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

[Scubacarrot]

1 hour ago, Waterbrick Down said:

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.

Jonk ignores the weapon but does grab a handful of 00 flour into a pocket.

"I think there is someone else here..."

Jonk opens the stock room.

[Waterbrick Down]

1 hour ago, Duvors said:

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

“Appreciate it.”

48 minutes ago, Scubacarrot said:

Jonk ignores the weapon but does grab a handful of 00 flour into a pocket.

"I think there is someone else here..."

Jonk opens the stock room.

Jonk finds the door’s hinges wedged shut.

[Scubacarrot]

"Bertram, how do you open this door?"

[Waterbrick Down]

3 hours ago, Scubacarrot said:

"Bertram, how do you open this door?"

"You could always knock. heh." *cough* "Who knows, maybe someone didn't want to be disturbed."

"It shouldn't be locked."

Jonk notices what looks like cutlery have been wedged in-between the door and the jam, requiring force to open. With a good shove, the silverwear breaks and the door opens. As light filters into the small stock room. The heroes see two Dwarves bound and gagged on the floor.

"Mmmm!!!"

"Oh look, you found my fellow *cough* Changelings." Dagger's voice seems to be fading fast her breath growing more shallow, the heroes estimated she wouldn't be around for much longer.

 

 

[Duvors]

"One last thing, where is Jippo being held?"

[Waterbrick Down]

4 minutes ago, Duvors said:

"One last thing, where is Jippo being held?"

Dagger's comments with a sarcastic lilt.

"In the boss's hideout of course. *cough* You know you're really bad at this interrogation thing."

[Scubacarrot]

Jonk starts untying the two changelings/dwarves and says in the direction of Dagger and Enson.

"Ehhrm, maybe we can patch them up so they can reunite with this Tandy, in exchange for some info on what we are walking into."

If Enson is unwilling, Jonk will attempt some basic first aid.

 

 

Edited March 21, 2022 by Scubacarrot

[Duvors]

7 minutes ago, Waterbrick Down said:

Dagger's comments with a sarcastic lilt.

"In the boss's hideout of course. *cough* You know you're really bad at this interrogation thing."

"Yes, where in the hideout? The basement? The attic? Where is this hideout located? Who do you work for anyway? Our fool of an employer has yet to see fit to tell us who exactly we're rescuing his friend from."

Enson, having lost his patience with how long this changeling is taking to die, will meditate and cast sustaining healing on Dagger and himself.

[Waterbrick Down]

1 hour ago, Scubacarrot said:

Jonk starts untying the two changelings/dwarves and says in the direction of Dagger and Enson.

"Ehhrm, maybe we can patch them up so they can reunite with this Tandy, in exchange for some info on what we are walking into."

If Enson is unwilling, Jonk will attempt some basic first aid.

 

 

As Jonk unties the Dwarves he notices they've been roughed up, bumps, bruises, and a nasty blow to the head. As the real Margot and Guustin shake life back into their sore limbs, they turn to express their gratitude to the heroes.

"Goodness, thank you sir. I thought we'd be in there till we rot. Bertram are you alright?"

"Mom? I thought... never mind. I'm just happy you're alright"

"Look at that, what a happy ending."

"What is going on here, you miscreant."

"Why don't you ask your darling nephew?"

"What is she talking about, Bertram?"

"Mom, I never wanted you to get hurt. Just give me a few minutes. These guys," Bertram indicates the heroes. "They saved us, they're goin' to help me fix everything."

1 hour ago, Duvors said:

"Yes, where in the hideout? The basement? The attic? Where is this hideout located? Who do you work for anyway? Our fool of an employer has yet to see fit to tell us who exactly we're rescuing his friend from."

Enson, having lost his patience with how long this changeling is taking to die, will meditate and cast sustaining healing on Dagger and himself.

Enson pauses for a moment to restore his spirit before attempting to heal the Changeling. While her wounds from the fight are healed, Dagger continues to cough up blood.

"Like I said, ain't going to work. Boss makes us swallow a poison before we get sent out, *cough cough* makes sure we come back in time to get the antidote. She likes maintaining her collection after all, doesn't want a few specimens getting loose."

MM Note: Just to make it clear, Persuasion, Deception, Intimidation or some other tactic is going to be required if you want more info out of a hostile NPC.

[Scubacarrot]

"That does not seem practical, what if there is a traffic jam or something that causes a delay?"

[Waterbrick Down]

3 minutes ago, Scubacarrot said:

"That does not seem practical, what if there is a traffic jam or something that causes a delay?"

