((Join here:
https://app.roll20.net/join/1481183/WuFMSg

If you want to make yourself a mini, let me know.  If not, I'll make one for you.  You should only have vision of one place in the map, the Farm.  Cosmo will have the choice of breaking through an extra airlock to move around the exterior of the map and potentially break into other areas as well.))

The three warriors don't have to wait long.  Captain Fistfoot directs them to the front of the ship, near the ramming prow.  The whole thing is one nasty-looking airlock; the moment it rams in they'll be able to storm into ONYX SPIRE without worrying about jumping through the vast void of space.

"OI ALL YOU SHITBRICKERS!  JUMPING IN THREE!  AHAHAHAHHA!"  The Captain's voice rings over the intercom.  Soon enough their insides feel like they're getting wrenched through a sieve- demons apparently Jump rough and tough- and then they feel the brutally hard Gs of acceleration.  Their ship rocks back and forth with shots, and then there's the hard CRUNCH as the Konnidan slams into what should be the top of ONYX SPIRE.

Step one:  Complete.

The doors slam open and a vanguard of three Blood-Apes charge into a surprisingly brightly-lit, damp room.  There are four humans there; they have just enough time to look vaguely surprised before the erymanthoi turn their entrails into their extrails.  They hold the room, letting the others out.

It's damp, muggy.  There are several tanks growing water-plants; sickly looking ones with vile-looking tubers, but definitely life that they wouldn't expect in an Abyssal enclave.  This seems to be a farm.

"We need some of them alive," Grunt told the blood apes irritably, "And the food staff is probably one of the easier sets to keep under control."

He moved as he talked, checking for hatches further in before he turned to the dead men and started checking their clothes and corpses for useful articles.

"Hydroponics. Clever." Arkady said as he stepped into the dank space.
"Hey hey HEY BLYAT, NO BREAKING SHIT! There might be some useful stuff here! Areas like this need water and ventilation the latter might be suitable for going deep. I need tech-drawings for this shit hole to confirm, blyat."

He looks around to locate service panels, exits,  and control panels.

The group can see an airtight door leading "down" towards the planetoid- but the gravity here is screwy; based on their orientation, gravity is acting perpendicular to the planetoid.  Thus 'down' is more akin to 'south'.

"Sorry bosseses,"  One of the erymanthoi mutters.

Most of the crew seem to be slaves- emaciated, unkempt, wearing dirty old clothes.  They're pitiful sights, so though their death by blood ape is inconvenient at least it's not the worst thing that could've happened to them.  There's nothing really for anyone to glean.  The only thing these poor souls possessed was a barcode-like tattoo on their upper right arm.

Otherwise the room is totally contained.  That might be a necessity to keep out death-essence.  The plants and water here already look pretty awful.  There's a single master control unit that all the water flows through;  it's more machine than computer.  So it looks like they'll have to leave the Farm.

"Extremely low technology level, at least as far as electronics go," Grunt reported to Arkady, "But probably a requirement. Gave up a lot of performance to leave their systems some slack when things go wrong."

He stood from where he examined one of the corpses and nodded to the hatch.

"You want first crack or should I?"

((open the hatch: 7, 7, 6, 6, 5, 5 & 3
Awareness: 26+10=36
Craft: 27+10=37
Float 5-5))

Arkady takes a sip off his canteen an shoves it tightly on his toolbelt.

"This shit makes the Trapdoor look like the pinnacle of technology. Getting it open shouldn't be too hard..."

he examines the hatch frame and taps around and listens to the metallic clang it to locate the lock bars.

"Get ready chuvak"

Once he thinks he's got a clue he gives the frame a Firm, but precisely aimed, open handed smack and pulls on the hatch simultaneously.

"I was more thinking about what might happen after we opened it," Gabriel said, a long knife in his hand as Arkady worked, "But hopefully their communication and monitoring systems are primitive as the rest of it."

"Relax man. We'll improvise." Arkady said with confidence accompanied by a slightly tipsy grin.

The door pops open easily, leading to another; this is also opened.  Up ahead they see a third door, but to their left a shallow medbay and to the right the beginnings of an office complex.  There's a faint spatter of blood at the doorway to the office near one of the computers.

Grunt was through the hatch a split second after it was opened, making a brisk but through check of each of the adjacent rooms. Firefights in hallways tended to be a pain in the ass, but getting surprised at an intersection or pinned down because these places could double as perfect firing lanes was worse.

He doesn't try to tell Arkady what to do, but the blood apes are given a very clear pantomimed gesture of what'll happen if they get ahead of themselves again.

Crossfire prepares himself near a different airlock than the rest, his mission, as ever, a much more solitary one... though he'd be meeting up with others soon. Strange to go into a battle looking for friends rather than more enemies, but every new experience was a blessing. He conjures a handful of powder and inhales it up his nose to clear his thoughts. They seemed like decent people.

He's already on his Anchor when the Kannidan strikes its target, and the moments before the airlock opens make him feel like a racer at the start line, eagerly watching for a light to turn green. The impact itself is a gentler thing than one might expect, as his abilities naturally counter the force of gravity upon his body, so when the door finally unseals...

Out under the stars he rides, his path shown by the battle's light. He calls out to his dearest friend who tells him to survive. Star and dying ship seem one as he zooms along the hull. There is no turning back from the Spire Black as witch's soul. Visions fill his head with laughing stars and phantoms full of stolen light.

Slams the throttle back, the scene just seems to disappear. World exploding past, he raises up his arms, almost forgets to steer. Bouncing towards his prey. Sailing through the night, the time is nearly here.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:44, Tue 15 Aug 2017.

Arkady examines the space briefly and notices the computer.

"Blood? Even before our assault began?" he said rethorically.
"That computer probably won't have too much valuable shit on it, but it might give us some pointers. Also we might wanna check that medbay out for some usable med-supplies and medical records. Could give hints on what's happening here and what we might face... My turn to go first."

He cautiously walks towards the computer with his eyes peeled in the direction of the office complex and his arms giving out a faint red glow. He knows Grunt is a pro and trusts him to watch his back.

Arkady and Grunt move towards the office.  There they find the trail of blood leads further into the area- which sounds like a server room.  Rows upon rows of humming computer servers fill the room, which has an unnatural chill. They can see the hand of a serf loll lifelessly in one of the corners.

((Go ahead and make an Awareness roll.))

---

Crossfire makes his way to the left, moving down past the outside of (what he couldn't know is) the Server room.  Soon enough he encounters a strut leading to another portion of one of the many spires, connected via a narrow catwalk that serves almost no visible purpose.  There's a potential for an airlock to his right, but that's away from where the others are at and so may not be the best place to make his entrance.

But he has the option!

((10, 10, 8, 7, 3, 3 & 1.
1 calm heart sill +5 awareness
Awareness: 23+10+5=38))

Arkady takes a deep breath and focuses his senses. The humming of computers sounds soothing, even tough he preferred the steady rythm of engines, and calms himself.

"Tak tak tak chuvak... Something's not right."
This message was last edited by the player at 08:02, Wed 16 Aug 2017.

The portal will not do, for it would be absurd, to go elaborately where other warriors rode. Crossfire does not look back as he catapults through space. There would be more, though the dangers might seem great.

Keeping his eyes open, he will not miss a thing. The void might choke him, but he swears that he won't blink.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:19, Tue 15 Aug 2017.

(Awareness: 32 + 10 + 5 (Sight) = 47)

Grunt took a quick look about the place. His companion was correct but aseptic environments did strange things to biology. Made old instincts misleading.

((Target:  40.  Grunt succeeds))

The old instincts are throwing Arkady off, but not Grunt.  One of the first things one should do in a situation like this is to check the ceiling, and there, he sees it:  a humanoid figure, insectile, slight, vaguely robotic but somehow... not.  Both hands bear small pistols, and once noticed it raises both to aim at him!

((Right now what we'll call the Insectoid is in the Server Room zone.  Insectoid was spotted, so it has to go first on init for the next 3 rounds.

Init R1:
10, 10, 10, 9, 7, 4 & 3
*Float 0-0
*Init 19 + Speed 15 + AB 5 = 39))

---

Crossfire makes his way further along the path, only to find the path up ahead... occupied.  A tall figure, built 7-8 feet tall, strides along the outside of the compound, adjusting its trajectory with microjets.  It looks like the power armor Lucifer supposedly wears, but somehow... wrong, and carrying a huge axe.

The axeman turns to face Crossfire and starts jetting towards him with evil intent!

((You're both in Zone:  Outer Perimeter Between Two Scaffolds.

Init R1:
10, 8, 5, 4, 4, 1 & 1
*Float 1-1
*Init 18 + Speed 5 + AB 5 = 28
*Analyze Style Fears 24 + Tactics 10 + AB 5 = 39))

Init R1:
10, 9, 8, 6, 3, 2 & 2
*Float 2-2
*Init 19 + Speed 20 + AB 10 = 49

Wrapped all up in iron, the giant stands alone, Cosmo wonders if it's real, or if he really cares. The ax is rising, the actors moving, it's time to ride, or else it's time to die.

Crossfire does his best to use the elaborate structures to his advantage, engaging his magnetic aided traction to take control of the battle's pace. The larger figure, pretending as it was at the Monster's form, had taken him a bit off guard, though he was confident he would get the first strike, especially with the terrain getting in the way of the much larger figure. He was tempted to go all out, but he didn't know the enemy's strength yet.

"Wanda, keep all your eyes open for any of its friends. We don't want to dilly dally too much out here with the others inside. Nevermind if Big Lucy mistakes us for a bug and squishes us."

His companions wordless reply is all the assurance he needs
This message was last edited by the player at 08:00, Thu 17 Aug 2017.

(Shadow Catching w/Saber
Init: 9, 7, 7, 6, 6, 4 & 1
Float: 7-7
Assess Qualities: 26 + 15 = 41
Init: 19 +10 = 29)

(( 8, 8, 7, 7, 5, 4 & 1
Init: 28+10=38
Analyse styles/Learning (Twilight caste special) 27+15=42

Subtle force -  unarmed/ranged))

Arkady takes a relaxed pose with his palms open and attempts to figure out what he's about to face.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:57, Fri 18 Aug 2017.

((Arkady, you can analyze a style's Qualities, Laughs, or Fears.  Takes 3 to fully get the measure of an opponent.  But for now I'll assume Qualities, as that's what Grunt did and lets me kill two birds with one stone.

Insectoid's style's Qualities:  Adaptable, vacillating between yin and yang; reactive and simple.

Order:
*Insectoid 39
*Arkady 38
*Grunt 29

Insectoid Attack R1:
10, 9, 6, 5, 4, 4 & 4
*Flooded Secondary Strike 20 + Strike 10 + AB 5 = 35
*Primary Strike 34 + Strike 10 + AB 5 = 49))

The Insectoid looks between the two, and in a split second has decided its choice.  The two arms twist in bizarre angles and open up on Grunt, the more martial-looking of the two!  The two handguns spit out an amazing volume of soft bullets, which thankfully don't seem to be doing the server room too much damage.

((Crossfire R1:
External: Green Jade Horse w/ Ranged/Massive
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 & 2
Activating Drawn to Oneness for 2 Chi
*Primary Strike 32 + Strike 10 + AB 10 + Internal = 62))

From the broken pieces of that castle in the sky, Crossfire rises like lightning to test false monster's might. He dashes in an out the scene to thwart the creature's guard, striking with precision with the missiles he had stored. Sowing confusion is his aim for this first lap. He only hoped he'd not guessed the thing too low.

((Attack R1: 6, 5, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 2
Flowed Strike: 45+15=60
Clarity in openness /3 chi +10 learning
Disrupt Strike w/ learning : 22+15+10=47))


"SUKA Watch out Chuvak!!!" Arkady flinches slightly out of surprise and raises his arms to cover his upper body from possible ricochets.

"You have triggered my curiosity, so I'll take you back to the lab and dissect the fuck out of you."

His arms start to glow Red light and and air around them ripples as he calmly extends his right arm towards the insectoid. "Boom. Shell shock."

He punches his open palm towards the opponent, creating something of a directed shockwave that ripples the air and a thunderous crack resonates in all metal surfaces, leaving behind a stream of condensed air moisture crackling with static electricity aimed at the insectoids head area. The usual spot for information traffic in both organic and inorganic beings.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:35, Sun 20 Aug 2017.

(R1 Defense: 10, 7, 6, 5, 4, 2 & 1
Primary: 49 - 10 - 17 - 5 (Laughs: Reactive) = 17
Secondary: 35 - 10 - 16 - 5 = 4
Toughness 5, spend 1 chi on chi aura)

Grunt had been distracted, trying to take in too many details at once. He caught the most important one but still paid for it as he had to take a series of quick rolls around the unfamiliar space just to avoid being profusely perforated.

((Grunt Damage:
*19 + Damage 5 - Toughness 5 - Chi Aura 17 = 2, Bleeding Left Side- Action

Grunt is at 2 Ripples

Insectoid Defense:
10, 10, 9, 8, 5, 3 & 3
*Defense vs Arkady 23 + Dodge 5 + AB 5 = 33 vs 60, 2 Ripples; damage isn't high enough to grant extra ripples, this thing should be treated a bit closer to a LL than anything else
*Takes Disrupt
*Float 0-0

Grunt is up for attack

Init of critter up after Grunt))

One of the shots catches Grunt across the ribs, digging a bloody furrow across them.

The insectoid seemed to think Arkady was unarmed- not so!  The attack catches it right in the face, making it reel back.  The electricity doesn't seem to hold, though.  With a living being- or a formally living opponent- one would expect to see muscles and tendons tighten.  With a robotic opponent, perhaps sparks would play across its body.  In this case, it was uncomfortably similar to watching electrical probes get pressed against stone.

---

((Axeman Defense:
9, 7, 6, 6, 4, 3 & 3
*Defense vs Strike 26 + Block 15 + AB 5 = 46 vs 62, a Ripple
*Float 3-3

Axeman Attack Crossfire:
10, 10, 10, 8, 5, 5 & 4
*3 'Chi' for Secondary Strike
*2 'Chi' for Strike +5 on secondary
*Strike 30 + Strike 20 + AB 5 = 55; Block is -10
*Secondary Strike 25 + Strike 20 + AB 5 + IKF 5 = 55; Block is -10
*Disrupt Strike Flowed 23 + Tactics 10 + AB 5 = 33))

The axeman rocks back as a missile blasts a crater into its chest- resembling ceramic?- and then turns on its boosters, moving in a strange pattern.  It darts forward, then zips to the side, then darts forward again, attempting to hit Crossfire's flanks.  The giant axe is brought down in a lightning 1-2 movement, threatening to cut the Infernal in half.

((Crossfire Defense:
8, 8, 8, 8, 4, 3 & 3
*Defense vs Strike 48 + Block 10 + AB 10 - 10 = 58 vs 55, Nada
*Defense vs Secondary Strike 23 + Block 10 + AB 10 = 33 vs 55, Two Ripples and an Immediate Rippling Roll
*Defense vs Disrupt Strike 14 + Ride 15 + AB 10 = 39 vs 33, Nada

Falling from the sky, the axe like meteor comes down. One blow is deflected, but the other sinks like stone. Dashing in amongst the cover only helps so much, and though he knows he's bleeding, he knows that he's to blame. He will make it up, he's sure he'll take it back. But for now, he screams in pain, into the void of space.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:29, Wed 23 Aug 2017.

(R1 Attack: 8, 7, 7, 6, 5, 2 & 1
Disrupt Speed (Medicine) : 27 + 10 + 10 = 47
Strike: 18 + 10 + 5 (Laughs) + 10 = 43)

Grunt really didn't like having to deal with guns. Especially inside the generally fragile confines of a ship or station. It was hell making combat worthy ships that could handle exterior damage, and nearly impossible to make something resistant to internal disruptions.

Which is why he had a knife at this particular gunfight. He charged straight at the thing, trying to drive his blade in, then up, its torso. Simple, basic, and not something easily diverted by complex movements. The precise point of entry is the creature's left hip, an attempt to slow it down a bit.

((Defense vs Grunt:
10, 10, 10, 5, 4, 2 & 2
*Defense vs Strike 30 + Dodge 5 + AB 5 = 40 vs 43, takes a Ripple #3
*Defense vs Speed Disrupt 22 + Stealth 10 + AB 5 = 37 vs 47, takes Disrupt

Insectoid Init R2:
10, 5, 5, 5, 3, 2 & 1
*Float 5-5
*Flood 5:  Style Changes!
*Init 15 + Speed 10 + AB 5 = 30))

The Insectoid tries to flatten itself against the wall as Grunt charges in to stab it, only to realize it's got nowhere to go.  The knife jams into the hip, chipping a portion of the paint and revealing yellowed ceramic of some sort underneath it.  Solid yellow ceramic.

The Insectoid looks like it should hiss, but it doesn't; instead it explodes into action, flinging itself off of the ceiling with guns ready to fire.

---

((RR on Cosmo:
*16 + Damage 10 - Toughness 10 = 16, up to Cosmo if he wants to use Chi Aura

Cosmo has first init))

(( Init R2: is 9, 6, 6, 6, 5, 4 & 1.
Init: 19+10=29
Wave/craft: 36+10=46))

After witnessing the Hail of bullets that wounded his comrade,  Arkady's survival instincts took over. Cover. He needed cover. The insectoids Bullets didn't seem to damage the surrounding environment. An opening to exploit. He pushes over a couple of metal tables and other trash that could be conceivably bullet proof, and impromptu welds them together using a blowtorch to create a barricade, and he immediately takes cover behind it.

"It's coming again blyat! Take cover chuvak, for fucks sake!"

(( Init R2: is 8, 7, 7, 5, 4, 2 & 1.
Init: 18+20+10=48
Float 7-7
Spending 1 Infernal Chi to Cover Ground towards the scaffolding adjacent to the enemy with Initiative Roll
Activating Occluding the Constellations (Occluding Self) for 1 Earth Chi))

Power glows around him as his presence starts to drain. What was once is not now as the Anchor speeds away. A little distance. A lot less folly. He'll live to see tomorrow's brand new day.

(( R2 Attack: 7, 7, 6, 3, 2, 2 & 2
Spending 1 Normal Chi to activate Drawing on Fullness
Spent 2 Normal Chi to activate Drawn to Oneness
Disrupt Strike (Wu Wei) : 32 + 15 + 10 = 47
Flowing a 7 to Strike
Flooding a 7 to Disrupt, if it succeeds to increase penalty to -10
Strike: 37 + 15 + 10 + 10 = 72
Scourge Caste Aura: Stealth Marvel (Knockback): 16 + 10 + 10 = 36))

On the scaffolds sits the man who has a plan in mind. He opens up his bays and lets the missiles fly. Then from all around him are so many hungry shards. The broken pieces of the structure have all gravitated down. The rebar rises up to heed the Scourge's call. He sends it flying at the joints of giant tall. The creature seeks to move, oh that he understands. But there's no escaping mounted riders as a man. The missiles streak through space, from every angle they attack. What's up and down seems wrong, what's left and right's made wrong. He wants to confuse him. Send him back from whence he came. He only hopes that the giant hasn't got much brain.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:19, Fri 25 Aug 2017.

