[adamu]

The bossman was right. Time to stop smoking.

But Al left the cigarette in his mouth, just stopped inhaling as he switched to his internal air supply.

And he kept his hands empty - if these trees went off he'd want his mitts free more than he'd want his Remington in them.

On his back the dogs were growling quietly, but outwardly his face was calm as he zipped his brown bomber jacket tight against the growing chill.

[Mercy Merchant]

>>That is not how things are done down here.  There is a potential for gaining help for our cause.  Do you see Tamsyn or her companions leaving?  No.  It is my guess that they expected her to show up.  I do not think that we can leave them behind.  She has asked us a question and we should answer her.  We can be prepared for something bad to happen, but why assume that it will?  Besides there is a reason she is here in the Gardens and not living in the House.  Perhaps she will be friendly.<<

Robyn looks at the woman, noting the ink and smiling as she feels the hydra moving on her face and back.

[adamu]

Wincing and wondering why women were even allowed to work, Al hissed into his mic: <<Woman, yer pretty words ain't no count if'n ya don't listen first. Din't ya hear ork-dyke? Play 'er back if ya gotta. She sure warn't lookin' fer this witch ta be here, nor does she 'spect she's a friend. Time ta didi mau.>>

[Aria]

"It is not me you need to worry about child...this concentration of power...it is them you need to fear...the Nephilim, the Fallen God Children..."

[adamu]

As the horde of demons swarmed down on them, Al mocked, "Perhaps she will be friendly," in the best girlie voice his tobacco-ravaged vocal chords could muster.

A non-corporeal set of brass knuckles appeared on his scarred right hand.

[Jack_Spade]

Street Knowledge: London Below: 8d6t5 2

Ini: 16+4d6 23[4d6=1, 2, 1, 3]
This isn't going well.

Simple Action: Activate Weapon Focus
Simple Action: Attribute Boost AGI Attribute Boost AGI: 8d6t5 2



'Nephilim... Fuck.' There was a lot to learn about Below and much that Isaint didn't know, but the Nephilim... yeah, he had heard about them.

"RICK, MANABARRIER NOW. EVERYONE FALL BACK,  REGROUP, DEFENSIVE CIRCLE, EXECUTE"

While he called out the command, he opened the conduit to his cestus and let the mana flow into his weapon focus, wreathing it in cold, blue-white fire. 'St. George, give me strength'

His Theme Music program decided that this would be the perfect moment to start a new track to pump him up: "Hell to pay"

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn pulls back to join ISaint, tugging on Yukika's gown as she slips the whip from her hand and signals Al2 to a guard position.

[obidancer]

Deckard was too focus on assessing the tattooed elf. He realized too late those wisps of light were materialization of a much more evil threat.

He touched the silver coin securely tucked in his pocket, and ran toward the group while calling on his most powerful magic so he could include everyone in his protective spell

ISaint shouted his order.

I'm on it already, referring to the Mana Barrier he was casting. For what my opinion is worth, I'd say retreat is a viable option. I don't know how long I'll be able to hold them off!

Mana Barrier F8: 22d6t5 6
Mana Barrier Drain DV5: 15d6t5 7

[Jack_Spade]

Arthur Ini: 10+4d6 22
Arthur starts shooting suppressive fire (Flechette)
Suppressive Fire: 12d6t5 4 [12d6t5=3, 5, 2, 2, 2, 4, 1, 4, 6, 5, 3, 6]
-4 to the Spirits' actions

Isaint Ini 13
Complex Action: Small Unit tactics: Bounding Overwatch
Small Unit Tactics: 15d6t5 8 [15d6t5=6, 6, 6, 2, 5, 1, 5, 1, 5, 4, 6, 3, 2, 4, 6]
Limited to 6, but enough:
Successes required: 4
Description: This is the classic leapfrog maneuver used when a unit must move while under fire. This can be used as both an offensive or defensive maneuver. It involves one combatant providing cover or suppressive fire to pin down enemy combatants from a protected position (see p. 179, SR5) as other members of her team move to another position. This process is repeated, with team members alternating roles, until either the objective is achieved or the team is clear of the engagement area. Note that locating sufficient cover is recommended while attempting this maneuver, but is not necessary. Benefits: If suppression fire is successful, the moving elements of the team/unit receive a +3 bonus to defensive actions while any enemy combatants receive a –3 penalty for any offensive actions.

