As you crest the low rise north of Compton, you see the Sprawl filling the valley in front of you until the view is lost in the heat haze. You can just about make out the huge, ruined skyscrapers in the centre of the city and the blue ribbon of the South River. Following your map, you strike out into the suburbs, and soon you are deep within that maze of ruined, bombed out streets, houses and gutted developments.

After all the build-up, your first day is somewhat of an anticlimax. You discover no salvage, no water, and no enemies. None of you suffer the pangs of alpha flux, and at the end of the day your map contains few additions. As night falls you identify a suitable camp site, some sort of civic building now little more than an empty shell. But it is easy to defend with space for all of you, even the possum.

Bedlam nods his head in approval. Even with his limited knowledge of survival skills he recognizes the advantages of the ancient building as a campsite.

"Looks good, sis," he says, stashing his mapping gear. "Ordus, S'kaar, spread out and watch the perimeter while we set up. Stay within range of my thoughts. Merlot, why don't you and the Roach do another check of those dark interior corners - make sure we didn't miss anything."

The giant moves over to the opossum and begins unloading. With a massive armful of gear he turns back to Flora, grinning. "Well, sis, do what you do best. Tell me where you want this stuff."

OOC: Never mind about staying within telepathic range - that's only 50'
This message was last edited by the player at 17:39, Tue 08 Feb 2011.

In reply to Bedlam Jones (msg #2):

Multi-Roache's duplicates did all the work. They would appear and set up camp. He would spend most of his time looking over the map and checking his equipment. Every now and again the duplicate roaches would complain...and he would ignore them for the most part.

"Stop complaining! You should be lucky I willed you into existence in the first place! Ungrateful jerks!" He snipped at...himself.

Flora points to several spots, each with a position for a defense of the place in mind if it came to that.

"I want you and me on opposite sides, no sense having a flank if we get jumped. The others can spread out in the center how they want. I just want to make sure we are as circular as possible. We have six, so we will pair up for watches, with three hour shifts. Other than that, make sure the water and food are in the middle so they can't be swiped and we will see where to go from there."

After speaking with Bedlam, she quickly goes to work shoring up and holes in the defenses that are not the two exits she has told Bedlam about.

"Of course," the Rat Collective agrees with Bedlam, scurrying off into the darkness for a bit to patrol the perimeter.

"Just save us some supper, yes?  And the middle watch, please."

You pass an uneasy, but ultimately uneventful night holed up in the old building. The evening air is full of chirping insects, distant roars and howls and the occasional round of gunfire, but nothing too close to your camp. The next morning, Ordus' many sensitive ears pick up the roar of motors. Investigating, you discover there is some sort of stronghold perhaps half a kilometer away is a wide low basin that conceals it from casual view, although it is visible from the shattered roof of your shelter.

The stronghold is surrounded in high corrugated iron walls and is a wide oval shape around 400mn long. There are several watchtowers dotted around its length. The sound of motors is just about audible from inside when the wind is right. In between your position and the stronghold are the usual ruined building and rubble-chocked roads, so you estimate it will take an hour or two to approach with care.

Merlot had kept a low profile the first day, spending most of it searching the campsite building for something missed. The discovery of the stronghold captured his interest, though, especially with the idea of adding more parts to his truck.

"Seems worth checking out," he says as he steps out of the shadows.

"A little reconnaissance in force would appear to be most appropriate," the Rat Collective declares, with a few dissenting voices chiming in under the general agreement.  "Alas, there are too few blind spots that will give us a safe approach, so we must do this the slow way and then remain as alert as we can."

They pause.

"And perhaps we should make certain to be inside before it gets dark?  Surely even the blindest of sentries can notice the burning glory that is our person!"

In reply to Ordus F. Rattus (msg #8):

"Good idea! We need a scout!"  He snaps his fingers, and sure enough one of his duplicates appear. "Volunteer says what?" He says suddenly to the new him.

"What?"

"Congrats! You just volunteered to scout for us. Go on now...that way..." He points.

"Son of a...you rotten...jerk!" His duplicate storms off to start scouting ahead.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:04, Tue 15 Feb 2011.

"Agreed, the place is interesting. I am not the stealthiest nor the smallest of people."

"Indeed, an interesting development," Bedlam consults the map to see if there is any reference to such a compound.

"Since it is situated below the surrounding ruins, we should consider other high observation points between here and there. Perhaps one of those buildings," the giant points out a few decrepit structures which manage to rise above the general collapse. "Of course, those are also likely points for their own scouts."

"And if those are automotive engines," he pauses when the wind brings the sound. "There may also be a clear roadway leading to the compound."

"Good!" he puts away the map as one of the Roaches begins scouting. "Since it's not too far away, and the day is young, what do you think of leaving our camp here so that we can approach the compound unburdened?"

"Good idea," the rat collective that forms S'kaar squeeks.

"We concur with our cousins," Ordo nodded.  "A secure spot to camp would be of great use.  And then...well, we already have a scout on the way, poor fellow!"

Bedlam grins broadly at his companions. "Right! We're losing daylight."

Speaking over his shoulder giant strides back toward the remains of the staircase leading down from the building's roof. "Ok, everybody pack a day's worth of food and water. Grab yer weapons and tech. Anything else that might be useful for scavenging, exploring, fighting and talking."

"Sis, we'll want to make it as unlikely as possible for anyone to wander into our camp while we're out visiting. And if they do wander in, we won't want them to find anything."

OOC: Shadow, does the map give any indication of who or what is in the direction of the engine-rumbling compound?

Multi-roaches reluctant duplicate scouts off ahead, and gets quite far before popping into oblivion. This might be a good way of proceeding, but the roaches have the same stealthiness as their creator... not much.

Let me know if you want to try the multi-scout approach, although you are still some ways from the stronghold. Which is close to but not marked on the roach's map. I will make another game post tomorrow.

Leaving your camp as secure as you can make it, you head on down towards the iron-walled compound, keeping in cover all the while. The sound of engines grows louder as you approach.

Bedlam's theory is proved correct when, after thirty minutes careful progress, you peer over a half collapsed wall and see a wide highway leading towards the structure that has evidently be cleared for vehicles. The road lies at the bottom of a wide trench, perhaps 10m wide by 3m deep. One hundred metres to your right (towards the stronghold) the road enters a tunnel and dips underground.

Take the road or stick to the ruins?

"Guys, I don't know if we can take these all these guys out in a fight... so should we approach openly?" S'kaar asks, quietly.

"A few to stay in hiding while others go to make an appearance."

"Decisions, decisions!  Better to keep to the shadows and be careful, and if we are wrong forgiveness may be sought as well as permission."

The Collective Rodent lapses into parliamentary muttering for a while.

"We sneak as best we can.  Just walking in will guarantee a fight, if they are hostile."

Bedlam crouches down behind the wall so he is hidden from the roadway, signaling the others that they should do likewise.

"S'kaar, leave a scout or two on the wall. I'm curious how much traffic this road gets, or if all the noise is coming from within the compound."

"Let's wait for a bit while I get things caught up," the giant pulls out the map and begins making some updates. "Everyone keep an eye out for their sentries and watchposts - a compound this large and noisy won't be unguarded. And I'd rather spot them before they spot us."

"Gives us a chance to judge the best approach," he winks.

OOC: It's still fairly early in the day; let's wait 30min or so to see what comes down the road, update the map, and check the immediate area.

Everyone should feel free to suggest a different course of action - Bedlam likes to talk :)

Is the trench of ancient design or just the result of rearranging debris?
From what direction does the road come - river, Compton, outside the suburbs?

In reply to The Shadow (msg #15):

The giant roach had stayed alive this long by using his duplicates for all the risk. The insect had done it all its life, and will keep doing it-despite complaints from himself...

(OOC-Still sending scout ahead)

You hunker down, some watching the road and some pushing out to secure your perimeter. Bedlam's hunch is right again. After less than ten minutes you hear the roar of engines coming steadily closer, echoing from within the tunnel. Then five porkers riding huge, smoke-belching motorbikes, emerge from underground, driving in a V formation in the middle of the road. The piggish bikers do not appear to have noticed you as they pass by without stopping...

You can attack them as they pass by on the road below you. Which incidentally looks like it was some sort of drainage canal originally, rather than something carved out of the rubble.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:14, Tue 22 Feb 2011.

"if we kills them, we take bikes and clothes. Then we can get close to compound maybe without getting spotted?" squeals S'kaar

Porker clothing has little interest to Merlot, but the bikes sure do. He twists a whisker around his finger as he watches the bikers from a distance.

"Porkers?" Bedlam scowls. "Rufus doesn't like porkers!"

The giant man jumps to his feet, the mapping gear joining the general debris on the ground. With both hands he reaches for Rufus, the dwarf just barely having time to ball up into a fetal position. With a grunt, he launches the dwarf at the nearest passing biker.

Action:
Bedlam Jones rolled 23 using 1d20+7. Throwing attack.
Closest biker would be back end of one branch of the V formation.
May have jumped the gun, here's my init roll:
Bedlam Jones rolled 21 using 1d20+2. Initiative.

OK fight it is! Everyone roll for Init. I will put up a combat map shortly. You have surprise you may make a ranged attack now of wait for the map if you're thinking of jumping into the action!

S'kaar launches a pawfull of squealing rats at the same biker as Bedlam.


18:11, Today: S'kaar rolled 23 using 1d20+5. Initiative.
18:11, Today: S'kaar rolled 10 using 1d12+8. damage?.
18:11, Today: S'kaar rolled 16 using 1d20+8. ranged attack.

The Collective Rat, which has held their collective peace whilst mulling over the possibilities, let out a chorus of sighs when matters come predictably unstuck in a most unfunny way--accepting the logic of Bedlam's straightforward and practical belligerence is not quite the same as being happy about it, for a prize stolen quietly from under the foe's watchful eye is sweeter than one earned by blood and pain.

Yet circumstances conspire, and the fraternal order of rattus rattus bends to meet them, popping up to fire a dart at one of the bikers toward the back of the crowd, intending to snipe from the flanks for as long as they can.

"Forward.  Victory.  Blood for the gods.  Rah, rah, rah," they intone without much enthusiasm...


09:34, Today: Ordus F. Rattus rolled 24 using 1d20+5. Initiative.  Very good!
09:35, Today: Ordus F. Rattus rolled 14 using 1d20+8. Ranged attack, surprise round.  Very...uhm, probable miss.  Will roll damage in the unlikely event of a hit.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:36, Thu 24 Feb 2011.

Bedlam, S'kaar and Ordus were close enough to the road to get in a surprise attack on the porkers. The armoured dwarf thrown by Beldlam smacks the nearest biker right in the head, causing him to almost lose control of his ride while Rufus scrambles back up the wall to his master.

Round 1. No combat map as yet, just assume you can move to the edge and fire down at the porkers. Init Order: Ordus, S'kaar, Porkers, Bedlam, Multi-Roach, Merlot, Flora.

S'kaar launches a few more portions of his body at the porcine bikers. as he does so, the rats he had flung in the first volley scurry back to his side, rejoining the collective. The current volley strikes the nearest porker in the face and throat, teeth out and chomping.



