Mahmud was really putting her on edge. Aerona took a deep breath and stretched out her neck. "Don't worry about it, handyman."
More zombies meant at least a cathartic distraction. Aerona grit her teeth and looked at the undead ahead of her. "Sorry, y'all, that hallway's no good and I've got a little baby knife and I'm bitten all to hell. Pull 'em closer and I can do something about it."
HP: 13/20 Military Grade Weapon Novice Tactics Training Leadership
Cerpin is punching zombos Damage: 3 Zombos left: 6 Can auto kill: 3
10/16 advances 2/3 minibosses defeated
"I'm on it, Aerona." Cerpin flashed the bomber an OK sign over his shoulder and dashed towards the zombies. Mahmud was trying to be okay but still shaken up by the events on the ship. Sascha could barely use his arm. Cerpin knew he wasn't going to have a ton of juice left in him after this but he could at least go down fighting. Raising his blade, he let out a war cry before something in his leg flared with pain and he went toppling over.
"Ngk- just give me a moment." A tired hand felt at the wall for support. His weapon had managed to stab through a few of them before his fall but several enemies still remained.
style A -2 damage taken, 3x per battle., used 0 times
Hair clips, Agility Type B (novice)
style B 2 2d6 hits with +1 to accuracy to each on this attack, 1x per battle* *roll 4d6, first two numbers are the 'hit or miss' determiners, second two are the damage done., used 0 times!
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Everyone was just so damn tense. Was it just him? Was everyone as tense as he felt they were? Boy did the air feel tense.
... tense. Okay, he had to say that word mentally one more time to get it out there.
Truth be told, he was still pretty out of it but things had to get done before they all were ********. So Mahmud of course did the only reasonable thing a troll could do at that moment, and ran straight towards the hoard. "Gotcha, guys! Hang on!"
Spinning a screwdriver in his hand, Mahmud made a beeline towards one closer to the front-middle of the remaining pack. "Come on!" On that note, stabbed it straight down through its head with a ferocious force. For a split moment it was held up with Mahmud's grip on the tool alone, before it slowly slid off.
Well, that was certainly a diversion.
Slowly but surely, Mahmud backed up towards Aerona and Sascha, trying to pull the monster's attention to him and away from Cerpin. When they didn't cooperate, he stabbed them in the skull, or bashed their brains out. It wasn't the best plan in the world, but it was his. Soon enough, there were only two left.
HP: 6/20 Military Weapon: +1 DMG Trinkets: 3/3 Defense Style A: 2 damage is detracted from last incoming attack. 1/1 Defense Style B: Nullify damage from the last attack. Telekinesis: 1/2 Offensive Style B: Attack does double damage, and detracts 1 health from opponent every remaining turn. Recurring damage effect stacks.
"Yikes. Keep it together, guys," Sascha called after Cerpin. None of their party was looking very hot. Each seemed to be developing a unique blend of physical and emotional issues as the trek wore on.
Mahmud was doing his part to tear the daywalkers a collective new one. He had some frightening precision when it came to lobotomizing the wave of zombies. Sascha was beginning to feel a little left out.
"Here, let me get that for you," Sascha said. He struck over Mahmud's shoulder. The approaching zombie's skull collapsed inward from the force of the knife driving through its face. Sascha swung outward, tossing the daywalker into the last, straggling member of the undead.
"You got it, Sasch," responded Aerona, her face fallen. She wasn't of much help in the last battle, but encountering a door she felt like her chances had improved.
"Yo. We're almost out, I can feel it," She noted, gesturing to the door. "C'mon, jokers. Morale! Morale!"
Sascha checks the state of the door... It's trapped AND locked!
HP: 6/20 Military Weapon: +1 DMG Trinkets: 3/3 Defense Style A: 2 damage is detracted from last incoming attack. 1/1 Defense Style B: Nullify damage from the last attack. Telekinesis: 1/2 Offensive Style B: Attack does double damage, and detracts 1 health from opponent every remaining turn. Recurring damage effect stacks.
Sascha shrugged--with his good arm only this time--at Aerona with a loose smile. Better luck next time! "Plenty more to go around, I'm sure." Sascha joined her next to the door. "If you wanna blow something up, this door is looking good for it. Or, hey!" Sascha gestured to Mahmud, waving him over.
"I'm assuming the tools aren't just for aesthetic. What do you make of this thing?"
style A -2 damage taken, 3x per battle., used 0 times
Hair clips, Agility Type B (novice)
style B 2 2d6 hits with +1 to accuracy to each on this attack, 1x per battle* *roll 4d6, first two numbers are the 'hit or miss' determiners, second two are the damage done., used 0 times!
