(Ugh. Don't really wanna try to talk to the cops...

So the obvious thing would be for me to go back down and come up the stairs closer to the classroom-- but-- there're cops downstairs too, right?)

Yes.

There may be a couple of other options.  Want some hints?

You can roll for them.  The better the test result, the better the hint.

(Er... roll what? 1d4?)

Yep.  You're making a test if you want me to give you a hint.  Let's call it a science roll.

(Ah, Science. That's what I was basically asking.

07:40, Today: Van Caldwell rolled 7 using 3d4.  SKILL: Science (electronics, physics): Van gets +2 dice when rolling to do anything with. –

Hm, 3.)

As you noodle it out, three possible avenues seem to suggest themselves.

First, get your hands on a cop uniform.  The cops are hyper focused on the classroom.  So they aren't paying too much attention to each other.  You can probably get more intel on what's going on inside the classroom.  And maybe figure out a way to get inside from here.

The other alternative is to wait, and hope, the stand off lasts into the evening hours.  It looks like the top classroom along the western side of the corridor has two doors, one opening behind the barrier line.  If you can get that far, a distraction might help you make it the rest of the way.

The last possible alternative is that empty classroom to the south of the hostage room.  No one seems to be in it.  If you could get inside there, maybe you could get through the wall somehow.

Those are just suggestions.  One will definitely work.  One has a decent chance of working. One...hope you roll well.

There may be other possibilities.  Give it your best shot.

(Wait, just noticed-- that green part of the latest map-- where it says HOSTAGES (Second Floor)... that's just the name of this map? There... are... no hostages south of the gym, right? Or did I misunderstand something)

In reply to Van Caldwell (msg # 474):

Sorry about that.  Did not catch the face Inkarnate didn't delete that.

Yes.  The Hostages are only in the space marked "Hostage Classroom".  No where else

Well, I've got to try something...

Judge Midnight will try getting a cop uniform.

Specifically, Judge Midnight will try using his Magnetic Glove to create a distraction to lure ONE cop back to the area where he is-- perhaps by pulling a single bullet from a cop's belt and pulling it across the floor and down the hall...

(21:47, Today: Van Caldwell rolled 3 using 2d4 with rolls of 2,1.  The Magnetic Glove!

2. Well THAT didn't work super well..)

Just piling up those complications, ain't we?

You manage to use the glove to drag a bullet out of the cop's belt.

He notices it almost right away.  Eyebrows cocked, he follows the bullet down the hall to the classroom...

...and seems completely unsurprised when you spring upon him!

I am assuming you were going to knock the fellow out.  Too bad.  It will have to be a melee.

Them's the breaks.

(What other choice does one have?)




(I was in fact planning to try to knock 'im out, and that is still my plan...

10:39, Today: Van Caldwell rolled 9 using 3d4.  knock 'im out, quick.

UGH, I thought I hit _Record Every Die_, but I guess something went wrong.

Once again: I sure do wish that _Record Every Die_ was the default on the dice roller, but only you can make that change, not me.

Willing to accept my word for it that the results were 1, 4, 4? 'Cause they were...

(What does roll=1710171590.32647.370614 mean, anyway, exactly?)

It's an ancient Babylonian mystical code.  Congrats.  You've awakened Cthulhu.

By the by, spell check recognizes "Cthulhu".  Lovecraft has truly achieved the most any writer can hope for.

Anyhoo...

The cop comes into the room, hand on gun, eyes scanning the area...

And you whack him from behind.  He goes down without a fuss.

I'm going to assume you strip him quickly and efficiently.

Now then.

The cops are, understandably, on edge.  You make your way towards the command point, which happens to be near the northern stairwell.

As you merge into the small cluster of cops, you notice several detectives up front.  Including your friend Halloway.  Shouldn't he be working on your strange letter?  Oh well.

The detectives seem to be arguing.  From what you can tell, Erma Allstead, has cut off all contact with the negotiator.  The snipers have reported that she has the students lining up along the windows and has the blinds pulled down, which is keeping the snipers from trying to make any kind of shot.

The detectives are discussing whether to try to storm the classroom or hold off and try to make contact again.

They seem to want to send a man in...

(Assume away.

(I'll keep the magnetic glove in my pocket, though, in case I need it...))



Ugh. If I speak up, Holloway will recognize me. (Can I go downstairs now and come up over there by the classroom...?)

Yes.

(That's definetley what Van'll want to do, then...)

