Day 2 | Morning | Something Wicked This Way Comes

[Ambrose Pantazis]

"Likely. Nothing in particular to watch around here other than as a way from point A to point B." He mused while looking around.

"Almost certainly one of the cartel's toys. Not likely something the Muadh would use, nor our VIPs. Although, if they came across one of these, they might've been inclined to investigate."

Pulling a multi-tool out of his kit, Ambrose motioned to Cuyler, "Might want to step back, just in case. Let's get a closer look at this thing."

He activated his shield and stepped up to extract the eye.
-----
(Edit to add investigation)
D2, Morning, Something Wicked, Mechanics, Ix Eye: 1eP+2eA+1eD+1eS 1 success, 1 advantage

[Kannon]

The moment he caught the eye and pulled, the foliage of the tree flared up and a strong electric discharge threw him back. Electricity poured into the Holtzmann field and kept tearing it apart until the shield was fully shorted. Ambrose ended up unharmed, just with some pain of the posterior. Torn nerve-like fibres dangled from the back side of the eye clenched in his mutli-tool, that looked quite human in shape if not in composition. There were sparks in the hollow from where the eye had been removed.

[Lydia Storm]

"..What the hell are you doing?" Lydia frowned more.

[Kannon]

And just as they were in the midst of this eye-opening situation, Bernard acquired a well-founded hunch that they were being watched from some other source. He thought he'd just seen a flurry of red hair between trees some dozen metres away? Maybe a tropical bird's plumage...

[Ambrose Pantazis]

He took a moment to pat himself down and take a quick inventory. Yep, all there, no injuries.

"Not exactly the trap I was expecting, but it wouldn't be much of a trap if you expected it. I guess now we can say the trees pack as much a punch as those cave shrooms did. Blasted plants are going to be the death of me." Shame about his shield though... that was an unfortunate casualty. Luckily, Mr. Bravo wasn't a big fan of the shield and had flown off when it'd been activated. Keeping him clear of the discharge. He'd alighted to a nearby bush and was trilling worriedly at Ambrose.

Ambrose examined the unsettling looking contraption he'd extracted. At least they'd managed to score some recordings.

[Bernard Martikova]

"Well, I hope we all learned something from that shocking experience." Bern said with a long sigh, not really commenting on his terrible pun. "Shield's shot for now, then. Great." It's a simple thing to get another battery in to get it working...unfortunately, they're not in simple times. "You okay otherwise, Ambrose?"

And just as they were in the midst of this eye-opening situation, Bernard acquired a well-founded hunch that they were being watched from some other source. He thought he'd just seen a flurry of red hair between trees some dozen metres away? Maybe a tropical bird's plumage...

He makes a motion with his hand while speaking to Ambrose, utilizing the hand signals of the Atreides military. Possible contact. After which he nods his head towards the direction of the movement. Could be nothing, of course, but as proven only moments ago, nothing can still be pretty dangerous.

[Ambrose Pantazis]

"All good here Sarge. Nothing hurt but my pride." Ambrose noted Bernard's message.

Perfect timing, just as he fried his shield.

"Lady Gray, what do you make of this? I'm not very versed in these kinds of things. Does it have some kind of playback function?" As he spoke to Cuyler, he maneuvered himself between her and the direction Bernard had indicated, hoping to provide her some cover if things went bad.

[Kannon]

No hostility from the direction happened at that moment.

However, something in the group's behaviour startled the watcher, who started to flee!

The target of unknown identity is about to flee and one way to stop it from happening is to give Chase. The rules for this are as follows:

