Iron Stars - thanksgiving-2024

As the air crispens with morning chill and the leaves fall from the trees , those previously contacted by T.Urkey over the years and maybe some new friends all brace themselves knowing any night could see them spirited away in their sleep to some other fantastic metaspace realm where the enigmatic holiday icon requires ever stranger forms of aid. T.Urkey is demanding, but those who participate in his escapades are always rewarded well, and those rewards have saved lives or defused situations often in the dangerous lives of adventurers in the Iron Stars. Everyone awakens in the bright light of a dusty wasteland surrounded by mountains and a crowd of people. All of them look very hungry and ragged and approach a large mountain with tin pots, sauce pans, and other objects that might hold liquid. A large vehicle is being moved onto a platform to be lowered and as you all look around at the scene and at one another you see your normal combat armor of finery has been changed to some sort of wasteland survior equivalent. Whatever is happening here will be a few moments, and a large Pot bellied ashen one with a long neck - looking very much like a turkey-begins approaching a set of microphones. (edited)

8:36 AM

( open for whoever wants to participate @Nekofans Supporter )

An arm reaches out from a ratty sleeping bag, feeling around for something that should have been adjacent but wasn't taken into this strange world. The figure erupts from the padded cocoon and looks around at the scene unfolding. "Fuck," Yulia mutters. Scrambling up in a hungover state, she rifles through her duffle bag - far dustier now - and pulls out her armor. She stops halfway through, realizing her personalized Umlaut combat gear had been replaced with a well-worn set of Rabid Cats street gang enforcer armor. It still smells like City B on Creusa. Yulia sighs. "What a normal time we live in where normal things like this happen regularly," She says with heavy scorn as she sits back down. Vera the drone appears from the other side of the sleeping bag. She looks as if raiders obsessed with putting spikes and flamethrowers on their motor vehicles got to her outer hull. "We fly, shiny and..." she looks at her manipulators. "Spraypainted chrome?! How gaudy. You must have been really drunk last night, Yuli. Who are these other people? More idiot drunks like you?"

Agent Finnegan rouses from the seat of the gravflyer she had been napping on only to see that the polycarbon seat has been switched out for dust covered rock. The Greystar standard issue field uniform of grey utilitarian make being swapped out for a fierce set of metal and leather fashioned gladiator style scrap armor, some pieces polished to a mirror sheen with gaps between some of the pieces where bare skin has been adorned with warpaint depicting Acastus's many moons and makeup causing dark red tears of "blood" to appear as if they were had dripled from her eyes. Her usually hidden burn scars the left side of her torso and upper arm are still covered but the armor there instead looks to have been pitted by weapons fire in the past. Rising to her feet she looks around at her new companions after she checks her gear and accounts for the most important pieces. "I see we're back together roughly a year later, suppose it could be worse."

A Merlon with red hair and a face that looks to be aging too much too quickly opens an eye then another. Looking around at his surroundings, he sees that he is no longer meditating in the soak pool upon his flagship. His normally brilliant scale mail is replaced with tattered robes covering piece-meal metal plates. "Well... This is unexpected." he says in his monotone voice devoid of any emotions affecting the inflection of his voice. Eisheru stands and picks up his harpoon which looks more akin to a rusted piece of sheet metal carefully adhered to a scrap piece of tube steel. Upon seeing Agent Finnegan and the others, Eisheru walks slowly over to them. "Agent Finnegan. When I began my meditation I did not anticipate meeting up with you or any others. Is this a normal occurrence for you?"

"It has occured once before. I did not know the true nature of what had happened and what was real or false, i had half dismissed it as a fever dream of it weren't for a couple of mementos from last time; it's good to have a familiar face here ." Almost forgetting herself Micaela gives a salute to her superior with a level of professionalism that contrasts her savage attire.

There was a piercing glare coming from Yulia towards Eisheru. Hearing "agent" and connecting some dots, Yulia figured that this was the Eisheru. The master behind Aiya. His dumb corporate yes-men all getting in the way of an easy job, getting the Exchange of Light involved, the threats. It was all resolved and certainly lucrative, but everything would have gone so much better had these desk-flying pencil-pushers stayed in their lane. If either Michaela or Eisheru notice the scowl, Yulia would quickly look away. The drone kept staring.

Eisheru raises a hand and waives away the unnecessary act, "No need for that, Finnegan. We are equals in the Combine, or did the Director hide my letter informing the Combine of my self-demotion?" Eisheru chuckles at the last bit, but it sounds strange. As though he is trying to force something to happen without knowing how it is supposed to sound. Noticing his scales beginning to dry up, Eisheru closes his eyes for a moment and suddenly the dust and sand begin to pass around him without sticking. He then looks over to the woman who has yet to introduce herself and her interesting ball of spikes and steel, "Based on your reaction, I would hazard a guess that this is not your first time being so transported? I do not believe we have met, Eisheru Tidecaller." Eisheru's voice is strange. It is almost entirely devoid of any inflection, even questions almost sound as statements. His face looks unnaturally serene. (edited)

Agent Finnegan stays quiet besides a polite smile at the joke from Eisheru, when he turns to look over towards Yulia she does do a quick flash of a peace (✌️) sign and a small smile towards her as well before she runs her fingers of her other hand along the length of a line of bone and scrap can chimes that appear to be tied to the shaft of her spear near where it meets the blade

Vera's attention turns to Michaela. The robot attempts to replicate the gesture, but her manipulators can't seem to get it quite right. A suite of optics whirr and click as it seems like the drone might be contemplating bending and breaking its own fingers to stubbornly accomplish its goal. It turns to face Yulia. "Yuli, can I have different fingers when we're back?" Yulia blows an errant strand of hair out of her face and isn't paying any attention to her better half and ignoring the question. "You don't believe we've met? I can tell you that we haven't. Regardless if the stars aligned and we crossed paths outside of this hellscape dream land, I can guarantee the displeasure would be all mine. And no, it's not my first time here." Her voice is impatient, and more pieces of poorly-painted gangster armor spill out as Yulia now digs through her bag for something with great intent. "You don't believe we've met," she repeats quietly with more anger. "Corpo to the core it seems. You even talk like your HR departm- where the FUCK is it?!" Her impatient digging grows before she grabs something, smiles, and yanks out a holster - with a bottle very clearly wedged in it and a clear liquid swishing inside. "This will help me along. I'm 'Nobody Important', Puppet Master." She yanks the bottle out, only for her face to turn from a sardonic smile to defeat. It's a bottle of water with at least a gram of sand suspended in it. She sits cross-legged and sulks. "Vera, don't leave the Merlon hanging." Vera grabs Eisheru's hand with both of hers and shakes vigorously. "I'm Vera! And that piece of shit on the ground is my pet human!" Yulia facepalms. (edited)

Ian sits up, rubs his temples, and reaches into his pocket. “What in the fuck is this?” He throws the packet of candy cigarettes that have replaced his actual smokes. “Where am I, who the fuck are you people? How did I…” he trails off, realizing that the others are likely in the same situation.

Alexander comes to, finding his uniform replaced with worn desert robes and a scrap metal helmet on his head. He looks around in confusion until he realizes what's going on. "Some form of metadimensional displacement? Fascinating." Seeing the other agents Alexander walks over to meet them. "Excuse me, does anyone know what the situation is?" (I'm assuming it's ok if I choose spells based on the mission description, or should I pick what he might have as an everyday sort of list?) (edited)

(you can pick based on the mission for sure)

1

Eisheru doesn't even blink as he stares back at Yulia. Not the first time he had taken a verbal lashing, nor likely to be the last. He searches his own memory as she mentions a human resources department. A previous hire? A slighted contractor? Nothing came to mind. "I don't believe you have even met my HR department, as you would know it's Sentient Resources..." Eisheru is nearly thrown off balance from the vigorous shaking of the drone. "You have a rather melancholy pet, Vera. A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I have little experience with pets, but I know Fungal Hounds are much more pleasant when walked frequently."

Daira lies on the ground, staring at the bright sky. This was not Gudrun. This was no place she knew. It has been a while that she felt this tingling in her veins. A sign for something strange happening. She vaguely remembers the adventures she's had after being thrown through time and space to places that might or might not even exist. But the past year was a wild one, and it pushed much of these memories to the background. She hears voices of people next to her. Some familiar. Some tied to these strange adventures. Some tied to her family, sort of. And one, one belonging to someone important. Daira pushes herself up and looks down at herself. The rugged clothing was actually an upgrade to the worn, really seldomly washed, clothing she was wearing this past year. And the dark green, mixed with brown, and dirt, and dust, was also a nice change. As she gets up she sees some familiar, and some unfamiliar faces. Unsure about the reaction of some, she just waves with her hand to greet the group.

Ian shrugs, telekinetically pulls the box of candy cigarettes that he threw back into his hand, and slides one between his lips. “Anyone here know what’s going on?”

Jake awakens to the smell of unfiltered air and the sounds of voices rather than the background hum of ship systems. Rolling over, he sees what might pass for his usual kit in some universe arranged nearby. He dons the ramshackle metal and leather piecemeal armor, showing more dark, olive brown skin than he's accustomed to. Pulls on the leather boots, looks at the horned helmet with red streamers, shrugs, puts it on too then grabs the rest of the pile next to him and walks over to the gathering group. "Probably just another Thursday morning," he says to Ian, offering to shake hands. "Hello everyone," Jake greets each of the gathered group. Shaking hands and briefly catching up with those he knows and introducing himself to those he hasn't. When he gets to Eisheru his handshake includes one of the supersecret signals: Good to see you again, friend. And in one piece. "Yulia, looks like you have a new... babysitter? Shiny." Jake smiles at Vera.

