Act I

[Niven81]

 

 

Jo "Short Wall" Clements -- The Tough Commando 1

HP: 15 | Defense: 15 | Initiative +2 | Passive Perception 12

Str +2 | Dex +1 | Con +3 | Int +1 | Wis -1 | Cha: 0

---

Jo looks over at Henry's phone and then pulls her phone out of her back pocket. After hitting a button she waits, the phone against her ear ... "Pa, hey Pa you hear me?" She sighs and after several minutes. "Pa, Ah'm sorry Big Bettie got loose but Ah'm in a bit of a spell here." After several more moments she giggles. "Nah Pa, Ah'm not hitched. Ah just need you to go to my vanity and get my passport and tell me number on it." After another few moments she snaps here fingers at Henry and holds out her free hand for his phone. "What?! Nah, Pa Ah'm not running away to Mexico to get hitched either."

She hands the phone back to Henry. "Pa! Ah'm not pregnant! Yeah, Ah'll tell you all about it."

Hanging up her own phone and slipping it back into her pocket she gives Henry a long suffering look. "Sorry about that."

[Shambala]

“Alright, team. Save the shenanigans for where they really count…out in the field. No business class crap. You’re clandestine. Save those strings to pull when you miss exfil or the enemy bamboozles you. We are not to start a war with these people. Do the investigate part first. We want to know the what and why BEFORE they become disremembered.

Yes, you do get your normal kit. Lucard, see the quarter as about the tranq darts. Don’t know if they have exactly what you want, but they have the good shit.
 

Alright, team, move out!”

 

As good as his word, you each get your usual kit assigned, including straight xylazine. Maybe not the best, but the Chop told you it could drop an angry polar bear. Your economy flight is as expected. You sit apart, keeping up appearances as strangers for now. The rest of you feel for Brute’s seat companions. As a joke, they put him in the middle seat. Now two perfectly innocent people are eating his shoulders, even though he tries to pull them in to be polite. The Professor has the opposite problem sitting next to a little old lady with her knitting and many stories about her many grandchildren. Impossible to plot out the end of the known universe with the jabber. Henry gets a window seat…over the wing with a toddler behind them. Only Jo seems to have won the aisle seat lottery, until drink service, that is. So much for elbows. You only need one, right?

Finally, the beautiful skyline of Mexico City rises up to meet the your plane as it comes in for a late-night landing. The city is awash in lights and color, even at this late hour. Fernando, a nervous little man in his mid 30s, waits for you at the terminal. He assists with your bags, and drives you to a hotel to catch up on some sleep. In the morning, Fernando meets you in the lobby to take you over to the local Häus de los Nachos.

Raul, the local handler for this mission, comes in to greet you in a private room, much like the one back home, with a platter set with breakfast burritos, weisswurst, and lots of coffee; he gets right to the point once everyone has their food.

“Buenos días, agentes. We have strange activity around El Tezoyo, about an hour away from here. Animals—goats, sheeps, chickens, even cows—are turning up dead. And since they are also empty of blood, everyone starts talking of Chupacabra, no? We thought it was just kids having fun, until we got...this:”

Raul picks up a remote and turns on a screen on the wall. A grainy cell phone video from a dark evening begins to play. Two male voices whisper “¿Qué piensas que es?” (What do you think it is?, Raul translates.) and “No se sobre!” (I don’t know!) as the camera approaches a livestock pen, and the dim shape of something large bent over a lifeless animal on the ground. Suddenly, two shockingly red eyes look up just before a dark shape leaps over a high fence into the dark- ness. The men in the video begin to shriek, as does Fernando in the back of the room. Raul turns off the video.

“As you see, we have to take the situation more seri- ously at this point, and there is no time to waste. So, gear up and get going. There is a truck for you outside. We have called ahead, so the mayor knows you are coming; he will meet you at this address. Investigate and neutralize the threat, then report back here.”

[Grudge]

Butch| AC 14 | Ini: 1 | PP: 10 | Hit Points: 13/13 | Size: Medium | Speed: 30 ft |

---

During the flight, Butch is pretending to sleep most of the time but by the bulging vein on his forehead, it is more likely he's imagining Walt as his practice punching bag. Once they land stream of grumbled expletives lasts for almost five minutes with such creativity that seasoned drunk pirate would blush.

By the time they are in the hotel, he seems to have collected himself...at least until they watch the video. He slowly turns his head toward Raul his eyes the size of beer coasters "Jesus James Brown Christ, shouldn't these things be the size of a slightly larger coyote in mythology?"

