Arvak charges the “thing 1” and swings his hammer (16): 9 3 = orange result.  The hammer connects with the side of its head, crushing in its skull.  Brains and fluid spray away from it, and its body jerks and falls, finally lifeless onto the floor.

Ragnor fires his shotgun a split second after the hammer strike (20): 20 5 = white.  The blast goes wide.

Phallon uses fear generation on “thing 2” (14): 90 3 = orange.  It must make a MS save on the fear table (7): 20 2 = white.  It suffers from weakness, meaning its physical actions are on the C table, its movement is reduced to 2, and it lasts 50 minutes. 

Phallon’s laser pistol shot (at the exact same moment, so still on column 6): 20 3 = white.

The creature lets go of Phallon, and starts to stagger backwards away from him, its hands held upright as if warding him away.  It groans loudly and long: aaaaaaaarrrrrhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (however, it doesn’t go “fire baaaaaaaadddd!!”)

Initiative

• “thing 2”: 0 = automatic win
• GM reference point: 7
• Phallon: 3 + 2 = 5
• Arvak: 3 + 1 = 4, tie breaker 9
• Ragnor: 2 + 2 = 4, tie breaker 3

What now brown cows?

Ragnor shouts “Wait, these men are sick, we should restrain them!”

Phallon, unable to alter his action, fires his laser pistol (8): 00 2 = black.  Result?

• 1 drops or throws his pistol away
• 2 pistol malfunctions and doesn’t fire
• 3 pistol melts and is destroyed
• 4 shoots self
• 5 shoots someone else in room
• 6 just a very lousy shot.  And maybe Phallon wets himself…

4  Oh boy, minimum hit is blue.  Phallon’s second roll (8): 90 9 = red result.  +1RF not that it matters.  The Programmer, reaching for Phallon, knocks the laser pistol in his hand, which twirls on his trigger finger, and fires into his body.  ZARK!  Base damage 10 – AC4 = 6 x 5 = 30 points of burn damage.  Down to 87 hp.

He also mental blasts (10): 40 3 = white.

Programmer 1 tries to grapple onto Arvak (10): 30 5 = white, its cracked jagged nails scratch down his metal armor.

Programmer 2 does the same against Phallon (10): 80 2 = green result.  It grabs onto him and tries to bite (11): 30 1 = white.  Clack! clack!  Its skin also starts to glow from within, with a green-yellow light, and Phallon feels intense heat emiting from it.  (Intensity X): 00 7 = white.  Phallon will be at -2CS for physical actions unless he breaks or reverses the hold (has to counter with a wrestling attack of yellow or better).

Arvak swings his hammer upwards (16): 8 3 = yellow result.  Whap!!  The blow strikes the upper chest and neck with a cracking noise.  The Programmer is knocked up and backwards like a rag doll and crashes into the floor.  Its helmet falls off.  After only a second of lying motionless, it rises back onto its feet.  Its head is now cocked at an angle on its crooked neck.  Fluid drips out of its mouth, and it lurches back at the heroes, same speed, same low pitched hissing groan.  (blow did base damage of 14 – 3AC = 11 points of damage) 

Initiatives:

• Arvak: 9 +1 = 10, tie breaker 9
• Ragnor: 8 + 2 = 10, tie breaker 6
• Phallon: 6 + 2 = 8, tie breaker 7
• “Programmers”: 9 – 1 = 8, tie breaker 1

What now?

Middex Armory, Security Room, Klos 4th, 350AC, 1120

Sara nudges Jackson in the ribs with her elbow.  “Why do you get to ask all the questions?  Mr. Elf, are there other talking horses outside?  Can I get one just like yours, to carry me around and tell us stories?”

As Zeebo talks to the children, he continues to work on the computer (Dual Brain helps him do a bit of both simultaneously).  His final attempt (12): 9 1 = yellow.  Success!  The computer exits out of standby, and brings up a screen with various program icons.  Zeebo will be able to access the video files again, or attempt other functions (need to make further computer rolls for success).

What now?

Middex Armory, Storage, Klos 4th, 350AC, 1102

As the Programmers head towards the heroes, they start moving faster and with more purpose.  Their arms reach out, grasping, towards the heroes.  Arvak and Phallon now notice that they don’t look like true men.  Their skin is a sick gray-green color, they lack hair (like eyebrows), and their eyes seem frosted over and unfocused, like those of the blind.  They open their mouths, baring sharp pointed teeth, and emit soft gurgling hisses.

They are just about upon the heroes.

Initiatives

• Ragnor: 0 = automatic win
• Phallon: 7 + 2 = 9
• “Programmers”: 9 -1 = 8
• Arvak: 6 + 1 = 7

Declare your actions.

