PRP: Into the Breach!

Into The Breach! DM: Vuk Players: Verna. Corra. Zalara. Altar.

Militia fighting a holding action may not be truthful, there might have been a few militia involved, but it was more a collection of those pressed gang into service with offers of gold, or simple lack of other options. The trade post could afford to bribe passing travellers to take up arms, and some merchants simply couldn't allow it to fall.

The original artifice device had been defeated when it came into range of the trade post and repeated cannon blasts hammered it, and a wizard used several fireballs on the disabled vehicle. The ensuing explosion marked the first real action of the militia. They have since been involved in non stop skirmishes along the blackened landscape near the trade post. Holding out till a band of Adventurers could flank through the valley and find the Bandit Encampment to presumably, kill the leader..

Verna returns to the scene of the unfortunate clash with the bandits and their machines. She is not surprised that the fighting continues, if the enemy continues their cautious, well-armed tactics. "If we are to advance, I suggest that we as many of the entrenched positions as possible."

Zalara sighs softly and shakes her head a little bit, "All these beautiful machines gone to waste. It's such a shame. Too bad we couldn't repurpose them to help us and fight other harmful machines and re-program them."

Altar shared the road here mostly in silence, sometimes he goes for hours without saying anything. "This is my first time in this area, do any of you know where the bandit camp is?"

Corra is here as well. "WE are to flank behind and find it, that is the problem I think no one has been able to get close enough to find its exact location. Suggestions?" She took a look around at the site. "We have an idea where they came from though yes?"

The valley seems so quiet after the events last occured, even with the soft gurgling of water flowing through the river, and chirping of birds, the buzzing of insects, the distant sound of gun fire is ever present though, along with the occasional detonation of some thing larger. Magic? Carronade? It is hard to say what it is, but the forward assault of the Artifice vehicle is easy to track. A winding wheel churned path of mud and broken vegetation, leading towards the far end of the battle, past the trenches once used to assault the destroyed blockhouse.

It's rather difficult to hide where a tank goes.

Zalara hmms, "Well we could just follow the tracks." She says as she misses her own creation of artifice her hoverbike, but it's still in it's prototype phase and she doesn't want to risk it in the battlefield. She has he death ray ready though. "If we find it I can probably disable it."

Altar looks at the deep tracks in the ground. "Those tracks are easy enough for even me to follow. If no one was able to get close enough, I suppose we should assume it was due to resistance, rather than having trouble finding the camp." Verna considers he wreckage upon the battlefield. Perhaps her initial assessment was premature. "That is what nearly sent us all to the Harsh Lady for judgement," she gestures at the the repurposed boat wereckage. "The tracks are easy to follow, and the trenches used to assault the blockhouse could provide us cover should we require."

Corra nods her head to te side, "Well we can get a bit more stealthy when we get close, lets go." she says softly.

The tracks are rather winding, avoiding parts of the trench, presumably where the vehicle couldn't hope to cross due to the drop, or other unknown factors. The trench them selves are in good repair, still unshowing of who dug which, or for what purpose, several show signs of habitation..or corpses. No one has had time to police the area, and they zig and zag about.

Eventually the group will follow the tracks to a hill, a low one, and beyond it, are several others, but in the small dip between these formations lies the encampment, dozens of tents set up, along with several enlarged wooden shelters over artifice devices in various state of disrepair..or is it repair?

There's a dark thicket surrounding the encampment, with another slit trench in it, making it difficult to see what may be within, and there's shouts from the tents and wooden shelters, presumably, the engineers... for now, the party is hidden.

GAME: Zalara rolls stealth: (6)+10: 16

Altar stops just before the crest of the hill, able to look down a little without being in full view of the people down below. "If you want to sneak down there, I won't stop, but if I don't wait here, I will give you away."

Corra cocks her head to the side and looks at the other. "How do we tell who is in charge?" Verna considers what lies before them. "I can be difficult to observe, but I am not skilled at silence. If they construct more weapons of war, we must stop them." Altar says, "Look for the largest tent, or the place where all the people go to check with their boss."

