Iron Stars - xmas-2023

( any @Nekofans Supporter is free to participate) Polaris. The planet that is the headquarters of the Kringle Toy Company is a permanently frosted ball of ice, bathing in the light of a pale blue star. The presence of the action figured collected from Kringles workshops over the previous years have led to the discovery of the coordinates for this world and in a dangerous spike drive that brought the ships of Iron Stars mightiest heroes far past the boundary lines of the explored universe , the time to bring the final judgment to Klaus and his murderous company has finally arrived. A small flotilla of ships sailing with skeleton crews have arrived at the edge of the system , wreathed in the protective blizzard like obscurant of an in system nebula. If he’s down there, for the moment Klaus is blind to your approach. (edited)

With a crackling sound The Arcus reenters real space in the system that contains the world Polaris. Against the backdrop of space, the edged black ship is almost invisible, if it wasn't for some golden hues coming from lights around the ships hull. On other ships Scanners the ship will appear to be a support ship, containing an Engineers corp. Captain of the ship seems to be some J.S. When The Arcus opens its com-link and a holograph gets sent to nearby ships, it surely doesn't depict this J.S. but rather some communication droid, and one without much representative flair either.

A sleek cruiser exits spike space. The ship suggests Aiya Tech design with no weapons or polity designation. Venture is stenciled along the bow. “We’re here,” Jake says as he ruffles the ears of the German Shepherd sitting next to the captain's chair. “What do ya think Max? We finally got our lazy butts out here.” The fluffer looks at him with quizzical eyes and woofs softly and Jake chuckles “Gonna have to get a translator for dog speak…” He joins the open comms net started by The Arcus and waits to see who all arrives (Anyone wanting a ride out here is welcome to have travelled on the Venture. He gave an open invitation at last year’s Xmas extravaganza!)

"Hellooo? Name Myuuuun." On the open comms channel, a disheveled-looking Noctuan carrying what appears to be refuse typically found in recycling centers all over their overcoat and backpack; all reclaimed containers from across the stars, each filled with strange liquids and powders. They are holding the holoprojection camera upside-down. "I have seeeen hue-man moovies on this... 'Scented Claws'," Myuun states in slow, horribly broken Mandate Common. "Why is 'frooot cake' not liked? I deemand answer. It sound goood. I seeen rain-deeer beefore. Had hue-man head, blades for legs, and yells lots. Just like hue-man that sent us heere. Meean. Drunk. Sib-ling from same spawn poool loooked like what you call 'bear' but shay-ved (shaved). Spent spaaace flight pre-pairing. Saw lots of holo-vids." They point the camera at @Moff Cvk-Tarilli (Lemming). "Agreeee, bug-who-look-at-plant? What is word in Commmmon... sci-in-test (scientist)?" Myuun gets obnoxiously close to Moff, nearly putting the camera against their face. "Tell them what youu say to meee about plant with greeen spikes that grab ankles. Ones found under hard wat-er. Ice, I theenk. Pull poor bugs like us in-to flay-vored sugar water. Saw on mooovie hue-mans made. Must be trueee. Not fake like yoouuu say."

2

A small free merchant vessel translates from Metaspace to Realspace near the Arcus and Venture. Its transponder code designates it as the Secretorum belonging at one point to the Psychic Academy of the Iron Stars. However new updated information is displaying it as an independent vessel with a home port of Galatea. A young man appears on the screen. He has a close cropped beard and the sides of his head are shaved. To those that might recognize him, Reza Collins is wearing his typical brown asymmetrical duster that is buckled and clasped down the middle. He wears a heavy looking pendant on a gray chain. "Oh! So this is going to be Kringle's last hurrah? Well... Good thing I am able to dress for the occasion..." Reza disappears from view for a moment before returning with a red overcoat that is fringed in white fur. On top of his head is a conical hat with a white bobble on top. It's made of red felt with a white fur trim. "Can't buy this in the stores! It's genuine a Santa Claus game-worn uniform!"

A callsign from Party Boat enters the comms network just as an incongruously leisure-oriented seeming ship, save for the pock and burn marks etched into the red and black paint, enters the space. "Good to see some familiar faces, and to those I haven't met yet, looking forward to getting to know you. Now who's ready to make the naughty list?" Parsnips appears sitting in the captains chair, wearing the elf hat stolen during last year's festivities. Behind him, curled up and snoozing on bed made for small animals, is some sort of lizard about the size of a small dog.

