Iron Stars - nmc-outpost-looting

There is a long creak as the door the conference room opens and the CBSS briefing officer steps inside. @Viridian and @Robespierre have been here for some time, catching up on recent events from a past entwined with one another. "You're both here, excellent. I am going to keep this briefing quick since time is of the essence, Both of you thank you for coming so quickly and not delaying responding to the summons. The Chairman has noticed you both, more importantly, his staff have noticed you both and he thinks there is an assignment by which you can improve your standing, be forgiven for any past crimes, and begin living life in a way more akin to those who serve the Polity best. Two years ago on the ice planet Al-Yaldai, the New Moon Cooperative established a listening post to study the Slyth ruins left behind on the planet. Events of the Fleshshaper war caused the researchers there to be recalled into core Cooperative space, and to the best of our knowledge the site has never been reoccupied. It may be soon. The Cooperative are fellow federation members with us. We aren't here to cause direct harm to their researchers or anyone who might still be at the site, but we believe it is just automated security at the site now. Traps, maybe some robotic guardians, and so on. You have a skeleton crew standing by to man one of the free merchant vessels the polity owns- with enough spare tonnage to carry away anything of importance you might find. We are looking for anything of note , and it can be analyzed here on Pelasgon later, in the comfort of proper labs and a safe place to work. I will answer any questions you both might have now, and then you'll be released to the ship"

Georgi's dark eyes light up when the officer mentions Slyth ruins. He fiddles absentmindedly with a pinky ring - a gold band with a square dark stone laying flat - before spreading his hands apart and forming a wide smile. "I'm glad you all realized my value to the Polity. I hope after this we can put that ... misunderstanding behind us." The short, black-haired man shifts his weight slightly and raises two finger. "I only have two questions, so I can better serve our people. First, I assume you're mostly interested in items of scientific value and not aesthetic, right? And second, will anyone on our crew be able to disable the these traps and whatnot?"

Magdalena keeps her arms draped over the arms of the chair she occupied. Dark brown eyes shift over to Georgi once he speaks, her plump mouth maintaining its thin and serious line. Nothing flickers across her expression in that glance to indicate if she likes the officer, has ever done anything to sully her reputation, or detests the man who has taken residence in the seat next to her. The best that happens is the nod that barely bobs down, only truly indicated by the waves of her shoulder-length brown hair. "Mm," she says, more in terms of gearing up her voice to speak, rather than anything thoughtful. "Maybe I can," she says, flicking her eyes back over to Giorgi. "I repaired many of the devices in the mines on Vanhat, half of them being traps, anyway, to keep out people who ain't belong. But that's gonna be a guess." She turns her eyes back to the officer. "One of the crewmen could probably help with what I can't. Do we have any intel on what's in these ruins?" She straightens as another thought brightens her eyes. "And any gear? I have some, for climbing mostly, but an ice planet is, err, well, cold as shit."

"Giorgi, I do not think there might be an easy way to tell art from science when you get there. Anything that you think looks portable between the two of you or carried on a floater ruck, its worth carrying out . We can separate the chaff from the wheat once you are back. The crew is being ordered to keep the ship safe, it will be just the two of you going in. Remote hacking isn't a thing anyone in this universe can do anyway- there wouldn't be a way to just disable all the defenses from the outside. You'll have to use your wits to deal with them if just smashing them isn't something that seems advisable when you're there. The ship locker and armory will have small amounts of gear you can use to further our objectives for this operation. We know the Cooperative was looking into some kind of Slyth historical database there, and were working towards determining the location of some kind of ship or wreck out on the ice. That's what we think it is, at least. That can be determined at a later time. That;s of course just what the public and back channels knows"

(Would our characters know what Slyth is?)

(Yes, but not their language. Anything on the World Anvil is information your characters would know, or be able to look up)

9:19 AM

https://www.worldanvil.com/w/iron-stars-nekosmash

Iron Stars

A play by post adventure (This game has no real time or voice sessions). Five years have passed since The Scream, a psionic disaster responsible for killing billions across the galaxy in one swift stroke. Humanity has clung to life now forced to continue without virtually any of its psychic citizens or psi-tech industries that developed around ...

Giorgi's lips tighten briefly when the officer mentions there will be no way to determine which artifacts are scientific, but he regains his smile quickly. The shorter man glances over at Magda before giving the officer a nod. "This all sounds good to me. I think I'm ready to head out then. You won't be disappointed."

Nekosmash pinned a message to this channel. 4/19/2022 11:47 AM

"I know we will not- and fear not, the only true failure state is losing the ship, and failing to come back. Make the best decisions you can there, we understand the intelligence is not the most accurate" He salutes both of you, and begins clearing the drawings he has made from the briefing board. Each of you are given a keycard for the ship.

"Mm," comes the sound out of the woman again. Pressing her palms against the arm of the chair, she stands to receive the keycard. Flipping it against her palm, she nods to the commander. "'Don't die,' is easy enough expectations, yes." Without ceremony, she turns out of the quarters and waits just outside the doorway for Giorgi. She's just barely below his height and she lifts her head to him. "So," she says before walking towards the docking yard. "You do something that get you put on this detail, too? Can you fight? I think sending two schmucks to an empty ruin means fight." (edited)

1:56 PM

(Feel free to move this along at any pace, Neko! I didn't want to overstep and say when they get to the ship)

The diminutive man lifts a finger up to the sky while keeping pace with Magda . His faux-golden pinky ring catches the light. "I, my partner, am a man of business. I grease the wheels a bit. I find things many would have a tough time finding. And like any legitimate business man, I'm pretty good at sneaking away if things look like they're going to turn hairy." Giorgi shoots a grin at Magda. "There was a bit of a misunderstanding about the location of certain goods between me and the Polity, but that's all settled now. I'm just here to help out the group." He gives his companion a quick glance. "You look like you can handle yourself in a fight. I think we'll make a great team." Giorgi betrays no indication that he realizes his contribution to this "team" is unclear at best.

Outside on the tarmac you see the boxy ship that represents the polity free merchant you'll be traveling in. The ship looks to be robust and in good working order- with the two pilots and comms officer having an animated discussion at the base of the ramp with one another. The roar overhead of a pair of passing jet trainers drowns out whatever they're discussing. It has rained recently, and you step through several small puddles on the tarmac before making your way to within easy hearing. The Red Scare, the CBSS soccer team is in the midst of a rough season, and it sounds like they all have differing opinions on the best way for the team to move ahead- as much as a Monday morning armchair coach can have.

The first bit of a smile appears on her mouth -- and it's not really genuine. "Good," she says to Giorgi. "You got brains to run when it's time, yes?" A flick of her gaze goes up and down his form in a measuring way, rather than appreciative. "Your legs are little. Do they go fast, then?" It doesn't seem to dawn on her how offensive her question is. "I can fight, yes." She glances over her shoulder as they approach the wet tarmac. With her voice lowered, she adds, "I fought for Vanhat, my home, last year." She lifts her left wrist, showing an indent right at the center. "Broke baby peacekeeper nose with this." Finally, she grins authentically, "Hurt, yes, but I know when to run, too. So you see, we both have had.... what you call it? Misunderstandings." There's a brief sneer, a curl of her lip when she overhears the sports talk. "Stupid bastards don't know which why their ass supposed to face and they talk soccer. Oh." She looks up at the ship as they approach. "This is the ship." Looking over to Giorgi, she gives a shrug before entering it.

