Between the Darkness/Session 14

tylorva: Right, so if I recall, after a few misadventures, you had got back together and were exploring the underhive, only to discover that Reinhardt's goons were still cleaning up the area with violence.

lavis_Morden: ((but we're still trying to find remnants of the Cleaners and Kirian with them, despite that complication)=

tylorva: *nods* What are you doing now then? Or where are you going next?

Clavis_Morden: "So, uhh, where do we go from here?"

Mercution_Hastus: "Doesn't look like giving Reinhardt a call and politely asking him to order his hounds to back off, will serve us any good. Not yet, at least." Mercution ponders. "I guess, the first step will be checking up on some of our old hiding places, see, if any of my people left any signs or clues."

Clavis_Morden: Clavis looks to Mercution, who - navigational difficulties aside - is still their guide in this strange world below the Hive proper.

tylorva: (( Navigation +20 roll from Mercution ))

Fatespinner: Mercution_Hastus rolled a 23 on a d100 for 3 degrees of success.

Clavis_Morden: nods, smiling with cautious optimism. "We rely on you then."

tylorva: This time Mercution is able to position his location and start heading towards the areas he is more familiar with. It's a long trudge through dark stinking tunnels full of the absolute dregs of humanity, most of whom are just slumped on the floor, ragged and withered, slowly dying. Although Mercution is used to life dfown here, it's all new to Clavis. One of the beggars, a pitiful young man, diseased and half starved catch

tylorva: One of the beggars, a pitiful young man, diseased and half starved catches hold of Clavis's robes. "Please, miss..." he stammers.

Mercution_Hastus: rubs his heck uneasily and shrugs. "Well, thanks. Whatever happened to you early, you seemed to have kept your own wits about you. Good... Emperor willing, we'll still get out of this alive and well..."

Clavis_Morden: Clavis carefully avoids thinking about those panicked moments in the pitch black water. "I'm not alone, and we're all still alive. Right now I count that firmly in the 'win' column."

Mercution_Hastus: "The usual attitude in the Underhive." Hastus chuckles, trying to keep out of the masses of dregs. "Don't let 'em touch you, he is likely sick."

Clavis_Morden: As they make their way through the stinking tunnels Clavis' eyes are wide. She has witnessed the poverty in the lower Hive, insanity and agony on the Black Ship, but this is different once more.

Clavis_Morden: She keeps close to the others, shying back from making eye-contact with the poor souls. There is too much raw human suffering there for her to know how to react to that.

Clavis_Morden: As the man holds on to her rain coat Clavis flinches. "I, umm, what ..."

tylorva: "Help me..." he whimpers, holding on tightly, trying to pull her towards him.

Clavis_Morden: Master Ravion had always told her to be careful with beggars, but the training is hard to hold on to under these circumstances. Uncertainly she reaches for a ration bar in her pocket. She can't not do something, can she?

Clavis_Morden: As he tries to pull her away from the others Clavis twitches and pulls away, almost fleeing the situation, and the ration bar falls from her fingers.

Mercution_Hastus: Ganger steps to Clavis' side - the beggar's noticed, it would seem, someone unexperienced or simply looking new. Hastus gives the man a hard and merciless look.

tylorva: As she pulls out the ration bar from her pocket, he does let go, wailing happily at the sight of the food. Like a pack of vultures, suddenly all eyes are upon her and the ration bar and within seconds, she and Mercution are surrounded by desperate humans, scrabbling with other for the food and holding out their hands begging for more.

Clavis_Morden: Clavis draws back, almost hiding in Mercution's shadow. "I'm sorry," she says quietly, "you can have it ..." Then desperate people just like the first one suddenly surround them from all sides and Clavis can do no more than look around confused and slightly afraid of the sudden mob.

Mercution_Hastus: was left to curse at the psyker's ill-timed impulse of mercy and scum's opportunistic nature. 'Tiss not like he was unable to sympathise with them entirely - and still, most of the time they were nothing but a pest. Just give them a chance...

tylorva: Filthy thin hands grab onto your clothes, arms and legs, trying to drag you down into the rotting pile of humanity (possibly for eating).