Due to Christmas and New Years, I am going to extend these next few turns to a full week in case you guys are traveling, etc.

Middex Armory, Barracks, Klos 4th, 350AC, 1102

The door hisses open as it slides to the side.  Beyond is a huge warehouse-like room, its ceiling is 6-7meters above you.  Many metal crates and plastic barrels line the walls or are strewn about the room.  Many of the crates are open, and their contents thrown about.  The edge of one crate is blocking part of the doorway.  Phallon, Arvak, and Ragnor check out the doorway, then look and step inside.

Two programmers are walking along the floor, as if drunk or aimless.  They are wearing olive drab uniforms with double chevron patches on their arms.  Black sheath armor and helmets over that.  Each programmer has a high-tech looking rifle attached to his backpack by a cable.  The rifles rest on the floor, but are being dragged around by the cables as the programmers walk.

As the heroes enter, the programmers look at them, then turn and shuffle quickly towards them.  (They start about 15 meters away, and will reach the heroes after 1 round)

Check your private posts.

What do you do?

Middex Armory, Barracks, Klos 4th, 350AC, 1049

Phallon quietly moves down to the eastern doorway.  Stealth roll (8): 70 5 = blue result.  He looks in and sees a room with white tile along the floor and walls, gleaming in the white light from the glow panels.  Protruding from the walls are metal fixtures.  This room has open doorways to smaller rooms to its north and south, which also have the same tile/metal fixture arrangement.

Arvak catches up (not as quietly).  He remembers (IN check col 7: 6 3 = blue) the Nerds barracks being messy although very few of them used the beds.  The Nerds’ bathroom was fully functional although the water was discolored.

You spend a “search turn” checking the barrack’s bathroom (and maybe using it).  No people or creatures are lurking here.  The central room has sinks and mirrors.  There are several high tech machines built into the east wall.  The southern room has urinals and 3 stalls with toilets.  The northern room has showerheads (with only one private shower) and a drain in the center of the floor.

Ragnor stays put at the door to the central hallway.

Looks like all other areas of the base are behind closed doors.  Where to now?

Dr. Zeebo continues to work on the computer, trying various keystroke combinations.  Lara stops messing with his ear, but continues to stare a bit.  As she watches Zeebo work, she starts to doze off, head bobbing, at the desk.  Jackson asks “Can you write a new program to bring us food?  I bet Captain Wizard could’ve done it.  He was the best ever.  He had all the high scores.”

Computer roll (12): 6 5 = blue result.  Zeebo has gone through about half the possible combinations, assuming he is on the right track.  Hmmm, if this doesn’t work, he’s not sure what will.  He keeps plugging away at it…

Middex Armory, Computer Room, Klos 4th, 350AC, 1039

Phallon moves through the computer room, as Ragnor and Arvak watch from the doorway.  He looks through the southern doorway into a barracks.  The room is crowded with numerous metal bunk beds.  The mattresses and sheets are very messy, and some have been ripped or thrown about the room.  Metal footlockers rest under or at the foot of each bed.  Again, no signs of life.  There is a closed door in the west wall, and an open doorway in the east wall.

What now?

Zeebo attempts to get the computer out of standby mode.  He messes with random buttons, which so far, don’t seem to do anything.

Sara curls up on the mattress and goes to sleep.  Lara and Jackson stand on either side of you watching you work.  Lara shyly reaches up and tries to touch your ear tip.  Jackson starts saying “You don’t know what you’re doing, do you?  I thought you were smart!  Try Control-S.  How about Control-shift-S?”

Zeebo will get three attempts to get the computer working.  He gets one attempt per turn and needs a green result.  The column will be Rank 6 + 2 IN mod + 1 Ancient Text + 3 for Programmers input/suggestions = 12.

Zeebo’s first attempt (12): 0 9 = white.  No luck so far.  The Programmer kids seem to know how to use the computers, but have never been allowed to use this station, and don’t know how to exit standby.

Middex Armory, Security Room, Klos 4th, 350AC, 1035

The heroes move quietly down the hall towards the open doorway.  Stealth rolls -Phallon (8) 30 6 = white.  -Ragnor (9) 20 2 = white.  Arvak (7) 7 3 = blue.  The footsteps are soft, yet echoing.

The group reaches the doorway and looks through, with weapons at the ready.  The room to the south is full of desks.  Each desk has a computer with a nearly transparent plastic cover.  Ragnor and Arvak have never seen these computers turned off before or covered over.  Often Programmers would sleep at their desks, but the room is deserted.  (Everyone check their private posts for awareness roll results).  There are three other exits out of the room, two are closed doors, the third is an open doorway at the room’s south wall.

You all hear a clank echo through the air ducts, then a slight creaking noise.  What would you like to do?