Chat log started at 22.8.2010 / 18:05:45

Savage Worlds Ruleset for Fantasy Grounds II
(c) 2009 Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
[w] Zach Dallas: So, I'm gonna go ahead and make the Stealth check now
Zach Dallas: Stealth {--2 Untrained:Mike} [Trait roll was a natural 1] [1d6-2 = 2]
[w] -> Zach Dallas: Okay.
[w] Zach Dallas: figures
[w] -> Zach Dallas: Now spellcasting for the hunch.
Nick (Stinky Pete): Sorry. Not recognizing my mic on vent. Again
[w] -> Zach Dallas: Assume you have 2 power points back.
[w] Zach Dallas: I'll go with the "I wanted to get a quick look at those things again"
TADM: No problem.
[w] Zach Dallas: kk. I'm hunching for whoever is training them or in charge
[w] -> Zach Dallas: Charley shrugs and tells you, "Hey, no problem, thanks for the help earlier."
[w] Zach Dallas: by the way, I just want to mention that Hunch is the coolest spell ever
Nick (Stinky Pete): Did I miss much? (Still not working.)
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): How does mic not work?
TADM: Well see Dave, when the voice comes out of the mouth but the microphone does not pick it up....
Nick (Stinky Pete): Keeps giving me the same error message when I switch inputs
Zach Dallas: Spellcasting [1d6 = 9]
[w] -> Zach Dallas: You see a lot (think 50+) of the little tunnel critters clustered around a BIG one (think Ford Super-Duty truck sized.) Fogwalker is there. You swear he is talking to the BIG one. Then the BIG one directs the little ones go to attack the Wasatch people.
Nick (Stinky Pete): Grrr back in a bit. Going to restart
Unless someone wishes to cause shenanigans, the night passes uneventfully. Nine hours pass if you are of the "power points needed" character class.
[w] Zach Dallas: That should be 3 power points back for me
[w] -> Zach Dallas: Yes.
[w] Zach Dallas: cha-ching
Charley Bill Buckner walks over.
Uriel Iscariot: Notice [1d6 = 4]
Charley Bill Buckner: Hey guys, morning to you. Cookie has some grub prepared if you are hungry. Aside from the request to not leave the camp without an escort, Doctor Hellstromme told me you are welcome to wander wherever.
Charley Bill Buckner: He worked late last night though, so I recommend you not bother the caboose at all until he gets a decent night sleep. We are going to start up the Hellbore soon.
Zach Dallas: My thanks for the hospitality. I'm actually a bit surprised
Charley Bill Buckner: Oh, not a problem. Doc is grateful for your help last night, just can't have you wandering off and warning some other rail baron about us.
Uriel Iscariot: What a cheery dichotomy of names. Cookie makes breakfasts....and a Hellbore is about to being. Wild times.
Zach Dallas: By the way, do we know where those bug-critters are coming from?
Charley Bill Buckner: Well, not sure what Doc calls it, but Haggerty and the rest of us have taken to calling it the Hellbore.
Uriel Iscariot: Quit letting that bug ya Dallas, lets get food.
Charley Bill Buckner: The bugs? No idea, they just started attacking us every couple days once we got near Carson City. But if you want to take a look around, feel free to do so.
Charley Bill Buckner walks back to the main work area.
Zach Dallas: I've got a feeling that there's a "Queen" to those things
Uriel Iscariot: what makes you think that?
Zach Dallas: Just a hunch
Zach Dallas: It ain't spades, though
Zach Dallas: thanks be to The Lord
Zach Dallas heads off for interesting things occuring in camp
Uriel Iscariot Follows Zach
Zach Dallas: most likely the Hellbore
Uriel Iscariot: Come on now, food!
Uriel Iscariot: We aren't learnin any-thang till we get some grub in us.
Zach Dallas: Actually, that's a good point
Zach Dallas turns around and heads off for food
Uriel Iscariot: Sides, we are far less likely to meet these bugs around food rather than metals.....I think
Cookie offers you some biscuits and gravy, along with sausage. It looks kind of greasy but smells good.
Uriel Iscariot: Notice [1d6 = 4]
Zach Dallas: AWESOME!
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): did you know a pound of bacon only costs $0.15?
Uriel Iscariot thanks Cookie, says some prayers, and eats.
Zach Dallas: Thank you for the food
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): Yep. I was going to get some at the beginning, but the weight was the limiting factor really.
Uriel Iscariot: Ok. Now.....What do you propose there, Mr. Dallas?
Uriel Iscariot: How do we find this queen you are looking for?
Zach Dallas: Well, I was figuring a quick stroll around camp first
Zach Dallas: I'm curious about entry points
Zach Dallas: by the way, we're not going after the Queen until we have an army to match hers
Zach Dallas: you ever seen ants mob a spider?
Zach Dallas: more fun to watch than experience
Uriel Iscariot: I see.
Lacy O'Malley: Morning gents, good to see you up and about.
Zach Dallas: G'day
Zach Dallas tips his hat
Lacy O'Malley: What was that about a spider Mister Dallas?
Uriel Iscariot: Top of the Morning to you, Mr O'Malley.
Zach Dallas: Just thinking aloud about those tunnel-crawlers
Zach Dallas: They seem to have some sort of coordination
Zach Dallas: so I was thinking they were like Ants or Bees, where they have a Queen of some sort controlling them
Lacy O'Malley: Ah yes, strange little beasts. I think they must have a nest or something near here. The first attack was when we were near Carson City, and the attacks have been getting more frequent.
Zach Dallas: it would explain why they're able to aim for the important parts of the vehicles
Uriel Iscariot: Either they are attracted by metals and thus congregate around drilling becasue such dust is now airborne an an attractant.....Or they are defending their turf. Easy way to find out which, no?
Zach Dallas deals out a game of solitaire
Lacy O'Malley: Perhaps, it would make sense about their attack patterns...yes. (smiles at Zach Dallas)
Lacy O'Malley bends over to look at the cards.
Lacy O'Malley: Curious.
Uriel Iscariot: Notice [1d6 = 5]
Zach Dallas looks at his cards
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): cards
Zach Dallas: Notice [Trait roll was a natural 1] [1d6 = 3]
Zach Dallas: What?
There is no Queen of Hearts in the deck, but there are two Queen of Spades.
Lacy O'Malley: Remind me not to play poker with you.
Uriel Iscariot seems lost in thought.
Zach Dallas: Wait, this isn't supposed to happen
Zach Dallas checks his other decks
Uriel Iscariot: Say....what became of all those buggers we gone shot up yestaday?
Nick (Stinky Pete): What have I missed so far tonight?
Lacy O'Malley: The Wasatch rail crew gathered up all the corpses and burned them. That must have happened after you went to sleep, the stench sure kept me awake.
Uriel Iscariot: HRM.
Uriel Iscariot: Thanks for the information. =)
Lacy O'Malley: No problem, so you gentlemen have anything exciting planned for the day?
