[DH1e] The Damocles Contingency (RPG IC)

[Lysimachus]

Reynard:

 

"Hold on."

 

Reynard thought for a moment before following Lecroix.

 

"Our colleagues are nearby. Close enough for microbeads to sync up… almost. They knew I was coming down to Kelvin's Gallery, so they must be around there looking for us? Is your dispatch office anywhere near there?"

 

Then he put a reassuring hand out onto the youngster's shoulder and gestured with his thumb at the shop behind them.

 

"Remember, kid, they pulled your da out of that fire. So they know they need him alive… at least until they get to you. So as long as we can stay away from them, he'll be fine, ok?"

[Mazer Rackham]

The Rat Run:

 

Seb muses it over. "It's across a few blocks. Can your friends meet us there? You'll have to find somewhere to wait. If Tracer sees me with anyone he'll baulk."

 

Boy Lecroix shrugs. "Paranoia doesn't mean they're not out to get you, right?"

 

 

 

 

[Machine God]

Kerr Restal:

 

Kerr Restal stood in the shadow of a stanchion overlooking Kelvin's Gallery, he'd noted that his companions hadn't followed.

 

Probably still a bit too far away for reliable comms, he thought. Hopefully he's healed.

 

+++ Bar-Das! +++ He screeched into the Vox, hoping to wake his friend.

[Lysimachus]

Reynard:

 

"Sounds fine. Well done, kid."

 

Reynard followed Lecroix, trying his microbead again.

 

+++Bar-das!+++

 

The message from Restal was suddenly clearer, even rather loud, so he transmitted another reply. Given that he knew their pursuers were active nearby, he tried to keep things as vague as possible, just in case their secure channel had been broken.

 

+++Leaving the angry man. Three men are still ahead of us. Gather where we can send a message to our friends… and our enemies.+++

 

There. He'd given their starting point and which way they were heading, and hopefully hidden within the old saying, they'd realise he meant a place to literally send a message.

 

 

Edited November 14, 2022 by Lysimachus

[Machine God]

Kerr Restal:

 

Suddenly the Vox sounded back clearer.

 

+++Leaving the angry man. Three men are still ahead of us. Gather where we can send a message to our friends… and our enemies.+++

 

 

+++ Falc did you hear that last transmission? Please advise +++

 

 

He remembered that Bardas had altered the microbeads, maybe the shriek of his name had awoken the machine-spirit.

[A.T.]

Falk

 

Attention drawn away from the vid-recording, Falk answered, "you have trouble at the door, Klaus and a friend with more incoming".

[Lord_Ikka]

Nicios

 

Nicios stood near Falk, watching and waiting. His hands were hidden in his coat, gripping the butt of his holstered pistol and spinning his ring. He would not be caught off guard.

Edited November 15, 2022 by Lord_Ikka

[Mazer Rackham]

Kelvin's Gallery:

 

Klaus seems twitchy. He and his friend stay around the door, off to the left behind the gamblers, but taking no real interest in anything. He begins biting his nails, and his friend plants a hand on his shoulder.

 

Klaus shrugs it off.

 

Another five minutes, and a cloaked and hooded individual enters, looks around. He makes a gang-sign with his hand, and Klaus comes over. He passes a large purse across, and in turn is given a package. The exchange is swift and sure-handed. Once Klaus has the package, he slaps his compatriot and heads to a snug, pulling the curtain across.

 

The figure's cloak and hood swathes them down to just above their bootcaps, however, the broad shoulder suggests a male, and he quickly moves to the townsman, handing him another package.

 

The hooded individual looks around, face hidden in the depths of the hood. Stopping dead when he spots Falk

 

From the depths of the hood, a stare rolls from the shadow. The head twitches, switches to Nicios.

 

After two heartbeats, the figure turns and leaves.

[A.T.]