Clavis_Morden: "I don't have ..." enough for everyone, she finishes in her thoughts. With all eyes on her, what should she do?

Mercution_Hastus: "Get lost, find yourself another feedbox." Shouts Merctuion in annoyance, shoving one of the dregs with a shotgun stock. "Less likely to turn you into rats feed yerself!"

Clavis_Morden: As desperate hands grab for her Clavis despite her careful mantra can't help but remember the slimy tentacles in the black water. "Hey! No! Don't!" She tries to rip free.

Clavis_Morden: And without meaning to reaches for the promise of safety in form of the laspistol's weight at her side.

Mercution_Hastus: ((Intimidation?))

tylorva: (( Roll it. :) ))

tylorva: (( I'll give a +20 for big gun and being experience in this environment. But -10 cos these people really are a bit too desperate to care that much. So +10 overall. Peer Underworld can add another +10 . And yeah, str based. ))

Fatespinner: Mercution_Hastus rolled a 29 on a d100 for 2 degrees of success.

tylorva: The sound of Mercution's voice does seem to have an effect and many of the beggars back away in fright, giving you both some space to breathe. But you are both still trapped. Until there is a loud gunshot from nearby. Suddenly the tide of humanity starts retreating.

Clavis_Morden: ducks as the gunshot sounds and for the third time in little over an hour draws the laspistol. Going by the sheer frequency of that the Underhive already ranks as one of the most dangerous places she's been.

Clavis_Morden: In the middle category of dangerous, that is. Since the top category will usually render that option either inapplicable or grossly insufficient. Places such as the Tricorn or the Halls of Sanctioning of Holy Terra.

Mercution_Hastus: Perfect, Merctuion curses yet again. Interlopers, surely to cause further undue attention to humble travelers. Even though Mercution was thankful for ridding the agents of the dregs, turning rather dangerous, his first impulse was to strengthen the grip on the weapon. Interlopers were armed.

tylorva: As the beggars scurry away in panic, another shot slams into the mouldy stone wall, shedding dank dust and stinking fungus all over you both. Mercution's knowledgable eye can spot that it's a high velocity round - not exactly common down here.

Clavis_Morden: "Oh, Emperor on Earth ..." Ducked down Clavis tries to find a likely cover, realizing that they themselves might well be a target.

Mercution_Hastus: quickly follows Clavis' example, realizing that shooter not only armed, but armed good and that his intended target was unclear.

Clavis_Morden: Looking to Mercution for guidance Clavis silently mouths "What do we do?"

Mercution_Hastus: "Let's try the obvious. Who's there?! Name yourself!"

tylorva: You both dive into cover behind a pile of rubble, and a staccato of automatic fire slams into it, spraying another cloud of dust and debris. "Surrender in the name of the Holy Inquisition, or pay the penalty for failure!"

Clavis_Morden: Clavis looks confused for a moment, then silently curses. "We're agents of the Inquisition, hold your fire!" she calls out.

Clavis_Morden: ((yay, options ... break cover with the undoubtedly watching underhivers or get arrested by the gun-happy stormtroopers))

Clavis_Morden: "Under whose authority do you act?" She adds a moment later.

tylorva: "You do not question the will of the Inquisition!" Another shower of fire slams into the rubble, causing bricks to shatter, and the pile collapses slightly.

Fatespinner: Clavis_Morden rolled a 80 on a d100 for 3 degrees of failure.

Clavis_Morden: ((trying Scrutiny to assess how truthful they are about their allegiance))

Clavis_Morden: ((and failing, it seems))

Mercution_Hastus: "Wrong approach, it would seem..." Mercution looks around hurriedly, seeking convinient means to escape.

Clavis_Morden: Cursing again under her breath Clavis manipulates the probability field around herself before raising her head over the rubble to get a good look at the shooters.

