"We need to go warn Xanatos." Janna said after a moment of indecision.
"Won't he already know?" Marco asked.
"I'm not taking the chance. You and Tom, hold them off long enough for us to get inside."
Martial Check: Disengage
DC 100 needed: 45+44+29+5=123
Success!
Marco and Tom managed to hold off the Pack as the rest of the team moved inside. The Pack were strong, but they moved like berzerkers. They were easy to distract. Tom and Marco glanced at each other as they followed behind.
"When did Janna get so… competent?" Marco asked.
"I have no idea! She was like this when I showed up." Tom replied.
Marco thought for a moment. "Do you think secretly she was… always like this?"
"...that would explain a few things."
---
"Amur?" Janna asked as she stepped through the now somewhat superfluous front door. The gargoyle beast was indeed inside the building, whimpering slightly at the sounds going on outside.
"I believe he is reluctant to attack his own kind." Kitsune supplied, a neutral tone conveying neither support nor condemnation for the beast.
"I guess I can understand that." Tom said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Little guy must be so confused."
"He's bigger than you are." Lizzy pointed out.
"Mmh, still."
Janna pressed on. "Come on, we need to get to Xanatos fast."
---
Pack Combat Check: 38+33+52=123
Huntsmaster Contest: 97+30+10+20=157
Jackal and Hyena leveled their machine guns at a small group of Dracon mobsters, smiling sadistically as they pulled the trigger… only to be knocked off of their feet by a barrage of laser fire! The looming visage of the Huntsmaster looked down on the two mercenaries with disgust.
"Huntsclan! We will deal with these filthy traitors who stand against us, daring to fight with the vile gargoyles!"
"Yeah!" One of the mobsters cheered. "Let's light 'em up!"
Dracon Mob Martial Check: 80+21+20+15=136
Demona's horde contest: 33+33+25=91
Dracon Mob Success!
Hunstmaster Martial Check:74+30+10+20=134
Demona's Horde Contest: 54+33+20=107
Huntsmaster Success!
While the Mob continued to fire on the mass of gargoyles from within the bunker, the newly arrived Hunstclan began pressing the horde from the other direction.
Despite their fearsome appearance and strength, it was quickly becoming clear that Demona's army was not much more than untrained rabble pointed at a target and told to attack. While whoever was leading the troops appeared to be skilled, the warriors they were working with had neither the discipline nor the experience to manage real combat. Most of their tactics amounted to rushing at their enemy and trying to claw them to death, and while a few mobsters fell, they had no easy solution to the hundreds of bullets tearing them to shreds.
Demona's Horde Martial Check:
64+33+15=112
Huntsclan Contest:
100+88+30+10+20=248
Huntsmaster Critical Success!
"Filthy creatures!" the Huntsmaster snarled. He moved like lightning, halting the last faltering charge of the horde dead in its tracks. The few remaining civilians, finally cognizant of their danger, cowered behind him. "You cannot kill the Huntsclan. We are more than men, we are an idea. And as long as one of us lives, we will never stop hunting you."
From above, WVRN helicopters broadcast the scene across the city.
And then beyond.
---
Demona Intrigue Check: 80+34+28=142
Xanatos Contest: 69+72+33=174
Xanatos (moderate) success!
In the bunker, far away from the chaos currently engulfing the streets, Boston's most eminent industrial spy was carefully checking a bank of monitors for the target. He could scarcely believe his luck when David frikkin' Xanatos hired him, and while a security detail like this wasn't his specialty he could hardly argue with the paycheck.
One mechanical arm dutifully cycled through every camera within a thirty-block radius while another reached over to grab him a cup of coffee. It was dull work, especially with the fighting being so far from-
The multiple lenses of his metallic helm all zoomed on the same screen at once.
Another metallic leg flicked open a new channel.
"Ey uh, boss? Youze might wanna look at this. We gots a bit of a sitcheation."