"Not the boss's problem. 'Sides, we're on Ebria station, not Cosmopoli. You ever see a traffic jam on this station?"

[Scubacarrot]

28 minutes ago, Waterbrick Down said:

"Not the boss's problem. 'Sides, we're on Ebria station, not Cosmopoli. You ever see a traffic jam on this station?"

"No, but I have not been here long enough to see whats rush hour is like. Hey, want to make a deal? We make sure your message gets to Tandy, and assuming she is where we are heading, we will do our best to keep her from getting caught in the middle. In exchange, you tell us what we are walking into.

Jonk puts some extra persuasive charm in the words.

"Or your message mind end up in the Peet Tsar Oven, what do you say?"

Edited March 21, 2022 by Scubacarrot

[Duvors]

39 minutes ago, Waterbrick Down said:

"Like I said, ain't going to work. Boss makes us swallow a poison before we get sent out, *cough cough* makes sure we come back in time to get the antidote. She likes maintaining her collection after all, doesn't want a few specimens getting loose."

"Good thing I am as proficient with the hand of destruction as the hand of creation."

Enson will cast Acute Purge on Dagger.

"Now, I suggest you tell me everything you know about where Jippo is being held, who is guarding him, what the security measures are, and any other relevant information."

Instead of trying to get information normally, Enson will attempt to read Dagger's surface thoughts with insight.

OoC: I'm pretty sure this is treading on the Empath's toes, but I'm not proficient in any of the 'talking to people' proficiencies.

[Waterbrick Down]

1 hour ago, Scubacarrot said:

"No, but I have not been here long enough to see whats rush hour is like. Hey, want to make a deal? We make sure your message gets to Tandy, and assuming she is where we are heading, we will do our best to keep her from getting caught in the middle. In exchange, you tell us what we are walking into.

Jonk puts some extra persuasive charm in the words.

"Or your message mind end up in the Peet Tsar Oven, what do you say?"

Jonk Persuasion Check (DC 1,3) - (5,2,3,2) 1 Success

The Changeling straightens up at the mention of Tandy and takes on a more conciliatory tone.

*Sigh* "You're walking into a deathtrap if you're asking me. *cough*  Ashlyn Savari, the Archivist, she's been on Ebria Station a long time. Most often associated with the Quint Syndicate. *cough* *cough* Unlike most of them however, she tends to want to hold onto her findings as opposed to letting them muck about causing chaos and destruction. Her outfit *cough* is sequestered away in a number of storage units in the Bluemoon Warehouse District. You'd say she's a bit of a collector of all things rare and unusual, be they people, places, or things. Smuggling may be too crass of a word for what she does, she... facilitates the relocation of 'goods' to willing buyers, though she's always eager to keep the best to herself."

1 hour ago, Duvors said:

"Good thing I am as proficient with the hand of destruction as the hand of creation."

Enson will cast Acute Purge on Dagger.

"Now, I suggest you tell me everything you know about where Jippo is being held, who is guarding him, what the security measures are, and any other relevant information."

Instead of trying to get information normally, Enson will attempt to read Dagger's surface thoughts with insight.

OoC: I'm pretty sure this is treading on the Empath's toes, but I'm not proficient in any of the 'talking to people' proficiencies.

MM Note: Understood, you won't get surface thoughts as Insight is not telepathy, but you will get body language and overall demeaner.

To Enson's surprise, he finds his magic hindered, as the toxin's resiliency keeps it from being purged.

Enson Insight Check (DC 1,3) - (3,5,1,2) 1 Success

Enson notes the Changeling's glibness seems to be masking the pain she's feeling from the toxin. The Quo'ri picks out a slight tremor of fear in her voice as Dagger's breathing grows more ragged.

"As I told your friend, *cough* you're walking into a fortress. The Archivist likes to employ a number of thugs a good few of them regular Crescendo users. *cough* *cough* Then there's some of the nasty things she keeps in the collection. If you think Dagger and I caused you trouble, you'd better watch out. Her facility is bank after bank of cages, cells, and storage units a literal labyrinth. *cough* Listen, if you do find Tandy, tell her... tell her, her mom and dad didn't want this kind of life for her, that they always wanted better. Life just doesn't always go the way you planned."

[Duvors]

1 hour ago, Waterbrick Down said:

To Enson's surprise, he finds his magic hindered, as the toxin's resiliency keeps it from being purged.

Enson Insight Check (DC 1,3) - (3,5,1,2) 1 Success

Enson notes the Changeling's glibness seems to be masking the pain she's feeling from the toxin. The Quo'ri picks out a slight tremor of fear in her voice as Dagger's breathing grows more ragged.

