 Infiltration Challenge, Examining situation variables |
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 Sep 30 2003, 04:51 PM
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#101
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Runner  Group: Members Posts: 2,598 Joined: 15-March 03 From: Hong Kong Member No.: 4,253  |
Substitue 'Spike' in for Ghost and 'Glory' in for Horror and you will have your answer...
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Sep 30 2003, 07:57 PM
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#102
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Samurai Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 574 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Lancashire,UK Member No.: 169 |
Buffy / Angel == Cool Shows 8) I preferred it when Spike was evil / teamed up with Drusilla though.
My read on this is that hair loss + bronchial coughing equals either radiation poisoning, or more likely a magical effect with similar symptoms to radiation poisoning. Because of this, although I'd agree that it's a good idea to wait for the other gang to arrive / hellhounds go outside ( and with hindsight, maybe we shouldn't have come down here before the diversion was in place ), I don't think that Ghost or Trogdor should risk any further delays after that. If we do wait around for 10-15 minutes we should definitely send the spare drone down the closest of the two vertical shafts, while the other one watches the kennel, hopefully the drone can find level -2 while Ghost is on hold. Trodgor should also have a stealthy look to see want's happening on the other side of the elevator, and Ghost needs to make sure she well hidden from the main corridor if she's waiting around for this long. |
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Oct 1 2003, 01:13 AM
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#103
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 18-February 03 Member No.: 4,110 |
Hahaha, I get it now! lol
I'd like to second all that.
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Oct 1 2003, 01:43 PM
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#104
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,598 Joined: 15-March 03 From: Hong Kong Member No.: 4,253 |
Hmm, don't strong radioactives up the background count?. We may want to consider having Ghost mask up, while this would greatly limit her perceptions, it would slightly reduce the amount of radioactive dust she would be breathing. Though any exposure would probably be simple enough to get fixed later on. Seems like a rather stupid way to work with radioactives though. And why bring them to Seattle?
Since Ghost and Trogdor are going to be there a while, taking a close look at the hair might yield some clues, color, length, condition of roots, and so on. A clump of hair with bloody roots was probably pulled out forcibly, while hair that fell out due to radiation might look different, dunno. Also a close smell of the hair will probably tell Ghost things like whether it is human or animal, male or female, etc. Any simple way to detect radiation? maybe ask an air elemental or hearth spirit? Diamond has two air elementals on tap, though getting them close enough without someone holding its hand might be difficult. It may be something that they are digging up that is causing this effect (buried toxic waste, or similar though working without chemsuits seems to be sorta silly). |
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Oct 1 2003, 02:56 PM
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#105
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Samurai Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 574 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Lancashire,UK Member No.: 169 |
AFAIK yes (I'm at work so I've not got my books with me). The background count would also be increased by toxic waste, or buried magical material.
I'd assume that the effect is being caused by whatever is being excavated. The Aztlan sourcebook and the Dragonheart books both discuss Loci, powerful magical stones/constructs that are buried at nexus points in the mana-lines. Maybe they've found a Locus or something similar, anything magically powerful enough to create a strong background count could easily have a toxic effect on those nearby. I'm thinking like warpstone for those familiar with the warhammer setting.
This would contribute to the high staff turnover though. If the effect is magical maybe it can't be easily protected against.
Also, if the hair has just fallen from the elf it will probably still have a residual aura that can be read, given the elf's unique (so far) nature it should be easy to recognise.
Definitely, though after thinking about it I think that Ghost is probably fairly safe on this level as the background count isn't very high yet. I'd worry more when she gets closer to the source and the background count rises, I think that Trodgor will be at risk then as well, even though he isn't physically present. |
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Oct 1 2003, 10:49 PM
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#106
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 777 Joined: 18-February 03 Member No.: 4,110 |
just to clarify, we're saying it's not necessarily radiation per se. we think it may be magical side effects *similar* to radiation. I'd rather save our tasks for the elementals... ... or are you saying we should check for radiation so we can eliminate it as a problem? 'Cause if it's not radiation then it probably is magical? Well, I guess the magic atifact theory *would* explain the washed out auras, the high turnover, etc... But why make this place the new head office? And why were the gaurds uncomfortable thinking about the night gaurds? |
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Oct 4 2003, 07:00 PM
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#107
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,677 Joined: 5-June 03 Member No.: 4,689 |
Here, very briefly ... but I don't think anyone was asking me anything yet? [/quick scan]
(Ack - out of time. One and a half more weeks. Enjoy the respite :vegm: ) |
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Oct 16 2003, 06:52 PM
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#108
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,677 Joined: 5-June 03 Member No.: 4,689 |
Finally back - but a few more RL things to resolve first. Tomorrow I'll do a more thorough read-through and answer.
