The size of the basement is small enough that Seneth is able to limit the Force (and therefore drain) of the spells. Seneth casts detect magic, and can only sense vague residual, passive power from the Adepts in the room. Seneth resists the drain from casting detect magic.
When Seneth casts detect enemies, a bright aura of murderous hatred floods through his aura. Someone in the room wants Seneth dead, but Seneth can not determine who. Seneth successfully resists the drain for casting detect enemies, as well.
"I feel the remnants of Adept power. Also, my children, someone in this area has a deeply focused hate…against…me. There may be powers involved here that are old…very old. Only ancient powers could focus such hatred against me.
Or it is just this Chaggo fool. He obviously wants to kill all of us."
Arry watches Seneth cast his spells, and speaks to him.
“Rest easy, hyas tamanass. It is only me. The others left just before you arrived. Either one of you is a traitor, or the ork was able to warn his people. You can kill this cultus mesacho now. I told him nothing.” Arry utters the Native insult with a sneer of contempt, and spits on the floor in Chaggo’s direction.
“You heard the man,” Chaggo says. “What’s it gonna be, boys? Anyone feel like satisfyin’ the good old fashioned blood lust?”
Goethe pulls out his miniwelder and goes up to Arry.
“First let’s get you freed. I’m obviously not going to melt the cuffs off of you, but this should at least cut through the chain between them.”
He then frees arry from the pipe.
"Now as far as what to do about Chaggo, that’s Donovan’s call. Chaggo apparently has information he stole from Synthcorp, and is willing to give it up in exchange for not being killed. Granted, part of our contract for your boss is whacking the guy. But, if the information he’s stolen is worth more than his life, which apparently is worth 20,000 creds or so based on our negotiations with Synthcorp, I’m fine leaving the guy alive as long as we still get paid and Synthcorp doesn’t decide to put a hit on us for not taking him out. Chaggo’s said he’ll leave town, which while I’m not going to take him at his word just like that, it seems that he didn’t know how far Synthcorp was willing to go to get to him when he undertook all this, so there’s real incentive for him to never show his mug around these parts.
"But a contract’s a contract. If Donovan, and you if you’re willing, don’t think you can convince your bosses that the information he has is worth more than his life, then he dies. It’s that simple.
"I don’t know what info he has, so I can’t determine its worth. And if he talks, he walks. That’s the deal Donovan has offered him, and I agree. I’m not going to go back on a bargain when the other party has held up their end of the deal.
“So you and Donovan should chat this thing out and make a decision. Because I just want to wrap this whole business up.”
Donovan pushes Chaggo aside roughly. He keeps his gun trained on Chaggo. "This is the end of the line. You can walk out of here and you have my word no one will raise a hand to stop you. The price is information.
“Who is your informant on the inside? What did you hope to gain from kidnapping Arry?”
I am away from my computer, and currently can not resolve the damage Donovan did to Arry with his attacks. Please give me a few hours to determine Arry’s fate before proceeding. Sorry for the short delay!
So, after some thought about how to handle this unexpected turn of events, I decided a surprise round of combat is the best way to go. Donovan will get a free round to shoot poor Arry, after which the others can respond. Round 1 of the combat is Donovan’s attack, and Round 2 will begin when (and if) any character commits to further combat. If a player wishes to engage in combat, they must announce their intent (but not the specific combat actions they wish to take), after which I will provide the initiative order for players. At that point, any players who wish to engage in combat will submit their orders, with higher initiative rolls performing their actions first. A player may wait to see how the diplomatic situation plays out before deciding to engage in combat, but there will be no further surprise rounds.
The group stands in confused shock as Donovan fires at Arry. Arry opens his mouth to shout, but the first bullet pierces through his diaphragm, and only a hissing squeal escapes his lips. Donovan fires again at nearly point-blank range, and the second bullet cuts another entrance and exit wound through the Native’s abdomen. Arry drops to the ground, blood pouring from two wounds, either of which seems fatal.
Arry has taken a total of 12 physical damage, of which 3 has “overflowed” his physical damage capacity. A total of 4 “overflow” damage is needed for Arry to die (calculated using Arry’s BOD attribute). Arry will take 1 additional overflow damage per round, until he is stabilized. This means that Arry will die after next combat round, unless a character uses the “stabilize” spell, passes a first aid + logic test with at least 2 success hits, or uses an available medkit (there are none in the room). Arry’s damage can not be “healed” through magic or other means until he is stabilized!
Just when you think you’ve seen it all, and prepared for anything, life discovers a new way to throw a wrench into things, ain’t that right, chummer? Zombies with their own agenda, that’s no suprise. However, this is a whole 'nother level of clusterfuck. At least you can’t be blamed for it at this point. Just try to not do anything stupid that will make you the next target Synthcorp puts a hit on, eh?
Upon witnessing the latest events, Goethe trains his gun in the center of the whole business, waiting to vent anyone who threatens him, Nail, or Seneth. Seeing the incredible amount of damage done to Arry, Goethe wonders if there’s enough equipment left in his medkit to at least stabilize him.
I know the guys at Fortnight’s hideout used some of it, is there enough left to make a first aid attempt on Arry? If so Goethe will try.
Seneth will not cast any magic immediately, but will step back behind Nail and Goethe. He carefully watches Goethe and Nail to see what action they take.
Goethe kneels before Arry and tears strips of clothing from the dying man, attempting to stop the impressive amount of blood falling out of him.
It’s clear Goethe does not know what he’s doing. “Hang in there, chum,” he says as he ineffectively stuffs the makeshift gauze into Arry’s open wounds. As Goethe works, Arry goes unconscious, an expression of confusion and disbelief permanently frozen in his features. Goethe works for a few more moments before he realizes he’s stuffing a corpse.
Goethe’s shoulders slump as he sighs in defeat. The moment is short-lived though, as Goethe seizes his rifle and stands with the weapon in a ready position.
There’s an awkward moment of silence as the group pauses in preparation for a possible fight. Finally, it’s Chaggo who breaks the tension, speaking to Donovan.
“What’s your game?” he asks simply, with none of his usual sarcasm.