Middex Armory, Vehicle Bays, Klos 4th, 350AC, 13:45

The four heros and the seven rescued Programmers head through the base.  The adults, with some renewed strength, seem very alert and hold their weapons at the ready.  The children walk in the center of the group, except for Sara (4 year old)who is carried by Meyer the Newbie guard.

You move into “Armory 1”, the room where the robotrooper initially stood guard.  There is a yucky moment when you realize there are 5 half eaten people in here, and you have children with you.  Maybe people get the kids to cover their eyes.  Maybe not.  Maybe someone is further mentally scarred for life.  Passing through, the doorway into the “Vehicle Bay” is partially blocked by a crushed, rusted ancient vehicle that has been propped up on its side.  You are all able to move around it in single file, and into the cavernous rooms beyond.

An infection roll is now made vs. Ragnor, column X + 1RS for being bitten (A single tooth poking through armor, so little damage, but alas, like a hypodermic needle).  00 6 = white up to a blue result.  Ragnor’s CN save = rank 7 + 4CN = (11): 00 7 = white.  Ragnor is now suffering from fever.  All actions at -2CS.

The southern vehicle bay has had a cave-in along the southern wall.  Rubble and ancient ruined vehicles are piled up here.  The northern bay is empty, except for a crude barricade made of crates, pieces of sheet metal, and plastic barrels.  The robotrooper stands just in front of the barricade and scans you all with red laser light as you enter.  The rest of the Programmers (19 total) are listlessly lying or sitting behind or next to the barricade.  They are armed to the teeth with ancient firearms, including rocket launchers, but look too weak to even lift them.

Middex Armory, Main Hallway, Klos 4th, 350AC, 13:27

After a minute or so, you can no longer hear the robotrooper (Greg, check Ragnor’s private post).  The four of you compile the following information, see map below.

The yellow areas are where you KNOW ghoolz disintegrated, spreading virus.  The soldiers outside told Zeebo they saw one “turn to dust” on the entry ramp.  There are 5 ghool bodies in this hall who should disintegrate within an hour.  What you don’t know is where the Programmers may have killed some prior to your arrival.  Also, is there any in the room of rendering and did the shrooms spread it around in their bloody “wheel-prints”?

There are 7 surviving programmers in the security office (including the 3 children) who have eaten and are doing okay.  Zeebo ran into a group of 19 programmers in the vehicle bay who are very weak with hunger.  They are all adults and include Commander Mensa and Inner Circle Member Zelda.

Zeebo has a Middex Armory type III ID card which will open the doors to the command room and the officers quarters.

What would you like to do?

Middex Armory, Main Hallway, Klos 4th, 350AC, 13:22

The robotrooper clomps backwards down the hall and around the corner, out of sight.  Its noises indicate that it is continuing to move further away.  The hall is full of yourselves and 5 dead ghoolz.  Phallon moves down the hallway and collects his equipment.

What next?

Middex Armory, Main Hallway, Klos 4th, 350AC, 13:22

Red lights wink on along the robotroopers back and head, scanning over Zeebo.  “Sir, yes sir!”  It retreats backwards down the hall, dropping Phallon suddenly.

Ragnor jumps forward and tries to check the robotrooper (21): 70 2 = yellow.  The robotrooper tries to defend against the blow (X): 2 4 = blue.  Ragnor puts his shoulder right into its chest.  It makes a PS check to withstand it (X): 2 0 = blue.  The robot staggers backwards, makes a DX check to keep from falling (X) 1 7 = white.  It teeters over and crashes into the floor with a loud echoing THWAMMM!

Arvak moves up and tries to retrain Ragnor (19) 3 4 = blue hold.

Zeebo, moves forward and yells his orders, then realizes the robotrooper is about to fall on top of him!  He dodges (13 – 2CS for sickness = 11): 6 6 = blue.  Just makes it from being crushed under a truckload of duralloy!

Phallon was trying to free himself, then suddenly was dropped to the floor.  DX check at -2CS for sickness (6): 80 7 = green.  He pretty much lands on his feet and leans back against the wall.  Ready to go for next turn.