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): are all of my decks tainted now?
Zach Dallas unseals a new deck
[w] -> Zach Dallas: Nope, that deck is fine.
[w] -> Zach Dallas: In fact, the current deck was fine last time you looked, which was just before the Hunch on the critter.
Uriel Iscariot: Yes. All of the sudden, am very curious about those bugs. Since we don't have a scientist with us anymore, someone has to be the voice of reason.
[w] Zach Dallas: That's....an odd side effect. I haven't encountered that one before
[w] -> Zach Dallas: Indeed.
Uriel Iscariot: I have a feeling that careful study of them would give us the edge here.
Lacy O'Malley: Well, that sounds interesting, you shall have to let me know what you find, if anything.
Zach Dallas restarts his game of Solitaire with a new deck
Zach Dallas: Of course
Stinky Pete: What in tarnation's gonna on, fellas?
Uriel Iscariot: Hey Stinky!
Zach Dallas: Hey, Stinky....
Uriel Iscariot: Want some things to go all pew pew on?
Stinky Pete: Sure! But what happened since last night? I seem to have had a later start than everyone else
Lacy O'Malley: Well, the critters you killed were burned. The giant digging machine was fixed. That's about it.
Uriel Iscariot: HRM
Uriel Iscariot: I think i will head down to the crematorium
Uriel Iscariot: Who is with me?
Zach Dallas: Sounds good enough. When does the drilling start?
As if on cue, there is a distant rumble and the Hellbore screams to life and begins burrowing through the stone.
Lacy O'Malley: They burned all the critters in the big firepit over there. Of course, with the machine burrowing, we will be moving the camp along for however much progress they make today.
Lacy O'Malley: So I recommend you investigate quickly so you are not left behind in the dark.
Zach Dallas: Nah, you guys wouldn't do that!
Zach Dallas swipes his cards into a stack and sleeves them
Lacy O'Malley: On that note gentlemen, I shall see you a bit later, as I am tired from last night still.
Uriel Iscariot: Doubtfull. You are still needed here.
Uriel Iscariot: Succour on Lacy.
Uriel Iscariot: Faith {+2 Conviction} +2 (Seasoned Power -4) [1d6-2 = 5]
Lacy O'Malley: Oh, thanks. That was a bit...odd...yet refreshing.
Uriel Iscariot: Thy exhaustion hath been lifted from thy shoulders, may thy pen spread only truth to the people.
Uriel Iscariot makes a sign of the cross.
Lacy O'Malley: I endeavour to succeed with the truth always.
Lacy O'Malley: The people of this land have a right to the truth, no matter how unpleasant it may be.
Uriel Iscariot: Absolutely.
Lacy O'Malley walks away.
GM: Okay, so requests for shenanigan causing?
Uriel Iscariot: Come, let us investigate the insects.
Uriel Iscariot: Anything we find would just be the bee's knees.
Uriel Iscariot smiles.
Zach Dallas: I suppose we can do some of that investigation
Zach Dallas: sounds like fun!
Stinky Pete: Let's jitterbug our way over there!
Uriel Iscariot: Notice [1d6 = 10]
Uriel Iscariot To the bugs.
GM: I feel as though the puns are getting the better of this campaign.
There is not much to see of the bug corpses, they were all burned in the firepit last night. However, Uriel does find a couple legs and about a one-inch square piece of carapace.
Uriel Iscariot: Hrm....
[w] Zach Dallas: I'm going for another hunch, with the deck that lacks a Queen of Hearts. Looking for the location of their main base
Uriel Iscariot: Notice [1d6 = 11]
Zach Dallas: Spellcasting [1d8 = 13]
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): On the legs.
The legs look like normal bug legs, albeit much larger than normal.
Zach Dallas shuffles his deck
Uriel Iscariot: begins to rub the legs together, maybe they communicate via sound?
[w] -> Zach Dallas: Other than "nearby" you do not get a good sense of where. The only good sense you get is, "underground beneath tons of rock."
Nick (Stinky Pete): brb. i'll keep an eye on the screen though
The legs make an annoying squeaking sound. You are not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing.
[w] Zach Dallas: in my Hunch, how did the big one communicate with the little ones?
[w] -> Zach Dallas: You would understand it as "telepathy"
Uriel Iscariot: Eusocial insects have to have a way to comm'unicate there. Now im a guesin if my theory is correct on 'ere, we can use this to divert them from the good Dr. Hellstrome's plans...and thus, the railwars will end, and peace will prevail.
Zach Dallas: Nah, I'm pretty sure they've got a Hive Mind going on
GM: Do you continue to rub the legs together?
Uriel Iscariot yes.
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): you bastard
The squeaking continues.
Uriel Iscariot: Aight, since nothing has happned yet, we are down to chemical signals.
GM: Does Uriel have any of Judith's perfume left?
TADM: Just wondering...no reason.
TADM: EVIL LAUGHTER.
Nick (Stinky Pete): Ignore the GM's buzzing in your ear, Uriel. For all our sakes.
Uriel Iscariot: This is not a drill. Let's go see what Darius' machine is up to.
Zach Dallas: Sounds like a plan
The Hellbore is chugging along nicely, digging up rock and burrowing through the mountains.
Several dozen Wasatch employees are clearing away debris, smoothing the walls, and laying ties and rail behind the Hellbore. It is a very efficient looking operation.
Stinky Pete: Busy little bees.
Uriel Iscariot: what's that you are droning on about?
Charley Bill Buckner: Oh hey guys, come to pay us a visit? Just watch where you step, don't want you tripping on somethng or twisting an ankle.
Zach Dallas: Not a problem
Uriel Iscariot: Hey there! Why yes, I am very curious about this operation. It's marvelous!
Charley Bill Buckner: Doctor Hellstromme's brilliance in action.
Zach Dallas: Did he come up with all of this?
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): is there any sign of Hellstromme here now?
TADM: No sign of Doctor Hellstromme at this time.
Charley Bill Buckner: Well, most of it I think. Man is a super genius, so he probably figures out everything.
Uriel Iscariot: Say Charley, is it ok to smoke down here? It's not gonna interfere with yer machines or nuthin, right?
Zach Dallas shuffles his deck and performs menial card tricks
Charley Bill Buckner: Smoke if you got 'em.
Uriel Iscariot Offers a cigar to everyone assembled.
[w] Zach Dallas: for the record, I'm using one of the imperfect decks for this
Uriel Iscariot lights up
[w] -> Zach Dallas: Good to know.
Zach Dallas: I'll pass
Stinky Pete: Pass
Charley Bill Buckner: Hey, thanks.
Uriel Iscariot: No problem. My condoleces if these aren't the most accessible of commodities down here.
Charley Bill Buckner: Definitely not accessible, so much appreciated.
Uriel Iscariot does nothing and marvels at the operation.
Charley Bill Buckner smokes cigar, then goes back to work.