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"Personally..." Mahmud muttered, gently tapping at the door, "I never trust these stupid doors." Not after all the other times. Oh no, no this one had to have something wrong with them too...
But what was he if he didn't venture out and be brave? With a deep breath and shaky sigh, Mahmud set to work. Using his tools, he carefully pried the door's hinges and bolts from the frame, and after some time there was a small pile of various hardware at his feet.
"That should do it" he announced, pushing on the door with his hands. Nothing. "Mmm..." There was worry in his voice, and he began to murmur "I must need some more force. These doors must be sealed tighter than I thought. Still, better than if it was all together."
With a deep breath, and a couple steps back, Mahmud rushed at the door and broke it down and OH GOG OKAY THATS WHY THEY WERE IN BAD SHAPE. JEGUS ********, HIS ARM. HIS COORDINATION. Mahmud let out a cry of shock between both the pain of busting down a door FAR thicker than he had anticipated it to be, and the force of falling flat on his face inside the room...
style A -2 damage taken, 3x per battle., used 0 times
Hair clips, Agility Type B (novice)
style B 2 2d6 hits with +1 to accuracy to each on this attack, 1x per battle* *roll 4d6, first two numbers are the 'hit or miss' determiners, second two are the damage done., used 0 times!
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... only to find himself face-to-face with a rapidly falling... ceiling? <******** GUYS, ITS TRAPPED! IT'S"
Its... its... knocking the wind out of him thats for damn sure, And hurting a LOT, when its spread across the entire backside of his body. There was a moment of silence, and pained gasping, before a weak voice warbled out "My profession... betrayed me..." Followed by a weary laugh, followed by some coughs and "ows".
There weren't tears in his eyes. Or blood. Of course not. ... Okay maybe there were but what was he going to do beneath a ceiling?
This is a mini-boss battle, the full rules and mechanics of which can be reviewed here. The room beyond the door seems empty from the hallway, but stepping inside you are swiftly aware that you are not alone! For lurking in the corner is a dark groaning shape. As it turns towards you, you realize you are entering strife! You have encountered a ...
Dice 1 1. ... Enraged... (-1 to all attacks) 2. ... Jawless... (+1 on accuracy rolls) 3. ... Putrid... (-1 on all accuracy rolls) 4. ... Decomposing ... (+1 on all attacks) Dice 2 1. ... Skeletal... (-5 miniboss HP) 2. ... Bellicose... (players take 2x the amount of damage on their first turn) 3. ... Armoured... (only 2 players per turn may use a special artifact/ability/item) 4. ... Burning... (take an extra 1 dmg each time you deal max damage (highest roll possible for weapon or damage-dealing skill)) Dice 3 1. ...Undead Ship Cook! 2. ... Mutated Daywalker! 3. ... Zombie Gerbil Pack! 4. ... Daywalker on Fire! MINIBOSS STARTING HP: 30/30 If you rolled a 1, take 4 dmg. If you rolled a 2, take 4 dmg. If you rolled a 3, take 3 dmg. If you rolled a 4, take 3 dmg. If you rolled a 5, take 2 dmg. If you rolled a 6, take 2 dmg. Your attack this turn does double damage. If all party members reach 0hp, look below:
You must make a tactical retreat! Scrambling back out of the room, you barely make it to the pod with all your limbs attached. Better luck next time! You have retreated from your mission and returned back to the docking area! Squad commanders, be sure to report in!
If the mini-boss reaches 0hp, look below:
If this is your first or second mini-boss fight look below:
If a member of your team is a trained Discipline or Endurace specialist OR registered as in-training for either:
You can close your eyes and draw on inner reserves to keep going. This can only be done once per ship exploration per troll trained. If you are a Journeytroll or higher in your skill: Restore 1d10+3 OR 1/3rd (rounded down) of your hp. If you are a Novice in your skill: Restore 1d8+2 OR 1/4th (rounded down) of your hp. If you are training your skill: Restore 1d6+1 hp. You cannot roll the dice then choose the flat restoration, one must be picked beforehand.
If a member of your team is a trained Troll Relations or Leadership specialist OR registered as in-training for either:
You can manage to cheer, rally, or cajole your teammates into finding more energy. This can only be done once per ship exploration per troll trained. If you are a Journeytroll or higher in your skill: Each team member restores 1d6+3 (rolled separately) hp. If you are a Novice in your skill: Each team member restores 1d6+2 (rolled separately) hp. If you are training your skill: Each team member restores 1d4+1 (rolled separately) hp.
