Friday, December 16, 2011

Wordslingin'

The bad news is that we lost track of Harry Bonds. The other bad news is that our scouting out of his warehouse proved inconclusive. The really bad news is that, in attempting to determine who Bonds had captured and possibly killed in the warehouse, we came to the attention of a SecBuro squad that was in the area and Lyta got shot. Again. This is really getting tiring, you know.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Wordslingin'

After getting a little more information from their employer, Nicosa Renault, Our Heroes (tm) have gone off to their meeting with arms dealer, taxi business owner, and potential NGIS contact Harry Bonds. It was a short session last night, due to circumstances, but there were at least a few memorable quotes.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Wordslingin'

Our Heroes (tm) have finally escaped the tower of doom known as the Hermes Corporation Building, somewhat the worse for wear, but having killed a great many of the bad guys in the process. And now, with barely a further pause to recuperate, we're on to our next thrilling adventure: find of the identity of the NGIS agent and rescue Artoor Vovelle! Yay!

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Koreshi Chronicles – Chapter IV : The Flop

At first he wasn’t sure he was conscious or in a fitful dream. There was hollow absence of discernible sounds, like he was deaf or he was hearing only one loud sound akin to a continuously crashing wave. His eyes were no more use to him as they made out a darkness so complete that he thought it was blinding. He almost believed he could see a texture of light through the cloak of darkness and then the ringing began. The sensory effect was disorienting, as it was meant to be. Ti was suddenly very aware that he was under the effects of a stun grenade. Knowing that didn’t help much though, by his befuddled reckoning he had probably nearly lost consciousness and mere seconds had passed since he had been plunged into this state. Instinctively he sought cover knowing that such a grenade served only as a appetizer for more substantial fair.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Wordslingin'

This week's Wordslingin' is a double-header! Yes, friends, the last two sessions have consisted almost entirely of combat, which is great if you like rolling dice but less great if you like collecting quotes. The good news it that none of Our Heroes are severely wounded, the bad news is that it's looking like that'll change any second. Repeat after me: Where the heck is our air support?!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Wordslingin'

The plot continued to crawl forward yesterday, which mostly involved Lukas and Torgath figuring out how to extricate Lyta from the Forzi fembots. I'm not certain it occurred to them to just wait for her to get out on her own. In any case, things go down tomorrow (game-time) and until then, we've got some quotes.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Koreshi Chronicles – Chapter IV : Threads end

Kohl stepped off the caravan he had been travelling on for the last 8 days. Clad in desert travel clothes, a large but fairly common satchel hung over his shoulder. His face had creases and his chin, stubble. His was neither tall nor handsome. Nothing set him apart from the other travellers arriving or departing Port Arthur. He had a name, a contact that would help him settle in and locate the target, one Harry Bonds. Like so much more dust, Kohl mixed into the urban sprawl.



Heavy Gear Roleplaying Game

Koreshi Chronicles – Chapter IV : Threads part 6

“Certainly, you are now tugging at my lower limb, and I am not meaning in the feather-duster-tight–leather-mask pleasant way either?” Oscar Luis Paeza exclaimed in his idiosyncratic and nearly incomprehensible manner. He had just spent a week travelling across the desert to get to Port Arthur and was now being told to turn around.

Koreshi Chronicles – Chapter IV : Threads part 5

Minifred Bartok was in the reinforced shelter beneath her bar. The safest location in the former bunker complex was ideally suited for storing her alcohol and her most precious commodity, information.

Koreshi Chronicles – Chapter IV : Threads part 4

Christina Kachelli sat on the bench in the atrium. Four of her girls were watching over her from a safe distance. When Gabrielle Summers arrived with her escort of two, there was a brief stand-off. The ladies met eyes and signaled for their security to relax. “This is a bit public for you, isn't it?” Christina asked, genuinely surprised to be meeting a spy in public.

“Park benches are trusted and true, no good spook hasn’t had a meeting or twenty on one. Are your forces ready?” Gabriel asked with her raspy voice. The NGIS section chief was easily 15 cycles younger than the Forzi Dona but they had a number of features in common: dark hair, nice legs, and cool dispositions. Beyond that, Summers was prettier, youth aside, and Kachelli, while cool, was know for outbursts--something the spy could not be accused of.

“They’re ready, as soon as I get the go-ahead on the target. I gotta tell you, I’m not too please with the changes.” Kachelli was looking around a little nervously.

“Then don’t consider it a change, think of it as a refinement. Northco dropped the ball, they wasted their assets, we were always behind the curtain, we have simply pulled it aside to assert direct control. Wouldn't you rather be dealing with me?” Summers asked with a vicious smile that left Kachelli with mixed feelings.

“The Forzi ain’t going to like seeing a bunch of bodies on the ground associated with them, even if they are just mooks. They’ll hold me responsible for the loss of face,” Katchelli said in a hushed but emphatic tone.

“Please don’t waste my time. Your concerns have already been noted, your protection after the operation is guaranteed. Now take this phone--I’ll call you in the next 36 hours with final instructions. By this time after tomorrow, you will be a very different person living a very wealthy life in the Confederacy. Good day, Ms. Katchelli.” With that, Gabriel Summers rose, smoothed out her pencil skirt and strolled away.



Heavy Gear Roleplaying Game

Koreshi Chronicles – Chapter IV : Threads part 3

Dr Tomohiro Chambers feigned pleasant neutrality as he waited on Titan Corovan’s reaction to the information. They had not spoken in a week, and the last conversation they had had could have easily been their last if Ti wanted it to go that way.

Koreshi Chronicles – Chapter IV : Threads part 2

The Mekong had this interesting form of entertainment, a performer would spin a plate on a stick, then raise another and another, until there were so many plates spinning in the air you would loose count. Major Stone couldn’t help making the comparison.

