[IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Deadline

[Sakuro]

Concerning the Insight check, Iona is the only one that passed. She realizes that Romper wasn't being snarky when he said "That was quite an experience." She gets the feeling he was commenting on something he went through, not what Diego and Iona endured.

If you would like Iona to try to figure out the work that went on here, originally, you may make a check to do so. The check will depend on how Iona tries to do that. For example, if she is trying to discern what the ruined machines were used for, that would be a Technology check.

Diego rushes down the hallway. When he hears some faint the word 'Help!' followed by something that sounded like coughing, he hastens, transitioning into a more dispersed nanite cloud of black mist. Iona, initially jogging, has to resort to using her flight mechanisms to keep up with her sinister companion. In their haste both fail to notice the sparks go off as Iona trips a thin cord.

Invisible gases filling the corridor ignite, turning the hallway into a self-contained firebomb. Flame rolls down the hall like a dragon exhaling death onto the two would be rescuers. There is some small consolation in that the flames are contained the the hallway, and do not breach the door that the shouts of help are coming from.

I am using Diego's original Perception check to pin-point the voice he heard and the more recent roll for noticing the trap. I also made a roll for Iona to see if she noticed it. Both failed. Diego and Iona, make a DC 20 Dodge check to halve the Damage. DC 25/20 Toughness.

[mrdent12]

Diego Gonzalez
HP: 2
CND: Haunted, -1 toughness
Form: Mist

Staying to the dark spots as possible, Diego nearly dodges the force of the blast before feeling some of his nannites fritz a little. It wasn't enough to take him out, but it was enough to annoy him. "Keep going and watch for traps.", remarks Diego. If they freed the arms dealer, assuming they were one since screams don't give away profession, he would owe them, a lot.

While the facility had potential, their little splinter group was already stretched a bit. Securing the place would be all the more difficult without the other Ascendants helping as well. What to do about the place was an issue for another time though. Now, they had to see if the person yelling for help was worth all this trouble.

Dodge 15, Toughness 22
Perception 20 in case it's needed

[Supernaturalist]

Iona
HP: 2
VP: 1
Cnd: -4 to Damage Checks; Fatigued; Dazed
PP:0
EP:3

Iona could not help but notice the pipes and gauges that lead to the vat as she followed Diego down the hallway. Her curious mind multi-tasked. On one hand she considers how to deal with the Jaguars that might be harming the lone person down the hallway, and on the other the products which might have been made in the vat from all the various chemical pipes and leads which fed into it.

OOC: Would it be possible to approach it from less of an engineering perspective and more from a chemical one? Instead of pondering the machinery, she focuses on what types of chemicals and reagents the pipes were designed to safely feed into the vat. Would that allow her to make an Expertise: Science roll?

As she moves swiftly down the hallway with Diego, the burst of flame is barely seen rushing towards her, giving her little time to react.

OOC: Here's the Dodge and Damage Checks. The Dodge is first: Dodge Roll for Iona against the Flammable Gas: 1d20+8 18. So, an 18, which is a fail. Here's the Damage Check vs. the rank 25 Damage Effect: Damage Check versus Flammable Gas: 1d20+9 20. A total of 20. That is two degrees of failure. She is at a further -1 to future Damage Checks and is Dazed for a turn.

Up until now, bullets and shrapnel had selectively shredded portions of her flesh lightly damaged her interior superstructure. But the searing heat melted away what superficial cover was left. The vast remainder of her flesh and hair bubbled away from the heat leaving a largely exposed and artificial looking humanoid. The damage was not merely superficial. The interior circuits and machinery, suddenly exposed to intense heat, locked up for a brief moment while "heat sinks" located within her body absorbed the excess heat.

Diego notices that Iona slows behind him slightly as she struggles to overcome the brief overheating. Inside her artificial eyes, internal sensors display a growing list of damaged components.

[Sakuro]

There are no chemicals or other "raw resources" for Iona to study. Not in this area anyway. If you are trying to determine what the machinery was designed to facilitate, that would be a Technology check or Expertise Engineering check.

After recovering from the fiery explosion you press on, with Diego leading the way as he ques in on the sound of the shouts. In time you come to a locked door. Diego checks it for signs of further traps, but finds none and so seeps into the room through the space between door and doorframe. On the inside of the room he confirms there are no traps there either, and so unlocks the door for Iona to enter.

