Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

The temple complex is huge, with over 200 buildings and three layers of walls. The security is run by the elite animal-soldiers of the emperor, plus the special imperial guard. Public Tours of the Tomb complex are frequently given, but they only include a single look at the inside of the innermost walls, and security is exceptionally tight there. The tour groups of the temple are all personally guarded by both priests and security.



The guards are pretty friendly though: they seem to be watching for curious tourists rather than enemy combatants.



In addition to tour groups, there seem to be medical pilgrims, high government officers who come to make petitions to the emperor, and an astonishing number of priests who compile reports, cook food, wash clothing, and receive guests.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Retifurus doesn't flinch, having noted the shruiken was slightly off course. (his own roll is a success by 10 ... good rolling).



"Of Course!" he responds.



He raises his weapon and sprays bullets at Vassarious. Three bullets need to be dodged: they do 5d pi if they hit.



I'm curious where the feint technique is on your sheet... I can't find it.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

In defiance of her appearance, the old woman cartwheels with alacrity, getting clear of the gunfire.

She takes another step closer to the gunman, and lets another Shuriken fly, again appearing to narrowly miss.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

He stands strait as the blade flies past him, and continues to pour fire into the street as he walks calmly forward. He scores another three potential hits. They're 4 yards away from each other now.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

And then throws three Skuriken from each hand, trying to disable the gunman's arm!


Edit: And Vassarious uses their step to close to 3 yards.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

I think your base dodge is 10, not 12. That's three hits. two at the torso, one on the leg. 19 and 14 to the chest, 13 to the leg. I think I count 17 DR vs bullets on the chest, stopping all but two of the damage. 8 damage gets through on the leg... which isn't enough to cripple it!

The pristine and divine body doesn't slow down for pain,

Retifurus finally moves his hands, but too slowly, and two of the strange blades strike his right arm, dealing 8 and 10 damage each... His gun tumbles to the ground from his disabled arm.

Retifurus whips out his sword with his other hand quick as a flash and rushes forward, closing the distance between the two combatants, and making a wild and clumsy swing.

You're right: the shuriken should be based on thrust damage. Throwing art and weapon master (which the advantage is based on) explicitly don't stack, so I think we're at 2d+3.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

As the blade flies harmlessly by the old woman's head she continues to quip...

"You've got some nice moves, but you're stepping on my toes a bit young man!"

And the woman steps in up close to her opponent...

...And swings her arms together, trying to strike either side of the warrior's arm with the bladed gauntlets.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

I guess if I vanished while on tour that would prompt a search.

Hm. I guess a priest would be one of the few who is a routine visitor? I suppose they live outside of the temple complex? I'll pick a promising priest (Intuition) and tail him to his destination. Maybe I could try befriending him and perhaps turn him or steal his credentials.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Yes, it would, though they'd be looking for a stray tourist.


[quoteHm. I guess a priest would be one of the few who is a routine visitor? I suppose they live outside of the temple complex? I'll pick a promising priest (Intuition) and tail him to his destination. Maybe I could try befriending him and perhaps turn him or steal his credentials.[/QUOTE]

Priests DO live outside of the temple complex. They go home in great droves at the end of the day. Halcyone follows one onto a bus, where it drives speedily to a wealthy neighborhood about 7 miles away from the complex. There are only five stops, where large numbers of people get off and on... the initial load is about half priestly, but the number goes down at each stop. At the fifth stop for the bus, the priest gets off and walks towards a large parking lot, looking for his car. Many other people are getting into their parked vehicles as well.

How will Halcyone follow?



The immortal warrior parries one blade and steps back away from the other, dodging artfully. The hand-blades very nearly hit though. The graceful sword returns to the ready, but no attack is made.

(evaluate for +1)

V can tell (via per roll I made for you) that the loss of the primary arm is really slowing Retifurrus down, and they are much less skilled with this arm.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Vassarious steps back into close combat and senses the man's presence, taking in his stance, and where the tension is his body is concentrated. The octogenarian slips to the side a bit, lashing out with another double swing to strike the outside of the remaining arm.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Sure. But looking for nobody would beat looking for a lost tourist.

