Demetrius nods. "Good." He turns to the other two companions. "The pair of you should stay out here. If we are not out after a time we agree upon, you can devise a way to cause a distraction to enable us to escape."

While Demetrius communicates his plan, Nantas checks out if the agents of the slavers are keeping an eye on the group.

[OOC: 20:39, Today: Nantas rolled 24 using 2d20 with rolls of 14,10.  Daring 9; Reason 4.]
This message was last edited by the player at 19:40, Thu 03 June 2021.

Those of the slave guild Nantas spies appear... bored though they try not to look it.  They puff up to maybe every other passer-by but others they simply ignore.  When the patrol passes they appear similar.  Perhaps the secretive nature of this location has given the guards a false sense of security?

Aeryn considers Demetrius' request, finally sighing, "We shall count 10 xats and do what we may to cause eyes to look away from the warehouse.  But have a care, you know there are at least 2 white apes within and they are not the half-starved and wounded creatures that we faced in the wild."

Use Cunning + Daring to attempt to sneak into the warehouse unnoticed and describe your approach
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:07, Sat 05 June 2021.

Nantas updates the group on his ideas about the spies of the slavers, to check if somebody else noticed anything more worrying than him. Then, if everything looks OK, he accepts Demetrius' plan.

Nantas tries sneaking in.

[OOC: 23:38, Today: Nantas rolled 22 using 2d20 with rolls of 19,3.  Cunning 9; Daring 9.
Is this enough for the level of the threat or I do have to spend some momentum?]

That's 2 successes, you're good
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:32, Tue 08 June 2021.

Demetrius waits and times the pair's darting movement based on ten minutes' observation of movement patterns. He and Nantas duck across and scramble up the least-used side of the building to the second floor. Demetrius actively watches for trouble and the pair moves in based on his extensive visual study of the outside of the building.

3 Successes using Daring + Reason.

14:47, Today: Demetrius Esper rolled 9,6 using 1d20,1d20 with rolls of 9,6.  Daring + Reason to sneak/climb up 14/7.

gain 1 Momentum
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:01, Wed 09 June 2021.

As the bravos in the street decide to threaten another passing group, the Jasoomian and Green Man make their move.  Aeryn and Ducet Cog hold their collective breath, praying the gang members do not glance towards the pair scrambling or leaping to the 2nd story balcony.  As Demetrius and Nantas disappear within and close the door JUST as the guards complete their harassment and return to their duty, the red and white Martians both sigh in unison.

Inside the warehouse Demetrius and Nantas can hear the distant murmur of voices amid stacks of crates and containers of a multitude of sizes.  A cursory glance from Nantas indicates they are various trade goods.   Whatever this ancient building's original purpose it appears to have become a storehouse of merchandise that Isalia's group traffics in.

There is no sound of alarm.  No sign any are aware of your intrusion.  The room's doorway opens into a corridor that looks to run the length of this side of the warehouse, much the same as the balcony does on the outside.  You can see doors occasionally on both sides of the hallway and, fortunately, no one is in sight, before the corridor turns at each end.

Unfortunately there is also no sign of Isalia or Patterson Boon, you'll clearly need to venture deeper, perhaps check the other floors.

How will you proceed?

If you continue sneaking through the building please roll again.

If you have any other actions you wish to do please share in your post.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:12, Fri 11 June 2021.

First of all Nantas stands still and listens carefully for some time. Maybe he will hear some sound or some voice that can help directing his search.

[OOC: I think that for this roll I should definitely use Reason, and the other characteristic may be Empathy or Daring. I wanted to be conservative and I wrote Empathy (that is a characteristic where I'm quite poor), but please Jeddak feel free to change it as you feel most correct.

09:07, Today: Nantas rolled 21 using 2d20 with rolls of 13,8.  Empathy 3; Reason 4.

As my roll (using Empathy) is quite poor, maybe Demetrius wants to listen as well, hoping for a better result.]

Demetrius quickly picks up on what Nantas is doing and follows the more experienced hunter's suit....

And the dice were nicer--3 successes!