Koreshi Chronicles – Chapter IV : Threads part 1

Henriette and Artoor Vovelle sat on their terrace sipping coffee; since their escape to Port Arthur, the Earther drink had become part of their new lifestyle. It was just one of many changes they had to adjust to, and, like coffee, not all of them were unpleasant.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Wordslingin'

Last night saw lots of setup for the next big battle. Lyta's still a mole inside the Forzi, Todd has eyes (and guns) across the street, and Lukas... is off doing something completely different. No doubt something that will involve us shooting stuff next game.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Koreshi Chronicles: Chapter IV - A difference of opinion

Nadya finished her report. The Forzi were hiring every goon they could and Ti didn’t know why. He thanked her and she left him alone. After a few minutes of scratching his head he picked up his phone, made a call, and left a message on a voice mail.

It was an hour later when his phone rang. “Tom, I need to know what the Forzi are up to.”

Friday, October 14, 2011

Koreshi Chronicles – Chapter IV : The Interview


The camera shook slightly as it righted itself and re-focused on the two figures in the center of the frame. Helena Luka of the SNS was interviewing a GREL.

“It has been said that you advocate a peaceful resolution to the conflict between GRELs and humans.”

As if to punctuate her reference to conflict, a deep concussive force shook the cameraman recording -- a deep audible rumble. Out of focus in the background between the interviewer and the sizeable purple interviewee was the blurred image of humans fighting. The expanding smoke cloud and automatic fire made for a dramatic background.

Wordslingin'

Yes! After over a month of missed games, we're back, baby! The name of the game this week is "infiltration." Sometimes successful, sometimes not. But at least all the pieces are now in place... we hope.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Wordslingin'

The plot progresses! Last night's session saw Our Potentially Suicidal Heroes (tm) delve deeper into the GREL Quarter, where they met with various shady characters, finally made their way to rendezvous with Bakov, and smuggled Jan Sebastopol out of the city. And, of course, tried to one-up our childhood friend and current business rival, Ti Corovan.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Wordslingin'

Combat, combat, combat! This week, Our Wounded Heroes (tm) faced at least three separate gunfights in their attempt to both 1) stay alive, and 2) keep Professor Artoor Vovelle alive. Also, a car chase in which Ennik -- who has no ranks in drive -- attempted to evade the nondescript blue vans that alternately tried to ram into us and shoot at us.

I will say this for the record: being injured sucks. Stupid -2 penalties...

Monday, August 29, 2011

Koreshi Chronicles – Chapter IV : Escalation

Conflict escalation was a reality of war. Whatever theory you espoused about the casus belli, whatever stance you had on jus ad bellum, one aspect of military theory was incontestable no matter your school of thought: without explicit rules of engagement, escalation devolves into chaos.

Koreshi Chronicles: Chapter IV - What GRELs and little Girls are made of


“Professor, are you saying you actually want to meet GRELs?” Lyta asked incredulously. She sat on the bar of the dilapidated restaurant, letting her legs dangle. Vovelle, for his part, sprawled on a chair and watched the smoke curl upward from his mouth to the peeled-paint ceiling. They were so close to the GREL quarter, on the border of the entertainment strip, that Lyta could practically feel the purple-skinned bastards bearing down on her through the walls.

“Yeah, absolutely! They’re fascinating!” Vovelle replied with a glint in his eye inspired by intellectual passion and heightened by narcotic stimulus.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Wordslingin'

For those who might not remember, Our Heroes' (tm) current mission is to protect Dr. Henriette Vovelle, the astrophysicist, from people who want to kill her. Tonight we managed to make contact with Vovelle's husband, Professor Artoor Vovelle, in an attempt to arrange a meeting with his wife. Sadly, we made contact just as six Forzi goons were attempting to kidnap him. And while we managed to escape the ensuing firefight with Athur unharmed and a Forzi hostage to boot, we are clearly not out of the frying pan yet.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

GameThug's Bookshelf - Update 4

Recent acquisitions are italicized.

General:

DP9-001-----Heavy Gear (1st Ed) Rulebook
DP9-101HC-----Heavy Gear (2nd Ed) Rulebook
DP9-103-----Gamemaster Guide & Screen

Friday, July 22, 2011

Koreshi Chronicles – Chapter IV : Spilling Over

The lieutenant looked more amused than apologetic despite her protestations. She was young, quite pretty in her way and doing a decent job of suppressing her bemusement. She was a Badlander, one of the new breed of officers trained at the academy, a sign of things to come. Major Stone wiped ineffectually at the darkening spot where the cawfee was soaking into his uniform. She offered to buy him another cup, to pay for the dry-cleaning, finally escalating to fetching her superior officer another uniform personally as she realized her charm, looks and smart attitude were not impressing this major as they had so many others along her career path.

Wordslingin'

Last night's session was mostly set-up for our next mission ("Prevent astrophysicist from getting kidnapped"). We didn't actually *find* the astrophysicist, mind you, but we *did* meet an NPC who was so hilarious that I laughed until I couldn't breathe. So that must mean it's time for quotes!

Monday, July 18, 2011

Wordslingin'

It's been a few days, but better late than never! Last week's session saw us abduct "Mr. Smith," the man responsible for our botched operation and Lukas' and Ennik's capture by the enemy. A little fighting, a little heavy-handed interrogation... it has all the makings of interesting quotes!

Friday, July 8, 2011

Koreshi Chronicles: Chapter IV - Purpose

Ti got off the maglev and navigated automatically through the TNTR station. Inside the smell of of Khayr ad-Din was washed through air purifiers and climate control. This place gave him a strange feeling of nostalgia, not quite of coming home but of comfortable familiarity. But he had been feeling it for a couple of days, ever since he had first seen the Lassanders through the camera eye in his detention center in Mainz. ‘What were the odds,’ he thought to himself.

Koreshi Chronicles: Chapter IV - Falling Face-First

She was on the floor, face-down, and couldn't move. She could feel the grain of the wood as it pressed against her face and hands. She grunted and spun, twisting out of the near-pin. She caught sight of him as she looked behind her and used her momentum to aim a kick directly at his face.

It stopped less than an inch from Ti Corovan's nose.