The smell of dust enters Kaedon's nose and his eyes burst open. Looking around confusion sets in, he was no longer in the nice comfortable guest bed of the elector's estate, but in some nightmarish hellscape. "What was in that drink?" He mutters as he looks around at the eclectic group, trying to understand what is happening and wondering if Vaine's minion had laced his drink, quickly dismissing such an idea. Looking down at himself he found his normal set of gear rather than the comfortable pajamas and sleeping mask he previously had. "Perhaps a nightmare?" He mumbled to himself as he saw the dream figures around him before loudly sneezing at the dust. Out of habit he activated his Wizard's Grandeur and was surprised at how real the magic felt, even in a dream, compared to real life. Free from the dusty hell and outdoor elements, Kaedon stood up as the dust previously on him sloughed off with the magic's effects. A lucid dream, Kaedon had never lucid dreamed before, how exciting. But what madness had his mind conjured up? Several of those he had seen looked familiar, he just wasn't sure where he had seen them before. He tried to wake up but had no clue as to how, so he figured he might as well play along. "But what role to play?" He thought to himself as he walked over to the group, trying to understand the plot of his dream so he could take on an enjoyable role for the ride. As Jake approached he greeted him, Kaedon quickly stood up straight and gathered his wits, "Salutations my goodman, Kaedon Vinobis, heir to the uh," Kaedon blanked for a moment "come on Kaed, improv, improv" he thought to himself "Waters of Cerulea and... the Crown of Cam. Yes, that's right. Uh a pleasure to make your acquaintance." he said quickly finishing his sentence with a grin as he looked at the surrounding group with keen interest. (edited)

2

Micaela sees Daira's waving and her eyes widen for a moment in recognition before she heads over to her. Her expression is not the polite and agreeable but fun diplomat that was displayed with the others, nor the dutiful agent that was directed towards Eisheru. But rather a serious expression and focused eyes. "Daria of Artema, it's good to see you again. I've thought of our meeting often and my heart fell to see that you were clashing with your sister in faith on Galnet, have things resolved favorably on that front?"

Daira's eyes narrow as someone from the group turns toward her and moves in her direction. It takes a moment for her to remember, but once she does, her face returns to a soft smile. She bows as Michaela gets closer and tries to smile her concern away. "Oh, I don't read the news, they tend to be one sided, dictated by the more influential side. There has been a dispute, yes, and the second Paragon and I, well, we did have a rather intense meeting. She had to find out that the hands of the Prophetess rest on my shoulders, not hers. But she doesn't like to admit that. So instead of being open to change, she stays stubborn, with her eyes blind for the present and future and only receptive for the past. She will understand one day. But if you want to know if I am fine, well, I am free and myself, there is nothing more I could wish for."

Micaela nods intently as Daira speaks and returned the bow when it was given. "I'm glad to hear that, to be yourself is one of the most important things we can accomplish in this life; especially when that self is perceived as incompatible with the selves of the people around you. I look forward to becoming myself again soon, it will be good to meet you again when that happens; seeing another woman of enduring faith in the stars is always comforting...even if the beliefs may be different."

Shifting from an anger at Eisheru to a familial scorn at Dai, Yulia stands up to put on some pieces of her not-quite-expected armor. The look on her face as she stares down Dai over Michaela's shoulder might have been picked up from Khan Artema; or perhaps it was an instinctual reaction of all older siblings acquired through an ethereal universal consciousness. She appears to be holding her tongue. If her eyes could speak, they'd be yelling for Dai to reconsider speaking about and event that ended with several people murdered and the Second Paragon paragon. Boasting about being free - no matter how flowery it is presented - would also not be advised.

Ian observes the interactions around him, candy cigarette still dangling from his lips. “Ok, so some of you already know each other. Has this happened to you before?”

Eisheru follows Yulia's gaze and turns to see Daira. Standing there he regards the woman talking about the Second Paragon. He returns the secret reply to Jake Carson without even breaking eye contact. 'Alive and well friend, The mission continues.' His face an unreadable mask, but it is hard to ignore the intense stare that attempts to pierce into Daira's soul. He watches the situation between her, Micaela and Yulia unfold given the connection between them all.

Daira sees Yulia, she sees the look on her face, and decides to ignore it. Like she had done countless times when Cassandra felt like looking at her this way. This storm will go past her, like every time. Instead she smiles at Michaela. "Beliefs can be different and one still can respect each other. I wish for you to hold on to your inner strength, and by that you will end up being yourself and free. And I am always happy to meet you!" *As she talks to Michaela, she feels another gaze on her, and that wasn't Yulia's. The Merlon did match the description of Eisheru. The Tidecaller. Hero of the Iron Stars. But even more than that, Friend of the Prophetess. He must be the reason why she made Daira come here. To meet and talk to someone of importance to the Prophetess. Despite everything she saw during the last year. Seeing Eisheru made her nervous. Almost fangirly. He was important to the Prophetess. So she answers his stare with a shy smile and another almost awkward wave of her hand, trying to see if his face turned more inviting than the piercing stare he put on right now.

“Wait, is this some sort of meta dimensional group therapy thing? Because I think I might be in the wrong room then.” Out of desperation, Ian tries to take a drag on the candy cigarette, breathing out a satisfying cloud of powdered sugar. (edited)

6

(gonna give any patrons who haven't joined yet another day or two and then we'll get moving.

As slumber fades Bivitas instantly snaps to awareness as his ingrained instincts tell him that his surroundings are not the same as they were when he fell asleep. Deliberately remaining still Bivitas cracks open an eye to survey his surroundings and finds his wariness replaced by confusion as he recognizes several people he last saw at the council. Standing up he speaks in his normal boisterous tone to the room at large, paying no heed to the tense atmosphere. "Hail and well met! It was not within my expectations to be reunited with the fine representatives of the other polities within this region quite so promptly however it is indeed a pleasure. May I assume that yourselves have found yourselves in this location as abruptly as myself?"

The group is subconciously herded forward by the tide of the desparate coming in to see the address. You find yourselves inside a circle of pale powder coated and bald men and woman bedecked in coveralls and other rugged clothing. Many of them have a mishmash of archaic but deadly looking weaponry. Each of your armors has the same turkey legged symbol on it somewhere that they have on their clothing, marking you out as members of T.Urkey's traveling cheer squad. Heavy chains rattle as a large tanker truck is lowered to take its place in the middle of a convoy of five other vehicles and several scout bikes. THe crowd begins to swell and you can hear the calls of the expedition leader as he rouses his fighters for the coming mission "Today we're going to Holiday town!" HOLIDAY TOWN! they call back. "Today, we're hauling Urkey's Gravy!" URKEY'S GRAVY! "We are holiday cheer people!" Cheer People! they reply thunderously "Crazy , wild, holiday cheer people!" CHEER PEOPLE! the various skirmishers and warriors shout back as the truck is connected and the trailer lights come on. You are bidden forward to take your places on either the large hauler, or one of the many scout cars or bikes.

Micaela let's out a sigh for a moment, the fervent zealotry bringing back old memories before she let's out a wordless war cry and leaps towards the hauler once she's close enough to it and clambers aboard until she's standing on the back of the tank. Raising her Glaive she shouts out "TO HOLIDAY TOWN!" before dragging the tip of the blade against the back of the haulers cabin sending a spray of sparks into the air to accompany this pronouncement

Ian exhales another puff of powdered sugar, flicking the candy butt and instinctively grounding it out beneath a boot-heel. "Did they say...gravy?"

"They said gravy." A door to one of the scout cars' driver-side doors opens automatically for Yulia. If there is already a driver present, Yulia makes it clear she wants them out. "I'm driving one of these. Vera can keep eyes out for us far above the convoy, but I'll need someone worth a damn at shooting to make the most of this."

“Ok, I guess I’ll figure it out as we go, then. Protect the gravy. Got it.” Ian pulls another candy cigarette from the pack and grabs one of bikes. A cloud of sugar trails as he revs the engine and rides into a flanking position alongside Yulia.

"Oh man I really need to eat before bed." Kaedon muttered as he scratched his head while looking at the fever dream before him. "Oh right, Holiday Town, to Holiday town... Let's win! Yeah... So uh, citizens," Kaedon said as he looked at those around him who seemed to understand what was going on in this fever dream, "This Urkey individual, is he your Lord? Or God perhaps? " Kaedon asked, ducking away from Michaela's spray of sparks. He followed along with the group looking to find a car where he could ride as a passenger while trying to avoid the one taken by Yulia, not wanting to face her wrath for being a poor shot.

Eisheru climbs into the passenger seat of Yulia's truck. The scrap metal harpoon showing off its telescoping ability, shrinks down to a more manageable size. He extends the barrier of pressure and force to encompass all the vehicles occupants. They all find that sand no longer sticks to them nor gets in their eyes. (Committing effort for Pressure Field. 9/10 effort remains) "Do you find the power source for this truck to be adequate?"

Yulia feels the grit that was infiltrating every part of her disappear mid eye-rub. "Yeah, it's fine." She says in response to Eisheru with a curt tone. The digital display had been smashed long ago, likely by an over-zealous T. Urkey follower, but Yulia was sitting in the driver's seat with some confidence. Her implants had already taken over the entire vehicle, making her hands on the wheel and gearshift a charade to perform in front of everyone else. Yulia leans her head back and makes eye-to-sensor contact with Vera peeking through the smashed sunroof. After a moment of silence, Yulia looks forward again and Vera takes off for the sky, leaving ion engine scorch marks on the rusted roof of the vehicle. "She wanted to stay where there was no dust," Yulia mutters. "Anyways. What do you intend to do, hit someone with your stick mid-drive? ...I could make it happen." There was an inflection of childish, wanton desire cutting through her short comments to Eisheru.

