Heroica: Glory Amongst The Stars - Mission #10: Pins & Needles

[Scubacarrot]

" Only you know for sure you are you, if that makes sense. Try going after yourself or you might shoot each other." Jonk blows a kiss at the prone Enson. Hopefully they won't all die before they can save the Quo'ri.

[Duvors]

OoC: Just a quick note, the DC for the check to stabilize a dying character is DC 1. Anybody could make it with little difficulty. 

[Peppermint_M]

16 hours ago, Scubacarrot said:

"Could you finish off Cloak, Aysu?"

"If that is more handy, sure. Anyone want to see to Enson, I could do that if you're all working on those jerks?" 

[Duvors]

OoC: Oh no, please, continue your current actions. I'm just pointing this out so that you aren't afraid to try if you can't finish the fight in time I just remembered that a fight doesn't end until unstable characters are stabilized.

[Waterbrick Down]

"No! Cloak!"

Jonk once more knows just how to inspire his companions as he assists Billeck with a well placed shot, downing the changeling before he can grapple and flee with Bertram. Enson lies struggling from his wounds on the floor, his heart pumps faster and faster as adrenaline courses through his body, getting him back to his feet! Aysu fires off another round at Dagger, but the doppelganger's disguise continues to confound the markswoman and she nearly blows a hole through Billeck. Dagger, enraged at the loss of her partner and seeing her escape nearly impossible tries to fight her way out, swinging and missing at Billeck.

Round 6 of Changeling Clash
Jonk repositions to C5
Jonk rallies Billeck - (+3) dice to next Offensive Combat Check)
Billeck Repositions to D5
Billeck Targets Cloak - (5) 1 Success = Billeck Targets Cloak
Billeck attacks Cloak - (1,2,6,1,1,+1) 2 Success vs. (4,1) 1 Success = 1 Damage, Cloak KO'd
Enson Death Check - (6) = Enson revives with 1 Vitality and is Lucky!
Aysu targets Dagger - (2) 0 Successes = Targets Billeck
Aysu attacks Dagger - (4,5,4,+2,-2) 3 Successes vs. (5,5,-1) 3 Successes = 0 Damage

Changeling Dagger Repositions to D4
Changeling Dagger attacks Billeck - (2,4,+1) (6,3+1) 2 Successes vs. (5,4) 2 Successes = 0 Damage

The Party

 Ensonvilterayquis (Enson) (Duvors) *Lucky*
60 cycles old male Quo'ri
Character Points: 0/22
Vitality: 1/5
Velocity: 2
Strength: 1
Skill: 3
Smarts: 2
Spirit: 0/3
Proficiencies: Insight 1, Medicine 3, Melee Weapons 2, Performance 1, Religion 2
Spells: Healing Light, Purging Font, Warding Bond
Credits: 2
Equipment: Plasma Falchion (+2 Melee Energy), Utility Belt (Tool, grants +1 Engineering or Medicine Check Successes)
Inventory: Void Star Hammer (+1 Melee Elemental), Plasma Splicer (Tool, as an action, transfer Vitality with an adjacent ally), Æther Brew, Essence of Glibness, Essence of Precaution, Nanite Elixir 2x, Plasma Potion 4x, Spider Bomb (Hampering, Minor, Contained, Chemical, Adhesive).

 Aysu Kundakçı (Peppermint_M)
22 Rotations Old, Female? Adopted Human.
Character Points: 4/18
Vitality: 4/6
Velocity: 2
Strength: 3
Skill: 3
Smarts: 1
Spirit: 1
Proficiencies: Long Range Weapons 3, Nature 1, Survival 1
Spell: Enhanced Vision
Credits: 137
Equipment:  Environment Safe Ammunition "ESA" Rifle (Calibrated Long Range, Energy) with Gravimetric Bipod - Weapon Attachment (The first Offensive Combat check with this weapon is Lucky) attached, Farsight Goggles
Inventory: Plasma Potion 2x, Essence of Glibness, Field Rations (Consumable, Restores 1 Vitality), Gator Hide (Can be converted into either Kinetic or Elemental Standard Armor by a craftsman) Zinc (Calibrated Kinetic Long Range Weapon)