(Init R2: 10, 10, 10, 5, 5, 3 & 2
Shadow Catching w/ Saber
Init: 25 + 10 + 10 = 45
Assess New Qualities: 30 + 15 = 45, willing to take IT

Holding off on Attack Roll for Quality Information)

((New Qualities:  Explosive, impetuous, yang; Something seems... off about the insectoid, not robotic nor dead))

((Axeman Init R2:
9, 7, 4, 2, 2, 1 & 1
*Float 2-2
*Cover Ground 21 + Footwork 5 + AB 5 = 31
*Init 19 + Speed 5 + AB 5 = 29

Axeman Defense R2:
10, 10, 6, 4, 4, 3 & 2
*Defense vs Knockback:  24 + Might 10 + AB 5 = 39, avoids Knockback
*Defense vs Strike Disrupt:  Flowed 32 + Might 10 + AB 5 = 47 vs 47, takes -5 Strike Disrupt; keep the 7 in your River
*Defense vs Attack:  16 + Block 15 + AB 5 = 36 vs 72, 2 Ripples:  now at 3/7, your Damage isn't enough to boost the Ripples higher

Axeman Attack R2:
7, 7, 7, 6, 6, 5 & 1
*2 'Chi' for Strike +5 on Primary
*3 'Chi' for Secondary Strike
*Strike Crossfire 37 + Strike 20 + AB 5 - Disrupt 5 + IKF 5 = 62, Block is -10
*Secondary Strike Crossfire 26 + Strike 20 + AB 5 - Disrupt 5 = 46, Block is -10))

Crossfire retreats to a piece of scaffolding, letting loose a blistering salvo that blows further craters in the thing's armor.  But it keeps coming, and for a second Crossfire might feel a bit of relief about it- an odd feeling, to be sure!  Especially since it keeps moving in those harsh forward darts, quick jumps to the side, and then two massive axeswings delivered to Crossfire's body.

In his movement to Zone Scaffolding, Crossfire sees another scaffold and then a solid tube connecting two portions of ONYX SPIRE.  At the end of the scaffolding he can see an airlock.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:11, Sat 26 Aug 2017.

((Init for Group 1 is:
Grunt 45
Insectoid 30
Arkady 29))

(R2 Attack: 9, 7, 6, 6, 6, 5 & 3
Strike: 36 + 10 = 46 (Damage would be +10))

Grunt tries to keep whatever this thing is occupied. He stayed in close, taking fast, shallow slashes at the arms and shoulders.

((Defense vs Grunt:
9, 7, 6, 4, 3, 2 & 2
*Dodge 22 + Dodge 5 + AB 5 = 32 vs 46, Ripple; Damage isn't enough to gain bonus ripples.  Ripple #4

Attack:
9, 7, 3, 3, 3, 2 & 1
*2 'Chi' for Strike +5
*Break Wave 33 + Craft 10 + AB 5 = 48
*Attack Arkady 19 + Strike 15 + AB 5 - Disrupted 5 + IKF 5 = 39))

The Insectoid is quick to realize what Arkady's up to.  The Insectoid brings its gun up and shoots the blow torch right out of Arkady's hand, sending it flying off into the hall to their right.  It's other gun opens up with a few judicious shots to his head.

((Defence  R2: 9, 7, 6, 6, 5, 3 & 2
VS. Strike 26+FW15=41 dodged.

Attack R2: 10, 10, 8, 6, 5, 5 & 4.
Strike: 25+15=40
Clarity in openness / 3chi
Secondary strike: 20+15=35))

"oi blya-" Arkady utters before he quickly dodges to barely avoid the shots aimed at his face. His arms let off a loud hiss as the cooling systems push steam,  only to start charging again and gaining their bright red glow.

He recovers from his dodge with inhumane precision, returning to his relaxed stance.

"Have it your fuckin' way SUKA!"

He pushes his arm forward to release another rippling shockwave towards the creatures chest, but the exact moment it should connect, he brings his other arm forward in an open palmed uppercut, releasing another wave of energy that appears to of no conventional form.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:26, Sun 27 Aug 2017.

((Flowing a 7 into defense.
Defence  R2: 9, 9, 7, 7, 5, 4 & 2
VS. Strike 37 + Block 10 + Action Bonus 10 + + 5 Autolaugh - 10 = 52 versus 62 = 10 One Ripple and an immediate Rippling Roll (Spending 1 chi on aura)
Vs. Secondary strike 29 + Block 10 + Action Bonus 10 + 5 Autolaugh - 10 = 44 versus 46 = 2 On Ripple))

Though he wounds it, he can't stop it, there's no end to the onslaught. Crossfire, he can't take it, meets the blows, comes back red, how many left until he's dead? Riding in through darkness helps, but doesn't stop the blows. No amount of cover seems to make him safe. He prepares to change his stance, to meet his foe a brand new way.

"Speed is getting us a whole lot of nothing, Wanda. Let's slow it down and get dodgy."
This message was last edited by the player at 08:00, Mon 28 Aug 2017.

((Insectoid Defense R2:
9, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3 & 2
*Defense vs Primary 19 + Footwork 5 + AB 5 = 29 vs [50 - EKF 5] = 1 Ripple
*Defense vs Secondary 18 + Footwork 5 + AB 5 = 28 vs [35 - EKF 5] = 1 Ripple))

The next two hits strike the Insectoid dead-on.  It's still intact and ready to move but something seems to withdraw from it.  The creature shudders and falls apart, no doubt to keep Arkady from claiming it.

All that remains is a pile of broken shards, colored on one side but on the other side yellowed like ancient ivory.  As far as they can tell it was completely solid all the way through.

---

((RR on Crossfire:
*27 + Damage 10 - Toughness 5 - Chi Aura 16 = 16, a Trivial wound:  Damaged Faceplate

Axeman Init R3
10, 7, 7, 6, 5, 3 & 2
*Float 7-7
*Init 16 + Speed 5 + AB 5 = 26))

The axeman manages to put a dent in Crossfire's faceplate, something that- if aggravated- will surely make things a bit difficult for Crossfire in the future.  It keeps hurrying towards him!

((Init R3
Ravenous Wings + Massive/Ranged
10, 10, 3, 3, 2, 1 & 1
*Cover Ground (Towards Airlock) 21 Roll + 15 Skikk + 10 AB = 47
*Float 3-3
*FoB (If I can) 20 Roll + 15 Skill = 35
*Init Roll 12 + Speed 10 + AB 10 = 32
Spending 1 Earth Chi on Occluding the Constellations [Self] ))

9, 9, 8, 6, 6 & 5

The prey cuts hard, its bite is sharp, and he can't take it anymore. The bike slows down, the wings come out, he'll dodge or die for sure. Crossfire heads towards the gate, his foe approaches from behind. Crossfire spins around, and just one wheel is down. He strikes a pose and hops from beam to beam. Slipping in and out the blades, his missiles seeking sickness in this servant of the grave. Crossfire turns once more the world to black and fires on the man of clay.

((Attack:
10, 9, 9, 8, 6, 6 & 5
*2 Chi for Strike +10 [Drawn to Oneness]
*4 Chi for Damage +20 (or 25  if in same zone) [Cosmic Monster]
*Tactics Marvel (Knockback) 26 + Tactics 5 + AB 10 = 41
*Attack 29 + Strike 10 + AB 10 + 10 DtO + Laughs 5 = 64
Note: Damage for Ravenous Wings + Massive/Ranged is +15))

Under the beautiful stars, in a wonderful sea of battle and chaos, each insignificant little dart sent out from the anchor is given just a hint of cosmic purpose. Sent out from the cloud of darkness that hides its rider, they travel in some ways slowly, but from many sides, fired as they are from so many places. Ponderous as they are, each joyfully seeks out their target, drawn together towards the center that is the giant, mysterious phantom. Warrior and armor alike watch the display, hoping that it will connect. For how beautiful it would be to see each seed of gravity inside unfold.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:28, Tue 29 Aug 2017.

((Learning: 9, 9, 8, 7, 7, 5 & 5
Learning: 29+15=44 to analyze the remains.
Wu-Wei: 25+10=35 just survivors intuition...
Float: 7-7))

Arkady lets out a sigh of relief with an undertone of disappointment and he watches the insectoid collapse. He walks cautiously towards the shattered remains ans squats down to inspect them a bit closer.

"Hmm... No conventional automatronics, Obviously not a cyborg since there'd be organic parts, some sort of sorcerous construct? Some weird shit blyat."
He tries to remember if he'd read or seen any information that could be relevant to identifying their adversary. You need to know what you're fucking with.

He baffles the remains for a while and takes a turn for the nearest server block.
"Maybe i can found out more usef-" He snaps out of his stroke of curiosity as he looks at Grunt and realizes he was actually shot. "Jesus fuck, You're bleeding! Did your guts take hit? We really need to patch you the fuck up... like... Fucking now! You really don't wanna get shot in a possibly pathogenic environment."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:31, Tue 29 Aug 2017.

"It was a graze," Grunt said blithely, "If I didn't know better I'd swear that was a nemissary."

He looked around.

"Still, at this point there's no chance they're unaware of our presence. You want to see if there's anything useful in the electronics? Eventually they might try blowing the air locks and sticking us on the other side of a void gap."

Arkady looks over the crumbled remains.  He's heard of this before, a long time ago; from some of the demons he's met, from some old texts barely read.  He doesn't know much about them, but the leftover rubble is indicative of the Empty Pawns- the Baidak.  They and their master Sigereth, a Demon of the Second Circle, haven't been seen since before the Exodus.

---

Axeman Defense R3:
10, 6, 6, 4, 3, 2 & 2
*Defense vs Crossfire 26 + Block 10 + AB 5 = 41 vs 64, 2 Ripples - inflated to 5 Ripples via Damage, Destroyed immediately

The axeman lurches forward with the axe raised, but Crossfire's Essence-empowered missile hits it dead on.  The axeman explodes into a million shards of yellowed ivory.

((Hacking: 10, 10, 9, 9, 5, 4 & 1
Clarity in openness 3chi: +10 Learning
Learning: 29+25=54 to hack the servers.))

"Jesus fucking shit it's a Baidak. A minion of Sigereth. This took an interesting turn. A second circle Demon. Can't really tell on which side he's on..." he said with a puzzled tone and points at the human remains they saw as they entered the room.

"I'll check the servers for any useful intel... Hope the security is shit tough. I hate hacking."

He looks around anything that'd represent a mainframe service terminal and gets to work.

The wonderful bit of fireworks had been nice, but it was time for Cosmo to turn his eyes towards the airlock he'd uncovered. That seemed like a more interesting place to poke his head in, though he idly wonders at the odd things the Dead were choosing to throw at them these days.

"If I'd realized they were that fragile, I'd have started with that."

"Lovely, so we have at least one major demon to contend with," Grunt replied as he started inspecting the mess.

The servers take a bit to hack- but the screen by the corpse of the man and the rubble of the Baidak flickers as it shows him some options.  He won't have full access to all the commands in the facility, not by a long shot would THAT shit be allowed here, but some interesting options are given to him from this terminal:

>GAMES
>COMMUNICATIONS
>DOCUMENTS
>FLUSH HYDROPONICS LAB
>FLUSH FACILITY
>FLUSH AIR
>CAMERA CONTROL
>SECURITY ALERT
>SERVER SHUTDOWN
>FACILITY SHUTDOWN
>FACILITY DESTRUCT

The corpse seems to be the server operator judged by his tools, the USB dongle, and a general unhealthy pallor.

---

Meanwhile, Crossfire moves into the airlock.  It's obviously intended for use by normal human baseline.  He can see a few suit lockers are already empty, and have nameplates like "GREENSKIN" and "FIRELANCE".

"Opa chuvak. I'm in. phew."
Arkady lets out a bored sigh and takes a quick sip off his canteen without taking his eyes off the screen.
"Well... Time to multitask. Let's check the cameras while we go deep on the docs. Might be something interesting."

//>
NTab>CameraControl>
NTab>Documents>

"After we're done collecting intel we can just detonate this shithole... Or detonate the servers... Or both Blyat."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:06, Thu 31 Aug 2017.

Cameras give these options:

>CORE
>DORMITORY
>LABORATORIES
>OFFICES
>ENGINEERING
>ARMORY
>HANGARS

The cameras reveal a ghost-town.  Either everyone is off the station or -  wait, the camera flashes to the Core.  At the center of four pillars giving off the blue glow of Cherenkov radiation, a bald-headed boy sits on a chair with a box in his hand.  He looks up at the camera and holds up a sign.

[THOSE WERE STOCK FOOTAGE]

He flicks his hand, showing the next card,

[I PLAY FAIR]

[SO NO CHEATING]

Then the camera to the Core goes out.

Cosmo investigates further, blowing the airlock, if necessary. If this is where the pilots are taking off from, it might be pretty interesting. He might run smack dab into some sort of Abyssal baddie, but... if he got over his head, there was always the Sir Robin route.

"Any luck?" Grunt asked Arkady from where he stood watch on the hatch.

"Blyat. All the cameras were looped so no real luck there... Except for the core, which had some bald kid who says he plays fair. As if this was some game to him... Wait a minute..."

he looks at the Baidak's remains and his expression show sudden clarity which immediately turns to concern.

"That fuckbags master Sigereth... I'm pretty sure he was called something that was related to games... Ah fuck it. I can't recall."

His eyes wander back to the blank camera monitors.

"I'm checking the documents now."

>Documents

"I'm pretty sure he's just the attendant. Sigereth was one of those demons who was also furniture," Grunt replied, "Do we have a speaker system?"

"I'll check that out. If they have, I can try tapping to the intercom."

Arkady turns on the terminal to face Grunt, donning a mischievous grin

"would you like to make an announcement?"

Sure enough, as the two investigate, there's a communication system.  It's a rudimentary mike to the right of the terminal.  With the access that Arkady's gotten they can pretty much deliver a station-wide announcement.  No doubt the poor serf manning the servers would have gotten eviscerated for his troubles if he did, but... it's there for Grunt's use, if he should so desire.

The documents are... wow, that's a lot of documents.  Most of them seem to be religious in nature.  There's thousands upon thousands of these documents, all detailing the private thoughts of some people who call themselves the Immaculates.  It seems this is their major base.  One thing he does get from quickly looking at them- they're renegade Dragon-Blooded who worship the Void.  If there's more information he'd have to spend a couple of hours sifting through the countless files labeled with arcane signifiers, like VERBAL GRINNING MONGOL.

---

Crossfire steps out through some strange prep areas- honestly, he can't figure out what the hell they are, it might just be poor construction- and finally finds himself in a main hall.  To one side there's a large door blocking his access back towards the direction that may lead to his allies.  To the other?  Several dozen imposing, well-built soldiers in featureless white armor with strangely shaped helmets.  The soldiers raise what can only be combat shotguns and aim them at the Infernal!

((Rank 4 Minions.  You go first))

"Can you grab all these directories while I hope this demon is as obsessive as the rest of them?" Grunt asked Arkady before he reached over and activated the intercom, "We both know it is only a game with explicit rules and stakes. State both."

"Aaawwww blyat ok. Shifting through this back at HQ is gonna take fucking AGES!"

Arkady figures that transfering the data on an external drive would take ages on this piece of shit machine so instead he transfers the documents on a single hard drive on the servers. Once done, he locates the designated drive and unplugs the it from the server block, putting it in his larger utility pouch.

"Intel department is gonna shit their pants over this blyat."

He sits back down on a desk chair and lifts his boots on the table, waiting for an answer, if there is going to be any.

((Cosmo Init R1:
Ravenous Wings
10, 9, 8, 8, 3, 2 & 1
*Float 8-8
*Init 10 + Speed 10 + AB 10 = 30
*2 Chi for Occluding the Constellations

Cosmo Attack R1:
10, 8, 7, 7, 7, 5 & 5.
*2 Chi for Strike +10 [Drawn to Oneness]
*Attack 37 + Strike 10 + AB 10 + 10 DtO = 67
*Tactics Marvel (Knockback) 25 + Tactics 5 + AB 10 = 41
*Strike Minions 37 + Strike 10 + AB 10 + 10 DtO = 67))

Wrapped inside the chaos of the storm that came from space, there is no escaping that which the multitudes now face. Out flies dust to blind their aim, then missiles hurry right behind. He seeks to drive them back, the walls will box them in.

Transferring the files is easy enough.  These pieces of shit don't know anything about their system architecture or security.  Hell, all of these are shared!  But Arkady knows from looking that there's a lot more on the network he's not seeing, so he may need to access another terminal.

The voice comes out over the intercom next to Grunt.

"Amongst my bindings includes the order to protect this facility as I see fit.  Given the number of living researchers, I have concluded that protecting this facility by venting the atmosphere and filling the facility with essence plasma is counterproductive to my bindings."  The voice is high and thin, metallic.  "Unfortunately brute-force hacking past my own firewalls to access certain files, images, and camera feeds will change these parameters, and I will be forced to reduce this entire facility to molten radioactive slag.  An Abyssal scientist has done... extensive testing and found that this method is enough to kill anything short of a Yozi-level threat, or at the bare minimum incapacitate and imprison one for several months.  In essence, rocks fall, everyone dies.

For stakes, well.  I wish I could offer you some.  But my bindings forbid me from betting.  Suffice to say you are staking your life against the destruction of this facility.  My strength is arrayed against you.  The Immaculates are arrayed against you.  Set Beckons is arrayed against you.  There's still time to retreat; there's no ante."

---

((Minion Defense:
8, 7, 5, 5, 2, 2 & 2
*Defense vs Strike:  32 + Tactics 20 = 52 vs 67, 1/7 Ripples
*Defense vs Knockback:  25 + Tactics 20 = 45 vs 41, avoids

Minion Attack:
10, 10, 6, 5, 4, 3 & 3
*Strike Crossfire 23 + Tactics 20 = 43))

The minions barely move as Crossfire starts firing those massive bullets into their ranks.  As soon as one is barely hit another quickly steps up to take some of the fire, effectively reducing the amount of damage he deals them to a single shattered soldier- shattered, just like that one outside the airlock.

And as they rotate through their ranks they pump round after round of shotgun shells into the Infernal.

"There's always an ante. Specify the parameters of attack, clearly the facility itself is not the priority since you can slag it," Grunt replied, "A change of ownership isn't an attack after all."

Arkady oversees the exchange between Grunt and the entity, followed with a surprised expression.

He picks up a marker from his pocket, writes something on his arm, and shows it to Grunt with an expression of disbelief.

"R u fuckin srs? U gonna argue with it?"

He shrugs, wipes off the message and writes another, followed by a more serious expression.

"High value intel is localised. Need terminal w/ VIP clearance. We are in a hurry."

"Slagging is preferable to capture in their eyes.  I have a long rule book I must read from, hundreds of bindings in odd parallels and sunk in with long hooks." Sigereth responds to him, "Including the amount I can banter.  I must wish you a good game and hope to see you in the core.  You are on the clock."

The intercom shuts off.

"Always keep demons talking. They're obsessives and it shows you what kind of chain they're on. Rushing into the home ground of a post human strategist before you have to is a nice way to become a drinking story," Grunt said aloud, "But it looks like the hard way it is."

He looked around for a moment, checked his weapons, and walked towards the hatch.

"I'll take point. We should keep an eye out for blast doors, I don't want a sudden change in the maze leaving some of us without backup."

"Can't argue with that blyat. I didn't have much time to do research."

He gets off the office chair and kicks it over in a careless, passive aggressive, manner.

"Time to fuck 'em up and steal their shit,  chuvak. I'm itching to get my hands on their schematics."

He brashly opens the latch on a pouch with a pistol handle sticking out but decides to close it in a respectful manner, rolling up his sleeves instead while approaching the hatch.

"Ready when you are."

The two make their way to the hatch.  After a brief moment fiddling with the controls, it snaps open to reveal a long hallway that crosses another.

Just in front of that intersection is an imposing construct, a good 8 feet tall, clad in heavy armor.  It lifts a huge rifle covered in hoses to a huge shoulder and starts charging up an attack!

((This baidak is a Rank 4 Lesser Legend with Heavy Armor, giving it +2 Ripples.  You're in Hatch zone; you need to CG at least 3 times to reach this Baidak.

Init:
8, 8, 8, 6, 3, 2 & 1
*Mark Target- Arkady:  38 + Awareness 10 + AB 5 = 53; unless Arkady includes a Stealth skill check as a Minor Action during his defense that equals or exceeds this Awareness result, the Baidak has +5 Strike and Arkady has -5 Dodge.
*Init 16 + Speed -10 + AB 5 = 11))

((Init: 10, 8, 7, 7, 6, 3 & 3
Subtle force W/ unarmed (Ranged)

Init 18+10= 28
CG 23+15= 38

Float 7-7))

"OI BLYAT SHIT FUCK! Incoming!"
Arkady dashes forward and prepares to dodge any incoming fire.

