Angok's eyes darted about quickly as he walked into the room. Everything about it was strange to him, even now, and set him on edge. He was a huge man, or at least some semblance similar to a man, standing at least as tall as the big man that had entered the room before him. He looked rather uncomfortable in the quite new Levi Strauss blue jeans he wore, work boots, and tight fitting white shirt that looked like it had been borrowed from somewhere much smaller than him. Even dressed as he was, it was clear he was a man, or creature, of action. His muscles were large and sinewy, filled with obvious power, and his hands showed the callouses of someone who'd spent his life hefting tools or perhaps wielding weapons of death. His skin was an odd shade of brown, perhaps even closer to grey, and riddled with scars across his arms while his long black hair was pulled back into many braids that settled onto his shoulders and back. But it was his face that was his most startling feature. His ears were large and seemed to come to a point at the end, while his sharp features seemed to scrunch around his nose, giving him a menacing and yet rather exotic and dangerously alluring appearance.

Standing next to him was a short, unassuming man with round spectacles and a grey fedora. Dressed in a bland grey suit that was clearly not tailored, he spoke quietly to the large man, seeming to encourage him into the room. Finally the pair make there way to the back, standing quietly, the large man's eyes scanning the room and its occupants.

 The woman to the side of the General stepped forward to acknowledge Ms.Sanderson with a curt nod and heads towards her with a spring in her step, despite her heeled shoes. She does so fluidly and with only the slightest clatter to stand before her with an outstretched hand offering her a file folder. Ms.Sanderson is acquainted with Mrs.Roberts but hasn't had much contact with her.

 After Sanderson takes the folder, she asks quietly, "I trust your trip was smooth and uncomplicated? I've heard the cod is awful on the blue line."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:57, Fri 21 Aug 2020.

Nic walked in to the room and paused, looking around slowly. One eyebrow rose and he then made his way to one of the seats. His eyes shifted, unconsciously, towards one of the military officers in the room, but then quickly snapped away. He certainly didn't salute anyone, but he did give a nod of acknowledgement.

He was a middle-aged human male in his late twenties or early thirties. He was potentially only a little imposing at first glance, standing six feet in height, well-muscled, hearty but also a bit of grace to him. His shoulder-length brown hair was in a mass of braids or dreadlocks or maybe both. His eyes were a piercing blue color, and the beginnings of a beard on his chin. He was wearing nondescript clothing that allowed freedom of movement, and was not very colorful on purpose.

"H'lo, everyone." He spoke in a deep voice, just a hint of a huskiness to it, clearly an American accent, though more mid-western than the General's.

He looked at ease for the most part as he lounged back, though he kept rubbing his forehead gently on occasion. Keen eyes might see a small faint scar where he was rubbing. Inwardly, he was...a little uncomfortable. He wasn't part of the military and wasn't overly fond of the overall organization, though some individuals were held in high regard.

A young woman enters carrying a battered piece of luggage.

At her height she is the shortest of the group, being about 5'1. Unlike Ms. Sanderson, who knows how to measure and be measured, there is a certain innocence to Miss Silina. She wears a loose, white blouse, a sepia walking skirt, and a brown belt. She has loose, fair hair and carries her luggage with a certain determination. None of this is unusual for a lady of collegiate age or near thereto who is in possession of modest means, who has not yet taken up the shackles of stodgy refinement.

Untamed by the collection of men and uniforms, she stares back fiercely at at one visiting officer foolish enough to stare.

She finds a place to stand, and being acquainted with the General, takes up a place near him, settling the luggage on the floor and beaming openly at an officer with whom she is clearly acquainted.

"Adam, " she says in delight, as if they were alone, "I got hopelessly lost. All of the buildings look the same."

Ms. Sanderson took the folder and nodded, speaking in a low hushed tone. "Yes, I found the trip relaxing." All clear, no issues. She continued, "I always skip the fish, I had the beef instead. It was sublime." Understood. Complying with request. She opened the folder she had been handed, Hanging her umbrella on her forearm as she did so. "The weather outside seems frightful." There is something dangerous beyond this room.

Art entered the briefing room wearing only his day to day work clothes which consisted of a pair of sturdy boots, a pair of the more dressy type of overall pants held up by suspenders, a cotton work shirt, a jacket, and a cap. Removing the cap to be respectful, it was easy to see that his dark hair had been washed and combed, but with no hint of pomade or other styling product.