 Billeck Wallard (Wolfpackfan99)
26 Cycle old Male Human 
Character points: 0/10
Vitality: 4/5
Velocity: 2
Strength: 1
Skill: 2
Smarts: 2
Proficiencies: Coding 1, Explosives 2, Technology 2, Short Range Weapons 2
Credits: 10
Equipment: Standard Elemental Short Range Weapon, Standard Energy Armor, Energy Cell
Inventory:

  Jonk (Scubacarrot)
30-something cycles Male Celestial
Character Points: 0/10
Vitality: 4/5
Velocity: 3
Strength: 1
Skill: 2
Smarts: 3
Proficiencies: Persuasion 1, Sleight of Hand 2, Long Range Weapons 1, Perception 1
Credits: 10
Equipment:  Sighted Corpo Blazer (Calibrated Elemental Long Range weapon), Exo-Suit
Inventory:

The Enemy

 Changeling Cloak (Rogue) *KO'd*
Vitality: 0/8
Velocity: 3
Strength: 2
Skill: 2
Smarts: 2
Proficiencies: Deception 5, Stealth 1, Short Range Weapons 2, Melee Weapons 2
Credits: 0
Innate: Face-shift (At the end of the round, the Changeling takes on the appearance of the nearest hero in the room, attacks against the Changeling have a 50/50 chance of targeting the mimicked hero instead).
Equipment: Cloaking Generator, Rime Dirk (Standard Elemental Melee Weapon)
Inventory: Throwing Darts (Standard Kinetic Short Range Weapon)

 Changeling Dagger (Rogue) *Mimicking Billeck* *Unlucky Offensive Combat Checks*
Vitality: 3/8
Velocity: 3
Strength: 2
Skill: 2
Smarts: 2
Proficiencies: Deception 5, Stealth 1, Short Range Weapons 2, Melee Weapons 2
Credits: 0
Innate: Face-shift (At the end of the round, the Changeling takes on the appearance of the nearest hero in the room, attacks against the Changeling have a 50/50 chance of targeting the mimicked hero instead).
Equipment: Rime Dirk (Standard Elemental Melee Weapon)
Inventory: Cloaking Generator, Throwing Darts (Standard Kinetic Short Range Weapon)

[Duvors]

Well that was unexpected.

Enson is floating in a quiet place. Not the blackness of unconsciousness, but the full emptiness of the meditative trance. The shock of being stabbed has propelled him into this state. He wishes he could remain here, but he can already hear his heartbeat, and feel the determination to act. Slowly, he opens his eyes.

Enson gasped, feeling time rushing back to him. The relentless march of now. He felt his wound, his life's blood pouring out in rivulets. He knew it was no danger to him yet though, he could concern himself with it later. He knew what must be done now, and drove himself toward it.
With an agility few in his position could muster, Enson leapt to his feet and vaulted over the bar, charging into the remaining changeling. Unerring as an arrow, his hand lashed out toward its mark, a point at the base of his opponent's spine:

Enson will move to C3 and attempt to paralyze the Changeling's legs, restraining them with medicine.

As he struck, he shouted: "Listen! Surrender now and I might yet save your accomplice! Fight, and you will die."

The way he said 'die' was filled with a terrible finality. It was not spoken as a threat, but as a statement of fact.

Edited March 18, 2022 by Duvors

[Scubacarrot]

Jonk rallies Billeck and moves to A5.

"Nice shot Billeck, now do the other one too!"

Edited March 18, 2022 by Scubacarrot

[Peppermint_M]

"Oh heck. Sorry!" Aysu stood aghast, it looks like their enemy confounded her way too much.

[Duvors]

OoC: In the absence of other actions:

If Dagger does not surrender, Billeck will move to B5 and attack. Aysu will attempt to disarm Dagger with strength.

Edited March 18, 2022 by Duvors

[Waterbrick Down]

7 minutes ago, Duvors said:

OoC: In the absence of other actions:

If Dagger does not surrender, Billeck will move to B5 and attack. Aysu will attempt to disarm Cloak with strength.

MM Note: To be clear, Enson is simply intending to restrain correct, not persuade?

[Duvors]

Just now, Waterbrick Down said:

MM Note: To be clear, Enson is simply intending to restrain correct, not persuade?