Grunt charges towards the baidak, not bothering to draw a weapon. He mutters as he moves.

((Init: 10, 9, 7, 7, 5, 2 & 1
Unarmed/Blossom Harvest
Init: 19 + 10 = 29
CG: 27 + 5 = 32

Range of Death of Obsidian Butterflies? If too far he'll go with Invulnerable Skin of Bronze instead))

((Let's say 1 zone, Flood to extend.

Init:
Grunt 29
Arkady 28
Baidak 11))

They can hear the sounds of gunfire not-so-far off.  That would almost have to be Crossfire; the Blood Apes are still protecting the ship.

(Attack: 9, 7, 6, 5, 5, 4 & 3
Float: 5-5
Nothing with the requisite range so attack whiffs. Would Invulnerable Skin of Bronze be activated at Init or as a Defense?)

Grunt didn't seem to be sparing much attention to dodging, although a small tornado of displaced air whipped around him during the heavy sprint.

((Attack R1: 10, 9, 9, 7, 3, 2 & 2))

Arkady keeps rushing forwards, warming up his feet and calming his head.

((I'd say it's a Defense.  Though both of you could flooded a die to extend the range and attack as you close.))

((Grunt doesn't get close enough yet, and I'm saving the River for a second. Next round should be good, assuming he doesn't risk AoEing Arkady))

((Baidak Attack R1:
8, 7, 5, 5, 5, 4 & 2
*Strike Arkady 35 + Strike 15 + AB 5 = 55; Block is -10.  Arkady's Dodge is -5.  Arkady can knock this total down to 50 and remove that Dodge penalty if he makes an Stealth check on his defense that exceeds 53.

Baidak Init R2:
9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 & 2
*Init 19 + Speed -10 + AB 5 = 14))

The baidak's huge rifle-cannon charges up with baleful orange light.  It lines up with Arkady's chest and then opens fire with a solid lance of orange, evil glow, cutting through flesh and metal alike.  While it does so it raises up a heavy shield in its other hand, protecting the front of its body.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:43, Mon 16 Oct 2017.

((Defence R1 10, 9, 6, 5, 4, 4 & 2
use 4 chi Yielding to Adversity keep 4-4
Re-roll 9, 9, 9, 4 & 2

39+FW15-5 = 49 vs 55 - Takes ripple

Init R2: 9, 8, 7, 6, 3, 2 & 1.
Subtle force w/ ranged

Init: 18+10=28
CG:19+15=34

use A lever shifts the world
channel 1chi for +5 craft

Wave: Flood 27+Craft15=42))

Arkady makes an attempt to slip away from the beam by kicking off a wall flip off the corridor, His stunt wasn't enough and he let's slip a short cry as the beam sears his flesh.
Once he lands barely on his feet, he quickly detaches a partially molten wall panel to use as cover and rushes forward in cover of his improvised shield.

"You better not have ruined my..."
He notices his seared side... and the cheap red polyester that had molten on his skin...
"YOU RUINED MY HOODIE SUKA!!! I'M GOING TO FUCK-YOU-UP I SWEAR BY JONESY, YOU-ARE-GONNA-GET-FUCKED!!!
This message was last edited by the player at 20:36, Tue 17 Oct 2017.

(R2 Init: 10, 8, 8, 7, 6, 2 & 2
Shadow Catching w/Saber
Init: 17 + 10 + 5 = 22, 1 chi
CG: 28 + 10 = 38, towards Baidak

Attacks with Death of Obsidian Butterflies
9, 9, 8, 4, 3, 3 & 2
DoOB: 29 + (What is relevant Stat) = ?, will flood for range if needed)

Gabriel draws his knife as he closes the gap while the thing is distracted by Arkady. He flicked his free hand through a quick series of gestures as a cloud of flickering black shapes pour out of the air in front of him and swarmed towards the baidak.

((Attack R2: 9, 5, 4, 4, 2, 1 & 1
Strike 24+15=39
Disrupt Strike /w Learning 21+15=36))

Arkady's adrenaline rises as his survival instincts kick in like PTSD.
Situation assessment: Targeti is heavily armed and heavily armored. Beaten with mobility. Uses a some sort of targeting system to assist it's attacks. Choices: Deprive target of targeting information, Or overload with excess information.

His Right arm starts to humm and glow before he thrusts it forwards with open palm, releasing another burst of seemingly formless energy towards the Baidak's head.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:06, Thu 19 Oct 2017.

((DoOB is made with a base Strike +10.  Stats here:  http://wulinlegends.pbworks.co...Hack%3A%20%20Sorcery

Arkady, you Covered Ground and ended up adjacent to him with a Ranged weapon; you don't need to flood for range.  Additionally you can only Float dice from pairs, so you can float from the 4s and the 1s.

Baidak Defense vs DoOB:
8, 8, 6, 6, 5, 3 & 2
*Defense 28 + Block 10 + AB 5 = 43 vs 39, Blocks
*Float 6-6

Baidak Defense vs Arkady:
10, 8, 7, 6, 4, 1 & 1
*Defense vs Strike 21 + Block 10 + AB 5 = 36 vs 39, takes Ripple
*Defense vs Disrupt 18 + Hardiness 10 + AB 5 = 33 vs 36, takes Disrupt

Baidak Attack vs Arkady:
9, 7, 7, 4, 4, 3 & 3
*Attack Arkady with 27 + Strike 15 + AB 5 - Disrupt 5 = 42; Block is -10.
*Disrupt Dodge 24 + Finesse 5 + AB 5 = 34
*Disrupt Speed 23 + Finesse 5 + AB 5 = 33))

The Baidak raises the shield to block the scattering of razor-sharp obsidian butterflies from Grunt, but that leaves it wide open to Arkady's attack.  Unfortunately he can't seem to penetrate the thing's armor, but he does rock it a little and interfere with the laser targeting system.

In exchange it raises the beam cannon and lets loose on Arkady again, but also some mounts on its shoulder open up to reveal small pencil-sized missiles. They're too small to have much propellant or charge, but when they explode around Arkady it's obvious they're flashbangs meant to slow him down.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:57, Thu 19 Oct 2017.

((Defence R2: 10, 7, 6, 4, 2, 1 & 1
Defence vs. Strike 21+FW15=36 = takes second ripple
Use 3 chi Clarity in openness +10 learning
Defence vs. Disrupt dodge: 17 + Learning 25 = 42
Defence vs. Disrupt speed: 16 + Learning 15 = 31/ takes disrupt))

Init R3: 10, 7, 6, 6, 5, 4 & 3
Init: 17+10-5=22
FoB: 26+craft10=26))

Arkady notices the small missiles coming. The sensory overload disrupts his focus and he feels the beam melting his skin once more. However at that instant he remembers the working principles of Flashbang- A.k.a Stun grenades. Light to blind and loud noise to destabilize balance centers behind ears. No only from the searing pain. He Drops on his knees behind his impromptu shield, covering his ears and closing his eyes as tightly shut as he can. He Shouts like a shell shocked soldier shouts in an artillery barrage and gasps for breath in an attempt to calm down.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:56, Fri 20 Oct 2017.

(10, 10, 7, 6, 3, 2 & 1
Shadow Catching w/Saber
Init: 17 + 10 = 27
CG: 20 + 10 = 30)

((Baidak Init R3:
10, 8, 6, 6, 6, 4 & 4
*Float 4-4
*Mark Target:  Arkady 36 + Awareness 10 + AB 5 = 51, Arkady is Dodge -5 and Baidak is Strike +5 unless Arkady makes a Stealth roll that beats this on defense
*Init 18 - Speed 10 + AB 5 = 13

Init:
Gabriel 27
Arkady 22
Baidak 13))

Grunt closed with the Baidak, slashing at its arm with the heavy knife.

(Attack: 10, 8, 7, 7, 6, 3 & 2
Strike: 27 + 10 + 10 = 47)

((Attack: 10, 9, 8, 6, 3, 2 & 2
Float 2-2
Strike: 19+15=34
use 2 chi Spontaneous effort
Disrupt block w/ Learning: 18+15=33))

Arkady gathers himself enough to throw a fluke shot at the baidak's shield, attempting to strike at the very edge of his heavy shield, the point of greatest leverage, in an effort to disorient his blocking stance, whilst charging another blast towards it's torso.

((Defense vs Grunt:
7, 4, 3, 3, 3, 1 & 1
*Defense vs Strike 33 + Block 10 + AB 5 = 48 vs 47, blocks

Defense vs Arkady:
10, 7, 6, 6, 4, 3 & 2
*Defense vs Strike 17 + Block 10 + AB 5 = 32 vs 34, takes a Ripple:  at 2/9
*Defense vs Disrupt 26 + Might 5 + AB 5 = 36 vs 33

Baidak Attack Arkady:
10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3 & 2
*Flowed Strike Arkady 34 + Strike 15 + AB 5 - Disrupt 5 = 49, Block is -10.  Arkady's Dodge is -5.  Arkady can knock this total down to 44 and remove that Dodge penalty if he makes an Stealth check on his defense that exceeds 51

Baidak Init:
8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 & 1
*Init 18 + Speed -10 + AB 5 = 13

A group of Rank 5 mooks appears!))

The baidak raises the heavy shield to deflect Grunt's knife strike, which just skitters off yellowed ivory.  This leaves the chest open for a glancing blow from Arkady, but the shield is already being held up and so the Baidak isn't very inconvenienced by another hit to it.

The intensity of the beam cannon changes.  Before power output was focused on range and accuracy, but now it's modulated the weapon to specialize in duration.  It's now more of a short-ranged torch, and the baidak sweeps the weapon across Arkady's chest.

Upon closing with them, they hear the sounds of alarmed men and women.  Guards are coming from the hallway the baidak's guarding!  From the looks of it they're emaciated, their eyes fever-bright from hunger.  If Grunt's any judge, methamphetamines are involved as well.  They're well uniformed but their weapons aren't being held correctly.

Cannon fodder, plain and simple.

((Defence: 9, 8, 8, 6, 6, 4 & 1
VS. Strike 28+15-5=38 vs 49, ripple & RR

Init R4: 10, 10, 7, 6, 6, 3 & 2

Wave: Flowed 32+craft10= 42 - overload sensory equipment.
FoB: 20+craft10=30 - 1 chi
Recovery - speed: 26+wuwei10= 36 vs. 31 - recovers.
Init: 17+speed10=27))

Arkady takes another hit from the scorching beam and let's out a pained grunt. He falls his knee and leans against the wall, catching his breath and attempting to focus under the deafening wave of sensory stimulation. He focuses his thoughts and concentrates on staying on the move. Movement is the only thing that would keep him alive.

He grasps his impromptu shield and the vent ports in his arms open, emitting a red glow and humming at an increased volume. The humming halts in and ear cracking surge of energy coursing through his shield, filling the corridor with a spectacle of sparks and metallic paint chips, acting as chaff.

((Init R4
Blossom Harvest Unarmed
7, 7, 5, 3, 3, 2 & 1
Init: 27 + 10 + 10 = 47
Tactics Wave, Keep Fodder and Baidak Separate: 23 + 10 + 10 = 43

Attack R4
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 4 & 3
Strike: 19 + 5 + 5 (Laughs: Outnumbered!) + 10 = 39
Secondary Strike: 25 + 5 + 5 + 10 = 45, 3 neutral chi
Both deal +1 Ripple Against Minions))

Grunt swings into the gap between the onrushing horde and the puppet thing, feet planted firmly as he starts a series of heavy stomps and hay makers against the drugged cultists. Crowd control was old hat and this crowd couldn't really file a complaint later.

"Baldy is yours, I'm going to keep his friends out of the way," he called to Arkady as he head butted an emaciated man in a stained lab coat.

((Init:
Gabriel 43
Arkady 27
Baidak 13
Minions

Minion defense:
8, 7, 6, 5, 5 & 2
*Defense vs Grunt first Strike 25 + Natural Bonus 5 = 30 vs 45, 2 ripples
*Defense vs Grunt second Strike 18 + Natural Bonus 5 = 23 vs 39, 2 ripples))

The minions are successfully separated from the Baidak, buying Arkady a bit of time. Grunt's heavy punches, kicks, and headbutts immediately thin the crowd.  A dozen men are cut down to four, the other eight groaning and twitching on the ground from the Dragon-Blooded's assault.

((Attack: 10, 10, 10, 9, 6, 3 & 1
Strike 30 + 15 = 45))

"Wha... ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?" Arkady shouts in surprise.

"Well fuck it! I'll show you some slav power blyat!"

He thrusts his arm forward and after a short charging humm, another blast of energy flashes towards the baidaks head.

((Forgot the RR on Arkady; we'll just say it didn't RR on him.  Need to update my sheet to reflect number of ripples both have suffered.

Arkady's Wave goes through.  While in this zone for duration of fight, the Baidak can't Mark Target.

Grunt's Wave goes through.  Minions can't also attack Arkady.

Baidak Defense:
9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 2 & 1
*Defense vs Strike 19 + Block 10 + AB 5 = 34 vs 45, a Ripple:  at 3/9

Baidak Attack:
10, 10, 9, 5, 4, 4 & 2
*Strike Arkady 24 + Strike 10 + AB 5 - Disrupt 5 = 34
*Knockback Arkady 20 + Might 5 + AB 5 = 30

Minion Attack:
7, 7, 6, 5, 1 & 1
*Strike Grunt 27 + Natural Bonus 5 = 32))

The armored baidak rocks backward a pitiful amount from Arkady's counterattack.  The Exalt just doesn't have the killing power necessary to put down this armored fiend in one blow!  Instead it just counterattacks with another wild sweep of a laser, punctuated by a brutal swing of the shield meant to knock Arkady further down the hallway.

The few conscious minions left try to swarm over Grunt, firing wildly and then trying to pistol-whip him into submission.

((Defence R4: 5, 5, 5, 4, 2, 2 & 1

Defence vs. Strike: 22 + FW15 = 37 vs. 34 - dodged.
Defence vs. Knockback 35 + block 5 = 40 - Blocks it 'like a bausss'))

Arkady wouldn't be scorched this time. He makes a quick dodge down, in a flowing, spinning, motion. His arms give the familiar faint red glow as from that very same motion he slams the back of his mechanical hand against the bashing shield, stopping the massive barrier dead on mid-motion.

With his arms venting off excess heat with a loud hiss, he looks at the baidak with spite.

"Not only no... But FUCK NO! I've had enough of this shit show Blyat!!!"

(Defense R4: 9, 7, 5, 5, 5, 4 & 3
Block: 35 + 5 = 40, blocks

Init R5: 10, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 & 3
Blossom Harvest Unarmed
FoB: 17 + 10 + 5 = 32
Init: 23 + 10 = 33)

Grunt seems used to dealing with drugged up civilians who managed to get their hands on something dangerous. His shoulders hunch up slightly and he bats away the attacks, keeping almost crouched as he presents a small, dense target for the mob to break itself on.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:11, Tue 07 Nov 2017.

((Init R5: 10, 6, 6, 5, 5, 5 & 4
Subtle force ranged
Init: 14 + 10 = 24
FoB: 35 + 10 = 45 / 2 chi
Float: 6-6))

A drop of sweat falls off his brow as he takes a gentle step away from his opponent, assuming a surprisingly neutral stance, without taking his eyes off the the hulking figure.

((Baidak Init R5:
9, 9, 9, 8, 7, 5 & 2
*Float 9-9
*Init 18 - Speed 10 + AB 5 = 13

Order:
Grunt 33
Arkady 24
Baidak 13
Mininons N/A))

(Attack: 10, 9, 7, 7, 7, 3 & 2
Strike: Mob: 37 + 5 (strike) + 5 (laughs at outnumbered) + 10 = 57)

Grunt heard the rapid clicks of weapons that are empty of ammunition and takes it as his cue to dart among them, elbows cracking jaws and feet stomping into shins. No finesse at all but he was tougher and stronger than them and drugs rarely instilled combat discipline.

"I'm almost done here," he called to Arkady in an even cadence as he went about the work, "You holding up?"

((Attack R5: 10, 9, 9, 8, 6, 3 & 2
Strike: Baidak: flowed 36 + 15 = 51
use 3 chi / The force of lightness
Secondary strike: 29 + 15 = 44))

Arkady doesn't hesitate. He extends his palm, releasing another blastwave towards the baidak's torso, but doesn't leave it there.
he brings his other hand forwards in an arcing motion akin to a slap, and as a smirk appears on his face, he closes his fist. "Cheeki breeki iv damki." Only with a couple of static sparks and a ripple that distorts the floating chaff as a swift warning, a burst of force detonates at the baidak's side.

"A little help would be real fucking nice! Smack those fuckin' drones and flank the big suka! We need to exploit its limited mobility, Blyat!"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:32, Fri 10 Nov 2017.

((Minions Defense vs Grunt:  9, 7, 7, 4, 3 & 1
*27 + Natural Bonus 5 = 32 vs 57, 2 Ripples:  Taken Out

Baidak Defense vs Arkady:
10, 10, 4, 3, 3, 2 & 1
*Defense vs Primary Strike 23 + Block 10 + AB 5 = 38 vs 51, 1 Ripple:  4/9
*Defense vs Secondary Strike 20 + Block 10 + AB 5 = 35 vs 44, 1 Ripple:  5/9

Baidak Attacks Arkady:
10, 10, 9, 7, 5, 3 & 3
*Flowed Strike 39 + Strike 10 + AB 5 - Disrupt 5 = 49
*Knockback Arkady 23 + Might 5 + AB 5 = 33
*Disrupt Arkady Strike 20 + Might 5 + AB 5 = 30))

The last of the mooks takes Grunt's boot to the head, sending him sprawling.  The living thralls twist and moan on the ground behind the baidak, utterly useless.

The baidak, on the other hand, sweeps his laser-lance in a wild swipe hoping to catch Arkady.  Then it brings heavy foot down- STOMP- and charges at the man, trying to bash the shield into his arm and drive him back down the hallway.

((10, 10, 8, 8, 5, 5 & 4
Defence vs. Strike 28 + 15 = 43 vs. 49 /ripple
Defence vs. Knockback 20 + fw15 = 35 vs. 33 / dodged
Defence vs. Disrupt 25 + learning 15 = 40 vs. 30 / avoided))

Arkady feels the vibrations in the floor plating, steel doesn't easily bend but when it does, it conveys massive amounts of energy. A small jump at precisely the the right moment let's him avoid the shock wave. And precision was his thing. He couldn't avoid the searing beam as it scraped him while mid-air but as soon as he landed he quickly dodged away with the fleet of his foot avoids the Baidak initial shield charge.

((Baidak Initiative:
10, 9, 8, 6, 5, 4 & 3
*Init 19 - Speed 10 + AB 5 = 14))

The Baidak creaks as it tries to recover from its charge.  It's momentarily vulnerable, off-guard from not being able to push Arkady further down the hallway.

(Grunt Init
Blossom Harvest w/ Unarmed
10, 8, 8, 7, 6, 3 & 3
FoB: 15 + 15 = 30
Init: 17 + 10 + 10 = 37
Tactics Wave: Pin Baidak Down : 28 + 10 = 38
Float: 3-3

The Tactics Wave is basically just an attempt to use the fact that the opponent is caught between Arkady and Grunt to set up bonuses on their attacks when they take advantage of the pincer)

(( Init R6: 8, 8, 5, 4, 4, 2 & 1

init: 14 + 10 = 24
Fob: 24+10=34
Float 8-8 ))

Arkady attempts to maintain focus regardless of his wounds, but the continuous battle is starting to wear him out.

"You go first chuvak!"

