((@GM: The scoped laser rifle was attached to the battery/generator/power pack, and I returned it to Thomas. I have two gauss rifles. One that I bought and the other that Thomas looted from Nikitian's body and was subsequently looted by me.))
"Tactical retreat and get the camera. Go, go, go!
Only shoot if they prove aggressive, although if I had to bet, they do seem pissed off."
Turn on the EMM mode, start a retreat with the team (basically run like hell with the team in tow towards the next area) and open fire at any shade that approaches with hostilility, taking care not to spark friendly fire and alternating the shots with each gun (it still qualifies as double-wielding, right?). If Maurice or Faith is unable to get Gorat, carry the latter in a position that still allows both weapons to be used and keep running like hell. If they get too close, use the mysterious gauntlet for melee combat.
Avoid attacking them if they are not obviously attacking the group.
[dex:6]
"This is new and exciting."
You turn on your heel and take off down the path in a dead sprint as the giant shades scythe through the light with impunity, hacking up the rope and lanterns behind you and the men running with you.
"Evac! Evac!" Gorat shouts.
Gorat tries to hobble away from the pits in whatever direction of the path goes.
[dex:1-1]
You turn and promptly drop like a stone in the sand, twisting your ankle. The shades swarm over and around you, their razor thin legs slipping soundlessly through the sand and your suit at the same time, cutting shallow wounds all over your body. One stops on top of you and gently jabs at your helmet with one long claw.
Grab the camera and go with the group. Record footage of the shade emergence if possible.
[dex:2]
You go for the camera but in your haste you end up facedown in the sand, holding the camera with one hand and covering your head with the other as the shades crawl all over you. A particularly large one puts a foot straight through the back of your heel, cutting your Achilles tendon and all the way down to your bone.
[end:4]
Oh god that does not feel nice.
Take the saber from Thomas.
Take Gorat in a fireman's carry (and shealth the Instrument then), or just assist him running if I don't have enough strength.
Retreat with the group as fast as we can.
Now is the time for the manipulators, I believe. Travis? May?
[str:4]
[dex:2]
You dive into the swarm surrounding Chin and grab him by the arms, dragging him several dozen feet from the pits before a flying shade casually severs your hand at the wrist as it passes by.
[end:1]
You collapse backwards, unconscious, as the shades swarm over you.
Travis changes his lamp intensity to 200%, turns it on, and shines it on the shades while running away, farther down the path
[dex:4]
You book it down the path, taking just enough time to blow out your suit lamps again as you run.
"DAMN IT SIMUS!" Faith yelled.
"Anyway second pit means NOW it's time to panic. Meaning run," she added, still fairly calm. "Don't bother attacking unless they're gaining on us and appear to be finite."
Run. Help Chin if he seems to be struggling. Grab the manipulator away from Travis if he looks like he's doing anything monumentally stupid with it.
((Knew I should have used the manipulator as a grenade. Welp, we're dead))
((No on both counts. If nothing else, then you'd have nothing to panic and kill us all with at the next slightest provocation.))
((I just realised, If anyone dies, i'm only the second most idiotic person on the team ))
(('fraid not. If I get anyone killed it'll be for SCIENCE! If you'd killed anyone it'd have been yourself for... ransacking Conrad's house and stealing his notes. Uh...
Orb is most definitely struggling with you for that distinction, though.))
[str:6-1]
[dex:4+1]
You grab Chin from where he fell, dodging nimbly through the randomly flying shades, and drag him far enough away that he'll be safe. He's cut up and bleeding pretty bad.
'Oh. Well that's just not what I was expecting.'
Charro clutched his brim-less hat to his head, gingerly held the blade in his other hand, and legged it with the rest. He silently willed the team not to shoot with him in the way.
>Tactical retreat Run away!! Stick to the path, following the rope, though, naturally.
[dex:6]
You run like a madman, following the path even as it is torn apart behind you.
Grab Thomas, book it like a runaway slave.
[dex:3+1]
You grab at Thomas and run like you've got the hounds at your heels. Except the hounds are some sort of giant shadow beetles.
Get off May, there's no way she's strong enough to carry me around. Give Maurice the saber, start running,
"May, I can handle running away. Hey, Mr. Medic! Take this!"
[dex:3]
You run with May at your side for a good few dozen feet before a shade catches you in the back and carves a inch and a half deep gash across your back.
[end:6]
You don't even slow down.
Those men and women who managed to run from the swarm slow to a stop several hundred feet away, gasping and watching as the path is torn to pieces and vanishes into the darkness. Those who didn't get away find themselves in sudden darkness, surrounded by innumerable hissing, razor sharp forms.