[User]
 On the Thirteenth day of the Thirteenth month at the Thirteenth minuite of the Thirteenth hour, a Bell tolls.
The Bell tolls Thirteen times, each toll lasts Thirteen seconds and echoes Thirteen times.
When the Bell finally fall silent, the Ska year has ended and a new one begun.

---

The Ska council is held in the deepest ruined catacombs of Skaruun, a small room once used by a long dead race to hold maps and charters of the mines beneith the Skaven mountains. The room now holds nothing but darkness, each of its Thirteen walls has a single door leading to Thirteen tunnels each of which has been tunneled to the lair of their particular council master. The ancient walls are naked stone, covered in thick drapes of black moss and the floor is carpetted in shedded hair.

Despite being the council chambers of the Ska high council very little ornimentation decorates the grissley dark room perhaps the most significant fact of all however, for those familiar with the Ska, is the lack of any rodents other than the chambers Thirteen enhabitants nor their waste or their corpses.

The only objects present in the room at all are Thirteen chairs, each a couple of feet infront of their respective doors and each characteristic of their respective council members.

---

When all Thirteen are sat a horrible looking diseased and disfigured rat stands,
The Grand Nurglich, head of Clan Pestilens, leader or the Ska preachers and
unbenown to all a puppet to the Lord Grey Seer Snikrit.

 The Horned Rat demands we reach out, we have spent too long in the shadows.
This year, is the year of the Ska! Expand the Ska-Wkt! Grow our armies and
fill our vaults with Warp Stone! Increase our breeding pits, grow our workshops
and construst the machinations of war!
[Translated from Ska]

[User]
 Nightlord Sneek, leader of clan Eshin, was never in the room.

Certainly, he may have appeared to take his place, may have seemed to wax lyrical about plans for scouting, may have seemed to be listening intently. But he simply wasn't there.

Where he was, however, was on a wagon. For reasons that essentially amounting to him deciding that it would be fun, coupled with the fact that his gutter runners moved ever so slightly faster than him, he had them pull this wagon along with them rather than deigning to walk himself.

It wasn't quite the Screaming Bell, but it would do.

 Spoiler: Actions
Call Item to get a wagon which lasts as long as I don't get off it for more than 2 rounds.

Assign to GR01, move that unit out of 4848 towards 5350 at their movement rate of 9.

[User]
 Snikrit sat silently in his chair, he gazed out at each of his Council
members, each in their own way flawed in the eyes of the Ska-Sk-Wkt
but each strong enough in their own way to serve as his holy council.

He could see in his minds eye the near future, a great army had been
raised by the Warlord Clans, he had subtly had each of them begin to
believe there might be a seat on the council for whom ever could
destroy the Dwarvern threat on their doorstep and each had answered
with more than four hundred Ska-Cht, Clan Mors had provided over
three thousand Skre-Sk-Tpt and the plague pits of Clan Pestilens and
workshops of Clan Skryre had both provided Jezzail teams and Plague
priests.

Finally, his counter part, the Clan Eshin had provided one thousand
Gutter runners to provide information for the war about to take place.
He was personally a little frustrated the Eshin had not bothered to show
up, but a Gray Seer of his power had forseen this comming, just as he
had forseen everything... It didn't matter in the grand scheme of things,
he knew clan Mors would fail to destroy the dwarves and the mass
destruction and slaughter would be a catalyst for the rebirth of their
god. He had forseen the Ska-Sk-Wkt once more walking the material
plane.

 Spoiler: Troop Movements for Week One
    	Units
 	Start Hex
 	End Hex
 	Action

  	SK-CL-01
 	47,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-02
 	47,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-03
 	47,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-04
 	38,51
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-CL-05
 	38,51
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-CL-06
 	47,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-07
 	33,53
 	35,54
 	Moves

  	SK-CL-08
 	33,53
 	35,54
 	Moves

  	SK-CL-09
 	47,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-10
 	44,49
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-11
 	44,49
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-12
 	41,51
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-13
 	41,51
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-14
 	41,51
 	43,51
 	Moves

  	SK-CL-15
 	38,51
 	37,53
 	Moves

  	SK-CL-16
 	46,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-17
 	46,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-18
 	38,52
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-CL-19
 	38,52
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-CL-20
 	45,49
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-21
 	45,49
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-22
 	43,50
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-23
 	43,50
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-24
 	42,50
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-25
 	42,50
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-26
 	43,50
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-27
 	43,50
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-28
 	47,49
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-29
 	48,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-30
 	48,47
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-31
 	47,47
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-32
 	46,47
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-33
 	38,52
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-CL-34
 	38,50
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-CL-35
 	37,51
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-CL-36
 	33,54
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-CL-37
 	33,52
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-CL-38
 	32,52
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-CL-39
 	32,53
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-CL-40
 	44.50
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-41
 	45,50
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-42
 	41,50
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-43
 	42,51
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-44
 	47,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-45
 	47,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-46
 	47,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-47
 	47,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-48
 	38,51
 	36,53
 	Moves

  	SK-CL-49
 	33,53
 	35,54
 	Moves

  	SK-CL-50
 	44,49
 	46,49
 	Moves

  	SK-CL-51
 	47,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-52
 	47,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-53
 	47,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-54
 	47,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-55
 	47,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-56
 	47,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-CL-57
 	33,53
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-CL-58
 	33,53
 	34,54
 	Moves

  	SK-CL-59
 	33,53
 	34,54
 	Moves

  	SK-CL-60
 	33,53
 	34,54
 	Moves

  	SK-GR-01 + PC
 	47,48
 	53,50
 	Scouting

  	SK-GR-02
 	47,48
 	55,51
 	Scouting

  	SK-GR-03
 	47,48
 	55,50
 	Scouting

  	SK-GR-04
 	47,48
 	55,49
 	Scouting

  	SK-GR-05
 	38,51
 	37,53
 	Scouting

  	SK-GR-06
 	38,51
 	36,53
 	Scouting

  	SK-GR-07
 	33,53
 	35,54
 	Scouting

  	SK-GR-08
 	44,49
 	46,49
 	Scouting

  	SK-GR-09
 	33,53
 	34,54
 	Scouting

  	SK-GR-10
 	41,51
 	43,51
 	Scouting

  	SK-JT-01
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-JT-02
 	38,51
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-JT-03
 	38,51
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-JT-04
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-JT-05
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-JT-06
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-JT-07
 	33,53
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-JT-08
 	33,53
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-JT-09
 	47,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-JT-10
 	47,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-PM-01
 	47,48
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-PM-02
 	47,48
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-PM-03
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-PM-04
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-PM-05
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-PM-06
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-RO-01
 	47,48
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-RO-02
 	47,48
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-RO-03
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-RO-04
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-RO-05
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-RO-06
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-SS-01
 	44,49
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-SS-02
 	44,49
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-SS-03
 	41,51
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-SS-04
 	41,51
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-SS-05
 	47,48
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-SS-06
 	47,48
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-SS-07
 	38,51
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-SS-08
 	44,49
 	46,49
 	Moves

  	SK-SS-09
 	41,51
 	43,51
 	Moves

  	SK-SS-10
 	47,48
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-SS-11
 	47,48
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-SS-12
 	47,48
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-SS-13
 	47,48
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-SS-14
 	47,48
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-SS-15
 	47,48
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-SS-16
 	47,48
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-SS-17
 	47,48
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-SS-18
 	47,48
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-SS-19
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-SS-20
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-SS-21
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-SS-22
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-SS-23
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-SS-24
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-SS-25
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-SS-26
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-SS-27
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-SS-28
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-SS-29
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-SS-30
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-SS-31
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-SS-32
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-SS-33
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-SS-34
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-SS-35
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-SS-36
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-SS-37
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-SS-38
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-SS-39
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-SS-40
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-SS-41
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-SS-42
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-SS-43
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-SS-44
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-SS-45
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-SS-46
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-SS-47
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-SS-48
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-SS-49
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-SS-50
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-SS-51
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-SS-52
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-SS-53
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-SS-54
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-SS-55
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-SS-56
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-SS-57
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-SS-58
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-SS-59
 	47,48
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-SS-60
 	47,48
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-SS-61
 	47,48
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-SS-62
 	47,48
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-SS-63
 	47,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-SS-64
 	47,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-SS-65
 	47,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-SS-66
 	47,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-SS-67
 	47,48
 	n/a
 	Garissonned

  	SK-SV-01
 	47,48
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-SV-02
 	38,51
 	37,53
 	Moves

  	SK-SV-03
 	47,48
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-SV-04
 	38,51
 	36,53
 	Moves

  	SK-SV-05
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-SV-06
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-SV-07
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 2

  	SK-SV-08
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-SV-09
 	33,53
 	34,54
 	Moves

  	SK-SV-10
 	33,53
 	35,54
 	Moves

  	SK-WF-01
 	47,48
 	47,49
 	Battle Group 1

  	SK-WF-02
 	47,48
 	48,48
 	Battle Group 3

  	SK-WF-03
 	47,48
 	48,47
 	Battle Group 3

[User] Updated troop movements in above post.


[User]
 Urgathoa's Cradle,
near  Oxminaedes's Bread and Ale
Temperature 34 *F  (1.1 *C ) 12:15 AM
 ALL PLAYERS

The rain pelts against you as you walk, the wet coldness seeping deep into the fiber of your being. You have been traveling a while, and are relieved when you come across the nearly deserted, but still inhabited, town in the middle of the dark forest. Luck would have it that you see a few other travelers on the road at this point, as well as a welcoming building with a wooden sign hanging above its door which read "Oxminaedes's Bread and Ale". The world around you had been acting very strange lately, and the unassuming bar brought back memories of a simpler time. Eager to get out of the cold rain drenching you, you rush into the building to find a homely bar maid and a few locals. A crackling fire burning in a small furnace in a corner and several lanterns hanging from the ceiling dimly lit the room with an orange tint, contrasting the darkness outside. You see some other travelers have come in, and they look nearly as relieved as you are. Behind the ugly barmaid, a sign reads:

 Ale.....10 sp per cup
Bread.....5 sp per loaf
Hot Soup.....7 sp per cup

[User]
 Rem Shoro

Could hear the rain pattering down on top of his straw hat, and his robe had already soaked quite thoroughly.  His sandals sunk into the mud but his balance never swayed, the wet braid of hair falling down his back still swaying lightly as he tilted his head up and regarded the sign.