"Vadhat. Wonderful people. I'm glad you all reached a good resolution," Giorgi responds with a cheesy grin with just a hint of strain caused by the short legs comment. "When we get back, I have some genuine articles from the conflict you might be interested in. Can't find anything this authentic on this planet. I'm sure we can work out a trade, and every article I acquire has my personal guarantee." Madga's comment on the game draws the shorter man's attention and he shouts a curse. "That turned out to be a poor bet." He gives Magda a wink as he scurried aboard after her. "Maybe it's a good thing that I'm getting off planet."

The crew continues their discussion for a few moments as you get settled into your bunks and it seems their wait has a purpose, as a technician comes out from a nearby hanger with a pad for them all to sign- certifying the fueling and repair work is all correct. You did not see any obvious defects on the outside of the ship- it is well traveled but you've seen starships in far worse condition flying around even before The Scream. Booted feet on metal decking begin moving toward the bridge as the sensor officer comes back to the bunk room hallway to announce himself. "You're both aboard, thanks for waiting. Had to get clearance to get out of here. As you know we're going to Al-Yaldai, We're going to be on this ship for a few days, before getting to our destination. Meal times are 7am, 12pm, and 6pm , and otherwise you've got run of the ship. We'll call you up to the bridge when we get there so we can assess the conditions together before heading down to the planet. The ship also has an armory and locker. The armory is going to be locked until we get there so we don't risk anyone putting holes in the hull, but feel free to requisition what you need before landing"

"Mind if I tag along, y'all? I heard you were taking a little trip, and hell, I wasn't doing anything. Thought I might at least be of some assistance to you lot. Styx Larson is my name," he says as he completes his trip up the cargo ramp and extends both his hands out awkwardly to both of you at the same time.

2:11 PM

(he puts down the goat to do the weird hand shake thing he's doing)

Giorgi's eyes perk up a bit when the officer mentions the armory and locker. He absentmindedly twists his gold pinky ring before grinning. "Locker? Really? I'll need to check that out to make sure I'm properly outfitted." He makes a point to check them out when the crew is not watching him. Styx and the goat's approach bring s as smirk from the diminutive man. He completes the handshake. "Giorgi Mdvani. Procurer of high quality hard to find merchandise - and not just on this trip." He looks down at the goat. "You know, I've done jobs with beings far less intelligent than him, or her."

In the bunk room, Magdalena had found the edge of a bed to sit on, which lasted milliseconds before she popped back up to greet the officer. A small smile -- practiced, forced -- appears and she nods to him. "Thanks, sir," she says, "might take a walk--" It's not long before she notices Styx, or more importantly, his goat. Up climbs the brow over her left eye, her lips parting to likely to say something uncouth and insulting, before she looks up at the man who carries the creature. Shooting a glance over to Giorgi, who already seems better than her when it comes to simple things like carrying conversations, her brow lowers slowly and she turns her attention back to Styx. Offering a hand to shake after Giorgi, she says in a tone twinged with formality. "Magdalena Yanovich. I--" There were options to consider, when it came to titling her fine work, "dig up minerals and ore." Her eyes are back on the goat. "What does it do? I thought goats only shit where they ate."

8:18 PM

(sorry for the delay, guys! RL was a lot today)

(Was for me too, but we're all here now!) The ramp outside grinds to its closed position and the airlocks seal. The question of the goat, its name, what it does, and what Styx is doing here hangs over the group as flight operations continue. The free merchant begins to gently rise into the air, preparing to enter the atmosphere, exit it, and make its way to the system edge before engaging its spike drive.

7:48 AM

(the locker has any TL4 equipment in it in small amounts, TL4 pharms are not available in the setting, however. We use the frontier medicine in our iron stars book instead, just make me a list if you're requisitioning things so I can track who has what. Can help if needed)

"Oh, Boots does what he wants most of the time, but he's pretty loyal too. Bit of an attitude occasionally. He actually doesn't eat or shit either for that matter. He's... corporeal or something." They all watch as Boots walks off to find a bed and a box to jump on top of. "He's the best. So, it's an old timey treasure hunt, it's it?"

(Will post shortly, I need to look up equipment options)

(No worries. Shoot me any questions if you’re not sure or feeling overwhelmed )

(I can post in a couple hours)

"Boots?" Magdalena nearly asks with a scoff. Still, she glances back at the creature as it wanders before looking back over to Styx. Briefly nodding, she adds, "Clear and sweep, sounds like it. I've done this a few times in mines before the mining actually happens." Looking back over to the locker, she moves over to it, murmuring as she does so. "I'm less worried about weapons," and she looks back over to the other two, "I'm a shit shot anyway, so I just--" and she taps the monoblade attached to her hip. "I've got a climbing harness with me in case we need to go down, but we could use..." She moves some items around, pulling out (what she hopes) a few glowbugs, "lights," then a metatool, "tools for jury-rigging, aaaand..." she pulls out some compads, "in case we get separated." Looking down at the collection, she hums, "We're gonna need patches or something. Can't imagine this will go without one of us getting banged up."

6:48 PM

(So I'm looking to take some glowpads for lighting if it's needed, a metatool for fixing, and a compad for communicaton. Oh, and I guess power cells for everything that needs it. She has low light goggles and a climbng harness already)

(One cell each can run them for the duration of the mission easily )

Giorgi looks down at the goat and smiles. "Probably less stubborn than most of the people I've worked with too." He brings that smile back to Styx. "I think it is. Too bad we don't get to keep any of the treasure." The smaller man shifts his gaze between Magda and Styx to see if either have any reaction after that last comment. When the locker room is either unoccupied or as sparsely occupied as it gets, Giorgi slinks in and examines all the materials. He releases a long, frustrated breath upon realizing that the absence of anything of value would likely be noticed. He reluctantly grabs, if available a trio of radios in case there is no server, a meta tool, a medkit, a climbing harness, a grapnel launcher, a rope, some low light googles, a navcomp, any scouting reports, the power cells needed for these devices, and a backpack to keep it in. If he gets a chance to go to the armory, he'll grab a magpistol and some ammo, despite the fact he's likely to shoot his eye out.

"Oh the treasure goes to us in a certain way. We all use it to further our influence and interstellar clout and all that. You'll be rewarded for your efforts, don't you worry about that. When me and my mom go to dinner, I pay for it now," he says and smiles proudly with eyes closed and everything. "So, hey, sorry to drop in on what I hear is your first mission, but uh.... I was looking for something to do and saw we had a shuttle launch scheduled for a place I've never been before and I thought what the hell. New people, new places and all that."

