Heroica: Glory Amongst The Stars - Mission #5: Slay Ride

[Yzalirk]

Ronin moves to M13 and attacks the Hurler.

[Waterbrick Down]

Aysu lines up another brilliant shot on the gator as Decker moves in with his boomerang and fells the beast with an expertly thrown strike. Ronin and Polaris chase down the final monger and quickly make short work of it. The heroes get Enson to his feet as the sounds of the growling and screeching creatures fade away.

Round 7
Aysu attacks Polar Gator Juvenile - (1,4,1+2) 3 Successes vs. (2,1) 0 Successes = 3 Damage
Ronin moves to M13
Ronin attacks Glacier Monger Hurler - (4,3,+2) 3 Successes vs. (5,2) 1 Success = 2 Damage
Decker Survival Proficiency Check (DC 2) - (4,6,2) 2 Successes = Not effected by Environmental Hazard
Decker moves to M8
Decker attacks Polar Gator - (6,6,+1) 3 Successes vs. (3,2) = 0 Successes = 3 Damage, KO'd
Polaris Survival Proficiency Check (DC 1) - (6,6,5) 3 Success = Not effected by Environmental Hazard
Polaris moves to L12
Polaris casts Elemental Bolt - (2) 0 Successes = 0 Damage (-1 Spirit)

Glacier Monger Hurler moves to K15
Glacier Monger Hurler attacks Ronin - (1,6,1,+1) 2 Successes vs. (3,5,1) 1 Success = 1 Damage

MM Note: Considering how close the last one is to dying, I went ahead and auto-rolled for the next round with everyone chasing after the monger.

Round 8
Aysu moves to N11
Ronin Survival Proficiency Check (DC 1) - (4,3,1) 1 Success = Not effected by Environmental Hazard
Ronin moves to N15
Ronin attacks Glacier Monger Hurler - (5,5,+2) 4 Successes vs. (5,4) 2 Success = 2 Damage, KO'd
Decker
Polaris

The Battle Is victorious! (All Players gain 1 Character Point)

Party

 Ensonvilterayquis (Enson) (Duvors) *Mission Leader*
60 cycles old male Quo'ri
Character Points: 6/19
Vitality: 1/5
Velocity: 2
Strength: 1
Skill: 2
Smarts: 2
Spirit: 1/2
Proficiencies: Insight 1, Medicine 2, Melee Weapons 1, Religion 2, Survival 1
Spells: Healing Light, Purging Font
Credits: 20
Equipment: Void Star Hammer (+1 Melee Elemental), Utility Belt (Tool, grants +1 Engineering or Medicine Check Successes)
Inventory: Nanite Elixir 2x, Plasma Potion, Polar Gator Head (A trophy from the heroes' kill, worth 20 Gold)

 Polaris Ursaring [with M.I.L.E.S.]  (samurai-turtle)
15 cycle old female "Chimeran" 
Character Points:  6/19
Vitality:  4/8
Velocity:  2
Strength: 2 
Skill:  2
Smarts:  2
Spirit:  0/1
Proficiencies: Coding 1*, Engineering 1 (+1, tool), Medicine 1 (+1, tool), Melee Weapons 1, Nature 1,  Short Range Weapons 1, 
Spells:  Elemental Evocation, 
Credits:  0 
Equipment: Mecha Strike (Standard, Kinetic, Melee Range Weapon), Utility Belt (tool) Grants +1 Engineering or Medicine Check Success, 
Inventory:  Plasma Potion (x2)

 Aysu Kundakçı (Peppermint_M)
22 Rotations Old, Female? Adopted Human.
Character Points: 5/18
Vitality: 3/6
Velocity: 2
Strength: 2
Skill: 3
Smarts: 1
Spirit: 1
Proficiencies: Long Range Weapons 3, Nature 1, Survival 1
Spell: Enhanced Vision
Credits: 75
Equipment:  Environment Safe Ammunition "ESA" Rifle (Calibrated Long Range, Energy), Farsight Goggles
Inventory: Plasma Potion 2x, Essence of Glibness, Pack of Crystalline Feathers (6), Field Rations (Consumable, Restores 1 Vitality), Gator Hide (Can be converted into either Kinetic or Elemental Standard Armor by a craftsman), Gator Tooth (Can be converted into either a Kinetic or Elemental Standard Melee Weapon by a craftsman)