OoC: The thing is, I do in fact have precedent for trying to persuade someone to surrender without it costing an action. If you remember Mission 5, you allowed me to make an intimidation check against the last remaining enemy without spending an action even though I had intended to Try Something as per the rules. I didn't say I was making a persuasion check this time because I didn't want to push my luck and would let you adjudicate. I chose to restrain this turn because a. Cloak is probably dead, so my persuasion check would just fail I'm assuming, and b. even if I could make my check, if it fails then it's essentially a wasted action and the changeling is free to continue attacking.

[Waterbrick Down]

8 minutes ago, Duvors said:

OoC: The thing is, I do in fact have precedent for trying to persuade someone to surrender without it costing an action. If you remember Mission 5, you allowed me to make an intimidation check against the last remaining enemy without spending an action even though I had intended to Try Something as per the rules. I didn't say I was making a persuasion check this time because I didn't want to push my luck and would let you adjudicate. I chose to restrain this turn because a. Cloak is probably dead, so my persuasion check would just fail I'm assuming, and b. even if I could make my check, if it fails then it's essentially a wasted action and the changeling is free to continue attacking.

MM Note: That's fair, in retrospect it probably should have been categorized as a "Try Something" action. Looking back at the fight, I was probably looking for a way to simply end the combat since the enemy's loss was inevitable at that point.

[Peppermint_M]

Aysu looked at their remaining foe. "I would listen to him if I were you."  (Persuasion attempt by Aysu)

[Duvors]

If that is the case, Billeck will defend themselves.

[Wolfpackfan99]

1 minute ago, Duvors said:

If that is the case, Billeck will defend themselves.

OoC: sorry I was a bit busy today.

Billeck will defend himself.

[Waterbrick Down]

22 hours ago, Duvors said:

As he struck, he shouted: "Listen! Surrender now and I might yet save your accomplice! Fight, and you will die."

The way he said 'die' was filled with a terrible finality. It was not spoken as a threat, but as a statement of fact.

5 hours ago, Peppermint_M said:

Aysu looked at their remaining foe. "I would listen to him if I were you."  (Persuasion attempt by Aysu)

The Changeling hangs her head looking over at Cloak.

"He's already gone, you'd be wasting spirit. 'Sides, I'm dead without the kid anyways."  

Jonk maintains his positive outlook as Billeck takes up a defensive position. Enson, with renewed vigor, dives over the bar tackling the Changeling and striking the precise nerve ending to down the Doppelganger, albeit momentarily. Subdued and with her partner dead on the floor, Dagger ceases struggling as Aysu attempts to reason with her.

Round 7 of Changeling Clash
Jonk rallies Billeck - (+3) dice to next Offensive Combat Check
Jonk repositions to A5
Billeck Defends Himself - (+2) dice to next Defensive Combat Check
Enson Tries to Paralyze Dagger - Medicine vs. Acrobatics - (6,5,4,3,4,3)(1,5,4,3,5,4) 4 Successes vs. (2,6,3) 1 Success = Dagger Restrained, Velocity Reduced to 0 while Enson maintains pressure
Aysu Tries to Persuade Dagger - Persuasion vs. Persuasion - (1,3,4) 1 Success vs. (3,3,3) 0 Successes = Dagger Surrenders

The Battle Is Victorious! (+1 Character Point to all players)

The Party

 Ensonvilterayquis (Enson) (Duvors)
60 cycles old male Quo'ri
Character Points: 1/23
Vitality: 1/5
Velocity: 2
Strength: 1
Skill: 3
Smarts: 2
Spirit: 0/3
Proficiencies: Insight 1, Medicine 3, Melee Weapons 2, Performance 1, Religion 2
Spells: Healing Light, Purging Font, Warding Bond
Credits: 2
Equipment: Plasma Falchion (+2 Melee Energy), Utility Belt (Tool, grants +1 Engineering or Medicine Check Successes)
Inventory: Void Star Hammer (+1 Melee Elemental), Plasma Splicer (Tool, as an action, transfer Vitality with an adjacent ally), Æther Brew, Essence of Glibness, Essence of Precaution, Nanite Elixir 2x, Plasma Potion 4x, Spider Bomb (Hampering, Minor, Contained, Chemical, Adhesive).

