The Ninth World Turns Recap #014 - Mintz’ Last Stand

Campaign Day 001

XP: Everyone has 2 xp from discovering the Glow Machine & Miasma Box

Turn 14 Recap

The amnesia cloud seeps from the device, creating a pink cloud that fills half the room. All the combatants in range, momentarily pause in what they are doing, struggling to make sense of their surroundings. Those of them that were moving or making commands stop mid-way through, eyes wide. Mintz’s well laid out plans appear totally forgotten as the combatants struggle to make sense of the combat suddenly surrounding them.

<Those affected no longer remember the preparation plans Mintz made, nor the manner in which the rebels entered the room. Their round was also disrupted, forcing them to spend a Round confused, making sense of their surroundings.>

Fannar cut down the closest guard with a spear that he took earlier from a dead guard. Seeing that the advantage was clearly with his side, he commanded “Surrender Mintz, save your men at least. Do one noble thing before I execute you for your crimes against the people of Milave.” 

Mintz quickly came back to his senses, shocked out from his confusion by the near hit of Daks’ arrow. “Damn you, your fool rebellion, and that traitor Tarvesh! After this stupid attack, you’ll see what happens. You think the Pythorean Empire won’t see a civil war as an invitation to attack? You’re playing into the hands of Empire you daft fool. I hope you die knowing the folly of your ways.”

The Miasma shape has started to glow an almost imperceptible Green. <Difficulty 3 Intellect Check> If you fail to resist, your character starts to get unreasonably angry (+1 Melee Damage -1 Step positive social interaction) - You may choose not to resist> RP this out if you are affected

Mintz grabbed at a device, intending to throw it at the party. But he critically fumbled the throw and the device fell to his feet. His eyes went wide and he mumbled “Oh Shi…” and then the entire room rocked as an explosion rang out. A wave of heat emerged from Mintz feet, activating his stasis shield, you could still see his skin char and smolder as the device threw off its heat. His guards nearby did not benefit from his protective layer, and you could see their skin burn to the bone as the radiation hit them. Their deaths came quickly, barely having time to scream out before collapsing to the floor.

<Difficulty 2 Numenera Check> to identify device as Detonation (Flashfire) pg.45

Action Round - Combat

int check to resist miasma D 3 (9): 1d20 ⇒ 9

Mechanus recognized the effect that the miasma was having on some of the others. But he did not want to lose control. Slow and steady and taking careful aim usually won the fights in his case.

He jumped back from the heat explosion and pulled out synth tube that fanned out in one end. He carefully blew on it while whispering an ancient code. The tube released a grey smoke that quickly coalesced around Mintz.

activate Emoacoustic weapon, if it works: 

Mintz shoulders slumped down and the weight of the world fell on his back. He now knew he could not escape.

Daks

Numenera Check: 1d20 ⇒ 2 

As the strange device hit the floor a wave oh heat him. Daks covered his face, but in a flash it was gone, and Daks was able to see again. Daks looked at the burnt bodies lying on the floor. He remembered his

father as he was wiped away by the iron wind. How quick it had been. How unfair it al was...

Miasma Check: 1d20 ⇒ 5 

Daks could feel the hate welling up inside of him. A tear began to roll down his cheek. He didn't care. He was too angry. He hadn't been this angry in a long time. It was all so unfair.

He saw Jay Zin throw his spear. Daks pulled his bowstring to his ear. The sparks flashed white hot infront of his eyes, but he didn't blink. All he could think of was the injustice of it all. How unfair it had always been his whole life. Loosing his mom. His dad. Having to leave his sisters behind so he could show them a better life. Who knew when he would see them again. It was all so unfair. Miiintz! Daks screamed, his voice straining.

Speed Attack: 1d20 ⇒ 19 Minor Effect: Damage 

The arrow cracked like thunder as it left the bow. Sailing across the room like a bolt of lightning, the arrow ripped through the flickering aura that surrounded Mints. Mintz barely had a chance to make eye contact with Daks before the arrom hit. It ripped through Mintz like it did his aura. Paper. Blood sprayed across the floor. Daks didn't say anything. He just stood there. Everyone's actions catch up to them eventually...

