Salted Wounds [IC], a Deep Black Sea game Options

[Volker]

bnc groans audibly. "Anna. Alone today astrally perceiving and flinging spells around drew our enemies' attention towards us twice. You're just running around everywhere announcing us with a flare and a bang. I swear, if you get me almost killed three times in a day because you always think you know better although you don't, I'll go and search Kerstin on my own."

Seriously frustrated, bnc pulls over the mask of her chameleon suite and follows the group.

[Gilga]

She shrugged and did not even respond.

She thought "Arguing with bnc is as pointless as tilting at windmills... When it suited her she could handle six chromed opponents unarmed, and when it does she needed an army to protect her from a single spirit. "

Anna took comfort in her barely visible predator and followed with it closely. If any, the terrible visibility was a plus when she was only proficient with a pistol. For safety, she kept astrally perceiving to notice astral threats.

[Jack_Spade]

The entrance lay before them and in the astral everything was calm expect for two things: the entrance reaked and radiated tainted Mana. It felt like decay and madness, worse than the already taxing background of the cemetery.
The second thing was the small Watcher construct moving slowly around the entrance. It didn't seem to be of very high force and didn't seem to have spotted them yet.
On a casual glance, it looked like a transparent version of a steriotyppically bearded dwarf with a pocket watch on a golden chain.

[Volker]

Before they approach, bnc quickly scans the immediate surroundings by using her Noizquito, and only comes closer if she doesn't find anything irregular (and if nobody warns her not to go any closer).

[Gilga]

Anna stopped and texted >>Stop... a watcher spirit... Wait...
She kept her distance.

Anna orders her spirit to influence the watcher to guard some other tomb in the cemetery.

[ Spoiler ]

Anna's spirit would use influence: (-2 dice due to BGC)
Influence: 10d6t5 5

[Jack_Spade]

[ Spoiler ]

Resist: 6d6t5 1

As mentioned, Anna would know that sending it back to its master would alert him that something was wrong.
I assume, you'd rather send it somewhere else on the cemetery.

The hideout radiates a BC of 4

The watcher left it's post without spotting the team - it seemed.

The way was free.

[Gilga]

[ Spoiler ]

Yes, thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) I edited!

She said ">>You can proceed, the way is clear - notice that the hideout has even higher background count, possibly radiation. bnc, any suggestions? I think it may be hazardous in the real world."

[Volker]

"Hazardous in what way?"

[Gilga]

"Not sure, there may be several causes for such mana. Just make sure it is not toxic or radiated or something. "

[Jack_Spade]

Neither olfactory nor radiation sensor on James pinged near the entrance, so bnc was relatively sure that there was no radiological danger or airborn toxin close by.

[Thanee]

Nova nodded towards Anna in an appreciating manner.

"Any idea what might have caused that magical taint? Could it have something to do with her... transformation?"

She shot a sideway glance at bnc. Surely, she did not want to remind her of the horrific things that happened or are happening to her sister. But it seemed possible, that this was somehow connected. Why else would this place be so weird?

"And that watcher spirit means that someone is keeping an eye on this. Probably the harvesters, right? Well... we still need to check the hideout, so how does it open up again?"

[Gilga]

Anna said, "Your guess is as good as mine... I know that occult devices can occasionally explain this, but I am out of my depth here."

[Luckace]

He nods with appreciation as Anna sends the watcher away.
"Hazardous to the real world?
I'm not sure we can really jump to such conclusions yet. Didn't Elizia mention that the hideout was an old world war two bunker or something?
True, the mana reeks of madness and death... But if this was indeed a refuge during the world war, I think that would explain the uncomfortable background without any implications for the physical world. Who knows what atrocities happened here. Perhaps that was responsible for the taint? "

He readies his gun and replaces the gel ammo magazine with a magazine of standard bullets.
Towards Nova:
"Turning the Virgin Mary should do it.
Everyone ready for opening the entrance?"

[Volker]

bnc indeed whinces when Nova mentions Kerstin's transformation but puts up a stone face, pushing unwanted thoughts into the back of her mind - a thing she's incredibly good at.

