Iron Stars - katalin

Katalin Lipnitskaya steps off the transport on Heras, the capital of the Protectorate. Specifically the city where she has set down is Mytikas, the place where those who would found the Protectorate claimed as their capital. They inhabited a ruin for years, slowly building and recovering while the world around them was forced to accept their presence, and that same spirit is instilled in all its people. A good place for you too, you think. Recruiters are everywhere as you make the walk from the airport shuttle landing area to the gate built into the chain-link fence. Some are here with the Protectorate Army, others are more rugged looking, part of the exploration corps, and yet others represent various mining companies and small businesses who need things done in the frontier. Finally, a black and red clothed booth is the fiery church of Ogenyena , the Taros fire goddess who held a special place for the first democratically elected leader of the Protectorate. They seem to be shouting the loudest, trying to get the attention of everyone walking by to hear their words and make their mark on the data-slate if they feel as moved as the preachers here are.

Katalin is overwhelmed by the amount of noise and movement in the area. But at the same time she is reliefed as this area alone offers many more options out of her situation than she could have hoped for. She sees the exploration corps from afar and has to smile, going somewhere unknown would definitely help her stay hidden, but can she help them? Maybe! But before going to see if the interstellar frontier will be her new place to be she walks over to the Ognyena preachers, just because it was the closest thing to home, here, light-years away from her past, in Mytikas. So the average height Taros woman with countless colorful tattoos all over her body, some even on her face, approaches the booth and starts to talk in Taros, even if the preachers are not of her kin.* "Hey, um, Ognyena? Here? What is your purpose here, you don't look like the recruiters of various types that linger along the way here."

"Ah you misunderstand! The Paragons of the Living Flame is an order dedicated to Ognyena , and we have chapels all over the Iron Stars! We live to help communities everywhere enjoy safe lives, as lights against the darkness of a cruel universe, even if those people do not necessarily believe. We welcome all who believe they have the skills to help spread her fiery word , and those willing to bring light to the dark places"

12:42 PM

The preachers seem very motivated, and you get the sense that they are true believers of this creed , rather than people trying to help a higher pastor build ten million credit mega church.

12:42 PM

(more crusader, less Joel Olsteen)

1

Katalin smiles. "Noble ideals. I have been praying to a lot of our gods last night. Ognyena was one of them, so it is interesting to meet you guys here. As if this was a sign or something. But, you know, I was hoping for a sign. But I also don't think I am the one you are looking for, I don't think my skills will help you that much. And I have nothing to give but myself." Katalin points at the exploration corps booth. " See I guess I end up there. Low pay, high risk, and if I die they are happy because they can cross my off from their list of costs while they make millions from what the poor souls like I find for them on the frontier worlds. Maybe if I come back alive I can help you, but right now I need to make some cash, quickly, all I can buy is a chocolate bar right now." Katlin looks down, almost wondering why she opened up that much. Most likely because she needed someone to talk to. "Could you maybe give me a blessing or something before I go and risk my life for someone who doesn't care for mine?"

"We can give you a blessing, and perhaps some work to suit your needs if you are interested" The first of the preachers says, as he begins putting kindling into a small bowl for igniting the flame of the goddess' blessing onto you.

Just expecting to be blessed like she has seen preachers do on Gudrun before, and maybe being told that going to some border world would be dangerous and she should value her life more and whatever else they tend to say, she was confused by the job offer to say the least. "Wait, a job that suits my needs?" She frowns. "Um does it revolve around staying here with the likes of you to catch new souls for Ognyena? I mean, preach, you see that I might not have had the nicest of upbringings. I guess not many would like a priest with a facial tattoo, right? And I didn't even pray before, like yesterday. I mean I am in no position to turn down an offer when I get one. But how can I be helpful for you guys without it becoming a farce for the both of us? We both share the same language so I want to be honest, I don't want to be a disappointment."