 Ronin (Yzalirk)
[REDACTED] Male [REDACTED]
Character Points: 6/16
Vitality: 1/5
Velocity: 2
Strength: 1
Skill: 3
Smarts: 3
Spirit: 0/0
Proficiencies: Athletics 1, Deception 1, Melee Weapons 2, Stealth 1
Known Spells: None
Credits: 10
Equipment: Cloaking Generator, Hard Light Katana (Calibrated Energy Melee Weapon)
Inventory: Crimson Wart (Apply to a weapon to cause Poisoned 1 when damage is dealt (Poison) (Consumable))

 Decker DaCabe (Endgame)
24 year old male Human
Character Points: 6/16
Vitality: 4/6
Velocity: 2
Strength: 3
Skill: 1
Smarts: 1
Proficiencies: Melee Weapons 1, Short Range Weapons 2
Credits: 10
Equipment: Whirlwind Boomerang (Standard, Elemental, Short Range Weapon), Sandblasted Cuirass (Standard Kinetic Armor),
Inventory: Wyrmsfoot (Apply to a weapon to cause Slow* when damage is dealt (Poison) (Consumable)), Unloaded Pistol (Calibrated Kinetic Melee Weapon)

"Everybody alright? Looks like we've bought ourselves a little breathing room at least."

[Duvors]

"What?  Have we won?  Well... good work, everyone."  Enson tried to rise, but fell back with a groan.  "I'll see to myself, the rest of you get that fuel spread."

Enson will meditate and begin healing the party.

[Endgame]

Decker was rushing over to clobber the final Monger, riding the adrenaline of felling the Polar Gator... but by the time he got there, the last opponent was very soundly defeated.

Decker bends down with his hands on his knees, catching his breath. "Phew... Huh. Hell of a fight. Good job all, I think we handled that pretty well."

The scrapper goes to the sled and grabs a canister of fuel, running around the huge drake carcass and trying to douse it as much as possible. "Let's get this thing done!"

[Waterbrick Down]

Enson gets everyone back up to full strength as Ronin oversees dousing the remainder of the drake's corpse in fuel. Fairly soon the rotting mass is awash with the smell of decay mixed with high octane petrol.

"Now this is going to be quite the fire once we light it, so now's your chance if anyone wants to prep anything before we ski out of here."

Party

 Ensonvilterayquis (Enson) (Duvors) *Mission Leader*
60 cycles old male Quo'ri
Character Points: 6/19
Vitality: 5/5
Velocity: 2
Strength: 1
Skill: 2
Smarts: 2
Spirit: 2/2
Proficiencies: Insight 1, Medicine 2, Melee Weapons 1, Religion 2, Survival 1
Spells: Healing Light, Purging Font
Credits: 20
Equipment: Void Star Hammer (+1 Melee Elemental), Utility Belt (Tool, grants +1 Engineering or Medicine Check Successes)
Inventory: Nanite Elixir 2x, Plasma Potion, Polar Gator Head (A trophy from the heroes' kill, worth 20 Gold)

 Polaris Ursaring [with M.I.L.E.S.]  (samurai-turtle)
15 cycle old female "Chimeran" 
Character Points:  6/19
Vitality:  8/8
Velocity:  2
Strength: 2 
Skill:  2
Smarts:  2
Spirit:  1/1
Proficiencies: Coding 1*, Engineering 1 (+1, tool), Medicine 1 (+1, tool), Melee Weapons 1, Nature 1,  Short Range Weapons 1, 
Spells:  Elemental Evocation, 
Credits:  0 
Equipment: Mecha Strike (Standard, Kinetic, Melee Range Weapon), Utility Belt (tool) Grants +1 Engineering or Medicine Check Success, 
Inventory:  Plasma Potion (x2)

 Aysu Kundakçı (Peppermint_M)
22 Rotations Old, Female? Adopted Human.
Character Points: 5/18
Vitality: 6/6
Velocity: 2
Strength: 2
Skill: 3
Smarts: 1
Spirit: 1
Proficiencies: Long Range Weapons 3, Nature 1, Survival 1
Spell: Enhanced Vision
Credits: 75
Equipment:  Environment Safe Ammunition "ESA" Rifle (Calibrated Long Range, Energy), Farsight Goggles
Inventory: Plasma Potion 2x, Essence of Glibness, Pack of Crystalline Feathers (6), Field Rations (Consumable, Restores 1 Vitality), Gator Hide (Can be converted into either Kinetic or Elemental Standard Armor by a craftsman), Gator Tooth (Can be converted into either a Kinetic or Elemental Standard Melee Weapon by a craftsman)