---
Outside, the tide was clearly turning. The NYPD had shown up in force with an entire squadron of Iron Gargoyle robots, and between them, the mob, and the furious Hunstclan, the gargoyles were clearly outnumbered. Wolf, Hyena, and the others looked at the encroaching horde with sneers, snarls, and frowns.
"This is a losing proposition." Jackal said.
"Mmmh." Wolf growled. "When yer right, yer right. Let's leave the beasties to their fate."
The Pack martial check: Extricate yourselves from the combat
DC 130 needed: 70+33+52=155
Decent Success
As one, the Pack blasted a hole through the remaining forces, friendly and otherwise, taking advantage of the same thing Janna had: it's easier to get a handful of people through a cordion than a whole army. They bowled through the crowd, making a mad dash through turret fire in a frantic approach to the warehouse.
---
Janna led the way back through the fortified halls of the bunker, passing gun emplacements and security cameras just short of a run.
"Come on, Xanatos, why did you need to make your bunker so twisty?"
"Is that a genuine question?" Tom asked.
"Access denial." Lizzy answered dryly, riding along on one of her antborgs.
Perhaps by design, the bunker was hard to navigate. Passages seemed to twist around to create killboxes, the halls angled in on themselves in an almost labyrinthine design. After several false starts and wrong turns, the group finally managed to emerge in the center. Xanatos was waiting at the heart of the bunker, standing by the trapped pedestal that held… whatever it was Demona was after. He stood covered in the red armor that looked so similar to his Iron Gargoyles- probably so he could join them incognito, Janna mused. He was alone except for his ever present manservant, Owen.
Kitsune Occult Roll: ???
DC 100
73+20+22+15=130
Success!
Janna Intrigue Check: ???
DC 110
44+22+20=86
Failure!
Kitsune, for some reason, stopped short the instant she entered the room, fists clenching and glamor flickering for a brief moment. Owen, obviously confused by her behavior, looked at her for a moment. Focused on the oncoming disaster, Janna didn't catch more than that.
"Hey, Xanatos? You should probably-"
"Know that Demona's disappeared from the battlefield and is making her way here? I'm well aware, but thank you for the information. The tide of battle is turning outside, the Huntsclan managed to make a decisive push against the horde and nearly rout them. I am moderately disappointed to find them exceeding my expectations."
"Disappointed?" Lizzy asked.
"I was happy for the assistance, but I will admit a certain willingness for them to spend their lives I would not accept for my own men." Xanatos continued. "Regardless. Demona encountered a squadron of Iron Gargoyles several minutes ago, but I have little doubt she'll outwit them. The Pack are also enroute, though they have taken a less… cautious approach, and are paying dearly for it."
Screams of pain and several creative curses could be heard echoing through the halls, followed by the whining discharge of lasers.
"Why didn't you call us back in then?" Janna asked.
"I have more backup on the way." the billionaire replied.
The roof of the chamber promptly exploded as someone, apparently, reached their goal.
"Oh yeah. They had rocket launchers." Marco recalls.
"Ha! Hey guys, I was just about to ask how long it would be before Demona got here!" Tom chuckled. "Could you imagine if I said that and then she immediately busted in? Ha, I'd look like an idiot!"
Janna glared.
As the smoke cleared, three gargoyles leaped down into the chamber, framed by the shape of the crescent moon. The first dark blue, the second rust red, and the last a dead, unnatural shade of grey.
"Ah, David Xanatos." Demona began. "So good to see the rat and his friends trapped in their little warre-"
Demona was forced to cut herself off as the automated turrets around the room opened fire.
Demona Martial Check: Disable the Turrets
DC 100 needed: 44+33+30=107
Bare Success
Unfortunately the gargoyles reacted in the nick of time. Just before they were torn to shreds by a volley of bullets, Demona and the red gargoyle managed to dive out of the way, leaving the grey cyborg to fend for himself. The small caliber bullets were minimally effective on his metallically reinforced frame, allowing him to methodically eliminate the turrets by means of a wrist-mounted rocket launcher.
