Endgame

MM Note: Hi sixers, got my booster shot today and am a bit under the weather - the round will be ran tomorrow!

"You know, lad, we might just be able to arrange that. Let's get him!" Versus Invictus, Round Six Agents' Turn: Valesia casts Sustaining Healing on Max: (3, 1, 5, +1) = 2 successes = 2 vitality healed for Max, -1 spirit for Valesia Glenn holds his ground and attacks Invictus: (5, 3, +2) vs (4) = 3 successes - 1 success = 2 damage Soren moves to B2 and shoots invictus: (5) = (1, 4, +2) vs (5) = 3 successes - 1 success = 2 damage Max backpedals to A3 and shoots Invictus: (6, 2, +1) vs (5) = 2 successes - 1 success = 1 damage Invictus' Turn: Invictus marches to B3 and attacks Soren: (2, 4, 1, +1) vs (1, 1, 5) = 2 successes - 1 success = 1 damage to Soren Invictus strikes at Soren again: (5, 6, 3, +1) vs (1, 3, 2) = 3 successes - 0 successes = 3 damage to Soren Max could feel some of the ache start to alleviate as Valesia healed him, but his bruises remained. A round from Glenn's gun rips off a chunk of Invictus' shoulder, and another shot from Soren lodges itself in his arm cannon. The warbot almost manages to dodge Max's cover fire, but it just barely grazes him. Still unimpeded, the robot is finally given free reign, able to march up next to Soren and swipe at him with his talons. The first swipe barely manages to leave a gash on Soren's face, and the second lunge lets Invictus clamp down on Soren's shoulder with one of his claws, crunching one of his bones. The party was starting to look a bit ragged, but the static in Invictus' helmet was stuttering and freezing up. He was getting worse for wear too. The Battle Rages On! The Battle Grid: The Opposition " -.. .- -- -. / .. - .-.-.- / - .... .- - / -.. .. -.. -. .----. - / ..-. .. -. .. ... .... / .... .. -- .-.-.-" Invictus - "HARBINGER" Shell Vitality: 9/26 Velocity: 1 Strength: 5 Skill: 1 Smarts: 5 Spirit: 1/5 Proficiencies: Arcana 1, Melee Weapons 3, Long Range Weapons 2, Technology 3, Acrobatics 2, Intimidation 4, Explosives 1 Spells: Elemental Evocation, Gravity Sink, Sonic Sweep, Quantum Transposition Equipment: Conqueror's Talons (Standard Kinetic Melee Weapon) Inventory: UVB-76 Static Cannon (Calibrated Long Range Energy Weapon - enables use of the Static Storm ability) Drops: ??? Passive Abilities: Phantom of Nendara: Invictus gets two Actions per round. Static Storm: Invictus can spend an Action making an antenna Static Charged, if it is within the range of his Static Cannon. He is immune to the resulting blasts. The Agents Maximilian Vetre (Alix)44 cycles old Male ElfCharacter Points: 3/12Vitality: 5/6Velocity: 2Strength: 3Skill: 2Smarts: 1Proficiencies: Explosives 2, Occult 1, Short Range Weapons 2Credits: 10Equipment: D-KA Carbine (Standard Kinetic Short Range Weapon), Energy Cell, Golden Gel Hide (Standard Kinetic/Energy Armor)Inventory: 2 Hydrocobalt Shards, Rampart Kinetic Shield (Standard Kinetic Armor)Locker: Empty Valesia (Waterbrick Down)110 Year Old Female CladrasithCharacter Points: 3/15Vitality: 4/5Velocity: 2Strength: 1Skill: 2Smarts: 1Spirit: 2/3Proficiencies: Insight 1, Medicine 1, Nature 3Known Spells: Elemental Evocation, Healing Light, Mystic Binding, Photonic ManipulationCredits: 70Equipment: Holo-scroll, Chef's Kit (Standard Kinetic Melee Weapon)Inventory: Essence of Precaution, Nanite Elixir Locker: Soren Aeolus (The Legonater) 31-year-old male Human Character Points: 4/17 Vitality: 1/5 Velocity: 2 Strength: 1 Skill: 3 Smarts: 2 Spirit: 1/2 Proficiencies: Nature 1, Insight 1, Piloting 2, Short-Range Weapons 2 Spells: Elemental Evocation, Mystic Binding Equipment: MK-12 personal handgun (short-ranged calibrated energy weapon), Farsight Goggles, Hacking Chip, Plasma Potion, Energy Cell Inventory: Whip Tail (Calibrated Short-Range Kinetic Weapon) Credits: 10 "Soren, you have to hang on, we're so close." Glenn Harmondon 64 year old Undead Vitality: 5/7 Velocity: 2 Strength: 3 Skill: 1 Smarts: 1 Spirit: 2/2 Proficiencies: Technology 3, Short Range Weapons 2, Arcana 1 Spells: Warding Bond Equipment: Empire Army Standard Issue Handgun (Calibrated Kinetic Short Range weapon), Kevlar Vest (Standard Kinetic Armor) Inventory: Plasma Potion x3, Emergency Flares 

"Give up, huh. Surrender myself to the oligarchs of Savior City. Enter their custody. Have them dissect this body, reverse engineer the blue prints, churn out consumer grade copies of me for private security purposes within the next cycle," Invictus muses. "I'll pass. If you beat me and drag my carcass back with you as evidence, my parts go to the highest bidder and the exact same scenario plays out." Invictus shakes his head. "If there's two things people can't resist, it's a chance to profit and a shiny new weapon to point at their enemies." Invictus plants his feet, hand on his arm cannon. "Just throwing out a theory or two. One thing is for certain... things around here get interesting if I fail to dispose of you four, here and now." Invictus laughs morbidly. It sounded distorted and off kilter, like his voice was being pushed through an electric sieve.

