Bleak Wood: Nightfall · Legacy archive
Bleak Wood - Episode 1: Nightfall [DONE]
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Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#81Ralkhara nodded wordlessly to Badbloods words, then glanced up at the manmade grooves once more, "If things get too dicey, there is a trapdoor up there; we may be able to retreat through it." With that said, the nomad clasped on to Jonathan's arm and all-but dragged the man back down the tunnel which Ceres and himself had just come from, stopping some twelve feet back and pushing the man behind him. A suitable distance now gained, Ralkhara turned and kneeled in the inch-deep water, raising his crossbow to aim in the direction of the passageway with the infernal yelling and the hurried skittering.
Skittering sounds... half-eaten faces of a corpse with two-inch ravines in its body... Speaking loud enough for the others in the group to hear, he asked in an almost absent manner, "Has anyone else heard the story of the giant rats of the Ritshaur plains?" -
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#82As Ralkhara led Jonathan to the rear there was another, weaker tremble. The nomad scout fell to one knee, aiming his crossbow in the direction of the presumed attack.
“The sins of the ancients had no limits” Jonathan began, his voice quivering with fear.
“Nano-technology, radioactivity, human genomes, you name it. Whatever they discovered, be it in the name of good or evil, they always managed to twist it to more sinister purposes”
The screams drew closer, as did the sound of running feet. Jonathan gulped as the group readied themselves for combat.
“In the end they finally did it! They finally found a way to destroy everything they had spent thousands of years building. Some books say it has always been so; humanity strives to evolve, then in one cataclysmic move they shatter everything. Over and over again this happens, and it has no end”
The screams were close now. One final gunshot resounded, and then a horrible shriek cut short, followed by a disgusting gurgling sound. Then it was finally quiet, Jonathan’s voice dropping to a whisper.
“Nanites carrying mutagens. Mutine they called it, an agent that horribly twisted those affected” Jonathan whispered quickly now, in a conspiratorial manner. “Instead of reconstructing damaged tissue, these nanites changed the user, reconstructing his genetic material into something else. You have probably all heard the nightmare stories when you were children; how the very armies of hell arrived at the city gates, their infernal cries tearing through the dark as they butchered innocents in a night of blood and fury”
In the shadows something moved, and the men under Ceres’ command felt sinister eyes fall upon them, their gaze full of brutal hunger.
“While the avatars of Radiatos proved our undoing, I think you are about to witness a horror of the ancients. I think we are about…”
Jonathan quit speaking as the first mutant beast came into view. It was a twisted thing, its skin a dark hue of grey tinted with red. Blood vessels were readily visible on the humanoid figure, which crouched as it advanced. Its face was a blasphemic mockery of humanity, the skin around the mouth horribly retracted, displaying sharpened teeth and pale white gums. Another nightmare fiend entered into the light and this one tilted its head back, hissing loudly at the roof. Their bodies were those of men, only the arms were longer and instead of hands, they had organic blades grafted onto them.
“…These are the G’Kraun Enfataht, the killers of the ancients. If you have any prayers, now is the time, for I sense our deaths approaching”
On that note the two beasts attacked, their claws and blades clicking against the concrete floor, splashing water in every direction.
Behind Ralkhara Jonathan fainted.
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Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#83"Thanks for the tip, Jon!" Ceres smiled. "I was worrying about getting bored!"
Bracing herself for the foe's assault, she stood in the beast's way. Preventing injury was also a doctor's task, wasn't it?
"Side by side folks!" she called out as she raised Trolblandir and swung it low to keep the beasts at bay. "We're no easy prey!" Teeth bared, she felt the adrenaline fill her bloodstream like liquid fire. Do no harm, they say. The theory is nice... but this day, some heads would roll. -
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#84Beneath his face wrappings, Ralkhara frowned at Ceres' assured attitude - these creatures... such horrors made the nomads stomach churn. Still, before Ceres could charge forth and get in the line of fire, Ralkhara sighted down the crossbow and fired at the second beast which emerged from the darkness of the passageway. Hmph - and here he thought - or hoped - that it was just giant rats. No such luck.
Without waiting to see if his crossbow bolt hit, Ralkhara snagged another bolt from his quiver and began cranking back his crossbow. While he did this, the man stood and took three more steps back. If they cannot reach you, they cannot attack. For every step they take forward, take one back. Ralkhara repeated this mantra quietly in his head. While reloading his crossbow, he took a glance up at the assailants, both to see if his bolt hit, and to see if he could notice any weak spots in their flesh to aim his next attack at.
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Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#85What bothered Kiph as mush as anything, was how calm Jonathan seemed to be in the face of these coming monstrosities! He disliked this man, too friendly with Ceres, for his own good. What? And now he was feinting? cowardly vermin! Kiph thought...his mind was getting unwound again.
Kiph readied his hard-won, new, blue dart gun and fired at the closest slavering horror, but not before he quickly sliced his palm with a knife, letting his fresh blood flow anew, a trickle as it was.
He noticed Ralkhara's shoot and withdrawal manuevers and emulated the man, firing the unfamiliar weapon, and wondering what the "blue stuff" would do.
Were you going to use this against Kiph, Tiphala? he mused as he gaped at the quickly approaching beasts.
"We are like brothers, you and I" , he screamed to the creature he aimed for...."We are like brothers! I have been "hurt" too!
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Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#86With deadly precision Ralkhara let the quarrel go and a fraction of a second later the hissing mutant screamed in pain and anger. It was piercing sound, causing Ralkhara and his partners some discomfort. Half a second later Kiph fired his blood smeared dart at the first creature. The dart struck true, hitting the fiend in the chest.
While the quarrel caused the second creature to fall, sliding and sprawling on the watery floor with the quarrel embedded just above the knee, the first critter seemed unaffected by the dart. As both Ralkhara and Kiph slowly retreated, Ceres steadfastedly held her ground, Trolblandir challenging the mutant advance.
Bakur still tried to make sense of it all. His hearing had fully returned and he had drawn his wrenches, but he stood behind Ceres, the heavy handed slashing of her two handed sword denying him passage to the front.
(OOC: Ralkhara 60% crossbow skill + modifiers (point blank range) hit successful. Hit location 3 = right knee/hip, damage 2d4+2 = 4 + 3 + 2 = 9 damage)
(OOC: Kiph 15% dart gun skill + modifiers (point blank range) hit successful. Hit location 13 = chest region, damage 1 (does not penetrate natural armour (hide))
(OOC: Ceres, your DEX is 6, meaning you will attack last in close combat. However your weapon is much longer than the grafted blades of the G'Kraun Enfathath, so you get the very first attack before it does. The second creature is out for 3 rounds due to Ralkhara's expert shot)
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Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#87Although he couldnt quite tell the effect, if any, that his blood-smeared dart had on the morbid, charging abomination before him, Kiph quickly switched to his machete anyway, wiping the cruel, thick blade across his palm, coating it with his own blood, and feeling more comfortable with his weapon of choice.
"I will protect you, Ceres", he warbled and cast a mournful glance at the warrior queen, sidling up side by side with her as she had requested. Kiph even had time to cast Bakur a spiteful look, before he yelled once more at the revolting creature before him.
"I know your pain!" he shouted incomprehensibly, still trying to reason with the pitiable creatures, victims of vile experiments, no doubt, like him.
He struck at the first beast that neared him or Ceres. -
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#88Ralkhara backtracked five more paces, stepping over the fainted body of Jonathan (And glancing down to make sure the mans face wasn't under the shallow water) as he finished cranking back the string of his crossbow and locking a second quarrel into place. His first shot had temporarily downed one of the beasts - good. Ralkhara spared a thought and a frown for Kiph - the crazed young man had slit his palm open and was coating his weapon with his blood.
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Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#89Bakur stretched his jaw and gulped air, trying to pop his now-hearing ears. Alas, with the eardrum still broken, it did little. But at least he could hear. "Lahal'hu akbar," he whispered in thanks.
