[DH1e] The Damocles Contingency (RPG IC)

[Mazer Rackham]

Sector A/B:

 

Falk:

 

You discover something quite different to Bardas. This is a section of something large, a small fragment measuring half a square metre across. An outer shell of armour, perhaps. The curve is too shallow for a personal suit. It perhaps comes from a vehicle, maybe. Made of ceramite laminate, the whole thing would be exceptionally heavy. It is pitted, chipped and gouged, but some semblance of a design remains.

 

=]

 

The Upper House:

 

+ NARRATIVE TIME ENDS +

+ STRUCTURED TIME BEGINS +

 

ROUND ONE:

 

+ Initiative Order +

Spoiler

Reynard (11) 15/15 (PC takes Priority)

Guard 1 (11) 12/12

Guard 2 (10) 12/12

Guard 3 (9) 12/12

Guard 4 (8) 12/12

Nicios (7) 12/12 (PC takes Priority)

Guard 5 (7) 12/12

Guard 6 (4) 12/12

 

Magda/Valkyrie are in a duel. They will act independently until either 1) one is subdued, 2) one is outnumbered.

 

The Civilians are not involved, and as such are not considered as combatants.

 

Spoiler

 

NOTE: Map size is 1 big square (such as the squares on the carpet) = 1m, 1 small square (like the tiles) = 0.5m

 

Questions in the OOC.

 

Reynard [ ]

Edited January 23, 2023 by Mazer Rackham

[Trokair]

Bardas - Sector B

 

Valuable no doubt, whether spoils of war or smuggled contraband, but unlikely what Dreyfuss would have been after, unless it was to be traded elsewhere. Letting the lid fall back in place Bardas had a half hart attempt to hammer the nails in place again with the pummel of his knife, but it was no serious attempt to conceal that the crate had been opened.

 

As he headed deeper into the vault, now well into the shelves labelled Sector B Bardas noticed a constant return from below, there was a sizable hollow space there, thought the interference hid its true extend.

 

Another shielded item was nearby, he was almost on top of it, but nothing stood out for him until he looked up, it was on a high shelf, how best to get up there. He had not seen any movable stairs of lifters, time to climb perhaps. 

 

D6 (assuming another is needed): 2 again.  

Edit as per below: D6: 3

Edited January 23, 2023 by Trokair

[Mazer Rackham]

I'll just correct an earlier omission - if you roll a result you previously got, please re-roll, this will prevent me having to say roll D6, then roll D5 etc etc, and will maximise the process of elimination. If you do get a previous result, treat it narratively as interference, a trick of the light, an example of the haphazard labelling, etc.

Edited January 23, 2023 by Mazer Rackham

[Mazer Rackham]

Sector B:

 

Bardas:

 

The crate you discover is nibbled at the edges by being clamped and handled. As you fetch it down, you are greeted by the stencilling and stampings free from dust.  The nails that should be twisted into it are mostly missing, with the rusted holes. A crowbar has been plied at the lips and clasps. A small series of marks have been made - possibly by Tracer, to signify this is the crate Dreyfuss wanted.

 

The straw and plastek-foam blisters wrap of the items inside is suited to them. A cogitator-memory core, which is both rusted and scorched, plus a book which has been significantly damaged by soot and water. The smell of a harsh fire and evidence of shrapnel caught in the thick, plasteel reinforced leather. The quality is exceptional, the materials of the jacket and thick, silver-edged leaves of cream-coloured vellum is evident where you can see it below the damage.

 

The cogitator core is solid in integrity. Such a device is known to you. It is one of the special data storage devices implanted into hardware that is exposed to the most dangerous environments and harshest of punishment. Upon the core-casing which protects the data-crystal stack within, is the binharic serial number of the device.

 

Spoiler

01000111 01101100 01100001 01100100 01101001 01110101 01110011 00100000 01000100 01100101 01101001 00100000 01010011 01100001 01101110 01100011 01110100 01110101 01110011 00101110

 

 

[Lysimachus]

Reynard:

 

The guards shambled towards them. Even as they snarled and hissed, they didn't seem quite aware of what was happening around them.

 

Reynard moved to stand over Restal's limp form, flicking his coat back as he did. From beneath it, he lifted his compact autogun and squeezed the trigger hard, spraying a thunderous hail of bullets in a wide arc intended to drive the bewitched soldiers back. One of the closest was struck.