(We have 14 days of downtime, and I'll post that rule snippet here, as well as the article for where we're doing)

7:22 AM

https://www.worldanvil.com/w/iron-stars-nekosmash/a/al-yaldal-location?preview=true

Al-Yaldal

7:23 AM

(So as a new player, I'm not sure what this means for my character. Could you elaborate?)

(Pick a “downtime activity”, which is what you spend your free time on the ship doing, and it applies as above. So, for example, if you decided to spend the time learning a language, you’d be 14 of 30 days toward the goal of learning that language)

(Is there a list of downtown activities or is that in the player's guide?)

(You can bump any non-magic, non-psychic skill from -1 to 0 in 90 days, learn any language in 30. If you’ve got the requisite skill level in fix, you can also mod your weapons or armor)

(I assume no skills from 0 to 1?)

(No, just from -1 to 0. It’s best to pick a skill that you never intend on investing skill points in)

Giorgi offers Styx a slight chuckle and a well-meaning if slightly condescending smile when he mentions paying for dinner for his mother. "No matter how rich I get, my mom is always paying for her food. Still, glad to have you with us. And good to hear we'll get ours." Giorgi sounds a little less than convinced he'll actually get his. On the journey, he spends some time on his compad reading articles and books on the CBSS bureaucracy, hoping to better understand it. (Giorgi will spend his time learning administration.)

Magdalena remains more nonchalant after Styx explains, accompanying it with a shrug. "We were sent on this hunt," she admits to him, "so it's not ours. Besides, more help can't possibly hurt. Have you been to this place before?" After the conversation wanes, Magdalena spends more time on the ship more on her own, wandering about the corridors and perhaps to sneak some food off meal hours. Eventually finding the armory, she works with one of the specialists there, who gives her some time with a basic mag pistol and a target. She wasn't kidding about being a shit shot. (Magdalena will spend her time learning shoot.)

(Sounds great. You’ll both be at 14/90 toward learning your chosen skill)

An ice world, devoid of settlement but for a small diplomatic outpost used by the New Moon Cooperative. The world is dotted with Slyth ruins, and in one instance Selgar of the UNW saw a dazzling lightshow here. The Slyth have hinted there is more to the light-show than outward appearance, and a research project has been undertaken to learn more. In late 2667, two worlds have been illuminated by the light show, but it was short lived and exploration efforts did not keep up with the revealed stellar topography. The NMC later abandoned the planet and efforts at trying to re create the event were abandoned with the withdrawal of their personnel. Arriving in orbit over the ice world , images are taken of the surface and it confirms no signals are present.

(I may not be able to post today. I'll try but def tomorrow)

(No worries !)

(Sorry me too. Went home all weekend.)

"Awww, ice planet. I hate ice planets. Why don't you read more about the destination before climbing on board a ship then, Styx!? I don't know, I thought we were getting better about that. Clearly not, ass hat, now go and get your coat, I guess. Can we even breathe here!?" Styx rambles as he heads to the environmental station to get a better feel for the climate they're about to face, mumbling to himself all the while.

The air is breathable. The temperature is below freezing , hovering near 0 Celsius on the surface.

"Get your coats, leave your vacsuits, people!" He shouts and heads to his room to get ready.

(Yikes, I'm sorry, the weekend got away from me)

(It did for me too, no worries, life comes first and the weekends are for sure a more chill time for us)

With her arms folded, Magdalena observes the frozen rock as they descend. She exhales a long breath and nods. She looks over to her companions and says simply, "Well, let's avoid freezin' to death, yeah?" She leaves for her locker, pulling out the most important piece of equipment -- her environmental suit -- to change into. She comes back, moving uncomfortably already in it. Looking at a nearby panel, she notes, "Well, zero isn't as bad as I was expecting." Looking back to Styx and Giorgi, she asks, "Which ruin? I saw a lot as we came in."

(We have the old NMC diplomatic compound, or the main slyth ruins themselves. Either one is part of the mission)

Giorgi's lips tighten slightly as everyone heads to get their environmental suits and walks over to grab his own. He twists his pinky ring while he looks over the data. "I think the best stuff we'll find will be in the ruins themselves. I know if I was being evacuated, I would take everything valuable with me." The diminutive man steps back and looks at the other two to gauge their reactions. With a wry grin at Styx, he notes, "Unfortunately, I don't think they'll have environmental suits for goats."

"He feels nothing but angst. What is angst anyways? He actually told me that one day, but I didn't know what it meant which I thought was weird because he's never known something that I didn't actually... except for that. So.. uh... he'll be fine is what I mean. I'm in on the ruins. Good place to start."

As they begin to set forth into the ruins, Styx offers up conversation to his fellow treasure hunters. "So what made you guys join the CBSS? Did your CBSS fathers get murdered and you swore to take revenge on their psychic tutors and you thought the best way to do that would be to enlist and get better at fighting and get smarter and stuff, like I did?" He gasps for air.

The ruins ahead are vast, consisting of seven different points leading into the sky, each one dwarfing the shuttle you landed here on. The air is cold and crisp, and for now the wind seems to be calm with only a light breeze blowing some drifting snow off the roof of the closest spike. The doors to the spires appear to be closed , encrusted with carvings on the doors showing Slyth warriors, workers, priests and other social classes all standing united against the Fleshshaper host- their ancient enemy destroyed later by those who came after. A few birds fly overhead, circling the area.

"Psychic tutors? Revenge?" Styx's strange story brings Giorgi's gaze back to him and away from the strange structures dotting the cold landscape. With a small smile, Giorgi shrugs. "My story isn't nearly so exciting. I worked in goods distribution, and there was a misunderstanding over where some of missing goods went. I was asked to resign, and since have been making a living outside the formal economy, which is tough in CBSS space. This is my chance to get back in." Giorgi surveys the ruins greedily while twisting his pinky ring. "I'll tell you, some of the stuff in these buildings could certainly bring some value outside the formal economy. Which should we check out first?"

Magdalena merely pops an eyebrow to Styx. Shifting her backpack better around her shoulders, she stares at him a long moment before shooting her gaze back to Giorgi. "My parents are livin'," she says at first, "and the rest of my reasons for bein' apart of the CBSS are mine and mine alone." And she apparently leaves it at that. Her attention is quickly taken away once they make it outside to the ruins. Dark eyes raise up to the apex of the structure and she looks ahead to the doors. "I really want to just go into the ruins, but..." She sighs. "Maybe to the compound first. Some of these people might know what we're about to walk into and I'd rather know we're not walking into a pit."

"Oh, word? Yea, it did kind of freak me out when I read they set up a "listening post" next to some ruins. You think it's like scientists in there or what, I guess I am intrigued about it. What if we just call them? I am pretty sure they're listening."

