[Game Thread] Mall Maul!

Jan 4, 2024 12:55 am
OOC:
Incoming wall of text. You know how these things go...
You've convinced yourself that Boscotown ain't such a bad place to live, relatively speaking. There's kinda fresh water from the river. Buildings to live in. And the gang that runs the place, the Badger Boys (mostly just a name, although the one Fossorian does look the part), keep raiders away. Sure, they're mean and nasty and horde everything good for themselves, but that's not any worse than most folks you meet outside Boscotown. Things only get really bad on rare occasions.

This is one of those occasions.

It's been a bad year for the farm and for the hunters. A new gang has taken root in nearby Loo City, making scavenging damn near impossible. And the Badger Boys are getting hungry. Last night they came to your hovel and pulled you out of bed, saying it was time you made yourself useful. Now you're waiting in a locked gym at the old school with a bunch of other folks. Ain't none of 'em think anything good is about to happen.

People hold their breath when the door finally opens, then let out a sigh of relief when Gene, the local priest of Kizz, steps through, his holy axe (aka guitar) hanging from his neck. But that relief is short lived, because the next person through is the vice boss of the Badger Boys, a canine beastkin named Donnie Barko. He's got his favorite guards in tow.

Gene steps up on the stage at the end of the gym.

"Greetings, my dudes and dudettes and anyone else! Harken and prepare thyselves for rockin’ news direct from the blessed pierced lips of the Mighty Kizz! His most holy Rock ‘n’ Rolledness has shown me an awesome vision of pyrotechnics and glory for those brave enough to heed his lyrics! The answer to our woes lies in the creepified, forbidden mall that your grannies warned you about. Gather your courage, because you have been chosen to go into that place and bring back what we need. Let the power of Rock and Roll be your guide! We believe in YOU! Thank you, and goodnight!" Then gene does a quick riff on his axe, which is barely audible, because it’s not plugged into anything. After that, he walks off the stage.

"Right. And anyone that don’t go is gonna be made into stew," Donnie shouts. "Now gather your shit and get on the truck outside. We’re goin’ to the mall!"

After that, you're all loaded into the back of a truck and driven to the mall. Another empty truck follows. When you get to the mall, the trucks circle around it once, then come to a stop on the edge of a large, debris-covered parking lot. A good portion of the mall itself is sunk into the
ground, but one entrance is still intact. Next to it are the remains of a truck delivery bay.

"Listen up, leeches," Donnie shouts as you disembark. "Your job is to go in there, find food and supplies, and then load it into this here truck." He points to the empty truck that followed you. "When the truck's full, you can go home. That's it. And if we see any of you trying to run off, we'll shoot you. So go on. Hop to."
OOC:
And... here's where we begin. Your job is to explore the mall. Anything you find that can go in the truck will have a "Loot Value" (LV). You have to round up 200 LV of stuff to go home. You've each got sacks to carry the loot in, and every team of four has a shopping cart. The carts make a lot of racket, but they'll keep you from having to make multiple trips in and out of the mall.
Jan 4, 2024 6:49 am
The mornings are always tough for Berto; the cruel light of the blasted sun causes itch throughout his body. His ma had gray skin and he heard people call her the mutie. But she is gone now, and even though he hadn't got gray skin like his ma but they sure itch most of the time. Often so badly that he breaks the skin and blood comes out. Those red swollen raw skin bulges. But, you got a do, what you gotta do. You cover them with mud, filth or anything that can keep it cool. This went well with his job as a plumber in the community. Enough wet things to cover the exposed skins when the clothes aren't enough. He loved the night (not the darkness) because that's only when they don't itch or itch less. Last night was bad, those badger boys took him out before he could rest up for the night. Piece of Shit, those curs! Anyway, now he stood in front of the mall wondering and scratching his skin. This is bad, bad news! He wondered whether he could get out of the forbidden mall alive!? He looked around to see who else was he paired to. Three other person stood before him.

Carlos was assured that Boscotown was sinking, but he didn't know that he would be chosen as a candidate. He could never imagine the Badgerboys to back-stab him like this. He had been dealing with stuff for a long time now. Selling bullets to other, while scraps to other, making all the shingles and paying the Badgerboys to keep him out clear. Seems like those were all ruses. Fucking Donnie! He had been leeching from him and now he tells him that he is a leech. Boscotown sure needs a new ruller. However, this could be an opportunity. Scavenging the Mall will definitely get him brand new things that he could sell out. Maybe a big score could be enough to leave Boscotown for good. A shame though that he has to give everything to the fucking Badgerboys. Carlos looked at the looming structure of Forbidden Mall with anticipation. Will it be a big score or a quick death?

