CHAPTER 2: GM: The team is making pretty good time. As the team is moving, Sherlock stops and leans up against a tree. He's feeling light headed and little sick to the stomach. Sherlock: Damn. Poison darts. I knew it. So, is it fatigue related or magic related? GM: It's physical pain but magic related. [how's that for an answer?] Sherlock: Piss poor, but I'll roll with. I'll try to cast my around for a source. Maybe someone's putting a hex on me. Sounds like a Body Control spell. GM: No spell required. Mages can detect mana areas without a spell. It's a mana headache. You sense you're in an abnormally high mana area. Jace: And since i have no mana or magic i am unaffected? You guys want me to take point or will Sherlock be ok? Sherlock: That's what I get being a amateur mage. So I'll sit down a sec and try to get acclimatized to it. I'll share the info with the rest of the team. Is it that I just I entered a high mana zone, or is there something that's radiating the magic...I'm thinking a magical ritual is being performed by scores on scantily clad amazons, but that's just me. GM: The group is stopped in the forest. Sherlock is paused up at point. He signals that he's ok. In order to share the info with the group the group will have to come together? Sherlock: It's never good when the GM asks "where are you standing?" So, since we have to share the info, I guess we have to be within speaking distance. Also, it may be better to switch out the scout. Magic sucks. GM: [How true!] Everyone moves into speaking distance. The pain increases as group gets together. When Marvel arrives from the back. Sherlock is hit with immense pain and passes out. Sherlock: O.K., who's been watching Charmed!? So, uh, I guess I'll fall to the ground dramatically... Jace: Do me and Marvel feel any effects? GM: No one other than Sherlock feels anything. Jace: "Ok get weapons at the ready guys" What time of day is it? GM: Early evening. Sherlock: Frank,being that unconscious, I can't really say anything, but it wouldn't happen to be because of the patches Gy gave us, would it? I mean, mildly magical to the point of being unnoticable, that is until you bring them into a high magic area, right? GM: Nope, but all is about to be revealed and I think you're gonna like. Sherlock: Doh, and here I was trying to be all smart and stuff... heh, heh. Let the good times roll. GM: [Didn't apply to all!] It's early evening. Just off to the north in the shadows the team hears a growl. It's pretty loud, but only sounds like one creature. Then off the East another growl, another creature. After a few seconds there's growling on all sides and no way to tell how many are incoming. Jace: With my nightvision can i disearn anything? Size? What these things might Resemble? And how far off they are, i.e. how many turns till they are on us? If yes i let the guys know what i see GM: Everyone can make glowing ice blue eyes from the shadows. Jace is able to make more details, these are wolves, 150-250 lbs standing 5 to 6 feet at the shoulder. [you could feed 'em sherlock, he's unconscious..... :}] Jace: Ok i counted 3 growls, then they where on all sides can i figure there are 4 in all or can i see the exact number? You know feeding them Sherlock aint such a bad idea, yuck yuck ELV: Aw dog, You insult us. Hell no. I hold up my fist [all stop signal] while I close in slowly on Sherlock to get the lowdown. (This is what I get for not getting around to my turns sooner. So much for this response. Real response coming.) ELV: I give everyone a fan out signal, we basically cover each others backs. Time to use my tactics skill. Based on the noise I want to find a hole and open up firing in THAT direction. What it will do is keep THEM from closing in on THAT direction. ELV: Now that you mention it... Hmn, fresh meat let's eat. How many slugs does it take to drop a 150 pound wolf? Hmn, One... Two... No Three, Aaarrrgh. Give me the gun back Kujo, my arm is still attached to it. GM: Jace can make out 5 wolves, from N, NE, E, S, and W. GM: Jace gives the location of each wolf and the count of 5. Jace: Is there a way for me to tell which one is the pack leader form there actions and which direction he is? GM: Nope Jace: Crap turns out to be a turkey hunt/guessing game Whats the plan boss? GM: As sherlock lay unconsious. All is revealed to him: The pilot of the shuttlecraft hit a dense Mana stream. Mana