Breona

Miasma Check: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Breona giggled gleefully at watching the impact of her Lutin spores. How confused they looked! How delightful. She reached for her crossbow but hesitated when she spotted the grey shape suddenly having a tinge of green. She was filled with a sudden range. How dare the guards and Mintz still fight?

"Just friggin' give up already, you shady piece of crap!", she started yelling and then started moving forward, drawing her punch dagger. If Mintz wouldn't give up, she'd simply punch him deep into his fat gut.

Numenera Check: 1d20 ⇒ 9

That device Mintz had just dropped looked familiar. Breona contained her rage barely to stop in her tracks, quickly closing her eyes and cowering. Flashfire! When the flesh melted off the bones of the unlucky guards in range of the detonation, Breona had to fight not to throw up. She had to hold her stomach, and punch the evil man who would use such a device. She could always be sick later.

Azzuretta

intellect defense( Diff 3 ): 1d20 ⇒ 9

Azzuretta resists the effects of the strange color changing cypher this time. She notices some of the other people in the room starting to lose control of their emotions and realizes things could possibly get out of control. She decides the best move for her at this moment... seeing as most of the fighting is over with is too maintain a low profile. She slinks down to the ground and move towards the northern wall trying to stay generally out of sight till things get a little less squirrely.

stealth: 1d20 ⇒ 8

Jay Zin

Intellect defense( Diff 3 ): 1d20 ⇒ 7 

Numenera Check( Diff 2 ): 1d20 ⇒ 3

Not really recognizing what's going on around him... having been dragged through this labrythine complex, fighting with strangers who he didn't know and really didn't trust... Jay Zin grew angry...

I'm really pissed off by what's going on here... You think you can just surrender now Mintz... your clearly a danger to all the people who live in this area...

Jay Zin launches a Spear at Mintz and readies a Third one.

Pierce(5 dmg): 1d20 ⇒ 15

Basai

The Diruk looked on as something began to tickle at the edge of hir awareness, tugging emotions into being that didn't need to be there... Hir frustration and anger at hir captors, at seeing hir 'Master' before hir, defiant and unapologetic, sparked outrage in hir. Hir crystals flickered through the crimsons of violent anger before settling back into a neutral, natural tone as shi regained hir composure, looking to the remnant Miasma. It was causing this, as it had caused the near-rapture of hir and hir comrades earlier... it was dangerous.

Then a blast of heat rocked them, making even Basai sway, and shi turned suddenly, just enough to catch a glimpse of the heat outlining Mintz' shield where the lethal heat wrapped around the edge to crisp his skin. Briefly Basai wondered what it would be like to turn crispy and give off smells of cooked meat like that... rock didn't burn so much as it melted and that took a lot. How did humans survive in the world? Mintz had found a cache of them some time ago and was fond of them... they were excellent disposal method for most materials.

Shi turned to say as much to hir fellows only to realize the group was more-or-less in a state of rage. Alarmed, Basai rumbled and vented and flashed hir colours forgetting that the humans could not read hir very well even when shi was speaking slowly. Then Jay threw another spear and Breona drew her dagger, advancing, and it was all going to dust. Was shi the only one who had kept her mind about hir?

Had they not seen the flicker of light around Mintz? There was no point in wasting their weaponry on the strong side of a defense. A great inhalation of air was followed by a loud rumbling shout as Basai tried to break through the fog of rage that was clouding hir allies. “Surround him! Shield on front but not back.”

Basai moved with Breona, shielding her as best shi could.

Moving with Breona. Guarding Breona. 

Turn 15

Mintz slumped, wheezing with his last breathes after being pierced by spear and arrow.

The color of the Miasma became a more intense Green, with it the expressions of the rebels and the affected were contorted with anger. Some of the rebels kicked the bodies of nearby guards. They were recounting past abuses that had brought them to the point of rebellion. Their rage was manifesting in myriad ways.

Fannar walked towards the Miasma and interacted with a device he had on his belt. The green shape began to shrink down and turned opaque. Soon it diminished entirely and all that remained was a smoking box empty on the floor. The anger that had taken control of the room diminished as soon as Fannar deactivated the device. Everyone who had been affected felt now exhausted from the emotional manipulation and from the crashing adrenaline that had propelled them through the combat thus far.

The rebels that had been venting their anger were now coming to terms with their victory. Some of them slumped to the ground, leaning against the wall. Others wandered over to the windows to survey the courtyard and announce their victory to their companions.