He raised his hands in surrender. "All right, all right. You win this one."

Lyta dropped her leg and clambered to her feet, panting. "Again?"

Ti pushed himself off the ground and breathed deep. "In a minute."

Wordslingin'

Last night's session was pretty much start-to-finish combat. The game started after a time lapse of three cycles, to 1925, and saw Lyta and Torgath team up with our old friend Ti Corovan to rescue Lukas and Ennik from the clutches of Bad People (tm). Thankfully, no one got killed. At least, no one on our side, and that's the important thing.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Koreshi Chronicles: Chapter IV - No Apologies


35 Winter, 1925

He awoke slowly, trying to discern nightmare form reality. The cell was dark and at first his eyes didn’t know if they were still closed or staring at darkness. Finally, he had to admit he was awake because he hurt too much to be unconscious. He tried to sit up and found his bruised abdomen screamed a painful protest. He suppressed a grunt and tried again, rolling to his side; it still hurt.

“Welcome back, sunshine"

Koreshi Chronicles: Chapter IV - Principles


Special investigator Priti Raja Khahn never made her work personal. Violent crimes were more and more common in Prince Gable, and the homicide cases which fell under the purview of her department increased with the economic prosperity and increased criminal activity that Prince Gable’s prosperity enticed. She knew how to take in every detail of a crime scene without letting the crime go beyond a professional and analytical interest. It was an old survival mechanism and this time it was failing her.

“Priti, I want to know who did this.” Marshal Tourian’s voice trembled with barely controlled rage. He was venting and she knew it, so she ignored him and passed into that abstracted world of details, causality, science and human nature which turned a corpse into a puzzle which she then set about solving.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Koreshi Chronicles - Chapter III: Don't Cry Over Spilled Cawfee

3 Winter, 1923

Her new clothes chafed. Lukas had bought them for her as a present, partly so that they could fit in better with the cosmopolitan life of Prince Gable, and partly (she thought) to salvage a piece of their childhood when he could afford to buy fancy clothes whenever he wanted. He had got the size right, at least, and the cut was fashionable. But the shimmery synthetic material itched and pleating in the skirt's waistband rubbed so much she was tempted to rip the damn thing off and walk around half-naked until she got back to their motel room and her travelling pants.

Not that her clothes were the only thing bothering her.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Ennik Backstory: TN1917

Summer, TN1917

Colin Spiro pulled up his drawers, tugged on his work clothes, and tied his boots. He stood, and wordlessly put his money on the dresser.

“Gee, thanks honey. See you soon,” the prostitute said, acidly. The woman’s name was Melinda or Matilda. Colin didn’t care. He grunted a reply and affixed his gun-belt around his hips. He opened the door and stepped out of the brothel room. Colin walked downstairs past the bouncer and back into the main salon of the Oasis Saloon. Decked out in utilitarian clothes, he fit in nicely.

Ennik Backstory: TN1930

The camera was set up, and so were the lights. The man sat in darkness for a while before everything was ready. The lights went up. Ennik was sitting in a comfortable looking chair, a small table with a glass of water and an ashtray was placed to his left. He looked a little older, face a little more lined, hair a bit thinner. But his eyes still betrayed the same youthful exuberance that came with the braids of a Desert Wolf.

“State your name for the record, please,” a voice tinged with a Southern accent spoke.

Koreshi Chronicles – Chapter III : Taking care of business



“OK, I still don’t get it. If there’s nothing to steal, then what are we doing here?”

Lukas gave Lyta as emphatic an expression of exasperation and annoyance as he could through the half light which showed the half of his face that still could express such things. Respecting the arithmetic of the situation, Lyta was asking for the fourth time.

“Appearances, Lyta. It has to look like we stole something.” He said tersely, modifying the same answer he had given three times before.

“Well, it’s a stupid plan,” she retorted in a brusque whisper.

Off into the sunset...metaphorically speaking?

Ennik sat astride his riding springer and smiled sadly at the three Sandrider kids. The sun was setting over the Westridge Range, and a warm breeze blew through the outskirts of town.

"Well, this is where we part ways," he began nonchalantly.

Wordslingin'

Last night's session consisted of the PCs licking their wounds and trying to pry out each others' backstories, to mixed results. Still, as we approach the tangled web of plot that is Prince Gable, at least it's good to know that our internecine struggles will provide fodder for our enemies to use against us.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Everyone's got a story to tell.

Ennik spat. The afternoon sun was hanging low in the valley, and things were cooling down. He watched the daks circle overhead for a second, and then looked back down at his handiwork. The Elan buggy that he and the three kids had stolen in Lance Point was not starting. He crossed his arms and frowned at the machine, mentally willing it to reveal its secret ailment.

GameThug's Bookshelf - Update 3

Recent acquisitions are italicized.

Categories:
General
Setting
Technical
North
South
Space
CEF
Tactical Packs
Want List

Koreshi Chronicles: Chapter III - Surveying the Options

The sun blazed low over the foothills of the Westridge Range as dusk settled over the valley. Lukas stared out from the roof of Frau's homestead. Now that the Gears were gone, there was no need to rush, and Frau had offered them his hospitality for the night. No doubt he expected to pump the three Koreshi for information about what life was really like among the Sand Riders, as so many had done before, and no doubt he would be disappointed come morning. Still, a bed -- or even a climate-controlled floor -- was a welcome change after a week of sleeping in the mountains.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Wordslingin'

"Operation: Find and Steal the Hidden Gears" sadly ended with us neither finding nor stealing the hidden Gears. In the process, we managed to find a disused slave-labor mining operation and any number of dead ends, and we also managed to get three of the four PCs shot in a firefight with the SRID. But no Gears. Clearly, this means war.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Koreshi Chronicles – Chapter III : The Big Bad pt 2

Hermes72 Uplink in progress…
Transmit HB104-Zl.SG…

33AU1922
Receiving trans…Uknw Svr…
Encoding…Encryption active…

Friday, May 13, 2011

Hello, my name is Ennik, and I like to do drawings.

