The Activity Club #outsiders_go_home 9/8/2017

DiscoDude: **---BEGIN SESSION---**
DiscoDude: **Session logging commenced**
GM: The snow is falling as <@!Valente> and <@!Mada> head down the hill between the old ruins and their camp, with only a few armed escorts in tow. Their comms crackle to life.
GM: <B-ck up - b-t.> It's the Pyzky.
Valente: "What is he saying? I can barely hear him." Valente says, turning to the escorts
GM: <Um, I think they're saying something about backing up?>
Valente: (Yes, Mada?)
Mada: (( thinking ))
Valente: "That's odd... Let's try to back up, just in case."
Mada: "Hello there cutesy Pyzky!!" Mada said in delight
GM: <*crackle* -t's like I feared. E-en this far o-t, things a-e getting hazy.>
Valente: "Ah, so you just wanted some way to speak more clearly..."
Valente: "Well, last chance to say something."
GM: <Alright. So th-se ruins will e-fectively be a r-dio silenc- zone until we c-n take down whatever's jam-ing comms. Your mission f-r now is unchan-ed, however; lo-ate the solitary t-psider.>
Valente: ( BRB, someone want me to open some valve or some weird shit )
GM: <Speak w-th them if -ossible.>
GM: <Ascertain their -ntentions, either wa-.>
Mada: Mada looks at the snow and just makes a snowball, then throws it at a tree, only for it to fall on the floor next to them as they giggle "Okay, hehe, we're being too much like thieves right now!"
Valente: (I am back)
Valente: "Alright, we got it. Over." Valente says into the comms, before turning to the others "Okay. This is it, we won't be able to call for help there, we are going in."
GM: (So you proceed to the outskirts?)
Valente: Unless someone opposes, then, yes, we do
Mada: "Well, at least we're gonna be having a good time, right?" Mada said, smiling and just looking at the place they're going
Valente: "Here's hoping." Valente replies, tapping his hat with his wand
GM: You make it to within (very skilled) throwing distance of the outer ruins. Separating you from the inner ruins is a Very Large Wall™. This topsider is supposed to be in the outer ruins, however, though even that seems to be guarded with the occasional patrol. One of your escorts - a broad-shouldered Vanguard Demon - taps you on the shoulder.
GM: <Sir, ma'am. We are tasked with escorting you through dangerous situations, though I'm afraid we might only be a hinderance in matters of stealth. You should send us back if that is your intent.>
Valente: _Valente waves a hand_ "Bye. What you did was plenty, thank you for your services."
GM: <Dismissed, then. Is there anything you need Miss Sabrina or Nico to hear?>
Mada: Mada just looks at the wall with interest, and runs closer to it, tapping the wall, seeing how strong it was
GM: (Um, there's a whole district of ruins between you and the wall. With patrols.)
Mada: ( oh )
Valente: "Nothing at all. I fear, but certainly we'll have much to say after this."
GM: (I should draw maps at some point. Not strictly necessary, but should help for clarity.)
Valente: ___________ Wall
========= Patrols
   *you
Valente: Did I do good?
GM: <Alright.> The Demon pair start moving back across the snowy field between here and the hill the base is resting behind.
Mada: ( ok, makes more sense )
GM: So now Valente and Mada are left alone to infiltrate the outer ruins in whatever manner they please. The inner ruins may have to wait; for now, that's someone else's mission.
Mada: Mada looked at the situation with a terrifying grin "these patrols sure like to patrol, won't they get hypothermia?"
Valente: "I think that they will actually be glad for the snow, armor can get quite hot."
Valente: "So, any idea on how to vault over the walls, undetected?"
GM: (At this point, you can say what you're attempting to accomplish, and how, and I can decide what you roll.)
GM: (Er, the wall divides the outer and inner ruins.)
Valente: (woop)
Valente: "Alright, let's just scout from the outside the outer ruins, making sure that we remain undetected, how does that sound? We are bound to see the topsider like this, if they are in the outer ruins."