The room is dirty and dingy with a thickening cloud of black smoke filling it. At the center of he space is a man with light brown hair who looks to be in his mid-thirties. Caucasian. He is shackled to a metal chair and has been stripped down to his underwear. His face is bloodied and bruised from a beating. There are cuts and bruises throughout his body. He's missing some teeth and all of his finger nails and toe nails. There are clamps attached to his chest that lead to a battery and a device with a gauge and some dials, which is stationed at a table with an empty chair pushed back from the table.

Initially he does not notice Diego in his shadow-blending cloud-state.

[Supernaturalist]

Iona
HP: 2
VP: 1
Cnd: -4 to Damage Checks; Fatigued; Dazed
PP:0
EP:3

OOC: Here is the Technology Check you requested for Iona: Technology Check for Underground Facility: 1d20+9 28. So, a 28....a good roll for a change.

Once Diego unlocks the door and allows Iona to enter, the battered cyborg sees the restrained man. Before rushing to his rescue, she glances about the room with her Infravision in an attempt to penetrate the smoke and detect any heat-generating beings.

OOC: If I need a Perception roll, I'll add it.

Then her eyes quickly move to the battery connected to the wounded captive.

OOC: If the battery is currently shocking the man, Iona would like to use her "Shutdown" ability to halt the flow of current through the man's body.

[mrdent12]

Diego Gonzalez
HP: 2
CND: Haunted, -1 toughness
Form: Mist

Iona was looking the worse for wear after all the battles. Getting back to the base proper was going to be a challenge. Just another in the long line of them lately. Inside the room, Diego took note of the man being tortured. The Jaguars were ether punishing or trying to get information. Maybe he was a plant. Just to be safe, Diego gives a quick look around the room with his "eyes" piercing the darkness looking for any cameras or items that would indicate a trap or they were being watched. he also gives the man a good once over to ensure he isn't a Jaguar plant or any initial impressions he might get.

Perception 15
Insight 8
Rolled a 4 then a 1. I must have done something wrong.

I can't find in my notes what Adrian the arms dealer looked like. So, if the bound man looks like Adrian I'll chalk it up to Diego not having instant recall and alot on his mind

[Sakuro]

The room is dimly light by an exposed overhead light. Diego and Iona note that there is a single camera poised in the far corner of the room. It is fairly obvious, and matches with the cheap but dependable small cameras that seem to be recent additions to the building. Neither see anyone else in the room. Just themselves and the man shackled to the chair. The room is filling with a toxic black smoke that the man is choking on. At te corners of his mouth Iona notices some pink froth. He's been coughing up blood. Either form his torture injuries or the smoke damaging his lungs. Hard to tell. When he see Iona's inhuman form enter the room he lets out a weak scream that ends in a coughing fit.

He fits the description you were given and looks like someone who has been badly tortured and is inhaling toxic smoke that is killing him.

He isn't convulsing, as if from electrical shock, so Iona may deduce that the while he is connected to the torture device, it is not on. If she get close enough to the device to get a good look at it, she can confirm that it is off.

Concerning the Technology check, Iona is able to deduce what Diego and John learned: this place was used to create post-modern construction materials. She'll note that the most complex processes, those that enter the realm of super-science, were automated and that key pieces of equipment are either damaged beyond repair or missing.

[Supernaturalist]

Iona
HP: 2
VP: 1
Cnd: -4 to Damage Checks; Fatigued
PP:0
EP:3

Iona opens her palm towards the camera in an effort to halt any electric current which is powering it.

OOC: Iona will attempt to Nullify any power to the security camera just prior to helping the wounded man.

She then moves to the wounded man. As she kneels down beside him, she tries to comfort him so that he does not resist her efforts.

"We are here to get you out of this place. Please cooperate and we shall do our best to insure your survival." Her gentle voice contrasts with her scarred, robotic substructure now showing.

Checking first that there are no obvious booby-traps, she loosens his restraints and works to remove him from the room as quickly as possible.

OOC: Does Iona need any kind of Medical Expertise roll to prevent him from dying? Technology roll to spot traps?

