As the boat enters the bay, there is a flurry of activity directed towards the quay. Before they reach that dock, the heroes aboard can see a dozen figures watching their approach. They're wearing working clothes and are unarmed. One of the men, apparently in charge, points around to organize the others as he steps to the end of the dock and watches the boat.
When the boat gets close enough he calls out, "Ahoy the ship! Did you bring the mail, this time?"

Truesilver thinks at the team "The dock workers will probably be confused to find a wolf aboard. You won't see me for some time, but I'll be here." Suddenly, you note a distinct absence on the boat's deck.

OOC: If I act at SPD 2, I'll recover 3 extra END each Turn. If I act at SPD 3, I'll hemorrhage 3 END per Turn. Unless a situation comes up where I need to act more urgently, I'll just act at SPD 2 while Invoking Nondetection.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:44, Wed 04 Mar 2020.

Darryl whispers to Manta Man "Damn, that's got to be a code. What do androids need with mail? Unless these are true humans?"

"Doesn't really matter, we're just returning stolen property. As soon as we can, we should tell them so."

As the boat docks, the crew jump to the dock and busy themselves with the lines. Strangely, the crew appears surprised that they know HOW to busy themselves with the lines. Three men from the dock board the boat and grab some boxes and bags from the small hold. One of the bags is large and does, in fact, say "US Mail" on it.
The man that ahoyed has a perplexed look on his face, and says, "You're obviously not who I expected, so, why are you here?"

Darryl steps up and flashes a winning smile. He says "our crew came upon this abandoned vessel in International waters. Although we could have claimed her as salvage, my boss here found that she was bound for this island by studying the navigational charts. He decided we would return the property rather than go through regular channels. " Darryl turns on the charm.

01:22, Today: Darryl Starre rolled 8 using 3d6.  Charm 16-.

After coming out of the wheelhouse, Manta Man glides down to the dock. "There weren't any clues to the pirates identities on board, and the crew seems to be too traumatized to answer any questions. Is there anyone else here that could give me some information that would help me find who did this?"
Manta Man has a well-known obsession with destroying nautical piracy.

The man in charge of the stevedores pulls a radio out of his pocket, and calls in to explain the situation. A voice then replies to 'send them up to the house'.
While most of the men start to unload the boat, including leading the stricken androids away (presumably for repairs), the man in charge (who introduces himself as Johnny) asks that you follow him to the house, and sets off down the road, on foot.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:44, Sun 12 Apr 2020.

As he lofts slightly aboard a sling on the underside of a drone, Hatter remarks, "does anyone mind if I rise above the hot, dusty trail?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:18, Fri 20 Mar 2020.

OOC: Assuming my teammates keeping me up to speed :)

Truesilver's mental voice comes through: This visit to the house... It may be a trap. You all certainly seem fine to handle this here; I can scout ahead and make sure there is no obvious danger. Nothing should be able to detect me due to my Mindcraft. I'll keep in touch.

Considering the party will probably be walking, it should be easy for me to get ahead of them and check out the house if I move with purpose (Full Moves or even Non-Combat Movement); I remember from the meeting in the Police Headquarters that there was a path connected to the dock that led to the house. When I arrive at the house, first thing I'll do is search the perimeter for ambushes or traps.

Darryl follows Manning to the house, his sharp senses alert.


01:26, Today: Darryl Starre rolled 15 using 3d6.  Perception 13-.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:27, Sun 22 Mar 2020.

As you reach the clearing containing the house, Johnny says something like, 'there it is, you can make it from here and I have to get back to the dock' before he turns and heads back to the dock.

As Johnny leaves you hear in your mind: I've checked the area. I've seen nor smelled nothing dangerous. The house seems to be empty, as well; peculiar indeed. That means we're likely expected to wait inside for someone. There's a few moments of silence. The mental voice takes on a slightly darker, more pessimistic tone. The house could itself be a trap or imprisonment of some sort; I've not set foot inside. I don't know what you all think, but I dislike the thought of going in there, like rats into a cage.

Darryl stops Manning. I'll go in, check it out. If it seems legit, I'll wave you in. If it's a trap, I can get myself out of it. I've gotten out of tougher situations." The intrepid reporter goes in with senses on high alert.