Tools of the Trade

Equipment He Brought With Him In 2 Bags

- Brass Knuckles (Bulk 0)

- Hatchet (Bulk 2)

- Ballistic Vest, Medium (Bulk 1)

- Binoculars (Bulk 1)

- Camouflage Clothing (Bulk 0)

- Night Vision Devices (Bulk 1)

- Trap, shell x 3 (Bulk 0)

- Trap camera x 3 (Bulk 0)

- Smartphone (Bulk 0)

- Faraday Pouch (Bulk 0)

- Utility Knife/Multitool (Bulk 0)

- Survival Kit (Bulk 0)

- Armored clothing (Bulk 1)

- Stab vest (Bulk 1)

- Survival Kit (Bulk 0)

- Armored clothing (Bulk 1)

- Sledgehammer (8 lb. hammer) (Iconic Equipment) (Bulk 3)

- Stab vest (Bulk 1)

- Crowbar (Bulk 2)

- Duct Tape (Bulk 1)

- Zip Ties x5 (Bulk 0)

- Rope, 50 feet (Bulk 1)

- Trap, Steel Jaw x4 (Bulk 1)

Actions/OOC

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---

 

 

 

 

Edited September 9 by Grudge (see edit history)

[artsmythe]

 

Prof. Emil-Auguste Lucard, PhD --

Smart Hero (Mastermind/1)

HP: 7 | Defense: 13 | Initiative +2 | Passive Perception 12

Str +0 | Dex +2 | Con +1 | Int +3 | Wis +2 | Cha: +2

---

While the flight was tedious (Mon dieu! Twenty-five grandchildren!), it didn't take quite as long as flying from Paris to, say, Des Moines, so the Frenchman was able to maintain his sanity.

Emil was pleased with the direction that his continued affiliation with REDEMPTION was taking. Getting the opportunity to investigate a real Chupacabra in the field was...  exhilarating, to say the least! And the tranq gun and the xylazine seemed adequate for the task ahead. (Well, of course! It was my suggestion after all.)

When they arrived in Mexico City International Airport, the polylinguistic Professor had little trouble communicating with the locals in Spanish. However, when Fernando the chauffeur brought them to another Nacho Haüs, his heart sank at the inevitable proffered cuisine. Still, he's had to make many personal sacrifices over the years in the pursuit of scientific truth.

However, he was ill-prepared at the relative size of the creature as recorded in the amateurish video presented by Raul.

The cryptozoologist could only nod his head slowly at Butch's assessment of the situation as they all gazed at the video. Working out the equations in his head, he agreed. "Oui, mon ami. I think we're going to need a bigger tranquilizer gun."

[Grudge]

Butch| AC 14 | Ini: 1 | PP: 10 | Hit Points: 13/13 | Size: Medium | Speed: 30 ft |

---

When he calms down a bit Butch plays a video a few more times closing to the monitor so he can see crappy footage better. When he is done goliath glances at others "It is tall, but on a scrawny side...comparatively speaking. While victims weren't nice to record them being killed, I'd venture to guess it is fast or rather that it has explosive speed when attacks like snakes."

"If I'd compared it to an animal I'd go with a Jaguar, which sets an ambush and then kills with a single swift strike. Here it was caught mid-feeding and I think by its standards it was a sloppy job after it. What I'm going at, I think it tries to preserve as much energy as it can. If we manage to set an ambush for it I doubt it's a long-distance runner, whatever happens, it will happen quickly. But if we can counteract the speed of its attack, I'd wager Jo and I could pin it down."

"Then the rest of you fill it with that sleepy stuff as fast as possible and hope it works on it because I never K.O'd Willy Coyote's cousin from hell and I'd prefer it stays that way."

Tools of the Trade

Equipment He Brought With Him In 2 Bags

- Brass Knuckles (Bulk 0)

- Hatchet (Bulk 2)

- Ballistic Vest, Medium (Bulk 1)

- Binoculars (Bulk 1)

- Camouflage Clothing (Bulk 0)

- Night Vision Devices (Bulk 1)

- Trap, shell x 3 (Bulk 0)

- Trap camera x 3 (Bulk 0)

- Smartphone (Bulk 0)

- Faraday Pouch (Bulk 0)

- Utility Knife/Multitool (Bulk 0)

- Survival Kit (Bulk 0)

- Armored clothing (Bulk 1)

- Stab vest (Bulk 1)

- Survival Kit (Bulk 0)

- Armored clothing (Bulk 1)

- Sledgehammer (8 lb. hammer) (Iconic Equipment) (Bulk 3)

- Stab vest (Bulk 1)

- Crowbar (Bulk 2)

- Duct Tape (Bulk 1)