And with little time to spare. The faint, dull groans of the mutants were certainly much louder than he was hearing. The shot seemed to dull his feeling - for the moment, at least. Now important matters had to be attended to. Ceres, the mad she-wolf she was, blocked any chance for a direct hit at the freaks. But without knowing how many mutants there were, it was difficult to say how long she would stand her ground before advancing or falling back. Bakur decided that he would be prepared either way. Standing only a few feet behind her, he stepped into a horse-rider's stance and brought his blade back, the pommel an inch or so behind his skull. The simple but sharp tip of Siful'lahal pointed directly at the oncoming mutants. If he was quick enough, he might even be able to get in a stab after she swung...
(OOC: Stab at the mutant when the opportunity arises.) -
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#90With a loud hiss the first critter threw itself at Ceres, its clawed feet scraping against the watery floor. Kiph had squeezed up alongside the big woman, so she had less space to wield Trolblandir, yet she managed to swing at it, connecting with the right arm as it slashed at her chest. The heavy handed slash cut the arm straight off at the elbow. The G'Kraun screamed in pain, if possible even louder than its felled companion, and a second later, from somewhere far away they heard multiple screams in return. It would seem these two were not alone down here.
With a desperate swing it slashed at Ceres with its remaining grafted blade. It had lost its foothold, as the G'Kraun relied upon their arms for both movement and attack, and its strike hit Ceres in her right ankle, cutting to the bone. With a loud grunt and a string of curses, Ceres threw herself back using her remaining good foot.
Then Kiph ferociously attacked the fallen mutant beast, hitting its shoulder solidly with is machete. The machete cut through the thick hide biting into its flesh.
Meanwhile Bakur had the opening he had been waiting for. Ceres had thrown herself backwards, nearly colliding with the Train People warrior in the process. A flow of crimson fluids gushed forth from her ankle, but the tough medic merely cursed and tried to halt the bleeding. She had lost Trolblandir in her fall, the blade now inaccessible under the closest G'Kraun Enfathath killer beast.
A stab with the great sword was awkward, Bakur knew that, and with the unexpected opening he reversed the blade in his hands, swinging it instead. Of course he had to avoid Kiph, for the maddened nomad would probably block some of his swing, but he'd have to take the chance. If that beast got another chance, it was no telling who it would cut open next. With a mighty swing he aimed for the head, but the crazy Kiph got in the way and all he could do to avoid shortening the nomad some 30 centimeters was to lift Saiful'lahal in the air. The blade hit the wall with full force, sending fragments of mortar and plaster in every direction.
Ceres hit the creature with her attack (70% - 15% (Kiph) = 55%) She hit it in the right arm (melee location 13) for 2D8+1D6 damage (5+4+5 = 14 damage... The arm had 5 hit points and some armour points. It is now cut off).
Then the G'Kraun attacked Ceres with its remaining good arm, skill 60% - 10% (pain) and hit. It did 3 + 4 = 7 damage, cutting to the bone and nearly breaking it (1D6+1D6 (claw + strength bonus)). Ceres now has a bleeding wound that will continue to bleed until tended to.
Then Kiph attacked with his blood smeared machete. The nomad hit for 3 damage (2+1), enough to penetrate armor. This means the critter is now poisoned and the poison (POT 8, onset time 1 round) will be matched against the creature's CON (13) on the resistance table in the middle of next round.
Last in the round Bakur swung Saiful'Lahal at the felled enemy. With his 75% base skill and + 30% (felled enemy), he stilled missed barely (due to Kiph in the way -15%). He hit the wall for 2D8+1D6 damage (7 + 7 + 4 = 18 damage).
Round two starts now, and Kiph is the first kid on the block, followed by Ralkhara, the G'Kraun, Bakur and lastly Ceres. (We now follow DEX initiative, while the first round followed charge rules)
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Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#91random musings: 1) doesnt Kiph's 19 Dex and relative battle smarts prevent him from getting in everyone's way? :) and 2) my machete sucks compared to these huge weapons. Must...get...gun. :wink:
Kiph howled and leapt towards Ceres once more, machete slicing into whichever creature was now closer. The Mad Fatebringer was not used to foes living long after his virulent blood mixed with their own, and blithely ignored the fallen beast, instead scrambling to retrieve Ceres great blade, in the chaos of the melee. -
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#92Leaping towards Ceres, Kiph ducked under Bakur's blade as the brawny warrior pulled it loose from the wall. The G'Kraun Enfathath was between his legs, clawing at the floor, blood gushing from the stump of its destroyed arm. Hacking savagely he hit the neck, burying into it. There was a crack and suddenly the creature fell limply to the floor.
Ralkhara was crouching besides Jonathan. The prone man had his mouth and nostrils barely an inch above the waterline, his breathing causing slight ripples in the water. Having fully rewinded his crossbow, Ralkhara once more looked ahead and noticed Kiph's expert dispatching of the armless mutant. In that instant Jonathan awoke, his arm gripping Ralkhara by the leg.
"We must go!" he whispered, his voice coarse.
Bakur had gotten his sword loose now and was ready for battle, but Kiph had killed the closest G'Kraun and the second was scrambling to its knees, hissing loudly at the band of wasteland heroes.
"Nooooooooooooo!" it hissed as Kiph chopped deep into the neck of its mate. "Nooooooo! Cuuuuuuuursssssed huuuuuumaaaan!". Its voice was eerie and deep, more akin to the whisper of some ghost, than a sound made by a living being.
As Ceres tried to stagger the bleeding from her ankle, Kiph tried to lift her sword. By everything that is holy, this sword is HEAVY! the nomad thought, but still he managed lifting it, the huge blade wobbling slightly back and forth as he did so.
comment to random musings: 1 - Yep. That is why they only got -15% from their to hit roll. Understand that you are fighting alongside huge, brawny, Conan-y warriors wielding nearly TWO meter long blades! These tunnels are 2-3 meters wide, making fighting alongside them difficult. Had you tried a stunt like that alongside Bakur, I'd have tipped you off more, but fighting alongside Ceres... I think the nomad still would have stood there, showing his bravery and maskulinity to the big woman. ;) Oh, and had Ceres (huge woman with DEX 6) tried the same, she would have made it WAY more difficult for Bakur.
2 - Machete is a smaller weapon, true. But your rolls have also been unlucky. Both with the air pressure dart gun and with the machete. Those weapons are EXCELLENT against unarmoured opponents, like normal humans. They are also way more silent, and easy to use in your field of specialty: silent killing. Try sneaking into some place with a claymore...
Battle:
Kiph hit the mutant in hit location 19 (melee - head). He did 6+1 damage, easily penetrating armour and bringing its head HP to 0. In addition the mutant failed its resistance roll (it had a 75% chance to resist the poison), bringing its total pool of hit points to -4. It is dead, dead, dead!
Kiph also lifted Ceres' sword. It has minimum strength requirement of 13 to be used effectively, and Kiph has strength 11. Hence the wobbliness and a -10% at all attacks due to inferior strength. He also starts at half his machete skill BEFORE subtracting the -10%. (Which means he has a 25% chance to hit with the thing).
The remaining G'Kraun is on its knee, sliding towards you in a suicidal cha... slide. It won't reach you this round, and should you choose you could slowly withdraw, peppering it with missiles, and it would never reach you
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Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#93*Chink* Ralkhara's crossbow made a clicking sound as the crank was fully pulled back and the string was taut. Ralkhara slipped a bolt into place and lowered once more to a crouch, raising the bow and sighting down it. Although he knew the first beast was more of a threat right now, the fact was that it was in too close a proximity to the others to risk firing at - if he missed he may injure his allies! So Ralkhara instead turned his sights upon the second one, which was wailing pitifully and thrashing violently in the inch-deep water. In the back of his mind, Ralkhara registered the additional screeches of more of these beasts in the background.
