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05:45, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

With the right koalafications everything goes as plant.

Posted by Papa BearFor group 0
Papa Bear
GM, 5227 posts
Incertum est quo loco
te mors expectet;
Wed 19 Feb 2014
at 18:33
  • msg #87

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

"His discretion depends on his loyalties. Not knowing who you are working for or against, I can't speak to it. However, he's quite independent, and only local for a short while. The likelihood of his being loyal to your particular target should be low. I can do more thorough checks if you'd like to share what I'm looking for."

Carver is looking for hotels close to the target hotel? This is downtown. The absolute closest are four-star hiltons and sheratons. A few blocks out is a We-Stor-U subsidiary called Deadbeats, which offers "power-naps and power chords for professionals on the go--enjoy our premium discount sleeping bin. Afterwards, wake up to our lounge-level thrash metal cafe." Your discount does carry over, fortunately.
Carver
player, 174 posts
Cut and paste, that's all
I do... Cut and paste.
Wed 19 Feb 2014
at 23:49
  • msg #88

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

If it is still close enough to be useful for intel, that sounds like a good place to be. I've got vision magnification and good tools.
Papa Bear
GM, 5228 posts
Incertum est quo loco
te mors expectet;
Thu 20 Feb 2014
at 15:55
  • msg #89

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

It's not a perfect view of the building, but it's a good base of operations, plus you can monitor radio traffic easily.

I believe we're ready to move forward with interviewing Dr. Birwin?
Firefox
player, 4074 posts
itty bitty finger
160 foot inferno
Thu 20 Feb 2014
at 17:07
  • msg #90

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

"Probably best if you don't know too much.  Thank you, as always.  I may drop by the shop sometime tomorrow to pick up a few supplies.  Plus I've recently acquired a new ginseng variety with a citrus infusion you simply must try.  Rest well."

She returned the phone to its holster.  "I've got a meeting tomorrow with a parazoologist with an auzzie background.  Happy to go on my own, but if one or two of you wish to tag along, can probably swing that too."

She scribbles down a phone number on a piece of paper and leaves it on the table.  "Call me if anything interesting crops up.  Otherwise, I'll see you here tomorrow night, say around 7?"

She pauses by Warlock on the way out.  "I'm doing a bit of shopping for elemental supplies tomorrow.  With the back-up plan involving folks jumping out a window, I'm thinking an air elemental could come in handy.  If you need some summoning supplies, I'm happy to pick some up.  You can pay me back later.  Just let me know how much."

Happy to jump to tomorrow
Papa Bear
GM, 5229 posts
Incertum est quo loco
te mors expectet;
Thu 20 Feb 2014
at 17:55
  • msg #91

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

OOC: Okay, a bunch of people have said to move it forward, AND it is Thursday so I need to put up an in-game post. People are welcome to decide whether they're attending or not. I'm just going to move things forward.

Dr. Birwin receives you in his house, a cute little bungalow tucked away a quarter mile from the campus. As he opens the door for you, a four-foot hellhound leaps out from between his legs and lunges for Firefox.
"Down, Bengie. Down! You're a bag of trouble." He grabs the hellhound by its collar and hauls it off. "Sorry for that. He's just happy to meet friends."

The main room is decorated sparsely, and there are still a few cardboard boxes tucked away under tables and in corners. The walls and most flat surfaces are covered with crazy little objects; tusks, a forty-foot snake skin, some sort of a seed or husk the size of your fist. Other than a pair of cough drops lost underneath the china cabinet, the room is tidy.

"Ah, so you're interested in drop bears! They're fiesty little nippers, I tell you. They spend their time sitting high in the eucalyptus tree, where they eat three times their body weight in leaves. They're tough blighters to see. They use their para-natural camouflage ability to practically disappear. That's a handy defense strategy for the drop bear, because they sleep most of the day.

"They don't need to drink. They get all of their water from the eucalyptus, and from the blood of creatures that walk beneath. Drop bears are what we call opportunistic predators, and ambush predators. If you walk below, they drop down on you. That's why they call 'em "drop bears". When they drop down, they use their teeth and claws, and the weight of the drop, classic attack, they punch right through armor. They got a nasty bite, and boof, crack the skull right in half and kill the prey.

"Drop bears, they're called that but they aren't really bears. They're closer to koalas, which are also not bears. In fact, they're closer to wombats. Mind you, wombats are not really bats. In fact, they're closer to wallabies. Mind you, wallabies are not really bees.

"Koala bear populations have been hit hard by diseases and poisons. This is a real tragedy. But it is also boosting drop bear populations, because they are more resistant."

