OOC- Shadow's Dawn: Diving into the past Options

[Sephiroth]

Casting F4 Mob Mind on Aren: Magic 6 + Spellcasting 6 -2 to reduce radius of effect +/- whatever modifiers are appropriate = 10d6 = lol 1 hit

I'm trying to make Aren essentially talk in his sleep - go through a brief rundown of how he got here and what happened to him that he can remember in his current state. I'm not really aiming to talk to him, as that seems rather difficult right now, just to get him to start talking.

[Aria]

@Edana
Your IP summary looked correct to me. The 'out of matrix' group are one round in front of you, as there is no real need to keep them absolutely in sync.

This node is not nearly as hard as the outside, although still respectable. The IC is of the Obediah series. Noted for persistence, and indestructability. It sees you, it's left eye starts to twitch and with a cry of "Get him men", and a snarled "I'll have you" it leaps forwards swinging it's whip.

Something a little wierd happens:
Computer + Analyse to work out what... but everything goes really slow, and you (and Ryl) are at around -4 on all die.
Attack from Obediah: 4 successes I suspect you will have little trouble with this, even with the minus's.

From this node:

• You can move into the command and control node (complex action)
• Move into his record's area (complex action)
• Deal with the IC (several complex actions)
• Work out what is slowing you down (simple action to matrix perception)
• Try and take control of the bot net (free action for each, although probably there is a program somewhere that will allow you to take control of the lot)
• Do something else I haven't thought of

And here I was thinking we were in the C&C node (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif) Too good to be true (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'll leave my IC post intact as I was intending to try and crash the IC as soon as we jumped in (not sure what the -4 D does though)...and a good job the IC is going for Angel as I'm sure she is much harder to hit than Ryl (even though it galls me to admit it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif) )

Comp+Analyse = 17D (assuming the -4 doesn't affect perception??) = 7 hits (5 if it does)

My attacks were 3 hits and 5 hits from my agent taking into account the -4D (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

Hope Angel can do better!

... incidentally Edana, I think we need to agree a plan...hopefully trash the IC first is part of it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

[Seth]

@Pbangarth

Sooner or later this mindless swarm will get damage through to both Mandala and Angel if Mandala does nothing.

Its all true.

I'm treating these as a Mischief in the Running Wild book (page 25). Their group rating is 5 (there are about 40 of them in this room). The body rating of the mischief is 6. Good news for you is that area effect attacks are very effective: they reduce the rating by half the DV.

The Mischief doesn't have counterspell (they are too busy raging and destroying), so they resist with 6 die: and get 3 successes
The force 8 is reduced by the golden beauty to force 4, so thats 4DV + 6 hits - 3 = 7 SV. which reduces the Mischief to a rating 1 (it was only just a 5, so I rounded up).
After the blast there are a handful not disrupted. Disturbingly for you, the spirits are not distrupted and sent to their metaplane, they are now hanging in astral space unconscious.

The remaining few attack you with Astral Combat: 3 hits. Their base damage is 1S.

At the end of IP1, the spirits are (mostly) smashed, the room is smashed (40 spirits can wreck a room really quickly), you are obvious to the handful that remain, and their are more pouring into the room in a diffusion kind of way: there are a lot in the corridor.

Even more scarily, just outside the door, you see Spirit Bane's reanimate as one of the (much higher ranking out there) spirits possess his body. You suspect that shortly as the spirits move through the temple, all the dead bodies will start reanimating. Can anyone say "Zombie Apocalypse?"

We move into IP 2 for you, the swarm in your area has increased to rating 2.

@Fearghas

I never seem to have the time i want for dumpshock these days

Yeah me too. I thought unemployment would give me more time, but closing businesses takes time

Anyway thank you for the post...suitably grim and unpleasant. The hooded man can now return from his HR issue, satisfied that everything is under control, and that his minions are bringing him his sacrifices. More monologues in the near future I suspect

Cool idea with the mob mind on Aren. You are correct that he isn't rational, but I suspect that this will make him talk.

The usual..."No...No..." flash backs to his torture. You conclude that he was here for a long time, his mind has retreated. He is tougher than he looks, so he will probably recover. Your best guess is that he didn't give the horror what the horror wanted. Interestingly you come to the conclusion that the horror is not very skilled at this sort of thing: in your opinion he is much better at the long term slowly applied pressure than the "quick I need to get it done now", unlike Chantrell's Horror.

@Aria
Sorry about the C&C. You can take another complex action and flip their now if you want: the only Black IC is attacking Angel, and she looks to have it well under control.

