Numenera: Jade Colossus (IC)

[Revanus]

Charlie doesn’t hesitate.

“Very well. Take us to the heavens ASAP...err, as soon as possible. Thank you.”

[GOALentertain]

The Ride is cramped. There are a little more than 20 Heritors on board along with you and Bruhone. The interior of the ride is mostly divided into tiny rooms or cabins, linked and divided by tight hallways with low ceilings. Many of these cabins serve as sleeping quarters for the crew of the Heritors that currently reside in the Ride. Most of the others store the cyphers, artifacts, shins, midnight stones, and other belongings of the organization.

As the ride floats towards the Colossus-moving perhaps faster than you've ever gone before-you can see it fill your vision. A blocky silhouette that many think contains a human shape stretches 3,000 feet into the air. Surrounding the tower, the structure extends outward in all directions at about 500 feet high (with the exception of a few tower-like extensions.) The whole structure shimmers and whirls with various shades of green and black.

Spoiler: OOC

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I'm unsure as to if anyone wants to do anything en route, or if you just want to go ahead to getting into the Colossus.

[GOALentertain]

The Ride soars towards the edge of the complex at the base of the tower. The dark green wall grows to rapidly fill your vision. The Ride shows no signs of slowing down. It looks like you're going to crash into the wall. Then, a sudden lurch knocks you off your feet. The front of the ride tilts upward as the Ride floats up the side of the complex, keeping the ground at a sharp angle. After a few moments, the Ride levels out again at the edge of the complex around the tower. The Ride travels smoothly over the uneven and shattered surface of the complex, heading towards the tower.

Reaching the edge of the tower, the Ride puts its left side against the side of the Colossus as it continues forward. The Ride lifts, starting a slight spiral around the tower. Finally, the ride stops. Bruhone brings you to a door out of the ride, which she opens, revealing a hole leading into the Colossus. The hole appears to be unnatural, rather than a doorway, with broken and shattered pieces of rock and green crystal along the edges of the opening leading into the darkened room beyond.

"This is the last place that we saw Umlaut," Bruhone explains. "Hopefully your luck in finding him is better than ours was."

[spinningdice]

"I thank you" Kraycie hops across to the ruin, and takes a better look around.

[GOALentertain]

Kraycie finds herself towards the middle of one of the long sides of a large rectangular-shaped room. Sparkling dust fills the air in the chamber in fine drifts. On the wall across from where she entered, she can see a doorway leading into another room, as well as a separate panel that appears to be tall enough for a human to fit through.

[Albinobrow]

Oolei enjoyed the ride up, seeing the shadow hiding in plain sight in the green, his curiosity ever growing. He had nice chats with the crew about the various numenera on board as well. All mice people. Except the one who called him a pet, she will not be forgiven easily.

As they arrived to their destination his beak went slack at the beautiful sight! Quickly he grabs his pack and heads enters the corridor, eyes darting this way and that. So this is where they brought your mentor. Exciting isn’t it? He looks back slightly, and quickly faces the doorway again. Dont look down!

Spoiler: OoC

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Is the doorway and panel just open? Or is there something blocking it?

[GOALentertain]

Spoiler: OOC-Clarity

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In the room, there are two potential exits other than the one that you came through (which, as Oolei points out, may lead to a long drop). One of these is a closed door, the other is a wall panel. The door seems to have a pretty normal handle to it, while the panel has a more complex series of buttons (think Intellect task) to open.

As Oolei waddles through the room, he notices that something seems off in one particular area. Something about the way that the sparkling dust of the room moves. There seem to be a handful of places where the dust isn't. In fact, looking at these places, there seem to almost be shapes there. The shapes are somewhat transparent, making them not obvious at first. However, as Oolei looks at them, he can see that there appear to be shadows of humanoid creatures in the spaces between the dust. These creatures have long talons on each hand-as long as their forearms. The nearest of these creatures seems to flow forward through the darkness and the sparkling dust, swinging its talons at Oolei.

Spoiler: GM Intrusion: Oolei

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Make a Speed Defense roll against this creature. You also receive 1 XP and can give 1 XP to someone else in the group.

[GOALentertain]

Spoiler: Forgot to mention

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People should roll initiative.

[Albinobrow]

Spoiler: Rolls

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Speed defense (inability) (1d20)[18]
Initiative (1d20)[16]

[GOALentertain]

Oolei deftly manages to duck beneath the talons of the creature's first strike.

Spoiler: Note

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I'll wait for the rest of the initiative rolls before going too much further.

If we can come up with a general case for initiative (i.e. if no one ever intends to spend effort on it or if someone always intends to spend effort on it or anything like that), then we can speed up initiative rolls by having me just roll them all at once at the start of combat.

[spinningdice]

As forms hard to perceive strike at Oolei, Kraycie's hand was already hovering near her hammer, she quickly draws and readies it.

Spoiler: OOC

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Init(1d20)[7]
Don't think Kraycie will likely spend effort on initiative as a rule.

