"I'm Dubley. I have a brand new mark three and two powerful untested deathtubes."
"Oh? What happened on the mission?""That dancing singing robot shot a HEP at the ice right under our feet. Dug a huge tunnel down. Me and like 5 other guys fell. Mesk rescued most of them with his mark three, Stacy fell and broke his everything, and I struck my pick into the wall and hung on tight.
"Guns. Firearms. Boomsticks. The big one shoots lasers. This small one here shoots gravity, probably other things too. Got it from Nyars. ""I'm Dubley. I have a brand new mark three and two powerful untested deathtubes."
"Explain the deathtubes. What are they?"
"Guns. Firearms. Boomsticks. The big one shoots lasers. This small one here shoots gravity, probably other things too. Got it from Nyars. "
"You do not want to know about the rest of the mission.""I don't? Iiinteresting."
This small one here shoots gravity, probably other things too. Got it from Nyars. ""This is the point where I should question how you can shoot gravity in either sense. But given that I've been to a place that essentially eats light...."
"How big are the lasers? How effective is the gravity?""Very. To both."
"Usually we just wing it. Either that or pump enough firepower in it's direction as we can. Just a tip, follow a vet and you should make it out in with most of your bits attached.""Didn't a group of vets have a lot of problems on that mission to the arctic, though? I keep hearing people talk about it in a rather worried manner. Pardon my lack of manners, though. I am Han Thren, fencer and duellist. This tesla saber sounded like it could be fun, so I bought it. Right now, I just hope it's useful where we're going. Wherever that is."
Noticing the Chief, Sambo says:
"Let's hope the bodge job you did on the laser worked, hey circle-eyes? We might need a bit of extra firepower soonish."
"Usually we just wing it. Either that or pump enough firepower in it's direction as we can. Just a tip, follow a vet and you should make it out in with most of your bits attached."
Amps are dangerous. I heard people c'n turn into stars wit' 'em. I'm gonna stick t'my fists. Reliable. Won't punch me if I mess up.((Debatable- you can totally punch yourself. Just saying.))
Dern says
"So, what do people think about this, heh, 'eater of cold'? Alien? Alien robot? Unnatural phenomenon? Hoax? A trap? Worse?
Hobby Deckard
What exactly are we doing? I'm not too clear on that.
Right. Thing, catch, kill. Got it.What exactly are we doing? I'm not too clear on that.There's a thing. We kill it. Catch it. Whatever.
Gorat listens to the prattle of his teammates a bit. Some of it is all-too-accurate, but after his talk with Maurice, he wants to get across that it wasn't necessarily fated to happen.
"Yes, our objective is to try and secure whatever is the Eater of Cold, if there is one. Yes, we will meet with people who should point us in the right direction. Yes, chances are that at least one of us turns into a total utter moron on the mission. No, that is absolutely no excuse to turn into said moron. Listen to whoever turns out to get command for the mission. That's most likely Fey'ri. Again, don't touch anything you don't recognize even with your suit gloves, that's just inviting disaster."
Steve wanders into the Shuttle, hands clasped behind his back, and leans against the rear wall of the shuttle.
>Don't mind me, friends. We'll be leaving soon. My, there are a lot of us here today, aren't there? Hope that helps.
Jason leaves the rum bottle alone for now and absent minded puts a hand on his Shackle underneath the shroud.You have sudden hallucinatory visions of the past. Of gameshow stages covered in gore, of too bright lights shining in your eyes, of screaming and blurred faces of a laughing crowd. You feel pain and excitement and terror and cold shock of bloodloss. And, then, as the flash of memories and emotions not your own pass, you suddenly have a transient feeling of bodily skill. Your muscles move with automatic ease, and you miss the weight of some kind of weapon in your hand. You feel the desire to swing a blow and to duck and weave away from the return.
"Huh. Two token our former guide is the Eater, or has been killed by it."
Follow Steve.
((Some of us can't holster our weapons.))
"Will do, Steve."It appears to react about as much and as obviously as a normal patch of moss.
As we step out, brandish fistful of moss. Does it seem to react to the environment in any unusual way? Does it scream, perhaps?
In any case, move on quietly. Onward to mystery.
((That went well. I'm guessing I got a Dex and possibly Str boost. Quick, somebody gimme a Katana. A DMR one. :P))Nope, still a skeleton.
Jason hops out of the shuttle, looking around. He felt the urge to fight something, to bob and weave, and was somewhat disappointed when all he saw was desert.
Follow Steve. Also, see if I look any different under the shroud.
Follow the crowd. Look around for anything unusual.There's a skeleton in a porcelain mask following around right behind you.
"On a mission again!"You smack the sand with your pick and then carve a notch in it.
Strike theearthsand with my pick and carve a third notch into the handle.
Follow Steve and breathe in the fresh mission air.
((oh shit, I didn't roleplay entering the shuttle for reasons not related with the ER; what should I do, can we pretend Mir was in the shuttle all along, or entered just before the airlock doors closed?))Fine. Mostly because that mask won't come off.
Walk out of the shuttle and follow Steve.
Also, put off the putty mask.
Steve, c-could you elaborate on the "keep your mouth shut" part? Is it 'nly appliable when we are near some locals?Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Got it boss. I'll, uh, keep my hands to m'self fer now, too.It is hot. It is very hot. The sun is, thankfully, still somewhere down near the horizon, but it is already climbing into the upper 90's.
Follow Steve closely, keeping my arms at my side. While he can likely defend himself very well and doesn't actually -need- a body, might was well look like a surly genemodded bodyguard. well Intuit the feel of the town/village. Also, is this a warm desert or a cold one? Where's the sun in the sky? High and north, to the south and west?
It's basically like milno's armor, but heavier. It's got plate armor over most of the torso and arms, as well as head and upper legs. There's a layer of cloth armor under that and in all the joints. Lets see if I can find an image that looks like what I have in mind.((Some of us can't holster our weapons.))
<squadchat>
Those who can't afford to hide their armaments, give it to me or any other person capable of concealment. Given how there's an impending lingual barrier between us and anyone else not HMRC, I'd seriously advise to watch your thoughts before you act on it.
Just admire the sand, or the architecture of the city. Practice self-restraint, or turn off the speakers of your MK suits.
Inspect my Protectorate Armor. How does it look like, may I know which parts of the body it protects the most (if it's not shaped armor)--and is there anything to interface with?
get it, kill it, write it down. Got it boss. Cecil offers a half-salute and a nod of the head to Steve.You going soft in the head from the heat already? That ain't the boss. Boss is still back on the ship.
((There's one built in to your suit.))
C-can I borrow a datapad? To make notes on the E-Eater of Cold, I mean.Check your suit. Alternatively, there's a wristpad we all use for general communication.
Why does this sound so easy? We're in agreement that someone is at least hiding something, if not outright lying, right? We're being played. Gorat asks his ghosts.The ghosts don't respond. You ask again and get something like a burst of white noise that splatters across your frontal lobe and causes an involuntary shudder.
"How well secured is this host?"
Ask ghosts. Ask Steve.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Desert (click to show/hide)
Does the Eater have or imbue the host with any powers or abilities we should be aware of?
((Probably covered in the warnings, but can't hurt to be sure.))
"How do we kill it?"
How do we kill it?
"We will receive details now, or later? You will keep in radio contact, or follow us?"
Time for another installment of Ask Steve!
"What if it possesses one of us? Can it jump between hosts? Also, would it make it easier to transfer if I pulped it with my Shackle? I have a combination for that, and paste might be easier to manage than a conscious being." Jason asks.
Ask.
"Does it matter all that much if we cut the bloody thing's arms and legs off before we go hauling it anywhere? Even just it's hands and feet. Cauterize the wounds, fill it with tranqs, no more problem. Plus, be a damn sight lighter to carry as well. Yeah, and all that shit the others asked too, especially the powers and possession part. Don't want the freaky bastard doing anything once we lop it's arms off."
Sambo asks Steve enquiringly.
How does the method of infestation or infection occur? As in, from Eater to the host? What's the usual method of parasitism, and in what natural habitat does the Eater thrive?Remember to bold.
May we have details as to what this Eater is? And any ideas on its relation to the living creatures here?
Feyri was carrying quite the arsenal. She was partly annoyed that all those who chose to give up their weapons picked her...and only her, but her annoyance was tempered: it was a good start.
Oh, so that's what they were doing. It honestly didn't seem too bad to Tek. He had a sinking feeling though that he would be changing his mind on that before the end of the mission.Remember to bold.
Tek asks a few questions. "What degree of control does the host have over himself once infected by the Eater, if any? Does killing the Eater require the death of the host? Is the Eater a sapient creature, and will it attempt to appeal or bargain with us? What does the king anticipate our major difficulties will be in accomplishing this task?"
"Understood Sir, Are we able to knock the host unconscious or otherwise restrain them in some manner Sir?"
Ask, stand at attention, read instruction manual / warning label for PAWN
"You have got to be fucking kidding me. Seriously? Cannot be killed through normal means, must be taken to a special place, and there's a ritual involved. Good god damn, this sounds like a fucking movie plot. Goddamn ancient prophesies."
Start setting up mental barriers to prevent mindfuckery.
((@piecewise, can Tek use his universal translator to talk to the woman, if needed?))((Wouldn't it be a better idea to say that he just has a binary translator that makes him sound like Bane strapped to his face?))
"Sounds like just the thing. The more options we've got to keep her hot and the gribbly inside her asleep, the better. Are we talking like a thing that strips shit off the walls for a paint-job, or an actual gun here? What sort of battery life has it got?"
"I've got one, Cecil, but some people seem to prefer it doesn't get used unless it has to." Jason responds to punchy man."So do I, meaning that my preferences are informed by experience."
So far, what little evidence we have suggests that rather than a singular lifeform, we are dealing with a species of Eaters that can survive in vacuum for some time. Has that mysterious meteor been examined, or should we add that to our agenda? Has the meteor's trajectory and point of origin been determined? If so, have any celestial bodies been identified for examination based on this?
"That heat gun seems like the right tool for the job. Good thinking Vincent.""Heh, I didn't bring it for any other reason than I had it, my arsenal currently isn't that big"
"Looks like... an evil spirit. Yes. And more in the desert. But task is doable."
"Can we get some things from this place before leaving? Lamps, scrap, microwaves, other things? Are there limits to what we can get if yes?"
Ask Steve.
After getting a reply (hopefully), Chief turns to Sambo.
"You have infinite laser rifle. You can turn it down and make the beam wide, yes?"
EDIT: Also, I am wearing the MKI with the faceplate down. Can I still feel the heat?
Well, that seems to be not a scapegoat, at least. And apparently no lighteater, either.
"What about navigational aids? Most deserts aren't nice enough to provide landmarks, and from the sound of it, we're venturing into a particularly nasty one."
Ask Steve.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Desert (click to show/hide)
"Hrmmm. Think you could send me some translated versions of the myths and stories? Like you said, there could be some truth to them, and as time goes on, perhaps the more accurate ones will stand out as it develops, and we might be able to guess what comes next."
Continue with the Anti-Mindfuck barriers, and see if Steve can get me some translated myths about this thing, and a list of the most commonly mentioned powers or phenomenon related to it.
((@piecewise, can Tek use his universal translator to talk to the woman, if needed?))Considering you pulled that out of nowhere for the sake of translating your own speech, no. No getting yourself an implausible useful and powerful thing simply because your character talks funny.
So he speaks in weird muffled sometimes unintelligible British rather then binary?((@piecewise, can Tek use his universal translator to talk to the woman, if needed?))((Wouldn't it be a better idea to say that he just has a binary translator that makes him sound like Bane strapped to his face?))
It's got about 85% charge left."Sounds like just the thing. The more options we've got to keep her hot and the gribbly inside her asleep, the better. Are we talking like a thing that strips shit off the walls for a paint-job, or an actual gun here? What sort of battery life has it got?"
Vincent taps the backpack battery (if I don't have the backpack, I'll scrap this message and just ignore my previous message)
"Battery powered, but should be hot enough to have at least some impact, as it was one of the ones given to us in the arctic mission to dig with. I haven't recharged the battery, but I didn't use it too much, so it should be good" Vincent checks to see if he can find something to show how much charge is left on the heat gun battery backpack, and if he does so, notes how much is left
Gorat is unsure what to make of the heat gun. Is it or isn't it a good idea, he wonders, but decides to say nothing. Instead, he types away at his wristpad.>The meteor has not been examined, but it probably would have fragmented when it hit. As per the meteor's location...let me reference some data about when these stories came to be and where the planet was at the time. Here's something. The planet intercepts a cloud, something like the asteroid belt in the sol system though its pieces tend to be smaller. It intercepts it every 67 years, because of rotation difference, but if we extrapolate back it seems like it was about the right time for the old stories. And it just intercepted it recently as well. We may have to get someone out there to look into that; a probe is nothing else.Quote from: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos, to SteveSo far, what little evidence we have suggests that rather than a singular lifeform, we are dealing with a species of Eaters that can survive in vacuum for some time. Has that mysterious meteor been examined, or should we add that to our agenda? Has the meteor's trajectory and point of origin been determined? If so, have any celestial bodies been identified for examination based on this?
Ask Steve the above via wristpad.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Meeting the host (click to show/hide)
Does Vincent's heat gun look like it is compatible with the antiquated backpack generator?It looks like you could at least recharge the battery pack using it.
ready for movement of host to sacrificial pit>I don't know. You could try decapitating her and throwing the body into the pit. Though it might not work. We have no data; I can't tell you one way or another.Spoiler: Message for Steve (click to show/hide)
After waffling on to his teammates for a bit, Sambo thinks for a minute, then says to Steve:
"Seems to me that there could also be a bit of support given by old kingy-boy as well. I mean, he's king, so even if we look at this place as dirt-poor-bumfuck-nowhere, he's the one with all the money. Since we're doing this for him personal-like, maybe he could show a bit of graceful gratitude when we're done killing the poor bitch. I don't know. He might have a spare grav-tank that he's not using, or a whole armoury full of weapons, or maybe just all the booze we can drink on our way out of here. Does he have a harem? Read a book once that said desert-kings and tons of sluts always go together."
Cecil stares at Mir for a hard second.
All right.
Cecil, using one of his "normal" arms, grabs Mir's nose and gives it a good solid tug.
"Alright, take care I'm going shopping. You have my number give me a ring if you need me."
Go find a market to barter at. Looking specifically for a generator.
>Does anyone have a mono-razor or some sort of cutting implement I can borrow?
"Well, check one and two. Jumping between shadows is worrying. Most myths surrounding things like this have them be the shady manipulator type, and I'm not gonna believe for a second it can't mind control us. It being able to focus the heat is also worrying. And as for the really weird shit, I think assuming it can until we can prove it can't is a good idea, because honestly, I can jump dimensions and kill things with my mind, and I'm just human. Who knows what this can do. And I think he wants to teach someone a lesson."((for some reason I just read that as fuck-flips))
Continue with the mental barriers, and ask for a rough estimate of how long it will take to arrive at the pit, accounting for one or two days worth of fuckups.
then what proof is there that this thing exists, if there is no data could there then be no thing? How do we now that they are not simply using this as some excuse. Also if her feet must not leave the earth then how do we throw her into the pit?
This seems off somehow. Also If I am to attempt to decapitate her I will need a sharp enough blade can you provide me with one?
The reaction is about as you would expect: Cecil gets yanked forward and thats about it.Cecil stares at Mir for a hard second.
All right.
Cecil, using one of his "normal" arms, grabs Mir's nose and gives it a good solid tug.
Looks like I got missed.
"Hm. How high is sun? What is... the season, yes? Is the planet strange in its rotations, or is it not strange in any way?"The length of day right now is about 13 hours of daylight to 12 of night. The planet has a rather odd elliptical orbit, much more exaggerated then earth; which results in a much of their extremely hot summers. We're here around fall or early winter though. But their planet doesn't have much of a tilt in it's axis so...eh. Only one sun, yeah.
Ask Steve. Does he have handy astronomical data from which we can estimate the length of daylight hours versus the night? He should, since he's all up in this space shit usually. What's the length of a full daily rotation? Is there only one sun? Any other peculiar catches that need to be mentioned there? And if it's basically Earthlike, then, once again, how much daylight do we get?
Also, any markets nearby?
"How many groups will be trying to kill us or at least stop us?"
Ask.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Meeting the host (click to show/hide)
"Alright, take care I'm going shopping. You have my number give me a ring if you need me."About the only thing you're able to find is a rather large generator which is powered by gasoline. It seems powerful, but also quite heavy. You'd have to trade something to the man that had equal worth.
Go find a market to barter at. Looking specifically for a generator.
Electric lights or oil lamps?"Alright, take care I'm going shopping. You have my number give me a ring if you need me."
Go find a market to barter at. Looking specifically for a generator.
Follow this man, but keep an eye out for an iron monger or something of that nature - person that sells basic tools, probably someone who sells lights as well.
"Well, check one and two. Jumping between shadows is worrying. Most myths surrounding things like this have them be the shady manipulator type, and I'm not gonna believe for a second it can't mind control us. It being able to focus the heat is also worrying. And as for the really weird shit, I think assuming it can until we can prove it can't is a good idea, because honestly, I can jump dimensions and kill things with my mind, and I'm just human. Who knows what this can do. And I think he wants to teach someone a lesson."
Continue with the mental barriers, and ask for a rough estimate of how long it will take to arrive at the pit, accounting for one or two days worth of fuckups.
Steve takes the torch.
>Does anyone have a mono-razor or some sort of cutting implement I can borrow?
I've got a cutting torch, if you want to borrow it.
Err... W-why are you asking?
((Nice to see everyone so willing to assist our overlord in cutting a fellow teammate!))She isn't straining, making noise or even moving. She's breathing, quite quickly and shallowly, but thats about it.
"Tek understands. Stay away from shadows if we do not want to become the Eater's next host. Watch out for shades of the dead (unlikely) and anything triggered by proximity to shards (probable). Do not listen to its tricks, no matter how persuasive they may seem. Keep it hot, especially at night and the time of long shadows. Tek is ready."
Tek observes the woman. Is she straining against her restraints? Making any noise? And does she appear to be in pain?
((Sorry about the edits. I'm working on cutting down, I swear.))
"Well, check one and two. Jumping between shadows is worrying. Most myths surrounding things like this have them be the shady manipulator type, and I'm not gonna believe for a second it can't mind control us. It being able to focus the heat is also worrying. And as for the really weird shit, I think assuming it can until we can prove it can't is a good idea, because honestly, I can jump dimensions and kill things with my mind, and I'm just human. Who knows what this can do. And I think he wants to teach someone a lesson."((for some reason I just read that as fuck-flips))
Continue with the mental barriers, and ask for a rough estimate of how long it will take to arrive at the pit, accounting for one or two days worth of fuckups.
reply to steveQuote from: @Stevethen what proof is there that this thing exists, if there is no data could there then be no thing? How do we now that they are not simply using this as some excuse. Also if her feet must not leave the earth then how do we throw her into the pit?
This seems off somehow. Also If I am to attempt to decapitate her I will need a sharp enough blade can you provide me with one?
"Don't worry Steve. I was just asking, for ummm, like, background information. Yeah... Like, what sort of bloke is he? Yeah, fuck. That's it! Didn't mean we should all go drinking and whoring and driving around in big-fuck-arse-flying-tanks after we've offed this skank at all..... I've really learnt my lesson on that one, honest! You'd just be needing it for the ropes, right?"Steve glances at you for a moment but then walks over to the woman and begins using the cutting torch to sever the ropes binding the woman to the ground.
Sambo readies himself for close combat, just in case. He doesn't turn on his kinetic amp yet though.
Speaking to Vincent and the Chief momentarily, he says:
"If you can work out the connections and shit, charge the battery for your heat thingy all you want during the day. The rifle don't do shit without it though, so I'll be wanting it back as soon as your done."
"Circle eyes, you've pretty much fucked that Gauss Rifle, so use it for trading and that if you need to. Get a heap of firewood or something. Heaps of water wouldn't go far wrong either."
((Probably should update my wiki page some time. 20 gauss rifle rounds, but no broken gauss rifle (Chief's already). I'll see if my new phone spazzes out. If it does, could a wiki-magician fix it soon?))
((Thank-you super amazing magical wiki gnome. I don't know how ER would work without you :) ))
I do not have a laser so do I just borrow one or what? also If I must borrow one can I have a "I have special permission from steve so cooperate" slip for an investigation into this?
Good to go!
((We have water, right?))
((Judging from M6, that sort of thing's abstracted away a bit.))((It's best to not think about the tubes. That's why most ARMy men try to ignore them and pretend they aren't there.
Good to go!
((We have water, right?))
((I'm reasonably sure the suits recycle water for you. It has... tubes. For collection. Judging from M6, that sort of thing's abstracted away a bit.))
Sambo aims his laser rifle at the woman from a position that won't involve friendly-fire and gets ready to move along with the squad. He does his best to keep a steady mind while doing so, considering that someone will probably be in the firing lane of his slow cooker/laser rifle.((I'm assuming Vincent has the same suit generator as Sambo? So yes, he is using his own? If he doesn't I'll retract my charging action))
"Right, so who's going to do the dragging? I'm not letting this bitch out of my sights for a moment. I've got this thing set on low for now, so it'll probably just tickle a bit if it hits us in our suits. But if I say move, then fucken do it! Or go home without legs and shit."
((Just to be sure, Vincent is using his backpack isn't he? Not Sambo's. Because Sambo is using his right now. Vincent can do a recharge when we've actually gotten moving.))
"Right, so three days if all goes well, which it probably won't. Hrmmm. Well, I still have questions, but the answers to those are gonna be "hell if I know", and "your guess is as good as mine". So, onto the next bit of business. Right you lot, who do ya think should be in charge, now that Steve here is buggering off back to the relative safety of the Sword?"
Continue metal barriers, and stand in a position slightly behind and to the left of the host, and keep an eye on them.
"Democracy? Honestly, I don't know most of you well enough to trust you with such a concept. The freshly exhumed can be... less than rational."
((My generator is a seperate thing from my MkI suit. But whatever. You probably can charge a battery really, really slowly off a suit generator.))((Ah. Kk. I've modified my post to remove the plug in part then.))
"I dont particularly care who is leading us as long as they are reasonable and dont lead us to our deaths, but does anyone have any spare batteries that might be compatible with this heat gun? It has a decent charge for now, but if we are going to be a couple days, it could probably use more juice"
"I'm running a battery-weapon myself, too. Hope it doesn't run out. I'm not excactly good with guns. Personally, I say that Morul over there leads for now. Considering... something... happened to Feyri. Not really sure what's going on over there.""I found a generator yous could use."
"If we go that way, I think Fyeri wins, but she seems out of it, so it'd either be me or Chin. Chin, you want to lead this rag tag group of potential disasters, or shall I? Of course, Steve is the big boss, but he's gonna be busy."
((Ps, you don't have a wiki page for Tek. Which means you're an occult abomination or a figment of Sambo's imagination. Either way, I am hereby allowed to shoot you whenever I please. No paperwork to fix up afterwards or anything.....))
Kai switches into University-Research-Mode, and starts taking notes on the women's behaviour, actions, appearance, time, ambient temperature etc.The woman's behavior is basically passive. She moves when Steve tugs one of the ropes but otherwise stays still. Her appearance is the same as before, nothing about it except her oddly colored skin and the fact that the ground under her feet is singed by her presence is really that odd. The ambient temp, according to external sensors, is around 120, though that goes down to somewhere around 85 if you get away from her.
Vincentplugs the battery pack into his backpack generator andgets ready to move out"I'm happy I decided to bring a heat gun along, but disappointed that puts me closest to the creature known for possessing others" Vincent then frowns "If we get infected, are we going to have to be killed in the same way?"
"I'm a guy from space, in an advanced exoskeleton, and carrying a huge laser cannon. Do I really need to barter you for this?"You rob a man on the street in broad daylight. Our conquering space heroes.
Take that generator and fly away. I guess give him some bottles of HMRC standard first out of pity.
((A great big generator is probably expensive around here. Try to avoid lynch mobs, they make such a mess.))Right now it's about 125 right behind her and it drops off pretty quickly as you pull away. You assume her skin temp is even higher, but you don't really want to go jam your suit thermometer right up against her.
Dern holds position behind the Captive, taking temperature readings at regular distances from her skin, and charting them on his wristpad. Assume this to be always happening unless I say otherwise.
'We ready to, heh, roll?'
Sambo aims his laser rifle at the woman from a position that won't involve friendly-fire and gets ready to move along with the squad. He does his best to keep a steady mind while doing so, considering that someone will probably be in the firing lane of his slow cooker/laser rifle.You point your laser at the woman and wait to move out.
"Right, so who's going to do the dragging? I'm not letting this bitch out of my sights for a moment. I've got this thing set on low for now, so it'll probably just tickle a bit if it hits us in our suits. But if I say move, then fucken do it! Or go home without legs and shit."
((Just to be sure, Vincent is using his backpack isn't he? Not Sambo's. Because Sambo is using his right now. Vincent can do a recharge when we've actually gotten moving.))
I don't think I'd be very good at that whole "Leadership" deal. Just let me know who's the new Boss. Cecil says aloud to nobody in particular. He looks around trying to find some way to keep cool in this weather.Staying a good distance away from ms.easybake demon seems the best.
Find a way to stay comfortable in this heat
"We shouldn't have to drag her (yet, at least) as she supposedly follows instructions, I think. Last questions, Steve: how do you say stop, follow, forward, and back in this language?."Steve gives you the words. We can assume everyone knows these simple instructions now.
Last questions.
Good to go!Yeah, you have water.
((We have water, right?))
>Other people have lasers He says, lifting the cutting torch aloft as an example, Just get one from them.Quote from: @SteveI do not have a laser so do I just borrow one or what? also If I must borrow one can I have a "I have special permission from steve so cooperate" slip for an investigation into this?
ask steve
Actually, let's try something a little different as follows:(Hint: The crystal solution only crystallizes when subjected to electrical current. )
1. Get my Testament prototype from Feyri.
2. Trade some of my gauss rifle parts for a glass receptacle and glass stirring thingy.
3. Drain some of the crystal solution from the Testament (about 30-60 rounds' worth) into the receptacle.
4. Stir lightly to crystallize as much of it as prettily as possible.
Use resulting pretty crystals as currency to purchase small cart, electric lights, metal sticks, gasoline generator, in that order of priority.
Then move out with the rest.
How cold does the desert get at night?Relatively chilly. Anywhere between 70 and 40 degrees.
(Hint: The crystal solution only crystallizes when subjected to electrical current. )
I can borrow it the problem is that there are issues of getting teammates to cooperate and to do so quickly can you at least give me direct orders to investigate?ask
Gorat turns towards Konrad and asks "Is something wrong, Konrad?"
((Gorat has a laser rifle that Konrad can borrow, at least. Of course, the last time someone borrowed a laser rifle from Gorat, they were run over by a monster. Twice.))Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Meeting the host (click to show/hide)
"Look. Can we just drag this person over there, put her in this pit, and kill her and get this over with? I don't want to spend more time around the heat demon than I have to."Yeah, I'm with this. Let's get on with it.
Yeah, thats gonna need rolls so...(Hint: The crystal solution only crystallizes when subjected to electrical current. )
Execute plan as before, but utilize suit's power supply as a source of electric current to obtain crystals as step 4 instead of what's already there. Use about five rounds' worth of crystal solution for initial batch of crystals, then move on to more if necessary.
Also, be very careful in performing previous steps. That is to say, if any of the steps involve Aux rolls, step off and abandon the plan, and trade with moss and rifle parts instead.
Then move out.
"Very well then. It seems that our task will begin in earnest shortly. Tek reminds all to stay out of the shadows and to be prepared for trickery on the part of our captive."You stay well back from the lady but keep with the group.