Initiative

• Arvak 0 = automatic win
• Ragnor 9 + 3 = 12
• Zeebo 4 + 2 = 6
• Phallon 2 + 2 = 4
• Robotrooper 1 = automatic loss

Middex Armory, Main Hallway, Klos 4th, 350AC, 13:22

Ragnor’s eyes turn yellow, fur sprouts all over his body, and he suddenly grows into a hulking furry bipedal wolf-like creature.  Buckles pop and straps loosen, his equipment and plastic armor plates fall to the floor with a clatter.

The live metal man stops in its tracks, “Intruder alert!  Intruder alert!”  The arm holding Phallon pivots and holds him off to the side, away from Ragnor.  It levels its laser at Ragnor.  Arvak uses his telekinesis defensively on the laser this turn (14):   5 8 = blue.  The attack this round will be at (x – 1RF) + 1RF.  Ragnor, bearing massive claws and fangs, leaps forward with a guttural growl.

The live metal fires at Ragnor (X): 9 0 = orange (RFs cancel out).  BD 15 – 3ac = 12 x 4RF = 48 points of burn damage.  Ragnor down to 50 hit points.  Rolls CN check on the burns table (11): 00 0 = red.  No further effect.

Ragnor claw 1 (18): 40 4 = blue.  BD 10 – 8ac = 2 points damage.  Claw 2 (18): 80 5 = orange.  BD 10 – 8ac = 2 x 4RF = 8.  Bite (18): 30 8 = blue.  BD 15 – 8ac = 7.  Total of 17 points of damage.  The powerful blows sound like hammers, and sparks shower from the impacts, but it feels like beating up a slab of metal.

Phallon tries to free himself from the grip.  Wrestling roll at -4CS for the hold, and -2CS for the sickness (3): 30 9 = white.  Not going anywhere.

The annoying voice of Dr. Zeebo calls out from down the hallway behind the robot:  “Robotrooper!  Stand down and release that man!  Commander Mensa orders you to report to him in the vehicle bay!  I order you to report to Commander Mensa for new orders!”

Initiative

• Robotrooper 8 + 3 = 11
• Ragnor 5 + 3 = 8
• Arvak 6 + 1 = 7
• Zeebo 3 + 2 = 5
• Phallon 2 + 2 = 4

Middex Armory, Main Hallway, Klos 4th, 350AC, 13:20

Although your characters wouldn’t know the details, here they are anyway:  Arvak and Phallon both suffer an intensity X attack roll from infection, +1RS as they were both bitten by ghoolz.  Arvak (X): 1 8 = white up to blue.  Phallon (X): 60 9 = yellow up to orange.  Both need to make CN saves vs the attack.  Arvak gets a +1RS since he is a new animal.  Arvak (9): 8 4 = green up to a yellow.  Phallon (8): 10 1 = white.

Phallon starts to feel feverish and sweaty.  He is at -2CS for all actions.

Middex Armory, Main Hallway, Klos 4th, 350AC, 13:18

Phallon moves up to ghool 2 and stabs with his combat knife (7): 30 3 = white.

Ghool 2, coming to its senses (fear generation wears off after just 1 turn), tries to bite Phallon (11): 00 1 = black.

Black result

• 1-2 = bites knife (Phallon gets second attack roll)
• 3-4 = ghool falls down
• 5 = ghool runs into wall (stunned)
• 6 = nothing.

Roll: 1.  Phallon’s second attack roll (7): 90 2 = yellow hit.  Base damage only of 5.  The ghool essentially lunges forward and impales its own head (knife into the mouth and up into the skull).  It goes limp and collapses.

Ghool 5 rises to its feet, its dead arm hanging from a strip of leathery tissue.

Arvak jumps forward and swings his mighty hammer (18): 3 2 = white (barely).

Ragnor moves up to swing his axe.  However, the ghool gets to go first.

Ghool 5:  attacks Arvak on a 1-3, Ragnor on a 4-6:  3.  Tries to grapple (11 -1RF due to useless arm): 40 6 = white.  Bite attempt (11): 70 0 = blue.  The bite doesn’t penetrate Arvak’s armor.  No effect.

Ragnor’s ax blow (16): 80 4 = yellow.  Base damage only of 12, but the swing cleaves through its neck and decapitates it.  SSSHH-WUCCKK!!!!  The head flies off, the body falls.

No more ghoolz standing!