• We operate on 5 bands, from Engaged to Extreme. At the start of the Chase the target is at Medium, which means 3 bands away from the group.
• The target moves after all players have been given a chance to roll for the Chase and then crosses 1.5 band per round. If directly attacked, this increases to 2 band unless Critically Injured, then it falls by 0.5 per Critical Injury.
• The rolls for chasing are Average, with one Challenge and one Setback, and can be Athletics (big jumps at speed), Coordination (manoeuvring, avoiding pitfalls), Survival (smart use of terrain like fallen trunks and vines), and Resilience (running straight despite terrain's punishments, 1 Strain per roll)]. Success means 1 band was crossed, using every 3 Advantage gives additional 0.5, using a Triumph gives additional 1. Failure means 0 bands, every 3 Threat -0.5 band or 3 Strain, every Despair -1 band or 3 Wounds (player's choices). Pool works as normal. Choose your Statements carefully, some may be contradictory to actions toward the unknown fleeing target.
• Each player gives individual chase. A choice can be made to cross less of the distance than dice award.
• Ponderousness Rule. The time for making the roll is up to 4 hours after the last roll or me coming online after sleep, whichever is later. After that the target's pace is added to the distance regardless of how many of the chasers have rolled by then. If anyone is skipped this way, it means they've encountered some obstacle that held them back and move only 0.5 forward.
• You will see the target once getting into Short distance from the target, otherwise trees preclude it. You will catch the target if one person gets to Engaged (0 band) or two people get to 0.5 from the target.
• Trying to harm the target by shooting is possible according to normal attack rules, Half-bands round up for the purpose of range and difficulty. This runs the risk of mortally wounding the target or inadvertently antagonising for any future interactions.
• Be cinematic in your posts! You can play with the environment describing your wild jungle run, within reason.

[Cuyler Gray]

Cuyler immediately began chasing the stranger along with the others. She'd hoped she could make up some of the distance by cutting through some of the brush. But, it was thicker than expected.

- - -
Day 2 | Morning | Something Wicked This Way Comes, Average Survival (Cunning), Explorer's Knife: 3eA+1eB+1eD+1eC+1eS 0 successes, 1 Despair

[Bernard Martikova]

The dense foliage of the Caladan jungle closed in around Bernard, each step a struggle against the thick underbrush and hanging vines. His breath came in ragged gasps, the humid air making each inhale feel like he was drowning. He could hear the relentless footsteps of the unknown redhead in front of him, the steps quick and unyielding. Bernard’s military training kicked in, urging him to keep moving, to outmaneuver the individual. The weight of his pack felt like an anchor, but he couldn't afford to discard it. Every so often, he glanced back, catching a fleeting glimpse of the others in his chase. The jungle seemed to conspire against him, every rustle and shadow heightening his sense of urgency.

As he pushed forward, the sounds of the jungle grew louder, a cacophony of hidden dangers. Birds shrieked overhead, and the distant growls of unseen creatures added to the tension. Bernard's mind raced, trying to understand who this was. He didn't want to shoot someone who was simply curious, but if it was a Cartel agent, losing whomever it was would be dangerous for everyone. His boots sank into the mud with every step, slowing him down, while the redhead seemed almost ethereal, barely disturbing the undergrowth. He knew he had to find a way to catch or outwit the onlooker in this verdant labyrinth. His eyes scanned the surroundings, looking for anything that could give him an advantage—a fallen tree to climb over, a stream to wade through.

Until that opportune time came, however, at least he could keep pace.

~~
Day 2 | Morning | Something Wicked This Way Comes | Jungle Chase Scene

Net Successes: 1; Net Advantages: 0

[Ambrose Pantazis]

As soon as things kicked off, before he even laid eyes on their prey, Ambrose rushed into the underbrush. He didn't see who or what he was chasing, he didn't see where he was chasing them. The only thing he was seeing was the bodies down in the cave. Their vacant eyes staring at him imploringly.

Doctrine would dictate a controlled pace, stay with your squad, be aware of the terrain. None of that mattered to Ambrose in this moment. All that mattered was catching up to them and meting out an overdose of justice.

He forced his way through, disregarding any detestable flora that might lash out in his passing.

-----
Statements: "Excess brings success", "Salvation through duty", and "Keep calm and trust your training" (Contradicting)
D2, Morning, Something Wicked, Mechanics, Chase #1, Resilience: 2eP+1eA+2eC+1eS 3 successes, 1 threat

[Kannon]

[I'll store that Despair. My first! No change in position or wounds for Cuyler. She just got stuck for the moment.]
[Player Pool: 2/0; GM Pool: 3/1]
[Cuyler is at 3 Bands from the target, Ambrose and Bernard are at 2; Lydia should come up soon enough to see the event for the first time, until then I'll withhold the Ponderousness Rule.]
[Ambrose: 1 Strain]

[Lydia Storm]

When noise was first heard Lydia had drawn her weapon. Then the noise was running, and everyone else took off running into the unknown jungle?