Tek, making sure to stay far away from all shadows, follows the host from behind while keeping a "safe" distance from her. As the group begins to follow its guide, he keeps a close eye on their surroundings while focusing his will ((dynamic will bonus)).
As Steve asks who'll take the rope/leash, Gorat considers who he would want with that duty. There aren't many choices, he finds. "That'll be me", he announces, "since I should be able to use my weapons and keep the rope if it should become necessary."You take the rope and notice, grimly, that it's smoldering and smoking a little. You're sure thats fine. Yeah.
Take the rope.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Meeting the host (click to show/hide)
((Dern got a nice shiny new seperate digital thermometer from the AM, specifically so he could do the following/previous/ whatever. Also, is that 40-70*f or 40-70*C? Important difference.))You find a long stick to turn into a high tech thermo-probe instrument via the addition of duct tape and a thermo-probe. The temp very near her is up around 180-200.
Get a broom handle or similar and duct tape the thermometer probe to the end. Use this to take readings without going near enough for accidental contact/slow roasting. Don't poke her with it.
I'm glad all those hours spent learning how to make notes is coming in handy.Notes about? Writing shit down is like the one action you can actually personally do in this format, what do ya want to write down?
Continue making notes. Notes! Notes Everywhere! For !!Science!!
Also follow the group.
Well damn, guess I gotta stick it out. I'm not taking that fucking leash.You hang off to the right, staying close enough to be very uncomfortable, but not dead, ready to deliver a well placed haymaker, should the situation call for it.
Stay to the right of the woman in case I need to deliver a super right hook to her face if/when she goes crazy. And keep far enough away that I might stay a little cooler than boiling.
Get a feel for the situation and keep an eye out for ne'er-do-wells that aren't us.
So, the generator. Enough to power some cutting lasers? I'm trying to make a gatling laser cannon.The generator is about powerful enough to power a single laser rifle. It's a big electric generator sold in the desert boonies. It's not exactly high power and top tier tech.
Meet up with the main group, set the raduga to wide angle microwave.
Take off balaclava and put away, put visor up on suit, and follow closely enough to the woman that should it get cold Vincent can quickly heat her up with the heat gun, but no no closer than that "Don't get infected, got it..."You follow along behind the woman with your heat gun set to "Toasty" and trained on the area between her shoulder blades.
Follow the group towards the edges, keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary/the host escaping.Man, everyone is following the group on the edges. This group has no center! It's all edges!
Sambo mutters under his breath, but still over open coms:Not even edges, this group is all back edge.
"Fuck! I didn't even like that cunt. Well, rope-boy's safe for now."
Sambo follows along with the group, pointing his "toast-setting'd" laser rifle at the captive woman from 30' away, trying to keep people out of the firing line if he has to turn it up (but not Tek. He's fine with it).
> Take her.Too late, Hot plate. But we'll have you stay up near the front with Gorat.
((Reading up x_x))
Quote from: @SteveI can borrow it the problem is that there are issues of getting teammates to cooperate and to do so quickly can you at least give me direct orders to investigate?ask
"Hrmm. Fine by me. I'll try not to sit on it."
Follow the group and keep a close eye out for anything that looks like trouble.
Follow others whenever we finally get this show on the loosely defined path we are supposed to follow to the pit. Intuitively scan for danger.You feel that there is something wrong here. All signs point to bad days.
"Which is where our amps will come in, if we do decide to try and save her. We can use them at a distance. They are the best option not only to kill her from a save distance, but to kill her in a revivable way.Attempting to talk to the ghosts nets you another painful blast of mental static.
Test. Are the ghosts back?Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Close to setting out (click to show/hide)
Yeah, thats gonna need rolls so...
Wait, what were we even trading for?
Set up for the night?"We should be able to make some more distance before the sun goes down. Perhaps not to the next pillar, but I doubt it makes any difference. The earlier we are at that pit, the better."
I'm glad all those hours spent learning how to make notes is coming in handy.Notes about? Writing shit down is like the one action you can actually personally do in this format, what do ya want to write down?
Continue making notes. Notes! Notes Everywhere! For !!Science!!
Also follow the group.
"Idea - flesh people stay back and rest for some time when needed, some robots remain to guard, some robots continue on path, check areas we will go to. So we can tell if landscape changes as we pass with Eater of Cold."
Over the suit comms Vincent replies "I'm most definitely against forcing the guide to do more than was asked of him"Seconded. Let the poor bastard go.
Mission 17...
Now, the reason we care about this planet is, like most Wayfarer societies, they value knowledge. In particular, they've got highly advanced Biosystems and warfare facilities and scientists. The UWM runs several Synthflesh production plants there, and there are research stations for both bioweapons and other, similar research. Their actions are, however, highly restricted by the UWM and getting them on our side would not only free them to do what I'm sure they want to do already, but it would let us benefit from that research.
"Idea - flesh people stay back and rest for some time when needed, some robots remain to guard, some robots continue on path, check areas we will go to. So we can tell if landscape changes as we pass with Eater of Cold.""We should keep the group together as well as possible. We could use a vanguard tomorrow, but for the rest of today and each night, the whole team should be close together."
We keep going for now.We should stop for the day, unless you fancy getting turned around in the middle of a featureless desert. We should move when there is light, and rest when there is not.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; First Pillar (click to show/hide)
Look at the guide, then touch the pillar with one finger.Nothing happens. It's just a stone pillar.
It seems to get hotter that way, though not by a whole lot. Apparently this lady is pretty toasty.Yeah, thats gonna need rolls so...
Wait, what were we even trading for?
((Never mind.))
Since the suit is not really isolating heat from the woman, try to lift the faceplate, open up the suit's face. Does the level of heat change in any way?
In any case, have a bluesmoke. Have several, and listen to the sounds of the night, seeking insight on matters all around me, including the Eater of Cold if I find the time to think about it.
Identify laws of common decency that we've violated so far, follow group/help set up if that is the group's choice.Mostly dress codes.
Gorat radio's Steve. "Sir, do you know the background of the attack back in town?"
Ask.Set up for the night?"We should be able to make some more distance before the sun goes down. Perhaps not to the next pillar, but I doubt it makes any difference. The earlier we are at that pit, the better."Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Close to setting out (click to show/hide)
Examine closely the designs on the pole. Make sure to capture them using the camera on my suit, if they seem interesting. Observe the woman. Is her skin any redder? Her behavior any different? Continue moving with the group.The stone pillar is covered in fairly generic geometric designs: lines of triangles, circles, intersecting diamonds, and the like. Nothing which strikes you as terribly important.
A whole lot of nothing for now.I'm glad all those hours spent learning how to make notes is coming in handy.Notes about? Writing shit down is like the one action you can actually personally do in this format, what do ya want to write down?
Continue making notes. Notes! Notes Everywhere! For !!Science!!
Also follow the group.
Basically, making notes on the woman, temperature, time etc. every ten minutes.
You called it a big and powerful generator. Liar.It's big and powerful for them.
Be near the center of the group. Watch for trouble and charge a dynamic con bonus.
(("I performed a blatant act of thievery, and all I got out of it was a free bullet to the faceplate."))
Follow group, stay near the fringe and out of line-of-fire. Continue intuitively scanning for trouble. Do signs point to bad nights too?Signs beyond the fact that this thing wants cold, lives in shadows and that it's about to get colder and darker?
Buck the trend by hanging around near the middle of the group. Check if the Captive's near-body temperature has changed. Assuming that nothing changed, wave my magic wand of thermomising around to record ambient temperature, how hot the sand is on the surface compared to below, etc.Everything is holding steady for the moment. Ambient temp is dropping, away from the lady at least, and the sand under the surface is cooler.
((Not hugely interested OOC in specifics for the non-host readings, in case my science is annoying you.))
'We gonna park here like, heh, sand hogs, or move onto them other ruins up there?
"I reckon we keep moving. Probably a good place to set up a trap, these pillar things. Wonder if the posse back at town is just tooling up to kill us when we get here? Actually, other than pointing people in the general direction of the pit 'o ghastly beheadings, what the fuck are these for? Not like what we're doing is a full-time job requiring pillar craftsmen.Steve speaks, then the guide speaks, then steve speaks, and back and forth for a minute or two.
Hey Steve! Can you do some translation work for me? Chuck a message through me suit speakers, like, in their lingo, then translate whatever gibberish this guide-bloke garbles back? Ask him what the fuck the pillars and ruins are for and where they lead to? What ruined 'em? Also, how many of the damn things are there between here and the hole? Where's the damn hole in relation to 'em? But nicely, like."
Sambo walks over to the guide, motions for him to listen, and lets Steve do the talking. He also examines the pillar a bit, trying to look interested while in a space suit, but really just keeping his laser rifle ready in case of any reaction by the woman to this information. With pillar based cover.
If this is a long stop-over, then keep an eye on the woman, but keep scanning everywhere for signs of trouble. Mostly the horizon and the ruins though.
"Seeing as that is on the horizon that is approximately seven miles... Ill go and check it out"You start walking. It is uneventful, but considering the speed the rest of the group is going you might be walking for a while.
walk towards the next pillar
"Indeed. So, the guide leaves now, unhindered. In fact... Steve, is there anything you can do to make sure this poor man gets home unharmed?"
Ask Steve."Idea - flesh people stay back and rest for some time when needed, some robots remain to guard, some robots continue on path, check areas we will go to. So we can tell if landscape changes as we pass with Eater of Cold.""We should keep the group together as well as possible. We could use a vanguard tomorrow, but for the rest of today and each night, the whole team should be close together."Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; First Pillar (click to show/hide)
Guardinate the prisoner. Maintain vigil. Discern motives of rocks.
"If only everyone had that level of restraint, things would be much easier."
We keep going for now.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; First Pillar (click to show/hide)
Set Raduga to wide angle microwave, low power (maybe around 10% or so), and keep her warm.((10% power on the Raduga is almost certainly NOT "warm", even on widest diffusion. It's a Gaiss cannon equivalent (but lasers) more or less. Also, why not plain ol' infrared heat ray?))
((Edited. Thanks.))Set Raduga to wide angle microwave, low power (maybe around 10% or so), and keep her warm.((10% power on the Raduga is almost certainly NOT "warm", even on widest diffusion. It's a Gaiss cannon equivalent (but lasers) more or less. Also, why not plain ol' infrared heat ray?))
"Right, I'll join you on watch Chin. Anyone with cameyes, set them to thermal. It's gonna get cold, and anything hot is gonna be trouble. Just remember to flick back once in a while. Assuming that everything here gives off body heat is going to get us into trouble. Hrmmm. Steve, how hot does it get inside a Mk1 when the heat exchange is broken, or disabled?"((Already answered by PW at some point; without the heat exchange you will boil yourself to death with your own body heat))
Keep an eye out around the camp, and beyond.
((Already answered by PW at some point; without the heat exchange you will boil yourself to death with your own body heat))
((I think it was mentioned before, but no one was willing to give up their suit...))((Also it could kill her as she is still vunerable to damage as the sunburn shows so it may not be the best idea))
Help build fires (on different sides of the Eater, so that they cast less/weaker/shadows). Also seperate our motley crew into 2 about-equal watch shifts, if there are no objections. Finally, try to determine how much fuel we have for the fires.((Building them on different sides will just add more directions of shadow. I would suggest building a semi-circle of fires with the fire side towards us, so that more shadows are going away from us.))
((Try drawing that and you'll see the problem. There's a line of shadow going from her to you if you put them that way.))Help build fires (on different sides of the Eater, so that they cast less/weaker/shadows). Also seperate our motley crew into 2 about-equal watch shifts, if there are no objections. Finally, try to determine how much fuel we have for the fires.((Building them on different sides will just add more directions of shadow. I would suggest building a semi-circle of fires with the fire side towards us, so that more shadows are going away from us.))
((Hm. Realistically, any fire casts a shadow every which way. So maybe just try to keep her warm?))((Try drawing that and you'll see the problem. There's a line of shadow going from her to you if you put them that way.))Help build fires (on different sides of the Eater, so that they cast less/weaker/shadows). Also seperate our motley crew into 2 about-equal watch shifts, if there are no objections. Finally, try to determine how much fuel we have for the fires.((Building them on different sides will just add more directions of shadow. I would suggest building a semi-circle of fires with the fire side towards us, so that more shadows are going away from us.))
The power of teamwork will save us((We're all going to die))
((Realistically, the sun casts thousands of tiny shadows in the desert during the afternoon off every ripple in the sand. We've been fine so far. Hopefully our suit lights will at least make them not deep/dark shadows, and she'll be kept hot by the fire and lasers. The power of teamwork will save us. And love probably. Hopefully.))((Yeah, that's the basic idea. We can't fully eliminate the shadows, but we need to minimize them. And can't it only (to our knowledge) possess people that are connected by a shadow or something like that?))
((I just don't know that we need 4 watches, really. Wouldn't 2 work fine, with about a 50/50 split of our people?))((3 watches, not four. Four is likely overkill, yes, but two watches means everyone gets much less sleep, at currently 12 hours of night (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=144088.msg5718872;topicseen#msg5718872). It's six hours of sleep versus eight.))
((I thought vincent was on first watch?))((Looks like it. I didn't register it since you didn't say watch in your post.))
Alright, third watch. For now, charge a dynamic sleep bonus.
((Hey somehow I got forgotten yay.))((Damnit. Sorry.))
Tie down the host. Take the third watch. Keep charging that will bonus.((No touching the host, please.))
"Okay. Triple check your heat guns and what else you have. It's time to supply the host with heat. Three night watch shifts of four, at least. I'm going for first watch."We'll assume you have some of those chemical logs. Things burn well for a few hours. Don't breathe in the smoke.
Check. Do we have fuel for fires, as Gorat has asked previously?Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; First Pillar (click to show/hide)
Set Raduga to wide angle infrared, low power (maybe around 2% or so), and keep her warm.
"Let's go with the fires for now, though if we could have a heat gun covering her while we build them, that would be nice. I'd rather not risk triggering any defensive responses until we're at the pit."You offer your aid in lighting a highly flammable substance on fire.
Assist with fire-building.
Well, that train of thought led to a load of bollocks.You find it surprisingly hard to will heat out of existence. Clearly you need to try sitting on a hot stove and ignoring that. Work your way up to alien fire elementals.
Try to consciously resist the heat with an effort of will. Shouldn't be difficult if such an effort is applicable, given my lack of attachment to modes of inefficient thought.
Also, try turning on the suit lights and pointing them at the Eater of Cold at all times.
"Right, I'll join you on watch Chin. Anyone with cameyes, set them to thermal. It's gonna get cold, and anything hot is gonna be trouble. Just remember to flick back once in a while. Assuming that everything here gives off body heat is going to get us into trouble. Hrmmm. Steve, how hot does it get inside a Mk1 when the heat exchange is broken, or disabled?"
Keep an eye out around the camp, and beyond.
Cecil eyeballs the rocks. The evil, evil rocks. They look like they need a good punching.You left the rocks back several miles ago. And they don't seem to be stalking you in the dark. You don't think.
What kind of evils do these rocks want to commit? Does it feel like they want to hinder us?
"I'll take first watch as well. The next bugger can borrow my laser and backpack to keep her warm afterwards. It's got a dial on it. Don't turn the damn thing up unless you want to punch a hole in her. I've got plenty of stuff that'll do that anyway.Ever play Alan Wake? I'm having flashbacks.
Temp-boy. Keep singing out those readings so we know if she's getting too cold."
Sambo turns on his suit lights and stands on the other side of the woman from the Chief, so no shadows are cast (or at least, his lights will nullify the shadows cast by her's). He stands out of the way of the raduga beam though. He keeps his laser rifle pointed at the woman, but doesn't fire it yet.
Dunno if you've got something like that that can run autonomously the entire night. We'll see if someone gives it to you."Right, I'll join you on watch Chin. Anyone with cameyes, set them to thermal. It's gonna get cold, and anything hot is gonna be trouble. Just remember to flick back once in a while. Assuming that everything here gives off body heat is going to get us into trouble. Hrmmm. Steve, how hot does it get inside a Mk1 when the heat exchange is broken, or disabled?"((Already answered by PW at some point; without the heat exchange you will boil yourself to death with your own body heat))
Keep an eye out around the camp, and beyond.
"If anyone has some sort of laser heating device that can run for the whole night I can just lock my joins on the exoskeleton and sleep in it"
if given such a device lay down in relatively comfortable position and lock joints so that the woman is heated then go to sleep, otherwise keep watch as required
Help build fires (on different sides of the Eater, so that they cast less/weaker/shadows). Also seperate our motley crew into 2 about-equal watch shifts, if there are no objections. Finally, try to determine how much fuel we have for the fires.We're up to 3 people for lighting a fire.
"I'll take second watch too."Tons of them. But nothing you can do anything about.
Volunteer for second watch. See if I can intuitively sense any danger or bad ideas.
Set Raduga to wide angle infrared, low power (maybe around 2% or so), and keep her warm.You miss.
"Yeah, I was about to start heating her anyways" Turn on gun, procede to heat eater of coldYou miss too.
Goddamnit, she's calling the rocks isn't she? Cecil thinks to himself.((I'm a bit too far away to fly there.))
Guys what's she doing?
If she's still hot then go wake up someone who can deal with it. Like maybe battle-suit-guy over there.
Otherwise she needs a good sockin'
((So... whose the guy with the cam-eyes on watch right now? Since we didn't really say... I'll just assume it was temporarily given to Tek unless someone speaks up, in which case I'll edit this.))
"HEY! We've got incoming. Lots of thermal signals converging on this position." Tek opened a private comm to Dubley, since he was already up. "Dubley, can you use your Raduga to heat her up and turn up the power? Maybe she wasn't hot enough? That noise seems to be attracting something."
Tek prods everyone to get them up. He turns his light amps to maximum.
((So... whose the guy with the cam-eyes on watch right now? Since we didn't really say... I'll just assume it was temporarily given to Tek unless someone speaks up, in which case I'll edit this.))
"HEY! We've got incoming. Lots of thermal signals converging on this position." Tek opened a private comm to Dubley, since he was already up. "Dubley, can you use your Raduga to heat her up and turn up the power? Maybe she wasn't hot enough? That noise seems to be attracting something."
Tek prods everyone to get them up. He turns his light amps to maximum.
((No it's kisame.))
((Can't believe that a few lights on the horizon was all it took to get a "kill now" reaction out of everyone. She's probably screaming because we didn't laser her. The lights may not be connected to that at all. It gets really damn cold in the desert just before dawn.((ARM members are like savant Sods. They're shit at doing complex subtle work, talking, and being good at anything besides killing people. They're also extremely suspicious of each other and liable to kill one another just by standing around doing nothing. Present an outside threat to them, however, and they'll show you the meaning of the words 'self-preservation by mass overkill'.))
Anyway, I guess group killing npc's is teamwork of a kind. Don't worry about the alien doomsday entity that we're tasked with keeping hot and in the light. Shoot the other lights! They're scary! Or shoot her in the face! Do both!
We're doomed.))
((xD oh god epic fail)) Wake up? Shoot my (heat) gun in her face?You roll out of bed -bed in this case being a comfy pile of sand- and start blow drying the lady right in the face. She seems nonplussed by your actions, squirming slightly but thats it.
Jason wakes up at the noise. Dammit, he just got to sleep, what the hell."Well, lasers suck. I didnt ask for an eldritch alarm clock and I don't like that noise. Might be time to use the amps, see if it'll shut it up."Preparing bonus, staying in the light.
Prepare dynamic exotic bonus, stay in the light.
Goddamnit, she's calling the rocks isn't she? Cecil thinks to himself.
Guys what's she doing?
If she's still hot then go wake up someone who can deal with it. Like maybe battle-suit-guy over there.
Otherwise she needs a good sockin'
"HEY! Weird stuff's happening! Everybody up! Dubley, anyone else, heat her up if you can! Amps last resort!"You start running around, kicking everyone and screaming for them to wake up, while also raising your light amps to the point you can see comfortably. It's a bit hard, what with the lights shining on the prisoner, but you're good as long as you don't look at em.
Tek prods everyone to get them up. He turns his light amps tomaximumhigh enough to be able to see comfortably.
Awaken from horrendous noise. Prepare Gauss Sniper Rifle.Charging con bonus. Little do you know you're aiming in the wrong direction.
Lie down, and be ready to shoot something terrible as soon as it comes into long range. Charge that Con bonus!
Go from dreaming about nuclear fuel rods to awake with a jump up. Grab thermometer, see if Captive heat is changed, drop thermometer, grab cutting laser and point out into desert.You get as far as testing the temp of the woman, which has dropped somewhat. Then the fun begins.
"The hell is that noise! Is she calling for support?"
"MORE HEAT!"You throw another chemical log on the first, still smoldering one. It lights up in a burst of greenish flame that paints the chaotic scene in bizarre, dancing shadows.
build up chemical log fire with another log and have it closer to the woman
(Uhhhh, when did I get cam-eyes? If they magically appeared, I'm fine with that, but I don't recall ever buying any.))You turn on your head lamps and kneel in the sand, waiting for a target to present itself.
"What are you idiots doing! It's too late to heat her up! Get ready to repel an assault! Lamps to full, pick your targets well, and fire at will!"
Stand to repel the assault! Head lamps on, make sure I have a solid target, and fire at will. Try not to drain the mag in one go.
If I'm awake: Charge a dynamic Exo bonusExo charged!
Else: Wake up.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Ambush Night (click to show/hide)
"Yes sirs.Nothing to shoot quite yet. Give it a minute.
EAT LASERS EAT GRAVITY DIE FUCKERS PRAISE INGRAM!"
Raduga maximum power. Number gun, #75. Dual wield and shoot all the bad guys. Or aim carefully if there are no bad guys to shoot yet.
Keep playing this song because it seems appropriate. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOErZuzZpS8)
Tek was pretty sure he was going to die here. Oh well.Preparing.
Prepare to use MFM on enemies.
People with guns, Sambo could handle. Screaming unholy monstrosities in female form, there was not a chance in hell. It was worse than his last wife.You get as far as heating her just a bit before the fun starts.
Sambo wakes up, faces towards the woman, drops to one knee and fires his laser (on lowest power, wide dispersion) at the woman, running the beam up and down her in moderate bursts to even out the temperature. He keeps his suit lights pointed at her to try and lessen any shadows as well.
"You lot kill the shit out of whoever's coming. Fucks me, they might be friendly, but we're fucking not! I'll keep this bitch toasty while you're doing that."
"Anyone that needs a gun, grab my bloody gauss rifle. I'm not taking my eyes off this bitch for a moment."
Bank fires higher, stand away from the Eater of Cold and be ready to repel boarders, so to speak.You throw yet another log onto the fire.
"Can we please keep the flame demon warm and try to not die faster."
Distance myself from the lady a bit and keep watch.Probably a good idea...
Wakes with a start.In response to your question, nothing good.
Huzzn... W-wha? What's happening?
((sorry about late reaction, life got in the way.))
Retreat into the light. Look out for any enemies.I recommend ducking.
[color="blue"]"DAMNIT! Back off, I'm not sure we can shoot him! STEVE! What should we do?! Cecil just got possessed!"[/color]
Hey Steve, Cecil got possessed. Any chance we could just disable him and get a shuttle and box sent down to contain him so we can get out of this desert and let the R&D guys research him?
Don't shock me right away. I wear a suit that can put me in stasis for an hour at the push of a button on my chest. If things get really desperate, I/we could try to use it to contain the Eater...
Some genius just pulverised the woman retrieval of the head may be impossible now although in a case of irony? is that the word? he has become possessed in a much more violent facemelty-nazis kinda way rather than the more harmless pea-soup variant
P.S. SEND DROPSHIP WITH SOME COMPETENCE (read:veterans) TO DEAL WITH THIS SHIT (or a drop-ship followed by a god rod whichever you prefer)
((Sorry, was sick--impeded my duties in many threads I'm posting in. Anyway I can catch up lately? :-\ ))((Cecil punched the host. Now he's the host. Everybody freaking out. Also, we're surrounded by weird, probably hostile heat signatures. And now you're caught up. :)))
((Everybody freaking out.))((Not everybody. Just all the wrong people. In the wrongest, most detrimental ways possible.))
((Is the woman's head intact?))
"GOD FUCKING DAMMIT"Quote from: @SteveSome genius just pulverised the woman retrieval of the head may be impossible now although in a case of irony? is that the word? he has become possessed in a much more violent facemelty-nazis kinda way rather than the more harmless pea-soup variant
P.S. SEND DROPSHIP WITH SOME COMPETENCE (read:veterans) TO DEAL WITH THIS SHIT (or a drop-ship followed by a god rod whichever you prefer)
Help in some manner, if the points of light get close and start messing with shit then dive for a gap between them arms protecting head
"Fuck, we're so dead" Vincent quickly redirects his (heat) gun towards Cecil, and tries to keep as much distance as he can from him, while still effectively keeping him hot. "Guys? Is heating him going to do much good at this point?"You fire your hair dryer at the thing thats so hot it's fusing glass and melting thermal protected metamaterials.
The Chief sighs. A short list of Sambo's vocabulary runs through her mind as she picks her potential last words. Shooting is now officially out of the question.You run like hell and then throw yourself face first into the sand, covering yourself as best you can and pretending to be a rock.
Run like hell, reach at least 50-100 meters from Cecil, keep my head down. And also don't run into approaching frightmares (the Pricks in the Distance, if you will) if possible. If they seem to be coming from one direction or a set of directions, avoid those. If they're coming from all directions, try to bury myself in the sand, hoping to avoid their gaze if the sand is pliable enough - if it isn't, just appear unobtrusive and not worth killing, turn off my lights, think happy thoughts, keep head down, that sort of thing. Retreat from the disaster area significantly in any case.
"DAMNIT! Back off, I'm not sure we can shoot him! STEVE! What should we do?! Cecil just got possessed!"You too run away and hide in the sand.
Back way off.
Gorat sees the all-too-familiar idiocy take hold. Just not in time to stop it happening. In an instant, the host is dead, and the killer... possessed in her place? Gorat isn't sure. His first instinct is to curse loudly. He keeps it in for now, since he accepted responsibility for the mission. "I'll try to bind him with my amp. Everyone, keep eyes out at approaching things. One person, heat him. AND ABSOLUTELY NO TOUCHING HIM!"You rolled an 8. The bonus brings that down to a 7. Heh.
Try to use my mass manip amp to carefully take whatever remains of the ropes and bind Cecil, expending my charged Exo bonus.
No matter how this turns out, now Gorat indulges himself. "####! #### all these abominations, and the anomalies that spawned them! And #### those idiots who can't keep their hands from ####ing alien stuff!"Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Ambush Night (click to show/hide)
"Not again."You fly straight up, type in a single number on the gun and then point it down at cecil and fire. An odd beam leaps from the gun, a sort of impossible bluish yellow, something that, by all rights, should be beyond the normal spectrum of human vision. It hurts your eyes. The beam hits Cecil but doesn't seem to have any effect.
Fly straight up, out of the reach of crazy punchy guy. Use the dynamic con bonus I charged last turn, type 8 into the keypad of my gun and shoot Cecil.
((Heh. Heheh. HEH HEH HEH. I AM THE GOD OF HELL FIRE))Sorry, the thing burnt what was your personality straight out of your skull the instant it took over.
Force myself to stand still. Regain control of my mouth-bits to communicate. Then try to regain control of myself.
Goddamnit, of course this happens on my first mission. Cecil thinks to himself while in, apparently, excruciating pain.
Wait, can I feel anything? What the hell does this Eater of Cold want? Can I strike a bargain with it?
((You might want to charge a will bonus. Just in case. After all, we could probably last another turn. Then again, some people probably thought that about the STAN incident.))