And then his comrades fell the first of the abominations, its head bieng cleaved from its body by Kiph's weapon. Once shifting to the side of the tunnel for a clearer shoot, Ralkhara pressed the trigger. The bolt was loosed.
Once again not stopping to see if his quarrel hit, the wrapped nomad stood and backtracked another three paces, speaking as he did so, "As soon as these aren't a danger, we should climb out through that trapdoor above!" He didn't want to have to face any more of these things than he had to - And conveniently, Jonathan had woken up! He won't have to be lugged up by Bakur or Ceres! The nomad quietly agreed with Jonathans urgings.
To the side, Ralkhara took a moment to muse over the fighting styles - he had studied his comrades before, and found them very different. Kiph, obviously, used his rage to his advantage, striking fast and hard with almost no care for his own safety. Ceres tended to swing around her great sword with brute force, hacking down her foes. Bakur was fairly similar in styling to Ceres, though he seemed almost ritualistic with his swings, as though with every sway of his blade he were making a statement. As for Ralkhara? Patience. Timing. Breathing. -
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#94*Thwap*
The quarrel left the crossbow and after a quick flight it buried deep into the chest of the other G'Kraun, stopping its eerie wheezing. The momentum knocked it off its feet, launching it backwards one meter into the water.
Ralkhara continued keeping an eye on it, but after a couple of seconds it was clear that the thing was not going to rise again anytime soon. In the distance the infernal screaming and hissing seemed to draw closer.
"I'd say we have one minute or less until the rest of them are here" Jonathan said, his voice low and quivering.
"These mutants number only the G'Kraun Enfathath, the hunters of the pack. I... I think they might be on their way to the academy" the young scientist swallowed hard after he spoke, then he began to climb to the partially hidden hatch in the roof.
Ralkhara would have missed had it not been for the point blank range rule. He rolled 12 (missile - chest) for 1 + 4 + 2 = 7 damage, bringing the creature to a total of 2 hit points on the total pool. It is now unconscious (anyone studying it will see it breathing).
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Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#95"Time to go!" Ralkhara hobbled forward and wrenched his two Quarrels out from the barely-breathing creature's flesh, and gave a quick glance for anything of value the beasts may have had on their person. He motioned for the others to follow himself and Jonathan as he grasped the handholds which rose up to the trapdoor above him, but not before hooking his bow onto his belt once again.
His knee burned like wildfire - from moving from the moisture to climbing - with wet clothes, no less - but he was not going to stop until he was certain he could risk a short break. He hoped what lay in store for them back on the surface was not worse than that which was down here... -
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#96Bakur stepped past the retreating Ceres. The beast was still breathing, but his steel would solve that. "Burn in Jahhanam!" he growled just before swinging Siful'lahal down on the mutant's neck. Not bothering to see if the strike landed, he turned back and headed for the trap door. He glanced down at Ceres' wounded ankle as he passed by her. The brackish water trailed even darker behind her, definitely blood and lots of it. "Hurry," he grunted at her. They would have to tend the wound quickly if she wanted to keep her foot. Though Bakur cared little for her person, Ceres' medical skills and steel were usually worth putting up with her.
(OOC: Killing blow and then high-tailing it outta here.) -
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#97Bakur's blow separated the mutant's head from the rest of the body. The head flew into the air and landed by Ceres, splashing through the water and hitting her good ankle.
"I need to be out of this tunnel to clean and sew my wound" she said before kicking the head out of the way. The group's medic was quickly offered several helping hands and staggered her way to the ladder.
Meanwhile Ralkhara had already opened the hatch, invoking a metallic, creaking sound. A small cloud of dust and earth rained down on the nomad pathfinder. The hatch had obviously not been used in a while. As if in reply to the creaking sounds, there were several hisses and shrieks further up the tunnel. The G'Kraun Enfathath had picked up speed and weren't far away.
"Hurry, they are making their way to the G'Kraun Kaltharth in the Faculty! We must get up and out of their way!" Jonathan whispered and then clambered up through the hatch. Once up he offered a hand to Ceres. The hurt medic received help from both Bakur and Jonathan, and got up relatively quickly. Bakur followed her up shortly thereafter.
Noticing Kiph glancing in the direction where Surgical Damien had been slaughtered with all his valuables, Jonathan hissed.
"There is not enough time for that. Get up here the before you die!"
Meanwhile Ralkhara was exploring their surroundings. It looked like some kind of cellar, but it had been emptied a long time ago. There were huge rifts in both ceilings and the roof, but no light shone through from the above. Judging from the stale air, it had been long since anyone vented the place too. There was nothing of particular interest in the room, save for a stairwell leading up, and large wooden crate standing in a corner.
(OOC: Bakur hit with enough damage to sever the head. Your characters would estimate the arrival of the hunter pack in about 20-40 seconds) -
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#98Ralkhara spied the crate in the corner, then peered back to the trapdoor he had just come from - ah, almost time to rest! Waving Bakur over in his direction, he moved over to that crate, "Come, Bakur! Help me push this box on top of the opening!" He didn't know if those creatures could climb, but Ralkhara was not one for assumptions. Now if only the rest would get up here, they could block their path and Moruz could take a moment to work the kinks out of his knee! There would be plenty of time to check what was in that crate AFTER they had used its weight to block the trapdoor. -
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#99Kiph wasnt going anyhwere.
Not until Ceres was safely on her way up the hatch, bad ankle and all.
Quivering with adrenaline and fear, Kiph dared glance once more down the tunnel, hoping perversely, despite himself, to catch sight of one more creature, but something finally sparked in his head and he scampered up behind Ceres effortlessly. While watching Ralkhara and Bakur push a heavy crate across the empty chamber, Kiph examined the staircase, and after sniffing the air, waltzed up gingerly, dart gun once more in hand, each step deliberate.
trying to move silently, and a spot check please -
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#100"Mmm... Guys... The artifact..." Ceres looked upon Bakur and Ralkhara as they sealed the hatch with a large wooden crate. “It is no longer with us! I think we left it down in the tunnels!” Ceres frowned as she led the surgical needle into the flesh and back out, over and over again. She had been treating her wound since she entered the room and soon it would be all stitched up.
"s**t, guys! We forgot a da-amned nuclear energy device in a tunnel filled with those mutant slayer beasts! Even worse, they are searching for their juggernaut, the G'Kraun Kaltharth itself! The da-amned pack leader! The number one bad ass, King G’Kraun incarnate!" Jonathan swore aloud, his true heritage becoming evident with the cursing. As if in reply to his outburst came several ecstatic shrieks and hisses from below. Then there was a thump at the hatch, the crate moving visibly. There was a second thump, and a third, but then the noise abated and the crate held its own against the mutants below.
Meanwhile Ralkhara had forced open the lid of the crate and was peeking inside. “Uhhm…” the nomad said. “Uhhmm… Spare parts. Cogwheels, wires, aluminum plates, the works! This crate here is filled with spare parts! Mostly the aluminum kind though! That explains why the crate was so darn heavy, Bakur!” Ralkhara blurted.
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Meanwhile Kiph had reached the top of the circular stairwell. The door was slightly ajar and peeking through, Kiph noticed some sort of garage. There was a truck in there for sure, and by the sound of it an engine was running. There was a motorcycle there too, with a side wagon on which a small machine gun had been mounted, an ammunition belt inserted and ready for use.
This is the city watch garage. This is where the Warden keeps machines to be used by him and his band of watchers.
There was another sound too. In the distance an alarm sounded. *AROOO-AROOOOO-AROOO*. Red light occasionally danced across the garage, casting dramatic shadows and colors over the motorbike and the part of the truck that was visible.
Kneeling down Kiph smelt the smoke in the air… Smoke, but something else too! It was the smell of wet iron… No, it wasn’t that. It was the smell of freshly spilled blood. Looking down, the assassin noticed a crimson fluid trickling under the door, dripping down onto uppermost step of the stairs.
