Shadowrun: The Disappearance of Samantha Drake IC

[big teej]

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choir loft?

[Lady Moreta]

Leonora looks past her brother, staring blankly at something in astral space only she can see. "What is that?" she whispers. Followed immediately by, "L- Maton, what did you do?"

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Logic + Arcana:(5d6)[5][4][6][4][1](20)

[big teej]

Lukas swallows heavily and says in a shaky tone "well... it's not the biggest mistake I've ever made.... but it is the most recent. we need to go. now.

[Lady Moreta]

Leonora stared at her brother, her expression a mixture of bafflement and exasperation. Her eyes flicked up to the swirling mess of - something and her expression hardens.

"Not yet." She says flatly. "Not until I know what that thing is."

[big teej]

it's bigger than me and doesn't like us. so it must be a troll in disguise. okay you know what it is now. can we go now?

[a_humble_lich]

Leonora is not sure exactly what it is, but she is fairly certain it is some kind of spirit. More specifically, it is a very big spirit, and you clearly interrupted the ritual which was summoning it. You don't know much about such things, but you do think you remember that insect spirits can't materialize like other spirits can. They need a specially prepared body to inhabit. And they can't last long on the astral.

Whether or not the above is true, the thing does notice Leonora as a second presence on the Astral Plane. Rapidly it starts moving over towards her.

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Reminder, that astral beings can only affect other astral beings. However, an astrally perceiving character counts as being both in the physical world and the astral. If Leonora wants to, she can stop perceiving as soon as it starts moving in her direction. Otherwise, she should roll initiative.

[Lady Moreta]

Leonora shoots her brother an odd look, clearly this type of behaviour is out of character for him, but she doesn't comment on it again. Instead, she turns back to where the tentacled mass is hovering,

"It's a spirit... a big one. And... I think we interrupted the summoning ritual." She looks a little nervous and uncertain. "If bugs really are involved, and this is an insect spirit then - I don't think it can materialise, it needs a prepared body. I think." She repeats, clearly eyeing the spirit - or whatever it is - until she abruptly stiffens. "What is...?"

OOC

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A question, before I make a final decision... something Leonora would presumably know, but I'm not sure on. From what you're saying, it sounds like if Leonora stops the astral perception, this whatever-it-is will no longer be a threat. What I'm wondering is... okay, let me rephrase this...

What I want to know is - can I back out if things get dangerous? Because I'm really curious, but common sense would suggest this isn't a good idea (especially since Mordred can't astrally perceive right now). I figure Leonora would know (though I'm happy to roll something if you'd like me to) whether or not simply stopping the perception would take her out of the fight, if it were to evolve to that point. I'm crazy, but I'm not suicidal

Also, how do I roll initiative again?

[RdMarquis]

OOC

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Intiution+Reaction. Add the hits to your Initiative pool.

But, yeah, once you're no longer dual natured (that is, astrally perceiving), it shouldn't be able to affect anyone on the physical plane.

[a_humble_lich]

occ

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First, everything rdMarquis said is right. He's a smart guy.

As far as rules go, If you are right and it can't materialize, then it can't hut anything that is not astral or dual natured, Dual natured beings include things like dragons, ghouls, shapeshifters and the like. Also, astrally perceiving mages are dual natured.

As far as leaving in case things start to get dangerous, you can, but remember the following. First, since you are in the real physical space, you roll your physical initiative (Int+React). Since the spirit is not limited by a physical body it rolls it Astral initiative (which is higher) and gets 3 initiative passes (i.e. it gets to act three times for ever one you get). Second, it takes a simple action to shift back out of astral perception, thus it can only be done on your action. Third, astral entities move really fast, 100 m in a turn is the walking speed. Running is 5 km per turn (which is 6000 km/hour!) So it can get to you fast if need be.

In all, I guess this is a warning that astral spirits can be nasty.

[Lady Moreta]

I'm probably going to regret this, but I'm too curious to just let it go.

So...

Intuition + Reaction: (7d6)[2][6][3][1][6][2][4](24)

And add the hits to my initiative pool - I'm assuming that's the thing on my character sheet that says 'Initiative'? - it's 6 apparently.

Did I do that right?

[a_humble_lich]

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It rolls 6 hits on initiative.

Phase one.

The thing moves at you with blinding speed. Cold, dark tendrils wrap around Leonora's aura. Meanwhile, Lukas and Mordred feel a cold tingling as it passes through their auras.

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OK it moves up to Leonora and is going to use Astral Combat to tear her apart.

Astral Combat + Willpower = 7+7 = (14d6)[4][1][3][6][6][1][6][1][2][2][5][4][6][3](50)

So that is 5 successes.

Leonora can attempt to dodge by rolling Reaction+Dodge, or parry with Reaction+Astral Combat. Any hits that get through she can resist with Body + Astral Armour.

Then she can go.

[Lady Moreta]

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Did I do the initiative thing right? Adding the two dice hits to what I assume is my initiative pool gives me a total of 8.

Leonora shudders like she's suddenly gotten cold and she flinches away from something the others can't see, her violet eyes going wide and perhaps just a little fearful.

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Reaction + Astral Combat: (6d6)[5][3][1][3][5][4](21)

And... I don't appear to have Astral Armour, but I can't find it in the book anywhere... what is it and how do I know if I have it?

Also... yikes! 14d6 ... and only 5 hits? That could have gone so much worse.