The camera pushed into Moff's face shakes wildly as Moff gently shoos Myuun out of their face. They make a series if trilling clicks, scraping mandible vibrations, and silky hums. "Myuun, please refrain from blocking my access to the console while we are preparing to land," They say in their native mandible. "Greetings from the Saturniidae," The milky pale noctua trills. They flick a powdery wing. "I told Myuun that carnivorous plants do exist but something like the fictional movie would require a gaiapsion."

"Myuun, they don't like fruit cake because of the sticky dense breading around the nice fruit... The camera is inverted. Flip it over."

Into the inverted camera, Moff hums "We are in your care." (edited)

Jake Carson | Dathian [Radik]

A sleek cruiser exits spike space. The ship suggests Aiya Tech design with no weapons or polity designation. Venture is stenciled along the bow. “We’re here,” Jake says as he ruffles the ears of the German Shepherd sitting next to the captain's chair. “What do ya think Max? We finally got our lazy butts out here.” The fluffer looks at him with quizzical eyes and woofs softly and Jake chuckles “Gonna have to get a translator for dog speak…” He joins the open comms net started by The Arcus and waits to see who all arrives (Anyone wanting a ride out here is welcome to have travelled on the Venture. He gave an open invitation at last year’s Xmas extravaganza!)

Alexander smiles as he hears Jake's comment. "Making such a thing could be an interesting challenge. But if he's anything like Myc he probably wants to go play." He pats the fungal hound at his side fondly. "Thank you for inviting me. This Kringle has displayed some remarkable abilities, who knows what useful artifacts we could find."

J30N1A takes in the almost comical scene that appears before her sensors. Her frame throws out various error messages and exceptions when she hears a voice that she remembers dearly. She uses a short breather between to speak up herself. Her voice is monotonous and robotic, as is all her current frame supports. "Greetings. This is The Arcus. I am Joule-Three-Zero-Nova-One-Allais. Representative of this crew and tasked to join you on this mission. It is interesting to see so much lightheartedness in the face of danger and a non-zero possibility of harm. And to add, I have to agree that this Kringle has shown much ingenuity so far. At least according to my records. So there might be things down there, that benefit all inhabitants of the Iron Stars. But this Kringle will most likely not hand it out peacefully." She was about to stop talking when she decides to add a seemingly unrelated sentence. "And who knows. Maybe there are Windmills down there."

A IMTS shuttle enters the system, its systems obviously straining from the massive journey that it was not designed to handle and yet was forced to endure. After a few seconds another feed joins the network and unleashes a deafening burst of static before dropping out of the call. A minute later the vessel rejoins the network but thankfully the technical issues appear to have been resolved. The feed shows a figure that by all accounts appears to be a knight of old that has stepped straight out of a story book and who looks quite out of place against the modern backdrop. "Greetings! My name is Bivitas, Heir to the House of Perutave. I am here on behalf of the Mithrilheart Elected Monarchy to provide aid in overcoming this solstice themed menace! It is a honor to make the acquaintance of those whom will be our allies in this endeavor. Together I am certain that this festive foe will soon be a threat merely in the past tense!"

A figure in green steps into the feed behind Bivitas. Wearing a scaley green Long-coat that is open in the front, with a vest underneath, and matching pants with well-worn boots. She has a pair of swords, one at her hip and a larger one on a break-away sheathe on her back. Frost white hair hangs loosely about her face. "And I am Lucia, Humble ally to Sir Bivitas and Proud representative of The Lord of the Leaning Reef's Martial Retinue also here on behalf of the Mithrilheart Elected Monarchy. Let us deliver unto this Claus a Certainty: Either Death or a tax so heavy his will turns to vapor in the repayment of it." She finishes with a bow.

"Did someone invite Feudal Epoch™️? House Perutave and the Lords of the Leaning Reef... People actually talk like-... Windmills?" Windmills. The word that sparks a memory. But where? Why is that familiar phrase? ... Could it be? No... But he had to be sure ... "... Perhaps they will turn in a spring breeze..."