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Kiph froze, dread momentarily paralyzing him. In the meantime Bakur and Jonathan watched as Ceres patched herself up.
“The G’Kraun are divided into different roles, as modeled by their ancient creators. They were designed to be the perfect instrument of war: Troops whose only purpose is to kill and instill dread, but whose tactics and organization also means they are tough opponents… at the very least. On their own the Enfathath are only shock troopers, the melee carnivores created to instill dread and death amongst the enemy. The Kaltharth is another matter entirely. They are the pack leaders, their lords of war!” Jonathan spoke again. It had become evident that, while tight lipped under normal circumstances, the scientist was quite talkative when filled with dread.
“We had one captured a while ago. A rare occasion that, and ever since, this herd has been circling the city, sensing the distress of their master. We had an entire tribe of wastelanders hunt them down but, it seems, it was a bad decision. Problem is that the Kaltharth are intelligent. Too intelligent! While created sterile, the Kalthart, and possibly the fabled G’Kraun Seers, found a way for the race to procreate. Thus the G’Kraun survived their creators, the ancient horrors living on to this very day.
Meanwhile Ralkhara was searching the walls and floor. He quickly noticed a partially concealed air vent high up on the wall.
The curious nomad put his hand to an ear and tried to listen. There were sounds in there! The sounds resembled weak metallic crawling and some eerie voice hissing to itself. The pathfinder doubted that the sounds came from a source close by, but there was no doubt the G’Kraun had found the ventilation system and was attempting to travel through it.
(OOC: A number of checks failed. These are the ones that succeeded: Kiph - Power x 2, listen, spot hidden and biology. Ralkhara: Listen, Ceres: Medicine.
One more thing: Ralkhara noticed a full mechanic’s tool belt complete with a full set of tools in the spare parts crate. It is up to Ralkhara whether he wants to share this news with the rest of the party. The belt contains manual and automatic tools to be used for repairing. Of special interest is the diagnostics tool, which can be set up to work with his wrist PDA over short wireless networks, and enables him to hack into engines (The PDA can normally “just” hack into electronic door systems, computers and the like with a successful computer use check. The mechanic tools contain the proper interfaces for hacking into engines as well. Of course they are normally used to generate a diagnostic over engine problems, which require no check (menu selection only). The automatic diagnostic tool cannot be used to hack without some sort of external computer attached, like the wrist PDA))
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Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#101Kiph froze and considered, blocking out the extraneaous voices in his head and trying to focus on the issue at hand. He first knelt and swiped some blood with his finger, tasting the metallic tang. He had learned to identify various types of blood by taste from his Fatebringer Master, Abak Loett, and he now wondered who the victim had been.
Next, Kiph briefly looked back at Ralkhara, Bakur, and Ceres, and indicated with a facial expression, that he was going in to investigate the garage.
Slowly, deliberately, and silently as possible, Kiph edged his way inside, crawling along the contours of the truck, while simultaneously eyeing the bike.
The truck was humming. The engine was running. Carefully, Kiph rose up on the passanger's side of the window, attempting to see the driver's seat, and whether or not it was occupied.
Couple of things. One, Kiph would like to see if he can generally identify the 'blood type', he is tasting (just because :P). Secondly, he is obviously using all the necessary stealth skills to make his way around the garage. Thirdly, if no one is operating the truck, Kiph will jump in the driver's seat, and call back to the others to join him. Its get away time people!
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Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#102From downstairs Kiph overheard Ralkhara suggest several options in regards to what they should do now. Apparently G'Kraun were in the air vents and on the other side of this door was blood, and lots of it. Tasting some of the crimson fluid, Kiph decided it was human, but the stench of G'Kraun was thick on it. There was no doubt in his mind that this man had been cut by the blade of a G'Kraun. Using the abilities taught to him during his period of captivity, abilities no other he ever met could claim, Kiph decided the man had the blood type A+. It was also still hot, suggesting a fresh kill or wound.
Edging his way through the door, Kiph froze again as the door creaked softly. To his ears the sound grated like the blaring of some infernal horn, but it seemed no one heard after all. At least no one came rushing into the garage, for which the scout was grateful.
Kiph crawled alongside the dump truck, which was of a primitive ancient design. It had green military canvas stretched in a U shape over its cargo dump and inside several crates had been stored. There were benches on either side of the cargo dump, suggesting the truck was also used for city watch and prisoner transport. To get to the passenger side, Kiph had to circle around it, and as he did so he noticed a gas pump in the rear end of the garage, close to where he was lurking. There was a rack for holding rifles too, but those had been taken already. To the left of the rack was an open door and on the other side of that a medical cabinet. Through the open door Kiph spied the bottom of another stairwell, suggesting there were more floors above them.
Slowly the nomad climbed the truck and looked in through it's passenger window. For that he was rewarded with a ghastly sight. In the driver's seat sat a man, his throat slashed open by a vicious cut, his head hanging out the window. He wore the green uniform of the warden's watchers and in the passenger seat his assault rifle laid unused.
At that moment several hisses sounded from above and a woman screamed, her voice full of fear and panic. A gruff male voice shouted: "DIE! DIE!", his words followed by the rattling sound of machine gun fire. Then there was silence.
Taking a look out, Kiph's jaws dropped visibly. There, in the horizon, was a huge spacer aircraft. It rested by the south wall, having crushed a third of the storage facility, which was now dwarfed by the huge vessel. Flames burst from its metal hull only to be quenched seconds later by torrential rain and fierce gusts of wind. Squinting Kiph noticed something else; huge black rods jutted from the hull of the ship, the cracks in the metal suggested they were not meant to be there. It looked like some giant or god of the ancients had pierced the hulking vessel, and it had stranded in Bleak Wood like some tormented, harpooned whale. It was from this ship that the alarm sounded. *AROOOO - AROOOO - AROOOO*. Outside the entrance to the storage facility a group of people had flocked around a pole with a flapping banner. By the looks of it the garage could hold three other trucks, precisely the number of trucks that were parked close by the gathering of humans.
Looking in another direction Kiph noticed Steroid Anne’s place. The neon sign flittered briefly in the dark. Outside it was eerily quiet; the usual crowd was gone or inside, hiding behind barred doors.
(OOC: Checks rolled: sneak, listen, spot hidden, biology. Obviously there was at least one failure (sneak), but the severity of that failure seems inconsequential). -
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#103Seeing the bleeding, dead man did not overly stun Kiph.
The life’s essence had flowed away. So what! Who cares! Who is he to me! Just a stupid no one, who was now dead. No doubt he had not suffered like I had! Good, another scum dead! Bleakwood would not miss him! Bleakwood was an evil &^%$@!
Kiph caught himself; his lunatic stirrings were coming to the fore again.
A second later, at the side of the assault rifle, the world temporarily stopped for Kiph. He loved his knives, he had learned to love even his own rancid blood, but this…this weapon was a rare prize for the nomad. He even had ammo, Kiph thought excitedly, as he felt the bumps in his jean jacket pockets. He made a quick mental note to ask Ceres which bullets would be best. After all, Kiph knew little about guns.
One more thing Bakur wouldn’t be getting, he had time to giggle insanely.
Suddenly the machine gun fire sounded, and a woman screamed. Kiph could not be sure which happened first, for the Fatebringer was reveling in the delicious sound of the woman’s terrifying shriek. **** probably had it coming!
It was then he glanced outside, and froze, his mouth agape, waiting for his slitted eyes to adjust to the bizarre sight. They had come for him! He thought at first irrationally, the spacers had come for him again!
But no, he garbled to himself to keep from shaking, they are not out for you, are they, Kipher ol’ boy. In fact, “they” seemed to be in a world of their own hurt! Die spacers die! Kiph managed to whisper, before his eyes went back upon the scene.