As much as I personally am really curious and don't want to, Leonora is not stupid, and she wouldn't stay any longer. She will take herself out of astral space just as soon as she possibly can

[a_humble_lich]

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First not only did you do initiative right, but I did it wrong. I forgot to add his initiative pool. So he gets 20, not 6.

As for astral armor, you don't have any. I just added that for completeness. There are some spells and adept powers that grant it, but now that I think of it, those might all be in Street Magic.

I forgot to tell you his damage. So three his get through doing 7 physical damage which you can resist with Body.

Well it is your turn now. You can: Attack with astral combat, cast a mana spell at it, or stop Astrally Perceiving. (Or any other actions. If you really want to ignore the big scary spirit and start singing I am the very Model of a Modern Major-General you are free to.

[Lady Moreta]

Leonora grunts, her expression going from surprised and fearful to pained.

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First not only did you do initiative right, but I did it wrong. I forgot to add his initiative pool. So he gets 20, not 6.

Dammit, why did I say anything?

I forgot to tell you his damage. So three his get through doing 7 physical damage which you can resist with Body.

Body:(2d6)[1][6](7) (is this something I can use Edge for? it seems appropriate. I'd look it up myself, but it's late and I'm tired and want to go to bed.)

Well it is your turn now. You can: Attack with astral combat, cast a mana spell at it, or stop Astrally Perceiving. (Or any other actions. If you really want to ignore the big scary spirit and start singing I am the very Model of a Modern Major-General you are free to.

Starts singing I am the very model of a modern day apothecary right tune, wrong words... I am not that stupid, I shall stop astrally perceiving. I'm curious, I'm not suicidal

[a_humble_lich]

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Yes, that is something you can spend edge on, and since it looks like you asked before you rolled, feel free to reroll that six to see if you can get another success.

As Lukas, Mordred, and the others watch, Leonora arches with pain and her eyes stare wide; then she slumps down slumps down, clearly exhausted. As they watch, nasty looking bruises begin to appear on her arm.

[Lady Moreta]

Yes, that is something you can spend edge on, and since it looks like you asked before you rolled, feel free to reroll that six to see if you can get another success.

Why thank you, kind sir

(1d6)[3]

edit: only one hit, so that takes the 7 damage down to 6, right? Leonora's not having a good day...

[a_humble_lich]

Seeing the pained expression on Leonoar's face, Michel run up to her, "Ma ami, are you alright? What did you see?" Then glancing around, "Are we still in danger?"

[Lady Moreta]

Leonora pulls her arm into her chest and cradles it there. Her face is haggared and pale - she's shaking, and looks like she's about to collapse a split second before her knees give way and she does exactly that.

She looks up at Michel and has to clear her throat a couple of times before speaking. "I'm fine." She answers the first question hastily. "I don't know." She says, "it depends on whether I'm right about insect spirits needing a body to materialise. But... there was something else on the astral plane - something other than the insect spirit."

Leonora flattens the palm of her hand against the ground and uses her unbruised arm to try and push herself up. She is - less than successful. "We need to get rid of the bug." She says flatly, looking directly at Michel and flicking her gaze across to Mordred. It seems significant to note that she's avoided looking at her brother ever since dropping out of astral space, and a slight expression of guilt seems to be working its way into the pain on her face.

ooc

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Is there any knowledge skill (like Arcana) that I can use to see if I can figure out what that second presence is?

[big teej]

ooc: sorry I've been MIA for a few days... computer viruses are eating away at every computer in the house. I'm limited to any time I can get on the computers at school, it's kinda hampering my creative and gaming spirit...

Lukas doesn't say a word as he moves to stand next to and support his sister. alright, we kill the bug. fine. one slight question. how?

[Lady Moreta]

"I- I'm not sure..." Leonora finally glances up at her brother and her expression is baffled, as though he's not said what she expected him to. "Let me think about it."

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Computer viruses suck reminds me of the time my computer at work got a virus on it - stupid thing kept popping up porn sites in my web browser. It was thoroughly embarrassing! eventually, IT had to wipe the OS and reinstall it. Ahem... sorry... I was expecting more of a big-brother argument, but I understand not having the energy for it.

[RdMarquis]

"Hey. You okay? What happened?" The adept looks back at Leonora.

"Oh, damn." Mordred didn't know whether to hate the fact that he still couldn't see into the astral, or be grateful for it. It wouldn't have helped their current predicament much. He asks the mages. "Is there anything you can do about beings on the astral? Something followed us. We're not out of the woods, yet."

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The Background Count is still in effect, right?

[a_humble_lich]

Sorry I've been gone. I went out to California to see my sister's new baby. Apparently, my computer did not like the trip because it won't turn on anymore. And since I'm not home repair is harder. Posting with my phone is hard.

As far as not occ:

The backgound is still in effect. To tell much more would require studying the area with astral perception.

As far as the second presence, I am a little confused. what second presence do you mean? did i forget something or did i not explain something well.

[Lady Moreta]

As far as the second presence, I am a little confused. what second presence do you mean? did i forget something or did i not explain something well.

Okay, I've figured it out. When you mentioned the bug spirit noticed Leonora as a second presence on the astral plane, I read it as Leonora noticed a second presence on the astral plane apart from the bug. And apparently, even though I've reread that post a number of times, I've never noticed I got it wrong. Sorry,

To change the question then, is there something that can be rolled to find out how to get rid of the bug spirit?