Versus Invictus, Round Four Agents' Turn: Valesia retreats to F1 and downs an Aetherbrew: 4 + 3 = 7 Spirit restored! Glenn stays put and provides cover fire versus Invictus: (6, 1, +2) vs (6) = 3 successes - 1 success = 2 damage Soren moves to B1 and casts Hampering Hold: (5) = 1 success = Invictus Restrained for 1 round, -1 spirit Max holds his ground and fires on Invictus: (5, 6, +1) vs (3) = 3 successes - 0 successes = 3 damage Invictus' Turn: Invictus casts pulling point on Max, dragging him to B4: (3) - (+1) = 0 successes - 1 success = 0 damage, -1 spirit. Invictus lunges with his Conqueror's Talons: (4, 6, 4, +1) vs (4, 2, +1) = 4 successes vs 2 successes = 2 damage An Aetherbrew has Valesia feeling in tune with the harmonies of the desert, even with Invictus' insidious static scraping against her eardrum. Soren proves he has some magic tricks of his own. Channeling his connection to nature, brisk desert wind swirls around the warbot's legs, crystallizing into a restrictive sheathe of ice. He has no choice but to sit nice and still as Max and Glenn plug him full of bullets. invictus looks at Soren with some consternation. "You four. Full of surprise." "...You know, you have a good head on your shoulders, Elf. You're right. So why am I still playing fair?" Invictus clenches his fist and lets a gravity sink pull Max in. With a grunt of exertion Invictus shatters his ice shackles, and in a flash lunges for Max. His swift kick is met with Max's rampart shield, but his talons sink into the shield and grab it. With another hiss of effort Invictus lifts Max off the ground and slams him back down, pinning him beneath his own shield for a moment with his foot. "Give up. Let me silence the AI. It's not too late," Invictus urges, leaning over to look Max in the eye as he keeps him prone in the sand.Not wanting to be left a sitting target, Invictus disengages and hops back. He was starting to show some physical damage. The Battle Rages On! The Battle Grid: The Opposition "..." Invictus - "HARBINGER" Shell Vitality: 14/26 Velocity: 1 Strength: 5 Skill: 1 Smarts: 5 Spirit: 1/5 Proficiencies: Arcana 1, Melee Weapons 3, Long Range Weapons 2, Technology 3, Acrobatics 2, Intimidation 4, Explosives 1 Spells: Elemental Evocation, Gravity Sink, Sonic Sweep, Quantum Transposition Equipment: Conqueror's Talons (Standard Kinetic Melee Weapon) Inventory: UVB-76 Static Cannon (Calibrated Long Range Energy Weapon - enables use of the Static Storm ability) Drops: ??? Passive Abilities: Phantom of Nendara: Invictus gets two Actions per round. Static Storm: Invictus can spend an Action making an antenna Static Charged, if it is within the range of his Static Cannon. He is immune to the resulting blasts. The Agents Maximilian Vetre (Alix)44 cycles old Male ElfCharacter Points: 3/12Vitality: 3/6Velocity: 2Strength: 3Skill: 2Smarts: 1Proficiencies: Explosives 2, Occult 1, Short Range Weapons 2Credits: 10Equipment: D-KA Carbine (Standard Kinetic Short Range Weapon), Energy Cell, Golden Gel Hide (Standard Kinetic/Energy Armor)Inventory: 2 Hydrocobalt Shards, Rampart Kinetic Shield (Standard Kinetic Armor)Locker: Empty Valesia (Waterbrick Down)110 Year Old Female CladrasithCharacter Points: 3/15Vitality: 4/5Velocity: 2Strength: 1Skill: 2Smarts: 1Spirit: 3/3Proficiencies: Insight 1, Medicine 1, Nature 3Known Spells: Elemental Evocation, Healing Light, Mystic Binding, Photonic ManipulationCredits: 70Equipment: Holo-scroll, Chef's Kit (Standard Kinetic Melee Weapon)Inventory: Essence of Precaution, Nanite Elixir Locker: Soren Aeolus (The Legonater) 31-year-old male Human Character Points: 4/17 Vitality: 5/5 Velocity: 2 Strength: 1 Skill: 3 Smarts: 2 Spirit: 1/2 Proficiencies: Nature 1, Insight 1, Piloting 2, Short-Range Weapons 2 Spells: Elemental Evocation, Mystic Binding Equipment: MK-12 personal handgun (short-ranged calibrated energy weapon), Farsight Goggles, Hacking Chip, Plasma Potion, Energy Cell Inventory: Whip Tail (Calibrated Short-Range Kinetic Weapon) Credits: 10 "Max, that was a hell of a hit, you gonna be okay?" Glenn Harmondon 64 year old Undead Vitality: 5/7 Velocity: 2 Strength: 3 Skill: 1 Smarts: 1 Spirit: 2/2 Proficiencies: Technology 3, Short Range Weapons 2, Arcana 1 Spells: Warding Bond Equipment: Empire Army Standard Issue Handgun (Calibrated Kinetic Short Range weapon), Kevlar Vest (Standard Kinetic Armor) Inventory: Plasma Potion x3, Emergency Flares

MM Note: Good catch, fixed!

Decker returns back to the Hall on Ebria station. Through some miracle, his two very risky bets he made on the sled race managed to cancel out, leaving him just as financially sound (or, unsound, depending on how you looked at it) as before. Decker signs up for Missions 8 and 9 as he sits down to admire his new weapon.