Bizarre! He simply didn’t know what to make of this great crash, conflagration and incineration.
“Ceres! Here quickly! Ralkhara! Bakur you fat bastard! Hurry! See this NOW!!!”
Not waiting for a response, Kiph began to strip. Once naked, he proceeded to strip the dead man at the wheel. His idea was to switch clothes, but he was not quite finished when he spied Bakur coming up from the side and eyeing the scout with bulging saucer eyes.
“No, no, Bakur! No! Not what you think! Stop thinking in fact; you’re no good at it! Fill the truck with gas! Hurry! The pump is in the back! Hurry! Where is Ceres and Ralkhara?”
Once more, not waiting for a response from the warrior, Kiph finished donning the dead man’s uniform, stuffing all of his possessions into his new green clothes, and switched seats with the corpse, shoving the warden’s watcher into the passenger seat.
“Ceres, Ralkhara! Lets roll!! Kiph grabbed the wheel. He had never driven anything bigger than a dune buggy, but he was ready!
Kiph considered slamming the gas, and running over the gathered group of people, while waiting for his companions, but then he saw Steroid Anne's place, and for a moment, Kiph thought of whores.
-
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#104"I cannot be sure if the device you found is explosive or not, unless I got a better chance to study it!" Jonathan had replied to Ralkhara's question, and the hooded nomad frowned - he did not like dealing with uncertainties. He was considering throwing a grenade into the air vent, but now he decided against it - if there was even a chance their device was a high-explosive, it might destroy this town.
From out the door Kiph had recently gone through, a gunfire and a scream sounded. "Well, the authorities can deal with the Gkraun! We're traders, damn it!" With that, the nomad snatched a handful of spare parts from the box and moved swiftly for the door - these aluminium pieces may be useful for some bartering.
Upstairs, Ralkhara took in the scene quickly. He took a moment to peer out at the flag in attempts to identify it, threw the spare parts he had grabbed into the back of the truck, then began searching the place - the truck was running, but the bike was not. Where were the keys to that bike? "Bakur, when you're done with the truck, fill the bike!"
Aah, a bike! He hadn't ridden a motorcycle since before he had met the group he was in, now, but when he was travelling with his fellow nomads, he used to ride from encampment to encampment.
"Kiph... To nomad town? It would be the safest area where we can regroup and re-think our strategies, even if our move after that is to leave Bleak Wood for dead! Do you remember which way Nomad town is?"
Ralkhara turned, but performed a double-take to peer at Kiph again - in his mind was a vision of the truck doing several flips and exploding in a heap - "And Badblood... Don't do anything stupid."
> -
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#105”Anti radiation nanites, healing nanites, band aid, hypo needles, hypo canisters, blood analyzers, a Geiger counter shaped like an overlong pen and even an alcohol measurer!” Ceres said enthusiastically as she put the equipment into her doctor bag. Her voice was euphoric as she did so, the patterns of her hands reminding Ralkahara of the ritualistic moves of Holy Men.
“Isn’t this like, uhhm, stealing?” Jonathan asked, having already seated himself in the back of the truck.
“Yah! I think it is!” Bakur grinned, having filled the tank of both bike and truck. “I think the Warden is gonna get mightily pissed about this, if he ever finds out!”
Meanwhile Ralkhara had scoured the garage, making sure there were no traps or the like. He did find an alarm button, but nothing else of any notice. There were three G’Kraun on the floor above he decided, provided they were still alive. And then there were those below. Jonathan had been thorough in his blocking of the doors to the cellar and the floors above, and having done that the fearful scientist breathed somewhat easier. Ralkhara decided he would let the Faculty researcher have his peace, and did not tell him that these G’Kraun had entered from the streets.
As he searched the slain watchman, he tried to determine the nature of the banner held high by the band of humans gathered at the space craft, but it was too far away. He did notice the rattling of guns and the screams of men from that direction though. In the pockets of the slain watchman, Ralkhara found a Zippo lighter, several Corona cigarettes, a pineapple hand grenade of the explosive sort, and a key ring that had become tangled into the splint of the grenade. One of those keys fitted the bike, which started on the first try. Seated on the patrol bike, Ralkhara revved the engine softly. Instantly the motorcycle awoke to life, its deep humming joining that of the truck.
Ceres and Bakur leapt into the truck and as Ralkhara rode up alongside Kiph, the assassin began his driving, the sound of hydraulics resounding through the garage.
There was a jarring crash. Looking through the rearview mirror, Kiph saw a huge Enfathath had barged through the door to the floors above. It reared on its hind legs and tilted its head back, issuing forth a shriek that sent cold shivers down their spines.
“DRIVE FASTER KIPH! DRIVE FASTER!” Ceres shouted.
(OOC: One check failed but I am not telling which :p. You have now begun driving and are about ten meters away from the garage. What you do now is up to you. Tent town is to your right, through the bazaar and past the warden’s mansion. You will notice several G’Kraun as you speed through town. The pockets of human resistance are centered around the Warden’s mansion, the Spacer aircraft and inside Steroid Anne's place. If you decide to slow down you may fight the giant G’Kraun that just emerged from the door to the upstairs. Navigation checks are unnecessary, for you know the town well.)
-
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#106Ralkhara adjusted the choke on the vehicle, allowing more fuel to the engine and the sickly rattling of the bike increased to a healthy, steady humming. Holding down the clutch with one hand, the hooded nomad grabbed his brown shades from a satchel at his belt and fitted them over his eyes before glancing to Kiph, who now had his window wound down, "Go to nomad town. I just want to get a closer look at that banner, then i'll meet you there!" Once that was said - as though on cue - the enormous Enfathath burst through through door behind, and without waiting any more words from Kiph, Ralkhara nudged the bike into gear and turned the handle full throttle - he was off, and heading towards the spacer aircraft and that banner. He just needed to get close enough to make it out, then he would instantly change direction towards Tent Town, whether he recognised the banner or not.
After all, Information was Ralkhara's business. -
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#107The rain turned to hail and lumps pelted at Ralkhara's bandaged visage, the strips of cloth long since wet. Recognition dawned upon the pathfinder as the black scorpion on a green banner came into view. It was the sign of Khethak, the beefy nomad of Clan Red Sash. Khethak was often only known as "The Barter" which outsiders often misinterpreted as "The Barterer". He was an honorable man and Ralkhara knew that he was in effect the leader of Nomad town. At least when there weren't any grand nomads in the vicinity, and that rarely happened. By the looks of it the nomads stood in a wide circle, studying something on the ground. A perimeter of guards had been placed and as Ralkhara rode by one of them fired upon something in the shadows of the huge vessel. By the entrance of the storage facility, Ralkhara heard the lamentation and crying of women.
But he had decided he would return and thus he turned the bike about, heading after the truck. -
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#108Ralkhara’s Motorcycle
Ralkhara sped through the darkness, the head lights on his motorcycle illuminating the road. The machine gun mounted on the side wagon rattled infernally; obviously someone was meant to hold it. Far ahead the bike’s light revealed the green canvas of a dump truck, small shapes perched inside the cargo hold. From this distance they looked like small colored dots, but the pathfinder knew well those were Ceres, Bakur and Jonathan.
Kiph’s Truck
THUD
The G’Kraun Enfathath had not even had the time to scream as Kiph pushed the petal all the way down. He had hit the mutant with the full force of the truck. For a brief second he saw the oversized jaws and teeth of the mutant hiss at him through the wind shield then it slipped under the truck and disappeared. Ceres and the others only registered a grey shape twisting and bumping, falling farther behind in the darkness. In the rearview mirror Kiph spotted Ralkhara, the fellow nomad was less than one hundred meters behind and closing in. Ralkhara had to maneuver quickly to avoid the mutant, and Kiph smiled as the pathfinder stretched out the boot of his good leg, hitting the dazed G’Kraun in the back of its head as it struggled upright.
