Previous Entry: 01 - Rushdown - New Beginnings
Begin a Session
Rushdown has been tasked with getting rid of some Ironsail Raiders who are attacking ships near Tranquilo (City).
Begin a Session(74)Unexpected return of an enemy or threat
Tranquilo City has two separate entertainment districts - one by the spaceport, known as Southside, and the main strip. Southside is mainly for spacers and ship's crews, and is much rougher and seedier than the gleaming main strip where wealthy visitors enjoy the many delights of Tranquilo.
Skullcrusher is the leader of a mid-size gang in Southside. His right hand man, Vagabond, knocks on his office door and enters.
"Bad news, boss, one of our crews got hit."
Skullcrusher stands up and slams his metal claw into the desk. "Who was it? Another crew?"
"Some tourist. Our guys robbed some guy in a uniform and then another guy in the same uniform shows up and kicks the shit out of them about an hour later."
"One guy?"
"One guy."
"Any bodies?"
"Nah, a couple of concussions and a fractured skull though."
"Get the word out to all our crews, anyone walking around our turf wearing that uniform gets a beatdown. And try and find out who they were."
"You got it, boss," says Vagabond.
Rushdown heads to the bridge of the Rude Awakening and gives the order to move out toward the Ironsails' hunting grounds. The crew are tense but professional and the ship glides out of the starport and breaks atmosphere, then the eidolon drive activates and they blink into FTL.
Set a Course(Supply)—7 vs 8|2
The Rude Awakening arrives at its destination to a battle already in progress.
Group 1: 1d6→3
Group 2: 1d6→5
"We appear to be looking at two groups of small ships fighting, one side is outnumbered, but not outgunned" says Janus, the communications officer. "Three attack ships taking on five civilian vessels."
"I'm guessing the attack ships are our Raiders but I want to be sure. Fire a warning shot through the middle of the dogfighting then put me on broadcast on every frequency," says Rushdown.
The corvette's heavy cannon blasts through the throng of weaving craft, not hitting anything but surely making them take notice.
"This is Captain Rushdown of the Red Suns. Everybody cease fire immediately and stand down or we will engage."
Compel(Iron)—6 vs 9|10
Hidden Roll: 50/50(66)No
The three attack ships break off from the battle and start speeding towards the Rude Awakening. The other five ships turn and take off in the opposite direction. The first of the three ships is approaching firing range.
Combat Action(7)Change weapons or tactics
The approaching ships start moving erratically, still moving toward the Rude Awakening but taking a wild and unpredictable path.
"I can't lock onto them; they're changing course too quickly," says Biggs, the gunnery officer.
The ships surround the Rude Awakening, maintaining their odd movement patterns.
"Can we hit them?" asks Rushdown.
"The turret guns can but we need more distance to use the heavy cannons," replies Biggs.
"We can't just sit here, there's no telling what they're planning," says Rushdown. "Try and get us into a position where we can use our main guns on them."
The ship glides into motion and starts attempting to outmaneuver the three smaller ships.
Secure an Advantage(Edge)—7 vs 3|4
The Rude Awakening flies forwards and performs a zero-gravity spin. In an instant it is facing its previous position with all three smaller ships, presumably taken by surprise, in the firing arc of the main canons.
The three ships each fire a barrage at the Rude Awakening and then slip into FTL before the corvette can reply.
Face Danger(Edge)—6 vs 10|5 Momentum:7 → 6
Hornet, the pilot, quickly rolls the ship out of the way of the incoming fire.
01 - Get rid of the Ironsail Raiders +1 (3/10)
"Damage Report," says Rushdown.
"No hits," comes the reply from Rae, the chief engineer, in the engine room. "But it looks like one of the power couplings has come misaligned from all these high-G maneuvers, we're going to have to fix it before we jump again."
"Understood, let me know when we're ready to go," replies Rushdown. "They must have some kind of base nearby. They've raided enough to fill those small ships several times over - they must have some kind of hauler hidden near here."
"I'll check my charts for likely hiding places nearby," says Scout, the navigator, already tapping instructions into his console.
Later, the ship is fully operational and Scout has prepared a list of possible hiding places for a small raider base. They start with the most likely set of coordinates and make the jump.