"No, the situation started because the host was killed, not wounded or shot at range. The fucking thing jumped bodies after the host was killed. And if it can jump bodies before it dies, what's to stop it from jumping to you if you render it's current host unable to act? Or would you rather we leave the thing inside somebody built to punch someone into tiny chunks? The biggest problem is that whatever is out in the desert wants this thing, and if we don't figure out some way of moving it, they'll probably get it."Quote from: Jason Caldwell to SteveHey Steve, Cecil got possessed. Any chance we could just disable him and get a shuttle and box sent down to contain him so we can get out of this desert and let the R&D guys research him?
Send message to Steve. Defend self from any threats with microwave amp by heating a one foot sphere in center of aggressor by a significant amount. Or forming a heat blade to sever limbs if Cecil attacks me.
"In this case, heh, ultimately his. Did someone say there was cuttin' to be done? One arm, heh, jambalaya comin' right up!"Oh this should be good. A six. You did not disappoint!
Use laser cutter of justice to begin removing arms . Roughly will do. One side at a time.
At this point, Tek's thought processes consist of frightened screaming and an urge to curl up in a ball.Fight fire with fire is a metaphor you know, not literal advice.
"0100011001110101011000110110101100100001
WARNING! Tek is about to use his MFM!"
Use MFM to create a very thin bubble of intense heat with Tek safely in the center.
"What in the everliving FUCK did you just DO?! YOU HAD ONE JOB. ONE. JOB. DO NOT TOUCH THE HOST, DO NOT WOUND IT, AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DO NOT KILL IT. Now everybody that isn't Chin, get away from the host, and prepare to defend the damn camp! Anyone who doesn't listen will have their legs broken, and get left behind."You get ready to defend the camp as best you can and charge an exo bonus.
Defend the damn camp, and charge an exo bonus to assist with the containment of the host.
"Gorat, try dumping the cunt in the fire! Fuck him! That'll keep the prick warm!"I don't think you can laser him any more then he's already been lasered, sport.
Sambo clicks his laser rifle up a notch of power and shoots Cecil with it (low/medium power, wide dispersion) , in long but controlled bursts. He sees what happens, then clicks it up to high power and gets ready to run like hell. If Cecil attacks Sambo, he turns on his kinetic amp and fights the boxing match of his life.
((Is the woman's head intact?))I'm just gonna have you get down, because this next part is probably gonna get bad.
"GOD FUCKING DAMMIT"Quote from: @SteveSome genius just pulverised the woman retrieval of the head may be impossible now although in a case of irony? is that the word? he has become possessed in a much more violent facemelty-nazis kinda way rather than the more harmless pea-soup variant
P.S. SEND DROPSHIP WITH SOME COMPETENCE (read:veterans) TO DEAL WITH THIS SHIT (or a drop-ship followed by a god rod whichever you prefer)
Help in some manner, if the points of light get close and start messing with shit then dive for a gap between them arms protecting head
Nervously back away from the Cecil-Turned-Eater-of-Cold. Hastily scribble down a few notes.Ah the pursuit of science. Well, the Retreat of science, really, but same idea.
Any idea on how to contain this thing?
"You have got to be shitting me."
Walk up to the Eater, and stay at least ten feet from it. If it tries anything, use my exo bonus to shove the Voidsuit button.
"Right, whatever you are. Can you understand me? Can you talk? What are you?"
"Imma try something."Oppose.
Mine out a chunk of land under Dern for transport. It's worked for other anomalies.
Stop if I get burned, or if Dern reacts negatively, or if teammates seem angry.
"Guys, I don't know if heat is going to work anymore. We certainly can't heat it more than it is currently heating itself at this point"Might be true, but what else can we do?
Hey I think that is a new host we should keep it warmdue to lack of explosions approach warily then build a chemical fire large enough to last until morning, then wait until morning
Really? You think this is a new host? Why, I think you're right! Of course it's a new host. And, seriously, I think it's doing a great job of heating itself, but you know, maybe I'm not the best judge of that.
What do these old stories, or rather the analysis of them, say about the Eater maturing? Is it universally a catastrophic event, or just a departure after catastrophic events? Does it just normally "eat" in a horribly destructive way, or does it leave horribly destructively as well?
Watch the area around me. Have a smoke. Be chill.You attempt to smoke in a positive, totally under your control, manner and be chill and relaxed.
"I don't think that's a good idea. I mean, do you see how hot it is? You'll fry, even through the suit. I say we keep an eye on it, and wait until either it changes, or morning comes. Everyone just keep a look out for anything else that might stop by and say hello. Assume anything approaching us is hostile, but wait for a visual just to make sure it's not human. The locals should all be to scared to come see what we're doing, but there could be a really thick one out there."You guard the host to prevent any more shenanigans.
Guard the Host, and make sure nobody gets too close to it. Don't get any closer to it myself.
"Stay vigilant. Apparently this whole ordeal increased the heat of... of the host, so don't take its calm for granted. If the host still follows, then all the better. If not, we need to figure out what to do next."You only retain those for a turn so...unless you wanna keep renewing it, you might as well let it go.
Retain Exo bonus?Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Ambush Night (click to show/hide)
You light two new logs -the old ones got vaporized- and roll them over near Dern's feet."Imma try something."Oppose.
Mine out a chunk of land under Dern for transport. It's worked for other anomalies.
Stop if I get burned, or if Dern reacts negatively, or if teammates seem angry.
Tend to the fires. Make sure our laser heatray people are on task and on Derm.
"Host has a new person now so we can still deal with it"You join the happy campfire singalong.Quote from: @MorulHey I think that is a new host we should keep it warmdue to lack of explosions approach warily then build a chemical fire large enough to last until morning, then wait until morning
I'm scouting ahead. It's better than standing here doing nothing.You want to walk out into the desert, alone, in the middle of the night?
Scout ahead. Make sure the path ahead is safe. Look for anything interesting.
Keep my number gun at the ready and charge a con bonus.
Tek tries to get some sleep until morning.You dream of electric sheep.
Sambo keeps watch for any hostile activity, and readies his laser rifle again in place of his gauss rifle. He lowers the diffusion on it a notch, ups the power a notch, and keeps his distance from the Eater (60% power, high/medium diffusion).You keep watch.
"If any scary shit happens before dawn, I'll keep Dern heated up with me laser. I've cranked this thing up a bit, so stay out of the sodding way. It might not do much to to toasty-boy here, but it'll make your pubes a fuckload curlier if you catch a decent blast of it. I don't know if this hunk of junk generator can keep going at that spec, but it might give us a bit of 'run-like-fuck' time.
Anyone notice that this damn thing keeps getting hotter each time it jumps into some other poor bastard? Wonder if more heat's the answer or less? Fuck it, more is always better."
"If it looks that... the host cools down to previous levels, yes, keep him warm.">A bit hard to day; the actual emergence of the thing is...well half the time the hero stops it, and when he doesn't it's more written off as "And then the eater destroyed wherever". I would assume that the radius of its anti-cold effect increases as it matures and that, once it reaches a point, it will either emerge, wander around, eat cold for a while then leave, or that the emergence itself will have an anti-cold radius of...quite large and that it will leave immediately as it emerges. Either way, it's bad news bears.
Gorat types on his wristpad once more.Quote from: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; to SteveWhat do these old stories, or rather the analysis of them, say about the Eater maturing? Is it universally a catastrophic event, or just a departure after catastrophic events? Does it just normally "eat" in a horribly destructive way, or does it leave horribly destructively as well?
Ask Steve via wristpad.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Ambush Night (click to show/hide)
Stand back, collect a few of the geometric fused sand bits, but not too many.
"Personally, I would suggest not doing anything that can damage the eater? Just saying, doing that kills more of us than not doing that, so far as I can tell."
Be a backup easy-bake laser person. Charge Con bonus by aiming at the Eater, in case random crap occurs.((Temp boy is currently measuring the temperature first-hand.)
"Ok, I've got it covered. If shit goes down, then we'll both fry Dern. Anyone able to rub two brain cells together and think of something so's we learn something? We know what happens when you punch it, so for fuck's sake don't do that again.
Temp-boy, what's it cooking at now? Might give us an idea of how much we gotta shoot it later. We'll call this the non-SNAFU temperature. Note-boy might want to write it down. I fucken love science. Especially the sort where I get to shoot shit if it fucks up."
Try following the glassy trail of one of the speeding bullet fragments while the dudes over there are messing around. See where it leads in a chill, controlled fashion. And also if there's treasure to be found there.You follow the trail for a mile or so, but it shows no sign of ending, and the camp is quickly fading in the distance. Going on alone would be...unwise.
((Hey PW, did I pick up those stone fragments like I wanted to when everyone was fleeing?))Got em. They look like small vaguely diamond shaped things with curious grooves along the vertices.
If I didn't pick them up, go get some of those stone fragments that the light bullets left behind.
Well, scratch that, then.Sunrise soon, fellow stalker.
"Dubley, Chief, don't walk too far into the night where we can't help you."
Look at Dern. Does it seem like he's cooling down to the level of the previous host? How long until sunrise?Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Ambush Night (click to show/hide)
Take a few of those geometric stones.Done and done.
Then keep Dern nice and warm with laser.
"Eh. Might as well use this heat while I have it."A few of your shards break, but you get at least a dozen.
Use my mass amp to pick up a ball of sand and bring it near the Eater, hopefully melting it into a glob of glass. Then take the glob and try and form it into several long shards. Once that's done, float them over and let them cool off.
Wait for the dawn, tend fires and keep easy-bake Laser people on task.You spend the rest of the night jabbing the logs with the butt of a rifle and slapping the laser people in the back of the head when they look like they're falling asleep.
Be a backup easy-bake laser person. Charge Con bonus by aiming at the Eater, in case random crap occurs.You spend the night being a back up laser person and singing 1980's songs in your head. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNIZofPB8ZM)
"Ok, I've got it covered. If shit goes down, then we'll both fry Dern. Anyone able to rub two brain cells together and think of something so's we learn something? We know what happens when you punch it, so for fuck's sake don't do that again.
Temp-boy, what's it cooking at now? Might give us an idea of how much we gotta shoot it later. We'll call this the non-SNAFU temperature. Note-boy might want to write it down. I fucken love science. Especially the sort where I get to shoot shit if it fucks up."
Stand back, collect a few of the geometric fused sand bits, but not too many.Everyone is adding to their rock collection today eh?
"Personally, I would suggest not doing anything that can damage the eater? Just saying, doing that kills more of us than not doing that, so far as I can tell."
Radio to the rest of my compatriots: "Team, this is Chief. Send at least one, repeat, at least one useless monkey my way. I want to follow diamond trail to source, will report on results. Cannot help with Eater of Cold right now anyway. Am one mile down the diamond trail, looks like it goes on a while. Might be valuable to scout where it goes."
"I am loathe to separate the team after tonight, and I'd rather keep everyone on the same path, with a vanguard. If two of the team volunteer to accompany you, fine, but otherwise I suggest belaying this until after the pit. Any volunteers for the Chief's side trek? No more than two, though. Also, who all has flight capability?"
"Splitting up team is wisest choice. Can keep eye on all present members easier. Can stop useless monkeys from ruining mission objectives with improved oversight. Everyone doing same thing in group when all together. No organization. Smaller teams easier to organize, greater numbers cause mobthought, loafing, panicked stupidity. Need maybe two people for heating Eater, three more for guarding things. Rest are mostly luggage.""We're having long days and nights here, and a nerve-wracking job to do. Having more people means better chances to relieve those on heating and guarding duties, better distributing the stress. More people also means more eyes to watch out for troubles and more arms to subdue those who would cause trouble. Splitting the team in half increases those stresses for everyone involved. Furthermore, the desert may have more dangers for us to find or for the Eater to call, and in most cases, a larger team is better equipped to handle dangers. I would feel differently if we were closer to the Pit, but as things are, we have still a couple of days to go."
"We're having long days and nights here, and a nerve-wracking job to do. Having more people means better chances to relieve those on heating and guarding duties, better distributing the stress. More people also means more eyes to watch out for troubles and more arms to subdue those who would cause trouble. Splitting the team in half increases those stresses for everyone involved. Furthermore, the desert may have more dangers for us to find or for the Eater to call, and in most cases, a larger team is better equipped to handle dangers. I would feel differently if we were closer to the Pit, but as things are, we have still a couple of days to go."
"Haven't you guys seen any horror movies? Splitting up is the worst thing that you can do. Besides, I think our diplomatic counterparts would prefer us to be in one group, so we don't fuck up and cause disasters in two areas at once. Fucking up in one place is bad enough, but it's easier to contain."
Keep guarding the Host from any outside interference, and especially guard it from my teammates.
"I don't think the trail of glass is going anywhere soon, I vote for sticking together until the original mission is complete, if Steve thinks it might yeild interesting results, I'm sure he would let us check out the origin of the orbs afterwards"
Aye, I don't think you're like to find much more than a bit of glass and a lot of sand if you venture out. What do you hope to find, and how would it help us?
"Job is not nerve-wracking, as you say. Job is easy and does not need thought. Unless person is cripplingly stupid, like two people who are dead already. It is standing around without work that is dangerous. Intelligence of crowd is intelligence of dumbest member divided by number of people. And stress is healthy to have. Relaxation is more dangerous.""It was a simple, no thought task, or so we thought. Then we screwed it up and caused a disaster. Now, it no longer is a simple, no thought task. Now, we know it is a monotone task where a simple mistake invites danger, and especially those who do heat the host know that it is their responsibility to keep the danger at bay. They know that if they screw up, it is their fault that a disaster is coming. If they're good as they should be, they can distance themselves from that thought without reducing their effectiveness, and it's not nerve-wracking for them. If they're not, they either shove that thought away, and forget its importance, or they let the thought overwhelm themselves, become overeager to prove themselves to not be the useless monkeys you condemn them to be. Either way, they become more prone to making mistakes.
Radio to the rest of my compatriots: "Team, this is Chief. Send at least one, repeat, at least one useless monkey my way. I want to follow diamond trail to source, will report on results. Cannot help with Eater of Cold right now anyway. Am one mile down the diamond trail, looks like it goes on a while. Might be valuable to scout where it goes."You keep going, treking off several miles in the other direction, following the trail. Whatever this thing was, it was moving fast, you cover a lot of ground without the trail ending, but finally come upon what seems to be the source. It's a small, glassy shaft going straight into the sand, as though the ball of light shot up from somewhere underground and off in the direction of the eater. You can't see anything in the shaft, but it seems deep.
Request aid. If aid arrives, continue scouting the way I'm going. Gotta find that source.
"Haven't you guys seen any horror movies? Splitting up is the worst thing that you can do. Besides, I think our diplomatic counterparts would prefer us to be in one group, so we don't fuck up and cause disasters in two areas at once. Fucking up in one place is bad enough, but it's easier to contain."Done.
Keep guarding the Host from any outside interference, and especially guard it from my teammates.
((Huh, I guess the Eater didn't return to its previous temperature after switching hosts. My bad. I still think we should heat it at night, though...))Steve's eyes are the ship for now (he hasn't broken into any satellite networks) and you're on the wrong side of the planet for the moment. What he would send back is basically a semi-grainy image of what Harry is seeing right now, though.
Tek is pleasantly surprised to find that he is still capable of waking up, seemingly no additional disasters having occurred while he slept. Though the Chief's suggestion piques Tek's interest, the blue-accented salvager has some significant reservations.
"Tek thinks Gorat makes some excellent points about reduced ability to deal with disasters as a split group. At the same time, however, Tek believes it may be interesting to investigate the locations these shards came from. Perhaps someone with flight capability can fly up until the origin points are visible, and tell us what they see?
Alternatively, Steve, do you have eyes on this planet and our location? Can you see if anything interesting exists at any of the shards' points of origin? We need to see if it is likely that the reward merits the risk."
Ask Steve a question.
Aye, I don't think you're like to find much more than a bit of glass and a lot of sand if you venture out. What do you hope to find, and how would it help us?Nothing particularly, other then references to those fragments of the old eater that the king mentioned. It might be them.
Though I must admit, I wonder about our visitors in the night. If they heated up the Eater, doesn't that make them beneficial? Why did they come? Is there something we're missing?
Steve, anything in the literature about this sort of thing? I know the tales are mixed and confused, but any information is better than none.
Vincent shifts uncomfortably before joking "No pressure or anything" he then looks at the battery charge on the heat gunI think it should be around 60%
"I'll go with him, as I'm not that much use helping with the host here, but I am a bit worried about us getting lost if we wander too far."I'll assume you are and that you did.
Han looks around, actually wanting to be away from the Eater.
Join the Chief's Sidequest, if allowed.
"Feyri, could you please point this at Dern until I get back?And you too.
Lend Feyri the Raduga and auto her to keep the EoC warm.
"Alright Chief, I'm coming with you."
Join Chief's little sidequest.
Do whatever Gorat says.Bow Chika Bow wow.
((I'll be out of internet range until Tuesday, so could you control Sambo for a couple of days player-of-Gorat?))
"Not much I can do here with my amp or Shackle without risking a dead Host. I guess a walk sound nice if you folks don't need me here." Jason remarks.You go with him too.
Tag along on the side quest if nobody objects. Otherwise stand around and offer moral support. Maybe with a speech roll.
((Gonna stick with Dubley. If shit goes down with the EoC without us around, we know Vincent is bad luck. If it happens to us, then it is me or Dubley. Probably Dubley :P))
"Good. Three people for your command, chief." Gorat says, unable to repress the "command" dig.
Chief and her three volunteers can go. The rest should move towards the next mark unless there are objections.
Action for Feyri: Accept the Raduga. Be ready to heat the host.
Action for Sambo: Triple check that Feyri's borrowed Raduga is ready to heat the host.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Discussion Morning (click to show/hide)
"Got rope. I assume it's to test how deep this is?"
Tie a weight at the end of the rope. Lower it down the shaft to see how deep it is.
keep on walking on
"Of course, of course.""Got rope. I assume it's to test how deep this is?"
Tie a weight at the end of the rope. Lower it down the shaft to see how deep it is.
"One purpose. Other may be to attach camera and take a look - take one from suit if no other way."
"Got rope. I assume it's to test how deep this is?"
Take a camera and a light from someone's suit. Tie them to the rope and lower them down the hole. How deep is it, and what do we see?
"Marginally interesting. Might be more down there."You determine that it is deeper then your light can reach, or at least deeper then you can see with the light's help.
Shine a light into the hole and look into it. Anything interesting I can determine?
"I say we excavate around the sides to see how deep it goes and what is down there. Objections?"
She thinks a moment.
"Or has one of you a rope or twine?"
See if Steve can record precise coordinates of our location in case we can't reach the bottom ourselves.
"Got rope. I assume it's to test how deep this is?"
Take a camera and a light from someone's suit. Tie them to the rope and lower them down the hole. How deep is it, and what do we see?
Stay out of the way, don't fall down the shaft. Maybe hold one if those odd rock fragments under the shroud.Are you sure you wanna do that? And in such an off handed manner, none the less?
To which set of commands is Derneater responding? The ones given in the local language, or the ones is Space English?Space English.
Move onwards. Ponder how manipulators work.Well first you grind up some of god's brain, and then you mix it with a slice of human brain, put it on a cracker, eat that cracker, and then trip the light fantastic. Or maybe in involved unicorns? Or Space wizards? I can never remember.
keep on walking on
keep on walking onbroken glass
We're walkin'.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Discussion Morning (click to show/hide)
Keep strollin'. Remain vigilant for any threats to the Eater.
Keep on keeping on?
You make it to the next marker in the path; this one is clearly a ruin rather then just a marker. It's a large stone building, or at least the remnants of one. There are several of the pillars like you saw with the first marker, as well as a stone roof held up by the three still standing pillars. Sand has engulfed the bottom of the pillars, and hidden any sort of floor or further structure. It looks as though this were part of some kind of enormous covered walkway, parthenon-like in design. A large, jagged section of shade is cast by the remaining roof, and looks almost preternaturally dark and cool compared to the blinding sand and eternal heat coming from the eater.
Charge dynamic will bonus first. Y'know, because casual off-handed alien fuckery is only okay in college, not on mission. Oh, and help with whatever stuff they're doing if it won't interrupt charging my bonus. And if someone tries to bludgeon me at some point, introduce them to the Noisy Cricket.
((He hasn't actually pulled the fragment out, since he's charging a bonus.))
"We need to wait for the others to catch up""No matter how tempting, don't enter the shade. We can take a bit of a break, but we can't afford to wait for the others to catch up. We are slower than them anyways, so they will."
have a rest in the shade while waiting for rest of team, if alcohol is available partake optimally in the form of a margarita
((Yay for hypothetical responses. But you should totally do an intuition roll. Then when it ends up like BEEES we have precedent to ignore it. Or it might provide useful info to either encourage or deter me.))
"It'll probably be easier on all of us to just remove the shroud and mask if that happens. The effect should stop once they are removed. Dubley could probably do it. And this is as good a place as any to try something. We're far from the Eater, and it might give us useful intel. Or at least valuable info to bring back to Steve once this mission is inevitably fucked like M15 was."
"fine""We need to wait for the others to catch up""No matter how tempting, don't enter the shade. We can take a bit of a break, but we can't afford to wait for the others to catch up. We are slower than them anyways, so they will."
have a rest in the shade while waiting for rest of team, if alcohol is available partake optimally in the form of a margarita
"I vote that we see if there is a way around this, taking the "eater of cold" somewhere very cold, sounds like a bad plan"It's just cooler than the sun beating down on our heads as we walk beside our magical space heater, nothing sinister about it. Best to keep the Eater out of it all the same, though.
Gorat's got the right of it, we can't stop. I don't know that our supplies will last us to the destination if we make good time; and if they give out it'll be the failure of the mission more like than not, and good odds we'll all lose our lives to boot. The ones who went out to investigate sand in a desert made their choice."We need to wait for the others to catch up""No matter how tempting, don't enter the shade. We can take a bit of a break, but we can't afford to wait for the others to catch up. We are slower than them anyways, so they will."
have a rest in the shade while waiting for rest of team, if alcohol is available partake optimally in the form of a margarita
Do a depth check with just the rope, then. Check the rope for any residue from the shaft immediately afterward.A quick depth check finds that it is about 6 meters deep, or at least thats where the rope stops. So you start digging. It's not easy work, digging in sand. The sand just keeps flowing back into the hole. It takes you an hour to even get a meter deep, and thats with several people helping.
Then, if the pit is less than six to nine meters deep, start digging a hole right next to the shaft. Press the two idlers and Dubley into digging duty as well.
If it is more than nine meters deep, check how large the suit lights are, and if there aren't any smaller ones - possibly for illuminating suit displays, or a backlight for the wristpad, or something we can improvise in some other fashion. Same for cameras. Anybody got a cameye to spare, mayhap? Maybe Dubley's got some miniature additional cameras installed on his robobody we could use? At any rate, try to improvise something. Smoke a little for inspiration if nothing seems to be working.
In the middle of this, if Jason tries to do anything incredibly ill-advised such as combine two great flavors of alien fuckery offhandedly, beat him mercilessly with my stun baton until he submits after giving a polite warning (provided he ignores it, naturally).
Charge dynamic will bonus first. Y'know, because casual off-handed alien fuckery is only okay in college, not on mission. Oh, and help with whatever stuff they're doing if it won't interrupt charging my bonus. And if someone tries to bludgeon me at some point, introduce them to the Noisy Cricket.You start digging and making the opposite of come hither eyes at the Chief and her stun baton.
There must be a camera or light less than two inches somewhere that we can obtain. Mk1, mk3, robot body, datapad, wristpad? Or are small cameras and lights an ancient lost technology?The cameras in bodies and suits feed into their suit computer. Separate them and it won't work. Or it will but the signal won't go anywhere. If you had a data pad you could butcher it and try to make it work like that.
Basically, HB said everything already. Help him with that stuff and smack anybody about to anything stupid.
"Just wondering.... How many of these bloody things are there? We heard there was one a while back that pissed off into space. Now we've got this one. There's enough of 'em that there's entirely fucked up confusing tales about 'em all throughout these poor prick's history. You reckon that that hole could be a fuck-off-into-space launching hole? Or a hot-shit-coming-through hatching hole? Could be a tiny-bit-of-Daddy-Eater's-love-juice meteor hole. Or just a keep-your-dick-cool-in-the-desert hole? Are these things just little bits of not-cold when they're not-Dern? Are there fuck-tonnes of them under the ground? Might be something we should look pretty closely into. Wonder what'll happen when I fire a laser rifle down there?"Sambo, where are you? Because the eater and that hole harry is digging at are a half dozen miles away from each other.
Sambo intuitively ponders the purpose behind the hole while keeping an eye on the Eater for any reaction.
Stay away from the hut. Shine light lamps on the interior and examine it closely.By hut I assume you mean the covered ruins. There's nothing inside except sand. The structure is nothing but three large stone pillars with a stone slab roof held up between them. The roof casts some shade. The pillars are carved but not with any language or symbols that you can understand.
((Sambo is with the main group and the Eater at the ruins, where... nobody is doing anything questionable with the Eater that I can see.))
"I'm not worried about supplies. I'm worried about our friendly neighborhood fire elemental."
Short rest, away from any shade or cool spot, then onwards to the next marker.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Discussion Morning (click to show/hide)
"I vote that we see if there is a way around this, taking the "eater of cold" somewhere very cold, sounds like a bad plan"It's just cooler than the sun beating down on our heads as we walk beside our magical space heater, nothing sinister about it. Best to keep the Eater out of it all the same, though.Gorat's got the right of it, we can't stop. I don't know that our supplies will last us to the destination if we make good time; and if they give out it'll be the failure of the mission more like than not, and good odds we'll all lose our lives to boot. The ones who went out to investigate sand in a desert made their choice."We need to wait for the others to catch up""No matter how tempting, don't enter the shade. We can take a bit of a break, but we can't afford to wait for the others to catch up. We are slower than them anyways, so they will."
have a rest in the shade while waiting for rest of team, if alcohol is available partake optimally in the form of a margarita
Examine the horizon for the next marker, or the path of the walkway if it's obvious enough. Keep the Eater out of the shadows as much as possible and go around shadows if it's not much out of the way, and keep on marchin' after our very quick break.
"Should we keep walking until twilight, and then set up camp?"I'd think so. No sense in wasting daylight.
((I don't think it's a pit. Pretty sure it's just a tube of glass that got flash baked when the Eater fragment woke up and shot up out of the ground. Which means when we find the bottom the whole thing will look like a giant mercury thermometer without the mercury. Then we can offer checkups to giant space monsters.))
((And then we can put it in the giant thermometer so we have something to gauge the temperature of the sick space monsters. It's brilliant! :P))((I don't think it's a pit. Pretty sure it's just a tube of glass that got flash baked when the Eater fragment woke up and shot up out of the ground. Which means when we find the bottom the whole thing will look like a giant mercury thermometer without the mercury. Then we can offer checkups to giant space monsters.))
((Hey, maybe there's black evil liquid misery down there, collected from slumbering eldritch gods. One never knows.))
Keep moving until twilight. Make sure that everyone makes sure that their heat guns are in working order and pointing at Derneater.x2 Combo. Also work out watch shifts while we walk.
"This is just like making sand castles when I was a kid. Except it's more like digging a giant hole that keeps trying to close it self and it isn't enjoyable at all. And I'm doing it with one hand and a useless tube on my other arm. You know what, I'm going to go see if this Shackle can turn into a shovel. Or maybe a vacuum cleaner. Over there. Because if it explodes, I don't want it killing everybody." Jason mutters.Alright.
Move away from the group, maybe 20 or 30 yards or so. Then hold the rock under the shroud. With that dynamic will bonus I charged.
"Be careful Jason."Jason appears to be suffering from hindsight. And horrible pain. You're sure he'll be fine.
Keep an eye on Jason and remove his shroud if he gets posessed or anything.
Keep digging. I have an exoskeleton so that should speed things up. This is the third time Dubley's mined in the service of ARM.