Turning left at a corner, and they were close to Nomad Town now, Kiph spotted Wastelander Raiders in the street. There was less G’Kraun here and the assassin figured the main flock was behind him, probably making their way to the Faculty. One of the Wastelanders carried a rifle, while the rest bore metal pipes, spears and bows. At Kiph’s arrival one, a disturbingly thin, tattooed giant, pointed at the truck and screamed with a shrill voice, his words more akin to some odd bird’s hoot than a human cry. In response the rifle carrying Wastelander, whose body was absolutely stripped save for bone necklaces and charms, knelt down aiming his rifle at Kiph.
(OOC: Ball in your court Shadoweagle, Muro and Echo (if you are still around). Ralkharas ride motorcycle test succeeded)
-
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#109Off to Nomad Town! Just the thought off that, cheered the Fatebringer up. He could maybe find Abak Loett there and speak to him. He desperately need to speak to a fellow Fatebringer, his old master of course would be ideal Kiph thought, as he gunned the charging truck.
Suddenly, he spied the man pointing the rifle. Kiph had to think fast.
"Bakur! Bakur, take the wheel for a second, switch with me! I have to piss! quickly!"
Without waiting for a reply, Kiph slid down in the driver's seat, below the window level, and squirmed out of the space, switching with the hefty, sweating warrior. As he did so, he crawled into the back of the truck, and handed his new rifle to his muse.
"Ceres, assasin, 10 o'clock", he whispered while Bakur took hold of the wheel. -
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#110The Tribals
The hail thundered against his bare skin, the bone charms jingling as he crouched down and aimed the thunderrod at the rider of the steel horse. Ragrot had alerted him to its presence and the moment he laid eyes on it he knew that the Grand Eagle would reward him well for the capture of the steel horse.
"We pray to the Eagle that your aim is true!" the tattooed giant Ragrot cried, his voice shrill. In response the others of the Durazum tribe howled in unison.
The Thundercarrier strained his eyes trying to see clearly through the hail. The steel horse slowed down, then it went faster once again. Holding his breath the Thundercarrier squeezed the trigger.
Inside the truck
Kiph slid down in the driver's seat, shortly thereafter the muscular thighs of Bakur squeezed down on him, the warrior entering through the driver's seat door, having slipped under the canvas and climbed the outside of the truck.
"Assassin? Where?" Bakur said
There was the shingle of glass and the cracking of thunder. Suddenly a hail of blood, bones and glass rained in over Kiph. As the truck cringed visibly, Kiph looked up between the thighs of Bakur to see that the warrior had gotten his chest blown open. As he watched the warrior fell over the steering wheel with a pitious moan, crashing his forehead into the dashboard causing even more glass to fall down on Kiph.
"Bas..." Bakur said no more.
Motorcycle
There was the flash of light and the peal of thunder. Suddenly the truck veered visibly, changing its course heading straight for the gate tower to the left. As the two vehicles sped through the hail, Ralkhara noticed tribals cheering and yelling, one triumphantly holding a sniper rifle into the air. -
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#111There was a flash of light... a large *Crack* of sound, and the truck before Ralkhara swerved, suddenly. Taking in the scene, Ralkhara noticed the Tribal man waving a rifle above his head.
Insolent...! the nomad thought, Did that fool actually fire upon the truck? Beneath his wrappings, Ralkhara's features curled into a scowl and as the truck turned, he continued going straight towards the group of barbarians, grabbing and holding down the clutch lever. Ralkhara held the bike steady with his left hand, the motorcycle coasting forward on its own momentum while the nomad's right hand rummaged through his belt-pack. Sifting through the items in his belt, Ralkhara's hand finally found what he was looking for, and he pulled out a spherical, metallic object which fit comfortably in his hand. About twelve feet away from the Tribal group, Ralkhara flicked the pin off the grenade which was in his hand and let the explosive drop to the side of his vehicle, allowing the device to roll to the group of attackers. The grenade now out of his possession, Ralkhara grabbed hold of the bike handle again, let go of the clutch and pulled full-throttle, speeding past the tribals.
Now... where did Kiph drive off to? -
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#112(OOC: Okay, weapon attacks while riding / driving / piloting something requires making two skill checks in one roll. In your case this means throw and ride motorcycle)
Ralkhara gently lobbed the grenade at the savages as he sped past, the tribals' jaws dropping as they spotted the hitherto unseen "steel dog" rider. It was muddy on the ground, and with the hailstones slamming into his bandaged face, Ralkhara's aim was off. The grenade was lobbed past the rifle carrier, missing by some four meters, landing by the wall of a ramshackle building. A tribal squatted there, readying his bow, and when he looked down between his thighs he had noticed the grenade. It had landed beneath his naked rump and testicles. Having never seen such a thing before, he dropped his bow and reached to grab it. At that moment it went off and an explosive hail of crimson rain, body parts and bones ensued, the blast of the explosion hurting and knocking nearby savages off their feet.
Meanwhile Ralkhara momentarily lost control of the bike, nearly hitting the wall. At the very last second before impact, he regainded control of the veering bike missing the corner of the building by scant inches. Cursing softly Ralkhara rode on, for he knew the rifle carrier was mostly unhurt.
I've got to get out of here! Now!
Fear crept into his bones and adrenalin made his focus absolute. Behind him was dead and dying savages, but the most dangerous one would get back on his feet and Ralkhara had no doubt what he would do.
(OOC)
The truck is still in front of Ralkhara, veering out of control heading for the brick and plaster guard tower. Ralkhara is about fifty meters behind, nearly losing control of his bike. The savages were hurt, but it is possible the rifle carrier will try to hit Ralkhara in the back. There are buildings he could use as cover if he changed direction, but then Kiph and those in the truck would have to manage on their own for a few seconds until they are all through the gate. Your call guys!
Ralkhara: Missed his grenade throw and barely managed the ride MC check. Grenade is an area of effect weapon, and the random scatter roll indicated it rolled under another savage. It exploded for:
Center to 1 meter away: 11 damage to every body part
1-2 meters away: 7 damage to every body part
2-3 meters away: 3 damage to every body part
3-4 meters away: 1 damage to every body part.
Several savages are dead and many are wounded.
(/OOC) -
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#113"Baaaaakur!" Kiph yelled, and scrambled back into the driver's seat shoving the bloody, immobile behemoth out of the way, while grabbing the wheel once more and struggling to right the wayward truck. Kiph felt glass specks digging into his legs and arms as he steered, but ignored the pain and discomfort.
Daring to glance briefly into the the rear view mirror, Kiph spotted the daredevil Ralkhara, weaving along on his steel horse. A sudden explosion made Kiph nearly jump up in his seat, slamming his head against the truck's ceiling. He heard screams of terror then, and Ralkhara's apparent grenade erupted near the gaggle of savages. "Goooo, Ralkhara!" Kiph screamed unabashedly, the fellow scout's exploits sitting well with the homicidal Badblood.
Kiph was panicking now, as he pulled the rebellious wheel with all his strength. He had to avod teh tower and make it through the gate. If they could just make it to Nomad Town, they would be safe..or so Kiph postulated. Who knew what was going down in Nomad Town now, with all this chaos in the streets perhaps that place was no safer than others.
As he plied, cajoled, and forced the truck into a proper path, Kiph found himself thinking of two things. One was Nomad Town. If only they could make it there, Kiph would take them all to Abak Loett's hangout, and perhaps there, they would all be safe for a while. The G'Kraun, the savages, the wayward gunfire, they would temporarily be safe from all that...if..only..Kiph could make it through the gates.
Then later, those that caused all this would pay...somehow.
Ceres seemed preoccupied with something in the back of the truck. Jonathan's voice could be heard as well, irritating Kiph as he steered. Maybe it was all that bastard's fault, Kiph suddenly thought. He may have to be added to the 'Kill List'.
