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15:55, 27th April 2024 (GMT+0)

IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime.

Posted by The GuardianFor group 0
The Guardian
GM, 149 posts
Mon 20 Jan 2014
at 04:17
  • msg #1

IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The TARDIS door opens.  Smoke Alarm peers out cautiously.

(Everyone has had a chance to rest up after digging through the Fists' texts and the brief trip to Draconia.  The others have noticed that Smoke Alarm has been bouncing a little less enthusiastically than before, but she has offered no explanation.)

This is the right place -- the TARDIS has landed in an alley not far from where Smoke's old sleepy-box was --  but everything already seems very different from the last time she was here.  Here and there she can see where a few buildings have taken damage, but the alleys and streets show signs of having been swept and washed down.  There are big bare patches on the sides of buildings that used to have colorful signs with pictures of fizzade cans or people's faces or shiny sky-flys.

It's also quieter.  From where the TARDIS sits, no one can see any people out and moving about.  Smoke can remember that things were always bustling at this time of day, with little motorscoots buzzing around and the occasional sounds of tuney-boxes.

Looking down a familiar street, Smoke even sees a spot where someone has scoured away one of her own wallscrawls!

Stanley notices that the weird vertigo-like sensation that he had when he first stepped out onto Farhaven is much less pronounced here.  Although he can see where this ring curves up and away just like on the other habitat, the buildings immediately surrounding them break up the effect, leaving it much more familiar to him.

While everyone gets their bearings, they hear a voice coming over a public-address system somewhere.

"The time is 1245 hours.  Citizens classified Green Alpha are due at orientation sessions in fifteen minutes.  Citizens classified Blue Gamma must gather at Detranzed Square at 1300 hours for their weekly civic restoration assignment.  Persevere and ascend."
Amanda
NPC, 16 posts
Mon 20 Jan 2014
at 04:18
  • msg #2

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Where to?" Amanda says.  "It might be best not to stick together in one big group -- we do make kind of a conspicuous mix."
Smoke Alarm
player, 171 posts
Hail the unalive
Blue Kang the Last
Mon 20 Jan 2014
at 06:14
  • msg #3

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm had looked at a map of Arsuran Orbital Prime, lining up the lines and curves against the streets and towers she remembered, and chose what she thought would be a quiet, unoutlooked alley for the talkiphone box to appear in, somewhere near her old stomping grounds.

As they landed, she was the first to the door, but poked her blue-haired head out carefully, keeping outlook for any dangers. As it seemed sound and safe, she ventured further out, outlooking around. Everything was different but the same, all unfun and yawny, blank walls and cleaners. It was a Caretaker city now. The Blue Kang looked sadly around, staring in shock at where her wallscrawl of a pussycat had been removed. 'Cleaners! Who could live here now, without colour and song and talk and play?

Then Smoke Alarm dashed off down the alley, scampering up and down frantically outlooking for something that wasn't there any more. No! Where had it gone? She went for the mostly likely comeout. Heaving up the lid of a big-big rubbish bin, she climbed her way in and walked precariously over the junk. Eyespying what she was outlooking for, she dived down into the scrap, dug and rummaged through, and finally hauled out a square of plastiboard, once part of a packing crate. 'My sleepy-box. Home-sweet-home.' she said glumly, showing the others what was painted on the side. It was a mural, of happy stick-figure Blue Kangs and Red Kangs playing in a green garden beneath a sun. There was a pussycat, and an unalive dog shot full of arrows. Her painting was child-like, but the themes, detail, expression, and composition showed an unexpected artistic talent.


OOC: Choosing a hiding spot for the TARDIS: Ingenuity + Subterfuge + Sense of Direction 11.
13:45, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 11 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 2,1. ingenuity + subterfuge + SoD.
Stanley Newton
player, 45 posts
Mon 20 Jan 2014
at 20:05
  • msg #4

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Amanda:
"Where to?" Amanda says.  "It might be best not to stick together in one big group -- we do make kind of a conspicuous mix."


"Well, you heard the voice: those of us with a green classification go to the orientation meeting and the ones classified blue go to Detranzed Square."

Stanley looks at Smoke Alarm. He had seen the makeshift shrine in the console room and noticed that she wasn't her usual cheerful self, though she seemed happy to have found her old drawing again. "I know blue is your favourite colour but that doesn't mean you have to go to Detranzed Square if you don't want to."

He looks around at the mostly empty streets. "You know I think it is better if some of us go to that introduction meeting and that the others try to talk to some of the Arsurians."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:05, Mon 20 Jan 2014.
The Traveller
player, 166 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 20 Jan 2014
at 20:51
  • msg #5

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav pokes her head out. This reminds her all too much cities that were conquered and cowed by one conquerer or another - she did this quite a few times herself. It was like visiting a Robotech Master mothership, or Chi Town on Rifts Earth. It was a scene she had seen thousands of times over the centuries.

"What confuses me," says Trav, "Is how a bunch of kung fu guys could roll over a habitat with an actually armed professional defense force and constabulary." She saw Lynn Kyle and martial artists in R Space do some amazing things. "Sereth, have Draconian armed forces actually encountered these guys in combat?"

As she locks up the TARDIS, Trav opines, "Unless anyone else has a plan, I think I'm going to walk up and simply introduce myself. Because, aside from either challenging these guys to a Kung Fu tournament, I can think of anything smarter to do than walk around and ask questions, which will inevitably lead to us getting captured. I want to speak to their leader, as well as get a look at that blue orb."

Trav flips a coin. It comes up tails.
15:55, Today: The Traveller rolled 2 using 1d2 with rolls of 2. Trav flips a coin. 1=heads (blue), 2=tails (green).

"Looks like I'm going with the green group, then."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:57, Mon 20 Jan 2014.
The Traveller
player, 167 posts
Mon 20 Jan 2014
at 21:09
  • [deleted]
  • msg #6

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

This message was deleted by the player at 21:09, Mon 20 Jan 2014.
Sereth
player, 104 posts
Tue 21 Jan 2014
at 00:36
  • msg #7

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

A slow shake of his head.

"I do not believe we have faced them in battle yet. In my view; they seem to be consolidating human worlds first. Which suggests that they can be reasoned with; and also they do have a touch of self preservation beyond the brainwashing they undergo."

A frown.

"There are Draconians still on Arsuran. I should find out what they're up to; and how they're being treated. And find out what's happening on the planet from them; I'll have more luck there than blending in anywhere where there's not other Draconians."

A slightly sardonic twist of his lips.

"And we all look the same to humans, right?"
The Traveller
player, 169 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 21 Jan 2014
at 00:44
  • msg #8

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Depends on the humans. I guess it depends on their range of experience with saurian folk. I'm not a good person to ask, I'm not human."
Smoke Alarm
player, 175 posts
Hail the unalive
Blue Kang the Last
Tue 21 Jan 2014
at 02:26
  • msg #9

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm went dumpster-diving for a while, retrieving some more of her meagre possessions, thoughtlessly thrown in the bin, and anything else that looked interesting. Bits of blue, shiny metals that could be useful tools, some arrows she'd been working on (a pencil with a razor-sharp metal dart tied to the end), an old and well-thumbed Karkus comic book, and wallscrawling supplies, such as paints, brushes, pencils, and a spray-can.

She poked her head over the dumpster to answer Stanley with a grin. 'No ballgames, no flyposts, no doing what the big Caretaker voice says.' The Kang hopped out of the skip bin and landed neatly in the ground, hurrying over to the TARDIS to toss her painting and some other things inside before Traveller locked the doors.

Joining in, she suggested 'I can visit Mrs Maglup. Mayhaps Old Gaross and Peet. We can ask if they have any to-do with the Fists.'


OOC: I imagine Old Gaross and Peet are homeless people Smoke knows.
The Guardian
GM, 152 posts
Tue 21 Jan 2014
at 03:33
  • msg #10

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

So, I have Trav headed to the orientation session (with Stanley?), Sereth investigating his fellow Draconians, and Smoke Alarm looking up Mrs. Maglup and her old friends.

Amanda's inclination would be to tag along after Smoke Alarm by instinct as she'd be afraid of the Kang getting into trouble, although she won't be too obvious about that.  If someone has another preference we'll go with that.

Everyone will be able to find their destinations without a problem.  Those who want to avoid observation can make a Coordination + Subterfuge roll, or a Presence + Subterfuge for a more "hiding in plain sight" option.  You can also make Awareness + Ingenuity rolls to look for clues about the occupation as you go, or pair Awareness with a skill if there's something specific you have in mind to look for.

Finding Old Gaross and/or Peet will take an Awareness + Ingenuity (+ Keen Senses of course) for Smoke Alarm.
Sereth
player, 105 posts
Tue 21 Jan 2014
at 03:58
  • msg #11

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Draconian moved quietly to the sector his fellow Draconians were in; intending to find out what was happening since the occupation.

Dicerolling:
14:56, Today: Sereth rolled 11 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 1,4. Presence + Subterfuge (Hiding plain sight).


14:56, Today: Sereth rolled 13 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 3,4. Awareness + Ingenuity.
Stanley Newton
player, 46 posts
Tue 21 Jan 2014
at 11:23
  • msg #12

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Sereth:
A slightly sardonic twist of his lips.

"And we all look the same to humans, right?"


"... I am not going to answer that." Stanley says quickly and he turns to Trav."I'm coming with you to the orientation meeting. We'd better get going if we don't want to be late."

Stanley begins walking towards where the orientation meeting was being held.

OOC:
12:07, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 11 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 5,2. Presence + Subterfuge (Hiding in plain sight).
12:13, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 16 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 2,6. Awareness + Ingenuity. (looking for clues about the occupation)

Smoke Alarm
player, 178 posts
Hail the unalive
Blue Kang the Last
Wed 22 Jan 2014
at 00:57
  • msg #13

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm looked left and right as the team started moving off in different directions. 'Do you need a guide to go lost-and-found? I know all the streets and towers.'

She made a strange gesture to Traveller and Stanley, building one fist on top of the other, before jabbing a thumb over her shoulder. 'Build high for happiness. 'Ware Fists.' she said, wishing them luck and caution.

Then she started bouncing eagerly after Sereth. 'Leg-it Sereth! Want me to guide? I know all the unseen inways.'
This message was lightly edited by the player at 00:58, Wed 22 Jan 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 154 posts
Wed 22 Jan 2014
at 02:41
  • msg #14

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

After noting a few street signs (which have not been removed in the general cleanup and drab-ifying which seem to have been taking place) Stanley and Trav start to see some people making their way out along the streets, tending to flow in a common direction.  Stanley notices that they're dressed in everyday clothing which tends toward the plain and loose-fitting side.  There are representatives of a number of nonhuman species, though humans do make up the majority.  The expressions he sees tend toward a sense of resignation.

As they move further along, Stanley notes that a few Fists seem to be on patrol, usually in pairs.  They appear to be simply noting that the residents are making progress toward the destination.  Stanley and Trav seem get a couple of somewhat more searching looks from these than the others they are moving among, but none of the Fists says anything.

The flow of pedestrians leads towards a small recreation area that appears to consist of a running track surrounding a number of small fenced areas, apparently for some kind of ball game -- Stanley is reminded of tennis courts, except that these have an octagonal layout with colored walls on each side.  In the middle of one of these courts is an improvised platform, where a couple of Fists are standing.  More Fists are arrayed around the track, where most of the residents are filing in.

Stanley notices one woman among the assembling citizens who's wearing an angry expression; her hands clench into fists momentarily, then she releases them.  She's wearing a green shirt and slacks that remind Stanley of hospital scrubs.
The Guardian
GM, 155 posts
Wed 22 Jan 2014
at 03:32
  • msg #15

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Sereth and Smoke, with Amanda bringing up the rear, make their way to the far side of the district, where Sereth knows a family of the Throne's subjects is staying.  There are Fists out patrolling in pairs, and they watch the big Draconian very carefully.  But they seem not to notice his honor blade, and Smoke seems to vanish and rematerialize as the Fists come and go, while Amanda trails at a discreet distance.  The Fists, at any rate, make no comment.

Sereth (and the others, hanging back) arrive at a small and slightly shabby two-story building where Szezak Desad runs an electronics repair shop.  There's a sign in the window reading CLOSED, despite the time of day.  When Sereth presses the comm button to signal the apartment above the shop, where Szezak, his mate and his daughter live, there's a pause, and then Szezak's tinny voice comes over the speaker.

"Legate?  Legate Sereth?"  Szezak's voice is hopeful and perhaps slightly frantic.  "Sir -- you should get off the street.  Here; I'll unlock the shop for you."

There's a buzz and a chunk as the bolt on the shop door releases.
The Traveller
player, 172 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 22 Jan 2014
at 04:09
  • msg #16

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Stanley Newton:
Sereth:
A slightly sardonic twist of his lips.

"And we all look the same to humans, right?"


"... I am not going to answer that." Stanley says quickly and he turns to Trav."I'm coming with you to the orientation meeting. We'd better get going if we don't want to be late."

Stanley begins walking towards where the orientation meeting was being held.

OOC:
12:07, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 11 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 5,2. Presence + Subterfuge (Hiding in plain sight).
12:13, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 16 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 2,6. Awareness + Ingenuity. (looking for clues about the occupation)


"Heaven forbid we be late to our appointment with the bad guys."

As they move, Trav is striding like she owns the damn place. Stan notices that she's left her pistols back at the TARDIS - it seems that she senses some kind of code of honor is at play here, and that carrying the turbopistols will send the wrong message.

As they walk, Trav slips her arm into Stan's. "Been so busy, I haven't had a chance to ask you how you've been, babe."  As she tips her fedora to passing by Fists, she says to him, "glad to see you're still OK about all of this."
Smoke Alarm
player, 180 posts
Hail the unalive
Blue Kang the Last
Wed 22 Jan 2014
at 05:58
  • msg #17

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Once she knew where Sereth wanted to be ougoing, Smoke Alarm showed him and Amanda some good inways to get there, with options of direct, unseen, and "fun". Naturally, the egg-head chose the direct route. She preferred to stay off the open streets herself, away from outlooks, especially when there were Fists or other forms of caretaker about. So Smoke Alarm often slipped off out sight, out where it wasn't so shiny and clean and blank walls, and scampered off down the alleys and climbed over low walls and fences behind the towers. But she was always there when needed, usually before she was wanted, or when she wasn't wanted at all. Especially when she wasn't unwanted.

There was some method to her meandering though, as she sought out common hide-ins, sleepy-holes, and brainquarters for Arsuran's homeless, beggars, street-kids, itinerants, and a few petty criminals. She also eyespied for the wallscrawls and other secret signs the long-termers left for each other, marking certain places and ways, while watching out for gang territory markers. But the cleaners had cleaned up so much that it was hard for Smoke to find much. In particular, she eyespied for signs of Gaross, Peet, and others she knew, and wondered what the Fists, the big meanie-head caretakers, would do with those they couldn't so easily clean up. The talky-man Zeres had something about disposing of transient individuals. Had they all been taken to the Cleaners?

She joined Sereth and Amanda as they came to the Draconian shop, looking up at the two-storey tower. Two storeys! They must be rich!


OOC: Moving stealthily, avoiding noticing, taking back alleys:
13:24, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 15 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 1,6. coord +  subterfuge.

Tracking for Gaross, Peet, or other street-kids:
13:25, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 17 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 5,3. awareness + ingenuity + keen senses.

What have the Fists done with the city's poor?
13:48, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 14 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 2,3. awareness + ingenuity + keen senses.
Sereth
player, 106 posts
Wed 22 Jan 2014
at 11:03
  • msg #18

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Draconian spoke quietly.

"Very well. Have some friends with me as well."

He ushered Smoke and Amanda inside before he stepped in himself; not speaking until Szezak had locked the door again.

"You can trust this pair. Like you, they fall under my protection."
Stanley Newton
player, 47 posts
Wed 22 Jan 2014
at 18:52
  • msg #19

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to The Traveller (msg # 16):

"Yeah well...I just think we need to help Ru and the people of Farhaven. I think it is a good thing we went here to try and solve the problem instead of...er...instead of going to Space Vegas." Stanley says, keeping his voice down. He looks at the woman with the green shirt and the angry expression. "Looks like the people here aren't very happy with the Fists either. I wonder how they classified everyone?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 18:53, Wed 22 Jan 2014.
The Traveller
player, 174 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 22 Jan 2014
at 19:37
  • msg #20

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to Stanley Newton (msg # 19):

"To be honest, I was afraid that my getting involved would result in their being more bad trouble I couldn't handle. I'd have just dived right in if I were younger. That's why I need people like you to show me the right thing to do. Every time I do this alone, it ends up in disaster."  Boobie never had any doubts. He's stroll right in and fuck shit up. Was he terrified? Of course he was. But he could always hide it, I never can. Don't let fear paralyze you, Trav.

Trav takes off her hat and strides up to the angry woman, after taking a look to make sure no cops or Fists were nearby. "Hello, Miss? You seem a little upset. Is everything OK?"

14:36, Today: The Traveller rolled 14 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 4,5. Trav approaches angry woman - 2d6+Presence(3)+Convince(2).
The Guardian
GM, 156 posts
Thu 23 Jan 2014
at 02:28
  • msg #21

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke covers a lot of ground in her searching.  She feels pretty confident that she's been able to move about without any Fists being able to eye-spy her, and she has even managed to steer the Leg-it around a few of the patrols.

She is able to make her way to a place that she and Peet found one day when they were seek-and-finding, a disused sparky-box that held the gadgetry for running the up-lights that shone down when the Ring turned and the streets would have gone dark.  The box is made of metal and there is enough extra space inside it that Smoke Alarm or Peet could fit, if they were careful about the wires and techy-bits.  It was a handy place to hide things for a short time, when you were out and about and not close to your box.

Peet isn't there, and he hasn't left anything behind that Smoke recognizes -- but she does eye-spy something scratched into the metal, inside the box where only someone small as her could wriggle back.  It's a symbol like a Tee drawn inside an Emm inside a diamond, and she can remember finding a symbol just like that when she and Peet were exploring one day, down in the tunnels beneath the streets.  The symbol was on a big round door set into the floor with a wheel for a handle.  She and Peet had tried getting into it, but turning the wheel made a big screeching noise and they'd run off in case anyone heard them.

And the symbol hadn't been here inside the sparky-box the last time Smoke Alarm remembered.  Could Peet have left it as a sign?
The Guardian
GM, 157 posts
Thu 23 Jan 2014
at 02:42
  • msg #22

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The front of Szezak's shop is empty when Sereth and the others enter, with a screen drawn down over the window, and the door self-locks when Sereth closes it.  Around the place are several worktables with half-disassembled gear, tools and diagnostic equipment on them.  Sereth knows the stairs to the family's apartment are through the back of the shop.

But he hears Szezak calling from that direction.  "Come, please bring your friends up so we can talk."

At the top of the stairs, the door to the apartment is open.  Inside, Sereth and the others find Szezak and three other Draconians -- two, Sereth recognizes as Szezak's mate Penya and his daughter Fadreen.  The fourth is a young male that Sereth also recognizes, whose name is Gilso, and who Sereth knows for a bit of a layabout.

"You've returned," Szezak says breathlessly.  "I couldn't decide whether or not to try to make it to the spaceport, until it was too late, and then there were no more ships.  My shop, you see," he goes on.  He's babbling a bit.  "It would have meant starting all over again.  But now -- it might mean that anyway, I think."

"If you're lucky," Gilso puts in.  He meets Sereth's gaze arrogantly.  "Well, you came back, I guess I've got to give you that.  Figured you had cut and run for good."  He makes a dismissive gesture toward Smoke Alarm and Amanda, the latter of which is hovering hesitantly at the doorway to the apartment.  "Who're they?"
The Guardian
GM, 158 posts
Thu 23 Jan 2014
at 02:51
  • msg #23

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The woman stares at Trav.  "Okay?  Are you kidding?  Where have you been?"  She takes in Trav's outfit.  "Kind of pushing your luck dressed like that, aren't you?  Appearance codes came out a couple of days ago.  I'm surprised they haven't confiscated that hat for a start!"

Although the woman's response is on the belligerent side, there's a ragged edge to it: Trav and Stanley can both read how brittle her anger is.  She's probably lashing out because she's found someone who she understands, on some level, won't lash back.
Sereth
player, 107 posts
Thu 23 Jan 2014
at 03:18
  • msg #24

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

He held Gilso's gaze steadily.

"Just... don't."

He then gestures to each in turn.

"Smoke. Amanda. They've been helpful. And now it's time for us to see what can be done for the Draconian citizens still stuck here. The Fists have delivered an ultimatum to the Crown; no matter how delicately they phrased it."

He then turns back to Szezak.

"How bad are things here? Catch me up to speed."

OOC:
14:13, Today: Sereth rolled 14 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 4,1. Presence + Convince. Trying to calm down Gilso.
Smoke Alarm
player, 182 posts
Hail the unalive
Blue Kang the Last
Thu 23 Jan 2014
at 04:19
  • msg #25

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm reached into the sparky-box and traced the tee-emm sign, thinking of Peet. The Boy was fun, and she liked playing and running with him, but he made her feel funny inside. It was a good kind of funny. She hoped this wallscrawl meant he was sound-and-safe. Maybe she could come back here later and meet him.

*

At the egg-heads' home-sweet-home, Smoke Alarm paused at the door, wary of entering until Sereth gestured her in. She still hovered near the door of the apartment, quiet and closed, and ready to run in case of danger. She remembered Rezzies would sometimes invite Kangs in to their apartments, give them sweets, then make them unalive and eat them up. So she actually managed to stay still and quiet, though she eyespied curiously at a collection of Draconian origami, raising a finger to a paper War-Saurus...
Sereth
player, 108 posts
Thu 23 Jan 2014
at 04:37
  • msg #26

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Sereth glanced at Smoke; and for possibly the first time, addressed her clearly as an equal, without any sign of condescenion, and moved towards her, looking directly at her.

"Don't fear these people. I vouch for them, and, whilst you and Amanda are with me, my oath of protection to Traveller holds to you as well. As I said, you fall under my protection."
Smoke Alarm
player, 185 posts
Hail the unalive
Blue Kang the Last
Thu 23 Jan 2014
at 06:20
  • msg #27

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm paused and retracted her finger from the paper monster. She looked up at Sereth, nodded, and promised 'Brave and bold.' With Sereth's promise, she relaxed a little, drifting another step into the room.


OOC: How old is Fadreen? Maybe Smoke might talk to her.
Stanley Newton
player, 48 posts
Thu 23 Jan 2014
at 15:00
  • msg #28

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to The Guardian (msg # 23):

"Yes, where have we been?" Stanley asks, half asking Trav, half trying to pass this off as a rhetorical question. "I mean Arsuran has changed a lot since those Fists took over."

OoC: Sereth what happened to the green text?
The Traveller
player, 180 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 23 Jan 2014
at 18:30
  • msg #29

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to Stanley Newton (msg # 28):

Trav shoots Stan a "I see what you did there" look.

"We just got here. Didn't this all happen, like, 5 or 6 days ago? Hi, I'm Tee, this is Stanley. Can you give us the low down? It sounds like you're really pissed and need to vent."
The Guardian
GM, 160 posts
Fri 24 Jan 2014
at 01:52
  • msg #30

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Gilso meets Sereth's gaze directly... until he catches the glint in the eye of a man who has stared down priests, Counts, and insolent aliens of a score of species.  His posture shifts, he lowers his eyes and his shoulders hunch inward.  "Um.  Yessir."  He glances back toward Amanda and Smoke with a mumbled sorry.  Then he gives an embarrassed look in Fadreen's direction.

When that little moment passes, Szezak clears his throat.  "Well.  You were still here during the bombardment?"  At Sereth's nod, he goes on, "That went on for about twelve hours.  All the while, the Fists were broadcasting over every frequency, calling for the High Commission to offer their surrender.  To 'join the great endeavor', as they were calling it.  And then, at last, the bombing did stop.  We never heard anything from President Simarsa, just the announcement that the 'Seeker' made.

"They followed that up with an announcement that martial law and a curfew would be put into effect, and that's when the Fists showed up on the streets.  Nonessential businesses were ordered closed, only food and power delivery and emergency services were to be maintained.  Every registered citizen on the habitat net was commed with a classification code; I believe that the Fists were seeking out those off the net to try to register them independently.  Those codes are being used to assign you to work crews -- it's mostly just manual cleanup and what they call 'austerity refitting'.  They say that excessive adornment distracts and divides the mind, you see.  And they're also supposed to sort you into these 'classes' that the Fists are organizing.  They say, well, they say that there is a war coming, and that everyone here needs to be fit to fight it with them."

Gilso has regained a little of his composure.  "They're good fighters, I'll give them that, um, sir," he says.  "There were... me and some friends of mine, we thought we should be fighting back.  So we tried to take one of their patrols."  He drops his gaze again.  "Seven on two, and far as I know I was the only one who got away."
The Guardian
GM, 161 posts
Fri 24 Jan 2014
at 01:57
  • msg #31

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The woman looks at "Tee", and her scowl cracks a bit.

"Sorry," she says, "I'm sorry.  You didn't deserve that.  But you wouldn't have seen the people they were bringing into the clinic after the bombing.  We didn't have enough cots to hold everyone."  The corners of her mouth tremble.  "I-- I lost someone, and I can't stand these people marching around here saying that it was all to make us better.  I want to hurt them, so much, and I know that I shouldn't, and that it's all useless anyway."
The Guardian
GM, 162 posts
Fri 24 Jan 2014
at 02:01
  • msg #32

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In Szezak's apartment, while Szezak and Gilso start describing recent events, Fadreen is looking curiously at Smoke Alarm -- Amanda as well, but mostly Smoke Alarm.  Smoke doesn't know how old the egg-head girl might be, but she seems (roughly) Kanglike.  She looks up at the sculpture and back at Smoke.  "Do you like it?" she whispers shyly, glancing momentarily at her father as if for permission.  "I -- pardon me, but you're a human, aren't you?  I didn't think your, your hairs came in that color."
Smoke Alarm
player, 190 posts
Hail the unalive
Blue Kang the Last
Fri 24 Jan 2014
at 02:15
  • msg #33

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

'It's icehot. Like screwed-up paper making shapes.' Smoke Alarm commented to Fardreen, pulling her eyes away from the origami. 'I'm a Blue Kang. Blue Kangs are best.' she boasted, but chose not to chant it while Sereth was all talky. She lowered her voice some more and admitted with a grin 'I paint it.'

She decided to talk some more with the egg-head girl, deciding Draconians weren't all as yawny as Leg-it Sereth. 'What do you do for icehot fun? The Fists have made everything all yawny here.'
The Traveller
player, 181 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 24 Jan 2014
at 07:35
  • msg #34

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
The woman looks at "Tee", and her scowl cracks a bit.

"Sorry," she says, "I'm sorry.  You didn't deserve that.  But you wouldn't have seen the people they were bringing into the clinic after the bombing.  We didn't have enough cots to hold everyone."  The corners of her mouth tremble.  "I-- I lost someone, and I can't stand these people marching around here saying that it was all to make us better.  I want to hurt them, so much, and I know that I shouldn't, and that it's all useless anyway."


Trav starts to think that maybe she shouldn't have left her pistols back at the TARDIS.

"Listen, darling, I know it's hard when people you love get hurt. We'll get to the bottom of what these clowns are about, and we'll get their asses off of your habitat. You have my word."

She places her hands on the woman's shoulders. "But, you also need to understand that it's *never* useless. People have successfully fought against odds that are just as great. Monument City, the Warsaw Ghetto, Serybdis III. Resistance can be organized, but it needs to be done in a smart way. I've been involved in a few revolutions. Stan and I, we can help. But first, it sounds like you have injured. Stan here is the best medical doctor I know. Lets get your people some help, and if you can help us with everything you know about these fists, we can get a plan together."

Trav felt remnants of her second self scrunching up with that stubborn little face she'd get when she saw the weak getting hurt - she finally had found her feet. This was a battle for liberty. She already had the beginnings of a plan, based on moral suasion, but she needed just a bit more information. She remembers when she broadcast from the TARDIS Erin Tarn's Voice Of Liberty, which helped create the rebellion which brought freedom to Chi-Town.

Stan could tell, the wheels were turning, and she was getting a creaky smile. "The way you beat self righteous jack asses like this is with ideas. Ghandi did it, Erin Tarn did it. We'll do it!"

02:34, Today: The Traveller rolled 16 using 4d6+7 with rolls of 1,1,1,6. Trav rolls to convince angry woman that there's hope - 2d6+3(pres)+2(Conv)+2(VOA)+SP.
Stanley Newton
player, 49 posts
Sat 25 Jan 2014
at 21:05
  • msg #35

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to The Traveller (msg # 34):

"Oh yes, I totally believe that we can do this. If there is anyone capable of devising a plan to defeat the fists it's her." Stanley adds in. "It is not just us two, by the way, we brought friends. So what do you say?"

OOC: Can I assist Trav (Stanley has convince) to give a +2?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:05, Sat 25 Jan 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 164 posts
Sat 25 Jan 2014
at 23:19
  • msg #36

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In addition to showing some bafflement at the names Trav is reeling off, the woman looks at Stanley in surprise when Trav introduces him.  "You're a doctor?  I thought I knew everyone registered in this district -- even the ones who just did private practice.  I guess you're new here?  Bad luck for you, I suppose."  Her face turns hard again for a moment.  "We could have used you when the casualties started showing up, you know."

But she shrugs and glances between the pair.  "Well.  I'm not sure I believe anyone can dislodge these people, unless the CDL finally gets their act together and mobilizes.  But in any case, I doubt this is a very good place to be talking about things like that."  She nods toward a group of the red-uniformed Fists moving by.  "I suppose we have to hear what their spiel is, now we're here.  If you want to talk, you can come back by the clinic later.  Plenty of work to go around.  My name's Nadia, Nadia Ryzh."

The Fists patrolling the area are starting to shush everyone now that it seems the expected attendees have finished filing in.  Up on the platform, the Fists sort themselves out so one man stands front and center, looking out into the crowd.  He's an older, dark-skinned man, perhaps fifty.

"People of Miszere District," he begins.  He's obviously practiced at speaking, and has no trouble projecting his voice to reach everyone.  "My name is Varan Osto, and I am a Third Seeker for the Fists of Thirty-One Suns.  Many of you will certainly have reason for anger, resentment, fear at the harm that has been done to you and your home.  I am here to acknowledge that and to begin, perhaps, to explain the reasons behind what we have done.

"For many generations, our order has worked and refined a set of teachings that have been intended to help all self-aware peoples to raise themselves to a higher state of being.  This is a goal that we always believed would be met over lifetimes, over millennia, by teaching the methods that can bring everyone to meet their full physical, mental, and spiritual potential.  We have believed this to be the true work of the universe, and worthy of spending both the effort and the patience that suggests."

His brow creases.  "But we have learned that we are out of time.  Haran Lucin, our First Seeker, spent all his life developing an awareness that led him at last to what we have come to call the Great Vision.  And it is a terrifying revelation.  Chaos, war and suffering spreading across the universe on the wings of a terrible army.  This vision has not yet come to pass and the Order believes it can only be averted by taking action now, passing on the tools that every one of you will need to stand and fight against it, before the seeds of this disaster have the time to take root and grow."

Osto shakes his head.  "Please believe me, I deeply regret the harm that we have done to take control of Arsuran Habitat.  But I have seen the Vision, just as all of you will be trained in body and mind until you, too, are ready to see and understand the Vision.  The injury and, I mourn to say, the deaths that have come to you will be as nothing before the wave of anarchy that will sweep over all of us unless we are ready.

"Those of you with registered comm access will be sent schedules and instructions for your training to begin.  Those of you who do not have comm, please form orderly lines to be assigned your schedule.  We will be working in the next days to restore lapsed public services and disseminate the new guidelines for public commerce and behavior that are consonant with everyone's journey toward fulfillment.

"Thank you for your attention, and once again, I am sorry for the harm we have done.  Persevere and ascend."
The Guardian
GM, 165 posts
Sat 25 Jan 2014
at 23:26
  • msg #37

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm:
'What do you do for icehot fun? The Fists have made everything all yawny here.'

"Well...."  Fadreen seems taken aback by the question.  "I do like to walk and see the starlight...."  She steals a look at Gilso, before she realizes that Smoke has noticed it, and then Fadreen's face actually takes on a bluish cast for a moment, though this quickly fades.  "And I make the je'szen."  She indicates the paper sculpture.  "That's one of mine.  I've always tested high for spatial / aesthetic awareness.  Father says that if I can not marry well, I should continue my studies into design.  Possibly become an artist or an architect."
Smoke Alarm
player, 192 posts
Hail the unalive
Blue Kang the Last
Sun 26 Jan 2014
at 03:09
  • msg #38

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Footing it and looking at stars didn't seem very fun for Smoke Alarm. 'An architect! You could make towers, home-sweet-homes. Build high for happiness!' she exclaimed, impressed. Just as long as Fadreen didn't become a Great Architect... 'I paint. But the Fists wiped away my wallscrawls.'

Smoke Alarm realised that everyone was upstairs being all talky, and that no one was keeping outlook. She walked over to the window, but waved Fadreen to follow. The Kang peered out into the street, alert for Fists coming to start a to-do. 'Do the Fists make a to-do for you?'
The Guardian
GM, 166 posts
Sun 26 Jan 2014
at 03:34
  • msg #39

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Not for us," says Fadreen.  "We have registration codes and everything.  Father just wants us to keep off the street until things settle down, just to avoid misunderstandings."  She looks back at the others.  "But Gilso isn't a citizen here, and he already tried picking a fight with the Fists anyway.  I talked Father into letting him stay here, but I know the Fist will take him away if they find him."
Sereth
player, 109 posts
Sun 26 Jan 2014
at 06:25
  • msg #40

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

A frown from Sereth, before he speaks quietly once again.

"How many Draconians are left here? And, generally, can they survive the occupation here? And can you, or will the nature of your business mean you're trapped?"

A long pause.

"More importantly, what have these fists been doing since the invasion?"

His gaze then turned to Gilso.

"I perhaps could have ensured more survived; but fighting isn't the answer here. What did they do to the ones that didn't escape, do you know? Did they kill them or.... capture them?"

His gaze made it unclear which was the worse fate.
The Guardian
GM, 167 posts
Sun 26 Jan 2014
at 18:24
  • msg #41

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"They didn't kill them, that I could see," says Gilso.  "The Fists didn't even use any weapons.  I mean, we didn't use anything besides clubs ourselves -- but they didn't help.  They're really, really good at barehand fighting."

Szezak looks at Gilso, who subsides.  "Legate, we don't know what happened to them exactly; the Fists haven't made any official statements about people breaking the law.  We hear things, though.  They are supposed to have taken over the Justice Center at the Ultiplex, and they've been moving people there when they take them into custody.  Both people who are actually fighting them or breaking the law, and unregistered people, illegal residents.

"They've said that people with valid residency are not going to be harmed and eventually things will go back to something like normal -- with a lot of their new laws and moral codes in place, I suppose, and with this 'training' that they say is mandatory.  None of us here have seen what that entails; when they sent out our registration codes I was Red Epsilon, and Penya and Fadreen are both Red Phi, and none of those have been called for orientation yet.

"I think there are something like forty of our people still in Miszere District, a few more scattered around here and there on the ring.  But about half of those are unregistered like Gilso, and I don't know what the Fists are going to do with them once they've rounded them all up."  Szezak frowns.  "My family could probably get by, but if I had it to do over again I'd have taken them out-system when I had the chance.  You always felt like you had the Throne's hand over you before, even though you were living under a foreign government.  I don't feel like that any more."
The Traveller
player, 183 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sun 26 Jan 2014
at 23:15
  • msg #42

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Miss, this is capital, absolutely capital. I can work with this. This is conquest with a veneer of morality. This is also trying my patience. Persevere and ascend, my ass. Thank you. Now, I need to do some planning." She finds herself nonplussed that she's slipping back into the verbal and facial memories of the face she was born with, and that New England accent. She finds that she's not displeased by this.

Trav has of course been recording the announcement, and is getting ready a superphone e-mail to her team.

In the body of the e-mail -

The Traveller:
From: Trav
To: Team TARDIS
CC: Zu Rheng

Ok, I have an outline of a plan.

It seems what's going on here is that this is a Jim Jones style cult, which uses martial arts and Falun Gong style practices as it's drug. The martial arts practice sets the stage for mental reprogramming.

This is, at it's base, memetic warfare. We have to counter with the better, stronger idea.

My scheme has 3 parts -

First - I'm going to write an app called Radio Free Arsuran. This habitat needs communications infrastructure to survive, they can't take away everyone's phones. This app will allow us to broadcast to any communications device in the habitat, and will also function as a social networking app. None of it will be coercive. I also don't suspect that these guys have the technical capailities to stop it without revealing their bosses hand. If it does, then I will go to meet him or her. This is all about the Great Beast, as described by the Chamber of Time Unwrought. Whoever the leader of this movement is, they're scared shitless. I'm scared that I may be partially responsible for this - I'll explain it all when we're back at the TARDIS.

Second - The 36 Chambers. The way to defeat this Fists style is to refute their vision of coercive unity with one of cooperative unity. Lord Sereth, Ru, I'd like for you to get with Smoke Alarm can fill out and formalize Kang Fu - that Doctor's entire adventure in that place was how he encouraged a disparate group of folks to rise against a monstrous dictator and create a true community. We want to express that any coercive means of bringing together people will be a jenga tower that will collapse in the face of the Great Beast, and coercion in fact serves it. We'll spread Kang Fu like a counter meme, and devise it so that it's easy to learn, can be used by anyone, will be infinitely changeable and adaptable, and will most importantly counter the mind control aspects of the Nine Fists style, and kick it's ass in a fight. Build High For Happiness!

Third - Mandy, head back to the TARDIS and grab my pistols, I entrust them to you. Also, once we get some idea on these Blue Spheres, yo and I will work on Project Anti-Kool Aide (ask Chibi Trav for the meme reference.) Smoke, when you're ready, you get my hat. Stan, you're getting my sonic. I don't have anything specific in mind to ask you Stan except that you stay at my side and play devil's advocate, I need someone to see with their heart right for me. I love you people, and I entrust this all to you because (a) the tools will be useful in this scheme and (b) I'm just the idea girl. I plan on, when they're provoked enough, to turn myself over to the 31 suns. However, I will not let my tools or the TARDIS fall into their hands. I'll set a set of instructions with Chibi to take everyone somewhere safe if this all goes south. I have no intention of martyring myself, but unlike my dear Boobie I want there to be backstops in case something bad happens.

We need to speak to the details - tactics on the ground, ways of creating a non-violent insurgency, and attacking the Suns at their weak point - their sense of morality and self righteousness. We need to convince the people of Arsuran Orbital prime to reject coercive unity, which is in fact divisiveness, and that only cooperative unity can achieve the goals both they and we want. This must be a non-violent insurgency, and we must make the Suns, and their leadership, our friends and allies. We must also forgive them - they're doing this because they're desperately afraid. We need to show them they shouldn't be. We need to get all Ghandi and King on their asses.

Questions? Ideas? Cries of "Trav you're a crazy dumb bitch?"


This gets composed with a wave of the sonic onto her Ipad.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:18, Sun 26 Jan 2014.
Sereth
player, 110 posts
Mon 27 Jan 2014
at 11:56
  • msg #43

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Hearing how bad it had gotten had Sereth bowing his head, before, at the end of it, he dropped to his knees in front of Szezlak and Gilso.

"I'm sorry. I failed you. I should have made sure every Draconian was on the way out before I myself fled."

After that, however, he stood up, and his voice was grim.

"But this Will. Not. Stand. I do not know when, or how, but I will get our people out, and home. Szezlak, make sure the registered ones don't cause any problems. Get word out if you can for the unregistered ones to lay low if they can."

His eyes now focused sharply on Gilso.

And you, my friend, have a bright future ahead of you if you were the only one in a group of 7 where all your companions were caught. When we get off here; when we see you all safely home, I want you to come to make an appointment with me. When I've finished my current assignment for the Emperor; I want to talk to you about your future. I have failed the people here before; but you, I think, I can do something with once the current crisis has past."

He looked angry.
The Traveller
player, 185 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 27 Jan 2014
at 20:21
  • msg #44

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Running out of time, thinks Trav. After composing the email, she pops an instruction to Chibi Trav - Sweety, please find for me everything you have in the onboard records on Haran Lucin, ok? She finds herself tempted to contact the Splintered Sisterhood, as their method of temporal perception was untraceable.  This was what the Time Agency was good at - they were just as much historians as they were spies and assassins. But Trav wasn't ready to let the Time Agency know she was back, quite yet. She had already kicked enough hornet's nests.

OOC: Sereth, since you're on Team Tardis, you received that email.
Stanley Newton
player, 50 posts
Mon 27 Jan 2014
at 23:54
  • msg #45

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
... the woman looks at Stanley in surprise when Trav introduces him.  "You're a doctor?  I thought I knew everyone registered in this district -- even the ones who just did private practice.  I guess you're new here?  Bad luck for you, I suppose."  Her face turns hard again for a moment.  "We could have used you when the casualties started showing up, you know."


"I know." Stanley says, having learnt a long time ago that he couldn't be everywhere people needed help. "I was somewhere else helping other people hurt by the Fists."

Listening to Varan Osto's speech, Stan is reminded of the Sisterhood's motivation. The Fists sounded a bit hypocritical hurting and killing people to protect them and then apologizing.
The Guardian
GM, 168 posts
Tue 28 Jan 2014
at 01:43
  • msg #46

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

At Stanley's answer, Nadia looks stricken, and drops her head.

"Of course.  I... I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to--  I just--"

She sits down on the running track with her knees pulled up, and hides her face on her arms.  She starts shaking slightly.
The Guardian
GM, 169 posts
Tue 28 Jan 2014
at 01:54
  • msg #47

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Szezak looks at Sereth.  "Of course, Legate."  He checks the time.  "I meant to go out to get a few essentials today, before the curfew.  I should be able to start getting the word circulating with a few people I know.  It's likely not safe to use the comms."

Meanwhile Gilso is looking at Sereth.  He is still, apparently, a bit cowed by Sereth's earlier rebuke.  "Uh.  Well, sir, in truth I feel a bit shamed by leaving my friends behind.  I promise you this, I'll do my best to be careful and try to take care of the others here, in the meantime.  I will try to justify that confidence, sir."
Smoke Alarm
player, 193 posts
Hail the unalive
Blue Kang the Last
Tue 28 Jan 2014
at 02:28
  • msg #48

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

A loud, old-fashioned telephone ring emanated from Smoke Alarm's pack, and she was surprised to discover it was her talkiphone that Traveller had made icehot. She found a text message from Traveller. She tried reading it, but it was really long, and there were lots of words she didn't understand or stumbled over. She skimmed through for her name: do Kang Fu, get Traveller's hat. She could do that. She put the talkiphone away and answered Fadreen sadly 'I think some of my friends were taken to the cleaners by the Fists...' She patted Fadreen's clawed hand reassuringly. 'Stay sound and safe. Keep outlook, 'ware Fists. Don't get taken to the cleaners.' she begged her new egg-head friend.

With that, Smoke eyespied out the window, keeping outlook on the streets outside, always wary of caretakers or cleaners. She wished she could get a better outlook. 'Is there an outway upstairs, onto the roof?'


OOC: Keeping outlook, 16.
10:25, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 16 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 5,2. awareness + ingenuity + keen senses.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:40, Tue 28 Jan 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 170 posts
Tue 28 Jan 2014
at 02:47
  • msg #49

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm:
With that, Smoke eyespied out the window, keeping outlook on the streets outside, always wary of caretakers or cleaners. She wished she could get a better outlook. 'Is there an outway upstairs, onto the roof?'


"There's a fire escape."

Smoke Alarm makes it up to the roof.  It's the middle of the day here but things are still quieter than she's used to.  From here she has a much better view of the Ring.  She can see the spaceport where all the sky-flys come and go, and the large number of red Fist sky-flys parked there; she can also see, a bit further along the Ring, the big brightly lit building where Mrs. Maglup had told her the whole Ring was run from.  Smoke Alarm had never went there herself.  Caretakers.

She gives an outlook in all directions, and doesn't see any Fists trying to eye-spy on the building.  There is a place not too far away where she does see some motion -- it looks like people dispersing from an area at a walk.  It's the same direction that Trav and Stanley first headed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:50, Tue 28 Jan 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 195 posts
Hail the unalive
Blue Kang the Last
Tue 28 Jan 2014
at 14:44
  • msg #50

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

'Fire Escape?' Smoke Alarm exclaimed, thinking of the Red Kang, then realised it was an actual fire escape. She went up and outlooked over the corners and ledges, and outlooked all around, satisfying herself that no Fists were creeping up on the Draconian brain-quarters with no outlooks.

She headed back downstairs and reported to Sereth with military crispness. 'I made outlooks from roof. No Fists in eyespy. All sound and safe.'

Returning to Fadreen, Smoke Alarm thought for a moment, looked her over, and asked 'Do you want to know-how Kang Fu?
The Guardian
GM, 173 posts
Wed 29 Jan 2014
at 01:26
  • msg #51

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Fadreen looks at Smoke Alarm curiously.  "'Kang Fu'?  What is that?  Is it a sacred practice of your people?"  She looks curious, but takes a look at Szezak.  "My father's very worried about my absorbing too many unsettling ideas from other cultures," she says.  Her voice drops low.  "I certainly shouldn't do any such thing right here with him watching...."
Zheng Ru
NPC, 8 posts
Wed 29 Jan 2014
at 01:48
  • msg #52

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

A message comes back over Trav's iPad.

Zheng Ru:
It is a devious plan you propose and I can scarcely help but admire it, Traveller.

I have given careful attention to the Fists' Three Journeys since you sent it.  What I see is that they have ordered their campaign in a hierarchy that places the flesh before the mind, the mind before the heart.  I have always felt that where the spirit is secure, the mind and the body will follow -- and so what you have outlined is, in a sense, the direct mirror of the road the Fists would march their subjects down.

Do you wish my assistance?  There are thousands of souls on Arsuran Orbital Prime, and it will be a task for many to spread the understanding that they all will need to counter the Fists' indoctrination.  And it will be a campaign waged over time as well.  Perhaps the presence of some of my more trusted students, confident and sure in themselves, will help to spread your message through all the people you will want to reach, if we can be brought in without alerting the Fists.

(And, though it is not a prospect I relish, we may be of aid if the Fists do turn to violence again.)

Let me know how I can help, friend.

Ru

Smoke Alarm
player, 197 posts
Hail the unalive
Blue Kang the Last
Wed 29 Jan 2014
at 13:13
  • msg #53

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm grinned widely. 'It's games! It's funs! I'll show you.' Smoke Alarm clapped her hands then presented her palms to Fadreen. 'You do the same. Like in a mirror.' Steadily, she took Fadreen through a simple clapping game, part of the ending of the How-You-Do ritual.

    'Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, Rezzie-san.
    Make me into cake fast as you can.
    Roll it, pat it and scrawl it with P.
    Put it in the oven for Rezzie to eat.'

'Now you know-how!' Then she changed it up, introducing claps of alternate hands and speeding up the rhythm and pace.

    'Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, Caretaker man.
    Take me into cage fast as you can.
    Roll it up, roll it up,
    And throw it in a bin!
    Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, caretaker man.'

Laughing, Smoke Alarm steadily increased the pace and introduced more complex actions, with hands reaching for the body, slaps to arms, and swaying bodies.

    'Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, Rezzie-san.
    Make you into cake fast as I can.
    Roll you up, roll you up;
    Put you in a pan;
    And push you in the oven as fast as I can!'

Now she was swinging her hands at Fadreen's arms and hands, inviting her to swat them away. She'd soon turned a simple game of pat-a-cake into an open-handed attack and block routine Zheng Ru could be proud of. With it, the Kangs would defend and dodge attempts by Caretakers to apprehend them — and hopefully Fadreen and the people of Arsuran could avoid the clutches of the Fists. 'And we can play chasey, seek and hide, unblind man's bluff, rat-catching...'


OOC: Teaching Kang Fu. I'm not sure what attribute to use, but settled on Ingenuity, with Fighting and Kang Fu. So, 15.
20:35, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 15 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 5,4. ingenuity + fighting + Kang Fu.
The Guardian
GM, 175 posts
Thu 30 Jan 2014
at 03:20
  • msg #54

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

While Smoke Alarm gets the impression that this is not exactly in the realm of Fadreen's usual pursuits, the Draconian girl definitely seems to be following along with it well.  Her reflexes are deceptive -- Smoke notices that her muscles have a quicker reaction than a lot of humans'.
The Traveller
player, 188 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 30 Jan 2014
at 09:17
  • msg #55

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Zheng Ru:
A message comes back over Trav's iPad.

Zheng Ru:
It is a devious plan you propose and I can scarcely help but admire it, Traveller.

I have given careful attention to the Fists' Three Journeys since you sent it.  What I see is that they have ordered their campaign in a hierarchy that places the flesh before the mind, the mind before the heart.  I have always felt that where the spirit is secure, the mind and the body will follow -- and so what you have outlined is, in a sense, the direct mirror of the road the Fists would march their subjects down.

Do you wish my assistance?  There are thousands of souls on Arsuran Orbital Prime, and it will be a task for many to spread the understanding that they all will need to counter the Fists' indoctrination.  And it will be a campaign waged over time as well.  Perhaps the presence of some of my more trusted students, confident and sure in themselves, will help to spread your message through all the people you will want to reach, if we can be brought in without alerting the Fists.

(And, though it is not a prospect I relish, we may be of aid if the Fists do turn to violence again.)

Let me know how I can help, friend.

Ru



Trav composes back a quick mail -

The Traveller:
From: Trav@sweetboy.tardis
to:ru.zheng@superphone.sweetboy.tardis
cc:Smoke.Alarm@superphone.sweetboy.tardis
tags:!7thdimensional.encryption.enabled,!sweetboy.internal,!chibitrav_monitor

Ru, I'd adore working with you again. I know I left on bad terms, being a military red head. But a lot has happened since the war. I barely found my way back, but you showing some trust in me gives me confidence that I did. I hope I can start making up for things.

Anyway, I have some actual god damned scrolls in the gym that Boobie gave me when he was trying to teach me Venusian Aikido. He tried teaching me martial arts, but that went as well when you tried to teach me to throw a punch. I'm a little better since then, but I'm much better with a gun.

Maybe you guys can work up something. I saw Boobie beat the crap out of fully armed and armored Sontarans with that hee-yah crap, no joke. He could paralyze people too. It's too bad that once he regenerated,he could barely keep from tripping over his own scarf.

I'll be by to pick you up in a bit.


(OOC: Trav is spending a TARDIS story point to use the Large Pockets ability to get the Doctor's old notes for Venusian Karate. What this will mean story wise I leave up to you.)
This message was last edited by the player at 09:17, Thu 30 Jan 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 199 posts
Hail the unalive
Blue Kang the Last
Fri 31 Jan 2014
at 08:34
  • msg #56

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm took Fadreen through the pat-a-cake a few more times, with a few more darkly twisted verses and more complicated routines, and encouraging her to start changing it herself, throwing in surprise attacks and blocks. Soon, it became almost completely free-style duelling. The concept of the Kang Fu pat-a-cake was similar to the sinawali and other drills of Filipino martial arts, like eskrima. But the style most closely resembled two children wildly slapping their hands at each other, though it was subtly effective at blocking and redirecting strikes and grabs away from the head and body.

'Tag! You're it!' Smoke Alarm crowed, delivering a light slap to Fadreen's body and twisting away from any counterattacks. The Kang turned and ran across the apartment, laughing all the way, only pausing to make sure Fadreen was following as she disappeared up the fire escape again.
Stanley Newton
player, 52 posts
Sat 1 Feb 2014
at 02:20
  • msg #57

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
At Stanley's answer, Nadia looks stricken, and drops her head.

"Of course.  I... I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to--  I just--"

She sits down on the running track with her knees pulled up, and hides her face on her arms.  She starts shaking slightly.


Stanley looks around and then sits down next to Nadia. "It's okay." He pauses, searching for the right words. "I honestly don't mind. There have been lots of times when I wished I could have been somewhere else, help someone else. You've obviously been through a lot here on Arsuran, the whole invasion... and... well expressing your emotions can be good for you. I can come by the clinic later, if you want to talk some more."

He carefully puts his arm around her shoulder to comfort her. "Things might look pretty bad now but the Fists are a problem that can be dealt with. I promise you that my friends and I are going to get rid of these Fists. Not with violence, but with ideas. I promise you."

"It might be a smart idea to get away from here or we might attract some unwanted attention. Do you want me to walk you back to the clinic?"

OoC: I am going to spend a Story Point (4d6+Presence+Convince+Empathic).
03:15, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 22 using 4d6+7 with rolls of 3,4,6,2. Presence + Convince+ Empathic.

The Guardian
GM, 176 posts
Sat 1 Feb 2014
at 20:35
  • msg #58

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Nadia twitches a bit when Stanley touches her, but she takes a deep breath and smiles when she looks at him.

"Yes.  Please."  She lets him help her to her feet.  "I, it seems like there hasn't been a moment to stop and feel anything, since, since the bombing.  I had to just keep working.  Because I knew it was what Vitaly would have expected of me.  Even though I felt like just... stopping.

"You, and your friend there..."  There's a moment where she looks at Stanley and looks at Trav, like she's trying to parse out just how they are connected.  She lowers her voice.  "Who are you, that you both talk like people like these Fists are just a problem to be solved?"  But she shakes her head, quickly.  "Never mind that.  You're right, we should go and talk about this somewhere else."

She looks at Trav.  "Is your friend coming along too?"
The Guardian
GM, 177 posts
Sat 1 Feb 2014
at 20:42
  • msg #59

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Fadreen follows Smoke Alarm out onto the fire escape.

Sereth sees Szezak and Penya both give a start when they go, but Szezak clasps Penya's arm.  "No, she needs to forget about skulking indoors for a little bit, at least..."  He glances at Sereth.  "That is, if you're confident that your friend will look out for her?"

Szezak lets Penya loose and starts collecting together a few items in a carry-bag.  "The shop has been closed down the last few days, but I've had a few repairs I've managed to complete in that time.  I think I shall go and deliver them after I head down to the market, and start to pass the word around, Legate.  If there is anything else we can do, please don't hesitate to ask."
The Traveller
player, 189 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sat 1 Feb 2014
at 23:42
  • msg #60

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
Nadia twitches a bit when Stanley touches her, but she takes a deep breath and smiles when she looks at him.

"Yes.  Please."  She lets him help her to her feet.  "I, it seems like there hasn't been a moment to stop and feel anything, since, since the bombing.  I had to just keep working.  Because I knew it was what Vitaly would have expected of me.  Even though I felt like just... stopping.

"You, and your friend there..."  There's a moment where she looks at Stanley and looks at Trav, like she's trying to parse out just how they are connected.  She lowers her voice.  "Who are you, that you both talk like people like these Fists are just a problem to be solved?"  But she shakes her head, quickly.  "Never mind that.  You're right, we should go and talk about this somewhere else."

She looks at Trav.  "Is your friend coming along too?"


