I like it. 

That was an excellent post for Ol' Spots. Bravo. I'll work to have something up today but my day is running short on available time so it may not be until sometime this weekend that I manage.

All right, I've just posted.

Thank you for the posts. Please, if you are going to post any responses to Charlie's comments remember that his persuasion check was an 18. That's a successful check against a Challenging DC. That's pretty damg persuasive. 

 Not at all what I was expecting. 

Oh, I don't feel bad. Gib does though. He's crushed. He'll probably have to go cry himself to sleep on his huge pillow.

Ha! I loved the post, Crowe. We missed you around here. I'll wait for Olan's and Eol's posts before I make another post for Asovil.

Loved it. I think our overall strategizing in this thread is probably over. We've made some suggestions and now are acting on some of them within game posts. Unless Aranwen calls for a full retreat, I believe we're moving into a rather telling and dramatic fight sequence. I'm really interested in how this battle will turn out.

Raven, it is really good to see you back in action, my friend.

Ghouls!? Why didn't I remember...? Time to berate oneself for the oversight is scarce. Groans and shuffling through dead leaves, moans and the cracking of branches; the danger is not over. Barely registering the care being administered to poor Kith, Gib gauges the distance between him and the approaching hoard. If there's enough time, he shoulders his crossbow and retrieves his sword, adjusting the shield back into a more comfortable position for defense. Lips pressed together grimly, Moreno steps forward as Ch'dau snarls, "Take her,” and leaves his post over Kith’s prone form. The Kazari moves to rip his blade from the tree on which he had impaled the first giggler and calls back, “fix her!”

Glancing to where the priest of Solanis and the Cidal mage struggled to heft the paralyzed scout, Gib misses the warrior flicking the putrescent blood and gore from the blade.

“I will hold these here!!!” With that, the battle-mad Kazari clangs his blades together, raising them above his head, and, even over the ringing of the struck steel, bellows a roar into the night as a challenge… no… a threat… to the undead that approaches.

"Therassor, Battle Lord, tonight we honor thee," Gib offers up in a calm and level tone that belies the anxious cold hand of death threatening to strangle his voice.

“The power of Solanis can help keep the zombies at bay," Cedric calls out, "maybe even push them back. I wonder if that is the same for the Battle Lord? We must reduce the numbers or Ch’dau will find his spot in the Eternal Hunt!” 

"My thoughts exactly, friend Cedric," Moreno acknowledges, glancing towards Aranwen for confirmation, he then lifts his blade up before him brandishing the emblazoned holy symbol of his god towards the greatest concentration of zombies. "The Power of Therassor compels thee! Get thee GONE!"

Woohoo!

I may just post the Lout's wilderness journey and not wait for you, Giddy.  

You are the man, the myth, the mustache!

Turn it into an ice slide and Asovil is game.

I had completely forgotten about the attack! I looked at the last couple of posts and they were back posts so I'm glad you reminded us.

I've got Asovil at her station. I can post fluff about staff rushing to their respective posts but otherwise, I'm waiting to see what we're facing to post again.

Subplots that involves Asovil:

1. Tochi as a romantic interest


2. Crane's demotion and subsequent punishment (she is just now coming back to double duty).


3. Asovil's paper on using Dark Matter to locate cloaked vessels vanishing from the databanks and the mysterious figure trying to get her not to publish the paper at all.

I think that's it.

You've two clerics here. If both take attempts at turning the undead we may be able to stave off the bulk of the onslaught and give time for the warriors to whittle down the shambler's numbers a bit. If I remember correctly, Clerics have a certain number of turn undead attempts available to them per day. I believe that both Cedric and Gib are fully rested as far as available turn attempts are concerned.

Depending on the roll, Gib could potentially turn up to 6HD of them away at a time vs cutting down one (of course, there's always the chance of just getting one). Cedric is likely the same (not trying to rules lawyer or power play). If Kith weren't hurt we could likely outrun them and get far enough away to find a defendable position in the natural landscape. Gib is also concerned about Kith's condition and the screaming heard in the first place. Is there another victim?

I was going to post but since we're having a discussion, I'll wait.

Ah! Now that it is explained, I get it. My wife would have probably picked it up right away as she loves both Star Wars and Dinosaurs.

Thren is still there, Eol. I for one will welcome you back!

Still nothing for me to post to, Giddy. Unless I'm missing something.

Raven is back too!? The OG is returning to the INN!

There are a lot of subplots running if I remember correctly. Asovil is involved in more than one.

I'm feeling stoopid. I don't get it.

His mother would have found a shaman to bless Destiny before they ever even stepped foot on it. Wyatt reflects on the luck that had drawn them to the ship floating in the Black, painted black... Luck is certainly at play. Lucky that they found the ship. Lucky that Wolf and Pops were able to bring the engines back to life. Lucky that they were able to make it to Beylix. And that's where their luck should have turned. That was three. Three up, three down, that's the rule. But no, not this time. Their luck had continued.

Lucky that they were able to machine the parts they needed to repair this enigma. Lucky that Molly Malone had decided to take a chance on them. What is that? Five? Sung's stomach twists in a knot. Where's the bad? It's past due. Running his left hand through his thick black hair, the half-Korean captain settled his eyes on the polymer sheet of paper with the words Ubiquitous, Mendacious,
Delphic, and Destiny printed on it. 

They had found the paper in the locked cabinet case combination—like one of those Russian nesting dolls—and had no idea what it could mean. So as not to forget about it, Wyatt has since kept it on the co-pilot's console. There it sits just beneath his hat, the bottom word visible in the shadow of the brim: Destiny.

