Rifts Adventure IC

[Purr]

For two whole hours, Snowfall, strengthened by his Sustain tattoo magic, the little white fox slept curled nose to tail and dreamt Japanese dreams. In his own realm, there was a huge, no, incredibly-large divide between the humanfolk who used modern technology and those who ardently did not. How the New Empire and the Republic of Japan differed despite the fact they shared the same ancestors! Even in his dream-state, he found himself thanking holy Inari that this technological fortress, this... walking mechanical wonder made from the depthless potential of psychic phenomenon and the mastery of engineering beyond the reach of humankind as Snowfall knew it... was here in what was once the United States of America. Oh, how things would have been different had the fortress landed in that country during its heyday! So too was he glad that the Mechanoids had not chosen Japan to conquer - the only good that might have come of it was that they started from the middle of The Zone where oni dwelled in countless numbers and the dangers to the Mechanoids were like an awful tsunami of magical destruction to nearly every living creature!

Snowfall's eye peeked open. Two hours had elapsed.

The minute he woke, Snowfall sprang into the air and transformed into his human form, this time in his mid-20s. He was dressed in the red and brown robes of his native Japan. His long straight black hair fell to his waist and his handsome exotic masculinity was bright and alive and full of the spring of youth! And why not? He felt young! Snowfall's spirit was filled to the brim with wonder and curiosity! What fox spirit could keep this to himself and still call himself a kitsune?

"Guys, guys!" Snowfall gently but firmly woke everyone he saw and he noted that Atlantean Terra and the wizardly Olsen were not present. So, he put a cold nose on one of Shaona's feet if she did not stir while Daisy and Zepheron were treated to Snowfall barking in his bouncy white-furred fox form (for he believed strongly that they being what they were could understand him).

"I toured The Fortress last night! You wouldn't believe how many hangars and weapons and hidey-holes this place has!" He looked around again. Miss Terra had not yet returned from where she went. "I gotta go find Miss Terra and tell her! In the meantime, wake up! Waaaaake uuuup!"

Tail bouncing, Snowfall bounded away on four feet, leaped high into the air, and did not touch the floor again in that room for he had discorporated into an invisible, ethereal cloud of purest spirit energy. Here he flowed more swiftly and easily than he could in any of his forms though he was unable to physically interact with material objects. "Where could she have gone?"

In time, he found Miss Terra with Olsen together. Once he had overheard enough of their conversation to follow it, he reappeared from out of thin air into his aforedescribed human form. "Sir Olsen, do I have questions?! You betcha I have questions! After last night, I've got more questions in number than a Tien Lung has scales or an oni has in naughty thoughts! And boy are they naughty!" He took a deep breath and in one breath, he launched into his questions like only a kitsune could.

"If something happens to Shaona, are you able to pilot The Fortress? You say we need to protect her. Yikes! From what? Has something happened since we fell asleep? Do you want me to go ahead to Dweomer and alert them? It's only a hop, skip, and a jump there as Rifts go. And have yooooou seeeeen the insides of this place?! I mean... holy shirokinukatsukami! Talk about living space and hangars and vehicles and big guns galore! I mean, we still gotta get some comfortable features set up in here. I mean, all this fancy stuff and not one leather couch, steam bath, or bar in this whole place to watch TV in! Just how are we supposed to know who wound up next on Emperor Prosek's 'You-Should-Die-Because-I'm-A-Frightened-Psychotic-Pantywaist-Who-Hides-Behind-My-Army-of-Ignorant-Followers' list this week, huh?"

 

[Sherwood]

Olsen's eyes glaze over a bit a the rapid fire series of questions that Snowfall peppers him with, then he gives a bit of a grin and answers with, "Um, well, I lack any psionic talent, so as far as I know, I will not be able to control any of the functions of the fortress. As far as what might happen, who can say? That is why I wish to have this team in close proximity to Shaona to make sure she is safe from any possible threat that may come up."

Silanon Rykon D. Rex Purr Psychie

For the past several posts, only Psy and Dann have been posting. Can we get some more participation from you guys? I hate to see this game go away.

 

[D. Rex]

I'm still here. Daisy will be trying to sleep through the ritual and all the magic casting. She isnt a fan. She will come back into play when the ritual stops or they are about to go through the rift.

