Iron Stars - sean-toombs

Epsilon 10/13/2022 6:51 PM

2

It has been a long and tumultuous road that led Sean Toombs from past adventures to the underground city of Polychrome. The flag of a group calling itself the Celestial Freebooters Republic flies over The Glass Tower now. Once that tower was a symbol of the megacorporate oppression that kept this world in a perpetual state of indentured servitude. Now, the tower and those working inside of it represent a new experiment in a free life for all people that make this world home. Work has been steady, and runners and electronic comms find their way out of the tower every day to those in the city willing to help out. The pay seems fair if not generous, and there is no shortage of things to be done in the matter of securing the city, removing criminal elements, and ensuring all are safe against the ever present bio weapon on the surface known as The Stain. No seal keeps the deadly toxin out for long, though down here below ground in this city, Stain Seals, a legacy of pre-tech engineering keep the people safe. Every now and again there is a leak, and trace amounts still do get through, but under the CFR the amount of deaths from lethal Stain exposure are dropping fast. Bounties are constantly being issued by those in the tower, and you see your pad light up with the most recent set of dispatches.

Grunting at the noise on his compad, the lean wiry physique of Sean Toombs stepped off the main street into the entrance of one of Polychromes many festering alleyways. Easing his back against the dirty wall, his leather gear cricked and creaked, a quiet tired groan emitting from his chest. Adjusting onto his good shoulder, he pulled an old toothpick out of his mouth and ran his hands through the greasy hair on his greying temples. With one glaring eye on the street, Toombs tapped his compad with a grubby finger. (edited)

The usual bounty requests scroll past. A bail jumper Someone in possession of CFR property that will not return it. A request for the leader of a minor street gang to be brought in dead or alive. None of the jobs look to be especially high profile, but each of them are necessary to the newfound government proving it can establish law and order here on Polychrome.

“A catch yo, a repo, or a finito” growled Toombs in a low voice. He tapped the repossession job. (edited)

2

The repossession job consists of an address. It is a large factory nearby and it looks as though a truck of important supplies is being held on the property. The truck and it’s goods were loaned to a local community outreach group but they’ve failed to return the vehicle and there have been reports around the city of it possibly being involved in more than one warehouse robbery since the time of its lending. The CFR wants it back so the emergent local authorities can review

Toombs strolls to the nearest corner shop or vending machine where he picks up the cheapest, nastiest, most potent bottle of liquor he can find, along with a lighter. He makes sure he is packing his binoculars and knife. (I presume my laser rifle is back at ‘home’). He heads on over to the said factory trying to look like a drunk. He looks for a vantage point or convenient location where he can keep an eye on the factory and perhaps not be noticed by its occupants or any nosey locals. He is interested in the ‘crew’ running this outfit as well as the vehicle. In particular, it’s locking and starting mechanism. “If it’s a loaner it probably has a keyfob”, he thought.

(We can go get it if you need to, lets square away gear before we keep going)

( I don't have much in the way of spare credits. I have no one to go as guarantor and no real property as collateral for a loan from a real bank, if one still exists on Polychrome. I will see if I can use my Connect skill to find a loan shark.)

5:18 PM

(Do I need some sort of licence for completion of a bounty?)

(I don’t let players go into debt generally since it becomes a real bear to keep track of , there’s no need for a license but you said you had a rifle and didn’t take it so I was trying to be nice and give you a chance to get your starting gear you didn’t have on your character for whatever reason (edited)

(No worries. I leave everything back at my living space, except for my leathers, knife, binoculars, compad and credits. I craft a primitive but potentially lethal trap behind the door of my living space (Trapmaster) to deter entry. I buy the spirits and lighter.) (edited)

(buying those now? I am sorry if this is frustrating I am just confused as to what is supposed to be where)

(Yes, on me I have my leathers, my knife, binoculars, compad and credits. I look for a store to buy spirits and a lighter.)

There is a corner store two blocks from the site in question that looks to have all manner of cheap conveniences on hand. A bored looking clerk drums his hands on the counter, though you can tell by his posture there must be a gun under the counter in the event someone comes in with ill intent.

"Got any cheap whisky?" Toombs enquired. (edited)

"Cheap?" he laughs "Depends if you want to drink it or strip the paint of your car. Got both though, just tell me what kinda burn you want"

"Burn? The kind you can light up of course" said a grinning Toombs. "I'll grab a lighter as well."

"Ten credits, and you're not planning on using that in here are you?" he asks, tense. "Its happened before, believe it or not"

Toombs stuck his index finger in his left ear hole and gave it a twist saying, "Sorry, bit hard of hearing from grenades, how much was that?"

1

“Ten credits. It’s not my money. That’s what the store charges. Please don’t make my night harder than it needs to be “

2:01 PM

(This is normally why I don’t Roleplay shopping )

"Ok, no drama's, here you go and the lighter as well."

He looks relieved that there is nothing threatening his life tonight, and hands both of the items over to you, taking ten credits in return. "Have a better evening than whoever you're using that on" he says, by way of parting.

"Cheers mate" grinned Toombs. He headed on over to the said factory where the truck was reported to be held.

Things do not seem to have changed much since you were here last. The truck is out front, with three people around it who look to be scrubbing it down both inside and out. It has a long cargo trailer attached, and looks like any one of the other semi trucks you might see on the roads of this underground city. The parking lot is well lit, and is empty for about 40m in all directions of the truck, they are the only people parked here right now.

(Toombs looks for a vantage point or convenient location where he can keep an eye on the factory and perhaps not be noticed by its occupants or any nosey locals. He takes a closer look at the three men, hoping to see the vehicles locking/starting mechanism in action.)