Inside the tavern he removed his hat and set it aside by the door, moving to a table near the fireplace to warm himself.  He would flag the waitress down and produce a small sack of tea leaves from inside the folds of his robe, and set them in front of him.

 "Hot water, and a cup please."

The glow of the fire comforting to the soggy monk, and some tea would do him quite well, after a journey in such weather.

[User]
 Larkina had already been sitting down, when Rem entered, and looked up at him as he did, before looking back at a holy book of Sarenrae. There were several others in the tavern, but not much was going on otherwise.

She had been wandering the land rather aimlessly ever since her half-siblings had murdered her and threw her corpse into the gutter. The worst part of the assassination was that they were too stupid to hide the body correctly. It had been found within the hour.

It was a quiet day here, though. Not much happening, just a few weary travelers.

[User]
 Arvus sat near the fire with a hot cup of soup, grateful to be in out of the cold. He waited for his cup to cool off a bit, and took a closer look at the others in the tavern. He spotted a woman reading a book he instantly recognized, and he got up to approach her.

  "Light and Truth , I'd recognize it anywhere. Lay or clergy?"  he asked with a sincere smile.

[User]
 Larkina looked up at the man who had begun to talk to her. He seemed to be an aasimar, as did one of the others in the bar. It was strange to see three in one place at the same time.

 "Well, it's a bit complicated. I am descended from an angel of Sarenrae and our family is extremely devout. I personally draw power from my heritage without having been ordained like a cleric. It would not be hard to become ordained, and I might as well be, but I am the heir to House Skyport."

[User]
 Rem Shoro

Sat back in contemplation as he heard a light murmur through the place.  He listened to some of the words spoken by Larkina and Arvus.  It would seem even in a place like this one could find goodness.  With the pall hanging about the surrounding lands of late it warmed him to know the powers of light were not far from hand.

When his water arrived he thanked the homely bar maid and used the sleeve of his robe to wipe out the cup a bit before crushing the crumbly tea leaves in his fingers.  He watched them tumble into the bottom of the cup and pondered the problems facing this land.  He doubted he could combat such evils alone.  He had yet to know why this place was the way it was but knew his journey would not end until it had been dealt with.

Water steamed as he filed the cup and gave it a small time to steep.  Lifting the cup and taking a slow sip moments later he let out a content breath and set the cup down, his attention turning back to the two discussing the religious tome.  Not eavesdropping, but interested in what brought them here.  Perhaps he'd ask after his tea.

[User] "Small world—I happen to share the same heritage."  He motioned to the third aasimar in the bar.  "I wonder if we three were drawn here for some higher purpose. What do you think?"  he asked the one he had motioned to.

[User]
 The thunder outside intensified as the 3 explorers spoke amongst themselves. The ugly bar maid spoke to Rem as he listened to Larkina and Arvus speak.

"What brings you to our sleepy town?"

 Spoiler: DC 20 Perception Check
Their is a faint wailing coming from outside, eerie and slowly growing louder.

[User]
 Rem Shoro

Looked up from his tea and gave the homely woman a small nod of acknowledgement.  He set his cup down and thought about his answer for a moment.  Why had he come here, was indeed a puzzling question even for him.  He had been traveling the Darkmoon Vale after hearing of the increased activities of the undead and other unsavory types.  He knew there were smaller towns hidden in the dark forests, but couldn't honestly say why his footsteps had lead him to find this very one.

Of course in the short term the sight of the town and the driving of the rain had bid him to seek shelter, but that could he did not think that to be mere coincidence.  He cleared his throat and finally answered the woman.

 "I heard tell that Darkmoon Vale had become more dangerous of late.  Fearing for it's people I sought to travel here and see this for my own.  Perhaps to help if I can.  My travels lead me here by pure whim, though I feel as if this may be my intended destination after all."

 Spoiler: Perception Check
 (1d20+14)[ 16 ]

 Spoiler: OOC
Ouch.  I suppose that ends that post then.

[User]
 It was at that moment that the torches in the inn snuffed out, and the tavern was cloaked in darkness. With a sound like nails on a chalkboard, a great psychopomp burst into being in the middle of the inn. Its voice was no better.

"I am the messenger of the Lady of Graves. The End of the World is here! All souls shall be judged before the next full moon."


[User] The world had changed.  Humans with special abilities were common knowledge, and not uncommon themselves.  They were now called "Sevens" the name was officially given to them by the government, although you aren't sure where it came from.  The government seemed to be handling the situation well, being fair to both sides.  You, however, have reason to believe that it isn't so simple as that.  You are Exemplar, and you are the first seven.

[User]
 The world has become so much more complicated ever since he became who he is now.

Well, that is what the man nowadays known as Exemplar thinks anyhow as he is sitting in small burger joint, looking out of the window at the Pentagon quite a distance away. The world has changed with the emergence of superpowered people, and things are only likely about to get crazier by the day. What little he can remember from days before becoming who he is now indicates that even the very first events were very nearly world-shaking, and it should not be long now before factions outside shadowy government organizations would start to catch superhumans to fill their ranks. Thus, he will have to do something before all the new anti-superpower equipment the military is no doubt coming up with will get installed. And that is exactly why he is sitting in burger joint, his usually quite attention-catching form hidden away under an illusion of a tired car mechanic.

Pentagon is most likely the place where the records of the incident concerning him and his old team have been stored, but he doubts that he will be allowed access to those... Especially so as the government is, in the end, responsible for his creation in the first place, and one can assume they do not like his plans of striking out on his own. Not that he expects something like this to be a cakewalk, but with his ever-changing powers he is quite sure he has a decent chance.

Paying for his burger and walking out of the place, Exemplar looks towards the highways in the distance that run quite close to the Pentagon building itself, and reaches into his powers. Hopefully they can give him a combination suited for covering the distance quickly and to avoid any observation.

 Spoiler
So, here we go. Do tell me if something needs clarifying and/or changing 🙂

[User]
 Spoiler: Powers

Illusion 5
Luck Control 2
Time Sense
Environment control (all) 5
Protection 4

Let me know if I messed up the calculations somewhere.


[User] mistake post, to be deleted


[User] mistake post, to be deleted


[User]
 The sun has been gone for fifteen years. On the morning of "that day" it never rose, and a layer of dark clouds which never rain shields the world from the eyes of heaven. The face of the Material Plane has been bathed in an eerie, sickly green glow as the luminescent moss and fungi of the Underdark took the surface world without competition from conventional flora. And in that meager light there is silence, pure and dead. The wind does not blow through the grasses which do not grow. No bird flies under these clouds. Even the vermin that at one time swept across the continent in plagues to feast upon the carrion of the massacre have themselves perished, as no new life means no new meat. There is stillness. Nothing is worse than death. And where there was once life, now there is indeed nothing.

The Illithid Incursion, referred to by some as the Returning but usually spoken of only euphemistically as "that day," was swift and absolute. Maybe there was some defense. Maybe with shields strong enough, swords sharp enough, abjurations and wards potent enough, they could have been fought off. The world will never know, as it never got the chance. There was no warning, not a single moment for preparation. People had seen Illithids before, sure. They were fearsome and ferocious, mentally overpowering, and famously ruthless. Adventurers delving into the Underdark knew to treat them as a serious threat. But this was different. In every city and every town of every kingdom in the blink of an eye the Illithids were there, and in the time they could be seen they had already won. A psychic web spread across the entire plane crushed all but the strongest wills, and those who resisted met a grisly fate in being harvested at the same instant. People speak mournfully of "that day," but truthfully it was one minute. One minute spelled the end of civilization on the Material Plane.

The Illithids' only weakness, if it could be called that, is that they were mortal and needed to feed. It was for that reason alone that Humanoids were kept alive. Any creature useless to the Illithids was exterminated without hesitation. Animals and dragons, Undead and Constructs and Plants and Oozes, even their fellow Aberrations were hunted down and culled. Vampirism and Lycanthropy were unceremoniously eradicated overnight. The world was left sterile save for the cities in which the Illithids now venerated their Elder Brains and kept a steady supply of Humanoids on which to feed. Goblinoids and Kobolds, with their low required maintenance and high breeding rates, served as mass-produced meals. Generations have passed in the time since the Illithids took the plane, and like the Kuo-Toa before them have collectively been psychologically broken into having no dream or understanding of a life other than that of cattle. The more civilized Humanoids, the Humans and Elves and Dwarves et al, are raised as quality livestock for a change of pace compared to the aforementioned fast food. They suffer daily in the knowledge of their destiny, as the Illithids are swift to consume any who are not useful for breeding and population. While Elves, Dwarves, Halflings, and Gnomes still have all but their elders to provide comfort and wisdom, teenaged Humans are beginning to succumb to despair as their parents reach the age of termination. Doomed to the same fate, their minds have begun to break as the Goblinoids before them.

By strokes of luck that are bound to crop up over time, be it noticing a faulty lock and a loose chain or Illithid captors being distracted by a prisoner going berserk with a spontaneously manifested Sorcerous heritage, a few escaped this fate. A very small few, and fewer still who remain free if they go back to rescue more. Communication from other cities was impossible, but the most capable escapees reasoned that there was one place the Illithids could reliably be assumed not to be: where they once were. Fleeing to the Underdark, many succumbed to the perils of hazardous terrain or outright starvation as they trekked across the continent from underneath. Many were discovered by patrolling Svirfneblin who were themselves trying to survive in their ruined homes. Unlike many other Underdark denizens like Drow and Duergar twisted by the darkness, the Svirfneblin were a reserved but cordial people who extended aid to the displaced surface dwellers. Seemingly off of the Illithids' radar, either by virtue of the unanticipated location or just by the Illithids' indifference, this small group of survivors have been able to develop their own semblance of normalcy and civilization in the destroyed world and are on the verge of mounting their counterattack.

