"Aside from the fauna of the area, we have indications that undead may be on a few key mountain passes. We think they are there purely as a back up plan for the PCA, should they get a foothold in Fildegarne and we make an approach from the mountains. If we do encounter any camps should we go over, it will be best to silence them along the way. Oh, and I'm well aware of your prior service to our people. Lithuanwe sung high praises of you when he returned. My own son will be thrilled when he learns his father is partnered with Beloc S'Viscus, much less that you're alive. Everyone back home thinks you dead, and your "martyr" has become a sort of inspirational story of sacrifice. The journey to the foot hills, should we avoid any snags along the way, would be a two week forced march. Five days by horse. Or three days by motor carriage". He ends his last sentence with a smile. "There have been more than a few advances in steam and arcane technology while you slumbered in the deep".
This message was last edited by the player at 02:05, Thu 06 Apr 2017.

Beloc tries to maintain as modest an expression as possible as Kallium speaks of the sacrifice they all made.

"Motor carriage? Not sure I'd trust that just yet, given the experience we had on the Burrow. Five days on horseback seems fair enough to me."

"The horses would be the most advisable. You'll run out of road at one point or another, and I hear the motor carriages don't do well on uneven surfaces. That's the trade off for all that armor they carry. At any rate, you have in the ball park of 48 hours to get moving. I expect you'll all need a bit more time to get adjusted to the new decade, and you'll also need to visit the armory and the range tomorrow should you so choose. I'll pass the word along to each respective station that they're to get you anything you request, within reason. Also, I'll pass word along to the payroll office about your back pay. While I assume command of this operation, Major Cairn here will be directly in charge. If he says it, do it. He's well versed in modern tactics that suit today's battlefield, and he wont steer you wrong. Any further questions?".

"I have none that can't wait till we are on the road.  Once on the road I'll need detailed descriptions of every kind of foe you think we'll face.  Weaknesses, strengths, numbers, tactics and anything else you know about them.  Even reproduction methods and down time habits.  But for now, I'd like to see the gear we have available and then study. "  Shiaran seems anxious to get to the gear and whatnot for the trip.

Sypher only shakes his head, indicating he has no questions either.

"Who would you suggest we speak to in order to get brought up to speed on current events? Aside from this war, I imagine much has happened."

"I'd be more than happy to answer questions and fill in any blanks you may have. And Lieutenant Whiteraven.. the ah, female one, I appreciate your gusto on the mission, but being past dinner, the armory and essentially everywhere else will be closed at this hour".

Sylas chimes in. "The good news is that everything opens up just before sunrise. Oh, and I'll be letting your escorts know you wont be needing them anymore. You have the run of the base. Just.. don't go getting any ideas about poking around in areas where common sense tells you not to. You'll all have a long day ahead of you tomorrow, so I suggest you find your way to your racks soon. I'm going to turn in myself, and hand over everything to Major Cairn".

The group makes their way to bed, armed with just enough knowledge and purpose to be dangerous. Each of you, barely able to sleep or rest, has no problem with being awake before the dawn, as Sylas failed to mention buglers playing reveille.

One by one as you exit your rooms, you find Callium waiting for you. Once breakfast has been taken care of, he asks where everyone wants to start.

Shiaran wakes, grumbling about the bugles.  She doesn't waste time getting ready, but she does take time.  Her reputation of beauty isn't just for show.  It is as much her armor as the leather she wears.  Once satisfied that everything is in proper place she opens the door.  She is immediately ready with an answer to the question having spent most of the hour before sleep thinking about it. "Armory with Sypher then the spellcaster library."

Sypher has spent the night well rested.  Sleep has always come easy to him.  The training in the monastery has helped him still his mind for years when thoughts desire to race.  He is up before the bugles with morning prayer and study of the ever present leather-bound book.  When the knock comes he responds with a request for the Armory, expecting Shiaran to go their first, too.

They usually gear up together when they can.  It allows them to know what the other is capable of.  On the road, Shiaran will let him know of any new spells she's come across and what she intends to keep in memory.  She even takes his suggestions on that.  Sometimes.

Beloc wakes before dawn and first heads to Moodin Point. He sits there quietly and watches the sunrise there before heading back for breakfast and to meet with the others.