Zach Dallas: Notice [1d4 = 9]
Stinky Pete: Notice {+2 Alertness(S)} [1d6+2 = 5]
Zach Dallas: surroundings, alternative tunnels, etc
Stinky does not see anything of interest. Zach Dallas notices that there are a dozen or so smaller tunnels, none bigger than a man's thigh, leading off from where all the work is being done. The tunnels were definitely not carved by Wasatch equipment or people.
Zach Dallas: Those tunnels make it appear as if we're going right through some sort of hive
Uriel Iscariot: Tunnels?
Zach Dallas points out the small holes
Uriel Iscariot takes a big drag of his cigar, and exhales into one such tunnel.
Uriel Iscariot: that should get a worker to come check things out. Get ready to obtain a specimen.
Zach Dallas: Feel free to rub those stumps together near one of the holes
Several dozen Tunnel Critter larvae die of second hand smoke, thereby creating eternal enmity between the Holy Church and sentient insects everywhere.
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): lol
Priests and Missionaries are found bitten to death over the course of the next three weeks throughout all of the West and South America.
TADM: Making Uriel's "innocent" body count higher than Zach's body count for right now.
GM: Next?
Uriel Iscariot: Hrm. One of these things had better work....
Zach Dallas bides his time. Until something interesting happens, that is
Uriel Iscariot Lights another cigar, and tosses it into the tunnel
[w] Zach Dallas: or if I can get within reach of the Hellbore
Private Hudson: OH MY GOD! They're coming out of the walls! They're coming out of the God Damn walls!
Uriel Iscariot: Kn Bible [1d6 = 11]
Uriel Iscariot: "The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently
[w] -> Zach Dallas: Nothing is stopping you from getting within "touching" distance of the Hellbore is that is your intent.
[w] Zach Dallas: new priority
Smoke comes out of the tunnel where you tossed the cigar in.
GM: Notice checks for anyone near the hole.
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): ROFL
Stinky Pete: Notice {+2 Alertness(S)} [1d6+2 = 6]
Uriel Iscariot: Notice [1d6 = 8]
Zach Dallas: Notice [1d4 = 9]
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): Look! That centipede only has 97 legs! And that one only has 98!
Zach Dallas: Notice [8]
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): whoops
All three of you hear a rushing noise. A few seconds later you identify it as the sound of tens of thousands of insect legs coming toward you.
TADM: Nothing like a priest to antagonize the locals...
Stinky Pete: Oh dear
Uriel Iscariot: Kn Bible [Trait roll was a natural 1] [1d6 = 11]
Uriel Iscariot: "The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand."
Uriel Iscariot: Not a problem folks. I got this totally undercontrol.
Dave: Critters are coming. Lots of them. To arms!
Zach Dallas: No, no you do not
Zach Dallas backs off a bit
Zach Dallas: Does anybody have fire?
Dave runs over to a nearby tarp and throws it aside, revealing a large gatling gun. He swivels it towards the tunnel entrances.
Zach Dallas: some sort of spread-shot effect?
Captain Laebinius: My brothers of the Deathwatch Company! Today we die with Honor! To the left, OVERWATCH!
[w] Zach Dallas: deal for Deflection
TADM: Hmm...okay, maybe that one is a bit obscure as a reference.
Nick (Stinky Pete): Just a little
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): Tyrannids! Oh No!
[w] -> Zach Dallas: Straight.
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): Do they get to melee us before we shoot? Ach...
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): ripper swarms take 2 wounds per hit with a blast or flamer, right?
Zach Dallas: Spellcasting [1d8 = 4]
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): PURGE THE XENOS!
The Hellbore continues to trundle forward. Everyone else forms an impromptu barricade, gathers their weapons, and prepares to get SWARMED.
Charley Bill Buckner: Oh. My. God.
Zach Dallas draws his Colt and a Queen of Spades
Dave: Hold your fire. Wait for it.
Zach Dallas: I blame Uriel
Stinky Pete: Me too
Uriel Iscariot: YOUR HEAVENLY EMPEROR PROTECTS! We shall be WITHOUT FEAR!
Uriel Iscariot: Nay, we KNOW NO FEAR!
[w] Zach Dallas: is there any particular negative effect for fighting your worst nightmare?
Rocks rain down from the ceiling as insects burst through the ceiling and drop into the area. Most of them splatter into a squishy pulp. The ones that do not explode lash out at any humans near them.
[w] -> Zach Dallas: Yes, just don't DIE. Then the really bad things happen.
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): size of insects?
Then they start pouring through the tunnels and burrowing up from the ground.
The insects are probably about forty pounds in weight. They are much larger than the ones you saw last night.
Dave: FIRE!
The Wasatch people open fire with everything, mowing down lots of insects. Of course, the problem is, there are A LOT of insects.
Charley Bill Buckner: This is really damn freaky.
Uriel Iscariot: Without number they come!
Charley Bill Buckner: Infinity is a pretty big number.
The bugs also seem to be using the corpses of the dead as cover.
GM: Which reminds me....GUTS check.
Stinky Pete: Guts {+2 True Grit(H),+2 Seasoned} [1d8+4 = 7]
Zach Dallas: Guts {+4 Veteran/True Grit} [Trait roll was a natural 1] [1d6+4 = 11]
Uriel Iscariot: Guts {+3 Veteran} [1d6+3 = 6]
Several Wasatch employees panic. They either begin psychotically shooting anything or they drop their weapons and run off, only to decapitated by the giant critters.
Charley Bill Buckner: Wow, something sure has them mad.
Dave: Just keep shooting!
GM: I'm assuming you guys are going to just shoot critters as they get near you?
Uriel Iscariot: Shooting [Trait roll was a natural 1] [1d6 = 2]
Uriel Iscariot: Well, I wish i had a bee bee gun to deal with these.
Zach Dallas pulls out his second Colt
Zach Dallas: Shooting (Double-Tap +1, Multi-Action Penalty -2) [1d8-1 = 5]
Zach Dallas: Shooting (Multi-Action Penalty -2, Double-Tap +1) [1d8-1 = 1]
Stinky Pete: Shooting [1d8 = 5]
Zach Dallas: Colt Peacemaker damage +1 (Double-Tap +1) [2d6+2 = 12]
Zach and Pete both kill one. Only a couple hundred more to go.
Stinky Pete: Winchester '73 damage [2d8 = 8]
Uriel Iscariot: Hrm. I have a better idea.
[w] Zach Dallas: just to clarify, my worst nightmare has to do with swarms of little bugs, not large ones
Uriel Iscariot: Notice [1d6 = 3]
Uriel Iscariot is using a benny
Stinky Pete: Run away!!!
Uriel Iscariot: Notice [1d6 = 4]
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): Do they all look 100% the same? Clear Castes? Etc?
A couple Wasatch Automatons trundle into the area from the camp. They open fire with their gatling guns. The first wave of Insects reaches the barricades and munches a few of the Wasatch employees.