Trav takes off her hat. "It's because we can't stay. That's the best way I can put it. But we are here to help. This is part of a bigger problem, and we hope we can work it out so that there's no more... bombing." She clutches her hat, sadly frowning.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:21, Sun 02 Feb 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 201 posts
Hail the unalive
Blue Kang the Last
Sun 2 Feb 2014
at 03:45
  • msg #61

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

On the roof again, Smoke Alarm outlooked over the edges once more, worried that the Fists might come footing it down the street and knock-knocking on the door. It was still all sound and safe.

When Fadreen arrived, she tried to get her into a rousing game of chasey. 'You're it, so now you have to tag me.' she explained. Though going easy on Fadreen at first, she started to demonstrate how she could dodge a grabbing hand by bending back, jumping away, ducking, and even rolling. Fadreen was very quick for a youngster girl who was no Kang, and Smoke Alarm found she only needed the know-how.

'If the Fists try to catch-you-if-they-can or if you get in a to-do, you can use Kang Fu to escape and foot it with all speed down the street or carrydoor.'
Stanley Newton
player, 53 posts
Mon 3 Feb 2014
at 00:35
  • msg #62

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Yeah, what The Traveller said. Of course the Fists really are a problem that we are going to solve. That's her name by the way, The Traveller." Stanley says. "She's the brains behind the operation and also the pilot..."
Sereth
player, 113 posts
Mon 3 Feb 2014
at 00:42
  • msg #63

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Draconian nodded.

"She'll look after her. She's almost as good as a Draconian for that, though more at keeping out of trouble than dealing with trouble if it finds her admittedly."
The Traveller
player, 190 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 3 Feb 2014
at 02:10
  • msg #64

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Stanley Newton:
"Yeah, what The Traveller said. Of course the Fists really are a problem that we are going to solve. That's her name by the way, The Traveller." Stanley says. "She's the brains behind the operation and also the pilot..."


Trav waves. "Pleased to meetcha. Oh, schucks, Stan." Her smile is rather embarassed.
The Guardian
GM, 179 posts
Tue 4 Feb 2014
at 00:45
  • msg #65

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

As people start to drift away from the Fists' "orientation", Nadia leads Stanley off toward the sunward side of the habitat.  She seems to have pulled herself together fairly well, and wears a determined look.

They walk for about twenty minutes, until they reach a set of three-story buildings making up about half of a commercial block.  There's a sign reading "Miszere Municipal Emergency Care".  Nadia leads Stanley in through an automatic door with the sign "Admitting" over it.

The room has a fairly sparse number of patients waiting for attention at the moment. As Stanley takes it in, he reflects that form follows function: with the exception of some of the scanners and technological flourishes that he spots as he enters, it could almost be the emergency room for a First World hospital back in the twenty-first century.  He does see that there is a scattering of equipment left unattended here and there, like the workers at the hospital have been too busy to properly stow everything away, or perhaps they're just anticipating needing it again in a hurry.

"Let me show you around a little," Nadia says.  "We don't have a lot in the way of in-patient facilities, so except for the most severe cases we've been working at patching people up, providing them with self-treatment gear where that's appropriate, and sending them back home."  As she shows Stanley around, a lot of the equipment is not immediately familiar to him, though he can work out what it's used for from context -- he's kind of amazed, for example, at a device called a "bone knitter" that a nurse is apparently using to perform a quick mend on a fractured tibia prior to setting it with a brace, but he suspects he could pick up its operation quickly enough.

A pair of men in the uniforms of Fists move past them, moving a gurney.  When they've gone by, Nadia says in a low voice, "They assigned a half a dozen people here to assist with orderly work, they said.  I don't doubt that they're here to keep tabs on us, just as much."

Trav can be at the clinic as well, unless she had a different plan.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:47, Tue 04 Feb 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 180 posts
Tue 4 Feb 2014
at 00:51
  • msg #66

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

After some more introductory Kang Fu on the roof of the building, Smoke Alarm and Fadreen rejoin the others inside.  Szezak has departed to make his rounds by this time

Amanda looks at Sereth and Smoke Alarm.  "Where to now?  Should we go and meet up with Trav and Stanley again?  Or did you mean to go and try looking for those friends of yours, Smoke?"
Smoke Alarm
player, 202 posts
Hail the unalive
Blue Kang the Last
Tue 4 Feb 2014
at 02:01
  • msg #67

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The two breathless young women bounded the stairs, with Fadreen now wearing a strip of blue cloth tied around her arm.

Smoke Alarm thought over their options. 'I want to go eyespy for them. Maybe we can all go to Mrs Maglup's for frapple pies?' she suggested enthusiastically. Mrs Maglup's frapple pies were yummy! But she outlooked dubiously over Amanda and Sereth; they were vips and not often friends of those who made their brainquarters on the streets. 'But Peet and Gaross and the rest will be unbrave to how-you-do to you. Mayhaps I should go alone to seek-and-hide them, then catch-you-if-I-can after?'
Sereth
player, 114 posts
Tue 4 Feb 2014
at 02:18
  • msg #68

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The blank expression on his face was clear; he had problems keeping up with Smoke's idiom.

"...."

He then took a moment, playing back carefully what she said.

"Will you be safe on your own?"
Smoke Alarm
player, 203 posts
Hail the unalive
Blue Kang the Last
Tue 4 Feb 2014
at 02:36
  • msg #69

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm often got that outlook. 'I'm Smoke Alarm, sound and safe.' she boasted. 'I knowhow to get all around Arsuran.'
Stanley Newton
player, 54 posts
Thu 6 Feb 2014
at 00:54
  • msg #70

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to The Guardian (msg # 65):

"I am sure you do the best you can with the resources you have." Stanley says whilst looking around. He waits until the Fists are out of earshot. "You know... just thinking aloud, but we could make up some sort of contagious disease. A quarantine would be a good enough reason for them to not visit a room. Don't know if it's relevant right know but it's an idea."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:55, Thu 06 Feb 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 181 posts
Thu 6 Feb 2014
at 01:20
  • msg #71

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Nadia looks at Stanley.  "That's... a disturbingly appealing idea.  These people try to be so faultlessly earnest about everything they do, I think it would be really easy to sell it to them."
The Traveller
player, 191 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 6 Feb 2014
at 02:14
  • msg #72

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Stan looks like he has this in hand. Trav sends out a text over her phone. <<Hey kids. Status? Everyone OK?>>
Smoke Alarm
player, 204 posts
Hail the unalive
Blue Kang the Last
Mon 10 Feb 2014
at 01:38
  • msg #73

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

'Build high for happiness!' Smoke Alarm farewelled Sereth, Amanda, Fadreen, and the other eggheads. Leaving their apartment and shop, Smoke Alarm skipped out on to the road and footed it away down streets and alleys and over the occasional tower or fence. It was good to be running the city again, loose-foot and fancy-free, without the slowpokes.

She halted when her talkiphone started ringing, then got the message, reading slowly through all the big words. She paused to send her response, both to the last message and the previous ones from Traveller. She tried to make the Kang txt easy-peasy for the slowpokes to understand.

Smoke Alarm:
From: Smoke.Alarm@superphone.sweetboy.tardis
To: All

I gave nohow Kang Fu 2 Fadreen egghed. F's icehot mahaps Kang :D

G2G 2 I-spy 4 Peet n frends. Mahaps unsownd n unsaf? :( Outgoing 2 big TM weel-door in city basment-carydoors.

Will LnF Trav's hat.

Ware F31S.

BHFH SA :)


She sended it and put the icehot talkiphone away, then carried on toward and down to the big TM wheel-door she'd lost-and-found with Peet that fun day. Mayhaps they were all there, Peet and Gaross and Stinky and the rest. Mayhaps they'd made a brainquarters there? They've need a Kang to teach them to play catch-me-if-you-can with the Fists.
The Guardian
GM, 182 posts
Mon 10 Feb 2014
at 03:11
  • msg #74

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm has little trouble finding the entranceway to the ground-under carrydoors that she explored with Peet some time ago.  While there isn't a lot of trash or dirt down here, the place isn't as well-kept as the up-world.  Things are a little cool and dank here; the steel that clads the carrydoors is rough and dingy, and sounds echo a long way.  It's more obvious how the halls follow the curve of the world by how they trail up around the bend of the ceiling on long stretches.  Long curving tubes run along the ceiling, and very so often there are little hatches on the sides, not unlike the cabbynet where she found Peet's sign.

As she's making her way along them looking for the wheel-door, she ear-spies footsteps and there's a light playing back and forth from the direction where she hears them.
Smoke Alarm
player, 206 posts
Hail the unalive
Blue Kang the Last
Mon 10 Feb 2014
at 03:50
  • msg #75

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm liked going hide-and-seek in these ground-under carrydoors. Not many people in-came here, and very rarely, so she felt like she was eyespying some secret and hidden ways. A Kang could have a hide-in down here, could feel sound-and-safe here, faraway from Cleaners and Caretakers and other dangers. A Kang had, a few times, when the rain was heavy or bad boys hunted the streets for girls to eat. And she'd had fun going hide-and-seek here with Peet.

But when she earspied someone footing it down the carrydoor, she quickly tracked back and made a hide-in out of the larger cabbynets, stuffing herself in as much as she could. She left just enough of a gap for her to eye- and earspy out of. A moving light meant a torch, and that meant caretakers.


OOC: Hiding: 14
11:46, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 14 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 3,3. coordination + subterfuge.

Earspying: 15
11:47, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 15 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 5,1. awareness + ingenuity + keen senses.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:37, Mon 10 Feb 2014.
The Traveller
player, 193 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 10 Feb 2014
at 10:35
  • msg #76

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm:
From: Smoke.Alarm@superphone.sweetboy.tardis
To: All

I gave nohow Kang Fu 2 Fadreen egghed. F's icehot mahaps Kang :D

G2G 2 I-spy 4 Peet n frends. Mahaps unsownd n unsaf? :( Outgoing 2 big TM weel-door in city basment-carydoors.

Will LnF Trav's hat.

Ware F31S.

BHFH SA :)


Trav looks at the message and her eyes boggled. She's been to a lot of places, and most of the time she could make out the slang. But Kangtext, at the moment, was defeating her.

"Um, hey, Stan. I think she's saying that she's been teaching Kang Fu to someone named Fadreen, who's a Draconian. She thinks this Fadreen is Kang material, high priaise!"

"Uh, she says here I have to go spy for Peet and friends? Who's Peet? She says here maybe it's not safe. She's heading out to 'big TM wheel door in city basement corridors. Um, I have no idea what LnF means. Ware F31s? I guess that's a hat size? BHFH SA means Build High for Happiness Smoke Alarm."

Trav sends back a code snippet that will guide Smoke to the video recording feature. "Try icehot talkiphone face eyespout taker!" Kangspeak was a bit easier than Kangtext.

"Crap. This is harder than when I was trying to make out James Brown when he was zooming on heroin." She fans herself with her hat.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:04, Mon 10 Feb 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 184 posts
Mon 10 Feb 2014
at 13:30
  • msg #77

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

As the light passes, Smoke Alarm can clearly hear the conversation and make out the characteristic outfits of the Fists, a man and a woman.  They seem like they're being pretty complacent since they're just walking along and not checking the cabbynets.

"This seems a waste of time," the man is saying.  "There is no one down here."

"According to the records of the habitat administrators, there was a good-sized indigent population that isn't accounted for," the woman says.  "Some could have made it offworld, true, but....  People without proper direction in their lives are among the best candidates to find it in the Order.  We need to find them."

The pair pass by Smoke Alarm's hiding place until things are silent again.

The Guardian, for the NPC Fists, rolled 9 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 1,2. Awareness(4) + Subterfuge(2).
Smoke Alarm
player, 208 posts
Hail the unalive
Blue Kang the Last
Mon 10 Feb 2014
at 13:46
  • msg #78

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Fists! Smoke Alarm scowled out of the darkness at the Fist caretakers as they footed past, like they owned the carrydoors and owned the peoples in them. She wanted to jump out, steal something of theirs, run off, and throw it in the bin. That would show them! But later, mayhaps. She needed to lost-and-found Peet and Gaross and the others first, tell them to 'ware the Fists, and give them the knowhow of Kang Fu.

When the two had left, Smoke Alarm waited a little longer, just to be sure, then carefully opened the cabbynet and slipped out. After outlooking around for the Fists, in case they were sneaky, she continued carefully on her path, tracking back to where she remembered the mysterious TM wheel-door was.
Stanley Newton
player, 55 posts
Mon 10 Feb 2014
at 21:27
  • msg #79

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to The Traveller (msg # 76):

Stanley reads the message. "Peet? Don't know who he is, but I think that Smoke Alarm may have mentioned him before. LnF...yeah don't know what that means either. This one I know: Ware F31S is, supposed to be "Beware Fists". The 1 looks a bit like the letter T."

Stanley turns back to Nadia. "Nadia, weird question but have you heard anything about a mysterious blue sphere used by the Fists?"
The Guardian
GM, 185 posts
Tue 11 Feb 2014
at 01:10
  • msg #80

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm comes at last to the wheel-door that she found with Peet, back when.  There are a couple of scraps of cardboard arranged that obscure it a bit, and when she pokes them aside to get a better look at the door, she detects a faint scent of oil.  Next to the floor and the steel surfaces around it, the door is warm to the touch.
The Guardian
GM, 186 posts
Tue 11 Feb 2014
at 01:17
  • msg #81

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Blue sphere?"  Nadia shakes her head.  "I haven't heard about anything like that," she says.  "I know that they've set up a special administrative zone around the Ultiplex and the Justice Center there."  She quickly describes the Justice Center -- from what she says, it's fenced off from casual observation, and to Stanley it sounds like it might be about as secure as a minimum-security prison back in the twenty-first century.

"But of course, they couldn't keep anyone from getting a look inside if they were determined, and had a good magnifier.  Not here on Arsuran."  Nadia holds up her forefinger vertically, then moves her arm to describe a big loop.
Smoke Alarm
player, 209 posts
Hail the unalive
Blue Kang the Last
Tue 11 Feb 2014
at 01:45
  • msg #82

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm looked Traveller's response, and couldn't make tail or head of it. Face eyespout? What was that? It sounded horrible. Well, she'd work it out later.

Smoke Alarm eyespied the wheel-door all over, as well as sniffled at it. Oil made things less squeaky-clan, and the wheel-door had been all screechy when she'd lost-and-found it with Peet. Caretakers would put oil or grease on it, but wouldn't leave it covered with rubbish. Had Peet out-come here?  Smoke Alarm looked back up and down the carrydoor in case the Fist caretakers out-came back, then put her ear to the wheel-door, earspying for whatever was in inside.


OOC: Listening at the door:
09:42, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 14 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 4,1. awareness + ingenuity + keen senses
The Guardian
GM, 187 posts
Tue 11 Feb 2014
at 02:00
  • msg #83

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm can hear a constant humming sound behind the wheely-door, though she can't easily imagine what it might be besides machinery of some kind.  But then there's another noise.  Something bumps and clanks, and then, muffled by the door, there's a voice making an exclamation.
Smoke Alarm
player, 210 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Tue 11 Feb 2014
at 02:46
  • msg #84

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Being so far down into the city basements, Smoke Alarm wondered if what she'd found was a waste disposal chute into a trash compactor or incinerator, with a Great Architect lurking within, devouring Kangs and the street-people. Or mayhaps it was like with the Meeps. Either way, Peet had left her the TM wallscrawl in the spark-box for a reason. Brave and bold. She grabbed the wheel and turned and turned it around and around.
The Guardian
GM, 188 posts
Tue 11 Feb 2014
at 03:05
  • msg #85

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

When Smoke Alarm feels the wheely-door disengage from its stops and pulls it open, warmth and golden light spill upwards from the ground.  The machine noises get louder, and she can see where a metal ladder extends down.  And at the base of the ladder stands Peet, aiming his shot-sling at her!

"Wha?" he says.  "Hey!  Hey, it's Smoke Alarm!  Hsst!  Smoke, get down here before any of the Feets see ya!"

Down inside the wheely-door, there's an open space stuffed in and among a lot of humming machines.  Even with the machinery, the amount of space is bigger than the old Blue Kang brainquarters from the Towers.  There are about a dozen people down here, including Peet (who lowers his shot-sling and backs away from the ladder) and Old Gaross (who is holding himself up with a long length of metal pipe).  Scattered around are piles of blankets for sleeping and a number of boxes with food tins, cans of fizzade and jugs of water, and other supplies.  Light is given off by glaring yellow panels that illuminate the readings on the machinery, and Smoke Alarm can also see light being given off by what looks like a cracked picturespout panel plugged into a power outlet.

"We thought sure you'd been caught by the Feets," Peet exclaims.  "Didja find my sign?  Huh?  Didja?"
Smoke Alarm
player, 211 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Tue 11 Feb 2014
at 12:05
  • msg #86

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm grinned wide as she saw Peet down the bottom of the hole. She climbed in, latched onto the ladder, and pulled the wheel-door down on top of her. Then she jumped down the rest of the way. 'I didja eyespy your wallscrawl!' she exclaimed happily, glad her friends were safe. She looked around, taking in the space under the wheel-door, with sleep-tights and shopping and even a picturespout, together with Gaross and Stinky and Miss Filla and the rest and others didn't know. 'How you do. You have an icehot hide-in brainquarters.' she complimented politely.

She did a casual how-you-do with Peet, ending with a fist-bump. 'After the Fist sky-flies sploded my box, I ran to the spaceport and footed onto a sky-fly outgoing to Farhaven, to the Buddha Tower with the Orange ones. I met some icehot people with a talkiphone box and we outcame back to Arsuran to make the Fists go home. We're going to start a to-do!'
Stanley Newton
player, 56 posts
Tue 11 Feb 2014
at 21:20
  • msg #87

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to The Guardian (msg # 81):

"Of course: Arsuran is ring-shaped." Stanley lowers his voice. "We suspect that the Fists might be using a blue spherical device to mind-control some people. So this administrative zone is probably where they are hiding it."
The Guardian
GM, 189 posts
Wed 12 Feb 2014
at 01:33
  • msg #88

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Peet seems incredulous.  "Make the Feets go home?  WOW!  How are you going to make that happen?"

Gaross and some of the others frown at that.  "Don' know just how you think these friends of yours are like to t'do that," Gaross says.  "Less'n you got hundreds of 'em.  Or less'n that is one heck of a 'talkiphone box'."

He points to the screen.  "I got us a tap in to the news net now.  Did some tech work back in the Big War, fig'red it'd help us to lay low, keep track of what they were up to.  There's a place here if'n you want to stay, Kang-girl.  Don't know you should if'n you've got a mind to go poking at the Fists, though."
Smoke Alarm
player, 213 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Wed 12 Feb 2014
at 02:33
  • msg #89

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

'It is! It can fly through the sky and tick-tocks and it's smaller on the outside and has fish in the walls and it's icehot!' Smoke Alarm exclaimed passionately, getting into what she imagined was a rousing great speech. 'Sereth is the Dragonian Leg-it. He's going to have the egg-heads get pushy with the Feets. And the Traveller lady is BFFs with the icehot Doctor who helped us put my home-sweet-home Paradise Towers to rights, downstairs with the Caretakers and the Cleaners. She has the knowhow what to-do and lots of plans.' Smoke Alarm boasted proudly. 'And I'm going to teach you Kang Fu, to go catch-me-if-you-can with the Feets. We'll start a to-do, tell the Feets they're scaredy-cats and meanie-heads. We'll wallscrawl their towers and chase them down carrydoors and steal their stuff and invade their brainquarters, and tell them to take their stuff and go home!'
This message was last edited by the player at 02:58, Thu 13 Feb 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 190 posts
Wed 12 Feb 2014
at 03:40
  • msg #90

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm can make a roll with her mighty Presence + Convince here if she wants to rouse her friends to the cause.  Good place to throw a Story Point, I should think.
Smoke Alarm
player, 215 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Wed 12 Feb 2014
at 05:35
  • msg #91

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

OOC: Can I add Brave to that, as Smoke is showing her courage and trying to inspire it in others?
Spending 1 SP to add +2d6, as per “We only get one shot at this.” as getting local help was our aim.
2d6 + 2d6 + Presence + Convince + Brave: 15
13:33, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 15 using 4d6+4 with rolls of 2,5,1,3. presence + convince + brave + SP.
Stanley Newton
player, 57 posts
Wed 12 Feb 2014
at 23:17
  • msg #92

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"I'll guess I am going to take a look around the Justice Centre." Stanley looks at the Traveller. "Unless Nadia needs me here or Trav wants to do something else. Your original plan mentioned setting up a pirate radio station thing, spread Kang-Fu and learn more about the blue spheres. The blue sphere or spheres are probably somewhere in that heavily secured area so getting to them isn't going to be easy but at least we know where they are. About that radio station: I don't the technical details but maybe we can put the equipment in a room here and "quarantine" that room."
The Traveller
player, 196 posts
Wed 12 Feb 2014
at 23:54
  • [deleted]
  • msg #93

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

This message was deleted by the player at 23:55, Wed 12 Feb 2014.
The Traveller
player, 197 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 12 Feb 2014
at 23:55
  • msg #94

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Stanley Newton:
"I'll guess I am going to take a look around the Justice Centre." Stanley looks at the Traveller. "Unless Nadia needs me here or Trav wants to do something else. Your original plan mentioned setting up a pirate radio station thing, spread Kang-Fu and learn more about the blue spheres. The blue sphere or spheres are probably somewhere in that heavily secured area so getting to them isn't going to be easy but at least we know where they are. About that radio station: I don't the technical details but maybe we can put the equipment in a room here and "quarantine" that room."


"Sounds groovy, and like trouble. Let me work up a list of stuff that we can use. I was originally considering running the pirate radio from the TARDIS, but it would be better if someone from Arsuran ran the show. I'd like to actually set up a string of stations so that if one of the gets hit, another one picks up the slack, or better yet, we have whole network of untraceable content creators. Nadia, how does that sound to you? It'll be like the old Anonymous movement back on Earth in the 21st century. Wanna tell the fists how you really feel?"
The Guardian
GM, 190 posts
Thu 13 Feb 2014
at 02:23
  • msg #95

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm's audience stares at her for a couple of breathless moments, and then Peet exclaims, "Yeah!  I'm in!"

Gaross cocks his head, then says, "Ayup.  I want t'talk to these friends of yours, Kang-girl, but we can sure use this as a hidey-hole and start puttin' things into motion."  The others all chime in one by one in support of Smoke Alarm.
This message was last updated by the GM at 02:23, Thu 13 Feb 2014.
Amanda
NPC, 17 posts
Thu 13 Feb 2014
at 02:32
  • msg #96

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav's phone signals her with a couple of bars of "America the Beautiful."  It's Amanda.

"Trav?  Wanted to know what the plan was.  Sereth is starting to spread the word to his people and, well, you saw what Smoke is getting up to.  We settling in for the long haul, or what?"
Smoke Alarm
player, 216 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Thu 13 Feb 2014
at 03:07
  • msg #97

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

'Icehot!' Smoke Alarm cheered as she got everyone to play along, Peet and Gaross and all the rest. After all, none of the street-people of Arsuran would be sound and safe with Fist caretakers. And they knew all the hide-ins and unseen ways and how to survive with nothing. 'We're going to put Arsuran Orbital Prime to rights!'

She answered Gaross, saying 'I'll get Traveller and Sereth and Stanley on the talkiphone or bring them here, they can give you the knowhow.' She took out her talkiphone handset and wandered up to the picturespout, wondering if it had a noisespout to connect the talkiphone to. She eyespied the knews, all yawny now the Feets were caretakers. She was touched by Gaross's offer to stay here in the basement brainquarters. She could have food and a bed and a good hide-in, and be with her friend Peet. It could be a good home-sweet-home. But she also wanted to track back to Paradise Towers and her sister Kangs, and she needed Traveller and the talkiphone box for that. And she could eyespy and do so many fun things on the way.

Then she remembered 'There's two Feets upstairs footing the carrydoors. They're eyespying for you. For us. They want you to become Feets. 'Ware them.'


OOC: I moved part of my last post here as it better fit continuity.
The Traveller
player, 198 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 14 Feb 2014
at 02:11
  • msg #98

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Amanda:
Trav's phone signals her with a couple of bars of "America the Beautiful."  It's Amanda.

"Trav?  Wanted to know what the plan was.  Sereth is starting to spread the word to his people and, well, you saw what Smoke is getting up to.  We settling in for the long haul, or what?"


"Moshi moshi, hey babe. Yes we are. Gonna have sweet boy drop in and out place to place so we don't have to worry about being found by the Fist's mundane resources. But the information rebellion starts apace."
Amanda
NPC, 18 posts
Fri 14 Feb 2014
at 03:38
  • msg #99

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Hey, let me get you Sereth on the line.  His friend Szezak here is an electronics tech, with some time on his hands while the ring's on lockdown.  I bet he could be pretty useful in putting together a batch of quick and dirty transmitters."
The Traveller
player, 200 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 14 Feb 2014
at 03:41
  • msg #100

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Amanda:
"Hey, let me get you Sereth on the line.  His friend Szezak here is an electronics tech, with some time on his hands while the ring's on lockdown.  I bet he could be pretty useful in putting together a batch of quick and dirty transmitters."

"Wonderful, babe. I'll forward you some plans to work into tech of this time period. If he follows these notes, we should be able to broadcast from the TARDIS. If he needs help, I'll help him out with transmitters."
The Guardian
GM, 193 posts
Tue 18 Feb 2014
at 02:21
  • msg #101

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

About a week has gone by.  The civil restrictions in place on Arsuran have been relaxed slightly: although there is still a curfew in place, more businesses have reopened, and there's a fair amount of commerce going on during the day.  The comm net has carried several new sets of regulations over the course of that time.  Space traffic to and from Arsuran is still restricted to official Order ships.

Repairs and clean-up around the Miszere district have proceeded as well.  At the Miszere clinic, the initial flow of injuries has dried up and they are down to a fairly normal workload, although the Fist "minders" have remained in residence.  Nadia has helped Stanley to work up a cover identity which has held up so far, but this has meant that he has been required to report for the Fists' regular training sessions.  So far, that has just meant following some of the introductory physical exercises and reading some of the Journey of Mind, which Stanley already had some exposure to.

The Fist who seems to be the overseer for the others at the clinic is an older man named Davron Selmer.  He's kind of unnerving to be around: Stanley will often turn around to find the man observing him silently, although Selmer doesn't hesitate to assist with physical work or sorting out logistical issues as he is able.

On the eighth day, Stanley is taking a break and having a coffee with Nadia in the clinic's tiny break room when Selmer appears at the doorway.  He's consulting a comm unit.

"Doctor.  Doctor."  He nods to each of them.  "I'd like to request your assistance.  You may know that the Order has been using the prior regime's detention facility to house and watch over some of the more uncooperative residents of the habitat while we try to help them accept the new state of affairs.  I've just been told that there has been an altercation at the Justice Center, resulting in a number of injuries -- mostly minor, but a few serious ones, and the trained medical staff at the center could use assistance.  Would you be willing to come to the Center with me and help us treat these people?"
The Guardian
GM, 194 posts
Tue 18 Feb 2014
at 02:26
  • msg #102

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav, I have an idea of what you're planning from your OOC post.  You can narrate what you're doing better than I can, of course, but it seems there are a couple of rolls in there:

- An Ingenuity + Technology roll to get the network up and keep it from being shut down

- A Presence + Convince roll to express your message and determine how effective it's going to be.
The Guardian
GM, 195 posts
Tue 18 Feb 2014
at 02:41
  • msg #103

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Over the last week, Smoke Alarm has made contact with different refugees and hide-aways from about half of the Asuran ring.  By now there are about thirty people in nine different groups that she has met up with and put into some sort of contact with each other.  (Sometimes this is with improvised or commandeered tech, sometime it's just by finding safe message drops -- for instance, she has found that Mrs. Maglup is still safely ensconced in her shabby little apartment and is always happy to give perfectly innocent passersby a cup of tea, a frapple pie and a few minutes of conversation.)

With Szezak's reluctant assent, Fadreen has joined up with Smoke Alarm and is acting as another go-between in between kang-fu training.

The hardest part of all this for Smoke Alarm has been in trying to impress upon her new proteges the proper Ware 'Fists! philosophy.  Kangs are not made overnight, apparently.

Give me a roll to represent how your training regime is being carried out.  My first inclination is to call this Presence + Athletics + Kang Fu + Brave, to represent a good mix of the Kangly virtues, but you may try to sell me something else if you have a better idea.
The Guardian
GM, 196 posts
Tue 18 Feb 2014
at 02:53
  • msg #104

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Over the week since Sereth first made contact with Szezak and his family, the technician and shopkeeper has been able to bring most of the Draconians still on Arsuran into the loop.  Sereth has been able to move around and make personal contact with many of these.  While has been doing this, Gilso seems to have been making an effort to make himself useful -- he has been trying to stick close to Sereth when the Legate will allow it, or running errands as requested.

One day when Gilso meets up with Sereth, he says, "Legate, I've got some news.  One of the locals we've been talking to has a friend, a Rekdo named Magady Bosh."  (Sereth knows of the Rekdo: they're a furry, vaguely mammalian species that come from a star cluster on the far side of the Draconian Empire from here.)  "The thing is that Mister Bosh has got a ship.  He was stuck on-planet when the Fists attacked and seized the spaceport; Mister Bosh was trying to collect his extended family to take them off-world with him but by the time he had them together, the Fists had already taken control.  They've got his ship under the general impound right now, but Mister Bosh still has got his access codes stored away.  We could get a lot of our people off Arsuran, if we could just get them -- and Mister Bosh -- past the Fists to do it."
Smoke Alarm
player, 219 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Tue 18 Feb 2014
at 07:46
  • msg #105

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm was bee-busy running all about the city and towers to hide-and-seek all the different groups of people who could help put Arsuran Orbital Prime to rights. Some were cowardly cutlets, in hide-ins from the Feets and outlooking for fire-escapes, but more were also making plans to fight or evict the Feets in their own ways. Smoke Alarm helped them find ways to stay in contact and share information, and didn't try to them all to do the same as Traveller's plans. After all, it took many people to make a tower, and it had taken the Red Kangs and the Blue Kangs and the Rezzies and the Caretakers all working together to take the Cleaners to the cleaners. Every group had different strengths and weaknesses, and their diversity made them strongest against the Fists.

She also focused on teaching Kang Fu to anyone who wanted to know-how. Oddly, trying to explain it to people made it all much more formalised now than it had ever been under the Kangs, who'd learned and defended themselves through instinct and play and didn't have any set ideas about how. Even the name Smoke Alarm had only made up while talking with Traveller on Farhaven, it becoming an umbrella term for a whole bunch of things, like pat-a-cake, chasey, carrydoor-running and jumping. In the end, it wasn't really a codified martial art, but an adaptable philosophy of training, self-defence, and escape. Bruce Lee would have been proud. So she kept it fluid and adaptable, encouraging people to change and add to it as they needed, to whatever suited them personally. There were already a few sub-styles, such as the more martial and aggressive Draconian Kang Fu, and the mysterious Drunken Kang Fu after someone gave Smoke something funny to drink.

Kang Fu wasn't even the only one out there. Some rebel groups were simply collecting and training in weapons, which Smoke found distasteful, and a few were practising more traditional martial arts, but one was developing a sort of dance-fighting that Smoke Alarm was quite taken with. It had lots of spinning and kicks and was really pretty. She took a few ideas from it, but it was too early for serious cross-training.

She didn't hold big classes where she walked around shouting at people to do things; that seemed too much like school. She also resisted the urge to dye her students' hair blue. They were not Kangs, and in the face of the Fists, it was better for everyone to be individuals and different. She kept training to groups of two, three, or four, and didn't take any kind of leadership role, instead simply playing along. Kang Fu, easily disguised as games and sports, could be safely practised in the parks, in the streets, and in the homes, right under the noses of the Fists. Indeed, the Fists approved these activities for encouraging physical fitness in accordance with the Journey of Flesh. But Smoke Alarm kept her blue-haired head behind the scenes.

The only thing she didn't teach was the arrowgun. For one, crossbows weren't all that common anyway. For two, people were still too aggressive against the Fists, always wanting a to-do with them for sploding their world, making people unalive, moving in as caretakers. That was understandable, of course, but was a drawback in Kang Fu. Smoke said they should be brave and bold but also to "'ware Fists", to be sound and safe and fire-escape, not to let anyone be bundled-up or taken to the cleaners or made unalive. She also encouraged them not to attack the Fists directly, as that would make them meanieheads, but instead to disrupt all that they did. Fists were not the enemy, but the arms that moved them.


OOC:
14:36, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 17 using 2d6+10 with rolls of 5,2. presence + athletics + brave + KF.
The Traveller
player, 205 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 18 Feb 2014
at 14:30
  • msg #106

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Up in temporal orbit, Trav listens to and monitors the broadcasts. Reclining with her feet up on Sweet Boy's control panel, she sips her coffee. She found that her experiences as the Marshall, combined with her Traveller ethics, was putting her into a weird but not entirely uncomfortable position. One time the Doctor, a very long time ago, told her that "people will do good if you let them." There was an impulse towards community in sentience, which could be harnessed for much good or subverted for wicked ends. There was an impulse towards freedom and good in people. It was always amazing when people took that risk.

I know he's out there, she thinks to herself - blond boy with the deck, Ever's past self, or maybe future. That TAROT can easily overwhelm her sweet boy. How much longer before he breaks his discipline? How much longer before his hand gets forced? It's not like she was being entirely hidden or stealthy.

With her was Rhu Zheng and a cadre of his monks. "That Smoke Alarm, she's wonderful. Look at her, she's already taking bits and pieces of what other folks are doing. She's starting to turn into a leader." She hops up. "Come with me, babe." She leads Rhu down to her studio - a small media editing lab she has off of her main garage.

Wall screens and 3D projectors predominate, with a full sound booth and keyboards all over the place, along with piles of magazine, 8 tracks, CDs, and all sorts of other media. She's had Stanley, Sereth and Smoke send her samples of sound and audio from their phones. Back in the Macross city days, Lynn Kyle, who she had a crush on, taught her how to mix and work with media. She hopes he and Minmei are safe, somewhere far away in M-Space.

She takes a seat on a busted chair. "I've been having Amanda help me with this. I wanted to have another set of eyes take a look at this." She queues up The Package, a set of social media impressions, Instagram-like videos, hidden websites, and testimonials. The title is QUESTIONS.

Arsuran's own people ask -

Why did you do this?
Donn't you trust our eyes? Why can't we see this threat without indoctrination?
Show us this beast! With no coercion!
We are free. We decide what we see! No indoctrination, no barriers, no qualification, naked eyes!
Coercion is chaos.
Coercion is lack of discipline. Diplomacy is patience.
We don't want to fight. We want you to leave.
Why are you so afraid?
NO INDOCTRINATION. NAKED EYES.

Interspersed are seens of the suffering, inadvertent and non, imposed by the fists.

At the end, is always the statement - WE AWAIT YOUR REAL ANSWER.

It's a combination of documentary, interviews, tags, installation art, and so on. Identifties and voices are obscured to protect those who don't wish to be revealed from retaliation. Calls for violence and vengeance are edited out. Trav makes sure that anyone who lends material to her project understands that their images will be used, and urges Stan, Smoke anyone else to let participants know that there will be full disclosure. Beyond all else, the campaign is non-violent.

"It was like when I was involved in the <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_March>Dandi Salt March</a> with my sweety Bapu. Not all revolutions can be non-violent, and they don't always turn out in the best way - fuck you Lenin - the think is that revolutions are things which grow and eventually take on a life of their own. We have to be very careful here to let this revolution take on an Asuran character. This is their revolution, not ours - we can only suggest and encourage. Our role is similar to that of Gandalf in Tolkien's stories. He didn't fight Sauron by main force, he encouraged and inspired. God, I fucking love Gandalf. But I also love the real life heroes I meet, like Bapu and you guys."

09:45, Today: The Traveller rolled 24 using 4d6+9 with rolls of 4,4,5,2. Trav's media-Pre+Convince+Indomnitable+Amanda+SP.
09:43, Today: The Traveller rolled 27 using 2d6+16 with rolls of 6,5. Trav sets up net, Ingenuity+Tech+Sonic.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:47, Tue 18 Feb 2014.
Sereth
player, 118 posts
Tue 18 Feb 2014
at 21:06
  • msg #107

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Sereth frowns quietly to himself; but he couldn't ignore the opportunity.

"As long as he knows the dangers of us doing this; yes. As many of our people as we can should be gotten off; and word passed on, to stay away from this sector of space; for now."

He paced for a moment; before addressing Gilso once again.

"Do we know how well guarded their ship is; as well as how clever it's guards are?"

He wanted to avoid a fight if at all possible; in fights like this, civilian lives were lost.
Stanley Newton
player, 58 posts
Tue 18 Feb 2014
at 21:30
  • msg #108

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to The Guardian (msg # 101):

"Yeah of course." Stanley puts his coffee down gets up and grabs his bag. This could be the chance to have a look inside the Justice Centre. "I am ready to go. Lead the way mister Selmer."
The Guardian
GM, 198 posts
Wed 19 Feb 2014
at 02:21
  • msg #109

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Gilso looks at Sereth unhappily.

"Sssss.  No one has gone to Mister Bosh with this idea, exactly.  But do I remember what happened the last time I thought that fighting the Fists was a good plan."  He lowers his head for a moment.  "I know I have much to learn.  I know that the Fists keep a close watch over the spaceport.  Maybe-- maybe we should go and have a careful look around; it would be best to have a plan if and when we approach Mister Bosh.  No?"
Sereth
player, 119 posts
Wed 19 Feb 2014
at 02:24
  • msg #110

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

A nod.

"Very careful; but yes. Figure out our chances of success before going to Mister Bosh; and tell no-one else. We don't want people's hopes raised; only to be dashed."
The Guardian
GM, 199 posts
Wed 19 Feb 2014
at 02:46
  • msg #111

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Selmer gives a respectful nod to Stanley.  "When you are ready, then"

He collects another one of his assistants, and when Stanley and Nadia are ready, the two Fists escort them toward the Ultiplex.  By now, the Fists have the Arsuran monorail running again, although its use is restricted to "essential business" and it is shut down during curfew.  It runs spinward all the way around the ring: using the monorail you can reach any station within twenty minutes, and most points on the ring are within ten minutes' walk of a station.

At the point that Selmer indicates that they should leave the train, the skyline is dominated by the Ultiplex, a twenty-story building that towers above most other structures.  The Justice Center is a lower building a couple of blocks away from it.  There is a high amount of traffic in this area, and a greater concentration of Fists than Stanley has seen since he has been on Arsuran.  Selmer speaks to the pair keeping watch at the entrance to the high enclosure around the complex, and the four of them are passed inside without comment.

Selmer escorts Stanley and Nadia to an open courtyard inside the Center where there are a number of cots set up as a triage area.  Stanley can tell that there has been a significant fight here, although thankfully one that has not seen much in the way of lethal force being used.  Most of those injured appear to be inmates, and for the most part these have varying sorts of sprains, dislocations, and blunt trauma.  There are some injured Fists as well, some of whom have suffered lacerations.

"You should work in the manner that seems best to you," Selmer tells them.  "Just assign priority according to the medical need; don't sort them out by 'sides'.  In the end we are all working for one thing."

Stanley notes that there is an inner, fenced-off area inside the walls, which has a couple of Fists watching over it.  There's an oddly familiar feeling that he has had since coming into the area....

You can roll Awareness + Presence + Hypnosis to get some more insight on your funny feeling.  This is a Normal difficulty roll.

If there are any other ideas for observations or actions that you want to try, don't feel like you have to ask for permission to make a roll.  You don't particularly need to make a Medicine roll here unless you think of some way you want to leverage your skill into an action apart from patching people up.
The Guardian
GM, 200 posts
Wed 19 Feb 2014
at 03:02
  • msg #112

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm is in a little neighborhood square with Fadreen and two other human-type Arsuran locals: a girl named Betsa who's a few years older than them, and her brother Sanford, who is a couple of years younger.  They're in a paved court for some sort of game called Tri-Ball or possibly Try-Ball -- it's a three sided area with metal hoops of red, yellow and blue hanging on stands.

(The object of Try-Ball, apparently, is to put a ball through the hoop, and your score depends on the sequence of the hoops that you can put it through.  While the four of them have a slightly deflated ball available to them, Smoke and Fadreen are actually trying to show Sanford and Betsa some more practical defensive moves.)

As they're out there occupied in this, a trio of Fists comes walking by, with that the funny manner they have of acting like they're headed somewhere when they're actually just walking in a big circle pattern.  The Fists glance toward Smoke and her friends, paying an unnerving amount of attention to what they're doing.

Now's your chance to try to pull off your hiding in plain sight.  You can roll Coordination + Subterfuge + Kang Fu.  As attuned as the Fists can be to genuine martial arts, this will be Tricky (15).
The Guardian
GM, 201 posts
Wed 19 Feb 2014
at 03:29
  • msg #113

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Traveller:
09:45, Today: The Traveller rolled 24 using 4d6+9 with rolls of 4,4,5,2. Trav's media-Pre+Convince+Indomnitable+Amanda+SP.
09:43, Today: The Traveller rolled 27 using 2d6+16 with rolls of 6,5. Trav sets up net, Ingenuity+Tech+Sonic.


Just from what Trav has been able to observe, she's noticed a shift in the attitudes of the Arsuran populace.  It hasn't really caught fire yet.  People are still reporting to their "training sessions" and haven't been showing notable defiance.  But the Fists are running a remarkably pervasive campaign of indoctrination, and it has certainly not been taking hold as they might have expected.  So far Trav hasn't noticed any cracks in the Fists' serene facade, but there's a sense that they don't quite understand why things aren't working.

Most of Zheng Ru's people have gone underground, dispersing into the population where Smoke Alarm has identified places they can help.  For the most part they haven't been hiding who they are, just remaining out of sight.  (One exception is a young man named Wing Say.  On his trip back to Arsuran, Wing Say had a rummage through the TARDIS wardrobe and came out with a "disguise" of a double-breasted pinstriped suit and a natty blue trilby.  Ru's utter lack of comment was eloquent.)

It also seems that the TAROT is out there and actively trying to pin Trav down, but thus far has not been able to do it.  Trav doesn't get a very easy feeling on that front: she knows the power that's wrapped up in the Time War weapon, and thus far it hasn't been unleashed.  Is that because its user is holding back out of a sense of restraint?  Is it because they don't quite know how to fully tap the capabilities at their disposal?  It's hard to say.

Here are the counters to your rolls, for the record:

The Guardian, for the NPC The Fist Campaign, rolled 17 using 2d6+11 with rolls of 1,5. Indoctrination: Presence(5) + Convince(4) + Voice of Authority (2).

 The Guardian, for the NPC The TAROT User, rolled 19 using 2d6+15 with rolls of 3,1. Pinning Down Trav's Location: Ingenuity(5) + Technology(6) + Technically Adept(2) + TAROT(2)
The Guardian
GM, 202 posts
Wed 19 Feb 2014
at 03:35
  • msg #114

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Well, sir, all I know at this point is that the Fists marked out the area with some warning barricades they picked up from somewhere, maybe a street maintenance depot.  I heard that if they catch you inside the perimeter, they pack you off into the Justice Center."

Sereth, any other thoughts about scoping out the spaceport?  Were you going to go yourself, and if so were you taking Gilso?  What about time of day or other measures you want to take before I put you at the scene?
Sereth
player, 120 posts
Wed 19 Feb 2014
at 03:54
  • msg #115

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Okay, let me think about precautions. Unless he's going to take it as a serious lack of trust; I'd rather leave Gilso out of it; try to sell it as 'someone needs to tell the others if I get caught'. I'm reading that time of day doesn't affect the punishment; but there may be more guards at night. Regardless; unless the punishment for being caught is worse at night, I'll go at night.

As much checking out on the 'legal' side of the barricades as I can though; and leave instructions that if I'm not back by a certain time; Gilso can probably assume I've been caught; and -not- to mount any kind of rescue mission.
Smoke Alarm
player, 220 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Wed 19 Feb 2014
at 03:59
  • msg #116

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm was actually surprisingly unwilling to play try-ball, and had to be coaxed into it by Fadreen. The Kangs had few rules, but those they did have always came with the chant. 'No ball-games, no fly-posts, no... ball-games.' Smoke Alarm had said to Fadreen. Even now, she made a desultory and unenthusiastic effort, holding the ball as if it would explode. It was really unfun. She kept expecting something terrible to happen.

So naturally the Fists arrived. No ball-games.

She'd taught her students that they should focus more on the game when Fists were watching closely, and less on the martial aspects. So the try-ball game shifted back to a regular ball-game, with less dodge-ball, but it was Smoke's own superstition that risked foiling it, with her keeping one eyespy on the Fists.

Smoke jumped and caught the ball, then decided to hold up the game. Maybe that would break the Fists attention. 'Which one do I throw it at?' she asked the others.


OOC:
11:43, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 14 using 2d6+10 with rolls of 3,1. coordination + subterfuge +KF.
So close. I'll spend a Story Point and bump that to a success.
The Traveller
player, 206 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 19 Feb 2014
at 12:10
  • msg #117

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
<quote The Traveller>
09:45, Today: The Traveller rolled 24 using 4d6+9 with rolls of 4,4,5,2. Trav's media-Pre+Convince+Indomnitable+Amanda+SP.
09:43, Today: The Traveller rolled 27 using 2d6+16 with rolls of 6,5. Trav sets up net, Ingenuity+Tech+Sonic.
<quote The Guardian>
Most of Zheng Ru's people have gone underground, dispersing into the population where Smoke Alarm has identified places they can help.  For the most part they haven't been hiding who they are, just remaining out of sight.  (One exception is a young man named Wing Say.  On his trip back to Arsuran, Wing Say had a rummage through the TARDIS wardrobe and came out with a "disguise" of a double-breasted pinstriped suit and a natty blue trilby.  Ru's utter lack of comment was eloquent.)


Trav claps in delight - that was one of Al Capone's old suits. "Oh, you look so sharp, Wing!" This is as she uses her sonic to clean him of Artron energy (something she does to everyone who leaves the TARDIS) and give him last minute tailoring.

The Guardian:
It also seems that the TAROT is out there and actively trying to pin Trav down, but thus far has not been able to do it.  Trav doesn't get a very easy feeling on that front: she knows the power that's wrapped up in the Time War weapon, and thus far it hasn't been unleashed.  Is that because its user is holding back out of a sense of restraint?  Is it because they don't quite know how to fully tap the capabilities at their disposal?  It's hard to say.



The TARDIS console makes some dings and weird sounds. "Oh oh oh! There it is!" She runs around the console like a madwoman, throwing levers and smiling. "Hah hah hah! Good, good! Now, now, we're having our conversation!"  This is exactly what she wants - she knows she could end this right now. "Chibi, get those readings. Good girl! Yeah, yeah, try to find me, you slow poke. The Seneschal and his type 102 couldn't! Good, I have your attention." TARDIS console groans and shifts, as the time rotor goes up and down. Whoever the TAROT user was might have one of the mightiest weapons of the Time War, but she was The Traveller, the last Time Lord, and had been walking the time ways for centuries. Also, her TARDIS was her best beloved partner of forever and a day, a partnership forged in eternity. She drops into the Time Vortex a snippet of old Gallifrey text, a packet that will float on the waves of time It's your partner, not a weapon. I taught you better than that. Call me when you're ready to explain yourself.

Now, having provoked a reaction, and gotten a reading, she plops back into beaten up dentist's chair. "Ah. Chi Sao, Sifu, Chi Sao. Now, it's in his court, Let's see his answer." This is as she starts working on a wrapper program, that includes her own biometric data, some high level Matrix code, and high level compression, to be loaded into one of her code charges for her turbopistols.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:13, Wed 19 Feb 2014.
Stanley Newton
player, 59 posts
Thu 20 Feb 2014
at 01:25
  • msg #118

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to The Guardian (msg # 111):

"Let's get started." Stanley says to Nadia as he begins to examine the patients. First a quick round to determine who needed their attention more urgently. "Urgently" might not be the right word because from the looks of it, it didn't seem like any of them would die without immediate medical attention. Stan briefly discusses the situation with Nadia. "Nothing too complicated among the ones I checked. So Nadia, maybe you could start with that guard over there, the one with the heavy bruising. I'll start over here."

There's something weird, something familiar about the current situation but Stanley can't quite put his finger on it. After having treated a few inmates and guards he decides to try and learn some information about the incident. "So what happened?" he asks one of the inmates as he is treating a dislocated shoulder. "Obviously a fight but... the next bit shouldn't really hurt, so tell me if it does."

OoC:
I wonder what that funny feeling is...
Today: Stanley Newton rolled 16 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 1,6. Awareness(4) + Presence(3) + Hypnosis(2).
Trying to get the inmate to talk about the fight. (Not torturing people for information so not using medicine :))
Today: Stanley Newton rolled 15 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 3,5. Presence (3)+ Convince(2) + Empathic(2).

The Guardian
GM, 205 posts
Thu 20 Feb 2014
at 02:51
  • msg #119

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Fists stop and watch Smoke Alarm and the others curiously for a moment.  One of them walks over.  She studies Smoke Alarm's clothing and her dog-tooth necklace.  "Aren't you getting to be a bit old for dressing up in play-clothes, young woman?" she asks.  "Remember, ornament is nothing but clutter that distracts a focused mind."

She shrugs.  "Never mind, girl.  One can't expect people to change their ways of thinking and acting overnight.  Just be wary of who you associate with.  There are persons at work on this world who would lead you away from the path to fulfillment, and I fear they will come to no good end."

The woman focuses on Smoke Alarm for several long moments, and Smoke has the creepy-crawly feeling that she's being memorized.  At last the Fist says, "Carry on.  Remember, curfew is at nineteen hundred."
The Guardian
GM, 206 posts
Thu 20 Feb 2014
at 03:31
  • msg #120

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Sereth: there is a curfew, but from what you have gathered the Fists don't impose a particularly harsh penalty unless they come across repeat violators.  The spaceport itself is just plain off limits, and the repercussions of poking around are likely to be the same day or night.

If somehow you got apprehended, you do have your diplomatic credentials available to you.  Though it might get tricky to explain how you ended up on Arsuran if you got matched up with Aylos Shel's encounter of you.

The arc of the ring where the spaceport is located has turned into shadow as Sereth approaches the area.  The landing facilities are separated from the surrounding business district by double-width streets, normally bustling with traffic in and out of the port, but deserted now that night has fallen, and it's these thoroughfares that are now lined with traffic barriers in banded red and yellow.

The spaceport itself covers a good amount of territory, a square area over a kilometer on a side.  In design it's a lot like an old-style sports stadium: central area open to the sky (and in this case, subdivided into berthing lots under retractable awnings), surrounded by a multi-level open structure of walkways leading to and from the docking bays, with a number of customs and commercial facilities adjoining the walkways.  The outer structure is not highly secured: the walkways are open to the exterior.

Under normal circumstances there are powerful lights that keep the landing area and the walkways well lit, allowing for landings and takeoffs at all times of Arsuran's daily cycle.  The lighting is now at about a quarter of what Sereth remembers: enough that it's not difficult to move around safely, but low enough that there are plenty of shadows in unused areas.

As Sereth watches from his hiding place, he sees three-person Fist patrols traversing the walkways and walking a circuit of the port.  There are not so many that they would make it very difficult for a trained warrior to infiltrate the complex, but it probably would be quite hard to slip a large group of civilians past them.

From where he is, Sereth can't get a good look at the ships actually docked within the spaceport.  Gilso gave him a docking port number, but Sereth only knows that it's supposed to be on the "west" or "trailing" side of the port.

(Directions on the ring are "spinward", towards the direction of spin, "trailing", or opposite of spinward, "sunward" and "starward" according to the positioning of these bodies relative to the ring surface.  For convenience these are also called "east", "west", "north" and "south" respectively.)

What I have in mind to let you try here is to create for yourself a bonus to be used in formulating a plan or carrying out an escape.  This involves making an Awareness + Fighting roll. (Subterfuge is probably more appropriate but I have no problem with Sereth approaching the problem according to his strengths.)  You can get a +2 bonus for a basic success, a +4 for a Good success, and a +6 for a Fantastic success.

Your target number is based on how good an observation you can make, as determined by how close in you want to scout.  From here the difficulty is Hard (18).  If you can get inside the facility and get a look around this will drop, potentially down to Normal (12), but that will involve getting past some of the Fists, of course.

Or you can let me know what else you have in mind to do and we'll proceed accordingly.
Smoke Alarm
player, 222 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Thu 20 Feb 2014
at 03:42
  • msg #121

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm outlooked down at her icehot Kang clothes. 'But this is high fabshion...' she complained. The Fist yada-ed on as Smoke stared blankly, growing annoyed at the caretaker's criticisms. They'd trained enough. Maybe it was time to start a to-do.

She started footing after the Fists, away from the try-ball court and putting some space between herself and Fadreen and the others. She didn't want them caught up in this. 'No flyposts, no ornamentals, no clutters. Only blank walls and cleaners? Empty rooms?' she asked, more curiously than anything else. She planned to show them just what an unfocused mind could do...
The Guardian
GM, 207 posts
Thu 20 Feb 2014
at 03:51
  • msg #122

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The inmate Stanley is talking to says his name is Harlan.  After talking to him for a while, Stanley gets the impression that Harlan isn't really much of a hard case, although there are some people being detained here that do have the look of bona fide criminals.

"They had us here since they invaded, you see," Harlan tells him.  "They picked me up basically because I got together with some of the other people on my block and tried to fight when the first Fists came into the neighborhood.  I mean, a guy's got a right to defend his home, doesn't he?

"So I don't know what I expected when I got brought in here.  Locked up in a cell until I rotted or they figured out something better to do with us, I guess.  That wasn't quite it.  They put us in these classes every day, made us work out and memorize these prayers or philosophy lessons or something.

"Except... well, some of the people here weren't too happy with doing that.  They talked.  Eventually they talked some of us into trying to break out of here, and I gotta tell you, it just might be the dumbest thing I ever did.  These guys are fighters; they move like greased lightning and they put you down fast."

As Harlan talks, Stanley's odd sensation finally clicks for him.  There's been a slight rhythm in his head and his body that comes and goes: sometimes a pressure, sometimes a sound on the edge of hearing.  And he recognizes the pattern that he uncovered from the Journey of Mind.  Yet it's more than that -- it also feels like the peculiar sensation of peace that he can remember from a few times in the TARDIS, when the ship is not flying and Trav is giving them all a chance to rest and catch up with themselves.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:17, Thu 20 Feb 2014.
Sereth
player, 121 posts
Thu 20 Feb 2014
at 04:10
  • msg #123

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

For now; Sereth stayed on the edges; but he would most likely scout in closer unless he got some amazing success from where he was now. He did need to know how much attention the guards were paying; and he wanted a good idea as to whether there were many more guards at night than day. Given the odds Gilso had described, he had no desire to fight the Fists if it's possible to avoid that.


OOC: Using a story point; 4d6 +6. 15:09, Today: Sereth rolled 19 using 4d6+6 with rolls of 4,4,4,1. Fighting + Awareness + story point.
The Guardian
GM, 208 posts
Thu 20 Feb 2014
at 04:16
  • msg #124

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Zheng Ru comes back into the console room after having been absent for a time.  Apparently he's found his way to his old quarters, wherever the TARDIS had stashed them for the last few centuries, because he's carrying a rolled prayer mat that Trav remembers them picking up when she took him to meet Sun Yat-sen.  Zheng Ru unrolls the mat in an unoccupied nook of the console room and settles onto it, then, incongruously, takes out his phone and starts quietly getting reports from his acolytes.