With breakfast done, he heads to the armory to look over what options he has to equip himself.

At the armory, the group is taken in to a room with a vault door on it. Inside, a plethora of firearms hangs on three of the four walls. Rows of shelves also line the room with various suits of armor (some familiar looking, some not). On the fourth wall, an assortment of combat shields, trench raiding clubs, and bladed weapons adorn the built in racks. A gruff looking older Marine with an eye patch guides you around the room, showing you what's available.

Of the fire arms, the primary categories are trench guns (shotguns), long range single shot rifles, medium range bolt-action rifles, and short range burst rifles. Each gun the three of you look at appears to have been meticulously cleaned and oil. Even the wooden stocks smell of linseed oil.

In a small section of the wall there are several large guns with what look like small drums attached to the bottoms. You're told they're called "light machine fed guns" or LMFG's for short. They look anything but light, and you're also told these weapons are used more so to lay down prone with and send out a blanket of gunfire rather than carry accurate marksmanship. The armory marine leaves an open invitation hanging in the air to answer questions about each weapon and its available rounds. Beside the LMFG's there is a gun with a barrel that by Shiaran's reckoning has to be at least five foot long, and the inner diameter looks big enough to stuff a small apple down it. There are two sled-like feet that stick off just as the barrel starts, and look to be designed as a way to rest the gun on the ground. The marine calls this the "rocket gun". "This baby here will punch a hole through dang near anything, if you got the stones to shoot it. Only way to do so is be layin' down though, and even then you're gonna scoot back at least a foot in the dirt. This one here is our own design, after we picked something similar off a PCA unit that was tearin' up our armor columns. Ours shoots a really big bullet, but their shoots all sorts of stuff. Fireballs, frozen orbs, acid canisters. If you can pick on theirs up out in the field our boys would sure be happy to have it on our side".

There are several smaller guns hanging on the walls as well, each designed for being held in a single hand and fired. Before the three of you entered your stasis, you'd heard of gnomish designed "pistolas", which operated like small hand held cannons. Slow to load, but good for a single attack. These on the other hand, like their larger rifle cousins, seem to utilize pre-packed cartilages of dragon's powder tucked behind a lead slug, and offer multiple shots before needing to be reloaded.

Over on the melee wall, cutlasses and scimitars, as well as curved long swords similar to the Whiteraven's katanas can be found. The varieties cover a range of one handed and two handed sizes. Five complete suits of full plate also hang on armor stands. They look exceptionally bulky. You're told they're extra thick on the torso and face areas, and reserved for assaulting trenches and bunkers. They weigh enough to bog down even the toughest of humanoids, but the protection they offer negates small arms fire and non-magical rounds. Next, you're shown a variety of maces and clubs, both spiked and non. The marine refers to these as truncheons. Some of them carry wicked looking barbs that would almost qualify them as elongated morning stars. Next to those, there are several steel shields that appear to be made for combat. Each has several runes etched into the perimeter of the shield face, and if the three of you didn't know any better, they almost seemed to be floating in place.

In the center of the room are several tables with shelves on top of them. They hold a variety of ammunitions, packs for everything from rounds to sleeping equipment to field mess kits. There are small hatchets, and small shovels as well used for digging trenches. The shovels have a knife edge on one side of the blade, suggesting they can be used for self defense if need be. Sealed metal tins marked "F-RAT" are stacked in neat rows. The marine explains these are field rations. Easy meals on the go. They taste terrible in most cases but they fill an empty stomach none-the-less.

There are more cylinder shaped cans as well, each with a symbol painted on the side. One type has a flame painted on it, while another has a series of lines radiating out from a center point. Another has what looks like a cloud painted on it. The last, has a skull and cross bones painted on it, but the skull is a strange looking mask.

Sitting on a stand in neat rows are the strange looking masks you saw on the cylinder, which the marine referred to as "'nades". They have what appear to be glass eye coverings and a sort of attachment at the mouth area, that looks like a puck. The mask appears to be designed to fit over one's entire head, and has liner around the neck area that looks similar to a lion's mane.

