Symeril nods, "Well good then! If you ever run low on silver for ammo.. I'm willing to share., but you will need to smith you own bullets from the silver.  A better investment might be in wood-pulp rounds just as effective if a bit shorter on range but MUCH cheaper and easier to come by in Mexico!"

"I can show you how to make them..."

"I think we would be happy to have you Magus," he says in response to their 'benefactor' as it were.

"Seeing as none of us really know all of the magic mumbo jumbo, it would certainly help to have an expert along for as long as you care to....and how exactly do we get to Mexico so we can get back to that cave and then use this thing to get back to Dallas....or maybe just get back to Mexico and we can figure out how to get back to Texas..."

He looks at Symeril, "It's not technology Sir Knight, it's an innate power to make a number of slightly less experienced clones of myself. I had always wished I had competent help when I was younger, working on cars, and then what do you know, another me showed up in the buff under the same car I was working on. Kinda surprising, that, but I got my wish. Similar thing with turning into light. I had a old jack succumb to metal fatigue and dropped a car on me. I had blocks set up of course, but part of the vehicle stuck down to far and pinned me to the ground. Turning into something that could escape being pinned like that was my only way out. Course, that happened before I figured out how to make twins...or I would have just gotten one of them to help out."

Cole chuckled in response to Symeril’s offer. “That’s a fine offer ma’am but I wouldn’t be much of a Gunfighter if’n I didn’t know how to make my own ammo. If you want to help make some when I need it, I’d be plenty grateful.”

He tips his hat to her as a way of politely indicating that he was switching his attention to St. John. His statement about how a vampire had dominated him and used his cyber eye to spy on them now had his attention. “So he did see us,” Cole says. “Just not with magic or some vampire power, he used run of the mill technology.” Cole frowns, clearly thinking about the implications. After several seconds, he shakes his head. “We were pretty careful about what we said in front of you until after we got here and lost our memories. That’s another thing too; does that just see or does it hear too? You don’t have cyber ears do you? It might be that vampire,” Everyone noticed he was deliberately not saying Enoch’s name, “only saw us and didn’t hear anything we said. Even if he did, like I said, we were careful not to say anything too important around you. After we got here, sure we talked but I’m thinking that thing’s range doesn’t cross dimensions.”

“Speaking of range, how far could it even transmit in the first place?” He points at the eye, “I know a little about electronics, not cybernetics mind you but I know how a radio works. Something that small, especially without a big power source, probably only goes five miles, ten on the outside.” He looks at everyone, “So unless that vampire has a whole mess of repeaters scattered all around the west or at least where we were, he never got the signal anyways. When you think about it, it’d be pretty stupid to try something like that. Not like no one else uses radios. Something constantly transmitting a signal, even if it was encrypted, could be detected and tracked. Sure you wouldn’t know what was being said but you’d still pickup the signal. You could track it back to,” he gestures at St. John, “or worse from the vampire’s viewpoint, detect him and any of his people with those things from miles away. One more thing too, we are all from The West, well most of us anyways. We know how bad the region is for radio. Plenty of dead zones, hills, valleys and stuff block signals. I think we best assume the vampire knows all of that too when he set it up. If I was him, I’d have made it so the eyes recorded everything but only transmitted when they picked up a signal from him. You can store a whole lot of video in a little bitty chip. Do it that way and his goons wouldn’t standout like lightning bugs on a moonless night. Heh, I bet it isn’t even about watching others, I bet he did it as a way of keeping tabs on his own people.”

He looks at St. John. “I mean, its not like you’re a vampire or one of his bonds so he couldn’t be completely certain you wouldn’t turn on him right? Or that another vampire hadn’t turned you? But its pretty hard to scheme behind his back if he can download a recording of everything you’ve done right?” He looks at the group again, “When we get back, we should go find us a cyber-doc, see what they can tell us about that eye.”

OOC
I wrote the part about radio range being very limited in the New West on the assumption that all our characters know that. For player reference, here is an excerpt from WB14, pg. 11:
“Despite this, most of the New West is cut off from the rest of the country. Long-range radio is constantly broken up by frequent ley line storms, dimensional anomalies, or natural weather occurrences. For this reason the people in this region know little about the rest of the country, fear the Coalition States, and have developed hundreds, if not thousands, of tiny, independent and often unique communities and societies (mostly small clans, tribes and gangs —see Rifts® Lone Star for general data concerning the sizes and structures of such communities)."

