Old School

1. Re: Old School

   #201

   Elvis let forth an explosive bark as the foreign piece of metal sprang to life in the woman's hand, tensing to lunge at it before she flung it into the darkened recesses of the room, his masters restraining hand on his collar silencing him to a low pitched growl, the familiar scent ticking his memory, friend or foe? He turned to look up at her with a questioning glance, waiting for her instructions.

2. Re: Old School

   #202

   "I did suggest for Marcus to go fetch some torches from town while we got the door opened, but apparently listening isn't his strong suit." She told Carnegie with a sigh, fishing around her back pack for a moment before retrieving her flashlight, it's spear of illumination strikingly bright in the gloom. "The batteries in this are all I have and I got no clue how long they'll last so it's a bit of a last resort." She told her, quickly panning it around before focusing it where Carnegie directed.

3. Re: Old School

   #203

   "Let me propose a radical suggestion, Asha," Marcus began, sarcasm coating his words. "Maybe- just maybe!- I didn't go back to town to get torches because- now here's a thought!- I had some goddamn torches with me?"
   
   So saying, he pulled out two of them. "Oh, look at that! I had torches the whole time? See, some of us like to be prepared." He then proceeded to light the first one, and then touched the tip of the first to the second, spreading the flame. He then offered a torch to both Carnegie and Asha.
   
   If either of you don't want to carry a torch, Marcus will give it to Anya (assuming she's with us- if not, he'll carry it).

4. Re: Old School

   #204

   Asha rolled her eyes, "And you chose to keep this *great* secret to yourself when I asked you to get some torches for us earlier instead of moaning about how long it took us to open the door exactly why again?" She matched his sarcasm with her own, shaking her head and gesturing for him to pass the torch to Ayna, "Do be mindful you don't set the ceiling on fire with the open flame by the way, places like this usually have sensors for smoke and that kind of thing."
   
   

5. Re: Old School

   #205

   Anya took one of the torches, adding her own eye rolling to the reactions.
   
   
   With the new lights, Carnegie saw the books were operating manuals for the computer systems and other engineering equipment for the place they were in.  Some specially marked paged toward the back contained references to a reactor..
   
   The light also revealed the metal thing was still where it landed - it hadn't skittered off.
   
   

6. Re: Old School

   #206

   "Easy! Easy boy..." Carnegie restrained and calmed Elvis, kneeling to pet and hug him. "Be quiet now, huntin mode..." She whispered and rubbed his ears. She looked with worry between Asha and Marcus. Was she the only one who remembered where they were? With a weak smile and a handwave she declined the torch from Marcus, her hands were full as it was after all. "Uhm. Ah've got sum spare batteries, so the flashlight'll do de trick. Better lite too. Thank you... All'a you. Mabbe uhm try n' keep it down though, guys..." She said, looking around, forcing a rickety smile to avoid steppin on any toes. At least they had heard her this time, when it rains it pours...
   
   She looked over the operating manuals and shared with the others what she could decipher. "Hmm, ah'd been hopin fer sumthang a lettle more useful, but we're jess inside de door after all... Oh well, ah guess we uhm... keep moving then?" She got up, packed away the manuals and drew her glock once more, with Elvis's collar in a tight grip, she hunched and waited for Marcus to take point again.

7. Re: Old School

   #207

   Elvis let his growl drop into silence, baring his teeth in a silent snarl at the sudden outpouring of anger and negative energy from the two other pack members, his instincts compelling him to protect his master from any possible threat, her mention of hunting causing him to sniff the ground in search of possible game, the strange scents intriguing, but not that of prey.
   
   He looked up at Carnegie and waited for her to release his collar so he could begin tracking the scents present to their location with in the darkened interior of the facility.

8. Re: Old School

   #208

   Taking advantage of the new light, the id card appeared to belong to Technician Albert Tompson, issued June 1, 2173.  The pill bottles were labeled:
   
   1. Tac-Eezze
   
   Trained Medic Use Only! Schedule 12
   
   Dosage Form: Tablet
   Color:  Scarlet
   
   TETRAPHENOL CYCLOFORMICITE      45mg  x12
   Lockheed Pharmaceuticals
   
   
   2. Ceraphena
   
   Do Not exceed 4 tablets/24 hours
   
   Analgesic
   Bayer
   
   
   
   Having finished their survey of the room, Anya walked over to the bug-like metal thing on the floor and brought her boot down on it hard, making a satisfying crunching noise.
   
