Sending Skeeter in probably won't accomplish much. I don't believe he has a way to actually deal with powerful spirits, so at best it'd just get him killed.

Time to think up a new plan.

Well we have a plan, Misfit summons one of the spirits and compells it to talk.

That's what you call a "good plan". Misfit needs to make some rolls, though and be specific about which spirits he is summoning

Sorry for not posting in the last 24 hours... I'll get started in a moment and once I catch up with everything, I'll throw those bones as requested.

Summoning the gnome, and preferably the one that was talking below. Since I don't know what Force is, I'll keep the numbers open.

I thought summoning only summoned a spirit from a metaplane? You can summon up spirits that are already in this world as well?

Active sensor test from the van: 1 2 4 8
Passive from the van: 1 3 4 5 5 5
Passive from the blimp: 1 4 4 5 5 13
Active from the blimp: 2

It's really a control test. And Belfast actually fails it with those dice.

It's a force 7 spirit, so take drain appropriately.

Yeah, that was a duh. Dunno why I couldn't remember the right term. Anyway, it was Light Drain absorbed into No Drain (using the roll above). I'll try an actual summoning this time, then, from the domain of the mine.

If these spirits aren't free, then they are almost certainly controlled by what'shisface, the dragon who lives northwest of here. Best not to mess with them until we are sure this isn't the dragon.

mispost sorry

*ponders anal retentiveness*
*realizes it's really a very unpleasant thought..*

*ponders misposts*

so... how many people did I blow up?

<prays for at least two>

Just a FYI, karma is an in game canon term.

Black Madonna, p. 111: "I want karma from you for him." - Karl Heinz Hessler speaking about giving karma to free spirit.

Guys. No arguing. I mean it. We're almost done, after this last section, so there's no point in devolving in to arguments at this point.

On a related note, I'll be in major presentations most of the day (through early afternoon, at least, EDT) so I won't be responding much.

Think about how silly the statement you made is.

It is a word used in the same context to describe the same mechanic. How is it breaking a rule anything like your poor example?

And I'm tired of these personal attacks.

I'm not such a baby to let it bother me if someone wants to play a different style. But to be such a nitpicker, and not be able to admit you are wrong...

I have apologized a few times for things that I didn't realize were upsetting people. I have curbed my IC posts. I don't recall anyone else apologizing for their down right rude out of character behavior. I guess I am to assume these are now personal attacks directed at me?

I'll apologize again for not humbly bowing before your elite shadowrun style. And for offending your delicate sense of true shadowrun.

My terrible character's concept was inpired by my neighbor. He is a nice man in his fities who had a childhood illness that affected his mind. He has the mentality of a 10 year old and is strong as the proverbial ox. He has a few simple pleasures in a life doctors predicted would end several decades ago. He can follow instructions as long as they aren't too long or complicated. He says little jokes you'd expect from an preteen.

Your charm and the respect you showed them may have delayed their attack. I wouldn't throw out the possibility. But they probably do belong to someone other than the dragon.

I didn't get that impression when I was down there. They seemed to be somewhat free-willed even if not technically free spirits. Might even be a spontaneous manifestation due to whatever's down there.

But if it were a dragon, there would be plenty more safeguards than a pack of spirits, especially if it was something worth protecting. I also doubt if a dragon would have left this area in such a disarray of magic when, for a great, it would have been a cakewalk to put the stones back into place.

Out of curiosity, though, how did Swift Eagle know what was down there? I thought Bel was the only one who went in and encountered the spirits, and I don't think he went into detail about what types they were other than his usual "fey folk" references.

Anyway, once we get confirmation on what we're going to be doing with and/or asking of Tosscobble (which is what I've dubbed the gnome in my notes), we can get crackin'.

Hellcow can interrogate the spirits. I'll post more and IC later. Got work to do, Cubs game later, and I like to let the players who can only check in 1/day get a chance to respond.

I was just sort of assuming that he filled us in.

Heres the mechanics side of things:

Interrogate:

Intimidate:

Obviouslly using a vague threat from my allies, since Hellcow himself is hardly threatening on his own.

If the pheremones don't apply to spirits, drop the last 2 rolls from each test. Note that the TN is probably lowered by Good Looking.

So, what do we want to ask exactly?

Why they're in a bad mood or why they chased Bel out might be a good start (/my two yen)

Alright guys, questions need to be to me shortly. The interrogation ends tonight and we need a plan for moving on soon.

In order of priority.

