Assault on Pharo

[Rune Knight]

In a room dimly lit by a golden glow, a figure sat upon a tall, imperious throne; subdued chaos swirled around her as communications officers read from their command terminals, just trying to understand what was going on. She was the eye of the storm, silently watching an array of pseudo-holographic screens trapped in a vast glass prism on the war table before her.

Seemingly overnight, everything had begun to fall apart.

Her eyes flickered between images and videos: an entire album of leaked evidence revealing her secret plan. Recruiting soldiers and training them to fight. Hiring spies and assassins to make moves on key political figures...

Even killing, if she had to do it herself.

She saw the reaction from the public unfolding before her very eyes: conspiracy forums feeling validated that their theories about her seemingly innocuous tech company "Pharo" were finally proven true, murmurings in the underworld that working with a known terrorist group might not be in their best interests - even the government was responding, talk of investigations and possible arrests reaching her metaphorical ears through her network.

A network she had spent decades cultivating. How long ago had it been when she had awakened to this strange new world? Her sorcerers had promised her that she would awaken to rule an Egypt at the peak of it's power - but instead all she had found was sand and desolation.

And now, desolation came once again, this time for her New Egyptian Empire.

"Initiate Project Sand Spider." She announced to the room, her exotic, alien accent unlike any other in the world.

All at once, the chaos went still. Her officers looked at each other for a moment, then began to move with purpose.

Standing up from her throne and moving around behind it, Queen Heqet stood with her hands resting behind her back. The entire lair began to rumble, and a sliver of light cracked itself open further and further to reveal the truth at the top of the pyramid-shaped glass building which was Pharo's headquarters.

The tip of the pyramid split down all three sides, opening like hangar doors. All this time, they had been hiding a mechanical bird as large as the largest aeroplane the world had ever known - an effigy in the form of Ra, glistening black and elegant gold reflecting in the rain and the gray stormy daylight.

"Queen Heqet, it won't be safe to fly in this weather!" A pilot warned.

Just then, an alarm began to ding on the war table behind them; glancing back, Queen Heqet saw… that the elevator doors were opening.

"We have no choice."

 

---

 

Just moments ago, our team of intrepid "heroes" stood riding that very elevator the final few floors up to Queen Heqet's lair, checking their equipment as elevator music danced pleasantly in the background. So what if they were wanted criminals just like she was? There was a distinct difference between what they did, and Queen Heqet's desire to rule the world.

And now it had all led to this. The reveal of Queen Heqet's mobile lair might have been a surprise to another crew, but professionals like you had found out about it beforehand and equipped yourself appropriately in weatherproof outfits and other gear.

"Attention personnel:" a voice announced over the intercom, "prepare for takeoff."

Ding!

The elevator opened into a massive lobby, part of which was covered by a tower in the center of the room that rose up to the ceiling.

Not far off, soldiers in sleek black-and-yellow uniforms with vaguely bird-like masks had been sparring and practicing their shooting at targets on the wall. They turned at the sound of the elevator, brandishing Khopesh swords or simple handguns, a round ballistic shield in their off-hands.

At the center of the training-room half of the lobby, a man in a padded black suit much like a Formula 1 driver's suit had been sitting on the shoulder of what at first seemed like a tall obsidian statue, but which soon revealed itself for what it was: a black-and-green exosuit that shut closed like a Venus flytrap as soon as the pilot jumped inside.

The exosuit struck the figure of a jackal-headed man, a massive kite-shaped tower shield in one hand and a minigun strapped to it's back ready to pull at a moment's notice.

The lair lurched; lightning struck outside with a thunderous kra-KOOM!, the muffled sound of rain pounding outside as the lair began to move.

 

OOC

And the battle begins! Each of you may start combat on Zone 19 or Zone 18; alternatively, you can choose to start outside on Zone 33.

I tried to keep the initial post as short as possible, so if there's any crucial information that's missing that you need in order to take your first few actions then don't be afraid to ask.

If you would all copy your character sheets and post them into the Character Sheets thread, I would greatly appreciate it. @ManicPixieFatGuy, this would be a good opportunity for you to finalize your Stunts.

@Colette, I assume that you are the initiative leader for your team; roll initiative, please.