15:08, Today: S'kaar rolled 28 using 1d20+8. ranged attack. on closest porker
Crits do max damage like in 4e? -- 20 damage

This message was deleted by the player at 18:48, Wed 02 Mar 2011.

Popping up from behind their handy bit of wall, the Collective Rat heave with all their might to send a dart hurtling toward the nearest Porky onna Bike...and curse softly as the projectile misses, whereupon they duck back behind cover and solemnly hope the others have better aim.


(09:19, Today: Ordus F. Rattus rolled 14 using 1d20+8. Ranged attack.  Versus the biker at H14.  And of course, I miss.  Feels like tabletop :P )
This message was last edited by the player at 17:22, Fri 04 Mar 2011.

S'kaar's thrown rat ball hits the porker wounded by Bedlam right in the face, and sharp teeth rip out its jugular in a fountain of blood. The bike skids to a halt, and the other porkers spring into action. The lead biker swings his hog around and pulls out a huge double-barreled shotgun, waiting for the first ambushers to show their head, while two of the others zoom forward and back, bring their bikes to a halt at the walls of the underpass. The final surviving porker stops in a squeal of rubber, then pulls out a flare gun and sends a ball of glowing red smoke high into the clear air above...

When Multi-Roach's duplicate pops up the lead bikers shreds it instantly with a huge blast from his gun.

Combat map updated.  Bedlam, Merlot and Flora still to act this round.

Bedlam's thoughts reach out to most of his comrades.
OOC: Sorry, Merlot, yer just outa range.

The giant pops his head up and focuses on the shotgun wielding porker.
Action: Round 1
Bedlam Jones rolled 9 using 1d20+4. Mental Push vs Will.
Hafta be pretty weak for that to hit, but 3 psychic damage if it does.

S'kaar launches another bundle of rats at the pig with the shotgun, but the ball of tails and teeth flies wide.

Flora circles round to find a position overlooking the bikers.

Merlot concentrates and a swirl of darkness speeds away from the felinoid and coalesces in front of the main biker. The duplicate's claws slash its face, temporarily blinding the porker with its own blood.

Round 2. Combat map updated. Init Order: Ordus, S'kaar, Porkers, Bedlam, Multi-Roach, Merlot, Flora.

Scrambling up on top of the low wall in front of them, the Collective Rats make a mighty effort, sending one of their rebar darts hurtling at one of the bikers...and for a change, the blow strikes home!

Unable to help themselves, some of the assembly let out a cheer.

S'kaar's next bundle of rats dives into the leader, slashing and biting.

--


22:40, Today: S'kaar rolled 28 using 1d20+8. Shooting attack at the Shotgun. Leader
Another Crit - 17 damage!
This message was last edited by the player at 22:00, Tue 15 Mar 2011.

Bleeding, blind and bloodied, the porker leader flails at Merlot's duplicate with his battleaxe, but misses by a hair. The duplicate winks out of existence shortly after in any event.

The two bikers next to the underpass walls stand on their saddles and scramble up, advancing into the ruins to flank you.

The final porker that fired the flair gun dismounts his bike and takes out a length of chain which it proceed to fasten to the trashed hog of the porker that you took out last round.

Round 2. Combat map updated. Remaining Init Order: Bedlam, Multi-Roach, Merlot, Flora.

Bedlam focuses his mind on ... no, the giant scowls in frustration, wondering what the response to the flare will be.

Action: Round 2
Attack porker with chain to get him to attack the lead porker.
Bedlam Jones rolled 7 using 1d20+4. Mental Push vs Will.

meh.

Once again, The roach sent a duplicate out to shoot its crossbow. However, this time he had it appear right in front of a biker. While the vehicle may crush the duplicate-suddenly hitting a 6 foot bike when you where not expecting it may result in quite the crash...


(OOC-Move to L11 via wall crawling.

Standard action-makes duplicate appear right in front of bike-G12-possibly making it crash. If that biker is crashed already, will make it appear in front of biker leader.

Duplicate shoots bow if it is still alive on its turn.

13:34, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 13 using 1d20+8. Vs AC.)
This message was last edited by the player at 17:39, Wed 16 Mar 2011.

  "Twice-Strider!" Flora shouts out to Merlot, "Behind you!" She turns toward him and pitches forward, bounding over low walls and rubble, each heavy step striking up clouds of dust and gravel.

  Even with her long stride, she can see that she will not be able to reach the foul mutant before it can bring its makeshift arms to bear. Dropping to one knee, she reaches out with both arms and from them extend a pair of knotted, bark-like vines, whipping and slashing through the air at the Porker's booted ankles.

  Move to P-08
  Standard using Lashing Creepers. The only target in range is at O-06.
  15:31, Today: Flora rolled 19 using 1d20+5. Lashing Creepers attack. (vs Reflex)
  15:32, Today: Flora rolled 10 using 1d6+5.  Lashing Creepers damage.
  Plus The target is slowed until the end of Flora's next turn.

Merlot and Multi-Roach both create another duplicate and attack the leader, but the wily porker is on guard now and dodges the blows.

Multi-Roach, all of the bikes are stationary at the moment.

Flora gets close enough to one of the flanking porkers to flay its legs with a barbed tendril that wraps itelf around the limbs like a vine.

Round 3. Combat map updated. Init Order: Ordus, S'kaar, Porkers, Bedlam, Multi-Roach, Merlot, Flora.

S'kaar turns to face the porker that is climbing towards him. "Not this time, piggie!" he squeaks as he hurls more rats.

---

18:30, Today: S'kaar rolled 13 using 1d12+5. damage.
18:29, Today: S'kaar rolled 16 using 1d20+8.

Having found a target with some success, Ordo repeat their last action, piling on the fire in hopes of doing something useful...

Ordus again hits the lead biker with another dart, while S'kaar waits until the nearby porker rounds the corner and lets fly a snarl of rats that narrowly miss the interloper.

S'kaar you couldn't see the porker on your Init so I will assume you held your action.

The porker heads on towards Bedlam and rakes the giant's the chest with a length of spiked chain.

13 HP damage Bedlam.

On the other flank, the entangled porker just makes it to Flora, where he flails at her foliage ineffectively with his chain.

The leader ignores the two duplicates and fires off his shotgun at the flaming conglomeration of rats that is Ordus, sadly missing.

His compatriot, having secured the downed bike, attaches the chain to his own bike and revs up the engine. The leader gives a squeal of command...

Partial round 3. Combat map updated. Remaining Init Order: Bedlam, Multi-Roach, Merlot, Flora.

In reply to The Shadow (msg #46):

(OOC-On my turn, Can I do a ready action to make a duplicate in the wheels of the one who tries to drive away, making the bike crash?)

  With a look of utter contempt written across her verdant countenance, Flora sneers at the Porker. "Tiny flab beast!" she bellows, bearing her rebar maul with a mighty two-handed swing. "Fall!"

  18:09, Today: Flora rolled 25 using 1d20+7. Attack!!!.
  18:10, Today: Flora rolled 15 using 2d8+3. Maul damage.

Bedlam grimaces as the Porker's chain finds the gaps in his volkswagon beetle armor.

"Not your turn, yet," he scowls at the anthro-swine.

Once more the giant attempts to focus his thoughts on the porker accompanying the leader, but the connection fails.

Taking a huge breath, the giant contemplates a change in tactics as he turns to face his assailant.

Action:
Take a Second Wind then attack:
Bedlam Jones rolled 7 using 1d20+4. Mental Push vs Porker G11.

(OOC-Doing a ready action as I desribed above-When a Bike starts going-it will crash into a duplicate and hopefully go down...)

Flora swats the porker across the head with her rebar, sending an arc of blood over the nearest wall. Baldy hurt and hearing its leader's squeal, the porker flees back to the wall and drops down next to its bike.

The other flanking porker also retreats, but is forced to jump back down to the sunken roadway.

Merlot creates another shadowy duplicate in front of the leader, which stabs both paws into the porkers face, pulping its eyes and snout. The biker subsides in a haze of blood, its bike toppling to the road.

The other porker, discomforted by Bedlam's attempts at mental control - not to mention downright terrified by the death of his leader - revs his engine and shoots away - right into a huge cockroach, which explodes in a spray of goo coating the bike and its rider. However the porker keeps the bike under control and speeds off back towards the tunnel, dragging another bike behind him is a shower of sparks.

Round 3. Combat map updated. Init Order: Ordus, S'kaar, Porkers, Bedlam, Multi-Roach, Merlot, Flora. There are three porkers left, all on bikes, one of which is moving.

Perhaps in shock at their relative success, the rats reload and hurl yet another dart at the nearest biker, but between his haste to get out of the way and perhaps a lack of adequate aiming, the shot seems to go wild...

Accompanied by a massive litany of foul language in six different dialects of Rat.

S'kaar launches another bundle of rats at a porker.

---

09:51, Today: S'kaar rolled 8 using 1d12+5. damage.
09:51, Today: S'kaar rolled 20 using 1d20+8. Attack k22 (or g16 if I can't see k22).

The bikers accelerate away back towards the tunnel, with only the last one still in effective range. This porker is seriously wounded after tangling (literally) with Flora and hasn't yet got full control of his chopper...

Partial round 4. Combat map updated. Remaining Init Order: Bedlam, Multi-Roach, Merlot, Flora.

In reply to The Shadow (msg #54):

(OOC-Doing the same trick with the other biker...)
This message was last edited by the player at 18:36, Mon 04 Apr 2011.

"Ok, Rufus, one more shot," Bedlam mutters as the dwarf curls up into a ball.

Grabbing his living missile, the giant vaults over the low wall and down to the roadway. Before he even regains his balance he hurls the spiky dwarf at the remaining porker.

Rufus skitters wide, bouncing off the roadway wall.

"#%&Ort!" Bedlam scowls and begins reaching for his lamppost maul.

Action:
Move / Jump down to I19
Ranged attack at Porker in J11
Bedlam Jones rolled 9 using 1d20+7. Throwing attack.

This message was last edited by the player at 03:09, Fri 08 Apr 2011.

  "Oh, no you don't!" Flora shouts and she bounds after the Porker. She leaps over one of the low stone walls and then across the ditch, aiming her rebar maul at the Porker's chest-level with a baseball-style swing.

  Move as close as possible to the Porker, hopefully ending directly in front of the bike or if not then directly next to it (mayhap I'm tall enough to stand in the ditch and still have a clear swing).
  Standard 23:48, Today: Flora rolled 17 using 1d20+7. Maul Attack.
  23:50, Today: Flora rolled 12 using 2d8+3. Maul damage.

The final porker runs right into another roach duplicate, losing control of his hog and skidding to a halt. Flora drops down into the sunken roadway and splats the unfortunate biker with a well-timed maul attack.

The enemy is defeated! Two porkers got away, one dragging an extra bike. So there are three porker bodies to loot and two bikes to salvage.

However, back in the direction of the base you hear a distant whump, whump, whump in the clear morning air. Your eyes are drawn to the large helicopter appearing over the top the stronghold's walls, perhaps drawn to the flare that is still spluttering above your position. Dangling below the copter is a large platform that appears to be dotted with battleship-sized machine guns.

