A weekend at Roger's

Bert_the_Turtle · Post by **Bert_the_Turtle** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 6:38 pm

Ordinarily I'd agree with you about Celeste but judging from Ron's description of the location there won't be any daytime shelter for her anywhere in the area of the Compound.

AdamaGeist · Post by **AdamaGeist** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 8:25 pm

Finaly checked my PM's. Alright, I can do recon astraly, but don't expect me to hold back if I get attacked while up there, just a general statement.

Besides, I'm only good for minor things or major things in physical space, till I learn more of what I just picked up. Working backwards from the top isn't easy.

Ron Caliburn · Post by **Ron Caliburn** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 10:40 pm

Willie Long wrote:We're wandering afield here. What kind of response can we expect from one little girl wandering away from the compound? If she sneaks out of the compound alone, would they even notice?

It seems to me if the ghosts help her avoid patrols, she could make it all the way to the highway without being pursued; once there we pull over and pick her up. No muss, no fuss.

Response? Daddy going apeshit until her wearabouts are verified. The children sleep communally and are looked in on regularly. Assuming none of the sentries spot her on the way out, we have at most 30 minutes before they realize she's gone.

Avoiding the patrols is one hting, avoiding the dogs following her scent is another.

Bert_the_Turtle · Post by **Bert_the_Turtle** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 10:53 pm

Its easy to ruin a dog's sense of smell with stuff you find at the local market. And if we didn't want to harm the animals I'm betting KT might have a few ideas.

Ron Caliburn · Post by **Ron Caliburn** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 10:56 pm

And how far into the compound are you proposing to release this stuff?

How are you proposing to get that far undetected by any of hte measures thye have in place or by the dogs themeslves?

Ron Caliburn · Post by **Ron Caliburn** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 10:59 pm

AdamaGeist wrote:Finaly checked my PM's. Alright, I can do recon astraly, but don't expect me to hold back if I get attacked while up there, just a general statement.

Besides, I'm only good for minor things or major things in physical space, till I learn more of what I just picked up. Working backwards from the top isn't easy.

Okay, worst case, you get spotted and attacked with something that can hurt you, what level of response can you offer or is retreating the only real way to go?

AdamaGeist · Post by **AdamaGeist** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 11:25 pm

Ron, if they can actualy hurt or bother me, I can make certain their bodies become soul-less husks. I specialise in astral combat and striking against bodyless spirits, who have alot better resistances than someone messing around in the Astral.

Trust me, I won't have to run. The statement is more that I won't run. There will be casualties if I get attacked, that's all.

The good news, however, is that they will be unable to identify me as human while pulling this, and thus won't be likely to connect me to you.

Ron Caliburn · Post by **Ron Caliburn** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 11:31 pm

I doubt that they can and will be able to go after you while you're in the astral, but the compound isn't in the astral either, so you'll have to a least come to the home plane to get a look, don't you?

Bert_the_Turtle · Post by **Bert_the_Turtle** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 1:15 am

You don't need to release it. Dogs will follow a trail of scent. They'll stick to it like a train on tracks. You simply need to dump it along the trail after you know they'll have picked it up.

Shadowstalker · Post by **Shadowstalker** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 1:59 am

Movement of astral beings is not restricted to the astral plane and they tend to move at wicked speeds so that if by some chance anyone in the compound could see an astral being trying to track them is another story entirely. For myself I have methods of dealing with an opponent that are not going to do lasting harm, and I was able to get that item I was talking about as well.

Willie Long · Post by **Willie Long** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 9:54 am

AdamaGeist wrote:Ron, if they can actualy hurt or bother me, I can make certain their bodies become soul-less husks.

"0 body count" don't mean we can Schaivo every fucker in there.

Ron Caliburn wrote:The children sleep communally and are looked in on regularly. Assuming none of the sentries spot her on the way out, we have at most 30 minutes before they realize she's gone.

Daddy's a paranoid little bitch, yo.

Okay, dawgs, can anyone use a mind trick to make the guard think she's still there? Hmm. One of her nap-buddies might still notice. What about a light trick, or having Rhonda use the pillow-under-the-blanket trick?