Summer TN1913
Kazzov Ranch, Cauchan Homestead County, outside Prince Gable, Badlands

The paper was thick and heavy, so unlike the stuff he used to get in school. It felt so good under his fingers, and it didn't shiver and ruffle quite so easily in the breeze. Ennik could still smell the "Authentic Norlight Fir Paper" smell when he brought the sketchbook up to his face and breathed in deeply. It almost masked the stench of the herd of springers he was watching over. Sitting astride the riding springer, Ennik looked up for an instant, did a quick head count, and returned to his sketchbook. He squinted in the morning sunlight reflected off the savannah and made another attempt at faithfully rendering the herding springer nearest him.

Wordslingin'

Last night, we nearly made Georges the GM cry by completely derailing his campaign. But it's okay, we got it right back on track... and rolling full-speed towards a head-on collision. What do you get when you're trying to steal Gears from the Legion Noire, the special forces of the Southern Republic? I don't know, but I expect we're about to find out!

Koreshi Chronicles – Chapter III : The Big Bad


Hermes72 Uplink in progress…
Transmit HB104-Zl.SG…

30AU1922
Receiving trans…Uknw Svr…
Encoding…Encryption active…

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Koreshi Chronicles - Bored to Tears

19 Autumn, 1922

Lyta was bored, and she was frustrated. She'd swung by the sparring ring, even with her arm in a sling, planning to watch some of the fights. But after fending off questions about her injury and her encounter with the rovers who'd taken Kylie, she'd gotten fed up and left.

She'd tried running, but had given it up the first time she tried to reach for a convenient ledge and realized too late she couldn't move her left arm, and wound up stumbling into a wall before she could stop herself.

She'd tried to find Antoni in the hopes of acquiring a Gear she could use for practice, but Davood's brother was busy and not in the mood to deal with young cubs with too much time on their hands.

With her mood rapidly deteriorating, she wandered the hallways. She was a mere two corridors away when she realized her legs taking her towards the motor pool and Ennik's workshop. She stopped, turned back, and stopped again. "Hell," she muttered under her breath. "It's not like I've got anywhere better to be."

Friday, May 6, 2011

Earning His Stripes

18 Autumn, TN1922

The gear stood, squat and blocky in the little cranny of the motor pool. Ennik liked it back there, where he could curl up between the back foot armour housing and the SMS wheel. He could hide in the shadows, nursing a bottle when things got too tough. Pig Pen was always a discreet drinking companion, never moving to give away Ennik's hiding spot, never complaining about the vile smoke from Ennik's cigarettes. Only this time, as the gear's sensor eye gleamed in quiet recognition of its pilot, Ennik was standing in front of the gear, bottle in one hand, bucket of black paint in the other. He took a swig from his bottle.

"Ain't ever done this before," he explained. "In the War, if we got our hands on a gear, it was for a specific mission. You know how it is. So I never thought twice about it."

Koreshi Chronicles: Chapter III - Politics

18 Autumn 1922, Wolves Den

The sun was descending on the crags, filtering soft red beams through the jagged terrain and casting long dark shadows across the Wolves Den. Antoni Mor was in the hangar area, a largish cave which had become home to the rover’s cadres of Gears.

From the diary of Lyta Lassander

16 Autumn, 1922

We brought Kylie back from the rovers who kidnapped her. She seemed okay. Kind of out of it, but not hurt, just dehydrated. I think Grey Cub went off to yell at her mom.

The guys who took her were perverts. I mean, she's only 15! She's just a kid! What kind of a bastard can think about having their way with a kid like that?

Todd shot one. Lukas too. Right in front of me. I've still got his blood on my clothes. They're both dead. I guess they deserved it, but... I don't know. I hope I didn't scream. I don't remember. I don't like killing people, though I suppose if anyone had to die, these guys would be good candidates and the world is probably better off without them. Still, being sprayed with blood brought back way, way too many bad memories.

Wordslingin'

Last night's session saw Our Young Heroes (tm) rescue a prepubescent girl from the hands of men who wished her ill. Afterwards, we descended yet again upon the town of Haven to relieve them of some of their Gears, so that the PCs would have means of fighting and transportation better than elans (the Terranovan equivalent of jeeps). In the process, we made some enemies, we made some friends, and we made some witty banter.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Koreshi Chronicles - Down But Not Out

13 Autumn, 1922
 
"Hey. Cubling."
 
"Lyta," she replied before she even took her eyes off her plate. The cafeteria was almost empty, but clearly not empty enough.
 
"Right, Lyta."
 
She looked up. The man who stood across the table was taller than Lukas and just as muscled, but older. Lyta guessed he was at least 35 cycles. Five french braids traced lines across his head. He wore the loose-fitting clothes Lyta had come to expect of the Desert Wolves, but he wore them with style. She had absolutely no idea who he was, other than someone clearly more important than her.

Donald Pleasance's gripping magnum opus!

“Make a suppressor? Make a suppressor?” Ennik grumbled and scratched himself. The quiet Sandrider kid, Torgath, had asked nicely enough, Ennik conceded, but it rubbed him the wrong way.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Wordslingin'

Today's session saw the successful exfiltration of Josh's character Ennik, and then (sadly) the re-infiltration to obtain Ennik's heavy gear, which was impounded. In the end, none of the good guys died, so I consider that a success.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

"Pig Pen", or "Drunken With Wolves"

Spring TN1918

The Crags east of Prince Gable are a natural geological formation--a maze of caves and high-walled canyons that would make a veteran desert guide's head spin. So it should thus be unsurprising to learn that the Crags are the home of one of the most famous rover gangs ever known, the Desert Wolves.

