::0cp.26/41/T - Chomp
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Getting up, he tiptoes between other snoring shapes. If he woke somone, he'd probably get another beating. Once out of the communal sleeping quarter he makes his way to the dog pound. He ponders the problem on the way, wondering if they could be poisoned. But it couldn't be could it? There were hardly food to go around and the dogs weren't at the top of the food chain.
Once at the pound he find as a place in the shadow where he lies down next to Vinnie. Snuggling to share heat. While keeping an eye and an ear open should anyone else arrive. Someone intending the dogs harm. With food supplies so low, maybe someone was turning to dogs to keep their bellies fed.
There were only a small handful amongst the People who considered themselves dog handlers, whether by affinity or by training and necessity. Kester was one of them, perhaps Chomp could look for him the next day to see if he noticed anything amiss. The other whom Chomp found to be particularly close to the mongrels was a younger girl, Elle, whose mutation was a significant tail of prehensile nature.
The unpleasant rain and the cold of the night meant the dogs had largely huddled under the semi-roof, away from the pitter-patter of the acid drops. They were familiar with Chomp, and largely ignored him as he found a spot next to Vinnie, who welcomed him as enthusiastically as always, before flopping back down against his flank, ready to doze off again.
Chomp would do what was necessary to see that no harm came to the dogs.
Rolls
Wits (3) + Scout (1) - (3d6, 1d6)
3d6 : (612) = 9
1d6 : (3) = 3
... he roused when the weight of Vinnie's head lifted from his thigh. The blanketing darkness of night, now that the rain had thinned to a foggy drizzle, obscured much of what Chomp could see. But he definitely heard the sounds of movement, both the step of dog, as well as someone else, a person. They were some distance on the other side of the deck, and it sounded like they were fussing about with something or other. His vigil had paid off!
Rolls
Agility (5) + Sneak (2) - (5d6, 2d6)
5d6 : (13365) = 18
2d6 : (31) = 4
The sound was the familiar sound of mutts feeding, the rasp of gnawing bone and tearing of wet flesh. Four, five, maybe half a dozen dog-shadows surrounded whatever it was they were eating, the person towering over them no doubt the supplier of their meal. The dogs were too busy to pay attention to Chomp's proximity, even though they would've detected his arrival. Perhaps Chomp's familiar scent to them did not give them cause for alarm. The person was still oblivious.
Was this person simply here to feed the animals? Were they intending to train the dogs' loyalty? Or poison them? Where did the large carcass of meat come from, and what kind was it? Chomp had to decide if he wanted simply to continue to observe, or approach, or take some action, or sneak away the same way he came.
The feeding went on for a while until it appeared that the half dozen dogs were sated. They put up no protest when the human figure produced some lengths of leashes, proceeding to chain them up to lead them away. Chomp was mildly surprised that the dogs did not put up any protest, not even a warning growl or two.
All this while Chomp tried to memorise what he could of the figure: medium height, but stocky from the way they moved, but the hooded jacket over their head in the fog prevented Chomp from even making out any of the facial or hair features. The figure led the dogs away, down the staircase at the far end of the deck.
Chomp could try to follow, and in fact he did take his first few quiet steps to closing the gap, before he was distracted by the fact that Vinnie had paused over what was the feed fed to the dogs. It was the remains of a human corpse!
But there was little time to contemplate this; Chomp had to keep up with the receding figure who moved with a surety and speed that came with a strong familiarity with the route they were taking. They headed down the staircase, crossed a corridor, then another set of stairs. One deck, then another one. The dogs did not fuss either, following closely their new handler.
Then the hooded stranger took a turn Chomp was less experienced with. Left of a service corridor ahead took the person to the tween deck, a 'sandwich' deck between two standard levels. Chomp rounded a turn to keep up, only to see the watertight door ahead, the kind with the spinning handle, open to let both person and animals though, before it began to swing shut. Evidently they were about to enter an enclosed area. Was Chomp prepared to confront whomever and whatever he found on the other side? Or would he be more circumspect to weigh where he might be heading into? He hadn't been noticed at all thus far.
Rolls
Move (2) + Agility (5) - (2d6, 5d6)
2d6 : (16) = 7
5d6 : (14623) = 16
Just past the door was a gangway, with steps leading down to the left, and to the right a short walkway that ended in another closed door. The pack and its leader must have gone down the staircase. From his vantage point, Chomp was able to look at what was below. It appeared to be rows and rows of storage containers, were they tanks? Some small activity was going on as well; two persons speaking. And it was likely that the dog thief was about to join them, or at least walk past them. From his long association with dogs, Chomp's nose was nearly as attuned to smell as they were, and he could detect a mixture of dog, of chlorine, but from his very particular predilection for meat, he picked up the slight stench of decaying flesh.
This was clearly an area he wasn't meant to be in. Was he about to investigate further and risk being seen? Or was he intending to confront below the persons involved?
Not quite perfect, just something to visualise. Also imagine the persons standing along the left side.
Rolls
Strength (3) + Fight (1) - (3d6, 1d6)
3d6 : (161) = 8
1d6 : (3) = 3
Anyway, more seriously, let's slow play this thread a bit so that you've got a bit of time to recover. No rush, and take care! I'll know when you're ready to continue when you post here with a d6 roll for initiative! I've noted your Fight roll already.
Rolls
Initiative - (1d6, 1d6)
1d6 : (2) = 2
1d6 : (1) = 1
There was a chance to narrow the distance first if he were to creep down the stairs to put himself at range. This could still mean being spotted, but at least Chomp would reach striking distance.
I'll park some initiative rolls here first as well, and hold your Fight roll for later.