 

Reynard didn't actually care about protecting the voider, but if the guards charged him it would be much harder for them to do so across Restal's body. Plus they could do with waking the madman up. Maybe firing a fully automatic weapon less than a metre above his head might do the trick. Just in case, Reynard also shuffled his foot to nudge the recumbent fighter.

 

"Restal!" he growled, "get the hell up and fight!"

 

Spoiler

[x]Reynard:
(Haven't actually moved, already in position above/behind Restal)
Free: Quick Draw Autogun
Full: Suppressing Fire 45° (should be sufficient to cover Guards 1 to 4)
BS Test:
BS41 -10(Fear) -20(Suppressing Fire) +30(Point Blank) = 41, Roll: 28, 1DoS, 1 Random Hit.
Dam 6(d10)+3= Dam 9 Pen0

 

Edited January 23, 2023 by Lysimachus

[A.T.]

Falk:

 

Ceramite, perhaps part of a blast shield. Nothing that would in-of itself suggest any form of heresy nor indeed the need to conceal it in this way. Falk noted the faded pattern on the surface to query Bardas later and then moved on to the next crate. Perhaps it had been broken into smaller pieces for transport/

 

6

[Mazer Rackham]

The Upper House:

 

ROUND ONE CONT.

 

The unexpected fusillade disrupts whatever control is being exerted, and three of the sentries choose life preservation over the direct commands. The room is filled with the sinister hissing of deadly hornets, and civilians yelp and cower as bullets smash ornaments, ricochet from metal fittings.

 

Spoiler

Guard 1: PINNED, no Dodge, 3 Wounds (9/12)

Actions: Half move, towards plinth (in cover) near G4, WP = 86, remains Pinned

Guard 2: PINNED, no Dodge, No Wounds

Actions: Half move, towards plinth by G6 (in cover), WP = 90, remains Pinned

Guard 3: PINNED, no Dodge, No Wounds

Actions: Half move, towards plinth right of G6, near C, WP = 47, remains Pinned

Guard 4: Passes Pinning, No Dodge required.

 

One of the guards, seemingly comes to his senses and sees only what he understands to be a threat - a gunman hosing bullets in the chamber of the Governor.

 

Guard 4:

Spoiler

Actions: Charge Reynard WS: 30 +10 Charge = Hit (Body)

Dam: 2D10+3 (Great Weapon - halberd) Pen 2 = 21

 

Nicios [ ]

 

Sector A/B:

 

Falk:

 

One of the artefacts found in the crate is further evidence of something dangerously and morally illicit. It appears to be a friendship stature, of a human and a T'au holding up an inverted sword. It is not a huge item, but it is sculpted from materials foreign to Damocles, or at least as far as you are aware. It is small enough to pocket.

 

Since crate 4 (?) is the only one left, you can assume that this is found and provides you with a little more of the puzzle. Within will be half of a commissioning plate or plaque, with the single word "Gladius" on it. The rest of the plate is cracked, or distorted and melted by intense heat.

 

Regardless, you may rendezvous with Bardas at your leisure. You will both be aware of the "void" or further level below you. The Auspex will find a set of stairs to take you down there...

Edited January 24, 2023 by Mazer Rackham

[A.T.]

Falk:

 

Following Bardas into the warehouse Falk found him moving intently across something beneath the floor indicated by the auspex, the contents of the other crates visible. "None of this makes sense, the crates above seem to hold some probe of Imperial manufacture yet... not". He presents the statue to the tech priest but his eyes are drawn to the odd mechanicus device nearby.

 

Something clicked in Falks mind remembering the words and actions of those before as his hand strayed towards his gun, "have you attempted contact with the device?" He watched the reaction of his companion closely hoping he was wrong and that his ignorance of the mechanicum had led to impossible conclusions. Just as they had feared a source of contagion at the lab could this somehow be at the heart of the tech heresy that had hunted them?

[Lysimachus]

Reynard:

 

Spoiler

Dodge Roll: Ag45, Roll: 41, Success!  If that had connected, it would have been instant death...

 

One of the guards, braver - or simply even more animalistic - than his fellows, ignored the torrent of lead and hurled himself forward. A massive  blow of the man's halberd slashed horizontally past Reynard, and he barely leant back far enough to see and feel the edge pass a matter of inches in front of his eyes.

 

Drawing a mono-edged knife, he yelled again at Restal.

 

"Get up!"