Suddenly, the time rotor groans and oscillates up and down a couple of times, and a pattern of lights plays briefly over the console.  Zheng Ru looks up.  Trav quickly spots that the TARDIS has picked up an answer -- another bottled message picked up from the Time Vortex like the one she set adrift.

Before she can respond to it, the sound system crackles to life and a voice reverberates around the control room.  The message seems to have had enough internal intelligence to interface with the TARDIS communication system.

"What you taught me?"  The voice is unfamiliar.  It's male, tenor, and has a bitter edge to it.  "You taught me nothing before they came for me.  I had to work it all out for myself."

Ru gets to his feet in one fluid motion.  "Traveller?" he says.
The Guardian
GM, 209 posts
Thu 20 Feb 2014
at 04:22
  • msg #125

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Sereth:
Using a story point; 4d6 +6. 15:09, Today: Sereth rolled 19 using 4d6+6 with rolls of 4,4,4,1. Fighting + Awareness + story point.

OK.  I should have clarified, but I figure you worked it out: observing from where you are is perfectly safe.  You can take that result and save it as a +2 you can use in negotiating with Magady Bosh as well as further actions in actually trying to move others into the spaceport.  Or you can push your luck, either now or after consulting with other PCs or NPCs.
Sereth
player, 122 posts
Thu 20 Feb 2014
at 04:29
  • msg #126

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

He had some information; but he wasn't sure he had enough to try to get a whole group of civilians into the spaceport. He moved slowly in, his eyes open for Fists.

OOC: Fortune favors the brave? Let's hope. He'll push his luck; but will try to avoid actually engaging the Fists except as a last resort.
The Traveller
player, 207 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 20 Feb 2014
at 04:56
  • msg #127

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
"What you taught me?"  The voice is unfamiliar.  It's male, tenor, and has a bitter edge to it.  "You taught me nothing before they came for me.  I had to work it all out for myself."

Ru gets to his feet in one fluid motion.  "Traveller?" he says.


Trav hops up. She turns the screen to her, reads, and frowns. She considers for a long moment, and then places her hands over two hemispheres on the panel.

Maybe that's true, and I'm mistaken. But you sound terrified. Show me what you're afraid of, this beast. I want to help. When and where? Another bottle of code is sent adrift.

She starts running security checks again. She sits back in the torn up recliner, rubbing her eyes. "His name was Phillipe, Ru - he was the boy I lost."  Especially stinging is when he said they. Burning in her mind was the last years of her second incarnation, in the hands of the Daleks. They turned her into something horrible, terrifying. The same thing may have happened to Phillipe. Her roaring hatred of the Daleks comes up for a moment, but she lets it drain away. They were dead now, all of them. It gives her no satisfaction, however, just a bitter, empty ache.

She hops up, and trots over to her gun cabinet.  She reaches behind it, and gets out a beat up wallet, with an ID.

"Ru, I never told you about the burden of the Time Lord, did I? When I was in this other universe, the one with magic, I met another Time Lord, from an alternate reality where I had never been born and where he had been the last survivor of his Time War. He was called the Artificer. He had worked with honest to god magicians to figure out a way to use a combination of magical energy and time lord science to create an constantly compounding zone of temporal paradoxes, where anything was possible. Another agency was keeping this tamped down. Of course, I could see that if this flow of paradox-defying magic energy was every cut off, it could be enough to temporally annihilate the planet this was all on. He offered for me and my group to join him, and shed the burden of being a Time Lord. I told him to go fuck himself. I also became briefly a future self of mine with purple hair. That was pretty hilarious."

She looks at Phillipe's driver's license. "My roundabout point is that I *must* allow history to unfold as naturally as possible. The Doctor and I sometimes disagreed on this. He would occasionally fuck around with history for the 'greater good' or sometimes just to rescue people. Me? I've always regard changing people's history as something akin to rape. It's the ultimate theft of agency, changing someone's past. That's my issue with Phillipe. If our opponent is indeed him, I need to figure out a way to resolve this situation, but to also keep history intact. Phillipe needs to become Fortuna, who needs to become Evers. Safeguarding everyone's history is what the Time Lords did for so long. If people don't have meaningful choices, if some time traveller can simply rearrange their history, then they're not... people any more. They're made into phantoms. People aren't objects, Ru. They have a right to their history and their choices. Phillipe has a right to his, all throughout his various lives. If my people did any kind of good, before the War, it was this."

She sighs as she looks at the license. "Do you understand what I mean, what the burden of a Time Lord is? I can't take the easy way out on this. I won't. It was the one line I never crossed as the Marshall, until Rassilon *made* me. Ugh."

"We can go back. To his beginning. But the more I learn, the more I will be tempted to intervene, to try to prevent what *must* happen to him. Do you understand?"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:29, Thu 20 Feb 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 211 posts
Fri 21 Feb 2014
at 02:08
  • msg #128

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Sereth waits for a break in the Fists' patrol pattern, then crosses the street onto the spaceport grounds.  He finds a spot where he can boost himself over a concrete barrier onto a walkway and into the main structure.

The walkways have big sloped ramps that allow one to ascend or descend through the structure, although Sereth knows there are also elevators here and there.

As Sereth circles toward the west side of the spaceport, he can now get a better look into the central docking area.  As noted, the big banks of arc lighting are dimmed from normal operation, but he can see that the spaceport is less than half full, and most of the ships that he can make out are the small interceptors the Fists have been using, a lesser number of large transport ships, and then a scattering of other vessels, probably private ships being held under impound like Magady Bosh's.

Sereth moves quietly past darkened offices and locked-down maintenance facilities.  Then he hears a set of footsteps approaching, probably a patrol moving counterclockwise on the walkway where he has been moving clockwise.

I've rolled Awareness(4) + Subterfuge(2) for the Fists to give you a target depending on your action.

The Guardian, for the NPC Fists, rolled 14 using 2d6+6

If you just intend to try and hide, you can roll Coordination + Subterfuge and add the +2 you already have.  Otherwise make a roll according to what you decide to do.

It would also be good if your narration indicated more of what you might be looking for inside the spaceport, apart from narrowing down the location of Bosh's ship.
Zheng Ru
NPC, 9 posts
Fri 21 Feb 2014
at 02:31
  • msg #129

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Zheng Ru looks at Trav, and she can tell her old friend is thinking hard about the fears she has described.

"I think you are right to be cautious with the lives and the unwritten futures of the people you meet and encounter," Ru says.  "Pasts and futures are connected in us all, of course.  But as I've always said, Traveller, you are privileged and burdened with the ability to move back and forth along the wheel of a person's life.  Do you know all of the places where you have crossed with this Phillipe's?  Because it might be that there ways and places where which your hand has yet to rest upon the wheel of this young man's life, that are the very turnings that will shape him into the other selves you have met."

He takes a deep breath.  "In any case, it is often true that to be able to serve a person as teacher, you must first make a study of them.  If you are worried about the effect of guiding and shaping a person at too many points along their life... perhaps another hand might do so more safely?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:32, Fri 21 Feb 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 212 posts
Fri 21 Feb 2014
at 02:50
  • msg #130

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Fist who delivered the little lecture to Smoke Alarm looks back in surprise as she sees the Kang hurrying after her and her fellow Fists.

"The question," says the Fist, "is what the purpose of life, community, civilization really are.  First and foremost they must be organized to put food in a person's belly, to see hurts eased, to see all defended against forces that would refuse to live in harmony.  When all have found serenity as individuals, there will be peace."

She points at a half-dismantled billboard that now shows part of a gaudy colored picture of a fly-car.  "Take that, for instance.  It's a message for instilling want and for making people unhappy about a thing they do not have; underneath that, it preaches a way of life that relies on every person struggling against every other to 'get ahead', to compete for unneeded possessions.  Many people, whole worlds, let that struggle escape the control of their inner discipline.  When that happens, people will war against people to sate their wants, and in the grinding friction that results, people suffer hurts they did not need to, people are divided from the ones that support and love them, children from parents, friends from friends."

The Fist shakes her head.  "I know I say this as a person who has herself brought harm and suffering down to this world, and I would not blame you for blaming us.  We have done so in pursuit of a society where people are freed from these things, but that does not excuse us.  It is simply necessary."
The Traveller
player, 208 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 21 Feb 2014
at 16:46
  • msg #131

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Zheng Ru:
Zheng Ru looks at Trav, and she can tell her old friend is thinking hard about the fears she has described.

"I think you are right to be cautious with the lives and the unwritten futures of the people you meet and encounter," Ru says.  "Pasts and futures are connected in us all, of course.  But as I've always said, Traveller, you are privileged and burdened with the ability to move back and forth along the wheel of a person's life.  Do you know all of the places where you have crossed with this Phillipe's?  Because it might be that there ways and places where which your hand has yet to rest upon the wheel of this young man's life, that are the very turnings that will shape him into the other selves you have met."

He takes a deep breath.  "In any case, it is often true that to be able to serve a person as teacher, you must first make a study of them.  If you are worried about the effect of guiding and shaping a person at too many points along their life... perhaps another hand might do so more safely?"


She looks up sadly at Ru from her seat. 800 years are plain on her face. "I destroyed worlds and   made people quake in terror at my name, Ru. I don't want to ever be that way again. I become my own worst nightmare," she says, stretching. "And dealing with someone who lives in a different chronological order than you can be very complicated."

"Funny thing is, I fell in love with that kid when I met, and fell in love with him again when I met him as Evers, and then Fortuna. I just want to do right by him. So, we will go to where he starts, and continue from there. Are you suggesting that you might want to help deal with this kid, who might be the 1st successor to the Time Lords? I also need to find out the mystery of him. Who made his DNA? Whoever they were, they were my equal. I've done my share of genetic tampering as a bad guy and that was brilliant work. There are only a few people I know of who could have integrated the Rassilon imprimatur into his genome, and they're all dead. Genetics of that elegance would make even Davros or Zor of Tyrol envious."

She stands and walks over to the control panel. "Gotta focus on the present, however. Time for updates." She taps in a few text messages, asking everyone for updates, and checking on their statuses via superphone, while looking for a safe, hidden TARDIS landing spot.
The Traveller
player, 209 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 21 Feb 2014
at 19:05
  • msg #132

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav send a text to Smoke Alarm - "Hey Smoke, whitehot tag for spraypaints - WHO ELECTED YOU? What u think?"
Stanley Newton
player, 60 posts
Fri 21 Feb 2014
at 23:54
  • msg #133

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to The Guardian (msg # 122):

Stanley realises that being able to notice that pattern must mean that there is one of those mind-control devices nearby. But where? He knows that he doesn't have long before he has to move to the next patient, so he quickly ask Harlan about it. "Have you seen or heard anything about a blue sphere on a pedestal or something like that?"
Zheng Ru
NPC, 10 posts
Sat 22 Feb 2014
at 03:01
  • msg #134

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Traveller:
"Funny thing is, I fell in love with that kid when I met, and fell in love with him again when I met him as Evers, and then Fortuna. I just want to do right by him. So, we will go to where he starts, and continue from there. Are you suggesting that you might want to help deal with this kid, who might be the 1st successor to the Time Lords?"

Ru gives his familiar slight smile at the question Trav leaves hanging.

"I will always be happy to give you my advice and what other gifts I can contribute in the work you set for yourself.  I think each one of us needs to deal with the ghosts we leave behind -- in time, as you say."

Go not to a Shaolin master for counsel, for he will say both no and yes. :)
The Guardian
GM, 213 posts
Sat 22 Feb 2014
at 03:09
  • msg #135

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Harlan's eyes widen at the question Stanley asks him.  His glance darts left and right, checking to see if any Fists are likely to overhear, and he drops his voice when he answers.

"Inside," he says, nodding at the main building.  "There's what used to be an auditorium before they put it off limits.  I only ever got a look at what they were doing in there once, but there was a machine just like you said."

He hesitates, then adds, "There's a guy who has been working on it -- I think he's with the Fists but he might not be one of them, 'cos he hasn't gone the shaved head route.  So he kind of stands out."  Harlan frowns at Stanley.  "Why?  What is it?  Are they going to, I dunno, do something to us?"
Smoke Alarm
player, 226 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Sat 22 Feb 2014
at 03:44
  • msg #136

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm was thrown off her track, not really expecting the Fist lady to get so talky with her and to change the subject. It took her a while to process her words, and she lacked the fancy words to say back. She frowned. 'All that to-do for a sky-car? Peoples make wars for shinier sky-cars?' She thought she understood. Sometimes Kangs squabbled over toys and shinies, they played their games and won food and tools from each other. But not so much to leave one team hungry. Then they played the game again. She exclaimed 'Oh, like the Fists made war for shiny Arsuran! The Fists wanted a shiny new world and towers and people and sky-cars, and then came and took it with their sky-flies and slosions that made people unalive!'

'Why not just ask us? Come-in with open hands, not Fists. We could have shared the towers and the sky-cars. Sharing is good. Taking is bad.'


OOC: Sorry, had a busy day and a birthday (mine, unfortunately).
This message was last edited by the player at 03:52, Sat 22 Feb 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 214 posts
Sat 22 Feb 2014
at 04:16
  • msg #137

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The trio of Fists have stopped now, and the woman talking to Smoke Alarm actually looks uncomfortable at the turn of talk -- not exactly angry, but troubled.  "There is more going on here than that," she says.  "We don't want these things, and that's not why we came.  For a long, long time, 'asking' was all we did, and it wasn't asking for things.  We asked people to hear what we had to tell them about living responsibly.  But then we discovered, we foresaw, that war on a huge scale was going to come to the galaxy whether its people were ready for it or not.  We'd run out of the time we had for asking.  We... I have to believe that making people ready for what's coming will be for the good in the long run, even with all the harm we've done."

"Disciplant..." says one of the other Fists.  "We don't have time for this.  We've got our circuit to finish."

The uncertainty on the disciplant's face is surprising to Smoke Alarm, who is used to them being uniformly scowly and unfun.

Smoke, you have a shot at making some ideological headway with this Fist, although it may not be your specialty.

The Guardian, for the NPC Conflicted Fist, rolled 14 using 2d6+8.  (Crisis of Conscience: Presence(4) + Resolve(4))
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:34, Sat 22 Feb 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 227 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Sat 22 Feb 2014
at 04:58
  • msg #138

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Sensing she was getting somewhere with this Fist lady, Smoke Alarm pressed on. 'What's outcoming? Why not be talky and tell us? People can't be ready-steady if you don't tell them what to be ready-steady for. We can't work together to stop it if you don't give us the know-how and the choosing, if you make as all the same.'

'What's the to-do? What is this big meanie-head war that's outcoming?' she demanded, then thought she realised the answer. Maybe not the answer, but the best answer right now, the answer she needed. 'Is it this big war, the big war you've brought to us? Are the Fists the something outcoming? Should we have been ready-steady for you?'


OOC: A Kang arguing politics? So not my speciality. I added Brave, since Smoke is really standing up to the Fists here. My Convince skill is 0, unfortunately.
12:55, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 8 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 3,1. presence + Brave.
This is a neat enough moment that I'll spend 2 story points or however many are needed to bump it up to a Success.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:25, Mon 24 Feb 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 215 posts
Sat 22 Feb 2014
at 06:08
  • msg #139

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Two points is the right number since you're at -6.

I know I keep dropping people into non-optimal situations and the DWAITAS rules are not real forgiving to that.  I do encourage people to throw Story Points into their rolls preemptively for extra dice.  I'll try to do a better job of giving points back for appropriate things.  For that matter, if anyone sees their fellow PCs doing something that seems SP-worthy, do speak up.

The Disciplant's expression softens.  "No," she says patiently, "it's not this war.  It's the vision that we've all had and that we're trying to teach you to see...."

The second Fist repeats, "Disciplant," and puts a hand on her shoulder.

She looks at him, looks back at Smoke Alarm.  "Fist Treson.  You forget yourself."  She bursts into a flurry of motion that Smoke Alarm barely follows, that ends with "Treson" flung a few yards away from her.  She glares at him, glances again at Smoke Alarm.  "Come," she snaps at the First.  "We're going."  Then she starts off up the sidewalk at a brisk pace.  Treson gives Smoke Alarm another look himself, and then he and the other Fist hurry after their leader.

Smoke Alarm stands blinking, wondering why the lady Fist stopped talking when it seemed like she was just about to start.  Then she catches sight of something that fell to the ground in the brief struggle.  It's a little rectangle of silver metal; on one side there's a shimmery pattern with an image of the lady Fist (Smoke Alarm thinks it's something called a "hollow gram") and some engraved words: DISCIPLANT ERYSK SEVEST 32342XJ52A.  Smoke Alarm is pretty sure the last string of numbers matches up with the pattern of talkiphone codes that the local system uses.
Smoke Alarm
player, 228 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Sat 22 Feb 2014
at 09:20
  • msg #140

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

So, they had to eyespy a "vision" to know-why the Fists were doing all this and attacking people and making them unalive. Smoke guessed it wasn't a shiny divvy-dee for a picturespout. She was about to ask when the Fists had a to-do. Smoke Alarm was shocked to eyespy the girl Fist grab and throw the boy Fist, and tried not to smile for seeing them fighting each other. She bit her lip. Though she'd only planned to annoy them until they chased her, this was good too. Maybe they could just start to-dos between the Fists and make them fight and chase each other? Traveller's sayings and viddies were yawny and talky, but maybe the Fists would be bothered by them. 'Build high for happiness!' she called after them.

Eyespying the eye-dee card, Smoke Alarm quickly crouched, grabbed it and poked it up her sleeve, then fiddled with her shoelaces in case the Fists outlooked back at her. She turned back towards Fadreen and friends, examining her prize. It could be important; Traveller might have an idea for it. Lost and found. Pocketing it, she pulled out her talkiphone, finding a message from Traveller. She quickly texted a response; her Kang-txt was a little easier to read after some discussion and an auto-correct option, and she'd picked up some words from Traveller's viddies.
Smoke Alarm's text:
Icehot wallscrawl. OK.

I-spied Fists fighted Fists. Icehot! :) Lost-and-found Fist ID card. Fist lady mayhaps simpafetik.

BHFH!


She drifted back to Fadreen, Betsa, and Sanford, who'd been left waiting uncertainly, and the unfun try-ball game. No ball-games. It had been a close thing.
Stanley Newton
player, 61 posts
Sat 22 Feb 2014
at 23:11
  • msg #141

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to The Guardian (msg # 135):

So the device was located inside the auditorium. Stanley waits for a moment before answering Harlan, wondering how much he should tell. He decides to not tell him much. "Just be careful around that thing, or better, stay away from it if you can. I don't really know what it is, but it isn't good....."  "And we're done here."

Stanley quickly gets up and walks over to Nadia. "Nadia, can I have a word? It's about that globular protein we discussed earlier. "
The Guardian
GM, 217 posts
Sat 22 Feb 2014
at 23:28
  • msg #142

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Nadia, to her credit, doesn't bat an eye or give any tell-tale reaction to look for Fists nearby.

"Ye-e-s," she says slowly.  "You've had a positive diagnosis then, Stanley?  Or are further tests indicated?"
Sereth
player, 125 posts
Sun 23 Feb 2014
at 22:48
  • msg #143

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Sereth snuck around, his primary objective was of course to find Bosh's ship; but he was also interested in any clear patterns the Fists had. If they patrolled in very rigid patterns, it might be easier to get the group past them; as opposed to if it was somewhat random; especially given most of those he wished to get out were civilians; not sneaky types or soldiers.

OOC: Us9ing story point to get to the required number.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:12, Mon 24 Feb 2014.
The Traveller
player, 210 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 24 Feb 2014
at 03:42
  • msg #144

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to Smoke Alarm (msg # 140):

Trav texts back:

Oh girl you RAWK. Put the identicard in front of the talkiphone eye pls? Fist who can be made a friend? Brave and bold as a Kang should be! BHFH! Great work. I'll bake you a cake!

Luv,
Trav
The Guardian
GM, 219 posts
Mon 24 Feb 2014
at 06:28
  • msg #145

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Sereth isn't sure if it was the shadows inside the half-lit spaceport or maybe the acoustics; what he does know is that he barely gets himself behind a concrete pillar before the Fists come past.  They actually stop in his field of vision and take a brief look around.

"Did you hear that?"

"Hmm.  No.  I thought... but there's nothing now."

One of them actually looks right into the darkness where Sereth has secreted himself... and his gaze tracks right on past without stopping, and the Fists shrug and move on.

Sereth is able to find the route to Bosh's ship without further incident, although he's rapidly coming to the conclusion that infiltration might be a task better suited to those more talented in the indirect approach to problems.  Fortunately, the Fists don't seem to be particularly expert in managing a security operation, either; they appear to be relying more on their individual ability than a well-planned security scheme.

You can repeat your Awareness + Fighting check; you get the +2 you originally earned and your target is a 12 now.
Smoke Alarm
player, 231 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Mon 24 Feb 2014
at 06:28
  • msg #146

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm held the eye-dee card over the talkiphone's picture-taker eye, then attached it to her next text message.
Smoke Alarm:
Dizzy-plant Erysk Sevest + talkiphon no. We got talky bout Fist rules + plans and I made her unbold. Other Fist came-in to stop us, and Erysk started a to-do. She bundled up teh Fist and thru him liek rubbish! They make exits. Mayhaps Erysk talky more and ear-out to Arsuran rebels?

I'm playing a yawny try-ball-game. :( I want to outgo wallscrawl! :)

Cake! :D No sprinkles plz.

BHFH
Smoek Alarm


Footing back to the try-ball court, Smoke Alarm stared at the meanie-head ball in Fadreen's hands. 'I'm not playing. Ball-games are dumb and yawny.' she said sulkily, then looked around her new friends. Betsa and Sanford were new and getting the knowhow, but Fadreen had the most knowhow of Kang Fu. Mayhaps she was ready-steady to join Smoke Alarm on a run. Mayhaps it was time for Arsuran to show what it felt about the Fists. Brave and bold as a Kang should be. 'No more ball-games. We have things to-do. I'm outgoing wallscrawling! Do you want to come with?' Smoke Alarm could do it alone, but wouldn't mind an outlook.
The Guardian
GM, 220 posts
Mon 24 Feb 2014
at 12:56
  • msg #147

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Fadreen turns and tilts her head to look at Smoke Alarm, and her eyes widen.  Smoke has noticed that the Draconian's body language, like the rest of her family and like Sereth, is just a little bit off: she tends to move head and shoulders and keep her arms close to her body.  Maybe this comes from being a sort of lizard-person instead of a monkey-person.

"Wallscrawling?" she says, a little bit breathless.  "What's that exactly?  If it's part of learning how to be a Blue Kang, I'm in."  She smiles.  "I'm told that Blue Kangs are best!"
Smoke Alarm
player, 232 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Mon 24 Feb 2014
at 14:20
  • msg #148

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

That was all it took to set her off. 'Blue Kangs, Blue Kangs, Blue Kangs are best!' Smoke Alarm cheered in triumph, both for her wallscrawling run and for finding a new Kang! She grabbed Fadreen's scaly claw-hands. 'Wear dark clothes, bring paints and pens, and meet me after lights-out curfew. We're outgoing to make some art!'
Sereth
player, 126 posts
Mon 24 Feb 2014
at 21:25
  • msg #149

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Well, not doing a secure operation could help them; but he wished right now it was Smoke Alarm. Having gotten all the intel he expected to get with -his- skill set; he returned to where he was staying.

OOC: I'm not actually sure Sereth would have a mobile phone; but he probably has some kind of communications device. HOw discreet would it be, and would he be able to contact Trav with it; or does he need to find Smoke to do that?

08:22, Today: Sereth rolled 13 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 1,4. Awareness + fighting + 2.
The Traveller
player, 211 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 24 Feb 2014
at 21:57
  • msg #150

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Sereth:
Well, not doing a secure operation could help them; but he wished right now it was Smoke Alarm. Having gotten all the intel he expected to get with -his- skill set; he returned to where he was staying.

OOC: I'm not actually sure Sereth would have a mobile phone; but he probably has some kind of communications device. HOw discreet would it be, and would he be able to contact Trav with it; or does he need to find Smoke to do that?

08:22, Today: Sereth rolled 13 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 1,4. Awareness + fighting + 2.


OOC: Trav has made everyone's devices into superphones, so that you can communicate with any other member of the group and with the TARDIS at will, across time and space! You can even make reports to the Draconian Emperor, because the phone calls across time and space.

Trav pings Sereth's communications device. As she brings the TARDIS in for a hidden landing, she checks the scanner, to locate her various companions as they are scattered across Arsuran Prime orbital.
The Guardian
GM, 221 posts
Tue 25 Feb 2014
at 02:36
  • msg #151

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

OOC: Smoke, you should go ahead and set the scene for your vandalism free-spirited political expression.

All of the characters are operating in a non-synchronous manner until you agree that you are in sync.  In particular, I want to see what Stanley does in his thread before Trav catches up to him.
Smoke Alarm
player, 234 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Tue 25 Feb 2014
at 05:48
  • msg #152

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

After giving Fadreen some know-how, Smoke Alarm met back up with her again after lights-out and curfew at 19:00 ticktocks, at a location not far from her father's store. Together they footed it down unseen alleys and streets, and sometimes down into the sewers and basement carrydoors, with Smoke Alarm showing Fadreen a number of places to hide and unseen ways to track back home. Steadily, they were outgoing to the city centre, to great big Detranzed Square, the wobbly tower, and the big woman statue. Lots of things to wallscrawl around there, and lots of people would eyespy it the next day.

Smoke Alarm found a suitable hide-in for Fadreen, one that gave her a good outlook of the square while keeping her unseen. She spoke, keeping her voice low 'Now you keep outlook here. If you eyespy Fists or Cleaners or any people, then send me a text on the talkiphone. I'll outlook then foot it.' Smoke Alarm checked her talkiphone was on silent, so it would only shake in her pocket, and gestured for Fadreen to do the same with her communicator. ''Ware Fists and Cleaners, stay sound and safe. If there's a to-do, then foot it and track back to a hide-in or home-sweet-home. No ball-games, no fly-posts, no loitering for Smoke Alarm. Okay? We'll be brave and bold as Kangs should be.'

She made sure first that Fadreen had no questions and was tied-and-true with the plan. 'Build high for happiness.' Smoke Alarm made the fist-on-fist building gesture before throwing a thumb over her shoulder. She outlooked to be sure the coast was clear.


OOC: Looking for danger: Awareness + Ingenuity + Keen Senses = 16
Choosing good hiding spots and being stealthy: Coordination + Subterfuge = 16
13:40, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 16 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 4,3. awareness + ingenuity + keen senses.
13:45, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 16 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 2,6. coordination + subterfuge.
Stanley Newton
player, 62 posts
Tue 25 Feb 2014
at 22:36
  • msg #153

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to The Guardian (msg # 142):


"Well, I am fairly certain." Stanley answers. "Don't think we can do anything about that here without the proper equipment, though. So let's head back to the clinic first."

When(if?) Stan leaves the Justice Centre he immediately sends Trav the following message.


quote:
Trav, I have located the blue sphere. It's in the auditorium in the justice center.

The Guardian
GM, 222 posts
Wed 26 Feb 2014
at 01:20
  • msg #154

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Detranzed Square is quiet when Smoke Alarm and Fadreen get there.  Smoke notes that Fadreen followed her instructions and is wearing a sort of hooded dress with flowing sleeves in dark blue, as well as gray leggings, and she's got a little knapsack as well.

Ensconced in their hiding place, Smoke Alarm and Fadreen watch a pair of Fists pass through the square.  It looks like they're carrying small hand lights which they occasionally play over the area, although night on the habitat is fairly well lit by the stars and the great red-blue crescent of the planet hanging over them.

Smoke Alarm knows the game of waiting out Caretakers quite well, and so she keeps Fadreen still and hidden with her until she sees the Fists come around again.  It looks like they're making a circuit which takes them about a half hour.

"I've got my own 'scrawl'," Fadreen whispers to her, "but I can keep 'outlook' here while I put it together."

From the OOC thread, I would say that Presence + Craft is probably the right roll for the impact of the message.  You can have a +2 for Fadreen's assistance.  You can also choose whether to "play it safe" and cut out with plenty of time, or keep working until Fadreen signals you it's time to go.  In the latter case, take a story point, and also make an Ingenuity + Subterfuge roll to break contact with the Fists.
The Guardian
GM, 223 posts
Wed 26 Feb 2014
at 01:30
  • msg #155

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

It takes another couple of hours of work before Stanley and Nadia (and some additional medical personnel the Fists seem to have gathered at the Justice Center) have dealt with all the injured.  Stanley gives his report on all the injuries and follow-on treatment to Selmer, and he starts to escort them toward the exit to the complex.

Coming around the corner of the main building, Stanley notices a small group in the uniform of the Fists walking in his direction.  One of them stands out: a man with shoulder-length blond hair and narrow aristocratic features.  At the moment Stanley spots him, he's engaged in conversation with an older Fist in the group, a tall dark-skinned man.

Stanley, I'll give you the option of just trying to "fly casual" and fade away from this group, in which case you can make a roll (probably Presence + Subterfuge) of Normal difficulty.  If you choose to engage with the group in some way (not necessarily speaking to them directly) take a story point and tell me what you're up to.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:39, Wed 26 Feb 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 225 posts
Wed 26 Feb 2014
at 02:17
  • msg #156

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Traveller:
Trav pings Sereth's communications device. As she brings the TARDIS in for a hidden landing, she checks the scanner, to locate her various companions as they are scattered across Arsuran Prime orbital.

OOC: I'm endorsing Trav's phone upgrades, for the record.  Sereth, a person in your position would certainly have a pretty sophisticated smartphone / terminal that can already tie into standardized comm / data networks, and Arsuran Orbital has one of those, which currently has some of its functionality disabled but continues to allow standard calls.  That's on top of Trav's modifications that let you route communications through the TARDIS to other PCs' phones, or potentially other time / space locations.

Within reason.  If you decided you need to dial the Central Cybercommittee, that might take a story point...
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:18, Wed 26 Feb 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 235 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Wed 26 Feb 2014
at 07:34
  • msg #157

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

As they waited and outlooked for Fist patrols, Smoke Alarm played a game of Eye-spy with Fadreen. 'Eye-spy with my little eye something beginning with P.' It was useful way of learning to be observant, noticing every little thing about the urban environment. The word was "picture-taker". Smoke Alarm's idiosyncratic vocabulary made the game extra tricky.

Once the patrol had exited, Smoke Alarm had her chance. She scampered out into the square, keeping to shadows and out of picture-taker outlooks. Finding an yawny and offensively blank wall, she produced a can of black spray-paint then went to work, wallscrawling away like a busy-bee. She didn't have time for any really pretty pictures, but concentrated on scrawling all Traveller's yawny slogans: "VIOLENCE IS TYRANNY" and "WHO ELECTED YOU?" She had to check the spelling, though, and kept getting stuck on "coercion". Maybe they needed to be simpler; that was something to talk with Traveller about. Smoke threw in a few of her own: "OPEN HANDS NOT FISTS". She scrawled nice big letters, then as she filled each wall, moved on to the next.

Scrawling away, she added a crude symbol: an open hand, held to the side as if giving and sharing. It was the very opposite of the Fist, and the key aspect of Kang Fu, Smoke Alarm figured. That would be her sign in this.

It was quick and dirty, but it got the job done, with quantity making up for quality. The Fists' surprise at seeing all of Detranzed Square wallscrawled against them would be icehot. They had to know that the people of Arsuran did not want them as caretakers, even if they were scaredy-cats to say it. And it was high-lunchtime that something was done against them, to protest and inspire the cowardly cutlets to join in.

Smoke Alarm was so excited, bouncing on enthusiasm, creativity, defiance, and danger, and more than a little sugar, with every sense alive and tingly and feets jumping. She could feel the scaredy-cat on her back, urging her to run before the caretakers eyespied her, before the cleaners caught her. But she had to make one more wallscrawl, just one more wallscrawl. The unbraveness just made her more excited. She was brave and bold as a Kang should be, and this was icehot fun!


OOC: Of course Smoke Alarm will keep going and risk it. :D
Artistry: Presence + Craft + 2: 15
Wallscrawling: Ingenuity + Subterfuge 15
14:45, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 13 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 3,6. presence + craft.
15:18, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 15 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 5,4. ingenuity + subterfuge.
Sereth
player, 128 posts
Wed 26 Feb 2014
at 23:48
  • msg #158

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Once he's safely back, he then responded to Traveller's ping; and also, sent his own message out - both to Traveller, but also to Smoke Alarm.

"Might be able to get some of my people; off the planet, but need someone with more discretion than myself.  Fist's patrolling patterns somewhat predictable."

It was a reminder, in effect, that he still had duties that went beyond saving this one planet. That his instructions had been to work with the Traveller; known as she was by his Emperor, but that those were meant to complement, not supersede, his general duties to his people.
The Guardian
GM, 227 posts
Thu 27 Feb 2014
at 01:22
  • msg #159

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm's phone starts silently buzzing at her.

When she looks back in the direction that the patrol came through the last time 'round, she can see what looks like the same couple of Fists scanning with their lights.  A shout goes up as they spot Smoke Alarm's scrawling and they start to fan their lights back and forth; Smoke can see the beams converging on her and it seems inevitable that they'll light her up when they cross.  Fortunately she has a good bit of lead on the Fists if and when that happens.

With a quick glance back toward Fadreen's hidey-space, Smoke can see the form of the Draconian girl hurriedly fiddling with something; she hasn't started to catch-me-if-you-can yet.  Whatever Fadreen is working on is big: it's broad and tall and flat, with a few projecting surfaces and fins.  Fadreen hadn't clued Smoke in on exactly what she was planning....

The Guardian, for the NPC Fists, rolled 16 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 6,4. Spotting Smoke Alarm: Awareness(3) + Subterfuge(3).

Ooh, just spotted her.  That would be a "No, But" from your perspective.  If you want to let that stand, the "but" part can be that the Fists will chase you, but you make an adequate distraction for Fadreen to get away clean.
Smoke Alarm
player, 238 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Thu 27 Feb 2014
at 02:41
  • msg #160

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Busted! Stuffing her can away, Smoke Alarm outlooked quickly around, eyespying the Fists and their flush-lights. It would be lights-on for her soon. Four. She outlooked to Fadreen, eyespying the egghead girl doing... something. She was supposed to be keeping outlook! Bad Kang! Three. Mayhaps she hadn't sent the text, so Smoke Alarm was a lucky-duck. Two. She had to foot it and fast, play catch-me-if-you-can with the Fists and lead them away from Fadreen. One.

Brave and bold. Smoke Alarm backed up a few steps then ran hard and fast at the scrawled wall, leaping high and putting one foot against it. Then she sprang off, back-flipping over the beam of light before landing like a gymnast on the other side. They'd see her, of course, but Smoke Alarm wanted to stay just outside lights-on. Zero.

'Run, run, as fast as you can!' Smoke Alarm yelled, as much for Fadreen's benefit as for attracting the Fists' attention. 'Can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!' Then she ran, worn trainers springing off the road, heart pounding, desperation and excitement lending her speed, cold night air whooshing through her blue hair. Icehot!


OOC: Is Fadreen drawing something or building something?

Trying to dodge the beam of light and avoid identification by jumping over it. Coordination + Athletics + Jumping + Kang Fu: 23
10:29, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 23 using 2d6+13 with rolls of 5,5. coord + athletics + jumping + KF.

Speed: 6, with +1 from Run For Your Life!
The Guardian
GM, 228 posts
Thu 27 Feb 2014
at 03:27
  • msg #161

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The lights swing wildly and Smoke practically dances through the space they play over, making a dozen yards for the far side of Detranzed Square before they can react and start after her.  With a glance back, Smoke can tell that the Fists are light on their feet: she sees them hurdling railings and benches in the dark with hardly a pause.  They're lots better at catch-me-if-you-can than pokey old Caretakers.

But not as fast as Smoke Alarm!

Bad Kang?  Aw, c'mon; she totally warned you like she was supposed to.

Fists trying to pin Smoke with flashlights: Coordination(4) + Marksmanship(1).  I goofed with the roller, but they got a 10.  Smoke got a fantastic success: not only does she remain unidentified, but she gets a free Area to start the chase.  Her lead is already at 3 Areas.

The Fists are Coordination 4 and they can already see that Smoke Alarm is a mad runner, so they are pushing to close.  The normal difficulty for the city terrain is 12, but I'll add +2 for the darkness (14).

Fist 1 rolled 19 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 6,5. Chasing Smoke: Coordination(4) + Athletics(4).  Fist 1 moves 6.
Fist 2 rolled 15 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 6,1. Chasing Smoke: Coordination(4) + Athletics(4).  Fist 2 moves 5.
Smoke Alarm
player, 239 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Thu 27 Feb 2014
at 04:27
  • msg #162

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Chase us down carrydoors. Catch us if they can. Smoke Alarm ran like the proverbial gingerbread man, less in desperate flight and more for the sheer joy of it, the sense of freedom and speed. She wasn't even trying to lose the Fists, which she could do easy-peasy, but only get them far enough away from Fadreen — and generally lead them a merry chase. Smoke Alarm whooped and laughed. 'Slowpokes!'

Running along, she actually took out her talkiphone and checked her messages. Had Fadreen sent something? What was she doing?


OOC: I thought that was Sereth's text. She's playing with some toy sky-fly, isn't she?

I'm not really trying anything here, just leading the Fists on for a while.
The Guardian
GM, 229 posts
Thu 27 Feb 2014
at 04:52
  • msg #163

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Fists remain in dogged pursuit of Smoke Alarm, and she allows them to feel that they're doing well for a bit.

She sees that she has a pair of messages on her talkiphone.  There's a terse report from Sereth, and one from Fadreen.  Fadreen's says Go go go!  Fists incoming.  WATCH THE SKIES.

It's not more than a couple of minutes later that a brief flash illuminates the buildings in front of Smoke Alarm, and then a dazzling white light bursts in the air high over Detranzed Square.

As Smoke turns back to look, she sees a glimmering shape, silver in the reflection from the flare.  It's the hand symbol she showed to Fadreen, drifting on air currents and falling through the air with almost imperceptible slowness.
Smoke Alarm
player, 240 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Thu 27 Feb 2014
at 12:43
  • msg #164

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Jogging along and holding the talkiphone out in front of her, Smoke Alarm skimmed her messages. Sereth was talky, needed help; he could wait. Fadreen's warning, and to outlook the ceiling. At the brief lights-on, Smoke Alarm twisted her neck to look back and up and saw the floating open hand. Fadreen had air-scrawled! 'Icehot!' Smoke Alarm cheered, pausing to jump up and down and letting the Fists get closer.

'Down with Fists! Up with fingers!' Smoke Alarm showed them two before running away again. She tapped her phone, making it a muzak-spout!

'Last night I had the strangest dream,
I sailed away to China
in a little rowboat to find ya,
And you said you had to get your laundry cleaned.
Didn't want no one to hold you, what does that mean?'

She ran at a low wall, leaping over sideways and putting her hand to the ledge before springing over. She hit the ground running. 'Catch me if you can!' she hollered back. The chase was on!

'Ain't nothing gonna break my stride.
Nobody's gonna slow me down.
Oh no, I've got to keep on moving.
Ain't nothing gonna break my stride.
I'm running and I won't touch ground.
Oh no, I've got to keep on moving.'


OOC: For Fadreen's display, I think Smoke would stop and watch, so her lead might reduce. Then again, the Fists might pause too.

Now I've reread the Chase rules, I'm going to try a Stunt to mess with them, choosing a Tricky stunt (I'll go harder later): Coordination + Athletics + Jumping + Kang Fu: 21, success
20:19, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 21 using 2d6+13 with rolls of 5,3. Tricky Stunt: coord + athletics + jumping + KF.

Yes, I brought my own soundtrack. :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khmqDEz6TRk
This message was last edited by the player at 12:46, Sun 02 Mar 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 230 posts
Thu 27 Feb 2014
at 13:18
  • msg #165

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

As Smoke Alarm dashes away, she sees lights come on in buildings and faces peer out from darkened windows.  Fadreen's air-scrawl sure caught their attention!

Behind her, she sees one of the Fists vault up to the top of the wall and propel himself forward in a leap.  His sleeves ripple as his arms spread out and he soars forward, silhouetted by the flare.  He hits the ground running, but he has still lost some ground to Smoke Alarm.

As the second Fist tries to clear the wall in a side vault, one of his legs clips the top of the wall and he falls to the ground in a spinning tumble.  He's soon lost to sight as Smoke pelts on.

Yes, I was figuring that the Fists would have been held up reacting to that as well.  They began at 3 and 4 Areas behind Smoke respectively.

Fist 1 rolled 15 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 3,4. Matching Smoke's stunt: Coordination(4) + Athletics(4).  He got a Success and falls back by 1.
Fist 2 rolled 12 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 3,1. Matching Smoke's stunt: Coordination(4) + Athletics(4).  He got a Failure and falls back by 2.  Smoke will move far enough to lose him completely while he's getting up.
Smoke Alarm
player, 242 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Thu 27 Feb 2014
at 15:16
  • msg #166

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

'You're on the road and now your plane has gone.
The road behind was rocky.
But now you're feeling cocky.
You look at me and you'll see your past.
Is that the reason why you're running so fast?'

Smoke Alarm outlooked back to see the Fist trip and fall, laughing to see him all rolled up. 'Ha ha! Whoopsy!' She paused a few ticktocks, giving the Fists time to catch up. After all, Kang games were fair and friendly. She outlooked up at the towers, realising she had an audience, all the rezzies eyespying. She better make this good then. She took off again, yelling back 'Now this is the Journey of Flesh! Come on! Hop skip jump!'

She'd steered them around to her next obstacle — a strange piece of abstract sculpture, with a big hole in it up high. Then with a hop, a skip, a jump, Smoke Alarm dove straight through it. She hit the ground, tucked and rolled, then sprang to her feet, still running, still free.

'And you said:
Ain't nothing gonna break my stride.
Nobody's gonna slow me down.
Oh no, I've got to keep on moving.
Ain't nothing gonna break my stride.
I'm running and I won't touch ground.
Oh no, I've got to keep on moving.'


OOC: Yeah, letting them catch up 1 Area, because I'm nice like that. :D

Hard stunt: Coordination + Athletics + Jumping + Kang Fu: 23, success.
23:08, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 23 using 2d6+13 with rolls of 6,4. Hard Stunt: coord + athletics + jumping + KF.

Since I'm trying to keep them following, I won't roll to push forward but to maintain distance: 16
23:13, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 16 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 3,4. Chase: coordination + athletics.
The Guardian
GM, 231 posts
Fri 28 Feb 2014
at 01:15
  • msg #167

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The lead Fist following Smoke Alarm declines to play follow-the-leader, bypassing the hole in the sculpture, which strikes Smoke Alarm as monstrously unfun.

She hears shouts to her left and to her right as she leads the Fists on her merry chase, and more lights stabbing out into the night after her.  She sees at least four more Fists joining the chase, leaping from rooftop to rooftop or racing down alleyways.

As she goes, more and more people are turning on lights and watching her progress, and some exterior lights come flickering on.

I think you can probably still curbstomp any number of Fists that come at you and essentially escape them at will, so let me offer you the option to become a legend, instead.

Make up one more stunt before you go to ground, as hard as you'd like.  Spend any Story Points before the roll.

As long as you succeed on the stunt, you can then make a Presence + Convince roll.  Add +2 for every difficulty level your stunt was at above Normal.  Additionally add +2 if you get a Good success on the stunt or +4 for a Fantastic success.

This will reflect the impression that Smoke's Midnight Run will make on the populace at large.
Smoke Alarm
player, 244 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Fri 28 Feb 2014
at 03:19
  • msg #168

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

And now more Fists had come out to play! Fun times! As they came footing it out of side-streets and alleys, Smoke Alarm let them get close enough to grab at her, before she jumped and ducked and rolled and swerved aside, leaving clumsy Fists flailing in her wake. She'd always been the best Kang at tag and chasey and bully-dogs, being so small and nimble and quick. When one big man stood in her path, she dove and rolled straight between his legs before dashing off again. 'Cowardly cutlet!' When they started lining up in barriers in front of her, she leaped, kicked off a bin and bounded over their heads. 'Meanie-heads!' When she had two coming in at her from angles, left and right, she suddenly halted and reversed; they tried to correct and smashed into each other. 'Slowpokes!' Once, Smoke Alarm stopped and did a little boogie-woogie dance in the middle of an intersection, with four Fists coming at her from each direction. Smoke crouched to stretch her legs. The Fists jumped to tackle her. Then she leaped high into the air as they crashed into a heap in the road. Smoke Alarm landed on their backs, then ran off laughing like a loon.

'Never let another guy like you, whip me over.
Never let another guy like you, drag me under.
If I meet another guy like you, I will tell him
Never want another guy like you, have to say HEY!'

Finally, going down a busy street, she abandoned the road altogether, hopping and skipping from rubbish-bin to fly-car to posty-box, swinging around street-lamps and signs, chanting out her taunts, loud as she could. 'Run, run, as fast as you can! Can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!' She swung off a lamp-post and got up onto the awnings and shelters over the foot-it-path, running along and hopping over the supports. 'You can't catch me, I'm smoke and I'm sound and I'm free as can be. I know these streets and towers and all the ways, all the meets and flowers and bays.' Smoke Alarm dove through an open window, past the eyespying rezzies, received a grateful cup of water, before dashing out of the apartment, down the carrydoor, then a slow ride up an alleviator.

'Ain't nothing gonna break my stride
Nobody's gonna slow me down
Oh no, I've got to keep on moving
Ain't nothing gonna break my stride
I'm running and I won't touch ground
Oh no, I've got to keep on moving!'

Ding!

She emerged at a fire-escape several floors up. She made sure she had lots of Fists following her. Then she ran up to the roof, hollering 'We are Arsurans! Arsurans are best! We are lots of peoples together. You can't catch us, you can't hold us, you can't keep us! We are always free. Arsurans, Arsurans, Arsurans are best!'

Smoke Alarm ran across the rooftops, leaping from one tower to the next, high across the city, right under the lights-out ceiling of the starry sky, shouting like mad.

Suddenly she'd run out of tower.

Smoke Alarm leaped.

Smoke Alarm fell.

'Ain't nothing gonna break my stride.
Nobody's gonna slow me down.
Oh no, I've got to keep on moving.
Ain't nothing gonna break my stride.
I'm running and I won't touch ground.'

Smoke Alarm crashed into a cable hanging shiny lanterns over Detranzed Square. Smashing hard into a lantern, she nearly missed her chance to grab the cable, and was left hanging from it. Uh oh! The cable snapped under the sudden weight and Smoke found herself swinging through the air! 'Ha ha!' She sailed gracefully across great Detranzed Square, slipping down the cable to adjust her height.

'Oh no, I've got to keep on moving.
I've got to keep on moving, moving, moving, moving.
whoa-o-o, I've got to keep on moving.'

Then Smoke Alarm touched gracefully down atop the outstretched arm of the big lady statue, the founder of Arsuran. 'Tada!' Smoke Alarm struck a pose just like the statue, gesturing to the sky in hope and welcome. Fadreen's airscrawl of a big floating open hand settled down upon the square all around her to much applause.

Then she bowed to the eyespying rezzies in the towers, head bobbing up and down. Then she did a little boogie-woogie dance, before sliding down and hopping off the statue. She dashed across the now-empty square and vanished into the night.

'Ain't nothing gonna break my stride.
Nobody's gonna slow me down.
Oh no, I've got to keep on moving.
Ain't nothing gonna break my stride.
I'm running and I won't touch ground.
Oh no, I've got to keep on moving...'


OOC:
Picking an Improbable! stunt, Difficulty 27.
Spending a SP for +2d6
4d6 + Coordination + Athletics + Jumping + Kang Fu: 25
10:18, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 25 using 4d6+13 with rolls of 2,1,6,3. Improbable Stunt: Coord + Athletics + Jumping + KF + SP.

So close! Spending another Story Point to avoid failure or death, bump that to a Success.

Five levels above Normal, so gaining +10. I'm also adding Brave +2 for, you know, jumping off a building. Presence + Convince + Brave + 10: 21
10:32, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 21 using 2d6+14 with rolls of 4,3. presence + convince + brave + 10. [I used the wrong number of dice on my first roll, so I rolled again, though got a bit lower than I might have gotten out of the first two.]

Oh, and let's say Smoke camera-phoned the whole thing so we can make it go viral. :D
This message was last edited by the player at 13:05, Thu 03 Apr 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 232 posts
Fri 28 Feb 2014
at 03:42
  • msg #169

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

On the TARDIS, one of the monitors that Trav has set up starts flashing an alert at her.  It looks like there's a sudden, unnatural spike in data transfer around the civilian comm network: in ancient parlance, the intarwebs have gone apeshit.

Taking in the packet traffic at a glance, Trav sees that the eruption of data is largely in the form of image and video data, and it's coming out of the Miszere district, which is smack in the middle of the night cycle.

Trav checks a couple of the transferred streams....

And, peering over her shoulder, Ru says, "Oh.  My.  Goodness."
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:43, Fri 28 Feb 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 245 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Fri 28 Feb 2014
at 04:05
  • msg #170

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Disappearing into the darkened back-streets, Smoke ended the talkiphone viddy-taker and sent the whole viddy file to Traveller, with a simple:
quote:
Eyespy this! Icehot!

Traveller would know what to do with it, like put it on the interwebs.

Then she found a quiet hide-in to catch her breath, and sent a quick text to Fadreen. She wanted to know if the egghead had footed away sound and safe after her big airscrawl.
quote:
Fadreen! Icehot airscrawl! Where r u?

This message was last edited by the player at 08:27, Fri 28 Feb 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 234 posts
Fri 28 Feb 2014
at 04:31
  • msg #171

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The message comes back to Smoke Alarm:
quote:
Safe-and-sound.  With Ms. Cat-lady and our friends in the deep-down hidey-hole.

YOU ARE ON ALL THE THINGS.

The Traveller
player, 215 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 28 Feb 2014
at 17:06
  • msg #172

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
The message comes back to Smoke Alarm:
quote:
Safe-and-sound.  With Ms. Cat-lady and our friends in the deep-down hidey-hole.

YOU ARE ON ALL THE THINGS.


Trav spins in her seat. "AND. WE. ARE. LIVE!"

Trav cackles as she orchestrates the show from the TARDIS panel. Up comes the block-transfer encryption, data shunts and other measures to totally defeat any attempts to block or edit Smoke's show. She also does everything to enable the population of Arsuran to have their own discussion about this. Trav's only spin is to show that violence isn't the answer. A phrase - "why do you need to hit people?" Interspersed are cuts and feeds from non-violent protests from the past.

"Now, let's see how Arsuran responds. Get ready, I'm taking us in to pick up Smoke and her friend. We may be going in hot." She isolates Smoke's position. She carefully monitors Smoke - this is her show, and she may want to continue it. Ideally, she'd drop the TARDIS in just to grab Smoke and help her make her triumphant getaway.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:18, Fri 28 Feb 2014.
Stanley Newton
player, 64 posts
Sat 1 Mar 2014
at 00:23
  • msg #173

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to The Guardian (msg # 155):

Stanley notices the Fists but doesn't really pay attention to them. He is still thinking about the mind control device and more importantly how they would get close enough to inspect it.

OoC:
Tempting as that story point is, Stanley is not going to try to interact with the Fists. So the "fly casual" option.

Stanley Newton rolled 11 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 5,2. Presence (3) + Subterfuge (1). 
The Guardian
GM, 235 posts
Sat 1 Mar 2014
at 02:09
  • msg #174

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

As Stanley is making his exit with Nadia, he notices that the blond-haired man is watching him.  The man's gaze stays on him long enough that Stanley begins to find it unnerving... but at last the man turns to respond to something one of his associates says.

Selmer escorts Stanley and Nadia out of the Justice Center, and a short time after they return to the Miszere clinic, Stanley is free to send his message to Trav informing her about the device.

Assume that this took place a day or two before Smoke Alarm's escapades, because once that happens, the status quo changes dramatically.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:11, Sat 01 Mar 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 247 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Sat 1 Mar 2014
at 03:00
  • msg #175

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm sent a quick text back to Fadreen:
quote:
Icehot! I was on all the things! Teh sky-car and the posty-box and the statue! :D

then finally came back to herself. Whew! After her epic run-and-jump, even this energy-bunny Kang was puff-and-stuffed, totally crukked. But she was still bouncing along on adrenaline and excitement, high on it in fact. The icehot run-and-jump, the hazard and the chase, being so brave and bold, making such a to-do for everyone to eyespy. Did I just jump off a tower? Smoke Alarm thought. Icehot!

Recovering her breaths, wiping salty-water off her face, she took out her water bottle and slurped it gratefully. Then she stock-took. Her pack-back was beat-up, but it had survived worse. Talkiphone was fine. Her paint-sprays were all still there. Had her shoes melted? She'd need to find some new-old shoes; new ones were too stiff, old ones gave her just enough grip and protection while letting her flex her feet.

On her talkiphone, she surfed the interwebs a bit, finding viddies and texts about her everywhere already. She didn't need the interwebs though; she could just listen to the city, to the sounds carried on the lights-out aircon, to its beating heart. She heard the angry shouts of the Fists outlooking for her, the talk and laughing of people outlooking from the windows, some even coming into the streets after lights-out curfew, brave and bold against the Fists. And they'd be footing and playing and eyespying her wallscrawls, and taking back the lights-out time. Smoke Alarm had broken the Fists' image, and the Arsurans would not be unbrave any more.

She emerged from her hide-in a basement stairway, sneaking back up into the alleys and down the streets, and started footing it for the MT hidey-hole to catch up with Fadreen. Finding another blank wall and no outlooks, she pressed her palm against the wall and sprayed paint around her open hand, leaving a nice outline in a fuzzy cloud. Smoke Alarm didn't know it, but she was continuing an ancient tradition: that image had been made on cave-walls and rock-faces throughout human prehistory, dating back to when humans ran across plains and jumped over rocks and chased down gazelle and fled from lions. Little had changed. Smoke Alarm was here.

Smoke Alarm was skipping and boogie-woogie dancing down an alley when she earspied the noise, heard the aircon whoosh and saw rubbish move. She ran for cover; she hadn't seen the talkiphone box appear before. 'Icehot!' She immediately dashed over, jumped on top of the roof, then hung her head upside-down before the opening doors, blue hair hanging. 'How you do!' she said brightly to Traveller.


OOC: Smoke is finished, so I've assumed Traveller comes in to meet her.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:01, Sat 01 Mar 2014.
The Traveller
player, 218 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sat 1 Mar 2014
at 06:08
  • msg #176

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm:
Smoke Alarm sent a quick text back to Fadreen:
quote:
Icehot! I was on all the things! Teh sky-car and the posty-box and the statue! :D

then finally came back to herself. Whew! After her epic run-and-jump, even this energy-bunny Kang was puff-and-stuffed, totally crukked. But she was still bouncing along on adrenaline and excitement, high on it in fact. The icehot run-and-jump, the hazard and the chase, being so brave and bold, making such a to-do for everyone to eyespy. Did I just jump off a tower? Smoke Alarm thought. Icehot!

