A few cleanup steps ensue where the Cyberpriests' deaths are reported and police are called to report the rancid former settlement of undead and wyverns. The sun sets as you get to City Hall and are informed of the Mayor's transfer to the palace for added security.

Arriving at the palace gates, you see a compound of several buildings. One of them is clearly the palace at the far end of the grounds, and about 20 snipers are stationed on the roof. Along the side, a decrepit Viking longboat is parked at the dock.

Before you get a chance to react, six miniature comets rain down from the sky. Two of them sail well past the palace and land in the city. The other four explode into fireballs directly over the palace, right where the snipers were stationed.

When the fireballs fade away, the snipers are replaced by charred corpses. Two wyverns fly by and each drop three Viking zombies onto the roof where the snipers were. On cue, more undead charge the side gate, collapsing it. They engage with Danish soldiers on the grounds. The soldier at your gate quickly lets you in and then grabs a rifle to join the battle. As he does so, a group of undead approach from the opposite direction, each wielding the battle axes and shields they had in life.

There are five Viking Draugr in this group. When you are done, you can decide if you want or need to take a breather to recover Shock or apply First Aid. You will eventually need to make your way to the top floor of the palace where the Mayor is stationed.

Card for Round 1

Over the Top!	Dramatic Skill Resolution: A, D
	Dramatic: V Fatigued/H -
Approved: Intimidate/Taunt	Special: -

Checking for Active Defenses before rolling for villains.

This message was last updated by the GM at 03:04, Tue 13 Sept 2022.

No AD

No ad.

OOC-No AD

No AD.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:44, Tue 13 Sept 2022.

Johnny moves to a protective position, hoping to draw the attacks onto him.

13:50, Today: Gamemaster, on behalf of Johnny Ichii, rolled 17 using 1d20, rerolling max.  Active Defense.
This message was last updated by the GM at 19:00, Wed 14 Sept 2022.

The five Viking draugr split up and engage individual targets in melee. Except for the stench of decay and rotting flesh, they display the same degree of skill one expects from Vikings, but without the nagging fear of death that a normal human subject would have.

14:05, Today: Viking Draugr rolled 14 using 1d20, rerolling max.  Attack vs. Void.
Melee 11 + 1 bonus = 12. Standard vs. Unarmed 9.
Damage 15 + 0 bonus dice = 15 vs. Toughness 6. 1 Wound 2 Shock

14:05, Today: Viking Draugr rolled 12 using 1d20, rerolling max.  Attack vs. Johnny.
Melee 11 + 0 bonus = 11. Miss vs. Melee 12 (16 w/Active Defense)

14:04, Today: Viking Draugr rolled 16 using 1d20, rerolling max.  Attack vs. Jacob.
Melee 11 + 3 bonus = 14. Standard vs. Melee 10.
Damage 15 + 0 bonus dice = 15 vs. Toughness 17 1 Shock

14:04, Today: Viking Draugr rolled 9 using 1d20, rerolling max.  Attack vs. Ivan.
Melee 11 - 1 bonus = 10. Miss vs. Melee/Unarmed 15.

14:04, Today: Viking Draugr rolled 9 using 1d20, rerolling max.  Attack vs. Case.
Melee 11 - 1 bonus = 10. Standard vs. Unarmed 6.
Damage 15 + 0 bonus dice = 15 vs. Toughness 9. 1 Wound 2 Shock

People can soak this damage. Johnny, having done Active Defense, can pool a card now; others can after their turn.

Special Note: Vikings have shields. This adds 2 to their defenses against attacks unless the Viking is made Vulnerable or Very Vulnerable.

EDIT: Draugr have Fear, so you need to do a Willpower (DN 10) test. Failure puts your action for the round at -4.

This message was last edited by the player at 23:43, Wed 14 Sept 2022.

Jacob lashes out with his whip, but fails to connect past the undead thing's shield. "You know, the whole dead man thing is a possible breach of my intellectual property rights..." He says to his opponent.

OOC:
15:52, Today: Jacob Amer (Revenant) rolled 6 using 1d20.  All out attack.

Even with all out attack, miss.

Regens 1 shock.