She holds a finger up to her lips for a moment for you to be silent. A small flame is lit in the bowl and the cinnamon, lavender, and cloying scent of the local wood is instantly relaxing. The fire is bright and is passed in front of you, warming your forehead, your lips, and briefly, just over your heart. The ash is scooped quickly as the fire gutters out and the flame symbol of the order is sketched on your hand, blessing the works they carry out for the entire day. (take a re-roll token) "The Paragons have many jobs. We protect the citizens of all the Protectorate's worlds, and beyond, be they believers or not. To that end, we are looking into a situation here on Heras we could use someone skilled to help us with"

(Wow, thank you!) Katalin is suprised, but enjoys the experience to the fullest. The scent, the warmth, the feeling of not being alone. When she opens her eyes again, she smiles at the preacher, she just has to as she feels so good. "Alright. I am in. What is it you need me to do? And do you need to know what I can do, or is it obvious?" She asks as she looks down at her tattoos of which some are clearly gang related.

"It is obvious. There is a group of...those who have turned against the law...who are demanding protection money from our chapel in the western district of this city. The Paragons of course would give alms to whoever need them, but the donations have only made this group more insistent , and they are now bothering congregants as they come to worship. We would like them taken care of, one way or another. The authorities are moving too slowly on this"

"One way or another" She repeats and then laughs. "Isn't it mostly, another." She thinks for a short moment, but she knows that her options are limited, and this job would actually offer her the first step of a road to salvation of her soul. "I do it. Lets put my looks to some good use. Before I go, um, I am pretty broke, would I be able to like sleep in a temple of yours if I need to sleep? As I don't know how long it will take to finish this job. I am no slacker, don't worry, I'll go there right away, but if things take longer, and I don't find another solution. I could find shelter in a temple, right?"

"The temple is always open to anyone who needs it. Tell the chapel caretaker you are on contract for us and show them your hand. You will have a warm place by the beacon fire for as long as you need it"

10:15 AM

"First meal is at 8am, Lunch is served at 12:30, and dinner is at 6 with a short hour long service after. You may come and go as you please"

"Thank you!" She says and points on the sign on her hand. "But I might need to wipe this one away, depending on how the situation presents itself. But thank you, may we meet again, next time under different circumstances." She smiles and walks away. "If I don't die, I won't starve, that is at least something I can live with" She thinks as she tries to pass the city gates to make her way to the temple area. If she gets into the city without any trouble she would lean against a wall with a good view of the temple and wait until an individual of this gang tries to get money out of the church.

(notice/wis)

(6 first roll of the character, not so bad)

They end up not being hard to spot. There are four of them, a merlon and three humans, all wearing a mix of gray and black clothing. They are doing their best to remain difficult to identify if someone ever does go to the authorities but you can see them making a point of bothering the people clearly heading for the chapel. They are not violent toward anyone, but their panhandling is very aggressive, almost threatening.

"Four. Manageable. A Merlon. Scaly, talky fishpeople. He is surely the head of this operation. If I get him, the rest shatters." Katalin changes her position from time to time but keeps her eyes on them. She hopes that their successful begging might earn them enough so they all have separate homes, it would be the easiest way to single out the Merlon and confront him alone. If not, she needs to adapt. But for now she waits for them to finish begging for the day so she can trail those four.

They get some alms, not many, and this seems to make them madder. Service is going to be starting soon and they know those inside won't be coming out for a while, and will have to wait for lunch to try again here, for now it looks like they're leaving, they begin heading toward the marketplace, a large section of department stores toward the middle of the city.

