Entry 2A:
Headquarters: West Skyline Gorge
Report of Incident-Point La Fiere Ambush
Report Originator-Sgt. Daniel Wehrle, 1st Amphibious Squadron
NOTE: Despite the clarity of the report, it must be noted that Sgt. Wehrle was recovering from extensive surgery and was still under intense drug and medical treatment at the time of this debriefing. His wounds were quite severe, and the following report was dictated by Sgt. Wehrle to the on-site Scribe Historian.
I'd been Captain Franklin‘s dorsal gunner for about four months. We had gotten a few of the new Leviathans about 6 months earlier and had been using them extensively since. They were great against the Machines; tough, fast moving, could carve up a Steel Trooper in a matter of seconds.
Earlier that month, we had been folded into Lt. Colonel Fagen‘s 1st Amphib Squadron and were operating at the time as an LRRP (Long Range Recon Patrol). That means we were basically heavily armed spies. Usually 15-17 Leviathans and crew, tasked with prowling around riverbeds and ocean floor, keeping tabs on other Houses, spying on N.E.X.U.S. forces and attacking any targets of opportunity that may present themselves.
My LRRP Company mostly worked the western part of the Skyline Gorge Coast. Our patrols were generally up the Ia Drang River Valley, following the western fork to pass the Machine-occupied Plateau City, then overland to the Oasis, then back east to the River, with a stop at the ruins of another small city. This way, we could keep watch on a Power Center, a few small retro-villages, and two cities.
I wasn‘t any more worried about this LRRP than any other. Captain Franklin is a great Outrider; one of the best ass kickers of both Man and Machine I‘ve seen. He‘s absolutely the best guy to have on your side in a fistfight or a firefight. Despite being barely over 5 feet tall, he‘s a brassy, aggressive guy who never gets rattled by anything and always had a pithy oath for all occasions. We'd been together through ten or twelve patrols by now--some of them terrifying--and were about as confident in each other as anyone who regularly goes up against overwhelming, deadly odds from time to time as part of their normal job descriptions.
We were finishing up our patrol, scooting along the river bottom. We were to stay submerged, head up the coastline, make one last pass about a mile from the Power Center, fire off a few shots, and leave. We often did this on patrols that had been rather slow. I imagine it was more irritating to the Machine than truly damaging, but it made us feel like we‘d actually accomplished something. That somewhere, that metal ***** was shaking a fist and cursing the day we were born. We knew they wouldn‘t follow us far out into the ocean, and everyone knows how much punishment a Leviathan can take. So, a quick ―in and out wasn‘t too dangerous. It‘s also a great way to scare the crap out of newbies!
About ½ mile from the shore defenses, a few hundred feet below the surface, we were about to let loose, when Captain Franklin stopped us dead in our tracks. Sonar started going off like crazy; something big was headed for us. Actually, it was several ―somethings, and all from the ocean. For whatever reason, N.E.X.U.S. has never taken a major interest in the deep water, so we all figured it was some kind of ocean predator. Big, yes. Nasty, probably, since it was headed straight for us. Something that 15 Leviathans couldn‘t handle? Doubtful. The Captain ordered us to spread out and be ready.
I don‘t know what they were, I‘ve never seen anything like them. They were huge, bigger even than Dracos I bet, nothing but teeth, claws and spikes. And there were a lot of them; they seemed to appear out of nowhere. They plowed straight into us, pushing us back and shredding a few of the other Leviathans. Troops started to emerge from them, some even seemed to be launched out of their backs!
I zeroed one and shot what I hoped was the leader in the chest. It went down and all hell broke loose around me as everyone opened up. Then, like all firefights, everything seemed dreamy, slow, fear is gone, action seemed distant, like a dream.
Oh yes, there's one---aim-fire!--get him? Don't know, but here's another one-bring the gun around-aim-fire!--aim at this jerking shape, fire! –Sh!t, our Leviathan is bleeding and taking on water, we‘re taking a beating -aim-fire! Picking my shots, I got another one, maybe two more.
A momentary lull and time jerked into fast motion again. We'd knocked over several of the human looking ones on the first burst, but I knew there was more. I also saw these armored things had split our group in half; some of us were being pushed up to the shore and into Machine defenses, the rest further out to sea.