Symeril listens to Nathaniel in rapt attention amazed, "Oh.. wow! That's so intriguing?  I missed that part before when you explained your 'brothers'.  Manifested spontaneous wish fulfillment triggered by a stressful situation!  That is a really peculiar set of coincidences! How bazaar and... fascinating!"

She ponders a moment or two, looking at her hands.

"When I came through the portal following...er Dyna'?', the spirit horse; I was made to face my inner doubts, fears and demons manifested in physical form.  I'm not entirely sure I defeated it... but the... er... Divine Entities I was confronted by afterward... left their mark upon me somehow.  I'm no wizard, but Now I possess the power to create a Globe of Daylight spell!! A 'blessing' to be sure... but hearing what you described.. I wonder did I also manifest spontaneous wish fulfillment triggered by a stressful situation.. when I was fighting my own self-perceived failings?  Do I have more unknown powers yet to discover?"

Then something occurs to her and her expression becomes... fearful... thinking...
~ The Vampires that abducted me as a child said there was something 'special' about me that their Vampire God.. the Alien Intelligence 'Druuheim-V'nyshta' saw in me and desperately wanted! Could this be part of it? 'Sir' Adan never said anything more on the matter... perhaps there is more I do not know? ~

She falls silent for a bit but begins listening to Cole's assessment of their overall situation.

Symeril chimes in, "...that is true Cole... only if the eye is not a Techno-wizardry item.  Magical spying could be what the eye is using.  But, we do have a means of finding out right now.. well if it is hard tech  or potentially Techno-wizardy."

She looks over at Nathaniel, "...Both Nathaniel and I possess the psionic power of Telemechanics.  We can tell you weather its hard cyber-tech and repair it if that is St. John's wish.  If its not cyber-tech we will know also as it will not register .. I think to our psi-power...which would mean its Techno-wizardry. Not sure our telemechanics can fix TW devices... you need to be a Technowizard.. I'd think."

Then looking back to St. John, "... one of us would have to touch the eye device to know for certain.  Since I'm new here and no one really has reason to fully trust me yet... I'd suggest Nathaniel do it."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:04, Fri 06 Nov 2020.

Nathaniel touches Symeril's armor.

Shortly there after a message scrolls across the hud saying, 'Not exactly telemachanics either I am afraid. You can probably improve the flight profile and thruster angles to get another 5% max speed out of it if you wanted to take the time by the way.'

He smiles at her and gives her a wink if she looks at him.

John touches the eyepatch, smiles slightly, and says, "It's not just tech. I was being played like a puppet till the thing was broken, and it had suppressed my own energies so I couldn't do squat. I know why he did it, too. One of the vampire warlords seemed to have thralls that weren't thralls. My people were supposed to find out how. Sneak inside and blend in, act like one of the techs, fix a microwave oven or two while you get the information, sneak out, run home with the data and get paid. Well, apparently I got the inormation the hard way."
"I can't go back, now. As soon as I can get an eye that doesn't compromise my spellwork, that's what I'll do. In the meantime, maybe I can find a way to help you guys out. I'm not a bad shot, know a few defensive spells and a fair amount about magic and tech. Besides, till I find my place I've got nothing better to do."

"Not magic, or magic tech."  Cade stated in regards to John.

"Until it broke John didn't smell like magic at all.  Even back when we first met him."

Symeril will very slightly start at the light physical contact but favor Nathaniel with a gentle smile... then her eyes take on a distant 'looking through you' expression... and suddenly she is in the the neural network of her Powered Armor... more than a cyberlink.. Nathaniel can "Feel" per precence all around him as if she is part of the machine and his mind.. as both share the processor netscape of the computer system of the Flying Titan.

Nathaniel realizes Symeril has not only a cybernetic implant linked into her armor but her Telemechanic psionic power is in use... granting a unique rapport he can share with her mind now linked mentally to her AND her Powered Armor simultaneously...



~ {chuckle} No matter.  Your Talents are clearly formidable, your telectrical communication is still nice to know. Perhaps in the future when we have a workshop we can tune my Flying Titan for more Efficiency? ~

Then the mind touch is broken... leaving Nathaniel with the intoxicating feel of her mind lingering in his memory, almost an electronic kiss.