Observe Jason from a distance. See what happens to the mook, be prepared to duck and cover. Possibly dive into the newly-made hole. Hand Dubley the Testament just in case.Sahara
Also, just how sandy is the desert here? We talking Sahara levels, or more of a New Mexico type of deal? Keep digging in any case.
And how about the light? Can we get a small enough light from a wristpad or some other piece of available electrical equipment to take a look down into the pit?
Two dead and a vague recovery (until next turn) isn't broken. It's normal. Pretty tame really. Until next turn, always.
Hoping someone else puts suit lights on the Eater. Otherwise we've got problems. But they're "away from Sambo" problems, so that's nice.
Well, look down into the pit with the light, then. See if anything interesting is down there, or instead it's just your regular bunch of glass and nothing more.You press your helmeted face against the hole and squint down. It looks...huh, it looks like there might be a large opening down there. Maybe a chamber or at least an air pocket. You can't tell from here.
Also offer Jason a bluesmoke if he wants one to help him recover.
In any case, if there's no indication there might be anything interesting down there, move out in the direction of the main group. Stop at the intriguing weird ruins if we spot them, though.
((And now I have to figure out if that was a bad idea because it was a rock without any sort of history to it, or if it was because the rock was so incomprehensible that all my brain could process was burning, agonizing pain. I wonder if the Eater feels like that. Or if it just happens to be something driven purely by instinct.))You smoke the cigarette. It helps your hands stop shaking, at least. Your intuition has this to say
Jason rolls around on the ground, the pain too much for words. He manages to take the offered bluesmoke from the Chief and tries to smoke it while still in almost debilitating amounts of pain.
Accept bluesmoke. Smoke bluesmoke. Attempt to intuit something useful from what just happened. Try not to focus on the immense burning pain in my head.
build chemical log fire around the eater then sleep until my watch (if any)You build a cozy...well you build a fire. Hard to call the...reverse summoning ritual of an alien fire elemental cozy. Maybe if you had a Christmas tree and you stuffed dern in a hearth...no...still not enough.
"Alright, I say we stop for the night and set up camp. If we keep walking, we'll just get lost, and that won't do anything to help us."Exo bonus charged. And for now, the eater is behaving and everything is quiet.
Keep watch on the Host, and the horizon. Charge an exo bonus.
"Alright, Tek will take a watch. Can someone with a heating device give one to Tek during his watch? He is a little worried about using his manipulator.
Let's make sure to keep our good friend Dern toasty..."
Stop for the night. Take a watch shift and use any offered heating devices to keep the host warm during it. If none are offered, carefully use the MFM. Sleep before and after his shift.
Edit: set up some suit lights (are they removable?) across from the ones that Sambo is setting up to reduce the amount of shadow that the host casts. If they are not removable, just stand across from the vulgar individual and point the lights at the eldritch horror during Sambo's shift (stay awake for that). After that it should be night and hopefully no more lights should be needed until the near-morning shifts, still allowing Tek to get some sleep before and after his shift.
"Alright, tonight, remember to double-check that whatever you're using to heat him up is set up correctly."You're on next turn, mr.chin.
Remind everyone to double-check their heating devices when they set them up or receive them for their watch. Take second watch.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Discussion Morning (click to show/hide)
Take a Watch, Watch the EaterWe've got two for this watch, take second with Jay Leno there.
"Greeeat, I guess that puts me on third watch tonight" Get some sleep,make sure I am aiming at EoC and that the heat gun is on and working while I am cooking the EoC during the 3rd shiftThird shift it is.
Burrow into the sand like a mole, find the bottom of the thing, and lift it up out of the sand.You burrow down to about 4 feet. But now it is literally impossible to get any further without some sort of supports holding back the sand. The big rod of fused glass in the center of the dig site doesn't help either.
((Technically only Tiruin controls Feyri, but PW didn't say anything either way the last time I posted a Feyri action, so...))Feyri shall assist where needed and be conveniently absent when danger presents itself unless otherwise used or stated.
Feyri: Assist by pointing suit lights at Derneater.
If not acceptable, Gorat shall point suit lights at Derneater and take first watch instead of second.
((PW, why you up so late? Also, I overshot that intuition roll, didn't I?))Busy busy busy
See if I can detach the wristpad along with its power source from my suit and use that to hook up a camera. Failing that, try scavenging some of the video recording hardware in my own suit - surely the camera and its supporting elements ought to be pretty small there. Try elongating the power supply with other suit electrical components if all else fails. That dang camera rope (or camerope) needs to be made. Have a smoke beforehand.We can do the wristpad thing, sure. Though you'll need to lower it down and then get it back to review the footage; think of it like lowering down a camera phone or something.
I'm carrying tons of duct tape. Duct tape the sand in place then excavate.You're gonna need a lot more explanation about how exactly you want to do that before I consider it. Because right now we're at the "Slap upside the head" level of acceptance.
Consider the hole. Is there any way we could use the weapons we have to hold the sand in place while we excavate- melt it or whatnot? If I can do so with my tesla saber, prepare a dynamic uncon bonus.Consider the hole, one of nature's most deadly predators...
"Maybe we should melt the sand to hold it in place?"
Give laser rifle and backpack generator to someone on second shift and get some sleep for the night.Done
"Remember to keep some damn lights on the bastard, as well as the laser."
Sleep. Have prophetic dreams.Hmm.
((Totally forgot I was in this.))So you're up.
I'll take the next shift.
Get the laser+backpack from sambojin and take the shift.
Take Tek's laser, keep the Eater toasty for my watch. Make sure the fires stay lit; return the gun when my shift is over.And you.
sleep peacefully and oblivious
Sleep when not my shift. Be very awake and keeping the eater warm with my heat gun when it is my shiftYou two are asleep.
Be on guard for my shift. Also, think - why would the host follow commands, and only those given in the language the host speaks?And you're up. And asking questions..Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Discussion Morning (click to show/hide)
Continue to laze the subject while the others try their experiments. Try blowtorching the ground around her to see if it will crystallize.
Do the wristpad camera phone thing. Add the light I used to check down there as well. With that, ladies and gentlemen, we shall have a depth probe.You drop your probe in, turn it around, inspect things as best you can, then retrieve it.
And with this depth probe, probe the depths of the crystal shaft. It has befuddled us for long enough. Make sure the camera's securely attached to the rope, though. Would hate to lose it.
Hrm.You adjust the beam to hit the sand as well. The thing is still getting cooler, but it's doing so more slowly now.
Make the angle of the beam a bit wider, and turn up the power to match. Goal is to keep energy per unit area roughly the same, but put a larger heated buffer zone around the Eater. If the Eater starts to act up bump the power up another couple notches.
Take quick stock of supplies, and estimate how much farther we have to go.
I think I have a better idea. Are the mk3's rockets hot enough to melt sand? If so then activate a single maneuvering rocket and melt the sand. And if it sends melting sand particles everywhere then fan them away with duct tape fans and accomplish excavation.I'm gonna say this works.
If not then create sheets of duct tape. Use those sheets as barriers to hold the sand back. Hold them in place with strips of duct tape and weights. Use containers filled with sand as the weights.
Excavate.
Continue to laze the subject while the others try their experiments. Try blowtorching the ground around her to see if it will crystallize.It will, a little bit, if you spend some time on it. Problem is that you're melting one small section, so unless you want the Eater to balance on it's left big toe on the inch wide glass nub you created, it's not gonna work.
Watch Eater, watch horizon, maintain exo bonus.The eater is doing something weird. It keeps moving its mouth and looking around at the night sky. It's standing still, but its head is just sort of twisting about while it works it's jaw like it's chewing a peanut butter sandwich.
Dream about past adventures?You remember that one time in Stellar Bangkok.
Gorat: Charge Exo-bonus.Chaaaaaaaaaarge
Feyri: Aid in heating the Dernhost with the lent Raduga if necessary(It should be set up correctly, I believe).Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Another Night (click to show/hide)
Sleep fairly lightly, waking up about halfway through shift three, exclaming as I come out of my dreams:You do this thing. Everyone looks at you in confusion and mild annoyance.
"Gnnrrfdggsh boobs shlrgrrn mmmmm hotshblll witches, what? Where's my fucken laser?"
Blowtorch the Eater while lazering him.*Ahem*
Do it! I'm safe.Blowtorch the Eater while lazering him.*Ahem*
Now I'm all for just murdering another half dozen of you, in a permanent nature, since not even temp deads will survive out here, 2 days from anywhere. But perhaps Gun may want to rethink his wording.
Or someone might want to rethink their position on leaving Gun un-punched.
((We still have to deal with it.))Do it! I'm safe.Blowtorch the Eater while lazering him.*Ahem*
Now I'm all for just murdering another half dozen of you, in a permanent nature, since not even temp deads will survive out here, 2 days from anywhere. But perhaps Gun may want to rethink his wording.
Or someone might want to rethink their position on leaving Gun un-punched.
Blowtorch the Eater while lazering him.*Ahem*
Now I'm all for just murdering another half dozen of you, in a permanent nature, since not even temp deads will survive out here, 2 days from anywhere. But perhaps Gun may want to rethink his wording.
Or someone might want to rethink their position on leaving Gun un-punched.
Leaving Gun un-punched.
((Wait what? What's wrong with that? Is it because he's hot and I shouldn't stand too close to him? I haven't been paying attention, we're still burning a thing because it kills us when it's not super hot right?))((I'd just skip the blowtorch and specify that you're heating up the Eater. As it reads now you could easily be hitting it with full-power laser beam action to the face, which could start another death cascade))
((No. ER Lasers are tickle generators, and dispense hugs, loves, and puppies.))
Vincent wakes up and exclaims "Oh god! not Bangkok!" and then realizes he was dreaming. After checking the time he comments "Uhh, right! my shift it is" and then grabs the heat gun and begins heating the eater, and if the 2nd shift was kind enough to pass on that heating the ground seems to heat the eater better, do that as well.Generic heating message, which can be applied to any and everyone doing that this turn.
"The legendary miner strikes again! I wonder what's down here?"Sure
Using something in my box of tools cut a hole in the glass and enter the chamber.
Can I retroactively leave my generator with the other group to charge Vincent's heat gun?
"Very impressive work. Down there should be a chamber with fused glass walls with stone pillars. Definitely interesting things down there. How lethal, we will see."Dubley basically just smashes his way in with a pickax and then the chief contemplates jumping down inside. The fall isn't too far now that they've dug this far down, but she'll still need help getting out. About 3-4 meters from the floor to the hole, so only 1-2 meter fall if the chief lowers herself inside.
If I climbed down into Dubley's glassy hole, how easy would it be to climb out? I assume it's six meters deep at the very least.
In any case, make sure Steve receives the footage I got.
Zzzz. Dream of amp-using sheep.Do amp using sheep jump over fences or propel themselves via space magic?Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Another Night (click to show/hide)
Blowtorch the Eater while lazering him.
Give Tek's laser to anyone that needs it,Action neutralized via tackle and screaming of "YOU'LL KILL US ALL YOU MAD MAN!"take a nap.stop Gun for killing us all if he persists with the insanity.
((People died? I thought we wanted the Eater to be hot.))Yeah I realize this happened, but it's funnier my way.
Heat the Eater gently. ._.
Ask Steve to extrapolate the Eater's course and probable target. Give Steve any data he needs to do so.[/b]Good idea, but too slow. We need whoever we have that's fast to get out in front if it, see if there's some landmark it's advancing towards. If you've got rockets, get to it, and phone it in to Steve while you're on your way.
"NONONONONONONO! NO MFM! NO MFM! DO NOT DO IT!"((Or you could take it into the void... Timmy will keep it warm.))
Run up and tackle the Eater to the ground, then get the hell off it ASAP. Brace for mindfucking.
((Regrets, I will have them....))
"NONONONONONONO! NO MFM! NO MFM! DO NOT DO IT!"
Run up and tackle the Eater to the ground, then get the hell off it ASAP. Brace for mindfucking.
((Regrets, I will have them....))
((Posting here because I'm not sure if Tir would see a post in OOC, and I don't want Feyri to die. I'd love the Eater to possess someone else, but not her. :(((Fudge. Hadn't read up fully but I did read up that notion of shifting transference of ownership.
Tiruin, you don't have any plasma weapon, although you do have a Gungnir- a gun that shoots lightning bolts through laser beams. Also, that weapon will likely kill the Eater. If the Eater dies, then it will possess the person who killed it, almost certainly sentencing that person to death, due to them becoming the new Eater.
Don't shoot it unless you want to die.))
Climb down and investigate the chamber. Keep an eye out for ancient lost technology or graffitti or anything like that.
Help Chief and anyone else down.
And carve "Dubley was here" into the wall.
I'm just gonna stay outside the hole incase anything goes wrong and we have to dig them out.
Maybe leave the two less involved members of this search party outside. Climb down in there and take a look. Without the lights on at first, and if I can't see anything, turn them on.The Chief and Dubs lower themselves down into the hole while leaving those less inclined to risk their lives on the surface. The inside of the chamber is interesting; it's not just an isolated chamber, but a larger chamber attached to a tunnel which intersects it. It looks very similar to a subterranean lava tunnel, a sort of oddly shaped but smooth tube with walls made of fused glass. The chamber is a good size, but the tube itself is just large enough to move through an a crawl or duckwalk. The walls are oddly colored, not just clear but all sorts of ruddy reds and yellows and greens. The floor is littered with stones similar to those left by the tiny balls of light, but of various sizes. Some are as large as bowling balls.
"I uh think that is um not normal should we deal with that or let it do whatever?"YOU CAME TO THE WRONG GAME MOTHER FUCKER
follow (a sane) group consensus on how to deal with all that stuff
((Demn!))>Assuming it continues going straight there is what looks like a small volcanic caldera in that direction. But it's 30 miles away.
Assuming I am awake/woken up:
Ask Steve to extrapolate the Eater's course and probable target. Give Steve any data he needs to do so.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Another Night (click to show/hide)
Startled, Vincent shouts "Everyone up!! The Eater is taking off!!" Vincent then quickly follows after the Eater,You run after the thing, firing the heat gun at it, though to no noticeable effect. The thing isn't getting any hotter, or at least not visibly so, but it's certainly not slowing down either.but only follows for now, he doesn't engagecontinuing to fire his heat gun at it
((Who thinks he should try and grab and pull the eater to the ground, I'm not terribly fond of my character dying, but aren't we supposed to keep the eater on the ground?))
God dammit. God fucking damn all this alien bullshit.You get the log down but the eater just kind of brushes over it and keeps going.Ask Steve to extrapolate the Eater's course and probable target. Give Steve any data he needs to do so.[/b]Good idea, but too slow. We need whoever we have that's fast to get out in front if it, see if there's some landmark it's advancing towards. If you've got rockets, get to it, and phone it in to Steve while you're on your way.
I want some fire in front of this thing, and I want as much heat out of those guns as you think you can safety put on this thing, and I want it now. If you've got a better idea then speak your piece, if you don't have one then let's get to it!
Grab a Chemlog, try to get some distance in front of the Eater and set it on fire. If other people come along, help them direct a sort of crescent that the Eater would need to go into.
"Tek has this MFM... He will use it carefully."
Focus intensely and heat the Eater's torso toextremelyreasonably hot but non-lethal levels.
"NONONONONONONO! NO MFM! NO MFM! DO NOT DO IT!"Tek starts to concentrate before morul kicks him in the back of the knee and tackles him to the ground.
Use my mass amp to knock the Eater over, and hopefully break the trance it's under.
((Edit, forgot I had an Exo dynamic bonus.))
Run after the Eater and zap it, stay as close as possible but back off if he does anything unusual.Zap? What do you have that Zaps? Laser? I guess. You fire the laser at it, on the standard low heat, high dispersion mode, but it doesn't really do anything.
Um...um...Lets see if anyone has orders for Ms. Feyri.Shoot my plasma(-ish)? rifle at the Eater ._.
I haven't fully read up! D:
Aid other teammates at any higher-officer's order!
Wh-what's going on? Why is the Eater flying?
Wake up, start making notes.
Grab my laser and the backpack generator and run after the Eater. Set the laser to 60% power and medium dispersion and start firing at it if no one else is in much danger of being hit. If it's travelling quicker than me, keep firing at it anyway, assuming the laser will disperse to "not deadly hot" levels soon.60% power and only medium dispersion?
"Oi! Get back here you freak! Someone give me my fucken laser, NOW!"
((Of course the laser!))Run after the Eater and zap it, stay as close as possible but back off if he does anything unusual.Zap? What do you have that Zaps? Laser? I guess. You fire the laser at it, on the standard low heat, high dispersion mode, but it doesn't really do anything.
"Sure thing Chief.
Hope this tube doesn't become a deathtube. Hey, weren't you the one asking about deathtubes in the shuttle?"
"It is like we are arcologists, you and I. Watch me now. I will touch large stone. Shoot me slightly if needed. If I turn into Eater, follow me and see where I go."
Take a deep breath, then touch one of the larger stones in the room. Make sure Dubley keeps an eye and a gun on me as I do so.
If nothing adverse begins to happen or is hinted at by any feelings, grab the large stone, deposit in inventory. Or give it to Dubley, he seems to have plenty of room.
Also, is the tube the vertical tunnel? Does it continue further down? If yes, and I can check it in the same turn, see how far down does it appear to go - first look into it, then try the rope+camera test.
If it's horizontal and I can check it, simply look into it with the light.
"Sure thing Chief.The chief touches one of the larger stones. It's slightly warm and so perfectly smooth that lifting it up is far harder then she expected; like lifting a block of greased ice.
Hope this tube doesn't become a deathtube. Hey, weren't you the one asking about deathtubes in the shuttle?"
Watch Chief as she picks up the stone. Restrain her if it possesses her, and put it in my bag if it's safe.
Then begin marching down the tunnel. If I can, prepare a dynamic aux bonus for evacuating the tunnel via jetpack in case it get's hot in here.
"Any relevant facts or myths about it? Site of the first Eater or last capital, perhaps?"
Ask Steve. Amp-shovel sand over the host, not enough to bury him, but to buy time.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Another Night (click to show/hide)
"Hey, arsewipes playing in the hole. The Eater's just knicked off from us, vap'ed Dern's body and might be going down a volcano's hole. Get ready for it to get pretty fucking hot in your cozy little cunt of a life."Eater is buried for the moment.
Sambo keeps running after the Eater, cranks his laser up to full power/medium dispersion, and keeps firing. If the Eater does go into the volcano cauldera, or any hole within 30 miles, Sambo keeps firing, but keeps his distance (a good 100' or so, maybe more).
"Zap! motherfucker!"
((I am fine with it if those are Sambo's last words.))
Edit: Laser power edit. No reason to suicide. Not funny enough yet.
"Holy shit! Thank god I didn't attempt to tackle that thing! As dangerous as amp usage is, I think we need to attempt to restrain it slash hold it to the ground via some good ol' space magic... someone ask Steve to remind us what he knows about the known containment procedures for this thing" Continue chasing after the eater, discontinue wasting my battery, and for the love of god do not touch the thing that is boiling it's own bloodFor the moment the eater has stopped moving, buried somewhere under the sand.
"I think I'll go the other way in the tunnels- more coverage that way."You manage to get a few of the smaller ones, because you can get your hands around them, but the medium ones are too slippery; they just keep squirting out of between your fingers.
Enter the hole carefully, making sure I can get out without too much issue. Then, if Chief is fine, head into the intersecting tunnel in the opposite direction of the Chief and Dubley. Also, if the Chief is fine, pick up a few of the smaller/medium size stones and put them in my inventory.
Steve, where is it going. WHY is it going? Between the heat-balls coming out of the desert and this thing moving towards a volcano...either someone else is trying to cook this thing, or our intel is god-awful and we're missing something major. Can you give us ANYTHING?>I wouldn't know. All I can say is that you probably shouldn't trust local tradition implicitly. Who knows how they may have misinterpreted the situation. Humans do have a bad habit of interpreting things as always being related to them.
Scurry after the Eater.
"Shit, why won't you stay down!"[6+1]
Use my mass amp to assist in covering the Eater in sand.
"I uh dont know what to do"
slow chase of fire-murder-thulu slightly and consider what to do
Turn on light lamps to act as fog lights, helping others target the Eater through the steam.And you guys were rendered mostly useless now.
What's happening up there? We're exploring some underground tunnels, and it just started rumbling.
Quote from: Dubley to GoratWhat's happening up there? We're exploring some underground tunnels, and it just started rumbling.
We had to cover the Eater with sand, but you're so far away, that shouldn't... Get out.
Can I hear the rumble as well? Listen to it if I can, and see if I can intuit something useful about it. Does it sound tectonic, or is it more of a distant explosion kind of deal?You can.
Scrape off a bit of the wall with one of my generous assortment of basic tools, such as a screwdriver. Failing scraping, use a hammer and an awl in combination to get some pieces off the different-colored parts of the walls.
Is the large stone collected? If not, see if I can't put it into the toolbox.
You can still hear it, though it doesn't seem to be getting closer, it just seems to be passing nearby.Quote from: Dubley to GoratWhat's happening up there? We're exploring some underground tunnels, and it just started rumbling.
Go back to the main chamber. Listen for more rumbling.
Wrap the stone in duct tape then pick it up.
Rescue Chief and Han if things get dangerous.
Th-that does not look good...
Make notes on the situation. Attempt moral support.
Quote from: Dubley to GoratWhat's happening up there? We're exploring some underground tunnels, and it just started rumbling.Quote from: Gorat to Dubley and rest of Chief's teamWe had to cover the Eater with sand, but you're so far away, that shouldn't... Get out.
"Save distance from the mound! Look out for spheres!"
Move away from the mound.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Another Night (click to show/hide)
"Ugh, headache... gotta.... go..."You activate the void suit and drag yourself and a good quantity of sand into the oppressive darkness. There's nothing there, for the moment.
Brace self for mindfuckery, and hop into the Void. If Timmy is there, get out of the void.
Move away from the mound, drop to one knee and get ready to fire on the Eater or any heat-orbs that appear (charge Con bonus. Might as well do it one last time, in case of changes.)You also move away from the mount, then drop down on one knee and aim your rifle at it.
"Tell us when you want us to glass the bastard, Gorat."
Crawl to where going any further makes moving difficult and see if the passage narrows any further. If it keeps getting narrower, hold and back off a bit.The tunnel narrows to crawl height, then expands a bit and branches off in 3 directions, one of them straight down.
"I have a narrowing tunnel here. What's going on up there?"
"Fascinating... Tek is just gonna kind of stand over here and wait. He does that a lot. Most valuable teammate, yes?"Doing nothing is a very valid tactic.
Charge a dynamic uselessness bonus and gawk at mound of impending doom.
Marshall our remaining pew-pew heater guns for when the Eater re-emerges. Look for any sudden shifts in the sand pile.You at least figure out who has them all and try to get everyone with them into a reasonable group.
"At least no one killed it this time" Vincent prepares to continue heating the eater when it emergesYou are now in a reasonable group
"I could have sworn... Team Chief, status?"
Start heating the mound while waiting for eater to surface, heat eater again once surfaced, also check battery((I think that your battery's out, and your heat gun is currently running off my generator. So check fuel instead.))
Take quick stock of supplies, and estimate how much farther we have to go.You take stock. There's about 12 chem logs left and the battery on the heat gun is almost out.
Can I retroactively leave my generator with the other group to charge Vincent's heat gun?Sure
((Oh, hey, I missed that comment, I guess I'll be updating my action then))Take quick stock of supplies, and estimate how much farther we have to go.You take stock. There's about 12 chem logs left and the battery on the heat gun is almost out.Can I retroactively leave my generator with the other group to charge Vincent's heat gun?Sure
((I'm pretty sure your heat gun is running off the generator now.))
((My, don't I look foolish now? I mean, more foolish than usual.))It's possible they are, though these tunnels appear rather old and cool. They seem to have been made quite a long time ago.
"I could have sworn... Team Chief, status?"
Ask Team Chief via radio. Consider the likelihood that these spheres are tunneling towards the Eater.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Another Night (click to show/hide)
Fetch a smaller stone from the place and put it in my toolbox so that a comparison can perhaps be made later in the labs. Get over to that 45 degree downward tunnel and check it with the camera+light+rope probes.Sample acquired. The tunnels all have the same appearance, that of being forcibly melted and technicolor. The 45 degree tunnel extends beyond the length of your rope without any difference or change. Wherever it leads, it's very deep
Do the tunnels have the same technicolor mineral patterns as the chamber we found?"I could have sworn... Team Chief, status?"
"Nobody dead yet. Heard sound like giant metal worm shooting through tunnel, passed us by. Much mystery down here, very interesting. Network of tunnels, look volcanic, colorful. Lots of very smooth stones. Eater has wealth of roads, seems like."
"Oi, can I grab a chem-log? Yeah? Thanks."You throw a log on the sand pile. The log immediately starts burning. Huh. You scamper back away and take up another firing position.
Grab a chem-log, ignite it and throw it on top of the mound where the Eater is. Then run back to my previous "safe" firing position. Fire a bit of a burst of laser rifle fire at the mound on 100%, lowest dispersion, heating up my side of the mound for good measure.
"Hopefully that'll keep the prick a bit warmer once he pops up for air. Actually, hopefully the prick stays buried. He's starting to shit me. Either way, my side's the hot side, so it might fuck off in the other direction when it does come up."
"Steve, mate. Hasn't really been an option up until this point, but I'm gonna see if we can shepherd this bloody thing around with heat. You might wanna record this shit. Could be handy to know. Hopefully it goes down and burns the other poor pricks. Or at least the hell away from me."
Crawl to the junction, check each tunnel with lights and see what awaits. Is there anything that could have caused the rumbling? Watch the ceiling for eater presence.You crawl into place and look down the tunnels, most are the same but the one off to your left, basically no bigger then your shoulders, has faint light coming from it, and a gentle breeze.
"I have a few tunnels, one going straight down. I'm gonna check and see if I can find anything related to the rumbling."
I-I don't think a gauss rifle was the best weapon to pick on this mission... The laser would be a better alternative against the eater...About all you can make out is a faint inner glow.
Regret weapon choicewhilst backing away from the mound of semi-molten sand. No, scratch that, cautiously advance and peer into the semi-molten glass if possible from a "safe-ish" distance.
((Completely forgot, but did Steve give me back my cutting torch from a while back? It may be useful as a makeshift heat source... Otherwise, I suppose could remove the solenoid coil from the rifle and make a makeshift radiator from it... Running a constant current should through it should produce a fair amount of heat. Should have thought of this sooner, but oh well..))
Chill in the dark, watch out for Timmy.You twiddle your thumbs, happy not to be with the rest of the team.
Use baton/shield to crack the top off of the mound so that the eater can melt itself out a bit so we can actually drag it rather than being stuck with a big lump-o-glass, jump back if the eater does anything or heat unbearableYou charge in and start slapping at the mound with your shield and baton, coating them in molten glass, trying to get the eater out before it entombs itself. Your tools start to melt from the heat.
Start heating the mound while waiting for eater to surface, heat eater again once surfaced, also check battery, as well as the fuel for the generatorBattery is at 0, but the generator is providing power and has about 4/5ths it's tank left.
Return to the intersection and mark the way back with an arrow so I don't get lost. Then investigate the largest branching tunnel.You forgot my action. Perform this action.
Rescue Chief and Han if the usual happens.
"Gorat! Couldn't you just get the bloody thing out with your rockets? I'll smash it open with my kinetic amp after that if you want. Should be a piece of piss."
Maintain firing position, charge Con bonus while preparing to give covering fire to crew members if the Eater emerges.
"Soooo, it's trapped itself in a glass.... Probably a sphere.... Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Continue heating until the group has decided the next move, maybe be prepared to duck and cover vitals incase of glass sphere explosionYour heat isn't enough to really do anything to the glass, you're kinda just wasting energy at this point.