Franklin ordered those that could to head for the shore. We were to hit the shore at full speed, hard and fast and try to punch through the N.E.X.U.S. defenses. It was suicide, but so was staying here to fight these things. With any luck, the Machine forces would attack these things as well, and we might be able to get away in the fracas. The few Leviathans left with us hauled ass for the shore. We hit the beach at full speed, bowling over a few Steel Troopers along the way.
I know they are Machines, but I honestly think we caught them with their pants down. It took the Machine defenses a full 15 seconds or more to react. Franklin and the other Outriders were dodging, weaving, jumping randomly, pushing the Leviathans as hard as they could. Doc, you ever been on a War Mount in full ―evasion mode? I don't know of many things more hair raising than when a real expert Outrider pushes their mount to full bore—we were shooting along the ground, leaping to right above treetop level, banking and twisting, all trying to avoid fire. Not for the faint of heart.
I looked back and sure enough, we were being pursued. The beach was swarming with….things. Some trailed tentacles, others looked almost like Scarecrows, but way too big and moved differently. And strong; stronger than any Crow or Armor I‘ve ever seen. These guys were tearing bots to pieces with nothing but bare hands! Behind them, their armored beasts were making their way to the shore, crushing anything in their path.
I opened up blindly, no fire discipline at all. I was just shooting wildly, at bots, at these jerking muscle heads, the armored creatures, anything I could see. It was chaos, weapon fire everywhere, explosions from every direction, bodies and pieces of bodies flying through the air. We were ripping it up, the Leviathan was shuddering from all the hits it was taking. The beach behind us looked like a hurricane had just rolled through. Waves from explosions rolled across us, it seemed to push the air out of our lungs.
I don‘t know how long it took us to make it through that, to push past the defenses and get clear of both the Machine and the other attackers. Its all a haze of constant moving, jerking, and firing. It felt like a year, at least. By that point, the Leviathan was little more than a walking corpse. It shuddered suddenly, then stopped dead in its tracks. That‘s when the realization hit me; somehow, Franklin and I had survived. I don‘t know what happened to anyone else, but we had made it.
We reluctantly abandoned the War Mount. It‘s strange, now that I think about it: I feel horrible about leaving it out there. I know it was dead, but it seems………..disrespectful to leave it. That beast carried us through Hell and back, and we left it rotting in the forest. Just doesn‘t seem right.
We immediately made for some tall elephant grass nearby. Air pick up was on its way, we just had to sit tight. The moment the Dracos picked us up, I collapsed. My nerve was completely shot, arms over my head, whimpering like a little girl. I didn‘t know how bad I was injured until we got back to base.
Those things? I don‘t know what they were. I‘ve been a Roughneck since I was 15, had my first firefight at 16. I thought I had seen pretty much anything bio-tech could whip up. But I‘ve never seen anything like those muscle bound Scarecrow things. They tore through us and the bots like we weren‘t even there. I mean, a whole squadron of Leviathans, wiped out. Just me and one other guy left. I wouldn‘t have guessed that.
With all due respect, can I get some sleep now?
Ragdoll O.C.C.
Written & Created by Quantum07
Illustrated By Chazio
http://madjaguar.deviantart.com/art/SPL ... -210788157
The Scarecrows, those creepy, strange, power-hungry creatures that serve their mysterious Librarian masters. They are feared for their strength, speed, and agility. They strike fear into even the most hardened soldier. They have remained unchanged by the librarians for years. Until now…
As the Kraken's assault the shorelines, no one noticed the strange figures crawling out of the Leviathans in the shadows. They did not fire a shot, merely disgorged their passengers. The first to meet them did not even see them as their bodies were literally ripped into two halves and thrown 20 feet (6m) from their origins. Later, some received a glimpse of the creatures. They looked like normal scarecrows, withered, desiccated humans, but there was something wrong. Their muscles seemed overly large, and tore through the skin at points. The movements were less smooth than a scarecrow's, and when they moved; they seemed to twitch and spasm forward. The slow, hypnotic movements delayed the watchers just long enough, and the creature launched itself forward, wrapping its limbs around the host armor's torso, and with a couple of wrenching motions, flung the upper half away. That was the first documented report of what we have come to know as the Ragdoll.