Putting Adrenaline into pool.

Case backpedals away from the undead as he sends a bolt of fire at the viking.  Unfortunately it splashes harmlessly against the creature's armor.

OOC

16:02, Today: Case Morrow rolled 8 using 1d20.  pyro 1 draugar.
(1 shock so nothing)


15:58, Today: Case Morrow rolled 7 using 1d20.  soak.

Glory to pool
This message was last edited by the player at 20:23, Wed 14 Sept 2022.

Foprgot to point out the Fear factor of the undead, It doesn't affect what has happened, but everyone should check Willpower (DN 10) to avoid being Very Stymied this turn. (You will only have to check this one round for the draugr. If other undead show up besides draugr, you will have to test for them.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:40, Wed 14 Sept 2022.

In reply to Gamemaster (msg # 10):

Ooc-19:39, Today: Jacob Amer (Revenant) rolled 11 using 1d20.  Possibility spent.

19:38, Today: Jacob Amer (Revenant) rolled 3 using 1d20.  Willpower.

Total=11

20:03, Today: Case Morrow rolled 13 using 1d20.  willpower.

all good

12:26, Today: Ivan Borovich (Headshot) rolled 17 using 1d20.  Fear.
Wip 8 +4 = 12, no probs.
12:28, Today: Ivan Borovich (Headshot) rolled 8 using 1d20.  Attack.

Ivan locked his teeth on vomit as the zombie closed up on him. Damn but they were disgusting! Parrying its swipe, he stuck his knife in it's eye.

Insufficient overs for extra damage, damage 18.

Pooled Seize Initiative

Void was not afraid of these undead; they reminded her of her own non-existence in that place. She feigned greater injury than she had to try to get the thing to overcommit, but the pain of the wound was too real to ignore.

Another wave of these undead were about to be dropped into the courtyard, only to be hit with a fire bomb from a pristine Viking ship. The live Vikings apparently hate the dead ones as much as we do, and take on most of the newcomers. Only the commander, a more sinister undead, remained to join the fight.


00:01, Today: Gamemaster, on behalf of Void, rolled 1 using 1d20, rerolling max.  Trick Nearest Draugr.

00:00, Today: Gamemaster, on behalf of Void, rolled 17 using 1d20, rerolling max.  Fear (Willpower value 11).

Connection pooled and played along with Cosm Card Escalation. We're going to need more possibilities.

Title:	Escalation!
Description	Play at any time during an Encounter. Enemy reinforcements arrive, including a reality-rated foe. Gain 1-3 Possibilities once the foes are defeated, based on the strength of the reinforcements.

Summary:
Case (0/3 Wounds 0/13 Shock)
Cards in Pool

Title:	Glory
Description	Play after you make a die roll of 60 or higher in a Dramatic Encounter.
	All ords in the area refill with Possibility Energy.
	All players immediately gain 1 Possibility and draw 1 Destiny Card.
	For the remainder of this Act and all of next Act, you may hold 1 Destiny Card above the Cosm Limit.
	Only one Glory card may be played per test.

Ivan (0/3 Wounds 0/7 Shock)
Cards in Pool

Jacob (0/3 Wounds 0/8 Shock) Regeneration active
Cards in Pool

Title:	Adrenaline
Description	Add +3 to the total of a single Dexterity or Strength test, or a skill test based on such attribute.
	You may play this card after learning the result level of the test but before applying its effect.

Johnny (0/3 Wounds 0/8 Shock)
Cards in Pool

Title:	Seize Initiative
Description	Play at the beginning of the round to either keep the current Drama card for another round,
	or to flip a new Drama card after the card for this round is revealed.

Void (1/3 Wounds 2/11 Shock)
Cards in Pool
NONE


Enemy status
The five draugr have yet to be Wounded, which is what it takes to dispatch them. The new arrival is a Night Wingsman, who expected to be accompanied by five more draugr, but the living Vikings have attacked their longboat, forcing the extra draugr and the wyvern to rush to the boat's defense.