Oh and someone would pay the price for slaying Bakur. Though the fatebringer's actions had caused the death of the warrior, Kiph did not quite see things that way. The savages would pay..dearly, for exploding Bakur's chest, and sending bits of organs spraying Kiph's pock-marked face.
Using every ounce of his strength and skill, Kiph steered toward the gates of Nomad Town.
trying my bestest to recover control of the Steel Ox and steer to and through the gates. :P -
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#114"Boil the waters of Amarokh!" Ralkhara cursed as the grenade failed to reduce the rifle-wielding savage into gore. He knew a bullet would be fired in his direction soon... and then there was the problem with the truck - had that bullet hit it's mark? By the time Ralkhara had regained control of his motorcycle, a decision was already made, and he pulled the throttle once more after shifting gears, speeding to catch up to the slower truck. As he gained on the heavier vehicle, he noticed movement in the back, and motioned for the people back there to get down!
-
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#115--Tribals
The Thundercarrier fumed, his face flat in the mud. Cursing the steel dog rider he arose, his back burning with searing pain. With a firm grasp he clasped the thunder stick in his hands. It was time to kill that wretch. Time to avenge his fallen brethren, for only three of his band, including him, would survive.
--Ceres
Meanwhile Ceres struggled with the assault rifle. She had never used one such as these before and for long she fumbled, trying to find the safety and make sure there were bullets. Aiming while on the careening vehicle was difficult, and when Ralkhara closed in she got nervous she'd hit him.
"Jonathan, are you good with this?" she shouted, but the scientist backed off shaking his head.
Sighing the woman aimed and with a scream she let the bullets go. She fired fully automatic and lost her balance as she shot. Bullets rained everywhere as she waved the rifle left and right, up and down and finally as she fell backwards, she made several holes in the green canvas above, permitting hail to fall through and down on Jonathan and her.
---Ralkhara
The right mirror on Ralkhara's bike was obliterated by gunfire as Ceres apparently attempted to take his life. Ralkhara realized the woman was aiming for the tribal, but her aim was so bad that not only did he lose a mirror, but he heard their whistle as they sped past his ears.
---Tribals
For a brief moment he had the crosshairs squarely on the back of the dog rider, but then the ones in the belly of the steel horse loosened the shells of thunder upon him, making the air whistle with the song of eternity (OOC: bullets whistling past). The Thundercarrier was forced to seek cover and cursing he slung himself behind the corner of the building. Having reached relative safety he ordered the two healthy survivors to deliver death to their hurt ones. There would be no one left behind today, and the weak were always killed. Fuming with rage the leader of the raiding party swore a seething oath: These city dwellers would pay! They would pay dearly!
---Kiph
Kiph tried as hard as he could to get the veering truck under control. With a jarring crash it hit the brick tower, scraping off the plaster on the wall, and metal and paint off the truck as it screeched along the tower side. He had barely avoided a full collision and soon he was covered in plaster and white plaster dust as sparks and pieces of the tower flew in through his window. Then, finally, the wall was gone and once again he could control the vehicle. Not only had he avoided a frontal collision, he had saved their very lives!
---Kiph, Jonathan, Ceres and Ralkhara
Nomad Town was nearly deserted as Kiph and Ralkhara stopped their engines outside the tent of Abak Loett. The driver's seat door of the truck had jammed completely, so Kiph was forced to exit on the passenger side. In the behind of the truck he heard Ceres convulse and thrash about in some kind of seizure. Then the noise subsided only to be replaced by the sound of the assassin vomitting in the wet mud.
Ralkhara got off his motorbike only to watch Kiph with his face in the mud. Apparently he regurgitated the remains of their earlier dinner. The pathfinder was stunned himself and he could not get his hands to quit shaking. Meanwhile Jonathan helped Ceres out of the truck. She carried an assault rifle that she threw into the mud in front of Kiph.
"I think we all agree that I am not a sharpshooter" she said, forcing a laugh.
*************************
15 minutes later
Abak Loett was indeed gone, but his second concubine had received them with open arms. She served date tea and fresh sugar bread which the party members devoured with fierce intensity. Finally they had reached safety.
Or so they thought.
(OOC: Ralkhara drive roll succeeded, Kiph drive roll failed with 1 percent, Ceres fumbled her shooting roll which had base chance - 10 percent for moving vehicle. The Tribals failed their morale check) -
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#116Bleak Wood
Time: Nightfall
Weather: Gentle rain in the wake of a hailstorm that just ended. Occasional gusts of wind
Somewhere deep beneath the Faculty
Movement.
Humans.
Their minds numbed… Fear.
Connected to the earlier artificial quakes?
Yes.
No.
Brood kin.
Brood kin, N’Fataht.
Twelve… No! Fourteen.
The creature hissed as it reared on its hind legs, stretching to its full two and a half meters of length. It was wiry and thin, its appendages overlong. Though it was vaguely humanoid in shape it usually walked on all four and in the dark someone could have mistaken if for some mutated giant dog beast. But not so anymore; the grey skinned Kaltharth was bipedal now as it sent it’s mind probing through the hallways beyond.
Life extinguished.
Life extinguished
As with all the G’Kraun, the Kaltharth’s teeth had retracted gums and equally retracted, narrow lips, making its grin wolfish in the manner of snarling dogs or some grinning skull. Its canines were long, nearly twice the length of a human, though the rest of its features much resembled those of men. That is if men had grey, scarred skin and black eyes.
*********************
Inside the wreckage of the spacecraft
Tash Singar snarled beneath the cloth he had wrapped around the neck and mouth. Wiggling a finger; “No, I don’t think so, Eres!”
Eres shook his head in protest.
“You are wrong Tash, you are wrong! I never mea…” his words were cut short as they entered the cockpit. Here were the only spacers they had found on the vessel. True, it was a cargo hauler, not a troop carrier, and easily the biggest they’d ever seen, but ships like these required at least someone to fix the engine and load the cargo bay. That was in addition to the two pilots whose body parts now covered most of the panels and interior of the cockpit.
Looking at his fellow nomad Tash finally broke the stunned silence, his face pale, discomfort obvious in his voice.
“The Barter ain’t gonna like this one bit, Eres. Mark my words. Not one bit!”
“What the Barter thinks is the least of our problems, Tash. The fore hull is intact. Whatever killed these pilots did so from within”.
*********************
Nomad Town, Near Abak Loett’s Tent
Inside the tent the discussion was lively. Kiph was worried about her by the sounds of it, and Ralkhara was eager to get out of town now that they had a truck, a bike and much valuable loot. Both men agreed that the town had descended into untolerable chaos, but Jonathan, his voice a steady whine, desperately urged them to take him to the Faculty.
Ceres thoughts were elsewhere completely. Reverently nudging Bakur out of the driver’s seat of the heavily damaged truck, she carried the immense fallen warrior away from the tents to a hole she had dug minutes ago. Gently she lowered him into his grave, and as she did so a tear fell down her cheek.
“Thus we part, my friend, not with laughter and a hug, but with blood and mud and tears. Though I know you liked me not, I never held any grudge against you. You were loyal and brave. A true warrior!”
Having finished her soft speech, she lifted a shovel she had borrowed from the second concubine. Little by little she threw earth and mud into the hole, and when the wastelander finally disappeared tears ran in rivulets down her cheek.
-
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#117Ralkhara pointedly ignored Jonathan's pleadings of going back to the faculty. Addressing the Second Concubine, the nomad asked her if she knew where they could buy goods in the nearby area - especially fuel. Ralkhara had decided that the risk of staying within Bleak Wood much longer was a high-cost action, and besides, there wouldn't be much trading going on with the chaos happening at the moment - a wise move would be to find a neighboring town and buy medical and food supplies, then come back to Bleak wood and trade them when the chaos had died down - prices would be up, and someone should profit from the madness here - why not us? Ralkhara had shared these thoughts earlier with Kiph and Ceres to gauge their thoughts on it.