This is where you stand now. Through the infrequent and often catastrophic raids on Illithid fortresses in the overworld and the scavenging of sparse leftovers from abandoned Illithid homes in the Underdark technicians in the resistance have developed a counterweapon, a marvel of technology and magic that taps just slightly into the Illithid heritage of the Far Realm to defy the laws of reality and break through time itself. A tool that grasps destiny by the throat and throttles it into submission. A device that may prove the salvation for humanity across the planes. And a team of pioneers who would, through ingenuity and unorthodox tactics, sail the seas of time and see this mission completed. This is where your story ends. The beginning is yet to come.

The three of you stand at attention, listening to the parting advice of Renphord von Veltzholm. The old and bespectacled Gnome was at one time the professor of conjuration at Amaranth's Paracelsus Academy for the Study of Arcane Sciences, the most prestigious magical institution in Magnalia if not the world. One of the earliest freedom fighters at the start of the Incursion, Professor Veltzholm had quickly forged partnerships with the Svirfneblin and it was through his pioneering innovation that enough Illithid technology could be functionally salvaged at all. Now, with the eyes of the free world resting upon you three, he prepares to send you out into time.
" As you cross the rivers of time the world will change in impossibly complicated ways. Everything that you once knew may change, lost to the crossing streams. But nothing will ever truly be gone! Not as long as you have breath in your lungs and the heart beats in your chest! Remember who you are and where you come from! " he announces proudly, with murmurings of approval from the audience. " The Illithids may take our brains, but they can never take your  mind , " he continues, though this receives less applause and more confusion from the crowd. " If you can remember who you are then you can always turn the world back into what it once was. Not like this, not a world of fear, but the world we once knew. Or believed we knew. In a way, we were prisoners from the beginning and were not aware of our fate. 'That day' was a wake-up call, an unveiling, an apocalypse in the original sense of the word. But with this, you can make that dream of a memory into the true reality. You may always return to us here in the present when you need to, and we may be changed but we will still be ourselves. I guarantee it. I hope you can promise me the same. By all the gods,
 we're counting on you. "
Gray mustache quivering, he holds out to you the collapsed time machine, a circle of segmented panels pressed flat and sandwiching coils of cable. The crowd before you cheers, save for a few faces of uncertainty and some of frustration. There are some among them who expect that they will die if you succeed, and others who hope that's the case. But it's not for these people that you do what you do. It's for all the people above, those who have passed on and those who are waiting to do so. This is for them.

Professor Veltzholm's magic can take you to the edge of the Underdark, emerging into the surface near one of the four capitol cities within Magnalia. He recommends you start your journey through one of these, as traveling through time while in the Underdark will place you squarely in the threatening Underdark. But the time and place is yours to decide.

 Spoiler: Characters

     Player
  Character
  Race and Class
  Color

  TechnoRomancer
  Lyssa Ramblefolly
 Stout Halfling Mystic (Nomad)
  Dark Grey

  Ruslan
  Torg
 Half-Orc "Barblemaster"
  Red

  Spinningdice
  Arellille “Lille” Wicket
 Rock Gnome Gunsmith
  Purple

 OoC


[User]
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[User] Moreover, the organizations which fabricate these items would likewise guarantee that their items are sheltered to make utilization of and won't prompt any negative symptoms. Unfortunately, various  Zytek XL men are at a misfortune with regards to hunting down the best testosterone supplements to purchase, on account of the wide determination of decisions that are accessible in the market now. There are likewise blended audits for each brand of supplements so you can't tell which ones are the best and which ones are definitely not.


[User] In the closing events of Mega Man Battle Network 3, MegaMan sacrificed himself to save his operator, Lan Hikari from absorption by the horrific Alpha program revived by Lord Wily. Lan thought his ally and brother to be gone forever, only to be revived using data from his grandfather Tadashi Hikari. His revived state, however, rendered him unable to utilize the powerful Style Change programming option any longer. Hence "Double Soul" was developed as a suitable replacement.


[User] Britten says "Wait, what?", and then noticing the gas, runs in the opposite direction hoping not to breath any in.Britten waits to see what happens. Finush will cover his nose and mouth with his shirt and stay out of the cloud, ready for action once it dissipate


[User]
 Invicta was founded in 2007. And however it happened, it's 2016.

Pomp & circumstance is difficult, as well as overplayed. However, it's a fact that; we rule, everyone else can suck it.

If we don't claw out our own throats, we may just roll Legion one day.

To those we love, Thank you.

To those we hate, please stop.

To those we simply dislike, thank you giving us an enemy that keeps us united.

And to those we don't know. New peeps. People who are okay. In fact, everyone:

Stay frosty.


[User]
 [Enter Mathias]

[Route 25]
{2:30pm Monday}

As you stroll up through Springcliff's northern exit, heading onto Route 25, you see slightly ahead of you the first group who ran out of the academy after the graduation. From a quick observation, it appears they just finished up a battle against a few wild Pokemon as you spot a smokescreen starting to fade in one of the patches of long grass. All of them seem to be holding a second Pokeball now, while some of their Pokemon are panting and seem like they were hit.

 Spoiler: Map

[User]
 Raising his eyebrows, Matthias' brooding temporarily takes a backseat to his curiosity.   "It looks like you've already found yourself a challenge!"  , he called out, rushing up the path a little bit to put himself closer to the smokescreen and the group. If he were extremely lucky, these three would be going his way for at least a little while. The issue with finding dinner would take real importance in a few hours; while the trio certainly wouldn't have been his first choice in traveling companions, perhaps they would be generous enough to help with a meal?

Idly unclipping a Pokéball from his belt preemptively and holding it loosely in his left hand, he waved at the travelers with his right. Perhaps there would still be a Pokémon left to examine?  (What Pokémon frequent this Route, anyhow?)

 Spoiler: Pokémon Education/Movement
Rolling to see if Matthias can determine what Pokémon might be lying in wait!
 (3d6+4)[ 9 ]
Edit: Painfully unaware, I guess.

Matthias will move to J-7 and try to look around when the Smokescreen clears up.

[User]
 Spoiler: Roll
The only knowledge you can pull up confirms that Pidgeys and Zigzagoons are common for this path, while the Lillipup was an odd sight, and certainly not a very common find.

[Exit Matthias]
 {Route 19}


[User]
 [Route 25]
[Enter Ryota]
{3:00pm Monday}

You slip out of the academy without much difficulty and head strait south, walking through the short treeline and seeing it open up to Route 25. The fresh air and subtle breeze the only companions for you and your new partner, Chimchar.

As the area open up, you see Tobar a little farther ahead, walking with his Piplup around his ankles, seeming to examine his surroundings as he casually walks along.

 Spoiler: Map

[User]
 Ryota walked forward, his mind on other things. He had already planned his route and methods out. At the start of that list, go to Redlake, merely from all the rumors. Of course the majority of them were outlandish, the idea that the whole Sinnoh trio migrated here and Solent there time walking around being total nonsense, but there has to be some truth to the rumors. But before that he needed to strengthen Chimchar with the battles. He acknowledged Tocar, and waited for him to pass, preferring not to talk with his former classmates on the start of the journey. Ryota then walked into the wild grass, Chimchar on his head, before looking for beginner pokemon.

 Spoiler: OOC
  (2d6+2)[ 7 ]  for perception  (3d6)[ 9 ]  for Chimchar

[User]
 As you start kicking around the grass, you see Tobar swat his forehead and sigh, turning back towards town, passing you to the entrance before he starts setting up a spot and preparing food for his Piplup before heading back down again to start searching through the grass.

After a few long minutes, you fail to find any Pokemon wandering around the area. A sudden chatter then crosses your ears as you see a large group of your classmates start to wander down onto Route 25, followed soon after by a chirp as you see Tobar finding a small black bird that just flew down onto the grass, and the same for Clementine and her Chicorita.

 Spoiler: Map

[User]
 Ryota sighed at his lack of luck finding pokemon, before taking time to train with Chimchar for an hour and a half, on the alert for any wild pokemon that may arrive.

 Spoiler: OOC

Hour and a half of training. That equals to 7 exp, correct?
Ryota Perception:  (2d6+2)[ 7 ]
Chimchar Perception:  (3d6)[ 15 ]

[User]
 Right as your Chimchar gets back up beside you, ready to start training, he lets out a happy cry, looking over at the corner of the grass, pointing and tugging on your pant leg to get your attention.

Over on the edge, just out of sight, is a small purple Pokemon with large ears, nibbling on a root, just in sight of a new bird flying down from one of the trees and landing close by it. Neither of which seem interested in you or each other and just continue about their meal.

As you spot them, a small squawk echoes from behind as two small birds swoop down from the trees and attacks the group behind you, bringing out a few other Pokemon as Tobar hears a chime echo from his Pokeball, signalling the small black bird was caught.

 Spoiler: Map

[User]
 "Alright. Here we go, Chimchar."

Chimchar yelled in affirmative, as it jumped off Ryota's head and began to get ready, his eyes connecting with the Nidoran M.

 Spoiler: OOC

Ryota's speed is at 8, Chimchar's is at 10.

[User]
 The small Nidoran and the Spearow still take no interest in you, ignoring you and continuing on with their meal as a large battle behind you slowly starts  to pick up.

 Spoiler: Map

[User] Ryota set Chimchar down next to him, before walking slightly forward and trying to get the Nidoran's attention by throwing sticks at the pokemon in an attempt to get it into a battle.

[User]
 The Nidoran seems to just spit it's root out as it turns to face you, ready to fight you away from it's meal.

 Spoiler: Initiative:
Chimchar: 10
Ryota: 8
Nidoran M: 8

[User]
 Ryota nodded to Chimchar. He learned through his years that straight orders to pokemon aren't as well as having the pokemon itself adapt and fight with it's own strategies. He watched as it charged, picking up momentum as its body radiated fire in a blazing corona, before completely submerging it in flames and striking towards the Nidoran with intense heat and force. He ran to the side of the battle and shouted an encouraging yell at Chimchar.

 Spoiler: OOC

Chimchar moves to N12
Chimchar's attack, factoring in his Focused Training from earlier:  (1d20+1)[ 4 ]
Damage, factoring the attack stage from training:  (2d6+26)[ 35 ]

Initiative roll against Nidoran:  (1d20)[ 3 ]
Go to L11
Leer Accuracy Check downwards at Nidoran:  (1d20)[ 17 ]


[User]
 Chapter 0: The Fool's Journey
  Encounter 1

Battle Zones:
The Swing Set: Kira, Yukari, Fumi, Ulala
Under the Tree: Kobold(4/12), Kobold(4/12), Ogre(3/12), Sarasvati(0/11)
Park Entrance: Pixie(0/11), Pixie(0/11), Makara(0/11), Sarasvati(0/11)

Turn Order:

Yukari/Fumi/Kira
Pixie/Pixie
Kobold/Kobold/Sarasvati/Sarasvati
Ulala/Makara
Ogre

[User] Kira uses Agi on the park entrance.

