Episode 2.02: Rivulets of Copper, Eyes Aflame

[Renny]

"Sir," Cole addresses Nahwoor, " Would you be able to direct us to Kavoran's quarters so we may begin our search?"

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: Sorry about the delay.

"We are cleaning the main sanctuary today - I believe, in your vernacular, you would call it a 'field day,'" Nahwoor answers. "You need only follow the buildings to the right to a courtyard - the sanctuary will be self evident."

Drake volunteers to go with Voshen - to which Spunkmeyer quips something trying to get another nickname and receives a friendly elbow. The monk raises an eyebrow, but the slight curl at the corner of his mouth seems to indicate a level of amusement at the jocularity.

The landing party splits up at this point. Nahwoor leads Tobin, Cole, T'Kiri, and Spunkmeyer to the monks' cells, while Treyva and Chev follow the second-master's instructions around to the right to find a small triangular courtyard that holds a cauldron with windblown flames licking leeward a good meter-or-so from it. On the far side of the courtyard is a large building with a roof of highly-polished orange-and-brown stone slabs situated between heavy graystone archways. Even in the poor visibility of the storm, the main sanctuary is certainly "self-evident."

Meanwhile, Voshen and Drake follow the others to the courtyard. The wind whips around them, but remains at a manageable speed, even if it leaves those still outside a bit warm.

Tobin & Cole
The dynamic duo follow the second-master past the infirmary door to an equally-ancient portal. Inside, a corridor follows the front wall, a row of doors positioned uncomfortably proximate to each other on the opposite wall. Nahwoor leads them straight back from the entrance to a second corridor parallel to the front wall, this one lined with doors on each side; he indicates Kavoran's cell is the fifth one down on the left.

"I would like to observe your search," he notes.

T'Kiri nods. "It is permitted, but you must remain outside the room with me, and you may not comment on the proceedings."

OOC: Let me know how you gents want to proceed.

Treyva & Chev
The main doors to the sanctuary are closed and unmanned.

OOC: Let me know how you gents want to proceed.

Voshen
The navigator realizes the courtyard is as good an area as any to scan. The storm is expected to play havoc with his readings, but there's a chance he can glean something useful out of them.

OOC: Reason + Engineering vs. Difficulty 4. The difficulty is high due to the passage of time since the last transport was possible and the interference caused by the storm itself.

[Nolmir]

Tobin takes out his tricorder. "May I suggest you gentlemen begin a visual search for the device while I scan for it with the tricorder?"

[socrates200X]

Voshen leaned up and took in the expanse of clouded sky through the lenses of his mask.  "Beautiful."  At the sideways look from his human companion, he added, "I suppose you must need take my word for it, Mr. Drake.  Standard search grid.  We are looking for transport signatures.  I imagine the clergy here make little use of technology, so any signal is something to report.  To the work, then."  Leaving the scanner attached to its strap around his neck, Voshen began combing the courtyard steadily...

Rolling Reason + Engineering Difficulty 4 (TN: 13)

Angling for an Exotic Particles Focus? 😬

Either way, buying 1d20 with 1 Momentum. 

Also, assuming that Crewman Drake also Assists with Reason + Engineering?  I'm not sure of his stats, so I'll leave that roll for later.

Voshen's roll:

Rolled 3d20 : 6, 11, 16, total 33

[Renny]

Tobin takes out his tricorder. "May I suggest you gentlemen begin a visual search for the device while I scan for it with the tricorder?"

"Sounds like a good place to start, sir" Cole replies, looking the indicated door up and down slowly, as if concerned it was about to bite him.

"I don't want to be overly paranoid but given the lengths we've seen our suspect go to, can I suggest scanning the door before we open it in case he has some kind of warning device rigged up?"

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: Specialist Drake is a female. Tobin was using the standard "Mister" in the military sense (like "Mr. Saavik" from ST II). For extras in security department (who use the Starfleet Security Officer Minor NPC stats from the Core rulebook p.314), we use the names of the Colonial Marines from Aliens.

Drake Reason + Engineering Assist

Rolled 1d20 : 20, total 20

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: Acknowledging the spending of 1 Momentum to Create Opportunity.

I'm on the fence about Exotic Particles applying, since it would imply that they are particles that are rarely encountered in the 23rd Century (and transporters are common at this point); on the other hand, "exotic" in the general sense infers something that is incredibly rare not naturally occurring, even if it known and regularly encountered. I'll allow it.

Now, to results: Voshen gets 2 Successes, and Drake contributes only a Complication. So, 2 Successes vs. Difficulty 4. Failure. The Complication will be Storm Interference, and will increase the Complication Range of scanning via tricorders within the perimeter of the storm to 18-20.

You are free to spend Momentum/add Threat to eliminate the Complication.

Current
Momentum 3
Threat 11

As Voshen monitors the readout on his tricorder, Drake notes, "Sir, I'm getting some sort of null field reading, like we're in the calibration lab back on the ship." She turns the display toward him for emphasis. On his own display, the readout begins to wildly fluctuate in time with the change in velocity and strength of the wind around them, and the navigator quickly realizes the storm is preventing them from getting any sort of useful reading.

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: To scan the door, Reason + Security vs. Difficulty 1. Storm Interference applies.

[Nolmir]

OOC: Tobin's Reason 11 + Security 1 vs. Difficulty 1

Rolled 2d20 : 1, 20, total 21

[Nolmir]

OOC: Ugh, the complications are flying.

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: Noting here that the Complication "Storm Interference" remains in place.

I see 2 Successes vs. Difficulty 1. Success, plus 1 Momentum and 1 Complication generated. The new Complication will be Something in the Stone. This will increase the Difficulty of all attempts to use the tricorders indoors at the monastery.

Let me know if you want to spend Momentum/add Threat to eliminate the new Complication. Update: Acknowledging spending 2 Momentum to eliminate Something in the Stone.

Current
Momentum 3 (1 pending, Tobin) 2
Threat 11
Storm Interference Complication (increase complication range for all tricorder readings within the perimeter of the sandstorm to 18-20)
Something in the Stone (Difficulty +1 for all scanning indoors at the monastery)

A quick scan of the door reveals two things: First, Tobin finds no security devices in the room and second, the materials used in the interior construction of the monastery contains elements that will definitely interfere with the tricorders when scanning for certain kinds of electronic devices...like the contraband they seek.

[Nolmir]

"No sign of any security devices, Mr. Cole. Whenever you're ready."

OOC: I'm inclined to buy off Something in the Stone. One Complication at a time feels like enough to me.

[Renny]

Cole nods at this and reaches for the handle to open the door, cautiously.

OOC: Happy to buy off the Complication as well.

[Patrick Goodman]

FWIW, I concur. We've complications enough, in my mind....

[Davy, aka GM]

Cole & Tobin
To call the room beyond the door "spartan" is a massive understatement; "cell" is an entirely appropriate description for an area of less than 4 square meters*, nearly half-again as long as it is wide and just barely large enough for a cot and an ancient wooden trunk.

* About 40 square feet for us American luddites...-Ed.

The cot has a thin pillow of modern construction at the head and a neatly-folded wool blanket at the foot. The trunk has no lock or latch to secure its flat, hinged lid, which sits closed. The stone walls show signs of centuries of wear, but bear no other markings or features, save for a modern wall light, dimly adjusted.