Katalin tries to follow them, unnoticed, which might be easier at a marketplace, but what helps her stay unnoticed makes it harder to trail them. She tries to track all four, but her main focus is on that Merlon. If he ever strays away from the group, she would try to approach him, but she has time, so if no chance presents itself, she won't confront them all together, not yet at least. (edited)

They meet at a large fountain In the center of the market. The Merlon passes a few credits to each of his henchmen and sends them on their way. He takes a moment to splash himself with the water before he begins moving down one of the side streets here that is less busy. This looks to be mostly lower class housing

Katalin looks around. He was separated from the others, just as she wanted it. A side street with lower class housing was most likely also the area this Merlon lives in. Less busy still meant some eyes. If her plan fails and she needs to shoot, that would still mean that some people see that, and being wanted for murder was not how she imagined her new start. But this now was a critical moment, less people meant he has a way higher chance to spot her. She speeds up a bit, looking just like someone in a hurry. She gets her compad out, just acting like she was calling someone. This way she is reducing the distance between them. If he enters a building she will try to jump into it as well. If not, she would try to push him into an alleyway or entry of a house when passing him.

He looks like he has a bit of a walk ahead of him and doesn’t notice the closing distance as he is not a spy and is not observant in such things. He seems to almost be taking a tour of the place for whatever reasons he had.

Katalin is no spy either. And sadly, patience is not her strong suit. She followed the fishman for so long already and as she pushes closer, she doesn't reconsider. The moment she is just a short speed up away from the Merlon, she looks out for any alley or house entry area that looks accessible. So she can tuck her arm into his and force him to follow to either the alley ore house entry area, depending on what is available. While looking like an innocent couple to not arouse any suspicion of any bystanders.

(you could find an alley pretty easily, as there are many, if you want to throw me an Exert/Str when you've got time we can do that for basically you shoving him around)

(5 Katalin is not the physically strongest

)

(you can use that re-roll token if you want, if not I'll move us on)

(Re roll made it a 2 so, still a 5)

1

(I made the roll, but can't see anything in roll20 as it constantly bugs out, so I asked Dai to check.)

(I am there to help out fellow Ognyena followers.)

(Not following yet. Just doing a mission.)

The Merlon feels your arm lock in his and he recoils, pulling it away "Ah! What are you doing?! " he exclaims in surprise

"Time for a bluff." "Listen fish kiddo. You and your goons have been hanging around the temple for a while. Church leadership got annoyed. My boss offered his help, gracious as he is he only asks for a small amount of protection money." Katalin points at her tattoos and her two guns. "See, I am just here as a messenger. If you or any of your friends ever hang out near the temple again, some of my friends will come and find out how many bones a Merlon has. They are no medical experts, they will find out by breaking every single one of your bones. Making an example out you. You understand? Oh and please don't act up, I don't want to shoot you here and now, there is only so much space for murderer tattoos." Katalin stares at the Merlon, trying to see how he reacts.

He merlon narrows his eyes, taking in the scene and what you're telling him. "And what's the name of your gang? Do I get the pleasure of knowing who plans to come after my friends and I?"

Katalin frowns. "Isn't that obvious? The Taros Mafia of course! Listen. I don't care if you live or die, suffer or whatever. Just know that if you ever come back to that temple, it will lead to your demise."

"Taros mafia? Can't say I've heard of them. I think we will take our chances"

Katalin frowns again. "You never heard of us? Well, you will know us when your bones will be broken." "Damn, he is not buying it, but I can't like, shoot him in the open. I also don't want to outright kill him." Katalin gets out her compad and acts as if she was calling a number. "Hey, yeah he doesn't want to listen. Should I shoot him here or do you want to break his and his little friends' bones?" While waiting for the imaginary answer to her question she stares at the Merlon to wait for his reaction.

(perform/cha)

(oh well, super strong rolls

I rolled a 3)

"There's nobody on that phone. Walk away before I change my mind. I better not see you ever again"

11:10 AM

The Merlon continues walking, done with this conversation.

(how many people are there, in the street, watching?)