In a minute or two the copter will be above you. Better act fast!

"Blast!" Bedlam glances over his shoulder at the approaching helicopter. "Let's move, people."

The giant's thoughts flow out to his teammates.

~Flora, see if you can get one of those bikes up off the road. I will get the other. If they are too heavy, we will work together to get one.~

~Roach, S'kaar, Merlot, check the bodies. Roach, be sure to grab that shotgun.~

~Ordus, get your bright fiery hoard back into the rubble and under cover. We'll be right behind you.~

In reply to Bedlam Jones (msg #59):

The roach checks the bodies hurriedly...as does one of his duplicates. He more than plans to use the duplicate as a distraction for the chopper if need be. The duplicate seem to know that too-and glared at the original. However, the original does get the shotgun and as much ammo as he can.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:04, Tue 12 Apr 2011.

  Flora vaults up out of the ditch and works quickly to right the fallen motorcycle. To her fibrous muscles and large frame, it doesn't seem heavy, but the controls are relatively small and not terribly familiar. She unconsciously bites at her lower lip as she works to free the bike and get it moving.

Do we need to make any kind of checks to figure out/move the bikes?

S'kaar leaps down to the nearest body and rifles through its pockets.

The Collective Rat scatters as Bedlam suggests...a more musical event than might be supposed, given the nature of the armor used by the Order of Rats.

As well as the shotgun from the leader and a pocket fulls of shells, the two other porkers both carry automatics and a spare clip, plus a few crude trinkets that you might be able to barter.

You pick up one heavy and two light guns, both with +1 ammo.

The bikes are too heavy for the even the giants to hoist up individually, but working together they lift one, then the other up from the road and into cover in the ruins.

The helicopter is now moments way, and you also can hear the roar of heavy engines coming back through the tunnel.

Assume you have 3 rounds to act before reinforcements arrive. What now?

With a grunt Bedlam dumps the motorcycle (with Flora's help) over the barrier wall and then heaves himself up out of the roadway.

"Leave the bikes here," he decides. "They'll slow us down too much. If we're lucky, we can try coming back for them later."

"Now let's put some distance behind us. Remember to keep some tall ruins between you and the roadway."

~Be ready for my signal to stop and take cover~ the giant sends his thoughts out to the team. ~Everyone keep your eyes open for good hidey holes.~

OOC: If the bikes are that heavy, I'd rather lift just one out of the roadway in exchange for an extra round or two of time before the copter arrives.

Current plan is to make a full out sprint away from the roadway for a few rounds then slow down for a round or so to look for cover.

Trying as best you can to hide the bike you scavenged, you head off back twoards the safe house for a minute or so, then stop to take cover. The helicopter hovers about the scene of the battle and seems to be lowering its platform.

You then hear the baying of hounds from somewhere under the helicopter...
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:36, Fri 22 Apr 2011.

"Back to the house!" S'kaar hisses, before turning and running in that direction.

In reply to The Shadow (msg #66):

"Let's go! Let's go!" He chittered, running. A duplicate followed him, and he looked at himself. "Not you stupid! You lead them away!"

"But I will die! They are gonna shoot me!" He complained.

"Better you than us!" The original said back.

"Man, I hate myself..." the duplicated muttered-and headed back towards the chopper to lead it off in another direction.

Seeing that the better part of valor is discretion, the parliamentary rodent reconvenes and follows S'kaar and the Roach Commune with all due attention to speed.

  Hanging behind just long enough to be certain that all the others will have sufficient time to make it out of the line of fire, Flora too beats a hasty retreat.

"Dogs," Bedlam practically curses. Without a thought from him his team breaks cover and runs for safety.

"Well, at least they're thinking for themselves..." he mutters as he sends a thought out to everyone.

~The safe house it is. Stay in contact range. Anyone got any tricks to cover our scent?~

OOC:
Trying to come up with an idea for shaking the pursuit.
I'm guessing that could be Science, Nature, Insight or Stealth.
I'll roll once, and let you decide :)
   Bedlam Jones rolled 18 using 1d20. Shake the Pursuit.

So with +10 for Know-It-All, that would be
Science: 28
Nature: 30
Insight: 30
Stealth: 20

"Well that was cat-astrophic," he mumbles half-way to himself.

To Bedlam's query, he replies, "Multi and I can keep shooting off copies going in random directions to at least slow them a bit."

With that, he spawns a doppleganger and sends it off ninety degrees from where they are heading.  "Good luck, Augustus," he calls off to himself.

Bedlam's brain-enhancing mutation works in overdrive as you try every trick in the book to confuse the trackers. Duplicates leaving false trails, the giants lifting up slabs of concrete to provide a sneaky tunnel, even using Ordus' flame powers to burn away your scent. Alas it is all in vain, and from the progress of the helicopter the pursuit is almost upon you. You arrive at your forward camp with scant minutes to spare to set up your defences.

19:52, Today: The Shadow rolled 32 using 1d20+18. Find trail DC 28. Unlucky, it was a 50/50 chance. Will post map tomorrow.

As the team races back to their base camp Bedlam relays his thoughts for defense.

~They will be coming from the east. Flora, you will be primary defense on the east door. Merlot and Ordus, you will also be on the ground floor covering the door with ranged weapons and watching other entrances. Ordus, remember to stay away from Flora.~

~Roach, S'kaar and I will be on the upper floor. Roach, you will be on the north side - we can use you and your duplicate to move along the top of the walls to flank. S'kaar, you will be above the door where you can shoot, or telekinetically push them back if they advance too quickly. I will keep everyone apprised of their location and try to confuse their ranged attackers.~

~They have that flying machine. They may try to use it to overfly our defenses and come from the north or west. If so, we fall back to the ground floor.~

OOC: I'm thinking
Upstairs:
Roach I17
Bedlam N17
S'kaar K17

Downstairs:
Flora J17
Ordus L13
Merlot J13

Anyone care to offer other suggestions?

In reply to Bedlam Jones (msg #74):

The bug nods. "Sounds good. I need to have a secure and covered position. Then I can send our my duplicates with their duplicate shotguns..." It chittered.

Merlot nods.  "I'll stand a little closer to the door though.  I think that it would be a better loCATion for my skillset."  He moves forward a couple of paces.

OOC: I'll start in J15 - that way Merlot can also use his multiple personalities to flank and the like.

With reluctance, after a brief and squeaking self-consultation, the Rat Chorus agrees with Bedlam's plan.

"We will do our utmost."

S'kaar nods. "That sounds like a good plan."

--k17 sounds good for me

  Flora hefts her rebar maul in both hands, and something like a wry grin spreads across her heliodor-colored countenance. "Let us give them a proper welcome."

You swiftly move into position, waiting tensely and listening to the helicopter drifter ever closer. Very shortly, two porkers appear behind a ruined wall to the east. One of them holds a spiked chain attached to the collar of a nasty looking beast, like prize hog crossed with a gecko and mangy alsatian.

Surprise round. Combat map updated, you all get one action.

Bedlam's thoughts flash out to his teammates ~Target their pet.~

Then the giant focuses his thoughts in a different way.

Action: Surprise Round
Bedlam Jones rolled 11 using 1d20+4. Mental Push vs Will.
Attacking beast at L22
If successful, beast executes a normal attack on Porker at L23.

In reply to The Shadow (msg #80):

The Roach, looking down from the second floor creates his duplicate against the first wave of attackers. It has its shotgun at the ready and opens fire with its copy of Roach's new weapon-attempting to blast the two targets in front of it.

(OOC-Roaches action-summon duplicate in L20, ground level.

Duplicate goes right after Roach-and with its surprise action it uses the double barrled shotgun to shoot at L22 and L23.

15:18, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 19 using 2d10+5. damage
15:18, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 9 using 1d20+6. vs AC (L22)
15:18, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 15 using 1d20+6. vs AC (L23)

Merlot summons a duplicate of himself right behind the duplicate roach and his duplicate fires its light gun at the dog/lizard/porker creature, which hits the creature soundly.


Surprise Round: Summon doppelganger to L19.
Effect: Dopple fires at doggie Hit - Crit! (I will need to look up damage for light gun, but max damage> 8 DAMAGE

10:31, Today: Merlot rolled 24 using 1d20+4. Light gun vs doggie.

Edit: 8 Damage.

This message was last edited by the player at 04:58, Tue 10 May 2011.

S'kaar launches a bundle of rats at the porker behind the tracker beast. The rats hit it and spend a few seconds biting and clawing at the stupefied creature before melting into the rubble.


15:01, Today: S'kaar rolled 9 using 1d12+5.
15:01, Today: S'kaar rolled 23 using 1d20+8. ranged attack on L23.

Bedlam's mental push doesn't seem to take, and the duplicate Ordus' shotgun pellets plink harmlessly from the pigs' crudely hammered iron armour. However, the shadow Merlot gets off a good one, clipping the pig-lizard-dog (or plizog) along one flank, while a bundle of S'kaars strip the meat from one leg. The creature looks hurt.

Merlot BTW you get to add your Dex/Int to damage, so the shot did 12 HPs

Round 1. Combat map updated. Init Order: Pig-lizard-dog, Flora, Ordus Rattus, Multi-Roach, Bedlam Jones, S'kaar, Porkers, Merlot.

The porker reflexively lets go of the leash and its plizog leaps at the duplicate roach, splattering it into an expanding cloud of goo...

~Their minds should not be this strong!~ Bedlam's thoughts carry a strong sense of disgust. Whether it is directed at the porkers or his own ineffectiveness is unclear.

The giant's thoughts then focus on another target.

Round 1 On his initiative...
Bedlam Jones rolled 19 using 1d20+4. Mental Push vs Will. Porker at K24.
If successful
Porker at K24 takes 3pts Psychic damage and makes a basic attack as a free action against the Porker at L23.

In reply to The Shadow (msg #85):

Despite one of his duplicates fading away-another pops up-this one closer to the foe. It once again fires its shotgun point blank, but only one penetrates their armor...

(OOC-Duplicating in L22

Fires shotgun at targets in L23 and K24

14:15, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 12 using 2d10+5. Damage
14:15, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 20 using 1d20+6. Vs AC L23
14:15, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 11 using 1d20+6. vs AC K24)

"Good shot, Bertrand!" Merlot calls to his double.  Dismissing himself, he moves closer and calls up another double, which slashes at one of the porkers with both claws.  "Go get them, Christof."


Move: Move to J19
Standard: Double Trouble to L24 (flanking porker in L23 w/Multi-roach)

Doppleganger's Actions
StandardSlashing Claws at Porker in L23 - 16,1018,12 for attacks Damage:11 for 1st if hit, 1 for 2nd if hit

08:37, Today: Merlot rolled 16,10 using d20+3,d20+3. Slashing Claws x2.
08:38, Today: Merlot rolled 11,1 using d6+5,d6 with rolls of 6,1. Damage Hit 1, Hit 2?.

Edit: Forgot the +2 for Flanking - so that changes my attacks above.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:57, Wed 25 May 2011.

"Away from my friends, beast!" S'kaar calls as he launches part of himself at one of the dog things, stirking it in a flurry of claws and teeth.