(This probably got lost in all the information I sent you, the compound is empty, the NMC has totally abandoned the planet)

(Oh, sorry, I definitely misread. I thought the diplomatic compound would have people in it but any of the characters can correct mine)

(It would have in the past for sure, but the NMC abandoned the world so all their personnel are gone, the buildings are all that's left)

Giorgi twists his lips to the side and pauses for a moment. He scans the ruins nervously. "I'm not sure what's in there, but I don't think we wanna let them know we're here. Anything friendly left long ago." The shorter man chuckles a bit. "Not that I believe in ghosts or anything, but I bet the security systems won't recognize us as friendly. And given we're gonna take their stuff, maybe we aren't friendly. I still think we go after the valuables first, but if the group wants to go into the compound, I think we should do that quietly."

(I almost did have Styx correct you, but then I went back and Neko actually had left that ambiguous in the initial post.)

(We have all the information now so

‍♂️ )

"I just trained to be a ghost buster actually at the Temple of the Five Suns," he checks the tome at his hip, unsure of what would happen if there were shadows here. "I don't feel anything and I think that I would if there were any around." (If there are shadows here I can amend lol.) (edited)

(there are not)

12:30 PM

(sounds like really our current thing is do we delve into one of the spires, or pack up and fly south to look through the compound first. We can do either)

(Giorgi votes spires)

(Sure. Spires!)

Magdalena shifts her eyes as she scans over to the ruins. "That's right," she says, more to herself than anything. "This place is abandoned." She looks back over to Styx. "I'm doubting anyone listening is paying any attention. Any security measures will be automated, I would think." She shifts her backpack uncomfortably again. To the discussion of ghosts, she merely nods at Styx, as if finding just the sliver of comfort at the idea. Maybe she believes in them. She turns on a heel and looks towards the spire. "Well, then," she says, hoisting her backpack up again. "Let's get to the entrance. Maybe I can see if anything is set on the doors."

The center of the carving, and upper chest height when facing the doors looks to be some kind of round winch with a handle. In the carving it depicts the spinning wheel of something resembling a slyth fighting vehicle, charging forward to drive back the depictions of the Shapers. The mechanism seems free of debris, and can be spun to presumably open the large doors

(Is there something I could roll to check the mechanism?)

(It would be a notice/wis, but what are we checking it for so I know how to determine difficulty or success? ) (edited)

(I wanna look at any locking mechanisms or anything on the door handle/hinges that would look like something is rigged up to it.)

(notice/wis sounds good then)

(Sweet. How do I roll?

)

( !roll 2d6 + - whatever your modifiers are. It's the same as roll20 would be, just with ! instead of / before the word roll)

(Oh cool this'll be a disaster)

4:31 PM

!roll 2d6-1

Magdalena Yanovich Roll: [6, 3] Result: 8

(Lemme know if that's worth a frick

)

The mechanism opens the door, and does not have any traps attached to it. There is no doubt a system of pulleys and counterweights inside the door so the massive constructs will open easily with this handwheel, but as the main way to get into whatever lies below the original owners have not left any kind of security measures in this location.

"I don't see anything rigged," Magdalena says after they approach the door. Placing her hand on the handwheel, looking around and under it for any kind of wire or trigger mechanism. "If there's any security or traps, it'll be inside." Twisting the handwheel, she grunts but manages to open the gate-like structure. Once it's open, she reaches down for her belt and pulls out a pair of lowlight goggles from her pouch. Fitting it over her eyes, she flicks on the device and moves inside the initial chamber.

Giorgi watches Magda, nodding along with her assessment of the lock. "You know security? We gotta talk after this Magda. I know some people that will reward you handsomely." He dons his own goggles and carefully positions himself behind the woman so she can deal with any threats. Giorgi reaches into a sidebag and grabs a couple of low tech transmitters, tossing one to the other two members and smiling weakly. "In case we get separated, you can hear my dying scream."

(Just getting some labels on a map for us here, I'll have it posted shortly)

(coming in at 1, and although the map is bright, this is all underground. The nav-comp on the shuttle would have found the area of the chambers but we know nothing about what's inside them, so your characters would also have copies of this map )

Nekosmash pinned a message to this channel. 4/29/2022 12:28 PM

(ooh, nice open sesame. Sorry just got done working today) (edited)

"I would never have been able to open that. Thank you, Magdalena." Styx looks around at the other two being all prepared with their goggles. Ridiculous! "Hey cool, cool. Nightvision goggle party. Nice. Y'all be sure to tell me what you see in here, alright? I'll just hold onto you shoulders here." He says as he looks at each of your shoulders to determine which would be the most comfortable. For some reason, Georgi's wins. his hand in on hos shoulder already. It's still pretty bright outside.

Looking down the hallway into 1, it seems this entryway at least is relatively bare aside from four stone benches worked into the walls. They are Slyth scaled, very wide allowing them to coil up comfortably so their entire weight would be supported. More carvings on the walls depict workers at rest, with prosperous mines and overgrown abundant farming fields behind them.

(Not gonna be able to get to my pose until tomorrow. Sorry!)

(Same)

(You’re good!)

7:19 PM

(There’s no rush)

(Imma post when I get back from the airport. How are y'all liking it so far?)

(We can discuss this in places that aren’t a mission thread if we want to)

(I think everyone here is in Space Commie OOC. Let’s have OOC discussions there)

Giorgi takes a look at the carvings and chuckles. "Even with the Slyth, you just can't get away from the propaganda?" He glances over to his companions a little nervously. "Can either of you make sense of this? Neither of you seem like the professorly type, so if you can't, I say we move quickly, get some valuable stuff, and get the hell out of here before anything notices us." (edited)

The compliments she had been given earned a smile, although brief. As they stepped into the initial chamber, she answered, "No, I don't work security." Her eyes glance up to the glyphs along the walls. Brows edging together, she tries to read them, without clarity ever flashing across her eyes. "But usually wires or a device on a door means 'don't come in.' It could have been wired on the other side, and we'd all be dead by now." Finally, shaking her head, she looks back over to Giorgi, saying, "I don't even think this is propaganda. Maybe more... stories. Information. But I can't make any sense of it." She gives Slyx a quick glance before pulling up her comm. The map appears in its cool glow and she blows out some air from her cheeks. "This place is large, but splitting up seems like a horrible idea. Looking at this, there's an intersection ahead that leads to a bunch of rooms and dead-ends." She shrugs, "I like left, so let's head..." And she taps her finger on the room labeled "2."

Moving west, you pass through a narrow hallway that has inlaid luminous crystals placed in wall sconces. They give dim illumination, enough to make your various goggles work, or enough to at least see the outline of the room if you have no method of seeing into the dark,. You enter 2, a large room that is in a square shape, just like the entry chamber seemed to be. This room looked to be some kind of lounge or habitation space once with more benches arrayed around the edges of the room. The desiccated remains of some kind of once beautiful looking garden of flowers and shrubs occupy the middle of the room- with the plants so dry they have turned gray and look like they might go to dust as soon as you reach out to apply any force on them.