streams in space are very rare. The Mana stream launched the shuttlecraft at an uncalculated high velocity into an uncharted section of the universe. The high velocity caused the team to black out and shattered the ship. The team members became the core of a Mana comet, a projectile moving through space protected by a Mana powered force shield. While entering the solar system that contained the planet Nara the comet hit a piece of space junk. The team members were separated and formed smaller individual Mana comets. Each of those comets landed on the planet Nara in various locations. Just as the Mana had protected the team in deep space it protected them from the impact of hitting the planet. Each team member now generates a medium strength Mana field. The field stretches about ten feet from the team member. The Mana field is the same as those found on most planets and can be used to power spells. The Mana field functions normally in areas of no Mana. All of the mana overwhelmed Sherlock causing him to slip from consciousness. He'll wake up once his body adjusts to the ultra high mana level. Sherlock can make one roll against willpower (IQ) subtracting his mage level from the roll. On his return to his body he realizes the team is under siege by mana wolves. They thrive in high mana areas and are drawn the the team. [how's that for a plot?] # Sherlock: Mana Adjustment: 15 (-1) = 14 GM: Nope, Sherlock has finished his out of body experience but hasn't come too. The team has one turn before the wolves emerge from the brush. ELV: Plot??? My favorite show Farscape was just reincarnated (thanks Frank). Crunch, Beast, get em'. Uh quick, let's show them the CLAN marker Gy gave us. Maybe the wolves don't eat clansmen. Then again maybe they like the taste of clansmen the best... I say we stick to the plan. The worst thing we can do is allow them to encircle us which they are in the process of doing. Jace, you got Sherlock. The rest of the team form up on me and make a hole. The hole will be due west since that is one of the directions in which there is only one mana wolf. With all of us firing on the same spot he'll have a heluva a time 'dodging this'. [Frank, Any chance I can get the other team members most updated character sheets. It would make it easier for me to plan things knowing all of ourrecommendations. In the meantime I'm open to suggestions if anyone has some of that magic doohickey stuff they can pull.] Jace: Ok a few questions (nice going Frank exaclant plot as usual)! So we all have mana use of some sort? Do we know how to use it or is it up to us and our char development? And so i fully understand, the reason Sherlock is knocked out is because he was mana senitive before right? How much does Sherlock weight? He will slow me down and with these wolves i dont want them getting a 2 for 1 deal at Denny's all you can eat. Needless to say i pack him over my left shoulder so my right hand is free for my blaster. [Hey ELV you like Farscape too! Damn wheres Dargo when you need him eh!!] GM: Mana is required to cast spells. To cast spells you need the magery advantage. Sherlock is the only spell caster in the group. All spell casters can naturally detect mana. So the extreme mana caused a mana overload. Jace can carry Sherlock over his shoulder and still wield his blaster pistol. His Dex will be reduced by one. [ELV all of the character in the character gallery rare up to date - except Marvel (not made yet). Not sure if you can get there: http://frank.robertsguild.com/cgindex/index.html] Let me know when you're ready to enact the plan (or even what the plan is)? ELV: The plan... RUN.... Just kidding. We'll go with make a hole. Come on didn't you guys see Tear of the Sun. Sad movie but their tactics kick A$$. 