"I can keep the dust from affecting her if she wishes, but I can understand the appeal of flying above it all." Eisheru settles into the front seat and scans the dusty horizon. He pulls the tattered robes closer around him. "Jousting is not an activity that I have practiced for a while now,, but I believe I could manage such a task." A single arc of electricity reaches out from the Red Haired Merlon and connects with the vehicle. The interior lights seem to brighten significantly, the battery gauge pins itself well past full and Yulia can easily tell that the vehicle is no longer pulling power from the main battery unit, but instead from an outside source. "Additionally, I have... a few tricks that might be of meaningful utility." (edited)

Bivitas seeing the others join with the convoy throws caution to the wind and heads to the hauler, grabbing onto the side with one hand and drawing his sword in the other "Onwards with haste, our progress shall be swift and unhalting!"

Watching the dust dissipate, and feeling the psionic energy around him, Ian pulls his bike closer to Eisheru. “Hey! Sweet Pressure Field! You an Academy guy?”

Alexander greets Micaela and Bivitas as he climbs aboard the tanker. "I can't say this is what I was expecting to do today, but at least I have good company." He offers Bivitas a handshake. "I'm Alexander Munroe. I work as an arcanist for Greystar."

Eisheru tips his head in acknowledgement of the compliment, "An 'Academy Guy' is not a title that others have come up with previously. I have worked with the Academy on numerous occasions so I could see how such a connection could be made." "Are you an Academy member as well? I must admit my work takes me far afield and as a result, I miss out on meeting new Psions."

Jake swipes a gravy dribble from a slowly oozing outlet on the tanker and stuffs the whole gravy covered finger in his mouth. His eyes roll back as he savors the goodness. Smacking his lips. “Oh yeah. Just like Granny used to make.” Seeing the hauler has a few defenders setting up, he heads towards a vehicle with a passenger seat and a couple jury rigged platforms. Giving a thumbs up to Eisheru for the anti grit treatment he climbs in, driving it around to flank the tanker opposite Yulia. He racks his pistol, checks his blade, secures them in easy reach and picks up the loudspeaker mic hanging near steering wheel. "To Holiday Town with the Gravy Train!"

As everything gets rolling and dusty, Daira loses sight of Eisheru. Just to spot him moments later. She notes with displeasure that Eisheru has found himself in the same vehicle as Yulia. Not a place she wanted to be right now. No discussion worth having now. Not if Eisheru could hear everything. The tanker itself had a few interesting looking people on its back, so it felt natural to team up with them instead. She effortlessly climbs up and rejoins with Michaela and the others. She grins at Michaela. "So you are somewhat like the barker of this illustrious pack of Urkey followers now, eh?" Looking at the others around them, she gently bows. "Nice to meet you, I am Daira."

Eisheru, et al.

Eisheru tips his head in acknowledgement of the compliment, "An 'Academy Guy' is not a title that others have come up with previously. I have worked with the Academy on numerous occasions so I could see how such a connection could be made." "Are you an Academy member as well? I must admit my work takes me far afield and as a result, I miss out on meeting new Psions."

Ian rubs the back of his head, pensively. "Me, an academy guy? I was, I guess. I was a student there when..." Ian makes several hand gestures pantomiming explosions emanating from his head, knowing that a fellow psion would likely understand that being a reference to The Scream

Eisheru takes a moment to look at Ian fully and nods in understanding, "We are few of the lucky ones able to receive training in the wake of such destruction. My people had to learn to control gifts that were easy as breathing just a day before the event. The Tide sustained us and guided us through that dark time." "Where is home for you, Mister... ?"

Ian thinks for a moment before shrugging. “Home? Here and there. How about you?” He pauses for a moment before realizing that there was a second half of the question. “Oh! And the name’s Ian. Ian Holt.” Ian extends his hand for a shake, and telekinetically wiggles the pack of candy cigarettes in his front pocket in an offering gesture.

"That's not-... It's just-... You know that's candy, right Mr. Holt?" Eisheru says as he shakes Ian's hand through the window. While slender and the arms covered in various scars. The forearm fin looks to have undergone some sort of reconstructive surgery that does not look to have been entirely successful. However the power behind the hand is unmistakable.

Ian shrugs again, as another sugar cloud bellows from his mouth and trails away. “They weren’t before I got here. Gotta admit it’s growing on me.”

As Eisheru and Ian talk everyone else filters out to the various scout cars or onto the tanker itself the convoy begins moving. Several of the other white powdered tribal warriors have filfered into unoccupied seats or positions on the vehicles and many of them board with handfuls of explosive tipped harpoons. A rhythmic horn blast from the big rig is echoed by the smaller vehicles. One of T.Urkey's most trusted followers is a grizzled veteran of the wastelands and resides behind the drivers seat of the main rig. You have heard some of the other members of the convoy call her the Cheeridor, though she looks like she does not have much holiday enjoyment in her. The convoy snakes across the desert sands and periodically she along with many of the others look over the sands from a mixed assortment of telescopes, binoculars, and scavenged, repurposed range finding equipment. Dust clouds to the north of the convoy indicate the approach of several vehicles from beyond visual range.

Micaela pulls out her own set and binoculars and looks through them towards the oncoming dust clouds, crouching low and bracing one of her boots against the side of the drivers compartment to reduce the effect of any swaying or bumps on her ability to perceive these new arrivals.

Daira walks up to Michaela, trying to balance out the movement of the truck. "Trouble? Is it the MTSP-Gang, The Marshmallow-Topped Sweet Potato Gang? Or the Canned Cranberry Sauce Crew?"

"The Sauce Crew is right" the Cheeridor says from the rig. "Everyone get ready! They're going to come at us fast."

(Could Vera's sensors get us a total count of vehicles and maybe even people, perhaps via thermal imaging to see any hiding in the dust just behind the lead vehicles?)

Hearing that conflict is likely, Alexander wraps himself in protective magics and draws his tempest. "I can summon up a bit of reinforcement if we need it. But myrmidons aren't known for restraint, so we may wish to forego it's assistance unless we know we'll want it." (Casting Personal Shielding Field. My AC is now 18.)

(have our weapons been Thanksgivinged, or just armor/clothes?)

(I'll leave that up to each of you on how your weapons look. Vera would detect four battle cars and a battle bus. I'm just using one master stat block that includes their crews for my own being able to keep things efficiently moving) (edited)

"Four and the number 17 line coming out of downtown," everyone would hear through open compads or speakers in Yulia's voice. "You don't bring a bus to these things unless it's full of angry people or something big and painful."

The bus comes into view and on its back the top half of an excavator with cab and extendable arm has been welded into place. The windows and doors have been armored up into gun slits and hardened vision blocks and spikes adorn many surfaces. OUT OF FUCKING SERVICE has been spray painted in garish , flaking yellow paint across one of its flanks and several raiders on top wearing thick dust coats and goggles cheer and hold onto the railings.

Ian looks around at the gathering road armada. “Oh, I get it. Gravy is drugs. We’re here to protect magic drugs. That’s gotta be it.” Ian comments, as if that explains what’s happening around him.

Eisheru forms a traffic barrier gate arm out of pure metadimensional force hoping to catch one of the raiders as the battle bus drives by. The arm normally meant for preventing cars from entering parking lots has the words "NO FUCKING PARKING AVAILABLE" written on it in equally garish painting. "Prepare yourselves. T.Urkey's Gravy must be protected at all costs. The holidays must not be interrupted by the Sauce Crew!"

(I'll post vehicle stats for your scout cars and the rig later today when I have a sec, and we'll go from there, feel free to keep RPing though until then. I won't start anything until I've got the stats in)

"No, they said gravy." Yulia corrects Ian while fiddling with her own tempest, its familiar sleek design replaced with something found out of a retrofuturist holovid. Her charade of holding the steering wheel and gearshift is dropped for a moment so she could have "My brother and I were here... well, elsewhere, I think, before this. We had a..." she sighs. "A rap battle with an ogre over an intercepted shipment of booze for the party. The ogre now lives with our mother and dear babushka. You uh... you get used to it. So it's probably gravy. And those are..." she sighs again, her eyes glazing over as he looks out at the approaching dust plumes. "Those are gravy raiders. We will have dry food if we do not stop them."

Nekosmash started a thread. 10/10/2024 12:40 PM [Open Thread]

(Yulia is in one vehicle. I think Eisheru and Ian are in another. Is everyone else on the rig? )

(Jake’s riding in a scout car)

(EIsh is riding shotgun to Yulia) (edited)

(I was on a bike, but I’ll jump on a scout car to avoid you having to make more stats)

(Rig)

(Kaedon can be on the rig as well)

(Alexander is in the rig.)

(Daira is on the rig)

(Bivitas is on the rig)

(going to need* two of you to go to scout cars. Rig has a max crew of 3) (edited)

(Daira joins Jake then) As the Sauce Crew approaches, Daira is ready to grab her sword, which turns out to be a baseball bat with nails now. But either way not too effective in what lies ahead of them. Seeing the scout cars protecting the Tanker, but only manned with drivers, Daira feels like she might be more useful elsewhere. So she halfway climbs down a ladder on the side of the tanker to jump over onto the scout car right next to her. Which results in a loud bump as she hits the side of the car and clings to some metal bar. "I am fine, I am fine." She says before finally climbing in through the heavy machine gun opening on top of the Scout car. "Hi, I am Daira, and if you keep the car somewhat steady, I might even hit something. But you can also drive wildly, the Prophetess will guide my shots regardless." She says with a smile toward Jake.