Also, have a look at the ooc on the group thread, because I mention Chomp.
Rolls
Initiative (Dog Thief) - (1d6)
(3) = 3
Initiative (Custodian) - (1d6)
(3) = 3
Rolls
Sneak (2) + Agility (5) - 2 - (5d6)
(35435) = 20
Pushed roll - (5d6)
(21223) = 10
"Chomp?" Chomp recognised a fellow dog handler, a young woman, ironically named Katt, whom he knew to be working for boss Vislen. For everyone knew everyone else in the Ark, to some degree. There were about two hundred of the People, and they had inhabited the derelict ship for close to two decades, maybe more, as far as anyone could remember. The other person was Kruger, a tough with too-wide cheekbones and sporting what Chomp had always thought were razor-sharp ears. Did Chomp just stumble into one of boss Vislen's operations? And were Katt and Kruger compelled to have to keep things quiet by any means, now that Chomp had intruded?
Round 1
Kruger's Fight fails, to be fair he was caught offguard and wasn't quite aiming for a lethal defense, since he didn't pull out a weapon.
Katt's Manipulate fails, it's meant to be an opposed roll, but since I didn't roll any successes I won't need you to roll Sense Emotion.
Chomp can go!
Rolls
Fight - Kruger - (5d6)
(51412) = 13
Manipulate - Katt - (4d6)
(4312) = 10
Round 2 starts with Kruger's attack with 1 success pushed, so 1 damage to Chomp (unless you have mitigating abilities to use). He takes 1 point of trauma from the pushed roll which translates to 1 more damage for him.
Surprisingly Katt takes no immediate action in this round (she probably wants to do something else?), so over to Chomp again!
Rolls
Shake It Off - (6d6)
(622114) = 16
Fight - Kruger - (4d6)
(2153) = 11
Pushing - Kruger - (3d6)
(546) = 15
He claws and punches at his face.
Rolls
Fight (1) + Strength (2) - (1d6+2d6)
(3) + (62) = 11
The two men exchanged blows for a bit more, neither gaining the upper hand, but both visibly becoming more winded as the fight wore on. Katt's dogs were growling aggressively, but she held on to them tightly, not letting them join the fray to add to the chaos, although it appeared she would change her mind if it swung one way or another.
In Round 3,
Chomp manages to hit Kruger for 1 damage (still unarmed fighting), but Kruger shakes it off.
Kruger hits back for 1 damage, pushed. He now has 2 MP unused.
Katt helps, but fails this time.
We can go into Round 4!
(Combat's slower generally because it's an unarmed brawl, with weapons it'll hurt more. That said, Chomp is down to 1 Strength I believe.)
Rolls
Help - Katt - (1d6)
(6) = 6
Fight - Kruger - (3d6)
(435) = 12
Push - Kruger - (3d6)
(462) = 12
Shake It Off - (4d6)
(1436) = 14
Help - Katt (round 3) - (1d6)
(4) = 4
He lunges one time, but it is obviously the fight is mostly out of him.
Rolls
Strength (1) + Fighting (1) - (1d6+1d6)
(1) + (4) = 5
Rolls
Fight - Kruger - (4d6)
(4462) = 16
The room was nearly pitch black, except for a small pilot light above the only door, presumably to illuminate where the exit was. But it was the darkness that bothered them, it wasn't the stench of badly preserved, perhaps near-decomposing flesh that assaulted his senses when he was more aware of his surroundings, and he had no idea how long it had been that he was lying in here.
Once he's up to it, he stands up and heads to the door and starts banging on it.
It took a long while before he finally heard someone on the other side of the door fiddle with the locking mechanism. The door swung open slowly, the dingy light of the room outside temporarily blinding him for having been in pitch darkness for so long. Three figures stood there, frontmost was Kruger, now armed with a wicked looking blade, and very surprised at Chomp's regained vigor. Slightly further behind were two other men, a spry-looking figure in a tight jacket, and another wearing a some sort of hockey mask to cover his face. Katt was nowhere to be seen.
"No funny business, Chomp, otherwise you're going to get it good this time." Kruger stuck the pointy end of his blade out to signal that he meant business.
"Poking your nose where you don't belong," the figure in the mask tut-tutted, "You're asking to be fed to the dogs. A pity, you could be useful..." Was the man giving him a way out of this predicament?
"I figure you were the ones poking your noses with the dogs first," he says with a shrug. But seeing the blade in his hand, he knows he'll have to get his shot later. Calmly he says "But I'll behave."
"The dogs are valuable, for many reasons," replied the person in the mask, "more so than some of the People." The man stepped towards Chomp, "Question is, Chomp, are you more valuable than a dog?" With a community of two hundred or so People, it was the case that everyone pretty much knew everyone. This person who spoke with such authority had to be one of the bosses, and Chomp could count with two hands who they were, so it was a tad strange for him to keep up the facade.
The bodyguard behind whispered to Kruger sneeringly, "Thought you said you roughed him up good, he doesn't look beat up to me, heh."
"Way I see it, none of us is more valuable than the dogs," he finally turns his attention to the man in the mask. "But some of us are more worthy than others I agree. If I can stop you feedin' on 'em I'll help out however I can."
"Katt thinks you've got some skill with these mutts. We know that there are packs of them out in the Zone. Marlotte's organising an expedition out, a hunting party. I want you to bring back as many dogs as you can handle."
Rolls
Manipulate (0) + Empathty (3) + 1 die - (3d6, 1d6)
3d6 : (426) = 12
1d6 : (3) = 3
Once he's reunited with Vinnie he will quickly take his leave before Krueger starts looking for revenge.