The computer perception tells you that there is a denial of service attack just starting on you. You have excellent defenses against this sort of thing, so you haven't been shut down, but there are over a hundred different machines using your network bandwidth. They are all trying to hack you on the fly. Their skills are in the low digits, so it will take them a while to get in. The problem you have at the moment is the sheer number of them swamping your feed. Curse that trace IC.

I don't think this sort of thing is covered well in the rule books, so my thoughts are:

Options:

• Ignore them, and take down the Major then reboot
• Fight them with spoof ( change your effective ID, redirect them to another target...)
• Fight them with stealth (make it so that they cannot find your machine)
• Other ideas from your self gratefully received.

@Ghost
Just reminding you to post your arrival in the dragon egg room

@Edana
You may have missed the post in which the Obediah IC attacked you: . It's now your go.

[pbangarth]

@Pbangarth

Its all true.

I'm treating these as a Mischief in the Running Wild book (page 25). Their group rating is 5 (there are about 40 of them in this room). The body rating of the mischief is 6. Good news for you is that area effect attacks are very effective: they reduce the rating by half the DV.

The Mischief doesn't have counterspell (they are too busy raging and destroying), so they resist with 6 die: and get 3 successes
The force 8 is reduced by the golden beauty to force 4, so thats 4DV + 6 hits - 3 = 7 SV. which reduces the Mischief to a rating 1 (it was only just a 5, so I rounded up).
After the blast there are a handful not disrupted. Disturbingly for you, the spirits are not distrupted and sent to their metaplane, they are now hanging in astral space unconscious.

I may be treating background count incorrectly.

Does Mandala's Resist Background Count power reduce the effects of BGC only on himself directly, or also on the spells he casts?

And, in resisting the Drain, should I have then resisted Drain as if the spell were Force 4 + 3 instead of the Force 8 + 3 that I did?

The remaining few attack you with Astral Combat: 3 hits. Their base damage is 1S.

At the end of IP1, the spirits are (mostly) smashed, the room is smashed (40 spirits can wreck a room really quickly), you are obvious to the handful that remain, and their are more pouring into the room in a diffusion kind of way: there are a lot in the corridor.

Even more scarily, just outside the door, you see Spirit Bane's reanimate as one of the (much higher ranking out there) spirits possess his body. You suspect that shortly as the spirits move through the temple, all the dead bodies will start reanimating. Can anyone say "Zombie Apocalypse?"

We move into IP 2 for you, the swarm in your area has increased to rating 2.

Ouch. Nasty little guys. They can Materialize to damage the machinery and Possess to animate the dead. Once you straighten me out on the BGC thing, Seth, I'll post Mandala's defense and next action.

[sabs]

So Maybe turning Spirit Bane into Spirit Chow wasn't the best idea. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

IP 2: I think I'm done acting for the round, because in meat form, I have 1 ip, which I used while I was in Astral form? That is correct right.

[Edana]

Yeah, not going to risk getting hit by Black IC since I'm at pretty hefty minuses with sustaining and the DDoS, so full defense gets me 6 Hits. That essentially costs me my IP 4 action though, so no return attack this pass. Presumably the IC won't have a pass 4 or 5 though, so I should be able to attack on IP 5. I'm dropping my stealth CF on IP 4 though, since I'm already a target anyway.

Unfortunately spoofing AccessID to get rid of the DDoS would also dump all current connections, so that doesn't really seem like an option.

Aria: I'm harder to hit under normal circumstances, but damage is considerably more dangerous to me, and I don't think I'm much better at soaking (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) . As far as a plan goes, we might be best served by my distracting/killing this IC while you move to C&C (I have more passes than IC, so I'll win eventually unless it gets stupidly lucky). Presumably that's where the control for the bots is, as well as being able to shut down the Major to keep him from getting away.

Notes

[ Spoiler ]

Current Initiative: 24 (Matrix VR)

Condition monitors:
2/11 S (No Penalty)
0/10 P (No Penalty)

1/4 Edge Remaining

R7 Paladin Sprite (Optional CF's: Expert Defense, Attack): 4 Tasks, Currently guarding Angel, Current Initiative 9
Sustaining R13 Exploit (Mute)
Sustaining R11 Attack (Area 4, Targeting)
Sustaining R8 Shield

[Aria]

Yeah, not going to risk getting hit by Black IC since I'm at pretty hefty minuses with sustaining and the DDoS, so full defense gets me 6 Hits. That essentially costs me my IP 4 action though, so no return attack this pass. Presumably the IC won't have a pass 4 or 5 though, so I should be able to attack on IP 5. I'm dropping my stealth CF on IP 4 though, since I'm already a target anyway.