(sneak/dex, lets try to find one without being noticed)

(So that would be a 2d6 roll with +1 for 14 Dex and -1 for no Sneak?)

1

2:56 AM

(new to this system)

(correct, so basically just a flat 2d6 at that point since the +1 and -1 cancel out)

1

(That's an 8.)

You manage to find an apartment roof 200m from the vehicle where no one questions you climbing up and taking a look out at the cityh. The occupants are engaged in fixing the truck and don't seem to be noticing you, and it looks like the truck starts with a key, that they're passing to one another based on who needs to be in the cab for whatever their task is.

(Toombs now checks out the factory from his vantage point for potential entrances: doors, windows and access to the roof.) (edited)

There is no exterior access to the factory roof as far as you can tell. The second floor of the factory has many windows on it to give its former office workers a view to look out onto the street, and a chance to get some artificial sunlight during this underground city's day cycle. There is a large turnstyle door at the factory entryway and that looks to be the only way in you can see.

(Toombs hunkers down and continues to watch the place, perhaps seeing if the three men leave or stay inside for the night.)

After two hours it looks as though only one man has been left behind with the truck. He sits in the truck cab and looks to be working on getting the on-board navigation tablet working. The other two make their way into the factory, and after about five minutes have not come back out.

"Hmmm," thought Toombs, "time to make a move". (Toombs moves out of his position and moves up to the truck as long as the other men stay inside).

1:03 AM

(Neko, I am travelling atm the moment and will have no PC for 5 or so days starting Monday)

(sounds good, thanks for letting me know. When you're back, we'll need a sneak/dex to determine how close you can get before they notice anything, if they notice anything)

(

That's an 8)

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [2d6] Roll: [3, 1] Result: 4

The remaining person in the cab is distracted playing with his compad and doesn’t notice you approach. He is deep into whatever game he is playing and from the sounds of his grunts he is losing.

(Toombs draws his knife and moves into range to put the knife tightly against his throat, specifically the carotid artery).

(I didn't realise you could roll dice in these threads

)

The ganger freezes up, unsure what is happening but knowing someone’s got the best of him.

(Toombs looks for the keys to the vehicle). (edited)

8:30 PM

"Listen to me carefully, today...." hissed Toombs into his ear.

8:30 PM

"...its your choice whether you live or die".

The ignition stud is not in the ignition, you're unsure if he has it on him at this point in time. Under your control for the moment, the man in the cab is waiting to see what else you say. You get the sense he will comply.

"Where is the key for this rig?"

"Don't have it.....inside...took it inside..."

7:28 AM

He is shaking a bit, and in your professional opinion he is not trying to make any hostile moves.

"Message one of your mates inside to bring out the key" growled Toombs, "remember this is your choice, don't fuck me around."

Come outside. Need to move the truck a bit is the message sent. There is no reply after a few seconds. If someone is coming, they'll see you both in the cab in a moment

(Toombs grabs the man by the hair with his free hand and slams the butt of his knife into the back of his head, attempting to knock him out.)

(Would need an attack and damage roll )

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [1d20] Roll: [17] Result: 17 Reason: Attack roll

(I think its -1 for no Stab skill and +1 for Dexterity, maybe some sort of bonus for attack from behind.)

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [1d4] Roll: [4] Result: 4 Reason: Damage roll

(Not sure if the Dex modifier is added to the damage).)

(no, just to hit)

12:15 PM

(you're already getting to attack him without rolling initiative or giving him a chance to do anything. I'll let you know if you get a bonus to something) (edited)

12:16 PM

-- The blow rocks him, and he is dazed, but looks to have enough of his wits to struggle. (intiaitive)

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [1d8+1] Roll: [2] Result: 3 Reason: Initiative

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [1d8] Roll: [4] Result: 4

The ganger you have grabbed by the hair does his best to try to claw back at you, unarmed as he is

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [1d20+3] Roll: [12] Result: 15

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [1d2] Roll: [1] Result: 1

(15 to hit. 1 damage, your turn)

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [1d20] Roll: [19] Result: 19 Reason: Attack roll

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [1d4] Roll: [1] Result: 1 Reason: Damage roll

You bang their head against the console again, and they are groggy, barely hanging on, but have enough toughness remaining in them to keep fighting.

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [1d20+3] Roll: [2] Result: 5

(miss, unarmed so no shock damage)

(Initiative roll again?)

(no, we only roll initiative once, and that's the order we go in for the entire combat, so it's your turn again)

1

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [1d20] Roll: [13] Result: 13 Reason: Attack roll

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [1d4] Roll: [4] Result: 4 Reason: Damage roll assuming I hit

There is a groan as the man is finally subdued with another smash against the center console. It's been about thirty seconds since he sent the message on your behalf to his comrades, and you expect in a few more seconds someone will appear at the factory doors, and will see this scene if something is not done about it- and fast.

"Head of concrete" thought Toombs.

2:42 PM

(If possible, Toombs quickly pushes him over so he is laying on the seat and hidden or partially hidden from direct view from outside of the vehicle. Toombs then slinks around to the opposite side of the vehicle to hide and watch for the approach of anyone from the factory.)

(the truck is parallel with the front doors basically, so the driver side is facing where people would be coming out. By opposite side, I'm assuming passenger side, so you're basically behind the cab? )

(Yes, behind the cab and out of sight assuming the other gangster emerges from those front doors).

Nekosmash

used /roll

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

THere is a moment of puzzlement as the gangster looks to see where his friend might have gone , seeing no one in the cab now. He calls out once, not approaching the vehicle, feeling that something is off or wrong.

"I FOUND something UNDER the truck." Toombs yells quickly into the wheel well of the truck to discombobulate his voice.

