Tor Megiddo: The Exile, Part 6

Blood in the Machine

And in the flickering lights of the Machine regrouped the Purebred. Bloodied and battered they all were, for great had been the fury of the Cog-forsaken. But of Gh-0u1 and Warfather Dez even graver were the wounds and worse, deep in the Machine was Warfather Jax lost. Lost to his tribe he would have been, least an oath swore Great Father Arun that behind no Purebred would be left. Back to the camp he sent Gh-0u1 and Dez, their wounds to tend and loyal Yash to summon. For sure still in ambush laid the Cog-forsaken and needed would be more arms if rescued was Warfather Jax to be.

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The Purebred, Venator Gang - Primary Skills: Brawn & Cunning. Secondary Skills: Combat & Ferocity.

Great Father Arun (Hunt Leader, Orlock Legacy): Chainglaive, Shotgun with Solid & Scatter Ammo, Cyber-mastif. Skill: Crushing Blow, Lie Low. +1 Int, +1 M. Experience: 0 - 265

Snapper (Cyber-mastif): Experience: 2 - 100.

Warfather Jax (Hunt Champion): Heavy Stubber, Knife, Suspensor. Skill: Overwatch. +1 Int. Experience: 3 - 295. In recovery

Warfather Dez (Hunt Champion): Flamer, Sword, Frag Grenades. Skill: Infiltrate. +1 Int. Experience: 5 - 280. In recovery.

Yash the Loyal (Hunter): Laspistol, Chainsword, Krak Grenades. Injuries: Hobbled. Experience: 2 - 130.

Larg the Tribesman (Hunter): Shotgun with Solid & Scatter Ammo, Knife, Strip Kit. Experience: 5 - 110.

Kurk the Blemished (Hunter, Specialist): Laspistol, Sword, Mesh Armour, Bio-booster. +1 Int. Experience: 0 - 135

Mahela, Keeper of the Flesh (Rogue Doc) - 50

Skar the Prospector (Dome Runner) - 20

Servitor Gh-0u1 (Ambot): 2 Tunneling Claws - 215. Experience: 3. In Recovery.

Stashed Credits: 25

You can find the rules for the scenario at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-aj9IJqXOWrAc_oNZwJsNfVoR8U3O1ljoN6AZNANTDo/edit?usp=sharing.
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Still breathing was Warfather Jax and through pain and blood dragged had himself to a chamber were devices hummed.

And like rabid dogs for him were the Cog-forsaken searching.

And as the party joined loyal Yash, Arun split it, for swiftly the dark corridors they needed to cover.

Down a narrow passage he went, Snapper ahead of him sniffing. And forward moved the rest of the Purebred, a door long closed pushing aside.

And to the Cog-forsaken spoke the Machine, drawing them closer to the door that had been opened. But another barred their way.

And as he stepped into the room, to Kurk called Warfather Jax in a broken whisper.

And though swift in were the Purebred as fast were the Cog-forsaken to cross the opposite door. And as facing each other they were, loud the Cog-forsaken blurted in the tongue of the Skull-Cog.

And to the ominous sound were Arun and Snapper drawn. But too another Cog-forsaken headed the call of its brethern.

And on Kurk guarding Warfather Jax came a Cog-forsaken, its bladed limbs against the Blemished's blade sparking.

On the Blemished's flank moved Larg, his shotgun thundering. But through the smoke waded the Cog-forsaken unharmed and the young tribesman's eye took.

Countercharge did loyal Yash, the youngling to protect and deep into the Cog-forsaken bit the teeth of his chainsword.

For the device next to him reached Yash and crushing on the third Cog-forsaken came the door, its skittering advance halting.

Opening the door in front of him, on the staggered Cog-forsaken did Arun unleash Snapper.

And though valiantly fought Kurk and the Cog-forsaken did wound he, he too fell.

And into the room stepped the Great Father, his voice booming loud so that firm stood Yash.

And again the Cog-forsaken spoke in the tongue of the Skull-cog and yet one more of its kind from the darkness emerged.

Roar did the Purebred's chainblades, flash did the Cog-forsaken's claws and loud did sound Snapper's growl as raged the fight and then on the metal laid the dusthound and another Cog-forsaken.

And behind the closed door hear could the Purebred the other Cog-forsaken coming.

And though wounded, over the Cog-forsaken barged Great Father Arun, his example the nerve's of Yash stealing. And as the two regrouped, into the room were the Cog-forsaken.

To carry Jax away did Arun order loyal Yash while time for them he bought. But great was the Cog-forsaken's fury and unconsious was the Great Father knocked.

And firing his laspistol away backed Yash, Jax crawling ahead of him for the safety of the sands outside the dark Machine.

But merely slowed by the fire were the Cog-forsaken. And though one's assault did Yash withstand, fall did he when the other came upon him.

And just as the Machine he could have escaped, the Cog-forsaken did reach Warfather Jax and rage did they on his wounded body.

One by one, wounded and maimed, returned the Purebred to their camp. And for the whole night their wounds tended Mahela, but alas even the Keeper of the Flesh save them all could not. Through her metal fingers did slip Kurk's soul, his red blood by the red sands drunk. So it was that though Warfather Jax rejoined the Purebred, grave loss still they suffered. But this is the way of Tor Megiddo, for what is denied to the Machines the Sands can always claim.

