Rifts Adventure - IC Thread

[Psychie]

As you talk, time speeds along until you can hear the sound of the hover cycle approaching once again, and you realize that an hour has already gone by. Just like before, it is Rab easing his cycle along slowly to help avoid any unfortunate accidents from friendly fire.

Once he is certain that you know it's him, Rab parks and hops off, waving in a friendly greeting. "Hello once again. I checked on Oleg and he is doing fine at our own campsite. I hope you have had a productive conversation about my offer. Have you decided on if you would accept my proposal?" He seems hopeful as he stands there, waiting for your answer.

 

[Sherwood]

Raven looks at Rab as he approaches with a nod. Then, something that Sylvie said earlier comes to mind, that a psychic can alter their aura. Just on a whim, he focuses his own mental powers to look at the aura of Rab, hoping to see no change from what Dreamy told them all before.

If there is nothing different, he says, "Mr. Colson. After discussing your offer, we have decided to accept the job. Once the vampires here have been eliminated, we can set off north right away once our equipment is fixed."

 

[Psychie]

When Raven uses his own See Aura power, he spots the same things that Dreamy described; a moderately healthy older man with no sizable PPE or psychic powers detected.

Rab smiles when Raven gives him the good news that you will take him up on his offer. With visible relief on his face, he says, "Excellent! I was hoping you would, and this certainly increases our odds of getting there in one one piece. Thank you. Give me a moment to tell Oleg."

He pulls out a small radio and hits the transmit button, and speaks into it. "Oleg! Good news. The adventurers I was telling you about are willing to be our escorts. We just need to do a few repairs and dig into our supplies to refill their ammo, then take care of the undead here and we will be on our way."

 

[Psychie]

Over the course of the next two weeks, everyone is very busy getting the repairs done and some needed scouting out of the rumored vampires in Turner Town. Thanks to the psychic powers of several members of the party, you are able to confirm that Jake Turner is indeed undead, along with three of his henchmen. Whilst this is not a good thing, it is hardly the no win scenario that it could be. The big question is what will the mortal members of his armed guard do when they discover the truth of their employer?

During all of this, Rab pulls up stakes from his camp and shifts over to combine his setup with yours, and he introduces you to Oleg, a lanky fifteen year old boy with long, dark hair and huge hands and feet, indicating that when he finality grows into adulthood, he will be a rather big man. He is rather shy, especially around Dreamy, but he is quite polite to everyone once introductions are made. A quick check of Oleg with a See Aura shows he is a low level human with psychic powers and a large isp base, and no aberrations or possessing entities in him. Assuming that he continues to focus on his metal powers, it is quite possible that he will become a full fledged Mind Melter.

Rab has a large ground transport with loads of supplies inside, and he happily digs into his stores to get the needed repairs done to your armor and vehicles that was promised. Soon enough, everyone is back to full strength and ammo supplies, with fully restored vehicles.

While the repairs are underway, everyone uses their various skills to do some recon on that vampires, putting the four under surveillance to try and locate their daytime resting spots. This takes several long days before you are able to find where the vampires call their lair as they sleep through the day. They only one you don't locate in this time is Jake Turner himself, as he apparently keeps a separate hidden nest away from the others.

Considering that you have three of the four vampires' nests located, how do you want to proceed? Split up and take them on all at once, stick together and hit them as a group, or something completely different? Don't forget that Jake is still hidden during the day.

 

[Sherwood]

Raven spends some time making sure his equipment is well cleaned, oiled and ready for use. As he works on the simple task of maintaining his weaponry, he ponders their options for dealing with the vampires in the most efficient way possible.

He finally says, "I am less concerned with the three followers of Turner since we know where they ready for the day. They can be staked while they sleep and hauled out into the sunlight for a well deserved tan with relative ease. That can also help us when we prep to fight Turner, letting the people of the city see that their boss is a blood sucker in more ways than just a ruthless businessman. I say we destroy the three that we have a location on their lair and when Turner shows his face we gang up on him as fast as possible to eliminate any casualties in the civilian population. We can then move on to our road trip along the coast and eventually overseas. Does anyone have any suggestions that might work better than this? If so, I'll gladly listen."

GunMan2 Purr Eonivar

 

[Psychie]

Sylvie gently pats Raven on his cheek and says, "Don't worry too much, Raven. With all of us working together, that nasty vampire big won't stand a chance! I have have a few good spells that will keep him at a distance while you tear him up with your big gun. Turner won't know what hit him!"

