Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [DONE] — Legacy Forums

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#121

egads! This is going so fast! I wish I had a chance to post last night, my fault. Ok, phew, umm, let me read all that again. This is an awesome scene, let me say again, and d-d is rocking the mic! I will say this, Kiph would be VERY torn right now. I know what >I< want to do, (go on hovercraft!), but Kiph, maniac that he is, would probably rope down, and follow Ralkhara and the Prophet. These are his peeps! :wink: Okay, let me think...

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#122

The roof-top scene was overloading Kiph's fragile senses. Everything seemed so surreal to Badblood, that for a while he could only stare with saucer-eyes from his hiding spot. Normally this burning, bloody, chaos would only serve to titilate the young madman, yet now his nerves were completely frayed, and his mind was quite useless even to himself.

------------------------

Glancing down at the weird little apparatus in his hand, the blipping continued as Ralkhara moved farther away. Where was he going? Why did he not follow the Prophet? The Prophet's words rang in Kiph's mind. We shall meet again

I have helped the Prophet escape! Friend of the G'Kraun! Kiph of the Inner Eye! Kiph the Badblood has saved thousands of lives! A hero of the G'Kraun! he mused, his mouth a trembling grin. Kiph felt an undeniable connection to the Prophet. His brain had been opened by HIM. Not like the Last Gambit had opened it, no no. Not with saws and drills, but with LOVE...

A nearly uncontrollable desire to join the Prophet suddenly seized Kiph. He belonged with the G'Kraun he reasoned. They were like him. Tainted. Molested. Hurt. Ralkhara interested him as well, was his last link to the Goddess, Ceres. Where was he going? He asked himself again.

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#123

Several minutes later, after much perspiring and mumbling, Kiph had made up his mind. He was going to Sail down Riv's rope, and flee with his brethren------

That was when he noticed Cormac talking in some bizarre, incomprehensible language into a hand-held machine. This froze Kiph and he listened to the voices speaking in tongues. By the time the huge hovercraft began its descent, Kiph had understood enough. And he had heard the magic words, 'last gambit'.

Still crouching, he made his way, toward Cormac. The man's back was to Kiph, as he stared at the approachin, hissing, thing. Another hissing noise, and then a ramp lowered. A figure emerged. A figure that bewitched Kiph almost immediately. A woman! A pretty woman with pretty, smooth skin.

"Colonel Anderson.... Please enter", she announced.

Who the hell was Colonel Anderson?

Cormac now began walking toward the vision with sable hair, seemingly transfixed. Kiph followed slowly. As he did he kept staring at the woman, and finally, unable to control himself, began opening her mind.

Trying to impart suggestion on lovely Helena. The suggestion ( a vague one) being that I, Kiph, am extremely important to her well-being and future plans somehow, and that she needs to have me onboard at all costs. (like i said, a vague suggestion, more like a nagging thought imparted) :wink:

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#124

sorry for using so many posts

base mind probe skill: 10%
Rolled 1d100 : 55, total 55

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#125

Sweetness! The result of the listen skill roll will have to wait a liiiittle bit longer. For now: The Helena introduction scene!

Riv stood entranced by the beauty of the fiery scene in front of him, and it took a raven haired beauty in a tight fit black velvet dress to turn him away from it. He stood watching as the woman came halfway down the ramp, opening her arms in a welcoming gesture, looking straight at Cormac.

"Colonel Anderson, you look unusually good!", she said with a sly smile. "Please do come inside, I have cognac and whisky, and if memory serves me right you won't refuse either"

The seductive gambit operative who had once been the center of Cormac's life extended her left arm towards the mercenary. "Come... Anderson, and please tell me... Who are your friends?"

Her eyes darted over Riv, pausing briefly at Kiph, wrinkling her brow quizzically then looking back at Cormac.

"Will you give me a hug?... My love", that last sentence was spoken with raw emotion in her voice.