If this is your third mini-boss fight, you have reached the control room! Roll 1d4 and look in the spoiler below:
1 - Powering on the ship is easy enough, with the instructions from headquarters in your ear. The screens show that the ship is functioning perfectly, and headquarters patches in the control of a remote helmsman. They wait until you have returned to your boarding pod and leave, before steering the ship away.* 2 - Powering on the ship is easy enough, with the instructions from headquarters in your ear. As the screens boot up however, dozens of red warnings and errors flash across the screen. It seems like there has been critical damage to the ship in multiple places. Your team is instructed to leave the small black boxes containing deadly explosives in key positions on your return path to the exit. 3- The ship refuses to power on, even after you follow headquarters instructions to make sure they are plugged in, and hitting ctrl-alt-del. It looks like something core is not functioning. Your team is instructed to leave the small black boxes containing deadly explosives in key positions on your return path to the exit. 4- Powering on the ship is easy enough, with the instructions from headquarters in your ear. The screens show that the ship is functioning perfectly, and headquarters patches in the control of a remote helmsman. They wait until you have returned to your boarding pod and leave, before steering the boarding vessel away.* If any troll in the party has helmsman authority, they can steer the ship to given coordinates, then return to the boarding vessel with the rest of the team. Congratulations! You have completed your mission and returned back to the docking area! Squad commanders, be sure to report in!
Sascha attacks the decomposing, armored, zombie cook!
HP: 2/20 Military Weapon: +1 DMG Trinkets: 3/3 Defense Style A: 2 damage is detracted from last incoming attack. 1/1 Defense Style B: Nullify damage from the last attack. Telekinesis: 1/2 Offensive Style B: Attack does double damage, and detracts 1 health from opponent every remaining turn. Recurring damage effect stacks.
"A safe bet," Sascha muttered as Mahmud worked on the door. Nothing on these ships were worth trusting. You expect to get zombies? Empty hallways. You expect empty hallways? Suddenly eighteen zombies are crawling up your a**. The doors are trapped, except when they're locked, except when they're trapped AND locked.
...Like that. Sascha flinched as he watched Mahmud fall through the door, and the ceiling fall on top of Mahmud. He wasn't sure if that was a trap, or just the structural integrity of the ship falling to pieces. Every one Sascha had visited had been a confirmed derelict. He wasn't holding out hope for this one to be much different.
Once he was certain no more of the room was going to come down, Sascha stepped over the threshold to retrieve Mahmud. "You gonna be okay, dude?" Sascha did his best to move debris off of Mahmud one-handed.
"Oh my god, what is that smell?" Sascha looked up from his work unearthing Mahmud. He froze when the clunking sounds of movement continued. At the other end of the room was a zombie, but not just any zombie. Sascha squinted his eyes against the darkness.
"Is that... some kind of chef?" That it was. Sascha was thrown that on a military vessel, this was the daywalker that looked especially monstrous. "Gross. I'll keep its attention. Get Mr. Fixit off the floor."
Sascha ran for the zombie cook, pivoting before he could strike it head-on. He could never tell when one of these cretins would be faster or slower than the average troll.
Unfortunately, they were relatively consistent in their freakish strength. Sascha embedded one knife in the daywalker's torso. Before he could wrench his weapon out of the ugly brute, it swung its arm back, catching Sascha and flinging him halfway across the room. Sascha's knife came free at least, surrounded by a generous chunk of the daywalker itself. A fresh wave of stench washed over the area. Sascha choked and gagged while attempting to fling the meat from his arm.
Sascha attacks the decomposing, armored, zombie cook with telekinesis!
HP: 2/20 Military Weapon: +1 DMG Trinkets: 3/3 Defense Style A: 2 damage is detracted from last incoming attack. 1/1 Defense Style B: Nullify damage from the last attack. Telekinesis:0/2 Offensive Style B: Attack does double damage, and detracts 1 health from opponent every remaining turn. Recurring damage effect stacks.
The zombie was continuing towards the rest of the crew. Sascha glanced back at Mahmud still half-buried under the ceiling trap. He then turned back to the zombie. Ugh, Cerpin was going to chew him out for this. However, Sascha was in charge, not Cerpin. That's why Sascha had to be the one to look out for his crew.
"HEADS!"