Free action: (Nimble Fingers) load rifle
Free action: (Nimble Fingers) ready rifle


So, in total the spirits have a total of -7 to attack us or the barrier



While the mage sprinted toward them, Arthur began to deploy the Riot Protocol: With precise burst of fully automatic fire he began to create a zone filled with flechette needles: Those might not hurt the spirits much, but they were guaranteed to distract and impede them.

"Acknowledged. ORDERED RETREAT, Bounding Overwatch, Arthur execute.
FORMATION, everyone."
Isaint created AR markers as fast as his mind could manage, showing every member of the team their necessary place.
"Al on point with me, Robyn, Karasu around Rick, Jackhammer, Iris secure our flanks. MOVE!"
 
Isaint felt the astral barrier slide over him, forcing him to extinguish his focus again. He had his rifle in hand now and with nimble fingers inserted a magazine from his pouch - hand loaded APDS ammo with tungsten carbide tips for ultimate penetration - just below depleted uranium in effectiveness.
The drone obediently kept up the fire, enabling the team to move steadily away from the materializing spirits.

#446

[adamu]

Al took his position in front with Isaint. He'd fought alongside the ork-of-many-faces in some of the worst scraps of his life, and he knew the guy had serious tactical skills.

He'd also seen the guy take out some big-ass spirits with his rifle (hadn't saved his house!), and his hat was off to him for that as well. Al had been fighting demons since he was fourteen, and he'd never seen lead-throwers do a lick of good. He'd always relied on his hands for this sort of work, and with Rick's satan-barrier in place, these devils would have to go around or through it to ensorcel them - and he'd be ready when they did.

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn's sensors allow her to fall into place seamlessly.  She is careful to keep the whip from entangling any of her companions and keeps Al2 at her other side as she watches for a threat to appear.  She is already planning on where to position herself to best effect.

[DireRadiant]

[Yukika Karasu - Sunday July 5th, 2076; Gardens of Dis, Below, London] #48

Ah, Kami of this place. Interesting. I would like to study them.

Some other time.

We gather ourselves together to act.

[Aria]

[Sunday July 5th, 2076; Gardens of Dis, Below, London]

As you contract around the Iron Company girls in the wake of the sudden appearance of the Nephilim you immediately feel a lessoning of tension as Deckard’s mana barrier cuts across the almost imperceptible atmosphere that you hadn’t even been aware was there until it was gone…the disturbing perspectives of the place don’t change, that appears to be a feature of the garden…

The harsh cry from Jackhammer over the comms of “Get out of my head” followed by his digital signature disappearing off in to the distance only serves to highlight the benefits of keeping these things out, whatever they might be…the silence from Iris is also ominous, particularly as she has only just made it back to the group…

Arthurs hail of flechettes is met with a disturbing and chilling laugh as the circling spirits simply phase out of the material plane…at least they aren’t attacking at the moment…the distance to the exit still feels like a very long way however, and you have a distinct feeling that you won’t get there before they decide to do something more drastic than laugh at you…

The damn things are flitting just beyond practical reach, using either their incorporeality or the twisted trees to shield themselves from you.  It’s consequently even difficult to count how many of them there are…too many is the obvious but rather unhelpful answer…

The woman, Ethereal, addresses the spirits in tones that brook no argument “Be Gone…these are not for you!” but whether it is the mana barrier or your foes’ lack of erogenous zones it seems to do little good for now.  The Iron girls look to Tamsyn for command but she simply nods at Isaint, “follow his lead”

***

#58

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn is gratified to learn that the woman marked as the House of Flowers does not appear to be an enemy.  At least she can feel justified in having approached her.  The disappearances of Jackhammer and Iris are quite disturbing, however, especially in light of the apparent requirement that the Ork be involved in the wedding.  Otherwise, she remains calm and ready to defend herself and her team, which seems to have expanded a bit to include another four individuals.

[Jack_Spade]

Isaint felt a strong assault on his senses just before the barrier swept over him, dampening the feeling and allowing him to overcome the effect through sheer concentration.

"Steady, don't let them into your mind and don't panic. As long as you stay inside the barrier their powers are weak."