Recovering her breaths, wiping salty-water off her face, she took out her water bottle and slurped it gratefully. Then she stock-took. Her pack-back was beat-up, but it had survived worse. Talkiphone was fine. Her paint-sprays were all still there. Had her shoes melted? She'd need to find some new-old shoes; new ones were too stiff, old ones gave her just enough grip and protection while letting her flex her feet.

On her talkiphone, she surfed the interwebs a bit, finding viddies and texts about her everywhere already. She didn't need the interwebs though; she could just listen to the city, to the sounds carried on the lights-out aircon, to its beating heart. She heard the angry shouts of the Fists outlooking for her, the talk and laughing of people outlooking from the windows, some even coming into the streets after lights-out curfew, brave and bold against the Fists. And they'd be footing and playing and eyespying her wallscrawls, and taking back the lights-out time. Smoke Alarm had broken the Fists' image, and the Arsurans would not be unbrave any more.

She emerged from her hide-in a basement stairway, sneaking back up into the alleys and down the streets, and started footing it for the MT hidey-hole to catch up with Fadreen. Finding another blank wall and no outlooks, she pressed her palm against the wall and sprayed paint around her open hand, leaving a nice outline in a fuzzy cloud. Smoke Alarm didn't know it, but she was continuing an ancient tradition: that image had been made on cave-walls and rock-faces throughout human prehistory, dating back to when humans ran across plains and jumped over rocks and chased down gazelle and fled from lions. Little had changed. Smoke Alarm was here.

Smoke Alarm was skipping and boogie-woogie dancing down an alley when she earspied the noise, heard the aircon whoosh and saw rubbish move. She ran for cover; she hadn't seen the talkiphone box appear before. 'Icehot!' She immediately dashed over, jumped on top of the roof, then hung her head upside-down before the opening doors, blue hair hanging. 'How you do!' she said brightly to Traveller.


OOC: Smoke is finished, so I've assumed Traveller comes in to meet her.


The TARDIS appears, engines grinding, appearing at the end of the alleyway. The door opens, and there is Trav. "How do you do!" She does the Kang greeting. "I heard and saw you! BLUE KANGS ARE BEST!" Trav is hopping up and down! "Come on, before the Fists get here!" She brings Smoke in, and then points her sonic at the control column. The ancient engines of time machine grind again, lifting the TARDIS back into temporal orbit.
Smoke Alarm
player, 250 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Sat 1 Mar 2014
at 06:41
  • msg #177

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

'Blue Kangs are best!' Smoke Alarm agreed, flipping herself over and swinging through the door into the talkiphone box. 'The Fists are slow-pokes. They'll never catch me.' she said confidently. She would have gotten off the streets soon to go downstairs to visit Fadreen and Peet in the hidey-hole, but she was glad to rest her feets. Smoke flopped down onto a soft chair, sighing gratefully.

She eyespied all the picturespouts showing her run from every outlook, all over the interwebs. She supposed she was popular now, friends-to-all, even a hero like Pex the Brave, but didn't feel like it, didn't really want to be it. She was just a person starting to put Arsuran to rights. Everyone could do the same. Well, maybe not jump off a building, but they could all give the Fists the run-around in their own way.

'Where are we outgoing? I was outgoing to meet Fadreen and Peet at the MT brainquarters,' she said, referring to the homeless people's hide-in in the under-city utility access passages, 'But Leg-it Sereth needs help with the sky-flies.' That egghead would always need her help, she supposed.
Stanley Newton
player, 65 posts
Sun 2 Mar 2014
at 00:30
  • msg #178

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to The Guardian (msg # 174):

Stanley was getting nervous when the man kept watching him. Did the Fist recognize him? Was he one of the Fists that had been on Farhaven? Luckily for Stan the man turned back to his conversation.

When they get back to the clinic, Stanley sends Trav a message that he has found the location of the blue sphere and that he'll try to find out more about the auditorium. He doubts he would be able to find out much, but they are going to have to come up with something to get close to the device. Preferably undetected.

OoC:
Guardian, if this happens two days before Smoke's actions, do you want to skip to when Stanley hears about it?

The Guardian
GM, 237 posts
Sun 2 Mar 2014
at 00:41
  • msg #179

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Stanley Newton:
OoC: Guardian, if this happens two days before Smoke's actions, do you want to skip to when Stanley hears about it?

OOC: That was my intent, yes.

Sereth and Stanley: you can both assume that Smoke's actions come to your attention shortly after they happen: either one of your contacts gets in touch, or the present commotion in the district wakes you up.  You can each respond as you see fit.  Trav may or may not decide to assemble the troops, as well.  Otherwise, I will pick up with what is going on the following morning.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:42, Sun 02 Mar 2014.
The Traveller
player, 219 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sun 2 Mar 2014
at 00:44
  • msg #180

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav sends back an encrypted text -

"Do you need back up? Do you feel safe?"
Stanley Newton
player, 67 posts
Mon 3 Mar 2014
at 21:29
  • msg #181

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to The Traveller (msg # 180):

Nadia enters the room to show Stanley the reports and videos about Smoke Alarm that are popping up on the network. Stan looks "Well...what can say I about that. I guess that this changes everything. I mean the Fists now know for sure that there are people actively opposing them."

"I'll ask Trav what she wants us to do. " Stanley goes on to reply to Trav's message.

"I don't know if it is safe enough to go out on the streets, but the clinic seems safe enough. What do you want me to do?"
The Traveller
player, 220 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 3 Mar 2014
at 22:57
  • msg #182

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav is tapping out a text while landing the TARDIS in a safe place. Let's rendesvouz. Landing. Where's safe? She makes sure to cc everyone else. They had done their job, now it was up to the people of Arsuran to decide.

As her encore, Trav has Smoke Alarm's escapades uploaded to multiple sector nets anonymously. With luck, the idea of non violent resistance against the 31 suns will spread throughout nearby space, and across the galaxy.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 22:58, Mon 03 Mar 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 238 posts
Tue 4 Mar 2014
at 01:32
  • msg #183

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

You can all reassemble as you see fit.
The Guardian
GM, 239 posts
Tue 4 Mar 2014
at 13:23
  • msg #184

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

If any PCs want to be at this scene, you can be there and make what reaction you want..  Otherwise, a report of it will come to you by way of one of the contacts you've established in the area.

Daylight falls on the Miszere district and brings with it a crowd of citizens that descend on Detranzed Square to look over Smoke Alarm's handiwork.

The Fists have deployed a team of their own people to clean away the scrawl, but it's very much a barn door being slammed shut long after the horse has escaped: there is plenty of time for people with their own phones and recorders to capture the images before the Fists can erase them.

At last Varan Osto gets up on the pedestal of the statue in the square and waves for attention.

"People of Arsuran," he calls, "I'm disappointed, of course, that someone's anger at the present reality has led them to express it in this way.  I am not surprised.  Everywhere that we have arrived to spread the Three Journeys, our methods have found frustration and resistance.  But ours is a mission born of patience, and it's one we have long experience with.

"This incident will not change the policies for Arsuran's management and the ascendance of its people toward enlightenment.  Mandatory training will continue as before; community repair work will proceed.  As for the persons responsible..."  He looks almost sorrowful.  "I earnestly entreat those persons to make themselves known and to speak with me.  I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to personally explain why we do what we must do, and to learn from them what led them to give voice to this cry of confusion."
Smoke Alarm
player, 252 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Thu 6 Mar 2014
at 09:30
  • msg #185

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

A loud raspberry blew from somewhere within the crowd.

'You're a cowardly cutlet!' someone else yelled from further away. It might have been Fadreen; for last night's efforts, Fadreen had earned a strip of blue cloth tied around her arm, worn proudly. But it could have been anyone, repeating last night's viddies that were still being played and replayed. From various points in the crowd, there were more mutterings of disrespect.

Smoke Alarm was small and easily slunk through the crowd, unseen by the outlooking Fists, and she found lots of Arsurans were willing to stand in front and give her hide-ins. Plus, the Kang was rapidly accumulating a small gang of rebellious and like-minded young women, hand-picked from her Kang Fu classes and willing to shout their defiance, with a little prompting from Smoke Alarm. Now was the time to make their feelings stick.

'Why don't you come-out down here and tell us now?' Smoke Alarm demanded, then disappeared under big Mrs Maglup's skirt.


OOC: Staying out of sight: Coordination + Subterfuge = 17
Maybe my Distinctive trait would apply a -2 to that?
17:18, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 17 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 6,3. coordination + subterfuge

Working the crowd, bolstering courage: Presence + Convince + Brave = 11
17:18, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 11 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 6,1. presence + convince + brave
The Guardian
GM, 240 posts
Fri 7 Mar 2014
at 02:15
  • msg #186

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Osto studies the crowd briefly, as if trying to pin down where the heckler is, but at last says, "Well.  That is, of course, what we are working toward.  And I encourage all of you to apply yourself to the training we are working to convey to you all.  I can tell you, easily, that we are working to unify Arsuran and all the worlds the Order now oversees to face a great and terrible threat, but passing on the ability to truly apprehend that threat is our true endeavor."

Osto inclines his head slightly.  "Thank you for your attention.  Persevere, and ascend."

The crowd lingers on for a time, but as it becomes evident that there is little more to see apart from the spectacle of Fists painting out Smoke Alarm's scrawl, they slowly start to drift away.  Smoke Alarm notes something going through the crowd even as it splits apart -- a murmur, a grumble -- that she hasn't seen much of before.  Even though the Fists are erasing the evidence of what she has done, she suspects that the impression she made in the hearts and minds around Arsuran will live on.
Smoke Alarm
player, 253 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Tue 11 Mar 2014
at 00:56
  • msg #187

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm had many more things to shout at Caretaker Osto, like demanding to know why the Arsurans had to do all the changing to understand the Fists. But, like a scaredy-cat, he'd quickly footed it away. Typical.

She lingered to watch the cleaners blank her wallscrawls for a while, a little sad to seem them all cleaned away. Well, it was only words and they would be remembered by the Arsurans and their picture-takers. Next time, Smoke Alarm wanted to do something big and colourful and pretty. Cheekily, she left a few fresh wallscrawls, small little open hands on the floor and even a patch of wall the Fists had just cleaned, before she scampered off back to the talkiphone box.
The Traveller
player, 223 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 11 Mar 2014
at 02:10
  • msg #188

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The door opens, and Trav waves Smoke in. Hopefully, the bad guys won't notice the quick pick up.

As she closes the door, she runs back to the control console and throws down a large lever.

Everyone else should be assembled. After making sure that the TARDIS is safely in temporal orbit, and setting the automated systems to alarm status in case they are scanned or intercepted by anything in the time vortex, the scutters distribute lunch. "Allright then. Awesome work, everyone. Now, let's share what we've learned, while the people of Arsuran consider our case, against that of the Fists.  Stan, you wanna start?"
Stanley Newton
player, 68 posts
Tue 11 Mar 2014
at 10:12
  • msg #189

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to The Traveller (msg # 188):

"Okay, I found out the location of the mind-control device. It is located in the Justice Centre, in the auditorium to be precise. There is also someone who is or was working on it. Someone associated with the Fists but he still has his hair."

Stanley thinks back at what Harlan had said about the fight. "Oh and don't underestimate the Fist's fighting skills. Some prisoners tried to pick a fight with a couple of guards. They lost, rather quickly. One comment I heard was something like "They put you down fast". You have been warned."
Smoke Alarm
player, 256 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Tue 11 Mar 2014
at 12:04
  • msg #190

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm had a devil-may-care grin. 'Those slowpokes? They've got to catch-me-if-they-can first.' she boasted, still buoyed by some insane confidence after her famous exploits of last lights-out. She'd spent much of her spare time playing with her talkiphone and eyespying the continuing fall-out on local social media. But she didn't post herself, preferring to maintain what passed for her anonymity and Kangly humility.

But she'd eyespied a lot of viddies of herself running and jumping, and of the Fists playing chasey, and was steadily refining her technique. She could outrun and outjump them any day through the streets, but couldn't let them close in or surround her with no-exits.

'Do you want me to swipe this mind-controlley device? Easy-peasy.' she offered. If you want something done, get a Kang to do it. One way or another...
Sereth
player, 132 posts
Tue 11 Mar 2014
at 12:13
  • msg #191

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

He frowned.

"That comment about the fighting adds up with what I have heard. But for all their fighting skills; they're not a very good military organisation. As it is; I know of a ship that could be used to get some of my people off planet. Maybe some others too; but I might need a kang's help to do so. I am not built for stealth."

There is a clear look of disaste in asking for help from another species; but there was no help for it.
Amanda
NPC, 19 posts
Tue 11 Mar 2014
at 12:37
  • msg #192

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Amanda is tap tap tapping on a tablet while the others relate what they have found.  She makes a small pleased noise as Smoke Alarm is talking, and when the others look at her, she says, "Sorry.  Good news."

She taps something else in on the tablet and the big holographic display above the central console starts showing a montage of images with captions like Trenary District, Montezu District, Califar District.  They're all showing the same thing, on walls, sidewalks, hidden in signage: Smoke Alarm's "open hand" symbol.

Amanda looks over at Stanley.  "Did you get an actual look at the device?  From the way Sereth described the surveillance video his people showed him, it didn't sound too portable...."
The Traveller
player, 228 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 11 Mar 2014
at 13:30
  • msg #193

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Amanda:
Amanda is tap tap tapping on a tablet while the others relate what they have found.  She makes a small pleased noise as Smoke Alarm is talking, and when the others look at her, she says, "Sorry.  Good news."

She taps something else in on the tablet and the big holographic display above the central console starts showing a montage of images with captions like Trenary District, Montezu District, Califar District.  They're all showing the same thing, on walls, sidewalks, hidden in signage: Smoke Alarm's "open hand" symbol.

Amanda looks over at Stanley.  "Did you get an actual look at the device?  From the way Sereth described the surveillance video his people showed him, it didn't sound too portable...."


Trav peers over Amanda's shoulder, draping her arms across the shoulders of the feline girl. She grins madly as she reads what Amanda is tapping at.

"Beautiful. Awesome. Fantastic." She smooches Amanda on the cheek. "Great work, everyone, especially you Smoke. Blue Kangs are best!"

As she spins in a piroutette, arms outstretched, she relates - "We're not fighting these guys. I want to do to them what I did with the Splintered Sisterhood - get them on our side. I could talk to their leader right now, but I want to make him come to me. The next step in our little campaign of non violent resistance will be to spread word of that sphere as a mind control device that requires indoctrination via martial arts. So: We spread out via wallscrawl, social networks, sky writing - what is the sphere? Why indoctrination? Spread techniques to resist what this is, all the while urging non-violence, dialogue, questioning."

"Everybody, can I see your phones for a moment?" For those who pass over their superphones,Trav is modifying them. "I want to get a good, hard scan on that sphere. Now, what I'd really love is to get up close myself, which I plan on trying, don't worry, but in case I can't, I'm hoping one of of you. Thing is, I'm sure that the thing has security measures that can detected two-hearted aliens, like me."

As she is modifying the pile of smart phones and tablets in front of her, "And for my last trick - a challenge. Smoke, Ru, how do you feel about challenging the closed fist with the Blue Kang Open Hand, in a tournament? A game of capture the flag, just like Warsong Gulch in World of Warcraft. If the bad guys win, then we agree to undergo their training, that we being myself or Ru, who have the mental training to resist. If we win, then the leader of the fists have to explain themselves and who their great beast is, without any training or coercion. In the mean time, other members of our team get close to one of the spheres for a close scan."

"So, team awesome, how does that sound? Objections, ideas, comments?" She pulls out from behind the couch an old Guy Fawkes mask. "WE ARE ANONYMOUS. EXPECT US."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:36, Tue 11 Mar 2014.
Zheng Ru
NPC, 11 posts
Wed 12 Mar 2014
at 03:52
  • msg #194

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Ru steeples his fingers in thought.

"That is an intriguing idea, but I suspect it would take some care to frame this challenge in a way that would entice the Fists to take it seriously and take it up.  Remember that they are convinced that they already have the best answer, and they already have a plan -- they feel no need to prove its superiority to anyone.  They may also find little to respect in a challenge framed as an arbitrary 'game'."

He inclines his head to Smoke Alarm.  "Miss Smoke may have afforded us an opportunity by giving a demonstration in which their skills have been decisively bested.  Though I imagine that if we are able to engage them in a formal contest, they will certainly send their best, and attempt to deliver an object lesson of their own."
Smoke Alarm
player, 258 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Wed 12 Mar 2014
at 07:59
  • msg #195

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

'I'll help you swipe this sky-fly too.' Smoke volunteered, before her attention was taken by all the pictures of wallscrawls, so many more than she'd actually scrawled herself. She saw open hands and open claws and open tentacles, five fingers and four fingers and three fingers. People were copying her scrawls, repeating them, adding to them, making their own protests. Smoke Alarm laughed, and waved her open, paint-splattered hand in the air at the pictures. From her tumbling through the time chute, to the fall of Asuran and escaping on the sky-fly, to putting everyone she knew on the scrap-heap, to this, a winner, famous on the interwebs, needed by everyone, living in an icehot talkiphone box, she felt like she'd gone upstairs to the Great Pool in the Sky without being made unalive first.

She gave her talkiphone back to Traveller and said 'Do you have a picture of the mind-controlley device? I could wallscrawl it, give Arsurans and Fists the knowhow of it, show them their minds are taken... More, mayhaps I could talk to Dizzy-plant Erysk Sevest, find what she thinks and knows.'

She was excited by Traveller's idea, jumping up and down. 'Icehot fun games!' she cheered, but settled down and agreed with Ru the Orange Kang. 'But the Fists are unfun yawny caretakers, they wouldn't play. No ball-games, no fly-posts, no fun times. And if they did, they'd play mean or make their own games... Mayhaps we should make them play chasey in the streets again, let them catch-us-if-they-can. Make them play our games, our rules, not theirs.'
The Traveller
player, 229 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 12 Mar 2014
at 13:13
  • msg #196

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Zheng Ru:
Ru steeples his fingers in thought.

"That is an intriguing idea, but I suspect it would take some care to frame this challenge in a way that would entice the Fists to take it seriously and take it up.  Remember that they are convinced that they already have the best answer, and they already have a plan -- they feel no need to prove its superiority to anyone.  They may also find little to respect in a challenge framed as an arbitrary 'game'."

He inclines his head to Smoke Alarm.  "Miss Smoke may have afforded us an opportunity by giving a demonstration in which their skills have been decisively bested.  Though I imagine that if we are able to engage them in a formal contest, they will certainly send their best, and attempt to deliver an object lesson of their own."



"Ru baby, I'm sure that you can whoop their best, without even hurting a hair on any of their heads. But what I think they *do* need is their moral high ground. We must take it from them. Underneath that facade of serenity is deep, deep anger on the part of their leader. We need to engage him."

Trav's eyes open wide. "Ru - maybe the reason why they're so powerful at martial arts is because their training enables them to somehow draw on the Blue Sphere for additional strength and power. If that's the case, we can *jam* that. You've clashed with these guys before. What do you think?" She aims her sonic over at the TARDIS control panel."Chibitrav! Pull all the Fists live footage, please, and analyze it?"

Smoke Alarm:
She gave her talkiphone back to Traveller and said 'Do you have a picture of the mind-controlley device? I could wallscrawl it, give Arsurans and Fists the knowhow of it, show them their minds are taken... More, mayhaps I could talk to Dizzy-plant Erysk Sevest, find what she thinks and knows.'


"No, but I think Stan has seen one. Supposedly, it's a blue sphere," this she says as she works on modifying phones with her sonic, occasionally adding a small part to each one. "We need to get word out about how the Fist's training methods get someone ready to accept the influence of the device. *That*, with some conclusive medical evidence of what it does, and maybe some eyewitness testimony of someone who has undergone Fist training, is what we need to get out there."

Trav nods in agreement to Smoke's comments. Trav asks, "Who's Erysk Sevest, babe? A friend of yours?"

Smoke Alarm:
She was excited by Traveller's idea, jumping up and down. 'Icehot fun games!' she cheered, but settled down and agreed with Ru the Orange Kang. 'But the Fists are unfun yawny caretakers, they wouldn't play. No ball-games, no fly-posts, no fun times. And if they did, they'd play mean or make their own games... Mayhaps we should make them play chasey in the streets again, let them catch-us-if-they-can. Make them play our games, our rules, not theirs.'


"Yes, my dear, that is indeed the case. Let's keep that up, and see how far we can go before they try to cheat and change the rules. That is when they will lose the game!"

09:14, Today: The Traveller rolled 25 using 2d6+16 with rolls of 5,4. Trav modifies phones for sphere scan. Ing+tech+sonic.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:23, Wed 12 Mar 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 260 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Wed 12 Mar 2014
at 14:20
  • msg #197

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm pulled a face at the idea of being friends with one of the Fists. Had Traveller forgotten? 'I told you yesterday. She's a Fist Dizzy-plant. I talked to her, made her unbold on Fist things. Another Fist got in, and she bundled him up threw him like rubbish!' Smoke produced the metallic eye-dee card she'd picked up, with a hollow-gram of Eryst Sevest. 'This is her. I have her talkiphone number. Mayhaps she can tell you about the Fists training and the mind-taking device.'


OOC: Smoke told Trav back in post #140 and #146.
The Traveller
player, 230 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 12 Mar 2014
at 14:43
  • msg #198

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav frowns as she hands Smoke back her phone. "I'm sorry, baby. I have 800 years of stuff in this head, I sometimes get forgetful. Maybe I can speak with her? Also, I need to be tested by you, Smoke, and earn being a Blue Kang. Blue Kangs are best! Get my hair died blue, wallrun icehot, wallscrawl and eyespy!" Trav gets this crazed grin, as if she's been looking forward to this. "Or am I too much an oldster?"
Smoke Alarm
player, 261 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Wed 12 Mar 2014
at 15:25
  • msg #199

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke was stunned. 'Eight hundred years of tick-tocks...? That's— lots older than me! I think you're much past being an oldster, old one.' she said with a cheeky grin. 'But no ball-games, no fly-posts, no tests. You can come wallscrawling with me.'
The Traveller
player, 231 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 12 Mar 2014
at 15:43
  • msg #200

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Tagging! Awesome! This is gonna be way fun. Like when I was dating Banksy when I was only 180 years old!"
Stanley Newton
player, 70 posts
Wed 12 Mar 2014
at 23:51
  • msg #201

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"I have only seen the recording. I couldn't get close enough to actually see the one in the Auditorium without drawing too much attention to myself. The device didn't really seem portable...maybe if we somehow removed it from the pedestal but even then..." Stanley thinks for a moment.

"I think you are right about that contest, Trav. The Fists probably consider Smoke Alarm enemy number one right now. She has become a hero for the people of Arsuran, giving them hope. I think they'd grab every opportunity to publicly humiliate and defeat her. The only question is: will they play fair?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:51, Wed 12 Mar 2014.
The Traveller
player, 233 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 00:34
  • msg #202

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav taps her sonic to her cheek. "I know if it were me, I wouldn't. As tempting as it would be to simply land sweet boy on top of one of those globes, who knows what those things can do?"
Smoke Alarm
player, 263 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 02:49
  • msg #203

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

'I wouldn't let them.' Smoke Alarm declared firmly. 'I'd just make it funny.' After all, she wasn't the sort to be humiliated, whatever that meant. She thought the problem over. Someone had to go eyespy the Fists' mind-taking device and scan it with the talkiphone. The Fists would only show-and-tell it to new Fists. 'Mayhaps one of us could play make-believe and join the Fists? Then they'd show-and-tell us the mind-taking device.'
Sereth
player, 136 posts
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 02:56
  • msg #204

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Draconian grunted; lost in thought somewhere else.

"And how do you avoid being brainwashed?"
The Traveller
player, 234 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 03:54
  • msg #205

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav: "I'm under the impression that the whole martial arts training bit makes people susceptible to being brainwashed - otherwise, why bother with all that trouble? My guess is that the electrochemical changes caused by the martial arts techniques used by the fists sets the brain chemistry up to be influenced by the sphere, as well as makes them kick ass fighters. I need to get up close to one of those things and examine it. Well, I'm just worried about any one of you who would get close to those things. I'd prefer examining it with my sonic or one of your phones instead of risking one of us getting too close."

Trav now is fiddling with her turbopistols.  She was in the midst of reinforcing the systems for something they had done before - trapping a TAROT.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:59, Thu 13 Mar 2014.
Zheng Ru
NPC, 12 posts
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 04:45
  • msg #206

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Sereth:
"And how do you avoid being brainwashed?"

Zheng Ru looks at Sereth.

"Sometimes, Legate, I have found that when you face a risk of unknown hazard with an unknown solution, the best way to approach it is to assume you will fail.  Surrender to the attack, concede the demand, acknowledge ignorance of the answer.  If you give yourself over freely to the worst likely consequences you can imagine, you can form a plan of action that will account for it."

He gestures around at the people gathered in the TARDIS.  "In this case, perhaps, one might assume that the Fists' conditioning will take hold, allow for the information we need to be passed back regardless of any change of allegiance, and trust to allies and friends to counter the conditioning after the fact.  If you do this, any surprises will only be to the good."
Smoke Alarm
player, 264 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 05:38
  • msg #207

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

'I think the training makes them have dizzi-plan and follow rulebooks and obey orders like Caretakers. Blank walls, blank minds, no ball-games, no fly-posts, no fun. So they let their brains be taken to the cleaners.' Smoke Alarm explained with a sense of horror, then was shocked at Ru's suggestion. 'Let our brains be taken to cleaners?'
This message was last edited by the player at 11:59, Thu 13 Mar 2014.
Sereth
player, 137 posts
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 05:48
  • msg #208

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

He frowns.

"In that case - get my people out. I have a contact that knows of a ship that can get at least some people out of here; if you can get to it. Do that, and -I- will volunteer myself for this... brainwashing."

The others were smarter; stealthier. They needed to be safe more than he.
The Traveller
player, 235 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 11:49
  • msg #209

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Zheng Ru:
Sereth:
"And how do you avoid being brainwashed?"

Zheng Ru looks at Sereth.

"Sometimes, Legate, I have found that when you face a risk of unknown hazard with an unknown solution, the best way to approach it is to assume you will fail.  Surrender to the attack, concede the demand, acknowledge ignorance of the answer.  If you give yourself over freely to the worst likely consequences you can imagine, you can form a plan of action that will account for it."

He gestures around at the people gathered in the TARDIS.  "In this case, perhaps, one might assume that the Fists' conditioning will take hold, allow for the information we need to be passed back regardless of any change of allegiance, and trust to allies and friends to counter the conditioning after the fact.  If you do this, any surprises will only be to the good."


"Dammit, Ru, you and that damned martyr's complex again. No, I am not loosing anyone here to them. I've lost far too many to worse things." This seems to have struck a sore spot. "If anyone is going to surrender for their goofy kung fu, it's going to be me. I've been through a lot set of harsher hells than these clowns can put me through. I have a pretty strong brain, although I had back up from Mandy and Stan. Remember Snake Boy? Yeah. He wasn't as hot as he thought."

"I want to try simply scanning the damned thing first. If that doesn't work, then maybe we'll do what you're suggesting, but if anyone surrenders, it'll be *me*. Besides, I can do with a few push ups."
Zheng Ru
NPC, 13 posts
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 12:02
  • msg #210

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Ru nods, unruffled by the reactions to his idea.  "No, I quite agree that deliberate surrender is foolish.  But there are many ways to break a crisis of decision.  Few of them prevent all risk perfectly.  Some of them do lead through sacrifice."

He bows his head.  "As always, Traveller, I am ready to support what you and your friends decide."
Sereth
player, 138 posts
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 12:30
  • msg #211

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Simply put.

"No. As unlikely as it might be, if you fail, the cause is lost. I appreciate you putting everyone else before yourself; but in this case, if you do that, you are, selfishly, putting your -pride- ahead of the greater good."

He understood her point of view, he did it daily, but the greater good was more important than anyone's desire to always put others first. Her sacrifice would be in vain; they did not have the abilities to continue without her. His, would not. His inability to help his people in more mundane ways did not help.
The Traveller
player, 236 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 19:49
  • msg #212

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Allright, then. As much as I don't like it, if someone wants to volunteer for Fists training, that's OK. But I still would like to provoke a contest of Kang Fu vs their style. You see, the *only hold* they have on the populace they have is the threat of violence. We have everything else. We have to make that clear, and see how they react to the accusation that their training methods are mind control. Any other ideas? We need to keep this momentum up."
Stanley Newton
player, 71 posts
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 23:04
  • msg #213

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Yeah, that thing with Apep." Stanley shudders, when Trav mentions "snake boy". "That's not something I'd like to experience again. I was very close to losing that struggle. Someone trying to take over your mind like that is... well, I found it a most unpleasant experience. I know that that might sound a bit strange coming from a hypnotherapist but hypnosis is... completely different....Seeing as we have enough people already, I won't be joining the chorus of people volunteering to get brainwashed if you don't mind."

"So my plan is for Trav and Smoke to challenge the Fists and cause a distraction whilst Sereth and I try to get close to the device and get some readings."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:05, Thu 13 Mar 2014.
The Traveller
player, 237 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 13 Mar 2014
at 23:18
  • msg #214

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav comes up behind Stan and drapes her arms over his shoulders. "That's why you are such a beautiful man." She smooches him on the cheek as well, with the same body language that she used with Amanda. "I entrust you with this." She slips into Stan's pocket her sonic. "I've already pre-set it. Just point and click, and it'll take a sull suite of readings. It'll get better readings than the jury rigged phones."
Smoke Alarm
player, 265 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Fri 14 Mar 2014
at 00:39
  • msg #215

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm listened to everyone's talk about whether to let their brains be taken to the cleaners or not. She didn't mind playing make-believe with the Fists, but didn't want to let what was left of her brain be cleaned and taken by them. 'Mayhaps we should outgo and get this sky-fly for Sereth's egg-heads first? One floor at a time.'
The Traveller
player, 238 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 14 Mar 2014
at 05:23
  • msg #216

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm:
Smoke Alarm listened to everyone's talk about whether to let their brains be taken to the cleaners or not. She didn't mind playing make-believe with the Fists, but didn't want to let what was left of her brain be cleaned and taken by them. 'Mayhaps we should outgo and get this sky-fly for Sereth's egg-heads first? One floor at a time.'



"Yeah. Stan, I'll need to take my sonic back for that. It's been a while since I've stolen a vehicle, especially a flying one."
Stanley Newton
player, 72 posts
Fri 14 Mar 2014
at 23:13
  • msg #217

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Traveller:
"Yeah. Stan, I'll need to take my sonic back for that. It's been a while since I've stolen a vehicle, especially a flying one."


"That didn't last long." Stanley laughs as he gives the sonic back to Trav.
Amanda
NPC, 20 posts
Sat 15 Mar 2014
at 02:58
  • msg #218

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Amanda chuckles.  "Don't take it personal, Stanley.  She's just trolling for excuses to kiss people."
The Traveller
player, 239 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 17 Mar 2014
at 01:18
  • msg #219

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Hm. Or maybe Stanley deserves his own sonic." She seems entirely serious with this.

"Worth thinking about. In any case, now, time for auto theft. What's the plan, Smoke?"
Sereth
player, 139 posts
Mon 17 Mar 2014
at 02:34
  • msg #220

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

A pause.

"It's worth noting, that one of my associates knows the original owner, and he still has the access codes. It's just a question of getting -to- the ship."
Smoke Alarm
player, 266 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Mon 17 Mar 2014
at 03:53
  • msg #221

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm outlooked blankly at Traveller. They wanted her plan? She thought about it. 'Mayhaps I could hide-and-sneak my way past the Fist outlooks to the entrance of the sky-fly, tap-tap the codes, and put out the welcome mat? But I don't have the knowhow to work the sky-fly, and getting the rest of the slowpokes in may be a to-do...'

'More, mayhaps I could let the Fists outlooks eyespy me and then we can play chasey. Let them catch-me-if-they-can and I lead them away from the sky-fly. Then you go in sound-and-safe.'
Stanley Newton
player, 73 posts
Mon 17 Mar 2014
at 21:50
  • msg #222

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Yeah, both plans sound doable, Smoke. But how are we going to get Sereth's people to the ship? " Stanley thinks for a sec. "How many people are we talking about?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:50, Mon 17 Mar 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 246 posts
Tue 18 Mar 2014
at 04:46
  • msg #223

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

OOC: Among Sereth's contacts there are people with a varying need and wish to leave Arsuran.  Some have been in touch with the resistance group that Smoke Alarm has strung together and are probably more inclined to stay and help oppose the Fists, directly or passively, after her demonstration.  There are probably two dozen or so that realistically would be much better off getting back to Draconian space: people with vulnerable dependents, or elderly people who aren't going to hold up to the rigors of the training the Fists are trying to put people through.  While the Fists are not forcing actually infirm people to take part in the physical training, they are of course trying to indoctrinate an army, and the group I mentioned would be far outside what the Empire would draft even in a major emergency.
Amanda
NPC, 21 posts
Tue 18 Mar 2014
at 05:00
  • msg #224

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Hrrr...."  Amanda fiddles with her tablet again and the TARDIS holo-display shows a big 3D projection of the whole ring.  "It looks like the monorail runs right by the place.  Of course it depends when you're trying to sneak people in, because it's not supposed to be running at night.  On the other hand if we can make a big enough diversion, it might not matter."
The Traveller
player, 240 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 18 Mar 2014
at 17:51
  • msg #225

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"It also might be a big, juicy trap. And I loves me some big, juicy traps, as well as big eyed pretty ones." Trav smirks at that last one. "So,I presume that I will be going in with the break in group, and other folks will be making the distraction? Amanda, you and I can also set up some data interference, no?"
Smoke Alarm
player, 268 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Thu 20 Mar 2014
at 11:40
  • msg #226

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm outlooked up at the big hollow map of the Arsuran city-ring, tracing the line of the alongways alleviator (otherwise known as the monorail; Monorail!) and the sky-fly port, and generally fixing the layout of the city and towers in her brain. Already, she'd begun picking escape ways for whatever happened. 'If you swipe the sky-fly away, mayhaps you could pick-up the people later. But then the Fist sky-flies will play chasey with it, and I don't think you'd win... No, I think you'd need to get all the slowpokes on-board first at the sky-fly port and make all speed away from Arsuran Orbital Prime.'

'Zoom in, show basements. Is there an unseen in-way through the basements...?' Smoke began, then realised a far easier option. After all, she'd been riding it quite a bit lately. 'Or why not use the talkiphone box! Vworp-vworp on the sky-fly, exit the people, and fly away to eggheads' home-sweet-home!' Out of the mouths of Kangs...
The Traveller
player, 241 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 21 Mar 2014
at 14:49
  • msg #227

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav's lips twist a little. "Because the leader of the bad guys has a magic deck of cards that works like my talkiphone box, but better. I don't want to use my sweet boy unless I absolutely have to. Sweet Boy here is our best asset, and I want to be careful with him."
Smoke Alarm
player, 269 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Sat 22 Mar 2014
at 06:05
  • msg #228

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

'A... magic deck... of cards...?' Smoke Alarm began, confused. And she thought she was strange... She shook her head. 'Okay, no talkiphone box then. We can get the slowpokes in unseen on a chuck-truck or the alongways alleviator, or upstairs through the basement or sewers, then sneak them through the sky-fly port. Mayhaps when lights out, to be unseen.'
The Guardian
GM, 247 posts
Sat 22 Mar 2014
at 19:58
  • msg #229

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

OOC: It might be a worthwhile idea at this point to appoint one player to outline a plan and for everyone to sketch in their role in it.  Then I'll work on placing you all in the scene.  You can assume that any mundane resources required for it can be scrounged up.  If anyone wants to make particular preparations (e.g. a gadget Trav is making, a leadership task from Sereth) you can define a roll against a difficulty of 12 and make it.  Achieving a Good or Fantastic success will gain you a bonus you can apply down the line.
The Guardian
GM, 253 posts
Tue 8 Apr 2014
at 01:56
  • msg #230

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Arsuran Spaceport District, Afternoon

Smoke Alarm watches the east side of the spaceport from the cover of a rooftop, over a shop she's been watching for a couple of days with a CLOSED sign and closed blinds.  From what she's been able to tell, the Fist patrols are maintained during the day, but they're a little less alert to passersby, as some sparse traffic has been moving since the curfew lifted at sunup.

The patrol patterns match up to what Sereth described to her.  She's ready to go when her friends say they're in position.

***

Sereth's comm buzzes to him and he sees a message from Gilso.  One block out, open the doors.  He's in a small warehouse that Magady Bosh was leasing.  With him are Bosh himself and eighteen of the other evacuees that Sereth's contacts have assembled.  Over the last couple of days, he has been able to infiltrate them into the area by different routes and collect them here under the noses of the Fists.  Gilso is just now arriving by hover-truck with the last, less agile passengers who expressed their wish to leave Arsuran.

Sereth and Bosh open up the roll-up warehouse door and the truck turns in.  When Gilso gets out of the cab, there's a proud but determined expression on his face.  "I was careful, sir.  I had to circle the block once to let the patrol go by, but I'm confident I was not seen pulling in."

Now the pieces are in place -- it just needs to be the right time to start.
The Traveller
player, 244 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 10 Apr 2014
at 15:02
  • msg #231

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav is hiding with Smoke Alarm. She's deferring to the girl - while in her 800 years she's done a fair amount of sneaking and running, Smoke Alarm is her senior in this regard. Trav has also dyed blue streaks into her hair, and her hat is now a wide blue headband. With Smoke's permission, this is her Blue Kang initiation.

Trav is maintaining the tunneled quantum entanglement network between the phones, so as to monitor positions.

Quiet whisper to Smoke-"It's all yours, babe. Tell me what to do and when."
Sereth
player, 145 posts
Thu 10 Apr 2014
at 15:19
  • msg #232

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Sereth smiled at Gilso for a moment, and nodded.

"Let's get this done then."

He turned to the rest of the group and spoke, quietly but with an air of authority.

"We're going to be given a diversion. When that happens, you are to follow me as quickly and efficiently as possible. It's the day; so until we're actually within striking distance, we shouldn't cause a stir. No man gets left behind."

After stating this, he turned to his phone, and sent a very quick message.

In Position.

OOC: 01:18, Today: Sereth rolled 17 using 2d6+12 with rolls of 3,2. Leadership: Presence + Convince + VOA.
Smoke Alarm
player, 274 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Fri 11 Apr 2014
at 02:13
  • msg #233

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm eyespied over the low wall around the roof of the shop, carefully outlooking for Fist patrols, and sending and receiving texts from her Kang eyespies and egghead Sereth. After a few days of playing eyespy around this area, she thought she had the knowhow of the Fist patrols and security. She'd gotten lost-and-found in all the neighbouring streets and over towers and under basement carrydoors, and tracked back again. Here and there, she'd stashed things she might need, innocuous and simple but sure to be surprising, and shifted crates and opened a door here and a window there, and generally adjusted the urban environment to help her in her runaway. She'd also sneaked out to Montezu District and made lots of wallscrawls, making the Fists think she was active in the area and gathering there to catch her if they could. Meanwhile, some of her Kang girls were starting a small to-do in Trenary District about now.

'What to-do?' she asked Traveller, confused by the not-Kang-speak. She shrugged. 'No ball-games, no fly-posts, no plans.... Oh, okay, we'll foot it together to the right-hand entryway—' Smoke raised a map of the spaceport on her talkiphone, then pointed to the left-hand side, frowned, rotated the phone, found the map rotated with it, then jabbed the indicated entrance. It was the west entrance, closest to the skyfly the eggheads wanted. 'This one. We start a to-do with the Fists then foot-it all-speed. They make chasey, then we split up in the wear-house alleys. I keep them footing-it and pick up patrols. You go to one of the hide-ins I show-and-telled you, then lose your Fists and come back to see if slowpoke Fists are still at entryway. Lead them away and message Sereth to give all-clear. When skyfly is taken, we scatter all-speed for hide-ins and unseen escape-ways and back to brainquarters.' Smoke Alarm didn't think Traveller would be as quick and agile as her, not after that time climbing on to the talkiphone box, hence she'd picked a simpler task for her. But Traveller was Kangy enough to distract a couple of yawny Fists, that was for sure.

Smoke Alarm made a curious gesture, building one fist on the other before flinging one over her shoulder. 'Build high for happiness.' she said with a grin, then swung herself over the low wall and jumped off the shop, landing neatly in the street below. She looked up to see if Traveller would follow.
The Guardian
GM, 255 posts
Fri 11 Apr 2014
at 03:55
  • msg #234

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Gilso, Bosh and the others in the warehouse listen to Sereth intently.  There's not any great swell of response from them, but then his comments weren't meant to get one.  They do give the impression of taking him very seriously indeed, and he's reassured that when the time comes, they'll follow his instructions and not dither.

Sereth, you can add a Story Point that you can use when it comes to making a roll to get any or all of these NPCs to carry out an order.
The Traveller
player, 245 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 11 Apr 2014
at 18:48
  • msg #235

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm:
'What to-do?' she asked Traveller, confused by the not-Kang-speak. She shrugged. 'No ball-games, no fly-posts, no plans.... Oh, okay, we'll foot it together to the right-hand entryway—' Smoke raised a map of the spaceport on her talkiphone, then pointed to the left-hand side, frowned, rotated the phone, found the map rotated with it, then jabbed the indicated entrance. It was the west entrance, closest to the skyfly the eggheads wanted. 'This one. We start a to-do with the Fists then foot-it all-speed. They make chasey, then we split up in the wear-house alleys. I keep them footing-it and pick up patrols. You go to one of the hide-ins I show-and-telled you, then lose your Fists and come back to see if slowpoke Fists are still at entryway. Lead them away and message Sereth to give all-clear. When skyfly is taken, we scatter all-speed for hide-ins and unseen escape-ways and back to brainquarters.' Smoke Alarm didn't think Traveller would be as quick and agile as her, not after that time climbing on to the talkiphone box, hence she'd picked a simpler task for her. But Traveller was Kangy enough to distract a couple of yawny Fists, that was for sure.

Smoke Alarm made a curious gesture, building one fist on the other before flinging one over her shoulder. 'Build high for happiness.' she said with a grin, then swung herself over the low wall and jumped off the shop, landing neatly in the street below. She looked up to see if Traveller would follow.


"Build high for happiness, babe!" She matches Smokes gesture. Trav does her best to keep up, a manic grin on her face. Tucked in her hand is her sonic, ready to cause mayhem.
Smoke Alarm
player, 276 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Sat 12 Apr 2014
at 00:26
  • msg #236

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

'Icehot!' Smoke cheered as Traveller followed. 'Now try to upkeep and don't embarrass me, oldster!' she teased in a friendly way as they set off to cause some trouble.
The Guardian
GM, 256 posts
Sat 12 Apr 2014
at 03:21
  • msg #237

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

So far, Smoke Alarm and Trav have been out of casual view of the spaceport.  Now they can see the west entrances, walkways and sheltered mezzanines of the huge structure.  Smoke sees a trio of the red-clad Fists making their rounds, but they haven't reacted to the presence of Trav or Smoke, who are still across the street.

Smoke Alarm's eye is drawn to something that stands out among the relatively functional features of the huge structure: a stone block taller than a person, in the shape of an upright pentagon.  It has a logo on it that she recognizes as the emblem of the Arsuran System.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:52, Sat 12 Apr 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 278 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Sun 13 Apr 2014
at 12:31
  • msg #238

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm didn't try to hide-and-seek as they got nearer to the entrance and the Fists. No, she walked brave and bold, proud as the pussycat. That was because she wanted to be eyespied by the Fist caretakers, at least eventually. It was a strange feeling. Still, she tried to stay calm and casual. After all, she had every right to be here. She outlooked the way ahead, 'ware of danger and Fists and eyespying for escape ways.


OOC: How many Fists are there at the west entrance, and what do the security measures look like? Where is the stone block in relation to the entrance? Can Smoke get to it (keeping in mind Smoke can get to a great many things)?

Trying to blend in / go unnoticed as we approach. Distinctive applies a −2, but doesn't say what to roll. I'm not sure.

Looking for danger and access points: Awareness + Ingenuity + Keen Senses = 16
20:29, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 16 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 1,6. awareness + ingenuity + keen senses.
The Guardian
GM, 257 posts
Sun 13 Apr 2014
at 18:43
  • msg #239

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm can see one trio of Fists casually walking within the spaceport on the ground floor, approaching the main entrance from her left.  Another group of the same size is coming around the curve of the building from her right, two levels up.  There are no others in sight just now, though she knows that there is a single Fist who has been making a casual circuit of the whole complex along the sidewalks on the streets that bracket it.

She notes that the main entryway has a couple of electronic cameras fixed on the space where people would normally walk in and out -- she sees the little red lights on them.  She has spotted a couple of others within the interior walkways, but these scan back and forth, so it would be feasible to slip past through the blind spots as they are tracking along their arc.

To either side of the entryway, there are handrails along sides of the encircling walkway.  The walkways start to slope up, away from the entryway, but they would not be a great obstacle to Smoke Alarm.  (It's harder to say about Trav.)

The stone block is situated in the middle of the broad concrete path that leads from the street and the sidewalk; it looks like people might be dropped off at a spot on the street and walk in past the block on either side.  With the small number of people now within the structure, it would make a blind spot for someone's approach, from the right angle.

Smoke can also see what looks a bigger entrance with a paved branch from the street leading straight up to it, apparently meant for vehicles, not people.

As Smoke wanders into view, the group Fists on the ground level glance casually toward her.  One of them does a double take and says something Smoke can't hear to her companions.  They pause, and the one who spoke starts to walk out through the entryway.

Distinctive would make a bonus for someone trying to ID you.  I decided to give the Fists a roll, which was Tricky (despite all the videos, it was night and Smoke's features weren't all that clear.)

However, they rolled remarkably well.

The Guardian, for the NPC Fists, rolled 16 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 5,6. Fists identifying Smoke: awareness(3) + knowledge(2).  Add +2 for Smoke's Distinctive = 17 !
Smoke Alarm
player, 279 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Mon 14 Apr 2014
at 08:30
  • msg #240

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

OOC: Actually, that should be an 18.


As she approached, Smoke noted the positions of the Fist foot-patrols and the picture-takers, and all the inways and outways of the spaceport. Smoke Alarm could foot-it all over that, but Traveller would probably have a harder time of it. She wanted to lead the Fists away from the entrance, but had to round up all the ones inside first. 'Can you open-says-a-me the fly-car entry-way, put out the welcome mat for the eggheads?' she said quietly to Traveller. If that was no-entrance, then the eggheads were outgoing nowhere. 'Tell the eggheads to come-in behind that big block.' she added, pointing to the pentagonal standing stone.

Then the Fists finally eyespied her. 'I'm famous.' she told Traveller with a proud grin. Smoke Alarm kept footing it to the entryway, faster now, and leaving Traveller a safe distance behind her. In the open space, eyespied, she felt exposed, vulnerable, cold and itchy in the back of her neck. Every smart Kang instinct told her to run, run, run! But she contained herself, made herself keep going to keep provoking the caretakers, even though she bubbled inside. She felt brave and bold and so very excited. Maybe it was the sweets she'd had today.

She gave the coming-in Fist a cheery wave, then calmly took out a spray-paint can. After a rattling shake, she started wallscrawling a hand sign on the big yawny stone block, in full view of the Fists. This hand was half-closed, with two fingers raised at the shocked Fists.


OOC: Can I ready an action? Smoke will make a move to escape if the Fists rush at her with intent to attack, by jumping atop the stone block.
The Guardian
GM, 258 posts
Tue 15 Apr 2014
at 02:05
  • msg #241

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"You!  Stop that!"

The Fist who first began approaching Smoke Alarm puts on a burst of speed to try to intercept her.  The others on the street level start to run out to join the altercation, while the group on the upper spaceport level have just caught sight of what's going on.

Smoke, if you're trying to get all of the Fists in view to come after you, you can assume that the first three are on their way.  The first one will move to you and try to grapple you, while the other two will just try to close the distance -- for the purposes of the chase rules, they're all within a distance of a couple of Areas.

Getting up atop the block would count as a chase stunt that the Fist would need to match to get at you.

For the group of Fists on the upper level, figure that they're at least a little wary of a diversion.  They're also a couple of additional Areas away.  You will want to make an action to try to bluff them into coming after you (Presence + Convince or Presence + Subterfuge).  I see the actions lining up like this:

Talk -> Smoke's bluff
Move -> Fists close, Smoke's stunt
Do -> Nothing as yet
Fight -> Fist's attack, Smoke's dodge, if the Fist can close.

Trav should figure out what she's going to do in this sequence as well.
Smoke Alarm
player, 280 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Tue 15 Apr 2014
at 02:41
  • msg #242

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm glanced over the shoulder at the shouty Fist, but didn't make much of a reaction. Slowpokes. Calmly, she finished wallscrawling her two-finger hand, taunting them by just how little concern she had for them even as she opened defied them. She whistled a little tune.

Then, finishing her wallscrawling and pocketing her spray-paint can, Smoke jumped up and grabbed the top of the block, scrambling up on top even as the Fists reached for her heels. It proved much more slipperier under the shoes than expected, especially with the paint she'd just put on it. Uh oh...


OOC: It seems like only a Tricky stunt, Difficulty 15. Coordination + Athletics + Jumping + Kang Fu: 16
10:34, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 16 using 2d6+13 with rolls of 2,1. coord + athletics + jumping + KF.
The Traveller
player, 247 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 15 Apr 2014
at 12:56
  • msg #243

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav giggles from her hiding place, actually enjoying a self righteous fist get upset. As Smoke engages in some good natured vandalism, she sneaks from her hiding spot over towards the entrance, waiting for the Queen Kang to do her thing and cause distraction. Once it looks safe to sneak, Trav carefully sneakers over to the entrance, sonic at the ready.

OOC: What rolls do I need to make?

09:39, Today: The Traveller rolled 26 using 2d6+16 with rolls of 5,5. Correct roll - Trav sonics open gate.
09:36, Today: The Traveller rolled 20 using 4d6+5 with rolls of 6,2,5,2. Trav sneaks pasts fists. 2d6+4 Coordination+1 Subterfuge+SP.
SP current total after expenditure: 3
This message was last edited by the player at 13:40, Tue 15 Apr 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 259 posts
Tue 15 Apr 2014
at 13:07
  • msg #244

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav will want to sneak over to the entrance (Coordination + Subterfuge) and then unlock the gate (Ingenuity + Technology + sonic).

I'll get a response to this up later.
The Guardian
GM, 260 posts
Wed 16 Apr 2014
at 02:54
  • msg #245

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Fist woman springs into the air after Smoke Alarm, and nearly gets a foothold atop the slanting surface of the stone block.  But her shoe skids along the concrete at a crucial point and she kicks off to flip back, landing on her feet in a ready stance as her teammates come pelting up to the sign.  Smoke stands at bay atop it, with two Fists on the spaceport side and one on the street side.

Meanwhile, the second triad start down.  They stop, and their gaze tracks across where Trav is trying to slip toward the freight entrance.  Trav freezes behind a convenient stand of topiary -- and then she hears the Fists moving again, descending to ground level.

Trav slips over to the shelter of the freight entryway.  There's another surveillance camera here and a heavy gate with an electronic lock control.  Some quick work with the sonic finds the override code for the lock, and the red warning lights trip to green.  With a slight adjustment, she sends a set of commands to the camera that get it to loop through an innocuous section of its on-board memory for transmission to the system monitoring it at the far end.

The gate is still closed.  It looks like the controls allow it to be opened under power, or to disengage from the motors for opening by hand.  The gate itself covers an entrance that is six meters wide by four high; the grating might allow a person to wriggle through it, but would block off vehicles.  Through the gate, Trav can see a passageway that goes about ten meters before it opens up into the docking area proper, where painted vehicle lanes lead between a number of parked ships.  She can't see anyone moving from where she is.


The Guardian, for the NPC First Fist, rolled 14 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 1,5. Matching Smoke's stunt: Coordination(4) + Athletics(4).

The Guardian, for the NPC Fists, rolled 18 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 5,4. Spotting Trav: Awareness(4) + Subterfuge(3) + Keen Senses(2).

Trav's sonic was against a difficulty of 15; as that was a second action that technically became a 17.  But I figured she would ace it and she did, well enough that she doesn't trip the camera either.

New round.  Trav can choose how to work the gate controls for free; opening the gate under power would also be free.  Disengaging it and opening it by hand would be a Tricky Strength + Athletics roll.  You can choose to take extra time with that: for every round you want to take, you can add in your Strength again.

Chances are that the gate will make some noise if it opens under power and might attract attention.

Smoke Alarm
player, 281 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Wed 16 Apr 2014
at 04:00
  • msg #246

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Climbing up just in time, Smoke Alarm jumped up and down atop the stone block. 'Ha ha! Slowpokes! Butter-toes!' she jeered at the Fists circling below like hungry red dogs. She picture-took them with her talkiphone. But they weren't that slow and would be jumping up here with her in ticktocks. After glancing around to locate Traveller (unseen by Fists, good Kang) and the other Fists, Smoke turned and skipped off the sloping side of the pentagon.

With the Fists hot on her heels, she sprinted toward the spaceport, in the opposite direction to Traveller and the vehicle entry-way. She headed toward the patrol on the walk-way, grabbing the handrail and swinging herself over onto the ramp. Ahead of the patrol now, she blew a raspberry at them intending to get their attention. It was a lot like herding dogs.


OOC: Jumping off the block and evading Fists: Coord + Athletics + Jumping + Kang Fu = 20
11:41, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 20 using 2d6+13 with rolls of 5,2. coord + athletics + jumping + KF.

Moving at Speed 6

Juming onto the ramps ahead of the patrol: Coord + Athletics + Jumping = 21
11:57, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 21 using 2d6+11 with rolls of 5,5. coord + athletics + jumping. (I removed Kang Fu from this roll.)

Obviously, Smoke doesn't intend to get trapped on the ramps, so she'll stay at a point when she can jump off safely.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:43, Thu 17 Apr 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 261 posts
Thu 17 Apr 2014
at 03:20
  • msg #247

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke vaults over the startled group surrounding the pentagon and leaves them flat-footed as she races toward the spaceport.

The other three moving to cut her off, a man and a pair of women, aren't so surprised.  She's startled to see them leap off the ramp leading down from the upper level, swinging off the safety rails to launch themselves into her path.  They come leaping at Smoke Alarm with a flurry of strikes, slapping open hands on the Kang and throwing foot-locks and pins at her!

Since Moving > Fighting, the first group of Fists around the block have to give chase to try to catch her before they can try to attack her.  The second have to do the same, but since Smoke is moving vaguely towards them (inasmuch as they're inside the spaceport she's moving toward) I'm going to add a Story Point to their roll to intercept her.  Smoke, add a Story Point to compensate.

The Guardian, for the NPC Fist Group 1, rolled 13 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 4,1. Catching Smoke Alarm: Coordination(4) + Athletics (4).
The Guardian, for the NPC Fist Group 2, rolled 25 using 4d6+8 with rolls of 4,4,3,6. Intercepting Smoke Alarm: Coordination(4) + Athletics(4) + 4d6.