Unfortunately spoofing AccessID to get rid of the DDoS would also dump all current connections, so that doesn't really seem like an option.

Aria: I'm harder to hit under normal circumstances, but damage is considerably more dangerous to me, and I don't think I'm much better at soaking (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) . As far as a plan goes, we might be best served by my distracting/killing this IC while you move to C&C (I have more passes than IC, so I'll win eventually unless it gets stupidly lucky). Presumably that's where the control for the bots is, as well as being able to shut down the Major to keep him from getting away.

Well I'll leave my IC post in place (rather ineffectual attacks on the IC)...feel free to IC that you'll deal with this Obadiah sucker and that I should go on ahead...I'm not sure Ryl would leave you behind without discussing it.

Seth (or anyone else?!?): Can I write an access acount for my other commlink and then log out and log in with that one? Tinker with the program loadout (it's currently set up to run the tacnet) and that should remove the DDoS attack as it'll be a different ID...they can continue working on the other comm for as long as they want then (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ork.gif) ...of course if I can't write a backdoor then I won't bother because I don't want to have to hack-on-the-fly again!

[Edana]

Sounds good, I'll put it in IC. Though I would definitely appreciate it if you can take out the botnet, since that -4 is mighty inconvenient (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) .

[sabs]

You can write yourself an access account..

If you already have admin access, it's a computer+edit(4, complex action) extended test.
If you don't have admin access, it's a hacknig+edit(4, complex action) extended test.

But this node, is behind at least 1 layer of nodes, possibly two. You can't GET to this node, without going through the other 2, which you do not have accounts on. If you spoof your accessID and reset your connections, then, you get dropped back out to #1, and you have to hack on the fly back in.

[Edana]

It'd be hacking+edit regardless, since there's a restricted alert active against our ID's. But yeah, creating an account for this particular node won't really help in a short term way.

[Aria]

There was me thinking we had admin accounts for the whole of the Major as we seem to be able to jump between nodes (in a fixed path at least) without making new hacking rolls?!?

Ok, forget jiggery pokery with spoof - going for the heart in IP4, will get to act on IP5 I think as I delayed IP2 (?)

Let's hope that's where the botnet command prog is!

2 free perception rolls for the node ahead 17D = 5 hits and 7 hits (or 5 and 6 if the -4 applies?)

[pbangarth]

So Maybe turning Spirit Bane into Spirit Chow wasn't the best idea. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

No, it was a great idea! One might have guessed something like this could happen, given Spirit Bane's diet, but he just as easily could have consumed them permanently.

This just gives us insight into Seth's mind. Next time we will be more informed.

[Aria]

This just gives us insight into Seth's mind. Next time we will be more informed.

<<Shudddder>> (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Alyena]

This just gives us insight into Seth's mind. Next time we will be more informed.

<<Shudddder>>

Tell me about it! You should see some of the twists he comes up with in table top.

Any way initiative for round 19, 7 dice

1 success +7 = 8 <<sigh>> will just twiddle my thumbs for a while til it's my go.

My last spirit was quite useful so think I'll summon another, this one with first aid.

5 successes

Spirit's resistance 2 successes

Alyena's resist drain: 5 successes

Set the spirit to first aid Fearghas, with a first aid kit from one of the Major's minions. This gives 14 for the spirit's skill + 4 for the kit - 2 for the conditions and - 2 as he's awakened, so back to 14 dice: 6 successes take threshold of 2 means 4 stun back.

[Seth]

@Pbangarth

I may be treating background count incorrectly. Does Mandala's Resist Background Count power reduce the effects of BGC only on himself directly, or also on the spells he casts?

It works on your spells, I'll add one to the damage that you did. It doesn't change the quantitative assessment though: you laid some serious smack down on a load of spirits, and a load more are flooding into the room. When you resist the drain, you resist against the force 8. (Basically background sucks)

They can Materialize to damage the machinery and Possess to animate the dead

There are split approximately 50:50 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

This just gives us insight into Seth's mind

You say the sweetest things!

@Sabs

. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

You pretty much had to kill him. By the way...the spirits came out of the dagger, not Spirit Bane.
Your point about meat form is valid.
You might want to do some arcana type rolls to work out what is happening, and if you can do anything about it

@Edana/Aria
Just to remind you: the outside was much harder than in here: Hard exterior, relatively soft interior

@Aria
What Edana said: Hacking + Edit (4). You can be still subscribed to the outer node if you want to be, and do the Computer + edit there, then its just a complex action to move between nodes. Using your other commlink will just work. The network bandwidth is getting chewed as well though, so you will experience some pain.