At first, Wolf, Pops, and Wyatt had spent a lot of time discussing the possible connection between this ship, Destiny, and the strange, slick-looking attack ships that had taken out Victorious. What do the words mean? Who left the ship floating, all but dead, in the 'Black? All they'd come up with was conjecture, imaginative speculation, and (depending on how much sleep they had) fantasy. We're no closer to answers now than when we first found you, huh, girl? 

Destiny is female. Not just because of nautical tradition but because of her. A wholly supernatural event had happened to Wyatt once they had managed to bring Destiny fully online. He'd been visited by Eden, his dead wife. He candidly had to admit that the first visitation scared the living daylights out of him but when others amongst the crew started reporting sightings as well, he began to feel that Eden was there for a benign purpose not to haunt him for failing to save her life. Since then, Wyatt Sung had looked forward to her appearances gaining a sense of peace and comfort from her nearness. He didn't even hesitate to share his thoughts on the misty white dress wearing apparition with his crew and it hasn't even occurred to him that they might think him a little cracked. Ivy is especially thoughtful where Eden is concerned.

Ivy... where is that girl? Wyatt leaned forward and instinctively reached for the comm mic but stopped himself before the move had even fully been realized. Leave her be. Don't hover. His concern for her well-being often drifted to the far side of overprotective. Ivy Sanders is his second chance. She's too old to be the reincarnation of Summer but the 'Verse has a way of making things come round again and Ivy is his chance to make right his inability to save Summer's life. Ivy is also his lifeline when those long nights turn to terror and guilt. Even the memory of the taste of mind-numbing alcohol on his lips is tempered by Ivy. He has to stay strong for her. He can't lose himself in the bottle anymore. Fear of losing control. Fear of not being in his right mind when she most needs him. These are all tools that he uses to keep the demons at bay. Not that they work during the long dark. He still wakes sweating with his pulse racing as memories of his wife and child lying dead with the house burning around them sweep down on him like a prairie vulture. But he has thus far managed to refuse the bottle as a means of serenity thanks to Ivy. 

Settling back in the co-pilot's seat once more, he glances at Castlebrandt and wonders about how they have all come together. Seven individuals with very little time as a team under their belts speeding off into the Black with criminal intent. What could possibly go wrong?

Wouldn't that be nice (Walkies)? Ghlahn and Blossom are at the airjeep when the others arrive but that was interesting how the communication went dark for a bit.

You have a link to your sheet in your email, Keeper.

Sweeeeeeet.

Awesome! I'll get a post up very soon.

Standing watch can be nervewracking. Moreno has pulled his fair share of hours staring into the wilds watching intently for potential hazards. Even in times of danger when the slightest shadow and the cracking of a twig in the distance causes a man's spine to coil, Gib has never felt this isolated. His companions are nearby, sure as he is always confident of Therassor's Will, but there is one who is out of reach and this gods forsaken mist amplifies his anxiousness at her absence.

How long has it been? Looking to the haze blanketed canopy, the warrior-priest squints and furrows his brow. Can't even make out the position of the—The bellow, distant as it is and barely discernable through its muffled volume, snaps his helmeted head back level with the landscape. Crossbow to shoulder his nostrils flare drawing in the unnaturally heated air with startling fury. Kith! His mind whirling with a tornado of thoughts, Gib plucks one from the maelstrom directly and acts upon it.

"Do NOT rush off!" he calls out to his companions and more directly to Ch'dau. "The survival of our friend likely depends on our ability to arrive in force, Therassor willing."

The last thing they needed right now is to have the party divide its numbers as the fastest of the group haul off into the night to face the unknown threat without the support of the less fleet of foot. But time is of the essence... Looking to Aranwen, he moves to their leader's commands hoping that they will arrive in time to be of assistance to the scout. 

"Cedric, will Solanis bless us with light?" Though he hasn't seen it thus far, Moreno knows that some undead are pained by the sun. The thought is but a hope that the fighting priest tarries upon as he moves towards the very distant howl.

Ewie! 

Kith's growling roar... I'm assuming we hear that. If not, I'll correct my post.

Offense: Crossbow first, if the shot is available. Gib will cast the weapon aside (not so as to break it but more for speed) and draw his longsword to move forward and engage in melee. If the opportunity presents itself, he'll shield bash a target just as readily as he'll use the sword. 

Defense: Gib will attempt to stay aware enough of his companion's situations to move to their defense if he can and they need it. If there's an opening and someone needs the magical aid, he'll take the time to pray for healing but only if there's a really good opportunity not to die in the process. Defending himself, he'll use the shield in a defensive posture and attempt to maneuver into a position where his back is protected.

Retreat: Um... full-on sprint back the way they'd come (because he is at least somewhat familiar with the terrain).

I believe that Ghlahn, Casino, and Fixer have the remaining walkie-talkies. Vegas had the fourth.

All right, We have the driver, now we need to figure out whose lap the netrunner is sitting on.

I've posted the continuation for the game. I stopped where I did to give people time to respond to Casino. The EEC Airjeep has room for a drive plus five. Let's set the whole sitting arrangement now and we'll stick with it throughout the remainder of the EEC Airjeep's life in the game unless specifically denoted otherwise. I don't want to take a lot of time on this so I'm going to offer up a suggestion based on skills and "ownership."

Driver: Casino or Echo

Shotgun (PS1): Casino or Echo

DS2: Cred Stick Charlie

PS2: Bloodbank (Blossom on his lap, or...)

DS3: Ghlahn

PS3: Fixer (Blossom on his lap...)

Anyone with the address can use their agent to look it up on any one of the thousands of map apps available. It appears to be an alley.

Looking forward to your posts!

Tann, +2CC for Casino's role-play. Each of you get a +1CC as well.

I need Streetwise rolls for each of you. If you don't have the Streetwise skill, use your COOL stat and add it to 1d10.