Their grapples:

The Guardian, for the NPC Fist, rolled 20 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 6,6. Grappling Smoke Alarm: Coordination(4) + Martial Arts(6) - 2 (second action).
The Guardian, for the NPC Fist, rolled 14 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 2,4. Grappling Smoke Alarm: Coordination(4) + Martial Arts(6) - 2 (second action).
The Guardian, for the NPC Fist, rolled 17 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 6,3. Grappling Smoke Alarm: Coordination(4) + Martial Arts(6) - 2 (second action).

Smoke will need to dodge, at -2, but she only has to make one roll.

Note for Trav: you can still take your action(s) for this turn.  The Fists have missed you, so far as you know, so what Smoke is doing shouldn't interfere.  You likely see that she breaks toward the spaceport but she goes out of your view.
Smoke Alarm
player, 283 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Thu 17 Apr 2014
at 09:42
  • msg #248

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm was startled to eyespy the Fists jumping off the ramps in front of her, feeling unhappily like they'd stolen her gig. But, on the sunny side, at least they'd saved her from up-going to get them and inviting them downstairs to play. Now they were all together, Fists ahead and behind, and ready to run.

They pounced on her like pussycats, striking from all around with grabby hands, quickly making an all-out to-do. But Smoke Alarm reacted with all her Kang Fu skills and greeted them with the how-you-do at all-speed, slapping down two blows, clapping, then slapping away two more. Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, caretaker man, she hummed the rhythm, speeding herself up to match the Fists. She moved like Smoke among the Fists, ducking here and dodging there and weaving around and through them with expert grace and utter chaos. They could barely lay a hand on her. And all the while she was laughing like it was a great game. Still, these Fists were much faster and harder than her, and it was only a matter of time before they worked out how to catch her. Time to run. Smoke darted forward and slipped between two Fists with fingers to spare, hopped away, then turned back to blow them a raspberry. 'Catch me if you can!'


OOC: I'll turn around and spend that Story Point to add 2d6 to my Dodge roll.
18:41, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 26 using 4d6+10 with rolls of 3,5,4,4. Coordination + Fighting + Kang Fu + SP.
And -2 for 24.

I'm not sure if I can act again. I'll wait for Traveller.
The Traveller
player, 250 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 17 Apr 2014
at 15:31
  • msg #249

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

OOC: Trav can phone track Smoke. She will move sneak ahead and sonic open that door as planned.
The Guardian
GM, 262 posts
Thu 17 Apr 2014
at 22:09
  • msg #250

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

OOC: Trav, as noted above, you've successfully unlocked the gate.  If you're going to open it let me know which way you intend to do so; if you're just going to use the automatic system you can go ahead and roll another sneak (Coordination + Subterfuge.)  There will be a chance that someone else inside the spaceport may detect you, and the sound of the gate will give them a better chance.
The Traveller
player, 251 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 18 Apr 2014
at 13:40
  • msg #251

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav looks around - she'd normally try to get into some computer systems and hack up more distractions, but time is of the essence. Instead, she carefully toggles the automatic system to open the gate in as quiet a way as possible, while aiming her sonic at a nearby data junction to make the gate seem closed to Control.

OOC - let me know if you need a tech roll
09:41, Today: The Traveller rolled 14 using 4d6 with rolls of 1,4,3,6. Quietly open the gate:2d6+4 coordinatuon+1 subterfuge+2d6 SP.2 SP left. DERP - I forgot to add my Coordination and Subterfuge and my total should be 19
This message was last edited by the player at 13:44, Fri 18 Apr 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 263 posts
Sat 19 Apr 2014
at 04:08
  • msg #252

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm darts away from the Fists, who came uncomfortably close to grabbing her but fell just short.  As she turns back to taunt the closer ones, she sees that one of the group that she left farther behind is looking her way and talking into a comm unit.

Trav opens the gate and it pulls out of the way with a steady mechanical hum and a muted kchunk as it locks into an open position.  She creeps inside the spaceport proper, where she can see an assortment of docked spaceships of various sorts.  She can hear ambient echoes around the place that suggest she's not alone among the ships, but she doesn't spot anyone, nor does she hear any alarm that suggests she's been spotted.

Smoke Alarm, you can proceed with whatever you choose to do next.

The Guardian, for the NPC Fists, rolled 16 using 2d6+11 with rolls of 3,2. Picking up Trav: Awareness(4) + Subterfuge(3) + Keen Senses(2) + 2 (for noise of opening gate).  So far, so good for Trav.
Amanda
NPC, 22 posts
Sat 19 Apr 2014
at 04:11
  • msg #253

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Sereth's comm buzzes.  He sees the furred face of Trav's friend Amanda pop up.

"Legate?" she says.  "I've been watching the comm bands from here, and I'm seeing a spike in activity from the local cell repeaters around the spaceport.  I don't know if you've heard from Trav or Smoke Alarm, but there's definitely something happening there."
Smoke Alarm
player, 284 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Sat 19 Apr 2014
at 12:17
  • msg #254

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm started backing away a few foots, keeping space between her and the advancing Fists. Eyespying the one on the talkiphone, she knew there'd be lots more here in ticktocks. She had to move the whole pack away from the spaceport soon; already Traveller had opened the fly-car entryway, and it would be time for the eggheads to drive in at all-speed.

She had to make her noise first, to tell the Fists what she thought and give them a good reason for her being here so they didn't think about the spaceport gate. She couldn't think of anything in particular. 'Well, aren't you going to ask me why I'm doing this?' she demanded. 'Catch me and find out!'

Spinning on her heels, Smoke took off at what was, for her, a light jog away from the west entrance. She looked back to make sure the Fists following, zigzagging left and right if she needed to.


OOC: Moving at Speed 6, or less to keep the Fists on my tail.
The Guardian
GM, 264 posts
Tue 22 Apr 2014
at 02:56
  • msg #255

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

As Smoke Alarm pelts along the west side of the spaceport, heading roughly north, she is easily outdistancing the group in pursuit of her.  Then she sees another trio of Fists coming toward her, from around the northwest corner of the structure.

One of them breaks stride as the others keep coming on.  Smoke Alarm sees a look of dismay wash over the Fist's face.

It's Erysk Sevest.
Smoke Alarm
player, 285 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Tue 22 Apr 2014
at 03:37
  • msg #256

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Eyespying Erysk, Smoke faltered in her run. Oh no, what's she doing here? She was supposed to be trolling Miszere District. Smoke wished she'd outgone to talk with Erysk before all this to-do, to make the Fist lady more unbold. But maybe she'd read the wallscrawls, and had ideas of her own now.

Smoke halted for a moment, jumping to wave her hands at the oncoming Fists. 'Help, help, I'm being repressed!' she called, then turned sideways, running for the spaceport wall. Veering to her left, she leaped and ran along the wall a couple of foots, maintaining all-speed as she tried to circle behind Erysk's patrol.


OOC: How many Fists are following Smoke from the entrance?
Avoiding the press of Fists front and back by moving out of the way and getting around them, getting closer to Erysk. Probably not really a stunt though.
Coordination + Athletics + Jumping + Kang Fu: 17
11:33, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 17 using 2d6+13 with rolls of 2,2. Coordination + Athletics + Jumping + Kang Fu.
(In the dice-roller, I included Fighting by mistake, but this doesn't change anything.)
The Guardian
GM, 265 posts
Tue 22 Apr 2014
at 05:01
  • msg #257

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke makes an elusive zig-zag to try to get around Erysk's group -- but she misreads the cues in their approach.  Erysk leaps to the top of the wall, blocking Smoke Alarm's maneuver, and the two of them skid to a halt, balanced atop the wall just a few meters apart.

"You?" Erysk says in disbelief.  "That was you that made that display in Detranzed Square, and has been spreading these signs ever since?"  Her expression tightens.  "I wanted to talk; I even gave you the chance.  Why did you ever choose to just spread chaos instead?"

The two Fists who accompanied her have stopped just short of the wall.  They're close enough that they could probably jump and strike, but they seem to be held in their tracks, surprised by Erysk's questions.

Regarding who's following you: you're kind of stringing them out.  North to south, it lines up roughly like this:

(North)
3 Fists including Erysk
Smoke
3 Fists who tried fighting her
2 Fists who caught her at the stone block
1 Fist who actually tried jumping on the block
(South)

I'll just do one overall roll for this:

The Guardian, for the NPC Fists, rolled 19 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 5,6. Fists converging on Smoke: Coordination(4) + Athletics(4).

Ooh, they did well.  I'll interpret this ("No, but") as you getting caught up in close earshot of Erysk's group while the others still have to close.  You can try talking to these (well, probably mainly Erysk) before they'll have a chance to try to nab you.
Smoke Alarm
player, 286 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Tue 22 Apr 2014
at 06:09
  • msg #258

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm skidded to a stop, balancing like a gutter-bird on the low wall of the carrydoor around the spaceport. Her shoes scuffed dust on the wall. Her breaths came hard in her mouth. Erysk had blocked her in front, the Fists were crowding below. Go back, go upstairs; she didn't have many exits. Maybe she could be talky now. 'I wanted to talk to you too.' she promised Erysk, speaking loud enough for all the Fists to hear. 'All Arsurans want to talk with you Fists. But you've made them unbrave, and I can't talk it all, and you just won't listen. So, I had to show-and-tell you instead. Make you eyespy, make you understand.'

'Now, mayhaps we play a game. If you win, you can ask a question and the other must answer. All truths, no liars with pants on fire. Now: eyespy, with my little I, something beginning with F.' she sang.


OOC: Distracting the Fists and getting them to talk with Smoke, and spending a SP to add +2d6: 22
13:56, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 22 using 4d6+4 with rolls of 6,3,3,6. presence + convince + brave + SP.
The Traveller
player, 252 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 22 Apr 2014
at 18:51
  • msg #259

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav is carefully scooting between the ships, while occasionally glancing at the phone. "Chibi! Front and center, baby." Chibitrav appears on her I pad, little paw like hands on the bottom edge of the screen, a fedora'd adorable head poking up.

"Can you be a doll and make sure all the cameras and sensors around the ship over there are just showing a loop of activity showing no one around? I need to get onboard and get her ready for the refugees. We need to help a bunch of Draconians get out of here. Love you, baby!" She rubs noses with the little holo.

Texting to the rest of the team over Travnet. <<Main entrance is open, securing ship now. Smoke's location is marked here on your maps, I'm here. Will signal once ship is secure.>>

Ducking between pillars and behind other ships, Trav is making her way to the designated vessel, ready to sonic her way in.
The Guardian
GM, 266 posts
Wed 23 Apr 2014
at 02:44
  • msg #260

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm:
'Now, mayhaps we play a game. If you win, you can ask a question and the other must answer. All truths, no liars with pants on fire. Now: eyespy, with my little I, something beginning with F.'</blue> she sang.

Erysk's mouth quirks with just a hint of a smile, although she doesn't drop her ready stance or her guard at all.  "'Fists'," she says.  Her gaze flicks over Smoke Alarm.  "I spy, with my little eye, something that begins with 'N'."

The rest of the pursuing Fists start to catch up, slowing and holding their distance as they see Erysk and Smoke Alarm speaking atop the wall.  "Disciplant--" one of them begins, but she silences him with a look.

The Guardian, for the NPC Erysk, rolled 16 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 2,5. Spotting delaying tactics: Awareness(4) + Ingenuity(3) + Empathic(2).

You're good for continuing with this without a roll at least until the 'game' concludes or you do something that makes them suspicious.
The Guardian
GM, 267 posts
Wed 23 Apr 2014
at 02:52
  • msg #261

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Traveller:
Ducking between pillars and behind other ships, Trav is making her way to the designated vessel, ready to sonic her way in.

The interior of the spaceport seems largely deserted.  Light as they are, Trav's footsteps make echoes that the space swallows up and dissolves into an ambient susurration.  Following the cheerful blue-and-yellow berth numbering signs, she comes into sight of Magady Bosh's ship.

Make an Awareness + Ingenuity check to see if you spot anything as you move.
Smoke Alarm
player, 287 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Wed 23 Apr 2014
at 03:14
  • msg #262

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke waggled a finger at the dizzy-plant. 'Uh-uh, the word was "fthugs".' she explained with a smirk, glancing meaningfully down at the Fists below. 'But I'll let you win with that. Now, you ask me a question: truth or dare.'


OOC: Should I roll some check to see if I eyespy the answer?
This message was last edited by the player at 03:15, Wed 23 Apr 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 268 posts
Wed 23 Apr 2014
at 03:39
  • msg #263

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm:
OOC: Should I roll some check to see if I eyespy the answer?


I'll give you for free that Erysk was looking over Smoke Alarm's person in particular, and the GM was reviewing your character bio, when I picked it.

I'll post Erysk's question later.
The Traveller
player, 253 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 23 Apr 2014
at 18:15
  • msg #264

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
The Traveller:
Ducking between pillars and behind other ships, Trav is making her way to the designated vessel, ready to sonic her way in.

The interior of the spaceport seems largely deserted.  Light as they are, Trav's footsteps make echoes that the space swallows up and dissolves into an ambient susurration.  Following the cheerful blue-and-yellow berth numbering signs, she comes into sight of Magady Bosh's ship.

Make an Awareness + Ingenuity check to see if you spot anything as you move.


14:15, Today: The Traveller rolled 16 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 3,5. 2d6+2 Awareness + 8 Ingenuity - Trav making sure she's not spotted.
The Guardian
GM, 269 posts
Thu 24 Apr 2014
at 01:51
  • msg #265

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

As Trav comes toward the sheltered docking bay that contains Bosh's ship, the Bounty of Hrevistis Warren, she sees that there's a young man in the uniform of a Fist ambling along the through-way between the Bounty and the adjacent bays.  He's studying his portable comm, and looks a little concerned.

While Trav watches him, he turns the other way.  It seems like he's not terribly alert, but he is walking a pattern between her and the ship.
The Guardian
GM, 270 posts
Thu 24 Apr 2014
at 02:00
  • msg #266

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm:
Now, you ask me a question: truth or dare.'

"'Truth'," says Erysk.  "Truth's always something to strive towards.  What is it that you mean to accomplish by painting graffiti and slogans challenging the Fists of the Suns?  Are you angry at us for harming someone?  Do you resist the idea that discipline and self-realization must be imposed for the good of all?  Or do you only seek the thrill of setting your skills against ours?"
Smoke Alarm
player, 288 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Thu 24 Apr 2014
at 02:45
  • msg #267

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke counted, then waggled her finger at Erysk again. 'That's four questions.' She counted off the questions on her fingers. 'Number One: the Traveller wants to give you the knowhow that what you're doing is wrong and mean, and your philophosy is broken. Read the words, don't scrub them out.'

'Numbers Two, Three and Four: Yes and yes and yes. Two: You hurt and made unalive innocent people, sploded their home-sweet-homes, and made life unfun for all.'

'Three: Self-realisation must come-out from insides oneself, not from outsides, else it's just someone else's realisation. All peoples have different kinds of good, different selfs. Oldsters and youngsters, humans and eggheads, Arsurans and Fists, Caretakers and Kangs and Rezzies. No one-size-fits-all.' Smoke had certainly been reading what she'd scrawling.

'Four: I want to show-and-tell everyone, Arsurans and Fists, that Fists are not unstoppable and unbeatable. Because I'm brave and bold as a Kang should be, and I have my own dizzy-plan.'

'And you eyespied my necklace.' she said, noting how Erysk had eyespied her earlier. Smoke rattled it. 'Doggy teeth. I pulled them out of my leg, then out of the dog. Now, my question; I get four too because you were a hungry-hippo. Why are you here? In the Fists, and on Arsuran, and on this wall, and in this life. Truth or dare or pants-on-fire.'

'And eyespy with my little I something beginning with... Q.'

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Questions.

This message was last edited by the player at 02:52, Thu 24 Apr 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 271 posts
Thu 24 Apr 2014
at 03:26
  • msg #268

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Erysk nods.  "Good questions."

"I'm in the Fists because when I was as about as old as you, I hadn't found my own reasons and methods for being, the way you seem to have done, and the Order and the Three Journeys showed me some of each that worked.

"I'm on Arsuran because some time soon, this part of space is going to be invaded by a conquering force that calls itself the Army of Gehenna.  This army will not show any restraint.  It will not try to teach those it conquers any philosophy that tries to make them better people.  It will take what it wants, kill those who stand up to it without hesitating, turn every world into a machine for turning worlds into machines.  I'm on Arsuran because the only thing that can stand up to an army is another army, and to defeat the Gehennans we will need the smartest, strongest, wisest, and largest army we can build.

"I'm on this wall because I'm trying to teach you and learn from you.  Because you are bold enough to challenge the Fists and brave enough to find out what we're trying to do.

"I'm in this life to raise the people and places around me to be better than they are.  Starting with myself."
The Guardian
GM, 272 posts
Thu 24 Apr 2014
at 03:53
  • msg #269

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

I swear on my life I wrote that post and particularly the first line before I moused over your spoiler text.  That was a genuine Bilbo Baggins moment.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:54, Thu 24 Apr 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 289 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Thu 24 Apr 2014
at 04:58
  • msg #270

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

'Yay, you got it!' Smoke cheered as Erysk said what she was thinking of.

She listened carefully to Erysk's answers, alarmed by the talk of an army of machines. 'Machines? Like Cleaners?' she said, worried, but didn't want to sound like she agreed too much. They weren't the issue right now. She had to tell Traveller this. 'Like you Fists want to make us into Fists? No, wait, that was a question. It's not my turn.'

'But no, the only thing that can upstand to an army is people. Lots of different people, all upstanding in their own ways. In Paradise Towers, the Rezzies knitted nets and the Caretakers distracted them and gave sposives and the Kangs threw the nets and shot their arrowguns, and we all together took the Cleaners to the cleaners and put the Towers to rights. But if you make us all the same, we can only upstand to this Army of Genna in one way, your way, and that mayhaps be no way or a wrong way. If we are all different, but all together, we can upstand to the Genna in all ways, right ways, left ways, inways and outways, finding best ways.'

'You say mayhaps I don't need your dizzy-plan and self-realisation and journeys, because I have my own. So mayhaps you don't need to impose it. Mayhaps the Kang way is a better way.'

'Okay, your turn. Eyespy. Ask your question.' Smoke nudged Erysk. She wondered how Traveller and Sereth were getting on getting the eggheads out on the escape-way. She could hardly get her talkiphone out and ask right now.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:53, Thu 24 Apr 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 274 posts
Fri 25 Apr 2014
at 02:03
  • msg #271

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

On hearing Smoke Alarm's talk of 'Cleaners', Erysk looks like she's about to interrupt to correct her, but as Smoke goes on to describe the Fists' actions, Erysk's expression is all that Smoke needs to correct her initial impression.

Erysk thinks through the rest of what Smoke Alarm has told her.  Some of the other Fists seem to be growing impatient, but Erysk keeps drawing deep, easy breaths.  Finally she speaks up.  "Who is 'the Traveller'?"
Smoke Alarm
player, 292 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Fri 25 Apr 2014
at 02:29
  • msg #272

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

She couldn't really say who Traveller was, really, but she was a friend and a good person. But Smoke didn't want to give too much away about her to the Fists, given her unbraveness about the sweet boy and the magic cards, or that she was in the spaceport right now. This talky time had gone on long enough, and Smoke needed to keep up her distraction before the Fists got yawny and went back to the entry-way. 'Dare.' she refused with a smirk.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:37, Fri 25 Apr 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 277 posts
Sat 26 Apr 2014
at 01:03
  • msg #273

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Erysk gives Smoke Alarm a considering look.  "I dare you to come and see for yourself what we're up against."
Smoke Alarm
player, 294 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Sat 26 Apr 2014
at 01:29
  • msg #274

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke shook her head, pleased she'd eyespied the Fist's trick, daring her to come with them. Naughty. 'No ball-games, no fly-posts, no outgoings away from the game... Mayhaps later. And mayhaps you can comeout and talk with the Traveller. But now, new dare, like jump up to the next floor or take off your pants.'
This message was last edited by the player at 01:32, Sat 26 Apr 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 279 posts
Sat 26 Apr 2014
at 22:20
  • msg #275

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Erysk sighs.  "Ah, well, that's a shame.  If this is a game where one can opt out of the rules when you don't like the choices you're given, then I fear it may be time to stop playing it."

Her fellow Fists tense, almost imperceptibly.

Up to Smoke how to proceed from here.  You might try another tack to keep her talking, or resume the chase; the other Fists are going to take another try at capturing you if you don't do something to change that.
Smoke Alarm
player, 296 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Sun 27 Apr 2014
at 01:24
  • msg #276

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke nodded, agreeing. 'That's why it's a good game! If the rules are unfun, change them. If the choices are bad, make new ones. Everyone should have fun.' she said, eyespying the Fists getting ready to pounce. Talky time was over. 'Now you want to hurt me, take me to the cleaners, right? That's unfair and unfun. Mayhaps you just don't know how to play nice with others. Mayhaps you just don't want to talk with the Traveller and knowhow we think.' she continued, talking for time as she tried to figure out how to get out of this. She was up too high and had stopped moving, which made it harder to make a getaway.

She outlooked at Erysk. 'Mayhaps I will comeout with you — if you catch me if you can!'

Then she turned and jumped off the wall, feet pushing off the edge. Smoke flew high over the heads of the Fists down below, and sailed gracefully down into the pavement. As she did, she tucked herself into a roll over the footpath, before springing up to run away laughing.


OOC: I'm not sure of the Difficulty. Hard or opposed? I'll drop a Story Point to bump it up if it looks to be a failure.
09:16, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 19 using 2d6+13 with rolls of 5,1. Coordination + Athletics + Jumping + Kang Fu.
The Guardian
GM, 280 posts
Mon 28 Apr 2014
at 04:05
  • msg #277

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Fists, including Erysk, are more than ready for Smoke Alarm to switch back to the game of catch-me-if-you-can, and several of them leap to try to nab her.  Only by corkscrewing madly past them does she reach the ground without one of them catching her, and several of them hit the ground right at her heels.

As she sprints away and looks back over her shoulder, she sees that Erysk is in the lead, her face a mask of determination.

Consider the story point spent for a success as per your last post.

The Guardian, for the NPC Fists, rolled 20 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 6,6. Intercepting Smoke Alarm: Coordination(4) + Athletics(4).

You can resume the chase at this point with the Fists in the same distance band with you.
The Guardian
GM, 281 posts
Mon 28 Apr 2014
at 04:10
  • msg #278

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Back in Magady Bosh's warehouse, a sliver of the afternoon light comes down from the ceiling.  Sereth and Stanley see Gilso appear through the rooftop exit.  He hurries down to them.

"Legate," he says, "did we get an all-clear from the Traveller yet?  I was trying to keep watch on the site.  There's a disturbance on the northwest corner of the site; it looks like a number of Fists in pursuit of the human Kang girl.  I think we might have an open shot to the delivery entrance."
Sereth
player, 149 posts
Mon 28 Apr 2014
at 04:28
  • msg #279

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

He paused; but...

"No all-clear from the Traveller, but if there's a disturbance and a chance at an open shot, we have to take it. We can't know how long the disturbance will go for."

He then turned to the rest of the refugees, and started to give orders.

"Right. This is what we've been waiting for. Move quickly, move quietly, look out for your neighbour.  We -will- make it through this, all of us."

OOC: Me at the front, Gilso at the back. Keeping an eye on any known to be particularly frail.
Smoke Alarm
player, 297 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Mon 28 Apr 2014
at 07:14
  • msg #280

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

With Fists close on her heels, Smoke Alarm sprinted directly away from the spaceport, into the streets of the surrounding district and drawing the whole pack of Fists along after her and away from the scene. 'Ha ha! Run with me, Erysk!' she invited, looking back as she turned a corner.

Quickly, Smoke reached into a pocket where her talkiphone was, and hit send on a message she'd typed earlier.
quote:
Fists away playing chasey. Egghedds be outgoing all-speed! :)



OOC: Just letting them play chasey, and accelerating a bit to make some space.
Coordination + Athletics = 14. Assuming Difficulty 12, that should net me +1 Area.
Run For Your Life! Speed +1
Total Speed: 7

Are all the Fists from the entrance and Erysk's patrol chasing Smoke now?
The Traveller
player, 255 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 28 Apr 2014
at 19:51
  • msg #281

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm:
With Fists close on her heels, Smoke Alarm sprinted directly away from the spaceport, into the streets of the surrounding district and drawing the whole pack of Fists along after her and away from the scene. 'Ha ha! Run with me, Erysk!' she invited, looking back as she turned a corner.

Quickly, Smoke reached into a pocket where her talkiphone was, and hit send on a message she'd typed earlier.
quote:
Fists away playing chasey. Egghedds be outgoing all-speed! :)



OOC: Just letting them play chasey, and accelerating a bit to make some space.
Coordination + Athletics = 14. Assuming Difficulty 12, that should net me +1 Area.
Run For Your Life! Speed +1
Total Speed: 7

Are all the Fists from the entrance and Erysk's patrol chasing Smoke now?


Trav is transmitting everything that is occuring within range of the phones along her highly encrypted superphone network. The team is receiving Smoke's exchange with Erysk.

<<Everyone hold your position until Erysk takes the bait. If Smoke can't get her to bite, I will.>>

OOC: Gary,is Trav on board the ship?
Stanley Newton
player, 81 posts
Mon 28 Apr 2014
at 20:21
  • msg #282

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to The Traveller (msg # 281):

After receiving Trav's message Stanley looks at Sereth. "Trav says we need to stay put for now, at least for now."
The Guardian
GM, 282 posts
Mon 28 Apr 2014
at 22:22
  • msg #283

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Traveller:
OOC: Gary,is Trav on board the ship?


I'll post more for the others later, but to answer this: Trav isn't on the ship, she's right where she was left at message 265, with one guy she needs to sneak or bamboozle or way past.  He's not aware of her presently, but if she just strolls up and sonics open the hatch, he will be.
The Guardian
GM, 283 posts
Tue 29 Apr 2014
at 01:58
  • msg #284

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm starts outdistancing the Fists again.  Looking back, she notes that they look like they've taken the bait, hard.  She and they are out among the buildings and warehouses north of the spaceport within a few minutes, putting blocks and blocks between themselves and the spaceport as they go.

The Guardian, for the NPC Fists, rolled 11 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 1,2. Fists chasing Smoke, Coordination(4) + Athletics(4).
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:59, Tue 29 Apr 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 284 posts
Tue 29 Apr 2014
at 02:08
  • msg #285

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Inside the warehouse, Stanley's contradiction coming hard on the heels of Sereth's assured direction causes a bit of consternation among the waiting Arsurans.  They look at the pair of them in confusion, particularly some of the older evacuees who Stanley has been keeping an eye on.

A check on the data being relayed by Trav shows that the Fists pursuing Smoke Alarm look like they're fanning out to see if they can outflank the Kang, but they have certainly left this side of the port unguarded.

I'll say that getting the people moving and organized is a Tricky(15) task under the circumstances.  Either PC can try or can assist the other.  A mixed result will get them moving the right way, with varying degrees of complication.
Sereth
player, 150 posts
Tue 29 Apr 2014
at 02:16
  • msg #286

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

OOC: I'll take the lead if I can; I suspect my efforts at convincing will pay greater dividends.

Computer still not fixed; so posting from work, so make any necessary adjusments as I only have a PDF rulebook.

IC: "There, look. They've taken the bait; we have to move -now-, Stanley."

He then stepped forward once more, and took control of the situation.

"Come on friends, believe in me and trust me. We -can- do this, and we must do it now whilst that is still unguarded."

OOC: Ouch on the diceroller. 12:14, Today: Sereth rolled 16 using 2d6+12 with rolls of 1,3. Presence + Convince + VoA + Leadership.

I'll hold on to the earlier story point in case we need it to get them properly onto the ship.
The Traveller
player, 256 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 29 Apr 2014
at 04:04
  • msg #287

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

You'd think after 6 centuries of sneaking around, Trav would be a little better at it. Hopefully, Smoke is causing enough of a ruckus to distract the Fists guard. Sneak, sneak, sneak!

OOC: 00:03, Today: The Traveller rolled 14 using 4d6+5 with rolls of 3,2,2,2. Trav sneaks past the Fists goon onto the ship. 2d6+Coordination 4+Subterfuge 1+2d6 SP, 2 SP left. (I hope that I can get a bonus from Smoke being such a big distraction)
This message was last edited by the player at 04:06, Tue 29 Apr 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 298 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Tue 29 Apr 2014
at 04:29
  • msg #288

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke outlooked back again. Ha! She had the whole lot of them on her tail now. It was exactly like herding dogs. Now, if only she could get them into a playpen or a cleaners or something, somewhere she could trap them. She didn't have to shoot them with her arrowgun like with dogs, but she could definitely make fun of them, all taken to the cleaners... But Erysk. She almost listened, she almost had the knowhow. Erysk outlooked, but did not eyespy. She was unbold and unbrave, she held tight to Fist ways. How could Smoke make her a Kang?

Jogging down the streets, Smoke took every corner she could to get the Fists lost-and-found and outgoing deep into the twisty ways of the city, far away from the spaceport. 'Mayhaps I should chase you?' she called back.


OOC: Just running on for now and maintaining my distance. Don't know if I need to roll anything.

Can Smoke find a fun place to trap the Fists? One exit/entrance, one way Smoke can get out and lock them in. Or maybe just some place to get everyone wet or grubby, like a car wash or a bucket of grease. :D Smoke did scout around earlier and set up some undefined tricks. Thus, Coordination + Ingenuity + Sense of Direction: 21
12:11, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 21 using 2d6+10 with rolls of 6,5. coordination + ingenuity + Sense of Direction.
Stanley Newton
player, 82 posts
Tue 29 Apr 2014
at 21:26
  • msg #289

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to Sereth (msg # 286):

"Yeah okay." Stanley replies to Sereth. "I'll stay near the middle of the group."

He waits until a part of the group has passed him. Stan tries to make sure that everyone keeps moving


OoC: I'll try to help Sereth and...
22:13, Tue 29 Apr 2014: Stanley Newton rolled 11 using 2d6+7 ((1,3)) :(
The Guardian
GM, 285 posts
Wed 30 Apr 2014
at 01:54
  • msg #290

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

As the Fist passes by on his rounds and disappears around the block of ship bays, Trav picks her moment and darts softly over to the hatch of the Bounty.  She starts tapping out Magady Bosh's security code.

There's a low buzzing, a mauve warning light and a message that reads OVERRIDE INTERLOCK.  It looks like the Fists must have done some reprogramming on the security systems of the ships to prevent just this sort of chicanery.  Child's play to a Time Lord!  Trav quickly glances the way the Fist left, to make sure he's not on his way back yet, adjusts her sonic, and trips the interlock, releasing the door controls --

-- And there's a startled exclamation from the other direction.  Trav looks up, and sees the same Fist about five meters away, looking up from his comm in surprise.  He must have gone around the block, instead of continuing his back-and-forth pattern.

He takes Trav's Kang-styled hairdo and does a double-take, glancing for a moment at the comm.  "Hey!"

I gave you the standard support bonus for Smoke.  You got a marginal failure, so your "no, but" is that he runs into you before you can get inside, but he's just as surprised as you are, so you're as free to take initiative as he is.

The Guardian, for the NPC Fist, rolled 16 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 3,6. Fist noticing Trav? Awareness(4) + Subterfuge(3) + Keen Senses(2) -2 (distracted).
The Guardian
GM, 286 posts
Wed 30 Apr 2014
at 02:30
  • msg #291

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Sereth and Stanley -- well, mostly Sereth, if Stanley was to be honest with himself -- start to move the refugees out, ushering them quietly, if a little slowly, out of the warehouse and down a couple of blocks to the edge of the street opposite the spaceport.  The curve of the habitat is starting to cut off the afternoon light shining down from Arsuran's sun: evening will fall in under an hour.

They can hear the sounds of Smoke and her pursuers fading off to the north, and they can see that they've got a clear shot to the delivery entrance that the Traveller opened for them.  There are about fifty meters of basically open ground to cover.

Magady Bosh draws close to Sereth where he's studying the scene.  "We all go together, Legate?"

Your leadership roll was basically "good enough" that you're not having any penalty (nor any bonus) involving keeping everyone organized.

Now I want to know how you're going to move across to cover.  There is a chance of getting spotted, although there's no one in the immediate area.  Like a Chase stunt, you can pick the difficulty you want to try to reach.

You will roll a Coordination + Athletics for the whole group and add in Voice of Authority and Leadership for either or both PCs.  (I think this becomes +6 if both Sereth and Stanley are cooperating at it.)  At a speed that keeps the whole group together, the group's Coordination + Athletics will total a +3.  You can increase this to +6 by letting people move at their own speed; the potential hazard is that if the roll fails, it's possible that some of the group will make it to cover and some will be caught in the open.

So: pick your speed and bonus, pick your difficulty, and make a roll.  Then I'll roll an Awareness + Subterfuge and see from that if there's anyone who spots you and is near enough to do anything about it.

Sereth & Stanley, you may want to talk about this OOC to come to some agreement.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:34, Wed 30 Apr 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 287 posts
Wed 30 Apr 2014
at 02:38
  • msg #292

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke, you succeeded in your trap maneuver with a Good result.  Go ahead and narrate what you actually did.  The practical benefit is that they'll have to spend a turn getting out of it somehow, depending on what the details were, so that will give you some time to do something else, or perhaps just make faces at them.

The Guardian, for the NPC Pursuing Fists, rolled 17 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 4,4. Fists sussing Smoke's trick: Awareness(4) + Ingenuity(3) + Keen Senses(2).
Smoke Alarm
player, 299 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Wed 30 Apr 2014
at 07:32
  • msg #293

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Although winding through and over the streets of the Spaceport District with no apparent sense of direction or, indeed, logic, Smoke had steadily led her pack of Fists to specific location. During her eyespying expeditions, Smoke had discovered a fly-car fix-it garage whose owners had not come back after the Fist sky-flies had made their splosions. Mayhaps they were unalive or had gone away on the sky-flies. It had been easy for her to break in through a tiny window and make it a hide-in while she eyespied the Spaceport. They were enough tools and chains and ropes and sky-fly scrap for her to make some new arrows, and to engineer a mouse-trap for the Fists.

Smoke stopped and waved to the Fists as they got ever closer, Erysk's stern face in the lead. Smoke just wanted to make her laugh. 'In here!' she beckoned them eagerly, then turned and ran across the road to the fix-it garage, jumping through the open foldy-door, Fists on her feets.

Running through the workshop, Smoke tripped over her own tripwire, throwing herself forwards. The wire pulled over a delicately balanced scrap-heap, releasing a heavy bucket of bolts to plummet to the ground, which yanked a rope over the ceiling beams to tip over a big metal drum hanging from the engine hoist over the Fists' heads. A drum filled to the brim with slippery-dippery liquid fly-car lubricant...


OOC: My idea turned out to be rather detailed, so I'll put it out in stages and give the poor Fists a chance. :) I plan to lock the Fists in the garage for a while.

I envision a simple Rube Goldberg / Heath Robinson / Home Alone contraption. :) Should I roll for my lube trap? I'm not sure of the Difficult, but :Ingenuity + Craft = 11.
14:57, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 11 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 4,2. ingenuity + craft.
I'd like Smoke to get caught in her own trap too, for giggles and further talky time. Maybe that will net a Story Point I could spend to improve that roll?
The Traveller
player, 257 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 30 Apr 2014
at 16:27
  • msg #294

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
He takes Trav's Kang-styled hairdo and does a double-take, glancing for a moment at the comm.  "Hey!"

12:25, Today: The Traveller rolled 21 using 4d6+11 with rolls of 1,2,3,4. 2d6+Ingenuity 8+Subterfuge1 +Voice of Authority 2+2d6 - Trav bullshits Fist. SP at 1.

What Trav lacks in physical ability she makes up for with the power to improvise bullshit.

Trav points in the direction of where Smoke is causing the ruckus. "There you are, I'm glad I found you! Well, don't just stand there, go after that vandal! She copied my hairstyle and ruined my storefront! Run, RUN! GET HER!" Trav does her best impression of an offended, put upon local, as she spins the Fist around and pushes him towards where the chaos is!
This message was last edited by the player at 16:32, Wed 30 Apr 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 288 posts
Thu 1 May 2014
at 02:26
  • msg #295

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm:
I'd like Smoke to get caught in her own trap too, for giggles and further talky time. Maybe that will net a Story Point I could spend to improve that roll?


Okay, I'm up for hilarity.  Done and rolled!

Smoke Alarm hits the floor in a roll, meaning to pop up and jump clear of the splashing oil.  Unfortunately, she didn't have to the time to conduct a proper test of the Fist-trap, and rather misjudged the amount, splash and spread of the lube.  It goes everywhere, and Smoke skids and spins across the concrete until she fetches up against a piece of standing machinery with a gentle whump.

But at that, she's better off than the Fists.  Left facing the door, Smoke has a perfect view as they pelt into the garage after her.  Several lose their footing and go flying until they hit the wall or other obstructions.  Others just slip and go sprawling, dark slippery fluid getting all over them.  Erysk, seeing the first of her comrades hit the oil ahead of her, twists and plants her feet sideways, skidding to a halt still upright, her hands clenched and ready for action.  For the first time, she gives Smoke Alarm a real glare of anger.

Then Erysk takes a half-step forward, and her front foot lands in a thicker puddle of glop that gives her no traction whatsoever.  And her feet go out from under her and she lands squarely on her behind in a splash that makes a rude ploop!

The Guardian, for the NPC Fists, rolled 14 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 1,5. Fists reacting to trap: Coordination(4) + Athletics(4).
The Guardian, on behalf of Smoke Alarm, rolled 7 using 2d6 with rolls of 3,4 + your original 11 => 18.
The Guardian
GM, 289 posts
Thu 1 May 2014
at 02:35
  • msg #296

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Fist goggles at Trav.  "Ah.  Ah, very well, I'll do that, miss!  Wait right here!"

He tucks his comm into his jacket and sprints away from Trav, toward the north side of the spaceport.  When he's partway there, Trav even sees him wave to a couple of his comrades, who join him and vanish into the pedestrian runway headed for the spaceport's north gate.

Hapless Guard Fist, rolled 12 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 2,3. Scammed by Trav: Awareness(4) + Ingenuity(3).
The Traveller
player, 259 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 1 May 2014
at 04:32
  • msg #297

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
The Fist goggles at Trav.  "Ah.  Ah, very well, I'll do that, miss!  Wait right here!"

He tucks his comm into his jacket and sprints away from Trav, toward the north side of the spaceport.  When he's partway there, Trav even sees him wave to a couple of his comrades, who join him and vanish into the pedestrian runway headed for the spaceport's north gate.

Hapless Guard Fist, rolled 12 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 2,3. Scammed by Trav: Awareness(4) + Ingenuity(3).



Trav smiles fondly. That worked on Coalition soldiers, Judoon, Southern Cross troopers, and even occasionally Time Agents. She is sure that Smoke will give them all a good chase.

Trav brings out her phone as she sonics open the entrance of the ship, looking around to make sure she's caught everything. "Last guard dealt with. We're clear, hustle! I'll get her warmed up."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:34, Thu 01 May 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 301 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Thu 1 May 2014
at 12:06
  • msg #298

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The mouse-trap might not have gone perfectly to plan, but fortunately, Smoke didn't care. Or, mayhaps, mayhaps, she'd planned it just like this. 'Whee!' she squealed as she slid and spun wildly across the floor before bumping up against the puter-machine. 'Icehot!' she cheered and laughed as she saw the Fists falling over the place.

Smoke Alarm quickly rolled on her back, coating herself thickly with lubricant, getting herself nice and slippery-dippery. Let the Fists catch-her-if-they-can now! Now it would be a rat-hunt, with Smoke Alarm as the rat! Smoke pushed off the puter and slid along on her tummy, scooting across the floor and under a fly-car.

The mouse-trap wasn't quite done yet though. As the scrap-heap collapsed, it yanked on a string, which pulled a stopper away from a long piece of metal, so strong it had taken Smoke and two other girls to bend it back. Suddenly released from tension, it pulled on a wire and fired a heavy arrow straight at the foldy-door lock, shattering the button. With a whirr and clunk, the doors closed.

*

Outside, two girls ran out of hiding to the closed doors. One wore a blue headscarf, the other a blue armband. 'What are doing? Smoke's still in there!' Marrej cried in alarm.

'She said to close it, no matter what. Said she had a bee-plan, whatever that is.' Andray replied urgently. She quickly swiped a keycard over panel, locking everyone in. She heard a whump against the doors. 'You know she can take care of herself. Brave and bold and all that... Did you do the picture-taker?'

Marrej tore her eyes away from the door. 'The what? Oh, yes, the security camera's on and uploading to the server... You don't have to talk like her, you know.'

Andray shrugged. 'It's... catchy. Icehot.'

They quickly slunk away back into hiding. 'I dunno, she's a bit of a show-off.'

'Oh, definitely.'
The Guardian
GM, 291 posts
Fri 2 May 2014
at 01:41
  • msg #299

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

From underneath the fly-car, Smoke Alarm can hear an assortment of minor groans and at least one voice that's softly chuckling, among the gloppy noises of Fists regaining their footing.

"Disciplant..." someone says.

"Oh, come, Jevlen.  Surely even you can't fail to appreciate something so absurd, at least a little bit."  Pause.  "Where did she go?"

"Under there... I believe?"

There's a rattling of metal.  Another voice says, "Disciplant... I think we're locked in."

A sigh.  "Well.  It's not as though we'll actually need to break out with our bare hands.  Someone comm the Ultiplex and let them know."  Erysk's voice then seems to project out around the garage.  "Well... what is your name, anyway?  I feel you deserve to be addressed more properly than 'Blue Girl' ...now that we are trapped with you and you are trapped with us, how shall we pass the time?"

Smoke can hear quite a few cautious and glutinous footsteps, but none that seem to be bearing down directly on her hidey-space as yet.
Smoke Alarm
player, 302 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Fri 2 May 2014
at 03:57
  • msg #300

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Sliding forward a little, Smoke peered out from the under the fly-car, grinning like a naughty rat in its hole as she saw all the Fists dripping with slime and sliding everywhere. That should even the odds a little. 'Are we playing truth-or-dare again? I'm Smoke Alarm, I'm a Blue Kang. Blue Kangs are best!'

'My turn. Why are you chasing me?'
The Guardian
GM, 292 posts
Sun 4 May 2014
at 03:57
  • msg #301

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

There's a pause before Erysk replies.  "...Smoke Alarm.  It suits you."  She sighs.  "I'm chasing you, at this point, because you're going to a great deal of trouble just to be chased and I'd dearly love to find out why."
Smoke Alarm
player, 303 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Sun 4 May 2014
at 06:35
  • msg #302

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke could hardly tell the truth and say she was luring the Fists away from the spaceport (how was that going anyway?), and Erysk had gotten tricky when Smoke said she'd do a dare. So she picked another truth. 'I want to know if you can catch-me-if-you-can. I want to show-and-tell all the Arsurans how to be brave-and-bold against the meanie-head muscle-brain Fists. We're not playing your games. You want to fight. We want you to run away.' She slipped back under the fly-car. Talky time was getting yawny. 'I want to show-and-tell everyone the truth of you.'

Then, on her back now, Smoke kicked herself out from under the fly-car, slid along the floor at all speed, and darted between legs of one of the Fists. Grabbing the red pyjama pants, she yanked them down! 'Dacked!'


OOC: Yes, pulling the pants down of the nearest Fist (maybe Erysk), and gliding on to safety, if possible.
14:22, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 16 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 3,5. Coordination + Fighting.
The Guardian
GM, 293 posts
Mon 5 May 2014
at 02:42
  • msg #303

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm scoots herself off in the direction of the voices.  The legs that she happened to aim herself towards turn out to be those of the Fist who was talking back and forth with Erysk, the one she addressed as "Jevlen".  Smoke pulls at his trousers and manages to yank them down around his thighs -- but, in pulling down the pants, she pulls Jevlen off his feet in the slippery muck as well.

They end up tangled together.  Erysk and the rest of the Fists are too startled to make any reaction to Smoke's maneuver, but Jevlen, rolling in the oil, tries to pin Smoke's torso between his legs.

The Guardian, for the NPC Jevlen, rolled 16 using 2d6+10 with rolls of 1,5. Blocking Smoke's "attack": Coordination(4) + Martial Arts(6).

+0 always goes to the PC; I'll interpret the "Yes, but" as managing to perform the humiliating attack in question, but getting tangled up with the Fist as a result and not getting out of range.

Then he makes his counterattack: The Guardian, for the NPC Jevlen, rolled 18 using 2d6+8 ((5,5)).  You get a -2 to avoid being pinned as your second action; moving away will have to be in the next round.
Sereth
player, 153 posts
Mon 5 May 2014
at 03:06
  • msg #304

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Draconian glanced at STanley, and Gilso, then nodded.

"Gilso; stay at the back. If you see Fists approaching us; call rather than trying to fight them yourself. Let's see if we can resolve this all without any actual fighting."

He then turned to the refugees, and spoke quietly.

"Now. Stay together; but move it quietly."

He then proceeded to try to get to the spaceport; keeping Bosh in particular in sight. Stanley and Gilso should be able to alert him if any others are veering off.

OOC: Okay; difficulty 15.

13:06, Today: Sereth rolled 19 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 4,6. Coordination + Leadership + VoA + Ldrship.
The Traveller
player, 260 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 5 May 2014
at 03:28
  • msg #305

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

As Trav makes her way onto the ship, she's immediately heading towards whatever passes for a bridge or cockpit. Once there, the sonic comes out. She immediately initiates automated checks, but doesn't spin up the engines yet - instead, she checks Sereth and his group's progress.

Out comes the phone. "Sereth, how long before you're here? I don't want to go hot until the last moment possible, I want to give us every chance to get the civilians aboard."

She hacks the local com network to access orbital satellite feeds - she wants to see what the status of any local Fists orbital patrols are.  She also plots out on a seperate map a safe route back to Sweet Boy.

Trav hacks local com network -

23:29, Today: The Traveller rolled 23 using 2d6+16 with rolls of 2,5. Trav hacks network - 2d6+Ingenuity 8+Technology 6+Sonic 2
This message was last edited by the player at 03:29, Mon 05 May 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 295 posts
Mon 5 May 2014
at 03:37
  • msg #306

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Stanley feels terribly exposed as he helps Sereth usher the group across the quiet street in front of the spaceport.  He sees surveillance cameras panning right across the space they're moving through, but the rest of the area is eerily still, with just some vague echoes coming from the north.

The refugees seem to pick up on this, too.  However, it makes them bunch together for mutual support, and with Sereth leading the way, tall and assured -- and Gilso and Stanley bolstering them as well; this isn't Stanley's first time being a watchdog in a risky situation -- they cross the street, move through the concrete sidewalks with dropoff points and benches, and reach the cover of the delivery gate, which they find already ajar where Trav has left it.

As Trav's call comes in, Sereth can already see the Bounty of Hrevistis Warren.  There are no Fists in sight, and it shouldn't take more than five minutes to reach the ship.

I didn't define my thinking on the roll really well, but it boils down to the Fists even having anyone spot the crowd in time (beating the target) and being able to intercept you (beating your roll.)  They did neither.  They got close enough that someone in a monitoring station may see you shortly, but not before you get to the ship.

The Guardian, for the NPC Fists, rolled 13 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 5,1. Surveillance on the spaceport: Awareness(4) + Subterfuge(3). 
The Guardian
GM, 296 posts
Mon 5 May 2014
at 03:45
  • msg #307

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The ceilings on the Bounty are lower and its corridors narrower than Trav finds strictly comfortable: evidently the Rekdo like their spacecraft cozy.  For all that, it's a fairly conventional layout, and the cockpit at the front holds no surprises for her.

She spots only a pair of interceptors covering the Arsuran habitat itself.  One is keeping station over the Ultiplex and the other is opposite it on the ring, a hundred and eighty degrees away.  The Ultiplex fighter is closer, but that's about a sixth of the way around the habitat.

A handful of other craft are in orbit around the planet, but they're far enough away that they're fairly irrelevant to the Bounty.
Sereth
player, 154 posts
Mon 5 May 2014
at 03:48
  • msg #308

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The response from Sereth was assured; if grim.

"Five minutes Traveller. The ship is in sight; no sign of any Fists so far."
The Traveller
player, 261 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 5 May 2014
at 04:36
  • msg #309

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav is sending a stream of code through the ship's comm array - she's working on hacking the local cameras, making it appear as if no one is hustling a group of refugees over towards this ship. She wants to make it appear to any monitors as if normal civilian traffic is going to and fro.

OOC: Can this be part of my hacking roll earlier?
This message was last edited by the player at 04:37, Mon 05 May 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 305 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Mon 5 May 2014
at 05:56
  • msg #310

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Jevlen's maneuver might have worked in the MMA ring, but not in old-fashioned oil wrestling. Writhing and slippery like a greased rat, Smoke oozed through the clamp of his legs and popped easily out. Flopping onto the floor, she grabbed the corner of a tool chest and swung herself under another fly-car.

'My question: what will you do if you catch me?'


OOC: Escaping the pin: Coordination + Fighting + Kang Fu = 22, −2 for 20.
13:41, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 22 using 2d6+10 with rolls of 6,6. Coordination + Fighting + Kang Fu.
The Traveller
player, 262 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 5 May 2014
at 06:03
  • msg #311

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

As the screens flood with expedited check outs, Trav pulls out her Ipad. She reminds herself of something that Chibi had put together -


DYING
SELF'S
ALTAR


What did he or she mean by that? In the midst of all this chaos, it was like a message being sent, or a plea. Was it even their red silk garbed foe?

It was on the back burner, but not forgotten. A question for the sisterhood, perhaps.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:03, Mon 05 May 2014.
Stanley Newton
player, 84 posts
Tue 6 May 2014
at 00:44
  • msg #312

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to The Guardian (msg # 306):

Stanley is glad that they have finally reached the delivery gate, without being caught. They had been seen by the security camera's but that wouldn't be a problem. Getting to the ship would only take about five minutes.

"So far, so good." Stanley whispers, more to himself than to anyone in particular.
Sereth
player, 155 posts
Tue 6 May 2014
at 01:12
  • msg #313

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

He smiles grimly towards Stanley.

"Indeed."

His eyes flicker at Gilso for a moment; he had no doubt they were going to get them away now; but afterwards there might be... Fists to deal with."
The Guardian
GM, 297 posts
Tue 6 May 2014
at 03:48
  • msg #314

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Traveller:
OOC: Can this be part of my hacking roll earlier?


Go ahead and make another one.

The Traveller:
As the screens flood with expedited check outs, Trav pulls out her Ipad. She reminds herself of something that Chibi had put together -


DYING
SELF'S
ALTAR


What did he or she mean by that? In the midst of all this chaos, it was like a message being sent, or a plea. Was it even their red silk garbed foe?


The back of Trav's mind turns it over as she works on the relatively mundane task of spoofing the spaceport security systems.  The message her software ferreted out for her was a transformation of disparate data, after all.  Maybe the transform algorithm that turned up that message was just the first one that produced something that seemed to be intelligible.
The Guardian
GM, 298 posts
Tue 6 May 2014
at 03:50
  • msg #315

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm:
'My question: what will you do if you catch me?'

Smoke Alarm can hear Jevlen hurriedly adjusting his clothes and some of the others scrambling to encircle her new hiding place.

Erysk doesn't seem to have moved, when she says, "Show you the part of the story that you haven't seen yet.  See if that convinces you to stop stirring up unrest and work together with us."
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:52, Tue 06 May 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 299 posts
Tue 6 May 2014
at 03:55
  • msg #316

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Gilso looks back at Sereth with a very serious expression.  "Sir, are we ready to go?"

Sereth and Stanley, it's up to you what to do from here.  You can get to the ship without being touched, or you might choose to wait on Trav to give you the go-ahead, given what she is working on.
Sereth
player, 156 posts
Tue 6 May 2014
at 04:00
  • msg #317

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Sereth paused for a moment; then shook his head; unless Stanley interferes.

"We wait for a moment."

It would them no good to get safely to the ship; only to be caught by surveillance. The ship might get away; but those staying behind would be caught. He was a diplomat; but also a Draconian soldier; and part of him -longed- to just go now; but his head ruled.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:13, Tue 06 May 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 306 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Tue 6 May 2014
at 04:08
  • msg #318

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke spun around the fly-car to realign herself. She was a bit disappointed; she'd expected the Fists to get all angry and start a big to-do, but even dousing them in slime and dacking them didn't seem to do it. Mayhaps they weren't just fthugs with books, and really meant their journeys of spirit and stuff. This wasn't going to be a very icehot viddy if they didn't at least try to beat her up and take her to the cleaners. 'Mayhaps you should show the Arsurans instead. Wallscrawl it, put out viddies and pictures. Show-and-tell us why you attacked with sky-flies and splosions and made people unalive.' she tried, knowing would make Erysk unbold.
Stanley Newton
player, 85 posts
Tue 6 May 2014
at 23:08
  • msg #319

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to Sereth (msg # 317):

Stanley looks around and nods. "Okay. The situation still seems safe, so we can wait. Do you want to wait for a signal from Trav? "
The Traveller
player, 263 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 6 May 2014
at 23:35
  • msg #320

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
The Traveller:
OOC: Can this be part of my hacking roll earlier?


Go ahead and make another one.

The Traveller:
As the screens flood with expedited check outs, Trav pulls out her Ipad. She reminds herself of something that Chibi had put together -


DYING
SELF'S
ALTAR


What did he or she mean by that? In the midst of all this chaos, it was like a message being sent, or a plea. Was it even their red silk garbed foe?


The back of Trav's mind turns it over as she works on the relatively mundane task of spoofing the spaceport security systems.  The message her software ferreted out for her was a transformation of disparate data, after all.  Maybe the transform algorithm that turned up that message was just the first one that produced something that seemed to be intelligible.


This occurs to her, and she has a few ideas, but first things first.

"Time for some Matthew Broderick. Shall we play a game?"

<orange>19:36, Today: The Traveller rolled 22 using 2d6+16 with rolls of 2,4. 2d6+Ingenuity 8+Technology 6+Sonic 2 - Trav Hacking roll 2.</roll>
This message was last edited by the player at 23:37, Tue 06 May 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 300 posts
Wed 7 May 2014
at 01:27
  • msg #321

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav makes short work of the system security protocols, and soon she's feeding the standard alert systems and monitors exactly what she wishes them to see.  The coast is clear for Sereth and Stanley!

Even as she does that, though, she realizes that someone else has caught a whiff of unusual activity in the network.  From what Trav can tell, this person doesn't care a whit about spaceport security and who it might be missing at the moment.  The ghost scouring the net is looking for Trav.


The Guardian, for the NPC Fist Surveillance, rolled 16 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 6,4. Awareness(4) + Technology(2).
The Guardian, for the NPC Mysterious Individual, rolled 19 using 2d6+14 with rolls of 2,3. Ingenuity(6) + Technology(4) + Special(4).

The Guardian
GM, 301 posts
Wed 7 May 2014
at 01:41
  • msg #322

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Smoke Alarm," Erysk says, "don't you realize that's exactly what we're trying to do?  But pictures and propaganda can all be made up, very easily.  Your pictures and your words are all very appealing to the people here, for a very natural reason: we have hurt them, to put some sort of order on this place.  So just giving a speech or showing them a trivee is no good reason for someone to believe us.  We're trying to give you all the tools for understanding, for knowing, and that requires a great investment of time and patience."  She sighs.  "Am I not showing both of these here and now, with you?