Let's see if we can't get this concluded ... and if there's still the interest, a new one started up :D |
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Oct 17 2003, 12:11 PM
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#109
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,598 Joined: 15-March 03 From: Hong Kong Member No.: 4,253 |
Game on. :D
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Oct 17 2003, 06:09 PM
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#110
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,677 Joined: 5-June 03 Member No.: 4,689 |
Time check: 2041 ... and hindsight is almost always 20/20. (Almost - because how do you know the alternative would have turned out any better? Grass is always greener and all that.) I apparently really screwed up on the way I described the vertical shafts. Sorry about that. What I'd intended was that those two vertical shafts opened up from the main floor main ducts into the otherwise inaccessible areas of -1, and that through the drones you could get glances down them. One (meshed off) opens up into the hellhound kennel (that's the one the drone was teetering over), the other (ending in a meshed-off fan) somewhere further down the -1 passage (along which that elf had been heading) in what seems to be a closed room. You've gotten only glimpses of that room - the fan's in the way - in those moments when the fan stopped and then reversed. Re-reading the last two pages, some other things I don't think I addressed earlier:
Closest he'd come is guessing it's some sort of essence loss, but it's definitely not cyber.
Uhm, not! And it might be wise not to suggest that to your average Serb. (There were these two King Arthur-style battles against the Turks at Kosovo ...) But I'm nitpicking, and it's not all that relevant in this context anyway :wobble: I don't know if you're waiting around that extra 10-15 minutes. The way I'm reading it, there's still "if's" about that. But this is what happens in the next minute anyway.
Sounds like you're not interfering with this except to have Advent listen in (no problems there). The guard's dialing Lone Star on speed dial, with a few nervous glances in the direction of the incoming gang activity.
The colour matches that of the elf who just went through. So does the scent. It's brittle and very fragile, looks like it just fell out spontaneously.
Yes, to all.
I don't think a spirit could understand the concept beyond "toxicity" - and that could have many meanings. Also, some background radiation would always exist naturally, which could confuse the question further. (Convince me otherwise!) I'll confirm that strong radioactives could raise a background count, although part of that would depend upon the use to which they had been put: ie. radioactivity as a result of a well-maintained nuclear reactor producing energy might have a very different astral effect than equivalent radioactivity as a result of an atomic explosion.
Diamond would know it's possible to order an elemental to accept another's orders as his own, if you want to go that route. The other person might not have a very good idea by themself of what an elemental can do besides fight, though.
I'm taking this as done and very cautious - not that the elf on the other side of the door seems to be paying all that much attention to his surroundings anymore. He's lying crumpled on the floor now, convulsing. All his hair has fallen out, his skin is pale and hanging loosely, shrivelling almost as Trogdor watches. He's still dual-natured but it's fading rapidly ... along with his aura. His hand spasms once, and dust begins to drift from his fingers. In a matter of moments, the rest of his body disintegrates into a pile of soft dust in and around a heap of clothing ... and his aura ceases to exist. The whole thing took something less than a minute. There's no one else in Ghost's immediate vicinity. And she's not yet masked up - won't until you specify (so as to take maximum advantage of her enhanced senses). |
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Oct 17 2003, 06:17 PM
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#111
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Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,065 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Fayetteville, NC Member No.: 3,916 |
Hah! Shadowrun by committee! :grinbig:
-Siege |
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Oct 18 2003, 02:43 PM
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#112
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,677 Joined: 5-June 03 Member No.: 4,689 |
Brainstorming :grinbig:
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Oct 18 2003, 03:52 PM
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#113
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,598 Joined: 15-March 03 From: Hong Kong Member No.: 4,253 |
Hmm, I'm stumped. Speaking as Diamond, I'm tempted to do one of two things: either abort the mission for severe weirdness, or bump up to the 'assault' alternative plan and clean the place out. Whatever is down there is probably not something we want these people messing with.
Iirc an essence drained body (e.g. vampire) just leaves a more or less normal corpse behind, not a pile of dust. The effect would need to be magical, since any purely physical effect would also dump a lot of heat, (not to mention what happened to all the water in the body). The next worry is whether this effect is 'cumulative' or 'single and slow', since Ghost, Trogdor, and the kitten (remember the kitten? :rotfl:) may have doomed themselves by walking in the door. Again speaking as Diamond, preparing a constant data dump of what the team knows, for posting to Shadowland (or similar) may be worth a thought, though I'm not sure how Shadowland 'works' in this game. But the idea would be to prep some info on this that would be distributed if the team gets killed is probably worth the effort, though most of the team is still 'safe'. Question, does the team have enought firepower to kill 'em all and let Kibo sort them out? If we are going to escalate to assault, best stop the call to Lone Star (or has it already started?). |
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Oct 18 2003, 04:00 PM
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#114
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Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,065 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Fayetteville, NC Member No.: 3,916 |
Remember, we can't scrub the mission or, as the implied threat goes, "Heads will roll, including yours. Possibly literally."