Fatespinner: Clavis_Morden rolled [10, 4] for a total of 14

tylorva: It looks possible to scurry inside the nearest network of shacks.

Clavis_Morden: ((manifesting Precognitive Dodge before Clavis pokes her head out))

Fatespinner: tylorva rolled a 32 on a d100 for 3 degrees of success.

Clavis_Morden: ((the power imposes a -30 penalty to BS attacks against her until the ned of her next action))

Fatespinner: tylorva rolled a 64 on a d100 for 0 degrees of success.

tylorva: A hail of gunfire slams into the pile of rubble again, all missing Clavis almost by chance as she pops her head up. She can see the armoured figure of the stormtrooper just in time for a second figure, this one dressed in robes to step up beside him. "I sense witchcraft!" says the second person, a grizzly sounding female. "Kill it!" There's more gunfire.

Clavis_Morden: ((do they have Inquisition insignia or any other identifying marks?))

tylorva: (( Nope. ))

Clavis_Morden: ((Ok, not going very well :p))

Clavis_Morden: ((mmh, what to do, what to do ...))

Mercution_Hastus: "On one hand, we have credentials..." Hastus keeps his head down, speaking strangely serene. "On the other, no one is particularly keen to check them. Try to make a dash for it?" He nods to the side, where the ramshackle structures spoil the beautiful vista of dirty lichen-covered tunnel walls.

Clavis_Morden: For a moment Clavis is frozen in indecision. Surely there must be a way to properly resolve this? Then she nods. "Yes. Run and see if Reinhardt can make this go away."

tylorva: You dive into the ramshackle building, disturbing a pair of beggars who screech in alarm. Another spray of gunfire follows you in and there's a scream from the woman. "They're running! The heretics are running! After them!"

Clavis_Morden: Clavis follows Mercution's lead in running for it, upbraiding herself for not having dared vox Reinhardt earlier.

Mercution_Hastus: stomps into and jumps over puddles of dirty water, ducks under bars, frames and more difficult-to-identify protrusions from walls and tunnel roof, always trying to keep his companion in check. Well, losing oneself in the tunnels and caverns almost suceeded once, he was going to try it again.

Clavis_Morden: While running Clavis brings out the vox connecting them to the Interrogator and prays to the Emperor in all his aspects that it will work this deep down. Her voice is interrupted by having to dodge various obstacles and fast breathing even more than by gunfire.

Clavis_Morden: "Interrogator? Sir? We're ... under attack from ... Inquisition troopers ... in the ... Underhive ... they won't stop ... shooting so we can ... show identification ... Stormtroopers and female psyker ... they yours? ... Can you do ... anything?"

tylorva: There is only static.

tylorva: (( Can you both give me agility + 20 rolls ))

Clavis_Morden: shakes the vox. "Emperor protect us! Please work!"

Fatespinner: Clavis_Morden rolled a 48 on a d100 for 0 degrees of success.

Fatespinner: Mercution_Hastus rolled a 40 on a d100 for 2 degrees of success.

Fatespinner: tylorva rolled a 13 on a d100 for 5 degrees of success.

Fatespinner: tylorva rolled a 88 on a d100 for 4 degrees of failure.

Clavis_Morden: ((...))

tylorva: You both nimbly dash along the tunnels, darting through the shacks, over the rubble, underneath the barricades. You run for your lives. Your two pursuers chase after you, the psyker woman quickly lagging behind. But the well-trained stormtrooper seems to be gaining on you, and you both need to avoid another shower of gunfire.

Fatespinner: tylorva rolled a 13 on a d100 for 5 degrees of success.

tylorva: (( Now would be a good time to dodge. ;) ))

tylorva: (( The dice roller seems to be compensation for last week's stream of epic failures... ))

Mercution_Hastus: "Don't expect it... to work. Miles of steel... above you. Only hard-wired signals can hope to.. come through." Although exaggerating a little about the distance and simply unaware of the most advanced of the imperial communication systems, this was correct at least in the current situation.