This message was last edited by the GM at 17:57, Thu 20 Feb 2014.
Firefox
player, 4075 posts
itty bitty finger
160 foot inferno
Thu 20 Feb 2014
at 21:21
  • msg #92

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

Firefox gives the hell hound a scratch behind the ears, giving it a quick grin on the  astral.  She listens attentively, interjecting questions when the professor pauses in his narration.

"It's amazing how something so cute looking can be so dangerous.

Do they have any weaknesses or vulnerabilities?  How would the locals go about capturing or killing one if it was proving a nuisance?

If we wanted to track one, would infrared be enough to negate their camouflage or would something like sonar be more appropriate?  You said they tend to sleep during the day.  Does that mean they feed primarily on nocturnal creatures, or will they wake up and attack if something walks under them during the day too?

How do they rate in terms of intelligence?  Are they just opportunistic hunters, or will they attempt to stalk prey and try to focus on stragglers rather than risking dropping into the middle of a group?

I presume they need to drop from quite a distance to crack a skull.  They're not that big from the pictures I've seen.

You mentioned that drop bears are more resistant to toxins and diseases.  Has that been studied at all?  Do we know what they're resistant or immune to?"


What's the layout of Becky's suite?  I presume there are multiple rooms given she's bunking with Elvis impersonators?
Papa Bear
GM, 5230 posts
Incertum est quo loco
te mors expectet;
Thu 20 Feb 2014
at 21:55
  • msg #93

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

As long as you define multiple as "two", yes. There are two bedrooms, a main room, and a bathroom. I really do not expect this to be a tactical operation. You're either sneaky sneaking, or you're destroying the room with devastating over-power. Neither requires a map.

"Koalas can be nasty beasties, but if you just rub their tummy ... oh, DROP BEARS! Well, they don't much like being in low places because they can't stalk their prey. Drop bears also have a very strong sense of smell, and anything too powerful upsets them. As a natural tool to keep drop bears and people safe, people would use some marmite to ward drop bears off. They can't stand the stuff.

"Drop bears are natives to the Australian outback, far away from human settlements. If they're being a nuisance, it's because humans are not where they belong. We need to respect nature's boundaries and leave wild animals alone. I don't recommend trying to capture them, and definitely not killing them. These are kind and peaceful animals, and they're just doing what comes naturally.

"Now I'm about to do something you should never, ever do to a drop bear, or to any wild animal."
As he talks, he scoops up the hellhound. "You should never shake the animal, or tug on its ears, or call it nasty names. Drop bears especially have very sensitive egos, and this sort of thing really causes them distress."

As he talks, he shakes the hellhound. The dog growls in response and bares it's teeth.

"And never, ever stick your finger up its bum, like this. They HATE that." The dog's eyes go wide and Birwin grabs it by the nape of the neck. "You should always respect wild animals, and recognize any animal can be dangerous! People die every year by mishandling animals."

(will have to post more later.)
Firefox
player, 4076 posts
itty bitty finger
160 foot inferno
Thu 20 Feb 2014
at 22:28
  • msg #94

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

Firefox nods sagely.  "I understand that goes doubly for trolls."
St. Velveteen
player, 41 posts
Fri 21 Feb 2014
at 00:16
  • msg #95

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

"Ahh! Yes it does!  Do NOT try any of that mishandling on me.  Especially the last one."  St. Velveteen liftes his reading glasses to his forehead and rubs the bridge of his nose as he re-collects his thoughts.  He had not expected the conversation to take such a quick and shocking turn.

After needlessly brushing off the shoulder of his sweater-vest, St. V resituates his pen on his notepad where notes had been scribbled in a weird amalgamation of English and Japanese.  There was also a crude sketch of a hell hound, highlighting the best cuts of meat.  "Can we just... get back to drop bears?  I promise I won't make any into fuzzy finger warmers.

You said they are opportunistic hunters, but what sorts of critters do they take the opportunity to get the drop on?  Birds, frogs, dingos, kangaroos?  People?

Are they dual beings?

Oh, and one more thing.  You don't happen to have any of the marmite you mentioned, do you?  Now I'm curious what kind of smell would be so overpowering that it would affect a wild animal like that."


Saint Velveteen prepares some bullet points on his notepad so he can fill in answers as the doc gives them.  But not before adding some EPIC fire breath to his hell hound sketch.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:18, Fri 21 Feb 2014.
Papa Bear
GM, 5231 posts
Incertum est quo loco
te mors expectet;
Fri 21 Feb 2014
at 13:40
  • msg #96

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

Birwin doesn't seem to hear St. Velveteen.

