Chapter 2.1: Re-Engage the Fear Machine (OOC)

Chapter-specific OOC. All your in-game rolls, questions, shit talking should go here.

For those who haven't done so yet, take a look at the Character Flaws list and pick what is fitting for your PC. If you have an idea for a flaw that's not on the list, let me know and we can work something out.

Aside from giving your PC more depth, I will award XP for particularly well role-played flaws - especially if they result in negative consequences/situation for your characters.

https://playbypostgaming.forumotion.com/t70-character-flaws

*Hacker voice* I'm in.

Greeting fellow vile xenos. What blasphemous actions have you done today? I too like to support the heretical Greater Good!

Say, did you hear about the blessed victory the Vahallan 435th had over our disorganised forces? It seems xeno trickery and low cunning isn't a match for a lasgun and faith! So, do you know what we're planning to do about those valiant soldiers now?

All right, Murc - need Arlene to get in on this if she is going to.

Otherwise the other two Tau - Kanna or Ta'ro - need to make a decision on what to do regarding this new event.

Arlene wrote:

Let's all sit and contemplate the prank call of a 14 year old cogboy, who's given in to chaos,

I hope I was clear in the original post. This message came through in perfect Tau. It isn't in gothic or some other language. Did everyone get that initially?

Yup yup, perfect Tau, which is quite freaky.

http://orokos.com/roll/628883

failed awareness, 95 vs 42.

We're off to a great start.

Heath, what was that an awareness test for?

Sent from Topic'it App

I got that it was perfect Tau, but Arlene is a little bit in a bind right now. The empire trained her to fear chaos and she's on edge leading her first op, she's not exactly willing to respond to spooky messages on the monitor instead of helping out her team.

OK cool, no worries. I had to be sure no one missed that part because it was important and we've all been out of practice for a bit. But no need to justify your actions or anything. I love you. You guys are killing it.

To be clear, there is time for one more back and forth. Kanna has just about finished cutting through the central locking mechanism.

All right, so now that the anonymous voice on the other end of the monitor has given her name, Nitafrong may post in the IC as normal and we can move on from there.

Now I understand why you wanted the private thread.

Can I get a private thread? It can contain all my unloved bear puns.

I like to move it, move it!

http://orokos.com/roll/633420
awareness to spot signs of battle.
27 vs 42

will IC the results

Expediting some things here.

Kanna Stealth 55, rolled 91/4 DoF - http://orokos.com/roll/633485
Psychopaths awareness 31, rolled 51/2 DoF - http://orokos.com/roll/633486

Kanna failed worse. IC is closed. Please roll me initiative!!

High Tower Init: 14
http://orokos.com/roll/633496

Kor'arx Init: 6
http://orokos.com/roll/633487

Psychopath Init: 9
http://orokos.com/roll/633489

Taro Init: 6
http://orokos.com/roll/633506

Harriet Initiative: 5
https://orokos.com/roll/633535

7 for Arlene
http://orokos.com/roll/633631

EDIT: Also,we're gonna have to burn the whole room after that.

http://orokos.com/roll/633841
10 for Kanna

Burn it all to the ground, Murc.

Seeing a comrade being eaten should warrant a +20 Fear Test from Kanna and High Tower, please.
High Tower Fear +20 <46; rolled 84/4 DoF
Shock Roll : 101
Effect: Faint immediately and remain unconcious for 2 rounds. When he wakes up, shaken -10 to all tests until encounter ends.

OK, off to a good start!

Woohoo!

I might not hold to a 24 hour policy today and push for a little faster turnaround. Get something in for me ASAP if time provides Heath!

Everyone else start thinking about your round actions.

Kanna was shocked by the suddenness of it all, not the things themselves.

Without hesitation, years of strict military discipline kick in. His carbine, already in its position, snapped rigid as he took aim at the closest threat. He didnt have time for identification nor registration of what manner of hell these things were, nor what they were doing.
Aim, squeeze, kill.....
Those were the only things he was concentrating on, and, thank the greater good, they were motions that were easily repeatable.

half aim at the closest one, full auto.
http://orokos.com/roll/634789
pitiful roll.
bs 50 +30 PB range, -10 Fa, +10 aim, that'd be a miss.
Im going to reroll, a chance like this is too good to waste.
http://orokos.com/roll/634791
jeez, 1 friggin hit. 18 damage p4

In this instance, because they are so grouped together, I am going to say that 3 DoF or more is a complete miss; however, under that and there is a 50% chance you hit one of the others.

1-5 = hit, 6 - 10 = miss. Rolled natural 1. You hit. http://orokos.com/roll/634875

18 p 4 to one of the one's beside your target and he's toast.

+++

Psychopaths are up. Three full run to High Tower. The remaining four rush Kanna. Charge and grapple 29 vs 45/2 DoS http://orokos.com/roll/634882

Need a Reaction from Kanna

The rest rush forward, knives flailing.

3x <45; rolled 100, 71, 12/fail fail hit. http://orokos.com/roll/634884
Damage: 4, pen 0. No damage. http://orokos.com/roll/634886

Arlene is up!