As for the man himself, Art was of medium height and build, the kind that could easily be lost in the crowd. By contrast his face, while not striking, was memorable. He offered a smile for everyone in the room before quietly taking a seat.

https://postimg.cc/cKgFrC1q
This message was last edited by the player at 22:17, Mon 24 Aug 2020.

 Penny nods a wordless smile and purses her lips, responding perhaps to everyone's entrances or Ms.Sanderson's words. She taps a nail once on the arm of her seat before gracefully making her way back to stand by the General in preparation. As she passes Asar, she gives him a slightly more feminine appraisal and a raised eyebrow.

---

Adam Reed beams at Silina and leans towards her, "Glad to see you made it regardless," he says with a sheepish glance towards the general, "I'm sure we'll be able to talk again after."

---

Dr. Marcus Short tried his best to comfort his huge friend and tried his best to explain the situation better, "now this gent will tell us why we've been summoned and give us a solid plan about what's to come on this journey. I think it will take you closer to your home, but we don't know anything just yet, it's all supposition..."

---

The General is obviously a practiced bureaucrat but it was unthinkable that a general never saw combat in this day and age. The truth was he had fought in several skirmish wars across the great plains now and his pain at this level of disorganization was plain. He wasn't however foolish and most of all he wasn't about to let this mission go off with any hitches. "Good morning to you all," he began, "Most of you know that we are planning an expedition into Siberia, but you may not know what it is we are going to explore, you all seem to be very intelligent folks so by now you can see that we have need of some extremely unique individuals for this bully of a mission. One of the main reasons is we can't provide direct support at your destination for one thing because of regional laws and treaties, and for another we don't know what the exact nature of the danger could be or exactly how dangerous a situation we might be walking into."

 "Washington detected a blast originating deep in the heart of Siberia in July, from the northeast of the Krasnoyarsk region. Our best mathematicians tell us the explosion was stronger than anything we've ever detected, more than five million sticks of dynamite. Our friends in Britain tell us it wasn't he Mongolians or the Russians," he paused to let that sink in and nods to his stenographer who promptly flicks on the projector embedded into the ceiling. His pointer taps against the area of the blast on the projected map. He nods again to the aide and a red circle marks out the estimated blast zone. "We still don't know what exactly the damage is, so those in the expeditionary group will need to be ready for rough terrain, but that's not all...please try to remain calm for this."

 The side door opens and the sounds of a cart can be heard as a large crate like cage is wheeled onto the platform. A canvas tarp covers the 1 x 2m box, and from within you all hear a predatory whine, along with a clank of metal against the cage bars. The dim lights cast deep shadows under the tarp, but they rush away when one of the spectacled men who brought it in throw off the tarp to reveal the cages contents.

 Within a mechanized sound accompany a grunt of surprise. Coming to a standing position the creature rises up to the height of the cage, nearly 2m tall. It's glistening eyes dart about the room nervously as the rest of the room gasps a breath. It's obviously partly mechanical and partly living creature, combining some various traits of other more mundane creatures but definitely not of this world.

 This creature however looks lame and perhaps quite damaged internally, for it is unsteady on it's feet and can't seem to maintain it's coordination very well.



 The General seems to continue despite the creature's shockingly grotesque appearance, "this isn't the only thing we've gotten reports of either. Strange things are happening out there and we need to determine how much danger it all poses and if nothing else can be done, to eliminate the possibility of these kinds of things from falling into the hands of our enemy's. Japan has been making plays in the Pacific so the President has asked me to try to keep from upsetting relations with Czar Nicholas, while he prepares to send our Great Fleet out for a world wide tour. I think it's a mistake to showcase our power so brazenly but he's told me himself that it's imperative that we put as positive a light on our country as possible. There's no telling what could happen though in such a remote place though. Questions so far?"
This message was last edited by the player at 06:56, Tue 25 Aug 2020.

"Ahem, yes, if I may..." Hiram speaks up, his voice a bit hoarse as if it's been a while, but nonetheless softer and more refined than one'd expect from an obvious transient. "I was admittedly not very well informed or prepared for this, seeing as I was simply happy to jump at the chance of... employment. But I cannot help but question your choice. not for the other participants, if anything you all seem more than qualified to My admittedly untrained eye. I simply cannot see how I could ever be of use on such an obviously harsh and important expedition."