- Kiph failed the mind probe. This stuff is new to him, yet it seems the attempt made Helena notice him... Somehow.
- While Helena is speaking with Cormac, all of you can interfere, or do other stuff.
- If any of you wanna post something about the inside of the VTOL Hovercraft, well here are the basics of the shuttle layout:

First room: Narrow passage through the cargo hold (because stuff has been cramped along the walls inside; fastnened using rope webbing / nets).
Second room: Luxuriously decorated white leather and ox skin salon / op center. (Liquor, spirits and computer screens galore in Jean Paul Gaultier paradise!)
Third room: Corridor with toilets (2) and small bunks (3) to the left, larger, lavishly decorated bedroom to the right and cockpit straight ahead and up a ladder
Up ladder ahead: Cockpit.
Down hatch from the corridor: Engine room (crawl space)
Wall hatch from large bedrom and centermost bunk (right and left side of the ship): Auxiliary systems

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#126

Riv was near overload. Some much to see...

He absentmindedly started coiling his rope back up - perhaps they would leave differently then he expected. If not, he could always deploy it again, though something in the back of him mind warned this might not be the case. He squelched that thought and instead lived in the moment.

He simply packed up and walked towards the strange craft, as if that were the only right and proper thing to do.

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#127

Pausing up the ramp to gaze upon Helena with consideration, Cormac reflected her sly smile and replied:

"Major Sandstern. What a pleasant surprise it is to see a fine officer such as yourself in these troubled times. These are... Special operatives, recruited for their unique skills in..." Pausing, Cormac turned toward Riv and asked: "What can you do, actually? Besides attracting the oddest coincidences of course. "

Turning back towards his long time friend and lover he continued "Anyway, as I was saying, Major Sandstern, It is good to see you." At this, Cormac picked up Helena in his arms and kissed her. Feeling her lithe and muscular body against him once again was more than he had ever hoped for before dying. Of course a time would come for explanations, blame and accountability, but this was not such a time.

And for an instant, Cormac forgot that he was in the middle of a battlefield, in a ruined city, pursued by atrocities. He forgot the blood on his hands, and his sins committed. He forgot the flames and the scars. For an instant, He was home.

Putting her back down on the metal ramp reluctantly, he said nothing, but let her lead him inside, and saw how she casually gestured to Riv and Kiph to come onboard. Fate, it seemed, had taken a shine to his callous soul.

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#128

Kiph entered the hovercraft gingerly, still keeping one eye on this Major Sandstern. Entering the leather and ox -room however, aroused Kiph in some fashion, and he finally managed to calm himself.

Turning back to Riv and Cormac (or whatever his name was), Kiph let out an audible sigh.

"Now THAT was a @!#$ing s**tSTORM!"

He laughed out loud for a moment, then turned to Sandstern. "I am called Kiph. This is Riv the Firestarter. You already seem to know Cormac here, or the Colonel, or whatever you call him" he wrinkled his nose, "Who are you and where are we going?"

He turned to Cormac then. "You have mated with this one before?"

A thousand thoughts ran through Kiph's mind, he was neurotic to the core, and his false bravado was a way for him to cope with the here and now.

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#129

Helena relaxed for the first time in years, being swept up in the embrace of the love of her life. The scene stood in stark contrast to all those nights with the colonel. There had been no love, only brutal desire and cold rape. Keeping the colonel at bay emotionally had kept him interested, however, and she had avoided the fate most of his girls suffered; being handed out to his loyal bodyguards for their amusement.

"Cormac...", Helena whispered as he held her tightly. "I am in trouble. I... I killed the colonel a few days ago, but the pilot and the rest of the Gambit doesn't know that". She looked deeply into his eyes, he had been gone so many years. Who was he now? Did he still love her like she loved him?

Helena was introduced to Kiph and Riv then. and shaking of the hands of the pyromaniac she felt cold to the core of her soul. There was something terrifying about this man, a coldness to his eyes.

He wouldn't hesitate for a second before murdering me. It would be like eating breakfast for this man... A casual thing

Then she looked at Kiph again. There was something vaguely familiar about him. She had seen his face somewhere before, of that she was sure.

"Kiph, I am intrigued. Have we met before? You look so familiar, but I have been living in a Gambit enclave all my life. Are you Gambit as well?"