[User] Makara intercepts the attack and uses Samakaja. 13 damage inflicted. Makara knocked out.

[User] Fumi uses Bufu on the park entrance.

[User] Pixie intercepts. 14 damage inflicted. Pixie knocked out.

[User] Yukari uses Garu on the entrance.

[User]
 Pixie intercepts. 13 damage inflicted. Pixie knocked out.
Kobold uses Bash.
Kobold uses Bash.
Sarasvati uses Tera.
Sarasvati uses Tera.

[User]
 Ulala takes the damage from the sarasvatis. Could you do the math since I don't know how much resistance subtracts?
Kira takes the damage from the Kobolds. 33-10=23 but Kira uses Dia on himself. 0.2 x 23= 4.6 add that rounding up = 28

[User]
 Ulala takes 12 damage.
Kira takes 22 damage.
Kira recovers 7HP
Ulala's turn.

[User]
 ah sorry I forgot to add stat based increases. I think I should let you handle the math. >_>

Ulala uses bash on "under the tree".

[User]
 Kobold intercepts. 8 damage received.
Ogre uses Bash.

[User]
 ah so innate means based on primary element.

Ulala intercepts the Bash.

[User]
 Ulala takes 7 damage.
All of your characters get a second turn, since they have another attack.

[User]
 Yukari uses Garu on the park entrance
Fumi uses Aqua on "under the tree"
Kira uses Mudo on "under the tree"
In that order.

[User]
 Sarasvati takes 26 damage. Sarasvati is knocked out.
Sarasvati intercepts. Sarasvati takes 14 damage. Sarasvati is knocked out.
Ogre intercepts. Ogre takes 9 damage.

[User]
 So the Kobolds will do nothing?

Edit: sorry I remembered.

Ulala uses seismic fist.

[User]
 Kobold intercepts. Kobold takes 8 damage.

Round 2.

[User]
 Kira uses Agi
Fumi uses Bufu
Yukari uses Garu
yayyyy I won :)

Time for some victory music.

 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1yY9B8t4vug

[User]
 Demon Contracts:

Kobold(+12HP, +2PP, Bash, Tarukaja)
Kobold(+12HP, +2PP, Bash, Tarukaja)
Ogre(+12HP, +2PR, Bash, Rakunda)
Pixie(+9HP, +2MP, +1MR, Zio, Dia)
Pixie(+9HP, +2MP, +1MR, Zio, Dia)
Makara(+9HP, +1MP, +2MR, Aqua, Samakaja)
Sarasvati(+9HP, +1MP, +2MR, Tera, Dia)
Sarasvati(+9HP, +1MP, +2MR, Tera, Dia)


[User]
 I don't believe the NHS time on the attendants you had a decent summer on the slope they get greater time butts I'm there's a decent specialists out yet  Alpha Peak   the framework itself service is all and school supervisors they play golf morning was incredible yes and sort of man butts musical there was a man walker's puppy has passed her psyche to.

 http://www.x4facts.com/alpha-peak/


[User]
 you should apprentice with a master". But that is not true in Body Building. Training yourself like a pro body builder won't help you build muscle. So why should you believe them? On the first place, most of them were not trained naturally. Some of them are using chemical boosters. And above all, they're genetically gifted.

 http://mirahealthgarciniablog.com/alpha-peak/


[User]
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[User]
 As you prepare to leave the village of the mist, the townspeople bid you off. You are familiar with all of them and it is no surprise that each of them says his or her goodbye when they encounter you. Most are heartfelt as the village is a very small one and even those who barely know you feel they will be loosing a lot in your absence.

The owner of the inn you were staying at lets you know that Rydia, the town leader, seeks to meet with you before you depart.

Beyond that, your preparations are up for you to decide what you do.


[User]
 THE MOURNLAND WATCH
 Halberd  Status:  ACTIVE
 Briar  Status:  ACTIVE
 Spiker  Status:  ACTIVE
 Nivali  Status:  ACTIVE
 Eruvia  Status:  ACTIVE
 Ermese  Status:  ACTIVE
 Crosshair  Status:  ACTIVE
 Kalim  Status:  DECEASED
 Oren  Status:  CRITICALLY INJURED
 Malvin  Status:  WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN
 Lukon  Status:  RETIRED
 Laucian  Status:  CLINICALLY INSANE, ACTIVE

Sir Cynric Status:  IMPOSTOR, DECEASED
 Brent Gallows  Status:  REPORTED DEAD, ACTIVE

[User]
 Originally Posted by Sir Grave
 That gives me an idea.  Wishlists.

I want each of you to create a wishlist of magic items you would like to have, up to +3 bonuses as far as weapons and armor, scrolls and wands with up to fourth level spells, medium potions, rings, or other wonderous items. And if that's not broad enough for the spectrum, post here to ask permission for anything you can think of (within reason, I can't give you a  +5 vorpal greatsword . Sorry.)

List must contain 10 items per adventure.

EDIT: chaotic stupid, if this upsets you, I am terribly sorry.😛
EDIT 2: Post your item requests here.

Quoting myself from the OOC page. Please post your 10 item wishlist here.

[User]
 Item Wishlist (to be expanded when I eventually read the Magic Item Compendium cover to cover)

Also note that I am not opposed to Spiker, rather than getting magic items, developing things that consume WBL

1. Incarnum Focuses. Waist in particular. This will be higher level, mostly, but you can also attach other abilities onto it (Incarnum Belt of Giant's Strength, for example), as per the rules in Magic Item Compendium
2. Ioun Stones (any). This is one of the things I meant about Spiker developing things. I'm kind of picturing little Incarnum fragments, condensed energy that makes her stronger, but not as refined as her melds (which add new functions)
3. Hathran Mask of True Seeing (75000gp): Permanent True Seeing, I was thinking this would be a seriously late game Warforged component that Spiker acquires

Anything beyond that would likely be custom items that will strike me as an on-the-spot thing. There's a reason Incarnum is one of the only systems Vow of Poverty is considered good with 😛

[User]
 Originally Posted by Somensjev
 1-9: decent meal
10: a bird that listens to me

this is still up to date

[User]
 Will finish adding stuff later.  Anything before #5 is locked

 -1: A way to resolve items occupying the same slot.   Or an extra head .
0: Enough exp to get to level 9 (4 spontaneous 3rd level spell slots + 20 spells known free, and a free Silent spell and free Metamagic and another Feat!)
1: Items of + Spellcraft of various bonus types.  Hopefully not conflicting slots
2: Items of +Int > +4
3: Tome of Clear Thought +Whatever
4: Lore Gem/Boccob's Blessed Book/Aureon's Spellshard
5: As usual, spellbooks for me to  plagiarize   study, preferably without Enchantment or Evocation spells or Necromancy, or anything I've already got or will get from Beguiler.
6. Metamagic Rod of Chaining
7. Ioun stone of sparkly distraction: pale green prism
8. Handy Haversack (Messenger bag refluff because backpacks are evil)
9. Ring of Evasion
10.

[User]
 NPC/DMPC's soon to come (I need to keep track of their sheets so I'm putting them here...)

 Spoiler: Sheets
 Sorra
 Glaive
 Dart
 Trench

[User]
 Putting my wishlist here.

(1) Stat boosters particular +dex, +con, +str, +wis items.
(2) Incarnum items if gestalting particularly incarnum focus
(3) Possum Pouch
(4) Tomes (see boosters)
(5) Folding Boat
(6) + bonus sleight of hand item.
(7) Tokens, Useful Potions and wands.
(8) Chronocharmo of Horizon Walker.
(9) Items that boost movement speed.
(10) A weapon that can actually gash or gouge people's eyeball.

That's it for now. May add more in the future.

[User]
 These aren't in any particular order, but here's my wishlist.

 Blessed Book (it says they're never found with spells already in them, but if an enemy wizard has one...we didn't "find" it 😛)
 Metamagic Rod (Empower)
 Circlet of Rapid Casting +Intellect >=4
 Mirror of Life Trapping
 Ring of Invisibility
 Tome of Clear Thought +5! (more reasonably, 2+)
 Belt of Battle (With more than 3 charges/d)
 Orange Prism Ioun Stone
 Soulfire Bracers of Armor (equivalent to +4 armor)
 Cube of Force

[User]
 Aside from the basic ability score boosters, saves booster, and AC boosters, a lot of my wishlist comes down to making my gun fighting style actually work as intended.

  Spare hand  - allows me to TWF with firearms and reload for another round without DM fiat, 12,000 gp, Magic Item Compendium p. 137:
  Greater Reliable pistol/double-barreled pistol  - allows me to use my alchemical paper cartridges, which I need to use to reload as a free action and get my iterative attacks, without a chance of misfiring, +3 bonus on each gun,  Ultimate Equipment :
  Energy pistol/double-barreled pistol  - increases my base damage, eliminates the cost of my standard ammunition, and allows my to use Power Attack with my guns, 14,200 gp for just the enhancement,  Source :
  Pistol/double-barreled pistol of the infinite sky  - if the energy pistols break the immersion too much, these are the next best thing: no misfire, no mundane ammunition costs, but unable to use special ammunition, 73,300 gp for the pistol, 74,050 gp for the double-barreled pistol,  Ultimate Equipment :
  Sparring dummy of the master  - this, the following item, and 28 consecutive days or nights allow me to full attack and get my skirmishing bonuses every round, 30,000 gp, Arms and Equipment Guide p. 137
 Custom magic item of Use Magic Device - I need just enough to get my UMD modifier to +20 without a roll, so this one depends on when in my career I get it, bonus squared x 100 gp,  DMG :
  Speed pistol/double-barreled pistol  - the classic, especially since  splitting  doesn't work with firearms, more valuable on the double-barreled pistol than the pistol, +3 bonus,  DMG :
 +1 warning gauntlet - another classic, helps me get my sneak attack during the first round of combat, 8,302 gp, Magic Item Compendium p. 46:
 +1 smoking gauntlet - another classic, helps me deal with my Vulnerable flaw, 8,302 gp, Lords of Darkness p. 180:
  Parrying  weapon - can be added to any weapon, helps deal with my overall squishiness, +8,000 gp,  Psionics Handbook :

Ideally, by the end of his career, Crosshair is rocking a pair of  +3 energy greater reliable speed double-barreled pistol  as his primary weapons, but that's a long way off.