Sascha extended his good arm and his eyes lit up red. Lightning crackled and the pile of debris glowed red and lifted off of Mahmud entirely. With a swing of Sascha's arm, the mes launched across the room. The zombie was embedded with chunks of metal. The opposite wall dented with everything that missed. Sascha whooped at the display as his nose trickled yellow. The daywalker stumbled as it tried to compensate for the damage to its remaining muscle.
"Mahmud!" Oncoming zombie be damned; the orangeblood had been utterly crushed in the team's entrance. Thinking quickly, Aerona scooped out a small incendiary from her pounch and tossed it inward. It landed perfectly - not as flashy as Sascha's incredible powers, but it would do for a distraction. She rushed over to her teammate and assessed the damage, starting to pull ceiling rubble away from him.
HP: 10/20 Military Grade Weapon Novice Tactics Training Leadership
Cerpin is punching the boss Damage: 3 Boss HP: 8/30
10/16 advances 2/3 minibosses defeated
It had happened faster than he could react to. Cerpin watched in horror as his roommate crashed through the door and the sky seemingly crashed down on him. Had he just... died? The purpleblood gripped onto his sword in a moment of confused tension until the brownblood's voice crept through the debris. He crouched down to help lift and push pieces of spaceship off of his friend. Glob, that was probably going to do wonders for the carpenter's anxiety. Sascha alerted the group that they were not alone and the others all sprang into action.
"Mahmud, hang in there- we're gonna get you out!" He pushed and shoved to help Aerona clear the heavier pieces off of Mahmud's crumpled body. She was plenty strong on her own and truthfully didn't need the help but a second pair of hands would speed up the process some. From the corner of his eye, he saw red lightning spark across the room and everything went flying. Sascha was breaking their agreement and Cerpin felt his blood boil. The yellowblood was going to kill himself if he pushed those powers any further.
"SASCHA! You STUPID PIECE OF s**t-" A hoarse mixture of anger and fear roared out of Cerpin. The sword went whizzing through the air and punctured through the daywalker's midsection. If things had been in a lighter mood, he probably would've made a joke about shish kebabs but at the moment all he could think of was strangling Sascha if the cook didn't kill him first. Blood dripped from the yellowblood's nose and Cerpin had never been more tempted to-
He didn't have time for this. He grabbed Mahmud's arm and tried to tug his friend to his feet.
style A -2 damage taken, 3x per battle., used 0 times
Hair clips, Agility Type B (novice)
style B 2 2d6 hits with +1 to accuracy to each on this attack, 1x per battle* *roll 4d6, first two numbers are the 'hit or miss' determiners, second two are the damage done., used 0 times!
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Using his Artifact: -2 damage! s**t he wasn't good. No no no, he wasn't doing good at all. Even as his friends lifted rubble off him, Mahmud could feel his body's pain intensify. Almost as if the pressure had been keeping him from doing too badly. A small sob broke from his lips as they mostly unearthed him, and he kept trying to say something, anything, to get everyone's attention off him because to be frank, this was growing very awkward for him.
Once Cerpin had jossled Mahmud he screamed out in pain, a string of expletives tumbling out his mouth that quite frankly shouldn't be repeated. Possibly the only one worth even mentioning was him calling their opponent a "s**t-eating lusus humper", as he limply chucked a hammer at it. Somehow he managed to nail it, but how much damage he did remained a mystery as he, indeed, wanted to just go get his snug on and just not wake up.
“H-hold up. Hey, bud, stay awake. C’mon Mahmud, up and--” Cerpin was ******** screaming. Everything was chaos, and her suit was not built for this much damage. She felt the bite of iron in the back of her throat and flushed red.
“Goddamnit, shut up Cerpin!” Aerona cried. She turned around to spot the daywalker caught with a sword splitting through it and then back to Mahmud. He was more important. Her incendiary would do its work - she just had to focus on the team. Suddenly, Mahmud was screaming and shouting with the rest of them. Cerpin had pulled him up by the arm. Now instead of flushing it, Aerona was SEEING ******** YOU!” She rushed over to Cerpin and gave him a shove, trying to stabilize the orangeblood and reduce his movement. “You,” She spat, her words knives, “Need to let him ******** be. Take care of the CHEF if you can’t take care of your ******** FRIEND. You’re! Not! Helping.”
Aerona wound her braid into a tight bun and rummaged through her thigh pouch for something - anything. She had about half of a medi-kit, shaking hands and fury-driven adrenaline to guide her.
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