Turning her attention listening to St John's story and impressions of his unwilling servitude she nods in sympathy understanding the horror of such loss of self-determination, "Yeah, that's a living hell if ever there was one..."

Casting her regard to Cade's assessment, "Well, if you say so Cade that's good enough for me.  I honestly then have no idea what the eye is!  If not tech and not magic.. then... Ehhh.. not good ~ perhaps some weird Atlantian symbiotic monstrosity?"

"I'm definitely NOT fond of THAT thought! Splugorith connections are always bad and subtle!"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:34, Sat 07 Nov 2020.

Our heroes talk into the night as they process all they have been through, and all that they remember. Over the next few days they are healed and their armor is repaired. Zera makes advances on Wolf, and perhaps he gives in to her, and perhaps not.

Warthogs, having taken a vow of pacifism, quietly serve the tribe.

The elderly mage bids a farewell to Agrus and the others and departs. Agrus has a boat prepared for their trip back to the portal to Rifts Earth.

Zera approaches Wolf, something like love in her eyes, and also something like acceptance. She senses that they will never meet again.

The child approaches Cole and his horse. The creature nuzzles the boy, and Cole knows she is thanking him.

The chief and the rest of the natives gather around the group in farewell.

"My friends," says Agrus solemnly, "it is time for us to depart."

GM: What do you do?

Chaplain had some explaining to do with Zera. It was not a pleasant conversation for her or him, but it basically boiled down to feeling that he had no business with another if he was going to constantly go to war. He had to turn her down.

That made the nights rather lonely.

Then again, he had never bonded well with his troops over things like this, telling them to go have fun most of the time. Maybe that was why they were all dead. Maybe his devotion and training were why he was not.

He had no time for "maybe" or "could have been". His choices were made, and he had to live with them. At this point, he felt they weren't good, but they were his, and he'd own them.

He nodded to Zera, and to the current chieftain. He was dressed in a set of formal fatigues that had miraculously survived the events, effectively accompanying the ceremonies of the tribe with his own. He saw no conflict with running Coalition drill with a D-Bee ceremony, even if his superiors would have shot him over that.

He paid respects to their dead, and his own. He chose to stand aside with the celebrations of today, though. His business was always looking outward, and dealing with future plans.

The tags had been arranged into a strange pseudo-rosary at this point that he wore over armor, with a few crosses in there for good measure. It was pretty clear to him that he wasn't going back to the CSA of his own will - not in its current form.

"Treat your defeated enemy well. Goodbye." He nodded to Agrus, and immediately went into his "war persona". "How hot is the landing zone? I might need to change out."

Immediate Priorities: Break curse, kill vampires, regain Walker unit if possible due to logistical questions it will answer.

Long-term Priorities: No longer known. Irrelevant until Immediate Priorities are resolved. Maybe go into mercenary work, like Larson did.

Over the course of the next few days... Symeril will work with the native weapon smith to try to refashion her sliver spear ~ AZUREHEART into a detachable bayonet attachment for her three rifles if she can get them to understand her wishes.

She will spend an hour each day teaching a class to the natives Blue-skins and Warthogs in equal number ~ 20, 10 of each; teaching them mediation and martial arts to build a communal defense ethic if they are willing.

She will also work to fashion a set of 10 wooden combat stakes for each party member to have available for their return to Earth Prime in Mexico. 'Forearmed is forwarned'

Symeril at noon every day when the sun is highest will enter practice of her fighting skills in mediation and practice drills.  She will also try to see if her Globe of Daylight ability can be expanded to other 'stunts' she may not be aware of.

In the evening.. she will work with Cole and the tribal weapons smiths if they are willing to fashion more Woodpulp Railgun rounds for her GR15-AR Assault Rifle... never have too much of that!  She will also try to get Jaron to join in and change some of his Grenade warheads to woodpulp explosives like her Flying Titan's missiles if he is willing certainly not all of his grenade loads but some to give him explosive that will really hurt vamps.. and not really targets we want intact mostly.