20:44, Today: S'kaar rolled 7 using 1d12+5. damage.
20:43, Today: S'kaar rolled 25 using 1d20+8. Ranged Attack on dd at L20.

One of the porkers grabs his head in pain then knees his companion in the udders. The wound is closely followed by a blast from a shotgun and a long scratch from Merlot's duplicate. S'kaar's bundle of rats strips a few more scales from the plizog. It's looking almost done for.

Then the porkers make their move. They both ignore the duplicates - evidently they have heard about your tactics from the survivors of the ambush.

The first porker rushes past Multi-Roach (whose attack of opportunity with the shotgun goes wide) and into the vegetation next to Merlot, who perhaps unwisely broke cover and ran outside to create his duplicate. However, the shady feline dodges the the porker's clumsy blow with ease.

The porker's badly wounded companion back off from the wounded duplicate Merlot and drops a blue flare by his feet. The smoke starts to drift upwards.

Round 2. Combat map updated. Init Order: Pig-lizard-dog, Flora, Ordus Rattus, Multi-Roach, Bedlam Jones, S'kaar, Porkers, Merlot.

The plizard bounds around the corner and leaps at Merlot, but again the lucky cat-thing dodges.

OK you are all up.

Trusting to his luck, Merlot copies himself due south of plizog and strikes again with his claws.  One hand slashes again at the plizog, drawing blood.

"Nice one, Dmitri," he calls to himself.


Standard: Double trouble to L22

Dmitri's Attack
Standard: Slashing Claws - Hit - 9 Damage  To Hit Rolls 22, 7 vs. Refl

11:52, Today: Merlot rolled 9 using 1d6+5. Damage.
11:51, Today: Merlot rolled 22,7 using d20+5,d20+5. Slashing Claws on Plizog.

As the beastie engages Merlot, the Rat Collective (finally presented with a target, to their collective relief) let a shaft fly and then switch to their mighty rebar spear and shuffle forth to help Merlot and Flora hold the door.

This would be more impressive if the Rats had decided on a single battle cry beforehand, but "None shall pass!" is popular enough to carry above the usual babble of squeaks and chitters.

(OOC reference--reposting from game mechanics thread)
16:18, Today: Ordus F. Rattus rolled 18 using 1d20+8. Ranged Attack at K19.
16:19, Today: Ordus F. Rattus rolled 9 using 1d12. Ranged Damage.)
This message was last edited by the player at 23:31, Fri 27 May 2011.

~I do not like that flare.~ Bedlam's thoughts present themselves in the minds of his teammates. ~Roach, can one of your duplicates get it into that pool of liquid on the other side of the wall?
OOC: N-Q 19-22

The giant's thoughts then turn to the plizog below his window.
Round 2
13:49, Today: Bedlam Jones rolled 16 using 1d20+4. Mental Push vs Will. Plizog.
If successful, the Plizog takes 3pts Psychic damage and makes a basic attack as a free action against the Porker at K20.

If the Plizog is already dead (Ordus acts before Bedlam) then the Mental Push will be targeted at the Porker at I24 to have him attack the flare!

In reply to Bedlam Jones (msg #93):

The roach nods at Jones' mental command. A duplicate appears on top of the wall just in front of the flare. The duplicate fires its copied shotgun into the Porker and the flare itself-and then moves forward and attempts to finish it off...


(OOC-Duplicating a new dupe in I22. It's clinging to the top of the wall. On its move-it shoots its double barreled shotgun into the Porker and the flare if possible.

22:39, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 15 using 2d10+5. Damage
22:39, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 25 using 1d20+6. vs AC

Its move is to climb down and move right next to both of them-maybe stomping out the flare with its feet if need be.)

S'kaar launched another bundle of himself at one of the porkers. Teeth and claws flying, the ball of rat flew at the pigman.




00:48, Today: S'kaar rolled 12 using 1d12+5.
00:48, Today: S'kaar rolled 12+8=20 using 1d20+8.  on porker at k20

Ordus' rebar spear almost skewers the plizog, then Bedlam's mental compulsion takes hold. It makes a half-hearted snap at the porker, but the cognitive dissonance is too big and the plizog's head explodes, noisily.

Meanwhile Multi-Roach's duplicate appears on top of a wall and fires down at the wounded porker by the flare. The cloud of pellets turn the porker into a stew of bacon rashers as it flies apart. The flare is still burning though - will the roach get to it in time to stamp it out?

Multi-Roach to get the flare and stamp it out this round your duplicate must make a DC15 skill roll using Athletics or Acrobatics.

Merlot's duplicate, deprived of a target, slashes the porker instead, and a ball of S'kaar rats gnaws a hole in one piggy arm.

It's all too much for a poor pig to bear! The porker lets rip a huge, sour fart that covers the surrounding area with a cloud of toxic and very, very smelly gas.

Merlot's duplicate explodes, while the original fares little better, coughing and spluttering.

13HP damage Merlot and you are stunned and cannot act next round.

The porker takes the opportunity to make a break for it, rushing back towards the flare.

Round 3. Combat map updated. Init Order: Flora, Ordus Rattus, Multi-Roach, Bedlam Jones, S'kaar, Merlot, Porker.

In reply to The Shadow (msg #96):

The duplicate roach, still somping with its extra feet, finally manages to extinguish the flare. "GO OUT DAMMIT!" It roars in frustration.

(OOC-Attack action-put out the light)

Merlot's eyes water at the foul stench.  There is little he can do but create little hairballs inside his mouth...

The flare splutters and goes out, but will the pilot notice the thin plume of blue smoke? It appears that it will... with a clatter of rotors the copter beging to advance on your stronghold.

Just take out this last porker and you have a couple of rounds to reposition for the brunt of the assault...Ordus Rattus, Bedlam Jones and S'kaar still to act this round

S'kaar leans out and hurls another ball of claws and fur down upon the last remaining pig-man.

--
14:55, Today: S'kaar rolled 16 using 1d12+5. damage.
14:55, Today: S'kaar rolled 19 using 1d20+8. ranged attack on last porker.

Unwilling to throw Rufus into the fray just yet, Bedlam takes a psychic lash at the porker's mind.

Round 3
Bedlam Jones rolled 22 using 1d20+4. Mental Push vs Will. Porker at K24

That'll do 3 points of psychic damage.

The last porker clutches his head in pain at Bedlam's mental assault, then gets its throat torn out by a ball of angry rats. It sinks to the ground, spurting blood. You have a few moments before the main assault gets here. The copter is drifting nearer, and you catch glimpses of enemy forces trying to flank from both sides...

Assume you have a couple of rounds to switch position or whatever. Ordus, sorry to mess up your position but I guess it's moot now - unless you want to stay there. I will move on at the weekend so get your position changes in fast.

Bedlam's thoughts drift out to the team. ~Merlot, you should stay inside the building. It offers more protection and allows us to concentrate our firepower.~

~That said... it appears they will be trying to approach from at least three sides. Let's make sure we see them coming. Roach, move over to the north wall. I'll cover the south. Once they arrive, the three of us on the upper floor will need to retreat to the ground floor.~

~Any other ideas?~

Meta:
Bedlam moves to Q14 on the upper floor.
Suggest Multi-roach move to H14 on upper floor.
Suggest Merlot move to N9 to cover the NW approach.

In reply to Bedlam Jones (msg #103):

The roach nodded, and moved to the area Jones suggested. If the aircraft gets close enough, I can send a duplicate to appear and cling to its underbelly. Then I can try to bring it down via crashing it...the bug offered mentally.

(OOC-Heading for H14)
This message was last edited by the player at 02:28, Sat 18 June 2011.

~Good idea, Roach.~ Bedlam's thoughts reply to the giant insect. ~And if there is more than one porker on board, I will attempt to sow bedlam in their ranks.~

The giant coercer's thoughts fairly ooze with deadly humor.

Merlot obediently moves to the location suggested by the intelligent one.

 Looking around for more possible enemys she bounces the heavy maul in her green hands looking to add more red to her green roots, "Food is food" she nodded to her brief thought and looked for direction to add her skills to this battle.

A few moments later the first of the porkers appear in the ruins, advancing towards your hideout from three directions. They move carefully, but it's clear they haven't seen you... yet. More porkers are advancing behind them, and the helicopter is almost in range, the gun platform it carries swinging gently.

Round 1. Combat map updated. Init Order: Flora, Ordus Rattus, Multi-Roach, Bedlam Jones, S'kaar, Merlot, Porkers.

You may attack this round or wait for them to close in. If you don't attack, please make a Stealth roll to remain unnoticed this round.

For the new players, no need to post in Init order. I will use it to resolve actions, however

 Hearing the flying machine getting closer she smiles at the thought of carnage to take place and moves over against the wall using what cover is handy to blend into the shadows.

 Glad that she was green and not a neon color she waits in ambush.

13:06, Today: Flora rolled 15 using 1d20+1. stealth chk

Merlot moves closer to the wall where he is standing.  Unfortunately, he stubs his toe and lets out a short howl, bringing attention to his specific location.


14:38, Today: Merlot rolled 5 using 1d20+4. Stealth.

Chittering softly in a chorus of pessimism, the Corporate Rodentia retreat back inside and find a handy corner, setting their rebar spear and waiting for the walking porkchop to loom in through the doorway.

(OOC Move to L17.  Stealth Check is...20:49, Today: Ordus F. Rattus rolled 11 using 1d20+9.  Bleep this, I might as well be playing tabletop!  Frakking die roller... :P )
This message was last edited by the player at 03:49, Tue 21 June 2011.

In reply to The Shadow (msg #108):

A duplicate appears before the porkers coming from the north, on top of the wall. The duplicate has shotgun aimed and ready to fire. It aims, lines up the prefect shot-and pulls the trigger-only to have something odd occur.

(OOC-Sending a duplicate to E16.

Using shotgun.

09:59, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 7 using 1d20+6.

Thats a roll of 1, kids! What happens because of that?)
This message was last edited by the player at 14:07, Tue 21 June 2011.

There is no automatic fumble on a natural 1 folks. But even so...

The new duplicate Roach looks around wildly. "Better to die a free insect than live as a slave to you will!" it burbles, before putting the shotgun in its mouth and pulling the trigger, messily.

S'kaar attempts to duck down behind the wall and hide.


He fails to notice his 'tail' sticking up over the wall.

--

13:31, Today: S'kaar rolled 10 using 1d20+8. stealth.

Bedlam relays the porkers' approaches to his teammates and adds his own thoughts... ~Merlot, looks like the porkers are not approaching from the west. Consider moving closer to Flora and Ordus in order to concentrate our firepower.~

OOC: Any porkers visible beyond (further south of) the one at Z13?
If so, Bedlam will use Mental Push.
Otherwise he will attempt to remain unseen.

Bedlam hides in the shadows of what remains of the roof, waiting for more targets to approach on the south flank.

Turn 1
Bedlam Jones rolled 19 using 1d20+2. stealth.

The porkers catch sight of you and with a guttural roar charge from three sides. Several make it inside on the lower floor.

Meanwhile the second wave of porkers have arrived, with a blunderbuss wielding boss-big making an appearance on each front. To the south, the boss is flanked by four plizogs, slathering for blood.