The largest tunnel leads away and then down into another near vertical shaft. There's only darkness below, but there are some unpleasant sounds down there. A crackling like cooling glass.Return to the intersection and mark the way back with an arrow so I don't get lost. Then investigate the largest branching tunnel.You forgot my action. Perform this action.
Rescue Chief and Han if the usual happens.
"Uh Steve, we kinda borked the mission, well it is trapped in about a ton of glass or so umm you have a tow truck you can send?">You've got tools, just cut enough of it away to drag the thing.
stop beating on the thing of glass, message steve
Find Han, where'er he may be.You reconnect with Han. Physically, at least. Emotionally, you don't know if you'll ever get over what he's done.
Failing that, locate Dubley.
And if that doesn't work either, go down the tunnel I'm currently in, but tread carefully. Observe any changes in the walls. Is it just the minerals being funny (in which case they probably should start looking different some distance down the line) or does the whole thing look more sinisterly magical than that?
Carefully approach the glass mound. Consider reasonable ways to transport it. Retreat if cracks are starting to show.The easiest way seems to be slicing it down until you have a reasonable sized glass coffin with the eater inside and then dragging it.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Another Night (click to show/hide)
Hmm... I wonder...[5+1]
Attempt to dismantle the gauss rifle and repurpose the solenoid coil as a heat source, as stated in the ramblings in my previous post.Spoiler: Previous Post (click to show/hide)
((Got a +1 bonus to Handiwork... I hope I can do this out in the middle of nowhere with few tools. If Kai survives this mission, I'll try to give him a proper toolkit for use on future missions. If he survives.))
"Gorat! Couldn't you just get the bloody thing out with your rockets? I'll smash it open with my kinetic amp after that if you want. Should be a piece of piss."Maintaining
Maintain firing position, charge Con bonus while preparing to give covering fire to crew members if the Eater emerges.
I'm just gonna keep guarding this here hole in the desert.Position.
"Tek supposes we could transport this thing if we broke it into a smaller piece of glass, perhaps using kinetic amps."Right now? Sorta a light pinkish with tinges of fading dark blue from the night over on the opposite horizon. Though it's a light blue normally, during the day.
What color is the sky, anyway?
"Well, we have a lot of heating implements and at least one kinetic amp, Tek thinks. Could we just heat up a slice of the glass to partially melt it and then remove that section using a kinetic amp?"Good idea tek tell me when you're ready"
"For example, melting the middle section of a block of metal creates two separate halves of metal, both halves still solid and transportable. By applying this several times to the chunk of glass we could create separate and increasingly small chunks of glass, heavy but easily removable by force (such as with a kinetic amp and the entire effort of the team) until only a small Eater-prison chunk is left.
"Tek offers to use his MFM for this."
If no one makes to stop him or suggest something else, Tek melts an extremely thin slice of glass about a quarter from one of the mound's edges, allowing a quarter of the mound to be removed by the team. If a quarter turns out to not be reasonable to move, use eighths. Repeat until only a small section of glass is left containing the Eater.
"Ya know that laser I've got? The one that I've been firing at shit the whole time and isn't liable to fuck this thing up entirely if you have a sodding brain-fart and forget to carry the one? Yeah, if your head explodes, I reckon we use that instead."
"Well, we have a lot of heating implements and at least one kinetic amp, Tek thinks. Could we just heat up a slice of the glass to partially melt it and then remove that section using a kinetic amp?You slice a chunk of the glass mound off and it slides down, samurai movie style, and lands heavily in the sand. You do it a few more times, shaving the mound away. The resulting glass tomb is larger then you'd have liked, but you at least didn't hit the body inside.
"For example, melting the middle section of a block of metal creates two separate halves of metal, both halves still solid and transportable. By applying this several times to the chunk of glass we could create separate and increasingly small chunks of glass, heavy but easily removable by force (such as with a kinetic amp and the entire effort of the team) until only a small Eater-prison chunk is left.
"Tek offers to use his MFM for this."
If no one makes to stop him or suggest something else, Tek melts an extremely thin slice of glass about a quarter from one of the mound's edges, allowing a quarter of the mound to be removed by the team. If a quarter turns out to not be reasonable to move, use eighths. Repeat until only a small section of glass is left containing the Eater.
Turn heat gun off and let the generator charge it "would it be possible to roll it?"Charging
You help drag away the severed sections of the glass mound."Well, we have a lot of heating implements and at least one kinetic amp, Tek thinks. Could we just heat up a slice of the glass to partially melt it and then remove that section using a kinetic amp?"Good idea tek tell me when you're ready"
"For example, melting the middle section of a block of metal creates two separate halves of metal, both halves still solid and transportable. By applying this several times to the chunk of glass we could create separate and increasingly small chunks of glass, heavy but easily removable by force (such as with a kinetic amp and the entire effort of the team) until only a small Eater-prison chunk is left.
"Tek offers to use his MFM for this."
If no one makes to stop him or suggest something else, Tek melts an extremely thin slice of glass about a quarter from one of the mound's edges, allowing a quarter of the mound to be removed by the team. If a quarter turns out to not be reasonable to move, use eighths. Repeat until only a small section of glass is left containing the Eater.
When sliver ready for removal hook shield into the top of the gap and pull out quickly
"Ya know that laser I've got? The one that I've been firing at shit the whole time and isn't liable to fuck this thing up entirely if you have a sodding brain-fart and forget to carry the one? Yeah, if your head explodes, I reckon we use that instead."We'll say you shave it down to a more reasonable size.
Use laser rifle on beam/100% setting to cut the glass that the Eater/half-vaped-Dern is encased in into a nice cylinder shape. Don't cut too close to the Eater and leave a bit at each end (Top/bottom). Round the top and bottom off a bit so we can slide it if necessary. Let the rest of the team remove cut glass chunks as necessary (ie, don't fire at them, just the glass mound).
"Yeah, help us pull this bastard out when I'm done. Dig it out or something. We'll roll the cunt the rest of the way. Once he's out, I'll easy-bake the prick as we're moving. Should be able to get him pretty damn hot without slagging the glass."
((ps, I've got my dynamic Con bonus and +1 Con, so it should be fine. Unless the Eater wakes up or goes all mind-rapey on us.))
"Well, time to go."You pop back into existence about 100 feet from where you disappeared. Neat.
Take two steps up, then hit the button and get out of the void.
"Okay guys, go for it."I didn't see the "l" in peeling at first.
Watch the peeling of the Eater. Shout to stop Sambo if he seems to get into dangerous territory.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Another Night (click to show/hide)
"Wish me luck, I'm going down!"
Turn on light light amps. Slowly hover down the vertical tunnel.
Keep my pickaxe ready. If I begin falling for whatever reason, strike the side of the tunnel and hold on tight.
If things get dangerous, then rocket out of the tunnel.
"I have a source of light and breeze. Investigating."
If possible to send datapad first on length of rope, check the breeze-tunnel, and if safe explore it. Otherwise, cautiously make my way into the tunnel, tesla saber as accessible as possible without being in danger of losing it, and explore the tunnel. Find out what's at the far end, if possible. Take video if I'm not automatically doing so.
Observe Han's explorations, but hold a respectful distance from him and his lightning sword. Aid him with the rope-camera-light probe I made, since I assume that's what he meant with the datapad and rope.You're in the middle of tying the datapad to the rope when the room starts to shake. The temperature sensors in your suit beep as the temp increases by several degrees. Several tunnels near you begin to glow with distant light.
(How's this idea sound, people?)
Look into fashioning some sort of cart or sling to help move this giant man-shaped hunk of glass around. Failing that, get with a couple others and start moving this damn alien piece of crap towards our destination.
((Correction. I have Space-gaffer-tape. Like gaffer-tape, only stronger, more heat-resistant and better in every single way.))
"Oi, Tek ya bastard? Yah want me to keep lasering this bloody thing to smooth it on down, or you just want to brain-fart at it to do it? I reckon we just rig it to move and I'll keep the glass hot as hell on the way there. It'll be like a giant-lumpy-glass-alien-butt-plug, but I'm not the poor cunt hauling it to the hole."
((Bwuhh, net died for days ._. I'm lost as to my bearings.))
Um...stand guard and assist the group: ask what I could do?
Still guarding that hole in the desert. With my Shackle, I'm like the desert's chastity belt. Also, help people out of the hole if they need help.Ya already let three people in that hole. At the same time.
(How's this idea sound, people?)
Look into fashioning some sort of cart or sling to help move this giant man-shaped hunk of glass around. Failing that, get with a couple others and start moving this damn alien piece of crap towards our destination.
((Well, that's what I get for not striking out actions I suppose. Went well all the same at least-- interesting that the MFM can be used in this way.))(How's this idea sound, people?)
Look into fashioning some sort of cart or sling to help move this giant man-shaped hunk of glass around. Failing that, get with a couple others and start moving this damn alien piece of crap towards our destination.
((Makes sense to me. Someone also mentioned making the glass chunk cylindrical so that it can be rolled, which might be neat if someone wants to do that.))
Assist with creationof cart (or failing that, a sling) assuming we have the supplies.of a sled completely out of gaffer tape and some riot shields!Otherwise... push.
Help with the creation of a cart
((Correction. I have Space-gaffer-tape. Like gaffer-tape, only stronger, more heat-resistant and better in every single way.))
"Oi, Tek ya bastard? Yah want me to keep lasering this bloody thing to smooth it on down, or you just want to brain-fart at it to do it? I reckon we just rig it to move and I'll keep the glass hot as hell on the way there. It'll be like a giant-lumpy-glass-alien-butt-plug, but I'm not the poor cunt hauling it to the hole."
Chuck space-gaffer-tape to whoever is rigging this thing for hauling. Turn laser rifle down to 40%/medium-wide dispersion, start heating alien butt-plug with bonus Eater inside. Spread the heat around so the glass doesn't crack. Don't shoot people, just the glass "object of interest". Wait unit they've finished rigging it properly first. Then heat it at 40%. Once it's warm, heat it at 60%. Then heat it at 80%. Stop and kick down the laser rifle settings a notch and continue if space-gaffer-tape rigging starts getting broken/melting, or glass starts cracking. Essentially, make Eater-glass-cylinder hot, vaguely safely.
Walk back to the group, and stand guard over the people constructing the sled. Keep an eye on the horizon, and charge an exo bonus.
"You guys try building that sled. That's a good idea. Just make sure that, unlike me, you're good at that handiwork thing."
Stand guard.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Another Night (click to show/hide)
Assist with whatever means of Eater transport that is being made. Make notes first.(Not very, its sort of a smokey gray color. You can see the eater but not very clearly. Good thing this thing doesn't need to breathe, apparently)
((How transparent is the glass, btw?))
((Bwuhh, net died for days ._. I'm lost as to my bearings.))
Um...stand guard and assist the group: ask what I could do?
"Chief, Han, get the hell out of here!"
Rocket out of the tunnels. Grab Chief and Han as I escape.
Get out as fast as I can, accept help if offered.
"Let's get out of here!"
"Eater tunnels seem volatile. Noted."
Get out of there at a decent clip back to our access point. Have the skeleton guy pull us out of the hole if Dubley's not there yet. Try not to get punched in half if Dubley tries to catch me in the tunnels. In fact, if I see him rocketing at me at an unsafe speed, try to dodge.
((Psh, they were in there before I started guarding the hole. My record is untarnished. Hell, three things came out of the hole at the same time while I was guarding. That makes me like a super chastity belt. :P))Still guarding that hole in the desert. With my Shackle, I'm like the desert's chastity belt. Also, help people out of the hole if they need help.Ya already let three people in that hole. At the same time.
You're a terrible chastity belt.
Assist with whatever means of Eater transport that is being made. Make notes first.(Not very, its sort of a smokey gray color. You can see the eater but not very clearly. Good thing this thing doesn't need to breathe, apparently)
((How transparent is the glass, btw?))
Solid work, people! Let's get this thing moving!
Load the sled, and get a crew together to continue moving this thing towards our destination. If we've got the manpower, set up two different crews to pull it, so that one may rest while the other hauls the load.
Pull the sled! Hnnnnnnngg-!
"That went surprisingly well."
Onwards to the next marker.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Another Night (click to show/hide)
Participate in first pull shift "When in Neo-Rome I guess"
Great, manual labor. Tek was bursting with enthusiasm.
Pull sled. How are we doing on daylight?
"I guess I'm pulling the sled now."
Pull the sled if there's room and keep an eye on the eater.
"Fuck you lot, I'm not pulling shit. I'm keeping this fucking thing hot, as per the fucking instructions. Start moving cunts, I'm a fucken good aim."
Follow behind my "occaisionally paid workers" (ie:slaves/ARM team personnel) with me firing my laser rifle on 40%/medium-high dispersion at the glass cylinder on the sled in bursts, to keep it hot. Stop firing for a bit if the gaffer-tape starts melting. Occasionally say "Pull, bitches", "Whiiitchaaa!", or click my fingers when I think it's appropriate. Occasionally point in the direction of travel or at my groin between laser bursts, whilst saying above phrases.
"Hrmm. That actually worked. Impressive."
Guard the sled as it moves, keeping watch on the horizon for movement.
help pull sled with magnificent muscels
Assist with whatever means of Eater transport that is being made. Make notes first.(Not very, its sort of a smokey gray color. You can see the eater but not very clearly. Good thing this thing doesn't need to breathe, apparently)
((How transparent is the glass, btw?))
((I was just thinking that if we managed to get the eater upright and lit a lamp or fire underneath it, it would lookterrifyingawesome.))
Assist with sled pulling when necessary.
Go faster.
Go faster.Follow Dubley. Hope we don't encounter any boxes on our way.
Assist in sled creation.((Bwuhh, net died for days ._. I'm lost as to my bearings.))
Um...stand guard and assist the group: ask what I could do?
"Huh? Oh hello. Tek thinks someone said your name was Feyri? Tek is Tek. Right now we are attempting to create a sled. You could certainly assist us with that if you like.
...
Hey, are you feeling alright? You seem to be in a fugue-like state much of the time."
If the AI is aware of the group's location relative to the pit of Eater-killing, can it list our progress as a percentage?And repeated this one to make sure it's noticed.
Onward to the other team! See if we can't stop by the cold, shadowy building on the way... if it's still there, of course.
Go faster.Follow Dubley. Hope we don't encounter any boxes on our way.
Go faster.
Go faster.You guys run yourselves stupid through the desert. It's not so bad with your suits; they keep things comfortably cool as long as they don't have to contend with the supernatural heat of extraterrestrial fire elementals. You eventually make it to the shaded structure that the other team passed before.
((My guy would be happy to stay. Assistance would be awesome as long as we don't spread ourselves too thin. Perhaps the other diggers can help Tek when they catch up.))
Tek was fascinated by the sunken building. There was undoubtedly interesting tech and cultural fragments buried just under the sand! His curiosity was too much: he would have to stay and excavate.
"Tek will stay here and attempt to uncover a portion of this building. Does anyone want to help? He requests some gaffer tape."
If gaffer tape is provided, create a shovel using that and begin digging close to the building, attempting to uncover a doorway or window. Using the MFM, create walls of glass as thinly and safely as possible (while still functional) to hold back the sand. If the small glass barriers are insufficient, anchor them with tape or replace them with tape entirely.
If Tek ever feels the calculations getting too much for him, he will stop and rest before continuing EDIT: or switch over to tape completely if it is simply too dangerous.
Edit 12/30: to clarify, the goal here is not to excavate the whole building. Rather, it is to find a window where a room can be accessed and dug out, or to find inscriptions on the exterior of the building.
Lastly, Tek pings Steve for a status update. If the AI is aware of the group's location relative to the pit of Eater-killing, can it list our progress as a percentage?
((Bad net precluded any progress here lately :-X))Assist in sled creation.((Bwuhh, net died for days ._. I'm lost as to my bearings.))
Um...stand guard and assist the group: ask what I could do?
"Huh? Oh hello. Tek thinks someone said your name was Feyri? Tek is Tek. Right now we are attempting to create a sled. You could certainly assist us with that if you like.
...
Hey, are you feeling alright? You seem to be in a fugue-like state much of the time."
Or...assist in other needs of the team!
Just disoriented, is all. Very disoriented. Will explain later on.
My question is this; shall we skip the whole other two shifts and just assume you guys settled down as usual and time progressed until the eater started stirring?I'm game.
Examine the shaded building, survey its environs. Wander around in it for a bit, but stay away from deep, dark shadows.
Unless it's nighttime, of course. If it's nighttime, examine how the building affects light in its immediate area.
EDIT: If the place doesn't look overly dangerous, take some samples of the walls with my array of miscellaneous tools.
Do a quick search of the building for any artifacts or engravings or secret passages or anything. If nothing interesting is found, then hurry quickedly to catch up with the main group.The cold is a bit odd; though the building itself, not much more then a stone slab held up by pillars, is rather uninteresting. Anything on it has been worn away by time. Though, maybe if you dug away some sand near the pillars you might find some better preserved areas, unaffected by the wind.
Tek stopped for a moment in wonder. He had heard, just for a second, the voice of the being behind the comb whisper divine wisdom in his unworthy ear. But the astonished tech-diver paused only a moment in rapture-- there was looting to be done!You brush away some sand and cut carefully into the roof, carving a sort of lopsided oval into the stone. The chuck of rock cracks and falls into the darkness below. Judging from the sound, it's not an insignificant distance. You shine your suit lights down into the void. About 15-20 feet down is a stone floor partially covered in sand, with the broken remains of the circular plug you just cut out scattered across it. You stick your head in and look around: The stone that makes up the building appears fairly normal; clearly cut and put in place, with what appear to be faded paintings and still sharp engravings scattered about in some areas. There are odd marks on the walls as well, small, seemingly carved trails which trace random patterns across the walls like bark beetle tunnels.
Okay thanks pw, cut in from the top then. Then, excavate using the method described in my previous post. But hurry!! Before the others come and steal the loot!!!
Help Tek with exploration, otherwise run to catch up with the group.I believe you may be mistaking which group and which ruin you're currently residing in.
Let's do the timewarpskip again
Time skip to third watch. Since this has happened a few times before, assume Sambo has decided to heat up the glass cylinder a fair bit before it all goes down. From about 30' away, on 60% laser power, medium/high dispersion if it helps any. Suit lights on the Eater cylinder while I'm doing it.
"I reckon we've got the damn thing licked this time for sure."
((For sure....... :p))
Aid in the third watch
((Sorry, real busy and Happy New Year!))
Take first watch.Ie the "I would like to be asleep when everything goes bad" position. There's a sexual joke in there somewhere.
Time skip.
third shift time skip
On the the nextcatastrophenightSpoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Dashing through the sand (click to show/hide)
Amazing. Amazing! Tek felt he had definitely hit the jackpot here: interesting cultural relics certainly deserving of closer examination as well as the possibility of more traditional "loot."This seems rather complex...lets see..
As for the drop... he had an idea for that. Tek was beginning to like his MFM, purchased on a whim. When used sensibly, there didn't seem to be much danger. But was his plan sensible? He wasn't sure of that, but he was sure that the results would speak for themselves either way.
Lastly, Tek briefly wondered how the main group was doing. Eh, things were probably fine over there, he decided.
Push a good amount of sand into the opening. Then, turn the mound to glass. Then, begin creating a short staircase from the mound (complete with handrails, if possible) using a more delicate version of the slicing method used on the Eater mound. Just do a little bit at a time, no need to overload the old brain.
"Have found anomalous source of cold. Should investigate thoroughly before moving on, maybe made by some object. We must dig down."
Try digging down toward the source. Is the decrease in temperature sharp as I probe downward, or is it gradual?
Enlist aid of whatever confused teammates are available as I do this.
Help Chief dig. Guess we're not getting caught up with the other groups.You start digging deeper into the sand under the building. The temperature change begins gradually, but as you get deeper it becomes drastic. It gets far colder then it should have any right to be, below freezing only a few feet down and dropping even lower below that. By the time the hole starts to become impossible to keep open due to sand collapses, the temp is something like -50 C
Good thing I was sleeping exactly thirty-ONE feet from the Eater! If I'm on fire, bravely roll away away from the Eater until I'm doused, then hop up and try to stay as far out of his way as I can if he starts to move.Luckily being on fire isn't so bad in a suit. But you promptly turn tail and retreat regardless.
Wake up and look at the eater.
Erm... th-that c-can't be good...
Hurriedly back away and take notes.
Wake up and look at the eater.
Erm... th-that c-can't be good...
Hurriedly back away and take notes.
RUN AWAY FROM FIRETHULU
"Retreat!"You all back off, with various degrees of hysterical screaming and running.
Retreat out of the immediate danger zone.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Retreating (click to show/hide)
Back away. See what the Eater does, scan the night sky/horizon for what might be setting this thing off.You look around, making sure to take some shots of the sky using your suit camera, for comparison and examination later. The thing which stands out to you the most is what looks like a planet or other large celestial object off semi-near the horizon to the north. It looks like a large, reddish star, probably a large or nearby planet though.
"Mother fucker! And I thought getting up for a piss in the night was tension relieving like. This cunt's got some dick disease or something. It burns....."Well minimum dispersion and 80% is basically a straight laser shot so...
Back away from the Eater, lie down in the sand and roll around a bit if there's any flames or burny bits to be put out on my suit. Take aim at the Eater and fire on 80%, minimum dispersion (not beam) with my laser rifle. Aim at the general region of it's genitals. Keep my lights on it while firing.
"Take this, you diseased alien slut!"
((just because laser rifle fire has done nothing so far, it doesn't mean I shouldn't keep using it. If anything, it means I should. There is the slight possibility that it stores heat/laser energy until/during its' next hissy-fit, but whatever....))
"Watch the surrounding area! It's calling for help! And Steve isn't coming for us you idiot! And besides, bad things happen if it flies, or moves too fast, and shit's pretty bad right now, so stop trying to dig us deeper!"NOT WORKING! NOT WORKING!
Turn the volume on my megaphone as high as it will go, and shout the "Follow" command to the Eater. If it starts to follow, ask Steve for direction to the next waypoint, and lead the eater on. If it doesn't follow, watch the surrounding area for movement, and charge an Exo bonus as I do so.
((HEY, DON'T FORGET TO LOOT DERN'S CORPSE, IF YA HAVEN'T ALREADY. HE'S GOT A CUTTING LASER, KINAMP, AND MPC SUIT.))((I imagine the laser may have been left in the desert [Maybe PW will give it if we ask nicely, but I'm not interested], and the rest was consumed in glorious, glorious fire. He did turn to ashes, after all.))
Diggy diggy hole. Use the same method as digging to the tunnels. Melt the sand or blow it away using a maneuvering rocket set to very low.
Also check my fuel levels.
((I wouldn't suppose anyone is skilled enough to slice or blow off that arm with the amp?))((Probably a bad idea, but worth a shot. The eater can take some damage. Maybe just the fist/hand?))
"Very interesting."You sure it up and dig deeper. It keeps getting colder, sinking into the -150 c's before starting to stabilize. Eventually you hit a surface black, fused sand, not unlike the tunnels you found earlier.
See if I can't use loose stones (made loose by available tools if needed) + Dubley's duct tape to construct minor walls to keep the sand at bay as we dig deeper.
If not, simply dig the pit wider to get an optimal angle for the falling sand.
((Sambo died? Fucking shame.))You forget how your manipulator works and spend several seconds trying to get it to respond to voice commands and screen gestures.
Tek felt the equations getting away from him. The stairs were too complex-- the MFM had spoken.
Try turning it into a gradual slide instead. That should be easier, right? Assuming it works, slide down into the pit and examine the paintings and engravings. What do the paintings depict? Are the engravings in a language similar to any others that Tek knows? If the language is unknown, ask Steve to translate. Make sure to capture everything for later analysis by Tekwhenif he returns to the ship.
Edit: also, ask our robotic overlord how exactly the Eater must be killed when it is transported to the pit.
Turn on improvised heater and point it at Ex-Sambo. Also turn pale with fear.A bit like trying to stop a glacier with a hair dryer.
((probably won't make too much of a difference, but worth a try.))
Gorat, sandbag the Eater again! Morul, give it a little shove downward with your amp, but for the love of God don't overdo it! Maybe we can at least slow it down. Where the hell is Tek?Steve has no information on what you're taking about and, through triangulation with your image, discover that the area you're looking at should be empty. Whatever that glow is, it's not a planet. It's not even a large asteroid. It's something entirely different.
Steve, what can you tell me about that reddish planet-moon-thing on the horizon? Any cultural or historical significance, active transmissions, that sort of thing?
((HEY, DON'T FORGET TO LOOT DERN'S CORPSE, IF YA HAVEN'T ALREADY. HE'S GOT A CUTTING LASER, KINAMP, AND MPC SUIT.))This got done in an earlier post, I'm just replying because of the yogscast reference.
Diggy diggy hole. Use the same method as digging to the tunnels. Melt the sand or blow it away using a maneuvering rocket set to very low.
Also check my fuel levels.
((Was it Sambo, or Tek's Generator that I was borrowing? If it was Sambo's, does that make it mine now? =P... Also, I am still confused as to what we are supposed to do once we get the eater to the location)) Stay nearby to help out if I am needed, otherwise stay out of the new eaterYou do a little jig off away from the danger, along with GUNINANRUNIN
"## you ###ing ####ers! ##### you!"Woo boy, an actual action! Lets see...
Since this worked so well last time, try containing it in sand again by amp-shoveling.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Retreating (click to show/hide)
Try turning it into a gradual slide instead. That should be easier, right? Assuming it works, slide down into the pit and examine the paintings and engravings. What do the paintings depict? Are the engravings in a language similar to any others that Tek knows? If the language is unknown, ask Steve to translate. Make sure to capture everything for later analysis by Tekwhenif he returns to the ship.
Edit: also, ask our robotic overlord how exactly the Eater must be killed when it is transported to the pit.
Allow Dubley to penetrate into the Tunnel of Cold. Possibly help if he doesn't do too well.(http://emotibot.net/pix/6962.gif)
Tek experienced a brief lapse of reason-- "...NO GODDAMN IT FUTURE SIRI FREAKING WORK ARGLEARRGH..."-- before remembering how to use the MFM.Wait.
He calmed down and tried again:Try turning it into a gradual slide instead. That should be easier, right? Assuming it works, slide down into the pit and examine the paintings and engravings. What do the paintings depict? Are the engravings in a language similar to any others that Tek knows? If the language is unknown, ask Steve to translate. Make sure to capture everything for later analysis by Tekwhenif he returns to the ship.
Edit: also, ask our robotic overlord how exactly the Eater must be killed when it is transported to the pit.
Pickaxe through the stone layer.You can not see it.
Also, can I see the red not-planet from here?
((Assuming Han is with the rest of the team.))Han is with Chief and Dubley. Don't you try to teleport you lazy person.
"Uh, guys... If that isn't a planet... is it maybe related to the eater? I hope not, but I suppose it's possible?"
RUN. PW SAID RUN. I AM RUNNING.
((Not lazy, just unclear on location. Kinda glad he's not there, though.))((Assuming Han is with the rest of the team.))Han is with Chief and Dubley. Don't you try to teleport you lazy person.
"Uh, guys... If that isn't a planet... is it maybe related to the eater? I hope not, but I suppose it's possible?"
RUN. PW SAID RUN. I AM RUNNING.
Is....is it a giant space fireball?((Ladies, gentlemen, members of ARM, we may be witnessing the true meaning of Inferno Mode.))
Run away! But stay within site of teammates and eater "Other than sanding it, which most of us can't do, how are we able to restrain it?"Fuck if I know, but if we're in the path of (what is probably) a fireball that's so fucking big we can see it from space, we have to do something! Inaction is death! Will the Eater follow commands?
((EDIT: Arghhh just remembered that the razor is also unconventional... oh well.))
Tek realized something: he had no idea how to use this manipulator thingy! This entire time he had just been pushing random buttons.