Mada: "Sounds like a good idea, i was planning to go savage and go all out crazy, but better idea than being the usual"
GM: (So, trying to spot their location from outside the ruins? The initial Stealth roll will be fairly easy, but the one for Investigation will be a bit harder.)
Valente: ( mada, you have investigation? )
GM: (It's a valid tactic even if you fail; it makes sense that you can try again once you're actually in the district.)
Mada: ( yup, i have Investigation )
Valente: (Nice... <@&290634832474800149> , by the way)
GM: (Yes?)
Valente: (How would getting a stunt for using deception instead of burglary work, when the rolls are related to things magicians are able to replicate?)
GM: (Also, here:)
GM:
GM: (That would work, yes.)
GM: (And you're continuing with your plan?)
Valente: (Yes)
GM: (Alright. <@!Valente> and <@!Mada> both roll Stealth vs. +0)
Valente: (Stealth is a skill? I forgot about that)
Valente: (I'll get it at +2)
GM: (It is. Would you like one of yours to be that- I figured.)
GM: (Does that need a FATE point to establish mid-session?)
Valente: (I don't think so?)
GM: (Okay.)
Valente: (I have an empty skill slot)
Valente: !Roll 4df+2 (Stealth)
DiscoDude: <@Valente> rolled 4df+2 for 4 [4df = [+][+][ ][ ]] (Stealth)
GM: (SWS! I'll say that can cover for <@!Mada> if she fails her roll. Other than that, I'll give it to you as a boost.)
Valente: (Nice)
Mada: !roll 4df+0 (stealth)
DiscoDude: <@Mada> rolled 4df+0 for -1 [4df = [+][ ][-][-]] (stealth)
Valente: (Well, I am covering for her, then)
GM: (Oof. Well, I guess you can describe how you stopped her from blowing your cover, then. XD)
Valente: <@!Mada> , I think you probably got distracted with something, but, Valente managed to get you to keep your head down at a crucial moment, when a patrol was patrolling dangerously close. Is that okay with you? Do you feel like you would trip some other way?
GM: (I thought you weren't actually entering the ruins proper?)
Mada: nah, they wouldn't trip another way, im okay with that.
Valente: (Well, no, but they could still be patrolling close enough to spot us)
GM: (Right.)
GM: You eventually find a decent vantage point to spy upon the area the topsider was last seen.
GM: (Go. Also, don't be afraid to roleplay.)
Valente: _Valente taps his wand twice on his hat, before using it as a spyglass_
Valente: "Say, have you ever been good at spotting things, Mada?" Valente says, looking through the wand spyglass
Mada: "Yup, i've been" Mada said "Seriously, you wouldn't imagine how finding small parts of your inventions help you to notice small things around the place"
GM: (Go ahead and roll Investigate vs. +2, guys.)
Valente: _Valente hands out his wand to mada_
Valente: "Here, try this."
Valente: (Mada, roll first)
Mada: !roll 4df+3 (investgate)
DiscoDude: <@Mada> rolled 4df+3 for 3 [4df = [ ][ ][-][+]] (investgate)
GM: Mada, among the darkened ruined buildings clustered in the outer district, above the wandering lanterns of the patrols, you notice that the upper window of one of these buildings has an unsteady light moving inside.
Mada: Mada picks up the spyglass and looked at the surroundings "guards, guards, someone looking at some porno, guards, ooooooohhhhh" Mada noticed the upper window of a building, and noticed that it's the only light lit in that building "found something" Mada said
Valente: "What did you find? Is it any good?" Valente says, leaning in, trying to look the same direction that Mada is looking at.
Mada: "check it!" Mada said and took their head off the spyglass to let them see "Seems there's something inside that building" they said, it was lit, then, you could see a shadow of something roaming to the left on that window, there seems to be someone in there.
Valente: _Valente leans in to peer through his spyglass-wand, and lifts a brow as he does so, almost in surprise_
Valente: "Not bad! It seems like we got our guy."
Valente: _Valente then retrives his wand_
Valente: "Or girl, we'll see."
Mada: "Or both!" Mada said, giggling
Valente: "We'll see, we'll see." Valente says, looking at both ends of the outer ruins that he can see "It is quite the treck from here to there, we should consider what to do if we get caught."