Do they find the base? Unlikely(28)No
Outlands(28)Planet
Planetary Class(13)Desert World
Outlands(82)Orbital settlement
Outlands(33)Dozens
First Look(40)Hidden or subsurface location
"There's no sign of the Ironsails, but there appears to be an underground base of some kind in one of the moons of that planet," says Janus.
"Let's contact them and see if they know anything."
Initial Contact(74)Asking for help
Settlement Trouble(23)Deprived of a resource
"This is Captain Rushdown of the Rude Awakening, we're looking for any information on a group of raiders that are operating out this way," Rushdown broadcasts to the settlement.
"This is Larissa Station," comes the reply. "The raiders were here; they took all our food and water - we're starving. Do you have any supplies you can spare?"
Check Your Gear(Supply)—7 vs 5|10 Momentum:6 → 4
"We can spare some rations that should last you until you resupply, but we're going to have to dock and transfer the goods - we really need to get after these raiders as soon as possible."
"Oh, thank you, we won't forget this."
Rushdown brings the Rude Awakening in to dock and has the crew unload some of their rations for the starving settlers. He meets with Given Name(179)Talia Family Name(121)Reyes Talia Reyes, the woman in charge of the settlement.
"So, what do you know about the raiders?" asks Rushdown.
Gather Information(Wits)—4 vs 3|3match Momentum:4 → 6
"I know exactly where they are. They're using Gallows as a hideout - there's a decent sized Ironsails community there, exiles and runaways and the like, the ones who attacked here were from there."
"Gallows? Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I heard them talking while they had us all tied up."
"Okay, thanks, that's very helpful. We'd better get moving," says Rushdown.
01 - Get rid of the Ironsail Raiders +1 (6/10)
The Rude Awakening heads straight to Gallows.
Set a Course(Supply)—9 vs 3|1 Momentum:6 → 7 01 - Visit the three key settlements in Ashitaba +1 (4/10)
They get to Gallows without a hitch, and as they come in to dock with the station they notice the three ships that attacked theirs on the landing pad. After he docks and disembarks, Rushdown searches the local 'net for the ship registry and gets a name - the Starship Name(9)Beowulf, captained by a Captain Wulfric. He heads to the Ironsail quarter and heads to the tavern. He orders a drink and asks where he can find Wulfric.
Gather Information(Wits)—5 vs 2|3
The barman motions to a man drinking alone at a corner table at the back of the tavern. Rushdown heads over and takes the seat opposite him. Wulfric looks up in alarm at the heavily armored merc sitting across from him.
"You know who I am?" asks Rushdown.
"No idea," says Wulfric.
"You shot at my ship and then ran before I could shoot back."
"Oh, it's you. I'm guessing you're not going to tell me how you found me, so what do you want?"
"I want you to stop raiding that spot."
"It's a good spot. People head into Tranquilo loaded with goods and valuables to gamble away."
"And people who mess with the Angel Brothers' customers don't survive long. There's other spots. This one's not worth your life."
Compel(Iron)—9 vs 3|3match
"Fine, we won't hit that spot anymore."
"Swear it."
Wulfric takes out a black iron dagger. "I vow me and my crew won't return to the ambush point for Tranquilo traffic," he says.
01 - Get rid of the Ironsail Raiders +1 (9/10)
"Good enough," says Rushdown. He stands up and heads back to the ship. He decides to leave exploring Gallows for another day, and returns to Tranquilo to let Florian Angel know the job is done.
Set a Course(Supply)—7 vs 2|6
They arrive back at Tranquilo and Rushdown calls Florian. "It's done," he tells Florian.
Fulfill Your Vow(track)—1 vs 9|3
"They're all dead?" replies Florian.
"No, but I got an iron vow from their captain that the attacks would stop."
"You have to be fucking kidding me, I told you to get rid of them."
"I did, they're gone."
"Ok, ok, this is just a failure to communicate, that's all. For future reference, if I ask you to get rid of someone, I want you to fucking kill them."
01 - Get rid of the Ironsail Raiderscompleted quests +1 (0/10)
"So what, did I fail the test?" asks Rushdown.
"Depends if this raider captain keeps his vow or not, doesn't it? If we have any more work for you we'll courier your office on Minami."
The call ends abruptly once again.
End a Session Momentum:7 → 8
I also just realized I forgot to add momentum for the Begin a Session move earlier Momentum:8 → 9
Next Entry: 03 - Rushdown - Unmasked