Card for Round 3

Let 'Em Have it!	Dramatic Skill Resolution: A, C
	Dramatic: V -/H Flurry
Approved: Attack/Intimidate	Special: -

You have noticed that the undead all have chain shirts instead of full chain armor. This means a Called Shot at -2 allows you to ignore the 2 point armor bonus to their Toughness. After their attack (which you can use a Turn to Defend against if you wish), you get two turns (though each person's second turn occurs after everyone else's first turn).

No AD

OOC-No AD

No AD this turn.

If V's do badly this turn, I may keep this initiative...Flurry with Attack approved is an advantageous combination though going second is a problem.

No AD.

No AD this round

The new arrival utters an unholy shriek to try rattling Ivan, but Ivan had heard worse from his training sergeants. The draugr continue to swing at the group, mostly missing, but catching Case and Void with what look like nasty blows.

20:33, Today: Night Wingsman rolled 1 using 1d20.  Intimidate Ivan.

19:54, Today: Viking Draugr rolled 10 using 1d20, rerolling max.  Attack vs. Case.
19:54, Today: Viking Draugr rolled 17 using 1d20, rerolling max.  Exploding 10. Total 27 (+9 bonus)
Melee 11 + 9 bonus = 20. Outstanding (2 BD) vs. Unarmed 6.

20:20, Today: Viking Draugr rolled 6 using 2d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5.  Bonus Dice vs. Case.
Damage 14 + 6 bonus dice = 20 vs. TOU 9. 2 Wounds 4 Shock

19:53, Today: Viking Draugr rolled 16 using 1d20, rerolling max.  Attack vs. Ivan. (+3 bonus)
Melee 11 + 3 bonus = 14. Miss vs. Melee 15.

19:53, Today: Viking Draugr rolled 5 using 1d20, rerolling max.  Attack vs. Jacob. (-4 bonus)
Melee 11 - 4 bonus = 7. Miss vs. Unarmed 8.

19:52, Today: Viking Draugr rolled 12 using 1d20, rerolling max.  Attack vs. Johnny. (0 bonus)
Melee 11 + 0 bonus = 11. Miss vs. Melee 12.

19:46, Today: Viking Draugr rolled 14 using 1d20, rerolling max.  Attack vs. Void. (+1 bonus)
Melee 11 + 1 bonus = 12. Standard (0 BD) vs. Unarmed 9.
Damage 14 + 0 bonus dice = 14 vs. TOU 6. 1 Wound 2 Shock

Those who have damage from this attack can soak, and everyone can take the first turn of Flurry.

In reply to Night Wingsman (msg # 22):

Jacob uses his lasso to restrain his foe. Trying to make him helpless in order to finish him off.

ooc-21:54, Today: Jacob Amer (Revenant) rolled 9 using 1d20.  All out attack with lasso. Using all out attack and adrenaline  card to get a good result with lasso to restrain target.

Placing Second Chance into pool.

This message was last edited by the player at 02:49, Sun 25 Sept 2022.

Case backs up again and nearly trips as he concentrates on burning one of the undead things.  He glows as he gathers power and unfortunately sends a streak of flame harmlessly off into the night as he suddenly starts with hacking cough and flailing around.  He croaks out in a disgusted voice, "Bleh!  I swallowed a moth!"

OOC

22:28, Today: Case Morrow rolled 1 using 1d20.  called shot pyro 1 drauger.
ignores first disconnection of act...don't think I had another one though it's been a while

22:24, Today: Case Morrow rolled 13 using 1d20.  soak.
17 soak total at least

Willpower to pool.

Ivan kept going, but his enemy just ignored the damage.

Johnny spins his blade into the nearest undead. Remembering from...somewhere...to aim for the head, he scrapes some skin off the scalp.


20:42, Today: Johnny Ichii rolled 11 using 1d20.  AoA, Called Head nearest. Johnny hits, barely, but even if the head  shot adds to damage it's still just shock.

Waiting for draw to pool

Edit: Pooling Coup de Grace
This message was last edited by the player at 12:40, Sat 01 Oct 2022.

The Weight of Reality falls upon the lead undead, causing him to stumble.

23:33, Today: Gamemaster, on behalf of Void, rolled 16 using 1d20, rerolling max.  Weight of Reality vs. main undead
13 Reality + 3 bonus = 16. Standard vs. Reality 12.