If there's a nearby table I can rest the gun on, I'd like to, otherwise 1/2 aim, 1/2 shoot at nearest reaver to Kanna.

BS 56 +10 (1/2 aim) + 10 (standard) -20 (melee) <56 rolled 87/4DoF
Damage -

IC:
The enemy caught Arlene by surprise. She dropped to one knee and brought her rifle up in one motion, but a moment's pause wasn't enough to calm her nerves, and the round she fired went wide to the left.

Taking a shot at one of the ones on Kanna as well if I have LoS.

BS 51 + 10 (Standard) + 10 (Half-Aim) - 20 (Melee) = <51: 92, we are off to a great start aren't we...

http://orokos.com/roll/635113

IC: The screaming filled Taro's ears to the point of absolute irritation. He couldn't think straight, but he knew his bonded brother was in trouble. He raises his rifle. He wouldn't dare fire full auto, lest he hurt Kanna. He fires off a single round towards the mass of bodies, hoping to hit one of them and give his brother some breathing room. It was all he could do not to lose focus after the shot goes wide.

Murcurie wrote:

If there's a nearby table I can rest the gun on, I'd like to, otherwise 1/2 aim, 1/2 shoot at nearest reaver to Kanna.

Half move to a table to rest your weapon on. This will grant an additional +10 to your BS tests. I really like this creativity and initiative to interact with the environment. Atta boy.


Kor'arx is up. He's torn between his desire to engage immediately and watch the prisoner/rearguard. With no forthcoming orders, he will full round aim at one of Kanna's assailants.



OK. We are on Harriet.

IC'ing Kor to move up and assist:
Arlene looked back after her shot and yelled out to Kor'Arx "Kor! Get those freaks off our team! Ta'ro and I can handle one bound prisoner." She yells, making the motion to move up with her hand. "In terms of building trust, now would be a good time to not do anything drastic, or to do something really drastic. I'd rather the former." She says to Harriet as she sights in another shot.

OOC
Harriet remains where she is.
Scrutiny test to see if she can tell how many came through the doorway- to check if this was where the cultists came through.
Int 52 +10- rolled 87
https://orokos.com/roll/635174

3Dof

IC
Harriet had been squinting into the dark, as the Tau moved forward when from behind the bench came again those familiar figures. The 'angry midget' seemed to fall, even before the cultists came for him, while the others charged the other Tau. Her captors were seemingly caught by surprise, as most of their shots missed their targets. Of course, it could also be that they were bot shots. She needed more data to be sure.
The Kroot seemed desirous to change this and was taking aim with a javelin. Against such opponents it would be effective, but how would it do against armour?

As Arlene shouted, Harriet looked over at the side of the Tau helmet with surprise. She was been given a choice? The second in only a matter of an hour. Granted it was not much of a choice, but still. Arlene had marked her preference, but she could choose. The feeling was unfamiliar, not painful, or comfortable- but a decidedly marked presence which could go either way.

She looked again at the figures crowding around the lone figures of the Tau and considered. If she could get the manacles off. If she could retrieve her weapons and data pad from the angry midget. If she could fight off the cultists. That really would be a really drastic act.

"If you would prefer it, I will refrain from drastic acts. I will remain where I am until I am needed."

Going to put those orders on your action since you got them in so quickly. Will retcon Kor'arx's action to compensate.

Round 2 is on. Kanna round action please. Remember that he is grappled.

Kanna was in a bad position. He was surrounded and they were holding him down. The only thing he could do is break free. He was surrounded, slipping out would be difficult. He would simply force the arms open, he uses his cybernetic and brings his strength to bear.



I dont have acrobatics, so its a test of strength to break free/control the grapple. At least I have a cybernetic arm to help with that.
http://orokos.com/roll/635162
when I say help....4 dos of failure, maybe they'll botch it right?

OK, opposed strength: 82 vs 32/5 DoF. http://orokos.com/roll/635203

I had to re-look up the rules here in OW. If both parties fail it is either a stalemate or a series of re-rolls until there is a winner. I would rather not hold up the game waiting for rolls. So for this encounter I am going to make it a stalemate. However, I don't mind changing that ruling when combat is over.

Psychoapaths vs High Tower first:
#1 - kneel down (1/2) remove helmet (1/2)
#2 - stab his face - helpless target = auto success; damage (helpless = roll twice and add together): 6, pen 0
#3 - stab his face - auto success; damage: 10, pen 0
http://orokos.com/roll/635212

HT has natural armor (1) and toughness 3, comes out to 8 damage total.

The psychopath engaged with Kanna will attempt to take him down - Opposed Strength 32 +20 (assistance per grapple rules) <52; rolled 99! NOPE
http://orokos.com/roll/635215

So, this is a little unorthodox, but the character controlling a grapple may ready either one of their own items OR an item of the character opposing the grapple. One of the others is going to go for your pulse pistol as a full round action (to simulate all the movement happening). The third will move to remove your helmet.

