Porter readies a couple tangler grenades and moves as close as he thinks he safely can before tossing them at the Sathar.  He misses horribly, and hits the deck, pulling his automatic pistol out on the way down.

07:33, Today: Sgt. Porter Min rolled 83 using 1d100.  Throw tanglers.

Porter's grenade goes wild. The Sathar are alerted, spin to see your general direction, and then, instead of fighting, they begin running quickly to the west into the brush and trees.

Given that you are all prone, it will take a moment to get up if you intend to pursue. The Sathar may be hard to spot in the thick brush and trees.

The path of footprints from your group and the bird creatures leads north-northwest. The Sathar ran almost directly west. Following them may lead to something, but also keep in mind that you might lose the trail.

Porter fires a burst at the left one, but loses balance trying to get up.


10:52, Today: Sgt. Porter Min rolled 91 using 1d100.  Burst at left most (75% at mid-range).

Porter is miffed, but, while the removal of a couple Sathar from the Universe might be satisfying, this is not the time for that.

"I don't think they are worth it.  Even if they raise the alarm, the fact is, I think they already knew we were in the area.  Let's go get our people."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:54, Mon 26 Oct 2020.

Once she sees the grenades are ineffective against the Sathar, Desi squeezes off [1] aimed shot at the one on the left she had been watching.  If she can wound it, it may slow it down or leave a blood trail.

PUNCHING DAMAGE: 7
CURRENT STA: 62/62

SKILLS:
Beam Weapons: 6 [DEX:30 + 60 = 90%]
Martial Arts: 3 [DEX:30 + 30 = 60%]
Melee Weapons: 2 [STR:32 + 20 = 52%]
Demolitions: 2
Gyrojet Weapons: 4  [DEX:30 + 40 = 70%]
Projectile Weapons: 3  [DEX:30 + 30 = 60%]
Thrown Weapons: 2  [DEX:30 + 20 = 50%]
Technician: 2

[1] Civilian Skeinsuit [26/50]
[1] Albedo Screen [90/100]

[1] Power Backpack  [50/50]
[1] Power Beltpack  [95/100]

[1] War-Tech GAR-10
- [11] 20 round GAR-10 mags  Current MAG: 15/20
- [1] Bandoleer Sling (holds x10 mags)
      Bandoleer: [1] MAG 2/20, [1] MAG 10/20
- [1] Muzzle Extender: Eliminates the Medium Range combat modifier and reduces the
   Long Range combat modifier from a -2 Column Shift to a -1 Column Shift
- [1] x3 Magnification scope w. Infrared optics
- [1] Rifle Holster
- [1] Power light  [1.5 kg]

WarTech GAR-10 Gyrojet Assault Rifle (#12 p.49)
Wgt: 5.5kg, Damage: 3d10/8d10,
Ammo: 20 rounds, Rate: 3(1), Defense: Inertia,
Range: -/5/75/150/300

Orvo fires at the right one, taking careful aim.

Porter fires and misses.

Desi also fires and misses. 20:07, Today: GM Heath rolled 93 using 1d100.

Ironically, the only one who is not a trained military specialist hits with his laser rifle. 20:07, Today: GM Heath rolled 22 using 1d100. OOC: make sure to indicate SEU levels for shots. I assumed 5 for the rifle since that was last setting.
20:08, Today: GM Heath rolled 20 using 5d10.

The Sathar is hit by the rifle, but not bad enough to stop his escape. The two Sathar disappear into the brush and trees. You realize that the laser cauterized the wound, or else you might be left with a blood trail--or maybe a scent trail for predators to take care of the Sathar for you.

"So many things to return to, but first, let's get our people, shall we?"

The party gets back on the trail towards Bartja and S'Krllk.

You get back on the trail. About 15 minutes later, you suddenly stop. There are tracks criss crossing, a lot of giant bird-like tracks. It is difficult to tell which way the trail leads.