Nekosmash

used /roll

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

They know what their friends voice sounds like, and this is not it, even as you try to warp it. You have enough time to see them vanish into the factory again, the doors swinging in their wake as they begin to run.

(Is there a spot where I could hide to the side or near the entrance if/when they come out?)

(I guess you could hide on the door threshold, but they suspect something is up now and probably are not going to come outside. They don't see their friend who was in the truck ,and someone they don't know just tried to lure them out. ) (edited)

(Toombs peers into the cab to check the status of the first guy.)

He is knocked out. Your smashing of his head against the steering wheel and dashboard should have him unconscious for at least a few minutes if not longer.

(Toombs drags him out of the cab onto the ground on the opposite side of the factory and checks his pockets.)

He was not lying. He does not have the ignition key. This unfortunate has a knife (small primitive weapon) that has a folded blade, and the compad they were playing games on when you first assaulted them.

(Toombs checks the truck, is it open flat bed or enclosed van?)

The truck does not have the key in it. The truck has an enclosed trailer. (think like a modern day semi truck)

(Toombs looks for any trash bins or the like around the yard).

There is a trash can in front of the facility doors, complete with an ash tray on top where smokers could put theirs out before going inside.

(Toombs moves over to the trash can and looks inside but keeping an eye on the door).

There is trash in the trash can. The top layer looks to be a few drink cups, crinkled food bags, and what looks to be the remains of a lunch someone did not want the rest of.

(Toombs cracks open the bottle of whisky and pours about half of it onto some of the flammable materials within the bin.)

(Okay, Don't have anything to add other than you do it)

(Toombs shuffles the bin over in front of the door.) "Fella's lets make this easy for everyone. I wont something that you have." Toombs yells into the door.

The bin is moved to the front door of the building. No one inside, if they're listening, looks to be doing anything about this.

(Toombs checks behind and around him before he crouches down and takes a peak through the door.)

(Hi, just a quick note on posting conventions- (parentheses) denotes an OOC question or comment. In character actions don’t need them)

1

There is no one on the other side of the door. You don't see anyone else in the front parking lot with you. It looks as though the person with the key is out of sight, possibly fled

Toombs enters the factory and cautiously scopes it out.

Entering the building through its front doors you can see that it is mostly abandoned. There is no one that works here, aside from those who were hiding from you. There is no evidence they are here now as you walk from the reception area, through the locker room and into the large factory floor where these squatters or criminals were once living. Their small camp stove has been left on, the water in the pot they were boiling almost evaporated. A handful of survival gear and loose personal belongings have been left behind, but there's no sign of the man that ran off with the truck key

Toombs goes back outside to the man in the truck and hauls him inside.

As you get him situated on the factory floor, several minutes later after dragging the dead weight across the parking lot , be begins coming to his senses.

When Toombs gets him into the factory he looks for some rope or cord. If he wakes up he gets a shot to the solar plexus.

(i said he was waking up, so he's knocked out again)

5:51 PM

There is a chain that fell off one of the machines in this room. It is a 10m length, and looks to be decent enough to hold a person

Toombs ties his hands and feet with the chain length running it behind the guys back (Trapmaster skill might cover it). Then Toombs examines the room(s) for how the other two guys might have got out.

(I wouldn't have required something to tie him up anyway, he's knocked out so can't fight you) There are many doors to this factory. They would have run out the back most likely, and are now long gone, vanished among the city streets.

Toombs turns off the stove, then walks back to the truck and attempts to open the back to examine what is inside. (edited)

The back of the truck is locked. There is a chain and padlock keeping the large doors closed. There is a keyhold but the key is missing.

Toombs goes back into the factory and attempts to lock all the doors.

The doors have simple locks from the inside that you are able to activate after a few moments of walking through hallways to find them. Locked in, you do not see anything in the neighborhood has changed.

Was it apparent that the other two men used a particular door to leave by, ie, it was unlocked compared to the others or was well used?

(is this OOC or are you asking your prisoner? )

(Sorry, OOC) (edited)

The rear door of the factory that leads out into the parking lot behind the factory, to a hole cut into the fence looks to be how they got out. There are city blocks beyond that hole in the fence, and the other two are long disappeared now

Toombs brings up his Compad and checks the repo job for contact details.

The job was to recover and return the vehicle, as well as those responsible for the theft. The contract states that those responsible should be apprehended alive, and deadly force is only permitted if it is in response to being fired upon.

Toombs checks to see if he can log into the Polychrome local business network, looking for tool/hardware companies that offer instant same-day delivery and tow trucks. (edited)

(connect/ int) (edited)

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [2d6+1] Roll: [6, 3] Result: 10 Reason: Connect/INT

There is one salvage recovery service known as "Dad's Recovery and Towing" that is both in the neighborhood, and still open.

Toombs gives the company a call.

5:53 PM

If he gets through he asks if they can handle a truck of the size outside the factory.

The towing company can, but they want to know what happened to it to cause it to be towed, so they can determine what tools to bring, and which truck to send.

"This is a vehicle repossession. The truck is in running order, the cab is open but there are no keys. The defaulters have left the area and will not return."

An hour later the vehicle is towed back to the CFR yard, and the criminal you were able to apprehend in the process is take into CFR custody. The bounty is paid, and you return home to rest.