Versus Invictus, Round Four Agents' Turn: Valesia limps to E3 and casts Sustaining Healing on herself: (4, 4, 1, +1) = 3 successes = 3 Vitality restored, -1 Spirit Glenn stays put and opens fire on Invictus: (5, 1, +2) vs (5) = 3 successes - 1 success = 2 damage Soren shambles to A3 and opens fire on Invictus: (6, 3, +2) vs (3) = 3 successes - 0 successes = 3 damage Max moves to A4 and uses a Plasma Potion on Soren: 4 vitality restored! Invictus' Turn: Invictus fires at Glenn: (2, 4, +2, -1 from out of range) vs (2) = 2 successes - 0 successes = 2 damage Invictus swaps to his Conqueror's Talons With the antennae down, it was time for the group to get their bearings back. Valesia mends her wounds, restoring the harmony humming in her ears as Soren and Glenn take pot shots at the bound warbot. Max uncorks a plasma potion and tosses it to Soren, allowing him to restore all of his vitality. "Plasma potions? Hardly sporting, Miner. But you seem a bit too durable to harm at this range - something about that armor. Let's try this instead." Invictus turns to face the one target he hadn't taken a crack at yet. His arm was still bound, hurting his aim, but Glenn simply can't move fast enough to get out of the way of the blast, reeling backwards as a static bolt punches him in the gut. "OOof, does that sting...!" Retractable blades spring out from Invictus' clawed feet, and with a little manuevering he manages to slice his way out of Valesia's vines! He stalks forward, his talons digging into the terrain with each step, legs crushing the ground like hydraulic presses... "Let's switch things up. We'll do this the old fashioned way." The Battle Rages On! The Battle Grid: The Opposition "..." Invictus - "HARBINGER" Shell Vitality: 19/26 Velocity: 1 Strength: 5 Skill: 1 Smarts: 5 Spirit: 2/5 Proficiencies: Arcana 1, Melee Weapons 3, Long Range Weapons 2, Technology 3, Acrobatics 2, Intimidation 4, Explosives 1 Spells: Elemental Evocation, Gravity Sink, Sonic Sweep, Quantum Transposition Equipment: Conqueror's Talons (Standard Kinetic Melee Weapon) Inventory: UVB-76 Static Cannon (Calibrated Long Range Energy Weapon - enables use of the Static Storm ability) Drops: ??? Passive Abilities: Phantom of Nendara: Invictus gets two Actions per round. Static Storm: Invictus can spend an Action making an antenna Static Charged, if it is within the range of his Static Cannon. He is immune to the resulting blasts. The Agents Maximilian Vetre (Alix)44 cycles old Male ElfCharacter Points: 3/12Vitality: 5/6Velocity: 2Strength: 3Skill: 2Smarts: 1Proficiencies: Explosives 2, Occult 1, Short Range Weapons 2Credits: 10Equipment: D-KA Carbine (Standard Kinetic Short Range Weapon), Energy Cell, Golden Gel Hide (Standard Kinetic/Energy Armor)Inventory: 2 Hydrocobalt Shards, Rampart Kinetic Shield (Standard Kinetic Armor)Locker: Empty Valesia (Waterbrick Down)110 Year Old Female CladrasithCharacter Points: 3/15Vitality: 4/5Velocity: 2Strength: 1Skill: 2Smarts: 1Spirit: 0/3Proficiencies: Insight 1, Medicine 1, Nature 3Known Spells: Elemental Evocation, Healing Light, Mystic Binding, Photonic ManipulationCredits: 70Equipment: Holo-scroll, Chef's Kit (Standard Kinetic Melee Weapon)Inventory: Ætherbrew, Essence of Precaution, Nanite Elixir Locker: Soren Aeolus (The Legonater) 31-year-old male Human Character Points: 4/17 Vitality: 5/5 Velocity: 2 Strength: 1 Skill: 3 Smarts: 2 Spirit: 2/2 Proficiencies: Nature 1, Insight 1, Piloting 2, Short-Range Weapons 2 Spells: Elemental Evocation, Mystic Binding Equipment: MK-12 personal handgun (short-ranged calibrated energy weapon), Farsight Goggles, Hacking Chip, Plasma Potion, Energy Cell Inventory: Whip Tail (Calibrated Short-Range Kinetic Weapon) Credits: 10 "I can handle a lot more than that!" Glenn Harmondon 64 year old Undead Vitality: 5/7 Velocity: 2 Strength: 3 Skill: 1 Smarts: 1 Spirit: 2/2 Proficiencies: Technology 3, Short Range Weapons 2, Arcana 1 Spells: Warding Bond Equipment: Empire Army Standard Issue Handgun (Calibrated Kinetic Short Range weapon), Kevlar Vest (Standard Kinetic Armor) Inventory: Plasma Potion x3, Emergency Flares Edited Tuesday at 10:29 PM by Endgame

"Good a reason as any..." Versus Invictus, Round Three Agents' Turn: Valesia moves to F4 and casts Hampering Hold on Invictus: (5, 2, 4) 2 successes, Invictus is Restrained for 2 turns. -1 spirit Glenn moves to D2 and shoots at Antenna A: (5, 5, +2, +2 from weak point, -1 from being out of optimal range) = 5 successes = 5 damage Max moves back to C6 and fires on Antenna B: (6, 4, +1, +2 from weak point) = 5 successes = 5 damage Soren moves to C2 and attacks Antenna A: (2, 5, +2, +2 from weak point) = 5 successes = 5 damage Invictus' Turn: Invictus casts Quantum Transposition (Minor Transport): moves to C4 Invictus fires at Valesia: (6, 4, +2 weapon mod) vs (3, 5) = 4 successes - 1 successes = 3 damage The heroes roll on. Valesia summons her vines once more, ensnaring Invictus just as soundly as before. Soren, Max, and Glenn work effectively as a team, managing to topple the final 2 antennae before Invictus can even charge a second one. One of the cornerstones of his offensive was now completely nullified! "I never got to have my fun with those," Invictus notes, seemingly miffed. "But that's okay. This shell has a trick that my main body doesn't." Invictus suddenly vanishes into a cloud of black and white particles, reappearing a split second later a few feet in front of his old position. Valesia's vines lash out to hold him down again, but not before he aims and fires at the Cladrasith. The blast goes slightly low and bores into her leg. Hanging on by a thread, Valesia's vision blurs as static echoes in her head. The Battle Rages On! The Battle Grid: The Opposition "All of you - Face me." Invictus - "HARBINGER" Shell *Restrained! 1 Turn Remaining* Vitality: 24/26 Velocity: 1 Strength: 5 Skill: 1 Smarts: 5 Spirit: 2/5 Proficiencies: Arcana 1, Melee Weapons 3, Long Range Weapons 2, Technology 3, Acrobatics 2, Intimidation 4, Explosives 1 Spells: Elemental Evocation, Gravity Sink, Sonic Sweep, Quantum Transposition Equipment: UVB-76 Static Cannon (Calibrated Long Range Energy Weapon - enables use of the Static Storm ability) Inventory: Conqueror's Talons (Standard Kinetic Melee Weapon) Drops: ??? Passive Abilities: Phantom of Nendara: Invictus gets two Actions per round. Static Storm: Invictus can spend an Action making an antenna Static Charged, if it is within the range of his Static Cannon. He is immune to the resulting blasts. The Agents Maximilian Vetre (Alix)44 cycles old Male ElfCharacter Points: 3/12Vitality: 5/6Velocity: 2Strength: 3Skill: 2Smarts: 1Proficiencies: Explosives 2, Occult 1, Short Range Weapons 2Credits: 10Equipment: D-KA Carbine (Standard Kinetic Short Range Weapon), Energy Cell, Golden Gel Hide (Standard Kinetic/Energy Armor)Inventory: 2 Hydrocobalt Shards, Rampart Kinetic Shield (Standard Kinetic Armor), Plasma PotionLocker: Empty Valesia (Waterbrick Down)110 Year Old Female CladrasithCharacter Points: 3/15Vitality: 1/5Velocity: 2Strength: 1Skill: 2Smarts: 1Spirit: 1/3Proficiencies: Insight 1, Medicine 1, Nature 3Known Spells: Elemental Evocation, Healing Light, Mystic Binding, Photonic ManipulationCredits: 70Equipment: Holo-scroll, Chef's Kit (Standard Kinetic Melee Weapon)Inventory: Ætherbrew, Essence of Precaution, Nanite Elixir Locker: Soren Aeolus (The Legonater) 31-year-old male Human Character Points: 4/17 Vitality: 2/5 Velocity: 2 Strength: 1 Skill: 3 Smarts: 2 Spirit: 2/2 Proficiencies: Nature 1, Insight 1, Piloting 2, Short-Range Weapons 2 Spells: Elemental Evocation, Mystic Binding Equipment: MK-12 personal handgun (short-ranged calibrated energy weapon), Farsight Goggles, Hacking Chip, Plasma Potion, Energy Cell Inventory: Whip Tail (Calibrated Short-Range Kinetic Weapon) Credits: 10 "Valesia! You okay?" Glenn Harmondon 64 year old Undead Vitality: 7/7 Velocity: 2 Strength: 3 Skill: 1 Smarts: 1 Spirit: 2/2 Proficiencies: Technology 3, Short Range Weapons 2, Arcana 1 Spells: Warding Bond Equipment: Empire Army Standard Issue Handgun (Calibrated Kinetic Short Range weapon), Kevlar Vest (Standard Kinetic Armor) Inventory: Plasma Potion x3, Emergency Flares