The Wolves were formed before the War, when a Southern gear commander and most of his men deserted into the desert. They had just about enough of stuffed shirts telling them when and how to die. They turned into a family of two hundred souls, robbing from the caravans and homesteads in the area. You know how it is with rovers, robbing from the rich, and giving to the poor. Hardly. But the Wolves at least had the respect of the locals, after they helped liberate Prince Gable from the CEF at the end of the War. Nasty business, that fight. The Earthers had all but lost, and they knew it. It made them bitter, and they fought a bitter, dirty street brawl in Prince Gable.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Koreshi Chronicles: Chapter II - Blindsided

3 Autumn, 1922

They'd been herding the springers for three days, the armadillos keeping the smaller animals firmly in line as the elans maintained a loose formation around them. The three Koreshi had found themselves separate from the rest of the group, eating in a close knot at the edge of each night's campfire. They weren't yet Desert Wolves, Dronath Dawl had explained to them. That decision would be left up to Grey Cub. And since they hadn't done much to endear themselves to the rest of the group -- between the slashed tires, the flashbangs, and the broken ankle -- they hadn't pressed the issue of assimilation.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Wordslingin'

Last night's session saw the PCs attempt to join the rover band called the Desert Wolves. The plan: wait for them to attack our caravan, and then fight them off just hard enough that they're impressed and ask us to join them. Sadly, things didn't go quite according to plan.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

From the diary of Lyta Lassander (Summer 1922)

13 Summer, 1922

We're going back to Junira Loresh. I thought that Lukas would want to join the Desert Wolves right away so that we could find Bear -- Kaspar. But Todd said that we need to go back because I'm almost 21 and need to do my Okaku. He said that once we join the Wolves, we may not be able to go back to Junira Loresh for a long time, and it'll be really weird if I come back at 23 or 24 and I hadn't done the ritual yet. He even managed to convince Lukas to wait on joining the Wolves, and I didn't think anything could get him to delay looking for Kaspar.

Anyway, we're going back. Todd asked if I'd thought about what I wanted to do in Koreshi society, but I hadn't. I don't know. I just want to be with Todd and Lukas. As long as I can do that, I don't care.

Lyta

Monday, April 11, 2011

Koreshi Chronicles: Chapter II - The Prince, the Lady, The Bear and the Wolf


Winter 1922

Countless architectural treasures were lost during the War of the Alliance. Temples in Mekong had been desecrated, ancient settlements irradiated in the North. Entire towns were gone or destroyed beyond salvaging. It was one of the many injustices of war that with all the art, beauty and hard work that lay in ruins after the failed attempt by Earth to retake Terra Nova, the Tractor Barn outside Temple Heights had been spared.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

From the diary of Lyta Lassander

18 Autumn, 1920

Everyone's dead, all the Bathani. Amaraa and Bestha and all the rest. The CEF killed them all, even the kids. We're the only ones left: me, Todd, Lukas, and Jonas. We saved Jonas from the CEF. Otherwise, they would have killed him too, just like they killed everyone else. They were torturing him for days.

We're bringing Jonas to one of the other tribes he says is near here. They're going to take him to the healers in Junira Loresh. He asked whether we wanted to join the new tribe, but we don't. Lukas definitely doesn't, and I don't think Todd Torgath wants to. I think he doesn't want to be disappointed again. And I don't want to either. I don't want a new family. The CEF killed my whole family twice, and they're not going to do it a third time.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Wordslingin'

Last night's session involved a murder mystery. Sort of. Mostly it involved us hunting down the CEF troops that had killed the rest of our Sand Rider tribe and rescuing the tribe's priest from their clutches. Good times, good times...

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Koreshi Chronicles: Chapter II - Crushed

22 Summer, 1920

The interior of Thral Jonas' tent was dark, as always. Lyta could taste the moisture in the air, smell the flowers that bloomed only in the Godwell Valley. Jonas was meditating, and she knew better than to interrupt him. She settled herself down, cross-legged on the floor, and tried to hide her impatience. It seemed like every moment in Junira Loresh was a gift and infinitely precious. To waste it here, inside a tent as though they were out in the desert, chafed at her, especially now that the Imti'qhann had started. She longed to be watching the competitions, and part of her wished that she were out in the desert with Tarooq on his quest. But a summons from the clan's Thralan was not lightly ignored, so Lyta waited.

From the diary of Lyta Lassander (1918-1920)

10 Winter, 1918

Torgath asked me today if I could train with him on the drevis. He's only doing forms now, but he needs someone to do the counter-attacks, and Luk is busy. I never used a drevis before, but Paresh showed me how to hold it and how to do the counter-attacks so that Torgath won't hit me.

I thought the drevis forms were really beautiful. I don't think Torgath would want to hear me say that, though, because it's supposed to be weapon training. But it's also beautiful. I wonder if anyone else thinks the forms are beautiful too, or if it's just because I'm a girl. I asked Paresh if he could show me how to do them, and he said he would if it was okay with Bestha and Amaraa. I don't want to compete in the drevis forms in the Imti'qhaan. I just want to learn how to do them.

Torgath is pretty good. And Paresh is really good. I watched him doing the forms when we weren't counter-attacking and it looked like a dance.

Lyta

Koreshi Chronicles: Chapter II - Moving Forward


03 Autumn, 1920

Jonas Breskathi sat facing the setting sun. A small breeze carried sand around in swirls over the endless dunes of the Western Desert. His face was frowning, but it eased into a smile and a slight squint for the rays of Helios when someone walked up behind him and stood quietly, waiting.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Koreshi Chronicles: Chapter II - The Great Cycle




35 Autumn, 1916

All The Bathani sat around the pyre of hollow-logs and listened to the tale of the Great Cycle that Jonas was sharing under the crescent moon. Todd was near the center of the circle; he didn’t want to miss a word of the story. At first he had taken notes, but it was explained to him that the Great Cycle - the tale which bound Koreshi history, law and prophecy into one narrative - was not meant to be written, only shared by word of mouth.

From the diary of Lyta Lassander (1917)

15 Winter, 1917

I wish I had more time for training, but there SO MUCH else to do. Especially when we're moving. Set up the tents, take down the tents. Unpack the bags, pack the bags. Find the food, cook the food, wash up from the food. I never had to do this back in Baja! And after all that, I have to set up the B'ti'atta and it still takes a really long time because it's meant for people who are taller than I am. I'm almost too tired to train when I've got it all set up, but I do it anyway because that'll make me better at the B'ti. But it's hard sometimes.