8:03 AM

(3xp, 5000 credits. Lets handle level up first and we can look into something new. Make sure you post the changes here and use the level up template in our rulebook so we know what changed, and have a record of the changes if we need to rebuild a sheet or anything at any point in the future)

1

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [2d6] Roll: [4, 3] Result: 7 Reason: level 2 hit points

**Level Up**
Level: 2
Focus: Alert
Old HP: 11
HP Roll: 7
New HP: 17 {+2 (Constitution) +4 (Part Warrior) +4 (Die Hard)}
New Skills: Fix lvl-0, Stab lvl-0, Sneak lvl-0, Trade lvl-0 (extra for Part Expert).
Current AB: +2

(edited)

(Alert gives a bonus to Notice, since you are taking the focus after character creation it gives +3 SP to that skill. Should be Notice-1 instead of Notice-0. So you still have 1 SP to save or bank) (edited)

Eisheru, et al.

(Alert gives a bonus to Notice, since you are taking the focus after character creation it gives +3 SP to that skill. Should be Notice-1 instead of Notice-0. So you still have 1 SP to save or bank) (edited)

I see it, thank you.

(if you decide to do any shopping just post a list here for approval, and after that we'll get into another mission)

(Three day bender (wild extravagant party x 3 for one) – 300c Backpack Tech level 4 – 50c Low-light goggles – 200c Metatool – 50c Spare parts – 50c Small advanced weapon – 50c Stun baton – 50c Grenade, Sleep – 100c 3 x Grenade – 75c Semi-auto pistol – 75c 1 x ammo box, one for each – 10c) (edited)

8:24 PM

(Is it possible to get a sort-of custom weapon? Shotgun (sawn off) – 50c - custom mod “Cut Down” with the stock and barrels cut down: reduced size, reduced weight, reduced accuracy and reduced range (Weight 1, -1 to hit, Range 5/15). 1 x shells box, one for each - 10c) (edited)

(I'm not approving the weapon mod, ammo is sold in increments of 20, and can be used for any projectile based weapon)

9:09 PM

(fix level isn't high enough to install or maintain a weapon mod anyway, usually you need level 1 to maintain even the base level ones As far as making it a stand alone weapon, there’s enough other great 1 encumbrance weapons in the game already where we don’t need to make something special , so feel free to pick from any of those you can afford ) (edited)

(Ok, no worries.)

(Everything else looks alright, did you have a preference in terms of a new mission? I've got some if not)

Nekosmash

(Everything else looks alright, did you have a preference in terms of a new mission? I've got some if not)

(Ok, fire away with one of yours.

) (edited)

(There’s always another bounty , or if you want to do some exploring for the polity we can do that too)

(How about the bounty bounty.)

8:36 PM

(Shall I update the character sheet?)

(Yep go ahead. I’ll set something up tomorrow or after the Holiday )

1

“Mmmph, arrrre” groaned a crumpled figure lying in the fetal position in a dark alley. Peeling his face off the cold concrete Toombs snapped upright grenades going off his frontal lobes, his ears ringing harder than usual. Memories of lying in a car park and almost getting run over flashed through his brain but almost everything else was wiped. He stumbled out of the alley onto the main street looking like a Stain victim. “Let’s see what this day brings”, he thought.

(How about hunting down a bail jumper ?)

(Sounds good

)

The bulletin is from CFR command. A corporate executive from Lucid Industries that had been left behind on Polychrome. Lucid Industries was in charge of the slums and worker housing here and this escapee was one of the nastiest toward those in the slums. He lead a particularly savage patrol team known as The Punishers , and corporate left him behind to his fate. He was apprehended fleeing from a mob of enraged locals and has been held in a prison close to the center of the city to await trial. No one is sure how he escaped, but he is on the lose and is armed and dangerous. He killed a security trooper during the escape. The polity would like him to stand trial, and if possible he should be brought in alive

"A catch yo or finito" growled Toombs as he sat eating his cooked 'breakfast'.

3:04 AM

(Toombs pulls up his Compad and looks up the public channels to see what he can find on Lucid Industries, this executive and The Punishers.)

Lucid Industries was in charge of housing and security when the former mega corporations of Polychrome owned the planet. Their enforcement teams were known to be heavy handed even in the best of times. The Punishers favored themselves as something like the last bulkwark between law and order and the chaotic living of the slums, but often used disproportionate force when arriving on a scene. The executive was their team leader, often donning a helmet and combat gear himself, though his role was mostly coordinating their response to calls, and protecting team members from investigations later on the occasions one of their crime suppression patrols ended with the deaths or injuries of family or friends of other corporate executives families.

(Toombs looks for the location of Lucid Industries within Polychrome and heads on over.)

(Lucid Industries is gone now, none of the mega corps are left)

(Toombs looks for the address of their former headquarterss.)

Lucid Industries was located near the center of town, along with where the other seven corporations were once headquartered. Only the Glass Tower remains, now CFR headquarters on the planet. The building remains empty now, and looted by the vengeful locals. Caution tape over the busted in doorway is the only indication that the CFR was once regarding the tall office building as a crime scene, but there is no one on duty here now watching over the gutted structure.

(Toombs cautiously enters the sight, looking for any signs of recent occupation or disturbance.)

(notice./wis)

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [2d6+1] Roll: [5, 3] Result: 9 Reason: Notice/WIS

The building has been looted, and all that remains on the dark ground floor is two homeless people trying to warm themselves around a small fire of discarded paper ,made in a waste bin.

(Toombs strolls to the fire make sure to let them know he is coming and that they can see his pistol. Grunting he squats down on his heels to warm his hands by the fire.)

1:49 AM

"Hi"

They move and make a bit of room for you to warm yourself. Both of them also look armed, and hands reflexively reach for whatever it is these homeless individuals have on them for protection, upon seeing your gun. "Need something?" one of them asks. They are both looking at you with concern, and suspicion.

"Relax, just looking for some people who used to work here", stated Toombs calmly. "Might have some work for them, off-planet."

"Lucid Industries is long gone" one of them laughs "You just crawl out from under a rock or something?" (edited)

"Sort of", Toombs laughed back, "Lucid might be gone but not all of its people."

