Jogging up on the gargoyle sniffing around Kassandra slows to a walk but doesn't take any other actions that could be precieved as hostile, content to see what happens before reacting.

Passing pieces of ruined scientific equipment while following a faint trace of humanoid blood the team comes across a small battlesite with a couple of bodies long stripped to scrap 50 meter from the parked vehicles.  In the vine wrapped bone hand is a durable MD briefcase containing several items. With the skills used the crew is unable to determine if this event is related to what happened to the original investigation site, but it is what has been found at this time.

---

Inside Briefcase:

• T.W. Gauntlet that has a intricate clockwork design, the T.W. device does not impart intuitive knowledge of how it works.
• 30 carats of red crystals with a smell and texture of fresh spilled blood.
• 10 pamphlets, it is a mystical that cannot be recorded with technology.

---

Track by smell Derjan: Finding the battlesite.
Detect Concealment Derjan: finding the briefcase.

Glancing at his companions and the briefcase, Jerdan inspects one of the "blood stones", then drops it back from where it had come and wopes his finger tips off on his thigh.  The gargoyle then looks over at the vehicle.  Shall we look inside?

Kassandra spares a look inside, but no more than that, before she continues searching the wider area, or plotting their rout to the next location.

”We are not here for shiny bobbles, keep it if you like, but unless it tells us how to find or stop the people that did this it isn't important enough to waste a lot of time on.”
.

The gargoyle shrugs.  Could be a clue.  He closes up the case and tucks into his pack.  Though it may not be why they were attacked.

With a careful review of the research site the crew determines that the researchers were studying the growth cycle of some local animals, setting up hidden cameras and tree blinds for real time observations. All of the material that would be worth anything have been salvaged from the location. The research group was taken by a surprise attack that overwhelmed them in minutes.
There were 6 people that attacked the research location; 4 of them were in Flying Titan Power Armors and two people that were riding Devil Unicorns. Utilizing Nets and Stun Attacks they captured the members of the research group, sacrificed all but 3 of the scientist, then fed the corpses to the Devil Unicorns. The Devil Unicorns were loaded with the 3 surviving researchers and items taken from the vehicles.
This attack happened 5 days ago.

The trail left behind by the Devil Unicorns continues south into a mountainous area.

The team can follow the Devil Unicorn trail, go on to the next investigation site, perform other character action.

---

Sensory Equipment Kassandra: Scans verify that the Vehicles had micro nuclear reactors that the attackers took as loot.
Tracking (People) Kassandra: Determines the attacking force and travel direction.
Detect Concealment Kassandra: Finding the empty tree blinds.

---

Land Navigation Kassandra: will be used towards next travel location.

---

Players roll:

• Save vs Magic
• Save vs Psionics
• Save vs Insanity

So, where do you want to go, Kassandra?  The gargoyle cocks his massive head quizzically.  Go to the rescue?  Or continue on?

18:05, Today: Derjan rolled 21 using 1d20+8.  Magic.  Nice.

18:04, Today: Derjan rolled 5 using 1d20+4.  Psionics.  Ugh.  Natiral 1.

18:04, Today: Derjan rolled 12 using 1d20+1.  Insanity.  Squeaked by....

Kassandra doesn't seem to understand the question at first, but then she figures it out.

”The researchers are almost certainly lost or dead by now, but this is the only clue we have, and waiting will make it even longer to follow.  We need to run it down as quickly as we can and determine how connected this attack is to the overall pattern.”

Following the trail left behind by the Devil Unicorn vegetation fades away leaving a stony barren earthen path virtually devoid of life. The team believes that the area has been thoroughly hunted and over harvested that no life remain. The path plummets so deeply into the earth that the cliff walls prevent direct sunlight from touching the area. Leading to the end of the crevasse is a stone tower, wider at the base and slowly narrows to the top. Though the tip of the tower must be at least 300 feet above the canyon floor, the cliffs on either side are five times a high, casting the tower in a deep shadow at all times. Other than a couple of narrow (2ft x 1ft) slits in the tower the team can see no way into the tower.