Yeah, that's what I figured; unlike pilgrims and dignitaries I imagine they're coming and going fairly regularly.

I don't suppose there's a taxi around. Heck, how many destiny points for a convenient taxi to be around? Failing that, I suppose I could just note down his car's plate, make, color and such, and go looking wandering around public spaces and/or break into the trunk and hide another day.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

One attack is dodged, the other is not. Roll damage... the arm is probably crippled, and the fight mostly over.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

There are a number of taxis just waiting!

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Thank god they haven't invented ride-share services. I'll look for the car he's looking for, and once I spot it, I'll hop in a cab, offer the cabbie a bunch of money and say "follow this car!" or something like that.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Cutting Damage to Left Arm

4d6
6 + 3 + 6 + 1 = 16

I said swing, but I went with the thrust damage since we're in CC... It does not have to be that way, and I could see swing working, but I had a sneaking feeling you'd prefer to stick to thrust in CC. If not, I can always roll more dice ;)

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"I'm following. You don't know the actual address, do you?"

What do her clothes look like? Who does she look like right now?

The car pulls up to a gated community. Halcyone has noted the color and ID marks.

The taxi driver says "Is he going to let us in?"

Given that its described as a bladed hand, I'm fine with either thrust at +2 per die or swing without it.

The blow takes off the arm, sword and all.

"Nice dance." The man says. He's still up, but with his arms crippled, he's stopped fighting. "Next time we'd better get you more partners". He bows, his stump not even bleeding.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Vassarious considers taking this man's form, but decides against it, as he is concerned it may open him up to the false Maximus' commands. But he will search the assassin for ID or a wallet... anything they might find useful.

"More partners? What kind of a girl do you think I am?"

She says with a smile.

"Don't you worry now... You may not believe this, but things will be put right, and you'll be happier for it."

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"No, I don't."

I'll only elaborate if pressed.

What's the weather like? Out of wishful thinking I'll go with sunny and warm. I'll go with fashionable clothes in subdued colors, so as to look good while blending in a little. Probably works. Regardless of whether I'm going with pants or a skirt, I'm probably going with a longer cut. In any case probably not something practical for combat or infiltration. No idea if this fits budget or needed a roll. I'll be going with a variation on my usual "human" face. Helps keep in practice and is a mildly helps not being recognized.

How big is the gated community? Big enough for commercial space inside? Was he waved through or stopped for identification?

"Give me a minute to talk with him."

Honestly if it's just a big residential zone I'm not sure what I could accomplish entering by taxi.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Retifurus is technically still kicking... will V do anything to further disable her "partner"?


"I think you're the sort of girl who'll take an entire ball to take down. Luckily, We have one, and you just have your friend on another world. Go home. We don't want you here."


The taxi driver just chuckles... Halcyone suspects her rate might have just gone up a little.


That works. Sunshine it is.


The community is probably 50 large houses or so. Not large enough for commercial space... though they probably have servants that come to cook, clean, and do yard work.



Its an electronic gate. He seems to be having a little trouble.


Halcyone jumps out of the car... what will she say.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"Well, I never!"
And Vassarious slashes out Retifurus' legs.

"I was going to let you walk out of here, but such rudeness deserves chastisement sonny."

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"Go back to where you came from, little girl."

Retifurus is wearing an armor vest, carrying two pistols, and two knives, a bunch of ammo for the gun, besides a radio earpiece, a phone, a badge, and a wallet.

Seeing the Radio, Vassarious gets the feeling* that Retifurus wasn't operating alone.

*Danger Sense

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"you were kind of fun until you turned into a sore loser."

Vassarious collects the items as they conduct the search, other than the vest, and when the hairs on their neck stand up, they leap behind some kind of cover and put in the earpiece.