KonThaak · Post by **KonThaak** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 3:03 pm

Okay, first off, I can't be there, but I do have a few suggestions. I wish I could go along with this, but I can sum my problems up in one word: "Baby". I know you guys will understand...

That doesn't mean I can't or won't help. If Willie's gonna be involved, I can send some fun little defenses that should *help* you guys bypass their paranoid little anti-astral anti-everything defenses. These toys won't work on their own, but they have the ability to make a person less noticeable. It's not quite invisibility, but it's the third best thing. (If I had the ability to induce invisibility from afar for you guys, trust me, I would.)

Next is not a fun thing to discuss... Celeste. There are a number of reasons she should sit this one out, and I'll ask up front for her to please understand and forgive me. She could be a great asset, it's true; she could also potentially be the biggest liability on your team.

Even considering the possibility of finding her a safe place during the day, there's still the cult themselves. Religious cults of this type are completely different from the one that she, Bert, and Dante went up against recently. In a dark cult, their faith/zealotry works differently; rather than protecting them, it fuels their power. In a religious cult such as the one I'm imagining this to be, however, things tend to change... The people believe themselves to be immersed in a holy and divine light, and that's what their faith and zealotry power.

In effect, Celeste would be walking into Vampire Hell. The grounds would be treated as sacred, so even if she were to make it as far as the compound itself, and get an invitation inside, the very ground she walked on would burn her. The people themselves wouldn't need holy symbols to burn her; their zeal and fanaticism gives them their own "holy" aura.

I could be wrong; I might be getting the wrong idea about what kind of cult this is, or they might not have the level of zealotry that I'm giving them credit for, or the theory itself may not be as sound as I think it is. Nevertheless, it's not necessarily a chance I would take, so Celeste, please don't take offense to this.

The last thing to consider about her is the factor that she brought up, herself. Ron. I believe her words were something about Ron not being able to sleep at night if she were involved...which is probably reason enough to also ask her to sit this one out. The last thing we need is infighting in an already uncomfortably delicate situation.

And the last issue to discuss is psychic barriers... I recall someone mentioning that they used vacuum-tube radios to repel astral entities, so it may not be a matter of someone attacking Adama and Shadow, should they try to get in astrally. If something like that could be done, then it wouldn't be impossible for other machines to deflect astral entrance or attack astral entities.

There's also the possibility that there're psychics or mages that Ron doesn't know about, who could erect such astral defenses, such as the wards around my house. Such wards can be set up to automatically "shoot" any astral entities that come around uninvited. They may set it up to fire warning shots first, or they may set it to far more lethal commands.

In any case, there're a lot of different ways to set up astral defenses without involving anyone on the inside too directly. While all those methods can be countered while on the astral, it's my personal suggestion that a more physical approach be taken.

Ron, how many people, approximately, are on the compound, and how well does everyone know each other?

Ron Caliburn · Post by **Ron Caliburn** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 3:35 pm

Well, when I left, a decade go, there were approximately 100 people living in the compound. Half were children. People inthe compound know each other all by name and face and the vast majority of people (about 75%) are also related through blood or marriage. This was 10 years ao and the way "Rhonda" tells it, there's likely a sizable icrease in population sicne then.

And if Celeste was along, I would expect there would be some cross purposes going on. While my half sister is in a bad place, she has a lot of other stuff going for her. So my priorites might shift somewhat if I had a vampire in front of me (and it sure isn't being allowed beind me or near anybody in the compound).

As for mages, I wouldn' worry about that, since they view magic as the devil's craft. That said, there are a large portion of people there who have been "blessed by God" with great skills, great strengths and other abillites that Dr. Lazlo has described as psionics.

Also, again, most of the stuff I use (effectively I might add) agaisnt things as varied ghosts and vampires is based off of designs that the armorers in that place developed for just such a contingency. I've modified and improved the designs signifigntly, so I don't know how effective their stuff will actually be.

They have dogs and horses galore, the dogs being trained to keep watch and provide warning of things that humans can't or don't notice.