 Ronin (Yzalirk)
[REDACTED] Male [REDACTED]
Character Points: 6/16
Vitality: 5/5
Velocity: 2
Strength: 1
Skill: 3
Smarts: 3
Spirit: 0/0
Proficiencies: Athletics 1, Deception 1, Melee Weapons 2, Stealth 1
Known Spells: None
Credits: 10
Equipment: Cloaking Generator, Hard Light Katana (Calibrated Energy Melee Weapon)
Inventory: Crimson Wart (Apply to a weapon to cause Poisoned 1 when damage is dealt (Poison) (Consumable))

 Decker DaCabe (Endgame)
24 year old male Human
Character Points: 6/16
Vitality: 6/6
Velocity: 2
Strength: 3
Skill: 1
Smarts: 1
Proficiencies: Melee Weapons 1, Short Range Weapons 2
Credits: 10
Equipment: Whirlwind Boomerang (Standard, Elemental, Short Range Weapon), Sandblasted Cuirass (Standard Kinetic Armor),
Inventory: Wyrmsfoot (Apply to a weapon to cause Slow* when damage is dealt (Poison) (Consumable)), Unloaded Pistol (Calibrated Kinetic Melee Weapon)

[Peppermint_M]

"I think I will be happy far away from this before we anything accidentally sparks it off!"

[samurai-turtle]

Taking the dead Mongers and placed them near the "damaged thermal equipment". 

I guess they deserve a warrior's funeral. Light them up too. 

Polaris checks to see if she could take any of the Mongers weapons. 

[Duvors]

Enson will quickly gather some feathers from the birds.

"Miss Aysu, would you mind giving that gator tooth to Ronin?  I feel he has more use for it than you do."

[Endgame]

Decker contents himself to going back to the sled, hopping back up in. He thinks about snacking on some rations but thinks better than it.

"Sigrun, any last safety precautions ya got on the mind? Or just light it on fire go? I can't imagine you've done somethin' like this too often." Decker laughs.

[Peppermint_M]

5 hours ago, Duvors said:

"Miss Aysu, would you mind giving that gator tooth to Ronin?  I feel he has more use for it than you do."

"Sure thing. Here." Aysu handed the tooth over. "Its not like I can stick it to my gun!" 

[Waterbrick Down]

15 hours ago, samurai-turtle said:

Taking the dead Mongers and placed them near the "damaged thermal equipment". 

I guess they deserve a warrior's funeral. Light them up too. 

Polaris checks to see if she could take any of the Mongers weapons. 

Polaris Survival Proficiency Check (DC 1,3) - (3,4,3) 1 Success

Polaris is able to scrounge up one of the monger’s blade.

Icicle Cleaver (Standard Elemental Melee Weapon)

10 hours ago, Duvors said:

Enson will quickly gather some feathers from the birds.

"Miss Aysu, would you mind giving that gator tooth to Ronin?  I feel he has more use for it than you do."

Enson Survival Proficiency Check (DC 1,3) - (4,1,2,6) 2 Successes

Searching through the snow Enson finds a six crystalline feathers of the Frost Hawks.

7 hours ago, Endgame said:

Decker contents himself to going back to the sled, hopping back up in. He thinks about snacking on some rations but thinks better than it.

"Sigrun, any last safety precautions ya got on the mind? Or just light it on fire go? I can't imagine you've done somethin' like this too often." Decker laughs.

“Yeah, definitely nothing quite like this. My only suggestion is like the sharpshooter said, keep our distance unless some of you are looking to lose your eyebrows. Anybody care to do the honors?”

[Duvors]

"Well, no sense in waiting around.  We don't have a proper fuse on hand though- Here, hand me a length of rope and something to cut it with.  A nice thick piece that will burn slowly."

Enson will do the thing.

[Waterbrick Down]

5 hours ago, Duvors said:

"Well, no sense in waiting around.  We don't have a proper fuse on hand though- Here, hand me a length of rope and something to cut it with.  A nice thick piece that will burn slowly."

Enson will do the thing.

Sigrun fishes a piece of cord out of one of the many packs handing it to Enson. With a flourish Enson ignites the makeshift fuse and tosses the unburnt end toward the drake's corpse. Sigrun mushes the sled wyrms onward making a bolt in the opposite direction as fast as the creatures could pull. Minutes later the drake's body erupts in a fireball lighting up the wintery sky. The heroes watch as a number of drones and speeders race toward the fire, frustratingly a speeder turns their direction and begins trailing them a mile or so back.

"What do you think, heroes, try and lose them or face 'em head on? Looks like only one speeder and maybe two drones."

[samurai-turtle]

We should keep going, but not make it look like we are running from them. 

[Duvors]

4 hours ago, samurai-turtle said:

We should keep going, but not make it look like we are running from them. 