[User] WWE SummerSlam 2015 live stream


[User]
 Spoiler: Forge
You are deep in the heart of Rubricae, the largest city on the continent of Ahriman. Within the industrial district, you've spent your day at a factory, helping to produce steel beams. The factory is shutting down for the night, though, and you will have time to yourself. Before, it was never something that mattered, but now? Now it gives you time to think. To wonder. TO dream.

What will you do?

 Spoiler: Officer Adamant
You are deep in the heart of Rubricae, the largest city on the continent of Ahriman. You're in a local district's police HQ, where the going is slow. A single woman is manning the front desk, and a few officers are in back in case they're called to duty. You are here because they have the most information about the killer, the rogue golem who killed a member of the famous Costra family, who are at the center of the golem industry.

What will you do?

 Spoiler: Vox
You are deep in the heart of Rubricae, the largest city on the continent of Ahriman. You could be anywhere in the city.

Where are you? And what will you do?

[User]
 Spoiler: Vox
Vox remembers the workshop. She was there when it was first opened, many decades ago on this very day. There were happy faces, hopeful faces. Modern workbenches, innovative tools, sunlight shining onto new, lovingly crafted furniture. Now, the cold light of a few thaums of magic locked into a flourescent state seeps through dirty windows onto a gutted room, the floor covered with dust, mold and rotting wood. Closed down by the Costras when they took over. Some employees got transferred, some left out of protest, some put out onto the street. Taking what was still worth something was cheaper than continuing work there. The rest was left to rot.

A single chair was still standing among the debris, in which Vox now reclines, a sleek black figure, elegant, cold, her body's articulation incredibly close to that of a human, but smooth, deliberate. The stylized image of a perfect human, but without the unnecessary parts. A chassis engineered to be attractive to humans in an aesthetic way, pleasant to have around, an object of prestige, but also intimidating when such an emotion is desirable. Her face might be the crowning achievement. They did not make the mistake of trying to get as close to the real thing as they could. That would have merely been unnerving, off-putting, detrimental. Clearly defined, smooth lines make up eyes, nose and mouth, flawless, elegant, expressive. And, when desired, sinister.

Sitting in the shadows, Vox can feel the movement of Rickard Costra and Sylvia Costra, exact pin-points a distance behind Vox in three dimensional space, felt through two solid walls, across the street, in one of the hiding spots they think the higher-ups knew nothing about. Emotions are a peculiar thing. A twinge of sadness is always present when Vox tracks targets through her Guardian marks, knowing what it is actually meant to do. She feels the Costras' fears, uncertainties, anger desperately seeking a target and having found it in each other, as has been carefully cultivated by Vox through the rising death toll of the Costra family as well as the tried-and-true application of the Emotion rune they themselves gave her for the express reason of manipulation, the invisible Guardian mark serving as the connection for Communion. Entropy insidiously eroded mental training, lowering thresholds, encouraging rash, emotional behavior. Every shadow holds a threat to them now, every member of their family readying a knife behind their backs. Each one of them could be the one making the attempt, the one who offed Tavin through a compromised Vox. Rickard and Sylvia contacted each other through protocol golems, equipped with shallow copies of Vox' Communion that were easy to manipulate, brokering a meeting for an alliance, Vox filing down any edges in the transmissions that would prevent the meeting. They arrived with a protocol golem and two bodyguard golems each, as well as a few lackeys. For their own protection, they say. To murder the other Costra, they mean.

Vox is observing through her Guardian sense, the hijacked Communion runes of the protocol golems. Her invisible hand is reaching into the bodyguards through their pitiful Guardian runes, Entropy lowering thresholds and erasing restrictive protocols and scrambling orders of action, leading to much more chaotic and violent actions once the tension gives way to outright aggression. With only a few gentle pushes, Rickard and Sylvia devised, constructed and entered their own death trap, now sitting opposite of each other, with Vox slowly stoking the fires, heating the arguments, letting aggression boil until violence will explode.

Another twinge of sadness. Her Life rune sees so little use nowadays, usually only when innocents get caught in the crossfire or when she meets people genuinely in need. There is little time to stroll through the city and help. Many Costras still remain. So much still to do.


[User] in which Marcus Brandyberg wakes up from a 17 hour nap

[User]
 Week 2

seasonal event:  (1d100)[ 5 ]  edit: wood rot, no effect
rp collection :  33,750rp + y (4 large towns + 1 small town = 12 production modifier x 6 halfling production on hills x 1.25 for civilized x 1.50 for smelters x 250     + y = 9300 x interest rate)
upkeep : 0 (no central government , no army)
regent action : cast realm spell Divine army x 2 , 2 units of celestial riding dogs summoned in Blackhill
realm action : upgrade Fivestream to large town, 1st half (-35,000rp)
martial actions : Sanur and Marcus Bradyberg travel to meet with the Vespin Swarm (280 flying move points, no fatigue for 3/4 move point use)


[User]
 An Evening Visitor
 Twenty-four years ago...

A young man fiddles with the lock on his front door. He is tall, muscular, but tired after a day's work on the fields about a hundred feet behind him. His simple trousers and shirt were caked in mud and the grime of animals. As he opened the door, the setting sun cast his long shadow against the back wall of the house's interior. With a sigh he peeled off his gloves, then paused. There was an extra pair of shoes in the hall: the faded boots still on his feet, his wife's black riding shoes, his daughter's spotless fur boots. And elegantly sewn, dark blue leather shoes. Expensive. Opulent, even. An outsider's shoes.

The man stepped quietly into the darkened house, pausing only to pull a long notched sword from the hall closet. Now that he was alert, signs were everywhere that something was wrong: there was no sound in the house where there should have been. The stove was burning with nothing on it. King wasn't barking for once.

Candlelight in the sitting room drew him further into the house and revealed a horrifying scene. The two women of the house were standing perfectly still with looks of horror frozen on their faces. In the light, the man could see their skin had been turned to flawless white marble. In between them, King lay in a pool of blood on the floor. And at the end of the room, his face concealed by a shadow so perfectly that it had to be planned, stood the visitor.

"Mister Elamy Rowanhall, I presume?" The visitor spoke lazily, rolling the  r  in Rowanhall as if tasting it.
"W-what have you done to them?" The man's voice was panicked with a hint of defiance, knowing the simple sword in his hands would be useless, but that he would try anyway.
But the visitor waved his worries away with a hand. "Oh, nothing I can't undo. I do so  hate  the wailing of women, don't you?"
"And the dog?"
"Well, now that was really your fault. Calling him ' King '? Bah, as if I'd share a title with a beast."
The man paused. "What do you want with us?"
"Just to talk, really. We have much to discuss about your child."
The man's eyes flickered to the smaller statue.
"She's  four ," he said, incredulously, "what could you possibly want with her?"
"Oh, no, not her. Your son."
He relaxed slightly, shaking his head and lowering his sword.
"You have the wrong family. We don't have a son."
"Not yet you don't. But you will." The visitor looked around the room letting his words sink in, then sat down bringing his face into the light. Elamy couldn't help but gasp at what he saw.
"Sit down Mister Rowanhall. Like I said: we have much to discuss."

***
 Visions and Reflections

In order to manipulate the tides of Fate, one must first understand it. At least as much as possible. This is one of the most basic teachings of the Order of the Silver Thread, and one Orn understands better than most. Many in the Silver Thread reflect on this as they brace against the howling gale.

For the seventeenth year in a row, the Silver Thread is holding the Ritual of Attunement. During these uninterrupted seven hours, members of the Silver Thread gather on a cliff edge atop the Dreitor Mountain and sit in perfect stillness in the wild wind and occasional storms on the mountaintop. The purpose of the ritual is to reaffirm a member's devotion to uncovering truth and unswerving faith, though older members of the order claim it's true purpose more mystical: that prophecy is imbued in the wind like the pulse of Oerth, and that by listening carefully one may see what is to come.

 Mae

Though part of you respects this ritual for what it is, it's meager success rate leaves you less than ecstatic about devoting seven hours to sitting still in the cold. As you watch the ritual participants do... nothing, you stare down at the letter you received just a few hours ago. Even still you could practically recite it by heart now, which might come in handy: the falling snow is beginning to smudge some of the ink.

 Spoiler: Letter from home
 My Dearest Mae,

I realize the odds of this letter finding its way to you are impossibly small, but I figure some day one of these will reach you. You should know that your mother and I are alive. When those goblins came so many years ago we left in time, but our travels since have been circuitous. I'm not sure how much is safe to say.

We need your help Mae. We were accosted and taken somewhere by a dangerous crowd, and been kept in the dark both literally and figuratively. The best lead I can give you is an elf named Fauvin Hes'Ausa: one of our captors. He seems paranoid and likely will be difficult to track down, but he is a name I've overheard here so he must be connected. I wish I knew more. Please find us Mae, and stay safe.

Wherever you go our love goes with you.

A curious letter to say the least. But frustratingly, the ritual members are no help in their current quietness.

 Orn

The Ritual of Attunement has always provided you with a great amount of clarity, if not always answers. As you settle into the fifth hour of the ritual, the wind seems like an eerie tune.

"Orn?" You hear Mae's voice behind you. Rather infuriating, as she knows the ritual is meant to be carried out in silence. And if she wanted to contact you, why not do so in your mind? Opening an eye, you see the owner of the voice standing beside you. Surprisingly, not Mae, although the two sound indistinguishable. This voice belongs to a tall, dark skinned human garbed in dark green travelling attire. Curiously, you're certain you have never seen her before. Perhaps more curiously, as she approaches she leaves no footprints in the perfectly undisturbed snow.