Pung spat on the ground while looking at the Forbidden Mall. His blackened teeth gleamed as he looked around in excitement. The Badgerboys are blessing! He could never get the chance to enter the mall alone, he dared not. But the Badgerboys had given him a fine opportunity to delve deep. A paradise has been handed to him. He going to be rich! The stuff he is going to find down there will be beautiful. It's bad though that he will have to give those back to Badgerboys. But, surely they just want the foods. Maybe if he can bring more food, they will let him keep the rest of the loot?

Kline scratched his trunk in deep thought. Badgerboys had always been bad news! Stupid, idiotic brutes who just fight and mate. Baseline animals and nothing else. Boscotown would have seen golden days if intellectuals like him had a say. They could have crafted, fungal farms with corpses, manured fields with all the shit Boscotown accumulated, wind turbines to power their generators and may even have dug deep enough to get those ground waters. His trunk really smelled those aquifers, he could swear. But, look what has happened. No food and no clean water. Now, they force people to scavenge Forbidden Mall, those stupid arses don't even know that scavenging is never a sustainable option but they will never listen. He wondered what he will find inside and whether he could really make out alive.
Last edited January 4, 2024 6:55 am
Jan 4, 2024 1:15 pm
Scruffette the janitor adjusts her hat to keep the sun's glare out of her eyes. The gruff woman hefts her trusty mop as she studies the entrance to the mall. "Looks like we've got some cleaning up to do," she mutters.

Rowana the wolf beastkin peddler hops out of the truck, landing in a crouch on all fours. She stops to use her furry leg to scratch behind her ear, then straightens up and retrieves a hefty iron skillet from her sack. "Let's rock!" she declares, giving a toothy grin.

Callie the electrician adjusts her coveralls over her curvy figure. The blonde's woman's blue eyes show no trace of levity. "Keep an eye out for mutants. If you see any, take their eyes out." She stabs the air in front of her with a screwdriver for grisly emphasis.

Brie the merchant brings up the rear of the group, pushing the shopping cart. The overweight woman smirks as she thinks about hiding away a few extra valuable items in her pack to sell in her merchant stall later.
Last edited January 4, 2024 1:16 pm
Jan 5, 2024 6:34 pm
"What do you think is in there?" asks the otter-man known around town as Doc Whiskers of no one in particular.

"Beats me," says 451, a road hardened vault-born woman in a ragged Stetson.

"Probably just some bullshit the superstitious locals made up."

The Dope Man was well known around Boscotown as a guy that could get things, mostly dope. He shakes his head knowingly as he injects himself into the conversation.

"Not superstition, there's a whole mutant colony living in there who'd like nothing more than to peel the skin off our bones. No offense Kurt."

The Dope Man flashes an apologetic look towards Kurt, a radium miner of the mutant persuasion.

"Fuck off" is all Kurt has to say on the matter.

When the squad gets their designated cart and bags they huddle up and form a battle plan. Since 451 had the privilege of a proper education and had the rarified ability to think in the abstract, she naturally slid into the shotcaller position.

"Ok, Dope Man you're pushing cart while I load. Kurt and Whiskers you two keep your slings handy and your heads on a swivel."
Jan 6, 2024 6:16 pm
"Malls are where people gathered to perform religious rituals," Hannibal the Elephant Historian intones, "such as the Mall Walk pilgrimage, and the cleansing ritual in which Jayzus would consume your Sin-A-Bons." He looks satisfied at how his elephantine memory never fails.

Sarah the Otterkin Veterinarian takes a sniff of one of her superglue tubes, breathing deep then squeaking happily. "Nice, warrens and tunnels aplenty."

Travis the Hawg Rancher snorts the air... "I smell trouble."

Liam the Shifter Guard paces back and forth, smacking his billy club into his open palm and glaring.
Jan 7, 2024 1:24 am
Dr Whiskers notices Sarah the otterkin as he is getting out of the van and gives her a sly nod that reads 'hey, I noticed you're an otterkin veterinarian, I'm an otterkin veterinarian too.'
Last edited January 7, 2024 1:24 am
Jan 7, 2024 5:47 am
Kline noticed Hannibal the Elephant historian and waved his trunk at him, "Hello there Hannibal, are you going to preach here or are you looking to collect some old artefacts in the mall?"
Jan 7, 2024 10:14 pm
Sarah returns Dr. Whiskers' professional nod, but notes in his look an undercurrent of... something else. She glances away quickly.