It was true that he had some successes before (mainly due to the fact that he didn't understand that he didn't understand it, and thus understood it), but it seemed his illogic was catching up with him.
In light of this, Tek decided to carve some stairs into the mound with his razor. He would carve out one step (the topmost), step onto it, and then carve the next one and step onto that, and repeat until he was at the bottom.
"Dubs, do not use laser. May anger spirits of earth, agitate artifacts, hurt you, me or early brain death people. May not work in the first place. Have alternative plans. Will listen?"
Step (or climb) away from Dubley's impending laser bonanza.
If he starts cutting with his laser, step away further.
If his efforts fail or he opts to not cut with the laser, see if I can't get through the glass with these methods:
1. with my own mundane tools (such as using an awl plus a hammer to try and chisel through the layer carefully, or a crowbar in a similar manner as a pickaxe).
2. if the first method doesn't work, try it by pointing the civilian gauss sniper rifle to the ground vertically to fire off a penetrating shot, though it'd have to be Dubley who does the firing in this event due to his greater familiarity with firearm safety.
Also, check if Steve has the location of this place recorded for potential later utility.
"Fine. No laser."Dubley takes the Pick and flips it to the other side before planting his feet in a wide stance. After a few practice swings he brings down a full blow on the rock shell, punching straight through it in one blow. The instant it's open the area around the hole starts to visibly ice over with frozen oxygen and nitrogen.
Pick up the broken piece of my pickaxe. Gonna have to get this repaired.
Is the pickaxe double sided? if so I could probably mine with the other side.
Otherwise follow Chief's plan.
It appears to be somewhere in the upper atmosphere, but it's hard to monitor. It seems to, judging by thermals, be traveling around the continent, specifically the desert area in wide circles, as though searching for something.Run away! But stay within site of teammates and eater "Other than sanding it, which most of us can't do, how are we able to restrain it?"Fuck if I know, but if we're in the path of (what is probably) a fireball that's so fucking big we can see it from space, we have to do something! Inaction is death! Will the Eater follow commands?
Can Steve give us a reading on the giant sky-ball, determine what it is...or determine a projected impact point? Maybe this is how we kill it, when the "Sun" is directly overhead it'll crash down! Try to get the Eater to follow me without using violence!
Is....is it a giant space fireball?((Ladies, gentlemen, members of ARM, we may be witnessing the true meaning of Inferno Mode.))
"Can't sand the guy if I'm roasted, can I?"
Try sanding Samboefreet again.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Retreating (click to show/hide)
"hmm. Interesting."
"010001100101010101000011010010110010000100100001. DAMNRAZORCOMBDAMNIT!"[1]
Cauterize the wounds with the MFM! This can only go well!
EDIT: push the damn buttons with his tongue if he needs to. Just do it!
"hmm. Interesting."
Back away from the hole and observe what happens.
The cold effect appears to be flowing out of the hole, icing over the edges and sand around it. It's slowly starting to build ice up over the hole as well; it's only a matter of time before it seals itself."hmm. Interesting."
"Agreed."
Back away as well. Observe the icing effect - does it appear at the edges, or is the entire hole just filling out?
Stasis button time. Or running time if for some reason the stasis suit won't do.Your stasis button time is still set to like 1 minute, I'll remind you. Might want to adjust that real fast.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Retreating (click to show/hide)
"Anyone have anything to the likes of a fan? We need to help keep the eater within this glass!" Stay far enough away from the eater so that if it causes an explosion of molten glass I might have time to protect my vitals, but close enough that I might help sand it if I acquire the right tools "I'm taking your lead Gorat, but if you get us killed, so help me space Jesus I will haunt you for the rest of the afterlife" Also check to see if there is anything on the heat gun that would up how much hot air it pushes and see if I can use that to blow sand in the eaters direction but DO NOT BE THE CLOSEST PERSON TO THE EATERI suppose you could hook it up to the suit's power and drain that to overpower the heat gun. Would probably destroy the heat gun in the long run, more then likely damage the suit too, but it's something.
"Hm. Dubs, make sure there is way out at all times. I will check inside.""Sure. Be careful down there Chief. Remember not to lean against anything."
I suppose you could hook it up to the suit's power and drain that to overpower the heat gun. Would probably destroy the heat gun in the long run, more then likely damage the suit too, but it's something.
((True, it hasn't really tried to kill us of its own initiative. It probably just wants to escape into space. At the same time, though, Steve told us that a previous Eater's ascendance was responsible for a good chunk of the desert on this planet and also (I think) the destruction of at least one city.((Yeah, the majority of us don't really have the right tools for the job. At least not obvious tools like the manips and amps used so far.))
Imagine what that kind of force would look like at ground-zero for our characters. I think it's important to contain this thing both for our characters' health (excluding mine-- mine is completely hopeless) and for this planet's civilization. My question is: how to do it? Gorat's sandballing action seemed mostly successful, but definitely has to be reinforced by something as the Eater continues to try to escape.
EDIT: Taddok has a flashbang. Maybe...? Nah.))
((Did my action get ignored? :-\ ))((Mine too, although there's not much I could have done really.))
MORE RUNNING COMMANDSif they didn't affect things very much.))
We'll assume you all just keep running.
((The one time I played with the dial, I undid it again (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=108083.msg5650166#msg5650166), and before that, you said "over an hour (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=108083.msg5560345#msg5560345)". So unless the suit is even stranger than expected, it should still be in the hour range.))You punch the button, hoping it will protect you. Everything goes black.
Stasis out for the hour that the suit should still be set to.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Staaasiiiis (click to show/hide)
"Hm. Dubs, make sure there is way out at all times. I will check inside."You stick your hand in. It doesn't feel cold, so you shrug, knock some of the ice away and leap in. The hole is much larger then you expected, the "floor" you saw before jumping in was nothing but a layer of ice. Luckily it is filled with a strange powdery web of frozen gases which shatter as you fall through them, slowing your descent. When you finally do hit the bottom, you've fallen more then 20 meters and are now laying on the bottom of a massive empty area which is visibly far colder then it should be. You can't see very far due to a haze of frozen and semi-frozen gases, but you get the distinct feeling this is quite a large structure.
Put the hand in the hole. Does it start to feel cold inside the suit?
If not, try to descend into hole if the inside isn't full of ice.
If yes, and the hole isn't entirely filled with ice, try putting the light plus camera probe in there and surveying the inside.
Steve, we are VERY rapidly losing all control over the Eater. It should settle down once the sun rises, but we're in a damn hard spot right now.>There's not a whole lot I can do. These laser cannons don't have a stun setting and it's lot like I can just drop a cages on it or something. Unless you have some grand idea how I can help, you're on your own.
If you've got a card to play, now's the time.
...maybe it won't murder us?
You watch the Chief tumble down into the darkness and shake your head. Rescue seems like a very probably need."Hm. Dubs, make sure there is way out at all times. I will check inside.""Sure. Be careful down there Chief. Remember not to lean against anything."
Keep the entrance unblocked, and be ready to rescue Chief if it is needed.
((I just laughed my ass off. On another note, we need Gorat to not go into stasis and instead try to sandcastle the Eater again. It is our best shot! You can trust my reasoning: I'm the guy whose character is on fire and missing several limbs.))ooooo Well there's plenty of contact with open tissue so I suppose this will work! Lets see...
This was definitely Tek's worst day ever. Sometimes he felt that some uncaring God was drunk when he was created. Tek wasn't pondering that right now, of course: mostly his thoughts consisted of inarticulate screaming.Wheww man. Wow. Uhh let's see. Take off the suit as best as possible and start rolling around? Yeah, that sounds good.
EDIT: Also,drink potiondouse self with potion number 23 real quick.
I suppose you could hook it up to the suit's power and drain that to overpower the heat gun. Would probably destroy the heat gun in the long run, more then likely damage the suit too, but it's something.
"Oh god damnit, I'm going to die in this hell hole... This planet better be useful in this war!
Do the thing! (And by the thing, I mean overpower my heat gun using the power from my suit, and try and blow as much sand into the eater sand ball as I can) "Hey Steve! Is there any spare amp users who could help back us up? We have found a containment method that sort of works. Containing the eater in sand seems to work, but it tries to break out, so we need to constantly add more sand, so a giant fan or something similar would prove useful as well "
((Did my action get ignored? :-\ ))Nah, I just tend to lump "RUN AWAY!" actions together. Don't worry, no one is stuck any closer then they want to be.
"Yes and now we appear more fucked then before. Let me just check these notes....yep, more fucked."((Did my action get ignored? :-\ ))((Mine too, although there's not much I could have done really.))
Continue making notes on the Eater.
stop running, go back help upon arrivalHelp how?
To Dubley via radio: "Am currently fine, Dubs. Stay up there. Will call for help if in trouble. If I do not report for fifteen minutes, am probably in trouble.""Nope, I'm coming with you.
Successful heating action!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3ALwKeSEYs
Recall on why killing the Eater is a bad thing...((Because if you kill it you will become next Eater.))
((Yeah, I got that :P I mean by how, and the intricaties by which describe its preferred habitat, because I'm thinking 'what if I killed it--being the form of a robot, and lacking any organic tissue in my...body...now?'))Recall on why killing the Eater is a bad thing...((Because if you kill it you will become next Eater.))
((You have your brain still, which is organic.((Yeah, I got that :P I mean by how, and the intricaties by which describe its preferred habitat, because I'm thinking 'what if I killed it--being the form of a robot, and lacking any organic tissue in my...body...now?'))Recall on why killing the Eater is a bad thing...((Because if you kill it you will become next Eater.))
To Dubley via radio: "Am currently fine, Dubs. Stay up there. Will call for help if in trouble. If I do not report for fifteen minutes, am probably in trouble."Honestly the lights of your teammate shining down from the ceiling are a pretty good marker but alright, if you wanna literally strike at the earth.
Mark my position by sticking an awl into the ground. Then start systematically exploring around me. Note the interior geography. Keep eye out for objects.
drink 17 eat the plant too, continue moving back, use shield as shovel to assist with burying eater17 huh?
Warm up the Eater just a tensy bit using my lasor.I don't see a laser on your sheet. At least not one that is usable from a distance.
((Oh god I totally DID risk a 0, well, at least the aux handiwork skills are over)) "Holy shit! That actually worked!?" Keep blasting my heat all over the eaterThe casing of the heat gun has completely melted away from the heating elements and those elements are glowing white hot and starting to look pretty molten themselves. However, the eater is back on the ground and is only struggling weakly.
((Awesome. Just incredible awesomeness. No, it is not a hallucination: Tek is now an undead immortal, his undying frame wreathed in green flame, a harbinger of a new age that has shed the superfluous distinction between life and death. I will hear no other interpretation. Also, Vincent is a hero.))You keep moving forward, but notice that things aren't moving normally. It's almost as though every step you take conveys you to the top of the next sanddune, as though you're walking in some sort of blurred, high speed montage.
As Tek's pain gave way to confused awe, he found himself following his new brethren across the sand. Tek could only wonder how the old teammates would react to the new.
"Thank you. Why have you come?"
Move onwards towards the Eater. Observe whether the undead respond in any way to the question. If still on fire, observe whether it is spreading to the other mummies.
You decide to make it look like they're slapping their bums. Good. Quality work.To Dubley via radio: "Am currently fine, Dubs. Stay up there. Will call for help if in trouble. If I do not report for fifteen minutes, am probably in trouble.""Nope, I'm coming with you.
Jason, Han, keep watch up here."
Pose the less active teammates in a funny pose, as a science experiment.
Then safely hover down to where Chief is. Take a look around.
"Heh, I'm so good at keeping watch that I was doing that before you even mentioned it. I'll try to make sure no boxes full of giant Nazi space bees sneak up on us." Jason chuckles.YOUR POTION RESISTS YOUR ATTEMPTS TO INTIUT IT! CONTINUE SLAPPING YOUR BUM!
Back tozoning outkeeping watch. Resist funny pose attempts. Maybe try to intuit what my potion does.
I Don't think there are any lasers laying around? I'll assume Sambo's melted.Quote from: KedlySuccessful heating action!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3ALwKeSEYs
See if Sambo's (or anyone's) pewpew laser is still available. If so, grab it and heat up the Eater with a wide spread and medium power.
Recall on why killing the Eater is a bad thing, and ponder about if I was being used as the containment for the Eater--pure synthetics and such...Killing it is bad because it then possesses you. And synthetic bodies can be possessed as well. You've still got a brain in there, don't ya? Thats still organic.
Also get to aiding any person in dire need if possible. (ie Getting them into a state of non-danger)
"Guys, someone might want to think of something soon, MY GUN IS MELTING!" Continue firing heat gun until it fails, and then immediately back off to a semi safe distance((Feyri has my raduga. It works as a giant heat gun.))
((Thanks NAV!))"Hey w- be careful with that!"
Steal Feyri's laser gun, heat up the Eater with medium dispersion, gradually turning up power from low to medium so I don't pull a Sambo and blow the Eater away. If it starts getting more active, turn up the heat!
((I think my heat gun is only now working because it is so hot it is melting my gun. Plus I lucked out hooking it up to my suit without breaking anything in the first place. If you want me to melt your Raduga I'm down for it though =P))
Continue onward. Try to reach the edge of this chamber, maintaining the spiraling search pattern.Another 20 minutes and you finally reach one edge. It seems the chamber isn't circular though, since reaching this one edge doesn't bring you to the others. Maybe oval? Maybe some sort of wretched irregular thing. Either way, you've at least reached one wall.
((It's possible that my posting might be irregular for some days. Assuming I fall out of stasis and don't post in a timely manner, feel free to NPC me as necessary.))You'll probably fall out of stasis here next turn. Lets just hope you don't fall out into molten glass.
Tock. Tick.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Staaasiiiis (click to show/hide)
You jump into the hole, not bothering to use your rockets or anything to slow yourself down. The fall is...slightly longer then you expected. You manage to land and roll,flopping gracelessly onto the fused glass floor. It's messy and not very impressive, but you're uninjured."Guys, someone might want to think of something soon, MY GUN IS MELTING!" Continue firing heat gun until it fails, and then immediately back off to a semi safe distance((Feyri has my raduga. It works as a giant heat gun.))
Jump down the hole and join Chief in her exploring. High endurance, robobody, mk3, I should be fine.
((Sorry in advance for long action))You're still missing the bits which were missing before. Hard to say how the walking takes place. You lift your foot forward and you're suddenly on another sand dune. It's almost like you're blinking between them. Or maybe blacking out?
Tek watched uncomprehendingly as he teleported from dune to dune and was somehow now walking instead of being dragged. And doing so on one leg, no less (last time he checked)! This whole situation merited further investigation, he felt.
Firstly, look down at legs. Are they both there? For that matter, how about arms? If both legs are not there, look downward and watch this "walking" process. Is he floating forward? Or skimming across the ground as if pulled by some unknown force? Are the other mummies holding him up and pushing him?
Secondly, begin moving arm in a circular motion at a constant speed such that it takes about a minute to complete a full revolution. Does the timeskip affect him (ie, does the arm not appear to pass through all 360 degrees per complete revolution) or just his surroundings? If it does affect him, mark how long exactly the timeskip is by observing the position of the arm before and after each timeskip.
Thirdly, test functionality of the body by attempting to flex muscles, starting from toes and ending at forehead. Is any portion not functional due to burns or any other circumstance?
Lastly, see if the mummies have some inelligence but simply cannot speak. Try pointing to the left of one, for example, and see if it looks. Also, say "please stop for a second" both in Tek's language and the "stop" command used for the Eater in the local language to see if they understand and follow verbal commands.
hmmmmm poke pearly blob, observe, if it seems safe take a small bite, if that does nothing run up to the eater and chuck a bit at it, if that has a somewhat positive effect throw moreYou poke the blob. It behaves exactly like you would expect a big handful of snot to behave. Which is odd, when you think about it, but mundane enough. You take a small bite and immediately spit it out. It tastes like chalk and...something very unpleasant. You shrug and run towards the Eater, lobbing a glob of the stuff up at it. The goo hits the eater and spreads across it, covering far more of the eater then it really should, as though the ball was about 10 times the mass it appeared to be. The snotty stuff hardens almost instantly into a mother of pearl looking shell, which seems to be able to survive the eater's heat. The goo ball reforms on your hand within 30 seconds, so you throw it again. And again, and again.
Yeah, I'm sure that I don't have a method of dealing with that. Like, say, it just leaping to the nearest other teammate.((Thanks NAV!))"Hey w- be careful with that!"
Steal Feyri's laser gun, heat up the Eater with medium dispersion, gradually turning up power from low to medium so I don't pull a Sambo and blow the Eater away. If it starts getting more active, turn up the heat!
Ponder on the time between 'killing' the Eater and ejecting my brain into its own safety...err, area. Is it a plausible plan? That the 'eater' possesses the synthetic body without a brain (due to the time lapse between its death, the possession, and the ejection of the only organic tissue), and then gets 'trapped' due to lacking organic material inside?
((Thanks NAV!))
Steal Feyri's laser gun, heat up the Eater with medium dispersion, gradually turning up power from low to medium so I don't pull a Sambo and blow the Eater away. If it starts getting more active, turn up the heat!
Use my Micro Amp to heat a section of air far enough away from the Eater that it would radiate enough heat to warm it, but not incinerate it if I overdid it.
Luckily, none of you have to do anything dangerous like that, since someone got lucky with their potion.((I think my heat gun is only now working because it is so hot it is melting my gun. Plus I lucked out hooking it up to my suit without breaking anything in the first place. If you want me to melt your Raduga I'm down for it though =P))
Lend the power source from my ex-gauss rifle, in case it makes a difference.
"Guys, someone might want to think of something soon, MY GUN IS MELTING!" Continue firing heat gun until it fails, and then immediately back off to a semi safe distanceAnd you get away clean. Your heat gun melts, but your suit doesn't overload and you don't get murdered so...hey, all's well that ends well.
back to dragging the eaterDo the same, and double-time it if it looks like we can reach the destination today. If the Eater is too heavy to easily move, CAREFULLY try to trim the sarcophagus down a little.
Commit to aiding this effort. Also examine the sarcophagus.back to dragging the eaterDo the same, and double-time it if it looks like we can reach the destination today. If the Eater is too heavy to easily move, CAREFULLY try to trim the sarcophagus down a little.
"You are here, Dubs. I will follow the wall one way. You follow the other. If anything good or bad is found, give signal."It's sort of an oval shape with bulges and divots that break up the outline a bit.
Follow the wall. Get a sense for the shape of the chamber.
Follow the other wall. Look for interesting things.Air tight? Yes. Thermally insulated well enough to keep the oxygen frozen? No.
Do we have thermally insulated and/or airtight loot boxes? If so, cram a few completely full of frozen oxygen. Make sure they are very well sealed. They should explode when opened.
Tek was still pretty confused, but he wasn't quite ready to give up trying to figure out what was going on.It is controllable in that it can be turned on and off but the distance is always the same: from one sand dune to the next.
See if the transportation effect is consciously controllable. First, try to willfully dampen it. Then, concentrate on an area in the distance and see if that affects anything. If that doesn't work, see if the mummies are doing it by pointing to a distant area and making jumping or teleporting motions with two-fingered people representations to see if they transport over there. If they don't understand, stop walking and allow himself to be dragged. See if the transportation effect persists.
Also, feel head. Anything on there? Is it cold to the touch?
Try and will the fire to gather around his temple. See if that works.
Does Tek still have his wrist computer? If so, call up a confused emoticon on the display, show it to a mummy, and point at the emoticon and then point back at himself. Then, leave several different types of images available on the screen (especially emoticons) and gesture to the mummy to use the wristpad. See if they point at an image or start manipulating the wristpad.
Try to ascertain whether I'm still bleeding or have taken any other clear damage.You appear to be back to...a relative degree of normal.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Staaasiiiis (click to show/hide)
"Welp, back to dragging. I guess my gun getting destroyed takes me off heating duty." Help drag the eater to where we need to go " ... Who here has digging tools that would be effective in sand?" Vincent then notices a strange potion has appeared on his person and procedes to take a sip of potion 28NOPE. SIP NOT ALLOWED. CHUG TIME.
"Chief, I found a tunnel."
I'm getting the vibes that using rockets here would be a bad idea. See if I can find something in my toolbox that works as a grappling hook. Climb up to the tunnel.
"I don't know what this shit is, but it's WOOOONNNDERFULL!" Continue rolling around in the sand in ecstasy ((This is the best potion for Vincent so far xD, I guess that means there is none left now?))Yep, all gone.
The mummy king immediately stopped moving and smiled at the gathered group. This could be amusing, he decided. Tek always did have problems planning very far ahead...You're gonna gain quite the rep when that potion wears off.
"Greetings, mortals. We are King Sulan'takan'litkham'ramen the III. First of all, a ground rule: we insist that you refer to us by our full title. Secondly, we have come to assist you dirty foreigners in finishing your task so that you may leave this hallowed ground as soon as possible. Yes, we know all about what you must do."
We have not come to harm you. We have come to help you. So get to it. Push. Our subjects shall assist you."
Gesture to our subjects that they should push the sarcophagus. Demonstrate if needed. Walk with them and teleport it forward as they push. Do this all in a kingly fashion, of course.
Hit the sand and be ready to lethally laser the newcomers. Who the fuck are you?!
"Alright, let's get to moving the HOLY DICKBALLS WHAT IS THAT"I'm tempted to roll Int to have you see through his obvious bullshit and call in...who was the guy in the Mummy movie? I recongize his bad actor face but I can't put a name to it...oh well. We'll assume he convinced you unless you want to shoot him next round.
Take about 10 steps back from Mummy-Man. Shoulder the PewPew Rifle and ask these bastards who they are, what they want, and where the tits they came from.
"Chief, I found a tunnel."
I'm getting the vibes that using rockets here would be a bad idea. See if I can find something in my toolbox that works as a grappling hook. Climb up to the tunnel.
The best you guys can come up with is a metal triangle with a rope for a grappling hook and some sharp tools (screwdrivers mostly) taped to your feet for ice climbing spikes."Chief, I found a tunnel."
I'm getting the vibes that using rockets here would be a bad idea. See if I can find something in my toolbox that works as a grappling hook. Climb up to the tunnel.
"Will be there in a moment."
Go over to where Dubley is and aid him in constructing some manner of climbing tools. The awls might help, or screwdrivers, or something else, you know?
And if all else fails, including unassisted wall climbing on his part, just have him give me a manual boost up there (it's important that he boosts me and not the other way around, since there's quite a weight and strength difference between us) and give it my very own climbing try.
((Okay, now I know where Han is. Sorry dropped out for a day or two.))
Unpose, standby to help my teammates in the hole if they need a way out. Maybe feed a rope down if I have one? If I do have one, secure it aboveground and feed it into the hole, then join my teammates. Otherwise, drink my potion (number 25).
"What do you guys see down there?"
Still guarding the hole, but stay the hell away from Han if he drinks his potion.So Beirus there runs a good 20 feet away as Han drinks his potion
"This ####ing place..."
Moving on then. Be ready to freeze King Sulan'etc and/or his posse to ice if they turn hostile.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Staaasiiiis (click to show/hide)
push eater if nobody object
Make notes. Push when needed.
"You said it Chin. This fucking desert."
Follow the Eater shoving people, and keep an eye on that glowy ball of space magic. Charge an exo bonus.
Try the grappling hook first. Then the climbing spikes. Finally, have Dubley throw me if all else fails.This. Have Chief secure the rope at the top so I can climb up after.
ONWARD
Try the grappling hook first. Then the climbing spikes. Finally, have Dubley throw me if all else fails.
You manage to get the grappling hook to latch on somewhere up above and climb up. Once up there you make sure the rope is doubly secure before letting your significantly heavier teammate climb up to join you.Try the grappling hook first. Then the climbing spikes. Finally, have Dubley throw me if all else fails.This. Have Chief secure the rope at the top so I can climb up after.
Step back from the hole, cautiously poke hands into the sand.
Drink my potion. Because I'm in a desert and I'm thirsty.You chug your potion.
Keep an eye on that fireball, and maintain the bonus. The fireball is definitely following us, correct?In a round about, circling manner, but yeah, it definitely seems to be circling you like a vulture.
ONWARD
ONWARD
King Sulan'takan'litkham'ramen III snickered internally. This was just too much fun! He did find himself glancing uneasily at that approaching giant fireball in the sky, though.
Continue being a dick. Also, check time of day and estimated percentage of route traveled. Edit: if the fireball gets too close, jump or fall off of the sarcophagus and walk-teleport away.
"Shit guuuiiiisss, I think danger makes me feeeelll good, and that... and that FUCKER in the ssssky feels so damn good" Point to the sky and enjoy the feels "But seriously.... no but seriously, I'm serious. We should seriously dig a whole for mister flaming death before nightfall" ((I'm interested in seeing how the pill I inherited from SC and this potion interact))
Onward, to glory!
Onward to more glory!Onward with these fellows!
Follow the tunnel, paying close attention to the walls.
Get rope and grappling hook. Explore with Chief. Pay close attention to the floor and ceiling.You scramble up the steep incline and past a few tunnels that are too small to enter. As you progress, you notice that there is a light coming from somewhere up ahead, and that the temp in the tunnel is rising steadily as you go. Judging from the sounds, particularly the echos, there's something up ahead. A large opening or cave, most likely.
Points of glowing light? Like those things the Eater called that first night? Also, charge a Will bonus. I want to see if I can pull one of the glowing things up soonish.No...not quite the same. You thinking about them also doesn't seem to do anything. It's as though the potion is highlighting something in the world and allowing you to see it, but giving you no real power over it.
((If we wouldn't make it by nightfall, I'm +1ing Kedly's underground idea.))Nothing fucking good! Clearly related to the eater, but also clearly different. If you can see it like this then it is pretty damn big; and pretty damn bright.
"The night approaches. Can one of you foreign imperialists ask your king whether we shall reach the pit at this rate before it becomes night? We dead do love the dark, you know, but sadly so does the Eater."
Use an int roll on that vulture-like deadly fireball to try and ascertain its nature.
Concentrate, try to make my hands release energy into the sand, or whatever that yellow glow is.The sand around your hands half explodes, half crumbles, collapsing into a brownish powder.
Onward to more glory!Onward with these fellows!
Attempt to use the fact I'm high as fuck off danger to pull faster
Help the others.
"Let's try to get a little more speed."
Try to go a bit faster.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Staaasiiiis (click to show/hide)
ONWARD AND ONWARD AND ONWARD
Onward to more glory!
Piecewise: In our collection opinion, can we cover 7-10 miles of volcanic wasteland in the time between dawn and noon, assuming King Dickbutt's helpers are still around?Yes. You'll have to haul ass, but you can do it.
Onward!One vote for onward.
Continue onward and observe the temperature gradient once more. How quick is it in comparison to the one we encountered digging downward?It seems faster, as though you're not just getting away from a strangely cold section; you're moving into something hot as well.
Is my character still euphoric? Is that feeling getting stronger or weaker?It's starting to fade, but it feels like it's fading regardless of where you are. Must have lost your fedora somewhere.
Try to intuit what those glowing things might be, and if they're useful.Uhh....emm...maybe they're treasures? Maybe you just drank a spelunker's potion? That would be neat.
Listen to intuition and look back to what we encountered; ponder upon and tell others about findings.Errr...em...Well it seems like the big flamey thing is coming for the eater and you are pretty sure them hooking up would be bad.
Continue onward to the exploring of tunnels.You continue forward, up the slanted tunnel, until you poke your head out into a large chamber. This chamber is....odd. Imagine, if you will, a cave filled with fireflies. Imagine, however, that each fire fly is literally a beach ball sized orb of flame, like a tiny sun, which is drifting slowly around the room on a corona of light and heat haze, communing with the other fireflies via streams of white hot plasma. Imagine the entire cave chamber is basically on fire.