Mada: "go on a rampage?" they ask, excitedly to do so
Valente: "Maybe a *small* rampage, so that we can break away and go back into hiding, yes?"
GM: (Alright. So what's the plan?)
Valente: (I think we'll use the buildings to sneak from point A to point B)
GM: (Alright, roll Stealth vs. +1.)
GM: (Both of you.)
Valente: (Here's hoping I don't mess this)
Valente: !roll 4df+2
DiscoDude: <@Valente> rolled 4df+2 for 1 [4df = [-][-][+][ ]]
Valente: (shhhit)
GM: (<@!Mada>?)
Mada: !roll 4df+0
DiscoDude: <@Mada> rolled 4df+0 for 1 [4df = [ ][+][-][+]]
Mada: (steath)
GM: (So a tie, all around? Alright so it's not a blunder on either of your parts, but a complication from the outside?)
Valente: (Seems so)
GM: (I think I can easily arrange that.)
GM: The two of you suffer some close calls; nearly caught, but not quite (mostly by Mada's hand, and by Val's grace, respectively), but they finally make their way to the building they think the topsider is hiding out in, when...
GM: There's the sound of crunching snow. Something wicked, this way comes. (Do I even need to make you guys roll Notice, or is it self-evident that you can hear it?)
GM: (I'll say the latter; you both hear it clearly.)
Valente: _"Keep your head low" Valente whispers to Mada, as he tries to find a hiding spot where he can safely look back at the source of the sound._
Mada: Mada nods and keeps their head low, this was so fun for them right now
GM: (So, another Stealth roll?)
GM: (Actually, I'll say it now; you can't hide from this thing.)
Valente: (Well, we'll at least look at it?)
GM: (There's a reason why. Might not stop your characters from trying, though.)
GM: As the two of you slip behind a snow drift, the crunching gets louder.
GM: Out of the alleyway steps a thin, graceful looking Jackal, adorned in silks of vibrant colors, the scarf especially so...
GM: Though it appears to be missing its head.
GM: A flame lights up above the scarf-wearing stump, wavers around a bit... (One of you can roll Lore to figure out what it's doing.)
Mada: (ok, i'll do it)
Mada: !roll 4df+3 (lore)
DiscoDude: <@Mada> rolled 4df+3 for 4 [4df = [ ][ ][ ][+]] (lore)
GM: (Alright, that beats +2.)
GM: Mada, you quickly sense the magic emanating from that flame, and recognize it to be an active spirit sensing spell. No amount of traditional stealth - not even perfect silence or visual invisibility - will hide you from that if you're in range. You need to act *now*.
GM: (Basically, you won initiative.)
Mada: (( wait, i won initiative on my skills? ))
GM: (I decided that if you failed, then the agent would be able to act before you realized you weren't really hidden.)
Mada: (( oh ))
Mada: Mada immediately noticed the spell, and they immediately  leaped at Valente, letting you both fall on the floor, they then used the magic they posses to summon a golem in the shape of a wall to block them from the spell. (( I think that could work ))
Valente: (Well, I think you are trying to make a physical obstacle to prevent him from getting at us, right?)
Valente: (The only spell right now is the detection spell)
GM: (It's basically a radar spell.)
Valente: (Which is currently foolproof... But yeah, we can still do something)
Mada: ( there's no use really, all we can just really do is either fight or block really, and Mada decided on blocking )
Valente: (Okay, roll for... Create advantage!)
GM: (Crafts?)
Mada: !roll 4df+4 (crafts)
DiscoDude: <@Mada> rolled 4df+4 for 2 [4df = [-][-][ ][ ]] (crafts)
Valente: The dice gods seems displeased today
GM: !roll 4df+1 (Athletics)
DiscoDude: <@GM> rolled 4df+1 for -1 [4df = [-][-][-][+]] (Athletics)
Valente: Nevermind, take this SWS
GM: (Describe what happens, <@!Mada>. :3)
Mada: Mada tries to summon the golem, but instead, a tiny little golem appeared instead, the summoning disobeying them "GOD DAMMIT!" they said angrily and kicked the little golem towards the Jackal.