There was an internal sigh. She didn't want to do this but she wasn't going to run blindly into the unknown. The others were idiots.

She brought her gun up, took aim, and landed a pretty solid strike as she moved.

(ooc: move to aim, 2 strain to move as movement also
Day 2 | Morning | Something Wicked chase. Ranged heavy, average with 2 upgrades. Setbacks countered by abilities. One statement to upgrade roll one statement to upgrade difficulty (adding 1 dif dice). boost for aim: 1eA+3eP+1eB+2eC+1eD 2 successes, 1 advantage, 1 Triumph

missed accurate boost: Day 2 | Morning | Something Wicked chase. 2 boost dice from accuracy: 2eB 1 success, 2 advantage

11 damage with pierce 3. Using triumph to knock the person over? Using 2 adv to heal strain and bank third.

[Kannon]

There was a shriek of intense pain that might have been young female's voice and a sound of cracking branches as they (she?) fell, but the person tore itself up as if their (her?) life depended on it (it seemed like it did) and darted with reckless, and frankly quite impressive, haste.

[Manoeuvre to get up. Target's speed goes to 2, but I'll treat the Knockdown as a one-time Crit, so -0.5. 4.5 Bands from Cuyler and Lydia (Extreme), 3.5 Bands from Ambrose and Bernard (Long).]

[New Chase Round.]

[Cuyler Gray]

Cuyler finally cut her way through and pressed on.

- - -
Day 2 | Morning | Something Wicked This Way Comes, Round 2, Average Survival (Cunning), Explorer's Knife: 3eA+1eB+1eD+1eC+1eS 1 success, 2 advantage

[Kannon]

[Player Pool: 5/0, GM Pool 3/1]
[Cuyler is at 3.5]

[Ambrose Pantazis]

The loud report of Lydia's shot brought Ambrose back to the moment. He could tell it came from behind, and could assume it was from that beast Lydia lugged around. But it also could've been from some other source. They were in hostile territory and could just as easily become the targets.

A moment after came the scream and with it a sliver of doubt. The scream sounded like a young girl, not some hardened drug pusher. He might expect something like this in the city. Girls used to bait customers or fool authorities, but not out here in the jungle.

Between the distraction and the doubt, Ambrose missed his footing. Where he expected solid ground, he stepped through green into nothing, finding purchase a split second later and several inches lower than he'd thought. It was enough to send him into a tumble through the underbrush halting his progress for precious moments.

-----
Statements: "Excess brings success", "Salvation through duty", and "Keep calm and trust your training" (Contradicting)
D2, Morning, Something Wicked, Chase #2, Resilience, 4adv for boosts: 2eP+1eA+2eB+2eC+1eS 1 failure, 1 advantage

1adv banked

[Kannon]

[Player Pool: 2/1, GM Pool 3/1]

[Ambrose & Cuyler are at 3.5. Bernard and Lydia can go.]

[Bernard Martikova]

The chase ever continued. While they were shooting at the potential target, which he was hoping to avoid, he couldn't really stop it because he tripped over one of those logs he was looking for. Dusting himself off, he quickly got back up and tried to regain some momentum.

~~
Day 2 | Morning | Something Wicked This Way Comes | Athletics | Invoking Brawn Statement

Net Successes: -1; Net Advantages: 1

[Lydia Storm]

Lydia broke into a run, using her survival instincts to clear logs and go through the trees with almost no difficulty.

"If you do not stop I will shoot again" she shouted with annoyance in her voice.

(ooc: Day 2 | Morning | Something Wicked chase survival. Self reliance. Average with 1 upgrade, setbacks countered by abilities. Boost from knife: 3eP+1eB+1eD+1eC 2 successes