 

[Silanon]

A cold canine nose, interrupting the restful sleep far earlier than her mind deems appropriate - one way to wake up, certainly. A reminder of times long gone by now, of two parents, two dogs, and a girl that neither had green hair, nor showed signs of magic potential. In a modest, simple home in the middle of nowhere, where people care for little else than doing things the right way, and avoiding trouble. Didn't work out back then - never worked out for her. Back then, that girl dreamed of the unknown hills just beyond the horizon - the woman now plans to pilot an entire fortress to a place that's miles and miles away. The magnitudes changed, the dreams never did. Or she wouldn't be here, in the midst of a conquered fortress, after defeating a foe that meant to take over the world. Quite the way to wake up, indeed - with a toy to play with, beyond her own imagination, after doing the right thing and surviving the mess.

Eyes open, finally, to barely see the over-eager spirit rush off in excitement - did noone tell him that mornings after sleepless nights are supposed to be dreadful experiences? Likely not - though part of her wouldn't have listened to a dunning sour ball herself, in sight of that much enthusiasm. Just a part, though - the other side of her yawns, and only hesitantly fights off the remnants of sleep. Puts away the knife that's always within reach when she rests; that girl from back then learned to survive on the road. Stands up, finally, takes a sip from her water bottle, then empties the rest of its content over her head to drown the last sleepy thoughts and awaken her mind. There's a task waiting for her, after all. Should be about time, soon, if things go well, without complications. Somewhere, people talk, and plan, and prepare spells, she reckons - usually, she'd be in the midst of it, but not today. Few are those who know of the mechanoids - even fewer are those who can control their fortress. Lonely, some might even say - but how can you be lonely, with a handful of friends watching your back while you walk right on the edge between control and unredeemable failure?

Once more, she spreads her weapons on the floor, slightly out of her reach as she sits down near the cables that allow her access to the vastest source of knowledge she's ever felt, thus far. Today, though, her focus will be to get it somewhere else, not to delve into its mysteries. Not quite yet, though. One hand reveals a peach from her backpack, marked by the hectic she's been through, lately - still edible enough, though, if one isn't too picky, and she's never been that kind of person. Half of it makes a half-decent breakfast, the other half remains in her hand as a promise: She'll eat it once she returns from her short trip through more and more familiar tech. Returning, however, means leaving in the first place. "I'm gone for a moment, mothing dangerous this time", she warns anyone who might be nearby, in position to watch her doings. Then she lets her mind wander, through the maze of impressions, focused on controlling every little piece of the fortress as well as she possibly can. Doors randomly open and close; instruments move just to stand still the next moment. Whatever there is that she might need to control during the travel itself - she'll do her best to get it under control right now, be familiar with it before trouble might arise.

Spoiler: OOC

Connecting to the fortress via Telemechanic Mental Operation, down to 34/46 isp. Trying to familiarize myself with everything that might be needed, on top of the prior exploration during the off-day. Let me know if that requires any rolls.

 

[Sherwood]

With the prep work complete for the spell and the various casters in position, the ritual spell to open the rift is ready to go. Olsen takes his position at the edge of the circle, and sends out a ten minute warning alert to all that the ceremony is about to begin. The various members of the team are inside the main chamber of the fortress near Shaona as she does some data diving through the various systems of the place as she gets ready to operate the walking systems to guide it through the rift. One discovery that the mystic is able to quickly find is a set of holographic displays showing the exterior of the fortress so that the others in the room can observe the ceremony from the central chamber.

As time passes, everyone is ready to go, and the ritual is begun. This is Shaona's cue to walk the massive fortress through the portal and out the other side to the waiting reception party from Dweomer. But just as the fortress beings to enter the rift, something begins to go wrong. Snowfall is the first to see it, followed by Terra. From their time spent dimension hopping, you both have encountered Ley Line Storms before: dangerous spikes of magical energies tearing through the area, coming with little to no warning and wreaking havoc on all they come across!

Bolts of lightning begin to cascade down on the mages performing the ritual, causing them to scatter for their lives, disrupting the ritual at the worst possible time just as Shaona has the fortress making its passage through the rift. Before anyone can make a move to stop her, Shaona has already given the fateful order to move the Mechanoid fort into the rift!

A horrible wrenching feeling is experienced by all as the fortress is sucked into the rift and thrown off course, sending everyone tumbling through the chamber until the spinning feeling finally comes to an end. You have emerged on the other side of the portal, but you are definitely not in Kansas any more. The holographic screens show that you are in the midst of a thick rain forest, with massive trees all around you, and at the moment, a heavy rainfall and thick mist is obscuring your vision in the displays. You are most certainly not anywhere near the city of Dweomer, and you can only guess at your currently location.