Versus Invictus, Round Two Agents' Turn: Valesia moves to F5 and slashes at Antenna D: (+1, +2 from hitting the weakpoint) = 3 successes = 3 damage, Antenna D is down Glenn moves to F3 and shoots at Antenna C: (2, 2, +2, +2 from weakpoint) = 4 successes = 4 damage Max moves to C6 and fires on Antenna B: (6, 6, +1, +2 from weakpoint) = 5 successes = 5 damage Soren limps to E3 and tries to finish off Antenna D: (6, 4, +2, +2 from weakpoint) = 6 successes, Antenna C destroyed Invictus' Turn: Invictus casts Pulling Point, dragging Max to D6: (6) vs (+1 Kinetic armor) = 1 success - 1 success = 0 damage Invictus fires at Max: (2, 2, +2 weapon mod) vs (2, 3, +1 Energy armor) + 2 successes - 1 success = 1 damage This was perhaps the first time that Valesia's chef knife found itself meeting rusty metal, but it does the trick, slicing through the antenna and leaving it worthless to Invictus. Glenn and Soren team up to fell the opposite antenna. Glenn's shot leaves it bent, and Soren's energy blast knocks the top half of the device clean off. Max feels a sense of unease being so near Invictus - he can hear the static trapped inside the metal husk, roaring and hissing, as he deals hefty damage to one of the antennae. Max didn't have to be concerned about being near Invictus for very long, though, because the machine uses pulling point again. Max trips and falls back, right into the warbot's critical range. The vines engulfing his body just barely manage to pull away his arm cannon at the last second, an otherwise devastating shot that would've gone through the former miner's skull instead skimming off his left shoulder. Invivctus charges up his arm cannon until the muzzle was white hot, using the heat to ignite the weakened vines, breaking free of Valesia's hampering hold. The bot was still in almost pristine condition, but the cornerstones of his offensive were crumbling by the second. "You're fighting to hurl this galaxy into unease. Remember that." The Battle Rages On! The Battle Grid: The Opposition "..." Invictus - "HARBINGER" Shell Vitality: 24/26 Velocity: 1 Strength: 5 Skill: 1 Smarts: 5 Spirit: 3/5 Proficiencies: Arcana 1, Melee Weapons 3, Long Range Weapons 2, Technology 3, Acrobatics 2, Intimidation 4, Explosives 1 Spells: Elemental Evocation, Gravity Sink, Sonic Sweep, Quantum Transposition Equipment: UVB-76 Static Cannon (Calibrated Long Range Energy Weapon - enables use of the Static Storm ability) Inventory: Conqueror's Talons (Standard Kinetic Melee Weapon) Drops: ??? Passive Abilities: Phantom of Nendara: Invictus gets two Actions per round. Static Storm: Invictus can spend an Action making an antenna Static Charged, if it is within the range of his Static Cannon. He is immune to the resulting blasts. Antenna A Vitality: 10/10 Passive Abilities: Static Discharge: A round after getting Static Charged, the antenna disperses the static energy in a Static Discharge, a blast that spans a 2 square radius around the antenna. All agents caught in the blast take 3 Energy Damage, minus any skill successes that Agent rolls for. Antenna B Vitality: 5/10 Passive Abilities: Static Discharge: A round after getting Static Charged, the antenna disperses the static energy in a Static Discharge, a blast that spans a 2 square radius around the antenna. All agents caught in the blast take 3 Energy Damage, minus any skill successes that Agent rolls for. The Agents Maximilian Vetre (Alix)44 cycles old Male ElfCharacter Points: 3/12Vitality: 5/6Velocity: 2Strength: 3Skill: 2Smarts: 1Proficiencies: Explosives 2, Occult 1, Short Range Weapons 2Credits: 10Equipment: D-KA Carbine (Standard Kinetic Short Range Weapon), Energy Cell, Golden Gel Hide (Standard Kinetic/Energy Armor)Inventory: 2 Hydrocobalt Shards, Rampart Kinetic Shield (Standard Kinetic Armor), Plasma PotionLocker: Empty Valesia (Waterbrick Down)110 Year Old Female CladrasithCharacter Points: 3/15Vitality: 4/5Velocity: 2Strength: 1Skill: 2Smarts: 1Spirit: 2/3Proficiencies: Insight 1, Medicine 1, Nature 3Known Spells: Elemental Evocation, Healing Light, Mystic Binding, Photonic ManipulationCredits: 70Equipment: Holo-scroll, Chef's Kit (Standard Kinetic Melee Weapon)Inventory: Ætherbrew, Essence of Precaution, Nanite Elixir Locker: Soren Aeolus (The Legonater) 31-year-old male Human Character Points: 4/17 Vitality: 2/5 Velocity: 2 Strength: 1 Skill: 3 Smarts: 2 Spirit: 2/2 Proficiencies: Nature 1, Insight 1, Piloting 2, Short-Range Weapons 2 Spells: Elemental Evocation, Mystic Binding Equipment: MK-12 personal handgun (short-ranged calibrated energy weapon), Farsight Goggles, Hacking Chip, Plasma Potion, Energy Cell Inventory: Whip Tail (Calibrated Short-Range Kinetic Weapon) Credits: 10 "Let's see if I'm still handy with a gun...!" Glenn Harmondon 64 year old Undead Vitality: 7/7 Velocity: 2 Strength: 3 Skill: 1 Smarts: 1 Spirit: 2/2 Proficiencies: Technology 3, Short Range Weapons 2, Arcana 1 Spells: Warding Bond Equipment: Empire Army Standard Issue Handgun (Calibrated Kinetic Short Range weapon), Kevlar Vest (Standard Kinetic Armor) Inventory: Plasma Potion x3, Emergency Flares

