OH SHIT!

This is... TG Quest 33!

>>17137538
"Yes, yes. We'll counter-sign the triple-pay bonus. Plus hazard pay. Now, have you worked in the Federation communicators? We need to test the Asgard transporters, make sure they work. Otherwise, we're going to be dropping an Overlord into one of the castles."

Make sure that they test the Asgard beaming tech on the Al'Kesh, that it works within the mist if not through it.

>>17137606
How are you performing this test?

>mfw this plays everynight instead of EVO quest.

Fucking gods hate me.

>>17137632
Erm, well let's send down some non essential item now and see if anything fucks up

Also, can we use this prep time to replicate silver slugs for Tosh's gauss assault rifle, silver arrows for Finalon's bow, and silver bolter ammo for the KI squad?
With Dracula here, there's going to be some werewolves around and we might need it.
Also, if they can use them, we should be able to replicate Type 1 phasers for the White Mages. They're small, discrete, but still pack a punch. And they're fairly easy to use: point and click.

Drop everything down in an ammo drop pod homing in on the Al'Kesh's transponder.

>>17137632
We will perform the test by attempting to beam up and beam down a small item of little consequence. Use one of the White Mage's robes, and beam it up and down from the Al'Kesh, and see if there is any problems, and what the max range is within the mist.

Also, have the Probe Droid identify some small animal, such as a chicken or pig, or a squirrel in the forest. Do the same experiment, make sure that living beings are still okay to beam up.

>>17137665
So you return again. Fine! I'll reveal the truth, you persistent poster!

Yes, it's true. I'm part of a conspiracy to drain all the posting energy out of /tg/ so that EVO Quest never sees the light of day again! Don't you see?! We of the Quest Illuminati HAD to put a stop to EVO Quest! It threatened our power base with new ideas and fun dynamics! And as we all know, having ONE Quest thread running on /tg/ automatically prevents ANY OTHER Quests from running at the same time! AND NO ONE CAN STOP ME! BWAHAHAHAHA-

>>17137685
Hm? Oh, yes. You manage this without trouble.

>>17137673
What sort of item?

>>17137716
You send the robe up and down with no consequence.

When you send the squirrel up, it materializes as a horrid, but tiny abomination of bone, blood, exposed muscle and sinew, and fangs. It promptly attacks the Al'Kesh crew, but they put it down without trouble. The co-pilot gets a painful bite on his ankle, though.

>>17137761
Ugh. We can transport materials around, but not living things, apparently. Fucking mist.
Keep that co-pilot under medical observation. If he starts to feel strange, he is to immediately meet up with the White Mages and get a cast of Esuna. Don't take chances with the stuff here.

Alright, now, guys, let's get something better than have the WM walk around town hoping for a stalker vampire to come and whisk them away. We need a plan.

>>17137795
Okay, plan:
1. We have the teams go out again, around the town, asking the town guards if there's a mayor or burgermeister who we could talk to until the Counts consent to see us.
2. We keep up the pretense of being a mapping delegation from Londinium, asking such things as what sorts of trade goods does this village and other surrounding towns buy and sell.
3. We both use the two disguised White Mages in a ploy to get the two Counts to invite us to their castles.
4. We can only accept one, of course, and so the other Count will undoubtedly launch an attack in order to kidnap the ladies.
5. This will cause the Count we were going to see to retaliate in force, now that he knows where the woman he's been looking is, and can fight in her defense and make himself look good, as well as not endangering her by fighting randomly.
6. We allow this fight to escalate, and hope that this draws the two Counts out for a showdown.
7. When the two fight, we wait until they are both weakened, and finish them off.

Now, let's start tearing this plan apart to make sure we plan contingencies for all eventualities.

Okay, also, anyone have the Ravenloft modules?
We need information on these super-zombies that Strahd is able to create.
Having his stats will also help.

Also, anyone who has played Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, any details on Dracula you can provide? Such as what forms he can take as a boss, abilities, and weaknesses.

Also, this plan here: >>17137922
Will the vampire lords leave their castles? They are most powerful in their castles and they have centuries of experience; drawing them out will not be simple.

>>17137761
I have come to the conclusion that we need to raid a pet shop after this. We need the proverbial canary to test our transporter tech in Canons where it might be compromised to make sure that there's no unfortunate side-effects.

>>17138001
I don't know much about Strahd but Castlevania's Dracula is more of a primordial force of chaos that displaced the devil himself than a vampire. Only certain weapons seem to be able to harm him, the Vampire Killer Whip for example.

That said, his preferred tactic is to teleport around the area and shoot fireballs/magic missiles at you.

Dracula's castle itself, Castlevania, is as much of a creature of chaos as he is and can reshape itself according to its master's whim.

Not to mention the guy has the Grim Reaper on bankroll, so expect Death to show up at the fight unless he's already been banished.

>>17138133
Hopefully Ringil and the Voiceless Spear are enough to be able to harm Dracula. Maybe combined with a well-timed Holy.
But his teleport shenanigans are going to be a bitch to protect against.

ANON, does the Indefatigable's replicator database have the blueprints for a transport inhibitor or jammer?
If we can't teleport, then I don't want anyone else being able to.

>>17138221
We also need a way to deal with Death in case he shows up. Death and Dracula are pretty chummy, I wouldn't put it past them to team up.

Death usually flies around the area summoning masses of miniature homing sickles to attack you along with binding chains and exploding skulls, oh and lets not forget the Scythe.

>>17138221
ANON: "The Indefatigable does not have the schematics for such a device, nor do I, though I do know they exist and the TG has access to them in their supply depots."

>>17138221
One last thing I forgot to mention about Draclua. If in the event he takes enough damage, he will almost always shapeshift into some monstrously powerful form the abilities and shape of which is completely unpredictable.

The more I think about it, the more I realize that in a straight up fight, Strahd doesn't even compare to Draclua...

>>17138349
A pity. We'll need to get the patterns when we're back at base.

We still have the option of sending down our psionisists and abjurers. Let's see if they have any spells or powers we can use.

>>17138414
Additionally, don't forget about the fact that the castle is FULL of minions, ranging from bog-standard Zombies and Fishmen to creatures of immense power, such as Orlock/Olrox, Legion, Beelzebub, Headless Armor, and many others.

Whelp that concludes my briefing on Dracula. Now where did I put those Ravenloft books?

The two..three biggest problems I see with the plan as it stands is:
1. No way to prevent teleportation shenanigans by either Count, who could simply teleport in, grab our girls, and then teleport out. I don't like playing on an even field, or having our tricks turned against us.
2. That the Counts would even leave their castles, rather than send two fuckhuge armies after us.
3. That they would fight each other, rather than say, "Hey, there's two girls, two of us, let's call a truce and we each get a girl".

Any luck on finding those Ravenloft books?
I'm downloading some now, but it'll be a while to get them and read through them.

How'd this get on page 5? up!

>>17137922
Well, seeing as nothing's effing happening, I say we start kicking this plan into motion and go from there. Better to do -something- than the most well-planned nothing.

I say we send the same team from last time down, executing 'Step 1' and asking for the local authority so we can get some sort of meeting in.

>>17139344
Alright, but let's at least have the two decoys wear hooded mantles or cloaks. We don't want to make it too obvious that these two resemble the woman that the Counts are looking for.
Rumor should do our work for us.

>>17139372
Yes, sending the two down (but well disguised) would be good foreshadowing, and since these entities should (-should-) be at least partially plot driven (being BBEGs), it would make the later reveal more effective.

>>17139344

We should first considerate what >>17138846 said, we don´t want to risk to members of the team to be kidnapped by vampire hax magic


Also

>waitingforOP.jpeg

>>17139396

Two members*

>>17139392
Right, so it's going to be:
Darius
Tosh
Finalon
KI Squad
3 White Mages (2 decoys, dressed up to look like the woman the Counts want, but wearing hooded cloaks and robes to leave some doubt, forcing the Counts to take notice and check for themselves).

>>17139396
I... I honestly don't see away to get around it...
...unless we use it to our advantage somehow.
Do we have any sort of reliable tracking or comms-bug we can plant on them in case our Mages are kidnapped?
>>17139412
Sounds right from my perspective.

>>17137538
OP,

What's the name of the White Mage?

We sent down a drop pod with silver weapons and Type 1 phasers for the ladies to carry as backup weapons; should we prepare a second item drop with a micro-transporter and exographic scanner for Tosh, so that he can shoot through walls if he has to?

>>17139414

We should be cautious and have more than one way to follow them, magical and technological.


>INB4 /tg/ dice destroys all of them with a 1

>>17139464
The Aurors are occupied...
1) Traditional tracker/comms bugs can be made in the fabricators, correct?
2) Do we have any way to track them psychically through the mists? Tosh might be useful if his telepathic range is long enough.

rolled 11, 19, 91, 96, 80 = 297

Testing our RNG.

>>17139485
We can fabricate Federation communicators, those can be used to track a person as well as talk with them.

As for magic...checking...yes, they should have access to Dimensional Anchor, Psionic.
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/dimensionalAnchorPsionic.htm

>>17139578
Yes. Not sure about the SRD-source spells, though; they are FF characters, with a limited spellbook.