4 guys take on an Army and get this... They WIN. Basically two guys fire around 2 guys while they move forward. Then the 2 forward positions open up while the rear guys advance. Then we go back and forth until all the bad guys are behind us. Then we all turn around and give them hell. Jace: Yeah i saw that too, but didnt like most of the team die? And at the end they had AIR SUPPORT!!!!!!!!! Still its a good plan i will run and shoot to make a hole, you lead and have Marvel take up the rear. I follow you ELV. ELV: Oh my goodness you're right, we need two volunteers for dying. Let's see a show of hands . Frank, you all set with the plan. GM: I've got the plan and the formation. Let's get the ball rolling. Let the games begin: GM: ELV, Jace and Marvel all shoot west. # ELV Roll Out 11 Jace: # roll out 9 # Marvel Roll out: 12 GM: ELV runs first. Followed by Jace and Marvel. About 10 feet into the forrest ELV spots a wolf straight in front of him. Running at full speed and firing will be a -2. You've got two turns before you run smack into it. I didn't do this before so here we go: Equipment list: - 4 vibro knives - 4 beam rifles - 4 beam pistols - 1 bullet pitol - 3 survial kits (Marvel didn't have one) Stones: 90 Did I miss anything? Who is using what weapons? Jace: I think i have the bullet pistol in my back belt and am using a beam pistol to fire with. I keep standing and shooting following ELVs lead ELV: Beam rifle for me. Firing. Roll coming. GM: Jace is running, correct - right behind ELV? Jace: Yep if ELV stops i so do i, Do i have a clear shot at the wolf? ELV: # shhot at -2 12 GM: ELV fires his blaster rifle at the mana wolf. It hits but it looks like it makes the wolf annoyed. The beam weapon appears to have have little effect on the wolf. # Sherlock: Mana Adj, Try #2: 13 GM: Sherlock begins to come around on Jace's shoulder. Sherlock gets a quick grasp of the situation - running from wolves. Wolf up front. "Here they come!" yells Marvel. ELV: I tell the team concentrate on clearing the path. Ever body fir on my target. If we get this guy out of our way then we may stand a chance. Okay let me back up a bit... I noticed you didn't calculate damage. So by little damage do you mean NO damage, so little damage so as to not even bother with my plan above, or it did do some damage just not enough to kill it yet??? Sherlock: "Thanks for the lift" I'll hop to the ground and try to start concentrating for a spell. I hate making myself their target, but if beam weapons don't work, then we have to try something different. Spell is Poltergiest. I'm sure there are some decent sized logs lying around. GM: I think it would best be described as bug bite of damage. How many mosquito bites would it take to kill a man (that's not allergic, cause I know you guys would try that angle!)? It's apparent that beam weapons aren't an effective weapon against mana infused creatures. Sherlock: So that means we're also immune to beam weapons? Rock on! ELV: Way to spin it Sherlock. Better do your spell thing. Meanwhile, I yell out Toss me the bullet weapon to whoever has it...I'm going to use quick draw to catch and fire. GM: The group is still moving towards the wolf. Sherlock will make is concentration roll at -3. (Sherlock can send the rolls) Jace has the beam weapon - that's why I ask? ELV: K. Now that we got that out of the way Frank pay attention, I'll say again.... (with all due respect) Toss me the bullet weapon to whoever has it...I'm going to use quick draw to catch and fire. No one may have it readied, but someone is carrying the bullet weapon. I want that person to throw it to me. GM: It'll take one roll to throw the weapon (Jace), A fast draw roll to catch it (ELV), and one roll to fire (ELV). [Now this should be entertaining....] ELV: I thought fast draw allowed you to draw and fir in one roll. Entertain... That's what I do! GM: Fast draw lets you do a ready action and an attack action without penalty but you still have to roll for both. I'll need INT for everyone. There's a lot of stuff going on. GM: The team is running single file West towards the mana wolf. Jace: # roll out 6 GM: Jace tosses the pitol to ELV. ELV: # Catch 12 ELV: # Fire 10 GM: ELV catches it and fires. # GM: Dodge Shot @ 12: 10 GM: The wolf dodges. # Sherlock: Concentrate. 12 Missed the fist roll, using luck, 2nd roll just sent. # Sherlock: Use Luck 6 # Sherlock: Spell Roll: 12 GM: before the wolf can react Sherlock uses Apporation to send a log slamming into the wolf from the side. The path is clear. But everyone needs to roll to run for it. [I'm duly impressed with that series!] # Sherlock INT 10 ELV:# Int: 12 # GM's INT 15 Jace: # int 16 Sherlock: Hey! We're the Black Dragon Team, what else would you expect? Jace: Boy got a bad roll on the int, guess i am the slow one this round!! GM: Alright team, I need to plan (I'll assume is to keep running) and rolls. ELV: That's the plan. As long as we are able. I pair up with Sherlock on the move. "Okay magic boy. Any more tricks up your