GM: (Um, this was supposed to be SWS. XD)
Valente: (that is, you actually succeeded very well)
Mada: ( oh )
Mada: ( wait )
GM: (SWS = Success With Style.)
GM: (Your 2 beat its -1 *hard*.)
Mada: Mada summoned the golem as it went and blocked them both from the Jackal, the Golem, though, seemed to come up with some company, 2 more golems that looked like cannonballs, ready to fire on the Jackal at any moment "There we go!"
GM: The headless agent is now faced with a [Wall of Golem][!!].
GM: At an impasse, it instead stands up straight, and the flame in place of its head shoots up, before exploding into a very bright, very red "X".
Valente: "Shit"
GM: "Indeed!"
Valente: _Valente readies his wand "Don't think we won't kick your ass for this."_
GM: The voice came from a very large, puffy looking Pigeon garbed in a survivalist vest and a pith helmet, and a dapper pair of pince-nez, exiting the objective building to stand behind Mada and Val.
Valente: Is he behind us?
GM: "Well ain't this quite a pickle you've gotten us into?"
Mada: "huh?" Mada looked behind them to see the big Pigeon "Ummmmm... we're doing research!" they said, giggling "A research of the unparalel world of living creatures! haha!" they added, trying to do an improv.
GM: "Fascinating!" He throws his arm over himself in an "over here" motion as he heads back to the door he came out of. "Well? Do you want my help, or do you think verily that you have this under control?"
Valente: "I am sorry for bringing trouble to your doorstep, but it is not like you weren't surrounded by it before. And, yes, I am not too proud to not ask for help, so, if you could."
GM: "Harrumph! Quite! After me then." He heads inside with a bounce to his step.
GM: (Just realized neither of you could be described as "youngsters." XD)
Mada: Mada saw and smiled, copying the Pigeon's walking.
Valente: _Valente hurries inside, firing back shots from his wand if necessary, to prevent any enemy to follow pursuit._
GM: With the door shut behind the group, the Pigeon quickly moves up the stairs past the hole in the floor, rummaging with this and that as he called back down to his two guests:
GM: "So! What sort are two old codgers like yours getting up to out here in the frigid plains of Glissod? You after the Eye as well?"
GM: "Because," he pokes his head out above the stairs, "if you are, then I would have to count you as my enemy as well, I'll have you know."
GM: Meanwhile, the agent outside attempts to break through the barrier. (How hard would that be, you think?)
Mada: "Eye? Why would someone be interested in an eye? Is it because they have bad eyesight?" Mada asks, tilting their head in confusion
Valente: "We are actually into deep enemy territory, scanning for the strange presence of a topsider amidst... All of this."
Valente: "And that topsider, of course, if you can link the dots..."
GM: "Would be me, yes. Well, you don't have to worry about me. This isn't the first time this old bird has dealt with... er, Nazzos, or Communists, or... you know, I'm not quite sure of who these particular rapscallions are, to be perfectly square with you."
Valente: (BRB)
GM: "Though I do know they have the complexion of Demons. Probably cultists. Yes, that's always a classic."
GM: ("Or maybe imperialists...")
GM: (<@!Mada>, would your wall have a flat bonus to roll against, or will you be rolling against the agent?)
Mada: (( hmmmmmmm... maybe a flat bonus? ))
GM: (A +2, then?)
Mada: (( ok ))
GM: (Actually, +1. I don't want another repeat of "the ridiculous binding aspect.")
GM: !roll 4df+2 (Fight)
DiscoDude: <@GM> rolled 4df+2 for 4 [4df = [+][+][ ][ ]] (Fight)
GM: (You can boost with those free invokes.)
Valente: (Sorry for the delay, I had a cat emergency, what did I miss?)
Mada: (( gonna give it a boost ))
GM: (Two, if you want it to not fail.)
GM: (Which it has. Because SWS.)
GM: (So it becomes a normal Aspect with no free invokes that it still has to overcome.)