To make matters worse the helicopter flies into range, the gun platform swinging below. You hear the whine as the ack-ack gun cycles up...

Round 2. Combat map updated. Init Order: Flora, Ordus Rattus, Multi-Roach, Bedlam Jones, S'kaar, Merlot, Porkers.

Assume the gun platform is 10 squares above ground level.

 Sensing that she should be hidden from most of the pokers she lets a frown cross her face as she could hear the flying platform moved closer and the swine began powering up the heavy weapon for them.

 With practiced fingers she sets a steel bolt into the heavy Xbow and sights down its length at the gun carrying porker, guessing or hoping that if she kills the gunner then the wont have to face that.

 Letting a soft breath out she pulls the trigger and watchs the shaft speed towards the Gunner.

Standard : heavy missle weapon at nearest blunderbuss porker
04:52, Today: Flora rolled 14 using 2d8+4+2. damage vs pilot /str.
04:51, Today: Flora rolled 17 using 1d20+2. Hvy ranged at blunderbuss porker
This message was last edited by the player at 17:33, Mon 27 June 2011.

~Damn! They closed that gap too fast. Everyone downstairs. We will have to take them in hand to hand.~

Bedlam heads for the stairs.

~Flora, you and I will try to hold the gaps while the others continue to attack from behind us. Everyone watch out for their belches.~

Turn 2:
Move: Bedlam moves 6 (including down the stairs) to O14 and takes a swipe at the porker at P13.
Standard Action: Use Brickbat (vs AC)
Bedlam Jones rolled 11 using 1d20+7. Brickbat P13.
Bedlam Jones rolled 15 using 2d8+4. Damage.

S'kaar hurls a ball of claws at the gunnery platform before scampering towards the stairs.
--
15:27, Today: S'kaar rolled 6 using 1d12+5. damage.
15:27, Today: S'kaar rolled 23 using 1d20+8. ranged on Platform.

move to Q17 top of the stairs.

The roach saw the gun platform. He doubted he could bring it down with his shotgun or his crossbow. However, he could do something else. He moves up to the highest point of the roof, and then sends a duplicate to appear clinging to the bottum of the platform.

Once there-the duplicate will crawl up the chain connecting the platform to the helicopter itself. As it did not have long-it will grumble and shove its own head into the rear copper blades-causing it to get jammed out with exoskeleton and acidic roach goo. Bad news if you are trying to fly the thing...

(OOC-Move action-moves to highest point on roof.

Standard action-send duplicate to cling to bottom of weapon platform via its wall crawling power.

Duplicate's actions.

Does double move (12 spaces) allowing it to crawl up chain (10 spaces), no athletics roll needed, and shove its head into rear directional chopper blades-ruing control of the helicopter-possible causing crash. That's the rear blades-not the huge blades on top of the vehicle.)

Flora fires off a bolt at one the the porkers charging at her, skwering its leg.

Flora, all of the porkers with blunderbusses (marked PP rather than Po) are outside at the moment so I assumed you shoot at someone inside. Also I let you off an attack of opportunity... this time, but check the map, firing missile weapons while adjacent to an enemy triggers one.

Ordus stabs at the porker framed in the doorway with his spear, but the tip is deflected by its iron armour.

Multi-Roach's duplicate appears under the platform, then scuttles up and over, dodging two axe blows from a couple of surprised boss porkers crouched down the in the centre. It swarms up the cable to the copter and along into the rear rotor, sending a cloud off goo to gently drift down the earth. The copter wobble a bit then rights itself.

You had a 1 in 6 to destroy the rotor this time, rises by one each try. The pilot also has to make a DC15 roll to stay stable.

Bedlam charges downstairs, but his clumsy swing misses the the porker that just came in via the south door.

S'kaar's rat bundle heads right for the ack-ack gun, and they maul the porker manning the weapon.

Merlot conjures a duplicate next to the porker Bedlam is engaging, but it emerges into existence very confused and its double claw attack totally fails.

The porker from the east door spill into the room. Ordus stabs the first one, but two more slip past. None of them can avoid the flames surrounding him, and the smell of bacon clogs the air as their hide chars. The other porkers mill around outside as the melee has blocked the entrance.

Three porkers attack Flora and two go for Ordus, swinging with spiked flails. Flora is shredded by all three, and the sap runs green. Ordus is hit once.

19HPs damage Flora, 1HP damage Ordus after damage resistance

The helicopter flies closer to the building and hovers over the roof. Two coils of rope drop down and two boss porkers start to abseil down in front of Multi-Roach.

Assume they are at I14 and J14 and 3 squares up.

The two porkers near the south east corner start to climb the wall, one heads for the window, hanging perilously above the sump pit, while the other climbs straight up, but a handhold crumbles and it falls prone to the ground again.

The plizogs to the south bunch up and rush to the wall... an up it. Evidently their lizard heritage includes gecko feet. They will be over the top next round.

The porkers to the north and south rush into the building. The southern porker runs into Merlot's double and dispatches it quickly with its flail.

Round 3. Combat map updated. Init Order: Flora, Ordus Rattus, Multi-Roach, Bedlam Jones, S'kaar, Merlot, Porkers.

Also, if you missed it see here link to a message in this game
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:12, Fri 01 July 2011.

In reply to The Shadow (msg #122):

Once again, the roach sends a duplicate on the bottom of the weapon platform, and it crawls up and tries to destroy the rear rotor of the chopper. Seeing the foes coming down the ropes to deal with him, he quickly scuttles away to cling to the side of a wall out of their reach...


(OOC-Standard action-sending a duplicate up the chain as before. As the porkers are coming down the ropes-they should not be able to attack the duplicate-or I will hold my action to time it so they can't anyways.

Move action-using wall crawling to head down side of the building and heading inside the second floor. Looking for another window to climb back up next round.)

 With a groan at the sense of her limbs taking damage if not pain she fixes the lifeform with her green eyes and swings the heavy weapon at the gathered porkers attacking her.

Move action: none
12:56, Today: Flora rolled 10 using 1d10+3. damage vs porkers.
12:55, Today: Flora rolled 20 using 1d20+6. Brickbat atk vs  3 porkers on me
Close burst 1, any enemy she can see is hit by the attack.

Never one to abandon a team-mate in the heat of combat if they can avoid it, the Collective Rat do their utmost to teach a lesson to the porcine intruder between them and Flora...


(OOC Targeting the poor sod in K17.

20:51, Today: Ordus F. Rattus rolled 18 using 1d20+8. Melee Attack!...which is an 18.

20:51, Today: Ordus F. Rattus rolled 3 using 1d12+2. Damage.  And my luck runs true to form!  I'm hurting 'em more by sheer force of my battle aura...)

Bedlam swings his lamp post in another wide arc at the porker outside his door.

Round 3:
Bedlam Jones rolled 12 using 1d20+7. Brickbat P13. vs AC
Bedlam Jones rolled 12 using 2d8+4. Damage.

Ah well, maybe Merlot's duplicate can make use of a flanking bonus.

Flora swings round her length of rebar in a mighty arc, seriously bloodying the the porkers around her. Ordus' stab is like a bee sting in comparison.

Multi-Roach's duplicate scampers up once more to the rotor. Again the blades holds, but the pilot loses control for a second causing the copter to swerve. One of the bosses abseiling down loses his grip and falls to the roof with a thud. Meanwhile the hard-to-kill roach clings to the building outside a window but out of sight.

Bedlam's brickbat sadly bounces of the porkers armour.

S'kaar flings a rat bundle at the second abseiling porker. The nasty rodents hit, but the pig keeps his grip.

Merlot creates another duplicate which slashing the nearest porker in the eyes, blinding it temporarily.

The plizogs swarm up the building and onto the roof, and the two bosses also converge on S'kaars position. Meanwhile one of the porkers climbing up appears at the window right next to the rat swarm.

The three porkers around Flora all stand up, drawing attacks of opportunity from Flora and Ordus. The rat swarm manages to catch one off guard and stabs it in the head. The porker falls to the ground, skewered!

The two remaining porkers hit the giant with their flails, causing massive damage. Only her redundant organs are keeping her alive! Ordus fares better and manages to avoid his two assailants.

25HPs damage Flora

The porker at the window lashes out at S'kaar, hitting the swarm with its flail.

5HP damage S'kaar

Two porkers and one boss square off against Bedlam. The two minions score a hit, almost downing the vulnerable giant! The blinded porker lashes out futilely against the duplicate Merlot.

20HP damage Bedlam, watch out!

Finally Ordus' fire continues to crisp the the four porkers nearest to him.

Round 4. Combat map updated. Init Order: Flora, Ordus Rattus, Multi-Roach, Bedlam Jones, S'kaar, Merlot, Porkers+Plizogs.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:43, Wed 13 July 2011.

Now that the foes have ignored him, he crawls up slightly and pokes his head over the side of the roof-looking up at his target. "Geeze, how long can this take!?"

He sends another duplicate up the side of the platform, this time it shoves its duplicate shotgun into the rotor blades...


(OOC-Move-up side of wall, so only head is visible from the roof-which all his foes seem distracted anyways.

Standard-send off duplicate as before.

Slight change-this time duplicate roach will shove barrel of shotgun into the rotorblades-which should be slowed with the amount of bug stuff gumming them up already...)

S'kaar lashes out at the porker that struck it, but he is too slow. Instead he steps back from the window cautiously.


--

10:48, Today: S'kaar rolled 12 using 1d20+8. melee on porker.
Shifts work like D&D4e, right?

Howling with collectively murderous intent, save for those component members who have taken up the notion of bloody vengeance on a certain plant-mutant's behalf, Ordo continues to attempt a righteous rebar-spear smackdown on the Porker between they and Flora!

(OOC: same target, of course.  I'd mark him, but this ain't 4e.  Where's my Mordenkrad when I need it?

21:11, Today: Ordus F. Rattus rolled 24 using 1d20+8. Whallop the Pig.  I do believe that'll hit.

21:11, Today: Ordus F. Rattus rolled 7 using 1d12+2. Damage.  Meh.  Better than a total of 3...)
 

Seeing as how they porkers are trying to swarm her she again takes a breath and swings her maul at the line of ugly swines all near her and keeps her back against the wall.

Minor action: second wind.
standard action: brick bat attk vs close burst 1 porkers.
09:04, Today: Flora rolled 9 using 1d20+4. brickbat vs close burst 1

Flora's brickbat clatters noisily on the porkers' armour but does no damage. However, Ordus stabs the porker between them right in the pork chops and it expires in a gush of blood.

Multi Roachs' duplicate sees its shotgun neatly sheared in half by the rotor before it disappears.

You had a three in six chance but I rolled a 1. Unlucky! One more try at it, then the copter will be out of range for a duplicate. But you will have a 5 in 6 chance (fail on 1), feel free to roll it yourself.

Bedlam activates his Invisio armour and disappears from sight, before climbing out of the window and heading for the pile of rubble nearby. He takes in great heaving breaths and feels a little better.

Go invisible, move to S14 and use Second wind.