Falk

 

Nodding at Nicios to watch the townsman Falk turned and spoke under his breath into the comms, "hooded figure leaving now, intercept", hoping that Restal was still in position. If luck had favoured them then perhaps they would finally have isolated one of their pursuers... but there was still much left to chance.

 

 

As I may not be able to get back to the machine for a few hours - if rolls are required Falk will half action aim/unarmed attack (or a suitable fast-draw butt-strike from his shotgun - still as an unarmed attack to inflict subdual damage) before holding the man at gunpoint, announcing 'Arbites buisness' if required.

Roll to hit: 41 vs 45 - hit

Damage: D5+0 = 3, and one level of fatigue

Edited November 15, 2022 by A.T.

[Mazer Rackham]

No worries, AT that's fine.

 

Kelvin's Gallery:

 

As Restal is urged into action, Falk moves. He batters the robed individual and staggers him back against the wall. A couple of onlookers stand up, but as Falk shouts, weapon in hand, they slowly put their hands up.

 

One of the gamblers looks up. "Aww, man. I was just on a good streak."

 

He too puts his hands up, wherefore three cards drop from his sleeve.

[A.T.]

Falk

 

"Arbites business" states Falk in no uncertain terms, glancing towards Klaus while keeping his gun on the robed individual, "you aren't on my list, don't make me reconsider".

 

More targets than guns but no need to keep it that way. Klaus didn't strike him as the type who would stick his neck out after being paid, Nicios was shadowing the wildcard, press the advantage here while it existed. "On the ground, citizen".

 

Falk stays a two steps back blocking the exit, half action delay (can't overwatch with a shotgun)

[Machine God]

Kerr Restal:

 

As Falc called his target, necessity changed his action. Falk moved quickly battering the robed individual and staggered him back against the wall. 

 

What might have just needed a leaden punch now needed more. In a fluid movement of ease, he drew his combat shotgun and provided Falc with more cover. He'd noted the drop to his opponent from earlier too.

 

One of the gamblers looked up. "Aww, man. I was just on a good streak."

 

He too puts his hands up, wherefore three cards drop from his sleeve.

 

"Cheating with Aces and Eights, tsk, tsk!"

[Mazer Rackham]

Kelvin's Gallery:

 

The robed man extends his hands, waving at you to show they are empty. He begins to tap, touch and slap his hands together frantically.

 

"Nnt, mnh, ungh, mnh!"

 

Klaus minds his own business, heeding Falk's warning, ducking back into the snug alcove. The gambler with his upper, winning hand now discarded onto the table unplayed, looks quite sheepish as his erstwhile gambling friends stare at him narrowly.

Edited November 16, 2022 by Mazer Rackham

[Trokair]

With the flames banished Bardas stood back up, the remnants of his outer robes left on the floor smouldering. The weather hardened layers had acted as a fire retardant, slowing the burn from spreading inwards. If he had worn the kind of robes so many of his fellow wore the fire would have been if not lethal certainly agonizingly crippling. Even while this far from his shrine in the mountains it had saved him in its own way.

 

The main armoured garments upon inspection proofed intact and still fully functional, and all his gear and possessions where safe, he had been fortunate indeed.

 

Bardas listened in as Reynard restablished contact with the others. While he had hardened their coms system the Omnissiah only knows what resources the enemy could bring to bear, every little bit of added security, even as simple as the vagueness the Fox-kin word, was worth attempting.

 

Once they were away from the immediate sight of the fire Hive life seems to be carrying on as normal. Seb led the way and Reynard kept step with him, Bardas meanwhile followed behind, the pace slightly slower. If asked he would have said he was keep an eye out for anybody following them.

 

As they neared their destination Bardas stopped at a nearby shopfront, a new cloak or longcoat to replace the lost robes would do nicely, and if he could look less like an adept of mars it might help them avoid the notice of their pursuers.

Edited November 17, 2022 by Trokair

[A.T.]