Willpower pooled.

This message was last edited by the GM at 04:48, Thu 29 Sept 2022.

The living Vikings attack the new section of undead with a precision assault. One tricks or maneuvers an undead into a compromising position, making it Vulnerable and getting its shield out of position to defend. Then others attack places not covered by its chain shirt, such as the legs, until a clean shot takes it down. They have cleared 2 of the foes aimed at them this way.

OOC: Making the undead Vulnerable with an interaction lowers their defense by 2 and removes their shield until the end of their next turn. Then, the Called Shot cancels the attack bonus but bypasses their armor, so a "normal" hit can damage their flesh without armor or shield bonus.

Everyone may now take their Flurry turn.

Spitting out the moth, Case continues trying to burn one of the undead vikings.

OOC
02:03, Today: Case Morrow rolled 11 using 1d20.  called shot pyro 1 drauger.

In reply to Viking Raider (msg # 28):

His foe, now tied up by the rope, makes the creature easy picking. Jacob uses the pistol grip of his Webby, which had built in brass knuckles. He proceeds to punch the other undead thing in the face so hard its skull collaspes.

"The grave wants you back, and it already spit me out." Jacob said as the thing returned to its normal corpse state.

ooc:
Aimed all out punch to bypass armor vs very vulnerable foe.

More than enough to do two wounds to the thing.

23:14, Sat 24 Sept: Jacob Amer (Revenant) rolled 13 using 2d6, rerolling max.  Bonus die damage.

22:01, Sat 24 Sept: Jacob Amer (Revenant) rolled 1 using 1d20.  Add on roll with a 20.

22:00, Sat 24 Sept: Jacob Amer (Revenant) rolled 20 using 1d20.  Aimed shot at restrained target, all out attack.

Putting action into the pool. Picking up undead's melee weapon. Using Pistol w/brass knuckles and Battleaxe now.

This message was last edited by the player at 15:34, Thu 29 Sept 2022.

Johnny Turns his spin into a jumping down strike bringing his empowered blade directly into the things skull. At the last second, it manages to get its shield up to block the strike.
MW 12 +0 die +4 AoA-4CS =12 vs 11(13), miss
05:34, Today: Johnny Ichii rolled 1 using 1d20.  Exploding 10.
05:33, Today: Johnny Ichii rolled 10 using 1d20.  AoA & CS-4 nearest.

2 shock to eliminate VV from AoA

Pool Supporter
This message was last edited by the player at 13:02, Sat 01 Oct 2022.

Ivan finally figured out where to hit the things, coming round to sever the top of the spine. Emboldened, he did the same to the one attacking Case, who seemed to be having trouble.

12:11, Today: Ivan Borovich (Headshot) rolled 1 using 1d20.  Explode.
12:11, Today: Ivan Borovich (Headshot) rolled 20 using 1d20.  Attack.
Called shot-head to avoid shield and armor and to get +4 damage.
Whirlwind negates multi-attack penalty.
29 vs 14 = kill.

We just waiting on Void?  Do we get to add cards to pool on flurry?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:42, Thu 06 Oct 2022.

Void was not a combatant and did not enjoy the sensation of getting hit by these undead things. Her understanding of life was fundamentally lacking so her understanding of dead things that were up and walking still was less than zero. All she knew was the creatures were somehow wrong and she was not meant to fight them like her companions were.

At least not yet.

She bent reality around herself, grasped the edges and made herself vanish until she could figure out a way to be more effective against the things.

In reply to Case Morrow (msg # 33):

Yes, you can add cards to the pool after your Flurry. I will be processing everything in the next 24 hours. If Johnny wants to keep the initiative card, please let me know soon.

In reply to Gamemaster (msg # 35):

Hero card to pool.

In reply to Gamemaster (msg # 35):

Unless someone else is opposed; I say keep it. For those concerned about getting hit, Flurry allows for an Active Defense followed by 1 action.

In reply to Johnny Ichii (msg # 37):

I'd keep it.  No AD for Case in that case;-).