15:08, Today: Demetrius Esper rolled 2,10 using 1d20,1d20 with rolls of 2,10.  Empathy + Reason 11/6.

The sounds seem to echo to you, distorted, making it difficult to distinguish sounds well.  Demetrius feels certain that he can make out at least 2 sets of voices, 1 closer coming from beyond the right-most corner and a second set more distant but softer from...hmmm, it is unclear which direction.   A metallic clang sounds, this also seems to reverberate from both corners.

If Demetrius were to guess he suspects that both hallways must join to another room further into the building.

Demetrius add 1 Momentum to your pool.

How will you proceed?  Right or left?

Demetrius leans in and whispers to Nantas, filling him in. "I suggest we go right," he says very quietly, also indicating the same with his hands.

Nantas nods and quietly, stealthily goes right, sabres still in the sheaths, ready to react silently but decisively to any challenge he may face.

Demetrius follows closely after Nantas, watching the pair's back as they advance.

You move right, towards the closer set of voices Demetrius picked out.  The hallway remains cluttered as you pass a few rooms that also appear to store more goods for Isalia's gang though at least two are thick with dust; whatever is stored within the crates and boxes has not been touched in years.

A short distance further and you begin to catch sight of a large, open room ahead which likely rises from ground to roof.  There seems to be a bright illumination in the room itself but the balconies around remains poorly lit, yet you think you can make out movement in spots, likely other slavers going about their tasks.  However, nearer the source of the voices comes from a side room where a trio of red men work before a strange, complex machine.  The voices coming from the apparatus and the operator's responses back lead Demetrius to believe it is some form of radio or whatever the equivalent that Barsoomian's may use for long distance communication.  Nantas has never seen it's like before.

As of yet you remain unnoticed.  Once again you must decide your next action.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:18, Tue 22 June 2021.

Nantas once again decides to stop, stay hidden and listen carefully to the three Red Men working on the strange apparatus. Maybe he will get some useful information or detail.

[OOC: 16:49, Today: Nantas rolled 31 using 2d20 with rolls of 19,12.  Empathy 3; Reason 4.
Let's admit that my Empathy + Reason rolls are not my forte.]
This message was last edited by the player at 15:50, Tue 22 June 2021.

Demetrius points meaningfully back down the hall, and then nods to the left door once the pair have skulked back a bit. If Nantas does not disagree, the pair then sneak up on the left-hand doorway and peek in there as well.

Retreating back the way you came you instead follow the hallway to the left.  It follows a similar path as the first corridor but on the opposite side of the building.   You pass no side room with strange equipment and operators this time and are able to reach the large, open, multi-story room in the center of the building.

Indeed you can see that this room is open to all 3 of the building's levels but it is the ground floor which draws your immediate attention.  There concentric circles of bunks are arranged around a strange central device. Upon most of these, in quiet repose, is a sentient being. In addition to various red Martians are the occasional Okar and green Martian but some occupants are obscured from your view. Those you can see appear to have wires attached to their head.  These wires spread like ganglia across the floor and junction at a crystal as tall as a man which is contained in a strange device plated in chrome.

Near this array are rows of rectangular tarps, from the shape of the lumps underneath and an occasional visible limb you have no doubt they cover bodies.

Four of Isalia's crew appear to be attending to the odd device or the bunks' occupants.  From this vantage Patterson is not visible but you are uncertain if a blanket or tarp might cover him.

If your friend yet lives he must surely be here somewhere.  How will you proceed?

Nantas smiles, as he is sure he found the most appropriate solution to the current situation. A solution fit a true Green Martian genius!
He looks around for something of the right size and weight to be thrown on the crystal device controlling the many slaves all around it, maybe draining their mental energies or similar... Nantas is planning to make a big fracas and then everything will become more livelier and hopefully easier, after they will be released from the mental control.... a bit like the caravan and the released slaves in the desert few days ago...

You've passed storage rooms with numerous crates and supplies.  No weapons but feel free to pick something to match your plan and roll with it
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:18, Tue 29 June 2021.

Demetrius looks at his friend. "What's your plan?" he asks quietly.