"Your toys are not going to save you this time, Xanatos."
"Demona, so kind of you to join me."
Xanatos Intrigue Check: Keep her talking
49+72+33=154
Demona Contest: 13+34+28=75
Xanatos Critical Success!
"Your protections have come to naught, Xanatos." Demona taunted. "Twice you tried to stop me from achieving my goal, and twice you failed." At this, Demona hefted the spear in her hand. It was enormous, taller than her own monstrous form, and it was old… very old.
Occult Check
DC 80 needed: 59+13+22+7=101
Decent Success!
The spear seemed to glow with a gentle light that Feldrake did not like. He said as much, grumbling to himself in the same breath he warned Janna not to discount it. The spear was obviously part of what Demona intends to do here. Beyond that, her plan is a mystery.
"Now, with one final piece of the puzzle, I shall have revenge for all the times you have stymied me."
"I'm honored you care so much." Xanatos replied, voice coming through clear as day despite the power helmet over his face. "I appreciate you holding me in enough esteem to mark me a… Janna, what was it your employer liked to say? A nemesis?"
Janna Intrigue Check: understand Xanatos' plan
DC 154
67+22+20+30(Previous explanations)=139
Failure
"Xanay, it's probably just stalling for time." Janna said. "I don't care if she can't be killed, start with the other two."
"Excuse me?" the rust red gargoyle growled.
"I'd hardly say you're in a position to be arguing morality, Brooklyn."
"Your fancy words are not going to fool me this time, Xanatos."
"No?" Xanatos asked. "Then listen to them." Above them, three more gargoyles swooped into the room.
"Oh shi-" Janna immediately aimed Feldrake at the incoming gargoyles, but faster than she could blink, Owen was beside her and gently but firmly lowering her arm. Kitsune's tail puffed up as he traversed the intervening space unnaturally quickly.
"Dude, what-"
"We are all a bit jumpy tonight, Ms. Ordonia, but please, control your impulses."
Janna looked again. These were Hudson, Lexington, and Broadway, the three gargoyles Xanatos had introduced to the world. Oh. The largest of them, Broadway, set down a gargoyle beast that sniffed the air and then looked with interest at Amur.
The three gargoyles took in the scene before turning to Brooklyn. "So Xanatos was right." Hudson said somberly. "Ye still stand by Demona."
"In this!" Brooklyn replied, throwing both arms and wings wide to take in the entire room. "I can't just sit by and let the men who killed Goliath walk free!"
"This is about far more than that, lad." Hudson replied, while Lexington and Broadway watched Demona warily.
"What lies has Xanatos been filling your heads with?!" Demona demanded immediately.
"We're here for vengeance. Justice." Brooklyn said simply. "We need that artifact, and it's enough for me to know Xanatos doesn't want us to have it."
"Demona is lying to you!" Broadway yelled, pain obvious in his voice.
"Xanatos is lying to you!" Brooklyn retorted. "Look at who he joins with- the Huntsclan! The criminals who killed our leader! You're the ones dancing to his strings, not me!"
"Enough of this." Demona said, and Coldstone raised the augmentic cannon on his arm.
"We won't fight you, Brooklyn." Lexington said softly.
Brooklyn clenched his teeth for a moment, and then looked away.
Janna Diplomacy Check: Perform some quick self-reflection
DC 80
97+6+26-5=124
Success!
A wave of nausea passed over Janna as she watched four old friends being torn apart. The snarling, raging brutes outside had been easy to fight. They were monsters, all too easy to compare to that monster. But these gargoyles spoke, they cried, they… mourned. Janna remembered the sound of tortured screams and scraping bones. Those were all… people...
"Still too weak to face your old friends?" Demona asked Brooklyn, snapping Janna out of what could have been a very poorly timed spiral. The spear Demona carried began to glow with a blinding white light.
"Then I'll do it myself."
Demona Martial Check:
71+35+30+35(Sanguis et Aqua)=171