Versus Invictus, Round One Agents' Turn: Glenn inspects Antenna D: (4, 1, 3, 6, 6, 3) 3 successes vs DC 3: Success! Glenn finds the weak point: +2 successes when targeting an antenna! Valesia casts Hampering Hold on Invictus: (6, 5, 3) - 2 successes, Invictus is Restrained for 2 rounds! -1 spirit for Valesia Max shoots at Antenna D: (5, 2, +1 from weapon, +2 from hitting the weak point) = 3 successes - 0 successes = 4 damage Soren moves to D4 and shoots at Antenna D: (6, 3, +2 from weapon, +2 from hitting the weak point) = 4 successes - 0 successes = 5 damage Invictus' Turn: Invictus fires at Soren: (5, 6, +2) vs (3, 3, 6) = 4 successes - 1 success = 3 damage Invictus casts Gravity Sink on Valesia, pulling her from F4 to F3: (3) = 0 Arcana successes, 0 damage, -1 spirit for Invictus Antenna C detonates! Valesia is caught in the blast: 3 - (5, 6) 2 skill successes = 1 damage Glenn inspects the nearest antenna in a hurry, poring over it until he finds a serial number on one of the panels: "This is a Model 6... year is...! Okay, long story short, these things got recalled for being defective back in the day! Count the notches in the antenna going uwards from the base; between the third and fourth, attack there." Valesia's vines spring up from the sand and coil around Invictus' torso and feet, holding him down for a solid amount of time. The machine struggled against his bonds as he watched Soren and Max nearly topple Antenna D in a blink. "Plant life? Springing from this carcass of a planet...? Fascinating..." Invictus struggles and manages to tear an arm out from one of the vines. True to his word, he aims his arm cannon at Soren and fires, doing some rather heavy damage to the agent. Black and white electricity crackles through Soren's body as the shot finds its target. Before Valesia can jump in to heal, she feels the grains of sand beneath her feet shift and backwards, a gravity sink pulling her towards the impending blast. The antenna crackles and unleashes a fiercesome burst of energy! The Cladrasith braces herself against the blast, but some debris still manages to scuff her up and causes minor damage. "Everyone still okay?!" The Battle Rages On! The Battle Grid: The Opposition "..." Invictus - "HARBINGER" Shell *Restrained! 1 round remaining* Vitality: 24/26 Velocity: 1 Strength: 5 Skill: 1 Smarts: 5 Spirit: 4/5 Proficiencies: Arcana 1, Melee Weapons 3, Long Range Weapons 2, Technology 3, Acrobatics 2, Intimidation 4, Explosives 1 Spells: Elemental Evocation, Gravity Sink, Sonic Sweep, Quantum Transposition Equipment: UVB-76 Static Cannon (Calibrated Long Range Energy Weapon - enables use of the Static Storm ability) Inventory: Conqueror's Talons (Standard Kinetic Melee Weapon) Drops: ??? Passive Abilities: Phantom of Nendara: Invictus gets two Actions per round. Static Storm: Invictus can spend an Action making an antenna Static Charged, if it is within the range of his Static Cannon. He is immune to the resulting blasts. Antenna A Vitality: 10/10 Passive Abilities: Static Discharge: A round after getting Static Charged, the antenna disperses the static energy in a Static Discharge, a blast that spans a 2 square radius around the antenna. All agents caught in the blast take 3 Energy Damage, minus any skill successes that Agent rolls for. Antenna B Vitality: 10/10 Passive Abilities: Static Discharge: A round after getting Static Charged, the antenna disperses the static energy in a Static Discharge, a blast that spans a 2 square radius around the antenna. All agents caught in the blast take 3 Energy Damage, minus any skill successes that Agent rolls for. Antenna C Vitality: 10/10 Passive Abilities: Static Discharge: A round after getting Static Charged, the antenna disperses the static energy in a Static Discharge, a blast that spans a 2 square radius around the antenna. All agents caught in the blast take 3 Energy Damage, minus any skill successes that Agent rolls for. Antenna D Vitality: 1/10 Passive Abilities: Static Discharge: A round after getting Static Charged, the antenna disperses the static energy in a Static Discharge, a blast that spans a 2 square radius around the antenna. All agents caught in the blast take 3 Energy Damage, minus any skill successes that Agent rolls for. The Agents Maximilian Vetre (Alix)44 cycles old Male ElfCharacter Points: 3/12Vitality: 6/6Velocity: 2Strength: 3Skill: 2Smarts: 1Proficiencies: Explosives 2, Occult 1, Short Range Weapons 2Credits: 10Equipment: D-KA Carbine (Standard Kinetic Short Range Weapon), Energy Cell, Golden Gel Hide (Standard Kinetic/Energy Armor)Inventory: 2 Hydrocobalt Shards, Rampart Kinetic Shield (Standard Kinetic Armor), Plasma PotionLocker: Empty Valesia (Waterbrick Down)110 Year Old Female CladrasithCharacter Points: 3/15Vitality: 4/5Velocity: 2Strength: 1Skill: 2Smarts: 1Spirit: 2/3Proficiencies: Insight 1, Medicine 1, Nature 3Known Spells: Elemental Evocation, Healing Light, Mystic Binding, Photonic ManipulationCredits: 70Equipment: Holo-scroll, Chef's Kit (Standard Kinetic Melee Weapon)Inventory: Ætherbrew, Essence of Precaution, Nanite Elixir Locker: Soren Aeolus (The Legonater) 31-year-old male Human Character Points: 4/17 Vitality: 2/5 Velocity: 2 Strength: 1 Skill: 3 Smarts: 2 Spirit: 2/2 Proficiencies: Nature 1, Insight 1, Piloting 2, Short-Range Weapons 2 Spells: Elemental Evocation, Mystic Binding Equipment: MK-12 personal handgun (short-ranged calibrated energy weapon), Farsight Goggles, Hacking Chip, Plasma Potion, Energy Cell Inventory: Whip Tail (Calibrated Short-Range Kinetic Weapon) Credits: 10 "Let's see if I'm still handy with a gun...!" Glenn Harmondon 64 year old Undead Vitality: 7/7 Velocity: 2 Strength: 3 Skill: 1 Smarts: 1 Spirit: 2/2 Proficiencies: Technology 3, Short Range Weapons 2, Arcana 1 Spells: Warding Bond Equipment: Empire Army Standard Issue Handgun (Calibrated Kinetic Short Range weapon), Kevlar Vest (Standard Kinetic Armor) Inventory: Plasma Potion x3, Emergency Flares