If nothing immediately happens, Vassarious will see if they can detect anything other than Retifurus with their supernatural sense.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

If I could tell where I was going before hand, maybe I could look up a random address to use for a lie?
Hm... I'll claim I was hired as an interior decorator for the house I looked up. I suppose I might be asked for an invitation or something, which I'll say I don't have because it's was short notice. I'll also mention that I'm crazy busy, and if I'm turned away now the residents aren't going to have another opportunity for a month (implying it will get the guard into trouble).

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Nothing (else) supernatural is in the area... but Vassarious spots the shilotte of at least three hawkmen with long arms taking up positions on the roofs above him.

yes... nice idea

The gate is having trouble anyways, so the guard lets you on through. The houses are large and expensive, but don't seem to have any additional security... other than the large privacy hedges that keep them from seeing each other properly.

The taxi driver wants to know if Halcyone should be dropped off or if he should wait.

what will Halcyone do to investigate/impersonate/suborn the priest now that she is at his home?

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

The old woman races away in the direction of the most cover and darts into a building to cut through and lose the pursuers, listening on the earpiece for enemy chatter.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

How close is the priest's home to the perimeter of the gated community? What are the walls of the community like? What is the surrounding area of the community like? Probably going to note the address and prepare for for a more discreet time.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

All the doors except for the place you just came from are locked...


Are you going in there or making a forced entry roll to bar through a locked door or boarded up window?




The Priest's home is right up next to the exterior wall, which is a 9 foot tall 2 foot thick brick barrier with cameras posted on top of it. There is a lot of vegetation, with bushes in front of every house and dividing lots from each other, with trees out front... lots of cover. Just outside of the community is a main road, and a different gated community on the other side. A half mile down the road is a park, and in the other direction a small commercial area

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Vassarious breaks in through a barded-up window to get out of view and make their escape!

The old woman tears through the sash of a boarded window and dives through, turning a corner through an office and over a desk, and out the door.
She tumbles down a corridor and unlocks and slips through a window on the other side of the building... but not as quietly as she would have liked...



V will try and extricate themselves from this part of the city as quickly as possible and try and lose any pursuers.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

The chatter is instant:


"She's moving!"

"She's in the northeast brick building, broke through a window"
"Keep eyes on her, but don't close in further than you need to. I'm seeing if we can get a new line to the emperor."
"what is that thing? I didn't think she was armed!"
"I saw her, 30 degrees north out a window!"



This is now a chase scene... Vassarious starts at medium range. Her pursuers are winged. This is a very dense urban area. The hawk soldiers get +4 to the chase because of their wings... success by three. They also get in a few shots. One bullet might hit the left arm for 23 damage. Regen is how many minutes per point?

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

So there's enough vegetation on the inside of the gated community to remain concealed for an extended period of time? Seems a bit strange to me. If that's the case, I'll pay the cabbie, wave him off and melt into the shrubbery. I'll keep eyes out on the house to see who's coming and going, and wait until night and for the house to go dark.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

aesthetics and security don't have the most amiable relationship, historically speaking. And you did you use intuition...


The house is now dark. The street lights in the neighborhood will stay bright... but the back yards are dark.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Cool; now I'm imagining it's like a tiny Versailles or Hampton Court. Though a more unkempt one.

I guess no one came or went? I'll stay away from the street, and make my way around the house looking for an open window, even if opened only a crack. An upstairs window is fine; I think my climbing could make it.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

As the shot rings out, Vassarious twists in a spinning leap, crashing through the window to a hardware store. Avassarious rushes deeper into the store to better their cover and force these foes to come in closer if they want to catch their prey. they try and change into Air form but feel their body hesitate.

If the next turn comes and they have not appeared, Vassiarious will try (and fail) again.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

No one came or went, correct.



One window is indeed cracked on the second floor... make a stealth roll if you use that window.






The store is quite small, and its deserted and cleaned out of its wares, but there are still abundant shelves to hide behind... though they count mostly as concealment rather than cover.



V can hear the chatter as the hawk soldiers watch the windows and take up positions, let some of their buddies catch up, and wait impatiently for an immortal to be assigned to them. They figure they have you cornered.