Team, let's quickly fab ourselves some FedComms for the decoys and check to see if our WM's either have access to or can quickly learn enough of DimAnchor for us to use it in the field as a safety protocol.

>>17139430
One is named Lyla, the other is named Elaine.

Tosh returns to the barkeep and learns that the head of the village lives in a small manor at the northern end of town. Visiting him reveals that Count Strahd will soon be sending one of his minions to meet with him for the monthly tribute. Count Dracula does not have a formal line of communication.

>>17139624
No, I was referring to the Psions we have on staff, and of which 3 are supposed to be part of this operation.

>>17139637
Ah, was wondering about those guys.
Were they in the Raccoon City attack, though?
If not, then let's Anchor them once they're groundside and there's a good chance of tele-hax.
>>17139633
Well, team, let's prep, stat.
1) Fabricate Federation Communicators for the Decoys
2) Head down and get ready for Step 3 of 'The Plan'...
...being the ploy with which we lure out the Counts. Which I have no idea as to how to execute. We'll have to send the Away Team down, lie low as the Londinium Expedition, and wait.
Sound good to everyone?

>>17139633
>>Elaine
>>Elaine Arronax, Tobia's grandmother
>>Zeonquest

Dohohohoho.

>>17139670
>Were they in the Raccoon City attack, though?
We split the White Mage, Psion, and Abjurer teams in half.

3 of each went to Raccoon City, and the other 3 of each is available for this op.

>>17139695
Excellent.
Well, just have to watch for the shimmering energy field being suspicious as hell and the time limit of about 10 minutes based on these guy's levels.

Unless OP says otherwise, we used the deployment plan that left the Psions and the Abjurers up in orbit.
I have no idea why people supported that one, but there you go.

I think we have the first Leopard available now to take the Psions and Abjurers down, but will need OP confirmation.

TG QUEST!
HOORAH!

Let's see what we've got today..

Alright, haven't missed much it seems.
Last I heard in the last threads was that The Al'kesh, the Probe Droid, and Tosh+Elf were scouting the area more thoroughly for the mysterious woman or forces looking for said same.
Meanwhile the rest of the landing party, which Would be Darius, some KI, and one White Mage were getting a room if it was on the ground floor, and possibly offering services to the local guard while we work through our options.
This still look correct?

>>17139769
No. It's not.

>>17139670
>1) Fabricate Federation Communicators for the Decoys
Let's check to see if the replicators have the TR-116 design first, before sending stuff down; considering that we may have to go into a castle or two, let's see if we can get a weapon that shoots through walls as well.

>2) Head down and get ready for Step 3 of 'The Plan'...
We may want to switch out the third, non-disguised White Mage with one of the Psions so that he can create a dimensional anchor in case one of the Counts wants to try a drive-by teleporting.

>>17139784
I don't see any suggestions of changes, or at least not suggest that OP has changed that.
Mainly stated it to remind everyone of who was where and what we were doing.

>>17139834
Well, except for adding the decoy plan onto that, that is.

>>17139834
First post.
Tosh and Finalon are back with the others. Finalon helping with the disguises for Lyla and Elaine.
So they're back at the inn right now, and we're waiting on when Strahd's minion is going to be meeting with the mayor so that we can talk with the minion and let him get a look at the two White Mages.

>>17139832
As noted in the Planning thread, we can add the micro-transporter to pretty much any projectile weapon, save exotic shit like black-hole guns.
No need for the TR-116 itself unless we're short on guns.

>>17139934
There's still the problem of fitting it, though.
Tosh's gauss assault rifle doesn't exactly have Picatinny rails, or the micro-transporter Picatinny adapters.
A minor thing, but it shouldn't be overlooked.
When the micro-transporter module gets replicated, the Inde's engineers should do a little machining to make sure it fits onto Tosh's gun.

>>17139767
Yes, you left them in orbit, and yes, the spare Leopard can shuttle them down.

You manage to fabricate the spare communicators no problem.

What exactly is your plan now?

>>17139934
We might also want a Farsight XR-20 later from Perfect Dark. X-Ray scope, and it can shoot through walls with no reduction in killing power. Mite b kewl later.
>>17139994
Give the Mages the communicators, bring down the Psions/Abjurators to join up with the away team, and stay in character as the Londinium Expedition.
Anything else?

>>17139914
Ah, missed this. So your whole group is going to be waiting with the mayor in order to talk with the minion?

>>17139980
They'd have to tweak the design either way, unless you count novels, there isn't a standard module for that. Just an ad-hoc the serial killer and O'Brian came up with.
No 'machining' per se though, just adjusting. Which trek has shown to be as easy as "Computer, modify this design to fit these specifications." "Modifications complete."

>>17140009
No. Not the whole group.

If we can shuttle down Psions and the Abjurers in the Leopard, we may as well also include the Prawn suits, Delta Green team, SCP team, the rest of the nanny-bags, a bunch of Federation and standard medkits, and if they can fit, 2 Hellstars. Also the communicators, micro-transporter module and exographic scanner for Tosh.
Just in case. They'll stay a distance from the village, and stay inside the dropship.

As for the meeting with the minion, take along Darius, Tosh, Finalon, Elaine and Layla, and one of the Psions who can use Dimension Anchor.

>>17140057
This sounds precisely right.
Let's go with this.

>>17140032
Yes, it's easy. That's why it needs to be done. We need to make sure that small details like this are properly addressed, rather than hoping for the best.
We planned exhaustively for Tokyo, and we won.

>>17140057
If you hook up anyone to the Prawn Suits, they can't be extracted without killing them.

>>17140057
WUT

I think people are forgetting where our people are. Hold on, I'll pull it up..

>>17140082
I forgot what exactly the Prawn Suits do to their operators, but it was a fluke that Wikus came out alive.

>>17140082
The Prawn Suits already came with pilots though. I'm assuming that we contacted the homeworld of the prawns or contracted with a prawn space mercenary group and hired them on.

>>17140073
>>17140057
Shit, I forgot the MI.
Make sure that the Mobile Infantry are also on that Leopard.

>>17140103
Seems more like it was meant for a Prawn and less 'let's kill the pilot to help the bottom line'. Sure his genes matched, but the physiology of it would fuck you up, especially that neural uplinking that your pic facilitated.
Besides, we have trained Prawn Red-Jackets piloting these things. They'll be fine.

>>17140105
Holtz isn't a goddamn wizard. I think we're expected to jailbreak any hardware we're given.

Or are you like those anime weeaboo people in the other thread trying to wank to their favorite series and not getting anything done properly?

>>17140091
Darius, Tosh, Finalon, White Mages, and 'however many Knights Inductor we can fit' went down in the Al'kesh transport.
MI, rest of KI, and Delta Green into the Leopard and hold for reinforcement drop.
Mecha units loaded on Overload on standby, "in case we get crazy".
7. Send down Al'kesh, under cloak, to village.
8. Unload Darius, Elf (wear headband Spock-style to hide elfness), Tosh, a White Mage, and a small force of KI.

Huh. That's not how I remembered, thought we loaded the Psions and Abjurors on the Al'kesh too. Guess I was mistaken. My apologizes, I was mistaken.

>>17140134
>Or are you like those anime weeaboo people in the other thread trying to wank to their favorite series and not getting anything done properly?
No. It was specifically said that any Vehicle Requisition (which was what the Prawn Suits were) come with pilots.
I will dig up the relevant post in a moment.

>>17140160
>>Prawn pilots

I'd hate to see how they -don't- get along with the other troops.

>>17140091
>>17140136
We WOULD have gone with
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17117963#17118122

But then everyone voted up
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17117963#17118415
So that's what we have.

>>17140057
>Darius, Tosh, Finalon, Elaine and Layla, and one of the Psions who can use Dimension Anchor.

While I'm in the middle of preparing the encounter post, your other troops have the day to do whatever you want them to. The meeting takes place at midnight.

>>17140213
I'd say we should go ahead with the old searching the area plan while Darius and his honor guard of KI offer to help the town guard and keep chatting up the locals in a Reasonable way.

>>17140245
Welp, time to increase our Social Links with the girls.

>>17140213
>The meeting takes place at midnight.
Of course. It wouldn't be gothic horror otherwise.

I don't want our troops wandering around outside too much. With the Counts engaged in a little quiet war with each other, there's a risk that our guys would end up being found by one group of monsters or another.
Hopefully their weapons will work on the monsters of these Canons.

Also, if we have too many people in town or in the environs, it will raise suspicions more than they're already raised.

Unless someone knows of specific locations in the Barovia setting we should check for possible protagonist help, I think we should just sit tight for now.

Well, if we're trying to sneak the Psions and Abjurers down, see if the Aurors can arrange a short cloaking spell for a shuttlecraft, those aren't too big, so if shouldn't be beyond their abilities.

>>17140305
No more shuttlecraft are available, though.
The single shuttlepod from the Indefatigable is already down on the planet, and the Relentless does not have much of its auxiliary vehicles.

>>17140262
We're talking about the people we already have in town. Which was Darius, a small group of KI, Tosh, Elf, and one White Mage, to which we've apparently added the other two as well.
And almost two squads worth of KI chilling on the Al'kesh.