"Not much in here, but dead plant fiber and benches, eh? Let's check out the two rooms up ahead. You like left? We'll do that room first," Styx says and heads through the room towards the hallway that leads to rooms 10 and 11. (edited)

"I had no idea the Slyth were so worthless. Not even something I can take back and sell as the Slyth King's handkerchief or whatever," Giorgi mutters before grimacing. After Styx offers his idea, Giorgi gives him a single nod. "Let's do it. I'm not coming back empty handed, and if I have to chisel off a piece of Slyth carving, I'm doing that."

"Haha! If we don't find anything I'll help you!" He laughs and laughs.

(notice/wis Styx)

!roll 2d6-1

Styx Larson Roll: [5, 4] Result: 8

(hey, not bad.)

There is a faint mechanical clicking, it sounds distant, but it is faintly echoing down the hallway you are preparing to enter.

Magdalena was staring at the long dead brush of the forsaken garden. "It's an entry room," she comments, "you don't leave anything worth while at the door. You bury it in a bedroom, closet. We have to keep going." Following down with Giorgi and Styx, she glances down the hallway to the other two side rooms. "Do we want to split up?" she asks.

"I hear something down there. Sounds mechanical. Could be a trap or maybe a machine of some kind. Be especially aware of what you're about to step on or cross through. I think we should stick together, but keep our distance from one another. I have this... ability to see things that haven't happened yet. I will lead," he says as he carefully continues into the hallway. (if it's dark I pull out a flashlight that I assume I have on me somewhere and ready my mag pistol.) (edited)

(Flashlights aren't really an item in the game, compads emit a very weak light, otherwise there are glow bugs and low light goggles. Those are actual book items, so if you don't have them, you don't have them) (edited)

(Doh! Adding it to the list! Thank you.)

Giorgi adjusts his lowlight goggles as needed and chuckles at Styx. "Must come from your psychic tutoring, or what was it?" Googles ready, he turns to Magda. "I think goat-man is right. Let's stay together so we can help out whoever sets off a trap." Giorgi looks down the hall with some trepidation and moves slowly, taking great care with each step.

"Wait... great idea. Boots!" his telepathic command is heard and followed immediately and the goat charges down the hallway.

Reaching behind her, Magdalena grabs one of her glow bugs. She stretches her arm out to Styx, before adjusting her goggles. "Here," she offers him before looking at the animal rush down the hallway. She scoffs. "Great, didn't realize your companion was also bait."

2

"Oh, thank you," he says as he takes the bug from between Magdalena's fingers. "He feels nothing. I thought he died once and when I summoned him again he remembered everything and felt no sadness or pain. He seemed to feel pretty indifferent about the whole experience, actually. Let's see if he 'discovers' a trap." He uses finger quotes so you understand the actual meaning of that word. (edited)

Halfway down the hallway, 50m from your position, an automated laser rifle equipped turret drops from the ceiling and fires on boots.

6:53 AM

!roll d20+4

Nekosmash Roll: [14] Result: 18

!roll d10

Nekosmash Roll: [6] Result: 6

(18/6 on Boots)

6:54 AM

(The turret got a surprise round since obviously boots was not checking for traps and the idea was for him to trigger whatever it is. If we plan to blow the turret up we can get initiative )

(Wait is the goat dead?)

7:12 AM

(Oh wait nm metaphysical goat)

(if it is, Styx can re-summon it after 24 hours, since its a gaiapsionic familiar)

(That's fabulous)

7:16 AM

"Get back!" Magdalena hollers when the turret whirs up and riddles bullets into the familiar. She takes a few steps back, eyes widening, and she looks over to Styx and Giorgi. With fear and surprise laboring her breath, she says to them both, "With my aim, I'm more likely to shoot you than that thing. Can you take it out?"

7:17 AM

(Not rolling init yet since seriously her shooting is horrendous)

Giorgi dives for cover when the shooting starts, hands over his ears. When it stops, the diminutive man stands cautiously, brushes himself off, and offers his companions a sheepish smile. He glances down the corridor. "I can slide by human eyes, but I don't think I'll fool a machine, right?" Twisting his pinky ring, Giorgi glances around to see if there is a way around the turret, or at least out of its shooting field.

The security system is doing its job by squatting in the middle of the hallway ceiling, with a clear field of fire as you approach it. It is doing an admirable job of securiing the way forward, as any good security system does. It seems like it did not engage beyond 20m or so, judging by where it fires on the goat.

(He's at 9/15 HP) "I can shoot, but it may not be enough to take it out before it kills me. Why don't we go the other way and come back in a little bit. Maybe we can disable it somehow." Boots retreats behind Styx to lick his wounds that don't hurt nor do they actually exist in a physical sense, nor does he actually have any desire to lick them. Sitting he cocks his head and Styx gets the impression from his thoughts that he was impressed by the turrets show of dominance over mankind. He's a complicated and strange creature that we may never understand. (edited)

!roll 1d20+2

Styx Larson Roll: [20] Result: 22

(Boom.)

8:19 PM

!roll 2d6+2

Styx Larson Roll: [5, 2] Result: 9

(We would need an initiative roll before we just start shooting at things, so anyone who is trying to get into the combat will need one) (edited)

10:02 PM

https://discord.com/channels/345912178072879106/965709069446963240/971379240811495534

10:02 PM

(So none of that happens Styx)

10:04 PM

!roll d8

Nekosmash Roll: [5] Result: 5

(My bad, I though we were we were too far away.) (edited)

8:43 AM

!roll 1d8

Styx Larson Roll: [4] Result: 4

(If we're not engaging in combat, would we roll initiative?)

9:02 AM

(Or if we're leaving, do we need to roll anything for that?)

(No, if you're staying back that's fine for now)

"I like that idea," Magdalena says as she takes a few backwards steps down the hallway. Once convinced she's out of range of the device, she brings back up her comm. "Why is it defending a dead end?" She looks down at the map again. "Do we want to check this northern room? Might be more of the same." She trails a finger over to four. "And maybe over here, too."

(Just need initiative for Giorgi if they're going to join the combat, if not, I'll resolve it between Styx and the turret, and then we can move on , unless we all decide to just leave this alone)

Giorgi curses under his breath as Styx goes in guns a-blazing. He gets his own pistol, glances at it uncertainly, and begins firing widely down the hallway in the general direction of the turret. "Fool goat, fool mission, fool Slyth, and fool Brotherhood," he grumbles before tightening his jaw.

4:38 PM

!roll 1d8

Giorgi Mdivani Roll: [6] Result: 6

(Giorgi, turret, Styx)

(1d20 - 1 for a -1 skill level right?)

(Yes. 1d20 plus applicable skill plus applicable attribute.)

(Don't forget attack bonus if you are rolling an attack)

11:04 AM

(Here's a guide and cheat sheet if you're ever stuck on how to roll: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16DdWh7bDh285v2s_v8HucOAUqROUXcPIbctH6_5w3a4/edit?usp=sharing)

Your Dice-Roller and You: An IronStars Presentation

We have recently decided to test out a dice-roller that allows us to roll directly on Discord. Its usage is very simple. Rolling dice only requires you to input the command: !roll, followed by the number and sides of your roll. For instance, rolling 2d6 would be: !roll 2d6 You can also add ...