The live Vikings of House Sjodrekkar continue to trick and maneuver a foe until it drops shield protection, then aiming for a leg or head to cleave flesh instead of armor. This results in another foe downed. (Two draugr remain on them, while the Night Wingsman and four draugr are still in your area.)

Summary of turn upcoming. As Johnny intends to keep initiative for the next round, Active Defenses may be declared now or after the summary is posted.

With Johnny playing the Seize Initiative card to keep the current line in effect, the situation is as follows:

Case (0/3 Wounds 0/13 Shock)
Cards in Pool

Title:	Glory
Description	Play after you make a die roll of 60 or higher in a Dramatic Encounter.
	All ords in the area refill with Possibility Energy.
	All players immediately gain 1 Possibility and draw 1 Destiny Card.
	For the remainder of this Act and all of next Act, you may hold 1 Destiny Card above the Cosm Limit.
	Only one Glory card may be played per test.

Title:	Willpower
Description	Add +3 to the total of a single Charisma, Mind or Spirit test, or a skill test based on such attribute.
	You may play this card after learning the result level of the test but before applying its effect.

Title:	Hero
Description	Play this card as a Possibility.
	You may only play one Hero card per test, but you may play it in addition to a regular Possibility and/or a Drama card.

Ivan (0/3 Wounds 0/7 Shock)
Cards in Pool

Title:	Coup de Grace
Description	Play to add 1 Bonus Die to your successful attack's damage.
	You may play this card after seeing the results of other Bonus Dice earned (including other Coup de Grace cards).

Title:	Leadership
Description	Play to place two cards from your hand and/or Action Pool into other character's Action Pools. (You may place them in the same Action Pool or different ones.)
	Immediately refill your hand. (Cards in your Action Pool are not counted.)

Title:	Setback
Description	Trigger a Villain Setback as though it appeared on the conflict line.

Jacob (0/3 Wounds 0/8 Shock) Regeneration active
Cards in Pool

Title:	Second Chance
Description	Immediately reattempt a failed test. The new result replaces that failure.
	This can be played after a Mishap, preventing that effect.

Title:	Action
Description	Add +3 to the total of your test.
	You may play this card after learning the result level of the test but before applying its effect.

Johnny (0/3 Wounds 0/8 Shock)
Cards in Pool

Title:	Coup de Grace
Description	Play to add 1 Bonus Die to your successful attack's damage.
	You may play this card after seeing the results of other Bonus Dice earned (including other Coup de Grace cards).

Title:	Supporter
Description	Add +3 to the total of another character's test.
	You may play this card after learning the result level of the test but before applying its effect.

Void (2/3 Wounds 4/11 Shock) FADE OUT ACTIVE: -4 TO BE HIT (concentration)
Cards in Pool

Title:	Willpower
Description	Add +3 to the total of a single Charisma, Mind or Spirit test, or a skill test based on such attribute.
	You may play this card after learning the result level of the test but before applying its effect.

+1 Undeclared


Enemy status
You still have a Night Wingsman and two draugr left to deal with. None show any meaningful damage.

Card for Round 3

Let 'Em Have it!	Dramatic Skill Resolution: A, C
	V -/H Flurry
Approved: Attack/Intimidate	Special: -

Anyone with a line about "Undeclared" can put that many cards into their pool. I will check for active defenses (or other shenanigans like a Setback or Leadership card) before rolling for the enemies.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:18, Mon 17 Oct 2022.

In reply to Gamemaster (msg # 40):

Ooc-action and second chance in the pool. I used Andreline.

OK, will update.

I will allow another 24 hours for anyone who wants to declare an Active Defense to do so (especially Void, as she is clearly in nearly invisible mode) before I do the villains' attacks.

No AD. Hopefully being invisible works like I think it does.

In reply to Gamemaster (msg # 43):

OOC-No AD.

No AD.

No AD

The draugr that was attacking Void is used to seeing people "disappear" after hacking at them as fiercely as it had, so it moved on to the next "open" target in Jacob. However, a well-timed flick of the lasso put the draugr out of position and the attack found nothing but air. The other draugr continued the assault on Johnny, who receives a glancing blow.