All the grown men and teenage boys have throughly trained with guns, tactical procedures and hand to hand combat. We have a number of veterans living in the complex who make sure the training is realistic and effective. While we distrust the governemnt, we do try to send one or two out into the armed forces (marines being the preferance) eveyr few years to keep things current. One of our boys just returned home from a tour with Force Recon in Iraq so I bet he's going to be bringing the others up to speed soon.

Concentional weapons will be mostly semi-automatics, but the armourers have been able to ebuild a few with fully automatic capabilities. Rifles will be the primary arm. Given the long rangesat which a target can be engaged in the land around the compound this makes more sense than shotguns.

There are a few heavy weapons, probably the most scary for us is a McMillain .50 rifle and a couple of well maintained M1919 machineguns.

Security teams have radios and at least one set of thermal or night vision gear.

Bert_the_Turtle · Post by **Bert_the_Turtle** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 5:39 pm

How would they react if, say, some innocent hikers/campers/whatever came running and screaming at the fenceline while being chased by something inhuman?

Ron Caliburn · Post by **Ron Caliburn** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 9:39 pm

If thye didn't know 'em, they'd mae sure htee was a security team ready for it if it decided to cross the fence after it's lunch.

If you've watched the matrix, think of the scene where Morpheus and Neo are moving through the crowd and Morpheeus teaches Neo about the dangers of Agents.

That's pretty much their view of the rest of the world.

Bert_the_Turtle · Post by **Bert_the_Turtle** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 9:42 pm

Interesting.

And not to alarm anyone but another plan is forming in my mind.

Bert_the_Turtle · Post by **Bert_the_Turtle** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:37 am

Ok, someone should've asked this 5 pages ago, but do they have anyone dedicated to scouring the internet? Is there a chance they could read this thread?

Celeste Darken · Post by **Celeste Darken** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:41 am

KonThaak wrote:Next is not a fun thing to discuss... Celeste.

I'm not sure . . . I seem to be a hot topic when there is nothing to discuss. I’m not sure what the cult’s faith would mean to me, one way or another, but here is what I can do and willingly offer: as already discussed, the horses and dogs would flee at my presence, and my strength is obvious. Combined with Willie Long’s, he and I could simply overturn any vehicles they possess.

I wouldn’t show up on infrared and though I cannot become invisible, I can move unseen when necessary. I can also induce the guards into sleep or Hypnotically Suggest we should be allowed to pass without concern. My superior senses will also act as another counterbalance to the cult: I can sense their movements, I can smell their thoughts.

I offer my aid willingly, presuming their faith proves no obstacle to me.

But I will abide by Ron’s decision. Am I in or am I out?

Consequently, no offense taken, Konthaak. You meant well.

Bert_the_Turtle · Post by **Bert_the_Turtle** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:48 am

Say Celeste, can you grab a tree, uproot it, and hurl it through the air?

Ron Caliburn · Post by **Ron Caliburn** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:50 am

Bert. Good point.

They are aware of Dr. Lazlo's work, but view it with supiscion. His willingess to explore the supernatural first, exterminate only if necissary clashes with their view on what the supernatural is.

They can't process the supernatural without adding terms like demon, devil, hell and hades.

They view the extraordinary ablities of their own as a favoured sign from God that they will be his elite soldiers during the rapture.

I doubt they actively paruse this forum, and even if they do, we haven't mentioned anything that they haven't already thought of and their readiness level won't increase because, quite frankly, you can't get much readier than they already are.

Ron Caliburn · Post by **Ron Caliburn** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:55 am

Celeste.

All other considerations aside, a vampire, in close proximity to me, is going to be a higher priority for me to deal with than extracting my half-sister.

At best, you'll be a distrction. At worst it will scupper the mission out right.

Celeste Darken · Post by **Celeste Darken** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 12:02 pm

Bert_the_Turtle wrote:Say Celeste, can you grab a tree, uproot it, and hurl it through the air?

Yes. Nothing easier. But as Ron says no . . .

But . . . quite frankly, if he's vetoing the project, why are we still making plans? Shouldn't he be leading this sort of discussion? It's a waste of time and effort to build a plan involving me when I won't even be there . . .

Bert_the_Turtle · Post by **Bert_the_Turtle** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 12:03 pm

You know we've been ignoring the painfully obvious.