1

Having found a Mad Urkey: Gravy Road Insta-Wastelander Kit laying on the bed of the rig, Kaedon finished attaching and putting on various stick-on spikes, glasses in which the lenses were shaped like turkeys, a sauce pot helmet, dried-cranberry necklace, and a weathered cooking apron that read 'Sorcerer of Seasonings' on it's front. Properly in costume Kaedon grabbed his staff which seemed to now appear as a large upside-down gravy ladle and took in a breath as he found his character and stood up outside of a hatch on the rig so he could see the various vehicles that surrounded it. He really needed to learn to lucid dream more often, what an adventure this was already. "Cheer people we ride eternal, basted and golden! They shall not pass!" Kaedon cackled as he took in the surreal scene and got into the rhythm of things, readying himself for the oncoming truck while searching the area for any large rocks he could potentially teleport in front of the oncoming bus. (edited)

4

( lets get initiative, I'll take the best for each vehicle and then when its that turn the people on it can go in any order they want)

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian |

used /roll

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian | Request: [1d8] Roll: [7] Result: 7

(7 for the rig from Agent Finnegan)

Ivan Wyke | Yulia Wyke | Myuun

used /roll

Ivan Wyke | Yulia Wyke | Myuun Request: [1d8+1] Roll: [5] Result: 6 Reason: Yulia's roll for Yulia+Eisheru car

Iracus | Rayan | Kaedon | Seyso

used /roll

Iracus | Rayan | Kaedon | Seyso Request: [1d8] Roll: [8] Result: 8 Reason: rig init

Eisheru, et al.

used /roll

Eisheru, et al. Request: [1d8] Roll: [3] Result: 3

Alexander Munroe | Rusty (Max D)

used /roll

Alexander Munroe | Rusty (Max D) Request: [2 1d8+1] Rolls: [2] Result: 3 [4] Result: 5 Results Total: 8 Reason: initiative with alert.

Dai

used /r

Dai Request: [1d8] Roll: [8] Result: 8 Reason: Daira roll for JD scout car

Jake smiles back at Dai, happy to have a fellow kidnapee along for the ride "I'm Jake, Welcome aboard! If your Prophetess is willing to share any of that guidance it might be helpful. I usually am not allowed to drive, but it looked like fun.... if there's a clip or harness up there, might want to put it on. Last time I drove anything it was a motorboat that ended up flying through the air... On purpose." "Let's go save the Gravy!!!!" Jake shouts. With one hand on the wheel, the other holding a pistol, he hits the gas turning towards the oncoming horde lining up Dai best he can (Initiative: 7)

Groshim/Bivitas

used /roll

Groshim/Bivitas Request: [1d8] Roll: [2] Result: 2 Reason: Rig init

Parsnips Jackall | Ian Holt

used /roll

Parsnips Jackall | Ian Holt Request: [1d8] Roll: [7] Result: 7

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [d8] Roll: [3] Result: 3

( so far I've got jake/daira 8 , rig 8 , Biv/snips at 7 , Yulia/Eish 6, Raider Gang 3) (edited)

(and yulia/eish at 6)

( I think that;s everyone)

(Oke, so we are in shooting range already, right?)

(Yes we are)

9:19 PM

9heavy weapons all have redonk range aside from the flamethrower ones)

Jake puts both hands on the wheel to hold the buggy steady while Dai sprays her hot, leaded blessing among the Gravy Stealing Sauce Crew. Then he'll try some fancy (Stupid?) driving to avoid return fire. (Can drivers shoot and drive at the same time, with a pistol?) "Light 'em up Dai! Make those heathens sauce their pants!"

Daira quickly tries to get behind the HMG, bumping around a bit before she has a good stand. "I try, I try, maybe you really have to make us fly." "I never used such a thing, please Prophetess, guide me!" Daira takes aim and pulls the trigger and as she feels the 'ratatata' of the HMG run through her body she yells: "For Urkey! For Gravy! No Cranberry!" (16/7) [9/10 Ammunition] (edited)

1

(they can but pistols aren't in range yet. The raiders are a kilometer away, but the speeds will have us closing quickly)

Eisheru concentrates on the shifting sands and swirling winds in front of one of the battle cars as it speeds towards the group. "I have to time this just right.. Enough space to get under them, but not too much that they can swerve out of the way..." In the distance a large, 10 meter ramp springs out of existence. It is molded by the telekinetic prowess of the Tidecaller Primus and shaped in such a way that the battle car would go soaring into the air at its current speeds. The ramp looks as though junkyard workers played a game of telephone when determining how to build a scrap metal and junk car ramp. A huge "Fuck Off" is emblazoned on each side ~~(Going to try something silly. Using Telekinetic Force Construct to make a big ole ramp to try and catch one of the battle cars with. Thinking maybe the driver gets an Evasion save to avoid it?)~~ (edited)

4

(I think jake and Daira are up first now that we're in initiative, but you can do that on your move)

(Oh my b!!!)

(Jake did some driving and Dai did some shooting, I think we're good unless Jake needs a check, he's got Pilot 0)

(no check for jake!) The shots punch into the desert air and one of the lead raiding cars is hit. Sparks and a piece of armor is peeled away by the heavy impacts but the vehicle continues driving forward.

11:24 AM

(rig is up!)

(Since they are a kilometre away and that's within range of my spear's special ability. Would that mean I could clamber onto the back of the rig and launch an attack against four of the goons riding on the outside of the vehicles, or would it behoove me to use one of the rig weapons instead?)

(you could use your spear ability)

Kaedon swings his gravy ladle staff in the air as he started to chant. Finishing the spell he cast Resounding Temporal Echo on 4 visible allies. (1d4+1 rounds with a bonus main action. Gain 1 sys strain each round you use. Can't use bonus action to cast spells or use arts. And I would assume psychic techniques) Will give to those on the rig who are shooting so I think Micaela, Alex, and then whoever is shooting between biv/snips, and then maybe Eish? Unless you can't make good use of it.

Iracus | Rayan | Kaedon | Seyso

used /r

Iracus | Rayan | Kaedon | Seyso Request: [1d4+1] Roll: [3] Result: 4

(Eish could still do a lot with it)

(awesome, so 4 rounds of an extra main action for our fighters then)

2

Feeling the energy surge through her Micaela calls it for as she balances on the tablet of the gravy rig and channels that energy through her spear in turn as she runs her hands across the symbols of the ancient and timeless religion inscribed along the Terminis Est weapons length. She picks out specks on the back and sides of the vehicles and surges forward in a leaping downward stab and then a long slice that ends with her low to the "ground" trying to see what the results of the strenuous assault are. (Making an attack against four of the figures in the distance, and then a separate attack against another four at the cost of three system strain total.)

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian |

used /roll

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian | Request: [1d20+11] Roll: [16] Result: 27

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian |

used /roll

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian | Request: [1d10+6] Roll: [2] Result: 8

(27/8 for the first four.)

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian |

used /roll

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian | Request: [1d20+11] Roll: [4] Result: 15

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian |

used /roll

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian | Request: [1d10+6] Roll: [1] Result: 7

(15/7 on the other 4)

four figures fall off the top of the bus and are run over as they collapse into the dust. Several others look hurt, but have enough in them to manage their stations for now,.

1

Nekosmash pinned a message to this channel. 10/16/2024 12:59 PM

Taking a position behind the machine gun, Alexander fires a couple of bursts ~~toward~~ in the general direction of the battle bus. (Taking strain for a second action. I don't know all the speed penalties, so I'll just roll straight.) (edited)

1

Alexander Munroe | Rusty (Max D)

used /roll

Alexander Munroe | Rusty (Max D) Request: [2 1d20+1-2-2] Rolls: [2] Result: -1 [3] Result: 0 Results Total: -1 Reason: Dex/shoot -long range.

(Love the edit strike through

)

1

(not gonna bother with the speed penalties this is just a for fun silly holiday thing)

(I think that's all the rig)

(it is! Biv and Snip are up!)

(Biv, do you want to drive or shoot? I've got pilot 0, so nothing great but at least no penalty)

(I'm at -1 pilot. I'd drive us into a ditch

) (edited)

3

2

(all, good. I'll take the wheel, you shoot. Can I still get up to some psychic if I've driving?)

(yes you can, you'd get your main action. The only thing that would stop psi shennanigans from happening is if you wanted to do something requiring a skill check, as that would also be a main action)

From behind the wheel, Ian focuses his attention on the space immediately in front of the closest approaching enemy vehicle, pulling molecules and particles together to form an invisible, solid wall directly in its path (tangible force construct, 5/6 effort remaining)

(I'll resolve that on their turn when they move since this is all happening at the same time)

Moving with enhanced speed Bivitas seizes the heavy machinegun and swivels it towards the battlebus, launching a barrage of bullets towards it. (Will take the strain to launch the extra attack)

Groshim/Bivitas

used /roll

Groshim/Bivitas Request: [1d20+10] Roll: [6] Result: 16

Groshim/Bivitas

used /roll

Groshim/Bivitas Request: [1d20+10] Roll: [12] Result: 22

Groshim/Bivitas

used /roll

Groshim/Bivitas Request: [2 3d6] Rolls: [3, 3, 2] Result: 8 [6, 6, 4] Result: 16 Results Total: 24

Somone falls off the battle bus and one of the hoses for the crane is torn away causing hydraulic fluid to start leaking down the side of the bus. For now the large object is still moving and it clenches and unclenches preparing to rip and tear into the rig should it make it close enough to do so.