I like the times that we stay in one place for a few days. Then I can really train and practice a lot. But it seems like we're moving all the time.

Lyta

From the diary of Lyta Lassander (Summer-Autumn 1916)

18 Summer, 1916

Lukas is awake. I thought it would be more exciting, but it's not. He woke up and was confused for a while and then went back to sleep. I guess I'd be confused too if the last thing I remembered was leaving Baja and then I was in a tent in the middle of the desert. He seemed pretty angry too, even when I told him that Jonas saved his life.

Jonas says I have to be quiet when I'm in Lukas' tent, even now that he's awake. So now I only whisper to Lukas when he's asleep. But Jonas says he'll be functional soon, and then I can introduce him to Bestha and Amaraa. When Lukas is awake for real, he'll know what to do. I bet he'll know how to get home.

Lyta

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Koreshi Chronicles: Chapter II - B'Ti


“What is it?” Her eyes narrowed slightly at the clearing in the jungle.

Amaraa smiled. He knew this tangle of branched, polished stones and hanging vines had a reason behind it, that the forms flowed from function.

Amaraa had convinced Lyta to take a walk and get away from the healer’s gathering if Bestha promised she would stay by Lukas and come get Lyta if there were any change.

“This is the first level of the B’ti. If you pass it in the standard time, you pass on to the next level.” Amaraa spread his arms to take in the dense and knotted segment of the jungle which the Koreshi had sculpted, groomed, enhanced and augmented.

“So it’s an obstacle course?” Lyta asked, showing a hint of interest. She had been worrying Amaraa and Bestha, his mate, since they had taken her on as their own a season ago. Her nightmares were frequent and powerful, and the Koreshi knew to give great weight to dreams.

Monday, March 21, 2011

From the diary of Lyta Lassander (Spring-Summer 1916)

35 Spring, 1916

The Doctor took Lukas away. I had to beg him. He wanted to just leave Luk to die, but he's still alive. He can get better. I don't mind begging, so long as Lukas is alive. If they had a regen tank here, they could just put Luk into it and he'd be fine, but I don't think they have one. I don't think they have anything here. Just bodies.

Koreshi Chronicles: Chapter II - Bathani Ratir


37 Spring 1916, Karaq Wastes

“We have found three children, Thralan.” The rider spoke evenly though he had just ridden hard and fast; his springer showed more signs of fatigue. The Elder had heard him coming and met him outside his black tent. Other Koreshi also emerged from theirs. The Elder nodded in understanding. “There were more, yes?”

Koreshi Chronicles: Chapter II - Dreams and Nightmares


Images flashed before his eyes, but his lids were closed.
Sounds echoed from afar, deafening but unheard.
These were the whispers of the real intruding on dreams.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Wordslingin'

For the new Koreshi Chronicles campaign, we're playing through our backstory, with campaigns set about four cycles apart game-time. The first game, held last week, was in TN 1913, when our characters were 11-14 cycles old (or, in Earth years, 8-10). The second session, held tonight, is set in TN 1916.

Relevant details to be explained as we go.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

From the diary of Lyta Lassander (Spring 1916)

5 Spring, 1916

There's no food left. Father says all the stores are closed because of the CEF. I don't know. I've been in the house for almost two weeks. When the attack started, Father told me to go in the basement and stay there, and I stayed there for almost two days. And then he wouldn't let me leave the house. He wouldn't let Lukas leave the house either, but Lukas never listens.

Koreshi Chronicles: Chapter I - Responsabilities


Winter 1914

“Well, that makes it official.”

As Donovar Lassander looked up from the latest document to receive his signature, his lawyer offered a self-effacing smile as he spoke and delicately fingered the document, sliding it back towards him across the polish hardwood desk.

“And may I add on a personal note that I find you act a very generous one,” came again the cooing sounds of the Lassanders' attorney.

Monday, March 14, 2011

From the diary of Lyta Lassander (1914-1916)

8 Autumn, 1914

In honour of Lukas finishing his driving lessons, Daddy let him take the car without a driver today. He took Todd and left super-early, even before I left for practice and were gone all day. I wanted to come with him, but he brushed me off. He said they were doing "grown up things," and I was "just a kid." Ugh! I wish he'd stop calling me that!

Koreshi Chronicles: Chapter I - Indignity


05 Spring, 1916

She was in her room when she heard the door crash in. At first she thought the tower was coming down, that the shelling that had been eating away at the periphery of the city had finally started to rain down on the core district. She flew out of her room where she had been in near isolation since the invasion two weeks before. She could not stand the fighting, the violence and the indignity of it all.

Koreshi Chronicles: Chapter I - Percentages

21 Spring, 1916


21 Spring, 1916

He rubbed his eyes with his knuckles, they itched and his head ached. He caught his own reflection in the cracked mirror of the empty café and suddenly realized how disheveled and distraught he looked. His life had spiraled into a nightmare over the last two weeks, since the keffers invaded, since…

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Todd Shelby: Sheet


[REPLACE WITH YOUR TEXT FOR ABOVE JUMP. NO LINE BREAKS NEED TO BE INSERTED AROUND THE JUMP.]

Friday, March 11, 2011

Lyta: Sheet

[REPLACE WITH YOUR TEXT FOR ABOVE JUMP. NO LINE BREAKS NEED TO BE INSERTED AROUND THE JUMP.]

From the diary of Lyta Lassander

40 Summer, 1913

I'm grounded for, like, a season. I hate St. Vincent's Day. "Go to see the stoneheads," Mom said, "It'll improve your culture." I hate culture too. And I didn't even get to see the stoneheads.

Koreshi Chronicles: Chapter I - Battle of Baja


Winter 1916, Western Karaq Wastes

Port Baja was one of the three biggest cities of the Badlands, along with it’s neighbour Peace River and, far on the other side of the deserts and mountains, Prince Gable.