Clavis_Morden: ((do I have enough warning to use Precognitive Dodge?))

tylorva: (( Mske a WP roll ))

Fatespinner: Clavis_Morden rolled a 87 on a d100 for 2 degrees of failure.

Mercution_Hastus: ((Don't forget FP))

Clavis_Morden: ((right. FP.))

Fatespinner: Clavis_Morden rolled a 51 on a d100 for 1 degrees of success.

Clavis_Morden: ((wow, a FP use that actually makes things better? That's almost unheard of!))

tylorva: (( Yup, you can do it. :) ))

Fatespinner: Clavis_Morden rolled [10, 6] for a total of 16

Fatespinner: Mercution_Hastus rolled a 1 on a d100 for 5 degrees of success.

tylorva: (( I demand the dice roller is sacked fpr being too nice this week! ;) ))

Clavis_Morden: Casting a look backwards Clavis sees the stormtrooper coming up behind them and once more twists the probabilities of being hit as far down as she can.

tylorva: With Clavis's precognition and Mercution's agility, you both manage to dive out of the way without being hit. The pursuit continues.

Mercution_Hastus: ((I think, hits were assigned to us both.))

tylorva: (( But yeah, 3 hits on Clavis, 3 on Mercution. ))

Clavis_Morden: ((ah, ok. Lucky us :) ))

tylorva: (( Some of Clavis's hits negated with precog dodge. ))

tylorva: (( Anyway... more ag +20 rolls please! ))

Fatespinner: Clavis_Morden rolled a 40 on a d100 for 1 degrees of success.

Mercution_Hastus: took a sharp look back and, in a literal twist, worthy of a death cult assassin, evaded all shots, diving and rolling under the frame. Hitting the ground running, he scurries off, somewhat surprised look on his face.

Fatespinner: Mercution_Hastus rolled a 100 on a d100 for 3 degrees of failure.

Mercution_Hastus: ((FP))

Fatespinner: Mercution_Hastus rolled a 65 on a d100 for 0 degrees of success.

Clavis_Morden: "Damn it!" Clavis exclaims, realizing that there will be no superiors taking charge and preventing the Inquisition agents from attacking their own. Continuing as fast as she can Clavis follows after Mercution - he may be faster but this isn't a sprint and she has the endurance to keep up. "What now?"

Fatespinner: tylorva rolled a 97 on a d100 for 3 degrees of failure.

Turfster: (yawn. sorry guys, busy last few days, hardly got any sleep. woke up with keyboardface -_-)

tylorva: At last you both manage to duck round a corner and then another. Mercution's knowledge of the area helps you to doubleback and lose your pursuer. You emerge into a tiny courtyard, devoid of any life except a large albino rat snuffling at some garbage in a corner. You are safe. For now.

Clavis_Morden: ((welcome back, Turfster))

Mercution_Hastus: "Looking for crossroads, forks. Had to escape into a network..."

Clavis_Morden: Breathing hard Clavis gives the vox one last try before putting it away, disappointed. "Well. That could have gone better."

Mercution_Hastus: "It could have gone worse." Hastus likewise pants heavily, his sides aching. "The day isn't over yet - although, it's hard to tell here - it may go both ways."

Mercution_Hastus: ((Oh, by the way. Mercution, rather close. http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs51/f/2009/301/9/5/Borderlands___Mordecai_by_clubbing_claude.jpg))

tylorva: (( heh, nice. :) ))

tylorva: (( That reminds me, I should post up the picture of Isolde onto the thread at some point. Someone drew her for me. ))

Turfster: (nice)

tylorva: (( He's doing a picture of Vika Shaeye for me as well. :) ))

Clavis_Morden: ((Cool :) ))

Clavis_Morden: "That's true, it could have been worse," Clavis admits. "But by Terra, this sort of thing shouldn't happen."

Clavis_Morden: "I mean, you don't shoot someone without being sure who exactly they are, do you? You might be shooting at the wrong person entirely!"

Clavis_Morden: "What's wrong with those people?"

