SDMB Shadowrun campaign Chapter 3 - Prey To The Dark: Players only!

The Game Room
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“Copy that,” Nail replies. While the car accelerates dangerously down the freeway, he looks over at Sinthia and grumbles mentally. Mages, what a pain in the ass.

But he’s determined to protect her. For now, Nail will hold his actions until the beast takes off its invisibility cloak. When it does, he will fire called shots into any obvious weak spots, barring that its eye(s).

He will not use edge if it looks like he can get a few shots off relatively safely, but if the monster bears down on the car so badly that it seems it will crash into us, Nail will take more drastic action.

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Nightshade weaves in between the traffic, going the wrong way on the freeway. Her reflexes are excellent, but the other drivers on the road can’t say the same for themselves. Vehicles swerve to avoid a head-on collision, crashing into other vehicles and divider walls as her motorcycle roars past them. She heads down an entrance up-ramp, and cuts across three lanes of traffic to reach the right side of the road again. She hears a commotion over the comlink. It’s Rescigno, but his voice is overwhelmed with the noise of crashing violence. There is a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, and she prays she’ll find the crew in one piece…

Nightshade is still traveling to the tunnel she directed Rescigno and the rest of the crew to. She will not arrive until the second initiative pass in the current combat.

“Brace yourself!” Rescigno shouts to the others in the sedan as he swerves through the tunnel entrance. The pursuing creature begins to take form, but is still just a smoky blur. It passes through one vehicle unimpeded, as limbs begin to take shape in the chaos. Two broad and mighty wings begin to beat, and a reptilian face emerges from the smoke. The creature reaches out with two mighty claws, smashing through the metal frame of another car and lifting it into the air as it soars by.

The creature touches down with a crashing roar, and with a mighty heave tosses the car behind it, clearly aiming for 4509. The cyborg swerves out of the way as the car sails over him with the terrified occupants still inside, keeping control of his motorcycle as he fires at the monster. It’s too hard to line up a good shot under these conditions, though. His burst goes wide.

4509 can remain on his motorcycle, and will quickly overtake the creature (now that it’s no longer flying) in his next initiative pass. Alternatively, he may dismount and have a much easier time trying to hit with his firearm next initiative pass.

Rescigno slams on the brakes as the vehicle slides to a stop. “Now or never, kids! Light that damned thing up!”

Nail is the first out of the car, having exited even before the thing came to a complete stop. He tumbles in an acrobatic roll out of the vehicle, squeezing off a single shot. Nail has never seen a dragon before, but a single glance is all it takes to know that’s exactly what’s crashing toward him. At only about 35 feet wingspan, it would be a particularly runty and weak dragon, but still more than powerful enough to get the job done.

Well, here goes…

Nail doesn’t have time to call and aim the perfect shot. He pulls the trigger, just pointing his pistol toward the center of the dragon’s mass. He sees the shot hit, and the beast roars with anger.

Sinthia, Butcher, and Rescigno all exit quite slower than Nail did. The ritual magic spell which had been targeting Sinthia has faded, apparently with no further reason to maintain it. The Raven mage grits her teeth, and prepares a spell. The dragon bellows at Sinthia, with a voice powerful enough to rattle the windows of Rescigno’s car.

Pathetic mortal! Unworthy of the gifts you were given. I will deliver your corpse to the Dark!

The dragon stomps toward Raven’s champion…

Goethe is a few moments late to the party. He sees the destruction left by the creature before he sees the thing itself. A car has been shredded by the monster’s talons, and lays in a smoking wreck with its occupants inside, unmoving. Can’t help them now. At least the wreck will keep other drivers out of the tunnel.

Goethe goes further into the tunnel, and sees the mighty dragon advancing toward Rescigno’s car…

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I don’t think that the vehicle (4509’s bike) itself continues to move in further initiative passes, otherwise that would mean that a car could go up to four times faster (several hundreds of miles per hour?) than another identical vehicle being driven by a person who doesn’t have reflex upgrades.

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The vehicle will move during each initiative pass. The distance traveled in each pass is smaller for characters with extra initiative passes, to avoid the scenario described above.

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So that means that at the end of the first initiative pass characters who are slower will have moved further? :dubious:

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It’s less screwy than vehicles starting and stopping because of wired reflexes!