Does anyone know someone that can teleport with another person?

Well Celeste if you are capable of doing it I'm guessing Willie can be the relief pitcher.

And we're still making plans because, err, boredom? We don't like cults? We like saving innocent people? Because it never hurt to do a little brainstorming?

Ron Caliburn · Post by **Ron Caliburn** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 3:06 pm

I'm open to plans, don't get me wrong.

But until I feel we ot a good chance of success with next to 0 body count on all sides, I'm not going to give the relevant information required for this to go ahead.

Getting her out unnoticed (or even doing recon unnoticed) will be next to impossible.

There will be large open spaces with little or no cover to contend with, meaning we will have to cross a lot of ground probably observed and taking fire.

Their forces can be mechanized or mounted, giving them a speed advantage to go wiht their sizable numerical, home turf and firepower advantages.

Combat will cause unacceptible casualties (theirs and ours) as they are well armed and well trained, so bringing them down without serious harm will put ourselves at high risk. Yes I have access to a lot of non-lethals, but non-lethals generally are much shorter range than what they will be toting.

Even though she may be our best asset - I won't have a vampire in close proximity to my family.

This is a hard, well watched target. It will take a very well thought out plan making use of all our disparate abilities.

Shadowstalker · Post by **Shadowstalker** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 3:41 pm

I have a few questions and comments first off would it hurt to gather some intel this can be done with little to no risk of creating conflict. Next part Ron can I ask how many of these blessed did they have and any guess what their abilites were, I realize any info you have is 10years old but it would give us something to work from. The last comment is we need to find a way to speak or at least interact with Rhonda to find out how she would feel about this in the first place for several resons.

Bert_the_Turtle · Post by **Bert_the_Turtle** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 4:00 pm

The way I have it figured getting in will be easy. Out will be the hard part.

Willie Long · Post by **Willie Long** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 5:02 pm

Bert_the_Turtle wrote:You know we've been ignoring the painfully obvious.

Does anyone know someone that can teleport with another person?

Traveler King had all kinds of weird technology. If anybody can do it, it's him, but he hasn't been 'round in a while.

Well Celeste if you are capable of doing it I'm guessing Willie can be the relief pitcher.

Yeah, maybe. I think getting it out of the ground would be the hard part. I've never tried.

***
We could use the Society to create a diversion while Rhonda escapes on horseback. They wouldn't shoot at her, would they?

Bert_the_Turtle · Post by **Bert_the_Turtle** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 5:11 pm

"Yeah, maybe. I think getting it out of the ground would be the hard part. I've never tried."

Well, maybe try for a younger tree with a less mature root system.

"They wouldn't shoot at her, would they?"

I'm not willing to take that chance. See the general information provided about my armored stationwagon earlier in this thread.

AdamaGeist · Post by **AdamaGeist** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 9:10 pm

Interesting point... I doubt my appearance in the Astral around them would be a good thing, then. More like than not, at this point they would identify me as a fallen angel or a demon, due to my astral state's wings and flame...

I thought for a while that I might be able to sneak around due to the fact that I can be misidentified as an elemental, but if they view all supernatural beings as agents of the devil, I'd probably draw more attention due to that fact, if I am in fact seen.

KonThaak · Post by **KonThaak** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 1:01 am

For my part, if Ron gives a go-ahead, I'll still offer my charms to help you guys stay hidden, or protected.

As of this point in time, Ron doesn't sound too interested in pursuing this, on account of that things aren't desperate enough to allow for casualties on either side. Completely understandable.

Getting in may be easier than getting out, but it still sounds relatively impossible to do completely unnoticed. As someone pointed out, "Rhonda" has yet to be notified that anyone would be interested in getting her out, and as such, we have no way of knowing if she *wants* to get out.

However, if things start to get dangerously close to (as Ron put it) pear-shaped, I'll hire a babysitter and join in things, myself.

***

And Bert, remind me to bap you upside the head for suggesting killing trees.

-KT, who may not be an environmentalist of the rabid and stupid variety, but abhors unnecessary deaths of any kind

A weekend at Roger's

What is your choice?

Beside the point