YES, she will let Nathaniel tinker with her Flying Titan armor if he so wishes to study it.  But she will also coordinate with Chapline Wolf and Cole to establish a set of three specific radio frequencies the party will use for battle communication and integration.  She will also if Nathaniel's mech can fly practice some aerial coordination for ground assault and air to air combat practice to familiarize each with their combat capabilities.

As always she will make daily entry logs into her Flying Titan's personal log detailing as many aspects of the realm she finds herself in to provide to the Cyber-knight Library Archives when she can make the upload of the all she has learned of this strange realm.  Symeril DOES have anthropology as a skill!

She will also find some time to study the Warthogs strange biotech Flying Barges to understand and schematic them for later research using her Telemechanics psionic talents also cataloguing that lore/tech for the Cyber-knight Library Archives.
Some specific questions on those:
1) Do the Warthogs manufacture those Biotech Air sleds?
2) Where do they manufacture or get them from?
3) Is one of them too big to transfer back to the Earth Prime? If not Symeril will request ownership of one to take back with them to Earth Prime.

She would also Ask Argus to do a thorough examination of St John Smythe's damaged eye to determine its nature if possible.. of course only with St. John's approval and close observation by some party member.

If Symeril learns about the translation plant herb.. she would DEFINITLY like to learn how it is grown, where it comes from and if they are willing ~ get a supply of 10 doses of it... and seedlings to grow it on return to Earth Prime!

Symeril will preach to the Warthogs and Blue-skins...
'That the Warthogs were mislead and lead to do evil things that is regrettable... but they should not FOREVER be punished for mistakes of the past!  They must ALL grow together and learn to be a community of equals ...eventually.. Trust will not come over night of course.. but a relationship takes work and they must give up hate and resentment. If they are to have true peace.. they must forgive and forget.  It builds with daily little acts of friendship and trust.  She will encourage them to work at it.'

---

So when Argus is ready to leave Symeril stands ready... hopefully with a Biotech skiff ready to go.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:07, Sat 07 Nov 2020.

"Good."  Cade replied once the lizard said the magic words.

Our heroes board a floating boat with Agrus and drift away back to the small, cave island they came from. The natives join them and bid them a solemn goodbye.

Soon, the group arrives at the small, rocky island and Agrus leads them to the cave with the portal. He nods to Nathaniel. "You are now the compass holder." He points to the indentation in the rock, and the runes surrounding it. "Place the compass there and we can pass through. Be ready for battle, friends, it is likely the vampires and werewolves remain, waiting for our return."

GM: What do you do?

"So, out of the formal fatigues, then." He took off the outer layer, now wearing just his armor and various weapons and supplies. He folded them back up with precision, and packed them away.

He drew the knives. "So, do we have a plan for this? Will we have initiative, choosing how and where to hit? I'd rather not simply be immediately forced out by overwhelming opposition the moment we come back in."

"In fact, if we could bypass them completely and go straight for their master, who is, it should be noted, lacking in many of his more powerful troops because they are here, that would be great."

He took a breath, and prepared himself.

"When we clear this, I'm going to have some questions for you." He looked to Saint John, grinning under the helmet. "You know a lot about the infrastructure of your former master, more than you might realize, and I want him to know I intend to use your mental link to him to mess with his head, if we live through this. We are going to play some counterintel games, and I want him to know that, too."

Symeril maneuvers the Warthog Skiff into position, pondering the cave.

In answer to Chaplin Wolf, "Well... I or Joran could lay down some cover fire with a wood-pulp missile or grenade round those are area attacks which only really harm Vamps.. your armor might get some minor scratches but it will really put the pain on Vamps... Then we just all board the Skiff and fly away.. leaving the fight.  Or better yet snipe at the Vamps from the air out of reach."

Then Symeril remembers, "OH, yeah before we go through... I have something for you all..."

She will hand out a small leather roll clearly made from the materials of the Blue-shifters make... unrolled each bundle has 10 fashioned wooden stakes ready for use.  She hands a bundle to Cole, Cade, Joran, Lt. Wolf, Nathaniel, St. John Smythe, Ezikiel, and Argus.

"Now I know some of you will not think you need them but ~ You Will!  They are the only way to immobilize a vamp ~ all the damage in the world does not stop them from regenerating right before your very eyes... but THESE driven into their hearts Will STOP them from moving! Not kill them but immobilize them.  Once they are immobilized.. you MUST behead them!  That will allow you to kill them.. but for now just driving a stake in their Hearts is good enough! I'll finish them off with water if we have the time."