- Zip Ties x5 (Bulk 0)

- Rope, 50 feet (Bulk 1)

- Trap, Steel Jaw x4 (Bulk 1)

Actions/OOC

Free:

Bonus:

Reaction:

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Standard:

Immediate:

 

 

 

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---

 

 

 

 

Edited September 1 by Grudge (see edit history)

[KingGoblin]

Johnny Outlaw -- Wise Hero (Master/1 )

---

HP: 12/12 | Defense: 16 | Initiative +2 | Passive Perception 13 | Focus: 2/2

Saves: Str +0 | Dex +2 | Con +2 | Int -1 | Wis +5 | Cha: +4

---

Johnny actually enjoyed his flight, talking happily with whoever was next to him. They probably didn't enjoy it as much, but it was hard to say. Honestly, it was like his seat assignment was written out of the narrative.

When they arrived, he picked a vegetarian burrito, of course, and drank coffee like he had been living in the desert for years, gulping it down hot and black as though he hadn't had anything to drink in ages.

"I don't know much about animal wrangling. I can track it, though, something like that should be easy enough to follow. Hasn't anyone found tracks before? If we can find its den, there might be young, or something." He gulps more coffee. "If it's encroaching on people, and increasing its hunting, there is probably a reason. A mate, kids to feed."

Edited September 1 by KingGoblin (see edit history)

[Grudge]

Butch| AC 14 | Ini: 1 | PP: 10 | Hit Points: 13/13 | Size: Medium | Speed: 30 ft |

---

Butch shrugs "Shouldn't be discarded. Although as I understand the video it was the opposite. Chupacabras used livestock as food for centuries if legends are correct. So this would be their turf. I think two wannabe Bigfoot Hunter equivalents encroached on its territory and surprised it mid-feeding. A dangerous thing to do even to a dog. If it expanded a lot of energy hunting, I doubt it would just retreat for two unarmed hairless monkeys, especially if they were surprised by its size as were. Fight or flight. Fight won."

Tools of the Trade

Equipment He Brought With Him In 2 Bags

- Brass Knuckles (Bulk 0)

- Hatchet (Bulk 2)

- Ballistic Vest, Medium (Bulk 1)

- Binoculars (Bulk 1)

- Camouflage Clothing (Bulk 0)

- Night Vision Devices (Bulk 1)

- Trap, shell x 3 (Bulk 0)

- Trap camera x 3 (Bulk 0)

- Smartphone (Bulk 0)

- Faraday Pouch (Bulk 0)

- Utility Knife/Multitool (Bulk 0)

- Survival Kit (Bulk 0)

- Armored clothing (Bulk 1)

- Stab vest (Bulk 1)

- Survival Kit (Bulk 0)

- Armored clothing (Bulk 1)

- Sledgehammer (8 lb. hammer) (Iconic Equipment) (Bulk 3)

- Stab vest (Bulk 1)

- Crowbar (Bulk 2)

- Duct Tape (Bulk 1)

- Zip Ties x5 (Bulk 0)

- Rope, 50 feet (Bulk 1)

- Trap, Steel Jaw x4 (Bulk 1)

Actions/OOC

Free:

Bonus:

Reaction:

Swift:

Move:

Standard:

Immediate:

 

 

 

OOC:

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

 

Edited September 7 by Grudge (see edit history)

[Nomadical]

 

Henry Cheung -- Charming Hero (Spy/1 ) HP: 10/10 | Defense: 15 | Initiative +3 | Passive Perception 11 | Influence: 2/2 Saves: Str +1 | Dex +5 | Con +2 | Int 0 | Wis -1 | Cha: +5

---

Henry listens to Butch grumbling about the flight. "Yeah, I tried. Not sure why Walt canceled the business class tickets, except out of simple spite.* We could easily have pretended not to know each other. Sorry. At least he won't be here on the way back to do that to us again, and I'll book it the way I want then." He throws his small ZERO case in the vehicle and puts his ear buds back in for the ride to the local Nacho Joint - or whatever they call it here.

 

At the briefing, he pays attention but opts not to eat. The video is ... disturbing, but it's not really that different from a normal horror movie - just real, supposedly. He resolves to let Butch and the Prof take the lead and he'll just provide the best support that he can.

[Grudge]

Butch| AC 14 | Ini: 1 | PP: 10 | Hit Points: 13/13 | Size: Medium | Speed: 30 ft |

---

The large man keeps his silence before unusually saying "Walt did nothing wrong, an officer can't allow greenhorn as I am to the mouth off without some disciplinary action. As seen in the military, communal punishments work best, since troublemakers will usually fall in line if not for their sake than for the sake of their brother in arms. If he doesn't...well, those brothers will make him see the light after the second time they have to do pushups in three in the morning while doused with ice-cold water. Wash out, or fall in line. Grumble all you want but out of officer's earshot."