J30N1A immediately wants to say something. But she can't. She grasps for words. But they are hard to come by. Her inner excitement not shown to the outside with the stiff frame. "Perhaps, but only with your help, Reza. What once was separated by light-years so plenty, united in a place so surreal. Destiny always finds its way. The savior and the saved. A second chance, so precious." She was far from prepared for this moment. Her words, seemingly random, seemingly meaningless to all, but them. It was him. This moment she waited for, and didn't believe it would happen so soon. But she will take it, and savor it to the last grain in the hourglass of time, that was given to them here. Without any words said, The Arcus, until this moment resting in place, starts to move towards the Secretorum, aligning to the same landing vector.

(will give any others through the weekend to join in, and we'll move from there)

“The UNW science cruiser Tortie hails the gathering fleet. “Let’s try to end this as cleanly as we can,” Gurk Samson says over the channel, already looking stressed.

There is no communication from the surface as your ships remain undetected in the nebula at the edge of the system, though you can see that the Kringle corporation does not have any space based defenses or other system traffic. A massive power signature from the northern pole of the p lanet is so bright it is almost blinding on ship scanners. There are no communication signals, but a reactor powerful enough to run several cities is currently powering a compound with a castle residence, a workshop, and a workers quarters, all surrounded by high and thick stone walls. FRom space, you cannot see further details of the defenses. THe castle is backed against several towering mountains of snow and ice, with peaks so tall they breach the heavens.

"It appears that this Kringle may be housed behind a mighty fortress! If given time to assemble I portend the situation shall devolve into a grueling siege, I propose that the course of action that we embark upon should be a decisive strike to establish a foothold before they can muster their forces. What is the state of our stores? If we possess Grav Chutes then potentially an orbital drop piercing through the walls could be a feasible method of catching them unawares?"

(do we know if we can teleport down via teleport pads?)

(Not directly into the facility but outside it)

Jake hands an elf hat exactly like the one Parsnips is wearing to Alex and dons a pair of aviator sunglasses. He smiles happily at the motley group hidden in the Nebula and a puzzled look passes quickly at the cryptic interchange between Reza and J3ON1A "I'm Jake Carson of Greystar for those I've not met before. It looks like we've got some disguises He nods towards Parsnips and Reza and it's welcome to see familiar and new faces! 'Snips, the Naughty List sounds like a great place to be. I've a shuttle that could well sneak us in close or get us out if need be. Grav chutes sound fun too. I suppose it would be awkward if we just walked up to the front door and offered to sell 'em Christmas Cookies or hot cocoa mix."

"That would indeed be highly inappropriate considering the possible dangers that we face. And they wouldn't be so gullible to simply be fooled by some festive clothing. Right? I would also not be too keen to fall out of a spaceship to glide towards the ground with the possibility of becoming one with the mountain site down there." "Depending on the structure and mineral composition of the mountains, we could drill a way in from a different angle, but I doubt you are here to spend time watching a drill work its way into the castle. So the shuttle might sound like a good option. And when I look at my scanners, I think the probability to land unseen, should be about 81.37%"

"I can get... 10 of us down to the ground without being detected and I believe I have a spell form that can cut through the wall... assuming it is less than 3.3 meters thick." Reza offers up as he flips through a thick white leather and gold bound tome. "Kringle is likely to have advanced sensor technology, I wouldn't recommend a shuttle."

"What is included in 10 people?" J30N1A asks. "I mean, does that include equipment? And. How do you do this?"

"Personal equipment and what you can carry only. My spell form will make us nigh undetectable as we fall safely to the planet below. It will also provide us with a layer of protection from the elements or anything harmful in the atmosphere... The same way a vacc suit would." Reza shrugs as if this is a simple matter to him, "Perks of being a High Mage. Kringle isn't the only one who can bend metaspace to his will." (edited)

"So we'd just sorta...jump out the airlock and your hocus-pocus would bring us down in like a bubble? Sounds like a blast, I'm in." Parsnips' tone is not at all sarcastic. "I hope there's hot cocoa again. He usually gives us some before he tries to kill us."

"Pardon the interruption, truly. But ah, could someone please fill us in on the situation here? I can't see anything other than what feels like staring into a star on the ship sensor, and Myuun kept claiming there would be deer made of water with radioactive, auto tracking, nostril based missiles. Which is absurd." Moff scrubs at their neck mane, wondering if trying to get a rare sample of what many texts claimed was one of the most potent behavior compelling plants was actually a bad idea. They pause. Wait, is it okay to drink something from someone who is going to try and kill you? But they're all alive so yes? Err...