"I said it before, but I'll say it again. I don't like this plan," Lyla mumbles as she adjusts her cloak.

The moon is high in the sky, a chill wind moaning across the bare treetops as the mayor stands with an ironbound chest in a small grove outside the village. Your away team stands a respectful distance away, waiting. The seconds tick by with only the whispers of the wind to fill their ears before Darius sights movement in the treetops. Something bounding from branch to branch. Finally a dark shape, features indistinct, crashes through the branches of a final tree to land in the clearing, swiftly changing shape to a dapper gentlemen in finery that approaches the mayor.

"Ah, Mayor Barovie. Punctual as usual. But I do not... recognize your guests," he says, taking the chest without preamble.

>>17140332
"Stick to the script for now, Darius. If he asks if Londinium is London, say that it went through a name change."

They shouldn't know about London, but in with the crossovers and how the mists allowed travel to Prime Material worlds, we shouldn't be complacent.

>>17140332
That's Strahd, right?
As far as I can tell, our plan is: Say Hi, ask what's going on with the two castles where there was only one before. Stick to the cover story that we're cartographers from Londinium looking to make sense of the crazy bullshit that seems to be changing the world's geography, making castles and cities appear in random places.

To confirm: Darius, Tosh, a recon drone, some of the KI, Elf, and the 3 White Mages are on planet.
As backup, we're ready to drop the rest of the KI, Abjurers, Psions, Mobile Infantry, and Delta greens.
SCPs, UNITs, Mouse, and the Prawns, are not assigned to anything.
Is that correct?

A mid-term goal here is to talk to Strahd and Dracula, find out why they've started killing the crap out of each-other (Likely because Ravenloft is Lawful and Castlevania is Chaotic), and see if we can provoke an opportunity to either kill them or have them leave of their own volition.

>>17140332
"We are travelers from Londinium. We seek an audience with the Count on behalf of our king," Darius states.

"Your timing leaves much to be desired. The Count is in no mood to entertain guests, and much of his time is spent attempting to deal with the interloper across the way," he sniffs. "I will put it before him, but do not expect much."

>>17140478
Well, we can help him DEAL with said interloper. Or help said interloper. We don't know what to make of this whole business, and none of the townsfolk do, either. We're hoping to talk to someone to learn how to react to this ... situation, and the best person to talk to about that is the count.

>>17140464
"Surely the matter of the strange goings on is worth his time? The ways the mist has altered the land?" Darius ventures. The emissary narrows his eyes a bit.

"What exactly do you mean?" he asks.

"Well... that offender's castle wasn't always there, was it? Similarly, our lord has had troubles with things appearing where they were not before."

A pause.

"I will take your request to the Count," the emissary states. "He will send for you if he consents to this... audience."

>>17140478
"Ask him when this interloper appeared, as our maps showed that only Count Strahd was to have dominion over this area. Ask what right does Count Dracula invoke to lay claim to the village and the land. You are trying to prepare a full report, after all."

>>17140515
Alright, that's probably as good as we're going to get for now. I can't think of a way to introduce Lyla or Elaine now that wouldn't be out of place.
Damn, we need to prepare some proper gifts to be given as part of the audience, as is proper.
Maybe have the Inde replicate a small statue of precious metals, with a hidden Type 1 phaser set to remote controlled critical overload. And a similar one for Dracula if we meet him.

>>17140557
Strahd will identify any random item we send to him, so I wouldn't pull the "IT'S A TRAP" move on him. Could work for Dracula, though.
A few random gems and other valuables wouldn't go astray. Especially Diamond. Everyone needs more raise dead.

>>17140574
But would a hidden Type 1 phaser trigger a Detect Trap type of spell?
It's just a regular phaser with a remote control that can set it into critical overload.
Though I suppose with magic, it can detect the intent of a thing and might flag it as a trap.

Fucking magic. Screwing up my plans to disintegrate vampire lords when they least expect it.

>>17140524
"Our maps showed that only Strahd had claim to this area, by what ri-"

The emissary holds up a hand. "That is enough. I will make the request. Stay in the village and he will send for you. If you havent' heard back in a fortnight, you will know the answer. Farewell."

The gentleman takes the chest and vanishes into the trees.

>>17140603
Well, that's part A done.
Next step: Talk to Dracula. How do we talk to Dracula? Do we just walk up to his front door and start arguing about what constitutes a man?

>>17140557
Town has it's own eyes and ears keeping an eye out for a blonde woman healing people.
Now we've taken some of out blonde female healers and put them in a dress.
It's practically a matter of time at this rate.

>>17140603
I think we need to find those of the village that remember being under Dracula's rule next.
From talking with them, maybe we can attract Dracula's attention.
Elaine and Lyla will need to be seen around town, but we should make sure that they're never alone, and that we have them protected by one of the psions and a Hero at all times.

>>17140645
That doesn't mean we just wait. I'd say now's a good time to ask about for Dracula, and see if any of the townsfolk are in contact with him or otherwise working for him. If they are, we walk up the chain of command until we reach him.
If nobody's working for Dracula, we simply walk up to his castle and announce that we are HUMANS who wish to pay HIM TRIBUTE. Then we give him a bunch of gems with a remote trap in them.

There's no Detect Traps spell that I could find, and we could have the engineers take the phaser components out of their housing and build it into the figurine, maybe even have it power a little light or something to make it innocuous.

We should consult with our Abjurers and Psions to see if there's any magical way that the trap could be detected.

Opping for wait.

>>17140614
I found this to be interesting

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5483316

>>17140765
I'm waiting for... post-posters? PP? No, that's not right.

So you're sending your guys around to chat up the peasantry and try to find someone that knows about Dracula then?

>>17140829
Yes. Strahd will contact us if he wants to.

rolled 37 = 37

>>17140834
OK.

Your away team meanders around, attempting to Gather some Information on Dracula...

>>17140868
Looks like we did below average but not disastrously.
Guess the only next place of potential is to simply stare at Dracula's castle from a hiding spot for an hour to see if any humans go in or out.

>>17140868
When you bring up the subject of Dracula, everyone shuts up. You get the sense that randomly probing the peasantry probably isn't going to yield much information. However, with Lyla/Elaine's presence while asking, this DOES help word get around of the mysterious woman. So there's that, at least.

>>17140876
In fact, they do not.

>>17140889
Hmm.
What DOES go in and out of Dracula's castle, if anything?
I figure the best way to get to dracula is to follow whatever ALREADY gets to dracula.

>>17140889
Has the probe droid been able to identify any of the monsters that go in and out of Dracula's castle?

Waiting for op

>>17140889
>>17140900
>>17140913
The probe droid logs a few bats, giant bats, what are probably werewolves, and winged skeletons coming to and fro, but little else.

>>17140956
We've done what we can to stir up rumors and get the vampires interested in Lyla and Elaine.
I don't believe we can door more in that direction without it becoming painfully obvious we want their attention.
So we should probably try to track down the real Tatyana/Lisa while we wait for a response from Strahd.

And confirmation: does everyone have their bio-stabilizer masks to prevent mind-control?
We can't really wear them in public, but we should put them on when back inside the inn, and everyone back at the Leopard dropship.

>>17141011
Confirmed. How are you going about searching for the real Lisa/Tatanya?

>>17140956
Have the Elf and the Droid track the werewolves.
That'll give us a hint on where Dracula's sending his troops and what he's doing with them. He might just be scouting the surrrounding area for attackers.
Meanwhile, have the WHMs buff Tosh, and have Tosh see if he can stealth to an entrance door on the castle (any entrance door will do) and plant a listening device or camera.
Darius and the two decoy WHMs should be talking around town and searching for the REAL plot-npc.
>>17141011
Good point about the Psi masks. Ensure we have those.

Teams should be split up as:
Darius, the two Decoy WHMs, any anti-teleport troops we have, a KI silencer and 2 KIs as bodyguards, should walk around town seaching for Lisa/Taty.
Tosh, after getting his buffs, goes out on his own to plant listening devices and scout Castle entrances. Keep 3 KIs at a fallback position if the fan hits the shit and he needs immediate support.
The Elf, the other KIs, the Droid, the remaining White Mage, and any other troops with the Werewolf tracking squad - as this squad has the greatest chance of actually fighting werewolves, and should have our greatest forces.

This makes our Stealther do stealthy work, our Talker do talky work, our Tracker do tracky work, and gives us the maximum chance of finding further progress.

>>17141032
Send out groups to make it look like we're mapping the surrounding area. Ask village guards and locals about the local land, such as local dangers such as animals, as well as if there are any landmarks of note, things to watch out for. If we come across anyone injured or sick, heal them.

Groups are:
1. Darius, Lyla, Psion, 2 KI, 1 Silencer
2. Tosh, Finalon, Elaine, Psion, KI with Voiceless Spear, 1 Silencer
3. Squad of 3 KI, 2 Silencers

>>17141069
>>17141080
Blarg, deadlock.

>>17141069
>Tosh, after getting his buffs, goes out on his own to plant listening devices and scout Castle entrances
Keep in mind that Strahd has super-zombies that have magical anti-invisibility vision.

