[DH1e] The Damocles Contingency (RPG IC)

[Mazer Rackham]

The Depths:

 

That's fine AT, just plot me where you want to end up, and we'll go from there. Use the marked enemies as reference so my tired brain can get it right. :p

[Mazer Rackham]

The Tech Lab:

 

"That will not be necessary," a strong voice calls from behind. As Bardas and the Judges turn, they find a robed priest, and beside him a sallet-helmed vagabond whom Bardas surely recognises.

 

"Hyronimus?" Haldane is certain surprised.

 

"It is I, old friend, yet the Emperor's ways are vexing, and I am more than a mere servant of the cloth." Locke holds up his Inquisitorial Seal, it is far more intricate in this light, showing his certified stature. "Tell me, Haldane, are your men trustworthy?"

 

They all bristle, imediately, and Locke smiles.

 

"Good. This must be Tech Sentinel Bardas? Your colleague has related you to me." He points at Scourge.

 

"So, by the Right of the Almighty God Emperor's Inquisition, I, Garrad Hyronimus Locke, Lord Inquisitor of the Damoclean Sector and His Demesnes, am commandeering you for my task," he says, pausing, to place a reassuring hand on Haldane's shoulder. "Do as he says, Samuel, but my Frateris will work with you to purge this armour for use." (i.e. The deal proposed with Bardas/Tro is still on).

 

"We will toss the box into our furnace - we have one for destroying illicit items, Father," Haldane recovers.

 

"Let it be done."

 

Two judges rush forward, shedding anything of Tech value that could be corrupted. Their thick gauntlets scoop up the box for disposal, and rush it out. A third Judge joins them as support, at Haldane's nod.

 

Now then, Sentinel Bardas," Locke continues, "The Dark Ones you know and despise, but this foe is beyond just perverted scrap code and parlour tricks. It is the Golem of Antares Minor."

 

"I know this, because 150 years ago, we fought, and I defeated him, imprisoning him in that box," he points to it as it goes past. "Then it came to Damocles, and fell into the power of a weak man." He makes a face, perhaps disliking them. "Yet now, with your cell, and my Frateris, we have the chance to vanquish him forever."

 

"We can spare time for planning and preparation, for an Irradial Cogitator is a hard foe in a Regicide game such as this."

 

Scourge and Bardas feel free to banter etc.

 

@Trokair, ONLY.

Spoiler

You need to make a decision on the deal now. The only change will be there will be no Corruption Points.

 

[Trokair]

Bardas

 

+Is he True?+ Bardas asked Scourge.

 

For a declared dead Heretic Locke was rather alive, worryingly so. So where did the Truth of the Omnissiah rest. Had they been told the truth at the outset, was the Inquisitor speaking the truth now? The two were incompatible. If the later then it was worrying how little Verdict, Vigilance and the rest appear to have known, and how much the opposition did.

 

+You were declared dead and worse by your peers, how do you now stand before us?+

 

Mazer Only

Spoiler

While I as a player know that Locke is (probably) good, Bardas is not yet convinced that he should trust, Paranoia is really getting to him. As for the deal, that will depend on whether he decided to trust Locke or not.

 

Random thought: Even if Bardas does not trust sufficiently (either Locke, or that the armour could be cleansed to be safe for him) to Ironman himself, perhaps he could uparmour the Penitent instead, no implants to get infects if any scrapcode was missed, and he is already familiar how to fight in ‘heavy’ armour.

 

[Mazer Rackham]

Tro ONLY:

Spoiler

What you're saying character-wise is absolutely fair.

 

You can indeed wear the plate yourself, or bolt it onto Scourge, as you will. GM speaking: you will be at no risk from possession of your implants, I won't do that to you. Narratively, I was going to try and get Locke to say that, since Tech Sentinel = hardened algorithms etc.

 

[Necronaut]

Scourge:

 

The bruised and battered warrior inclined his helm towards the Tech-Adept, "Well met, Bardas! I am pleased to see thee hale and hearty. And aye, he speaketh true. Lord Inquisitor Locke hast returned from the dead, and so hath I by his healing hand. I will leave it to the good Lord Inquisitor to recount his tale to thee, and I will tell mine to thee later, but suffice it to say he and our master hath been maintaining an elaborate ruse 'ere today. He is our ally and our master's master. It is to him that we owe our ultimate fealty."