If Diamond has a sealable bag of some sort, collecting a sample for analysis later might be an informative option. I wish we had sent in an environmental sensor of some sort to provide more details in real-time. Otherwise, proceed with the mission. Although I do like the datadump idea for a "worst case" scenario. -Siege Edit: And an open assault is as bad as failure, given the "no evidence" parameter of this assignment. And since we don't know what the hostiles might be, we have no way of knowing if we brought the right sort of firepower, never mind enough of it. |
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Oct 18 2003, 05:20 PM
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#115
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 745 Joined: 26-July 03 From: Montréal, QC, Canada Member No.: 5,029 |
Ever feel like someone just wrote your epitaph for you? ;) |
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Oct 18 2003, 05:26 PM
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#116
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,598 Joined: 15-March 03 From: Hong Kong Member No.: 4,253 |
I want mine to be: "He though of the experience points". :silly:
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Oct 18 2003, 06:00 PM
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#117
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Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,065 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Fayetteville, NC Member No.: 3,916 |
*rofl* I think I should add that to my list of favorite last words...:grinbig: -Siege |
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Oct 19 2003, 03:18 AM
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#118
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,598 Joined: 15-March 03 From: Hong Kong Member No.: 4,253 |
The full classic line is: "Look, a demon prince! Think of the experience points!"
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Oct 19 2003, 05:27 AM
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#119
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Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,065 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Fayetteville, NC Member No.: 3,916 |
I dunno about demon prince, but most of our more spectacular disasters could have been phrased with the DnD version of "hey, y'all watch this!"
Which, happens to be, "But think of the experience!" -Siege |
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Oct 19 2003, 03:11 PM
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#120
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Samurai Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 574 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Lancashire,UK Member No.: 169 |
I say we stick it out, I'm curious to find out what's down here anyway. :)
I don't think it's a good idea to wait 10-15 minutes anymore though. I think Trodgor should scout ahead and see whether it will be possible for Ghost to sneak past the hellhound kennels. If it's not possible to sneak past then we should still wait till the Hellhounds are outside. I don't think that Ghost & Trodgor are in danger waiting near the elevator, they would have noticed something astrally if they were being affected. Also the hellhounds haven't been destroyed so hopefully we'll be "safe" until we get beyond the kennels. Ghost can take the clump of hair as a sample to examine later. What side of the building are Diamond & the gang on? I think we should make sure that both gangs end up as far around the building as possible from the car park entrance. Then it we need to use the drones we should be able to send them in without alerting Lone Star, providing Solitaire can open the car park door for them. I don't get the impression that the security in this building will be calling Lone Star for help anyway. Can Solitaire stop the fan for a few seconds to allow the drone to get a proper look past? |
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Oct 19 2003, 05:33 PM
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#121
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,677 Joined: 5-June 03 Member No.: 4,689 |
Fyi I don't believe in no-win scenarios. Situations, yes - but not scenarios as I design them. Trogdor is on-site in astral form only. The kitten is (presumably) with his body ;)
It's a possible option, but it would take a bit of time for Solitaire to track down the latest access SANs - time away from what Solitaire's currently doing. Dumping the data into deck storage space for off-line storage later might be more immediately feasible.
The number's been dialed, but hasn't yet connected.
Even if he doesn't, I'm sure something can be improvised.
They've noticed nothing particular astrally about each other. Well, apart from they're both (obviously!) being uneasy about the whole thing.
Barring objections, I'll assume it's done.
They're coming up to the front of the building - by the main gate street-side. The car-park and delivery entrances are at the left side of the building (as seen from the main gate).
She'd either have to go back into the air duct system from above, or she'd have to enter either the dog kennel or the room somewhere down the corridor where the two shafts seem to lead. Go, Knights of the Dinner Table! :D |
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Oct 19 2003, 05:58 PM
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#122
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Samurai Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 574 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Lancashire,UK Member No.: 169 |
I think you're getting Solitaire & Ghost mixed up. :) |
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Oct 19 2003, 06:24 PM
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#123
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,677 Joined: 5-June 03 Member No.: 4,689 |
I did. Sorry.
Revised answer: yes, Solitaire can and has - but it was harder to do than she expected. (+2 to security tally.) They're normally on a timer. That gives a meshed view of some machinery - what seems to be another ventilation system, in fact. There might be some tanks in behind it, but she can't really tell from this angle. |
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Oct 19 2003, 06:39 PM
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#124
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Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,065 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Fayetteville, NC Member No.: 3,916 |
"Fyi I don't believe in no-win scenarios. Situations, yes - but not scenarios as I design them."
Well, to be fair -- we don't have a copy of the script. Looking at it from a first-person perspective...well...bleak doesn't do it justice. -Siege |
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Oct 19 2003, 09:01 PM
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#125
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 173 Joined: 4-March 03 Member No.: 4,196 |
Are the hellhound cages computer controlled or do handlers open them?
Solitaire should stop the com call to Lonestar if possible. Who much longer before the other gang shows up? What's this gang's (the one already there) rep? If Lonestar shows will they run or fight? If the call gets through, Diamond should be informed and kept updated on the 'Star's progress so he can make his escape if necessary. Does Diamond know of anyway to contact the other gang? Mobile phone, pocket secretary, anything? |
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