Mada: (( ummmm, ok, sure ))
GM: The sound of combat can be heard from- *BANG! THOOM!* Yup, those would be the cannonball golems expending themselves. (Let's see how much damage they do? Should they do actual attack damage? Does Mada roll something? Is this a new Stunt?)
GM: (Also, do either of you react to the Pigeon's musings?)
Valente: (Oh, sorry)
Valente: "Maybe we could talk about their nature once we're out of this... maybe. I wonder if you would be interested in sating your curiosity."
Mada: Mada listens to the Pidgeon talking about cultists and stuff "Ooooooh, hehe, cultists are just weird, like always, hahaha" they said, meanwhile, the wall suffered some damage, but at least it didn't hit it's weakspot, as the cannons expended themselves through hitting the person who's hitting the golems.
GM: (So no, <@!Mada>, they don't hit back in any meaningful way?)
Mada: (( they're trying, at least XP ))
GM: (Heh.)
GM: "Well, whomever they happen to be, they may as well give up on finding the Eye of Grye before me." He steps out to the top of the stairs, now wearing a comically oversized camping backpack with presumably his immediate possessions contained within.
Valente: (maybe you should roll?)
GM: "Or my name isn't Jean Luc Psmith; GENTLEMAN ADVENTURER EXTRRRRRRRRRRAORDINAIRE!!!"
GM: (Yeah, I'm with Wokio; this is a potential stunt that's better left being discussed outside the heat of action. XP)
GM: The sound of imaginary crickets plays over the disgusting lack of initial reaction from his two-person audience.
GM: "... Well! I suppose we should get going then." He seems to sulk down the stairs.
Valente: "So. What about the danger outside?"
Mada: "Well, aren't you handsome?!" Mada said, with a crazy smile
GM: "Hmmmmm?" He jaunts down the last two steps. "Very nice of you, m'lady. And a very good question. 'Danger outside' indeed, my silver fox in arms! Come now!" He moves over to the hole in the floor he edged around the first time.
Valente: _Valente looks at himself... "Do I look too foxy?"_
Valente: _Valente then gathers himself and clambers up the hole_
Mada: "aye aye!" Mada said and follows Jean through the hole, jumping inside.
GM: "A figure of speech! Now see here; I've discovered a network of tunnels running beneath these ruins. It is through here that I believe the Eye of- I say!" He dodges Mada's jump in. "Getting a bit ahead of ourselves, aren't we?" He mutters something. "Anyways, I believe the Eye can be found down there, though it's also been useful whenever I need to move my base of operations."
Valente: "Hm? What has been useful for what?"
Mada: "Dude, this place is full of corridors!" Mada said, spinning around the bottom of the place
GM: He mutters something else, then jumps in after Mada. "Well," he finally calls, "are you coming after, or whatfor?"
Valente: _Valente hurries to the presented area_
Valente: "Oh, sorry, the age is doing its work on me, you know."
GM: "Ha! Don't we all know it! Anyways, what are you people supposed to do once you've found me, anywho?" You recall that if the topsider is confirmed friendly, then an extraction could be attempted.
Valente: "Extraction. We need to take you to safety, this might become a war zone not too long now, depending on how things go."
Mada: Mada suddenly prepares a syringe.
Valente: "Besides, you have valuable information on our adversary, we assume, since you've been out here for a while and evaded capture. We certainly would reward you handsomely-"
Valente: "Uh..." Valente manages, looking at Mada.
Mada: Mada notices Valente looking at them "What? We're extracting, right?" they say with the syringe in hand
GM: "Son, I have been through war zones for less than the Eye. You seem to forget who you're talking to." He begins leading you through the tunnels. "Let's see..." He seems totally oblivious.
Valente: "Not this kind of extraction, Mada."
Mada: "Oh" they noticed it and put the syringe back on their bag, then they picked up a weird suction tube.
Valente: "No... No! We are not doing medical procedures!"
GM: "Now then, perhaps in either case, somewhere close to the edge would be preferable to you, whatever your next step is... Excuse me?" He turns around.
Mada: "Aaaaahhhh, ok" Mada said and just put it back on the bag, then picked up a rope "This then?"