 

He paused briefly and turned to look at Locke. "Though should it come to pass that he hath played us all for fools, I would take no small satisfaction in gutting a heretic of his standing with my bare hands, begging thy pardon, Pater."

 

He bowed his head to the Lord Inquisitor and stood at the ready, lasgun in hand.

 

Edited March 9, 2023 by Necronaut

[Mazer Rackham]

The Tech Labs:

 

Locke grins, his rascal Ecclesiarch persona edging out. "You have no need of pardon, my son, for zeal is both it's own reward and excuse. We will recoup our strength. This cannot be all the cell, surely?"

 

"No, Hryon- er, my lord. The Cell is divided. Several members went to the spaceport," Haldane advises.

 

"Then we must draw them near, but quickly. We must purge every picter, every servo-skull. Our enemy will know all. We must blind him. The daemon within the box of Pandora will be more curious than angry. So I must hope. What think these Acolytes?"

[Necronaut]

Scourge:

 

"By thy will, my liege, so shall it be done! Let us to battle, noble Bardas!"

 

[Mazer Rackham]

The Cradle:

 

+ ROUND 3 BEGINS +

 

+ Initiative Order +

Spoiler

De Grassi = 15 (15/15) (Arm: 7)

Bartender = 14 (12/12) (Arm 2)

Cultist 1 = 13 (-08/12) (Arm 2) (Left Arm Destroyed/Bleeding)

Cultist 2 = 13 (-02/12) (Arm 2) (Standing, On Fire)

Restal = 12

Reynard = 11

Una Weslock = 11 (15/15) (Arm 2)

Cultist 3 = 09 (12/12) (Arm 2) (Prone)

Cultist 4 = 08 (12/12) (Arm 2) (Firearm) (Prone)

Hostess = 06 (05/12) (Arm 2) (Firearm) (Seated, On Fire)

 

MAP:

 

Spoiler

 

De Grassi:

Laughing cruelly, the Lordling charges the shotgunner.

Spoiler

Full Action: Charge (Bartender)

WS: HIT (+10) (Right Arm)

Bartender: Reaction

Dodge (-10): FAIL

Damage: 13 Pen 2 - 3TB, (Arm 0) = 10 Wounds.

Bartender:

Grunting in pain, and desperation, the Bartender strikes back.

Spoiler

Full Action: All-Out Attack

WS: HIT (Chest)

Damage: 8 (Arm and TB reduce to nil)

 

Cultist 1:

Bleeding Test: FAIL.

Cultist 1 dies.

 

Cultist 2: Puts out Fire. (Prone)

Spoiler

Half Action: Half Aim

Half Action: Throw Knife (Reynard)

BS: HT (CHest)

Damage: 9 (No Pen)

 

Restal [ ]

Edited March 9, 2023 by Mazer Rackham

[Machine God]

Kerr Restal:

 

The madman stopped screaming and lay still.

 

Necessity warranted another target and one presented itself.

 

One of his earlier targets had ducked and rolled, putting the fire out. A prone target propped itself up from the floor.

 

 

 

SAB Vs Cultist #2.

BS 40 +10 (SAB) +10 (Close Range) - 10 (Fatigue) = 50.

Result: 14, Pass 3DoS. 

Hit #1: Body: 5 +2 = 7.

Hit #2: Body: 10 +2 = 12 (RF = 40, Pass) 10 +2 =12 (RF = 80, Fail)

 

 

Centre of mass, aim true!

 

 

 

Edited March 10, 2023 by Machine God
Fatigue

[Mazer Rackham]

The Cradle:

 

Cultist 2:

The target is completely encased in fire, melting his skin and popping his eyes like superheated eggs. The gruel flies out onto the cushions, and begins to saturate them with acidic gloop. He chars to a blackened corpse.

Cultist 2 dies.

 

Reynard [ ]

Edited March 9, 2023 by Mazer Rackham

[Lysimachus]

Reynard:

 

Reynard moved forward, holstering his spent laspistol and taking a firmer grip on the shotgun. He was approaching the flaming Cult member and the knife suddenly appeared. Too quick to avoid. Pain flared in his shoulder, but the flak padding in his coat took the worst of it.

