Okay, then. Makes my day easier. ^_^This replaces the scenario started here. I was never all that fond of the original, honestly, so when it came back up I just replaced it.
The SV version of the SI doesn't have Argus Eyes yet, either, so the old scenario won't really work any longer. It was a mistake giving it to him so soon; in the rewrite, I've moved it to near the top of the 'Information-Gathering Magic' skill tree. SV-SI will have to work his way up to it.
**********
"Just another mission", they said. "We'll help train you afterward", they said. I flung myself forward desperately, feeling the sting of hostile magic ablating away my barriers as I crossed the gap.
They didn't tell me that 'one mission' was a solo ASSAULT on a freaking PMC BASE!I sighed in relief as I reached the next shipping container, my barriers already flaring back up to full strength. Check left... clear. Check right... clear. Check back... doesn't look like they flanked me while I advanced. Good.Guess some of that VR training rubbed off on me, after all.I risked a quick look around the side of the shipping container. Still only three of them. Same positions.
FREEM!
A shooting spell flew past my face. TOO CLOSE! I ducked back behind cover again. No way I'm reaching the next container undamaged. It's twice as far as this one was. Assuming the enemies aren't stupid, they'll have reinforcements inbound.
Can't advance. Can't take long enough to aim shots. Can't simply Blow Crap Up, or I'll bring the whole building down around us. What can I do? While I thought, I stuck my arm around the side of the container, and threw a couple dozen Magic Missiles downrange. That kept their heads down... wait. That's an idea.
Start with a Magic Missile. Compress the shots together... carry the two... and now twenty-one are three. That should be enough power. Stick my head out again...
FREEMFREEM!
...and give thanks for their bad aim. Positions known. Ranges checked. [Mal, you have enough data?]
[DATA SUFFICIENT. CALCULATING FLIGHT PATH.]
Good. Move to other side of container, pop out- yes, caught one by surprise! That's a hit!- and duck back in before I get hit.
[WARNING. TRANSMISSIONS SUGGEST REINFORCEMENTS INBOUND. ETA: 30 SECONDS.]Great. Just great. I popped out, let off another couple shots, and ducked back into cover. [ANY TIME NOW, MAL!]
[FLIGHT PATHS CALCULATED. ASSAULT READY.]
Finally! [On my mark, then.] I tensed up, wincing as wild shots dug craters into the concrete floor, and prepared an array of Magic Missiles. [Three-shot groups. Fire as I aim.]
[UNDERSTOOD.]
The enemy fire slackened momentarily. I could imagine their thoughts- he's broken contact- prepare to advance!
[Then go!]
The oversized missiles, each as strong as seven normal shooting spells, shot up into the rafters at full speed. At the same time, I dashed out from behind my cover, and began loosing missile groups at my three opponents, as I ran for the next shipping container.
Two ducked. One shielded. All three quickly returned fire. The shots cut at my barriers, eroding away the ethereal blue flame over my barrier jacket. Halfway to the next piece of cover, I was forced to raise a one-handed shield, as the three enemy mages poured everything they had into me. Two-thirds of the way there, I had to commit my other hand to the shield, stop moving, and brace myself in place as one of the mages did something exceedingly foolish.
...that... felt an awful lot like a Divine Buster. What was he thinking! Doesn't he realize he's right under a ten-story building!
Then, just as my shields were about to collapse, the three oversized missiles screamed down from the top of the room... right into my three opponents.
A moment later, three men in casual fatigues lay, unconscious, on the floor of the warehouse. I stood back up, breathing hard, and managed a shaky jog for the freight elevator.
Got to get there before the reinforcements show up.
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.
I've been writing a bit.
The SV version of the SI doesn't have Argus Eyes yet, either, so the old scenario won't really work any longer. It was a mistake giving it to him so soon; in the rewrite, I've moved it to near the top of the 'Information-Gathering Magic' skill tree. SV-SI will have to work his way up to it.
**********
"Just another mission", they said. "We'll help train you afterward", they said. I flung myself forward desperately, feeling the sting of hostile magic ablating away my barriers as I crossed the gap.
They didn't tell me that 'one mission' was a solo ASSAULT on a freaking PMC BASE!I sighed in relief as I reached the next shipping container, my barriers already flaring back up to full strength. Check left... clear. Check right... clear. Check back... doesn't look like they flanked me while I advanced. Good.Guess some of that VR training rubbed off on me, after all.I risked a quick look around the side of the shipping container. Still only three of them. Same positions.
FREEM!
A shooting spell flew past my face. TOO CLOSE! I ducked back behind cover again. No way I'm reaching the next container undamaged. It's twice as far as this one was. Assuming the enemies aren't stupid, they'll have reinforcements inbound.
Can't advance. Can't take long enough to aim shots. Can't simply Blow Crap Up, or I'll bring the whole building down around us. What can I do? While I thought, I stuck my arm around the side of the container, and threw a couple dozen Magic Missiles downrange. That kept their heads down... wait. That's an idea.
Start with a Magic Missile. Compress the shots together... carry the two... and now twenty-one are three. That should be enough power. Stick my head out again...
FREEMFREEM!
...and give thanks for their bad aim. Positions known. Ranges checked. [Mal, you have enough data?]
[DATA SUFFICIENT. CALCULATING FLIGHT PATH.]
Good. Move to other side of container, pop out- yes, caught one by surprise! That's a hit!- and duck back in before I get hit.
[WARNING. TRANSMISSIONS SUGGEST REINFORCEMENTS INBOUND. ETA: 30 SECONDS.]Great. Just great. I popped out, let off another couple shots, and ducked back into cover. [ANY TIME NOW, MAL!]
[FLIGHT PATHS CALCULATED. ASSAULT READY.]
Finally! [On my mark, then.] I tensed up, wincing as wild shots dug craters into the concrete floor, and prepared an array of Magic Missiles. [Three-shot groups. Fire as I aim.]
[UNDERSTOOD.]
The enemy fire slackened momentarily. I could imagine their thoughts- he's broken contact- prepare to advance!
[Then go!]
The oversized missiles, each as strong as seven normal shooting spells, shot up into the rafters at full speed. At the same time, I dashed out from behind my cover, and began loosing missile groups at my three opponents, as I ran for the next shipping container.
Two ducked. One shielded. All three quickly returned fire. The shots cut at my barriers, eroding away the ethereal blue flame over my barrier jacket. Halfway to the next piece of cover, I was forced to raise a one-handed shield, as the three enemy mages poured everything they had into me. Two-thirds of the way there, I had to commit my other hand to the shield, stop moving, and brace myself in place as one of the mages did something exceedingly foolish.
...that... felt an awful lot like a Divine Buster. What was he thinking! Doesn't he realize he's right under a ten-story building!
Then, just as my shields were about to collapse, the three oversized missiles screamed down from the top of the room... right into my three opponents.
A moment later, three men in casual fatigues lay, unconscious, on the floor of the warehouse. I stood back up, breathing hard, and managed a shaky jog for the freight elevator.
Got to get there before the reinforcements show up.
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.
I've been writing a bit.