 

[GunMan2]

Raven spends some time making sure his equipment is well cleaned, oiled and ready for use. As he works on the simple task of maintaining his weaponry, he ponders their options for dealing with the vampires in the most efficient way possible.

He finally says, "I am less concerned with the three followers of Turner since we know where they ready for the day. They can be staked while they sleep and hauled out into the sunlight for a well deserved tan with relative ease. That can also help us when we prep to fight Turner, letting the people of the city see that their boss is a blood sucker in more ways than just a ruthless businessman. I say we destroy the three that we have a location on their lair and when Turner shows his face we gang up on him as fast as possible to eliminate any casualties in the civilian population. We can then move on to our road trip along the coast and eventually overseas. Does anyone have any suggestions that might work better than this? If so, I'll gladly listen."

GunMan2 Purr Eonivar

The cyborg looks at the man for a bit "We could infiltrate their base and blow it up from the inside or just go in and kill everything. I don't believe that they be innocent there as they might know that he is a blood sucker as you call him." Said Takuma as half his metal face speaks and his other half looks more human, he really needs to get the synthetic skin fixed better at least then he will not look like the terminator.

"But other that hijacking the other transport and rigging it i don't have much on the current situation" Said that man machine "But ill scout around see if i can find any 'backdoors' around there" He said as he went into the shadow to scout out the places they could enter undetected

 

[Purr]

During all of this, Rab pulls up stakes from his camp and shifts over to combine his setup with yours, and he introduces you to Oleg, a lanky fifteen year old boy with long, dark hair and huge hands and feet, indicating that when he finality grows into adulthood, he will be a rather big man. He is rather shy, especially around Dreamy, but he is quite polite to everyone once introductions are made. A quick check of Oleg with a See Aura shows he is a low level human with psychic powers and a large isp base, and no aberrations or possessing entities in him. Assuming that he continues to focus on his metal powers, it is quite possible that he will become a full fledged Mind Melter.

While sharing with Mr. Colson her genuine appreciation for his generous actions, Dreamy in no way takes even the slightest advantage of any feelings Oleg Colson may have for her. Instead, she treats the young man as a lady should - with civility and pleasant respect.

It has been said that average-looking women, when in great number in, say, a city are perhaps "5s out of 10s." But when in more remote places where women are far fewer in number, that number may rise. But out here? In a dinosaur-threatened town of Floridian wilderness? An unmistakable beauty like Dreamy thinks without vanity that she just might be closer to a "15 or an 18 out of 10." And to a young man, perhaps very lonely and facing an uncertain and violent future? Dreamy realizes, as she has many a time in Atlantis where she was gawked at and ogled over often enough by all manner of Atlantis-goers, that she might be one of the most beautiful creatures this side of the dinosaur swamp.

No, every person's feelings were special. Especially those of a young person whose only friend might be the man who helped bring him into this world. At the very least, Dreamy treats young Oleg with all of the warmth, openness, and honesty of a brand new friend.

I say we destroy the three that we have a location on their lair and when Turner shows his face we gang up on him as fast as possible to eliminate any casualties in the civilian population. We can then move on to our road trip along the coast and eventually overseas.

When in the presence of friends, Dreamy does not hide her facial expressions as she once did with Mega-damage steeliness when she was the slave of the Splugorth. She is naturally expressive and her lovely face makes her feelings as clear as day she replies with a combination of emotions - concern, hope, and openness. She addresses everyone at first.

"I... haven't taken down nearly as many undead as I've wanted to since I've started my new life as an Undead Hunter. There just haven't been that many. Undead Hunter standard practice is to study patiently and strike based on all collected evidence."

Dreamy's hooded face turns in Raven's direction. "The evidence I've so far collected tells me that Turner is a thinker as opposed to a battler. He didn't rise to the top by being careless. Hoping he'll just pop his head out like a gopher on Groundhog Day for us to play Whack-a-Turner is... not a plan I'm satisfied with. If we wind up being so fortunate, so much the better, but... if Turner escapes us? Our... my mission to end him just became much more complicated.

"Remember, Turner has met us. He helped arm us. He knows, at least basically, who we are and what we do. He knows we are an Undead Hunter, a Cyber-Knight, a combat cyborg, and a knightly star elf. Of little Sylvie, I'm not so certain. While I have never unsheathed Violence in his presence," Dreamy puts her hand over her Silver Slayer No-daichi in its sheath and smooths one finger over her eyewear, "and I conceal my blindness as best I can. If you were he, and we're taking on his bodyguards, what's to stop him from sending a subordinate to find out what is happening and, say, radioing back to him?

Dreamy folds her shapely arms. "I would like to know more prior to hitting him."