He needs to be extra careful and not depend on just his cloak. The zombies won't register on his IR sensors or his psionic senses.

>>17141104
Specify: Castlevania's entrances. My bad.

I figure that Dracula can't be reached until we know more about what he's doing, and I'm just brainstorming ways to get to him that aren't "Kick the door down".

Dammit I know you're out there.
Vote on one course of action or the other.

>>17141116
I support my own plan, of course.
Well, we have either "Split up and track, talk, and spy", or "Split up and talk and scout". Someone's gotta have a preference.

>>17141080
Has my vote. Splitting up our decoys gives us a better chance.

>>17141136
Waiting for op.

>>17141080

Also voting for this.

Tosh, while having a lifetime of infiltration experience under his belt, is a bit out of his element right now. That, and there are monsters here that could probably smell him from five miles away. It might be best to have him cover one of the decoys than risk getting caught in an encounter without backup.

rolled 2 = 2

>>17141196
I thought you were still voting since it's 1 to 1 again. So let's let chance decide.

>>17141212
Are you insane? There's a clear majority for one of the options!

rolled 68 = 68

>>17141208
Fitting that the one guy that finally votes votes for the option that won by dice as well.

Your teams set out...

rolled 34 = 34

>>17141220
The winning vote posted AFTER I had written that.

...Unless I missed another vote post.

>>17141234
Well, no backseat questin'. Let's see how the teams do, then act on the information gained.

rolled 74 = 74

>>17141234
The second team, with Tosh in the lead, finds nothing in their travels.

>>17141223
>>17141241
How'd the other teams do, op?

Oh, I forgot.
We should set the Probe Droid to watch Castlevania and inform us of any changes in activity or indications that they might be gearing up for something.

>>17141270
Well, if our scout teams report nothing, then we'll just have to knock politely on the front door of Castlevania.

>>17141223
>>17141241
The first team, with Darius guarding Lyla, soon gets the impression they are being watched as they 'map' a section of the woods.

The third team stumbles upon what appears to be a simple stone church in a secluded glade. A woman in a white robe walks toward its entrance and lowers her hood to reveal long golden hair before opening the doors and entering.

>>17141278
Everyone to the church, gogogo
Don't worry about being watched, that's just someone spamming Scrying on the newcomers, as you'd expect them to do.

>>17141278
Seconding going to the church, but don't all dart there at the same time. That'll tip anyone who's watch off to the fact that we've got comm lines or such established.

"Map" that way at a decent clip. Anything changes, scoop the White Mages up and scoot like the wind.

>>17141297
The third team rushes for the church, throwing open the door. Within are a few rows of pews and a small altar at the far end, a statue of a raven on it. Two doors are beyond that. There is no sign of the woman.

>>17141278
Have the three teams converge on the church.
If whichever of the Counts is scrying on us sees THREE ladies that fit the description of his lady love, I don't think he'll be able to withstand the temptation to make a move, forcing the other Count's hand.

rolled 27 = 27

Forgot my roll.

>>17141327
>>17141320
The other teams begin to 'map' that way, and should arrive in an hour or so.

>>17141324
God damn it, it's Silent Hill again.
Go for the door on the right. The door on the right is always correct.

>>17141324
"KI team, be very careful. This may be the secret meeting place of a group of were-ravens. However, they are opposed to Strahd and may be of use to us. Do not, repeat, DO NOT initiate hostilities.
"Proceed into the church, but slowly."

>>17141346

Also, be wary of illusions or other attacks. The church may be trapped, or ambushers may wait in the shadows.

Well, now we just wait to see what OP throws at us.

>>17141336
The KI team advances into the church and cautiously opens the right door at the end of the church. As soon as they do so, a cord is pulled and a blinding flash of light sparks from a rune on the door. Being Space Marines, this isn't as much of a hindrance as it would be to a normal human, the team hastily entering the room to find a humble preparation chamber with an open window, table and chair, chest of drawers, and a bookshelf with a small selection of tomes on it. On the table is a hairbrush and mirror.

>>17141390
Should we try calling out?
Say we just want to talk, about Strahd, about Dracula, and why Barovia and Castlevania now occupy the same valley.

>>17141390
Look out the window and advertise that you are Friendly, in case someone just jumped out the damn window.
Come to think of it, these are Space Marines. Why do we need to use doors? Just go through walls.

We might as well grab the Hairbrush and have it teleported up to the Storm for DNA Analysis. Might give us some hints on what we're dealing with here.
Also, send the Mirror up to check if it's magical or not. Good ol' magical mirrors.

One KI should check out the window (including moving through the wall that the window is mounted on) to check if the lady jumped out of it and is fleeing. Make sure to note that we are friendly.
One KI is to search the drawers and bookshelf for anything recently disturbed or recently moved (i.e. with less dust).
Send the Hairbrush and Mirror up to the storm for further testing.
The rest of the KI are to make their way through the other door.

>>17141407
Busting down the door, killing the 3 fire-breathing giant dogs, and saying "sup?" to Dracula's doorman, Death, is plan B.

>>17141440

Do the KI-Team have any scanners of any sort? It might be worth it to try to see if those items are magical before handling them.

>>17141390
I'm going with this >>17141407
and checking the window to see if someone escaped that way.

>>17141440
The KI that looks out the window sees nothing as the others send up the items for the teams to analyze.

The rest of the Knights swiftly find that all of the room's items save brush and mirror are coated in a fine layer of dust. Most of the books appear to be religious texts on some vague religion of light intertwined with what appears to be snippets copied from Ezra texts. There are a lot of books to go through, however.

The chest of drawers hold various robes clothes, a few holy symbols of a raven with spread wings before a sun, and clerical implements. There is also a small stock of holy water.

>>17141481
Wait, something got through the mist?
We were able to use the transporters to get something from the surface to the Storm in orbit?

>>17141440
>>17141481

Either there's a secret passage or teleporter here, or someone planted an illusion of Tatyana/Lisa to purposely lure someone here. Although whether it was to ambush that person or to bring something to his/her attention has yet to be discovered.

Have the KI team search the area for any sort of secret passages or switches of some sort.

>>17141499

As I recall, we can beam stuff to and from the Al'kesh. Inanimate objects are fine. Living beings become horrible undead monstrosities that want to lick the inside of your ribcage.

Make a note that reads that we're friendly (a team from Londinium seeing how the fuck this place changed with recent dickery), and would like to talk to any people with knowledge of what the fuck's going on. Leave this note somewhere obvious (e.g. on a table), with instructions on how to contact us (e.g. plant a listening bug in the room, tell them to just talk out loud, and we will hear them).
That should catch any people who are directly looking for US, an we're looking for more people to talk to, anyway.
>>17141481
Loot the Holy Water.
Send the Books up for Egon to bullshit over.
Leave everything else alone for now.
>>17141499
Yes, apparently we can send Items up and down, just not living creatures.
>>17141511
Indeed, search for secret passages. Secret passages typically smell like Heresy.

>>17141524
Yeah, but the post specifically said to beam things up to the Storm, which is in orbit.
And OP just let the things get beamed up.

If the transporters are working again, then we can beam down supplies, specialized ammunition, and whatever we need to our teams.

>>17141524
>>17141542
The tests were only done with the beam transporters on the Al'Kesh, which is within the mist.
None of the tests were done with the transporters on the Indefatigable, and this would constitute the first time we successfully beamed something up from the surface to orbit.

>>17141542
The team can find no evidence of secret passages within the chamber.

>>17141481
I hope it's Nethack-tier holy water. With that shit, you can create INFINITE holy water and bless everything.
... Come to think of it, what WOULD it take to requisition a small amount of nethack-tier holy water?

>>17141569
Well, if we can beam stuff up and down from orbit now, have the Indefatigable replicate a tricorder with oversized buttons that a space marine can manipulate, and beam it down to the KI team in the chapel. Have a data channel opened between the tricorder and a science officer on the Inde so that they can control the tricorder and interpret its information.
Get a complete scan of the chapel to see if there are any sub-levels.

>>17141569
Oh well. Leave the note, hide a listening bug, loot the holy water, check the other room.

>>17141605
Once that's done, we can search the other room of the chapel.

>>17141606
>>17141605
The other door also opens into this room, but from the other side. The tricorder is sent down and no hidden rooms are discovered. The note and bug are planted.

The first team suddenly feels a sense of WRONG, and a huge gargoyle swoops down from the night sky to lift Lyla up in its talons...

...and I'll pick this up tomorrow. Sorry that we didn't get much done tonight.

>>17141635
Apply Bolter to Gargoyle.

>>17141635
Well, when you spend half the time waiting for players and the other half of the time waiting for Op...

>>17141647
One minor correction. Apply MULTIPLE Bolter to Gargoyle.

In other news, I think we officially have Dracula's attention. Eyes sharp, people. Dracula never sends one monster when he can send a horde. Lock and load!

>>17141635
> a huge gargoyle swoops down from the night sky to lift Lyla up in its talons...
I notice that this gargoyle is unable to dodge a Holy. I also notice that it is particularily susceptible to multiple walls of force appearing in its face.