S'kaar misses the porker and backs down the stairs, unaware of the porkers below him suddenly deprived of Bedlam as a target...

Shift to Q16

Merlot creates another duplicate and slashes another wound on the hapless porker.

The two porkers respond in kind to Merlot's double, hacking it with their axes. One connects, which is enough to dispel the copy. The porker catches sight of the original in the next room and hurries to meet him.

The copter, swaying wildly, flies back away from the roof. The platform is too unstable for the ack-ack guns... for now.

With two of their number inside dead, the porker give a war cry and push more inside. Ordus and Flora kill the first as he rushes by, but soon they are surrounded by fresh pork.

Three porkers attack Flora once again, but this time none of them wound her. Ordus is attacked twice, and one blow stuns a component rat.

2HP damage Ordus.

On the stairs S'kaar is flanked by two boss porkers above and below, who swing at the swarm with their battleaxes, while a third porker flails away. Other plizogs and porker look down on the battle, unable to intervene for now.

Only one axe connects with the swarm.

10HP damage S'kaar.

Round 5. Combat map updated. Init Order: Flora, Ordus Rattus, Multi-Roach, Bedlam Jones, S'kaar, Merlot, Porkers+Plizogs.

Deadline Tuesday!

In reply to The Shadow (msg #132):

OOC-11:39, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 1 using 1d6. Geeze, I think you made a little too hard...

 With a screech she swings her maul once more in a half circle to smash pig flesh and to hear bones breaking as she ends the power swing and comes into a guard position again.

12:42, Today: Flora rolled 8 using 1d10+3. close burst 1,maul atk.
12:39, Today: Flora rolled 15 using 1d20+4. brick bat atk, close burst 1
Any porker hit and damaged is knocked prone.

The ancient tech keeping him invisible, Bedlam looks in through the window. His mind lashes out at a Porker thug, forcing it to attack its boss. Gripping his lamp post, the giant ducks back down as the inviso armor begins to sputter, its energy spent.

Round 4
Bedlam Jones rolled 17 using 1d20+4. Mental Push vs P16.
Attack vs Will.
Target (P16) takes 3 psychic damage and makes a basic attack against Q15.

S'kaar turns and lashes out at the pig who injured him, but he misses. He then steps off the stairs to a spot where a few less porkers can swing at him at a time...


--


14:37, Today: S'kaar rolled 9 using 1d20+8. melee on porker.
Shift to p17
Usesecond wind

This message was last edited by the player at 22:50, Wed 20 July 2011.

Flora's brickbat knocks four porkers to their knees, spraying blood over the walls. One (J16) topples over and does not get back up.

Ordus stabs at the nearest porker again (L16), but misses.

Multi-Roach watches in disbelief as his duplicate once again fails to destroy the rotor, and the copter barely wobbles in response. That was his last chance!

Bedlam's mind control causes the porker to rake his boss (Q16) with the flail. The two spend the rest of the round screaming at each other, but don't come to blows.

S'kaar slips from the stairs in all the confusion, but his rat smack misses the porker still descending.

Melot summons his mysterious Alpha power, becoming even more blurred than usual. He reaches out and touches the porker in front of him, who promptly disappears.

The copter flies back and up, leaving the platform out of reach of all but the longest range weapons (20). The ack-ack gun cycles up again, looking for targets.

Meanwhile, the porker that Merlot's duplicate blinded a few seconds back rushes in (O10) to take on the original and flails the felinoid cruelly.

8HP damage Merlot.

The porker boss takes S'kaar's position on the stairs and swings down at the rat swarm with his battleaxes, splatting a few unfortunate members.

7HP Damage S'kaar.

Amazingly all of the four porkers left attacking Ordus and Flora misses, their flails getting in each others' way in their excitement.

Finally, Ordus' fiery aura scorches the porker some more.

Round 6. Combat map updated. Init Order: Flora, Ordus Rattus, Multi-Roach, Bedlam Jones, S'kaar, Merlot, Porkers+Plizogs.

Deadline Saturday!

Seeing the one go down she smiles cruely and once more powers her brickbat in a giant sweeping arc determined to take the others down also.

17:00, Today: Flora rolled 6 using 1d20+4. brickbat/closeburst 1

Bedlam attempts to repeat his manipulation, but the porker is ready and the giant's mental promptings go unheeded.

His thoughts shift to the injured (non-flaming) rat horde. ~S'kaar, you might want to drop down through the hole to the basement. Then up the ramp to help Flora and Ordus.~

Round 5
Bedlam Jones rolled 6 using 1d20+4. Mental Push vs P16.

Hmmm... a few rounds of consistent successes would be helpful.

This message was last edited by the player at 04:19, Sat 23 July 2011.

Chittering with frustration, the collective rats continue their only too predictable efforts to skewer their favorite dance partner once and for all!  But then, until their friend goes down, it isn't exactly wise of them to change targets...

(OOC 09:43, Today: Ordus F. Rattus rolled 23 using 1d20+8. Melee Attack!
09:44, Today: Ordus F. Rattus rolled 8 using 1d12+2.)

In reply to The Shadow (msg #137):

The roached crawled to another section of the upper floor-still clinging to the side of the building. Once he spots the mass group if of Porkers, he sends down another duplicate which fires its shotgun into the group of them...

(OOC-Roach moving to F18, peeking around corner and the lower level. Sending down duplicate to  I21 and it will shoot its shotgun

Rolling vs Ac oof J19, K19, and M19

22:31, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 9 using 1d20+6.
22:31, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 19 using 1d20+6.
22:28, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 26 using 1d20+6.
 22:31, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 19 using 2d10+6.

K19 takes 19 damage
M19 takes 26 damage)
This message was last edited by the player at 02:39, Mon 25 July 2011.

S'kaar swings at the porker in front of him, scoring a vicious blow with his tangle of claws and teeth.

--
00:15, Today: S'kaar rolled 28 using 1d20+8.  Crit
16 Damage

Flora's brickbat misses the porkers, but Ordus kills one (L16) with a spear to the guts.

Multi-Roach's duplicate opens fire at point blank range, his shotgun severely shredding two porkers. They are still standing, but not by much.

Bedlam's mental push fails, while S'kaar takes a chunk out of one of his opponents, nearly flooring him.

Merlot disembowels the wounded porker in front of him.

The porker boss outside spins round, piles into the rubble, and splats Multi-Roach's duplicate with his battleaxe. Inside, three remaining porkers battle on against Flora and Ordus while the rest mill around outside. Flora is hit once, a glancing blow. Then the porkers get burned more by rat-fire.

6HP damage Flora.

Two bosses and an underling battle S'kaar, while plizogs and porker look down from above. One of the bosses scores a nasty blow with his battleaxe, sending rat bits and gore flying. Could this be the end of our rodent friend? Deep within the pile of expiring rats, a piece of advanced technology ticks to life. Lightning flickers around the rats that make up S'kaar and with a flash - THEY LIVE!

S'kaar, you are on 11HP, but are dazed until the end of your next action.

The porker Merlot "disappeared" blinks back into life, its face a mask of blood. Two bosses sprint over to corner the unfortunate feline.

The gunner on the platform cannot find a target as he fails to notice Multi-Roach clinging to the wall.

Round 7. Combat map updated. Init Order: Flora, Ordus Rattus, Multi-Roach, Bedlam Jones, S'kaar, Merlot, Porkers+Plizogs.

Deadline Friday!
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:00, Tue 26 July 2011.

Yanking the bloodied rebar from their first victim, the Senate of Rodents takes a good whack at the Porker standing conveniently between them and their plantlike companion Flora...


(OOC
21:10, Today: Ordus F. Rattus rolled 21 using 1d20+8. Melee Attack on K17. +2 Flanking Bonus is a 23, I believe...

21:10, Today: Ordus F. Rattus rolled 4 using 1d12+2. Damage.  Pathetic.)

In reply to The Shadow (msg #143):

Once again-the duplicate re-appears and shoots direction into a group of three of them-only for the buckshot to go wild...

(OOC-Appearing in K20. Shooting...

11:09, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 7 using 1d20+6.
11:09, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 8 using 1d20+6.
11:09, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 14 using 1d20+6.

Pretty sure that is 3 misses...)

 Feeling the sting of that last atk as the pig men try to overwhelm her, she draws a deep breath of air and agains swings her brickbat at the grunting mass of swine crowding her, They should know that all plants fight to keep their own area clear of other lifeforms.

08:19, Today: Flora rolled 13 using 1d10+6. Damage to porkers.
08:19, Today: Flora rolled 22 using 1d20+7. brickbat atk vs porkers/burst 1

Once more Bedlam focuses his thoughts on overriding the Porker's control of his body. His target, however, is concentrating fully elsewhere, and the giant's efforts prove fruitless.

Round 6
Bedlam Jones rolled 9 using 1d20+4. Mental Push vs P16.

rrrr...

Flora smashes the three porkers around her like ninepins, killing two outside and leaving the other prone and spitting blood. Ordus' stab with the spear does not improve his situation.

Multi-Roach's duplicate fires high, missing all three porkers, and Bedlam's mental mojo fizzles out again.

S'karr just stands there, dazed, and tries to put the tunnel of light out of his mind.

Merlot, surrounded, takes a deep breath, gather his resources, then beheads the wounded porker next to him. But two bosses remain....

Second Wind +13 HPs.

The two porker bosses flanking Merlot do a nifty sweeping move with their battleaxes and cut the unfortunate feline into three pieces. They high five each other and prepare to loot the corpse.

The three on S'kaar are obviously discomforted by his recent resurrection, as only one manages to score a glancing blow despite his stunned state.

3HP damage S'kaar.

Multi-Roaches duplicate is taken apart by ack-ack fire from the helicopter platform.

The porker at the door struggles to his feet but is killed by Flora's backhander. The remaining porkers outside, including the porker boss, pile through the door. Two of them are already badly wounded by shotgun pellets. Two attack Flora, and a porker and boss attack Ordus, but only the boss can connect with his battleaxe.

7HP damage Ordus.

One more porker burns up in Ordus' fiery aura. Only three left out of the mob that tried to storm the front!

Round 8. Combat map updated. Init Order: Flora, Ordus Rattus, Multi-Roach, Bedlam Jones, S'kaar, Porkers+Plizogs.

Deadline Tuesday! I think this marks the turning point of the battle, good luck!

~Focus, people!~ Bedlam's thoughts reach out to the team. ~Let's finish these porkers off.~

The giant then attempts to apply his own advice, training his thoughts on one of the Porker Bosses...

Round 7
Bedlam Jones rolled 15 using 1d20+4. Mental Push vs Q16.
Attack vs Will.
If successful, target (Q16) takes 3 psychic damage and makes a basic attack against P16.

Another duplicate appears outside-firing at the Porker boss, only for the shot to go wide once more.

(OOC-Duplicate at K19.

Shooting-pointlessly...

23:49, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 12 using 1d20+6. vs AC)

 Thinking she has a second to take a deep breath the other porkers pile into the slippery remains of the dead porkers already smashed up.

 She draws back her heavy weapon and again arc's around at the two squealing pigs in front of her.