The big question is what will the mortal members of his armed guard do when they discover the truth of their employer?

"Also... I would like to approach, or have approached, someone in the town who might replace Turner. I would not perform my duties as an Undead Hunter only to watch this place burn alive as the result a power vacuum we helped create. I mean, what are the innocent to do when Turner's well-armed people find themselves suddenly unemployed and still surrounded by dinosaurs out in the wild?"

Eonivar
Her say done, the Altarian simply remains still. "Ajax? You haven't spoken up yet. Where do your heart and mind lead you here?"

 

[Eonivar]

Ajax was checking over his gear, sheathing his sword, making sure his armor was strapped on properly, making sure his shield was easily retrieved off of his back in case of a surprise. He looked up at the others.

"I agree with Raven on the tactics, although I think we should let Takuma do his thing and give us all the intel we can get, then stake the other three, put them out in the day for the others to see to burn to nothing, and then draw Turner out and take him head on. We heavy hitters and front liners face off with him and Takuma and whomever wants to attack with stealth and/or attacks from the shadows or at distance. If we get any arms fire I will try and draw them and take them out while you all focus on Turner."

 

[Purr]

"I agree with Raven on the tactics, although I think we should let Takuma do his thing and give us all the intel we can get, then stake the other three, put them out in the day for the others to see to burn to nothing, and then draw Turner out and take him head on. We heavy hitters and front liners face off with him and Takuma and whomever wants to attack with stealth and/or attacks from the shadows or at distance. If we get any arms fire I will try and draw them and take them out while you all focus on Turner."

Dreamy shakes her head firmly to Raven and Ajax, her lips pursed in resolve. "Well... I'm not a knight. But I think you may be treating Turner as if he is a man of honor as the two of you are... with this 'call to open combat.' strategy. Do you seriously think Turner possesses the kind of incompetence that will let us draw him out into a battle on on our terms?" The warrior woman pauses in thought. "I imagine Turner's a thinker. Look how he outfoxed us. If he was a brawler, he wouldn't rely on bodyguards. So... what are we going to do do if, while we stand over the corpses of his bodyguards, Turner flees Turner Town instead?

"He could be halfway across Florida with whatever he can carry with him to start all over making another Turner Town - in which case I will have to at least tail him - and that means goodbye trip to New York and Germany for this gal." She makes a fist and points her thumb at herself.

Dreamy stands and readies her gear. "Meanwhile, Takuma, the biggest, clankiest guy we have - noise-cancelling tech or no - is alone doing the soft and silent work while I sit here." Dreamy shakes her head again. "My mind is made up, my friends," she says with meaningfulness in her voice and expression. "I am an Undead Hunter. Taking down Turner is a matter of honor for me. Time for me to gather more evidence as an Undead Hunter does.

She steps over to her newly-fixed, maintained, and clean robot unicorn, giving the machine an affectionate pat. Her tone remains casual. "I'm convinced Turner and his goons are feeding on people - and that being held captive to be something else's food is a sure form of slavery. I've been a slave... and so I act." She places one hand on her mount's saddle and with an athletic leap that brings her heels over her head and gently back down again until she is seated comfortably on the leathery seat.

Adjusting her hood and pulling her mask up, she gives a smile she has never seen. "While Takuma does his thing, I'll be doing mine. I'll return with whatever I learn. Please look out for each other while we're gone now!"

If there are no further words to share, Dreamy and Troy make their way in the direction of Turner Town.

 

[Sherwood]

Raven nods at Dreamy, saying, "Be careful with your hunting. I will also head into town to try and get a feel for what the locals might know about Turner and his ilk, and see who might be able to take charge of the place once we are done with our extermination of the vampires. Everyone, keep in touch with your radios and do your best to not start a fight that you can't win. Sylvie? Are you going to stay here or would you like to come with me?"

 

[Purr]

Raven nods at Dreamy, saying, "Be careful with your hunting. I will also head into town to try and get a feel for what the locals might know about Turner and his ilk, and see who might be able to take charge of the place once we are done with our extermination of the vampires. Everyone, keep in touch with your radios and do your best to not start a fight that you can't win. Sylvie? Are you going to stay here or would you like to come with me?"

"Would you like a ride there?" Dreamy pauses and grins to both Raven and Sylvie.

 

[Psychie]

Over three next three days, the party makes a few important discoveries. The first is that Raven finds that there is a town counsel of nine men and women that pretty much are the ones that run the day to day stuff that Jake Turner doesn't want to bother with. They are generally well regarded by the people of Turner Town, so it won't be too difficult to have them step forward and take charge when Jake is eliminated.