 

Before he could shoot back, Restal cooked the filthy scum with lasfire. As the body slumped to the floor, Reynard moved to stand over it, changing his aim. Pumping the shotgun's forestock, he blasted buckshot towards the burning Hostess and the man beside her.

 

 

Spoiler

Not using Reynard's Reaction yet, only 4 Wounds after TB+AV, and I worry what Cultist 3 and 4 might do next!

 

Full: SAB at Hostess
Move 4m (to over body of Cultist 2)
BS41 +30(Point Blank) -10(LoF) = 61, Roll: 34, Hit with 2DoS.
SAB and Scatter = 3 Hits.
Should be close enough to pass third Hit onto Cultist 4?
Dam 1d10+4
Hit 1: 9+4= 12  Edit: 13 ...would be great if I could do simple addition...
Hit 2: 2+4=6

Hit 3: 6+4=10

 

 

Edited March 10, 2023 by Lysimachus

[Mazer Rackham]

The Cradle:

 

Hostess: Reaction

Dodge: FAIL

The target jerks back from the force of the attack, throwing back her scorched head and spewing out a jet of blood before stilling, dead.

 

Cultist 4: Reaction

Dodge: FAIL

Damage: 7 Wounds

 

Una:

Half Action: Stand

Half Action: Grab bottle from the bar counter

 

Cultist 3:

Half Action: Kneel (in cover)

Half Action: Prepare Molotov

 

Cultist 4:

Full Action: FAB (Reynard)

BS: HIT (one hit)

Damage: 11 AP0

 

+ ROUND 3 ENDS +

[Trokair]

Bardas

 

Not entirely satisfied with the deadman’s tale Bardas nonetheless had little choice but to accept it for now, trust would come later if he deadman’s action spoke thusly. There was little he could do even if the deadman was false, as the Provost and his men would be with him.

 

Beckoning Scourge to come over and help him clear a work surface and collect what was left of Valkyrie’s armour. Laying it out in an ordered fashion.

 

+I don’t know about hale, but hearty indeed to see you, where are the others that went with you and the phial?+

 

Glancing over at Haldane and Locke for a moment Bardas spoke softly.

 

+Let the Lawman and the Deadman prepare to battle dæmons, I think we should make use of what little time we have to prepare for the next peril in a more practical manner.+

 

Spoiler

Trade (Armourer) – I had unspent XP so I just bought this for Bardas as narratively it fits, the Errata add it to the Rank 2 box).

Trade Armourer Test – S:35

D100: 03, Pass

Time taken as per MR post on 26^th Feb in OCC 1d3(2) +1 Hour = 3 Hours

Difficult Tech Use Test to reduce time – Int:39 + 10 (Tech-Use +10) – 10 (Difficult)= 39

D100: 24, Pass, 1 DoS – reduce time taken by 1 hour

All spare parts and Sacred Machine Oils used up, Character sheet updated. 

 

I present the Mk 0.8 (missing helmet) salvaged light power armour.

 

Intoning the rites he thought most appropriate Bardas anointed each part with a drop of the Sacred Machine Oil, then thanked the former spirit for its renewed service against the foes of the Omnissiah.  

 

Turning to the Penitent, +So, who shall bear this relic into battle, you or I?+

[Necronaut]

Scourge:

 

The Penitent looked aghast at the workbench. Unable to fully comprehend what he was looking at, he recoiled slightly at the sight of the sable armor.

 

"I bear the phial, still. It is here…" he trailed off patting his chest.

 

"Bardas, where didst thou happen upon this holy plate? Didst this not belong to the fair Lady Valkyrie?!"

 

He turned and grabbed the tech-adept by the shoulders, "What calamity hast befallen our forces?! First Stimms and Voyager, and now…!"

 

His mouth worked open and shut like a malfunctioning machine behind his visor, but he could not find the words. A seraphim had been laid low by the forces of Ruin. The world had grown a little darker.

 

"What is the meaning of this?!" 

