  |S|  |    |  |  |    o = Obsidian colonnade
              |S|  |    |  |       w = Window
    -------+  |S|  |    |  w       { = Wrought-iron fence
           |  +-+  |    |  |       S = Stairs (down)
           |    |  \____/  |       s = Secret door
    -------+    x          w
                |          |
    -------+ T  +----xx----+
           |        T1     |       F = Frank
           |    +----xx----|       T  = Tobias
           +-  -+         /        M  = Mr. Monday
          /  H1  \___ss__+         H1 = Helicopter (M)
         x       /        \        T1 = Tank (M)
     ---/       x       A1 \       A1 = Artillery (F/T)
               /            \
     ----------|            |
               |            |
               |            |
               \            /
                \    M     /
                 \________/

[Private to GM:
  Mr. Monday (24/37)
    Controls A1 (10/10)
    Controls H1 (5/10)
    Controls T1 (10/10)
    Controls T2 (10/10)
  F+T
    Control A1 (10/10) (lost control)
    Control H2 (0/10) (destroyed)]

Toby ducked and dodged the incoming fire, muttering curses all the while. "Screw this!" He shouted to himself. He drew a hand across his face, arcing it down his body, and vanished.

Casting Invisibility, because I'm an idiotic twat who forgot he knew that spell.

Frank weaved to the right, putting the stairs between him and his pursuers. He continued running as fast as he could managed, gritting his teeth against the searing pain from his wounds.

OOC: Hopefully the stairs provide at least partial cover.

The helicopter zeros in on Tobias, and just as he is about to open fire, the mage shimmers out of view. The helicopter buzzes past him and follows the fleeing Frank. The helicopter launches another bottle rocket-sized missile at Frank, but the man dodges around the corner at the last minute, banging his shoulder on the wall in the process.

Luckily for Frank the end is in sight: the portal is within his site! The helicopter is still gaining ground, however...

                               More Building                     |
             +------x----x-+----w---w---w---w---w---w---w---w----+          |
   Entrance  G             G         Black Brick Pathway         {          | Central
     <--     | F           G                                     {          | Building
             |  +----------+  o   o   o   o   o   o   o   o   o  +-----{{{--+
             |  |   ____   |  _________________________________  |          |
       --w-+-+  x  /    \  x  |           Garden              |  |          |
           | H1 |  |    |  |  |                               |  |          |
           x    |  |    |  |  |    G = Glass Doors               |          +-
           |    |  |    |  w  |    x = Door
    -------+  |S|  |    |  |  |    o = Obsidian colonnade
             T|S|  |    |  |       w = Window
    -------+  |S|  |    |  w       { = Wrought-iron fence
           |  +-+  |    |  |       S = Stairs (down)
           |    |  \____/  |       s = Secret door
    -------+    x          w
                |          |
    -------+    +----xx----+
           | T1            |       F = Frank
           |    +----xx----|       T  = Tobias
           +-  -+         /        M  = Mr. Monday
          /      \___ss__+         H1 = Helicopter (M)
         x       /        \        T1 = Tank (M)
     ---/       x          \       A1 = Artillery (F/T)
               /            \
     ----------|            |
               |            |
               |            |
               \            /
                \          /
                 \________/

[Private to GM:
  Mr. Monday (24/37)
    Controls A1 (10/10)
    Controls A2 (10/10)
    Controls H1 (5/10)
    Controls T1 (10/10)
    Controls T2 (10/10)
  F+T
    Control A1 (10/10) (lost control)
    Control H2 (0/10) (destroyed)]

Toby makes his way after Frank, moving quickly, trying to bridge the distance between them.

Frank swore furiously as he knocked his shoulder hard against the wall. Behind him, he heard the dull crump as the rocket the helicopter had loosed at him slammed into the wall just behind him. He glanced back towards the corridor and realised he couldn't see Toby anywhere. Was he pinned down back there?

He needed to buy them some breathing room. Staggering to a halt, he drew his gun and pointed it right at the helicopter, imagining locking eyes with the pilot. He steadied his aim with both hands, lining his sights at the center of the helicopter.