While Hiram starts his question nervously and with Eyes darting to and fro, he seems to gain a measure of confidence as he talks, stranding slightly less hunched and his voice gaining a bit of power. Despite the fact that he seems to be disparaging himself.
"I fail to understand how my... peculiarities, for lack of a better term, can aid this expeditionary force. I have no relevant training or knowledge. neither would I describe myself as the sort of man Who could go on... well something that sounds like an adventure out of a novel."

At this point his eyes land on the creature in the Cage, and both his expression and voice actually takes on a bit of anger.
"more to the point, why have you not either given this creature medical attention or put it out of it's misery? It may look like something one would find in Mary Shelley's writing, but no man or beast should be made to suffer as this one obviously is." He says with an accusatory tone, before it dawns on him Who he is talking so rudely to. Instantly Any momentum he's built up is lost, and he barely manages to stammer out a muttered apology as he deflates back into his seat and tries to hide from Any and All gazes.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:38, Mon 24 Aug 2020.

Getting the attention of Asar was not something uncommon for him. If nothing else he rather stood a full head over most men. He gave Penny a polite wink in return for her raised eye brow. It would be impolite to not acknowledge her interest, even if he didn't know what kind of interest it might be. This way she could feel free to counter show her interest by touching her hair in some way or smiling with a sideways glance as she moved off. Either could signal a friendly liaison later in the evening.

Regardless, it was soon forgotten as the general brought out his creature. Asar was impressed as the creature seemed to have integrated metal limbs. He knew what a golem was, but this was something else, a hybrid. Anything was possible with magic, but it seemed that this new technology could also make the seeming impossible happen.

He remains only curious for this creature, despite its incredible duality, was nowhere near as horrifying in appearance as some of the being he has encountered. In fact, it looked more like a pet hunting dog for some denizen of the underworld. He waits for the show to continue.

 The Ms.Roberts raises an eyebrow to Hiram and waves a hand at the creature, "you are welcome to try Mr.Brull. Tranquilizer won't work on it and we've tried several kinds dosages including enough to knock out an elephant. The only thing that seems to allow us to even contain it is a powerful electromagnet attached to the bottom of this cage."

 The creature snarls as if in resentment, but the fusion of technology has still left it bereft of speech or intelligent communication in any event. It moves and reacts like a bear or dog might.

 "As to your usefulness here, that is entirely up to you. In my opinion, you would make an excellent scout, but the situation will be quite fluid. You may be required to take on multiple hats Mr.Brull, again, that is on your honor to find your place should you join our expedition," she says with the military cadence of a drill instructor, "it is my hope that all of you will join this expedition, all of your peculiarities as Mr.Brull has put it, will be quite beneficial should you face the worst."




o
This message was last edited by the player at 23:39, Tue 25 Aug 2020.

Asar rolls the term electromagnet around in his skull. It takes a few moments, but finally he understands they are using the technological magic of electricity to create a loadstone. In his accented British style English,

"Where did you find this creature....Sir."

Nic watched some of the interplay between people, and just the general way the people spoke and behaved. It was a bit fascinating, especially for someone who spent a lot of time removed from society and civilization. Surprisingly, he wasn't the most 'mountain man' ish type person in the room for once. The thought was amusing.

He listened to what the general had to say. Intently, though he might not look it on the outside. "Unique individuals". What did THAT mean? Had he not been chosen for his survival and guide skills? Did the others have...abilities...as well? Was this to be a circus sort of thing? His eyes narrowed a bit.

When the creature was brought in, a deep frown slid on to his face. He wasn't sure what to make of that exactly. "Was this...creature..." He paused for a second, unsure of what he wanted to say, "found this way? Or who added the metal parts to this creature? Are you suggesting an unexplained explosion did this?" He sounded unbelieving of that last one.

Art tried to do a general assessment of everyone in the room. He was certain that such an assessment would need to be heavily modified once he learned more about each person in depth, but he found that it was always good to have a frame of reference. With that in mind, Art paid particular attention to General Sawyer and Penny Roberts. Once the briefing began, Art pulled out a small notepad from his left back pocket and removed a pencil from behind his right ear. Art began taking notes.