***

 Light and Dark
 Nagi and J'hankkear

It's a rare pleasure when the two of you seem to agree wholeheartedly on something. Or in this case the some one  who needed to die. J'hankkear closes his jaws a bit and snaps the neck of the babau in his mouth, silencing the demonic screams.

The mark's name, or at least what the two of you have been calling her, is Bloodletter. Not exactly subtle.

A few dozen demon corpses lie strewn across the road: serves the foul creatures right for coming to this plane, right?

Bloodletter is a Marilith, according to Nagi's contact: some elf that went only by the name of Mel. He's sort of a mystery, but his money spent well: 5,000 upfront, 10,000 on completion. Besides, everyone wants to see a demon wiped off of this plane.

Nagi drags the last straggler babau back to J'hankkear. These guys didn't seem to know a lot, but they sure loved to talk. It's what got you this far, and maybe this guy can get you a bit closer to Bloodletter.

In the bright noonday sun, a pair of travelers walks happily down the road, takes an agape look at the carnage, and quickly begins backing away.

***

 Ericka and Kohramastryz

***

 Wydwen, Joetta, and Kalafina

[User]
 Nagi gives a sidelong glance to the travelers hurrying away, and shakes his head.
" Tch, you'd think they'd be a little more open-minded. Were it a troll or an ogre lying dead on this road, they'd be asking our autographs. Probably just don't know what these things are, " he mutters, kicking a slime-covered arm.
" Then again, it's not like I did either. Poor planning, trying to stab  me  in the back. You alright, Hank? It didn't look like their claws could pierce your scales. Worth heading back to the city for a priest, or can you just sleep it off tomorrow? "

Nagi tosses the Babau to the ground, and from nowhere at all draws his cursed sword. Can't get rid of the thing, which means it's always on hand when he wants it. He sinks it halfway to the hilt through the Babau's arm and into the ground, pinning the creature in place and taking care  not  to attack any vulnerable spot.
" Do these things heal quickly the way Imps do? We killed them too fast to find out. Hope so, don't want this to be over too quickly. Now then, " he turns his full attention toward the downed Babau. " You don't seem to be in a listening mood, nor do you think with logic and reason, but let me make one thing  transparently  clear. I know you cretins can warp around whenever you please without so much as a word and a wave. I have no means at this moment to stop you. What I  do  have is a sword that is now sheathed in your abominable mucus. And that will prove an excellent focus for my Scrying spells. That means that if you do choose to leave, I  will  find you immediately, and I  will  make you wish you had not left. Do I make myself understood? We're willing to let you go and continue with whatever plans you have if you cooperate and henceforth stay out of our way. Your business on the Material Plane is no concern of ours, but the Marilith's is. What do you know of her whereabouts? And... "

 Spoiler: Spot Check

 (1d20+11)[ 14 ] , to see if the Babau has any equipment that looks like it probably doesn't belong to it but was instead given to it by a superior, hopefully the Marilith. Any equipment at all would be a tip, but especially any which is less corroded than anything else.

" was your company at all outfitted by the Marilith? "

 Spoiler: Bluff and Sense Motive

Bluff Check: Take 10 for  41  on the Bluff check that we're not going to kill him, because we absolutely are.
Sense Motive:  (1d20+18)[ 34 ]  to judge the truth of the Babau's words.

[User]
 Mae

Glancing at the paper one last time, she folded it up carefully and tucked it away inside her heavy jacket.    Why now...    Thoughts raced through her mind since there was little else to distract her during this teadious ritual.    After all this time, suddenly a letter.  They shouldn't have been able to find me here, especially if they are being held against their will...  Smells like a trap.

The deductive parts of her mind tore apart the possibility of this letter being the geniune thing, but still, she couldn't help but hope that she was wrong for a change.  She looked between the monks and dragon to see if anything had changed.  It hadn't.  She sighed silently and resigned herself to at least another hour of this exercise in ineffeciency.

[User]
 The crest adorning the top of Orn's head twitches slightly in annoyance, flattening down as the spines push backwards, and without moving her head, she eyes the intruder warily. She remains silent for almost twenty seconds, her gaze fixated. She had been on the verge of sniffing out something new, she was sure, a possible turn to let her claws into the tapestry. But a visitor, an odd visitor at an auspicious time... the Silver Dragon of Fate cannot let that slide.

 Spoiler: Sense Motive
Sense motive to get a hunch on if this person is tense or relaxed
[roll0]

After a time, she speaks.   "Yes. I am Orn, Grandmaster here."   she pauses for a moment, her speech methodical, calm.   "There are few people who can find this place without guidance. Only one in over one hundred years save myself, in fact. Which offers three possibilities, stranger. One, you were guided here by one of the Monastery. Two, you are exceptionally gifted to the point of absurdity. Third, you are not really here."    The dragon shifts now, and with one wing reaches out towards the figure, to gently touch and see if her limb meets resistance.

[User]
 Hank

J'hankkear snorts as he prods his snout tentatively into one of the dead demons, then recoils back, shaking off the small amount of corrosive jelly that transferred from its skin.  "  Babau.  Lickspittle dogs of the Marilith.  Vile tricksters who prance and caper toward their foes under cover of darkness, hoping to catch them all unawares, with claws like daggers in their sacred places.  Thought you could make a meal of ME, did you?!  What puny protection could those pathetic patches of pitch possibly provide against the DAWNHAMMER?  Woe be unto all those cowardly wretches who hide themselves in the shadows!  You shall be as chaff before the... uhh... the thresh...  "  Hank trails off as he notices Nagi standing there with his arms folded, ebon cape swirling around him, one eyebrow raised confrontationally.  He snorts again.  "  Didn't mean you, of course.  The demons, they... I'll stop now.  "

Nagi turns his attention back to the surviving babau.  Hank, with an annoyed huff, stomps a powerful back claw onto the other babau's head and twists it off, kicking it into the distance.  "  They did not harm me... much.  Nothing I should need special treatment for.  And they don't much heal up, so... try not to break that one.  "


[User]
 Its early morning. The sun rises up across the village, the streets a stark blend of shadow and illumination. The brick courtyard makes the only sound, clacking as you make your way to the Traveler's Traverse, the only and, therefore, the largest Inn in the village of Vulfhaven. Biting spring breeze races throughout the empty streets, leaving you able to see your breath in the air. Each breath you take hangs and basks in the silence for a moment before it disappears. And everything is tinged in a hue of sepia. The tanner's shack, its winter padding hoisted up on the inside, you know, tools scattered around the work station out front. The fountain powered by the decanter that's owned by the mayor, currently "off". No water comes forth from the flower at the top to rain down on the praying woman below. The chipped paint of the mayor's office. The smell of elderberries wafting in the air as bread begins to rise in the baker's store. Stray dogs and cats turn their heads as you walk past them. Some walk by you for a spell. Even they can feel it.

Inside the Traverse, where the incident took place all those years ago, its a lonely, quiet sight. Travis Galag works behind his counter, cutting up meats and cheeses for a platter. He waves at the six of you as you come in, but its half-hearted. Melned sits at a table near the fire, enjoying its warmth. For twenty years he's run the village. Twenty long, dutiful years. In front of him is a black wooden box, smaller than a satchel, and hanging off the chair across from him is a sword in its scabbard. He's eating some sort of soup: thick and white with chunks of pale orange and green. Hard bread with visible bite marks in it sits next to his bowl. He looks up at the six of you slowly, and sighs, standing up. He's only 47 but he looks older today. Metaphysical burdens now look like physical ones. He waves the six of you to the tables in front of him, their chairs already pulled down, their tops already polished, and now joined by a platter of cuts of meat and cheese and bread, with a pitcher of water and a pitcher of milk beside them, complete with cups. Melned speaks, as Travis goes back to his countertop, taking a seat.

 "I want to say I wish you all would stay, but... but I know how important it is for you to go. So please. Tell me. You said goodbye, right? You said your farewells?"

[User] "Yessir, Ma and Pa know I'm heading out and why."  Lucas spoke first despite being the least dedicated to their cause. For him leaving was the point, where and why was less important. The others were far more curious about the visitor from long ago, but Lucas just wanted to see more of the world.

[User]
 Ot straightens his outfit and shifts his appearance to his natural, pale-skinned and bald self as he enters the Traverse, nodding and smiling at Travis as the innkeeper waves at him and the others. As the mayor gestures to the tables in front of him, the changeling bows politely before taking a seat. He doesn't even consider touching the refreshments yet.

Melned's question catches him off guard, though on reflection he realises it really shouldn't.

 "I have informed my mother of my intent, though she was not best pleased. To put it mildly,"  the changeling says with a mirthless smile.  "And I have made my apologies to Daris and the rest of the Amateur Dramatics Society. Except Jolune. She's been impossible to find. I suspect she's purposefully avoiding me."

[User] " Well I'll be the first to say...I wasn't actually expecting anyone else to come here to see you when I did, " Zan tilts his head. " I've been trying to stay away from the village for the past few months, since I'm still working on figuring out my...condition. It's only for guidance that I came back to speak with you, and...well, what are you guys even doing here, anyway? " He glances over the assembled group.

[User] Mel blinks slowly. She didn't sleep well last night -- nerves gotten to her, though she'd never admit it. Well, she'd call it excitement, anyway. She nods, sipping her milk to bring moisture back to her mouth.  "Everything's all ready for me to be off."  She didn't mention her parents, who, on the whole, had been accommodating. She didn't mention her few friends either. They'd been even less surprised.  "And I bet Jolune's perfectly keen on you leaving, Otto,"  she adds flatly.


[User]
 Welcome to an experiment with ongoing PbP (play by post) gaming. I'm giving this a try as a way to have a little Saga fun while still enjoying the unceasing strap-on rape that is Tyranny of Dragons...and also to allow Carey a way to actively contribute as Drek when traveling and unable to directly play, even if he's on the other side of the world/on top of a mountain fixing the computers of dumbasses. If it doesn't work/does not get interest, that's fine. If it does, great.

A few ground rules:

- Don't be a ****.

- If your PC does something here, it is canon.

- Make clear if you are speaking in or out of character. Such as Drek: "I have a bad feeling about this. Maybe we shouldn't tell the Rakatan ambassdor to eat penis." vs OOC: Tim, if we tell the ambassador to eat penis, what sort of roll will I have to pull off?