"I'm done with this shit!" he shouted. "You're staring down the barrel of the largest anti aircraft cannon you'll ever damn see. Now, I'm wounded, so maybe you'll get a shot off at me before I send you to hell, and maybe that'll be enough to put me down, but better men than you have tried, son and I'm still standin'. So the thing is, you've got to ask yourself one question... 'Do I feel lucky?'."

"Well do ya, punk?"

The Clint quote might have suggested that Frank was joking, but the grim set of his jaw and look of cold hatred in his eyes suggested otherwise. After all, a man with a gun is a man with a gun, even if he's quoting from an old movie.

OOC: I'm hoping that as Monday is too far away to command the helicopter so I only have to beat the DC for the helicopter, rather than winning an opposed roll. I've spent an AP to boost my roll, just in case. Frank is just looking to intimidate the pilot enough to make him retreat.

I hope this works, because if it doesn't, I'm pretty sure Frank is toast.

Intimidate Roll Total: 24

12:35, Today: Francis 'Frank' Decourcey rolled 5 using 2d6. Spent Action Point to boost Intimidate.
12:30, Today: Francis 'Frank' Decourcey rolled 19 using 1d20+13. Intimidate vs the Helicopter - Punk!.

Toby's invisible eyes widened as Frank turned and leveled the gun at his invisible forehead. He squeaked out a curse and dodged, hitting the wall hard and sending a painting crashing to the floor.

It must have been strange, not being able to see the agent of the thump.

The helicopter rears to a stop then, for lack of a better word, stares at Frank for a few seconds, as if considering what it should do. After a tense few seconds, the 'copter starts losing altitute until it eventually lands softly on the floor and its rotors start spinning down.

                               More Building                     |
             +------x----x-+----w---w---w---w---w---w---w---w----+          |
   Entrance  G             G         Black Brick Pathway         {          | Central
     <--     | F           G                                     {          | Building
             |T +----------+  o   o   o   o   o   o   o   o   o  +-----{{{--+
             |  |   ____   |  _________________________________  |          |
       --w-+-+  x  /    \  x  |           Garden              |  |          |
           | H1 |  |    |  |  |                               |  |          |
           x    |  |    |  |  |    G = Glass Doors               |          +-
           |    |  |    |  w  |    x = Door
    -------+  |S|  |    |  |  |    o = Obsidian colonnade
              |S|  |    |  |       w = Window
    -------+  |S|  |    |  w       { = Wrought-iron fence
           |  +-+  |    |  |       S = Stairs (down)
           |    |  \____/  |       s = Secret door
    -------+ T1 x          w
                |          |
    -------+    +----xx----+
           |               |       F = Frank
           |    +----xx----|       T  = Tobias
           +-  -+         /        M  = Mr. Monday
          /      \___ss__+         H1 = Helicopter (M)
         x       /        \        T1 = Tank (M)
     ---/       x          \       A1 = Artillery (F/T)
               /            \
     ----------|            |
               |            |
               |            |
               \            /
                \          /
                 \________/

[Private to GM:
  Mr. Monday (24/37)
    Controls A1 (10/10)
    Controls A2 (10/10)
    Controls H1 (5/10) (lost control)
    Controls T1 (10/10)
    Controls T2 (10/10)
  F+T
    Control A1 (10/10) (lost control)
    Control H1 (5/10)
    Control H2 (0/10) (destroyed)]

Tobias sprinted for the secret door, prying it open and holding it for Frank. "C'mon, c'mon, c'mon!" He said hurriedly. Once he was through, he slammed the door shut, casting the proper version of the spell he had used to pry it open. "Head for St. Elizabeths; direct line to a hospital..."

PM [Private to Tobias Byrne: If you remember, you locked the door in the open position using a casting of Hold Portal. The casting has since worn off (it's been longer than 4 minutes), but the door is still ajar.]

PM [Private to GM: That's good. I can still hold it open for him.]

Frank smiled, but the pain made it closer to a grimace.