!1d20

11:36 AM

!roll 1d20

Giorgi Mdivani Roll: [17] Result: 17

(And thanks!)

11:38 AM

(So now I'd need to know the AC of the turret right?)

(Neko will tell you if it hit or not. AC isn't usually known IC)

(Yeah I don't normally have forward facing AC, but you've hit!)

(My character is gonna hang back. I'll roll initiative if things somehow go tits up and she needs to jump in)

(sounds good, I'll just grab the damage roll from Giorgi, then the turret is up, and then Styx)

(So for a mag pistol that's just 2d6+2 right?)

( correct )

!roll 2d6+2

Giorgi Mdivani Roll: [6, 1] Result: 9

The shot is clean and the magnetically propelled mag spike impales the delicate circuitry within the turret. The dome shaped device shatters and breaks , sending sparks and broken electrical components showering to the floor below. There is a hiss and a stink of ozone as power fails and the turret is effectively destroyed

"You know, I thought about doing that too, but it wasn't my turn. Good shot, comrade."

8:48 PM

Styx looks over at Magdalena. "I think we can check this side out this over here now!"

(We can reach 10 and 11 from here, so we can explore either one first)

(I'd like to search the room to see what this turret was guarding, if anything)

7:55 AM

!roll 2d6-1

Magdalena Yanovich Roll: [5, 2] Result: 6

(It was just guarding the hallway , there's nothing special in the hallway, it was just stopping access to the two rooms further down the hall, )

(Oh! Sweet, okay, I misunderstood)

7:58 AM

Magdalena lifts a brow at Giorgi, not with incredulousness, but mere surprise. The other brow follows after. "I was not expecting that from you," she says to him. There may been a compliment in there, woven with a passive insult. Still, the woman's shoulders settle, the tension easing away as she looks in the further down the hallway. She places her hand on her side blade and swivels her hesd between the two directions. "Come, let's go this way," she says, looking in the direction of 10. "And keep your gun out."

Styx holsters his gun before what she said registers with him. "Oh," he says, and readies it again. "Better let me lead again in case there are any more traps ahead."

Room 10 looks to be an administration chamber of some kind, bringing new light onto the nature of the facility here. You can see two large desks with computer systems that are scaled for the larger slyth hands have been set up here, connected to two towers of bubbling, liquid cooled computer stacks. Power here seems to be on reserve, with only lazy bubbles heading toward the top of the container as the percolators at the bottom continue filtering the coolant.

Giorgi gives Magda a grin that is at first nervous, but it changes to one of unearned confidence. "Thanks," he says uncertainly after a pause. The shorter man peeks in after Styx and scans Room 10. Assuming all seems well, he makes his way over to one of the desks to begin rifling through for valuables.

Magdalena's glance over the room briefly and the tension in her shoulders ease out even further when there appears to be no security. The computers, given their larger size, make that eyebrow flick up again. She shifts her gaze between Styx and Giorgi, before asking the latter, "Find anything? Can you use those computers? Not sure if that's what they mean by interesting but maybe something worth reading in there."

The desks do not seem to have any drawers or cabinets in them, but the computers could possibly be cajoled into action, and not all treasure is something physical to be carried away.

(I assume the computers are in a Slyth language?)

(We're not sure right now, but even if they are, bulk downloading the data for later use would still be worth carrying away)

Giorgi grunts with frustration while he rifles through desk. He looks up at his companions with a scowl. "Nothing. What a waste." He stands up and twists his pinky ring while looking at the Slyth machine. He starts moving around to look at it from different angles to see if he can find anything useful. "Maybe we can at least make the Brotherhood happy by finding a way to get data off of this thing." (Giorgi would like to see if there's any way to get data off of the computer, from taking the entire the entire thing to using his compad to get data from it.)

(Program/int)

(I'm up to my eyeballs in work today so I'll try to post by tonight)

(no worries!)

!roll 1d20-1

Giorgi Mdivani Roll: [3] Result: 2

(Well done Jobs)

(Skill checks are a 2d6)

(Oh! Thanks!)

1:53 PM

!roll 2d6-1

Giorgi Mdivani Roll: [4, 4] Result: 7

Though you cannot read much of what is happening on the screen, you are able to verify enough to know you have begun a bulk download process and the contents of the computer systems in this room are being copied onto your device. Someone who knows the language will no doubt be spending serious time going over the items here later, The download looks to be ongoing, and will need several more minutes to complete.

2:56 PM

(We could check out 11 while that is going on, if we want)

Styx looks at the huge amount of data gliding into Giorgi's datapad and sighs. "Well, that'll take way too long to sit here waiting for. I'mma head across the hall and see what's shaking over there." With a gesture boots runs into room 11 and Styx follows him curious and cautious.

Giorgi perks up at Styx's suggestion and twists his pinky ring. "I'm in. This data might please the Brotherhood, but I can't sell it." The shorter man scratches a hairless chin. "Or can I? Well, in any case, this doesn't need me here to download." At that, Giorgi is as eager as the goat in following.

Magdalena had briefly looked at the screen and shook her head at what appeared to be no sense. "It could be cartoons for all we know," she says with a huff in her voice. She follows Giorgi and Styx down the hall to the next room, tilting her head once inside. If it's dimly kit, she'll hold up a glow bug.

(I never hit enter, I started writing this at the gym this morning and never went back, my bad)

2:59 PM

Room 10 looks to be some kind of office complex divided into three cubicle like administration annexes, and something that looks to be a supply closet where there is no door, and one cube wall is missing, the locals stacked up what looks to be boxes of office goods here. The function of most of them is not something you can discern , but even in this junked state there is a demand for pretech junk as researchers and engineers are constantly trying to tinker with pieces of the past. The three cubes do not have computers in them, but do have work benches where it looks like repairs to computers and other small electronic devices.

Styx rummages through the junk looking for anything shiny. "Looks to be some good stuff in here if a little boring!" he calls out to the other two.

Giorgi does not need to be told twice. He starts in one of the cubes to see if there's anything that he could salvage. "Items to trade are never boring, shepherd," he responds while already hard at work on his search.

Meanwhile, Magdalena isn't looking through any of the cubes, as if she didn't understand the assignment. She moves towards the supply closet and kicks around a few articles, (presumably) finding nothing. Approaching the other two, she shrugs, "Find anything? This looks like some work room." She looks towards the exit. "We haven't found shit in this place so far. I hope this wasn't some giant time waster."

5:15 PM

(Don't respond, Neko! Enjoy air soft!)

(D100 each of you searching )

!roll 1d100

Styx Larson Roll: [12] Result: 12

!roll 1d100

Magdalena Yanovich Roll: [72] Result: 72

Styx looks through some boxes and is able to find a hexagon shaped energy cell that has a unique adapted for feeding into objects. You're not sure what it might connect to. Magdalena rummages through her own set of boxes, revealing an inky looking lens that might belong on a lamp or lantern. It is not threaded, and vibrates gently as though it has a power source of its own. A small button on top of its brass ring seems to activate the device somehow.