Your perception rolls are affected by the Denial of Service, but you see clearly enough anyway. Your assessment is that it is a low threat place.

The command and control center are just started to reboot. There appear to be two agents in there, doing "stuff": Damage control, Running Medic programs on his Icon, Running First Aid on him, Calling for help, Triggering all sorts of automatic "oh my god" sort of things. These don't look very hard: your guess around rating 4. The control room has maps, charts, filling cabinets, a desk that sort of imagery.

There is a full size image of the Major here, which allows you to click on and investigate and (to a limited degree) control his impressive cyberware.

There is also a box on the table "For the attention of the one known as Angel".

[sabs]

I'll make the rolls you tell me when I figure it out ;)

Logic (8) + Arcana (4) + PuSHeD (1) = 13d6: 1 6 3 3 5 3 5 5 2 1 5 3 6 (6) hits
Logic (8) + Matric Theory (6) + PuSHeD (1) + Educated (1) = 16d6 1 1 6 5 5 6 3 3 2 3 3 6 6 4 2 1 (6) hits.

I'm feelnig like Mister 6 today.

[pbangarth]

OK. I have the system figured out now. Thanks Seth.

So, Mandala has to resist the little buggers' attack. This should be fun. I'm not sure how a voltmeter can dodge, but then, Mandala doesn't get the benefit of Object Resistance either. Actually, Mandala can still move, even without legs. Think Walt Disney and those animated household items in Beauty and the Beast (hop left... hop left... hop right):

REA 4 + Dodge 1 = 5 dice ==> 3 HITS

Wow. This kid is lucky! No damage.

IP2: Blow some more away. Beats me what they are. They could be useful allies in the right circumstance.

Force 8 Stunball: Magic 6 + Spellcasting 3 = 9 dice. Hey to get this many dice, Mandala needs to have dropped DangerNet™. Sorry. Anyway, it's gone now.

==> 5 HITS

So the Force becomes 4 and DV is 4S + 5 hits.

Resist Drain (8+3)/2 + 1 = 6P

WIL 7 + INT 8 + Centering 4 = 19 dice ==> 7 HITS

No Drain damage.

[Aria]

@Aria
What Edana said: Hacking + Edit (4). You can be still subscribed to the outer node if you want to be, and do the Computer + edit there, then its just a complex action to move between nodes. Using your other commlink will just work. The network bandwidth is getting chewed as well though, so you will experience some pain.

Your perception rolls are affected by the Denial of Service, but you see clearly enough anyway. Your assessment is that it is a low threat place.

The command and control center are just started to reboot. There appear to be two agents in there, doing "stuff": Damage control, Running Medic programs on his Icon, Running First Aid on him, Calling for help, Triggering all sorts of automatic "oh my god" sort of things. These don't look very hard: your guess around rating 4. The control room has maps, charts, filling cabinets, a desk that sort of imagery.

There is a full size image of the Major here, which allows you to click on and investigate and (to a limited degree) control his impressive cyberware.

There is also a box on the table "For the attention of the one known as Angel".

Ok, initial thoughts...

1. Is the botnet command program in here? If not is there a node directory that will tell me where the hell it is? Angel could do with it being nuked so that is probably a priority...

2. Can I spoof the agent doing medical stuff to overdose the Major on painkillers? He must have so little meat left in him that the smallest amount should knock him out / finish him off. Failing that I suppose I could just crash them but they seem to have direct control of things...

I have a feeling that the good Major is becoming a distraction from the real course of events and whilst important is more or less out for the count with all those stunbolts incoming. I guess the only way he’ll affect the course of events now is if he has some sort of self destruct we could activate at a critical time or he comes back to the fray (hopefully unlikely!)...there must be more important things that Angel and I should now be doing (correct me if I’m wrong?!?)...

3. Could log in with my other commlink but I’m hoping there’s a better way!

[pbangarth]

Yeah, I'm getting a little worried about Mandala hanging around Angel's room so long. He's been lucky so far, but he really is more of a lover than a fighter.

[sabs]

Unfortunately the fighters are busy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[pbangarth]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif) Yeah, I noticed.

[Seth]

@Pbangarth

So, Mandala has to resist the little buggers' attack

I think astral combat is mostly a mental thing, but the image of the voltmeter jumping around is fun so go for it!

These spirits are basically the results of Spirit Bane sacrificing things, and trapping them in the dagger, so there are loads of different types. All of them are very cross at the moment.

Roughly the same thing happens on IP2. There are a finite number of these things, though.

The room is becoming shredded even with your dampening, and Angels life support now has red lights flashing on it.