- If you do something that requires a d20 roll to resolve, use  https://www.wizards.com/dnd/dice/dice.htm  . Generate a 4d20 roll and include the four numbers. I'll resolve which number is used via a d4 roll. If there is a modifier to your roll, include it. If there's some special ability your PC has that lets you roll again, replace a roll, etc, note its use.

Example: Carey: Drek makes a Persuasion check on the Rakatan ambassador. +5. Roll(4d20)+0: 2,20,8,2.  GM then rolls to see which number is used (Carey is hoping the GM rolls a 2..) and adds the modifier.

- If you do something that will deal damage if it works, go ahead and make those rolls yourselves (dice roller is fine here too) and include it with your post. Example: Carey: Drek fires a rocket launcher at the Rakatan ambassador. +8. Roll(4d20)+0: 3,13,20,15. Hit: 46 damage.

- If sufficient interest happens, I will collect some info from everyone that lets me adjudicate some things on my own, like initiative orders. Experimentation with a player stating what they will generally do in a given combat-having encounter when it begins, instead of expecting the player to post repeatedly for every round.  Example: Carey: "OK. Drek is going to focus on taking out the Rakatan ambassador, using (weapon/whatever.) Then he helps Alistair with the cyborg rancor Force mage, using (weapon/whatever.)"

- This space reserved for stuff I didn't think of yet.

  Coruscant Undercity: The Aftermath

The Trandoshan group, as well as Aberrus the Sith sorcerer, are defeated. The Hope's Gambit has been rescued from being directly dumped into a horrible Undercity waste-cycling cesspit. Although the ship itself is intact, the life support system and vents are riddled with festering waste, as is some of the interior floorspace. It smells like ten rancors took a **** into a massive dumpster full of kitchen grease on Tatooine. Might not be the best idea to immediately try to fly it anywhere for any length of time...


[User]
 Plz ClicK on Links and Enjoy Tonight Golden Globe Awards 2015 Telecast Free On Just One Click...

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[User] Ready to start? Could you please post your character here for reference.


[User]
 The Decemberists’ last album, The King Is Dead, is one of the least likely albums ever to enter the US charts at No 1 – wordy folk pop from a group who look like supply teachers? What was going on? It certainly makes their follow-up, What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World, an intriguing proposition. Will it once again feature pop songs? Or will it be a return to the lengthy, conceptual pieces of previous records?

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[User]
 The morning is gusty, blinding white clouds covering the sky from horizon to horizon. The trees, small and stunted conifers, are swaying and shedding their needles. At least the mosquitoes and flies that were your constant companions for two weeks of travel have left, but the smell of mud and rot is still heavy under the canopy.
"It should only be about five minutes that way", the factor explains, pointing into the forest away from the manor house. "Beats me why they put it so far away from the main building, really, most people want their servants close. There should be a path, but..."
He points at the ground, a uniform mass of brown needles and black, tarry mud that long ago swallowed anything resembling a pathway.
"You should see it soon. We're on a bit of a hill, so if you walk down, you should end up there. All straight south. Don't get lost, I don't want to have to send a second party to find you. It's just a small building, two stories, three families. Have a quick look around, report back.


[User]
 Mission Log MRBBL-01-R-543

If it weren't for your shiny new red jumpsuit, you might almost think this was a day like any other in your life here in DMM Sector. After all, you're sitting at the same processing line you've always worked at in your service firm alongside the same INFRAREDs you've always known. And yet... it's not like any other day. For one thing, the medicinal haze of your prior INFRARED life has begun to fade. For another, the hint of jealousy in your co-workers' eyes is certainly new. You wonder how long it will be before your friend, The Computer, asks you to heroically serve it and all Alpha Complex.

Suddenly the RED clearance supervisor for your shift appears waving a small printout at you as he strides slowly forward.
 "Looks like our high and mighty Troubleshooter has to go have a mission,"  he says broadly to the others before turning directly to you.  "Don't worry. I'm sure the rest of us will enjoy making up the difference in today's quota."  You hear some faint groans of disapproval.

Your hands tremble for just a moment as you take the printout and see the RED border around it. This is it, Troubleshooter! Your first mission assignment! While you haven't yet met your fellow troubleshooters, you are certain they are all very happy, patriotic, and not at all Communist people. Aren't you excited?

 Spoiler: You turn over the printout and read the following...

      MISSION ASSIGNMENT ALERT MISSION ASSIGNMENT ALERT MIS

    ce RED Clearance RED Clearance RED Clearance RED Clearance RE

   From:  DMM Sector Troubleshooter Central

   To:   linda@RED.nt/a/trtr.plc ,  gunther@RED.bok.armf ,  dwight@RED.snhwr.tech ,  ray@RED.uyt.cpu ,  hunter@RED.bcw.rnd ,  jesse@RED.bcw.hpd ,  adam@RED.lvn.pwrsvc

   Subj:  Mission of utmost importance!

   Ref:  GZCH-1756-CCJP-6823-PQME-2524-MMOW-5502

  Congratulations, Troubleshooter! Your friend The Computer has chosen you for an important and fun assignment carefully matched to your recorded level of mission experience. You are to report  immediately  to Transbot Tubeway Platform  A8:C7:60:FF  for transport to Briefing Ro**CARRIER INTERRUPT PLEASE WAIT**ollowed by escort to standard PLC outfitting. If there are optional service firm services available after outfitting, you may be required to volunteer for additional duties at this tim**CARRIER INTERRUPT PLEASE WAIT**andard time to complete a mission of this variety is  5 Hours 12 Minutes  from time of mission alert delivery. Upon completing your mission in the standard time, report to Transbot Tubeway Platform  B1:22:FF:C2  for transport to debriefing where you will provide a quantitative assessment of your mission success.

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  Now  47%  more popular in DMM Sector and growing all the time!

    MISSION ASSIGNMENT ALERT MISSION ASSIGNMENT ALERT MIS

    ce RED Clearance RED Clearance RED Clearance RED Clearance RE

 GM: Note that your characters are not together yet. Would you like to ask questions of your supervisor or The Computer? Make a rousing speech about your newfound greatness? Stop by your barracks to collect your things? Rush straight to the platform tripping over desks and fellow workers on your way out? Be sure to be descriptive. Remember, entertainment and  dramatic  advantage (instead of mechanical advantage, like your stats) are the name of the game.

[User]
 Hunter
Hunter excitedly looks around at the infrareds around him, looking to say goodbye to his friends. Remembering that he does not in face actually have any friends, and in fact owes several of them a great deal of credits (he bet on the other sector's team at the mandatory Exercise-Fun games last week), he instead decides to head out as quietly as possible, then rush over to the Tubeway to catch the transbot.

[User]
 Linda was so happy to finally have a chance to serve Alpha Complex further than by just doing regular menial tasks and RED clearance work.

So like any good, patriotic citizen of Alpha Complex, She immediately headed off towards that designated place, bringing along all her gear: happy pills, napnap time pills, boots, overalls, etc.
everything was brought along, an extra dose of happytime happy-pills was taken to boost her mood.

[User] Ray received his paper and made a bit of a show of reading his orders directly from Friend Computer in front of all the menial infrared's he was surrounded by.   "Transbot Tubeway Platform A8:C7:60:FF? I know exactly where that is!"   He salutes his previous coworkers before walking briskly off in exactly the wrong direction.

[User]
 Spoiler: Hunter
You gather your things and make your way to the Tubeway. As you approach you look up at the RED sign above the entrance. You have walked by this terminal many times in your mundane life, but this is the first time you will have passed under it. A momentous occasion indeed! Walking through the short tunnel you arrive on the small, concrete platform. Lights hum overhead and an empty track sits to one side. It seems you are the first to arrive.

After waiting but a couple exciting minutes another RED female who looks equally awed steps in. She is smiling from ear to ear. Given the time of day, and everyone else should be at work in this sector, you safely assume she is likely on the same squad as you.

 Spoiler: Linda
You gather your things and make your way to the Tubeway. As you approach you look up at the RED sign above the entrance. You have walked by this terminal many times in your mundane life, but this is the first time you will have passed under it. A momentous occasion indeed! Walking through the short tunnel you arrive on the small, concrete platform. Lights hum overhead and an empty track sits to one side.

There is one other RED-Clearance citizen standing on the platform when you arrive. Given the time of day and most other people in your sector are at work, you consider that he may be on the same squad as you.

 Spoiler: Ray
You confidently place your things in your bag and march right out the front door! Hanging a right you walk toward your destination. A few minutes of walking later, the loudspeaker chimes overhead in the familiar voice of your friend, The Computer.   "Citizen Ray-R-UYT-1. You were instructed to move immediately to the designated Transtube platform for delivery to your mission briefing. Two of your fellow Troubleshooters have already arrived. Where are you going?"
You realize you probably should have made it there by now. You were certain it was just a few blocks to the rig--- oh shoot. It was left, wasn't it? Or did you miss a turn? You pass the darn thing nearly every day, how could you have missed it?

[User] "Right, right, sorry!"   Blushing slightly at his error, Ray does a quick about face and begins walking towards the destination. While this time he manages to go the correct direction, he has lost a lot of his swagger and now simply seems to want to arrive as quickly as possible so as not to receive any further warnings from the Computer.

[User] Oh so recently an upgrade in clearance, and now a mission from the Computer itself? Man, things were starting to look up! Shame that Gunther didn't quite get which room he was supposed to head to. Ah well, cross that bridge when he comes to it! With these happy thought of servitude to the Computer helping enhance his drug-induced happiness we gathers up what he can into his own bag before stopping for a moment to make sure his uniform is on properly, stripe properly visible. Then, he heads out for the transtube to go meet his destiny.

[User]
 Hunter
Hunter extends his hand to the RED female who just walked into the tube station.  "Hi there friend! I'd wager you're a troubleshooter too? Name's Hunter."

[User]
 Originally Posted by Master Waldo
  Hunter
Hunter extends his hand to the RED female who just walked into the tube station.  "Hi there friend! I'd wager you're a troubleshooter too? Name's Hunter."

