[three_fourth]
Razy: Do we HAVE to ride in the bumpiest, loudest, van ever made?
Rain, from behind the wheel, glances in the rear-view mirror: Right. ‘Cause landing the Anchorwind on the roof would have been a good idea.
A voice comes over the Tahlblet: Stuff it, both of you.
Razy: Big words all way back in Quinland.
Rain agrees: Ya know, I heard that the Guild Leader used to be on the field.
Cerulean: Very funny. If you would like to storm this building with little more than a loincloth and tattoos, be my guest.
A man loading rounds into magazines chuckles.
Rain: Yes, yes, we heard all about ‘the originals’ and their exploits. Are you here to taunt us with those legends some more?
Cerulean: No. The Neveah Brokers have already lined up potential buyers and the bidding will begin as soon as we exit the building. I’m here to ensure everyone knows the plan.
Razy groans: For @#$%s sake. We’re not henchmen, ya know.
Rain: For reals, yo. I practically wrote the MONK [Manually Operated NetworK], including some of the modifications to the Tahlblet that you so love to harass us on.
Cerulean: Fine. Equipment check. Necro Sis?
Razy lovingly caresses the daggers strapped to her thighs: These girls are READY for some blood ritual.
Cerulean: MONK status?
Rain grins: Ready to smite.
Cerulean: and you, Kasanj?
Kasanj quietly clips his magazine pouches closed: Spike and Simon are loaded. Snap’s in the box. SuperSania’s here in the van too.
Cerulean: Did you remember to bring extra Silver-Lockpicks?
Razy flashes a few in front of the Tahlblet: Oh I’ll get in-
She looks at herself in the reflection of the Silver-Lockpicks: -And look good doing it.
Rain scoffs: Dream on! There’s more to life than black, ya know.
Kasanj waves Spike around: Yeah, chrome.
Cerulean: Yes, yes. We know your affection for that custom beast that used to be…
Kasanj: Smith and Wesson 500 Magnum. How many times have we been through this?
Cerulean sighs: Isn’t that Simon?
Kasanj grumbles: No. Simon’s a FN57. Simon’s for accuracy and Spike is for power. Didn’t you invent the term Spike?
Cerulean: How old do you think I am?
Razy grins into the Tahlblet: I heard you knew, Her.
Cerulean: That would make me hundreds-
Rain: -We’re here.
Cerulean sighs: Look. Just get the damned Corvus Emerald and get out. Preferably quietly.
Razy waves, and turns off the Tahlblet.
Rain parks the Van nearby a large, but plain, building.
Rain moves from the driver’s seat to a chair in front of several monitors, in the back of the van, and starts typing.
Rain speaks with confidence: Dandd – Access.
A voice responds: Hoolequin Rain acknowledged. Password required.
Rain answers: Hydrodynamics.
The monitors turn on, and the system boots up.
Rain finishes his set up and nods to Razy and Kasanj.
Rain: Just like we planned. Razy, take the Tahlblet and get inside. Kasanj, keep her covered. Once Razy’s got the Tahlblet in range – I’ll guide you.
The back of the Van opens and out pops Razy in a uniform that says “Hoolequin Cleaning Service.” She begins a slow walk to the front gate as Kasanj, with a large backpack, enters the adjacent building at speed.
Razy places the Tahlblet on top of the Front Gate control box and begins unloading standard cleaning equipment from the van, buying Rain time to do his MONK thing and Kasanj to set up his shots.
After a few tense moments, Kasanj gives his signal – a small stuffed tediz bear landing near the van.
Razy smiles to herself, as the gate calmly pops open. Rain was successful.
As Razy makes her way, mops and the Tahlblet in hand, to the front door, she is greeted by a confused man. Before she has time to panic, the man is fatally shot by a silenced Simon and falls to the ground at the door. Razy quickly drags the body away from view and hurries inside.
Kasanj panics. There weren’t supposed to be anyone expecting them. He puts an extra round in Simon and grabs the freshly assembled Snippy Snap, the time for stealth may be over.
Razy moves quickly to the security room and gets to work with the Silver-Lockpicks.
A voice echoes from down the hallway: Why is the @#$%ed door open?
The footsteps confirm someone is approaching. Razy’s praying to channel some Silverluck. The door pops open. Razy mouths ‘Thank You!’ silently to herself and slips in. Rain was already working through the Tahlblet by the time the second body fell at the front door. At least Kasanj had the sense to use Simon again.
Rain quickly takes control of the security cameras.
Rain, through the radio: I’m in. Doesn’t look like they’ve noticed us yet, but there is still a body lying conspicuously at the door and another one in the yard; it’s only a matter of time.
Razy responds: Anyone in front of the room?
Rain scans his monitors: I don’t see anyone.
Kasanj peers through his scope: Me neither.
Razy: Not good.
Rain: Keep your cool, but let’s hurry up, this place gives me the creeps already.
Razy retrieves her daggers from the body of the guard that was only temporarily asleep at his post. His permanent sleep makes the third casualty so far. Her uneasiness was visible through the Cameras.
Rain: Razy, get a grip.
Razy shakes her hands nervously, and leaves the room for the stairs up. The Corvus Emerald is supposed to be held temporarily in a room here, awaiting escort. Supposed to be. She makes it up the staircase, and removes her overcoat, revealing a form-fitting black suit with her prized ‘Necro Sis’ Dagger pair at the ready. Her hand reaches for the doorknob, when someone opens the door from the inside.