Another for PULLLLLLSleep till the eater's escape attemptPUUUUUUUUULLLLLL
"Fuck it, we need to move people, we barely contained it last night, we won't get so lucky again! Haul ass you crazy sons of bitches!"A third!
The Crazy Train does not make stops. Drag the eater as close to the center of the crater as possible, even if no-one else helps me. Use my mass amp to shove the eater along with me if I need to, though be careful not to shove it too fast, or to smash the goo coating.
Help to the best of my ability.A fourth!
"####. Yeah, let's move. Maybe that thing above us counts as the sun that needs to be overhead..."Fifth!
Try to go a bit faster.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Staaasiiiis (click to show/hide)
help haul assSixth!
"Alright. It's your funeral."Seventh!
Order mummies to continue to push the Eater. This can only go well.
"In the underworld we have a saying: 'we're all fucked.' We think it applies here."You get the zombies to start burying the eater's sarcophagus in sand.
Command undead subjects to begin piling and compacting sand on the Eater's shell. That should start us off, at least.
"Well, we're totally fucked. This is a really shitty time to be sobering up, If we survive this I need to remember where I found that bottle..." "GUYS! IF WE ARE GOING TO KEEP THE EATER CONTAINED, OUR BEST BET IS TO BURY IT WITH SAND! NOW! Bury the eater with sand as quick as I sustainably canBURY SAND!
Shovel Sand.BURY BURY BURY
"Steve, do you have the relative co-ordinates to the next site, and if you do, can you guide us there? I really think we've hit the point where we can't keep this thing contained, and our best bet is to get this thing as close to the target as possible, as soon as possible."People are rather blocking your attempts here by burying the eater in a fuck ton of sand.
If Steve can guide us, start using my mass amp to roll the Eaterball towards the goal. Try and get it going around jogging speed. If he can't guide us, and the eater breaks out, use my micro amp to slowly raise the temperature of the air around the eater until it starts to calm down. If Steve can't guide us, and the Eater stays contained, just watch the fireball, and maintain my exo bonus.
How deep are the lights in the ground? Could I dig one out? Do my teammates have little location indicators somewhere I can see? Ate they near any of the lights?There's one maybe...5 feet underground about 100 meters away. You could try to dig that one out.
Amp-shovel sand on the cocoon. Lot's of it.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Final Stretch? (click to show/hide)
Amp-shovel sand on the cocoon. Lot's of it.[1+1]Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Final Stretch? (click to show/hide)
Shovel sand, shovel sand, shovel more sand, shovel even more sand and shovel yet more sand in that order.
Test effects of potion-hands on air, then see if I can glass sand. If so, see if it would be feasible to make the guys in the tunnels a staircase out.Potion hands seem to make the air turn murky and smell bad. It doesn't make things into glass though. It just seems to degrade or degenerate anything that it touches.
"Fire, so pretty! And dangerous. Agreed, lets leave them alone."
If the mk3 can withstand the heat, and the fire orbs don't seem hostile, then Carefully explore the cave.
"Let's not trouble the great balls of fire, Dubs, agreed?"
What shape is the chamber? Are there more exits than the one we came in through? Are there any interesting features of it that I can detect? Move along the outer rim of the chamber carefully, but not too far, to get a more complete look. Do the orbs seem to care about us in any way? If they visibly respond to me taking a step into the chamber, withdraw back into the tunnel.
"Chief, you should wait here. Sorry, but it's too dangerous."
Feyri should be heating the EOC with the big laser gun I gave her.Feyri does this (primarily because exam week--heavy exams despite prelims--and that I was both sick and loaded with work in the past 3~ days (+ bad net)).
"Scatter!"[3]
Continue amp-shoveling sand on the cocoon. Still lot's of it. Keep a hand on the stasis button.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Final Stretch? (click to show/hide)
Go dig that shiny thing up.You dig down a few feet and then wriggle your had the rest of the way until you mange to get hold of the shining object. You yank it up and find that it appears to be some sort of metal sculpture. Gold or maybe bronze? It seems to be an idol or small god which resembles a man with the head of some kind of insect with giant mandibles.
Feyri should be heating the EOC with the big laser gun I gave her.[Aux:3]
"Chief, you should wait here. Sorry, but it's too dangerous."
Try to transfer most of the mk3's cooling to my head, because my robot body doesn't really need it. Don't freeze my head again.
Explore the chamber, quickly. Take a few interesting wall samples. Try to make it to one of the exits.
If it ever get dangerously hot, or if the fireballs start acting hostile, then GTFO.
"Yep, definitely fucked!" Continue burying the eater, but keep a close eye on that Flying Fire Stan and run like hell if it gets close enough that the risk of getting crushed or lit on fire becomes significantBURY BURY BURY
First, try to concentrate and call on more undead in the area to rise. Secondly, order zombies to construct a sand dome, if they quickly can, to take dubious shelter under. Thirdly, teleport-pelt some sand at the incoming ball of certain death, if possible. Lastly, take off cold-fire crown and toss it into the approaching ball if it gets too close. After all, what's the worst that could happen?Calling more undead fails!
If all else fails and the "King" is still capable of teleporting, bravely teleport-run (crawl?) away.
Go along with it. Don't worry brain we'll get out of this somehow.Not sure exactly what that means so...bury bury bury
It definitely increases. Oddly, it feels cooler near the floor."Chief, you should wait here. Sorry, but it's too dangerous."
"We have one and the same suit, but yours has jet fuel. Who is in more danger here?"
Take a tentative step into the room. Does the heat increase noticeably? Step back if it starts to burn.
If it's manageable, take some samples of more interesting crystals and rock formations.
Run for cover if the fireball gets too low.BURY FOR NOW BURY FOR NOW BURY FOR NOW
You heat the mound of sand. Hard to say how much good it's actually doing but whatever, every little bit helps.Feyri should be heating the EOC with the big laser gun I gave her.Feyri does this (primarily because exam week--heavy exams despite prelims--and that I was both sick and loaded with work in the past 3~ days (+ bad net)).
Reading up (soon day tomorrow)
Try to make out details of the giant sky murder-ball.
"We need to get the eater to the altar!"((I think it's pretty well buried at this point. Pretty awful suggestion on my part, sorry. May need a different plan now? Dunno.))
Drag!, get those who are fleeing to help if possible
((Maybe she could help heat? I think someone lent her a laser.))((Might be, but I know I took one off her when she was MIA the last time the Eater got pissy. I never did update my wiki entry though, could someone check that RQ?))
((I lent Feyri one of the prototype laser cannons. It's not on the wiki. She should be heating with it.))((And then I stole it to heat the Eater, which is also not on the wiki. We're bad at this.))
((Look, Feyri had one laser listed on the wiki. If she also had another laser given to her at one point that was never added to the wiki, she had two lasers. If one laser was taken, she would still have one left. I think. In any case it doesn't matter because the action is conditional. If she has a laser, she will heat with it.))((True that, I have one Laser Rifle on the wiki--I was then handed [earlier this mission] a laser from NAV--I think that's the one asked back))
((If Tir needs to be puppeted, should we send her off ahead to actually get a pair of eyes on the "Pit" ?))[I have an MKIII and a load of will to do or die. I have also lost situational awareness partway through the thread so any info or suggestive order from an ally would be great!]
((I'll assume that you lost awareness after this. Basically, everyone started burying the Eater in sand. The big fireball thing got closer and is releasing pulses of burning heat that everyone can feel through their Mk suits, which presumably is very bad. It has mile-wide unmoving "wings" of magma. People are now running away since the fireball may touch the Eater soon and there's no way in hell that they'd be able to unbury it and transport it to the destination in time, so they're hoping that they'll be able to clear whatever eldritch fuckery is presumably about to occur.Listen to intuition and look back to what we encountered; ponder upon and tell others about findings.Errr...em...Well it seems like the big flamey thing is coming for the eater and you are pretty sure them hooking up would be bad.
((A small correction to the above: The giant flaming thing in the sky is still very far away from you, several thousand kilometers or so. Piecewise mentioned so in the IRC, along with the fact that it's actually hot enough to atomize you through your suits, up close.))((See? There's still time! Let's dig this thing up and get moving!))
"Dubs, do not crawl off too far. Remember the tunnels before, with roaring, shaking and danger? More rooms mean more mysteries, though."They're special looking because they appear to be glass made via heat, but their structure and their sheer density and robustness are far beyond what simple fused silica should be able to do. In fact, just scraping samples is nearly impossible; you have to go find some shards which have already fallen off.
Examine the crystals around here (near to our entrance point) while keeping low to the ground. Take some samples of them and unusual rocks. What exactly is it that renders them special-looking?
"Don't listen to us. We don't know what we are doing. Or what's going on. Too much sand. Not enough heat. Yes."The zombies start digging. They may not need to dig for long, considering the fact that the sand has started to thump and flow, undulating with a powerful struggle going on under it.
Ponder mortality. What's death going to be like? Maybe ask a zombie. Edit2: zombies should dig up the Eater. Ask one zombie to try and kill the Eater if it seems possible and has been unearthed. Go for the neck! If someone wants to give the zombie a weapon, let em try and use it. Should be amusing.
Charge dynamic Will bonus. I'mma do shroud things.Ok.
I'm gonna assume you're digging it up?Run? Run!. Dig? Dig!
Follow Hapah's plan and help however I canDIGDIGDIG
RUN!!You turn tail and sprint away. Just fucking sprint off into the night. Fuck this, fuck that, fuck everything, goodbye.
If the fireship gets too close - Quickly dial up the stasis suit and push the stasis button.DIG DIG DIG DIG DIG DIG
Otherwise... help with whatever the others are doing.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Final Stretch? (click to show/hide)
Experiments to see how the fireballs react to fire.They react to your fire hand technique. In fact, they start moving down to investigate.
Pour some alcohol in my hand and light it on fire. See if they react.
Activate one of my maneuvering rockets, set to low of course so I don't go cartwheeling into a wall. See if they react.
Activate my rockets. Buzz mode. see how they react.
Fly up to the hole.
If at any point the fireballs react, then stop testing fire/rockets, and use the grappling hook to get to the hole.
If at any point the Fireballs act hostile or the temperature gets too hot, then GTFO, and help Chief GTFO as well.
We're in the neighborhood, at least. Maybe that counts for something. In any case, let's get to it!DIG DIG DIG DIG DIG DIG DGIDGIDGODGJSJHGD:OSDO:LGHSDFK:JGHSDOJHFKHNG
Start digging out the Eater. When/if we get visual, bake it a little with the laser rifle (medium power, medium-high dispersion) if it starts acting uppity. Stop if one of the mummy goons kills it.
((If Tir needs to be puppeted, should we send her off ahead to actually get a pair of eyes on the "Pit" ?))
EDIT: And conscript anyone around that isn't doing anything to help me dig this damned thing out.
Zombies push! Feyri heats! If there is not enough light to see the next marker by, King Sulan'takan'litkham'ramen screams aloud to the great green in the sky to guide them!@_@
((I think we were hoping to outrun it, as we knew the distance. However, word of God seems to suggest that may be a bad idea, or at least one worth reconsidering. Thoughts? Also, alien death ball explicitly referred to as sun.))
((Get a undead thing to kill it as the sun gets close enough not to cast any shadows))((Let's just finish it or use lateral thinking here. Running away is cowardice, especially after all the losses we all had. The rest of us can do many other things in the presence of lacking danger than running away. I heavily doubt its that bleak.))
((I agree that running away is not the answer. So far we have one suggestion for trying to kill it. I will have the zombies do whatever the group agrees to.))((My sentence structure leaves a lot of details I have in thought these days x_x
((That might work, if the fuel tanks don't detonate or something under the eater's heat. Because I don't think anyone really knows that will happen in that event.((I agree that running away is not the answer. So far we have one suggestion for trying to kill it. I will have the zombies do whatever the group agrees to.))I could get up the MKIII, get a long ranged weapon, blast away and 'kill' the Eater as a last resort. How's that sound?
50.This potion is a disgusting beige color with a sky blue crust along the top. It's held in a translucent, colorless glass container shaped like a coffin with an extremely large, jar like mouth. The container is quite large and sealed with a cork. It feels sticky to the touch.
((Don't lose heart, fellow bunglers! Soldier on! You either live together or die together!))((Says the man bravely not present to run any risk.
((Says the man bravely not present to run any risk.
You eyeing an officers position or what?))
((Give the zombie a gun and order it to shoot the eater?((Is this what people want me to do? If at least one more person +1s it, I will try it. I am worried, however, that the zombie may be too dumb and untrained to competently use any type of gun that someone gives it.))
I'd bet we're all going to die, but I've bet that the entire time anyway.))'tis a safe bet.
((Well, some kind of weapon, but yeah. But if the zombie or you do turn into the next Eater, I'll give the victim to mommy.))((Give the zombie a gun and order it to shoot the eater?((Is this what people want me to do? If at least one more person +1s it, I will try it. I am worried, however, that the zombie may be too dumb and untrained to competently use any type of gun that someone gives it.))
((Yeah, it could be chucked towards the pit and then someone in a MK3 could rush over there, catch it or at least slow its impact, throw it in the pit, and perform the ritual. That sounds pretty good to me, though there is a chance everything could go wrong. And it's extremely dangerous, which is fun.((Yes. Let me do this--any ideas, since somehow nobody is doing any of this IC?))
Would Feyri be up for that, Tiruin? If not, do we have anybody else in a MK3?))
((Well you need someone with an amp to throw it so can the rest of us get out of the way?))((I'd also need someone with an amp to throw me so I can get a boost to initial momentum :P))
((You could just piggy back the eater case and give it a boost with your rockets, also you can use them to negate your weight (NOT MASS) so that when they throw the case you don't affect the acceleration. So can us without amps get the hell out of the death zone?))((Well you need someone with an amp to throw it so can the rest of us get out of the way?))((I'd also need someone with an amp to throw me so I can get a boost to initial momentum :P))
I'd bet we're all going to die, but I've bet that the entire time anyway.))'tis a safe bet.
I guess it boils down to whether or not we feel that being close to the Pit, with the giant angry sun overhead, is "good enough".
Continue dragging the Eater onward to glory and/or death!
Hold the tiny statue under the shroud.
Whether they're friendly or not, balls of fire moving towards me is probably not good.
Go back to the entrance. Do they follow me or do they keep going to where I lit the fire?
Hm. Well, if there are loose shards around, get them.
Observe how the fireballs are moving toward Dubley. Any peculiarities in their approach? How quickly are they moving? Is the movement at a constant velocity, or is acceleration visible? Do they still communicate with one another?
If they're moving toward me as well, make an exit to the icy chamber.
((I say we either kill it, do the Eater-golf thing, or run away. I think the Eater golf thing would be awesome, so I'm pushing that. But I'd be up for killing it too.))((Seconding eater golf, I believe the 9-iron is neccessary))
Have your goons try to break out out and kill it, maybe?((Alright, edited. Would be awesome if someone could crack that shell for them, though. Hopefully they are able to try before Eater is raised. Perhaps, Gorat, you could lock your action behind mine and any shooters for this last-ditch effort?))
Use my Micro amp to flash freeze the eater.Oh man.
Gotta kill it or leave it, no way in hell we're outrunning it now that it's seen us. Thoughts?
((Giving Eater to ball = autofail, most likely. A MK3 individual could still maybe tackle the Eater-ball and introduce horizontal momentum, then guide it to the pit by readjusting its trajectory with the rockets. Unless someone shoots it. But Tek is running. He has no guns and no MK3.))
((Eater Golf: The Most Dangerous Game.))((That's it. If anyone has any idea how to proceed--let me be a catalyst; JUST DON'T RUN AND DROP. We finish this one way or another. Any ideas for those who've followed this in-detail?
[2+1]Hold the tiny statue under the shroud.
You hastily run back toward the entrance. The balls seem to ignore you and instead head over to where you lit the fire. Hmm.Whether they're friendly or not, balls of fire moving towards me is probably not good.
Go back to the entrance. Do they follow me or do they keep going to where I lit the fire?
Hm. Well, if there are loose shards around, get them.
Observe how the fireballs are moving toward Dubley. Any peculiarities in their approach? How quickly are they moving? Is the movement at a constant velocity, or is acceleration visible? Do they still communicate with one another?
If they're moving toward me as well, make an exit to the icy chamber.
"Forge this. That thing wants the Eater? I'll give him to it."
Amp-throw the Eater cocoon upwards to the sun fire thing.Spoiler: Gorat 'Chin' Ivanos; Final Stretch? (click to show/hide)
((Giving Eater to ball = autofail, most likely. A MK3 individual could still maybe tackle the Eater-ball and introduce horizontal momentum, then guide it to the pit by readjusting its trajectory with the rockets. Unless someone shoots it. But Tek is running. He has no guns and no MK3.))
"We have failed."
Order 2 zombies to carry King Sulan'takan'litkham'ramen and run away as quickly as possible, following Hapah. Other zombies should try to crack the shell and kill the Eater using any available weapons including rocks, dropped weapons, and natural weapons such as teeth and nails.
"We're on our own here. Man up. Right, I'm gonna try something incredibly dangerous. If I die, I have something to tell you. Pick up that goddamn phone, because guess what? I called it."
Use my Micro amp to flash freeze the eater.
We've got three competing actions here along with a lot of running. Figure out a compromise here or I'm just gonna roll dex and do the action of whoever gets the highest.
((I'd rather have the Eater up in the air before Morul freezes it. I suppose my preferred order would that some zombies open the cocoon and try to kill it, I toss whoever is now the Eater upwards if killing it fails, and Morul can freeze the Eater up in the air.))Either this or kill, freeze, throw is fine with me.
"Looks promising, this distraction thing. Opinion, Dubley?""Exactly what I was thinking. Come, lets keep exploring!"
B.) Kill the Eater. Instructions were to kill the Eater at the Pit, and we know that killing the Eater was a risk in the past (how many people has it possessed of ours because they killed it? Three?) I like this option, and it might be close enough, but I wouldn't ask you lot to do something I'm not willing to do myself (though Mummy goons would be a reasonably safe bet, I think). If we have a volunteer, make it known and make it happen.((I was supposedly going to highlight this, and make a bit of dialogue from Feyri but...
If you wanna try to blast it while it's airborne by all means; none of us are gonna try to stop you.I'd rather do something that would equal an assurance to work--not just a conclusion based on natural observation :-\
...Why did people try to Kill the Eater when its specifically stated to be killed in a designated location?Because the angry Sun thing in the sky has taken notice of us, and we don't think we can get the Eater to the Pit (the specified location) before the Sun catches up and we melt. So our options boil down to killing it here and hope that it's "good enough", or just running away and hoping that all goes well.
How far are we from said position?3 or 4 miles, I believe
How many people currently present have any movement or traction 'boosting' equipment?Only you, I believe.
How big or heavy is the sarcophagus?I'd guess....five or six hundred pounds? No exact number, but it's the weight of a man in a coffin made out of fused sand or glass.
[...]So our options boil down to killing it here and hope that it's "good enough", or just running away and hoping that all goes well....Is our hope backed by anything reasonable other than 'get away from this area'?
((For me, weight == the matter. So the composition doesn't matter given that we know the weight [that or I forgot my basic physics and chemistry]. 5/600 pounds == ...~250 kgs given the conversion ratio of 2.2 = 1 [and I dislike counting in pounds :'( ]How big or heavy is the sarcophagus?I'd guess....five or six hundred pounds? No exact number, but it's the weight of a man in a coffin made out of fused sand or glass.
We're still miles away from the Pit and the "Sun" is on the way in to do God knows what. We can't stop it, and we don't think we can get the Eater to the Pit before it shows up. You might be able to, but that's a very big might.
So the combined efforts of everyone get the thing about 2/5ths of the way to the pit. Steve has to keep telling you to change direction because you keep veering off track in the darkness.
Oh and the Sun overhead? Yeah It seems to have definitely noticed you now. It's coming in quicker and those wings are starting to fill the entire sky. Currently, it feels like you're all standing outside in the sun, in summer. Thats through the suit. For those of you with pattern recognition, this is the point when you'll realize that this is pretty much the point of no return, there's not enough time to really fuck about. Whatever you decide to do next turn, is gonna be the plan you'll have to go with.
Think carefully.
Hapah, what do we know of our current armaments? What is 'enough' to kill the Eater and/or its Sarcophagus?Seems like the Eater is a little more resilient than a normal person, but not much so. A bullet or laser blast will kill it, and it's encased in glass, I believe. So any reasonable weapon should be able to dispatch it with no difficulties.
((I would just like to say that I support any effort to bring the Eater to the pit and successfully complete the mission. You'd totally have to go near or at max MK3 speed, though. Which would be cool and dangerous.))((Let's do the thing then.))
((Perfect. I hope all this Aux training has something important in mind.))Quote from: TirHapah, what do we know of our current armaments? What is 'enough' to kill the Eater and/or its Sarcophagus?Seems like the Eater is a little more resilient than a normal person, but not much so. A bullet or laser blast will kill it, and it's encased in glass, I believe. So any reasonable weapon should be able to dispatch it with no difficulties.
Where're all the others?Still playing in the sand, no doubt.
Does anyone have any long-range sensory equipment? I'll get this sarcophagus where its needed--can anyone check my MKIII for difficulties?[/font][/color]We do not. Steve may be able to guide you, though.
Someone message me whenever things have come to a hard decision. I'll do the post then.Spoiler: Gorat (click to show/hide)Spoiler: Morul (click to show/hide)Spoiler: Tek (click to show/hide)Holding for the moment to talk with Tir.
Kill-Throw-Freeze it is, Piecewise!
((Good luck, everyone!))
((I'd say that Feyri should try and evacuate at least some of the rest of the team. I find it doubtful that she could safely outfly the evil ship sun eater thing while carrying the Eater that the sun clearly wants, now that is moving fast.))((I'd not consider that option--I'd rather save more than some because I have a choice, and I'd not like that choice to be diluted by...saving those who are less than equipped to withstand this force of heat and death. Because being 'blasted to ashes' is not a good fate.
))
Before you ask, no, we can't just fly it there. Apparently bad things happen if the host loses touch with the ground. And if you move it too fast. The Eater in there is mostly hibernating, but if we alter the environment too drastically it will wake up. And though it's not at full strength, that would still be unpleasant.
I don't know what we can do to directly assist or support, Tir. This is really the "new guy" mission; most of us don't have anything beyond basic equipment and have no way to guide or help you. I'm happy to provide information on any important bits of information that you may have missed, but beyond that...((That's what I'm thinking too--both IC and OOC, mostly IC--the experienced individuals in a squad are usually for guidance and experience when things go wrong, but by no means is the mission considered a total failure if the experience and equipment (usually reserved by higher ups and all) are discarded; this means that this could be completed by a whole newbie roster, too.
((This is either an act of heroism, or an act of extreme stupidity. Perhaps both.))((I doubt either; this has basis in information; we've passed the first stage which was 'gather information', and we're in the second which is 'working on what we know and perceive' -- we can triangulate our position [...probably a mistaken term I'm using] or wonder why in the world would an increase in force relative to position, velocity and speed would have anything to do that'd equal "bad". I mean doesn't anyone even question how vague that was!? D:<
...or wonder why in the world would an increase in force relative to position, velocity and speed would have anything to do that'd equal "bad". I mean doesn't anyone even question how vague that was!? D:<For story purposes I imagine; otherwise we'd just cram the Eater into a shuttle and finish the mission in 2 or 3 turns.
((Let me just get this straight: Heat > kills Eater.Heat has been proven to weaken the Eater, yes.
Cold > Helps Eater?
If an explosion happens around the Eater and/or the Sarcophagus = Bad thing occurs?))
Ti with her suit is strong enough to carry the eater and it's coffin single handedly.But is she strong enough to withstand the thermal force of a star? Find out next time on Einsteinian Roulette: Mission 18.
((Or, for that matter, fast enough to outfly said star, maneuverable enough to land in the right spot without giving the star too much time to catch up, able to break the sarcophagus quickly enough to kill the eater in time... and if anything goes wrong, what can we do to pick up the pieces?))Ti with her suit is strong enough to carry the eater and it's coffin single handedly.But is she strong enough to withstand the thermal force of a star? Find out next time on Einsteinian Roulette: Mission 18.
((Anyway, given our whole roster, does anyone have any device which...aids long-range visualization or something? My listed idea of what to do would be to boost all the way to the marked location given how our pulling made it that well, and detach the auxiliary tanks once it gets heated. What I'm asking of 'any device' meant any manipulation amps that would affect momentum and somewhat 'freeze' the sarcophagus in suspended motion that whatever outside force attached to it wouldn't make it 'feel like its going fast'...given the warning Hapah said?))((I suspect that it'd take a vector/gravity amp/manipulator to even try doing something like this, it would need absolute precision at ever increasing distances unless you want to take along the amp/manip user, and we'd have to do so without knowing whether it's actually possible. Or a matter converter that could transmute the interior of the sarcophagus into some kind of gel(?) that dampens the acceleration effects on the eater (without turning the eater into said substance).))
((Err, to clarify, that's narrative theatrics :P Its not literally a star, obviously. Its a figurati- wait I think you also mean that :I Hmphy.))((Or, for that matter, fast enough to outfly said star, maneuverable enough to land in the right spot without giving the star too much time to catch up, able to break the sarcophagus quickly enough to kill the eater in time... and if anything goes wrong, what can we do to pick up the pieces?))Ti with her suit is strong enough to carry the eater and it's coffin single handedly.But is she strong enough to withstand the thermal force of a star? Find out next time on Einsteinian Roulette: Mission 18.
((I suspect that it'd take a vector/gravity amp/manipulator to even try doing something like this, it would need absolute precision at ever increasing distances unless you want to take along the amp/manip user, and we'd have to do so without knowing whether it's actually possible. Or a matter converter that could transmute the interior of the sarcophagus into some kind of gel(?) that dampens the acceleration effects on the eater (without turning the eater into said substance).))((We're keeping it simple as I...guess its implied that we, at least, have knowledge on doing the tiny tidbits which make this crucial [translated in rolls]. So...any amp user could help? There's a statement on distance > efficiency and willpower needed to control it effectively, so either I bring someone along or. . .???
So...any amp user could help?((I don't think so, not with the amps we have, and probably not even with the amps I listed. If you insist on this course of action, I suspect Feyri will have to carry an Eater aware of its speed. Well, as aware as it can be in its state.))
((Both courses of action, the Kill-Throw or the Tir flightplan, are gambles. We, or more specifically Tir/Tek/Morul/Gorat, just have to agree on how exactly we want to gamble. I'm at work but I trust you lot can come to an agreement.))((Why I don't like the latter gamble is it lets us...run. Maybe there's a bit to this that we aren't getting but...I don't feel good with the prospect of running like this.))
((I'm not quite sure if I understand that objection correctly, but the problem I have with Feyri flying off with the Eater is that there's no contingency plan.A valid concern.
But if Feyri is willing to take along someone with an amp, Morul or me, then we could still enact some contingency plan if killing the Eater fails, and maybe even if accelerating him causes a catastrophe.Good plan.
Since I'm leery of freezing the Eater anyway, I would volunteer to come along, with the caveats thatTir/Morul/Tek, this sound like a plan? Or will Morul go per the new post?
1) if accelerating does something bad or we can't go fast enough to outfly the sun, Feyri needs to let the sarcophagus go, and I'll try to toss the Eater at the sun, and
2) if we get to the pit and killing the Eater fails (in which case Feyri would likely have become the new Eater), I'll try to toss the (new) Eater at the sun.))
((I'm not quite sure if I understand that objection correctly, but the problem I have with Feyri flying off with the Eater is that there's no contingency plan. But if Feyri is willing to take along someone with an amp, Morul or me, then we could still enact some contingency plan if killing the Eater fails, and maybe even if accelerating him causes a catastrophe.((Eep, my wording didn't come across!