"Sure, sure. So, basically, once a year, this Claus guy and his army of elves and freaky gingerbread demons try to kill us. But they do it with jaunty, whimsical style, and sometimes there's cookies. It's sort of like a fun little vacation."

"Coooookieeeessss..." Myuun is donning their armored vacc suit and heading for the airlock of the Saturniidae. They appear to be taking Parsnips' interpretation of Reza's ability literally. "Wish my friend heere. You-shoo-ally (usually) we fight the deeemons then dig through trash for fooood. Thees does sound like vay-cay-shun." In Noctuan to Moff, the various scents and phermones muffled as Myuun puts on their sealed suit: "Horrors beyond comprehension like pointy-eared short humans and songs that get stuck in your head for eternity, and human sweets?! It's like a holo-theater with unlimited concessions! Let's go let's go let's go!"

"Shall we depart, Bivitas? Our new allies seem to be in good cheer." Lucia gestures, as if asking for Bivitas to lead the way.

"Patience is a virtue my lady. A battle well prepared for is often a battle won. Your idea has merit Magi however as a precaution I suggest we don the Grav Chutes in addition to accepting the embrace of your magics. If our holiday themed foe has a way to disperse your arcane energies then we may appreciate a technological backup."

(we would have the TL4 chutes. I think the grav chute has a TL5 variety too, so just want to make sure we grab the right onw)

12:25 PM

(I'm caught up, just need to see if we decide to use both methods as we descend, and where we want to descend, in the mountains or in the ice plains)

Wait for me before you close the airlock! Moff buzzes back as they scoot to grab their pack. They stuff a variety of items into the bag and after a pause, grab their rifle. Did they have to act in a whimsical style too? Should they attach bells to the end of their rifle? How was this supposed to work? Myuun, make sure to save some sweets for Tsula, or we may never hear the end of it. Do you think they have good candles? (I have no preference for the landing site or methods.)

(If we're aiming for surprise then the mountains may be better but likely more treacherous.)

(Can we teleport (magic or technology) from the nebula to the where we want to be?)

(I think for teleport pads you have to be in orbit)

10:46 AM

(I'll have to look)

10:47 AM

(for magic or psionic teleporting you;d be bound by the distances whichever technique says you're allowed to teleport. I think for anything outside a 4 in teleportation the nebula would be way too far away)

(If Reza can Teleport from here, could we potentially teleport to the mountain above and fall via grav chute down from there into the Kringle compound avoiding having to smash through the walls?)

(in theory. There's an element of PAFO and dice rolls to that, but if Reza can teleport us all there, tha'ts certainly a thing we can try)

(Reza cannot teleport. Reza can allow us to HALO jump from Orbit and be within 0-500 meters of our intended target. If we pair it with the Grav Chute we can probably get our landing to be more accurate than that. And I can only do this for 10 people + myself.) (edited)

(That sounds like a super badass way to do it!! RezaHALO + Chutes. The Glimmer shuttle https://discord.com/channels/345912178072879106/655843107539124224/1042075736644796567might might have a PAFO chance to sneak us into orbit (Em Damps, Null coat, Low Emission + a decent program skill). And TP pads for extraction if we need to bug out or send down more equipment.)

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(Sounds like a good plan to me.)

(Do we have More than 10+Reza People atm?)

(I make it 10 total atm.)

(same!)

2

(Okay , program /int for the glimmer and I’ll add the seek and hide modifiers after )

6:28 AM

(We are going to have to leave the nebula for orbit regardless it seems )

(we are all in the glimmer for this right?)

(That's the proposed plan. If we're going for surprise, it seems like it's a good first step) "Anyone a comms wizard? I'm good, but there's always someone out there better." (Jake's +2 prog, +1 int, +2 Tekshark with the expert reroll if we need it.)

(I've got 0 program and 2 int for +2 which I think ties an npc.)

(Jeo can throw in +2 int +1 prog into it. In case there is some support needed.)