Kasanj pulls the trigger on Snippy Snap, ending any and all hope of a stealthy exit. Pieces of the man at the door fly into the room, followed quickly by Razy with daggers in hand.
Rain yells: @#$%. Get out of there!
Kasanj keeps his cool: Rain, blow the Tahlblet, we’re going to have a rapid exit.
The sounds of Razy’s exertion fuel the sense of urgency for the other two. Kasanj grabs his gear and begins his descent. Rain issues rapid commands to Dandd, yelling out override passwords.
Cerulean begins to get the Anchorwind ready to fly.
Snippy Snap is placed in the back of the van, and Kasanj dumps out the contents of the backpack on the ground and gets to work.
Rain: She’s rigged to blow! Razy, get out of there!
Razy, strugging to catch her breath: No @#$%. Get the Van started!
Rain leaves Dandd and hops back into the Driver’s Seat.
At the back door of the building, the escort arrives. It doesn’t take them long to see the bodies lying near the front door and begin to move to the stairs. Razy, at the middle of the stairs with the emerald in her hands, sees the group of men at the other door and dashes for the front – to the van.
Razy’s flurry of obscenities only raises the tension in the other two, but this is not their first rodeo.
Razy comes flying out of the gate, rounds the corner and practically dives into the van.
Kasanj, with a grin and a chuckle, activates the motion-sensor on ‘SuperSania,’ an Automated Turret with a lot of ammo. He follows Razy into the back of the van and slams the doors shut. Rain punches the gas and the Van speeds off just as a chunk of the escort gets stopped at the gate by turret fire. The Tahlblet blows, taking another of the escort with it.
Rain: Cerulean, I hope you’re ready to fly.
Cerulean responds quickly: I hope you have the emerald.
Razy: Oh I got it, and the escort.
Cerulean sighs: Always have to do things the hard way, don’t you?
Razy strokes her daggers: What self-respecting pair of necros doesn’t?
Cerulean: You’re a Thief, not a Necro. We’ll discuss this later. The Anchorwind is ready. Get your @$$es moving.
Kasanj opens the back window, and sticks the barrel of Spike through it: We’ve got company.
Cerulean: Wonderful.
Razy: Rain! Hold the van steady, not even our Engineer can get a good shot off like this.
Rain swerves: I can’t drive THROUGH traffic you know.
The escort vehicle gives a good chase, but it isn’t long before Spike damages the windshield of the chasing vehicle and causes the driver to lose control. Kasanj grins to himself and calmly closes the van window. Rain slows the van down and Razy cleans the blood off of her daggers.
Rain grins to himself in the rear-view mirror: Just like we planned.
Cerulean groans: I hope that was a bad joke.
Razy: Joke or not, tell the Neveah Brokers to fetch us a good price.
Cerulean: Yes, yes. I’m deducting the cost of another SuperSania and Tahlblet from your cut though. Those things aren’t cheap.
Kasanj grins: I wish I could have seen their faces.
Rain: Oh?
Kasanj smiles wider: Yeah. I put Forcechoke rounds in there, that brick pillar holding the gate wouldn’t last long.
Razy cheers: Nice!
Cerulean: Those are expensive too.
Rain: Yeah, yeah. Dock our pay – we know.
Cerulean: Anyway. Good Job. See you soon. Quin or Quit.
—
Dandd takes a breath and nervously looks at the faces of the assembled officers: So that was my campaign setting for a “Future” mechanic. What do you think?
Crysania gives it a thumbs-up.
Lalandra nods in approval.
Nyx ponders aloud about being an Engineer…
Henchman 1: Can we back up a second?
Dandd: What?
Henchman 1: What’s a computer?
Balreth winces: Don’t DO That!
Crysania’s floor collectively groans at the Henchman.
Dandd strokes his beard, content that he has received the Quin seal of approval.
Spike: Maybe I should make Magnum my middle name? That sounds cool.
Simon: Simon Says 57? Not so cool.
Crysania gives Simon some reassuring pats on the shoulder.
Georgia barks at the noise.
Dandd: Good point. I’ll have to add in a “Raptor Bone” large grenade.
Crysania’s tower erupts in cheers, and happy tail wags.
Nyx: I dunno. I think The Engineer’s big gun should be called “Janie” instead.
Both Spike and Balreth protest loudly, to another round of laughter.
Crysania gestures to the Henchman: Go get more snacks and drinks, this’ll be a long night.
Lalandra reaches for a character sheet: I’ll play the Thief.
Nyx grins: Me too! We can each have a Necro Sis dagger.
Georgia Barks again.
Nyx: And a Raptor Bone Grenade!
Crysania grins knowingly: Just don’t kill yourself with it again, Commando.
Nyx’s jaw hits the floor: Now that’s not right!
Another round of laughter marks the beginning of another Hoolequin Adventure…in the hearts and minds of the players anyway.
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[one_fourth_last]
Episode 72
15 February 2012
Notes: Not even Dandd can resist the allure of the Future. Remember, It’s Like a Computer Game – but on Paper.
References: Guild Wars 2, [45] Going Commando, Guild History
[/one_fourth_last]