Dang it, WBD, you caught on that he had Gravity Sink. Well played. The original intent of the battle was that Invictus could use both of his weapons, but I goofed on that stat sheet on a fundamental rule, so fair's fair, he will have to swap. Going forward, would the "Innate" listing ala Mission 5's Glacier Mongers be the way to do it?

MM Note: Got it! And reading the rules and FAQ he will have to burn an action to swap. Invictus can't blow himself up with his own static, I'll amend that. "Valesia... I'm looking at the weird static charge this bastard is flinging around, and it's nothing I've ever seen before. That being said, comms equipment is my area of expertise, so if I get up close to one of these I might be able to pick out a weak spot on 'em. All four look the same make and model, so it'd help all around, but... Dammit, I should've done this before we went into the bunker." Glenn would kick himself if it didn't mean leaving himself wide open to Invictus. "Which antenna should I check out if any?"

MM Note: Noticed Glenn's velocity was listed as a 1 instead of 2, fixed.

The loot for choosing to fight and take him down is good, I promise!

UNLIMITED. Just kidding, it's long range. Thanks for the catch!

And so the first canon Heroica 2.0 Endgame boss makes his debut! Let's see how this one goes.

Invictus's frustration subsides for a moment. A sigh escapes from his armor as he just shakes his head in disappointment. "I suppose we are doing this. You can't say I didn't try." The machine draws in one deep breath, then another, seemingly meditating himself. "It's been a while since I've had to fight in this body. It's... Hah, it really has been a while since I've fought at all. Show me a good time, would you?" Invictus raises his arm cannon slowly... in and in a single jerky motion, suddenly angles it to fire above the agents, hitting one of the antennae. The metal rod begins to bristle with strange energy as Invictus leaps back, legs widened in a combat stance. He throws his head back and unleashes a horrible shriek-! ".̸̢̅-̶̩̚-̷̭̂.̴̤̉ ̸͙̑.̶̡̉-̸̨̆.̸͚̚ ̵̟͂.̴͕̀ ̶̝̔.̶̰̀-̴͕͂-̵̱̆.̴̯̓ ̸͈̐.̴̯̊-̷̰́ ̸̤̌.̷̯̀-̷̦̔.̷͕̇ ̶͙͐.̴͍͒ ̸̨̔/̴̧͋ ̵̬͐-̴͙͒ ̴͚̅-̴̦͛-̶̫̒-̴̖̽ ̷̝͘/̷̻̂ ̶̱͝-̸̝̍.̴̪̇.̶̝̓ ̴̥̌.̶̳̎.̶̻͒ ̴͈̉.̵̺̾!" "Brace yourselves, agents - this is it!" His voice echoes through the desert, ringing in the agents heads, as the final battle began! AGENTS, PREPARE FOR BATTLE! Round Zero: Invictus charges up Antenna C! Initiative Check (Agents): Soren: (3, 1) 0 successes Valesia: (3, 4) 1 success Max: (2, 2) 0 successes Glenn: (5) 1 success TURN ORDER: Glenn/Valesia, and then Max/Soren The Opposition "You chose this." Invictus - "HARBINGER" Shell Vitality: 24/26 Velocity: 1 Strength: 5 Skill: 1 Smarts: 5 Spirit: 5/5 Proficiencies: Arcana 1, Melee Weapons 3, Long Range Weapons 2, Technology 3, Acrobatics 2, Intimidation 4, Explosives 1 Spells: Elemental Evocation, Gravity Sink, Sonic Sweep, Quantum Transposition Equipment: UVB-76 Static Cannon (Calibrated Long Range Energy Weapon - enables use of the Static Storm ability) Inventory: Conqueror's Talons (Standard Kinetic Melee Weapon) Drops: ??? Passive Abilities: Phantom of Nendara: Invictus gets two Actions per round. Static Storm: Invictus can spend an Action making an antenna Static Charged, if it is within the range of his Static Cannon. He is immune to the resulting blasts. Antenna A Vitality: 10/10 Passive Abilities: Static Discharge: A round after getting Static Charged, the antenna disperses the static energy in a Static Discharge, a blast that spans a 2 square radius around the antenna. All agents caught in the blast take 3 Energy Damage, minus any skill successes that Agent rolls for. Antenna B Vitality: 10/10 Passive Abilities: Static Discharge: A round after getting Static Charged, the antenna disperses the static energy in a Static Discharge, a blast that spans a 2 square radius around the antenna. All agents caught in the blast take 3 Energy Damage, minus any skill successes that Agent rolls for. Antenna C *Static Charged!!* Vitality: 10/10 Passive Abilities: Static Discharge: A round after getting Static Charged, the antenna disperses the static energy in a Static Discharge, a blast that spans a 2 square radius around the antenna. All agents caught in the blast take 3 Energy Damage, minus any skill successes that Agent rolls for. Antenna D Vitality: 10/10 Passive Abilities: Static Discharge: A round after getting Static Charged, the antenna disperses the static energy in a Static Discharge, a blast that spans a 2 square radius around the antenna. All agents caught in the blast take 3 Energy Damage, minus any skill successes that Agent rolls for. The Agents Maximilian Vetre (Alix)44 cycles old Male ElfCharacter Points: 3/12Vitality: 6/6Velocity: 2Strength: 