 

Edited March 10, 2023 by Necronaut

[Trokair]

Bardas

 

+I was not present for it myself, but the others tell me that she fell in battle against the psyker and false Governor up in the spire.+

 

+From the telling of the others, she saved their lives and bought time, albeit dearly, for reinforcement to arrive.+

[Lysimachus]

Reynard:

 

The spray of bullets slashed past Reynard. In his current state, there was no way of avoiding them all. One scored across his left leg, punching through the meat of his outer thigh. With a yell of pain, he dropped to one knee behind what was left of the roulette table. His head was swimming, struggling to fight the cloying, sickly air.

 

Spoiler

Dodge: Ag45 -10(Floor) -10(LoF) =25, Roll: 82, Fail. Reynard suffers 6 Wounds after TB+AV, now on 7 remaining. Heavily Wounded.

 

Musk T test: T24 - 10(LoF) = 14, Roll: 90, Fail.

 

 

[Machine God]

Kerr Restal:

 

The application of violence in the Craft, held the songs at bay. 

 

 

 

Musk Test: TGH 34 - 10 (Fatigue) = 24. Result: 24, Pass

 

 

 

Edited March 10, 2023 by Machine God
Font colour

[Mazer Rackham]

I can't see I answered Bardas' query on how Locke is alive, so will drop a little prose. We can assume this conversation, plus the one between Bardas and Scourge occurs within the time for Bardas to complete his work.

 

The Tech Labs:

 

"Subterfuge, my keen Acolyte, is how I survived. Subterfuge, falsehood, and hard living in the early days, when I was hunted. With rumours of my death, the fears of our foemen were allayed, therefore allowing me to begin shepherding my flock, my resources to strike at them."

 

Turning to Scourge, Locke places a hand on his shoulder, gently prising him away from Bardas. "Come with me, my son, for good Haldane instructs me Valkyrie lies in the mortuary."

 

He looks at Scourge intensely. "Her wounds to front, and at peace. Come, we shall mourn my dear Constanza together."

Edited March 10, 2023 by Mazer Rackham

[Mazer Rackham]

The Cradle:

 

+ ROUND 4 BEGINS +

 

+ Initiative Order +

Spoiler

De Grassi = 15 (15/15) (Arm: 7)

Bartender = 13 (12/12) (Arm 2)

Restal = 12

Reynard = 10

Una Weslock = 10 (15/15) (Arm 2)

Cultist 3 = 08 (12/12) (Arm 2)

Cultist 4 = 07 (02/12) (Arm 2) (Firearm) (Prone)

 

MAP:

Spoiler

 

De Grassi:

Full Action: Multiple Attacks

WS: 2 HIT (Body, Right Arm)

Damage: 12, 14

 

Bartender Reaction:

Dodge: FAIL

The powerful blow cleaves the target from gullet to groin, revealing his internal organs and spilling them on to the ground before him. The target is now quite dead.

 

De Grassi catches the shotgun, and with a dark chuckle, throws it to Una, who catches it.

 

Restal [ ]

Edited March 10, 2023 by Mazer Rackham

[Machine God]

Kerr Restal:

 

He sighted on the screaming madman with the gun that had shot at the Weasel.

 

 

 

 

SAB Vs Cultist #4.

BS 40 +10 (SAB) +10 (Close Range) - 10 (Fatigue) = 50.

Result: 34, Pass 1DoS. 

Hit #1: Body: 9 +2 = 11

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 10, 2023 by Machine God
Target

[Mazer Rackham]

The Cradle:

 

Cultist 4: Reaction

Dodge: FAIL

Damage: 6 Wounds (-4/12)

The singed and scorched stink of crisping flesh adds a malodourous taint to the already reeking air.

Reynard [ ]

Edited March 10, 2023 by Mazer Rackham

[Lysimachus]

Reynard:

 

Reynard shook his head, trying to focus. As the ringing in his ears subsided, he heard the clink of glass behind the bar. He had seen the cultist scrambling away a few moments before, and suddenly he knew what was happening. Lots of incendiary liquids back there.

 

Damned if he was going to let the bastard steal his moves.

 

"Una!" he shouted, "pull back from the bar! You too, De Grassi!"

 

With quick hands, Reynard pulled the second bottle from his pocket and lit the rag. Last one. They'd proved damn useful though - maybe if they could collect the bounty on Pirentus, he'd buy some frags?

 

He took a fraction of a second to think about the angles, then lofted the molotov up over the roulette wheel. It arched up and then down, dropping out of sight behind the bar. Reynard ducked back, covering his head with his arms.