[mrdent12]

Diego Gonzalez
HP: 2
CND: Haunted, -1 toughness
Form: Solid

Diego reformed in the darkness into the form of a generic urban fighter just outside the view of the tortured man and enters the room. "Whew, we found you. This place is a death trap.", begins Diego in an Irish accent. "I know, its a robot or android or whatever, but it knows it stuff and is on our side. We took care of most of the guards, but they might come back any minute now. Once it frees you and makes sure you are good to move, we gotta get going.", adds Diego.

In the light that did get into the room, if the man could see enough, Diego would come across as looking out of the room with an assault rifle in his hands and wearing a tactical vest. In choosing the form, Diego made a point to differentiate from what Praetor Null's forces wore generally. For a face, he intentionally formed one that was battle hardened yet compassionate looking with a few scars. Over his mouth, Diego materialized a wet clothe that looked to be torn from his created shirt. "I know a place where we can get you some help, but you gotta trust us. There isn't much time with this toxic sh** in the air.", adds Diego. Again, he takes up a covering position while Iona works.

Persusasion 22 to make the man more inclined to listen

[Sakuro]

Iona projects an energetic ray at the camera. There is no noticeable change. It doesn't explode or spark. Given the nature of the attack, that is to be expected.

She then approaches the captive arms dealers and inspects his chair and restraints for suspicious devices. There are none, other than the clamps attached to his chest leading to the battery nearby. Iona also finds that his restrains are proper shackles. Metal handcuffs binding his wrists and ankles to his metal chair. Being rid of them isn't as simple as untying a knot.

When Diego and Iona assure the man that they are here to help him his fit or erratic screaming and coughing comes to an end in a sign of relief.

"Thank God."

Aiden coughs a bits more while watching Iona with bruises eyes that reflect caution.

"Who are you people?"

The man's voice is weak and he barely seems able to hold himself upright. His restraints are doing that for him. Iona and estimate that he is only just holding onto consciousness.

You need to do something about the restrains, or carry him in the chair. Either way Aiden will not be able to move very far, or quickly, under his own power.

[Supernaturalist]

Iona
HP: 1
VP: 1
Cnd: -4 to Damage Checks; Fatigued
PP:0
EP:3

"Who are you people?"

"Save your strength!" She responds as she moves into action. Getting the gaseous toxin clear of the man's breathing space was a priority as was getting him to a place clear of the vapor.

"There!" Iona points to a jug of nearby drinking water. "Ascendant, that could be useful in helping to detox the patient. Please bring it while I work to clear the fumes away from his face."

OOC: Ok, I'll have to power stunt my Electricity Blast in order to create the proper power. I'll confess I'm a little stumped on how to do it mechanically. I know it will have to be Precise in order to separate the toxic vapor from the breathable air. And I'm pretty sure it will have to be an Area extra that affects only the immediate region around Aiden. The power stunt would move Iona from Fatigued to Exhausted, so I'll have to burn a Hero point in order to counter that. She now has 1 HP.

Furthermore, Iona will use her Magnetic-array Move Object to pick Aiden's chair up and levitate him as her group tries to find their way out of the facility.

The battered cyborg pauses for a moment to concentrate on her actions. Holding out both her hands, she focuses her EM manipulation abilities. First she cycles through various electrical field strengths until she finds one just strong enough to repulse the noxious vapor away from the wounded man, while leaving breathable air in his vicinity. Once satisfied with the result, she then levitates the metal chair upon which the man is seated. Picking it just a few inches off the floor, she begins to move forward.

"Let's get out of here. He needs proper medical attention as soon as possible."

[mrdent12]

Diego Gonzalez
HP: 2
CND: Haunted, -1 toughness
Form: Solid

Iona was far too liberal with names. Names had power. Names identified something and something that could be identified wasn't an unknown shadow anymore. Correcting her now wasn't wise though and would need to be put off until later. They needed to get out of the base. Diego heads over to the jug and lugs it over to Iona dropping his guard duty for a moment. "We are here to help you and share mutual friends. Once we get you to safety we can talk more.", says Diego as he leaves the jug by Iona and returns to his position.

"I'll take point ahead and keep an eye out for any trouble.", says Diego as he rushes ahead. Once in the darkness, he resumes his native form and sticks to the darkness he has come to embrace heading down the passage ways. He made sure not to venture too far from Iona and to use his voice to keep her apprised of where he was heading in the case of an assault, but she had her hands full with Aidan. Ionas conscious proved useful sometimes.