Then you hear something suddenly crash through the brush. A group of seven one meter tall flightless birds emerge from the underbrush and grind to a halt upon seeing you. It is as if they were running away from something but suddenly lost interest because they found you, and you are much more interesting.

They fearlessly start walking among you. Some of them peck and pry with blunt beaks at your equipment and backpacks, while others use their clawed feet to scratch at gear curiously. They do not seem intent on harming you, but seem more curious than anything else.

"I think I might want to see what they were running from", says Porter.

OOC: Forgot to mention that they were coming in from the east.

Orvo says, "Or maybe we don't want to encounter what they are running from. He looks expectantly and nervously to the east and makes sure his rifle is armed and set at SEU5.

Despite the young, irritating birds, Porter will look in a circle for tracks that would indicate his teammates, shoe prints, drag marks, etc.

Someone watch where those birds came from, please.

Orvo watches to the east while Porter looks around.  The pesky birds are getting tracks all over and following him around.

Then you hear something coming from the east. It is big and it is dodging trees.

Porter spots the familiar boots of his companions heading in a generally northern direction.

The thing approaching you is another one of those dinosaurs. It is charging straight towards you and the birds around you.

Concentrating on the tracks heading north, the commotion that is coming from the east suddenly grabs Porter's attention.  As he turns and sees the beast, he brings around his automatic rifle, set on burst and fires at 40 meters away, but his movement has his shot go off.


17:25, Today: Sgt. Porter Min rolled 90 using 1d100.  Fire burst-Short Range-(85%).

Desiraye turns to the crashing sounds in the jungle from where these bird creatures came from and she raises her gyro-rifle up to her shoulder.  "You've got to be frakkin' kidding me," she says and takes a quick breath in, and as she exhales fires off a burst of auto-fire at the beast.

+20% for firing a burst

PUNCHING DAMAGE: 7
CURRENT STA: 62/62

SKILLS:
Beam Weapons: 6 [DEX:30 + 60 = 90%]
Martial Arts: 3 [DEX:30 + 30 = 60%]
Melee Weapons: 2 [STR:32 + 20 = 52%]
Demolitions: 2
Gyrojet Weapons: 4  [DEX:30 + 40 = 70%]
Projectile Weapons: 3  [DEX:30 + 30 = 60%]
Thrown Weapons: 2  [DEX:30 + 20 = 50%]
Technician: 2

[1] Civilian Skeinsuit [26/50]
[1] Albedo Screen [90/100]

[1] Power Backpack  [50/50]
[1] Power Beltpack  [95/100]

[1] War-Tech GAR-10
- [11] 20 round GAR-10 mags  Current MAG: 14/20
- [1] Bandoleer Sling (holds x10 mags)
      Bandoleer: [1] MAG 2/20, [1] MAG 10/20
- [1] Muzzle Extender: Eliminates the Medium Range combat modifier and reduces the
   Long Range combat modifier from a -2 Column Shift to a -1 Column Shift
- [1] x3 Magnification scope w. Infrared optics
- [1] Rifle Holster
- [1] Power light  [1.5 kg]

WarTech GAR-10 Gyrojet Assault Rifle (#12 p.49)
Wgt: 5.5kg, Damage: 3d10/8d10,
Ammo: 20 rounds, Rate: 3(1), Defense: Inertia,
Range: -/5/75/150/300

Orvo fires at the dinosaur creature. SEU 5. He tries to take cover behind a tree.

Porter fires but misses the charging beast.

Desi fires a burst but her gun jams and doesn't fire. 10:13, Today: GM Heath rolled 97 using 1d100. Critical miss.

Orvo fires and makes an incredible hit with the laser rifle. 10:13, Today: GM Heath rolled 1 using 1d100. Critical Hit! The laser pierces the head of the dinosaur through the eye, killing it instantly. It flops to the ground, twitches for a moment, and then becomes still.

The birds around you scattered and ran into the forest, leaving you alone with the dinosaur creature.

Wow, that was unexpected.  Much as I would love to investigate this, I think we need our scientists.  Let's head north.