 

 

Spoiler

GM: As Una and Reynard are acting at the same Initiative step, I hope the warning will allow her to Move/Run out of the way? I'm less worried about the 'noble'... 

 

Half: Aim
Half: Throw Fire Bomb at Cultist 3
BS41 +10(Short) +10(Aim) -10(LoF) = 51, Roll: 37, Hit.
Dam1d10+3 Pen6
7+3=10 Pen6
If Dodge failed, Ag test to avoid catching Fire...

 

... plus any other explosions...? 

 

 

[Mazer Rackham]

The Cradle:

 

Una Reaction; (Reynard's Turn)

Dodge: PASS (Girl rolled 03, bless her)

 

De Grassi: Reaction

Dodge: PASS (Rolled a 10)

 

Cultist 3: Reaction

Dodge: PASS, (Rolled a 09)

 

Una:

"Are you out of your bloody mind?" Una shouts, coughing and spluttering at the sudden smoke. She spots Cultist 4 stirring, swivelling to shoot her in the head, and she drops flat onto her belly as she dodges the hungry flames, desperately wrenching around the shotgun.

Full Action: SAB

BS: HIT, JAM (Scatter - 2 Hits)

Damage: 7, 9

 

Cultist 4: Can't Dodge

Wounds: -13/12 Body

Target is Stunned for 1 Round, has broken ribs, takes 5 Levels of fatigue.

Has met Musk threshold, TGH Test: FAIL

Target has his back torn open, shedding guts and bone fragments over, and is tossed into the roulette table, knocking over.

 

Target Dies.

 

+ ROUND FOUR ENDS +

Edited March 10, 2023 by Mazer Rackham

[Mazer Rackham]

The Cradle:

 

+ STRUCTURED TIME ENDS +

+ NARRATIVE TIME BEGINS +

 

The remaining cultist rolls to dodge the firebomb, as it crashes, spilling the volatile, burning liquid all over the bar. Bottles heat as flame suddenly licks them, exploding as though gunshots smash into them.  Glass and fragments of wood fly splinter-like across the room, with lit fragments spilling onto the cushions. Wildfires start. The Cultist has chosen poorly, since he's rolled away from the flames, only to fall directly into De Grassi's path.

 

The Spyrer comes up quickly, gripping with one hand, and striking the man across the face with the other. Blood and mucus spatter the bar counter, as Una hurriedly scrambles to recover the dropped Autopistol as well. She sits up, face streaked with blood and slime, her fingernails torn from desperate fighting, and her dress in tatters. She looks up as the Prince Uncharming picks the man up and slams him down onto the bar counter.

 

+Where is it?+ De Grassi roars. +Where is the antidote?+ His elbow rises and falls, slamming into the man's stomach.

 

The man vomits, gushing up alcohol and strange slime. He recovers as the whole room begins to burn, thick smoke and heat burning off the cloying musk. "The Sixth Daemon waits for you!" The man cackles. before spitting a chunk of something grotesque up at De Grassi.

 

The alien mechanical arms, claws and spinnerets both, pin the man as the Spyrer breaks the Cultist's arm by twisting it back more than it can traverse. The bone cracks and gristle snaps, the clawed arm hanging limp.

 

"You'll...just have to...kill...kill me."

 

+Agreeable,+ De Grassi says, coldly. He hurls the man onto the floor, and brutally curb-stomps him, the head coming apart in raw wetness like a overripe jarramelon. He turns around and looks at Una, then Restal, and finally Reynard.

 

Una shouts up at him. "Do something - we're going to die in here!"

 

+I could get us out,+ he says with a shrug, +but without the antidote, there is no point.+

 

The bastard is smiling under that helmet.

 

+Never threaten a nihilist with a good time, Acolyte.+

[Lysimachus]

Reynard:

 

Reynard snorted tiredly and limped over to examine the vault door and look for controls. He suspected he knew exactly what this 'antidote' was, but that didn't matter at this moment.

 

"Idiot. Whatever it was you wanted, Pirentus and his boys never had it - can't you tell when someone is stringing you along because they don't have the goods?"

 

He waved casually at the flames.

 

"But if it's not here… that means it must be somewhere else. Maybe you can still find it? Maybe we can help you find it?"