"Now I know some of you will want to discard them cause 'I'm not going to use them', please don't do that.. even if YOU don't use them.. me and Joran can do so with telekinesis to save your lives at a distance to stake a vamp on you! That is much easier if you have the stakes with you as opposed to us having to move a stake to you."

"Remember, vamps can pull the stakes out of other staked vamps... so we need as many available as possible!"

With that, Symeril will draw her Metal 'Motorized' Water Rifle & Grenade Launcher w/Cross Gunlight, and affix her ~ AZUREHEART Bayonet to the barrel... loading a Water Grenade for use.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:57, Sun 08 Nov 2020.

OOC
This post assumes we did get a few days before leaving the village. I'm also doing this from my phone so please excuse the briefness.

Cole will help make wood railgun rounds.

When not doing that, he will practice his skills but also try something new; using his magic energy (PPE) in an attempt to focus it through his guns, rather than his tattoos.

I would normally write up a long post about him trying different techniques, complete with metaphors and other writing tricks but I can't do that from my phone without serious thumb cramp.

The return of his memories affects Joran differently than the others.  As his memories flood into his mind, he accepts them wholely and completely, without resistance.  They are his memories, after all.  And he is happy to have them returned.  He had dealt with his few demons a long time ago.
Accepting the spear graciously, Joran gives a bow of respect in return.  He suggests to the chieftain that perhaps they could stay a few more days.  Rest up.  Help the warthogs assimilate.  Get his armor repaired, again.
He then turns to St John Smythe, a nasty snarl crossing his face as a low growl rumbles in his throat.  He charges towards the one-eyed man, hands raised in readiness to grab him, throttle him, dash him to the ground and stomp him into a bloody pulp.  Instead, when he reaches him, he places his huge hands gently upon the one-eyed man' shoulders and draws him in for a hug.  I am glad you have been freed of your shackles, and have shown yourself to be far more enlightened than when we first met.
He then turns to Chaplain Wolf.  I am sorry for the loss of your comrades, Chaplain Wolf, but I am honored to call you friend.  I believe all of us would welcome either of you, or both of you, to our "merry band."  Consider the invitation extended.
He turns to Sir Symeril.  I believe an invitation is extended to you as well, madam, for your valor and honor in battle.  He gives her a respectful bow.  May you prove as much outside of it as well.
Over the short time they remain with the tribe and the warthogs, he takes time to speak with both Chaplain Wolf and St John Smythe about meditation and Zen Buddhist philosophy to help them deal with their pasts.  He also watches as the Cyberknight provides training for their hosts and their former foe.  And, he spends time with the children as well.
At some point, he asks the chieftain and the leader of the warthogs, what they call themselves, and their world.  Once it is time to go, he has an airship powered up and ready to go.  The ability to link  with technology really is pretty cool, he says to Nathaniel and the Cyberknight his massive arm fit inside the control sleeve.
It took me a couple of days before I could finish my post, and I had to keep adjusting it....

Cade swapped her load out on the way over.

She produced a Techno Wizard looking device that resembled a Coalition FIWS and strapped it on her right arm.  Cade then pulled out the high tech looking compound bow she'd deployed when they were last at Agrus' house, along with her wood tipped arrows.

"We're going to be spit back out into that cave.  We should assume they've laid an ambush of some sort."  Cade offered in reply to Wolf's question as she produced a clip on flashlight with a crude cross built into the lens and attached it to the harness criss-crossing her chest.

"As soon as we cross Joran should throw up that shield of his in case there's some creature waiting, or automated traps, or some shit like that.  Symeril can follow it with that Globe of Daylight she likes flinging around.  That should give us immediate cover from the vamps.  Assuming we're actually under attack we'll just have to deal with the werewolves and whatever else they've brought in that isn't a vampire."

Cade then realized she was making an assumption and turned to Agrus and asked him, "Wait, where are we going to end up?  Are we going back to your house, or back to somewhere in Mexico?"

Symeril smiles at Joran's invitation and steps close to embrace him in a hug commenting, "..I've seen how you are with the children ~ your so gentle! aheh.. I've never hugged an ogre before! I would very much like to learn of your training and meditation techniques!"