(just the two of you from looking into the street, looking around at the buildings would be pretty noticeable- in that the Merlon would see you doing it)

"Alright Fish kid, enough is enough." Katalin's right hand glides down to one of her pistols as she tries to stop the Merlon with her left hand at his shoulder. "I will not return with matters unsettled. I will not report back that I failed. Maybe a bullet to the knee will make you always remember me? Or should I scream for the police? A damsel in distress after a known low-key criminal has emptied her pockets? Nobody will believe you scum, they all know that you are fishy, and not just because you are a Merlon. So you still want to move on and end up limping for the rest of your miserable life?" Katalin doesn't like her tone now, but it was so easy for her to fall back to the behavior of her past, like extorting people by force or other means. And as she has fled her old life so recently, there was not yet enough time to really acquire a new skill set or to learn how to use her skills for the better.

(initiative)

7:14 AM

The Merlon pulls a hooked combat knife from his coat, ready to end this. (you were arm in arm with him, and are close enough for melee now, so the pistols will be at a -4 to hit. Your knife is stowed, and would be a main action to ready)

(7 and with the pistolier focus I'd rather shoot twice at - 4 with the two readied pistols instead of loosing a turn to switch to the knife)

(you're up first! and yeah that's no problem, I just try to make people aware beforehand so we don't get the "if i would have known xyz happened fdifferent outcome" kinda stuff, not fair to you who does not know the system well, ect)

(I appreciate that! Thank you!) Once Katalin realizes that the Merlon was grabbing for his knife, her right hand quickly unholsters the Semi-Auto Pistol but, as she is suprised by the life and death situation, the shot goes wide. But Katalin is nimble and quick to react, she always was. So the left hand retreats from the Merlon's shoulder to not make the arm a static target for the Merlon's knife and grabs for the Laser Pistol. She quickly raises it and sends a shot toward hist chest. (17/4 for the Laser Pistol , 3/7 for the Semi Auto)

1

The laser pistol is a clean shot. He looks down in disbelief at the hole in his chest, before toppling into the stacked trash at the edge of the alley. The buzz of the beam and the concussive power of the solid shot are loud in the alley. Someone will investigate soon, but you sense without their leader, the group is quickly going to abandon their current aggression and drift into other things.

1

Katalin looks down at the corpse. Ready to run away, like she always would. But what if someone saw her? What if this murder gets traced to her, what would the Paragons think? She can't hope to stay undetected. A good lie might get her clean out of this. So she calls to police. "Hello! Hello! Help, I got attacked! And, and I shot at the assailant in self-defense. The Merlon doesn't move anymore. Please come quickly!" She knew he was dead, so her word was what will count. Getting out of this mess clean.

(Are you waiting for them to show up?)

(yes, she wants to act as the victim here, even tho she looks like a killer. She is just afraid that if she runs away and someday it is found out that it was her, than all she built up in the meantime, falls down like a house of cards)

(Gotcha) Three patrol cars with two officers arrive about ten minutes later, finding you with the body, and you stated on the call you were armed, so the officers ask you turn them over while they speak with you.

Katalin does so immediately. She also hands over her knife so she is completely unarmed. Then she starts talking. She doesn't go for the fake crying as she is afraid that she fucks that up and it will blow her cover. "Listen. I. I had a troubled past as you might see in my tattoos and well I came here to start a new life. Joined the Ognyena belief. I got this mark on my hand today for being a good believer." She shows the ash marking on her hand. "Then I saw this guy and his three friends and they were aggressively begging for money. So I wanted to talk to them. When I reached them here, it was only that Merlon left and his friends were gone. And when I told him that Ognyena will help them all and that they shouldn't take away from the people. He. He just drew a knife and I didn't know what to do, so out of a reflex I shot at him. And I just wanted to scare him away but, but I guess I killed him out of self defense. What will happen now?" She knew that mixing the truth with just some minor lies was the best way to go undetected.