"As I told your friend, *cough* you're walking into a fortress. The Archivist likes to employ a number of thugs a good few of them regular Crescendo users. *cough* *cough* Then there's some of the nasty things she keeps in the collection. If you think Dagger and I caused you trouble, you'd better watch out. Her facility is bank after bank of cages, cells, and storage units a literal labyrinth. *cough* Listen, if you do find Tandy, tell her... tell her, her mom and dad didn't want this kind of life for her, that they always wanted better. Life just doesn't always go the way you planned."

"Archivist, odd name for a sadistic barbarian."
As he spoke, Enson knelt down by the changeling's side, gently touching various pressure points in order to ensure their death was painless (Medicine).
"Before you go, is there anything else you can tell us? If you do,I will see to it this Archivist pays for what they have done, and that Tandy gets your message."

Enson will attempt a persuasion check.

[Waterbrick Down]

18 hours ago, Duvors said:

"Archivist, odd name for a sadistic barbarian."
As he spoke, Enson knelt down by the changeling's side, gently touching various pressure points in order to ensure their death was painless (Medicine).
"Before you go, is there anything else you can tell us? If you do,I will see to it this Archivist pays for what they have done, and that Tandy gets your message."

Enson will attempt a persuasion check.

Enson Medicine Proficiency Check (DC 1,3) - (4,3,4,2,3,4,+1) 4 Successes

Kneeling at Dagger's side, the Quo'ri reaches out and completely alleviates the Changeling's pain as she fades from life.

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

"The Archivist is a sadistic sneaky devil, but she's obsessive to a fault. Get her attention and she'll be blind to everything else... stick a knife in the crone's back for me when she ain't looking."

The Changeling's voice grows quieter, her breathing less frequent until at last she stops and her body relaxes, slumped against the counter. Bertram sighs as he looks over the two corpses.

"Soddin' Hel. Looks like I owe you lot my life even before we get properly introduced." The Dwarf turns to pour himself a tankard of ale. "Pull up a seat, I'll fill you in. Mom, Uncle, why don't you head home, I'll get things straightened out here and close up. I promise... I'll tell you everythin', but Jippo's in danger and I can't just let him suffer any longer."

"Bertram if you think after all that, I'll just..."

"Margot, please, I think the boy has proved he can at least find qualified people to help him through whatever mess he's in. He's made good on his promises before, I trust he'll see this through."

"Hmphh... fine. Just... be careful Bertram."

"I will ma."

As the two other Dwarves leave the shop, Bertram turns and starts making a few pizzas, narrating as he goes.

"Sorry about havin' you walk in on all this. Honestly thought the Archivist might just forget about me." Bertram takes a sip of his ale. "Me and Jippo grew up together, practically brothers. We got a bit distant over the last few years, I started takin' on more hours here, he was doin' dock work jobs on the lower level. One day he comes to me and says he's got an opportunity to make it big. Through a couple of his dock friends he learned there's a party on the station interested in payin' good money for Alurien gamma roses. They're a protected species on the homeworld havin' nearly been wiped out after the rejuvination efforts on the planet." The Dwarf slides the pizza's into the oven. "My uncle's got contacts back on Aluriel that ship him supplies for the shop, so I worked out a way to get a crate of the flowers delivered secretly on one of the drops. Jippo and I were goin' to split the payout. He'd handle the deal with the buyer and I'd handle gettin' the load to the station. Turns out Jippo didn't do a good job coverin' his tracks and the ITA and Space Police busted him and some of the buyer's goons. Jippo got off easy, considerin' it was his first offense and only did time for a few weeks. The other guys turned out to be wanted for a whole lot of adjacent stuff and most of them are still detained. Unfortunately, turns out Jippo had made a deal with the Archivist and she didn't take too kindly to havin' her operations interrupted. Next thing I know, Jippo's been nabbed off the street. I tracked him to the Bluemoon Warehouses, but couldn't get up the courage to go in there after him myself." Bertram pulls the pizzas out of the oven to cool, sliding them onto the counter for the heroes to eat. "That's when I put out the ad. I never thought the Archivist would send folks like that here to ma and Uncle Guus's shop, I never wanted them gettin' caught up with any of this. I just don't know what else I can do."

[Scubacarrot]

Jonk eats his pizza.

"Is hot is hot is hot. Ouch.... Burned the roof of my mouth...."

[Waterbrick Down]

Jonk finds the pizza restoring (full Vitality recovered) and much better tasting than the pies thrown together by the Changelings. Bertram pauses after a thought.