And last but not least, I realized where in the timeline of a hypothetical campaign this Scenario would be, and that you each would have gained about 4 extra Skill Points by now. I'm sure you'll all find somewhere to put those points. ;)

 

Edited April 26 by Rune Knight (see edit history)

[Colette]

Many were the priestesses recruited to Queen Heqet's banner: all young women, all pulchritudinous or at least potentially pulchritudinous (she was not going to sully her priesthood's image with a bunch of homely clergy, now, was she?), all rather gullible and impressionable, all lost and looking for a place in the world. Classic cult recruitment tactics, really, and Impi just so happened to fit the bill.

In the same way that the Eyes of Ra had a uniform that looked "ancient Egyptian" only after considerable squinting and head-tilting, so too did the priestesses have a uniform more fitting for a Halloween party: and a risqué one, at that. The perfume-doused silk was all cleavage, armpits, tummy, and legs, adorned with multiple layers of clinking and jingling jewelry; plus cherry-red eyeshadow, lipstick, fingernail and toenail polish, and sky-high stiletto pumps. (In fairness, it was technically more modest than those historically accurate, chest-exposing kalasiris dresses.)

The Eyes of Ra had falconine masks. The Bastet Twins, felid. MechaNubis, jackal-like. The priestesses' full-face masks all depicted the same bovine countenance, reminiscent of the matronly goddess Hathor. It sure was calescent, wearing those masks atop such copious layers of cosmetics.

---

During her weeks-long stint as a loyal priestess of Heqet, Impi saw that it was a normal enough for a priestess to accompany Eyes of Ra, and indeed, did so herself many times. Thus did she keep her cow mask on, waltz right alongside the falcon-suggestive goons, and board the Pharo with them. When Impi saw her moment, she discreetly slipped away from the Eyes in the training room and pushed a few buttons near an elevator shaft.

The ding several seconds later swept Impi off her feet, butt-to-floor. It came with a brief, squeaky shriek, muffled by her full-face mask. It was an earnest reaction: Impi's sheer skittishness, the second thoughts still burdening her heart, her priestess uniform's stilettos being a whole five inches high even without platforms, and the storm-cutting velocity of the aircraft all toppled her over.

The Eyes of Ra and MechAnubis focused their attention on Hannibal and the Watcher. They were blissfully unaware that there was an Imposter Among Them. From their perspective, a faithful priestess of Queen Heqet, who just so happened to be in proximity to the elevator, was being menaced by a pair of blasphemous intruders.

Impi would disabuse them of such notions soon enough: once she quite literally got off her ass, anyway.

Edited April 27 by Colette (see edit history)

[Starsign]

Codename: Watcher

FP 3 / 3 | Stress [1] [1] [1] [1] | Consequences [2] [4] [6]

---

My, how Watcher hated elevators.

Hannibal wouldn't know it, looking at his 'boss.' The leader wore a thick raincoat over his well-tailored black suit, with a waterproof layer over the fedora that blended into the night. Watcher practically lounged, back leaning on the nicely-padded elevator wall while looking over a sharp steel sabre. The plan was going quite well, though he didn't exactly have one going in. Impi's decisions inspired some improvision.

So one could excuse Watcher for wanting to find the elevator speaker and slash it apart.

The delightful *ding* took him out of his silent aggravation; and like a gentleman, he stepped in front of the elevator doors and hid the sabre back in the raincoat. The opened doors announce his steps into the lair, walking as if entering a theatre stages. 

"Ah, welcome, welcome!" His voice was smooth, slick and relaxed, uncannily unfazed by the presence set before him as he adjusted the hat on his head. Beneath the mask was a pair of excited eyes, analyzing the uniquely modern training ground and the more bothersome defensive turrets. Now that's an eyesore of a problem. Surely there's something more interesting to his eyes. A treasure trove, maybe? Or a vault of riches?

Nah, too hard to tell from here. 

"So glad to receive a crowd this stormy night," he continued, treating the enemies like an audience in their seats, and he would've looked down on them if he could. They had nice masks, particularly the jackal and falconine ones. "And I am happy to have dressed for the occasion! I always enjoyed," his voice ominously deepens, "A masquerade." 

One may have expected a sudden attack from him, yet he didn't even reach for his blade. He had a moment to admire the specs of gold pyramids, the statues of Egyptian gods, and the general *lush* of wealth Queen Heqet built up over her years.

"Now, I certainly couldn't have come without a *gift*, could I?" Casually, the suited masked man reached into his coat-

*click!*

The thunder-silencing sound of several handgun holsters put him still, freezing in sheer disappointment. "Oh please," he retorted. "You'd think I'd be so crude to pull out an explosive? It's certainly not my intent to lay harm to this wondrous base." 