((Attack R6:
10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3 & 1
The Dice Hate Me
Disrupt Dodge: Might : 33 + 5 + 5 + 10 = 53
Strike: 18 + 5 + 10 = 33))

Grunt snorted as he charged the Baidak, arms wide, in an effort to tackle and restrain the thing further. With it pinned down his ally could focus more thoroughly on offense.

'I hold, you hit,' was basic brawling but nearly universal for a reason.

((Pinned, you all gain a Laughs/Fears bonus on this sucker.

Baidak Defense:
8, 7, 6, 6, 4, 4 & 3
*Defense vs Strike 26 + Block 10 + AB 5 = 41 vs 43 (33 + L/F 10), 1 Ripple:  6/9
*Defense vs Dodge Disrupt 24 + Might 5 + AB 5 = 34, takes Dodge Disrupt))

The Baidak is large.  The Baidak is strong.  It's also slow to move and maneuver.  Grunt gets right up behind it and tackles the thing to the ground; it sounds like dropping a thousand pool balls on the ground at once.

((Attack R6: 10, 8, 6, 6, 5, 5 & 3
Strike: Flowed 38 + 15 = 53
Force of lightness / 3chi
Secondary strike: 26 + 15 = 41))

Arkady doesn't wait for permission and in stead starts smacking directed force right in it's cranium with a vicious double tap.

((Baidak Defense vs Arkady:
9, 9, 7, 3, 3, 2 & 2
*Defense vs Primary Strike 29 + Block 10 + AB 5 = 44 vs 63, Ripple:  7/9
*Defense vs Secondary Strike 23 + Block 10 + AB 5 = 38 vs 41, Ripple:  8/9
*Float 2-2

Baidak Attack:
10, 9, 9, 8, 7, 5 & 4
*Remember you both get a Laughs and Fears bonus for a total of +10 vs him while pinned
*Baidak Attack Grunt 29 + Strike 10 + AB 5 - Disrupt 5 = 39))

It's pinned but it's tough and armored; they can't penetrate the shell very easily.  Arkady drives two more dents into its head before it flails with the gun, trying to catch Grunt with the beam.

(Defense: 10, 10, 10, 8, 6, 6 & 1
Strike: 39 - 30 - 10 = Miss, would take Interesting Times)

Grunt has a solid hold on the thing and kept his shoulder dug into the only arm that might come around to point a weapon at him.

((Init r7: 9, 7, 5, 3, 2, 2 & 1
Subtle force w/ ranged
Float 2-2
Init 19 + 10 = 29))

"Uraa chuvak! Keep the Suka pinned! This next one is gonna hurt!!!"

Arkady shouts and prepares to land the finishing blow.

((Interesting Times granted, take a ChivJoss))

The baidak is kept from flailing the weapon about- and in so doing hits what must be some kind of power coil.  The resulting arc passes through Grunt without harming him- lightning just tickles Air Aspects, after all- and causes the baidak to pop and scorch.  The massively armored quasi-demon falls apart into a pile of ivory rubble.

Arkady's arms stop humming and the omnious glow fades. Some vent ports open and let out a quiet hiss as he lowers his arms.

"Well fuck me. Another quitter."

He quickly inspects the corridor to remind himself of their surroundings and checks his own status. several burns that don't hurt too much. and his hoodies is completely ruined.

"Aahhh blyaaaaaat... I really liked this hoodie. I'd suggest we go left. According to video feed and the fractured data it should lead us to engineering. I assess that'd be our best option at reaching the reactor core. Whaddaya think?"

"Left it is," Gabriel agreed as he stood. He spent a moment checking the members of the earlier mob. They might be useful and he certainly didn't want one or two recovering behind them.

The two turn to their left, revealing the other sides of the long hallway.  They're closed off by two blast doors.  If Sigereth wanted, she could probably blow this entire section off of the facility and nothing would really be lost.

But she doesn't.

The mob are groaning, broken, but one seems a bit better off than the others.  He's lost what few teeth he has left and has a broken arm, but that seems to be about it.  He briefly meets Grunt's eyes before looking away.

"You know there's no point in keeping quiet now, right?" Grunt asked the one who had lost his teeth, squatting down to look the man dead in the eyes, "You talk fast and maybe we all live or you talk slow and only some of us do."

(Behavioral Economics Roll: 10, 8, 5, 5, 4, 1 & 1
Inspire (to talk): 25 + 10 = 35, would add a Laughs or Fears given what just happened but your call
Wu Wei (to catch tells): 21 + 10 = 31, same as above)

((inspecting the blastdoor: 10, 8, 4, 4, 3, 1 & 1

24 + craft 10 = 34 - checking for override mechanisms.

Float 1-1))

Arkady seems to pay more attention to the door than the beaten thrall, busying himself in an attempt to come up with an override. At the same time he addresses the thrall without looking at his direction:

"You might spill the beans Suka. That beating you just took was just a foreplay, blyat."

The man flinches back, cowering into a ball as Arkady inspects the override.  Yep, there's one alright, it'd be- oh, hello there, there's a camera loop to see through to the other side!  Veeeeeeeeeerry interesting!  Oh, look, a dozen white-armored baidak of a type he's not seen before, holding sleek-looking rifles and standing at the ready!

"W-what do you want to know,"  The thrall asks through a bloody mouth, "Wh-why are you even here?!"

"How many others, where they are, how to reach Sigreth," Grunt replied immediately, "And use your brain for the other one. We want out, that means not letting places like this kill us."

Arkady turns around with a blank face and reaches for his flask.

"Oh blin. There's like a fuck-ton of those Baidak on the other side."

He takes a long sip off his flask and walks past the interrogation scene facing the corridor where they came from and whistles in the direction of the hydroponics.

"HEY! MONKEYS! DRAG YOUR ASSES 'ERE!!! GOT SOME SHIT TO KICK BLYAT!!"

Then he smugly turns to face the thrall

"Man you should have seen it. Those Erymanthoi really made a mess in the hydroponics. Throw us a bone man. I'm just winging this shit right now."

"Well, that answers the first two questions. Give us the third," Grunt told the man.

"H-hundreds of us,"  He quails, "I don't- the Baidak, new?  Only last week..." He looks as the Erymanthoi come loping down the corridor, laughing and howling, "Weren't any!  I swear!"  He looks wildly around as the slaughterhouse-smell of the bloodapes hits his nostrils, "N-not through engineering.  I think!  But all the walls can be closed off, permanently if needed, so... if she wanted, you could wander around in circles and never get her!  If you think it's straight it isn't!  She does it to us just for fun!"

"it seems we gotta go through the offices then. I'd avoid conflict as much as possible."

Arkady said in a frustrated tone.

"and I really suck at games rules, 'cause I have a tendency to... Not follow the rules exactly. Especially since that cancerous cunt didn't tell us the fucking rules..."

"Where is the manual controls or power terminals?" Grunt asked the man before he looked to Arkady, "I'd check the other door. If she's herding us there'll be paths of lesser resistance."

"There's one closer to hydroponics but that's it..."  He whimpers, "Technically the reactor's closer to the dorms than engineering.  But that means she could just lock down engineering and make you go from the Dorms to the Armory and up!"

"What's up from the armory. And, what's in the armory," Grunt asked as he reached down to pull the man to his feet, "You'll have to hobble along with us. Or ask one of the apes for support."

Arkady walks towards the second second door and takes a look around, keeping an ear on their new "Tour guide".

"Uuuuu... Armory. That sounds both promising AND lethal as fuck..."

"The reactor.  This whole place is like... like a big spiral,"  He says, "Whenever she wants to lock it down.  Or a circle.  The reactor's the hub!"  The prisoner is dragged to his feet but it's obvious he doesn't want to stand.

Arkady, you head to the other door and fuss with the wiring.  You can see signs of battle on the other side, including pieces of baidak.

"AY.  AY BAWSES."  One of the Erymanthoi approaches them, "Ya gots a message from the Konnidan!  They say the big fight's all done and want to know, they want to know if you want the big guns to join in!"

"Tell them we have Sigreth in here with control of the paths and possible capacity to blow the place. They outrank me but I'll call any of them who risk a valuable battle asset here an idiot," Grunt told him, "Unless one of the sorcerers can send a whole lot of demons packing with one spell, in which case get down here."

Grunt took inventory of the remaining shock troops and weapons.

"I'm assuming you brought grenades?"

"There's signs of a fight on the other side of this door... Seems like Crossfire got some before we lost contact entirely..."

Arkady turns around after the short exchange between the Erymanthoi and Grunt

"wow Wow WOW! Hold the fuck up! We are being offered reinforcements and you're declining that 'cause you think Sigereth is gonna blow this shit apart? I think that if she wanted to do so, she would have already done so. She plays a game, chuvak. She established rules which She ALSO is bound to follow. As long as we don't break the rules, she can't pull a Nuclear tesuji on our asses, Blyat. Besides, during the time it took us to get this far, The other group wiped out an entire fleet. An ENTIRE FUCKING SPACE FLEET!!!"

He takes a deep breath after his rant and continues:

"Dude you might be well prepared to die on this shithole, But I'm not, and if you try to drag me with you I'll kick you on the fucking fingers blyat. I'm not in a hurry to die, and I don't give a flying fuck about what you think about that."

He turns towards the Erymathoi to address it

"Relay a reply. Red Star calls for reinforcements. Game is on. Sigereth is a cancerous cunt. Heavy enemy presence in the area. Details provided upon arrival."

"Neither of us are at any substantially greater risk of death than we were at arrival. Right now I doubt she'll blow the place because we're simply not worth it. Let her think she can take a few Pre-Exodites and that math changes," Grunt said evenly before he looked at the Blood Ape, "Convey my stated opinion as an addendum to that report."

A tinned voice comes over hidden loudspeakers.

"Detection of pre-exodite essence useage triggers certain aspects of my binding.  As soon as I am unequivocally aware of their presence I am to annihilate this entire facility.  Please keep this in mind if you are to discuss their entrance to this game."

The erymanthus picks his nose and looks back and forth between the two.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:39, Tue 12 Dec 2017.

"Afraid of that," Grunt muttered, "Add that to the communication, along with me strongly advising they not send in the heavy hitters unless they can survive with spells or charms."

He looked at Arkady.

"From here on I'm just going forward. Investigation and the like will have to wait. Can you get the doors?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:57, Tue 12 Dec 2017.

((open the door: 10, 10, 8, 7, 5, 5 & 1
Open the door - 25 + craft 10 = 35))

Arkady listens to Sigereth's message and is seemingly starting to get agitated.

"Aawww... SSSSUUUUUKA BLYAT! This fucking shit show pisses me off so much blyat..."

He turns towards the door and starts fiddling with the mechanism speaking under his breath.

"Fucking shit.. At least paddy wagon wasn't a fucking game show blyat... I'm gonna smack that bitch up real fucking hard I swear on my mum.." and something in Russian that consists mostly of swearing.

The erymanthus shrugs and lopes off.  The others congregate behind Grunt and Arkady, ready and raring to go.

The door slides open.  There's nothing but flickering lights leading down a long, long, looooong abandoned hallway.  There are the pieces of the baidak and the scorched green and brass metal leading down the hall, and then nothing.

"Now what?"  One of the erymanthuses asks.

"I take point, you take middle, and Arkady guards the rear. She wants to lead us about and we'll have to let her for a while to see if we can generate a bit of momentum," Grunt answered as he moved into the newly opened corridor and a brisk walk, "And who knows? Maybe we'll get lucky and they can arrive and handle things without needing to use essence."

Arkady wipes his nose on his sleeve, loudly, and let's the erymathoi pass to take his place on the rear.

"Lead on chuvak. I've got your six, or... Shit do you operator types even say that? Nevermind."

The group moves forward, the blood-apes moving restlessly as they head down the corridor.  Sure enough there's an entrance that reads TO REACTOR to their left, and a blast door that must lead towards what they think are the dormitories up to their right.  Or they can keep going ahead!

((the doors: 10, 8, 7, 7, 6, 5 & 4
Check the reactor door for trap mechanisms
27 + craft 10 = 37))

"I might wanna look around..."
He said as he saw the door leading to the reactor... By assumption.
"...this seems too easy of an option for this game. You call the shots, but I'll check the door. If we go a different way, I'll try to force it to a manual lock down, so we won't be flanked."

He takes a closer look at the door mechanism.

Grunt nodded his agreement on checking the door. It gave him a few moments to try and puzzle this out from Sigreth's perspective.

(Tactics: 10, 10, 5, 4, 4, 3 & 2
How Sigreth Would Go About It: Tactics: 24 + 10 + 5 (Laughs: Knows Some of Her Orders) = 39
Gut Instinct: Wu Wei: 20 + 10 = 30, will absolutely take IT.
Just trying to get a feel for what Grunt thinks she's up to and how his intuition is saying to respond.)

The Reactor door is absolutely locked down and trapped, alright- in a very specific way.  It's quadruple-reinforced, Essence fields, Necrotic Essence fields, bound ghosts, and old-fashioned steel.  Opening up the door would require something just short of a nuke.  Blowing it up would also cause an essence build-up in the cables leading to and from the door.  Long and short of it is that Arkady doesn't quite know *how*, but he does know *what*, and that'd be the entire section of the facility getting spaced in a gloriously inefficient and messy manner.

Anyone who could just blast through the door would certainly never bother to check for traps.  Big fish are caught by wide nets.

---

Grunt isn't the tactician that Sigereth is, though to be fair, there are few who are.
 Sigereth's tactics are very specific, though, which gives him a little edge.  The Baidak are pieces, and the best way to win is to always maneuver someone else's instead of your own-

Wait.  Grunt remembers a bit of training from before, on how to deal with finding yourself in one of White Arcing Lightning's Wyld Zones.  The first rule of a Freehold:  going in force will just lead you into circles.  One door closes, another must open.  In order for it to be a true game, it has to be winnable, at least in theory.  But it's weird for a demon to emulate a Fae, especially one that's as orderly as Sigereth.  There has to be some motive for it besides just whittling them down pragmatically.

(IT accepted, take a ChivJoss)

It's around this time that another, particularly dim-looking Blood Ape lopes around the corner. "BAWSES!  BAWSES!"  He bawls at them, slamming his shoulder right into the door Arkady was examining, "Reinforcements coming!  Someone called Diamond Sky!"

"Any way in?" Grunt asked Arkady as he stepped towards he approaching Blood Ape with a nod, "Lead him here if he wants to join up. Otherwise get his comm band frequency."

"HOLY SHIT, BLYAT!"
Arkady Jumps back startled as the blood ape smacks its shoulder agains the door.

"Ahh... Eh.. How would I put it... Not through here. I'm also strongly advising against breaking any doors... I'd just go forward."

He picks himself up from the floor, wipes his hands on his pants and looks a bit surprised.

"Diamond Sky? Who the fuck is Diamond Sky?"

Benisuzume glides quietly through the black space that is littered with wreckage. As Diamond Sky's essence calms down and evaporates, the ship slowly turns to look sleek blue. She waits patiently to dock the ship next to Konnidan, wanting to take advantage of their way in.

Her newly acquired identity, causes Lyla to slip into memories momentarily. She had known someone called Diamond something long time ago. A pompous bitch that one was. Guess anyone whose name includes Diamond involves a certain degree of egoism. She chuckled to herself, taking this all into consideration it was just good that they had ended up sending her in. It was hard to imagine Daniel trying to portray as anything else but himself.

Diamond Sky adjusts her mirrored visor and her flight suit, watching it to turn into shades of white and grey. As far as she knew none of the enemies had seen her fully without her helmet, given that the only speck of skin that was shown on missions was the lower part of her face and a high ponytail. Then the only risk would be her allies, though the blood apes would probably be too dumb to recognize anyone.

"Well. Time to go," she mumbles to herself, before opening her flight harness after docking.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:33, Wed 20 Dec 2017.

"Never heard the call sign before," Gabriel told Arkady before he looked at the guide, "Where's a schematic of this place? Three dimensional."

Arkady looks at their guide and Grunt.
"3D schematics? Are you sure this guy knows that shit? He doesn't seem too bright, nor well positioned... I mean.."

He takes a small sip off his flask and wipes his mouth on his sleeve.

"...he looks like cannon fodder."

"Sure, after being drugged. Remember what he said earlier, this is not business as usual. Besides, he doesn't need to know it, just know where it might be," Grunt replied, "And I think we may have to detour shortly."

Blue Sky docks quickly with the Konnidan; she's then transported down into the Hydroponics bay of the facility. From there it's not hard to follow trails left by the blood apes- dead bodies, blood, other effluvia.  She can hear people speaking down the hall.

"Diamond Sky?  Somebody from the Jagganathika.  No idear, baws."  The blood ape sticks a finger into its ear, and they're almost certain they see his eyeball move as he pokes around in there.  "Reed-enforce-mints."

The man looks between the group of them, eyes darting back and forth.  "Schematics?"  He asks, "They're, um, security clearance only, and, everyone with that clearance is out fighting.  Immaculate-level!  I can lead but- but- I can't, map- inside my head?"

((Blue Sky, feel free to meet up with the others))

((Stealth: For easily overlooked presence & to mask herself & her chi
10, 10, 10, 9, 6, 5, 4 & 1
30+25+10 = 65, interesting times maybe?))

Upon stepping out of her ship, her suit adjusts itself to the temperature outside the cockpit, some parts of it taking a more glittery shade to fit her newly acquired diamond theme, a jesting cloud here and there. She gives her arms and legs a few stretches in the shadows of the Hydroponics bay, before venturing towards the indicated direction, all the while braiding her ponytail.

The shadows on her face turn making her features appear different and sharper, and she sticks away from standing directly under the lights, appearing as if she was trying to desperately dodge all the blood and splatter in the corridor. When eventually meeting up with the others, she let's them continue the interrogation before talking.

"Surprise. I'm what they call the backup plan. Diamond Sky. Nice to meet you," she introduces herself to Grunt and Red Star.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:45, Sat 30 Dec 2017.

"Grunt," he introduces himself, "They brief you about the Player of Games? She's got at least a few dozen minor demons and control of some systems."

Arkady looks at the newcomer with a slight surprise on his face: "Red Star" and waves his hand.

"oh and this game has strict rules... We can't tamper with the reactor systems remotely as an example. The only way is to beat this maze and get to the reactor." he points at the "guide" and continues:
"Apparently Sigereth could fuck us over any time she wishes and the only reason we are even making progress is 'cause she allows it. She is bound to play her own game, and the game has to be beatable."

"Yeah, I've been informed to some extent," she shifts her weight from one leg to another as answering to Grunt.

"I take it you were expecting some familiar heavy hitters, but they decided not to risk it. Sorry," she smirks to Arkadys surprised expression.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:46, Sat 30 Dec 2017.

"So, we've got ranks of the baidak behind a door there," Grunt made a gesture back down the hall.

"The reactor is behind a lot of booby traps that can blow up even the most stubborn bastards here," he gestured to the door.

"And she seems to be trying to guide us through there," he finished with a nod, "Oh, and most of the original staff are dead or drugged up and crazy. We've got a limping one along as a rough guide."

"Gotcha,"Diamond nods. "A rough guide is better than none. All options presented are fine by me. Though fighting a large group of Baidak will take time. But then again, wasting time on tearing apart a set of near impossible traps is even worse of an option."

She walks over to look at the reactor door while in thought. Then she looks about the corridor.

"Since the game has to be beatable even if we follow her suggestions, we could just see whats up a head as well? If you don't want to try the two options that are available here. Or try to find a shortcut, such as an airvent or maintenance shaft. Since this ship has living people, it gives us some leverage in comparison to your normal state of the art Abyssal facility."

"I've been looking for a good schematic of this place, odds are that we could save time going outside, but no luck. Hard vacuum for a few moments is one thing, having to search in it would kill me," Grunt said with a nod, "Split the difference? Go ahead to the next obstacle and if it looks like a big enough pain try to chew through the baidak?"

"Harasho. That's fine by me."
Arkady shrugs.
"Those Baidak are tough bitches, and haven't yet found a general exploit to play against them. Might wanna explore other options than fighting them... If we are forced to fight them."