"Forgive me. I took everyone from your hall that I could, apart from Ensonvilterayqui here, I don't even know your names. Is this whole affair even somethin' you want to undertake? I understand if its a bit more messy than I may first have relayed."

The Party

 Ensonvilterayquis (Enson) (Duvors)
60 cycles old male Quo'ri
Character Points: 1/23
Vitality: 5/5
Velocity: 2
Strength: 1
Skill: 3
Smarts: 2
Spirit: 1/3
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), Dagger's Letter (Mission Item)

 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: Rime Dirk (Standard Elemental Melee Weapon), Cloaking Generator (Tool, grants +1 Sleight-of-hand or Stealth Check Successes), Throwing Darts (Standard Kinetic Short Range Weapon)

  Jonk (Scubacarrot)
30-something cycles Male Celestial
Character Points: 1/11
Vitality: 5/5
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 (Tool, grants +1 Athletics or Acrobatics Check Successes)
Inventory: 1lb 00 Flour (Consumable, Mission Item), Rime Dirk (Standard Elemental Melee Weapon), Cloaking Generator (Tool, grants +1 Sleight-of-hand or Stealth Check Successes), Throwing Darts (Standard Kinetic Short Range Weapon)

[Peppermint_M]

"Aysu is the name." The gunner took a slice of pizza to eat, the battle had worked made her hungry. "Gunner for hire I guess!" 

She took a hearty bite of pizza. "So protected flowers huh? Not bad stuff at least. Just like, grey area." 

[Waterbrick Down]

13 minutes ago, Peppermint_M said:

"Aysu is the name." The gunner took a slice of pizza to eat, the battle had worked made her hungry. "Gunner for hire I guess!" 

She took a hearty bite of pizza. "So protected flowers huh? Not bad stuff at least. Just like, grey area." 

"Well, I mean, they are radioactive."

[Wolfpackfan99]

 Billeck chewed the pizza, it tasted like victory, or maybe that was the pepperoni. He turned to Bertram to introduce himself.
 “Billeck Wallard, at your service. Also an explosives aficionado. I will be glad to partake in your quest.” 

 After collecting his thoughts, Billeck moved in close to Enson whispering.

 “It seems we were correct about the Quint Syndicate. This Bertram seems sincere, but I still hold my suspicions.” 
 

[Peppermint_M]

1 hour ago, Waterbrick Down said:

"Well, I mean, they are radioactive."

"Oookay. got some anti-rads or lead gloves?"

[Duvors]

3 hours ago, Wolfpackfan99 said:

 “It seems we were correct about the Quint Syndicate. This Bertram seems sincere, but I still hold my suspicions.” 

Enson shook his head. "I disagree, from what we have heard this Archivist is an independent actor rather than an associate of an existing group. Frankly however we do not have enough information to make definitive statements either way."

3 hours ago, Peppermint_M said:

"Oookay. got some anti-rads or lead gloves?"

"We're not trying to rescue the flowers, Aysu. Unless you have another reason for asking?"

[Waterbrick Down]

8 hours ago, Wolfpackfan99 said:

 Billeck chewed the pizza, it tasted like victory, or maybe that was the pepperoni. He turned to Bertram to introduce himself.
 “Billeck Wallard, at your service. Also an explosives aficionado. I will be glad to partake in your quest.” 

 After collecting his thoughts, Billeck moved in close to Enson whispering.

 “It seems we were correct about the Quint Syndicate. This Bertram seems sincere, but I still hold my suspicions.” 
 

"Ah good, I was hoping we'd have someone with incendiary experience. From my understandin' the Archivist has several vaults built into the warehouses. I picked up a few charges from the bazaar, they should come in handy, though I'll let the expert handle them."

7 hours ago, Peppermint_M said:

"Oookay. got some anti-rads or lead gloves?"

"We're rescuin' Jippo, I could give a cyber rat's bottom about the flowers."

4 hours ago, Duvors said:

Enson shook his head. "I disagree, from what we have heard this Archivist is an independent actor rather than an associate of an existing group. Frankly however we do not have enough information to make definitive statements either way."

"From what I hear the Archivist works with whoever she needs in order to make the deal, she probably has contacts with most of the underground."

As everyone digs into a pizza they feel refreshed and restored.

"Anything else you all need, or should we get going? I'm sure someone's going to notice the Changeling's are missing pretty soon."

[Scubacarrot]

"And I'm Jonk, I do things. nice to meet you, Bertram. Let's go rescue your criminal best friend."