sleeve?, Any way to shield the manna flavor these wolves have been tracking?" Sherlock: "Sorry boss, if it ain't dealing with movement, I can't do it. If we have time, I can try to speed us up, but it'll pretty much wipe out the rest of my mana." Frank, do I have time to cast Haste on everyone? I figure 2 more hexes of speed should let us out run the wolves. ELV: Sherlock has just become the pinch hitter. Magic.... Far as I was concerned it sucked... Till now! "Do what you can Sherlock". GM: [An adjustment, you'd need to use levitation in order to do the log thing, Sherlock.] Casting haste on each person would take 4 turns. They'd be on you in 2. Casting Great haste on self, You could get the job done in 3. Still cutting close, Marvel is bringing up the rear and they are closing fast. That would be 11 threshold points. Caster Spell Cast Time Cast Cost Current Threshold Sherlock Levatation unknown 2 22 ELV: Okay... Magic sucks again. , Anybody recall the scene in Indiana Jones. The scene in the cave when the boulder is following him? I'm popping shots behind me with the canon as I go along. Doing a tactical assessment of the map we saw, do I recall any ravines or such in the area that we recently passed? Any thing that is elevated? Something that would offer us some semblance of cover? Jace - Use that area knowledge and give me what ya got! Push comes to shove we may end up going hand to hand with these bastards. Power Blow, Pressure point... Doesn't discriminate. Frank is gonna make me get Martial Arts on their asses. Sherlock: I was thinking it'd be Poltergeist. If I remember it correctly, Apportation lets me move inanimate objects, but only at around 3yards/turn. Levitation does the same as Apportation, but with people. Poltergeist lets me throw tuff...think Darth Vader. I forget the costs, but it was usually based on weight. Good idea, I didn't think about using Great Haste. Well, since they'll be on us anyway, I'll give it a try. How many rolls you want? Let's just hope they don't cut us off and everyone makes their dodge rolls (wolves excluded) GM: Everyone is running single file: ELV, Jace,Sherlock and finally Marvel. Running at full speed and shooting backwards could result in wounded team members (and happy mana wolves). [Jace hasn't been in this forest long enough to develop an area knowledge] The forest is dense with areas that don't receive much sunlight. Most of the trees reach upward of 90+ feet. The ground is hard dirt earth with some damp mossy spots. Every so often there are obstacles to manuver over or around. These obstacles include fallen trees mostly. There are occasinal clearings where nomad settlers setup camp, however these aren't marked on any maps. There is an unpaved road that leads into the port city, it runs parallel to the groups current direction (west) and is 20 miles North. [How'd I do on details? ELV has once again inspired me!] GM: Turn 1: Great Haste (5 threshold) on Sherlock (1 concentration -3, 1 cast -1). Turn 2: Haste on 2 team members (1 concentration @ - 3, 2 cast @ -1/-3) Turn 3: Haste on last team member (1 concentration -3, 1 cast -1). A suggestion, you might want to start casting with poor Marvel. Since he'll be the first to go. Sherlock: We'll I better get rolling. The -3 on concentration's going to be a pain. And I got no luck. "Guys, if this don't work, we better find a tree" GM: These trees are huge - Redwood huge. There are think branches but you'll need to start climbing of give each other a boost. ELV: Aw damn, Could you been any more blunt? Well Marvel... We once had a character named..... Of all things..... Bon Voyage. Tree, with tall branches. And thick trunk. Come on Darth, do your thing. I could always pee on them. Frank did I mention the acid pee advantage? Sherlock: Just like Star Trek. Whenever you have a new ensign going on an away mission, you know he ain't coming back. ELV: Sherlock could of course levitate himself and say to heel with everyone else. Reminds me of a Top Gun moment. Iceman: "Don't you leave me Maverick". Goose: "Mav you're his wing man, don't you leave him." Maveric: "Iceman, you're all clear, I'm out." Sherlock: Our current situation reminds me of another movie: "Run Forest, Run" ELV: Mwaaaahahhhhhaaaa... ROTF. GM: This is fun! ELV: True, but in a "this is gonna hurt" sorta way :) Sherlock: Rolls send. Statistically speaking, someone's gonna get