V has a third opportunity to shift, and a new voice on the earpiece says "This is Thadimus. The target is in the building you've got surrounded. She's trying to change again. Move in. Retifurus... how are you doing? Retifurus?"

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"What!?" Vassarious thinks to themself... "How can they know I'm changing my shape!?!"

Vassarious calms themselves and tries once more, hoping to slip away rather than harm these creatures that are just doing their jobs, and the change starts to come. Their form starts to soften...

While Vassarious shifts, they push one of the metal shelving racks over in front of the counter and takes cover behind the register to increase the quality of the cover, and hopes to complete their change to an air elemental and sneak away.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

I'll check my phone to see if Vassiarious responded before stripping down and heading for the open window.

So, where am I? The bedroom?

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

I must be a bit ahead, Vassarious has not yet received the message.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Vassarious changes their form from a much too athletic old lady with blades on her hands into a wispy being of air.



Thadimus: "She's become that air creature again! Fire on the north and west."


The north and west entrances open, and the bird men open fire wildly, not truly aiming... V is in cover for now, but the main bulk of the room is under cover fire.

You're breaking my causality!



halcyone squeezes her flexible body through the tiny crack without a sound and spies her quarry is dozing three feet away in his bed.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

((Do a few seconds elapse, or is this simultaneous with the shapeshifting success?))

Vassarious holds their position ((Wait-Attack target if it presents itself) while they complete their change unless an opponent comes into their view. Should one of them present themselves where they can be targetted, Vassarious will throw two handfuls of blades, targetting unarmored areas, the preferred target being the weapon arm or hand if exposed.

((DWA-Throwing Art, RoF 3 per hand))

Once the change is complete, Vassarious flows into a floor vent and uses the ducts to slip out of the building and stealth away.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Well, gotta surprise the emperor somehow.

I'll look around to see if he's left his wallet on a nightstand or something. Is there a desk in here, or would he have a dedicated study. I suppose he's sleeping alone? Does it look like this is the largest bedroom? I slip out into the hallway.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Two seconds of fight will occur before the change occurs. The first attack will take supression fire from five yards away at ROF 10.



The first attack results in the bird shooting high, and dodging the projectiles very narrowly. (2 hits on the first attack, followed by just enough dodge. The second attack went wide... rolled a 16)0.


There are three birds with guns that V can see, and they're all aware of V's exact position now. Will V make the second attack, or just wait for the change?



His wallet and phone are out on his nightstand. There is no desk here... its a single man in an oversized house, so presumably there is a study somewhere. This does look like the largest bedroom. The house is quite large, though Halcyone has seen much much more ornate stuff.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Vassarious will all out defend rather than attack for the last second before the change.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

No bullets fly... they must be watching for V. V notices that the earpiece has gone quiet. And then V blurs into a fog and makes for a vent. If the building was in proper repair, the ventilation system would have been difficult to escape. due to fans and keeping the building pressurized.

Its a derlict shop in a run-down part of town. Vassarious encounters no such difficulties, and they exit the building without any more trouble.

Next time they transform into a body that uses a phone, they will get Halcyone's message. They will also get a message from their underworld contact, showing security footage of the fight with Retifurus and asking "is this you?"

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Vassairious flies up high into the night sky and takes on the form closer to the one they arrived in on this world at, 10,000 feet.

Assuming this does appear from the angles and obstructions to be "security footage" and not a hidden camera planted in the ally...

Vassarious curses... They will not reach out to the contact. V finds it highly suspect that the contact could have this footage mere moments after it occurred and that the opposition was able to locate them and get into position in four minutes after their shapechange in a city this size.

Vassarious opens the cell phone and tries to call Halcyone.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

This is security footage.. <quiet GM chuckling>.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Past Halcyone is... Uh, I guess this would be after I got the drop phone but before I got in the cab. And V's whole fight sequence happened at night... I'll say that Halcyone took time to sleep before the casing action the next day.

I wake up and answer the phone.
"What's up? Did you get my message about what Maximus can detect?"
Future Halcyone wonders why she was checking messages earlier.