>>17141635
Well, if our transporters still work, then do a Code 14 Transport of the gargoyle to kill it, and have Darius catch Lyla.

rolled 19 = 19

>>17141679
>>17141680
>>17141693
There's multiple ways that we blow the gargoyle apart. This is a cliffhanger that isn't really a cliffhanger, unless we roll a 20 or below or something and everyone shoots each-other like X-com recruits.

>>17141679
>>17141647
So you want to shoot at a moving target that has a hostage, when we have much more precise methods of stopping it?
Such as offensive teleportation, telekinesis, and walls of force. There's a reason why we put a psion with each decoy.

And since our transporters can work from orbit, we can effectively kill anything we can get a transporter lock on.

>>17141635
So the fact that transporters can now penetrate the mist, when it failed to be able to get a lock on Cheryl back in Silent Hill, was that just because of the reality distortion from Silent Hill, or because of Cheryl's personal reality distortion field?

rolled 20 = 20

>>17141719
Rolling.

>>17141817
Good ol' /tg/ dice.

rolled 37 = 37

>>17141842
Let's try again.

I have a feeling that the time of day when you roll the dice is negatively seeding our RNG values.

So from this time up to a few hours ago, is pretty bad for rolling.

rolled 12 = 12

>>17141886
confirming.

>>17141877
You need to stop rolling.

rolled 18, 34, 29, 93, 7, 32, 71, 5, 30, 96 = 415

>>17141899
DATZ NOT OW YA ROWL
DIZ IZ OW YA ROWL

>>17141907
>only 3 good rolls
>everything else below 50
>MFW
Good thing OP already left!

rolled 78, 50 = 128

>>17141907
Either it succeeds spectacularly or it fails spectacularly. It's a very orky roll.

This roll is powered by Tzeentch.

>>17141943
is 78 Tzeench's number?
50 is also tzeenchy, neither good or bad, it's the flipside.

I'm still surprised that beaming things up to and down from orbit worked.
Everyone time previously that we tried to beam through the mist from outside, it had failed.

rolled 5, 5, 5, 6, 5, 6, 7, 5, 9 = 53

>>17141954
Naw, Tzeentch is made of 9.

>>17141969
...Look at your post.
LOOK AT IT!

>>17141954
Well if you take the sum of the digits of any number larger than 9, and subtract those from the original number, you'll get something divisible by 9.

If you repeat the process, you'll eventually arrive at 9 itself. So, in a sense, any number 9 or higher is Tzeentch's number. That's why all the other gods had to choose single-digit ones.

>>17141974
What's wrong with it?

>>17141983
Actually, nothing at all.
I didn't notice it was a 9d9.
It did end in 9 though even as you mentioned 9.

Only inanimate objects, which means we can beam weapons out of enemy hands, doors and traps out of the way, and clothes off Dracula.

>>17142071
You're forgetting that since the squirrel proved we can get a transporter lock on living things, we can use a Code 14 transport to kill anything we can get a lock on.

http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Transporter_code_14

We just need to get a lock, and then begin the dematerialization process without bothering with the rematerialization.

>>17142164
$10 says we won't be able to get any locks inside the castles.

>>17142186
No bet.
But I'm not concerned with the castles right now.
I'm concerned with making that gargoyle's head disappear and smearing its atoms all over subspace.

ANON, please confirm if we are able to replicate synthetic Elerium-115, and if the Inde can replicate psi amplifiers and beam them down to the psions on the surface.

They might be able to boost the psions' powers, they might not. Better to try and see if they work.

>>17144027
Elerium-115 is the UFO power source.
Also, someone theorized that real world E-115 would lead to anti-gravity tech, but no one has explored that.
So not a key component for the function of the psi-amplifiers.
Though we might still be able to replicate it, atomic labs have managed to smash it together for brief periods on the RL side. Apparently the fragility of it exists in the real world as well.

>>17144829
>So not a key component for the function of the psi-amplifiers.
No, E-115 is a required material for the construction of a psi-amp.
http://www.ufopaedia.org/index.php?title=Psi-Amp

Even if the E-115 isn't consumed as fuel, like in the Firestorm, Lightning, and Avenger, Elerium is still required to make the Psi-Amp.

>>17144908
Yes, but what Elerium-115 actually _does_ is not a vital part, we have other sci-fi power sources and anti-grav at our disposal.
So, if it were to turn out that specific element was not available, a work around can be developed.
But, as noted, I think we could produce that material.
However, I'm willing to bet that the Advanced Bio-Stabilizers and the Psi-Amps are mutually exclusive.
Which is more important, psi-immunity or a psi-boost?

>>17145086
That makes no sense. If that were case, then the Psions would have their powers blocked by the Bio-Stabilization Masks.

>>17145203
That is entirely possible.
I wasn't going to mention it, I'd prefer the immunity over not being able to use them.

>>17145256
Then that defeats the entire purpose of bringing the psions along. The whole purpose of the psions being with the decoys was to use their psionic powers to dimensionally anchor the decoys if someone tried to teleport with them, or to use their telekinesis to prevent physical attackers, like the gargoyle, from escaping.

If the psions can't use their powers, then there's no reason to have them there.

>>17145317
I meant over not being able to use the masks, not the psions.

>>17145560
The Psi-Amp is an amplifier, it is not taking direct action on the mind of the psion using it.
The only way that the Bio-Stabilizer Mask would prevent the Psi-Amp from working would be if the mask stopped psionic powers from acting through it. That would effectively muzzle the psions and prevent them from using their powers.

>>17145592
Guess it will come down to how OP sees it working.
I could go either way.

Let's talk about something else.
For example: Ahh! Gargoyle! Shoot it in the face holes until not flying!

Or: Maybe we should get some Aurora tanks.

Or: Hey, Whitestars would help fill out our ranks of lighter ships, or maybe some escort ships from the Federation or some light cruisers from the Klingons.

>>17145759
Shooting high-explosive rounds at a moving target that has a hostage is stupid. Maybe if we had a farmboy from Tatooine and we could convince them that it's like bullseyeing womprats in Beggar's Canyon, but otherwise, no.
We have a psion with Telekinesis and Wall of Ectoplasm and since we can now apparently use our orbital transporters, we can dematerialize the gargoyle's head without endangering Lyla.

>>17145842
You doubt the accuracy of the Knights Inductor against a large monstrous beast?

Besides, OP said it was swooping down _to_ lift her away, not that it already has. I don't think the group of KI bodyguards are going to see her snatched without a roll first.

So a real plan is to stay bunched around Lyla, and fire with extreme prejudice upon the face holes of the gargoyle swooping down at them.

>>17145919
Given the tendency of the RNG recently and the magical nature of the monster in question, yes, I will doubt the accuracy of the Knights.

Them firing on the gargoyle while it's coming down to grab Lyla is a given. We need to plan in case they're not able to bring it down.

>>17145982
We have Tosh shoot it.
Yes, I know Tosh is with the other search party, but he has a gauss sniper rifle. He could make the shot. Plus, if we went through with the plans we made, he should have the micro-porter and exographic sensor attached to it now as well, further increasing his chances.

>>17146021
Tosh doesn't have a gauss sniper rifle.
He's not a Ghost, he's a Spectre.
He has a gauss assault rifle.
He's currently an hour away.
Whether he's in range or not is up to OP.

>>17146134
Well his AGR-28 gauss rifle does crap-tons of damage, and fires relatively quickly. Seems more like a heavy anti-material rifle.
Which fits, the AGR-14s used by the rank and file Spectres also does strong damage against armored targets compared to the C-10s used by most ghosts, which do about the same to infantry targets, though their dedicated 'sniper shot' ammo only does a bit more than Tosh's rifle and fires much slower.
The SC Ghost materials suggested the AGR-14 was replacing the C-10 as the Ghosts' default weapon, though it seems the results of the Spectre program put that change over to one side as well.

>>17146577
The AGR-14 has a range of 750m.
The AGR-28 has a shorter range, however, as evidenced by the range differences between the Tosh unit (range 5) and a regular Spectre with an AGR-14 (range 6).

>>17147216
Good catch on 5 vs 6.
Though the '750m' comes from Ghost, so the canon-ness is touch and go there. The Spectre AGR-14, and the Ghost C-10 both have the same 'Range 6'.
The AGR-28 shares Range 5 with the Marine C-14, with 6 times the damage.

I'm disinclined to trust the SC Ghost numbers, since that would put even the 'Range 6' weapons, like the sniper shot, at less than a 20th century sniper rifle, and the 'Range 5' weapons come out little better than modern assault rifles.
Though if we were to settle on SC Ghost things like range, I'm going to call for him having the grenade launcher on there as well. Hell, it's still there on the in-game models.

Here's some love for dem white mages.

>>>/jp/8208022

I swear I checked for this topic this morning and I got the 404. What sort of devil-magic is it that sustains you, Quest?!

Well, no sense making a new thread when this one is still runnin'. LOADING TG QUEST...

rolled 66 = 66

>>17144027
The Indefatigable cannot replicate Elerium-115 and does not have the facilities to produce Synthetic Elerium.

Psions can use their powers/psi amps while fitted with a Bio-Stabilizer Mask.

