The Ninth World Turns Recap #018 - Zhong Complex Briefing

Campaign Day 001

XP: Everyone has 3 xp from discovering the Glow Machine & Miasma Box & Mintz’ Pin

Turn 17

Bryn listened to your concerns and heard a general interest in the Zhong Warehouse. He began “Perhaps it would be helpful if I outlined both missions in greater detail. I helped to plan the original raids and I know the plans that each cell made for their attacks. Of course, you will undoubtedly find the situation to have changed since the attack has commenced.”

The Zhong Tower

Bryn took a bag from one of his guards, he pulled out a well-worn leather parchment roll. As he untied and laid out the roll, you could all see that it contained a number of maps and other diagrams. He scanned through and landed on a few of interest. The Zhong Tower could be seen from the room. He pointed it out to you, it was clearly one of the tallest buildings in town at about five stories. He pointed to a map and showed you that the bottom two floors were connected to a larger warehouse.

We put a team of fifteen men against the Zhong warehouse. Five were meant to be inside, trying to sell an artifact to Zhong when the Glow activated. The other ten were to be outside waiting for the Glow to enter. Zhong’s quarters are the top two floors of that tower, once they secured the compound they were meant to put a beacon in the top windows. They were meant to strobe the beacon if they needed backup, or have it constant if they had emerged victorious. I don’t see any beacon yet, so they must be having some problems. Each cell of five men was given a beacon.

Zhong is said to have well armed, highly trained guards throughout the warehouse. He also has a companion with him up in the tower, visitant or mutant I don’t know. Some people say Zhong claims his companion is an Orsbergian. By all accounts, the creature is a tall, gaunt figure that keeps itself wrapped in gaudy cloth. I don’t know what the creature is capable of, but the team that was meant to sell the artifact to Zhong was well equipped with combat Cyphers. The artifact itself was real, it was a Cypher Bag. It was capable of containing four cyphers without any risk of them exploding or fizzing out. Useful for a man who keeps so many Cyphers under his roof, eh!

If you choose to take this mission, I will go on to lay out the attack plans of the three teams.

Kesinger’s Compound

Bryn laughes, “Ol’ Corpulent Kesinger loves his food and fun. His compound is a pleasure palace with enough food to keep his guests eating like kings for as long as they should stay. He has the market cornered on pretty much every food product from the region. His warehouse has some kind of technology that keeps food good, so he has a constant surplus. Whenever the farmers try to sell food direct, or to organize against him, he just dumps food into the market at such cheap prices that the farmers can’t compete. His is a mixed reputation, the city folks love him when he sells cheap food or throws big parties, as you can imagine, but the farmers hate him more than anyone else.

He can afford to keep an enormous guard staff on hand, most of the city guard are actually his personal guard. The so-called Democratic Council of Merchant-Lords pays him for the services he provides by policing the streets. Our plan of attack there was to cause a number of disturbances in the streets once the Glow went off, to disperse the guards. And then to hit the compound with our largest contingent. The smoke rising from the compound says that something went right, but who knows what has happened with the attack. The men are supposed to send up some sky-ploders once they get the compound under control.

If we take the compound, it will be a major victory in securing the streets of the city for the movement and will ensure that we can keep the city well-fed and the populace on our side in the coming days.

Basai perked when Fannar addressed hir and asked what shi ate. That question always amused hir – humans always needed to know what you ate. Shi wondered what their reaction would be this time... the first time shi'd eaten around travellers, they'd been morbidly fascinated. Shi raised a hand and indicated the metal and marble accents in the room, saying simply, ”Earth stuffs... good ores are best, and crystals.” Crystals were more like treats or luxurious foods, doing much to help hir recover hir health, ore nearly as much so.

His indication that he wanted to learn of hir people was met with a approving venting of steam and flicker of colours, ”I would like that.” It wasn't often people took interest and it pleased hir immensely.