GM: You get the feeling the ones last night were the "workers" and these are the "warriors."
GM: Round two.
Uriel Iscariot Animal Pal
Uriel Iscariot: Faith {+2 Conviction} +2 (Novice Power Penalty -2) [1d6 = 3]
Uriel Iscariot is using a benny
Uriel Iscariot: Faith {+2 Conviction} +2 (Novice Power Penalty -2) [Trait roll was a natural 1] [1d6 = 10]
Zach Dallas: Shooting [1d8 = 22]
Zach Dallas: Shooting (Multi-Action Penalty -2) [1d6-2 = 8]
Zach Dallas: Colt Peacemaker damage [Raise] [3d6+1 = 13]
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): If that nabs one, and zach didn't just kill it, I would like for it to release the chemical "retreat" signal, if it has that ability.
Zach Dallas: Colt Peacemaker damage [Raise] [3d6+1 = 11]
Stinky Pete: Shooting [1d6 = 7]
Zach Dallas: DIE YOU HORRIBLE CREATURES
Stinky Pete: Winchester '73 damage [2d8 = 6]
Queen Critter: Spirit [1d10+2 = 18]
[w] -> Uriel Iscariot: Your attempt at controlling one is swept away by a feeling of rage.
GM: Spirit Check Uriel.
GM: Zach and Stinky Pete kill some more.
Uriel Iscariot: Spirit [1d10 = 6]
[w] -> Uriel Iscariot: These VILE HUMANS are descrating your home. You must make them go away!
The ground beneath the camp shakes and rolls like an earthquake is about to strike.
Charley Bill Buckner: This can't be good.
Dave: Hmm....
The insects continue their mad charge. The Hellbore continues to trundle along.
Dozens more die from the gatling and rifle fire. Several more Wasatch employees are eaten.
Charley Bill Buckner: I don't think we are winning this fight. They outnumber us about 10:1, and we are not getting an 11:1 kill ratio.
GM: Round three.
Zach Dallas: Shooting (Multi-Action Penalty -2) [1d8-2 = 3]
Stinky Pete: Shooting (Multi-Action Penalty -2) [1d8-2 = 2]
Zach Dallas: Shooting (Multi-Action Penalty -2) [1d8-2 = 3]
Stinky Pete is using a benny
Stinky Pete: Shooting [Trait roll was a natural 1] [1d6 = 5]
Stinky Pete: Shooting (Multi-Action Penalty -2) [1d8-2 = 2]
Stinky Pete: Uh oh
[w] -> Uriel Iscariot: And what is Uriel doing?
Uriel Iscariot: Back to the abyss, ye spawn of satan! No holy creature walketh upon so many legs!
GM: Your shots impressively hit already dead bugs.
[w] -> Uriel Iscariot: WE ARE THE HOLY CREATURES HERETIC!
Uriel Iscariot: Faith {+2 Conviction} +2 (Novice Power Penalty -2) [1d6 = 7]
Uriel Iscariot: Kn Occult {+2 Honey Vial} [1d6+2 = 12]
[w] Uriel Iscariot: GM are they really holy? Or just crapy critters here for good ole man to dominate as he pleaseth?
Uriel creates a giant burst of light. This has the unintended effect of shocking the Wasatch employees. It seems to have no effect on the creatures that spend their entire lives underground and seem to operate entirely on echo-location and have no eyes.
Charley Bill Buckner: AAIIIGGGHH!!! I'm blind!
Zach Dallas: WHAT THE HELL YOU MANIAC PRIEST
[w] -> Uriel Iscariot: Your knowledge occult ability tells you that they are definitely unnatural creatures, which means they are probably not holy per Christian ideology.
Given the relative blindness of the Wasatch employees, the amount of fire that they direct at the bugs is much diminished this round. The effectiveness of the bug swarms coming at you is not dimished, as they charge over the barricade walls. Time for HAND-TO-PINCER melee!
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): we don't get chainsaw swords, do we?
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): no, but that would be a badass Wierd Science theme
Meanwhile, the Hellbore continues to chug along, until the ground beneath it bursts upwards and a Critter the size of the Hellstromme Express throws it to one side like a child mistreating a small toy. The creature pounces on the Hellbore. For size purposes, one of its legs (it has lots of them) is about the same size as Zach Dallas.
Dave: Check please, table one!
Charley Bill Buckner voluntarily fails his Guts check and wets himself.
GM: Guts checks again, these are -6.
Uriel Iscariot: Guts {+3 Veteran} [1d6+3 = 7]
Zach Dallas: Guts {+4 Veteran/True Grit} [Trait roll was a natural 1] [1d6+4 = 7]
GM: Good point, because of the blindness, you can only HEAR it, so Guts checks are only -4. You still hear something throw the Hellbore to one side.
Stinky Pete: Guts {+2 True Grit(H),+2 Seasoned} +4 [1d8 = 6]
Zach Dallas is using a benny
Zach Dallas: Guts {+4 Veteran/True Grit} [Trait roll was a natural 1] [1d6+4 = 9]
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): I have rolled a 1 on every guts die I've made this game
GM: Okay, now we will get into combat rounds.
Round 2
Dealing cards...
Zach Dallas
Zach Dallas: Oh dear....
The Queen is about 20 from you.
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): that is entirely too close
The dozens of critters that are smaller are at melee range.
The Queen seems content to chew on the Hellbore this turn.
Queen Critter (telepathically): DIE ABOMINATIONS! RETURN TO THE HELLS WHICH SPAWNED YOU!
Zach Dallas: Shall we fight or take our leave?
Zach Dallas glances at the Horde
Charley Bill Buckner: Is it just me, or is that thing talking in my head?
Dave: Just keep shooting!
Zach Dallas: not much of a choice
Zach Dallas: weakspot on the Queen
Zach Dallas: Notice [1d6 = 15]
The underbellly seems much softer than the top parts. Fortunately you can hit it, since she is crawled on top of the Hellbore right now.
Zach Dallas: Aiming at the squishy underbelly
Zach Dallas: with both guns
TADM: Hello my name is Cipher and I like shooting GUNS AKIMBO!
TADM: Hmm...too much Games Workshop this weekend for Brad.
Uriel Iscariot
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): I'd gladly take a C'tan Phase sword right about now...
Doc Haggerty turns on the electric force field on the outside of the Hellbore.
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): FOR THE CRAFTWORLD!
Giving the Queen Critter lots of electric shocks as it chews on the Hellbore.
Uriel Iscariot Quicken
[w] Zach Dallas: Deflection should be up for 7 turns total. I'm pretty sure I'm at 4 right now
Uriel Iscariot: Faith {+2 Conviction} +2 (Seasoned Power -4) [1d10-2 = 4]
[w] -> Zach Dallas: Indeed you are.