5:34 PM

(Yulia/Eish are up)

Eisheru concentrates on the shifting sands and swirling winds in front of one of the battle cars as it speeds towards the group. "I have to time this just right.. Enough space to get under them, but not too much that they can swerve out of the way..." In the distance a large, 10 meter ramp springs out of existence. It is molded by the telekinetic prowess of the Tidecaller Primus and shaped in such a way that the battle car would go soaring into the air at its current speeds. The ramp looks as though junkyard workers played a game of telephone when determining how to build a scrap metal and junk car ramp. A huge "Fuck Off" is emblazoned on each side (Going to try something silly. Using Telekinetic Force Construct to make a big ole ramp to try and catch one of the battle cars with. Thinking maybe the driver gets an Evasion save to avoid it?)

(if its invisible like in the first post they won't get a chance to avoid it, I'll resolve it like a crash. up to you!

(no this one is visible. Going for comedic value. Nothing like the sands to come up to make a deadly ramp.)

1

The sand forms together into a large ramp and one of the vehicles tries to swerve out of the way. With a friend to each side the driver is forced to make a series of quick turns

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [2 d6] Rolls: [1] Result: 1 [5] Result: 5 Results Total: 6

They are not fast enough and their vehicle launches off the ramp tumbling end over end. Gravy Goons and broken machinery rain from the tumbling, still running vehicle before it plants itself front first into the sand and catches fire. It is smashed aside by the unparty bus and the rest of the raiding pack.

9:33 AM

(the bus and three cars remain)

9:34 AM

The raider gang pushes their vehicles to the limits, closing to 700m from the formation. Their own weapons are shorter ranged, only a few are in range now. Several puffs from the back of the bus have the sky filled with black darts, each one an explosive tipped lance set to detonate on contact with the ground. (evasion save for everyone driving a vehicle. I'll do the rigs once the rest are resolved. The smaller vehicles have their own stuff to do so once we're done here I have more turn, just don't want to choke the channel in dice)

(Yulia/Eish car - 3 vs. 9, fail)

(Jake/Dai car - 13vs5, success) (edited)

1

(Ian/Div car 9v7 success)

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [d20] Roll: [18] Result: 18 Reason: v10

The rig is surprisingly agile for being a metal monster and avoids the steel rain from the sky. Explosions scatter your formation as the raider cars power closer. They have machine guns of their own and the chattering crossfire between both closing formations is a deadly light show across the desert.

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [d20+4] Roll: [3] Result: 7 Reason: raider 1 v Yulia car

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [d20+4] Roll: [11] Result: 15 Reason: raider 2 v jake car

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [3d6] Roll: [4, 2, 1] Result: 7

(15/7 before armor on jake car)

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [d20+3] Roll: [1] Result: 4 Reason: v Ian var

Only one raider scores hits as the dust clouds begin billowing together. You can hear the raider's chanting and one of them promises to turn your flesh leather into something tasteful.

6:31 AM

(Jake and Dai are up)

"Jake? Are we alright? Are you alright? But don't you worry, I pay them back, maybe, I guess the Prophetess wouldn't want us to die. Even tho we are the only ones being hit, somehow." She aims at the opposing force, but somehow no bullet hits anything, like really nothing not even close, not even a snake hidden somewhere off screen. "That, uh, there must be a reason for this, surely there must be a reason!" (snake eyes, 9 will surely miss, so I took it as a miss.)

Jake weaves and bobs, a lucky dodge of an exploding fountain of sand, rocks and fire thrown up by one of the black darts turns them right into a spray of bullets, rattling the car “I’ll keep ya more steady next time Dai! Not bleeding profusely! Keep it hot! For the Gravy!” Jake yells while driving like the car is on fire. Looking back to make sure it’s not, then guns it to close the distance to the oncoming Gravy stealing heathens (Spends his actions getting closer.) Edit: (Jake-Dai car: 37/44hp (Heavy weapon goes through armor)) (edited)

(Yes that will miss, the formations are closing)

9:28 AM

(rig and its PCs are up)

Seeing that there are still potential boarders and interference crew aboard the enemy vehicles Agent Finnegan steadies herself, charges the spear and calls upon the reserves of strength inside of her in order to eliminate them and hamper the attacking force. (Same thing as last turn, which will max out my system strain for this holiday seasons adventures. One attack on the four attacked earlier and then the second attack directed at anyone else that might remain.)

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian |

used /roll

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian | Request: [1d20+11] Roll: [18] Result: 29

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian |

used /roll

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian | Request: [1d10+6] Roll: [3] Result: 9

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian |

used /roll

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian | Request: [1d20+11] Roll: [18] Result: 29

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian |

used /roll

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian | Request: [1d10+6] Roll: [4] Result: 10

(29/9 on the first attack against the same four that survived last time and 29/10 on the second against up to four targets.)

Seeing the poor result of his first shots Alexander gives up on aiming, holding down the trigger and spraying bullets toward the battle bus. (Taking another strain to fire to suppress twice. I'm assuming there's no friendlies in the way, if there are I'll use regular attacks.)

1

Alexander Munroe | Rusty (Max D)

used /roll

Alexander Munroe | Rusty (Max D) Request: [2 3d6/2] Rolls: [5, 4, 3] Result: 6 [5, 5, 1] Result: 5 Results Total: 11

The large vehicle bus is rended clean of all the hanger on raiders. There are many inside the bus and two within the armored cab out of unaided sight, but the incoming attakc will be less overwhelming than it was .T he spear flashes out again and again, each blow striking home and sending someone plumeting into the dust. The heavy machine gun fires and the battle bus engine coughs and smokes. One of the raider cars already damaged by previous shooting is also struck by the suppression and its engine compartment bursts into flames. Still oncoming, it is slowing down and beginning to fall out of formation

5:21 PM

(Kadeon still up on the rig, then we will move on. Wanted to resolve some of the math rocks so we had an accurate scene) (edited)

(sorry I didn't want to hold things up, and I forgot I should wait for Micaela's attack to resolve.)

1

(No need to be sorry at all that all worked perfectly)

1

Seeing the spell go off with great success, a burst of excitement filled Kaedon as his eyes rested on the rocket launcher of the rig. Still bewildered by the surreal nature of this almost far too real dream, he couldn't even remember seeing a rocket launcher before, let alone consider firing one. Yet here one was, obviously created by his vast imagination, no doubt from something he probably read long ago. While he might never consider touching such a barbaric weapon in real life, when better to shoot high grade explosives than a dream? Unsure how to even use such a thing, he took controls of the rig's rocket launcher and aimed it in the vague direction of the enemy and fired, hoping the holiday fueled dream magic would do the rest.

Iracus | Rayan | Kaedon | Seyso

used /r

Iracus | Rayan | Kaedon | Seyso Request: [1d20-2] Roll: [18] Result: 16

1

Iracus | Rayan | Kaedon | Seyso

used /r

Iracus | Rayan | Kaedon | Seyso Request: [3d10] Roll: [8, 7, 6] Result: 21

1

The rocket fires and corkscrews through the air. It strikes the damaged raiding buggy and for a moment it looks like the rocket is a dud. Just when Kaedon is about to consider it a loss the buggy explodes in a brilliant fireball, leaving just the bus and one of its escorting cars

1

7:49 PM

(biv/snips)

Bivitas continues channeling the magical power flowing through him, letting it push his body beyond its limits as he focuses on destroying the bus.

Groshim/Bivitas

used /roll

Groshim/Bivitas Request: [2 1d20+10] Rolls: [9] Result: 19 [3] Result: 13 Results Total: 32

Groshim/Bivitas

used /roll

Groshim/Bivitas Request: [2 3d6] Rolls: [4, 4, 1] Result: 9 [4, 4, 1] Result: 9 Results Total: 18

(19/9 and 13/9)

One of the two magical blasts hits the bus and some of the armor paneling peels away. The two formations continue to close, but the raiders have been battered and their attack is in critical danger of losing monemtum

Ian reaches into the mind of the raiding party's lead driver, probing synapses and neural pathways for a place to plant an intrusive thought I should slam the breaks right now, as hard as I can (2 effort spent on Telepathic Contact and Reflex Response, 3/6 remaining)

(do they get a save against it?)

(yes, mental save) (edited)

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [d20+1] Roll: [17] Result: 18

They have a moment where they shake their head and slow the vehicle before shaking off the sensation and returning to formation

(should be Yulia/Eish now)

(what's our distance?)