 Aysu Kundakçı (Peppermint_M)
22 Rotations Old, Female? Adopted Human.
Character Points: 1/19
Vitality: 4/6
Velocity: 2
Strength: 3
Skill: 3
Smarts: 1
Spirit: 1
Proficiencies: Long Range Weapons 3, Nature 1, Survival 1
Spell: Enhanced Vision
Credits: 137
Equipment:  Environment Safe Ammunition "ESA" Rifle (Calibrated Long Range, Energy) with Gravimetric Bipod - Weapon Attachment (The first Offensive Combat check with this weapon is Lucky) attached, Farsight Goggles
Inventory: Plasma Potion 2x, Essence of Glibness, Field Rations (Consumable, Restores 1 Vitality), Gator Hide (Can be converted into either Kinetic or Elemental Standard Armor by a craftsman) Zinc (Calibrated Kinetic Long Range Weapon)

 Billeck Wallard (Wolfpackfan99)
26 Cycle old Male Human 
Character points: 1/11
Vitality: 4/5
Velocity: 2
Strength: 1
Skill: 2
Smarts: 2
Proficiencies: Coding 1, Explosives 2, Technology 2, Short Range Weapons 2
Credits: 10
Equipment: Standard Elemental Short Range Weapon, Standard Energy Armor, Energy Cell
Inventory:

  Jonk (Scubacarrot)
30-something cycles Male Celestial
Character Points: 1/11
Vitality: 4/5
Velocity: 3
Strength: 1
Skill: 2
Smarts: 3
Proficiencies: Persuasion 1, Sleight of Hand 2, Long Range Weapons 1, Perception 1
Credits: 10
Equipment:  Sighted Corpo Blazer (Calibrated Elemental Long Range weapon), Exo-Suit
Inventory:

Loot:
2x Rime Dirk (Standard Elemental Melee Weapon)
2x Cloaking Generator
2x Throwing Darts (Standard Kinetic Short Range Weapon)

The pizza parlor grows quiet. Bertram straightens up and grabs the pizza peel while standing over the Changeling.

"Give me one reason I shouldn't bash your skull in, scum!"

"I dunno kid. You've got a bright future ahead of you and you don't want to mar it with senseless bloodshed? Heroes, perhaps you'd like to persuade your bloodthirsty friend?"

[Scubacarrot]

"Come on Bertram, you didn't have the stomach for it before, maybe its not worth to get into now." Jonk persuades Bertram.

"Besides, that changeling is probably the best bet for finding your actual family. Assuming your real mother and uncle also are not changelings, of course. Wait, are you a changeling? How can we know for sure you are the real Bertram?"

Edited March 19, 2022 by Scubacarrot

[Duvors]

"Yes," Enson said, "I would like to know what you've done with them. And who sent you and how they knew to send you. Bertram," he shot a place at their employer. "I really think revenge killing is a bit immature at this stage. I suggest you call the police to take this ruffian away, and then explain what exactly you want us to do about saving your friend - and family now."

Enson will assist Jonk with... err... insight?

@Scubacarrot

As he spoke, Enson began collecting the spoils of the fight, giving Jonk and Billeck one each of the Rime Dirks, Cloaking Generators, and Throwing Darts. As he did so, he also held out his Spider Bomb to Billeck.
"I got this with you in mind." he said, "you're the only person here qualified to use it anyway."

OoC: @Wolfpackfan99, that Energy Cell you have is a consumable, you can't actually equip it in an equipment slot. Consumables are used directly from your inventory, so you can just leave it down there and equip the Cloaking Generator instead.

[Scubacarrot]

"Thanks Enson, glad you did not bleed out, by the way, are you in charge of our requisitions? 

Jonk holds out the Throwing Dart and Rime Dirk to Aysu.

"Can you use any of this stuff? I have literally no idea how to use it!"

[Waterbrick Down]

20 hours ago, Scubacarrot said:

"Come on Bertram, you didn't have the stomach for it before, maybe its not worth to get into now." Jonk persuades Bertram.

"Besides, that changeling is probably the best bet for finding your actual family. Assuming your real mother and uncle also are not changelings, of course. Wait, are you a changeling? How can we know for sure you are the real Bertram?"