Uriel Iscariot: Shooting (Called Shot (Small) -4) [1d6-4 = 1]
Uriel Iscariot is using a benny
Uriel Iscariot: Shooting (Called Shot (Small) -4) [1d6-4 = 4]
Uriel Iscariot: Colt (Army) damage [2d6+1 = 10]
Uriel shoots an antennae off the Queen Critter. This, combined with the electric shocks, convinces her to stop the fighting at the barricade first before finishing the Hellbore. The Queen recoils from the Hellbore and the head swings over to point at the dwindling number of Wasatch employees fighting for survival.
Stinky Pete
Nick (Stinky Pete): Does it have eyes?
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): Note: was said it was blind.
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): and doesnt use sight.
From what you can see, none of these Critters have eyes.
Stinky Pete: Called Shot head (assuming -2 due to size)
Stinky Pete: Shooting (Called Shot (Limb) -2) [1d8-2 = 5]
GM: That hits.
Stinky Pete: Winchester '73 damage [2d8 = 8]
Round 3
Dealing cards...
Zach Dallas
The Critters are munching away at Wasatch employees. You are running out of hapless redshirts between you and the ravenous bugs.
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): Wait.....if you cover an insect's body with water, it will drown.
Zach Dallas: Shooting (Aim +2, Medium Range -2, Called Shot (Limb) -2, Multi-Action Penalty -2, Double-Tap +1) [1d6-3 = 1]
Zach Dallas is using a benny
Zach Dallas: Shooting [1d8 = 7]
The Wasatch employees mostly recover from the blindness and fight back with incredible tenacity.
Zach Dallas: Shooting [1d6 = 7]
Zach Dallas: Colt Peacemaker damage +1 (Double-Tap +1) [2d6+2 = 21]
Zach Dallas: Colt Peacemaker damage +1 (Double-Tap +1) [2d6+2 = 11]
Queen Critter: On the first one:
Queen Critter is using a benny
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): Out of bullets!
Queen Critter: Vigor [1d10 = 8]
Queen Critter: On the second one:
Queen Critter is using a benny
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): you whore
Queen Critter: Vigor [Trait roll was a natural 1] [1d6 = 4]
Queen Critter: I'm out of bennies, this is depressing.
Stinky Pete
Stinky Pete: Shooting (Called Shot (Limb) -2, Multi-Action Penalty -2) [Trait roll was a natural 1] [1d6-4 = 1]
Stinky Pete: Shooting (Called Shot (Limb) -2, Called Shot (Limb) -2) [1d6-4 = 1]
Stinky Pete is using a benny
GM: That would be a miss.
Stinky Pete: Shooting [1d8 = 3]
Queen Critter: Spirit [1d10 = 5]
Nick (Stinky Pete): This is messed up. Seriously, wtf?
Uriel Iscariot
Uriel Iscariot Round 1 of Haste; Haste both PCs.
Uriel Iscariot: Faith {+2 Conviction} +2 (Seasoned Power -4) [1d10-2 = 11]
Uriel Iscariot: Faith {+2 Conviction} +2 (Seasoned Power -4) [1d10-2 = 0]
Uriel Iscariot is using a benny
Uriel Iscariot: Faith {+2 Conviction} +2 (Seasoned Power -4) [1d10-2 = 1]
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): Donates a Benny!
Uriel Iscariot: Faith {+2 Conviction} +2 (Seasoned Power -4) [1d6-2 = 9]
GM: Okay, the Buff Bot succeeds in buffing both players. Mike has used his Nom. Chip.
Round 4
Dealing cards...
Stinky Pete
Stinky Pete: Same as before
Stinky Pete: Shooting (Called Shot (Head) -4) [1d6-4 = 4]
Stinky Pete: Shooting (Multi-Action Penalty -2, Called Shot (Limb) -2) [1d8-4 = 7]
TADM: The crowd goes wild!
Stinky Pete: Winchester '73 damage [2d8 = 16]
Stinky Pete: Winchester '73 damage [2d8 = 8]
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): Nick you get another attack.
Stinky Pete: Shooting (Multi-Action Penalty -2, Called Shot (Limb) -2) [1d8-4 = 0]
Stinky Pete: Shooting (Called Shot (Limb) -2, Multi-Action Penalty -2) [Trait roll was a natural 1] [1d6-4 = 1]
Zach Dallas
Zach Dallas: Shooting (Medium Range -2, Double-Tap +1, Called Shot (Limb) -2, Multi-Action Penalty -2) [1d8-5 = 1]
Zach Dallas: Shooting [Trait roll was a natural 1] [1d6 = 5]
Zach Dallas is using a benny
Zach Dallas: Shooting [1d8 = 4]
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): I GIVE HIM MY BENNY!
Uriel Iscariot
Zach Dallas: Shooting [1d6 = 5]
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): When our bennies combine, I am captain probability!
TADM: Dave uses his Nom. Chip.
Uriel Iscariot: Shooting (SHOTGUN! +2, giANT size +2) [Trait roll was a natural 1] [1d6+4 = 6]
Uriel Iscariot: 2x Barrel Shotg damage [2d6 = 5]
Uriel Iscariot Action 2
Uriel Iscariot Put myself betwen the PCs and The Beast.
Uriel Iscariot Protection!
Uriel Iscariot: Faith {+2 Conviction} +2 (Novice Power Penalty -2) [1d6 = 13]
Queen Critter: Spirit [1d10 = 6]
Queen Critter is unshaken, but gets no action.
Round 5
Dealing cards...
Stinky Pete
Uriel Iscariot: The Lord Hateth The Xenos!
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): Well, I always had this hypothesis, about it getting the red queen.
Stinky Pete: Shooting (Multi-Action Penalty -2, Called Shot (Limb) -2) [1d8-4 = 11]
Stinky Pete: Shooting [1d8-4 = -1]
GM: That is a hit with a raise.
Stinky Pete: Shooting [1d8-4 = 10]
Stinky Pete: Shooting [1d8-4 = 0]
GM: That is a hit with a raise.
Stinky Pete: Winchester '73 damage [Raise] [3d8 = 22]
Stinky Pete: Winchester '73 damage [Raise] [3d8 = 12]
The Queen drops to the ground, unmoving.
Nick (Stinky Pete): Waits for a rock to fall to kill Zach for calling the GM a "lying scumbag"
Zach Dallas removes his hat
The Tunnel critters skitter away, provoking lots of attacks of opportunity and chances to the Wasatch folks to shoot at them as they run.
TADM: Don't worry, the "lying scumbag" comment will probably come back to haunt Zach at some point in the future.
Zach Dallas sighs
Charley Bill Buckner: I need new underwear.
Dave: That was a bit exciting.
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): you mean like giving me some negative penalty that causes our worst enemy to know exactly where we are and also cause all attempts at gambling to gain money to automatically fail?
[w] Stinky Pete: How far away am I from it?
TADM: Oh right, nevermind, the I am probably already punishing him ahead of time for the "lying scumbag" line.
[w] -> Stinky Pete: Which I think is 60 feet or so.
TADM: Speaking of which....
Uriel Iscariot Tend to the wounded!