I check if his phone is unlocked, and if not, if his alarm is set on his phone. I'll check his wallet if his entry badge is in there.

--

I suppose we should deal with Past Halcyone first.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"I guess that means that Maximus would know that we're trying to change his pattern, given the pictures we sent and all."

"Well I'm already in Arthus. Army flew me in while I pretended to be Kunnifax. Clearly I'm doing an OK job keeping hidden or Maximus has a thing for tentacled girls."

"Once you're satisfied communications are safe, let's arrange a meetup."

And suddenly Future Halcyone remembered what message she was waiting for.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"It's very possible. It is also possible he is able to track the otherworldly communication locations but not their content, but not our use of their local networks... Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing.

You are a creature of science and I of magic. Seeing Maximus' power of divination, I find it surprising he can only locate me when I alter my form. He was previously unaware of my kind, so that may soon change.

"We can take some additional precautions, but there are none that will satisfy me that it is safe. All we can do is what we can and hope for the best."

OOC: Did we pick a rendezvous point on this world near the capitol or temple? If we did, how far is it? and if so, Vassarious will say:

"Meet me at the closest rendezvous point in..." insert a reasonable number of "...Hours"

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

OOC: The only rendezvous point I recall we picked was a mountain on Monstri, which would be a rather silly. We might as well go to the Monstri gate. Maybe we could have retroactively arranged a meetup point or just arrange one now?

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

roll IQ-1 for retroactive... or arrange one now over technology.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

If you want to be nice enough to give us a roll, I will certainly take it.

This seems like a fine use of a Destiny Point for Player guidance...

But I'll make the roll and you can claim a Destiny point if you like.

IQ-1
3d6 <= 14
6 + 4 + 2 = 12 ... success

I'd rather have a spot we decided before we were using the communication, just in case they can listen in now that they are looking for us.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

There is a park in the capital, where Vassarious can hide as a creature, and where Halcyone can be near their favored urban terrain. You can meet near an entrance on the southern side without saying it over the comms.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

No critters! They would have to change back and give away their location.

Vassarious will fly out of the city and land in the suburbs and shifts back to a nondescript form with fighting capabilities, much like the old woman visage. The form is younger and vaguely unattractive. Given their ability to track the shifts, this will likely be the last change for some time.

She runs a mile out from the change point and steals a car that looks older and is unlikely to have tracking capabilities.

They then double back and drive into the city and ditch the car about a mile from the meeting place and head to the rendezvous point.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

I'll check bus schedules and figure has X more hours to sleep, and sets an alarm. I wake up later and heads out to catch a bus. Getting there a little early (having slack on bus schedules is usually smart), I go to pick up some croissants and coffee at a nearby cafe. Then I'll try to keep an eye on the park while left alone with my thoughts.

Hm, I was supposed to meet a mouse in a park. That's probably not going to happen. I suppose it would be too much to ask for V to be particularly mousey.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Vassarious spots Halcyone, who is using the face of the fake identity, in the correct location at the park.


The two meet up, having started on two different worlds miles away from each other.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

I offer V a cup of coffee.
"Didn't know if you wanted cream or sugar, so I got black and some packets of sugar and cream. Take a croissant if you like."

After V sits down:
"Any ideas on how to infiltrate the temple?"

"I had a bit of a silly plan where I pretend to be Kunnifax having captured you. It might just result in us getting killed inside the temple, depending on how well I/we can argue, 'that tentacle lady; she did something weird and now you're not speaking in my head anymore'."

"Here's some of the money the army gave Kunnifax, and by Kunnifax I mean me disguised as Kunnifax. And here's the room key for the motel I found. You might need some shut eye I figure."

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Vassarious accepts the kind offer of breakfast and the use of the hotel to catch up on some missed sleep.

"While the idea of impersonating Kunnifax and his prisoner has possibilities, it may also put us on rails as they may wish us to go through some kind of processing and they will likely summon additional security to handle the situation. I think it would be safer to disguise ourselves as priests and make our way to the stones."