!roll d100

Giorgi Mdivani Roll: [60] Result: 60

Opening a third crate, you find a long, serpentine like handgun of slyth origin. It looks similar to a laser pistol, though its shape is more elongated, and looks like it will accept standard Type A cells.

Lifting up the lens from the box, she twists it in her hand a moment. "The hell," she mutters to herself. Approaching Styx and Giorgi, she holds it flat in her palm. "It's... vibrating." Her brow lifts at them both before she places the device down on a table, where the vibrations causes a deep, bassy hum. She stares at the button. "Have you ever seen something like this before? I don't know what this button does."

Giorgi grabs the Slyth gun and does his best secret agent impression, showing very poor muzzle control throughout. After blowing pretend smoke off the barrel - despite it being an energy weapon - he looks over at Magda with a mischievous grin. "Only way to find out is to press it."

Styx observes the energy cell, making note of it's shape and size hoping to run into something he can slide it into further on inside. "Press it? Do we know what it is? Prescream stuff is no joke."

The object doesn't seem to vibrate with any more or less intensity, and the button remains gently protruding from the lens. It seems like this is just its condition at rest, and none of the sensors with your group register any immediate danger.

Magdalena takes a look down at her comm pad and the lack of any alarms only provides so much ease. She looks between Styx and Giorgi, apprehension flickering about in her brown eyes, before she reaches her hand over. She presses her thumb against the device and then takes a long step backwards.

(I'll post you the description for the relic , standby! )

(Take your time!)

(Do we have comm wireless here?)

(yes)

10:40 AM

Lens of Negative Light When activated, this palm-sized lens warps the ambient illumination within 5 meters of the user, plunging the zone into inky darkness. The holder of the lens can continue to see through the field but others are effectively blind while they remain within the gloom. The zone travels with the holder and will last for 1d6 minutes.

"What the fuck," Giorgi yells as he is caught in an inky darkness. He cups his hands over his mouth. "Magda! Goat Man!" After looking around, he grunts and mumbles to himself. "This is what I get for trying to go legit. Stupid fucking Brotherhood. Now I'm trapped in some snake cave."

"It's very dark, Magda," he says as he allows himself a hearty laugh at Giorgi's expense. "What did you do before the brotherhood anyways? No judgement. We all got shade in our pasts."

(I think we've asked this already Styx, earlier on in the mission. But we have a relic and some data, so up to you guys if we decide to keep exploring, or if we want to do other missions)

(Sorry, guys, this one is on me. I thought I posted yesterday and didn't.)

8:54 AM

"It's Magdalena!" she barks at first and then she flicks her gaze between Styx and Giorgi, whom she can see well, and then she looks back down at the device. Quickly, she compresses the button and the darkness dives inward to reveal a normally lit room. She then looks down at the lens and then back up again. A wide grin nearly splits her face. "This is something we were looking for," she says, and continues more excitedly, "I could see you both fine, but you couldn't see me, yes? It creates darkness." She pauses a moment, her fingers enclosing around the lens. "This is something they want us to bring back, but... do they know what's actually here? We could find something else to return and forget we found this, no?"

8:54 AM

(I'd like to continue with the mission!)

Giorgi straightens his clothes when light returns and gives Magdalena a wry smile and a respectful nod. "That is an incredible idea, and is exactly the way I think. We should work together in the future, Magdalena. It's a mouthful, but I'm not one to let a few extra syllables get into the way of a great business relationship." Giorgi stuffs his Slyth firearm into his waistband and pretends like he does not have it. "Does anyone want to venture out to see if we can find an artifact to bring to them?" Assuming they start walking, as the group walks, Giorgi finds and opportunity to offer Styx an aside. "I made my living outside the system, which is no small feat in an AI run economy. Mostly trading goods of questionable origin and information to those that also work on the information economy. I got by, but if I was legit again, I think I'd get by more comfortably."

Magdalena adopts a similarly wry grin. "My friends call me Maggie," she says in regards to her name, "and I'll let you know once you've earned the right." With the others, she begins to venture out with them. "We have to," she comments about continuing, "we have to give them something. No way they're going to believe we found nothing." Styx's question earns a raised brow, "I thought we went over this already." She glances over to Giorgi and begins to chuckle lowly as they make down the main hall. "Questionable origin." Bringing up the map on her comm again, she notes, "There's a large room this way," she says, pointing to 12, "let's head that way. Seems it might have been a great hall or something."

(12 it is! )

1:10 PM

Returning to the main hallway, you see that heading north into room 12 leads down the central trunk of the facility. You see two alcoves at the end of the dark hallway and through low light goggles it looks like a deactivated, bipedal security bot is resting in each of them. One limb ends in a laser rifle on each of the bots while the other remains more hand-like to manipulate small objects. A clear glass front shield is fitted in place in each cradle, as the bots continue resting.

Giorgi stops dead in his tracks when he sees the bots and releases a sigh of relief when they appear deactivated. "Are those things off for sure," he asks in a small, timid voice. His dark, very untrained eyes scan the room for any sign that something might activate them.

There is nothing to the outside observer that might signal an activator of some kind, though they are no doubt here for security and no doubt will respond to whatever their triggers consist of.

Like Giorgi, Magdalena stops in her tracks to see the bot. She says in a lower tone, "They may activate on movement. And that means they're guarding something in particular." She glances over to Styx, "I'm guessing the goat is still out." Reaching into her pack, she pulls out one of her spare glow bulbs. She tosses it her hand once, like a pitcher ready to throw, and then tosses it underhanded like a bowling ball towards the bot, allow the device to slow to a halt in front of it.

As the glowbug rolls to within 50m of the bots, and a red light appears on the top of each of their cradles and begins to scan the corridor for the offending source of the movement.

Giorgi freezes in place and holds his breath. A drop of sweat makes it's way down his brow. He waits to see if the robots shit back down.

After scanning the hallway and only detecting the glowbug, the sensors turn back off and it does not seem that the bots are going to continue their boot up process.

Magdalena utters a curse under her breath after she watches the bot power down. "Are you any good at these things," she asks and looks over to Giorgi. "I know nothing about slicing and I'm thinking we can't beat this thing to death." Her eyes shift down to his newly acquired gun and then she raises a brow curiously.

Giorgi grimaces and considers the robots carefully. In a low voice, he admits, "I think I might have gotten lucky with that other drone." He looks around to see if there are any alternative routes around the robots or if he notices any blind spots.

(Notice /wis Giorgi)

!roll 2d6-1

Giorgi Mdivani Roll: [5, 4] Result: 8

You see a thin path through the detection field. You’d have to stay perfectly in the middle of the passageway in a straight line.

(Can I presume Giogi shares that?)

(Yep!)

(Perfect. Neko, do I have to roll anything to walk that passageway?)