[Revanus]

As he sees his winged conpanion come under attack from the red wraith-forms, Charlie’s shield springs into his hand and his spear extends into a sharp, black rod with a glowing point. Charlie’s movements are unconscious and swift, almost like his hands move of their own accord.

”Begone, Servants of UsserNaziran! The Red Menace shall not wrap its coils around the globe in this age—not under the watchful eye of Usmic—who protects His Own beneath mighty wings! Back, back to the shadows of history! If you dare to rear your serpentine, communal head, it shall meet the tip of my spear! Koo-Rah!”

Charging into battle to aid Oolei, Charlie is barely concious of his battle-cry. All he know is that the Great Satan has returned, and Charlie is duty-bound to stop the spread.

[GOALentertain]

Looking carefully, you can make out five distinct shadowy shapes, all preparing to act.

Spoiler: Initiative Order:

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1. Oolei
2. Kraycie or Charlie (whoever posts first)
3. Enemies
4. Kullia (unless he rolls before the enemies go and gets put before them.)

[spinningdice]

May not be able to post again tonight, so rolling now...
Kraycie takes a swing with her hammer.
(1d20)[19] (for 4 dmg... oh, 7 damage then.)

[Albinobrow]

Oolei quickly grabs his dart thrower and fires at the unseen assailant!

Spoiler: OoC

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Stats:
Might 7
Speed 11
Intellect 16

Fire dart! Difficulty goes up one for Skeane inability to attack, but goes down one for being a light weapon and down again for being at point blank range. 2 points of damage!
After the attack I want to move a short distance away if possible.

(1d20)[12]

[Albinobrow]

Spoiler: Defense

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Sorry, meant to roll defense just in case. (1d20)[14] Defense is an inability as well.

[GOALentertain]

Oolei's dart seems to hang oddly in the air as it collides with one of the shadows.

Kraycie's hammer hits another one of the creatures. Even though it feels as though her hammer is passing through nothing, the shadow-creature seems to dissipate, leaving nothing of itself behind.

Spoiler: Initiative Order:

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1. Charlie
2. Enemies
3. Kullia (unless he rolls before the enemies go and gets put before them.)
4. Oolei
5. Kraycie
   
   Unrelated, I'm a bit sad that Kraycie's attack killed one of them, negating their ability to use their swarm attack.

[Revanus]

Charlie dashed forward, leading with his shield. Interposing himself to intercept any attacks against Oolei, Charlie lunges at the closest viable target. His spear flashes forward as the glowing edge trails a blue arc along its path.

“Better dead than red!”

Spoiler: Rolls

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attack:
(1d20)[1]

Defense:(1d20)[3]

Hope I did this right. Need to reread the combat rules tonight.

[GOALentertain]

As Charlie waves his shield and spear towards one of the shadows, he loses track of another that strikes him with claws of steel-hard shadow. The strike is tremendously strong, throwing Charlie across the room. The floor begins to crack where he landed.

The other three shadow creatures divide, each taking on one of their foes that has entered the room. Oolie deftly waddles away from the attack of the one that is on him.

Spoiler: Enemy Attack Summary

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Charlie: HIT, lose three points from your Might pool.

Oolie: MISS

Kraycie: Make a Speed Defense Roll

Kullia: Make a Speed Defense Roll

Spoiler: Initiative Order

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1. Kullia (I'm not sure if Mortis is still with us. Unless I hear otherwise, I'm going to assume Kullia is holding his action and allow you to go ahead beyond him.)
2. Oolie
3. Kraycie
4. Charlie
5. Enemies

[spinningdice]

Kraycie easily steps aside, the adrenaline mixing with the alchemy in blood speeds up her perception, causing everything to seem to slow down around her.


(1d20)[20]

Oh, a major effect. The dice really seem to be favouring Kraycie in this combat, the standard 'abuses alchemy' effect is asset to speed defence and attack rolls for one round. Can't think of anything better for the moment.

[Albinobrow]

Oolei backs up slightl, careful not to fall off the ledge and fires another bolt where the first one floats!

(1d20)[14] this has an inability and an asset being light.

Defense roll (1d20)[2] o goodness and this is with an inability.

[GOALentertain]

Oolei's bolt hits, and that shadow seems to waver. As the skeen is admiring his handiwork, one of the other shadow creatures slices at him.

Spoiler: Damage

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Oolei loses 3 points from his Might pool.

Spoiler: Initiative

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[*]Kullia (I'm not sure if Mortis is still with us. Unless I hear otherwise, I'm going to assume Kullia is holding his action and allow you to go ahead beyond him.)[*]Kraycie[*]Charlie[*]Enemies[*]Oolie

[Albinobrow]

Spoiler: Oolei current stats

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Might = 4
Speed = 10
Intellect = 16

[spinningdice]

Kraycie takes another vicious swing
(1d20)[9]

[GOALentertain]

Kraycie smashes one of the shadows, leaving only 3 left.

Spoiler: Initiative

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[*]Charlie[*]Enemies[*]Oolie[*]Kraycie