*************************************

Jhedai Arongo was one of the finest pilots in the Last Gambit, and a natural first option for piloting the hovercraft. He hit the vertical thrusters and the hovercraft silently cushioned its way upwards, but the cargo ramp wouldn't close. "Damn", he swore. There was an altitude lock on the craft. When in flight he could open the cargo doors, and did so at times to drop goods or special operations Gambit paratroopers, but during takeoff he couldn't go more than two meters into the air. It was a safety feature built into the navigation systems by the Gambit Engineers.

*************************************

Riv rested on the couch, a glass of whiskey comfortably in his palm when a voice spoke over the intercom.

"Major, we have a problem. The cargo ramp is malfunctioning, I can't seem to close it. Could you or one of your companions go out and see if you can unjam it?"

Then the craft rocked violently sideways, throwing Helena to the floor.

"Damn, Major, we seem to have collided into... something, and we are stuck. The shuttle won't respond to my instructions. I need you out there now!... Sir"

And with that Helena pushed a button beside the door to the cargo room. Part of the wall slided silently open, revealing three assault rifles in a steel gun rack.

"Okay... Cormac, I don't want to lose you again. Who knows what just happened, with this town I ain't taking any chances. I just found you, I don't want to lose you again... Stay here, take a shower. Kiph, Riv, grab an assault rifle and help me outside!"

She moved to open the door to the cargo room.

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#130

Just wanna say: You all play your characters to the core! Murderous Riv, Charismatic Cormac and Confused Kiph! I LOVE IT!

Please note that there is room for some conversation before the incident.

Also, roll 1d20. If you roll lower or equal to your DEX score you remain afoot during the crash. If not you fall, and in Riv's (and any other with drink) case, you spill your drink. ;)

Kiph: You can also roll 1d100. If you roll below your INTx2 score (13 x 2 = 26) you will gain some memories about Helena which have been buried in your subconscious.

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#131

At Kiph's blunt question, Cormac burst out laughing.

"It seems you still have much to learn, dear Badblood. Perhaps a long conversation on the ways of the world is in order. You'll not pick up girls going round asking thos kinds of questions, you know. "

Turning towards Helena with a smile, his eyes grew serious: "Can we trust your pilot?", but her reply was interrupted she was thrown to the floor.

Roll against DEX@6: http://strolen.com/guild/Themes/Winter30smfRC2/images/dice_warn.gif This dice roll has been tampered with!
Rolled 1d20 : 15, total 15

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#132

to the floor I go.

No rest for the wicked he thought darkly while getting up himself. Watching Helena part the wall and reveal the cold, matt and deadly hardware, he remembered why he'd fallen in love. It had all been such a long time ago.

At her suggestion, he looked intently at her with surprise: "In all this time, dearest Helena, you seem to have forgotten what it is I do for a living."

Having heard that the pilot had called for a male major, Cormac thought fast.

"Badblood, stay here. We need someone to watch out for our pilot. He tries something funny, you slit his throat. " with that, he took out his combat knife and handed it butt first to the fatebringer. "I'll have that back, though." he added with a smile.

Cormac took a rifle from the steel rack, as well as two spare clip which he tucked in the specially designed pouches at the back of his uniform. Cradling the familiar shape of the rifle, he put on his glasses and added with a weary look: "All this killing is getting somewhat tiresome." and without waiting for Helena or Riv, he started towards the rear of the craft.

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#133

Helena laid her hand on Cormac's wrist. Blushing with shame she looked him in the eyes.

"I am the major. They call me Major Titts. It is a long story, but I have a temper and the colonel thought I barked like a major. A well endowed major, breastwise. So he ordered his boys to call me major, and I have been speaking for him when he is gone, like now. The pilot must have realized you weren't the colonel though, and... No, he can't be trusted. Not when he finds out what I've done. He is Anderson's man, through and through."

The woman looked embarrassed and lost at first, but then regained her composure as she told her tale.

