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

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Supernaturalist
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Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by Supernaturalist »

Iona
HP: 1
VP: 1
Cnd: Normal
PP:0
EP:3

Iona listens to Diego's plan. It sounds perfectly reasonable to her. She'd rather not enter a dilapidated structure unless absolutely necessary. After Doctor Sokolov forced Iona to participate in the repair process of her own body, she really doesn't want to repeat that process any time soon.

Still nervous about being surveilled, her gentle voice speaks even softer than normal. "If someone asks us what we're doing in the area, I'll tell them that we are looking for a safe space to sleep for the night. A place away from other people where we won't get attacked. Of course, if Jaguars are present and they make us leave, then we'll have no choice but to comply. At worst, we can meet you back at the area that John and I squatted down."

Looking to John, she continues to speak. "I can see very well at night. I'll be your advanced eyes about the building when nightfall is complete."

After ironing out the last details, she is ready to move.
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Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by Supernaturalist »

John Steiner
HP:1
Cnd: Normal
PP:0

John can't find anything about Diego's plan to argue with. The only thing that makes him nervous is his lack of nightvision-equipment when it gets well past dusk. "I don't imagine there's a lot of functioning streetlights in this area. It'll be tough to see. I guess the only consolation is that the Jaguars will have an equally tough time seeing. At least I hope."

After Iona makes her offer of "leading the blind" to John, he whispers back to her. "Just remember to keep our armed response down on the level of "sticks and stones". Hopefully we won't need to fight off any vagrants or gang-members, but if we do its with fists, knives, sticks, and rocks...no lightening bolts, telekinetically hoisted dumpsters, or whatever else it is you can do. We need to make sure that no one finds more corroborating evidence that we are in this area."

With that, he looks back to Diego and gives a nod that he is ready to go.
mrdent12
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Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by mrdent12 »

Diego Gonzalez
HP: 1
CND: Haunted
Form: Solid


"We are all agreed. Vagrants in this area are not uncommon. If pushed you can claim you are new to this area and don't want any trouble. Both of you faces are known, so try not to expose them for too long so they see through your disguise. If the mutated Jaguars are about you will be at a disadvantage when it comes to fighting at night, but having one of their special assets fighting in the open on patrol is not the most likely scenario. If separated, we meet back at the basketball court.", remarks Diego.

He was glad that extended discussion wasn't part of this. Less time debating meant more time executing. He had to hope John and Iona could pull off being vagrants since splitting up didn't make him too happy. Still, it was the safest way.
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Sakuro
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Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by Sakuro »

Diego steps into a shadow and vanishes from sight as he disperses into a nanite cloud that blends into the darkness. While he floats through the air, keeping to dark places, Ion and John set out on foot. You are strangers here, and your passage does not go unnoticed. The homeless watch your passage in an unintrusive way. No one goes out of their way to engage you.

When you get closer, the three of you realize that the three buildings that Diego had been advised to stay away from is actually one large building. It has collapsed, or other building have collapsed on it, such that it's structure had been broken up into smaller sections. While there are people loitering in the area, if you take the time to observe, you note that no one goes in or out of this place.

There are several routes into the three sections: old entry ways and holes. Diego doesn't have a hard time gaining access to the interior in his dispersed nanite-cloud state. Checking the interior of the three sections Diego can confirm that there is no one inside. There there are signs that people may have once used them as living space: discarded cans, snack food wrappers, and so forth. There are sights that include furniture being crushed by ragged blocks of concrete.
OOC wrote:Bear in mind, Diego does not have Investigate. Meaning, he isn't going to be able to find hidden things via observation alone.
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Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by mrdent12 »

Diego Gonzalez
HP: 1
CND: Haunted
Form: Solid


As Diego traversed the ruins, he could tell it was similar to the crumbled facade of their base if it was a facade. He'd been wrong before and would likely be wrong again with this time being one of the wrong moments maybe. Digging around ruins, looking for clues, and whatnot wasn't his bag though. People were. People and where they looked plus how they acted.