3Skill: 2Smarts: 1Proficiencies: Explosives 2, Occult 1, Short Range Weapons 2Credits: 10Equipment: D-KA Carbine (Standard Kinetic Short Range Weapon), Energy Cell, Golden Gel Hide (Standard Kinetic/Energy Armor)Inventory: 2 Hydrocobalt Shards, Rampart Kinetic Shield (Standard Kinetic Armor), Plasma PotionLocker: Empty Valesia (Waterbrick Down)110 Year Old Female CladrasithCharacter Points: 3/15Vitality: 5/5Velocity: 2Strength: 1Skill: 2Smarts: 1Spirit: 3/3Proficiencies: Insight 1, Medicine 1, Nature 3Known Spells: Elemental Evocation, Healing Light, Mystic Binding, Photonic ManipulationCredits: 70Equipment: Holo-scroll, Chef's Kit (Standard Kinetic Melee Weapon)Inventory: Ætherbrew, Essence of Precaution, Nanite Elixir Locker: Soren Aeolus (The Legonater) 31-year-old male Human Character Points: 4/17 Vitality: 5/5 Velocity: 2 Strength: 1 Skill: 3 Smarts: 2 Spirit: 2/2 Proficiencies: Nature 1, Insight 1, Piloting 2, Short-Range Weapons 2 Spells: Elemental Evocation, Mystic Binding Equipment: MK-12 personal handgun (short-ranged calibrated energy weapon), Farsight Goggles, Hacking Chip, Plasma Potion, Energy Cell Inventory: Whip Tail (Calibrated Short-Range Kinetic Weapon) Credits: 10 "Let's see if I'm still handy with a gun...!" Glenn Harmondon 64 year old Undead Vitality: 7/7 Velocity: 2 Strength: 3 Skill: 1 Smarts: 1 Spirit: 2/2 Proficiencies: Technology 3, Short Range Weapons 2, Arcana 1 Spells: Warding Bond Equipment: Empire Army Standard Issue Handgun (Calibrated Kinetic Short Range weapon), Kevlar Vest (Standard Kinetic Armor) Inventory: Plasma Potion x3, Emergency Flares

I liked Mission 5 a lot, personally! Thanks a ton for hosting, WBD. Any sort of dragging that occurred in the middle in regards to my activity had more to do with a spike in work activity on my end than the quality of the quest, honestly, so I wouldn't worry there. I'll rattle off a quick list of thoughts on how things went: The guide choice was pretty big in retrospect. Chatting the each of them up was pretty fun, and I liked Sigrun as a character a lot - I suppose my only point of advice would be to give a drop more info on what the individual impacts would be? In retrospect, not trusting Sigrun that the rigged up corpse was a trap, after we paid her for her intuition and combat evasion skills, was pretty silly on our end. The puzzle was fun! WBD puzzles always fit great and feel fitting contextually. Where we were on the lakeshore got kind of ambiguous, but I wanted to play Decker as a touch dim/scattered, so it gave me a chance to flex that part of his character. There was really no villain, and I suppose there didn't need to be. Kristal Ice is as close as we ever got and that felt fitting for the kind of quest it was. The Rime Drake twist was pretty good. I find it ironic that we had two quests; one in the desert, one in the tundra; one has the big twist that the expected boss was dead the whole time, the other had the big twist that the boss never really died. From a game perspective, I just don't think that high skill enemies "feel" very good. If it was a much higher HP enemy with low skill instead, the party at least gets the pressure valve of being able to do consistent damage. I think your intent was to make the party leverage rally/defend actions, which makes sense, I think we just got hit hard fast, and that threw us off our game. The balance also felt wonky because it felt like we had some really poor rolls at times, and its hard to balance around rotten luck. This was felt in the gator rematch more than anything. The team dynamic felt pretty good! Enson emerged as the clear leader, so I wanted Decker to settle into a more team-player/hustle kind of role. I'm still definitely trying to figure Decker out. My intent was to have him be basically a blob of clay to be molded by in-Mission events; minimal backstory with a few fixed character traits. He's a collaborator, he's generally good-hearted, he's a bit of a hot head and he's far from the sharpest tool in the box. I think not investing in any of the "contextual" proficiencies, like Insight, hurt Decker on this mission. He couldn't really do stuff besides fight, and I purposefully gimped him in combat for the sake of a gag, so Decker ended up hobbled entirely by my own design. Oops. I wish the investment of character points mid-Mission was possible. I think that learning new spells and new proficiencies may be better as a between Mission deal, but boosting base stats would be appropriate. With a lot of the loot backloaded in this Mission, it didn't really feel like Decker was getting stronger. The Rime Drake and the scale you portrayed with it was stunning. That's all I got for now! Thanks again, and I hope to be able to hop on the next WBD mission.