Zalara hmms, "Well if we are after the leaders we should look for the most ornate tent with guards." GAME: Verna rolls perception: (15)+7: 22 GAME: Zalara rolls perception: (20)+13: 33 GAME: Altar rolls perception: (20)+3: 23 GAME: Corra rolls perception: (13)+9: 22 There's at least a dozen guards on the perimeter you can see, and occasionally an engineer leaves one of the tents, laden with this or that <Hard to say for most, save Zalara, who can probably tell you the basic components of the oil being carried, and the type of bolt, even at this range>. Though the thicket of trees and brush remains obscured to most of you..Zalara can distinctly see at least a half dozen men in the trench under it with long barrel rifles.

Zalara points out the other half a dozen men in the trench by the thicket of trees and brush. "There are some men over there. They might be guards." Corra nods and thinks for a moment, "So, do we try to take out the perimeter and make our way in, or sneak by?" Altar says, "Sneaking isn't going to work for me. If we know where the guards are, we should be able to ambush them. If we can take out the guards in pieces rather than all at once, it will be much easier."

"We should avoid the dragonspittermen in the trench, and their weapons fire," Verna clarifies what could be obvious. "If we can remove the perimter threat in an isolated fashion, or create a diversion, that would be preferable."

Zalara continues to look at those with long guns, "Oh I think they might have a vehicle over there. Let's go after them first." She points it out to the others.

Corra nods her head, "I have good range with my bow, so I can take from a distance." she says softly. "I am limited at great range." Verna considers a moment. "Perhaps we should divide our forces? Those with the greatest range could monitor and hinder from a distance, without so great a risk." While not a tactical expert, making use of their strengths is simple wisdom. Altar says, "The guards in the trench have a vehicle? If they're outside it, now would be a good time to drop in on them."

Zalara nods, "The ones in the thicket and the bushes have one hidden in the back, I bet I could drive it."

That draws Verna's attention. "Speed would be a great asset. We could utilize it to breach the interior, or possobly as a strong diversion. In either case, those around the vehicle seem the most worthwhile target." Corra cocks her head to the side a little, "Well if we need to hit them fast, staying together would probably be best." Altar says, "Do you think you could sneak into the vehicle and shoot them from inside while we attack them from the outside?"

Verna's hood dips in a nod of agreement. "With one target on the perimeter, we should face them together to overhelm as rapidly as possible." She nods again to Altar's suggestion. "Any advantage is worth pursuit." Zalara nods as she goes to press a button on her bracers to activate her shield contraption. "I could try too bad that I didn't prepare my invisibility contraption. Still I'm pretty good at sneaking. I can give it a try." Corra nods her head, "Could try, the two of us sneak in to the vehicle and I use my bow form there, they you attack from the other side, yes?" Zalara smiles, 'Well I was thinking of getting into the vehicle and using it against them."

"Perhaps you two should go first," Verna notes. "We will follow and attempt to move unnoticed. If we are observed, we can face the bandits while you enter the vehicle."

Altar agrees with Verna "If you can sneak inside, start shooting at the guards there if possible."

GAME: Zalara rolls stealth: (20)+10: 30 GAME: Corra rolls stealth+2: (18)+10+2: 30

Corra moves along with Zalara, watching her back. She isn't one into artifice but she can shoot if it comes to that. She has her bow out and an arrow at the ready. Zalara is able to sneak into the ship and she looks around. "Oh this is easy." She says as she starts up the vehicle to get it going. She hmms, "Now how to aim to take out those long guns in the thicket.

The interior reveals the complexity of the machinery, several oil burning engines, noxious fumes flooding the interior, which might explain the crudely stitched masks to cover one's face. Racks of shells near the center turret, large, angry looking shells splashed with red paint. Cramped access ways to the control cabin go past scalding pipes and several more areas where munitions are stored for what is presumably, the multi barreled musket esque weapons, in fabric belts, pulled in and automatically loading by means of artifice. The place is noisey, and if not for indicators and small slits, you'd never navigate through the outside world. The Control cabin has ventilators to pump fumes out, and a crude aiming array for the weapons, seating a total of five, if they kneel in front of their weapon stations. The 'center' station seems to control the driving, and offers the best views of the world in front and around.