"Smoke, come out and come with me, and I swear to you no one will lay a hand on you.  Come and see for yourself.  And if you're not persuaded -- and more to the point, if you are -- I promise that you'll be free to go."

The Guardian, for the NPC Erysk, rolled 15 using 2d6+10 with rolls of 2,3. Giving Smoke her pitch: Presence(4) + Convince(4) + Empathic(2).

You don't have to roll a reaction or let that roll affect you in any way; it's just to give you an idea of how persuasive Erysk is coming off.
Smoke Alarm
player, 307 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Wed 7 May 2014
at 02:41
  • msg #323

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

'Mayhaps.' Smoke slithered forward to eyespy the Fists. 'This is your story to show-and-tell, it is on you Fists to do the showing and the telling. If you can't talk it or wall-scrawl it or put it on a try-vee, then mayhaps it is no story. Mayhaps it's just a sleep-movie. Mayhaps we have to become Fists to have the knowhow of Fists. Mayhaps we need to outlook at a big ball to put the knowhow in our brains and make us Fists.' She tried bringing the blue ball up to eyespy how Erysk reacted to it. Did she know? Would she change her mind?

'And then what, mayhaps? If the Arsurans have the knowhow of the Fists and still do not want the Fists and their orders and their eggheads and red pyjamas, will they be free to be outgoing? Will the Fists take their toys be outgoing home?'


OOC: I rolled anyway to see how stubborn Smoke feels like being. :)
10:05, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 10 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 2,2. presence + resolve + brave
This message was last edited by the player at 05:39, Wed 07 May 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 302 posts
Wed 7 May 2014
at 03:55
  • msg #324

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Erysk doesn't look shocked or surprised at the mention of the blue whatever-it-is ball.  Her eyes narrow.

Smoke Alarm:
'And then what, mayhaps? If the Arsurans have the knowhow of the Fists and still do not want the Fists and their orders and their eggheads and red pyjamas, will they be free to be outgoing? Will the Fists take their toys be outgoing home?'

"I would," she says quietly.  "I'm not exactly one of the Seekers, though.  In the long run, we have the mission to be ready to stand up against the future that is coming.  If not here, then elsewhere."

Jevlen is standing and has adjusted his clothing properly again.  His regard is rather more angry than Erysk's, and some of the other Fists mirror it.  "Disciplant, why are you standing here splitting words with this vandal?" he demands.  "We should take her now.  Put an end to this nonsense and her ridiculous graffiti."

"We're none of us going anywhere for a while, Jevlen," she says.  "'Know the mind that stands to oppose you.'"

"Hmmph!"  He scowls.  "Seeker Herrenda will be told about this, you may be sure."
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:26, Wed 07 May 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 309 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Wed 7 May 2014
at 06:05
  • msg #325

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

'Then mayhaps you should go start a to-do with the Army of Gehenna, and not the people you say you want to help.' Smoke returned bitingly.

She was in a tight spot here, and though she was used to wiggling through them, this wasn't exactly an air duck or creepy crawly space. She knew that Traveller and the others wanted pictures of the big blue mind-taking sphere, and maybe Erysk would show it to her free. Smoke thought she might even be able to swipe it, if she could lift it in and put it in her pocket. But she had own plan, and that was showing the Arsuran rezzies how to run-out and evade the Fists, to teach Kang Fu, to wallscrawl their protests. She couldn't let her new Kang sisters see her captured. At least not without a to-do. A really big to-do.

'Mayhaps I will comeout with you, Erysk, and eyespy whatever it is you want to show-and-tell. But I have two conditioners.' Smoke said as she crawled out from under the fly-car and got carefully to her feets.

'You know, your friend doesn't sound too patient.' she teased Jevlen. Erysk seemed like a good Fist, if there was such a thing. The others were less good, much more meanieheads and musclebrains. Erysk might not take her to the cleaners, but Jevlen might. Which one would it be? Smoke continued her taunting, to see how much she could bait these dogs. 'Isn't he done reading the Journey of Mind? Mayhaps musclebrain's still stuck on the Journey of Flesh?' Smoke patted her own empty tummy meaningfully.
The Guardian
GM, 304 posts
Thu 8 May 2014
at 03:07
  • msg #326

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Conditions?" Erysk begins.

But Jevlen interrupts, raising a hand.  His expression becomes closed, guarded, as if he realizes that he's being baited; his voice is smooth and clipped.  "If you truly would like to judge where I stand on the Three Journeys," he says, "I should be more than happy to offer you a lesson.  At first hand."  A hint of a smirk crosses his features.
The Traveller
player, 265 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 8 May 2014
at 03:56
  • msg #327

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav is listening in, as Smoke's phone is transmitting into their network and Trav is tracking her. "Sereth, once you're onboard, I'll be running back to the TARDIS. I'll need to probably pick up Smoke and help her make a getaway, really soon."
Sereth
player, 157 posts
Thu 8 May 2014
at 04:04
  • msg #328

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

He then nodded.

"Go. Now. Let's move fast."

With a combination of pushing and leading, he then moved the refugees, as well as himself, Gilso and Stanley, to the ship and hopefully, onto it.
Smoke Alarm
player, 310 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Thu 8 May 2014
at 04:29
  • msg #329

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Ignoring Jevlen, Smoke answered Erysk 'One: it's not fair-play if just I outgo with you. You have to come-out and talk with the Traveller. She'll show-and-tell you what's what, mayhaps betterer than me.' After a moment's thought, she added.'You and the muscle brain. Because a Kang in the bush is worth two of the Fist.' She wasn't certain that made sense or not, but she decided to run with it. 'You outgo in the streets and call for the Traveller. Officers and cars respond to all calls.'

'And two,' Smoke poked her tongue out at Jevlen. 'Catch me if you can, scaredy-cat meanie-head muscle-brain. I'm brave and bold as a Kang could be. I'm foot-loose and fancy-free.' she taunted, in rhyme. Because that was the best way to insult someone.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:30, Thu 08 May 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 305 posts
Thu 8 May 2014
at 04:41
  • msg #330

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Some of the refugees are definitely huffing and puffing by the time they make it to the Bounty, and every footfall echoes like a thunderclap in the huge structure.  But no Fists make an appearance, and the whole group clusters up around the belly hatch of the freighter, which hisses open when Trav sees them arrive.

Without being told, Gilso ducks back once people are starting to file onto the ship, making a slow circle around the Bounty and looking in all directions.  He meets with Sereth at the hatch as the last passengers are boarding.  "Nothing, sir," he says.  "I think that Kang female really did draw them all off.  Incredible."

Trav is still at the controls when Bosh ambles in and starts peering at her preparations critically.  "Yes, yes," he mutters, "all correct, I believe."  Despite the countless species that Trav has met examples of in her long journeys, she's never met anyone who reminded her quite so much of an escapee from The Wind in the Willows.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:59, Thu 08 May 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 307 posts
Fri 9 May 2014
at 03:22
  • msg #331

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Not for the first time, Erysk looks puzzled while she parses Smoke Alarm's proposal.

"Call for the 'Traveller'?" she asks.  "You mean, literally, just call out for her?"

Jevlen looks increasingly eager to answer Smoke Alarm's challenge.  The other Fists in the garage are keeping a watch to see if Smoke Alarm is going to try something else, but they're holding their ground and watching Erysk and Jevlen for their cues.

This seems like a pivotal enough point in the conversation that it deserves a roll.  You can roll Presence + Convince plus whatever else seems likely to you.  Jevlen and Erysk may have distinctly different reactions, so here are the targets:

The Guardian, for the NPC Jevlen, rolled 19 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 5,6. Reacting to Smoke's proposal: Convince(3) + Resolve(3) + By The Book(2).
The Guardian, for the NPC Erysk, rolled 12 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 4,1. Reacting to Smoke's proposal: Convince(3) + Resolve(4).

The results seem oddly appropriate.  You can just make one roll and apply it to both; we'll see where matters go from there.
Smoke Alarm
player, 311 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Fri 9 May 2014
at 03:58
  • msg #332

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

'You don't lost-and-find us, we lose-and-find you.' Smoke wasn't about to lead them to their hide-in or brainquarters or even the talkiphone box, but her earspies would find them calling right quick. Then they could set-up a secret meeting square. 'After you do the show-and-tell.'


OOC: I need a better Convince score, but I added Brave, my go-to for standing up to the Fists: 11
11:47, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 11 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 3,4. presence(2) + convince(0) + brave(2).

I'll drop a Story Point to make that a success on Erysk.
The Traveller
player, 267 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 9 May 2014
at 05:04
  • msg #333

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
Trav is still at the controls when Bosh ambles in and starts peering at her preparations critically.  "Yes, yes," he mutters, "all correct, I believe."  Despite the countless species that Trav has met examples of in her long journeys, she's never met anyone who reminded her quite so much of an escapee from The Wind in the Willows.


"Nothing but, sir. And let me start her up." Trav aims the sonic at the main controls, and the engines starts to turn over. "Good luck. Was glad to help."

Trav scoots to the back of the ship, finding Sereth and helping the civilians on board. "I'm heading back to the TARDIS to cover you guys. Do you want to stay here, or do you think they can make it on their own?"
Sereth
player, 159 posts
Fri 9 May 2014
at 05:06
  • msg #334

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

He frowned, then sighed.

"I'll stay. Last thing we need is for something to go wrong here at the last minute. Stanley should probably go with you though."

He stayed to make sure that all the refugees were safely onboard before leaving.
The Traveller
player, 268 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 9 May 2014
at 19:05
  • msg #335

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Allright, Groovy. When you reach safety, call me, and I'll come and pick you up. Now, we need to go grab Smoke. Good luck! Let's go, Stan!"

As Trav grab's Stan's wrist and they sneak-trot back to the TARDIS, Trav confides - "This is like i'm having an arguement with my old self. How are we doing? There are so many other more violent ways we could have played this. I don't want others to suffer for my idealism. It's like., despite my whole bunch of adventures in R-Space, I'm proving to myself that I am the Traveller again, you know?"
The Guardian
GM, 309 posts
Sat 10 May 2014
at 02:29
  • msg #336

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Looking at Smoke Alarm, Erysk says, "Very well.  I've called for assistance to get us all out of here, and then we'll escort you back.  Someone will stay with you at all times, but no one will stop you from contacting your confederates."

Jevlen rounds on Erysk.  "What?  Why are you allowing this girl to dictate terms to you?"

"I'm not offering our surrender, Jevlen.  I'm teaching."
The Guardian
GM, 310 posts
Sat 10 May 2014
at 02:34
  • msg #337

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

As Trav and Stanley start out, a proper Arsuran evening is starting to set in over the spaceport area.  They hear a loud mechanical humming from the direction of the monorail, and then a telltale muffled kchunk that Trav recognizes as the train's safety locks engaging.

They don't have a good sight line to the monorail station from where they're at, but there is a general mutter of noise from that direction.  Movement, and quite a bit of it.
Smoke Alarm
player, 313 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Sat 10 May 2014
at 03:01
  • msg #338

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke shook her head. 'Nah-uh. You stay with me, Erysk. You show-and-tell. I don't trust these other muscle-brains. And this better not be some yawny school.'

She poked her tongue out at Jevlen as his complaints were refused, feeling victorious, at least by proxy. The more Erysk supported her, the more she stood against the Fists. 'I thought you wanted to teach me something too, combat-wombat? Or are you a cowardly cutlet?' she taunted, crouching a little and jutting her head forward aggressively, adopting a subtly defensive stance in case he tried something. And she wanted him to try something. 'Scaredy-cat!'


OOC: Taunting and provoking Jevlen some more: 8. Maybe they don't respond well to playground insults?
10:58, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 8 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,2. presence(2) + convince(0) + brave(2).
Stanley Newton
player, 86 posts
Sat 10 May 2014
at 21:47
  • msg #339

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to The Traveller (msg # 335):

"Good to hear that you feel like yourself again. It was a good plan." Stanley smiles. "Thought I must say that it went better than I had expected. Like you said, could have gone wrong in a lot of violent ways, but it didn't. Thanks to Smoke Alarm's excellent distraction, of course."

Stanley looks at the direction of the humming sound. "Oh... it seems like something is going on over there."
The Traveller
player, 269 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sat 10 May 2014
at 22:37
  • msg #340

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Stanley Newton:
In reply to The Traveller (msg # 335):

"Good to hear that you feel like yourself again. It was a good plan." Stanley smiles. "Thought I must say that it went better than I had expected. Like you said, could have gone wrong in a lot of violent ways, but it didn't. Thanks to Smoke Alarm's excellent distraction, of course."

Stanley looks at the direction of the humming sound. "Oh... it seems like something is going on over there."


"Yeah. But let's be careful, we're on a schedule."  She pauses. "Heh,me taking caution." She smiles and shakes her head and she trots over with Stan. She snaps her hat into a scarf, and covers her head with it, similar to a hijab.
The Guardian
GM, 313 posts
Mon 12 May 2014
at 01:04
  • msg #341

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Jevlen glares at Smoke Alarm as she tries to provoke him.  Erysk is about to say something when he stops.  He holds one hand up before him vertically, edge-on to Smoke Alarm, and draws a deep breath, bringing the hand down vertically to just above his belly.

He releases the breath.  "Hmph.  Child."  And he turns his back on Smoke.

The Guardian, for the NPC Jevlen, rolled 16 using 2d6+5 with rolls of 6,5. Responding to taunts: Ingenuity(2) + Resolve(3).
The Guardian
GM, 314 posts
Mon 12 May 2014
at 01:11
  • msg #342

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

As Trav and Stanley edge nearer to the monorail station, they see the reason for the commotion.  There a handful of Arsuran citizens who have left the train and are moving briskly for home; sundown (and curfew) are not far away.

There are also a half a dozen Fists, who split into two groups as the pair watch them.  One group starts moving in the direction in the spaceport.  The others start striding briskly in a westerly direction, roughly toward the area where Smoke Alarm drew her pursuers.  Two of the people in this latter group are wearing big haversacks across their bodies, which look like they've got something bulky and heavy inside.  Trav catches the glint of metal peeking from inside one: some sort of equipment?
Smoke Alarm
player, 315 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Mon 12 May 2014
at 01:52
  • msg #343

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke blew a raspberry at his back, sure and happy she'd annoyed him. 'Always.' she returned proudly. 'I'm olderer than you, Boy. Hundreds-and-thousands of years of tick-tocks. I've been doing this since before time start, since I was a much smallerer child, before any of you Fists were small children too.'

Jevlen's taunt and her response had awoken a dim memory of before time start. She turned to Erysk, growing angry and she couldn't quite say why, angry at the loss of something she'd never had and never known, yet would always miss. 'Is that what you Fists want? Children left behind as the Inbetweens go off to war and are made unalive? Children with no childhoods, children of war? Children who survive and fight and run and are made unalive. Children like me?' she demanded hotly. 'When your Army of Gehenna comeout, we would be already lost.'

Angry and wanting to start a to-do, to run, Smoke jumped at Jevlen and kicked off his shoulder to flip herself on top of a fly-car, careful not to slip on the slippery stuff covering her. She hopped across the cars and equipment, hurrying to the little window she'd broken through to get in here.


OOC: Just starting a chase again.
09:45, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 15 using 2d6+13 with rolls of 1,1. Coordination + Athletics + Jumping + Kang Fu.
The Guardian
GM, 315 posts
Mon 12 May 2014
at 02:54
  • msg #344

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Jevlen reacts, leaping after Smoke Alarm, but he fails to intercept her before she reaches the window.

Erysk's voice cracks out.  "Smoke Alarm, stop!  Listen!  You're a highly skilled young woman, and I don't doubt that you could escape us if you wished.  I thought you wanted to see for yourself what we're about.  But if you go, then you and I are finished talking, and the next time we meet, you'll find out what I'm like when I'm simply trying to stop you."

The Guardian, for the NPC Jevlen, rolled 12 using 2d6+8 ((2,2)).

Smoke, you have the situation dead to rights, but it's like Erysk said: I think you need to decide if you're going to cooperate and keep trying to find stuff out from Erysk or just keep tweaking them all and stamp Public Enemy across your forehead for good.  I kind of need to know which way you actually want the story to head.
Smoke Alarm
player, 316 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Mon 12 May 2014
at 03:29
  • msg #345

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm paused and listened, but didn't outlook back. She never could trust caretakers, but Traveller and the others wanted to know what they were about. She didn't like all this, it had all gotten so much bigger than she'd wanted, bigger than her. It wasn't fun any more. And there wouldn't be any more fun until it stopped.

Smoke jumped out the window, slithering through the tiny gap with ease, her boots the last things seen.

Some moments later, the foldy doors opened, with Smoke behind them. 'Well, what are you going to show-and-tell me?'


OOC: So hard to decide! I'm certainly playing up the Impulsive trait here. :) Okay, I'll play nice and go along.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:32, Tue 13 May 2014.
The Traveller
player, 270 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 12 May 2014
at 14:13
  • msg #346

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm:
Smoke Alarm paused and listened, but didn't outlook back. She never could trust caretakers, but Traveller and the others wanted to know what they were about. She didn't like all this, it had all gotten so much bigger than she'd wanted, bigger than her. It wasn't fun any more. And there wouldn't be any more fun until it stopped.

Smoke jumped out the window, slithering through the tiny gap with ease, her boots the last things seen.

Some moments later, the foldy doors opened, with Smoke behind them. 'Well, what are you going to show-and-tell me?'


OOC: So hard to decide! I'm certainly playing up the Impulsive trait here. :) Okay, I'll place nice and go along.



OOC: I'll amend this if Trav can't hear the conversation through the phone.

A text comes in from Trav onto Smoke's talkiphone, even as she trots with Stan over towards the monorail. Crap, awful timing.

<<U want me to come and talk with the caretakers alongside of you, babe? You are icehot. This is what we need.>>
The Guardian
GM, 317 posts
Mon 12 May 2014
at 23:17
  • msg #347

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Traveller:
OOC: I'll amend this if Trav can't hear the conversation through the phone.


OOC: There's time for a brief exchange between the time Smoke gets out the window and when she comes back in through the door.
Smoke Alarm
player, 317 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Tue 13 May 2014
at 00:53
  • msg #348

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Outside, Smoke had checked her talkiphone to see how the others had gone getting the eggheads away. The only message was from Traveller, and there seemed to be no to-do. Traveller seemed to already know what was outgoing down. Traveller's message helped Smoke make her choice. Smoke sent her an update.

i got Fists trapped liek mouses in the flycar shop and slimed them. And me 2. :D But they wanted not 2 start a to-do, and got all yawny and talky. :( We played eye-spy and truth-and-dare. Erysk wants 2 show-and-tell me Fist stuff and an Army of Goannas. Mayhaps even big blue ball. I will picture-take it with teh talkiphone, mayhaps even swipe it. I am outgoing w/ Erysk to Fist brainquarters now. Says they not take me to teh cleaners. Erysk will comeout to meet u later. BHFH.
The Traveller
player, 271 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 13 May 2014
at 21:15
  • msg #349

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav bites her lip, as she shows the text to Stan. "She's about to walk into the Lion's den." Stan can tell that Trav wants to go in with her. "Let's find out what's up with the monorail, and then get back to the TARDIS. We have a better shot of getting her out of there with my ship. And if anyone can make a daring escape, it's Smoke."

Trav texts - YOU BE CAREFUL. Brave and bold as a Kang should be! Make sure you point your talkiphone at the ball. If you can't get out, press the big red button and I and my box will come and get you, K? Stay safe!
The Guardian
GM, 318 posts
Wed 14 May 2014
at 01:47
  • msg #350

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

As Trav and Stanley observe the monorail station, the doors woosh shut and the train smoothly accelerates on its way without incident.  The disembarked passengers slowly disperse.  One of those groups of Fists is definitely headed for the spaceport, though.

OOC: That was pretty much it, just that you noticed that the train arrived bringing the reinforcements that Erysk ordered up.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:57, Wed 14 May 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 319 posts
Wed 14 May 2014
at 01:56
  • msg #351

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

As the sloppy, grimy Fists emerge from the garage -- giving Smoke Alarm stony looks, for the most part -- another group of them can be seen arriving from the direction of the monorail station.

They look at Erysk and the others who chased after Smoke, and one of them says, "Ah, Disciplant -- you called in a technical team?"

Erysk looks at Smoke Alarm.  "Yes.  Apologies; the situation seems to be under control.  I'll be escorting this young woman to the Justice Center now.  Please put yourself at the disposal of Fist Jevlen; he'll be reorganizing the group and conducting a sweep of the spaceport district for anything unusual."

React to that as you want and we'll move you on to the Justice Center as soon as everyone is caught up.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:58, Wed 14 May 2014.
Sereth
player, 161 posts
Wed 14 May 2014
at 02:04
  • msg #352

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

After Trav and STanley had left, he then turned to Bosh.

"The ship is yours. I'll just stay just in case there are any difficulties; either leaving or getting the refugees safely to Draconian space. You have my gratitude. When you're ready."

He then stepped aside, and let Bosh fly the ship out; whilst settling back into his role as a potential ambassador rather than flying the ship; and for that, doing whatever Bosh desires.

OOC: Eh. I'll spend a story point. Sorry; been struggling with computer issues at home; contract up for renewal at work.
Smoke Alarm
player, 318 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Wed 14 May 2014
at 03:23
  • msg #353

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Ship-shape + sound. Ware 6 Fists outgoing back to spaceport. Are eggheads outgoing on sky-fly? No to-do? Smoke Alarm quickly texted back as the Fists slopped their way out.

She outlooked up at the group, uncomfortable to so have so many of the caretakers surrounding her. And given the slippery slime all over her, they'd mayhaps want to take her to the cleaners. Her feets were bouncy, wanting to foot it at all-speed. But Smoke stayed put, for now. She remembered how they'd gathered at the Great Pool in the Sky, Kangs and Rezzies and Caretakers, and learned to work together to put Paradise Towers to rights. Now, she had to be the Doctor and Mel, to stop the to-do and put Arsuran to rights. Mayhaps the Fists were like the Cleaners, or mayhaps they had a Great Architect in the Basement too, making them do bad things.

'What's at the sky-fly space-port?' Smoke asked innocently, buying time and outlooking for information, then texted anything she learned back to Traveller.

Finally she fixed Dizzy-plant Erysk with her devil-may-care grin. 'Beat you there.' she challenged, then footed it all speed vaguely toward the Justice Centre.

OOC: Just crossed that out for now, in case the Fists interrupt.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:58, Wed 14 May 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 320 posts
Wed 14 May 2014
at 04:06
  • msg #354

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

On the Bounty, Magady Bosh flicks the intercom on.  "Hrr, hrr.  Please make sure you're all secure, my friends.  We will be breaking several major commercial safety regulations in the course of this flight, so you will all find the appropriate liability waivers forwarded to your seat-back information terminals.  Please approve with the legal signature or biometric data of your choice."

The takeoff jets ignite, and the bulky ship lifts and slowly edges out of its berthing; then, the amiable mustelid punches the controls and the main engines gun, sending the Bounty climbing for the heavens.

(Out in the spaceport district, Smoke Alarm and, separately, Stanley and the Traveller see the ship ascend on a streak of blue-white fire.  Erysk glances at Smoke Alarm and arches an eyebrow at her, but says nothing.)

The Bounty streaks out of the plane of the Arsuran ring habitat, angling toward an exit vector that will sling it around Arsuran Prime and toward the outer system.  Watching the scanners, Sereth sees the interceptor keeping station over the Habitat's administrative center engage its engines belatedly and start after them.  A flashing light indicates an incoming transmission, and Bosh inclines his head to Sereth, flicking a switch.  There's a crackle as Sereth's audio pickup goes live.

"--Bounty of Hrevistis Warren, your system departure is not approved, and you are directed to return to a parking orbit and await further instructions.  Repeat--"

From the trajectory map, Sereth can see that the Fists are just blustering.  The interceptor is pulling five Draconian gees, but they'll still be far behind when the Bounty reaches a safe hyperspace transit window.
Sereth
player, 162 posts
Wed 14 May 2014
at 04:24
  • msg #355

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Draconian says nothing in response to the intercom.

Making sure they were not transmitting back first, he then smiles.

"Well done Mr. Bosh. She won't catch us; we're away. If I were you, when you get home, warn all of your friends and family to stay away from this sector of space for now. I doubt they'll give up; though they will undoubtedly find it harder once they have to start entering Draconian space. I'll stay with you until the refugees have been returned to Draconia."
The Traveller
player, 272 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 14 May 2014
at 05:40
  • msg #356

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav smiles and gives Stan a high 5. All of Arsuran, thanks to Trav's social network engineering, is witnessing this - making it clear that due to non-violent distraction, unwilling refugees are allowed to escape. The message is clear - the Fists can be resisted without violence, and they have no moral standing for their coercion. Trav texts out to everyone - Great work.

"Let's find out what's happening with that monorail."
Smoke Alarm
player, 319 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Wed 14 May 2014
at 05:58
  • msg #357

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

'Icehot!' Smoke Alarm cheered as she watched the sky-fly alleviate itself high into the ceiling and beyond, playing catch-me-if-you-can with the Fist sky-flies and winning. She smiled from ear to ear in satisfaction and happiness that the egghead rezzies were outgoing on the escape-way, back to their own towers. 'Build high for happiness.' she said more softly, and made a farewell gesture diagonally across her body, not unlike doing a seatbelt, as she wished them an outgoing that was ship-shape and sound.
The Traveller
player, 274 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 14 May 2014
at 13:37
  • msg #358

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Seeing that everything was fine with the Monorail, Trav trots to where the TARDIS is hidden. "Come on, Stan. Let's pick everyone up and have our little talk with these Fists."
Stanley Newton
player, 87 posts
Wed 14 May 2014
at 21:56
  • msg #359

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to The Traveller (msg # 358):

"Well, I for one am looking forward to hear what they have to say about all this." Stanley says, whilst he follows Trav back to the Tardis. "The Fists I mean, not Smoke and Sereth."
The Guardian
GM, 322 posts
Thu 15 May 2014
at 01:06
  • msg #360

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Bounty reaches the nearest Draconian system, Nelzadan, not quite a day later.  It is hailed with a challenge by a system patrol ship; it appears that the Nelzedan governor and the local Imperial Spacefleet detachment have already put heightened security measures into effect, based on the information Sereth has provided to the Emperor.

The commander of the patrol ship initially appears quite surprised to be addressing an Imperial Legate when he contacts the unassuming Rekdo freighter, but he reacts with respect and aplomb.  "Sir, should you honor me with this charge, you may be assured that I will take personal responsibility for conveying Trader Bosh's passengers to their desired destinations.  My life at your command."
The Guardian
GM, 323 posts
Thu 15 May 2014
at 01:46
  • msg #361

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm attracts more than the usual amount of attention when she and Erysk enter the Justice Center.  The building and layout are much as Doctor Stanley described them after his visit; the main difference is that the inner courtyard space with the high fence around it contains dozens of tents, arranged in rigidly ordered ranks.

It's pretty easy for Smoke Alarm to distinguish between the trained Fists and the inmates, or trainees, just in the way that they carry themselves and watch her go by.  More of them seem to recognize Smoke Alarm than she'd thought likely -- apparently some version of her activities has reached those inside the compound.

Erysk speaks briefly to one of the Fists who meets the pair inside the gate, and shortly thereafter one of the lower-ranked Fists brings her a towel that she uses to clean the oil off her face and her hands, and to at least make an effort on her stained uniform.  She offers another towel to Smoke.

"Come along," she says.  She stays close to Smoke Alarm, but doesn't attempt to actually restrain her unless Smoke starts to veer off.  Instead, she leads Smoke within the big central building in the complex.  The walls and corridors are spotless -- as they go along, Smoke sees Fists and trainees alike wiping down walls and floors that that would have already been clean enough to eat off of, back in the Towers.

At last Erysk opens a set of heavy metal doors with a crash-bar set of handles.  Beyond the doors is a large room with a high ceiling a long way up and big suspended lights overhead.  There are what look like sets of ascending benches, pushed to the ends of the room.

In the middle of the space, sitting on a big metal pedestal, is the blue sphere.  There are heavy cables snaking across the floor to the side of the pedestal, and several people in the Fists' red uniforms are gathered around the sphere; they seem to be waving metal boxes at it and reading displays on the boxes.

Most of these Fists seem like they are oldsters.  One stands out to Smoke Alarm: he's a relatively young-looking man, and unlike the men and women with their shaved heads, he has pale yellow hair that falls to his shoulders.

All the Fists look over at Erysk and Smoke Alarm as they enter, and they frown.  The blond man seems to be studying her with particular care.
Smoke Alarm
player, 321 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Thu 15 May 2014
at 02:15
  • msg #362

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke fixed Dizzy-plant Erysk with her devil-may-care grin. 'Beat you there.' she challenged, then footed it all speed vaguely toward the Justice Centre.

*

Smoke Alarm outlooked puzzled at the towel, not sure what they wanted her to do with it. At least they weren't taking her to the cleaners. Yet. She wiped her hands and face clean, but left her clothes sloppy for now, in case anyone tried to catch her. And she kept the towel. Smoke always knew where her towel was.

She ventured after Erysk, sometimes lingering behind in hesitation, or other times moving ahead or off to the side to eyespy something. She wasn't impressed. Blank walls and cleaners, yawny caretakers, rules and unfun. She waved to a few who outlooked at her. Especially if they seemed to want to have a to-do with her. She stopped to draw a smiley face in oil on a blank wall, and gave a cheery wave to the cleaners like she'd done them a favour, before scurrying away.

But as she went on, she grew more uncomfortable, feeling less brave and less bold than a Kang should be. The deeper she went into the Fist brainquarters, the harder it would be to find a fire-escape. She was going into the Basement now, the lair of the architect of all this, hungry glowing eyespies in the lights-out. Smoke walked closer to, and a little behind, Erysk.

She hadn't expected her to take her straight to the big blue ball first off. Wandering forward a few paces in curiosity, Smoke eyespied up at it in wonder. Seeing the Fist mechnicians, Smoke mimicked them by taking her talkiphone and pointing it at the ball as Traveller had said. 'Meep meep.' she said. Hopefully they wouldn't notice what she was really doing.


OOC: How big is the sphere, does it look bolted down, and is it possible for Smoke to grab (for Smoke's definition of "possible").
Sereth
player, 164 posts
Thu 15 May 2014
at 02:16
  • msg #363

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Sereth nodded towards him.

"Excellent. They've all been through a lot." He then turned grim. "Be aware they were forbidden from leaving; so Trader Bosh is to be treated with the utmost respect for enabling their escape."
He shook his head in annoyance.
The Guardian
GM, 324 posts
Thu 15 May 2014
at 02:33
  • msg #364

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Bosh's snout bobs at Sereth, an approximation of a nod.

"Legate Sereth, I was glad to assist in this partnership.  I am only a humble businessman, and I did not dare to defy the Fists before you and your friends offered your aid and your plan.  You may rely on the friendship and hospitality of Hrevistis Warren, if you ever have need of us."
The Guardian
GM, 326 posts
Thu 15 May 2014
at 02:47
  • msg #365

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke looks over the sphere.  It looks like it's probably about two-thirds as tall as she is, and it's affixed to the pedestal with some sturdy struts that look to be bolted on and would take a fair whack to dislodge.  Leaving with the sphere would probably involve riding it in some way.

At the moment it seems like it's just sitting there -- it's not making any machinery or electric-y noises.

When Smoke pulls out the antique handset that the Traveller has hot-rodded into a proper talkiphone for her, the blond man gives a start, and his gaze focuses on the phone.  "Where did you get that?" he demands.  He looks at Erysk.  "This is the one?  Why did you bring her here to the receptor?"

Erysk seems taken aback.  "She seems like she has attained a measure of enlightenment, if a rough and undisciplined sort.  I proposed to bring her here, thinking that it might resolve the insurgency if she proved able to experience the Vision."
The Guardian
GM, 327 posts
Thu 15 May 2014
at 03:23
  • msg #366

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

OOC: Trav and Stanley are clear to get back to the TARDIS and rendezvous with Sereth.  Feel free to assume that a little doubling back on your timeline to get back in sync with Smoke Alarm won't end the universe.
Smoke Alarm
player, 322 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Thu 15 May 2014
at 04:13
  • msg #367

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm moved the talkiphone out of the yellow-haired mechnician's eyespy. 'Lost-and-found.' she answered, truthfully though not helpfully. Copying the Fists, she waved the talkiphone all around the big blue ball, eyespied the picturespout to see if she'd gotten enough for Traveller, then sent the data back to the talkiphone box. 'Okay, fine, thanks, bye.' she said quickly into the phone to no-one, then shoved it back in her pocket.

Circling back to Erysk and the blond not-egghead, Smoke chipped in 'Yep, I'm a light-end. I'm a Blue Kang. Blue Kangs are best. Why aren't you an egghead too?' she asked the blond mechnician suddenly and disarmingly.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:10, Fri 16 May 2014.
The Traveller
player, 276 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 15 May 2014
at 13:09
  • msg #368

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Back on board, Trav runs up to the console. Flip flip flip snap snap CHUNK-THUNK. As Stan closes the door, Trav starts the dematerlization sequence. She locates all the members of the team. "Sereth, hang tight, I'm coming to pick you up." She lands the TARDIS at whatever rendesvouz point she arranged with Sereth so as to pick him up.

OOC: Amanda is onboard the TARDIS, right?

After checking to make sure she's collected her various chickadees, and checking Chibi's log, Trav directs her attention to the transmission coming in from Smoke's phone. "Get ready, Stan. If it seems like Smoke is in any physical or mental danger, we're roaring in and pulling her out."
Stanley Newton
player, 89 posts
Thu 15 May 2014
at 23:01
  • msg #369

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to The Traveller (msg # 368):

Stanley closes the door behind him and says hi to Amanda. He waits patiently in the control room for the Tardis to arrive at the rendezvous point.

"I am all set to go. Though I doubt that Smoke is going to need us to rescue her." Stan adds. "Is that the data she has collected? Any good? "
Amanda
NPC, 23 posts
Fri 16 May 2014
at 00:34
  • msg #370

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Amanda is watching a set of displays as Stanley looks over her shoulder and Trav goes dashing around the console, slamming controls to send the TARDIS off to the Nelzadan system and their arranged rendezvous with Sereth.

"There's nothing so far," she reports.  "I've been watching all the spectra that Trav told me about, but there are barely any fluctuations at all.  Maybe the thing isn't running right now?"

Then her hands fly to her mouth.  "My God!  Look at that!"
The Guardian
GM, 330 posts
Fri 16 May 2014
at 00:49
  • msg #371

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The "mechnician" advances on Smoke, almost lunging at her, though he holds up his hands in a placating gesture when he sees her flight reflex make her jerk back.

"I'm not a Fist," he says,, still staring at her phone.  "I'm just... working with them.  But that belongs nowhere near this century."  His expression hardens.  "Did you get that from--"

He makes a quick motion, pulling something out of his uniform, and it sets off Smoke Alarm's triggers again before she sees it's not any sort of gun.  It's something small, rectangular and oblong that he's holding in his left hand, and it shimmers.

The other Fists who were in the room pull back from him, startled, and Erysk looks like she's utterly surprised by what he's doing.

With a decisive gesture, the blond man reaches to the thing in his hand, three times in succession -- and with each motion, throws before him in the air a brightly glowing rectangle carrying a symbol Smoke Alarm doesn't recognize.
The Guardian
GM, 331 posts
Fri 16 May 2014
at 00:51
  • msg #372

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Stanley sees the graphs and readouts that Amanda is watching explode to life.  The space around the readouts erupts with little holographic warning tags.

Vortex Instability Detected

Advanced Block Transfer Construction Registered

N-Dimensional Infostructure Forming

All the dozens of little floating warning symbols, though, make up a bigger picture that Stanley can pick out as four big blocky English words, composed out of all the smaller colored blocks of abstruse technical phrasing:

LADY'S
LEFT
IN
RAGS

This message was last edited by the GM at 00:55, Fri 16 May 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 332 posts
Fri 16 May 2014
at 01:07
  • msg #373

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

With assistance from Bosh and Gilso, Sereth is just finishing up the debarkation of all the refugees from Bosh's ship, safely on the ground on Nelzadan.

There's a familiar groaning sound from nearby, and the TARDIS appears.
Sereth
player, 167 posts
Fri 16 May 2014
at 01:17
  • msg #374

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

He grins.

"Seems like my ride has arrived." He looked quietly at Gilso. "You have a great future ahead of you. I'll check in with you when I can."
Smoke Alarm
player, 324 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Fri 16 May 2014
at 02:29
  • msg #375

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke took a step back from the blond man, wary of his sudden interest in her talkiphone, and ducked into a defensive stance, concealing the phone from his eyespies. Who was he to talk about what belonged to what century? 'It's mine. I found it. In Paradise Towers.' she said defensively, before shoving it down her top. But he didn't seem interested in her answer.

Then she outlooked in amazement as the not-Fist man starting tossing glowing cards in the air — and they stayed there. 'The magic cards!' With all speed, Smoke drew her arrowgun — the first time she'd drawn a weapon on any Fist. 'Stop that! No ballgames, no flyposts, no card-playing!' Smoke Alarm demanded, growing, well, alarmed. Traveller had been worried about these cards, so Smoke was too.


OOC: Threatening the blond man to stop whatever he's doing: 13
10:19, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 13 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 3,6. presence(2) + convince(0) + brave(2)

If he doesn't stop, then Smoke will shoot her crossbow at one of the cards: 23
10:26, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 23 using 2d6+12 with rolls of 6,5. Coord(5) + Marksman(3) + Crossbows(2) + Crack Shot(2).
The Guardian
GM, 334 posts
Fri 16 May 2014
at 03:24
  • msg #376

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Gilso looks at Sereth, a bit startled.  "You mean, you're leaving me here, sir?"  Then he straightens.  "Oh -- I see.  I think."

He glances over at the patrol commander and clears his throat.  "Commander, I'd like to volunteer to help see all these people on to their right destinations.  I know I've got no real standing, but I do know them, mostly, and I have an idea where most of them have got family or friends.  I'd be honored to assist them."

Magady Bosh watches Gilso, shivering with amusement a little in the way that Rekdo do.  He bobs his head to Sereth again, winks, and ambles off about his business.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:25, Fri 16 May 2014.
Sereth
player, 168 posts
Fri 16 May 2014
at 03:30
  • msg #377

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

He smiles quietly.

"I can't volunteer my ride to be yours with absolute certainty. If I could, I would bring you with me, without a doubt."
The Guardian
GM, 335 posts
Fri 16 May 2014
at 11:01
  • msg #378

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Sereth:

"I can't volunteer my ride to be yours with absolute certainty. If I could, I would bring you with me, without a doubt."

"No, sir.  Now that I think of it?  This is quite right."  He bows.
The Traveller
player, 279 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 16 May 2014
at 12:06
  • msg #379

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
Stanley sees the graphs and readouts that Amanda is watching explode to life.  The space around the readouts erupts with little holographic warning tags.

Vortex Instability Detected
Advanced Block Transfer Construction Registered
N-Dimensional Infostructure Forming

All the dozens of little floating warning symbols, though, make up a bigger picture that Stanley can pick out as four big blocky English words, composed out of all the smaller colored blocks of abstruse technical phrasing:

LADY'S
LEFT
IN
RAGS


"Yeah, but which lady? Cryptic important riddles piss me off," Trav says, frowning.

As usual, the Time Lord is doing 3 things at once. "Mandy, I'm downloading some software to my pistols for you over the wireless. Stan, here, take my sonic. I think we're going to meet the owner of that TAROT soon. I know that Evers TAROT contains my war council clearances. I'd rather not take the thing away from blondie, but if we have to, we will. The bad guys will be paying attention to me, not to either of you. If we can get the drop on them, we can get that device into our hands. Amanda, my pistols are loaded with software that should compress that TAROT down temporarily. Even with the upgrades I've put in, my guns will probably only hold it for a few moments. Any questions before we go in to get Smoke?"

Trav is looking at the readings coming in from Smoke's phone, and listening in on the conversation.

Smoke Alarm phone feed:
The "mechnician" advances on Smoke, almost lunging at her, though he holds up his hands in a placating gesture when he sees her flight reflex make her jerk back.

"I'm not a Fist," he says,, still staring at her phone.  "I'm just... working with them.  But that belongs nowhere near this century."  His expression hardens.  "Did you get that from--"

He makes a quick motion, pulling something out of his uniform, and it sets off Smoke Alarm's triggers again before she sees it's not any sort of gun.  It's something small, rectangular and oblong that he's holding in his left hand, and it shimmers.

The other Fists who were in the room pull back from him, startled, and Erysk looks like she's utterly surprised by what he's doing.

With a decisive gesture, the blond man reaches to the thing in his hand, three times in succession -- and with each motion, throws before him in the air a brightly glowing rectangle carrying a symbol Smoke Alarm doesn't recognize.


Trav curses out loud. "CRAP." She throws down two big levers. The time rotor moves up and down. Whatever happens, she wasn't going to let anyone hurt Smoke Alarm. To her left, she flips up a lid and hits a large green button - the Time War force field systems come online. Designed to resist such things as Dalek temporal unravellers and N-form weapons, the systems were those found on type 102 War Tardises. As the blue police box materializes, she works to make sure that Smoke is within the permiter of the forcefield, protected. When the TAROT messed with her the first time, she didn't have time to erect these defenses. On the flip side, it was like putting M-1 Abrams armor on a Ford truck - her type 50 wasn't designed as a war vehicle and the massive power requirements of Type 102 TARDIS defenses might overstrain her sweet boy.

Going in hot, the TARDIS materializes behind Smoke. The cavalry is here!

11:58, Today: The Traveller rolled 12 using 2d6 with rolls of 6,6. 2d6+Awareness 3+Science 6+Research Capsule 2 Trav checks Smoke's readings
OOC: Forgot to add my Awarness 3, Science 6, Tardis 2. Total should be 23. And look at that roll!
This message was last edited by the player at 16:01, Fri 16 May 2014.
Stanley Newton
player, 91 posts
Fri 16 May 2014
at 22:50
  • msg #380

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to The Guardian (msg # 372):

Stanley is shocked to see the large number of warning signs pop up. He doesn't know what they mean, but he guesses that each one individually could be classified as really bad news. Then he notices that they spell out a message. "Lady's left in rags?" He looks at Trav. "Well, if I had to guess I would say that "lady" refers to you, but I have no idea about the rest of the riddle. "

"I'll take good care of the sonic. Just like last time." Stanley says as Trav hands him the sonic. "Uhm, I have a question: what do you want me to do with it?"
The Guardian
GM, 336 posts
Sat 17 May 2014
at 03:24
  • msg #381

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Bear with me as I stagger the responses here.

First, let's take it as read that Sereth got on board before the monitors went crazy, so Trav, Stanley, and Sereth (plus Amanda) are in the TARDIS as it vworps in.

Second, here is the response to Smoke Alarm.  Let's give her a chance to react to it, and then the TARDIS will appear (since Trav did hit the panic button) however that plays out.

The blond man's eyes widen when Smoke Alarm pulls her arrowgun -- though he does not appear particularly intimidated.  The corners of his mouth tighten as he takes in the cards for a moment.  Then he makes a single wave in front of him, and the cards vanish.

"Do be calm," he says, with just a hint of testiness.  "I should, I suppose, have given you fair warning, but that was nothing but a scan.  I admit that I'm surprised.  You're showing a very high level of osmic residue, and a slightly elevated artron count.  So you have come a long way through time, but not through the Vortex -- and yet you've also been in a Vortex craft, and very recently at that.  And there are very, very few of those in existence, my friend."

His eyes narrow, but more as if he's regarding Smoke Alarm as a puzzle, and possibly as a figure to be pitied.  "Tell me.  Have you come here with the Traveller?  And if so, just why has she chosen to interfere again, after all this time?"
Smoke Alarm
player, 327 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Sat 17 May 2014
at 06:40
  • msg #382

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke didn't put her arrowgun away, not now that she was alerted to the tricky card-playing mechnician. 'I'm not your friend.' she snapped. She didn't want to tell him about Traveller, but it seemed he already knew everything, if Smoke earspied Traveller's science talk: the big blue bubble she'd fallen through, the talkiphone box, Traveller's work here. What was a Kang to do? She thought about being tricky with him, but she wasn't very good at that. 'Traveller is my friend. Traveller came-out here with me to help put Arsuran Orbital Prime to rights, just like the Doctor. Because I asked.' she answered proudly.
The Guardian
GM, 338 posts
Sat 17 May 2014
at 19:34
  • msg #383

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Well," the man says, "good for you, I suppose.  I know the Traveller; that is, somebody I used to be, he knew the Traveller."  The expression on his face is either pain, or a sneer.  "But I'm not him any more, and that is proof enough, for me at least, that the Traveller doesn't put everything to rights.  Now, people call me Warlock.  Be very careful in dealing with your friend -- who knows what you'll be when she's through with you."

Erysk has positioned herself between Smoke Alarm and Warlock, on Smoke Alarm's right, and she's watching the exchange intently -- but, mostly, the arrowgun.

One of the other Fists speaks up, and says, "Sir -- should we call for assistance?"

"That might be wise," Warlock says.  "Our guest has just transmitted a multi-phasic scan, and I imagine we'll shortly have some more visitors."

A breeze kicks up and thunderous trumpeting starts to roar through the room.

"Right on schedule," he adds, in a resigned tone.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:26, Mon 19 May 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 339 posts
Sat 17 May 2014
at 19:41
  • msg #384

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

As the TARDIS homes in on Smoke Alarm through the Vortex, Trav goes over the readings Smoke Alarm took.  From the surrounding data, she picks out a faint residual telepathic field.  It must be pretty strong when engaged, because it doesn't appear that whatever was projecting it was active when Smoke Alarm took the reading.  But even with that, it's very familiar to Trav.  It looks like the telepathic signature from the mental circuits of a primitive TARDIS.

The TARDIS engines give their normal soft whump and the console its characteristic ding!  They've arrived.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:25, Mon 19 May 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 331 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Sun 18 May 2014
at 01:58
  • msg #385

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

quote:
"Who knows what you'll be when she's through with you."


'Mayhaps I'll be better.' Smoke said quietly.

She was about to ask Erysk about who this Wall-Lock was when he spoke of Visitors and Smoke Alarm heard the familiar song of the talkiphone box. She outlooked away briefly to see it fade out of the air, big and blue and brave and bold. 'Icehot!' she breathed in awe.

'Officer and cars respond to all calls.' she told Erysk proudly before the doors opened.

'He has the magic cards!' she told Traveller as soon as she exited.
The Traveller
player, 282 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sun 18 May 2014
at 03:59
  • msg #386

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The door swings open. She snugs Smoke. "Aw, thank you, baby. I know you make me better. Blue Kangs are best!" She does the how-do-you-do with smoke before turning. Safe behind the force field, she turns to face the Fists.

"Young man, from where I am, I think you're under a few misapprehensions. I think we have our order mixed up. First,  I've never met you before, wearing that face, bearing that name. Second, I don't think I'm quite through with you yet. Third, if you're organizing a conquering army or band of heroic defenders, you're making some fundamental errors. I think we're out of chronological sequence - you may have dealt with a future self of mine."

She still does not carry her pistols or her sonic."If I have done you bad or wrong in the past or future, Warlock, I want to make amends. Bad folks took me too, and being  in the hands of the Daleks for 30 years made me into something horrible. It seems you want to defend people from something terrible. But coercion and conquest will only ruin them, ruin you, and make yourself identical to your enemies. Your kung fu mind control army couldn't even stop a band of refugees from escaping your clutches. This forced, undisciplined, chaotic coercion will make your army shatter like glass. A populace that doesn't love and support its leaders will not be able to support an army with its heart and soul. They must not only obey you, Warlock, they must *love* you. If you are a moral and good leader, you will also love them. People will *not* be forced, no matter how right you think you are."

Trav sits down on the ground cross legged. "I think we have a lot to talk about. There is so much going on that I don't understand at this point in time with you, Warlock. Sit with me, let's exchange our info. Tell me why you think it's necessary to use a blue mind control ball and a martial arts regimen to build an army to resist some terrifying threat.  I want to protect everyone too, I want to help. Your purpose seems right but your method is all wrong. Please,  explain this all to me. I'm ready to listen."

03:29, Today: The Traveller rolled 18 using 4d6+7 with rolls of 1,2,4,4. Trav's opening statement to Warlock - Presence 3+Convince 2+Voice of Authority 2+Story Point.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:59, Fri 02 Jan 2015.
Stanley Newton
player, 92 posts
Mon 19 May 2014
at 20:37
  • msg #387

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to The Traveller (msg # 386):

Stanley follows The Traveller outside. "Good job, Smoke." he quickly says before Trav starts confronting Warlock.

Stan notices that he isn't quite as nervous as when they faced the Sisterhood. This wasn't as likely to end in a shoot-out. Trav has told him how to operate the sonic and lock the Tarot, but for now he keeps it aimed at the floor.
Smoke Alarm
player, 332 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Tue 20 May 2014
at 01:32
  • msg #388

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm beamed as her friends stepped out of the talkiphone box and gave her good words. Here they all were, sound and safe, meaning the eggheads had really taken the fire-escape sky-fly, ship-shape and sound. ''Ware slime!' she squealed at Traveller, but hugged her back anyway. She stopped Traveller at a cut-down how-you-do — it wasn't necessary every time, only in formal greetings — and ended in a fist-bump.

Then Traveller got all talky with the Wall-Lock. 'They want to stop an army of goannas.' She tried again, because it was important. 'Geh-hennas.'

She outlooked to Erysk, who'd gone all quiet and confuzzled by this, and it wasn't Smoke's fault this time. 'Who's this Inbetween? Is he your Chief Caretaker, your Great Architect?' she asked.

Smoke kept her arrowgun in hand and pointed toward Wall-Lock — not directly at him, but rather at his hands and pockets, in case he played with the magic cards again.
The Guardian
GM, 343 posts
Tue 20 May 2014
at 01:50
  • msg #389

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Warlock doesn't sit.  With the arrival of the TARDIS he seems to be on edge.  Oddly, he barely gives a glance to Sereth and seems even less disturbed by Smoke Alarm's arrowgun, but his gaze keeps flickering between the Traveller, Stanley, and Amanda.

"I'm no sort of leader, Traveller," he says.  "And I am not trying to be.  I found a man who was a leader.  Haran Lucin.  I've been working to give him the tools to make something out of all these people before it's too late.  Before I happen to these people."

He focuses in on Trav, and his eyes are full of pain.  "You get that, Trav, don't you?  You never told me all that much about being the Marshall, but I could see how much you hated that.  What wouldn't you do to keep from being like that again?  That's what I'm up against.  When the Gehennans came and took me from Arden...."

He takes a deep breath, his shoulders sagging.  "They showed me what I was supposed to become.  Like Fortuna did... will... whatever.  They had the TAROT, and they brought it to me, and...."  He holds out an empty palm and looks at it as if summoning up the device, but nothing happens.  "It showed me records of the Beast.  Showed me what the Beast had done, using it.  Sezan Crayne had seen those same records, and he decided that the Beast was just what he needed.  So he... he set out to make one."

Warlock folds his arms and looks down, his eyes shut tightly for a moment.  "Well, in the end, they got me, instead.  Kept trying to make me over into what they wanted, so I played along.  And I learned.  A little.  Enough to escape, because you never did come, Traveller."

He draws himself up, a little more assured.  "And you're mistaken, too, about what it is I'm doing here.  Yes -- when the Fists seize a world, they do their very best to bring people to their way of thinking, keep them as a captive audience, even, but in the end, everyone's will remains their own.  This?"  He gestures at the blue device.  "This isn't used to change peoples' minds for them.  It's used to show them exactly what I have been through.  What the Gehennans are.  What the Beast wants to do with the universe.  I can't just blunder blindly toward that, and I can't let the universe do that either."  His voice firms, and he meets Trav's eye.  "So I'm doing the best I can, and Lucin is too.  And honestly, Trav, I don't want your help. I've done without it up until now, and I'd get along best if you'd just go play at do-gooding, and stay out of my way."

OOC:

Reaction roll, spending a story point.  The Guardian, for the NPC Warlock, rolled 22 using 4d6+9 with rolls of 1,3,6,3. Reacting to Trav's statement: Convince(3) + Resolve(4) + Brave(2) + Story Point.

Counter-argument.  The Guardian, for the NPC Warlock, rolled 12 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 4,1. Laying the guilt trip: Convince(3) + Presence(4) + Empathic(2) -2 (second action).

I forgot to add the -2 for the second action in the round, but you should include that when you make your Convince + Resolve.
The Guardian
GM, 344 posts
Tue 20 May 2014
at 01:52
  • msg #390

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm:
She outlooked to Erysk, who'd gone all quiet and confuzzled by this, and it wasn't Smoke's fault this time. 'Who's this Inbetween? Is he your Chief Caretaker, your Great Architect?' she asked.

"He's a scientist," murmurs Erysk.  "This device he has, it's like a recorder that shows what I meant to show you -- what is coming that we need to fight."
The Traveller
player, 288 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 20 May 2014
at 02:07
  • msg #391

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
Warlock doesn't sit.  With the arrival of the TARDIS he seems to be on edge.  Oddly, he barely gives a glance to Sereth and seems even less disturbed by Smoke Alarm's arrowgun, but his gaze keeps flickering between the Traveller, Stanley, and Amanda.

"I'm no sort of leader, Traveller," he says.  "And I am not trying to be.  I found a man who was a leader.  Haran Lucin.  I've been working to give him the tools to make something out of all these people before it's too late.  Before I happen to these people."

He focuses in on Trav, and his eyes are full of pain.  "You get that, Trav, don't you?  You never told me all that much about being the Marshall, but I could see how much you hated that.  What wouldn't you do to keep from being like that again?  That's what I'm up against.  When the Gehennans came and took me from Arden...."

He takes a deep breath, his shoulders sagging.  "They showed me what I was supposed to become.  Like Fortuna did... will... whatever.  They had the TAROT, and they brought it to me, and...."  He holds out an empty palm and looks at it as if summoning up the device, but nothing happens.  "It showed me records of the Beast.  Showed me what the Beast had done, using it.  Sezan Crayne had seen those same records, and he decided that the Beast was just what he needed.  So he... he set out to make one."

Warlock folds his arms and looks down, his eyes shut tightly for a moment.  "Well, in the end, they got me, instead.  Kept trying to make me over into what they wanted, so I played along.  And I learned.  A little.  Enough to escape, because you never did come, Traveller."

He draws himself up, a little more assured.  "And you're mistaken, too, about what it is I'm doing here.  Yes -- when the Fists seize a world, they do their very best to bring people to their way of thinking, keep them as a captive audience, even, but in the end, everyone's will remains their own.  This?"  He gestures at the blue device.  "This isn't used to change peoples' minds for them.  It's used to show them exactly what I have been through.  What the Gehennans are.  What the Beast wants to do with the universe.  I can't just blunder blindly toward that, and I can't let the universe do that either."  His voice firms, and he meets Trav's eye.  "So I'm doing the best I can, and Lucin is too.  And honestly, Trav, I don't want your help. I've done without it up until now, and I'd get along best if you'd just go play at do-gooding, and stay out of my way."