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"Yeah, I'm not too hot trojan prisoner plan either. I'll be heading off to find a priest to follow. No idea how long that will take. Hopefully I can follow to a bar or something but maybe back to their house."

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"We will have to work by subterfuge, as they have legions of the hybrid soldiers. My ability to change my shape is now a liability if used. While you are out, could you stop and acquire some makeup and anything else you can think of that might serve as a disguise? I have to assume they know this face."

Vassarious thinks over the best routes and the security checkpoints they will have to pass to get to the patterned stones they need to return to their proper order and tries to formulate a plan as they drift off to take a much-needed nap.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

There are three walls to pass. The first sees a lot of traffic pass it, and has myriad entrances, guests, sick or injured pilgrims seeking healing, tour groups, guards, priestly janitors running out to grab their lunch, and so forth. Security checks there are present but minimal, and failure merely means being turned away. This is were weapons are checked for.



The second wall sees tour groups, dignitaries, guards, and priests on duty passing, Security here will arrest, but they're heavily used enough that the checks aren't that earnest...mostly a screen for tourists.



The third wall has the most security. Only priests, guards, and the occasional sentator or governor pass, and security takes its job seriously, taking the time to be sure. Rumor has it that the people authorized to make it back there know most of the others authorized on sight.



The all three walls are 30 feet tall, and have guards on the top.


Vassarious is just drifting off to sleep when he receives another message from his contact: "Hey, I'm not trying to catch you, I'm just being offered money to know who laid the smack down on an immortal. I'll cut you in on a chunk if you want, and forward you more jobs."


And we pickup in the hallway of the priest, with access to his phone and wallet, and looking for his study... which isn't upstairs, though several guestrooms and a VR theater are.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Vassarious does not reply. The resources he was working with the contact for are no longer needed and continued communication has no benefit, it only adds to risk.

Vassarious goes to sleep.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

I'll attempt to resist the urge to check out the VR theater.
Well hopefully it's not set really loud.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

The Theater is cutting edge...Halcyone thinks. Its nothing close to back home, but that's another Tech level advanced. Its nice and comfy, and quite a luxury. Its spotless, which means that a maid must come in and clean it-- Halcyone hasn't seen much in the way of cleaning bots here. The controls to the theater seem to be remote... maybe controlled by the phone or a personal computer?

What else is Halcyone looking for in the house?

Vassarious enjoys some much needed rest.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Phew. Was pretty sure I blew the whole thing by a bad SCR.

I'll take a glance at the guest rooms in case something strange is going on in there.
Then I'll head down stairs and keep looking for the study.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

No guests tonight.



Halcyone finds the study. It has a lot of priestly memorabilia (unlike most the rest of the house), a few old books, and a computer.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Like pictures, autographs and old framed uniforms? Or something more esoteric?

I'll check the titles of the books and to see if any of them are hollow.

I begin wishing I paid more attention to the eggheads in my old resistance cell. Then I remember that sometimes people write down their passwords and go looking around the study.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"zzzzzzzzzzzzz..........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........ .zzzzzzzz"

Vasarious dreams of soaring over snozzberry fields....

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

That, plus religious symbols, ostentatious books, statues of maximus, and pictures of the temple complex.



No books are hollow, but Halcyone manages to scrounge up what looks like a list of passwords. The fifth password works, and she's on his computer. What is she looking for?

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

So like coffee table books or like law books in legal dramas that clearly have never been read?
Any areas that aren't on public display?
I suppose the passwords all look like gibberish (i.e. Aj3*%kdYhf).h)
AllTheBadThingsIveDone.txt ;)

More seriously I'll look through his correspondence, his documents, and his calendar. If my plan is going to be impersonating this guy I ought to get a feel for the kind of person he is.

Research to mine data from the computer, memetics to build a profile:
Next I suppose I'll look for spare keys to the house and his car.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

books that have bound leather covers with gold leaf and are twice the size they need to be.


There are plenty of areas behind the second wall in the pictures. Nothing behind the third.