(500m as the formations close rapidly)

(taking the extra turn. 1/14 strain) Eisheru sees the display of Metadimensional color rippling through the air. The telltale sign that telepathy has been used in the vicinity. Eisheru can guess what was attempted and goes for something a little less subtle and far more direct. Targeting the driver of the Battle Bus, Eisheru reaches out to the depths of their mind to establish a link between the two of them before flooding that connection with a crashing wave of energy. What is normally a gently rolling wave to his friends and allies becomes a tidal wave to his enemies as the Tidecaller attempts to force the driver into a state of unconsciousness. (Establishing a telepathic connection with the driver of the Battle Bus. Using telepathic assault with Surge Momentum. If he has less than 5 hit dice, he takes 31 non lethal damage. Otherwise he has to make a mental save at -4 for half damage) (7 of 10 effort remains) (edited)

There is no dramatic crash or display of pyrotechnics but the battle bus starts to come to a halt. The driver has passed out and with no pressure on the accelerator the behemoth at the center of the greatly diminished raider formation radpily loses forward momentum

Taking an opportunity while Eisheru's mind is busy and attention is elsewhere, Using the new Yulia abandons the driver's seat of the Urkey scout car and quickly squeezes her way between seats and up into the turret. The heavy machine gun roars quickly with some aimed fire into the remaining and now solo Gravy Raider car. Yulia's devilish, childish laughs can barely be heard over the gunfire and coughing engines. The laughing quickly ends with a deep cough and a light chest hold - something about all of this at once wouldn't as sustainable to her as everyone else. Yulia and Eisheru's car jerks slightly with the cough, but the now-driverless vehicle maintains course and speed. (17/13 on the HMG; move, attack, then maintain control of the vehicle via implants using extra action, used as another move action. 8/13 strain)

Shots stream out from the heavy machine gun, every third one a chemical tracer and the shots are slowly walked in to the raider vehicle. One of the burning tracers pierces the thin armor of a radiator and the raider car explodes in a spectacular fireball. Debris, machine parts, and fire carpet the desert sands as the holiday raiders on the bus get someone new into the driver seat and begin to run.

7:39 PM

(if you decide not to pursue the bus is just going to leave the area)

(I don't know if this is for the Yulia/Eish car or everyone, but my vote is to outrun the sleepyhead. They should remember from driving school that being psychically vulnerable behind the wheel is a moving hazard!)

(Agreed, no time to waste. Must protect gravy!)

(Micaela would opt to be merciful in this endeavor and let them escape.)

(Our task is to protect the Gravy. We can't do that if we go off chasing a bus. Bivitas votes leave it be.)

(Kaedon is but a passenger in this convoy of chaos and goes where the rig goes)

(Yeah, if they're just running Alexander will let them go. But if they do so much as point a gun toward us, he'll hit them with the machine gun again.) (edited)

"We're not out of this yet. " the Cheeridor driving the rig says over the crackly radio system to all the vehicles "Stuffing Canyon is ahead and if we're going to get jumped again, it's going to be there. This gravy can keep a person going for weeks out here , on just a cup. Everyone wants to guzzle it ,a nd they'll stop at nothing to make sure the Thanksgiving feast is ruined. "

"When this is over, I gotta try some of this shit." Ian pulls a fresh candy cigarette from the pack and exhales a plume of powdered sugar out the driver's side window

“Gravy.” Jake says to Dai as the attacking bus veers off. “You sitll back there?” Jake cranes his head around to see if his driving has adversely affected his religious friend He steers the car ahead of the rig to the right as the convoy barrels on keeping eyes peeled for ambushers in the canyon ahead

Likewise, Yulia's voice comes over comms in response to Ian, without a word leaving her lips. She closes her eyes in the driver's seat and puts her focus elsewhere; above the gravy convoy, a dot in the sky rockets ahead of the group toward the canyon. (Vera will do an observational scan - anything waiting for us her sensors catch?)

"Gravy for the Gravy god!" Kaedon shouted through laughter at the Cheeridor's statement, thrusting his ladle staff in the air in triumph.

(program/int or notice/wis for the drone Yulia)

(10 on program/int; 11 if Direct Interface II's bonus applies)

"Hold on a minute, if just a cup is enough to sustain them for a week why don't we share it with these people. With all of this gravy certainly a cup for each poor soul wouldn't be missed? And isnt Thanksgiving about coming together and sharing a meal with your neighbors and family?" Agent Finnegan calls out from atop the rig

"No!" Ian calls back, saying no more. (edited)

2

"Your sympathy for their plight does you credit good lady and should they have come to us in peace and requested our charity then I should have no qualm about doing such. However in drawing arms against us and seeking to take that which they have no right towards they have earnt themselves naught but the point of our blades. Should the situation be reversed you can be certain that their hearts would hold naught but contempt towards us."

"The Gravy is ours! The Grand Gobbler has delivered it to us as reward for our faith and acknowledgement of the most holy day! We must protect it from these holiday sinners who would so easily skip the Day of Thanks in favor of the anti-gobbler Kringle and his false joy!" Kaedon bellowed. (edited)

Jake Carson | Dathian [Radik]

“Gravy.” Jake says to Dai as the attacking bus veers off. “You sitll back there?” Jake cranes his head around to see if his driving has adversely affected his religious friend He steers the car ahead of the rig to the right as the convoy barrels on keeping eyes peeled for ambushers in the canyon ahead

Daira crawls back into the scout vehicle as she nods toward Jake. "Your driving was better than my shooting. But in the end, the Prophetess did what was needed to shift success toward our side. Let us just hope it stays this way." She sits down, watching the horizon ahead of them.

There are dozens of man sized heat blooms in the canyon ahead, arrayed across the top of it, and along the jagged walls of the rocky spaces ahead. A cluster of the man sized shapes surround a large boulder positioned precariously at the edge of the canyon wall as if poised to be dropped

"Yulia. Is Vera able to calculate the size of the boulder from this distance?" Eisheru says after she relays the information from her mechanical companion.

(BSing something I think might take several people to roll with a lot of effort and some simple fulcrums+levers) Yulia's gaze continues to be anywhere but the "road" before them, making little recognition of hearing Eisheru in the first place. After a short moment that feels painfully long for an approaching trap, Yulia spits out the facts. "Sandstone, prolate spheroid, 2.3 meters wide on the long end. Estimated at seven tons (metric) if its density is uniform." (edited)

Ian pulls his car close enough that Eisheru is in shouting distance. "Hey! Between the two of us, we should be able to push that rock back on them no problem. It would be especially funny if we do it after they start pushing!"

"Looks like the deal I made with them is off" the Cheeridor says over the radio system again. Even through the distortion and deteriorating equipment the frustration in her voice is evident. "We're going to have to charge right through. Hold on everyone"

"I could let someone fly to help offset their high ground advantage, although they wouldn't be able to move faster than a run."(Normal move speed.) (edited)

Jake hears the Cheeridor. Gives Dai a wicked smile and a thumbs up. Puts his foot to the floor puffing some dust as the rear tires spin and the scout car takes off "Hang on Dai, Gonna try to get you into range of that rock. Keep their heads down, maybe someone will have a good idea!"

"I was thinking of making that rock part of the mountain!" Eisheru shouts over the rush of wind and sand. "But With your help we might be able to move the rock back on their feet!" Eisheru looks at Yulia who appears to be taking a nap before looking back over to Ian, "We had better start pushing now in case they get more help!" Eisheru climbs out to the gun deck of the scout car and begins to focus on the boulder. He extends his hands to exert his will over the boulder and push against it as an opposite force to those bandits on the ridge

Ian sticks his head out the driver's side window, squinting up at the boulder as he focuses his attention on the boulder, and the space in between the boulder and the men trying to push it down on them. Once he's confident he has the feel of it, he gropes for the energy already being exerted by Eisheru, seeking to amplify it while pushing the boulder backward toward the hostiles

(So we've got Eish and Ian trying to push the boulder back on the people? Anyone taking up Alex's offer to fly? )

Agent Finnegan looks to Alex and says "I always fancied the idea of flying as a kid, id appreciate the help realizing that dream!"

"My pleasure Agent Finnegan." As Alexander cast the spell Micaela felt the weight come off her feet. "In case you were worried, the spell has failsafes, if I lose focus you won't plumet out of the sky." He chose not to mention that he was unsure what would happen if an enemy mage disrupted the spell. There wasn't much that could be done about it. (My shield will now expire in five hours if we're still out here.)

Gravitic Control Rubric Level 3
Manipulation of the gravitic flow around a target 
within visual range allows them to fly at their normal 
movement rate. The target controls the flight, and may 
hover freely and otherwise act without hindrance due 
to unfamiliarity with such motion. They may carry up 
to their usual maximum Encumbrance while flying. 
The spell lasts as long as Light Focus is maintained, up 
to the end of the scene at most. When terminated, the 
subject immediately floats gently to the ground.

(edited)

Agent Finnegan feels their body suddenly become very light and responsive as though they were cast in the image of the wind. With a bound into the sky, they could move through the air as though it was as land.

Eisheru, et al. started a thread. 11/5/2024 3:17 PM

As the energy propels her upwards Agent Finnegan settles herself back down on the rig and says "When we're engaged I'll ascend, if I'm only as fast as I am if I climb now I'm gonna get left way behind!"

(I think we are good to advance whenever you are Neko. Have had plenty of time to do a preparation if they were going to)

The boulder is levered out of position and begins to roll down the hill at high speed to block the path of the rig. The scavengers cheer and whoop at the sky as they expect this to block your progress and by doing so ensure the delicious gravy is theirs for the taking

"It seems they were able to pile on more muscle than we thought!" Eisheru stands up so he can get a better view of the oncoming barrier "Do not slow, but keep her steady!" Eisheru begins to speak words as if calling upon a dear friend or a lost lover. He calls out to the earth and stone of this strange world. He pleads with it to part the rock that is in front of them so they may pass by. (Casting Elemental Favor, 4 of 6 Ele spells remain. Reforming the mass of stone so it is merely a ramp from the desert sand to the canyon they are to drive through)

The elementalist makes a direct appeal to a non-magical mass of earth, stone, water, flame, or air no larger than a ten-foot cube. At the end of the round, the mass will move or reshape itself within that space as the elementalist requests, maintaining its new form until the end of the scene. If its new shape is one that is stable without magical help, it can be told to remain in it after the spell is finished.