"I'm not sure that's a tenable strategy, considering that we have no legitimate reason for being here and are fleeing from the scene of a crime - or something very much like one."  Enson ground his teeth.  "We need to deny them any chance to conclusively identify us, so we cannot stick around to fight.  Lose them."

[samurai-turtle]

41 minutes ago, Duvors said:

"I'm not sure that's a tenable strategy, considering that we have no legitimate reason for being here and are fleeing from the scene of a crime - or something very much like one."  Enson ground his teeth.  "We need to deny them any chance to conclusively identify us, so we cannot stick around to fight.  Lose them."

Have you not heard of the predator / pray relationship. The only reason the predator will chase you is because you are running away. Besides we were hunting all we have to do is show them are trophies. And what is this crime scene you talk about... That big light over there. I thought it was a meteor strike or something... Would you think that would convince them if necessary? 

[Duvors]

54 minutes ago, samurai-turtle said:

Have you not heard of the predator / pray relationship. The only reason the predator will chase you is because you are running away. Besides we were hunting all we have to do is show them are trophies. And what is this crime scene you talk about... That big light over there. I thought it was a meteor strike or something... Would you think that would convince them if necessary? 

"No, because if we were innocent we would be heading toward the big explosion to see what it was, not ignoring it.  And we are trespassing in any case.  The salient point however is that I do not want them to have any record of our names and faces, or anything that could tie the mercenary group hired by the local authorities to whoever may have committed an act of arson on Krystal Ice property.  I especially do not want to risk a situation that may result in the addition of a murder charge to that either."

[Endgame]

"Don't want them to know our faces, huh," Decker chuckles, tapping his mask. For once, unloaded pistol notwithstanding, he had came prepared.

"I'm team run away, aye. You saw how they regarded that pair of Cricet for being on their property with a toolbox. We reek of gasoline for god's sake, and there's a fire right over there." Decker jerks his thumb behind them, where the Drake carcass was smoldering. "I don't know if they're the brightest but they might be able to put two and two together..."

[Waterbrick Down]

"Alright, we'll lose them across the lake. Hold on!" Swiftly Sigrún has the sled wyrms maneuver a hard bank toward Lake Hriensa.

Sigrún Piloting Proficiency vs. Kristal Ice Piloting Proficiency - (1,3,6,3,1,2,6,6) 3 Successes vs. (6,3,5) 2 Successes

The Cricet deftly guides the sled from ice flow to ice flow, jumping gaps nearly the length of a small fighter. Unsure of their ability to maneuver in such dangerous conditions the pursuing speeder pilot and drones halt at the lake shore. The heroes watch as the patrol waits for a few moments before slowly turning around and heading back across the Flats.

"Should be home free from here, heroes."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The party settles into the cozy confines of the sled as the group makes their way across the remainder of the lake and toward Vindkoss. A gentle snow begins to fall, the steady rhythm of the sled wyrm's gate lulling some to sleep as the moon begins to rise. After a few more hours journey the warm inviting lights of the village twinkle on the horizon and soon the group find themselves back in the homely confines of the Frozen Flame Tavern being served rounds of piping hot beverages. It doesn't take long for Mervin Softpaw to be notified of the groups arrival and give them a hearty welcome back.

"Oh my goodness gracious there, you lot look like yer chilled to the bone there. Make sure you sit near the thermal lights there to warm yourselfs up." The Cricet pulls a few chairs near the warming heaters, "Seems like ol' Sigrún made sure to return yous in one piece now. Whenever yous be ready there, I'd love to hear how you made out."

[Peppermint_M]

Aysu was relaxing in the warmth, the last mad dash had made the cold drive in deep. "We found what had everything acting up." She took a deep draught of the hot drink in her hand. "And there were a lot of creatures acting up!"

[Duvors]

"Mmm, yes."  Enson sat himself down carefully in the proffered seat.  "I am afraid these were plenty of foes for us to face, however we believe that the route should now be free of predators."  He placed his handful of feathers on the table.  "We also have the head of a very large polar gator, which I would like to donate to this establishment.  The proprietor can boil it for broth if they wish."  He leaned back slightly and clasped his hands before his stomach.  "As for the cause of the surge in carnivores, well..." he took out the scale fragments and slid them across the table.  "These we found in the stomachs of the hawks that attacked the town on the day we arrived, and in the body of the gator we also found an immense talon belonging to a flying predator.  We believe that these belong to the rime drake that was harassing Krystal Ice, and that when the mercenaries killed it they and their employers failed to dispose of the body properly, allowing the local scavengers to gorge themselves until the population exploded out of proportion.  Unfortunately we were not able to investigate the area we believed the corpse to be, as that would have involved trespassing on Krystal Ice property."  He paused for a moment, a blank look on his face.  "However," he continued, "we did witness a large explosion and fire centered around the area where we believe the corpse to be, so it is unlikely that the problems caused by its presence should persist.  Additionally, I have reason to think that you will soon receive images from an anonymous source-" he gestured towards Polaris "-clearly showing the drake's body on one of Krystal's geothermal fields.  This, along with the physical evidence, should prove sufficient should you or anyone else wish to pursue legal action against the company for their negligence."