8 hours ago, Duvors said:

"...Bertram," he shot a place at their employer. "I really think revenge killing is a bit immature at this stage. I suggest you call the police to take this ruffian away, and then explain what exactly you want us to do about saving your friend - and family now."

Enson will assist Jonk with... err... insight?

Enson assists Jonk - (+1) Dice to Persuasion Check
Jonk Persuasion Check (DC 1) - (4,3,6,6,1) 3 Successes

Bertram hangs his head and drops the peel.

"Your right, I've just been freakin' out and on the edge of my seat lately. And this just confirms everything..."

7 hours ago, Duvors said:

"Yes," Enson said, "I would like to know what you've done with them. And who sent you and how they knew to send you. Bertram," he shot a place at their employer. "I really think revenge killing is a bit immature at this stage. I suggest you call the police to take this ruffian away, and then explain what exactly you want us to do about saving your friend - and family now."

"What his family? Oh they're nice and safe at the moment. *cough* Who do you think sent us? The big guy, kiddo over there screwed over. You think your friend lasted an hour before he gave you up?"

"Jippo? He would never talk!"

"Jippo's more concerned with keeping all his *cough* *cough* body parts attached these days. You two are loose ends."

"But Jippo's the one who made the deal."

"Yeah and you were his supplier. When were you *cough* planning on breaking the news to the family?"

"I... I..."

"Yeah that's what I thought.*cough* *cough*" Dagger sighs, a trickle of blood pooling at the corner of her mouth, "I'll save you the call to the police, ain't going to do you any good. I wouldn't mind a piece of paper and pen though."

[Peppermint_M]

15 hours ago, Scubacarrot said:

"Thanks Enson, glad you did not bleed out, by the way, are you in charge of our requisitions? 

Jonk holds out the Throwing Dart and Rime Dirk to Aysu.

"Can you use any of this stuff? I have literally no idea how to use it!"

"Thanks for the offer, but hang on to 'em for now. We might pick up something handy later on that we can trade, or you could get a good price selling them on." Aysu suggested. 

Hearing a few flag words, Aysu looked to Bertram  "Supplier, just what would you be supplying huh?" 

"Anyone got the order book? Dagger can use that to write in."

[Scubacarrot]

Bertram calmed, Jonk leaves the interrogating for the others and looks around the room.

In particular, Jonk inspects the bag in the corner of the room and the weapon on the wall.

Edited March 20, 2022 by Scubacarrot

[Duvors]

5 hours ago, Peppermint_M said:

"Anyone got the order book? Dagger can use that to write in."

"On it." Enson said, grabbing the item in question from the counter and handing it to the changeling.

[Waterbrick Down]

7 hours ago, Peppermint_M said:

Hearing a few flag words, Aysu looked to Bertram  "Supplier, just what would you be supplying huh?" 

"Does it really matter? What's important is they have Jippo and we need to get him out of there, before they do who knows what to him."

3 hours ago, Scubacarrot said:

Bertram calmed, Jonk leaves the interrogating for the others and looks around the room.

In particular, Jonk inspects the bag in the corner of the room and the weapon on the wall.

Jonk Perception Proficiency Check (DC 1,3) - (6,4,1,5) 3 Successes

A cursory glance at the sack confirms it to be 00 flour, mostly still full. The weapon, seems to be an old relic, possibly even from the War of Mutual Annihilation. While somewhat secured to the wall, it looked easily removable.

 Antique Blunderaxe (Calibrated Kinetic Short Range weapon)

As Jonk moves near the stockroom door, he hears a slight muffled yelp from inside.

1 hour ago, Duvors said:

"On it." Enson said, grabbing the item in question from the counter and handing it to the changeling.

The heroes hand the Changeling the order pad. After scribbling a few lines, Dagger folds another piece of paper into a crude envelope, before holding the letter out.

"Would you do me the decency of delivering this?" *cough* "There's a young Changeling named Tandy, it's for her."

[Duvors]

45 minutes ago, Waterbrick Down said:

The heroes hand the Changeling the order pad. After scribbling a few lines, Dagger folds another piece of paper into a crude envelope, before holding the letter out.

"Would you do me the decency of delivering this?" *cough* "There's a young Changeling named Tandy, it's for her."

"Of course," Enson said, taking the envelope, "May you make better choices in your next life."