>TG Quest
>TRANSylvania
>Drac's wife looks like Alucard in drag

>>17148548
Alright, thanks for the clarification.

Have the KI's and Darius shoot at the gargoyle before it can grab Lyla. Psion to try to use Telekinesis to slow or hold in place the gargoyle.

Have the Indefatigable attempt to get a pattern lock on the gargoyle in preparation for a Code 14 transport.

>>17148506

noooo! I needed to sleep, damn you! damn you!

rolled 39 = 39

>>17148548
The aim of the Knights Inductor remains true, a bolter round exploding the gargoyle's head before it can fly off with Lyla. The white mage falls to the ground, cursing a stream of words most unbecoming a holy healer. Suddenly an unholy chorus of screeches fills the air as about twenty skeletons with bony bat-wings lift off from the trees and begin to dive towards the away team. A pair of gargantuan bats leads them, each easily twice the height of a man.

>>17148548
>>17148506
Yay!
TG Quest!

Have KI stay clustered around Lyla and apply firepower to the descending Gargoyle!

>>17148628
Gak! Hurry the group over our Mage and begin applying firepower. Focus on the big bats, with covering fire directed at the winged skeletons to keep them back.

>>17148628
Shit, inform the other KI team to hustle it to Darius' location. Tosh's team should either take shelter in the inn or rush to Darius' position, whichever is closer.

Have the Indefatigable attempt to get transporter locks on the calcium in the bones of the skeletons and initiate Code 14 transports to spread their atoms across subspace.

Have the psion with Darius put a Dimensional Anchor on Lyla just to be sure, then use Walls of Ectoplasm as crowd control.

>>17148692
Oh, and additionally, have the psion in Tosh's team cast Dimensional Anchor on Elaine; where one decoy is attacked, the other one might be as well.

New idea: Have Lyla cast Protect on herself or the KI?

rolled 10 = 10

>>17148658
>>17148692

Tosh's team begins to fall back to the inn as the Church team begins to hustle towards Darius's location.

The psion manages to cast Dimensional Anchor on Lyla, keeping her safely unportable as the K.I. and Silencer begin to lay down a suppressive fire. Despite the sudden assault, the Knights are still able to blast apart a healthy amount of skeleton, Darius drawing Ringil and stepping in between the gigantic bats and Lyla.

The Indefatigable locks onto the first five group of skeletons... and then something odd happens. Though the engineer intended to Code-14 them, the transporter instead suffers some form of malfunction... The five skeleton warriors appear within the Indefatigable's transporter bay and immediately begin attacking the crew.

>>17148749
Does she have Haste?
I thought our White Mages were full White Mages with only the pre-req levels in Chemist as their additional Job.
But if she does have it, I agree with Hasteing the KI.

>>17148782

Oh fuck you /tg/dice.

Can we switch to a roll-under system?
I swear the dice are skewed to the low now.

>>17148782
>The five skeleton warriors appear within the Indefatigable's transporter bay and immediately begin attacking the crew.
Goddammit, I knew that transport through the mist was unreliable!
Have the transport operator and the crew retreat, activating emergency forcefields to trap the skeletons until they can arm themselves with phaser rifles and clear out the boarders.

On the ground, Darius and the KI are to concentrate on protecting Lyla.
The psion is to use Walls of Ectoplasm to keep the skeletons away and encase himself in a sphere of ectoplasm in order to protect himself and Lyla.

rolled 14 = 14

>>17148793
>>17148840
The White Mages are maxed as White Mages, meaning you can start training them in another 'job', but when last I checked people were still arguing over Time Mage or Geomancer.

Lyla casts Protect on the Knights surrounding her, and of course herself.

In orbit, the skeleton warriors overwhelm the crew in the bays too quickly, two of them escaping past the containment fields to wreak havoc deeper in the ship. The security officer loses tracking on them and is trying to re-establish it.

>>17148897
>vapoerize_atoemize.jpg
Yeah, /tg/ dice seem to think failure = drama at this time of day. Not that I'm complaining.

>>17148897

Damnit, we need a dedicated security team for the ship. What combat personnel are already aboard?

>>17148897
Fucking Hell.
Fortunately, the UNIT team is still in orbit, waiting on the Overlord.
Use the secondary transporter and have them beam over from the Overlord to the Indefatigable in order to help track down the skeletons and terminate them.

And make sure that the psion get's himself and Lyla protected in a sphere made from a Wall of Ectoplasm.

>>17148897
I believe we settled on splitting the difference. Half Geo, half Time.

>>17148948
Yeah, but now that we have at least 2 named, which way did Lyla and Elaine go?

rolled 30 = 30

>>17148940
Unfortunately no one is currently alive in the transporter bay to carry out the command. The skeletons continue to rampage through the ship, killing and maiming any hapless crew they stumble upon as the crew hastily scrambles to either arm themselves or lock themselves in a safe place.

Unfortunately, when denied living prey, the skeletons turn their inhuman strength to smashing control panels, cutting cables, and generally wrecking the place.

>>17148975
..split the difference? One's Time, one's Geo.
Coin toss for which one is which.

>>17149013
Active internal force fields to contain skeletons until a proper security detail can be arranged.

rolled 73 = 73

>>17148975
Given that I know Time Mage abilities better than Geomancers... Time Mages!

The two gigantic bats swoop down and lift up the two nameless Knights Inductor, somehow able to carry the extremely heavy load into the night sky. The flying monsters make a point to stay well out of Darius' reach, instinctively shying from Ringil's faint glow in the moonlight.

The Psion manages to encase Lyla in a Wall of Ectoplasm, ensuring her safety, before a trio of skeletons sets upon him. Darius rushes to help fight off the monsters as the space marines in flight struggle to get free before they are carried too high...

>>17149013
There's 2 transporter bays on a Defiant-class ship, on two different decks.
Tell them to get a security team down to Transporter Room 2 and get the UNIT team beamed over.

>>17149013
Maybe we should beam up 2 or 3 KIs to the Indefatigable in order to prevent more shipboard casualties.

>>17149046
Considering that even the exploration ships have them every ten feet, that seems a safe bet for the warship.

>>17149013

God, we're losing valuable support crew.

Which of our teams are EVA rated? Get a VF-25 to speed down an assault team while those who can't withstand vaccum standby for the science and engineering teams to try and remote access the teleporters.

Alternatively. Seer Council. See if we can exploit any possible fragment of the webway network. Parts of it may have spilled out of the 40k verse.

rolled 41 = 41

>>17149046
One of the security officers brings ALL of the internal force fields on at once, then goes about deactivating them one by one when that sector is cleared. Though a bit desperate, the move pays off as the ship security teams begin to engage and destroy the monsters.

One of the Knights Inductor manages to break free of the bat's grip and tumbles to the ground below before reaching a height that would make such an escape... unwise.

>>17149058
>beam up living people through the mist
Are you fucking daft? Don't you remember what happened to the squirrel we tried to beam up?

>>17149013

FUCK'S SAKE.
ok team, we're leaving an actual fucking security team on the ship from now on. Not just the crew, but actual fucking soldiers, maybe with a minor hero to lead them. THIS SHIT CAN NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN, UNDERSTOOD?

Wait, did we pull back the people from Silent Hill? Is Data on board? Heather? Who?

>>17149024

It's more complicated than that. We'll need the crew to grind on the lesser worlds to get the experience needed to job change and stuff.

>>17149080
Have the recently freed KI assist Darius in getting the psion out of trouble.
The psion will be able to cushion the remaining KI's fall via telekinesis, and so must stay alive for both of them to survive.

rolled 11 = 11

>>17149080
The other Knight Inductor manages to get free as well, but a hair too late, as his fall generates impact enough to lightly injure him. However, the fall that would've killed a normal man is only a few painful contusions for a space marine.

The psion takes several painful slashes, but Lyla's healing keeps him on his feet as Darius reaches the melee.

>>17149090
Who are we going to use for that? Any team you assign will then become unavailable for an away mission.

This is why we need a Hero training program, guys. Have our faceless Redshirts handle relatively minor threats, and give them a chance to Hero up.

>>17149129
Yeah, nighttime screws with /tg/ dice doesn't it.
AND we're in Bat Country, so that doesn't help.
Well, cusswords.
First, select the shotgun, then, select the monsters!

>>17149129
Quite frankly, these rolls are getting ridiculous.

>>17149129
/TG/ DICE? WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN US? WHAT SACRIFICES MUST WE MAKE TO APPEASE THEE?

>>17149090
Just had an idea: We set up a rotating rota of squads for ship defence, that rotate from ship defence to field ops. That way, they get experience, but the ship remains protected. Of course, which squads to put on the rota...

>>17149048
Depending on their disposition and personality is how I'd decide between Elaine or Lyla getting Geomancer or Time Mage skills.

If we get Summoner skills, how would the summons play out in battle? Would it be like the FF13 Eidolons/FF10 Aeons?

rolled 36 = 36

>>17149154
>>17149129
With their flying assault failed, the two gigantic bats descend on the injured Space Marine, supernaturally strong fangs cracking the ceramite armor and prying it open. The warrior of the Imperium screams in pain as a pair of huge fangs sink into his flesh and begin to drain his blood. Already focusing on keeping the psion alive, Lyla is unable to save the marine's life. Darius finishes dispatching the last skeleton, then turns to avenge his comrade...

