Okay, I'm here. Sorry for the lapse in posting.

I have a question before the fighting starts: Would Aztec Lore be the appropriate knowledge skill for determining ritual sacrifice? Not that it'll happen, but crazy people have been picking up weird things and making pacts, and sometimes you gotta toss a still-beating heart on a platter to appease the big bad...

Perception:
Intuition(3) + Perception(2) - Allergy(2) = 3d6 for 1 hit.

Initiative:
Reaction(3) + Intuition(3) - Allergy(2) = 4d6 for 2 hits. Initiative score of 6 and only 1 IP since he's not spelled up.

Aztec Lore for that tradition, Magical Theory for generics, Magical Threats for examples of sacrifice gone bad...

Awesome.

Aztec Lore check on how to sacrifice metahumans to pacify angry gods:
Logic(3) + Aztec Lore(3) - Allergy(2) = 4d6 for 3 hits. Hooray, Invisible Castle is taking pity on me!

Perception - Just as a quick reminder, permanently dual natured here!
Perception + Intuition (7d6.hits(5)=3)

Initiative - Initiative (11) (11d6.hits(5)=2)

Initiative
Leo -- 18/2
Fire Spirit
Papa -- 13/3
Argent -- 13/1
Rene
D'Zan -- 11/1
Etain
Uetz -- 6/1

Buddha--Leo is up.

All--remember you can talk in short sentences. DNI can send slightly longer ones, but not everyone is online. I'm not going to count words per phase, just keep it reasonable.

So I should probably let you all know that Uetz has an R6 medkit somewhere (probably in his room, I didn't have him carry it and it makes sense), because the odds of me surviving this awake/alive are pretty slim... But if you revive me, I can heal you!

Does the locket look real? Does it have an obvious presence on the astral? Are the plants astrally active?

Elemental Attack - Cold 7 DV base
14d6.hits(5)=6

What skill rolls to figure out the magic in play with the lockets, vines and etc?

Fenris--The locket only exists on the astral and appears to be woven into Etain's aura. The plants appear to be an exaggerated shamanic mask--intangible and present for only while Rene is channeling mana.

Buddha--Arcana or Magical Theory.

JxJxA--Can you please make an Unarmed defense test?

Sure, here goes a big, fat nothing:

Dodge attempt, spending a point of Edge:
Reaction(3) + Dodge(4) + Edge(3) - Allergy(2) = 8d6 for 2 hits.

Nice knowing you all.

Arcana - D'zan
6d6.hits(5)=2

Edge Reroll
4d6.hits(5)=1

JxJxA where's your faith?

I'm about to be engulfed by a fire spirit without spells or armor, so I'm guessing I'm boned.

Agility(6) + Unarmed(2) + Spec[Kicking](2) + Reach(1) + Friend in Melee(1) [1,5,4,6,2,3,6,3,5,6,5] + [5] = 7 hits

Finally, a little love from InvisibleCastle.

EDIT: DV will be 4 + net hits.

JxJxA--Please soak 9P.

Buddha--Based on the reaction to Leo's blast, and the reactions that each is having, you would suspect that the lockets are forming a link between them. Obviously there is some form of damage spreading. There may also be a feeding-using one life force to fuel another such as when a spirit performing Spell Binding.

Redjack--Soak 7P half impact (Fire).

Fenris--Argent is up.

All--Give me just a sec to get the IC post up.

Body(7) + 1/2[Form Fit(1) + Chameleon Suit(4)](3) [5,4,6,1,1,2,6,2,3] = 1 hit
Edge re-roll failures: [5,4,6,1,1,2,6,2,3] = 3 hits

Take DV3S (1/2 impact = 3) failed to penetrate.

EDIT:
+1 Dermal [4] = 0
{Edged above} [4] = 0

Ugghh

Sure.

Damage Test:
Body(3) + Edge(3) - Allergy(2) = 4d6 for 0 hits. Trauma dampener causes 1 box to go to stun, and I take 8 physical. That leaves me at 2 boxes from being dead.

So, yeah, nice knowing you all.

JxJxA--Remember, you go until negative Body (like -Con in D&D) before you croak. You can also burn a point of Edge for Hand of God, and you survive the scene. Also, you do not take Allergy penalties on Damage Soak tests.

Redjack--You compare damage vs armor before the Soak test to determine physical or stun. 7P is greater than 3 (Effective Impact) so the damage is physical.

Okay, then let me reroll that with the extra two dice:

Damage Test:
Body(3) + Edge(3) = 6d6 for 1 hit and a glitch.

So it's a little better, but not by much. 1 box of stun, 7 boxes of physical and something bad that happens.

Argent is up, then Rene and D'zan.

Is Rene present on the astral? Thinking about attacking the locket, trying to get a feel for what I'd be rolling against. If Rene isn't present, can he defend something that effectively doesn't exist for him? If he is present, what's the modifier for trying to attack something so small? Does size matter on the astral?

Quick question - is the locket still on Etain? Does it look like the link has continued with her unconscious and bleeding out on the floor? And was Papa doing physical or stun damage? Because the description implies that Etain took physical, so does the link convert stun to physical?

Rene does not appear to be dual-natured at the moment. He would not be able to defend against Astral Combat, however as a dual-natured critter if you used Unarmed, he could defend.

The locket is still on Etain, and still burrowing into her flesh. He appears to have done Physical damage.