What do you do now?

D. Rex Psychie Purr Silanon Rykon

 

[Rykon]

Zephiron blinks, being woken from a meditative slumber. With his extreme lack of life experience to draw upon, he can only scan his surroundings curiously wondering just what had happened. "Well... Judging from everyone's faces this doesn't seem like what anyone wanted. Anything this chrome-turtle can tell us about where we are?"

 

[Psychie]

Terra lets out a startled yelp as things quickly go south on them, and she immediately reaches out mentally to her three Automations to prepare them for battle. She looks around at the thick trees and heavy rain shown in the displays, and says, "I don't know, but it is clearly not Dweomer. Is everyone ok? Anybody hurt?"

OOC Great to see you again, Rykon!

 

[Sherwood]

OOC Great to see you again, Rykon!

Indeed! Good to have you with us, Rykon !

 

[D. Rex]

The horrible wrenching was the final straw. Her stomach could not take it. Thankfully by the time she came out of the bathroom, the sensations were over. No rifts. No rituals. No wrenching. No leylines.

Finally feeling better she went to find the others to see what all this was about and where it was they had blasted to. Daisy didn't know where they had been trying to go, so for all intents and purposes, this was where they wanted to be.

"Not hurt. Sick but feeling better."


"So what are we doing here?"

 

[Psychie]

Terra looks at the large holo-displays and says, "Well, if that is any indication of what is outside, we are nowhere near Dweomer. The last thing I remember seeing before we entered the rift was a Ley Line Storm coming up. It must have disrupted the ritual, opening up the rift to go somewhere else entirely. The gods only know where we may have wound up."

She heads over to where Tiny is standing, and says, "I think it is time we did some looking around out there, and possibly try to determine where we are. Hell, we may not even be on Earth anymore."

 

[D. Rex]

"I'm all up for a quick scout." Daisy volunteered. "Want to go in light or heavy?" She asked, "If we are just taking a quick look around the fort, I can just grab my jetpack."

 

[Psychie]

Terra thinks for a moment, then nods. "Yeah, the jet pack sounds good to me. I'll just take Tiny, since he can move faster than the twins. Now, one thing that I've learned in my time of dimension hopping: Everything is a threat until you know otherwise. We don't even know what world we are on, so even the plants out there could be a danger. I've heard of stories of people getting torn asunder by killer vines, so operate under the belief that even the grass can kill you until we check to see different."

 

[D. Rex]

Daisy shrugged. "I have a really big plasma cannon." She said in response to everything being a threat.

"Well let's start by the legs then and spiral out. We shouldnt need to go that far to get an idea of the area."


Daisy paused. "Do you think this fort has any working scanners?"

 

[Psychie]

Terra looks over at Shaona, and says, "If you can, use your psi powers to see what you can about where we are. Daisy and I will go make a quick run around the place to take a look with the good ol' Mark One Eyeball to see if there are any threats that we need to address immediately. Keep an ear on your radios in case we call for help."

Turning to Daisy, she says, "I think that flying is going to be our best bet, so for now, I'm going to head out without the Automations and join you in the air. That way we may be able to keep a lower profile and avoid being spotted if there is danger out there. You ready to go?"

Spoiler

I'm going to activate my Flight and Invulnerability Tattoos for 60 PPE from my personal energy.

Current MDC: 525

Hit Points: 48
SDC: 135
PPE: 126 +2d4 per level / 66
PPE Battery: 50
PPE Battery: 50

Bonus Points: 9

Number of Attacks: 7
Strike: +11
Parry: +10
Dodge: +10
Roll: +10
Initiative: +4
Perception: +5, +1 vs Vampires and the Undead
Horror Factor: +5 to Save, +2 vs dragons
Critical Strike on a natural 19-20
Critical Strike from behind
Damage: +2
Death Blow on a natural 19-20

 

[D. Rex]

"Let me grab my gear." Daisy said and went to her glitterboy to gear up.

When she came back, she came back strapped. It was immediately obvious that Daisy liked herself some Northern Gun. From the heavy pistol at her waste, the sawed-off on a thigh holster, a bandolier of grenades, and a big ole plasma Ejector slung in her front. All stampted with the NG logo. Not to mention the brand new Wild Coyote Jetpack on her back. The only thing not NG was the dragon on her waist opposite of the pistol. She seemed as ready to take on anything as if she was in her Glitter Boy.

"I'm ready. Let's go."