>>17149153
There's a plethora of worlds on our sector map that are low-intensity and can be used to grind for resources and exp.

>>17149217
>vampire Space Marine
Well, make him 250 points and call 'em Mephiston, we have a problem on our hands, don't we. Nothin' we can do until the dice improve...

>>17149151
We could recruit a team, specifically for security detail, pick a team to stay behind at the start of every mission, or just set up a rota, with the specialised squads excluded from it.

>>17149217

Damn! Where's that anti-bat spray when you need it?

rolled 32, 34, 72 = 138

>>17149217
Quick Lyla, cast Raise before the space marine vampirizes or goes crazy as an undead!

rolled 67 = 67

>>17149275
Lyla begins to cast Raise as Darius swings Ringil at the first gigantic bat. Despite the sudden movements of the bat and some unlucky stumbling, Darius still manages to inflict a serious wound on the beast, a legendary weapon and skilled veteran leaving far less room for chance screw ups than normal. The monster screams and stumbles back as Darius presses the attack.

>>17149217
and the /tg/ dice claim another victim.

Do we need to build a Wicker man and sacrifice people to get the RNG to favour us once more?

>>17149222
And dear god, we should definitely work on more low-level ops in future. To loot more gear, if nothing else.

>>VF-25
>>an assault team

Can't. A VF-25 can only seat two people, and the pilot has to be wearing an EX-Gear to control the craft. The EX-Gear already doubles as a flight-enabled powered armor.

You might as well get a proper shuttle or landing craft. Do not ask me about the VC-19V VIP-Calibur.

>>17149361
Last I saw, there's about eight worlds' worth of level grinding in this sector.

>>17149331
Darius swings Ringil in an arc, the weapon cleaving the second bat in twain while a bolter shell from the second Knight Inductor finishes off the first monster.

Lyla manages to cast Raise, but the slain Inductor does not rise... However, there is something different about him, as if an infection had been lifted from him, allowing him to rest in peace.

The Indefatigable has finished hunting down the last skeleton.

>>17149380

I was thinking in Gerwalk mode. The assault team in its hands. There are handholds there as shown in Sayonara no Tsubasa.

>>17149413
Whew.

>>17149413
Praise the Omnissiah!
Damage control time: Get fixing broken equipment on the Indef and start preparing a briefing vid to show all personnel in the event that shit gets too close for comfort (i.e. aboard the ships) again.

>>17149419
That's not exactly safe to do. You're sending a VF-25 and an assault team THROUGH RE-ENTRY.

>>17149445
According to this diagram, you are ON FIRE when you re-enter in a timely manner, and with the mist being what it is...
Yeah, let's not use external handholds.

>>17149445

Every VF since the original VF-1 has been rated for atmospheric reentry.

Every VF since the VF-17 onwards has had pin point barriers which can withstand heat and explosions.

It is doable.

>>17149429
The Indefatigable crew begins to organize first aid and damage control. The news is mostly good. The ship is still functional and nothing critical was damaged. The bad news is that the monsters wrecked the transporter array in addition to killing half the transporter technicians. You may not use the ship's transporter until you return to base for repairs/re-staffing.

>>17149222
Exactly. We can use these lower-level worlds to strengthen our forces, to help migate the bad luck we seem to be infected with now. Think about it
>/tg/dice: "11"
>Anons:FFFFUUU-
>OP: because you guys trained up your forces, it's like you rolled a 31 instead!
>Anons:everythingwentbetterthanexpected.jpg

>>17149508
Well, guess we've got to finish this with the away team.
Knob-gobbling piece-of-crap skeletons.
Do the other ships have transporters, or are we going to have to shuttle people up and down through The Dreaded Mist if we want to reinforce the away team?

>>17149413

Can we lop off the guy's head and put in in a nanny bag? Failing that, I seem to remember reading the planning thread and somebody said we have a tank bag on the ship that can fix people, even if the nannybag can't. Is that correct?

>>17149508
Wait, what about the secondary transporter room on Deck 2? Was that damaged as well?

Also, see if the Al'Kesh beam transporters can still reach orbit by attempting to beam a medical kit from the Oncoming Storm to the Al'Kesh, and from the Al'Kesh, to Darius' team.
Also, beam a nanny-bag from the Al'Kesh to Darius, so that he can nanny-bag the fallen space marine.
We can still attempt technological resurrection once he's safely back in orbit.
At the very least, his geneseed can be returned to the Knights.

>>17149694
Not recommended unless necessary.
Remember that we still need the recovery of their geneseed, and a space marine's body, with all of its organic augmentations, would take longer to rebuild in the tanks.

>>17149704
Using the Al'Kesh seems to work, though the Inde's secondary bay was also damaged in the chaos.

You manage to stow away the Knight in a nanny bag, but between this and the zombie casualties, you're running out of free bags.

>>17149538
We'll have to bring down the Overlord, as it's our only dropship still in orbit.
We might have been able to beam stuff up and down, but the squirrel experiment showed that we definitely can't send anything living through.

And unless we want the Al'Kesh to try again, I think we still can't leave the mist once we enter.

>>17149792
>you're running out of free bags.
Shopping list note: More nanny-bags.

>>17149820

That'd give us some muchly-needed supplies and a base to operate from if things get too dicey.

But we'd have to land it in a really remote area if we don't want to attract attention. That might defeat the purpose of using it as a base if they have to travel 80+ miles away from the village just to reach it.

>>17149792
>>17149704

If everything's clear on the ground, can we get a report on our team's status so far?

>>17149934
Seconding getting an update.

>>17149934
The Church team manages to meet up with Darius' team no problem. They are currently heading towards the dropship to drop off their dead comrade.

>>17150087
Stay on alert.
I'd like to have the Al'Kesh shadow them from a height of about 500-600 feet, cloaked.
That'll give them advance warning if anything tries to attack them again.
I don't want the Al'Kesh to reveal its presence yet, though. We'll need its hidden firepower when we have to storm the castles.

How is Tosh's team? Everything okay?

>>17150134
Tosh's team reports in fine.

>>17150163
Okay. Here's a short-term plan:
1. Get the living-impaired space marine to the dropship.
2. Have the two teams return to the village and meet up with the other team at the inn.
3. Tosh and Finalon will slip out and stake out the chapel.

>>17150233

Should we have the probe go along with Tosh & Finalon? Or do you think that the Probe itself could do the job just fine by itself?

>>17150233
You drop off the dead marine and meet up at the inn while Tosh and Finalon leave to stake out the chapel.

It is now early morning, light seeping through the mists.

>>17150329
I wanted the Probe Droid to keep an eye on Castlevania, and its appearance might scare off Tatyana/Lisa.

It's been a long day, Lyla and the Psion probably need some rest.

>>17150329
Oh, field reports:
Have the people in the dropship detected any monsters or anything coming to investigate them?

How are the sensors on the Al'Kesh? With its altitude advantage, can it detect any monsters moving around? Or are they magically interfering with its sensors?

>>17150510
The dropship hasn't detected anything yet.

The Al'Kesh is getting a LOT of interference from the mists. It too, has not detected anything yet.

>>17150573
Alright, guys, we need a short-term plan for what we're going to do.
We've obviously gotten Count Dracula's attention.
The question is, how do we stir the pot even further, so that we can get Dracula and Strahd to commit forces to open war?

I have an idea:
1. Have Darius, Lyla, Elaine, all three psions, and the KI squad go around town during the day, asking about local monsters, and especially of what Dracula has at his castle.
2. We circulate information to Strahd's informants that Dracula made an open move against a 'blonde woman'
3. Hope that this infuriates Strahd enough that he will send forces openly against Dracula.

Addendum: we will need to be extra careful, though, because this will also make Strahd more willing to attempt to kidnap Lyla or Elaine. Or both.

>>17150632
If we really want to get Strahd's attention, we put the girls on the transport and circulate that Dracula succeeded at grabbing the woman.

>>17150659
>Want to get Strahd mad at Dracula
>put the girls on the transport and circulate that Dracula succeeded at grabbing the woman.
>mfw
That...that just might work.
Did anyone see the women return to the Inn?
Otherwise we could stage something like this, I suppose. Mobile holographic projectors from the Indefatigable's replicator to create the illusion of Dracula's minions attacking and whisking away our fair damsels...

>>17150706
>Did anyone see the women return to the Inn?
OP, this is a question aimed at you.
If we're not sure, have the psions use their powers to try to find out.

rolled 76 = 76

>>17150724
Sorry for the wait. Getting my dog to take his medicine is like a rodeo.

>>17150793
By a stroke of luck, no, no one saw the women return, owing much to the late hour.

>>17150632
>>17150659

So we're going for the Total Annihilation solution to this scenario, then?

Or are we just weakening them so they'll be easier to deal with in case they don't want to strike a deal with us?

>>17150659
>>17150706
>>17150798
I approve of this message.

Okay, give a few minutes; going over any disguise spells we can use to get our ladies out of the inn without anyone knowing.