Perception 19 for any hints of where to go. Not sure what else Diego can do for getting out of the place unless there is exit signs.

[Sakuro]

Diego and Iona

Aiden squints, one of his eyes beginning to swell. Swaying in his chair he looks between Diego and Iona as they talk. He starts to say something, but is interrupted by a coughing fit until Iona levitates his chair. The man lets out a surprised yelp and begins to struggle weakly against his restraints. It Iona weren't holding the chair up, he'd surely knock it over. Eventually he calms, but remains unnerved. Diego starts to head off but Aiden stops him.

"You don't know your way out of here, do you? Well, I do."

The arms dealer provides directions as you go. Not all at once. There are a couple times where he begins to go limp, on the verge of loosing consciousness, but he seems to be a resilient man and manages to keep from blacking out despite the damage done to his body and the poisons still working their way through his system. In the end you manage to make it to the mouth of the ruin without any further hazards stalling you.

Since Iona didn't do anything about the poisons in Aiden's system, I will be making some Fortitude checks to see how he fairs.

Aiden passes the first check and remains conscious long enough guide you out of the ruins. He passes the second and is still holding to consciousness when you get outside.

John

A few minutes after the explosions and gun fire started you found yourself in a jungle, painted in camo and armed with an assault rifle. For half an hour you took part in a skirmish with gorilla fighters as part of a squad of ten men. You had to maneuver through buggy swamp land. Some of your men died to traps. One died to snake bite. In the end you lost. Right as you were about to get gunned down by an angry woman with blood smearing her face ... it all went away and you were back at the mouth of the ruined building Diego and Iona delved into it. The rubble pile that was left it anyway. In the distance were sounds of conflicts. Shouts. Screams. Fights. All throughout the street is chaos. Then, gradually, it stopped. With people looking around dumbly. Confused.

[Supernaturalist]

Iona
HP: 1
VP: 1
Cnd: -4 to Damage Checks; Fatigued
PP:0
EP:3

Once outside and clear of the fumes, Iona levitates the chair down onto the ground. Though devoid of her pleasant appearance, her calm mannerisms and soft voice work to relax her “patient”.

OOC: Since I don’t have to make a Treatment roll, do I get information on the best way to further treat Aiden’s inhalation of this toxin? Should he just be allowed to breath uncontaminated air (And be given water) until his body either purges the toxin or until he can be gotten to the infirmary? Or is there something else Iona should do given her diagnosis the type of poisoning her currently has? For now I’ll assume that breathing fresh air and slowly consuming water will act to “detox” him unless further advised

Once again the feminine robot kneels beside the haggard-looking man and speaks gently.
“Please continue to breathe deeply. No matter how fatigued you get I want you to resist falling asleep or going unconscious. I’m going to have you take sips of water as frequently as you can. We need to remain here until I can assess how severe your poisoning actually is. We are still a significant distance from modern medical treatment and rushing to get you there will only increase our perilous situation.”

She looks more closely at the restraints on the man’s hands and legs. “We may also need some time to remove these restraints. So just relax until we find the best way to quietly do so.”

Even if the restraints are removed, will he be able to walk? Will he have to be carried? I can’t levitate him all the way back to base without drawing too much attention.

[mrdent12]

Diego Gonzalez
HP: 2
CND: Haunted, -1 toughness
Form: Solid

Back to the surface, the poisons filling the base only reinforced in Diegos mind how compromised the location was. It could of course serve many purposes such as a funding source if brought back to its previous capacity as a drug lab or making the building materials again somehow. If either occurred, there was security issues related to the Jaguars knowing the base well. Without weapons, whoever of their bases forces helped would be slaughtered. That Jaguar headed creature also posed a major risk. It took his heart. Something it could not possibly know how much it meant to Diego. If setting up a base lured him back, it might be worth it, maybe.

He had to focus on the present though. Not on what was stolen. "Let me check down the tunnel a little. Might be some digging equipment.", remarks Diego. Making his way down the tunnel, at the first chance he got Diego formed a pick axe before making his way back. "Just hold still. This will only take a minute.", says Diego. He lifts the "pick axe" and slams it down on the various bindings to free Adrian. With all the bindings removed, Diego heads back to "put the pick axe away".

I am assuming he can use his damage to lower ranks in order to break the metal bindings.