The boulder flattens out and becomes a gentle bridge for the convoy to pass over single file. The raiders and scavengers let out a few passing shots that miss the truck and scout cars by a large margin doing nothing but kicking up pieces of rock and dust as you pass by. Leaving the rocky canyon behind you can see the distant silhouette of your destination glimmering in the far off desert like a mirage. (lets get a notice/wis from everyone)

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian |

used /roll

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian | Request: [2d6+1] Roll: [6, 1] Result: 8

Groshim/Bivitas

used /roll

Groshim/Bivitas Request: [2d6-1] Roll: [6, 2] Result: 7

Ivan Wyke | Yulia Wyke | Myuun

used /roll

Ivan Wyke | Yulia Wyke | Myuun Request: [2d6+1+0] Roll: [5, 4] Result: 10 Reason: Yulia notice/wis

Eisheru, et al.

used /r

Eisheru, et al. Request: [2d6+1] Roll: [6, 4] Result: 11

Alexander Munroe | Rusty (Max D)

used /roll

Alexander Munroe | Rusty (Max D) Request: [2d6+1] Roll: [6, 5] Result: 12

5

Jake Carson | Dathian [Radik]

used /r

Jake Carson | Dathian [Vruux] Request: [2d6+2] Roll: [3, 3] Result: 8

Iracus | Rayan | Kaedon | Seyso

used /r

Iracus | Rayan | Kaedon | Seyso Request: [2d6] Roll: [5, 2] Result: 7

Dai

used /r

Dai Request: [2d6+0+0] Roll: [3, 2] Result: 5

(Everyone who scored an 8 and above will see this) The marvelous scrap city that exists where life should not captivates your attention. Smokestacks belching fire and smoke fill the sky. The hiss and clank of wells pulling water to the surface can be heard even over the sounds of the engines, and the rainbow aura over the city from the droplets in the air casts a shimmering glow around the walled place that is both your destination, and the site of a grand holiday feast to come in this strange realm. Those who gather the gravy are not yet done as a host of scrap mini copters, along with some larger twin rotor models trailing ropes of raiders barely hanging on swoop down from the clouds. They are distant black specks out of range, circling high above the convoy like vultures, preparing to strike when the truck is close to the city.

Throwing herself back into the role of fierce wasteland warrior Micaela lets out a barbaric yawp and slices her spear into another shower of sparks as she climbs atop the driver's cabin of the rig and points her spear towards the gyrocopters. "More bandits try to steal our divine gravy! Let their arrogant attempt end in their bodies crippled and broken on the desert dunes!"

Ian calls out to Eisheru. “Hey! I bet you three beers I can knock more off than you!”, before attempting to violently swing the raiders’ climbing ropes into one another

(psychic powers can only reach out to a kilometer, right now they're too far out even for the heavy weapons ,we just see they're circling up there)

Bivitas directs the machine gun downwards and fires into the ground "Unleash the fog of war! Their ariel superiority will avail them not if they cannot employ it to discern when best to strike!" (Thinking we all blow up the sand and dust and make it so that the bandits have no clue where we are other than moving vaguely towards the city. Much harder to ambush us that way.) (edited)

Jake pulls ahead of the Gravy Bus to get Dai's divinely guided munitions closer to the offending aerial parasites. Or the dirt. Seeing Bivitas shooting at the dusty ground. Probably easier to hit the dirt... He's not gonna say that though... "Hey Dai! Ya wanna go fast and try to clear some out or pace a bit ahead of our gravy boat?" (Jake's going faster than the Tanker, but not foot to the floor without Dai's consent...)

"You want to make us a target? The Defenders of the Delicious Drizzle? Go for it my friend. The Prophetess will guide your hands, and hopefully mine too. They will not know what hit them. Well they will know, but you get what I mean. For the Gravy! The Defenders of the Delicious Drizzle, here we come!" Daira almost screams before trying to climb back into shooting position.

Yulia helps Vera out of the sunroof again, the drone turning and peaking back inside. Yulia's forehead meets the drone's hull face plate before the drone turns to face the direction of the incoming aircraft. She hesitates for a moment before launching off the roof of the scout car, leaving behind another set of ion engine scorch marks on the roof. The drone disappears into the billowing sands left behind by the convoy, flying low. (Vera flies at 100 km/h, so maybe well within a minute we can get a good scan of what those choppers are packing in detail with her observation suite? She has grav muffles and sensor transparency, but nothing like holoskin)

(yeah id say it would take about a minute for her to climb, so that is happening while everyone else is acting)

Jake hits the gas and drives with abandon to get Dai into range “We won’t be a target if you shoot the ones shooting at us! Show me what your Holiness has got!!!”

(how many reloads does the rocket launcher have?)

(We have four more)

(With the notice roll showing that Dai has bad eyesight, I guess there would still be some time passing before she can shoot right? Like we need to get a bit closer still?)

(Yeah and since some people are kicking up dust they might not even be able to see you or you them, people are still acting)

(I can't think of anything for Alexander to do before we get in range, so he'll just wait.)

Ian revs the engine and calls out to Bivitas. “What do you think? Wanna join the party?”

Eisheru shouts back out to Ian, "Maybe! But I will still take that bet! Punch it Yulia!" (edited)

Kaedon, having trouble seeing what everyone was talking about, began to reload the rocket launcher so he was ready to fire once the target appeared.

Seeing a drone (Vera @Ivan Wyke | Yulia Wyke | Myuun) heading towards the dust cloud, Jake pings it with his drone control unit, attempting to mooch off the video feed if there is one

There an immediate denial, but after a long moment, something reverses the denial. Jake's drone control unit is flooded with pictures of pretty pigeons being fed on a rooftop somewhere in Central City, Gudrun. Seeds are being handed out by a heavy lift kit arm and especially pretty birds have more than one picture.

Vera:   It was either this or a virus, and I won the coin toss. You're being jealously waaaatched~! Be on your best behavior, agent!

After the deluge of pictures, a low-res visual feed of the currently active sensor is provided and nothing more. Jake's on-board anti-virus software is silent for now. (Visuals granted!)

2

There are four of the heavier copters each with barrels of something viscous and terrible slung underneath them. These barrels fall to the ground like fish and splash hard, not intending to hit the convoy but leaving steaming tracks of tar that will gum up a vehicle in thick streaks and streams in front of the racing convoy and the dust cloud some members of it are kicking up. The smaller helicopters begin to dive, their scrappy engines and dangling raiders coming in from each flank, trying to ensure the convoy is forced to race foward into the goo.

11:25 AM

(I can sketch this out if that helps. The smaller copters are coming into range so we can keep the same initiative, I don't want to make us wait for two days for a new turn orde.r COmbat is already slow)

Nekosmash

( so far I've got jake/daira 8 , rig 8 , Biv/snips at 7 , Yulia/Eish 6, Raider Gang 3) (edited)

(for ease of reference)

Jake drives fast as the buggy will go, slowing only enough to try swerving around the sticky patches and get Dai’s Divinely Guided Dingus Dispatcher pointed in the right general direction.

1

(Pilot/dex jake)

(9)

Jake is able to expertly avoid the initial stripes of tar, the tires squealing and kicking up sand as they narrowly skid and bite into the soft ground.

1

(Are we in shooting position for Dai now?)

( yes, the copters are swooping in and are 1km from the convoy so our various psi powers and heavy weapons will be in range. The only ones we cant hit are the beefy cargo copters dropping barrels. They're deliberately staying out of reach)

Daira tries to keep the heavy machine gun pointed at the copters but it is hard with Jake's fast driving. She closes her eyes and prays out loud. "Prophetess. Please guide my hands. Guide the bullets. We are the Defenders of the Delicious Drizzle. We need to protect the gravy!" Daira's eyes stay closed as Jake drives in a way that keeps the gun pointed at the copters. As she pulls the trigger a burst of bullets flies toward a copter, some bullets almost invisible as they are coated in a shadowy essence. (25/16)

1

One of the small choppers is swatted from the air and crashes in the desert. Blankets of fire and wreckage pour from its scrap shod hull. A small pool of the dropped tar nearby the wreck catches alight as fire hits it, vitrifying the desert sands with the heat of the sudden ignition. This pool was not connected to the tar bracketing the front of the convoy, but a spark could set the entire desert alight.

12:32 PM

(Rig residents are up)

As the remaining choppers come into range, Alexander lines up on the nearest one and lets loose a spray of bullets from his machine gun.

Alexander Munroe | Rusty (Max D)

used /roll

Alexander Munroe | Rusty (Max D) Request: [3d6/2] Roll: [6, 3, 2] Result: 5 Reason: suppressing fire damage.

(Would I be able to attack one of the cables using my spear to try and sever it and send the bandits clinging to it crashing down to the ground?)

The spray of rounds going into the sky damages several of the swooping copters and greasy black smoke trails across the sky, marking their erratic flight paths. (yes, I'd say you could hit a cable directly)

Kaedon lines up the rocket launcher with one of the copters and fires.

Iracus | Rayan | Kaedon | Seyso

used /r

Iracus | Rayan | Kaedon | Seyso Request: [1d20-2] Roll: [5] Result: 3

2

But sneezes at the last second as he realizes his Wizard's grandeur was not active when a cloud of dust overwhelms his noble sinuses. (edited)

4

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian |

used /roll

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian | Request: [1d20+11] Roll: [10] Result: 21

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian |

used /roll

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian | Request: [1d10+6] Roll: [9] Result: 15

(21/15 to snicker snack that thing.)

5:43 PM

Agent Finnegan rights herself on the rig and strains to make out the outline of one of the distant cables before slicing her spear in a single powerful motion to rend it apart.