   Resuming his direction, now holding one of the torches, he again turned to the right passage, being as quiet as he could manage.  A few meters down the hallway were two doorways on either side, both closed.  Frames near the ceiling that may have once held signs were damaged, signs no where in sight.  Neither door was pierced by a window.  The left door had a card slot, the right what appeared to be a mechanical lock.  The hallway stretched forward as far as torchlight would allow.
   
   
   
   
   

9. Re: Old School

   #209

   Carnegie took out the ID card, looked to see that the others were ready and then swiped the card in the slot, she then quickly crouched down by the side of the door, glock ready, holding Elvis so he wouldn't dart inside.
   
   Do I make a heal check or something to decipher those bottles? Otherwise shes's just gonna assume that analgesic stands for suppositories. :P And the other thing a google search didn't even bring light to.

10. Re: Old School

    #210

    "Anya, could you kindly take cover with the desk, and get ready to lay down suppressing fire with your fifty if something truly big and nasty waits for us on the other side of this door?" She asked her, giving a reassuring smile as she flanked onto the other side of the door, turning off and pocketing her light and holding her own pistol comfortably, ready to step out and sweep the corridor once it finished opening, giving her companions a nod.
    
    

11. Re: Old School

    #211

    Anya unslung her rifle. "You know, if I fire this thing in here you'll all be deaf ..."
    
    
    One swipe of the card and a little green light flashed on the door.  The next moment a strained servo motor engaged and the door haltingly slid aside, revealing a room barely illuminated by dim light panels overhead.  Nothing moved or jumped out, so Carnegie peeked inside.  Row upon row of lockers, most swung open, and empty racks on the walls.  A few cardboard boxes lay on the floor and some loose rounds of some type where scattered about. 
    
    Elvis caught a somewhat familiar odor - the odor of guns, though faint and old. More like the old armory at Redtower than an immediate threat. Guns still made him nervous - the sounds of them - so loud, so sharp.  He also heard something in the distance, quite a ways away though he couldn't judge the distance. Some type of mechanical hum.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

12. Re: Old School

    #212

    "Better deaf than eviscerated by a gibbering horde of mechanical monsters," She told Ayna with a wink, grateful her cannon had not proved necessary, "Still you have a point, probably better to use a side arm for now." She looked at the rest of the group weighing options, "Probably best to proceed with caution, probably leave the torches unlit so we don't give away our approach and set of any fire sensors."
    
    "Want me to take point Carnegie? I can move ahead silently and keep an eye out for any surprises." She figured since Carnegie had the medical skills and I.D card along with the manuals she was the one with the best idea of where to go, so she might as well defer to her judgement until circumstances dictated otherwise.

13. Re: Old School

    #213

    Carnegie looked unsure, why was she asking her of all people. She hesitated but shook her head with a concerned face, she gave Elvis the hand signal to stay, nodded to Asha and slowly stepped inside the door, sweeping her glock around, double gripped, scanning the room, making sure she didn't step on the scattered ammuniton. She wasn't sure where Asha's expertise lay, but as a hunter she was used to sneaking, in either case, any danger she would face, she wanted to be there for. She would tell her as much, once she knew the room was just that and there wasn't any other doors than the one they had entered through.
    
    If neccessary, I'll take a perception and a stealth check as me and Asha sweep the room.

14. Re: Old School

    #214

    Elvis whined softly in protest, but quickly sat on his haunches and gave her a hopeful look, the compelling smells and sounds deeper in the complex stirring his instinctual curiosity, the flickering memories of the armory dampening his eagerness.
    
    He sniffed the air a second time as the disturbance of their passage stirred the  dust, and with it more unfamiliar scents.

15. Re: Old School

    #215

    Asha gave Carnegie a nod and advanced cautiously, grasping her pistol at the low ready position, her flashlight held in the eye index technique style should more illumination become necessary, although her mutated eye sight currently was more than sufficient for the lower lightning of the area.
    
    (I'll take a perception and stealth roll as well, although Asha is more searching for traps/camera/turrets etc.. than hidden foes.)

16. Re: Old School

    #216

    Anya held a lit torch in her off hand, her pistol held for overwatch as Carnegie and Asha went through the room. If they she quenched the torch now - if was even possible to do so, it would be many minutes before her eyes adjusted to the darkness.
    
    Marcus was standing in the hallway, axe and torch in hand, waiting for something, anything to fight. This skulking about was getting tiring.
    
    It appeared to once have been an armory, but apart from a few scattered rounds - 12 7.62 NATO to be exact, was completely cleaned out.  Well, there was one locker still locked - apparently someone jammed the wrong key in, as the lock was full of broken key. 
    