Diamond Sky just nods and indicates them to lead on.

((Lyla take a ChivJoss.  If you spend more than 3 Chi in a full round you blow your cover so watch out.))

Diamond Sky's disguise is exceptional- and unnerving.  See, she does a good job at making herself unrecognizable, but it goes in an odder direction.  Arkady and Grunt think she looks awfully, impossibly familiar.  To Arkady she looks like a Russian woman who he'd met at Tokyo, last seen charging into battle with nothing more than a knife and a rusty old gun in an attempt to hold off the Undead tide.  To Grunt, she resembles a sharp-edged Fire Aspect who'd been ruthlessly held down and shivved in the back by a drug-crazed god in the Underdecks; in death her bones had transmuted to sparkling crystal by the god's last ounce of power.

The guide, on the other hand, sees Diamond Sky and starts screaming incoherently.  His eyes roll up in the back of his head and he starts to gibber. "I've done nothing wrong!  I've done nothing wrong!"

"Surprised he lasted this long," Grunt muttered, "Onward it is, I'll take point. No sense being bunched together in these confines."

He made his way towards where, to all signs, Sigreth wanted them.

Diamond raises her brows to the prisoners way of behaving, before turning on her heels to follow Grunt leaving some gap between them.

((9, 9, 9, 8, 4, 3 & 3
Float: 3-3
Opening doors, if they need operating: 39 + craft 10 = 49))

Arkady nods and wipes his nose.
"I'll take middle. We'll get range advantage to both directions, and we can open the doors without too much rotation."
And goes onwards with the group.

Arkady has two choices- he can head into the areas to his right or move on the hallway ahead of him, which should lead to more dormitories and offices.

The gibbering man gnaws on his fingers as he looks at Diamond Sky.  There's a faint trickle of blood from his nose.  "Door to our right is- is the pleasure bay.  For the Immaculates."

"Pleasure bay? Immaculates?" Diamond looks at their designated guide clear question in her tone of voice. "So there might actually be some people with more brains in here. I don't mind doing a quick scan of the bay."

Arkady looks at the disoriented guide and Diamond sky with a wide smile taking place on his face.

"Ooooooo blin! Great Idea! You guys get to interrogate and I gotta check out their bar! I... Uh... Denying enemy rations you know. For tactical reasons."

He rushes to the door and starts working with the mechanism, and after some tinkering he kicks the the door where he assumes the lock bars should be.

"That should relieve the tension. OPEN UP BLYAT!"

Sometimes you can almost feel when somebody furrows their brow, and this is one of those times as Diamond Sky turns to face Arkady, her visor covering her face well.

"That's a load of BS. I think you've drank enough for a while," she peers towards the door. "Also there has been enough time lost already. Leave the drinks and ciggies for later. If we make it out of here alive."

"...recreation room?" Grunt asked curiously, "As in the place one imbibes substances and seeks diversion?"

"That's- that's right,"  The guide stammers, "Through the divine principle of conspicuous consumptive asceticism.  The Neverborn in their- in their wisdom-"  He trails off as he looks at the three, "- in their wisdom - realize that through, that through consumption, self improvement is the same as entropy, and in entropy there will be nothing, so... there's... pleasure and slaves and drink and food and..."

Arkady starts to work on the mechanism.  It's not hard to open, though it's a sliding door that requires a button push to open.

Diamond lets out a snicker, and shakes her head.

"Well, I guess they had time for all that leisuring around. Were are all the immaculates currently by the way? Aside those who died outside in the battle."

"I'm more curious if there are games there, but perhaps I read too much into things," Grunt said with a shrug, "One quick look. How goes the outside battle?"

"Whoa whoa! Calm down chuvak whoa holy shit.
I just needed a quick sip to prevent these magic hands from shaking like the windows of Tšeljabinsk, blin. You know, you really can't have your arms lost in tho separate occasions, one involving a bomb and the other a blastdoor by the way, without permanent neural damage." Arkady rants, seeming clearly agitated by the claim that he's "had enough" and then stands up and wipes his hands.

"Holy fuck I feel like a burglar with all these doors blyat. " he said whilst wiping sweat off his brow. He reaches for his flask, only to find it almost empty, and tuckers it safely back to its pouch.

"After you ladies and gents."

"I'm not saying I'm against alcohol. What I'm saying is, that during your -long- walk from point A to point B you've already managed to get sauced up quite well. Then again it might just be a Russian feature," Diamond smirks before responding to Grunt.

"The battle outside has moved to the clean up -phase. So currently it's all up to us, and there is no need to think about things outside."

The door slides open.  Inside they can see a lone man- Living, and by all evidence a Dragon-Blooded, a young Earth-Aspected to Grunt's trained eye (the stockiness gives it away).  He's bleeding from a wound to his right side, puncturing a jet-black, haunting flight suit.  There are two well-dressed women taking care of him, and one further watching behind.  They all look at the door opening with wide eyes, except for the Dragon-Blooded, who looks simply tired.

"Anathema," He grunts as he stands up, brushing aside the ladies as they try to restrain him, "I wondered what you were doing, ramming that ship into this glorious temple."

"Doesn't seem so Immaculate, does he?" Diamond Sky steps into the room after looking around to see if there are more people there. "Some people like grand entrances."

She shrugs.

"Well we tried knocking and ringing the door bell but that didn't get the job done, so we let ourselves in. Surprise Suka." Arkady says and lifts his hands to emphasise his sarcastic surprise. He then looks around for anything particularly interesting.

Grunt was more interested in the women. They were out of place in the way one of the Blood surviving was not.

(Wu Wei check on the women for nature [Mortal, Terrestrial, Demonic, Other]
27 + 10 = 37)

If there are any others, Diamond Sky doesn't see them.  She can see tracks of blood leading away from the pleasure-chambers, towards what she recognizes as doors that should lead to airlocks.  He must be a lone survivor.

Arkady notices an entire bar, fully equipped with- oh shit, some of that stuff is long, long gone.  The bottle of brandy alone is worth a small ship to the right people in the upperdecks.  He can also see a few hookahs, and an entire wall full of... marital aides.  To put that lightly.

"You know nothing about the Immaculate Disorder.  I wouldn't expect you to.  There's still time for you to learn, though.  Sit.  I can provide refreshments.  I can spread the Good Word." 

But the women, oh, that's special.  Very special.  Grunt knows something is very, very wrong with the woman sitting down.  She's pale, not unusual for a ship-born person; she feels wrong, like she should have centipedes crawling about her.  The Dragon-Blooded is a threat for obvious reasons, but this one... he's not sure.

"Lovely, all ready to educate monstrous Solars about how to be civilized."

Diamond Sky leans to the wall next to her and turns to look from the man and the ladies to Grunt and Arkady to see what they think about this presented suggestion. It's true they could gain information from the man, but also it just might be another trap to get them spend time.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:24, Fri 19 Jan 2018.

"yeah yeah refreshments. Don't mind if I help myself. No need for you to get up chuvak. Also you might wanna be quick since you're bleeding pretty hard and we have a reactor to melt... I know right?! Man's gotta work."

He heads to the liquor cabin and stows the more expensive bottle in his pocket, opening a less expensive one and goes for a sip. Whist looking at the immaculate in despise and Diamond sky in defiance.

"sposibo bose. Amen! Now hurry up blyat."

Its really hard to tell what expression lies on Diamond Sky's face given that the visor covers half of it and her lips seem to form a constant half-sided smirk.

She does note though to the Dragonblooded:"I'm ready to listen though if you have any tips on how to navigate this facility."

"Blood runs through your veins, but only just. Child of the Abyss, perhaps?" Grunt asked the woman, tone polite as he ignored the Dragon, "Really, mysteries pick the damnedest times. May I have your name?"

"In the beginning there was nothing and order.  And then there was everything," The wounded Dragon-Blooded spreads out his hands, "And from everything came disorder.  But with Everything, doing as it will how it will, sows the seeds of its own destruction.  Disorder creates entropy, the will of the universe to return to perfection."  He smiles a not-entirely-all-there smile; blood loss must be getting to him.  "As disorder increases, so must entropy.  To bring about absolute perfection, disorder must be maximized.  The Immaculate Disorder! So eat, drink, and be merry; for one day we will all die, and perfection will reign again."

"You're an observant one."  The well-dressed woman says in a low, smoky voice to Grunt, "Please call me Isabella.  You're here to destroy the facility?"

"If needed. My callsign is 'Grunt' and that's all I answer to while at work," he told her, "Your friend is the chatty type, Isabella, but it seems mostly piss. Afraid we're on a type schedule at the moment. Will you help or hinder?"

((Finesse: pickpocketing the dragon-blooded: 9, 7, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4 & 1
Float 4-4
35+15+10 = 60))

Given that Arkady was busy raiding the drinks cabinet, and Grunt seemed to have his own thoughts about the company of the man, it falls upon Diamond Sky to talk to the Dragon-blooded. Well technically she isn't forced to talk to him, but since the opportunity is there. Also her memory jogs back to saving Swan Dragon and the gadgets they had in that facility. He might have something on him that could be useful to them. An access card would be a jackpot.

So being the fancy ass Diamond Sky that she is, without a thought she struts over to him, all too close to comfort.

"So one day we will all die? How does it feel that your day will be today? Any last wishes etcera?"

Being the mother Teresa of all the Solar, she gives a small poke near his wound.

"oi blin! this is good shit!" Arkady hollers raising the bottle in a thanking gesture.
"-I think I've never had booze this good."

He wipes his mouth and looks kind of relaxing, but his eyes are constantly fixed on the Immaculate and his entourage under his hood, and listens in on the conversation Grunt is having with Isabella.

"Yeah... Friend or foe. I mean... aww shit." He seems lost in thought.
"that sounded way cooler in my head..."

((Detect Pickpocket:
10, 9, 8, 6, 4, 3 & 1
*19 + Awareness 10 + Specialty 5 + AB 5 = 39, no luck))

Give the Earth-Aspect credit.  He doesn't so much as wince when he's jabbed in the side, though he's distracted enough that Diamond Sky is able to lift what she thinks is a keycard.  "Aren't all of our wishes last ones?" His eyes dance with pain and fervor, "Sit and drink with us for a while.  Celebrate our deaths."

"I won't get in the way."  Isabella says neutrally, "If we must be destroyed, so be it.  Everything ends, one way or another, including us."  She looks over at Arkady, "Of course, would you want your last words to be those?  You should practice your smooth-talking a bit more."

"Aren't all our wishes our first ones? In the sense that they are the beginning of something new?" She rests both of her hands behind her on the belt, whilst pocketing that whatever she found in a back pocket.

"I'm not much of a drinker while on duty. Besides you already have Red Star there doing it for the rest of us as well. So how about you sit down and take a drink, before you won't taste it anymore."

She shrugs, and turns away from the man, heading to look in the direction of the blood trail.

"Well yeah I probably should. I mean... I'm a lot better at shit-talking. That's the standard of conversation I got used to on the paddy wagon.

He takes another sip and raises the bottle towards the Immaculate in a suggesting gesture.

"I'll drink with a dying man. Shit, he earns it. While at it we could do a rundown of the schematics of this place. Like your companion said, everything needs to end chuvak. You might go drunk as fuck with a crazy Russian fucker, and while at it help him out a bit. Maybe Bose will look at it as a redemption of sorts... And both dying and drinking are better with company"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:05, Fri 26 Jan 2018.

There is a moment when Arkady says that "he earns it" when Diamond Sky stiffens up a bit and her lips turn in to a thin gritted line. Then she sneers.

"You are familiar with the layout and security of the facility?" Grunt asked Isabella, "Our last guide has become somewhat impaired."

The trail of blood starts at an airlock and leads into here.  He must have been the lone survivor, badly wounded from the battle outside.

The wounded Dragon-Blooded sits down and takes the bottle.  "You're not bad for unenlightened. Only a few steps away from- from Immaculate reasoning," He takes a long swig.  "You've even embraced the replacement of the flesh.  But I won't be helping you with the destruction of this facility.  Instead I'll die in glorious combat."

The two other women silently steal away, heading to deeper rooms in the pleasure center.

"As familiar as a crewmember of my station could be, which is more than they would expect." The ghost-blooded responds to Grunt, "Your guide is suffering."  He'd fallen to the ground and wet himself, curled up in a ball; "Because he saw something he wasn't supposed to look at."

((Init: 9, 8, 6, 5, 4, 4 & 3
Subtle force w/ ranged
init 24 + 10 = 34
FoB 19+10=29 - 1 chi))

"Oh this?" Arkady shows his hands.
"To be honest I'd rather have my actual arms but I've already gotten used to these..."

He takes the bottle from the wounded Immaculate and takes another swig.

"... Like I've gotten used to living without my parents, without a childhood, and now without friends or a place to call home..."

He attempts to breaks the bottle against the Immaculates face violently, looking him dead in the eyes

"...And I'll never forgive that. You won't die in glorious combat. You will die laying in you own piss and shit like the FUCKING traitorous piece of shit you are."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:48, Tue 30 Jan 2018.

((Initiative: 10, 10, 9, 7, 6, 5, 3 & 2
Using Murderous Shadows w/ Unarmed+Saber
Initiative: 19+15+10= 44
FoB: 17+15+10 = 42/ 2 chi
Ghostly Presence: 20+20+10 = 50))


Diamond Sky looks at the airlock with a tilted head, before turning back around and walking back to the discussion. She looks at Isabella and Grunt.

"If you want to continue that discussion, I'd suggest moving aside."

In the lit room, it seems for a moment that the small dust particles glitter as the lights turn dim. It even distorts some of Diamond Sky's features. A shadowy blade cuts through the air from aside his chair.

"How about you join your comrades, already," she spits at the enemy Dragon-blooded.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:56, Wed 31 Jan 2018.

Grunt wasn't happy, but that was hardly noteworthy as he slipped the knife from its sheath.

"Fine, but I'm not trying to hold this one," he told the others.

(Shadow Catching w/Saber
Init: 24 + 10 +10 = 44, will cede to Lyla)

((Immaculate is starting with a Major Wound:  Gashed Abdomen, giving him -2 Breath.

Init:
10, 8, 7, 6, 6, 5 & 2
*Focus on Breath with 18 + Breath 15 + AB 10 = 43 for 2 Chi
*Init 17 + Speed 5 + AB 10 = 32
*Float 6-6

Init:
Diamond Sky 44
Grunt (44)43
Arkady 34
Immaculate 33))

The Immaculate stands up and drops into a combat stance, both arms stretched out- the knuckles covered in callouses and black scars.  "Traitorous?  Please!  Everything there is comes from the Neverborn.  They were the first, the primal forces of the universe!  You are the traitors!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:46, Wed 31 Jan 2018.

((Attack 10, 8, 7, 6, 3, 1, 1 & 1
Lashing Flurry 1 solar chi + 1 chi

Strike: 31+20(Strike)+10 (AB) = 61, better dodged
Secondary Strike: flood 24+20+10 = 54, better dodged
Disrupt block: 18+20+10 = 48
))

It is an odd feeling trying to restrict oneself. The potent power wants to burst out, but its forced back. Diamons Sky's right fist is aimed at the Immaculates face, when her left arm sweeps from below extending the shadowy claws towards his arm pit.

"What was first needs to give way for those that come second, so that they can become first. That is how world works."

((Lyla, sorry, my mistake:  spending any Solar Chi also means activating your Solar Anima Banner, which you do NOT want to do here.  Spend Normal Chi here and don't use any Anima powers, which includes the 1d Stealth Minor Actions.  I'll still let the first one through, though.

Defense vs Lyla:
10, 5, 4, 3, 3, 1 & 1
*6 Chi:  Dodge +15 on both
*Defense vs Strike 23 + Dodge 15 + AB 5 + IKF 15 = 58 vs 61, a Ripple
*Defense vs Secondary Strike 21 + Dodge 15 + AB 5 + IKF 15 = 56 vs 54, dodges
*Everyone but Immaculate takes 1 Ripple at end of round unless they spend 1 Chi))
*Takes Disrupt

"And then everything dies, becoming one with the First again.  That is how this world works!"  The Immaculate is faster than Diamond Sky expects; he takes a quick jab to the face but manages to spin out of the way of the claw to his gut with a burst of Earth essence.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:24, Sat 03 Feb 2018.

(R1 Attack: 9, 7, 6, 5, 5, 3 & 3
Strike: 25 + 10 + 10 + 5 (Laughs: Faster than the Immaculate) = 50
Secondary Strike: 23 + 25 (same as above) = 48, 3 chi)

Grunt makes his move in the most direct fashion possible, attempting to plunge the knife into the Immaculate's stomach and then shifting his arm straight up for a vertical cut.

((Defense:
10, 10, 9, 8, 7, 5 & 2
*4 Chi:  Toughness +15
*Defense vs Strike 20 + Dodge 15 + AB 5 = 40 vs 50, Ripple + Roll
*Defense vs Secondary Strike 19 + Dodge 15 + AB 5 = 39 vs 48, a Ripple

RR on Immaculate:
*18 + Damage 10 - Toughness 5 - IKF 15 =  8, a Trivial wound))

The Immaculate turns just as Grunt rushes him, reaching out with his hand to stop Grunt from rushing him.  Though he manages to stop Grunt before he can plunge the knife into his gut, he still gets clipped by the punch.  Grunt feels him harden his Earth essence to stop the worst of the blow.

((Attack R1: 10, 9, 9, 7, 6, 2 & 2
Strike: 29+15+AB10=54
Secondary strike 22+15+AB10=49 (force of lightness - 3chi
1chi to avoid ripple))

Arkady doesn't hesitate to use his opportunity. He was planning on executing his fit of rage with the bottle in hand, but realised it might be too obvious. A brief moment of doubt in his skills reminded him of something Battles told him before they embarked on this mission:

"having a plan is key, but working without one can be as effective when applied under right conditions. Having a plan means you know what to do. Having a plan may mean the enemy knows what you are going to do. In these situations be reckless, be unpredictable, hide your intentions. And deliver a memorable surprise. Improvise."

He faints his bottle swing and instead at precise moment he lowers his stance and springs to a flying knee kick aimed at the immaculates jaw, following with a downward punch with both of his fists, now glowing red with overflowing energy.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:16, Tue 06 Feb 2018.

((Take a chivjoss Arkady.

Defense:
9, 9, 4, 3, 3, 2 & 2
*Defense vs Strike 29 + Dodge 15 + AB 5 = 49 vs 54, a Ripple
*Defense vs Secondary Strike 23 + Dodge 15 + AB 5 = 43 vs 49, a Ripple

Attack:
10, 10, 10, 4, 2, 2 & 1
*Attacks Grunt
*2 Chi:  Strike +10
*Strike 30 + Strike 10 + AB 5 + IKF 10 = 55; Massive, Better Dodged than Blocked, Block -10
*Knockback 22 + Might 10 + AB 5 = 37; aims to throw into the hallway

Init R2:
10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 & 1
*1 Chi to FoB
*Init 18 + Speed 5 + AB 5 = 28
*FoB with 17 for 1 Chi))

The Earth Dragon may be wounded and slow but he's tough.  It's probably why he's survived this long.  Though he takes a blow to the jaw and his shoulder's bashed by Arkady's metal arm, it barely even fazes him.  Instead he reaches out to immediately grab at Grunt, crush his throat, and then fling him back out into the hallway.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:47, Wed 07 Feb 2018.

(Defense: 10, 10, 10, 3, 2, 2 & 1
Strike: 55 - 30 - 10 - 10 = 5, ripple, willing to take IT
Knockback: Takes
Float: 2-2

Init: 10, 5, 5, 4, 4, 2 & 1
Shadow Catching w/Saber
Assess Qualities: 24 + 15 = 39
CG: 25 + 10 = 35
Init: 10 + 10 + 10 = 30

Attack: 8, 8, 6, 5, 5, 3 & 1
Secondary Strike: 28 + 10 + 10 = 48
Strike: 25 + 10 + 10 = 45)

Grunt will absolutely get into a brawl but you don't slug it out with one of the gravel skulls. He's not quite fast enough to avoid the swing and actually helps with the shove. It buys him a few seconds to assess both the Immaculate and their surroundings, even if it is deeply unpleasant.