Inside his coat rested a small, cylinder-like container which his fingers now wrapped around. He'd love nothing more than to let it do its magic.

Very slowly, he pulled out the container, eyes darting between the various Eyes of Ra. "See? Quite the harmless gift." He could sense the hesitation in them, having never encountered someone who treated threats so casually, whose every moment suggested they weren't a threat to him.

All he had to do was to drop the container, or toss it. But he was waiting for a signal.

Edited April 28 by Starsign (see edit history)

[ManicPixieFatGuy]

Hannibal Van Zant

FP 1 / 1 | Stress [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] | Consequences [2] [4] [6]

---

Hannnibal stood in the elevator clenching and unclenching his fists. The leather of his gloves creaking under the pressure. He looked at The Watcher lounging and rolled his shoulders cracking his neck. He hopped on his toes lifting his heels and getting his blood flowing limbering up for the inevitable action to come. He then whispered an entreaty to the Ubër Kahn, the Alpha, a primal entity his patron. He called out across the veil, “Uber Kahn, your vessel seeks your power. The strength, instincts, senses, and skills of the Alpha. The predator of predators. Lend me power for this hunt.”
 

Hannibal took a carved saber toothed skull he wore on a leather thong around his neck. He’d carved the totem from a piece of hardwood not long ago. He held it in his hand as he spoke the words, and then he pricked his thumb with a small pocket knife and smeared the drop of blood onto the totem, “With this blood I call to you, I invite you to the hunt.”
 

As he finished his prayer the elevator door opened and the Watcher leapt forth monologging. He felt his veins burn and his eyes bulge, his nostrils flaring as his body welcomed the Uber Kahn and his senses opened up and his body swelled with power. A sharp toothed smile crossed his face as he leapt from the elevator to loom behind the watcher his muscles twitching and any with the gift seeing his aura flare in the shape of a great turquoise saber toothed tiger. His shadow altered to reflect this even for those with only mundane senses.
 

.

Edited May 2 by ManicPixieFatGuy (see edit history)

[Rune Knight]

"Soldiers, form up! Protect the priestess!"

A group of falcon-masked followers of Queen Heqet rushed forward, shields raised, moving quickly to surround Watcher and Hannibal. One of them looked back at Impi in her disguise.

"Head for the Queen's Chambers, ma'am! The antechamber should be safe enough, or perhaps Queen Heqet will let you into an adjoining room with her command of this vessel!"

Meanwhile, Watcher and Hannibal did their best to break the circle that the Eyes of Ra were forming around them, but to no avail. Despite Hannibal's incredible strength, the soldiers were too well-trained, working together and bracing against his attempts to throw them to the side. Watcher did his best to take advantage of their concentrated effort, but they always left a few others to cover their flanks.

Before they knew it, the Eyes of Ra had Watcher and Hannibal well and truly surrounded.

Recalling the layout of this place that they had managed to learn during their investigations of Queen Heqet, Watcher, Hannibal and Impi all realized how difficult it might be to reach Queen Heqet herself. They knew that at the other end of this room was a passage leading to the Bridge, where Queen Heqet was sure to be overseeing everything.

Would they continue to face these minions and whittle them down until they could get to Queen Heqet? Or would they try and reach her first, in order to cut the head off the snake? They weighed their options carefully...

 

---

OOC

Mob C moved into Zone 18 and rolled to Create an Advantage against Watcher and Hannibal; they succeeded with style, placing the Surrounded Aspect on them with 2 free invocations.

@Colette, it is now Impi's turn.

 

[Colette]

Impi

FP 2 / 1 | Stress [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] | Consequences [2] [4] [6]

---

At the end of the day, someone needs their heart in the fight if they want to win. All the skill in the world is second to keeping one's head straight and one's will focused. Today, Impi is not good at doing this.

When the Eyes of Ra urge her to head to safety, she slowly picks herself up from the ground and complies, hurriedly scurrying away on those all-too-tall stilettos. It takes a while for the girl to come to her senses. She grits her teeth, pivots on her high heels, and launches herself at the Eyes. This is is no mundane martial art; she soars through the air and thrusts forth her fist onto one of the goons. Burdened as she is with myriads of second thoughts, this is far from Impi's best showing. Even so, the punch blows him backwards and into the other Eyes, toppling them like dominoes. For a moment, it looks like the grunts are about to recover their footing, but Watcher releases a very special box, and the air becomes a crashing cacophony and a blinding effulgence. The Eyes sprawl onto the floor.