The next big discovery is a joint one on the part of Dreamy and Sylvie. They were able to find the lair of Jake Turner when he sleeps during the day. Dreamy remembered that vampires can transform into mist, and she was able to track down his haven. The bad news about this is that you can't get into the room where he sleeps, it requiring the person to be able to turn into mist to flow through several small pipes and reform on the other side. Sylvie was just barely able to get through the pipes to verify that Jake was there, and she can fit into some very tiny places.

How do you wish to proceed?

 

[Sherwood]

When Raven hears the good news about locating Turner's lair, he offers up a wide smile. "Excellent! Fantastic work, you two! Now that that we have all four of the vampires' daytime holdouts found, it becomes a simple task to destroy them as they sleep. It reduces the chances that one or more of them will be able to escape. Once that is done, we can move out on the next leg of our journey."

 

[Purr]

When Raven hears the good news about locating Turner's lair, he offers up a wide smile. "Excellent! Fantastic work, you two! Now that that we have all four of the vampires' daytime holdouts found, it becomes a simple task to destroy them as they sleep. It reduces the chances that one or more of them will be able to escape. Once that is done, we can move out on the next leg of our journey."

( Psychie )

Sherwood (OOC: Sorry, Bud. I can't answer this post. For when did Dreamy come in and make this declaration to one and all? I'll play my own character, thank you. Plus, we've yet to hear from our Game Master about what's in OOC, haven't we? See OOC, please.)

 

[Purr]

(From this post from Psychie.) Psychie

Dreamy the Altarian pushes aside a tuft of her curly red hair and perks one ear toward her faerie companion. She is stock still and utterly silent for a moment as she digests what she has just heard.

Dreamy bounces, cheers, and twirls in a circle with fists clenched. "Sylvie! You have found his lair? Owl be praised! Dear Sylvie, this is wondrous news!" Dreamy closes in on the pipe her faerie-friend indicates. "Thanks be to my New York Undead Hunter mentors or my role would be stopped here." The Altarian assumes a caster's stance, drawing forth eldritch magic used just for such purposes among her fellow Undead Hunters. "Get ready to scoot. My spell ends in just over 7 minutes! Lead on, Sylvie!"

With this, the Blind Warrior Woman-become-adventuress moves from a quick walk into a leap as she casts Reduce Self in midair. She shrinks from her natural height of just over six feet of pure woman to six inches of rapidly-scooting huntress, eager to reach Turner's hidden lair while the opportunity is still ripe.

Down, down the pipes she follows, not noisily or clanking about like some plate mail-clad warrior but with the mystery-laden Ninjitsu Art of Stealth (providing a Prowl of 100% under most circumstances). She pulls her pack and cloak as she goes, remembering Sylvie's warning of how tight the pipes became. These she will use to drag her gear, especially "Bōryoku," her sacred silver sword and "Flare" her magical flaming short sword, safe in their sheaths, close behind her.

Her mind races as swiftly as her now-tiny feet. My first-ever solo vampire kill is within reach! How I have longed for this moment! But... I must not give into emotion. Turner is cunning. A man who lives by his wits. Worry not, my mentors. I will not underestimate him. Now I calm my mind as still waters reflecting the floating moon above.

With this, Dreamy places her emotions aside as only a 2,000 year old Blind Warrior Woman and former slave can.

The time for feelings... is later.

The time for action is now.

 

[Psychie]

With the destruction of Turner and his undead minions, the town descends into several days of chaos as two clear factions form in the ranks of Turner's police force, with one side fighting to try and wrest control of the town for themselves, and the other side is standing up for the town counsel and is clearly glad to have the vampires wiped out. Things escalate to a pitched fight in the middle of town, with almost everyone in Turner Town choosing sides.

Even Rab and Oleg take up arms in this, with Rab showing that while he may be old, his aim with a blaster is still on target and Oleg using his psychic powers to greatly reduce the collateral damage being done to the town from the missed shots being made by both sides with his telekinetic force walls.

It takes several days for the chaos to recede, and thanks to the hard work of our heroes, what could have ended up as a bloodbath of civilian casualties and a badly damaged town has instead turned out to be a very positive outcome with very few lives lost.

As things finally calm down, the members of the party are heartily thanked for freeing Turner Town from the cold grip of the vampires by the surviving residents. The townspeople ask that you stick around for a while and help them to pick up the pieces, but Rab is insistent that while it would be a good thing for the residents, he simply must get Oleg to the ceremony in Germany on time. Your hosts are not happy to hear this, but they understand (or at least say that they do) and let you all know that you are always welcome to return as heroes and honored guests of the town.