Zalara smiles, "Ah I love the smell of artifice in the morning." She says as she makes her way into the control cabin and she sits down at the controls. She narrows here eyes to look out, "Time to go pick up the rest of the party. Man one of the weapons." She calls back to Corra as she starts to drive the vehicle.

Corra nods her head and moves to man one of the multi barrelled musket guns.

Verna observes the activity from her area of unobtrusiveness. "It is fitting that we use their own weapons to defeat them," she comments quietly to Altar when the others appear to reach the vehicle.

Altar waits with Verna. "Yes, fitting. Hopefully also effective."

Zalara did shut the hatches and locked them. She continues to steer the vehicle over towards the rest of the party. She swings the cannon around and she laughs almost madly, "Take this!" She says as she fires right into the middle of the camp.

GAME: Zalara rolls 1d20+8: (4)+8: 12 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+2: (15)+2: 17 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+2: (2)+2: 4 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+2: (15)+2: 17 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+2: (4)+2: 6 GAME: Zalara rolls 5d6: (23): 23 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (11)+7: 18 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d6+2: (4)+2: 6 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (5)+7: 12 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (11)+7: 18 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d8+2: (10)+2: 12 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (7)+7: 14 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (14)+7: 21 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d8+2: (10)+2: 12 Explosive shells tend to alert -every one- in the area in a quick hurry, which is why the vehicle is suddenly coming under heavy fire from both the engineers, and the soldiers in the trench. Shots pinging off as the engineers fire their sidearms at the vehicle, whilst trying to find some where to hide..or perhaps find a bigger weapon! GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (7)+7: 14 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (9)+7: 16 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d8+2: (16)+2: 18 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (9)+7: 16 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d8+2: (9)+2: 11 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (20)+7: 27 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (6)+7: 13 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d6+2: (9)+2: 11 GAME: Corra rolls ranged: (8)+6: 14 GAME: Corra rolls 2d8+2: (3)+2: 5 Corra gets the muskets turned towards some of the engineers and shoots at one of them, but she isn't used to it, so not many of the balls strike their target. GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (1)+7: 8 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (19)+7: 26 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d8+2: (6)+2: 8 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (20)+7: 27 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (5)+7: 12 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d8+2: (9)+2: 11 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (20)+7: 27 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (16)+7: 23 GAME: Vuk rolls 4d6+2: (14)+2: 16 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (12)+7: 19 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d8+2: (14)+2: 16 Verna awaits for the vehicle to near. "I believe our time to embark has arrived." She quickly rises from her concealed position and rushes hurriedly for and into the vehicle. "You gained their attention..." GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (5)+7: 12 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (16)+7: 23 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d8+2: (10)+2: 12 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (13)+7: 20 GAME: Vuk rolls 5d6: (18): 18 With the tank grinding forward towards the other two members of the party, the soldiers bullets seem to be having little effect, other then small dents and sparks showering off the metal chasis. It's the engineer who rushes out from the tent with an odd looking gun, and the roar of flaming debris that erupts from it that might be worrisome, exploding along the deck as Verna gets aboard it, leaving a gouge in the armor plating. Seems the Engineers may have a way to stop the vehicle after all. If they have enough time.. GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (20)+7: 27 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (9)+7: 16 GAME: Vuk rolls 4d8+4: (19)+4: 23 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (11)+7: 18 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d6+6: (6)+6: 12 GAME: Corra rolls ranged: (12)+6: 18 Altar takes the opportunity to run to the tank and jump in. He has a little trouble getting in the opening designed for humans, but he manages. Once inside he's folded as much as he can, and still taking up most of the remaining room. "This is smaller on the inside than it is on the outside." GAME: Corra rolls 2d8+2: (6)+2: 8 Corra sees the new threat to the contraption they are in and turns her gun on that engineer and opens fire. She does hit, at least hurting him a bit. Maybe he shoould have more armor on. GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (7)+7: 14 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (12)+7: 19 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d8+2: (12)+2: 14 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (16)+7: 23 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d6+2: (2)+2: 4 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (15)+7: 22 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d8+2: (7)+2: 9 GAME: Verna rolls ranged: (5)+5: 10 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (19)+7: 26 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d8+2: (8)+2: 10 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (9)+7: 16 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d8+2: (15)+2: 17 Verna is rather small, which is often an advantage. Such as while confined within a modified land boat. She studies the weapon all but crammed into her chest, notices engineers outside the viewport, and presses controls. The weapon discharges rapidly and wildly. "Interesting. Crude, but interesting." GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (9)+7: 16 GAME: Vuk rolls 5d6: (18): 18 The repeated rifle strikes against the tank seem to do little, but the impact of another fiery shot from the Engineer does...it's hard to tell..but the smoke might be getting thicker! GAME: Altar rolls 1d20+4: (9)+4: 13 GAME: Altar rolls 5d8: (18): 18 Altar pulls the levers and spins the wheels as directed to get the big cannon to point at the little engineer, then pulls the trigger. He gets some boom for his buck, but it wasn't a perfect shot and mostly just showered him with dirt and rocks. GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (9)+7: 16 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d8+2: (6)+2: 8 GAME: Corra rolls ranged: (8)+6: 14 GAME: Corra rolls 2d8+2: (8)+2: 10 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (10)+7: 17 GAME: Vuk rolls 5d6: (14): 14 Corra watches the one engineer fall and turns the guns to fire on the engineer running for the fallen's weapon, tearing into him with some of the shots. One of the engineers goes down in a bloody pulp, shattered and burnt flesh, but his weapon is intact, and one of his comrades runs for it, taking a burst into the body as he does, the light leather coveralls he has on doing little to keep him safe, but the large bore weapon is suddenly very important. Several impacts hammer the tank, but it doesn't seem to suffer extensive damage. GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (1)+7: 8 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (16)+7: 23 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d8+2: (10)+2: 12 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (17)+7: 24 GAME: Vuk rolls 5d6: (15): 15 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (12)+7: 19 GAME: Vuk rolls 2d8+2: (8)+2: 10 GAME: Verna rolls ranged: (15)+5: 20 GAME: Verna rolls 2d8+2: (13)+2: 15 The high volume of projectiles seems intended to mitigate a lack of experience and skill. Verna can make use of this, in a point and spray fashion. Said spray is enough to perforate one of the armed individual outside in numberous important organs. He collapses. GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (1)+7: 8 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (2)+7: 9 GAME: Altar rolls 1d20+4: (2)+4: 6 Altar wheels the cannon around and pulls the trigger again. His compatriots might have cause to wonder what he was aiming at, because an empty patch of dirt sprays all over an even larger just as empty patch of dirt. GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+2: (18)+2: 20 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (5)+7: 12 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (15)+7: 22 GAME: Vuk rolls 5d6: (18): 18 GAME: Corra rolls ranged: (1)+6: 7 GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (11)+7: 18 GAME: Vuk rolls 5d6: (16): 16 Corra tries to follow the engineer she was shooting at with her gun but doesn't get it lined up right and the multi-muskets misfires and doesn't seem to work anymore. Corra glances over towards one of the other guns and starts to move that way. With two of the engineers down, things are starting to look dicey, the soldiers aren't trying to make any motion to resecure any of the weapons, nor go closer to the tank, infact, they're breaking to run. Rifles do not do much to tanks, and the only hope they have is to break through the thicket to find reinforcements..or is that light beyond the horizon new hope?

Verna Rolled 12

GAME: Altar rolls 1d20+4: (12)+4: 16 GAME: Altar rolls 5d8: (27): 27

So that's what Altar was aiming at, he finds his mark, an engineer with a large gun. This one hits its mark and splatters engineer all over the place.

GAME: Vuk rolls 1d20+7: (12)+7: 19 GAME: Vuk rolls 5d6: (10): 10

GAME: Corra rolls ranged: (11)+6: 17 GAME: Corra rolls 2d8+2: (5)+2: 7

Corra manages to get to one of the guns and turns it to the last remaining engineer and fires, dropping the engineer. The soldiers had left the engineers to die, making their way swiftly away from the vehicle..towards a new threat..or maybe not so new. Maybe the glow was the same thing Verna had witnessed before. It wouldn't make sense for the true commander <Who hardly seemed of this world> to commit when he ordered others to do so. Perhaps the tank will later prove most useful in destroying this creature..