    
    Elvis could hear another sound in the distance, something less machiney and more random.  He couldn't put his paw on it, but it did seem to be coming...
    
    
    
    
    
    

17. Re: Old School

    #217

    He growled in warning, the hackles on the back of his fur rising as the noise grew closer, he lowered himself closer to the group and snarled, slowly retreating towards the familiarity of the previous room, eyeing Carnegie with concern, the sound of machinery one his instincts told him meant certain death.

18. Re: Old School

    #218

    Carnegie looked at Elvis with alarm, with a low voice she said; "Sumthin's comin! Do we hole up in 'ere or face it in de corridor?" She hugged the opening in the door and peeked out, her glock at the ready.
    
    I'm gonna ready a shot unless someone has a better plan. Rolled 16 (+7) +1 when further away than 30ft. So total of 24.
    
    Also requesting a stealth check.

19. Re: Old School

    #219

    Asha thought for a moment, gesturing for them to fall back towards the door as she spoke, "Whatever is coming let's face it in the other room, if we don't stop it before it gets to the door we can close the door as it comes through it and maybe pin it with the door or cut it in half if we're lucky." She strained her ears listening for the approaching threat, hoping it was only some type of automated cleaning robot and not another mechanical dog.
    
    She turned to look at Marcus as she fell back to the doorway, "Do you have any ranged weaponry? If not do you think you can finish it off once the door pins it with your axe?"

20. Re: Old School

    #220

    It seemed ages before the others could hear something, their hearts pounding in the otherwise silent halls.  A strange, stumbling cadence.  Sounded close to the entrance room.
    Something that sounded like garbled speech or at least muttering. A click and the sound of a motor. It seemed to have paused.
    
    Elvis now added smell to the sound. Man, but sour, old, but not dead.  Like old people, or maybe prisoners.  Unclean.
    
    
    I'll let you keep that shot Goss. Next time wait for a target :)

21. Re: Old School

    #221

    Elvis stopped his snarling as the more familiar scent of man came to him, one that was sickly or infirm, less of a threat than he initially anticipated. He paused and tilted his head, whining in uncertainty as he peered into the gloom, looking up at Carnegie for instructions.

22. Re: Old School

    #222

    Carnegie frowned, that had sounded like a human voice, and Elvis had stopped growling. Still, they weren't supposed to be here after all, and human didn't neccesarily mean friendly. She glanced at Asha, not really sure how to handle things. She just hoped the unseen figure hadn't heard the dog.
    
    That's what ready shot means, val. :P Oh, and I'll take a perception check, try and listen to what he's saying.

23. Re: Old School

    #223

    Asha lowered her weapon slightly at the sound of the approaching human, thinking quickly, "Let's keep out of sight and see if it's a security guard and how heavily armed they are, we don't want to raise the alarm if we can avoid it, it may just be a worker sent to check on the door opening or doing basic maintenance."
    
    She gestured to either side of the open door, kneeling down and pulling out her mirror from her personal hygiene kit and holding it at an angle to see around the corner and hopefully get a good look at what approached before it noticed them.
    
    (stealth roll and perception check please GM? )

24. Re: Old School

    #224

    The speech - if one could call it that - had been short and incomprehensible.  It had echos of humanity, but nothing more.
    
    It 'spoke' again  - "Bnr czk dnts" and began shuffling towards the armory. Something seemed to have got its attention.
    
    Asha's mirror revealed a - human - in blue coveralls with the number 117 emblazoned on it. His face was pale and expressionless, and the eyes didn't look right at all - very glassy - almost artificial.
    
    He carried what appeared to be a pistol of some type in his hand.
    
    Passed perception checks for Carnegie and Asha. Failed Stealth roll for Asha, though there is no indication what caught its attention.

25. Re: Old School

    #225

    Asha looked over at Carengie, risking speech in a low whisper, "One guy with a pistol, looks like he's half robot like the dog was, but broken, worn down kind of," She looked over at Marcus and shrugged, "Do you want to go axe it to death or would you rather we expend pistol rounds to take it down?"
    
    (If Marcus declines to charge in for melee next action will be to pop out alongside Carnegie and Ayna and fill it full of holes till it drops. Shooting it would be the default choice, but after the last fight our ammo supply is low enough Asha figures conserving it if possible is a wiser idea.)

26. Re: Old School

    #226

    Marcus simply grunted in response, and eagerly charged out into the hallway. His enthusiasm got the better of him, for he stumbled slightly, enough for the zombie to react and fire.
    