Now that hir question had been answered, Basai was ambivalent about which would be hit first – the food would keep at the warehouse and keeping the numenera out of the streets would make it easier to hold them but shi could also understand essentially bribing the populace with food meant their man powers increased tenfold. The party seemed most interested in the technical target, however, so shi rumbled hir agreement with the Zhong Tower target choice.

When the pause came, Basai fished hir box out and the strange cube-like object shi'd picked up from the beast tamers earlier and approached the group, the devices held out in hir hands. They looked small in comparison, a little box with an ornate lid, and a more complex cube black on side like tar and covered in small, intricate layers of wiring on the others. ”Can you identify?” Shi had no idea, they were simply small things, easy to carry... and shi'd noticed the others were asking each other about their belongings.

Shi held the items up closer, showing them to each of hir allies, crystals flickering amber tones with curiosity.

Daks took a deep breath and decided to take a walk while he collected himself. Speed recovery roll 2: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 He wandered down to the "zoo" looking at the mayhem they had left in their wake. The partiality eaten Queb lying dead with fly's starting to gather round. He looked at the guards armor. Thicker than his leather jacket, but blood stained. They stunk like the pen of an animal as well. Daks took a moment to think as he looked around the pen. He made his way to a watering trough where he did the best to clean the armor and dried it off on with the pant leg that he cut off of one of the guards. It was the only part that wasn't covered in blood. By the time he was done the armor was clean but it was pretty banged up from the fight.Repair Armor: 1d20 ⇒ 3 Daks sighed. I doubt this will do much more good than the jacket.] It was surely going to be a long day. He made his way back to the group with his armor in hand, hoping that their luck would hold out till the end of the day.Hey. He said as he entered the room, holding up the beaten up armor. Anyone good with leather?

Mechanus was happy to serve as the numenera expert; he sure enjoyed figuring those things out.

he nodded in thanks to Daks offering and started trying to figure out what it did.

he then noticed Basai, the walking statue, also had something that needed investigation and so he sat down and started turning it one way and the other.

identify numenera, trained Dak's gift: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20 

identify numenera, trained Basai's box: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

He chimed in with Breona and Daks, "So if we all agree about Zhong's tower then your mechanical butterfly or bird or whatever would be very useful. Let's listen to Bryn tell us what he knows and then gather additional information. Is there a time deadline on this mission?"

later 

He went over to see what his old boss was going to do and to let him know that he was going to hang around Aian for the time being.

Breona listened to Bryn's descriptions of the two different mission objectives, and wrinkled her nose, deep in thought. She finally spoke up again. "I know that winning the people's love will be important, but if we can hit Zhong's compound hard, and use the numenera found to hit Kesinger's right after, I think that's the better choice."

She held up the cypher, turning it carefully over in her fingers, then smiled both at Daks and Mechanus who seemed to like the thought of putting it to use. "Hm, butterfly sounds nice. Let's see. I believe it will need detailed directions so that it starts its reconnaissance. Help me out here. How should I best direct it, what's best for us to see?"

Jay Zin

Looks like Zhong tower it is. I'm curious to see what an Orsbergian is and does.

Breona Ziven wrote:

"Hm, butterfly sounds nice. Let's see. I believe it will need detailed directions so that it starts its reconnaissance. Help me out here. How should I best direct it, what's best for us to see?"

The young knight scratches at his face and thinks out loud. Well since it's going to be there an hour it would be nice to see if their is a guard changing or a route they use in their walks. We'll want to know about entrances and exits. I assume both the tower and Warehouse will have more than one. Is it too dangerous to send your scout inside? I'm sure if anyone see's it, then it will not return and we'll have tipped their hands that we're coming. Although it would be nice for it to take a peek in all the windows... get an idea of the layout and who is in which rooms.

Azzuretta peeked out from under her wing just to make sure the humans were still doing their talking. Seeing that she still had time to rest she continues with her nap in the corner.