The Night Wingsman (who is clearly reality-rated) pulls out a dagger that radiates with foul necromantic energy. He attempts to throw it at Void, who fades out just before it makes contact. After striking the side of a building, the blade teleports back to the Night Wingsman's hand ready for another throw. The Wingsman looks puzzled; he clearly expected that attack to hit.

19:19, Today: Viking Draugr rolled 1 using 1d20, rerolling max.  Attack vs. Jacob.
Mishap: Auto miss.

19:19, Today: Viking Draugr rolled 14 using 1d20, rerolling max.  Attack vs. Johnny.
Melee 11 + 1 bonus = 12. Standard Success vs. Melee 12.
Damage 13 + 0 bonus = 15 vs. Armor 12. 2 Shock

19:18, Today: Night Wingsman rolled 4 using 1d20, rerolling max.  Magic knife vs. Void
Melee 13 - 6 bonus - 4 Fade Out = 3. Miss vs. Unarmed 7.

Players can now do the first turn of their Flurry.

Keeping his distance, Case reaches down and picks up a small rock.  Moving from a crouch he tosses it at one of the viking undead attacking Johnny, bouncing harmlessly of it's helmet but distracting it from the samurai as the creature glares at the youth.

OOC
02:30, Today: Case Morrow rolled 13 using 1d20.  trick 1 drauger.

Enough to make it vulnerable (short by 1 for very vulnerable)

Hero to pool.

Play Cosm Card: Go for Broke--all SK's can ignore up to 4 points of penalties.
"Hit'em hard!" Johnny yells as he gives an example. Jumping up and bringing his full weight down, caving in the Draugr's skull and removing it rom the fight. He does appear to be tiring, however, as he is visibly off balance afterward.

MW 12 +5 die +4 AoA-0CS +2V =23 vs 11(13) =Outstanding
D 12(2) +4 CS +3bd vs 14(2) = 1wd 2shk
20:07, Today: Johnny Ichii rolled 18 using 1d20.  AoA & CS-4 nearest.
20:12, Today: Johnny Ichii rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2
20:19, Today: Johnny Ichii rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1.

Jacob tried to use the battle axe to cut off one of the dead thing's heads. However he could not get around its shield.

ooc-06:25, Today: Jacob Amer (Revenant) rolled 5 using 1d20.  All out aimed battle axe attack.

Putting too tough into pool

Freed of melee at last, Ivan brought up his rifle but was unable to get a clean shot.

With herself now hidden from the fight, Void takes the time to recover shock.

I am beginning narration from here to get to the end of the fight. Feel free to inject dialogue along the way. Then I will set up a scene to decompress and focus the party on what they need to do next.

Fire! The Skalds launched a barrage of spells at one of the decrepit longboats containing the bodies of their companions raised to unlife through unholy forces and set it on fire.

This distraction allows the group to disengage if they wish and head to the Palace in search of the Mayor. The opportunity will not last long, though.

"We have to get to the top floor before they can kill the Mayor!" Case yells back already moving for the Palace.

The group makes it to the front door of the Palace. Inside, many of the officials who had greeted you before are now taking up whatever weapons they have available (newly-made swords that look like they just came off a movie set, ancient halberds from the nearby museum, firearms of various makes and models, and one person using live electrical wiring as a makeshift taser) to hold off more of these fetid ex-Vikings. If you had not made it when you did, this would surely have been a slaughter. Now, there is a fighting chance.

Case checks to see how close the fighting is to the Palace.  He asks one of the ad hoc defenders, "Where is the mayor?  Is he safe?"

"We heard thumping upstairs near where her office is, but we have been too busy to check it out right now." She strains as she takes a halberd and tries to pin one of the undead to the wall with it. "A little help, please?"?

Case nods without a word further as there is a flash of fire...

The undead collapses as it is engulfed in flame, along with some papers from the top of a nearby file cabinet. A few cracks of Revenant's whip, some well-executed cleaving with Johnny's sword, and a random bullet from a civilian firearm help subdue the threat in this area. You are quickly directed to the stairs leading up to Mayor Madsden's office.