"True, anyone who's got half a brain about it isn't exactly advertising that's where they're from though. People remember what Lucid did on these streets. Look around you man, there's a reason this building is empty"

"That's a real shame. Nice chatting to ya", said Toombs. Toombs leaves the building and has a look around the local area to see what other business and shops are still open.

A non profit cybernetics clinic, a corner bar and a corner store are open in this neighborhood at this hour. All three locations seem to be lively places

Toombs heads into the corner store and looks for a bottle of whisky.

There are many bottles of whisky here. One corner store looks like any other on Polychrone and this shop keeper is no Doubt watchful for any funny business.

Toombs grabs a bottle and proceeds to the counter and tries to give a friendly "How's it going?"

2:51 AM

At the same time he looks around to see if there are any personal items in or around the counter.

(personal as like property of the shop owner? Not sure what you're looking for specifically so I'm not sure how to describe things)

(Yes, something personal that the shopkeeper has on display for themself, like a photo or momento).

The shopkeeper has a small stuffed rabbit leaned up against the front window of the store, placed behind him and the counter. The rabbit is somewhat intact looking though a bit of the fur on its right side is stained slightly yellow from exposure to The Stain.

"Just the whisky, thanks" says Toombs to the shopkeeper. "Nice rabbit, hope its a good memory."

"It was, once. My partner and I had a daughter. She died from The Stain. My partner kept it on his patrol unit as a memento, my daughter wanted him to have it...keep him safe. He died a few months ago. Patrol accident. Something about an explosion. The department doesn't exist anymore, corporate is gone. Records are a mess. ...anyway..." he says, shaking his head. "There you go. Have a nice day" (I guess just five credits. There's not really prices in the book for random stuff like this)

"Here's 10 buddy", replied Toombs. Walking away Toombs stops and asks without looking back "which corporation did your partner work for?"

"Everlife. Seems almost like another life now" he says before going back to sadly looking at the cash register.

"Did you know many of the former employees of Lucid, they must have come in here from time to time to buy groceries?"

"Now and again. Wasn't on friendly terms with any of them really, they were heavy handed at the best of times. They'd come in and buy groceries, but buy turned into they stuff things in a bag and walk out the door without paying. Don't know if the bars or anything around here had similar problems with them like I did. Probably did. I'm not sorry lucid is gone" (edited)

'Thanks, catcha around", nods Toombs.

4:25 PM

(Toombs heads to the nearby corner bar.)

The bar is quiet. There are twenty people in here mostly drinking alone, or talking softly while watching re runs of the recent Galnet broadcast. There are two bartenders on staff tonight and each of them look to also be feeling the slowness of the night, looking quite bored. The bar has been cleaned to a mirror sheen, as have the glasses, for there is little else to do. This is a calmer picture than the one you had been expecting.

(Toombs moves to the bar and takes a position near a bartender.)

2:45 PM

"Wow, this is one clean bar top. Can I have a beer, thanks" says Toombs.

A beer is slid down the bartop to you, coming to rest almost exactly in front of you. "Thanks" One of the bartenders says, looking around the bar while also talking to you. "Not much to do now with most of the excitement on the planet over. Mostly just our long time regulars coming in now. Nice to see a new face. You live in the neighborhood? "

"Me, no, no, I am an out of towner." said Toombs to the bartender. "You said the excitement is all over?"

"For now. Corporate left, some folks got left behind and had a problem with that, anarchy reigned for a while ,but things seem to be calming down for now. Anyone with a brain who worked for the corpos either found themselves a new gig with the CFR , or went underground. They're not bothering us though, so that's what counts, right?"

"I guess so." replied Toombs. "Know anyone who used to work at Lucid across the road there?"

"sure. Few of em. The smart ones got out, the smart and unlucky ones went to ground and haven't poked their heads up very much"

"Sounds like you might be able to help me out." rasped Toombs.

1:53 AM

(Toombs pulls a bunch of credits out and rests them on the bar under his hand, grinning at the bartender.)

“Depends. I don’t want any trouble. What do you want?” He asks. The customer service In his voice fades away as you set the tone for this discussion.

Making sure know one is within earshot, Toombs rasps "I want names, locations, former jobs, all that you have got on former Lucid employees. Also, I don't want any trouble as well" he finishes with a grin.

1

"I'm not getting involved in this. If I was a Lucid employee who was stuck here, I'd have buried my uniform in the yard and gone into hiding. Maybe check near the Stain seals. No one wants to live out there, that might be the only safe place left for them. "

"You really think that, for example, Jenny who worked as a clerk in the back room at Lucid doing data entry is out living at the Stain seals?"

"That's the best I can tell you. You came into my bar. I'm doing you a favor answering your questions even though I told you I don't want any part in whatever business you have with them. Take the tip I gave you and move along"

Toombs drains his beer with a loud "Aahhh!". (He gets up, leaving the place quickly. After stepping outside he watches for a tail walking a little way down the street.)

(notice/wis)

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [2d6+1] Roll: [6, 2] Result: 9 Reason: Notice/WIS

You are not being tailed as you leave the bar and walk a few blocks from it. There are many other people on the street but they all look to be firmly interested in only their own errands and reasons for being outside during what passes for the late afternoon in this underground city.

(Toombs uses his Connect Skill to find a local hacker offering illict services).

(I'd need to know the exact things you want them to do because the legality and severity factors into how the focus works)

(Toombs wants to find all available data records of Lucid Industry employee's, specifically names, addresses and role(s) in the company with a focus on Human Resources, Security Forces and the Punishers.)

(That would fall well outside what an npc would be willing to do just by use of your connected foci. More would have to be done to convince them)

(As in payment?)