As he launches himself back, Grunt seems to be almost distracted despite how fast his knife lashes out throat and groin.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:17, Mon 05 Feb 2018.

((Initiative: 10, 8, 6, 5, 3, 2, 2 & 1
Using Murderous Shadows w/ Unarmed+Saber
Initiative: 18+15+10= 43
FoB: 16+15+10 = 41/ 2 chi
Ghostly Presence: 22+20+10 = 52

((Attack 8, 8, 5, 4, 4, 3, 1 & 1
Strike: 28+20(Strike)+10 (AB) = 58, better dodged
Disrupt toughness: 24+20+10 = 54
Disrupt strike: 21+20+10 = 51))

"And some things that were born should also learn to slumber to give space for other things," she retorts to the Immaculate falling into a more defensive pose when he grabs Grunt and flings him aside.

This gives her time and openings where to jab with her blades, piruetting more behind him whilst doing so.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:01, Tue 06 Feb 2018.

((Init: 9, 9, 9, 8, 6, 5 & 4.
Subtle force w/ unarmed/ranged
Float 9-9
Init: 19+10+10=39
FoB: 15+10+10=35 - 1 chi))

Arkady recovers his posture and and empties his thoughts to cone up with a new more creative approach.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:13, Tue 06 Feb 2018.

((Take a Maljoss Grunt.


Init:
Diamond Sky 43
Arkady 39
Grunt 30
Immaculate 28

Defense vs Diamond Sky:
10, 9, 7, 7, 7, 2 & 1
*Defense vs Strike 37 + Dodge 15 + AB 5 = 57 vs 58, a Ripple
*Takes Disrupts

Defense vs Grunt:
10, 7, 5, 5, 3, 2 & 1
*Flowed Defense 26 + Dodge 15 + AB 5 = 46 vs 53 (48+5(Laughs)), a Ripple
*Defense 25 + Dodge 15 + AB 5 = 45 vs 50 (45+5(Laughs)), a Ripple

Arkady, go ahead))

Grunt is thrown into the hall, where he collides with the wall.  He has to take a few moments to get his bearings- seeing for a moment the whole facility bustling with dark energy and horrible rites- when he jolts out of it.  A door slides open at the end of the hall and he can see a group of baidak with nasty-looking weapons starting to file down the hall!  The Erymanthoi take off hooting and hollering to take care of them.

Diamond Sky and Grunt both surround the Immaculate, jabbing and stabbing at him- which he barely fends off with sharp jabs and fancy footwork.  None of the attacks manage to get a telling hit on the Immaculate.

((Attack R2: 9, 9, 9, 7, 5, 4 & 1
Strike flowed: 59+15+10=84))

Arkady dashes towards the immaculate and drops to a slide towards his legs, but when the kick is about to connect he gets on his feet and launches upwards, going for a devastating palmstrike from below to the immaculate's chin, detonating the charged energy at impact.

"we are different you fuck. This is the difference between us."

((Defense vs Arkady:
10, 7, 6, 6, 5, 4 & 2
*3 Chi:  Dodge +15
*Defense vs Strike 26 + Dodge 15 + AB 5 + IKF 15 = 61 vs 84, 2 ripples + roll

RR on Immaculate:
*26 + Damage 0 - Toughness 10 + IKF 10 - Chi Aura 10 = -6, you can use Correct Approach to make it a Superficial Trivial wound but it won't Inflame the one that Grunt inflicted

Immaculate Attacks Arkady:
10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 2 & 2
*Strike 22 + EKF 10 + AB 5 + IKF 10 - Disrupt 5 = 42

Everyone else's init roll first; assume Immaculate is going last, because his speed is crap))

"A weak blow to the chin?" The Immaculate's head snaps back from the force, sure, but it doesn't seem to do much at all to him.  He reaches out, trying to snag Arkady and grab him into a bear hug.  "We have already slumbered for far too long! Now we have awoken!"

((Initiative: 10, 10, 7, 4, 2, 2, 2 & 1
Using Murderous Shadows w/ Unarmed+Saber
Float 2-2-2
Initiative: 17+15+10= 42
FoB: 14+15+10 = 41/ 2 chi
Ghostly Presence: 20+20+10 = 50

((Attack 8, 8, 6, 4, 4, 4, 3 & 3
Lashing Flurry 3 chi
Strike: 34+20(Strike)+10 (AB) = 64, better dodged
Second Strike:32(flood)+20+10 = 62, better dodged
Disrupt footwork: 23+20+10 = 53
Disrupt damage: 28+20+10 = 58))

Thanks to the momentum granted by both of her teammates attacks, she is readily behind the Immaculate, her blades reaching for soft spots from between the ribcage and towards his heart. The light that shines upon her flickers oddly, when her image seems to merge with its surrounding.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:39, Wed 07 Feb 2018.

((using correct approach for RR:s.

Defence vs Immaculate: 8, 7, 7, 5, 5, 4 & 2
27+FW15=42 (that should do... Barely)
Float 5-5
Spend 1 chi for def

Init roll R3: 9, 8, 6, 3, 3, 1 & 1
Subtle force /w unarmed/ranged
Init: 23+10+10=43
FoB: 21+10+10=41 - 2 chi

Attack R3: 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 2 & 2
Strike: flowed 22+15+10=47))

Arkady boosts off the Immaculates hip to gain more upwards momentum and barely avoids the bear hug, whilst simultaneously kicking him in the chin with his knee, falling hard on his back on the floor. With a small groan he rolls backwards to a crouched position.

(Shadow Catching w/ Saber
Init: 10, 10, 7, 5, 3, 2 & 1
Init: 17 + 10 + 10 = 37
Assess Fears: 20 + 15 = 35


Attack: 10, 9, 9, 4, 3, 2 & 2
Strike: 29 + 10 (strike) + 10 (action bonus) + 5 (Laughs) = 54
Disrupt Toughness (Tactics) = 22 + 10 + 10 = 42)

Grunt has started to have a pretty clear picture of what this piece of gravel did in a fight. Fortunately even essence couldn't be everywhere at once, at least not for very long. So he started to stagger his attacks to match when his allies struck, menancing him and thus making it harder to brace for each blow. Frequent quick feints and jabs to his abdominal wound formed the bulk of it.

He'd hit him for real if possible, of course, but for now he was just being distracting.

((Arkady takes a single Ripple but doesn't take a RR, so no point on spending the Chi for Chi Aura.  Arkady, you also can't float those 5s; you've already Flowed dice on your Attack roll.  Your River should be empty start of this round.

Immaculate Init R3:
10, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 & 1
*1 Chi to continue technique
*Float 0-0
*FoB with 18 for 1 Chi
*Init Doesn't Matter


Arkady, Diamond Sky, Gabriel, Immaculate

He currently has:
*10 Ripples
*Major Cut Ribs (-2 Breath)
*Superficial Trivial that needs to be defined
*Normal Trivial that needs to be defined
*Block Disrupt
*Strike Disrupt

Defense vs Arkady:
10, 8, 7, 6, 6, 5 & 5
*Defense vs Strike 26 + Dodge 15 + AB 5 = 46 vs 47, a Ripple

Defense vs Lyla:
9, 8, 7, 7, 4, 3 & 3
*6 Chi:  Dodge +15 twice
*Defense vs Strike 27 + Dodge 15 + AB 5 + IKF 15 = 62 vs 64, a Ripple; Floods 0 to Reply
*Defense vs Secondary Strike 23 + Dodge 15 + AB 5 + IKF 15 = 58 vs 62, a Ripple; Floods 0 to Reply
*Takes Disrupts

Defense vs Grunt:
10, 6, 5, 3, 3, 2 & 1
*Defense vs Strike 23 + Dodge 15 + AB 5 - Disrupt 5 = 38 vs 59(54 + Fears 5), 2 Ripples + Roll
*Takes Disrupt

RR on Immaculate:
*47 + Damage 10 + Targeting Obvious Wound 10 = 67 - Toughness 10 - IKF 15 + Disrupt 5 = 42, a Major:  Taken Out in a manner of Grunt's choice))

The Immaculate ducks and weaves, redirecting Arkady's attack towards Diamond Sky and counter-jabbing at the woman even as she slashes him to pieces.  But Grunt, the eternal opportunist, takes advantage of his exhaustion and attention.  The Immaculate is incapable of covering all of his angles at once, and for a fraction of a second leaves his wound unguarded.

Isabella watches dispassionately, hands folded in her lap as the battle draws to a close.

Grunt wasn't sure rather the upward thrust actually pierced his opponent's hear or simply severed the large blood vessels that lay close to it. Not that it much mattered for the immediate outcome and only had a few ritual implications.

"Anyone hurt?" he asked as he turned towards the hall the blood apes had run down, "We may need to clear out those things before the monkeys are all killed."

"Pfeh, all fine here," Diamond Sky waves a dismissive hand taking a step back from the fight and fishing out from her pocket that whatever she nabbed earlier from the Immaculate. "Wonder if he had a better access to things around here. And yeah, we can either all go to fend them off or you continue your mission and I'll go assist them."

She turns to look at whatever she's holding.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:19, Sun 11 Feb 2018.

"All good... Man what a dumb cunt." Arkady said, looking a bit disappointed, and dusts his shoulders.

"That's a good plan actually if you have the balls for it. Need to wrap this fast blyat... Just one thing before we go."

Arkady turns towards the lifeless Immaculate and puts his hand on his toolbelt. Accompanied with a sigh he pulls out an engraved 1911 pistol, cocks the slide and without a word pulls the trigger on the Immaculate.

"alright I'm done here. Ready when you are."

"Isabella with us, then, If she is treacherous I'd rather her not force you to spend essence dealing with it," Grunt told his superior with a nod, "Good hunting."

He gestured for the ghost-blood to move between him and Arkady before taking point and resuming their trek deeper inside.

The keycard says the Immaculate's name was WARREN BOULLE, EARTH ASPECT, THIRD FLIGHT.  Age 22, so he looked a lot older than he actually was.  Though that'd put him at 12 at the time of Ragnarok.

Isabella stands up and looks down at the corpse, his head blown to pieces.  She looks at the three of them, "If you're looking for the reactor, and she's already closed the bridge down the hall, then there's only one path.  I'm not sure why you'd split up."  She nudges the corpse with a foot, bemused by it, and then she gives it a vicious kick that spatters a little brain around the floor.

”That was just a suggestion. I’m here to help, notr to take charge or make decisions alone,” Diamond Sky corrects, since if it would’ve been a mission for her, things would’ve been done very differently way from the beginning.

”To be frank, I’d rather be acting as your bodyguard than seeing if I can save a life of some ape from having the time of its life,” Diamond Sky smirks and raises the keycard ready to follow the others. ”Also this might be handy... Now do you actually know which way the path is?”
This message was last edited by the player at 22:20, Tue 13 Feb 2018.

"Yeah well I mean... I don't really give a shit how we get to the core as long as we get there."

He looked at Diamond sky holding the key card in slight surprise.

"Holy shit you're one of those shifty fuckers! Nice job. I got fucking tired at opening doors."

"Feel free to find a map or diagram of the place. At present we seem dependent on luck or her," Grunt answered with a nod towards Isabella, "But it seems likely that a horde of her minions are either trying to drive us away from one path or towards another."

He shrugged.

"I'm for fighting the things now rather than leaving them behind us."

Diamond Sky hands over the keycard to Arkady,  before rummaging through her equipment belt. Soon she fishes out a pristine cigarette which she taps on her palm thoughtfully, before long resting it on her lips and lighting it up.

"Well then. They are on our way to the exit anyways. Go have fun with your puzzle, while I go do some cleaning," she wishes them when walking to the corridor towards the Baidak.

She leaves a trail of smoke wafting in the air after her.

Grunt followed after her.

"whoa wow Wow! How about we skip that shit and nuke the FUCKING Reactor Instead!" Arkady waves his hands in a denying gesture.

"Those bastards are tough but slow. We can just outrun them and lock the doors behind us! No need to fight them, and besides, I'm pretty sure there's more where those came from. I'm going for the reactor,fuck what ya'll think, blyat."

Grunt let out his namesake and moved to follow Arkady. He knew better than to bother arguing with the Chosen and exciting ways to be exploded abounded in both paths.

"Don't be stupid." Isabella says, interrupting all of them and walking forward towards the carnage; "There's only one path.  She will close the other paths, directing you through the most resistance possible.  You will be ground down to chips of bone if she had your way.  Follow the fight.  Always."

It looks like it's not necessary to do too much cleanup.  The Baidak in this hallway aren't the same pattern as the ones they've already fought.  They're weaker, smaller, deadly only in great numbers.  One or two dead erymanthoi lay on the ground but it seems the blood apes have done their job well, though they look disappointed the baidak don't have blood.

"MOVIN AHEAD BAWS," One of them bawls out and lopes down the hallway.  Suddenly there's an explosion, a howling of air, and a section of the hallway explodes outwards.  A new baidak, so big it's head scrapes the top of the hallway, has ripped open the bulkhead and exposed the hallway to the void of space!  Some sort of forcefield snaps into place over the outer bulkhead but it's not strong enough to completely stop the outrushing of air, which threatens to pull them off their feet.  Several erymanthoi hold their position, but the unlucky one takes a giant axe to the side and is thrown out into the void.  Bulkheads slam down behind them, and the dormitory seals as well.  It's go through the venting hallway and destroy the baidak or die!

Isabella falls down, her dress whipping in the whirlwind of air, and starts sliding towards the exit even as the new Baidak starts clomping down the hall.

((Initiative: 10, 9, 8, 8, 7, 4, 2 & 1.
Using Murderous Shadows w/ Unarmed+Saber
Initiative: 19+15+10= 44
FoB: 17+15+10 = 42/ 2 chi
Cover Ground in order to not fly out: 28+15+10= 53))

The sudden air catches Diamond Sky off guard, and she grabs a holding of a nearby railing, anchoring her foot in a nook on the floor. Too bad the surge of air takes a hold of something else, that being her cigarette which is sent flying to the void. She lets out a sigh, her mouth forming a discontent line.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:47, Sun 18 Feb 2018.

((initiative: 9, 6, 5, 4, 1, 1 & 1
Subtle force w/ unarmed + ranged
init: 19+10+10=39
CG to approach in a controlled manner: 31+15+10= 56
FoB: 16+10=26 / 1chi))

"Oh Shit." is the only thing Arkady managed to say before he swiftly grabs the closest thing resembling a railing and using it to control his advance towards the Baidak and the tear in the hull, gradually sliding onward.

He shouts over the venting atmosphere as loud as he can:

"COVER ME!!! I'M GONNA CLOSE THAT BREACH!!!"

He had no idea how he'd do it... but he had maybe a minute to figure it out. He's had less.

"Get the woman back from here," Grunt bellowed at the Apes as he braced his feet against the drag and sized up the new Baidak. He let the vacuum draw him closer rather than fighting it.

((Do I still have that pair of 2s in my river?

Init: 10, 10, 8, 8, 6, 4 & 4
Blossom Harvest w/Unarmed
Init: 16 + 10 = 26
Assess Qualities: 20 + 15 = 35
Assess Laughs: 28 + 15 = 43
Assess Fears: 24 + 15 = 39))

((To clarify, everyone, for dealing with Onyx Spire:

You all will keep your ripples between combats.  You will also keep your River.  You will NOT keep Disrupts/Disorients, for the most part, though that might be good Interesting Times fodder.

If you don't CG or do a Might shaping wave once you're in the zone with the Breach after a full round, you're getting sucked out.  Protip:  that's a bad idea.  So anyone CGing in this round will get a chance to stick in place next round.  Might Shaping Waves are probably better for this than CG, as a good one will let you stay in place for longer.


Axe-Baidak:
9, 9, 8, 8, 5, 3 & 1
*Axe:  Saber/Massive
*CG to stay in current zone:  28 + Footwork 0 + AB 5 + = 33; word of caution:  this guy is basically immune to vaccuum damage, if you just kick him out he's gonna come right back in again, dynamically
*Init 29 + Speed 10 + AB 5 = 44

Order:
Axe-Baidak 44 (wins init over Diamond Sky due to using higher base dice)
Diamond Sky 44
Arkady 39
Grunt 26
Erymanthoi

Axe Baidak has to hold ground, waits until someone CG into zone- which is Diamond Sky

Axe Baidak Attacks Diamond Sky:
9, 8, 8, 8, 6, 4 & 2
*Knockback Lyla 38 + Might 10 + EKF 5 + AB 5 = 58
*Attack 19 + Strike 15 + AB 5 = 39))

Diamond Sky decides to take off after the Baidak.  The Baidak seems to have a thruster pack or something- because it's holding in place despite the vacuum.  As she approaches it winds up and slams the axe directly into her side, driving her towards the breach and potentially out into space!

((Defense vs Axe-Baidak: 10, 10, 8, 8, 4, 3, 2 & 2
Float 2-2
Dodge: 20+15 (footwork) +10 (AB) = 45 vs 39, dodges (Interesting Times mebbe?)
Resist Knockback: 28+25+10 = 63 vs 58, resists

Attack: 8, 8, 7, 7, 6, 6, 3 & 1
Lashing Flurry 3 chi
Strike: 28+20+10 = 58, better dodged
Secondary Strike: 26+20+10 = 56, better dodged
Disrupt block: 27+20+10 = 57))

The sudden tear in the hull, causes the lights in the corridor to flicker, and the void outside seems to extend its claws to indoors. Discontent about losing her cigarette to this, and annoyed that their target seems to stick to his place, Diamond Sky lets go of the railing and of her footing taking advantage of the pull of the space.

She half jumps, half glides through the air to close quarters with the Baidak, who attempts to swing its massive axe towards her. But thanks to his massive form and the dancing shadows, she ducks aside weaving past the hits her shadow acting as a doppelganger. Upon passing him above, she lashes out, trying to dig into the crevices of the armor with her eerie talons.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:38, Tue 20 Feb 2018.

((Attack R1: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 2 & 1
Strike: 19+10+10=39))

Arkady is too busy hanging for his life and trying to figure a way to block the breach.

He hastily draws his pistol and fires a few rounds in the Baidak's direction whilst trying to control his movement.

(Attack: 8, 7, 7, 5, 2, 2 & 1
Disorient Ride [Craft] : 42 + 10 = 52
Strike: 27 + 5 + 10 = 42)

Grunt lets the vacuum do it's work, taking a solid, low position as it drags him towards the Baidak. When he finally does speed up to close the gap slightly he slams a shoulder into it- mostly as a distraction when his free hand comes around to mess with whatever it was giving this thing impulse without gravity or friction to work with.

((Defense vs Diamond Sky:
10, 8, 8, 7, 6, 3 & 1
*Interesting Times granted, take a ChivJoss
*Defense vs Strike 28 + Block 15 + AB 5 - Better Dodged 5 = 43 vs 58, a Ripple + Additional Ripple due to Damage/Toughness
*Defense vs Secondary Strike 17 + Block 15 + AB 5 - Better Dodged 5 = 32 vs 56, 2 Ripples + Additional Ripple
*Takes Disrupt

Defense vs Arkady:
10, 7, 7, 6, 2, 2 & 2
*Defense vs Arkady's attack 32 + Block 15 + AB 5 - Disrupt 5 = 47 vs 39, blocks
*Float 7-7

Defense vs Grunt:
7, 7, 6, 5, 3, 1 & 1
*Defense vs Strike 27 + Block 15 + AB 5 - Disrupt 5 = 42 vs 42, a Ripple
*Defense vs Disorient 21 + Ride 5 + AB 5 = 31 vs 52, takes Disorient

Erymanthoi Attack:
*35 + General Bonus 0 = 35

Baidak Defense:
*27 + Block 15 + AB 5 - Disrupt 5 = 42 vs 35, blocks

Ya'all have init.  Remember to CG or Might Shaping Wave or you're all gonna get sucked out.
 Good luck plugging that breach Arkady...