It hosted a population of between two and three hundred thousand. Established in TN 740, it was linked to the rest of Terra Nova by the Alpha Maglev and boasted the only equatorial spaceport.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Koreshi Chronicles: Prologue - In the shadow of the Stonehead


Summer 1913, Western Karaq Wastes

The Santa Uribe glen was situated some 65 km away from the spaceport of Baja. Archaeologists had been interested in this plateau in the foothills of the Pacifica range for several hundred years. The local flora looked suspiciously cultivated, even some hundred of years after being left fallow. Some small trace tools showed that early explorers may have considered this area instead of Port Baja as an early settlement. The main attraction though, lay not in the sand or the Sapa roots. The Santa Uribe glen also harboured on of the ubiquitous yet mysterious Stoneheads of Terra Nova. As such it was a popular site for out-of-the-way tourism but mostly for the perennial school trip.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Ammo and Weapons Summary Chart

At long last! The revised weapons chart is good to go.

Hotel Bravo

Although the Badlands Caravan Guild Compound in Khayr ad-Din has the circular layout and underground construction associated with the traditional Badlands oasis tower, the honeycomb structure which now stands as the global headquarters for the Guild grew more organically. Lacking the initial capital to build a complete facility in 1920, a modular construction was conceived to allow growth when needed. The complex is both built into the ground but also into a small hill side. This offers it both natural defence from aggression and the elements.

Heavy Type - FERRETZILLA

by John Prins


[Announcer's Voice]

"In the days of the War of the Alliance, valiant Terra Novan troops fought bravely, but to no avail. In the face of advanced Terran technology and hordes of mindless GREL supersoldiers, it looked like there was no hope for this world..."


[Music]

Here it comes...
Seven stories high...
Breeeaaaattthhhiiiinnnnggg fire!!!!
It blots out the sky!!!!
FERRETZILLA!!!!
FERRETZILLA!!!!
...
...
And Ferretzooki....

Heavy Type - The Right Way

by John Prins


There was a wrong way, Jacob mused, and a right way. To everything.

Of course, which was which depended on the individual. In this particular case, Jacob and his parter differed. Which was, of course, perfectly all right. Peacekeeper Peijun Ba was certainly entitled to her own opinion. However, Jacob was the senior partner.

They would do things the right way.

Heavy Type - Jacob's Day

by John Prins


As far as Jacob was concerned, it was a beautiful day in Mekong. Others might differ, though, with the leaden clouds hanging over the city, heavy with the promise of rain. The kind of rain that would wash the streets clean of trash and make footing treacherous. The kind of rain that could soak you to the bone in seconds.

Most people wouldn't classify that kind of sky beautiful. It turned the city into a giant shadow and carried with it an oppressive humidity. Combined with the seasonal heat, even the best air conditioning systems surrendered under the stress.

Heavy Type - Freedom of the Press

by John Prins


The number on the door read '217'.

As far as Jacob was concerned, it was a gateway to hell.

Jacob had the undesirable job of standing guard outside the door while the forensics team went to work inside. The door was firmly closed, something that Jacob was very thankful for. He didn't share the cast-iron stomachs that the forensics team did, and he was feeling a more than a little queasy.

Heavy Type - Honor and Face

by John Prins


Piddly little shit of a Dominionite. It wasn't even a proper duel. Barehanded combat. Not a duel for military men.

Sous-Lieutenant Krieger was not pleased.

And what was the hell with the crowd? Most of them weren't even military. Somebody in the back is taking bets. Bloody damn savages. I'm surprised they aren't selling tickets. Hope they enjoy seeing their boy go home bloody.

Heavy Type - Jacob's Watch

by John Prins


When the ceremony ended, Jacob rose and took up his portion of the burden. As one, he and seven fellow officers slowly walked from the small shrine, their strides in perfect time.

The funeral for Amos J. Lee, civilian, was over.

The funeral for Sergeant Amos J. Lee, Peacekeeper, had just begun.

Heavy Type - Jacob's Bell

by John Prins


Amidst the roaring, it was a sound like a tiny bell that captured Jacob's attention.

Cycles ago, when he was still with his mentor, Jacob had first truly heard the bells. They had hung in the window of the training halls, where the wind would knock them together. After practice, the class would sit and meditate, trying to achieve calm. Their teacher told them to listen to those bells.

If you could find where the ringing of the bells ended, he had told them, and where the silence that followed began, you could center yourself. The world would fall away and you would be suspended in that fraction of time. Nothing else could intrude on that moment, if only could find it and hold on.

Heavy Type - Jacob's Walk

by John Prins


Jacob walked out of the front of his apartment building into the early morning fog. Helios hadn't risen yet, and in the darkness and mist he could barely make out the building across the road, let alone the intersection down the street. But after seven cycles of early morning walks to work, his feet new the way without needing his eyes to guide him through the twisting streets of Mekong.

Heavy Type - John Prins

Below are John Prins' Jacob Stories:

Heavy Type - Colonial Expeditionary Force Part II

HOVERTANK -Whining Death
by Janne Kemppi

Janne's translation could use some work. Edits will be made as time allows. --GameThug


In 61st century the advancements in gas turbine technology and especially in neural computing needed in control systems has enabled Earth forces finally field air cushion vehicles that are known in commonly parlance as hovertanks. They have replaced wheeled and tracked vehicles in fighting units first in Human Concordat and later in NEC and CEF.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Heavy Type - Sologear

SOLOGEAR: Game of Armoured Solo Combat in Terra Nova
by Janne Kemppi

For the truly lonely. --GameThug

These rules have been created to depict fortunes of a single soldier in the never ending conflict raging in Terra Nova. These campaign rules are inspired by FGU's Bushido rules.

Heavy Type - Janne Kempi

Below are listed Janne Kemppi's writing:

Heavy Type

HEAVY TYPE:

A Heavy Gear Fan Fiction Website


This site is dedicated to the Heavy Gear Mailing List and Dream Pod 9!