There is a bit of a pause with Butch looking somewhere in the distance "My entire family was military since before the U.S. was independent, while in Europe. Even females as soon as it was allowed, first in administrative roles, and now my sister's oldest is to start a pilot school. Even in my mom's family, there is a military tradition. I was supposed to go too but my parents discovered my sports potential and pushed me to go pro." Butch chuckles "So I guess, now I moonlight for the agency, to at least secretly do my part. Walt's punishment was correspondent to offense, a sign of a good C.O. it could've been much worse. Sorry for getting you all tangled in it."

Tools of the Trade

Equipment He Brought With Him In 2 Bags

- Brass Knuckles (Bulk 0)

- Hatchet (Bulk 2)

- Ballistic Vest, Medium (Bulk 1)

- Binoculars (Bulk 1)

- Camouflage Clothing (Bulk 0)

- Night Vision Devices (Bulk 1)

- Trap, shell x 3 (Bulk 0)

- Trap camera x 3 (Bulk 0)

- Smartphone (Bulk 0)

- Faraday Pouch (Bulk 0)

- Utility Knife/Multitool (Bulk 0)

- Survival Kit (Bulk 0)

- Armored clothing (Bulk 1)

- Stab vest (Bulk 1)

- Survival Kit (Bulk 0)

- Armored clothing (Bulk 1)

- Sledgehammer (8 lb. hammer) (Iconic Equipment) (Bulk 3)

- Stab vest (Bulk 1)

- Crowbar (Bulk 2)

- Duct Tape (Bulk 1)

- Zip Ties x5 (Bulk 0)

- Rope, 50 feet (Bulk 1)

- Trap, Steel Jaw x4 (Bulk 1)

Actions/OOC

Free:

Bonus:

Reaction:

Swift:

Move:

Standard:

Immediate:

 

 

 

OOC:

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

 

Edited September 7 by Grudge (see edit history)

[KingGoblin]

Johnny Outlaw -- Wise Hero (Master/1 )

---

HP: 12/12 | Defense: 16 | Initiative +2 | Passive Perception 13 | Focus: 2/2

Saves: Str +0 | Dex +2 | Con +2 | Int -1 | Wis +5 | Cha: +4

---

"I thought the flight was fine," Johnny said, "Made some new friends, you know. Although I can sit next to Sasquatch on the way back. He seemed cramped with strangers sitting next to him."

Edited September 7 by KingGoblin (see edit history)

[artsmythe]

 

Prof. Emil-Auguste Lucard, PhD --

Smart Hero (Mastermind/1)

HP: 7 | Defense: 13 | Initiative +2 | Passive Perception 12

Str +0 | Dex +2 | Con +1 | Int +3 | Wis +2 | Cha: +2

---

The Professor's focus, as always, is on the video and the mission. "Por supuesto, jefe. We will 'investigate and neutralize the threat' as you have directed."

Turning to the others, he calls out, "¡Vamanos gente! Gather your equipment and make your way to the truck outside. We have a Chupacabra to catch!" he says with a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his lips.

Edited September 9 by artsmythe (see edit history)

[Shambala]

You take the truck and head toward El Tezoyo. When you arrive, the mayor meets you at the door to his office, waving a cracked cell phone and speaking rapidly in Spanish.

“Gracias a dios estas aqui!” (Thank god you are here!) “Julia, one of our biologia teachers, has gone missing! More animals kept getting attacked and disappeared, and then the video. She went to try to find the real culprit, because she did not believe the Chupacabra was real. She left last evening and has not returned!”

He waves the phone at you as he heads for the your truck. “We found her phone where the trail leads into the canyon. ¡Ándale, ándale! ¡Ya vamos!“ (Come on, hurry up, let’s go!).
With the mayor claiming the passenger seat, you take the truck out of town. A mile or so out, the mayor points to a turnout off the road. “¡Allí! ¡Allí!” he says, gesturing to indicate that the you should pull over and park. The trail leads to an open clearing surrounded by trees, with large rocks to the north. The mayor waves the phone, and points to the spot at which it was found, toward the trail head.