Falk

 

A ruse, or a decoy? "Down, now". The second man had the package and Falk nodded towards him as Restal approached, hoping the latter had already noticed the exchange. After recent events he did not wish to rely on Nicios' talents should things turn ugly.

[Mazer Rackham]

Kelvin's Gallery:

 

The man makes a half-snort, half-sigh of exasperation and his hands cease waving, stilling into surrender. He lowers carefully to the floor, careful not to make sudden movements. He is prostrate at your direction.

 

The sound of parcel tape being hurriedly torn off cardboard reaches your ears in the stillness, before you hear Klaus' exultation.

 

"Woohoo!"

 

A heartbeat later, an explosion tears the alcove and its occupant apart in a howling roar. Glass, body fragments, and panelling split and rip through the nearest patrons, the shrapnel spearing the card sharp, and removing the head of the barfly with his wager on the Mashers. The dust and stale air are heated, but the smoke clears quickly, the shockwave having smashed every glass and bottle at the bar, and turning the blond barkeep into lacerated, bloody beefburger.

 

The shout from Klaus will allow a Reaction/Dodge roll. You are far enough away from the blast core, (adding +10 to your Dodge) but the debris is quite dangerous.

[A.T.]

Falk

 

Falk dives to one side as the explosion rips throug the room, the heavy flak cloak he work hardening and deflecting the initial blast of shrapnel. But it was more luck that judgement as his distance from the blast put the bar itself between himself and much of the explosion.

 

Stupid, and careless... and only one of the two packages. Rolling to a crouch he brought up his weapon gazing through the smoke and debris to see who still moved, "secure the second package", voice hoarse still winded from the blast, and unsure if anyone else was yet alive to hear it.

 

 

Dodge: 23 vs target 26 - just spared a fate point reroll, but I think I should be buying dodge at the next level break - far too many explosions recently for just a flak cloak :p

 

[Mazer Rackham]

Waiting for Restal and Nicios Dodges, but we can move forward a little.

 

Kelvin's Gallery:

 

The majority of the bar patrons are flung to the ground, or slammed against the wall with injuries ranging from flash burns, to being spattered with sharp debris. The immediate aftermath is full of whining and moaning. On the other side, the townsman has a cut face, torn clothes. One of his arms is limp. He sits propped up against one of the lintels to the range, pressing the package to his chest as though it's a baby. It is a brown box, wrapped with parcel tape.

 

He looks at it, breathing with a slight ragged twang to his words. "I...felt...something inside it...slide."

 

The man on the floor holds his sides, but apart from moving sluggishly and having extra ventilation rents, he appears unharmed. He lifts his head to stare at the carnage, but his reaction is hidden by the hood.

[Machine God]

Kerr Restal:

 

Alerted by the antics of the stranger and his 'other' killer senses, Kerr Restal moved silently back into his steel stanchion cover.

 

 

The sound of parcel tape being hurriedly torn off cardboard reached his tiny ears in the stillness, before he heard Klaus' exultation.

 

"Woohoo!"

 

A heartbeat later, an explosion tore the alcove and across the bar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AGL 30 +10 (Range) = 40. Result: 03, Pass 3DoS

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the aftermath of the bar shattering explosion, he levelled his combat shotgun in the direction of the townsman holding the second package.

 

"Julo Kathago, you aren't stupid like Klaus. You have two choices. One, place the package on the floor and back away slowly. Or, Two, walk out the back through your range like a hero. But know this, if you come towards any of us with the package, I will drop you!" commanded Kerr Restal.

 

 

 

Edited November 16, 2022 by Machine God
Choices given

[Lord_Ikka]

Nicios

 

Nicios was concentrating on the townsman, and was caught off-guard by the shout/explosion. He turned towards Klaus as the explosion occurred, blasting him off his feet.