MM Note: If memory serves, you guys never actually split the loot from the submarine battle, so here it is again before a fight potentially breaks out: Golden Gel Hide: Standard Energy/Kinetic Armor Whip Tail: Calibrated Short-Range Kinetic Weapon Nanite Elixir: (Consumable) Removes 1 negative status effect from character Plasma Potion: (Consumable) Heals character 1d6 Vitality + user's Medicine proficiency If it makes more sense to dole this out out of character, by all means do so - just want to make sure that all of this finds its way to someone's inventory before a potential boss fight.

I hope this is conflict is still enjoyable for you guys! This dilemma is what I was building towards for the Mission and the roleplay has been awesome from you guys.

"A ghost? He's here! He's right here! Or at least proof of him is. Why are we being so defeatist about this? We can beat him, we can take back the double and the data as proof, we can report it smartly, make sure it doesn't leak... We can track him down and beat him for good. Do you really think he's never going to return? Just how many loose ends have you already "tied up" to hide yourself, machine?" "Enough to stay hidden." Invictus hisses, still soft voiced but sounding more aggravated. "How many did I kill in the Five Year's war, undead? Don't pretend like the numbers matter right now." The machine's indignation only mounts. "I see. Perhaps we shall see if your strength matches your conviction, Cladrasith." Invictus shakes his head. "Waste of time? You four are the biggest hurdle between me and anonymity that I've come across in quite some time. I heard some of what the AI told you... Rather damning stuff. Violence is hardly a waste for me here. I already extended mercy to you. I could've attacked in the dark and I didn't." Invictus raises his arm cannon again. The barrel of it crackled and hiss with static charge. "I will not surrender to the Savior City. Step aside and let me take what I need. Or like I said... The next shot may not miss."

"Perhaps. But what justice do you earn by killing me - either this self, or my real body? Will the lives I took come back, will the desert here be returned to ocean? No. The galaxy would continue on exactly as it would before. Perhaps besides the vultures of the savior city plucking my corpse dry for their Weapon R&D programs." "You son of a bitch, this isn't ancient history. There's still families mourning their missing sons and daughters." "Exactly. So let it fade into history. Let them mourn. Without me becoming a person of interest again." Soren Insight Check: (3, 6, 6, 2) vs DC 2, DC 4; Success, Failure Soren struggles to perceive if the machine really experienced any sort of permanent change of heart. But it seemed like its offer of a nonviolent end was genuine. Likewise, if Invictus' offer was rejected, the pilot could sense that if push came to shove, Invictus could get very violent indeed. "If you would feel better with having what's left of the AI and the data in my possession instead of destroyed, that is fine. But I am not willingly leaving here with that data just... lingering in the desert, for someone to find. Defeats the purpose." "Come to a middle ground?! Do you know what you're suggesting - he's killed thousands! He was there, he was right there with the two blockades, maybe hours before the gate collapse!" Glenn's composure was all but gone, his gun hand trembling. "Did you cause the gate collapse!? Are you why I'm like this?! TELL ME!" "...What answer could I give that would possibly satisfy you, undead?" Glenn nods along in full agreement. "Valesia, you're right. Soren, listen, you're talking about us having no right to exact justice? This isn't even him! He's just... inhabiting a more human form to get us to feel bad. The real Invictus, the actual monster, is elsewhere, puppeteering this shell. Whatever we do today is about securing justice in the future, not in the now. If you three choose to let this chance at securing the galaxy slip through our fingers, you better believe I'm not gonna feel good giving this mission the green stamp, either." "...If the financials become a tipping point in this, I suppose I could leverage a connection or two and see that the compensation is matched. You may have guessed this, but I value my privacy." "If I planned on turning myself in to any authority in any system, it would have happened long ago. The Arm is convinced I am dead. It shall remain that way, for the best of all parties. It's hard to stay in the grave when you're being interrogated by every member of the military brass from here to Qilin system." Glenn shakes his head. "No, Max, my boy. The League and Empire wouldn't turn on each other for this, at least I-I don't think so. What they would do is turn their attention to wiping Invictus off the map. He terrorized all sides in the Five Years war. He doesn't have many friends anywhere in any system." "Recover the data, track me down, send the forces of the Arm to my doorstep if you must. They will want to see my dead. I will respond in kind. Before I fall you'll have a few more memorials to erect. That's a promise." "Two of you are seeing reason. I implore you, let the past stay dead. All of you - choose."

"My proposal: you forget what you saw today. We descend back into that bunker together and finish the job. The AI should be fried, but I overheard talks of physical media, backup storage... It must be destroyed. Expunged." "So you can go about plotting whatever it is you're trying to do." "Plotting? I have done nothing but keep to myself for years and years. Occasionally emerging from hiding like this to tie up loose ends and to tend to people sticking their noses where they don't belong. You two think I'm plotting? What I desire is to look up at the sky and see the stars, instead of whole battleship fleets packing a hundred proton torpedoes with my name on them. If you send the galaxy after me... I will not shoot first. And I may not even be able to survive them. But you better believe that before the dust of battle settles there will be plenty of new graves to dig. Is that blood you want on your hands?" "For one, if we got into a conflict, I risk damaging or losing this remote body. These things don't grow on trees or get churned off of assembly lines, you know. Building them is... Something of a hassle. But, more than that, I just don't have any real desire to kill you. You've really done no wrong, not yet. How could've you known you were getting tangled up in this?"

Valesia could feel Invictus' gaze pass through her. "You care about harmony and balance? Then let me pitch it to you this way. Do you care to rip open scars around the galaxy that had only just started fading, to sow chaos and instill unease?" "That's more your wheelhouse, you warmongering bastard. Don't you dare turn that back on us." "You're not far off the mark there. Tell me, how do you think the galaxy would react - the Empire and League, especially - if they knew I was alive?"

"Reinforcements? You'd be surprised... I may not be in my original body, but I don't hate my odds in a four on one." Invictus marvels over Valesia's sudden aggression. "I... see. Like I said, I'd actually like a non-violent resolution to this, if you would care to comply. But what I don't understand is the furor." Invictus grows morose for a moment. "17 years ago... I didn't take someone or something from you, did I?"