Stalkers RPG Main Action and Team Status [SEASON 5]

[Neo Emolga]

Ugh, I know I’ve been terribly slow (busy from so many other things), sorry about that…

@Lychee

I'm working on getting the extras unloaded (as well as finding somewhere safe-ish we haven't looked yet)

So for now, I equip the Combat Longbow and check Foundry Floors 1-2--there has to be something in there we can use.

(Lychee already had Nico search that, but I’m going to have Lita search 1c, Foundry Floors 3-4 instead since that’s like almost the exact same thing.)

Lita has equipped the [|AW| Combat Longbow] (Adds 1d6 damage to successful attack rolls) and has moved the [|AW| Steel Bow] (Adds 1d4 damage to successful attack rolls) and [|AW| Razor Composite Bow] (Adds 2 damage to successful attack rolls) to the Team Inventory.

You decide the really stale and distasteful weather outside isn’t dealing with, especially with the sporadic dust and sandstorms and you know how much any Pikachu dislikes an annoying sandstorm. Instead, you decide to stay inside and investigate what might be hiding within the steel mill itself. As Nico searches the first two floors, you decide to investigate the other two above.

While these two levels mostly consist of old metallic catwalks and overseer stations to survey activities, you find there are still areas away from the main smelting areas that were for storage and equipment. From the initial looks of things in these large open storage areas, the only items that remain weren’t worth taking along and had long lost their utility due to years of use and depreciation or they were obsolete technology that had been upgraded and was only being kept aside as spares in case of an emergency. Judging from the looks of these old and rusty things, you honestly feel they probably should have been thrown in a trash bin long ago.

And yet, as you soon discover, it serves as the perfect place to hide something of much greater value…

You decide to leave no stone unturned as you know your Emissary peers have already come across highly advanced and powerful Shadowmarch weaponry and armor hidden in the walls and in forgotten areas of the steel mill, though what became of the faction itself, whether it still even exists, remains a mystery. But you have realized considering the gear, Aurorawatch would have been no match against Shadowmarch considering this heavily financed military gear.

While it is a lot of work, you closely investigate the metallic paneled floor, metal sheet walls, and you move aside storage racks and shelves to see if there’s anything lurking in these places. Upon moving two rusty racks of empty shelves out of the way, you find two metallic panels on the walls that bear a telltale sign. The nails aren’t as rusty and deteriorated as the nails used throughout the rest of the sheet walls. That gives you a signal they were recently replaced, and you have a distinct feeling you know why that is…

You grab a lowly rusty hammer from one of the other shelving units and get to work on removing these nails. After pulling out and discarding a good dozen of them, you’re able to wrap your yellow paws around the metal sheets and slide them aside. While initially you were expecting to see military crates again, instead, you discover a crawlspace door that looks like it was covered over during a remodeling of the building. At least initially…

Upon closer inspection of the door, you can tell this too, was recently used before it was covered over. You grab the old latch and pull the door outward, swinging it open to reveal another whole room inside. It’s a small room that looks like it used to be a storage crawlspace, and you find that initially the lighting no longer works. However, it’s just a matter of using a flashlight to replace the bulb and thankfully the power generated from electrical substation is enough to get some light throughout the room.

You soon discover this is one of the main areas that Shadowmarch was storing high-end military gear for smuggling. But as Nico also discovered, they never got around to getting back to it and either gave it up and abandoned it, or they simply haven’t gotten around to it, yet. You’re still hoping it’s not the later.

Upon the many crates of military gear, you find yet a single sealed envelope taped to one of the crates in front. While you can only imagine what the crates have, but you know from experience that sometimes the smallest things can have the biggest impact.

You break the envelope seal by sliding your small yellow paw under it and open the letter. After unfolding the single piece of paper inside, you read the note to yourself.

And suddenly everything makes perfect sense…

Shadowmarch Commanding Officer Evrik,

By your request, we’ve provided you and your regiment with the experimental prototype weaponry, armor, and gear as designed by ANKH Research and Development as part of the Shadowmarch Operation Blackstorm Distribution Phase: Stage 7. As you may have already been informed, many of these prototypes are considered contraband and are distinctively out of compliance with Decree 9, Section 4 as well as Decree 12, Section 3 of the International Clearwater Accord due to their combat capabilities that the Clearwater Council deems “wantonly violent” and “dishonorable” in their opening statements. If you or any member of your regiment is compromised upon discovery of this equipment prior to the Year 2934, Varon the 18th Advent Date, we will disavow any relationship with you and sever any network connection to ensure security to the Shadowmarch and ANKH network as declared by Operation Blackstorm.

We request that all use of this equipment be thoroughly documented for recording and research purposes. We also request that all storage of this equipment is done in secrecy and in concealed areas, only. Any unaffiliated personnel, whether governmental or civilian, discovering Shadowmarch correspondence or ordinance is to be terminated immediately along with any reproducible accounts or documentations that may have been created as a result.

