I need to know the official marching order.  In case... there's a puddle to be stepped over.  Yeah.

With lunch forgotten, you leave the cafeteria and head into a red corridor, feeling what seems like hundreds of eyes boring into your back. A last glance over your shoulder reveals the Yellow troubleshooters enlisting the aid of some random Red clones to help deal with the wounded and clean up what is left of Dweebs.

Turning left, you see a large red blast door on the side of the corridor. It is labeled "SWR Sector". Next to it is a small panel with a speaker and a black button.

Pushing the button has no immediate effect, though after a delay, a computerized voice politely asks for your team number, which Artie is able to provide - down to the "dot R dash two".

After you proceed through the blast door, it closes behind the team, and you find yourselves in a small room similar to an airlock, with a yellow laser cannon on the ceiling and another large blast door in front of you. This door has a small sign with two buttons below it. The sign reads "SWR SECTOR. To activate automatic defense system and to open access door, use controls below."

The two buttons beneath the sign are side by side - a red one on the left, and a yellow button on the right.

lol @ re-hilting...

Heh... that's the point of those silver screen moments.  To give you guys some ability to piece together what's going on (or what you might think is going on), when it wouldn't make sense for your characters to know - or even begin to guess. 

Players that don't post lose their ability to vote on what the party does, so unless there are voiced objections, I'm taking Brom's plan as "The Plan".  I feel like it meshes well enough with Aranwen's stated desire to go after the gigglers.

I've been in contact with Kithran's player (PrincessAli); she's a bit bummed right now, which is impacting her posting, but I expect to see posts from her, so I'm not worried.

I have heard zero from Atharis' player (oz).   I've never gotten the feeling that he has really bought into playing this game, so I am officially worried.  Given that his last post was twelve days ago and contained zero meat as to what his character would do, and given that he hasn't been putting a ton of effort in from day one... he needs to be very worried.  I have already warned you all that I will be stunned if everyone survives this adventure.  A surefire way to make that happen is to not put effort into the game.

The two Yellow clearance clones rush up.  "Everybody freeze!" the first clone orders.  "What's going on here?" he demands.

Brighte has casually kicked the spork towards Dweebs.  "He was snooping around us," the shifty clone claims, gesturing at Dweebs.  "Claims he lost his team, and then that alarm started sounding and a spork dropped on the floor next to him. Probably trying to hurt friend Computer and blame it on new reds!"

Dweebs looks as flabbergasted as if Brighte had suggested he grew wings in a plot to fly and drop a bomb on Friend Computer.  "I... I did no such thing!" he sputters. He points at Brighte.  "He was the one tinkering under the table, check the security feeds!"

The two Yellow clones nod.  "That is a reasonable suggestion, Citizen," the second clone states.  "Let's check the recording and get to the bottom of thi..."

"What is he doing now?" Brighte interrups.  "Don't you see?  The way his eyes are shifting...aaaarrggllaarbblllrrrgraaaaghhhhh!!!!!"

Whatever Brighte's last word was is cut off by a blinding pain that tears through the minds of everyone in the group.  All six of you find yourselves on the floor, twitching and flopping like landed fish, where you are joined by Dweebs, the two Yellow clones, and at least three dozen other Red clones in a near perfect circle aroound your table.  As you lie on the ground, flopping in burning agony, anyone who has not voided their bladder in the past hour discovers that this can be checked off the to-do list. 

Dweebs is one of the first to regain the ability to move as the pain subsides some three minutes later, and he stumbles away from the table, sobbing.  As soon as they are able, the two Yellows give pursuit, and in short order, the annoying clone is well ventilated by their laser fire.  Regretfuly, three other Red clones are injured and one is killed, but such is the price of eliminating treasonous mutants from Alpha Complex. 

Looks like notifications went wonky for a bit.  If nobody else posts by tonight, I'll post tomorrow; it's not necessary for Kithran/Atharis to post for me to move things forward.

Though some plan would be good to know.  Do you folks intend to pursue the gigglers after healing?  I assume you will be getting your equipment first? 

Okay.  So Gib will heal.  I assume Cedriv will heal, need him here to say for sure. 

