"THIS WAY SIRS AND/OR MADAMES AND/OR OTHERS"

The robot leads the way down the hall, in the direction you've been heading, past 2 cross-hallways that all look about the same...

Finally, after maybe 10 minutes of average-speed walking, the robot stops at a large door and a small door, neither of which have windows. The doors have signs, though: STORAGE BAY FIVE, CARGO DOOR on the big one and STORAGE BAY FIVE, PERSONNEL ACCESS on the normal-size door.

The Duke gives the big door a push. Its always nice they make doors that accomodate the giant resource ambassador. As he tries to open the door with less or more force if needed he calls out.

"To whoever is inside. Im sick of everything attacking us so if you even look at us funny i will eat you!!"

Welp. When The Duke opens the big door and makes his announcement to whomever or whatever may be inside, two things happen:

1. A human man crouching behind some crates near the door turns and looks at you. He is quite surprised to see you, and to hear your announcement...

2. Some things down at the far end of the large (football-field-size, Alyn thinks) warehouse-type area also all turn...

(The Duke, roll... Scary/Weird, please...)

The Duke is his regular self. Not scary at all.

ooc: 23:19, Today: The Duke rolled 12 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 5,6.  scary.

The things at the far end come nearer. They have huge bug-eyes, red bodies, eight limbs... The top limbs are arms, the bottom two are legs, and the middle four seem to be capable of either. When they walk, they bounce on six legs... They're like a cross between insects and, I dunno, bunnies in low-gravity? Their big eyes make them kinda goofy-looking, but the fact that each one is almost as big as The Duke makes them intimidating anyway, because there's a couple'a dozen of them.

( https://m.media-amazon.com/ima...jc3Nzc3MjU@._V1_.jpg

These guys, but each of them bigger than a Volkswagen (so, each a little smaller than The Duke), and capable of rearing up on their back four legs if need be, and also having hands as you go up (the top limbs have real hands, and the next set have hands but with stubbier fingers, and the next set barely have hands, and the backmost legs have no hands at all as such). )

When they get within 30 yards, they stop. "You are fearsome, great one! We respect your might and power! We would parley!"

What is Rake's reaction to the creatures?

The Duke smiles at the things as he cracks his neck and rolls his shoulders.

"I don't think i ever ate a parley. I'll have one yeah."

Alyn considers a moment, and at first was going to try telpathy but once they started talking decided he needed to back the Duke up a bit. So instead, he decided a show of force was needed to supplement the Duke's impressive display of standing his ground.

Alyn Decides not to attack right now, but instead to telekinetically pick up several of the large crates and boxes, along with many more lesser things like debris, a few loose pipes, free standing signs, and anything elsehe could "grab" with his mind all at once. His goal was to leave them hovering there in the air nearby him and behiond him to look impressive, like a snake recoiling and getting ready to Strike if it chose but choosing not to. And of course...if he did need to attack, it would be easier to follow up on with things already in the air.

His eyes flashed with power a moment as he attempted this, what what actually happened was...

21:39, Today: Alyn Reed rolled 8 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 1,6.  Weird/Scary.

...well, was up to the GM interpretation. But he rolled an 8.

"Dukie...they are saying they want to call a momentary truce and meet with us to discuss...whatever the fuck situation we're in. Think of it as a peaceful meeting before a battle, where people can discuss terms or possibly even come to an agreement before force is needed." he said.

The Duke stops rubbing his massive belly and turns to look at Alyn confused.

"Huh. Why waste time talking if they want to get smashed to pulp anyhow. That's stupid or are they bringing snacks?"

He looks back at the spider things expectantly.

Pesky, hunkered down behind a pile of wooden crates, looks back and forth between the new party and the giant ant things.  He wants to speak, but decides to wait and watch, to see how this shakes out.

Rake doesn't like these things. Rake hides behind Ajakstu's shoulder.




Alyn spreads his mind a bit too thin, and he ends up only levitating one crate threateningly.

The creatures take note of it, and understand it's something Alyn is doing, but they don't seem quite as impressed as he'd hoped.




"Indeed, indeed, there are foodstuffs in the rectangles back behind us. However, we prefer fresh meat. Mighty one, might you trade one of your servants in exchange for our peaceably letting you have the other contents of this chamber?" The creatures eye Ajakstu hungrily (since they're slightly worried about Alyn and since they haven't spotted Pesky yet).

"My only servant is a robot. You like robots not much meat on them? The rest are friends and if you eat them i got to kill you. I do have crab meat in my cooler though. You can have that in exchange."

He pulls out a slab of the giant crab meat to show them and also starts towards the rectangles.

Ajakstu slowly and obviously pulls out his throwing knives.

"They do not pass the Rake test, comrades. Might be time for aerial assistance, Pretty Boy."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:31, Fri 24 Mar 2023.

Alyn considered.