Hannibal waves back at Kline. "Ah, a fellow scholar, how delightful! Yes, some artifacts would be nice for my collection. At home I have some highly valuable items: an oracular device that quite rightly points out that a cow goes 'Moo!', as well as a device for hanging clothes called a 'Peloton'."

Liam shoots a glance at Hannibal: "Do you ever shut up?" and grabs the group's cart and starts toward the mall, seemingly not caring whether anyone else is following.

The rest of the group realizes he'll leave them behind if they don't, so they start after him, trying to catch up. They head toward the mall entrance.
Jan 8, 2024 6:58 pm
OOC:
Looks like Goldenband's group is heading across the parking lot towards the entrance. Everyone please post what your group is doing.
Jan 9, 2024 1:48 am
"Hey we should have a team name," says Whiskers to Kurt as the quartet dashes towards the mall entrance,

"How about, The Maul Rats? But with maul like maul not mall, get it?"

Whiskers steers Dope Man and the Maul Rats towards Sarah's group and offers a team up.

"Hey, we should team up!"
Jan 9, 2024 6:13 am
Berto, Carlos and Kline moved toward the looming entrance of the mall wondering what they would find inside as Pung came behind, trailing the cart. Kline asked Pung to give him the cart which he vehemently refused.

"I am the one who will be collecting scraps here! Don't you ever touch this cart!" hissed Pung.

Kline shrugged and moved ahead with the group.

Berto and Carlos stood in front of the Mall entrance door and tried to take a peek in order to see if they could see anything from the outside. Kline scratched his trunk and observed the entrance from the back.
Last edited January 9, 2024 6:14 am
Jan 9, 2024 9:42 am
Rowana howls with delight as some of the others begin to head to the mall. She scampers after Berto, Carlos, and Kline. Scrufette follows next, then Callie and Brie taking up the rear with her shopping cart.
Jan 9, 2024 2:46 pm
Tammy, the potato farmer takes the cart and begins to roll towards the mall. She is a thin looking weary human with bad posture.

Gee, we have to be carefull.... but there might be some curious and interesting things to be found there.

Cedric the nurse follows carefully. He is a short feral urchin.

Yes, Tammy - best be careful.

Isaac the outfitter is a human and more of the impatient type.

This is too slow, the others are ahead of us.

Lina the young punk is a feral urchin - and with a temper.

Yeah! I see you might have one foot in the grave already but us others don't have all day!

Cedric takes the lead and tries to see if there is some other entrance since the others headed towards the main doors.
OOC:
What do we see, is there any other possible entrance route?
Jan 9, 2024 9:04 pm
OOC:
@Roachtrout: Cedric and Tammy can make trained Intelligence checks to notice details about the outside of the mall, since they are being cautious. In addition to whatever success they get, everyone notices the following:
The parking lot is covered in all manner of debris, and the asphalt is cracked everywhere, with many pieces jutting up at odd angles. The glass parts of the main entrance doors have been broken and replaced with boards and sheet metal (the work looks shoddy). The truck bay to the left of the entrance looks like it was made for two vehicles. There is also a large metal bin with a strange machine attached to it. The bay has openings that presumably lead into the building.

The folks that have rushed forward are partway through the parking lot now. Cedric and Tammy are just entering it.

There is a low thrumming sound as you approach the mall. There is a rhythm to it, but that rhythm isn't steady.
Jan 10, 2024 3:29 pm
OOC:
Okay, are Int checks roll under your Ability?

Tammy has an Intelligence of 10 and Cedric 12...

Here we go!

Rolls

int 10 - (1d20)

(7) = 7

Int 12 - (1d20)

(17) = 17

Jan 10, 2024 4:12 pm
Roachtrout says:
OOC:
Okay, are Int checks roll under your Ability?
OOC:
Most ability rolls are d20 + stat modifier, and then compare to a difficulty number.

Sometimes Luck checks are roll-under, but not always (because reasons).