"James has a shitload of sensors, and they say it's fine. Uhm, any volunteers to push that fragging thing open?"

[SquirrelDude]

Sharkboy was a bit surprised that bnc was looking for volunteers. What is the point of having a robot that can be repaired and rebuilt if you aren't willing to use them to open dangerous doors?

"Before one of us mostly-meat bags tries to open the door instead of Robo-Jeeves, does anyone got some more explodey or fiery ways to knock on the door?"

[Thanee]

Nova nodded to Wraith. Right, that was it... At Sharkboys question she shook her head. She had her shotgun with explosive ammo back in the van, but that was not really a good way to open the door.

"Well, then. Let's see what is underneath this," she said, as she stepped over towards the St. Mary figure.

[Volker]

"I didn't say, James can't do it, I just ... well, he's not that sturdy and quite expensive. So I just thought ... but I can do it. I mean, it can.", bnc says, somewhat unwillingly.

"I know how to use explosives, but I, uhm, kind of missed to buy some. I was kinda focussed on something else, so ... if someone has a bit of TNT in their pocket, I can bang open the door. So, uhm ... James?"
It's plain to see that bnc knows it would be right to have the robot open the door, but she's really, really attached to it.

[Luckace]

"Hold on one sec before you have him open the grave, I can maybe somewhat protect him. I'll create a shield outside the grave, if anything fires at him, the barrier will hopefully take the worst."
With that said, he waves a hand over the entrance and murmurs: " Lord, shield us from whatever evil rests inside."

Following his hand's movement, a shimmering, golden barrier appears just outside the entrance.

[ Spoiler ]

f5 physical barrier Physical barrier: 14d6t5 8 forgot to subtract two hits due to fatigue, but doesn't change the hits.

Resist drain Drain: 12d6t5 1
Edit : Ahh, I forgot Anna's awesome buffs!
Increased drain resistance: 8d6t5 3

[Volker]

[ Spoiler ]

Resist drain Drain: 12d6t5 1

The lord's wrath is upon you, petty mortal!

"Ahm, thanks, uh, lord. Amen.", bnc mutters.
"Can someone hold my meat body for a second, please?"
bnc then drops into VR and Jumps into James, but going cold-sim, just in case. "Ready?"

[Gilga]

Anna said "Or I can open the door with my magic finger spells while we all stand in relative safety... I would have suggested earlier but bnc kinds of yells anytime I cast a spell..."

[Thanee]

Nova hopped over to where bnc was standing to sling an arm around her and hold her in place, as she entered VR.

"Err... sure. No problem."

[Volker]

"Uhm, well, as you have already used your astral perception to locate the watcher, and used some other mojo to get rid of it, I guess that doesn't make any difference. So ... yes, please."

Depending on whether Anna suggested this before or after bnc Jumped into James, she either refrains from it or leaves it again.

[Gilga]

Once everyone was located in the place they wanted to be, Anna whispered "Open sesame!", and cast the spell (in a subtle imitation of Wraith). She seemed reluctant to speak louder in the cemetery as it was a creepy night. Using her newfound telekinetic powers she opened the safehouse door remotely.

[ Spoiler ]

The oddities for Play by post explain why I suggested it so late in the discussion.

F5 so the spell would last BGC.
Magic Fingers F5: 11d6t5 3
drain: 15d6t5 5

[Jack_Spade]

The statue turrned easily and silently. With an audible click, the heavy stone plate moved a bit upward - likely moved by a balancing counterweight. Another application of the fingers pulled the plate upward like a book cover and revealed a steep staircase, leading down into darkness. Stale air and dust emerged from the subterranean safe house.

There were old footprints leading up and down the stairs, but they all had accumulated a fresh dusting, indicating at least a few weeks of undisturbed rest.

[ Spoiler ]

Perception test: Listen from everyone getting close to the entrance

[Gilga]

[ Spoiler ]

I think that BGC reduces the entire bonus from improving intuition spell, so I just ignored it for now (would probably drop it as we enter the bunker.
Perception (auditory): 15d6t5 6