The motley crew from across the Iron Stars coordinate transfer onto the Venture and while sitting on the small bridge of the shuttle just before takeoff, Jake takes a moment to himself Max, your sorry ass shoulda been here but you had to go be a big damn hero. Thanks again for letting me tag along. Me and these folks are gonna see what all the fuss is about down there. Just wish you were here to see it through. Jake looks out at the nebula's clouds, flicking two fingers from the rim of his helmet in a quick salute as the Glimmer exits the hanger Sitting at the comms station, he plugs in with a tether that builds itself from his outfit and snakes to the console, ostensibly shortening his reaction time and making his tailored programming tweaks easily available. He turns to the pilot "Keep us away from anything that looks like a sensor station or active radar. Perhaps approaching and us jumping from the mountain side of the fortress might give us a bit of a sensor shadow if there is one." The pilot eases the shuttle out and heads toward the planet while Jake fiddles with the emission dampers and gives feedback to the pilot to help them avoid any obvious sensors (Program/Int: 20 Includes: +6 for Emission Dampers, Null coating, and Low Emissions)

3

1

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [2d6+8] Roll: [4, 1] Result: 13

Whatever observation Kringle has on the ground, it does not reach space and the Glimmer is able to make its way to orbit undetected with everyone aboard. There are no transmissions fromt he surface indicating you have been seen.

J30N1A's drones hum gently as they hover slightly behind her. Despite her hopes to be somewhere else right now, she couldn't help but keep an visual sensor on Jake and his doings as they made their way to orbit. "Impressive." She says monotonously. "Some of what you did, I will remember, fine work. Thank you for getting us this far." She turns around, searching for Reza, but stopping immediately as she catches herself doing so. "And now, the flying without a spaceship part?"

"I believe it will be more along the lines of Falling with Directed Purpose, rather than actual Flight, haha." Lucia, states, the Long-coat's sleeves rolled up to her Elbows and buttoned down. Her smile rests easily on her face, and she seems to be taking an interest in both J30N1A, and the Pair of Noctua. She isn't wearing a Vaccsuit, currently. "Before Hostilities and Free-fall commence, I would like to say it is a Pleasure to meet you all in person. Are any of you of the Healing Persuasion? I need to know where to direct my Meager healing arts incase of an Emergency so that we can recover the most people swiftest if we all suffer catastrophic Injuries..."

Moff shakes their head 'no' for both of their species. Old Man's Beard antics aside, their knowledge of proper medical care was limited to what they'd read in the emergency first aid kit. Perhaps Myuun knew better, as they had been operating solo in rough territory, but what Myuun knew could also only apply to their carapaced siblings and not the skin-wrapped; with the exception of J30N1A. Or maybe Moff shuddered, Myuun would insist that the sludge Moff had seen them make out of non-sterile soil, saliva, and an old moss clump once was the perfect balm for a wound. The moss is the least dubious part. (We can prove Moff wrong or not later. Ivan's pretty slammed today.)

Reza walks into the cargo hold from deeper within Glimmer. He is in a unique looking CFU with an Icarus Harness. Reza is carrying a large tome bound in white leather and gold filigree. Noticing the robotic frame of Jeonia, Reza smiles a boyish smile and moves nervously to her side, "Ahem. Ah yes I am able to lend some of my arcane energies to healing wounds. I cannot regrow lost limbs or organs like a dedicated bioscion... But should be more than enough in a tough spot!" Reza let's his Glaive lean against the wall as he begins flipping the pages of his Grimoire. He settles on a page that has strange equations and symbols all over it as well as a short hand style of writing, "There we are... When we reach the ground what is our plan? Hard-nosed assault? Infiltration and sabotage?"

J30N1A stares at Reza, for a while before saying more slowly than usual. "Maybe the arcane energies could heal me too if I was to be damaged heavily. But if we stay away from focusing on an all out violent approach, the risk of being damaged will be lower. I like your hair...lighted, Hairlighted option two, Infiltration and sabotage." She turns away from Reza. "But we should according to our strengths, it will guarantee success."

Alexander watches carefully as Reza works, hoping to learn what he can from the more experienced mage. "The advantage to starting with stealth is that we can always move to a more aggressive approach, but it's much harder to go the other way."

"With our numbers stealth seems likely to be uncovered swiftly allowing them to entrap us. A sudden swift blow however may crush their defenses too quickly for them to respond."

