Roll 56By the way, you will now see a number in [brackets] next to each weapon-related skill. This is the number used when calculating weapon damage. Otherwise, it's irrelevant.
So combat goes like: hit roll > 3 --> damage roll - armor (used standard defense plus whatever special defense there is, like thermal, kinetic, etc)
Amatin, recovering from his sudden unconsciousness, managed to retain a quick snippet of remembrance about the red soul he saw in the distance... the one that Van Buren supposedly swapped with the inspector from.
[4: Level up!]This remembrance... it gave him a sort of
handle with which to remember Van Buren with. Amatin had taken an introduction to contemporary psychology, he knew that people remembered one another via appearances, names, voices, anything to identify with. Amatin realized that just like he could remember a person's physical form by appearance, he could in-fact remember a specific soul... and perhaps curse it!
He muttered under his breath, "ee shal no met heid dook," Amrili for "man for-ever see light day." [6] He immediately felt a chunk of power come out of him, so Amatin assumed it worked to some extent. Cursing was something he hadn't practiced extensively. Primarily, because it required
human targets--living ones, too. Practicing on any willing volunteer would be inhumane, so the only case he ever had a chance to practice was during a prison raid before his enrollment at the university.
--------
Amatin clicked the "send" button and turned to face the group and workers.
"Team," he began.
"We have to meet up in the hospital. His majesty's admiral is waiting for you there."He then turned his head toward the bodyswapped inspector.
"The admiral should handle the identity issues involved with this... eventually. Anyway, the risk is too great to allow you access to the Griffin. We'll handle it ourselves with our wizardry..."He held his hand up, igniting a column of air approximately 20kg above his arm.
"I apologize for not telling you who you've been speaking to this entire time. But anyway, we shall be going now..."--------
As the party entered the hospital's lobby through the VIP doors, having shown their ID's to security, they headed up the stairs to the second level... a large "U"-embracing the main lobby. The blank white walls... striped red to conceal the blood stains that were becoming all-too-common from the recent increase in crime. The issue of crime was a sensitive issue in parliament. Recently budget cuts had forced parliament into ending numerous programs, including the
Armed Enforcement Act of 2960. This, unfortunately, led to an increase in violent crime.
The party continued into the main second-story hallways as a man in armor on a stretcher was being wheeled through the hallway.
Zakroff caught up with the group, explaining that he was "parking the drone" outside.
Winfield Scott stood outside a restricted door, and called the party to enter.
"We have the entire Navy's council in the room, so while we won't take your weapons, we advise you to place them at your feet. Show some courtesy.The room itself was a large one, intended for use with an MRI scanner. However, instead of an MRI, a large platform (win Van Buren's body on it) with a strange crystal attached to a mechanical device had been wheeled into the room. The party sat down on the benches at the walls of the room as Admiral Scott and his fellow council members gathered in front of the setup.
Scott whispered,
"The crystal doesn't actually do anything. Everyone's aware that it doesn't. However, it helps the lesser wizards concentrate, although we didn't need it in this case. The wizard was one of our best... it's a shame he lost his body to Buren."Scott then stood up and began a small speech.
"Ladies and Gentlemen... I would like to explain our next course of action. Our goals are, as always, to preserve peace and to wage war only if the Ross declare it first. However, this is not always possible! Today you've captured the person who is likely behind the attack. But as always, war has casualties. You've lose one of your own on the ship, I hear, even though you've gained another. Additionally, one of our own wizards that formerly worked for the navy--until now--has lost his body.
Amatin, I'd like to ask if you could perhaps lift the lock on this man's brain?""Aye sir."Amatin prepared himself, and entered his viewing state. He saw a tiny green speck trapped where he deduced Van Buren's former body to be.
He concentrated, and [4] did the spell.
"BLARGH!" shouted the wizard, jumping up immediately.
"That was the most frightening experience... That was horrible. Worse than anything I've been through! Pure blackness, nothing else! No senses, nothing! I was ready to go insane but I had nothing to maim myself with! How do you maim a soul!?"The wizard seemed to be staring at the wall as he spoke. Some of the party members noticed this.
"Meet Aduin Ebes Deryu Alfos Kurr-Fas, a member of the Amrili nomads. He will be accompanying you on your future missions.
*Aduin stares around, suspicious*
Anyway, we have to move quickly. Tomorrow, two missions will be fully planned and commenced. One of our groups will be heading to Iesac (Ross negotiations world. Any attempt at political sabotage here will not harm the entire population of the actual homeworld.) to resolve the political issues raised by this... erm, sudden attack. Their admiral will be with us, of course.
I will also be going, myself.
The other group is to investigate the planet Vulcanus... it's been under a number of scientific lenses, recently. We've decided to suppress the discovery we've made there from the media.""The discovery?" asked Varron.
"Yes, the discovery. We've found... artifacts, of sorts. We've dated the lava flows surrounding the structure to be only four thousand years old, although our dating methods seem to provide highly inflated dates on Vulcanus.""The structure?" asked Varron, once again.
"Yes, the structure. Well, it could be a structure. It could also be a crashed ship, which would have been engulfed by a lava flow. Either way, no excavations have been made. Yet. But according to the Ross Admiral, the man you captured... Charles Van Buren... he had his own men there. I'm asking some of you to go there and investigate."He paused, expecting a reply. Instead there was silence.
"Well?"Alright, I plan to (hehe) split the group here to make rolling a little more streamlined (no more awkward moments where only one person makes the actions...).
Of course, you guys have a choice. But now, there's eight people, and two worlds.
I'd like there to be a consensus on who goes where. Both of them, I plan to make equally interesting.
Your choices are:
Vulcanus. Lava planet. Volcanoes, lizards, potential alien ruins. Good stuff. Also, Van Buren might be here, so you'll be able to track him down.
Iesac. Water/Jungle/Swamp planet. It's difficult to attack with a ground army due to the terrain, but also expensive to maintain. Thus, expect lots of Ross guards to provide a bit of cover--or targets/loot--in the case of a totally-unexpected plot-twist (hint hint).