Anyway, I think 10 and 12 both have +0 modifiers. I'll post a result shortly.
Jan 10, 2024 6:01 pm
Cedric's cautious observation pays off. He notices that there appears to be a worn path through the debris at the west corner of the building. The path leads around the corner out of sight, but Cedric believes it may lead to another entrance.

Before Cedric can communicate this to anyone, however, he notices something else. Throughout the parking lot, amidst the debris, are bones. Both animal, an human. First he notices one pile, but then he sees another, and then another. Cedric stops his team before they get any closer. But before they can do anything else...

From the parking lot debris, four previously camouflaged, crude trap doors pop open. Out of each one leaps a hideous monstrosity. Their bodies are shaped like giant toads, but in addition to their four amphian legs, they also have four spider-like legs. Their heads contain two additional sets of spider-like eyes. Worst, however, are the giant, furry spider fangs filling their mouths.

From between those horrific fangs, long, sticky frog tongues shoot out.
OOC:
The lowest four luck rolls got attacked: Kurt, Carlos, Hannibal, and Liam. Since Roachtrout's team was moving with caution and looking around, they got rolls to notice things, which succeeded. So they were not in the kill zone.
Kurt, Carlos, and Hannibal get hit, while Liam manages to dodge out of the way. The tongues do no damage, but the three victims are stuck and being pulled towards those fangs.
OOC:
We're in combat now. The toad spiders got the jump on everyone, but now it is your turn. The three people stuck to tongues can make strength rolls (1d20 + STR mod) to try to break free before they get pulled in. Everyone else is free to act as they see fit.

RIbbit.

Rolls

Luck Rolls - dominion451 - (1d20, 1d20+1, 1d20, 1d20+1)

1d20 : (17) = 17

1d20+1 : (10) + 1 = 11

1d20 : (19) = 19

1d20+1 : (2) + 1 = 3

Luck Rolls - Stalker05 - (1d20-1, 1d20-1, 1d20-1, 1d20-1)

1d20-1 : (15) - 1 = 14

1d20-1 : (4) - 1 = 3

1d20-1 : (18) - 1 = 17

1d20-1 : (10) - 1 = 9

Luck Rolls - Goldendband - (1d20, 1d20, 1d20, 1d20-1)

1d20 : (7) = 7

1d20 : (8) = 8

1d20 : (20) = 20

1d20-1 : (17) - 1 = 16

Luck Rolls - Dmbraniac - (1d20+1, 1d20, 1d20-1, 1d20)

1d20+1 : (11) + 1 = 12

1d20 : (18) = 18

1d20-1 : (16) - 1 = 15

1d20 : (11) = 11

Toad attacks on Kurt, Carlos, Hannibal, and Liam - (1d20+2, 1d20+2, 1d20+2, 1d20+2)

1d20+2 : (20) + 2 = 22

1d20+2 : (17) + 2 = 19

1d20+2 : (18) + 2 = 20

1d20+2 : (7) + 2 = 9

Jan 11, 2024 3:08 am
"AHHH!!! GET IT OFF ME!"

Kurt thrashes against the disgusting appendage while his cohorts rush in...

Rolls

Attacks: Whiskers (ranged)/451 & Dope (melee) - (1d20+2, 1d20+1, 1d20-1)

1d20+2 : (6) + 2 = 8

1d20+1 : (6) + 1 = 7

1d20-1 : (14) - 1 = 13

Damage (Whiskers/451/Dope) - (1d4, 1d6+1, 1d4-1)

1d4 : (1) = 1

1d6+1 : (3) + 1 = 4

1d4-1 : (3) - 1 = 2

Kurt Strength check - (1d20)

(11) = 11

Jan 11, 2024 7:34 am
Carlos was not expecting such a vicious creature to come out of the ground and as soon as it grabbed his leg he screamed, "NOOO! LET ME GO!"

Berto and Kline were too horrified at first to react, but they soon came to rescue Carlos. Pung moved ahead, bringing out his staff to attack. Berto took out his sling and loaded a stone, stretched it and released it, throwing the stone at the creature. Kline followed Pung, trying hard to hit the creature.

Rolls

Berto attack roll (Sling) - (1d20-2)

(7) - 2 = 5

Pung attack roll (Staff) - (1d20-2)

(5) - 2 = 3

Kline attack roll (Staff) - (1d20+1)

(5) + 1 = 6

Carlos strength roll - (1d20)

(19) = 19

Carlos armor die - (1d3)

(3) = 3

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