At the make-shift funeral for Bakur, Ralkhara had stood in the background, saying nothing but simply watching. Bakur had been of good use for muscle and intimidation - it was unfortunate that he was gone, but no tears were shed by the scout. Absently, Ralkhara remembered the last time he had seen funeral rites, and he idly rubbed his aching cheek behind his bandaged wrappings.
To Jonathan, he suggested that he find the correct militia to accompany him back to the Faculty - otherwise there were always several mercenaries in Nomad Town which sought after the thrill of danger - he could petition to them to follow him.
-
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#118The ceremony of welcoming, trade of services and the sundering of the party
Amongst the nomads there were two kinds of spouses; one could take a wife, and be bound to her as an equal in all matters, or one could elect to have concubines in the stead of a wife. In the case of wives there was the pooling of resources, the combining of two clan economies and the forging of an alliance. Wives were chosen for their birthing capacities, but also as a strategic partner for defense and prosperity. Sometimes even love was involved. Sometimes, but not always. Concubines were another matter entirely and mostly beautiful women of poor nomad families and clans elected such a life. In this there was no dishonor for it was a conscious choice made by the woman and her clan. In exchange for gifts and offerings of protection and perhaps minor trading rights if the concubine-to-be possessed extraordinary beauty, the woman of the poor clan would bind herself to a master. It would be her place to be obedient and provide the master and his guests with pleasure and comfort. No longer a free willed individual, the concubine was now a tool; a cook, a lover, a whore, a maid and an object worthy of respect and admiration. It was ever the way of the nomads and the teachings of Amarokh, for the Lost God of the Oasis would not tolerate any abuse and mistreatment of these reborn objects of desire, or so said the spiritmasters. Even more there could be male concubines too, but those were rarely heard off, though Kiph had seen one once.
Never one to share his life with equals, Abak Loett had taken three concubines instead of a wife, and Kiph had shared bed with most of them save for the newest addition, a tan beauty he had met but once.
And so we meet again, you and I second concubine of my former master
Flushed Kiph fought the rising tension in his crotch as the second concubine massaged his neck, her bottom nudging rhythmically against his penis as she squatted in his lap, practicing massage the way nomad concubines were wont to do.
Ralkhara paid her little heed for he well knew the ancient traditions of the nomad concubines, bestowed upon other nomads that were friendly to their master. “Do you know where I can find supplies? Fuel, food and medical supplies?” the pathfinder grew restless, for there was not the time for this. True, he realized that the other nomads only saw profit in this endeavor, for had not a spacer vessel rained from above, a bounty ripe for the taking? Still, in spite of their words of warning, the concubine had insisted upon the ancient ritual of greeting. A little delayed, after the initial debate and the impromptu funeral, but still she insisted.
“Master Abak ever anticipates your actions, master Ralkhara” the concubine said, her hips swaying most favorably, by the sight of Kiph, as her fingers kneaded shoulders, edging ever down the Fatebringer’s spine. “But I must admit as to so some curiosity from his part as to why you require fuel? If memory serves, you had quite the supply, you two and your horned woman friend”
And as Kiph and Ralkhara bartered with the woman, Jonathan silently left the tent, a singular purpose in mind. Well, almost singular for the scientist had never witnessed the manner in which a nomad concubine welcomed a friend of the family. Stealing one last stare at the ample woman, the scientist slipped from the tent, heading back for the Faculty. His mind was numbed with terror, but there was one thing the scientist could not ignore. One thing he would not reveal to friends, even stalwart ones such as Ceres.
Better that she does not know. As for the rest of them, they believe me dead already. It matters not. The die is cast, an enemy unveiled. If the Warden still breathes there will be a reckoning, and much need be done.
Looking back the eyes of the scientist fell upon Ceres, the huge woman crying by her friend’s grave. She stood there still, long after the others had gone back inside the tent. It was as if she had not even noticed their presence during the burial. But they had been there, respectfully honoring their fallen friend.
“Fare thee well, my horned friend. Though you do not know so, your path is now fraught with far more danger than mine. In the face of this oncoming storm, I fear there will be no safe place, no shelter nor sanctuary. No place except perhaps the Warden’s place. We shall see. Aye, we shall see.”
Back inside the tent the bartering proceeded far more smoothly than Ralkhara had anticipated. With Kiph smiling sheepishly beneath her, his eyelids even now closing as sleep claimed him the woman whispered her unexpected offer to Ralkhara.
“My master has a proposition for you, pathfinder. He has desire for passage. In the face of this, he truly believes there is but one wise course of action, and that is to flee this wretched place” squeezing Kiph’s nipple, making him grunt and curse, she awoke the partially slumbering nomad.
“Abak Loett wishes safe passage and space in your truck, for himself, his home and his three concubines. In return he offers one hundred liters of fuel, food, enough to keep you fed for one month, but no medical supplies. He does offer you several grams of spirit weed, though, as well as a finely cut pipe of Bleak Wood make. A nice souvenir from this place, don’t you think? I see from your eyes that you wonder at this lavish gift. All I can say is that my master intends to travel long and far.”
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Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#119"So be it" Ceres tossed the last showel of wet dirt upon the grave, and rolled a nearby boulder over it, as a crude headstone of sorts, perhaps to keep away beasts that might dig him up, perhaps because somehow, it reminded her of Bakur? She was the last one to know.
Resembling a monster of the bogs more than a civilised human, she stood there, in the rain, letting it wash away... all. Sweep away the heat of the last hours, the feeling of failure, the aura of pain on the edge of her consciousness - pain that seemed to cover Bleak Wood like a malignant shroud. Wash it away...
A while later, she poked her wet visage into the tent and, matter-of-factly, spoke: "We should be of - whether to fetch our prize, or get out of this hole is up to you. My judgment is not sound today. And... where is Jonathan anyway?" -
Re: Bleak Wood - Nightfall
#120Ralkhara's questioning of the concubine distracted Kiph from his own musings, deep awash as he was in ecstatic convulsions.
"Where is your master, that I might honor him?" Kiph managed between murmerings. The woman's hands were practiced, organic tools of pleasure.
Soon, Kiph was drifting off, but then a sharp, but not unpleasant pain in his chest woke him once more. He had heard the concubine's request and was amazed at what he had just heard. Not only had his master needed Kiph's help, but the wily, old nomad was offering a ripe bonanza in return.
“Abak Loett wishes safe passage and space in your truck, for himself, his home and his three concubines. In return he offers one hundred liters of fuel, food, enough to keep you fed for one month, but no medical supplies. He does offer you several grams of spirit weed, though, as well as a finely cut pipe of Bleak Wood make. A nice souvenir from this place, don’t you think? I see from your eyes that you wonder at this lavish gift. All I can say is that my master intends to travel long and far.”
"Of course! Tell him we will oblige him. Where is he, where is Master Loett?" Kiph mouthed without hesitation, as he witnessed Ceres poking her weary face inside the tent.
But where was Jonathan? Kiph looked around but the scientist was not inside the ample, layered tent.
"Ceres, where is your...friend? Has he gone away? He is a c***, I dont trust him."
Kiph awaited a responce as he dragged himself to a sititng position, and eyed his two companions. Ceres would have the last word he thought, but he was sure the horned woman would accept the unprecedented offer. If not, Kiph would steal the truck and take Abak Loett himself...anywhere the master needed to go.
Rising, he slowly approached the warrior woman. "Bakur was a good man. He died well. It was him or me, you understand. He took the bullet meant for me", he spat, and ventured out into the hazy night, paranoid suddenly that the group was being watched or tracked by someone.
Kiph trusted Ceres and Ralkhara to seal the deal with the concubine. He had nothing further to say until he could speak to his master personally.
He breathed deeply once he stepped out of the tent and looked around.