OOC:

Reaction roll, spending a story point.  The Guardian, for the NPC Warlock, rolled 22 using 4d6+9 with rolls of 1,3,6,3. Reacting to Trav's statement: Convince(3) + Resolve(4) + Brave(2) + Story Point.

Counter-argument.  The Guardian, for the NPC Warlock, rolled 12 using 2d6+9 with rolls of 4,1. Laying the guilt trip: Convince(3) + Presence(4) + Empathic(2) -2 (second action).

I forgot to add the -2 for the second action in the round, but you should include that when you make your Convince + Resolve.


She's sitting on the floor, looking up at him, seeing the hurt in him. He reminds her of her two sons, and her grandson. She can see him making the same mistakes and the same presumptions when she escaped from the Daleks in an orgy of fire and blood.

"This isn't about me, my apprentice, or really you. You'll have my thoughts, but after my travelling family explains how they see this, through their unclouded eyes. To their judgement, I submit, always. But, Smoke, Sereth, Amanda, Stan - you've seen what the Fists, under Warlock's instruction and leadership, have been doing. Please, tell me what you see. Also, I want to see these Gehennans, what you're showing the Fists. If they have *hurt* you, by god, I will send them to a very special kind of hell."

"For context - Warlock here was once a young man named Phillipe, who was my companion, very briefly. It seems, from what I understand, that he was snatched from me, and I failed to protect him, and he was abused by *someone*, who I don't know. No one, no one hurts the people who have traveled with me. But, but, we have to be careful - These Gehennans, if they had you and the TAROT, most likely now know about me. They may not be manipulating *you* into becoming the Beast, Warlock - but instead, *me*. It seems that we're both being played - it would help them if we didn't trust each other."

Trav feels welling up within her the same dark, terrifying rage that gave birth to the Marshall - with the torture-deaths done to Shandy, Calabra, Sir Engar, Martin and Jose - the rage which drove her to attempt to conquer the universe, and which allowed her to unleash the horrors of the Vault of Omega upon the Daleks at the orders of first the Master, and then Rassilon.

She smiles and sighs wearily. "But that's pretty vain, I think. Fuck, being the Marshall too a hell of a lot of energy, and I was way less dangerous as the Marshall - I was horribly predictable. I think whoever these clowns are, they misjudged you, and me. You haven't killed anyone - yet."

"Also, Warlock, if I were serious about stopping you, all of this bullshit would have ended when I arrived here on Arsuran Prime. You're causing people to be injured, hurt, displacing families, causing violence and mayhem. You're also misleading the Fists. Fist Erysk, is it? I can show you another view of what's going on. But using coercive violence won't solve any problems. Violence and coercion *never* does, and neither does deception. You're on the cusp of a possible war with the Draconian empire, and they will be *far* less forgiving than I am. People *will* die if the Draconians see you as a threat to their government."

She holds up her hands. "Look - no pistols, no sonic. This was all a *conversation* about the nature of free will and grass roots action that you and we are having. They're being held in trust by my family, over here."

"So, maybe you're right, baby! Show us the AV presentation, and then I'll let my companions judge you. Me? I have too much baggage. But they can see with clear eyes and hearts. Show us why you're doing this. Show us Gehenna. Show us The Beast. If this war is as vital as you make it out to be, you can not afford to not make use of *any* resource. Also, I've ended a Time War - you have not."

OOC: Revised - no roll for Trav, but she wants to see what that blue ball shows.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:11, Tue 20 May 2014.
Sereth
player, 170 posts
Tue 20 May 2014
at 02:53
  • msg #392

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

A frown from the Draconian; but then he speaks quietly.

"If what you say is true; the words to my Emperor should not have come across like a threat. Regardless though, that is not what's important."

He shook his head and spoke, calmly, quietly.

"I want to tell a story. There's a story amongst my people; it is said to have happened so long ago it has become legend. Whether true or not, the basic message is the same. My people and the humans had come to an uneasy peace; but we did not trust each other, we did not listen. So it was easy for us to be manipulated to being on the verge of war; which suited another race." His eyes flickered towards The Traveller for the briefest moment. "The war was averted thanks to one man; a man we already owed much to. But more importantly, he pointed out that working together, -listening- to each other... would have avoided the war before it got to the point it was at. You cannot construct an army to stand against what comes by conquering all who stand in your way. Because they will continue to fight and when this army, if it comes, arrives you will have not only that army but the bickering amongst your own. If we had gone to war back then, the Draconian Empire may have fallen. Even if we had won the war, we would have been so damaged by it we would have been easy prey. This here, is your moment. You need someone to stop you before you destroy yourselves, everyone you hold dear, and this sector of the galaxy in the process."

The Draconian sighed quietly, and stepped back.
Smoke Alarm
player, 333 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Tue 20 May 2014
at 07:36
  • msg #393

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

So Traveller and Wall Lock had done the how-you-do before. Smoke didn't know-how exactly they were all talking about, but it was definitely Big Talky Time, and Traveller wanted her to talk too. 'The Fists sploded Arsuran rezzidents and towers, they hurt people and made them unalive. Rezzies take the fire-escapes from their partments, they go to hide-ins and exits, but Fists say no-exits, no fire-escapes. And they call us train-see-ants and take away our boxes and hide-ins. I had a box! I had nothing and they took it away from me!' Smoke complained in surprising anger. Her feelings went far back, before Arsuran, before time start, to another war and another sky-fly fire-escape. 'We say no, we don't want to play, and they don't listen. We wall-scrawl it, and they make blank walls. They chase us and grab us and take us to the cleaners.'

'The Fists make people unbrave and unbold and unalive, and you can't ever put that to rights. You can't hurt people to help people, you can't make a to-do to stop a to-do.' she pointed out firmly.

'Now turn on the picture-spout and show-and-tell us this army of goannas. Give us the know-how, so we can tell you how you're doing it wrong.' Smoke outlooked to Erysk. 'It's what I came-out here for.'
Stanley Newton
player, 93 posts
Wed 21 May 2014
at 00:32
  • msg #394

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Oh man...I am sorry, Phillipe. I can't even imagine... It's.. er.." Stanley looked shocked. This Warlock guy had already seemed kind of familiar but now Stanley was beginning to remember some details about Phillipe. The scary, and frankly embarrassing, thing was that Stanley hadn't noticed his disappearance at all. Phillipe had been there in the park and on Arden, and suddenly he wasn't there any more. Something which didn't seem strange or unusual at the time.

He stares at Phillipe, unsure what to think about the current situation. "Trav, are you sure that this is the real Phillipe? I am not calling you a liar..er...Phillipe. I am just being careful."  He pauses. "Trav, I know you set up all sorts of telepathic shielding, but here we are, close to what we thought was a mind-control device and all of a sudden we want to use it. Or watch it. So do I, because I want to know about the Gehennans and what happened to Phillipe or why we...why we didn't notice his... I am sorry Phillipe... his disappearance."

"I guess...I am already doubting my memories, I don't know who or what to believe right now. Maybe what he says is true, but what if it isn't? What if the blue sphere is a brainwashing device? Think about that before you decide."
Amanda
NPC, 24 posts
Wed 21 May 2014
at 01:45
  • msg #395

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Amanda looks at Warlock pensively.  "I remember when Rosco pulled his gun on my father...."  She trails off and doesn't finish.  She has Trav's turbo pistol pointed low, at the floor.
The Guardian
GM, 346 posts
Wed 21 May 2014
at 01:53
  • msg #396

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Warlock looks at Stanley.  "I don't blame you, Doctor.  I mean, I really don't blame you."  He frowns.  "Perception cloak.  The oldest trick in the book, or that's what I am told.  But... I have a hard time remember what being Phillipe even felt like.  I was studying physics, but the things I've learned since then... you know what they say about sufficiently advanced technology."

He looks behind him.  "Fist Sevemar?"  One of the men hands Warlock the device he's been holding; it's about the size of a smartphone.  Warlock looks back at the group in front of the TARDIS.  "I promise you: this is non-invasive.  Simply, mmm, let your concentration relax for a moment."  He makes a motion to do something with the control.

OOC: I thought I'd leave it there in case someone wanted to push the panic button.
The Traveller
player, 289 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 21 May 2014
at 05:20
  • msg #397

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav stands and opines, "that's a fair question, Phillipe. You are Phillipe, aren't you? Stan - use setting 964 on the sonic. That is, if Warlock doesn't object."

She steps beyone the forcefield now, utterly vulnerable. "Let just me experience it first. I'd rather that if anything bad happens, it happens to me."
Sereth
player, 171 posts
Wed 21 May 2014
at 05:33
  • msg #398

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Draconian steps forward again.


"No. We've been through this. You are too valuable. If this is a trap; and it catches you, we are lost. And if it is not; then there is no need to put yourself alone. So if you're worried, at all, about repercussions, you cannot risk yourself. YOu -cannot-."

It is clear he will not be moved on this.
Smoke Alarm
player, 334 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Wed 21 May 2014
at 05:52
  • msg #399

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke didn't get what the hold-up was, and didn't know-how the big blue ball worked. 'Just put it on the picture-spout.' she insisted, and footed out the bubble after Traveller. 'No mouse-trap can catch a Kang.' she said, brave and bold as a Kang could be.
The Traveller
player, 293 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 21 May 2014
at 17:25
  • msg #400

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Sereth. Those are kind words, baby." She places her hand on his shoulder. "I was worried about you trusting me. Thanks for your faith." She turns back to Warlock. "As usual, Smoke Alarm has a point, as does Stan. I don't see why you need a telepathic gadget to describe what can be shown on a Powerpoint. That thing is a mind control device. I want to listen to you, and hear your story, but I don't see why that thing is necessary."

The turbopistols, being based on the same technology as the sonic screwdriver, have an obvious machine destroyer option which has disabled many Cybermen. Trav made sure that Amanda was aware of the setting.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:26, Wed 21 May 2014.
Stanley Newton
player, 94 posts
Wed 21 May 2014
at 21:35
  • msg #401

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Stanley hesitates and stares at the sonic. "Phillipe...er...Warlock...I am not going to scan you if you don't want me to. What you want to show us is obviously very convincing, very intense and I can imagine that a Powerpoint probably wouldn't have the same impact, so I can understand why you want to use a device...but let me scan you first before we decide anything, okay?"
The Guardian
GM, 349 posts
Thu 22 May 2014
at 00:01
  • msg #402

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Go right ahead, Doctor Newton," Warlock says.  He sets the control device down on the pedestal holding the mental transmitter.

He looks at the Traveller then, and there is winter in his eyes.

"Traveller, I could lie to you just as easily without a telepathic circuit as I can with one.  Ultimately it's not going to show you anything that I haven't already said, or that Disciplant Erysk hasn't said to Smoke Alarm.  It might show Doctor Newton that I am who I've claimed to be, and it might show your other friends that the Gehennans are just as frightening as I say.

"But you've not said anything to convince me either that this is a war that should not be fought, or that there is a better means available to me to rally people to fight it.  I've certainly thought about ways to do it faster.  I've only scratched the surface of the abilities the TAROT could open up, but I've seen some of the information it holds.  Things I could build with it.  Terrible things, things that your people came up with.  Things I'm--"  He cuts himself off and shakes his head.  "The Fists are a middle ground, and they -- and this -- give people the chance to see why they should be fighting."

"As for this being a mind control machine--"  Now the look he gives Trav is one of disgust.  "Traveller, so far as that is true, you live in a mind control machine."
Sereth
player, 176 posts
Thu 22 May 2014
at 00:28
  • msg #403

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

A long deliberate pause, then he frowned.

"Traveller, you suggested that your friend here is being played, and that whoever is behind it wants -you- to be the beast, whatever or whoever that might be." He shook his head. "If that is true, you need to step carefully. If that is the case, they know you well enough to anticipate anything you might do. They may have even anticipated you "raining hell" on anyone who's hurt your companions. Be that as it may, they probably have -not- anticipated myself or Smoke Alarm, or possibly not even the good doctor or Amanda. I have no doubt this army of Gehenna is as bad as he says it is." He regards Warlock carefully. "However, the price for peace cannot be enslavery, or destruction and killing of innocents. My own people made that mistake long ago. Even to this day, they will not lie down and be dictated to by anyone. And you know this. This is why you conquer human settlements; settlements far enough away from earth to not cause a stir. And why you tried to approach my government first with an offer to 'talk'... but couch in words of intimidation. You know if war breaks out; you may well win due to the amount of planets you've conquered... but your losses will be vast. There must be a better way because this? Win or lose, this won't be a place to live afterwards. You'll destroy the very thing you claim to be trying to save."
Smoke Alarm
player, 337 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Thu 22 May 2014
at 02:08
  • msg #404

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

'No ball-games, no fly-posts, no ball-games. It doesn't matter what pictures spout from the big blue ball. Always there's a war. There was a war before time start, there was the war of Pepper-Pots and Handle-Bar-Men, there was the war of Cleaners, there is the war of Fists now, and there's the war of Goannas coming. If we use all tick-tocks getting ready-steady for war, then all we have is war, and no tick-tocks for fun or life or anything.'

'Before we put Paradise Towers to rights, Cleaners made people unalive and took them to the Basement to be a minced and mushed and recycle-binned. Rezzies were tricky and ate Kangs and did not 'ware the Cleaners and waste disposal shoots when they got sucked down. Caretakers had tools but were dumb-dumbs and helped the Cleaners. Kangs are brave and bold but our arrowguns couldn't hurt the Cleaners. So the Cleaners took us all to the cleaners and to the Basement, to wipe-out all the peoples of Paradise Towers.'

'But we got together at the Great Pool in the Sky, and we worked together with no to-do. The Rezzies knitted nets to bundle-up Cleaners, the Caretakers put splosives on Kang arrowguns to break Cleaners. Caretakers and Rezzies tricked the Cleaners and bundled-them up, and Kangs fired splosive arrows to break them. So Kangs and Caretakers and Rezzies worked together, in all different ways, stronger and braver and bolder together than in parts.'

'What if you make us all the same, make us all Fists, all eggheads in red with fists and foots and dizzy-plans? Then we can only upstand to this army of goannas in one way, your way, and that mayhaps is no way or a wrong way. Mayhaps the Goannas will wipe-out the Fists and make them unalive, easy-peasy? Then we all outgo to the cleaners together, are made unalive together, are wiped out together. Game over.'

'But if we are all different, but all together, we can upstand to the goannas in all ways: right ways, left ways, inways and outways, finding best ways to break the goannas and not be taken to the cleaners. That is how we put all the towers to rights.'

'And your Fists can't catch a Kang, can't catch me if they can. I run in circles around them, jump over them and slime them. So how can they catch a goanna? They move with all speed, have scales and claws and fangs and they're mean lizard-wizards...'
The Guardian
GM, 350 posts
Thu 22 May 2014
at 04:41
  • msg #405

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

OOC:

Stanley can roll Ingenuity + Medicine + Sonic, plus whatever else, if he wants to scan Warlock.  This is a difficulty 15 check.  The old readings that Trav had stored on Phillipe from way back when are still in the device for comparison.

Trav, you can make your response to Warlock's latest riposte, but you still need to make a reaction (Convince + Resolve -2 for second action, plus anything else you believe works) to Warlock's total of 12, post 389.  Doubtful you'll end up losing Resolve to it, but if you do I suggest that might guide how Trav feels things are going.

Then someone can try their own convince roll.  Depending on how that comes out might affect who Warlock chooses to "target" with his next persuasion action.  Note that you've all been supporting each other, particularly Smoke, Sereth and Trav, so you can get +2 bonuses for each extra person.
Sereth
player, 177 posts
Thu 22 May 2014
at 04:50
  • msg #406

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

OOC: I'll wait for Trav to roll; then unless Trav has a huge objection to it; I'll probably go with the Convince. Convince + Resolve is +7; ignoring any other relevant modifiers. Voice of Authority count for this?

If it doesn't; I think that's +11 for me including the extra people. Is that right? +13 if it does. I -think- if it can be pushed that Sereth is the one who can roll, he has the best chance.
Smoke Alarm
player, 339 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Thu 22 May 2014
at 05:02
  • msg #407

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

OOC: My Presence + Convince, apply as you like: 12
13:01, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 12 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 6,4. presence + convince.
The Guardian
GM, 351 posts
Thu 22 May 2014
at 12:29
  • msg #408

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

OOC: Sereth, Voice of Authority is valid; you're speaking on matters of moral policy and that is squarely in your background.

It is legitimate, by the way, for you all to make separate rolls, so you could make a roll in addition to Smoke if you wanted.  Warlock gets to apply one roll to all of them, same as if a bunch of people were all shooting at you, but in theory that could resolve this more quickly.

In terms of the stakes here, if you "lose the argument" that doesn't mean that your mind is changed -- it will mean that Warlock stops talking and moves on to another type of conflict.
Sereth
player, 178 posts
Thu 22 May 2014
at 12:37
  • msg #409

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

OOC: Okay, I'm actually going to use a story point as well; because I figure Draconians, whether through warfare or diplomacy, like bold opening gambits rather than rearguard actions.

So if my other calculations are correct,  that'll be 4d6 + 14. (5 for presence, 3 for convince, +2 for smoke and +2 traveller's help (I wasn't sure if Stanley or Amanda had pressed the case enough for them to count), +2 for VoA.

Here we go.


22:36, Today: Sereth rolled 25 using 4d6+13 with rolls of 1,1,5,5. Presence + Convince + VOA + SP + helpers. Should be 26 though. (+14 not +13)
The Traveller
player, 294 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 22 May 2014
at 17:27
  • msg #410

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
"Go right ahead, Doctor Newton," Warlock says.  He sets the control device down on the pedestal holding the mental transmitter.

He looks at the Traveller then, and there is winter in his eyes.

"Traveller, I could lie to you just as easily without a telepathic circuit as I can with one.  Ultimately it's not going to show you anything that I haven't already said, or that Disciplant Erysk hasn't said to Smoke Alarm.  It might show Doctor Newton that I am who I've claimed to be, and it might show your other friends that the Gehennans are just as frightening as I say.

"But you've not said anything to convince me either that this is a war that should not be fought, or that there is a better means available to me to rally people to fight it.  I've certainly thought about ways to do it faster.  I've only scratched the surface of the abilities the TAROT could open up, but I've seen some of the information it holds.  Things I could build with it.  Terrible things, things that your people came up with.  Things I'm--"  He cuts himself off and shakes his head.  "The Fists are a middle ground, and they -- and this -- give people the chance to see why they should be fighting."

"As for this being a mind control machine--"  Now the look he gives Trav is one of disgust.  "Traveller, so far as that is true, you live in a mind control machine."


"Don't dance around the subject, Warlock. That's your device. Take responsibility for what you're doing with it. I'll get to you later, but I think we really need to get some important people in this conversation. Also - I trust my TARDIS implicitly - a Time Lord and their TARDIS are one. Do you trust your TAROT?" She pauses. "I'm willing to trust you with it, so far."

She turns to Erysk. "But I have to apologize. Fist Erysk, I'm the Traveller. I'm from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation of Kasterborous. I'm the Last of the Time Lords. I'd like to see very much what Warlock has shown you, and understand why you feel that you need to harm and coerce others when it seems deep down that you know such actions are wrong. You certainly have seen what Smoke Alarm has demonstrated to you, and why your actions are chaotic and will only lead to suffering. Please, show me what Warlock has shown you, and explain to me how you understand the situation. Hopefully, I can share some facts with you, and we can come to a compromise. If this continues, this will escalate, and the Draconians will not allow you to conquer them. There is a peaceable solution to this crisis. Let's talk."

The Traveller rolled 22 using 4d6+9 with rolls of 1,1,6,5. Trav makes the case with Erysk. 2d6+Presence+Convince+VOA+Assist+SP.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:12, Fri 23 May 2014.
Stanley Newton
player, 95 posts
Thu 22 May 2014
at 19:10
  • msg #411

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Stanley points the sonic at Warlock and scans him, using setting 964 as suggested by Trav.

OOC:
I am going to spend a Story Point, because why not :)
21:07, Today: Stanley Newton rolled 31 using 4d6+10 with rolls of 4,6,5,6. Ingenuity(4) + Medicine (4) +Sonic(2)+ SP(+2d6).

This message was last edited by the player at 19:10, Thu 22 May 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 353 posts
Fri 23 May 2014
at 01:33
  • msg #412

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav:

The Guardian, for the NPC Erysk, rolled 13 using 2d6+10 with rolls of 1,2. Against Trav's case: Convince(4) + Resolve(4) + Empathic(2).

Erysk listens carefully and seriously to the Traveller.  She nods as Trav concludes.  "I saw fleets of warships encircling worlds of a billion souls," she says.  "I saw thousand-ton projectiles dropped from orbit, to annihilate defiant cities.  I saw factories and fields worked by slaves held and gunpoint."  Her voice softens.  "I saw a young man being pushed to master knowledge that his captors did not themselves understand, and put into terrible agony when he failed.  I am not proud of all the things that the people in my Order have done, Traveller, and I do not ask to be forgiven my part in them.  I am willing to work with you to find another way.  But I am only a minor officer of the Order, and I can speak only for myself."
The Guardian
GM, 354 posts
Fri 23 May 2014
at 01:44
  • msg #413

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Sereth:

The Guardian, for the NPC Warlock, rolled 19 using 4d6+9 with rolls of 6,2,1,1. Against Sereth's speech: Convince(3) + Resolve(4) + Brave(2) + Story Point.

You beat him by 7, so your full Presence(5) gets applied to his Resolve(4), and he capitulates.

It seems to Sereth as if Warlock must have been nursing a grudge against the Traveller for a long, long time -- long enough, perhaps, that he had a well-rehearsed argument and a well-prepared facade of confidence to hold up against her.  But against the case that Sereth presents, that mask seems to crack.  The change in Warlock is not profound: it's a hair-thin loss of bravado, a slight slump in the shoulders.  But Sereth suddenly sees how young the man is at heart, and how tired he must be of always pretending to more strength and wisdom that he has.

"I've really not said a word that wasn't true, Legate," Warlock says.  "I really do not want to be this thing that the Gehennans wanted to make me.  Maybe that was the problem all along.  Maybe they showed that to me to make me willing to fight so hard, to do go to such lengths, to make sure that I walked right down the very path that would lead me there."

He looks at Trav.  There's still pain when he does that.  "I also did not lie when I told you, I am really not the leader of the Fists -- Lucin is the one who had the vision; he is the one who set the strategy.  So I'm not sure that my yelling stop! is going to be all that effective.  Unless I, we, really did do something to alter peoples' minds.  Ironically enough."  He shakes his head.  "I'm sorry, Traveller.  I've just been doing what I thought was right."

Warlock bows his head.  "If you can -- if you would -- help me.  Please."
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:17, Fri 23 May 2014.
Sereth
player, 180 posts
Fri 23 May 2014
at 02:05
  • msg #414

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Sereth merely nods, and regards Traveller for a long moment. However ill-conceived Warlock's methods were, there was a grudge there; and the reason why would need to be examined at some point.

"As I said, I had no doubt of this army, and the size of it. I also have no doubt that you feel your grudge against the Traveller is legitimate, and I'm not even going to question that for right now."

He then regarded everyone for a moment.

"Where to from here? I can -talk- to people; but we can't move quickly enough to stop this with mere words? Any tricks?"


And then, he strode directly to Warlock, and grasped his arm.

"You did what you thought was right. It may have been wrong, but you did not do it out of malice; and you listened. YOu are a good man."
The Guardian
GM, 355 posts
Fri 23 May 2014
at 02:05
  • msg #415

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Stanley:

Okay, that was a crazily high roll, more than twice the difficulty I set.  So I'm going to take this all off the rails a bit.

What you see here takes place semi-simultaneously with Warlock's conversation with the others.

As Stanley starts running the scan, he starts seeing the expected metabolic and DNA signatures that he remembers going over with Trav and with Phillipe, not long after he first met the two of them.  The sonic starts analyzing the data, and running mathematical transformations to try to match it up with the historical data on Phillipe.

Then, something quite unexpected happens.

In front of Stanley's eyes, the air seems momentarily to split up in a sight-rending interference pattern.  The others don't seem to notice, but Warlock reacts to it -- in a moment of surprise and shock, as if it was nothing that he expected either.  Stanley feels a moment of vertigo when it ends.  There's a purple afterimage hanging in his vision that clears only slowly.  Stanley is almost unsurprised when he realizes that the afterimage is made up of words:

SIN.
TRAGEDY
FALLS

When he manages to focus on the readings from the sonic again, Stanley sees the bio-signature transforming over and over into new shapes, mutating as it goes.  He sees the readout briefly flash MATCH: EVERS and later MATCH: FORTUNA.

After it runs through multiple sequences, he sees the pattern start to unfold.  He can't track what all of the pieces of it mean -- but at the end, the pattern has whole vast stretches that bear no relation to anything in the original, "Phillipe" pattern, nor the "Warlock" scan.  It needs real work to analyze properly, and Stanley knows that he'd have to learn a lot more than he knows now to understand it.

But even with his present level of knowledge, he can only see what has grown out of the bio-signature as something monstrous.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:16, Fri 23 May 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 356 posts
Fri 23 May 2014
at 02:08
  • msg #416

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The other Order technicians in the room are looking uneasily at Warlock and at Traveller's group.
The Traveller
player, 296 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 23 May 2014
at 02:22
  • msg #417

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Warlock:
It seems to Sereth as if Warlock must have nursing a grudge against the Traveller for a long, long time -- long enough, perhaps, that he had a well-rehearsed argument and a well-prepared facade of confidence to hold up against her.  But against the case that Sereth presents, that mask seems to crack.  The change in Warlock is not profound: it's a hair-thin loss of bravado, a slight slump in the shoulders.  But Sereth suddenly sees how young the man is at heart, and how tired he must be of always pretending to more strength and wisdom that he has.

"I've really not said a word that wasn't true, Legate," Warlock says.  "I really do not want to be this thing that the Gehennans wanted to make me.  Maybe that was the problem all along.  Maybe they showed that to me to make me willing to fight so hard, to do go to such lengths, to make sure that I walked right down the very path that would lead me there."

He looks at Trav.  There's still pain when he does that.  "I also did not lie when I told you, I am really not the leader of the Fists -- Lucin is the one who had the vision; he is the one who set the strategy.  So I'm not sure that my yelling stop! is going to be all that effective.  Unless I, we, really did do something to alter peoples' minds.  Ironically enough."  He shakes his head.  "I'm sorry, Traveller.  I've just been doing what I thought was right."


Trav smiles, as she steps back, letting Sereth take the lead. She takes off her hat. "I'm *so sorry* I lost track of you. I can understand if you can't forgive me, Warlock, but I never meant to hurt you. Thank you, Thank you for listening. And no, it's OK, it's only the method, not the intent."

She decides to take a risk, and places her hands on his wrists. "We may not be entirely good, but I'll do everything I can make things right by you. We'll work together to deal with the Gehennans. Maybe you can let me show you some things about your partner there, the TAROT."  She pauses, considering something, and then says something she's been considering for a long time. "Maybe, if you would want to, I can pass onto you the legacy of what was good in Gallifrey - how we stood and defended the Time Vortex. The work of the Doctor. I can pass onto you the legacy of being a Time Lord, and you can help defend this crazy beautiful universe and help people stay free and safe, once I'm gone. Hm. Hm?" Yes, every one of them, she finds herself falling in love with.


Warlock:
Warlock bows his head.  "If you can -- if you would -- help me.  Please."


"Oh, baby. Anything I have and can do, you've got it."

The Guardian:
As Stanley starts running the scan, he starts seeing the expected metabolic and DNA signatures that he remembers going over with Trav and with Phillipe, not long after he first met the two of them.  The sonic starts analyzing the data, and running mathematical transformations to try to match it up with the historical data on Phillipe.

Then, something quite unexpected happens.

In front of Stanley's eyes, the air seems momentarily to split up in a sight-rending interference pattern.  The others don't seem to notice, but Warlock reacts to it -- in a moment of surprise and shock, as if it was nothing that he expected either.  Stanley feels a moment of vertigo when it ends.  There's a purple afterimage hanging in his vision that clears only slowly.  Stanley is almost unsurprised when he realizes that the afterimage is made up of words:

SIN.
TRAGEDY
FALLS

When he manages to focus on the readings from the sonic again, Stanley sees the bio-signature transforming over and over into new shapes, mutating as it goes.  He sees the readout briefly flash MATCH: EVERS and later MATCH: FORTUNA.

After it runs through multiple sequences, he sees the pattern start to unfold.  He can't track what all of the pieces of it mean -- but at the end, the pattern has whole vast stretches that bear no relation to anything in the original, "Phillipe" pattern, nor the "Warlock" scan.  It needs real work to analyze properly, and Stanley knows that he'd have to learn a lot more than he knows now to understand it.

But even with his present level of knowledge, he can only see what has grown out of the bio-signature as something monstrous.


Since Trav is looking straight at Warlock, she probably notices Stanley and Warlock startle. "Stan? What's wrong?"
The Traveller
player, 297 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 23 May 2014
at 02:29
  • msg #418

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
Trav:

The Guardian, for the NPC Erysk, rolled 13 using 2d6+10 with rolls of 1,2. Against Trav's case: Convince(4) + Resolve(4) + Empathic(2).

Erysk listens carefully and seriously to the Traveller.  She nods as Trav concludes.  "I saw fleets of warships encircling worlds of a billion souls," she says.  "I saw thousand-ton projectiles dropped from orbit, to annihilate defiant cities.  I saw factories and fields worked by slaves held and gunpoint."  Her voice softens.  "I saw a young man being pushed to master knowledge that his captors did not themselves understand, and put into terrible agony when he failed.  I am not proud of all the things that the people in my Order have done, Traveller, and I do not ask to be forgiven my part in them.  I am willing to work with you to find another way.  But I am only a minor officer of the Order, and I can speak only for myself."


"Fist Erysk, Thank you so much for listening. We all need to know what you've experienced. I don't deny the reality of the threat that Warlock and all of you are preparing for. However, free people working together can overcome any tyrant - I've seen it over and over across time and space. All of us here - " She motions to her companions - "are working to form a Parliament of Time." Others across history have also seen this vision, but it's not a fixed point in time. If you and Warlock can help us meet your leader Lucin, maybe we can all work together to face this threat. I don't think you're as alone as you might think. And as for forgiveness... Well, let's say that I was much like this evil you were fighting, once, before destiny decided to take mercy on me, and I found my way back. Now, I have a lot to pay back, and so I continue the Doctor's work."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:29, Fri 23 May 2014.
The Traveller
player, 298 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 23 May 2014
at 02:32
  • msg #419

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Sereth:
Sereth merely nods, and regards Traveller for a long moment. However ill-conceived Warlock's methods were, there was a grudge there; and the reason why would need to be examined at some point.

"As I said, I had no doubt of this army, and the size of it. I also have no doubt that you feel your grudge against the Traveller is legitimate, and I'm not even going to question that for right now."

He then regarded everyone for a moment.

"Where to from here? I can -talk- to people; but we can't move quickly enough to stop this with mere words? Any tricks?"


And then, he strode directly to Warlock, and grasped his arm.

"You did what you thought was right. It may have been wrong, but you did not do it out of malice; and you listened. YOu are a good man."



Trav smiles and nods in agreement.
Smoke Alarm
player, 340 posts
Brave and bold
as a Kang should be.
Fri 23 May 2014
at 04:01
  • msg #420

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

For once, Smoke Alarm didn't have anything to add to the discussion. She could tell they'd made Wall Lock unbold about his dizzy-plans. Mayhaps he would start playing nice. But would the rest of the Fists? Or would they want to keep being caretakers? 'Oh, Erysk, this is Traveller. And Stanley and Sereth and Amanda. You can how-you-do later.' she made belated introductions. 'And talking for yourself is enough.'

Then Stanley went all sleepy and Smoke outlooked in concern.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:02, Fri 23 May 2014.
The Traveller
player, 305 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 23 May 2014
at 05:42
  • msg #421

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Sereth - we need to see their vision first. We need to see what is so god awful frightening that the Fists have mobilized like this. Then, we meet their leader, and plead their case. I'd like to see the Fists return governance of their captured worlds to their inhabitants, and hopefully introduce them to our growing alliance."

The US and UNIT of the 35th century. The Splintered Sisterhood. The Chamber of Time Unwrought. Now, hopefully, the Fists of the 31 Suns...

And potentially, The Cyberiad.

Oh yeah. The folks at Arden would love her to death.
Stanley Newton
player, 96 posts
Fri 23 May 2014
at 18:53
  • msg #422

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Stanley takes a step back and shakes his head. "I...I don't know. The scan turned...it... it is hard to describe what happened. I have a bad feeling about this. A really bad feeling.... The sonic was busy analysing and all of a sudden I saw something, a message: Sin.Tragedy falls. " Stan repeats himself." Sin. Tragedy falls."

"But that is not the worst part. The bio-signature also changed, during the analysis." He looks at Warlock. "There were matches for Evers and Fortuna, but the pattern kept changing and changing. I don't know who or what the end result describes, but it is not Phillipe or Warlock. Compared to the scans of Phillipe and Warlock, there are long sequences in the pattern that are completely different. I don't know where they came from or what they imply, but I don't like it."

Stanley takes another step back, back towards the Tardis. "Don't trust him Trav! Don't trust him. There is obviously something going on. We need to analyse this data first."

OOC: Yeah, that was a good roll. That shows how powerful even a single Story Point can be :).
This message was last edited by the player at 19:01, Fri 23 May 2014.
The Traveller
player, 309 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 23 May 2014
at 19:13
  • msg #423

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav holds up her hands. "Stan, relax. It'll be OK. We're not doing anything until we check the data. Let me see the sonic."

Presuming that Stan hands over the sonic, Trav pulls out her I pad.  She immediately locks down the sonic, starts diagnostics, and dumps the data. "Mandy, I'm making sure my sonic isn't dangerous to anyone. Can you please check Stan out medically? Smoke sweety, please go into the TARDIS and get both my backup sonic and the big mauve box right next to the door. My backup is over on the left hand side of the main console, away from the door."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:05, Sat 24 May 2014.
Stanley Newton
player, 97 posts
Fri 23 May 2014
at 20:36
  • msg #424

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Stanley quickly gives Trav the sonic, his hand shaking slightly. "Thanks, but that won't be necessary, Amanda. Really, I am fine. I was just caught of guard by the whole thing."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:36, Fri 23 May 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 345 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sat 24 May 2014
at 00:53
  • msg #425

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

'Okay.' Smoke Alarm glared fiercely at the Wall Lock before turning and rushing into the talkiphone box, briefly pausing at the door and raising both hands to decide which was left.

Dashing across the console room, she soon lost-and-found the back-up sonic, just like the one Traveller was now playing with. She had more trouble with the box. Sticking her blue head out the door, she asked 'What's a "mauve"?' There was only one box, but she wanted to be sure. If it was like a moving box, it might have moved away.
Amanda
NPC, 25 posts
Sat 24 May 2014
at 01:15
  • msg #426

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"What's that they say about a doctor who treats himself?"

Amanda takes hold of Stanley's chin.  She holds up one clawed finger and moves it back and forth, watching how Stanley's eyes track, and then takes out a pen light to examine them.

"But in fact, I think you are all right.  We can check a couple of other things later in the TARDIS -- that's where I keep my lollipops, in any event."  She winks.
The Guardian
GM, 358 posts
Sat 24 May 2014
at 01:24
  • msg #427

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Warlock stares wildly at Stanley.  "What?  No, you're wrong -- I mean, I know my biology's not quite like yours, but I swear I'm on the level!"

Fire doors on the far side of the auditorium crash open, and half a dozen Fists burst through them.  These aren't like Warlock's assistants: they're young and athletic and determined-looking.

Smoke recalls how, before the TARDIS arrived and the ensuing not-quite how-you-do, Warlock had called for these reinforcements.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:00, Sat 24 May 2014.
The Traveller
player, 310 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sat 24 May 2014
at 02:45
  • msg #428

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav purses her lips as she extends her hand to Amanda, urging her to toss her one of her pistols. "Smoke - Mauve is purple. Yeah, that box!" She takes her back up sonic from Smoke - something smaller looking.

Then the new Fists burst in.

"Warlock - I believe you, but I think you've been compromised. Are you coming with me?" She says this from behind the TARDIS force field - invisible, but certainly present. She says this as she takes aims her backup sonic back at the TARDIS. The sensors activate, and are conducting a full spectrum scan of the blue sphere, with all defenses fully activated.

She stands by the door. "I won't leave you behind again, Phillipe."

OOC: Can we assume that Trav's backup sonic has zero story points and essentially an extension of the TARDIS equipment?
This message was last edited by the player at 02:58, Sat 24 May 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 346 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sat 24 May 2014
at 02:52
  • msg #429

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke was standing in the doorway, holding a pinkish purplish box, which meant there was a bit of a blockage into the talkiphone box. 'The Fists called-out for them before... Slowpokes!' she shouted at the newly arrived Fists.


OOC: Aren't we safely behind a force-field?
The Traveller
player, 311 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sat 24 May 2014
at 03:00
  • msg #430

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

OOC: Edited my post to take that into account.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:00, Sat 24 May 2014.
The Guardian
GM, 359 posts
Sat 24 May 2014
at 04:12
  • msg #431

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Where are you going?" Warlock says.

Erysk looks back and forth between the crew from the TARDIS, and the Fists that have just arrived.  "I'll deal with this," she says firmly to Trav.  "You should go."

Trav, you should make a roll to scan the device.  It's OK by me if you want to have a "remote" for using the TARDIS sensors in a situation like this one.  It would be very helpful if you gave me an idea of what you were trying to figure out with your scan.
Smoke Alarm
player, 347 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sat 24 May 2014
at 08:15
  • msg #432

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

'We're outgoing?' Smoke asked, surprised by the sudden change of plans. 'But we just visited.'

The Kang looked for Erysk in all the running about. 'Erysk! I didn't eye-spy your army of goannas!' she called, disappointed that she couldn't keep her promise. But mayhaps the big blue ball picture-spout wasn't sound-and-safe. 'Come-out with us! Run with me! You can talky more with Traveller!'
This message was last edited by the player at 08:16, Sat 24 May 2014.
The Traveller
player, 312 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sat 24 May 2014
at 18:31
  • msg #433

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav aims her sonic back through the door to the TARDIS at the main control panel. The main vortex, artron and spectrum sensors align on the ball. She wants to know what that ball is made of, it's telepathic characteristics, and what connection it has to time travel and the Time Vortex, if any. She also wants a full schematics and materials readout of the thing.

OOC:14:36, Today: The Traveller rolled 27 using 2d6+16 with rolls of 6,5. Trav scans the blue ball - 2d6+Ingenuit 8+Science 6+Research Capsule 2.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:37, Sat 24 May 2014.
The Traveller
player, 313 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sat 24 May 2014
at 18:47
  • msg #434

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm:
'We're outgoing?' Smoke asked, surprised by the sudden change of plans. 'But we just visited.'

The Kang looked for Erysk in all the running about. 'Erysk! I didn't eye-spy your army of goannas!' she called, disappointed that she couldn't keep her promise. But mayhaps the big blue ball picture-spout wasn't sound-and-safe. 'Come-out with us! Run with me! You can talky more with Traveller!'


"Smoke Alarm is right! Warlock, Erysk, please, come with us. We need your help!"

OOC: Can I or someone else make a Presence+Convince roll to have them come along?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:25, Sat 24 May 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 348 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sun 25 May 2014
at 00:33
  • msg #435

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

OOC: Mayhaps not Smoke Alarm? :)
08:32, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 7 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,1. presence(2) + convince(0).
The Guardian
GM, 360 posts
Sun 25 May 2014
at 03:11
  • msg #436

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The newly arrived Fists look at Warlock and the group around the TARDIS.  "What's going on here?" one of them demands.  He starts moving forward.

Warlock, for his part, is moving for the TARDIS.  He looks back at the Fists, saying, "I'll explain later!"

Erysk hesitates, as though there's a complicated explanation that she means to offer up, but finally she shakes her head and sighs, and follows Warlock.

The leading Fist springs after Warlock.  However, when he hits the force barrier being projected by the TARDIS, there's a stuttering noise and a flare of light, and he skids back a couple of feet.  Trav notes that the interior lights visible through the TARDIS door flicker for an instant.
The Guardian
GM, 361 posts
Sun 25 May 2014
at 03:26
  • msg #437

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The readings that Trav takes on the device seem fairly comprehensive.  It looks like the bulk of it is a form of primitive time stream extrapolator: a device to collect and assimilate projections of likely futures from present conditions.  It also includes a basic telepathic amplifier and projector, and from what Trav can see of its workings, it looks as if its strength is fairly limited -- several times as powerful as a TARDIS's translation circuit, for instance, but its ability to actually control or modify behavior is well short of what an unaided mesmerist could manage.

There are a few key components made from exotic materials, but ones typical of the current period, and this seems to have forced major compromises to the design.  It uses a crude and bulky phasing coil devised from dwarf star alloy, for instance, where similar components Trav saw built during the Time War were much more elegant, using Level 10 materials like validium.  Thus the whole device is much larger and requires more power than one Trav could design and build, or so she thinks.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:36, Sun 25 May 2014.
The Traveller
player, 314 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sun 25 May 2014
at 06:59
  • msg #438

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
The newly arrived Fists look at Warlock and the group around the TARDIS.  "What's going on here?" one of them demands.  He starts moving forward.

Warlock, for his part, is moving for the TARDIS.  He looks back at the Fists, saying, "I'll explain later!"

Erysk hesitates, as though there's a complicated explanation that she means to offer up, but finally she shakes her head and sighs, and follows Warlock.

The leading Fist springs after Warlock.  However, when he hits the force barrier being projected by the TARDIS, there's a stuttering noise and a flare of light, and he skids back a couple of feet.  Trav notes that the interior lights visible through the TARDIS door flicker for an instant.


That's weird. The force field should be permitting him in. Trav checks her Ipad and its emulation app - is the TARDIS detecting warlock as a hostile?
Sereth
player, 186 posts
Sun 25 May 2014
at 10:00
  • msg #439

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

OOC: Hey I'll totally make a presence + convince roll.

Sorry; not on much for the weekends and feeling a bit headachey so not great IC post to go with the roll.

19:58, Today: Sereth rolled 15 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 3,4. Presence + Convince.

OOC: And is it just me, but did the Guardian's post read like it was the Fist leaping at Warlock that hit the forcefield?
The Guardian
GM, 363 posts
Sun 25 May 2014
at 13:45
  • msg #440

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Sereth:
OOC: And is it just me, but did the Guardian's post read like it was the Fist leaping at Warlock that hit the forcefield?

OOC: That was the way the Guardian meant it to read, yes.  The Fist was turned back.  Warlock and Erysk get safely to the TARDIS.
The Traveller
player, 316 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sun 25 May 2014
at 18:04
  • msg #441

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Once back inside, Trav gives Warlock a snug. "Good to have you back, baby." The door is locked tightly.

"Now, I need to keep you safe. Would you mind hanging out in the zero room for a while, while I examine you? I'll make sure the scutters bring in everything that you need to be comfortable - a futon, video game systems, laptops and tablets, movies, junk food!" She leans down and says hello to the TAROT. "Hello my little baby! Good to see you again, I hope you and Warlock here have been ok!" She is of course careful not to touch the TAROT. Sereth might note that Trav treats the TAROT as she might treat the sword of another warrior or knight, but also as a person too.

She looks over to Fist Erysk. "Fist Erysk, welcome to the TARDIS. That means Time and Relative Dimensions in Space. This is my home. I'm glad you decided to come. A lot of what we'r going to be talking about will be confusing, so feel free to interrupt to ask questions."

After making sure all heads are accounted for, she throws down a lever. The column wheezes and groans as the TARDIS pulls up into temporal orbit near Arsuran prime. "Part of me wishes we destroyed that ball, but that would make your job of explaining things to the other Fists all the more difficult."

Trav turns one of the flat screens on the control panel towards her. "So, where do we start? I think we have a lot of information to exchange." At her cell phone summoning, the scutters appear with carts laden with Kronkburgers, coffee, soft drinks and other food. One cart has organic fruit, tea and vegetables from Trav's garden and other places. "Fist Erysk, that's for you - I often have dedicated vegetarians come onto my ship so I always make sure to have food alternatives for them." One scutter at the back also has on a cart Trav's safety environment - that silver column with the crystals stcking out, surrounded by tablets and laptops, where she held the TAROT and the mathematical entity from the beginning of her career. beginning of my career, she thinks. I had already been doing this thing for 200 years by then.

Trav lets everyone make introductions and talk while she takes care of her top priority - analyzing the data from Phillipe/Warlock that was taken from her sonic. She's only seen one thing like this once before - when she struggle, alongside the Doctor, with Faction Paradox against Grandfather Paradox, and the Doctor's timeline was almost rewritten by Faction technology. It was one of the few adventures that the Doctor and the Marshall had as allies, although she wasn't directly involved in the action. She's also reformatting her sonic and re-installing the operating system, while backing up the data.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:11, Sun 25 May 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 349 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 26 May 2014
at 01:10
  • msg #442

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke cheered as Erysk made her choice to come-out with them. Mayhaps now she could eyespy things without Fists in her eyes. Then she waved to the other Fists, calling out 'Build high for happiness!' before she disappeared inside the talkiphone box.

Inside, she laid out the welcome-mat for Erysk. 'This is the brainquarters of the talkiphone box. There's the couch and that's Puddy and there's the puter control and there's the fish in the walls and there's the round things... Us have a hide-in in the air ducks.'

Smoke dumped her pack on the floor and pounced on the foodcart. 'Kronkburgers! Fizz-ade!' she whooped, snatching them up. Popping open the cans, she presented them in two hands first to Erysk and then to Wall Lock in a welcome-in gesture. 'Blue fizz-ade. It's icehot. Drink and be seated.'
Sereth
player, 187 posts
Mon 26 May 2014
at 01:31
  • msg #443

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Interesting. The briefest frown crossed his face but then he shrugged, and bowed to Traveller.

"If you'll excuse me. If you're serious about going directly to Lucin next; I need to rest up. I do not believe he'll be as easy as your friend here was to convince."

Sereth smiled sardonically; aware that Warlock had been far from 'easy' to convince.

He kept his suspicions about Lucin to himself for now though.
The Guardian
GM, 366 posts
Mon 26 May 2014
at 02:02
  • msg #444

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Traveller:
"Now, I need to keep you safe. Would you mind hanging out in the zero room for a while, while I examine you? I'll make sure the scutters bring in everything that you need to be comfortable - a futon, video game systems, laptops and tablets, movies, junk food!"

Warlock gets an unhappy look: he backs away from Trav a step.  "The Gehennans kept me penned up, too," he says.  But he throws up a hand and says, "Very well.  I suppose I deserve it."

The Traveller:
She leans down and says hello to the TAROT. "Hello my little baby! Good to see you again, I hope you and Warlock here have been ok!" She is of course careful not to touch the TAROT.

Even with that caution, the psychic impression Trav gets from the TAROT is very much unlike her first interaction with it, back on Earth.  It doesn't make an overt response, and there's a spike of tension, like the TAROT is a cat with its back arched and its fur standing straight up.

Or perhaps tiger would be a closer feline approximation.

quote:
Trav lets everyone make introductions and talk while she takes care of her top priority - analyzing the data from Phillipe/Warlock that was taken from her sonic.

OOC: This will be an Ingenuity + Science roll.  Not an easy one, either, even for Trav.
The Guardian
GM, 367 posts
Mon 26 May 2014
at 02:08
  • msg #445

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Erysk cocks her head at Smoke Alarm after the latter's exuberant cataloging of the TARDIS landscape.  "....Yes, ah, quite."  She gives Trav a quizzical look.  It's hard to tell if she's disturbed by the bigger-on-the-inside vessel, as she seems to be mostly trying to keep up with Smoke's recitation.

When Smoke Alarm presents her with the fizz-ade, Erysk takes a cautious sip, and gradually finishes the drink with the air of one very determined to be polite and agreeable.
Smoke Alarm
player, 352 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 26 May 2014
at 07:29
  • msg #446

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

'Where are we, umph, outgoing now?' Smoke Alarm asked around and through a mouthful of Kronkburger and fizz-ade. She and Erysk were still coated in the slippy-dippy lubricant.
The Traveller
player, 320 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 26 May 2014
at 08:11
  • msg #447

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

OOC: When you say "not an easy roll to make" that's a signal that it's worth blowing an SP on.
04:13, Today: The Traveller rolled 25 using 4d6+16 with rolls of 1,2,5,1. 2d6+Ingenuity 8+Science 6+Research Capsule 2+2d6 - Trav analyzes blue ball and Phillipe/Warlock data. 2 SP left.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:06, Mon 26 May 2014.
The Traveller
player, 321 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 26 May 2014
at 19:38
  • msg #448

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm:
'Where are we, umph, outgoing now?' Smoke Alarm asked around and through a mouthful of Kronkburger and fizz-ade. She and Erysk were still coated in the slippy-dippy lubricant.


"Not right now, babe. We need to talk with Warlock and Erysk and give him a check up.  Fist Erysk, If you follow the spiral staircase, you'll find a stand up shower. I can also get you new clothing in whatever style you like. Please, make yourself comfortable."
The Traveller
player, 322 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 26 May 2014
at 19:44
  • msg #449

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
The Traveller:
"Now, I need to keep you safe. Would you mind hanging out in the zero room for a while, while I examine you? I'll make sure the scutters bring in everything that you need to be comfortable - a futon, video game systems, laptops and tablets, movies, junk food!"

Warlock gets an unhappy look: he backs away from Trav a step.  "The Gehennans kept me penned up, too," he says.  But he throws up a hand and says, "Very well.  I suppose I deserve it."


"Baby, I'm not here to judge you, and you can your partner can leave anytime you like. You and Erysk and your Tarot are my guests. The reason I want you in the Zero Room is to protect you from long range manpilation by the Gehennans. I'll get to work, I don't want to leave you cooped up in there any longer than you have to. I'll also be talking to you - you know a lot more about these clowns than me."

The Guardian:
Even with that caution, the psychic impression Trav gets from the TAROT is very much unlike her first interaction with it, back on Earth.  It doesn't make an overt response, and there's a spike of tension, like the TAROT is a cat with its back arched and its fur standing straight up.


That's fine  - the TAROT was surrounded by a much older, and gentle presence - her TARDIS. Much like an older animal can communicate with a younger one, she hopes her old, wise time machine can leave impressions and pass on learnings to the younger device, and help to put it at ease.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:46, Mon 26 May 2014.
The Traveller
player, 323 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 26 May 2014
at 19:50
  • msg #450

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav, as she is examining the data taken from her sonic by Stan, frowns. This seems to be massive time line manipulation. Perhaps some outside force is attempt to literally rewrite into becoming this Beast. That made Phillipe into literally his own worst enemy.

She brings up a sub window for her navigational database. She may have to consult with a group of people she swore she would never speak to again.

OOC: Posting musings for the audience.
The Guardian
GM, 368 posts
Mon 26 May 2014
at 20:42
  • msg #451

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The more the Traveller pores over the data, the more it bothers her.  She can confirm what Stanley says is true: that the genetic sequences contain matches to Phillipe, Evers and Fortuna, among the myriad configurations it contains.  A Time Lord's genetic code contains within it the blueprint for generating countless different incarnations: those that a Time Lord passes through in her life and those she will never experience.  Warlock's is no different in that respect.

But as Trav tries to identify the source of the emergent form that Stanley described to her, she finds it difficult to pin down.  It's as if the patterns are actually reconfiguring themselves, to hide from her analysis and lie dormant away in some other portion of the code -- until called on, perhaps.  It's an adaptive algorithm embedded inside Warlock's DNA!  Harmless enough in the captured copy of the data that Trav is examining in her isolated work environment, but that same logic is also hidden in the actual genes of the person she picked up from Earth when he thought he was only a normal human.

It seems as if someone who worked on the code set it up to protect itself in this way.  Trav thinks that if she had designed something like this, she would have set it up with a key so that she, or other authorized researchers, could disable the code's defenses.  What key, though?
The Traveller
player, 324 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 26 May 2014
at 21:09
  • msg #452

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav rubs her eyes as she leans back in her chair. She passes the data to Stan and Amanda, with Smoke and Sereth nearby, also sharing it with Warlock and Erysk.

"Another Time Lord is behind this, most likely. It's almost like the pattern of Warlock's Rassilon Imprimatur was deliberately encrypted. I could bang away at this for millenia and get no closer to unlocking this. The genetic imprint on Phillipe *was* designed to keep my prying eyes out - back when I myself was someone else." Trav feels that this cypher was put onto his imprint to keep him safe from meddling rogues such as herself and the Master. The fact that Evers doesn't remember anything makes sense - it could be that a regeneration protocol was enacted that burned away the meddling of the Gehennans. When she became the Traveller again, she had to start with the skills she had in her second incarnation, all the study and brilliance of the Marshall scoured from her.

She also throws up the various 'show imprints'. It seems as if she is being taunted. "It seems as if someone is throwing us clues. But I have so many things on my mind right now that I really can't summon up the brain juice to solve this puzzle. If anyone has any ideas, I'm game."

"There's only two ways of resolving this, Warlock - either I look up some people who I swore I'd never see again, or going back to your beginning. If I can be at where and when you began, I can get the key to the puzzle that is you, and unlock it. The other way is to call upon some old, old... acquaintances of mine. Have you ever heard of the Witches of Karn?"

Trav holds her hands open. "I don't want to proceed until I find out how you feel about it, Warlock. You deserve to be able to dictate your own future."
Stanley Newton
player, 98 posts
Mon 26 May 2014
at 21:11
  • msg #453

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
Warlock gets an unhappy look: he backs away from Trav a step.  "The Gehennans kept me penned up, too," he says.  But he throws up a hand and says, "Very well.  I suppose I deserve it."


Stanley doesn't say anything, but thinks that it is probably for the best that Warlock stays in the Zero Room. One of the Scutters has brought him a glass of water and he takes a sip. He walks over to Trav to see what she is doing.

Stanley takes a look at the data Trav sent. "Genetics isn't really my area of expertise, but this is...well it is special. I already had an idea that it had to be some sort of encoded algorithm, because of the way the pattern kept changing. If it was designed to keep you out, then I don't think I can be of any help."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:17, Mon 26 May 2014.
The Traveller
player, 325 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 26 May 2014
at 21:12
  • msg #454

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav smiles bashfully. "I just trust your overall judgement, Stan. You've never lead me wrong."
Smoke Alarm
player, 354 posts
Build high for happiness!
Tue 27 May 2014
at 01:32
  • msg #455

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Traveller:
"Not right now, babe. We need to talk with Warlock and Erysk and give him a check up. Fist Erysk, If you follow the spiral staircase, you'll find a stand up shower. I can also get you new clothing in whatever style you like. Please, make yourself comfortable."


'Okay.' Smoke agreed, and showed Erysk up the staircase to the shower. 'And here is the stare-way upstairs to the cleaners. You can make home-sweet-home here.'