Jake shrugs at J30N1A, and looks appreciatively at her drone compliment "Thanks but most of it's the hardware, a few software tweaks and optimizing ship position sealed the deal. If there were scanners pointed at us that is," he smiles. "I'm happy to share notes when we're done." "You too Lucia, you and Bivitas are the first I've met from Mithralheart space." "The Armory/Locker is open if anyone needs anything." A few minutes later Jake enters the cargo hold with his aviator glasses on and his tekshark armor shifts to a Grinch onesie, a string of multi colored blinking Christmas lights connects to a shear rifle A couple well used floater rucks float out onto shuttle's teleport pad, a mostly full rack of drones on one, and the other with a variety of items. He activates a drone with a big red cross on it

J30N1A receives a ping giving access to all the drones and she sees that it's a stalker medical support drone with expert and environmental power

"If we need this, it's loaded with MedPaks (24). I usually have it tagging along and programmed to apply one to any allied wounded." He packs up 4 drones labelled HMG, Smart Laser, Medic and Long Watcher. He pulls out some hacking equipment, a squiggle spotter, a stun baton and a pavis buckle. He hesitates looking over his assorted toys and his limited space, pulls out a demo charge, and a few medpacks with a few other sundry items and attaches his pack that now looks like a big ole sack to his back. One of the crew brings a ruck with enough Grav Chutes for the Kringle Party Crashers. He picks up one, straps a single shoddy, antler looking stick on the top of it and shrugs himself into it He looks at Alexander, Moff, Myuun and the rest "I'm 100% behind being sneaky until we can't. I'm ready to mess up Mr. Kringle's preparations before he does his thing again." "I'm good for the magic when we're ready Reza."

"I will try my best, please understand that stealth is not exactly a skill that has ever been in my repertoire... It will likely be I who ruins the element of surprise for us and for that I apologize in advance." The Mithrilheart lady admits, giving an apologetic bow, but not ditching the soft smirk on her face.

"A suggestion if I may good fellows? Both the dagger and the hammer have their value so perhaps we should employ both? With our number and our diverse specializations any hope of remaining unnoticed appears vanishingly small. However if we were to split our force and conduct our operations simultaneously then we may be able to achieve more with our efforts." Bivitas gestures to the map. "We appear to have three targets that require taking if this bastion is to be halted for good. The hall where the workers reside, the forge where Kringle's festive workings are made, and the lair of the Christmas lord himself." "As such the warriors among us should launch an assault upon the workers quarters to distract our foes and subdue the bulk of their men in short order. While this diversion is in place our blades in the dark may infiltrate the workshop and sabotage the devices within prior to them being turned against us. With both locations neutralized we can then coalesce our force and confront the merry mastermind to end this for good." (Thinking 5 of us attack the workers quarters while 5 sneak into the workshop as a TLDR.)

"That will commit us to hostile action and put us on a time limit, but it could work. If we do this I'd prefer to be with the infiltration team. I'm not particularly skilled in stealth, but I'm a worse fighter. I've also prepared a spell that could make us invisible for a time, although it would blind us as well." (I'll pick up 2 demo charges, a magma, and a frag grenade from the armory. I don't have fix, but would it be possible to get one of the charges preshaped?)

(Reza could shape it for you. I'm sure there are a couple of us with the fix skill) Seeing the interest from Alexander, he eagerly let's him look at the Grimoire by holding it in a better position for him. On the open pages are a series of complex metadimensional equations that Alex recognizes as creating a fourth degree spell form. The exact nature of the effects it creates are a bit beyond his understanding, but there are aspects of it that are similar to the Personal Shielding Field spell that he recognizes. "I have the ability to improve our collective combat effectiveness. Making our strikes more accurate and adding a great deal more force behind them." Reza offers up "Even our less combat inclined friends would be as deadly as any generic soldier."

"But maybe just maybe, there is a chance to reduce the loss of life and technology by choosing different approaches. If the opposition is not willing to surrender without bloodshed, there indeed must be some violence to enter peace." "As such I don't know if slaughtering workers is the way to go. If we use the expertise of those focused on death to elimate certain guards, we might be able to insert certain gases into the ventilation systems to lay them to sleep, the workers I mean. And if the machinery of this Kringle is as sophisticated as I heard, we shouldn't blindly destroy it either. Not even for distraction. But maybe we need more intel to decide." (edited)

“Jake looks with interest towards Alexander and Reza’s interaction. He turns to Bivitas* “If violence is necessary, I think focusing on the head of the snake is preferable. Give the elves a chance to change their ways.”