"Smart thinkin'," he said. He stumbled slightly and caught himself against the wall, wincing between clenched teeth as the jolt tensed the remnants of muscle around his wounds. "You ready to get out of here? Let's move."

He holstered his weapon and pulled out his cell phone as he moved towards the door that had led back to St. Elizabeths. As soon as his cell had signal again, he would  call the Company. Never mind the change of being chewed out for failing. This needed backup.

Just as Frank and (invisible) Tobias step through the door into the florescent-lit hallway, one of the doors that used to open into the Void opens up and several dark-suited men step through wielding submachine guns. At first it appears as if Frank and Tobias are being attacked by life-sized army men, but they quickly breathe a sigh of relief as they recognize the Retcon Dons. Four of the men clear the doorway to reveal a fifth, this one carrying a medical bag instead of a weapon. He smiles and says, You called?

Frank looks down at his phone and sees that it hasn't acquired a signal yet.

The medical officer pulls out a syringe and grabs Frank's arm. This is a little experimental, but don't worry there's no short-term side effects. You won't feel completely better, but it'll do in a pinch.

After he injects Frank he holds up another syringe. Tobias? I know you're there somewhere. Come over here and you can have one too!

[Private to Francis 'Frank' Decourcey: Regain 10hp
10:47, Today: Facilitator rolled 10 using 1d6+6. ]

[Private to Tobias Byrne: Regain 9hp. Did you end up casting Hold Portal to seal the door shut, or did you just close it behind you?
10:49, Today: Facilitator rolled 9 using 1d6+6. ]

[Private to GM:
  Mr. Monday (24/37)
    Controls A1 (10/10)
    Controls A2 (10/10)
    Controls B1 (3/8)
    Controls B2 (3/8)
    Controls B3 (5/8)
    Controls H1 (5/10) (lost control)
    Controls T1 (10/10)
    Controls T2 (10/10)
  F+T
    Control A1 (10/10) (lost control)
    Control H1 (5/10)
    Control H2 (0/10) (destroyed)]

Toby dropped the invisibility, limping over to the man and taking the injection. "They're coming," he said faintly. He pointed a finger, the door slamming shut of its own accord. "We should run or fortify..."

Casted Hold Portal on the door.

The injected substance took hold and Frank's expression relaxed as the pain that had been afflicting him started to subside. He could almost feel his wounded flesh knitting together again, the blood finally starting to clot around the wound.

As Toby finished speaking, he shook his head. "No, we're not running," he said, his expression one of grim determination. "If we run, Monday may snatch a child. We're not going to give him that chance. We go back and finish this, now."

He turned to the Dons.

"I know it isn't your usual job," he said. "But we sure could do with some backup if we're going back in there. I don't know if any of you have kids, but as I do, I can't think of nothing worse than my daughter being taken by this monster. Please help me ensure no more parents have to suffer that, regardless of what dimension they inhabit."

OOC: Diplomacy check of 18 to persuade the Dons to provide backup, even though that's not really their job.
01:28, Today: Francis 'Frank' Decourcey rolled 18 using 1d20+12. Diplomacy to persuade the Dons.

One of the Dons turns to the rest and says, Well boys, what do you think? You've all read the sitrep and know what you would be getting yourselves into. I can't order you to go, but I'll take any volunteers.

The three men holding submachine guns rack their weapons, and the medic closes his kit, pulls out his sidearm, and loads a round into the chamber.

The head Don smiles and says, Gentlemen, it looks like we're all in. You two are lead investigators, so you take point and we'll provide backup.

[Private to GM:
  Mr. Monday (24/37)
    Controls A1 (10/10)
    Controls A2 (10/10)
    Controls B1 (8/8)
    Controls B2 (8/8)
    Controls B3 (3/8)
    Controls H1 (5/10) (lost control)
    Controls G1 (8/8)
    Controls T1 (10/10)
    Controls T2 (10/10)
  F+T
    Control A1 (10/10) (lost control)
    Control H1 (5/10)
    Control H2 (0/10) (destroyed)]