screwed. Here's the roll order: 1 concentration -3, 1 cast -1). GREAT HASTE -Self 1 concentration @ - 2 cast @ -1/-3) HASTE: Marvel, El V 1 concentration -3, 1 cast -1). HASTE: Jace # Sherlock: Magical Hail Mary 8 13 11 12 8 13 13 GM: Great Haste 11 & Haste - (2) 12 GM: Can you say not good for the home team! Round 1: The team is running at full speed jumping over logs and forrest debri, sweat is pouring down their faces. Sherlock gets the the first concentration roll but can get off the spell. Marvel seeing this isn't going well draws his vibro knife. "I am the medic!" he yells from the back. Round 2: Sherlock maintains concentration but can get spell off. "5 yards and closing!' yells Marvel. Round 3: Sherlock gets off Great Haste on himself. "Ok, maybe not five yards!" he says again. HOpe you boys are ready. The first hunter wolf leaps at Marvel. # GM: Marvel Dodge!: 14 GM: Marvel is down! Sherlock: Damn Medics. So, we've got one wolf, how far back are the others? GM: 1 turn. [now I'm sweating] Marvel: "I am the medic!" he yells from the back. El: Good, then you'll be able to reattach your own arm once we retrieve it. GM: Marvel is down! El: And halt. Since I've been shucking and jiving and what not. I do a turn and head towards our beasty. I'm concentrating for a crushing blow. Sherlock: Serves us right; running just isn't our style. I'll quick draw my vibroblade and position myself to intercept the next wolf so El V has time to assist Marvel. Afterwards, we need to form circle and keep our backs to each other so they can't flank us. Frank, since I had an epiphany about the space trip and the mana wolves, do I know anything about them to be of any use to us? ie, known weaknesses, other strengths, tactics? GM: [Not sure where Jace is so I'll do a turn or two till he re-appears.] Sherlock is to the left, Jace draws his virbo blade and takes up position to ELV's right. ELV is in the center. Let's get the concentration roll for crushing blow, ELV. Three more wolves arrive. Send your actions and rolls. Jace and Marvel will go for knife attacks. Pack vs. Pack! ELV: Now that Frank has stopped touting his OWN horn and come to Earth, Err NARA. Actually I don't believe Crushing Blow takes a concentration roll. That was Invisibility. If not the roll will be for Crushing blow. If it does, then it will be for the concentration. Jace: Sorry guys, got things going in RL but i am up to speed now. Yes nearest wolf i can get my vibro into, thats a plan. Roll coming Jace: Opp Frank got that one for me. Ok so i am on ELVs right and Sherlock to the left of him got it, wheres Marvel and is he badly wounded? GM: Marvel is underneth the very large wolf. He's not hurt yet, but pain is fourth coming. I need Sherlock's action and roll. Jace: In that case let me redirect my action towards that wolf. No Ensign is going to die on my watch! Oh and a blood curdling scream to throw off the wolf too, see if that helps. Sherlock: I'm going ready my knife the next wolf that attacks. I don't want to get pulled out of position. GM: [The skill ELV wants to use is Power Blow, Power Blow does require a concentration roll and ST is doubled for damager purposes.] ELV: Okay, The last roll would have been for concentration then and I believe it was a 12? I sent it to my home account. In any event just in case I made the concentrate the blow is coming now. # Sherlock INT 10 ELV:# Int: 12 # GM's INT 15 Jace: # int 16 GM: Sherlock stands his ground as the other commit. The wolf in front of Sherlock growls and begins to advance slowly. Sherlock and wolf are eyes locked on one another. # Nara: Crushing Blow/Concentration: 14 # power blow: 13 GM: Nothing from ELV, the concentration roll is 11 and the power blow is 13. But he neither roll is good enough to get the concentration. Marvel places one arm under the wolves throat to keep it from brining its head down for a bite. He brings his other hand up under the belly of the wolf. With one quick motion he stabs upward. # Nara: Marvel Knife attack wolf: 11 GM: [I rolled (and failed) but logic took over and the wolf takes the knight]. The vibro blade slices through the thinner hide of the mana wolf's belly. It lets out a ominous howl and eases back some of its weight off Marvel. The wolf face Jace moves in for pounce. # Nara: Wolf Pounce on Jace: 13 GM: Nope, the wolf does nothing. Jace: # Nara: Knife attack rt. wolf: 15 GM: Nothing