GM: Psmith eyes the rope. "... Harrumph! Imps, I swear..." He continues through the corridors.
Valente: "No, Mada. Extraction is just... Getting him outta here, you understand?!"
Valente: "*Anyways*, sorry, I didn't quite follow what you were saying, we kinda had a bit of a situation."
Mada: "Oh, okay then" Mada said and smiled.
GM: "*As* I was saying, I'll find a nice place to let you out. For your information, however, I am perfectly fine about handling myself... Hrm, myself..."
GM: He stops.
GM: "... Actually, it's been a good while since I've ever gone it truly on my lonesome..."
GM: "... Never mind! Let's be going now. It's not much farther until we're out!"
GM: He's consulting this seemingly homemade map in the meantime.
Valente: "Alright, that's a fine map you have there..."
Valente: "Are these tunnels all over the place?"
GM: "Indeed. Now..." He looks around. "I could have sworn..." On closer inspection, that map looks... *really* crappy.
GM: It's all chicken scratch, and it's barely filled in; just a bunch of key locations and openings in vague general directions.
GM: "Well... It would be this way, then." He starts up again.
Valente: _Valente frowns at this discovery, trying to make it not too visible, however_
Mada: Mada just followed
GM: At the next intersection, he crumples up the map and stuffs it into his pack haphazardly. He then starts pointing down each hall in repeating sequence. "... toe! This way!" He heads down the one at far left.
GM: It's slow going, but just as Val's confidence in Psmith begins to approach rock-bottom, a light could be seen ahead. "Ah! See? Just as I said!"
Valente: "Don't hold your breath, let's make sure that it is a safe exit."
Valente: "They might have caught on to your..."
Valente: _Valente taps his hat with his want, to add to the punctuation_
Valente: "... Vanishing acts of yore."
GM: "Harrumph! Your little debacle was closest they've ever come to even knowing of my *existence*, dear chap! Forgive me when I say; I highly doubt it."
Valente: "Well, I hope they just chalk up the disappearance of just then... To the fact that I am a magician."
Mada: "Exits are exits, let's just exit already!" Mada said
Valente: "Right, sorry for the hold up."
GM: "Oh? Are you now? Fascinating! You'll have to regale me with your tales sometime! But in the meantime..." He flaps up to the hole. "The imp is right. Tally ho!"
Valente: _Valente follows right behind, wand in hand_
Mada: Mada follows too
GM: The trio emerge in a building with hardly any walls and no roof, right near the edge of the outer ruins.
GM: "So! I suppose this is tah-tah for now, my compatriots."
Valente: "Fascinating... These tunnels could prove extremely useful for our ongoing efforts..."
Valente: "And, indeed, this is goodbye. If you are not coming with us to safety, that is."
GM: "It *is* awfully tiresome to abandon the tunnels only to have to sneak past patrols a second time... But then, if *you* plan on returning here, then perhaps I would be in good hands? You seem like you can handle yourselves in the occasional bout of violence."
Valente: "Not my first scuffle." Valente said, tapping his hat with his wand "Not the last."
GM: "Well now..." He seems uncomfortable. "I *suppose* I can go with you folks, then. You never actually got around to telling me what you were doing here, *overall*."
Valente: "We'll have time for that, back at the camp." Val says, before beconing him "Come on, I know the way from here."
Mada: Mada followed, just thinking of a series of tubes right about now.
Valente: "I think they'll be serving hot soup."
GM: "Oh! Soup! You can never have enough of that!"
GM: (Will that do as final lines?)
Valente: (I think so)
Valente: (Damn, this was a good one)
GM: With Jean Luc Psmith (GENTLEMAN ADVENTURER EXTRAORDINAIRE) in tow, the pair move out of the ruins, leaving a red "X" blazing across town. Meanwhile, there are now spotlights pointed at the night sky, and yelling could be heard from the direction of the dividing wall. Above it all, in the castle keep, a clawed talon rests on the window, creating an awful sound as it was dragged down the pane's length.
GM: (Good job, agents. This explorer of yours will prove invaluable in navigating the tunnels beneath the ruins.)
GM: !end