Out of place a small building squats against the west side of the stone tower. It is a single story structure obviously quite old and not made of the same material as the tower. The Devil Unicorns trail leads to the opening to that building.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:56, Wed 21 Oct 2020.

Kassandra makes a quick assessment of the situation, within seconds she has the starting point of a plan to build from.

”The way I see it we have two choices, a frontal assault without a clear understanding of where the front actually is, or we can fly up to the cliffs and rain down a little destruction on that barn, the beasts in there probably don't fly and should make enough distraction to draw out those that do.”

Let me take a look, the gargoyle responds.  He begins to scan the tower and the attached building with his MOM-enhanced gargoyle vision.  He focusses in on the small building in particular.
18:13, Today: Derjan rolled 10 using 1d20+3.  Perception.  Could read a sign at two miles before enhancement.

At a glance the shadowed interior has several humanoid forms laying face down in earthen floor along with a couple local animals and some small bags. There is a sweet smell that starts at the edge of the doorway, a gentile set of chimes echoes inside.

Perception Derjan: Glance Inside.

• Crazy Sense of Smell: Unknown sweet aroma.
• Crazy Sense of Hearing: Unknown chimes.

---

• The team is currently 600 ft away from the stone tower, this location provides basic cover to the team but no other special bonus.
• The only smell that stand out in the area is the sweet smell coming from the ram shod building, detected because of the Crazy's enhanced senses.
• It is eerily quite in the area, the chimes stand out due to the silence.

---

1. If the team is going to start shooting the building look over your combat bonus then:
   
   • Roll Initiative
   • Roll IFF Perception check, character receive one free roll per round of combat (the Book Heroes of Humanity pg 84 describes IFF rolls in detail)
   • Choose your target and roll your attack
   
   
2. If the team is climbing to the top of the valley to look down at the tower
   
   • Roll Detect Ambush @-10$
   • Roll Detect Concealment @-10%
   • Roll Perception Check
   
   
3. If the team wishes to do something else then they can post the applicable rolls with what they want to do

This message was last edited by the GM at 15:14, Wed 21 Oct 2020.

Stinks, Derjan grumbles.  Like death, maybe.  Seems to be some figures lying on the floor of that little shack.  He looks around.  I can get a bird's-eye pretty quick.
He turns to Kassandra Tourmaline.  Wait here, I will be back.  With that said, he goes part way back up, about halfway, then launches himself from the trees and into the air.
He swoops and flits about, making his passes seem at random and diving down as if snatching something into the air before perching on the wall of the valley that gives him the best view to eat whatever he may have caught.
I got nothin', he says over his helmet's radio as he pretends to chew a mouthful of food.

Crappy Diceroller.... LOL
19:46, Today: Derjan rolled 96 using 1d100.  Detect Concealment @ 40%.

19:46, Today: Derjan rolled 92 using 1d100.  Detect Ambush @ 40%.

19:46, Today: Derjan rolled 5 using 1d20+3.  Perception.

Not inclined to throw away their entire advantage from the cover Kassandra moves around behind a different obstruction from the one the gargoyle just exposed in his reckless flight, but keeps watch of the tower and shack both as he attempts to draw the enemies' attention to himself with the areal acrobatics show.

Derjan's antics doesn't' cause any type of response from the tower.

From Derjan's vantage point he is able to get a better look at the Stone Tower and he finds an entrance that was obscured by the deep shadows and design of the building. The Gargoyles enhanced senses can see the bones of some large creature along with some vibro weapons scattered around the bones. Entering the stone tower from this angle will require some way to overcome the penalties of complete darkness.

Kassandra's new observation point picks up an anomaly in the walls of the canyon, it is a small tear in space time that leads off to some other point in the megaverse. The other side of the Rift is a pitch black cavern with barely enough room for the Gargoyle to squeeze into. There are no tracks that lead to this rip in reality, it is just a random hole that has appears in the area.

Kassandra's can safely speculate that somewhere there is a Ley Line to power this rift, but the location of the Ley Line is obscured and the power has been restricted.