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Agreed. Any time you have a system that simulates real time combat you have to make some sacrifices. The way to think of extra initiative passes is that a mundane person can only do one complex task in a combat round. Someone who has a level 1 wired reflexes (or the boosted reflexes/adept equivalent/magic spell equivalent) can do two actions in the same time that mundane only gets one action off. Someone with level 2 can perform 3 actions in the time it takes the mundane 1. So the first actions all start at the same time and the last actions all end at the same time.

However, there’s no good way to adjudicate where exactly in the mundane’s actions the faster acting people’s actions actually occur. So each set of actions gets treated basically as additional combat rounds, even though in theory all actions are happening simultaneously and some just happen faster than others.

But vehicles only do one thing, they move, at their speed. If someone with wired reflexes decides they want to run for each set of actions they get, they will run faster than someone without those reflexes who decides they too will do nothing but run for a combat round. Because they ultimately are faster. It’s an abstraction of something hard to represent, as all combat mechanics are. It’s like the “Time Stop” spell that D&D had. It didn’t actually stop time, it just made the mage move so much faster than everyone else in a combat round that from the mage’s perspective, he could have just as well stopped time.

Seeing the dragon advancing toward the car, Geothe will push his bike as fast as he can to catch up for engaging the dragon in combat. He considers shooting a few rounds at it to get its attention, but realizes that at this range and speed, his lack of any practice at mounted combat means he’s just as likely as to kill an innocent or an ally as hit the thing. Better to concentrate at controlling his bike at this speed and being able to brake within a reasonable distance.

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When Goethe catches up he will stop his bike and look for cover behind any cars or detritus left in the wyrm’s wake. Then he will start firing full wide bursts at the thing.

I’m beginning to really hate these Dark guys. The emo shit they kept spouting was annoying, but it was almost just as much as amusing. Yes you’re dark and scary and no one understands you. We get it already…But now, cybervampires and dragons? How can any group with that ridiculous of a motif have that much strategy, power, and long-term vision? Doesn’t really matter, I guess. They can die just like anyone else out here.

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This is no vampire! This is no vampire! This is no vampire!

Sinthia just repeats this thought over and over. Her fear is so high, she decides to try to transfer her fear to the Dark dragon that is approaching them. As soon as she can, she:

Summons an Air Spirit

When it arrives, she immediately senses the bond between it and her and gives it order. “My dearest spirit, saturate that beast with terror; if you cannot, then attack it with whatever might you have. I thank you for your service.”

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Nail looks at the car. He sees Sinthia deep in thought, perhaps about to prepare a magic spell. But for now that amounts to her just sitting there. And then there’s Reggie, who as far as Nail knows is more hot air than action.

Gotta get that overgrown reptile away from them. Here goes nothing, he thinks.

Nail then steps a few paces away from the car. He shouts to the dragon, “The only thing you’ll deliver are my bullets to the ground!” He punctuates this statement by a shot from his pistol.

If this gets the dragon’s attention, he’ll run like hell away, using cover when applicable. (He’ll use his boost too if he has the actions.) If the dragon doesn’t turn towards Nail, then, well, he’ll do something else. Prolly shoot at it some more.

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“Hey, lizard-breath!” Nail shouts at the hulking beast ahead of him. The dragon seems to ignore him. “The only thing you’ll deliver are my bullets to the ground!” He fires a shot at the dragon, which hits it in the flesh of its torso. The dragon howls in rage, and finally turns toward the adept.

Begone! the creature roars. Its very voice carries dark and terrifying power. Nail dashes toward a massive concrete tunnel support beam, intending to take cover behind it, but the impact of the dragon’s voice smashes into him before he can reach it. Nail surges forward, his body unwillingly riding a shock wave that slams him to the ground.

For a moment, the wind is knocked out of him and he sees stars.

Still breathing, he realizes suddenly. That wasn’t so bad. Guess they don’t make dragons like they used to. Nail scrambles the rest of the way to the cover of the concrete support structure.

Nail has suffered four stun damage from the dragon’s spell.

From behind him, he can hear the screeching of a new creature. He glances back to the fight just in time to see a mighty bird of prey seem to engulf the dragon’s head with its body. At the same time, Goethe’s motorcycle skids to a stop next to 4509, as the seasoned ork shadowrunner readies his assault rifle. Goethe and 4509 pour bullets into the monster, who seems to at least be feeling some discomfort from the attack. Even Rescigno is firing his light pistol at the creature, for all that’s worth.