(No, Giorgi found the gap and we have unlimited time to move carefully, I think we'd just be able to do it so long as no one is trying to intentionally goad the security bots)

"Good eye," Magdalena says as she begins to move through the narrow path. Her eyes narrow at the defense drone, her hand on her monoblade. Whether or not she could beat a machine to death is one thing, but her squeezing of the hilt appears more for her own comfort. Stepping around it, she checks behind her for Giorgi's following -- and living, for that matter -- and she slips into the room to look inside.

(I thought I hit enter on this)

8:16 AM

The room is a massive complex of machinery, computers, and what looks to be some kind of production facility. Keeping most of the facility underground is a common tactic to ensure bombardment is not as much of a threat as it would be to a surface installation, but upon first glance entering the industrial scaled area, it is difficult to determine what the Slyth were making or researching here- other than it looks to have been cutting edge and advanced.

Giorgi clasps his hands behind his back and starts inspecting the computers. He stops and looks back at Magdalena with a wide grin and makes a head motion at one of the machines. "See this? This could help the Brotherhood produce more, which might get them so excited that they don't notice if we carry some other trinkets." Giorgi absentmindedly pats his Slyth gun and starts examining the computers closer to see if he can draw any data from them. If he can safely, or what he thinks is safely, he does so.

(program/int)

!roll 2d6-1

Giorgi Mdivani Roll: [4, 1] Result: 4

It does not seem that there is a way to tamper or access the data here without alerting some kind of security system within, which may call bots or other automated defenses to this room.

(My bad!)

11:42 AM

Magdalena raises a brow again as Giorgi shows his excitement. She looks back to the terminals, lacking the same enthusiasm. "We can't take these, right?" Realizing the security issue at hand, she purses her lips. "They didn't arm us for this," she comments and then looks back to the shorter man. "What should we do? We'd need a tech expert to get this out and this is exactly what they're looking for." Reaching back into her pocket, she pulls out the lens. "I think we want to find a way to keep this."

Giorgi releases a long breath and shakes his head slowly. "I do too but . . ." He scrunched up his face as he looks over the Slyth technology again. "There's no way we can get this data. I think we give them our treasure and cut our losses. I don't wanna get shot. In the end, getting the Brotherhood AI off my ass will be worth more than an admittedly cool gun." Giorgi stops and twists his pinky ring while looking over Magdalena carefully. "Do you keep your word? Because if so, I gotta proposition for you. I give up the data and the gun. Maybe that's enough to keep them from looking too hard and you can keep your creepy light thing. But then you owe me. Big. I mean real big, likely when I'm up shit's creek."

Magdalena shifts at the proposition. There was more of the building to explore, but they had something. She opens up her palm to look at the lens. It could be enough. The job could be done. Closing her fist around it, she exhales a soft breath. Too many security bots. Too high of a chance to get shot. Her dark eyes shift to Giorgi after he makes his proposition. It's an unfair deal, all things considered, but to whom? "Yanoviches keep their word," she says in near recitation. "However," she says, more to give her time between thoughts, "this 'creepy' thing has uses. A paddle for your shit creek, no? I didn't earn it alone, so it is yours when you need it." A quirk of a smile appears as she continues, "as well as me, if you need a miner and woman good with a blade."

"You're on," Giorgi responds with a slight smile and nod while extending a small hand for a shake. After Magdalena shakes (or not), Giorgi looks around the room nervously. "Well, let's get out of here before we get killed. If you're good with a blade, I'm sure I can find some ways to make us both rich." At that, he starts to leave Room 12.

(I'm going on the assumption we're taking the same precautions going out, so the bots will not activate. If we want to end the mission here we can, if we want to keep exploring, we can do that too. We've done what the CBSS would consider success)

(Sweet thank you! I think we're done! I would vote they go back and they're giving the gun, but keeping the lens)

(Sounds good. Giorgi if you’re good with that too we can call this complete and I’ll write something up)

(I'm good!)

1:21 AM

(And down for a new mission!)

Returning to the surface the shuttle is called and the strange sidearm is turned over reluctantly along with the data and a detailed description of the inside. Plans are already being drawn up for an outpost at the site, based out of the underground complex you discovered. (3xp and 5000 credits each. I’ll make you personal threads to record your level ups in. If you want to join the big group mission you can or i can write something smaller scale )

(And if either of you need help with leveling up please let me know)

(Thanks Neko! I'll look it up over lunch and as questions. Im down to join the big group mission.) (edited)

(So to make sure I'm getting this right: because I'm an expert, I get an extra point not usable in a combat skill, giving me four, and I can pick a focus because it's level 2. In that case, could I do: sniper focus; +1 in shoot for two points , giving me 1; and +1 in sneak for two points, putting me at 1?)

(correct you get a foci pick. After character creation, if you get a bonus level in a skill due to a foci, you get 3 skill points in that skill, If you cannot spend them all to level the skill, just bank the remainder. )

(Oh so that means if I pick sniper I start at 1 shoot, not 0?)

(if your shoot is -1 now, that is correct)

(Okay! So just to make sure I'm doing this right, may I: 1) choose sniper, giving me shoot 1 from -1; 2) put two in sneak, raising it from 0 to 1; 3) put one in notice, raising it from -1 to 0; and 4) bank 1?)

(bank the one expert SP if you're saving up for something, or put some other non combat skill from -1 to 0 .

(Okay! I'll bank it for Talk and distribute the rest. Thanks!)

2:14 PM

(Do I roll my 1d6 HP here?)

(2d6 now, since you're level 2, but you can do it in #deleted-channel or in #dice-channel

(Thanks! I'm leveled and good to go)

(Hey guys! Maybe you guys can help me figure this out. I'm trying to spend these skill points and def am not getting the rules. I have 3 to spend and I was thinking fix and shoot. Can anyone help me figure out if I have the points to do that?)

8:04 PM

(I did my HP and saves though so I'm good there.)

(What's your class?)

(Expert)

(You’ve got 4 to spend, but one of those 4 has to be spent on non-combat)

(And you get a focus)

(A new focus?)

(Or an upgrade to an existing one)

(Got it. So fix is 0 and non-combat. So that would cost 2 skill points to raise that to 1, right?)

(Yep!)

(Best bet is to start with the character advancement section of the core rule book, and if you have still questions take them to #help )

(Thanks, Jackall! The book was what was confusing me but I've got it now)

(Yeah, it’s a little confusingly worded. Rule of thumb is that skills are always the level you are trying to reach +1)

8:10 PM

(So 0 costs 1, 1 costs 2, etc)

(Oh thank you, that is so much clearer)

8:13 PM

(Neko, I used all 4 skill points. If I did this right, I raised sneak to 0, shoot to 0, fix to 1. I also took Alert as a new foci. My HP roll was garbage but I'll live with it :)

(Level ups should be posted in your personal thread so we can keep track of them)

(Got it, I thought they were RP channels)

(They are, when you do individual missions you’ll do them there. But it’s also where we do character advancement posts)

8:23 PM

(There’s a template for level ups in the new player guide that’s in #welcome)

(going to archive this, if you all are finished making notes)

(Any chance you could wait until this evening so I can copy/paste?)

(No worries ! I’ll wait to hear from you again