---

Derjan's perch allows for a better view inside the tower

Kassandra sees the rift and determines that isn't related to the trails followed it does suggest that there is a ley line in the area.

Over the radio, Derjan explains more if the situation.  I'm seei the remains of some large creature and a nunbsr of vibroblades strewn around inside.  Even with my natural nightvision, we are going to need some kind of light source inside.

Waiting a few more minutes to see if anything changed didn't get them anywhere so Kassandra opens up the communication channel again.

”This place looks like it hasn't changed much in quite some time, so watching it more isn't going to get us anywhere.  We can cause a disruption and hope that draws out more information, or kick in the door and go find it ourselves.”

Truthfully, I'm gettin' a bit ansty, the gargoyle responds, his implants making him a bit hyper.  I wouldn't mind a bit of action.

Violent Breach

• Choose the Breach point
• Initiative Roll
• IFF Perception Roll
• Character main weapon is assumed in hand and ready for use.

Derjan is currently 100 ft above the stone tower on the Canyon Wall for a total of 400 ft above the canyon floor.
Kassandra is currently 500 ft away from the stone tower with the ramshod building entrance to the west of her position.

---

Stealth Breach

• Choose the Breach point
• Initiative Roll
• Prowl Roll
• Character main weapon is assumed in hand and ready for use but items that break prowl are considered deactivated.

The characters may choose to do something else just let me know what that is.

With stealth less of a concern Kassandra activates a jet pack like thruster that projects no more than an inch from her lower back, cleverly concealed form view by the armor plates above and around it, as well as the carrying container that serves what little function of backpack she may need.  While hardly a deafening or violent noise the comparatively tiny and efficient thurster is still very likely the loudest thing this quiet canyon has heard all day.

She alights on the top, or a high shelf, of the canyon wall opposite from where Derjan is perched and crouches down into a kneeling sniper position in the same motion she uses to retrieve the larger of the two weapons from the magnetic attachment to her back in an easy swinging motion.

Over their shared communication channel she speaks briefly once in position.  ”Ready when you are, stir up the creatures in the pen and lets see what happens.”

Aaaaaaall righty, then!  Let's see if I can stir up a hornets' nest!
He drops down from his perch overlooking the valley and the tower, gliding in towards it to land lightly just outside of the trees surrounding it.  Taking he massive spiked-and-axe-bladed grenade mace from his hip, he enters the... stable, ducking as low as he must to fit within.
OLLEY, OLLEY, OXEN-FREE!

Under Derjan feet the fallen bodies crumble to dust leaving only the vines that had grown through the meat and around the bones of the discarded bodies. The sweet smell grows stronger but Derjan's supernatural body is immune to the miasma radiating from the vines.

He may not be immune to the inky black claws that morphs from the surrounding shadows come to life.

Connected to the shadow encased claw is a creature that resembles a hammerhead shark with bat like wings and demonic arms. Instead of a shark's tail, the creature has two long barbed tendrils that twist and sway in random patterns. Along the back are bony plates and finally along the head are complex patterns reminiscent to an insects compound eyes.
(Character can add their 6th sense bonus to initiative is they have the power and spend the ISP)
[Language unknown: "Leecho ndckteet venencter en ca e anyureven."] the shadows emit into the ether.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:17, Mon 09 Nov 2020.

Melded into the darkness of the Stables is a Shadow Hunter itching to consume some flesh.

---

Derjan, upon seeing the claws and tentacle-like tails decides to jump back and dance out of the way to learn something about whatever this creature is and how it fights before attacking.


01:37, Today: Derjan rolled 33,22,24,22,26 using 1d20+13,1d20+13,1d20+13,1d20+13,1d20+13.  Dodge + Sixth Sense.

01:32, Today: Derjan rolled 18 using 1d20+10.  Initiative + Sixth Sense.

With the fight started Kassandra tightens up her aim with the shoulder mounted laser cannon she has pointed at the ground below.  Burning a hole into the hammerhead creature she resets her aim, and fires again, repeating the process about every three seconds.