"Can any of you pilot a hovercraft? If not, well, he is all we have"

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#134

Being stopped by Helena, Cormac though about his options. "Well, Riv here can pilot chopppers, can't be that different, can it?"

Turning to Kiph once again, he spoke wistfully "Alright, I guess we can't just kill him outright. Kiph, you better leave his his eyes, hands and feet intact. But if he starts being funny feel free to remind him he doesn't need his tongue for piloting, nor his testicles." He winked cheerfully at the fatebringer before continuing towards the ramp.

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#135

Dex check Rolled 1d20 : 11, total 11 vs 15...

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#136

Riv watched his fellow passengers thrown about by the impact dispassionately and then drained his glass. He went over to the arms locker.

Riv's eyes lighted up when he saw the heavier ordinance, grabbed the rifle and took a few moments to fit the launcher. He then grabbed the grenades, barely suppressing a giggle, loaded the rifle and grabbed another pair of clips.

He looked at the bayonet as well, but figured he wouldn't likely be knifing someone from a hovercraft. Well, most likely not.

"Well, there might a bit of an adjustment, but nothing we couldn't figure out if we had to," Riv bluffed, he could barely drive a car, much less one of these fancy machines. But then again, these things burned when they crashed, and that wasn't all bad..

"Lets see what we have back there. I might be able to unjam it. Or blow the fucking thing off," he added with a grin.

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#137

umm, my dice-roller icon has vanished

The Last Gambit. Kiph's heart skipped beats as he studied the woman intently. No, he could not remember her, he thought. But that would make sense, he remembered little, and though Cormac had filled him in a bit, the torturers that 'worked' on Kiph, had picked at his thoughts and memories like crows feeding upon corpses. All was hazy.

He was about to answer when the hovercraft jolted and Cormac, aming others, went down. Kiph managed to hold his balance, and dutifully rushed to grab a rifle, until Cormac, having quickly recovered, redirected Kiph toward a purpose the Fatebringer found significantly more appealing.

Cormac appreciates my talents, Kiph thought, as he accepted a knife, clutched one of his own in the other hand, and proceeded toward the pilot cockpit's ladder. As he slithered, he cut a long, shallow line on his forearm, with his own knife, coating the weapon in his own blood. Grinning, he proceeded, gleefully willing to follow Cormac's instructions quite literally.

"Blow the @!#$ing thing up", he heard just then, and laughed out loud. "Blow it up!" he chimed in pointlessly, glancing in Riv's direction.

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#138

dex Rolled 1d20 : 4, total 4
int Rolled 1d100 : 87, total 87

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#139

First out is Kiph Badblood as he stalks his way to the cockpit

Kiph slid past several doors until he came to the ladder up into the cockpit. He knew the pilot was up there, he had seen him from the outside. There was a round metal hatch in the roof, with a steel gray button beside it, perhaps for opening it up? As Badblood stretched his hand to push the button he heard the pilot inside.

"Rouge Tower this is Captain Arongo, over"

*radio scratching sound*

"Captain Arongo, we read you loud and clear, over"

"Rouge Tower, I've got news about the colonel, it seems his maj..... Oh, noo, nooo. By the thrice blasted Amaroch of the Nomads!"

The sounds from within suggested frenetic activity, unbuckling of belts and falling to the floor.

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#140

Kiph's hand rested on the hatch opening button as all sound from within the cockpit died out.

***************************************************

Helena approached the door to the cargo room, and it opened silently. There was a gentle rocking motion in the vessel, as if in rough water on the sea. Holding the assault rifle in her right hand, she used her left hand to support herself as she made her way through the narrow passage of the cargo hold. Cormac followed right behind her, with Riv at the rear.

Successful listen check: Cormac

As the shapely woman made her way towards the open cargo ramp, Cormac heard sounds from above some netted wooden containers. Looking up and to his right, he noticed a soft blue glow against the back wall and then heard the soft sparking of electricity. Helena, however, seemed oblivious to this and continued further through the narrow space, tossing her hair dramatically as she extended her neck (and rifle) to better see what was ahead.