Nodding at J30N1A “We have some half plans. Better that than no plans. If we’re spotted coming in... He shrugs

"I would like avoid combat if possible," Moff states practically. "My species is not one that is meant for physical altercation. Noctua carapace and wings are delicate. We will not set off any ground traps though, at least?' They offer as if a consolation prize.

"Don't leesten to wimpy-wings," Myunn says, holding up a strange and sinister concoction. "Wee can make things kaboooom" (edited)

Myuun, you are an aberration of the species. A noble one, but one regardless. I do not want to have several molts worth of damage. It's itchy.

They chitter back, emphasized with sharp incense and yogurt.

1

(I'm caught up. I dont mind splitting the party I think it is going to be just as unwieldy to have two threads going within the same scene as it would be to have a group of 10 doing the samr thing, so I am all for the split if that's what we decide)

1:52 PM

(at least any combats will move a little more fluidly)

(What’s our goal: Kill Kringle? Make him surrender/take him prisoner?) (Edit: shut down his operation?) (edited)

(I think shut down his operations, there might just be different ideas on how to approach this. Although I think nobody was against killing Kringle. All we need to decide on is how to get to him.)

"I am not lookin' to off just random workers, but Kringle has got to go down. If people get in our way, they are an obstacle. But sure we can give them the chance to surrender and leave." "Remember Kringle was trying to seed the galaxy with his evil killer-toys. We just happened upon his distribution center before they could make their way into the wider Iron Stars region." Reza rubs idly at his arm, "Those toy guns shot real bullets..."

“Good. I am not fond of collateral damage, but won’t hesitate to efficiently keep a combatant from harming others. I’ll volunteer to be on the Kringle neutralizing team if we’re going to split up.”

"I am bend-able (flexible). Have tricks to use on fact-o-ree (factory) or deefenses or Kreengle... or any of you, if brave eenough." Myuun buzzes in a way similar to laughing. "Donut know who thees 'co-lat-er-all' is, but I guess I do best to not harm them."

3

(OOC if we want to try this as a full stealth thing then I'm fine with that. I'm just aware we have a bunch of very unstealthy PCs and don't want to stomp on the toes of those that want to use stealth by failing at any rolls that pop up. I thought the best way to do that would be to act as a distraction for you guys but if you'd prefer to try using all of us as stealth then we can do that. Just be warned if I'm asked to roll stealth there are good odds I'll bust the mission apart right then and there.)

(These missions tend to be pretty goofy so I wouldn't worry about your archetype not fitting a role. Sometimes you just need to convince the elf guard with your threatening presence that you are sneaking and they didn't see you) (But splitting along stealth/non-stealth might be a good idea! Combat isn't a guarantee for either. Myuun definitely wants to rummage through things and get into silly-trouble)

(if there's sneaking and traps Gurk would like to join that group!)

(Moff would also like to avoid combat)

(How about this for simplicity:)

for the quiet/stealth/infiltrating/"don't see me" group

for the loud/distracting/"don't care if seen" group

5

2

(I’m gonna start launching snowballs at dweebs as soon as we land)

3

(I'll let this run into morning since it looks like a couple folks might not have decided yet, and we'll go from there)

Nekosmash started a thread. 12/9/2023 6:13 AM [Open Thread]

Nekosmash started a thread. 12/9/2023 6:15 AM [Open Thread]

(Reza casts Orbital Insertion on everyone, tells them they have 12 hours for the magic and then wishes everyone good luck)

7:35 AM

(Reza rolled a 9 against defeating TL5 scanners. Don't know what level Kringle-tech is)

As Kringle is taken into custody for his term of community service each of you has a gold coin materializes in your hands. One face is the likeness of Kringle, and the other side is a crossed set of candy canes as though they were blades. The coin has some inscription on it indicating the holder has shown generosity and mercy in a challenging situation. This coin is good for one use only in social situation. The coin is flipped with heads being Generosity, and tails being Mercy. Where the coin lands determines the effect Generosity- the other party feels compelled to repay as you have paid. They would be willing to part with something or bestow a boon that they would never normally part with Mercy- When flipped a disadvantageous situation can be changed into an advantageous one. The universe forgives as you have forgiven (edited)

Eisheru, et al. pinned a message to this channel. 5/21/2024 10:57 AM