Going between the buildings mixed in with the night, he kept an eye out for anyone who might look like a Jaguar. Having gun wielding armed guards would be a dead give away, so he also kept an eye out for anyone looking about like they were on alert for something more than being jumped for their meager posessions.
Perception 31, Insight 26 Rolled a 20 and a 19. Hopefully it gives something.
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Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by Supernaturalist »

Iona
HP: 1
VP: 1
Cnd: Normal
PP:0
EP:3

While Diego scrutinizes the interior of the dangerously dilapidated building, Iona slowly leads John around the perimeter of the structure. She stops occasionally to look up the length of the ruined structure for any potential blocks of rubble that might break away and fall down upon them.

Though her ultravision allows her to see in the poorly lit (yet open) areas of the ward's streets, it is her infravision that she uses to scrutinize the outside of the structures around her. Looking for differences in heat gradient around the doors, windows, and cracks of nearby area, she attempts to identify any possible area that might lead to a passage or room beyond.

Of secondary interest is interacting with the vagrants of the area. She does not attempt to speak with them, but neither does she go out of her way to avoid them. If they approach her for some conversation, then she obliges.
OOC: I'll include a perception and insight roll as well: Perception first: Supernaturalist: D20 + 10 → 26(16 + 10). So, a 26. The nthe Insight: Supernaturalist: D20 + 10 → 25(15 + 10). So, a 25.
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Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by Supernaturalist »

John Steiner
HP:1
Cnd: Normal
PP:0

John allows the cyborg to lead him around the poorly lit area. To say he's uncomfortable is an understatement. His right hand is underneath his shoddy clothing and gripping his combat knife at all times.

He leans in close to Iona and whispers. "If one of these crackheads will talk to us, maybe I can hit them up for a contact to buy drugs from. If we get pressed for time, then we might have to try and tail a suspected gang-member. If we really get pressed for time, then we may be forced to abduct and interrogate one. That's the most dangerous option of all, though."

Trying not to stumble, he slowly works his way around the perimeter of the large, partially collapsed building. "You gotta let me know if you see something..." he whispers again, "....ok?" as if imploring her for some sign of acknowledgment. This was the second mission in a row where he felt pretty out of his element, but he knew that the Cause was short on manpower and needed all hands on deck, even if it meant doing assignments for which they were not optimally suited.

John unlike Iona was more warm to the idea of initiating conversation.
OOC: If John and Iona pass near to someone who doesn't shy away from them, then he'll hit them up about trading something for some drugs. But that's only if they appear unfightened. He will not approach someone who is determined to keep distance from them as he does not want to cause a scene.
[/quote]
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Sakuro
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Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by Sakuro »

Diego searches the interior of the three structures thoroughly. There are no people here. He does notice cracks in the floor where orange colored fluid has seeped to the surface in some places.

Outside Iona and Diego see a number of homeless people scattered about the length for the street. Judging how little interest people show in Iona and John roaming around it, the people around the building don't appear to be guarding it. Nothing much has changed since their last search of the area. Some people have moved. Others have left the area. A couple new faces have arrived. Nothing of real note beyond what you have already seen.

The people Diego was able to identify as drug dealers are still at the end of the corner. When John tries to engage people, asking about acquiring drugs, people either clam up or imply that they want money. Not barter goods. Upwards of a hundred dollars. Cash someone in the position he is pretending to be in shouldn't have.
OOC wrote:No one is just going to give away information about drug dealers because you asked. Neither John nor Iona have applicable skillsets. You also don't have enough on you to reasonably trade for that kind of information without some social finesse (Investigate's Gather Information). Not if you're playing up the homeless angle.

