Wikvaya Shoodii |
Wikvaya failed the perception roll, actually, but considering Cort already warned us...
"Don't be rash," Wikvaya snarls, putting on his camo cloak and muttering about foolhardy warriors. "I'll scout ahead."
The shaman exits the cave to find the source.
Stealth {53 = 33 Agility + 10 Stealth + 10 Camo Cloak}: 1d100 ⇒ 11
GM Larkin |
Wikvaya sneaks out into the mountains. Carefully and slowly he picks his way through the rocks. The humming noise is hard to pinpoint, but he soon finds the source of the rest of the noise. A sizable troop movement of Dominate forces is pushes through the lowlined sections of the mountains towards Imperial lines.
Jermaie Dael |
Jermaie lowers his weapon after the rest of the Dominate troops have passed. Still on guard, though, he does not put it away.
"Well then. 'Spose we oughta go along wit' our plan then. We find the base first, and do our best to scout out the area before we really begin our assault."
GM Larkin |
Unless told otherwise I'll assume no-one is wearing a Severan Dominate uniform
After 4 days of rest healing and repairs the squad pulls their newly aquired APC out of the cave and begin to follow the vague directions they got for General Haravax Scarus's headquarters.
So it's a -10 navigate(surface) test. Assisting is allowed
GM Larkin |
In fact the now dead Dominate Trooper's directions were surprisingly accurate even in their vagueness. Wikvaya has little problem directing the squad through the mountains. Turning a corner, what must be the headquarters you were looking for, comes into view.
Nestled near the top of one of Virbius's majestic mountains is a smallish group of buildings, too advanced to be the work of any local tribe. High walls surround the complex on all sides except those protected by the mountain face. On the other sides the wall leads, almost directly to a near vertical cliff face, many thousands of meters drop. There is but one winding approach to the base, which is very open and visible from the base and its front gates. Within the walls, looming over the rest of the complex enormously, is a gothic tower of unknown purpose.
I'll try to get you a picture ASAP
Jermaie Dael |
Oh... that's rather menacing.
Jermaie stares wide-eyed at the imposing edifice. "That... might be a bit of a problem. There's no way. Not a one of us can ge' over those walls without climbing gear. The mountain won't be much of an easy climb either unless a couple o' us can find a way to climb up, an' that's all assuming we don't get spotted in the mean-time."
Jermaie leans against the side of the truck, pondering. "Well, 'eve got some options. A few of us could 'ide in the truck, put some stuff over us while the rest with the uniforms try and get past the gate. Elsewise us without the uniforms gotta get out near the gate, stick to the walls, try and climb the mountain without a harness or other gear and get in that way..."
Garion Valkof |
I have no experience with mountain climbing, and my leg injury would only hinder us further. Unfortunately, I believe my only way in shall be through disguise. And let us not forget,though it looks imposing, it is built upon the foundations of treason and heresy! The Emperor walks with us, and if we stay true in faith, we will crumble this fortification for we our His Hammer!
Garion will wear a disguise, preferably from an officer if possible.
Cormaeg MacCammon. |
"So...do we go in at nightfall?
I mean, the darkness can only help us right? And if we time it right, the sentries might be tired and grouchy, in no mood to talk and be a bit more slack in checking us out.
Plus, as an added bonus, a lot of people might be in their bunks, even the target if the emperor smiles upon us."
Wikvaya Shoodii |
Wikvaya will wear the Dominate uniform as well. The comrades should get any left-over uniforms, and those who don't have any, or whose character doesn't want to risk their comrade, should be left behind.
"Don't forget I still have the poison," Wikvaya says. "A direct approach may work well if we can lie well enough, but that harbors great risk. I would propose gathering information first before taking any action. I am unsure, but perhaps there is some way to hack into their communications? Radio and the like?"
Garion Valkof |
Without a Tech Priest, unfortunately I doubt any of us would have the required expertise. We could attempt to ambush any who leave and interrogate them, but they will soon catch on and be on alert. If someone could scale the mountain, we could get a vantage point and garner more information. The direct approach is our only viable option as of the moment.
Jermaie Dael |
Did I do that? *Looks innocently at the rest of the party.
GM, how difficult do you reckon it'd be to scale the mountain without proper climbing gear? I mean, with proper preparation, it might be possible to fashion some crude equipment, but I imagine it'd be quite treacherous.
GM Larkin |
There are 2 separate mountains that we could be talking about. If you're climbing up to the walls that would be extremely challenging. Climbing to the top of the mountain that overlooks the complex would be relativity easy. Scaling down from there would be difficult as well, but assuming you've taken the proper precautions at that point, would not come with the same risk of death. All three climbs would require athletics tests of varying difficulties
You can use survival to make rope as before. I'll allow it to be used to make other simple equipment, but you have to explain to me what you're making and I'll see if it makes sense. For example I can't see how you could make pins out of rock and wood, but if you can think of some other material to make it out of, then I might say yes
Also be explicit and clever about how you explain things to me. If you send the strongest climber first with rope tied to him and a weaker climber follows and falls, the stronger climber can make a test to save him
@Garion - You are right to be fearful of climbing. Not only would the stress be hard on your leg, you are also out of fate points. Falling to your death would mean you're out of the game. Could you give me a common lore(Imperial Guard) test please
Jermaie Dael |
"I don' see it. We havne't got anything that'd make the general wanna come out. We're here to get 'im, right? I'd still say getting in there silent-like would be our best bet. I'm thinking... climbing this mountain would be a rather easy way to end me life, but it might be the only option. We don't 'ave enough uniforms, but I can do it."
Dang, if we only had some grapnels. Rope, yeah we can make that using leaves and fronds. Pikes... those might be impossible looking at everything we've got. However, do you think we might be able to fashion picks out of our entrenchment tools?
Jermaie Dael |
Well, I'm a caveman, so I was thinking I'd smash them with a large rock... If we're working with steel, we'd have to get a makeshift kiln going and then beat it with hammers we probably don't have. Damn. Maybe I could try sharpening it down to a point, but that'd take a long, long time with just a whetstone.
GM Larkin |
I'll take that as a way of saying you can't think of a way of reworking the 9-70 Entrenching tool into a pick.
Climbing to the wall with makeshift rope and using your unmodified 9-70 is at a -20 athletics test
Climbing the mountain behind the base with the same tools is at a +0
These numbers assume no special climbing techniques
Cormaeg MacCammon. |
"Hmmm, you think we might be able to smuggle some people in as causalities of war?
If some people are covered in a bloody tarp they might be reluctant to look, and once we're secluded...
Just an idea, This whole planning business is not my strong suit."