Finally, tucked over in a corner is an odd looking contraption that has a sort of tripod shape to it. Sitting next to it is a large satchel that looks to be filled with tin cans of some sort or another. The lids of the cans are hinged, suggesting they have something inside meant for quick retrieval.

One of the walls has a door way sitting in the center, with the word "UNIFORMS" stenciled on it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:38, Sat 08 Apr 2017.

Shiaran and Sypher talk to one another in low tones as they inspect the inventory.  Occasionally one or the other will nod or shake their head.  They both stop at the small firearms section.  "I'll take six.  Also, I'll need an enchanted pouch that reduces volume.  Weight too if you can, but volume is most important.  It needs to be just big enough to hold - what did you call them? - magazines.  Lot's of them.  We'll have to do something about that name, too.  That takes too long to say in the heat of battle.  Also, I'll need some place to redesign the harness and gun holder thingies for optimal draw and use.  I also want the best bow you have and if it doesn't fire energy bolts yet, then I need to see what kind of arrows you have."  She looks around the room for the melee stuff, but waits for Sypher.

Sypher takes one of the pistols and fiddles with it until he figures out how it works.  Then he nods and adds a holster with an internal harness and a few magazines as well.  Then he points to one of the long range rifles.  "Which one of those has the best accuracy and range?"

Beloc walks over to the 'floating' shields. "These here. Can you tell me about them? Is it possible to have the same effect applied to this?" He says gesturing to his darkwood shield.

The old marine looks at Shiaran. He steals peeks at her out of the corner of his good eye throughout the guided tour. When she starts talking though, he offers short and concise answers to her questions and demands.

"Done... We don't carry those, ask the library... We call em' mags for short... Next room for tailoring... Don't have any bows here... Try out in town.

When Sypher asks about a rifle, the one-eyed marine replies "You want this one here, the Gerard M-92". He points to a sleek breech loading rifle. "She fires a pretty big round, but a tough guy like you can handle it. Stays accurate without much drop for the first 300 yards or so, but after that falls off pretty fast. Reload time takes longer than a magazine fed bolt action, but her stopping power will drop a deader in his tracks in most cases. She kicks too hard to mount a scope to, so you'd be sharp shooting with iron sights. Now if you want bolt action with a scope for looking at someones forehead up close before reaching out to touch them, I'd go with the Buelter-Janes K-33 here. No drop till 250 yards, 4 round internal mag, but less of an impact wound. Still though, a well placed shot with this fella' and you don't need to send a second one".

When Beloc asks about shield. "I don't handle any of that, ain't got a magic bone in my body. There's some handy folks in that craft out in the library, and at least one shop that deals in arcane items is left out in town. He doesn't carry much stock these days though. We've made em' a wealthy old wizard with a decade of buying his stuff".

Sypher takes the smaller rifle with the scope.  His philosophy has always been precision over raw power.  The greater range is tempting, but he will better be able to use the gun as cover fire with more rounds.  "I'll need twenty mags.  Where will we resupply in between ley lines?"  His question is asked as they move through the armory.  Time is growing short and he knows he cannot slow to hear the answers.  The marine will have to walk and talk at the same time.

When they arrive at the lighter armor, Sypher digs through looking for things that fit his training.  "I'm looking for bracers or leather gauntlets, something I can catch a weapon, claw, or teeth on without losing the arm.  Magically enhanced would be ideal.  Also, anything you have in the way of belts or sashes, enchanted foot gear, preferably light, and other things that won't inhibit my movement whatsoever.  I prefer not to have jewelry as it can get caught on things, but if you have anything significant that compliments a monk's style of fighting, I'll consider it.  Also, throwing stars and magic daggers.  I am focused on anything magical because we are going up against negative plane stuff here and the monks taught us that the undead usually are immune to non-magical attacks.  So far, the only thing I have is my katana.  If that gets taken out of the picture, I'll need backup."

Sypher's words cause Shiaran to tap her teeth, an affectation she picked up as a child that said that her mind was racing.  "Same for me."  With those words she grabs up the pistols, as many mags as they'll let her abscond with or that will fit in the biggest bag at hand, the holsters and harness for them, and leaves.

Her destination is the library.  Once there, she will start researching all she can about undead, their strengths, weaknesses, and any thing she can learn about disrupting whatever it was that kept them moving after death.