With your goodbyes said, the group forms a caravan consisting of Dreamy and her robot unicorn, Raven's ATV and finally the large transport truck being driven by Rab, and everyone sets or going north on your way to the old city of New York.

 

[Sherwood]

Raven takes his time and keeps his eyes peeled as the small caravan travels along the broken road on their way towards the old city of New York. He keeps the speed of his ATV in line with the larger truck being driven by Rab so that he doesn't leave the other truck behind on the highway, always on the watch for any signs of trouble on their path.

 

[Psychie]

The drive north is boring mixed with moments of stress as you come across roving herds of dinosaurs. Luckily for the group, most of the dinos are not predatory and they quickly scatter at the sight of the two trucks rolling down the ruined highway. The few that remain more hostile to you are looking for easy meat, and after a few well placed shots from a blaster, that convinces them to move along and find less pesky food.

At the moment, Rab and Oleg are in the van of their transport truck with Raven in the lead. On this part off the road, your speed is somewhat limited to no more than fifty miles per hour or you'll rub the risk of damaging the larger transport truck

Does Dreamy want to ride her robot unicorn or join the rest of the group in the Mountaineer ATV as it is being driven by Raven?

 

[Purr]

Does Dreamy want to ride her robot unicorn or join the rest of the group in the Mountaineer ATV as it is being driven by Raven?

Currently it is midday, with good visibility and only a few scattered clouds. You are in the northern panhandle of old Florida on the main highway that used to run north and south along the coast.

Dreamy wants to be riding Troy, her robot unicorn. Although she wouldn't know about the visibility factor, the rest of the day seems like it's too nice to stay inside! =)

 

[Purr]

As the party travels, Dreamy thinks back.

One slender hand reaches down to touch one of her newly-acquired gold-plated 1911 pistols - rare finds indeed. She recalls vividly the help provided by Sylvie the Fairy who led the way to Jake Turner's casket. Dreamy remembers, for her, this was seemingly the end of the line. But when Sylvie appeared out of one of the pipes, dirty, disheveled, but successful, Dreamy's hopes for ending Turner reignited in a big way.

She remembers the lessons taught to her by the Ninja Undead Hunters of New York - that success began with the spirit, the mind, and then the body. Preparation and practice was key. How right they were! Near the end, Dreamy remembers the feeling of her Silver Slayer sword in both hands above her head, the staked and immobile Jake Turner below her - more dangerous than ever if that stake were disturbed.

Down came her strike. Off came Jake Turner's head. Then came the separation and burning using her flaming sword. Less than an hour later, she and Sylvie (if the sweet girl desired) were racing on the back of Troy the Robot Unicorn and spreading Turner's ashes far and wide across the Floridian waterways wherever she comes across them. All the while, Dreamy remembers her sincere and happy prayers of thanks to Owl and the smorgasbord of terrific feelings she shared with Lumpy, her symbiote.

All the while, Dreamy sang. Spreading the ashes, feeling the sensation of Troy carrying her on, the wind rushing through her long hair, and the glorious satisfaction of having performed the duty - any duty - other than unwilling servitude to a Splugorth slaver or other hideous master.

This moment? This is what Dreamy literally dreamed of doing once she had won her freedom. She only saw it as a blessing that she was not the only one freed. Sylvie. Raven. Ser Ajax. Takuma. They were together now with the Colsons. What could be better?

Dreamy continues to ride along the Floridian I-95, her senses and skills open ever-wary for signs of any threat while she sings merrily along the way.

Spoiler: This is what Dreamy is singing.

Nothin' At All (Remastered)

 

[Psychie]

GunMan2 and Eonivar last call before we move on

 

[GunMan2]

I guess as a side project ill try to see if i can hack into his bank account, take the vamp bosses money and transfer it to the coffers of the city to help them rebuild and also keep a small portion in a secret account in case of emergencies.

 

[Psychie]

Over the course of the next few days, your group slowly makes its way north. The biggest thing slowing you down is the bad condition of the road, between years of neglect and storm-felled trees, you are being forced to drive carefully to avoid damaging the larger transport truck since it doesn't have the same all terrain capability of Raven's Mountaineer.

It is during one quiet night as you have stopped for the evening that everyone needs to make hearing perception rolls.

Sherwood GunMan2

Purr what is your bonus and I'll roll for you.

 

[Sherwood]

Raven has a +6 to his perception. Rolling.

Total of a fifteen.