from Jace. Jace sees two more moves bringing up the rear. One is moving slower so that must be the one Sherlock thumped. ELV: Shows how much the dice server hates us all. It's been a while since I've rolled really good. I need a new one!! [Ok so that was fairly uneventful turn!] GM:[if it hates us, I guess distain is the only way to describe its feelings towards ELV. Cause you never roll well] Send those turns and rolls. Sherlock: [Frank: How many turns have I been in Great Haste? I think it only lasts for 10.] GM: This would the second. > > # Sherlock INT 10 > > ELV:# Int: 12 > > # GM's INT 15 > > Jace: # int 16 ELV: Two more rolls from me, going for the power blow. Come on lets crush some skull. # Concentrate/Power Blow: 8 9 GM: Focused on Marvel and vibro knife in it's belly the wolf doesn't see it coming. There's loud crack as and the blow connects. # Nara: Power Blow Damage 10 The wolf is knocked back off of Marvel. Sherlock: Well, might as not waste it. I'll launch myself at the wolf facing me. I'll feint with my left and then attack with the vibroblade in my right. # Sherlock: Feint, Attack: 7 16 GM: [someone has been reading up!] Sherlock feints left but doesn't follow through with the attack. Jace: I want to clear Marvel still so we can all get into position. I move in for a lunge at that wolf, vibo knife at the head/neck area. [I cant rember are there any minuses for called shots? And added damage for a hit?] roll coming for action GM: [yes, if you tell me what time of shot you want I'll give the modifiers.] The head/neck area of the wolf is -2. # Nara: lundge at wolf: 13 GM: Marvel uses his turn to get to his feet. The wolves pounch! One of the newly arriving wolves moves for ELV. # GM: Wolf Pounce on ELV 10 One for Jace. # Nara: Wolf Pounce on Jace (again): 8 One for Sherlock. # Nara: Pounce on Sherlock: 12 The last wolf is moving in slowly. Watching things unfold. GM: Sherlock, you've got the vibro blade drawn right? Sherlock: Right, I drew it last turn when I moved into position. End Round 2: # Jace: Dodge Wolf: 8 ELV: Dodging - Using the Arts skill for all enhancements by going down into a split crouch. Once dodged my reaction - assuming the dice Gods look upon me with favor, I'm going for a shot straight up as he passes over me. It will be a called shot at his head as it passes. Right up through the jaw hopefully to where that pee sized brain of his is. ELV: # Dodge: 6 9 Sherlock: Borrowing the play from El V, I'll use my second action this turn to sidestep when the wolf is midleap and catch him through the ear. Basically, a called shot to the head. Roll on the way. ELV: 1 by 1 they fall. # Sherlock: Dodge: 11 Round 3: # Sherlock INT 10 ELV:# Int: 12 # GM's INT 15 Jace: # int 16 GM: The two wolves moving in Jace and Sherlock both miss the pounch. # Sherlock: Head Strike 15 ELV: # Dodge: 6 9 ELV: He shoots..... He SCORES..... GM: The second wolf goes down from ELV's shot. The wolves begin to back off. Marvel is now to his feet and the team takes a defensive postion. They back off into the forrest in search of easier prey. [Not a scrath! I didn't even kill the extra! Man I must be loosing it!] Jace: Phew we did it!! And i dont have to carry anyone, ready to move out when you guys are. Sherlock: Anyone know how to skin a wolf? Might help bring in some stones...'course it might also be against the law to kill them too... GM: What's the plan? ELV: Okay. Who's the team Bisnitch... loosing your touch my ass, my skivvies need cleaning. Okay, assuming Sherlock has now brought us up to speed. "Sherlock, is there any way we can protect ourselves against this? Is it draining?,,, can you drain it?" We resume our previous stance after regrouping. GM: "From what I can tell, we're producing the mana. Not sure what we can do about it. Using spells causes my threshold to go down and it recharges every hour but that has no effect on the mana areas. Guess we'd better find a black magic woman to help us out," (Tell me that's not something he would say!) Sherlock: Heh, heh. Too true. Well, since I can't do anything about our aura, I say we hit the road. ELV: Agreed. Mount up and roll out. Once we gather our bearings we'll maintain the same formation. On trouble the NEXT time we do an all stop and go silent. We DO NOT all run up to the scene together to be eaten. Got it? Good. It will take time but whoever had lead resumes. Use tracking