The old marine nods to Sypher. "We might have one or two things up your ally in the uniforms room. Take as much time as you need in here to gather what have you, I'm under orders to give you all full access to the place and to not ask questions. I'll be next door when you're ready. As far as resupply goes, you'll have to check in with whoever is out in the field. We have base camps and regiments scattered all over... just don't count on them being as generous as the armory, they have a war to fight too after all. Magical stuff, like I said, will either be at the library or the shop out in town. The shop is your best bet for anything like what you're describing. Once we get you outfitted with whatever your preference is, I can take you out to the range to give you a crash course on whatever you have questions about. That goes for you too. I have a special surprise for when we get to the range. You'll have to pass it along to the lady once you get back with her I guess" he says, looking at Beloc. "Oh, and one more thing. I highly recommend grabbing gas masks if you don't already have them, and some F-RATs, unless you plan on hunting and risking open cooking fire out there. PCA sharp shooters love to crack rounds at anything that glows in the dark". He starts to make his way towards the door that's labeled "Uniforms".

Meanwhile, at the library, Shiaran is greeted by a junior marine. He greets her with a salute and a "Good morning Ma'am". You aren't sure if he was told of your coming or if he's just covering his bases to avoid a potential butt chewing.

The library has around 12 book cases, a whole head taller than Shiaran. It isn't a massive room by any standard, but the book cases are 4 feet wide and completely full of books. An elderly man in a naval officer's uniform sits in the back behind an antique looking desk. An assortment of bobbles and knickknacks adorn the surface of the desk. He is currently levitating a fountain pen across a piece of paper, letting it lazily draw symbols. He seems to be off in his own world. The private first class (pfc) that greeted Shiaran walks behind her. "Anything in particular I can help you with Ma'am?". When Shiaran mentions books on the dead, he instantly snaps to business and within half a minute has 4 large tomes, all bound in the same dull colored olive green binding as many of the other books in the library. As for her request on magical pouches, the pfc tells her that the old man in the back, Commander Albright can assist her with that. Upon hearing his name the old man looks up and finally notices Shiaran. He sits upright and adjust his posture, and then clears his throat. "Ah, yes, what exactly can I do for you, miss..?". The marine interupts. "Modified bags of holding, sir. Ammo rigs if I'm understanding her right". The old officer stands up, slowly. The man stands eye to eye with Shiaran, mostly due to being stooped over. He looks like he's old enough to nearly have great-grand children. "Just a moment, I have a few things in the back. I'm assuming you're part of the team we were told to give whatever you want and to keep hushed about". He says the last part with a slight edge in his voice. You aren't sure if the fact annoys him on a personal or professional level.

Shiaran has time to find a seat and crack open the first book before Commander Albright returns. He holds two canvas satchels that look only big enough to hold a loaf of bread each. "They'll contain 500 of most any round in their respective magazines, without any of the weight beyond what the bags weigh. They don't make noise, but your things can get jumbled around inside, so take care when packing it. It's taken me a while to perfect these; still haven't worked out keeping things sorted".

The books in front of her seem to all be based around first hand accounts of undead and PCA forces encountered by troops over the years. Giant stitched together abominations, ghouls in full military garb with rifles, zombies with truncheons, and even wraiths fill the pages, with each account painting out grizzly scenes and pictures of what a decade's worth of troops have faced.

Sypher gathers any gear that meets his requirements and moves over to the uniform room.  His collection is growing and he looks for a sack to put it all in to sort later in his room.  Once in the uniform room he looks for the aforementioned gear, smaller accoutrements that won't impede his movement, but that may offer additional protection and versatility on the battlefield.  He knows he will not always be able to rely on his sword.

"Thank you, Commander, private."  She turns to each and give them her most sincere smile.  Books in hand, she finds a table and begins to read.  It takes her the rest of the morning to devour the contents of the books, but the information will be vital to their success in the field.  She makes mental notes as to her own skillset as well as Sypher's and decides on a certain regular spell list to keep in memory.  All the while she bemoans her own lack of skill which keeps the amount of spells on that list too small for her liking.