[w] -> Zach Dallas: You hear the unmistakable laughter of a familiar voice. "Most excellently well done. Love and Kisses my dear. That creature was quite the thorn in my plans. I shall reward you with extra cuddles next time I see you!"
Zach Dallas: I am forced to enact that woman's will wherever I go, I suppose
GM: Roll Heal checks or Cure spells, as whatever takes your fancy.
TADM: Are you saying that out loud?
Uriel Iscariot: Faith {+2 Conviction} +2 (Novice Power Penalty -2) [1d10 = 4]
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): yes
[w] Zach Dallas: any odd responses?
[w] -> Zach Dallas: The gunman, "Dave" gives you an odd look. No one else seems to notice.
Several people run up from the camp to render medical assistance and help fight off any critters that remain.
Lacy O'Malley: WOW! That is one GIANT centipede.
Stinky Pete: reloads
Lacy O'Malley stares at Queen Critter. His mouth is hanging open. A few seconds later he recovers and snaps a picture of it.
Uriel Iscariot: Notice [1d6 = 3]
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): His camera
Zach Dallas: Oh, come on. Respect the dead at least a little
GM: Looks like a normal camera to Uriel. Uriel is not wise to those new-fangled gadgets anyway.
Lacy O'Malley: It is a giant bug. People back East will never believe such a creature would exist without seeing a picture of it.
Zach Dallas: They wouldn't believe if you brought it to them alive unless they could visit it routinely
Charley Bill Buckner: Anyway, wounded to the camp. Everyone else we need to clean this mess up, burn the corpses, and get this mess straightened up. Plus we need to figure out how to upright the....
Pistons pop out the side of the Hellbore and it rights itself.
Charley Bill Buckner: Err..yeah, that thing the Hellbore just did. We need to figure out how to do that.
Zach Dallas: Hm
Zach Dallas walks over to the Hellbore
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): any response?
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): being noticibly not in front of it
Charley Bill Buckner: Although burning the corpse on that big one will probably take a long time and fill this tunnel with smoke.
Uriel Iscariot: Hrm...
Doc Haggerty: Hey, good job coming to my aid again. Took a nasty knock on the head when it tipped over, but I'm doing well now. Don't touch anything until I turn off the electrical field.
Doc Haggerty powers down the Hellbore defensive mechanisms.
[w] Zach Dallas: I'm glad I waited for the Hunch
[w] Zach Dallas: tagging it
Zach Dallas: Spellcasting [Trait roll was a natural 1] [1d6 = 7]
[w] Zach Dallas: I'll take it like a man
[w] -> Zach Dallas: Yeah, that would have been remarkably unhealthy.
[w] Zach Dallas: looking for proof on its unnatural nature
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): that was almost disasterous
[w] -> Zach Dallas: Dallas The 1 just makes you Shaken, which is irrelevant in this situation.
[w] Zach Dallas: feel free to make the Hunch a sufficiently revealing piece of info to stun me
Uriel Iscariot: I dunno O'malley. I have a slightly different Idea of how to send this thing back east.
Uriel Iscariot: Bradishes his knife.
Uriel Iscariot: Imma need some help. Are there any volunteers?
[w] -> Zach Dallas: Well, depends on your definition of "unnatural." It was built in Salt Lake City at Hellstromme Industries under the direct supervision of Doctor Hellstromme. It consumes a prodigiously MASSIVE amount of Ghost Rock. It seems no more "unnatural" than anything MacVellian made.
[w] Zach Dallas: nothing like AI or anything?
Uriel Iscariot: It's a queen. Let's take some eggs out of it.
[w] Zach Dallas: possessive spirits?
[w] Zach Dallas: personality?
Several Wasatch employees volunteer to help chop it up.
[w] -> Zach Dallas: Nope, no possessive spirits, no AI, nothing other than a giant ghost-rock powered drilling machine. It is rather disappointing as Hunch results go.
[w] Zach Dallas: wait, so any clue as to why it righted itself?
[w] Zach Dallas: just sensors or what?
Uriel Iscariot: Smarts [1d6 = 5]
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): for Dissection
Zach Dallas: Tch
[w] -> Zach Dallas: Giant automatic gyro-stabilizer pistons. Doc Haggerty activated them once the Queen was dead.
[w] Zach Dallas: huh, and here I was expecting the Hellbore itself to retaliate
You chop the Queen up, the "Help" you get from the Wasatch employees makes the process not as quick or useful as you would like.
[w] -> Zach Dallas: Nah, it is not that sinister of a device.
Zach Dallas strolls away from the Hellbore
[w] Zach Dallas: from the Queen's response, I thought it was going to be
Uriel Iscariot: Now, we need some crates...strong crates for these.
Uriel Iscariot: We don't want any more "ant"ics out of them
Stinky Pete: So, what shall we do now, Dallas?
Stinky Pete: Looks like all the fun's over for a while
GM: Okay, repairing the Hellbore, cleaning up the mess, and so on is going to take the Wasatch people the rest of the day. So you can either "FF" or engage in some shenanigans.
Uriel Iscariot looks for whom to speak to in order to ship out some "specimens"
[w] Zach Dallas: I would like to see if Darius is around
GM: You can send some back via the Wasatch Supply train, like the one that picked you up after the cave in.
Zach Dallas is nowhere to be seen
[w] -> Zach Dallas: According to the last you heard (or anyone you ask) he is sleeping in his ulta-luxurious caboose.
[w] Zach Dallas: is he still there even after this?
Uriel Iscariot: Mr. O'Malley. I believe you will want one of these to go with your story?
Lacy O'Malley: I agree, that would be quite the specimen to add to the story. If more people see it, more people will accept it as an actual creature.
Stinky Pete: Huh. Oh well
Lacy O'Malley: Good thinking.
[w] Zach Dallas: going to check
Stinky Pete: searches for ghost rock, valuable minerals, gems, etc. in all the debris
Stinky Pete: Notice {+2 Alertness(S)} [1d6+2 = 10]
[w] -> Zach Dallas: One of the bodyguards is standing outside the caboose. "Sorry, Doctor Hellstromme is asleep, no admittance until he tells me otherwise. Man is downright cranky if he gets woken up from a nap early."
[w] Uriel Iscariot: Send the rest to the Occult wing of the Vatican. Some parts from the adults as well. Then thank the people in shipping or pay the appropriate fine. Also - "Gas" the egg such that it does not hatch. Enclose it, then fill crate will smoke. I do not want "Alien" to happen.
[w] Zach Dallas: Can $50 change your mind?
[w] Uriel Iscariot: GM unless of course, they also have anaerobic respiration......
[w] Zach Dallas: (If I'm right on this, he ain't gonna wake up to me walking in for a quick Hunch)
GM: Stinky finds no trace of any ghost rock at all, although he does find some uncut gems in the Queen's carapace. Mostly of the diamond variety. About 6 of them, each about 3 carats.