>>17150831
A little from table A, a little from table B.
We like to keep our options open.
Ideally they weaken each other first either way.
If things go badly for Strahd, he might reach for his D&D roots and try to hire us. Though it is better for us all around if they beat each other senseless before that. If it were to go that way, we might want to just hang back and help protect the village from spill over.

Okay, unless I missed a psionic power, there isn't anything we could use to make the ladies invisible in order to sneak them out.
Here's my suggested course of action:

1. Keep Lyla and Elaine inside of the room defended by 2 psions and a pair of KI.
2. Darius and a KI will go around the town asking about the monsters that attacked them while they were mapping and whisked away Elaine and Lyla.
3. The Abjurers from the Leopard and a pair of KI will, appropriately dressed to look like part of our original party, will come into town and go into the inn.
4. The Abjurers will cast invisibility on Lyla and Elaine, and 2 psions, an Abjurer, and 2 KI will go and escort them back to the Leopard.

Does this plan sound reasonable?

>>17150632
Wait, you're doing this WITH your decoys? Doesn't that sort of defeat the purpose of pretending like Drac managed to capture 'her'?

>>17151016
Oh, OK.

>>17151023
No. That plan was suggested before the idea of making like the two were successfully kidnapped by Dracula was posted.
This is the new plan: >>17151016

I hope someone is recording these as I am too late to join id still love to see what shenanigans you get into

>>17151049
Nah man, never too late to join. And OP does a big recap of everything between chapters that makes it real easy to catch up on past shenanigans.

>>17151077
>>17151049
Here's the last recap we had: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17059442/

And http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=meta
will have links to the quest in there, scroll down to September. Wow, it's been that long. Awesome.

>>17151016
The next day comes around and Lyla and Elaine are quietly escorted back to the dropship under invisibility. At the same time, Darius and the Knights are making increasingly uncomfortable queries of the ignorant townsfolk. Noon rolls around with them still at it.

Egon reports back on the brush and mirror.

"We've examined the brush, and it appears to be an ordinary brush. However, there are several strands of hair caught up within it. Examining those, we've determined that the hair is at least a century old, if not more. No one living has used this brush in a long time. The mirror you sent up appears to be magical, but as we lack a dedicated sage, we cannot determine its properties. Oh, and we're making good progress on the Aglaophotis. We can already synthesize the basic compounds, we're just having trouble with bringing it all together."

New thread where?

>>17151100
That reminds me OP, since we've been reallocating the scientists around, does that mean work with Cheryl has been on hold?
Assumed the scientists were needed for that, just confirming if that was the case.

>>17151100
When the psion that's with Lyla and Elaine is on the Leopard with the others, have him use Detect Remote Viewing.
It's a power that lasts 24 hours, and will let us know if Dracula or Strahd is spying on us, and can warn us that the jig is up and we've been found out.

>>17151100
Preserve the hair samples.
Ask the Indefatigable's doctor run gene sequencing on one of the samples when he's done with his own wounded. Then have him run it through the computer to do a projection on the appearance of the subject.

Hm, typically, mirrors are involved with viewing, scrying, and clairvoyant abilities.
Let's give the hand mirror to the Farseers, see if they can make anything of it.

Keep up the good work Egon.

>>17151124
Seconding confirmation. With Cheryl having a personal reality distortion field, I thought we were going to wait until the two majors sites of Raccoon City and Transylvania were dealt with before bringing Cheryl up to the Storm, in case of unforeseen consequences with her psi training.
Assuming she accepts a job with us, of course.

>>17151221
We already confirmed bringing her up when Op asked at the time.
Just a question of whether we're doing anything with her right now or not.

>>17151124
No, they can work with Cheryl while working on other stuff.

The Farseers examine the hand mirror.

"This item is imbued with a piece of the land's essence... It will reveal the truth of things in its reflection."

Gained: Mirror of Truth.

>>17151100
> The mirror you sent up appears to be magical, but as we lack a dedicated sage, we cannot determine its properties.
"What is an Auror, Alex?"
>>17151162
Also works.

Right. We know Dracula isn't trying for the Talky route, AT ALL. Talking to the Dracula is out of the question. That means our talkiness should go with the Strahd.
With Strahd, we can tell him:
A. Azalin made it to this plane.
B. Dracula's a cockbag that tried to kidnap Lisa/Taty.
C. That Castle of his is a being of chaos that reshapes itself however the fuck it wants and pops up whereever it thinks is appropriate.

>>17151275
I remember that item from Totemist Quest. How'd it end up here?

>>17151275
>>17151284

It may have also come from King's Quest. Or any other fantastical setting where there are mirrors that reveal the truth about things that are reflected in it.

My guess is that it may be used to very easily tell imposters from the real thing, distinguish possessed people from regular people, and perhaps force epiphanies upon people who are stuck in the past or obsessing upon something that they cannot reach.

>>17151275
Very nice.
Farseers, do you think it would be possible for you to use this as a focus to get a clearer idea of what is going on down there?
Not something I want you to try if you think there is any risk to yourselves or the item though.

Also, someone go to a window and see what the Earth looks like in the reflection. Not enough resolution for anything useful there, but I am curious.

>>17151316
>>17151284
A common feature in enchanted mirrors, that why we sent it to the Farseers to look over.

>>17151284
I'd say B.
Not A, because it could lead to questions about the Meta. We might offer him Azalin's true name if we need a bargaining chip at some point.
We might consider C, particularly if it looks like Strahd is having a rough time. But that will reveal that we know something about Dracula and raise questions of how we know that.

>>17151284
Additionally, since we've eliminated the "What is a man?" route, our official stance should be that we're from Londinium, this area is known as Barovia, we know Strahd is this region's rightful lord.
D. Death can be directly interacted with in this world, but Death works for Dracula.
(Strahd may damn well want to have a word with Death. This necessitates kicking Castlevania's door down)

>Strahd's curse is that although he is absolute lord and master of Barovia, to the point where he can enter private homes unbidden because he owns them, once every generation he will meet a woman whom he believes is Tatyana reincarnated. He always tries to woo her, but the scene of his damnation is replayed, and the woman inevitably dies.

The Scene of the damnation is: Strahd kills his brother, who Tatyana loves instead of Strahd. Tatyana suicides in grief.
As unethical as it is, we have ... a sample of Shipper Aphrodesiac from when we rescued Rivendell. This may well help break the cycle.

Note: I'm not intending that we be friends with Strahd forever. Just long enough for him to sack Castlevania then we stab whoever's left standing in the dick.
Heck, if anything, we should try to rig Dracula as the role of Strahd's brother, have at least one Tatyclone fall in love with Dracula, which will then force Strahd to kick the door down and fist fight the shoggoth.

>>17151327
"That may be possible if you want us to try it."

Gotta call it early here. D&D session is starting for me.
Same time tomorrow, boys.

>>17151366
Alright man, have fun storming the castle!
Thanks for the questin'.

>>17151384
It's funny you say that, because that's PRECISELY what we're doing.

DRELEV KEEP WILL BE OURS!

>>17151366
>>17151394
318 posts.
Even with some of us using sage's to keep the bump count low to stave off auto-sage, I think we've hit that point.

You'll need to start a new thread tomorrow. I will look forward to it.

>>17151394
"Think they'll make it?"
"Not a chance."

I mean, good luck OP!

>>17151361
>>17151284
Agreeing with this guy that we should really on go with Talking Point B.
A will just bring up too many questions about how we know about Azalin and his relationship with Strahd, and C raises questions of why we would know something about Dracula's castle if we never visited it.

>>17151366
Make a new thread that time, since this one's Autosaging.

Rough plan:
Provoke Strahd v Dracula fight, either by talking to Strahd, or getting Taty to fall in love with Dracula.
It's Strahd's curse to find one woman that resembles Taty each generation, have her fall for some other schmuck, and then Strahd kills said schmuck and Taty suicides.
/tg/ decides whether we try to get a Tatyclone to Dracula.
If we do, do we use Lisa, one of the WHMs, or something else?
And, do we try to make said MacGuffin love Dracula, or not bother?
/tg/ also decides which talking points we use vs. Strahd:
We can give Strahd Azalin's true name,
tell Strahd that Dracula's trying to loot Taty,
tell Strahd that he can talk to Death itself, but Death works for Dracula,
Mention the wacky-dacky chaotic-dickery that Castlevania is made of,
and point out that we're quite willing to (and already HAVE) fought Dracula's goons.

But that's a matter for tomorrow.

>>17151491
Just spreading the word that Dracula's goons nabbed her should help set things off.
We could even 'tell the truth' as to where and what grabbed her.

>>17151656

This is assuming that Strahd hasn't been tailing us with scouts of his own.

After piquing the interest of the emissary that Strahd sent, it's probably a safe bet to say that we may be subject to scrying spells or being tailed by a minion or two.

>>17151780
Hence the Detect Remote Viewing and Detect Thoughts used by our psions to see if we're being tailed, and if anyone is watching our dropship where we hid Lyla and Elaine.

Hey Metaquest OP, can we get a recap of what went down with Elaine while our POV was on Lyla?

>>17151791
I love it when we plan ahead.

>>17151865
Nothing as I recall.