"Ah yes, trolls! Now there's a critter. Trolls are just another sub-species of metahumanity, and are native to all the same continents. Unlike humans though, they're very big, and can be very strong. Getting in a fistfight with a human can be dangerous, but with a troll it's downright suicide.

"Now this one's a beaut. Look at him! Very healthy. But you see his eyes, he's clearly uncomfortable in this non-native environment. I'm going to have to be very careful not to startle him. Eh, big guy? But watch this."


Birwin snatches Velveteen's glasses off his face. "There now, no one's gonna hurt you, big guy." Very carefully, Birwin reaches up and strokes St. Velveteen, nose to horn, nose to horn, then rubs St. Velveteen's cheeks. St. Velveteen feels himself getting a little light-headed, and after a moment, enters into something like a light sleep.

(OOC: Rolled willpower save on behalf of St. V. Failed to beat Birwin's skill.)

Birwin speaks just barely over a whisper, "There, I've put this big guy into a little nap. Don't worry, this is a natural reaction trolls have to being touched just the right way. Don't try this at home! Trolls can get very upset by strangers touching them, and many people have gotten hurt, or even lost their lives, doing this. Now, let's have a look at you."

Birwin continues to check over St. Velveteen, commenting on his health and signs of what sort of a life he lives.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:41, Fri 21 Feb 2014.
Firefox
player, 4077 posts
itty bitty finger
160 foot inferno
Fri 21 Feb 2014
at 15:14
  • msg #97

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

Firefox watches bemused as Birwin pokes and prods her new teammate, but as he starts to approach the poor troll's belt buckle she intervenes.

"He is indeed a very fine specimen, but if we could, I'd like to return to chatting about drop-bears."

She then repeats her questions on camouflage, intelligence and resistance.

"If they are repulsed by marmite, is there an equivalent substance that they find irresistible?"
St. Velveteen
player, 42 posts
Fri 21 Feb 2014
at 15:34
  • msg #98

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

In his sleep-like state, Saint Velveteen was dreaming that he was riding a pony back when he was a scrawny little kid.  His mother was yelling at him.  "Goosey, get off of that pony.  You'll break it."  He looked down and suddenly he was his adult size.  The pony snapped in half.  The front half of the pony dragged itself around to where he was now sitting on the ground and started reaching for his belt buckle.

"I need a new pony..."  St. V must have been starting to fall over in his sleep because he catches himself and jolts awake.

Velveteen looks around for a moment in a daze as his brain reminds him where he is.  "What I miss?" he asks rhetorically.
Papa Bear
GM, 5232 posts
Incertum est quo loco
te mors expectet;
Fri 21 Feb 2014
at 15:51
  • msg #99

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

"Oh yes, let's release this big fella back into the wild.

"Drop bear bait? Well, they do love eucalyptus. They eat a tremendous amount of it, and that's the only thing they eat. Aside from the flesh of their unsuspecting victims. I do have some of that, if you'd like. Also some marmite, of course. Delicious stuff, good on bread. A little dab behind the ears ought to keep them away. Poor little critters.

"Regarding prey, they're not too choosey. If it's under the tree, it's fair game. Mostly bigger critters, of course. They don't normally go for people face-to-face. We look too big for them. Look at me! But from up above, we look like a perfect, juicy morsel, just right for a hungry drop bear.

"They don't have to jump too far. They've got a vicious bite, like a steel trap. SNAP! Crack right through the bone, and eat the soft meat inside. Their camouflage makes them invisible to most everything, even infrared, but they are not astrally sensitive, so magical spirits and the like are totally safe.

"They are pretty smart li'l mates. Smarter than Bengie here. But out in the wild, you learn a different kind of intelligence, about how to sneak up on unsuspecting critters and such. Not reading books like you do in school. They won't normally attack a group, unless they think they have the advantage. But most of their prey items will run away after a kill, so a herd of goats is a perfect target."

Firefox
player, 4079 posts
itty bitty finger
160 foot inferno
Fri 21 Feb 2014
at 17:27
  • msg #100

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

"You were saying something about resistance or immunity to toxins and drugs?

Also, if they're not astrally sensitive, I'm gathering they're not dual-natured?

Are they active at all during the day?

Some marmite and some eucalyptus would be wonderful."

Papa Bear
GM, 5234 posts
Incertum est quo loco
te mors expectet;
Fri 21 Feb 2014
at 17:44
  • msg #101

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

"Oh yes. They have a general resistance to most toxins and diseases. This helps them survive against their major enemy, Man.