1) What are they protecting?
2) Why are they here?
3) Who controls them?
4) Where can I get a red felt cap like that? It is so cute. (Did I say that out loud?)

Be sure to ask the questions in a way that forces an explicit and detailed answer. You only have four chances to ask it something, so make the most of it. Upon asking the fourth question, also be sure to apologize for doing what we did and thank it for its service. Or else. <insert ominous music here>

Somehow I doubt being good looking helps you intimidate people.

Tinker, do I see anything with the blimp back at the skirmish site, or at my location with the van?

The blimp makes a few contacts, but nothing that you're able to resolve into people or vehicles. On another note... I thought the blimp belonged to Beast of Revolutions?

Edges don't help at all against spirits and whether or not (and how) they apply in intimidation is a GM call. Mental intimidation they might apply. Physical, probably not. It also depends on the outlook of the NPC. You might find that being good looking actually acts against you when dealing with some trolls and orks.

Yes, Hellcow appears to be a bastion of supreme self-confidence. And a total hottie.

If I read the BBB correctly, I use Intimidate to convince him to talk, and Interrogate to see what quality info I get out of him?

Only 4 qustions, is that part of the spell? Is he compelled to answer truthfully?

Answering a question is a service, in this case, at least. Ask the questions IC and get your answers IC

Yeah. It's generally not a good idea to try and Intimidate a force 9 spirit, even if bound. A peaceful interrogation is an infinitely wiser course of action.

I zoom in on the contacts with my passive sensors for a closer look.
Perception: 1 1 1 4 9 15

You catch something moving around, but your sensors are blocked by the foliage. You try increasing the image, but it's just not working at this range.

Oops, I meant does he see anything. Second time I've done that. Beast, I think I need to stop helping you with your characters; it's driving me insane.

Now that's just a sad attempt to try and cover up a fubar on your part.

Etiquitte to know how to treat a spirit nicely:



Negotiations, as a complementary skill to aid in using Interrogation to get the correct info out of him:



Again, drop the last 2 results if pheremones don't apply, and Hellcow is trying to ask him more than force him as much as possible. More of a questioning than an interrogation.

Also, please take the characters skill into account when reading my own incompetent questions.

With those rolls, I don't know if you should remind him.

Skeeter, as far as I know, is still exploring the guard shack, perhaps dizzily if they left a rotating chair/stool. If there is room and hopefully an intact roof, he may just bed down there. He'll take a turn keeping lookout.

Oy, tell me about it. Well, I try to be fair. Tinker can't possibly keep up with all the nuances of 10 characters, so I just try to keep him informed. Though I seem to have wasted all my good rolls on trying to get a few more creds from the Johnson, which turned out to also be a waste of our time. Oh well.

Here's to hoping the gnome finds me attractive! (so my Good Looking and Knows It kicks in!)

At Force 9, it may see you as nothing more than a blow up doll.

Have got to agree with reminding the GM about any possible modifiers. Make it as easy on them as possible. Have only met 1 so far that took it the wrong way. With TG playing in several games and GMing at least this one, I think he'll appreciate it.

The guard shack has an intact roof and even an old desk and some broken (non-swivel) chairs.

In terms of the gnome, it's under magical compulsion so I'm not being too terribly strict about die rolls

And yes, I appreciate it when you list every modifier you think you should have, even if I don't allow all of them. It's a double saftey check since I don't hesitate to saddle you with negatives you don't list but I think you should have

Remind the spirit it is smarter than about anyone there and that its answer is unclear to us mere mortals. Make it plain and simple so even Skeeter understands what it is saying.

<poke, poke, poke>

Owww, quit it.

double post

I believe we're still waiting for Hellcow to finish his "interrogation." The next few questions should include clarification of what the "golden soul of the Earth" is (even if somewhat obvious to me) and maybe why it needs their protection. But its your call in the end, Number 6. Note that only two questions/services remain.

If it's obvious IC, want to subvocalize so a question isn't wasted?

Working on the IC conclusion now. Thanks Misfit.

"Golden Soul" hmm, an influence in Tribal Politics? Paranormal Animal? Should I bother rolling?

Could be natural orichalcum. He say's it wasn't always here, and natural orichalcum just appeared recently.

Okay, right now I have my van and blimp affiliated to the network, with the strato-9 ready to activate in a few second's notice. Panzer, set the spider and the skimmer up on the ground, somewhere hidden, so I can activate them to if I need to.

I think Belfast got ripped off on his services from that damned gnome.