Need to know what Kith and Atharis will do.  Atharis - I need some sort of substantial post from you, man.  It's been too long.

C'mon, folks.

The gigglers are likely close the the inn.  A block or two, maybe?

I am so sorry to have misrepresented this game. 

Okay, Han Solo. 

If you just now got a bad feeling, I wonder where you have been?

Hah, it was a glorious fight, no doubt. 

If not for Aranwen and Ch'dau (and Kithran, for that matter), that could have been curtains for Gib.  He'd have at least been down and bleeding to death.

So, you clones have a decison to make.

Bright's actions were surely not so subtle as to go unnoticed by the crowd.  Then again, people *were* making it a point to look away. 

He is attempting to pin the blame for the damage on Dweebs. 

Will you coorborate his story potentially helping him out - and potentially risking yourselves here? 

Will you cotradict him outright?

Will you take more of a wait and see approach?

That one was no walk in the park.  Everyone but the mages took at least one wound, if not more. 

Health:
Ch'dau - moderate wounds
Aranwen - serious wounds
Gib - critical wounds
Kithran - moderate wounds
Midge - unwounded
Cedric - minor wound
Atharis - unwounded

Magic:
I have Midge down three mana points now, four remaining.  The three burned were all conjuration, so his remaining points can be of any type.

Cedric is also down one first level spell.

Ch'dau's lamp throw is textbook, as it strikes a zombie flush in the face and spatters it with flaming oil.  Sadly, he cannot take the time to admire his handiwork, instead shoves a table in the way to block the entrance.

The group falls back to the stairs, some more reluctantly than others.  Aranwen cuts down two of the shamblers in the process, but the two are quickly replaced - and then some - by the press of bodies forcing their way through the doorway, and now, through the vacated window.  Ch'dau's table holds for a time, though the banging from the other side promises to change that...

Cedric calls on Solanis to banish the undead, and for a moment, things look hopeful.  Several turn to flee, creating a traffic jam at the doorway where Midge's swam continues to ravenously attack the rotting flesh - dropping one of the zombies in a partially blocking manner.

But then, the giggler is upon you, and chaos reigns supreme.

This freshy turned pilgrim is fierce, laying about with claws and fangs.  Slashing, leaping away to let a zombie press in, leaping back in the moment its target is occupied. Aranwen takes a pair of gouges, though he remains unaffected by he paralysis these things inflict.  And the zombies simply keep coming.  Two, six, ten.  Will they ever stop?

Gib lays about, felling two zombies of his own. 

Atharis cannot seem to shake the alcohol enough to force a spell to form.

The stars of this fight are Ch'dau - and Kithran, who leaps from the stairs to stab a zombie deep in the back.  The kazari, meanwhile, makes quick work of every walker who dares approach.

Then, the giggler leaps and sinks its fangs into Gib.  The warrior priest can see the glee in the creature's eyes even as he feels the unholy cold grip his muscles.  The thing draws back a taloned hand, intent on driving the nails into the helpless priests's throat, but as the blow falls, it staggers for a moment before three hundred pounds of fur-covered muscle explode through it; Aranwen slashes it through the leg, and Ch'dau tackles the thing to the ground before rending it very nearly in two with one of his short blades. 

The zombies mindlessly press on pummeling Gib, but Aranwen and Kith are there to remove them, and soon, Ch'dau rejoins.  The fight lasts a few more bloody moments, but finally, comes to merciful end.

Fifteen zombies and one giggling monstrosity lie motionless around the common room of the Inn, though all but the mages suffer from various injuries.

The Inn falls silent as Gib regains the ability to move... but from somewhere outside, you can hear at least two more abombinations gigle to one another.

Brighte locates a spork - the only utensil type available on the table, then as casually as possible, reaches beneath and begins to pry at the speaker with it.  After several moments of futility, there is a satusfying *crunch* as a corner pops loose - followed almost immediately by a high pitched, wailing klaxon and an audible alarm.

ALERT.  ALERT.  SYSTEM TAMPERING DETECTED AT TABLE TWO TWO FOUR - DELTA.  SECURITY PERSONNEL RESPOND.