Impi draws a deep breath and gives her colleagues a glance through her bovine mask. She lifts it, revealing a face caked in cosmetics, a wedjat around each eye and glossy red upon her lips. Then, for whatever reason, the young lady slips it back on as she dashes past Hannibal and Watcher and into the halted, deactivated elevator; she takes cover behind its doors.

 

Edited May 8 by Colette (see edit history)

[Rune Knight]

Not expecting to be attacked by one of their own, half of the troop of Eyes of Ra soldiers were taken out before they could even get their bearings. One soldier looked up as Impi revealed her true identity, and a venomous "You!" escaped his lips in recognition.

Meanwhile, other units went on the move, the drum of boots on the metal floor echoing slightly through the cavernous room in response. The sound of grappling-hook type equipment came to everyone's ears as more Eyes of Ra rappelled down from some platforms on the other side of the room, and the rev of an engine announced the readiness of the cat-masked twins on their shiny black motorcycle.

Up above, screens flickered on, broadcasting the silhouette of Queen Heqet herself from her throne on the Bridge. The storm was a little louder where she was, and the raging gray maelstrom outside served as a fitting backdrop to her regal pose.

"So you think you've finally done it, do you? Struck a lethal blow, such that I'll never return?"

She smiled. Lightning flashed behind her at just that very moment, the thunder rumbling through the lair and vibrating at your feet.

"One day, I shall rule from the skies: the sun will never set on my New Egyptian Empire, and our glory will reign for centuries to come!"

"...but you won't be there to see it."

Over in the elevator where she'd taken cover, Impi heard the unmistakable whisper of mechanical machinations preparing to spring a trap. The words "Override Engaged" flashed on the elevator's personal screen, and her adrenaline spiked as the doors rushed to slam shut at an alarming pace!

At the same time, another troop of soldiers moved in to support their comrades surrounding Hannibal and Watcher on the floor. They didn't bring any weapons to bear just yet, though, opting to reach for some kind of tool at their belts.

"You know what they say, boys." One soldier hinted, a series of sinister clicks! revealing what seemed to be personal, belt-attached grappling hook tools with wires spooling out of their belt buckles. "The bigger they are..."

The soldiers spun the ends around like slings, before throwing them at Hannibal from multiple different angles. They were trying to catch him, hold him in place!

What followed was an onslaught of attacks poised to take advantage of that wire trick, the barrels of many guns aiming at Hannibal from afar.

"Aim!"

The Eyes of Ra that had rappelled down from those platforms up above lined up in a tight, narrow cone formation, the front two kneeling so that those behind them could aim over their heads.

"Fire!"

On the other side of the room, "MechAnubis" the jackal-shaped exosuit pulled out the minigun that had rested upon his back. The barrels began to spin, and it wouldn't be long before they too were ripping and tearing through the various obstacles and training targets that littered the training room floor.

The bike-riding twins drove by, drifting expertly to circle around MechAnubis. While her brother steered the bike, twin sister selected an assault rifle from the veritable armory of weapons strapped to her body. She flipped the gun to semi-automatic, then fired a single well-placed shot aiming right for Hannibal's heart!
 

---

OOC

Queen Heqet activates the elevator (Zone 19) as a lair trap, making it a Hazard with 2 Weapon Rating. @Colette Impi must roll to defend against Great (+4) Opposition or suffer damage as if she were attacked. Her defense roll represents using great effort to avoid being dropped out of the sky and falling to her doom; she'll end up in Zone 18 as a result, and Zone 19 will become an Ejected Elevator Cavity.

 

@ManicPixieFatGuy Hannibal will be rolling to defend against the rest of these:

• Mob B moves to Zone 18 and rolls to Create an Advantage against Hannibal: Grappled.
• Mob A moves to Zone 12 and attacks Hannibal at range with their Phalanx Arms skill.
• The Bastet Twins move to Zone 14 and attack Hannibal with Shoot. They then use their Stunt, Chariot (see below) to move an extra Zone, moving up to Zone 11.
• MechAnubis moves to Zone 14 and attacks Hannibal with Shoot.

Chariot

The twins' motorcycle allows them to move 1 extra Zone per turn. The first time they take a Consequence, something interesting happens.

 

All rolls are located in the Dice Rolls thread as per usual.

[Rune Knight]

Game Ended Prematurely