"I need wands, rods, staves..." she mutters quietly to herself.  A whole mage factory churning out weapons against the undead blooms in her mind.  The way the war is being waged now is a losing proposition.  They just don't have the equipment necessary against the more supernatural foe.

Her reading done, she goes back over to the Commander to return the books.  "Thank you for your help.  Is the wizard in town seriously the only magi supporting this army?"

Commander Albright answers Shiaran. "I wouldn't say only, but he's the only one who isn't a cheat with marked up prices. He doesn't directly support us either. Coin is coin to him. The others also don't run reputable shops. Shady black market businesses underground. Completely off limits to us, by order of the Grand Admiral. Local constables keep tabs on them too. They mostly deal in contraband spell componenets, and the occasional PCA oddity gear that makes its way back as a war trophy. The kind of things that would be better suited to an R&D department. But the slack in manpower means we can't properly round them up and raid them. So for now, they keep quiet, and we pretend they don't exist".

Sypher peruses the uniform section. Officer and enlisted coats, trousers, shirts, boots, belts and covers sit on clothing racks and shelves. One shelf in particular has cloth cuffs with metal plates on them, with what looks to be bandana style head wraps with a metal forehead protector on them. The design of both is low profile, designed to be worn under a uniform or helmet, and have an unnatural dull sheen. Several belts with overly large buckles adorned in runes can also be found.

Belts are Belts of Minor Cats Grace/ +2 DEX. Head covers are +1 AC. Cuffs are +1 AC. One of the officer overcoats adds 1 additional spell slot for level 1 through 4 spells. There are a pair of shin high boots that offer an additional 10 foot of movement speed. There is a shoulder holster for a pistol that grants the quick draw feat for any firearm it holsters.

Belt of Minor Cats Grace x 2
Bandana of Minor Armor x2
Cuffs of Minor Armor x1
Overcoat of Castings x1
Boots of Quick Stepping x1
Holster of Rapid Retrieval x1

 

"I'll take all of it.  Can the cuffs be modified?  If not, I'll give them to Shiaran and just take full bracers."

Sypher takes the gear and heads back to his room after the marine answers.  He'll try on the things more suited to him, the boots, the headband, the belt.  The rest he leaves in the sack for Shiaran.  Once he gets used to the new gear, he puts on the holster, grabs the guns, the ammo, and the sack and heads for the gun range for practice.

Somewhat deflated, Beloc walks over to the wall of melee weapons. His eye is drawn to the oversized scimitars hanging there. "These look interesting. Anything special about them?" He lifts one of it's hook and gauges is weight and balance.

As Beloc looks over the weaponry, a Falchion among the others catches his eye. It has a bright silvery luster to it, and is definitely not made of steel like the rest. The blade has finely detailed etchings, depicting a man cleaving through some great desert worm. The body is broken in several places, and wisps of some sort are escaping the cuts. The scabbard and hilt are wrapped in a tanned brown skin. Guess work leads Beloc to believe it may be the skin from a worm like that depicted on the blade. The texture is rough and provides a good grip. The guard area is completely wrapped in long brown fur, resembling a camel's mane.

Silver Falchion of Mighty Cleaving/1 additional cleave attempt per round

The old one-eyed marine looks at the cuffs. "I don't rightly know, though I've always heard you can only add to, not take away from magical stuff. Those are the last set we have, and we ain't got anything else of the sort here. We're lucky to have what we do have now, all things considered. I reckon you could tuck them under some actual bracers. They're made to be concealed underneath clothing and all".


Weaponry: As for the pistols picked up by those who grabbed them.

RG-1422's
DMG: 2d4 Piercing per shot. TWO shots per standard attack (i.e. 4d4, and 2 attack rolls)
CRIT: 19-20 X2
RANGE: 50 ft/ -2 to hit and -4 dmg per 50ft beyond that (rounded up).
AC REDUCTION: Add 2/attack roll
CAPACITY: 6+1 Shots
RELOAD TIME: Standard Action
WEIGHT: 2 Lbs
SIZE: Small

Beloc smiles a toothy grin. "This is a good blade. I would like this one."

Taking the advice of the quartermaster, he also grabs a gas mask and an allotment of F-RATS. "I haven't seen one of these before. Would you mind explaining its use?"