Victory to the Midnight Regime.

Kurtva, Tyranitar, Shadowmarch Executive of Research and Development.

You have a very, very distinct feeling Aurorawatch would definitely want to know about this considering said “Advent Date” mentioned in the memo hasn’t occurred yet, but will be relatively soon and in less than a year considering what you’ve seen on the calendars. You’re not quite sure how they might be able to notify this “International Clearwater Council” as mentioned in the memo, but if they were to get the radios up and running and be able to provide this evidence, the justification rationale may prompt this Council to send additional support and reinforcement personnel to Aurorawatch, which is something they’ve been truly hoping for.

SIDE MISSION STARTED: When It Rains, It Pours

Spoiler:

Due to some rather foreboding memos from the mystery faction known as Shadowmarch, you have a feeling someone in Aurorawatch should know about what’s been found behind the scenes of this highly financed and extremely well-equipped military.

Bring the memo to either Aurorawatch Commander Axken the Skuntank or Queen Nytalia the Aurorus. OPTIONAL: Show them a sample of discovered Shadowmarch equipment.

Rewards:
Unknown

You then start searching through the crates themselves, and it definitely looks like more of what Nico found earlier. You undo the metallic latches of the crate and throw open the lid, revealing another prototype dark-gray, bulky rocket launcher armament with an internal crate full of rocket ammunition.

[|AW| Shadowmarch Gtuhanai Armament] (Adds 2d20+5 damage to successful attack rolls, requires following turn to be used to reload after each attack) has been added to the Team Inventory.

You decide to add these to the already swelling Emissary armory, as you don’t think you’d be able to carry all of these in one trip…

Going through another crate, you find a second prototype armament, similar to the Gtuhanai one you found. It appears to be different in design, looking more rectangularly-shaped with a targeting unit and a large, underside magazine-fed system. As you can tell from the memo, ANKH wanted this to be tested first in a combat environment before potentially being committed to mass-production.

[|AW| Shadowmarch Quyagen Armament] (Adds 5d10+7 damage to successful attack rolls, requires following turn to be used to reload after each attack) has been added to the Team Inventory.

Even just by the look of this thing, you’re not surprised this kind of heavily-advanced gear is violating international peace-keeping accords. But, if news of this were to break out, you imagine a whole lot of other political things would go down. But for the time being, the Stalkers are definitely a big priority here, but you still feel justified use of even contraband weaponry against the hellish forces of Abyss still seems appropriate.

Box number three ends up being yet a third of these massive rocket-launchers. This one has a more tube-based shape and appearance with targeting sights and guidance lasers. You even find a control screen on the side that allows you to select guidance options and settings.

[|AW| Shadowmarch Xalafu Armament] (Adds 4d8+10 damage to successful attack rolls, requires following turn to be used to reload after each attack. Never misses the target.) has been added to the Team Inventory.

You’re just glad you won’t ever be on the receiving end of this thing…

You go through a fourth crate to find two more sets of the Colossus Armor that Nico had found. You add them to the Team Inventory for now, but feel inclined to wear one of these, especially for heading out into the Reach.

x2 [|DA| Shadowmarch Colossus Armor] (Reduces incoming Health damage by 4 points each time Health damage is taken, prevents Super-Effective damage effects) has been added to the Team Inventory.

The fifth crate reveals two more sets of the Nightlock armor variant. These two, you feel you might want to strap on before things get bad out there.

x2 [|DA| Shadowmarch Nightlock Armor] (Reduces incoming Health, Sanity, and/or Purity damage by 4 points each time Health, Sanity, and/or Purity damage is taken) has been added to the Team Inventory.

The last of the crates seem to be many technological components, but you’re not sure what their purpose is. Besides that, there are more radios, utility items, and survival gear packs, but not things that you think the rest of the Emissaries would need.

You’re a bit tired after lugging all this heavy gear around and you decide to make plans to prepare for tonight.

Lita the Pikachu (S: Electric)

Health: 16/16 | Sanity: 20/20 | Purity: 24/24
Battle Stance: Tactical
Perk: Security | Abilities: Clairvoyance
EQUIPMENT:
Attack Weapon: [|AW| Combat Longbow] (Adds 1d6 damage to successful attack rolls)
Defense Armor: [|DA| Bronze Guard] (Reduces incoming Health damage by 1 point each time Health damage is taken)
Jewelry: [|JY| Prismatic Amulet] (Bypass all Pokémon type-related barriers and obstacles upon encountering them)
Utopian Aspect: <Empty>
MERCENARIES:
#1: <Empty>
#2: <Empty>
PACK:

• $495 Sochas$
• [Starf Berry] (Restores all Purity)