[Niven81]

 

 

Jo "Short Wall" Clements -- The Tough Commando 1

HP: 15 | Defense: 15 | Initiative +2 | Passive Perception 12

Str +2 | Dex +1 | Con +3 | Int +1 | Wis -1 | Cha: 0

---

Jet lag sucks ... especially when you shouldn't have it. Jo thought the time difference between her native Tennesse, and this local Mexican dive weren't much off but damn it if she just didn't pass right the hell out when they got to hotel last night. She shrugs her sore shoulders again as they get out of truck, and she takes another long sip of the 7-11 Big Gulp thermos she filled with the tar-like coffee of the Nacho Haus. The Army had taught her that pure black coffee was the best form of coffee, but Nacho Haus coffee apparently disagreed with that fundamental truth.

"I am owed real coffee after this." The short woman grumbles from her spot next to Johnny as she takes another long swig and looks toward where the mayor was pointing. Unconsciously she moves her free hand to her pancake holster at the small of her back. "Doc, Big Guy what's the call?"

[Grudge]

Butch| AC 14 | Ini: 1 | PP: 10 | Hit Points: 13/13 | Size: Medium | Speed: 30 ft |

---

Goliath gives Johnny a suspicious side-eye "And how would exactly your muscle kink make me feel more comfortable, I think I'll buy myself a ticket back, I earn enough with my day job to drop some on better seats."

Once at the village, he endures mayors blabbing until they are at the scene. Then he takes a glance around and drops his bags. "Just a sec short-stack." He opens the bags and starts rummaging, first drawing a Hatchet and hooking its holster to his right side "Sidearm." He draws a pair of knuckle dusters which he first tries on then places one per front pocket "Backup Sidearm." The next are Night Vision Goggles he also hooks to his belt at the back "Night Eyes", he takes off the shirt and doubting Chupacabra will shoot at him he puts on Stab Vest then disguises it by putting the T-shirt back "Armor", and finally he pulls out a hefty Sledgehammer "Main Weapon."

He straightens up and looks at others "Well, our resident muscle lover said he is a good tracker, let him take it from here, once at the optimal trail I have inside several kinds of traps. Camera ones are activated by movement, shell ones are activated when the targeting laser is tripped and they could be loaded with darts filled with sleepy juice, and finally good ol' Steel Jaws. The first ones are for early warning, second and third ones are for immobilizing it without a fight. There is rope and duct tape inside so we can secure it after. If all of those whiff, I figure it will make enough noise by then for us to get on the location to confront it."

He again looks around "We just need to find a decent hiding place, that thing won't come out before midnight at the least, and 3 after midnight most probably. If there is time going back to the village and finding a goat to serve as a lure would be good too. Now, with not yet confirmed dead teacher complicates things. Hostage situation with a dang cryptoid as the hostage taker."

Tools of the Trade

Equipment He Brought With Him In 2 Bags

- Brass Knuckles (Bulk 0)

- Hatchet (Bulk 2)

- Ballistic Vest, Medium (Bulk 1)

- Binoculars (Bulk 1)

- Camouflage Clothing (Bulk 0)

- Night Vision Devices (Bulk 1)

- Trap, shell x 3 (Bulk 0)

- Trap camera x 3 (Bulk 0)

- Smartphone (Bulk 0)

- Faraday Pouch (Bulk 0)

- Utility Knife/Multitool (Bulk 0)

- Survival Kit (Bulk 0)

- Armored clothing (Bulk 1)

- Stab vest (Bulk 1)

- Survival Kit (Bulk 0)

- Armored clothing (Bulk 1)

- Sledgehammer (8 lb. hammer) (Iconic Equipment) (Bulk 3)

- Crowbar (Bulk 2)

- Duct Tape (Bulk 1)

- Zip Ties x5 (Bulk 0)

- Rope, 50 feet (Bulk 1)

- Trap, Steel Jaw x4 (Bulk 1)

Actions/OOC

Free:

Bonus:

Reaction:

Swift:

Move:

Standard:

Immediate:

 

 

 

OOC:

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

 

Edited September 10 by Grudge (see edit history)

[Niven81]

 

 

Jo "Short Wall" Clements -- The Tough Commando 1

HP: 15 | Defense: 15 | Initiative +2 | Passive Perception 12

Str +2 | Dex +1 | Con +3 | Int +1 | Wis -1 | Cha: 0

---

Jo nods a long for the most part to Butch's words. "How do we know she's a hostage though and not a travel snack?" She looks at the mayor and winces. She's not sure how much English the man knows - and is certain her accent isn't doing him any favors - but still, she was being a bit harsh. "What I mean is can we really just lay in wait while a life may be in danger?"

As she says this, she also follows Butch's lead and dropping her duffle slides her protective vest over her AC/DC shirt and slings her M-4. over her shoulder. "You know, I'm surprised you're not sporting a Mini-Gun like that dude in Predator."