20:54, Today: Flora rolled 8 using 1d20+7. brickbat atk close burst 1

S'kaar swings at the porker who hit him, but his foe moves too fast. He takes the opportunity presented by his foe's dodging to slip along the wall, a little further from the stairs.

--


16:52, Today: S'kaar rolled 13 using 1d20+8. attack porker.
Shift to o17

A wave of freak possibility washes over the battleground as attack after attack fails to connect. The only combatant to land a blow is one of the porker bosses attacking S'kaar. Unfortunately for the enemy, the blow was the result of Bedlam's mental compulsion, and the boss beheads the wounded porker next to him.

The gunner on the helicopter platform also scores a hit, but only on the duplicate outside.

As S'kaar retreats, the bosses follow, leaving the stairs free for the forces on the roof. The plizogs rush down and catch sight of Bedlam outside. One jumps through the window and tries to bite the giant - missing of course - while the others pile back outside to flank him.

The two porkers on the roof move down the stairs to box in S'kaar, while the two bosses that dispatch Merlot paw over his corpse.

Check the dice roller - the worst run of rolls I've seen in 10 years on the site!

Round 9. Combat map updated. Init Order: Flora, Ordus Rattus, Multi-Roach, Bedlam Jones, S'kaar, Porkers+Plizogs.

Deadline Sunday!

 Seeing more of the sausage meat porkers attempt once more to press their attacks on her.

 Spinning the heavy maul she swings in a wide arc to take the new ones and to land a blow against the bigger mob to her southside.

17:58, Today: Flora rolled 19 using 2d8+6. damage.
17:58, Today: Flora rolled 18 using 1d20+7. Brickbat atk vs porkers, burst 1
 Burst 1 atk against every porker close to her 180 frontage. Targets knocked prone if the take damage.

S'kaar moves into the corner beside him and swings at the porker that stands astride the hole in the floor.

--
Move to N17
10:21, Today: S'kaar rolled 28 using 1d20+8. attack porker. Crit! 16 Damage to Porer at o16

In reply to The Shadow (msg #153):

The Roach crawls down the side of the building and enters. Looking down at Flora being surrounded, he creates another duplicate who nearly blows the head off one of them with its shotgun.

(OOC-Move action-Moves to H13 on first floor.

Standard action-duplicate at J14

Duplicate action-Shoots Porkers at J16 and K16.

10:26, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 26 using 1d20+6.
10:26, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 9 using 1d20+6.

Nat 20 damage=26 points.)
This message was last edited by the player at 14:30, Fri 05 Aug 2011.

"Bad... dog?" Bedlam realizes the trouble he is in as the plizogs swarm out of the building around him.

~Might need some help over here if any of you have room on your dance card.~ the giant sends his thoughts out to the team as he prepares to meet the plizog onslaught.

Gripping his lamppost he swings in a wide arc. Unfortunately the close confines of the walls and rubble reduce the effectiveness of his attack. The plizogs do hesitate, however, and he steps out into the walled path leading to the compound.

Round 8
Standard Action: Brickbat
Bedlam Jones rolled 14 using 1d20+7. Brickbat.
vs AC in close burst (R13, R15, S15)
Bedlam Jones rolled 11 using 2d8+4. Damage.
If that hits targets take 11 damage and are knocked prone.

Shift to T13.

Continuing their high-pitched and defiant chittering, the Rats shift position a little, hoping to flank a porker against Flora...and jabbing again and again with the rebar, seeking to punish the interlopers!



OOC:Shift to L16
Attack K16 with righteous anger and furious vengeance!
09:25, Today: Ordus F. Rattus rolled 25 using 1d20+8. Attack K16.
09:26, Today: Ordus F. Rattus rolled 11 using 1d6+5. Damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:30, Sun 07 Aug 2011.

Flora, Ordus and duplicate Multi-Roach, club, stab, shoot and burn the porkers in the front lobby. All three die, the boss last, as, struggling to his trotters, he is brained by Flora. The trio are surrounded by almost a dozen corpses, many of the cooked to perfection by Ordus.

Multi-Roach, your move would have put you clear in the ack-ack sights! Safer to stay where you are. I'm assuming you don't want to move there after all, but if you do PM me.

S'kaar backs into a corner and is surrounded by three beefy plizogs. Amazingly, only the boss connects and the rat swarm still stands for now.

5HP Damage S'kaar. BTW the hole is in the ceiling, not the floor. Sorry for not making that clear

Two plizogs advance after Bedlam, jaws snapping. The unfortunate giant takes two huge wounds in the leg and collapses to the ground, gushing blood.

Bedlam you are dying. Roll 10 or better each round you're fine. If you roll a 20 you stabilise. Otherwise without some first aid, after 3 fails you die!

The unengaged porkers rush to the sounds of battle for the front, calling two plizogs after them, who race ahead and dismember the duplicate Multi-Roach. The bosses round the corner and pull up sharp when the see the carnage in front of them, with Flora and Ordus still standing. As one, they each pull out a massive blunderbuss and take aim...

BTW have added the dead porkers to the map as a *, will cost  1 extra move to enter and leave squares.

Round 10. Combat map updated. Init Order: Flora, Ordus Rattus, Multi-Roach,  S'kaar, Porkers+Plizogs.

Deadline Friday!
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:54, Tue 09 Aug 2011.

Bedlam's thoughts filter painfully out through a red haze. ~Gah!~

~Sorry, I will maintain contact as long as I can.~


Bedlam Jones rolled 18 using 1d20. Roll to not die.

Not dead yet!

In reply to The Shadow (msg #159):

From his position on the ramp, another duplicate appears between his two friends-and its shotgun proceeds to blast 2 of the three porker bosses directly in front of them...

(OOC-Multi-Roach should be at H13 on first floor. Duplicate appears at K17

Duplicate shoots at Porkers bosses-all in a handy row...

13:41, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 21 using 1d20+6. vs AC
13:41, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 10 using 1d20+6. vs AC
13:41, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 26 using 1d20+6. vs AC

13:41, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 10 using 2d10+6. damage for first Porker boss hit
Second porker boss hit (nat 20 again) takes 26 damage.)

The Rat Collective hunker down, holding their rebar spear in a defensive position, and catch their parliamentary breath, glaring at the remaining foes with their beady little red eyes and chittering a soft challenge...

Minor: Second Wind
Hunkering down and going defensive, unless I think of something else in the meantime.

S'kaar swings again at the porker standing under the hole, but he misses.

 Seeing the last of the wart hogs go down she races out and begins heading for where the other fighter of their group had gone down.

 ooc: she will do whats needed other then charge a large group of them until she gets to where BJ has fallen. R-14

15:56, Today: Flora rolled 13 using 2d8+6. possible damage, if damaged
knocked prone.
15:55, Today: Flora rolled 13 using 1d20+7. Brickbat attk vs blocking porkers
           Modified for charge +2 = 15 to hit.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:58, Sat 13 Aug 2011.

Bedlam's thoughts come to the team with noticeably less strength than usual.

~Flora, Ordus, advance, press the attack. You have the advantage.~

Both Flora and Ordus get the strong urge to advance through the piled porker bodies to attack the porker bosses. They wonder at how persuasive the giant would be if he was actually looking them in the eyes.

~Roach, can you get your dupe to help S'kaar? Use the hole in the ceiling.~

Multi-Roach crawls in through the window and clings to the ceiling above the battle. His duplicate peppers two of the porker bosses with shotgun pellets.

S'kaar is taken down by the three porkers, his constituent rats dead or dying. Immediately the porkers paw over the dying swarm.

S'kaar, you are on -7HPs and dying. Roll 10 or better each round you're fine. If you roll a 20 you stabilise. Otherwise without some first aid, after 3 fails you die! In addition, the porkers pawing over your dying form count as one fail already, so you have two left.

Two of the porkers bosses drop their blunderbusses, take out their axes and chop Flora like a wayward tree causing sap to splatter everywhere.

30HP damage Flora.

The third fires at Ordus, peppering his ratty forms with pellets. The duplicate Multi-Roach is totally shredded.

15HP damage Ordus.

The two plizogs inside run straight up the walls on their gecko feet and onto the ceiling, flanking Multi-Roach. They both get in a bite on his chitinous hide. The plizogs from outside ignore the dying Beldam, run inside, and move down the ramp to flank Flora

10HP damage Multi-Roach.

Round 10. Combat map updated. Init Order: Flora, Ordus Rattus, Multi-Roach, Bedlam Jones, S'kaar, Porkers+Plizogs.

Deadline Wednesday!

In reply to The Shadow (msg #166):

The roach tried to get away from it's foes, whiile sending a duplicate to assit s'kaar.

(occ-move action-trying to move to croner of wall so they cannot flank me. Shifting one over should work, because they would have to risk my OA in order to flank, right? Maybe at the corner of the wall and ceilmg?

Standard-duplicate to p15. Shooting at all three porkers

17:19, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 23 using 2d10+6.
17:19, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 17 using 2d10+6.
17:19, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 14 using 2d10+6.
17:19, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 17 using 1d20+8. Vs ac
17:19, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 21 using 1d20+8. Vs Ac
17:19, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 21 using 1d20+8. Vs Ac)
This message was last edited by the player at 21:33, Sun 14 Aug 2011.

 Staggered by their blow she lashes out with her vines at the close ones seeking the gouge and tangle their limbs with her attack, she was slightly disappointed with her attack.

 13:56, Today: Flora rolled 11 using 1d6+5. possible damage vs reflex.
13:56, Today: Flora rolled 8 using 1d20+5. lashing creepers vs porkers/boss
 Atk vs reflex, if hit target slowed till end of my next turn.

Bedlam strives to keep his mind clear through the oddly distant pain.

Bedlam Jones rolled 11 using 1d20. Roll to not die.

Gritting their collective teeth, the Rats move to contact, hoping to at least make any attempt to porkpile Flora a little more costly.

Move to L16
20:00, Today: Ordus F. Rattus rolled 24 using 1d20+8. Melee Attack
20:01, Today: Ordus F. Rattus rolled 14 using 1d12+2. Damage

Die roller must be apologizing for something...
This message was last edited by the player at 03:02, Thu 18 Aug 2011.

The battle continues. Multi-Roach moves onto the wall to prevent getting flanked, but as he creates his duplicate the plizog above him takes the opportunity to snap at a feeler. His duplicate's shotgun again take a toll on the porkers.

6HP damage Multi-Roach, and your omega tech activates (no burnout). Also, your duplicate couldn't reach the porkers around Sk'aar so I assumed you change your target to the three porkers on Flora and Ordus

Ordus advances and stabs, bathing two bosses in his eternal flame.

The porkers looting S'kaar remains are too tempted by the aroma of fresh rat. They move from looting to eating.

Flora dodges the axes of the porker bosses, but the two plizogs worrying her from the side take two large bites from her leg. Flora is almost compost!

14HP Damage Flora.

The porker boss on Ordus also misses. A plizog almost bites Multi-Roach, but his armour pulls him out of the way with a servo-assisted whine.

Round 11. Combat map updated. Init Order: Flora, Ordus Rattus, Multi-Roach, Bedlam Jones, Porkers+Plizogs.