And then somewhat embarrassed she will step back and return his solemn Eastern bow with one of her own.

She will offer to help Joran prepare a few rounds of his grenade Rifle with Woodpulp warheads for anti-vampire use.

At Joran's comment about linking with technology she smiles, "Yeah it is...", then turning her head and pulling her hair aside to show the back of her neck to reveal cyberlinking implant ports, "...before I learned that talent I had actual cybernetic implant installed.  It does make it easier than expending inner strength to focus my psionic senses."

Then she smiles at both Joran and Nathaniel, "I'm not really telepathic but since we can all teleconnect with machines.. it might be neat to all of us link to the same machine and share our thoughts in Rapport cybernetically...when we have the chance!"

As they prepare to cross the portal back to Rifts - Earth: Prime, she watches Cade's preparations and listens to the seasoned huntresses suggestions and is surprised, "Wait.. there are Werewolves as well?!?  I didn't know that. Oookaaaayy... change of tactics!"

Symeril returned her Metal 'Motorized' Water Rifle & Grenade Launcher w/Cross Gunlight to her shoulder rifle sheath removing her ~ AZUREHEART Bayonet. Then she will Ready her GR-15AR Assault Rifle on its sling and re-affix her AZUREHEART Bayonet to that barrel.  Ejecting the Woodplup ammo magazine she will load one of her precious Silver Railgun round magazines, then thumb the selector to single-fire.

"Thank for that update Cade.  Also, my Globe of Daylight is a 60'ft Area... and I can do that at range ...plus move it about.  So yeah, I'll be ready to use that as needed.  I'll leave flying the Warthog Grav-skiff to Joran."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:59, Sun 08 Nov 2020.

John cracks his neck and rotates his shoulders. "Right. So as soon as we pop in I throw up a shield, it's only about ten cubits in diameter but it'll be visible so you can use it as cover. Follow that up a globe of daylight, this should give the vamps pause. If the werewolves charge in, we stick 'em with our new silver spears or burn 'em down as necessary."
"I think I'm ready."

Symeril, nods to St John, giving him a Thumbs Up, gesture.

And with a mechanical Whir-Click... her Flying Titan Powered Armor Visor lowers and seals. Then her PA Wings scissor up into flight position and the 'Cross-Light' Searchlights on its wings turn on and their red color-filters slide into place - shining twin HUGE red crosses before her.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:40, Sun 08 Nov 2020.

One, two, then three beings of light exude from Nathaniel. Guido, Nuncio, and Antonio respectively huddle around 'the compass holder'.

Nathaniel says, "If memory now serves, my brothers can make the Vampires really hurt at range. Enough that they will go down for a dozen seconds or so. Lopping off their heads after they seared with near sunlight sounds like a plan to me. I don't have any bladed weapons to use to cut off heads, vampire or werewolf, so expect the werewolves to get some railgun love and you to get covering fire while you take off heads."

Unless anybody objects he sets the compass into the appropriate location and does what is necessary to make it work. Once the change over has happened he immediately takes it out of the wall and puts it into a sealed protective compartment of his armor.

As Nathaniel moves to place the compass in the wall socket...

In response to his words, she grips her GR-15AR Assault Rifle in her right power-armored fist then gesturing with her left hand a crackling Vibrant Violet ornately filigreed Claymore of Psi-Energy forms in her left fist's grip...

+"Don't Worry Nate... I got beheading covered!"+

Lines of energy extend out from where the compass is placed, and the rockwall begins to look like a liquid mirror, rippling with the reflections of our heroes.

Agrus nods grimly at his new comrades and steps through.

Somewhere, across the multiverse, a cave in Mexico lights up as a portal opens, admitting our heroes.

GM: Head back to the Vampire Kingdoms thread!

The hug surprises the ogre, but not unpleasantly.  She is not quite able to reach around him like a normal-sized human, his waist and chest both being nearly twice the normal girth.  Thank you, he says a bit sheepishly.  We should have plenty of opportunity to discuss, um, fighting and meditational, er, techniques.  Once we get where we are going.
We may not appear where we exitted Agrus' home.  This vessel would be too big fit there.  If we can even take it with us without destroying it, Joran comments.