Trying not to blow his secret identity thing, Van goes downstairs, passes amongst the cops there, and then back up right near the door to the classroom...

There's one cop standing right outside the door.  His badge reads MAYTAG

He glances your way and whispers, "What's up?  Why'd they send you over? Who are you?"

"Just transferred. Technically on the force, but paperwork's still going through, was going to start next week. But I've had hostage negotiation training so they called me in now. Let me in, quick."

I'm going to ask for a roll of some kind.  You can just roll one dice for the test.  Or if you have a skill you think will apply, you can make the roll based on that.

But I want to see how much this guy will buy that story.

Thanks

Van uses What Have You Sworn? to try to get something on this guy that will help persuade...

(08:32, Today: Van Caldwell rolled 3 using 1d4.  What Have You Sworn, cop? WITH penalty for Shadow Strength/Speed last roll. – 3

I know it's not exactly what you asked but it was the closest I could get to a skill that would help)

No.  That's fine.  I can see where you would use that to get a bead on the guy, and tailor an approach to him.

The question is do you want to roleplay out the approach?  Or just let the roll carry us through?

This guy is fairly on the up the up.  He's made vows to his wife through their marriage and the community through his Cop's oath.

He seems fairly intent on fulfilling his vows.  You size him up to be a decent guy, though maybe not the brightest bulb.  He'll follow the chain of command though.

If you'd rather hand wave it, we can assume you use this insight to bypass him. If you want to roleplay it out, go ahead.  I'll consider it for XP if you do.

Thanks

"Look, I'm a good judge of character-- that's part of how they chose me for this. And I'll tell you, you seem like a decent guy to me. You and I both swore an oath to uphold the public good and serve the people, and I take that as seriously as I'm sure you do. I'm just asking you to let me through so I can do that, even though I'm sure we both understand how risky that sounds."

He seems perplexed.  "Huh?  Well sure we got a job to do.  We're both cops, right?  Serve and protect...oh!  Are you the negotiator?  They didn't tell me you'd be going in.  If that's what you gotta do?  But...shouldn't you have back up?"

He isn't stopping you from opening the door and going through.

Not the brightest bulb our Maytag.

Anything you want to do prior to stepping through?  Or just bolding waltzing in?

(No, I can't think of anything. I'd love to have some way to slip back into my Judge Midnight outfit, but I just can't see how that can happen. I guess I'd better just head on in...)

You may want to consider spending some XP on either a portable fog bank or an ability that confuses viewers as to your identity.

Just sayin'

You step through the door.

The classroom is in disarray.

The desks have been pushed against eastern wall of the room.  Students are seated on top of the desks, facing away from the center of the room and staring out the window, even though the venetian blinds are down.

This appears to be the "screen" the snipers were talking about.  There's no way there is enough visibility into the classroom where any of the snipers could take the shot without risking one of the students who are acting as human shields.

The other students are huddled against the southern wall.  They all turn to look at you as you saunter in.

Standing in the middle of the room, dancing, is a woman, naked except for a bomb strapped around her midsection.  It looks like the classic "mad scientist" type of bomb.  Sticks of dynamite all connected by wires to a central mechanism which looks like an alarm clock that is swinging in between her breasts.

It's sad that the nudity and the bomb aren't the truly weird things about her.

There's a small elf perched on her shoulder.  It looks like a child's toy or a Christmas decoration.  It's palm sized.  With a big, doofy looking grin and wearing a red and green jester's outfit.  It's eyes are moving clockwork like left and then right.  Left and then right.  It's mouth is open and a recorded voice accompanied by tiny recorded horn music is singing

If you're happy and you know it
Say achoo

The woman says "Ah!  Choo!"

If you're happy qand you know it
Say achoo!

You aren't sure how the elf is remaining attached to her shoulder despite her shimmying dance steps.

But the truly weird thing here are her eyes.

She has no pupils.  No whites.  Nothing.  Her eyes are instead filled with a spiraling pattern.  Like one of those magic wheels they spin at the fun fair.  A wavy, circular line that just spins round and round and round inside her ocular crevice.

The elf stops singing when you come in.  The woman stops dancing.

(Hey, when I get some more...)




(Science roll-- looking at the bomb and its wires to see if I can figure out a way to disconnect it with the magnetic glove:

15:38, Today: Van Caldwell rolled 2 using 2d4 ((1,1)).

Well that's just great.)