"No, they're not dual-natured. And no, they're not especially active during the day. Or at night. They are generally very passive and peaceful animals, and they sleep for most of their time."


He goes on into the kitchen. You hear him banging around for a bit before he returns with a small pot of marmite. "I almost always have eucalyptus on hand, but it seems I'm all out, sorry."
St. Velveteen
player, 45 posts
Fri 21 Feb 2014
at 18:00
  • msg #102

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

Saint Velveteen finishes catching up with his notes just as Dr. Birwin comes back with the marmite.  After taking the pot of marmite and smelling its contents, he offers it to Firefox so she can take a whiff herself. Figuring they are just about done with their interview at this point, St. V asks one more question.

"Is there anything else we should have asked you about drop bears that we have forgotten?"
Firefox
player, 4082 posts
itty bitty finger
160 foot inferno
Fri 21 Feb 2014
at 21:57
  • msg #103

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

"If they're immune to most chemicals, how would you dart them for tagging and analysis?  Are there other techniques you use?"
Papa Bear
GM, 5236 posts
Incertum est quo loco
te mors expectet;
Fri 21 Feb 2014
at 23:48
  • msg #104

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

"Righto, well I'd shimmy up the tree and make myself look real small. Then I'd come down from above while she's sleeping. Then, I'd grab her my hear ears so she can't bite me and tag her right quick. Not something I'd recommend. Every year lots of people grab drop bears by their ears, and they get injured or even killed.

"Anything else? Well, drop bears have finger prints just like humans. They can pass on some human diseases, like HMHVV and syphilis, but they're carriers, which means they don't show any signs of it. Right, even one little bite from that fuzzy critter is enough to do me in!

"Look, I know you two are out to get a drop bear. It's not something I can condone. They are wild animals, and it's best just to leave them alone. If you really need to tangle with one, you need a professional who knows how to handle them. Someone like me. I promise you, I will take the best of care of the little blighter."

Firefox
player, 4083 posts
itty bitty finger
160 foot inferno
Fri 21 Feb 2014
at 23:53
  • msg #105

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

"Was that an offer to provide your services?"

Firefox switches her view to astral, keeping a close watch on the man's aura, doing her best to ascertain his motives.
Papa Bear
GM, 5237 posts
Incertum est quo loco
te mors expectet;
Sat 22 Feb 2014
at 02:32
  • msg #106

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

"I capture and help wild animals regularly. I think it's important to handle them correctly and protect them from humans."
Firefox
player, 4084 posts
itty bitty finger
160 foot inferno
Sat 22 Feb 2014
at 03:41
  • msg #107

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

"This would be a rescue of sorts, but there would be risk involved.  I'm not sure how much we could offer for your assistance and I'd have to consult others."
St. Velveteen
player, 47 posts
Sat 22 Feb 2014
at 03:54
  • msg #108

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

Based on what the doc said over the course of their conversation, Velveteen got the impression that the guy would be more concerned about the drop bear's safety than their own.  He didn't trust the guy not to rat them out if it meant Becka would be safer.  Not to mention St. Velveteen didn't trust anyone on principal who could render him unconscious with a touch.

"Maybe it would be better if you just taught us some tricks of the trade.  Make us into professionals who know how to handle 'em.  'Cause I don't think you would mesh too well with our crew, especially if you aren't planning to help pro bono."

St. Velveteen picks his glasses up and puts them back on his head.  They didn't actually do anything for his vision, but they were a part of his getup.  And none too cheap either.  He went back to his crude hell hound sketch, glancing at Bengie and trying to capture the canine's true essence with his thermo vision.
Papa Bear
GM, 5238 posts
Incertum est quo loco
te mors expectet;
Sat 22 Feb 2014
at 11:39
  • msg #109

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

"Crikey! Let's go. I'll call the crew and we'll meet up at your place."

He grabs his cell phone and dials. "Liam! Get the cameras, mate. We're on the move!"
St. Velveteen
player, 49 posts
Sat 22 Feb 2014
at 18:37
  • msg #110

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

"I guess we'll call you with the details?  We have your number, right?"  St. V glances at Firefox nervously, unsure of what to make of the situation.
Firefox
player, 4085 posts
itty bitty finger
160 foot inferno
Sat 22 Feb 2014
at 20:44
  • msg #111

Re: With the right koalafications everything goes as plant

"This won't be on for tonight.  I presume there are waivers and other paperwork that would be needed too.  Give me your number and we'll confirm as soon as we have a date."

She stands up and extends her hand.  "Thank you for agreeing to assist us.  You'll hear from us soon."
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