Clavis_Morden: ((btw, were there only those two - Stormtrooper and psyker - or more of them?))

tylorva: (( You only saw the two. ))

Clavis_Morden: "And are Reinhardt's people really searching around in teams of two? In this place? I mean, sure, no one in their right mind would mess with them, but still ..."

Mercution_Hastus: "As I said, here, in Underhive, it is acutally rather typical. Everyday." He sighs deeply, then gives another chuckles. "And, 'tis obvious by now, 'tis the way of our employer. Hard to tell, all of the Inquisition - or just Reinhardt. And now, his people are in Underhive, very unfortunate combination. Might bring the worse of them out - or already did."

Clavis_Morden: Clavis seems to need the rant to calm down again.

Clavis_Morden: She sighs, slumping down against a wall. "So, not only do we have to find a guy who doesn't want to be found by anyone and a whole bunch of gangs out for his blood and perhaps ours as well, we also have to worry about our own allies shooting us in the back."

Clavis_Morden: She laughs, more out of helplessness than mirth. "My old job was so much easier."

Clavis_Morden: Clavis is quiet for a moment. "But I guess, there's no way to go back to that now;" she then says wearily. "We just have to do whatever we can to get through this."

Clavis_Morden: "So, do we continue with plan A?"

Mercution_Hastus: "Sorry, I wouldn't know." Hastus smiles apologetically. "As for shooting us in the back - then 'tis only if we're running from them. They are not exactly subtle, i'll know what to look out for and try to spot them early."

Clavis_Morden: nods. "Yes, if we can simply avoid them, that would be best."

Clavis_Morden: ((I assume Atella and Sand are with us if silent?))

tylorva: (( Oooh, I forgot about Sand. *blush* ))

tylorva: (( I suck. ))

Turfster: (everyone always forgets about sand ;)

Clavis_Morden: ((so did I until just now I was like 'wait a minute'))

tylorva: (( Yeah, he tagged along with you. Atella did as well. For Turfster's benefit, you were basically shot at and pursued by a stormtrooper and a psyker claiming Inquisition authority. ))

Clavis_Morden: ((he can slow us down and get us killed next time ;) ))

Mercution_Hastus: "Yeah, like every well-established well-fed group here, Cleaners had their own concealed shelters and the like. I'll try to lead us to one."

Atella: "I vote for avoiding them too."

Clavis_Morden: "Glad we're all for not getting shot," Clavis smiles.

Atella: "Oh yes, not getting shot is one of my main priorities"

Atella: "so... where do we go now? And is there a way to get there that's not as... well-known?"

Clavis_Morden: "Let's take a few more minutes to rest," Clavis suggests. "And then ..." she looks around without the slightest clue where they are, "we will rely on Mercution to lead us once more."

tylorva: (( okies, will pack it in there. Sorry again for the late start. ))

tylorva: (( Won't be around next week as Uk has extended holiday period and I intend to get away. So next session in two weeks time. ))

tylorva: (( 200 xp. :) ))

Mercution_Hastus: ((Much appreciated. ))

Mercution_Hastus: ((Good night, everyone.))

dakkareth: Mmh. It's not an Inquisition-themed game without a friendly (or not so friendly) fire incident between Inquisition agents.

tylorva: :)

dakkareth: oh, I almost forgot

dakkareth: should I have rolled for possible insanity points for that incident with the tentacle thing in the water?

dakkareth: last session?

tylorva: Hmmm... Yeah, given Clavis's ongoing reaction to it, it might be an idea. :)

tylorva: Give me a willpower roll

Fatespinner: dakkareth rolled a 96 on a d100 for 3 degrees of failure.

dakkareth: heh

dakkareth: It is her fate, it seems ;)

tylorva: *giggles*

Turfster: uh oh

tylorva: 1d10 insanity then.

Fatespinner: dakkareth rolled [6] for a total of 6

Turfster: I repeat

Turfster: uh oh ;)

tylorva: The nightmares plague you...

dakkareth: Join the Inquisition, they said. See the universe, they said ...