You are taken back to the station and your statement is taken three times by two different patrol officers and then finally a detective or investigator of some kind. You are offered water, coffee, and cigarettes as often as you want them and although you are nervous and the questions are often rapid fire and uncomfortable, the troubled past of the victim , his known gang affiliations, and the church informing the police that you indeed attended service to day and had been seen near the temple corroborates your story. You're kept in a holding cell overnight as police canvas the neighborhood looking for anyone who is willing to talk, but no one comes forward and without any actual evidence than circumstance, the following morning your items are returned to you, and you are free to go, but you are warned if something even close to this happens again they will throw the book at you, forever. (3xp, 5000 credits)

Level UP
Level 1->2
AB 1->2
HP (no new roll as Taros only have 1 dice at level 2) 8->10
Skill Points: 3
Notice | Sneak | Talk all from -1 -> 0
Focus: Ironhide
Innate AC 10->16

1

2:22 AM

As soon as Katalin can leave custody, she walks towards the temple of Ognyena. In custody, again. Felt like her old life, but she had to do it, so her new life wasn't in danger. And at least she did what she did to do good. Even if someone had to die for it. Getting closer to the temple area she hoped to not see the rest of the beggar group lurking around here again, but she expected them not to. She was still new in the city, on the planet, and in the polity. Still a bit lost, so the Paragons were naturally the first she would talk to for further employment. Soon she might start to dream of the things she wanted for her future, but right now, she is hungry, needs a roof above her head and something to do. With that in mind, she opened the temple doors and looks for one of the Priests to talk to. (Added my first goals, nothing too specific yet)

1

6:47 AM

(just for reference)

Nekosmash pinned a message to this channel. 11/6/2021 6:50 AM

Level UP!
2->3
Old HP: 10
HP Roll: (6+4)+(3x2)=16
New HP: 16

No new Focus
Ironhide AC 16->17

4SP
Shoot-0 -> 1 (2SP)
Survive -1 -> 0 (1SP)
Trade -1 -> 0 (1SP)

2

(awesome!)

Level Up!

Level 3->4  (12XP)

AB 2->3

Old HP 10
Rolled 14
New HP 14

No New Focus

4 SP

Shoot 1->2
Prog-0

3

1

Level Up
Level 4->5

Old HP 14
Roll 27
New HP 27

New Ironhide AC 18 (20AC due to Dex Mod of +2)

New Focus: Star Captain (Lead -> 1)

4SP

Pilot 1->2 (3SP)

1SP banked

3

Level 5 Katalin Lipnitskaya
Warrior/Expert
❤️  28/31
🛡️  20
⚔️  4
⏳ 18/27

ST | DE | CO | IN | WI | CH
 7   18    9   14   11   8

Adm  -1  | Lead  1  | Shoot 2
Con   0  | Noti  0  | Sneak 0
Exe  -1  | Perf -1  | Stab -1
Fix  -1  | Pilo  2  | Surv  0
Heal -1  | Prog  0  | Talk  0
Know -1  | Pun  -1  | Trade 0

Foci:
Taros, Pistoleer 1, Starfarer 1, 
Ironhide 1, Star Captain 1


🗡️ 
Laser Pistol +9 | 1d6 +2
Tempest +9      | 1d8 +2
Knife +4        | 1d6 +2
SMG(2x) +8      | 1d8 +2      
Semi Auto +8    | 1d6 +2

(edited)

1

Eisheru, et al. pinned a message to this channel. 6/1/2022 6:47 AM

(2 Goals Finished + Mission XP)

Level Up
Level 5->6

Old HP 27
Roll 31
New HP 31

Ironhide AC 18 (20AC due to Dex Mod of +2)


4SP+1Banked

Fix-0 (1SP)
Heal-0 (1SP)
Sneak-1 (2SP)

1SP Banked

(We can resume here now that the Chimeran war is over with, If you need ideas for a mision let me know)

(Yeah. I was thinking of going to Gudrun. Hunting the old gang that Katalin once belonged to. Street level thugs, I'd say. If that was good with you.)

(We can certainly do that. Jjust as some expectation setting before the mission, you're going to the capital of another polity, and are going to be likely doing some extrajudicial killing. If a low profile is not maintained and you're caught, it would be murder)

(makes sense. I mean they might still have a hefty criminal report of her anyway. So she will most likely only be able to enter the planet because she is an admiral of another nation.)