Nantas practically demonstrates his plan to his Jasoomian companion: he goes back and chooses a box hard and heavy enough, then he aims at the big crystal (that in his view is keeping all the prisoners as mental thralls) and throws the box, hoping to destroy the device with one, swift hit and cause a massive mayhem. In the mayhem, he's sure he'll be able to find a way to achieve whatever he's hoping to achieve due to the surprise and chaos factors.

[OOC: 19:38, Today: Nantas rolled 40 using 4d20 with rolls of 9,7,16,8.  Cunning 9; Daring 9; use up Momentum.
A lot of successes.... :)    ]

7 to be exact...Your max Momentum pool is equal to your lowest attribute, so you will have a full pool of 3.

It was a D2 test to hit with a heavy crate since the crystal is a ways off.  Rather than loose the extra 2 Momentum I'll spend them for you for to Increase Quality of Success with 1 and Increase Scope of Success with the 2nd.

Here

we

go....
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:27, Mon 05 July 2021.

As Demetrius watches his Green Man companion uses his immense strength to heave a heavy crate through the air towards the strange crystal.  Nantas' aim is true and the crate and its contents shatter against the chrome housing.   Surprisingly housing and crystal do not shatter but the impact manages to topping the contraption back upon ope of Isalia's crew tending to the captives.

As the device falls the wires upon the opposite side become taunt, some snap, some pop free from the victims they are attached to, and some are strong enough that those at the end are actually pulled from their beds.   In the moment of shock before the chaos ensues, both of you recognize one of the pale, now bearded figures that is jerked from beneath the blanket covering him.   There only a short distance away lies Patterson Boon, the man you have crossed karads of Martian dead sea bottom to find!

An alarm begins to blare.

Shouting erupts.

And upon the far side of the large room you see Isalia herself rush forward and lock dark, angry eyes upon you both!

You have managed to incapacitate 1 of the guards here and discover Patterson Boon.

Round 1 begins!

Oh look, I have 7 Threat saved up, I think it's time to start using some of that.
- 1 Threat spent to Seize Initiative, Isalia will act before anyone else...

The Red Woman puts some small object to her lips and seems to blow as she draws a pistol from her belt.

14:45, Today: Jeddak rolled 11 using 2d20 with rolls of 10,1.  Isalia - GANG CAPTAIN, Daring + Empathy, 13/6-.
- success with 2 Momentum

I'll spend an extra point of Threat to give her 3 Momentum total

You've kicked the ant pile.

You are 1 zone up from the floor and 1 zone away from where Patterson lays and the 3 guards.

You are 2 zones away from Isalia.

Declare your actions!


This message was last edited by the GM at 19:54, Mon 05 July 2021.

[OOC: waiting for Demetrius to post first, then I'll adapt to his initiative to support him as best as I can]

Demetrius begins to move into the chaos. However, his strong movements, particularly a leap down to the next level, give away his presence...

And the dice completely betray me. Blew both Momentums for a matching set of 16s that leave me with one success, AKA a fail.

13:33, Today: Demetrius Esper rolled 16 using 1d20 with rolls of 16.  One more Momentum.
13:33, Today: Demetrius Esper rolled 16,10,16 using 1d20,1d20,1d20 with rolls of 16,10,16.  Cunning + Daring w/1 Momentum, 13/6.

You still move though.

Where would you like to end up?
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:05, Tue 13 July 2021.

Nantas picks up another box and throws it upon the gang captain. Rather than hurting the captain (which wouldn't be bad) he wants to prevent any kind of order from being established. Mayhem has to continue!

[OOC: 19:26, Today: Nantas rolled 17 using 2d20 with rolls of 1,16.  Cunning 9 + Daring 9
is it enough to match the challenge or do I need to spend some more Momentum?]

Since you're not going for Stealth this seems more like a Ranged Attack, which is normally Cunning + Reason unless you can justify how movement is a key component here.  Regardless you are 3 zones away from Isalia (1 down and 2 over) increasing the difficulty of your attack by +3 (now takes 4 successes for a hit).  Because of that your attack will miss.

This time....
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:03, Tue 13 July 2021.