The cable snaps, sending the four raiders on it tumbling the many meters to the ground. Damaged copters continue to skywrite with their bullet scarred engines, and men scream as they tumble through the clouds.

5:24 AM

(I believe thats all for the rig, Biv/snips are up)

"I can already taste those beers!" Ian taunts Eish as he pulls the raiders' tar up from the road and sends it skyward in a massive torrent, aiming to slick the ropes they dangle from with their own trap (calling this Tangible Force Construct to avoid cheese, 2/6 effort remaining) (edited)

Some of the tar flies up into the sky and makes flying through it very difficult. Some sticks to copter windows, or to the people riding them. A few tumble back to earth, fighting with the sticky, flammable substance the entire way down.

Bivitas opens fire at the approaching copters, trading precision for rate of fire

Groshim/Bivitas

used /roll

Groshim/Bivitas Request: [3d6] Roll: [4, 4, 3] Result: 11 Reason: Suppressive fire

Two of the choppers previously coated in oil are struck by the rounds and the sparks of the shot striking them set them alight. Two burning copters begin to fall toward the desert, far from the path of the convoy.

1:44 PM

(yulia and eish now)

(Do the helicopters have open side doors? Could Vera swoop through and steal something or do something silly with her heavy manipulators?)

(yeah they dont really have doors they're like the mini copters from rust /7dtd , The big ones are more like chinooks but with open sides )

(I forgot to respond, my apologies everyone!) Yulia maintains control of the scout car while watching through Vera's sensors. Targets are highlighted, but there wasn't much a little pesky drone could do. But being a pest might be one of the worst things an open-air minicopter pilot could experience. (If we're within swooping range, Vera will attempt to grab the flight control stick of one of the mini-copters and give that stick the worst jerk possible. Aim would be to at least shake off the raiders on the lines below)

(lets get an opposed pilot/dex for Vera trying to take the stick and wrestle it from the pilot)

(9, using VI rules from core book [2d6+2])

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [2d6+2] Roll: [5, 1] Result: 8

The figure at the pilot controls shouts in alarm as the stick is wrested from his hands. The copter is spun onto its back and it begins to spiral toward the desert floor in an irrecoverable dive as Vera quickly flees from the craft. It will slam into the desert in several more seconds and its cargo of raiders slips from the ropes to splatter across the sands (edited)

Eisheru forms a wall of dense air in the path of one of the remaining helicopters for it to crash into. The tangible construct made of force is invisible to the eye and only those with skills in metapsionics would be able to detect it's presence. (On turn Tangible Force Construct to make a 3mx3m wall in front of the helicopter) Eisheru leans out the window of the scout car and begins to focus. Yulia can detect a sudden rise in power coming from the seat next to them. The static energy in the air around Eisheru collects bits of sand and debris before there is a near deafening peel of thunder. A bolt of white hot electricity erupts from Eisheru and reaches out to connect with the other helicopter in the pack. (Committing effort as a main action to Elemental Blast a second remaining helicopter for 30/28. 6 of 7 Elementalist effort remains) (edited)

One of the cargo copters runs nto this wall of force and compacts like it has been pushed through a car crusher in a junkyard. A rain of blood and machine parts, accompanied by fire tumbles to the desert floor. (evasion saves for all drivers, if one of you rig-rats wants to roll for that driver, its d20+2 ) (edited)

Alexander Munroe | Rusty (Max D)

used /roll

Alexander Munroe | Rusty (Max D) Request: [1d20+2] Roll: [6] Result: 8 Reason: rig evasion

Jake Carson | Dathian [Radik]

used /r

Jake Carson | Dathian [Vruux] Request: [d20] Roll: [1] Result: 1 Reason: Jake evasion vs 5

4

(Jake fails his save)

2

Parsnips Jackall | Ian Holt

used /roll

Parsnips Jackall | Ian Holt Request: [d20] Roll: [7] Result: 7

(That's a match.)

(meet or beat is a pass)

Ivan Wyke | Yulia Wyke | Myuun

used /roll

Ivan Wyke | Yulia Wyke | Myuun Request: [1d20] Roll: [12] Result: 12 Reason: Yulia evasion vs. 9

1

The helicopters smash apart in the air and the flaming wreckage sets the slick oil trails on the ground alight. Each driver throws and rocks the wheel frantically trying to avoid the sheets of flame blooming up out of the desert. The rig is a heavily armored beast but avoids the hazards like a space fighter and the convoy appears on the other side , the airborne attack thwarted. The smoke and flames fill the sky with obscurant and the surviving helicopter and their raider cargo are unable to locate you until you’re almost to the gates of your destination. The hungry people of Holiday Town. The leader ; an emaciated , almost gaunt looking Ashen one with a VR goggle and respirator setup configured to look like a skull is waiting along with dozens of his white painted cronies. They all appear hungry but wait for the cars and the rig to come to a stop. Each carries a heavy metal or clay bowl , eyeing the taps on the side of the rig

Vera flies in and scopes out the crowd, the scan of every face transferred to Yulia and a truncated form of the data sent to Jake. Yulia leans back in the drivers seat, making herself comfortable as the ratty vehicle would allow as the convoy comes to a stop. "Plenty of raiders had their last meal of sand and lead trying to get this stuff," Yulia says over comms. "I hope for these peoples' sakes it's as good as mentioned."

Bowls of dry potatoes reach out to those of you on the rig. Several more are handed out to your group as payment for bringing the food to the settlement. Aside from the potatoes, there is a heapig thanksgiving spread inside each generous bowl ,but it all looks leathery, bland, and sad.

Agent Finnegan calls out to the crowd "Let the Gravy Flow!!! For it has been paid for with blood and is a blessing from T.Urkey to you all!" She leaps from the rig with the dry sad holiday food and slams open one of the taps urging the crowd forward with her.

"Do not my friends, become addicted to gravy" a floating loud speaker drone says, conveying the booming voice of T.Urkey "It will take hold of you, your food will become bland, and you will resent its absence" The crowd surges forward and as the gravy touches their bland looking food, it suddenly transforms into a luscious banquet inside each bowl with enough calories to keep them functional for weeks. Golden potatoes, thick cuts of rich finely marbled meat, glistening green beans and onions, and delicious perfectly square corn fills each plate the gravy splashes into, and the sawdust looking tack they once presented in addition to their meals now becomes rich fresh bread. (edited)

Getting caught up in the crowd's excitement Alexander calls out to his fellow adventurers. "Food without companionship feeds only the body. Let's feast together and feed the spirit as well!" With a gesture the desert sand swirls up to form a long picnic table. (Using Energetic Construct Evocation. I'm level 5 so I can create something 10m x 2m x 1m for five hours.)

The spell creates a solid, sturdy object up to 2 x 2 x 1 meter in volume per caster level out of congealed metadimensional force. It can be shaped as the caster wishes with a sophistication up to a TL3 firearm, mechanical tool, or suit of clothing, but it can’t be electronic or be made into more than one object. It lasts for one hour per caster level or until the caster uses this spell again. If made into a barrier, it can take the caster’s level in hit points of damage per meter of thickness before being broken.

(edited)

As the gravy flows Micaela empties out her water canteen on her side spilling the water into the sands and then placing it against the spigot, though it manifests as a battered flask she hopes that even when it turns back into a plastic water canteen back in reality it will still hold the gravy that she is now collecting from the spigot to try and sneak back with her once the adventure in metaspace is done.

Ian hears the warning, but the curiosity is killing him, and he's been addicted to worse. He sticks his index finger out the driver's side window, draws a small torrent of gravy toward it, and licks his finger clean

Jake brings the car to a stop. Looks up at Dai, happy to be in one piece. “We made it. That Prophetess doesn’t dislike us at least!”

Daira frowns. "She likes us! But you were a bit of a disappointment." She keeps that hanging in the air for a few seconds before smiling at Jake. "I was so hoping that you make us fly somehow, but you kept the tires connected to the ground, at least most of the time. Thank you for maneuvering us through this danger zone. Would jump into your car again."

1

The locals happily take to the provided places to sit down. The gravy flows and all who are hungry flock to the tanker to eat their fill. Some of the bandits from the crash even limp into town and the enmity is replaced with amnesty. All eat and drink and are merry. There is enough gravy to turn every single bowl of dry saw dust potatoes and overcooked meat scraps from questionable sources into a delicious banquet fit for T.Urkey themselves. This is a side of this strange holiday land you have not seen before, but it may not be your last glimpse into this strange region of metaspace. Each of you awaken in your beds with the smell of perfectly roasted turkey and gravy lingering in your nose. Beside each of your pillows is a single shot bottle of the gravy with a note of gratitude from T.Urkey for making sure his shipment arrived on time. --- The Gravy The gravy can be used as an instant action. It has no encumbrance. One use depletes the vial and it may not be used again. A character drinking The Gravy may choose from one of three effects below. 1) The hearty protein component in The Gravy works to quickly rebuild damaged muscles and restore harmed organs. The "Fragile" condition may be removed from a downed player instantly, without the week of treatment normally needed to recover the condition. The player must still be stabilized in order for this to take effect 2) The generous carbohydrate component within The Gravy allows for a massive boost of energy. The player's normal move action is doubled for the duration of the mission. Main actions taken for additional move are likewise doubled. 3) The natural fats within The Gravy sustain and empower. For the duration of a mission a character drinking The Gravy may roll their damage dice twice, and pick the best. Attack rolls are rolled normally. (edited)

5

Eisheru, et al. started a thread. 12/4/2024 2:21 PM