All--I know a few of you have PM'd me about changes to your characters--karma advances, skill changes etc. Can everyone please send me an email with your updated character or a URL with the up-to-date version for those keeping them online?

You should have earned 45 karma (weekly award) from the time the game started. If you want to include that and make tweaks to your characters before sending them to me, that is fine.

Is it cool if I change a few spells, too? Uetz was my first character and I was still figuring stuff out. I would just be changing manabolt and ball lightning to stunbolt and stunball.

Sure.

I have questions too - is the locket something like a spell can it be dispelled for example? What skills can or should be used to get rid of it or remove it? If Leo dematerializes to the astral and attacks it I assume only other astral things would be able to defend it and can we attack it? Trying to nail down what or how the locket exists or is constructed.

Buddha--Correct, if Leo dematerializes then only other astral creatures could target him (Argent and the Fire Spirit for example). Your characters do not currently know enough about the lockets to say for sure whether it can be dispelled--you can always try. They do exist as astral constructs and are intertwined with the auras of the creatures they are tied to. Rene and Etain do not currently appear to be present on the astral, so mana based effects on the astral should not affect them, if it follows the normal rules of magic.

Just out of curiosity, can anyone else banish spirits? I was thinking that might be a viable option if the damage is being spread about them.

This is probably going to hurt someone >.<

Taking a swing at Etain's locket:

Unarmed Combat(5) + Agility(5) + Improved Combat Skill [Unarmed Combat] 2 = (12d6.hits(5)=3)

Fenris--Roll Willpower please, and a separate Willpower + Magic.

Willpower(4) (4d6.hits(5)=1)

Edged! Re-rolling 3 failed dice from Willpower roll (3d6.hits(5)=0)

Willpower(4) + Magic( (12d6.hits(5)=6)

Fenris--Take 4 stun.

Buddha--D'zan and Leo had posted counterspelling before, roll the conuterspelling dice please.

All--Roll Agility + Reaction, hits from the counterspelling will count as hits for your test.

JxJxA--You don't need to roll the Agility + Reaction test until you are no longer engulfed.

Agility(6) + Reaction(7) = [3,2,3,3,2,4,2,2,6,1,4,5,6] = 3 hits

Leo is taking the lead in the test

D'zan's Counterspelling
4d6.hits(5)=0

Edge Reroll
4d6.hits(5)=1

D'zan's Shielding
3d6.hits(5)=1

Edge Reroll
2d6.hits(5)=1

Leo's Counterspelling
10d6.hits(5)=6

D'zan Agi + Rea
8d6.hits(5)=2 plus 6/total 8

Leo Agi + Rea
14d6.hits(5)=5 plus 6/total 11

PS Edited since I forgot D'zan has Shielding so everyone has 6 hits on Counterspelling

I take it we will have results from the spell then start the next pass?

Yep, I'm waiting for Fenris to post his roll. Then D'zan is up.

Agility(5) + Reaction(4) + Improved Reflexes III (3) (12d6.hits(5)=4) + 6 from Counterspelling = 10

All--Apply a -2 Visual Perception modifier for any target more than 1 meter away. Everyone also gains Light Cover from attacks more than 1m away.

Buddha--D'zan's action.

JxJxA--Uetz is up after D'zan.

Ok going to try and banish the fire spirit.

Banishing + Magic
11d6.hits(5)=3

Edge Reroll last point
8d6.hits(5)=4

Let me know what I need to roll for Drain.

Soak 10S.

Ok, can I cast before making the Strength+Body check to escape the grapple---I mean, NEVERMIND. XD

Casting Shapechange(Boa Constrictor) at Force 5:
Magic(5) + Sorcery(4) + Power Focus(2) - Allergy(2) - Phys(3) - Stun(1) = 5d6 for 1 hit.
Resisting Drain: (5/2) + 2 = 4
Willpower(6) + Charisma(5) + Focused Concentration(1) - Allergy(2) - Phys(3) - Stun(1) = 6d6 for 1 hit. Takes 3 stun, with 1 disappearing due to the trauma dampener.

Uetz is now in Boa Constrictor form


I'm sucking some penalties, but I'm hoping I can grab Rene or something to subdue him and then hopefully start healing the wounded. Oh, and this gives me the best chance to soak new damage.

JxJxA--Now that you are no longer engulfed, I need the Agi+Rea roll to avoid the vines.

I don't have the dice pool to do it. I'm sucking 8 dice worth of penalties with a total score of 7.

Don't forget your personal counterspelling or the hits the pixie's threw up (6 hits).

Drain
15d6.hits(5)=7

3 boxes of stun for me.

JxJxA--Options are a long-shot test, basically you roll your Edge. Or you automatically fail the test (effectively score 0 hits), and then add the hits from the Counterspelling in comparing net hits.

I'll do the latter and save the last point of edge. By the way, when I burn edge I have to have a point unused, right?

What knowledge skills to figure out the Smoking Mirror?

JxJxA--Understood. I've never had a group burn Edge frequently enough to abuse it, so I'm fine with you burning a point even if you spent it normally. Now if everyone starts burning their Edge 1, and rebuying it to burn again, I may change my mind.

Buddha--Broad range that will get different things, LA Underworld, Magical Threats, 6th World Threats, Aztlan, Aztechnology Politics, Conspiracy Theories...

If anyone has something you think might fit, toss it out there.