Three Danish soldiers are attempting to hold back another six draugr, preventing them from climbing the stairs. Three other soldiers and three other unmoving undead lie strewn about the hallway. As the undead close in on the soldiers, a side door flies open and three trolls come storming in.

As the air starts to heat up a draft starts to develop with the open doors and stairwell beginning a chimney effect, fanning the open flame.  The rail thin young man casts a dancing scarecrow like shadow in the flickering fire's light as he turns his attention to the trolls.  "Burn..."

The trolls dodge the fire, causing it to hit one of the undead. One troll, a massive female, turns and shouts with glee: "Oh happy day! We fight with Storm Knights!" The Danish soldiers provide cover fire as the trolls and the party make quick work of the undead, but not before a troll is chopped in half and collapses into a pile of dirt and moss.

Tongue Lasher looks to Ivan and says, "You are most like troll! Come with us so we can guard this lower floor! More foes come! I can sense them! Two trolls not enough, but three will win!"

Turning to Case, the troll leader says, "From now on, you are no longer Twig, but Torch!"

The rest of the group heads upstairs to see three more soldiers whose weapons are on the ground and trying to fight hand to hand with six more draugr. Beyond them lies the mayor's office.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:41, Sun 28 Apr.

Oops, totally forgot about that;-)  Case had a 40k moment 'DIE XENOS SCUM!'

A head of steam on, or fire rather, the pyrokineticist works furiously to get to the mayor, hoping they are not too late as he helps burn through the undead.

The pattern of grabbing, holding, and then torching the undead is becoming nearly routine. A lucky strike downs one of the Danish soldiers, though.

As you are about to open the door to the Mayor's office, you hear a crash from above. A hole is ripped through the ceiling with a withered claw the size of a front-end loader. More draugr drop in through the hole. (You can enter the office, but without help, the soldiers are probably outmatched.)

Case tears his attention from the hole in the ceiling to the mayor's door.  Then back again as he tries to burn the zombies in a hurry so keep the soldiers alive.

Johnny quickly calculated the situation: Ivan is down below helping the trolls, and he still didn't comprehend Void (though to be honest, he was just as confident Void doesn't comprehend him either). Jacob's method, while effective, is slow. And Case's fire had almost set allies on fire; he wasn't sure if a stray shot would set the building on fire. The choice was clear.

"I've got this! Save the mayor!" He jumped in to block the horde of undead from swarming the soldiers.

In reply to Johnny Ichii (msg # 66):

Jacob pauses, torn between defending the soldiers and rescuing the mayor and his staff. Ultimately, he knows Johnny is right. "You better not die, pal! Or I will be very annoyed!" He says to the Cyber Samurai, and gives the other man a thumbs up. He heads for the civilians and the mayor.

As Johnny charges in to defend the soldiers, the rest open the door to Mayor Paulina Madsden's office. She is seated at a desk strewn with maps, in an office decorated with priceless 16th Century tapestries, talking to someone on a cell phone in her hand. She looks up from the papers on her desk nervously, but seeing it's the group, she relaxes slightly. She says into the phone, "Thank heaven! It's the Delphi Council agents! Agreed. I'll ask them. Hope to see you soon."

She hangs up the phone and addresses the group: "That was Major Nielsen on the phone. He says he has a defensible postion across the courtyard and if we can get there he should be able to hold our attackers at bay. If you look out the window you should see his position." A command post guarded by six cannons and several Jeeps with mounted machine guns is firing at more of the undead, mowing them down mercilessly. "If we can get to the ground, we might be able to make it there before the wyvern riders catch us. Will you help?"

As she asks, she tugs at various tapestries, clearly testing them so see which ones can support the weight of people using them as ropes to reach the ground. "Desperate times call for desperate measures. May Her Majesty show mercy for this."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:04, Tue 30 Apr.

Case nods and helps secure the tapestry 'rope' but looks a little hesitant after he looks down.  He musters some courage and grabs a hold of the old fabric with a death grip as he swings his gangly legs over the bannister and heads down off the balcony.

Are we able to use cards we still have? I have an Idea card that might be able to save these antique tapestries if the Gamemaster allows it.
This message was last updated by the GM at 12:02, Tue 30 Apr.