Spending some time on the more illicit side of the Polychrome net there is no lack of hackers willing to sell their services for the right amount, though almost all of them cease contact when you mention what you are looking for. No one wants to get into the bad side of Lucid, even in their broken and scattered state. (I don't think any amount of money would want to get them into risk like this, you'd need to RP it out with them, or find some other way to motivate them)

(Ok. Toombs ask around about the Stain seals, mentioned by the barman.)

(asking to the hacker? Im just trying to figure out who you're asking since we're not RPing anything and different people might have different information)

( I will leave the hacker for the moment and think about an approach. In the meantime Toombs will try to find out about the Stain seals.)

(How would we be finding out? What kinds of information collecting methods will we employ? I;m trying to figure out what kind of check to ask for then ,and this is super open ended)

(Ok, got it. Toombs pulls up his Compad and does as search for a map of Poly. to see if he can locate the Stain seals.) (edited)

The stain seals are located in the outermost neighborhoods where the underground city meets the natural rock of the massive cavern the city has been built into. These outer districts are labeled as "the warrens" and make up the outermost ring of urbanization. There are dozens of seals being maintained, keeping the Stain out and keeping the people within this city safe and protected from the alien bio weapon outside.

8:19 AM

Living by a seal is undesirable, as no seal keeps The Stain out for good, and it is in these neighborhoods that gang activity and the poorest and sickest still live.

(Before venturing into the warrens, Toombs decides to craft a cover story. Toombs looks up the names of the top execs of Lucid who fled and left behind his target. Namely the ones who would have been in a more powerful position than his target, for example, members of the Board of Directors, the Chairperson, more Senior Executives or if it was a private corporation the family members who filled such posiitons or pulled the strings from outside of Lucid. In addition, he looks to see if there are any star systems mentioned as to where these assholes potentially took off to. The cover story is that Toombs was hired by the exec/board/family member XXXX to make contact with his target and get him off world. His remaining Punisher crew willl follow on later. Toombs is just the "fixer", he is to get the target out and only knows that they have work for the Punishers otherwise they would have left them to rot here in Poly).

(August, another player, found and killed the escaped board members about an in game year ago now and retired right after since the bounty hunters guild payout was so good. The Punishers might know that their old bosses don't exist anymore since it was on Galnet that they were found and terminated)

(Toombs heads to the nearest section of the warrens to have a look around.)

(notice/wis)

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [2d6+1] Roll: [5, 3] Result: 9 Reason: Notice/WIS

There is a lack of gang activity in the section of warrens closest too you. The CFR does not often patrol here so there may be another reason those unfortunate enough to need to live here are being kept inside. There are only a few panhandlers out and each of them show a long exposure to trace amounts of Stain over their long and unfortunate lives. Boils and painful burns cover their bodies when not obscured by dirty rags. Several of the street facing parts of buildings show evidence of gunfire in the form of bullet pockmarks and laser burns.

Toombs approaches the nearest panhandler and drops a credit into his container/lap. "I am from out of town, what's up around hear?"

"Spare change?" he asks, shaking his cup. "Memory is a little fuzzy. Sometimes I don't notice things" There is a wet cough and you see a bit of fresh blood on the rag the panhandler wipes his mouth with before composing himself again.

(Toombs drops two credits drop into the persons cup ).

"Nicer than most of the people that come through here. Lot of guns on the street and people carrying them who know what they're doing. "

'Sounds pretty dangerous, you not to worried by these people?"

"What could they take from me?" he asks. His clothes are ratty and he is in poor health. Aside from a torn sleeping bag, a tarp held together with duct tape and strung up in an alley lean-to with fraying rope, and his all purpose tin cup, he truly does not look to have anything of even remote value.

"Perhaps, your life", replied Toombs, a bushy brow raised in a questioning manner. (edited)

"And put me out of my misery?" he says with a mirthful laugh "Why, you gonna be the one to take care of that for me instead?" (edited)

"If that's what you want but maybe we can help each other out. The Stain has not cure correct?" (edited)

"No sure. Long time to die from it if you get too much, but no cure. Too late for me, but the reaper isn't coming today. Not unless you're doing his dirty work" the bum gives a wet cough once again, this one goes on longer.

"Nasty...would you like to earn some decent creds so see you out?"

"Depends how I get them" he says candidly. "What do I need to do?"

"I am looking for certain people", ping, Toombs drops another credit drops into the cup. (edited)

"Alright , lot of people in this neighborhood. You're going to have to help me out a bit here. Who are you looking for?" The bum asks, unable to do much with the very vague statement despite wanting to help- especially now that they're being paid.

"You mentioned guns on the street and people carrying them who know what to do with them. Those are the people I am looking for" replied Toombs. (edited)

"They come by. Every night around 7. Four of them. Corpo weapons and armor. "

'Ping' another credit drops in his cup. "Come by, you say, where do they go?"

"They leave out the pump house at the end of the road" he says, pointing to a building that was once used to get fresh water to this neighborhood. Infrastructure projects elsewhere have made this building not useful anymore and it has been abandoned by city authorities. They leave through the building, move past his hiding spot and go to an abandoned warehouse on the north side of the street. He is not sure where they go after that.

Toombs takes a knee by the blokes cup as if to sync up his boot, 10 credits are placed gently in the cup. "Thanks fella, if I can get back here me and you are going for a few night out on the town" he says grinning at the man.

6:50 AM

Toombs checks the time.

You have an hour before the group is due to appear if the information is accurate.

Toombs moves to the pump house and looks around for a nice hiding spot where he can see the men pass through.