Coming back, she listened as Traveller and Stanley got talky about their scans of Wall Lock. 'Someone put a puzzle-code on his jeans?' She eyespied the results herself curiously. It was all just lines and letters to her. She turned the pad upside-down and sideways, held it very close to her nose and at arm's length, and squinted and closed one eyespy and then the other. She traced a finger around some darker shaded lines. 'Oh! Oh! I got it! It's a lamp!'
Amanda
NPC, 26 posts
Wed 28 May 2014
at 00:30
  • msg #456

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In a bit, Amanda comes down the stairway from where she's been showing Erysk where to get cleaned up.  "Your wardrobe," she informs Trav, "is not very kind to a woman with, let's say, austere tastes."

She pores over the data: her whiskers twitch and her ears stand straight up.  "My, my, Phillipe."  The Arden drawl slips back into her voice.  "You do have yourself some awfully frisky base pairs here."
Warlock
NPC, 1 post
Wed 28 May 2014
at 01:44
  • msg #457

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Normally, the Zero Room is meant to isolate its occupants from all contact with the outside universe.  Trav has a secured two-way pickup that somewhat compromises this goal when it's active, and Warlock, cross-legged on the floor of the Zero Room, speaks over it now.

"I don't know these 'Witches' you're talking about, so I'd have to leave that to your judgment," he says.  "As for 'going back to my beginnings'...."

He rests his chin on his fist, looking miserable.  "I don't think I can do that," he says.  "Since I... changed... I've wanted to go back just once and tell my mom and my dad I was alive, even if I wasn't what you'd call 'all right'.  I don't have the faintest idea how to go about that.  You might find something there, Traveller, but I don't think I want any part of it."

He shrugs, dejected.  "If I'd had a better answer I'd have tried it by now.  I think this one has to be up to you and your friends."
The Traveller
player, 331 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 28 May 2014
at 07:09
  • msg #458

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Warlock:
Normally, the Zero Room is meant to isolate its occupants from all contact with the outside universe.  Trav has a secured two-way pickup that somewhat compromises this goal when it's active, and Warlock, cross-legged on the floor of the Zero Room, speaks over it now.

"I don't know these 'Witches' you're talking about, so I'd have to leave that to your judgment," he says.  "As for 'going back to my beginnings'...."

He rests his chin on his fist, looking miserable.  "I don't think I can do that," he says.  "Since I... changed... I've wanted to go back just once and tell my mom and my dad I was alive, even if I wasn't what you'd call 'all right'.  I don't have the faintest idea how to go about that.  You might find something there, Traveller, but I don't think I want any part of it."

He shrugs, dejected.  "If I'd had a better answer I'd have tried it by now.  I think this one has to be up to you and your friends."

Trav is down in the Zero room with him. She wasn't going to treat him like a caged animal. She's sharing dinner with him on the floor. She has with her examination equipment and her sonic.

"Thank you for trusting me more than I deserve. As for the Witches - they're the last survivors of my people... if they survived. I don't even know if they made it past the War. Their world could be all rocks and dust for all I know. But it's a lead to follow up. They are the masters of the genetics of my people, and have arcane sciences." She thinks bitterly - the Warrior told her that he consented to that forced regeneration, but those witches were treacherous. Part of her believes that the brave, kind Doctor of old still could have pulled something out.

"I spent 65 years as a human. Long story. I had a husband, and kids. See, look." She shares with him the photos of her kids.

"I... had to leave them behind." She sniffs. "I went on a hundred year long quest to get them all back - my husband, my kids, and grandkids. See, right after the Time War, I became a human *baby*. So, I was raised by a human family. I met a guy. Sure, it was a crazy world with magic and dinosaurs, but I was a human being. The whole shebang, as it were. Right after I regenerated, they were taken from me. I struggled with a race of time travelling demons, for them. I got them back."

She sighs. "So, another 20 years after that, I saw Josh grow old in front of me. It was some of the happiest years of my life. I offered him regeneration, other technologies to keep him young. But he rightly told me that he would stop being *him* if I altered him that way. So, one morning, I got up from bed to make breakfast... and he didn't."

She closes her eyes. "I stayed for 1 more month. My kids, they were all grown. They all understood. Mom's an alien who doesn't grow old, she regenerates!"

She looks back and forth. "Every now and then, I think that I might just track down the old CVEs and go back to R Space, and be with my babies. God, I miss them so much. Tears are streaming down her eyes. "But I have so many enemies, here, and there. I'd be exposing them to so much danger. So, here I am. It's not an entirely bad life, much better than I deserve, but..." She can't complete the sentence.

"So, I have to do for you what I can, Warlock. You see, you're the closest thing to a relative I have left. You're a human who has somehow become Gallifreyan, after a fashion. I'm a Gallifreyan who became human. We're two of a kind, you and me."

"When we get you fixed, and we deal with the Gehennans, and this Beast, we'll go back and tell your parents, when you're good and ready. Just because you're a different man now doesn't mean you're not still *you*. You will always be their son. Is that a reasonable deal? I brought you on this trip. I owe you at least that much. After that, maybe I can show you some of the beauty of this crazy universe. You and your partner have a way now of seeing it in a way only a few others can. That may not erase all of the sadness, but think of all the beautiful things you can see, and all the good things you can do - you and your partner, there."

She leans close to him, cross legged, on the floor. "I'm ready to see what you saw - the Beast, the army of Gehenna, what you've been showing the Fists through that device. You can share it with your mind, yes? If you'd be inclined, please, show me. I presume you're telepathic, like me."
Stanley Newton
player, 99 posts
Wed 28 May 2014
at 22:37
  • msg #459

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In reply to Amanda (msg # 456):

Stanley stands next to Amanda as she looks over the data. "Yeah, very strange...Have you ever seen anything like it before? I haven't, but that doesn't say much. Back home we are barely starting to synthesise things like chromosomes."
Warlock
NPC, 2 posts
Thu 29 May 2014
at 01:45
  • msg #460

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Traveller:
She leans close to him, cross legged, on the floor. "I'm ready to see what you saw - the Beast, the army of Gehenna, what you've been showing the Fists through that device. You can share it with your mind, yes? If you'd be inclined, please, show me. I presume you're telepathic, like me."

"Not with people," Warlock says.  "At least if I am, it's something I haven't figured out yet.  The TAROT is really all that I can make understand me like that -- but you'll see why.  But I can tell you the old-fashioned way, as best I can."

He describes to Trav the prison where he was awakened, a cold room of bare, rough metal.  Sitting before him was the TAROT.  Parts of the walls of the cell could morph into viewscreens where he was posed puzzles and shown pictures of the state of the galaxy beyond the world of New Gehenna.  Parts of the cell could melt open to admit food, or allow waste to leave.  The puzzles were simple at first, but they grew more complex, and when Phillipe could not solve them in the time allotted, the walls would grow instruments of torture: electric shocks, or blades, or stunning waves of painful sound.

When Phillipe would refuse to take the tests, he was punished; and when he had passed enough of them to earn a respite, the walls would still speak hateful things in his ears -- conquest, domination, supremacy -- and would show him images of a brutal, broad and horned face.  He started trying to figure out how to access the TAROT, and it was very slow work.  For one thing, it too was a hard and mechanical thing insofar as it showed any personality or life.  "That hasn't really changed," Warlock tells Trav.  "I don't really understand why.  It wasn't like that for Evers or Fortuna, right?"

Eventually, the tests progressed to the point where they could not be solved in linear time, and then he had to learn to use the TAROT to double back on his own timestream to solve the puzzles before he was punished.  Once that had happened, he began to get interactive contact with a man that he would soon learn was Sezan Crayne, head of a fading noble house in a dying star system.

"He said, he'd had a vision of the future," Warlock says.  "It showed Crayne the face that they'd shown on the walls, telling him that he was responsible for bringing that being to life.  And Crayne believed, at least by the time I met him.  A true believer, you understand?"

In the end, Phillipe decided that playing along with Crayne was the only way he'd ever have the space to maneuver and act.  Eventually, he did get free of the cell.  "I was a mess by then," Warlock tells Trav.  "Crayne showed me the war machine he was building, the army he was training and sending out into the neighboring systems.  The infrastructure of those worlds was already crashing; Crayne's forces grabbed up anything they could lay their hands on to build arms, took whatever they could to keep growing.

"So, when I could find the chances, I worked at finding out what had come before.  The wreck and fall of the Fourth Great and Bountiful Empire."  He waves a hand vaguely at the walls of the Zero Room.  "The one that's out there now, out beyond Arsuran.  And I came across the records of the Fists.  They never came to much, just a scattered transcendence cult, but I could see how to teach them, Trav, and how -- I thought -- I could help them form a force that could stand against the New Gehennans.  Maybe even stand against the fall of the Empire."

His face twists up in pain.  "Crayne and his people found me out, in the end," he says at last.  "And I went back in the box.  When they hurt me that time... that's when Phillipe died," he adds.  "But, you see, I'd learned.  Learned that the TAROT didn't have to be there with me, for me to use it.  That's when I made up my mind.  And that's when I left.  Came here.  Came... now."
Amanda
NPC, 27 posts
Thu 29 May 2014
at 01:52
  • msg #461

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Amanda looks at Stanley.

"Well, I'll be honest, multicellular structures are more my thing," she says.  "Now, in my time, we have learned a few things, it's true.  But that's like saying that the Romans had worked out the math and the engineering to build some pretty good bridges."  She strikes an impish pose and gestures at herself.  "My mom makes some of the best.  But while I imagine she could take a stab at figuring out some of the work here...."  -- she gestures at the code -- "that's like saying one of those Romans might take be able to guess at what it takes to throw up a space platform, or one of Arsuran's orbitals."
Smoke Alarm
player, 359 posts
Build high for happiness!
Thu 29 May 2014
at 04:07
  • msg #462

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

After her lamp show-and-tell went unremarked upon, and Traveller went off to talk with Wall Lock and Stanley with Amanda, Smoke Alarm took herself to the cleaners, to clean the slime off before she got all stucky. She footed it off to the sink-room, going in after Erysk was done. Working like a busy-bee, she scraped the slime off, then cleaned her clothes in the bathtub and sink. She cleaned herself as well, while she was there and nekkid. While she worked, she thought about the day's adventures. They gotten the egghead rezzies on the fire-escape, and really shown the Fists they were brave and bold. Still, Smoke would have liked to have a big slippery-dippery to-do with the Fists, it would have made a great viddy for the interweb. Sliming them and dakking whats-his-name and all that talk with Erysk would have to do. She'd gotten Erysk to eyespy, not just outlook. And she'd gotten to picture-take the big blue ball with her talkiphone, just like Traveller wanted. Smoke was happy to play along with her new friends, to help put Arsuran to rights. They were building high for happiness, just as a Kang should do.

And Traveller had found an old friend in Wall Lock, but Smoke didn't trust him. He might have come over to help, and he might have hair, but he was still a Fist with magic cards. She would have to 'ware him.

Her clothes were all soaking wet now. Smoke wringed them out as much as she could then footed it in search of the lawn-drier. People didn't like her footing about nekkid; mayhaps they liked her in blue Kang duds. She bundled her clothes and towels up in front of her and nipped out through the carry-doors. Fortunately, the talkiphone box put the lawn-drier right next door for her.

The bathroom was left an absolutely dripping mess behind her.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:08, Thu 29 May 2014.
The Traveller
player, 334 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 29 May 2014
at 06:04
  • msg #463

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Warlock:
When Phillipe would refuse to take the tests, he was punished; and when he had passed enough of them to earn a respite, the walls would still speak hateful things in his ears -- conquest, domination, supremacy -- and would show him images of a brutal, broad and horned face.  He started trying to figure out how to access the TAROT, and it was very slow work.  For one thing, it too was a hard and mechanical thing insofar as it showed any personality or life.  "That hasn't really changed," Warlock tells Trav.  "I don't really understand why.  It wasn't like that for Evers or Fortuna, right?"


"I don't know. Evers and Fortuna are more of a mystery than you are, to me. They both have your kindness, which the Gehennans didn't kill."

Warlock:
"Eventually, the tests progressed to the point where they could not be solved in linear time, and then he had to learn to use the TAROT to double back on his own timestream to solve the puzzles before he was punished.  Once that had happened, he began to get interactive contact with a man that he would soon learn was Sezan Crayne, head of a fading noble house in a dying star system.

"He said, he'd had a vision of the future," Warlock says.  "It showed Crayne the face that they'd shown on the walls, telling him that he was responsible for bringing that being to life.  And Crayne believed, at least by the time I met him.  A true believer, you understand?"


Trav gravely nods. It's plain on her face that she feels guilt at what happened to him, and that she's remembering the indescribable tortures and hatred of the Daleks, whom she had beaten so many times as the first and second Traveller.

Warlock:
"In the end, Phillipe decided that playing along with Crayne was the only way he'd ever have the space to maneuver and act.  Eventually, he did get free of the cell.  "I was a mess by then," Warlock tells Trav.  "Crayne showed me the war machine he was building, the army he was training and sending out into the neighboring systems.  The infrastructure of those worlds was already crashing; Crayne's forces grabbed up anything they could lay their hands on to build arms, took whatever they could to keep growing.

"So, when I could find the chances, I worked at finding out what had come before.  The wreck and fall of the Fourth Great and Bountiful Empire."  He waves a hand vaguely at the walls of the Zero Room.  "The one that's out there now, out beyond Arsuran.  And I came across the records of the Fists.  They never came to much, just a scattered transcendence cult, but I could see how to teach them, Trav, and how -- I thought -- I could help them form a force that could stand against the New Gehennans.  Maybe even stand against the fall of the Empire."

His face twists up in pain.  "Crayne and his people found me out, in the end," he says at last.  "And I went back in the box.  When they hurt me that time... that's when Phillipe died," he adds.  "But, you see, I'd learned.  Learned that the TAROT didn't have to be there with me, for me to use it.  That's when I made up my mind.  And that's when I left.  Came here.  Came... now."


The part of her that's the Marshall considers. He could be a plant, a trick, a trap. If they could do that to him, they could do that to me. The 5 sides of her personality confer.

And the Marshall breaks the deadlock, as she is the only side of the Time Lord who so far has conducted long range strategy. She is also the worn, old, grief filled woman who struggled with the War Doctor to save Gallifrey, and then made the plan to destroy it.

She takes his hands. "Every instinct and experience tells me that you are a trap, a spy, a trick. That is why I must trust you." Her voice seems old and weary, like that of another woman.

"You see, you made it out with your humanity intact. Yes, there were deaths and injuries, but you have done your level best to avoid deliberate harm. It's like you were resisting their programming and torture. I, on the other hand, gave in. The Daleks broke me, completely. I became a living exemplar of everything they held dear. The fact that I was a weapon aimed at them doesn't matter. I roared across the stars in a wave of fire and blood. It took The Doctor, the most puissant Time Lord who ever stepped off of Gallifrey, to stop me. 100 years of terror, and another hundred locked in the Citadel on Gallifrey, and 100 more fighting the Last Great Time War. You're stronger than I ever was, Warlock."

She stands. "So. Visions of this Great Beast, this enemy at the end of time, have been sighted by other time aware people - the Chamber of Time Unwrought, the Splintered Sisterhood. It has all sorts of people terrified. I'm also organizing a defense, but one based on mutual defense, respect and support. We're called the Parliament of Time. Well, it's a work in progress, anyway. It's not yet solidified. But your plan is brilliant, except for the coercion. You and the Fists would be massively helpful in this alliance. You're not alone. You see, I'm going to be gone, one day. The peoples across time will have to govern themselves and see to their own safety. As the Last Time Lord, I want to leave a structure in place where people up and down the time stream can defend themselves."

She urges Warlock to stand up. Taking his hand, she pleads, emphatically. "If you were to have Lucin withdraw his fists, offer to train those who would willingly join them in their disciplines, act as exemplars of freedom and courage, defend instead of conquer - Baby, they'd be so massive and awesome. Whatever this great beast is, I think something is trying to turn the entire you into the actual enemy. You or I or someone else might be this Beast at the end of time. I don't think that the Fists need to change that much except to turn power back to the governments that they have conquered. Can you convince these people you've helped and trained to do this? Up and down time you have allies. You're not alone. We need you and your people to stand in the Parliament of Time, we need your strength and voices. Do you think you can do this? I don't think they killed Phillipe. I think all Phillipe did was change and became someone new, who is just as wonderful. I showed you the power of cooperation and community. Please, consider this. Please.

OOC: I'd like to make a Convince roll for the pitch, with maybe some bonuses for the entire peaceful insurgent campaign. It'd be the entire group making the convincing, really.
The Guardian
GM, 372 posts
Thu 29 May 2014
at 13:15
  • msg #464

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Traveller:
OOC: I'd like to make a Convince roll for the pitch, with maybe some bonuses for the entire peaceful insurgent campaign. It'd be the entire group making the convincing, really.

OOC: Provisionally yes.  I'd like to let everyone else weigh in on it with their own IC comments.

You should also be aware that what you're convincing Warlock of is to change his approach and throw himself into the effort in a way you'd approve of.  I don't know if we all want to go through the exercise of trying to woo Lucin -- OOC I will tell you that he and the Fists are pretty much on the level as presented, and he's not secretly a figure with a hidden agenda, so playing that out would likely be a sort of repeat of what you've already done with Warlock.  So we could approach this narratively as Warlock and/or Erysk (and maybe Ru, if you like that idea) going off to reform the Fists, while Trav & company meet up with them later at a point when the work is done.

It's up to all of you whether you want to do it that way or not.
The Traveller
player, 335 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Thu 29 May 2014
at 23:50
  • msg #465

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

OOC: I'm fine with what Gary is laying out. Trav is concerned however about Farhaven and Arsuran, however - she'd like the conquered worlds to be released.
Sereth
player, 197 posts
Fri 30 May 2014
at 00:12
  • msg #466

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:

OOC I will tell you that he and the Fists are pretty much on the level as presented, and he's not secretly a figure with a hidden agenda, so playing that out would likely be a sort of repeat of what you've already done with Warlock.


OOC: Given I'd half wondered whether Lucin and the Army were actually on the same side trying to force Warlock to be what they wanted but from different angles, that is important.

I'd assume that 'reform the fists' would include freeing of captured worlds.

I'm happy to do that. Playing it out just seems like a dice-rolling exercise, and having it go this way gives Warlock back a certain amount of autonomy, which Sereth would support regardless.
The Traveller
player, 336 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 30 May 2014
at 01:45
  • msg #467

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

<blue>OOC: It would also let us skip ahead. I'll switch this OOC conversation to the OOC thread.</ooc>
Smoke Alarm
player, 362 posts
Build high for happiness!
Fri 30 May 2014
at 02:27
  • msg #468

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

With herself and her clothes all warm and lawn-dried and ship-shape and sound, Smoke Alarm dressed and scampered out into the carrydoors again. Where was everyone? She went outlooking, eyespying around corners and following her ears. The Kang had a knack for tracking her way around even the ever-shifting carrydoors of the talkiphone box. And, mayhaps, the talkiphone box liked her.

So, she soon came to the Zero Room. Hearing talky voices, she got down real low on hands and knees, and outlooked around the corner, eyespying.


OOC: Just sneaking about being weird. :)
10:28, Today: Smoke Alarm rolled 14 using 2d6+8 with rolls of 1,5. Coordination(5) + Subterfuge(3).
This message was last edited by the player at 02:28, Fri 30 May 2014.
Warlock
NPC, 3 posts
Fri 30 May 2014
at 05:19
  • msg #469

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Traveller," Warlock is saying (as he comes within Smoke Alarm's earshot), "I would certainly try.  I think it will not be easy or quick."  He looks thoughtful.  "Lucin values evidence, and reason, as much as he does vision and inspiration, and any thing you can give me to support the picture you've laid out will be valuable.  Perhaps the stories your friends can tell will help to persuade him and the other high Seekers."  Warlock shrugs.  "Or perhaps this is a task I must attempt myself.  To show you that you can put trust in me."

He looks like he's looking for guidance.
The Guardian
GM, 373 posts
Fri 30 May 2014
at 05:24
  • msg #470

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Listening intently to the conversation between Trav and "Wall-Lock", Smoke Alarm hears the scuff of a soft shoe on the floor, and looks back to eye-spy Erysk.  Who looks subtly embarrassed, as though she was trying to sneak up on Smoke and got herself caught at it.

Erysk gives a chagrined smile.  She's changed out of her red Fist clothing and is wearing a one-piece overall with what looks like some Caretaker-y decorations on it.  It's wrinkly and doesn't fit her quite as well as her own stuff.

But it's blue!

"Something interesting, Smoke Alarm?" Erysk murmurs.

OOC:

The Guardian, for the NPC Erysk, rolled 11 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 3,1. Sneaking on Smoke: Coordination(4) + Subterfuge(3).
Smoke Alarm
player, 363 posts
Build high for happiness!
Fri 30 May 2014
at 06:09
  • msg #471

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm listened for Traveller and Wall Lock being all talky. Well, that didn't sound sus at all. Wall Lock seemed to want to help Traveller, to show-and-tell the other Fists to play nice. But mayhaps he was telling untruths. And would the Fists really want to take their toys and go home? Or would some want to stay and keep their shiny fly-cars and towers?

At the sound, she turned quickly back, tensing in alarm as she saw Erysk. But Erysk wasn't trying to catch her now. And she had new clothes, not high fabshion but they were blue. Smoke smiled for a tick-tock, before she clamped a hand over her mouth then pointed at an eye and cupped her ear in Kang hand-talk.
The Traveller
player, 339 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Fri 30 May 2014
at 15:22
  • msg #472

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Warlock:
"Traveller," Warlock is saying (as he comes within Smoke Alarm's earshot), "I would certainly try.  I think it will not be easy or quick."  He looks thoughtful.  "Lucin values evidence, and reason, as much as he does vision and inspiration, and any thing you can give me to support the picture you've laid out will be valuable.  Perhaps the stories your friends can tell will help to persuade him and the other high Seekers."  Warlock shrugs.  "Or perhaps this is a task I must attempt myself.  To show you that you can put trust in me."

He looks like he's looking for guidance.


"Baby, look. You convinced him to listen to you and transform the Fists into an army. Lucin may be the guy in charge, but as the time aware guy, you're really at the center of it. The biggest evidence is our insurgency campaign, and how the Fist efforts to sway the populace snapped and collapsed in the face of parkour and spray paint. I think the testimonials of my people can provide the evidence he needs. I also need to know he's not a jackass - what the hell does an ascetic movement need with conquered worlds? If its cash, resources, whatever he needs, I'll mine hydrogen diamonds from the hearts of stars for him. Further, when I get this Parliament of Time thing rolling, you can bring him and other Fists along. I can also put you in touch with other people who can pass along data and evidence, such as the Splintered Sisterhood. You already know about the Chamber of Time Unwrought, because you've met them as Phillipe. I'll be happy to put together a nice Slideshare for this guy complete with infographics and bullet points. I think the best thing is that you tell him the truth - that we're allies in the fight and we want to work together. But the condition is that Fists control of the 31 Suns must be relinquished. In exchange, I'll work to provide the resources you guys need to get your Brotherhood ready for the oncoming conflict."

She places her hands on his shoulders. "There's one more thing I've been thinking about. You've been through a hell of a lot, and I know someone who can understand both the style and structure of the Fists, and someone who is far wiser and kinder than me. I'd like to introduce you to Ru Zheng. He's an original Shao Lin monk from the 13th century, and he's someone I love very much. I can think of no better person to help you recover and overcome your mistreatment, as well as make the case for a non-coercive approach to the battle which is approaching. I think that you and the Fists have an awful lot to gain from listening to him. He's a wise, kind, strong man, and no one that I know can get you ready for facing the Gehennans and whoever lies beyond them. You see, you're trying to create an army that is going to fight in a Time War," she winces as she says that. "So, I want to give all of you the best chances of winning that I can."

She steps back as she sonics open the door to the Zero room, smiling lopsidedly. "How does that sound?"

"As for this clown who... had you in his custody. I will deal with him. No one abuses anyone I care for without repercussions. He gets *one* chance, one."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:30, Fri 30 May 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 365 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sat 31 May 2014
at 01:21
  • msg #473

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke was still dropping-eaves when suddenly the door cracked open. Eeep! She scrambled quickly back, trying to escape with all speed, but Erysk was kind of in the way.
Warlock
NPC, 4 posts
Sun 1 Jun 2014
at 01:01
  • msg #474

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

"Very well, Traveller.  I can't ask for anything more fair than that.  And certainly, I'd welcome your friend's assistance."

As the door opens, Trav and Warlock find Smoke Alarm and Erysk outside, Smoke in a bit of an awkward tangle at Erysk's feet.  Warlock looks at the pair of them.

"I'm sure there's an explanation for this," he says, "but it does escape me."   He bends down to Smoke Alarm, offering a hand to help her to her feet.
The Traveller
player, 342 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Sun 1 Jun 2014
at 01:43
  • msg #475

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Warlock:
"Very well, Traveller.  I can't ask for anything more fair than that.  And certainly, I'd welcome your friend's assistance."

As the door opens, Trav and Warlock find Smoke Alarm and Erysk outside, Smoke in a bit of an awkward tangle at Erysk's feet.  Warlock looks at the pair of them.

"I'm sure there's an explanation for this," he says, "but it does escape me."   He bends down to Smoke Alarm, offering a hand to help her to her feet.


Trav smiles and laughs, as she also reaches down to help Smoke up.
Smoke Alarm
player, 366 posts
Build high for happiness!
Sun 1 Jun 2014
at 02:48
  • msg #476

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Seeming a little embarrassed, Smoke Alarm outlooked at the two hands offered to her, warily at Wall Lock's, and took Traveller's. She couldn't tell them why she was really out and lurking behind the door. 'I was outlooking for rats.' she said. It wasn't a shape-ship and sound excuse.
The Guardian
GM, 375 posts
Mon 2 Jun 2014
at 01:35
  • msg #477

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Console Room:

Trav and Smoke Alarm, Erysk and Warlock have returned to the TARDIS console room, where Sereth awaits them and Stanley and Amanda have been trading ideas about the DNA model built from the scans.

When Trav appears, Amanda calls for her attention.  "The console just gave us an alert," she says.  "Message from home.  Here, I'll put it up for everyone."

The big holodisplay above the time rotor fills with a head shot of a person of Amanda's species, though the fur around his whiskers is turning silver and he's wearing a broad-brimmed blue hat.  Trav and Stanley immediately recognize the Kezekh peace officer Ch'tesh: native of Arden, United States Marshal, and commanding officer of UNIT in his home time zone.  There's a set of floating numbers that Trav recognizes as a set of spatio-temporal coordinates.

"Hrrr; imagine that light means the thing is recording," Ch'tesh says in a slow, rolling tone.  "Traveller, you asked to be contacted when all the parties you'd contacted for the founding negotiations on your 'Parliament of Time' had responded.  So now we have a response from this 'Chamber of Time Unwrought' of yours; your Mister Evers a contact from an uptime group calling itself the Torchwood Conservancy; and of course we've been working close with the Splintered Sisterhood for a few years now.  And now, we've concluded arrangements with the Central Committee of the Cyberiad."  Ch'tesh frowns.  "Took some hardball to get the last to agree to the safeguards we wanted in place.  But the upshot is this: we are placing the conference in an uninhabited system outside the U.S. / Federation border, near the Trans-Draconian Arm; the Cyberiad is sending three unarmed 'units' to represent their three 'Heuristic Strategy Models', which the Science Division tells me amount to factions within the Committee; and the conference is set to begin at this time...."  He looks down off-camera for a moment and another set of navigation coordinates appears in the display.

Ch'tesh looks back at the pickup.  "That's about it.  I've got authority to empower you to bring representatives back from any other groups you think should be part of this, at your discretion."  His manner shifts a bit and he cracks a slight smile.  "Oh, and one other thing.  The President asked me to send his love along to Amanda, as long as I was using your nickel."

Checking the TARDIS readouts, Trav sees that there aren't any other incoming messages that have been sorted with a higher priority, save the pending message from Alden, Ffinch and Snv on Estanve Gastem.
The Traveller
player, 346 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 2 Jun 2014
at 05:58
  • msg #478

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav turns back and looks at Warlock and Erysk. "I hope that the Fists of the Infinite Suns can send representatives as well?" That's a strong hint - Trav is making it clear that if the Suns want to be a part of this, that they need to withdraw from their occupied worlds. "We need for you guys to be there. Warlock, I'm sure you have the means to bring over a Fists delegation. That is, if you keep the name 'Fists'. I mean, fists imply violence and beating people up, no?"

Trav throws down a lever, as the Time Rotor lands them back on Arsuran Prime, not less than 5 minutes after they left. "Erysk, I'd like to drop you off. And Warlock, after I drop everyone off for a break, I'd like to bring you to Karn with Ru Zheng, if you're willing to come."

She turns to everyone else. "My beloved family, I am not a Peter Pan. As Stan can tell you, I usually drop off my companions after a big adventure to destress and reconnect with their loved ones, and then give them the option to come along for the next ride. I'm going to drop off everyone at their various home points, unless anyone has any objections. Smoke Alarm, I promised you a ride home. I've never eyespied Paradise, Towers, show me how it's icehot! When I am ready on my side, I'll yell at you all through your phones. Lord Sereth, I hope that your era's Draconian Empire can also send you to represent your culture's interests."

Trav tosses Erysk a thumb drive from the TARDIS panel. "That's a letter of greeting to your leader, along with background materials and my proposal. In uncoerced unity, there is strength. Please have him forward your reply through Warlock."
The Traveller
player, 348 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 2 Jun 2014
at 06:04
  • msg #479

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
Checking the TARDIS readouts, Trav sees that there aren't any other incoming messages that have been sorted with a higher priority, save the pending message from Alden, Ffinch and Snv on Estanve Gastem.


Trav smiles at the mention of Amanda's family. "I think your daddy wants to see you, Amanda. So, I'm dropping you off at Falcon's Rest, so you can appraise him of what's happening."

Trav wrinkles her nose from Alden, Ffinch and Snv. How the hell did they become aware of her? "I hate lawyers." She reviews the message.
Smoke Alarm
player, 369 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 2 Jun 2014
at 07:39
  • msg #480

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

After tracking back to the console room with the others, Smoke went to get some more food from the trolley, finding some weird fruit that she nibbled at. Smoke Alarm eyespied curiously the cat-person on the picture-spout. He looked almost like Puddy with the white fur; she held the stuffed cat up to compare. He was talking all yawny stuff, but that didn't mean she didn't care or have the know-how. 'You're making a meeting-place of peoples. Like at the Great Pool in the Sky.'

She was surprised by Traveller's offer though. Smoke remembered she'd offered to take her and Sereth back to their home-sweet-homes after the to-do was sorted out. Was that now? Smoke realised she didn't want to go back to Paradise Towers, not yet. She was having too much fun getting lost-and-found in the talkiphone box and seeing all the Towers and going on ventures with Traveller and Sereth and Stanley and Amanda. So Traveller had said she'd come back for them all. But in Smoke's experience, Inbetweens didn't always come back for her. Mummy and Daddy will be with you soon. 'That's okay, I'd like to stay in here.' she said simply.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:40, Mon 02 June 2014.
Warlock
NPC, 5 posts
Mon 2 Jun 2014
at 12:33
  • msg #481

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Traveller:
Trav turns back and looks at Warlock and Erysk. "I hope that the Fists of the Infinite Suns can send representatives as well?" That's a strong hint - Trav is making it clear that if the Suns want to be a part of this, that they need to withdraw from their occupied worlds. "We need for you guys to be there. Warlock, I'm sure you have the means to bring over a Fists delegation. That is, if you keep the name 'Fists'. I mean, fists imply violence and beating people up, no?"


"We'll see," Warlock says.  He takes a sidelong look at Smoke Alarm.  "Someone just might have shown them a better one.  Disciplant Erysk, let's see if we can get it to take, shall we?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:30, Mon 02 June 2014.
Amanda
NPC, 28 posts
Mon 2 Jun 2014
at 12:45
  • msg #482

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Traveller:
Trav smiles at the mention of Amanda's family. "I think your daddy wants to see you, Amanda. So, I'm dropping you off at Falcon's Rest, so you can appraise him of what's happening."


"Well, Trav, it sounds like this conference is getting into gear at last, and the Marshal probably could use my help."

She holds up a duplicate of the data on Warlock, and looks uncertainly at Warlock himself.  "I'm going to let my mom have a look at this and see if she has any ideas, if neither of you mind.  It bothers me that we haven't really resolved how it operates or how to really get at the active code."

Before stepping out the door, she gives a hug to Trav, and one to Stanley.  To the latter, she adds a peck on the cheek.
The Guardian
GM, 377 posts
Mon 2 Jun 2014
at 12:56
  • msg #483

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Traveller:
Trav wrinkles her nose from Alden, Ffinch and Snv. How the hell did they become aware of her? "I hate lawyers." She reviews the message.


As Trav remembers, it's a fairly dry swatch of legalese describing the time and location where the Corsair's bequest is to be read.  2910 Severance Tower, Old Town, Estanve Gastem: July 9, 41663.  By the encoding telltales on the message, Trav sees that it had to have tunneled through the Vortex to reach her, which suggests that the Corsair might have provided them with a trans-temporal sniffer to launch the message.

The wording of the message suggests that there are likely to be other parties at the reading.  And that's just considering the ones that were actually invited.  What kind of trouble is a Time Lord's will likely to attract?
Smoke Alarm
player, 371 posts
Build high for happiness!
Mon 2 Jun 2014
at 13:25
  • msg #484

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm was puzzled at Wall Lock outlooking at her, then worked it out. 'The Open Hands? But of how many suns? Open hands have to give back what they've taken.'
The Traveller
player, 351 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 2 Jun 2014
at 15:16
  • msg #485

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Amanda:
The Traveller:
Trav smiles at the mention of Amanda's family. "I think your daddy wants to see you, Amanda. So, I'm dropping you off at Falcon's Rest, so you can appraise him of what's happening."


"Well, Trav, it sounds like this conference is getting into gear at last, and the Marshal probably could use my help."

She holds up a duplicate of the data on Warlock, and looks uncertainly at Warlock himself.  "I'm going to let my mom have a look at this and see if she has any ideas, if neither of you mind.  It bothers me that we haven't really resolved how it operates or how to really get at the active code."

Before stepping out the door, she gives a hug to Trav, and one to Stanley.  To the latter, she adds a peck on the cheek.


"Oh baby. You have blessed us with your presence. I will be by for holidays. Watch out for a big Abe Lincoln head on July 4th!"

She hugs Amanda tight. Trav felt good that one of her companions was leaving the TARDIS better than when she came aboard.

It made her feel like The Traveller again.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:18, Mon 02 June 2014.
The Traveller
player, 352 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 2 Jun 2014
at 15:18
  • msg #486

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm:
After tracking back to the console room with the others, Smoke went to get some more food from the trolley, finding some weird fruit that she nibbled at. Smoke Alarm eyespied curiously the cat-person on the picture-spout. He looked almost like Puddy with the white fur; she held the stuffed cat up to compare. He was talking all yawny stuff, but that didn't mean she didn't care or have the know-how. 'You're making a meeting-place of peoples. Like at the Great Pool in the Sky.'

She was surprised by Traveller's offer though. Smoke remembered she'd offered to take her and Sereth back to their home-sweet-homes after the to-do was sorted out. Was that now? Smoke realised she didn't want to go back to Paradise Towers, not yet. She was having too much fun getting lost-and-found in the talkiphone box and seeing all the Towers and going on ventures with Traveller and Sereth and Stanley and Amanda. So Traveller had said she'd come back for them all. But in Smoke's experience, Inbetweens didn't always come back for her. Mummy and Daddy will be with you soon. 'That's okay, I'd like to stay in here.' she said simply.


"I figured you would, babe. Partners make this place less lonely. And the scutters like you!"
The Traveller
player, 353 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 2 Jun 2014
at 15:22
  • msg #487

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

After everyone who has been dropped off has been, Trav is left with just Warlock and whoever of her companions has decided to stay. She looks at the panel - she's been dreading this trip. "Speak now, or forever hold your peace. Our next stop is Karn." Assuming no objections, she works the controls - Snap snap click click tap tap tap schunk THUNK. As the Time Rotor moves up and down, and the TARDIS hurtles through the Time Vortex, shaking, everyone can tell Trav is nervous - about to walk back into her own past.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:23, Mon 02 June 2014.
The Traveller
player, 354 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 2 Jun 2014
at 16:24
  • msg #488

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
The wording of the message suggests that there are likely to be other parties at the reading.  And that's just considering the ones that were actually invited.  What kind of trouble is a Time Lord's will likely to attract?


Trav palms her face and shakes her head. Corsi had a propensity for pissing people off almost as much as boobie did.

"I guess that I'll have to make sure to carry the hyper grade quantum rounds in my pistols."
The Traveller
player, 355 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Mon 2 Jun 2014
at 16:47
  • msg #489

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
The Console Room:

Trav and Smoke Alarm, Erysk and Warlock have returned to the TARDIS console room, where Sereth awaits them and Stanley and Amanda have been trading ideas about the DNA model built from the scans.

When Trav appears, Amanda calls for her attention.  "The console just gave us an alert," she says.  "Message from home.  Here, I'll put it up for everyone."

The big holodisplay above the time rotor fills with a head shot of a person of Amanda's species, though the fur around his whiskers is turning silver and he's wearing a broad-brimmed blue hat.  Trav and Stanley immediately recognize the Kezekh peace officer Ch'tesh: native of Arden, United States Marshal, and commanding officer of UNIT in his home time zone.  There's a set of floating numbers that Trav recognizes as a set of spatio-temporal coordinates.

"Hrrr; imagine that light means the thing is recording," Ch'tesh says in a slow, rolling tone.  "Traveller, you asked to be contacted when all the parties you'd contacted for the founding negotiations on your 'Parliament of Time' had responded.  So now we have a response from this 'Chamber of Time Unwrought' of yours; your Mister Evers a contact from an uptime group calling itself the Torchwood Conservancy; and of course we've been working close with the Splintered Sisterhood for a few years now.  And now, we've concluded arrangements with the Central Committee of the Cyberiad."  Ch'tesh frowns.  "Took some hardball to get the last to agree to the safeguards we wanted in place.  But the upshot is this: we are placing the conference in an uninhabited system outside the U.S. / Federation border, near the Trans-Draconian Arm; the Cyberiad is sending three unarmed 'units' to represent their three 'Heuristic Strategy Models', which the Science Division tells me amount to factions within the Committee; and the conference is set to begin at this time...."  He looks down off-camera for a moment and another set of navigation coordinates appears in the display.

Ch'tesh looks back at the pickup.  "That's about it.  I've got authority to empower you to bring representatives back from any other groups you think should be part of this, at your discretion."  His manner shifts a bit and he cracks a slight smile.  "Oh, and one other thing.  The President asked me to send his love along to Amanda, as long as I was using your nickel."


(rolling back somewhat before heading to Karn)

Trav sighs somewhat, it seems that the new UNIT was just as efficient and dedicated as the old. But there were a few last pieces left to put into place.

Trav rapidly pings off a message to the phones of a certain UNIT Cryptologist as well as UNIT Director Kate Stewart. She sends a request for a UNIT representative to come with her to this conference, since one of the focal points of universal history and constant target of alien attack is twenty-first century Earth. She forwards her presentation deck and briefing materials. She also mentions how history may have changed in her absence, and contrary to popular belief she is not all knowing. "Have you guys ever heard of something called the Torchwood Conservancy?" she asks in her communique. She also offers to put UNIT into communication with their uptime counterparts. "Marshal C'Tesh is kinda like a furry American Brig. Pass on my love to him."
The Guardian
GM, 379 posts
Tue 3 Jun 2014
at 02:19
  • msg #490

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm:
'The Open Hands? But of how many suns? Open hands have to give back what they've taken.'

Warlock looks taken aback by the question, but Erysk steps in to answer Smoke.

"Don't worry," she says.  "If we're successful, I think it will be by reminding Haran Lucin, and all the other Seekers and Fists, that strength isn't about the worlds outside that answer to you; it's about the light that comes from inside you.  I'm sure if the journey leads to a place that's true and right, the right name will follow."
The Traveller
player, 357 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 3 Jun 2014
at 03:39
  • msg #491

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Traveller smiles as she works the controls of the ancient time machine. "Hm. The Open Hands of the Infinite Suns. Reminds me of a guy who I knew who meditated under a Bhodi tree told me - that he pledged that he would not rest until all beings were liberated into Nirvana and released from suffering. The Bhodisattva bow, that was."

"A slight change in attitude changes everything. Like the opening of a lotus flower. By relinquishing possession, one gains infinity!"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:41, Tue 03 June 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 373 posts
Build high for happiness!
Tue 3 Jun 2014
at 03:46
  • msg #492

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
"Don't worry," she says. "If we're successful, I think it will be by reminding Haran Lucin, and all the other Seekers and Fists, that strength isn't about the worlds outside that answer to you; it's about the light that comes from inside you. I'm sure if the journey leads to a place that's true and right, the right name will follow."


Smoke didn't quite know what that meant, but tried anyway. 'Light from inside? You could be the Lamps!' She reached over and put her open hand in Erysk's own, the strength of her own scrawny arm like a steel spring. 'We're stronger together when we work and play together, with no to-do, no wars. I hope you put the Fists to rights.' Smoke withdrew her hand, built one fist on top of the other, then tossed it over her shoulder. 'Build high for happiness.'

The Traveller:
"I figured you would, babe. Partners make this place less lonely. And the scutters like you!"


Smoke outlooked warily around for the cleaners.



As the talkiphone box went outgoing there-and-here, Smoke asked only for a stop-off on Arsuran Orbital Prime before they left, so she could say build-high-for-happiness to her friends. They'd last eyespied her outgoing away with the Fists, and mayhaps had thought she'd been taken to the cleaners. She wanted to set things to rights before she disappeared off in the talkiphone box.

Smoke caught up with Fadreen and the other Kang wannabes, explaining all that had happened in the Justice Centre and talkiphone box, that she'd talked to top Fists and told them what they were doing was wrong and what they had to do. Dizzy-plant Erysk and Wall Lock were now unbold about the Fists deeds, and they promised to put things to rights. Smoke was outgoing away with Traveller to fight the Fists outside and put all space to rights. But that didn't mean the Arsuran Kangs were to sit and be quiet and wait, oh no. Smoke told them to keep running, keep wall-scrawling, keep complaining until the Fists played nice. The word was to be spread to all the other rebel groups as well. This was the time to keep pushing, now the Fists had cracked, now Smoke Alarm had shown them how they could beat the Fists at a different game.

Together they viddy-taped a few new stunts and made new wall-scrawlings to put on the interweb and show to all Arsurans that Smoke Alarm was still free, that the Kangs were still running and climbing. She told them new Kang knowhow and new Kang games and gave them their Kang colours, and had them make their own Kang ways and Kang games, and told them to build high for happiness. And mayhaps the Kangs would survive even in 195th century, and beyond.

She found Erysk again, and took her running with her through the streets and over the buildings. She gave her a strip of blue, not to make her a Kang, not yet, but to show her the way.

And Smoke Alarm met Mrs Maglup and Old Gaross and Peet, her street friends, to check that they were sound and safe and show them she was too. She hugged Peet, who still made her feel funny inside. She told them all to build high for happiness before she went outgoing into the talkiphone box and disappeared into the carrydoors of time and space.



The Traveller:
"Speak now, or forever hold your peace. Our next stop is Karn."


Smoke Alarm frowned. 'What do I say?' So, they were outgoing to another world. She wondered what Karn would be like.
The Guardian
GM, 380 posts
Tue 3 Jun 2014
at 04:13
  • msg #493

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke's friends gave her a few presents before she returned to the talkiphone box to finally be outgoing.  Mrs. Maglup gave her a little plastic sack that she'd washed out clean and filled with a collection of steamy-hot frapple-pies.  They wouldn't last long, but Smoke Alarm knew how Mrs. Maglup must have worked to put them together.

Maybe the Us would like frapple-pies, too!

But Fadreen's present was even better.  It was a paper-fly like the one she'd used in Detranzed Square: it stood almost as tall as Smoke Alarm when you put it together, and Fadreen showed Smoke how you could take it apart so it would fit in a backpack.  The stuff that fit between the struts and the braces wasn't really paper: it was tough and stretchy, and, of course, blue.
The Guardian
GM, 381 posts
Tue 3 Jun 2014
at 04:33
  • msg #494

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Traveller:
Trav rapidly pings off a message to the phones of a certain UNIT Cryptologist as well as UNIT Director Kate Stewart.

"Torchwood?" is the Director's response to her inquiry.  "They are, or I should say they were, a pack of jingoist thugs and ruffians, and they came to quite a sticky end.  I shouldn't put a lot of trust in any sizable group that uses that name.  Though I am sure I don't need to tell you, things do change as time goes by."

quote:
She sends a request for a UNIT representative to come with her to this conference, since one of the focal points of universal history and constant target of alien attack is twenty-first century Earth.

"I will see if I can arrange for a suitable 'volunteer'," the Director says.  "Excessive contact with future knowledge can be extremely hazardous and not always reliable -- we've known that ever since the Styles Conference back in the Seventies.  Whoever I send will end up needing a substantial memory wipe after their reports have been committed to our time-locked data stores: we take the Grandfather Protocols very seriously.  So you may well imagine, I do not have a great many officers with 'enthusiastic to be flung into future centuries' in their dossiers."
The Traveller
player, 358 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 3 Jun 2014
at 05:21
  • msg #495

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
The Traveller:
Trav rapidly pings off a message to the phones of a certain UNIT Cryptologist as well as UNIT Director Kate Stewart.

"Torchwood?" is the Director's response to her inquiry.  "They are, or I should say they were, a pack of jingoist thugs and ruffians, and they came to quite a sticky end.  I shouldn't put a lot of trust in any sizable group that uses that name.  Though I am sure I don't need to tell you, things do change as time goes by."

quote:
She sends a request for a UNIT representative to come with her to this conference, since one of the focal points of universal history and constant target of alien attack is twenty-first century Earth.

"I will see if I can arrange for a suitable 'volunteer'," the Director says.  "Excessive contact with future knowledge can be extremely hazardous and not always reliable -- we've known that ever since the Styles Conference back in the Seventies.  Whoever I send will end up needing a substantial memory wipe after their reports have been committed to our time-locked data stores: we take the Grandfather Protocols very seriously.  So you may well imagine, I do not have a great many officers with 'enthusiastic to be flung into future centuries' in their dossiers."


"As you wish, Kate. I can drop off a report that you guys can seal in a vault until you need it, or I can drop it off with my guys at UNIT Dallas, one or two of whom might actually take a vortex manipulator up here." She teased Kate, as UNIT Dallas had a reputation of being reckless cowboys. Come on, Kate! Live a little."
The Guardian
GM, 383 posts
Tue 3 Jun 2014
at 12:39
  • msg #496

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Traveller:
"As you wish, Kate. I can drop off a report that you guys can seal in a vault until you need it, or I can drop it off with my guys at UNIT Dallas, one or two of whom might actually take a vortex manipulator up here."

"Yes, well, you're welcome to take that up with Colonel Rayburn.  I think they can still get transmissions into his continuum on Thursdays."
The Traveller
player, 361 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Tue 3 Jun 2014
at 16:24
  • msg #497

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
The Traveller:
"As you wish, Kate. I can drop off a report that you guys can seal in a vault until you need it, or I can drop it off with my guys at UNIT Dallas, one or two of whom might actually take a vortex manipulator up here."

"Yes, well, you're welcome to take that up with Colonel Rayburn.  I think they can still get transmissions into his continuum on Thursdays."


"Dammit Kate, roping me into a rescue operation. Forward what you have on him and I'll get working on the problem. But if he's safe for the moment I have other things to do!"

Trav grumbles about never getting down the whole irresponsible Time Lord thing. Corsi and Boobie would just run off and have an adventure, but no, she's a planner.
Smoke Alarm
player, 375 posts
Build high for happiness!
Wed 4 Jun 2014
at 03:29
  • msg #498

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm shared out the hot-hot frapple pies to everyone before they left. She also left a few in the air ducks for the Us to find, their warm fruit and pastry smells wafting through to their twitchy noses. Then she footed off to stash Fadreen's icehot air-scrawling paper-fly in the disused room she'd adopted as her own personal hide-in and brainquarters aboard the talkiphone box. It had her toys and tools and wall-scrawls rescued from Arsuran in it. The Kang was nesting.
The Traveller
player, 364 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 4 Jun 2014
at 05:46
  • msg #499

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Trav sniffs, as the TARDIS is in temporal orbit. "Hey Smoke, something smells good!"

She daws as Smoke hands out the yummies. "Oh sweety. I bake too! When we go back to Arsuran, you have to introduce me to whoever made these. I promised you a cake, darling. But not right now, last thing we need is a sick Kang. Tomorrow night after dinner!"

Of course, one great change is that 2nd Trav burnt water and stocked up on crap food. Lousie Simons, having raised a family of 12, cooks, and now so does the Traveller. Trav has been cooking for the entire team and shows a talent for being creative with whatever is available. Food disappears, but stuff always disappears and reappears on the TARDIS. Trav hasn't quite twigged on that she may have an entire tribe of people living on her ship with her.

Trav makes sure to show her the living room - just off the control room, it has a bunch of couches, a huge holo entertainment center from right after the 4th Robotech war, with over 1500 years worth of entertainment, lots of video games, and tons of comics, toys, posters and other stuff lying around. This is the room on the TARDIS that is least changed from when she was the 2nd Traveller, and when she regenerated on Rifts Earth all those years ago, she started using it right up again.

She makes sure to give Smoke as a present a stack of her favorite comics. "You might find these fun!" The genres range the gamut, although Trav is a great fan of CLAMP, Doctor Slump and DC and Marvel comics, especially Superman.

Of course, Trav is also working to sneak in some non-yawny education, as back on Rifts Earth she taught her kids how to read with comics.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:57, Wed 04 June 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 377 posts
Build high for happiness!
Thu 5 Jun 2014
at 02:44
  • msg #500

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

'Frapple pies. With real frapples. Mrs Maglup cooked them. She's a good rezzie. She doesn't cook Kangs or sprinkles in her pies.' Smoke Alarm explained in admiration. She was outlooking forward to Traveller's cake; she didn't think she would cook in Kangs or sprinkles either.

Footing after Traveller, she saw the fun room. 'Icehot!' the Kang cheered, taking in the games and the comics and the toys and the big picture-spout. 'Thanks.' She sat cross-legged on the floor to start flicking through the comics, mouthing the words as she read. 'What's a "ka-pow"?'
The Guardian
GM, 402 posts
Wed 11 Jun 2014
at 11:24
  • msg #501

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

In a disused lot on Arsuran, at twilight, Warlock steps out of the just-materialized TARDIS, followed by Erysk, and the TARDIS crew.  Taking a long look back at the police box, he offers a hand to Trav.

"Well, I suppose we're off," he says.  Glancing at Erysk, he adds, "We'll start by having a word with Seeker Pellande.  I don't think Lucin would respond well to my just dropping right in on him.  The Fists have had some time to become fixed in their notions that their ways of doing things are the correct route of the Journeys, and they won't be dissuaded from them overnight."

There's a stirring of motion from the shadows at the edge of the light, and a familiar figure approaches, his slight smile making crinkles at the corners of his eyes.

"That is well," says Zheng Ru.  "No worthy thing ever came to be without determination, patience, and effort.  Errant as the goals of the Fists might be, they know that truth already, and so we have a starting point to teach them a true way.  Traveller, I thank you for the gift of a task... and for a new student to look after."

He bows to Trav, to Sereth, then to Stanley and even Smoke Alarm.  "And, of course, for the gift of greeting you and your friends, in this new life."
The Traveller
player, 399 posts
Renegade Time Lord
Time's Defender
Wed 11 Jun 2014
at 15:40
  • msg #502

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

The Guardian:
In a disused lot on Arsuran, at twilight, Warlock steps out of the just-materialized TARDIS, followed by Erysk, and the TARDIS crew.  Taking a long look back at the police box, he offers a hand to Trav.

"Well, I suppose we're off," he says.  Glancing at Erysk, he adds, "We'll start by having a word with Seeker Pellande.  I don't think Lucin would respond well to my just dropping right in on him.  The Fists have had some time to become fixed in their notions that their ways of doing things are the correct route of the Journeys, and they won't be dissuaded from them overnight."


Trav slides her hands onto Warlock's shoulders. She places a kiss on his cheek. "You do take care. I'm sure you're going to be awesome." She smiles and beams - a bittersweet smile. "You go out there and rock it, hard."

The Guardian:
There's a stirring of motion from the shadows at the edge of the light, and a familiar figure approaches, his slight smile making crinkles at the corners of his eyes.

"That is well," says Zheng Ru.  "No worthy thing ever came to be without determination, patience, and effort.  Errant as the goals of the Fists might be, they know that truth already, and so we have a starting point to teach them a true way.  Traveller, I thank you for the gift of a task... and for a new student to look after."


She moves towards Ru and gets up on her tippy toes like she used to (she's a half inch shorter than the 2nd Traveller) and kisses Ru on the cheek. "You two take good care of each other. I'll also be seeing you from time to time - there's a lot of healing I have to do myself. It was *so good* working with you again."

The Guardian:
He bows to Trav, to Sereth, then to Stanley and even Smoke Alarm.  "And, of course, for the gift of greeting you and your friends, in this new life."


"The best is yet to come. You and your partner there, you're going to see some amazing and beautiful stuff." She blows a kiss to the TAROT. "You take good care of him for me. And I will do all in my power to set you free." She smiles warmly as everyone else says their last words and goodbyes.

She tosses a phone to Keeper Erysk. "Erysk, you're part of the team, now. You have your own style, which I dig. You're like a good mom. Keep in touch, and if Warlock doesn't object, maybe I can take you around for a proper spin. Take good care of my boys.

"There is *always* time to travel. Take advantage of it, you three!" She blows a kiss and waves, as she closes the door after everyone else is done.

In the control room, she slaps the control panel. "YEAH. 3 Wins, sweet boy, and not a shot fired!" Trav is smiling like it's Christmas morning.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:41, Wed 11 June 2014.
Smoke Alarm
player, 402 posts
Build high for happiness!
Thu 12 Jun 2014
at 02:53
  • msg #503

Re: IC: Arsuran Orbital Prime

Smoke Alarm outlooked fiercely at Wall Lock and Erysk as they made their promises. 'You better turn the Fists into Open Hands and put Arsuran to rights. Else we'll really have a to-do.' she made her own promise to Wall Lock, who was still the chief architect of all this. She still didn't trust him. But Traveller seemed to think he was a good person and would change, and Smoke Alarm trusted Traveller. Mayhaps one day they would put Arsuran, and the Fists, to rights.

Facing Erysk, she gave her a strip of blue, tying it around her upper arm, not to make her a Kang, not yet, but to show her the way. 'We all have our own journeys to make and carrydoors to run. You have to track the way back and show-and-tell others, not shove and push and start a to-do... And you have to have fun.'

Smoke Alarm bowed formally to Zheng Ru in return.

She gave them all a cheery 'Build high for happiness!' then footed into the talkiphone box.

*

She wasn't quite as excited as Traveller though, outlooking to the door and saying 'It's not game-over yet.' And silently she said goodbye to her most recent home-sweet-home. All those towers and streets curving across the sky-ceiling, all hers to play in, Mrs Maglup and Peet and everyone. 'Build high for happiness.' she murmured. The Kang curled up on the couch and hugged her Puddy, soon sleep-tight.
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