I'll allow it. Everyone check your equipment lists, Also, for those who didn't set up an equipment, list, consider doing so when we get to the end of this Act.

From the pack Delphi supplied for this mission, Case pulls out twenty meters of hemp rope.  When the others give him a look he replies, "What?  I thought she just wanted to get rid of those curtains."

As Jacob ties the rope to a steel file cabinet, the mayor turns to Case in a huff. "I'll have you know, young man, that these so-called curtains were already over a century old when Amalienborg Palace was completed in 1754 and have been here to this day. While Her Majesty would understand the destruction of her tapestries in a time of need, doing so when a perfectly good rope was available is another matter entirely"

Jacob calls up from the ground below. "The rope is in place and the sky is currently free of winged pests. Send the mayor down, then Void. Case, you help Johnny and make sure he gets out too!"

With a little coaxing and a steady hand on the rope, Mayor Madsden gets safely down. When Void climbs down, her hands don't appear to move. It's as if she is standing on an invisible platform and she is sliding down the rope like a firehouse pole, albeit at a slower, more controlled pace.

Case looks to the fight at the staircase. One soldier is clearly dead, and another is only saved by a deliberate interposition by Johnny to take the blow from a Night Wingsman. This allows the soldier to stay alive, but the crunch from the axe indicates several cracked ribs and possibly a punctured lung.

In the leader's fury, however, he left himself flat-footed to a pyrokinesis attack. The fury of seeing Johnny being cut down raised a groundswell of fire, all centered on the zombified Viking. As the corpse dwindles into nothingness, the heroes feel Possibility Energy expand from the ashes, permeating the air and offering a small spark of hope to people of good will everywhere.

One of the other undead does not view Case's act as charitably. It raises a Viking horn to its lips. No sound comes out of it, but Case's psychic senses tingle as he realized he has just been marked as a target. The remaining soldiers drag Johnny out of the way of the zombies' path and begin emergency first aid. Time to get down the rope and herd everyone to the command post.

Case helps where he can getting Johnny secure and nearly dumps him over the bannister before recovering him from a short drop.  Feet braced on the masonry and hands getting burned by hemp Case hurries as fast as he can before going over the side himself and down off the balcony to escape.

Progress is slower than normal due to carrying an unconscious teammate, but you can see the goal 500 meters away. Those who look back can see the draugr climbing down the rope, then collecting in groups of five or six before shuffling toward you. As each group forms, one of your many ally groups (trolls, live Vikings, Danish soldiers, and even a few elf archers) engages. Those draugr pose no threat as a result.

400 meters away...
A shadow passes over you as the last Night Wingsman appears on a wyvern overhead on a pursuit course. Two cannons are pointed in a favorable direction to offer cover fire for the group.

300 meters away...
The wyvern is pulled up at the last second to avoid a cannonball.

250 meters away...
A counterattack on the command post forces one of the cannons to redirect to repel it. One of the Jeeps turns its machine gun toward the wyvern but seems unable to penetrate the wyvern's hide.

200 meters away...
Taking courage from the ineffectiveness of the machine gun, the Night Wingsman prepares another run at the group.

150 meters away...
The wyver flies past the group, swings around, and prepares to land between you and your destination.

100 meters away...
The group hears frantic orders being given in Danish and the sounds of Jeeps and cannons being moved about.

50 meters away...
The wyvern lands directly in front of you, mouth open and ready to bite off heads. The Night Wingsman points a decayed finger at Case, while reaching for his axe with the other hand.

From the command post, Major Mielsen's voice calls out: Fire!! The wyvern and the Night Wingsman are battered by cannonballs. collapsing in a heap. Beyond them, Danes, elves, and the troll known as Murk encourage you to join them behind the cannons, all six of which are now showing signs of very recent fire.

Victory!!
The last few undead are hunted down. You and the Major have taken control of the city center. Another group has secured the airport. The living Vikings have neutralized the waters. The elves prevent any escape into the ruins and countryside. And the trolls find any stragglers and rip them apart with their bare hands.

The steps that must be completed to start the next chapter for the groups will be detailed in the thread called "Copenhagen: Aftermath" coming soon.