Edited January 24, 2023 by Lysimachus

[Mazer Rackham]

The Upper House:

 

Magda Aldario smashes the bolter from Valkyrie's grip, as the Battle Sister drives her knee up with thunderous force into the waif. At a gesture, the ruler of Damocles reaches up a clawed hand, and one of the overhanging frescoes crumbles, a large gargoyle in marble tumbles free in a wrench of stone and cascading plaster dust, to fall on Valkyrie, smashing them both to the floor.

 

Magda is on her feet in a moment, dress torn, revealing scratches and scrapes across her supple, pallid flesh. She hefts up a lump of the rock, but Valkrie smashes it into a sloughing spill of pebbles with her armoured gauntlet. The holy woman unlimbers her chainsword, bringing it round in a swinging, sawing arc.

 

"No!" Magda barks, sharp teeth flashing from behind a flushed mask of raw anger.

 

The blade stops, and Magda's clawed hand twists. In accompaniment to the gesture, the chainsword buckles and ratchets painfully, the chain track suddenly splitting apart, and lashing Valkyrie across the face. Blood splatters the two women, quickly caking with the swirling miasma of brick dust and heated oils from the mechanism of the the sword. Then they're on each other, Valkyrie barely able to resist the strength of the woman a third of her size and weight.

 

Ceramite begins to crack, fissure lines running up Valkyrie's gauntlets. The Battle Sister slowly pushes up to her feet, a nimbus of power playing about her as a torrent of prayer spills from her lips. The ground cracks beneath the women's feet as faith meets fury, marble chips zipping around the room like bullets, catching a civilian courtier in the throat, poleaxing him in a grisly slick spattering up the wall behind. Taking the cue, other civvies drop to the ground, clasping hands over their heads.

Edited January 24, 2023 by Mazer Rackham

[Lord_Ikka]

Nicios

 

Nicios wrenches his mind back from its passive seeking state and instantly pushes it into a quick defensive assault. Drawing his pistol, he yells out a brief catechism of hatred and turns his power towards the guard closest to him on his left (Guard 5).

 

 

Spoiler

Half Action - Draw stub automatic 

Free Action - Speak

 

Half Action - Manifest Pyschic Power (Spasm)

Threshold - 7

Roll - 10 + 3 + 5(WPB) = 14

Overbleed x 1 (5 over threshold)- second target affected (random target closest to Guard 5).

Result - all targets need to take a Willpower test, failure means that they twitch uncontrollably and fall down (if they are holding a weapon it fires randomly). No Psychic Phenomenon occur (no 9s rolled).

 

"May the fire of His Holy Wrath smite the impure!"

Edited January 25, 2023 by Lord_Ikka

[Mazer Rackham]

ROUND ONE CONT

 

Guard 5: WP FAIL.

The Throne guard seems to be afflicted with a terrible ague, and tumbles to the ground clutching his head, gibbering about it feeling like a ripe jarrafruit, ready to burst!

 

Random target (G4 is closest):

Guard 4: WP FAIL.

Reynard's attacker seizes his chest and falls down, flailing with his legs randomly, not an attack, just an attempt to stave off the crippling pain Nicios has unleashed.

 

Guard 6:

Seeing his comrades in some kind of dire peril, and struck down, seemingly by the power of one of the intruders, the guard does his duty by his comrades and his liege.

Actions: Charge  Reynard  (copypasta error) Nicios WS: 30 +10 Charge = MISS

 

MAP:

Spoiler

 

+ Round 2 Pending +

Edited January 25, 2023 by Mazer Rackham

[Mazer Rackham]

+ STRUCTURED TIME CONTINUES +

 

ROUND TWO

 

Initiative Order:

Spoiler

Reynard (11) 15/15 (PC takes Priority)

Guard 1 (11) 12/12

Guard 2 (10) 12/12

Guard 3 (9) 12/12

Guard 4 (8) 12/12 (INCAP)

Nicios (7) 12/12 (PC takes Priority)

Guard 5 (7) 12/12 (INCAP)

Guard 6 (4) 12/12

 

Magda/Valkyrie are in a duel. They will act independently until either 1) one is subdued, 2) one is outnumbered.

 

Reynard [ ]

[Lysimachus]

Reynard:

 

The guard went to take another swing, then suddenly and inexplicably collapsed to the ground, along with the man just behind him. They both twitched uncontrollably, like landed sumpfish. Reynard grinned. Maybe Nicios had his uses.

 

The question was how best to use his sudden freedom. Most of the enemy were still taking cover. Retreat? Nowhere to go right now. Another guard had rushed forward to attack the psyker, but his first blow was poorly aimed and now they struggled over the long weapon. It would probably be better if the smaller acolyte was able to use his powers freely, not distracted by halberd-wielding brutes. He might even be able to do something to help Valkyrie?