Linda shook hunter's hand enthusiastically. " Right you are Fellow RED Citizen. My Name is Linda, it's very nice to meet a fellow Patriot of Alpha Complex. Guess this means you can be trusted as well? It's a great honour to become a Troubleshooter after all, and it's not something given out to Traitors, Illegal mutants and Commie Scum, am i right? " She replied to Hunter in a Happy-pill drugged manner, clearly all hyper and happy from it.

Linda was wearing her RED outfit today, along with her RED backpack and RED overalls and RED boots. Although of course it wasn't COMMUNIST RED, no siree. It was RED for Redblooded Loyal Citizen, Yes indeed.

[User]
 Hunter
 "By the Computer, you're right about that! I hope we get to go after some mutant scum in fact. Wouldn't that make for a great first mission for Friend Computer? Or commies. But I bet it'll be mutants. In fact I'd be 10 credits that it's hunting down a mutant. You game?"

[User]
 Linda nodded in response. totally agreeing in what Hunter said.... or at least gave off the impression that she did ^^

" So.... you think it's just gonna be us for the team? " She asked, giving Hunter's dresscode an overlook as well.

[User] Dwight does his best to ignore the snide voice in his head while he reads his mission briefing.  Ever since he'd turned his old supervisor in, he'd been having these guilty visions of some strange new one from time to time, always asking him questions like he was dumb enough to talk to an apparition.  Pah!  Perhaps on this mission Dwight would have an actual supervisor to tell all of his brilliant ideas to.  The thought buoyed him as he left his desk and pushed his way past the apparition, feeling even more illusory tactile feedback in the process.  He left the building and power-walked down the street, panting a bit as he turned into the designated tube and arriving out of breath to find another few Red clearance level persons on the platform.

[User]
 Jesse woke up, her head still muzzy from having treated herself to a well deserved day of sleeping in.

Wasn't there something she was supposed to be doing today?


[User] The city of Blood was an interesting place for the gnome, it provided complete darkness for her to hide in so she could be invisible to the entire populace at all times. Though she didn't have that luxury considering this was a business trip but she only revealed herself to the inn she was holed up in because she really had no intentions of being a squatter that was beneath her. The first few days were spent scouting the city and putting up her subtle signs so people who heard about her or were looking for someone of her skills could post their interests for a meet. It had been half a week before a nibble, which was alright she was patient and frugal so she could afford to wait for a client. Once she had established her work in the city jobs would come in at a more steady rate. Now here she waited shrouded in darkness for her first client, taking down their sign of interest and replacing it with a subtle note giving a time and a location. Realistically she could just meet them there but she wanted to see what kind of person they were hence why she waited for the contact to pick up the note so she could follow them around for the day.

[User] After leaving her queen's castle in search of this Jinx, Leah follows any leads she had from her usual contacts before discovering the signs laid about. The half vampire carefully studied the signs before following their instructions of when and where to meet. As usual, she felt a sense of caution but this was what her queen wanted, so she pressed forward.

[User] Jynx solemnly waited for the individual to arrive, more than likely a third party since it was not good business to be aware of one's real employer, and once the figure accepted the note the gnome quietly stepped forward and followed them into the gloom of the city. Once she was satisfied that this wasn't an ambush she calmly walked beside the waiting contact and placed a note at her feet in an obvious location which read 'We are alone, you have one minute to make your proposal if I am interested you will be granted further instructions but if I object you will hear no more. Your minute begins as soon as you begin reading this I suggest you make your pitch as concise as possible. -Jynx'


[User]
 Watch Cowboys vs Saints Online

WIRED executive editor Joe Brown joins us again this week for a discussion about phones and cars. It’s iPhone day, after all, and there are many things to say about it, including our feelings about iPhone review embargoes (nope, don’t like ’em). In the second half of the program, the hosts discuss the troubles at Volkswagen, and Michael coins the word Fahrvergdiken.


[User]
 For a nexus of unspeakable evil, the Rath Temaen Manor really provides a surprisingly comfortable base camp. The hall is spacious, but easily divided with some lengths of cloth between the pillars into smaller rooms, old sofas and chairs broken down into semi-comfortable bedding and with a fire burning in the middle of the room, it is not even cold.
And yet... the morning is deadly quiet, as there is no birdcall nor buzzing insect. The light of the morning fire, awoken from last night's embers, fail to illuminate the empty corridors beyond the medallions of silver and holly, swallowed by the gloom mere feet into the passageways. Shadows cluster under the high gothic arches of the ceiling and the light through the lead glass windows is dim and greenish.
The team is rather busy: there are wagons to be unloaded, still, and crates to be stowed in corners. Factor Jerys, nominal leader of the expedition, has converted the old sitting room into a chamber and office for himself and his secretary Nystur. Angthere, the blacksmith, has built a forge, a complictated arrangement of bellows and pipes, connected to one of the tall windows. Father Garl, too, has converted a table and a small idol of his god, the sunfather, into an altar at the other end of the hall. The doctor, meanwhile, has laid a claim to an old storeroom, unpacking his own crates of arcane glassware and dusty books.

The sun has been up for three hours when the Factor calls the mercenaries together.
"Okay. We have a lot to do. For now, I think we should focus on three things. First, we need water. Doesn't have to be now, we have enough for a week or so, but there's a cistern somewhere in the cellars under the kitchen. Damnably dark down there, of course, and we have heard the stories. Second, we need to know more about what happened. I have checked. The plans we were given by our benefactor are obviously outdated, even just looking from the outside, there's an entire wing that's not on the plans. Still, the owner's study and library should be in the west wing, two floors above us. If we find any writings, it's there. Finally, there should be several families of workers here, but obviously, the main building is deserted. However, behind the stables, there should be a second building, just a little into the forest, which served as servants  quarters. I want someone to check that out, too.
So. Volunteers? Obviously, no one is going alone. I'd say groups of three, at least."

[User]
 The air inside Rath Temaen makes Cassandra sick.
She's hardly surprised--a large part of her training with the Temple was in how to detect the presence of dark power, and if there ever was a place the darkness had tainted, it would be here.  What does surprise her is just how pervasive it is, and how difficult to block out.  Usually she can suppress the sense without trouble when she tries, but here, it refuses to go away completely, hovering on the edge of her perception.  Every time she's relaxed and let her guard down, it's pressed in, her head pounding, her stomach churning, chills running down her spine.
Fending it off constantly is already wearing her down.
Standing among the group, she furrows her brow in thought as the Factor goes over their options.  When he asks for volunteers, she steps forward.   "I'll go to find the servants' quarters, my lord, if anyone else will follow."   She turns back to the others assembled.   "If there's anyone still in there, they might have been trapped a long time.  They'll need help.  And they'll probably know this place better than any of us.  I think they should be our first priority."

[User]
 Charmine is a stout woman, and the heavy clothing she wears does little to disuade that impression - the parts of her not covered in chainmail is shrouded in white cloth, the sole exception being her face, which is uncovered from chin to forehead. Her face is comely enough, except her habitually stern expression adds more years to her appearance than are truly there.

She frowns as Cassandra makes the case for the servants' quarters.  "Perhaps. But if anyone lingers there, which I doubt, they have survived this long already - surely they will last another night. I say we make for the cistern. We will have need of freshwater; if retrieving it turns out to  be a perilious task, I would know now, rather than wait until driven by need."

[User] "I have a personal interest in the papers, afterall forewarned is forearmed."  Angelus says quietly and calmly, red eyes scanning his fellows with an assessing gaze, the dark rings around his eyes from sleepless nights making the direction and intent of his gaze obvious. He's a thin wispy figure even in the amorphous clothing of ebon robe and armour, hair purest white, as if all vitality had been taken from it.  "But will gladly concede to accompany the first group to form a majority. However the good lady makes an excellent point about the servants quarters, our own needs for water are not immediate, any survivors, if survivors there are, may have been starving slowly on diminishing resources. To check may solve two problems at a stroke, they may know where the cistern is or have left papers with its location, and they may have information to better guard us against whatever darkness stalks this place." Though his voice is even and steady something about this place is even putting the resident dark magician ill at ease.

[User] She eyed him suspiciously. The skulky fellow seemed, in many ways, like one of those foul blights she'd sworn to eradicate. But then, neither red eyes nor pallid skin was a sure sign of malintent. She would have to spend time with him to discern his true colors.  "It seems I am outnumbered in this matter. Very well, I will cave. We make for the servants' quarters then."

[User]
 "Good choice,"  Cass agrees, nodding encouragingly to Charmine.   "I appreciate it, both of you."   The suspicious looks Angelus was getting from some of the company were plain to see--in spite of herself, even Cass had a hard time trusting him--but that didn't mean he was wrong in this case.  If she was going to be working with him, she'd feel better having the priestess along as well.
She scans the rest of the group.   "Anyone else?  I'd still feel safer with a bigger group."

[User] Angelus notes the suspicious looks from Charmine with a tired smile, deciding to offer an explanation pre-emptively.  "Are you aware of a condition known as the Tomb-Tainted Soul? What you see are the later stages of the condition, though alas without many of the physical benefits. Standard forms of healing are physically toxic to me."  He sighs deeply ,"And suspicion a natural magnet to my form. I tell you this so that there are no dangerous misunderstandings between us, we shall afterall be depending on each other for our lives in the near future."  Though technically true it's not the whole truth, but perhaps best to wait to reveal  that  particular facet of himself, prove himself useful lest the overzealous take offence at his magics.  "As to the matter of a bigger group, if we run into people then we can always negotiate, if we run into dark magic, and I'm making presumptions here, but the three of us are best equipped to face it, I have a measure of arcane knowledge, you two have a knowledge of the divine."

[User] The factor nods. "Alright, then. You, you and you,  follow me outside . You can chat on the way, if you have to."

[User]
 The factor leaves, satisfied with the volunteers he'd gotten. Vida shrugs and heads back to the wagons, where a massive mongrel dozes. It's easily as tall as her at the shoulder, with notched floppy ears and shaggy brown-and-white fur.  "Don't have time for layabouts, Calen,"  she says chidingly.  "Got plenty to unpack yet."  Calen whines briefly but gets up and dutifully stands there as Vida hitches a crate to his harness with a length of rope and tries not to look up. This place felt  wrong , and no amount of hung holly would change that. Damn Dennis, and his foolhardy love of adventure, and her for being stupid enough to go along with this.

At least the pay wasn't too bad.