Siberia.
Regional laws and treaties.
Blast - July - northeast of the Krasnoyarsk region.
Strongest explosion ever. Exceeded five million sticks of dynamite.

Art’s note taking was halted abruptly when the creature was wheeled in and the report touched on strange things occurring in the area. “Is this some sort of automaton hybridization?” Art asked in wonder. He had of course read about automatons, but he had written it off as a passing fad. Now Art was not quite so sure.

A tingling sensation worked its way up Art’s spine. Then it was as if someone, somewhere was softly saying his name. Over and over. Art chewed at his bottom lip and the strange feelings were gone. Perhaps he had stood too close to the electromagnetic field.


OOC :
16:17, Today: Agent Ace rolled 72 using 1d100.  Psyche roll. [Yellow Feat]

 The General nods to the questions, "Ms.Roberts, if I may?" he asks showing his respect for their guest, she nodded a slight bow and gave him the floor, "the Intelligence service found this after the British launched their own expedition. There were "others", beings that Ms.Robert's colleagues were unable to keep or survive, if I may be perfectly blunt about it."

 Penny frowned and added, "we found this one all the way in the Ural Mountains west of the blast zone a month ago. However sadly, three of my officers were killed attempting to get it and the two others back to us. Our expedition was down to three and so witnessing what we did, we decided to head back to regroup. It was only harmed because it attacked us, but quite honestly there are few things we possess that would've even scratched that hide, we found it already lame and already fused with the machine...enhancements, disfigurements."

 "Once we tricked it into the cage, it began to have issues with it's control and we aren't one hundred percent certain why but it may have electricity running in there that's being disrupted by the magnetism."

 The General stepped forward again taking advantage of the momentary pause and address the other questions, "we don't know what it is and we definitely aren't suggesting that the blast necessarily constructed this. Perhaps Ms.Silina can chime in here, the math is way above my paygrade?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:42, Tue 25 Aug 2020.

Ms. Sanderson felt the danger rising from the creature. She knew enough to understand that it must have some ability that would be at range and invisible, not unlike her own passive sonar. She raised her voice enough to be heard by everyone but did not take a combative tone, rather if anything her tone is motherly and respectful. "Would everyone be so kind as to give the creature a bit more space. And since we've all had a chance to ogle it, perhaps it could be covered again? I have an...intuition about such things...an intuition that is alerting me to the fact that this creature is not only dangerous but becoming more so. I would respectful as this for everyone's safety." In saying this she took two long striding steps away from the monstrosity.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:46, Wed 26 Aug 2020.

When the creature was unveiled, Miss Silina had gone pale. Images of monsters had passed through her mind, with an inhuman intensity. Nevertheless, she had gradually regained her color and drawn closer to the creature, turning her head this way and that with curiosity. Kingdom: Animal; Phylum: Chordata; Order...? She had never read of anything like it.

In response to the General, she replied,"It is extremely improbable, General, that any known being could survive 100 petajoules. However, we do not know enough to be certain of anything."

She took a few steps back at Ms. Sanderson's warning.

When the creature was revealed, Angok's anxiety was quickly replaced with a curiosity bred by years of hunting and his own recent experiences with strange and alien creatures. That the creature appeared alien to the rest of the people in the room comforted him slightly, as he was concerned he'd be the only one in the dark on what the creature was. He'd started to move closer, getting a better angle to view the creature when the "proper" woman asked everyone to remain back. He wasn't entirely certain of all of the words she said, but he got the impression that she might know something more about the creature than the rest of them, so he stopped, and examined the creature from afar.

As the other woman spoke, he turned back to look at Dr. Short for a brief moment before turning to the woman. His voice was deep and gravelly as he spoke slowly, and his accent was clearly foreign  but impossible to place, "Maybe the...explosion brought it from somewhere else." Of this he knew a little something about.

 Just then the creature's milky upper-eyes begin to glow with a soft reddish light as if it was a dead battery that suddenly received a jumper. A snarl that seemed much more energetic than the last erupted from the beast, and something in it's metallic arms begin to move that previously seemed inert.

 Some of the nearby staff and officers stood up, deciding to take heed to Ms.Sanderson's warning with more haste a few paces back from their seats. In fact the only one that did not seem overly fazed by this was Asar. However the creature appeared to be regaining it's strength and coordination before their eyes. It's lower eyes darted around the room as it searched for something or someone before it could entirely lose it's chance.