(Fair enough. Just wanted to make that out ahead of time so there’s no surprise later )

4:40 PM

(I’ll total up downtime for the trip)

(got 19 days by my count)

(Katalin would use the time to get more in shape 19/90 Exert)

Entering Gudrun space on a polity shuttle, you're welcomed aboard the platform serving as the civilian transportation hub in the area and are released to wander the concourse. Transportation lighters head down to the major cities on the surface of the world frequently, and it looks like you have the option to land in any of the major settlements.

Katalin enters a shuttle to Golgis. Her old hometown, filled with bad memories, but memories that were just a few months old. Her life changed upside down, and now it was time to delete the last remains that were left of her past. She knew where the gang used to hang out, at least back then. But she also knew that she couldn't walk through the streets of Golgis, shooting people left and right. It was, locating, trailing them, getting them when nobody else could see her. Even better if she could catch them in some criminal act, so nobody would ask questions. But for now, it was a shuttle down to Golgis.

(upon setting down, how would you want to go about getting some leads? Just to give me an idea of what to set up)

(good question! Alright so they did do break ins and and armed robberies when she left a year ago. So they might still do. She would check the news to see if a certain neighborhood is experiencing an increased number in such things. And then she would target bars or similar, that she might think see some visit of the shady folk, and there she would start to ask around for leads. Does that sound doable?)

(sure, lets get a connect/cha and see if we can use that to get the latest gossip from a mix of talking to locals, looking for discarded newspapers, ect)

Katalin Lipnitskaya

used /r

Katalin Lipnitskaya Request: [2d6] Roll: [6, 5] Result: 11

THere have been a string of breakins at the shops along the waterfront district, where the barges normally come in to bring their goods down stream to other towns along the lake. Your old crew used to do a lot of business there as the electronic shops usually had lots of small, unsecured items on hand that could be easily carried away en masse. The MO is the same, smashing a window, grabbing everything they can, getting out, all within four minutes.

Katalin would check the ebay of the Iron Stars to see if there was someone in the city who sold stuff that could have been from the last breakins.

(we don't know what was taken, so this might be putting the cart in front of the horse. Maybe trying to see if we can figure out what was stolen first? )

(makes sense) Not actually knowing what was stolen, Katalin makes her way to the waterfront district. Trying to see if she finds a store that was mentioned in the news or seen on any of the pictures.

You recall seeing the yellow painted store from the news cast with the crying owner standing out front, worried about it happening again, and their livelihood based on what was taken. There are boards over the windows now with yellow notices on them stating this is a crime scene under investigation. Currently there are no officers here, but the shop owner is out front sweeping the shards of glass off the side walk so no one is hurt. (edited)

Katalin aproaches the owner. "Terrible what has happened to you! May I help you clean up the mess?"

"I wouldn't say no!" the owner says, a pained smile crossing their face. "Its....good to hear from someone who cares. I don't understand why someone would do something like this to someone else"

"Assholes do. Sometimes people become criminals because they have no other way to make it through. Yet these guys, I think they only do it for the money and have fun causing havoc. Disgusting." Katalin starts to help her clean up. "What did they steal? Anything that stands out?"

"A statue made of onyx, kept it under lock and key in the back but they knew about it somehow. The rest were just knicknacks. Had the statue imported from the Protectorate though, was going to sell for quite a bit here, depicting the fire goddess"

"Ognyena? Is that a sign?" Katalin continues her help. "While it could make some cash, I guess they can't just use a common online marketplace to sell it, as, well, it sounds kind of unique and only of interest to certain high roll collectors, right?"

"I guess that would be true. People collect all kinds of things, but it would have got a high price in the right hands, if the right people appraised it"

"Who knows, maybe it turns back up one day. Do you need to pay for the damages here yourself?"

"Insurance will come through eventually, but business has to run in the meantime, and it's going to be a difficult to run the business without it. Still going to have customers, and still going to need to have money on hand to deal with them. We're looking at a long and difficult few months ahead"