The rules offer no way to avoid this. However, I will allow you to attempt a - 10 evasion test (dodge) to prevent it. On a success, choose whether you are preventing them from grabbing your gun or remove your helmet.

The last one will turn and full run to enter into melee with Kor'arx.

http://orokos.com/roll/635235
22 vs 55

OK, Kanna keeps his pistol on, but loses his helmet and all of the features it gives. He has no squad comms or blacksun filter/translator unit. Shit is much darker and smells absolutely terrible. And, of course, he has 0 AP to his head.

IC updated to reflect this.

Arlene will 1/2 aim, 1/2 fire on the nearest enemy to Kanna

BS 56, +30 table, aim, standard, - 20 melee <66 rolled 36/3DoS http://orokos.com/roll/635263
Damage:12 Pen 4 http://orokos.com/roll/635264

IC:
Arlene didn't look away from her scope, but a "Thanks." sighted in another shot on the nearest enemy to Kanna. After a moment to line up a shot, she fired, hoping the shot would find itself in at least one enemy before it was too late. "HT get your ass off the ground!"

It's a hit, but not a kill with that damage.

It's Ta'ro time!

Any way to figure out what is going on with Hightower? I would assume I could move a bit to get into position to see why he isn't firing at them.

Firing once again on one of the ones surrounding Kanna.
BS 51 + 10 (Standard) + 10 (Half-Aim) - 20 (Melee) = <51: 2, should be good to go.

http://orokos.com/roll/635382

Damage: 23
http://orokos.com/roll/635383

IC: Taro had no idea what the hell was going on. They'd been attacked by some crazed beasts or something...or at least humans who had become beasts. He could hear Arlene trying to rouse Hightower and was going to see about going to his aid, but he had to help his brother. He had to make sure Kanna got out of this. He sights once again, focused more this time than the previous shot, letting the muscles take over. He fires a single round once again and watches as it strikes true.

Only way to do that is to just start getting over that way, broskie. Full run would get you in a position to get eyes on within 1 round. Sorry about the delayed response - sleeping is stupid. Also, I think Ta'ro aiding his bonded brother instead of rushing to HT is the "right" choice from a character perspective. It makes a lot of sense.

That is a definite kill. Allocating it to the one Arlene did not shoot on her initiative. Logic being you guys are trying to take as many targets off Kanna as possible.

EDIT: I have been forgetting to roll dodge for these guys. It's going to be at -10 due to being focused on Kanna. <22; rolled 59. KILL.

+++

Kor'arx ass-stomping time. Time to see what a kroot beak does to unarmored human flesh.
WS 53 +30 (all out attack) +10 (hatred) <93; rolled 16. http://orokos.com/roll/635409

Dodge <32; rolled 90 http://orokos.com/roll/635412


Harriet is going to spend this round taking a defensive stance - hard to do with her hands bound - but with the enemies coming forward it's time to play it safe.

That's the round.

Start of Round 3 - HT wakes up.

1/2 action pull pistol, 1/2 action fire: BS 42 +10 (standard action) -10 (shaken) <42; rolled 6. That's a hit.
Damage: 10, pen 4. Not a kill.

Enemy dodge <32; rolled 76/nope.

Kanna knew he was in a bad position, and HT was in an even worse position-one he would soon be in himself unless he did something.
"Shoot us. I dont care if you hit me. Just knock these guys out." he tells the others in no uncertain terms.
He had no choice but to keep trying to break free, his cybernetic helped, but not nearly enough.


http://orokos.com/roll/635438
56 vs 40, guess Ill reroll.
http://orokos.com/roll/635439
hey, 31 vs 40.

Once I get confirmation on what happens, Ill finish it up.

Opposed strength 32 +20 (assistance) <52; rolled 98. http://orokos.com/roll/635440

Kanna is in control of the grapple. I'll update your PC sheet with that FP use.

Kanna used the Shadda'no vor, or 'the small one'

first, he grabs the arms that kept him in a chokehold to gain leverage, then he snapped his head back into his opponet's, catching him off guard and weakening his grasp. Then came the 'small one' he uses his hips and startes to stand lower, changing his center of gravity, with the center of balance shifted, he flipped the enemy over his shoulder onto a heap at his feet.
His eyes met the psychopath's, and he saw madness in those pits of rage.
"Lur'ta'mont." he identifes.

Knowning there would be no quarter from these....things, he pulls a photon grenade from his belt.
"No hesitation!" he tells reaper four as he prepares to flashbomb everyone, himself included.

Psychopaths are up.

All three on high tower will continue to try and cut his face off.
WS 25 +40 (all out attack + prone opponent) <65; rolled 55, 5, 89 - 2 hits
Damage: not enough
http://orokos.com/roll/635449

Murcurie is up!

Forgot about the psychopaths on Kanna. Whoops.

First dude will try and retake the grapple with assistance from the one remaining.
S 42; rolled 32/1 DoS
http://orokos.com/roll/635450

Heath, you need to beat that or you lose control again, but you will still have your photon readied.