    Or attempt to fire - the pistol made an odd noise and jammed.
    
    It stood momentarily confused as Marcus charged in close and swung his axe at him, the solid hit tearing through its overalls and sending up a spray of blood.  It didn't seem overly concerned by the wound and made no effort to withdraw.
    
    1 int for Marcus, 11 for zombie.  It did not seem the slightest bit surprised.
    First shot Zombie. Nat 1. Jam. 
    Marcus, rolled 18 so could hit AC 26. Hits (it better!) and does 9 points of damage.
    
    Others can jump in, though firing into melee in a 10' wide hallway may be hazardous. Since Marcus took point and moved to the target, you can roll init for your own order, or order by posting will be fine.  Next round will use normal initiative.
    
    
    
    
    

27. Re: Old School

    #227

    As soon as Marcus had run past her, Carnegie stepped out, her glock already readied, as soon as the target came into unobstructed view she was just about to fire when she hesitated, human!? No, she decided and fired. Ye Gods, are the dead coming alive now, she thought.
    
    Ok, using my 24 roll (which now takes a -4 penalty). 6, 3 (9 +1, total of 10 damage if it hits). And my initiative for next round will be,
    11 +6, 17 total.

28. Re: Old School

    #228

    Blood splatter behind the thing, announcing the success of her shot. Disturbingly, it kept on coming.
    
    
    Room in hallway for 2 more PCs if you want to dogpile on it. Anya will go after Elvis and Silv

29. Re: Old School

    #229

    Asha stepped out as well, triggering  a shot and quickly adjusting as it sparked off the wall, hoping her next one would be on target. She took a half breath and steadied her aim, attempting to line up a solid headshot for her next attack, attempting to block out the noise and anticipate her moment correctly so she would miss the bobbing form of Marcus.
    
    (13:26:55) Minion: Silveressa rolls 1d20 and gets 12. +/- bonuses = 8
    
    Initiative for next round: (13:32:53) Minion: Silveressa rolls 1d20 and gets 18.

30. Re: Old School

    #230

    Elvis tilted his head and watched the muscled barbarian charge the new arrival, the fresh scent of blood flooding his nostrils as the axe struck home, the explosions of gun fire painfully loud in the confines of the bunker. With a whine of displeasure he scurried under the desk and covered his head with his paws, waiting for the thunderous cacophony to subside or Carnegie to order him into action.

31. Re: Old School

    #231

    Asha had stepped out as well, and her own pistol rang out.
    
    Blam!  Where Asha's bullet tried and missed, Anya's struck home.  Into one glassy eye the hollowpoint crashed, and the back of the thing's skull exploded.
    Its pistol dropped from nerveless hands and it slumped forward onto Marcus's shield.
    
    Frustrated, he knocked it backwards onto the floor, and stooped to pick up the pistol. 
    
    It was suddenly very quiet.
    
    Ok, used Random.org for the die roll. Got a 20 on the first try.... 16 points of damage later...
    Pistol is an CZ 75 9mm, 20 rand mag, currently contains 14. 
    
    
    

32. Re: Old School

    #232

    A pale Carnegie lowered her gun and with her free hand she reached underneath her shirt and pulled out her cross, she squeezed it for comfort. "What 'ave dey done ta 'im...Ain't rite, ain't no way ta treat sumone. Was 'e already ded..." She mumbled, looking down at the 'corpse'. She had never killed a human, she wasn't sure if this counted, but it gave her a sinking feeling to her stomach. She had to look away, she was close to barfing.
    
    Instead she went to find Elvis. She huddled down by the desk and dug out his chewtoy from one of her pockets, she spoke comforting and offered the fake squeeky bone to him while patting his head. Had she been right in bringing him along? This wasn't an ordinary hunt and these metal monstrosities was far removed from the dead quarries he usually fetched for her. Poor thing she thought, should have brought some ear plugs. She looked forlornly around the room, then she got up and tried her crowbar on the stuck locker door.
    
    Crowbarring locked locker door.

33. Re: Old School

    #233

    Asha smiled and nodded in approval, the dead monstrosity no longer a threat. "Nice team work," She half expected the comment to be met with more sarcasm and rudeness from Marcus, but hoped recognition might improve his mood somewhat. She knelt and gave the body a quick search, the smell up close making her glad she'd had a light breakfast, retrieving the pistol and quickly unloading it.
    