Mechanus nodded vigorously, "Yes, yes. That's the idea. Just to get a good view of what the layout is."

He looked at the xi-drake and asked Jay, "What about your... companion? Can he do some reconnaissance work? You said you can communicate with it, right?"

He lowered his voice and whispered, "Is it smart enough for this type of work?"

with Basai 

Mechanus looked at the strange box that had come upon the walking statue. The nano kept a healthy distance from the diruk, noting the sharpness and guessing the hardness of its appendages. He cautiously extended his hand and stammered, "I-- I can perhaps find out what it does?" He quickly added, "For you I mean. I can find out what it does for you."

if allowed... 

identify numenera, trained: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Basai seemed almost at a loss as Mechanus shied away from hir. Hir crystals shifted through the colours of concern and happiness, bright greens mixing with pinks, as shi stilled hir usual venting and tried to stop moving much. Shi ended up looking more like a statue than an unimposing being. Mechanus was cautious, shi could tell, and it was saddening. How was shi supposed to communicate shi was no threat?

That's when shi remembered Daks' suggestion, and with an unintentionally sudden movement, lifted the other arm and held out a hand awaiting a 'high five'. What had Daks said? Proud of you? Maybe that was right. "Proud of you. High five." That had to be it.

Jay Zin looked over to see if Azzuretta had noticed the layers of insults that had been leveled her way. Luckily she seemed to be asleep or simply ignoring Mechanus. Jay on the other hand could feel himself starting to lose his temper with the man.

First off I would Guess that SHE not IT is SMARTER than YOU. I have never had to repeat myself with her as many times as I have with you. Let me try slower for you.

SHE... IS... NOT... AN... IT.

More importantly I would never risk HER life when we have a cypher that's perfectly capable of handling the task without endangering anyone.

Daks sat next to @Breona who was discussing the options of her "Butterfly" while he continued his work on the beast hide armor, which was in disarray. There was a large tear up the side of the beast hide that wouldn't allow him to wear it properly. Repair Armor: 1d20 ⇒ 16 (Idk if I can do that? I rolled just encase. Let me know if not.) Daks spotted a roll of synth tape and wrapped the armor tightly. That should hold up. For now at least.He looked at Breona, an idea forming. What if we send the cyph to Kesingers? Then have it return to us at Zhongs. That was, if things are bleak at Kesingers, provided we survive Zhongs, we can rush right over. Daks shrugged as he stood. Just another option. With that Daks slipped into the armor. Just a little tight. Maybe if I let out these straps... There we go. Perfect. Daks looked up to find @Mechanus talking with @Basai. Mechanus awkwardly offering to asses some of Basia's other cyphers. The whole exchange was awkward to say the least, but the icing on the cake was Basai offering a high five. Daks couldn't help but burst out laughing. He simply couldn't contain himself. He stood up and walked towards the odd couple with a grin on his face. Daks slapped Mechanus on the back, grabbing his shoulder in a friendly manner. He was still chuckling. Loosen up a little bit. Daks pointed at Basai. If shi was gonna hurt you she'd a done it by now. He said smiling at Basai. He reached out and patted hir on the shoulder. I mean, I think shi's on our side. He was about to crack a joke when Jay Zin came barging up. He began tearing into Mechanus over his Xi-Drake. Jay Zin had clearly had enough of Mechanus' ignorance. Daks stepped back, gently laying a hand on Jay Zin's should. Easy friend. We're all in this together. I'm sure Mechanus meant no offense…

The armor is wearable as medium armor this way. But a clever foe might see how to pierce through the weak places or cut through its few remaining supports.

Basai

The sudden burst of laughter from off to the side made the Diruk start, jumping a bit, and dust sifted off hir hide as shi turned in time to find Daks approaching wearing stinky new armor. Basai rumbled agreement with Daks' statement and turned a high five to the Glaive to demonstrate hir gesture was not a malicious one.