@Sabs
Mister 6 is on form. That is a critical success, so I guess its only 1 action. What happened is pretty simple:

• The dagger is full of loads of souls/spirits
• Stab someone and loads of souls/spirits come out and play
• You need a willpower check to hold onto the dagger, the more you make, the more spirits come and play
• There are still many, many spirits in the dagger...
• Pretty obviously the book and dagger work well together: use the book to project, spray the area with spirits as well as doing hideous damage, and then exit stage left.
• Mind you this isn't enough to kill a horror. But then you have the skull...probably its useful somehow, not sure how yet

@Aria
1: Part of an earlier description: The area you are now in has a whipping post, and a load of soldiers watching the IC that is attacking angel. Those soldiers are the bot net. You can control one bot net at once with a free action, but there are hundreds of them. I could ask you to roll computer + analyse, but to be honest you are Angel are both good, and you have multitasking. The whip of the black IC is the control program: beat the IC, crack the whip, and the botnets do what you say.
2: Yes you can spoof the agent if you get into the same node as him. You think it would be pretty easy. It was hard getting here, but quite easy once inside.
I think you are right about the Major. With the best Magical and Mundane healing in the world, he is hours away from combat readiness. I quite fancy him getting away as a Nemesis though!

@Aria/Edana
Angel and Ryl are still a little behind the others, and I am loath to progress into another round. I'm just checking the situation is this:

• Angel has dodged Obediah
• Ryl has studied the area

I think its your two actions on or around IP 4. The IC isn't doing anything as it doesn't have any more IPs.

@General
My understanding of the situation is:

• Mandala is supressing with prejudice the spirits rampaging in Angels room. is on IP 2 of round 19
• Alyena has bolted the Major, summoned another spirit to first aid Fearghas. Is also on or around IP 2 of round 19
• Bjeorn is mostly just chasing after the Major, and is mostly out of combat: will spend round 10 getting to the closing panic room door
• Fearghas has explored the torture area, had a chat with a hooded man, and has just woken up. Will be free to act round 20
• Angel and Ryl are smashing their way into the Major's cranium. Are on IP 3/4 (not sure) or round 18
• Marduk has struck Spirit Bane on IP 1 of round 19, and will be spending round 20 working out what happened and deciding what to do about it
• LEan'drea entered the dragon egg area on IP 1 of round 18 (I think) , and has yet to act in round 19

I expect the list above is a bit wrong, so feel free to post with corrections. When most of us get to the end of round 19, I'll do a proper summary.

[Edana]

To clarify, the IC controlling the botnet is the one attacking me?

Kind of busy at work atm, but I'll try to get my IP 5 action up tonight. IP 4 I've only got a free action, as going full defense used up my IP 4 action.

-----

Editing in my plan and rolls. I'll very likely be gone the bulk of the day tomorrow, so feel free to skip or roll for me if need be.

IP 4: Full Defense carried over from IP 3
IP 5: Attack Obediah IC, 5 Hits (11 base damage)

Round 19 Init: 22 (That's a raw roll, not sure how the DDoS impacts init. I'm guessing it shouldn't double-dip, so likely puts me at 18, 17 if it does double-dip.)
IP 1: Full Defense if I get attacked before it's my action will cost me this action. (10 hits.) If I end up going before the IC I'll end up attacking instead (3 hits, 11 base damage) and will sacrifice my IP 2 to full defense when I inevitably get attacked.

Notes

[ Spoiler ]

Current Initiative: 18 (Matrix VR)

Condition monitors:
2/11 S (No Penalty)
0/10 P (No Penalty)

1/4 Edge Remaining

R7 Paladin Sprite (Optional CF's: Expert Defense, Attack): 4 Tasks, Currently guarding Angel, Current Initiative 6
Sustaining R13 Exploit (Mute)
Sustaining R11 Attack (Area 4, Targeting)
Sustaining R8 Shield

[Aria]

Seth, I'll move into the C&C node in IP4 (leaving Angel to deal with the nasty whip cracking IC) and aim to spoof the IC in IP5 - is it sufficient to be in the node or do I need to search for access codes or something? I'm still a little confused as to what my admin account has gained (first node only or all in the tree?!?)

Must read more matrix rules when I get a sec (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

[Seth]

To clarify, the IC controlling the botnet is the one attacking me

Yes. If you defeat it, you can take the access codes from it. (think looting the corpse!)

I'm still a little confused as to what my admin account has gained (first node only or all in the tree?!?)

As far as I know its for a system...which is a set of nodes. The IC is still attacking you even though you have an admin account (it was sicced on you by the Major).