Since I'm leery of freezing the Eater anyway, I would volunteer to come along, with the caveats that
1) if accelerating does something bad or we can't go fast enough to outfly the sun, Feyri needs to let the sarcophagus go, and I'll try to toss the Eater at the sun, and
2) if we get to the pit and killing the Eater fails (in which case Feyri would likely have become the new Eater), I'll try to toss the (new) Eater at the sun.))
((I'll volunteer to ride shotgun, because I've got the voidsuit, and I still haven't found out if I can carry live passengers. I know I can take inanimate objects, so I might be able to haul the Eater in with me, and leave it behind. I would only do that as a last, last resort though. Don't want it and Timmy conspiring together... anyway, I'll ride with Feyri if she wants.))((I'm very alright with this--I just want everyone to be ok and efficient here. Not...to intrude.
((We good to lock in the Tir/Morul go towards the Pit with the Eater, everyone else run like hell plan?))((I'm good enough.))
"Looks promising, this distraction thing. Opinion, Dubley?"
By "communicating" I meant that conjugation-like thing where they connect to each other and presumably exchange information and/or plasma.
Anyway, well. Is there any exit other than the way we came from and where Dubley (and the spheres) just went?
If Dubley starts leaving the way we came, follow.
Follow Dubley's lead. Carefully. If I start melting or burning, return to the cooler exit.
((I'll volunteer to ride shotgun, because I've got the voidsuit, and I still haven't found out if I can carry live passengers. I know I can take inanimate objects, so I might be able to haul the Eater in with me, and leave it behind. I would only do that as a last, last resort though. Don't want it and Timmy conspiring together... anyway, I'll ride with Feyri if she wants.))((I'm very alright with this--I just want everyone to be ok and efficient here. Not...to intrude.
And I would've said this all IC anyway :P))
"Looks promising, this distraction thing. Opinion, Dubley?""Exactly what I was thinking. Come, lets keep exploring!"
Sneak past the fireballs. Utilize the grappling hook to climb to one of the other exits (not the cold one and not the one the fireballs are investigating. There are other exits, right?)
(http://www.blippitt.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Popcorn-02-Stephen-Colbert.gif)This.
There are indeed other exits. I'll assume you want to try to climb one thats not very high up."Looks promising, this distraction thing. Opinion, Dubley?""Exactly what I was thinking. Come, lets keep exploring!"
Sneak past the fireballs. Utilize the grappling hook to climb to one of the other exits (not the cold one and not the one the fireballs are investigating. There are other exits, right?)
We're gonna assume that everyone else runs off in the exact opposite direction of the Eater. If you've got better transport than running, let me know!((I'll volunteer to ride shotgun, because I've got the voidsuit, and I still haven't found out if I can carry live passengers. I know I can take inanimate objects, so I might be able to haul the Eater in with me, and leave it behind. I would only do that as a last, last resort though. Don't want it and Timmy conspiring together... anyway, I'll ride with Feyri if she wants.))((I'm very alright with this--I just want everyone to be ok and efficient here. Not...to intrude.
And I would've said this all IC anyway :P))
We are sending Tir and Morul off towards the Pit with the Eater.
Steve? Shuttle?
Send one anyway--you can guarantee that the evacuation exists. As far as we all know, the current situation revolves around a marked target, that being the sarcophagus. The zone is hot primarily due to that...thing in the sky, which is the tracer.Steve? Shuttle?
>I can send one, but No guarantee it will make it there, or that boarding it will allow you to get away. The current situation in the skies above you isn't great, if you haven't noticed.
I feel it is appropriate to share my inner-reaction here./popcorn(http://www.blippitt.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Popcorn-02-Stephen-Colbert.gif)
Feyri tried to contact the rest.
Is there any possibility any of you can provide any supporting fire here? There must be something that is acting as a painting target on us that pulls that...thing over here. Heat, or the lack of it? A biological organism? I would not like to realize that we've been carrying a xenobiological organism or possibly something related to heavy thermite.
And in case of radioactive fallout, I suggest you all--instead of running--dig in.
"It sounds like other team is doing something dangerous," she mentions to Dubley as an aside.
"I'm not sure what benefit those of us not with you can be, your going to quickly out pace us even if we followed you, so I doubt cover fire would be effective very long"I meant fire at that...thing which envelops half the vertical horizon. I doubt cover fire on my position would do me or Morul any good.
((That thing in the sky is literally Sahaquiel from Evangelion.))You throw it up but you don't think it has a very good grip. It seems iffy. You could still try it though, if you want.
Try again.
Follow Dubley. If he fails with the grappling hook again, try it myself.(I rolled just to check and you literally got the same roll as him. It's pretty funny. To me at least. )
Use my mass amp to create a sloping wall of force to deflect most of the shockwave around me and Feyri. Keep running like cheap paint.Post this again but when Feyri actually acts.
((Aaaaahhhhhh I dunno what to do crud))
"Spare your humble servants, Ra," King Sulan'takan'litkham'ramen yelled hysterically.
Uhh just keep run-teleporting! Yeah and look for ruins and stuff to take cover in like he said, that makes sense!
((I'd try to stop you from shooting lasers at the sun but that'd mean running slightly slower))
Are there any kind of ruins or natural shelters the way we're running?
"I guess there's a slim chance we could grab it's attention... Fuck, here goes nothing then I guess" Fire laser rifle at the sun while running awayThat, unsurprisingly, doesn't do shit.
((And its sorta like the ?blue butterfly one? because it well looks like a giant moth/butterfly thing))Ok, I'm gonna have you all get down behind a large sanddune thats between the horizon where the Eater's big brother hit and where you are now. It's basically the closest thing to a wall that you can get behind.
Brace by getting low so that I am not flung especially high then Run, PW I have a +5 exoskeleton if that helps in some way
Steve? Shuttle?We'll send a shuttle down but it is gonna take a few to get there. Assuming it gets there at all.
((Maybe your goons can sand-walk people? If nothing else, you should be able to cover a lot more ground than the rest of us.))((Sorry, missed this, but it seems like a good idea... Anyway looks like we are taking cover right now.))
"You go first. You're lighter."
If HB agrees, Chief should climb up first and secure the rope at the top. Then I'll climb up after.
Catch Chief if she falls.
"I will, yes."
Climb up first and secure the rope at the top, then help Dubley come up after me.
If the thing comes loose, land as softly as reasonably possible, then try the hook again. Have Dubley give me a boost the second time as well.
This made me laugh. Trench dug.((Maybe your goons can sand-walk people? If nothing else, you should be able to cover a lot more ground than the rest of us.))((Sorry, missed this, but it seems like a good idea... Anyway looks like we are taking cover right now.))
edit: Zombies will dig a trench at the base of the dune. King Sulan'takan'litkham'ramen will then get in the trench. That way he can die in a trench.
Someone wanna slap Tiruin out of hibernation?Oh, she said she had a family emergency a few hours back.
((Mmph, family emergency happened; will be posting later--destination: MedBay...as the local doctor.))Here, she's still offline.
Sometimes I feel like Ti spreads herself too thin. She's in like 50 games, lives in a time zone that only seems to come around every third day and is constantly fighting against her internet connection.Someone wanna slap Tiruin out of hibernation?Oh, she said she had a family emergency a few hours back.
Dunno if that's finished with.
Edit:((Mmph, family emergency happened; will be posting later--destination: MedBay...as the local doctor.))Here, she's still offline.
((Oh, oh, oh, pick me. My qualifications include in no way having a sense of or being prepared for the power contained in Feyri and often using general actions that could be misinterpreted. :P))Sometimes I feel like Ti spreads herself too thin. She's in like 50 games, lives in a time zone that only seems to come around every third day and is constantly fighting against her internet connection.Someone wanna slap Tiruin out of hibernation?Oh, she said she had a family emergency a few hours back.
Dunno if that's finished with.
Edit:((Mmph, family emergency happened; will be posting later--destination: MedBay...as the local doctor.))Here, she's still offline.
Maybe we should get her a designated surrogate player.
Anyone around here good at being well intentioned but often hilariously self destructive?
((I already PMed her, not knowing about her family issue. Now I feel bad about it. Hope everything turns out okay.))Someone wanna slap Tiruin out of hibernation?Oh, she said she had a family emergency a few hours back.
Dunno if that's finished with.
Edit:((Mmph, family emergency happened; will be posting later--destination: MedBay...as the local doctor.))Here, she's still offline.
Sometimes I feel like Ti spreads herself too thin. She's in like 50 games, lives in a time zone that only seems to come around every third day and is constantly fighting against her internet connection.
Maybe we should get her a designated surrogate player.
Anyone around here good at being well intentioned but often hilariously self destructive?
((I technically am, as seen in many games I play in, but it's in a far more selfish flavour. Plus I already have Xan and that's probably enough psychosis for me on it's own.))Sometimes I feel like Ti spreads herself too thin. She's in like 50 games, lives in a time zone that only seems to come around every third day and is constantly fighting against her internet connection.Someone wanna slap Tiruin out of hibernation?Oh, she said she had a family emergency a few hours back.
Dunno if that's finished with.
Edit:((Mmph, family emergency happened; will be posting later--destination: MedBay...as the local doctor.))Here, she's still offline.
Maybe we should get her a designated surrogate player.
Anyone around here good at being well intentioned but often hilariously self destructive?
Sometimes I feel like Ti spreads herself too thin. She's in like 50 games, lives in a time zone that only seems to come around every third day and is constantly fighting against her internet connection.
Maybe we should get her a designated surrogate player.
Anyone around here good at being well intentioned but often hilariously self destructive?
((Well, I did play Stacy for the longest time. Does that count? Don't think I could sub in for Tiruin, though, given how different we are personality-wise. If Lenglon wasn't having a spotty internet connection as well, I'd nominate her as a good pick.))
((Family emergency == I didn't mention it last Friday/Saturday because of the net condition :-X instead of anything elseSometimes I feel like Ti spreads herself too thin. She's in like 50 games, lives in a time zone that only seems to come around every third day and is constantly fighting against her internet connection.Someone wanna slap Tiruin out of hibernation?Oh, she said she had a family emergency a few hours back.
Dunno if that's finished with.
Edit:((Mmph, family emergency happened; will be posting later--destination: MedBay...as the local doctor.))Here, she's still offline.
Maybe we should get her a designated surrogate player.
Anyone around here good at being well intentioned but often hilariously self destructive?
but the actual timeline of "Events" won't move forward until she posts or someone posts for her.((Y'all could've taken the time to RP a ton~ :P
That way you all don't die because someone was napping.((Glad to know Its all my fault! No pressure here ._. eep))
((I already PMed her, not knowing about her family issue. Now I feel bad about it. Hope everything turns out okay.))((I was going to reply to the PM, but then I noticed this--so thanks either way c:
Climb up, then, and secure the grappling hook. With Dubley's help if necessary.I'm not even gonna roll. You guys get up there and the rope is secure.
((Sorry for that [and related things]! I'm thinking of a thousand ways to handle the scenario and not thinking about trying to link all those ways up >_>))Ti, in the last major post I already said you guys were about 20% there. If you're gonna do this roll, I recommend focusing it towards something better.
Right, please be my eyes here. Stabilize the coffin and warn me ahead so I can activate the rockets to get a boost--I'm unsure how long you can hold, but I will not doubt that we will make it.
I am not knowledgeable in those amps or manipulators, or on anything Bothe discussed aeons ago, or on any of the more complex conservation laws, but that's my theory. Any weapon on-person is yours to use.
Intuition roll: Go! How long until the designated area, and how steady is the landscape beneath me?
Keep on running--and utilize rockets if I perceive it as a good alternative! {Coordinate first though}
Suggest towards Morul to try to stabilize the Eater from feeling...external...momentum, and test to increase speed. {Coordinate first though}
...Unless you can provide a force of near equal standing to the speed I can create here, we may be in a pickle. A very fiery pickle.
((Any one else recommends running? There's not much else we can really do here.))((Best option of a bad lot!))
"The hells am I supposed to do that? I could hold it steady with the amp, but that would mean holding us both still as well, which would defeat the purpose of running. Honestly, we'd be better off just ignoring the whole "No flying" part, and jetting along as fast as ya can go. I'm sure it can get worse, but not by too much. We're being chased by a very angry fire god for fucks sake. Just lemme grab on, and fire up the rockets. Fly low if you want, but go fast."
If Feyri readies to fly off, grab ahold of the eater, or her somehow, and hold on because I'm damn sure my life depends on it. Be ready to use my mass amp to nudge any incoming projectiles away from us.
Boost to get Morul, then quickly get back to secure the sarcophagus, then return to running.EDIT: Get to running; get the Eater and get to running it there! Utilize intuition and awareness on any environmental danger around, and if possible, re-angle my rockets to boost me horizontally in the midst of each step I take while tracking the allotted maximum speed.
Explore the tunnel, then. Surely me and Dubs will be just fine here in the bowels of the devil.There's been some shaking, but not as much as up above.
We need to work together on this. Stabilize the Eater or act as my eyes here!ooo thats a vague enough intution roll that I could actually use it to give you vital, non-tpk advice! Lets hope the dice are on your side! Ahh, not perfect but....Oh well here
Or launch yourself forward--rendezvous on the way!Boost to get Morul, then quickly get back to secure the sarcophagus, then return to running.EDIT: Get to running; get the Eater and get to running it there! Utilize intuition and awareness on any environmental danger around, and if possible, re-angle my rockets to boost me horizontally in the midst of each step I take while tracking the allotted maximum speed.
I feel like going down an empty highway at 30mph.
...Back in the day.
((Who still has potions? Sandman over there made out pretty good with his, but the 1-word phrase used to describe mine was "disappointing" so I'm a little leery.))It could be disappointing because it doesn't do anything important. Maybe it changes your hair colour or something.
((My hair will look fabulous and have 72% more bounce before I'm burned to a crisp. Wonderful.))((Who still has potions? Sandman over there made out pretty good with his, but the 1-word phrase used to describe mine was "disappointing" so I'm a little leery.))It could be disappointing because it doesn't do anything important. Maybe it changes your hair colour or something.
((My hair will look fabulous and have 72% more bounce before I'm burned to a crisp. Wonderful.))
((Wouldn't that make it try to mate with you though?))((I'll make it take me out on a date first.))
((It'll take you to dinner at the arctic place from M15.))((Wouldn't that make it try to mate with you though?))((I'll make it take me out on a date first.))
((Hey, that'd buy us enough time to complete the mission!))((It'll take you to dinner at the arctic place from M15.))((Wouldn't that make it try to mate with you though?))((I'll make it take me out on a date first.))
((Assuming Christmas potions are invincible, and un-Eaterable, SamboEater still has a potion. But he's fine with it if his love-bunny-sexy-sun kills the fuck out of you all.))((Have you realized Sambo-Eater is the female wasp in PW's analogy?))
((but what if it mates with stan?))((Giggity))
COME ON FEYRI, THE CROWD IS WAITING TO GO WILD.Number 44? (http://www.soundboard.com/sb/CrowdReactions)
Or do that sitcom "Ooooooo" sound effect whenever anyone gets themselves into deep shit. Not the "Ooooo" when two characters kiss. The other one.
COME ON FEYRI, THE CROWD IS WAITING TO GO WILD.((Won't we get to hear both if the big Eater gets the Sambo-Eater?))
Or do that sitcom "Ooooooo" sound effect whenever anyone gets themselves into deep shit. Not the "Ooooo" when two characters kiss. The other one.
COME ON FEYRI, THE CROWD IS WAITING TO GO WILD.((Won't we get to hear both if the big Eater gets the Sambo-Eater?))
Or do that sitcom "Ooooooo" sound effect whenever anyone gets themselves into deep shit. Not the "Ooooo" when two characters kiss. The other one.
((Dutrius should still have a potion as well.))((Yeah, I just don't want to use it yet.))
((I recommend saving it for when you've cut off two of your own limbs and then set the inside of your suit on fire. The contrast is wonderful.))((Dutrius should still have a potion as well.))((Yeah, I just don't want to use it yet.))
((Exactly, that "Things can only get better (probably, hopefully) from here." moment.))((I recommend saving it for when you've cut off two of your own limbs and then set the inside of your suit on fire. The contrast is wonderful.))((Dutrius should still have a potion as well.))((Yeah, I just don't want to use it yet.))
Feyri gave consent for hapah to take over her character.((No Pressure Hapah. I believe in you, ol' buddy! Also that I'm typing everything as a large post for later. Anyway. :) ))
Hapah, CHOOSE YOUR DESTINY.
Tir Action: Bust the Eater out of the coffin as best she can without hurting it or getting melted. Then grab Morul and run like hell.._____.
Tir Action: Bust the Eater out of the coffin as best she can without hurting it or getting melted. Then grab Morul and run like hell.((shouldn't that be flying?))
((Only way to grab it is by using an amp (or something more durable than a MK3, I wish I was in this mission so I could help), since she'd probably burn otherwise. So the most obvious way to carry it is by flying Morul towards the pit and having Morul carry it via amp.))((This is what I was pondering as an action here, but unsure as to the distance between me, Morul, and the sarcophagus given PW's description back there. The sudden *flop* due to buzzing really surprised me given the assumption that buzzing = a 'tiny raise in altitude to support the thrust', with 'tiny' = a few inches or so.))
Yeah, but I assume that "like hell" translates into "as fast as possible".Tir Action: Bust the Eater out of the coffin as best she can without hurting it or getting melted. Then grab Morul and run like hell.((shouldn't that be flying?))
((specifically, get it out of the coffin and somehow drag it along on the way to the pit? Or bust it out of the coffin, give up, and run away? Just wanted to know either way))The latter.
((Makes the most sense. I still don't understand the point of fully removing the Eater from the coffin, though. At least in any case sending it to voidspace is still an option on the table just in case.))Just trying to get it out and let it do whatever it's gonna do.
Tir Action: Bust the Eater out of the coffin as best she can without hurting it or getting melted. Then grab Morul and run like hell.Ok so here's the short version of what happens since I have to start some homework.
((Should I make Tir shoot it, maybe? I know what's happened every other time so I'm more than a little hesitant; but the Eater is tearing itself apart already))
And what of us irrelevant folks exploring underground? Do we notice anything?((This, basically--is there anywa I could've recovered using my boosters in regards to the force throwing us around?))
((It might be worth having Morul try to amp punt it into the stratosphere first.))((Should I make Tir shoot it, maybe? I know what's happened every other time so I'm more than a little hesitant; but the Eater is tearing itself apart already))
((From what I can tell, the only way Feyri survives at this point anyways is if Morul manages to Void both of them. I'd say make it a conditional action on Morul unable to bring both of them into the void))
((It's- wait, IC))((It might be worth having Morul try to amp punt it into the stratosphere first.))((Should I make Tir shoot it, maybe? I know what's happened every other time so I'm more than a little hesitant; but the Eater is tearing itself apart already))
((From what I can tell, the only way Feyri survives at this point anyways is if Morul manages to Void both of them. I'd say make it a conditional action on Morul unable to bring both of them into the void))
((How about 45* angle? It's up, and towards the pit. Compromise!))((Haha, sure. Are you the one with the Voidsuit? Are you gonna try to zap out with Tir in tow, or just leg it?))
((Tiruin, didn't Jim JUST die? Shouldn't your Char not know this yet? I'm not trying to be nit pciky btw, if it seems that way I'll shush))((I have no idea IC of what happened. :V
Up the spiral.
Assess the shaking. Is it increasing in intensity?
Check where the spiraling tunnel might lead.
And what of us irrelevant folks exploring underground? Do we notice anything?The spiral tunnel goes up for quite a while. IT feels like you should actually be near the surface at this point; but you see no light from up above.
Continue travelling up the spiral tunnel.
((I think now qualifies as a good time to use my potion.))Gonna save you some grief and not do that.
Use my potion.
Grab the Eater with my mass amp, and toss it at a 45* angle in the direction of the pit, as hard as I can, then grab Feyri and run like cheap paint in the opposite direction.Morul grabs the Eater with his mind and, using the entirety of his mental stamina in one move, hurls it off into the distance. It arcs off across the desert like a shooting star fired from a mortar. The creature's screams grow quiet as it vanishes into the distance until finally, it hits the ground several miles away. To Feyri and Morul, the flash is so blinding that it shuts their faceplate cameras down, but to those farther off the impact raises a dome of light and fire which grows for a few seconds before popping like a bubble, spewing jets of flame across the sky. From the center of this explosions rises a single point of light, barely visible until it passes above the flames. It appears to be a perfect ball of white light, trailing long tendrils; like a sunfire jellyfish. It roars off into the sky and disappears into the great mass of the "sun". For a long moment the Sun is still. And then it begins to retract it's tendrils; there is a blast of heat and wind as it flexes countless feathery structures and begins to ascend, back into the upper atmosphere and space beyond it.
((PW had mercy on us? I don't even. I thought even surviving this mission was going to be a challenge at this point, much less succeeding the mission))((NO. This is EXACTLY the thing that had been on the back of Feyri's mind [ie something I was hoping for but didn't type directly, hinted in the rambling references to M3]. It's just like the thingy in the past! The al- Oh let me IC it darnit.))
High-five everyone in range repeatedly, including mummies. But do so regally, of course.((This imagery...Regal high-five, I say? XD))
Continue up the tunnel. Keep a feel out for interesting phenomena.
Fast forward to getting picked up once we've explored a bit and returned, maybe?
Hug random team-mates in jubilation
((!!! Totally not what I expected to happen! Yay!))
"That... that actually worked?
...
Ra has shown mercy upon us! Truly we are blessed!"
High-five everyone in range repeatedly, including mummies. But do so regally, of course.
Maybe try to lure one or more of the little plasma balls out of the plasma ball room out onto the surface with a flame (bursts of flame to get their attention and get them to migrate in a desired direction - lead them through the spiral tunnel if it leads to the surface, otherwise try through the ice cave)? Then get a shuttle containment solution to pick it up?Help with this. And if it gets dangerous, then grab Chief and rocket away because it would be just silly to die now.
If that doesn't seem to work on any important level (including high risks of injury or it being impossible for a shuttle to pick one up) or seems too involved to do, feel free to end the mission already.
Maybe try to lure one or more of the little plasma balls out of the plasma ball room out onto the surface with a flame (bursts of flame to get their attention and get them to migrate in a desired direction - lead them through the spiral tunnel if it leads to the surface, otherwise try through the ice cave)? Then get a shuttle containment solution to pick it up?You manage to lead one away. but it seems not to want to go very far up the spiral. It appears to have an aversion to being at a higher altitude then its tunnels.
If that doesn't seem to work on any important level (including high risks of injury or it being impossible for a shuttle to pick one up) or seems too involved to do, feel free to end the mission already.
"Because you have impressed us... adequately, we have decided that we shall join you as ambassador of Q'baja to this ARM we have been hearing so much about. We expect, of course, to be treated like the royalty we are."Imagine this
If the shuttle has not yet arrived, King Sulan'takan'litkham'ramen III shall take a mummy ride over to the pit to see what it looks like.
Start paying attention again at an opportune time. Help Chief and Dubley out of the hole if they need it. Maybe look for another shiny thing to take with me if my potion is still working.
Help people out of the hole as needed if my potion has worn off, otherwise head to the shuttle pickup.Not working anymore. Even if you escape via my inattention, time snaps back into place when you come back.
"Let's get out of here."
request a nice bottle of champagne and some glasses be made ready for when the shuttle arrives back at the ship, until then chill on a sand duneYou'll have to get that when you get back to the ship. Unless you want the shuttle to turn around and go get it.
I wanna go home!((The Sword will have to do.))
((Next Nyar's box will have some ruby-red slippers))I wanna go home!((The Sword will have to do.))
Debrief. Make sure mummies/assistant ambassadors are allowed on the shuttle
Actually, I wouldn't mind gathering more of that super-hard crystal. Enough to completely bling my armour, for defensive purposes of course.That would take a long time: but what we'll do is say you grab enough to let the Heph boys research it.
Unless it would take multiple turns.
To debriefing and mechanical repairs.You wanna talk to the sword's counselors? I can set up a meeting.
Inquire why there's no psychological debriefing ever since past experiences are concerned...even if we're rebelliously free, currently.
>Alright, so this planet has several new molten canyons, that city we visited in the beginning was partially buried and destroyed thanks to shockwaves, and the alien creature is still in relatively low orbit so I'm rerouting you to another continent before we head upwards. We got some good data, some good artifacts and in the chaos that ensued, the king of that particular civilization somehow ended up dead and his cities were badly damaged. Now when the rulers we backed come in, it will be seen more as a gesture of aid to rebuild, as opposed to a hostile take over. Funny how that worked out, eh?
"I feel like I should feel angry about having been a pawn in this, but I'm not. Go figure. Did the other teams make it out?"
>Alright, so this planet has several new molten canyons, that city we visited in the beginning was partially buried and destroyed thanks to shockwaves, and the alien creature is still in relatively low orbit so I'm rerouting you to another continent before we head upwards. We got some good data, some good artifacts and in the chaos that ensued, the king of that particular civilization somehow ended up dead and his cities were badly damaged. Now when the rulers we backed come in, it will be seen more as a gesture of aid to rebuild, as opposed to a hostile take over. Funny how that worked out, eh?
Get my generator back from Vincent, and get my laser back from Feyri.WIKI!!!! PEOPLE ARE MOVING STUFF! HELP!
"Job well done. Hi-fives!"
High-five teammates.
"How much of that was planned?"MORE WIKI!
Ask. Get back my shock trigger from Morul. Afterwards, try asking my ghosts whether they are back.
((Sneaky sneaky Steve))Wait for it.
((Can we do on-ship stuff yet? And what's our pay?))
"Is data from tunnel walking any good?" Chief asks.Well, you're doing this while smoking so: You think politics are a useful means to an end but are not terribly interesting in and of themselves.
Time for a congratulatory bluesmoke. Let the blue inside and reflect on what I have learned in this mission.
EDIT: Also quickly check whether I give a shit about politics. Search really deep within my mind. Utilize the entirety of my insight. Say nothing, however.
Ok, How many people died and who all distinguished themselves as being not bad? Feyri and Morul certainly get hazard pay, but I'll let others nominate their teammates for bonuses. Should make it more interesting.
"I fried, or rather melted, my heat gun keeping the eater from taking off on the second to last night, since I hooked it up to my suit I probably risked frying my heat protection as well"Yeah, that was a pretty good trick.
"I Honestly had no idea what I was doing. Thinking back on it it is amazing that I didn't just wreck my gun and my suit at the same time"Hey, it worked, though. I'd rather be lucky than good any day!
Kai: who?
Feyri, you get to choose how these 9 bonus tokens are distributed.I was never good at math.
((Didn't Mir end up on M17 instead?))((I've something to admit which I'll say IC))
@Tiruin: I don't think those 9 tokens include the four you added to the pool. Remember that piecewise often skims threads these days, with so many people posting, and judging by his choice of words ("And we have three dead men eh? Lets say their pay would be 9 tokens combined."), he didn't notice your contribution. So you have 13 tokens to distribute, I think, not four.((Oh. I wondered why some people had 4...thanks for that clarification. It makes a lot more sense now.))
Who?
Kai: who?
((Me))
Okie dokeFeyri, you get to choose how these 9 bonus tokens are distributed.I was never good at math.
Sure, calculus, trigonometry, statistics, philosophy of statistics, fourier analysis, differential equations, angles and range, wind and temperature, and division of fractions aren't applied by-the-book, but I find this to be one of the hardest problems I've faced yet.
How am I to divide nine whole tokens, by the complete sum of mutual effort exerted by this whole crew!?
Feyri thought of appending an apology note to each and every token, and to each and every other person who did not get a token.
She wondered what Milno would do.
Give 1 token to:
Mir
Kai
Konrad
Han
Vincent
Hobby
Jason
Gorat
Tek
and apologetically glare at the rest.
Hopefully this faceplate conveys the exact emotion I want to display.
:(
Level up?Probably should wait for the new system