[w] -> Zach Dallas: HAHAHAHA. $50??? HAHAHAHAHA!
Stinky Pete: Yay!! Mad loot! I really did steal the kill :)
[w] Zach Dallas: (damn, and here I thought $50 was a lot...)
[w] Zach Dallas: How about $200, then
[w] Zach Dallas: ??
[w] -> Zach Dallas: Well, would YOU accept $50 (or even $200) bribe to piss off one of the most powerful men in the world?
[w] Zach Dallas: Hm. A decent argument I s'pose. Do you know how long he tends to sleep?
[w] -> Uriel Iscariot: You successfully pack everything up and ship it out. For the record, if you ever check with anyone you sent it to, the critter parts never arrive.
[w] -> Zach Dallas: Well, I expect him to wake up in a couple hours, he usually sleeps for about six hours or so.
[w] Zach Dallas: Has he ever actually been disturbed before?
GM: No one objects to Stinky Pete carting off the diamonds.
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): I don't know nor care
Nick (Stinky Pete): Hmmm...well, I'm out of ideas. I say fast forward
Uriel Iscariot: BRB.
[w] -> Zach Dallas: Yeah, I hear stories about an accountant interrupting his nap. Supposedly the man and his entire extended family is field testing at the south pole right now. Sunscreen or something....
[w] Zach Dallas: *laughs* That's quite the punishment. I'll wait, then.
[w] -> Zach Dallas: Good plan.
[w] Zach Dallas: *sits down next to the car and deals out a game of Solitaire*
A couple hours pass. Doctor Darius Hellstromme steps out of the caboose, puffing on a pipe.
Doctor Darius Hellstromme: Hmm....looks like a bit of a fracas earlier.
Zach Dallas: Quite
Dave: More of a tiff sir. Things are under control.
Zach Dallas scoops up the deck
Zach Dallas: On the plus side, it's unlikely that those insects will be bothering anyone for a while
Dave: Doc Haggerty has the Hellbore mostly functional again. Giant Queen critter and hundreds of warriors attacked us. These fellows that we picked up killed the Queen.
Doctor Darius Hellstromme looks at Zach Dallas.
Doctor Darius Hellstromme: Well done, thank you for your assistance.
Zach Dallas tips his hat
Zach Dallas: Only partially a pleasure, unfortunately
Doctor Darius Hellstromme: Well, I guess I shall go check on the Hellbore and make sure it is functional again. I hope this is the last of our delays, I would like to see the Sun again sometime this year.
Dave: Sure thing sir, right this way.
Stinky Pete: Meh, sunlight's overrated.
Doctor Darius Hellstromme laughs.
Doctor Darius Hellstromme: You are correct good sir.
[w] Zach Dallas: going to brush him as he passes to get a Hunch off. Preferably unnoticed
Doctor Darius Hellstromme walks over to the Hellbore with Dave.
Stinky Pete: So, what now?
GM: Notice checks, just in case Zach Dallas is going to try something suicidal.
Uriel Iscariot: Hrm...
Uriel Iscariot: Notice [1d6 = 4]
Stinky Pete: Notice {+2 Alertness(S)} [1d6+2 = 7]
Zach Dallas: Notice [Trait roll was a natural 1] [1d6 = 4]
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): False alarm
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): On the bright side, I think I found Cynthia
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): w....WHAT?
Zach Dallas has been awarded a benny
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): =0!
Stinky Pete: Huh? Who's Cynthia?
Uriel Iscariot: So yah, you said some things during that tussle there....what gives? who be thy controler?
Zach Dallas: Pardon
Uriel Iscariot: You mentioned a woman.
Zach Dallas: Ah, I got the same chills that I did when we killed off that tainted priest
Zach Dallas: I'm pretty sure that means Grey is feeling overjoyed
Zach Dallas: My guess is that evil is duking it out hardcore
Stinky Pete: Who's Grey? You fellas sure act peculiar
Zach Dallas: She's a fine woman, beautiful beyond reproach. The two of you would get along quite smoothly
Stinky Pete: Why do you say that?
Uriel Iscariot: Grey was a bitch of a lady who thought she had everything sorted out.
TADM: No conflicting information there.
Zach Dallas: To give her props, though, she's been pretty successful so far
Zach Dallas: Anyways, should you ever meet a "Cynthia Grey", keep your distance. She's less trustworthy than Darious Hellstromme when you wake him up from a nap
Zach Dallas: Fun Fact: Disturbing his nap gets you and all of your blood relatives deported to the South Pole
Uriel Iscariot: Hubris. Pride. Vanity.
Uriel Iscariot: They all own her.
Zach Dallas: Aren't those all one thing?
Nick (Stinky Pete): Nooooo! The wrong spelling of his name is spreading!!
Uriel Iscariot: Nope. I assure you they are different.
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): except I'm pronouncing it
Zach Dallas: Riiiiiight
Zach Dallas: well, anyways, I think it's been plenty exciting today with a suffient lack of small swarmy things
Uriel Iscariot: Anyway, you have thusfar evaded speaking all that much. Now, how are you cursed?
Nick (Stinky Pete): Anyway, moving on...
Zach Dallas: What?
Zach Dallas: I thought YOU were in charge of that
Zach Dallas: I don't have any sources
Uriel Iscariot: I suppose so. But I think you hid a few things from me.
Zach Dallas holds his hands up
Zach Dallas: I hid absolutely nothing
Uriel Iscariot rolls his eyes.
Zach Dallas Queen of Hearts floats to the ground
Uriel Iscariot: Enough. Let's just make it out of this accursed cave.
GM: FF when ready?
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): yup
With the Queen Critter dead, nothing much exciting happens for several days.
Nick (Stinky Pete): ff
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): ff
You’ve been in the dark underworld for nearly a week. Five minutes ago the Hellbore shut down and several of the rail crew ran by the train whooping and hollering that they’d hit sunlight!
You strap on your gear and join the crowd. Ahead is a man-sized hole spilling forth blinding, piercing light. It’s a beautiful sight.
Uriel Iscariot: Notice [1d6 = 2]
Stinky Pete: Meh. I'm sure Uriel will never truly see the light
Stinky Pete: Notice {+2 Alertness(S)} [1d6+2 = 9]
Dr. Hellstromme smiles and walks toward the light, shaking the hands of his crewmen as he goes. “We did it,” he says quietly. “We did it.”
Zach Dallas: Notice [1d6 = 4]
GM: Yes, it is real sunlight, you have found the outside world.
Zach Dallas appears to begin to strangle himself
Uriel Iscariot: Stinky. I am the Light.
Uriel Iscariot: OH NO!
Uriel Iscariot: Persuasion [1d8 = 15]
Zach Dallas stops
Uriel Iscariot: DONT DO IT MAN!
Zach Dallas: Ugh, such a perfect opportunity
Lacy O'Malley: Umm...you okay? That was a strange way to try and kill yourself.