It's at 6/7 ripples.))

Diamond Sky has a lot of luck with this thing- it can't seem to hit something coming directly at it too easily, and she's able to distract it with the shadows- but not without cost.  The axe, aimed at a shadow, catches nothing but... more hallway.  It's not enough to penetrate out into space but it does catch a power cable.  Lightning arcs out from the hallway, complicating getting too close to the breach without getting fried!

The Baidak is able to interpose the huge axe to block Arkady's gunshot with one smooth movement, but that leaves it open to alternatives- namely Grunt, who comes almost out of nowhere and slams into it.  The Dragon-Blooded is able to crawl around the back and finds a smooth white rune that pulses with a blue glow, and a quick smash of the hand causes it to spark with damaged essence.  The baidak starts to shiver and quake, almost to the point of falling apart.  It's still more than dangerous enough to fend off a few of the Erymanthoi who come tumbling down the hall.

One of them grabs Isabella and then digs it's hand into a small crack in the wall, holding the quiet woman tightly.

((Initiative: 10, 10, 6, 5, 2, 2, 2 & 1
Using Murderous Shadows w/ Unarmed+Saber
Float 2
Initiative: 16+15+10= 41
FoB: 15+15+10 = 40/ 2 chi
Cover Ground in order to not fly out: 20+15+10= 45

Attack: 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 3 & 2
Strike: 23+20+10 = 53, better dodged))

Diamond Sky pounces off to take a hold of the wall by positioning her feet better at the same time maneuvering away from the vacuum. She leaves the Baidak between her and the opening to have less of a pull towards the void, before her shadows hide her form in its place. There is a brief lash out of her blades from her hiding place.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:03, Wed 21 Feb 2018.

(Shadow Catching w/Saber
Init: 10, 10, 9, 6, 5, 4 & 1
4 Chi: Supreme Burst of Speed
CG: 20 + 10 = 30 + 5 = 35
Init: 19 + 10 = 29 + 20 = 49


Attack: 9, 7, 7, 6, 6, 3 & 2
Strike: 27 + 10 + 10 + 5 (Laughs: Faster) + 5 (Fears: Mount Disrupted) = 57
Float: 6-6)

The air around Grunt shudders slightly as he makes use of essence, a bubble around him seeming to negate the vacuum's pull as he comes in from the baidak's side with the knife tip aimed almost perfectly vertical relative to its head.

((Init R2: 6, 5, 4, 4, 3, 3 & 3
Subtle force w/ unarmed+ranged
init: 16+10+10=36
FoB: 15+10=25 / 1chi
Clarity in openness -3 chi / +10 craft
Craft wave: Close the breach: 33 + 20 + 10 = 63
CG to resist vacuum in case of failure: 24+15+10=49

Attack R2 10, 9, 6, 4, 4, 4 & 3
Strike: 34+15+10= 59))

Arkady slides to the edge of the breach and digs his feet into any nooks he can to keep himself stable. He dislodges a few floor panels that were damaged in the breach and guides them on the breach aided by the natural pull of the vacuum and proceeds to weld them together with his blow torch, even adding up the power by shifting power from his arms through the torch, effectively turning the burning gas plasma. He hastily welds them in place to buy time and tracks down the power source to the force field that was supposed to contain the breach, and attempts to re-rout more power to it from other, less important systems. He didn't know exactly what he was working with, but he didn't have to. Back at the Paddy wagon nothing ever went the way they were supposed to go so he has used to this.

"I'm on it! Hold fast!!!"

In the midst of his work he let's a couple more rounds, without looking, in the direction where he last saw the Baidak, placing a lot of trust on his memory and intuition.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:20, Wed 21 Feb 2018.

((Init:
8, 5, 4, 2, 1, 1 & 1
*Rolls Init Last
*Float 1-1
*Init 18 + Speed 10 + AB 5 = 33

Order:
Grunt 49
Diamond Sky 41
Arkady 36
Baidak 33

Defense vs Grunt:
10, 10, 10, 9, 8, 5 & 1
*Block Attack 30 + Block 10 + AB 5 - Disrupt 5 = 40 vs 57, a Ripple- Taken Out

Arkady takes a Trivial Shock Wound:  Fritzed Right Arm.  -5 AB when using your right arm))

Grunt deftly sticks his knife into the back of the baidak's head.  The baidak falls apart in a shower of rubble that's sucked quickly out of the breach.

The self-sealing systems of the compound help Arkady with his job.  The Russian deftly puts together several plates- but the arcing cable nearby gives him a nasty shock as he feverishly tries to seal the breach.  But he does it, and in so doing the cable grounds out, preventing further wounds.

Isabella falls to the floor with a loud *THUMP*.  The surviving erymanthoi pick themselves up and grunt with satisfaction.

"I must admit, their manufacturing capabilities are higher than I expected," Grunt said as he dusted himself off, "How many more passages?"

The last was directed at Isabella, his eyes already looking down the damaged corridor for ways around the breach if needed.

"Nice job," Diamond Sky comments, landing down almost perfectly on both feet.

Then she looks to the other direction of the corridor to see what they are facing next.

"Thanks for keeping the thing away. Also you are welcome", Arkady spouts with a salty tone,  "opening blast doors would also be pretty much impossible. You know, with the higher pressure atmosphere instantly venting out and taking us with it. Yay, physics blyat. Also if the head architect of this station wasn't a debil ass-hat the doors have a system to prevent opening without stable atmosphere... "

He stands upright, stretches, and looks at his right arm that still flickers and smokes a bit, filling the air with a scent of ozone and burnt plastic.
"well this fucking sucks."

"I'll suggest they give a medal for you of this mission, if we get back alive. That make this all feel better?" Diamond Sky jests back to Arkady's increasing saltiness, that threatens to make the corridor into a salt mine. "Does your arm still work?"

"haha funny." Arkady returns with a snark grin.

"my arm working is a quite a broad term. Can I hit things with it? Yes. Could I pet a puppy? I probably shouldn't." he blows the smoke away and inspects his arm. It seems to move but in a twichier manner than before.

"Gotta make due then and hope we don't run into any cute puppies."

"Offices ahead and to the right.  I hope you're not interested in paperwork, but the hallway continues down to our left.  That should lead us to Breeding Station.  There's a connection to the reactor from there." Isabella answers Grunt, "If that fails, we continue to the Armory, then to the Hangars, and then to the Laboratories.  That's the last way in. Ivan?"  She looks to Arkady, "The pressure should rise enough through automated processes.  If we continue down, there'll be no issues with opening the next blast door to the Breeding Station."

"Harasho. Lead on 'Sally'." - he answers to Isabel. And starts walking.

"Well she is our best bet," Diamond Sky agrees and walks onwards.

"The theology here is far more disorderly than I would have expected," Grunt said as he followed Isabella, "But I think the reactor remains the priority over making sense of things."

"You wouldn't say such things if you knew the reality.  How do you think I'm here?"  Isabella chides Grunt, leading them down the hallway.  They reach the end of the hall- there are two doors, one to their right, one to the left.  "Breeding,"  She points to her left, "Offices, in case you'll want to make a detour.  This section is locked down, so one of you will have to figure out how to open."

((Difficulty 40 to open the way to Breeding, Difficulty 20 to open to Offices.))

"I'll get the offices, just to make sure nothing pops up behind us," Grunt said to Arkady, "Not sure I could crack the other one in the meantime."

Grunt worked on the door quickly and efficiently. It wasn't a terribly secure design, but he was hoping to do this with skill rather than busting it down.

(Craft: 29 + 10 = 39)

Diamond Sky patiently waits for the two to work their magic, looking behind them just in case.

((8, 4, 4, 3, 2, 2 & 1
-3chi clarity in openness +10 craft
craft 22+20 = 42
Float 4-4))

"Roger that."

Arkady concentrated a while as he worked on the door. It was surprisingly slow to work mainly with his left hand but he didn't want to take the chance of fucking it up by rushing it. This time they weren't in immediate danger.

"Don't take too long in the offices. I hate paperwork."

Boy, do things pop out...

They work at around the same time, with Grunt lagging slightly behind Arkady. Arkady opens up the blast door to find another one of those hulking baidak with the energy guns at the far end of the corridor, leveling its rifle at them.

Grunt, on the other hand, finds a dozen armed baidak waiting for him behind the door, guns at the ready!

((You're all in General Hallway zone.  Just north of you is Office Entryway.

Just south is Corridor 1, and then Corridor 2 just south of that.

Minions go last.

Hallway Baidak:
9, 7, 6, 5, 3, 3 & 2
*Float 3-3
*Init 19 + Speed 0 + AB 5 = 24))

((Initiative: 10, 7, 7, 6, 6, 3, 2 & 1
Using Murderous Shadows w/ Unarmed+Saber
Flight of the Golden Crow 3 chi
Initiative: 13+15+10= 38
Ghostly Presence: 27+20+10 = 57
Cover Ground to change zones: 26+15+10 = 51

Attack: 9, 8, 8, 6, 4, 2, 2 & 2
Strike: 32+20+10(AB) = 62, better dodged
Disrupt block: 28+20+10 = 58))


As soon as the doors open and the enemies are revealed, Diamond Sky peers towards Arkady and the sound of the Baidak leveling its rifle. She kicks herself from the wall up and past the group with a flip and dashes to close quarters with the Baidak. The lights in the corridor seem to flicker, leaving an afterimage behind them. She knows already that her slash won't be as strong as it'd require, but at least her presence might make it harder to shoot the weapon.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:34, Wed 28 Feb 2018.

(init R1: 10, 10, 10, 9, 7, 3 & 3
Subtle force w/ unarmed+ranged
Init: 19+10+10= 39
CG: 23+15+10= 48 (To change zones)
FoB: 17+10=27 - 1 chi
Craft wave: 30+10+10= 50 - Would take Interesting times

attack R1: 8, 7, 6, 5, 2, 1 & 1
Strike: 18+15+10= 43
Disrupt strike w/ learning: 21+15+10= 46))

Arkady still has the last Baidak that wielded an energy weapon, and ruined his hoodie, in fresh memory, and he's going to rob this one of it's advantages.

Ranged weapon and targeting systems.

He sprints onward and charges his left arm to an unhealthy looking glow, and with a swift roll he attempts to dislodge a floor panel, to which he unloads the energy charge in an attempt to fill the corridor with chaff to disrupt visibility and technical targeting systems.

"These ones are bitchy! They're equipped with advanced weaponry so better deal with it quickly!"


With his lessons learned from the last encounter, he charges again and releases an energy blast towards the Baidak's Visor, leaving a trail of chaff sparkling with static energy in it's wake.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:56, Fri 02 Mar 2018.

(Init: 10, 10, 10, 10, 6, 3 & 1
Blossom Harvest w/ Unarmed
Init: 11 + 10 = 21
CG into Office: 40 + 5 = 45, no idea what IT looks like for this but would take

Attack: 6, 6, 6, 6, 2, 2 & 1
Strike: 46 + 5 + 10 = 61
Secondary Strike: 22 + 5 + 10 = 37, 3 chi for Lashing Flurry
Both deal an extra ripple against minions)



"I'll clean up this crowd and join you two," Grunt told the others as he stepped into the office full of minions and started swinging with far more speed and force than finesse.

((Init:
Arkady 39
Diamond Sky 38
Baidak 24
Gabriel 21
Minions Go Last

Arkady, take a ChivJoss

Baidak Defense vs Arkady:
9, 9, 9, 8, 5, 4 & 3
*Defense vs Arkady Strike 18 + Block 10 + AB 5 = 33 vs 43, a Ripple:  1/7
*Defense vs Disrupt 39 + Awareness 10 + AB 5 = 54 vs 46, avoids

Baidak Defense vs Diamond Sky:
8, 7, 6, 3, 2, 2 & 1
*Defense vs Strike with 22 + Block 10 + AB 5 - Better Dodged 5 = 32 vs 62, 2 Ripples:  3/7
*Takes Disrupt

Baidak Attack vs Arkady:
9, 7, 7, 5, 4, 2 & 1
*Fire Gun at Arkady 27 + Strike 10 + AB 5 - Disrupt 5 + IKF 5 = 42, better Blocked so Dodge is -5, Arkady has an additional -5 to Dodge and Block (-10 Dodge, -5 Block)

Minion Defense vs Grunt:
10, 6, 4, 3, 3, 2 & 1
*Defense vs Strike 23 + Tactics 25 = 48 vs 61, 2/7 Ripples
*Defense vs Secondary Strike 16 + Tactics 25 = 41 vs 37, Blocks

Minion Attack vs Grunt:
10, 9, 8, 4, 2, 1 & 1
*Strike Grunt 21 + Tactics 25 = 46))

Arkady blows a floor panel, showering the room with metal shavings and overall futzing with electrical equipment... which would've done quiet well against the other baidak.  However, as he gets closer, he realizes that this baidak has a slightly different configuration.  It doesn't have the advanced targeting system the other one did, so the chaff does nothing!  The baidak itself doesn't so much flinch as it takes an energy blast to the visor, besides a small scorch mark.

Diamond Sky tears down the hallway, a barely-visible shadow that drives a knife deep into the baidak's ivory.  The huge figure staggers but more or less ignores the knife.  Instead it raises that huge rifle and lets out a brilliant orange beam at Arkady- that splits like it hit a prism, firing a cone of beam fire at him!

Grunt dives into the minion-baidak to find that they're not the meek, malnourished soldiers he faced before.   The minion-baidak react with startlingly effective efficiency, reducing the number he can slash at once while surrounding him and opening fire with their guns.  At least he got one of them- smashed it to pieces against a file cabinet.  The file cabinet is knocked open, scattering a few pale leather scrolls all over the floor.

((Defence R1: 9, 8, 8, 5, 4, 3 & 2
VS. Baidak: Flowed 34 + FW 15 - 10 + 10 = 49

Initiative R2: 10, 6, 5, 5, 3, 2 & 1
Init: 16 + 10 + 10 = 36
Fob: 13+10=23 / 1 chi
Analyse fears: 25+Learning 15+10=50

Attack: 10, 9, 9, 8, 5, 5 & 2
Float 9-9
Strike: 25+15+10=50))

Arkady takes cover behind the dislodged floor plate but instead of bracing against the blow he slips away from the plate and avoids the blow instead, slipping in between the scattered beams.

This Baidak sure was different than the last one. He keeps his eyes locked on his opponent under his hood, trying to remember anything useful from his quick browse into the Onyx Spire servers, and hurls another blast aimed at the Baidak's torso. All in an unbroken chain. Like clockwork.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:00, Sun 04 Mar 2018.

((Initiative R2: 5, 5, 5, 3, 2, 2, 2 & 1
Using Murderous Shadows w/ Unarmed+Saber
Float 5-5-5
Initiative: 13+15+10= 38
FoB: 11+15+10 = 36
Ghostly Presence: 32+20+10 = 62

Attack: 10, 9, 9, 7, 6, 6, 4 & 2
Strike: 29+20+10(AB) = 59, better dodged
Disrupt Strike: 26+20+10 = 56))

She pushes herself away from the Baidak, landing down and immediately dashing back to skid past it, before lashing out with her knives deeply covered in its hulking shadow.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:43, Sun 04 Mar 2018.

(Defense: 10, 7, 6, 5, 4, 1 & 1
Strike: 46 - 21 - 5 (Footwork) - 10 (AB) - 5 (Laughs: Outnumbered) = 5, takes a Ripple

Init: 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 3 & 2
Blossom Harvest/Unarmed
Init: 19 + 5 = 24
FoB: 18 + 15 = 33
Shaping Wave : Chaotic Air : 26 + 5 + 10 (AB) = 41, Grunt tries to us his anima to chaos a mess in the office, specifically to muck up any cameras or monitoring equipment

Attack: 10, 9, 8, 8, 3, 1 & 1
Strike: 28 + 5 + 10 + 5 (Laughs: Outnumbered) = 48
Secondary Strike: 21 + 20 (Same) = 41, 3 chi)

Grunt wasn't graceful but he could manage fast, and his anima whipping about the place made it more difficult for projectiles to maintain a clean trajectory. So he weathered the first volley mostly just nicked rather than perforated.

The winds around him erupted, taking scrolls and the loose detritus of any place that kept records and turning them into a vision impairing maelstrom as he closed on the next Baidak and tossed it at a compatriot with not entirely human strength.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:23, Mon 05 Mar 2018.

((Init:
9, 6, 6, 6, 5, 5 & 5
*Analyze Diamond Sky Style 36 + Awareness 10 + AB 5 = 51
*Float 5-5
*Init 19 + Speed 0 + AB 5 = 24

Order:
Diamond Sky 38
Arkady 36
Grunt 24
Armored Baidak 24
Minions 0

Defense vs Diamond Sky:
10, 7, 6, 4, 2, 1 & 1
*Defense 21 + Block 10 + AB 5 - Disrupt 5 - Better Dodged 5 = 26 vs 59, 2 Ripples:  6/7
*Strike already disrupted

Defense vs Arkady:
10, 9, 7, 6, 3, 2 & 1
*Defense 19 + Block 10 + AB 5 - Disrupt 5 = 29 vs 50, 2 Ripples:  Taken Out

Minion Defense vs Grunt:
9, 8, 7, 7, 5, 3 & 1
*Defense vs Strike 27 + Standard 0 = 27 vs 41, 3 ripples
*Defense vs Secondary Strike 19 + Standard 0 = 19 vs 48, 3 ripples

1 Flux damage at end of round destroys Minions))

The Baidak never gets a chance to respond to Arkady and Diamond Sky.  Between the two of them, they rip apart the Baidak with their knives and arm-blasts.  The Baidak collapses into hunks of yellowed ivory and pieces of armor.

Meanwhile the foot-soldier baidak are surrounded by a whirlwind of office detritus.  Within the howlind windstorm of uncomfortably pale scrolls and office supplies, Grunt works through them like a force of nature.  By the time his anima falls, the last baidak crumbles to dust around him.

Grunt stuck his head out of the office, noticed the absence of mayhem and called out.

"Any injuries? These things are starting to learn," he said, moving down the hallway for a visual confirmation that everyone was grossly intact before he dashed back into the office, grabbing two or three scrolls for a quick inspection. Doubtful he'd like anything he found, but that didn't mean someone on the Refuge might not have a use for them.

"All fine here. Ah, how nice, so it'll just get tougher the further we go. Kinda anticipated that," Diamond Sky's blades evaporate into thin air as she looks into the direction of her companions. "So, to the Breeding Station, wasn't it?"

"All limbs intact... or, well, as good as they can be."
He swipes chaff off his clothes and looks to the end of the hallway.
"Yeah... Breeding station. We should pick up pace. Davai."

"I'm going to snap a few pictures of these scrolls. They've got that 'horrid occult truth' vibe," Grunt said as he snapped said pictures in a few seconds and returned, "Since this place seems unlikely to survive. I'll take point."

He looked at the blood apes.

"Your job is to keep the guide alive. No charging forward unless explicitly ordered to from here on."

Piece said, he moved towards the breeding station.

The Erymanthoi dust themselves off, a few have suffered wounds from the baidak minions but nothing of note.

Grunt manages to grab three scrolls. All three of them are, yep, tanned human skin.  And a quick cursory look shows Grunt that he may have hit jackpot. These are, of all fucking things, martial arts manuals.  Horrible ones.

"Through there,"  Isabella points at the blast door near the destroyed armored Baidak, "It is primed to vent at any second in case of an emergency.  So don't damage any of the bulkheads,"  She says to Arkady in particular.

Opening up the blast door reveals another hallway with several small doors.  Isabella points to one on their left, "That's the likeliest way to the core."