 The spectacled man who had wheeled the cage in nodded to the suggestion to cover it back up and made to do so, but not quickly enough. The creature's serrated tongue surprisingly whipped around his arm and began to pull him in despite his screaming and struggling against it. In another few seconds his arm would be in the mouth of the creature.

[No intiative necessary just yet, but whoever wants to respond can, just don't post over one another in that regard.]
This message was last updated by the GM at 17:08, Wed 26 Aug 2020.

In the blink of an eye Asar is next to the cage and one of his arms is a blur of motion. He is making sure that his blow does not knock the creature back from the spectacled man, as that might actually rip the arm off if the tongue does not let go. Instead his fist flashes between the bars of the cage and right into the side of the creatures head. This hopefully will make it leg go.

Then the chair that Asar had been sitting in finally crumbles to the floor broken.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:20, Wed 26 Aug 2020.

 The beast takes the hit to the skull and releases the man. The flesh does not give way like ordinary flesh and bone might, the creature slumps onto it's forelimbs for a moment, shaken but not out...

 The bespectabled man quickly backs away and rubs his arm where the serrated tongue had made some scraping gouges and nods to Asar, "thank you!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:21, Wed 26 Aug 2020.

Sil felt the wind of Asar's passage blow back her hair before she even registered what had happened. Her mind estimated possible speeds, almost instinctively. That was fast!

She jumped forward to finish the bespectacled man's work of covering the creature's view, to disorient it if nothing else. Something had roused its energy.  What was the cause?
This message was last edited by the player at 22:14, Wed 26 Aug 2020.

Suddenly, Arthur made a gurgling sound as if being drowned or strangled, then he jolted to his feet. Once standing, he froze in place without another movement. His skin had become pale quickly and there was an abject expression of terror on his face. Still, he moved not another hair, not even to take in a breath.

OOC :
16:29, Today: Agent Ace rolled 40 using 1d100.  Psyche roll. [White Result]

This message was last edited by the player at 21:35, Wed 26 Aug 2020.

Nic wasn't exactly lazing about or unready for action - but, well, it WAS a briefing and he hadn't been ready for a fight before the creature had been rolled out. THAT had set him on edge. When the large man blurred into motion, Nic had trouble following the movements until they stopped and Asar was punching the creature in the cage.

Nic blinked several times, his eyes going wide and his eyebrows shooting upwards. He hadn't even finished starting to stand up before Asar had finished. He hesitated and then slowly sank back down in to his chair.

"As I live and breathe!" He shook his head. "Simply amazing."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:09, Sat 29 Aug 2020.

 As the man with glasses scrambled to care for himself he nearly forgot the cable feeding power to the cage's electromagnet and quickly adjusted the voltage on the cords controls to try to reestablish full containment. The creature began to slam into the side of the cage with it's body beneath the canvas tarp, threatening to knock it over.

 The General pressed a button on his podium and a squad of soldiers filed in quickly to take control of the beast. Several canes came out, not unlike the sort one would use to pull performers off-stage in those days. They quickly hooked the cage and began to pull it back outside. Meanwhile a medic found the creature's initial handler and began to field bandage him and apply ointments.

 Unfortunately for Arthur who continued to feel the effects of the psionic attack for a few minutes. The feeling was already a fading nausea and a bit of a headache. The creature had done some damage, but what was it about, it's purpose in doing so?

 Miss Roberts escorted the creature out of the room. The General straightened his suit and stepped back up to the podium, acknowledging Asar's speedy save with an offered handshake. "That is perhaps a taste of what we'll be up against out there, or it could be a one of a kind aberration."

Ms. Sanders saw what was going on, at least with this fellow. She made her way over to him, moving silently as if her feet were on air instead of the ground. "Perhaps someone should see to this fellow, sort him out while you are sorting out the others." She turned to Asar, lifting a brow. "I think I should enjoy sparring with you." Her tone is not playful, but serious. Then she looked around at the entire group and turned to face the general. "I will go on this expedition, if for no other reason than to keep this motely bunch out of trouble. Do you have any other surprises in store for us here?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:34, Thu 27 Aug 2020.