(notice.wis)

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [2d6+1] Roll: [6, 4] Result: 11 Reason: Notice/WIS

There are several crawl spaces of packed machinery and piping that you can hide in within the pumping station. Three options seem to be the best balance between hidden,while still allowing decent freedom of movement 1) Concealed in a duct that looks down upon the main walkway leading out to the street, it is 2m off the floor. 2) Hiding in the control room of the pump station. They will have a good distance on you upon leaving 3) tucking yourself into the pipework that lines the main hallway, it will be hard to move quickly here if you are spotted.

(Toombs moves to the duct (1) and attempts to conceal himself in it.)

Curling yourself into the confined space you keep your breathing low and wait for the former Lucid industries guards to make their rounds menacing the neighborhood. Almost as if you could set your watch by it, the four patrolmen arrive from the depths of the pumphouse one by one, to form a loose column. They begin to pass below you, 1m apart , making their way toward the door that will lead them out into the street. No one looks up, and they do not notice you above them.

(After they are at an appropriate distance, Toombs clmbs down and begins to cautiously follow them.)

(lets get a sneak/dex, i know its a lot of checks but any notice checks your later following them will generate will be rolled against this as their DC)

(No worries)

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [2d6+1] Roll: [6, 1] Result: 8 Reason: Sneak/DEX

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [2d6] Roll: [5, 2] Result: 7

Your quarry does not notice you following them. They leave the building and turn the corner to the left, passing the homeless man you'd spoken with previously. They each take a moment to harass him, kicking his coin cup over and throwing his sign across the street. To their credit, they don't take any of his money, but after some light physical and emotional abuse they begin to leave, heading for the bar at the end of the street where you started asking questions about them earlier in the night.

(Toombs grabs a bite to eat at the nearby corner store and returns to the pumping station. This time he tucks himeslf into the pipework and awaits their return. To occupy his mind he considers the potential for setting up a man trap in the pump house.)

(I can't really play that out without more details about the man trap you want to do. I can't really determine how much time it would take to make, or if we can even attempt it without more)

(These guys sound ‘heavy’ and act like a disciplined unit so I don’t want to take them on in a stand up fight. I am thinking along the lines of an ambush zone: 1) a line of fire where my laser rifle could be set up with a trip, combined with 2) if there is anything loose and big enough in the pump house, a deadfall trap. This would force them to cover, out of that line of fire into other traps. At the cover position(s) I would have 3) a couple of man-sized rabbit traps and/or 4) grenades (frag and stun) set to blow with trip wires. So I am looking for a tight position with a longish narrow field of fire with a few cover positions/exits that could lead them into traps 3) and 4). Diagram provided.) (edited)

(There’s no stun grenades in the setting. The rifle could be set on a trip but you wouldn’t use your modifiers when it goes off. It would just be one burst at a flat d20+ bonus for the burst , but since you’re not shooting it to me it doesn’t make sense your personal bonuses would factor in You currently have it set to other though so it’s not with us, rendering that not a trap we can even set )

(Stun grenade: woops I better get rid of that one. Laser rifle: a single shot is fine. I will need to retrieve it for this to be set up. I have a metatool and spare parts with which to fashion what is needed for the traps.)

(You will miss your window on ambushing them if you return to get the laser rifle)

Nekosmash

(You will miss your window on ambushing them if you return to get the laser rifle)

(Toombs is happy to better prepare for this encounter and retrieve the rifle.)

(okay, so a day will pass in between , lets ready and stow the gear we need for the traps now, and we'll pick this up the following night once you've got what you want to bring)

(Ok, so I have collected the Laser Rifle. I have a Metatool and Spare parts to manufacture the man traps, grenade traps and trip wire for the laser rifle.)

3:46 AM

(Something like this for the man trap).

Nekosmash pinned a message to this channel. 3/23/2023 7:41 AM

(lets get a fix./int for assembling it, not so much for can we do it since I know you have trapmaster, but for how much time you're doing it all in before the patrol is scheduled to come through)

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [2d6+1] Roll: [5, 3] Result: 9 Reason: Fix/INT

You are able to assemble your traps in time over the following day, completing the work ten minutes before the patrol is set to come by.

(Toombs moves into the position: "tucking yourself into the pipework that lines the main hallway, it will be hard to move quickly here if you are spotted.", pistol drawn.)

(Which grenades are in which spaces? Or is it one of each at each trap location?)

(Like this:)

Nekosmash pinned a message to this channel. 3/29/2023 9:20 AM

(okay, perfect, and last thing since this is a new day ,we would need a new sneak/dex so they have a DC for any notice checks they need to make, then we can play out their arrival)

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [2d6+1] Roll: [5, 5] Result: 11 Reason: Sneak/DEX

(These are much easier copied straight off the character sheet.

)

(yeah the formula box at the top will calculate everything for you if you ever need it, really handy if you're not sure what all modifiers are added to something)

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [2d6+2] Roll: [5, 2] Result: 9

Sean pulls himself into his hiding place as the patrol comes through for their nightly tour of the neighborhoods. You can smell smoke from cigarettes and hear the laughter as they pass a private joke over their squads comm feed. (go ahead and roll the flat d20 for the laser trap, as they'll hit that first, and have not noticed so they'll walk into it)

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [1d20] Roll: [20] Result: 20

2

(Uff, madly scrolling to see if SWN's had crits

)

1

(We do, its a house rule, its not in SWN by default. You can double the damage (before modifiers, so raw damage, then add modifiers once) or roll double the amount of damage dice so for a laser rifle, its 2d10 ,and then add modifiers once, whatever method you choose is how you'll handle all crits rolled over the course of your time in Iron Stars. Math wise there isn't much difference between the two, but consistency is appreciated, Some people just enjoy rolling a big handful of dice) (edited)

(Cool. I will do the roll double method. Seems more likely to give a higher average damage but its probably the same.)