 

Decision made, Reynard switched guns, drawing and raising the short barrelled shotgun towards the big soldier pressing down onto Nicios. He watched for a fraction of a second. Careful, careful. Then he jammed the end of the barrel into the man's thigh and pulled the first trigger.

 

Spoiler

[x]Reynard:
Quick Draw - switch to Shotgun.
Half: Aim.
Half: Shoot Guard 6:
BS41 -10(Fear) -20(Engaged) +30(Point Blank) +10(Aim) = 51, Roll: 09! 4Dos = 1Hit plus 2 extra Hits (Scatter)
Dam1d10+4 Pen0
Hit 1:
10(!)+4+4(RF!)=18 - 6(TB+AV?) = 12
Hit 2:
3+4=7 - 6 = 1
Hit 3:
4+4=8 - 6 = 2

 

OOC: Very happy with those rolls!!!  Here's hoping the dude's Ag is 30 or lower and he can't get enough DoS to Dodge... even if only the first Hit goes through, he should be toast...? 

 

Edited January 25, 2023 by Lysimachus

[Mazer Rackham]

ROUND TWO CONT

 

Guard 6:

The shotgun blast erupts into the guard's leg, almost amputating it in a shriek of metal hail. The Guard screams, before toppling sideways, abandoning his halberd in favour of trying to stem the searing pain and rapid evacuation of bodily fluids, spraying Nicios with thick gouts of blood from severed artery and veins. He also fouls himself in reflex from the shock, and lies mewling in a spreading puddle of blood and urine, which makes the floor as slippery as it is nauseating.

Guard 6 dies.

 

Guard 1 (11) 9/12

Half Action: Draw stub revolver, Pinning Test +30 (RECOVER)

Guard 2 (10) 12/12

Half Action: Draw stub revolver, Pinning Test +30 (RECOVER)

Guard 3 (9) 12/12

Half Action: Draw stub revolver, Pinning Test +30 (FAIL - PINNED)

Guard 4 (8) 12/12 (INCAP)

 

The pinned guard speaks hurriedly into a wrist-vox. (Free action).

 

Nicios [ ]

Edited January 25, 2023 by Mazer Rackham

[Machine God]

Kerr Restal

 

 

See you! I see you watching...

 

 

They had ever watched him, the dark things. Hunters...

 

 

He was a good boy, once...

 

 

Scavenger, then protector...

 

 

 

Worse than rats and sneak thieving Gretchin!

 

 

 

Always hiding and looking. Hiding, looking and running. Running from the

 

 

 

TEETH!

 

 

[Lord_Ikka]

Nicios

 

Seeing two of the guards drawing weapons and shaking the confusion from Reynard's blast of auto-fire, Nicios turned towards them and again throws his mind out. He then aimed his pistol at the guard on the vox-link, hoping to at least distract the man from summoning reinforcements. 

 

 

Spoiler

Half Action - Manifest Pyschic Power (Spasm)

Threshold - 7

Roll -  3 +  4 + 5(WPB) = 12

Overbleed x 1 (5 over threshold)- second target affected (random target closest to Guard 1).

Result - all targets need to take a Willpower test, failure means that they twitch uncontrollably and fall down (if they are holding a weapon it fires randomly). No Psychic Phenomenon occur (no 9s rolled).

 

Half Action - Standard Attack (Shoot Guard 3)

BS - 46 (36 + 10 (Short Range))

Roll - 11 (Yea!)

Result = Hit on Right Arm

Damage (Impact) - 10 (roll of 7 + 3)

 

Free Action - Speech

 

 

"Stand down in the name of the Inquisition!"

Edited January 25, 2023 by Lord_Ikka

[Mazer Rackham]

ROUND 2 CONT

 

G1: WP FAIL.

Actions: err?

The guard, only just managing to get his senses together is suddenly assailed by stomach cramps, the like of which he has never known. He thrashes on the ground, the revolver bangs as his body convulses against his will.

 

G3: Ag Test (Dodge): PASS.

Actions: Half Action: Standard Attack at Reynard, MISS.

Keeps talking. (Free).

 

Ikka - roll a D10....

Spoiler

You want anything except a 4, 6, 7, 9, or 10.

 

G5: WP PASS

Actions: Half Action draw stub revolver, Half Action shoot at Reynard.