 Smiling at the odds facing her she is content, she is doing what she wanted to do and would face what ever was ahead with peace and contentment.

16:47, Today: Flora rolled 12 using 2d8+4. damage.
16:46, Today: Flora rolled 27 using 1d20+7. brickbat attk vs all in contact(Crit)
Vs Ac. all hit are knocked prone.

Through a painful haze Bedlam's thoughts continue to connect his teammates.

~Nice swing, sis.~

Bedlam Jones rolled 10 using 1d20. Roll to not die.

Should I be adding an CON modifier or something to this roll?

Multiroach moves slight, still trying to wriggle free from the dogs. His duplicate appears near the downed porkers, firing into them while they are down.

(OOC-Minor action-Second wind. Heals 14 HP and gets +2 all defenses

Free action-Alpha mutation-recharges omega tech.

Move action-Shifts to H11 along the wall, still moving so he cannot be flanked.

Standard action makes duplicate in K14.

Please note-the duplicate gets a full round of actions-not just a standard one. It could have moved towards Skarr on its own. However, it looks like there is nothing we can do for him...sorry.

Duplicate shoots at line of downed porkers.

09:39, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 14 using 1d20+8. vs ac
09:40, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 11 using 2d10+6. damage
09:39, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 23 using 1d20+8. vs ac
09:40, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 15 using 2d10+6. damage
09:39, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 26 using 1d20+8. vs ac
09:40, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 19 using 2d10+6. damage

Maybe we should run now? It does seem like an unbeatable deathtrap...)

Flora's mighty brickbat lays out three bosses and two plizogs in an arc of pain.

Multi-Roaches shotgun peppers them all with shot as they lie helpless. The plizogs use the opportunity to attack again. One hits, but this reactivates his armour which jerks him out of th way of their subsequent attacks.

8HP Damage Multi-Roach.

Ordus misses when he stabs the nearest porker while it's down, but stabs it through the brain as it tries to get up.

Flora is finally felled by the axe of the near-dead porker, falling gracefully to the ground in a shower of sap.

16HP Damage Flora. Please start making your survival rolls.

The porkers looting S'kaar hear that the battle still rages and pile into the melee.

The porker boss attacking Ordus brings its axe through the collection of rats, killing almost all the constituents. With a pop, Ordus' flame goes out as he lies dying in aggregate on the floor.

A single rat crawls away from the slaughter and burrows into the corpse of the porker Ordus just killed. There is a pregnant pause, then the corpse explodes into a gaggle of flaming rats, who quickly reform into Ordus mark II. The surprised porker that killed him is burned to death in Ordus' fiery aura, a look of extreme annoyance on his face. Two nearby porker grunts are also singed.

Round 12. Combat map updated. Init Order: Flora, Ordus Rattus, Multi-Roach, Bedlam Jones, Porkers+Plizogs.

Don't worry folks! Luckily for you, Ordus is essentially immortal, at least until he runs out of corpses. Deadline Sunday!

 OOC: 11:18, Today: Flora rolled 18 using 1d20. death roll

~Hang in there, sis. Hang in there. We're not done yet...~

Action:
Bedlam Jones rolled 14 using 1d20. Roll to not die.

In reply to The Shadow (msg #175):

The roach sees Flora fall, and knows there is no hope, other than escape. As much as he would like to avenge her death-there are too many foes to defeat them all. He creates a duplicate in front of himself, and it blasts the two creatures harrying him. He takes advantage of the distraction in order to try to crawl away to the upper floor. However, he could lead the goons away. "COME GET ME, YOU PORK CHOPS!" He yells at the porkers as he skuttles up the wall and to the second floor.

(OOC-Standard action-Duplicate in front of Roach in order to absorb OA as he moves away.

Move action-moves to second floor. Where was the place on the second floor that was safe from the chopper?

duplicate action-shoots both dog-things attack the main multi-roach.

10:13, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 24 using 2d10+6. Damage
10:13, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 26 using 2d10+6. Damage
10:13, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 25 using 1d20+8. vs AC
10:13, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 25 using 1d20+8. Vs Ac)

The rat collective scatter and scamper, seeking one of the fallen...

OOC Yes, folks, I'm Inhabiting Corpse!  Unfortunately for me, the d20 roll means that I'm Dazed this round.

Multi-Roach tries to maneuver outside, but the two plizogs cam move faster than him and have the same wall-crawling abilities. His duplicate bloodies both of them with a shotgun, but one of the plizogs gets in a final bite that sends the roach falling to the floor with a splat!

14HP damage Multi-Roach. You are now dying, rules as per Flora and Bedlam.

Ordus skewers another porker with his spear. The remaining two bosses and porker converge on the burning pile of rats, along with two plizogs. His constituents are ripped to shreds, but once again one survives to crawl into a still-cooling corpses. Moments later another Ordus eats its way out of the corpse, bursting into flame again. One of the boss porkers is fatlly crisped and falls lifeless to the floor.

Next round, Ordus stabs ineffectually, but the remaining porker boss and foot soldier, survivors of a raiding party 25 strong, exchange glances and decide to cut their losses rather than fight a constantly respawning Ordus. They flee the building, calling their hounds with them.

Ordus stands swaying as his companions slowly bleed to death.

OK Ordus, first of all your are wounded. According to my Housed-Ruled Wound System you are on Wound Level 2, Weakened and Slowed! This will persist till you rest up back in Compton.

I will assume you can turn of your flame long enough to treat the wounded.

Would all players please roll 20 x d20 on the Dice Roller, and make sure Record all Dice is checked. Ordus is rolling first aid, the rest of you survival. Good luck!

In reply to The Shadow (msg #180):

OOC-
14:23, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 2 using 1d20.
14:23, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 18 using 1d20.
14:23, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 15 using 1d20.
14:23, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 9 using 1d20.
14:22, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 2 using 1d20.
14:22, Today: Multi-Roach rolled 14 using 1d20.

Ok, I think I am dead. Thanks for the game, I think I am done with this.

Not yet, depends on Ordus' rolls.

 Hmm, didnt last too long did i ?.
14:21, Today: Flora rolled 13 using 1d20.
14:21, Today: Flora rolled 2 using 1d20.
14:21, Today: Flora rolled 20 using 1d20.
14:21, Today: Flora rolled 1 using 1d20.
14:21, Today: Flora rolled 14 using 1d20.
14:21, Today: Flora rolled 9 using 1d20.
14:21, Today: Flora rolled 2 using 1d20.
14:21, Today: Flora rolled 15 using 1d20.
14:21, Today: Flora rolled 13 using 1d20.
14:20, Today: Flora rolled 15 using 1d20

 Which should be enough to do her in.

Bedlam Jones rolled 194 using 20d20 with rolls of 20,5,20,13,12,4,3,16,9,4,9,4,4,3,9,10,17,19,9,4. 20 times d20 Survival.

Two 20s early in the process - might be enough to stabilize.

Flora and Bedlam both stabilised and are OK! Let's see if Ordus can save Multi-Roach...

 Blinking her eyes she looks around the sky and tops of the ruined buildings for a few seconds wondering where she was until she remembered that the porkers had knocked her down and she must have passed out.

 Every part of her body hurt and some more then others but she was ..breathing..anyway. Using her maul she regained her feet once more to see about the others and who was still alive.

Ordus revives Flora, while Bedlam wakes up by himself. But by the time Ordus gets to Multi-Roach it is too late - the insect has expired.

Outside you hear the sound of the helicopter flying back to the stronghold...

OK folks, will try and move things quickly on so we can involve the new characters. Just let me know what your plans are for heading back.

Sighing with regret and a touch of disappointment, the Parliamentary Rattus turn to the others.

"We should probably get back to something resembling safety.  We have hurt them, but not badly enough to remain here.  And...something must be done for our companions."

 Since they were just laying around(the dead porkers) she will help search the bodies for any goods that could be sold for profit.

 Once that was done she looks to be sure no porkers were hiding and watching their movements, Well, i suggest that we head back to the outpost and sell what we have.

"Indeed!"

Ordus get up and help recover ex-Porker equipment.

Bedlam wraps up the worst of his injuries and begins the clean up process.

"I agree, we should not linger," the big man looks around at the slaughter, regretting the loss of companions. "Ordus, let's get your possum rigged and loaded."

Bedlam uses Merlot's bedroll to gather up the felinoid's remains. He considers the scattered remnants of S'kaar. "Looks like most of S'kaar's bits have abandoned the congress."

OOC: Any chance Bedlam was functional soon enough to render aid to Multi-Roach? That second 20 I rolled might save him.

Of course, if Multi doesn't want to be saved...

Survivors carry their kit, food and water.

Priority of things going on the possum and carried out:
Swag - tech, barters(?), low-tech weapons
Companion Bodies (for recycling)

 Helping pile bodys onto the a blanket and picks up ever equipment they can find she calms the nervous giant creature. I agree, lets depart before the porkers come storming back with reinforcements.

 Shouldering her maul she marches along the road.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:44, Thu 08 Sept 2011.

Bedlam ties up a huge load of swag in a couple bedrolls and attaches it to the end of his lamppost-maul. He frowns, watching Ordus limp around, a trail of injured, burning rats struggling to keep up with the collective.

"As much as I'd like to bring some bodies back for Compton's recycler, I'm afraid they'll slow us down too much. Sis, you and I can carry the swag. Ordus, I want you riding... and resting."

"Leave the porkers and plizogs where they lie."

Bedlam lays Multi-Roach and Merlot next to the freestanding remains of a ruined wall.

"Sis, gimme a hand with this, will ya?"

Together the giants topple the wall over the bodies of their fallen comrades. A few more large chunks of rubble ensure that nothing but the very largest (or very smallest) of scavengers will be able to get to them.

"Thinking 'bout coming back some time and doing them proper," Bedlam mutters as he makes a quick final check, shoulders his gear, and heads back for what passes as civilization.

OOC: per The Shadow's post in Meta, we left the cart and truck back in town, so we just have the possum. The giants carry the gear. The flaming rat horde rides the possum. We make haste to leave the vicinity.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:45, Wed 07 Sept 2011.

"We have no intent of arguing with that.  Not after the way today has gone so far."

With that, the rats clamber all over their fireproof giant possum and...well, as near as anyone can tell, they collectively sack out.

 As she strides down the pathway, she looks over her shoulder, We need to come up with a way to deal with that flying machine if we come back this way.

With the possum carrying a posse of exhausted flaming rats and Flora and Bedlam weighed down with loot, you head back to Compton as fast as possible, every moment expecting an ambush from opportunistic scavengers or a lynch mob of indignant porkers. The fates smile on you, however, and you managed to exit the suburbs without trouble.

You troop back into Compton, much to the amazement of the locals - in fact, you see a lot of money changing hands as bets are settled. By the looks of it, most of the gamblers were betting against you!

Over the next few days you will be resting up and bartering your look.

- Everyone make a Conspiracy roll.
- You go through a painful alpha flux. Everyone pick the next mutation from your list (see here link to a message in this game)
- You can change/re-skinn any and all of your weapons if you wish. Also, you each get one more piece of Omega tech. I will be giving you all a choice of 3, watch your PMs.
- Don't forget to level up!