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [2d10] Roll: [7, 5] Result: 12

1

The laser rifle set to its hair trigger goes off, sending several beams down the tunnel. The first Lucid trooper in line is downed with a clean hole burned in their combat field uniform's chest plate. The others are well trained, adopting ambush positions and moving forward, seeking cover in the notches worked into the side of the tunnel. Workers once would have tucked into these to get out of the way as carts of tools or other workers passed down the narrow passageway, now, they are home to traps. Several laser bolts fly down the tunnel harmlessly, passing the laser rifle by as there is no shooter behind it. (they get evasion saves to avoid trouble here, so I'm going to roll those next )

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Rolls: [10] Result: 10 [3] Result: 3 [15] Result: 15 Reason: v13 evasion save

(the one in number 5 evades their trap. There is hard metal walls between the other explosives so nobody is going to be taking multiple frags, but I do need the 2d6 for the person who triggered the frag in space 4, for their damage)

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [2d6] Roll: [3, 1] Result: 4

The trooper in space 4 is wounded by the blast. They begin struggling to try to free themselves from the traps. The sleep grenade also goes off but it will be some time before enough of a level is built up to have an effect. (I think now is a good time to get into initiative before we all just start doing stuff)

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [1d8+1] Roll: [4] Result: 5 Reason: Initiative

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [d8] Roll: [4] Result: 4

(Sean Toombs would be up first, scene won't progress for the moment , so we're at one enemy down from the laser rifle, and one untrapped and frag wounded, and two trapped.)

(Toombs moves from his tight position, using Sneak, if possible, to a position where he can get a shot off at the untrapped man/injured man.)

(using a skill is your main action for the round so you would not be able to sneakily crawl to a different part of the overhand and then also shoot this same turn)

(Ok, thanks. Toombs uses Sneak to move to a position, behind cover if possible.)

(sneak/dex. We're in the ceiling above them, so we can sneak in among the pipes as best we can)

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [2d6+1] Roll: [6, 4] Result: 11 Reason: Sneak/DEX

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [2d6] Roll: [2, 2] Result: 4

The squad does not notice you moving in front of them while remaining within the crawlspace above the squad. For their own part they each work to begin freeing themselves of the traps that have ensnared them. Gas is building at a low level and will effect you soon as well if the fight is not shut down. (they are going to use their main actions to get out of the bear traps and whatnot, so its back to you. THey can move freely now)

(Toombs fires at the squad with his Semi-auto pistol.)

(okay, need hit/damage once you get a chance to roll it)

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [1d20] Roll: [3] Result: 3 Reason: Attack roll

(forgot the +3 but I think thats a miss anyway)

(Yeah even a 6 isn't going to get through combat field uniforms)

8:32 AM

The shot misses and the mag shot in a confined space is not a quiet thing. Free of the traps, and with sleep gas beginning to build up, the surviving members of the group are all wounded and are eager to make their way to the street where they have a better chance. Each of them pushes down the tunnels, past the now spent laser gun trap. (move and main to dash, so they've moved 20m from you down the tunnel toward the street. You can see them from the pipes for this next turn, but if you stay up there they'll be out of sight on their next turn)

(Toombs moves in pursuit of the squad)

(it would be a move to duck down from the pipes. They're 20m away so now can see you. You have your main action still, so if you're shooting or doing something else we should determine that now)

(Toombs takes a shot.)

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [1d20+3] Roll: [20] Result: 23 Reason: To hit roll

(If thats another crit, which I think it is, using the method I chose above (of double dice), would that be two lots of 1d6+2?)

(your modifier only applies once, so it would be 2d6+2)

8:00 AM

(the only thing that gets doubled is the damage dice)

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [2d6+2] Roll: [4, 2] Result: 8 Reason: Crit hit damage roll

1

The second member of the team- the one that had been fragged- falls , shot through the back. With you in sight and the attack now coming from the rear, the two surviving squad members turn and fire their laser rifles down the tunnel at Sean.

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [2 d20+5] Rolls: [8] Result: 13 [18] Result: 23

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [d10+2] Roll: [5] Result: 7

(23/7 , the 13 is a miss)

(So thats 7 damage? Tombs check where he is in relation to his original Laser Rifle and any they have dropped)

(that is 7 damage, 23 meets or beats your armor class, so you are hit, and the hit did 7 damage to your HP. You're basically right at your rifle. You can pick it up, but it costs your move action, so you cant pick it up ,shoot them, and then continue running after them all in the same turn)

(Toombs picks up his Rifle and takes a shot if possible. Otherwise he pursues.)

(your main would be to shoot,or you can use it to move, but not both. if you decide to shoot, I just need your hit/damage result so I know if one of the two retreating guys is harmed)

(Toombs picks up the Rifle.)

(okay, you've still got your main, so you can either chase 10m, or shoot at them. If you shoot, I need the attack/damage)

Epsilon

used /roll

Error: Extra '(' found!

Epsilon

used /roll

Sean Toombs Request: [1d20] Roll: [5] Result: 5 Reason: Attack roll

The shot misses and the two squad members return fire, before fleeing another 10m away up the stairs toward the street.

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [2 d20+3] Rolls: [18] Result: 21 [20] Result: 23

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [2 d10] Rolls: [8] Result: 8 [5] Result: 5

(21 to hit. 8 damage, and crit for 10 damage on the second hit, I think this kills Sean)

3

4

(Up to you if you'd like to make something new or not. Let me know, I'll get sheets to you and where they need to be if so)

(I think I will leave it at that, gotten a bit busy lately. Thank you).