[samurai-turtle]

3 hours ago, Duvors said:

  Additionally, I have reason to think that you will soon receive images from an anonymous source-" he gestured towards Polaris "-clearly showing the drake's body on one of Krystal's geothermal fields.  This, along with the physical evidence, should prove sufficient should you or anyone else wish to pursue legal action against the company for their negligence."

Ah yes, where would we send the image files to? It would be under the name MILES. 

///Actually the full designation will be Ne'xo('s') Military Intelligence Life Elimination System(s). 

You can see why the name gets shortened to MILES or M. I. L. E. S. 

[Waterbrick Down]

21 hours ago, Peppermint_M said:

Aysu was relaxing in the warmth, the last mad dash had made the cold drive in deep. "We found what had everything acting up." She took a deep draught of the hot drink in her hand. "And there were a lot of creatures acting up!"

"So our suspicions were true about the danger to the race? Sounds like our money was well spent."

8 hours ago, Duvors said:

"Mmm, yes."  Enson sat himself down carefully in the proffered seat.  "I am afraid these were plenty of foes for us to face, however we believe that the route should now be free of predators."  He placed his handful of feathers on the table.  "We also have the head of a very large polar gator, which I would like to donate to this establishment.  The proprietor can boil it for broth if they wish."  He leaned back slightly and clasped his hands before his stomach.  "As for the cause of the surge in carnivores, well..." he took out the scale fragments and slid them across the table.  "These we found in the stomachs of the hawks that attacked the town on the day we arrived, and in the body of the gator we also found an immense talon belonging to a flying predator.  We believe that these belong to the rime drake that was harassing Krystal Ice, and that when the mercenaries killed it they and their employers failed to dispose of the body properly, allowing the local scavengers to gorge themselves until the population exploded out of proportion.  Unfortunately we were not able to investigate the area we believed the corpse to be, as that would have involved trespassing on Krystal Ice property."  He paused for a moment, a blank look on his face.  "However," he continued, "we did witness a large explosion and fire centered around the area where we believe the corpse to be, so it is unlikely that the problems caused by its presence should persist.  Additionally, I have reason to think that you will soon receive images from an anonymous source-" he gestured towards Polaris "-clearly showing the drake's body on one of Krystal's geothermal fields.  This, along with the physical evidence, should prove sufficient should you or anyone else wish to pursue legal action against the company for their negligence."

Mervin's expression turns from concern, to astonishment, to resolve.

"I should have known those there Krystal creeps would be mixed up in all of this. I'll be glad to have those files at my disposal when we discuss new leasing terms at the next ITA consortium. When we saw the flames burning like a beacon in the night, figured somethin' must of gone on there." The Cricet eyes Enson but doesn't press any further for more details of his story. At the mention of the gator head, Mervin's eyes go wide, "My that's a massive bugger. I'm sure Hallbera will pay top credits to have that sort of trophy hanging up in the Frozen Flame." Mervin takes another sip of his mulled wine. "I know a few traders that be interested in those feathers, I'd willing to get you 10 credits a piece if that sounds reasonable. I'll ask Hallbera about the head as well, probably get another 250 on top of that."

4 hours ago, samurai-turtle said:

Ah yes, where would we send the image files to? It would be under the name MILES. 

///Actually the full designation will be Ne'xo('s') Military Intelligence Life Elimination System(s). 

You can see why the name gets shortened to MILES or M. I. L. E. S. 

"The tavern actually has an Æthernet terminal, you can transfer the files to me once we're finished."

[Peppermint_M]

"I have not got much use for these feathers, even if they are pretty." Aysu took out the six she had. "I'll sell mine."

[Duvors]

"Thank you, the money would be appreciated.  But I feel the payment for the head should go to Ronin here, he was the one who ultimately brought it down.  I would also like to split the money for my feathers equally between the party."  He turned to the rest of the group.  "Something of an apology for convincing you to pick the most expensive guide."