    "Until the weapon gets a once over and cleaning I wouldn't trust it." She told the group, tucking it away in her own pack, realizing she had more room with all of the medical supplies Carnegie was carrying and the bulk of Ayna's giant sniper rifle. "Once we're done poking around this place we can sort out anything we find and make sure everyone gets a fair share." She told her companions, hoping the honest gesture of mutual benefit on her part would curb any future hostilities among them. "Although personally, I think the town might benefit from some of the medical supplies we find here."
    
    She stood up and retrieved the spent casings and live rounds scattered throughout the room, offering Carnegie half of the VP 70z's ammunition for her own pistol before taking a step back and giving her more room to pry open the locker.
    
    Carnegie, take half the .9mm ammo if you want it?
    
    Also: If Carnegie has any difficulty opening it with her pry bar assume Asha gestures to it and giving Marcus a questioning glance.

34. Re: Old School

    #234

    Elvis whined softly, the smell of cordite in the air making him sneeze is displeasure, the offer of the squeaky toy pushing his previous fears out of his mind in light of the new opportunity for play. With a pant and lick of Carnegie's hand he grabbed up the squeaky bone and began to chew eagerly, keeping  awatchful eye on his master as she seemed intent of opening the oddly shaped box in front of her.
    
    He perked an ear momentarily, his instinct telling him to listen for any more approaching threats.
    
    Perception/listen roll please GM, and if you like feel free to pm me the results instead of posting them. ;)

35. Re: Old School

    #235

    Marcus huffed a little. He wanted a pistol - a revolver, and not one of the prissy 9mm that the ladies here seemed to all love.  A sweet .44 like his Uncle had, before he disappeared on patrol three years ago.  God the boom it made...
    
    "I could have handled it without all the damn noise..." he said.
    
    
    Asha found the corpse far warmer then she might have expected for the living dead.  With its face ruined by the bullet, there was very little unusual about it - skin was too pale, probably never seen the sun, and painfully thin though not corpse like.  And the blood looked perfectly normal.
    
    Her search turned up another key-card. Frederic Jones. Technician.  Also a small kit with some tools - little screwdrivers, some assorted electronic parts, and two odd disk-like devices labeled "Advanced Computronics STA Mk 11".  Each disk had a pictograph showing the disk being placed below the ear and a button on the side activated.  A stylized professorial looking woman smiled on the cover.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

36. Re: Old School

    #236

    In the meantime, Carnegie started prying at the locker.  It was well built and did not respond to her efforts. More muscle was needed. 
    
    Marcus looked at Carnegie's efforts and sneered. He said nothing, but walked over and grabbed the crowbar from her.  "Watch."  He put his full force into it, and the door sprung open, shedding a couple of parts.
    
    He handed back the crowbar, a smirk half hidden on his face.
    
    Inside could be found a heavy vest with plates sewn into it, a plasticized full body suit with integral helmet and odd disks attached to the lower portion or the helmet. 2 more such disks sat on a shelf.
    A cardboard box marked "Tear Gas" contained 4 grenades.  One metal rod with a cross-handle about 5" from on end.
    
    
    Random.org.  19.  Not so random???  Strength Check 24 ...

37. Re: Old School

    #237

    "Hmm? Oh, thanks..." A distracted Carnegie accepted the ammo from Asha.
    
    -
    
    "With a blank face Carnegie looked at Marcus, seemingly looking through him, she accepted the crowbar back, gave a mechanical nod and slowly bent down to rummage through the locker." Human, not human, you saw him dammit! The words echoed through her head.
    
    Taking (7) 9.mm ammo and 2 tear gas grenades.
    
    

38. Re: Old School

    #238

    With a smile she reached into the locker pocketed two of the grenade before withdrawing the vest, holding it up and gauging its size, hoping it would fit her comfortably but happy to pass it along to one of her companions if not. With a look of concern she leaned closer to Carnegie and spoke softly, "Are you okay? You seem a little rattled."
    
    (GM will the vest fit? if not who does it look like it will fit best?)

39. Re: Old School

    #239

    Elvis panted contentedly, his calm demeanor making it clear to those who chose to observe him no threat lurked, although his mistresses unease kept him from total relaxtion, he rose and nosed at her hand, whining in worry at her unsettled mood, pushing his side against her leg in comfort.

40. Re: Old School

    #240

    Carnegie distractedly patted Elvis while she handled her cross. "S'jess...ye dun Think 'e wuz alive? D'ye? 'E looked ded...A-ah woudn't 'ave...Ah mean...Ah've never killed a person afore. Ah dunno iffin Ah coudd live with mahself... But 'e wuzn't...alive, rite?" She looked pleadingly at Asha.

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