That said, Diego already located people dealing drugs in the area. I don't think he communicated it to John and Iona though. You haven't left the area. You've just moved up the street a ways.
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Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by mrdent12 »

Diego Gonzalez
HP: 1
CND: Haunted
Form: Mist


A lack of likely guards plus people made Diego strongly think he was barking up the wrong tree so to speak. Whatever this orange fluid was, Diego suspected it was tied to the homeless peoples rashes. As long as it didn't invalid his network of informants he didn't particularly care however. Iona was the scientist. Praetor Null might be interested in ensuring Dr. Sokolov doesn't get the fluid, but at this point Diego had to assume Iona was telling Sokolov everything anyway. So, even if he brought it back for analysis Sokolov would find out about it.

While floating about int he darkness, Diego calculated the next move. There was always following the dealers back after they finished dealing. Three vagrants suddenly following four dealers as they leave an area though was rather suspicious at the very least. With no guards though, unless the buildings had cameras he missed, Diego ran the scene through his head again for any past installments which might have been similar in secretive or classified nature which would help him pin down any places he forgot to look.
Expertise Military 23
For any secret base type(not place) of entrances to underground bases he might have forgotten to check or if his expertise is saying it's a waste of time to keep looking. This is given he was part of sabotaging an attack on the city by his unit at the time and likely had some briefings on bunkers at one point in time of his military career.
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Sakuro
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Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by Sakuro »

OOC wrote:Diego doesn't know of any covert operations that took place here.

He knows that Dr. Impossible and Praetor Null had a big fight in the area. It wrecked the entire ward and tore a hole in the sky. This building was likely damaged during that battle.

Diego doesn't see any people inside the three sections of the structure. There aren't any obvious guards. There are no visible security measures. He does see collapsed areas where stairs were leading down and up. These are impassible by mundane means. Diego could seep through cracks. However, as a matter of common sense, if he exposed himself to dangerous chemicals he could spread it wherever he went. Even if he didn't get hurt, it could result in other people being harmed.

Diego has seen some funky orange sludge oozing up form below and no one is entering the building. He was also told this place is unstable/unsafe. He can confirm that it is structurally unsound and he has a feeling that chemical sludge is making people in the area sick. Given what he has seen, this would make a terrible place to base out of.

As a reminder, you have three other streets to check out where Jaguar activity was reported. One with establishments that were once dedicated to textiles and another with buildings that use to be dedicated to fabricating construction materials.
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Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by mrdent12 »

Diego Gonzalez
HP: 1
CND: Haunted
Form: Solid


Moving from scouring the building after having a good enough feeling it's not the ideal place to setup a drug lab, Diego slinks through the darkness to a place which affords him the best opportunity to say he was just getting high with some level of privacy if questioned. Not that he imagined anyone would question him, but still. better for an excuse to be there and never used than having to make one up on the spot. He heads out back in his vagrant cover making sure to give a nod to Iona and John.

After ensuring they would follow, h started walking with them towards the direction of the construction material area. Once confident he wouldn't be overheard, he gives the readout. "Best I can tell, this place has some orange chemical seeping up from the ground. Probably some tanks that started leaking or something from the Undercity. Either way, I don't think its a place they'd set up a drug lab. Too many chemicals about currently, some that seem to be spreading a rash. We could follow the four dealers, but I'm not sure how long they will stay around here or if they are high enough level to know much. Flunkies who are expendable usually do the local dealing.", recaps Diego.

"There's the textile and construction factory areas next. It might be all rubble, but the construction area would have stronger materials than a textile factory and probably less chemicals too.", says Diego.
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Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by Supernaturalist »

Iona
HP: 1
VP: 1
Cnd: Normal
PP:0
EP:3

Iona follows along with Diego, guiding John in areas where the lighting is poor. When Diego mentions the orange chemical, the young cyborg presses him for a little more information about it: consistency, odor, opaqueness, and several other qualities. "I'd like to ask Doctor Sokolov about it as it may eventually pose a health threat to our facility and recruits if it spreads. Assuming that the Doctor is uncertain of its nature, perhaps I could return in the future and collect a few samples for analysis."