to avoid the trail of the Mana wolves. GM: The team takes up formations and moves out. They exit the high mana area with no incident. They camp for the night and then move out at first light. They continue to make their way to the city. Once they arrive near the main road the begin to see traffic. The road is paved with dense forrest on both sides. There's horse and wagon traffic going in both directions. Some off-road type veihicals - no cars. ELV: For now I think we should stay off of the main road. What say you? Sherlock: Since we look like everyone else, I'd think we'd attract more attention creeping through the forest. Besides, we don't know what to watch out for, I'm especially worried about quicksand, sentient plants and such. GM: [GM to self "I wonder what I they could encounter next" ..... quicksand, sentient plants and such. "ahh count on Sherlock" Sherlock: Too much imagination for my own good. Damn. Jace: Dont you guys know by now Frank feeds off what we tell our selves!!! Thats ok he cant bring anything we cant stop. oooops Ok so this mana thing we have it around each of us right? Can we control any part of it, or is it like the Force? We will start to see strange things happen we cant explain that sort of thing? I am with Sherlock, lets plend in. The more we stay out the more stand out. ELV: Works for me. Seeing as how my want to sneak around tends to get into more trouble than out. Okay, lets do it. They say the best place to hide something is well... In plain site. Here we are. GM: The team exits the dense forrest and begin to walk along the side of the road. A horse drawn wagon gallops up along side. "I've got room in back," says an older gentleman at the reigns and a younger man at his side. ELV: I'm in. Sherlock: Me too GM: The team jumps on the back of the wagon. The driver makes small talk. The city begins to appear on the horizon, first the peeks of skyscrappers. Finally the whole city it resembles a modern city such as New York. Their is a large rivers ahead and draw bridge leading into the city. GM: [here's a chance for some role-playing and info gathering] ELV: Hint Hint... K guys based on what we know. This is not our sector of space. We got here by hitting a Mana Stream. Frank you do NOT say we had no memory of getting here nor what we were up to. Mission objective: Get home. Question for GM: Where is home -> i.e. what is our planets name/Solar Systems name/Galaxies name? We are in unchartered space but this only means somewhere we have not been before. To driver: So tell me, we are new to these parts. Does this city have a space port and if so how often does a shuttle leave this planet? Are there many planetary routes in this sector? Of course if he doesn't even know what a space port is I stop my questions there. GM: I'm not sure what you so let me try this: Everyone blacked out right after the ship hit the mana stream. The last memories are returning from a training mission. Sherlock saw what happened as if he was watching it unfold and that's what he explained to the group. Galaxy: G'Los Solar System: Na'Kon (Traveling from Larayron to Drub) GM: "Space, why would anyone want to go there? All our resources go towards life on this planet. Technology and urban life is confinded to certain areas. People say the planet defends its self against human expansion," ELV: The plot thickens. I ask this man have there ever been other travelers to this world? GM: [I've got some more turns for ya too!] GM: "I haven't noticed any. But our farm is 3 days travel by buggy." Sherlock: I'll try to see what he knows about slavers, we had some friend from our village that we captured and are looking to try to get them back. ELV: The who the what the? I'll take your word for it.... Sherlock the floor is yours. Sherlock: Yeah, unless I missed a dialogue, we should still have 1 team member and the pilot to account for. Am I right Frank, or am I losing it? GM: [you're right and your loosing it - 1 team member, 1 pilot, 1 co-pilot] Sherlock: 1 win, 1 loss. I'll tell the guy: "We lost some of our folks to the lizardmen, any idea where they might have been taken?" GM: "Lizardmen, dispicable creatures, preying on the weak. They sail into the docks on ships. So you'll want to head to the docks," Sherlock: "Would the local constables frown upon roughing the lizardmen up? I doubt they'll let our friends go just because we ask" GM: "The lizardmen aren't well liked which is why they travel in groups and sail into the port. If a fight threatens the locals then you'll have problem. Other than that, you shouldn't have a problem." GM: Just over the bridge, the road forks to the right and the wagon takes the fork. "We're headed to the market place, Horse drawn carts aren't allowed in the city. You'll be able to headed into the city from the market place," says the old man. The wagon stops at a toll booth type gate. A man in a guards uniform comes over with a clip board. He exchanges pleasentries with the driver. The driver hands over a piece of paper. The guard checks it then looks over his clip board. "All clear, Your usual stall is open," says the guard. The toll gate lifts and the wagon continues inside. The market area is two block long a covered area, broken up into stalls. Each stall has enough room for a horse drawn wagon and place to tie up. At the front end of the stall is table where merchants set up their wares. Rent-a-cops patrol on the customer and merchant side of the stalls. The man and his son begin to setup shop. Jace: Talking to ELV so as to not bring attention "Ok Boss are we sticking together or are we gona split for an hour or so?" "I needs to try and pick a few more things up, got this craving for sunflower seeds." "And i think we need to have a demolitions pack too." Sherlock: I'd like to look around on my own too. The problem is that we tend to get into more trouble by ourselves than as a group...not necessarily a bad thing. I'd say we split up and meet back here in 1 hour. What do you think bossman? ELV: Awwww, who needs pilots... Okay we do. True. If we get back the Pilots then we could always steel a ship and get off of this rock. Who is the missing team member Mr GM. ELV:I'm in agreement. What kind of adventure would this be if we didn't get into trouble? As much as every fibre in my body says no (Sherlock's right we get into more trouble alone) I KNOW Frank is dieing to get us alone together. Okay We stay in pairs. Each group takes a hand held to stay in touch (Haha Frank I did not forget about the radios we took). I'm with Sherlock, Marvel and Jace it's you two. Watch each others back, and if the shit hits the fan... Duck. And just in case you thought I missed it Frank I didn't. Once we are past the gate I ask the farmer what were those papers he showed the guard. And do we need papers for travel inside the city? GM: [You guys need Ginko!] http://frank.robertsguild.com/nara/index.html Team size: 5 - Team leader (ELV) - Team 2nd in command (Sherlock) - Senior sergeant (Jace) - Sergeant (Lyco) - Corporeal (Marvel) GM: [yeah the split up, my precious.... oops sorry about that. You remembered the radios, you only need a half does of Ginko.] GM: "These papers are for the stall, we pay for a year in advance," Alright where too gentlemen? ELV: Heading into town. What forms of transportation is there from here? Who's got stones??? Took my half dose. I need the Ginko, but YOU need the speel chekker. GM: [witty aren't we?] ELV and Sherlock take 45s. Marvel and Jace take 45s. All ground transportation within the city is combustion engine cars. ELV: What about from here to the city? We got walk? Don't they have taxis here? How far is it? GM: The market area is on the edge of the city, but you can walk into the downtown area. You can also take a cab. ELV: We'll hump it, we just walked what 2 days.... Whats another hour? Jace: Cool sounds like a plan, me and Marvel stick to the market area and see what we can pick up. Again i am looking for a demolitons pack and some seeds, think i can get those seeds at the market. If no munitions store here then i ask a local where i might get one. Also want to pay attention to the types of side arms people are wearing, especially the rent-a-cops. Keeping my guns hidden so not to bring attention. When i get a location on the munitions store we head there huffing it. ELV: Alright Sherlock, what did you have in mind? I personally would look for the strippers but uh.. Er. Uh... Yeah. Where to? Sherlock: Heh heh, sounds like a plan, uh, no, how dare you?! We've got work to do. I say we head to the docks and rough up some lizardfolk. Enroute we could scout out some weapons dealers. I really need a force sword...kinda feel naked without it. ELV: And my force shield now that you mention it. To the arms dealer....