Tor Megiddo: The Exile, Part 5

The Dark Machine

And from the Notever and the Rustmen did the Purebred turn away, from Eshelon the Rider also parting, for through the Great Flat their road went. And again, for days in the blood-red Light of dusk and dawn, the wild animals of the wastes they hunted and the refuse of the time before the Great Hunger they collected.
And so it was that they came upon a Machine.
Not a great Tor was it, but a wreck twisted and scarred. Puzzled stared at it Mahela, for not mentioned was the Machine in the Book of Da-Ar-Vin nor word was there of it in the Yaike Yaike's many tales. Caution she preached, for always at a price came the Skull-Cog's gifts. And yet, Arun reminded, great was the need of the Purebred, for little they had found over the Great Flat their equipment and truck to sustain with.
Long the Great Father and the Keeper of the Flesh deliberated as the Machine over them loomed. And to those tribesmen that at the Machine looked, figures lite and spindly seemed to appear.
And when finally need trumped caution and Arun his fighters put together, disquiet was over them, for sure they were haunted was the Machine.

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The Purebred, Venator Gang - Primary Skills: Brawn & Cunning. Secondary Skills: Combat & Ferocity.

Great Father Arun (Hunt Leader, Orlock Legacy): Chainglaive, Shotgun with Solid & Scatter Ammo, Cyber-mastif. Skill: Crushing Blow. +1 Int. Experience: 4 - 235

Snapper (Cyber-mastif): Experience: 1 - 100.

Warfather Jax (Hunt Champion): Heavy Stubber, Knife, Suspensor. Skill: Overwatch. +1 Int. Experience: 2 - 295

Warfather Dez (Hunt Champion): Flamer, Sword, Frag Grenades. Skill: Infiltrate. +1 Int. Experience: 4 - 280

Yash the Loyal (Hunter): Laspistol, Chainsword, Krak Grenades. Injuries: Hobbled. Experience: 3 - 130. In recovery.

Larg the Tribesman (Hunter): Shotgun with Solid & Scatter Ammo, Knife, Strip Kit. Experience: 5 - 110. In recovery.

Kurk the Blemished (Hunter): Laspistol, Sword, Mesh Armour, Bio-booster. Experience: 3 - 130

Mahela, Keeper of the Flesh (Rogue Doc) - 50

Skar the Prospector (Dome Runner) - 20

Servitor Gh-0u1 (Ambot): 2 Tunneling Claws, - 215

Stashed Credits: 5

You can find the rules for the scenario at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-aj9IJqXOWrAc_oNZwJsNfVoR8U3O1ljoN6AZNANTDo/edit?usp=sharing.
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First went Warfather Dez into the Machine, its edges to scout and a way in for the Purebred to find.

On his same trail followed Great Father Arun and Kurk the Blemished, Snapper at their side growling. Off to another corridor went Warfather Jax, Gh-0u1 his back watching. And all the shadows can feel watching at them.

With Dez joined Arun's party as a locked door the Warfather tried to open. In a pool of the Machine's blood, scattered laid tech-scrap. And down the other corridor over crumbling plates walked Warfather Jax, for there too tech-scrap laid forgotten.

Frustrated at the terminal punched Dez, but yeld did the door not. The tech-scrap grabbed Jax and towards Gh-0u1 he carried it.

Their broad shoulders did Arun and Kurk put to the door and open they forced it.

In walked Warfather Dez, the tech-scrap grabbing, and out of the Machine's shadows a figure emerged to face him.

And as if as one alerted, another appeared behind Warfather Jax.

And through the bullets of Arun and Gh-0ul the figure came, and for the Cog-forsaken they revealed themselves. Hate filled was their cog-chanting for well they remembered the Purebred's offence to their master.

And with a blade on his back fell Warfather Jax. But to Dez' help came Kurk and together the Cog-forsaken they bested.

And the tech-scrap grabbed Dez and ahead he darted, an exit hoping to find. But barred was the way and swift on him was another Cog-forsaken.

Onward stepped Gh-0u1, its gun emptying to protect unconsious Jax and the tech-scrap.

And firm hold Dez, sparking his sword against the Cog-forsaken blades, while around circled Kurk.

More tech-scrap found Arun and as he moved it, out of the walls another Cog-forsaken came. Over a rent in the Machine lept it, its blades for the Great Father's heart searching. But to his master's side came Snapper and short fell the blades.

On the back of the engaged Cog-forsaken charged Kurk and again Dez he rescued.

And on fought Gh-0u1 and the Cog-forsaken, brutal swings no purchase finding, deft strikes off thick plates glancing.

And the upper hand got Arun and Snapper, the limp form of their foe deep into the Machine tumbling.

And to rejoin Arun moved Dez, but again out of the walls a Cog-forsaken came. Deeply its blades cut into Dez' flesh and down they put Snapper.

And finally through the Cog-forsaken's guard was Gh-0u1, its fists the lite form crushing. To reach the Purebred moved the servitor but sealed were the corridors ahead.

Forward stepped Great Father Arun, both Kurk's escape to cover and wounded Dez to rescue.

Roar did the Great Father's chainglaive and fall did the Cog-forsaken and escape did Kurk, with scrap-tech loaded.

And though gravely wounded, more tech-scrap tried Dez to take away. But appear did another Cog-forsaken and on his back came, his flight halting.

At the door raged Gh-0u1, but damaged from the combat were its servos and open the door it could not.

Away turning from Dez, at the Great Father jumped the Cog-forsaken, but on Arun's chainglaive did its charge end.

Under Gh-0u1's weakened blows eventually fell the door, a narrow walkway over the Machine's darkness revealing.

But as on the walkway stepped the servitor, behind it a Cog-forsaken landed and on the rents made by its companion it sunked its blades.

And on him, the eyes of many Cog-forsaken felt Great Father Arun. And though brave he was, foolish he was not. The scrap-tech abandoning, away he slunk down the corridor taken by Kurk.