BS: HIT, Body.

Dam: 1D10+3 Pen 0 = 13

 

G6: He's dead, Maz.

 

We wait for Ikka's roll before finishing the turn.

Edited January 25, 2023 by Mazer Rackham
All actions, and results.

[Lord_Ikka]

9... 

[Mazer Rackham]

5 minutes ago, Lord_Ikka said:

9... 

 

The Damage of the Weapon is 1D10+3, AP 0.

 

Please roll for damage, ignoring any RF rolls.

[Lord_Ikka]

2

[Mazer Rackham]

Thank you, Ikka. 

 

Guard 1: (Cont)

The bullet thunders towards the brawling women, snapping past Valkyrie's face, and creasing the side of a civilian's head on the other side of the throne room. The man's eyes roll up into his skull, almost absurdly looking at the bullethole ploughed through the side of his skull, blood spatters the wall behind, and he crumples to the floor, moaning incoherently for a few gasps before passing out.

Edited January 26, 2023 by Mazer Rackham

[Lysimachus]

Reynard:

 

Spoiler

Round 2 Reaction: Dodge: Ag45, Roll: 88, Fail.
Don't really want to take 8 Wounds, over half Reynard's total, so I'm going to blow another FP… 
FP Reroll: 30, Success!
 

 

[Mazer Rackham]

+ STRUCTURED TIME CONTINUES +

 

ROUND 3

 

At Nicios' outburst, Magda thrashes with Valkyrie, long talons raking her plastron, carving great furrows in the gorget. She spares a moment to screech imprecations. "No! You won't take me again!"

 

Her elbow connects with Valkyrie's chin, viciously twisting the Angel's head with a sickening crunch, just as the Battle Sister punches the girl in the face with a cry of defiance. They both fall to the floor.

 

Kreavus Aldario (Purple block: A) breaks for the fallen Governor, and begins dragging her through a door leading to a sideroom. "Help me!" he calls to the cowering civilians.

 

Initiative Order:

Spoiler

Reynard (11) 15/15 (PC takes Priority)

Guard 1 (11) 09/12 (INCAP)

Guard 2 (10) 12/12

Guard 3 (9) 12/12 (PINNED)

Guard 4 (8) 12/12

Nicios (7) 12/12 (PC takes Priority)

Guard 5 (7) 12/12

 

MAP:

Spoiler

 

Reynard [ ]

 

++++++++++

 

Sector B/The Storehouse:

 

Bardas/Falk:

 

As Bardas opens thumbs the tome, it cracks open in front of the two agents. Some of the pages are damaged beyond repair, but the inner leaves yield up sufficient information. It appears to be the hand-written log of an Imperial vessel.

 

=][=

GLADIUS DEI SANCTUS

 

By the Holy Writ of Commissioning, doth this hull ply the stars of His Demesnes,

To gather unto His Will and His Might, the lost and the weak,

That His Light doth shine forever eternal,

And His reach encompass the firmament of Heavens.

 

=][=

 

The pages go on to detail long lists of numerical data, genome types, gender, age. Hundreds, thousands of entries. They bear a striking similarity to the ones from the Sanctum Laboratory.

 

It is at this moment, a noise from someone banging on the door above you reaches your ears.

[Lysimachus]

Reynard:

 

Reynard ducked as a pistol shot whipped past. He saw the guard at his feet regaining his wits. Time to move. The Aldarios were retreating, and Valkyrie had fallen to the floor. He still couldn't make himself move any closer to the freakish mistress of Damocles, but maybe he could get into position to at least give the Sororita some covering fire?

 

He jumped away from the halberdier, praying that the man wouldn't get a lucky stab in, and rushed around the statue to his left. Barging into a cowering old courtier, he raised the compact autogun again and let off another burst into the guard who had just taken a shot at him.

 

Spoiler

Reynard:
Switch back to Autogun, Full Auto Burst
Front Grip allows AB move (4m) without penalty.
Move 4m North (leaving Engagement Range) to take cover behind first Civilian.
(Going to hope being Prone makes wielding a great big Halberd more difficult for Guard 4…!)
FAB at Guard 5:
BS41 -10(Fear) +30(Point Blank) +20(FAB) = 81, Roll: 49, 3DoS, 4 Hits.
Dam 1d10+3 Pen0
Dam Rolls: 7,10,1,4 for Wounds of 4, 9, 0, 1
(If 2 or more Hits go through: RF BS Test - target 81, Roll: 62, Success! Extra Dam: 5)