Spoiler: Stats

HP: 49
SDC: 100

Initiative: +5
Perception: +8
Melee Actions: +6
Strike: +9
Parry: +13
Dodge: +13
Roll with impact: +7
Pull Punch: +5
Disarm: +4
Hth Damage: +18

*Energy Pistol: +12 (+3)
*Energy Rifle: +11 (+3)
*Axe (Strike): +12 (+3)
*Axe (Parry): +16 (+3)
*Shotgun: +11 (+2)

 

[Purr]

Snowfall the Kitsune
The Foxiest Messenger of Inari!​

Spoiler: Combat Bonuses

Perception +8
Initiative +5 (+9 when using W.P. Quick Draw)
Attacks per Round: 6
Strike +12
Damage +16
Parry +14
Dodge +19 (+22 in Fox form)
Roll +17
Maintain Balance +10
Save vs. Magic +10
Save vs. Pain +14
Horror Factor Saving Throws +4

Damage by Weapon Type
See Character Sheet.

What in the heck just happened?!

Snowfall had watched and analyzed every moment of the incident. The out-of-nowhere wacko ley line storm had most assuredly thrown them and the Walking Fortress off-course, but to where? What had happened to the wizards who had to break the ritual?

Now, one thing that I've learned in my time of dimension hopping: Everything is a threat until you know otherwise. We don't even know what world we are on, so even the plants out there could be a danger. I've heard of stories of people getting torn asunder by killer vines, so operate under the belief that even the grass can kill you until we check to see different."

Snowfall, still in his form of a young man, raised a finger into the air. "Ah, MIss Terra? As a Megaverse-messenger of no small amount of experience, may I address the notion that the world outside might be poisonous or not even be breathable and neither of you are wearing those fancy-schmancy mega-suits?" He let that notion sink in before continuing. Then he opened his robe to reveal a series of beautifully-inked Atlantean art permanently-infused into his brown skin. "Thanks to my dimensional tattoo powers, I don't require air, food, or water at the moment. As a messenger of Inari, I'm well-equipped to going places other people can't or won't. So, uh, might it be prudent that I make the first jaunt outside? To, you know, at least tell you if the rest of you can breathe out there or not?"

Snowfall put on his best "I'd love to please you especially if it means you don't kill yourself out there" smile for them.

Image credit: Pinterest.pt )

STATUS

Location: Inari-Knows-Where!
Statblock: Self-M.D.C. (228/228) Self-P.P.E. (278/278). Power Matrix (60/60 P.P.E.) . Effects Active: Sustain (280/288 hours).

 

[Psychie]

Terra snorts, then says, "Well fine then, if you are going to be reasonable, you can go out and do a quick check on the environment, but take no risks. We need you back in one piece." She gives Snowfall a grin. "Get going, crazy man."

 

[Purr]

"'Crazy man'?" With an energetic shine in his brown slanted eyes, the messenger looked back to Terra with a grin to match hers. "Lady, come to my side of the Megaverse where the fantasy tales are real and enchantments grow like spring flowers and I'll show you crazy! 'Cause f I'm crazy, it's because I come from a magical place!"

As if to put action to words, Snowfall took on some mystical martial art stance, windmilled his hands through the air, and then ran straight at Terra. "Eyaaah!" Leaping into the air, he stared her straight in the eyes as he flew right at her with a graceful flying kick only to vanish into thin air, his mystical cloud-form blowing through her like a gentle breeze leaving only a peal of fox-like laughter behind.

Spoiler: Music

"Magical Place" by DJ Sava feat. IOVA (Magical Place DJ Dark and MD DJ Remix).

Now in cloud-form, Snowfall left the Walking Fortress and did precisely as he had offered. For all he knew, they were in the Land of the Rising Sun! Then again, with a thick rainforest with huge trees and fog all about them, they could be in any number of places if they were on Earth at all. Florida? Brazil? Vietnam? Dagobah? With this much life around them, there was very likely plenty of positive Chi to draw from. Floating atop the Walking Fortress, Snowfall transformed into his fox-form watching as his white fur contrasted with the thick fog.

Although he did not need to breathe with his Sustain magic protecting him, he took a breath anyway. Just one little breath. He smelled and tasted it to see if it was true for a jungle-land. Then he opened his senses, both mystical and mundane to see and hear what the land could teach him of itself.

 

[Sherwood]

As you take on your fox form, you are immediately drenched by the downpouring rain. Snowfall's first exploratory sniff of the air fills your nose with a plethora of exotic smells of the rainforest. It is most certainly not toxic, just very rich in smells.