Action 1 - End of Combat - catch your breath, survey the room, reflect on your victory. Talk to your party members.

Fannar approached Mintz. The man’s head turned towards the south wall, where together they could see out a window into the courtyard below. From the third floor, they could see that the compound appeared secured, no guards had yet managed to make it through the front gate.

Over the walls, you saw that the Glow device was casting its field across most of the city. The sky was thick, dim and slightly blue tinted for as far as you could see. Scanning the city, you could see some plumes of smoke rising up across the city. The occasional cry of combat or fear pierced the air. For the moment though, the most defining attribute of the victory was the intense silence that followed combat. The only thing anyone had energy to do was catch their breathe and think about the enormity of what they had just accomplished.

Mintz pained wheeze broke the silence “What have you done?” His voice broke and cracked as he surveyed the violence across the city, and as he looked around at his own fallen guards.

Fannar replied “We do what is necessary for the people of Milave. It has been too long that you merchants exploited the people from the security of your compounds. Today your greed has been your undoing, your own Abolite fueled your defeat.”

Mintz glanced briefly at Basai, his pained eyes fell heavily to the floor before continuing, “Did you stop to think where this technology came from? There are larger games at play here than just Tarvesh’s rebellion. What do you think Tarvesh agreed to pay for a device with this power? And to whom do you think he turned for help? You might think this battle is at an end, but the violence is only beginning.”

Fannar replied, “The violence is made visible today, but every one of my men today is here because they have felt the violence of your power, of your tyranny. The violence you see today is not a new violence, it has grown from the seeds of your greed and exploitation. This violence represents the end of an era, a new beginning for the people!

…

 Action 2 - Talk to Fannar & Mintz together before Mintz dies of his injuries. Respond to this dialogue or ask different questions.

…

Mintz coughed a pained cough, “Violence sires only more violence.” His eyes closed and he breathed no more.

Fannar gathered his rebels, and your party. He congratulated everyone on all their hard work. He said he doesn’t know how much longer they will have the Glow, and he wants to make sure that they get all the use they can. <Mechanus knows the power is at 30%>

Bryn assigned some rebel soldiers to search the compound for any remaining guards and staff to ensure they surrender their weapons or be pacified.

He assigned a few other men to gather all the bystanders and surrendered guards in the first floor room of this building so that he can address them all from the balcony.

He sent a third group of guards to support the crew at the gate and to ask for a status report. He seemed surprised that the gate has held this long.

Bryn looked to your group and smiled. “I truly don’t know if we would have emerged victorious today without your help. I know each of you came here today without any expectation of taking part in overthrowing a corrupt government, but here we are. I suspect many of you still harbor reservations about our cause, and I hope to be able to answer any lingering concerns you have. But pressing are the needs to secure this compound and to gather information about our comrades across the city. Your group has proven more than capable as soldiers.”

Bryn turned to Breona, “You mentioned that your brother is in the compound, forgive me for not responding to you in the thick of combat but you have more than earned his protection with your service. You should seek him out to ensure he doesn’t fall into trouble with my men.”

Bryn gives you leave to take care of what you need. He wants you to all report back to the common room so that he can address his men and the bystanders. He thinks you have about 5-8 minutes to take care of whatever you want before the address.

<Action 3> Explore compound, talk to your NPC’s (Breona, Basai, Mechanus) meet back in room with all npc’s gathered. The Glow will end during this action round, you could give response or work in the end of the effect to your post.

Mintz - Lvl 4 human - Speed Defense +1 from static field generator - (Effective Speed Defense lvl 3 after +/- of Glow Effects)

Guards - Lvl 2 human - Shields (Effective Speed Defense lvl 1 after +/- of Glow Effects)

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)

Home-Brew Cypher Capacity Rule:

You can exceed your cypher cap by up to 2 cyphers. But, instead of only getting free GM intervention on rolls of 1, I would get free intervention on rolls of 1 + (amount exceed cap.)

Example: if you are a nano with cap of 3 and carried 5 cyphers (exceed by 2), anytime you rolled a 1,2,or 3 I would get a free DM Intervention.

Example: if you were a Jack with 3 cyphers(exceed by 1), I would get DM Intervention anytime you rolled a 1 or a 2.