The Ragdoll is a Special Forces version of the Scarecrow. They have been bio-engineered and fed the elixir of life. This deadly combination makes a warrior with unparalleled strength. The elixir provides the supernatural strength, but the bioengineering provides the unique muscle twitching that makes the Ragdoll what it is. The uncoordinated movements, and the ripping muscles, actively increase the Ragdoll's strength for their favorite attack. The Ragdoll wraps its arms around a person, and the muscle spasm releases ALL the energy in the contracted muscles, usually resulting in dismemberment. The twitching muscles, which seem random, are subconsciously controlled, allowing them to dodge even energy blasts without a thought. One last bio-enhancement provided to the Ragdoll is the inclusion of an elixir storage pouch, allowing them to spend more time away from the house.
Alignment: Almost always evil or selfish
Attribute Requirements: None, but a high PS always helps these straightforward fighters
Attribute Bonuses: +3D6 PS, which becomes Supernatural, +2D6 PE, and life extended to 150 years
O.C.C. Bonuses: +1 attacks per melee round, +4 initiative, +8 automatic dodge, +4 vs poisons, toxins, and disease, +5 to saving throw vs Horror Factor
Base S.D.C.: Not Applicable; see Scarecrow’s Super-Endurance (see Splicers sourcebook).
Ragdoll O.C.C. Powers:
1.Muscle Spasms: Reduce P.P. by -1D4, and can perform a tearing attack. Once Ragdolls grapple an opponent, the Ragdoll can use attacks per melee to try to rip the opponents in half. Roll to strike to see if the torque for the attack is right, no bonuses. Each attack does 1D6X10 M.D., and on a natural 19-20 the target is ripped in half. Each attack does 1D6 M.D. to the Ragdoll himself as his muscles rip through his skin.
2. Supernatural Strength: Human strength becomes Supernatural P.S., even stronger than most Splicers (which is the equivalent to Robotic P.S.). The Ragdoll can carry up to 50 times his P.S. attribute in number in pounds, can lift up to 100 times his P.S., and inflicts Mega-Damage with his bare hands and feet in melee combat (See the Supernatural P.S. damage table for exact M.D. numbers (see Splicers sourcebook). Note: Minimum P.S. is 30, if lower, adjust P.S. to 30.
3. Super-Endurance: Becomes a Mega-Damage being with 1D6X10 +P.E. attribute number for M.D.C. Add 2D6 M.D.C. per level of experience, starting at level two. Supernatural endurance allow Ragdolls to fight and conduct strenuous exercises/activity 10 times longer before feeling the effects of exhaustion, and remains alert, operating at full efficiency for up to 5 days (120 hours) without sleep. Has a problem getting to sleep, but only requires 3 hours of sleep.
4.Super-Speed: Add 1D4X10 to speed, Ragdolls are slower than normal Scarecrows due to their awkward movement. Increased leg spasms allow the Ragdoll to leap 120 feet (36.6 m) up or across after a short run (half from a dead stop), and 60 feet (18 m) high without a short run.
5.Super-Healing: Ragdolls bio-regenerate 2D6 M.D.C. per melee round and is +20% vs coma and death. Virtually impervious to pain, no amount of physical pain will impair the Ragdoll until he is down to zero M.D.C. or less. At that point the Ragdoll will collapse into unconsciousness, but the Ragdoll will continue to regenerate and when back up to at least 3 M.D.C. above zero, the Ragdoll regains consciousness and is ready for action within 1D4 seconds (one melee action).
6.Superior Senses: The Ragdoll possesses the same incredible acute senses as the Scarecrows: Crystal clear sight and hearing, can clearly read a street sign about one mile (1.6 km) away and hear a whisper (a 10 decibel noise) up to 100 feet (30.5 m) away. Senses of touch and taste are slightly increased, about twice as good as a normal human. The sense of smell, however, is greatly enhanced, roughly equal to a dog’s (a thousand times more keen than a normal human). Ragdolls can track a scent that is two days (48 hours) old, provided it hasn’t rained in time, and recognize an odor from smelling a small sample.