Purr , please give me a Perception roll.

 

[Sherwood]

Looking around, from this high up, all that Snowfall can see is rain, low lying clouds and trees. You spot no immediate threats, but if there is anyone alive in the area, the sudden arrival of the fortress will most likely garner some attention. Once the rain stops and the mist clears, you should have an easier time spotting anything out there.

One thing you can tell is that it appears that the sun is just rising in the direction your compass calls east.

 

[Purr]

Oh, how the refreshing rain and the feeling of the jungle's vibrant energies made a spirit feel alive! Snowfall spent several moments just enjoying this shower, letting the water from the clouds pour all over him, and playing in puddles atop the Walking Fortress's hull. This was wonderful! The natural world held wonders no computer or machine could match!

But soon, reason set in as it eventually did. Snowfall muttered to himself in the language of foxes, "So it's wet and misty outside. Well, so what?! They can look at one of those holographic imagers and learn that! I'm a messenger of Inari for cherry blossoms' sake! I gotta give 'em more than that! I'm representing Inari here!!"

Snowfall paced restlessly for another few moments. He looked up to the sun. The rising sun. "Hello, sun!" Then it hit him. Of course! That was it!

Snowfall used his Blazing Comet tattoo magic to surround himself in its blue shimmering forcefield (which looked really nice against his handsome white fur as he took a moment to admire himself) and took off above the clouds. "Hello again, sun!" He waved to Earth's star (or what he hoped was Earth's star - he looked again to be sure). He shook himself silly to get excess water off of his soaked furry body.

Then he peered back down into the jungle. He had to remember the turning of the planet so he could accurately return to the Walking Fortress and with his genius-level intellect, mad messenger skillz, and experience, he figured he could. He tried to memorize his way back.

Then he flew! Topping Mach 6, he flew straight up until he could look down and recognize the body of land he was over.

Of course, if he recognized nothing, he could surmise they were not on Earth at all - and that would be telling Miss Terra's team something worthwhile!

 

[Sherwood]

Racing up at high speed, Snowfall punches through the low lying clouds in mere moments and is out in the bright morning sun, basking in the warmth of the light. Shortly thereafter, you find yourself miles up in the air, looking down to try and identify just where you may be. Scanning the terrain below you, it quickly becomes clear that you are over the southern part of Central America, having gone thousands of miles off course! At least you are on the same planet still, over what was once known as Honduras, or perhaps as far down as Costa Rica.

 

[Purr]

Snowfall did a midair flip! "Oooh! Boy are we off-course in a big way! Time to practice my non-existent Spanish!" Kitsune had an inborn knack for language-learning and the longer they were around speakers, the quicker they picked it up. "Let's see... how did that chorus go again?" Snowfall boogied at 30,000 feet to the vigorous beat inside his head.

"Dale a tu cuerpo alegria Macarena
Que tu cuerpo es pa' darle alegria y cosa buena
Dale a tu cuerpo alegria, Macarena
Heeey Macarena!"

Spoiler: Yes, it is what you think it is

"Macarena" by Los Del Rio

Chorus translation:
"Give a little lovin’ to your body, Macarena
Cuz your body’s made for love and feeling good; it’s a no-brainer
Give a little lovin’ to your body, Macarena
Hey, Macarena!"
Los del Rio - Macarena lyrics + English translation (Version #3)

Once finished, his Japanese sense of duty (giri) knocked on his head once more. "Oh, right! Got good info! Time to report!" Snowfall shifted to his human form so he could adjust his Atlantean communicator. "Hey! Hey, Miss Terra! You're gonna love this! You know that skinny part of the North American continent that connects the South American continent? South of Mexico but north of Panama? Yeah, we landed in there! Uh, hope somebody still alive and speaks Spanish down there... The Rifts turned everything on their heads."

 

[Psychie]

Terra blinks in surprise and relief. At least we are still on Earth. That is a start. "South of Mexico? Damn. That area is thick with vampires. We'll have to keep a close watch for members of the fang gang showing up and causing trouble. Good work, Snowfall. Get back here and we can then do a little snooping around to see if there is anything threatening right around us."

 

[Purr]

"Yip!" Snowfall yipped and descended at top speed to the Walking Fortress but before he entered the first raincloud, he dissipated into his cloud form. He did not return to his human form again until he stood before Miss Terra and her teammates again. Then, having fulfilled his duty as scout, he appeared rather proud of himself with his hands upon his hips and a broad smile upon his face.