When Jay started yelling, Basai grew alarmed and stood up, away from the two arguing humans. What were they even arguing about? What was the difference between 'it' and 'she'? Did it even matter? Basai looked around the room... the only definitive differences among them was that there were humans who were not Xi-drakes who was not Diruk... "She? It?" Basai was very obviously confused - humans often called hir either she or he but never really caught onto the significance... they indicated hir as a being so it didn't matter. Obviously, however, it was important to Jay for some reason.

"What is she? It?" Basai asked quizzically, "Azzuretta is Azzuretta..." The Diruk stood passively, arms at hir side, watching the exchange for a moment before venting and walking over to sit by Breona as she looked over her insect. "Is that the Butterfly?" They'd mentioned something about reconnaissance, "Daks' thought is good. Send it to the place we are not going?"

Breona arched her brows when Jay Zin exploded at Mechanus. Instead of commenting on this, she looked at the insect cypher again. "I don't think we have the time to have it do full reconnaissance for us. I think Daks has a good idea. We'll send it to Kesinger's and once the situation is under control at Zhong's compound, we get some information about what's happening at Kesinger's compound."

Without further input, she went off to the side and spoke to the metal shape in her right hand and gave it instructions how to get to Kesinger's, information she had gleaned from Bryn's mission report earlier, and to record everything around there.

The bug will fly off from this point (Mintz’ Office) after recording at Kesinger’s for 1 hour, it will return to the same point and project all that it saw and heard 1d6 times. If you are not here for the first recording, you assume Bryn will be and he will be able to tell you what he saw and heard once you return from Zhong’s.

Mecahnus' loonie alarms went off again as Jay started yelling.

He stepped back, "OK. Sure. Whatever." Last time I ask you anything. Jeez.

later 

He then awkwardly gave the diruk a 'high five' and quickly looked at his hand for any scrapes or injuries but was happy to find none.

He then busied himself with the numenera but still listened to the companions' planning.

Jay Zin turned his attention from Mechanus glad to have something to focus on other than the insensitive man.

Basai, "It" is a name you use for an object or thing when you don't know what to call it or possibly to save time. To call a person "It" is very rude. "She" or "her" are names you can use for any girl or female when you want to save time or do not know her name. Breona and Azzuretta are both she's. "He" or "him" are names you use for a boy or male when you don't know their name or want to save time. The rest of us here other than Breona and Azzuretta are he's.

Turn 18

Fannar Bryn spoke to Heemsoth group for a bit as you all spoke amongst yourselves. After a few minutes, Bryn returned and showed you the map of the Zhong Tower Complex. He indicated that the original group was meant to be led up to the 4th floor, where Zhong conducts his business. That is where they were supposed to be when the Glow went off. The other two teams would then enter through the front door and work their way up to support the first team. The four warehouse vaults were secondary targets. What each contained, Bryn isn’t sure. He thinks that each has its own guards and protection. The team was meant to place a beacon in one of the windows up top when they succeeded. If the first team needed support, they were meant to put the beacon on strobe. Bryn isn’t sure why they failed even at that. You mission is to scout the tower, and if possible secure the tower and eliminate Zhong. Bryn is sure that the vaults contain useful items but warns you to be prepared for a challenge.

<Action 1 - Ask Questions>

As you set off, Bryn walked both your group and Heemsoth’s group to the gate of Mintz’ Compound. The report at the gate indicated that there hasn’t been any commotion for the past 20 minutes or so. Bryn asks if you all are ready for him to open the gate and for you to set forth. He has given you a map to get you from Mintz’ to Zhong’s. Heemsoth’s group will be departing for Kesinger’s to scout and possibly get involved.

<Action 2 - Ask Questions, Open Gate & Go Forth>

Group Loot: 11 Shins - I will track looted Shins and distribute when appropriate

Cyphers: (Most pages #’s refer to Technology Compendium - let me know if you don’t have book and I will add more detail. If page number begins with “c.” - the cypher is in the Corebook)