Spoiler

Dodge Test

Target- 26 (16 + 10)

Roll- 29

Result= Failure, no DoF

[Mazer Rackham]

Kelvin's Gallery:

 

Nicios:

Spoiler

Hit 1D3 = 2

Damage: 1D10 Impact

Hit 1, Left Leg: 1 (TB 2/Arm 2) 0 Wounds

Hit 2, Right Leg: 7 (TB 2/Arm 2) 3 Wounds

 

Nicios is literally kicked behind the knees by a flying length of rebar, as he is driven to the floor.

 

Restal:

The sedentary Karthago looks up at Restal, grimaces. "I don't think either of those options...is a good idea. Besides, I'm not going anywhere."

 

Sitting in a posture of forced calm, he manages pain by careful tidal breathing, doing whatever he can to avoid tipping or rocking the box in his arms. Even the glass shards on his shoulders barely move.

 

He carefully licks his lips. "How about a counter-offer: you either get the hell out, or help me defuse this."

 

Once matters here are resolved, I will coagulate the party into a reasonably frequented annexe a stone's throw from the Dispatch Office.

[Lord_Ikka]

Nicios

 

Nicios groaned as he rolled to his feet, his right side battered again today. "Throne, that hurt!"

 

Looking about, he pulls out his gun and moves to back up Tarrant. 

Edited November 17, 2022 by Lord_Ikka

[A.T.]

Falk

 

Nicios and Restal both appeared to have escaped the blast relatively unscathed, perhaps the Emperor yet smiled on this endeavour. "Nicios, get the others out if they yet breath."

 

Holding his shotgun firmly to the prone figure next to him Falk pulled back the hood, "now tell me what you know about this bomb before I throw you on it".

[Lysimachus]

Reynard:

 

As they travelled towards the dispatch office, Reynard noticed Seb looking behind them several times with a bleak, worried expression on his face.

 

To keep the youth's spirits up as they walked, the trickster began to quietly regale him with the stories of some of his more humorous adventures. Seb wasn't stupid and seemed to realise he was being regaled, but he also appeared to appreciate the effort to distract him.

 

"...and so there I was, sat in just my skin, on top of a rock looking out over the sump sea! …I'd managed to keep hold of the Lady's dyamauntys necklace though, so it wasn't a total loss…"

 

Reynard paused as they turned a corner and saw a marginally better kept and more official looking building.

 

"Aha, is this the place?"

 

Edited November 17, 2022 by Lysimachus

[Mazer Rackham]

Kelvin's Ruin:

 

Falk:

 

As you yank back the hood, the impossibility of your demand becomes apparent. The man has suffered a grievous wound to his head and upper chest as some point, this side of his skull shows patchy, stringy hair clumps in ragged pockets, sprouting around ruined flesh. The right ear has been burned back to purple and scarelt singed meat, perhaps even right down to the bone, and a long, jagged scar creases across his face, snaking into the corner of his mouth.

 

You can see it continues down to his throat, the scar obviously a blade, notheless, it is a permanent ligature choking any words he could tell you. He merely extends his hands, looks up at you without comprehension. His fear as you stand over him is nothing new, but at least in this, it is an honest reply.

 

He pinches his right hand together quickly, thumb tapping against fingers, mimicking a canid, perhaps. At least that is the shadow under his hand. He slows the motion, then repeats the whole gesture.

 

Ikka/Nicios can handle any survivors narratively, should he so please.

 

The Dispatch Box:

 

"Heh, not bad. Maybe a young lady will offer me a chance at riches. A lovely blonde lady of curves and gentle manners." He grins.

 

He gently pulls at both your and Bardas' arms. "Hold up a sec. Let me look."

 

He peers across, watching old fashioned couriers running to and fro. This far down in the hive, the old ways are the best, if more dangerous. Armed escorts follow the delivery staff in and out.

 

"No sign of anyone...improper," he says, hiding a grin as he shares a knowing look. "We'll drop a deposit in, send a message about a job. That'll get his attention. "You got a few Thrones or a necklace to spare?"

 

He performs a pantomime of patting his pockets.

Edited November 17, 2022 by Mazer Rackham