Cormac: You notice something dark approaching fast, looking like shadows and lightning merged into one

Fumbled listen check: Riv

Cormac had just made his way out of the op center when Riv heard something from the sole monitor that was turned on.

"A massive explosion devastated Rouge Tower as the munitions depot within Majestic Compound was set off in a huge fire earlier today", across the monitor was several images of an enormous fire and smoke bilging through the streets of the most advanced city Riv had ever seen.

"The Scientist bids us all to stay calm, even as reports of squads gone missing and assault choppers being lost comes out of Bleak Wood"

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#141

initiative: Rolled 1d4+5 : 4 + 5, total 9

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#142

A sound from the left made Helena turn around, her gun pointing in the direction of the unknown sound. Step by step she inched closer to the dark, until she was so close she stabbed at the shadows with the muzzle. She didn't know why, but there was something about this that didn't feel right.

*********

In the corner of his eye Cormac saw a brute figure emerge from the shadows behind Helena. Its face was twisted into rage, its crown a series of studs bolted in a circle from temple to temple around the head. Jolts of electricity jumped between the spikes as it charged against Helena. It brought its right fist high into the air and brought it down against her head like a hammer to the anvil, but impossibly fast she spun to the side, diving to the floor and scrambling towards Cormac.

*********

The thing on the crates crawled towards Cormac, seeming like a blur between shadows and electricity, until the weight of the crates shifted and they stretched the nets dangerously in his direction. It was a human thing, a G'Kraun, that moved on all four and had some kind of scorpionlike tail with blade at the end. The being jumped over the passageway, its blades swinging in a deadly arc towards Cormac's neck.

Luckily, first shot goes to Cormac

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#143

Again, those damn voices were distracting Riv from the vision of beauty. Move your ass - something is happening!

Looking away from the screen took force of will - and time, but he succeeded, and headed towards the ramp..

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#144

Numerous deadly encounters had taught him that his most important asset wasn't his gun, but his mind. So Cormac kept it crystal clear. He used his entire body to aim, gently squeezing the trigger, before quickly following the first burst with a second, more carefully aimed burst at the glowing head.

The burst counterpart to the Mozambique Drill was deadly, and cormac had seen its devastating effects. It usually left opponents splattered over the floor in Rorschach-like patterns.

Double burst. Burst 1: point shooting, Burst 2: aimed shooting. rifle skill roll:Rolled 1d100 : 86, total 86

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#145

Chest burst
Rolled 2d6 : 3, 1, total 4 + 4
Rolled 2d6 : 3, 5, total 8 + 4
Rolled 2d6 : 3, 4, total 7 + 4

Head burst
Rolled 2d6 : 3, 5, total 8 + 4
Rolled 2d6 : 3, 1, total 4 + 4
Rolled 2d6 : 1, 6, total 7 + 4

Cormac fired as the thing leapt over him. When the rounds hit the creature was lifted into the air, huge holes being torn through it's chest and head. It hit the cargo room ceiling with a thud and fell down like a limp ragdoll somewhere in the cargo far behind Cormac's back.

Cormac looked up and noticed blood blotches in the ceiling and warm blood mist gently trickling over his face.

NEW ROUND! EVERYONE SEND ME INITIATIVE ROLLS AND I WILL POST THE COMBAT ORDER

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#146

Boy, am I glad I've got my glasses on right now. Someone remind me to take a shower.

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#147

New Combat Round:
#1: 'Major Titts' Helena
#2: Cormac 'Ladies' Man' Jefferson
#3: Riv 'Torch' Scarlette
#4: Pin Head Ceres

Kiph can post whenever he want as he is not in combat mode.
I DO hope he posts, however. Kiph the Badblooded is always a pleasure to follow.

VAL & d_d: It is of no matter who of you posts first. Just post when you can, it happens fragment of a second apart anyhow. When both of you have posted, I will reply. So.... dd or val, whoever of you are online first: post at will!

She spun about so quickly her velvet dress audibly tore, revealing skin as smooth as the fabric of her clothes. Dropping to one knee, she aimed at the giant form of her shadowy opponent, aiming for it's head. She squeezed the trigger, but the giant, now dashing madly towards them, right shoulder lowered in a battering charge, was not hit.