This Website is a place to post and read Heavy Gear Fan Fiction, Vehicle Designs, and Unit Write-Ups.

It is meant as a replacement for the APAGear Website.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Tactical Hand Signals


Remember to use these hand signals to add an
additional element of realism to tactical role-play.


I think I saw something


You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me?
(confirmation requested)


Come out from behind there
so I can spray you with autofire


Speak up, I can't hear you over
the gunfire and screaming

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Colonial Expeditionary Force

ORGANIZATION

Leadership:
Unknown
Notable Personalities: see below
Strength: Unknown; remnants of multiple army groups
Affiliations: Earth
CURRENT STATUS: Disrupted

Sundra Gabriel

[REPLACE WITH YOUR TEXT FOR ABOVE JUMP. NO LINE BREAKS NEED TO BE INSERTED AROUND THE JUMP.]

Badlands Revolutionary Front

ORGANIZATION

Leadership:
Unknown
Notable Personalities: see below
Strength: Unknown
Affiliations: Badlands
CURRENT STATUS: Active; Extremely dangerous

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Labels

I've been editing some of the labels on older posts and it has occurred to me that some new ones might be in order.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

The view from the peanut gallery

Celina and Maia drifted out of the office, quietly exchanging a few words with the others that Tom Chambers had hand-picked for the meeting. They spoke of nothing in particular as the left the BCG compound, headed back towards the clinic for Celina to resume her afternoon's work.

When they'd finally walked out of earshot of the buildings, Celina exchanged a glance with her wife. "You know, for a man who claims he's not coming back to take charge, he certainly seems to be taking charge."

Maia held back a smirk. "You noticed that too, did you?"

The Counselling Of Others

When the doors cracked open on the office the sense of excitement and purpose was as palpable as the smoke billowing out.

He was glad that from this point on it would be carried by people who could inspire others, people like Ben and Maia, leaders with a talent for inspiring others. A skill Tom knew he himself did not possess, but he knew how to challenge the right people and they would do the rest.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Domain Name

Hermes72.com is now registered.  It isn't imminent, but stay tuned for a move closer to the center of the intertubes.

Friday, February 11, 2011

The Other Council pt 2

The Doc reached into his jacket and withdrew a three-tube leather humidor. Removing one of the two cigars still inside he took a moment to sweep it under his nose, enjoying the fresh and spicy smell of tobacco. He replaced the case and pulled a blade from his sleeve, like a magic trick. The tip came off the cigar and found its way into his hand and then his pocket; his hand re-emerged with a box of matches which he proceeded to use.

Apples and Trees

31 Spring 1935

Gade found his son behind The Garage staring at the torn apart engine of his track bike. Normally he’d question why his son was avoiding him, but there was something else that needed asking more. “So, have you introduced yourself to the new girl yet?” Gade knew the answer, but was more asking to provoke a response.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Profiling the Tin Man

MEDICAL LOG
02 Summer 1935

Dr T.M. Chambers

ONGOING PSYCHIATRIC LOG:
PATIENT: Kain Delacroix

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Updates

I'm doing some behind the scenes coding, so I have changed some permissions for a short duration.  If you find you cannot post etc, email me and we'll fix it.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Maia: sheet - Feb. 2011

HEAVY GEAR
CHARACTER RECORD SHEET
EXPERIENCE/
MONEY
IDENTIFICATIONCHARACTERISTICS
NAMEAGE:ATTRIBUTES
Maia Kessler
39
AGIAPPBLDCREFIT
PROFESSIONHEIGHT1
1
0
1
0
moral compass
163 cm
INFKNOPERPSYWIL
RANKWEIGHT2
0
1
0
0
n/a
68 kg
SECONDARY TRAITS
UNITHAIRSTRHEASTAUDAD
Badlands Caravan Guild
brown
0
0
25
3
3
NATIONEYESPHYSICAL STATUS
Peace River
brown
INJURYSCOREARMOR#
PERKS/FLAWSFLESH (-1)13
43

Quick learner (2)
IDEEP (-2)
25
55

Poor (-2)
INSTANT DEATH
50
80

Secret (-2)
SYSTEM SHOCK5
SKILLS
NAMECMPLXLVLBONUSNAMECMPLXLVLBONUS
Athletics

2
0
HG pilot
x
1
+1
Bureaucracy
x
1
0
Heavy weapons

1
+1
Business
x
1
0
Human perception

1
0
Camouflage

1
+1
Info. warfarex
2
+1
Combat sense

2
+1
Interrog (good cop)

1
+1
Computer (hacking)
x
2
0
Mechanics

1
0
Dodge

2
+1Navigation: land
x
1
0
Electronicsx
1
0
Notice

1
+1
Etiquette

2
+2
Parachuting

1
0
First Aid

1
0
Seduction

1
+1
For. lang. (Equi. Hisp.)

1
0
Small Arms (rifle)

2
+1
For. lang. (Eurogerm.)

1
0
Stealth
x
1
+1
For. lang. (Indo-Arab)

1
0
Streetwise

2
+2
For. lang. (Larabic)

1
0
Survival

1
+1
For. lang. (Mandanese)

1
0
Tactics

1
+1
For. lang. (Siberian)

1
0
Teaching

2
+1
For. lang. (U. French)

1
0
Theatrics

2
+2
Forgery
x
1
+1
Throwing

1
+1
Haggling

1
+2
Tinker
x
1
+1
HG Gunnery
x
1
+1




WEAPONS
TYPERANGEDAMACCRoF/CLIPRELOADSSPECIAL
Paxton P9 Pistol
6
x17
0
015
Paxton 7mm assault carbine
40
x25
0
030
Knife
n/a
x10
0
n/an/a














EQUIPMENT
Light flak suit + duster
Bugs + bug detector
Mechanical toolkit
Spider-climb gloves
Electronics toolkit
Gas mask
Night vision goggles

Military communicator

PDA



xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


 
Hermes 72 - Heavy Gear RPG - Most artwork Copyright 2002 Dream Pod 9, Inc.