All pretense of not staring is lost as Red level clones around the packed cafeteria gape at the developing schene.  A pair of Yellow level clones rush towards the table, laser pistols drawn!

I was prepping a post of my own, but I'll hold for you!

Midge is still on the stairs, yes.

>the caster must remain stationary and undisturbed to control the awarm; if his concentration lapses or is broken, the swarm disperses in two rounds.

An update is coming!

That was a great first round of posts, folks.  Well done!

Some of you are new to Paranoia.  If this fits you, remember - unlike pretty much any other game you've ever played... instead of working together to achieve goals, you are in fact actively working to backstab one another (figuratively and literally).  Missions in Paranoia seldom succeed - more often, it's about laying the blame of the failure on the proper traitorous commie mutant saboteurs. 

Now... some of you are new to the Play by Post game format.  A few notes:

Make sure to include your character's thoughts and feelings - but treasonous thoughts or plans should probably be sent privately to me, lest somone try to use them against you. 

For the best reading, please write in third person.  Examples:

Third peson:  Stink-R-PIE-1 scanned the room for signs of Commie traitors.  Assuming that she saw none, she tucked her hair behind an ear and advanced with her laser pistol drawn.  Where were they hiding? She wondered.

First person: I scan the room for any signs of Commie traitors.  If there aren't any, I will advance with my laser pistol drawn.  I wonder where they are hiding.

As you can see, the ssecond entry is more like how it would go around a table.  However, it can be really confusing to read six different people's persepctives from the "I" point of view.  So try to write in third person, desribing what's going on, etc.  It makes for way better reading that way; play by post is a bit of an exercise in creative writing, after all.

Dweebs hems and haws, then mumbles something about helping. When the group sticks their heads under the table, he wisely does not follow suit... but he does irritatingly remain at your table, and appears to be eavesdropping without trying to look like he is doing so.

Once your heads are under the table, the whisper continues.

"Congratulations on your promotions, troubleshooters. It is I, your friend, The Computer. I hope that you are all happy.

You will soon be even happier! I have a fun mission for you. It is perfectly safe, and really easy, especially for a team of seasoned professionals such as yourselves. The only thing is, its a secret. I mean, REALLY a secret. No one is even to know that we are talking right now, got it?

I will now assign each of you your role on the team. These roles were determined using an advanced statistical model taking into account your skills, temperments, and qualifications. These roles are as follows:

Team Leader: Ammpe-R-AGE.

Loyalty Officer: Artie-R-FCL.

Hygiene Officer: Slipp-R-YEE.

Morale Officer: Brighte-R-NNU.

Communications Officer: Blowz-R-UPP.

Equipment Control Officer: Steam-R-LLR.

You will of course perform these duties to the best of your abilities.

You all must immediately report to a briefing where you will be told all about this highly enjoyable task. The Computer is your friend. Trust the Computer. Don't tell anyone. Don't let anyone know."

If any of you bothered to glance out at the cafeteria, you will notice that quite a few clones have noticed your group with your heads under the table. Suddenly, every available speaker roars with the Computer's voice.

"STOP THAT!!!"

A hush falls over the cafeteria, and all eyes now pointedly look away from your team - though it is certainly impossible that they are unaware of your presence.

The Computer resumes its instructions.

"Get to Section 168 of Sector SWR, out the door and take a left. NOW. Thank you for your cooperation."

The speaker falls slient. Dweebs continues to hang around your table, though his eyes are also focused elsewhere.

It is typical for mages to wear robes whenever, especially those who are proud of their status as mages (and the stagus the Circle grants them).  Theydo not HAVE to wear robes except for formal occasions, though armor is obviously out. 

Most Circle mages especially wear their robes at all times.

By my count, we need two clones to post, still.  I have contacted both.

I will post in the morning, no matter what they do. 

Well, there is another ghoul, now.  That's what you get for leaving ghoul-slain on the side of the road, after all.  But sure, **I'm** the bad guy. 

As for what's out there in that mist, well, we'll talk about that later. 

Maybe a lamp can fall over when peple move tables?