Specific scent abilities:
1) Recognize and accurately identify general/common/known smells, including gases, food, and other distinctive odors.
Range: 100 feet (30.5 m) per level of experience.
Base Skill: 60%+2% per level of experience
2) Identify specific odors, including the scent of specific individuals, items, or monsters.
Range: 25 feet (7.6 m) +10 feet (3 m) per level of experience.
Base Skill: 36% = 2% per level of experience (+10 % to recognize familiar or common scent, +15% to follow a blood scent).
3) Track by smell alone! Does not need to follow tracks or any other visible trail.
Range: Roll once for every 1000 feet (305 m) of the trail.
Base Skill: 30% +4% per level of experience. A failed roll mans the trial has been temporarily lost. Two successful rolls out of three means the trail has been rediscovered. After two failures the trail is permanently lost. Cannot track by smell through moving water.
7. Retractable Finger Talons (Optional): These set of razor sharp talons retract into protective sheaths within the thick muscled fingertips, leaving only a slight pointed edge that the casual observer is not likely to notice… until it’s too late. The talons are used to help secure struggling quarry/opponents for the muscle spasm assaults and aid the Ragdoll in climbing when necessary.
Maximum Damage: +1D6 M.D. to normal punch damage, and 4D6+10 M.D. for Claw Strike/Slash Attack.
Bonus: +15% to Climbing Skill
8.Horror Factor: The Ragdoll has a natural Horror Factor of 11 at first level that increases by +1 at levels 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15.
9.Penalties: In addition to the desiccation, which reduces the P.B. by ½, and M.A. by -1D4, he cannot resist orders from his librarian. If the commands seem suicidal or against the Ragdoll’s alignment, he can attack to save at -6, he loses 1D6 MDC every year after his transformation from permanent damage of the muscle spasms. Can go up to two months before running out of elixir of life with a full storage pouch. Cannot detox, as afterwards the muscle spasms would destroy the character. He is -5 to strike with ranged weapons.
Common Skills: Standard
O.C.C. Skill Programs: Assassin +20% or Espionage +20%, Martial Artist, and 2 or choice at +5%
Elective Skills: select two additional skills from Espionage or Rogue, one physical, and one of choice at level one. Select one additional Elective Skill at levels 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14. All new skills begin at level one proficiency.
Communications: Any (+10%).
Domestic: Any, except Begging and Wardrobe & Grooming
Espionage: Any (+10%), except Disguise and Impersonation.
Medical: None.
Military: Any (+5%), except Demolitions, Demolitions Disposal
and Demolitions Underwater.
Physical: Any, except Boxing.
Rogue: Any (+15% to Prowl), except Seduction.
Science: Advanced Mathematics only.
Technical: Any.
Transportation: Any, except Host Armor Combat and War
Mount Combat.
Wilderness: Any.
W.P.s: Any, except W.P. Paired Weapons, Modern Weapons
and Quick Draw.
Secondary Skills: Five secondary skills at level one, and one more at levels 3, 6, 9, 12, 15
MDC Living Body Armor: Never wears one, as it restricts the overly large muscles.
Standard Equipment: Vest of office, hooded cloak, set of dress clothes, Face Wrap, tinted goggles, one light Bio-weapon, two MDC daggers, weapon for each WP, knapsack, backpack, saddlebag, water skin, two weeks emergency rations. The daggers and any other melee weapon have 1D4X10 Bio-E available for upgrades.
Money: 2D4X100 credits
Upside: You are the strongest there is. You can rip a human in half in a second, and can wrench open a host armor given time. You are the future face of the Librarians and will destroy your enemies swiftly.
Downside: You are a slave to your Librarian, and there is no way out. When he goes crazy, you have no choice but to go along with it or be crushed by your own spasm muscles.
huh???!!!!!! 
yet.
All joking aside, thank you for the compliments. Hope you enjoy the ones to come. As for the "drugged", I actually put that in as a bit of a "disclaimer". I wanted this to be more casual than an actual combat report or official debriefing.
Hey wait a minute they came from Michigan! Something crazy about this state I tell ya, 