From Nail’s privileged point of view, he can see small sizzling flashes of light as the bullets are slowed by a magic armor spell before striking the beast.

The dragon roars again in anger, tinged with pain, and unless Nail is mistaken, even fear. Its claws gouge a mighty wound into Sinthia’s air spirit, which amazingly does not destroy it. Even in her panic, Sinthia was able to summon a remarkably powerful ally.

Sinthia has taken one point of stun damage as a result of summoning drain.

Nightshade is approaching the tunnel, and will reach it in a few seconds. She’s gaining ground on the swarm of bats, and will arrive at about the same time they do. She can’t help but cynically wonder just which side of the battle will benefit the most from her arrival…

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Nightshade activates her commlink as she sees the tunnel come into sight ahead. “Watch your backs–that bat swarm is almost on you. I don’t think I’m going to beat them there, but I’ll be right behind.”

Once she reaches the tunnel, Nightshade plans to stop just outside the entrance, grab her assault rifle, and proceed on foot. A dragon screams ‘bring your biggest gun’, and she doesn’t expect to be able to use a pistol or SMG effectively while riding against the bats. No time to reload the launcher or dig out spare clips–what’s in the gun will have to do. Hope it’s enough …

(Nightshade’s Ares Alpha is currently holding a full clip of APDS rounds and six mini-grenades, alternating thermal smoke and flash-bang. From harsh past experience, she prefers to carefully place her explosives rather than flinging them around willy-nilly.)

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“Listen up guys. Seems like our new friend has got some sort of magic armor spell on him,” Nail transmits to the group. “A dispel and this chump should go down easy.”

But Nail isn’t going to wait around though. Noticing the bats coming in, he thinks: OK, playtime’s over, and lines up carefully to take a clear shot.

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“Sorry. I left my magical armor dispeller in my other flak jacket,” Goethe quips into the commlink, while continuing to unload into the dragon. “Do you have anything that can help us with that, Sinthia?”

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“No, just keep attacking.”

If possible, Sinthia will cast Lighting Bolt at the dragon, but only if she is not going to hit her own Air Spirit.

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Though unsure of how effective it will be, 4509 will try a high explosive grenade against the dragon. If that seems to work he’ll use another one, if not he’ll go back to using his pistols.

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Goethe is dumbstruck by Sinthia’s claim. Could she really be so defenseless against magic? Somehow he doubts it, but he doesn’t voice his concern. He’s seen that reaction to danger a hundred times before. In another age, they might have called it “shell shock” - letting your nerves get the best of you when the going gets tough. Goethe prefers the simpler term. Panic. For all that witch shaman’s power, she hasn’t yet gotten used to the adrenaline and terror of walking that razor’s edge.

Goethe sees 4509 abandon the painfully slow strategy of attempting to infect the dragon with a case of good old-fashioned lead poisoning. Instead the cyborg draws a grenade and tosses it at the creature. *Now we’re talking! * Goethe nearly cheers with glee. The blast from the high explosive will certainly pierce even the powerful magic of the dragon’s armor spell.

Too late, the mighty beast senses something wrong. The dragon is locked in melee combat with Sinthia’s air spirit, but glances behind just in time to see the detonation of the explosive. Sinthia’s hapless air spirit is caught in the blast, and vaporized back to the Astral. The beast itself, even as large as it is, staggers from the impact. Scaly flesh has been torn from the left side of the dragon’s face and torso, and it struggles to keep its balance.

Goethe seizes the opportunity and rushes forward, trying to get a clear angle on the monster’s head. As he charges, the dragon turns toward him, and bellows with mighty fury;

Down, maggot!

In the moment before the vocal magic strikes him, Goethe fires a burst into the monster’s face. He notes with satisfaction that the bullets impact the monster’s head, causing noticeable damage. Then, the power of the dragon’s magic strikes him, smashing the orc backward to collide with his motorcycle. He’ll need to make a simple action to get back to his feet next combat round.

The dragon’s magic attack caused two stun damage to Goethe, and entangled him.

The dragon recognizes 4509 as the biggest remaining threat. It stomps toward the cyborg, who can not hope to run from it. Nail fires twice into the creature’s back from his cover, and Sinthia sets the monster’s scaly flesh alight with crackling energy from her spell, but the dragon is not swayed from his target. It raises its mighty claw, and smashes it down upon the cyborg 4509.