"Well Dukie...let's see if they take your deal. If they don't, I'm going to start killing them and stop holding back. But you're our diplomacy person right now, Duke. So I'll give them one chance to respond." Alyn said as he glanced at the large crate that was hovering in the air telekinetically.

His eyes flickered a bit as the crate suddenly began to crackle a bit with psychokinetic energy...


23:23, Today: Alyn Reed rolled 9 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 5,3.  Weird/Scary.

Alyn is trying to "charge" up the crate. My hope is that next post, if we need to attack, you'll grant some sort of bonus of some kind as he launches the crate into the mob of ant monsters. He's trying to charge it up with a bunch of psychokinetic energy, so that if he he decides to attack with it...it will not only be as damaging as hurling a large metal crate would be, but one that is charged with energy to be a sort of small force bomb if you will. Like a Crate-grenade!

Using AW C'MON!
09:28, Today: Ajakstu Gul rolled 9 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 6,2.  Charming to cheer up the agitated Alyn.

"Do not fear, comrade Alewife! I am hopeful and full of cheer that the soft words and big muscles of The Duke will render a diplomatic outcome most favorable to you," Ajakstu said to Alyn with a comforting smile. Which probably appeared more like a bloodthirsty leer.

The ant-creatures decide that this parley is headed downhill, and they're no newbies when it comes to hills.

They attack The Duke (although one of them does stop to grab the crab meat out of his hand and eat it first).

Foers confirms for The Duke yeah, feel free to waste these guys if you want (whereas the human who's been observing/listening from behind the boxes is highlighted as DO NOT HURT (in case you were wondering)).

(Alyn: roll Scary/Weird one more time, but add 1 extra point to the result.

The Duke: feel free to get violent.

Ajakstu, since your roll was only a 9, I'm not gonna give you a bonus YET. We'll see how this encounter plays out.

Pesky: Feel free to help/participate if you want!)

16:10, Today: Ajakstu Gul rolled 11 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 3,6.  Knife.

Ajakstu, with great style, and an air of casualness, flicks a knife at the closest creature as he stylishly saunters/tumbles towards the boxes to seek a second hiding place.

"Everyone knows that ants, can't, endure The Duke's deadly dance! But keep those high hopes!"

15:55, Today: Alyn Reed rolled 7 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 3,2.  Weird/Scary.

Whew! That preparation actually averted a failure! Don't get me wrong...I like the xp that failure brings, as well as the hilarity that ensues, but me thinks this is a REALLY bad time to fail such a roll right now. :)

Alyn launches the psychokinetically-charged metal crate at the oncoming attacking ant-things!

Pesky watches patiently as everything goes south.
Welp...no time like the present.

He slips his rifle from his shoulder, assessing the layout as he does.  He quickly runs from one crate to another in an attempt to flank the ant creatures.  He stops, kneels, and takes careful aim at one the one that appears to be the leader, the one out front.


17:07, Today: Pesky rolled 3 using 2d6 with rolls of 1,2.  +1 Forceful against ant people.  Total of 4


Do you narrate the epic first roll or do I?  :-(

ooc:

Pesky:

Do you narrate the epic first roll or do I?  :-(

Please indulge me!

The ants attacking was a thing the Duke was well aware off would be coming. After all it was a pastry! But then that vile horrid creature took HIS meat. If his companions imagined they had seen their big companion angry before they where now proven sorely wrong. The Duke roars as his food is stolen and it takes only a tenth of a second  for his power gauntlets spark alive with building demolishing power and the Duke slams the device into the offending creatures mouth so deep the thing was turned into a fancy sleeve just as Pesky takes aim. And the second he pulls the trigger the creature is dislodged by the back swing and hurled in his direction. The thing slams into the crates he is between with so much force the poor sniper finds himself sandwiched between the heavy crates as the Duke turns to deal with the lesser offenders though its clear that these things clearly have pushed the wrong buttons on the poor Dukie.

ooc: Oh man only one short to kill a group of strong enemies so i only killed one in case these guys where stong in my narrative and leave the rest to you GM.

10-12: Strong Atrocity: Charge any one strong opponent, or group of weak opponents, and destroy them. You don't even need to use any weapons (though you may). If your next move is an assault or atrocity, take +2 forward.

23:25, Today: The Duke rolled 12 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 5,6.  ATROCITY TIME!!!

ps. A +1 lets me kill a whole group of strong enemies if someone feels like helping ;-)

--Ajakstu gets a big mant (face like a man, body like an ant) right in its big eye. The other mants are alarmed and avoid this clearly-dangerous thrower-of-death... for the moment.

--Alyn crushes a mant, but the other mants decide that making a rectangle (as they think of crates) attack them is cowardly. One mant attacks Alyn:

(11:49, Today: The GM rolled 8 using 2d6 with rolls of 6,2.  Manttack against Alyn.)