Perception 13-
Combat Luck 9PD 9ED
This message was last edited by the player at 18:13, Sun 29 Mar 2020.

Manta Man watches Darryl Starre walk off to the house. The quirked smile on the face inside the mask comes through as the watery warrior says, "there goes Starre, jumping into the deep end to get the story. I'm Manta Man, dammit, I live in tougher situations than he's ever been in!"
Even so, the hero allows Darryl to be first to the house.

Everything is quiet, even the usual jungle sounds seem to still as if in anticipation of something momentous. Then they start up, just as before.

Starre sticks his head out the door.  "This place isn't even furnished. It's an empty shell. I'm betting the real quarters are underground, like via that sea cave we spotted. "

"Then we best hope that place is defensible, because whoever sent us here is sure to be coming."

As if in response to what Manta Man said, several noteworthy arrivals commence. A large black eagle perchs atop the house. It's noteworthy because large is a very relative term. The wingspan on this eagle would be about four meters, and when standing with wings folded it would be the same size as a human. It isn't seen till it lands atop the house, almost as if it appeared there.
Soaring over the forest at the point the trail ends, LaserFire holds Evergreen just to the edge of the trees. As she drops to the ground, her landing seems too loud for someone that size.

Darryl says "something is wrong with this picture. If that eagle is lycanthropic, it shouldn't be able to manifest during the day at all. And Evergreen sounds way too heavy for that slim form. Are they on your comms, Manning?"

"They're not on comms. Evergreen was always heavy. She's not really human, you know. LaserFire carries her, at times, because he's young enough to notice she's not male without noticing she's not human."
"If they're mind controlled, we could be in trouble. They can be formidable."
[Language unknown: Setyinsetareted, icaut ai ennc ameessder to essof prondeder intortany sttieiplen?]

[Language unknown:
Mi tho eveus ear os k nateus addin, ndoer osni. Etsancel rea i ho ndan onwa u o merom trncla beasul.
]

Truesilver is going to start acting at full SPD. He'll get out of visual line of sight of the new arrivals, then drop Nondetection so he can Invoke the Thought Seeker on all three new arrivals. I'm trying to be undetected by them, so if you think it's appropriate I can make a Stealth roll. For establishing my mental LOS, I trust my Targeting Smell will be sufficient. The attack will also be Haymakered, and I'm going for the +20 EGO modifier "Telepathy cannot be detected by target". I'll make each attack on a separate Phase, attacking the bird person on the roof, then Laserfire, then Evergreen.

14:48, Today: Truesilver rolled 15 using 3d6 with rolls of 6,5,4.

14:48, Today: Truesilver rolled 8 using 3d6 with rolls of 2,3,3.

14:48, Today: Truesilver rolled 12 using 3d6 with rolls of 2,5,5.  Mental Attack Rolls for Telepathy.

All three attacks hit DMCV 4 or better, so unless the characters (or illusions) have bought up their DMCV, it should score a hit.

14:49, Today: Truesilver rolled 56 using 16d6 with rolls of 3,4,5,4,2,4,2,6,1,4, 4,5,2,2,5,3.  Mental Effect Rolls.

14:49, Today: Truesilver rolled 54 using 16d6 with rolls of 6,4,3,4,3,2,6,5,3,4, 2,2,1,6,1,2.  Mental Effect Rolls.

14:49, Today: Truesilver rolled 61 using 16d6 with rolls of 5,4,1,6,4,1,3,5,5,2, 1,4,5,4,6,5.  Mental Effect Rolls.

After establishing Telepathy on all three targets, I want to know if they harbor us ill will, then why they're here. That should all take around 10 seconds.

Landing in front of the house, Hatter approaches it as his drone settles on his shoulders. "I'll just pop in and see if we can use the phone. It's not like it's some sort of brooding castle or anything."

The giant black eagle transforms into a cackling old man. He wears black robes of the sort normally employed in monasteries, but the leer on his face is far removed from those environs. "Kill the others, but we need Manta Man alive. Get the reporter if you can, he's of secondary importance," cackles the man on the roof.
Laserfire and Evergreen step back to the edge of the trees. The man on the roof fades back, as well. Apparently attempting to remain unseen.