Zach Dallas: Psychological effect. I'm a bit claustrophobic and it's starting to catch up to me
Zach Dallas: it's always at the end that the worst happens
The rail baron smiles and says, “Break out the champagne, Mr. Buckner.” The crew cheers as bottles are passed around. Foam flies everywhere as men desperate for sunlight press forward and emerge into the warm open air.
Uriel Iscariot: Zach, when we all find a hotel room or such, you are going to need some....treatment.
Nick (Stinky Pete): waits for the hail of bullets
Uriel Iscariot: Just don't die till that happens.
You seem to be in the arid desert foothills of a mountain range. California, according to the Wasatch crew. As you try to get your bearings, a two-man team pushes a strange, wheeled contraption out into the flat. It’s a steam wagon.
Zach Dallas: I'll be fine
[w] Zach Dallas -> Uriel Iscariot: At least when we're not near Darius
“Find our crew, Mr. Shaw. Bring them to us,” Hellstromme smiles. The steam wagon fires up, supplies are loaded into its bed, and a driver and three guards climb on board. With a final yell from the crew and a wave of the driver’s hat the horseless carriage rumbles off into the desert.
Zach Dallas: Mr. Hellstromme, can I ask you a quick question?
Nick (Stinky Pete): Are they all wearing redshirts?
Stinky Pete: Notice {+2 Alertness(S)} [1d6+2 = 7]
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): Dr.
Dr. Hellstromme walks to you and Lacy O'Malley, finishes off his champagne, and nods. “We couldn’t know exactly where we’d come out. Pockets of bedrock and…other diversions…chose our course to some degree. But our western team is only a few miles away. They’ll arrive as soon as Mr. Shaw locates them."
Nick (Stinky Pete): And does the Dr. have a goatee?
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): You wouldnt want to be that evil or that educated and not get your title.
GM: No, he does not have a goatee.
Doctor Darius Hellstromme: Yes. Mister Dallas, what do you want to know about?
Nick (Stinky Pete): You mean like you in real life?
Zach Dallas: Do you plan to actually win the Rail Wars and take the prize, or simply end it?
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): Soon Nick....Soon....
Doctor Darius Hellstromme: Oh, the Ghost Rock shipping contract for both the Union and Confederacy is quite lucrative for me. And it will end the Rail Wars. We have one final battle, then we may know peace for the first time since the Confederates fired on Fort Sumter.
Stinky Pete: What's this last battle?
Doctor Darius Hellstromme: We should finish our line and fight our way into Lost Angels within days. Yes, I said ‘fight.’ The ersatz ruler of the ‘Free and Holy City of Lost Angels’ has not agreed to our right of way. Yet.
Uriel Iscariot mumbles something about horsemen and trumpets under his breath as a last battle is mentioned.
Doctor Darius Hellstromme: If you’ll gather your belongings and climb on board, we’ll steam on ahead together. Don’t worry. This particular train doesn’t need rails.
Doctor Darius Hellstromme climbs into his luxurious caboose.
Nick (Stinky Pete): Is it a gravy train?
Uriel Iscariot Follows the Doctor.
Uriel Iscariot: Anyone who is for ending a war is a friend of mine.
Nick (Stinky Pete): "Where we're going we don't need...roads"
Uriel Iscariot: I like your work. Dr. Hellstromme.
Now that it is outside, you notice that the name on the side of the locomotive is, "Good Intentions."
Kazemi (Zach Dallas): ROFL
Uriel Iscariot: Now, I once knew a scientist who had no sense of social reponsibility.....But you, you are amazing!
Nick (Stinky Pete): boo
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): this is SO totally not a road to hell.
Nick (Stinky Pete): Does it have speakers that blare out 'Crazy Train'?
Stinky Pete: Notice {+2 Alertness(S)} [1d6+2 = 6]
Stinky Pete: Hops aboard
GM: No, no speakers on board the train.
You are all seated in a passenger car with Charley Bill Buckner and a few other Wasatch soldiers. The train consists of a locomotive, ghost rock hopper, passenger car, and the caboose.
The train speeds over the terrain for a few miles before someone spots a large Wasatch weather balloon. The train veers over to it and pulls into a very large bustling Wasatch camp. A crew of several hundred is laying track at an astounding rate back towards the location of the Hellbore.
The train rolls into the center of camp amid the cheering throng and Hellstromme rises up out of the caboose on an elevated cupola with a megaphone in hand.
Doctor Darius Hellstromme: Hello my loyal friends! We’ve done it! We’re a few miles and a right of way short of completing the first transcontinental railroad!
Doctor Darius Hellstromme: You have been part of this effort; a part of our company. Now you are part of history!
Doctor Darius Hellstromme: There are but a few miles left to travel, but they are perhaps the hardest miles yet. Connect this line to our tunnel to the east and I will continue on to Lost Angels, and our inevitable showdown with the right Reverend Grimme and his fanatics.
Doctor Darius Hellstromme: Mr. Buckner, please extend everyone here an additional month’s pay for their amazing achievement. And open a few cases of champagne while you’re at it!
The crowd goes wild!
Uriel Iscariot: Well well, isn't this a nice change of fortunes from chasing injuns in the backwaters? Id say we did pretty good.
Zach Dallas: Wait, are we getting paid?
GM: Who are you asking?
Zach Dallas: Just asking that aloud in surprise
Charley Bill Buckner: Well, unless you have become members of Hellstromme Industries, I doubt you are being paid. More likely you get free room and board to see the completion of the first transcontinental railroad. Ulysseus S. Grant is not even that lucky.
Uriel Iscariot: Zach....the whole world hath been paid, an a debt of loss and suffering will no longer be ransometh by the rail compainies. Who wants payment? We are given a whole new peace to enjoy
Uriel Iscariot: Persuasion [1d8 = 2]
Tack (Uriel Iscariot): I guess Zach is not very convinced.
Nick (Stinky Pete): Nor am I
Zach Dallas: Eh, I'm not so sure the other rail-lines will take this so smoothly
Charley Bill Buckner: Probably not.
Zach Dallas: I mean, imagine if we get to Lost Angels and Union Blue was already connected to it
Zach Dallas: Things would drop to hell in seconds
Charley Bill Buckner: They have not, the next closest competitor is Bayou Vermilion, and they are about two months out at their current pace.
Uriel Iscariot: =0
Charley Bill Buckner: And I am relatively certain they are having "logistics" problems right now.
Zach Dallas: Dr. Hellstromme openly dropped out of the race, himself
Charley Bill Buckner: He did.
Stinky Pete: By the way, Dr. Hellstromme, where did you come up with such an impressive device?
GM: Doctor Hellstromme is not within earshot to answer that question. Pete will need to ask again later.
Uriel Iscariot: Wow Pete, I didn't think you were that interested in machines.
Uriel Iscariot: Or are you just a'feared that the bygone days of real mining are long past?
Uriel Iscariot: Taken from you by that steel beast>?
Campaign saved.