Middex Armory, Security Room, Klos 4th, 350AC, 11:45

Next round of experience:

• Arvak gets 38 XP (big bonuses for wiping out 1.5 ghoolz by himself)
• Phallon gets 17 XP (no extra for shooting self, best roll lately by far)
• Rangor gets 15 XP (skipped 5 out of 18 turns so less interaction)
• Zeebo gets 26 XP (computer skills, info gathering, roleplaying)

See player stats for updated XP totals.

All the Programmers are going to sleep now except Meyer who is guarding, and Jackson.  Jackson goes up to Meyer, points at Zeebo, and says, “The Doctor can kill those things with his MIND!!”

Where to now?  Arvak has voted through the barracks.  Phallon has voted through the Computer room (do you mean the south door, or the west door?)

Middex Armory, Security Room, Klos 4th, 350AC, 11:30

The heroes and the two Programmers slowly make their way down the hall towards the Security Room.  Ragnor moves as the point man while Arvak and Phallon assist and talk to Gibson and (who they now know by Gibson cursing at him) Hawkings.

As they move through the ex-office, it is clear that the Programmers are shocked and horrified by the destruction (the desks and computers were all in order last time they were here) and the death in the Room of Rendering.  You’re not sure which they think is worse.  They are relieved that there are no more ghoolz here.  They look at the dead stoo shrooms, and say they’ve never seen these things before, they don’t know where they came from.  As you approach the locked door to the Security Room, Hawkings asks “why is it so cold in here?”, and you all notice a cold breeze blowing in from the hall leading to the front entrance.

You open the door, and see Zeebo sitting at the computer chair, with Jackson and Sara around him, talking and looking awed.  The shotgun he was left with is floating in the air next to him.  Meyer snorts, startles, and wakes up, drool all over his chin and cheek.  “Whaa!  Oh, its you!”  He looks around and gets his bearings.

What now?

Middex Armory, Storage, Klos 4th, 350AC, 11:15

Phallon takes up position in the hallway (All seems empty and quiet).

Now equipped and ready to go, the two Programmers try to climb down from their crate tower.  Both are exhausted and getting down is an ordeal: they are so weak that the stun ray’s powerpack keeps them off-balance, and they cannot hold up their own body weights with arm strength alone.  So before anyone can help them, they kind of flop-splat onto the floor, panting.  Gibson scowls and gripes nearly under his breath.  The other Programmer finds the whole thing funny and can’t stop snickering and giggling. 

They get to their feet and start slowly shuffling towards Ragnor and the door.

Is anyone going to do anything else before heading back to the security room?  (You have plenty of time)

Middex Armory, Storage, Klos 4th, 350AC, 1105

(At the end of last turn) Ragnor has just suggested moving the Programmers back to the protected room for food and shelter.  The Programmer continues to sit with his back against the crate-wall.  The one he has dubbed “Gibson” is sleeping in full clothing and armor along the northeast corner of the crate-room, using a balled up olive-colored coat as a pillow.  His helmet and stun-ray gun lie next to him.

What would you like to do?

Arvak again attempts to mush the creature with his hammer (19): 2 5 = white result.  (Sound effect: clang)

Phallon changes up weapons and is again armed with the heavy pistol.  (He used his mental blast last on turn 43, and thus it is back at full strength) He mental blasts the creature (10): 70 7 = green result.  It gives off a spasm, more goo comes out of its nose and ears, and it fully collapses on the floor and goes still.

Ragnor stands and watches.

A faint yet echoing voice calls out:  “Don’t shoot, I’m not one of those ghoolz.”

What now?

Middex Armory, Storage, Klos 4th, 350AC, 1103

The creature twists towards Arvak: from the waist down it is useless.  One leg spasms and twitches, the other lies limp.  It crawls a pace closer to Arvak as he brings his hammer around for another swing, and it tries to grab and bite his leg.  Wrestling attack (10): 30 6 = white.  Bite (11): 10 1 = white.

Ragnor stands, shotgun fully loaded, and does nothing.

Phallon aims and fires his laser pistol (8): 60 6 = blue +1RF = green hit.  The beam burns into its shoulder, creating char and foul smelling smoke, but the creature doesn’t react or slow down at all.  Awareness roll (14): 60 4 = green.  The laser pistol’s green light blinks once and winks out, indicating its out of power.

Arvak swings his hammer yet again (16 +2 for target’s position = 18): 6 9 = yellow hit.  The blow smacks the creature in the side of the chest, knocking it sideways and causing some fluid to spray from its mouth.  Arvak is sure most true men would have gone down from such a hit, with serious internal injury.  However this creature is still attacking…  Base damage of 14 – 3AC = 11 points of damage done.

Initiatives

• Arvak 7 + 1 = 8
• Phallon 5 + 2 = 7
• Creature 2 – 1 = 1
• Ragnor 1 = automatic loss

Declare your actions.

Meyer starts to snore heavily.  Lara says, “Hmmph, this is boring!  Dr. Elf, lets play a game!  A game!”  Jackson glares at her and says, “Hey, dummy, our home is in a lot of trouble.  Dr. Elf’s trying to help us with that, and that means no time for games.”  He looks at Zeebo and says, “Right?”

Arvak smashes the body with his hammer.  Col 16 + 3CS for supine target +1RS for basically helpless target (19): 8 3 = yellow + 1RS = orange hit.  The hammer strikes the body across its hips, crushing its pelvis with a sickening crunch.  The blow does base damage of 14 – 3AC = 11 points of damage.

Phallon covers with his laser pistol.  Awareness roll (14): 20 4 = white.

Ragnor loads three shells into the shotgun (click for sound effect: pumpshotgun).  Awareness roll (16): 90 7 = red.  If you haven’t checked your private post in awhile, look now.  These creatures are definately  what you thought they were.  The Programmer on the crates looks like a true man, his arms go limp and he lets the stun ray gun drop into his lap as he sits there leaning heavily against the crates.  The creature with the smashed in head is not moving at all.

The one Arvak is beating on now opens its eyes, gives off a gurgly exhale, and rolls onto its side, arms reaching up to grab Arvak (its action for next turn).

Initiatives

• creature 0 = automatic win
• Ragnor 6 + 2 = 8
• Phallon 4 + 2 = 6, tie breaker 0
• Arvak 5 + 1 = 6, tie breaker 2

Declare your actions.

The creature’s eyes narrow, its arms extend again, and it rushes towards the heroes, all signs of fear now gone.  It attacks 1-2 Arvak, 3-4 Ragnor, 5-6 Phallon: 2.  It tries to grab onto Arvak (10): 40 4 = white.

A yellow energy ball lances out from the crates to the east, and hits the creature square in the back.  Electric bolts sizzle around it, and it spasms and flops onto the ground.  Another Programmer is sitting up on the top of the crate platform, leaning up against another crate.  Helmet on, stun ray rifle aimed at your area.

Phallon fires his laser pistol at the falling/twitching creature (8): 40 0 = white.  His mental blast against the crushed head (10): 40 1 = white.

Arvak swings his hammer at it.  With it now hitting the ground, he gets a +3 CS to strike (19): 3 0 = blue result.  Thud, the hammer smacks into its side, without much effect.

Ragnor fires his shotgun (20): 20 9 = blue result.  Pieces of shot lodge or tear into the sheath armor, bits of uniform and flesh shred.  Again, no pain response, no twitching.

Initiatives

• Arvak 6 + 1 = 7
• Phallon 1 = automatic loss, tie breaker 7
• Ragnor 1 = automatic loss, tie breaker 3
• GM reference point 1 = automatic loss, tie breaker 2

Declare your actions.