Desi got her pucker factor to triple when her rifle misfired and there was nothing but a loud 'CLICK' and then nothing.  She attempted to perform an immediate action drill to clear the jam as the charging creature came closer and she thought that she would be in big trouble.  Just as she thought it was over with, she hears the report of the laser rifle and watches as the creature takes the hit and skids head first into the ground, dead!

She stands up after clearing her rifles malfunction and taps the Dralasite on the shoulder, "That's one helluva shot Orvo!"

You pick up the trail again and head in a northerly direction for about 30 minutes.

Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, three human-sized flightless bird creatures step out of the brush, blocking your path. They seem hesitant to let you pass but do not seem hostile. They do not carry weapons but talk in an incomprehensible squawking as if you can understand. You guess they have probably never seen dralasites or humans before.

They stop and wait for a response.

Desiraye takes her hands off her gyrojet rifle and eases the weight of it onto the sling and moving the rifle behind her.  She then raises her hands slowly showing the creatures that she is unarmed.  "They're not armed, at least they don't appear to be.  Maybe we secure our weapons and keep our hands away from them?"

No worries.  I will let you take the lead, as I only know one way to get things done.

Porter smirks.

They are squawking at you in a language you do not understand and your polyvoxes have not yet translated.

One traces a very good picture in the ground of a spaceship plummeting to earth and stick figures of you, as if asking you a question.

Orvo will trace a picture of a Vrusk and Yazirian in the dirt and point to show that they are together. He will draw an arrow from them to the spaceship.

The creatures squawk amongst themselves briefly and then lead you forward. After about 100 meters, you approach a settlement village that was complete obscured until you nearly walked right up to it.

The village shows that these are intelligent creatures, if somewhat primitive. The settlement is surrounded by a 3 meter wall of creepers interwoven with natural vegetation. The wall blends perfectly with its surroundings and is nearly invisible from a distance. A the base of the wall are dense thorn bushes. A narrow path through the thorns leads you to a pair of large vertical logs that swing to either side on a system of pulleys to let you in, pressing the natural wall aside to permit entry into the settlement.

Inside, the walls enclose an oval area about 50 meters in diameter. The heavy logs and thick wall of vines are sufficient to deter any native predators, providing a secure environment inside for the tribe. You see a second entrance at the far side.

Shelters constructed from wooden frames and woven vines stand clustered in the center of the enclosure. Dense plant growth is cultivated on the wood-and-vine frameworks, providing insulation and windbreak. The exteriors of the shelters, the interior of the encircling wall, and the surfaces of various other constructions are covered with brightly colored and decorative designs of incomprehensible pattern.

Most of the shelters are rough lean-tos, open on one side, but there are two large round structures just off of the central area on either side of a firepit that is directly in the center. One thing you notice about the shelters is that they use great heaps of fluffy plant fiber as cushions, making a shelter look like a bird nest, though it is more mobile and can be moved around like "furniture" inside.

The other thing you notice are many insect hives in the settlement. Insects seem to be kept by the creatures like livestock. Luckily, though the insects are annoying, they do not appear to be harmful to you. It appears this insectivorous race has insects as its staple. There is also one of the dinosaur creatures tied up off to your right.

You are waiting in the entrance area as the leader of your small group exchanges a discussion with another one. The other one is different, in that it has wings and a bright ornamental neck dress.

There are only a few with wings in the encampment that you see. They wear bright colors and appear to be the leaders. The majority of the bird-like creatures are wingless and wear more muted colors. It appears that color and appearance of clothes has a great deal to do with one's station in this little society.

You are motioned to stay where you are and the winged leader goes to the large round structure on your left of center, obviously to discuss your situation with the leaders.

Meanwhile, as you stand there, the wingless birds--some adults and some children--gawk at you. Most keep their distance, but one friendly looking one spreads his arms, points to himself and the others, and says something that translates into your Polyvox as "Notui."

Many are chattering around you, and you hope this means your Polyvoxes will soon pick up the language.