"Coooormaaac!", Helena yelped

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#148

Cormac barely had the time to turn toward the oncoming giant before letting loose another burst on instinct alone. Taking his time once again, he aimed for the head and repeated the battle-tested lethal routine.

roll rifle against 100: Rolled 1d100 : 97, total 97

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#149

Riv saw the bizarre man-thing bolting towards Cormac and Helena, lifted his rifle to his shoulder, and fired a spray at its torso.

Rolled 1d100 : 25, total 25

Riv will fire until, it, or he, is dead.

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#150

Riv grunted as the rifle kicked hard, its recoil more like his shotgun then the subgun he was using so recently. But it was time to play the music, and hopefully the thing would dance...

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#151

Spinning around, Cormac tried to defend helpless Helena, but both his bursts went wide and the enraged muscular giant just barged on, howling in outrage.

Suddenly Riv appeared, his assault rifle set to fully automatic. For what seemed like an eternity he filled the crazed thing with metal, and at first it seemed to barely notice. Then its full charge halted, and step for step it was forced back until it tilted over, thudding down like timber hits the forest floor.

Shaken, Helena rose to her feet.

"T-thank you", she said to Riv, her eyes showing more appreciation of him than the last time she looked at him.

Looking down on the floor they noticed a huge, muscular creature with long, straight platinum blond hair and latte colored skin. The thing had prominent cheeks, but what really caught their attention, apart from the steel pins embedded in a crown from temple to temple, was the sawed off horn on her forehead.

"Riv...", she spoke. What was once Ceres, a member of the party. "...Where... is... my... horn?"

Strangely the bullets hadn't torn through her like they should have. True, she had wounds, lethal ones, but from a deadly hail like that she should have been torn to bits now.

"My master... You... are marked. Dead."

Shadows seemed to reach everywhere, the air smelled of iron and blood. Cormac, one hand on Helenas chest, could feel her heart racing madly under her smooth skin.

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#152

A few minutes ago...

Kiph listened carefully to the scratchy conversation between pilot and tower. As soon as he heard the belt unbuckle, he pushed the gray button, and waited for the hatch to open. It better open he thought angrily, he had no plan B for a metal hatch just now. But one thing was clear, the pilot was officially acting “funny”, and Kiph knew what he now had to do.

He put the bowie knife away at this point, and took out the gun Cormac had given him. He quickly made sure it was loaded, then clutched his own bloody knife in the other hand, and darted through the opening.

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#153

Lithe and gracious, Kiph entered the cockpit, sliding through the hatch like a desert snake through the sand.

Something had cracked the cockpit glass slightly, and in front of the pilot's chair a figure laid twisting and moaning, spasming rhythmically.

Moving in a semi-circle, The Badblood caught sight of the pilot in black he had seen from the outside. A serpentine thing, seemingly of steel, had entwined his neck and was now entering his ear. Its body was pulsating as it pushed through, black blood trickling down the captain's lobe.

Ever cautious, Kiph looked out of the cockpit. A figure in Gambit uniform was positioned on the roof just below the shuttle. His head was studded with the very same metal studs Kiph seen before, on the victims of the Hunter.

A crack pulled Kiph out of his thoughts. Looking down he noticed that steel worm had slid farther into the skull of the pilot, and a metal stud had popped out the left temple from within, cracking his skull in the process.

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#154

"Great, I've got another enemy," said Riv as he racked a new clip into the rifle.

He took a careful bead on what had once been Cere's head.

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#155

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#156

Kiph looked upon the writhing man with some pity, but not much. He was much more enamored of the metal deathworm, truth be told, then a peculiar thought dawned on him. Did they do that to *me*?

Having no answer for himself, he sprung into action, jumping into the pilot's seat, and quickly studied the gadgets. How do I go up? This cant be that hard!

Kiph started pushing buttons, pulling levers, and turning knobs. He waited for something resembling movement to begin. As he did, he grinned widely at the figure standing below.