4509 has taken some incredible punishment in his existence, but feeling the full power of a dragon attack is the greatest test of his life. The beast claw smashes down upon him, striking his left shoulder as he turns with the impact. The tremendous power of the beast rattles the cyborg’s body like a window pane in a thunderstorm, but he is still intact. All systems functional.

4509 has survived the dragon’s mighty physical attack, which failed to pierce the cyborg’s considerable armor. He takes 5 stun damage from the monster.

A coward hiding within metal. Die!

The dragon reaches for 4509, clearly intending to seize him in its claw. 4509 has a grenade prepared in one hand, and a pistol in the other. He can use either, or attempt a full defense action to concentrate entirely on trying to avoid the dragon’s attack.

4509 and the dragon are the only two characters with an initiative pass remaining. After 4509 decides what to do, the next round of combat will begin, with both Nightshade and the (presumably vampire) bats arriving together.

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If the cyborg feels fear, he doesn’t show any. His only chance lies with the dragon’s death and the machine remains calm, reliable, taking a half-step back as he hurls the grenade up towards the dragon’s head and triggers it midair with a thought. He burns Edge in his attack.

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The dragon growls, a low rumbling bass that vibrates 4509’s core. As 4509 reels from the dragon’s previous attack, the creature reaches out with its left claw, seizing the cyborg in its immensely powerful talons.

The sound of a motorcycle engine roars somewhere in the cyborg’s periphery. The sound of screeching bats sends his sonar receiver into chaos. The dragon pulls the cyborg close in its crushing grip.

Look into the void. You were, are, and will die being nothing more than a mere human.

The dragon forces 4509’s head to turn, physically manipulating the cyborg’s head with his right claw. He could not resist even if he wanted to.

Time seems to slow to a crawl as 4509 does what he is told. He stares into the dragon’s eyes, as the dragon pulls him closer. They are face to face as the dragon sneers, exposing rows of wicked looking, sharp teeth.

The dragon doesn’t speak to him in words anymore. They share a telepathic link now. In the last words the dragon communicates to 4509, he implants the thoughts directly into the cyborg’s mind. It is the end.

It sure is.

4509 reaches out with the grenade in his hand and flicks it forward, detonating it in midair between them both. The dragon reflexively turns away, but not fast enough. It and 4509 both are consumed by the full blast of the remarkably powerful explosion. The cyborg is thrown backward more than 20 feet and smashes into the concrete tunnel wall. The impact crumbles a section of the wall, as 4509 slumps forward, unconscious. Parts of his metallic body are melted, dented, or ripped open. A cybernetic eye is cracked, and his legs, where most of his remaining meat is, are a gory mess of burnt flesh and broken bones. He is breathing and is not in imminent danger of death.

The dragon is torn to bits, with chunks of its scaly flesh ripped from its body, disintegrated in the energy of the blast. As it falls backward, the dragon’s body dissolves into the eerie dark shapeless presence it arrived in. It speaks a final time before departing;

The bond is broken. We shall not meet again.

A moment later, Nightshade screeches to a halt with her assault rifle drawn. The bats that arrived with her soar past, heading for Rescigno’s car, where Sinthia is standing. She readies her rifle, preparing to shoot the first flying thing that transforms into a human…

We recognize your power, a voice says to Nightshade telepathically. We can not defeat you. We will not attack you. Let us negotiate a truce.

As Nightshade glances around at the others, she can see that she wasn’t the only one to get the unwelcome message in her head. Sinthia, Nail, and Goethe all got the same message she did.

Wisely, the first bat to transform is on the opposite side of Rescigno’s car from Nightshade’s line of fire. Even so, Nightshade knows her rounds can be strong enough to pierce the body of the vehicle and hit the man on the other side, while suffering an accuracy penalty for defensive cover.

Nail, Goethe, and Sinthia can all see the man perfectly fine. The remaining bats separate and fly in different directions, making themselves extremely difficult targets.

The man standing before the crew is tall and thin; an elf with fine features and long, silky silver hair. His hands are raised in a surrendering gesture, and he looks at each of the crew in turn.

“Shall I be allowed to speak,” the man says, “Or will you kill me first?”

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Surprisingly, Sinthia is the first to respond. She has risen and is approaching the man.

“Speak; tell us what you wish and we will decide how to respond. Be quick, though, I can not guarantee all of us are willing to listen for very long.”