Alyn's force field protects him-- but it does knock him down. Weak! The rectangle-master is weak! Alyn's attacker laughs at him. Another mant comes over, and there are only seconds before they start really chewing on him and trying to pull his legs off--

--Pesky misses, and the mant he'd targeted rushes over to bite him...

(11:51, Today: The GM rolled 7 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 1,5.  Mant attack against Pesky.)

A bite, but no limbs come off. Could've been worse... (Pesky loses 1 health level. ...but because of his That Does It ability, he takes +1 forward on his next roll...)


(--I'm waiting on The Duke to see if anyone can or will successfully Aid him...

I think Ajakstu is in the best position to try, but Alyn could try it, too, psychically, but at greater personal risk...)

After one of the Mants attacked him and unceremoniously knocked him to the ground (which was more like he bounced comically a moment on the ground due to his shield, which meant he took 1 point of damage to his dignity), the psion decided he had had enough.

His eyes FLARED with power this time, and they continued to flare rather than just their normal flickering. His voice changed as a wave of psychokinetic force pushed the Mants around him back a bit despite their greater strength and size. Even the Nearby Duke was pushed pack a bit (but only a couple feet...the power seemed to recognize Alyn's allies) as Alyn's true power was becoming unleashed! He began to float off the ground and hovered about 4 feet in the air, and his blazing eyes angrily scanned the room.

"Foolish insects! We gave you several chances, and yet in your arrogance you interpreted our kindness as weakness! Now, you will see who really is the master here. Now suffer!" he said as suddenly his body began to emit arcs of electricity. But unlike how it was in the hallway before, this was like a growing storm that continued to grow with a Fury comparable only to the Duke himself unleashing his atrocity.

Like a Tesla coil, multiple arcs of electrcity began to arc into the ground, ceiling, and even into some of the nearest Mants. But then the bolts got THICKER and couldn't be called electricty anymore. Maybe something with more plasma in them, like small lightning! Although no Ally nor Pesky was harmed or targeted. But after several really awkward and tense moments...that bottled up brewing storm became unleased as psychokinetically charged bolts of lightning ripped across the room and tore into the hordes of Mants!

It wasn't normal looking electricity. It was red, charged plasma-like energy rippling with psychokinetic power.

NOTE: The bolts do not target allies, including Pesky and our robot guide.


15:55, Today: Alyn Reed rolled 12 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 6,5.  Weird/Scary.

There was enough residual power in the room that Ajakstu's most awesome hat rose up upon his straightened by charge hair. Rake crawled into Ajakstu's garments for cover.

"I see my life coaching has inspired you to new feats of power, A-Lynn!" Ajakstu shouted as he sprinted to the far end of the room.

Time to see if there are more of the creatures, or a nest, or young, or treasure, or better looking prisoners than the guy with the rifle.

(Item of business 1: Alyn, your roll is good enough that I'll let you decide-- pick one:
--All the mants that were in the room are dead now
--All the mants are badly hurt and unconscious now
--Many mants are dead, and the rest are now fleeing as fast as they can-- they never want to set their big eyes on Alyn again
--All the mants are dead except one who's hurt and you can interrogate)

(Item of business 2: Ajakstu has this perk:

--DID SOMEONE SAY TREASURE:
----When you get a result of 10 or higher on a roll while you are near some treasure or some valuable or useful things, then some of that treasure is leaving with you. (Note: There has to be more than one. You can't use this in a room with one huge ruby in order to trick the universe into giving you the ruby just because you succeed on a roll. There has to be a group of coins, jewels, ray guns, fancy hats, whatever.)
----When you put Treasure in your pockets or backpack or whatever, it never fills your storage capacity. Other things might, but not your Treasure. Yes, this is impossible.
----If you ever lose any of your Treasure, you're very upset-- take -1 forward. (SPENDING or TRADING your Treasure is fine, it's just dropping or losing or being conned out of your Treasure (if you realize it) that upsets you.

SO because of the earlier knife-throw, Ajakstu is gettin' somethin' from this room. Choose ONE of these options, Ajakstu:

--A handful of yummy fruit-flavored diet pills-- just one makes a person full, 2 makes even The Duke feel full
--1 Magnetic knife-- throw it and it does damage then comes back to yuo
--2 Smoke Bombs (Class 1 Grenade, Thrown (Close), Chemical [Smoke])
--2 Flashbangs (Class 1 Grenade, Thrown (Close), Concussive)
--1 Research Kit: Tools to study and experiment out in the field. Specimen jars, hammer
and chisel, scalpels, chemical analyser, data recorder, etc. (Can add +1 to a related roll)
--1 Wilderness Kit: Tools to traverse hostile landscapes. Ropes, climbing tools, light
sources, breather mask, tent, sleeping bag, heat lamp, thermal blanket, water filter,
etc. (Can add +1 to a related roll))

(Item of business 3: Of course, The Duke messed up multiple Mants, hard. I'll be sure to mention that when I post In-Character (as it were) again.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:32, Sun 26 Mar 2023.