Grunt packed away as many of them as he could store, and dragooned a few of the Blood Apes into taking one or two. Even if just in a 'know your enemy' sense these could be invaluable.

That said, he wasted no more than a few moments on the task, standing next to the door to let Arkady have first crack if it was locked.

Diamond Sky lets them lead the way, since she wasn't much assistance in opening doors and it was a better duty for her to watch their backs.

Catching a glimpse of the scrolls that are carried, she notes:"Yeah, I'll be happy with myself if the only thing left of this facility are just particles and stardust, given what we've seen them do around here."

She reaches to rub her eyes under the visor.

Arkady starts walking towards the door waving his hand leisurely.
"Yeah yeah. I'll check it, and I promise not to break shit... I just wanna try something else first."
He takes the keycard he previously got from Diamond sky and looks for a lock mechanism.
"I'm so fucking tired of these fucking doors. If immaculate level access doesn't work, Then I really wonder how the fuck anyone got anywhere ever in this shithole."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:52, Tue 06 Mar 2018.

"Got it boss," The blood-apes tell Grunt.  They crowd around Isabella, who looks pretty displeased at their proximity.

The group head down the hallway, ignoring the other doors.  Arkady swipes the card and the door opens without complaint. There's doors to the left and the right, and a long hallway that leads to another section of the facility.  At the far end they can see a giant mound of corpses, fresh and leaking.

"That's the way,"  Isabella says blandly, "As if you couldn't guess."

"Can't burn them in here," Grunt muttered as he inspected the room. If nothing else the mound would be an excellent place to hide some puppets. Or a block of something that reacted in energetic and rapid fashion.

"Hope your trick works again," he told Arkady.

Sky lays a glance over the pile of corpses, frowning deeply. If they were succesful in their efforts, the corpses would be burnt in the process. The thought of blowing up an Abyssal facility brought her a small glimpse of joy when walking in the eerie corridors.

"Well shit. I wonder if that shit happens here all the time or if they put up a show just for us..."

He turns around to face Grunt

"go check it out. We got your back, right Diamond sky? eh?"

He gestures towards Diamond sky, trying to get her to agree with him.

"I'm pretty sure that the way towards the reactor is behind the pile of shit there... It would make sense for them to barricade it. I'll check the doors meanwhile."

He walks to the door on his right and slots the keycard.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:06, Wed 07 Mar 2018.

Grunt made his way towards the corpse pile and started the procedure of shifting it to make sure there wasn't anything concealed within or behind it. Moving that much dead weight, ignoring the various efluvia, would take him a bit even if he did treat it more like moving scrap than bodies.

"I'll be right withcha Grunt. I's it safe?"

Arkady looks in Grunt's direction and abandons his previous door. moving towards the end of the corridor.

As Arkady looks at Diamond Sky for agreement, he is only faced with a mirrored visor and a generic smirk.

"I'd kinda hope it's just for show, but with Abyssals, thats not the case. They love their dead."

Heavy lifting was never her forte, but thats no excuse to not help. So she joins Grunt in lifting and moving the bodies.

The keycard opens the door to Arky's right, but he doesn't even bother looking as he abandons it and heads down the hallway.

Grunt takes a look and starts shifting the bodies.  This is a bit more natural than he'd expect for a trap.  Half of these were living thralls, the rest zombies or creatures stitched together from odd scraps of flesh.  They're exhibiting multiple bullet wounds, laser burns, and gross damage from all sorts of things.  Some of the ex-living are covered with the distinctive scars of electrical burns.

No, the Dead were trying to force their way into the reactor, and something stopped them at the door.

Shifting the bodies is disgusting and tedious but soon they manage to do so, leaving access to the blast door.

((10, 10, 5, 4, 3, 1 & 1
Channel 1 chi for +5 craft
Checking the door for traps: 20 + 15 (craft) + 10 + 5 (Specialization: mechanics if applicable) = 50 (would take IT)

Something's really wrong, blyat: 21 + 10 (Wu-Wei) = 31))

"Holy shit..." Arkady said a he looked the pile and carefully made his way through it "...This sort of stuff brings up some bad memories."

He turns his face towards the door.

"can you guys check our six? I'll check the door for traps and countermeasures... Sigereth knows why we want to get to her, but now I'm interested in is why all of these people tried to get to her... We might be missing the big picture. Might be worth investigating."

He carefully lowers himself on one knee and starts inspecting the door. He doesn't know exactly what he's looking for, but he knows when he sees it.

((Awareness: 10, 9, 7, 5, 4, 2, 1 & 1
to spot possible openings/vents/traps etc: 21+20+10 = 51))

"Just focus on the task at hand, memories are only there to remind us on how to do things better this time," Diamond Sky consoles Arkady, before turning to look around. "Will do."

Sky looks around in the corridor, seeing if there are other ways out such as vents, or other openings, that might end up surprising them with turrets. It was their luck that the facility accommodated living people, because that gave them more options to deal with.

"I'm more curious about what stopped them on their home territory," Grunt answered as he moved to give Arkady room. He let the more experienced Exalt check their six while he examined the corpses more closely, trying to get a feel for what had happened to all of them.

Diamond Sky immediately notices a pair of sliding slats just above the door:  no doubt they have automated turrets within.

Arkady finds the door trapped, alright.  Touching it completes a circuit; this causes the activation of countermeasures.  Like what happened with these guys.  No doubt they'd tried to enter the reactor, found the door barred, and the first few helots thrown against it.  The zombies and flesh-monstrosities were piled atop the other thralls, sent after the expendable slaves.

There's really only one explanation.  Sigereth was keeping out her masters, and there's no way the Immaculates summoned her.  There has to be an Abyssal still on board.

"A pair of turret above the door, but otherwise I'm not seeing anything out of normal. Hows the door?"

She turns to look at the two.

((10, 9, 8, 7, 4, 1 & 1
- 3chi Clarity in openness +10 craft
opening the door w/ craft: flowed 39 + 20 + 10 + 5 = 74 (mechanics speciality if applicable) ))

"It's trapped. Touching it would complete a circuit to activate countermeasures..."

Arkady looks Above himself and looks a bit worried

"Prolly thos turrets you mentioned."

He turns towards the others and is seemingly worried.

"I'll try to disarm the door, but there are two possible outcomes: For one, I'll fail and the security systems activate, making me feel extremely unpleasant. For second, I'll manage to open the door and the master of these thrall will exploit the opportunity to enter the reactor..."

He pauses a bit, draws breath, and continues:

"Sigereth was trying to keep her masters out. She's rebelling against him. Probably an Abyssal because there is no fucking way that the Immaculates could have summoned a second circle demon themselves. Keep your eyes open druz'ya. This is gonna be tough."

He flexes his metal fingers a bit and starts working on the door, attempting to open it without triggering the security circuit, bypassing emergency lockdown and opening it manually.

Diamond skys mouth tightens at the mention of a possible Abyssal presence.

"If we are lucky, the masters were taken out in the battle outside. If we are unlucky they appeared to be taken out and have managed to slither back in. Or if we are super unlucky, there is still another Abyssal roaming free," she sighs exasperated."Disgusting vermins.."

"Let's have at it," Grunt said, "One thing out to kill us at a time."

Arkady gets to work.  The control panel is a tricky bit of business, made all the more complicated by the fact that the programming actively starts working against him.  Hell, even one of the wires starts to move a bit to try to throw him off his game.

But he succeeds.  The door slides open and the turrets fall out of their hatches, barrels inert.  The way to the reactor is clear.

"It is clear to me the Masters wish for her to destroy the facility and she is refusing,"  Isabella tells them. "We must enter."

More blood spatters the inside of the hallway.  It splits off, one to the left and one to the right.

"What a fucking chore, blin!"
Arkady spats out and cleans his hands on his trousers.
"Grunt and I will take left. Diamond sky right. Lets get this shit show on the road."
as he starts walking, he checks back in Isabellas direction.
"So.... What are we gonna do about the guide?"

"Nicely done," Diamond Sky nods once the doors open.

"That is very much tied to what Grunt knows her to be, that is if she is not a liability to take along and if the evac plan has got room for extra," She shrugs and heads to right.

"You don't leave people to them, and we may not get a better record of this place," Grunt told Arkady as he took point and pushed further in.

"shit... When I'm done with the reactor there'll be nothing left for them..."

Arkady mutters under his breath as he keeps walking.

"once Sigereth is dealt with, I can try to mine some stuff from the classified servers, If we have time that is... Don't break the rules, Break the game. "

They each split up and the moment they turn the corner they find an ambush waiting for them.  One of the heavily armed and armored baidak sit at the end of each hall, and one of the sprightly, two-gunned baidak are waiting just around the corner!

((Everyone take 1 ChivJoss.  You have first init.
Baidak to the 'left'- IE, closest to Grunt and Arkady- are termed Armored 1 and Pistol 1.  The ones closer to Diamond Sky are Armored 2 and Pistol 2.))

((Initiative R1: 9, 9, 6, 6, 4, 4 & 3
Subtle Force w/ unarmed + ranged
Float 9-9
Init 26 + 10 + 10 = 46
FoB 24 + 10 + 10 = 44 / 2 chi

Attack R1: 10, 7, 7, 3, 1, 1 & 1
Pistol 1 - Disrupt footwork /w learning: 27 + 15 + 10 = 52
Strike pistol 1: 31 + 15 + 10 = 56))

"I FUCKING KNEW THIS WOULDN'T BE EASY! WHY ISN'T ANYTHING EVER EASY! SIGERETH YOU CUNT, JUST GIVE UP!!!" Arkady shouted in frustration, but manages to steel himself. He takes a calm breath before taking a steady stance, with his arms in front of him with palms open in a relaxed manner and keeping his eyes locked on his opponents under his hood.

"Nu pizdec. Lets get this shit over with."

The spider like capability to scale walls and ceilings was troubling before, so is this types general mobility. Arkady charges an attack, but as he is about to discharge his right arm, he instead pulls out his trusty 1911 with his left, and fires it at the Baidak's knee and hip joints.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:05, Thu 15 Mar 2018.

((Initiative: 10, 8, 8, 7, 7, 6, 4 & 2
Using Murderous Shadows w/ Unarmed+Saber
Initiative: 16+15+10= 41
FoB: 14+15+10 = 39/ 2 chi
CG: 27+15+10 =52
Ghostly Presence: 28+20+10 = 58

Attack vs Pistol 2: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 6, 5 & 2
Strike: Flowed 45+20+10(AB) = 75, better dodged
Disrupt block: 26+20+10 = 56))


Well it had been a walk in the park, in comparison to what she had expected. For once it was this way, she thought to herself when being faced with a set of Baidak. It'd be devastating if they were to run into something bigger with her having her handicap. It'd be a nice change if no one would die on this mission.

Not getting ahead of herself and her thoughts, Diamond Sky's image seems to blur momentarily, when her blades appear on her hands from thin air. She aims to rush and dive in close quarters with the one holding a gun.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:17, Sun 18 Mar 2018.

(Init R1, 1 C. Joss: 9, 8, 8, 6, 5, 5, 3 & 1
Blossom Harvest w/Unarmed
4 Chi, Supreme Burst of Speed
Init: 28 + 10 + 10 = 48 + 20 = 68
CG: 25 + 10 + 10 = 45
FoB: 19 + 15 = 34

Attack R1: 9, 9, 8, 8, 6, 6, 4 & 1
Strike, Armored 1: 29 + 5 + 10 = 44
Disrupt Toughness w/Might: 28 + 5 + 10 = 43
Float:6-6)

Grunt launched himself towards the armored baidak, striking at it's leg with an air enhanced knee while his hands went to the armor itself and tried to pull a section loose.

((Pistol 1
10, 10, 8, 5, 4, 3 & 2
*Float 0-0
*Init 18 + Speed 10 + AB 5 = 33

Pistol 2
10, 8, 8, 6, 5, 3 & 2
*Float 8-8
*Init 16 + Speed 10 + AB 5 = 31

Armored 1
9, 8, 8, 6, 5, 5 & 1
*Float 8-8
*Mark Target:  Arkady 25 + Awareness 10 + AB 5 = 40
*Init 19 + Speed 0 + AB 5 = 24

Armored 2
8, 8, 7, 6, 4, 3 & 3
*Float 8-8
*Mark Target:  Diamond Sky 23 + Awareness 10 + AB 5 = 38
*Init 17 + Speed 0 + AB 5 = 22

Grunt 68
Arkady 46
Diamond Sky 41
Pistol 1  33
Pistol 2  31
Armored 1  24
Armored 2  22

Armored 1 Defense vs Grunt:
6, 3, 3, 3, 2, 1 & 1
*Defense vs Strike 33 + Block 10 + AB 5 = 48 vs 44, blocks
*Defense vs Disrupt 21 + Might 5 + AB 5 = 31 vs 43, takes Disrupt

Pistol 1 Defense vs Arkady:
8, 8, 7, 4, 3, 2 & 2
*Defense vs Strike 28 + Dodge 10 + AB 5 = 43 vs 52, 1/7 Ripple
*Defense vs Disrupt 22 + Finesse 10 + AB 5 = 37 vs 52, takes Disrupt

Pistol 2 defense vs Diamond Sky:
10, 6, 5, 5, 4, 3 & 1
*Defense vs Strike 25 + Dodge 10 + AB 5 = 40 vs 75, 3 ripples / 7
*Takes Disrupt

Pistol 1 Attack vs Arkady:
10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 4 & 1
*Primary Attack 24 + Strike 10 + AB 5 = 39, Better Blocked
*Secondary Attack with Flooded 20 + Strike 10 + AB 5 = 35, Better Blocked

Armored 1 Attack vs Arkady:
9, 9, 7, 5, 4, 3 & 2
*Primary Attack 29 + Strike 10 + AB 5 + Marked Target 5 =  49, Arkady's Dodge is -5 from Marked Target (unless he makes a good Stealth minor action on defense roll), Better Blocked than Dodged:  Dodge a further -5 (total -10 dodge)
*Flowed Disrupt Strike 28 + Awareness 10 + AB 5 = 43

Pistol 2 Attack vs Diamond Sky:
10, 9, 6, 5, 3, 3 & 2
*Primary Attack with 23 + Strike 10 + AB 5 = 38, Better Blocked
*Secondary Attack with Flooded 28 + Strike 10 + AB 5 = 43, Better Blocked

Armored 2 Attack vs Diamond Sky:
10, 7, 6, 4, 4, 4 & 2
*Primary Attack 34 + Strike 10 + AB 5 + Marked Target 5 = 54, Diamond Sky's Dodge is -5 from Marked Target (unless he makes a good Stealth minor action on Defense roll), Better Blocked than Dodged:  Dodge a further -5 (total -10 dodge)

Pistol 1 Init
9, 8, 8, 6, 5, 4 & 1
*Float 8-8
*Flood 8:  Change Stance
*Init 19 + Speed 10 + AB 5 = 34

Pistol 2 Init
8, 8, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 2
*Float 8-8
*Flood 8:  Change Stance
*CG 22 + Footwork 5 + AB 5 = 32
*Init 15 + Speed 10 + AB 5 = 30

Armored 1 Init
6, 6, 4, 4, 4, 3 & 3
*Float 6-6
*Recover from Toughness Disrupt:  34 + Hardiness 5 + AB 5 = 44, Recovers
*Init 23 + Speed 0 + AB 5 = 28

Armored 2 Init
9, 9, 9, 7, 4, 3 & 1
*Mark Target:  Diamond Sky 39 + Awareness 10 + AB 5 = 54
*Init 17 + Speed 0 + AB 5 = 22))

The Armored Baidak targeted by Grunt puts up its shield, taking Grunt's furious knee-strike.  That leaves it open to an attempt to rip a section loose- and Grunt does, but the baidak is quick to smack the plate back into place.

Both it and the pistol-toting baidak ignore Grunt in favor of Arkady, likely due to the fact that Arkady has already been identified as a more-dangerous Solar.  They pepper the hallway with a wide spray of bullets and slashing beam cannons!

Meanwhile, Diamond Sky advances to take on Pistol 2.  It eschews defense, taking her blades to the chest with nary a whisper of pain.  Instead it lays down covering fire, much like it's opposite numbers across the hallway.

Between the two groups of baidak, the whole long hallway is a whirlwind of death from lead or focused beam weaponry.

(( Defence vs pistol 1: 9, 9, 7, 6, 6, 4 & 2.
vs. strike: 29 + FW 15 - 5 + 10 = 49 vs 39 / dodged
vs. S.Strike: 26 + FW 15 - 5 + 10 = 46 vs 35 / dodged

Defence vs. Armor 1: 10, 6, 6, 5, 2, 1 & 1
vs. strike: 26 + 5 + 10 = 51 vs 49 / blocked
vs. Disrupt: 21 + 10 + Learning 15 = 46 / Avoid disrupt

Initiative R2: 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 3 & 3
FoB: 23 + 10 + 10 = 43 / 2chi
Init: 19 + 10 + 10 = 39

Attack R2: 10, 9, 7, 5, 4, 3 & 1
Strike Vs. Pistol 1: flowed 39 + 15 + 10 = 64))

Arkady keeps his eyes locked on pistol 1, avoiding the hail of bullets by positioning himself just slightly out of the bullets way with fluid motion, taking way more effort in the way of concentration than in the way of physical exertion. The beam blast he blocks, channeling his essence into the surface of his arm, refracting the energy away from his body, and shielding his eyes from the bright light, but only as much as necessary. Any unnecessary movement will cause damage. Keeping his face covered he takes aim with his pistol and keeps firing towards the nimble baidak.

((Defense vs Pistol 2:
9, 9, 7, 6, 5, 5, 3 & 1
Primary Attack: Dodge: 25+15(footwork)-5+5(GP)+10(AB)= 50 vs 38, dodged
Secondary Attack: Dodge:29+15(footwork)-5+5(GP)+10(AB)= 54 vs 43, dodged

Defense vs Armored 2:
10, 9, 9, 5, 5, 5, 4 & 2
Primary Attack: Dodge 35+15(footwork)-5+5(GP)+10(AB)= 60 vs 54, dodged
Stealth minor action to get rid of marking: 25+20+10= 55 vs 38

Initiative: 8, 8, 7, 6, 6, 3, 2 & 2
Using Murderous Shadows w/ Unarmed+Saber
Float 8-8
Initiative: 17+15+10= 42
FoB: 13+15+10 = 38/ 2 chi
CG: 22+15+10 =47
Ghostly Presence: 26+20+10 = 56

Attack vs Pistol 2: 9, 8, 8, 7, 5, 5, 4 & 2
Strike: Flowed 48+20+10(AB) = 78, better dodged
Disrupt strike: 25+20+10 = 55))

As the corridor is littered with bullets and beams, Diamond Sky dodges and vaults in the maze, taking advantage of the shadows cast by changing light, her image shifting from place to place swiftly. Every time she turns its more of a question if she even was there to begin with. She is relentless, and gives no space to the Pistol wielding Baidak despite it shooting next to her skin. Her blades aim yet again into the armor, wanting to sink deeper this time and tear it to bits.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:25, Tue 20 Mar 2018.

(Init: 8, 7, 6, 4, 4, 3 & 3
Shadow Catching/Saber
Init: 18 + 10 + 10 = 38
Assess Fears: Armored : 24 + 15 = 39
Assess Laughs: Armored : 23 + 15 = 38

Attack: 10, 6, 5, 4, 4, 2 & 1
Armored 1
Strike: 36 + 10 + 10 + 5 (Laughs: Faster) = 61
Secondary Strike: 24 + 25 (Above) = 49, 3 chi)

Dammit, these things were built too solid, Grunt thought as he apprised the mobile fortress of a puppet in front of him. He felt reasonably confident that if they could tie up either of the baidak for a few moments then the chance to concentrate on one at a time would make the rest tiresome but routine.

But first they'd have to make a dent, he mused as he drew the knife and charged back in towards the armored giant. His strikes are broad, sweeping things aimed at the creature's legs.