"Go @!#$ yourself! I am the Badblood! Scourge of the Gambit! Master of the Pit! Wolf-Killer! Slayer of Spacers! Fondler of Women!" he started screaming, and to make his point, brandished the gun, waving it toward the metal-studded freak below.

"Want some? Want some?"He temporarily looked back at Arongo, to make sure he did not lose sight of the deathworm, then continued threatening the last gambit thug, while earnestly trying to get the hovercraft airborne for good.

What do i need here, a skill and an int check? I may lack the skill, i think. To attempt to fly this thing I mean :). Also, What is the skull-crunching worm doing now?

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#157

Hovercraft going wild again! Everyone must make DEX rolls to stay on their feet (1d20)

Riv put one more bullet in each of her eyes, just to be sure, when the hovercraft began rocking wildly sideways. Helena fell into the cargo net, cursing vehemently.

They were eight meters from the open cargo door, and they could all see the heavy chain Ceres had used to tether the craft to the building. No one in the cargo room knew what was happening, but they could see the roof of the facility they had just escaped; the shuttle spun sideways wildly, and now they could see figures amassing by the stairs, ever more flowing up and out of the Bleak Wood building. It looked like some of them waited for an opening; a chance to jump aboard the rocking craft.

Cormac was troubled. Gravity caused the crates and boxes and other cargo within the nets to bulge threateningly in their direction as the damned shuttle careened wildly to the side, nearly tilting over. For a second he thought they were all gonna die, that the nets would unravel and their bodies be crushed under tons of goods. Then the moment passed, only to be replaced by the feeling the craft would drop sideways into the streets, leaving those who survived at the mercy of these horrid creatures.

Helena aimed for the heavy chain and pushed the trigger, but she was thrown into a crate just as she did so, and the shot went off into the wooden container.

***************************

Kiph cackled and screamed within the cockpit, madly pushing buttons and moving the stick that came out of the floor. The craft responded violently, jerking this way and that. When it moved forcefully sideways, gracing that bastard on the roof, he howled gleefully.

Kiph tried to keep an eye on the pilot on the floor, and the thing that was cracking its way into his skull. Then the shuttle stood nearly ninety degrees on the side, making Kiph cling on to the chair with his feet. There was a thud, and when the craft settled down, the thing seemed to slide down the hatch. He heard it hit the floor of the corridor below; a limp, muted sound, as if a sack of potatoes had just been dropped down there.

He could not see the steel worm any longer.

Kiph: You need a "Pilot Hovercraft" skill roll. Your skill is 00, which means a 01-05 is a success. Do not despair, however, because you might get airborne with a fail. It just means that your piloting is... less impressive. The poorer the d100 dice roll, the more catastrophic the flying attempt

Riv & Cormac: It is clear to you that without unfastening the heavy chain in some way, the craft will never get airborne. Obviously the craft moves wildly, but those of you who makes their DEX rolls may move towards the ramp. It is only eight meters away...

Those of you who fail your DEX roll may attempt to dislodge it from where you stand, using nades, guns, whatever. That might also damage the ship. Also: Throwing and shooting from the rocking shuttle incurs a -30 penalty, and no aiming devices can be used. As the heavy chain is a difficult target to hit, you must also detract another 20, for a total of -50 to your skill check.

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#158

Cormac didn't even try to stay stood up. He let the rocking shuttle throw him to the floor and sat down. Knowing that sitting down was the most stable firing positing after laying prone, He aimed for the chain, and fired in short burst until the magazine went empty.

rifle skill at 100. With 50% penalty to shots (I have 4 bursts remaining).
burst one Rolled 1d100 : 78, total 78
burst two Rolled 1d100 : 76, total 76
burst three Rolled 1d100 : 34, total 34
burst four Rolled 1d100 : 43, total 43

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#159

Riv chipped in, firing a short, controlled burst Rolled 1d100 : 41, total 41.

Re: Episode 2, Part 2: Into an Abyss of Horror [RESUMED]

#160

fly check: Rolled 1d100 : 29, total 29