Yep. Great passwords if you actually remember them and don't write them down for intruding squid-girls to riffle through.


The house and car keys require an App, a phone, and some passwords helpfully stored on the "Passwords" document on the computer.


The Man's job in the temple complex seems to be as a guide to visiting dignitaries... nothing like governors or even senators, but the rank below them. He is great at making small talk, and general flattery, is ambitious but is mostly waiting for those above him to retire, recently became worried about his health, and seems to have a certain sloppy streak in his public (but not private life). He has many acquaintances but no long-term friends.


Anything else to find out in the house?

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

When Vassarious wakes, they draw a map of the complex and labels all of the areas they were able to identify and plots out several penetration routes.

Was V ever able to determine how many of the hybrid guards they had in the complex? Do they have a barracks that might indicate how many they have the capacity to support?

With shapeshifting being a liability currently, V considers the options were they to try and turn this liability into an asset... perhaps they can find a good spot to intentionally cause a stir, and shapeshift as a distraction to lure the guards away when Halcyone penetrates the last layer of security.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Ah, so he needs the large print versions.

So a less socially inept TGLS...

I suppose he wears the same uniform (well probably not literally) going into and out of work every day? I think that would about tie up about all I need to know. Still lots to do.
Right. Given I wasn't planning to go right to his house and instead coincidentally start bumping into him, I either have my cell phone on me or outside. I guess we could just use his phone to transit if necessary. I'll steal back into his bedroom to steal his phone. Then I'll figure out what app(s) he's using for his home and car security. Then it should just be a matter of installing those app(s) on my phone and logging into the accounts. I'll be sure to do this in his study or something in case the security company calls.

In and out for the phone (I suppose I should grab the dirty uniform too.)
Now let's get access:
Cool. I'll remember to delete any emails he received about recently added access to house and car. Then I'll go pick up my effects I left outside, and head over to his car. I'll need to figure out where to hide my stuff (my clothes, the uniform, cash) where he won't find it. Not sure what the modifier would be here; difference in size should be about 3 or 4?
OK, should be hidden. I'll send V a message that I probably won't be back until noon and not to contact me until then. Then I'll open the trunk, stuff myself inside and draw the thing shut. Hopefully my color changing skin will fool him if he opens the trunk.
I dunno about the skill, but it does seem like reverse Houdini, so... I'll try to get some rest while waiting for, uh, what's-his-name, to leave for work.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Give me a tradecraft roll... or we can make it at the moment you need them.


secret tradecraft roll... There are barracks for 8,000 hybrid troops in the temple complex... but most of them are empty. V estimates that less than 300 hybrid troops are actually at the temple, with the rest being deployed across the five worlds.


That sounds fun...


He has several different copies of his priestly garb.


It all seems to have worked.



So what is in the car trunk with you and what is hidden at the priest's premises?

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Tradecraft-14 + Possible bonus from reference materials?

3d6
6 + 5 + 3 = 14

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Uh, the intention was to hide all my effects somewhere in the car (not necessarily in the trunk), so I can retrieve them when I get out of the car.

I think I forgot to put his cell phone back... Can I remember to do that before getting in?

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

That's basic equipment in this case... a bare success. Vassarious finds and plots a few different routes, but not as many as she would have liked.


Both requests are accepted.



Halcyone dozes off, and is awakened when the car starts driving. Any communication with V? Will V be approaching the Temple complex at the same time?


You've had time to plan, so your "retroactive roll penalty" is set to 0.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Already? I figure we still need at least a day's worth of preparation before we start with infiltration.

I'll send a short message: "On the move. Should be back soon to discuss next steps."

After the car is stopped, noise dies down, and at least five minutes pass, I'll pop the trunk and get dressed again. Then I'll catch a bus back downtown.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

ok, that's fine. when you say downtown, do you mean the temple complex, the hotel where you are staying, or somewhere else?

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Eh... Back to the hotel if V is ready to meet. If not then to a laundromat to wash the uniform. Then back to the hotel to put the uniform away.