As the three of them make their way along the dark and rubble-strewn streets, Iona continues to converse with Diego in hushed tones. "If scouring the three areas doesn't turn up anything, what do you intend to do next? John suggested abducting one of their members for an interrogation."

Looking away from her Ascendant peer to the street ahead, her soft tone is tinged with icy sternness. "Besides...these lowlifes attacked one of our contacts. This is our ward first and foremost. We may need to send a message that we control it not them."
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Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by Supernaturalist »

John Steiner
HP:1
Cnd: Normal
PP:0

Next to the abilities that the the Ascendant and Iona display, John sometimes feels like a "third wheel". He slowly meanders his way along the dim light of the ruined streets, guided by Iona when it becomes especially difficult to see. He listens to the two of them talk as best he can, but the speak so softly that it is difficult for him to hear even though he is within 5 feet of them.

His right hand is gripped firmly about his combat knife, which is concealed underneath his loose clothing. He is as vigilant as he can be given his limited perception, and he finds himself thinking about how his group will "acquire" the contact even if they manage to identify his location. There will be bloodshed for sure. This time we need to be better prepared if things go south. I know I shall be.

John begins to wonder what Ascendant Chen thought about his last report. He knows it will take some time to digest and then respond. John doesn't even hazard to guess how he'll respond. The veteran soldier works for some pretty scary and strange people. There seems to be no telling what they may ask of him next.
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Sakuro
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Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by Sakuro »

OOC wrote:You are free to continue your dialog. I am posting the narrative transition and description of the next area so that you can migrate into the scene when you are ready.

Supernaturalist, what were John and Iona's Disguise checks? Don't post new rolls. I'm looking for what you already rolled.
As you head east there is a subtle shift in the density of the ruins. Building had once been closer together, and more compact here. Now it is akin to hilly terrain, with mounds of ruble serving as the hills. Roads are beardly visible beneath the carnages. There are patches of loose material here and there. Which make travel dangerous. It is all to easy to place you foot on loose rubble. Landslides are a clear danger, and you must tread carefully. There are fewer people out in the open here. Those you can see are huddled in the skeletons of ruined buildings stable enough to shelter in, dim fight light glowing from cracks and holes in the exterior walls.
OOC wrote:When you enter the area, make a DC 15 Dodge check to avoid stepping on loose rubble, falling, and hurting yourself. If you fail the Dodge check, make a DC 20 Toughness check.

If Iona or John take damage from this, you will receive 1 HP. Diego would be able to Regenerate quick enough that the damage wouldn't be a real hinderance.
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Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by mrdent12 »

Diego Gonzalez
HP: 1
CND: Haunted
Form: Solid


What a difference a few blocks makes. If this is the drug lab, it certainly would have natural rubble protections. Diego loathed having to walk, but his native form would be far too suspicious. Looking at the rubble up int he distance, Diego was as stoic as ever in his responses. "The goo will pose a health risk. We can circle back and analyze it in our own lab some other time. No need to traverse the hazards to get the Sokolovs lab.", remarks Diego. Aside from not trusting Dr. Sokolov, Diego wasn't inclined to have to rely on others for analysis when they had a perfectly functional lab despite the restrictions Iona placed on it's usage.

Turning to the topic of abduction Diego kept up the calculated tone, but his cadence was one of a stern teacher. "If we send a message, the Jaguars will not likely capitulate. We are already targets by several factions and our raid of the Jaguar base will surely make us more enemies of not done perfectly. Interrogation if done subtly may yield results, but we also expose ourselves to risk. The two of you being out in the open plus raiding a Jaguar base is already making this a high risk mission. If not for the hope of an arsenal that if I am right will be rather impressive this mission would have been ill advised.", adds Diego.

All the while speaking, Diego keeps an eye out for any signs of guards or possible locations of labs similar to how they found their base.
Pereption 21, Expertise Military 23 Trying to spot signs or guards to indicate a lab and applying military expertise if they are possible defensive positions guards might use that would be relevant to a hidden lab.
Dodge 26, Toughness 19
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